EuniceMaveringacknowledgedAlice’sfirstletter。Shesaidthathermotherreaditaloudtothemall，andhadbeendelightedwiththegoodaccountshegaveofDan，andfascinatedwithallthestoryoftheirdailydoingsandsayings。ShewishedEunicetotellAlicehowfullysheappreciatedherthoughtfulnessofasickoldwoman，andthatshewasgoingtowriteherselfandthankher。ButEuniceaddedthatAlicemustnotbesurprisedifhermotherwasnotverypromptinthis，andshesentmessagesfromallthefamily，affectionateforAlice，andpoliteforherfatherandmother。
AliceshowedDantheletter，andheseemedtofindnothingnoticeableinit。“Shesaysyourmotherwillwritelater。”Alicesuggested。
“Yes。Yououghttofeelverymuchcomplimentedbythat。Mother’sautographsareprettyuncommon。”hesaid，smiling。
“Why，doesn’tshewrite？Can’tshe？Doesittireher？”askedAlice。
“Ohyes，shecanwrite，butshehatesto。ShegetsEuniceorMinnietowriteusually。”
“Dan。”criedAliceintensely，“whydidn’tyoutellme？”
“Why，Ithoughtyouknewit。”heexplainedeasily。“Shelikestoread，andlikestotalk，butitboreshertowrite。Idon’tsupposeIgetmorethantwoorthreepencilscratchesfromherinthecourseofayear。Shemakesthegirlswrite。Butyouneedn’tmindhernotwriting。Youmaybesureshe’sgladofyourletters。”
“Itmakesmeseemverypresumptuoustobewritingtoherwhenthere’snochanceofheranswering。”Alicegrieved。“It’sasifIhadpassedoveryoursisters’heads。Ioughttohavewrittentothem。”
“Oh，well，youcandothatnow。”saidDansoothingly。
“No。No，Ican’tdoitnow。Itwouldberidiculous。”Shewassilent，andpresentlysheasked，“IsthereanythingelseaboutyourmotherthatI
oughttoknow？”Shelookedathimwithasortofimpendingdisciplineinhereyeswhichhehadlearnedtodread;itmeantsuchalongcourseofthings，suchaverygreatvarietyofatonementandexpiationforhim，thathecouldnotbringhimselftoconfrontitsteadily。
Hisheartgaveafeebleleap;hewouldhavegladlytoldherallthatwasinit，andhemeanttodosoattherighttime，butthisdidnotseemthemoment。“Ican’tsaythatthereis。”heansweredcoldly。
InthatneedofconsecratingherhappinesswhichAlicefelt，shewentagreatdealtochurchinthosedays。Sometimesshefelttheneedalmostofdefenceagainstherhappiness，andavagueapprehensionmixedwithit。
Coulditberighttoletitclaimherwholebeing，asitseemedtodo？
ThanwasthequestionwhichsheonceaskedDan，anditmadehimlaugh，andcatchhertohiminarapturethatservedforthetime，andthenlefthertomoremorbiddoubts。Evidentlyhecouldnotfollowherinthem;hecouldnotevenimaginethem;andwhilehewaswithhertheyseemedtohavenoverityorvalue。ButshetalkedthemoververyhypotheticallyandimpersonallywithMissCotton，inwhosesympathytheyresumedalltheirimport，andgainedsomethingmore。Intheidealisationwhichthegirlunderwentinthisatmosphereallherthoughtsandpurposeshadasignificancewhichshewouldnotofherself，perhaps，haveattachedtothem。Theydiscussedthemandanalysedthemwithasatisfactionintheresultwhichcouldnotberepresentedwithoutaneffectofcaricature。
TheymeasuredAlice’sromancetogether，andevolvedfromitasublimationofresponsibility，ofduty，ofdevotion，whichAlicefounditimpossibletosubmittoDanwhenhecamewithhissimple-hearted，single-mindedpurposeofgettingMrs。Pasmeroutoftheroom，andsittingdownwithhisarmaroundAlice’swaist。Whenhehadaccomplishedthisitseemedsufficientinitself，andshehadtothink，tostruggletorecallthingsbeyondit，aboveit。Hecouldnotbemadetoseeatsuchtimeshowtheirlivescouldbemoreinunisonthantheywere。Whensheproposeddoingsomethingforhimwhichheknewwasdisagreeabletoher，hewouldnotlether;andwhenshehintedatanythingshewishedhimtodoforherbecausesheknewitwasdisagreeabletohim，heconsentedsopromptly，sojoyously，thatsheperceivedhecouldnothavegiventheleastthoughttoit。
Shefelteverydaythattheywerealienintheirtastesandaims;theirpleasureswerenotthesame，andthoughitwassweet，thoughitwascharming，tohavehimgiveupsowillinglyallhispreferences，shefelt，withoutknowingthatthetimemustcomewhenthiscouldnotbeso，thatitwasallwrong。
“Buttheseverydifferences，theseantagonisms，ifyouwishtocallthemso。”suggestedMissCotton，intalkingAlice’smisgivingsoverwithher，“aren’ttheyjustwhatwilldrawyoutogethermoreandmore？Isn’titwhatattractedyoutoeachother？Theveryfactthatyouaresuchperfectcounterparts——“
“Yes。”thegirlassented，“that’swhatwe’retaughttobelieve。”Shemeantbythenovels，towhichwealltrustourinstructioninsuchmatters，andherdoubtdoublyrankledaftershehadputittosilence。
ShekeptonwritingtoDan’smother，thoughmoreandmoreperfunctorily;
andnowEuniceandnowMinnieMaveringacknowledgedherletters。Sheknewthattheymustthinkshewassilly，buthavingenteredbyDan’sconnivanceuponherfolly，shewastooproudtoabandonit。
Atlast，aftershehadceasedtoexpectit，camealetterfromhismother，notabriefnote，butaletterwhichtheinvalidhadevidentlytaskedherselftomakelongandfull，inrecognitionofAlice’skindnessinwritingtohersomuch。Thegirlopenedit，and，afteraverifyingglanceatthesignature，begantoreaditwithathrilloftendertriumph，andthefondprevisionofthegreaterpleasureofreadingitagainwithDan。
Butafterreadingitoncethrough，shedidnotwaitforhimbeforereadingitagainandagain。Shedidthiswithbewilderment，intershotwithflashesofconviction，andthendoubtsofthisconviction。Whenshecouldmisunderstandnolonger，sherosequietlyandfoldedtheletter，andputitcarefullybackintoitsenvelopeandintoherwritingdesk，whereshesatdownandwrote，inherclearestandfirmesthand，thisnotetoMavering——
“Iwishtoseeyouimmediately。
“ALICEPASMER。”
XLIII
Danhadlearned，withalover’skeenness，toreadAlice’smoodsinthemostcolourlesswordingofhernotes。Shewasratherapttowritehimnotes，takingbackorreaffirmingtheeffectofsomethingthathadjustpassedbetweenthem。Hernoteweretemperedtovaryingdegreesofheatandcold，sofinethatnooneelsewouldhavefeltthedifference，butsensibletohimintheirsubtlestintention。
