\"Enemy？\"
\"Well，friend。It’sthesamething。\"
\"Isee，\"saidthegirl。\"YoubelongtothepessimisticschoolofSeniors。\"
\"Whydon’tyoutrytomakeanoptimistofme？\"
\"Woulditbeworthwhile？\"
\"Thatisn’tformetosay。\"
\"Don’tbediffident！That’sstaleryet。\"
\"I’llbeanythingyoulike。\"
\"I’mnotsureyoucould。\"ForaninstantJeffdidnotfeelthepoint，andhehadnotthemagnanimity，whenhedid，toownhimselftouchedagain。Apparently，ifthisgirlcouldnotrattlehim，shecouldbeathimatfence，andthewilltodominateherbegantostirinhim。Ifhecouldhavethoughtofanysarcasm，nomatterhowcrushing，hewouldhavecomebackatherwithit。Hecouldnotthinkofanything，andhewalkedatherside，inwardlychafingforthechancewhichwouldnotcome。
\"Whentheyreachedherdoortherewasayoungmanatthelockwithalatch—key，whichhewasnotmakingwork，for，afterabatedblasphemyofhisfailure，heturnedandtwitchedthebellimpatiently。
MissLyndelaughedprovokingly，andhelookedoverhisshoulderatherandatJeff，whofelthisinjuryincreasedbythedisadvantagethisyoungmanputhimat。Jeffwasascorrectlydressed；heworeasilkhatofthelastshape，andalongfrock—coat；hewasproperlyglovedandshod；hisclothesfittedhim，andwerefromthebesttailor；butatsightofthisyoungmaninclothesofthesamedesignhefeltill—dressed。Hewasinlikesortawareofbeingrudelyblockedoutphysically，andcoarselycoloredastohisblondtintsofhairandeyeandcheek。Eventhesinistersomethingintheyoungman’slookhaddistinction，andtherewasstyleinthesignsofdissipationinhishandsomefacewhichJeffsawwithahungertooutdohim。
MissLyndesaidtoJeff，\"Mybrother，Mr。Durgin，\"andthensheaddedtotheother，\"Yououghttoringfirst，Arthur，andtryyourkeyafterward。\"
\"Thekey’sallright，\"saidtheyoungman，withoutpayinganyattentiontoJeffbeyondaglanceofrecognition；heturnedhisback，andwaitedforthedoortobeopened。
Hissistersuggested，withanamiabilitywhichJefffeltwasmeantinreparationtohim，\"Perhapsanightlatchneverworksbeforedark——orverywellbeforemidnight。\"Thedoorwasopened，andshesaidtoJeff，withwinningentreaty，\"Won’tyoucomein，Mr。Durgin？\"
Jeffexcusedhimself，forheperceivedthatherpolitenesswasnotsomuchaninvitationtohimasadefiancetoherbrother；hegavehercreditfornomorethanitwasworth，andhedidnotwishanythelesstogetevenwithherbecauseofit。
XXX。
Atdinner，intheabsenceofthebutler，AlanLyndeattackedhissisteracrossthetableforlettingherselfbeseenwithajay，whowasnotonlyajay，butacad，andpersonallysooffensivetomostofthecollegementhathehadnevergotintoadecentcluborsociety；hehadbeensuspendedthefirstyear，andifhehadnothadthedensestkindofcheekhewouldneverhavecomeback。Lyndesaidhewouldliketoknowwhereshehadpickedthefellowup。
Sheansweredthatshehadpickedhimup，ifthatwasthephraseheliked，atMrs。Bevidge’s；andthenAlansworealittle，soasnottobeheardbytheiraunt，whosatattheheadofthetable，andlookeddownitslengthbetweenthem，serenelyignorant，inherslightdeafness，ofwhatwasgoingonbetweenthem。ToherperceptionAlanwasnomorevehementthanusual，andBessienomoresmilinglyself—contained。HesaidhesupposedthatitwassomemoreofLancaster’sdamnedmissionarywork，then，andhewonderedthatagentlemanlikeMorlandhadeverletLancasterworksuchajayinonhim；hehadseenher’afficher’herselfwiththefellowatMorland’stea；hecommandedhertostopit；andheprofessedtospeakforhergood。
