say good-bye to next morning. A friend could be quite as generous."

"I never knew anyone in this world give anything unless they wanted
twice as much back in return," said Daisy.

"Why do you suppose I gave you money the other day and paid your fine in
the police court?" he asked, for, though he did not like it, he was so
anxious to persuade her of the feasibleness of friendship, that he could
not help making the allusion.

"I suppose you wanted to," she said.

"As a friend," he persisted.

"Oh, all right," she agreed with him lazily. "Have it your own way. I'm
too sleepy to argue."

"Then we are friends?" Michael asked gravely.

"Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. A couple of old talk-you-deads joring over a
clothes-line. Get on with it, Roy--or what's your name? Michael, eh?
That's right."

"Good! Now, supposing I ask your advice, will you give it to me?"

"Advice is very cheap," said Daisy.

"I used to know a girl," Michael began.

"A straight-cut?"

"Oh, yes. Certainly. Oh, rather. At least in those days she was."

"I see. And now she's got a naughty little twinkle in her eye."

"Look here. Do listen seriously," Michael begged. "She isn't a
straight-cut any longer."

"Well, what did I tell you? That's what I said. She's gone gay."

"I want to get her away from this life," Michael announced, with such
solemnity that Daisy was insulted.

"Why, what's the matter with it? You're as bad as a German ponce I knew
who joined the Salvation Army. Don't you try taking me home to-night to
our loving heavenly father. It gives me the sick."

"But this girl was brought up differently. She was what is called a
'lady.'"

"More shame for her then," said Daisy indignantly. "She ought to have
known better."

It was curious this sense of intrusion which Lily's fall gave to one so
deeply plunged. There was in Daisy's attitude something of the
unionist's toward foreign blackleg labor.

"Well, you see," Michael pointed out. "As even you have no pity for her,
wouldn't it be right for me to try to get her out of the life
altogether?"

"How are you going to do it? If she was walking about with a sunshade
all day, before you sprang it on her...."

"I had nothing to do with it," Michael interrupted. "At least not
directly."

"Well, what are you pulling your hair out over?" she demanded in
surprise.

"I feel a certain responsibility," he explained. "Go on with what you
were saying."

"If she left a nice home," Daisy continu