maybe you-all came too late. When I was a kid, there was no one to tell me what a sense of honor was. But— Oh, I've done things! Little Katie Jonas of Railroad Avenue—little Katie with her red flannel skirt and torn stockings, fighting the whole Killarney Street gang and giving Pup Monahan one in the nose, by Jiminy! And not five cents a year, even for candy. And now it's mine, that tabernacle there—look at it!—that cross, that choir you hear practising! Why, I'm the Sharon Falconer you read about! And tomorrow I become—oh, people reaching for me—me healing 'em— No! It frightens me! It can't last. Make it last for me, Elmer! Don't let them take it away from me!"
She was sobbing, her head on his lap, while he comforted her clumsily. He was slightly bored. She was heavy, and though he did like her, he wished she wouldn't go on telling that Katie-Jonas-Utica story.
She rose to her knees, her arms out to him, her voice hysteric against the background of the surf:
"I can't do it! But you— I'm a woman. I'm weak. I wonder if I oughtn't to stop thinking I'm such a marvel, if I oughtn't to let you run things and just stand back and help you? Ought I?"
He was overwhelmed by her good sense, but he cleared his throat and spoke judiciously:
"Well, now I'll tell you. Personally I'd never've brought it up, but since you speak of it yourself—I don't admit for a minute that I've got any more executive ability or oratory than you have—probably not half as much. And after all, you did start the show; I came in late. But same time, while a woman can put things over just as good as a man, or better, for a while, she's a woman, and she isn't built to carry on things like a man would, see how I mean?"
"Would it be better for the Kingdom if I forgot my ambition and followed you?"
"Well, I don't say it'd be better. You've certainly done fine, honey. I haven't got any criticisms. But same time, I do think we ought to think it over."
She had remained still, a kneeling silver statue. Now she dropped her head against his knees, crying:
"I can't give it up! I can't! Must I?"
He was conscious that people were strolling near. He
