"That his daughter's place is in her father's house--funny, isn't
it?"

"You do not think that affection has anything to do with it?"

"Not even remotely. Whatever his reason may be for keeping me with
him, it is not that. Affection is something of which one knows by
instinct, don't you think? Even Li Ho--I know instinctively that Li
Ho is fond of me. I am absolutely certain that my father is not."

"It is no life for a young girl."

"It has been my life."

The professor felt uncomfortable. There was that in her tone which
forbade all comment. She had given him this tiny glimpse and quite
evidently intended to give no more. But Spence, upon occasion, could
be a persistent man.

"Miss Desire," he said gravely, "do you absolutely decline my
friendship?" If she wanted directness, she was getting it now.

"How can I do otherwise?" Her face was turned from him and her low
voice was muffled by her hair. But for the first time she had cast
away her guard of light indifference. "Friendship is impossible for
me. I thought you would see--and go away. Nothing that you can do
would be any real help. I have tried before to free myself. But I
could not. Nor, in the little flights of freedom which I had, did I
find anything that I wanted. I am as well here as anywhere. Unless--