n deep thought. He paused before the enraptured
listener and hesitated to speak the thought in his mind.

He lifted his hand suddenly, his decision apparently made.

"It is of the utmost importance to the race that our mothers shall
be pure. Better certainly if both father and mother are so. It is
indispensable that the mother shall be! On this elemental fact rests the
dual standard of sex morals. On this fact rests the hope of a glorified
humanity through the development of an intelligent motherhood. Stay here
with me until your child is born and I'll prove the truth of every word
I've spoken----"

"Oh, if I only could!"

"Why not?"

"I couldn't impose such a burden on you!" she faltered.

"You would confer on me the highest honor, if you will allow me to
direct you in this experiment."

There was no mistaking his honesty and earnestness. There was no
refusing the appeal.

"You really wish me to stay?" she asked.

"I beg of you to stay! You will bring to me a new inspiration--new
faith--new courage to fight. Will you?"

She extended her hand.

"Yes."

"And you will agree to follow my instructions?"

"Absolutely."

"Good. We begin from this moment. I give you my first orders. Forget
that James Anthony ever lived. Forget the tragedy of Christmas Eve.
You are going to be a mother. All other events in life pale before this
fact. God has conferred on you the highest honor He can give to
mortal. Keep your soul serene, your body strong. You are to worry about
nothing----"

"I must pay you for this extra expense I impose, Doctor. I have a
thousand dollars in bank in New York," she interrupted.

"Certainly, if you will be happier. My home is now your sanitarium. You
are my patient. Your board will cost me about eight dollars a week. All
right. You can pay that if you wish.

"Take no thought now except on the business of being a mother. I will
make myself your father, your brother, your guardian, your physician,
your friend and companion. I will give you at once a course of reading.
You are to think only beautiful thoughts, see beautiful things, dream
beautiful dreams, hear beautiful music. I'm going to make you climb
these mountain peaks with me for the next three months and live among
the clouds. I'm going to refit your room with new furniture and pictures
and place in it a phonograph with the best music. When you are strong
enough you can work for me three hours a day as my secretary. You use
the typew