\"Oh，comeinwithhim！\"Bessieimplored，andatalittleyieldinginJeffherbrotheradded：
\"Comein，youdamnjay！\"HepulledatJeff。
Jeffmadehastetoshutthedoorbehindthem。Hewaslaughing；andifitwasfrommerebruteinsensibilitytowhatwouldhaveshockedanotherinthesituation，hisfrankrecognitionofitsgrotesquenesswasofbettereffectthananyhopelessefforttoignoreitwouldhavebeen。Peopleadjustthemselvestotheirtrials；itisthepretenceofthewitnessthatthereisnotrialwhichhurts，andBessiewasnotwoundedbyJeff’slaugh。
\"There’safirehereinthereception—room，\"shesaid。\"Canyougethimin？\"
\"Iguessso。\"
JeffliftedAlanintotheroomandstayedhimonfootthere，whilehetookoffhishatandovercoat，andthenhelethimsinkintotheloweasy—chairBessiehadjustrisenfrom。Allthetime，Alanwasbiddingherringandhavesomechampagneandcoldmeatsetoutontheside—board，andshewaslightlypromisingandcoaxing。Buthedrowsedquicklyinthewarmth，andthelastdemandforsupperdiedhalfutteredonhislips。
Jeffaskedacrosshim：\"Can’tIgethimup—stairsforyou？Icancarryhim。\"
Sheshookherheadandwhisperedback，\"Icanleavehimhere，\"andshelookedatJeffwithamoment’shesitation。\"Didyou——doyouthinkthat——
anyonenoticedhimatMrs。Enderby’s？\"
\"No；theyhadgothiminaroombyhimself——thecaterer’smenhad。\"
\"Andyoufoundhimthere？\"
\"Mr。Westoverfoundhimthere，\"Jeffanswered。
\"Idon’tunderstand。\"
\"Didn’thecometoyouafterIleft？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Itoldhimtoexcuseme——\"
\"Hedidn’t。\"
\"Well，Iguesshewasprettybadlyrattled。\"Jeffstoppedhimselfinthevaguelaughofonewhorememberssomethingludicrous，andturnedhisfaceaway。
\"Tellmewhatitwas！\"shedemanded，nervously。
\"Mr。Westoverhadbeenhomewithhimonce，andhewouldn’tstay。HemadeMr。Westovercomebackforme。\"
\"Whatdidhewantwithyou？\"
Jeffshrugged。
\"Andthenwhat？\"
\"Wewentouttothecarriage，assoonasIcouldgetawayfromyou；buthewasn’tinit。IsentMr。Westoverbacktoyouandsetouttolookforhim。\"
\"Thatwasverygoodofyou。AndI——thankyouforyourkindnesstomybrother。Ishallnotforgetit。AndIwishtobegyourpardon。\"
\"Whatfor？\"askedJeff，bluntly。
\"Forblamingyouwhenyoudidn’tcomebackforthedance。\"
IfBessiehadmeantnothingbutwhatwasfittingtothemomentsomeinherentlightnessofnatureplayedherfalse。Buteventhehistrionictouchwhichshecouldnotkeepoutofhervoice，hermanner，anothersortofmanmighthavefoundmerelypathetic。
Jefflaughedwithsubtleintelligence。\"Wereyouveryhardonme？\"
\"Very，\"sheansweredinkind，forgettingherbrotherandthewholeterriblesituation。
\"Tellmewhatyouthoughtofme，\"hesaid，andhecamealittlenearertoher，lookingveryhandsomeandverystrong。\"Ishouldliketoknow。\"
\"IsaidIshouldneverspeaktoyouagain。\"
\"Andyoukeptyourword，\"saidJeff。\"Well，that’sallright。Good—
night—orgood—morning，whicheveritis。\"Hetookherhand，whichshecouldnotwithdraw，orfeignedtoherselfthatshecouldnotwithdraw，andlookedatherwithasilentlaugh，andahardy，scepticalglancethatshefelttakeineverydetailofherprettiness，herplainness。Thenheturnedandwentout，andsheranquicklyandlockedthedooruponhim。
XXXV。
Bessiecreptuptoherroom，whereshespenttherestofthenightinherchair，amidatumultofemotionwhichshewouldhavecalledthinking。
