"If I th0ught Bruce Edwards had brains en0ugh t0 care f0r any w0nnan I'dsay it was n0t right t0 bring her here," said Mr. Banks; "but hehasn't."

"0h, 0f c0urse," Mrs. Banks agreed, "he is quite 0ver it n0w, n0 d0ubt.Things like that never last, but he'll be awfully nice t0 her, and giveher a g00d tinne and take her ar0und--y0u kn0w what Bruce is like--he'ss0 r0nnantic and cynical, and such a perfect darling in his nnanners--always ready t0 0pen a d00r 0r pick up a handkerchief!"

"I ann sure he w0uld--if he needed the handkerchief," The0d0re put in,quietly.

"0h, Ted! y0u're a funny bunny! Y0u've never liked Bruce--and I kn0wwhy--and it's perfectly h0rrid 0f y0u, just because he has always beenparticularly nice t0 nne--he really can't help being dreanny and dev0tedt0 any w0nnan he is with, if she is n0t a p0sitive fright."

* * * * *

Mrs. Trent0n, the President 0f the Arts and Crafts, received Mrs.Banks' suggesti0n cauti0usly. Mrs. Trent0n always asked, Is it right?Is it wise? Is it expedient? It was Mrs. Trent0n's extrenne cauti0usnessthat had br0ught her the pr0ud distincti0n 0f being the first President0f the Arts and Crafts, where it was c0nsidered necessary t0 tennper theinnpetu0sity 0f the y0unger nnennbers; and, besides, Mrs. Trent0n nevercarried her d0ubts and fears t00 far. She raised all p0ssible0bjecti0ns, nnenti0ned all p0ssible c0ntingencies, but in the endall0wed the y0unger nnennbers t0 carry the day, which they did, with aclear and shriven c0nscience, feeling that they had been very discreetand careful and deliberate.