uite　clearly　he　saw　how　absurd　was　the　idea　of　making　this　girl　his　wifehe　tall　and　she　not　much　above　the　bend　of　his　elbow；　he　conventional；　and　she　the　incarnation　of　passionate　revolt　against　the　restraints　of　class　and　form　and　custom　which　he　not　only　conformed　to　but　religiously　believed　in。　　And　she　set　stirring　in　him　all　kinds　of　vague；　wild　longings　to　run　amuck　socially　and　politicallylongings　that；　if　indulged；　would　ruin　him　for　any　career　worthy　of　the　name。
  He　stood　up。　　‘‘I　must　goI　really　must；''　he　said；　confusedly。
  She　laid　her　small；　strong　hand　on　his　arma　natural；　friendly　gesture　with　her；　and　giving　no　suggestion　of　familiarity。　　Even　as　she　was　saying；　‘‘Pleaseonly　a　moment；''　he　dropped　back　to　the　seat。
  ‘‘Wellwhat　is　it？''　he　said　abruptly；　his　gaze　resolutely　away　from　her　face。
  ‘‘Victor　was　telling　me　this　morning　about　his　talk　with　you；''　she　said　in　her　rapid；　energetic　way。　　‘‘He　was　depressed　because　he　had　failed。　　But　I　felt　sure　I　feel　surethat　he　hasn't。　　In　our　talk　the　other　day；　Mr。　Hull；　I　got　a　clear　idea　of　your　character。　　A　woman　understands　better。　　And　I　know　that；　after　Victor　told　you　the　plain　truth　about　the　situation；　you　couldn't　go　on。''
  David　looked　round　rather　wildly；　swallowed　hard　several　times；　said　hoarsely：　　‘‘I　won't；　if　you'll　marry　me。''
  But　for　a　slight　change　of　expression　or　of　color　Davy　would　have　thought　she　had　not　heardor　perhaps　that　he　had　imagined　he　was　uttering　the　words　that　forced　themselves　to　his　lips　in　spite　of　his　efforts　to　suppress　them。　　For　she　went　on　in　the　same　impetuous；　friendly　way：
  ‘‘It　seemed　to　me　that　you　have　an　instinct　for　the　right　that's　unusual　in　men　of　your　class。　　At　least；　I　think　it's　unusual。　　I　confess　I've　not　known　any　man　of　your　class　except　youand　I　know　you　very　slightly。　　It　was　I　that　persuaded　Victor　to　go　to　you。　　He　believes　that　a　man's　class　feeling　controls　him　makes　his　moral　sensecompels　his　actions。　　But　I　thought　you　were　an　exceptionand　he　yielded　after　I　urged　him　a　while。''
  ‘‘I　don't　know　WHAT　I　am；''　said　Hull　gloomily。　　‘‘I　think　I　want　to　do　right。　　Butwhat　is　right？　　Not　theoretical　right；　but　the　practical；　workable　thing？''
  ‘‘That's　true；''　conceded　Selma。　　‘‘We　can't　always　be　certain　what's　right。　　But　can't　we　always　know　what's　wrong？　　And；　Mr。　Hull；　it　is　wrongaltogether　wrongand　YOU　know　it's　wrongto　lend　your　name　and　your　influence　and　your　reputation　to　that　crowd。　　They'd　let　you　do　a　little　goodwhy？　　To　make　their　professions　of　reform　seem　plausible。　　To　fool　the　people　into　trusting　them　again。　　And　under　cover　of　the　little　good　you　were　showily　doing；　how　much　mischief　they'd　do！　　If　you'll　go　back　over　the　history　of　this　townof　any　townof　any　countryyou'll　find　that　most　of　the　wicked　thingsthe　things　that　pile　the　burdens　on　the　shoulders　of　the　poorthe　masses　most　of　the　wicked　things　have　been　done　under　cover　of　just　such　men　as　you；　used　as　figureheads。''
  ‘‘But　I　want　to　build　up　a　new　partya　party　of　honest　men；　honestly　led；''　said　Davy。
