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〃A woman's different。 It doesn't take much to stop a woman。 She's about half stopped when she begins。〃
Ursula was thoroughly alarmed。 〃Fred；〃 she said earnestly； 〃you're running bang into danger。 The time to stop is right now。〃
〃Can't do it；〃 he said。 〃Let's not talk about it。〃
〃Can't？ That word from YOU？〃
〃From me；〃 replied he。 〃Don't forget helping out with Josephine。 Let's go。〃
And he refused to be persuaded to stay onor to be cajoled or baited into talking further of this secret his sister saw was weighing heavily。
He was down town half an hour earlier than usual the next morning。 But no one noted it because his habit had always been to arrive among the firstnot to set an example but to give his prodigious industry the fullest swing。 There was in Turkey a great poet of whom it is said that he must have written twenty… five hours a day。 Norman's accomplishment bulked in that same way before his associates。 He had not slept the whole night。 But； thanks to his enormous vitality； no trace of this serious dissipation showed。 The huge supper he had eatenand drunkthe sleepless night and the giant breakfast of fruit and cereal and chops and wheat cakes and coffee he had laid in to stay him until lunch time； would together have given pause to any but such a physical organization as his。 The only evidence of it was a certain slight irritabilitybut this may have been due to his state of intense self…dissatisfaction。
As he entered the main room his glance sought the corner where Miss Hallowell was ensconced。 She happened to look up at that instant。 With a radiant smile she bowed to him in friendliest fashion。 He colored deeply； frowned with annoyance； bowed coldly and strode into his room。 He fussed and fretted about with his papers for a few minutes； then rang the bell。
〃Send in Miss Pritchardno； Mr。 Gowdyno； Miss Hallowell；〃 he said to the office boy。 And then he looked sharply at the pert young face for possible signs of secret cynical amusement。 He saw none such； but was not convinced。 He knew too well how by a sort of occult process the servants； all the subordinates； round a person like himself discover the most intimate secrets； almost get the news before anything has really occurred。
Miss Hallowell appeared； and very cold and reserved she looked as she stood waiting。
〃I sent for you because〃 he began。 He glanced at the door to make sure that it was closed〃 because I wanted to hear your voice。〃 And he laughed boyishly。 He was in high good humor now。
〃Why did you speak to me as you did when you came in？〃 said she。
There was certainly novelty in this direct attack； this equal to equal criticism of his manners。 He was not pleased with the novelty； but at the same time he felt a lack of the courage to answer her as she deserved； even if she was playing a clever game。 〃It isn't necessary that the whole office should know our private business；〃 said he。
She seemed astonished。 〃What private business？〃
〃Last night；〃 said he； uncertain whether she was trifling with him or was really the innocent she pretended to be。 〃If I were you； I'd not speak as friendlily as you did this morningnot before people。〃
〃Why？〃 inquired she； her sweet young face still more perplexed。
〃This isn't a small town out West；〃 explained he。 〃It's New York。 People misunderstandor rather〃 He gave her a laughing； mischievous glance〃or ratherthey don't。〃
〃I can't see anything to make a mystery about；〃 declared the girl。 〃Why； you act as if there were something to be ashamed of in coming to see me。〃
He was observing her sharply。 How could a girl live in the New York atmosphere several years without getting a sensible point of view？ Yet； so far as he could judge； this girl was perfectly honest in her ignorance。 〃Don't be foolish；〃 said he。 〃Please accept the fact as I give it to you。 You mustn't let people see everything。〃
She made no attempt to conceal her dislike for this。 〃I won't be mixed up in anything like that；〃 said she； quite gently and without a suggestion of pique or anger。 〃It makes me feel lowand it's horribly common。 Either we are going to be friends or we aren't。 And if we are； why； we're friends whenever we meet。 I'm not ashamed of you。 And if you are ashamed of me； you can cut me out altogether。〃
His color deepened until his face was crimson。 His eyes avoided hers。 〃I was thinking chiefly of you；〃 he saidand he honestly thought he was speaking the whole truth。
〃Then please don't do so any more；〃 said she； turning to go。 〃I understand about New York snobbishness。 I want nothing to do with it。〃