Sheaskedherselfthemostsearchingquestions，butshegotnoverycandidanswerstothem，andshedecidedthatshemustseethewholefactwithsomeother’seyesbeforeshecouldknowwhatshehadmeantorwhatshehaddone。
Whensheletthedaylightintoherroom，itshowedherafaceinhermirrorthatborenotraceofconflictinganxieties。Hercomplexionfavoredthiseffectofinwardcalm；itwasalwaysthick；andhereyesseemedtoherallthebrighterfortheirvigils。
Asmile，even，hoveredonhermouthasshesatdownatthebreakfast—
table，intheprettynegligeeshehadwornallnight，andpouredoutMissLynde’scoffeeforher。
\"That’salwaysverybecomingtoyou，Bessie，\"saidheraunt。\"It’sthenicestbreakfastgownyouhave。\"
\"Doyouthinkso？\"Bessielookeddownatit，firstononesideandthenontheother，asawomanalwaysdoeswhenherdressisspokenof。
\"Mr。Alansaidhewouldhavehisbreakfastinhisroom，miss，\"murmuredthebutler，inhuskyrespectfulness，ashereturnedtoBessiefromcarryingMissLynde’scuptoher。\"Hedon’twantanythingbutalittletoastandcoffee。\"
Sheperceivedthatthewordsweremeanttomakeiteasyforhertoask：
\"Isn’theverywell，Andrew？\"
\"Aboutasusual，miss，\"saidAndrew，athoughtmoresepulchralthanbefore。\"He’sgoingon——aboutasusual。\"
Sheknewthistomeanthathewasgoingonfrombadtoworse，andthathislastnight’sexcesswasthebeginningofadebauchwhichcouldendonlyinoneway。Shemustsendforthedoctor；hewoulddecidewhatwasbest，whenhesawhowAlancamethroughtheday。
LateintheafternoonsheheardMaryEnderby’svoiceinthereception—
room，biddingthemansaythatifMissBessiewerelyingdownshewouldcomeuptoher，orwouldgoaway，justasshewished。Sheflewdownstairswithagladcryof\"Molly！Whataninspiration！Iwasjustthinkingofyou，andwishingforyou。ButIdidn’tsupposeyouwereupyet！\"
\"It’sprettyearly，\"saidMissEnderby。\"ButIshouldhavebeenherebeforeifIcould，forIknewIshouldn’twakeyou，Bessie，withyourhabitofturningnightintoday，andgettingupanytimeintheforenoon。\"
\"Howdissipatedyousound！\"
\"Yes，don’tI？ButI’vebeenthinkingaboutyoueversinceIwoke，andI
hadtocomeandfindoutifyouwerealive，anyhow。\"
\"Comeup—stairsandsee！\"saidBessie，holdingherfriend’shandonthesofawheretheyhaddroppeddowntogether，andgoingalloverthesceneoflastnightinthatplaceforthethousandthtime。
\"No，no；Ireallymustn’t。Ihopeyouhadagoodtime？\"
\"Atyourhouse！\"
\"Howdearofyou！But，Bessie，Igottothinkingyou’dbeenrathersacrificed。ItcameintomymindtheinstantIwoke，andgavemethisseverecaseofconscience。Isupposeit’sakindofconscience。\"
\"Yes，yes。Goon！Ilikehavingbeenamartyr，ifIdon’tknowwhatabout。\"
\"Why，youknow，Bessie，orifyoudon’tyouwillpresently，thatitwasI
whogotmammatosendhimacard；Ifeltrathersorryforhim，thatdayatMrs。Bevidge’s，becauseshe’dsoobviouslygothimtheretousehim，andIgotmammatoaskhim。Everythingtakescareofitself，atalargeaffair，andIthoughtImighttrustinProvidencetodealwithhimafterhecame；andthenIsawyoumadeameansthewholeevening！Ididn’treflectthattherealwayshastobeameans！\"
\"It’saquestionofMr。Durgin？\"saidBessie，coldlythrillingatthesoundofanamethatshepronouncedsogaylyinatoneofsympatheticamusement。
MissEnderbybobbedherhead。\"Itshowsthatweoughtnevertodoagoodaction，doesn’tit？But，poorthing！Howyoumusthavebeenswearingoff！\"
