In proportion, as Frances' popularity increased among the men, it declined among the women, of whose opinion she was arrogantly indifferent, and delighted in nothing save the numerous conquests upon others.

In all the world there was but one being beside herself, for whom her selfish heart held the slightest affection, and that was her reckless, undisciplined brother. In spite of Gerald's faults she doted upon him a blind, unreasoning idolatry and petted and spoiled him accordingly - Jerry could do no wrong. It was through the fondness of her brother that Adoni hoped to awaken her interest in the fate of Lillian's and Gerald's child.

After they had finished their quiet meal and the breakfast service had been removed by the maid, Adoni related the story of Lillian's betrayal and her brother's perfidy but could not finish as Frances interrupted him angrily.

"And you are foolish enough to believe all that designing girl tells you? Who is she, pray?

That you should take her word for such a lie! Until Gerald has admitted his parentage you may be sure that I shall refuse to credit it."

"You are mistaken, Frances; the girl is not that type. She has always borne an excellent reputation and was before meeting Gerald, entirely unsophisticated. Her mother is a widow, in straitened circumstances. Lillian is obliged to earn her own livelihood. Do you think it would be fair and honorable to lay upon her frail shoulders the support of Gerald's child?"

'Gerald's child! Haven't I told you that I would not believe my brother guilty of this outrage? No doubt the girl is trying to get money or position or both and is taking this way to do it, playing the part of injured innocence, but she can't impose upon me; it's an old trick and she'll find that Jerry isn't an easy mark."

"Frances, if you could be convinced beyond the shadow of a doubt, through Gerald's own admission, that he was the father of the child unborn, would you interest yourself in Lillian's behalf? Use your influence with Gerald to provide for the child's maintenance?"

"I don't see why you should expect me to meddle in Gerald's affairs."

"Why not? It is your duty as his sister to awaken Gerald to a sense of justice and seek to assist this unfortunate girl."

Frances shrugged her shoulders with petulant impatience. "Oh! I'm tired of your everlasting preaching. It seems, instead of a lecture, I am being treated to a regular sermon. Cut it short.

I have an important engagement with my dressmaker* at eleven o'clock. Have you anything more to say?"

Adoni's face flushed but he answered calmly. 'Yes, more to say about Gerald and much more in regard to our own affairs. Matters that must be settled at once, and for all time. You will kindly keep your seat and hear what I have to say, so that you may be able to choose just what to do?"

"Choose I Well, I choose not to have anything to do with this disgraceful thing you are trying to saddle on Jerry. It's a wonder that you do not suggest that he should marry this low-born creature."

"You already know my ideas on marriage, so we will not discuss that."

"Oh, yes, we will discuss that question right now. I have waited for an opportunity to tell you that your talk yesterday at the Ralston wedding was outrageously distasteful to any sane mind, considering that everybody knows that our marriage is not one of those sublimated, ideal unions you ranted about."

"You will do me justice to admit that it is through no word or action of mine that people are aware of the true state of affairs between us, which I regret very much but if it is your idea, that because they know of our unfortunate relation that I must forbear to warn others against a like fate then I must disagree with you."

"Oh! Frances," begged Adoni, rising and coming to her gently laying his hand upon her head, "why will you be so perverse? Try to understand and consider my side of the case. Can you not see that I cannot go on being placed in a false position? That I must preach and above all, must live my convictions? Listen, dear, I have been thinking everything over very seriously and know that we cannot go on this way any longer; at least I cannot. There must be a re-adjustment and I had thought, Frances, that we might take this little child of Gerald's into our home, into our hearts; you, perhaps, would learn to love it - and that love would create, no doubt, a holy desire of motherhood in you. Then everything would be transformed between us, if we had children of our own, and saw our features blended in tender beauty upon a baby face. Our hearts would be linked with sad experiences and shared responsibilities, which would change this tie that binds us into a true marriage bond, and help us, if not to regain our lost paradise, to attain at least a more peaceful and harmonious relation."

Adoni ceased to speak for a few moments, watching Frances with eager intentness. Her face flushed and her eyes flashed into his an angry look of defiance, revealing the attitude of mind. Her voice trembled as she began. "I thought that subject was settled between us. How many times must I impress upon your mind that if you wanted merely a housekeeper or some one to bear you children, you should have married a woman of the 'common garden variety' - but instead you chose me, who could have kings of the financial world at her feet; artists raving over my beauty and begging to paint my portrait.

"You feign to ignore all this and consider what you are pleased to call an artificial bond between us from your view. You forget entirely that I have a reputation to maintain and do not propose to sacrifice my health and beauty, bearing and rearing children - children - children indeed! Great heavens, there are too many in the world as it is; neglected and ill-trained waifs, thousands that--------"

"Need a home," interrupted Adoni, "and I had fondly hoped that you would be willing to give one of the unfortunate ones a home."