with Beatrix for allowing the champagne in her own home, when
she had learned from months of bitter experience that a single glass
could render Lorimer totally untrustworthy. If this were the measure of
her influence for good, she might as well have married Lorimer in the
first place, without insisting upon those long months of probation. As
he had watched the progress of that merry supper in Arlt's honor, Thayer
had been distressed about Lorimer and about the scene which must
inevitably follow; but his distress had been as nothing in comparison
with his disappointment in Beatrix.

In reality, Beatrix had had no responsibility in the matter.

"I don't see any need of our having champagne, Sidney," she had said, on
the morning that they had first discussed the detail of the supper.

Lorimer had been in one of his old-time moods. Now he laughed a little.

"What a Puritan you are, Beatrix!" he said, as he bent caressingly over
her shoulder to read the completed list of guests.

"Not a Puritan," she urged; "but I would rather not have the champagne,
Sidney. It isn't at all necessary; we can get on perfectly well without
it."

"And a good deal better with it," he retorted, laughing. "Well, never
mind it now, dear girl. But what about a florist?"

And Beatrix, delighted at her easy victory, had allowed herself to be
led off into a consideration of the decorations for the table. She could
not be expected to foresee that, in giving the final orders for the
supper, Lorimer would include a generous allowance of champagne. Neither
could she have foreseen that one of the invitations would find its way
into the hands of Lloyd Avalons. Confronted suddenly by both the
champagne and Lloyd Avalons, Beatrix had faltered only for a moment.
Then she had rallied to meet the inevitable crisis so swiftly that no
one but Bobby Dane at her elbow had been aware of her momentary
weakness. Thayer had been at the other end of the room, and had missed
the instant of hesitation. By the time he had discovered the situation,
Beatrix had forced herself to meet it as a matter of course. She
faltered a second time, however, as she met the questioning glance which
Thayer gave her. She had learned to care for his good opinion; she knew
that now she was in danger of forfeiting it. Nevertheless, her loyalty
to her husband was paramount. Never by a spoken word had she implied to
Thayer that Lorimer was falling below her ideals. To-night, hurt as she
was