be whatever your husband chooses to make of you.”

“That’s true of most girls, Chang”—he winced each time she gave him that name—“but it isn’t true of me—at least, not any more. You’ve put all sorts of ideas into my head.”

He started back in dismay before her accusing, reproachful face, so sad, so serious. “I? Put ideas into your head? Why, you were buzzing and boiling with ’em the first time I saw you.”

“But they didn’t amount to anything until you——”

[45]“That’s like a woman!” he exclaimed indignantly. “Trying to shift responsibility to some one else.”

[45]

“But you have a tremendous influence over me.”

“Rubbish! Have I ever tried to get influence over you?”

“I don’t know how you got it,” was her maddeningly feminine evasion.

He gave a kind of snort. “Next thing you’ll be accusing me of advising you not to marry this rich man you’re engaged to.”

“Not quite engaged,” corrected she. “He wants me to be. And,” she went on with meek obstinacy, “while you didn’t advise me against it in so many words——”

“Now, Rix,” he almost shouted, pointing his finger at her, “you stop right there!”

“Please, Chang—come in out of the rain. And don’t talk so loud; it makes me nervous. I’m almost hysterical as it is.”

He looked at her in terror. All that would be needed completely to upset him would be for her to have hysterics. He moved nearer her, went on in a soothing, persuasive tone: “I advised you to marry him. I showed you it’s the only thing for you to do.”

“And such talk was unworthy of you,” said she, like a rebuking angel. “You didn’t really mean it.[46] You know you wouldn’t stoop to do such a thing yourself.”

[46]

His frank countenance had quite a wild look, so agitated and confused was he by her swift twistings and turnings, so alarmed was he as he felt the awful danger 

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