ThefineoldgentlemanrevealedwhensheopenedthedoorwasprobablythelastgreatmerchantinAmericatowearthechinbeard。Whiteaswhitefrost，itwastrimmedshortwithexquisiteprecision，whilehisupperlipandthelowerexpansesofhischeekswerecleanandrosyfromfreshshaving。Withthistrimwhitechinbeard，thewhitewaistcoat，thewhitetie，thesuitoffinegraycloth，thebroadandbrilliantlypolishedblackshoes，andthewide-brimmedgrayfelthat，herewasamanwhohadfoundhisstyleintheseventiesofthelastcentury，andthenceforthkeptit。Filesofoldmagazinesofthatperiodmightshowhim，inwoodcut，as，"TypeofBostonMerchant"；Nastmighthavedrawnhimasanhoneststatesman。Hewaseighty，haleandsturdy，notaged；andhisquickblueeyes，stillunflecked，andasbriskasaboy's，saweverything。
　　"Well，well，well!"hesaid，heartily。"Youhaven'tlostanyofyourgoodlookssincelastweek，Isee，MissAlice，soIguessI'mtotakeityouhaven'tbeenworryingoveryourdaddy。Theyoungfeller'sgettingalongallright，ishe？"
　　"He'smuchbetter；he'ssittingup，Mr。Lamb。Won'tyoucomein？"
　　"Well，Idon'tknowbutImight。"Heturnedtocalltowardtwindisksoflightatthecurb，"Beoutinaminute，Billy"；andthesilhouetteofachauffeurstandingbesideacarcouldbeseentosaluteinresponse，astheoldgentlemansteppedintothehall。
　　"Youdon'tsupposeyourdaddy'sreceivingcallersyet，ishe？"
　　"He'sagooddealstrongerthanhewaswhenyouwereherelastweek，butI'mafraidhe'snotverypresentable，though。"
　　"'Presentable？'"Theoldmanechoedherjovially。"Pshaw!I'veseenlotsofsickfolks。_I_knowwhattheylooklikeandhowtheylovetokindofnestinamongapileofoldblanketsandwrappers。Don'tyouworryaboutTHAT，MissAlice，ifyouthinkhe'dliketoseeme。"
　　"Ofcoursehewould——if——"Alicehesitated；thensaidquickly，"
　　Ofcoursehe'dlovetoseeyouandhe'squiteableto，ifyoucaretocomeup。"
　　Sheranupthestairsaheadofhim，andhadtimetosnatchthecrochetedwrapfromherfather'sshoulders。Swathedasusual，hewassittingbesideatable，readingtheeveningpaper；butwhenhisemployerappearedinthedoorwayhehalfroseasiftocomeforwardingreeting。
　　"Sitstill!"theoldgentlemanshouted。"Whatdoyoumean？
　　Don'tyouknowyou'reweakasacat？D'youthinkamancanbesickaslongasyouhaveandNOTbeweakasacat？WhatyoutryingtodothepolitewithMEfor？"
　　Adamsgratefullyprotractedthehandshakethataccompaniedtheseinquiries。"Thisiscertainlymightyfineofyou，Mr。Lamb，"hesaid。"IguessAlicehastoldyouhowmuchourwholefamilyappreciateyourcomingheresoregularlytoseehowthisoldbago'boneswasgettingalong。Haven'tyou，Alice？"
　　"Yes，papa，"shesaid；andturnedtogoout，butLambcheckedher。
　　"Stayrighthere，MissAlice；I'mnotevengoingtositdown。I
　　knowhowitupsetssickfolkswhenpeopleoutsidethefamilycomeinforthefirsttime。"
　　"Youdon'tupsetme，"Adamssaid。"I'llfeelalotbetterforgettingaglimpseofyou，Mr。Lamb。"
　　Thevisitor'slaughwashusky，butheartyandre-assuring，likehisvoiceinspeaking。"That'sthewayallmyboysblarneyme，MissAlice，"hesaid。"TheythinkI'llmaketheworklighteron'emiftheycangetmekindofflatteredup。Youjusttellyourdaddyit'snouse；hedoesn'tgetonMYsoftside，pretendinghelikestoseemeevenwhenhe'ssick。"
　　"Oh，I'mnotsosickanymore，"Adamssaid。"Iexpecttobebackinmyplacetendaysfromnowatthelongest。"
　　"Well，now，don'thurryit，Virgil；don'thurryit。Youtakeyourtime；takeyourtime。"
　　ThisbroughttoAdams'slipsafeeblesmilenotlackinginakindofvanity，asfeeble。"Why？"heasked。"Isupposeyouthinkmydepartmentrunsitselfdownthere，doyou？"
　　Hisemployer'sresponsewasanotherhuskylaugh。"Well，well，well!"hecried，andpattedAdams'sshoulderwithastrongpinkhand。"Listentothisyoungfeller，MissAlice，willyou!Hethinkswecan'tgetalongwithouthimaminute!Yes，sir，thisdaddyofyoursbelievesthewholeworks'lljusttakeandrundownifheisn'ttheretokeep'emwoundup。Ialwayssuspectedhethoughtagooddealofhimself，andnowIknowhedoes!"
