derable prominence in the artistic set. Her _musicales_
were a success because her ready tact and intimate acquaintance with
famous artists enabled her to surround herself with interesting people.
Having some musical talent herself, she nourished the hopeless ambition
that one day she would be able to sing in opera. Injudicious friends had
encouraged her in this fatuous belief, and she had worked so hard and
spent so much time and money studying with expensive teachers, with the
idea of going on the stage, that at last her health gave way. Threatened
with nervous breakdown, her physician had advised a long sea voyage, and
this was just the opportunity she had been looking for. Both would have
the other's company. If Grace would go, she wouldn't hesitate a second.
As for her husband, he would be glad to be rid of her. She said it as a
jest; in her heart she knew it was true. Not that she cared. Wesley gave
her all the money she asked for and never interfered with her. According
to her philosophy of life, theirs was as perfect a matrimonial
understanding as she could wish for.

The idea of the trip at once appealed strongly to Grace.
Enthusiastically she declared that she would like nothing better. It
would be so novel and exciting, quite unlike any experience she had yet
had. Some friends who had already made the trip gave glowing accounts of
their travels, and the more she thought of it the more decided she was
that around the world she would go. This decided it, for when once Grace
made up her mind, everything was as good as settled. Nothing her father
or mother might say could deter her from the project. She pleaded that
the trip was absolutely necessary, not only for her health, but as a
finishing touch to her education. The ship was not only going to China,
Japan, India, and Egypt. It would visit also many out-of-the-way islands
which are practically inaccessible to the usual tourist and seldom if
ever visited. As a lesson in geography alone it was worth the money.
Harmon _pere_ did not mind the expense. The few thousands the trip would
cost was a bagatelle to the man of millions. What he balked at was the
idea of losing his cherished daughter for six long months. The
uncertainties of Wall Street made it impossible for him to accompany
her, and Mrs. Harmon suffered so horribly from seasickness that she
threw up her hands at the very suggestion. Seizing the excuse that a
young girl could not go unaccompanied, her fath