since your wedding--too picturesque for my style, that frock is. But
if you--"

"No, I won't!" Marie protested, tears in her eyes. "I'm not going to
take anything from you except your old gloves for the housework. It
would be scandalous; you, a girl working for her living, and me, a
married woman with a husband to work for me--"

"I know which I'd rather be," Julia remarked.

"So do I," said Marie, with a quick intake of breath.

They looked at each other a little defiantly, but did not proceed to
any enlightenment. Then Julia went up to Marie and laid her arms about
her neck and her cool lips upon her hot cheek.

"Well, leave it at that," she said. "Good-bye, kiddie; take care of
yourself. I can't stay. Send for me any time. I must fly!" And was
gone.

Osborn came in hungry before seven, sniffed the dinner cooking, and
turned into the dining-room. He took off his boots, fished his carpet
slippers from behind the coal-scuttle, and put them on with a sigh of
relief. The smell which pervaded the flat was savoury and good; the
dinner-table was ready to the last saltspoon; the baby was quiet; all
seemed to promise one of those smooth domestic evenings sometimes
granted to a man.

He settled down by the fire after dinner to read so much of his
evening paper as the Tube journey had not given him time for, while