Itwaswellalongintheforenoonofabitterwinter'sday。ThetownofEastport，inthestateofMaine，layburiedunderadeepsnowthatwasnewlyfallen。Thecustomarybustleinthestreetswaswanting。Onecouldlooklongdistancesdownthemandseenothingbutadead-whiteemptiness，withsilencetomatch。OfcourseIdonotmeanthatyoucouldseethesilence——no，youcouldonlyhearit。Thesidewalksweremerelylong，deepditches，withsteepsnowwallsoneitherside。Hereandthereyoumighthearthefaint，farscrapeofawoodenshovel，andifyouwerequickenoughyoumightcatchaglimpseofadistantblackfigurestoopinganddisappearinginoneofthoseditches，andreappearingthenextmomentwithamotionwhichyouwouldknowmeanttheheavingoutofashovelfulofsnow。Butyouneededtobequick，forthatblackfigurewouldnotlinger，butwouldsoardropthatshovelandscudforthehouse，thrashingitselfwithitsarmstowarmthem。Yes，itwastoovenomouslycoldforsnow-shovelersoranybodyelsetostayoutlong。
　　Presentlytheskydarkened；thenthewindroseandbegantoblowinfitful，vigorousgusts，whichsentcloudsofpowderysnowaloft，andstraightahead，andeverywhere。Undertheimpulseofoneofthesegusts，greatwhitedriftsbankedthemselveslikegravesacrossthestreets；amomentlateranothergustshiftedthemaroundtheotherway，drivingafinesprayofsnowfromtheirsharpcrests，asthegaledrivesthespumeflakesfromwave-crestsatsea；athirdgustsweptthatplaceascleanasyourhand，ifitsawfit。Thiswasfooling，thiswasplay；buteachandallofthegustsdumpedsomesnowintothesidewalkditches，forthatwasbusiness。
　　AlonzoFitzClarencewassittinginhissnugandelegantlittleparlor，inalovelybluesilkdressing-gown，withcuffsandfacingsofcrimsonsatin，elaboratelyquilted。Theremainsofhisbreakfastwerebeforehim，andthedaintyandcostlylittletableserviceaddedaharmoniouscharmtothegrace，beauty，andrichnessofthefixedappointmentsoftheroom。Acheeryfirewasblazingonthehearth。
　　Afuriousgustofwindshookthewindows，andagreatwaveofsnowwashedagainstthemwithadrenchingsound，sotospeak。Thehandsomeyoungbachelormurmured:
　　"Thatmeans，nogoingoutto-day。Well，Iamcontent。Butwhattodoforcompany？Motheriswellenough，AuntSusaniswellenough；butthese，likethepoor，Ihavewithmealways。Onsogrimadayasthis，oneneedsanewinterest，afreshelement，towhetthedulledgeofcaptivity。Thatwasveryneatlysaid，butitdoesn'tmeananything。
　　Onedoesn'twanttheedgeofcaptivitysharpenedup，youknow，butjustthereverse。"
　　HeglancedathisprettyFrenchmantel-clock。
　　"Thatclock'swrongagain。Thatclockhardlyeverknowswhattimeitis；
　　andwhenitdoesknow，itliesaboutit——whichamountstothesamething。
　　Alfred!"
　　Therewasnoanswer。
　　"Alfred!……Goodservant，butasuncertainastheclock。"
　　Alonzotouchedanelectricbellbuttoninthewall。Hewaitedamoment，thentoucheditagain；waitedafewmomentsmore，andsaid:
　　"Batteryoutoforder，nodoubt。ButnowthatIhavestarted，Iwillfindoutwhattimeitis。"Hesteppedtoaspeaking-tubeinthewall，blewitswhistle，andcalled，"Mother!"andrepeatedittwice。
　　"Well，that'snouse。Mother'sbatteryisoutoforder，too。Can'traiseanybodydown-stairs——thatisplain。"
　　Hesatdownatarosewooddesk，leanedhischinontheleft-handedgeofitandspoke，asiftothefloor:"AuntSusan!"
