In　turn；　by　abruptly　rising　from　his　chair；　Winthrop　interrupted
  her。　He　pushed　the　chair　out　of　his　way；　and；　shoving　his　hands
  into　his　trousers'　pockets；　began　pacing　with　long；　quick
  strides　up　and　down　the　room。　〃What　do　I　care　for　that？〃　he
  cried　contemptuously。　He　tossed　the　words　at　her　over　his
  shoulder。　〃I　put　lots　of　people　in　jail　myself　that　are　better
  than　I　am。　Only；　they　won't　play　the　game。〃　He　halted；　and
  turned　on　her。　〃Now；　you're　not　playing　the　game。　This　is　a　mean
  business；　taking　money　from　silly　girls　and　old　men。　You're　too
  good　for　that。〃　He　halted　at　the　table　and　stood　facing　her。
  〃I've　got　two　sisters　uptown；〃　he　said。　He　spoke　commandingly；
  peremptorily。　〃And　tomorrow　I　am　going　to　take　you　to　see　them。
  And　we　fellow　townsmen；〃　he　smiled　at　her　appealingly；　〃will
  talk　this　over；　and　we'll　make　you　come　back　to　your　own
  people。〃
  For　a　moment　the　two　regarded　each　other。　Then　the　girl　answered
  firmly；　but　with　a　slight　hoarseness　in　her　voice；　and　in　a　tone
  hardly　louder　than　a　whisper：
  〃You　know　I　can't　do　that！〃
  〃I　don't！〃　blustered　Winthrop。　〃Why　not？〃
  〃Because；〃　said　the　girl　steadily；　〃of　what　I　did　in　Geneva。〃　As
  though　the　answer　was　the　one　he　had　feared；　the　man　exclaimed
  sharply；　rebelliously。
  〃Nonsense！〃　he　cried。　〃You　didn't　know　what　you　were　doing。　No
  decent　person　would　consider　that。〃
  〃They　do；〃　said　the　girl；　〃they　are　the　very　ones　who　do。　And
  it's　been　in　the　papers。　Everybody　in　Geneva　knows　it。　And　here
  too。　And　whenever　I　try　to　get　away　from　this〃　　she　stretched
  out　her　hands　to　include　the　room　about　her　　〃Someone　tells！
  Five　times；　now。　She　leaned　forward　appealingly；　not　as　though
  asking　pity　for　herself；　but　as　wishing　him　to　see　her　point　of
  view。　〃I　didn't　choose　this　business；〃　she　protested；　〃I　was
  sort　of　born　in　it；　and；〃　she　broke　out　loyally；　〃I　hate　to　have
  you　call　it　a　mean　business；　but　I　can't　get　into　any　other。
  Whenever　I　have；　some　man　says；　That　girl　in　your　front　office
  is　a　thief。〃　The　restraint　she　put　upon　herself；　the　air　of
  disdain　which　at　all　times　she　had　found　the　most　convenient
  defense；　fell　from　her。
  〃It's　not　fair！〃　she　cried；　〃it's　not　fair。〃　To　her
  mortification；　the　tears　of　self…pity　sprang　to　her　eyes；　and　as
  she　fiercely　tried　to　brush　them　away；　to　her　greater　anger；
  continued　to　creep　down　her　cheeks。　〃It　was　nine　years　ago；〃　she
  protested；　〃I　was　a　child。　I've　been　punished　enough。〃　She
  raised　her　face　frankly　to　his；　speaking　swiftly；　bitterly。
  〃Of　course；　I　want　to　get　away！〃　she　cried。　〃Of　course；　I　want
  friends。　I've　never　had　a　friend。　I've　always　been　alone。　I'm
  tired；　tired！　I　hate　this　business。　I　never　know　how　much　I　hate
  it　until　the　chance　comes　to　get　away　　and　I　can't。〃
  She　stopped；　but　without　lowering　her　head　or　moving　her　eyes
  from　his。
  〃This　time；〃　said　the　man　quietly；　〃you're　going　to　get　away
  from　it。〃
  〃I　can't；〃　repeated　the　girl。　〃you　can't　help　me！〃
  Winthrop　smiled　at　her　confidently。
  〃I'm　going　to　try；〃　he　said。
  〃No；　please！〃　begged　the　girl。　Her　voice　was　still　shaken　with
