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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