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ch a funny idea of what I had a right to do and what I hadn't。 And I didn't spend so very much on out…and…out luxury。 But enough to spoil me for this life。〃
As Norman listened； as he notedin her appearance； manner； way of talkingthe many meaning signs of the girl hesitating at the fork of the roadshe felt within him the twinges of fear； of jealousyand through fear and jealousy； the twinges of conscience。 She was telling the truth。 He had undermined her ability to live in purity the life to which her earning power assigned her。 。 。 。 WHY had she been so friendly to him？ Why had she received him in this informal； almost if not quite inviting fashion？
〃So you think I've changed？〃 she was saying。 〃WellI have。 Gracious； what a little fool I was！〃
His eyes lifted with an agonized question in them。
She flushed； glanced away； glanced at him again with the old； sweet expression of childlike innocence which had so often made him wonder whether it was merely a mannerism； or was a trick； or was indeed a beam from a pure soul。 〃I'm foolish stillin certain ways；〃 she said significantly。
〃And you always intend to be？〃 suggested he with a forced smile。
〃Ohyes；〃 replied shepositively enough； yet it somehow had not the full force of her simple short statements in the former days。
He believed her。 Perhaps because he wished to believe； must believe； would have been driven quite mad by disbelief。 Still； he believed。 As yet she was good。 But it would not last much longer。 With himor with some other。 If with him； then certainly afterward with anotherwith others。 No matter how jealously he might guard her； she would go that road； if once she entered it。 If he would have her for his very own he must strengthen her； not weaken her； must keep her 〃foolish stillin certain ways。〃
He said： 〃There's nothing in the other sort of life。〃
〃That's what they say；〃 replied she； with ominous irritation。 〃Stillsome girlsLOTS of girls seem to get on mighty well without being so terribly particular。〃
〃You ought to see them after a few years。〃
〃I'm only twenty…one；〃 laughed she。 〃I've got lots of time before I'm old。 。 。 。 You haven'tmarried？〃
〃No；〃 said he。
〃I thought I'd have heard； if you had。〃 She laughed queerlyagain shook out her hair； and it shimmered round her face and over her head and out from her shoulders like flames。 〃You've got a kind of aMr。 Tetlow way of talking。 It doesn't remind me of you as you were in Jersey City。〃
She said nothing； she suggested nothing that had the least impropriety in it； or faintest hint of impropriety。 It was nothing positive； nothing aggressive； but a certain vague negative something that gave him the impression of innocence still innocent but looking or trying to look tolerantly where it should not。 And he felt dizzy and sick； stricken with shame and remorse and jealous fear。 Yesshe was sliding slowly； gently； unconsciously down to the depth in which he had been lying； sick and shudderingno； to deeper depthsto the depths where there is no light； no trace of a return path。 And he had started her down。 He had done it when he； in his pride and selfishness； had ignored what the success of his project would mean for her。 But he knew now； in bitterness and shame and degradation he had learned。 〃I was infamous！〃 he said to himself。
She began to talk in a low； embarrassed voice：
〃Sometimes I think of getting married。 There's a young mana young lawyerhe makes twenty…five a week； but it'll be years and years before he has a good living。 A man doesn't get on fast in New York unless he has pull。〃
Norman； roused from his remorse； blazed inside。 〃You are in love with him？〃
She laughed； and he could not tell whether it was to tease him or to evade。
〃You'd not care about him long；〃 said Norman； 〃unless there were more money coming in than he'd be likely to get soon。 Love without money doesn't go at least； not in New York。〃
〃Do you suppose I don't know that？〃 said she with the irritation of one faced by a hateful fact。 〃StillI don't see what to do。〃
Norman； biting his lip and fuming and observing her with jealous eyes； said in the best voice he could command； 〃How long have you been in love with him？〃
〃Did I say I was in love？〃 mocked she。
〃You didn't say you weren't。 Who is he？〃
〃If you'll stay on about half an hour or so； you'll see him。 Noyou can't。 I've got to get dressed before I let him up。 He has very strict ideaswhere I'm concerned。〃
〃Then why did you let ME come up？〃 Norman said； with a penetrating glance。
She lowered her gaze and a faint flush stole into her cheeks。 Was it confession of the purpose he suspected？ Or； was it merely embarrassment？
〃I heard of a case once；〃 continued Norman； his gaze significantly direct； 〃the case of a girl who was in love with a poor young fellow。 She wanted money luxury。 Also； she wanted the poor young fellow。〃
The color flamed into the girl's face； then left it pale。 Her white fingers fluttered with nervous grace into her masses of hair and back to her lap again； to rest there in timid quiet。
〃She knew another man；〃 pursued Norman； 〃one who was able to give her what she wanted in the way of comfort。 So； she decided to make an arrangement with the man； and keep it hidden from her loverand in that way get along pleasantly until her lover was in better circumstances 。〃
Her gaze was upon her hands； listless in her lap。 He felt that he had spoken her unspoken； probably unformed thoughts。 Yes； unformed。 Men and women； especially women； habitually pursued these unacknowledged andeven unformed purposes； in their conflicts of the desire to get what they wanted and their desire to appear well to themselves。
〃What would you think of an arrangement like that？〃 asked he； determined to draw her secret heart into the open where he could see； where she could see。
She lifted frank； guileless eyes to his。 〃I suppose the girl was trying to do the best she could。〃
〃What do you think of a girl who'd do that？〃
〃I don't judge anybodyany more。 I've found out that this world isn't at all as I thoughtas I was taught。〃
〃Would YOU do it？〃
She smiled faintly。 〃No；〃 she replied uncertainly。 Then she restored his wavering belief in her essential honesty and truthfulness by adding： 〃That is to say； I don't think I would。〃
She busied herself with her hair； feeling it to see whether it was not yet dry； spreading it out。 He looked at her unseeingly。 At last she said： 〃You must go。 I've got to get dressed。〃
〃YesI must be going；〃 said he absently； rising and reaching for his hat on the center table。
She stood up； put out her hand。 〃I'm glad you came。〃
〃Thank you；〃 said he； still in the same abstraction。 He shook hands with her； moved hesitatingly toward the door。 With his hand on the knob he turned and glanced keenly at her。 He surprised in her face a look of mystery of seriousness； of sadnesswas there anxiety in it； also？ And then he saw a certain elusive reminder of her fatherand it brought to him with curious force the memory of how she had been brought up； of what must be hers by inheritance and by trainingshe； the daughter of a great and simple and noble man
〃Yo