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ey were。 〃It's hard to say which is the more dreadfulthe ugly； misshapen human race without clothes or in the clothes it insists on wearing。 And the talk at that tea！ Does no one ever say a pleasant thing about anyone？ Doesn't anyone ever do a pleasant thing that can be spoken about？ I read this morning Tolstoy's advice about resolving to think all day only nice thoughts and sticking to it。 That sounded good to me； and I decided to try it。〃 Ursula laughed and squirmed about in her tight…fitting dress that made an enchanting display of her figure。 〃What is one to do？ _I_ can't be a fraud； for one。 And if I had stuck to my resolution I'd have spent the day in lying。 What's the matter； Fred？〃 Now that her attention was attracted she observed more closely。 〃What HAVE you been doing？ You lookfrightful！〃
〃I've broken with her；〃 replied he。
〃With Jo？〃 she cried。 〃Why； Fred； you can't you can'twith the wedding only five days away！〃
〃Not with Jo。〃
Ursula breathed noisy relief。 She said cheerfully： 〃Ohwith the other。 Well； I'm glad it's over。〃
〃Over？〃 said he sardonically。 〃Over？ It's only begun。〃
〃But you'll stick it out； Fred。 You've made a fool of yourself long enough。 What was the girl playing for？ Marriage？〃
He nodded。 〃I guess so。〃 He laughed curtly。 〃And she almost won。〃
Ursula smiled with fine mockery。 〃Almost； but not quite。 I know you men。 Women do that sort of fool thing。 But menneverat least not the ambitious； snobbish New York men。〃
〃She almost won；〃 he repeated。 〃At least； I almost did it。 If I had stayed a minute longer I'd have done it。〃
〃You like to think you would；〃 mocked Ursula。 〃But if you had tried to say the words your lungs would have collapsed； your vocal chords snapped and your tongue shriveled。〃
〃I am not so damn sure I shan't do it yet；〃 he burst out fiercely。
〃But I am；〃 said Ursula； calm； brisk； practical。 〃What's she going to do？〃
〃Going to work。〃
Ursula laughed joyously。 〃What a joke！ A woman go to work when she needn't！〃
〃She is going to work。〃
〃To work another man。〃
〃She meant it。〃
〃How easily women fool men！even the wise men like you。〃
〃She meant it。〃
〃She still hopes to marry youor she has heard of your marriage〃
Norman lifted his head。 Into his face came the cynical； suspicious expression。
〃And has fastened on some other man。 Or perhaps she's found some good provider who's willing to marry her。〃
Norman sprang up； his eyes blazing； his mouth working cruelly。 〃By God！〃 he cried。 〃If I thought that！〃
His sister was alarmed。 Such a manin such a deliriummight commit any absurdity。 He flung himself down in despair。 〃Urse； why can't I get rid of this thing？ It's ruining me。 It's killing me！〃
〃Your good sense tells you if you had her you'd be over it〃 She snapped her fingers〃like that。〃
〃YesyesI know it！ But〃 He groaned 〃she has broken with me。〃
Ursula went to him and kissed him and took his head in her arms。 〃What a BOY…boy it is！〃 she said tenderly。 〃Oh； it must be dreadful to have always had whatever one wanted and then to find something one can't have。 We women are used to itand the usual sort of man。 But not your sort； Freddyand I'm so sorry for you。〃
〃I want her； UrseI want her；〃 he groaned； and he was almost sobbing。 〃My God； I CAN'T get on without her。〃
〃Now； Freddy dear； listen to me。 You know she's 'way； 'way beneath youthat she isn't at all what you've got in the habit of picturing herthat it's all delusion and nonsense〃
〃I want her；〃 he repeated。 〃I want her。〃
〃You'd be ashamed if you had her as a wife wouldn't you？〃
He was silent。
〃She isn't a LADY。〃
〃I don't know；〃 replied he。
〃She hasn't any sense。 A low sort of cunning； yes。 But not brainsnot enough to hold you。〃
〃I don't know；〃 replied he。 〃She's got enough for a woman。 AndI WANT her。〃
〃She isn't to be compared with Josephine。〃
〃But I don't want Josephine。 I want HER。〃
〃But which do you want to MARRY？to bring forward as your wife？to spend your life with？〃
〃I know。 I'm a mad fool。 But； Urse； I can't help it。〃 He stood up suddenly。 〃I've used every weapon I've got。 Even prideand it skulked away。 My sense of humorand it weakened。 My willand it snapped。〃
〃Is she so wonderful？〃
〃She is soelusive。 I can't understand herI can't touch her。 I can't find her。 She keeps me going like a man chasing an echo。〃
〃Like a man chasing an echo；〃 repeated Ursula reflectively。 〃I understand。 It is maddening。 She must be cleverin her way。〃
〃Or very simple。 God knows which； I don'tand sometimes I think she doesn't； either。〃 He made a gesture of dismissal。 〃Well； it's finished。 I must pull myself togetheror try to。〃
