When they were somewhat calmer she had told Fanny everything, keeping nothing from her, and declaring her intention to go back to the hotel, if she could get the position, and earn her own livelihood again.  Seeing that it was useless, Fanny did not attempt to dissuade her.  On the contrary, now she was acquainted with all the facts in the case, she was indignant herself and gave her sister credit for displaying so much spirit.  Of course, it meant a serious pecuniary loss to them all.  Jimmie could not possibly remain in his position, in view of this rupture; he would resign his lucrative job and they would be compelled to go back to the days when they struggled along on fourteen dollars a week.  It was hard, but better that, she told Virginia with an affectionate hug, than that millionaires should go around thinking they could buy and sell women like so many cattle.

So everything was quickly settled.  Virginia, of course, would live henceforth with them.  She applied for her old position at the hotel, and after some delay secured it.  This was a great relief to her, for she would never have consented to being a burden on her sister and it assured her a competence as long as she chose to stay.

Jimmie, much to his disgust, handed in his resignation, which was accepted more promptly than he had secretly hoped, the flat in One Hundred and Fortieth street was given up and the Gillies moved into one a little less pretentious, but more in keeping with their curtailed income.  A job of some kind to keep the kettle boiling was very necessary, so Jimmie reluctantly applied for his old job and became once more a $14 a week shipping clerk.  This however was a temporary makeshift, he protested.  He was chock full of good ideas, and now he was rid of Stafford, who he claimed, had really paralyzed his efforts, he would be able to give free rein to his inventive genius.  Fanny listened patiently.  By this time she had few illusions left concerning her husband’s chances of success in life.  All she asked was that they should get along respectably and happily.

So the time had passed.  It was now three months since Virginia had left her husband, and in all that time she had made no attempt to communicate with him.  She had no desire to do so.  If, sometimes, she had a secret yearning, if she sometimes hoped that he would miss her and come and fetch her back, she stifled it instantly.  The very fact that he had made no attempt to come after her, showed plainly enough that he had never really cared for her.  She thanked God that they had had no children.  At least she was spared the torture of having brought unhappiness on innocent heads.  At times she saw his name mentioned in the newspapers, and she smiled bitterly when she read accounts of sensational supper parties, scandalous proceedings which had attracted the attention of the public in which he had figured prominently.  That was the kind of life he liked, the only kind he knew.  How could she ever have dreamed that he was a man who would make her a good husband?