I've been in schools all my life it seems until last
winter. Then she brought me out, in Washington. Since then--Society.
You see, we haven't got money. People think we have, but we haven't.
So I've been on display, set up by Aunty in one of society's shop
windows, like goods in the Boardwalk booths at Atlantic City. Do you
mind my rambling?"

"Go on, please."

"You don't know what such a life means. You're a producer; I've been a
doll tricked out for inspection by the men who are rich enough to buy
expensive dolls. But we've no money. Society asks about that first of
all when--an Aunty is trying to put a doll up for sale:

"'What have you to offer? Honesty? Character? Decency? Oh,
well-hm-hm. Is that all? Then stand in the corner there among the
obscure ones. Some one will see you in time--if you live long enough.
And the next: What have you to offer? Intelligence; thought? No sale;
you make us all feel uncomfortable. Virtue? Tut, tut, my dear!
Cleverness, charm, facile smartness? The crowd gathers round. Beauty?
The crowd grows thicker. Money--wealth--gold by millions? Ah! Come
to our arms, you golden one, rotten to the core though you may
be--gentleman with a gorilla's tastes; lady with Madonna face, Venus
body, viper soul! Come to the throne; we salaam before you--your gold
has made you sacred.'

"Oh! The stench of it still is in my nostrils; I still feel thick cold
fingers on my bare arms. I once was one of them--serenely satisfied
that I was one of the elect of earth, though I had never produced a
thing in this world, but only consumed. No right at all to anything
and sure I had the right to everything, to consume food, to wear out
clothes, to wear out servants. In return I gave--nothing. Not a
thing. But I've waked up. Earth--good, black earth--you are greater
than Mrs. Butterfly Croesus and all her brood; because you are real.

"I see it now. My silly pretty face, my woman's body, my graces,
seductions, all have been so much bait for Aunty's fishing. Bait!
That's what I've been; bait to catch goldfish! And she brought me down
here on the greatest fishing trip she's ever attempted."

"But you have a father."

"Yes. You will meet him Sunday. Well, I suppose I've bored you
terribly. Thank you for your patience. It was a relief to talk to
some one."

But she did not go. The mystery and companionship of the sub-tropical
night was upon them with its sensuous caresses.