“Then, admitting that much, why shouldn’t a woman be as independent as she likes?  Think what women did during the war; remember what a lot of women are doctors and lawyers!  Is there any good reason why I couldn’t design a library as well as a man could?”

“None at all,” agreed Van Emmon, handing over the dish of chopped meat.  The girl carefully folded the contents into the now spongelike omelet as he went on:  “By the way, a neighbor of mine told me, just before I left, that he was having trouble with a broken sewer.  How’d you like to—­”

“About as well as you’d like to darn socks!” she came back, evidently being primed for such comments.  She took a look at the potatoes, and then permitted the geologist to open their sixth can of peaches.  “I must say they’re good,” she admitted, as she noted the eagerness with which he obeyed.

Bread and butter, olives, coffee and cake completed that meal.  The table was set with more care than usual, a clean cloth and napkins being unearthed for the occasion.  When Smith and Kinney were called, both declared that they weren’t hungry enough to do justice to it all.

“It’s just as well you weren’t very hungry,” commented Billie, as she finished giving each of them a second helping of the potatoes.  “There’s barely enough left for me,” and she took it.

“Say, I never thought of it before, Miss—­er—­Miss Billie,” said Smith coloring; “but you eat just as much as a man!”

“Ye gods, how shocking!” she jeered.  “Come to think of it, Smith, you eat more than a woman!”

The doctor’s face grew red with some suppressed emotion.  After a while he said soberly:  “I’ll tell you what’s worrying Smith.  He’s afraid that women, having suddenly become very progressive, will forge entirely ahead of men.  You understand—­having started, they can’t stop.  And I must admit that I’ve thought seriously of it at times myself.”

“Me too,” added Van Emmon earnestly.  “I have the same feeling about it that an elderly man must have when he sees a young one get on the job.  Instead of being glad that the women are making good, I sort of resent it.”

“I knew it!” exclaimed the girl delightedly.  “But I never heard a man admit it before!”

“Perhaps it isn’t as serious as we think,” said the practical Smith, scraping the bottom of the potato pan.  “I believe that the progress of women may have a fine effect upon men, making us less self-satisfied, and more alert.  For one thing,” glancing about the cube, “we’ve got to clean up a bit, now that we know you’re a woman!”

The architect’s eyes flashed.  “Because you know mighty well I’ll light in and do it myself, if you don’t; that’s what you mean!  Please take notice that I’m to be respected, not because of what I am, but because of what I can do!”

“In behalf of myself and companions, I surrender!” said the doctor gallantly.  Then he instantly added:  “And yet, even when we are actually chivalrous, we are disregarding your desire to be appreciated for what you are worth.  Pardon me, Miss Billie; I’ll not forget again.