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k　was　revealed。　　That　wonderful　white　skin　with　the　golden　tint！　　How　softyet　how　firmher　flesh　looked！　　How　slender　yet　how　strong　was　her　build

〃How　do　you　like　Tetlow？〃　he　asked；　because　speak　to　her　he　must。

She　glanced　up；　turned　in　her　chair。　　He　quivered　before　the　gaze　from　those　enchanting　eyes　of　hers。　　〃I　beg　pardon；〃　she　said。　　〃I　didn't　hear。〃

〃Tetlowhow　do　you　like　him？〃

〃He　is　very　kind　to　meto　everyone。〃

〃How　did　your　father　like　him？〃

He　confidently　expected　some　sign　of　confusion；　but　there　was　no　sign。　　〃Father　was　delighted　with　him；〃　she　said　merrily。　　〃He　took　an　interest　in　the　work　father's　doingand　that　was　enough。〃

She　was　about　to　turn　back　to　her　task。　　He　hastened　to　ask　another　question。　　〃Couldn't　I　meet　your　father　some　time？　　What　Tetlow　told　me　interested　me　greatly。〃

〃Father　would　be　awfully　pleased；〃　replied　she。　〃Butunless　you　really　care　aboutbiology；　I　don't　think　you'd　like　coming。〃

〃I'm　interested　in　everything　interesting；〃　replied　Norman　dizzily。　　What　was　he　saying？　　What　was　he　doing？　　What　folly　was　his　madness　plunging　him　into？

〃You　can　come　with　Mr。　Tetlow　when　he　gets　back。〃

〃I'd　prefer　to　talk　with　him　alone；〃　said　Norman。　〃Perhaps　I　might　see　some　way　to　be　of　service　to　him。〃

Her　expression　was　vividly　different　from　what　it　had　been　when　he　offered　to　help　HER。　　She　became　radiant　with　happiness。　　〃I　do　hope　you'll　come；〃　she　said　her　voice　very　low　and　sweet；　in　the　effort　she　was　making　to　restrain　yet　express　her　feelings。

〃When？　　This　evening？〃

〃He's　always　at　home。〃

〃You'll　be　there？〃

〃I'm　always　there；　too。　　We　have　no　friends。　　It's　not　easy　to　make　acquaintances　in　the　Eastcongenial　acquaintances。〃

〃I'd　want　you　to　be　there；〃　he　explained　with　great　care；　〃because　you　could　help　him　and　me　in　getting　acquainted。〃

〃Oh；　he'll　talk　freelyto　anyone。　　He　talks　only　the　one　subject。　　He　never　thinks　of　anything　else。〃

She　was　resting　her　crossed　arms　on　the　back　of　her　chair　and；　with　her　chin　upon　them；　was　looking　at　him　a　childlike　pose　and　a　childlike　expression。　　He　said：　〃You　are　SURE　you　are　twenty？〃

She　smiled　gayly。　　〃Nearly　twenty…one。〃

〃Old　enough　to　be　in　love。〃

She　lifted　her　head　and　laughed。　　She　had　charming　white　teethsmall　and　sharp　and　with　enough　irregularity　to　carry　out　her　general　suggestion　of　variability。　〃Yes；　I　shall　like　that；　when　it　comes；〃　she　said；　〃But　the　chances　are　against　it　just　now。〃

〃There's　Tetlow。〃

She　was　much　amused。　　〃Oh；　he's　far　too　old　and　serious。〃

Norman　felt　depressed。　　〃Why；　he's　only　thirty…five。〃

〃But　I'm　not　twenty…one；〃　she　reminded　him。　　〃I'd　want　some　one　of　my　own　age。　　I'm　tired　of　being　so　solemn。　　If　I　had　love；　I'd　expect　it　to　change　all　that。〃

Evidently　a　forlorn　and　foolish　personand　doubtless　thinking　of　him；　two　years　the　senior　of　Tetlow　and　far　more　serious；　as　an　elderly　person；　in　the　same　class　with　her　father。　　〃But　you　like　biology？〃　he　said。　The　way　to　a　cure　was　to　make　her　talk　on。

〃I　don't　know　anything　about　it；〃　said　she；　looking　as　frivolous　as　a　butterfly　or　a　breeze…bobbed　blossom。　〃I　listen　to　father；　but　it's　all　beyond　me。〃

