an understand this much, I suppose. As superintendent of
this house I have a responsible position, which I could easily lose if
I allowed myself to be mixed up with anything wrong or improper. To
come right to the point, you don't know much about me and next to
nothing of my friend Holcroft, but can't you see that even if I was a
heartless, good-for-nothing fellow, it wouldn't be wise or safe for me
to permit anything that wouldn't bear the light?"

"I think you are an honest man, sir. It would be strange if I did not
have confidence when you have judged me and treated me so kindly. But,
Mr. Watterly, although helpless and friendless, I must try to do what I
think is best. If I accepted Mr. Holcroft's position it might do him
harm. You know how quick the world is to misjudge. It would seem to
confirm everything that has been said against me," and the same painful
flush again overspread her features.

"Well, Alida, all that you have to do is to listen patiently to my
friend. Whether you agree with his views or not, you will see that he
is a good-hearted, honest man. I want to prepare you for this talk by
assuring you that I've known him since he was a boy, that he has lived
all his life in this region and is known by many others, and that I
wouldn't dare let him ask you to do anything wrong, even if I was bad
enough."

"I'm sure, sir, you don't wish me any harm," she again faltered in deep
perplexity.

"Indeed I don't. I don't advise my friend's course; neither do I
oppose it. He's certainly old enough to act for himself. I suppose I'm
a rough counselor for a young woman, but since you appear to have so
few friends I'm inclined to act as one. Just you stand on the question
of right and wrong, and dismiss from your mind all foolish notions of
what people will say. As a rule, all the people in the world can't do
as much for us as somebody in particular. Now you go in the parlor and
listen like a sensible woman. I'll be reading the paper, and the girl
will be clearing off the table in the next room here."

Puzzled and trembling, Alida entered the apartment where Holcroft was
seated. She was so embarrassed that she could not lift her eyes to him.

"Please sit down," he said gravely, "and don't be troubled, much less
frightened. You are just as free to act as ever you were in your life."

She sat down near the door and compelled herself to look at him, for
she felt instinctively that she might gather more