. Oh, you--'Y, no, it's
not mean. I don't mind it a bit. I like to go alone--that is, I don't
mind it, and I won't hear to your putting yourself out on my account.
And then you know, Mrs. Tad-Wallington wears her dresses so disgustingly
low."

"That's it, Tom. That's why I think I ought to go."

"Oh, pshaw. You know I despise her. I never dance with her. No, I can't
think of letting you go on my account. And I don't want my wife even to
be seen at the party of a woman who wears such dresses as she does. No!
positively, I can't permit it."

"Well, it's as bad for you to go."

"But one of us has to go to be decent. It would be rude not to, and we
can not afford to be rude even to the commonest people."

"I don't want you to go unless I go with you," she said pettishly.

"But I never dance with her."

"It is not that so much. I do not want us to recognize her at all."

"I am not going to even _speak_ to her. I will snub her. I will walk by
her and not see her. I will let her know that my little wife doesn't
belong to her class. I'll show her."

"But, Tom, wouldn't that be ruder than not going at all?"

"Oh, no. I don't think so. By going and snubbing her, it shows that you
are conforming to all the _laws_ of politeness without conceding
anything to wanton impropriety. Don't you see?"

"Hardly."

"Well, it does. And I have to go for business reasons. I have her
husband's law business, and can't afford to lose it by not going."

"Wouldn't it make her husband angry for you to snub her?"

"Oh, no, it would rather please him. He is inclined to be jealous, and
likes the men better who don't have anything to do with her. It would
strengthen our business relations immensely."

"Maybe you are right," she added with resignation. "You lawyers have
such peculiar arguments that I can't understand them."

"Yes, I know. Law is the science of reasoning--of getting at the fine,
subtile points which other people can not see."

"Well, go, if you really think it's best," she said at last.

Tom tied a black bow around his collar and put on his tuxedo.

"Oh, Tom, what do you mean? You surely do not intend to wear your tuxedo
and a black tie. I heard you say it was the worst of form at anything
but a men's party."

"Oh, ah, did I? Well, maybe I did. I had forgotten. I became a little
confused by our long argument. I am always confused after an argument.
Would you believe it, the other day after an argument in court I put