Kedzie, knowing nothing of Jim's call on Charity or of his new mood, chanced to be in a most unfortunate humor. She criticized Jim; she declined to be amused or entertained; rebuffed his advances, ridiculed his pretensions of love. She even chose to denounce his mother for her heartlessness, his sister for her neglect, his father for his snobbery. That is always bad business. It puts a husband at bay with his back against the foundation walls of loyalty. They quarreled wonderfully and slept dos-a-dos. They did not speak the next morning. The next afternoon Jim saw to his dismay that Kedzie was putting on her hat and gloves to go out on a shopping-cruise. If she went she would miss Charity's call. He knew that he ought not to tell her of Charity's visit in advance. In fact, Charity had pledged him to a benevolent conspiracy in the matter. He put up a flag of truce and resumed diplomatic relations. With the diplomatic cunning of a hippopotamus he tried to decoy Kedzie into staying at home awhile. His ponderous subtlety aroused Kedzie's suspicions, and at length he confirmed them by desperately confessing: “Mrs. Cheever is going to call.” Kedzie's first thought was of Peter Cheever's new wife, who had been taken up by a certain set of those whom one may call loose-principled or divinely tolerant, as one's own prejudices direct. Kedzie could not yet afford to be so forgiving. She flared up. “Mrs. Cheever! That Zada thing going to call on me? How dare she!” “Of course not.” “Oh, the other one, then?” “Yes.” “The abandoned one?” “That's pretty rough. She's been very kind to you and she wants to be again.” “Where did you learn so much?” “We were talking about you.” “Oh, you were, were you? That's nice! And where was all this?” He indulged in a concessive lie for the sake or the peace. “I met her in the street and walked along with her.” “Fine! And how did my name come to come up?” “It naturally would. I was saying that I wished she'd--er--I wished that you and she might be friends.” “So that you and she could see each other still oftener, I suppose.” “It's rotten of you to say that.” “And it's rottener of you to go talking to another woman about your wife.” “But it was in the friendliest spirit, and she took it so.” “I see! Her first name is Charity and I'm to be one of her patients. Well, you can receive her yourself. I don't want any of her old alms! I won't be here!” “Oh yes, you will!” “Oh no, I won't!” “You can't be as ill-mannered as that!” “You talk to me of manners! Why, I've seen manners in your gang that would disgrace a brakeman and a lunch-counter girl on one of dad's railroads.” Her father already had railroads! So many people had them in the crowd she met that Kedzie was not strong enough to deny her father one or two.