BessiereturnedthatsheknewhowstronglyhefeltfromthewayhehadmisbehavedwhensheintroducedhimtoMr。Durgin，butthatshesupposedhehadbeenattheclubandhisnerveswereunstrung。Wasthatthereason，perhaps，whyhecouldnotmakehislatchkeywork？Mr。Durginmightbeacad，andshewouldnotsayhewasnotajay，butsofarhehadnotswornather；and，ifhehadbeensuspendedandcomeback，thereweresomepeoplewhohadnotbeensuspendedorcomeback，either，thoughthatmighthavebeenforwantofcheek。
Sheendedbydeclaringshewasusedtogoingintosocietywithoutherbrother’sprotection，orevenhiscompany，andshewoulddoherbesttogetonwithouthisadvice。Orwasithisconducthewishedhertoprofitby？
Ithadcometothefishgoingoutbythistime，andAlan，whohadeatenwithnoappetite，anddrunkenfeverishlyofapollinaris，flungdownhisnapkinandwentout，too。
\"Whatisthematter？\"askedhisaunt，lookingafterhim。
Bessieshrugged，butshesaid，presently，withherlipsmorethanhervoice：\"Idon’tthinkhefeelsverywell。\"
\"Doyouthinkhe——\"
Thegirlfrownedassent，andthemealwentontoitsend。Thensheandherauntwentintothelarge，dulllibrary，wheretheypassedtheeveningswhichBessiedidnotspendinsomesocialfunction。Theseeveningsweregrowingrathermorefrequent，withheradvancingyears，forshewasnownearlytwenty—five，andtherewerefewSeniorssoold。
ShewasnotthekindofgirltorenewheryouthwiththeSophomoresandFreshmenintheclassessucceedingtheclasswithwhichshehaddancedthroughcollege；sofarasshehadkeptuptheoldrelationwithstudents，shecontinueditwiththemenwhohadgoneintothelaw—school。
Butshesawlessandlessofthesewithoutseeingmoreofothermen，andperhapsinthelastanalysisshewasnotafavorite。Shewasallowedtobefascinating，butshewasnotfelttobeflattering，andpeoplewouldratherbeflatteredthanfascinated。Infact，themenweremostlyafraidofher；andithasbeenobservedofgirlsofthiskindthatthemenwhoarenotafraidofthemaresuchastheywoulddowelltobeafraidof。
WhetherthatwasquitethecasewithBessieLyndeornot，itwascertainthatshewhowasalwaysthecleverestgirlintheroom，andifnottheprettiest，thenthemosteffective，hadnotthebestmenabouther。Hermenwereapttobethosewhomtheothergirlscalledstupidorhorrid，andwhomitwouldnotbeeasy，thoughitmightbemorejust，toclassifyotherwise。Theothergirlswonderedwhatshecouldseeinthem；butperhapsitwasnotnecessarythatsheshouldseeanythinginthem，iftheycouldseeallshewishedthemtosee，andnomore，inher。
Theroomwhereteawasnowbroughtandputbeforeherwasvolumedroundbythecollectionsofhergrandfather，exceptforthespacesfilledbyhisportraitandthatofearlierancestors，goingbacktothetimewhenCopleymademasterpiecesofhisfellow—Bostonians。Herauntherselflookedafamilyportraitofthemiddleperiod，alittleanteriortoherfather’s，butsubsequenttohergreat—grandfather’s。Shehadacomelyface，withlarge，smoothcheeksandprominenteyes；theedgesofherdecorousbrownwigwerecombedratherneartheircorners，andafittingcappalliatedbutdidnotdenythewig。