e us a good long time for
work."

"I will see to it," Toni said quietly.

"Thanks, dear. Let me see, there's half an hour before dinner. I might
go and put everything in order as far as we've gone, so that we can
start fair. I mustn't waste her time when she gets here."

"No. Of course not."

Although she tried to speak casually, a note in her voice struck Owen
rather unpleasantly. He looked at her sharply in the lamplight; and
something in her child-like attitude, as she stood motionless, her hands
hanging by her sides, gave him a sudden twinge of something like
reproach.

He looked round quickly. They were alone, and acting on impulse Owen
stooped, and putting his left hand under her chin, tilted her face
upwards until their eyes met.

"Come, Toni." He had seen the tears in those wistful eyes of hers.
"What's the matter? You are not hurt about the work, are you? If you
would rather not have the woman, say so, and we will go on as we have
been doing. It will get easier in time."

"Oh no!" Toni spoke quickly, though her lips quivered. "Indeed I'm not
hurt. I--I'm sorry I'm such a fool. I'm only a hindrance to you instead
of a help."

Although he had no conception of the wound dealt to her by two
thoughtless women, Owen realized that she was in earnest; that she
understood, and regretted, her failure to give him the help he needed;
and for perhaps the first time since his marriage Owen pitied his wife
sincerely. After all, it was he, not she, who was to blame; and being
still in the dark, Owen thanked God that at least she had no idea he had
married her without giving her the love she had had a right to expect.

"Hush, Toni dear." He held her to him with his sound arm. "After all, I
want you for my wife, not my typist. Miss Loder may be able to do the
work I want done better than you, because she's used to it; but you're
my wife, Toni, and what does anything else matter?"

He did not know whether his words brought her any comfort. She smiled,
faintly, and returned the kiss he gave her before he let her go; but
when she was alone in her quiet room Toni wept till she could weep no
more.

She hated Miss Loder from the first.

Her self-possessed manner, her cool, grey eyes, above all the suggestion
of competency which lurked in every line of her trim, well-tailored
figure, all alike filled Toni with a sharp sense of resentment which she
felt to be both childish and stupid.

Without perhaps intending it, Mis