bargain by which she got more than she gave. She had accepted
without allowing her better self an opportunity to marshal its
protests, and, having closed her eyes and leaped into the dark, it
now seemed easier to meet new consequences than to heed those
higher feelings that were tardily struggling for expression. She
did pity Wharton, however, for it seemed to her that he was the
injured party. When he was himself he was a very decent fellow,
and it was a contemptible trick thus to cheat him. It would have
been less ignoble to sell herself outright to a man she detested--
for the transaction would then have been one of dollars and cents,
purely, a sacrifice prompted by necessity, so she reasoned--
whereas to impose upon the weakness of one she rather liked was
not only dishonest, but vile.

But she was in a wanton mood to-night, and of late a voice had
been desperately urging her to grasp at what she could, that she
might, as long as possible, delay her descent into worse
conditions.

She heard Lilas inquiring: "When does the marriage come off? Right
away?"

Bob, who appeared somewhat dazed by the suddenness and the
completeness of his good fortune, smiled vacantly. "Any time suits
me," he said. "I'm a happy man--little Joys are capering all over
the place and old Dr. Gloom has packed his grip."

Jim startled them all by saying, crisply: "Let's make it to-night.
I know Bob--he's not the sort to wait."