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us rather than merry； that was her habitual greeting。 〃Mr。 Tetlow didn't get away from father so soon。〃
〃I stayed longer than I intended。 I found it even more interesting than I had expected。 。 。 。 Would you be glad if your father could be free to do as he likes and not be worried about anything？〃
〃That is one of my dreams。〃
〃Well； it's certainly one that might come true。 。 。 。 And you It's a shame that you should have to do so much drudgeryboth here and in New York。〃
〃Oh； I don't mind about myself。 It's all I'm fit for。 I haven't any talentexcept for dreaming。〃
〃And for makingSOME man's dreams come true。〃
Her gaze dropped。 And as she hid herself she looked once more almost as insignificant and colorless as he had once believed her to be。
〃What are you thinking about？〃
She shook her head slowly without raising her eyes or emerging from the deep recess of her reserve。
〃You are a mystery to me。 I can't decide whether you are very innocent or veryconcealing。〃
She glanced inquiringly at him。 〃I don't understand；〃 she said。
He smiled。 〃No more do I。 I've seen so much of fakingin women as well as in menthat it's hard for me to believe anyone is genuine。〃
〃Do you think I am trying to deceive you？ About what？〃
He made an impatient gestureimpatience with his credulity where she was concerned。 〃No matter。 I want to make you happybecause I want you to make me happy。〃
Her eyes became as grave as a wondering child's。 〃You are laughing at me；〃 she said。
〃Why do you say that？〃
〃Because I could not make you happy。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃What could a serious man like you find in me？〃
His intense； burning gaze held hers。 〃Some time I will tell you。〃
She shut herself within herself like a flower folding away its beauty and leaving exposed only the underside of its petals。 It was impossible to say whether she understood or was merely obeying an instinct。
He watched her a moment in silence。 Then he said：
〃I am mad about youmad。 You MUST understand。 I can think only of you。 I am insane with jealousy of you。 I want youI must have you。〃
He would have seized her in his arms； but the look of sheer amazement she gave him protected her where no protest or struggle would。 〃You？〃 she said。 〃Did you really mean it？ I thought you were just talking。〃
〃Can't you see that I mean it？〃
〃Yesyou look as if you did。 But I can't believe it。 I could never think of you in that way。〃
Once more that frank statement of indifference infuriated him。 He MUST compel her to feelhe must give that indifference the lieand at once！ He caught her in his arms。 He rained kisses upon her pale face。 She made not the least resistance； but seemed dazed。 〃I will teach you to love me；〃 he cried； drunk now with the wine of her lips； with the perfume of her exquisite youth。 〃I will make you happy。 We shall be mad with happiness。〃
She gently freed herself。 〃I don't believe I could ever think of you in that way。〃
〃Yes； darlingyou will。 You can't help loving where you are loved so utterly。〃
She gazed at him wonderinglythe puzzled wonder of a child。 〃Youloveme？〃 she said slowly。
〃Call it what you like。 I am mad about you。 I have forgotten everythingpridepositionthings you can't imagineand I care for nothing but you。〃
And again he was kissing her with the soft fury of fire； and again she was submitting with the passive； dazed expression that seemed to add to his passion。 To make her feel！ To make her respond！ He； whom so many women had lovedwomen of position； of fame for beauty； of social distinction or distinction as singers； playerswomen of society and women of talent all kinds of worth…while womenthey had cared； had run after him； had given freely all he had asked and more。 And this girlnobody at allshe had nothing for him。
He held her away from him； cried angrily： 〃What is the matter with you？ What is the matter with me？〃
〃I don't understand；〃 she said。 〃I wish you wouldn't kiss me so much。〃
He released her； laughed satirically。 〃Ohyou are playing a game。 I might have known。〃
〃I don't understand；〃 said she。 〃A while ago you said you loved me。 Now you act as if you didn't like me at all。〃 And she smiled gayly at him； pouting her lips a little。 Once more her beauty was shining。 It made his nerves quiver to see the color in her pure white skin where he had kissed her。
〃I don't care whether it is a game or not；〃 he cried。 And he was about to seize her again； when she repulsed him。 He crushed her resistance； held her tight in his arms。
