ming to. I should think
England _would_ call us barbarians. Why, in England, even a man who is
in trade has a hard time getting into society. But do introduce me to
her if there's a chance before I go."

Later Edith exclaimed, "By the way, my dear, you'll be interested to
know I've turned suffrage."

"How did that happen?"

"Of course I wouldn't march or anything like that, and I think militancy
is simply awful, but you'd be surprised how popular suffrage is getting
at home. I gave a bridge in interest of it. Lots of prominent people are
taking it up. Look here," she broke off abruptly, "when can you come up
for a Sunday? I'm just crazy to get hold of you and have a good old
talk."

"Oh, almost any time. I'm anxious to see nice old Hilton again."

"Well, we must plan it. How would you like to bring that Miss Van de
Vere? In the spring when the summer people get here. She has quite a
number of admirers among them. I'd just love to give you a little tea
or something."

Same old Edith! A wave of tenderness swept over me for her--faults and
all. "Of course we'll come," I laughed. "I'll arrange it."

I knew in a flash that I should never quarrel with my sister-in-law
again. She was no more to blame than a child with a taste for sweets.
Why feel bitterness and rancor? She was only a victim of her environment
after all. My tenderness--was a revelation. I hadn't realized that
tolerance had been part of my soul's growth--tolerance even toward the
principles from which I had once fled in righteous indignation.

Tom dropped in at Van de Vere's some time in the spring.

"Looks like a woman's business," he almost sneered, critically surveying
the striped walls of the reception-room; and later, "Impractical and
affected, I call it," he said. "If I was building a house I'd steer
clear of any such place as this."

"Wait a minute," I replied pleasantly. "Come with me," and I took Tom
into the well-lighted rooms at the rear, where our workers were engaged,
at the time, on a rush order. "Does that look affected, Tom?" I asked.
"Every one of those girls is living a decent and self-respecting life,
many of them are helping in their family finances; and besides, the few
stockholders of Van de Vere's are going to get a ten per cent dividend
on their holdings next year. Does that strike you as impractical and
affected, too?"

Tom looked at me, shut his mouth very tight, and shook his head. "I
suppose all this takes the place of b