“Well, then,” said Madge, “there is the devil to pay!” “Dear God!” she cried. “You see, it’s like this. If a woman has no child she gets bored... . She can’t help getting bored, poor soul. Her husband is so devoted to her that he provides her with every opportunity for getting bored--extra servants, extra little luxuries, and what he calls a beautiful little home. Ugh!” She stared round the room and made a face. “He is so intent on this that he nearly works himself to death. Comes home with business thoughts in his head. Doesn’t notice his wife’s wistful eyes, and probably dozes off to sleep after supper. Isn’t that so?” “Yes,” said Clare. “Horribly so.” “Well, then, having got bored, she gets emotional. Of course the husband doesn’t notice that either. _He’s_ not emotional. He is only wondering how to make both ends meet. But when his wife begins to get emotional, when she feels that something has broken here” (she put her hand to her heart), “when she feels like crying at unexpected moments and laughing at the wrong time, why then----” “What?” asked Clare. “Why, then, it’s about time the husband began to notice things, or things will begin to happen to his wife which he won’t jolly well like. That’s all!” Clare Heywood searched her friend’s face with hungry eyes. “Why, what will his wife do?” “Well, there are various alternatives. She either takes to religion----” “Ah!” said Clare, flushing a little. “Or to drink----” “Oh, no!” said Clare, shuddering a little. “Or to some other kind of man,” said Madge very calmly. Clare Hey wood was agitated and alarmed. “How do you know these things?” she asked. “Oh, I’ve studied ‘em,” said Madge Vernon cheerfully. “Of course there’s always another alternative.” “What’s that?” asked Clare eagerly. “Work,” said Madge Vernon solemnly. “What kind of work?” “Oh, any kind, so long as it’s absorbing and satisfying. Personally I like breaking things. One must always begin by breaking before one begins building. But it’s very exciting.” “It must be terribly exciting.” “For instance,” said Madge, laughing quietly, “it’s good to hear a pane of glass go crack.” “How does it make you feel?” asked Clare Heywood. “Oh,” said Madge, “it gives one a jolly feeling down the spine. You should try it.” “I daren’t,” said Clare. “It would do you a lot of good. It would get rid of your megrims. Besides, it’s in a good cause.” “I am not so sure of that,” said Clare. “It’s in the cause of woman’s liberty. It’s in the cause of all these suburban wives imprisoned in these stuffy little homes. It lets in God’s fresh air.” Clare rose and moved about the room. “It’s very stuffy in here,” she said. “It’s stifling.” At this moment Mollie came in the room again, and smiled across at her mistress, saying: “Mr. Bradshaw to see you, ma’am.” Clare was obviously agitated. She showed signs of embarrassment, and her voice trembled when she said: “Tell him--tell him I’m engaged.”