Foraninstantshewassilentwithrathersaddowncasteyes。Shewasabouttoretortbutsomethingcheckedthewordsonhertongue。Inclinationpromptedhertospeakout：dignitytoldhertobesilent。TheprettylipspoutedawhilebutthensheglancedupandbrokeoutintoajoyouslittlelaughwhichhadinitallthefreshnessofayoungMaymorning。Sheknewrightwell，no-onebetter，whatmadesquintyEdysaythatbecauseofhimcoolinginhisattentionswhenitwassimplyalovers’quarrel。Asperusualsomebody’snosewasoutofjointabouttheboythathadthebicyclealwaysridingupanddowninfrontofherwindow。OnlynowhisfatherkepthimintheeveningsstudyinghardtogetanexhibitionintheintermediatethatwasonandhewasgoingtoTrinitycollegetostudyforadoctorwhenheleftthehighschoollikehisbrotherW。E。WyliewhowasracinginthebicycleracesinTrinitycollegeuniversity。Littlereckedheperhapsforwhatshefelt，thatdullachingvoidinherheartsometimes，piercingtothecore。Yethewasyoungandperchancehemightlearntoloveherintime。TheywereprotestantsinhisfamilyandofcourseGertyknewWhocamefirstandafterHimtheblessedVirginandthenSaintJoseph。Buthewasundeniablyhandsomewithanexquisitenoseandhewaswhathelooked，everyinchagentleman，theshapeofhisheadtooatthebackwithouthiscaponthatshewouldknowanywheresomethingoffthecommonandthewayheturnedthebicycleatthelampwithhishandsoffthebarsandalsotheniceperfumeofthosegoodcigarettesandbesidestheywerebothofasizeandthatwaswhyEdyBoardmanthoughtshewassofrightfullycleverbecausehedidn’tgoandrideupanddowninfrontofherbitofagarden。
GertywasdressedsimplybutwiththeinstinctivetasteofavotaryofDameFashionforshefeltthattherewasjustamightthathemightbeout。Aneatblouseofelectricblue，selftintedbydollydyesbecauseitwasexpectedintheLady’sPictorialthatelectricbluewouldbeworn，withasmartveeopeningdowntothedivisionandkerchiefpocketinwhichshealwayskeptapieceofcottonwoolscentedwithherfavouriteperfumebecausethehandkerchiefspoiledthesitandanavythreequarterskirtcuttothestrideshowedoffherslimgracefulfiguretoperfection。
Sheworeacoquettishlittleloveofahatofwideleavedniggerstrawcontrasttrimmedwithanunderbrimofeggbluechenilleandatthesideabutterflybowtotone。AllTuesdayweekafternoonshewashuntingtomatchthatchenillebutatlastshefoundwhatshewantedatClery’ssummersales，theveryit，slightlyshopsoiledbutyouwouldnevernotice，sevenfingerstwoandapenny。Shediditupallbyherselfandwhatjoywasherswhenshetrieditonthen，smilingatthelovelyreflectionwhichthemirrorgavebacktoher！Andwhensheputitonthewaterjugtokeeptheshapesheknewthatthatwouldtaketheshineoutofsomepeoplesheknew。HershoeswerethenewestthinginfootwearEdyBoardmanpridedherselfthatshewasverypetitebutsheneverhadafootlikeGertyMacDowell，afive，andneverwouldash，oakorelmwithpatenttoecapsandjustonesmartbuckleatherhigharchedinstep。Herwellturnedankledisplayeditsperfectproportionsbeneathherskirtandjusttheproperamountandnomoreofhershapelylimbsencasedinfinespunhosewithhighsplicedheelsandwidegartertops。AsforundiestheywereGerty’schiefcareandwhothatknowstheflutteringhopesandfearsofsweetseventeenthoughGertywouldneverseeseventeenagaincanfinditinhishearttoblameher？Shehadfourdinkysets，withawfullyprettystitchery，threegarmentsandnightiesextra，andeachsetslottedwithdifferentcolouredribbons，rosepink，paleblue，mauveandpeagreenandsheairedthemherselfandbluedthemwhentheycamehomefromthewashandironedthemandshehadabrickbattokeeptheirononbecauseshewouldn’ttrustthosewasherwomenasfarasshe’dseethemscorchingthethings。Shewaswearingtheblueforluck，hopingagainsthope，herowncolourandtheluckycolourtooforabridetohaveabitofbluesomewhereonherbecausethegreensheworethatdayweekbroughtgriefbecausehisfatherbroughthimintostudyfortheintermediateexhibitionandbecauseshethoughtperhapshemightbeoutbecausewhenshewasdressingthatmorningshenearlyslippeduptheoldpaironherinsideoutandthatwasforluckandlovers’meetingsifyouputthosethingsoninsideoutsolongasitwasn’tofaFriday。
