ly that I feel a great desire
to amuse myself, and am more willing to be selfish about it than I
used to be. Three months ago I wouldn't have gone to this theatre
party, with mother ill and you alone with her. I know I'm a beast to
do it, but I do want to go dreadfully, and----"

"And you're going, and you're not to coddle your conscience any more
about it. It's all right, and we're all right, and mother and I would
feel we were two beasts if you stayed away on our account. What makes
you think Mr. Brand responsible for this awful depravity? Because he
invited you to his house-warming?"

"Oh, no! It was thoughtful and lovely of him to include poor little me
among his guests, and I'm as grateful as--Cinderella. But he sometimes
says some little thing, in connection with what we are doing, about
the pleasure there is in beautiful things and how it and the joy one
ought to get out of life enlarge and deepen one's existence. And then
I begin to feel, away down inside of me, a longing for pleasure, and
as if I could reach out and grasp all sorts of--of things, just for my
own enjoyment."

"And that makes you feel dreadfully wicked!" Isabella's laugh tinkled
through the room, a lighter, merrier sound than her sister's. "Dear
me! As if we didn't all feel that way once in a while!"

"You never do," Henrietta interrupted.

"Don't inquire too deeply into my feelings, unless you want to be
shocked. Suppose we have some hot toast to cheer us up after this
awful confession. Delia," to the maid who entered in response to her
ring, "have you some fresh toast ready?"

"The toast is awfully good this morning, Delia," said Henrietta
smiling at her. "It's always nice, but it's particularly good, exactly
right, this morning."

"Thank you, Harry!" said Isabella as the maid disappeared. "I'm so
glad you said it. Maybe it will make her feel better. Did you see that
determined, dare-and-die look on her face? I'm sure something's going
to happen!"

"And we've raised her wages twice already," the other exclaimed, as
her face took on the same anxious expression that had just clouded her
sister's.

"Yes, and we can't pay her any more than we're giving her now. She
isn't worth it and we couldn't afford it if she were."

"Just as we've begun to feel sure she was satisfied and would stay.
Oh, Bella! It's too bad! But maybe it's no worse than it was the last
time we got scared, when her cousin was married and she wanted a day
off. You re