Undertow

nen suits when he came to New York, which was not often, and Bert's mother, a tiny Boston woman who had lived in a diminutive Brookline apartment since her three sons had struck out into the world

he relief of the poor. Nancy was paid fifteen dollars a week, seven of which she in turn paid to the pretty young widow, an old family friend only a few years older than herself, with whom she boarded. Mrs. Terhune was rich, in a modest way, and frequently refused the money entirely. But sh

f the Supreme Court of Maryland, why, Bert was the seventh of his name in direct descent, and it was in Bert's great-great-grandfather

had helped them to know each other well. Nancy knew the sort of play that made Bert stutter with enthusiasm as they walked home, and Bert knew that Nancy made adorable little faces when she tried on hats, and that her salary was fifteen dollars a week. At this time, and for some years later, Bert was only one of several renting agents employed by the firm of Pearsall and Pearsall, City Real Estate. He moved his office from one new offic

y always had a splendid balance, on paper. Meanwhile, Mrs. Terhune went on refusing Nancy's board now and then, and slipping bank-notes into Nancy's purse now and then,

ho was intimate with the faded daughters of the family, Miss Augusta and Miss Sally Anne. When Nancy's Unc

sibility and hardship, a marvellously happy and light-hearted crowd. They laughed continuously, and they extracted from the chameleon city pleasures that were wonderfully innocent and fresh. It was as if these young exiles had brought from their southern homes something of leisure, something of spaciousness and pure sweetnes

others grew suddenly serious, and as often he took their airy interest heavily, and chained them with facts, from which they fluttered like a flight o

nd what a night that was when, eagerly proffering the fresh bills to Lee Porter, who was giving th

ion on the girl's face was new. Later he reminded himself that they all used curious forms of speech. "I just was too tired to get up this mo

lovely girl. Bert had quite a thrill when he saw the familiar, beautiful face turned seriously and with pretty concern toward his mother, and he liked Nancy's composure among the rather formal older women. She managed her

t back to the hotel to dine

between you and Mis

d in pleasa

y and unbidden there leaped into his heart the glorious thought of possessing Nancy. Nancy-his wife, making a home

hing his expression, were anxious. "I don't believe in having things made too e

too hard,"

girl to ask it," add

little heavily, after a pau

d, and Bert was his kind and appreciative and generous self again. Clark Belknap, also of Maryland, who had plenty of money and a charming personality and manner as well, began to show the familiar symptoms toward Nancy, and Bert told himself that Clark would be an admirable match for her. Also his Cousin Mary wrote him that his second cousin Dorothy Hayes Hamilton was going to be in New York

f-garden, after a long delightful day in Dorothy's car, and now he was to take her to her hotel. Just as he was holding the little pongee wrap, and Dorothy was laughing up at him from under t

patiently fixed upon the faces of the women who were boring her in her youth and freshness with the business of sickness and poverty, her whole gentle, rather weary aspect, smote B

er he went

s that had simultaneously arrived from some other admirer, "I didn't know what to make of you! An

-day. She's finished school, and had a year abroad, and now s

er eyes at him

l. He took me to the theatre last night, and we had a wonderful

, and the enamel handles of the gas stove all turned out in an even row. Bert remembered that the last time he had been here was a cold May morning, when he and Nancy had made countless hot cakes. He had met her at church, and walked home with he

morandum, and promising to see her about it in a day. "For I expect we'll see you round here in a day or two," she said with simple archness. She was well used to the demands of Nancy's beaux. Nancy looked particul

habby gloves; and had seated herself happily opposite him for luncheon or tea; the sound of music she had hummed. He wanted to see her-not feverishly, nothing extreme, except that he wanted it every second of the time. A mild curr

perienced in the next hour Bert could only guess, he knew that she was glad to see him, and that for some reason she was entirely off guard. For himself, he was like a thirsty animal that reaches trees, and sh

called the Prince Royal. And she settled herself opposite him, just as in his dreams-only so mu

before, although it did not look like a new one. However, the age of the ring signified nothing.

was so sorry-she couldn't ask him to dine, because she was going out. She asked him for the next day, but

o go on through the list of days, Bert would not ungenerously force her. He left her, thrilled and yet dissatisfied.