y and the elevated and the surface
cars."

If now and then they compromised on a taxi, it was because distances were
too great at times, and other means of transportation too slow. But in
the main they stuck to their original plan, and Marie-Louise entered a
new world.

"Oh, I love you for it," she said to Anne one night when they came home
from the Battery after a day in which they had gazed down into the pit of
the Stock Exchange, had lunched at Faunce's Tavern, had circled the great
Aquarium, and ended with a ride on top of a Fifth Avenue 'bus in the
twilight.

It was from the top of the 'bus that Anne for the first time since she
had come to New York saw Evelyn Chesley.

She was coming out of a shop with Richard. It was a great shop with a
world-famous name over the door. One bought furniture there of a rare
kind and draperies of a rare kind and now and then a picture.

"They are getting things for their apartment," Marie-Louise explained,
and her words struck cold against Anne's heart. "Eve is paying for them
with Aunt Maude's money."

"When will they be married?"

"Next October. But Eve is buying things as she sees them. I don't want
her to marry Dr. Dicky."

"Why not, Marie-Louise?"

"He isn't her kind. He ought to have fallen in love with you."

"Marie-Louise, I told you not to talk of love."

"I shall talk of anything I please."

"Then you'll talk to the empty air. I won't listen. I'll go up there and
sit with that fat man in front."

Marie-Louise laughed. "You're such an old dear. Do you know how nice you
look in those furs?"

"I feel so elegant that I am ashamed of myself. I've peeped into every
mirror. They cost a whole month's salary, Marie-Louise. I feel horribly
extravagant--and happy."

They laughed together, and it was then that Marie-Louise said, "I love
it."

"Love what?"

"Going with you and being young."

In the days that followed Anne found herself revelling in the elegances
of her life, in the excitements. It was something of an experience to
meet Evelyn Chesley on equal grounds in the little drawing-room. Anne
always took Mrs. Austin's place when there were gatherings of young
folks. Marie-Louise refused to be tied, and came and went as the spirit
moved her. So it was Anne who in something shimmering and silken moved
among the tea guests, and danced later in slippers as shining as anything
Eve had ever worn.

It was on this day that Geoffrey Fox came and met Marie-Louis