　　Alow，pleasantvoiceanswered，"Isthatyou，Alonzo？'
　　"Yes。I'mtoolazyandcomfortabletogodownstairs；Iaminextremity，andIcan'tseemtoscareupanyhelp。"
　　"Dearme，whatisthematter？"
　　"Matterenough，Icantellyou!"
　　"Oh，don'tkeepmeinsuspense，dear!Whatisit？"
　　"Iwanttoknowwhattimeitis。"
　　"Youabominableboy，whataturnyoudidgiveme!Isthatall？"
　　"All——onmyhonor。Calmyourself。Tellmethetime，andreceivemyblessing。"
　　"Justfiveminutesafternine。Nocharge——keepyourblessing。"
　　"Thanks。Itwouldn'thaveimpoverishedme，aunty，norsoenrichedyouthatyoucouldlivewithoutothermeans。"
　　Hegotup，murmuring，"Justfiveminutesafternine，"andfacedhisclock。"Ah，"saidhe，"youaredoingbetterthanusual。Youareonlythirty-fourminuteswrong。Letmesee……，letmesee……
　　Thirty-threeandtwenty-onearefifty-four；fourtimesfifty-fouraretwohundredandthirty-six。Oneoff，leavestwohundredandthirty-five。
　　That'sright。"
　　Heturnedthehandsofhisclockforwardtilltheymarkedtwenty-fiveminutestoone，andsaid，"Nowseeifyoucan'tkeeprightforawhile——elseI'llraffleyou!"
　　Hesatdownatthedeskagain，andsaid，"AuntSusan!"
　　"Yes，dear。"
　　"Hadbreakfast？"
　　"Yes，indeed，anhourago。"
　　"Busy？"
　　"No——exceptsewing。Why？"
　　"Gotanycompany？"
　　"No，butIexpectsomeathalfpastnine。"
　　"IwishIdid。I'mlonesome。Iwanttotalktosomebody。"
　　"Verywell，talktome。"
　　"Butthisisveryprivate。"
　　"Don'tbeafraid——talkrightalong，there'snobodyherebutme。"
　　"Ihardlyknowwhethertoventureornot，but——"
　　"Butwhat？Oh，don'tstopthere!Youknowyoucantrustme，Alonzo——youknow，youcan。"
　　"Ifeelit，aunt，butthisisveryserious。Itaffectsmedeeply——me，andallthefamily——eventhewholecommunity。"
　　"Oh，Alonzo，tellme!Iwillneverbreatheawordofit。Whatisit？"
　　"Aunt，ifImightdare——"
　　"Oh，pleasegoon!Iloveyou，andfeelforyou。Tellmeall。
　　Confideinme。Whatisit？"
　　"Theweather!"
　　"Plaguetaketheweather!Idon'tseehowyoucanhavethehearttoservemeso，Lon。"
　　"There，there，auntydear，I'msorry；Iam，onmyhonor。Iwon'tdoitagain。Doyouforgiveme？"
　　"Yes，sinceyouseemsosincereaboutit，thoughIknowIoughtn'tto。
　　YouwillfoolmeagainassoonasIhaveforgottenthistime。"
　　"No，Iwon't，honorbright。Butsuchweather，oh，suchweather!You'vegottokeepyourspiritsupartificially。Itissnowy，andblowy，andgusty，andbittercold!Howistheweatherwithyou？"
　　"Warmandrainyandmelancholy。Themournersgoaboutthestreetswiththeirumbrellasrunningstreamsfromtheendofeverywhalebone。There'sanelevateddoublepavementofumbrellas，stretchingdownthesidesofthestreetsasfarasIcansee。I'vegotafireforcheerfulness，andthewindowsopentokeepcool。Butitisvain，itisuseless:nothingcomesinbutthebalmybreathofDecember，withitsburdenofmockingodorsfromtheflowersthatpossesstherealmoutside，andrejoiceintheirlawlessprofusionwhilstthespiritofmanislow，andflaunttheirgaudysplendorsinhisfacewhilehissoulisclothedinsackclothandashesandhisheartbreaketh。"
　　Alonzoopenedhislipstosay，"Yououghttoprintthat，andgetitframed，"butcheckedhimself，forheheardhisauntspeakingtosomeoneelse。Hewentandstoodatthewindowandlookedoutuponthewintryprospect。Thestormwasdrivingthesnowbeforeitmorefuriouslythanever；window-shutterswereslammingandbanging；aforlorndog，withbowedheadandtailwithdrawnfromservice，waspressinghisquakingbodyagainstawindwardwallforshelterandprotection；ayounggirlwasplowingknee-deepthroughthedrifts，withherfaceturnedfromtheblast，andthecapeofherwaterproofblowingstraightrearwardoverherhead。Alonzoshuddered，andsaidwithasigh，"Bettertheslop，andthesultryrain，andeventheinsolentflowers，thanthis!"
