“Mother’s got her notions. They’re pretty high-flown. We don’t see much of each other. I’m not living at home. I’m boarding with a fellow who works in the same office.” “And you did this because your father thrashed you?” “Not exactly, Madge. The fact that father—as much of a fop and a prig as he’s always been—could do it, started me thinking. Besides—anyway, Madge—honestly, I was tired of searching for thrills. I’d tried all the thrills till only one remained—Work. I wonder if you can understand?” “Perhaps I understand, Gord, better than you think.” “Madge, I’m going to tell you something else.” “I’m sure I’m delighted to hear whatever you’ve got to tell me—along this line. It’s perfectly splendid!” “Madge, I’m going to tell you something because I’ve got to tell you. Madge—_I love you!_” He said this last in a whisper. It was silent in the apartment for a moment after that. The manner of the fellow’s declaration was different. This was not the hoyden who had tried to compromise her. His eyelid didn’t flop, either. Madge noticed that. “I love you, Madge,” the man went on before she could frame a suitable reply. “I’ve always loved you. I loved you from the moment I set eyes on you that day I banged into your bedroom, although I didn’t know it was love—not then. You’ve always had a peculiar influence over me, Madge. I’ve been a rotter. I’ve done things for which I can’t look myself in the mirror—to say nothing of you. But—well, if a chap can be sorry, then I’m sorry. I’m trying to show I’m sorry by straightening out. I’ve met other girls and I’ve raised blue hell with them. But they’ve been incidents in my life; they’ve come and they’ve gone. You haven’t come and gone, Madge. Always you have held the same place in my feelings and emotions. You’ve seemed steady, sure, something just a little above me, waiting for me to come through clean. I say I love you, Madge. I’ve come down here to tell you so. I had to tell you. I wanted you to know and understand.” “You’re paying me a great compliment, Gordon,” the woman managed to articulate at last. “But—but—I can’t marry you, Gord. Somehow—I can’t.”