　　Adamslookedtroubled。"Well，Idon'tliketofeelthatmysalary'sgoingonwithmenotearningit。"
　　"Listentohim，MissAlice!Wouldn'tyouthink，now，he'dletmebetheonetoworryaboutthat？Why，onmyword。ifyourdaddyhadhisway，_I_wouldn'tbeanywhere。He'dtakeallmyworryingandeverythingelseoffmyshouldersandshovemerightoutofLambandCompany!Hewould!"
　　"ItseemstomeI'vebeensoldieringonyouaprettylongwhile，Mr。Lamb，"theconvalescentsaid，querulously。"Idon'tfeelrightaboutit；butI'llbebackintendays。You'llsee。"
　　Theoldmantookhishandinparting。"Allright；we'llsee，Virgil。Ofcoursewedoneedyou，seriouslyspeaking；butwedon'tneedyousobadwe'llletyoucomedowntherebeforeyou'refullyfitandable。"Hewenttothedoor。"Youhear，MissAlice？That'swhatIwantedtomaketheoldfellerunderstand，andwhatIwantyoutokindofenforceonhim。Theoldplaceistherewaitingforhim，andit'dwaittenyearsifittookhimthatlongtogetgoodandwell。Youseethatheremembersit，MissAlice!"
　　Shewentdownthestairswithhim，andhecontinuedtoimpressthisuponheruntilhehadgoneoutofthefrontdoor。Andevenafterthat，thehuskyvoicecalledbackfromthedarkness，ashewenttohiscar，"Don'tforget，MissAlice；lethimtakehisowntime。Wealwayswanthim，butwewanthimtogetgoodandwellfirst。Good-night，good-night，younglady!"
　　Whensheclosedthedoorhermothercamefromthefartherendofthe"living-room，"wheretherewasnolight；andAliceturnedtoher。
　　"Ican'thelplikingthatoldman，mama，"shesaid。"Healwayssoundsso——well，sosolidandhonestandfriendly!Idolikehim。"
　　ButMrs。Adamsfailedinsympathyuponthispoint。"Hedidn'tsayanythingaboutraisingyourfather'ssalary，didhe？"sheasked，dryly。
　　"No。"
　　"No。Ithoughtnot。"
　　Shewouldhavesaidmore，butAlice，indisposedtolisten，begantowhistle，ranupthestairs，andwenttositwithherfather。
　　Shefoundhimbright-eyedwiththeexcitementafirstcallerbringsintoaslowconvalescence:hischeeksshowedactualhintsofcolour；andhewassmilingtremulouslyashefilledandlithispipe。Shebroughtthecrochetedscarfandputitabouthisshouldersagain，thentookachairnearhim。
　　"IbelieveseeingMr。Lambdiddoyougood。papa，"shesaid。
　　"Isortofthoughtitmight，andthat'swhyIlethimcomeup。
　　Youreallylookalittlelikeyouroldselfagain。"
　　Adamsexhaledabreathy"Ha!"withthesmokefromhispipeashewavedthematchtoextinguishit。"That'sfine，"hesaid。"ThesmokeIhadbeforedinnerdidn'ttastethewayitusedto，andI
　　kindofwonderedifI'dlostmylikingfortobacco，butthisoneseemstobeallright。YoubetitdidmegoodtoseeJ。A。
　　Lamb!He'sthebiggestmanthat'severlivedinthistownoreverwilllivehere；andyoucantakealltheGovernorsandSenatorsoranythingthey'veraisedhere，andput'eminapotwithhim，andtheywon'tcomeoutone-two-threealongsideo'him!
