" Her eyes were sparkling mischievously, and
the wee laughter-creases were forming on her cheek. "I purpose to
unmask you."
"As clay in the hands of the potter," he responded, meekly.
"Then you must remember several things. At first, when I was very
humble and apologetic, you made it easier for me by saying that you
could only condemn my conduct on the ground of being socially unwise.
Remember?"
Corliss nodded.
"Then, just after you branded me as Jesuitical, I turned the
conversation to Lucile, saying that I wished to see what I could see."
Again he nodded.
"And just as I expected, I saw. For in only a few minutes you began to
talk about taint, and contamination, and dabbling in mud,--and all in
relation to me. There are your two propositions, sir. You may only
stand on one, and I feel sure that you stand on the last one. Yes, I
am right. You do. And you were insincere, confess, when you found my
conduct unwise only from the social point of view. I like sincerity."
"Yes," he began, "I was unwittingly insincere. But I did not know it
until further analysis, with your help, put me straight. Say what you
will, Frona, my conception of woman is such that she should not court
defilement."
"But cannot we be as gods, knowing good and evil?"
"But we are not gods," he shook his head, sadly.
"Only the men are?"
"That is new-womanish talk," he frowned.
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