eyes. As he stood momentarily quiet he saw her hands slowly clasp until
he felt that they were rigid, and her mouth became pinched; her face
seemed actually hard. Gregory spoke to her, with his fat fingers on her
sleeve, but she made no reply, paid no attention to him. Lee could hear
Gregory's demanding voice; and then, gathering herself, Fanny sighed
deeply and smiled at her boy. She was wearing her pearls, her rings
sparkled in glittering prisms; and, as he opened the door, Lee Randon
wondered if he had forgotten an engagement to go out for dinner?

* * * * *

He asked at once if this were so, but found that they were staying at
home. She regarded him still, he realized, a little withdrawn in the
abstraction he had surprised. This, because it was so uncommon,
disturbed him, and he demanded what was worrying her.

"Nothing, really. What made you suppose I was bothered?" Her reply was
instinctive; and then, after a pause, she continued, more insecurely,
"I was only thinking about some things.... Lee," she inquired, "you
love me very much, don't you?"

"Why, of course," he spoke almost impatiently.

"That is all I have, you see," she admitted; "and that was what was in
my mind. The other women I know are so different; they seem to have so
many more interests than I, and to care less for them than I do for my
one. It is exactly as though I belonged before the war and they came
afterwards. It is true--I am old-fashioned. Well, I don't care if you
don't! But, just the same, it's a problem; I don't want to be out of
the times or narrow; and yet I can't, I don't know how, and I honestly