“That he gladly bartered his collection for mine. Somehow, we haven’t been very good friends since. I often think things might have turned out very differently if he hadn’t bought that camera;” and she sighed, softly. “Well, girls,” said the president, “I am afraid that we must adjourn, though I had hoped we might find time for a social session after the day’s work was concluded. However, I promised both Tom and the dressmaker that I’d meet them at five o’clock. She won’t wait, and he will; so I—” “But why not make him go to the dressmaker’s with you,” said the brown-eyed blonde. “Because I want to tell him just what I think of his behavior—smoking in the drawing-room, just because I happened to be out. If he once heard Madame contradict me in the way she does, I could never hope to produce any impression on him again.” Emily and Dorothy walked home in silence, and the former noticed, with alarm, that Dorothy did not attempt to protect her skirts from the mud. When they reached her door, she turned and said: “If I am not here when you come to-morrow, you may know that I have gone to take up social settlement work, and devote my time to the poor. If you never see me again, you may know that I forgive all my enemies. It may make Frances feel better, though I must say that she does not deserve it.” “And Jack, dear; what shall I say to him?” “If it is any comfort to him, you might say that I do not regret my fruitless efforts to make peace with him. I hope you will think of me sometimes at work among the poor and the afflicted. And now, good-bye—perhaps forever!” Emily had walked perhaps a block, when she heard her name called once more. “Yes, what is it,” she said. “If you know any one who wants a nice little dog, send him to me. I—” “What! You surely don’t mean Clover?” “I just do. After what has happened to-day, I never want to see the little beast again! And, Emily—!” “Yes, dear.” “If you were in my place, would you wear the blue or the geranium pink gown at the dance to-night?” Chapter X Woman as a Parliamentarian “Oh, dear me,” said the president, “I don’t see why men can never understand things.” “H’m,” said the brown-eyed blonde. “Are we to understand that you have just discovered that fact?” “Of course not,” said the president, “but I’ve just had an argument with my husband—that’s why I am late to-day, girls. He will insist that this club ought to have a constitution and by-laws, and a lot of other unnecessary things, in spite of the fact that we get along nicely just as well without them.” “I suppose he would like to draft them for us,” said the girl with the dimple in her chin. “That is always the way with men. When they see women doing anything well they always want to come in, and take the credit of it.”