“ Do you realize that it was a year of laissez faire, of revelation, of laxity and acquiescence in relaxation, a year of paradox, of ceremony sans façon, of schooling oneself to overlook and accept, of an education in morals and their immoral variations? How aloof have we kept ourselves from what we have learned to tolerate?—and how much was due to fastidiousness, how much to expediency, how much to common sense, and how much to spiritual conviction?"
"Does your conscience really trouble you?" asked Silvette anxiously.
"No; only in regard to Jim Edgerton. ”

“ Dineen followed, and Jack and his father retired to their suite, and Silvette and Diana went to theirs.
"Little sister," whispered Silvette, leaning over Diana's pillow, where she lay, eyes closed; "are you any happier than you were this morning?"
"Yes."
"Very much?"
"Very much."
And that was all. Silvette looked down at the white face and closed eyes, sighed, and extinguished the night light.
The eyes of happiness close only in sleep, or in the arms of the best beloved. ”

“ She often thought, too, about this new friendship of his for Christine Rivett. It perplexed her, saddened, irritated her by turns, and it distressed her to even question his motives.
But Silvette said one evening, after they had undressed and the maid had left:
"Wouldn't it be odd if Jim married that girl?"
"'Wouldn't it be odd if Jim married that girl?'" "Married—her?" repeated Diana, startled out of a reverie not entirely happy.
"He's becoming very attentive to her. She is pretty, of course," Silvette smiled.
"Why shouldn't he marry her if he finds that he cares for her?" ”

“ She met his eye calmly for a moment, then looked at her sister.
"Do you think it a decent thing to do?" she asked; "our making plans to live on Mr. Edgerton?"
"Good heavens!" he said impatiently, "my being part of a family combination isn't going to alter your success in any way."
"Your name makes it sure."
"Your youth and beauty and good breeding make it sure. My name has nothing to do with it."
"Then why do you propose it?"
He laughed. "Because I've got to make a living, too."
"There are less humiliating ways of making a living—for you," said Diana steadily. ”

“ Rivett, and preferred her room in the pretty suite to which he had invited Silvette and herself; and there she sat in her silken dinner gown, sunk into the velvety depths of a chair, watching the city lights from the window, waiting, listening—always listening with a hope that died and lived with her unquiet breathing; fading, flowering, waxing, waning, dead and alive between two heartbeats—the hope forever new—the only living thing which cannot die while the sad world endures. ”

“ The day of his bitter outbreak when riding with Diana, Edgerton, terribly ashamed of himself, had gone once more to her and admitted that her rebuke was a just one; that he was an ungrateful dog, disloyal to the hand that fed him, and not worthy of Diana's regard.
And the girl had forgiven him very sweetly, not with much enthusiasm, for his rapidly advancing intimacy with Christine had begun to perplex her, nor could she exactly understand his apparently happy acquiescence in conditions lately so irritating. ”

“ She did not seem to notice it or his silence.
"Nonsense," she laughed; "a girl, with any humor, simply couldn't love such a man, even if she wanted to, Jim. Because, how can she respect him? ... You're a dear, generous fellow—nice to everybody, perfectly sweet to Silvette and to me, and I do like you—even love you, in a certain sense—and I didn't really mind being kissed any more than as though Silvette had done it. But I'm simply not fashioned to lose my head over a man who is hired by the month to be socially pleasant." ”

“ Silvette sprang to her feet and kissed her; Jack seized her with determination, and made no ceremony about it.
Then Diana walked straight up to Mr. Rivett, and held out both hands; and the little man kissed her grimly.
Mr. Dineen's blue eye sparkled; she looked at the big, jolly Irishman, audaciously delighted.
"What man has done, man may do," she said.
"Faith, I'll see if a woman can do it, too!" he said, saluting her with all the reckless grace of his race.
Then Edgerton's hand was shaken and his shoulder patted, and Jack summoned legions of waiters from the regions below. ”

