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the movies？ Do I love him？ Well； he's a good looker and a fancy
dresser； he ain't a tight wad； and he can start a laugh every minute。 If
he hadn't put it over on me I wouldn't have been so sore。 I don't know
he ain't so bad。 He's weak； that's the trouble with him。〃
This was the climax！ Lise's mental processes； her tendency to pass from
wild despair to impersonal comment； her inability； her courtesan's
temperament that prevented her from realizing tragedy for more than a
moment at a timeeven though the tragedy were her ownwere
incomprehensible to Janet。
〃Get on to this；〃 Lise adjured her。 〃When I first was acquainted with
him he handed me a fairy tale that he was taking five thousand a year
from Humphrey and Gillmount； he was going into the firm。 He had me
razzle…dazzled。 He's some hypnotizes as a salesman； too； they say。
Nothing was too good for me； I saw myself with a house on the avenue
shopping in a limousine。 Well； he blew up； but I can't help liking him。〃
〃Liking him！〃 cried Janet passionately。 〃I'd kill him that's what I'd
do。〃
Lise regarded her with unwilling admiration。
〃That's where you and me is different；〃 she declared。 〃I wish I was like
that； but I ain't。 And where would I come in？ Now you're wise why I
can't go back to Hampton。 Even if I was stuck on the burg and cryin' my
eyes out for the Bagatelle I couldn't go back。〃
〃What are you going to do？〃 Janet demanded。
〃Well；〃 said Lise； 〃he's come acrossI'll say that for him。 Maybe it's
because he's scared； but he's stuck on me； too。 When you dropped in I
was just going down town to get a pair of patent leathers； these are all
wore out；〃 she explained； twisting her foot； 〃they ain't fit for Boston。
And I thought of lookin' at blousesthere's a sale on I was reading
about in the paper。 Say； it's great to be on easy street； to be able to
stay in bed until you're good and ready to get up and go shopping； to
gaze at the girls behind the counter and ask the price of things。 I'm
going to Walling's and give the salesladies the ha…hathat's what I'm
going to do。〃
〃But？〃 Janet found words inadequate。
Lise understood her。
〃Oh； I'm due at the doctor's this afternoon。〃
〃Where？〃
〃The doctor's。 Don't you get me？it's a private hospital。〃 Lise gave a
slight shudder at the word； but instantly recovered her sang…froid。
〃Howard fixed it up yesterdayand they say it ain't very bad if you take
it early。〃
For a space Janet was too profoundly shocked to reply。
〃Lise！ That's a crime！〃 she cried。
〃Crime； nothing！〃 retorted Lise； and immediately became indignant。
〃Say； I sometimes wonder how you could have lived all these years without
catching on to a few things！ What do you take me for！ What'd I do with
a baby？〃
What indeed！ The thought came like an avalanche； stripping away the
veneer of beauty from the face of the world； revealing the scarred rock
and crushed soil beneath。 This was reality！ What right had society to
compel a child to be born to degradation and prostitution？ to beget；
perhaps； other children of suffering？ Were not she and Lise of the
exploited； of those duped and tempted by the fair things the more
fortunate enjoyed unscathed？ And now； for their natural cravings； their
family must be disgraced； they must pay the penalty of outcasts！ Neither
Lise nor she had had a chance。 She saw that； now。 The scorching
revelation of life's injustice lighted within her the fires of anarchy
and revenge。 Lise； other women might submit tamely to be crushed； might
be lulled and drugged by bribes： she would not。 A wild desire seized her
to get back to Hampton。
〃Give me the address of the hospital；〃 she said。
〃Come off！〃 cried Lise； in angry bravado。 〃Do you think I'm going to let
you butt into this？ I guess you've got enough to do to look out for your
own business。〃
Janet produced a pencil from her bag； and going to the table tore off a
piece of the paper in which had been wrapped the candy box。
〃Give me the address；〃 she insisted。
〃Say； what are you going to do？〃
〃I want to know where you are； in case anything happens to you。〃
〃Anything happens！ What do you mean？〃 Janet's words had frightened
Lise； the withdrawal of Janet's opposition bewildered her。 But above
all； she was cowed by the sudden change in Janet herself； by the attitude
of steely determination eloquent of an animus persons of Lise's type are
incapable of feeling； and which to them is therefore incomprehensible。
〃Nothing's going to happen to me；〃 she whined。 〃The place is all right
he'd be scared to send me there if it wasn't。 It costs something； too。
Say； you ain't going to tell 'em at home？〃 she cried with a fresh access
of alarm。
〃If you do as I say； I won't tell anybody；〃 Janet replied； in that odd；
impersonal tone her voice had acquired。 〃You must write me as soonas
soon as it is over。 Do you understand？〃
〃Honest to God I will；〃 Lise assured her。
〃And you mustn't come back to a house like this。〃
〃Where'll I go？〃 Lise asked。
〃I don't know。 We'll find out when the time comes；〃 said Janet；
significantly。
〃You've seen him！〃 Lise exclaimed。
〃No；〃 said Janet； 〃and I don't want to see him unless I have to。 Mr。
Tiernan has seen him。 Mr。 Tiernan is downstairs now； waiting for me。〃
〃Johnny Tiernan！ Is Johnny Tiernan downstairs？〃
Janet wrote the address； and thrust the slip of paper in her bag。
〃Good…bye； Lise；〃 she said。 〃I'll come down again I'll come down
whenever you want me。〃 Lise suddenly seized her and clung to her；
sobbing。 For a while Janet submitted； and then； kissing her； gently
detached herself。 She felt； indeed； pity for Lise； but something within
her seemed to have hardenedsomething that pity could not melt；
possessing her and thrusting heron to action。 She knew not what action。
So strong was this thing that it overcame and drove off the evil spirits
of that darkened house as she descended the stairs to join Mr。 Tiernan；
who opened the door for her to pass out。 Once in the street； she
breathed deeply of the sunlit air。 Nor did she observe Mr。 Tiernan's
glance of comprehension。。。。 When they arrived at the North Station he
said：
〃You'll be wanting a bite of dinner； Miss Janet；〃 and as she shook her
head he did not press her to eat。 He told her that a train for Hampton
left in ten minutes。 〃I think I'll stay in Boston the rest of the day；
as long as I'm here；〃 he added。
She remembered that she had not thanked him； she took his hand； but he
cut her short。
〃It's glad I was to help you；〃 he assured her。 〃And if there's anything
more I can do； Miss Janet； you'll be letting me knowyou'll call on
Johnny Tiernan； won't you？〃
He left her at the gate。 He had intruded with no advice； he had offered
no comment that she had come downstairs alone； without Lise。 His
confidence in her seemed never to have wavered。 He had respected；
perhaps partly imagined her feelings； and in spite of these now a sense
of gratitude to him stole over her； mitigating the intensity of their
bitterness。 Mr。 Tiernan alone seemed stable in a chaotic world。 He was
a man。
No sooner was she in the train； however； than s