do you understand me?"

This was a long speech for Julia, and during it Mark had twisted about,
and pulled his hat over his face. Now, in a voice curiously dead and
hard, he asked briefly:

"Gotten farther--_where_?"

"I don't know," said Julia candidly. "But the more I read, and the more
I think, the more it seems to me that anyone can be anything in this
world; there's some queer rule that makes you rise if you want to rise,
if only you don't compromise! The reason so many people _don't_ ultimately
get what they want is because they stop trying for it, and take
something else!"

"And marriage with me would be a compromise, is that it?" Mark muttered
sullenly.

"It would be for me," Julia answered serenely. "Because staying where I
am keeps me nearer what I want."

"Money, huh?" asked Mark.

"Oh, money, _no_! Books and talk--things. And--and if I loved you, Mark,
then don't you see it _would_ be the right thing to marry you?" she added
brightly. "But now, it would only be because it was easier, or because I
was tired of The Alexander, do you see?"

"I suppose so," Mark answered drearily.

A long silence ensued. In silence they got off the car, and walked
through the cheerless twilight of the dirty streets, and they were
almost in sight of the settlement house before Mark burst out, a little
huskily:

"Then there's no chance for me at all, Julie?"

"Oh, Mark, I feel rotten about it!" said Julia frankly, her eyes full of
pity and regret, and yet a curious relief evident in her voice. "I _am_ so
sorry! I've just been thinking of girls who like this sort of thing--I
don't see how they _can_! I _am_ so sorry! But you won't mind very long,
Mark; you won't always care; you'll--why, there's Doctor Studdiford's
automobile!"

For they were in sight of The Alexander now, and could see the electric
runabout at the door. Motor cars were still new to San Francisco and to
the world, and a crowd of curious children surrounded the machine.

"What's he there for?" Mark asked gruffly.

Julia explained: the accident--the emergency call.

"Well, but the kid is not there now, you say?"

"Yes, I know. But he didn't know that. I suppose he's calling on his
aunt."

To this Mark made no immediate answer. Presently he said:

"City and County! I'll bet the city pays for his automobile!"

"Oh, no!" Julia protested. "He's a rich man in his own right, Mark."

They were at the house now, and went up the steps together. Docto