\"Mama!\"
Mrs。Adamslookedup。\"It\'sallright，\"shesaid，inaloudwhisper。\"Gertrudefelldownthecellarstairs。Somebodyleftabucketthere，and——\"ShewasinterruptedbyagaspfromAlice，andhastenedtoreassureher。\"Don\'tworry，dearie。Shemaylimpalittle，but——\"
Adamsleanedoverthebanisters。\"Didshebreakanything？\"heasked。
\"Hush!\"hiswifewhispered。\"No。Sheseemsupsetandangryaboutit，morethananythingelse；butshe\'srubbingherself，andshe\'llbeallrightintimetobringinthelittlesandwiches。
Alice!Thoseflowers!\"
\"Iknow，mama。But——\"
\"Hurry!\"Mrs。Adamswarnedher。\"Bothofyouhurry!IMUSTlethimin!\"
Sheturnedtothedoor，smilingcordially，evenbeforesheopenedit。\"Docomerightin，Mr。Russell，\"shesaid，loudly，liftinghervoiceforadditionalwarningtothoseabove。\"I\'mSOgladtoreceiveyouinformally，thisway，inourownlittlehome。
There\'sahat-rackhereunderthestairway，\"shecontinued，asRussell，murmuringsomeresponse，cameintothehall。\"I\'mafraidyou\'llthinkit\'salmostTOOinformal，mycomingtothedoor，butunfortunatelyourhousemaid\'sjusthadalittleaccident——oh，nothingtomention!Ijustthoughtwebetternotkeepyouwaitinganylonger。Willyoustepintoourliving-room，please？\"
Sheledthewaybetweenthetwosmallcolumns，andseatedherselfinoneoftheplushrocking-chairs，selectingitbecauseAlicehadoncepointedoutthatthechairs，themselves，werelessnoticeablewhentheyhadpeoplesittinginthem。\"Dositdown，Mr。Russell；it\'ssoverywarmit\'sreallyquiteatrialjusttostandup!\"
\"Thankyou，\"hesaid，ashetookaseat。\"Yes。Itisquitewarm。\"Andthisseemedtobetheextentofhisresponsivenessforthemoment。Hewasgrave，ratherpale；andMrs。Adams\'simpressionofhim，assheformeditthen，wasof\"adistinguished-lookingyoungman，reallyelegantinthebestsenseoftheword，buttimidandformalwhenhefirstmeetsyou。\"Shebeameduponhim，andusedwitheverythingshesaidacontinuousaccompanimentoflaughter，meaninglessexceptthatitwasmeanttoconveycordiality。\"OfcourseweDOhaveagreatdealofwarmweather，\"sheinformedhim。\"I\'mgladit\'ssomuchcoolerinthehousethanitisoutdoors。\"
\"Yes，\"hesaid。\"Itispleasanterindoors。\"And，stoppingwiththissingleuntruth，hepermittedhimselfthebriefestglanceabouttheroom；thenhiseyesreturnedtohissmilinghostess。
\"Mostpeoplemakeagreatfussabouthotweather，\"shesaid。
\"TheonlypersonIknowwhodoesn\'tmindtheheatthewayotherpeopledoisAlice。Shealwaysseemsascoolasifwehadabreezeblowing，nomatterhowhotitis。Butthenshe\'ssoamiableshenevermindsanything。It\'sjusthercharacter。
She\'salwaysbeenthatwaysinceshewasalittlechild；alwaysthesametoeverybody，highandlow。Ithinkcharacter\'sthemostimportantthingintheworld，afterall，don\'tyou，Mr。
Russell？\"
\"Yes，\"hesaid，solemnly；andtouchedhisbedewedwhiteforeheadwithahandkerchief。
\"Indeeditis，\"sheagreedwithherself，neverfailingtocontinuehermurmuroflaughter。\"That\'swhatI\'vealwaystoldAlice；butsheneverseesanythinggoodinherself，andshejustlaughsatmewhenIpraiseher。SheseesgoodineverybodyELSE
intheworld，nomatterhowunworthytheyare，orhowtheybehavetowardHER；butshealwaysunderestimatesherself。Fromthetimeshewasalittlechildshewasalwaysthatway。Whensomeotherlittlegirlwouldbehaveselfishlyormeanlytowardher，doyouthinkshe\'dcomeandtellme？Neverawordtoanybody!Thelittlethingwastooproud!Shewasthesamewayaboutschool。
Theteachershadtotellmewhenshetookaprize；she\'dbringithomeandkeepitinherroomwithoutawordaboutittoherfatherandmother。Now，Walterwasjusttheotherway。Walterwould——\"ButhereMrs。Adamscheckedherself，thoughsheincreasedthevolumeofherlaughter。\"Howsillyofme!\"sheexclaimed。\"IexpectyouknowhowmothersARE，though，Mr。
Russell。Giveusachanceandwe\'lltalkaboutourchildrenforever!AlicewouldfeelterriblyifsheknewhowI\'vebeengoingonabouthertoyou。\"
InthisMrs。Adamswasright，thoughshedidnotherselfsuspectit，anduponanalmostinaudiblewordortwofromhimshewentonwithhertopic。\"OfcoursemyexcuseisthatfewmothershaveadaughterlikeAlice。Isupposeweallthinkthesamewayaboutourchildren，butSOMEofusmustberightwhenwefeelwe\'vegotthebest。Don\'tyouthinkso？\"
\"Yes。Yes，indeed。\"
\"I\'msure_I_am!\"shelaughed。\"I\'lllettheothersspeakforthemselves。\"Shepausedreflectively。\"No；Ithinkamotherknowswhenshe\'sgotatreasureinherfamily。IfsheHASN\'Tgotone，she\'llpretendshehas，maybe；butifshehas，sheknowsit。
Icertainlyknow_I_have。She\'salwaysbeenwhatpeoplecall\'thejoyofthehousehold\'——alwayscheerful，nomatterwhatwentwrong，andalwaysreadytosmooththingsoverwithsomebright，wittysaying。YoumustbesurenottoTELLwe\'vehadthislittlechatabouther——she\'djustbefuriouswithme——butsheISsuchadearchild!Youwon\'ttellher，willyou？\"
\"No，\"hesaid，andagainappliedthehandkerchieftohisforeheadforaninstant。\"No，I\'ll——\"Hepaused，andfinishedlamely:
\"I\'ll——nottellher。\"
Thusreassured，Mrs。Adamssetbeforehimsomedetailsofherdaughter\'spopularityatsixteen，dwellinguponAlice\'simpartialityamongheryoungsuitors:\"ShenevercouldBEARtohurttheirfeelings，andalwaystreatedallofthemjustalike。
AbouthalfadozenofthemwerejustBOUNDtomarryher!
