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daughter like her！〃
Janet squirmed。 Her father's acceptance of his comparative worthlessness
was so abject that her pity was transferred to him； though she scorned
him； as on former occasions； for the self…depreciation that made him
powerless before her mother's reproaches。 After the meal was over he sat
listlessly on the sofa； like a visitor whose presence is endured；
pathetically refraining from that occupation in which his soul found
refreshment and peace； the compilation of the Bumpus genealogy。 That
evening the papers remained under the lid of the desk in the corner；
untouched。
What troubled Janet above all； however； was the attitude of Lise； who
also came in for her share of implied reproach。 Of late Lise had become
an increased source of anxiety to Hannah； who was unwisely resolved to
make this occasion an object lesson。 And though parental tenderness had
often moved her to excuse and defend Lise for an increasing remissness in
failing to contribute to the household expenses； she was now quite
relentless in her efforts to wring from Lise an acknowledgment of the
nobility of her sister's act； of qualities in Janet that she； Lise； might
do well to cultivate。 Lise was equally determined to withhold any such
acknowledgment； in her face grew that familiar mutinous look that Hannah
invariably failed to recognize as a danger signal； and with it another
the sophisticated expression of one who knows life and ridicules the lack
of such knowledge in others。 Its implication was made certain when the
two girls were alone in their bedroom after supper。 Lise； feverishly
occupied with her toilet； on her departure broke the silence there by
inquiring：
〃Say； if I had your easy money； I might buy a stove； too。 How much does
Ditmar give you； sweetheart？〃
Janet； infuriated； flew at her sister。 Lise struggled to escape。
〃Leave me go〃 she whimpered in genuine alarm； and when at length she was
released she went to the mirror and began straightening her hat； which
had flopped to one side of her head。 〃I didn't mean nothin'； I was only
kiddie' youwhat's the use of gettin' nutty over a jest？〃
〃I'm not like…you；〃 said Janet。
〃I was only kiddin'； I tell you；〃 insisted Lise； with a hat pin in her
mouth。 〃Forget it。〃
When Lise had gone out Janet sat down in the rocking…chair and began to
rock agitatedly。 What had really made her angry； she began to perceive；
was the realization of a certain amount of truth in her sister's
intimation concerning Ditmar。 Why should she have； in Lise； continually
before her eyes a degraded caricature of her own aspirations and ideals？
or was Lise a mirrorsomewhat tarnished； indeedin which she read the
truth about herself？ For some time Janet had more than suspected that
her sister possessed a new lovera lover whom she refrained from
discussing； an ominous sign； since it had been her habit to dangle her
conquests before Janet's eyes； to discuss their merits and demerits with
an engaging though cynical freedom。 Although the existence of this
gentleman was based on evidence purely circumstantial； Janet was inclined
to believe him of a type wholly different from his predecessors； and the
fact that his attentions were curiously intermittent and irregular
inclined her to the theory that he was not a resident of Hampton。 What
was he like？ It revolted her to reflect that he might in some ways
possibly resemble Ditmar。 Thus he became the object of a morbid
speculation； especially at such times as this； when Lise attired herself
in her new winter finery and went forth to meet him。 Janet； also； had
recently been self…convicted of sharing with Lise the same questionable
tendency toward self…adornment to please the eye of man。 The very next
Saturday night after she had indulged in that mad extravagance of the
blue suit； Lise had brought home from the window of The Paris in Faber
Street a hat that had excited the cupidity and admiration of Miss Schuler
and herself； and in front of which they had stood languishing on three
successive evenings。 In its acquisition Lise had expended almost the
whole of a week's salary。 Its colour was purple； on three sides were
massed drooping lilac feathers； but over the left ear the wide brim was
caught up and held by a crescent of brilliant paste stones。 Shortly
after this purchasethe next week； in fact；The Paris had alluringly
and craftily displayed； for the tempting sum of 6。29； the very cloak
ordained by providence to 〃go〃 with the hat。 Miss Schuler declared it
would be a crime to fail to take advantage of such an opportunity but the
trouble was that Lise had had to wait for two more pay…days and endure
the suspense arising from the possibility that some young lady of taste
and means might meanwhile become its happy proprietor。 Had not the
saleslady been obdurate； Lise would have had it on credit； but she did
succeed； by an initial payment the ensuing Saturday； in having it
withdrawn from public gaze。 The second Saturday Lise triumphantly
brought the cloak home； a velvet cloak；if the eyes could be believed；
velvet bordering on plush； with a dark purple ground delicately and
artistically spotted with a lilac to match the hat feathers； and edged
with a material whichif not too impudently examined and no questions
askedmight be mistaken； by the uninitiated male； for the fur of a white
fox。 Both investments had been made； needless to say； on the strength of
Janet's increased salary； and Lise； when Janet had surprised her before
the bureau rapturously surveying the combination； justified herself with
a defiant apology。
〃I just had to have somethingwhat with winter coming on；〃 she declared；
seizing the hand mirror in order to view the back。 〃You might as well
get your clothes chick； while you're about itand I didn't have to dig
up twenty bones； neithernor anything like it〃 a reflection on Janet's
moest blue suit and her abnormal extravagance。 For it was Lise's habit
to carry the war into the enemy's country。 〃Sadie's dippy about itsays
it puts her in mind of one of the swells snapshotted in last Sunday's
supplement。 Well； dearie； how does the effect get you？〃 and she wheeled
around for her sister's inspection。
〃If you take my advice； you'll be careful not to be caught out in the
rain。〃
〃What's chewin' you now？〃 demanded Lise。 She was not lacking in
imagination of a certain sort； and Janet's remark did not fail in its
purpose of summoning up a somwhat abject image of herself in wet velvet
and bedraggled feathersan image suggestive of a certain hunted type of
woman Lise and her kind held in peculiar horror。 And she was the more
resentful because she felt； instinctively； that the memory of this
suggestion would never be completely eradicated： it would persist； like a
canker； to mar the completeness of her enjoyment of these clothes。 She
swung on Janet furiously。
〃I get you； all right！〃 she cried。 〃I guess I know what's eatin' you！
You've got money to burn and you're sore because I spend mine to buy what
I need。 You don't know how to dress yourself any more than one of them
Polak girls in the mills； and you don't want anybody else to look nice。