Mrs. Martin again glanced furtively at Mrs. Smythe, and without more ado they swept out of the drawing-room.
I dropped into a chair, a feeling of relief mingled with self-disgust sweeping over me. I realized that I had been making a sad botch of the part that I had attempted to play. At that moment, heavy footsteps behind me aroused me from my black-and-white revery. Two large, hot hands were placed over my eyes, and the end of a beard tickled Caroline's forehead.
"Guess who it is?" I heard my deep voice saying. "Here's to you, good as you are!"
"Caroline!" I exclaimed, conflicting emotions agitating my soul.
"Guess again, little woman," said my wife, playfully, in my voice. "They call me 'Reggie' at the club."
CHAPTER X.
RECRIMINATIONS.
We know these things are so, we ask not why,
But act and follow as the dream goes on.
--Milnes.
"Yes, I've had a simply perfect day, my dear," remarked Caroline, frankly, as we left the library to ascend to our second-story suite. "I've made twenty thousand dollars--by not taking your advice--and as to the 'Old Crowd' at the 'Varsity Club, I think they're really charming. I've been doing a good deal of miscellaneous thinking, my dear, and I'm convinced that women have a great future before them."
"What women?" I cried, impatiently, as I tripped against the top stair and caught my better half by the tail of my coat.