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〃You can easily make an excusebusiness。〃
〃But I don't want to；〃 protested the head clerk。 〃What's the use？ I've got my mind made up。 Norman； I'd hang on after her if you fired me out of this office for it。 And I can't restI'm fit for nothing until this matter's settled。 I came very near taking her aside and proposing to her； just after I went out of here a while ago。〃
〃You DAMN fool！〃 cried Norman； losing all control of himself。 〃Take the afternoon express for Albany instead of Harcott and attend to those registrations and arrange for those hearings。 I'll do my best to save you。 I'll bring the girl in here and keep her at work until you get out of the way。〃
Tetlow glanced at his friend； then the tears came into his eyes。 〃You're a hell of a friend！〃 he ejaculated。 〃And I thought you'd sympathize because you were in love。〃
〃I do sympathize； Billy；〃 Norman replied with an abrupt change to shamefaced apology。 〃I sympathize more than you know。 I feel like a dog； doing this。 But it can't result in any harm； and I want you to get a little fresh air in that hot brain of yours before you commit yourself。 Be reasonable； old man。 Suppose you rushed ahead and proposedand she acceptedand then； after a few days； you came to。 What about her？ You must act on the level； Tetlow。 Do the fair thing by yourself and by her。〃
Norman had often had occasion to feel proud of the ingenuity and resourcefulness of his brain。 He had never been quite so proud as he was when he finished that speech。 It pacified Tetlow； it lightened his own sense of guilt； it gave him a respite。
Tetlow rewarded Norman with the look that in New York is the equivalent of the handclasp friend seeks from friend in times of stress。 〃You're right； Fred。 I'm much obliged to you。 I haven't been considering HER side of it enough。 A man ought always to think of that。 The womenpoor thingshave a hard enough time to get on； at best。〃
Norman's smile was characteristically cynical。 Sentimentality amused him。 〃I doubt if there are more female wrecks than male wrecks scattered about the earth；〃 rejoined he。 〃And I suspect the fact isn't due to the gentleness of man with woman； either。 Don't fret for the ladies； Tetlow。 They know how to take care of themselves。 They know how to milk with a sure and a steady hand。 You may find it out by depressing experience some day。〃
Tetlow saw the aim。 His obstinate； wretched expression came back。 〃I don't care。 I've got〃
〃You went over that ground；〃 interrupted Norman impatiently。 〃You'd better be catching the train。〃
As Tetlow withdrew； he rang for an office boy and sent him to summon Miss Hallowell。
Norman had been reasoning with himselfwith the aid of the self that was both better and more worldly wise。 He felt that his wrestlings had not been wholly futile。 He believed he had got the strength to face the girl with a respectful mind； with a mind resolute in dutyif not lovetoward Josephine Burroughs。 〃I LOVE Josephine；〃 he said to himself。 〃My feeling for this girl is some sort of physical attraction。 I certainly shall be able to control it enough to keep it within myself。 And soon it will die out。 No doubt I've felt much the same thing as strongly before。 But it didn't take hold because I was never bound beforenever had the sense of the necessity for restraint。 That sense is always highly dangerous for my sort of man。〃
This sounded well。 He eyed the entering girl coldly； said in a voice that struck him as excellent indifference； 〃Bring your machine in here； Miss Hallowell； and recopy these papers。 I've made some changes。 If you spoil any sheets； don't throw them away； but return everything to me。〃
〃I'm always careful about the waste…paper baskets；〃 said she； 〃since they warned me that there are men who make a living searching the waste thrown out of offices。〃
He made no reply。 He could not have spoken if he had tried。 Once more the spell had seized himthe spell of her weird fascination for him。 As she sat typewriting； with her back almost toward him； he sat watching her and analyzing his own folly。 He knew that diagnosing a disease does not cure it； but he found an acute pleasure in lingering upon all the details of the effect she had upon his nerves。 He did not dare move from his desk； from the position that put a huge table and a revolving case of reference books between them。 He believed that if he went nearer he would be unable to resist seizing her in his arms and pouring out the passion that was playing along his nerves as the delicate； intense flame flits back and forth along the surface of burning alcohol。