Naturally，herfatherandIconsideredanysuchidearidiculous；
shewastooyoung，ofcourse。\"
Thusthemotherwentonwithherbiographicalsketches，whilethepaleyoungmansatfacingherunderthehardoverheadlightofawhiteglobe，settotheceiling；andlistenedwithoutinterrupting。ShewasgladtohavethechancetotellhimafewthingsaboutAlicehemightnothaveguessedforhimself，and，indeed，shehadplannedtofindsuchanopportunity，ifshecould；butthiswasgettingtobealtogethertoomuchofone，shefelt。Astimepassed，shewaslikeanactorwhomustimprovisetokeeptheaudiencefromperceivingthathisfellow-playershavemissedtheircues；butheranxietywasnotbetrayedtothestilllistener；shehadavaliantsoul。
Alice，meanwhile，hadarrangedherlittlerosesonthetableinasmanyways，probably，astherewereblossoms；andshewasstillatitwhenherfatherarrivedinthedining-roombywayofthebackstairsandthekitchen。
\"It\'spulledoutagain，\"hesaid。\"ButIguessthere\'snohelpforitnow；it\'stoolate，andanywayitletssomeairintomewhenitbulges。Icansitso\'sitwon\'tbenoticedmuch，I
expect。Isn\'tittimeyouquitbotheringaboutthelooksofthetable？Yourmother\'sbeentalkingtohimabouthalfanhournow，andIhadtheideahecameonyouraccount，nothers。Hadn\'tyoubettergoand——\"
\"Justaminute。\"Alicesaid，piteously。\"DoYOUthinkitlooksallright？\"
\"Theflowers？Fine!Hadn\'tyoubetterleave\'emthewaytheyare，though？\"
\"Justaminute，\"shebeggedagain。\"JustONEminute，papa!\"AndsheexchangedaroseinfrontofRussell\'splateforonethatseemedtoheralittlelarger。
\"Youbettercomeon，\"Adamssaid，movingtothedoor。
\"JustONEmoresecond，papa。\"Sheshookherhead，lamenting。
\"Oh，Iwishwe\'drentedsomesilver!\"
\"Why？\"
\"Becausesomuchoftheplatinghasrubbedoffalotofit。JUST
asecond，papa。\"Andasshespokeshehastilywentroundthetable，gatheringtheknivesandforksandspoonsthatshethoughthadtheirplatingbestpreserved，andexchangingthemformoredamagedpiecesatRussell\'splace。\"There!\"shesighed，finally。
\"NowI\'llcome。\"Butatthedoorshepausedtolookbackdubiously，overhershoulder。
\"What\'sthematternow？\"
\"Theroses。IbelieveafterallIshouldn\'thavetriedthatvineeffect；Ioughttohavekepttheminwater，inthevase。It\'ssohot，theyalreadybegintolookalittlewilted，outonthedrytableclothlikethat。IbelieveI\'ll——\"
\"Why，lookhere，Alice!\"heremonstrated，assheseemeddisposedtoturnback。\"Everything\'llburnuponthestoveifyoukeepon——\"
\"Oh，well，\"shesaid，\"thevasewasterriblyugly；Ican\'tdoanybetter。We\'llgoin。\"Butwithherhandonthedoor-knobshepaused。\"No，papa。Wemustn\'tgoinbythisdoor。Itmightlookasif——\"
\"Asifwhat？\"
\"Nevermind，\"shesaid。\"Let\'sgotheotherway。\"
\"Idon\'tseewhatdifferenceitmakes，\"hegrumbled，butneverthelessfollowedherthroughthekitchen，andupthebackstairsthenthroughtheupperhallway。Atthetopofthefrontstairsshepausedforamoment，drawingadeepbreath；andthen，beforeherfather\'spuzzledeyes，atransformationcameuponher。
Hershoulders，likehereyelids，hadbeendrooping，butnowshethrewherheadback:theshouldersstraightened，andthelashesliftedoversparklingeyes；vivacitycametoherwholebodyinaflash；andshetrippeddownthesteps，withherprettyhandsrisingintimetotheliltinglittletuneshehadbeguntohum。
Atthefootofthestairs，oneofthoseprettyhandsextendeditselfatfullarm\'slengthtowardRussell，andcontinuedtobeextendeduntilitreachedhisownhandashecametomeether。
\"Howterribleofme!\"sheexclaimed。\"Tobesolatecomingdown!
