t into Mrs Carter's boudoir, a tiny room full of such pretty
things as can be purchased nowadays by anyone who has a few shillings
to spare, and tolerable taste either of their own or at second-hand. Had
she been left to her instincts, Edith would have surrounded herself with
objects representing a much earlier stage of artistic development; but
she was quick to imitate what fashion declared becoming. Her husband
regarded her as a remarkable authority in all matters of personal or
domestic ornamentation.

'And what are you going to do?' she inquired, examining Amy from head
to foot, as if she thought that the inheritance of so substantial a sum
must have produced visible changes in her friend.

'I am going to do nothing.'

'But surely you're not in low spirits?'

'What have I to rejoice about?'

They talked for a while before Amy brought herself to utter what she was
thinking.

'Isn't it a most ridiculous thing that married people who both wish to
separate can't do so and be quite free again?'

'I suppose it would lead to all sorts of troubles--don't you think?'

'So people say about every new step in civilisation. What would have
been thought twenty years ago of a proposal to make all married women
independent of their husbands in money matters? All sorts of absurd
dangers were foreseen, no doubt. And it's the same now about divorce.
In America people can get divorced if they don't suit each other--at
all events in some of the States--and does any harm come of it? Just the
opposite I should think.'

Edith mused. Such speculations were daring, but she had grown accustomed
to think of Amy as an 'advanced' woman, and liked to imitate her in this
respect.

'It does seem reasonable,' she murmured.

'The law ought to encourage such separations, instead of forbidding
them,' Amy pursued. 'If a husband and wife find that they have made
a mistake, what useless cruelty it is to condemn them to suffer the
consequences for the whole of their lives!'

'I suppose it's to make people careful,' said Edith, with a laugh.

'If so, we know that it has always failed, and always will fail; so the
sooner such a profitless law is altered the better. Isn't there some
society for getting that kind of reform? I would subscribe fifty pounds
a year to help it. Wouldn't you?'

'Yes, if I had it to spare,' replied the other.

Then they both laughed, but Edith the more naturally.

'Not on my own account, you know,' she added.

'