And in the talk which followed, the intent little glances she threw at him made her sure that in her husband's mind was a half conscious deep relief at the idea of getting away from these rooms and their memories.
"Poor dear," she reflected tenderly, "what a place for a tired business man--a home with two assorted wives waiting for him every night." But when it came to looking about, to her surprise Ethel found it hard, on her own account, to make the move.

For with all its faults and drawbacks, this was the place where she had struggled, groped and dreamed, had married Joe and discovered him in hours she would never forget, and here her baby had been born.

The place had grown familiar.
Even the huge building, for all its appearance of being exactly like every other on the street, had in some curious fashion taken on for Ethel a special atmosphere of its own; and coming back from a bleak succession of apartments she had inspected, this did at least seem more like a home.
Joe came to her rescue.

He was a part owner here, and with delight she learned from him that a large and sunny apartment at the top of the building was to be free the first of May.

Ethel went up to see it at once.