these petty regulations of
conduct you were not yourself at all, only a make-believe. Something
serious has occurred in your life, and changed all in an instant. You
have been thrown against the real world. You find it not to be what
you supposed. It is no cause for shame or regret; womanhood lies
deeper than any pretense at gentility. Men seldom fail to recognize
this fact--their lives of struggle compel them to, but a woman finds it
hard to understand."

"To understand what?"

"How any man meeting her as I have you--in the street at night, under
conditions society would frown at--can still feel for her a profound
respect, and pay her the deference which a gentleman must always extend
to one he deems worthy."

For a long moment she did not speak, but withdrew her hand from beneath
mine, resting her chin in its palm.

"What is your name?" she asked finally.

"Gordon Craig."

The lashes drooped quickly, securely shadowing the brown depths, the
flush deepening on her cheeks. In the momentary hush which followed
the waiter came shuffling forward with our order.

CHAPTER VII

THE WOMAN'S STORY

I had never supposed I lacked audacity, yet I found it strangely
difficult to again pick up our conversation. This woman puzzled me;
was becoming an enigma. She encouraged me, and yet something about her
precluded all familiarity. I was haunted by the vague suspicion that
she might be "stringing" me; that she was not as innocent as she
pretended. Her eyes again glanced up, and met mine.

"It is a terrible experience being penniless, and alone," she said with
a shudder. "I can never condemn some forms of evil as I once did, for
now I have felt temptation myself. I--I have even learned to doubt my
own strength of character. I walked past a great hotel last evening,
and looked in through the windows, at the dining-room. It was
brilliant with electric lights, in rose globes over the spotless
tables, and hundreds of people were gathered about eating and drinking.
I had been there myself more than once, yet then I was alone outside,
in the misty street, penniless. I had no strength left, no virtue--I
was in heart a criminal. Have you ever felt that?"

"Yes," I acknowledged, hopeful she would explain further. "I
comprehend fully what you mean. Nature is stronger than any of us when
it comes to the supreme trial."

"I had never known before. It is strange to confess such a thing, but
it is true. I--