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〃You haven't let me thank you；〃 broke in Winthrop； 〃and； now；
you pretend this is our last meeting。 It's absurd！〃。
〃It is our last meeting；〃 replied the girl。 Of the two； for the
moment； she was the older； the more contained。 〃On the
contrary；〃 contradicted the man。 He spoke sharply； in a tone he
tried to make as determined as her own。 〃Our next meeting will
be in ten minutes at my sister's。 I have told her about this
afternoon； and about you； and she wants very much to meet you。
She has sent her car for you。 It's waiting in front of the
house。 Now；〃 he commanded masterfully； 〃you come with me； and
get in it； and leave all this〃 he gave an angry； contemptuous
wave of the hand toward the cabinet 〃behind you； as；〃 he
added earnestly； 〃you promised me you would。〃
As though closing from sight the possibility he suggested； the
girl shut her eyes quickly； and then opened them again to meet
his。
〃I can't leave these things behind me；〃 she said quietly。
〃I told you so this afternoon。 For a moment； you made me think I
could； and I did promise。 I didn't need to promise。 It's what
I've prayed for。 Then； you saw what happened； you saw I was
right。 Within five minutes that woman came 〃
〃That woman had a motive；〃 protested Winthrop。
〃That woman；〃 continued the girl patiently； 〃or some other
woman。 What does it matter？ In five minutes； or five days； some
one would have told。〃 She leaned toward him anxiously。 〃I'm not
complaining；〃 she said； 〃it's my own fault。 It's the life I've
chosen。〃 She hesitated and then as though determined to carry
out a programme she had already laid down for herself； continued
rapidly： 〃And what I want to tell you； is； that what's best in
that life I owe to you。〃
〃Vera！〃 cried the man sharply。
〃Listen！〃 said the girl。 Her eyes were alight； eager。 She spoke
frankly； proudly； without embarrassment； without fear of being
misconstrued； as a man might speak to a man。
〃I'd be ungrateful； I'd be a coward；〃 said the girl； 〃if I went
away and didn't tell you。 For ten years I've been counting on
you。 I made you a sort of standard。 I said； as long as he keeps
to his ideals； I'm going to keep to mine。 Maybe you think my
ideals have not been very high； but anyway you've made it easy
for me。 Because I'm in this business； because I'm good…looking
enough； certain men〃 the voice of the girl grew hard and cool
〃have done me the honor to insult me； and it was knowing you；
and that there are others like you； that helped me not to care。〃
The girl paused。 She raised her eyes to his frankly。 The look in
them was one of pride in him； of loyalty； of affection。 〃And
now； since I've met you；〃 she went on； 〃I find you're just as I
imagined you'd be； just as I'd hoped you'd be。〃 She reached out
her hand warningly； appealingly。 〃And I don't want you to
change； to let down； to grow discouraged。 You can't tell how
many more people are counting on you。〃 She hesitated and； as
though at last conscious of her own boldness； flushed
deprecatingly； like one asking pardon。 〃You men in high places；〃
she stammered； 〃you're like light houses showing the way。 You
don't know how many people you are helping。 You can't see them。
You can't tell how many boats are following your light； but if
your light goes out； they are wrecked。〃 She gave a sigh of
relief。 〃That's what I wanted to tell you；〃 she said； 〃and； so
thank you。〃 She held out her hand。 〃And； goodby。〃
Winthrop's answer was to clasp her hand quickly in both of his；
and draw her toward him。
〃Vera；〃 he begged； 〃come with me now！〃
The girl withdrew her hand and moved away from him； frowning。
〃No；〃 she said； 〃no； you do not want to understand。 I have my
work to do tonight。〃
Winthrop gave an exclamation of anger。
〃You don't mean to tell me；〃 he cried； 〃that you're going on
with this？〃
〃Yes；〃 she said； And then in sudden alarm cried： 〃But not if
you're here！ I'll fail if you're here。 Promise me； you will not
be here。〃
〃Indeed；〃 cried the man indignantly； 〃I will not！ But I'll be
downstairs when you need me。 And；〃 he added warningly； 〃you'll
need me。〃 〃No；〃 said the girl。 〃No matter what happens； I tell
you； between us； this is the end。〃
〃Then；〃 begged the man； 〃if this is the end； for God's sake；
Vera； as my last request； do not do it！〃
The girl shook her head。 〃No；〃 she repeated firmly。 〃I've tried
to get away from it； and each time they've forced me back。 Now；
I'll go on with it。 I've promised Paul； and the others。 And you
heard me promise that woman。〃
〃But you didn't mean that！〃 protested the man。 〃She insulted
you； you were angry。 You're angry now； piqued 〃
〃Mr。 Winthrop；〃 interrupted the girl； 〃today you told me I was
not playing the game。 You told the truth。 When you said this
was a mean business； you were right。 But〃 for the first time
since she had spoken her tones were shaken； uncertain 〃I've
been driven out of every other business。〃 She waited until her
voice was again under control； and then said slowly；
definitely； 〃and； tonight； I am going to show Mr。 Hallowell the
spirit of his sister。〃
In the eyes of Winthrop the look of pain； of disappointment； of
reproach； was so keen； that the girl turned her own away。
〃No；〃 said the man gently； 〃you will not do that。〃
〃You can stop my doing it tonight；〃 returned the girl； 〃but at
some other time； at some other place； I will do it。〃
〃You yourself will stop it；〃 said Winthrop。 〃You are too honest；
too fine； to act such a lie。 Why not be yourself？〃 he begged。
〃Why not disappoint these other people who do not know you？ Why
disappoint the man who knows you best； who trusts you； who
believes in you 〃。
〃You are the very one；〃 interrupted the girl； 〃who doesn't know
me。 I am not fine； I am not honest。 I am a charlatan and a
cheat； I am all that woman called me。 And that is why you can't
know me。 That's why。 I told you； if you did； you would be
sorry。〃
〃I am not sorry；〃 said Winthrop。
〃You will be；〃 returned the girl； 〃before the night is over。〃
〃On the contrary；〃 answered the man quietly； 〃I shall wait here
to congratulate you on your failure。〃
〃I shall not fail；〃 said the girl。 Avoiding his eyes； she turned
from him and； for a moment； stood gazing before her miserably。
Her lips were trembling； her eyes moist with rising tears。 Then
she faced him； her head raised defiantly。
〃I have been hounded out of every decent way of living；〃 she
protested hysterically。 〃I can make thousands of dollars
tonight；〃 she cried； 〃out of this one。〃
Winthrop looked straight into her eyes。 His own were pleading；
full of tenderness and pity； so eloquent with meaning that those
of the girl fell before them。
〃That is no answer；〃 said the man。 〃You know it's not。 I tell
you you will fail。〃
From the hall Judge Gaylor entered noisily。 Instinctively the
man and girl moved nearer together； and upon the intruder
Winthrop turned angrily。
〃Well？〃 he demanded sharply。 〃I thought you had finished your
talk；〃 protested the Judge。 〃Mr。 Hallowell is anxious to begin。〃
Winthrop turned and looked at Vera steadily。 For an instant the
eyes of the girl faltered； and then she returned his glance with
on