Athalie

[Illustration: "C. Bailey, Jr., and Athalie Greensleeve ... had supped

together more than once at the Regina."] "But what's the use, Clive?" he asked with a sort of sad humour. "Is

it necessary for you, too, to follow the path of the calf?"

"I like her."

"And other men are inclined to, and have no opportunity; is that it,

my son? The fascination of monopoly? The chicken with the worm?"

"I like her," repeated Clive, Jr., a trifle annoyed.

"So you have remarked before. Who is she?"

"Do you remember that charming little child in the red hood and cloak

down at Greensleeve's tavern when we were duck-shooting?"

"Is that the girl?"

"Yes."

"What is she?"

"Stenographer."

Bailey, Sr., shrugged his shoulders, patiently.

"What's the use, Clive?"

"Use? Well there's no particular use. I'm not in love with her. Did

you think I was?"

"I don't think any more. Your mother does that for me.... Don't make

anybody unhappy, my son."

* * * * *

His mother, also, had made very frank representations to him on

several occasions, the burden of them being that common people beget

common ideas, common associations corrupt good manners, and that

"nice" girls would continue to view with disdain and might ultimately

ostracise any misguided young man of their own caste who played about

with a woman for whose existence nobody who was anybody could account.

"The daughter of a Long Island road-house keeper! Why, Clive! where is

your sense of fitness! Men don't do that sort of thing any more!"

"What sort of thing, mother?"

"What you are doing."

"What am I doing?"

"Parading a very conspicuous young woman about town."

"If you saw her in somebody's drawing-room you'd merely think her

beautiful and well-bred."

"Clive! Will you please awake from that silly dream?"

"That's the truth, mother. And if she spoke it would merely confirm

the impression. You won't believe it but it's true."

"That's absurd, Clive! She may not be uneducated but she certainly

cannot be either cultivated or well-bred."

"She is cultivating herself."

"Then for goodness' sake let her do it! It's praiseworthy and

commendable for a working girl to try to better herself. But it

doesn't concern you."

"Why not? If a business girl does better herself and fit herself for a

better social environment, it seems to me her labour is in vain if

people within the desired environment snub her."