ved, but you are not that kind."

Jim gave her a keen glance. It looked as if she meant to persuade him
that he had acted normally, but this was ridiculous. Perhaps she meant
to hint that his rashness must not be talked about. Coolness was hard,
but he was honest and there was something to be said.

"I wonder whether you know I am going to marry Evelyn?" he remarked.

She met his glance. "Yes, Jim; I knew some time since. It doesn't
matter that you told nobody. Well, she's beautiful and very charming."
She moved, and taking the candle from the post, calmly looked back at
him. "Of course, you're going to marry Evelyn! But the others have
gone, and I'm tired. Good night."

He let her go, and when she went up the shallow stairs, crossed the
floor to the hearth. There was a looking-glass close by and he started
as he saw his face. His brows were knitted and his mouth was set.
Carrie was clever and while he talked to her he had looked like that!
He began to see what she had meant when she said he was, of course,
going to marry Evelyn.

He sat down and gazed savagely at the sinking fire. What a fool he had
been! Evelyn had moved him to romantic admiration. Her beauty, her
high cultivation and refinement had made a strong appeal, but he had
not known that they appealed mainly to his intellect, and it counted
for much that she was the first Englishwoman of her type he had met.
He knew now, and saw he had deceived himself. Enlightenment had come
when Carrie ran some risk of being drowned and he had taken her in his
arms.

Evelyn was, so to speak, a model of perfection, worthy to be admired,
but really out of his reach. In a sense, she left him cold; but Carrie
was warm and loving flesh and blood. She had worked with him and
cheered him in the lonely North; her small failings had a curious
charm. She appealed to all that was human in him; it was ridiculous
that he had imagined his love for her was brotherly.

He began to think about their last interview, when he had lighted the
candle. She had said little, but she had meant much. His kissing her
must be forgotten and he must marry Evelyn. Carrie wanted him to
understand that she saw this and was jealous for his honor. If he drew
back and broke his faith with Evelyn, she would have nothing to do with
him. Moreover, it was unthinkable that he should draw back. He sat
still for some time with his hands clenched and then got up abruptly
and went out.