me think about yer
an' want yer. Well, yer've made a man of me, an' it's up ter yous ter
make the best of me." He broke off with a short laugh. "P'raps this
sound funny ter you. I've 'eard old women at the Salvos' meetings talk
like this, tellin' of the wonderful things they found out w'en they got
converted."

Clara had listened in silence, with an intent, curious expression on
her face. Jonah's words were like balm to her pride, lacerated three
years ago by her broken engagement. And she listened, immensely
pleased and a little afraid, like a mischievous child that has set fire
to the curtains. Jonah's face was turned to her, and as she looked at
him her curiosity was changed to awe at the sight of passion on fire.
She thought of the crazy fiddler's words, and felt in herself an
infinite sadness, for she knew that Jonah would never gain his heart's
desire.

"I've 'ad my say," he continued, "an' now I'll talk sense. You're a
grown woman, an' yer know what all this means. I can give yer anythin'
yer like: a house an' servants; everythin' yer want. What do yer say?"

Clara had gone white to the lips. It had come at last, and the "Silver
Shoe" was within her reach, but the gift was incomplete. She must
decline it, and take her chances for the future.

"Not quite everything, Joe," she replied gently, afraid of wounding
him. "Ever since I was a girl I've had something to be ashamed of
through no fault of my own--my drunken father, the street we live in,
our genteel poverty; and now, when I seem to have missed all my
chances, you come along, and offer me everything I want with the main
thing left out. Oh, I know those cottages where the husband is a
stranger, and the neighbours watch them behind the curtains, and pump
the servant over the back fence! I'm too proud for that sort of thing.
Oh, what a rotten world this is!" she cried passionately, and burst
into a storm of weeping. It was the most natural action of her life.

Jonah sat and stared at the lights of the Quay, dismayed by her tears
but relieved in his mind. He had spoken at last; already he was
framing fresh arguments to persuade her. Presently she dried her eyes
and looked at him with the ghost of a smile. Then began a discussion
which threatened to last all night, neither of them giving way from the
position they had taken up, neither yielding an inch to the other's
entreaties. Suddenly Jonah looked at his watch with an exclamation.
It was n