“I don’t want to marry, and I shan’t marry,” continued he. “But if I did want to marry, and wanted the woman, I’d not care who she was or what she was or what she had or hadn’t--so long as she was what I wanted. And I don’t think even you, crazy as you are about money, could suspect me of having the same mania.” His tone and his manner would have convinced anyone. They convinced her. She drew a huge sigh of relief. “I’m glad you said that--in just that way,” said she. “I’m sure I don’t see what difference it makes,” replied he. “You don’t mean to say you’ve been suspecting me of wanting your money?” She hung her head foolishly. “I’ve got a horrid mind,” confessed she. “It came to me that maybe you might be holding out for fear father’d cut me off.” “You _have_ got your nerve!” ejaculated he. “I never heard of the like!--never!” “Now you’re disgusted with me,” cried she. “I know I oughtn’t to have told you. But I can’t help telling you everything. It isn’t fair, Chang, to think I’m worse than most girls, just because I let you see into me. You know it isn’t fair.” “You’re right, Rix,” said he impulsively; and the sense that he had wronged her pushed him on to say, “It’s your frankness and your courage that I admire so much. I wish you weren’t attractive. Then it’d be easier for me to do what I’ve got to do.” Her face became radiant. “Then you do care for me?” “Why, of course I do,” said he heartily--but in a tone most unsatisfactory to ears waiting to drink in what her ears longed for. “Do you suppose I could stand so much of anyone I didn’t like?” “You aren’t frank with me!” said she a little sullenly. “Why not?” “You’ve some reason why you won’t let yourself say you love me. And you won’t tell me what it is.” “How many times have I got to tell you,” cried he heatedly, “that I don’t care for you in that way--any more than you care for me?” She was all gentleness and freedom from guile. “But every time you say that, you say it angrily--and then I know you don’t mean it.” “But I do mean it!” Her face looked stubbornly unconvinced. “I tell you, I do mean it!” he repeated with angry energy. “You are mad at yourself for liking me so much.” He made a gesture of despair. “Well, have it your way--if it pleases you better to think so.” He rose and stood before her, his hands thrust deep into the outside pockets of his loose sack coat. “Whatever I may or may not think of you, I am not going to marry anybody. Do I make myself clear?” “But everybody gets married,” said she innocently. “Oh, Chang, why do you want to be eccentric?” And up into his gazed the childlike eyes. “You told me yourself that eccentricity was a stupid caricature of originality.”