and house. Here was her chance to get to the bottom of a constant
puzzle. "You may not have married for love," she said, "but of
course you're fond of Martin."

Joan considered the matter. It might be a good thing to go into it
now that there was an unexpected lull in the wild rush that she had
made to get into life. There had been something rather erratic about
Martin's comings and goings during the last week. She hadn't spoken
to him since the night at the Ritz.

"Yes, I am fond of him," she said. "That's the word. As fond as I
might be of a very nice, sound boy whom I'd known all my life."

"Is that all?"

Joan made a series of smoke rings and watched them curl into the
air. "Yes, that's all," she said.

Alice became even more interested and curious and puzzled. She held
very serious views about marriage. "And are you happy with him?"

"I don't know that I can be said to be happy with him," said Joan.
"I'm perfectly happy as things are."

"Tell me how they are." There was obviously something here that was
far from right.

Joan was amused at her friend's gravity. She had always been a
responsible little person with very definite and old-fashioned
views. "Well," she said, "it's a charming little story, really. I