elt
uneasy about you. It's all right now: Let us walk on a little. You want
money. Well, I have three hundred pounds and more. Call it mine, call
it yours. But I must know that you're not going to do anything foolish.
Of course, you don't tell me everything; I have no right to expect it.
You haven't misled me; I knew from the first that--well, a girl of your
age, and with your face, doesn't live alone in London without
adventures. I shouldn't think of telling you all mine, and I don't ask
to know yours--unless I begin to have a part in them. There's something
wrong: of course, I can see that. I think you've been crying, and you
don't shed tears for a trifle. Now you come and ask me for money. If it
will do you good, take all you want. But I've an uncomfortable
suspicion that harm may come of it."

"Why not treat me just like a man-friend? I'm old enough to take care
of myself."

"You think so, but I know better. Wait a moment. How much money do you
want?"

"Thirty-five pounds."

"Exactly thirty-five? And it isn't for your own use?"

"I can't tell you any more. I am in very great need of the money, and
if you will lend it me I shall feel very grateful."

"I want no gratitude, I want nothing from you, Eve, except what you
can't give me. I can imagine a man in my position giving you money in
the hope that it might be your ruin just to see you brought down,
humiliated. There's so much of the brute in us all. But I don't feel
that desire."

"Why should you?" she asked, with a change to coldness. "What harm have
I done you?"

"No harm at all, and perhaps a great deal of good. I say that I wish
you nothing but well. Suppose a gift of all the money I have would
smooth your whole life before you, and make you the happy wife of some
other man. I would give it you gladly. That kind of thing has often
been said, when it meant nothing: it isn't so with me. It has always
been more pleasure to me to give than to receive. No merit of mine; I
have it from my father. Make clear to me that you are to benefit by
this money, and you shall have the cheque as soon as you please."

"I shall benefit by it, because it will relieve me from a dreadful
anxiety."

"Or, in other words, will relieve someone else?"

"I can speak only of myself. The kindness will be done to me."

"I must know more than that. Come now, we assume that there's someone
in the background. A friend of yours, let us say. I can't Imagine why
this friend of your