〃You frighten me；〃 she murmured。 〃Youhurt me。〃
He released her。 〃What do you want？〃 he cried。 〃Don't you care at all？〃
〃Oh； yes。 I like youvery much。 I have from the first time I saw you。 But you seem olderand more serious。〃
〃Never mind about that。 We are going to love each otherand I am going to make you and your father happy。〃
〃If you make father happy I will do anything for you。 I don't want anything myselfbut he is getting old and sometimes his despair is terrible。〃 There were tears in her voicetears and the most touching tenderness。 〃He has some great secret that he wants to discover； and he is afraid he will die without having had the chance。〃
〃You will love me if I make your father happy？〃
He knew it was the question of a fool； but he so longed to hear from her lips some word to give him hope that he could not help asking it。 She said：
〃Love you asas you seem to love me？ Not that same way。 I don't feel that way toward you。 But I will love you in my own way。〃
He observed her with penetrating eyes。 Was this speech of hers innocence or calculation？ He could get no clue to the truth。 He saw nothing but innocence； the teaching of experience warned him to believe in nothing but guile。 He hid his doubt and chagrin behind a mocking smile。 〃As you please；〃 said he。 〃I will do my part。 Thenwe'll see。 。 。 。 Do you care about anyone elsein MY way of loving； I mean？〃
It was again the question of an infatuated fool； and put in an infatuated fool's way。 For； if she were a 〃deep one；〃 how could he hope to get the truth？ But her answer reassured him。 〃No；〃 she saidher simple； direct negation that had a convincing power he had never seen equaled。
〃If I ever knew of another man's touching you；〃 he said； 〃I'd feel like strangling him。〃 He laughed at himself。 〃Not that I should strangle him。 That sort of thing isn't done any more。 But I'd do something devilish。〃
〃But I haven't promised not to kiss anyone else；〃 she said。 〃Why should I？ I don't love you。〃
He looked at her strangely。 〃But you're going to love me；〃 he said。
She shrank within herself again。 She looked at him with uneasy eyes。 〃You won't kiss me any more until I tell you that I do love you？〃 she asked with the gravity and pathos and helplessness of a child。
〃Don't you want to learn to love me？to learn to love？〃
She was silenta silence that maddened him。
〃Don't be afraid to speak；〃 he said irritably。 〃What are you thinking？〃
〃That I don't want you to kiss meand that I do want father to be happy。〃
Was this guile？ Was it innocence？ He put his arms round her。 〃Look at me；〃 he said。
She gazed at him frankly。
〃You like me？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Why don't you want me to kiss you？〃
〃I don't know。 It makes medislike you。〃
He released her。 She laid her hand on his arm eagerly。 〃Please〃 she implored。 〃I don't mean to hurt you。 I wouldn't offend you for anything。 Only when you ask me a questionmustn't I tell you the truth？〃
〃Always；〃 he said； believing in her； in spite of the warnings of cynical worldliness。 〃I don't know whether you are sincere or notas yet。 So for the present I'll give you the benefit of the doubt。〃 He stood back and looked at her from head to foot。 〃You are beautiful！ perfect；〃 he said in a low voice。 He laughed。 〃I'll resist the temptation to kiss you again。 I must go now。 About your fatherI'll see what can be done。〃
She stood with her hands behind her back； looking up at him with an expression he could not fathom。 Suddenly she advanced； put up her lips and said gravely；
〃Won't you kiss me？〃
He eyed her quizzically。 〃Ohyou've changed your mind？ 〃
She shook her head。
〃Then why do you ask me to kiss you？ 〃
〃Because of what you said about father。〃
He laughed and kissed her。 And then she； too； laughed。 He said； 〃Not for my own sakenot a little bit？〃
〃Oh； yes；〃 she cried； 〃when you kiss me that way。 I like to be kissed。 I am very affectionate。〃
He laughed again。 〃You ARE a queer one。 If it's a game； it's a good one。 Is it a game？〃
〃I don't know；〃 said she gayly。 〃Good night。 This is dreadfully late for me。〃
〃Good night；〃 he said； and they shook hands。 〃Do you like me betteror less？〃
〃Better；〃 was her prompt； apparently honest reply。
〃Curiously enough； I'm beginning to LIKE you；〃 said he。 〃Now don't ask me what I mean by that。 If you don't know already； you'll not find out from me。〃
〃Oh； but I do know；〃 cried she。 〃The way you kissed methat was one thing。 The way you feel toward me nowthat's a different thing。 Isn't it so？〃
〃Exactly。 I see we are going to get on。〃
〃Yes； indeed。〃
They shook hands again in f