In the early morning, through the wet glistening streets we made our way across town towards the river. Of course I knew just where we were going, but somehow the entrance to the dock found me surprised and unprepared. For a moment we stood there, shaking hands as formally as might be. Suddenly tears sparkled in her eyes, she reached up and kissed me. Then she turned abruptly and walked into the bare, shadowy building. She had a firm step, she was sallying out to meet her destiny. I watched until she was out of sight. And then I surprised myself by a sigh of strange relief. *VIII* Later in the day I lunched with Benson at the University Club. "What are your plans now?" he asked as we settled down to coffee and cigarettes. "Find a job, I suppose." "You’re in no condition to work nor to look for work—just out of the hospital." "But I’ve got to eat." "That’s a fool superstition!" he exploded. "You don’t have to work in order to eat. None of ’the best people’ do. Half the trouble with the world is that so many idiots will sweat—just to eat. If they’d refuse to work for tripe-stews and demand box seats at the opera, it would do wonders. Why people will slave all their lives long for a chance to die in a tenement is beyond me. What kind of work do you want?" My ideas on that point were vague. "How much money have you?" That I had figured out. "One hundred and eighty-five dollars and ninety-three cents. And then my books—perhaps I could get a hundred more for them." "Of course if you are sufficiently unscrupulous that’s a good start for a fortune. Lots of men have done it on less. But it’s a bore to sit back and watch money grow. Did you ever see a hunk of shad-roe—all eggs? Money’s a darn sight more prolific than fish. Impregnate a silver dollar with enough cynicism and you can’t keep your expenses up with your income. Look how wealth has grown in this country in spite of all our thievery and waste! In the Civil War we burned money—threw millions after millions into the flames—we never noticed it. The nation was richer in ’65 than in ’60. "But making money is a fool’s ambition. Just think how many dubs succeed in earning a living. Anybody can do that. It isn’t original. Look round for interesting work. Something that’s worth doing aside from the wages. Take things easy. If you begin worrying, you’ll grab the first job that offers and think you’re lucky. Come down to the settlement—the board’s seven a week. You can live three months on half your money. In that time you’ll see a dozen openings. You’ll be able to take your choice instead of snatching the first job you see." This conversation was typical of Benson. He nearly always started off with some generalized talk, but just when you began to think he had forgotten you and the issue, he would end up sharp, with a definite proposition. I accepted his advice and moved to the "Children’s House."