　　Andtothinkasbigamanasthat，withallhisinterestsandeverythinghe'sgotonhismind——tothinkhe'dneverletanythingpreventhimfromcominghereonceeveryweektoaskhowIwasgettingalong，andthenwalkrightupstairsandkindofCALLonme，asitwerewell，itmakesmesortoffeelasifIwasn'tsomuchofanobody，sotospeak，asyourmotherseemstoliketomakeoutsometimes。"
　　"Howfoolish，papa!OfCOURSEyou'renot'anobody。'"
　　Adamschuckledfaintlyuponhispipe-stem，whatvanityhehadseemingtobefurtherstimulatedbyhisdaughter'sapplause。"I
　　guesstherearen'tawholelotofpeopleinthistownthatcouldclaimJ。A。showedthatmuchinterestin'em，"hesaid。"OfcourseIdon'tsetuptobelieveit'sallbecauseofmerit，oranythinglikethat。He'ddothesameforanybodyelsethat'dbeenwiththecompanyaslongasIhave，butstillitIS
　　somethingtobewiththecompanythatlongandhavehimshowheappreciatesit。"
　　"Yes，indeed，itis，papa。"
　　"Yes，sir，"Adamssaid，reflectively。"Yes，sir，Iguessthat'sso。Andbesides，itallgoestoshowthekindofamanheis。
　　Simonpure，that'swhatthatmanis，Alice。Simonpure!There'sneverbeenanybodyworkforhimthatdidn'trespecthimmorethantheydidanyothermanintheworld，Iguess。Andwhenyouworkforhimyouknowherespectsyou，too。RightfromthestartyougetthefeelingthatJ。A。putsabsoluteconfidenceinyou；andthat'smightystimulating:itmakesyouwanttoshowhimhehasn'tmisplacedit。There'sgreatbigmoralvaluestothewayamanlikehimgetsyoutofeelingaboutyourrelationswiththebusiness:itain'talljustdollarsandcents——notbyanymeans!"
　　Hewassilentforatime，thenreturnedwithincreasingenthusiasmtothistheme，andAlicewasgladtoseesomuchrenewaloflifeinhim；hehadnotspokenwithalikecheerfulvigoursincebeforehisillness。Thevisitofhisidolizedgreatmanhadindeedbeengoodforhim，puttingnewspiritintohim；
　　andlivelinessofthebodyfollowedthatofthespirit。Hisimprovementcarriedoverthenight:hesleptwellandawokelate，declaringthathewas"prettynearawellmanandreadyforbusinessrightnow。"Moreover，havingsleptagainintheafternoon，hedressedandwentdowntodinner，leaningbutlightlyonAlice，whoconductedhim。
　　"My!butyouandyourmotherhavebeenatitwithyourscrubbinganddusting!"hesaid，astheycamethroughthe"living-room。"
　　"Idon'tknowIeverdidseethehousesospickandspanbefore!"
　　Hisglancefelluponafewcarnationsinavase，andhechuckledadmiringly。"Flowers，too!SoTHAT'Swhatyoucoaxedthatdollarandahalfouto'mefor，thismorning!"
　　Otherembellishmentsbroughtforthhiscommentwhenhehadtakenhisoldseatattheheadofthesmalldinner-table。"Why，I
　　declare，Alice!"heexclaimed。"Ibeensobusylookingatallthespick-and-spanishnessafterthehouse-cleaning，andtheflowersoutintheparlour——'living-room'Isupposeyouwantmetocallit，ifIjustGOTtobefashionable——Ibeensobusystudyingoverallthisso-and-so，IdeclareInevernoticedYOU
　　tillthisminute!My，butyouAREalldressedup!What'sgoin'
　　on？What'sitabout:yousoalldressedup，andflowersintheparlourandeverything？"
　　"Don'tyousee，papa？It'sinhonourofyourcomingdownstairsagain，ofcourse。"
　　"Oh，sothat'sit，"hesaid。"Ineverwould'a'thoughtofthat，Iguess。"
　　ButWalterlookedsidelongathisfather，andgaveforthhisslyandknowinglaugh。"NeitherwouldI!"hesaid。
　　Adamsliftedhiseyebrowsjocosely。"You'rejealous，areyou，sonny？Youdon'twanttheoldmantothinkouryounglady'dmakesomuchfussoverhim，doyou？"
　　"Goonthinkin'it'soveryou，"Walterretorted，amused。"Goonandthinkit。It'lldoyougood。"
　　"OfcourseI'llthinkit，"Adamssaid。"Itisn'tanybody'sbirthday。Certainlythedecorationsareonaccountofmecomingdownstairs。Didn'tyouhearAlicesayso？"
　　"Sure，Iheardhersayso。"
　　"Well，then——"
　　Walterinterruptedhimwithalittlemusic。LookingshrewdlyatAlice，hesang:
　　"Iwaswalkin'outonMondaywithmysweetthing。
　　She'smyneatthing，Mysweetthing:
　　I'llgoroundonTuesdaynighttoseeher。
　　Oh，howwe'llspoon——"
　　"Walter!"hismothercried。"WHEREdoyoulearnsuchvulgarsongs？"However，sheseemednotgreatlydispleasedwithhim，andlaughedasshespoke。
　　"Sothat'sit，Alice!"saidAdams。"Playingthehypocritewithyouroldman，areyou？It'ssomenewbeau，isit？"
