CHAPTERXIII
　　Hehadnotundressed，andhesatbesidethetable，smokinghispipeandreadinghisnewspaper。Uponhisforeheadthelinesinthatoldpattern，thehistoricalmapofhistroubles，hadgrownalittlevaguerlately；relaxedbythecomplacencyofamanwhonotonlyfindshishealthrestored，butseesthedaysbeforehimpromisingoncemoreafamiliarroutinethathehasalwayslikedtofollow。
　　Ashiswifecamein，closingthedoorbehindher，helookedupcheerfully，"Well，mother，"hesaid，"what'sthenewsdownstairs？"
　　"That'swhatIcametotellyou，"sheinformedhim，grimly。
　　Adamsloweredhisnewspapertohiskneeandpeeredoverhisspectaclesather。Shehadremainedbythedoor，standing，andthegreatgreenishshadowofthesmalllamp-shadeuponhistablerevealedherbutdubiously。"Isn'teverythingallright？"heasked。"What'sthematter？"
　　"Don'tworry:I'mgoingtotellyou，"shesaid，hergrimnessnotrelaxed。"There'smatterenough，VirgilAdams。Matterenoughtomakemesickofbeingalive!"
　　Withthat，themarkingsonhisbrowsbegantoemergeagaininalltheirsharpness；theoldpatternreappeared。"Oh，my，my!"helamented。"Ithoughtmaybewewereallgoingtosettledowntoalittlepeaceforawhile。What'sitaboutnow？"
　　"It'saboutAlice。DidyouthinkitwasaboutMEoranythingforMYSELF？"
　　Likesomereadyoldmachine，alwaysinorder，hisirritabilityrespondedimmediatelyandautomaticallytoheremotion。"HowinthundercouldIthinkwhatit'sabout，orwhoit'sfor？SAYit，andgetitover!"
　　"Oh，I'll'say'it，"shepromised，ominously。"WhatI'vecometoaskyouis，Howmuchlongerdoyouexpectmetoputupwiththatoldmanandhisdoings？"
　　"Whosedoings？Whatoldman？"
　　Shecameathim，fiercelyaccusing。"Youknowwellenoughwhatoldman，VirgilAdams!Thatoldmanwhowasheretheothernight。"
　　"Mr。Lamb？"
　　"Yes；'MisterLamb!'"Shemockedhisvoice。"WhatotheroldmanwouldIbelikelytomeanexceptJ。A。Lamb？"
　　"What'shebeendoingnow？"herhusbandinquired，satirically。
　　"Where'dyougetsomethingnewagainsthimsincethelasttimeyou——"
　　"Justthis!"shecried。"Theothernightwhenthatmanwashere，ifI'dknownhowhewasgoingtomakemychildsuffer，I'dneverhavelethimsethisfootinmyhouse。"
　　Adamsleanedbackinhischairasthoughherabsurdityhadeasedhismind。"Oh，Isee，"hesaid。"You'vejustgoneplaincrazy。
　　That'stheonlyexplanationofsuchtalk，anditsuitsthecase。"
　　"Hasn'tthatmanmadeusallsuffereverydayofourlives？"shedemanded。"I'dliketoknowwhyitisthatmylifeandmychildren'sliveshavetobesacrificedtohim？"
　　"Howarethey'sacrificed'tohim？"
　　"Becauseyoukeeponworkingforhim!Becauseyoukeeponlettinghimhandoutwhatevermiserablelittlepittancehechoosestogiveyou；that'swhy!It'sasifheweresomehorribleoldJuggernautandIhadtoseemychildren'sownfatherthrowingthemunderthewheelstokeephimsatisfied。"
　　"Iwon'thearanymoresuchstuff!"Liftinghispaper，Adamsaffectedtoread。
　　"You'dbetterlistentome，"sheadmonishedhim。"Youmightbesorryyoudidn't，incaseheevertriedtosetfootinmyhouseagain!ImighttellhimtohisfacewhatIthinkofhim。"
　　Atthis，Adamsslappedthenewspaperdownuponhisknee。"Oh，thedevil!What'sitmatterwhatyouthinkofhim？"
　　"Ithadbettermattertoyou!"shecried。"DoyousupposeI'mgoingtosubmitforevertohimandhisfamilyandwhatthey'redoingtomychild？"
　　"Whatareheandhisfamilydoingto'yourchild？'"
　　Mrs。Adamscameoutwithit。"ThatsnippylittleHenriettaLambhasalwayssnubbedAliceeverytimeshe'severhadthechance。
　　She'sfollowedtheleadoftheothergirls；they'vealwaysallof'embeenjealousofAlicebecauseshedaredtotryandbehappy，andbecauseshe'sshowierandbetter-lookingthantheyare，eventhoughyoudogiveheronlyaboutthirty-fivecentsayeartodoiton!They'vealldoneeverythingonearththeycouldtodrivetheyoungmenawayfromherandbelittleherto'em；andthismeanlittleHenriettaLamb'sbeentheworstofthewholecrowdtoAlice，everytimeshecouldseeachance。"
　　"Whatfor？"Adamsasked，incredulously。"WhyshouldsheoranybodyelsepickonAlice？"
　　"'Why？''Whatfor？'"hiswiferepeatedwithagreatervehemence。
　　"DoYOUaskmesuchathingasthat？Doyoureallywanttoknow？"
　　"Yes；I'dwanttoknow——IwouldifIbelievedit。"
　　"ThenI'lltellyou，"shesaidinacoldfury。"It'sonaccountofyou，Virgil，andnothingelseintheworld。"
　　Hehootedather。"Oh，yes!Thesegirlsdon'tlikeME，sotheypickonAlice。"
　　"Quityourpalaveringandevading，"shesaid。"Acrowdofgirlslikethat，whentheygetaprettygirllikeAliceamongthem，theyactjustlikewildbeasts。They'lltearhertopieces，orelsethey'llchaseherandrunherout，becausetheyknowifshehadhalfachanceshe'doutshine'em。Theycan'tdothattoagirllikeMildredPalmerbecauseshe'sgotmoneyandfamilytobackher。Nowyoulistentome，VirgilAdams:thewaytheworldisnow，moneyISfamily。Alicewouldhavejustasmuch'family'
　　asanyof'emeverysinglebit——ifyouhadn'tfallenbehindintherace。"
　　"HowdidI——"
　　"Yes，youdid!"shecried。"Twenty-fiveyearsagowhenwewerestartingandthistownwassmaller，youandIcouldhavegonewithanyof'emifwe'dtriedhardenough。Lookatthepeopleweknewthenthatdoholdtheirheadsupalongsideofanybodyinthistown!WHYcanthey？Becausethemenofthosefamiliesmademoneyandgavetheirchildreneverythingthatmakeslifeworthliving!Whycan'tweholdourheadsup？Becausethosemenpassedyouintherace。Theywentuptheladder，andyou——you'restillaclerkdownatthatoldhole!"
