hudder.

"In other words, my dears," went on the aunt; "in other words, you are
_dreadfully_ in love with each other and can't keep apart."

"Love!" moaned Dolly.

"Love," the aunt repeated firmly.

Dolly rocked for a time; tears again were dropping fast from the end of
her eye-lashes. "But he _doesn't_ love me," she wailed at length. "And he
_isn't_ a, a--that horrid Chinesy word you call him, and he is gone,
gone!"

"Oh, my dear, of course," said Aunt Hester; "of course, things are not
quite as simple as I have been describing them. A woman has to use some
sense about it these days. This clinging business has become more
complicated with civilization. You may have erred in the details. Now,
tell me what has happened, all that has happened."

And Dolly, in a rush of words, told the lamentable story of her domestic
woe, of her struggle with the wings of Charles-Norton.

Aunt Hester was silent for a time; then she nodded her head
affirmatively. "Yes, that's it, my dear," she said. "It is as I
suspected. You have been clinging with your eyes shut. And in these
perilous times it is necessary to cling with eyes open. You----"

But Dolly had risen to her feet, vibrant. "Do you mean to say," she
began, and her voice was very low and tense; "do you mean to say that I
should be subjected to living with a man--with a man"--her voice
rose--"with a man, Auntie, who has _Wings_?"

"Oh, my dear!" exclaimed Aunt Hester, hastily, "you mistake me. Of
_course_, I am not asking _that_ of you. But that is not necessary
either. The essential--it is to let Charles-Norton _believe_ that he has
his wings, not that he should have them. And then, my dear, to be frank,
to be just, I must say that this seems to me a case for compromise. Yes,
dear, you should allow Charles-Norton part of his wings; oh yes, you
should really let him have a bit of these wings. And _that_ bit, Dolly,
if you are the wise and capable little girl I think you can be, you
should turn to the advantage, to the preservation, to the
prosperity--hem--of the home!"

Dolly sat down, weak and trembling. She was silent for a long time. When
she spoke again, it was in a tired voice. "Auntie," she said, "you mean
well. I know that you are trying to help me and am very thankful to you.
But we have differing views of Life. I am willing to do much for
Charles-Norton--Oh, so much! I am willing to meet him half-way,
three-quarters of the way, the whole way, on ever so many th