Winnie. "And Alice saw him! He must be
heartbroken!"

Montague said nothing. "You know," she went on, "Charlie really means
well. He has honestly an affectionate nature."

She paused; and Montague Said, vaguely, "I suppose so."

"You don't like him," said the other. "I can see that. And I suppose
now Alice will have no use for him, either. And I had it all fixed up
for her to reform him!"

Montague smiled in spite of himself.

"Oh, I know," said she. "It wouldn't have been easy. But you've no idea
what a beautiful boy Charlie used to be, until all the women set to
work to ruin him."

"I can imagine it," said Montague; but he did not warm to the subject.

"You're just like my husband," said Mrs. Winnie, sadly. "You have no
use at all for anything that's weak or unfortunate."

There was a pause. "And I suppose," she said finally, "you'll be
turning into a business man also--with no time for anybody or anything.
Have you begun yet?"

"Not yet," he answered. "I'm still looking round."

"I haven't the least idea about business," she confessed. "How does one
begin at it?"

"I can't say I know that myself as yet," said Montague, laughing.

"Would you like to be a protege of my husband's?" she asked.

The proposition was rather sudden, but he answered, with a smile, "I
should have no objections. What would he do with me?"

"I don't know that. But he can do whatever he wants down town. And he'd
show you how to make a lot of money if I asked him to." Then Mrs.
Winnie added, quickly, "I mean it--he could do it, really."

"I haven't the least doubt of it," responded Montague.

"And what's more," she went on, "you don't want to be shy about taking
advantage of the opportunities that come to you. You'll find you won't
get along in New York unless you go right in and grab what you can.
People will be quick enough to take advantage of you."

"They have all been very kind to me so far," said he. "But when I get
ready for business, I'll harden my heart."

Mrs. Winnie sat lost in meditation. "I think business is dreadful," she
said. "So much hard work and worry! Why can't men learn to get along
without it?"

"There are bills that have to be paid," Montague replied.

"It's our dreadfully extravagant way of life," exclaimed the other.
"Sometimes I wish I had never had any money in my life."

"You would soon tire of it," said he. "You would miss this house."

"I should not miss it a bit," said Mrs. Winnie, promptly