Athalie

et, her shoes soaking. She looked rather forlornly at the bowl of

steak," she said, taking the bowl a

said Athalie. "I'd give it t

elt and drew off the wet shoes, unbuttoned the g

y, forcing herself to eat the crackers and milk because it was hot, and snuggling into the knitted slippers

een smok

N

Gene

o you supp

rch

iley,

that boy you had an affair wi

y," said Atha

uppose-like a comet," shrugged Dor

ly stirred the crackers in the milk a

to supper when an attractive man asks me. I kno

rhaps she remembered C. Bailey, Jr., and that she

"It's all right, I supp

now him or not as long as

lk that w

t? It's

aside the empty bowl, yawned, l

for Catharine,"

Who are the peo

n't know the men:-some

s nobody fr

ployed them. Winton, the male milliner and gown designer, usually let his models alone, being in perpetual dread of his wife; but one of the unhealthy looking sons

d again, th

aid Athalie. "I'll wa

alie sank into the shabby arm-chair by t

rather silly and fixed smile on her doll-like face. Athalie,

earth, Ca

I've got to have a dinner gown I tell

did y

want to-dressed this wa

ho

evieve's friends-the man wh

as there?" aske

is they call him. He's q

you drink

I

d, didn

glass of

t el

ss-before we sat down to supper.... And

dreadful; do y

ed vaguely, drowsily, and she laid her gloved ha

ur new friend, Cecil Re

sing;-we laughed so much.... I told him he m

Mr. F

ve's friend;-I don't know him so well....

ble," said Athal

s the t

tlemen.... And that is why we find them agreeable, socially.... B

he

men are expected; and it is where they go for social diversion-not to the Regina with two of Winton's models, nor to the Café Arabesque with an Egyptian Garden

ness girl to do?" ask

golden head, slowl

must do something-pleasant-before she's t

we have. Or will ever have.... I've thought it over. I don't see that it helps for us to resent their sisters and moth

want to k

ally I believe if the choice were offered a business girl,

hinking about it,

eing friends with their sons.... It will hurt at times-hu

e silly about

dently: "Oh, as for anything like that! I should hope

harine; and her warm, wine-scente