"Sit down again, please," said Mr. Warner. Now his manner had that accent of suavity, that velvety actor quality, which usually he reserved solely for women clients. "I'm awfully sorry, but I'm afraid I shall have to ask you to see Mr. Cowler again." "Mr. Warner, I ... I simply could not do that. I can never speak to him again. You don't know.... You can't guess.... Why, I could scarcely tell my own mother ... if I had one...." "It seems quite shocking to you, of course, and--Wait a moment--" Mr. Warner rose and walked toward the door leading to Byan's office. But he seemed suddenly to change his mind. "I know exactly how you must feel," he said, returning. "Believe me, my dear young lady, I enter perfectly into your emotions. Shocked susceptibilities! Wounded pride! All perfectly natural, even exemplary. But, Miss Ayer, this is a strange world. And in some aspects a very unsatisfactory one. We have to put up with many things we don't like. I, for instance. You could not guess the many disagreeable experiences to which I submit daily. I hate them as much as anyone, but business compels me to endure them. Now you, in your position as manager of the Women's Department--" "Nothing," Susannah interrupted steadily, "could induce me knowingly to submit again to what happened last night. I would rather throw up my job. I would rather die." "But, my dear Miss Ayer, you are not the only young lady in this city who has been through such experiences. If women will invade industry, they must take the consequences. Actresses, shopgirls, woman-buyers accept these things as a matter of course--as all in the day's work. Indeed, many stenographers complain of unpleasant experiences. You have been exceedingly fortunate. Have we not in this office paid you every possible respect?" "Of course you have! It is because you have been so kind that I came to you at once, hoping ... believing ... that you would understand. It never occurred to me that you...." "Of course I understand," Mr. Warner insisted, in his most soothing tone. "It's all very dreadful. What I am trying to point out to you is that whatever you do or wherever you go in a great city, the same thing is likely to happen. I am trying to prove to you that you are especially protected here. You like your work, don't you?" "I love it!" Susannah protested with fervor. "Then I think you will do well to ignore the incident. Come, my child,"--Mr. Warner was now a combination of guiding pastor and admonishing parent,--"forget this deplorable incident. When Mr. Cowler comes in this afternoon, meet him as though nothing had happened. Undoubtedly he is now bitterly regretting his mistake. Unquestionably he will apologize. And the next time he asks you to go out with him, he will have learned how to treat a young lady so admirable and estimable, and you can accept his invitation with an untroubled spirit."