His Second Wife

after midnight. I wonder when I'll get to sleep? . . . No

a way as though she were saying it all aloud. Now she sat up suddenly in bed and turned on the light just over her head, and amiably she surveyed her room. It was a pretty, fresh, little room with flowe

d of me; and they've lain awake by the hour here, planning how to get married or divorced, or getting ready to write a great book or make a million dollars, or sing in grand

begun to make her acquaintance with her backyard-a yawning abyss of brick and cement which went down and down to cement below, and up and up to a strip of blue sky, and to right and to left went stre

sses and anarchists and millionaires and poor young things-all spending a quiet evenin

from boats far off on the river this calm and still October night, from Broadway and from H

ething quite alive." She smiled and added approvingly, "Quite right, my dear, just breathe

d caught in her sister's eyes that glimmer of expectancy. "Amy feels sure I will be a success!" Ethel thrilled at the recollection, and thought, "Oh, yes, you're quite a wag, my love; and as soon as you g

re came to her ears the dull bellowing roar of an ocean liner le

cean and roamed madly for awhile, with the help of many photographs whi

do I think o

et them in. With a quick annoyed exclamation, Amy had switched on the lights; and room after room as it leaped into view had appeared to Ethel's eyes like parts of a suite in some rich hotel. And although as her s

but they haven't lived here. They haven't sewed or

with the table behind it, and what lamps, what a heavenly rug and how well it went with the curtains! When

he broad low dressing table with its drop-light shaded in chintz, the curious gold lacquered chair, the powder boxes, brushes, trays, the faint delicious perfume of the place; and back in the shadow, softly curtained, the low wide luxurious bed-had given to her the feeling that this room at least was person

her eye had gone to the only other room in the apartment, down at the end of the narrow hall. The door had been closed. She had stolen to it and listened, but at first she had not heard a sound. Then she had given a slight start, had knocked softl

adorabl

ch face Ethel had detected again a feeling of hostility. "What for?" she had asked. And the answer had flashed into her mind.

things. And a few minutes after that, she had heard a gruff kindl

ad told herself. "I wonder

d close-cut moustache, Joe Lanier at thirty-five still gave to his young sister-in-law the impression of kindly friendliness she had had from him some years

How hard you ha

lk had been almost boyish in its welcoming good humour. Later h

. I just want you to know I'm so glad

with a sudden quiver inside she had added quite inaudibly: "Oh, D

liked Joe

to their room. And as Ethel thought about them now, lying here alone

coming to me? . . Everyth

her nose, and she blew it b