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〃Thank　you！　　And　it　sounds　so　easy！　　May　I　ask　why　you've　refused　to　take　your　own　medicineyou　who　say　you　are　so　often　blue？〃

She　shrugged　her　shoulders。　　〃I've　always　suspected　the　men　who　asked　me。　　They　were〃　　She　did　not　finish　what　she　feared　might　be　an　unwise；　repelling　remark　in　the　circumstances。

〃They　were　after　your　money；〃　he　finished　for　her。

She　nodded。　　〃They　were　Europeans；〃　she　explained。　　〃Europeans　want　money　when　they　marry。〃

〃That's　another　of　the　curses　of　riches；〃　he　said　judicially。　　〃And　if　you　marry　a　rich　man　over　here；　you　may　be　pretty　sure　he'll　marry　you　for　your　money。　　I've　observed　that　rich　men　attach　an　exaggerated　importance　to　money；　always。〃

〃I'd　prefer　to　marry　a　poor　man；〃　she　hastened　to　answer；　her　heart　beating　fastercertainly　his　warning　against　rich　suitors　must　have　been　designed　to　help　his　own　cause　with　her。

〃Yes；　that　might　be　better；〃　he　agreed。　　〃But　you　would　have　to　be　careful　after　you　were　married　or　he　might　fancy　you　were　using　your　money　to　tyrannize　over　him。　　I've　noticed　that　the　poor　husbands　of　rich　women　are　supersensitiveoften　for　cause。〃

〃Oh；　I'd　give　it　all　to　him。　　He　could　do　what　he　pleased　with　it。　　I'd　not　care　so　long　as　we　were　happy。〃

Scarborough　liked　the　spirit　of　this；　liked　her　look　as　she　said　it。

〃That's　very　generousvery　like　you；〃　he　replied　warmly。　　〃But　I　don't　think　it　would　be　at　all　wise。　　You'd　be　in　a　dangerous　position。　　You　might　spoil　himgreat　wealth　is　a　great　danger；　and　when　it's　suddenly　acquired；　and　so　easily　No；　you'd　better　put　your　wealth　aside　and　only　use　so　much　of　it　as　will　make　your　income　equal　to　hisif　you　can　stand　living　economically。〃

〃I　could　stand　anything　with　or　from　any　one　I　cared　for。〃　　Gladys　was　eager　for　the　conversation　to　turn　from　the　general　to　the　particular。　　She　went　on；　forcing　her　voice　to　hide　her　interest：　　〃And　you；　why　don't　you　cure　your　blues？〃

〃Oh；　I　shall；〃　he　replied　carelessly。　　〃But　not　with　your　medicine。　　Every　one　to　his　own　prescription。〃

〃And　what's　yours　for　yourself？〃　said　Gladys；　feeling　tired　and　nervous　from　the　strain　of　this　delayed　happiness。

〃Mine？〃　He　laughed。　　〃My　dreams。〃

〃You　are　a　strange　combination；　aren't　you？　　In　one　way　you're　so　very　practicalwith　your　politics　and　all　that。　　And　in　another　wayI　suspect　you　of　being　sentimentalalmost　romantic。〃

〃You've　plucked　out　the　heart　of　my　mystery。　　My　real　name　is　non　Quixote　de　Saint　X。〃

〃And　has　your　Dulcinea　red　hands　and　a　flat　nose　and　freckles　like　the　lady　of　Toboso？〃　　Gladys'　hands　were　white；　her　nose　notably　fine；　her　skin　transparently　clear。

〃Being　Don　Quixote；　I　don't　know　it　if　she　has。〃

〃And　you　prefer　to　worship　afar；　and　to　send　her　news　of　your　triumphs　instead　of　going　to　her　yourself？〃

〃I　dare　not　go。〃　　He　was　looking　away；　far　away。　　〃There　are　wicked　enchanters。　　I'm　powerless。　　She　alone　can　break　their　spells。〃

They　walked　in　silence；　her　heart　beating　so　loudly　that　she　thought　he　must　be　hearing　it；　must　be　hearing　what　it　was　saying。　　Yesshe　must　break　the　spells。　　But　howbut　how？　　What　must　she　say　to　make　him　see？　　Did　he　expect　her　to　ask　him　to　marry　her？　　She　had　heard　that　rich　women　often　were　forced　to　make　this　concession　to　the　pride　of　the　men　they　wished　to　marry。　　On　the　other　hand；　was　there　ever　a　man　less　likely　than　Scarborough　to　let　any　obstacle　stand　between　him　and　what　he　wanted？

