"Yes, I could speak to them, if John wants me to."
"He hasn't said anything about it," she hastened to add.
"So you are tired of Torso?" he asked, smiling still more.
"It seems so good to be here, to hear some music, and go to the theatre; to be near old friends," she explained apologetically. "Don't you and mother want us to be near you?"
"Of course, my dear! We want you to be happy."
"Why, we are happy there,—only it seems so out of the world, so second-class. And John is not second-class."
"No, John is not second-class," the Colonel admitted with another smile.
"And for that reason I don't believe he will want me to interfere."
Nevertheless she kept at her idea, talking it over with her mother. All her friends were settled in the great cities, and it was only natural that she should aspire to something better than Torso—for the present, St. Louis. So the Colonel spoke to Lane, and Lane spoke to his wife when they were back once more in the Torso house. He was grave, almost hurt.
"I'm sorry, Belle, you are so tired of life here. I can take another position or ask to be transferred; but you must understand, dear, that whatever is done, it must be by myself. I don't want favors, not even from the Colonel!"
She felt ashamed and small, yet protested: "I don't see why you should object. Every one does the same,—uses all the pull he has."