Ruthandherfamilywerehomeagain, andMartin, returnedtoOakland, , shewasdoingnomorestudying; andhe, havingworkedallvitalityoutofhismindandbody, , andtheirintimacyripenedfast.

Atfirst, , —lightnovels, andpoetry; , andhepossessedalltheresiliencyandreboundofyouth.

Ruthshowedherdisappointmentplainlywhenheannouncedthathewasgoingtoseaforanothervoyageassoonashewaswellrested.

"Whydoyouwanttodothat?" sheasked.

"Money," wastheanswer."I', inmycase—moneyandpatience."

"Butifallyouwantedwasmoney, whydidn'tyoustayinthelaundry?"

"."

Shestaredathimwithhorrorinhereyes.

"Doyoumean—?" shequavered.

Itwouldhavebeeneasyforhimtogetoutofit; buthisnaturalimpulsewasforfrankness, andherememberedhisoldresolvetobefrank, nomatterwhathappened.

"Yes," heanswered."."

Sheshiveredanddrewawayfromhim.

"NomanthatIhaveeverknowndidthat—everdidthat."

"ThentheyneverworkedinthelaundryatShellyHotSprings," helaughedbitterly.", soallthepreacherssay, andHeavenknowsI', 'swhyI', Ithink, forwhenIcomeback, ."

Shewassilent, unsympathetic, andhewatchedhermoodily, realizinghowimpossibleitwasforhertounderstandwhathehadbeenthrough.

"SomedayIshallwriteitup—'TheDegradationofToil' orthe 'PsychologyofDrinkintheWorkingclass,' orsomethinglikethatforatitle."

Never, sincethefirstmeeting, , toldinfrankness, withthespiritofrevoltbehind, , andonceaccepted, , too, wasaroused, andinnocent, , ; nordidshedreamthatbehinditandunderlyingitwerethejealousyanddesireoflove.