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Janet to a cabinet in the back of the shop； where it was tried on。
〃It's worth every bit of thirty dollars；〃 she heard the woman say； 〃but we've
had it here for some time； and it's no use for our trade。 You can't sell
anything like that in Hampton； there's no taste here； it's too good； it ain't
showy enough。 My； it fits you like it was made for you； and it's just your
styleand you can see it wants a lady to wear it。 Your old suit is too tight…
…I guess you've filled out some since you bought it。〃
She turned Janet around and around； patting the skirt here and there； and then
stood off a little way； with clasped hands； her expression almost rapturous。
Janet's breath came fast as she gazed into the mirror and buttoned up the coat。
Was the woman's admiration cleverly feigned？ this image she beheld an illusion？
or did she really look different； distinguished？ and if not beautiful
alluring？ She had had a momentary apprehension； almost sickening； that she
would be too conspicuous； but the saleswoman had anticipated that objection
with the magical word 〃lady。〃
〃I'll take it；〃 she announced。
〃Well； you couldn't have done better if you'd gone to Boston；〃 declared the
woman。 〃It's one chance in a thousand。 Will you wear it？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Janet faintly。。。。 〃Just put my old suit in a box； and I'll call
for it in an hour。〃
The woman's sympathetic smile followed her as she left the shop。 She had an
instant of hesitation； of an almost panicky desire to go back and repair her
folly； ere it was too late。 Why had she taken her money with her that evening；
if not with some deliberate though undefined purpose？ But she was ashamed to
face the saleswoman again； and her elation was not to be repressedan elation
optically presented by a huge electric sign on the farther side of the street
that flashed through all the colours of the spectrum； surrounded by running
fire like the running fire in her soul。 Deliciously self…conscious； her gaze
fixed ahead； she pressed through the Wednesday night crowds； young mill men and
women in their best clothes； housewives and fathers of families with children
and bundles。 In front of the Banner office a group blocked the pavement
staring up at the news bulletin； which she paused to read。 〃Five Millionaire
Directors Indicted in New York；〃 〃State Treasurer Accused of Graft；〃 〃Murdock
Fortune Contested by Heirs。〃 The phrases seemed meaningless； and she hurried
on again。。。。 She was being noticed！ A man looked at her； twice； the first
glance accidental； the second arresting； appealing； subtly flattering；
agitatingshe was sure he had turned and was following her。 She hastened her
steps。 It was wicked； what she was doing； but she gloried in it； and even the
sight； in burning red letters； of Gruber's Cafe failed to bring on a revulsion
by its association with her sister Lise。 The fact that Lise had got drunk
there meant nothing to her now。 She gazed curiously at the illuminated；
orange…coloured panes separated by curving leads； at the design of a harp in
green； at the sign 〃Ladies' Entrance〃； listened eagerly to the sounds of voices
and laughter that came from within。 She looked cautiously over her shoulder； a
shadow appeared； she heard a voice； low； insinuating。。。。
Four blocks farther down she stopped。 The man was no longer following her。
She had been almost self…convinced of an intention to go to Eda'snot quite。
Of late her conscience had reproached her about Eda； Janet had neglected her。
She told herself she was afraid of Eda's uncanny and somewhat nauseating flair
for romance； and to show Eda the new suit； though she would relish her friend's
praise； would be the equivalent of announcing an affair of the heart which she；
Janet； would have indignantly to deny。 She was not going to Eda's。 She knew
now where she was going。 A prepared but hitherto undisclosed decree of fate
had bade her put money in her bag that evening； directed her to the shop to buy
the dress； and would presently impel her to go to West Streetnay； was even
now so impelling her。 Ahead of her were the lights of the Chippering Mill； in
her ears was the rhythmic sound of the looms working of nights on the Bradlaugh
order。 She reached the canal。 The white arc above the end of the bridge cast
sharp； black shadows of the branches of the trees on the granite； the thousand
windows of the mill shone yellow； reflected in the black water。 Twice she
started to go； twice she paused； held by the presage of a coming event； a
