so different from the way I’m always used to see good people feeling, and so it was the way Jane Harden and ‘Mis’ Herbert talked when they felt strong to talk about you, and yet, Melanctha, somehow I feel so really near to you, and you certainly have got an awful wonderful, strong kind of sweetness.  I certainly would like to know for sure, Melanctha, whether I got really anything to be afraid for.  I certainly did think once, Melanctha, I knew something about all kinds of women.  I certainly know now really, how I don’t know anything sure at all about you, Melanctha, though I been with you so long, and so many times for whole hours with you, and I like so awful much to be with you, and I can always say anything I am thinking to you.  I certainly do awful wish, Melanctha, I really was more understanding.  I certainly do that same, Melanctha.”

Jeff stopped now and looked harder than before into the fire.  His face changed from his thinking back into that look that was so like as if he was all through and through him, disgusted with what he had been thinking.  He sat there a long time, very quiet, and then slowly, somehow, it came strongly to him that Melanctha Herbert, there beside him, was trembling and feeling it all to be very bitter.  “Why, Melanctha,” cried Jeff Campbell, and he got up and put his arm around her like a brother.  “I stood it just so long as I could bear it, Jeff,” sobbed Melanctha, and then she gave herself away, to her misery, “I was awful ready, Jeff, to let you say anything you liked that gave you any pleasure.  You could say all about me what you wanted, Jeff, and I would try to stand it, so as you would be sure to be liking it, Jeff, but you was too cruel to me.  When you do that kind of seeing how much you can make a woman suffer, you ought to give her a little rest, once sometimes, Jeff.  They can’t any of us stand it so for always, Jeff.  I certainly did stand it just as long as I could, so you would like it, but I,—­oh Jeff, you went on too long to-night Jeff.  I couldn’t stand it not a minute longer the way you was doing of it, Jeff.  When you want to be seeing how the way a woman is really made of, Jeff, you shouldn’t never be so cruel, never to be thinking how much she can stand, the strong way you always do it, Jeff.”  “Why, Melanctha,” cried Jeff Campbell, in his horror, and then he was very tender to her, and like a good, strong, gentle brother in his soothing of her, “Why Melanctha dear, I certainly don’t now see what it is you mean by what you was just saying to me.  Why Melanctha, you poor little girl, you certainly never did believe I ever knew I was giving you real suffering.  Why, Melanctha, how could you ever like me if you thought I ever could be so like a red Indian?” “I didn’t just know, Jeff,” and Melanctha nestled to him, “I certainly never did know just what it was you wanted to be doing with me, but I certainly wanted you should do anything you liked, you wanted, to make me more understanding for you.  I tried awful hard to stand