Perhapsamerewitnessofthefactwouldhavebeenalarmedbyanotewhichbeganwithoutanaddress，exceptthatontheenvelope，andendeditsperemptorybrevitywiththewriter’snamesignedinfull。Danreadcalamityinit，andhehadallthemoretroubletopullhimselftogethertomeetitbecausehehadpartedwithunusualtendernessfromAlicethenightbefore，afteraneveninginwhichitseemedtohimthattheiridealshadbeencompletelyreconciled。
Thenotecame，ashernoteswereapttocome，whileDanwasatbreakfast，whichhewasratherluxuriousaboutforsoyoungaman，andhefeltformlesslygladafterwardthathehaddrunkhisfirstcupofcoffeebeforeheopenedit，foritchilledthesecondcup，andseemedtotakeallcharacteroutoftheomelet。
Heobeyedit，wonderingwhatthedoommenacedinitmightbe，butknowingthatitwasdoom，andleavinghisbreakfasthalf-finished，withadullsenseofthetragedyofdoingso。
HewouldhavelikedtoaskforMrs。Pasmerfirst，andinterposeamomentofhercheerfulunrealitybetweenhimselfandhisinterviewwithAlice，buthedecidedthathehadbetternotdothis，andtheymetatonce，withthewidthoftheroombetweenthem。Herlookwasonethatmadeitimpassabletothesimpleimpulseheusuallyhadtotakeherinhisarmsandkissher。Butasshestoodholdingoutalettertohim，withtheapparentintentionthatheshouldcomeandtakeit，hetraversedtheinterveningspaceandtookit。
“Why，it’sfrommother！“hesaidjoyously，withaglanceatthehandwriting。
“Willyoupleaseexplainit？”saidAlice，andDanbegantoreadit。
Itbeganwithagoodmanyexcusesfornothavingwrittenbefore，andwentonwithaprettyexpressionofinterestinAlice’slettersandgratitudeforthem;Mrs。Maveringassuredthegirlthatshecouldnotimaginewhatapleasuretheyhadbeentoher。Shepromisedherselfthattheyshouldbegreatfriends，andshesaidthatshelookedforwardeagerlytothetime，nowdrawingnear，whenDanshouldbringherhometothem。ShesaidsheknewAlicewouldfinditdullattheFallsexceptforhim，buttheywouldalldotheirbest，andshewouldfindtheplaceverydifferentfromwhatshehadseenitinthewinter。Alicecouldmakebelievethatshewastherejustforthesummer，andMrs。Maveringhopedthatbeforethesummerwasgoneshewouldbesosorryforasickoldwomanthatshewouldnotevenwishtogowithit。Thispartoftheletter，whichgaveDanawaysohopelessly，ashefelt，wasphrasedsotouchingly，thathelookedupfromitwithmoisteyestothehardcoldjudgmentintheeyesofAlice。
“Willyoupleaseexplainit？”sherepeated。
Hetriedtotemporise。“Explainwhat？”
Alicewasprompttosay，“Hadyoupromisedyourmothertotakemehometolive？”
Dandidnotanswer。
“Youpromisedmymothertogoabroad。Whatelsehaveyoupromised？”Hecontinuedsilent，andsheadded，“Youareafaithlessman。”TheywerethewordsofRomola，intheromance，toTito;shehadoftenadmiredthem;andtheyseemedtoherequallythemeasureofDan’soffence。
“Alice——“
“Hereareyourlettersandremembrances，Mr。Mavering。”Danmechanicallyreceivedthepacketshehadbeenholdingbehindher;withaperversefreakofintelligenceheobservedthat，thoughmuchlargernow，itwastiedupwiththesameribbonwhichhadfasteneditwhenAlicereturnedhislettersandgiftsbefore。“Good-bye。Iwishyoueveryhappinessconsistentwithyournature。”
Shebowedcoldly，andwasabouttoleavehim，asshehadplanned;butshehadnotarrangedthatheshouldbestandinginfrontofthedoor，andhewasthere，withnoapparentintentionofmoving。
“Willyouallowmetopass？”shewasforcedtoask，however，haughtily。
“No！“heretorted，withaviolencethatsurprisedhim。“Iwillnotletyoupasstillyouhavelistenedtome——tillyoutellmewhyyoutreatmeso。Iwon’tstandit——I’vehadenoughofthiskindofthing。”
ItsurprisedAlicetooalittle，andafteramoment’shesitationshesaid，“Iwilllistentoyou。”somuchmoregentlythanshehadspokenbeforethatDanrelaxedhisimperativetone，andbegantolaugh。“But。”sheadded，andherfacecloudedagain，“itwillbeofnouse。Mymindismadeupthistime。Whyshouldwetalk？”
Why，becausemineisn’t。”saidDan。“Whatisthematter，Alice？DoyouthinkIwouldforceyou，orevenaskyou，togohomewithmetoliveunlessyouwereentirelywilling？Itcouldonlybeatemporaryarrangementanyway。”
“Thatisn’tthequestion。”sheretorted。“Thequestioniswhetheryou’vepromisedyourmotheronethingandmeanother。”
“Well，Idon’tknowaboutpromising。”saidDan，laughingalittlemoreuneasily，butstilllaughing。“AsnearlyasIcanremember，Iwasn’tconsultedaboutthematter。Yourmotherproposedonething，andmymotherproposedanother。”
“Andyouagreedtoboth。Thatisquiteenough——quitecharacteristic！“
Danflushed，andstoppedlaughing。“Idon’tknowwhatyoumeanbycharacteristic。Thethingdidn’thavetobedecidedatonce，andIdidn’tsupposeitwouldbedifficultforeithersidetogiveway，ifitwasjudgedbest。Iwassuremymotherwouldn’tinsist。”
“Itseemsveryeasyforyourfamilytomakesacrificesthatarenotlikelytoberequiredofthem。”
“Youmustn’tcriticisemymother！“criedDan。
“Ihavenotcriticisedher。Youinsinuatethatwewouldbetooselfishtogiveup，ifitwereforthebest。”
“Idonothingofthekind，andunlessyouaredeterminedtoquarrelwithmeyouwouldn’tsayso。”
“Idon’twishaquarrel;noneisnecessary。”saidAlicecoldly。
“Youaccusemeofbeingtreacherous——“
“Ididn’tsaytreacherous！“
“Faithless，then。It’samerequibbleaboutwords。Iwantyoutotakethatback。”
“Ican’ttakeitback;it’sthetruth。Aren’tyoufaithless，ifyouletusgoonthinkingthatyou’regoingtoEurope，andletyourmotherthinkthatwe’recominghometoliveafterwe’remarried？”
“No！I’msimplyleavingthequestionopen！“
“Yes。”saidthegirl——sadly，“youliketoleavequestionsopen。That’syourway。”
“Well，IsupposeIdotillit’snecessarytodecidethem。Itsavestheneedlesseffusionoftalk。”saidDan，withalaugh;andthen，aspeopledoinaquarrel，hewentbacktohisangrymood，andsaid“Besides，I
supposedyouwouldbegladofthechancetomakesomesacrificeforme。
You’realwaysaskingforit。”
“Thankyou，Mr。Mavering。”saidAlice，“forremindingmeofit;nothingissacredtoyou，itseems。Ican’tsaythatyouhaveeversoughtanyopportunitiesofself-sacrifice。”
“Iwasn’tallowedtimetodoso;theywerealwayspresented。”
“Thankyouagain，Mr。Mavering。Allthisisquitearevelation。I’mgladtoknowhowyoureallyfeltaboutthingsthatyouseemedsoeagerfor。”
“Alice，youknowthatIwoulddoanythingforyou！“criedDan，rueinghisprecipitatewords。
“Yes;that’swhatyou’verepeatedlytoldme。Iusedtobelieveit。”