Andpapa，too——Ithinkyouknoweachother。\"
Herfatherwasadvancingtowardtheyoungman，expectingtoshakehandswithhim，butAlicestoodbetweenthem，andRussell，alittleflushed，bowedtohimgravelyoverhershoulder，withoutlookingathim；whereuponAdams，slightlydisconcerted，puthishandsinhispocketsandturnedtohiswife。
\"Iguessdinner\'smore\'nready，\"hesaid。\"Webettergositdown。\"
Butsheshookherheadathimfiercely，\"Wait!\"shewhispered。
\"Whatfor？ForWalter？\"
\"No；hecan\'tbecoming，\"shereturned，hurriedly，andagainwarnedhimbyashakeofherhead。\"Bequiet!\"
\"Oh，well——\"hemuttered。
\"Sitdown!\"
Hewasthoroughlymystified，butobeyedhergestureandwenttotherocking-chairintheoppositecorner，wherehesatdown，and，withanexpressionofmeekinquiry，awaitedevents。
Meanwhile，Aliceprattledon:\"It\'sreallynotafaultofmine，beingtardy。TheshamefultruthisIwastryingtohurrypapa。
He\'sincorrigible:hestayssolateathisterribleoldfactory——terriblenewfactory，Ishouldsay。Ihopeyoudon\'tHATEusformakingyoudinewithusinsuchfearfulweather!I\'mnearlydyingoftheheat，myself，soyouhaveafellow-sufferer，ifthatpleasesyou。Whyisitwealwaysbearthingsbetterifwethinkotherpeoplehavetostandthem，too？\"Andsheadded，withanexcitedlaugh:\"SILLYofus，don\'tyouthink？\"
Gertrudehadjustmadeherentrancefromthedining-room，bearingatray。Shecameslowly，withanairofresentment；andherskirtstillneededadjusting，whileherlowerjawmovedatintervals，thoughnotnowuponanysubstance，butreminiscently，ofhabit。ShehaltedbeforeAdams，facinghim。
Helookedplaintive。\"Whatyouwanto\'me？\"heasked。
Forresponse，sheextendedthetraytowardhimwithagestureofindifference；buthestillappearedtobepuzzled。\"Whatintheworld——？\"hebegan，thencaughthiswife\'seye，andhadpresenceofmindenoughtotakeadampandplasticsandwichfromthetray。\"Well，I\'llTRYone，\"hesaid，butamomentlater，ashefulfilledthispromise，anexpressionofintensedislikecameuponhisfeatures，andhewouldhavereturnedthesandwichtoGertrude。However，asshehadcrossedtheroomtoMrs。Adamshecheckedthegesture，andsathelplessly，withthesandwichinhishand。Hemadeanotherefforttogetridofitasthewaitresspassedhim，onherwaybacktothedining-room，butsheappearednottoobservehim，andhecontinuedtobetroubledbyit。
Alicewasaloyaldaughter。\"Thesearedelicious，mama，\"shesaid；andturningtoRussell，\"Youmissedit；youshouldhavetakenone。Toobadwecouldn\'thaveofferedyouwhatoughttogowithit，ofcourse，but——\"
ShewasinterruptedbythesecondentranceofGertrude，whoannounced，\"Dinnerserve\'，\"andretiredfromview。
\"Well，well!\"Adamssaid，risingfromhischair，withrelief。
\"That\'sgood!Let\'sgoseeifwecaneatit。\"Andasthelittlegroupmovedtowardtheopendoorofthedining-roomhedisposedofhissandwichbydroppingitintheemptyfireplace。
Alice，glancingbackoverhershoulder，wastheonlyonewhosawhim，andsheshudderedinspiteofherself。Then，seeingthathelookedatherentreatingly，asifhewantedtoexplainthathewasdoingthebesthecould，shesmileduponhimsunnily，andbegantochattertoRussellagain。
CHAPTERXXII
Alicekepthersprightlychattergoingwhentheysatdown，thoughthetemperatureoftheroomandthesightofhotsoupmighthavediscouragedalessdeterminedgayety。Moreover，thereweredetailsasunpropitiousastheheat:theexpiringrosesexpressednotbeautybutpathos，andwhatfaintodourtheyexhaledwasnorivaltothelustyemanationsoftheBrusselssprouts；attheheadofthetable，Adams，sittinglowinhischair，appearedtobeunabletoflattentheuprisingwaveofhisstarchedbosom；andGertrude\'smannerandexpressionwereofarecognizablehostilityduringthelongperiodofvainwaitingforthecupsofsouptobeemptied。OnlyMrs。Adamsmadeanyprogressinthisdirection；
theothersmerelyfeinting，nowandthenliftingtheirspoonsasiftheyintendedtodosomethingwiththem。
Alice\'stalkwaslittlemorethancheerfulsound，but，tofilladesolateinterval，serveditspurpose；andhermothersupportedherwithever-faithfulcooingsofapplausivelaughter。\"Whatafunnythingweatheris!\"thegirlranon。\"Yesterdayitwascool——angelshadchargeofit——andto-daytheyhadanengagementsomewhereelse，sothedevilsawhischanceandstartedtomovetheequatortotheNorthPole；butbythetimehegothalf-way，hethoughtofsomethingelsehewantedtodo，andwentoff；andlefttheequatorhere，rightontopofUS!Iwishhe\'dcomebackandgetit!\"
