When she spoke again it was to say: “When do you take the new place?” “Next month.” “I am so glad you will be your own master at last! Will you go in on a later train in the mornings, dear?” “I’ll take an earlier one.” “But then you’ll come out sooner in the afternoon?” “I’ll come out much later.” “Oh, oh!” she sighed, with the prevision of long hours of loneliness for herself. “At least, you can take more than that miserable two weeks’ holiday in the summer.” “My dear girl, I shall probably have no vacation at all. You don’t understand; I’ve got to work.” There was another pause. The fire was burning low, and the room had sunk into partial obscurity. She was the first to speak, as before, conquering anew the tremulousness in her voice: “Did you hear me say that Theodosia is coming next month?” “Yes. How long is she to stay?” “For all winter. She’s to study music, you remember?” “For all winter!” He sat up straight with the emphasis of his words. “Why, where will you put her?” “Oh, I’ll manage that. But I do wish we had a larger house; this is maddening sometimes.” “Perhaps we’ll be able to build some day.” “Oh, if we could really have our own house!” She paused, her imagination leaping forward to that future which is the summit of good to suburban dwellers, when the contracted space of a rented house can be changed for a roomy one honeycombed with impossible closets and lined with hard-wood floors throughout. “I know exactly how I should furnish it; I saw the loveliest things to-day in town.” Already the thought of brass and mahogany and Oriental rugs, rich in texture and delicious in coloring, filled her mind. To Lois, an intelligent and practical woman, the possession of money meant the opportunity to buy; the possession of yet more money would mean more opportunity to buy. To Justin, on the other hand, it meant the ability to pay; the comfort of being able to accede, with ease and promptness, to the demands upon him. Like most American husbands in his station, the sum spent upon house and family far exceeded in ratio his own personal expenses. There were a few luxuries which he casually looked forward to enjoying, but beyond this money represented to him pre-eminently further business possibilities, the power to play competently in the great game, with the result of a sufficient provision for his wife and children in case of his death. His heart leaped now at the thought of taking a front rank among the players. If in this next year—— “Do you think I had better buy the new rug when I go to town Friday, or wait until next month?” asked Lois suddenly. “You had better wait,” said Justin, with decision. He rose, and added: “You must go to bed, Lois.” She rose also, in obedience, and he kissed her officially. “Good night.” “You are not going to sit up later!” “Just a minute. I want to light the candle and look for something in this paper I forgot to notice earlier.”