e of typewriters. At the front entrance a
doorman, resplendent in gold lace, was having a heated altercation
with an obstreperous cabman. The desk was literally besieged by a
pushing, unmannerly mob of persons, each of whom wanted to be waited
on before the other, while haughty clerks, moving about with languid
grace, tried to satisfy requests of every conceivable kind. There was
nothing extraordinary in this apparent commotion. It suggested
pandemonium; it was really only a rather dull and uneventful day in
the ordinary routine of a big metropolitan hotel.

Virginia sat back in her chair and stretched herself. Every bone in
her body ached. She had worked steadily since 8 o'clock that morning,
with only a brief respite for lunch, and the fatigue was beginning to
tell upon her. Formerly she could have done twice as much without
feeling it, but since her marriage she had gotten out of the way of
it. Her muscles were stiff; her recent luxurious mode of living had
unfitted her for the strenuous life she used to lead. She had regained
her independence, but it had not been without a bitter struggle.

It was a great shock to Fanny when her sister walked in on her that
afternoon now some three months ago and quietly told her that she had
left Robert for good. At first the elder sister laughed, not believing
it, and then, when she saw by Virginia's face that it was only too
true, she broke down and cried. They fell into each others' arms and
wept together, just as they had done many times before when they were
children.

When they were somewhat calmer she had told Fanny everything, keeping
nothing from her, and declaring her intention to go back to the hotel,
if she could get the position, and earn her own livelihood again.
Seeing that it was useless, Fanny did not attempt to dissuade her. On
the contrary, now she was acquainted with all the facts in the case,
she was indignant herself and gave her sister credit for displaying so
much spirit. Of course, it meant a serious pecuniary loss to them all.
Jimmie could not possibly remain in his position, in view of this
rupture; he would resign his lucrative job and they would be compelled
to go back to the days when they struggled along on fourteen dollars a
week. It was hard, but better that, she told Virginia with an
affectionate hug, than that millionaires should go around thinking
they could buy and sell women like so many cattle.

So everything was quickly settled. Virginia,