　　"Ionlywishitwere，"shesaid，calmly。"No。It'sjustwhatI
　　said:it'sallforyou。dear。"
　　"Don'tletherconyou，"Walteradvisedhisfather。"She'sgotexpectations。Youhangarounddownstairsawhileafterdinnerandyou'llsee。"
　　Buttheprophecyfailed，thoughAdamswenttohisownroomwithoutwaitingtotestit。Noonecame。
　　Alicestayedinthe"living-room"untilhalf-pastnine，whenshewentslowlyupstairs。Hermother，almosttearful，metheratthetop，andwhispered，"Youmustn'tmind，dearie。"
　　"Mustn'tmindwhat？"Aliceasked，andthen，asshewentonherway，laughedscornfully。"Whatutternonsense!"shesaid。
　　Nextdayshecutthestemsoftheratherscantshowofcarnationsandrefreshedthemwithnewwater。Atdinner，herfather，stillinhighspirits，observedthatshehadagain"dressedup"inhonourofhisseconddescentofthestairs；andWalterrepeatedhisfragmentofobjectionablesong；butthesejocularitieswererenderedpointlessbytheeventlesseveningthatfollowed；andinthemorningthecarnationsbegantoappeartarnishedandflaccid。
　　Alicegavethemalonglook，thenthrewthemaway；andneitherWalternorherfatherwasinspiredtoanyrallyingbyherplaincostumeforthatevening。Mrs。Adamswasvisiblydepressed。
　　WhenAlicefinishedhelpinghermotherwiththedishes，shewentoutdoorsandsatuponthestepsofthelittlefrontveranda。Thenight，gentlewithwarmairfromthesouth，surroundedherpleasantly，andtheperpetualsmokewasthinner。Nowthatthefurnacesofdwelling-houseswerenolongerfired，lifeinthatcityhadbeguntobelesslikelifeinarailwaytunnel；peoplewereawareofsummerintheair，andinthethickenedfoliageoftheshade-trees，andinthesky。Starswereunveiledbythepassingofthedensersmokefogs，andto-nighttheycouldbeseenclearly；theylookedwarmandnear。OthergirlssatuponverandasandstoopsinAlice'sstreet，cheerfulasyoungfishermenalongthebanksofastream。
　　Alicecouldhearthemfromtimetotime；thinsopranospersistentinlaughterthatfelldismallyuponherears。Shehadsetnolinesornetsherself，andwhatshehadof"expectations，"asWaltercalledthem，werevanished。ForAlicewasexperienced；
　　andoneoftheconclusionsshedrewfromherexperiencewasthatwhenamansays，"I'dtakeyouforanythingyouwantedmeto，"hemaymeanitor，hemaynot；but，ifhedoes，hewillnotpostponethefirstopportunitytosaysomethingmore。Littleaffairs，oncebegun，mustbewarmedquickly；foriftheycooltheyaredead。
　　ButAlicewasnotthinkingofArthurRussell。Whenshetossedawaythecarnationsshelikewisetossedawayherthoughtsofthatyoungman。Shehadbeenlikeaboywhoseesuponthestreet，somedistancebeforehim，abitofsomethingroundandglittering，apossibledime。Hehopesitisadime，and，untilhecomesnearenoughtomakesure，heplaysthatitisadime。
　　Inhismindhehasanadventurewithit:hebuyssomethingdelightful。Ifhepicksitup，discoveringonlysometin-foilwhichhashappeneduponaroundshape，hefeelsasinking。A
　　dulnessfallsuponhim。
　　SoAlicewasdullwiththelossofanadventure；andwhenthelaughterofothergirlsreachedher，intermittently，shehadnotsprightlinessenoughleftinhertobeenviousoftheirgaiety。
　　Besides，theseneighbourswereineligibleevenforherenvy，beingofanothercaste；theycouldneverknowadanceatthePalmers'，exceptremotely，throughanewspaper。Theirlaughterwasfortheencouragementofsnappyyoungmenofthestoresandofficesdown-town，clerks，bookkeepers，whatnot——someofthemprobablygraduatesofFrincke'sBusinessCollege。
　　Then，assherecalledthatdarkportal，withitsdustystairwaymountingbetweenclosewallstodisappearintheuppershadows，herminddrewbackasfromadoorwaytoPurgatory。Nevertheless，itwasapictureofteninherreverie；andsometimesitcamesuddenly，withoutsequence，intothemidstofherotherthoughts，asifitleapedupamongthemfromalowerdarkness；andwhenitarriveditwantedtostay。Soatraveller，stillroamingtheworldafar，sometimesbroodswithoutapparentreasonuponhisfamilyburiallot:"IwonderifIshallendthere。"
　　Theforebodingpassedabruptly，withajerkofherbreath，asthestreet-lamprevealedatallandeasyfigureapproachingfromthenorth，swingingastickintimetoitsstride。ShehadgivenRussellup——andhecame。
　　"Whatluckforme!"heexclaimed。"Tofindyoualone!"