\"Why，Alicedear!\"hermothercried，fondly。\"Whatanimagination!Notaverypiousone，I\'mafraidMr。Russellmightthink，though!\"HereshegaveGertrudeahiddensignaltoremovethesoup；but，astherewasnoresponse，shehadtomakethesignalmoreconspicuous。Gertrudewasleaningagainstthewall，herchinmovinglikeaslowpendulum，herstreakedeyesfixedmutinouslyuponRussell。Mrs。Adamsnoddedseveraltimes，increasingtheemphasisofhergesture，whileAlicetalkedbriskly；butthebroodingwaitresscontinuedtobrood。Afaintsnapofthefingersfailedtodisturbher；norwasacoverthissingwhisperofavail，andMrs。Adamswasbeginningtoshowsignsofstrainwhenherdaughterrelievedher。
\"Imagineourtryingtoeatanythingsohotassouponanightlikethis!\"Alicelaughed。\"WhatCOULDhavebeeninthecook\'smindnottogiveussomethingicedandjelliedinstead？Ofcourseit\'sbecauseshe\'sequatorial，herself，originally，andonlyfeelsathomewhenMr。Satanmovesitnorth。\"ShelookedroundatGertrude，whostoodbehindher。\"Dotakethisdreadfulsoupaway!\"
Thusdirectlyaddressed，Gertrudeyieldedherattention，thoughunwillingly，andasifshedecidedonlybyahair\'sweightnottorevolt，instead。However，shefinallysetherselfinslowmotion；butoverlookedthesupposedheadofthetable，seemingtobeunawareoftheswelteringlittlemanwhosatthere。Asshedisappearedtowardthekitchenwithbutthreeofthecupsuponhertrayheturnedtolookplaintivelyafterher，andventuredanattempttorecallher。
\"Here!\"hesaid，inalowvoice。\"Here，you!\"
\"Whatisit，Virgil？\"hiswifeasked。
\"What\'shername？\"
Mrs。Adamsgavehimaglanceofsuddenpanic，and，seeingthattheguestoftheeveningwasnotlookingather，butdownatthewhiteclothbeforehim，shefrownedhard，andshookherhead。
UnfortunatelyAlicewasnotobservinghermother，andasked，innocently:\"What\'swhosename，papa？\"
\"Why，thisyoungdarkywoman，\"heexplained。\"Sheleftmine。\"
\"Nevermind，\"Alicelaughed。\"There\'shopeforyou，papa。Shehasn\'tgoneforever!\"
\"Idon\'tknowaboutthat，\"hesaid，notcontentwiththisimpulsiveassurance。\"SheLOOKEDlikesheis。\"Andhisremark，consideredasaprediction，hadbeguntoseemwarrantedbeforeGertrude\'sreturnwithchinapreliminarytothenextstageofthebanquet。
Aliceprovedherselfequaltothelonggap，andrattledonthroughitwithaspiritrichlyjustifyinghermother\'spraiseofheras\"alwaysreadytosmooththingsover\"；forherewasmorethanlongdelaytobesmoothedover。ShesmoothedoverherfatherandmotherforRussell；andshesmoothedoverhimforthem，thoughhedidnotknowit，andremainedunawareofwhatheowedher。Withallthis，throughoutherprattlings，thegirl\'sbrighteyeskeptseekinghiswithaneagergayety，whichbutlittleveiledbothinterrogationandentreaty——asifsheasked:
\"Isittoomuchforyou？Can\'tyoubearit？Won\'tyouPLEASE
bearit？Iwouldforyou。Won\'tyougivemeasignthatit\'sallright？\"
Helookedatherbutfleetingly，andseemedtosufferfromtheheat，inspiteofeverymanlyeffortnottowipehisbrowtoooften。Hiscolour，afterrisingwhenhegreetedAliceandherfather，haddeparted，leavinghimagainmoistlypallid；aconditionarisingfromdiscomfort，nodoubt，but，consideredasadecoration，almostpoeticallybecomingtohim。Notlessbecomingwasthefaint，kindlysmile，whichshowedhiswishtoexpressamusementandapproval；andyetitwasasmileratherstrainedandplaintive，asifhe，likeAdams，couldonlydothebesthecould。
HepleasedAdams，whothoughthimafineyoungman，anddecidedlythequietestthatAlicehadevershowntoherfamily。Inherfather\'sopinionthiswasnosmallmerit；anditwastoRussell\'scredit，too，thatheshowedembarrassmentuponthisfirstintimatepresentation；herewasanapplicantwithbothreserveandmodesty。\"Sofar，heseemstobefirstrateamightyfineyoungman，\"Adamsthought；and，promptedbynowishtopartfromAlicebutbyreminiscencesofapparentcandidateslesspleasing，headded，\"Atlast!\"
Alice\'slivelinessneverflagged。Hersmoothingoverofthingswasanalmostcontinuousperformance，andhadtobe。Yet，whileshechatteredthroughthehotandheavycourses，thequestionssheaskedherselfwereascontinuousastheperformance，andaspoignantaswhathereyesseemedtobeaskingRussell。Whyhadshenotprevailedoverhermother\'sfearofbeing\"skimpy？\"Hadshebeen，indeed，ashermothersaidshelooked，\"inatrance？\"
Butaboveall:WhatwasthematterwithHIM？Whathadhappened？
Forshetoldherselfwithpainfulhumourthatsomethingevenworsethanthisdinnermustbe\"thematterwithhim。\"
Thesmallroom，suffocatedwiththeodourofboiledsprouts，grewhotterandhotterasmoreandmorefoodappeared，slowlybornein，betweendeathlylongwaits，bytheresentful，loud-breathingGertrude。AndwhileAlicestillsoughtRussell\'sglance，andreadthelookuponhisfaceadozendifferentways，fearingallofthem；andwhilethestragglinglittleflowersdieduponthestainedcloth，shefeltherheartgrowasheavyasthefood，andwonderedthatitdidnotdieliketheroses。
