evel, or will she
by sheer force of character, by her fine mentality and spiritual force,
be able to tame the beast and lift him up to her level? That is the
problem--a most interesting one from the sociological standpoint; but it
could be solved only by being put to an actual test."

"I hope you don't expect either of us to make the experiment," laughed
Mrs. Stuart.

"If you did, I should certainly aspire to be the sailor," retorted,
gallantly, the man of science.

"The hypothesis is an interesting one," said Grace thoughtfully. "After
all, the situation is not impossible."

The professor rubbed his hands with satisfaction.

"Quite so--quite so!" he replied. "What, in your opinion, would be the
outcome?"

For a moment Grace left the question unanswered. Then, decisively, she
said:

"Such a girl would never yield. Her training, her pride, her
self-respect, would protect her. She would die before she degraded
herself."

"The idea is preposterous!" exclaimed Mrs. Stuart impatiently.

The professor shook his head.

"My dear ladies, you are both mistaken. I once knew a New York girl,
highly educated, wealthy, popular with her friends, who gave up
everything, a luxurious home, her position in society, to follow the man
she loved--a full-blooded Indian--back to the tents of his people.
To-day that girl is living Indian fashion on a Western reservation. In
place of her one-time elegance she wears her hair down over her
shoulders, an old blanket keeps her warm, her proud carriage has given
place to the uncertain, shambling gait, on her back is strapped her
Indian papoose. Her old life is practically blotted out."

"Ah," interrupted Grace, "but that is a different case. She loved the
Indian. If the girl on the island loved the sailor, she might fall, too,
but love should never degrade. On the contrary, it should redeem and
uplift the man."

The professor nodded approvingly.

"Bravo! bravo!" he cried.

"Really, Grace, I had no idea you were so sentimental!" exclaimed Mrs.
Stuart.

"In other words," went on the professor, addressing the younger woman,
"you think----"

"I think," replied Grace slowly and deliberately, "that if they found
they loved each other, she would not quite descend to his level nor
would he quite ascend to hers. There would be a compromise. In other
words, she would stoop; he would reach up. That is my view."

"A most sensible view--most sensible!" said the professor, with
enthusiasm.