u are fine, you
know! And you're beautiful! I didn't think so at first, but you are!
You're being wasted. Why, a woman like you...! You've no idea. You're so
proud and stiff, when you want to be... I'd trust you with anything.
You're absolutely the only woman I ever met that I'd trust like a man!
And that's a fact.... Now, nobody could ever think as much of you as I
do. I'm quite certain of it. It couldn't be done. I _know_ you, you see!
I understand everything you do, and whatever you do, it's just fine for
me. You couldn't be as happy with any one else! You couldn't! I feel
that in my bones.... Now--now, I must tell you something--"

The praise, the sympathy, the passion were astounding, marvellous, and
delicious to her. Was it conceivable that this experienced and worldly
man had been captivated by such a mere girl as herself? She had never
guessed it! Or had she always guessed it? An intense pride warmed her
blood like a powerful cordial. Life was even grander than she had
thought!... She drooped into an intoxication. Among all that he had
said, he had not said that he was not stronger than she. He had not
relinquished his authority. She felt it, sitting almost beneath him in
the slippery chair. She knew that she would yield to him. She desired to
yield to him. Her mind was full of sensuous images based on the
abdication of her will in favour of his.

"Now, look here, Hilda. I want to tell you--"

He perhaps did not intend that she should look up; but she looked up.
And she was surprised to see that his face was full of troubled
hesitations, showing almost dismay. He made the motion of swallowing.
She smiled; and set her shoulders back--the very gesture that she had
learned from him.

"What?" she questioned, in a whisper.

Her brief mood of courage was over. She sank before him again, and
waited with bowed head.

Profoundly disturbed, he stood quite still for a few seconds, with shut
lips, and then he made another step to approach.

"Your name's got to be Cannon," she heard him say.

She thought, still waiting: "If this goes on a moment longer I shall die
of anticipation, in bliss." And when she felt his hand on her shoulder,
and the great shadow of him on part of her face, her body seemed to
sigh, acquiescent and for the moment assuaged: "This is a miracle, and
life is miraculous!" She acknowledged that she had lacked faith in life.

She was now on the river, whirling. But at the same time she was in the