\"Idon’tknow。Wasitsoverybad？I’mtryingtothink，\"saidBessie，thinkingthatafterthisbeginningitwouldbeimpossibletoconfideinMaryEnderby。
\"Oh，now，Bessie！Don’tyoubepatient，orIshallbegintolosemyfaithinhumannature。JustsayatoncethatitwasanoutrageandI’llforgiveyou！Yousee，\"MissEnderbywenton，\"itisn’tmerelythathe’sajay；butheisn’taverynicejay。Noneofthemenlikehim——exceptFreddyLancaster，ofcourse；helikeseverybody，onprinciple；hedoesn’tcount。Ithoughtthatperhaps，althoughhe’ssocrudeandblunt，hemightbesensitiveandhigh—minded；you’realwaysreadingaboutsuchthings；buttheysayheisn’t，intheleast；oh，nottheleast！Theysayhegoeswithasetoffastjays，andthathe’sdreadful；thoughhehasaverygoodmind，andcoulddoverywellifhechose。That’swhatcousinJimsaidto—day；he’sjustbeenatourhouse；anditwassoextremelytelepathicthatIthoughtImustrunroundandpreventyourhavingthemanonyourconscienceifyoufeltyouhadhadtoomuchofhim。Youwon’tlayhimupagainstus，willyou？\"Shejumpedtoherfeet。
\"Youdear！\"saidBessie，keepingMaryEnderby’shand，andpressingitbetweenbothofhersagainstherbreastastheynowstoodfacetoface，\"docomeupandhavesometea！\"
\"No，no！Really，Ican’t。\"
Theywerebothinvoluntarilysilent。Thedoorhadbeenopenedtosomeone，andtherewasabriefparley，whichendedinavoicetheyknewtobethedoctor’s，saying，\"ThenI’llgorightuptohisroom。\"Boththegirlsbrokeintolaughingadieux，tohidetheirconsciousnessthatthedoctorwasgoinguptoseeAlanLynde，whowasneversickexceptintheoneway。
MissEnderbyevensaid：\"IwassogladtoseeAlanlookingsowell，lastnight。\"
\"Yes，hehadsuchagoodtime，\"saidBessie，andshefollowedherfriendtothedoor，whereshekissedherreassuringly，andthankedherfortakingallthetroubleshehad，biddinghernotbetheleastanxiousonheraccount。
Itseemedtoherthatsheshouldsinkuponthestairsinmountingthemtothelibrary。MaryEnderbyhadtoldheronlywhatshehadknownbefore；
itwaswhatherbrotherhadtoldher；butthenithadnotbeenpossibleforthemantosaythathehadbroughtAlanhometipsy，andbeenaloneinthehousewithheratthreeo’clockinthemorning。Hewouldnotonlyboastofittoallthatvulgarcomradehoodofhis，butitmightgetintothoseterriblepaperswhichpublishedthesocietyscandals。Therewouldbenowaybuttoappealtohispity，hisgenerosity。Shefanciedherselfwritingtohim，buthecouldshowhernote，andshemustsendforhimtocomeandseeher，andtrytoputhimonhishonor。Or，thatwouldnotdo，either。Shemustmakeithappenthattheyshouldbethrowntogether，andthenspeaktohim。Eventhatmightmakehimthinkshewasafraidofhim；orhemighttakeitwrong，andbelievethatshecaredforhim。
HehadreallybeenverygoodtoAlan，andshetriedtofeelsafeinthethoughtofthat。Shedidfeelsafeforamoment；butifshehadmeantnothingbuttomakehimbelievehergrateful，whatmustheinferfromhertalkingtohiminthelightwayshedidaboutforgivinghimfornotcomingbacktodancewithher。Hermanner，herlooks，hertone，hadgivenhimtherighttosaythatshehadbeenwillingtoflirtwithhimthere，atthathour，andinthosedreadfulcircumstances。
Shefoundherselflyinginadeeparm—chairinthelibrary，whenshewasawareofDr。Lacypausingatthedoorandlookingtentativelyinuponher。
\"Comein，doctor，\"shesaid，andsheknewthatherfacewaswetwithtears，andthatshespokewiththevoiceofweeping。
