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rigid in their views. They did not look with favor upon girls who got mixed up in divorce cases. Still, they were now prepared to follow the lead Mary Ford had given them, and to reserve judgment until they heard further evidence. The trouble was, that a small section was inclined to hail her as a martyr, and instead of slighting her, to make a fuss of her. And all Ann wanted—except in her hat shop—was to be left alone. She was not happy at present, and she had no aptitude for “social chat.” She had enjoyed the weekend she had spent with the Fords; the picnic at the shack; and she hoped that she would see more of them in future, for they were genuinely good friends. But to accept invitations from comparative strangers was altogether a different matter.

However, she could always plead pressure of business. And during the days that followed she was able truthfully to do this. Her little showroom was now never without customers. She was compelled to employ another hand as well as Mrs. Hill, and all three worked “overtime” in the evenings as well as during the day.

Business was “booming.” Before Ann’s new goods arrived from London she had cabled for more and had included in her order smart and inexpensive frocks. Whatever happened in the future, she was now convinced her business would not fail.