　　"Youleavethatout，please，"hesaid。"IthoughtyouweregoingtotellmesomethingHenriettaLambhaddonetoourAlice。"
　　"YouBETI'mgoingtotellyou，"sheassuredhim，vehemently。
　　"ButfirstI'mtellingWHYshedoesit。It'sbecauseyou'venevergivenAliceanybackingnoranybackground，andtheyallknowtheycandoanythingtheyliketoherwithperfectimpunity。
　　IfshehadthehundredthpartofwhatTHEYhavetofallbackonshe'dhavemade'emsingamightydifferentsonglongago!"
　　"Howwouldshe？"
　　"Oh，myheavens，butyou'reslow!"Mrs。Adamsmoaned。"Lookhere!Yourememberhowpracticallyallthenicestboysinthistownusedtocomehereafewyearsago。Why，theywereallcrazyoverher；andthegirlsHADtobenicetoherthen。Lookatthedifferencenow!There'llbeawholemonthgobyandnotayoungmancometocallonher，letalonesendhercandyorflowers，oreverthinkofTAKINGheranyplaceandyetshe'sprettierandbrighterthanshewaswhentheyusedtocome。Itisn'tthechild'sfaultshecouldn'thold'em，isit？Poorthing，SHE
　　triedhardenough!Isupposeyou'dsayitwasherfault，though。"
　　"No；Iwouldn't。"
　　"Thenwhosefaultisit？"
　　"Oh，mine，mine，"hesaid，wearily。"Idrovetheyoungmenaway，ofcourse。"
　　"Youmightaswellhavedriven'em，Virgil。Itamountstojustthesamething。"
　　"Howdoesit？"
　　"Becauseastheygotolderagoodmanyof'embegantothinkmoreaboutmoney；that'sonething。Money'satthebottomofitall，forthatmatter。Lookatthesecountryclubsandallsuchthings:theothergirls'familiesbelongandwedon't，andAlicedon't；andshecan'tgounlesssomebodytakesher，andnobodydoesanymore。Lookattheothergirls'houses，andthenlookatourhouse，soshabbyandold-fashionedshe'dbeprettynearashamedtoaskanybodytocomeinandsitdownnowadays!Lookatherclothes——oh，yes；youthinkyoushelledoutalotforthatlittlecoatofhersandthehatandskirtshegotlastMarch；butit'snothing。Someofthesegirlsnowadaysspendmorethanyourwholesalaryontheirclothes。Andwhatjewelleryhasshegot？
　　Aplatedwatchandtwoorthreelittlepinsandringsofthekindpeople'smaidswouldn'twearnow。GoodLord，VirgilAdams，wakeup!Don'tsitthereandtellmeyoudon'tknowthingslikethismeanSUFFERINGforthechild!"
　　Hehadbeguntorubhishandswretchedlybackandforthoverhisbonyknees，asifinthatwayhesomewhatalleviatedthetediumcausedbyherrackingvoice。"Oh，my，my!"hemuttered。"OH，my，my!"
　　"Yes，IshouldthinkyouWOULDsay'Oh，my，my!'"shetookhimup，loudly。"Thatdoesn'thelpthingsmuch!IfyoueverwantedtoDOanythingaboutit，thepoorchildmightseesomegleamofhopeinherlife。Youdon'tCAREforher，that'sthetrouble；
　　youdon'tcareasinglethingabouther。"
　　"Idon't？"
　　"No；youdon't。Why，evenwithyourmiserablelittlesalaryyoucouldhavegivenhermorethanyouhave。You'retheclosestmanIeverknew:it'slikepullingteethtogetadollaroutofyouforher，nowandthen，andyetyouhidesomeaway，everymonthorso，insomewretchedlittleinvestmentorother。You——"
　　"Lookhere，now，"heinterrupted，angrily。"Youlookhere!IfI
　　didn'tputalittlebywheneverIcould，inabondorsomething，wherewouldyoubeifanythinghappenedtome？Theinsurancedoctorsneverpassedme；YOUknowthat。Haven'twegottohaveSOMETHINGtofallbackon？"
　　"Yes，wehave!"shecried。"Weoughttohavesomethingtogoonwithrightnow，too，whenweneedit。DoyousupposethesesnippetswouldtreatAlicethewaytheydoifshecouldaffordtoENTERTAIN？Theyleaveheroutoftheirdinnersanddancessimplybecausetheyknowshecan'tgiveanydinnersanddancestoleavethemoutof!Theyknowshecan'tgetEVEN，andthat'sthewholestory!That'swhyHenriettaLamb'sdonethisthingtohernow。"
　　Adamshadgonebacktohisrubbingofhisknees。"Oh，my，my!"