　　Alicegavehimherhandforaninstant，nototherwisemoving。
　　"I'mgladithappenedso，"shesaid。"Let'sstayouthere，shallwe？Doyouthinkit'stooprovincialtositonagirl'sfrontstepswithher？"
　　"'Provincial？'Why，it'stheverybestofourinstitutions，"hereturned，takinghisplacebesideher。"Atleast，Ithinksoto-night。"
　　"Thanks!Isthatpracticeforothernightssomewhereelse？"
　　"No，"helaughed。"Thepracticingallleduptothis。DidI
　　cometoosoon？"
　　"No，"shereplied，gravely。"Justintime!"
　　"I'mgladtobesoaccurate；I'vespenttwoeveningswantingtocome，MissAdams，insteadofdoingwhatIwasdoing。"
　　"Whatwasthat？"
　　"Dinners。Largeandlongdinners。Yourfellow-citizensareimmenselyhospitabletoanewcomer。"
　　"Oh，no，"Alicesaid。"Wedon'tdoitforeverybody。Didn'tyoufindyourselfcharmed？"
　　"Onewasamen'sdinner，"heexplained。"Mr。PalmerseemedtothinkIoughttobeshowntotheprincipalbusinessmen。"
　　"Whatwastheotherdinner？"
　　"MycousinMildredgaveit。"
　　"Oh，DIDshe!"Alicesaid，sharply，butsherecoveredherselfinthesameinstant，andlaughed。"Shewantedtoshowyoutotheprincipalbusinesswomen，Isuppose。"
　　"Idon'tknow。Atallevents，Ishouldn'tgivemyselfouttobesomuchfetedbyyour'fellow-citizens，'afterall，seeingthesewerebothdonebymyrelatives，thePalmers。However，thereareotherstofollow，I'mafraid。Iwaswondering——Ihopedmaybeyou'dbecomingtosomeofthem。Aren'tyou？"
　　"Iratherdoubtit，"Alicesaid，slowly。"Mildred'sdancewasalmosttheonlyeveningI'vegoneoutsincemyfather'sillnessbegan。Heseemedbetterthatday；soIwent。Hewasbettertheotherdaywhenhewantedthosecigars。He'sverymuchupanddown。"Shepaused。"I'dalmostforgottenthatMildredisyourcousin。"
　　"Notaverynearone，"heexplained。"Mr。Palmer'sfatherwasmygreat-uncle。"
　　"Still，ofcourseyouarerelated。"
　　"Yes；thatdistantly。"
　　Alicesaidplacidly，"It'squiteanadvantage。"
　　Heagreed。"Yes。Itis。"
　　"No，"shesaid，inthesameplacidtone。"ImeanforMildred。"
　　"Idon'tsee——"
　　Shelaughed。"No。Youwouldn't。Imeanit'sanadvantageovertherestofuswhomightliketocompeteforsomeofyourtime；
　　andtheworstofitiswecan'taccuseherofbeingunfairaboutit。Wecan'tprovesheshowedanytrickinessinhavingyouforacousin。Whateverelseshemightplantodowithyou，shedidn'tplanthat。Sotherestofusmustjustbearit!"
　　"The'restofyou!'"helaughed。"It'sgoingtomeanagreatdealofsuffering!"
　　Aliceresumedherplacidtone。"You'restayingatthePalmers'，aren'tyou？"
　　"No，notnow。I'vetakenanapartment。I'mgoingtolivehere；
　　I'mpermanent。Didn'tItellyou？"
　　"IthinkI'dheardsomewherethatyouwere，"shesaid。"Doyouthinkyou'lllikelivinghere？"
　　"Howcanonetell？"
　　"IfIwereinyourplaceIthinkIshouldbeabletotell，Mr。
　　Russell。"
　　"How？"
　　"Why，goodgracious!"shecried。"Haven'tyougotthemostperfectcreatureintownforyour——yourcousin？SHEexpectstomakeyoulikelivinghere，doesn'tshe？Howcouldyoukeepfromlikingit，evenifyoutriednotto，underthecircumstances？"
　　"Well，yousee，there'ssuchalotofcircumstances，"heexplained；"I'mnotsureI'lllikegettingbackintoabusinessagain。Isupposemostofthemenofmyageinthecountryhavebeengoingthroughthesameexperience:theWarleftuswithaconsiderablerestlessnessofspirit。"
　　"YouwereintheWar？"sheasked，quickly，andasquicklyansweredherself，"Ofcourseyouwere!'