Withthearrivalofcoffee，thehostbestirredhimselftomakeknownahospitableregret，\"ByGeorge!\"hesaid。\"Imeanttobuysomecigars。\"Headdressedhimselfapologeticallytotheguest。
\"Idon\'tknowwhatIwasthinkingabout，toforgettobringsomehomewithme。Idon\'tuse\'emmyself——unlesssomebodyhandsmeone，youmightsay。I\'vealwaysbeenapipe-smoker，pureandsimple，butIoughttorememberedforkindofanoccasionlikethis。\"
\"Notatall，\"Russellsaid。\"I\'mnotsmokingatalllately；butwhenIdo，I\'mlikeyou，andsmokeapipe。\"
Alicestarted，rememberingwhatshehadtoldhimwhenheovertookheronherwayfromthetobacconist\'s；but，afteramoment，lookingathim，shedecidedthathemusthaveforgottenit。Ifhehadremembered，shethought，hecouldnothavehelpedglancingather。Onthecontrary，heseemedmoreatease，justthen，thanhehadsincetheysatdown，forhewasfavouringherfatherwithathoughtfulattentionasAdamsrespondedtotheintroductionofaman\'stopicintotheconversationatlast。\"Well，Mr。
Russell，Iguessyou\'reright，atthat。Idon\'tsaybutwhatcigarsmaybeallrightforamanthatcanafford\'em，ifhelikes\'embetterthanapipe，butyoutakeagoodoldpipenow——\"
Hecontinued，andwasgettingwellintotheeulogiumcustomarilyprovokedbythistheme，whentherecameaninterruption:thedoor-bellrang，andhepausedinquiringly，rathersurprised。
Mrs。AdamsspoketoGertrudeinanundertone:
\"Justsay，\'Notathome。\'\"
\"What？\"
\"Ifit\'scallers，justsaywe\'renotathome。\"
Gertrudespokeoutfreely:\"Youmeanyouastin\'meto\'tendyou\'
frontdo\'feryou？\"
Sheseemedbothincredulousandaffronted，butMrs。Adamspersisted，thoughsomewhatapprehensively。\"Yes。
Hurry——uh——please。Justsaywe\'renotathomeifyouplease。\"
AgainGertrudeobviouslyhesitatedbetweencomplianceandrevolt，andagainthemeekercoursefortunatelyprevailedwithher。ShegaveMrs。Adamsastare，grimlyderisive，thendeparted。Whenshecamebackshesaid:
\"Hesayhewait。\"
\"ButItoldyoutotellanybodywewerenotathome，\"MrsAdamsreturned。\"Whoisit？\"
\"SayhenameMr。Law。\"
\"Wedon\'tknowanyMr。Law。\"
\"Yes\'m；heknowyou。SayheanxioustospeakMr。Adams。Sayhewait。\"
\"TellhimMr。Adamsisengaged。\"
\"Holdonaminute，\"Adamsintervened。\"Law？No。Idon\'tknowanyMr。Law。Yousureyougotthenameright？\"
\"SayhenameLaw，\"Gertrudereplied，lookingattheceilingtoexpressherfatigue。\"Law。\'Sallhetellme；\'sallIknow。\"
Adamsfrowned。\"Law，\"hesaid。\"Wasn\'titmaybe\'Lohr？\'\"
\"Law，\"Gertruderepeated。\'Sallhetellme；\'sallIknow。\"
\"What\'shelooklike？\"
\"Heain\'tmuch，\"shesaid。\"\'Boutyou\'age；gotbrustlywhitemoustache，niceeye-glasses。\"
\"It\'sCharleyLohr!\"Adamsexclaimed。\"I\'llgoseewhathewants。\"
\"But，Virgil，\"hiswiferemonstrated，\"dofinishyourcoffee；hemightstayallevening。Maybehe\'scometocall。\"
Adamslaughed。\"Heisn\'tmuchofacaller，Iexpect。Don\'tworry:I\'lltakehimuptomyroom。\"AndturningtowardRussell，\"Ah——ifyou\'lljustexcuseme，\"hesaid；andwentouttohisvisitor。
Whenhehadgone，Mrs。Adamsfinishedhercoffee，and，havingglancedintelligentlyfromherguesttoherdaughter，sherose。
\"IthinkperhapsIoughttogoandshakehandswithMr。Lohr，myself，\"shesaid，addinginexplanationtoRussell，asshereachedthedoor，\"He\'sanoldfriendofmyhusband\'sandit\'saverylongtimesincehe\'sbeenhere。\"
Alicenoddedandsmiledtoherbrightly，butupontheclosingofthedoor，thesmilevanished；allherlivelinessdisappeared；andwiththischangeofexpressionhercomplexionitselfappearedtochange，sothatherrougebecameobvious，forshewaspalebeneathit。However，Russelldidnotseethealteration，forhedidnotlookather；anditwasbutamomentarylapsethevacationofatiredgirl，whofortensecondsletsherselflookasshefeels。Thensheshothervivacitybackintoplaceasbysomepowerfulspring。
\"Pennyforyourthoughts!\"shecried，andtossedoneofthewiltedrosesathim，acrossthetable。\"I\'llbidmorethanapenny；I\'llbidtuppence——no，apoorlittledeadrosearoseforyourthoughts，Mr。ArthurRussell!Whatarethey？\"
Heshookhishead。\"I\'mafraidIhaven\'tany。\"
\"No，ofcoursenot，\"shesaid。\"Whocouldhavethoughtsinweatherlikethis？WillyouEVERforgiveus？\"
\"Whatfor？\"
\"Makingyoueatsuchaheavydinner——ImeanLOOKatsuchaheavydinner，becauseyoucertainlydidn\'tdomorethanlookatit——onsuchanight!Butthecrimedrawstoaclose，andyoucanbegintocheerup!\"Shelaughedgaily，and，rising，movedtothedoor。
