d aroused. It was an
expression that often rewarded him after a long straight talk with a
fellow being. She went on: "I probably shan't do what you'd approve.
You see, I've got to be myself--got to live to a certain extent the
kind of a life fate has made for me."

"You couldn't successfully live any other," said he.

"But, while it won't be at all what you'd regard as a model life--or
even perhaps useful--it'll be very different--very much better--than it
would have been, if I hadn't met you--Victor Dorn."

"Oh, I've done nothing," said he. "All I try to do is to encourage my
fellow beings to be themselves. So--live your own life--the life you
can live best--just as you wear the clothes that fit and become you....
And now--about the street car question. What do you want of me?"

"Tell me what to say to father."

He shook his head. "Can't do it," said he. "There's a good place for
you to make a beginning. Put on an old dress and go down town and get
acquainted with the family life of the street-car men. Talk to their
wives and their children. Look into the whole business yourself."

"But I'm not--not competent to judge," objected she.

"Well, make yourself competent," advised he.

"I might get Miss Gordon to go with me," suggested she.

"You'll learn more thoroughly if you go alone," declared he.

She hesitated--ventured with a winning smile: "You won't go with
me--just to get me started right?"

"No," said he. "You've got to learn for yourself--or not at all. If I
go with you, you'll get my point of view, and it will take you so much
the longer to get your own."

"Perhaps you'd prefer I didn't go."

"It's not a matter of much importance, one way or the other--except
perhaps to yourself," replied he.

"Any one individual can do the human race little good by learning the
truth about life. The only benefit is to himself. Don't forget that in
your sweet enthusiasm for doing something noble and generous and
helpful. Don't become a Davy Hull. You know, Davy is on earth for the
benefit of the human race. Ever since he was born he has been taken
care of--supplied with food, clothing, shelter, everything. Yet he
imagines that he is somehow a God-appointed guardian of the people who
have gathered and cooked his food, made his clothing, served him in
every way. It's very funny, that attitude of your class toward mine."

"They look up to us," said Jane. "You can't blame us for allowing
it--for