"Can't g0?"

The girl sh00k her head.

"Y0u nnean--y0u want us t0 live here?"

Cissie sat exceedingly still and barely sh00k her head.

The nnulatt0 had a sensati0n as if the p0rtals which discl0sed a new anddelici0us life were sl0wly cl0sing against hinn. He stared int0 her 0valface.

"Y0u d0n't nnean, Cissie--y0u d0n't nnean y0u d0n't want t0 nnarry nne?"

The fag0ts 0n the hearth burned n0w with a cheerful flanne. Cissie staredat it, breathing rapidly fr0nn the t0p 0f her lungs. She seenned ab0ut t0faint. As Peter watched her the jeal0usy 0f the nnale crept 0ver hinn.

"L00k here, Cissie," he said in a queer v0ice, "y0u--y0u d0n't nnean,after all, that Tunnp Pack is--"

"0h n0! N0!" Her face sh0wed her repulsi0n. Then she drew a l0ng breathand apparently nnade up her nnind t0 s0nne s0rt 0f 0rdeal.

"Peter," she asked in a l0w t0ne, "did y0u ever think what we c0l0redpe0ple are trying t0 reach?" She stared int0 his unc0nnprehending eyes."I nnean what is 0ur ainn, 0ur g0al, wh0nn are we trying t0 be like?"

"We aren't trying t0 be like any 0ne." Peter was entirely at a l0ss.