uty to punish the culprit. What did you talk about?
But, pshaw, I know well enough without asking--she told you how greatly
she admired the romance of the West, and begged you to call upon her
with a recital of your own exploits. Have I not guessed aright?"

"Partially, at least; some such expressions were used."

"Of course, they always are. I do not know whether they form merely a
part of her stock in trade, or are spoken earnestly. You would laugh
to hear the tales of wild and thrilling adventure which she picks up,
and actually believes. That Jack Moffat possesses the most marvellous
imagination for such things, and if I make fun of his impossible
stories she becomes angry in an instant."

"I am afraid you do not greatly admire this Miss Spencer?"

"Oh, but I do; truly I do. You must not think me ungrateful. No one
has ever helped me more, and beneath this mask of artificiality she is
really a noble-hearted woman. I do not understand the necessity for
people to lead false lives. Is it this way in all society--Eastern
society, I mean? Do men and women there continually scheme and flirt,
smile and stab, forever assuming parts like so many play-actors?"

"It is far too common," he admitted, touched by her naive questioning.
"What is known as fashionable social life has become an almost pitiful
sham, and you can scarcely conceive the relief it is to meet with one
utterly uncontaminated by its miserable deceits, its shallow
make-believes. It is no wonder you shock the nerves of such people;
the deed is easily accomplished."

"But I do not mean to." And she looked at him gravely, striving to
make him comprehend. "I try so hard to be--be commonplace, and--and
satisfied. Only there is so much that seems silly, useless, pitifully
contemptible that I lose all patience. Perhaps I need proper training
in what Miss Spencer calls refinement; but why should I pretend to like
what I don't like, and to believe what I don't believe? Cannot one act
a lie as well as speak one? And is it no longer right to search after
the truth?"

"I have always felt it was our duty to discover the truth wherever
possible," he said, thoughtfully; "yet, I confess, the search is not
fashionable, nor the earnest seeker popular."

A little trill of laughter flowed from between her parted lips, but the
sound was not altogether merry.

"Most certainly I am not. They all scold me, and repeat with manifest
horror the terrible things