Stella was unprepared for Stephen’s reply. He told her that he had no definite plan as to when he was coming to Milhampton next. She was not to worry about expenses, the letter went on significantly. He would see that she and Laurel were always provided for. Had he known in January that he was not coming back again for so long a while, he would have told her. But after all they had already had their discussions.

“Isn’t that the coolest?” Stella exclaimed to Effie. She made frequent trips across the river to Effie’s tenement now. She always made frequent trips across the river to Effie’s tenement when she had “something on her mind.”

“You’d think we’d had a row or something, the last time he was here, but we didn’t. In fact, it seemed to me, if anything, he was a little more friendly than usual. I can’t imagine what he’s got up his sleeve. I think he had a right to kick up a little dust, don’t you? Puts me in a pretty position! It wasn’t bad, for a while playing around alone, and calling myself a grass-widow, as a joke. But the real thing is an entirely different matter. It’s no fun being an extra woman of any kind for long, in society. If you don’t own a husband, or a brother, or some two-legged article in trousers, you drop out of things—out of evening things, anyhow. Of course, there are luncheons, and teas, and women’s shindies left, but I get on best with men, and I look best in evening clothes, too. I’m the kind, anyhow, who wants to take in everything that’s going. The more places you’re seen at the more you go to, and it’s just life to me to keep going! Why, when I don’t do out for a week—have a wave and a manicure and a hot bath and get all dressed up in my best clothes, and set out for a real little party of some sort somewhere—I get horribly depressed. Listen here, Effie, I haven’t eaten dinner outside my own house for three weeks now! I haven’t been to a River Club dance since Alfred Munn took the horses South in December! I’ve known for quite a while it was time for Stephen to come back and get Laurel and me.”

Effie wanted to know why Stella didn’t write to him, and urge him to come back and get her then.

“Urge him to come back!” Stella exclaimed. “Indeed, I won’t! I’ve got a little pride left, I hope. I never urged a man to come back to me yet, and I don’t intend to begin. Oh, I’ll manage somehow. Don’t worry. You’ll see.”