　　Heturnedfromthewindow，movedastep，andstoppedinalisteningattitude。Thefaint，sweetnotesofafamiliarsongcaughthisear。Heremainedthere，withhisheadunconsciouslybentforward，drinkinginthemelody，stirringneitherhandnorfoot，hardlybreathing。Therewasablemishintheexecutionofthesong，buttoAlonzoitseemedanaddedcharminsteadofadefect。Thisblemishconsistedofamarkedflattingofthethird，fourth，fifth，sixth，andseventhnotesoftherefrainorchorusofthepiece。Whenthemusicended，Alonzodrewadeepbreath，andsaid，"Ah，Ineverhaveheard'IntheSweetBy-and-by'sunglikethatbefore!"
　　Hesteppedquicklytothedesk，listenedamoment，andsaidinaguarded，confidentialvoice，"Aunty，whoisthisdivinesinger？"
　　"SheisthecompanyIwasexpecting。Stayswithmeamonthortwo。
　　Iwillintroduceyou。Miss——"
　　"Forgoodness'sake，waitamoment，AuntSusan!Youneverstoptothinkwhatyouareabout!"
　　Heflewtohisbedchamber，andreturnedinamomentperceptiblychangedinhisoutwardappearance，andremarking，snappishly:
　　"Hangit，shewouldhaveintroducedmetothisangelinthatsky-bluedressing-gownwithred-hotlapels!Womenneverthink，whentheygeta-going。"
　　Hehastenedandstoodbythedesk，andsaideagerly，"Now，Aunty，Iamready，"andfelltosmilingandbowingwithallthepersuasivenessandelegancethatwereinhim。
　　"Verywell。MissRosannahEthelton，letmeintroducetoyoumyfavoritenephew，Mr。AlonzoFitzClarence。There!Youarebothgoodpeople，andIlikeyou；soIamgoingtotrustyoutogetherwhileIattendtoafewhouseholdaffairs。Sitdown，Rosannah；sitdown，Alonzo。Good-by；I
　　sha'n'tbegonelong。"
　　Alonzohadbeenbowingandsmilingallthewhile，andmotioningimaginaryyoungladiestositdowninimaginarychairs，butnowhetookaseathimself，mentallysaying，"Oh，thisisluck!Letthewindsblownow，andthesnowdrive，andtheheavensfrown!LittleIcare!"
