"Was ever woman in this humor won!" drawled Lydia, as she led the way into Number Thirteen, Kelly’s old flat. "I must say, Janet, I’m not much impressed with Robert’s 1921 revision of the Lord of Burleigh stunt. Like all modern versions of fine old idylls, it’s gingerbread without the ginger. Give me the village painter who leads his sweetheart to a palace! There’s the thrill that comes but once in a lifetime. But fancy a millionaire taking his bride to a Kips Bay model tenement—and Number Thirteen at that!" "You forget," said Robert, who, with Pryor, had followed the ladies in. "You forget that ’_leiser Nachhall längst verklungner Lieder, zieht mit Erinnenings-Schauer durch die Brust_." "Which means, I take it," Pryor said: "’I saw her then, as I see her yet, With the rose she wore, when first we met.’" "Pooh! Male parsimony disguised as Teuton sentiment," said Lydia. "Don’t be put upon, Janet, by this _love-in-a-tenement_ stuff. Let me give you a tip. Laurence Twickenham, my publisher, has just put his Long Island home on the market. He says that the ruinous royalties he’s compelled to pay me do not permit him to keep up an expensive establishment. It’s a perfectly gorgeous estate, right next to mine, and not too far from New York. Do make Robert buy it and settle down to a useful life as a country gentleman." "What! Foster his mania for hearth and home?" cried Janet, laughing. "Catch me! Nowadays men are almost incurably domestic, as it is." "Well, what _are_ you children going to do?" "Children!" said Robert, coming forward, and lecturing Lydia with gusto. "None of your wiseacre airs, Lydia. Our program will show you that we know our own minds. Hear ye! We shall be married as soon as Janet can get a day off. After the ceremony Janet will return to her job of running the Susan B. Anthony House; I shall return to my job of trying to make America safe for those who don’t happen to be grafters, parasites, or profiteers. During the better part of the year, our offices will be in the Kips Bay tenements here, Numbers Thirteen and Fifteen, respectively—we shall toss up to see who gets which. No attempt on the part of either to impose his or her friends, diet, hygiene, or recreations upon the other without consent, will be tolerated for a moment. Each is to be absolute master in what may jointly be agreed upon to be his own domain, provided only that Janet is to darn all my socks or buy new pairs as fast as the big toe protrudes. At the end of nine months, we shall both be ready for a trip to—" "To Sweden," Janet put in softly, going to his side and caressing his arm. "To Sweden!" exclaimed Lydia, while Charlotte and Pryor laughed at her bewilderment. "To the psychopathic ward, if you ask _me_!" * * * * * * * * *BY FELIX GRENDON* WILL HE COME BACK? A Play NIXOLA OF WALL STREET A Novel