you say, who, knowing my story, would hold out her hand to me and not feel
herself besmirched by the contact? Do not say you can, for I know you
cannot.' She was crying so violently that she would not listen to me.
When I left her, I myself could think of none of my young friends to whom I
could propound the question. I know many sweet, kind girls, but I could
count not one among them all who in such a case would be brave as she was
womanly--until I thought of you."

Complete silence followed his words. He did not turn his glance from the
street ahead of him. He had made no appeal, would make none, in fact. He
had told the story with scarcely a reflection on its impropriety, that
would have arrested another man from introducing such an element into his
gentle fellowship with a girl like Ruth. His lack of hesitancy was born of
his manly view of the outcast's blamelessness, of her dire necessity for
help, and of a premonition that Ruth Levice would be as free from the
artificiality of conventional surface modesty as was he, through the
earnestness of the undertaking.

There is something very sweet to a woman in being singled out by a man for
some ennobling virtue. Ruth felt this so strongly that she could almost
hear her heart beat with the intoxicating knowledge. No question had been
asked, but she felt an answer was expected. Yet had her life depended on
it, the words could not have come at that moment. Was she indeed what he
esteemed her? Unconsciously Dr. Kemp had, in thought, placed her on a
pedestal. Did she deserve the high place he had given her, or would she?

With many women the question would have been, did she care for Dr. Kemp's
good opinion? Now, though Ruth was indeed put on her mettle, her quick
sympathy had been instantly touched by the girl's miserable story. Perhaps
the doctor's own feelings had influenced her, but had the girl stood before