"Of course I do! What woman doesn't?" Milly retorted brightly, as she chucked the bunch of violets she had been wearing out of the cab window because they were somewhat wilted, and she added warningly, "I hate mean people!" He laughed good naturedly. * * * * * Their first misunderstanding came over the question where they were to live after their return from the European trip. It seems that Parker had already bought land far out on the north shore of the Lake in a new and promising neighborhood and proposed building a house there. Milly was ready enough to build: she had large plans for her new home. But she had set her mind on a lot on the Drive, a block from the Bowman place and two from the Gilberts--"the most desirable site in the city, every one says," she explained, "and so near all our friends." Parker tried to make her understand that fifty thousand dollars was altogether too much money to put into an "unproductive investment" like that. "You've got the money?" Milly demanded succinctly. He admitted it reluctantly. "Then I can't see why we shouldn't have the best." Milly, who had secret plans of running the great Bowman a social race, was thoroughly irritated at his obstinacy. They turned from the vacant lot, which they had been examining for the second time, and walked down the Drive at odds. "My property at Lakehurst has twice the frontage and only cost me ten thousand," the little man of means observed complacently. "I don't care if it cost only ten dollars," Milly pouted. "It's in the suburbs." "The city's growing that way fast." "It'll reach us when I'm an old woman!" "Before that I guess...." She dashed upstairs to her room, leaving her lover to the attentions of Mrs. Ridge. The old lady approved of Clarence Albert. They discussed religion together. They had the same Victorian standards and principles about life. This afternoon he confided to her the real estate trouble Milly and he had had. "I'm sure, Clarence, you are quite right, and Milly must learn to be more reasonable. The air will be so much cleaner out there." "And the cars come within a block now." "I'll speak to Milly about it." She did. "If you aren't careful, Milly," she warned her granddaughter, "you'll frighten him. You aren't married yet," she added meaningly. "He oughtn't to buy land without consulting me," Milly flared, forgetting that this transaction had taken place before her determination to become Mrs. Clarence Parker. "I think you are a very ungrateful girl," Mrs. Ridge observed, with pressed lips. "Oh, you always take the men's side, grandma!... Clarence isn't the only man in the world." "Better take care before it's too late," the old lady repeated warningly. "You don't treat Clarence as a girl should who is going to marry. He's an admirable young man." Mrs. Ridge ever croaked thus, foretelling disaster.