　　hesaid。"WHATthing？"
　　Shetoldhim。"Yourdear，grand，oldMisterLamb'sHenriettahassentoutinvitationsforalargeparty——aLARGEone。Everybodythatisanybodyinthistownisasked，youcanbesure。There'saveryfineyoungman，aMr。Russell，hasjustcometotown，andhe'sinterestedinAlice，andhe'saskedhertogotothisdancewithhim。Well，Alicecan'taccept。Shecan'tgowithhim，thoughshe'dgiveanythingintheworldtodoit。Doyouunderstand？Thereasonshecan'tisbecauseHenriettaLambhasn'tinvitedher。DoyouwanttoknowwhyHenriettahasn'tinvitedher？It'sbecausesheknowsAlicecan'tgeteven，andbecauseshethinksAliceoughttobesnubbedlikethisonaccountofonlybeingthedaughterofoneofhergrandfather'sclerks。I
　　HOPEyouunderstand!"
　　"Oh，my，my!"hesaid。"OH，my，my!"
　　"That'syoursweetoldemployer，"hiswifecried，tauntingly。
　　"That'syourdear，kind，grandoldMisterLamb!Alicehasbeenleftoutofagoodmanysmallerthings，likebigdinnersandlittledances，butthisisjustthesameasservinghernoticethatshe'soutofeverything!Andit'salldonebyyourdear，grandold——"
　　"Lookhere!"Adamsexclaimed。"Idon'twanttohearanymoreofthat!Youcan'tholdhimresponsibleforeverythinghisgrandchildrendo，Iguess!Heprobablydoesn'tknowathingaboutit。Youdon'tsupposehe'stroublingHISheadover——"
　　Butsheburstoutathimpassionately。"SupposeyoutroubleYOUR
　　headaboutit!You'dbetter，VirgilAdams!You'dbetter，unlessyouwanttoseeyourchildjustdryupintoamiserableoldmaid!
　　She'sstillyoungandshehasachanceforhappiness，ifshehadafatherthatdidn'tbringamillstonetohangaroundherneck，insteadofwhatheoughttogiveher!YoujustwaittillyoudieandGodasksyouwhatyouhadinyourbreastinsteadofaheart!"
　　"Oh，my，my!"hegroaned。"What'smyheartgottodowithit？"
　　"Nothing!Youhaven'tgotoneoryou'dgiveherwhatsheneeded。
　　AmIaskinganythingyouCAN'Tdo？Youknowbetter；youknowI'mnot!"
　　Atthishesatsuddenlyrigid，histroubledhandsceasingtorubhisknees；andhelookedatherfixedly。"Now，tellme，"hesaid，slowly。"JustwhatAREyouasking？"
　　"Youknow!"shesobbed。
　　"Youmeanyou'vebrokenyourwordnevertospeakofTHATtomeagain？"
　　"Whatdo_I_careformyword？"shecried，and，sinkingtothefloorathisfeet，rockedherselfbackandforththere。"DoyousupposeI'llletmy'word'keepmefromstrugglingforalittlehappinessformychildren？Itwon't，Itellyou；itwon't!I'llstruggleforthattillIdie!Iwill，tillIdietillIdie!"
　　Herubbedhisheadnowinsteadofhisknees，and，shakingallover，hegotupandbeganwithuncertainstepstopacethefloor。
　　"Hell，hell，hell!"hesaid。"I'vegottogothroughTHAT
　　again!"
　　"Yes，youhave!"shesobbed。"TillIdie。"
　　"Yes；that'swhatyoubeenafterallthetimeIwasgettingwell。"
　　"Yes，Ihave，andI'llkeepontillIdie!"
　　"Afinewifeforaman，"hesaid。"Beggin'amantobeadirtydog!"
　　"No!TobeaMAN——andI'llkeepontillIdie!"
　　Adamsagainfellbackuponhislastsolace:hewalked，halfstaggering，upanddowntheroom，swearinginarhythmicrepetition。
　　Hiswifehadrepetitionsofherown，andshekeptattheminavoicethatrosetoahigherandhigherpitch，likethesoundofanoldwell-pump。"TillIdie!TillIdie!TillIDIE!"
　　Sheendedinascream；andAlice，comingupthestairs，thankedheaventhatRussellhadgone。Sherantoherfather'sdoorandwentin。
　　Adamslookedather，andgesticulatedshakilyattheconvulsivefigureonthefloor。"Canyougetheroutofhere？"
　　AlicehelpedMrs。Adamstoherfeet；andthestrickenwomanthrewherarmspassionatelyaboutherdaughter。
　　"Getherout!"Adamssaid，harshly；thencried，"Wait!"
　　Alice，movingtowardthedoor，halted，andlookedathimblankly，overhermother'sshoulder。"Whatisit，papa？"
　　Hestretchedouthisarmandpointedather。"Shesays——shesaysyouhaveameanlife，Alice。"
　　"No，papa。"
　　Mrs。Adamsturnedinherdaughter'sarms。"Doyouhearherlie？
　　Couldn'tyoubeasbraveassheis，Virgil？"
　　"Areyoulying，Alice？"heasked。"Doyouhaveameantime？"
　　"No，papa。"
　　Hecametowardher。"Lookatme!"hesaid。"Thingslikethisdancenow——isthatsohardtobear？"
　　Alicetriedtosay，"No，papa，"again，butshecouldn't。
　　Suddenlyandinspiteofherselfshebegantocry。
　　"Doyouhearher？"hiswifesobbed。"Nowdoyou——"
　　Hewavedatthemfiercely。"Getoutofhere!"hesaid。"Bothofyou!Getoutofhere!"
