Page:Harper's New Monthly Magazine - v109.djvu/693

Rh John. Oh, John, I never realized before that people can be good and yet hurt like this!"

John was silent, and the girl went on analyzing the story:

"To me the three months with their ending make history: to Mrs. Flathers it was a current event; to Mr. Archibald, one of many incidents."

John broke his revery with: "Archibald was a cad. And as for Maria Dorrs-Flathers, she can't help being as she is. God made her so, I suppose. As for you, Theodora, I wish you weren't so everlastingly plucky about things. I came up here to Albany just to meet you. Instead of crying on my shoulder, as you ought to, like any other woman, you take the thing like an angel, treat it like an experiment in Münsterberg's psychology class, and say 'you've grown.

She laughed good-naturedly, while John March looked at her critically.

"Hang it! Theodora, when are you going to give up your garb and churchly authority for tailor-made suits and my word of command? You may spend all my money on your good deeds if you marry me, and the Lord knows you'll have more to spend than you do now in the biggest St. Stephen's in the country."

"John, I don't think you make a successful escort. It's long after luncheon-time. The porter has on his chef's apron, and I'm so 'hungry.

John March pushed the button.



