fore in the
direction of the bathroom. Virginia looked at her sister gratefully.

"You're very good to me."

"Don't be silly!" exclaimed Fanny, as she busied Herself setting the
table.

Virginia smiled.

"You're the best sister in the world!" she murmured.

"No, I'm not, you are!" Cheerily, as her husband reappeared, she
added:

"Now you sit still and talk to Jim while I get the tea ready."

She went out and the clerk carelessly took a chair. This was his
opportunity. He could hardly hope for a better one. After a brief
pause he said sympathetically:

"You're not looking well, Virginia. These last three months have told
on you."

The young woman nodded. With a weary sigh she replied:

"Yes--I know it."

Thus encouraged, he continued:

"I guess you don't like it any better than we do."

"Like it!" she exclaimed. "Like working under tremendous pressure from
morning till night in a public hotel corridor at the beck and call of
the first comer, exposed to all kinds of insult and indignity? Like to
have two dollars a week pocket money out of which I must pay my
carfare and buy whatever I need? Like to come home every night so
tired I can scarcely walk and with my head aching till I can hardly
see? Like it! Like it, indeed!"

Quietly he replied:

"Then why don't you quit It? Why don't you go back to your husband?"

Virginia started. In spite of herself, her face changed color.
Abruptly she said:

"I've asked you not to--"

"I know you have, but tonight I'm going to talk sense to you if I
never do it again."

She held out a hand in protest.

"Jimmie--I--"

"Yes, I am," he interrupted. "I hate to see you going on like this.
You've been away from Stafford for less than three months and, on the
level, you look five years older. Why don't you go back to him?"

"I've told you why--it's a matter of principle. You wouldn't have me
give up my principles, would you?"

He shrugged his shoulders as he replied dryly:

"I don't know about yours, but I can tell you this about mine--if
hanging on to 'em meant hard work, tired bones and an empty pocket
while giving 'em up meant a fine house, a bully time and all the money
I could spend, then I'd kiss my principles good-bye and pass 'em up
without a quiver! That's common sense."

She turned her head away.

"We don't see things the same way," she said quietly.

He rose from the chair and began to pace the floor in silence. Then,
turning on her suddenly he