w; but think how people have taken you up! It
is simply that Eleanor looks at it in a different way. It's a pretty
peculiarity in one of the sweetest girls I know."

Kate paused. Bert made no move to answer. She went on:

"Now about the thing you can't grasp in Eleanor. It's this way. You
can't see her nature as another _girl_ can. She's just as sweet and
tender and delicate as she can be, and she has high ideals--that's one
result of her living away from the world. If she were a little warmer
in temperament, it might be different, but--" Kate paused here as
though pondering whether to reveal or to conceal the thought of her
mind.

"But of course it is the coldness of a diamond or a sapphire or
something else very pure and precious."

Bertram Chester pulled himself up at this point and plucked at a place
away back in the conversation.

"What are these things that I don't know? Where is it that I fall
down?"

"They are some of the finer points."

"Well tell me." Kate noticed that the color had risen in his cheeks
and that his eyes drooped from hers.

"They must be corrected as we go on--provided you'll let me correct
them."

"That's what I am asking for--but I'd blame well like an example."

"Well, now, we'll take that waiter episode. The kind of people she'd
like to know treat servants impersonally. Servants are just
conveniences to them, like dumb waiters. So of course,--even if it was
only a Chinaman--she didn't like your noticing him and she came out of
her shell for just a moment to say so. Do you see now?"

Bertram's dark complexion reddened with the rush of his shame.

"Oh, that's the idea is it? I thought from something she said that she
was afraid I'd hurt his feelings. She wants me to put more front on
before 'em, does she?"

"Just about that. She doesn't like to see you put yourself on a level
with them."

"All right, that was straight over the plate and I got it."

Again Kate reached over to pat his hand.

"Now don't take it seriously; I know--she herself must know--how
splendid and able and promising you are--how much of a man!"

Bert spoke in some irritation.

"I always knew I wasn't a gentleman," he said, "but this is the first
time it was ever shot straight at me that way."

"Bert Chester, as long as I'm a friend of yours don't you ever dare
say to me that you're not a gentleman. You're one of the biggest and
strongest gentlemen I ever knew. Anyone need only see you for five
minu