“Was there ever a woman who didn’t think that?—­and didn’t like to think it, though I believe many of them make strong pretense at scorning the physical.”  Fred was regarding his sister with a quizzical expression.  “You approve of her?” he said.

“More than I’d have thought possible.  And after I’ve taken her about in the world a while she’ll be perfect.”

“No doubt,” said Norman.  “But, alas, she’ll never be perfect.  For, you’re not going to take her about.”

“So she says when I talk of it to her,” replied Ursula.  “But I know you’ll insist.  You needn’t be uneasy as to how she’ll be received.”

“I’m not,” said Norman dryly.

“You’ve got back all you lost—­and more.  How we Americans do worship success!”

“Don’t suggest to Dorothy anything further about society,” said Norman.  “I’ve no time or taste for it, and I don’t wish to be annoyed by intrusions into my home.”

“But you’ll not be satisfied always with just her,” urged his sister.  “Besides, you’ve got a position to maintain.”

Norman’s smile was cynically patient.  “I want my home and I want my career,” said he.  “And I don’t want any society nonsense.  I had the good luck to marry a woman who knows and cares nothing about it.  I don’t purpose to give up the greatest advantage of my marriage.”

Ursula was astounded.  She knew the meaning of his various tones and manners, and his way of rejecting her plans for Dorothy—­and, incidentally, for her own amusement—­convinced her that he was through and through in earnest.  “It will be dreadfully lonesome for her, Fred,” she pleaded.

“We’ll wait till that trouble faces us,” replied he, not a bit impressed.  “And don’t forget—­not a word of temptation to her from you.”  This with an expression that warned her how well he knew her indirect ways of accomplishing what she could not gain directly.

“Oh, I shan’t interfere,” said she in a tone that made it a binding promise.  “But you can’t expect me to sympathize with your plans for an old-fashioned domestic life.”

“Certainly not,” said Norman.  “You don’t understand.  Women of your sort never do.  That’s why you’re not fit to be the wives of men worth while.  A serious man and a society woman can’t possibly hit it off together.  For a serious man the outside world is a place to work, and home is a place to rest.  For a society woman, the world is a place to idle and home is a work shop, an entertainment factory.  It’s impossible to reconcile those two opposite ideas.”

She saw his point at once, and it appealed to her intelligence.  And she had his own faculty for never permitting prejudice to influence judgment.  She said in a dubious tone, “Do you think Dorothy will sympathize with your scheme?”

“I’m sure I don’t know,” replied he.

“If she doesn’t—­” Ursula halted there.

Her brother shrugged his shoulders.  “If she proves to be the wrong sort of woman for me, she’ll go her way and I mine.”