atched the delicate play of expression on the
tired face, which was yet so thrillingly alive, as I listened to the
slow soft drawl of her voice, I felt a sudden rush of thankfulness and
exhilaration.

"Charmion!" I cried suddenly, "aren't you _thankful_ to be rich?"

She flinched as though I had struck her, and turned upon me a wild-eyed
look of affront.

"Rich? Who says I am rich? Who has been talking about my affairs?
Have you--have you been making inquiries to find out what I am worth?"

I stared, deeply offended.

"I have not. Perhaps it would have been more business-like if I _had_,
but I accepted your word. I asked a simple question because at the
moment I happened to be feeling particularly thankful that I could
afford to share Pastimes with you, and I imagined that you might
possibly feel the same."

I paused, waiting expectantly for words of apology and excuse, but none
came. Charmion stared at me below knitted brows, and said shortly:--

"Yes, it is true. You ought to have business references. You shall
_have_ them! My lawyer shall write to you at once. I was a wretch to
speak so sharply, Evelyn, but--you touched a sore point! Thankful? No,
indeed! Money is a curse. The greatest handicap a woman can have. If
I had my life to live again, I should choose to be a penniless working
girl!"

She had taken off her rings and dropped them in a sparkling little heap
on her lap, the while she softly polished her long pink nails. Her
padded kimona was of pink silk, heavily embroidered with roses, her feet
were thrust into slippers of the same shade and material. A more
luxurious figure it would be difficult to imagine. I rolled an
expressive eye, and she shrugged her shoulders in response.

"Oh, of course, I am an artificial product, and the chains hold fast. I
don't take any particular interest in my appearance, but it is an
ingrained habit to go through a certain routine. It would annoy me to
have dull nails, so I polish them as you see; also, though I am dead
tired, I shall have my hair brushed for half an hour before going to
bed, and then steam my foolish face. It bores me profoundly, but it
would bore me more to feel unkempt. So far as that goes, I should do
exactly the same on twopence a week!"

"Minus a maid and appliances?"

Charmion shrugged daintily.

"Soap and water are cheap, fortunately."

"I beg your pardon! Not _your_ kind of soap. You might find even hot
water a di