Alice Duer Miller

“ Scarth inclined her pretty head on its slim throat and looked thoughtful. Few women, however domestic, have not wondered how their abilities would have succeeded in less sheltered fields of activity; and Clara as a young girl—perhaps under the influence of Emily's individualism—had not looked forward to matrimony as her only possible career. But that, she liked to think, proved that she had chosen the man and not the state.
The two women were having tea in the Scarths' drawing-room—a high, quiet room, not too large, filled with tall bookcases and firelight and fresh flowers. ”

“ Would any artist refuse to practice the art of which he was master for fear that it might unfit him for the practice of another which he would never acquire? Clara believed in her own art. She was content with what she gave, as well as with what she received. ”

“ Joyce looked at her with unusual seriousness. “My dear, he said, “you are wrong. You have undertaken a piece of work and you must put it through, not only on account of your contract, but on account of your own character. I am delighted that you and your husband are going to take up again a life that made you both so happy, but you must take it up the right way. Telegraph Stephen explaining why it is you cannot come home until—”
Illustration: “I love you so much,” she said, “that I cannot accept something you give to Frieda, to Emily, to almost any woman you meet. I must have your love.” ”

“ Some one reminded her that married people were partners.
“They seem to me rather more like confederates,” said Emily.
She was, however, very fond of her sister-in-law, who had been her schoolmate, and whom she had introduced to her brother: That was one of the troubles; she had imagined a wider future for Clara Joyce.
“Yes, Clara,” she would say, wagging her head, “I don't mean to flatter you unduly, but I believe you might have accomplished something even greater than making Stephen comfortable.” ”

“ The same effect designed for Clara's selfish pleasure would have been perfectly satisfactory to Emily. It annoyed her to think that her lovely sister-in-law used all her powers in nothing more positive than creating a background for Stephen's life. Stephen's life was very creditable—he was a public-spirited citizen and a good lawyer, but Emily did not consider making a background for him a full-time job for a grown woman. ”

“ But when she arrived at the Grand Central, she looked enviously at the kissing couples whom her train had reunited. At her own house the man who opened the door, said that Mr. Scarth had not come in yet. She was almost relieved to have an instant to get accustomed to her surroundings once again. The man added that Miss Scarth was in the drawing-room, and there she found Emily in hat and gloves, sitting behind Clara's own tea-table. She sprang up with a cry of surprise.
“Clara! Where in the world did you spring from?”
“Stephen did not tell you he had sent for me?” ”

“ Stephen had entered.
“You have come in time to defend yourself,” said his wife lightly. “Emily is attacking you as usual.”
Scarth was a man who exercised great power over women—not always agreeably to themselves. He was tall and nice-looking, but the charm of his looks lay in their suggestion of his dominating will. Masculine will appears to be as attractive to women as feminine beauty to men. ”

“ The New York papers, it appeared, had been giving a somewhat over-colored account of the lecture-tour—of the immense audiences, the riotous applause, the doors closed to men. Clara was glad to be able to put Emily right on these points. ”

“ She knows a little stenography, and she is absolutely fixed on going downtown.”
“I think I agree with her.”
“My dear, you are very ignorant of business life; a girl is absolutely without shelter—”
“Oh, Stephen, there are terrible dangers for women who choose to be sheltered.”
“Women go into these adventures like blind babies on a battlefield,” he went on, “and some man who loves them has to stand by with his hands folded.”
Clara stood up. ”

“ At such moments her will was hardly strong enough to keep her from taking the next train east.
Her lecture-tour was to take her away from the Joyces for several months; but after a few weeks she found herself in a neighboring town, and her uncle came over to hear her. Looking down from the platform, she saw his finely shaped head and folded arms in the front row. The audience was the largest she had had, and from the moment she raised her head and clasped her hands behind her,—her habitual position in speaking,—she knew that this audience was entirely hers ”

“ I waited almost. an hour before they let me see Frieda—the doctor was there. Then I sat with her a long time. It was after twelve when I reached the office. I found a large mail on my desk. I put it into a pigeonhole without opening it. Two clients I was told were waiting to see me. I stole out by the back way; I went to a florist's and sent Frieda some flowers. I was a long time in choosing them. Then I went to lunch, and after lunch I went back to the hospital, and I have been there ever since. How does my day compare with yours? ”

“ THERE were no problems great or small in the Scarths' married life—not because they were people unaware of the finer adjustments, but because the finer adjustments were all made.
“My brother and his wife remind me of the minstrels,” Emily Scarth used to say bitterly. “They are always doing what I believe is called in the theater feeding each other's parts. Their life is a mutual: 'Yes, Mr. ”