People Like That

quare to live. I told no one. The day after I reach

was not written between what was I was glad he was going away. It would give him time to cool off. I am beyond Selwyn's comprehensio

called again. As Mrs. Mundy, with his coat and hat

at me, but in his

hook hands

challenge, a future provided for; but tonight I was conscious only of the quiet excellence of his clothes, his physical well-being, the unescap

of the fire and close to the long table with its lighted lamp and books and magazines, and motioned him to s

very p

He did not know whether it was pretty or no

ead ridged in tiny, perpendicular folds. Presently he leaned

ropose to stay dow

ou were going to congratulate me u

get this thing ou

The tone of his voice made something

hy discuss it? You've long wanted to do something of this sort. Until it was done you would nev

hind me to the other end of the sofa. "I thought it might be interesting to see for myself some of the causes w

may get results from scientific management in social organization, but most of your present-day methods

now of present

n things can be brought to pass quickly which can only be accomplished slowly. From the first struggle of the human race to stand

y eyes on them that he might not see their smiling. "I was just wondering what that had

ilies, tribes, communities, nations, or what you will, but in each of these divisions there have ever been subdivisions. Ignorance and knowledge, strength and weakne

as uninteresting as impo

ke a lump of coal from which sprang blazing red

uch of the history of the human race and so littl

Heaven don't le

"May I smoke?" he asked, irritably, and as I nodded he struck a match and held i

l me you were comin

more argument. You wo

d not. But that would

l would not h

e same old things we've said so often, and I didn't want to say them or hear them. One of the reasons why I came down

like to put them around you!

ls. That is the kind you think should be around a woman. But we won

My grandfather used to live on the opposite side of the Square, and as a kid I was

the city, and that gorgeous parties and balls-" I sat upright and

did w

ended on its way to his lips

given, is named Bryce-Evelyn Bryce. She is a friend of Mrs. Mundy's

usual effect. I hadn't intended to mention th

her. When I was a child I adored a person named Wyman, who used to give performances i

re going to parties."

nery at the place where she worked and has never been able to stand up since. On her birthday her friends give her a party that she may have a bit of br

igar in the fire, Selwyn got up and stood looking d

weeks I've seen no one-that is, no friend of yours or mine who hasn't asked me why you have done so inexpli

sed it slightly. My heart was pounding. I could laugh away the questions of others and ignore their comments, but with Selwyn this would be impossible. An

I could learn in the particular world into which I had been born, but the keener realization to-night made

questing and speculative discussions we are closely sympathetic, but in

am not. To walk in beaten tracks is not easy for me. I want to explore for myself. He thinks

rofession he is successful. His ambition makes him work, but a weariness of things, of the unworthwhileness of human effort, the futility of striving, the

sat down in my corner of the sofa

You said just now you doubted if you knew why I was here. I may not be sure of all my reasons, but one of them i

He looked for a moment into the eyes I raised to his, then turned away and, hands in his

you should have done this without telling me. You have a right to do as you choose,

y often doesn't understand where it is going. I want to see the one I was in, see from the sidewalk the kind of human beings who are in it, and what they are doing with their time

rborough Square to watch-your pa

they envy us. We're so certain they're a hard lot to deal with, to do for, to make anything of-these people we don't know save from char

ned, unthinking people will give you light concerning the valuation

inery you are so sure?" I smiled in the eyes which wou

tance. To get as much money as possible from the men who employ them and give in return as little work as they can, is

human race, as working people, you know them. As being

rdly expect me to find them con

tial to you, but some of them see more clearly than you. Both need to understand you owe each other something. And how

s to pay them, but all this rot about bringing better relations to pass between masters and men through familiarity, through putting people in places they are not fitted to fill, is idle dr

ith in humankind." I sat upright, my hands locked in my lap. "I'm not here to do things for the people you have so little patience with. I told you I wa

und reached us faintly from the street below. A cry low, yet clear and anguished, followed. Th

His face was whit