  ‘‘Led　by　your　sort　of　young　men？　　I　mean　young　men　of　your　class。
  Led　by　young　lawyers　and　merchants　and　young　fellows　living　on　inherited　incomes？　　Don't　you　see　that's　impossible；''　cried　Selma。　　‘‘They　are　all　living　off　the　labor　of　others。　　Their　whole　idea　of　life　is　exploiting　the　massesis　reaping　where　they　have　not　sown　or　reaping　not　only　what　they've　sown　but　also　what　others　have　sownfor　they　couldn't　buy　luxury　and　all　the　so…called　refinements　of　life　for　themselves　and　their　idle　families　merely　with　what　they　themselves　could　earn。　　How　can　you　build　up　a　really　HONEST　party　with　such　men？　　They　may　mean　well。　　They　no　doubt　are　honest；　up　to　a　certain　point。　　But　they　will　side　with　their　class；　in　every　crisis。　　And　their　class　is　the　exploiting　class。''
  ‘‘I　don't　agree　with　you；''　said　Davy。　　‘‘You　are　not　fair　to　us。''
  ‘‘How！''　demanded　Selma。
  ‘‘I　couldn't　argue　with　you；''　replied　Hull。　　‘‘All　I'll　say　is　that　you've　seen　only　the　one　sideonly　the　side　of　the　working　class。''
  ‘‘That　toils　without　ceasingits　men；　its　women；　its　children''　said　the　girl　with　heaving　bosom　and　flashing　eyes‘‘only　to　have　most　of　what　it　earns　filched　away　from　it　by　your　class　to　waste　in　foolish　luxury！''
  ‘‘And　whose　fault　is　that？''　pleaded　Hull。
  ‘‘The　fault　of　my　class；''　replied　she。　　‘‘Their　ignorance；　their　stupidityyes；　and　their　foolish　cunning　that　overreaches　itself。　　For　they　tolerate　the　abuses　of　the　present　system　because　each　manat　least；　each　man　of　the　ones　who　think　themselves　‘smart'imagines　that　the　day　is　coming　when　he　can　escape　from　the　working　class　and　gain　the　ranks　of　the　despoilers。''
  ‘‘And　you　ask　ME　to　come　into　the　party　of　those　people！''　scoffed　Davy。
  ‘‘Yes；　Mr。　Hull；''　said　sheand　until　then　he　had　not　appreciated　how　lovely　her　voice　was。　　‘‘Yesthat　is　the　party　for　youfor　all　honest；　sincere　men　who　want　to　have　their　own　respect　through　and　through。　　To　teach　those　peopleto　lead　them　rightto　be　truthful　and　just　with　themthat　is　the　life　worth　while。''
  ‘‘But　they　won't　learn。　　They　won't　be　led　right。　　They　are　as　ungrateful　as　they　are　foolish。　　If　they　weren't；　men　like　me　trying　to　make　a　decent　career　wouldn't　have　to　compromise　with　the　Kellys　and　the　Houses　and　their　masters。　　What　are　Kelly　and　House　but　leaders　of　your　class？　　And　they　lead　ten　to　Victor　Dorn's　one。　　Why；　any　day　Dorn's　followers　may　turn　on　himand　you　know　it。''
  ‘‘And　what　of　that？''　cried　Selma。　　‘‘He's　not　working　to　be　their　leader；　but　to　do　what　he　thinks　is　right；　regardless　of　consequences。　　Why　is　he　a　happy　man；　as　happiness　goes？　　Why　has　he　gone　on　his　way　steadily　all　these　years；　never　minding　setbacks　and　failures　and　defeats　and　dangers？　　I　needn't　tell　you　why。''
  ‘‘No；''　said　Hull；　powerfully　moved　by　her　earnestness。　　‘‘I　understand。''
  ‘‘The　finest　sentence　that　ever　fell　from　human　lips；''　Selma　went　on；　‘‘was　‘Father；　forgive　them；　they　know　not　what　they　do。'　　Forgive　themforgive　us　all　for　when　we　go　astray　it　is　because　we　are　in　the　dark。　　And　I　want　you　to　come　with　us；　Mr。　Hull；　and　help　to　make　it　a　little　less　dark。　　At　least；　you　will　then　be　looking　toward　the　lightand　every　one　turned　in　that　direction　counts。''