Shehadthequietbutratherdulllookofpeopleslightlydeaf，andshehadperhapsbeenstupefiedbyalifeofunalloyedprosperityandpropriety。Shehadgrownanoldmaidnaturally，butnotinvoluntarily，andshewaswithoutthesadnessortheharshnessofdisappointment。Shehadneverknownmuchoftheworld，thoughshehadalwayslivedinit。Sheknewthatitwasmadeupoftwokindsofpeople——peoplewhowerelikeherandpeoplewhowerenotlikeher；andshehadlivedsolelyinthesocietyofpeoplewhowerelikeher，andintheshelteroftheiropinionsandideals。Shedidnotcontemnorexcludethepeoplewhowereunlikeher，butshehadneverhadanymorecontactwiththemthanshenowhadwiththeweatherofthestreets，asshesat，fillingherlargearm—chairfullofherladylikecorrectness，inthelibraryofthehandsomehouseherfatherhadlefther。Theirruptionofherbrother’ssonanddaughterintoitscloisteredquiethadscarcelybrokenitsinvulnerableorder。Itwasrightandfittheyshouldbethereafterhisdeath，anditwasnotstrangethatinthecourseoftimetheyshouldbothshowcertainunregulatedtendencieswhich，sincetheywerenotknowntobeLyndetendencies，musthavebeenderivedfromtheSouthwesternwomanherbrotherhadmarriedduringhissocialandfinancialpericlitationsinaregionwhollyinconceivabletoher。Theirmotherwasdead，too，andtheiraunt’slifeclosedaboutthemwithfullacceptance，ifnotcomplacence，aspartofherworld。Theyhadgrowntomanhoodandwomanhoodwithoutmateriallydiscomposingherfaithintheold—fashionedUnitariandeity，whoseserviceshehadalwaysattended。
WhenAlanleftcollegeinhisFreshmanyear，anddidnotgoback，butwentrathertoEuropeandEgyptandJapan，itappearedtohermyopicoptimismthathisescapadeshadbeenprettywellhushedupbytimeanddistance。Afterhecamehomeanddevotedhimselftohisclub，shecouldhavewishedthathehadtakenupsomeprofessionorbusiness；butsincetherewasmoneyenough，shewaitedinnogreatdisquietuntilheshowedasdecidedatasteforsomethingelseasheseemedforthepresenttohaveonlyforhorses。Inthemeanwhile，fromtimetotime，itcametoherdoctor’sadvisinghisgoingtoacertainretreat。Buthecameoutthefirsttimesomuchbetterandremainedwellsolongthathisauntfeltakindofsecurityinhisgoingagainandagain，wheneverhebecameatallworse。Healwayscamebackbetter。AsshetookthecupofteathatBessiepouredoutforher，sherecurredtothequestionthatshehadpartlyaskedalready：
\"DoyouthinkAlanisgettingworseagain？\"
\"Notsoverymuch，\"saidthegirl，candidly。\"He’sbeenattheclub，Isuppose，butheleftthetablepartlybecauseIvexedhim。\"
\"Becauseyouwhat？\"
\"BecauseIvexedhim。Hewasscoldingme，andIwouldn’tstandit。\"
Heraunttastedhertea，andfounditsoquitewhatshelikedthatshesaid，fromanaturalsatisfactionwithBessie，\"Idon’tseewhathehadtoscoldyouabout。\"
\"Well，\"returnedBessie，andshegotherprettyvoicetothelevelofheraunt’shearing，withsomestraining，andkeptitthere，\"whenheisinthatstate，hehastoscoldsomeone；andIhadbeenratherannoying，I
suppose。\"
\"Whathadyoubeendoing？\"askedheraunt，makingoutherwordsmorefromthesightthanfromthesound，afterall。
\"Ihadbeenwalkinghomewithajay，andwefoundAlantryingtogetinatthefrontdoorwithhiskey，andIintroducedhimtothejay。\"
MissLouisaLyndehadheardthewordsooftenfromhernieceandnephew，thatsheimaginedherselfinfullpossessionofitsmeaning。Sheasked：
