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caring for him when I did； it is right now for me to ca'e for him again；
where the'e's no one to be hu't by it。 Do you think it is？〃
〃Yes； why not？〃 Miss Milray was forced to the admission against what she
believed the finer feelings 'of her nature。
Clementina sighed； 〃I suppose he's right。 I always thought he was good。
Women don't seem to belong very much to themselves in this wo'ld； do
they？〃
〃No； they seem to belong to the men； either because they want the men； or
the men want them； it comes to the same thing。 I suppose you don't wish
me to advise you； my dear？〃
〃No。 I presume it's something I've got to think out for myself。〃
〃But I think he's good； too。 I ought to say that much； for I didn't
always stand his friend with you。 If Mr。 Gregory has any fault it's
being too scrupulous。〃
〃You mean； about that old troubleour not believing just the same？〃
Miss Milray meant something much more temperamental than that； but she
allowed Clementina to limit her meaning； and Clementina went on。
〃He's changed all round now。 He thinks it's all in the life。 He says
that in China they couldn't understand what he believed； but they could
what he lived。 And he knows I neva could be very religious。〃
It was in Miss Milray's heart to protest； 〃 Clementina； I think you are
one of the most religious persons I ever knew；〃 but she forebore； because
the praise seemed to her an invasion of Clementina's dignity。 She merely
said； 〃Well； I am glad he is one of those who grow more liberal as they
grow older。 That is a good sign for your happiness。 But I dare say it's
more of his happiness you think。〃
〃Oh； I should like to be happy； too。 There would be no sense in it if I
wasn't。〃
〃No； certainly not。〃
〃Miss Milray；〃 said Clementina； with a kind of abruptness； 〃do you eva
hear anything from Dr。 Welwright？〃
〃No！ Why？〃 Miss Milray fastened her gaze vividly upon her。
〃Oh； nothing。 He wanted me to promise him； there in Venice； too。〃
〃I didn't know it。〃
〃Yes。 ButI couldn't； then。 And nowhe's written to me。 He wants me
to let him come ova； and see me。〃
〃Andand will you？〃 asked Miss Milray； rather breathlessly。
〃I don't know。 I don't know as I'd ought。 I should like to see him； so
as to be puffectly su'a。 But if I let him come； and then didn't It
wouldn't be right！ I always felt as if I'd ought to have seen then that
he ca'ed for me； and stopped him； but I didn't。 No； I didn't；〃 she
repeated； nervously。 〃I respected him； and I liked him； but I neva〃
She stopped； and then she asked； 〃What do you think I'd ought to do； Miss
Milray？〃
Miss Milray hesitated。 She was thinking superficially that she had never
heard Clementina say had ought； so much； if ever before。 Interiorly she
was recurring to a sense of something like all this before； and to the
feeling which she had then that Clementina was really cold…blooded and
self…seeking。 But she remembered that in her former decision； Clementina
had finally acted from her heart and her conscience； and she rose from
her suspicion with a rebound。 She dismissed as unworthy of Clementina
any theory which did not account for an ideal of scrupulous and unselfish
justice in her。
〃That is something that nobody can say but yourself； Clementina；〃 she
answered； gravely。
〃Yes；〃 sighed Clementina； 〃I presume that is so。〃
She rose； and took her little girl from Miss Milray's knee。 〃Say good…
bye；〃 she bade； looking tenderly down at her。
Miss Milray expected the child to put up her lips to be kissed。 But she
let go her mother's hand； took her tiny skirts between her finger…tips；
and dropped a curtsey。
〃You little witch！〃 cried Miss Milray。 〃I want a hug；〃 and she crushed
her to her breast； while the child twisted her face round and anxiously
questioned her mother's for her approval。 〃Tell her it'；s all right；
Clementina！〃 cried Miss Milray。 〃When she's as old as you were in
Florence； I'm going to make you give her to me。〃
〃Ah' you going back to Florence？〃 asked Clementina； provisionally。
〃Oh； no！ You can't go back to anything。 That's what makes New York so
impossible。 I think we shall go to Los Angeles。〃
XL。
On her way home Clementina met a man walking swiftly forward。 A sort of
impassioned abstraction expressed itself in his gait and bearing。 They
had both entered the shadow of the deep pine woods that flanked the way
on either side； and the fallen needles helped with the velvety summer
dust of the roadway to hush their steps from each other。 She saw him far
off； but he was not aware of her till she was quite near him。
〃Oh！〃 he said； with a start。 〃You filled my mind so full that I couldn't
have believed you were anywhere outside of it。 I was coming to get you
I was coming to get my answer。〃
Gregory had grown distinctly older。 Sickness and hardship had left
traces in his wasted face； but the full beard he wore helped to give him
an undue look of age。
〃I don't know；〃 said Clementina； slowly； 〃as I've got an answa fo' you；
Mr。 Gregoryyet。〃
〃No answer is better that the one I am afraid of！〃
〃Oh； I'm not so sure of that；〃 she said； with gentle perplexity； as she
stood； holding the hand of her little girl； who stared shyly at the
intense face of the man before her。
〃I am；〃 he retorted。 〃I have been thinking it all ever； Clementina。
I've tried not to think selfishly about it； but I can't pretend that my
wish isn't selfish。 It is！ I want you for myself； and because I've
always wanted you； and not for any other reason。 I never cared for any
one but you in the way I cared for you； and〃
〃Oh！〃 she grieved。 〃I never ca'ed at all for you after I saw him。〃
〃I know it must be shocking to you； I haven't told you with any wretched
hope that it would commend me to you！〃
〃I don't say it was so very bad；〃 said Clementina； reflectively； 〃if it
was something you couldn't help。〃
〃It was something I couldn't help。 Perhaps I didn't try 。〃
〃Did…she know it？〃
〃She knew it from the first； I told her before we were married。〃
Clementina drew back a little； insensibly pulling her child with her。
〃I don't believe I exactly like it。〃
〃I knew you wouldn't ！ If I could have thought you would； I hope I
shouldn't have wishedand fearedso much to tell you。〃
〃Oh； I know you always wanted to do what you believed was right； Mr。
Gregory；〃 she answered。 〃But I haven't quite thought it out yet。 You
mustn't hurry me。〃
〃No； no！ Heaven forbid。〃 He stood aside to let her pass。
〃I was just going home；〃 she added。
〃May I go with you？〃
〃Yes； if you want to。 I don't know but you betta； we might as well；
I want to talk with you。 Don't you think it's something we ought to talk
about…sensibly？〃
〃Why； of course！ And I shall try to be guided by you； I should always
submit to be ruled by you； if〃
〃That's not what I mean； exactly 。 I don't want to do the ruling。 You
don't undastand me。〃
〃I'm afraid I don't；〃 he assented； humbly。
〃If you did； you wouldn't say thatso。〃 He did not venture to make any
answer； and they walked on without speaking； till she asked； 〃Did you
know that Miss Milray was at the Middlemount？〃
〃Miss Milr