　　"Iwasaleft-over；theyonlyletmeoutaboutfourmonthsago，"
　　hesaid。"It'squiteashake-uptryingtosettledownagain。"
　　"YouwereinFrance，then？"
　　"Oh，yes；butIdidn'tgetuptothefrontmuch——onlytwoorthreetimes，andthenjustforadayorso。Iwasinthetransportationservice。"
　　"Youwereanofficer，ofcourse。"
　　"Yes，"hesaid。"TheyletmeplayIwasamajor。"
　　"Iguessedamajor，"shesaid。"You'dalwaysbeprettygrand，ofcourse。"
　　Russellwasamused。"Well，yousee，"heinformedher，"asithappened，wehadatleastseveralothermajorsinourarmy。WhywouldIalwaysbesomething'prettygrand？'"
　　"You'rerelatedtothePalmers。Don'tyounoticetheyalwaysaffecttheprettygrand？"
　　"ThenyouthinkI'monlyoneoftheiraffectations，Itakeit。"
　　"Yes，youseemtobethemostsuccessfulonethey'vegot!"Alicesaid，lightly。"Youcertainlydobelongtothem。"Andshelaughedasifatsomethinghiddenfromhim。"Don'tyou？"
　　"Butyou'vejustexcusedmeforthat，"heprotested。"Yousaidnobodycouldbeblamedformybeingtheirthirdcousin。Whatacontradictorygirlyouare!"
　　Aliceshookherhead。"Let'skeepawayfromthekindofgirlI
　　am。"
　　"No，"hesaid。"That'sjustwhatIcameheretotalkabout。"
　　Sheshookherheadagain。"Let'skeepfirsttothekindofmanyouare。I'mgladyouwereintheWar。"
　　"Why？"
　　"Oh，Idon'tknow。"Shewasquietamoment，forshewasthinkingthathereshespokethetruth:hisserviceputabouthimalittleglamourthathelpedtopleaseherwithhim。Shehadbeenpleasedwithhimduringtheirwalk；pleasedwithhimonhisownaccount；
　　andnowthatpleasurewasgrowingkeener。Shelookedathim，andthoughthelightinwhichshesawhimwaslittlemorethanstarlight，shesawthathewaslookingsteadilyatherwithakindlyandsmilingseriousness。Allatonceitseemedtoherthatthenightairwassweetertobreathe，asifadistantfragranceofnewblossomshadbeenblowntoher。Shesmiledbacktohim，andsaid，"Well，whatkindofmanareyou？"
　　"Idon'tknow；I'veoftenwondered，"hereplied。"Whatkindofgirlareyou？"
　　"Don'tyouremember？Itoldyoutheotherday。I'mjustme!"
　　"Butwhoisthat？"
　　"Youforgeteverything；"saidAlice。"YoutoldmewhatkindofagirlIam。Youseemedtothinkyou'dtakenquiteafancytomefromtheveryfirst。"
　　"SoIdid，"heagreed，heartily。
　　"Buthowquicklyyouforgotit!"
　　"Oh，no。IonlywantYOUtosaywhatkindofagirlyouare。"
　　Shemockedhim。"'Idon'tknow；I'veoftenwondered!'WhatkindofagirldoesMildredtellyouIam？WhathasshesaidaboutmesinceshetoldyouIwas'aMissAdams？'"
　　"Idon'tknow；Ihaven'taskedher。"
　　"ThenDON'Taskher，"Alicesaid，quickly。
　　"Why？"
　　"Becauseshe'ssuchaperfectcreatureandI'msuchanimperfectone。Perfectcreatureshavethemostperfectwayofruiningtheimperfectones。"
　　"Butthentheywouldn'tbeperfect。Notifthey——"
　　"Oh，yes，theyremainperfectlyperfect，"sheassuredhim。
　　"That'sbecausetheynevergointodetails。They'renotsovulgarastocomerightoutandTELLthatyou'vebeeninjailforstealingchickens。Theyjustlookabsent-mindedandsayinalowvoice，'Oh，very；butIscarcelythinkyou'dlikeherparticularly'；andthenbegintotalkofsomethingelserightaway。"
　　Hissmilehaddisappeared。"Yes，"hesaid，somewhatruefully。
　　"ThatdoessoundlikeMildred。Youcertainlydoseemtoknowher!Doyouknoweverybodyaswellasthat？"
　　"Notmyself，"Alicesaid。"Idon'tknowmyselfatall。Igottowonderingaboutthat——aboutwhoIwas——theotherdayafteryouwalkedhomewithme。"
　　Heutteredanexclamation，andadded，explainingit，"Youdogiveamanachancetobefatuous，though!Asifitwerewalkinghomewithmethatmadeyouwonderaboutyourself!"
