"

"That's not the point. People talk," significantly.

"Let them."

"That may be your idea, but it's not mine."

"Jerry," she laughed, "this must be a new leaf! I'll look in on Miss
Morton if you like, to see that the proprieties are observed."

When the sittings began, Jerry manoeuvred constantly to have Jane
about. There was no use trying to make her jealous, if she was not there
to see the provocation. Besides, Althea needed a check, if they once
began a flirtation; nothing would please her so much as annoying Jane,
he knew that instinctively.

But Jane was enough to drive a machinating husband to despair. She was
casual in her greetings to Miss Morton, discreet about entering the
studio during posing hours. She always announced herself, so that it was
impossible to be caught in a compromising position, or even a tender
glance.

"For goodness' sake, Jane," he complained, "don't act as if she were
posing for a nude. Walk right in when you want to come into the studio."

"I only come, by request, on behalf of the proprieties, you know. I
don't wish to embarrass Miss Morton by seeming to protect her from you,
Jerry."

"You act as if you thought you'd find me kissing her!" he exploded.

"You're welcome to kiss her, if it gives you pleasure and she does not
object," replied Jane.

"Jane Judd, haven't you any sense of proprieties?"

"Yes, real proprieties, not surface trifles."

"You call kissing Miss Morton a surface trifle?"

"Distinctly; don't you?"

"I'd be interested to hear what you call the real proprieties," he said
satirically.

"If you loved Miss Morton deeply and continued to live with me, I should
say that the proprieties were outraged. That's a question of human
relationship, you see. But kissing a silly woman who invites you to kiss
her--pooh!--what's that?"

"I trust you don't pattern your own conduct on that belief?" hotly.

"I'm not a silly woman, little boy Jerry. I don't invite people to kiss
me, because I don't like being kissed," she laughed.

Bobs came in for some tea and interrupted them in their enlivening
discussion. When Jerry went out of the room, Bobs said to Jane:

"Is Jerry trailing that Morton woman again?"

"He is painting her, as Melisande."

"Do you have to have her here all the time?"

"I don't see much of her. Poor Jerry has her."

"Poor Jerry likes her. Just when you begin to think that women are
getting somewhere--being something fine and busy and loyal-