w, Annie----" Interrupting herself, she asked: "You
don't mind my calling you Annie, do you?"

The young woman smiled.

"I don't see why I should. It's my name and we're relatives--by
marriage." There was an ironical ring in her voice as she went on:
"Relatives! It seems funny, doesn't it, but we don't pick and choose our
relatives. We must take them as they come."

Alicia made an effort to appear conciliatory.

"As we are--what we are--let's try to make the best of it."

"Make the best of it?" echoed Annie. "God knows I'm willing, but I've
had mighty little encouragement, Mrs. Jeffries. When I called to see you
the other day, to beg you to use your influence with Mr. Jeffries, 'not
at home' was handed to me by the liveried footman and the door was
slammed in my face. Ten minutes later you walked out to your carriage
and were driven away."

"I knew nothing of this--believe me," murmured Alicia apologetically.

"It's what I got just the same," said the other dryly. Quickly she went
on: "But I'm not complaining, understand--I'm not complaining. Only I
did think that at such a time one woman might have held out a helping
hand to another."

Alicia held up her hand protestingly.

"How could I?" she exclaimed. "Now, be reasonable. You are held
responsible for Howard's present position."

"Yes--by the police," retorted Annie grimly, "and by a couple of yellow
journals. I didn't think you'd believe all the gossip and scandal that's
been printed about me. I didn't believe what was said about you."

Alicia started and changed color.

"What do you mean?" she exclaimed haughtily. "What was said about me?"

"Well, it has been said that you married old Jeffries for his money and
his social position."

"'Old Jeffries!'" protested Alicia indignantly, "Have you no respect
for your husband's father?"

"Not a particle," answered the other coolly, "and I never will have till
he acts like a father. I only had one interview with him and it finished
him with me for all time. He ain't a father--he's a fish."

"A fish!" exclaimed Alicia, scandalized at such _lese majeste_.

Annie went on recklessly:

"Yes--a cold-blooded----"

"But surely," interrupted Alicia, "you respect his position--his----"

"No, m'm; I respect a man because he behaves like a man, not because he
lives in a marble palace on Riverside Drive."

Alicia looked pained. This girl was certainly impossible.

"But surely," she said, "you realized that when