This rose-tinted mist of romance, having nothing to do with personal morality, has brought about, nevertheless, a holier-than-thou attitude of women toward men, and even of women toward women.

Now the Chicago atmosphere in which Aileen found herself was composed in part of this very illusion.

The ladies to whom she had been introduced were of this high world of fancy.

They conceived themselves to be perfect, even as they were represented in religious art and in fiction.

Their husbands must be models, worthy of their high ideals, and other women must have no blemish of any kind.