"You are fond of books!" he said abruptly.

She had not noticed his reappearance. She was startled and exclaimed
passionately, "I loved them--once! But it is a long time since I have
read anything but an occasional novel."

"But why? Why?"

He had powerful gray eyes and they magnetized the truth out of her.

"My husband thinks it is a woman's sole duty to look charming. He
was afraid I would become a bluestocking and lose my charm and spoil
my looks. I brought many books with me, but I never opened the cases
and finally gave them to the Mercantile Library. I have never gone to
look at them."

"Good heaven!" He had never felt sorrier for a woman who had asked
alms of him in the street.

She was looking at him eagerly. "Perhaps--you won't mind--you will
lend me--I don't think my husband would notice now--he is never at
home except for breakfast and dinner--"

"Will I? For heaven's sake look upon them as your own. What will you
take with you to-night?"

"Oh! Nothing! Perhaps you will send me one tomorrow?"

"One? I'll send a dozen. Let us select them now."