Just as he was going out, Mollie, the maidservant, came in and said: “It’s Miss Vernon, ma’am.” “Oh,” said Clare. She glanced at her husband for a moment and theft said: “Well, bring her in, Mollie.” “Yes, ma’am,” said Mollie, going out of the room again. “Great Scott!” exclaimed Herbert, in a sudden excitement. “It’s that woman who flings her beastly orange-peel into my window boxes. Clare, I strongly object----” Clare answered him a little passionately: “Oh, I am tired of your objections.” “She’s not a respectable character,” said Herbert. “Hush, Herbert!” said Mrs. Heywood. As she spoke the girl who had been called Madge Vernon entered the room. She was a bright, cheery girl, dressed plainly in a tailor-made coat and skirt, with brown boots. “I thought I would look in for half-an-hour,” she said very cheerfully to Clare. “If you are busy, send me packing, my dear.” “I am never busy,” said Clare. “I have nothing in the world to do.” “Oh, that’s rotten!” said Madge. “Can’t you invent something? How are you, Mrs. Heywood?” She shook hands with the old lady, who answered her greeting with a rather grim “Good evening.” “Herbert is going out to-night,” said Clare. “By the way, you don’t know my husband.” Madge Vernon looked at Herbert Heywood very sweetly. “I have heard him singing. How do you do?” Herbert was not at all pleased with her sweetness. “Excuse me, won’t you?” he said. “I am just off to my club.” “Don’t you take your wife with you?” asked Miss Vernon. “My wife! It’s a man’s club.” “Oh, I see. Men only. Rather selfish, isn’t it?” Herbert Heywood was frankly astonished. “Selfish? Why selfish? Well, I won’t stop to argue the point. Good-night, Clare. Doubtless you will enjoy Miss Vernon’s remarkable and revolutionary ideas.” “I am sure I shall,” said Clare. Mrs. Heywood followed her son to the door. “Be sure you put a muffler round your neck, dear.” Herbert answered his mother in a low voice, looking fiercely at Madge Vernon. “I should like to twist it round somebody else’s neck!” “I will come and find it for you, dear.” The two young women were left alone together, and Clare brought forward a chair. “Sit down, won’t you? Here?” A moment later the front door was heard to hang and at the sound of it Madge laughed a little. “Funny things, husbands! I am sure I shouldn’t know what to do with one.” Clare smiled wanly. “One can’t do anything with them.” “By the by,” said Madge, “I have brought a new pamphlet for you. The ‘Rights of Wives.’” Clare took the small book nervously, as though it were a bomb which might go off at any moment. “I have been reading those other pamphlets.” “Pretty good, eh?” said Madge, laughing. “Eye-openers! What?” “They alarm me a little,” said Clare. “Alarm you?” Madge Vernon was immensely amused. “Why, they don’t bite!” “Yes, they do,” said Clare. “Here.” She put her hand to her head as if it had been wounded.