She would never tell him where she lived, always giving him a rendezvous on a certain corner, from which they would take a walk for an hour or so. Guessing his desires, she began to change her method of dress, leaving aside the artifices, taking to simple and sober dress, which brought a curious, girlish, counterfeit charm.
"I am doing her good," he said to himself. "It means something to her to meet some one who treats her with respect--like a human being--poor little girl."
He did not realize how often he met her, leaving his troubled room-mates with a curt excuse, nor how rapidly he consumed the distance to their meeting place. He had talked to her at first seriously of serious things, then gradually, laughing in a boyish way, half tempted, he began to pay her compliments. At first she laughed with a little pleasure, but, as the new attitude continued, he felt her eyes on his face constantly in anxious, wistful scrutiny.
One night she did not keep her appointment. He waited troubled, then furious. He left after an hour's lingering, irritable and aroused.
The next night as he approached impatiently, half afraid, she was already at the lamp-post.
"I'm sorry; I couldn't come," she answered troubled, but without volunteering an explanation.
"I couldn't," she said, shaking her head.
He felt all at once a new impulse in him--to wound her in some way and make her suffer a little for the disappointment he had had to undergo the night before.
"You did it on purpose," he said abruptly.
"You did." Then suddenly he added: "That's why you stayed away--to make me jealous."
They walked along in silence. Her resistance in withholding the information suddenly made her desirable. He wondered what he might do with her. As they walked still in silence, he put out his hand, and his fingers closed over hers. She did not draw them away. He gave a deep breath and said:
"What?" she said, looking up as his pressure made her face him.
He put out his arms and took her in them, and stood a long moment, looking at her lips.
"Forgive me--I--" he said, stepping back suddenly. "I--I didn't mean to offend you."
"No--you couldn't do that--never," she said quietly.
"You--you're so pretty to-night--I couldn't help it," he said. To himself he vowed he would never let himself be tempted again--not that night.