Mr. Porter tapped his desk and kept his eyes on his fingers. "I find," he said slowly, "that most men do not make approaches without some encouragement, in either word or manner, on the part of the girl. I also find that such occurrences as this are very rare in the experience of most of the girls in our employ." He stopped, but Katie stood silent by the arm of the desk, her lips compressed, a frown between her arched black brows. He sent a crooked glance up at her, and then resumed: "I scarcely ever have a case of this sort to deal with. I wonder why, if such things are done by customers, the other girls do not report them." He stopped again, and this time Katie answered: "I suppose they boss their own lives in their own way, Mr. Porter." A faint spark of color shone in Mr. Porter's white cheek. "I suppose they do," he answered, gently pulling at his side-whiskers, and peeping at his victim over the caressing hand. "In fact, between you and me, Miss Flanagan, I am told that some of them do that so well that they are practically independent of their wages in this store." Again Katie failed to respond. "Do you understand me, Miss Flanagan?" Katie thought of her desperate days before she had found her present employment. She thought of Hermann and what seemed to be the sole chance of rising to a salary where marriage could be a practical possibility. She thought of Carrie's plight and of Carrie's dependence upon her. "I do that, Mr. Porter," she answered. He looked up squarely then, and she even managed to torture her face into an expression of roguery. "Ah," said Mr. Porter, smiling a paternal smile. He reached out and patted her hand, and, though her soul revolted, she managed to keep her hand passive. "Now, my dear young lady, you are at last coming to your senses. You mustn't take life so seriously." "I'll try not to, Mr. Porter." "That's right; that's right. I ought to discharge you, I know. It may be difficult not to discharge you. But I will do this much: I will suspend judgment for a few days." He looked at her fixedly. Her cold lips formed another phrase of thanks. "And in the meantime," he continued, "you let me know of some evening when you can come out to a quiet corner where we can have supper together, and where we won't be wasting the firm's time. Then we'll talk this whole thing over, and I'll see what I can do." The eyes of neither wavered. "Thank you, Mr. Porter," said Katie again.