　　Astheywent，hedroppedinhischairandbentfarforward，sothathishaggardfacewasconcealedfromthem。Then，asAliceclosedthedoor，hebegantorubhiskneesagain，muttering，"Oh，my，my!OH，my，my!"
　　CHAPTERXIV
　　Thereshoneajovialsunoverheadontheappointed"dayafterto-morrow"；adaynotcoolyetofatemperaturefriendlytowalkers；andtheair，powderedwithsunshine，hadsomuchlifeinitthatitseemedtosparkle。ToArthurRussellthiswasadaylikeagaycompanionwhopleasedhimwell；butthegaycompanionathissidepleasedhimevenbetter。Shelookedherprettiest，chatteredherwittiest，smiledherwistfulest，anddelightedhimwithalltogether。
　　"Youlooksohappyit'seasytoseeyourfather'stakenagoodturn，"hetoldher。
　　"Yes；hehasthisafternoon，atleast，"shesaid。"Imighthaveotherreasonsforlookingcheerful，though。"
　　"Forinstance？"
　　"Exactly!"shesaid，givinghimasweetlookjustenoughmockedbyherlaughter。"Forinstance!"
　　"Well，goon，"hebegged。
　　"Isn'titexpected？"sheasked。
　　"Ofyou，youmean？"
　　"No，"shereturned。"Foryou，Imean!"
　　Inthisstyle，whichusesawordforanymeaningthatquicklookandcolourfulgesturecaretoendowitwith，shewasanexpert；
　　andshecarrieditmerrilyon，leavinghimatlibertyoneofthegreatvaluesofthestyletochooseashewouldhowmuchorhowlittleshemeant。Hewascontenttosupplymerecues，foralthoughhehadlittlecoquetryofhisown，hehadlatelybeguntofindthattheonlyinterestingmomentsinhislifewerethoseduringwhichAliceAdamscoquettedwithhim。Happily，theseobligingmomentsextendedthemselvestocoverallthetimehespentwithher。Howeverseriousshemightseem，whateverappearedtobehertopic，allwasthou-and-I。
　　Heplannedformoreofit，seeingotherwiseadulleveningahead；
　　andreverted，afterwhile，toaforbiddensubject。"AboutthatdanceatMissLamb's——sinceyourfather'ssomuchbetter——"
　　Sheflushedalittle。"Now，now!"shechidedhim。"Weagreednottosayanymoreaboutthat。"
　　"Yes，butsinceheISbetter——"
　　Aliceshookherhead。"Hewon'tbebetterto-morrow。Healwayshasabaddayafteragoodoneespeciallyaftersuchagoodoneasthisis。"
　　"Butifthistimeitshouldbedifferent，"Russellpersisted；
　　"wouldn'tyoubewillingtocomeifhe'sbetterbyto-morrowevening？Whynotwaitanddecideatthelastminute？"
　　Shewavedherhandsairily。"Whatapother!"shecried。"WhatdoesitmatterwhetherpoorlittleAliceAdamsgoestoadanceornot？"
　　"Well，IthoughtI'dmadeitclearthatitlooksfairlybleaktomeifyoudon'tgo。"
　　"Oh，yes!"shejeered。
　　"It'sthesimpletruth，"heinsisted。"Idon'tcareagreatdealaboutdancesthesedays；andifyouaren'tgoingtobethere——"
　　"Youcouldstayaway，"shesuggested。"Youwouldn't!"
　　"Unfortunately，Ican't。I'mafraidI'msupposedtobetheexcuse。MissLamb，inhercapacityasafriendofmyrelatives——"
　　"Oh，she'sgivingitforYOU!Isee!OnMildred'saccountyoumean？"
　　Atthathisfaceshowedanincreaseofcolour。"IsupposejustonaccountofmybeingacousinofMildred'sandof——"
　　"Ofcourse!You'llhaveabeautifultime，too。Henrietta'llseethatyouhavesomebodytodancewithbesidesMissDowling，poorman!"
　　"ButwhatIwantsomebodytoseeisthatIdancewithyou!Andperhapsyourfather——"
　　"Wait!"shesaid，frowningasifshedebatedwhetherornottotellhimsomethingofimport；then，seemingtodecideaffirmatively，sheasked:"Wouldyoureallyliketoknowthetruthaboutit？"
　　"Ifitisn'ttoounflattering。"
　　"Ithasn'tanythingtodowithyouatall，"shesaid。"OfcourseI'dliketogowithyouandtodancewithyou——thoughyoudon'tseemtorealizethatyouwouldn'tbepermittedmuchtimewithme。"
　　"Oh，yes，I——"
　　"Nevermind!"shelaughed。"Ofcourseyouwouldn't。Butevenifpapashouldbebetterto-morrow，IdoubtifI'dgo。Infact，I
　　knowIwouldn't。There'sanotherreasonbesidespapa。"
　　"Isthere？"
　　"Yes。Thetruthis，Idon'tgetonwithHenriettaLamb。Asamatteroffact，Idislikeher，andofcoursethatmeansshedislikesme。IshouldneverthinkofaskinghertoanythingI
　　gave，andIreallywondersheasksmetothingsSHEgives。"Thiswasanewinspiration；andAlice，beginningtoseeherwayoutofaperplexity，wishedthatshehadthoughtofitearlier:sheshouldhavetoldhimfromthefirstthatsheandHenriettahadafeud，andconsequentlyexchangednoinvitations。Moreover，therewasanotherthingtobesetherwithlittleanxieties:shemightbetternothavetoldhimfromthefirst，asshehadindeedtoldhimbyintimation，thatshewasthepampereddaughterofanindulgentfather，presumablyabletoindulgeher；fornowshemustelaboratelykeeptothepart。Veracityisusuallysimple；
　　anditsopposite，tobesuccessful，shouldbeassimple；butpractitionersoftheoppositearemostoftenimpulsive，likeAlice；and，likeher，theybecomeenmeshedinelaborations。
　　"Itwouldn'tbeveryniceformetogotoherhouse，"Alicewenton，"whenIwouldn'twantherinmine。I'veneveradmiredher。
　　I'vealwaysthoughtshewaslackinginsomethingsmostpeoplearesupposedtobeequippedwith——forinstance，acertainfeelingaboutthedeathofafatherwhowasalwaysprettydecenttohisdaughter。Henrietta'sfatherdiedjust，elevenmonthsandtwenty-sevendaysbeforeyourcousin'sdance，butshecouldn'tstickoutthosefewlastdaysandmakeitayear；shewasthere。"
　　Alicestopped，thenlaughedruefully，exclaiming，"Butthisisdreadfulofme!"
