“You should have given him no chance to change his mind again,” cried Madam Bowker.  “What a trifler you are!  No seriousness!  Your intelligence all in the abstract; only folly and fritter for your own affairs.  You should have given him no chance to change!”

Margaret closed in and struck home.  “I didn’t,” said she tersely.  “I married him.”

The old lady stared.  Then, as she realized how cleverly Margaret had trapped her, she smiled a grim smile of appreciation and forgiveness.  “Come and kiss me,” said she.  “You will do something, now that you have a chance.  No woman has a chance—­no lady—­until she is a Mrs. It’s the struggle to round that point that wrecks so many of them.”

Margaret kissed her.  “And,” she went on, “he has been made Attorney-General.”

Never, never had Margaret seen such unconcealed satisfaction in her grandmother’s face.  The stern, piercing eyes softened and beamed affection upon the girl; all the affection she had deemed it wise to show theretofore always was tempered with sternness.  “What a pity he hasn’t money,” said she.  “Still, it can be managed, after a fashion.”

“We must have money,” pursued the girl.  “Life with him, without it, would be intolerable.  Poor people are thrown so closely together.  He is too much for my nerves—­often.”

“He’s your property now,” Madam Bowker reminded her.  “You must not disparage your own property.  Always remember that your husband is your property.  Then your silly nerves will soon quiet down.”

“We must have money,” repeated Margaret.  “A great deal of money.”

“You know I can’t give you a great deal,” said the old lady apologetically.  “I’ll do my best....  Would you like to live with me?”

There was something so fantastic in the idea of Joshua Craig and Madam Bowker living under the same roof, and herself trying to live with them, that Margaret burst out laughing.  The old lady frowned; then, appreciating the joke, she joined in.  “You’ll have to make up your mind to live very quietly.  Politics doesn’t pay well—­not Craig’s branch of it, except in honor.  He will be very famous.”

“Where?” retorted Margaret disdainfully.  “Why, with a lot of people who aren’t worth considering.  No, I am going to take Joshua out of politics.”

The old lady looked interest and inquiry.

“He has had several flattering offers to be counsel to big corporations.  The things he has done against them have made them respect and want him.  I’m going to get him to leave politics and practice law in New York.  Lawyers there—­the shrewd ones, like him—­make fortunes.  He can still speak occasionally and get all the applause he wants.  Joshua loves applause.”

The old lady was watching her narrowly.

“Don’t you think I’m right, Grandma?  I’m telling you because I want your opinion.”

“Will he do it?”

Margaret laughed easily.  “He’s afraid of me.  If I manage him well he’ll do whatever I wish.  I can make him realize he has no right to deprive myself and him of the advantages of my station.”