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ch for a place to live that would be clean； comfortable； and cheap。 Those three adjectives describe the ideal lodging； but it will be noted that all these are relative。 In fact； none of the three means exactly the same thing to any two members of the human family。 Mildred's notion of cleanlike her notion of comfortableon account of her bringing up implied a large element of luxury。 As for the word ‘‘cheap；'' it really meant nothing at all to her。 From one stand… point everything seemed cheap； from another； everything seemed dear； that is； too dear for a young woman with less than five hundred dollars in the world and no substantial prospect of getting a single dollar more unless by hook and crook； both of which means she was resolved not to employ。
Never having earned so much as a single penny； the idea of anyone's giving her anything for what she might be able to do was disturbingly vague and unreal。 On the other hand； looking about her； she saw scores of men and women； personally known to her to be dull of conversation； and not well mannered or well dressed or well anything； who were making livings without overwhelming difficulty。 Why not Mildred Gower？ In this view the outlook was not discouraging。 ‘‘I'll no doubt go through some discomfort； getting myself placed。 But somewhere and somehow I shall be placed and how I shall revenge myself on Donald Keith！'' His fascination for her had not been destroyed by his humiliating lack of belief in her； nor by his cold…hearted desertion at just the critical moment。 But his conduct had given her the incentive of rage； of stung vanity or wounded pride； if you prefer。 She would get him back； she would force him to admit； she would win him； if she couldand that ought not to be difficult when she should be successful。 Having won him； then What then？ Something superb in the way of revenge； she would decide what； when the hour of triumph came。 Meanwhile she must search for lodgings。
In her journeyings under the guidance of attractive advertisements and ‘‘carefully selected'' agents' lists； she found herself in front of her first lodgings in New Yorkthe house of Mrs。 Belloc。 She had often thought of the New England school…teacher； arrived by such strange paths at such a strange position in New York。 She had started to call on her many times； but each time had been turned aside； New York makes it more than difficult to find time to do anything that does not have to be done at a definite time and for a definite reason。 She was worn out with her futile trampings up and down streets； up and down stairs。 Up the stone steps she went and rang the bell。
Yes； Mrs。 Belloc was in； and would be glad to see her； if Miss Stevens would wait in the drawing…room a few minutes。 She had not seated herself when down the stairs came the fresh； pleasantly countrified voice of Mrs。 Belloc； inviting her to ascend。 As Mildred started up； she saw at the head of the stairs the frank and cheerful face of the lady herself。 She was holding together at the neck a thin silk wrapper whose lines strongly suggested that it was the only garment she had on。
‘‘Why should old friends stand on ceremony？'' said Mrs。 Belloc。 ‘‘Come right up。 I've been taking a bath。 My masseuse has just gone。'' Mrs。 Belloc enclosed her in a delightfully perfumed embrace； and they kissed with enthusiasm。
‘‘I AM glad to see you；'' said Mildred； feeling all at once a thrilling sense of at…homeness。 ‘‘I didn't realize how glad I'd be till I saw you。''
‘‘It'd be a pretty stiff sort that wouldn't feel at home with me；'' observed Mrs。 Belloc。 ‘‘New York usually stiffens people up。 It's had the opposite effect on me。 Though I must say； I have learned to stiffen with people I don't likeand I'll have to admit that I like fewer and fewer。 People don't wear well； do they？ What IS the matter with them？ Why can't they be natural and not make themselves into rubbishy； old scrap…bags full of fakes and pretenses？ You're looking at my hair。''
They were in Mrs。 Belloc's comfortable sitting…room now； and she was smoking a cigarette and regarding Mildred with an expression of delight that was most flattering。 Said Mildred：
‘‘Your hair does look well。 It's thickerisn't it？''
‘‘Think so？'' said Mrs。 Belloc。 ‘‘It ought to be； with all the time and money I've spent on it。 My； how New York does set a woman to repairing and fixing up。 Nothing artificial goes here。 It mustn't be paint and plumpers and pads； but the real teeth。 Why； I've had four real teeth set in as if they were rootedand my hips toned down。 You may remember what heavy legs I hadpiano…legs。 Look at 'em now。'' Mrs。 Belloc drew the wrapper to her knee and exposed in a pale… blue silk stocking a thin and comely calf。
‘‘You HAVE been busy！'' said Mildred。
‘‘That's only a little part。 I started to tell you about the hair。 It was getting graynot in a nice； pretty way； all over； but in spots and streaks。 Nothing else makes a woman look so ragged and dingy and old as spotted； streaky gray hair。 So I had the hair…woman touch it up。 She vows it won't make my face hard。 That's the trouble with dyed or touched hair； you know。 But this is a new process。''
‘‘It's certainly a success；'' said Mildred。 And in fact it was； and thanks to it and the other improvements Mrs。 Belloc was an attractive and even a pretty woman； years younger than when Mildred saw her。
‘‘Yes； I think I've improved；'' said Mrs。 Belloc。 ‘‘Nothing to scream aboutbut worth while。 That's what we're alive forto improveisn't it？ I've no patience with people who slide back； or don't get on people who get less and less as they grow older。 The trouble with them is they're vain； satisfied with themselves as they are； and lazy。 Most women are too lazy to live。 They'll only fix up to catch a man。''
Mildred had grown sober and thoughtful。
‘‘To catch a man；'' continued Mrs。 Belloc。 ‘‘And not much even for that。 I'll warrant YOU'RE getting on。 Tell me about it。''
‘‘Tell me about yourself； first；'' said Mildred。
‘‘WHY all this excitement about improving？'' And she smiled significantly。
‘‘No； you'll have to guess again；'' said Mrs。 Belloc。 ‘‘Not a man。 You remember； I used to be crazy about gay life in New Yorkgoing out； and men； theaters； and lobster…palaceseverything I didn't get in my home town； everything the city means to the jays。 Well； I've gotten over all that。 I'm improving； mind and body； just to keep myself interested in life； to keep myself young and cheerful。 I'm interested in myself； in my house and in woman's suffrage。 Not that the women are fit to vote。 They aren't； any more than the men。 But what MAKES people？ Why； responsibility。 That old scamp I marriedhe's dead。 And I've got the money； and everything's very comfortable with me。 Just think； I didn't have any luck till I was an old maid far gone。 I'm not telling my age。 All my life it had rained bad luckpitchforks； tines down。 And why？''
‘‘Yes； why？'' said Mildred。 She did not understand how it was； but Mrs。 Belloc seemed to be saying the exact things she needed to hear。
‘‘I'll tell you why。 Because I didn't work。 Drudging along isn't work any more than dawdling along。 Work means pur