l stare all the time."

"Shall you want to go to the club every evening?"

"I shan't ever want to go to the club."

Although Marie had known what the answer would be--or she would not
have asked the question--it made her very happy. It was delightful to
hear only what one wanted to hear; to see only what one wanted to see.
Life appeared as a graceful spectacle, a sort of orderly carnival
refined to taste. There would, of course, be the big thrill in
it--Osborn. It would be wonderful to have him coming home to her
successful little dinners every evening. People didn't want a great
deal, after all; all the discontented, puling, peevish, wanting people
one met must be great fools; they had made their beds and made them
wrong; the great thing, the simple secret, was to make them right. A
husband and wife must pull together, in everything. Pulling together
would be sheer joy.

"Osborn," she said, "how well we understand each other, don't we?"

"I should think we do," whispered the young man.

"Few married people seem really happy."

"They must manage life badly, mustn't they?"

"I remember mother and father; mother likes the idea of my getting
married, but they used often to be nagging about something. Expenses, I
think."

"All that I have will be yours, you love," said Osborn, with profound
tenderness.

"But I shan't ask for it," said Marie, with a flash of intuition. "You
don't know how careful I can be. It won't cost you much more than it
does now; less, perhaps, because you won't always be dining at the
club."

"But you'll come into town and lunch with me very often, shan't you,
dearest?"

"Nearly every day."

"Hush!"

Osborn got out of the chair and sat on its arm; Marie remained alone in
the cushioned depths, looking flushed and brilliant; and Mrs. Amber
came in slowly.

"Marie, I want to show Julia your dress; or would you like to show it
yourself?"

"Is it _the_ dress?" Osborn asked, looking down on the top of
Marie's shining head.

Mrs. Amber sighed and smiled and the bride-elect sat up, sparkling.

"I'll come, mother."

"Let me come, too," said Osborn.

"I'll bring it into the sitting-room and let everyone see it, shall I,
Marie?" her mother asked hastily.

She hurried away and Marie followed her to the bedroom, while Osborn
stood in the doorway, looking in at the two eager women about their
joyous errand. He put his hands in his pockets and smiled. It was
pleasant to be involved in t