The　first　huge　drops　of　a　summer　rain　pattered　in　big；　round　stains；　brown　upon　the　white　of　the　road。　　He　glanced　upa　cloud　was　rolling　from　beyond　the　cliffs；　was　swiftly　curtaining　the　blue。

〃Come；〃　he　commanded；　and　they　darted　into　the　underbrush；　he　guiding　her　by　her　arm。　　A　short　dash　among　the　trees　and　bushes　and　they　were　at　the　base　of　the　bluff；　were　shielded　by　a　shelf　of　rock。

〃It'll　be　over　soon；〃　he　assured　her。　　〃But　you　must　stand　close　or　you'll　be　drenched。〃

A　clap　of　thunder　deafened　them　as　a　flame　and　a　force　enswathed　the　sycamore　tree　a　few　yards　away；　blowing　off　its　bark；　scattering　its　branches；　making　it　all　in　an　instant　a　blackened　and　blasted　wreck。　　Gladys　gave　a　low　scream　of　terror；　fell　against　him；　hid　her　face　in　his　shoulder。　　She　was　trembling　violently。　　He　put　his　arm　round　herif　he　had　not　supported　her　she　would　have　fallen。　　She　leaned　against　him；　clinging　to　him；　so　that　he　felt　the　beat　of　her　heart；　the　swell　and　fall　of　her　bosom；　felt　the　rush　of　her　young　blood　through　her　veins；　felt　the　thrill　from　her　smooth；　delicate；　olive　skin。　　And　he；　too；　was　tremblingshaken　in　all　his　nerves。

〃Don't　be　afraid；〃　he　saidin　his　voice　he　unconsciously　betrayed　the　impulse　that　was　fighting　for　possession　of　him。

She　drew　herself　closer　to　him　with　a　long；　tremulous　sigh。

〃I'm　a　coward；〃　she　murmured。　　〃I'm　shaking　so　that　I　can't　stand。〃　　She　tried　to　draw　herself　awayor　did　she　only　make　pretense　to　him　and　to　herself　that　she　was　trying？then　relaxed　again　into　his　arms。

The　thunder　cracked　and　crashed；　the　lightnings　leaped　in　streaks　and　in　sheets；　the　waters　gushed　from　the　torn　clouds　and　obscured　the　light　like　a　heavy　veil。　　She　looked　up　at　him　in　the　dimnessshe；　too；　was　drunk　with　the　delirium　of　the　storms　raging　without　and　within　them。　　His　brain　swam　giddily。　　The　points　of　gold　in　her　dark　eyes　were　drawing　him　like　so　many　powerful　magnets。　　Their　lips　met　and　he　caught　her　up　in　his　arms。　　And　for　a　moment　all　the　fire　of　his　intensely　masculine　nature；　so　long　repressed；　raged　over　her　lips；　her　eyes；　her　hair；　her　cheeks；　her　chin。

A　moment　she　lay；　happy　as　a　petrel；　beaten　by　a　tempest；　a　moment　her　thirsty　heart　drank　in　the　ecstasy　of　the　lightnings　through　her　lips　and　skin　and　hair。

She　opened　her　eyes　to　find　out　why　there　was　a　sudden　calm。　　She　saw　him　staring　with　set；　white　face　through　the　rain…veil。　　His　arms　still　held　her；　but　where　they　had　been　like　the　clasp　of　life　itself；　they　were　now　dead　as　the　arms　of　a　statue。　　A　feeling　of　cold　chilled　her　skin；　trickled　icily　in　and　in。　　She　released　herselfhe　did　not　oppose　her。

〃It　seems　to　me　I'll　never　be　able　to　look　youor　myselfin　the　face　again；〃　he　said　at　last。

〃I　didn't　know　it　was　in　me　toto　take　advantage　of　a　woman's　helplessness。〃

〃I　wanted　you　to　do　what　you　did；〃　she　said　simply。

He　shook　his　head。　　〃You　are　generous；〃　he　answered。　　〃But　I　deserve　nothing　but　your　contempt。〃

〃I　wanted　you　to　do　it；〃　she　repeated。　　She　was　under　the　spell　of　her　love　and　of　his　touch。　　She　was　clutching　to　save　what　she　could；　was　desperately　hoping　it　might　not　be　so　little　as　she　feared。　　〃I　had　thethe　same　impulse　that　you　had。〃　　She　looked　at　him　timidly；　with　a　pleading　smile。　　〃And　please　don't　say　you're　sorry　you　did　it；　even　if　you　feel　so。　　You'll　think　me　very　boldI　know　it　isn't　proper　for　young　women　to　make　such　admissions。　　Butdon't　reproach　yourselfplease！〃

