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〃Funny？ How？〃
〃Oh； I don't know。〃 She had been quick to grasp in it the journalistic lack of
restraint hinted at by Caldwell。 〃I liked it； but I thought it praised you too
much； it didn't criticize you enough。〃
He laughed。 In spite of his discomfort； he found her candour refreshing。 From
the women to whom he had hitherto made love he had never got anything but
flattery。
〃I want you to criticize me；〃 he said。
But she went on relentlessly：
〃When I read in that article how successful you were； and how you'd got
everything you'd started out to get； and how some day you might be treasurer
and president of the Chippering Mill； well〃 Despairing of giving adequate
expression to her meaning； she added； 〃I didn't see how we could be friends。〃
〃You wanted me for a friend？〃 he interrupted eagerly。
〃I couldn't help knowing you wanted meyou've shown it so plainly。 But I
didn't see how it could be。 You asked me where I livedin a little flat
that's no better than a tenement。 I suppose you would call it a tenement。
It's dark and ugly； it only has four rooms； and it smells of cooking。 You
couldn't come theredon't you see how impossible it is？ And you wouldn't care
to be talked about yourself； either；〃 she added vehemently。
This defiant sincerity took him aback。 He groped for words。
〃Listen！〃 he urged。 〃I don't want to do anything you wouldn't like； and
honestly I don't know what I'd do if you left me。 I've come to depend on you。
And you may not believe it； but when I got that Bradlaugh order I thought of
you； I said to myself 'She'll be pleased； she'll help me to put it over。'〃
She thrilled at this； she even suffered him； for some reason unknown to
herself； to take her arm again。
〃How could I help you？〃
〃Oh； in a thousand waysyou ought to know； you do a good deal of thinking for
me； and you can help me by just being there。 I can't explain it； but I feel
somehow that things will go right。 I've come to depend on you。〃
He was a little surprised to find himself saying these things he had not
intended to say； and the lighter touch he had always possessed in dealing with
the other sex； making him the envied of his friends； had apparently abandoned
him。 He was appalled at the possibility of losing her。
〃I've never met a woman like you；〃 he went on； as she remained silent。 〃You're
differentI don't know what it is about you； but you are。〃 His voice was low；
caressing； his head was bent down to her； his shoulder pressed against her
shoulder。 〃I've never had a woman friend before； I've never wanted one until
now。〃
She wondered about his wife。
〃You've got brainsI've never met a woman with brains。〃
〃Oh； is that why？〃 she exclaimed。
〃You're beautiful；〃 he whispered。 〃It's queer； but I didn't know it at first。
You're more beautiful to…night than I've ever seen you。〃
They had come almost to Warren Street。 Suddenly realizing that they were
standing in the light； that people were passing to and fro over the end of the
bridge； she drew away from him once more； this time more gently。
〃Let's walk back a little way；〃 he proposed。
〃I must go homeit's late。〃
〃It's only nine o'clock。〃
〃I have an errand to do； and they'll expect me。 Good night。〃
〃Just one more turn！〃 he pleaded。
But she shook her head； backing away from him。
〃You'll see me to…morrow；〃 she told him。 She didn't know why she said that。
She hurried along Warren Street without once looking over her shoulder； her
feet seemed scarcely to touch the ground； the sound of music was in her ears；
the lights sparkled。 She had had an adventure； at last； an adventure that
magically had transformed her life！ She was beautiful！ No one had ever told
her that before。 And he had said that he needed her。 She smiled as； with an
access of tenderness； in spite of his experience and power she suddenly felt
years older than Ditmar。 She could help him！。。。
She was breathless when she reached the shop in Faber Street。
〃I hope I haven't kept you waiting；〃 she said。
〃Oh no； we don't close until ten；〃 answered the saleswoman。 She was seated
quietly sewing under the lamp。
〃I wonder whether you'd mind if I put on my old suit again； and carried this？〃
Janet asked。
The expression of sympathy and understanding in the woman's eyes； as she rose；
brought the blood swiftly to Janet's face。 She felt that her secret had been
guessed。 The change effected； Janet went homeward swiftly； to encounter； on
the corner of Faber Street； her sister Lise； whose attention was immediately
attracted by the bundle。
