"It would kill me to smile if I had to do it for money."
"Oh, you are a baby in arms, Allie," exclaimed her husband impatiently, "just like your father! You'd starve to death if it weren't for me."
"No doubt."
MacBirney was still laughing at the idea when he left his wife's room, and entering his own, closed the door.
Alice, in her room, lay in the darkness for a long time with open eyes.
CHAPTER VII
The test of Alice's willingness to smile came within a brief fortnight, when with the De Castros, she was the guest of Imogene Kimberly at The Cliffs, Imogene's home.
"This is all most informal," said Imogene, as she went downstairs arm-in-arm with Alice; "as you see, only one-half the house is open."
"The open half is so lovely," returned Alice, "that I'm glad to take the other half on faith."
"It was my only chance--this week, and as Dolly says, I 'jumped at it'! I am sorry your husband has disappointed us."