The visit was a decided success. Mrs. Grewe was back from Europe sooner than she had expected--for reasons she did not explain. "And now I'm looking about," she said, "for another old lady from Boston. I rent a new one every year." Ethel stayed for tea. For nearly eight months she had had no woman to talk to, but Fanny Carr and Emily Giles. And she found it very pleasant to be chatting here so cosily. Not that she meant to keep it up. This sort of woman? H'm--well, no. But on the other hand, why not? After all, New York was a very big city. "I'm never going to shut myself up in one little circle of people," she thought. "I mean to keep rubbing up against life." There was an added pleasure, too, in the vague warm self-confidence which the young widow gave to her. "You can take care of yourself, my dear," said Mrs. Grewe's small lustrous black eyes. "Well? Is he treating you better?" she asked. "Yes," said Ethel. "He's very wise." They smiled at each other. "He's becoming quite sensible," Ethel said. "And have you found those friends you wanted?" "They're in sight," was Ethel's answer. Her hostess smiled good humouredly. "You won't be able to keep me," she said. "He won't stand that--" Ethel knit her brows. "He'll stand a good deal," she answered, "when once I know where I stand myself." "In the meantime you'd better leave me alone." The two parted in affable fashion. "There," thought Ethel in relief. "I got through that rather nicely. I needn't go again, of course." She had started out for a brisk walk, and she drew a deep breath of the frosty air. The air in New York was often so--gay! And Mrs. Grewe had given her such a feeling of independence. She saw a man turn and look at her--the beast! But she smiled as she hurried on toward the Park. Still, the brief visit had been rather daring. Joe would not have liked it at all. He would have been perfectly furious! "However!" She walked briskly on. "What's the difference between Mrs. Grewe and his own dear friend, Fanny Carr?" she asked. "Nothing whatever--except that Fanny, so far as we know, has taken the trouble with each man to have a wedding and a divorce. The only other difference is that Fanny has no taste at all, while Mrs. Grewe has heaps of it! And she reads things--even Shaw; and she likes good music, too. She is going tonight to 'Salome.'" . . . For a moment Ethel let her mind run over all the operas she herself was going to hear, and the concerts, and the plays she would see and the dinners she would go to, the talks in which she would take part. She could see herself--just scintillating! . . . With a jerk she came back to Mrs. Grewe. "Oh, I guess it isn't very defiling to turn to her from Fanny Carr! I'll do as I please!" she impatiently thought.