wise, Jane Hastings," said Dorn, "you will
distrust--disbelieve in--anything that is not selfish."

Jane reflected. "Yes--I see," she cried. "I never thought of that!"

"A friend of mine, Wentworth," Victor went on, "has put it wonderfully
clearly. He said, 'Some day we shall realize that no man can be free
until all men are free.'"

"You HAVE helped me--in spite of your fierce refusal," laughed Jane.
"You are very impatient to go, aren't you? Well, since you won't stay
I'll walk with you--as far as the end of the shade."

She was slightly uneasy lest her overtures should be misunderstood. By
the time they reached the first long, sunny stretch of the road down to
town she was so afraid that those overtures would not be
"misunderstood" that she marched on beside him in the hot sun. She did
not leave him until they reached the corner of Pike avenue--and then it
was he that left her, for she could cudgel out no excuse for going
further in his direction. The only hold she had got upon him for a
future attempt was slight indeed--he had vaguely agreed to lend her
some books.

People who have nothing to do get rid of a great deal of time in trying
to make impressions and in speculating as to what impressions they have
made. Jane--hastening toward Martha's to get out of the sun which
could not but injure a complexion so delicately fine as hers--gave
herself up to this form of occupation. What did he think of her? Did
he really have as little sense of her physical charm as he seemed? No
woman could hope to be attractive to every man. Still--this man surely
must be at least not altogether insensible. "If he sends me those
books to-day--or tomorrow--or even next day," thought Jane, "it will be
a pretty sure sign that he was impressed--whether he knows it or not."

She had now definitely passed beyond the stage where she wondered at
herself--and reproached herself--for wishing to win a man of such
common origin and surroundings. She could not doubt Victor Dorn's
superiority. Such a man as that didn't need birth or wealth or even
fame. He simply WAS the man worth while--worth any woman's while. How
could Selma be associated so intimately with him without trying to get
him in love with her? Perhaps she had tried and had given up?
No--Selma was as strange in her way as he was in his way. What a
strange--original--INDIVIDUAL pair they were!

"But," concluded Jane, "he belongs with US. I must take him away fr