"If you're through with that card-table, please fold it up and put it in the closet," I said to Ruth with my eyes full of fire. "I haven't got six servants." "Whew!" whistled Ruth and began gathering up her cards. "I should think," calmly went on Edith like a repeating alarm-clock, "you'd like your husband to be _proud_ of you." "Oh, please--please--" I fired back, and then suddenly, too full to speak, I turned abruptly and fled up the stairs to my room. The sweet darkness enveloped me. I drew a chair to the window. _Will_ would ask her to mind her own affairs; _Will_ would talk to her; _Will_ would tell her how he hated her mean ambitions, how he abhorred her contemptible snobbishness; _Will_ would defend and stand up for me; _Will_ would fix her! "Just wait for _Will_!" I said, and listened for his step on the sidewalk outside and the sound of his key in the latch. I heard him come in about half past ten. It was almost twelve when he came up to me. "Not in bed?" he asked gently and leaned down and kissed me. "Edith was downstairs when I came in and we've been talking. I don't know but what we ought to keep two maids, Bobbie dear," Will said, and I felt as if I had been struck. Will went over and lit the gas. "I guess we might as well postpone our theatre party for next Thursday," he went on. "I think, after all, we'd better go to the Grahams' dinner. By the way," he broke off, "didn't you get an invitation to the Omsteds' affair last week?" "No, Will, I didn't," I said dully. "Perhaps you'll find time to pay back a few of those calls some time pretty soon, Bobbie dear," he said to me. And that morning about four A. M. I cried myself to sleep. Edith went to the dinner too. She had Will telephone and fix it up someway. I don't know how nor I didn't ask. I was very miserable, very unhappy. My heart was heavier than it had been for a whole year. "Will wasn't satisfied, Will wasn't proud, Will was ashamed of me," rang in my ears from morning till night. During the few days that still must be lived before Thursday the sixth at seven o'clock, Edith exhibited the usual kindness and gentle consideration of any victor over the vanquished. I didn't make another plea. I was as resigned as a fatalist, and as unmurmuring as a stoic. I wrote my acceptance at Edith's dictation without a word, and silently fought the tears that came to my eyes, as I sealed the envelope. "O Bobbie," said Will gently, "don't worry so about it, dear. You weren't so frightened about your own wedding." "Exactly," said Edith. "And I've had dinners at The Homestead just as grand as this. You're simply out of training. People won't notice you so much as you think anyhow. Just act slowly, and don't try to talk. That's all. _I'll_ be there and you can 'lean on me, grandpa.' _You'll_ be all right," she assured me grandly.