“AndIalwaysbelievedwhatyousaid。YousaidatthepicnicthatdaythatyouthoughtIwouldliketoliveatPonkwassetFallsifmybusinesswasthere——“
“Thatisnotthepoint！“
“Andnowyouquarrelwithmebecausemymotherwishesmetodoso。”
Alicemerelysaid:“Idon’tknowwhyIstandhereallowingyoutointimidatemeinmyfather’shouse。Idemandthatyoushallstandasideandletmepass。”
“I’llnotobligeyoutoleavetheroom。”saidDan。“Iwillgo。ButifI
go，youwillunderstandthatIdon’tcomeback。”
“Ihopethat。”saidthegirl。
“Verywell。Goodmorning，MissPasmer。”
Sheinclinedherheadslightlyinacknowledgmentofhisbow，andhewhirledoutoftheroomanddownthedimnarrowpassagewayintothearmsofMrs。Pasmer，whohadresistedaslongasshecouldhercuriositytoknowwhattheangryvoicesofhimselfandAlicemeant。
“0Mr。Mavering，isityou？”shebuzzed;andsheflungasideonepretenceforanotherinadding，“Couldn’tAlicemakeyoustaytobreakfast？”
Danfeltarushoftendernessinhisheartatthesoundofthekind，humbugginglittlevoice。“No，thankyou，Mrs。Pasmer，Icouldn’tstay，thankyou。I——Ithankyouverymuch。I——good-bye，Mrs。Pasmer。”Hewrungherhand，andfoundhiswayoutoftheapartmentdoor，leavinghertoclearupthemysteryofhisflightandhisbrokenwordsasshecould。
“Alice。”shesaid，assheenteredtheroom，wherethegirlhadremained，“whathaveyoubeendoingnow？”
“Oh，nothing。”shesaid，witharemnantofherscornforDanqualifyinghertoneandmannertohermother。“I’vedismissedMr。Mavering。”
“Thenyouwanthimtocometolunch？”askedhermother。“Ishouldadvisehimtorefuse。”
“Idon’tthinkhe’daccept。”saidAlice。Then，asMrs。Pasmerstoodinthedoor，preventingheregress，asDanhaddonebefore，sheaskedmeekly“Willyouletmepass，mamma？Myheadaches。”
Mrs。Pasmer，whoseeasytriumphsinsomanydifficultcircumstanceskepthernearlyalwaysingoodtemper，letherselfgo，atthesewords，invexationveryuncommonwithher。“IndeedIshallnot！“sheretorted。
“AndyouwillpleasesitdownhereandtellmewhatyoumeanbydismissingMr。Mavering。I’mtiredofyourwhimsandcaprices。”
“Ican’ttalk。”beganthegirlstubbornly。
“Yes，Ithinkyoucan。”saidhermother。“Atanyrate，Ican。Nowwhatisitall？”
“Perhapsthisletter，willexplain。”saidAlice，continuingtodignifyherenforcedsubmissionwithatoneofunabatedhauteur;andshegavehermotherMrs。Mavering’sletter，whichDanhadmechanicallyrestoredtoher。
Mrs。Pasmerreadit，notonlywithoutindignation，butapparentlywithoutdispleasure。But，sheunderstoodperfectlywhatthetroublewas，whenshelookedupandasked，cheerfully，“Well？”
“Well！“repeatedAlice，withafrownofastonishment。“Don’tyouseethathe’spromisedusonethingandheranother，andthathe’sfalsetoboth？”
“Idon’tknow。”saidMrs。Pasmer，recoveringhergood-humourinviewofasituationthatshefeltherselfabletocopewith。“Ofcoursehehastotemporise，tomanagealittle。She’saninvalid，andofcourseshe’sveryexacting。Hehastohumourher。Howdoyouknowhehaspromisedher？Hehasn’tpromisedus。”
“Hasn’tpromisedus？”Alicegasped。
“No。He’ssimplyfalleninwithwhatwe’vesaid。It’sbecausehe’ssosweetandyielding，andcan’tbeartorefuse。Icanunderstanditperfectly。”
“Thenifhehasn’tpromisedus，he’sdeceivedusallthemoreshamefully，forhe’smadeusthinkhehad。”
“Hehasn’tme。”saidMrs。Pasmer，smilingatthestormyvirtueinherdaughter’sface。“Andwhatifyoushouldgohomeawhilewithhim——forthesummer，say？Itcouldn’tlastlonger，much;anditwouldn’thurtustowait。Isupposehehopedforsomethingofthatkind。”
“Oh，itisn’tthat。”groanedthegirl，inakindofbewilderment。“I
couldhavegonetherewithhimjoyfully，andlivedallmydays，ifhe’donlybeenfrankwithme。”
“Ohno，youcouldn’t。”saidhermother，withcosysecurity。“Whenitcomestoit，youdon’tlikegivingupanymorethanotherpeople。It’sveryhardforyoutogiveup;heseesthat——heknowsit，andhedoesn’treallyliketoaskanysortofsacrificefromyou。He’safraidofyou。”
“Don’tIknowthat？”demandedAlicedesolately:“I’veknownitfromthefirst，andI’vefeltitallthetime。It’sallamistake，andhasbeen。
Wenevercouldunderstandeachother。We’retoodifferent。”
“Thatneedn’tpreventyouunderstandinghim。Itneedn’tpreventyoufromseeinghowreallykindandgoodheis——howfaithfulandconstantheis。”
“Oh，yousaythat——youpraisehim——becauseyoulikehim。”
“OfcourseIdo。Andcan’tyou？”
“No。Theleastgrainofdeceit——oftemporising，youcallit——spoilseverything。It’sover。”saidthegirl，rising，withasigh，fromthechairshehaddroppedinto。“We’rebestapart;wecouldonlyhavebeenwretchedandwickedtogether。”
“Whatdidyousaytohim，Alice？”askedhermother，unshakenbyherrhetoric。
“Itoldhimhewasafaithlessperson。”
“Thenyouwereacruelgirl。”criedMrs。Pasmer，withsuddenindignation;
“andifyouwerenotmydaughterIcouldbegladhehadescapedyou。I
don’tknowwhereyougotallthosesilly，romanticnotionsofyoursaboutthesethings。Youcertainlydidn’tgetthemfromme。”shecontinued，withundeniabletruth，“andIdon’tbelieveyougetthemfromyourChurch，It’sjustasMissAndersonsaid:yourChurchmakesallowanceforhumannature，butyoumakenone。”
“Ishouldn’tgotoJuliaAndersonforinstructioninsuchmatters。”saidthegirl，withcoldresentment。
“Iwishyouwouldgotoherforalittlecommonsense——orsomebody。”saidMrs。Pasmer。“Doyouknowwhattalkthiswillmake？”
“Idon’tcareforthetalk。ItwouldbeworsethantalktomarryamanwhomIcouldn’ttrust——whowantedtopleasemesomuchthathehadtodeceiveme，andwastoomuchafraidofmetotellmethetruth。”
“Youheadstronggirl！“saidhermotherimpartially，admiringatthesametimethegirl’shaughtybeauty。
TherewasanargumentinreserveinMrs。Pasmer’smindwhichperhapsnonebutanAmericanmotherwouldhavehesitatedtourge;butitissowhollyourtraditiontotreattheimportantbusinessofmarriageasaromanticepisodethatevenshecouldnotbringherselftoinsistthatherdaughtershouldnotthrowawayachancesoadvantageousfromeveryworldlypointofview。Shecouldonlyask，“Ifyoubreakthisengagement，whatdoyouexpecttodo？”
“Theengagementisbroken。Ishallgointoasisterhood。”
“Youwilldonothingofthekind，withmyconsent。”saidMrs。Pasmer。
“Iwillhavenosuchnonsense。Don’tflatteryourselfthatIwill。EvenifIapprovedofsuchathing，Ishouldthinkitwickedtoletyoudoit。