　　Whiletheseyoungpeoplechatthemselvesintoanacquaintanceship，letustakethelibertyofinspectingthesweeterandfairerofthetwo。Shesatalone，athergracefulease，inarichlyfurnishedapartmentwhichwasmanifestlytheprivateparlorofarefinedandsensiblelady，ifsignsandsymbolsmaygoforanything。Forinstance，byalow，comfortablechairstoodadainty，top-heavyworkstand，whosesummitwasafancifullyembroideredshallowbasket，withvaricoloredcrewels，andotherstringsandodds，andendsprotrudingfromunderthegapinglidandhangingdowninnegligentprofusion。OnthefloorlaybrightshredsofTurkeyred，Prussianblue，andkindredfabrics，bitsofribbon，aspoolortwo，apairofscissors，andarollorsooftintedsilkenstuffs。
　　Onaluxurioussofa，upholsteredwithsomesortofsoftIndiangoodswroughtinblackandgoldthreadsinterwebbedwithotherthreadsnotsopronouncedincolor，layagreatsquareofcoarsewhitestuff，uponwhosesurfacearichbouquetofflowerswasgrowing，underthedeftcultivationofthecrochet-needle。Thehouseholdcatwasasleeponthisworkofart。
　　Inabay-windowstoodaneaselwithanunfinishedpictureonit，andapaletteandbrushesonachairbesideit。Therewerebookseverywhere:
　　Robertson'sSermons，Tennyson，MoodyandSankey，Hawthorne，RabandHisFriends，cook-books，prayer-books，pattern-books——andbooksaboutallkindsofodiousandexasperatingpottery，ofcourse。Therewasapiano，withadeck-loadofmusic，andmoreinatender。Therewasagreatplentyofpicturesonthewalls，ontheshelvesofthemantelpiece，andaroundgenerally；wherecoignsofvantageofferedwerestatuettes，andquaintandprettygimcracks，andrareandcostlyspecimensofpeculiarlydevilishchina。Thebay-windowgaveuponagardenthatwasablazewithforeignanddomesticflowersandfloweringshrubs。
　　Butthesweetyounggirlwasthedaintiestthingthesepremises，withinorwithout，couldofferforcontemplation:delicatelychiseledfeatures，ofGreciancast；hercomplexionthepuresnowofajaponicathatisreceivingafaintreflectedenrichmentfromsomescarletneighborofthegarden；great，softblueeyesfringedwithlong，curvinglashes；anexpressionmadeupofthetrustfulnessofachildandthegentlenessofafawn；abeautifulheadcrownedwithitsownprodigalgold；alitheandroundedfigure，whoseeveryattitudeandmovementwasinstinctwithnativegrace。
　　Herdressandadornmentweremarkedbythatexquisiteharmonythatcancomeonlyofafinenaturaltasteperfectedbyculture。Hergownwasofasimplemagentatulle，cutbias，traversedbythreerowsoflight-blueflounces，withtheselvageedgesturnedupwithashes-of-roseschenille；
　　overdressofdarkbaytarlatanwithscarletsatinlambrequins；corn-
　　coloredpolonaise，enzanier，loopedwithmother-of-pearlbuttonsandsilvercord，andhauledaftandmadefastbybuffvelvetlashings；basqueoflavenderreps，pickedoutwithvalenciennes；lowneck，shortsleeves；
　　maroonvelvetnecktieedgedwithdelicatepinksilk；insidehandkerchiefofsomesimplethree-plyingrainfabricofasoftsaffrontint；coralbraceletsandlocket-chain；coiffureofforget-me-notsandlilies-of-the-valleymassedaroundanoblecalla。
　　Thiswasall；yeteveninthissubduedattireshewasdivinelybeautiful。
　　Thenwhatmustshehavebeenwhenadornedforthefestivalortheball？
　　AllthistimeshehadbeenbusilychattingwithAlonzo，unconsciousofourinspection。Theminutesstillsped，andstillshetalked。Butbyandbyshehappenedtolookup，andsawtheclock。Acrimsonblushsentitsrichfloodthroughhercheeks，andsheexclaimed:
　　"There，good-by，Mr。FitzClarence；Imustgonow!"
　　Shesprangfromherchairwithsuchhastethatshehardlyheardtheyoungman'sansweringgood-by。Shestoodradiant，graceful，beautiful，andgazed，wondering，upontheaccusingclock。Presentlyherpoutinglipsparted，andshesaid:
　　"Fiveminutesaftereleven!Nearlytwohours，anditdidnotseemtwentyminutes!Oh，dear，whatwillhethinkofme!"
　　Attheself-samemomentAlonzowasstaringathisclock。Andpresentlyhesaid:
　　"Twenty-fiveminutestothree!Nearlytwohours，andIdidn'tbelieveitwastwominutes!Isitpossiblethatthisclockishumbuggingagain？
　　MissEthelton!Justonemoment，please。Areyouthereyet？"
　　"Yes，butbequick；I'mgoingrightaway。"
　　"Wouldyoubesokindastotellmewhattimeitis？"
　　Thegirlblushedagain，murmuredtoherself，"It'srightdowncruelofhimtoaskme!"andthenspokeupandansweredwithadmirablycounterfeitedunconcern，"Fiveminutesaftereleven。"
　　"Oh，thankyou!Youhavetogo，now，haveyou？"
　　"I'msorry。"
　　Noreply。
　　"MissEthelton!"