\"Wherehadyoumethim？\"
\"Imethimfirst，\"saidthegirl，\"atWillieMorland’stea，lastweek，andto—dayIfoundhimatMrs。Bevidge’saltruistictoot。\"
\"Ididn’tknow，\"saidheraunt，afteramomentaryattentiontohertea，\"thatjayswereinterestedinthatsortofthing。\"
Thegirllaughed。\"Ibelievethey’renot。Ithasn’tquitereachedthem，yet；andIdon’tthinkitwilleverreachmyjay。Mrs。Bevidgetriedtoworkhimintothecause，butherefusedsopromptly，andso—
intelligently，don’tyouknow——andsoalmostbrutally，thatpoorFreddyLancasterhadtocomeandapologizetohimforherwantoftact。\"Bessieenjoyedthefact，whichshehadcoloredalittle，inanotherlaugh，butshehadapparentlynotpossessedherauntofthehumorofit。Sheremainedseriously—attentive，andthegirlwenton：\"Hewasnottheleastabashedathavingrefused；hestayedtillthelast，andaswecameouttogetherandhewasgoingmyway，Ilethimwalkhomewithme。He’sajay，butheisn’tacommonjay。\"BessieleanedforwardandtriedtoimplantsomenotionofJeff’scharacterandpersonalityinheraunt’smind。
MissLyndelistenedattentivelyenough，butshemerelyasked，whenallwassaid：\"AndwhywasAlanvexedwithyouabouthim？\"
\"Well，\"saidthegirl，fallingbackintoherchair，\"generallybecausethisman’sajay，andparticularlybecausehe’sbeenratherabaddishjay，Ibelieve。Hewassuspendedinhisfirstyearforsomethingorother，andyouknowpoorAlan’sveryparticular！ButMollyEnderbysaysFreddyLancastergiveshimthebestofcharactersnow。\"Bessiepulleddownhermouth，withaneffectbefittingthenotionofrepentanceandatonement。Thensheflashedout：\"Perhapshehadbeendrinkingwhenhegotintotrouble。Alancouldneverforgivehimforthat。\"
\"Ithink，\"saidheraunt，\"itistoyourbrother’screditthatheisanxiousaboutyourassociations。\"
\"Oh，verymuch！\"shoutedBessie，withaburstoflaughter。\"Andasheisn’tpracticallyso，Ioughttohavebeenmorepatientwithhistheory。
ButwhenhebegantoscoldmeIlostmytemper，andIgavehimafewwholesometruthsintheguiseoftaunts。Thatwaswhatmadehimgoaway，Isuppose。\"
\"ButIdon’treallysee，\"herauntpursued，——\"whatoccasionhehadtobeangrywithyouinthisinstance。\"
\"Oh，Ido！\"saidBessie。\"Mr。Durginisn’tonetoinspirethecasualbeholderwiththenotionofhisspiritualdistinction。Hisfaceissorudeandstrong，andhehassuchaprimitiveeffectinhisclothes，thatyoufeelasifyouwerecomingdownthestreetwithaprehistoricmanthatthebarbersandtailorshadputa’findesiecle’surfaceon。\"Atthemystificationwhichappearedinheraunt’sfacethegirllaughedagain。\"Ishouldhavebeenquiteasanxious，ifIhadbeeninAlan’splace，andIshalltellhimso，sometime。IfIhadnotbeensointerestedinthesituationIdon’tbelieveIcouldhavekeptmycourage。
WheneverIlookedround，andfoundthatprehistoricmanatmyelbow，itgavemethecreeps，alittle，asifhewerereallycarryingmeofftohiscave。IshalltrytoexpressthattoAlan。\"
XXXI。
Theladiesfinishedtheirtea，andthebutlercameandtookthecupsaway。MissLynderemainedsilentinherchairatherendofthelibrary—
table，andby—and—byBessiegotabookandbegantoread。Whenherauntwokeupitwashalfpastnine。\"WasthatAlancomingin？\"sheasked。
