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ous quantities of liquor he had drunk in the last few days had not been without effect。 Alcohol； the general stimulant； inevitably brings out in strong relief a man's dominant qualities。 The dominant quality of Norman was love of combat。
〃Josephine tells me you are in a blue fury；〃 said Norman pleasantly when the door was closed and the three were alone。 〃Nonot a blue fury。 A black fury。〃
At the covert insolence of his tone Josephine became violently agitated。 〃Father；〃 she said； with the imperiousness of an only and indulged child； 〃I have asked you not to interfere between Fred and me。 I thought I had your promise。〃
〃I said I'd think about it；〃 replied her father。 He had a heavy voice that now and then awoke some string of the lower octaves of the piano in the corner to a dismal groan。 〃I've decided to speak out。〃
〃That's right； sir；〃 said Norman。 〃Is your quarrel with me？〃
Josephine attempted an easy laugh。 〃It's that silly story we were talking about the other day； Fred。〃
〃I supposed so；〃 said he。 〃You are not smoking； Mr。 Burroughs〃 He laughed amiably〃at least not a cigar。〃
〃The doctor only allows me one； and I've had it；〃 replied Burroughs； his eyes sparkling viciously at this flick of the whip。 〃What is the truth about that business； Norman？〃
Norman's amused glance encountered the savage glare mockingly。 〃Why do you ask？〃 he inquired。
〃Because my daughter's happiness is at stake。 Because I cannot but resent a low scandal about a man who wishes to marry my daughter。〃
〃Very proper； sir；〃 said Norman graciously。
〃My daughter；〃 continued Burroughs with accele… rating anger； 〃tells me you have denied the story。〃
｛illust。 caption = 〃 ‘Father 。 。 。 I have asked you not to interfere between Fred and me。' 〃｝
Norman interrupted with an astonished look at Josephine。 She colored； gazed at him imploringly。 His face terrified her。 When body and mind are in health and at rest the fullness of the face hides the character to a great extent。 But when a human being is sick or very tired the concealing roundness goes and in the clearly marked features the true character is revealed。 In Norman's face； haggard by his wearing emotions； his character stood forththe traits of strength； of tenacity； of inevitable purpose。 And Josephine saw and dreaded。
〃But；〃 Burroughs went on； 〃I have it on the best authority that it is true。〃
Norman； looking into the fascinating face of danger； was thrilled。 〃Then you wish to break off the engagement？〃 he said in the gentlest； smoothest tone。
Burroughs brought his fist down on the tableand Norman recognized the gesture of the bluffer。 〃I wish you to break off with that woman！〃 he cried。 〃I insist upon itupon positive assurances from you。〃
〃Fred！〃 pleaded Josephine。 〃Don't listen to him。 Remember； I have said nothing。〃
He had long been looking for a justifying grievance against her。 It now seemed to him that he had found it。 〃Why should you？〃 he said genially but with subtle irony； 〃since you are getting your father to speak for you。〃
There was just enough truth in this to entangle her and throw her into disorder。 She had been afraid of the consequences of her father's interfering with a man so spirited as Norman； but at the same time she had longed to have some one put a check upon him。 Norman's suave remark made her feel that he could see into her inmost soulcould see the anger； the jealousy； the doubt； the hatred…tinged love； the love…saturated hate seething and warring there。
Burroughs was saying： 〃If we had not committed ourselves so deeply； I should deal very differently with this matter。〃
〃Why should that deter you？〃 said Normanand Josephine gave a piteous gasp。 〃If this goes much farther； I assure you I shall not be deterred。〃
Burroughs； firmly planted in a big leather chair； looked at the young man in puzzled amazement。 〃I see you think you have us in your power；〃 he said at last。 〃But you are mistaken。〃
〃On the contrary；〃 rejoined the young man； 〃I see you believe you have me in your power。 And in a sense you are NOT mistaken。〃
〃Father； he is right；〃 cried Josephine agitatedly。 〃I shouldn't love and respect him as I do if he would submit to this hectoring。〃
〃Hectoring！〃 exclaimed Burroughs。 〃Josephine； leave the room。 I cannot discuss this matter properly before you。〃
〃I hope you will not leave； Josephine；〃 said Nor… man。 〃There is nothing to be said that you cannot and ought not to hear。〃
〃I'm not an infant； father；〃 said Josephine。 〃Besides； it is as Fred says。 He has done nothing improper。〃