Hecameforwardandlookednarrowlyather，withoutsittingdown。
\"There’snothingtobealarmedabout，MissBessie，\"hesaid。\"ButI
thinkyourbrotherhadbetterleavehomeagain，forawhile。\"
\"Yes，\"shesaid，blankly。Hermindwasnotonhiswords。
\"Iwillmakethearrangements。\"
\"Thankyou，\"saidBessie，listlessly。
Thedoctorhadmadeastepbackward，asifheweregoingaway，andnowhestopped。\"Aren’tyoufeelingquitewell，MissBessie？\"
\"Ohyes，\"shesaid，andshebegantocry。
Thedoctorcameforwardandsaid，cheerily：\"Letmesee。\"Hepulledachairuptohers，andtookherwristbetweenhisfingers。\"IfyouwereatMrs。Enderby’slastnight，you’llneedanothernighttoputyoujustright。Butyou’reprettywellasitis。\"Heletherwristsoftlygo，andsaid：\"Youmustn’tdistressyourselfaboutyourbrother’scase。
Ofcourse，it’shardtohaveithappennowafterhe’sheldupsolong；
longerthanithasbeenbefore，Ithink，isn’tit？Butit’ssomethingthatithasbeensolong。Thenexttime，letushope，itwillbelongerstill。\"
Thedoctormadeasiftorise。Bessieputherhandouttostayhim。
\"Whatisitmakeshimdoit？\"
\"Ah，that’sagreatmystery，\"saidthedoctor。\"Isupposeyoumightsaytheexcitement。\"
\"Yes！\"
\"Butitseemstomeveryoften，insuchcases，asifitweretoescapetheexcitement。Ithinkyou’rebothkeyedupprettysharplybynature，MissBessie，\"saidthedoctor，withthepersonalkindnesshefeltforthegirl，andthepitysofteninghisscientificspirit。
\"Iknow！\"sheanswered。\"We’realike。Whydon’tItaketodrinking，too？\"
Thedoctorlaughedatsuchaquestionfromayounglady，butwithaninnerseriousnessinhislaugh，asif，comingfromapatient，itwastobeweighed。\"Well，Isupposeitisn’tthehabitofyoursex，MissBessie。\"
\"Sometimesitis。Sometimeswomengetdrunk，andthenIthinktheydolessharmthaniftheydidotherthingstogetawayfromtheexcitement。\"
Shelongedtoconfideinhim；thewordswereonhertongue；shebelievedhecouldhelpher，tellherwhattodo；outofhisstoresofknowledgeandexperiencehemusthavesomesuggestion，someremedy；hecouldadviseher；hecouldstandherfriend，sofar。Peopletoldtheirdoctorsallkindsofthings，sillythings。Whyshouldshenottellherdoctorthis？
Itwouldhavebeeneasierifithadbeenanolderman，whomighthavehadadaughterofherage。Buthewasinthatperiodoftheearlyfortieswhenadoctorsometimeshasamatter—of—fact，disagreeablewifewhoseideastandsbetweenhimandthespiritualintimacyofhispatients，sothatitseemsasiftheyweredeliveringtheirconfidencesrathertoherthantohim。Hewasable，hewasgood，hewasextremelyacute，hewasevenwiththelatestfactsandtheories；butashesatstraightupinhischairhisstomachdefineditselfasahalf—moonbeforehim，andhesaidtothequiveringheapofemotionsbesidehim，\"Youmeanlikebreakinghearts，andsuchlittlematters？\"
Itwasfatallystupid，anditbeatherbackintoherself。
\"Yes，\"shesaid，withacontemptthatsheeasilyhidfromhim，\"that’sworsethangettingdrunk，isn’tit？\"
\"Well，itisn’tsoregarded，\"saidthedoctor，whosupposedhimselftohavemadeasprightlyanswer，andlaughedatit。\"Iwish，MissBessie，you’dtakealittleremedyI’mgoingtosendyou。You’vemerelybeenuptoolate，butit’saverygoodthingforpeoplewho’vebeenuptoolate。\"
\"Thankyou。Andaboutmybrother？\"
\"Oh！I’llsendamantolookafterhimto—night，andtomorrowIreallythinkhe’dbettergo。\"
XXXVI。
