two inches at the sight of her, returned
his watch and some typewritten papers to his pocket, and came forward.

"Don't run," said he, unsmiling. "I want to know plainly whether or not
you are coming to my meeting to-morrow. Yes or no."

Cally laughed gaily. There was a radiance within her, and she liked this
man increasingly. Several times they had met, since their antagonistic
talk at the Settlement; and in the blunt Director's manner she had
lately observed that creeping change which she had witnessed in men as
stalwart, before now....

"Don't look so fierce," said she, "for I'll not be bullied. Or at least
not till you explain why you're hanging around in front of the
neighbors' at twelve o'clock in the morning--you who always pretend to
be so frightfully busy."

"Waiting for Vivian. And I am busy, confound him.... Not too busy, as
you see, to take a kind interest in your welfare--"

"Oh!... Is Dr. Vivian _there_--at the Masons'? Why, what are _you_
waiting for him for?"

"Seems to me you ask a good many questions for an idler."

He stood on the sidewalk, looking up at her with his hawk-eyes, a man
yet in the early thirties, but of obvious power.

"We're going to buy second-hand benches, if you must know," continued
he. "He says he can show me where to get 'em cheap. Anything else?"

"No-o--except ... How much will the benches cost? Perhaps I--might be
able to contribute something--"

"I don't want your old money," said Pond. "When are you going to be
serious about serious things?"

"I think now," said Cally ... "Only, you see, I don't know anything at
all."

"I'll teach you," said the Director.

Cally, standing on the broad white slab before her own door, did not
answer. Her glance had turned down the street: and at this moment there
emerged from the Masons' door the tall figure of V. Vivian, the
article-writer, who would never have to put anything in the papers about
papa now. He saw her instantly, and over his somehow strange and
old-fashioned face there broke a beautiful smile. He lifted his hat
high, and, so holding it at height, posed as if for a picture, gave it
something like a wave, as in double measure of greeting and good-will. A
proper salutation from friend to friend; and the sunlight gleamed on his
crisp fair hair....

Cally's return greeting was somewhat less finished. She gave the lame
doctor one look of brilliant sweetness; and then she said to him, "Oh,
how do you do?"--in a voic