〃What have you got there； angel face？〃 she demanded。
〃A new suit；〃 said Janet。
〃You don't tell mewhere'd you get it？ at the Paris？〃
〃No； at Dowling's。〃
〃Say； I'll bet it was that plain blue thing marked down to twenty！〃
〃Well； what if it was？〃
Lise； when surprised or scornful； had a peculiarly irritating way of whistling
through her teeth。
〃Twenty bucks！ Gee； you'll be getting your clothes in Boston next。 Well； as
sure as I live when I went by that window the other day when they first knocked
it down I said to Sadie； ‘those are the rags Janet would buy if she had the
ready。' Have you got another raise out of Ditmar？〃
〃If I have； it isn't any business of yours；〃 Janet retorted。 〃I've got a right
to do as I please with my own money。〃
〃Oh sure；〃 said Lise； and added darkly： 〃I guess Ditmar likes to see you look
well。〃
After this Janet refused obstinately to speak to Lise； to answer； when they
reached home； her pleadings and complaints to their mother that Janet had
bought a new suit and refused to exhibit it。 And finally； when they had got to
bed； Janet lay long awake in passionate revolt against this new expression of
the sordidness and lack of privacy in which she was forced to live； made the
more intolerable by the close； sultry darkness of the room and the snoring of
Lise。
In the morning； however； after a groping period of semiconsciousness during the
ringing of the bells； the siren startled her into awareness and alertness。 It
had not wholly lost its note of terror； but the note had somehow become
exhilarating； an invitation to adventure and to life； and Lise's sarcastic
comments as to the probable reasons why she did not put on the new suit had
host their power of exasperation。 Janet compromised； wearing a blouse of china
silk hitherto reserved for 〃best。〃 The day was bright； and she went rapidly
toward the mill； glorying in the sunshine and the autumn sharpness of the air；
and her thoughts were not so much of Ditmar as of something beyond him； of
which he was the medium。 She was going； not to meet him； but to meet that。
When she reached the office she felt weak； her fingers trembled as she took off
her hat and jacket and began to sort out the mail。 And she had to calm herself
with the assurance that her relationship with Ditmar had undergone no change。
She had merely met him by the canal； and he had talked to her。 That was all。
He had； of course； taken her arm： it tingled when she remembered it。 But when
he suddenly entered the room her heart gave a bound。 He closed the door； he
took off his hat； and stood gazing at herwhile she continued arranging
letters。 Presently she was forced to glance at him。 His bearing； his look；
his confident smile all proclaimed that he； at least； believed things to be
changed。 He glowed with health and vigour； with an aggressiveness from which
she shrank； yet found delicious。
〃How are you this morning？〃 he said at lastthis morning as distinguished
from all other mornings。
〃I'm well； as usual；〃 she answered。 She herself was sometimes surprised by her
ability to remain outwardly calm。
〃Why did you run away from me last night？〃
〃I didn't run away； I had to go home；〃 she said； still arranging the letters。
〃We could have had a little walk。 I don't believe you had to go home at all。
You just wanted an excuse to get away from me。〃
〃I didn't need an excuse；〃 she told him。 He moved toward her； but she took a
paper from the desk and carried it to a file across the room。
〃I thought we were going to be friends；〃 he said。
〃Being friends doesn't mean being foolish；〃 she retorted。 〃And Mr。 Orcutt's
waiting to see you。〃
〃Let him wait。〃
He sat down at his desk； but his blood was warm； and he read the typewritten
words of the topmost letter of the pile without so much as grasping the meaning
of them。 From time to time he glanced up at Janet as she flitted about the
room。 By George； she was more desirable than he had ever dared to imagine！ He
felt temporarily balked； but hopeful。 On his way to the mill he had dwelt with
Epicurean indulgence on this sight of her； and he had not been disappointed。
He had also thought that he might venture upon more than the mere feasting of
his eyes； yet found an inspiring alleviation in the fact that she by no means
absolutely repulsed him。 Her attitude toward him had undergone a subtle
transformation。 There could be no doubt of that。 She was almost coquettish。
His eyes lingered。 The china silk blouse was slightly open at the neck；
suggesting the fullness of her throat； it clung to the outline of her
shoul