Yesa　light…weight。　　They　could　have　nothing　in　common。　　She　was　a　mere　surfacea　thrillingly　beautiful　surface；　but　not　a　full…fledged　woman。　　So　little　did　conversation　with　him　interest　her；　she　had　taken　advantage　of　the　short　pause　to　resume　her　work。　　No；　she　had　not　the　faintest　interest　in　him。　　It　wasn't　a　trick　of　coquetry；　it　was　genuine。　　He　whom　women　had　always　bowed　before　was　unable　to　arouse　in　her　a　spark　of　interest。　　She　cared　neither　for　what　he　had　nor　for　what　he　was；　in　himself。　　This　offended　and　wounded　him。　　He　struggled　sulkily　with　his　papers　for　half　an　hour。　　Then　he　fell　to　watching　her　again　and

〃You　must　not　neglect　to　give　me　your　address；〃　he　said。　　〃Write　it　on　a　slip　of　paper　after　you　finish。　I　might　forget　it。〃

〃Very　well；〃　she　replied；　but　did　not　turn　round。

〃Why；　do　you　think；　did　Tetlow　come　to　see　you？〃　he　asked。　　He　felt　cheapened　in　his　own　eyeshe；　the　great　man；　the　arrived　man；　the　fiance　of　Josephine　Burroughs；　engaged　in　this　halting　and　sneaking　flirtation！　But　he　could　not　restrain　himself。

She　turned　to　answer。　　〃Mr。　Tetlow　works　very　hard　and　has　few　friends。　　He　had　heard　of　my　father　and　wanted　to　meet　himjust　like　you。〃

〃Naturally；〃　murmured　Norman；　in　confusion。　　〃I　thoughtperhapshe　was　interested　in　YOU。〃

She　laughed　outrightand　he　had　an　entrancing　view　of　the　clean　rosy　interior　of　her　mouth。　　〃In　ME？　Mr。　Tetlow？　　Why；　he's　too　serious　and　important　for　a　girl　like　me。〃

〃Then　he　bored　you？〃

〃Oh；　no。　　I　like　him。　　He　is　a　good　man　thoroughly　good。〃

This　pleased　Norman　immensely。　　It　may　be　fine　to　be　good；　but　to　be　called　goodthat　is　somehow　a　different　matter。　　It　removes　a　man　at　once　from　the　jealousy…provoking　class。　　〃Good　exactly　describes　him；〃　said　Norman。　　〃He　wouldn't　harm　a　fly。　　In　love　he'd　be　ridiculous。〃

〃Not　with　a　woman　of　his　own　age　and　kind；〃　protested　she。　　〃But　I'm　neglecting　my　work。〃

And　she　returned　to　it　with　a　resolute　manner　that　made　him　ashamed　to　interrupt　againespecially　after　the　unconscious　savage　rebukes　she　had　administered。　He　sat　there　fighting　against　the　impulse　to　watch　her　denouncing　himselfappealing　to　pride；　to　shame；　to　prudenceto　his　love　for　Josephineto　the　sense　of　decency　that　restrains　a　hunter　from　aiming　at　a　harmless　tame　song　bird。　　But　all　in　vain。　　He　concentrated　upon　her　at　last；　stared　miserably　at　her；　filled　with　longing　and　dread　and　shameand　longing；　and　yet　more　longing。

When　she　finished　and　stood　at　the　other　side　of　the　desk；　waiting　for　him　to　pass　upon　her　work；　she　must　have　thought　he　was　in　a　profound　abstraction。　He　did　not　speak；　made　a　slight　motion　with　his　hand　to　indicate　that　she　was　to　go。　　Shut　in　alone；　he　buried　his　face　in　his　arms。　　〃What　madness！〃　he　groaned。　　〃If　I　loved　her；　there'd　be　some　excuse　for　me。　　But　I　don't。　　I　couldn't。　　Yet　I　seem　ready　to　ruin　everything；　merely　to　gratify　a　selfish　whiman　insane　whim。〃

On　top　of　the　papers　she　had　left　he　saw　a　separate　slip。　　He　drew　it　toward　him；　spread　it　out　before　him。　Her　address。　　An　unknown　street　in　Jersey　City！

〃I'll　not　go；〃　he　said　aloud；　pushing　the　slip　away。　Go？　　Certainly　not。　　He　had　never　really　meant　to　go。　He　would；　of　course；　keep　his　engagement　with　Josephine。　〃And　I'll　not　come　down　town　until　she　has　taken　another　job　and　has　caught　Tetlow。　　I'll　stop　this　idiocy　of　trying　to　make　an　impression　on　a　person　not　worth　impressing。　　What　weak　vanityto　be　piqued　by　this　girl's　lack　of　interest！〃

