had told her? Was her sister unhappy? Did all this luxury
conceal an aching heart?

"If you're not," she said tentatively, "I don't know what you want.
Nobody could be a better husband than Robert. He's just the kindest,
nicest man; a woman simply couldn't help loving him."

Virginia made no answer and Fanny continued:

"You do love him, don't you?"

"Yes," said Virginia hesitatingly, "most of the time. In fact, nearly
all of the time."

"Most of the time--nearly all the time," exclaimed Fanny. "What do you
think love is? Off again, on again, Finnigan! You either love a man or
you don't; at least, that's the way I understand it."

Virginia shook her head. Gravely she said:

"The trouble is that you don't understand--this."

Fanny put her arm round her sister's neck. Sympathetically she said:

"What is it, dear? Tell me--"

Virginia turned round and faced her sister. First looking round the
room to make sure no one was there, she said in a whisper:

"Did Jimmie ever come home--drunk?"

"I should like to see him try it," exclaimed Fanny indignantly. "Just
once. I imagine once would be enough."

"Then you can't understand it," said Virginia quickly.

"Does--Robert?" asked Fanny in a low tone.

Virginia nodded and turned her head away.

"Often?" demanded her sister.

Virginia shook her head despondently. Stifling back the sobs that
choked her utterance, she answered:

"If it were often, I couldn't bear it. I should have left him long
ago. It's bad enough as it is."

Fanny kissed her.

"Poor girl!" she murmured.

Drying her tears, Virginia went on:

"When he's himself there isn't a finer man in the world, but when he's
not--"

"Tell me everything," said Fanny, putting her arm sympathetically
round her little sister's waist.

Virginia turned away. Confusedly she said:

"I can't--now."

"Oh, yes, you can," said Fanny coaxingly, "me--your sister."

"No--no--"

"Yes, you can, dear. Does he come home in a nasty temper?"

"He's generally in the best of tempers--at first."

"And afterwards? You can tell me! What is it?"

"Afterward," said the young wife in a low tone, as if ashamed to tell
the rest: "it isn't love at all--he's just a stranger--inflamed with
liquor--who has me in his power!"

Fanny, shocked, clasped her sister the more closely.

"Virgie!" she exclaimed. "Poor little Virgie!"

"Yes, it's horrible," said Virginia, with difficulty keeping back the
tears. "Sometimes," she w