  tears。　She　motioned　with　her　head　toward　the　room　behind　her。
  〃These　are　my　people；〃　she　declared　defiantly；　as　though　daring
  him　to　contradict　her。　〃And　they　are　good　people！　They've　tried
  to　be　good　friends　to　me；　and　they've　been　true　to　me。〃
  Winthrop　came　toward　her　and　stood　beside　her；　so　close　that　he
  could　have　placed　his　hand　upon　her　shoulder。　He　wondered；
  whimsically；　if　she　knew　how　cruel　she　seemed　in　appealing　with
  her　tears；　her　helplessness　and　loveliness　to　what　was　generous
  and　chivalric　in　him；　and；　at　the　same　time；　by　her　words；
  treating　him　as　an　interloper　and　an　enemy。
  〃That's　all　right；〃　he　said　gently。　〃But　that　doesn't　prevent　my
  being　a　good　friend　to　you；　too；　does　it？　Or；〃　he　added；　his
  voice　growing　tense　and　conscious　　〃my　being　true　to　you？　My
  sisters　will　be　here　tomorrow；〃　he　announced　briskly。
  Vera　had　wearily　dropped　her　arms　upon　the　table　and　lowered　her
  head　upon　them。　From　a　place　down　in　the　depths　she　murmured　a
  protest。
  〃No；〃　contradicted　Winthrop　cheerfully；　〃this　time　you　are　going
  to　win。　You'll　have　back　of　you；　If　I　do　say　it；　two　of　the　best
  women　God　ever　made。　Only；　now；　you　must　do　as　I　say。〃　There　was
  a　pause。　〃Will　you？〃　he　begged。
  Vera　raised　her　head　slowly；　holding　her　hand　across　her　eyes。
  There　was　a　longer　silence；　and　then　she　looked　up　at　him　and
  smiled　pathetically；　gratefully；　and　nodded。　〃Good！〃　cried
  Winthrop。　〃No　more　spooks；〃　he　laughed；　〃no　more　spirit
  rappings。〃
  Through　her　tears　Vera　smiled　up　at　him　a　wan；　broken　smile。　She
  gave　a　shudder　of　distaste。　〃Never！〃　she　whispered。　〃I　promise。〃
  Their　eyes　met；　the　girl's　looking　into　his　shyly；　gratefully；
  the　man's　searching　hers　eagerly。　And　suddenly　they　saw　each
  other　with　a　new　and　wonderful　sympathy　and　understanding。
  Winthrop　felt　himself　bending　toward　her。　He　was　conscious　that
  the　room　had　grown　dark；　and　that　he　could　see　only　her　eyes。
  〃You　must　be　just　yourself；〃　he　commanded；　but　so　gently；　so
  tenderly；　that；　though　he　did　not　know　it；　each　word　carried
  with　it　the　touch　of　a　caress；　〃just　your　sweet；　fine；　noble
  self！〃
  Something　he　read　in　the　girl's　uplifted　eyes　made　him　draw　back
  with　a　shock　of　wonder；　of　delight；　with　an　upbraiding
  conscience。　To　pull　himself　together；　he　glanced　quickly　about
  him。　The　day　had　really　grown　dark。　He　felt　a　sudden　desire　to
  get　away；　to　go　where　he　could　ask　himself　what　had　happened；
  what　it　was　that　had　filled　this　unknown；　tawdry　room　with
  beauty　and　given　it　the　happiness　of　a　home。
  〃By　Jove！〃　he　exclaimed　nervously；　〃I　had　no　idea　I'd　stayed　so
  long。　You'll　not　let　me　come　again。　Goodbye　　until　tomorrow。〃
  He　turned；　holding　out　his　hand；　and　found　that　again　the　girl
  had　dropped　her　face　upon　her　arm；　and　was　sobbing　quietly；
  gently。
  〃Oh；　what　is　it？〃　cried　Winthrop。　〃What　have　I　said？〃　The　catch
  in　the　girl's　voice　as　she　tried　to　check　the　sobs　wrenched　his
  heart。　〃Oh；　please；〃　he　begged；　〃I've　said　something　wrong？　I've
  hurt　you？〃　With　her　face　still　hidden　in　her　arms；　the　girl