\"Let\'sgointheotherroom；yourfearfuldutyisalmostdone，andyoucanrunhomeassoonasyouwantto。That\'swhatyou\'redyingtodo。\"
\"Notatall，\"hesaidinavoicesofeeblethatshelaughedaloud。
\"Goodgracious!\"shecried。\"Ihadn\'trealizeditwasTHATbad!\"
Forthis，thoughhecontrivedtolaugh，heseemedtohavenoverbalretortwhatever；butfollowedherintothe\"living-room，\"
whereshestoppedandturned，facinghim。
\"Hasitreallybeensofrightful？\"sheasked。
\"Why，ofcoursenot。Notatall。\"
\"Ofcourseyes，though，youmean!\"
\"Notatall。It\'sbeenmostkindofyourmotherandfatherandyou。\"
\"Doyouknow，\"shesaid，\"you\'veneveroncelookedatmeformorethanasecondatatimethewholeevening？AnditseemedtomeI
lookedratherniceto-night，too!\"
\"Youalwaysdo，\"hemurmured。
\"Idon\'tseehowyouknow，\"shereturned；andthensteppingclosertohim，spokewithgentlesolicitude:\"Tellme:you\'rereallyfeelingwretchedly，aren\'tyou？Iknowyou\'vegotafearfulheadache，orsomething。Tellme!\"
\"Notatall。\"
\"Youareill——I\'msureofit。\"
\"Notatall。\"
\"Onyourword？\"
\"I\'mreallyquiteallright。\"
\"Butifyouare——\"shebegan；andthen，lookingathimwithadesperatesweetness，asifthiswereherlastresourcetorousehim，\"What\'sthematter，littleboy？\"shesaidwithlispingtenderness。\"Tellauntie!\"
Itwasamistake，forheseemedtoflinch，andtoleanbackward，however，slightly。Sheturnedawayinstantly，withaflippantliftanddropofbothhands。\"Oh，mydear!\"shelaughed。\"I
won\'teatyou!\"
Andasthediscomfitedyoungmanwatchedher，seemingabletolifthiseyes，nowthatherbackwasturned，shewenttothefrontdoorandpushedopenthescreen。\"Let\'sgooutontheporch，\"shesaid。\"Wherewebelong!\"
Then，whenhehadfollowedherout，andtheywereseated，\"Isn\'tthisbetter？\"sheasked。\"Don\'tyoufeelmorelikeyourselfouthere？\"
Hebeganamurmur:\"Notat——\"
Butshecuthimoffsharply:\"Pleasedon\'tsay\'Notatall\'
again!\"
\"I\'msorry。\"
\"Youdoseemsorryaboutsomething，\"shesaid。\"Whatisit？
Isn\'tittimeyouweretellingmewhat\'sthematter？\"
\"Nothing。Indeednothing\'sthematter。OfcourseoneISratheraffectedbysuchweatherasthis。Itmaymakeonealittlequieterthanusual，ofcourse。\"
Shesighed，andletthetiredmusclesofherfacerest。Underthehardlights，indoors，theyhadservedheruntiltheyached，anditwasaluxurytofeelthatinthedarknessnogrimacingsneedcalluponthem。
\"Ofcourse，ifyouwon\'ttellme——\"shesaid。
\"Icanonlyassureyouthere\'snothingtotell。\"
\"Iknowwhatanuglylittlehouseitis，\"shesaid。\"Maybeitwasthefurniture——ormama\'svasesthatupsetyou。Orwasitmamaherself——orpapa？\"
\"Nothing\'upset\'me。\"
Atthatsheutteredamonosyllableofdoubtinglaughter。\"I
wonderwhyyousaythat。\"
\"Becauseit\'sso。\"
\"No。It\'sbecauseyou\'retookind，ortooconscientious，ortooembarrassed——anyhowtoosomething——totellme。\"Sheleanedforward，elbowsonkneesandchininhands，inthereflectiveattitudesheknewhowtomakegraceful。\"Ihaveafeelingthatyou\'renotgoingtotellme，\"shesaid，slowly。\"Yes——eventhatyou\'renevergoingtotellme。Iwonder——Iwonder——\"
\"Yes？Whatdoyouwonder？\"
\"Iwasjustthinking——Iwonderiftheyhaven\'tdoneit，afterall。\"
\"Idon\'tunderstand。\"
\"Iwonder，\"shewenton，stillslowly，andinavoiceofreflection，\"IwonderwhoHASbeentalkingaboutmetoyou，afterall？Isn\'tthatit？\"
\"Notat——\"hebegan，butcheckedhimselfandsubstitutedanotherformofdenial。\"Nothingis\'it。\'\"
\"Areyousure？\"
\"Why，yes。\"
\"Howcurious!\"shesaid。
\"Why？\"
\"Becausealleveningyou\'vebeensoutterlydifferent。\"
\"Butinthisweather——\"
\"No。Thatwouldn\'tmakeyouafraidtolookatmeallevening!\"
\"ButIdidlookatyou。Often。\"
\"No。NotreallyaLOOK。\"
\"ButI\'mlookingatyounow。\"
\"Yes——inthedark!\"shesaid。\"No——theweathermightmakeyouevenquieterthanusual，butitwouldn\'tstrikeyousonearlydumb。No——anditwouldn\'tmakeyouseemtobeundersuchastrain——asifyouthoughtonlyofescape!\"
\"ButIhaven\'t——\"
\"Youshouldn\'t，\"sheinterrupted，gently。\"There\'snothingyouhavetoescapefrom，youknow。Youaren\'tcommittedto——tothisfriendship。\"
\"I\'msorryyouthink——\"hebegan，butdidnotcompletethefragment。
Shetookitup。\"You\'resorryIthinkyou\'resodifferent，youmeantosay，don\'tyou？Nevermind:that\'swhatyoudidmeantosay，butyoucouldn\'tfinishitbecauseyou\'renotgoodatdeceiving。\"
\"Oh，no，\"heprotested，feebly。\"I\'mnotdeceiving。\"I\'m——\"