You’realwaysfancyingyourselfdoingsomethingverydevoted，butI’veneverseenyoureadytogiveupyourownwill，oryourowncomforteven，intheslightestdegree。AndDanMavering，ifheweretwiceastemporisingandcircuitous“——thewordcametoherfromhertalkwithhim——
“wouldbetwicetoogoodforyou。I’mgoingtobreakfast。”
XLIV。
Thedifficultyinlifeistobringexperiencetothelevelofexpectation，tomatchourrealemotionsinviewofanygreatoccasionwiththeidealemotionswhichwehavetaughtourselvesthatweoughttofeel。Thisisallthetruerwhentheoccasionistragical:wesurpriseourselvesinahelplessnesstowhichthegreatevent，death，ruin，lostlove，revealsitselfslowly，andatfirstwearstheaspectofanunbrokencontinuanceofwhathasbeen，oratmostofanotherincidentinthehabitualsequence。
DanMaveringcameoutintothebrightwintermorningknowingthathisengagementwasbroken，butfeelingitsolittlethathecouldnotbelieveit。Hefailedtorealiseit，toseizeitforafact，andhecouldnotletitremainthatdumbandformlesswretchedness，withoutproportionordimensions，whichitnowseemedtobe，weighinghislifedown。Toverifyit，tobegintooutliveit，hemustinstantlyimpartit，hemusttellit，hemustseeitwithothers’eyes。Thiswasthenecessityofhisyouthandofhissympathy，whichincludedhimselfaswellastherestoftheraceinitsactivity。Hehadtheusualenvironmentofayoungmanwhohasmoney。
Hebelongedtoclubs，andhehadalargeacquaintanceamongmenofhisownage，wholivedalifeofgreaterleisure;orweremoreabsorbedinbusiness，butwhomhemetconstantlyinsociety。Foronereasonoranother，orfornootherreasonthanthathewasDanMaveringandlikedeveryone，helikedthemall。Hethoughthimselfgreatfriendswiththem;
hedinedandlunchedwiththem;andtheyknewthePasmers，andallabouthisengagement。Buthedidnotgotoanyofthemnow，withtheneedhefelttoimparthiscalamity，togetthesupportofcomeother’scredenceandopinionofit。Hewenttoafriendwhom，inthewayofhisworld，hemetveryseldom，butwhomhealwaysfound，ashesaid，justwherehehadlefthim。
Boardmannevermadeanysignofsuspectingthathewasputonandoff，accordingtoDan’snecessityordesireforcomfortorcongratulation;butitwaspartoftheirjokethatDan’scomingtohimalwaysmeantsomethingdecisiveinhisexperiences。Thereporterwasathislatebreakfast，whichhislandladyfurnishedhiminhisroom，though，asMrs。Mashsaid，shenevergavemeals，butacupofcoffeeandaneggortwo，yes。
“Well？”hesaid，withoutlookingup。
“Well，I’mdonefor！“criedDan。
“Again？”askedBoardman。
“Again！Theothertimewasnothing，Boardman——Iknewitwasn’tanything;
butthis——thisisfinal。”
“Goon。”saidBoardman，lookingaboutforhisindividualsalt-cellar，whichhefoundundertheedgeofhisplate;andMaveringlaidthewholecasebeforehim。Ashemadenocommentonitforawhile，Danwasobligedtoaskhimwhathethoughtofit。“Well。”hesaid，withthesmilethatshowedtheevennessofhisprettyteeth，“there’sakindofwildjusticeinit。”Headmittedthis，withtheobjectofmeetingDan’sviewsinanopinion。
“SoyouthinkI’mafaithlessmantoo，doyou？”demandedMaveringstormily。
“Notfromyourpointofview。”saidBoardman，whokeptonquietlyeatinganddrinking。
MaveringwastooamiablenottofeelBoardman’sinnocenceofoffenceinhisunperturbedbehaviour。“Therewasnofaithlessnessaboutit，andyouknowit。”hewenton，halflaughing，halfcrying，inhisexcitement，andmakingBoardmantheavenueofanappealreallyaddressedtoAlice。“Iwasreadytodowhateithersidedecided。”
“Orboth。”suggestedBoardman。
“Yes，orboth。”saidDan，boldlyacceptingthesuggestion。“Itwouldn’thavecostmeapangtogiveupifI’dbeenintheplaceofeither。”
“Iguessthat’swhatshecouldneverunderstand。”Boardmanmusedaloud。
“AndIcouldneverunderstandhowanyonecouldfailtoseethatthatwaswhatIintended——expected:thatitwouldallcomeoutrightofitself——
naturally。”DanwasstilladdressingAliceinthisbelatedreasoning。
“Buttobeaccusedofbadfaith——oftryingtodeceiveanyone——“
“Prettyrough。”saidBoardman。
“Rough？It’smorethanIcanstand！“
“Well，youdon’tseemtobeaskedtostandit。”saidBoardman，andMaveringlaughedforlornlywithhimathisjoke，andthenwalkedawayandlookedoutofBoardman’sdormer-windowontheroofsbelow，withtheirdirty，smoke-stainedFebruarysnow。Hepulledouthishandkerchief，andwipedhisfacewithit。Whenheturnedround，Boardmanlookedkeenlyathim，andasked，withanairofcaution，“Andsoit’sallup？”
“Yes，it’sallup。”saidDanhoarsely。
“Nodangerofarelapse？”
“Whatdoyoumean？”
“NodangerofhavingmysympathyhandedoverlatertoMissPasmerforexamination？”
“Iguessyoucanspeakupfreely，Boardman。”saidDan，“ifthat’swhatyoumean。MissPasmerandIarequits。”
“Well，then，I’mgladofit。Shewasn’ttheoneforyou。Sheisn’tfitforyou。”
What’sthereasonsheisn’t？”criedDan。“She’sthemostbeautifulandnoblegirlintheworld，andthemostconscientious，andthebest——ifsheisunjusttome。”
“Nodoubtofthat。I’mnotattackingher，andI’mnotdefendingyou。”
“Whatareyoudoingthen？”“
“SimplysayingthatIdon’tbelieveyoutwowouldeverunderstandeachother。Youhaven’tgotthesamepointofview，andyoucouldn’tmakeitgo。Bothoutofascrape。”
“Idon’tknowwhatyoumeanbyascrape。”saidDan，resentingthewordmorethantheidea。Boardmantacitlyrefusedtomodifyorwithdrawit，andDansaid，afterasulkysilence，inwhichhebegantodramatiseameetingwithhisfamily:“I’mgoinghome;Ican’tstandithere。What’sthereasonyoucan’tcomewithme，Boardman？”
“Doyoumeantoyourrooms？”
“No;totheFalls。”
“Thanks。Guessnot。”
“Whynot？”
“Don’tcareaboutbeingafifthwheel。”
“Oh，pshaw，now，Boardman！Lookhere，youmustgo。Iwantyoutogo。
I——Iwantyoursupport。That’sit。I’mallbrokenup，andIcouldn’tstandthatthreehours’pullalone。They’llbegladtoseeyou——allofthem。Don’tyousupposethey’llbegladtoseeyou？They’realwaysglad;
andthey’llunderstand。”
“Idon’tbelieveyouwantmetogoyourself。Youjustthinkyoudo。”
“No。Ireallydowantyou，Boardman。Iwanttotalkitoverwithyou。I
dowantyou。I’mnotfooling。”
“Don’tthinkIcouldgetaway。”YetheseemedtobepleasedwiththenotionoftheFalls;itmadehimsmile。
“Well，see。”saidMaveringdisconsolately。“I’mgoingroundtomyroomsnow，andI’llbetheretilltwoo’clock;train’sat2。30。”Hewenttowardsthedoor，wherehefacedabout。“Andyoudon’tthinkitwouldbeofanyuse？”
