ay, there would be a terrible time. If we have
time to think, we may bring her round. I don't care anything about what
Mrs. Witla told you last night. I don't want you to leave her. If we
could just arrange some way. It's mama, you know."

She swung his hand softly in hers, pressing his fingers. She was deep in
thought, for her mother presented a real problem.

"You know," she went on, "mama isn't narrow. She doesn't believe much in
marriage unless it's ideal. Mrs. Witla's condition wouldn't make so much
difference if only the child were here. I've been thinking about that.
Mama might sanction some arrangement if she thought it would make me
happy and there was no scandal. But I'll have to have time to talk to
her. It can't be done right away."

Eugene listened to this with considerable surprise, as he did to
everything Suzanne volunteered. She seemed to have been thinking about
these questions a long time. She was not free with her opinions. She
hesitated and halted between words and in her cogitations, but when they
were out this was what they came to. He wondered how sound they were.

"Suzanne," he said, "you take my breath away! How you think! Do you know
what you're talking about? Do you know your mother at all well?"

"Mama? Oh, yes, I think I understand mama. You know she's very peculiar.
Mama is literary and romantic. She talks a great deal about liberty, but
I don't take in everything she says. I think mama is different from most
women--she's exceptional. She likes me, not so much as a daughter as a
person. She's anxious about me. You know, I think I'm stronger than
mama. I think I could dominate her if I tried. She leans on me now a
lot, and she can't make me do anything unless I want to. I can make her
come to my way of thinking, I believe. I have, lots of times. That's
what makes me think I might now, if I have time. It will take time to
get her to do what I want."

"How much time?" asked Eugene thoughtfully.

"Oh, I don't know. Three months. Six months. I can't tell. I would like
to try, though."

"And if you can't, then what?"

"Why, then--why, then I'll defy her, that's all. I'm not sure, you know.
But I think I can."

"And if you can't?"

"But I can. I'm sure I can." She tossed her head gaily.

"And come to me?"

"And come to you."

They were near One Hundredth Street, under the trees. There was a lone
man some distance away, walking from them. Eugene caught Suzanne in his
arms and impl