Neverthelesshe　at　six　o'clock　telephoned　to　the　Burroughs'　house　that　he　was　detained　down　town。　　He　sent　away　his　motor；　dined　alone　in　the　station　restaurant　in　Jersey　City。　　And　at　half　past　seven　he　set　out　in　a　cab　in　search　ofwhat？　　He　did　not　dare　answer　that　interrogation。



VI


LIFE　many　another　chance　explorer　from　New　York；　Norman　was　surprised　to　discover　that；　within　a　few　minutes　of　leaving　the　railway　station；　his　cab　was　moving　through　a　not　unattractive　city。　　He　expected　to　find　the　Hallowells　in　a　tenement　in　some　more　or　less　squalid　street　overhung　with　railway　smoke　and　bedaubed　with　railway　grime。　　He　was　delighted　when　the　driver　assured　him　that　there　was　no　mistake；　that　the　comfortable　little　cottage　across　the　width　of　the　sidewalk　and　a　small　front　yard　was　the　sought…for　destination。

〃Wait；　please；〃　he　said　to　the　cabman。　　〃Or；　if　you　like；　you　can　go　to　that　corner　saloon　down　there。　　I'll　know　where　to　find　you。〃　　And　he　gave　him　half　a　dollar。

The　cabman　hesitated　between　two　theories　of　this　conductwhether　it　was　the　generosity　it　seemed　or　was　a　ruse　to　〃side　step〃　payment。　　Heor　his　thirst　decided　for　the　decency　of　human　nature；　he　drove　confidingly　away。　　Norman　went　up　the　tiny　stoop　and　rang。　　The　sound　of　a　piano；　in　the　room　on　the　ground　floor　where　there　was　light；　abruptly　ceased。　　The　door　opened　and　Miss　Hallowell　stood　before　him。　　She　was　throughout　a　different　person　from　the　girl　of　the　office。　She　had　changed　to　a　tight…fitting　pale…blue　linen　dress　made　all　in　one　piece。　　Norman　could　now　have　not　an　instant's　doubt　about　the　genuineness；　the　bewitching　actuality；　of　her　beauty。　　The　wonder　was　how　she　could　contrive　to　conceal　so　much　of　it　for　the　purposes　of　business。　　It　was　a　peculiar　kind　of　beautynot　the　radiant　kind；　but　that　which　shines　with　a　soft　glow　and　gives　him　who　sees　it　the　delightful　sense　of　being　its　original　and　sole　discoverer。　　An　artistic　eyeor　an　eye　that　discriminates　in　and　responds　to　feminine　lovelinesswould　have　been　captivated；　as　it　searched　in　vain　for　flaw。

If　Norman　anticipated　that　she　would　be　nervous　before　the　task　of　receiving　in　her　humbleness　so　distinguished　a　visitor；　he　must　have　been　straightway　disappointed。　　Whether　from　a　natural　lack　of　that　sense　of　social　differences　which　is　developed　to　the　most　pitiful　snobbishness　in　New　York　or　from　her　youth　and　inexperience；　she　received　him　as　if　he　had　been　one　of　the　neighbors　dropping　in　after　supper。　　And　it　was　Norman　who　was　ill　at　ease。　　Nothing　is　more　disconcerting　to　a　man　accustomed　to　be　received　with　due　respect　to　his　importance　than　to　find　himself　put　upon　the　common　human　level　and　compelled　to　〃make　good〃　all　over　again　from　the　beginning。　　He　felt　he　knewthat　he　was　an　humble　candidate　for　her　favora　candidate　with　the　chances　perhaps　against　him。

The　tiny　parlor　had　little　in　it　beside　the　upright　piano　because　there　was　no　space。　　But　the　paper；　the　carpet　and　curtains；　the　few　pieces　of　furniture；　showed　no　evidence　of　bad　taste；　of　painful　failure　at　the　effort　to　〃make　a　front。〃　　He　was　in　the　home　of　poor　people；　but　they　were　obviously　people　who　made　a　highly　satisfactory　best　of　their　poverty。　　And　in　the　midst　of　it　all　the　girl　shone　like　the　one　evening　star　in　the　mystic　opalescence　of　twilight。

〃We　weren't　sure　you　were　coming；〃　said　she。　　〃I'll　call　father。　。　。　。　　No；　I'll　take　you　back　to　his　workshop。　He's　easier　to　get　acquainted　with　there。〃

〃Won't　you　play　something　for　me　first？　　Or　perhaps　you　sing？　〃

〃A　very　little；〃　she　admitted。