w, developed as serious a sex affair as any that had yet
held him. At once, after a few secret interviews with her, he adopted
his favorite ruse in such matters and established bachelor quarters in
the down-town section as a convenient meeting-ground. Several
conversations with Stephanie were not quite as illuminating as they
might have been, for, wonderful as she was--a kind of artistic godsend
in this dull Western atmosphere--she was also enigmatic and elusive,
very. He learned speedily, in talking with her on several days when
they met for lunch, of her dramatic ambitions, and of the seeming
spiritual and artistic support she required from some one who would
have faith in her and inspire her by his or her confidence. He learned
all about the Garrick Players, her home intimacies and friends, the
growing quarrels in the dramatic organization. He asked her, as they
sat in a favorite and inconspicuous resort of his finding, during one
of those moments when blood and not intellect was ruling between them,
whether she had ever--

"Once," she naively admitted.

It was a great shock to Cowperwood. He had fancied her refreshingly
innocent. But she explained it was all so accidental, so unintentional
on her part, very. She described it all so gravely, soulfully,
pathetically, with such a brooding, contemplative backward searching of
the mind, that he was astonished and in a way touched. What a pity! It
was Gardner Knowles who had done this, she admitted. But he was not
very much to blame, either. It just happened. She had tried to
protest, but-- Wasn't she angry? Yes, but then she was sorry to do
anything to hurt Gardner Knowles. He was such a charming boy, and he
had such a lovely mother and sister, and the like.

Cowperwood was astonished. He had reached that point in life where the
absence of primal innocence in a woman was not very significant; but in
Stephanie, seeing that she was so utterly charming, it was almost too
bad. He thought what fools the Platows must be to tolerate this art
atmosphere for Stephanie without keeping a sharp watch over it.
Nevertheless, he was inclined to believe from observation thus far that
Stephanie might be hard to watch. She was ingrainedly irresponsible,
apparently--so artistically nebulous, so non-self-protective. To go on
and be friends with this scamp! And yet she protested that never after
that had there been the least thing between them. Cowperwood could
scarcely