If you ever want to get rid of me, all you have to do
is to ask — and it'll be arranged. Meanwhile, let's en-
joy ourselves."

His good humor, obviously unfeigned, would have
completely discouraged a more experienced woman,
though as vain as Dorothy and with as much ground
as he had given her for self-confidence where he was

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concerned. But Dorothy was depressed rather than
profoundly discouraged. A few moments and she
found courage to plead: "But you used to care for
me. Don't I attract you any more? "

" You say that quite pathetically," said he, in good-
humored amusement. " I'm willing to do anything
within reason for your happiness. But really— just
to please your vanity I can't make myself over again
into the fool I used to be about you. You'd hate it
self. Why, then, this pathetic air? "

' I feel so useless— and as if I were shirking," she
"ersisted. " And if you did care for me, it wouldn't
offend me now as it used to. I've grown much wiser —
more sensible. I understand things— and I look at
them diiFerently. And— I always did like you."

"Even when you despised me?" mocked he. It
irritated him a little vividly to recall what a consum-
mate fool he had made of himself for her, even though
he had every reason to be content with the event of his
folly.
" A girl always thinks she despises a man when she
can do as she pleases with him," replied she. " As Mr.
