undoubtedly glad to see Li Ho. Li Ho may be a Chink, but he is
human.

You may gather that our "battle of the Glances" did not smooth my
pillow here. If the old chap didn't want me to stay before, he is
even less anxious for my company now. But I am going to stay. Aunt
Caroline would call this stubbornness. But of course it isn't. It is
merely a certain strength of character and a business determination
to carry out a business bargain. Dr. Farr allowed me to engage board
here and to pay for it. I am under no obligation to take cognizance
of his deeper feelings.

The only feelings which concern me in this matter are the feelings
of his daughter. If my staying were to prove a burden for her I
could not, of course, stay. But I see many ways in which I may be
helpful, and I know that she needs and wants the secretarial work
which I have given her. Usually she holds her head high and one
isn't even allowed to guess. But one does guess. Her meagre ration
of life is plain beyond all artifice of pride.

John, she interests me intensely. She is a strange child. She is a
strange woman. For both child and woman she seems to be, in
fascinating combination. But, lest you should mistake me, good old
bone-head, let me make it plain that there is absolutely no danger
of my falling in love with her. My interest is not that kind of
interest. I am far too hard headed to be susceptible. I can
appreciate the tragedy of a charming girl placed in such unsavory
environment, and feel impelled to seek some way of escape for her
without being for one moment disturbed by that unreasoning madness
called love. Every student of psychology understands the nature and