“ It's probably good fun," commented Edgerton.
"What? Slaving for others just when you are all ready for real happiness?"
"That's happiness, or nobody would do it—not even those birds."
"It's instinct!"
"Maybe with birds. Instincts are all right for birds, but we humans are usually arrested when we follow our instincts."
She laughed. "That is true; it's neither instinct nor happiness that makes us slaves to babies:—it's duty."
"If that were all it is," he said, "the state would be nourishing the majority of infants. No; it's probably fun, Diana. That's the only possible explanation." ”

“ For Colonel Follis Curmew had for days, now, been carefully preparing the way for something he meant to say to Diana. He was a cautious man with women; he reconnoitered by degrees, inch by inch, carefully watching effect. Hint, innuendo, double meanings, sly feelers, veiled intent, was the strategy he usually employed at first, skirmishing as close to the dead line as he dared; furtive, alert, ready always for a brilliant and resistless climax at the psychological moment. ”

“ To take him away from Christine had not been her object; she had no idea that he was interested in anybody except herself. She was perfectly confident that, given half a chance, men preferred her to any other woman; and there was really no particular malice in her desire to give Scott Wallace an opportunity to follow at her heels instead of Diana's.
For Mrs. Wemyss really needed nothing of men except admiration and uninterrupted attention. No deeper passion had ever moved her. She was ignorant of love, although apparently fashioned for it ”

“ So they strolled along the river path, fragrant with mint and vine and blossom; and presently the cool green of the woods enveloped them, and their feet pressed the moist, springy leaves of a forest path that led over little brooks and up a slope of young growth, all checkered with sun spots, to a vast overhanging ledge of rocks.
"Just look at that moss!" exclaimed Diana. "I believe I'll sit down on it this minute. Jim, do sit down. It's like velvet, and there's miles of it; and here is the most enchanting silver birch tree for my back to rest on, and some wood lilies to look at.... ”

“ Rivett took in Diana, his son Silvette. The name of Edgerton had counted heavily.
"Mr. Rivett took in Diana, his son Silvette." In the dining room everything was grossly overdone except the cookery—the sort of thing most calculated to annoy and bore the very man most accustomed to it in town; profusion akin to the plethora which offends; effort impossible to disguise which stirs even in the most good-natured and generous an unwilling contempt. ”

“ You have annoyed me enough already."
"By asking you to set a definite date for our impending marriage?"
"It is not impending!" she retorted, exasperated, as Diana and Wallace came out together and walked toward the farther end of the terrace.
"Do you refuse to marry me?"
"Yes, I do; I am sorry. I really cannot help how you feel about it. This year of liberty has been a year of happiness. I don't wish to marry. I don't know when I may wish to. I am perfectly contented; and that's the truth, Billy." ”

“ Diana said, gravely:
"We have several hundred dollars. Would you be kind enough to let us offer you what you require for immediate use until——"
"Why, you blessed child!" he said, laughing, "that isn't what worries me now!"
"Then—what is it?" inquired Silvette.
"You and your sister."
"What do you mean, Mr. Edgerton?"
"I mean that I'm worried over your prospects!"
"Why, they are perfectly bright!" exclaimed Diana; "In a few days somebody will employ us to help entertain a number of stupid and wealthy people. We'll make a great deal of money, I expect; don't you, Silvie?" ”

“ But Edgerton checked him in a perfectly friendly manner.
"You are helping me," he said; "that's why I'm going about my business. Success to yours, Billy. Good-by! I'll be back"—glancing around the familiar room—"sometime or other; back here and around town, everywhere, as usual," he added confidently; and the haunted look faded. He smiled and nodded with a slight gesture of adieu, picked up his suit cases, and, with another friendly shake of his head for the offers of servants' assistance, walked out into the sunshine of Fifth Avenue, and west toward his own abode in Fifty-sixth Street. ”

