know you and Mr. Thorne were along. I think it was noble
in Mr. Thorne when his poor brother wanted so much to marry
Madeleine. I feel it was such a narrow escape--her not marrying him.
I've been hearing all sorts of sad things about him lately. Real
sad. I was deceived in him."

"Who deceived you?"

I might as well not have asked the question. No attention was paid
to it.

"He was such a dear boy, Harrie was. So handsome and his family so
well known, and he was so in love with Madeleine that I was deceived
in him. Yes indeed, I was deceived. A woman is so helpless where
men are concerned."

"She isn't a bit helpless unless she prefers to be. A great many
women do. Had you made any inquiries concerning Harrie's character?"

"In my day it wasn't expected of a woman to make inquiries." Mrs.
Swink's voice was that of righteous reserve. "It's very hard on a
mother to ask questions about character and things like that. I knew
of the Thorne family very well, and of the Thorne house, which I
thought Harrie would live in until he and Madeleine could build a
moderner one, and-- Oh no, my child, you don't know the anguish of a
mother's heart! You don't know!" Tears not of anguish, but of
blighted ambition, caused the flow of words to cease temporarily, and
light came to me. Selwyn's letter had done the work.

Harrie being eliminated, the fat old hypocrite was trimming her sails
with hands hardened from long experience. Her embraces and gratitude
were a veer in a new direction. In a measure I was to be held to
account for the present situation; in a sense to be social sponsor
for Mrs. Thomas Cressy. A homeless Harrie, disapproved of by family
and friends, would not have made a desirable son-in-law, and I had
been seized upon as the most available opportunity within reach to
bring her daughter's marriage desirably before the public. Mrs.
Swink had seemingly little understanding of the little use society
has for people who do not entertain. I do not entertain.

Nothing was due her, but hoping if I promised help she might go away,
I suggested the possibility of Kitty's entertaining Tom and Madeleine
on their return from their wedding-trip, and at the suggestion the
beady little eyes brightened, and immediately I was deluged with
details of the reception she had determined to give the bride and
groom, implored for help in making out the list of guests to be
invited, and begged to be one of the receiving