presage that robbed her of complete surprise when she heard footsteps on the
bridge； saw the figure of a man halting at the crown of the arch to look back
at the building he had left； his shoulders squared； his hand firmly clasping
the rail。 Her heart was throbbing with the looms； and yet she stood
motionless； until he turned and came rapidly down the slope of the arch and
stopped in front of her。 Under the arc lamp it was almost as bright as day。
〃Miss Bumpus！〃 he exclaimed。
〃Mr。 Ditmar〃 she said。
〃Were youwere you coming to the office？〃
〃I was just out walking；〃 she told him。 〃I thought you were in Boston。〃
〃I came home；〃 he informed her； somewhat superfluously； his eyes never leaving
her； wandering hungrily from her face to her new suit； and back again to her
face。 〃I got here on the seven o'clock train； I wanted to see about those new
Blubbers。〃
〃They finished setting them up this afternoon；〃 she said。
〃How did you know？〃
〃I asked Mr。 Orcutt about itI thought you might telephone。〃
〃You're a wonder；〃 was his comment。 〃Well； we've got a running start on that
order；〃 and he threw a glance over his shoulder at the mill。 〃Everything going
full speed ahead。 When we put it through I guess I'll have to give you some of
the credit。〃
〃Oh； I haven't done anything；〃 she protested。
〃More than you think。 You've taken so much off my shoulders I couldn't get
along without you。〃 His voice vibrated； reminding her of the voices of those
who made sentimental recitations for the graphophone。 It sounded absurd； yet
it did not repel her： something within her responded to it。 〃Which way were
you going？〃 he inquired。
〃Home；〃 she said。
〃Where do you live？〃
〃In Fillmore Street。〃 And she added with a touch of defiance： 〃It's a little
street； three blocks above Hawthorne； off East Street。〃
〃Oh yes；〃 he said vaguely； as though he had not understood。 〃I'll come with
you as far as the bridgealong the canal。 I've got so much to say to you。〃
〃Can't you say it to…morrow？〃
〃No； I can't； there are so many people in the officeso many interruptions； I
mean。 And then； you never give me a chance。〃
She stood hesitating； a struggle going on within her。 He had proposed the
route along the canal because nobody would be likely to recognize them； and her
pride resented this。 On the other hand； there was the sweet allurement of the
adventure she craved； which indeed she had come out to seek and by a strange
fatality foundsince he had appeared on the bridge almost as soon as she
reached it。 The sense of fate was strong upon her。 Curiosity urged her； and；
thanks to the eulogy she had read of him that day； to the added impression of
his power conveyed by the trip through the mills； Ditmar loomed larger than
ever in her consciousness。
〃What do you want to say？〃 she asked。
〃Oh； lots of things。〃
She felt his hand slipping under her arm； his fingers pressing gently but
firmly into her flesh； and the experience of being impelled by a power stronger
than herself； a masculine power； was delicious。 Her arm seemed to burn where
he touched her。
〃Have I done something to offend you？〃 she heard him say。 〃Or is it because
you don't like me？〃
〃I'm not sure whether I like you or not；〃 she told him。 〃I don't like seeing
youthis way。 And why should you want to know me and see me outside of the
office？ I'm only your stenographer。〃
〃Because you're youbecause you're different from any woman I ever met。 You
don't understand what you areyou don't see yourself。〃
〃I made up my mind last night I wouldn't stay in your office any longer；〃 she
informed him。
〃For God's sake； why？〃 he exclaimed。 〃I've been afraid of that。 Don't goI
don't know what I'd do。 I'll be carefulI won't get you talked about。〃
〃Talked about！〃 She tore herself away from him。 〃Why should you get me talked
about？〃 she cried。
He was frightened。 〃No； no；〃 he stammered； 〃I didn't mean〃
〃What did you mean？〃
〃Wellas you say； you're my stenographer； but that's no reason why we
shouldn't be friends。 I only meantI wouldn't do anything to make our
friendship the subject of gossip。〃
Suddenly she began to find a certain amusement in his confusion and penitence；
she achieved a pleasurable sense of advantage； of power over him。
〃Why should you want me？ I don't know anything； I've never had any advantages…
…and you have so much。 I read an article in the newspaper about you todayMr。
Caldwell gave it to me〃
〃Did you like it？〃 he interrupted； naively。
〃Well； in some places it was rather funny。〃
〃Funny？ How？〃
〃Oh； I don't know。〃 She had been quick to grasp in it the journalistic lack of
restraint h