He disregarded the danger of the door being opened at any moment。 He rushed to her and took her reluctant hand。 〃You mustn't blame me for the ways of the world。 I can't change them。 Do be sensible； dearest。 You're only going to be here a few days longer。 I've got that plan for you and your father all thought out。 I'll put it through at once。 I don't want the office talking scandal about usdo you？〃
She looked at him pityingly。 His eyes fell before hers。 〃I know it's a weakness；〃 he said； giving up trying to deceive her and himself。 〃But I can't help it。 I was brought up that way。〃
〃WellI wasn't。 I see we can never be friends。〃
What a mess he had made of this affair！ This girl must be playing upon him。 In his folly he had let her see how completely he was in her power； and she was using that power to establish relations between them that were the very opposite of what he desiredand must have。 He must control himself。 〃As you please；〃 he said coldly； dropping her hand。 〃I'm sorry； but unless you are reasonable I can do nothing for you。〃 And he went to his desk。
She hesitated a moment； as her back was toward him； he could not see her expression。 Without looking round she went out of his office。 It took all his strength to let her go。 〃She's bluffing；〃 he muttered。 〃And yetperhaps she isn't。 There may be people like that left in New York。〃 Whatever the truth； he simply must make a stand。 He knew women； no woman had the least respect for a man who let her ruleand this woman； relying upon his weakness for her； was bent upon ruling。 If he did not make a stand； she was lost to him。 If he did make a stand； he could no more than lose her。 Lose her！ That thought made him sick at heart。 〃What a fool I am about her！〃 he cried。 〃I must hurry things up。 I must get enough of her must get through it and back to my sober senses。〃
That was a time of heavy pressure of important affairs。 He furiously attacked one task after another； only to abandon each in turn。 His mind； which had always been his obedient； very humble servant； absolutely refused to obey。 He turned everything over to his associates or to subordinates； fighting all morning against the longing to send for her。 At half past twelve he strode out of the office； putting on the air of the big man absorbed in big affairs。 He descended to the street。 But instead of going up town to keep an appointment at a business lunch he hung round the entrance to the opposite building。
She did not appear until one o'clock。 Then out she camewith the head office boy！the good…looking； young head office boy。
Norman's contempt for himself there reached its lowest ebb。 For his blood boiled with jealousy jealousy of his head office boy！and about an obscure little typewriter！ He followed the two； keeping to the other side of the street。 Doubtless those who saw and recognized him fancied him deep in thought about some mighty problem of corporate law or policy； as he moved from and to some meeting with the great men who dictated to a nation of ninety millions what they should buy and how much they should pay for it。 He saw the two enter a quick…lunch restaurantstruggled with a crack…brained impulse to join themdragged himself away to his appointment。
He was never too amiable in dealing with his clients； because he had found that； in self…protection； to avoid being misunderstood and largely increasing the difficulties of amicable intercourse； he must keep the feel of iron very near the surface。 That day he was for the first time irascible。 If the business his clients were engaged in had been less perilous and his acute intelligence not indispensable； he would have cost the firm dear。 But in business circles； where every consideration yields to that of material gain； the man with the brain may conduct himself as he pleasesand usually does so； when he has strength of character。
All afternoon he wrestled with himself to keep away from the office。 He won； but it was the sort of victory that gives the winner the chagrin and despondency of defeat。 At home； late in the afternoon； he found Josephine in the doorway； just leaving。 〃You'll walk home with mewon't you？〃 she said。 And； taken unawares and intimidated by guilt； he could think of no excuse。
Some oneprobably a Frenchmanhas said that there are always in a man's life three womenthe one on the way out； the one that is； and the one that is to be。 Normanever the industrious trafficker with the feminine that the man of the intense vitality necessary to a great career of action is apt to bewas by no means new to the situation in which