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presently： 〃Don't get too interested in him。〃
〃I'm not likely to；〃 Alice returned with a touch of scorn。 〃Can't I like a
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man and admire him without wanting to marry him？ I think that's a hateful
way to look at it。〃
〃It's your interpretation； not mine；〃 Mrs。 Van Tyle answered with
perfect good humor。 〃Of course you couldn't want to marry him under any
circumstances。 His station in lifehis anarchistic ideashis reputation as a
confirmed libertineall of them make the thought of such a thing
impossible。〃
Miss Frome's mind seized on only one of the charges。 〃I don't believe
it。 I don't believe a word of it。 Anybody can throw mudand some of it is
bound to stick。 He's a good man。 You can see that in his face。〃
〃You can perhaps。 I can't。〃 Valencia studied her beneath a droop of
eyelids behind which she was very alert。 〃Those things aren't said about a
man unless they are true。 Moreover； it happens we don't have to depend on
hearsay。〃
〃What do you mean？〃
〃Do you remember that night we saw the Russian dancers？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃On the way home our car passed him。 He was helping a woman out
of a cab in front of the building where he rooms。 She was intoxicated； and…
…his arm was round her waist。〃
〃I don't believe it。 It was somebody else；〃 the young woman flamed。
〃His cousin recognized him。 So did I。〃
〃There must be some explanation。 I'll ask him。〃
〃Ask him！〃 Valencia's level eyebrows lifted 〃Really； I don't think that
will do。 Better quietly eliminate him。〃
〃You mean treat him as if he were guilty when； I am sure he is not。〃
Mrs。 Van Tyle's little laugh rippled out。 〃You're quite dramatic about it；
my dear。 The man's of no importance。 He's a _poseur_； a demagogue； and
one with a vicious streak in him。 I understand； of course； that you're
interested only because he different from the other men you know。 That
merely a part of his pose。〃
〃I'm sure it isn't。〃
〃You're romantic； my dear。 I'll admit his arrival on this ship was
dramatic。 No doubt you're imagining him a knight going back to save
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gallantly a day that is lost。 He's only a politician； and so far as I can
understand they are almost all a bad lot。〃
〃Including Father and Uncle Joe and Ned Merrill？〃 Alice asked acidly。
〃They are not politicians； but business men。 They are in politics
merely to protect their interests。 But I didn't intend to start a discussion
about Mr。 Farnum。 I ask you to remember that as your chaperone I'm here
to represent your father。 Would he wish you to be friendly with this man？〃
Alice was silent。 What her father would think was not a matter of
doubt。
〃The man's impossible；〃 Mrs。 Van Tyle went on pleasantly。 〃And it's
just as well to be careful。 Not that I'm very prudish myself。 But if you're
going to marry Ned Merrill〃
She had struck the wrong note。 Like a flash Alice answered。
〃I'm not。 That's definitely decided。〃
〃Really！ I thought it was rather arranged；〃 Valencia smiled blandly。
It was all very well for Alice to protest； but in the end she would be a
good girl and do as she was told。 Not that her cousin objected to her
having a little fling before the fatal day。 But why couldn't the girl do her
flirting with Beauchamp instead of with this wild socialist？
Valencia reflected that at any rate she had done her duty。
PART 2
Jeff was tramping the deck； his hands in his coat pockets； waiting for
the trumpeter to fling out the two bars of music that would summon him to
breakfast。 He walked vigorously？ drawing in deep breaths of the salt sea
air。 His thoughts were of Alice Frome。 He was a lover； and in his
imagination she embodied all things beautiful。 Her charm flowed through
him； pierced him with delight。 When he heard music his mind flew to her。
It voiced the rhythm of her motions and the sound of her warm laughter。
The sunshine but reflected the golden gleams of light in her wavy hair。
As he swung round the smoking saloon Jeff came face to face with
Alice。 He turned and caught step with her。 The coat she wore came to her
ankles； but it could not conceal her light； strong tread nor the long lines of
the figure that gave her the grace of a captured wood nymph。
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〃Only five hundred miles from Verden。 By night we ought to be in
wireless communication；〃 he suggested。
Her glance flashed at him。 〃You'll be glad to get home。〃
〃I will and I won't。 There's work for me to do there。 But it's the first
real vacation I ever had in my life that lasted over a week。 You can't think
how I've enjoyed it。〃
〃So have I。 More than anything I can remember。〃 They stopped to look
at a steamer which lay low on the distant horizon line。 After they had
fallen into step again she continued at the point where they had been
interrupted： 〃And after we reach home？ Are you going to come and see me？
Are you going to let me meet your friends； those dear people who are
giving themselves to make life less hideous and harsh for the weak？ Shall
I meet Mr。 Mifflin 。 。 。 and Mr。 Miller and your little Socialist poet？ Or are
you going to desert me？〃
He smiled a little at her way of putting it； but he was troubled none the
less。 〃Are you sure that your way is our way？ One can give service on the
Hill just as much as down in the bottoms。 There's no moral grandeur in
rags or in dirt。 Isn't your place with your friends？〃
〃Haven't I a right to take hold of life for myself at first hand？ Haven't I
a right to know the truth？ What have I done that I should be walled off
from all these people who earn the bread I eat？〃
〃But your friends 。 。 。 your father。 。 。〃
Her ironic smile derided him。 〃So after all you haven't the courage of
your convictions。 Because I'm Peter C。 Frome's daughter I'm not to have
the right to live。〃
〃No； it's your right to take hold of life with both hands。 But surely you
must live it among your own people。〃
〃I've got to learn how to live it first； haven't I？
Most of