ained that Joe was away from
them so much enjoying himself, while she had to be housed up like a
prisoner. She had receded from her dignified position, and twice of an
evening had gone out for a car-ride with Thomas; but as that gentleman
never included the mother in his invitation, she decided that her
daughter should go no more, and she begged Joe to take his sister out
sometimes instead. He demurred at first, for he now numbered among his
city acquirements a fine contempt for his woman relatives. Finally,
however, he consented, and took Kit once to the theatre and once for a
ride. Each time he left her in the care of Thomas as soon as they were
out of the house, while he went to find or to wait for his dear Hattie.
But his mother did not know all this, and Kit did not tell her. The
quick poison of the unreal life about her had already begun to affect
her character. She had grown secretive and sly. The innocent longing
which in a burst of enthusiasm she had expressed that first night at the
theatre was growing into a real ambition with her, and she dropped the
simple old songs she knew to practise the detestable coon ditties which
the stage demanded.

She showed no particular pleasure when her mother found the sort of
place they wanted, but went to work with her in sullen silence. Mrs.
Hamilton could not understand it all, and many a night she wept and
prayed over the change in this child of her heart. There were times when
she felt that there was nothing left to work or fight for. The letters
from Berry in prison became fewer and fewer. He was sinking into the
dull, dead routine of his life. Her own letters to him fell off. It was
hard getting the children to write. They did not want to be bothered,
and she could not write for herself. So in the weeks and months that
followed she drifted farther away from her children and husband and all
the traditions of her life.

After Joe's first night at the Banner Club he had kept his promise to
Hattie Sterling and had gone often to meet her. She had taught him much,
because it was to her advantage to do so. His greenness had dropped from
him like a garment, but no amount of sophistication could make him deem
the woman less perfect. He knew that she was much older than he, but he
only took this fact as an additional sign of his prowess in having won
her. He was proud of himself when he went behind the scenes at the
theatre or waited for her at the stage door and bore her off u