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to make her so； but I want you to avoid one mistake。 Fight it out
right now； and never give back the ground you win。〃
〃I feel that；〃 replied Orde quietly。
〃Mother made father resign from the army； and while he's a dear old
boy； he's never done anything since。 She holds mealthough I see
through herpossibly because I'm weak or indifferent； possibly
because I have a silly idea I can make a bad situation better by
hanging around。 She is rapidly turning Kendrick into a sullen
little prig； because he believes implicitly all the grievances
against the world and the individual she pours out to him。 You see；
I have no illusions concerning my family。 Only Carroll has held to
her freedom of soul； because that's the joyous； free； sweet nature
of her； bless her！ For the first time she's pitted her will against
mother's； and it's a bad clash。〃
〃Your mother objected？〃 asked Orde。
Gerald laughed a little bitterly。 〃It was very bad；〃 said he。
〃You've grown horns； hoofs； and a tail overnight。 There's nothing
too criminal to have escaped your notice。 I have been forbidden to
consort with you。 So has the general。 The battle of last night had
to do with your coming to the house at all。 As it is not Carroll's
house； naturally she has no right to insist。〃
〃I shall not be permitted to see her？〃 cried Orde。
〃I did not say that。 Carroll announced then quite openly that she
would see you outside。 I fancy that was the crux of the matter。
Don't you see？ The whole affair shifted ground。 Carroll has
offered direct disobedience。 Oh； she's a bully little fighter！〃 he
finished in admiring accents。 〃You can't quite realise what she's
doing for your sake； she's not only fighting mother； but her own
heart。〃
Orde found a note at the hotel； asking him to be in Washington
Square at half…past two。
Carroll met him with a bright smile。
〃Things aren't quite right at home；〃 she said。 〃It is a great shock
to poor mother at first； and she feels very strongly。 Oh； it isn't
you； dear； it's the notion that I can care for anybody but her。 You
see； she's been used to the other idea so long that I suppose it
seemed a part of the universe to her。 She'll get used to it after a
little； but it takes time。〃
Orde examined her face anxiously。 Two bright red spots burned on
her cheeks； her eyes flashed with a nervous animation； and a faint
shade had sketched itself beneath them。
〃You had a hard time；〃 he murmured； 〃you poor dear！〃
She smiled up at him。
〃We have to pay for the good things in life； don't we； dear？ And
they are worth it。 Things will come right after a little。 We must
not be too impatient。 Now； let's enjoy the day。 The park isn't so
bad； is it？〃
At five o'clock Orde took her back to her doorstep； where he left
her。
This went on for several days。
At the end of that time Orde could not conceal from himself that the
strain was beginning to tell。 Carroll's worried expression grew
from day to day； while the animation that characterised her manner
when freed from the restraint became more and more forced。 She was
as though dominated by some inner tensity； which she dared not relax
even for a moment。 To Orde's questionings she replied as evasively
as she could； assuring him always that matters were going as well as
she had expected； that mother was very difficult； that Orde must
have patience； for things would surely come all right。 She begged
him to remain quiescent until she gave him the word； and she
implored it so earnestly that Orde； though he chafed； was forced to
await the turn of events。 Every afternoon she met him； from two to
five。 The situation gave little opportunity for lovers'
demonstrations。 She seemed entirely absorbed by the inner stress of
the struggle she was going through； so that hardly did she seem able
to follow coherently even plans for the future。 She appeared；
however； to gain a mysterious refreshment from Orde's mere
proximity； so gradually he； with that streak of almost feminine
intuition which is the especial gift to lovers； came to the point of
sitting quite silent with her； clasping her hand out of sight of the
chance passer…by。 When the time came to return； they arose and
walked back to Ninth Street； still in silence。 At the door they
said good…bye。 He kissed her quite soberly。
〃I wish I could help； sweetheart；〃 said he。
She shook her head at him。
〃You do help；〃 she replied。
From Gerald at the club； Orde sought more intimate news of what was
going on。 For several days； however； the young man absented himself
from his usual haunts。 It was only at the end of the week that Orde
succeeded in finding him。
〃No；〃 Gerald answered his greeting； 〃I haven't been around much。
I've been sticking pretty close home。〃
Little by little； Orde's eager questions drew out the truth of the
situation。 Mrs。 Bishop had shut herself up in a blind and
incredible obstinacy； whence she sallied with floods of complaints；
tears； accusations； despairs； reproaches； vows； hystericsall the
battery of the woman misunderstood； but in which she refused to
listen to a consecutive conversation。 If Carroll undertook to say
anything； the third word would start her mother off into one of her
long and hysterical tirades。 It was very wearing； and there seemed
to be nothing gained from day to day。 Her child had disobeyed her。
And as a climax； she had assumed the impregnable position of a
complete prostration； wherein she demanded the minute care of an
invalid in the crisis of a disorder。 She could bear no faintest ray
of illumination； no lightest footfall。 In a hushed twilight she
lay； her eyes swathed； moaning feebly that her early dissolution at
the hands of ingratitude was imminent。 Thus she established a
deadlock which was likely to continue indefinitely。 The mere
mention of the subject nearest Carroll's heart brought the feeble
complaint：
〃Do you want to kill me？〃
The only scrap of victory to be snatched from this stricken field
was the fact that Carroll insisted on going to meet her lover every
afternoon。 The invalid demanded every moment of her time； either
for personal attendance or in fulfilment of numerous and exacting
church duties。 An attempt； however； to encroach thus on the
afternoon hours met a stone wall of resolution on Carroll's part。
This was the situation Orde gathered from his talk with Gerald。
Though he fretted under the tyranny exacted； he could see nothing
which could relieve the situation save his own withdrawal。 He had
already long over…stayed his visit； important affairs connected with
his work demanded his attention； he had the comfort of Carroll's
love assured； and the lapse of time alone could be depended on to
change Mrs。 Bishop's attitude； a consummation on which Carroll
seemed set。 Alth