“Anyuse——what？”
“Tryingto——to——tomakeitup。”
“HowshouldIknow？”
“No，no;ofcourseyoucouldn’t。”saidDan，miserablydowncast。AlltheresentmentwhichAlice’sinjusticehadrousedinhimhaddiedout;hewassufferingashelplesslyandhopelesslyasachild。“Well。”hesighed，asheswungoutofthedoor。
Boardmanfoundhimseatedathiswriting-deskinhissmoking-jacketwhenhecametohim，ratherearly，andonthedeskwerelaidoutthepropertiesofthelittleplaywhichhadcometoatragicclose。Thereweresomesmallbitsofjewellery，amongtherestaringofherswhichAlicehadbeenlettinghimwear;alockofherhairwhichhehadkept，forthegreaterconvenienceofkissing，intheoriginalparcel，tiedwithcrimsonribbon;asuccessionofflowerswhichshehadworn，moreandmoredryandbrownwithage;oneofhergloves，whichhehadfoundandkeptfromthedaytheyfirstmetinCambridge;abunchofwitheredbluebellstiedwithsweet-grass，whoseodourfilledtheroom，fromthepicnicatCampobello;
scrapsofpaperwithherwritingonthem，andcards;severalphotographsofher，andpilesofnotesandletters。
“Lookhere。”saidDan，knowingitwasBoardmanwithoutturninground，“whatamItodoaboutthesethings？”
Boardmanrespectfullyexaminedthemoverhisshoulder。“Don’tknowwhattheusualceremonyis。”hesaid，heventuredtoadd，referringtotheheapsofletters，“Seemstohavebeenratherepistolary，doesn’tshe？”
“Oh，don’ttalkofherasifsheweredead！“criedDan。“I’vebeenfeelingasifshewere。”Allatoncehedroppedhisheadamongthesewitnessesofhisloss，andsobbed。
Boardmanappearedshocked，andyetsomewhatamused;hemadeasoftlowsibilationbetweenhisteeth。
Danliftedhishead。“Boardman，ifyouevergivemeaway！“
“Oh，Idon’tsupposeit’sveryhilarious。”saidBoardman，withvaguekindness。“Packedyet？”heasked，gettingawayfromthesubjectassomethinghedidnotfeelhimselffittedtodealwithconsecutively。
“I’monlygoingtotakeabag。”saidMavering，goingtogetsomeclothesdownfromaclosetwherehiswordshadasepulchralreverberation。
“Can’tIhelp？”askedBoardman，keepingawayfromthesadmemorialsofDan’slovestrewnaboutonthedesk，andyetnotabletokeephiseyesoffthemacrosstheroom。
“Well，Idon’tknow。”saidDan。Hecameoutwithhisarmfulofcoatsandtrousers，andthrewthemonthebed。“Areyougoing？”
“IfIcouldbelieveyouwantedmeto。”
“Good！“criedMavering，andthefactseemedtobrightenhimimmediately。
“Ifyouwantto，stuffthesethingsin，whileI’mdoinguptheseotherthings。”Henoddedhisheadside-wisetowardthedesk。
“Allright。”saidBoardman。
HisburstofgriefmusthaverelievedDangreatly。Hesetaboutgatheringuptherelicsonthedesk，andgettingasuitablepieceofpapertowrapthemin。Herejectedseveralpiecesasinappropriate。
“Idon’tknowwhatkindofpapertodothesethingsupin。”hesaidatlast。
“Anyspecialkindofpaperrequired？”Boardmanasked，pausingintheactoffoldingapairofpantaloonssoasnottobreakthefallovertheboot。
“Ididn’tknowtherewas，butthereseemstobe。”saidDan。
“Silverpaperseemstoberathermoreforcakeandthatsortofthing。”
suggestedBoardman。“Kindofmourningtoo，isn’tit——silver？”
“Idon’tknow。”saidDan。“ButIhaven’tgotanysilverpaper。”
“Newspaperwouldn’tdo？”
“Well，hardly，Boardman。”saidDan，withsarcasm。
“Well。”saidBoardman，“Ishouldhavesupposedthatnothingcouldbesimplerthantosendbackalotoflove-letters;butthequestionofpaperseemsinsuperable。Manilapaperwouldn’tdoeither。Andthencomesstring。Whatkindofstringareyougoingtotieitupwith？”
“Well，wewon’tstartthatquestiontillwegettoit。”answeredDan，lookingabout。“IfIcouldfindsomekindofabox——“
“Haven’tyougotacollarbox？Betheverything！“Boardmanhadgonebacktothecoatsandtrousers，abandoningDantothesubtlerdifficultiesinwhichhewasinvolved。
“They’veallgotlabels。”saidMavering，gettingdownonemarked“TheTennyson“andanotherlettered“TheClarion。”andlookingatthemwithcoldrejection。
“Don’tseehowyou’regoingtosendthesethingsbackatall，then。Havetokeepthem，Iguess。”Boardmanfinishedhistask，andcamebacktoDan。
“IguessI’vegotitnow。”saidMavering，liftingthelidofhisdesk，andtakingoutalargestiffenvelope，inwhichasetofphotographicviewshadcome。
“Seemstohavebeenmadeforit。”Boardmanexulted，watchingtheenvelope，asitfilledup，expandintoakindofshapelypacket。Danputthethingssilentlyin，andsealedtheparcelwithhisring。Thenheturneditovertoaddressit，butthewritingofAlice’snameforthispurposeseemedtoomuchforhim，inspiteofBoardman’shumoroussupportthroughout。
“Oh，Ican’tdoit。”hesaid，fallingbackinhischair。
“Letme。”saidhisfriend，cheerfullyignoringhisdespair。Hephilosophisedthewholetransaction，asheaddressedthepackage，rangforamessenger，andsentitaway，tellinghimtocallacabfortenminutespasttwo。
“Mightygoodthinginlifethatwemovebysteps。Nowonthestage，orinanovel，you’dhavegotthosethingstogetherandaddressed’em，anddespatched’em，injusttherightkindofpaper，withjusttherightkindofstringroundit，atadash;andthenyou’dhavehadtimetogoupandleanyourheadagainstsomethingandsoliloquise，orelsethinkunutterablethings。ButhereyouseehowamercifulProvidenceblocksyourwayallalong。You’vehadtofightthroughallsortofsordidlittledetailstothegrandtragicresultofgettingoffMissPasmer’sletters，andwhenyoureachityoudon’tminditabit。”
“Don’tI？”demandedDan，inashollowavoiceashecould。“You’djokeatafuneral，Boardman。”
“I’veseensomeprettycheerfulfunerals。”saidBoardman。“Andit’sthisprincipleofsteps，ofdegrees，ofhavingtodothislittlething，andthatlittlething，thatkeepsfuneralsfromkillingthesurvivors。I
supposethisisworsethanafuneral——lookatitintherightlight。Youmournasonewithouthope，don’tyou？Livethroughittoo，Isuppose。”
HemadeDanhelpgettherestofhisthingsintohisbag，andwithonelittleartificeandanotherpreventedhimfromstagnatingindespair。HedissentedfromtheideaofwaitingoveranotherdaytoseeifAlicewouldnotrelentwhenshegotherlettersback，andsendforDantocomeandseeher。
“Relentagooddealmorewhenshefindsyou’vegoneoutoftown，ifshesendsforyou。”heargued;andhegotDanintothecabandofftothestation，carefullymakinghimanactivepartnerinthewholeundertaking，eventocheckinghisownbag。