　　"Itwas，"Aliceinformedhim，coolly。"IwaswonderingwhatI
　　wantedtomakeyouthinkofme，incaseIshouldeverhappentoseeyouagain。"
　　Thisaudacityappearedtotakehisbreath。"ByGeorge!"hecried。
　　"Youmustn'tbeastonished，"shesaid。"WhatIdecidedthenwasthatIwouldprobablyneverdaretobejustmyselfwithyou——notifIcaredtohaveyouwanttoseemeagain——andyethereIam，justbeingmyselfafterall!"
　　"YouAREthecheeriestseriesofshocks，"Russellexclaimed，whereuponAliceaddedtotheseries。
　　"Tellme:Isitagoodpolicyformetofollowwithyou？"sheasked，andhefoundthemockeryinhervoicedelightful。"Wouldyouadvisemetoofferyoushocksasasortofvacationfromsuavity？"
　　"Suavity"wasyetanothersketchofMildred；arecognizableone，oritwouldnothavebeenhumorous。InAlice'shands，sodexterousinthiswork，herstatuesquefriendwasbecomingasridiculousasafinefigureofwaxlefttothemerciesofasatirist。
　　Butthelivelyyoungsculptressknewbetterthantooverdo:whatshedidmustappeartospringallfrommirth；soshelaughedasifunwillingly，andsaid，"IMUSTN'TlaughatMildred!Inthefirstplace，she'syour——yourcousin。Andinthesecondplace，she'snotmeanttobefunny；itisn'trighttolaughatreallysplendidpeoplewhotakethemselvesseriously。Inthethirdplace，youwon'tcomeagainifIdo。"
　　"Don'tbesureofthat，"Russellsaid，"whateveryoudo。"
　　"'WhateverIdo？'"sheechoed。"ThatsoundsasifyouthoughtI
　　COULDbeterrific!Becareful；there'sonethingIcoulddothatwouldkeepyouaway。"
　　"What'sthat？"
　　"Icouldtellyounottocome，"shesaid。"IwonderifIoughtto。"
　　"Whydoyouwonderifyou'oughtto？'"
　　"Don'tyouguess？"
　　"No。"
　　"Thenlet'sbothbemysteriestoeachother，"shesuggested。"I
　　mystifyyoubecauseIwonder，andyoumystifymebecauseyoudon'tguesswhyIwonder。We'llletitgoatthat，shallwe？"
　　"Verywell；solongasit'scertainthatyouDON'Ttellmenottocomeagain。"
　　"I'llnottellyouthat——yet，"shesaid。"Infact——"Shepaused，reflecting，withherheadtooneside。"Infact，Iwon'ttellyounottocome，probably，untilIseethat'swhatyouwantmetotellyou。I'llletyououteasily——andI'llbesuretoseeit。Evenbeforeyoudo，perhaps。"
　　"Thatarrangementsuitsme，"Russellreturned，andhisvoiceheldnotraceofjocularity:hehadbecomeserious。"Itsuitsmebetterifyou'reenoughinearnesttomeanthatIcancome——oh，notwheneverIwantto；Idon'texpectsomuch!——butifyoumeanthatIcanseeyouprettyoften。"
　　"OfcourseI'minearnest，"shesaid。"ButbeforeIsayyoucancome'prettyoften，'I'dliketoknowhowmuchofmytimeyou'dneedifyoudidcome'wheneveryouwantto'；andofcourseyouwouldn'tdaremakeanyanswertothatquestionexceptone。
　　Wouldn'tyouletmehaveThursdaysout？"
　　"No，no，"heprotested。"Iwanttoknow。Willyouletmecomeprettyoften？"
　　"Leantowardmealittle，"Alicesaid。"Iwantyoutounderstand。"Andasheobedientlybenthisheadnearhers，sheinclinedtowardhimasiftowhisper；then，inahalf-shout，shecried，"YES!"
　　Heclappedhishands。"ByGeorge!"hesaid。"Whatagirlyouare!"
