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as though either she thought she knew me； or that I reminded her of some
man she did know。 Were the latter the case； he must have been a friend；
for the way in which she looked at me was kind。 And there was； besides；
the expression of surprise and as though something she saw pleased her。
Maybe it was the quickness with which I had offered my chair。 Still
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THE MAKE…BELIEVE MAN
looking at me； she pointed to one of the sky…scrapers。
〃Could you tell me；〃 she asked； 〃the name of that building？〃 Had her
question not proved it； her voice would have told me not only that she was
a stranger； but that she was Irish。 It was particularly soft； low； and
vibrant。 It made the commonplace question she asked sound as though
she had sung it。 I told her the name of the building； and that farther
uptown； as she would see when we moved into midstream； there was
another still taller。 She listened； regarding me brightly； as though
interested； but before her I was embarrassed； and； fearing I intruded； I
again made a movement to go away。 With another question she stopped
me。 I could see no reason for her doing so； but it was almost as though
she had asked the question only to detain me。
〃What is that odd boat；〃 she said； 〃pumping water into the river？〃
I explained that it was a fire…boat testing her hose…lines； and then as we
moved into the channel I gained courage； and found myself pointing out
the Statue of Liberty； Governors Island； and the Brooklyn Bridge。 The
fact that it was a stranger who was talking did not seem to disturb her。 I
cannot tell how she conveyed the idea； but I soon felt that she felt； no
matter what unconventional thing she chose to do； people would not be
rude； or misunderstand。
I considered telling her my name。 At first it seemed that that would
be more polite。 Then I saw to do so would be forcing myself upon her；
that she was interested in me only as a guide to New York Harbor。
When we passed the Brooklyn Navy Yard I talked so much and so
eagerly of the battle…ships at anchor there that the lady must have thought I
had followed the sea； for she asked： 〃Are you a sailorman？〃
It was the first question that was in any way personal。
〃I used to sail a catboat；〃 I said。
My answer seemed to puzzle her； and she frowned。 Then she
laughed delightedly； like one having made a discovery。
〃You don't say 'sailorman；'〃 she said。 〃What do you ask； over here；
when you want to know if a man is in the navy？〃
She spoke as though we were talking a different language。
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THE MAKE…BELIEVE MAN
〃We ask if he is in the navy；〃 I answered。
She laughed again at that； quite as though I had said something clever。
〃And you are not？〃
〃No；〃 I said； 〃I am in Joyce & Carboy's office。 I am a stenographer。〃
Again my answer seemed both to puzzle and to surprise her。 She
regarded me doubtfully。 I could see that she thought； for some reason； I
was misleading her。
〃In an office？〃 she repeated。 Then； as though she had caught me； she
said： 〃How do you keep so fit？〃 She asked the question directly； as a
man would have asked it； and as she spoke I was conscious that her eyes
were measuring me and my shoulders； as though she were wondering to
what weight I could strip。
〃It's only lately I've worked in an office；〃 I said。 〃Before that I
always worked out…of…doors； oystering and clamming and； in the fall；
scalloping。 And in the summer I played ball on a hotel nine。〃
I saw that to the beautiful lady my explanation carried no meaning
whatsoever； but before I could explain； the young man with whom she had
come on board walked toward us。
Neither did he appear to find in her talking to a stranger anything
embarrassing。 He halted and smiled。 His smile was pleasant； but
entirely vague。 In the few minutes I was with him； I learned that it was
no sign that he was secretly pleased。 It was merely his expression。 It
was as though a photographer had said： 〃Smile； please；〃 and he had
smiled。
When he joined us； out of deference to the young lady I raised my hat；
but the youth did not seem to think that outward show of respect was
necessary； and kept his hands in his pockets。 Neither did he cease
smoking。 His first remark to the lovely lady somewhat startled me。
〃Have you got a brass bed in your room？〃 he asked。 The beautiful
lady said she had。
〃So've I；〃 said the young man。 〃They do you rather well； don't they？
And it's only three dollars。 How much is that？〃
〃Four times three would be twelve；〃 said the lady。 〃Twelve
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shillings。〃
The young man was smoking a cigarette in a long amber cigarette…
holder。 I never had seen one so long。 He examined the end of his
cigarette…holder； and； apparently surprised and relieved at finding a
cigarette there； again smiled contentedly。
The lovely lady pointed at the marble shaft rising above Madison
Square。
〃That is the tallest sky…scraper；〃 she said； 〃in New York。〃 I had just
informed her of that fact。 The young man smiled as though he were
being introduced to the building； but exhibited no interest。
〃IS it？〃 he remarked。 His tone seemed to show that had she said；
〃That is a rabbit；〃 he would have been equally gratified。
〃Some day；〃 he stated； with the same startling abruptness with which
he had made his first remark； 〃our war…ships will lift the roofs off those
sky…scrapers。〃
The remark struck me in the wrong place。 It was unnecessary。
Already I resented the manner of the young man toward the lovely lady。
It seemed to me lacking in courtesy。 He knew her； and yet t