acquire the habit of disbelieving them."

Betty made no reply. She stood staring into the fire.

"It would have been more difficult for me to say such a thing to you a
year ago; but you seem a good deal older, somehow. I suppose it is
being so much with men old enough to be your father, and talking
constantly about things that give me the nightmare to think of. And of
course you have had two terrible shocks. But you are so buoyant I hope
you will get over all that in time. Wouldn't you like to go to the
Riviera, and then to London for the season?"

"And desert my _salon?_" asked Betty, lightly. "You forget this is the
long term. I am praying that summer will come late, so that you can
stay on. It never had occurred to me that any one would notice my
friendship with Mr. North. I hope they will do nothing so silly as to
comment on it."

"Well, they will, if you are not very careful. And there is no
position in the world so unenviable as that of a girl who gets herself
talked about with a married man. Men lose interest in her and raise
their eyebrows at the clubs when her name is mentioned, and women
gradually drop her. Money and position will cover up a good many
indiscretions in a married woman or a widow, but the world always has
demanded that a girl shall be immaculate; and if she permits Society
to think she is not, it punishes her for violating one of its pet
standards. Mr. North can be nothing to you. The day is sure to come
when you will want to marry. No woman is really satisfied in any other
state."