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her； but to continue the dispassionate historian of the case。 At the
same time his memory was filled with the vision of how she had done and
said the things he was telling； with what pathos； with what grace； with
what beauty in her appeal。 He saw the tears that came into her eyes at
times and that she indignantly repressed as she hurried on in the
confession which she was voluntarily making； for there was no outward
stress upon her to say anything。 He felt again the charm of the
situation； the sort of warmth and intimacy； but he resolved not to let
that feeling offset the impartiality of his story。
〃No； I don't say she threw herself on your mercy；〃 his mother said；
finally。 〃She needn't have told you anything。〃
〃Except for the reason she gavethat she couldn't make a start for
herself till she had done so。 And she has got her own way to make； she
is poor。 Of course； you may say her motive was an obsession； and not a
reason。〃
〃There's reality in it； whatever it is； it's a genuine motive；〃 Mrs。
Verrian conceded。
〃I think so；〃 Verrian said； in a voice which he tried to keep from
sounding too grateful。
Apparently his mother did not find it so。 She asked； 〃What had been the
matter with her； did she say？〃
〃In her long sickness？ Oh！ A nervous fever of some sort。〃
〃From worrying about that experience？〃
Verrian reluctantly admitted； 〃She said it made her want to die。 I don't
suppose we can quite realize〃
〃We needn't believe everything she said to realize that she suffered。
But girls exaggerate their sufferings。 I suppose you told her not to
think of it any more？〃
Verrian gave an odd laugh。 〃Well； not unconditionally。 I tried to give
her my point of view。 And I stipulated that she should tell Jerusha
Brown all about it； and keep her from having a nervous fever； too。〃
〃That was right。 You must see that even cowardice couldn't excuse her
selfishness in letting that girl take all the chances。〃
〃And I'm afraid I was not very unselfish myself in my stipulations；〃
Verrian said； with another laugh。 〃I think that I wanted to stand well
with the postmaster。〃
There was a note of cynical ease in this which Mrs。 Verrian found morally
some octaves lower than the pitch of her son's habitual seriousness in
what concerned himself； but she could not make it a censure to him。 〃And
you were able to reassure her； so that she needn't think of it any more？〃
〃What would you have wished me to do？〃 he returned； dryly。 〃Don't you
think she had suffered enough？〃
〃Oh； in this sort of thing it doesn't seem the question of suffering。
If there's wrong done the penalty doesn't right it。〃
The notion struck Verrian's artistic sense。 〃That's true。 That would
make the 'donnee' of a strong story。 Or a play。 It's a drama of fate。
It's Greek。 But I thought we lived under another dispensation。〃
〃Will she try to get more of the kind of thing she was doing for Mrs。
Westangle at once？ Or has she some people？〃
〃No； only friends； as I understand。〃
〃Where is she from？ Up country？〃
〃No； she's from the South。〃
〃I don't like Southerners！〃
〃I know you don't； mother。 But you must honor the way they work and get
on when they come North and begin doing for themselves。 Besides； Miss
Shirley's family went South after the war〃
〃Oh； not even a REAL Southerner！〃
〃Mother！〃
〃I know！ I'm not fair。 I ought to beg her pardon。 And I ought to be
glad it's all over。 Shall you see her again？〃
〃It might happen。 But I don't know how or when。 We parted friends； but
we parted strangers； so far as any prevision of the future is concerned；〃
Verrian said。
His mother drew a long breath； which she tried to render inaudible。
〃And the girl that asked her the strange questions； did you see her
again？〃
〃Oh yes。 She had a curious fascination。 I should like to tell you about
her。 Do you think there's such a thing as a girl's being too innocent？〃
〃It isn't so common as not being innocent enough。〃
〃But it's more difficult？〃
〃I hope you'll never find it so； my son；〃 Mrs。 Verrian said。 And for the
first time she was intentionally personal。 〃Go on。〃
〃About Miss Andrews？〃
〃Whichever you please。〃
〃She waylaid me in the afternoon； as I was coming home from a walk； and
wanted to talk with me about Miss Shirley。〃
〃I suppose Miss Shirley was the day's heroine after what had happened？〃
〃The half…day's； or quarter…day's heroine； perhaps。 She left on the
church train for town yesterday morning soon after I saw her。 Miss
Andrews seemed to think I was an authority on the subject； and she
approached me with a large…eyed awe that was very amusing； though it was
affecting； too。 I suppose that girls must have many worships for other
girls before they have any worship for a man。 This girl couldn't
separate Miss Shirley； on the lookout for another engagement； from the
psychical part she had played。 She raved about her； she thought she was
beautiful； and she wanted to know all about her and how she could help
her。 Miss Andrews's parents are rich but respectable； I understand； and
she's an only child。 I came in for a share of her awe； she had found out
that I was not only not Verrian the actor； but an author of the same
name； and she had read my story with passionate interest； but apparently
in that unliterary way of many people without noticing who wrote it； she
seemed to have thought it was Harding Davis or Henry James； she wasn't
clear which。 But it was a good deal to have had her read it at all in
that house； I don't believe anybody else had； except Miss Shirley and
Miss Macroyd。〃
Mrs。 Verrian deferred a matter that would ordinarily have interested her
supremely to an immediate curiosity。 〃And how came she to think you
would know so much about Miss Shirley？〃
Verrian frowned。 〃I think from Miss Macroyd。 Miss Macroyd seems to have
taken a grandmotherly concern in my affairs through the whole week。
Perhaps she resented having behaved so piggishly at the station the day
we came； and meant to take it out of Miss Shirley and myself。 She had
seen us together in the woods； one day； and she must have told it about。
Mrs。 Westangle wouldn't have spoken of us together； because she never
speaks of anything unless it is going to count； and there was no one else
who knew of our acquaintance。〃
〃Why； my son； if you went walking in the woods with the girl； any one
might have seen you。〃
〃I didn't。 It was quite by accident that we met there。 Miss Shirley was
anxious to keep her presence in the house a secret from everybody。〃
Mrs。 Verrian would not take any but the open way； with this。 She would
not deal indirectly； with it； or in any wise covertly or surreptitiously。
〃It seems to me that Miss Shirley has rather a fondness for secrecy；〃 she
said。
〃I think she has；〃 Verrian admitted。 〃Though； in this case； it was
essential to the success of her final scheme。 But she is a curious
study。 I suppose that timidity is at the bottom of all fondness for
secrecy； isn't it？〃
〃I don't know。 She doesn't seem to be timid in everything。〃
〃Say it out； mother！〃 Verrian challenged her with a smile。 〃You're not
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