venture to expect anything in return. I won't trouble you; I won't
even see you. Nobody will ever know. I wouldn't miss the money,
and I'd really love to do it. You tried to do me a favor--"

"There's no use arguing."

"Well, don't be stubborn or hasty. You could use--say, ten
thousand dollars. It would keep you going very nicely, and really
it's only the price of a new auto."

"Why do you offer me so much?" she asked, curiously.

"Because I like you--Oh, I mean 'LIKE,' not 'LOVE'! Because I
think you're a good sort and will need money to remain good.
You're not an ordinary woman, Miss Knight; you can't live as
ordinary women live, now that you're famous. New York won't let
you."

"You're very kind and generous after all that has occurred and
after knowing my reason for being here."

"My dear child, you didn't choose your family, and as for the
other, the women of my set marry for money, just as you plan to
do. So do women everywhere, for that matter, and many of them make
excellent wives--yes, far better than if they had married poor
men. Few girls as beautiful as you in any walk of life are allowed
to marry for love. Trust me, a woman like you, if she lives up to
the obligations of wifehood, deserves better than one who takes a
man for love and then perhaps goes back on her bargain. Will you
accept my offer?"