BeforeheboughthisownticketheappealedoncemoretoDan。
“Lookhere！Ifeellikeafoolgoingoffwithyouonthisexpedition。Behonestforonce，now，Mavering，andtellmeyou’vethoughtbetterofit，anddon’twantmetogo！“
“Yes——yes，Ido。Ohyes，you’vegottogo。IIdowantyou。I——youmakemeseethingsinjusttherightlight，don’tyouknow。Thatideaofyoursaboutlittlesteps——it’sbracedmeallup。Yes——“
“You’resuchaninfernalhumbug。”saidBoardman，“Ican’ttellwhetheryouwantmeornot。ButI’minforitnow，andI’llgo。”Thenheboughthisticket。
XLV。
BoardmanputhimselfinchargeofMavering，andtookhimintothesmokingcar。Itwasimpossibletoindulgeapoeticgloomtherewithoutbecomingunpleasantlyconspicuousinthesmokingandeuchreandprofanity。Someofthemenweresilentanddull，butnoonewasapparentlyveryunhappy，andperhapsifDanhaddealtinabsolutesinceritywithhimself，evenhewouldnothavefoundhimselfwhollyso。HedidnotfeelashehadfeltwhenAlicerejectedhim。Thenhewaswoundedtothequickthroughhisvanity，andnow;inspiteofall，inspiteoftheinvoluntarytenderswayingofhishearttowardherthroughthemereforceofhabit，inspiteofsomeremotecompunctionsforhiswantofcandourwithher，hewassupportedbyasenseofherinjustice，herhardness。Relatedwiththiswasanobscuresenseofescape，ofliberation，which，howeverhemightsilenceanddisownit，wasstillthere。Hecouldnothelpbeingawarethathehadlongrelinquishedtastescustoms，purposes，ideals，togainapeacethatseemedmoreandmorefleetinganduncertain，andthathehadsubmittedtootherswhich，nowthatthemomentofgivingpleasurebyhissubmissionwaspast，herecognisedasdisagreeable。Hefeltasortofguiltinhisenlargement;heknew，byallthathehad，everheardorreadofpeopleinhisposition，thatheoughttobealtogethermiserable;andyetthisconsciousnessofreliefpersisted。Hetoldhimselfthataverytragicalthinghadbefallenhim;thatthisbrokenengagementwastheruinofhislifeandtheendofhisyouth，andthathemustliveonanoldandjoylessman，wisewiththeknowledgethatcomestodecrepitudeanddespair;heimaginedacertainlookforhimself，agait，aname，thatwouldexpressthis;butallthesamehewasawareofhavinggotoutofsomething。Wasitabondage，ascrape，asBoardmancalledit？Hethoughthemustbeaverylight，shallow，andfrivolousnaturenottobeutterlybrokenupbyhisdisaster。
“Idon’tknowwhatI’mgoinghomefor。”hesaidhoarselytoBoardman。
“Kindofarest，Isuppose。”suggestedhisfriend。
“Yes，Iguessthat’sit。”saidDan。“I’mtired。”
Itseemedtohimthatthiswasratherfine;itwasafatigueofthesoulthathewastorestfrom。Herememberedtheapostrophiccloseofanovelinwhichtheheroinediesaftermuchemotionalsuffering。“Quiet，quietheart！“herepeatedtohimself。Yes，hetoohaddiedtohope，tolove，tohappiness。
Astheydrewneartheirjourney’sendhesaid，“Idon’tknowhowI’mgoingtobreakittothem。”
“Oh，probablybreakitself。”saidBoardman。“Thesethingsusuallydo。”
“Yes，ofcourse。”Danassented。
“Knowfromyourlooksthatsomething’sup。Oryoumightletmegoaheadalittleandpreparethem。”
Danlaughed。“Itwasawfullygoodofyoutocome，Boardman。Idon’tknowwhatIshouldhavedonewithoutyou。”
“NothingIlikemorethantheselittletrips。Brightensyouuptoserethemiseryofothers;makesyoufeelthatyou’reonpeculiarlygoodtermswithProvidence。Haven’tenjoyedmyselfsomuchsincethatdayinPortland。”Boardman’seyestwinkled。
“Yes。”saidDan，withadeepsigh，“it’sapityithadn’tendedthere。”
“Oh，Idon’tknow。Youwon’thavetogothroughwithitagain。Somethingthathadtocome，wasn’tit？Neverbeensatisfiedifyouhadn’ttriedit。
Kindofachingvoidbefore，andnowyou’vegotenough。”
“Yes，I’vegotenough。”saidDan，“ifthat’sall。”
WhentheygotoutofthetrainatPonkwassetFalls，andtheconductorandthebrakeman，whoknewDanashisfather’sson，andtreatedhimwiththedistinctionduearepresentativeofaninterestvaluedbytheroad，hadbiddenhimarespectfullyintimategood-night，andhebegantoclimbthehilltohisfather’shouse，herecurredtothedifficultybeforehiminbreakingthenewstohisfamily。“IwishIcouldhaveitoverinaflash。
IwishI’dthoughttotelegraphittothem。”
“Wouldn’thavedone。”saidBoardman。“Itwouldhavegiven’emtimetoformulatequestionsandconjectures，andnowtheastonishmentwilltaketheirbreathawaytillyoucangetyoursecondwind，andthen——you’llbeallright。”
“Youthinkso？”askedDansubmissively。
“Knowso。Yousee，ifyoucouldhavehaditoverinaflash，itwouldhaveknockedyouflat。Butnowyou’vetakenallthelittlesteps，andyou’vegotalotmoretotake，andyou’reallbracedup。See？You’relikerock，now——adamant。”DanlaughedinforlornperceptionofBoardman’saffectionateirony。“Littlestepsarethething。You’llhavetogoinnowandmeetyourfamily，andpassthetimeofdaywitheachone，andtalkabouttheweather，andaccountformybeingalong，andaskhowtheyallare;andbythetimeyou’vehaddinner，andgotsettledwithyourlegsoutinfrontofthefire，you’llbejustinthemoodforit。Enjoytellingthemallaboutit。”
“Don’t，Boardman。”pleadedDan。“Boardy，IbelieveifIcouldgetinanduptomyroomwithoutanybody’sseeingme，I’dletyoutellthem。Theredon’tseemtobeanybodyabout，andIthinkwecouldmanageit。”
“Itwouldn’twork。”saidBoardman。“Gottodoityourself。”
“Well，then，waitaminute。”saidDandesperately;andBoardmanknewthathewastostayoutsidewhileDanreconnoitredtheinterior。Danopenedonedoorafteranothertillhestoodwithinthehotbrilliantlylightedhall。EuniceMaveringwascomingdownthestairs，hoodedandwrappedforawalkonthelongverandahsbeforesupper。
“Dan！“shecried。
“It’sallup，Eunice。”hesaidatonce，asifshehadaskedhimaboutit。
“Myengagement’soff。”
“Oh，I’msoglad！“Shedescendeduponhimwithoutstretchedarms，butstoppedherselfbeforeshereachedhim。“It’sahoax。Whatdoyoumean？
Doyoureallymeanit，Dan？”
“IguessImeanit。Butdon’t——Holdon！Where’sMinnie？”
Euniceturned，andranbackupstairs。“Minnie！Min！“shecalledonherway。“Dan’sengagement’soff。”
“Idon’tbelieveit！“answeredMinnie’svoicejoyously，fromwithinsomeroom。Itwasfollowedbyherpresence，withsuccessiveinquiries。“Howdoyouknow？”Didyougetaletter？Whendidithappen？Oh，isn’tittoogood？”