If　she　could　have　looked　into　his　mind　as　he　stood　there；　crushed　and　degraded　in　his　own　eyes；　she　would　have　been　a　little　consoledfor；　in　defiance　of　his　self…scorn　and　self…hate；　his　nerves　were　tingling　with　the　memory　of　that　delirium；　and　his　brain　was　throbbing　with　the　surge　of　impulses　long　dormant；　now　imperious。　　But　she　was　not　even　looking　toward　himfor；　through　her　sense　of　shame；　of　wounded　pride；　her　love　was　clamoring　to　her　to　cry　out：　　〃Take　me　in　your　arms　again！　　I　care　not　on　what　terms；　only　take　me　and　hold　me　and　kiss　me。〃

The　rain　presently　ceased　as　abruptly　as　it　had　begun　and　they　returned　under　the　dripping　leaves　to　the　highroad。　　She　glanced　anxiously　at　him　as　they　walked　toward　the　town；　but　he　did　not　speak。　　She　saw　that　if　the　silence　was　to　be　broken；　she　must　break　it。

〃What　can　I　say　to　convince　you？〃　she　asked；　as　if　not　he　but　she　were　the　offender。

He　did　not　answer。

〃Won't　you　look　at　me；　please？〃

He　looked；　the　color　mounting　in　his　cheeks；　his　eyes　unsteady。

〃Now；　tell　me　you'll　not　make　me　suffer　because　you　fancy　you've　wronged　me。　　Isn't　it　ungallant　of　you　to　act　this　way　after　I've　humiliated　myself　to　confess　I　didn't　mind？〃

〃Thank　you；〃　he　said　humbly；　and　looked　away。

〃You　won't　have　it　that　I　was　in　the　least　responsible？〃　　She　was　teasing　him　nowhe　was　plainly　unaware　of　the　meaning　of　her　yielding。　　〃He's　so　modest；〃　she　thought；　and　went　on：　　〃You　won't　permit　me　to　flatter　myself　I　was　a　temptation　too　strong　even　for　your　iron　heart；　Don　Quixote？〃

He　flushed　scarlet；　and　the　suspicion；　the　realization　of　the　truth　set　her　eyes　to　flashing。

〃It's　before　another　woman　he's　abasing　himself；〃　she　thought；　〃not　before　me。　　He　isn't　even　thinking　of　me。〃　　When　she　spoke　her　tone　was　cold　and　sneering：　　〃I　hope　she　will　forgive　you。　　She　certainly　would　if　she　could　know　what　a　paladin　you　are。〃

He　winced；　but　did　not　answer。　　At　the　road　up　the　bluffs　she　paused　and　there　was　an　embarrassed　silence。　　Then　he　poured　out　abrupt　sentences：

〃It　was　doubly　base。　　I　betrayed　your　friendly　trust；　I　was　false　to　her。　　Don't　misunderstandshe's　nothing　to　me。　　She's　nothing　to　me；　yet　everything。　　I　began　really　to　live　when　I　began　to　love　her。　　Andevery　one　must　have　aa　pole…star。　　And　she's　minethe　star　I　sail　by；　and　always　must。　　And〃　　He　halted　altogether；　then　blundered　on：　　〃I　shall　not　forgive　myself。　　But　yoube　mercifulforgive　meforget　it！〃

〃I　shall　do　neither；〃　she　replied　curtly；　jealousy　and　vanity　stamping　down　the　generous　impulse　that　rose　in　response　to　his　appeal。　　And　she　went　up　her　road。　　A　few　yards　and　she　paused；　hoping　to　hear　him　coming　after　her。　　A　few　yards　more　and　she　sat　down　on　a　big　boulder　by　the　wayside。　　Until　now　all　the　wishes　of　her　life　had　been　more　or　less　material；　had　been　wishes　which　her　wealth　or　the　position　her　wealth　gave　had　enabled　her　instantly　to　gratify。　　She　buried　her　face　in　her　arms　and　sobbed　and　rocked　herself　to　and　fro；　in　a　cyclone　of　anger；　and　jealousy；　and　shame；　and　love；　and　despair。

〃I　hate　him！〃　she　exclaimed　between　clenched　teeth。　　〃I　hate　him；　butif　he　came　and　wanted　me；　oh；　how　I　would　LOVE　him！〃

Meanwhile　Pauline　was　at　her　father's。

〃He　isn't　down　yet；〃　said　her　mother。　　〃You　know；　he　doesn't　finish　dressing　nowadays　until　he　has　read　the　papers　a