Andyetandyet！Thatstrainedlookonherface！Agnawingsorrowisthereallthetime。Herverysoulisinhereyesandshewouldgiveworldstobeintheprivacyofherownfamiliarchamberwhere，givingwaytotears，shecouldhaveagoodcryandrelieveherpentupfeelings。Thoughnottoomuchbecausesheknewhowtocrynicelybeforethemirror。Youarelovely，Gerty，itsaid。Thepalylightofeveningfallsuponafaceinfinitelysadandwistful。GertyMacDowellyearnsinvain。Yes，shehadknownfromthefirstthatherdaydreamofamarriagehasbeenarrangedandtheweddingbellsringingforMrsReggyWylieT。C。D。becausetheonewhomarriedtheelderbrotherwouldbeMrsWylieandinthefashionableintelligenceMrsGertrudeWyliewaswearingasumptuousconfectionofgreytrimmedwithexpensivebluefoxwasnottobe。Hewastooyoungtounderstand。Hewouldnotbelieveinlove，awoman’sbirthright。ThenightofthepartylongagoinStoers’
hewasstillinshorttrouserswhentheywerealoneandhestoleanarmroundherwaistshewentwhitetotheverylips。Hecalledherlittleoneinastrangelyhuskyvoiceandsnatchedahalfkissthefirst！butitwasonlytheendofhernoseandthenhehastenedfromtheroomwitharemarkaboutrefreshments。Impetuousfellow！StrengthofcharacterhadneverbeenReggyWylie’sstrongpointandhewhowouldwooandwinGertyMacDowellmustbeamanamongmen。Butwaiting，alwayswaitingtobeaskedanditwasleapyeartooandwouldsoonbeover。Noprincecharmingisherbeauidealtolayarareandwondrousloveatherfeetbutratheramanlymanwithastrongquietfacewhohadnotfoundhisideal，perhapshishairslightlyfleckedwithgrey，andwhowouldunderstand，takeherinhisshelteringarms，strainhertohiminallthestrengthofhisdeeppassionatenatureandcomfortherwithalonglongkiss。Itwouldbelikeheaven。Forsuchaonesheyearnsthisbalmysummereve。Withalltheheartofhershelongstobehisonly，hisaffiancedbrideforrichesforpoor，insicknessinhealth，tilldeathustwopart，fromthistothisdayforward。
AndwhileEdyBoardmanwaswithlittleTommybehindthepushcarshewasjustthinkingwouldthedayevercomewhenshecouldcallherselfhislittlewifetobe。Thentheycouldtalkabouthertilltheywentblueintheface，BerthaSuppletoo，andEdy，thespitfire，becauseshewouldbetwenty-twoinNovember。ShewouldcareforhimwithcreaturecomfortstooforGertywaswomanlywiseandknewthatameremanlikedthatfeelingofhominess。Hergriddlecakesdonetoagolden-brownhueandqueenAnn’spuddingofdelightfulcreaminesshadwongoldenopinionsfromallbecauseshehadaluckyhandalsoforlightingafire，dredgeinthefineselfraisingflourandalwaysstirinthesamedirectionthencreamthemilkandsugarandwhiskwellthewhiteofeggsthoughshedidn’tliketheeatingpartwhentherewereanypeoplethatmadehershyandoftenshewonderedwhyyoucouldn’teatsomethingpoeticallikevioletsorrosesandtheywouldhaveabeautifullyappointeddrawingroomwithpicturesandengravingsandthephotographofgrandpapaGiltrap’slovelydogGarryowenthatalmosttalked，itwassohuman，andchintzcoversforthechairsandthatsilvertoastrackinClery’ssummerjumblesalesliketheyhaveinrichhouses。
Hewouldbetallwithbroadshouldersshehadalwaysadmiredtallmenforahusbandwithglisteningwhiteteethunderhiscarefullytrimmedsweepingmoustacheandtheywouldgoonthecontinentfortheirhoneymoonthreewonderfulweeks！andthen，whentheysettleddowninanicesnugandcosylittlehomelyhouse，everymorningtheywouldbothhavebrekky，simplebutperfectlyserved，fortheirowntwoselvesandbeforehewentouttobusinesshewouldgivehisdearlittlewifeyagoodheartyhugandgazeforamomentdeepdownintohereyes。
EdyBoardmanaskedTommyCaffreywashedoneandhesaidyes，sothenshebuttoneduphislittleknickerbockersforhimandtoldhimtorunoffandplaywithJackyandtobegoodnowandnottofight。ButTommysaidhewantedtheballandEdytoldhimnothatbabywasplayingwiththeballandifhetookitthere’dbewigsonthegreenbutTommysaiditwashisballandhewantedhisballandheprancedontheground，ifyouplease。
Thetemperofhim！O，hewasamanalreadywaslittleTommyCaffreysincehewasoutofpinnies。Edytoldhimno，noandtoheoffnowwithhimandshetoldCissyCaffreynottogiveintohim。
You’renotmysister，naughtyTommysaid。It’smyball。ButCissyCaffreytoldbabyBoardmantolookup，lookuphighatherfingerandshesnatchedtheballquicklyandthrewitalongthesandandTommyafteritinfullcareer，havingwontheday。
Anythingforaquietlife，laughedCiss。