MissLyndehadgoneearlierthanusualtobed，whenBessieheardAlan’sdooropen，andthenheardhimfeelinghiswayfumbinglydown—stairs。Shesurmisedthathehaddrunkupallthathehadinhisroom，andwasmakingfortheside—boardinthedining—room。
Sheranandgotthetwodecanters—oneofwhiskeyandoneofbrandy，whichhewasinthehabitofcarryingbacktohisroomfromsuchanincursion。
\"Alan！\"shecalledtohim，inalowvoice。
\"Whereareyou？\"heansweredback。
\"Inthelibrary，\"shesaid。\"Comeinhere，please。\"
Hecame，andstoodlookinggloomilyinfromthedoorway。Hecaughtsightofthedecantersandtheglassesonthelibrarytable。\"Oh！\"hesaid，andgavealaughcutintwobyahiccough。
\"Comein，andshutthedoor，Alan，\"shesaid。\"Let’smakeanightofit。
I’vegotthematerialshere。\"Shewavedherhandtowardthedecanters。
Alanshrugged。\"Idon’tknowwhatyoumean。\"Buthecameforward，andslouchedintooneofthedeepchairs。
\"Well，I’lltellyouwhat，\"saidBessie，withalaugh。\"We’rebothexcited，andwewanttogetawayfromourselves。Isn’tthatwhat’sthematterwithyouwhenitbegins？DoctorLacythinksitis。\"
\"Doeshe？\"Alanasked。\"Ididn’tsupposehehadsomuchsense。Whatofit？\"
\"Nothing。MerelythatI’mgoingtodrinkaglassofwhiskeyandaglassofbrandyforeveryglassthatyoudrinkto—night。\"
\"Youmustn’tplaythefool，Bess，\"saidherbrother，withdignifiedseverity。
\"ButI’mreallyserious，Alan。ShallIgiveyousomething？Whichshallwebeginon？Andwe’dbetterbeginsoon，forthere’samancomingfromthedoctortolookafteryou，andthenyouwon’tgetanything。\"
\"Don’tberidiculous！Givemethosedecanters！\"Alanstruggledoutofhischair，andtrembledovertowhereshehadthemonthetablebesideher。
Shecaughtthemup，oneineitherhand，andheldthemashighasshecouldliftthem。\"Ifyoudon’tsitdownandpromisetokeepstill，I’llsmashthembothonthehearth。YouknowIwill。\"
Herstrangeeyesgleamed，andhehesitated；thenhewentbacktohischair。
\"Idon’tseewhat’sgotintoyouto—night。Idon’twantanything，\"hesaid。Hetriedtobraveitout，butpresentlyhecastapiteousglanceatthedecanterswhereshehadputthemdownbesideheragain。\"DoesthedoctorthinkI’dbettergoagain？\"heasked。
\"Yes。\"
\"When？\"
\"To—morrow。\"
Helookedatthedecanters。\"Andwhenisthatfellowcoming？\"
\"Hemaybehereanymoment。\"
\"It’sprettyrough，\"hesighed。\"Twoglassesofthatstuffwoulddriveyousowildyouwouldn’tknowwhereyouwere，Bess，\"heexpostulated。
\"Well，IwishIdidn’tknowwhereIwas。IwishIwasn’tanywhere。\"Helookedather，andthendroppedhiseyes，withtheeffectofgivingupahopelessconundrum。
Butheasked：\"What’sthematter？\"
Shescannedhimkeenlybeforesheanswered：\"SomethingthatIshouldliketotellyou——thatyououghttoknow。Alan，doyouthinkyouarefittojudgeofaveryseriousmatter？\"
Helaughedpathetically。\"Idon’tbelieveI’minaveryjudicialframeofmindto—night，Bess。To—morrow——\"
\"Oh，to—morrow！Wherewillyoubeto—morrow？\"
\"That’strue！Well，whatisit？I’lltrytolisten。Butifyouknewhowmynervesweregoing。\"Hiseyeswanderedfromhersbacktothedecanters。\"IfIhadjustoneglass——\"
\"I’llhaveone，too，\"shesaid，withamotiontowardthedecanternexther。
Hethrewuphisarms。\"Ohwell，goon。I’lllistenaswellasIcan。\"
Hesankdowninhischairandstretchedhislittlefeetouttowardthefire。\"Goon！\"
Shehesitatedbeforeshebegan。\"Doyouknowwhobroughtyouhomelastnight，Alan？\"