　　"Isit？"
　　"Blackguardinghertoyouwhenshe'sgivingabigpartyforyou!
　　JustthewayHenriettawouldblackguardmetoyou——heavenknowswhatsheWOULDN'Tsayifshetalkedaboutmetoyou!Itwouldbefair，ofcourse，but——well，I'drathershedidn't!"Andwiththat，Aliceletherprettyhand，initswhiteglove，restuponhisarmforamoment；andhelookeddownatit，notunmovedtoseeitthere。"Iwanttobeunfairaboutjustthis，"shesaid，lettingatroubledlaughtertremblethroughherappealingvoiceasshespoke。"Iwon'ttakeadvantageofherwithanybody，exceptjust——you!I'dalittleratheryoudidn'thearanybodyblackguardme，and，ifyoudon'tmind——couldyoupromisenottogiveHenriettathechance？"
　　Itwascharminglydone，withahumorous，faintpathosaltogethergenuine；andRussellfoundhimselfsuddenlywantingtoshoutather，"Oh，youDEAR!"Nothingelseseemedadequate；buthecontrolledtheimpulseinfavourofsomethingmoreconservative。
　　"Imagineanyonespeakingunkindlyofyou——notpraisingyou!"
　　"WhoHASpraisedmetoyou？"sheasked，quickly。
　　"Ihaven'ttalkedaboutyouwithanyone；butifIdid，Iknowthey'd——"
　　"No，no!"shecried，andwenton，againaccompanyingherwordswithlittletremulousrunsoflaughter。"Youdon'tunderstandthistownyet。You'llbesurprisedwhenyoudo；we'redifferent。
　　Wetalkaboutoneanotherfearfully!Haven'tIjustprovedit，thewayI'vebeengoingforHenrietta？OfcourseIdidn'tsayanythingreallyveryterribleabouther，butthat'sonlybecauseIdon'tfollowthatpracticethewaymostoftheothersdo。Theydon'tstopwiththeworstofthetruththeycanfind:theymakeUPthings——yes，theyreallydo!And，oh，I'dRATHERtheydidn'tmakeupthingsaboutme——toyou!"
　　"Whatdifferencewoulditmakeiftheydid？"heinquired，cheerfully。"I'dknowtheyweren'ttrue。"
　　"Evenifyoudidknowthat，they'dmakeadifference，"shesaid。
　　"Oh，yes，theywould!It'stoobad，butwedon'tlikeanythingquitesowellthat'shadspecksonit，evenifwe'vewipedthespecksoff；——it'sjustthatmuchspoiled，andsomethingsareallspoiledtheinstantthey'retheleastbitspoiled。Whatamanthinksaboutagirl，forinstance。Doyouwanttohavewhatyouthinkaboutmespoiled，Mr。Russell？"
　　"Oh，butthat'salreadyfarbeyondreach，"hesaid，lightly。
　　"Butitcan'tbe!"sheprotested。
　　"Whynot？"
　　"Becauseitnevercanbe。Mendon'tchangetheirmindsaboutoneanotheroften:theymakeitquiteaneventwhentheydo，andtalkaboutitasifsomethingimportanthadhappened。Butagirlonlyhastogodown-townwithashoe-stringunfastened，andeverymanwhoseesherwillchangehismindabouther。Don'tyouknowthat'strue？"
　　"Notofmyself，Ithink。"
　　"There!"shecried。"That'spreciselywhateverymanintheworldwouldsay!"
　　"Soyouwouldn'ttrustme？"
　　"Well——I'llbeawfullyworriedifyougive'emachancetotellyouthatI'mtoolazytotiemyshoe-strings!"
　　Helaugheddelightedly。"Isthatwhattheydosay？"heasked。
　　"Justabout!Whatevertheyhopewillgetresults。"Sheshookherheadwisely。"Oh，yes；wedothathere!"
