his ante-marriage ways. Perhaps he drank a little more, perhaps he was
a little more reckless at cards, and it was certain that his taste for
amusing himself in second-hand book-shops and antiquity collections had
weakened. His talked-of project for some regular occupation seemed
to have been postponed, although he said to himself that it was only
postponed until his speculations, which kept him in a perpetual fever,
should put him in a position to command a business.

Meantime he did not neglect social life--that is, the easy, tolerant
company which lived as he liked to live. There was at first some
pretense of declining invitations which Edith could not accept, but
he soon fell into the habit of a man whose family has temporarily
gone abroad, with the privileges of a married man, without the
responsibilities of a bachelor. Edith could see that he took great
credit to himself for any evenings he spent at home, and perhaps he had
a sort of support in the idea that he was sacrificing himself to his
family. Major Fairfax, whom Edith distrusted as a misleader of youth,
did not venture to interfere with Jack again, but he said to himself
that it was a blank shame that with such a wife he should go dangling
about with women like Carmen and Miss Tavish, not that the Major himself
had any objection to their society, but, hang it all, that was no reason
why Jack should be a fool.

In midwinter Jack went to Washington on business. It was necessary to
see Mavick, and Mr. Henderson, who was also there. To spend a few
weeks at the capital, in preparation for Lent, has become a part of the
program of fashion. There can be met people like-minded from all parts
of the Union, and there is gayety, and the entertainment to be had in
new acquaintances, without incurring any of the responsibilities of
social continuance. They meet there on neutral ground. Half Jack's set
had gone over or were going. Young Van Dam would go with him. It will be
only for a few days, Jack had said, gayly, when he bade Edith good-by,
and she must be careful not to let the boy forget him.

It was quite by accident, apparently, that in the same train were the
Chesneys, Miss Tavish, and Carmen going over to join her husband. This
gave the business expedition the air of an excursion. And indeed at the
hotel where they stayed this New York contingent made something of
an impression, promising an addition to the gayety of the season, and
contributing to the importa