"If I were you, Helen," said Mary when lunch was over, "I think I'd go on teaching Wally that dance." Which may have shown that it rankled a little, even if she were unconscious that it did. "I have some papers that I want to look over and I don't feel very trippy this afternoon." She went to Josiah's old study, but had hardly untied the papers when she heard the knock of penitence on the door. "Come in!" she smiled. The door opened and in came Master Wally, looking ready to weep. "Wally! Don't!" she laughed. "You'll give yourself the blues!" "Not when I hear you laugh like that. I know I'm forgiven." He drew a chair to the fire and sat down with an air of luxury. "I can almost imagine that we're an old married couple, sitting in here like this--can't you?" "No; I can't. And you've got to be quiet and let me work, or I shall send you back to Helen." "She asked me to dance with her--of course, you know that--or I never would have done it--" "Oh, fie, for shame," said Mary absently, "blaming the woman. You know you liked to do it." "Mary--!" "Hush!" He watched her for a time and, in truth, she was worth it. He looked at the colour of her cheeks, her dreamy eyes like pools of mystery, the crease in her chin (which he always wanted to kiss), the rise and fall of the pendant on her breast. He looked until he could look no longer and then he arose and leaned over the desk. "Mary--!" he breathed, taking her hand. "Now, please don't start that, Wally. We'll shake hands if you want to... There! How are you? Now go back to your chair and be good." "'Be good!'" he savagely echoed. "Why, you want to be good; don't you?" she asked in surprise. "I want you to love me. Mary; tell me you love me just a little bit; won't you?" "I like you a whole lot--but when it comes to love--the way you mean--" "It's the only thing in life that's worth a hang," he eagerly interrupted her. "The trouble is: you won't try it. You won't allow yourself to let go. I was like that once--thought it was nothing. But after I met you--! Oh, girl, it's all roses and lilies--the only thing in the world, and don't you forget it! Come on in and give it a try!" "It's not the only thing in the world," said Mary, shaking her head. "That's the reason I don't want to come in: When a man marries, he goes right on with his life as though nothing had happened. That shows it's not the only thing with him. But when a woman marries--well, she simply surrenders her future and her independence. It may be right that she should, too, for all I know--but I'm going to try the other way first. I'm going right on with my life, the same as a man does--and see what I get by it." "How long are you going to try it, do you think?"