Evening star., 1935-06-03
CHAPTER XIV.
DAPHNE.

DAPHNE.
LX you were going to say that
SN you could show me real
poverty. That's exactly
i what l want to ask you--
could you?" He had opened
his mouth to reply, but she hurried
on. Wait. I'll explain. I mean,
really want job
"A job?"
ayes! And if 60 and ask any one
know. any one of the kind of
friends I've been brought up with,
they'll Just laugh and talk about
mannequins or offer to let me help
them run a hat shop or something.
] don't want that kind OF iob!"
L wonder if you really mean what
fou are saying"
Il do" She was eagerly in earnest
now Il don't mean a paid Job; that
wouldn't be fair. I've enough money
co live on and more than want
coming Jobs are too precious TO
waste on people who've got money.
But it must be possible to find some
thing useful to do, something that
wouldn't be robbing any one and
would be worth doing"
Il should think So He admitted it
reluctantly.
Gould you help me to find it,"
He said bluntlv, you're too young
Alison was hurt, Why do you
Say that?"
Because it's true The kind Of
thing you want 10 do needs two
things. training and sympathy. They
both take time to acOuire "
You don't think I'd sympsthize
with people who were badly off?" She
could not keep her disappointment
out of her tone.
L think you'd try 20" He was gen.
tie all of sudden. But it's not the
fairy godmother stuff that people
need. it's understanding Friendli-
ness. And that's the result of expe-
rience. You know"
Then III get some. that's ALL"
He said suddenly. "Dyou know
believe you would! When l met
you first 7 thought that you were
the other kind" He was hesitatins
now. awkwardlv The kind of girl
who's got everything she wants and
doesn't worry about those others. But
how
Will you help me-"
I'm not sure if can. II depends"
What on?"
"The-the business I was talking
about Just now. AS I told you, I'm
starting all over again. or rather. I'm
going to try to- but first I've rather
sticky job to settle
You mean. building something?"
No" he added SLOWLY. Just
rather difficult job. Until that's
through I can't do anything very
much for anybody. If it goes all right
well. them might be able to help"
IT'S good of you" said Alison CRATE
fully. You know. even to talk like
this is help. My friends-I mean
Of my own age-wouldn't understand
II bit. They'd tell me to do two
nights a week at mission or some
thing and that's not what I want
But you dc understand"
Il think do
ITS funny, isn't it," said Alison.
"You mean that as far as time goes
we've only met for a few hours?"
Yes" She was silent. brooding
on the wonder of it. He was looking
at her absorbedly. but she did not
notice. WHY is it like that some
times. Just with some people?"
Skipping the first stages?'
Yes" She smiled at him delight
edly. LAS If you'd met before. you
know. and we're Just picking up
threads
Or as II it was fate" He said that
In such a low voice that she barely
caught the words
Yes She went on eagerly. You
know, felt 1 could talk to you and
that you'd understand. even when we
were going through the house.
mean. wouldn't have dared to tell
most people that I'd thought I'd seen
ghost They'd have laughed at me.
You didn't"
Why should I laugh I knew you
weren't the sort Of person that talks
about ghosts unless youd seen some
thing pretty bad" He was quite posi-
tive.
Il know I felt that I mean. that
you knew that I wouldn't just make
It all up"
Il knew you were pretty badly
scared. and that it'd take a lot to
scare you" he explained
She insisted: Why is it that its
like that sometimes? mean, know
ing each other right OFF,"
Our minds fit, that's all"
Alison nodded. In the silence that