\"Idon’tthinkhe’sbeenout，\"saidthegirl。\"Itisn’tlateenoughforhimtocomein——orearlyenough。\"
\"IbelieveI’llgotobed，\"MissLyndereturned。\"Ifeelratherdrowsy。\"
Bessiedidnotsmileatacomedywhichwasapttoberepeatedeveryeveningthatsheandherauntspentathometogether；theypartedforthenightwiththedecenciesoffamilyaffection，andBessiedeliveredtheelderladyovertohermaid。Thenthegirlsankdownagain，andlaymusinginherdeepchairbeforethefirewithherbookshutonherthumb。
Shelookedratheroldandworninherreverie；herfacelosttheairofgaybanterwhich，afterthebeautyofherqueereyesandhervividmouth，wasitscharm。Theeyeswereratherdullnow，andthemouthwasalittlewithered。
Shewaswaitingforherbrothertocomedown，ashewasapttodoifhewasinthehouse，aftertheirauntwenttobed，tosmokeacigarinthelibrary。Hewasinhishouseshoeswhenheshuffledintotheroom，butherearhaddetectedhispresencebeforeahiccoughannouncedit。Shedidnotlookup，butlethimmakeseveralfailurestolighthiscigar，anddamnthematchesunderhisbreath，beforeshepushedthedrop—lighttohiminsilentsuggestion。Asheleanedoverherchair—backtoreachitschimneywithhiscigarinhismouth，shesaid，\"You’reallright，Alan。\"
Hewaitedtillhegotroundtohisaunt’seasy—chairanddroppedintoitbeforeheanswered，\"Soareyou，Bess。\"
\"I’mnotsosureofthat，\"saidthegirl，\"asIshouldbeifyouwerestillscoldingme。Iknewthathewasajay，wellenough，andI’djustseenhimbehavingverylikeacadtoMrs。Bevidge。\"
\"ThenIdon’tunderstandhowyoucametobewithhim。\"
\"Ohyes，youdo，Alan。Youmustn’tbelogical！Youmightaswellsayyoucan’tunderstandhowyoucametobemoreseriousthansober。\"Thebrotherlaughedhelplessly。\"Itwastheexcitement。\"
\"Butyoucan’tgivewaytothatsortofthing，Bess，\"saidherbrother，withthegravityofamanfeelingtheconsequencesofhisownerrors。
\"IknowIcan’t，butIdo，\"shereturned。\"Iknowit’sbadforme，ifitisn’tforotherpeople。Come！I’llswearoffifyouwill！\"
\"I’malwaysready，toswearoff，\"saidtheyoungman，gloomily。Headded，\"Butyou’vegotbrains，Bess，andIhatetoseeyouplayingthefool。\"
\"Doyoureally，Alan？\"askedthegirl，pleasedperhapsasmuchbyhisreproachasbyhispraise。\"DoyouthinkI’vegotbrains？\"
\"You’retheonlygirlthathas。\"
\"Oh，Ididn’tmeantoasksomuchasthat！Butwhat’sthereasonIcan’tdoanythingwiththem？Othergirlsdraw，andplay，andwrite。Idon’tdoanythingbutgoinfortheexcitementthat’sbadforme。Iwishyou’dexplainit。\"
AlanLyndedidnottry。Thequestionseemedtoturnhisthoughtsbackuponhimselftodispiritingeffect。\"I’vegotbrains，too，Ibelieve，\"
hebegan。
\"Lotsofthem！\"criedhissister，generously。\"Thereisn’tanyofthementocomparewithyou。IfIhadyoutotalkwithallthetime，I
shouldn’twantjays。Idon’tmeantoflatter。You’reaconstantfeastofreason；Idon’tcareforflowsofsoul。Youalwaystakerightviewsofthingswhenyou’reyourself，andevenwhenyou’resomebodyelseyou’renotstupid。Youcouldbeanythingyouchose。\"
\"ThedevilofitisIcan’tchoose，\"hereplied。
\"Yes，Isupposethat’sthedevilofit，\"saidthegirl。
\"Yououghtn’ttousesuchlanguageasthat，Bess，\"saidherbrother，severely。
\"Oh，Idon’twitheverybody，\"shereturned。\"Neverwithladies！\"
Helookedatheroutofthecornerofhiseyewithasmileatonceruefulandcomic。
