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men； whose point of view is never corrected by the experiences of practical lifeare not more arrogant； more absurdly forgetful of the oneness and the feebleness of humanity。
Josephine was by nature one of the sweet and simple souls。 And her love for Norman； after the habit of genuine love； had destroyed all the instinct of coquetry。 The womanor； the manhas to be indeed interesting； indeed an individuality； to remain interesting when sincerely in love； and so elevated above the petty but potent sex trickeries。 Josephine； deeply in love； was showing herself to Norman in her undisguised natural sweet simplicityand monotony。 But； while men admire and reverence a sweet and simple feminine soul and love her in plays and between the covers of a book and when she is talking highfaluting abstractions of moralityand wax wroth with any other man who ignores or neglects herthey do not in their own persons become infatuated with her。 Passion is too much given to moods for that； it has a morbid craving for variety； for the mysterious and the baffling。
The only thing that saves the race from ruin through passion is the rarity of those by nature or by art expert in using it。 Norman felt that he was paying the penalty for his persistent search for this rarity； one of the basest tricks of destiny upon man is to give him what he wantswealth； or fame； or power； or the wom… an who enslaves。 Norman felt that destiny had suddenly revealed its resolve to destroy him by giving him not one of the things he wanted； but all。
The marriage was not quite two weeks away。 About the time that the ordinary plausible excuses for Norman's neglect； his abstraction； his seeming indifference were exhausted； Josephine's vanity came forward to explain everything to her； all to her own glory。 As the elysian hour approachedso vanity assured herthe man who loved her as her complex soul and many physical and social advantages deserved was overcome with that shy terror of which she had read in the poets and the novelists。 A large income； fashionable attire and surroundings； a carriage and a maidthese things gave a woman a subtle and superior intellect and soul。 How？ Why？ No one knew。 But everyone admitted； indeed saw； the truth。 Further； these beingsthese great ladiesaccording to all the accredited poets； novelists； and other final authorities upon lifealways inspired the most awed and worshipful and diffident feelings in their lovers。 Therefore； shethe great ladywas getting but her due。 She would have liked something else something common and humanmuch better。 But； having always led her life as the conventions dictated； never as the common human heart yearned； she had no keen sense of dissatisfaction to rouse her to revolt and to question。 Also； she was breathlessly busy with trousseau and the other arrangements for the grand wedding。
One afternoon she telephoned Norman asking him to come on his way home that evening。 〃I particularly wish to see you；〃 she said。 He thought her voice sounded rather queer； but he did not take sufficient interest to speculate about it。 When he was with her in the small drawing room on the second floor； he noted that her eyes were regarding him strangely。 He thought he understood why when she said：
〃Aren't you going to kiss me； Fred？〃
He put on his good…natured； slightly mocking smile。 〃I thought you were too busy for that sort of thing nowadays。〃 And he bent and kissed her waiting lips。 Then he lit a cigarette and seated himself on the sofa beside herthe sofa at right angles to the open fire。 〃Well？〃 he said。
She gazed into the fire for full a minute before she said in a voice of constraint； 〃What became of that that girlthe Miss Hallowell〃
She broke off abruptly。 There was a pause choked with those dizzy pulsations that fill moments of silence and strain。 Then with a sob she flung herself against his breast and buried her face in his shoulder。 〃Don't answer！〃 she cried。 〃I'm ashamed of myself。 I'm ashamedashamed！〃
He put his arm about her shoulders。 〃But why shouldn't I answer？〃 said he in the kindly gentle tone we can all assume when a matter that agitates some one else is wholly indifferent to us。
〃Becauseit was aa trap；〃 she answered hysterically。 〃Fredthere was a man here this afternoon a man named Tetlow。 He got in only because he said he came from you。〃
Norman laughed quietly。 〃Poor Tetlow！〃 he said。 〃He used to be your head clerkdidn't he？〃
〃And one of my few friends。〃
〃He's not your friend； Fred！〃 she cried； sitting upright and speaking with energy that quivered in her voice and flashed in her fine brown eyes。 〃He's your enemya snake in the grassa malicious； poisonous〃
Norman's quiet； even laugh interrupted。 〃Oh； no；〃 said he。 〃Tetlow's a good fellow。 Anything he said would be what he honestly believedanything he said about me。〃
〃He pleaded that he was doing it for your good；〃 she went on with scorn。 〃They always dolike the people that write father wicked anonymous letters。 He this man Tetlowhe said he wanted me for the sake of my love for you to save you from yourself。〃
Norman glanced at her with amused eyes。 〃Well； why don't you？ But then you ARE doing it。 You're marrying me； aren't you？〃
Again she put her head upon his shoulder。 〃Indeed I am！〃 she cried。 〃And I'd be a poor sort if I
let a sneak shake my confidence in you。〃
He patted her shoulder； and there was laughter in his voice as he said； 〃But I never professed to be trustworthy。〃
〃Oh； I know you USED to〃 She laughed and kissed his cheek。 〃Never mind。 I've heard。 But while you were engaged to meabout to marry mewhy； you simply couldn't！〃
〃Couldn't what？〃 inquired he。
〃Do you want me to tell you what he said？〃
〃I think I know。 But do as you like。〃
〃Maybe I'd better tell you。 I seem to want to get rid of it。〃
〃Then do。〃
〃It was about that girl。〃 She sat upright and looked at him for encouragement。 He nodded。 She went on： 〃He said that if I asked you； you would not dare deny you wereweregiving her money。〃
〃Her and her father。〃
She shrank； startled。 Then her lips smiled bravely； and she said； 〃He didn't say anything about her father。〃
〃No。 That was my own correction of his story。〃
She looked at him with wonder and doubt。 〃You aren'tDOING it； Fred！〃 she exclaimed。
He nodded。 〃Yes； indeed。〃 He looked at her placidly。 〃Why not？〃
〃You are SUPPORTING her？〃
〃If you wish to put it that way；〃 said he carelessly。 〃My money pays the billsall the bills。〃
〃Fred！〃
〃Yes？ What is it？ Why are you so agitated？〃 He studied her face； then rose； took a final pull at the cigarette； tossed it in the fire。 〃I must be going；〃 he said； in a cool； even voice。
She started up in a panic。 〃Fred！ What do you mean？ Are you angry with me？〃
His calm regard met hers。 〃I do not likethis sort of thing；〃 he said。
〃But surely you'll explain。 Surely I'm entitled to an explanation。〃
〃Why should I explain？ You have evidently found an explanation that satisfies you。〃 He drew himself up in a quiet gesture of haughtiness。 〃Besides； it has never been my habit to allow myself to be questioned or to explain myself。〃
Her eyes widened with terro