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294 away in as amusing a manner as possible till the men should join them for bridge.

"Oh, yes," sighed Phyllis, "one sees the name of Laurel Dallas in the New York society columns frequently now. The new Mrs. Dallas is doing her best for the child. I call it awfully decent."

"Oh, it shouldn't be difficult," said Myrtle, "with her social position."

"And the child is really very pretty," Mrs. Kay Bird contributed. "That helps. There isn't a suggestion of her mother in her."

"How fortunate! What has become of that dreadful woman, anyhow?" asked Rosamond.

"Oh! Haven't you heard, my dear?" Mrs. Kay Bird raised slim bare shoulders in surprise. "Myrtle, haven't you told Rosamond you saw the poor thing in New York last time you were down?"

"I haven't seen Rosamond. I returned only night before last."

"Oh, well, tell her. Do. Prepare yourself for a choice bit, Rosamond."

Rosamond placed her empty coffee-cup on the mantel and curled up cozily in a corner of the cushioned divan.

"Tell me first, please, about the divorce. You know I was in Europe all last year. I didn't get a bit of the gossip, and there was no account of it in the papers sent me."

"There was no account of it in any of the papers," Mrs. Kay Bird informed her. "Stephen Dallas obtained his divorce without even a flutter of a struggle, which does not surprise any of us who know the facts. We agree with the former Mrs.