"A masterly handling of the woman question, Mrs. Paxton," said the man who sat next her at table. "I wish we might call it the human question; it is yours as well as ours, you know," she answered. Her partner quoted the remark for weeks following the reiteration--"that brilliant Mrs. Jerry Paxton said to me the other night at dinner...." etc. It is of just such trifles that reputations are built, the right word here, an exclamation there, and the thing is done. "Well, Jane, you're a success as a celebrity," Jerry remarked on the way home. "It is pleasant to have people friendly, but it is amusing to have them make such a fuss, isn't it? You've always known you were the kind of person you are; it seems strange that you have to do a special, conspicuous thing to get people to see it." Jerry laughed. "You ungrateful wretch," he exclaimed. "I don't believe you care a rap about this part of your success." "I don't; I hate it. I'd like to slip away and not hear any more about that book. I loved writing it and the making of it, but this fol-de-rol seems so childish." "Mrs. Brendon would like that 'fol-de-rol!' She thinks that dinner was a brilliant event." "It was sweet of her, of course." "You get more of an enigma to me, Jane, as time goes on. You haven't one iota of personal vanity. Now, I love every ounce of success I can get. I'd like to be perpetual guest of honour. I want all the pomp and circumstance I can manage. That's how vain I am." "I understand it, in you, Jerry, but I seem to be entirely different." So sensitive was Jerry to public opinion that by insensible degrees he drifted into an acceptance of Jane's new position. He deferred to her opinions, he even referred to her work. "What are you busy with now, Jane?" he inquired. "I'm working out an absorbing situation," she answered, and outlined it to him. He was interested and they discussed it for some time. "It's all I can do to tear myself away from my desk these days; I feel as if I just must have more time." "Can't we manage with lunch later?" "No, not if we get you ready for a model at two. I can't seem to get off any earlier in the morning." "Why not?" "Well, I have to do the ordering and get Baby bathed and off to sleep." "Can't Anna do that?" "No, she can't order, and I don't want her to bathe Baby." "I might manage the ordering for a week or so, until you get the story along past the climax." "Jerry! would you?" she exclaimed. "Why not? I'm here all morning--might as well." "You dear! That would give me a half-an-hour earlier start." "Anybody who can get up in the morning, and go at her work the way you do, ought to have a free rein." "Morning's my time, afternoon is yours; we're very well suited to each other in some ways, Jerry," she laughed. "Where's Christiansen these days?" he asked. "He's out of town--with his wife, I suspect." "Poor devil! It's hard lines, isn't it?" "Yes, but Martin is one of the few who are big enough to suffer."