\"Nevermind，\"shesaidagain。\"You\'resorryIthinkyou\'resodifferent——andallinoneday——sincelastnight。Yes，yourvoiceSOUNDSsorry，too。Itsoundssorrierthanitwouldjustbecauseofmythinkingsomethingyoucouldchangemymindaboutinaminutesoitmeansyou\'resorryyouAREdifferent。\"
\"No——I——\"
Butdisregardingthefaintdenial，\"Nevermind，\"shesaid。\"Doyourememberonenightwhenyoutoldmethatnothinganybodyelsecoulddowouldeverkeepyoufromcominghere？Thatifyou——ifyouleftmeitwouldbebecauseIdroveyouawaymyself？\"
\"Yes，\"hesaid，huskily。\"Itwastrue。\"
\"Areyousure？\"
\"IndeedIam，\"heansweredinalowvoice，butwithconviction。
\"Then——\"Shepaused。\"Well——butIhaven\'tdrivenyouaway。\"
\"No。\"
\"Andyetyou\'vegone，\"shesaid，quietly。
\"DoIseemsostupidasallthat？\"
\"YouknowwhatImean。\"Sheleanedbackinherchairagain，andherhands，inactiveforonce，laymotionlessinherlap。Whenshespokeitwasinaruefulwhisper:
\"IwonderifIHAVEdrivenyouaway？\"
\"You\'vedonenothing——nothingatall，\"hesaid。
\"Iwonder——\"shesaidoncemore，butshestopped。Inhermindshewasgoingbackovertheirtimetogethersincethefirstmeeting——fragmentsoftalk，momentsofsilence，littlethingsofnoimportance，littlethingsthatmightbeimportant；moonshine，sunshine，starlight；andherthoughtszigzaggedamongthejumblingmemories；but，asifshemadeforherselfapictureofallthesefragments，throwingthemuponthecanvashaphazard，shesawthemalljusttouchedwiththeonetaintingqualitythatgavethemcoherence，thefaint，falsehazeshehadputoverthisfriendshipbyherownpretendings。And，ifthisterribledinner，oranything，oreverything，hadshownthatsaffrontintinitstruecolourtothemanatherside，lastnightalmostalover，thenshehadindeedofherselfdrivenhimaway，andmightwellfeelthatshewaslost。
\"Doyouknow？\"shesaid，suddenly，inaclear，loudvoice。\"I
havethestrangestfeeling。IfeelasifIweregoingtobewithyouonlyaboutfiveminutesmoreinalltherestofmylife!\"
\"Why，no，\"hesaid。\"OfcourseI\'mcomingtoseeyou——often。
I——\"
\"No，\"sheinterrupted。\"I\'veneverhadafeelinglikethisbefore。It\'s——it\'sjustSO；that\'sall!You\'reGOING——why，you\'renevercominghereagain!\"Shestoodup，abruptly，beginningtotrembleallover。\"Why，it\'sFINISHED，isn\'tit？\"
shesaid，andhertremblingwasmanifestnowinhervoice。\"Why，it\'sallOVER，isn\'tit？Why，yes!\"
Hehadrisenasshedid。\"I\'mafraidyou\'reawfullytiredandnervous，\"hesaid。\"Ireallyoughttobegoing。\"
\"Yes，ofCOURSEyouought，\"shecried，despairingly。\"There\'snothingelseforyoutodo。Whenanything\'sspoiled，peopleCAN\'Tdoanythingbutrunawayfromit。Sogood-bye!\"
\"Atleast，\"hereturned，huskily，\"we\'llonly——onlysaygood-night。\"
Then，asmovingtogo，hestumbledupontheverandasteps，\"YourHAT!\"shecried。\"I\'dliketokeepitforasouvenir，butI\'mafraidyouneedit!\"
Sheranintothehallandbroughthisstrawhatfromthechairwherehehadleftit。\"Youpoorthing!\"shesaid，withquaveringlaughter。\"Don\'tyouknowyoucan\'tgowithoutyourhat？\"
Then，astheyfacedeachotherfortheshortmomentwhichbothofthemknewwouldbethelastofalltheirverandamoments，Alice\'sbrokenlaughtergrewlouder。\"Whatathingtosay!\"shecried。
\"Whataromanticparting——talkingaboutHATS!\"
Herlaughtercontinuedasheturnedaway，butothersoundscamefromwithinthehouse，clearlyaudiblewiththeopeningofadoorupstairs——alongandwailingcryoflamentationinthevoiceofMrs。Adams。Russellpausedatthesteps，uncertain，butAlicewavedtohimtogoon。
\"Oh，don\'tbother，\"shesaid。\"Wehavelotsofthatinthisfunnylittleoldhouse!Good-bye!\"
Andashewentdownthesteps，sheranbackintothehouseandclosedthedoorheavilybehindher。
CHAPTERXXIII
Hermother\'swailingcouldstillbeheardfromoverhead，thoughmorefaintly；andoldCharleyLohrwascomingdownthestairsalone。
HelookedatAlicecompassionately。\"Iwasjustcomin\'tosuggestmaybeyou\'dexcuseyourselffromyourcompany，\"hesaid。
\"Yourmotherwasboundnottodisturbyou，andtriedherbesttokeepyoufromhearin\'howshe\'stakin\'on，butIthoughtprobablyyoubetterseetoher。\"
\"Yes，I\'llcome。What\'sthematter？\"
\"Well，\"hesaid，\"_I_onlysteppedovertooffermysympathyandservices，asitwere。_I_thoughtofcourseyoufolksknewallaboutit。Factis，itwasintheeveningpaper——justalittlebitofanitemonthebackpage，ofcourse。\"
\"Whatisit？\"
Hecoughed。\"Well，itain\'tanythingsoterrible，\"hesaid。
\"Factis，yourbrotherWalter\'sgotinalittletrouble——well，I
supposeyoumightcallitquiteagooddealoftrouble。Factis，he\'squiteconsiderableshortinhisaccountsdownatLambandCompany。\"
