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and worth； the Game itself； the biggest thing in the worldor what
had been the biggest thing in the world until that chance afternoon
and that chance purchase in Silverstein's candy store； when
Genevieve loomed suddenly colossal in his life； overshadowing all
other things。 He was beginning to see； though vaguely； the sharp
conflict between woman and career； between a man's work in the world
and woman's need of the man。 But he was not capable of
generalization。 He saw only the antagonism between the concrete；
flesh…and…blood Genevieve and the great； abstract； living Game。
Each resented the other； each claimed him； he was torn with the
strife； and yet drifted helpless on the currents of their
contention。
His words had drawn Genevieve's gaze to his face； and she had
pleasured in the clear skin； the clear eyes； the cheek soft and
smooth as a girl's。 She saw the force of his argument and disliked
it accordingly。 She revolted instinctively against this Game which
drew him away from her； robbed her of part of him。 It was a rival
she did not understand。 Nor could she understand its seductions。
Had it been a woman rival； another girl； knowledge and light and
sight would have been hers。 As it was； she grappled in the dark
with an intangible adversary about which she knew nothing。 What
truth she felt in his speech made the Game but the more formidable。
A sudden conception of her weakness came to her。 She felt pity for
herself； and sorrow。 She wanted him； all of him； her woman's need
would not be satisfied with less； and he eluded her； slipped away
here and there from the embrace with which she tried to clasp him。
Tears swam into her eyes； and her lips trembled； turning defeat into
victory； routing the all…potent Game with the strength of her
weakness。
〃Don't； Genevieve； don't；〃 the boy pleaded； all contrition； though
he was confused and dazed。 To his masculine mind there was nothing
relevant about her break…down； yet all else was forgotten at sight
of her tears。
She smiled forgiveness through her wet eyes； and though he knew of
nothing for which to be forgiven； he melted utterly。 His hand went
out impulsively to hers； but she avoided the clasp by a sort of
bodily stiffening and chill； the while the eyes smiled still more
gloriously。
〃Here comes Mr。 Clausen；〃 she said； at the same time； by some
transforming alchemy of woman； presenting to the newcomer eyes that
showed no hint of moistness。
〃Think I was never coming back； Joe？〃 queried the head of the
department； a pink…and…white…faced man； whose austere side…whiskers
were belied by genial little eyes。
〃Now let me seehum； yes； we was discussing ingrains；〃 he continued
briskly。 〃That tasty little pattern there catches your eye； don't
it now； eh？ Yes； yes； I know all about it。 I set up housekeeping
when I was getting fourteen a week。 But nothing's too good for the
little nest； eh？ Of course I know； and it's only seven cents more；
and the dearest is the cheapest； I say。 Tell you what I'll do；
Joe；〃this with a burst of philanthropic impulsiveness and a
confidential lowering of voice；〃seein's it's you； and I wouldn't
do it for anybody else； I'll reduce it to five cents。 Only；〃here
his voice became impressively solemn；〃only you mustn't ever tell
how much you really did pay。〃
〃Sewed； lined； and laidof course that's included；〃 he said； after
Joe and Genevieve had conferred together and announced their
decision。
〃And the little nest； eh？〃 he queried。 〃When do you spread your
wings and fly away？ To…morrow！ So soon？ Beautiful！ Beautiful！〃
He rolled his eyes ecstatically for a moment； then beamed upon them
with a fatherly air。
Joe had replied sturdily enough； and Genevieve had blushed prettily；
but both felt that it was not exactly proper。 Not alone because of
the privacy and holiness of the subject； but because of what might
have been prudery in the middle class； but which in them was the
modesty and reticence found in individuals of the working class when
they strive after clean living and morality。
Mr。 Clausen accompanied them to the elevator； all smiles； patronage；
and beneficence； while the clerks turned their heads to follow Joe's
retreating figure。
〃And to…night； Joe？〃 Mr。 Clausen asked anxiously； as they waited at
the shaft。 〃How do you feel？ Think you'll do him？〃
〃Sure；〃 Joe answered。 〃Never felt better in my life。〃
〃You feel all right； eh？ Good！ Good！ You see； I was just a…
wonderin'you know； ha！ ha！goin' to get married and the rest
thought you might be unstrung； eh； a trifle？nerves just a bit off；
you know。 Know how gettin' married is myself。 But you're all
right； eh？ Of course you are。 No use asking YOU that。 Ha！ ha！
Well； good luck； my boy！ I know you'll win。 Never had the least
doubt； of course； of course。〃
〃And good…by； Miss Pritchard；〃 he said to Genevieve； gallantly
handing her into the elevator。 〃Hope you call often。 Will be
charmedcharmedI assure you。〃
〃Everybody calls you 'Joe'；〃 she said reproachfully； as the car
dropped downward。 〃Why don't they call you 'Mr。 Fleming'？ That's
no more than proper。〃
But he was staring moodily at the elevator boy and did not seem to
hear。
〃What's the matter； Joe？〃 she asked； with a tenderness the power of
which to thrill him she knew full well。
〃Oh； nothing；〃 he said。 〃I was only thinkingand wishing。〃
〃Wishing？what？〃 Her voice was seduction itself； and her eyes
would have melted stronger than he； though they failed in calling
his up to them。
Then； deliberately； his eyes lifted to hers。 〃I was wishing you
could see me fight just once。〃
She made a gesture of disgust； and his face fell。 It came to her
sharply that the rival had thrust between and was bearing him away。
〃II'd like to；〃 she said hastily with an effort； striving after
that sympathy which weakens the strongest men and draws their heads
to women's breasts。
〃Will you？〃
Again his eyes lifted and looked into hers。 He meant itshe knew
that。 It seemed a challenge to the greatness of her love。
〃It would be the proudest moment of my life；〃 he said simply。
It may have been the apprehensiveness of love； the wish to meet his
need for her sympathy； and the desire to see the Game face to face
for wisdom's sake；and it may have been the clarion call of
adventure ringing through the narrow confines of uneventful
existence； for a great daring thrilled through her； and she said；
just as simply； 〃I will。〃
〃I didn't think you would； or I wouldn't have asked；〃 he confessed；
as they walked out to the sidewalk。
〃But can't it be done？〃 she asked anxiously； before her resolution
could cool。
〃Oh； I can fix that； but I didn't think you would。〃
〃I didn't think you would；〃 he repeated； still amazed； as he helped
her upon the electric car and felt in his pocket for the fare。
CHAPTER II