At the dinner table he noticed a tired, pinched look about his wife's mouth. Julia Norris was every day as old as his wife, but time had dealt kindly with her. Her face was still fresh and rosy; there was not even a glint of gray in her hair. Resentment began to move him, resentment at Julia Norris, at her fortune, at her friendship for his wife, at every detail connected with his memory of her. Kitty began to talk. Scidmore sat silent, crumbling his bread. Finally the dread subject came to life. Kitty looked up and said,-- 'Julia was late to-day, as usual. Poor dear Julia, what a generous soul she is!' Scidmore began to fidget. 'Late? How did that happen? She left our office long before ten o'clock.' 'Oh, but you don't know Julia! She did a thousand and one things before she arrived here. And such a disheveled creature as she was! And so full of apologies and troubles! Nothing to speak of--she laughed them all away in five minutes.' 'Then she didn't tell--' 'About the insurance? I should say she did. She was so worried for fear you'd be distressed about it all. She admitted that _she_ was to blame. But she knows how conscientious you are, and she was afraid--' Scidmore impatiently interrupted his wife. 'Julia Norris ought to have some business sense, Kitty; upon my word she should. And it _has_ worried me. A woman like that--one never can be sure of just what she does think. It's an even chance that deep down she believes that she delivered the message to me, and that _I_ neglected it.' He could feel his face flushing with mingled indignation and disapproval as he voiced his displeasure. Kitty got up to pour a glass of water. 'Why, John,' she half chided, 'I'm sure Julia wouldn't be guilty of such a thought. You don't know her--generous--impulsive. Why, she'd forgive you for neglecting, if you really had neglected anything. As a matter of fact she said very decidedly, "If I'd been dealing with anybody but John Scidmore, I do believe I'd be inconsistent enough to try to blame the other fellow, but of course I know--" 'Yes,' he broke in excitedly, 'that's just it. That's the way she puts it, to you. But such a remark as that just bears out what I say--she's not altogether satisfied. I know what she thinks; I saw it in her face this morning--_this is what comes of trying to help one's poor friends._' His wife stopped pouring water and laid down the pitcher. 'Nonsense. Julia Norris has perfect faith in you.' 'Why should she have?' he persisted hotly. 'Isn't it just as possible for me to forget, to overlook a telephone message, as the other fellow? I'm not infallible any more than she is.' 'No,' Kitty returned very quietly. 'I don't think she imagines that you are infallible. But she knows that if you took her message and forgot it, you'd admit it.' He rallied from this blow with a feeling of fierce antagonism.