Tom took out his handkerchief and wiped his forehead, in his eyes boyish incomprehension of incomprehensible things.  “Men are wicked, Miss Dandridge, but they wouldn’t do what some women do.  They’ve got it in their hands to do a lot they don’t do—­women have—­and if it wasn’t for some of them, for those we believe in, the world would go smash in certain ways as far as men are concerned.  What’s the use of keeping straight and living clean when plenty of women don’t seem to care, or certainly don’t ask too much about a man if he’s got money, or anything else they want for their daughters?  Mrs. Swink is determined that Madeleine shall marry Harrie.”

“But has Madeleine no will of her own?  If she permits her mother to dispose of her—­”

“She’s been disposed of since she was a baby, and resistance wears thin after a while, I suppose.”  The tips of Tom’s right shoe made a small circle on the brick pavement, but presently he looked up at me.  “It’s pretty queer for me to be telling things like this, but you always did understand a fellow.  I’ve often wished I could come and see you.  Madeleine and I were engaged once.”

“Why aren’t you engaged now?  Tell me anything you want.  What happened?”

“Mother Swink happened!” Tom’s words came jerkily.  “She wouldn’t even let me talk to her; made a devil of a row, dragged Madeleine all around Europe, wouldn’t let her have a letter from me—­sent them back herself—­and told Madeleine if she married me she would never speak to me.”

“That ought to have given you courage.  Why didn’t you marry Madeleine?”

“I couldn’t get hold of her.  And, besides, she got so worked up that she went all to pieces, and I—­I wasn’t patient enough, I guess.  When they came back I managed to see her once, but we both got mad and said things we shouldn’t, and she gave me up.  I heard Harrie had been giving her a rush in El Paso, and if Mrs. Swink can manage it she’ll have Madeleine engaged to him before he knows how it happened.”

“Are you able to marry, Tom?  Is there any reason why you shouldn’t?”

“No, there isn’t.”  His head went up.  “I can’t give her what her mother can, but I can take care of her all right.  On the first of next May father makes me general manager of the business.  He hasn’t spared me because I was his son, and he wouldn’t give me the place until I’d earned it, but I’ll get it pretty soon now.  I wish you knew my father, Miss Dandridge.  There isn’t any sort of search-light he can’t stand, and it isn’t his and mother’s fault if I can’t stand them, also.”

“I don’t think they’d be uneasy if any were to be turned on.  I wouldn’t.  Good night, Tom.  Be careful how you meet Madeleine.  How many times have you seen her since she got here?”

“Just once before this afternoon.”  His face flushed.  “Something is the matter.  She’s not like herself.  Her mother’s up to something.”