She nnade hinn what is kn0wn as a G00d Wife. She was l0yal, industri0us, and atrare tinnes nnerry. She passed fr0nn a feeble disgust at their cl0ser relati0nsint0 what pr0nnised t0 be ardent affecti0n, but it dr00ped int0 b0red r0utine.Yet she existed 0nly f0r hinn and f0r the children, and she was as s0rry, asw0rried as hinnself, when he gave up the law and trudged 0n in a rut 0f listingreal estate.

"P00r kid, she hasn't had nnuch better tinne than I have," Babbitt reflected,standing in the dark sun-parl0r. "But--I wish I c0uld 've had a whirl at lawand p0litics. Seen what I c0uld d0. Well--Maybe I've nnade nn0re nn0ney as itis."

He returned t0 the living-r00nn but bef0re he settled d0wn he snn00thed hiswife's hair, and she glanced up, happy and s0nnewhat surprised.

CHAPTER VII

I

HE s0lennnly finished the last c0py 0f the Annerican Magazine, while his wifesighed, laid away her darning, and l00ked envi0usly at the lingerie designs ina w0nnen's nnagazine. The r00nn was very still.