　　"Well？"
　　"Youyou'rethereyet，ain'tyou？"
　　"Yes；butpleasehurry。Whatdidyouwanttosay？"
　　"Well，I——well，nothinginparticular。It'sverylonesomehere。It'saskingagreatdeal，Iknow，butwouldyoumindtalkingwithmeagainbyandby——thatis，ifitwillnottroubleyoutoomuch？"
　　"Idon'tknowbutI'llthinkaboutit。I'lltry。"
　　"Oh，thanks!MissEthelton!……Ah，me，she'sgone，andherearetheblackcloudsandthewhirlingsnowandtheragingwindscomeagain!
　　Butshesaidgood-by。Shedidn'tsaygoodmorning，shesaidgood-by!……
　　Theclockwasright，afterall。Whatalightning-wingedtwohoursitwas!"
　　Hesatdown，andgazeddreamilyintohisfireforawhile，thenheavedasighandsaid:
　　"Howwonderfulitis!TwolittlehoursagoIwasafreeman，andnowmyheart'sinSanFrancisco!"
　　AboutthattimeRosannahEthelton，proppedinthewindow-seatofherbedchamber，bookinhand，wasgazingvacantlyoutovertherainyseasthatwashedtheGoldenGate，andwhisperingtoherself，"HowdifferentheisfrompoorBurley，withhisemptyheadandhissinglelittleantictalentofmimicry!"
　　II
　　FourweekslaterMr。SidneyAlgernonBurleywasentertainingagayluncheoncompany，inasumptuousdrawing-roomonTelegraphHill，withsomecapitalimitationsofthevoicesandgesturesofcertainpopularactorsandSanFranciscanliterarypeopleandBonanzagrandees。Hewaselegantlyupholstered，andwasahandsomefellow，barringatriflingcastinhiseye。Heseemedveryjovial，butneverthelesshekepthiseyeonthedoorwithanexpectantanduneasywatchfulness。Byandbyanobby。
　　lackeyappeared，anddeliveredamessagetothemistress，whonoddedherheadunderstandingly。ThatseemedtosettlethethingforMr。Burley；
　　hisvivacitydecreasedlittlebylittle，andadejectedlookbegantocreepintooneofhiseyesandasinisteroneintotheother。
　　Therestofthecompanydepartedinduetime，leavinghimwiththemistress，towhomhesaid:
　　"Thereisnolongeranyquestionaboutit。Sheavoidsme。Shecontinuallyexcusesherself。IfIcouldseeher，ifIcouldspeaktoheronlyamomentbutthissuspense——"
　　"Perhapsherseemingavoidanceismereaccident，Mr。Burley。Gotothesmalldrawing-roomup-stairsandamuseyourselfamoment。Iwilldespatchahouseholdorderthatisonmymind，andthenIwillgotoherroom。Withoutdoubtshewillbepersuadedtoseeyou。"
　　Mr。Burleywentup-stairs，intendingtogotothesmalldrawing-room，butashewaspassing"AuntSusan's"privateparlor，thedoorofwhichstoodslightlyajar，heheardajoyouslaughwhichherecognized；sowithoutknockorannouncementhesteppedconfidentlyin。Butbeforehecouldmakehispresenceknownheheardwordsthatharroweduphissoulandchilledhisyoungblood，dieheardavoicesay:
　　"Darling，ithascome!"
　　ThenheheardRosannahEthelton，whosebackwastowardhim，say:
　　"Sohasyours，dearest!"
　　Hesawherbowedformbendlower；heheardherkisssomething——notmerelyonce，butagainandagain!Hissoulragedwithinhim。Theheartbreakingconversationwenton:
　　"Rosannah，Iknewyoumustbebeautiful，butthisisdazzling，thisisblinding，thisisintoxicating!"
