* * * * * Forced out of the City Club one October day by an influx of visiting salesmen come to some convention, Dick Harrison met Fliss at the Lennox restaurant. It occurred to him as he nodded to her that he had not seen much of her lately and, taking a second look which was really due the green feathered turban which closed so piquantly down on her black fringe of hair, he saw that she was apparently alone and crossed at once to sit opposite her. She told him that she was alone and only down town at all because she had been delayed in her shopping. “It’s an awfully busy week. There’s such a lot going on that if I don’t get my shopping done to-day I’ll not have another chance.” “Is it awfully busy?” “Don’t you really know, Dick?” She rattled off a list of functions to him. “Where are you and Cecily anyway these days? Aren’t you just a bit too domestic?” “With three babies you’re apt to be a bit domestic. You haven’t any, have you, Fliss?” Fliss laughed at his thrust. “Don’t be nasty, Dick. You know well I haven’t. You and Cecily have probably decided I’m a vicious wretch because I haven’t. People with children are always so much holier-than-thou to those who haven’t. They insist not only on the fun of having them, but on making the world unpleasant for the rest of us because we aren’t sharing the fun. Isn’t it a curious attitude?” Fliss was decidedly more sophisticated. “How’s Cecily?” “Busy--struggling with servants.” “Has she a lot of trouble?” “Some. Of course we always have the faithful Ellen, but it isn’t nearly enough.” “I remember Ellen,” said Fliss. “She’s a regular member of the family now.” He ordered his lunch and Fliss, eating hers slowly so that he could catch up, contemplated him gravely. “You haven’t been in my house for six months,” she said. “My Lord, Cecily’s baby’s only three months old. We haven’t been able to go about.” “I know, but sometimes you surely could. When you and Matthew got so tied up with that mining business last winter I supposed it meant seeing a lot more of you. Instead it’s been less and less.” “Well, Cecily and I are going through the baby phase now.” “I know--but isn’t it possible that you are overdoing it?” Dick flushed a little, and Fliss leapt over his embarrassment. “It’s really bad for Cecily to be so tied down, you know.” “How can she help it?” “She should help it for her own sake. Don’t tell her I said so. It’s impudent enough to say it to you. Cecily has come to think I’m anathema.” “What nonsense!” “Truly. It began during war time. She couldn’t take the things I was doing seriously. Well, some of them weren’t too serious, but somebody had to do the cheering up! And now that the mess is all over she thinks we still ought to be long-faced. I won’t! I think we’re in for a good time. It isn’t going to help any of the poor boys who got theirs to be gloomy now.” “How do you know?” asked Dick, teasingly, lighting his cigarette.