“Without breaking a single law of reason or common-sense. In the meantime I've met two men who have really made love to me. I thought I loved one of them—until I met the other. The second proved himself to be an unprincipled scoundrel. If I had held your views of life and hated my work, I would have married this man and lived to awake in a prison whose only door was Death. But I loved my work. Life meant more than one man who was not worth an hour's tears. I turned to my studio and he slipped back into the gutter where he belonged. I'll meet MY Fate some day, too, dear. I'm waiting and watching—but with clear eyes and unafraid. I'll know mine when he comes, I shall not be blinded by passion or the fear of drudgery. Can't you see this bigger world of realities?”
The dimple flashed again in the smooth red cheek.
“It's not for me, Jane. I'm just a modest little home body. I'll bide my time——”
“And eat your foolish heart out here between the narrow walls of this cell you've built for yourself. I should think you'd die living here alone.”
The girl flushed.
“I'm not lonely——”
“Don't fib! I know better. Your birds and kitten occupy daily about thirty minutes of the time that's your own. What do you do with the rest of it?”
“Sit by my window, watch the crowds stream through the streets below, read and dream and think——”
“Yes—read love stories and dream about your Knight.”
“Well?”