　　"ButIdon'tmindlooseshoe-strings，"hesaid。"Notifthey'reyours。"
　　"They'llfindoutwhatyoudomind。"
　　"Butsuppose，"hesaid，lookingatherwhimsically；"supposeI
　　wouldn'tmindanything——solongasit'syours？"
　　Shecourtesied。"Oh，prettyenough!Butagirlwho'stalkedabouthasaweaknessthat'softenafatalone。"
　　"Whatisit？"
　　"It'sthis:whenshe'stalkedaboutsheisn'tTHERE。That'showtheykillher。"
　　"I'mafraidIdon'tfollowyou。"
　　"Don'tyousee？IfHenrietta——orMildred——oranyof'em——orsomeoftheirmothers——oh，weALLdoit!Well，ifanyof'emtoldyouIdidn'ttiemyshoe-strings，andifIwerethere，sothatyoucouldseeme，you'dknowitwasn'ttrue。EvenifIweresittingsothatyoucouldn'tseemyfeet，andcouldn'ttellwhetherthestringsweretiedornotjustthen，stillyoucouldlookatme，andseethatIwasn'tthesortofgirltoneglectmyshoe-strings。Butthatisn'tthewayithappens:they'llgetatyouwhenI'mnowherearoundandcan'tremindyouofthesortofgirlIreallyam。"
　　"Butyoudon'tdothat，"hecomplained。"Youdon'tremindmeyoudon'teventellme——thesortofgirlyoureallyare!I'dliketoknow。"
　　"Let'sbeseriousthen，"shesaid，andlookedseriousenoughherself。"Wouldyouhonestlyliketoknow？"
　　"Yes。"
　　"Well，then，youmustbecareful。"
　　"'Careful？'"Thewordamusedhim。
　　"Imeancarefulnottogetmemixedup，"shesaid。"CarefulnottomixupthegirlyoumighthearsomebodytalkingaboutwiththemeIhonestlytrytomakeyousee。Ifyoudogetthosetwomixedup——well，thewholeshow'llbespoiled!"
　　"Whatmakesyouthinkso？"
　　"Becauseit's——"Shecheckedherself，havingbeguntospeaktooimpulsively；andshewasdisturbed，realizinginwhattrickystuffshedealt。Whathadbeenonherlipstosaywas，"Becauseit'shappenedbefore!"Shechangedto，"Becauseit'ssoeasytospoilanything——easiestofalltospoilanythingthat'spleasant。"
　　"Thatmightdepend。"
　　"No；it'sso。Andifyoucareatallabout——aboutknowingagirlwho'dlikesomeonetoknowher——"
　　"Just'someone？'That'sdisappointing。"
　　"Well——you，"shesaid。
　　"Tellmehow'careful'youwantmetobe，then!"
　　"Well，don'tyouthinkitwouldbeniceifyoudidn'tgiveanybodythechancetotalkaboutmetheway——thewayI'vejustbeentalkingaboutHenriettaLamb？"
　　Withthattheylaughedtogether，andhesaid，"Youmaybecuttingmeofffromagreatdealofinformation，youknow。"
　　"Yes，"Aliceadmitted。"Somebodymightbegintopraisemetoyou，too；soit'sdangeroustoaskyoutochangethesubjectifI
　　everhappentobementioned。Butafterall——"Shepaused。
　　"'Afterall'isn'ttheendofathought，isit？"
　　"Sometimesitisofagirl'sthought；Isupposemenareneaterabouttheirthoughts，andalwaysfinish'em。Itisn'ttheendofthethoughtIhadthen，though。"
　　"Whatistheendofit？"
　　Shelookedathimimpulsively。"Oh，it'sfoolish，"shesaid，andshelaughedaslaughsonewhoproposessomethingprobablyimpossible。"But，WOULDN'TitbepleasantiftwopeoplecouldeverjustkeepthemselvesTOthemselves，sofarastheytwowereconcerned？Imean，iftheycouldjustmanagetobefriendswithoutpeopletalkingaboutit，ortalkingtoTHEMaboutit？"
　　"Isupposethatmightberatherdifficult，"hesaid，moreamusedthanimpressedbyheridea。
　　"Idon'tknow:itmightbedone，"shereturned，hopefully。
　　"Especiallyinatownofthissize；it'sgrownsoit'squiteahugeplacethesedays。Peoplecankeepthemselvestothemselvesinabigplacebetter，youknow。Forinstance，nobodyknowsthatyouandIaretakingawalktogethertoday。"
　　"Howabsurd，whenhereweareonexhibition!"
　　"No；wearen't。"
　　"Wearen't？"
　　"Notabitofit!"shelaughed。"Weweretheotherday，whenyouwalkedhomewithme，butanybodycouldtellthathadjusthappenedbychance，onaccountofyourovertakingme；peoplecanalwaysseethingslikethat。Butwe'renotonexhibitionnow。
　　LookwhereI'veledyou!"