Minniewasalsodressedfortheverandahpromenade，whichtheyalwaystookwhenthesnowwastoodeep。Shecaughtsightofherbrotherasshecamedown。“Why，Dan’shere！Dan，I’vebeenthinkingaboutyouallday。”Shekissedhim，whichEunicewasnowremindedtodotoo。
“Yes，it’strue，Minnie。”saidDangravely。“Icameuptotellyou。Itdon’tseemtodistressyoumuch。”
“Dan！“saidhissisterreproachfully。“YouknowIdidn’tmeantosayanythingIonlyfeltsogladtohaveyoubackagain。”
“Iunderstand，Minnie——Idon’tdameyou。It’sallright。How’smother？”
Fatherupfromtheworksyet？I’mgoingtomyroom。”
“Indeedyou’renot！“criedEunice，witheldersisterlyauthority。“Youshalltellusaboutitfirst。”
“Ohno！Lethimgo，Eunice！“pleadedMinnie，“PoorDan！AndIdon’tthinkweoughttogotowalkwhen——“
Dan’seyesdimmed，andhisvoiceweakenedalittleathersympathy。“Yes，go。I’mtired——that’sall。Thereisn’tanythingtotellyou，hardly。
MissPasmer——“
“Why，he’spale！“criedMinnie。“Eunice！“
“Oh，it’sjusttheheatinhere。”Danreallyfeltalittlesickandfaintwithit，buthewasnotsorrytoseemaffectedbytheday’sstrainuponhisnerves。
Thegirlsbegantotakeofftheirwraps。“Don’t。I’llgowithyou。
Boardman’soutthere。”
“Boardman！Whatnonsense！“exclaimedEunice。
“He’llliketohearyouropinionofit。”Danbegan;buthissisterpulledthedoorsopen，andranouttoseeifhereallymeantthattoo。
WhetherBoardmanhadheardher，orhaddiscreetlywithdrawnoutofearshotatthefirstsoundofvoices，shecouldnottell，butshefoundhimsomedistanceawayfromthesnow-boxonthepiazza。“Dan’sjustmanagedtotellusyouwerehere。”shesaid，givinghimherhand。“I’mgladtoseeyou。Docomein。”
“ComealongasasortofJob’scomforter。”Boardmanexplained，ashefollowedherin;andhehadthesillylookthatthemanwhofeelshimselfsuperfluousmustwear。
“Thenyouknowaboutit？”saidEunice，whileMinnieMaveringandhewereshakinghands。
“Yes，Boardmanknows;hecantellyouaboutit。”saidDan，fromthehallchairhehaddroppedinto。Heroseandmadehiswaytothestairs，withtheeffectofleavingthewholethingtothem。
Hissistersranafterhim，andgothimupstairsandintohisroom，withBoardman’ssemi-satiricalconnivance，andEuniceputupthewindow，whileMinniewenttogetsomecolognetowethisforehead。Theireffortsweresosuccessfulthatherevivedsufficientlytodrivethemoutofhisroom，andmakethemgoandshowBoardmantohis。
“Youknowtheway，Mr。Boardman。”saidEunice，goingbeforehim，whileMinniefollowedtimorously，butcuriousforwhatheshouldsay。Shelingeredonthethreshold，whilehersisterwentinandpulledtheelectricapparatuswhichlightedthegas-burners。“IsupposeDandidn’tbreakit？”shesaid，turningsharplyuponhim。
“No;andIdon’tthinkhewastoblame。”saidBoardman，inferringherreservedanxiety。
“Oh，I’mquitesureofthat。”saidEunice，rejectingwhatshehadaskedfor。“You’llfindeverything，Mr。Boardman。ItwaskindofyoutocomewithDan。Supper’satseven。”
“Howsevereyouwerewithhim！“murmuredMinnie，followingheraway。
“SeverewithDan？”
“No——withMr。Boardman。”
“Whatnonsense！Ihadtobe。Icouldn’tlethimdefendDantome。
Coupleofsillyboys！“
AfteramomentMinniesaid，“Idon’tthinkhe’ssilly。”
“Who？”
“Mr。Boardman。”
“Well，Danis，then，tobringhimatsuchatime。ButIsupposehefeltthathecouldn’tgetherewithouthim。Whataboy！Thinkofsuchachildbeingengaged！Ihopeweshan’thearanymoreofsuchnonsenseforonewhileagain——atleasttillDan’sgothisgrowth。”
Theywentdownintothelibrary，where，intheirexcitement，theysatdownwithmostoftheiroutdoorthingson。
Minniehadthesoftcontrary-mindednessofgentlenatures。“IshouldliketoknowhowyouwouldhavehadDanbearit。”shesaidrebelliously。
“How？Likeaman。Orlikeawoman。HowdoyousupposeMissPasmer’sbearingit？Doyousupposeshe’sgotsomefriendtohelpher？”
“Ifshe’sbrokenit，shedoesn’tneedanyone。”urgedMinnie。
“Well。”saidEunice，withherhighscornofDanunabated，“Inevercouldhavelikedthatgirl，butIcertainlybegintorespecther。IthinkI
couldhavegotonwithher——nowthatit’snouse。Ideclare。”shebrokeoff，“we’resittinghereswelteringtodeath！Whatarewekeepingourthingsonfor？”Shebegantotearhersviolentlyoffandtoflingthemonchairs，scolding，andlaughingatthesametimewithMinnie，attheirabsent-mindedness。
Aheavystepsoundedontheverandahwithout。
“There’sfather！“shecriedvividly，jumpingtoherfeetandrunningtothedoor，whileMinnie，inanervousbewilderment，ranoffupstairstoherroom。Euniceflungthedooropen。“Well，father，we’vegotDanbackagain。”Andatalookofquietquestioninhiseyeshehurriedon:“Hisengagement’sbroken，andhe’scomeupheretotellus，andbroughtMr。
Boardmanalongtohelp。”
“Whereishe？”askedthefather，withhisruminantquiet，pullingofffirstonesleeveofhisovercoat，andpausingforEunice’sanswerbeforehepulledofftheother。
XLVI。
“He’supinhisroom，restingfromtheeffort。”Shelaughednervously，andherfathermadenocomment。Hetookoffhisarticles，andthenwentcreakingupstairstoDan’sroom。Butatthedoorhepaused，withhishandontheknob，andturnedawaytohisownroomwithoutentering。
Danmusthaveheardhim;inafewminuteshecametohim。
“Well，Dan。”saidhisfather，shakinghands。
“IsupposeEunicehastoldyou？”Well，Iwanttotellyouwhyithappened。”
TherewassomethinginhisfatherthatalwayssteadiedDanandkepthimtothepoint。Henowputthewholecasefairlyandsquarely，andhiscandourandopennessseemedtohimtoreactandcharacterisehisconductthroughout。Hedidnotrealisethatthiswasnotsotillhisfathersaidattheclose，withmildjustice，“Youweretoblameforlettingthethingrunonsoatlooseends。”
“Yes，ofcourse。”saidDan，seeingthathewas。“Buttherewasnointentionofdeceivinganyoneofbadfaith——“
“Ofcoursenot。”
“Ithoughtitcouldbeeasilyarrangedwheneveritcametothepoint。”
“Ifyou’dbeenolder，youwouldn’thavethoughtthat。Youhadwomentodealwithonbothsides。Butifit’sallover，I’mnotsorry。IalwaysadmiredMissPasmer，butI’vebeenmoreandmoreafraidyouwerenotsuitedtoeachother。Yourmotherdoesn’tknowyou’rehere？”
“No，sir，Isupposenot。Doyouthinkitwilldistressher？”
“Howdidyoursisterstakeit？”
Dangavearuefullaugh。“Itseemedtoberatherapopularmovewiththem。”
“Iwillseeyourmotherfirst。”saidthefather。
Heleftthemwhentheywentintothelibraryaftersupper，andalittlelaterDanandEuniceleftBoardmaninchargeofMinniethere。
