And yet do you know what he gave me while I was with him? I wonder if women feel it commonly? It was a desire for _motherhood_--a curiously vivid and very definite longing--entirely irrespective of him, you understand, although he inspired it. Without loving him or being at all moved toward him, he made me sheerly _want_ to be a mother! Or is it only that men we don't love make us feel motherly? Am I wholly irrational and selfish and bad, or what am I? I know you'll love me, whatever it is, and I wish now I could snuggle on that soft, cushiony shoulder of yours and go to sleep. Can anything be more pitiful than "a fine old family" afflicted with _dry-rot_ like ours? I'm always amused when I read about the suffering in the tenements. The real anguish is up in the homes like ours. We have _to do without so very many more things,_ and mere hunger and cold are easy compared to the suffering we feel. Perhaps when I'm back to that struggle for appearances, I'll relent and "barter my charms" as the old novels used to say, sanely and decently like a well brought-up New York girl--_with certain reservations,_ to a man who can support the family in the style to which it wants to become accustomed. Yet there may be a way out. There is a Bines daughter, for example, and mamma, who never does one half where she can as well do two, will marry her to Fred if she can. On the other hand, Joe Drelmer was putting in words for young Mauburn, who will be Lord Casselthorpe when his disreputable old uncle dies. She hasn't yet spent what she got for introducing the Canovass prince to that oldest Elarton girl, so if she secures this prize for Mauburn, she'll be comfortable for a couple of more years. Perhaps I could turn my hand to something like that. I know the ropes as well as she does. There, it _is_ a punishment of a letter, isn't it, dear? But I've known _every bad place in it,_ and I've religiously put in your "Come, come, child!" every time it belonged, so you've not still to scold me, for which be comforted a little; and give me only a few words of cheerful approval if your conscience will let you. I need that, after all, more than advice. Look for us in a week. With a bear-hug for you, AVICE. P.S. Is it true that Ned Ristine and his wife have fixed it up and are together again since his return? Not that I'm interested especially, but I chanced to hear it gossiped the other day here on the car. Indeed, I hope you know _how thoroughly I detest that man_! CHAPTER X. The Price of Averting a Scandal