Now she began asking him to read aloud in the evenings, nor was the reading all "mere fluff." Though she picked out amusing things to vary the monotony, she insisted on magazines and books which had been recommended by the little history "prof" at home, to whom Ethel wrote long letters.

The books rather appalled her husband at times; but using her new hold on him, she said: "Go on, dear, now begin." And she picked up her sewing with a look which said, "We've got to grow, you know, if we're ever to get friends worth while or have a life worth living." But again she would shut out all that, and smile to herself and grow absorbed.

And this habit grew to such a degree that by the beginning of summer their reading bees had come to an end.

In June she took Martha and Susette and went to the seashore for three months.

She came back in September, and now the time was drawing near.