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o permanent and deep sincerity in Jane's aspirations after emancipation from her class。 It was simply the old； old story of a woman of the upper class becoming infatuated with a man of a genuine kind of manhood rarely found in the languor…producing surroundings of her own class。 Would Victor yield？ No！ her loyalty indignantly answered。 But he might allow this useless idler to hamper him； to weaken his energies for the timeand during a critical period。
She did not wish to see Victor again until she should have decided what course to take。 To think at her ease she walked out Monroe Avenue on her way to the country。 It was a hot day； but walking along in the beautiful shade Selma felt no discomfort； except a slight burning of the eyes from the fierce glare of the white highway。 In the distance she heard the sound of an engine。
A few seconds； and past her at high speed swept an automobile。 Its heavy flying wheels tore up the roadway； raised an enormous cloud of dust。 The charm of the walk was gone； the usefulness of roadway and footpaths was destroyed for everybody for the fifteen or twenty minutes that it would take for the mass of dust to settleon the foliage； in the grass； on the bodies and clothing of passers…by and in their lungs。 Selma halted and gazed after the auto。 Who was tearing along at this mad speed？ Who was destroying the comfort of all using that road； and annoying them and making the air unfit to breathe！ Why； an idle； luxuriously dressed woman； not on an errand of life or death； but going down town to amuse herself shopping or calling。
The dust had not settled before a second auto； having a young man and young woman apparently on the way to play tennis； rushed by； swirling up even vaster clouds of dust and all but colliding with a baby carriage a woman was trying to push across the street。 Selma's blood was boiling！ The infamy of it！ These worthless idlers！ What utter lack of manners； of consideration for their fellow beings。 A GENTLEMAN and a LADY insulting and bullying everyone who happened not to have an automobile。 Thenshe laughed。 The ignorant； stupid masses！ They deserved to be treated thus contemptuously； for they could stop it if they would。 ‘‘Some day we shall learn；'' philosophized she。 ‘‘Then these brutalities of men toward each other； these brutalities big and little； will cease。'' This matter of the insulting automobiles； with insolent horns and criminal folly of speed and hurling dust at passers…by； worse than if the occupants had spat upon them in passingthis matter was a trifle beside the hideous brutalities of men compelling masses of their fellow beings； children no less than grown people； to toil at things killing soul； mind and body simply in order that fortunes might be made！ THERE was lack of consideration worth thinking about。
Three more autos passedthree more clouds of dust； reducing Selma to extreme physical discomfort。 Her philosophy was severely strained。 She was in the country now； but even there she was pursued by these insolent and insulting hunters of pleasure utterly indifferent to the comfort of their fellows。 And when a fourth auto passed； bearing Jane Hastings in a charming new dress and big； becoming hatSelma； eyes and throat full of dust and face and neck and hands streaked and dirty； quite lost her temper。 Jane spoke； she turned her head away； pretending not to see！
Presently she heard an auto coming at a less menacing pace from the opposite direction。 It drew up to the edge of the road abreast of her。 ‘‘Selma；'' called Jane。
Selma paused； bent a frowning and angry countenance upon Jane。
Jane opened the door of the limousine； descended； said to her chauffeur： ‘‘Follow us； please。'' She advanced to Selma with a timid and deprecating smile。 ‘‘You'll let me walk with you？'' she said。
‘‘I am thinking out a very important matter；'' replied Selma； with frank hostility。 ‘‘I prefer not to be interrupted。''
‘‘Selma！'' pleaded Jane。 ‘‘What have I done to turn you against me？''
Selma stood； silent； incarnation of freedom and will。 She looked steadily at Jane。 ‘‘You haven't done anything；'' she replied。 ‘‘On impulse I liked you。 On sober second thought I don't。 That's all。''
‘‘You gave me your friendship；'' said Jane。 ‘‘You've no right to withdraw it without telling me why。''
‘‘You are not of my class。 You are of the class that is at war with mineat war upon it。 When you talk of friendship to me； you are either false to your own people or false in your professions to me。''
Selma's manner was rudely offensiveas rude as Jane's dust； to which it was perhaps a retort。 Jane showed marvelous restraint。 She told herself that she felt compassionate toward this attractive； honest； really nice girl。 It is possible； however； that an instinct of prudence may have had something to do with her ultra… conciliatory attitude toward the dusty little woman in the cheap linen dress。 The enmity of one so near to Victor Dorn was certainly not an advantage。 Instead of flaring up； Jane said：
‘‘Now； Selmado be humando be your sweet； natural self。 It isn't my fault that I am what I am。 And you know that I really belong heart and soul with you。''
‘‘Then come with us；'' said Selma。 ‘‘If you think the life you lead is foolishwhy； stop leading it。''
‘‘You know I can't；'' said Jane mournfully。
‘‘I know you could；'' retorted Selma。 ‘‘Don't be a hypocrite； Jane。''
‘‘Selmahow harsh you are！'' cried Jane。
‘‘Either come with us or keep away from us；'' said the girl inflexibly。 ‘‘You may deceive yourselfand menwith that talk of broad views and high aspirations。 But you can't deceive another woman。''
‘‘I'm not trying to deceive anybody；'' exclaimed Jane angrily。 ‘‘Permit me to say； Selma； that your methods won't make many converts to your cause。''
‘‘Who ever gave you the idea that we were seeking converts in your class？'' inquired Selma。 ‘‘Our whole object is to abolish your classand end its drain upon usand its bad exampleand make its members useful members of our class； and more contented and happier than they are now。'' She laugheda free and merry laugh； but not pleasant in Jane's ears。 ‘‘The idea of US trying to induce young ladies and young gentlemen with polished finger nails to sit round in drawing…rooms talking patronizingly of doing something for the masses！ You've got a very queer notion of us； my dear Miss Hastings。''
Jane's eyes were flashing。 ‘‘Selma； there's a devil in you to…day。 What is it？'' she demanded。
‘‘There's a great deal of dust from your automobile in me and on me；'' said Selma。 ‘‘I congratulate you on your good manners in rushing about spattering and befouling your fellow beings and threatening their lives。''
Jane colored and lowered her head。 ‘‘II never thought of that before；'' she said humbly。
Selma's anger suddenly dissolved。 ‘‘I'm ashamed of myself；'' she cried。 ‘‘Forgive me。''
What she had said about the automobile had made an instant deep impression upon Jane； who was honestly trying to live up to her aspirationswhen she wasn't giving up the effort as hopelessly beyond her powers and trying to content herself with just aspiring。 She was not hypocritical