se my hand and point at this wall, so; and now
people will understand that I'm explaining important points to a worker,
and will not interrupt. Of course there is something for the
non-residents to do, too. Let us see now. You can sew, I suppose?"

"Sew?... Well--not really well at all."

"Too bad," said he, keeping his broad back to the lively groups about
them and pointing steadily at the wall. "However--I'm thinking of
putting in a woman's infirmary. Can you recommend yourself as
reasonably fitted for an assistant amateur nurse?"

"Oh, no! No, I couldn't do that, I'm afraid. I can't bear sickness."

"Indeed? A great many people enjoy it.... Well!--district visitor it is,
then, while we're getting acquainted with the neighborhood. But it means
business, you know--six days a week visiting in the homes of the
poorest, dirtiest and meanest, investigating, collecting facts under
instructions you will get from me--"

"Oh! Well, no--not that. I--I'm afraid my mother wouldn't care to have
me do that."

The man's pointing hand, which was large and strong-looking, fell at his
side, and he gazed at her with a sarcasm which he no longer troubled
to conceal.

"May I ask what under the sun you can do?"

"What I can do?..."

Under his hard and frankly belittling stare, Carlisle began to feel
rather small, despite her firm resolves to feel nothing of the sort. She
had heard something of this Mr. Pond in the past week: a person of some
consequence in the world, it was said, several kinds of Doctor, and the
author of a work on The Settlement which was considered "standard" and
which Cally had meant (since last night) to purchase at Saltman's
bookstore. Report made him also a man of some independent means and
position, and certainly he had come with excellent letters and
credentials. But Cally did not consider that these things justified
anybody in being so thoroughly hateful, particularly when you could see
that it was only an eccentric pose....

"That," said she, with dignity, "is what I am now considering--"

"But you've already offered to help! I merely request you, in a polite
manner, to state how you can help me, in my big, serious and important
work.... Doesn't it occur to you, in fact, that you are somewhat
helpless?"

"Does it occur to you that you are being somewhat rude?"

"Does it occur to _you_ that what you call rudeness may be exactly the
sort of wholesome irritant needed by people of your class?"

"Wha