“‘There’s nothing to tell,’ said he, ‘except that as you know, Harry is a fine fellow and a good entertainer, and I needed him to help to take care of that jolly little party and I must say that he was a success. Ah, yes—Harry is a prime favorite, and you, my little girl, should be proud to know that since he has been so unfortunate as to lose every dollar of his own that he can yet be of such service to me that I can afford to pay him a princely sum for his good qualities.’ “‘Lost every dollar! why, what do you mean Mr. ⸺?’ “‘I mean that unfortunate speculation has caused your husband to—to—Ah, well never mind, little girl, I did not come here to tell you bad news, but, rather to comfort and assist you. Come, come, cheer up,’ he said, as he laid his hand on my bowed head in a kindly manner. “‘But I implore you to tell all. All, everything!’ “‘Yes, let the worst be known. It is I who can help him most, I, his wife who has shared his comforts during days of plenty who must now cling to him in his penniless misery.’ “‘Oh, come now, don’t take it so hard, it is not so bad as that; he can make a very comfortable living for you and the baby.’ “‘But how? He has no money,—no business,—no position.’ “‘Have I not just told you that as an entertainer he was valuable? I can use him to good advantage. You see, little girl, I travel much, have many horses, and consequently many followers. During racing season I sometimes have a full carload of ladies and gentlemen going where I go and backing my horses, and we entertain the hosts who gather at the race tracks.’ “‘Oh, you are so kind, sir; and we can travel and help you,’ I said eagerly. “‘Well, yes, or rather Harry can, but you see, little girl, you must not want to go.’ “‘Why not, why cannot I go too? I will do all I can to help; I want to go with Harry, and I know he will want me.’ “‘Yes, all that is true, but you can see, my dear girl, the people we have are—well—at any rate you might not like them.’ “‘But I will try, I will do all I can to make them like me.’ “‘Yes, I know,—but the truth of the matter is they are not fit for you to associate with.’ “‘Not fit—why, what do you mean? Not fit companions for me and yet my husband is to become your hireling and mingle with them.’ “My blood boiled, my heart seemed to leap to my throat, while my temples throbbed until my head was in a whirl. “‘Oh, but you see that is another matter,’ said my caller. ‘With your husband going it is simply a business proposition, while with you, to say the least, it would ruin your reputation.’ “‘And my husband’s name, how about that? Is that not to be considered? Am I to sit at home idle and permit my husband to join a party of men and women whose companionship is of such a nature as would ruin a decent woman who happened to be in their company? No! no, Mr. ⸺, if the company is unfit for me, it is not good enough for him.’ “‘But you must live.’ “‘Yes, but not on the price of my husband’s honor.’