ghts we ever had was because once late at
night, when she was dead tired, tired as a yellow dog, I wanted her to
sit still and let me pack for her, or, anyhow, let me help her pack. And
she said I was as tired as she,--as if that was possible!--and if I
didn't go to bed and get some rest myself and let her alone to get
through her packing as she pleased if it was daylight before she
finished she should have a fit. And from one thing to another we went on
getting madder and madder till we said things you would have thought
made it impossible for us ever to speak to each other again. But the
first thing next morning, when we opened our eyes, we just looked at
each other and began to laugh. Another time we fought like cats and dogs
because I wanted to give her something and she refused to take it."

"I don't call those quarrels, Mrs. Hawthorne."

"You would if you could hear us; you would have if you could have heard
us this morning. And it was only a little one. You see, two people
aren't best friends for nothing. It gives you a sort of freedom; you
aren't a bit afraid. And when you know it's only the other's good you
have at heart, it makes you awfully firm and fast-set in your point of
view. I don't mind telling you that I'm always the one in the wrong."

"Are you?"

"Of course I am. But I like to have my way, even if it's wrong. Hear me
talk! How that does sound! And I was brought up so strict! But it's so.
I want to do as I please. I want to have fun. It began this morning with
Hat saying I spent too much money."

"Did she say that? How unreasonable, how far-fetched!"

"'What's the good of having it,' I said, 'if I can't spend it?'

"'You'd buy anything,' she said, 'that anybody wanted you to buy, if it
was a mangy stuffed monkey. It isn't generosity,' she said; 'it's just
weakness.'

"'Oh, suck an orange!' I said, 'Chew gum! It's anything you choose to
call it. But when a thing takes my fancy, I'm going right on to buy it.
And if it enables a greasy little Italian to buy himself and his
children more garlic,' I said, 'that's not going to stop me,' I said. I
don't mind showing you"--she dropped her selections from the morning's
dialogue--"the thing I bought which started our little discussion. The
artist who made it brought it himself to show me."

She went to take the object referred to from her desk, and held it
before him, examining it at the same time as he did.

"Do you see what it is? Can you tell at