Page:Elizabeth Jordan--Tales of the city room.djvu/142

. "She dances in public to amuse people,—as Salome danced before Herod in the Bible, you know."

Miss Herrick rather prided herself on this touch. She had noticed the well-worn Bible on the old minister's pine table, and she felt that the mountain family was thoroughly familiar with it. She hoped the eager boy beside her would grasp the significance of her illustration. He proved that he did, in part at least, by flushing scarlet. Then he rose to the challenge with loyal warmth.

"She's good," he said, with quiet conviction. "Any one can see that, jes' t' look at her."

His simple faith touched and silenced the newspaper woman.

"Let him dream," she said to herself. "After all, it can do no harm. It is n't the woman he loves; it's what he thinks she is. Such an ideal in his life may be a good influence. It would even up matters a little if his love for Dolorita brought out the best that is in him. The same influence has brought out the worst there was in others, often enough."