A knock at the door。 He plunged into his papers。 〃Come！〃 he called。
Tetlow thrust in his head。 Miss Hallowell did not look up。 〃I'm off；〃 the head clerk said。 His gaze was upon the unconscious girla gaze that filled Norman with longing to strangle him。
〃Telegraph me from Albany as soon as you get there；〃 said Norman。 〃Telegraph me at my club。〃
Tetlow was gone。 The machine tapped monotonously on。 The barette which held the girl's hair at the back was so high that the full beauty of the nape of her neck was revealed。 That wonderful white skin with the golden tint！ How softyet how firmher flesh looked！ How slender yet how strong was her build
〃How do you like Tetlow？〃 he asked； because speak to her he must。
She glanced up； turned in her chair。 He quivered before the gaze from those enchanting eyes of hers。 〃I beg pardon；〃 she said。 〃I didn't hear。〃
〃Tetlowhow do you like him？〃
〃He is very kind to meto everyone。〃
〃How did your father like him？〃
He confidently expected some sign of confusion； but there was no sign。 〃Father was delighted with him；〃 she said merrily。 〃He took an interest in the work father's doingand that was enough。〃
She was about to turn back to her task。 He hastened to ask another question。 〃Couldn't I meet your father some time？ What Tetlow told me interested me greatly。〃
〃Father would be awfully pleased；〃 replied she。 〃Butunless you really care aboutbiology； I don't think you'd like coming。〃
〃I'm interested in everything interesting；〃 replied Norman dizzily。 What was he saying？ What was he doing？ What folly was his madness plunging him into？
〃You can come with Mr。 Tetlow when he gets back。〃
〃I'd prefer to talk with him alone；〃 said Norman。 〃Perhaps I might see some way to be of service to him。〃
Her expression was vividly different from what it had been when he offered to help HER。 She became radiant with happiness。 〃I do hope you'll come；〃 she said her voice very low and sweet； in the effort she was making to restrain yet express her feelings。
〃When？ This evening？〃
〃He's always at home。〃
〃You'll be there？〃
〃I'm always there； too。 We have no friends。 It's not easy to make acquaintances in the Eastcongenial acquaintances。〃
〃I'd want you to be there；〃 he explained with great care； 〃because you could help him and me in getting acquainted。〃
〃Oh； he'll talk freelyto anyone。 He talks only the one subject。 He never thinks of anything else。〃
She was resting her crossed arms on the back of her chair and； with her chin upon them； was looking at him a childlike pose and a childlike expression。 He said： 〃You are SURE you are twenty？〃
She smiled gayly。 〃Nearly twenty…one。〃
〃Old enough to be in love。〃
She lifted her head and laughed。 She had charming white teethsmall and sharp and with enough irregularity to carry out her general suggestion of variability。 〃Yes； I shall like that； when it comes；〃 she said； 〃But the chances are against it just now。〃
〃There's Tetlow。〃
She was much amused。 〃Oh； he's far too old and serious。〃
Norman felt depressed。 〃Why； he's only thirty…five。〃
〃But I'm not twenty…one；〃 she reminded him。 〃I'd want some one of my own age。 I'm tired of being so solemn。 If I had love； I'd expect it to change all that。〃
Evidently a forlorn and foolish personand doubtless thinking of him； two years the senior of Tetlow and far more serious； as an elderly person； in the same class with her father。 〃But you like biology？〃 he said。 The way to a cure was to make her talk on。
〃I don't know anything about it；〃 said she； looking as frivolous as a butterfly or a breeze…bobbed blossom。 〃I listen to father； but it's all beyond me。〃
Yesa light…weight。 They could have nothing in common。 She was a mere surfacea thrillingly beautiful surface； but not a full…fledged woman。 So little did conversation with him interest her； she had taken advantage of the short pause to resume her work。 No； she had not the faintest interest in him。 It wasn't a trick of coquetry； it was genuine。 He whom women had always bowed before was unable to arouse in her a spark of interest。 She cared neither for what he had nor for what he was； in himself。 This offended and wounded him。 He struggled sulkily with his papers for half an hour。 Then he fell to watching her again and
〃You must not neglect to give me your address；〃 he said。 〃Write it on a slip of paper after you finish。 I might forget it。〃
〃Very well；〃 she replied； but did not turn round。
〃Why； do you think； did Tetlow come to see you？〃 he asked。 He felt cheapened in his own eyeshe； the