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quietly。 Things get into the papers。〃 As he watched her
troubled expression； he grew anxious。 He leaned forward
on his camp…chair； and kept twirling the handbag between
his knees。 〃Here's a suggestion； Thea；〃 he said presently。
〃Dismiss it if you don't like it： suppose we go down to
Mexico on the chance。 You've never seen anything like
Mexico City； it will be a lark for you； anyhow。 If you
change your mind； and don't want to marry me； you can
go back to Chicago； and I'll take a steamer from Vera
Cruz and go up to New York。 When I get to Chicago；
you'll be at work； and nobody will ever be the wiser。 No
reason why we shouldn't both travel in Mexico； is there？
You'll be traveling alone。 I'll merely tell you the right
places to stop； and come to take you driving。 I won't put
any pressure on you。 Have I ever？〃 He swung the bag
toward her and looked up under her hat。
〃No； you haven't；〃 she murmured。 She was thinking
that her own position might be less difficult if he had used
what he called pressure。 He clearly wished her to take the
responsibility。
〃You have your own future in the back of your mind all
the time；〃 Fred began； 〃and I have it in mine。 I'm not
going to try to carry you off； as I might another girl。 If you
wanted to quit me； I couldn't hold you； no matter how
many times you had married me。 I don't want to over…
persuade you。 But I'd like mighty well to get you down to
that jolly old city； where everything would please you； and
give myself a chance。 Then； if you thought you could have
a better time with me than without me； I'd try to grab you
before you changed your mind。 You are not a sentimental
person。〃
Thea drew her veil down over her face。 〃I think I am； a
little； about you；〃 she said quietly。 Fred's irony somehow
hurt her。
〃What's at the bottom of your mind； Thea？〃 he asked
hurriedly。 〃I can't tell。 Why do you consider it at all； if
you're not sure？ Why are you here with me now？〃
Her face was half…averted。 He was thinking that it
looked older and more firmalmost hardunder a veil。
〃Isn't it possible to do things without having any very
clear reason？〃 she asked slowly。 〃I have no plan in the
back of my mind。 Now that I'm with you； I want to be
with you； that's all。 I can't settle down to being alone
again。 I am here to…day because I want to be with you
to…day。〃 She paused。 〃One thing； though； if I gave you
my word； I'd keep it。 And you could hold me； though you
don't seem to think so。 Maybe I'm not sentimental； but
I'm not very light； either。 If I went off with you like
this； it wouldn't be to amuse myself。〃
Ottenburg's eyes fell。 His lips worked nervously for a
moment。 〃Do you mean that you really care for me； Thea
Kronborg？〃 he asked unsteadily。
〃I guess so。 It's like anything else。 It takes hold of you
and you've got to go through with it； even if you're afraid。
I was afraid to leave Moonstone； and afraid to leave
Harsanyi。 But I had to go through with it。〃
〃And are you afraid now？〃 Fred asked slowly。
〃Yes； more than I've ever been。 But I don't think I
could go back。 The past closes up behind one； somehow。
One would rather have a new kind of misery。 The old
kind seems like death or unconsciousness。 You can't force
your life back into that mould again。 No； one can't go
back。〃 She rose and stood by the back grating of the
platform； her hand on the brass rail。
Fred went to her side。 She pushed up her veil and turned
her most glowing face to him。 Her eyes were wet and
there were tears on her lashes； but she was smiling the
rare； whole…hearted smile he had seen once or twice be…
fore。 He looked at her shining eyes； her parted lips； her
chin a little lifted。 It was as if they were colored by a sun…
rise he could not see。 He put his hand over hers and clasped
it with a strength she felt。 Her eyelashes trembled； her
mouth softened； but her eyes were still brilliant。
〃Will you always be like you were down there； if I go
with you？〃 she asked under her breath。
His fingers tightened on hers。 〃By God； I will！〃 he
muttered。
〃That's the only promise I'll ask you for。 Now go away
for a while and let me think about it。 Come back at lunch…
time and I'll tell you。 Will that do？〃
〃Anything will do； Thea； if you'll only let me keep
an eye on you。 The rest of the world doesn't interest me
much。 You've got me in deep。〃
Fred dropped her hand and turned away。 As he glanced
back from the front end of the observation car； he saw that
she was still standing there； and any one would have known
that she was brooding over something。 The earnestness of
her head and shoulders had a certain nobility。 He stood
looking at her for a moment。
When he reached the forward smoking…car； Fred took a
seat at the end； where he could shut the other passengers
from his sight。 He put on his traveling…cap and sat down
wearily； keeping his head near the window。 〃In any case；
I shall help her more than I shall hurt her；〃 he kept saying
to himself。 He admitted that this was not the only motive
which impelled him； but it was one of them。 〃I'll make it
my business in life to get her on。 There's nothing else I
care about so much as seeing her have her chance。 She
hasn't touched her real force yet。 She isn't even aware of
it。 Lord； don't I know something about them？ There isn't
one of them that has such a depth to draw from。 She'll be
one of the great artists of our time。 Playing accompani…
ments for that cheese…faced sneak！ I'll get her off to Ger…
many this winter； or take her。 She hasn't got any time to
waste now。 I'll make it up to her； all right。〃
Ottenburg certainly meant to make it up to her； in so
far as he could。 His feeling was as generous as strong human
feelings are likely to be。 The only trouble was； that he was
married already； and had been since he was twenty。
His older friends in Chicago； people who had been friends
of his family； knew of the unfortunate state of his personal
affairs； but they were people whom in the natural course
of things Thea Kronborg would scarcely meet。 Mrs。
Frederick Ottenburg lived in California； at Santa Bar…
bara； where her health wa