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these hurrying in automobiles through the ugliness of Faber Street in
Hampton toward just such delectable spots as this village of Kingsbury
people of that world of freedom and privilege from which she was
excluded； Ditmar's world。 He was at home here。 But she？ The delusion
that she somehow had been miraculously snatched up into it was marred by
their glances。 What were they thinking of her？ Her face was hot as she
passed them and entered the hall； where more people were gathered。 But
Ditmar's complacency； his ease and self…confidence； his manner of owning
the place； as it were； somewhat reassured her。 He went up to the desk；
behind which； stood a burly； red…complexioned man who greeted him
effusively； yet with the air of respect accorded the powerful。
〃Hullo； Eddie；〃 said Ditmar。 〃You've got a good crowd here to…day。 Any
room for me？〃
〃Sure； Mr。 Ditmar； we can always make room for you。 Well； I haven't laid
eyes on you for a dog's age。 Only last Sunday Mr。 Crane was here； and I
was asking him where you'd been keeping yourself。〃
〃Why； I've been busy； Eddie。 I've landed the biggest order ever heard of
in Hampton。 Some of us have to work； you know； all you've got to do is
to loaf around this place and smoke cigars and rake in the money。〃
The proprietor of the Kingsbury Tavern smiled indulgently at this
persiflage。
〃Let me present you to Miss Bumpus；〃 said Ditmar。 〃This is my friend；
Eddie Hale；〃 he added； for Janet's benefit。 〃And when you've eaten his
dinner you'll believe me when I say he's got all the other hotel men
beaten a mile。〃
Janet smiled and flushed。 She had been aware of Mr。 Hale's discreet
glance。
〃Pleased to meet you； Miss Bumpus；〃 he said； with a somewhat elaborate
bow。
〃Eddie；〃 said Ditmar； 〃have you got a nice little table for us？〃
〃It's a pity I didn't know you was coming； but I'll do my best；〃 declared
Mr。 Hale； opening the door in the counter。
〃Oh； I guess you can fix us all right； if you want to； Eddie。〃
〃Mr。 Ditmar's a great josher；〃 Mr。 Hale told Janet confidentially as he
escorted them into the dining…room。 And Ditmar； gazing around over the
heads of the diners； spied in an alcove by a window a little table with
tilted chairs。
〃That one'll do；〃 he said。
〃I'm sorry； but it's engaged；〃 apologized Mr。 Hale。
〃Forget it； Eddietell 'em they're late；〃 said Ditmar； making his way
toward it。
The proprietor pulled out Janet's chair。
〃Say；〃 he remarked； 〃it's no wonder you get along in business。〃
〃Well； this is cosy； isn't it？〃 … said Ditmar to Janet when they were
alone。 He handed her the menu； and snapped his fingers for a waitress。
〃Why didn't you tell me you were coming to this place？〃 she asked。
〃I wanted to surprise you。 Don't you like it？〃
〃Yes；〃 she replied。 〃Only〃
〃Only； what？〃
〃I wish you wouldn't look at me like thathere。〃
〃All right。 I'll try to be good until we get into the car again。 You
watch me！ I'll behave as if we'd been married ten years。〃
He snapped his fingers again； and the waitress hurried up to take their
orders。
〃Kingsbury's still dry； I guess；〃 he said to the girl； who smiled
sympathetically； somewhat ruefully。 When she had gone he began to talk
to Janet about the folly； in general； of prohibition； the fusel oil
distributed on the sly。 〃I'll bet I could go out and find half a dozen
rum shops within a mile of here！〃 he declared。
Janet did not doubt it。 Ditmar's aplomb； his faculty of getting what he
wanted； had amused and distracted her。 She was growing calmer； able to
scrutinize； at first covertly and then more boldly the people at the
other tables； only to discover that she and Ditmar were not the objects
of the universal curiosity she had feared。 Once in a while； indeed； she
encountered and then avoided the glance of some man； felt the admiration
in it； was thrilled a little； and her sense of exhilaration returned as
she regained her poise。 She must be nice lookingmore than thatin her
new suit。 On entering the tavern she had taken off the tweed coat； which
Ditmar had carried and laid on a chair。 This new and amazing adventure
began to go to her head like wine。。。。
When luncheon was over they sat in a sunny corner of the porch while
Ditmar smoked his cigar。 His digestion was good； his spirits high； his
love…makingon account of the public nature of the placesurreptitious
yet fervent。 The glamour to which Janet had yielded herself was on
occasions slightly troubled by some new and enigmatic element to be
detected in his voice and glances suggestive of intentions vaguely