  shook　her　head。
  〃No；　no！〃　she　sobbed。　Her　voice；　soft　with　tears；　was　a　melody
  of　sweet　and　tender　tones。　〃It's　only　　that　I've　been　so
  lonely　　and　you've　made　me　happy；　happy！〃
  The　sobs　broke　out　afresh；　but　Winthrop；　now　knowing　that　they
  brought　to　the　girl　peace；　was　no　longer　filled　with　dismay。
  Her　head　was　bent　upon　her　left　arm；　her　right　hand　lightly
  clasped　the　edge　of　the　table。　With　the　intention　of　saying
  farewell；　Winthrop　took　her　hand　in　his。　The　girl　did　not　move。
  To　his　presence　she　seemed　utterly　oblivious。　In　the　gathering
  dusk　he　could　see　the　bent　figure；　could　hear　the　soft；
  irregular　breathing　as　the　girl　wept　gently；　happily；　like　a
  child　sobbing　itself　to　sleep。　The　hand　he　held　in　his　neither
  repelled　nor　invited；　and　for　an　instant　he　stood　motionless；
  holding　it　uncertainly。　It　was　so　delicate；　so　helpless；　so
  appealing；　so　altogether　lovable。　It　seemed　to　reach　up；　and；
  with　warm；　clinging　fingers；　clutch　the　tendrils　of　his　heart。
  Winthrop　bent　his　head　suddenly；　and　lifting　the　hand；　kissed
  it；　and　then；　without　again　speaking；　walked　quickly　into　the
  hall　and　shut　the　door。　In　the　room　the　dusk　deepened。　Through
  the　open　windows　came　the　roar　of　the　Sixth　Avenue　Elevated；　the
  insistent　clamor　of　an　electric　hansom；　the　murmur　of　Broadway
  at　night。　The　tears　had　suddenly　ceased；　but　the　girl　had　not
  moved。　At　last；　slowly；　stiffly；　she　raised　her　head。　Her　eyes；
  filled　with　wonder；　with　amazement；　were　fixed　upon　her　hand。
  She　glanced　cautiously　about　her。　Assured　she　was　alone；　with
  her　other　hand　she　lifted　the　one　Winthrop　had　kissed　and　held
  it　pressed　against　her　lips。
  The　folding　doors　were　thrown　open；　letting　in　a　flood　of　light；
  and　Mabel　Vance；　entering　swiftly；　knelt　at　the　table　and　bent
  her　head　close　to　Vera。
  〃That　woman's　in　the　hall；〃　she　whispered；　〃that　niece　of
  Hallowell's。　Paul　and　Mannie　can't　get　rid　of　her。　Now　she's　got
  hold　of　Winthrop。　She　says　she　will　see　you。　Be　careful！〃
  Vera　rose。　That　Mabel　might　not　see　she　had　been　weeping；　she
  walked　to　the　piano；　covertly　drying　her　eyes。
  〃What；〃　she　asked　dully；　〃does　she　want　with　me？〃
  〃About　tonight；〃　answered　Mabel。　She　exclaimed　fiercely；　〃I　told
  them　there'd　be　trouble！〃
  With　Vance　upon　her　heels；　Helen　Coates　came　in　quickly　from　the
  hall。　Her　face　was　flushed；　her　eyes　lit　with　indignation　and
  excitement。　In　her　hand　she　held　an　open　letter。
  As　though　to　protect　Vera；　both　Vance　and　his　wife　moved　between
  her　and　their　visitor；　but；　disregarding　them；　Miss　Coates　at
  once　singled　out　the　girl　as　her　opponent。
  〃You　are　the　young　woman　they　call　Vera；　I　believe；〃　she　said。
  〃I　have　a　note　here　from　Mr。　Hallowell　telling　me　you　are　giving
  a　seance　tonight　at　his　house。　That　you　propose　to　exhibit　the
  spirit　of　my　mother。　That　is　an　insult　to　the　memory　of　my
  mother　and　to　me。　And　I　warn　you；　if　you　attempt　such　a　thing；　I
  will　prevent　it。〃
  There　was　a　pause。　When　Vera　spoke　it　was　in　the　tone　of　every…
  day　politeness。　Her　voice　was　even　and　steady。
  〃You　have　bee