“ Already he had spoken of little Aliss Ellis—a mere child, of course—yet—yet it was a straw prophesying a change in the wind to her.
She knew; she had accomplished what she had desired. She had done this thing to herself, to her whole life, for his sake. What more could she wish for?
Sick at heart, she lifted her throbbing head and kissed his name once more where she had written it on the envelope. Then she placed it on the desk, and lay down on the bed to wait for Silvette before ringing for the maid who attended them; and after a little while she fell asleep. ”

“ Edgerton said to Diana: "Don't you want me?"
She replied slowly: "I—don't—know," looked up at him, straight at him, thoughtfully.
"People may come at any time after two o'clock," said Silvette. "If they find you in flowered silk and a butterfly sash and me in a pigtail, they will certainly expect dances from us and probably Punch and Judy from our cousin."
She laughed, and extended her hand to Edgerton.
"I like you, cousin; Diane does, too. When you're dressed in your best, come back to the studio and we'll arrive at some kind of a conclusion." ”

“ They wended their way down the mountain in silence—Diana, grave and apparently tired; Wallace smiling slightly, and glancing at her from moment to moment; Colonel Curmew pop-eyed, expressionless, curling his mustache with gloved fingers.
He was furious with Diana, with Wallace, with himself. Yet even he could not see how he might have resented the young man's intrusion otherwise than by the lack of cordiality which he had certainly manifested. Besides Diana had invited him to remain with them. Of what low tricks women are capable! ”

“ What does that matter!" said Diana hotly. "It never stopped a thoroughbred from mating. He can afford to love where he chooses, I fancy."
"Or marry what he chooses, anyway."
"Silvie! Do you imagine he'd do a thing like that—not loving her!"
"I don't know," said Silvette coolly; "he's a dear boy, and nice to us, but I don't credit him with superhuman qualities.... And she inherits millions."
"It isn't in him to do it.... And there are plenty of his own sort who would be glad enough——"
"Why do you become so animated, Di? Have you noticed any particular strength of character in Jim Edgerton?" ”

“ Men of his kind who stand for almost anything in outsiders are finicky about their own relatives. They really don't care what imprudence other people commit; they may even admire it—even do it themselves—but there's a difference as soon as it involves one of the family. I've an idea he is like that."
"Isn't it stretching a thin tie of kinship too far to speak of Jim Edgerton and ourselves in a family sense? Are you and I not rather inclined to abuse that word cousin, Diana?" ”

“ Does it, Mr. Edgerton? Or am I only frivolous?"
After their laughter had ceased, and their breath had returned, he said: "Wherever we go—whoever employs us—the other guests will suppose us to be guests, too. Only the guilty millionaire from outer darkness with a new house on Fifth Avenue and a newer one in the country will know."
Silvette said: "Do you realize that it is perfectly dear of you to propose such a thing?"
Diana said nothing.
Silvette went on: "I know perfectly well and you know, too—that your name would be worth almost anything to the wealthy snob who employs us." ”

“ What on earth do you think a New Yorker is?"
"We've seen some," said Diana meaningly. "Several came here in answer to our advertisement. But we knew, of course, that your type existed, too."
"Have you been—annoyed?"
Silvette laughed. "One man, of very red complexion, inquired if Diana would act as his housekeeper. He had several country places, he said."
"There was a woman came; we didn't care for her," added Diana thoughtfully. Then, lifting her head, she looked at Edgerton with a gaze so pure and sweet, so exquisitely candid, that he felt his heart stop for a moment. ”

“ For another thing, his ear had caught a low, rhythmical sound from the mantel in his bedroom. It was his frivolous Sèvres clock ticking as indiscreetly as it had ever ticked in the boudoir of its gayly patched and powdered mistress a hundred and fifty years ago—which was disturbing to Edgerton, as he had been away for a year, and had left his apartment locked up with orders to Kenna, the janitor, to keep out until otherwise instructed by letter or cable. ”