\"Yougotme，Iguess，thattime，\"heowned。
\"’Touche’，’Mr。Durginsays。Hefences，itseems，andhespeaksFrench。
ItwaslikeananimalspeakingFrench；youalwaysexpectthemtospeakEnglish。ButIdon’tmindyourswearingbeforeme；Iknowthatithelpstocarryofftheelectricity。\"Shelaughed，andmadehimlaughwithher。
\"Isthereanythingtohim？\"hegrowled，whentheystoppedlaughing。
\"Yes，agooddeal，\"saidBessie，withanairofthoughtfulness；andthenshewentontotellallthatJeffhadtoldherofhimself，andshedescribedhisaplombindealingwiththebenevolentBevidge，asshecalledher，andsketchedhischaracter，asitseemedtoher。Thesketchwasfullofshrewdguesses，andshemadeitamusingtoherbrother，whofromthevantageofhisownbaddishnessnodoubtjudgedtheoriginalmoreintelligently。
\"Well，you’dbetterlethimalone，afterthis，\"hesaid，attheend。
\"Yes，\"shepensivelyassented。\"Isupposeit’sasifyoutooktosomeverycommonkindofwhiskey，isn’tit？Iseewhatyoumean。Ifonemust，itoughttobechampagne。\"
Sheturneduponhimalookofthatkeenbutlimitedknowledgewhichrenderswomen’sconjecturesofevilalwayssoamusing，orsopathetic，tomen。
\"Betterletthechampagnealone，too，\"saidherbrother，darkly。
\"Yes，Iknowthat，\"sheadmitted，andshelaybackinherchair，lookingdreamilyintothefire。Afterawhilesheasked，abruptly：\"WillyougiveitupifIwill？\"
\"IamafraidIcouldn’t。\"
\"Youcouldtry。\"
\"Oh，I’musedtothat。\"
\"Thenit’sabargain，\"shesaid。Shejumpedfromherchairandwentovertohim，andsmoothedhishairoverhisforeheadandkissedtheplaceshehadsmoothed，thoughitwasunpleasantlydamptoherlips。\"Poorboy，poorboy！Now，remember！Nomorejaysforme，andnomorejagsforyou。
Goodnight。\"
Herbrotherbrokeintoawildlaughatherslanging，whichhadsuchabizarreeffectinrelationtoherphysicaldelicacy。
XXXII。
JeffdidnotknowwhetherMissBessieLyndemeanttogotoMrs。Bevidge’sThursdaysornot。Hethoughtshemighthavebeenbanteringhimbywhatshesaid，andhedecidedthathewouldriskgoingtothefirstofthemonthechanceofmeetingher。Shewasnotthere，andtherewasnoonetherewhomheknew。Mrs。Bevidgemadenoefforttoenlargehisacquaintance，andafterhehaddrunkacupofherteahewentawaywithrageagainstsocietyinhisheart，whichhepromisedhimselftoventatthefirstchanceofrefusingitsfavors。Butthechanceseemednottocome。Theworldwhichhadopeneditsgatestohimwasfastshutagain，andhehadtomakewhathecouldofrenouncingit。Heworkedprettyhard，andherenewedhimselfinhisfealtytoCynthia，whilehismindstrayedcuriouslytothatothergirl。Buthehadalmostabandonedthehopeofmeetingheragain，whenalargepartywasgivenontheeveoftheHarvardMid—YearExaminations，whichendtheyoungergayetiesofBoston，forafortnightatleast，inJanuary。Thepartywassolargethattheinvitationsoverflowedthestrictboundsofsocietyatsomepoints。InthecaseofJeffDurgintheexcesswasintentionalbeyondthevaguebenevolencewhichpromptedthegiverofthepartytoaskcertainotheroutsiders。Shewasaladyofasoulseveralsizeslargerthanthesoulsofsomeothersocietyleaders；shewasnotafraidtodoassheliked；forinstance，shehadnotonlymettheVostrandsatWestover’stea，severalyearsbefore，butshehadafterwardofferedsomehospitalitiestothoseladieswhichhaddischargedherwholedutytowardthemwithoutinvolvingherinanydisadvantages。