　　Amusedandalittlebewildered，helookedupanddownthestreet，whichwasoneofgaunt-facedapartment-houses，old，sooty，frameboarding-houses，smallgroceriesanddrug-stores，laundriesandone-roomplumbers'shops，withthesignofaclairvoyanthereandthere。
　　"Yousee？"shesaid。"I'vebeenleadingyouwithoutyourknowingit。Ofcoursethat'sbecauseyou'renewtothetown，andyougiveyourselfuptotheguidanceofanoldcitizen。"
　　"I'mnotsosure，MissAdams。ItmightmeanthatIdon'tcarewhereIfollowsolongasIfollowyou。"
　　"Verywell，"shesaid。"I'dlikeyoutokeeponfollowingmeatleastlongenoughformetoshowyouthatthere'ssomethingniceraheadofusthanthisdingystreet。"
　　"Isthatfigurative？"heasked。
　　"Mightbe!"shereturned，gaily。"There'saprettylittleparkattheend，butit'sveryproletarian，andnobodyyouandIknowwillbemorelikelytoseeustherethanonthisstreet。"
　　"Whatanimaginationyouhave!"heexclaimed。"YouturnourproperlittlewalkintoaParisianadventure。"
　　Shelookedathiminwhatseemedtobeamomentarygravepuzzlement。"PerhapsyoufeelthataParisianadventuremightn'tpleaseyour——yourrelatives？"
　　"Why，no，"hereturned。"YouseemtothinkofthemoftenerthanIdo。"
　　ThisappearedtoamuseAlice，oratleasttopleaseher，forshelaughed。"ThenIcanaffordtoquitthinkingofthem，Isuppose。
　　It'sonlythatIusedtobequiteafriendofMildred's——butthere!weneedn'ttogointothat。I'veneverbeenafriendofHenriettaLamb's，though，andIalmostwishsheweren'ttakingsuchpainstobeafriendofyours。"
　　"Oh，butshe'snot。It'sallonaccountof——"
　　"OnMildred'saccount，"Alicefinishedthisforhim，coolly。
　　"Yes，ofcourse。"
　　"It'sonaccountofthetwofamilies，"hewasatpainstoexplain，alittleawkwardly。"It'sbecauseI'marelativeofthePalmers，andthePalmersandtheLambsseemtobeoldfamilyfriends。"
　　"SomethingtheAdamsescertainlyarenot，"Alicesaid。"Notwitheitherof'em；particularlynotwiththeLambs!"Andhere，scarceawareofwhatimpelledher，shereturnedtoherformerelaborationsandcolourings。"Yousee，thedifferencesbetweenHenriettaandmearen'tentirelypersonal:Icouldn'tgotoherhouseevenifIlikedher。TheLambsandAdamsesdon'tgetonwitheachother，andwe'vejustaboutcometothebreaking-pointasithappens。"
　　"Ihopeit'snothingtobotheryou。"
　　"Why？Alotofthingsbotherme。"
　　"I'msorrytheydo，"hesaid，andseemedsimplytomeanit。
　　Shenoddedgratefully。"That'sniceofyou，Mr。Russell。Ithelps。ThebreakbetweentheAdamsesandtheLambsisaprettybothersomething。It'sbeencomingonalongtime。"Shesigheddeeply，andthesighwashalfgenuine；thishalfbeingforherfather，buttheotherhalfprobablybelongedtoherinstinctiverenderingofJulietCapulet，daughtertoawarringhouse。"I
　　hateitallso!"sheadded。
　　"Ofcourseyoumust。"
　　"Isupposemostquarrelsbetweenfamiliesareonaccountofbusiness，"shesaid。"That'swhythey'resosordid。CertainlytheLambsseemasordidlottome，thoughofcourseI'mbiased。"
　　AndwiththatshebegantosketchahistoryofthecommercialantagonismthathadrisenbetweentheAdamsesandtheLambs。
　　Thesketchingwasspontaneousanddramatic。Mathematicshadnopartinit；norwasthereaccuratedefinitionofMr。Adams'srelationtotheinstitutionofLambandCompany。Thepointwasclouded，infact；thoughthatmighteasilybesetdowntothegeneralhazinessofyoungladiesconfrontedwiththemysteriesoftradeorcommerce。Mr。Adamseitherhadbeenavaguesortofjuniormemberofthefirm，itappeared，orelseheshouldhavebeenmadesomesuchthing；atallevents，hewasanoldmainstayofthebusiness；andhe，asmuchasanyLamb，hadhelpedtobuilduptheprosperityofthecompany。Butatlast，tiredofprovidingsomuchintelligenceandenergyforwhichotherpeopletookprofitgreaterthanhisown，hehaddecidedtoleavethecompanyandfoundabusinessentirelyforhimself。TheLambsweregoingtobeenragedwhentheylearnedwhatwasafoot。
　　Suchwastheimpression，alittlemisted，wroughtbyAlice'squicknarrative。Buttherewasdolorousfactbehindit:Adamshadsuccumbed。
　　Hiswife，graveandnervous，ratherthantriumphant，insuccess，hadtoldtheirdaughterthatthegreatJ。A。wouldbefuriousandpossiblyvindictive。Adamswasafraidofhim，shesaid。
　　"Butwhatfor，mama？"Aliceasked，sincethisseemedaturnofaffairsoutofreason。"WhatintheworldhasMr。Lambtodowithpapa'sleavingthecompanytosetupforhimself？Whatrighthashetobeangryaboutit？Ifhe'ssuchafriendasheclaimstobe，Ishouldthinkhe'dbeglad——thatis，ifthegluefactoryturnsoutwell。Whatwillhebeangryfor？"
　　Mrs。AdamsgaveAliceanuneasyglance，hesitated，andthenexplainedthataresignationfromLamb'shadalwaysbeenlookedupon，especiallyby"thatoldman，"astreachery。Youweresupposedtodieintheservice，shesaidbitterly，andherdaughter，alittlemystified，acceptedthisexplanation。Adamshadnotspokentoherofhissurrender；heseemednotinclinedtospeaktoheratall，ortoanyone。
　　Alicewasnotserioustoolong，andshebegantolaughasshecametotheendofherdecorativesketch。"Afterall，thewholethingisperfectlyridiculous，"shesaid。"Infact，it'sFUNNY!
　　That'sonaccountofwhatpapa'sgoingtothrowovertheLambbusinessFOR!Tosaveyourlifeyoucouldn'timaginewhathe'sgoingtodo!"
