t year and a
half."

"And your music!"

"That, too."

"And your German! And your books on literature and art!"

Taking in the entire room with a sweeping gesture of her hand, she
continued:

"And all this--and your autos--and your yacht--and your box at the
opera--and everything that money can buy--and just think only two
years ago you were an underpaid telephone girl in a hotel!"

"Yes, it is wonderful, isn't it?" sighed Virginia.

"Wonderful!" exclaimed the other. "It makes Laura Jean Libbey look
like a piker."

"Fanny!" protested her sister.

"What's the matter?"

"Slang!" said Virginia reproachfully.

"Oh, I just have to blow off steam once in a while," replied Fanny
carelessly. "And maybe I'm not in it, too. Two years ago I was working
in our little millinery store. Enter the rich Mrs. Chuddington. She's
fifty if she's a day, weighs a hundred and ninety and has a--a double
chin. She sees a hat that would suit a girl just out of school and
tries it on. I look at her and say: 'Oh, Mrs. Chuddington, isn't that
lovely!' Of course, I know it's awful, but I have to say it because
it's business. I point to the customer and Marie says: 'Oh, Mrs.
Chuddington, isn't that exquisite!' Then Mrs. Chuddington puts on the
hat, leaves the store looking a perfect fright. Marie looks at Fanny;
Fanny looks at Marie, and though we don't say a word, we think--oh!
how we do think!"

Virginia smiled in spite of herself.

"They try it with me," she laughed.

"But how is it now?" went on Fanny with an attempt at dignity. "Now,
I'm Mrs. James Gillie, sister of the rich Mrs. Robert Stafford, with
whom I have just spent an evening at the opera and who I am now
visiting in her French boudoir! Sometimes I don't believe it's real,
and I find myself getting ready to wake up just in time to hear the
alarm go off!"

"It is real enough, Fanny," smiled her sister. After a pause, she
asked: "And you--you are happy?"

"Of course I am," said the other, dropping into a seat. "Why shouldn't
I be? Haven't I got James and the baby and a pretty flat, and a maid
to do the work. And isn't James getting a hundred a week from Mr.
Stafford? Well, I should say I am happy!"

"I'm so glad," murmured Virginia with a sigh.

Looking up quickly, Fanny asked:

"You're happy, too, aren't you?"

Virginia made no reply for a moment. Then she said hesitatingly

"Yes--"

Fanny looked closely at her. Was there any foundation for the story
Jimmie