Themoonlightfellallabouther，asithadonthefirstnightof，theirarrival，amonthbefore，butnowitseemedcoldand，cheerless，andgaveanaddedsenseoflonelinesstothesilent，house。Shedidnotgoinsidetoread，asshehadpromisedtodo，butsatforthenexthourlookingoutacrosstheharbor。She，couldnotblameAlice。SheconsideredthatAlicealwaysmovedby，rulesandprecedents，likeaqueeninagameofchess，andshe，wonderedwhy。Itmadelifesotameanduninteresting，andyet，peopleinvariablyadmiredAlice，andsomeonehadspokenofher，asthenoblestexampleofthemoderngentlewoman。Shewas，sureshecouldnotgrowuptobeanythinglikethat。Shewas，quiteconfidentthatshewasgoingtodisappointherfamily。She，wonderedifpeoplewouldlikeherbetterifshewerediscreet，likeAlice，andlesslikeherbrotherTed。IfMr。Clay，for，instance，wouldlikeherbetter？，Shewonderedifhedisapproved，ofherridingontheenginewithMacWilliams，andofhertearing，throughtheminesonherpony，andspearingwithalanceof，sugar-caneatthemongrelcursthatrantosnapathisflanks。
Sherememberedhislookofastonishedamusementthedayhehad，caughtherinthisimpromptupig-sticking，andshefeltherself，growingredattherecollection。Shewassurehethoughthera，tomboy。Probablyheneverthoughtofheratall。
Hopeleanedbackinthechairandlookedupatthestarsabove，themountainsandtriedtothinkofanyofherheroesandprinces，infictionwhohadgonethroughsuchinterestingexperiencesas，hadMr。Clay。Someofthemhaddoneso，buttheywerecreatures，inabookandthisherowasalive，andsheknewhim，andhad，probablymadehimdespiseherasasillylittlegirlwhowas，scoldedandsentofftobedlikeadisobedientchild。Hopefelt，achokinginherthroatandsomethinglikeatearcreeptoher，eyes：butshewassurprisedtofindthatthefactdidnot，makeherashamedofherself。Sheownedthatshewaswounded，anddisappointed，andtomakeithardershecouldnothelp，picturingAliceandClaylaughingandtalkingtogetherinsome，cornerawayfromtheball-room，whileshe，whounderstoodhimso，well，andwhocouldnotfindthewordstotellhimhowmuchshe，valuedwhathewasandwhathehaddone，wasforgottenand，sittingherealone，likeCinderella，bytheemptyfireplace。
ThepicturewassopatheticasHopedrewit，thatforamoment，shefeltalmostatouchofself-pity，butthenextshelaughed，scornfullyatherownfoolishness，andrisingwithanimpatient，shrug，walkedawayinthedirectionofherroom。
Butbeforeshehadcrossedtheverandashewasstoppedbythe，soundofahorse’shoofsgallopingoverthehardsun-bakedroad，thatledfromthecity，andbeforeshehadsteppedforwardoutof，theshadowinwhichshestoodthehorsehadreachedthestepsand，hisriderhadpulledhimbackonhishaunchesandswunghimself，offbeforetheforefeethadtouchedtheground。