〃Then why does he not say so？〃 demanded Burroughs； seeing a chance to recede from his former too advanced position。 〃That's all I ask。〃
〃But I told you all about it； father；〃 said Josephine angrily。 〃They've been distorting the truth； and the truth is to his credit。〃
Norman avoided the glance she sent to him； it was only a glance and away； for more formidably than ever his power was enthroned in his haggard face。 He stood with his back to the fire and it was plain that the muscles of his strong figure were braced to give and to receive a shock。 〃Mr。 Burroughs；〃 he said； 〃your daughter is mistaken。 Perhaps it is my fault in having helped her to mislead herself。 The plain truth is； I have become infatuated with a young woman。 She cares nothing about mehas repulsed me。 I have been and am making a fool of myself about her。 I've been hoping to cure myself。 I still hope。 But I am not cured。〃
There was absolute silence in the room。 Norman stole a glance at Josephine。 She was sitting erect； a greenish pallor over her ghastly face。
He said： 〃If she will take me； now that she knows the truth； I shall be gratefuland I shall make what effort I can to do my best。〃
He looked at her and she at him。 And for an instant her eyes softened。 There was the appeal of weak human heart to weak human heart in his gaze。 Her lip quivered。 A brief struggle between vanity and love and vanity； the stronger； the strongest force in her life； dominating it since earliest babyhood and only seeming to give way to love when love cameit was vanity that won。 She stiffened herself and her mouth curled with proud scorn。 She laugheda sneer of jealous rage。 〃Father；〃 she said； 〃the lady in the case is a common typewriter in his office。〃
But to menespecially to practical men differences of rank and position among women are not fundamentally impressive。 Man is in the habit of taking what he wants in the way of womankind wherever he finds it； and he understands that habit in other men。 He was furious with Norman； but he did not sympathize with his daughter's extreme attitude。 He said to Norman sharply：
〃You say you have broken with the woman？〃
〃She has broken with me；〃 replied Norman。
〃At any rate； everything is broken off。〃
〃Apparently。〃
〃Then there is no reason why the marriage should not go on。〃 He turned to his daughter。 〃If you understood men； you would attach no importance to this matter。 As you yourself said； the woman isn't a lady isn't in our class。 That sort of thing amounts to nothing。 Norman has acted well。 He has shown the highest kind of honestyhas been truthful where most men would have shifted and lied。 Anyhow； things have gone too far。〃 Not without the soundest reasons had Burroughs accepted Norman as his son…in…law； and he had no fancy for giving him up； when men of his pre…eminent fitness were so rare。
There was another profound silence。 Josephine looked at Norman。 Had he returned her gaze； the event might have been different； for within her there was now going on a struggle between two nearly evenly matched vanitiesthe vanity of her own outraged pride and the vanity of what the world would say and think； if the engagement were broken off at that time and in those circumstances。 But he did not look at her。 He kept his eyes fixed upon the opposite wall； and there was no sign of emotion of any kind in his stony features。 Josephine rose； suppressed a sob； looked arrogant scorn from eyes shining with tearstears of self… pity。 〃Send him away； father；〃 she said。 〃He has tried to degrade ME！ I am done with him。〃 And she rushed from the room； her father half starting from his chair to detain her。
He turned angrily on Norman。 〃A hell of a mess you've made！〃 he cried。
〃A hell of a mess；〃 replied the young man。
〃Of course she'll come round。 But you've got to do your part。〃
〃It's settled；〃 said Norman。 And he threw his cigar into the fireplace。 〃Good night。〃
〃Hold on！〃 cried Burroughs。 〃Before you go； you must see Josie alone and talk with her。〃
〃It would be useless；〃 said Norman。 〃You know her。〃
Burroughs laid his hand friendlily but heavily upon the young man's shoulder。 〃This outburst of nonsense might cost you two young people your happiness for life。 This is no time for jealousy and false pride。 Wait a moment。〃
〃Very well；〃 said Norman。 〃But it is useless。〃 He understood Josephine nowhe who had become a connoisseur of love。 He knew that her vanity…founded love had vanished。
Burroughs disappeared in the direction his daughter had taken。 Norman waited several minuteslong enough slowly to smoke a cigarette。 Then he went into