But I swear I don't."

"Then it would be cruel to explain."

"It would? You've got to explain now." He halted and turned to her. The
boy pulled at his ears. Her laughter came like the rippling of cool
water.

"You know that Gunhild is an experiment," she said. "She was a girl of
talent with uncertain manners. Even her restraint is blunt. And I think
that Mrs. Goodwin has found her a failure."

Milford began to ease the boy to the ground. "I must bid you good
evening here," he said.

"Won't you come to the house to supper?"

"No. I'll go and eat at a table where no restraint is blunt and where no
experiment is a failure."

"I have offended you," she said, taking the boy by the hand. "And I
didn't mean it, I'm sure. I hope you don't think that I would say a word
against her. We are all fond of her, I'm sure. But we are all interested
in you."

"In me? Who the--the deuce am I? What cause have you to be interested in
me? You are not interested in me, except as a sort of freak--a
mud-turtle, caught in the lake, viewed by woman with their 'ahs' and
'ohs,' standing back holding their skirts. I know that woman. She is
worth----"

"I thought you said you didn't know her till she came out here?"

"I said I'd never spoken to her."

"Know her but had never spoken to her. The plot curdles. Really, Mr.
Milford, what I said was simply to draw you out. I don't know a thing
against her; I don't think she's a failure. Now tell me what you know. I
am hungry for something of interest; I'm tired to death of this
everlasting market report. If she and you have been mixed up in a
romance, tell me, please. Bobbie, don't pull at me. I'm going in a
moment."

"The ripening fruit of a romance," said Milford, putting his hand on the
boy's head. "Isn't that enough for you?"

"The fruit is a tender care; the bud a careless pleasure," she replied.
"Tell me about it--now. I might not see you again."

"Then you will soon forget."

"Oh, no, I can't forget you. You have had a strong influence on me--for
good, I am sure. You have some noble purpose, hidden away, and when we
meet one with a noble purpose we feel stronger, though we may not know
what that purpose is. I long to do something in the world, too----"

"Then love your husband," said the tactless man.

"What are you saying? I do love him."

"If you love him, you have a noble purpose."

"But who are you to talk so morally?"

"A man who has seen so much vice that he would li