But all this was without its effect upon Zoie, who, a few moments
later rode away in her taxi, waving gaily to Jimmy who was now
late for business and thoroughly at odds with himself and the
world.

As a result of the time lost at luncheon Jimmy missed an
appointment that had to wait over until after office hours, and
as a result of this postponement, he missed Aggie, who went to a
friend's house for dinner, leaving word for him to follow. For
the first time in his life, Jimmy disobeyed Aggie's orders, and,
later on, when he "trundled off to bed" alone, he again recalled
that it was Zoie Hardy who was always causing hard feeling
between him and his spouse.

Some hours later, when Aggie reached home with misgivings because
Jimmy had not joined her, she was surprised to find him sleeping
as peacefully as a cherub. "Poor dear," she murmured, "I hope he
wasn't lonesome." And she stole away to her room.

The next morning when Aggie did not appear at the breakfast
table, Jimmy rushed to her room in genuine alarm. It was now
Aggie's turn to sleep peacefully; and he stole dejectedly back to
the dining-room and for the first time since their marriage, he
munched his cold toast and sipped his coffee alone.

So thoroughly was his life now disorganised, and so low were his
spirits that he determined to walk to his office, relying upon
the crisp morning air to brace him for the day's encounters. By
degrees, he regained his good cheer and as usual when in rising
spirits, his mind turned toward Aggie. The second anniversary of