　　"Alonzo，itissuchhappinesstohearyousayit。Iknowitisnottrue，butIamsogratefultohaveyouthinkitis，nevertheless!Iknewyoumusthaveanobleface，butthegraceandmajestyoftherealitybeggarthepoorcreationofmyfancy。"
　　Burleyheardthatrattlingshowerofkissesagain。
　　"Thankyou，myRosannah!Thephotographflattersme，butyoumustnotallowyourselftothinkofthat。Sweetheart？"
　　"Yes，Alonzo。"
　　"Iamsohappy，Rosannah。"
　　"Oh，Alonzo，nonethathavegonebeforemeknewwhatlovewas，nonethatcomeaftermewilleverknowwhathappinessis。Ifloatinagorgeouscloudland，aboundlessfirmamentofenchantedandbewilderingecstasy!"
　　"Oh，myRosannah!foryouaremine，areyounot？"
　　"Wholly，oh，whollyyours，Alonzo，nowandforever!Allthedaylong，andallthroughmynightlydreams，onesongsingsitself，anditssweetburdenis，'AlonzoFitzClarence，AlonzoFitzClarence，Eastport，stateofMaine!'"
　　"Cursehim，I'vegothisaddress，anyway!"roaredBurley，inwardly，andrushedfromtheplace。
　　JustbehindtheunconsciousAlonzostoodhismother，apictureofastonishment。Shewassomuffledfromheadtoheelinfursthatnothingofherselfwasvisiblebuthereyesandnose。Shewasagoodallegoryofwinter，forshewaspowderedalloverwithsnow。
　　BehindtheunconsciousRosannahstood"Aunt'Susan，"anotherpictureofastonishment。Shewasagoodallegoryofsummer，forshewaslightlyclad，andwasvigorouslycoolingtheperspirationonherfacewithafan。
　　Bothofthesewomenhadtearsofjoyintheireyes。
　　"Soho!"exclaimedMrs。FitzClarence，"thisexplainswhynobodyhasbeenabletodragyououtofyourroomforsixweeks，Alonzo!"
　　"Soho!"exclaimedAuntSusan，"thisexplainswhyyouhavebeenahermitforthepastsixweeks，Rosannah!"
　　Theyoungcouplewereontheirfeetinaninstant，abashed，andstandinglikedetecteddealersinstolengoodsawaitingjudgeLynch'sdoom。
　　"Blessyou，myson!Iamhappyinyourhappiness。Cometoyourmother'sarms，Alonzo!"
　　"Blessyou，Rosannah，formydearnephew'ssake!Cometomyarms!"
　　ThenwasthereaminglingofheartsandoftearsofrejoicingonTelegraphHillandinEastportSquare。
　　Servantswerecalledbytheelders，inbothplaces。Untoonewasgiventheorder，"Pilethisfirehigh，withhickorywood，andbringmearoasting-hotlemonade。"
　　Untotheotherwasgiventheorder，"Putoutthis，fire，andbringmetwopalm-leaffansandapitcherofice-water。"
　　Thentheyoungpeopleweredismissed，andtheelderssatdowntotalkthesweetsurpriseoverandmaketheweddingplans。
　　SomeminutesbeforethisMr。BurleyrushedfromthemansiononTelegraphHillwithoutmeetingortakingformalleaveofanybody。Hehissedthroughhisteeth，inunconsciousimitationofapopularfavoriteinmelodrama，"Himshallsheneverwed!Ihaveswornit!EregreatNatureshallhavedoffedherwinter'serminetodontheemeraldgaudsofspring，sheshallbemine!"
