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〃Suppose if you were to tell your wife I was going to reform；〃 said
Demorest； 〃it might be different； eh？ She'd want to take me into
the church'another sinner saved；' and all that； eh？〃
〃No；〃 said Blandford； earnestly。 〃Joan isn't as rigid as all that；
Dick。 What she's got against you is the common report of your free
way of living； and thatcome now； you know yourself； Dick； that
isn't exactly the thing a woman brought up in her style can stand。
Why； she thinks I'm unregenerate； andwell； a man can't carry on
business always like a class meeting。 But are you thinking of
reforming？〃 he continued； trying to get a glimpse of his
companion's eyes。
〃Perhaps。 It depends。 Nowthere's a woman I know〃
〃What； another？ and you call this going to reform？〃 interrupted
Blandford； yet not without a certain curiosity in his manner。
〃Yes； that's just why I think of reforming。 For this one isn't
exactly like any otherat least as far as I know。〃
〃That means you don't know anything about her。〃
〃Wait； and I'll tell you。〃 He drew the reins tightly to accelerate
the horse's speed； and； half turning to his companion； without；
however； moving his eyes from the darkness before him； spoke
quickly between the blasts： 〃I've seen her only half a dozen times。
Met her first in 6。40 train out from Boston last fall。 She sat
next to me。 Covered up with wraps and veils； never looked twice at
her。 She spoke firstkind of half bold； half frightened way。
Then got more comfortable and unwound herself； you know； and I saw
she was young and not bad…looking。 Thought she was some school…
girl out for a larkbut rather new at it。 Inexperienced； you
know； but quite able to take care of herself； by George！ and
although she looked and acted as if she'd never spoken to a
stranger all her life； didn't mind the kind of stuff I talked to
her。 Rather encouraged it； and laughedsuch a pretty little odd
laugh； as if laughing wasn't in her usual line； either； and she
didn't know how to manage it。 Well； it ended in her slipping out
at one end of the car when we arrived； while I was looking out for
a cab for her at the other。〃 He stopped to recover from a stronger
gust of wind。 〃II thought it a good joke on me； and let the
thing drop out of my mind； although； mind you； she'd promised to
meet me a month afterwards at the same time and place。 Well； when
the day came I happened to be in Boston； and went to the station。
Don't know why I went； for I didn't for a moment think she'd keep
her appointment。 First； I couldn't find her in the train； but
after we'd started she came along out of some seat in the corner；
prettier than ever； holding out her hand。〃 He drew a long
inspiration。 〃You can bet your life； Ned； I didn't let go that
little hand the rest of the journey。〃
His passion； or what passed for it； seemed to impart its warmth to
the vehicle； and even stirred the chilled pulses of the man beside
him。
〃Well； who and what was she？〃
〃Didn't find out； don't know now。 For the first thing she made me
promise was not to follow her； nor to try to know her name。 In
return she said she would meet me again on another train near
Hartford。 She didand again and againbut always on the train
for about an hour； going or coming。 Then she missed an appointment。
I was regularly cut up； I tell you； and swore as she hadn't kept her
word； I wouldn't keep mine； and began to hunt for her。 In the midst
of it I saw her accidentally； no matter where； I followed her
towell； that's no matter to you； either。 Enough that I saw her
againand； well； Ned； such is the influence of that girl over me
that； by George！ she made me make the same promise again！〃
Blandford； a little disappointed at his friend's dogmatic
suppression of certain material facts； shrugged his shoulders。
〃If that's all your story；〃 he said； 〃I must say I see no prospect
of your reforming。 It's the old thing over again； only this time
you are evidently the victim。 She's some designing creature who
will have you if she hasn't already got you completely in her
power。〃
〃You don't know what you're talking about； Ned； and you'd better
quit；〃 returned Demorest； with cheerful authoritativeness。 〃I tell
you that that's the sort of girl I'm going to marry； if I can； and
settle down upon。 You can make a memorandum of that； old man； if
you like。〃
〃Then I don't really see why you want to talk to ME about it。 And
if you are thinking that such a story would go down for a moment
with Joan as an evidence of your reformation； you're completely
out； Dick。 Was that your idea？〃
〃Yesand I can tell you； you're wrong again； Ned。 You don't know
anything about women。 You do just as I saydo you understand？
and don't interfere with your own wrong…headed opinions of what
other people will think； and I'll take the risks of Mrs。 Blandford
giving me good advice。 Your wife has got a heap more sense on
these subjects than you have； you bet。 You just tell her that I
want to marry the girl and want her to help methat I mean
business； this timeand you'll see how quick she'll come down。
That's all I want of you。 Will you or won't you？〃
With an outward expression of sceptical consideration and an inward
suspicion of the peculiar force of this man's dogmatic insight；
Blandford assented； with； I fear； the mental reservation of telling
the story to his wife in his own way。 He was surprised when his
friend suddenly drew the horse up sharply； and after a moment's
pause began to back him； cramp the wheels of the buggy and then
skilfully； in the almost profound darkness； turn the vehicle and
horse completely round to the opposite direction。
〃Then you are not going over the bridge？〃 said Blandford。
Demorest made an imperative gesture of silence。 The tumultuous
rush and roar of swollen and rapid water came from the darkness
behind them。 〃There's been another break…out somewhere； and I
reckon the bridge has got all it can do to…night to keep itself out
of water without taking us over。 At least； as I promised to set
you down at your wife's door inside of the hour； I don't propose to
try。〃 As the horse now travelled more easily with the wind behind
him； Demorest； dismissing abruptly all other subjects； laid his
hand with brusque familiarity on his companion's knee； and as if
the hour for social and confidential greeting had only just then
arrived； said： 〃Well； Neddy； old boy； how are you getting on？〃
〃So； so；〃 said Blandford； dubiously。 〃You see；〃 he began；
argumentatively； 〃in my business there's a good deal of
competition； and I was only saying this morning〃
But either Demorest was already familiar with his friend's
arguments； or had as usual exhausted his topic； for without paying
the slightest attention to him； he again demanded abruptly； 〃Why
don't you go to California？ Here everything's played out。 That's
the country for a young man like youjust starting into life； and
without incumbrances。 If I was free and fixed in my family affairs
like you I'd go to…morrow。〃
There was such an occult positivism in Demorest's manner that for
an instant Blandford； who had been married two years； and was
transacting a steady and fairly profitable manufacturing business
in the adjacent town； actually believed he was more fitted for
adventurous speculation than the grimly erratic man of energetic
impulses and pleasures beside him。 He managed to stammer
hesitatingly：
〃But there's Joanshe〃
〃Nonsense！ Let her stay with her mother； you sell out your
interest in the business； put the money into an assorted cargo； and
clap it and yourself into the first ship out of Bostonand there
you are。 You've been married going on two years now； and a little
separation until you've built up a business out there； won't do
either of you any harm。〃
Blandford； who was very much in love with his wife； was not；
however； above putting the onus of embarrassing affection upon HER。
〃You don't know； Joan； Dick；〃 he replied。 〃She'd never consent to
a separation； even for a short time。〃
〃Try her。 She's a sensible womana deuced sight more than you
are。 You don't understand women； Ned。 That's what's the matter
with you。〃
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