the line of her red lips. "I do not wish to go, not even to
live up to your idea of me!"

"Marvel, listen to me a moment. I {173} may not be able to make you
understand--but I must try. This is the thing I must make you know. The
reactions upon the spirit of the ties of the flesh are, simply, the
most miraculous things in all this miraculous world. I am not
preaching. I am just telling you what I know. This business of being a
child, a parent, a husband, a wife,--no creature can escape that net
of human relationships wholly. It is there, right there, that we are
knotted fast to the whole unseen order of things. What we make of
those ties determines what we substantially are. Oh, if you could see
it as I see it! This is the real reason, the strongest one of all, for
our wishing you to go. You must not throw away the chance it is--the
chance of finding out what you are to each other. You must concede
something for the sake of learning that!"

{174}

"It is n't the mother after the flesh, but the mother after the
spirit, to whom are due the great concessions!" cried the girl, "and,
Evelyn, _that_ is you!"

"Marvel--there is still another reason. It may appeal to you more."

Evelyn Charleroy's agitated face, the tumult of her eyes, startled her
stepdaughter. She could not bear disturbance of that dear serenity.

"Child!--Do you suppose it was an easy thing for me to come into your
father's life and take your mother's place while she still lived?
There were months of doubt. There was hesitation that was agony to us
both--but in the end--I came. Thus far the thing has seemed to justify
itself. It has seemed to work for peace, for blessedness, to us all. I
have felt no wrong, have been refused no inner sanction. {175} And
yet, I tell you, I am still uncertain of my right to all that your
mother threw away, and I do not, even yet, entirely defend my action
in taking it! You have been our comfort, our greatest blessing,
because it has seemed to be well for you. But, don't you see, if you
fail us now; if we have made you selfish; if, through us, you have
come to ignore that elemental tie; if you lose out of life whatever it
may hold for you, we--we shall doubt our right--we shall be less
sure--" The woman's voice fluttered and fell on silence suddenly.

"O Evelyn!" the girl cried out in sharp distress, "don't, don't look
like that! Dearest, don't dare to feel like that! There is no need! I
won't be horrid! I'll do anythin