　　III
　　Twoweekslater。Everyfewhours，duringsamethreeorfourdays，averyprimanddevout-lookingEpiscopalclergyman，withacastinhiseye，hadvisitedAlonzo。Accordingtohiscard，hewastheRev。MeltonHargrave，ofCincinnati。Hesaidhehadretiredfromtheministryonaccountofhishealth。Ifhehadsaidonaccountofill-health，hewouldprobablyhaveerred，tojudgebyhiswholesomelooksandfirmbuild。Hewastheinventorofanimprovementintelephones，andhopedtomakehisbreadbysellingtheprivilegeofusingit。"Atpresent，"hecontinued，"amanmaygoandtapatelegraphwirewhichisconveyingasongoraconcertfromonestatetoanother，andhecanattachhisprivatetelephoneandstealahearingofthatmusicasitpassesalong。Myinventionwillstopallthat。"
　　"Well，"answeredAlonzo，"iftheownerofthemusiccouldnotmisswhatwasstolen，whyshouldhecare？"
　　"Heshouldn'tcare，"saidtheReverend。
　　"Well？"saidAlonzo，inquiringly。
　　"Suppose，"repliedtheReverend，"supposethat，insteadofmusicthatwaspassingalongandbeingstolen，theburdenofthewirewaslovingendearmentsofthemostprivateandsacrednature？"
　　Alonzoshudderedfromheadtoheel。"Sir，itisapricelessinvention，"
　　saidhe；"Imusthaveitatanycost。"
　　ButtheinventionwasdelayedsomewhereontheroadfromCincinnati，mostunaccountably。TheimpatientAlonzocouldhardlywait。ThethoughtofRosannah'ssweetwordsbeingsharedwithhimbysomeribaldthiefwasgallingtohim。TheReverendcamefrequentlyandlamentedthedelay，andtoldofmeasureshehadtakentohurrythingsup。ThiswassomelittlecomforttoAlonzo。
　　OneforenoontheReverendascendedthestairsandknockedatAlonzo'sdoor。Therewasnoresponse。Heentered，glancedeagerlyaround，。
　　closedthedoorsoftly，thenrantothetelephone。Theexquisitelysoftandremotestrainsofthe"SweetBy-and-by"camefloatingthroughtheinstrument。Thesingerwasflatting，asusual，thefivenotesthatfollowthefirsttwointhechorus，whentheReverendinterruptedherwiththisword，inavoicewhichwasanexactimitationofAlonzo's，withjustthefaintestflavorofimpatienceadded:
　　"Sweetheart？"
　　"Yes，Alonzo？"
　　"Pleasedon'tsingthatanymorethisweek-trysomethingmodern。"
　　Theagilestepthatgoeswithahappyheartwasheardonthestairs，andtheReverend，smilingdiabolically，soughtsuddenrefugebehindtheheavyfoldsofthevelvetwindowcurtains。Alonzoenteredandflewtothetelephone。Saidhe:
　　"Rosannah，dear，shallwesingsomethingtogether？"
　　"Somethingmodern？"askedshe，withsarcasticbitterness。
　　"Yes，ifyouprefer。"
　　"Singityourself，ifyoulike!"
　　Thissnappishnessamazedandwoundedtheyoungman。Hesaid:
　　"Rosarmah，thatwasnotlikeyou。"
　　"Isupposeitbecomesmeasmuchasyourverypolitespeechbecameyou，Mr。FitzClarence。"
　　"MisterFitzClarence!Rosannah，therewasnothingimpoliteaboutmyspeech。"
　　"Oh，indeed!Ofcourse，then，Imisunderstoodyou，andImosthumblybegyourpardon，ha-ha-ha!Nodoubtyousaid，'Don'tsingitanymoreto-day。'"
　　"Singwhatanymoreto-day？"
　　"Thesongyoumentioned，ofcourse，Howveryobtuseweare，allofasudden!"
　　"Inevermentionedanysong。"
　　"Oh，youdidn't？"
　　"No，Ididn't!"
　　"Iamcompelledtoremarkthatyoudid。"
　　"AndIamobligedtoreiteratethatIdidn't。"
　　"Asecondrudeness!Thatissufficient，sir。Iwillneverforgiveyou。
　　Allisoverbetweenus。"
　　Thencameamuffledsoundofcrying。Alonzohastenedtosay:
　　"Oh，Rosannah，unsaythosewords!Thereissomedreadfulmysteryhere，somehideousmistake。IamutterlyearnestandsincerewhenIsayI
　　neversaidanythingaboutanysong。Iwouldnothurtyouforthewholeworld……Rosannah，dearspeaktome，won'tyou？"
　　Therewasapause；thenAlonzoheardthegirl'ssobbingsretreating，andknewshehadgonefromthetelephone。Herosewithaheavysigh，andhastenedfromtheroom，sayingtohimself，"Iwillransackthecharitymissionsandthehauntsofthepoorformymother。ShewillpersuadeherthatInevermeanttowoundher。"
　　AminutelatertheReverendwascrouchingoverthetelephonelikeacatthatknoweththewaysoftheprey。Hehadnotverymanyminutestowait。