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 attracted him. 'Tell me more about your childhood.'

'Nothing, except I was always punished for the wrong things. I think,' she said rather piteously, 'that this started me all wrong. You see I've never believed in justice or right and wrong—the way other people seem to.'

'What were you punished for?'

'For silly childish mistakes—not for the things that really were wrong. It made me slightly—lawless.'

The statement sounded strange coming from such an obviously genteel lady. But the Professor did not laugh at her as another man might have done; he nodded and agreed very seriously.

'Shouldn't a child be punished for what she tried to do?' The man slipped quickly into the fascinating subject of the discipline of childhood. He told her at some length his theories in regard to Mary and Ridgewood, and, having finished with their moral and spiritual welfare, he laid down as well some drastic physiological laws for the young. It seemed that he had much care of his two children in their infancy. His wife had been delicate, so delicate she had rarely left her chamber after the birth of Ridgewood. 'She was far from well when I married her,' he explained sadly. 'I think now I would have hesitated—health means so much in marriage. And I will always feel that I really killed her—giving her my children to bear. But then, of course, I was young and less practical. If I should ever marry again I would not permit myself to love an incurable invalid.' He gave an approv-