o ask her to do a thing like that."

"Are you taking her part?" demanded Gertie, her voice rising in fury.
"What's come over you since she came here. You're not the same to me as
you used to be. Why did she come here and get between us?"

"I haven't changed."

"Haven't I been a good wife to you? Have you ever had any complaint to
make of me?"

"You know perfectly well I haven't."

"As soon as your precious sister comes along, you let me be insulted.
You don't say a word to defend _me_!"

"Darling," said her husband with grim humor, "you've said a good many
to defend yourself."

But Gertie was not to be reached by humor, grim or otherwise.

"I'm sick and tired of being put upon. You must choose between us," she
said, with an air of finality.

"What on earth do you mean?"

"If you don't make her apologize right now before the hired men, I'm
quit of you."

"I can't make her apologize if she won't."

"Then let her quit."

"Oh, I wish I could! I wish to God I could!" said Nora wildly.

"You know she can't do that," said Marsh roughly. "There's nowhere she
can go. I've offered her a home. You were quite willing, when I
suggested having her here."

"I was willing because I thought she'd make herself useful. We can't
afford to feed folks who don't earn their keep. We have to work for our
money, we do."

"I didn't know you grudged me the little I eat," said Nora bitterly. "I
wonder if I should begrudge it to you, if I were in your place."

"Look here, it's no good talking. I'm not going to turn her out. As long
as she wants a home, the farm's open to her. And she's welcome to
everything I've got."

"Then you choose her?" demanded Gertie.

"Choose her? I don't know what you're talking about!" Easy-going as he
was, he was beginning to show signs of irritation.

"I said you'd got to choose between us. Very well, let her stay. I
earned my own living before, and I can earn it again. _I'm_ going."

"Don't talk such nonsense," said Marsh violently.

"You think I don't mean it? D'you think I'm going to stay here and be
put upon? Why should I?"

"Don't you--love me any more?"

"Haven't I shown that I love you? Have you forgotten, Ed?"

"We've gone through so much together, darling," he said huskily.

"Yes, we have that," she said in a softened tone.

"Won't you forgive her, for--for my sake?"

Gertie's face hardened once more.

"No, I can't. You're a man, you don't understand. If she won't
apologize