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I have never given up a single thing I found a source of pleasure。 That is good sense。 That is why the superior sort of men and women retain something of the boy and the girl all their lives。 I still like a lot of the games I played as a boy。 For some years I've had no chance to indulge in them。 I'll be glad when Rica is old enough to give me the chance again。〃
She was much amused。 〃Who'd have suspected that YOU were a born father ！〃
〃Not I； for one；〃 confessed he。 〃We never know what there is in us until circumstances bring it out。〃
〃A devoted father and a doting husband；〃 pursued Ursula。 〃I must say I rather sympathize with you as a doting husband。 Of course； I； a woman； can't see her as you do。 I can't imagine a manespecially a man of your sortgoing stark mad about a mere woman。 But； as women go； I'll admit she is a good specimen。 Not the marvel of intelligence and complex character you imagine； but still a good specimen。 And physically〃 She laughed 〃THAT'S what caught you。 That's what holds youand will hold you as long as it lasts。〃
〃Was there ever a woman who didn't think that？ and didn't like to think it； though I believe many of them make strong pretense at scorning the physical。〃 Fred was regarding his sister with a quizzical expression。 〃You approve of her？〃 he said。
〃More than I'd have thought possible。 And after I've taken her about in the world a while she'll be perfect。〃
〃No doubt；〃 said Norman。 〃But； alas； she'll never be perfect。 For； you're not going to take her about。〃
〃So she says when I talk of it to her；〃 replied Ursula。 〃But I know you'll insist。 You needn't be uneasy as to how she'll be received。〃
〃I'm not；〃 said Norman dryly。
〃You've got back all you lostand more。 How we Americans do worship success！〃
〃Don't suggest to Dorothy anything further about society；〃 said Norman。 〃I've no time or taste for it； and I don't wish to be annoyed by intrusions into my home。〃
〃But you'll not be satisfied always with just her；〃 urged his sister。 〃Besides； you've got a position to maintain。〃
Norman's smile was cynically patient。 〃I want my home and I want my career；〃 said he。 〃And I don't want any society nonsense。 I had the good luck to marry a woman who knows and cares nothing about it。 I don't purpose to give up the greatest advantage of my marriage。〃
Ursula was astounded。 She knew the meaning of his various tones and manners； and his way of rejecting her plans for Dorothyand； incidentally； for her own amusementconvinced her that he was through and through in earnest。 〃It will be dreadfully lonesome for her； Fred；〃 she pleaded。
〃We'll wait till that trouble faces us；〃 replied he； not a bit impressed。 〃And don't forgetnot a word of temptation to her from you。〃 This with an expression that warned her how well he knew her indirect ways of accomplishing what she could not gain directly。
〃Oh； I shan't interfere；〃 said she in a tone that made it a binding promise。 〃But you can't expect me to sympathize with your plans for an old…fashioned domestic life。〃
〃Certainly not；〃 said Norman。 〃You don't understand。 Women of your sort never do。 That's why you're not fit to be the wives of men worth while。 A serious man and a society woman can't possibly hit it off together。 For a serious man the outside world is a place to work； and home is a place to rest。 For a society woman； the world is a place to idle and home is a work shop； an entertainment factory。 It's impossible to reconcile those two opposite ideas。〃
She saw his point at once； and it appealed to her intelligence。 And she had his own faculty for never permitting prejudice to influence judgment。 She said in a dubious tone； 〃Do you think Dorothy will sympathize with your scheme？〃
〃I'm sure I don't know；〃 replied he。
〃If she doesn't〃 Ursula halted there。
Her brother shrugged his shoulders。 〃If she proves to be the wrong sort of woman for me； she'll go her way and I mine。〃
〃Why； I thought you loved her！〃
〃What have I said that leads you to change your mind？〃 said he。
〃A man does not take the high hand with the woman he adores。〃
〃So？〃 said Norman tranquilly。
〃Well；〃 said his puzzled sister by way of conclusion； 〃if you persist in being the autocrat〃
〃Autocrat？I？〃 laughed he。 〃Am I trying to compel her to do anything she doesn't wish to do？ Didn't I say she would be free to go if she were dissatis… fied with me and my planif she didn't adopt it gladly as her own plan； also？〃
〃But you know very well she's dependent upon you； Fred。〃
〃Is that my fault？ Does a man force a woman to become dependent？ And just because she is dependent； should he therefore yield to her and let her make of his life a waste and a folly？〃
〃You're far too clever for me to argue with。 Anyhow； as I was saying； if you persist in what I call tyranny〃
〃When a woman cries tyranny； it means she's furious because she is not getting HER autocratic way。〃
〃Maybe so；〃 admitted Ursula cheerfully。 〃At any rate； if you persistunless she loves you utterly； your life will be miserable。〃
〃She may make her own life miserable； but not mine；〃 replied he。 〃If I were the ordinary man counting himself lucky to have induced any woman to marry himafraid if he lost his woman he'd not be able to get anotherable to give his woman only an indifferent poor support； and so onif I were one of those men； what you say might be true。 But what deep and permanent mischief can a frail woman do a strong man？〃
〃There's instance after instance in history〃
〃Of strong men wrecking THEMSELVES through various kinds of madness； including sex madness。 But； my dear Ursula； not an instancenot onewhere the woman was responsible。 If history were truth； instead of liesyou women might have less conceit。〃
〃Youtalking this way！〃 mocked Ursula。
〃Meaning； I suppose； my late infatuation？〃 inquired he； unruffled。
〃I never saw or read of a worse case。〃
〃Am I ruined？〃
〃No。 But why not？ Because you got her。 If you hadn't〃 Ursula blew out a large cloud of cigarette smoke with a 〃Pouf！〃
〃If I hadn't got her；〃 said Norman； 〃I'd have got well； just the same； in due time。 A sick WEAK man goes down； a sick STRONG man gets well。 When a man who's reputed to be strong doesn't get well； it's because he merely seemed strong but wasn't。 The poets and novelists and the historians and the rest of the nature fakers fail to tell ALL the facts； dear sister。 All the facts would spoil a pretty story。〃
Ursula thought a few minutes； suddenly burst out with； 〃Do you think Dorothy loves you now？〃
Norman rose to go out doors。 〃I don't think about such unprofitable things；〃 said he。 〃As long as we suit each other and get along pleasantlywhy bother about a name for it？〃
In the French window he paused； stood looking out with an expression so peculiar that Ursula； curious； came to see the cause。 A few yards away； under a big symmetrical maple in full leaf sat Dorothy with the baby on her lap。 She was dressed very simply in white。 There was a little sunlight upon her hair； a sheen of gold over her skin。 She was looking down at the baby。 Her expression
Said Ursula： 〃Several of the great painters have tried to catch