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to sleep with another man； not if the house was afire。 Mind you； I'm not
just talking； I know。 The boys tried him； to see。 They took his bed out
one night； and so when he got home about three in the morninghe was on
a morning paper then； but he's on an evening one nowthere wasn't any
place for him but with the iron…moulder； and if you'll believe me； he
just set up the rest of the nighthe did； honest。 They say he's
cracked； but it ain't so； he's Englishthey're awful particular。
You won't mind my saying that。 Youyou're English？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃I thought so。 I could tell it by the way you mispronounce the words
that's got a's in them； you know； such as saying loff when you mean laff
but you'll get over that。 He's a right down good fellow； and a little
sociable with the photographer's boy and the caulker and the blacksmith
that work in the navy yard； but not so much with the others。 The fact
is； though it's private； and the others don't know it； he's a kind of an
aristocrat； his father being a doctor； and you know what style that is
in England； I mean； because in this country a doctor ain't so very much；
even if he's that。 But over there of course it's different。 So this
chap had a falling out with his father； and was pretty high strung； and
just cut for this country； and the first he knew he had to get to work or
starve。 Well； he'd been to college； you see； and so he judged he was all
rightdid you say anything？〃
〃NoI only sighed。〃
〃And there's where he was mistaken。 Why； he mighty near starved。 And I
reckon he would have starved sure enough； if some jour' printer or other
hadn't took pity on him and got him a place as apprentice。 So he learnt
the trade； and then he was all rightbut it was a close call。 Once he
thought he had got to haul in his pride and holler for his father and
why； you're sighing again。 Is anything the matter with you？does my
clatter〃
〃Oh； dearno。 Pray go onI like it。〃
〃Yes； you see； he's been over here ten years； he's twenty…eight； now；
and he ain't pretty well satisfied in his mind； because he can't get
reconciled to being a mechanic and associating with mechanics； he being；
as he says to me； a gentleman； which is a pretty plain letting…on that
the boys ain't； but of course I know enough not to let that cat out of
the bag。〃
〃Why…would there be any harm in it？〃
〃Harm in it？ They'd lick him； wouldn't they？ Wouldn't you？ Of course
you would。 Don't you ever let a man say you ain't a gentleman in this
country。 But laws； what am I thinking about？ I reckon a body would
think twice before he said a cowboy wasn't a gentleman。〃
A trim； active； slender and very pretty girl of about eighteen walked
into the room now； in the most satisfied and unembarrassed way。 She was
cheaply but smartly and gracefully dressed； and the mother's quick glance
at the stranger's face as he rose； was of the kind which inquires what
effect has been produced； and expects to find indications of surprise and
admiration。
〃This is my daughter Hattiewe call her Puss。 It's the new boarder；
Puss。〃 This without rising。
The young Englishman made the awkward bow common to his nationality and
time of life in circumstances of delicacy and difficulty； and these were
of that sort； for； being taken by surprise； his natural； lifelong self
sprang to the front； and that self of course would not know just how to
act when introduced to a chambermaid； or to the heiress of a mechanics'
boarding house。 His other selfthe self which recognized the equality
of all menwould have managed the thing better； if it hadn't been caught
off guard and robbed of its chance。 The young girl paid no attention to
the bow； but put out her hand frankly and gave the stranger a friendly
shake and said：
〃How do you do？〃
Then she marched to the one washstand in the room； tilted her head this
way and that before the wreck of a cheap mirror that hung above it；
dampened her fingers with her tongue； perfected the circle of a little
lock of hair that was pasted against her forehead； then began to busy
herself with the slops。
〃Well； I must be goingit's getting towards supper time。 Make yourself
at home； Mr。 Tracy； you'll hear the bell when it's ready。〃
The landlady took her tranquil departure； without commanding either of
the young people to vacate the room。 The young man wondered a little
that a mother who seemed so honest and respectable should be so
thoughtless； and was reaching for his hat； intending to disembarrass the
girl of his presence； but she said：
〃Where are you going？〃
〃Wellnowhere in particular； but as I am only in the way here〃
〃Why； who said you were in the way？ Sit downI'll move you when you are
in the way。〃
She was making the beds； now。 He sat down and watched her deft and
diligent performance。
〃What gave you that notion？ Do you reckon I need a whole room just to
make up a bed or two in？〃
〃Well no； it wasn't that； exactly。 We are away up here in an empty
house； and your mother being gone〃
The girl interrupted him with an amused laugh； and said：
〃Nobody to protect me？ Bless you； I don't need it。 I'm not afraid。
I might be if I was alone； because I do hate ghosts； and I don't deny it。
Not that I believe in them； for I don't。 I'm only just afraid of them。〃
〃How can you be afraid of them if you don't believe in them？〃
〃Oh； I don't know the how of itthat's too many for me； I only know it's
so。 It's the same with Maggie Lee。〃
〃Who is that？〃
〃One of the boarders； young lady that works in the factry。〃
〃She works in a factory？〃
〃Yes。 Shoe factory。〃
〃In a shoe factory； and you call her a young lady？〃
〃Why； she's only twenty…two； what should you call her？〃
〃I wasn't thinking of her age； I was thinking of the title。 The fact is；
I came away from England to get away from artificial formsfor
artificial forms suit artificial people onlyand here you've got them
too。 I'm sorry。 I hoped you had only men and women； everybody equal；
no differences in rank。〃
The girl stopped with a pillow in her teeth and the case spread open
below it； contemplating him from under her brows with a slightly puzzled
expression。 She released the pillow and said：
〃Why； they are all equal。 Where's any difference in rank？〃
〃If you call a factory girl a young lady； what do you call the
President's wife？〃
〃Call her an old one。〃
〃Oh； you make age the only distinction？〃
〃There ain't any other to make as far as I can see。〃
〃Then all women are ladies？〃
〃Certainly they are。 All the respectable ones。〃
〃Well； that puts a better face on it。 Certainly there is no harm in a
title when it is given to everybody。 It is only an offense and a wrong
when it is restricted to a favored few。 But Misser〃
〃Hattie。〃
〃Miss Hattie； be frank； confess that that title isn't accorded by
everybody to everybody。 The rich American doesn't call her cook a lady
isn't that so？〃
〃Yes； it's so。 What of it？〃
He was surprised and a little disappointed； to see that his admirable
shot had produced no perceptible effect。
〃What of it？〃 he said。 〃Why this： equality is not conceded here； after
all； and the American