with it."

"Of course! But if one--you, for instance--yielded to it more than its
due--and it really is insatiable, you know, if you let it get the
upper hand--what a wretched affair life would be! Simply unendurable!"

"But there's always a satisfaction in doing what one ought to do, Mr.
Brand--don't you think so?--even if it is hard."

"Oh, if you like your satisfaction to taste hard and bitter! I don't!
I think it's much better to hold ourselves free to take advantage of
all the possibilities of happiness, little and big, that come our way.
It's really a duty that we owe ourselves. And, of course, if we are
happy we make others about us happy too. You, I'm sure, need enjoyment
so much that it would be a great mistake for you to throw away any
opportunity. And I'm very glad you didn't neglect this little one!"

Mrs. Fenlow and her son were at his elbow to say goodnight, and as he
shook hands with Mark, whose mother had already passed on to an
exchange of confidences concerning hairdressers with Miss Ardeen
Andrews, he laid his hand affectionately on the young man's shoulder
and said in a low tone:

"You're coming tomorrow night, Mark, of course?"

"Sure! D. V. and d. p.--God willing and the devil permitting!"

"It will be very different from this," and Brand smiled slightly, a
winning, deprecating smile, as with the least perceptible motion of
his head he indicated the company that filled his spacious drawing
room. "But a man doesn't want his relaxations to be all alike, any
more than he wants all flowers to be of the same color."

CHAPTER IV

BILLIKINS IS FRIGHTENED

It was inevitable that the personality of Felix Brand should loom
large in the home of his secretary. Mrs. Marne was a semi-invalid and
suffered frequent relapses into more serious illness. The care of her
and the management of their little household were Isabella's part,
and to these two, much confined at home and by necessity cut off from
nearly all outside pleasures and interests, the chief daily event was
Henrietta's return from her busy hours and responsible tasks in the
architect's office. But, of still more importance, their worldly
welfare hung upon the salary which he paid to the younger sister.

Mrs. Marne's husband had been a physician in one of the smaller cities
of Massachusetts; but, though a New Englander, he had not possessed
the characteristic thrift of the sons of that region, and consequently
his widow and his dau