disquieting。 At last she said：
〃Oughtn't we to be going home？〃
〃Home！〃 he ridiculed the notion。 〃I'm going to take you to the prettiest
road you ever sawaround by French's Lower Falls。 I only wish it was
summer。〃
〃I must be home before dark；〃 she told him。 〃You see； the family don't
know where I am。 I haven't said anything to them aboutabout this。〃
〃That's right；〃 he said； after a moment's hesitation：
〃I didn't think you would。 There's plenty of time for thatafter things
get settled a littleisn't there？〃
She thought his look a little odd； but the impression passed as they
walked to the motor。 He insisted now on her pinning the roses on the
tweed coat； and she humoured him。 The winter sun had already begun to
drop； and with the levelling rays the bare hillsides； yellow and brown in
the higher light； were suffused with pink； little by little； as the sun
fell lower； imperceptible clouds whitened the blue cambric of the sky；
distant copses were stained lilac。 And Janet； as she gazed； wondered at
a world that held at once so much beauty； so much joy and sorrow；such
strange sorrow as began to invade her now； not personal； but cosmic。 At
times it seemed almost to suffocate her； she drew in deep breaths of air：
it was the essence of all thingsof the man by her side； of herself； of
the beauty so poignantly revealed to her。
Gradually Ditmar became conscious of this detachment； this new evidence
of an extraordinary faculty of escaping him that seemed unimpaired。
Constantly he tried by leaning closer to her； by reaching out his hand；
to reassure himself that she was at least physically present。 And though
she did not resent these tokens； submitting passively； he grew perplexed
and troubled； his optimistic atheism concerning things unseen was
actually shaken by the impression she conveyed of beholding realities
hidden from him。 Shadows had begun to gather in the forest； filmy mists
to creep over the waters。 He asked if she were cold； and she shook her
head and sighed as one coming out of a trance； smiling at him。
〃It's been a wonderful day！〃 she said。
〃The greatest ever！〃 he agreed。 And his ardour； mounting again； swept
away the unwonted mood of tenderness and awe she had inspired in him；
made him bold to suggest the plan which had been the subject of an
ecstatic contemplation。
〃I'll tell you what we'll do；〃 he said； 〃we'll take a little run down to
Boston and have dinner together。 We'll be there in an hour； and back by
ten o'clock。〃
〃To Boston！〃 she repeated。 〃Now？〃
〃Why not？〃 he said； stopping the car。 〃Here's the roadit's a boulevard
all the way。〃
It was not so much the proposal as the passion in his voice； in his
touch； the passion to which she felt herself responding that filled her
with apprehension and dismay； and yet aroused her pride and anger。
〃I told you I had to be home；〃 she said。
〃I'll have you home by ten o'clock； I promise。 We're going to be
married； Janet；〃 he whispered。
〃Oh； if you meant to marry me you wouldn't ask me to do this！〃 she cried。
〃I want to go back to Hampton。 If you won't take me； I'll walk。〃
She had drawn away from him； and her hand was on the door。 He seized her
arm。
〃For God's sake； don't take it that way！〃 he cried； in genuine alarm。
〃All I meant wasthat we'd have a nice little dinner。 I couldn't bear
to leave you； it'll be a whole week before we get another day。 Do you
suppose I'dI'd do anything to insult you； Janet？〃
With her fingers still tightened over the door…catch she turned and
looked at him。
〃I don't know；〃 she said slowly。 〃Sometimes I think you would。 Why
shouldn't you？ Why should you marry me？ Why shouldn't you try to do
with me what you've done with other women？ I don't know anything about
the world； about life。 I'm nobody。 Why shouldn't you？〃
〃Because you're not like the other womenthat's why。 I love youwon't
you believe it？〃 He was beside himself with anxiety。 〃ListenI'll take
you home if you want to go。 You don't know how it hurts me to have you
think such things！〃
〃Well； then； take me home；〃 she said。 It was but gradually that she
became pacified。 A struggle was going on within her between these doubts
of him he had stirred up again and other feelings aroused by his
pleadings。 Night fell； and when they reached the Silliston road the
lights of Hampton shone below them in the darkness。
〃You'd better let me out here；〃 she said。 〃You can't drive me home。〃
He brought the car to a halt beside one of the small wooden shelters
built for the convenience of passengers。
〃You forgive meyou unde