are all right."

I went into the inner office and routed out the paysheet in order to
find her name--Effie Rink. And did no work at all that afternoon. I
fretted about that dingy little den like a beast in a cage.

When presently I went out, Effie was working with an extraordinary
appearance of calm--and there was no look for me at all....

We met and had our talk that evening, a talk in whispers when there was
none to overhear; we came to an understanding. It was strangely unlike
any dream of romance I had ever entertained.

VII

I came back after a week's absence to my home again--a changed man.
I had lived out my first rush of passion for Effie, had come to a
contemplation of my position. I had gauged Effie's place in the scheme
of things, and parted from her for a time. She was back in her place at
Raggett Street after a temporary indisposition. I did not feel in any
way penitent or ashamed, I know, as I opened the little cast-iron gate
that kept Marion's front grader and Pampas Grass from the wandering dog.
Indeed, if anything, I felt as if I had vindicated some right that had
been in question. I came back to Marion with no sense of wrong-doing at
all with, indeed, a new friendliness towards her. I don't know how it
may be proper to feel on such occasions; that is how I felt.

I followed her in our drawing-room, standing beside the tall lamp-stand
that half filled the bay as though she had just turned from watching for
me at the window. There was something in her pale face that arrested me.