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Adelaide smiled sadly and shook her head. "Our first love comes from God, but after that He puts too many and too contradictory impulses in our hearts. Look at me, you attract me terribly physically, Abner; Buck Sharp entertains me mentally. And there was a theological student up at Nashville who, I believe, attracted me spiritually. Abner—now you wouldn't think I had a soul, would you? You think I am a very bad girl, don't you, Abner?" She looked at her companion, blinking her eyes a little.

"Why, no, I don't," said Abner with a queer feeling.

"You see the trouble is with God—as you call it—God divides your husband up among maybe half-a-dozen men, and then you've lost him, of course—only a few moments ago Buck Sharp was begging me to marry him. . . ."

Abner looked at her.

"Adelaide—is that why you—came in here with me and—danced?"

Miss Jones nodded faintly.

"Yes. I wanted to know how I felt toward you. I didn't know. G-God, as you call it, is such a bungler at making a g-girl's dream come true."

Abner was moved unwontedly. He leaned over and caressed the girl's naked shoulders for once without thinking of her flesh.

"Will you marry me, Adelaide?"

"I don't think so," she said sadly.

"Oh, Adelaide—I wish I was smart, like Buck! I wish to God I was what you wanted, but I haven't got much sense. I'm very ordinary."

He leaned toward her in his humility. The girl suddenly put up her arms and clutched his leonine head convulsively to her bosom.

The music stopped.

She put him away abruptly, arose, and began powdering her nose and eyes.

"This is what you call sitting out a dance," and she gave a choked giggle.