wanting to know why I won’t wear the ring!  Anyhow, what’s the use talking about him?  He couldn’t marry me right now, even if I wanted him to—­not till he begins to get something on the investment he made with Val.  Outside of that, he’s got nothing except his rooms at his mother’s; she hasn’t much either; and if Richard should lose what he put in with Val, he couldn’t marry for years, probably.  That’s what made him so obstinate about it.  No; if I ever marry right off the reel it’s got to be somebody with——­”

“Cora”—­Laura still spoke from the window, not turning—­“aren’t you tired of it all, of this getting so upset about one man and then another and——­”

“Tired!” Cora uttered the word in a repressed fury of emphasis.  “I’m sick of everything!  I don’t care for anything or anybody on this earth—­except—­except you and mamma.  I thought I was going to love Val.  I thought I did—­but oh, my Lord, I don’t!  I don’t think I can care any more.  Or else there isn’t any such thing as love.  How can anybody tell whether there is or not?  You get kind of crazy over a man and want to go the limit—­or marry him perhaps—­or sometimes you just want to make him crazy about you—­and then you get over it—­and what is there left but hell!” She choked with a sour laugh.  “Ugh!  For heaven’s sake, Laura, don’t make me talk.  Everything’s gone to the devil and I’ve got to think.  The best thing you can do is to go down and get rid of Richard for me.  I can’t see him!”

“Very well,” said Laura, and went to the door.

“You’re a darling,” whispered Cora, kissing her quickly.  “Tell him I’m in a raging headache—­make him think I wanted to see him, but you wouldn’t let me, because I’m too ill.”  She laughed.  “Give me a little time, old dear:  I may decide to take him yet!”

It was Mrs. Madison who informed the waiting Richard that Cora was unable to see him, because she was “lying down”; and the young man, after properly inquiring about Mr. Madison, went blankly forth.

Hedrick was stalking the front yard, mounted at a great height upon a pair of stilts.  He joined the departing visitor upon the sidewalk and honoured him with his company, proceeding storkishly beside him.

“Been to see Cora?”

“Yes, Hedrick.”

“What’d you want to see her about?” asked the frank youth seriously.

Richard was able to smile.  “Nothing in particular, Hedrick.”

“You didn’t come to tell her about something?”

“Nothing whatever, my dear sir.  I wished merely the honour of seeing her and chatting with her upon indifferent subjects.”

“Why?”

“Did you see her?”

“No, I’m sorry to——­”

“She’s home, all right,” Hedrick took pleasure in informing him.

“Yes.  She was lying down and I told your mother not to disturb her.”

“Worn out with too much automobile riding, I expect,” Hedrick sniffed.  “She goes out about every day with this Corliss in his hired roadster.”