JeffhadbeenpresentedtoheratWestover’s，butshedislikedhimsopromptlyanddecidedlythatshehadlefthimoutofeventhethingsthatsheaskedsomeotherjaysto，likelecturesandparlorreadingsforgoodobjects。Itwasnotuntiloneofherdaughtersmethim，firstatWillieMorland’steaandthenatMrs。Bevidge’smeeting，thathersocialconscienceconcerneditselfwithhim。Atthefirstherdaughterhadnotspokentohim，asmightverywellhavehappened，sinceBessieLyndehadkepthimawaywithhernearlyallthetime；butatthelastshehadbowedpleasantlytohimacrosstheroom，andJeffhadrespondedwithastiffobeisance，whosecoldnessshefeltthemoreforhavingbeensomewhatsoftenedherselfinMrs。Bevidge’saltruisticatmosphere。
\"Ithinkhewashurt，mamma，\"thegirlexplainedtohermother，\"thatyou’veneverhadhimtoanything。Isupposetheymustfeelit。\"
\"Oh，well，sendhimacard，then，\"saidhermother；andwhenJeffgotthecard，ratherneartheeleventhhour，hemadehastetoaccept，notbecausehecaredtogotoMrs。Enderby’shouse，butbecausehehopedheshouldmeetMissLyndethere。
Bessiewasthefirstpersonhemetafterheturnedfrompayinghisdutytothehostess。Shewaswithheraunt，andshepresentedhim，andpromisedhimadance，whichshelethimwriteonhercard。Shesatoutanotherdancewithhim，andhetookhertosupper。
ToWestover，whohadgonewiththeincreasingforlornnessamanfeelsinsuchpleasuresafterthirty—five，itseemedasifthetwowereineachother’scompanythewholeevening。TheimpressionwassostrongwithhimthatwhenJeffrestoredBessietoherauntforthedancethatwastobeforsomeoneelse，andcamebacktothesupper—room，thepaintertriedtosatisfyacertainuneasinessbymakingtalkwithhim。ButJeffwouldnottalk；hegotawaywithabottleofchampagne，whichhehadcaptured，andaplateheapedwithcroquettesandpease，andgalantineandsalad。Therewerenoladiesleftintheroombythattime，andfewyoungmen；buttheoldsterscrowdedtheplace，withtheirbaldheadsdevoutlybowedovertheirvictual，ortheirfrostymustachesbathedintheirdrink，singlyoringroups；thenoiseoftheirtalkandlaughtermixedwiththesoundoftheireatinganddrinking，andtheclashoftheknivesanddishes。OvertheirstoopedshouldersandpasttheirroundedstomachsWestoversawAlanLyndevaguelymakinghiswaywithaglassinhishand，andlookingvaguelyaboutforwine；hesawJeffcatchhiswanderingeye，andmakeofferofhisbottle，andthensawLynde，afteramomentofhaughtypause，unbendandacceptit。Histhinfacewasflushed，andhishairtossedoverhisforehead，butJeffseemednottotakenoteofthat。HelaughedboisterouslyatsomethingLyndesaid，andkeptfillinghisglassforhim。
Hisowncolorremainedclearandcool。Itwasasifhispowerfulphysiqueabsorbedthewinebeforeitcouldreachhisbrain。
Westoverwantedtointerfere，andsofarasJeffwasconcernedhewouldnothavehesitated；butLyndewasconcerned，too，andyoucannotsavesuchamanfromhimselfwithoutoffence。Hemadehiswaytotheyoungman，hopinghemightsomehowhavethecouragehewanted。
Jeffheldupthebottle，andcalledtohim，\"Getyourselfaglass，Mr。
Westover。\"Heputontheairofahost，andwouldhardlybedenied。
\"KnowMr。Westover，Mr。Lynde？Justtalkingaboutyou，\"heexplainedtoWestover。