Aliceranupthestairsandintoherfather\'sroom，whereMrs。
Adamsthrewherselfintoherdaughter\'sarms。\"Ishegone？\"shesobbed。\"Hedidn\'thearme，didhe？Itriedsohard——\"
Alicepattedtheheavingshouldersherarmsenclosed。\"No，no，\"
shesaid。\"Hedidn\'thearyou——itwouldn\'thavemattered——hedoesn\'tmatteranyway。\"
\"Oh，POORWalter!\"Themothercried。\"Oh，thePOORboy!Poor，poorWalter!Poor，poor，poor，POOR——\"
\"Hush，dear，hush!\"Alicetriedtosootheher，butthelamentcouldnotbeabated，andfromtheothersideoftheroomarepetitioninadifferentspiritwasascontinuous。Adamspacedfuriouslythere，poundinghisfistintohisleftpalmashestrode。\"Thedangboy!\"hesaid。\"Danglittlefool!Dangidiot!Dangfool!Whyn\'theTELLme，thedanglittlefool？\"
\"HeDID!\"Mrs。Adamssobbed。\"HeDIDtellyou，andyouwouldn\'tGIVEittohim。\"
\"HeDID，didhe？\"Adamsshoutedather。\"Whathebeggedmeforwasmoneytorunawaywith!Heneverdreamedofputtingbackwhathetook。Whatthedangnationyoutalkingabout——accusingme!\"
\"HeNEEDEDit，\"shesaid。\"Heneededittorunawaywith!HowcouldheexpecttoLIVE，afterhegotaway，ifhedidn\'thavealittlemoney？Oh，poor，poor，POORWalter!Poor，poor，poor——\"
Shewentbacktothisrepetition；andAdamswentbacktohisown，thenpaused，seeinghisoldfriendstandinginthehallwayoutsidetheopendoor。
\"Ah——I\'lljustbegoin\'，Iguess，Virgil，\"Lohrsaid。\"Idon\'tseeasthere\'sanyusemytryin\'tosayanymore。I\'lldoanythingyouwantmeto，youunderstand。\"
\"Waitaminute，\"Adamssaid，and，groaning，cameandwentdownthestairswithhim。\"Yousayyoudidn\'tseetheoldmanatall？\"
\"No，Idon\'tknowathingaboutwhathe\'sgoingtodo，\"Lohrsaid，astheyreachedthelowerfloor。\"Notathing。Butlookhere，Virgil，Idon\'tseeasthiscallsforyouandyourwifetotakeonsohardabout——anyhownotashardasthewayyou\'vestarted。\"
\"No，\"Adamsgulped。\"Italwaysseemsthatwaytotheotherpartythat\'sonlylookingon!\"
\"Oh，well，Iknowthat，ofcourse，\"oldCharleyreturned，soothingly。\"Butlookhere，Virgil:theymaynotcatchtheboy；
theydidn\'tevenseemtobesurewhattrainhemade，andiftheydogethim，why，theolemanmightdecidenottoprosecuteif——\"
\"HIM？\"Adamscried，interrupting。\"Himnotprosecute？Why，that\'swhathe\'sbeenwaitingfor，allalong!Hethinksmyboyandmebothcheatedhim!Why，hewasjustlettingWalterwalkintoatrap!Didn\'tyousaythey\'dbeensuspectinghimforsometimeback？Didn\'tyousaythey\'dbeenwatchinghimandwerejustaboutfixingtoarresthim？\"
\"Yes，Iknow，\"saidLohr；\"butyoucan\'ttell，especiallyifyouraisethemoneyandpayitback。\"
\"Everycent!\"Adamsvociferated。\"Everylastpenny!Icanraiseit——IGOTtoraiseit!I\'mgoingtoputaloanonmyfactoryto-morrow。Oh，I\'llgetitforhim，youtellhim!Everylastpenny!\"
\"Well，olefeller，youjusttryandgetquieteddownsomenow。\"
Charleyheldouthishandinparting。\"Youandyourwifejustquietdownsome。YouAIN\'Tthehealthiestmanintheworld，youknow，andyoualreadybeenunderquitesomestrainbeforethishappened。Youwanttotakecareofyourselfforthesakeofyourwifeandthatsweetlittlegirlupstairs，youknow。Now，good-night，\"hefinished，steppingoutupontheveranda。\"Yousendformeifthere\'sanythingIcando。\"
\"Do？\"Adamsechoed。\"Thereain\'tanythingANYBODYcando!\"Andthen，ashisoldfriendwentdownthepathtothesidewalk，hecalledafterhim，\"YoutellhimI\'llpayhimeverylastcent!
Everylast，dang，dirtyPENNY!\"
Heslammedthedoorandwentrapidlyupthestairs，talkingloudlytohimself。\"Everydang，last，dirtypenny!ThinksEVERYBODYinthisfamilywantstostealfromhim，doeshe？
Thinkswe\'reALLyellow，doeshe？I\'llshowhim!\"Andhecameintohisownroomvociferating，\"Everylast，dang，dirtypenny!\"
Mrs。Adamshadcollapsed，andAlicehadputheruponhisbed，whereshelaytossingconvulsivelyandsobbing，\"Oh，POOR
Walter!\"overandover，butafteratimeshevariedthesorrytune。\"Oh，poorAlice!\"shemoaned，clingingtoherdaughter\'shand。\"Oh，poor，POORAlicetohaveTHIScomeonthenightofyourdinner——justwheneverythingseemedtobegoingsowell——atlast——oh，poor，poor，POOR——\"
\"Hush!\"Alicesaid，sharply。\"Don\'tsay\'poorAlice!\'I\'mallright。\"
\"YouMUSTbe!\"hermothercried，clutchingher。\"You\'vejustGOT
tobe!ONEofushasgottobeallright——surelyGodwouldn\'tmindjustONEofusbeingallright——thatwouldn\'thurtHim——\"
\"Hush，hush，mother!Hush!\"
ButMrs。Adamsonlyclutchedherthemoretightly。\"HeseemedSUCHaniceyoungman，dearie!Hemaynotseethisinthepaper——Mr。Lohrsaiditwasjustalittlebitofanitem——heMAY
notseeit，dearie——\"