\"Yes，\"heanswered，quickly，\"Westover。\"
\"Yes，Mr。Westoverbroughtyon，andyouwouldn’tstay。Youdon’trememberanythingelse？\"
\"No。Whatelse？\"
\"Nothingforyou，ifyoudon’tremember。\"Shesatinsilenthopelessnessforawhile，andherbrother’seyesdweltonthedecanters，whichsheseemedtohaveforgotten。\"Alan！\"shebrokeout，abruptly，\"I’mworried，andifIcan’ttellyouaboutitthere’snooneIcan。\"
Theappealintiervoicemusthavereachedhim，thoughheseemedscarcelytohaveheededherwords。\"Whatisit？\"heasked，kindly。
\"YouwentbacktotheEnderbys’afterMr。Westoverbroughtyouhome，andthensomeoneelsehadtobringyouagain。\"
\"Howdoyouknow？\"
\"Iwasup，andletyouin——\"
\"Didyou，Bessie？Thatwaslikeyou，\"hesaid，tenderly。
\"AndIhadtolethimin，too。Youpulledhimintothehouse，andyoumadesuchadisturbanceatthedoorthathehadtocomeinforfearyouwouldbringthepolice。\"
\"Whatabeast！\"saidAlan，ofhimself，asifitweresomeoneelse。
\"Hecameinwithyou。Andyouwantedhimtohavesomesupper。Andyoufellasleepbeforethefireinthereception—room。\"
\"That——thatwasthedream！\"saidAlan，severely。\"Whatareyoutalkingthatstufffor，Bessie？\"
\"Ohno！\"sheretorted，withalaugh，asifthepleasureofitscominginsofitlywerecompensationfortheshameofthefact。\"Thedreamwaswhathappenedafterward。Thedreamwasthatyoufellasleepthere，andleftmetherewithhim——\"
\"Well，pooroldWestover；he’sagentleman！Youneedn’tbeworriedabouthim——\"
\"You’renotfit！\"criedthegirl。\"Igiveitup。\"Shegotuponherfeetandstoodamomentlistless。
\"No，I’mnot，Bessie。Ican’tpullmymindtogethertonight。Butlookhere！\"Heseemedtolosewhathewantedtosay。Heasked：\"IsitsomethingI’vegotyouinfor？DoIunderstandthat？\"
\"Partly，\"shesaid。
\"Well，then，I’llhelpyouout。Youcantrustme，Bessie；youcan，indeed。Youdon’tbelieveit？\"
\"Oh，IbelieveyouthinkIcantrustyou。\"
\"Butthistimeyoucan。IfyouneedmyhelpIwillstandbyyou，rightorwrong。IfyouwanttotellmenowI’lllisten，andI’lladviseyouthebestIcan——\"
\"It’sjustsomethingI’vegotnervousabout，\"shesaid，whilehereyesshonewithsuddentears。\"ButIwon’ttroubleyouwithitto—night。
There’snosuchgreathurry。Wecantalkaboutitinthemorningifyou’rebetterthen。Oh，Iforgot！You’regoingaway！\"
\"No，\"saidtheyoungman，withpatheticdignity，\"I’mnotgoingifyouneedmyhelp。Butyou’rerightaboutmetonight，Bessie。I’mnotfit。
I’mafraidIcan’tgraspanythingto—night。Tellmeinthemorning。
Oh，don’tbeafraid！\"hecriedoutattheglanceshegavethedecanters。
\"That’sover，now；youcouldputtheminmyhandsandbesafeenough。
I’mgoingbacktobed，andinthemorning——\"
Heroseandwenttowardthedoor。\"Ifthatdoctor’smancomesto—nightyoucansendhimawayagain。Heneedn’tbother。\"
\"Allright，Alan，\"shesaid，fondly。\"Good—night。Don’tworryaboutme。
Trytogetsomesleep。\"
\"Andyoumustsleep，too。Youcantrustme，Bessie。\"
Hecamebackafterhegotoutoftheroomandlookedin。\"Bess，ifyou’reanxiousaboutit，ifyoudon’tfeelperfectlysureofme，youcantakethosethingstoyourroomwithyou。\"Heindicatedthedecanterswithaglance。
\"Ohno！Ishallleavethemhere。Itwouldn’tbeanyuseyourjustkeepingwellovernight。You’llhavetokeepwellalongtime，Alan，ifyou’regoingtohelpme。Andthat’sthereasonI’drathertalktoyouwhenyoucangiveyourwholemindtowhatIsay。\"