Helookedaftertheirunannouncedwithdrawalincomicconsciousness。
“It’snousepretendingthatI’mnotaprettylargepluralityhere。”hesaidtoMinnie。
“Oh，I’msogladyoucame！“shecried，withakindnesswhichwasasrealasifithadbeenmoresincere。
“Doyouthinkmotherwillfeelitmuch？”askedDananxiously，ashewentupstairswithEunice。
“Well，she’llhatetoloseacorrespondent——sucharegularone。”saidEunice，andtheaffairbeingsofarbeyondanyothercomment，shelaughedtherestofthewaytotheirmother’sroom。
Thewholefamilyhadinsomedegreethatfoiblewhichaffectspeoplewholeadisolatedlives;theycometothinkthattheyaretheonlypeoplewhohavetheirvirtues;theyexaggeratethese，andtheyconceiveakindnessevenforthequalitieswhicharenottheirvirtues。Mrs。Mavering’slifewassecludedagainfromthefamilyseclusion，andtheirpeculiaritieswereintensifiedinher。Besides，shehadsomeverymarkedpeculiaritiesofherown，andthesewerealsointensifiedbythesolitudetowhichshewasnecessarilyleftsomuch。Shemeditatedagreatdealuponthecharacterofherchildren，andshelikedtoanalyseandcensureitbothinherownmindandopenlyintheirpresence。Shewasverytrenchantanddefiniteintheseestimatesofthem;shelikedtoticketthem，andthenticketthemanew。Sheexploredtheirancestralhistoryonbothsidesfortheoriginoftheirtraits，andthereweretimeswhenshereducedtheminformulatomerecongeriesofinheritedcharacteristics。IfEunicewasself-willedanddespotic，shewasjustlikehergrandmotherMavering;ifMinniewasallsentimentandgentlestubbornness，itwasbecausetwoauntsofhers，oneoneitherside，wereexactlyso;ifDanlovedpleasureandbeauty，andwassinuousanduncertaininsomanyways，andyetwassokindandfaithfulandgood，aswellasshilly-shallyingandundecided，itwasbecausehermother，andhermother’sfather，hadthesequalitiesinthesamecombination。
Whenshetookherchildrentopiecesbeforetheirfaces，shewassharpandadmonitoryenoughwiththem。Shewarnedthemtowhattheircharacterswouldbringthemtoiftheydidnotlookout;butperhapsbecauseshebeheldthemsohopelesslythepresenteffectoftheaccumulatedtendenciesofthefamilypast，shewastenderandforgivingtotheiractions。Themothercameinthere，andsupersededthestudentofheredity:shefoundexcuseforthemintheperversityofcircumstance，inthepeculiarhardshipofthecase，inthemalignantmisbehaviourofothers。
AsDanentered，withtheprecedencehisfatherandsisteryieldedhimastheprincipalactorinthescenewhichmustfollow，sheliftedherselfvigorouslyinbed，andproppedherselfontheelbowofonearmwhileshestretchedtheothertowardshim。
“I’mgladofit，Dan！“shecalled，atthemomentheopenedthedoor，andashecametowardhershecontinued，withtheamazingvelocityofutterancepeculiartonervoussufferersofhersex:“Iknowallaboutit，andIdon’tblameyouabit！AndIdon’tblameher！Poorhelplessyoungthings！Butit’saperfectmercyit’sallover;it’sthegreatestdeliveranceIeverheardof！You’dhavebeeneatenupalive。Isawit，andIknewitfromtheveryfirstmoment，andI’velivedinfearandtremblingforyou。Youcouldhavegotonwellenoughifyou’dbeenlefttoyourselves，butthatyoucouldn’thavebeennorhopetobeaslongasyoubreathed，fromthemeddlingandthemachinationsandthemaliceofthatunscrupulousandunconscionableoldCat！“
BythetimeMrs。Maveringhadhissedoutthelastwordshehadherarmroundherboy’sneckandwasclutchinghim，safeandsoundafterhisperil，toherbreast;andbetweenherkissingandcryingsherepeatedheraccusalsanddenunciationswithviolentvolubility。
Dancouldnothaverepliedtotheminthateffusionofgratitudeandtendernesshefeltforhismother’spartisanship;andwhenshewentoninalmosttheverytermsofhisself-defence，andtoldhimthathehaddoneashehadbecauseitwaseasyforhimtoyield，andhecouldnotimagineaCatwhowouldputherdaughteruptoentrappinghimintoapromisethatsheknewmustbreakhismother’sheart，hefoundhersorightonthemainpointthathecouldnothelpsomequestionofMrs。Pasmerinhissoul。
Couldshereallyhavebeenatthebottomofitall？Shewasverysly，andshemightbeveryfalse，anditwascertainlyshewhohadfirstproposedtheirgoingabroadtogether。Itlookedasifitmightbeashismothersaid，andatanyrateitwasnotimetodisputeher，andhedidnotsayawordinbehalfofMrs。Pasmer，whomshecontinuedtorendinathousandpiecesandscattertothewindstillshehadtostopbreathless。
“Yes！it’squiteasIexpected！Shedideverythingshecouldtotrapyouintoit。Shefairlyflungthatpoorgirlatyou。Shelaidherplanssothatyoucouldn’tsayno——sheunderstoodyourcharacterfromthestart！——
andthen，whenitcameoutbyaccident，andshesawthatshehadolderheadstodealwith，andyouwerenotgoingtobequiteathermercy，shedroppedthemaskinaninstant，andmadeAlicebreakwithyou。Oh，I
couldseethroughherfromthebeginning！Andthenexttime，Dan，I
adviseyou，asyouneversuspectanybodyyourself，toconsultwithsomebodywhodoesn’ttakepeopleforwhattheyseem，andnottoletyourselfbeflatteredoutofyoursensor，evenifyouseeyourfatheris。”
Mrs。Maveringdroppedbackonherpillow，andherhusbandsmiledpatientlyattheirdaughter。
Dansawhispatientsmileandunderstoodit;andtheinjusticewhichhisfatherboremadehimfinallyunwillingtoletanotherremainunderit。
Hardasitwastoopposehismotherinanythingwhenshewaspraisinghimsosweetlyandcomfortinghiminthemomentofhisneed，hepulledhimselftogethertoprotest:“No，no，mother！Idon’tthinkMrs。Pasmerwastoblame;Idon’tbelieveshehadanythingtodowithit。She’salwaysstoodmyfriend——“
“Oh，I’venodoubtshe’smadeyouthinkso，Dan。”saidhismother，withunabatedfondnessforhim;“andyouthinksobecauseyou’resosimpleandgood，andneversuspectevilofanyone。It’sthishideousoptimismthat’skillingeverything——’
Acertainnoteintheinvalid’sfallingvoiceseemedtowarnherhearersofanimpendingchangethatcoulddonoonegood。Eunicerosehastilyandinterrupted:“Mother，Mr。Boardman’shere。HecameupwithDan。MayMinniecomeinwithhim？”
Mrs。MaveringshotaglanceofinquiryatDan，andthenletaswiftinspectionrangeoverallthedetailsoftheroom，andfinallyconcentrateitselfonthesilkandlaceofherbed，overwhichshepassedasmoothinghand。“Mr。Boardman？”shecried，withinstantlyrecoveredamiability。“Ofcourseshemay！“