　　"Why？"
　　"Well，forthefirstreason，becauseyouhavesuchgaietiesasthatone。Ishouldthinkyourfatherwouldactuallylikebeingill，justtobeinthehousewithyouallthetime。"
　　"Youmeanbythat，"Aliceinquired，"Ikeepmyfamilycheerfulwithmyamusinglittleways？"
　　"Yes。Don'tyou？"
　　"Therewereonlyboysinyourfamily，weren'tthere，Mr。
　　Russell？"
　　"Iwasanonlychild，unfortunately。"
　　"Yes，"shesaid。"Iseeyouhadn'tanysisters。"
　　Foramomenthepuzzledoverhermeaning，thensawit，andwasmoredelightedwithherthanever。"Icanansweraquestionofyours，now，thatIcouldn'tawhileago。"
　　"Yes，Iknow，"shereturned，quietly。
　　"Buthowcouldyouknow？"
　　"It'sthequestionIaskedyouaboutwhetheryouweregoingtolikelivinghere，"shesaid。"You'reabouttotellmethatnowyouknowyouWILLlikeit。"
　　"Moretelepathy!"heexclaimed。"Yes，thatwasit，precisely。I
　　supposethesamething'sbeensaidtoyousomanytimesthatyou——"
　　"No，ithasn't，"Alicesaid，alittleconfusedforthemoment。
　　"Notatall。Imeant——"Shepaused，thenaskedinagentlevoice，"Wouldyoureallyliketoknow？"
　　"Yes。"
　　"Well，then，Iwasonlyafraidyoudidn'tmeanit。"
　　"Seehere，"hesaid。"Ididmeanit。Itoldyouitwasbeingprettydifficultformetosettledowntothingsagain。Well，it'smoredifficultthanyouknow，butIthinkIcanpullthroughinfairspiritsifIcanseeagirllikeyou'prettyoften。'"
　　"Allright，"shesaid，inabusiness-liketone。"I'vetoldyouthatyoucanifyouwantto。"
　　"Idowantto，"heassuredher。"Ido，indeed!"
　　"Howoftenis'prettyoften，'Mr。Russell？"
　　"Wouldyouwalkwithmesometimes？To-morrow？"
　　"Sometimes。Notto-morrow。Thedayafter。"
　　"That'ssplendid!"hesaid。"You'llwalkwithmedayafterto-morrow，andthenightafterthatI'llseeyouatMissLamb'sdance，won'tI？"
　　ButthisfellratherchillinglyuponAlice。"MissLamb'sdance？
　　WhichMissLamb？"sheasked。
　　"Idon'tknow——it'stheonethat'sjustcomingoutofmourning。"
　　"Oh，Henrietta——yes。Isherdancesosoon？I'dforgotten。"
　　"You'llbethere，won'tyou？"heasked。"Pleasesayyou'regoing。"
　　Alicedidnotrespondatonce，andheurgedheragain:"Pleasedopromiseyou'llbethere。"
　　"No，Ican'tpromiseanything，"shesaid，slowly。"Yousee，foronething，papamightnotbewellenough。"
　　"Butifheis？"saidRussell。"Ifheisyou'llsurelycome，won'tyou？Or，perhaps——"Hehesitated，thenwentonquickly，"Idon'tknowtherulesinthisplaceyet，anddifferentplaceshavedifferentrules；butdoyouhavetohaveachaperone，ordon'tgirlsjustgotodanceswiththemensometimes？Iftheydo，wouldyou——wouldyouletmetakeyou？"
　　Alicewasstartled。"Goodgracious!"
　　"What'sthematter？"
　　"Don'tyouthinkyourrelatives——Aren'tyouexpectedtogowithMildred——andMrs。Palmer？"
　　"Notnecessarily。Itdoesn'tmatterwhatImightbeexpectedtodo，"hesaid。"Willyougowithme？"
　　"I——No；Icouldn't。"
　　"Whynot？"
　　"Ican't。I'mnotgoing。"
　　"Butwhy？"
　　"Papa'snotreallyanybetter，"Alicesaid，huskily。"I'mtooworriedabouthimtogotoadance。"Hervoicesoundedemotional，genuinelyenough；therewassomethingalmostlikeasobinit。"Let'stalkofotherthings，please。"
　　Heacquiescedgently；butMrs。Adams，whohadbeenlisteningtotheconversationattheopenwindow，justoverhead，didnothearhim。ShehadcorrectlyinterpretedthesobinAlice'svoice，and，tremblingwithsuddenanger，sherosefromherknees，andwentfiercelytoherhusband'sroom。