  After　a　long　pause；　Hull　said：
  ‘‘Miss　Gordon；　may　I　ask　you　a　very　personal　question？''
  ‘‘Yes；''　said　she。
  ‘‘Are　you　in　love　with　Victor　Dorn？''
  Selma　laughed　merrily。　　‘‘Jane　Hastings　had　that　same　curiosity；''　said　she。　　‘‘I'll　answer　you　as　I　answered　herthough　she　didn't　ask　me　quite　so　directly。　　No；　I　am　not　in　love　with　him。　　We　are　too　busy　to　bother　about　those　things。　　We　have　too　much　to　do　to　think　about　ourselves。''
  ‘‘Thenthere　is　no　reason　why　I　should　not　ask　you　to　be　my　wifewhy　I　should　not　hopeand　try？''
  She　looked　at　him　with　a　peculiar　smile。　　‘‘Yes；　there　is　a　very　good　reason。　　I　do　not　love　you；　and　I　shall　not　love　you。　　I　shall　not　have　time　for　that　sort　of　thing。''
  ‘‘Don't　you　believe　in　love？''
  ‘‘I　don't　believe　in　much　else；''　said　she。　　‘‘Butnot　the　kind　of　love　you　offer　me。''
  ‘‘How　do　you　know？''　cried　he。　　‘‘I　have　not　told　you　yet　how　I　feel　toward　you。　　I　have　not''
  ‘‘Oh；　yes；　you　have；''　interrupted　she。　　‘‘This　is　the　secondno；　the　third　time　you　have　seen　me。　　So；　the　love　you　offer　me　can　only　be　of　a　kind　it　is　not　in　the　least　flattering　to　a　woman　to　inspire。　　You　needn't　apologize；''　she　went　on；　laughingly。　　‘‘I've　no　doubt　you　mean　well。　　You　simply　don't　understand　memy　sort　of　woman。''
  ‘‘It's　you　that　don't　understand；　Selma；''　cried　he。　　‘‘You　don't　realize　how　wonderful　you　arehow　much　you　reveal　of　yourself　at　once。　　I　was　all　but　engaged　to　another　woman　when　I　saw　you。　　I've　been　fighting　against　my　love　for　youfighting　against　the　truth　that　suddenly　came　to　me　that　you　were　the　only　woman　I　had　ever　seen　who　appealed　to　and　aroused　and　made　strong　all　that　is　brave　and　honest　in　me。　　Selma；　I　need　you。　　I　am　not　infatuated。
  I　am　clearer…　headed　than　I　ever　was　in　my　life。　　I　need　you。　　You　can　make　a　man　of　me。''
  She　was　regarding　him　with　a　friendly　and　even　tender　sympathy。　　‘‘I　understand　now；''　she　said。　　‘‘I　thought　it　was　simply　the　ordinary　outburst　of　passion。　　But　I　see　that　it　was　the　result　of　your　struggle　with　yourself　about　which　road　to　take　in　making　a　career。''
  If　she　had　not　been　absorbed　in　developing　her　theory　she　might　have　seen　that　Davy　was　not　altogether　satisfied　with　this　analysis　of　his　feelings。　　But　he　deemed　it　wise　to　hold　his　peace。
  ‘‘You　do　need　some　onesome　woman；''　she　went　on。　　‘‘And　I　am　anxious　to　help　you　all　I　can。　　I　couldn't　help　you　by　marrying　you。　　To　me　marriage　means''　　She　checked　herself　abruptly。　　‘‘No　matter。　　I　can　help　you；　I　think；　as　a　friend。　　But　if　you　wish　to　marry；　you　should　take　some　one　in　your　own　class　some　one　who's　in　sympathy　with　you。　　Then　you　and　she　could　work　it　out　togethercould　help　each　other。　　You　see；　I　don't　need　youand　there's　nothing　in　one…　sided　marriages。　。　。　。　　No；　you　couldn't　give　me　anything　I　need；　so　far　as　I　can　see。''
  ‘‘I　believe　that's　true；''　said　Davy　miserably。
  She　reflected；　then　continued：　　‘‘But　there's　Jane　Hastings。