But her sense of humor was so complete, and her sunniness
so steady that nobody demanded great self-sacrifice from her. Who
wouldn't give anybody the biggest piece of cake and the best chair and
the most presents, for the sake of having a Little Sunshine in the
home? At least, that was the way Billy Strong had looked at it. He
had been perfectly willing to put off his marriage until Lucille
decreed that there was money enough for her to have her little luxuries
after marriage, in order to eventually possess Lucille. People always
and automatically gave her the lion's share of all material things, and
she accepted them quite as automatically. She was a very pleasant
housemate, and if she coaxed a little, invisibly, in order to acquire
the silk stockings and many birthday presents and theater tickets which
drifted to her, why, as she said amiably, people value you more when
they do things for you than when you do things for them.

"Why, you poor _lamb_!" she said with sincere sympathy, pouncing on the
desolate and very limp Marjorie. "What's the matter? Did Francis have
to go away from you? Look here, honey, you can have my----"

What Lucille was about to offer was known only to herself, because she
never got any farther. Marjorie sat up, her blue eyes dark-circled
with tears, and perhaps with the strain she had been undergoing.

"Yes," she said in a subdued voice. "He--he had to go. He'll be back
to-morrow."

Lucille pounced again, and kissed Marjorie rapturously, flushed with
romance.

"Oh, isn't it wonderful to have him back! And Billy may be back any
minute, too! Marge, what on earth shall we do about the apartment? It
isn't big enough for three; and I can't keep it on alone. And the
wretched thing's leased for six months longer. You know we thought
they'd be coming back together. But you and Francis can take it
over----"

"I--I don't think we need to worry about that," said Marjorie, "for a
while longer. I've made up my mind to go on working. I'd be restless
without my work. Filing's really _very_ exciting when you're
accustomed to it----"

Lucille released her housemate and leaned back on the davenport, the
better to laugh. As she did so she flung off her coat and dropped it
on the floor, in the blessed hope that Marjorie would pick it up, which
usually happened. But Marjorie did not.

"Filing," Lucille said through her laughter, "is undoubtedly the most
stimulating amusement known