〃You will；〃 said his sister confidently。 〃A fortnight from now you'll be laughing at yourself。〃
〃I am now。 I have been all along。 Butit does no good。〃
She had to go and dress。 But she could not leave until she had tried to make him comfortable。 He was drinking brandy and soda and staring at his feet which were stretched straight out toward the fire。 〃Where's your sense of humor？〃 she demanded。 〃Throw yourself on your sense of humor。 It's a friend that sticks when all others fail。〃
〃It's my only hope；〃 he said with a grim smile。 〃I can see myself。 No wonder she despises me。〃
〃Despises you？〃 scoffed Ursula。 〃A WOMAN des… pise YOU！ She's crazy about you； I'll bet anything you like。 Before you're through with this you'll find out I'm right。 And thenyou'll have no use for her。〃
〃She despises me。〃
〃Wellwhat of it？ Really； Fred； it irritates me to see you absolutely unlike yourself。 Why； you're as broken…spirited as a henpecked old husband。〃
〃Just that；〃 he admitted； rising and looking drearily about。 〃I don't know what the devil to do next。 Everything seems to have stopped。〃
〃Going to see Josephine this evening？〃
〃I suppose so；〃 was his indifferent reply。
〃You'll have to dress after dinner。 There's no time now。〃
〃Dress？〃 he inquired vaguely。 〃Why dress？ Why do anything？〃
She thought he would not go to Josephine but would hide in his club and drink。 But she was mistaken。 Toward nine o'clock he； in evening dress； with the expression of a horse in a treadmill； rang the bell of Josephine's house and passed in at the big bronze doors。 The butler must have particularly admired the way he tossed aside his coat and hat。 As soon as he was in the presence of his fiancee he saw that she was again in the throes of some violent agitation。
She began at once： 〃I've just had the most frightful scene with father；〃 she said。 〃He's been hearing a lot of stuff about you down town and it set him wild。〃
〃Do you mind if I smoke a cigar？〃 said he； looking at her unseeingly with haggard； cold eyes。 〃And may I have some whisky？〃
She rang。 〃I hope the servants didn't hear him；〃 she said。 Then； as a step sounded outside she put on an air of gayety； as if she were still laughing at some jest he had made。 In the doorway appeared her father one of those big men who win half the battle in advance on personal appearance of unconquerable might。 Burroughs was noted for his generosity and for his violent temper。 As a rule men of the largeness necessary to handling large affairs are free from petty vindictiveness。 They are too busy for hatred。 They do not forgive； they are most careful not to forget； they simply stand ready at any moment to do whatever it is to their interest to do； regardless of friendships or animosities。 Burroughs was an exception in that he got his highest pleasure out of pursuing his enemies。 He enjoyed this so keenly that several timesso it was saidhe had sacrificed real money to satisfy a revenge。 But these rumors may have wronged him。 It is hardly probable that a man who would let a weakness carry him to that pitch of folly could have escaped destruction。 For of all the follies revenge is the most dangerous as well as the most fatuous。
Burroughs had a big face。 Had he looked less powerful the bigness of his features； the spread of cheek and jowl； would have been grotesque。 As it was； the face was impressive； especially when one recalled how many； many millions he owned and how many more he controlled。 The control was better than the ownership。 The millions he owned made him a cowardhe was afraid he might lose them。 The millions he controlled； and of course used for his own enrichment； made him brave； for if they were lost in the daring ventures in which he freely staked them； why； the loss was not his； and he could shift the blame。 Usually Norman treated him with great respect； for his business gave the firm nearly half its total income； and it was his daughter and his wealth； prestige and power； that Norman was marrying。 But this evening he looked at the great man with a superciliousness that was peculiarly disrespectful from so young a man to one well advanced toward old age。 Norman had been feeling relaxed； languid； exhausted。 The signs of battle in that powerful face nerved him； keyed him up at once。 He waited with a joyful impatience while the servant was bringing cigars and whisky。 The enormous quantities of liquor he had drunk in the last few days had not been without effect。 Alcohol； the