She took an omnibus, impatient for the green rambles of the only
breathing-place she knew of, and settled back in her seat, rebellious of
eye, sullen of mouth, scarcely noticing the amused expression of the
young man opposite.

Two passengers left at Twenty-third Street, three at Thirty-fourth
Street, and seven at Forty-second Street.

Preoccupied, she glanced up at the only passenger remaining, caught the
fleeting shadow of interest on his face, regarded him with natural
indifference, and looked out of the window, forgetting him. A few
moments later, accidentally aware of him again, she carelessly noted his
superficially attractive qualities, and, approving, resumed her idle
inspection of the passing throng. But the next time her pretty head
swung round she found him looking rather fixedly at her, and
involuntarily she returned the gaze with a childlike directness--a gaze
which he sustained to the limit of good breeding, then evaded so amiably
that it left an impression rather agreeable than otherwise.

"I don't see," thought Aphrodite, "why I never meet that sort of man.
He hasn't art nouveau legs, and his features are not by-products of his
hair.... I have told my brothers-in-law that I am old enough to go out
without coming out.... And I am."

The lovely mouth grew sullen again: "I don't wish to wait two years and
be what dreadful newspapers call a 'bud'! I wish to go to dinners and
dances _now_!... Where I'll meet that sort of man.... The sort one feels
almost at liberty to talk to without anybody presenting anybody.... I've
a mind to look amiable the next time he----"

He raised his eyes at that instant; but she did not smile.

"I--I suppose that is the effect of civilization on me," she
reflected--"metropolitan civilization. I felt like saying, 'For
goodness' sake, let's say something'--even in spite of all my sisters
have told me. I can't see why it would be dangerous for me to _look_
amiable. If he glances at me again--so agreeably----"

He did; but she didn't smile.

"You see!" she said, accusing herself discontentedly; "you don't dare
look human. Why? Because you've had it so drummed into you that you can
never, never again do anything natural. Why? Oh, because they all begin
to talk about mysterious dangers when you say you wish to be natural....
I've made up my mind to look interested the next time he turns.... Why
shouldn't he see that I'm quite willing to talk to him?... And I'm so
tired of looki