　　"Iwon'ttry，then，"Russellassented。
　　"IttakesalltheromanceoutofME，"shelaughed。"You'llnevergoforaParisianwalkwithmeagain，afterItellyouwhatI'llbeheiressto。"Theyhadcometotheentranceofthelittlepark；and，asAlicehadsaid，itwasaprettyplace，especiallyonadaysoradiant。Treesoftheoldestforeststoodthere，haleandsereneoverthetrim，brightgrass；andtheproletarianshadnotcomefromtheirfactoriesatthishour；onlyafewmothersandtheirbabiesweretobeseen，hereandthere，intheshade。"IthinkI'llpostponetellingyouaboutittillwegetnearlyhomeagain，"Alicesaid，astheybegantosaunterdownoneofthegravelledpaths。"There'sabenchbesideaspringfartheron；wecansitthereandtalkaboutalotofthings——thingsnotsostickyasmydowry'sgoingtobe。"
　　"'Sticky？'"heechoed。"Whatintheworld——"Shelaugheddespairingly。
　　"Agluefactory!"
　　Thenhelaughed，too，asmuchfromfriendlinessasfromamusement；andsherememberedtotellhimthattheprojectofagluefactorywasstill"anAdamssecret。"Itwouldbeknownsoon，however，sheadded；andthewholeLambconnectionwouldprobablybeginsayingallsortsofthings，heavenknewwhat!
　　ThusAlicebuiltherwallsofflimsy，workingalwaysgaily，orwithatleasttheairofgaiety；andevenassherattledon，therewassomewhereinhermindaconstantlittlewonder。
　　Everythingshesaidseemedtobenecessarytosupportsomethingelseshehadsaid。Howhadithappened？Shefoundherselftellinghimthatsinceherfatherhaddecidedonmakingsogreatachangeinhisways，sheandhermotherhopedatlasttopersuadehimtogiveupthat"foolishlittlehouse"hehadbeensoobstinateabout；andshecheckedherselfabruptlyonthisdeclivityjustasshewasabouttoslideintoaremarkconcerningherownpreferencefora"countryplace。"Discretioncaughtherintime；andsomethingelse，incompanywithdiscretion，caughther，forshestoppedshortinhertalkandblushed。
　　Theyhadtakenpossessionofthebenchbesidethespring，bythistime；andRussell，hiselbowonthebackofthebenchandhischinonhishand，thebettertolookather，hadnoguessatthecauseoftheblush，butwascontenttofinditlovely。AthisfirstsightofAliceshehadseemedprettyintheparticularwayofbeingprettythathehappenedtolikebest；and，witheverymomenthespentwithher，thisprettinessappearedtoincrease。
　　Hefeltthathecouldnotlookatherenough:hisgazefollowedtheflutteringofthegracefulhandsinalmostcontinualgestureasshetalked；thenliftedhappilytothevivaciousfaceagain。
　　Shecharmedhim。
　　Afterherabruptpause，shesighed，thenlookedathimwithhereyebrowsliftedinacomedyappeal。"Youhaven'tsaidyouwouldn'tgiveHenriettathechance，"shesaid，inthesoftestvoicethatcanstillhavealittlelaughrunninginit。
　　Hewaspuzzled。"GiveHenriettathechance？"
　　"YOUknow!You'llletmekeeponbeingunfair，won'tyou？Notgivetheothergirlsachancetogeteven？"
　　Hepromised，heartily。
　　CHAPTERXV
　　AlicehadsaidthatnoonewhokneweitherRussellorherselfwouldbelikelytoseethemintheparkoruponthedingystreet；
　　butalthoughtheyreturnedbythatsameungenteelthoroughfaretheywereseenbyapersonwhoknewthemboth。Also，withsomesurpriseonthepartofRussell，andsomethingmorepoignantthansurpriseforAlice，theysawthisperson。
　　Allofthedingystreetwasugly，butthegreaterpartofitappearedtobehonest。Thetwopedestrianscameuponablockortwo，however，whereitofferedsuggestionsofalessuprightcharacter，likeasteadyenoughworkingmanwithanaughtybookstickingoutofhispocket。Threeorfourdimshops，asinglestoryinheight，exhibitedfoulsignboards，yetfairenoughsofarasthewordingwent；oneproclaimingatobacconist，oneajunk-dealer，oneadispenserof"softdrinksandcigars。"Themostcredulouswouldhavedoubtedthesesignboards；forthecraftofthemoderntradesmanisexertedtolureindoorsthepassingglance，sinceiftheglanceispleasedthefeetmayfollow；butthisallegedtobacconistandhisneighbourshadlongbeenfondofdustontheirwindows，evidently，andshadeswerepulledfardownontheglassoftheirdoors。Thusthepubliceye，smallofpupilinthelightoftheopenstreet，wasintentionallynotinvitedtotheduskyinteriors。Somethingdifferentfrommerelackofenterprisewasapparent；andthesignboardsmighthavebeenomitted；theywerepainsthrownaway，sinceitwasplaintotheworldthatthebusinesspartsoftheseshopswerethebrighterbackroomsimpliedbythedarkfrontrooms；andthatthecommercetherewasinperilousnewliquorsandindiceandroughgirls。
　　Nothingcouldhavebeenmoreinnocentthantheserenitywithwhichthesewickedlittleplacesrevealedthemselvesforwhattheywere；and，boundbythisfinaltieofguilelessness，theystoodtogetherinarowwhichendedwithacompanionablebarbershop，muchlikethem。Beyondwasaseriesofsoot-harriedframetwo-storyhouses，oncepartofacheerfulneighbourhoodwhenthetownwasmiddle-agedandsettled，andnotoldandgrowing。Thesehouses，allcarryingthelabel。"Rooms，"hadtheworriedlookofvacancythathouseshavewhentheyaretoofullofeverybodywithoutbeinganybody'shome；andtherewas，too，asurreptitiousairaboutthem，asif，likethefalselittleshops，theyadvertisedsomethingbyconcealingit。