\"Isitsomethingsoserious？\"
\"Idon’tknow。That’sforyoutojudge。Notvery——notatall，perhaps。\"
\"ThenIwon’tfailyou，Bessie。Ishall’keepwell，’asyoucallit，aslongasyouwantme。Good—night。\"
\"Good—night。Ishallleavethesebottleshere，remember。\"
\"Youneedn’tbeafraid。Youmightputthembesidemybed。\"
Bessiesleptsoundly，fromexhaustion，andinthatprovisionalfashioninwhichpeoplewhohavepostponedacaretoagivenmomentareabletosleep。Butshewokeearly，andcreptdown—stairsbeforeanyoneelsewasastir，andwenttothelibrary。Thedecantersstoodthereonthetable，empty。Herbrotherlayashapelessheapinoneofthedeeparm—chairs。
XXXVII。
WestovergothomefromtheEnderbydanceatlastwiththeforecastofaviolentcoldinhissystem，whichverifieditselfthenextmorning。Hehadbeenhousedaweek，whenJeffDurgincametoseehim。\"Whydidn’tyouletmeknowyouweresick？\"hedemanded，\"I’dhavecomeandlookedafteryou。\"
\"Thankyou，\"saidWestover，withasmuchstiffnessashecouldcommandinhisphysicallimpness。\"Ishouldn’thaveallowedyoutolookafterme；
andIwantyoutounderstand，now，thattherecan’tbeanysortoffriendlinessbetweenustillyou’veaccountedforyourbehaviorwithLyndetheothernight。\"
\"Youmeanattheparty？\"Jeffasked，tranquilly。
\"Yes！\"criedWestover。\"IfIhadnotbeenshutupeversince，Ishouldhavegonetoseeyouandhaditoutwithyou。I’veonlyletyouin，now，togiveyouthechancetoexplain；andIrefusetohearawordfromyoutillyoudo。\"Westoverdidnotthinkthatthiswasveryforcible，andhewasnotmuchsurprisedthatitmadeJeffsmile。
\"Why，Idon’tknowwhatthereistoexplain。IsupposeyouthinkIgothimdrunk；Iknowwhatyouthoughtthatnight。Buthewasprettywellloadedwhenhestruckmychampagne。Itwasn’taquestionofwhathewasgoingtodoanylonger，buthowhewasgoingtodoit。Ikeptaneyeonhim，andattherighttimeIhelpedthecaterer’smantogethimupintothatroomwherehewouldn’tmakeanytrouble。Iexpectedtogobackandlookafterhim，butIforgothim。\"
\"Idon’tsuppose，really，thatyou’reawarewhatadevil’sargumentthatis，\"saidWestover。\"YougotLyndedrunk，andthenyouwentbacktohissister，andallowedhertotreatyouasifyouwereagentleman，anddidn’tdeservetobethrownoutofthehouse。\"ThisatlastwassomethinglikewhatWestoverhadimaginedhewouldsaytoJeff，andhelookedtoseeithavetheimaginedeffectuponhim。
\"Doyousuppose，\"askedJeff，withcheerfulcynicism，\"thatitwasthefirsttimeshewasciviltoamanherbrothergotdrunkwith？\"
\"No！Butallthemoreyououghttohaveconsideredherhelplessness。
Itoughttohavemadeherthemoresacred\"——Jeffgaveanexasperatingshrug——\"toyou，andyououghttohavekeptawayfromherfordecency’ssake。\"
\"Iwasengagedtodancewithher。\"
\"Ican’tallowyoutobetrivialwithme，Durgin，\"saidWestover。
\"You’veactedlikeablackguard，andworse，ifthereisanythingworse。\"
Jeffstoodatacornerofthefire，leaningoneelbowonthemantel，andhenowlookedthoughtfullydownonWestover，whohadsunkweaklyintoachairbeforethehearth。\"Idon’tdenyitfromyourpointofview，Mr。
Westover，\"hesaid，withouttheleastresentmentinhistone。\"Youbelievethateverythingisdonefromapurpose，orthatathingisintendedbecauseit’sdone。ButIseethatmostthingsinthisworldarenotthoughtabout，andnotintended。Theyhappen，justasmuchastheotherthingsthatwecallaccidents。\"