Hetriedtomakeherthinktheycouldseethatgreatironcrucifixwhichwatchesoveritdayandnightfromitspinycliff。Hehadafancyforapoem，veryimpressionistic，whichshouldconveythenotionofthecrucifix’svigil。Hesubmittedittoher；andtheyremainedtalkingtilltheothershadgotoutofsightandhearing；andshewaslettinghimkeepthehandonherarmwhichhehadputtheretoholdherfromfallingovertheparapet，whentheywerebothstartledbyapproachingsteps，andavoicecalling，“Lookhere！Who’srunningthissupperparty，anyway？”
HiswifehaddetachedMarchfromhergroupforthemission，assoonasshefeltthattheyoungpeoplewereabusingherkindness。Theyansweredhimwithhystericallaughter，andBurnamysaid，“Why，it’sMr。Stoller’streat，youknow。”
Attherestaurant，wheretheproprietorobsequiouslymetthepartyonthethresholdandbowedthemintoaprettyinnerroom，withatablesetfortheirsupper，Stollerhadgainedcouragetoplaythehostopenly。HeappointedGeneralTriscoetothechiefseat；hewouldhaveputhisdaughternexttohim，ifthegirlhadnotinsisteduponMrs。March’shavingtheplace，andgoingherselftositnexttoMarch，whomshesaidshehadnotbeenabletospeakawordtothewholeevening。Butshedidnottalkagreatdealtohim；hesmiledtofindhowsoonhedroppedoutoftheconversation，andBurnamy，fromhisgreaterremotenessacrossthetable，droppedintoit。HereallypreferredthestudyofStoller，whoseinstinctofagreaterworldlyqualityintheTriscoesinterestedhim；
hecouldseehimlisteningnowtowhatGeneralTriscoewassayingtoMrs。
March，andnowtowhatBurnamywassayingtoMissTriscoe；hisstrong，selfishface，asheturneditontheyoungpeople，expressedamingledgrudgeandgreedthatwasverycurious。