, and drew a long, care-free breath.

"There," she said, "I knew I wasn't fit."

"You can't spend the night at a Country Club, dance till 4 A.M., catch
the 7 A.M. for town, and do good work--not always."

"How did you know all that?"

Blizzard laughed. "From a man," said he, "who had planned to rob the
Meadowbrook Club last night. There is a fine haul of scarf-pins, and
sleeve-links, and watches and money in the bachelors' quarters. He came
to me in great dejection and explained what very hard luck he had had.
He said the whole place was lit up and full of people and music, and no
chance for an honest man to earn a cent. I happened to ask if you were
there, and he said you were. The train was a guess, and so of course was
the 4 A.M. Will you take a piece of well-meant advice? Either be a
society girl or a sculptor. But don't burn the candle at both ends. You
even look tired, and that's nonsense at your age."

He laughed like a boy.

"They tell me," he said, "that I could do the new dances. They tell me
they are just like clinches in a prize-fight, and that only the novices
move their feet."

Barbara's brows contracted. "I'm going to ask you a favor," she said.
"If you want to talk about your misfortune, God knows I'm ready to
listen. I feel some of the responsibility. But please don't joke about
it. We're friends, I think. And I like to forget that you're not exactly
like other people. And sometimes I do."

"Truly?" His eyes were full of suppressed eagerness and elation.

"Yes," she said, "when you talk high-mindedly and generously, as you
can, when you want to, I enjoy being with you, in touch with a mind so
much more knowing and able than my own. But, now we've made a beginning,
I'd really like to talk about--all this dreadful mess that's been made
of your life, and how things can be made easier for you, and for
my father."

Figuratively, Blizzard's tongue went into his cheek at the mention of
Dr. Ferris, but the expression of his face underwent no change. "Of
course," he said simply, as if it was the most natural thing in the
world, "I have forgiven your father. He was very young--very
excitable--inexperienced."

"_Actually"_ she said, "in your heart, you've forgiven him? And you're
not saying things just to make me comfortable?"

"I am afraid," he confessed, "that I am too selfish to say or do things
just to make other people comfortable. Did you ever hate anybody?"

"I think so."

"Did you like it