Andshetickledtinytot’stwocheekstomakehimforgetandplayedhere’sthelordmayor，here’shistwohorses，here’shisgingerbreadcarriageandherehewalksin，chinchopper，chinchopper，chinchopperchin。ButEdygotascrossastwosticksabouthimgettinghisownwaylikethatfromeveryonealwayspettinghim。
I’dliketogivehimsomething，shesaid，soIwould，whereIwon’tsay。
Onthebeetoteetom，laughedCissymerrily。
GertyMacDowellbentdownherheadandcrimsonedattheideaofCissysayinganunladylikethinglikethatoutloudshe’dbeashamedofherlifetosay，flushingadeeprosyred，andEdyBoardmansaidshewassurethegentlemanoppositeheardwhatshesaid。ButnotapincaredCiss。
Lethim！shesaidwithaperttossofherheadandapiquanttiltofhernose。GiveittohimtooonthesameplaceasquickasI’dlookathim。
MadcapCisswithhergolliwogcurls。Youhadtolaughathersometimes。
ForinstancewhensheaskedyouwouldyouhavesomemoreChineseteaandjaspberryramandwhenshedrewthejugstooandthemen’sfacesonhernailswithredinkmakeyousplityoursidesorwhenshewantedtogowhereyouknowshesaidshewantedtorunandpayavisittotheMissWhite。
ThatwasjustlikeCissycums。O，andwillyoueverforgettheeveningshedressedupinherfather’ssuitandhatandtheburnedcorkmoustacheandwalkeddownTritonvilleroad，smokingacigarette？Therewasnonetocomeuptoherforfun。Butshewassincerityitself，oneofthebravestandtruestheartsheavenevermade，notoneofyourtwofacedthings，toosweettobewholesome。
Andthentherecameoutupontheairthesoundofvoicesandthepealinganthemoftheorgan。Itwasthemen’stemperanceretreatconductedbythemissioner，thereverendJohnHughesS。J。，rosary，sermonandbenedictionoftheMostBlessedSacrament。Theyweretheregatheredtogetherwithoutdistinctionofsocialclassandamostedifyingspectacleitwastosee
inthatsimplefanebesidethewaves，afterthestormsofthiswearyworld，kneelingbeforethefeetoftheimmaculate，recitingthelitanyofOurLadyofLoreto，beseechinghertointercedeforthem，theoldfamiliarwords，holyMary，holyvirginofvirgins。HowsadtopoorGerty’sears！
Hadherfatheronlyavoidedtheclutchesofthedemondrink，bytakingthepledgeorthosepowdersthedrinkhabitcuredinPearson’sWeekly，shemightnowberollinginhercarriage，secondtonone。Overandoverhadshetoldherselfthatasshemusedbythedyingembersinabrownstudywithoutthelampbecauseshehatedtwolightsoroftentimesgazingoutofthewindowdreamilybythehourattherainfallingontherustybucket，thinking。Butthatviledecoctionwhichhasruinedsomanyhearthsandhomeshadcastitsshadowoverherchildhooddays。Nay，shehadevenwitnessedinthehomecircledeedsofviolencecausedbyintemperanceandhadseenherownfather，apreytothefumesofintoxication，forgethimselfcompletelyforiftherewasonethingofallthingsthatGertyknewitwasthemanwholiftshishandtoawomansaveinthewayofkindnessdeservestobebrandedasthelowestofthelow。
AndstillthevoicessanginsupplicationtotheVirginmostpowerful，Virginmostmerciful。AndGerty，wraptinthought，scarcesaworheardhercompanionsorthetwinsattheirboyishgambolsorthegentlemanoffSandymountgreenthatCissyCaffreycalledthemanthatwassolikehimselfpassingalongthestrandtakingashortwalk。YouneversawhimanywayscrewedbutstillandforallthatshewouldnotlikehimforafatherbecausehewastoooldorsomethingoronaccountofhisfaceitwasapalpablecaseofdoctorFellorhiscarbunclynosewiththepimplesonitandhissandymoustacheabitwhiteunderhisnose。Poorfather！WithallhisfaultsshelovedhimstillwhenhesangTellme，Mary，howtowootheeorMyloveandcottagenearRochelleandtheyhadstewedcocklesandlettucewithLazenby’ssaladdressingforsupperandwhenhesangThemoonhathraisedwithMrDignamthatdiedsuddenlyandwasburied，Godhavemercyonhim，fromastroke。Hermother’sbirthdaythatwasandCharleywashomeonhisholidaysandTomandMrDignamandMrsandPatsyandFreddyDignamandtheyweretohavehadagrouptaken。
No-onewouldhavethoughttheendwassonear。Nowhewaslaidtorest。
Andhermothersaidtohimtoletthatbeawarningtohimfortherestofhisdaysandhecouldn’tevengotothefuneralonaccountofthegoutandshehadtogointotowntobringhimthelettersandsamplesfromhisofficeaboutCatesby’scorklino，artisticstandarddesigns，fitforapalace，givestiptopwearandalwaysbrightandcheeryinthehome。