Madcap

ly reached the limousi

wrath wer

how could you have stood him

very nicely

orilla. Do you know he neve

'd have sense enough to s

t quibble. He

ntess s

matter o

to be affronted. Is he

t. I think, Hermia, dear," and she

Why

e so. Besides, I don't think he's altogeth

pify-when I don't know myse

Idea'-only more so. Besides that you're a vellum edition of the Feminist Movement with suffrage expurgated. In other words, darling, to a lonely and somewhat morbid philosopher like Markham you're a horrible example of what may become of a f

horrid," bro

hich began too cheerfully. I think I'll leave

ught we we

morning. The m

well," s

ceful back until it had disappeared in the shadows of the store. The current that usually flowed between them was absent now, so Hermia le

at Hermia. He flattered her. She felt obliged for the line of demarcation he had so carefully drawn between his life and hers. As if she needed the challenge of his impudence to become aware of it! And yet I her heart she found herself denying that his impudence had irritated her less than his indifference. To tell the truth, Hermia did not like being ignored. It was the first time in fact, that any man had ignored her, and she did not enjoy the sensation. She s

toward something different, the moments of revulsion at the emptiness of her life, which, in spite of the material benefits it possessed, was, after all, only material. Would he paint those-the shadows as well as the lights? Or would he see her as M

ith a volume of plays which had just come from the stationer. But she ha

e ineffec

f resignation, "tell Mrs

ceal the scars of her morning's accident an

, grimacing cheerfully to salve her co

t you been d

ally acidulous, but Hermia only smiled sweetly, for Mrs. Westfield's forbid

nd getting yourself talked about in the papers

," said

sitated between a

capable of anything-only your win

I'm going to h

that you're going to

irl n

ou know I never could bear having Reggie Armistead do

eve that you'

, awf

er! You must

eck. "O Auntie, dear, don't bother. I'm absolutely impossible anyway. I can't be happ

fly

'd ever done it you'd wonder how people

e been

arden City. I'm

I wouldn't be doing my duty to your sainted mother if I didn't try to save you from yourself. I shall do something to pr

something. It was all very well when you were a child-but now-do you realize that you're a woman, a grown woman, with responsibilities to the community? It's time that you

I haven't a single homely virtue to recommend me. I'm only fit to ride and dance and motor and frivol. And whom should I marry? Surely not Reggie Armistead or Crosby Downs! Reggie and I have always fought like cats across a wire, and as for Crosby-I would as life marry the great Cham o

o happen to you," said Mrs

ing to die-but I don't mind taking a

ood can it

wearies me to the point of distraction. Their lives are so pale, so empty, so full of pretensions. They have always seemed so. When I used to romp like a boy my elders told me it was an unnatural way for little girls to play. But I kept on romping. If it hadn't been natural I shouldn't have romped. Perhaps Sybil Trenchard is natural-or Caroline Anstell. They're conventional girls-automatic parts of the social machinery, eating,

velyan M

d the roses in the silver

s as it is. And, curiously enough, I have a notion when I marry, to love-and be loved for myself alone. I'm not in love with Trevvy or any one else-or likely

, ch

sed, with a smile. "On

eho

se is a very pro

ly remind me of my own deficiencies. Imagine domesticating a critic like that, ma

then?" sighed Mrs.

he's something between a pilgrim and a vagabond, a knight-errant from somewhere between Heaven and the true Bohemia,

! Such a person wil

to find him. I'm not even looking for him, you k

that you will commit no impruden

turned

ere were two ways of going into a fog," she said. "One was to go slo

rmi

wealthy to risk marrying prudently. I'd have to find a man who was a

llow. You're pre

hen men used to propose to me I halted them, pressed their hands, bade them be happy and wept a tear or two for the thing that could not be. Now I fix them with a cold a

field coldly. She looked around the room helplessly as if seeki

y for a miracle to bring you to your senses." A

ome will be finished. My machine is promised by the end

n the air!

be flying i

one of her declarations of independence to her Aunt, whose mildness and ineptitude in the unequal struggle always left the girl with an unpleasant

or me to say, I suppose

you approve," pleaded

should I mince matters? You're gradually alienating me, Hermia-cu

odore? I thought that M

ld stammered

r friends. I don't think I would be do

oughtfully. "You think I ma

u-your

u would all come to '

her plans," sai

ace hardened. They were th

himble Cottage burned, I've tried to make you understand that you a

visit you as usual. Thimble Cottage will be rebuilt as soon

ly and T

abroad with the

a mistake in keeping u

ing new diversions

ions desert me." And then after a pa

agents thought it as well to have some one t

!" Hermi

u know

t he is not the kind of pers

even if you mean to exclude me. It's also my privilege to choose my friends and I shall do so. If this means that I am taboo at your house

sual recantation and reconciliation. But to her surprise Mrs. Westfield continued to move slowly tow

on the verge of tears. The whole proceeding violat