Jim turned pale, then red, and poured himself some more tea without replying. “You stay away from there. Do you hear?” the elder Sprague went on. “I hear, but I’ll do as I see fit,” retorted Jim. “You’ll do as _I_ see fit, or I’ll know the reason why,” snapped his father. “Father,” began Jim, “I’m old enough to----” “Old enough be damned!” Mr. Sprague fairly roared. “You’re old enough to do what I tell you until you’re twenty-one years old, and that ain’t all--you’ll _do_ what you’re told, if you expect to stay in _my_ house!” Jim rose and seized his hat. “I don’t intend to have you running around with a bitch like that at your age,” continued the older man, as though closing the discussion. “You have no right to call her that!” Jim’s eyes flamed as he faced his father excitedly. “How do you know what right I’ve got?” asked Sprague unmoved. “Be careful what you say,” Jim was pale with anger, his fists clenching. Mr. Sprague looked at his son with interest. Jim felt very young and at a disadvantage. He turned to go. “Just see that you remember what I said,” Sprague commanded, as the boy reached the door. Jim went out without a word. He went straight to Delia’s house. “Who is it?” a voice demanded, as he knocked, forgetting to ring the bell. “It’s Jim,” he replied. The sound of bare feet in the hall was heard, and Delia, unlocking the door, pulled at his sleeve. “Come in, Jim,” she whispered. Jim began to explain his errand as soon as they reached the sitting room. “Delia, we must be married at once,” he announced. She was yawning, but stopped to gaze at him curiously. Jim returned her regard steadily. He was in deadly earnest. Her eyes avoided him but he continued to observe her hungrily. Her wrapper had fallen open at the neck and the swell of her full white breasts showed. Her hair was in two long braids. “Why, Jim, what’s the matter? We’re all right as we are.” She yawned again. “Something has happened, Delia. I owe it--that is, it is best for us to be----” He fell back on his first declaration. “We must be married right away.” Delia went up to him and put her arms around his neck. Her loose sleeves slid back. As he looked down on her he could see only her white arms and bosom. “People know. I’ve got you talked about,” he said as she kissed him. Delia laughed. “I don’t care about that,” she assured him. Jim was puzzled. “Come and sit down, dearie,” she added, pushing him into a chair and seating herself on his knees. “But, Delia----” “We can’t get married now, Jim,” she said. “You haven’t anything to support us and if I marry I’ll lose all the money Johnson left me.” Jim’s face showed his revulsion of feeling. Delia saw the change and clung to him. “Let’s just love each other, Jim, and everything will come out all right.” “But, Delia, I want to do what’s right and----” She kissed him passionately. Jim felt a curious sense of drifting. “Come on, dearie,” she whispered. It was late when Jim left the house.