Men--ah, yes, there are always men, and many of them like as well as admire me. But there is a subtle something that affects every man's thought of a woman of whom women disapprove. They don't condemn me--ah, a man can be generous!--they imagine they allow for women's jealousies; but deep in their hearts lies hid the suspicion that only women are qualified judges of women. They respect me, but they reserve judgment; and they do not wholly respect themselves, for in order to see me, they evade their lawful guardians--their wives and mothers. It may have been the wine--I overheard two young cads making free of my house to discuss my affairs. "Mrs. Terry really dragged Hughy out of town?" one of them asked, assuming a familiarity with Bellmer that I suspect he cannot claim. "Guess so; he's playing horse with old Bellmer's money; always wrong side of the betting." "Needs Keeley cure. Good natured cuss; wonder if the Winship'll get him." "Lay ye three to one--say twenties--that he gets away, like that Strathay--" I addressed some smiling speech to the wretches, but through the whole evening my cheeks did not cease to burn. When the last guest had gone, tired and hysterical as she was, Mrs. Whitney began a long tirade. "It must be stopped! It must be stopped!" she cried, pacing back and forth. The blaze of anger improved her. She must have been a handsome woman once--tall and slender, with fine dark eyes that roll about dramatically. "I don't see what there is to stop," I said, perversity taking possession of me, though at heart I quite agreed with her estimate of the evening. "The object of an entertainment being to entertain, why shouldn't the men I know come to ours? If they stayed away, you'd be disappointed; but when they come, as they did to-night, you're frightened, or pretend to be." "I'm not frightened; I'm appalled. I don't mean Mr. Burke, though he's a detrimental--and, by the way, he was as much distressed to-night as I was. I mean the men who have families--wives and daughters! Why didn't they bring 'em--or stay away?" "I'd thank John Burke to mind his own business," I cried hotly. "He doesn't have to come here unless he wants to." "There is only one way," she went on, as if speaking to herself, pacing the floor and fanning herself violently--for her face, and especially her nose, was as red as a beet; she really laces disgracefully--"there's only one way; I must fall ill at once. I must have nervous prostration, or--it's nearly June. I shall leave town. Heavens! What a night!" "You're assuming a great deal. Our arrangements were made by two, and are hardly to be broken by one. You can't agree to matronize me--let me buy furniture for you, and then abandon me, cut off my social opportunities--leave me--" "Social opportunity! Social collapse! Disgrace! Why, your prospects were really extraordinary. But now! Where was Meg to-night? Where was Mrs. Marmaduke? Why did my own sister-in-law stay away?" "I don't know; do you?"