his eyebrows, "that's all right. Don't feel
disturbed. If I didn't consider you to be a gentleman in a more
intensive sense of the word than is usual, I shouldn't be talking to
you like this. Have a cigar." There was another long pause. The doctor
debated quickly with himself what course to take. When he resumed, he
used his rough weapon.

"You ought to know that my daughter will have very little in case of
my death."--This time the young man rose entirely from his seat. The
doctor smiled and waved him back. "And nothing until my death, which
won't come while you are a young man. The world reports me well to do,
and I am, but I am taxed by society heavily. I mean I have large
demands on my income, and aside from certain properties that must be
left in trust for other people and a modest provision for my wife and
child, there isn't likely to be much. I tell you all this, partly
because I like you, and partly because I think it is only fair. I
don't think you are after money. But you must realize now that money
will make a great difference in your career."

When Long moved hastily, the doctor smiled.

"I don't say that you should hunt a fortune, but you should keep out
of the way of attractive women without fortune."

This time he gave Long an opportunity to vent his feelings. When he
had finished, he began again quietly.

"What you say is singularly like what I said myself about nineteen
years ago. I think I will tell you the story," and he proceeded coldly
to give him an outline of his life. Long listened respectfully. At the
close he said, "But the cases are not similar, exactly."

"No two human cases ever are, but the theme is the same. You might
arrange a different compromise; it would be a compromise."

"Your difficulties were enormous! Why need I plan for such
misfortunes?"

"You mean the outside affairs, the money? That might be arranged of
course. There would remain my daughter, a subject which I can discuss
with precision. She is in fair health, and while I live to look after
her she will probably continue so. Her nerves are morbid, her egotism
is excessive, her restlessness is abnormal. She is rather a brilliant
girl, I think, and to me a very dear one. But her career needs to be
guided, or some decided smash will come."

"You have no confidence in me?"

"The greatest. It is not her welfare only which I am considering, but
yours. Besides, if she were normal or dull, not an exacting young
American,