Alanhadtolooktwiceatthepainter。"Ohyes。Mr。Durgin，here——
　　tellingmeabouthisplaceinthemountains。Saysyou’vebeenthere。
　　Going——goingmyselfinthesummer。Seehis——horses。"Hemadepausesbetweenhiswordsassomepeopledowhenthey，trytokeepfromstammering。
　　WestoverbelievedLyndeunderstoodJefftobeacountrygentlemanofsportingtastes，andhewouldnotletthatpass。"Yes，it’sthepleasantestlittlehotelinthemountains。"
　　"Strictly—temperance，Isuppose？"saidAlan，tryingtosmilewithlipsthatobeyedhimstiffly。HeappearednottocarewhoorwhatJeffwas；
　　thechampagnehadwashedawayalldifferencebetweenthem。HewentontosaythathehadheardofJeff’sintentionofrunningthehotelhimselfwhenhegotoutofHarvard。Heheldittobedamnedgoodstuff。
　　Jefflaughed。"Yoursisterwouldn’tbelievemewhenItoldher。"
　　"IthinkIdidn’tmentionMissLynde，"saidAlan，haughtily。
　　Jefffilledhisglass；Alanlookedatit，faltered，andthendrankitoff。Thetalkbeganagainbetweentheyoungmen，butitleftWestoverout，andhehadtogoaway。WhetherJeffwasgettingLyndebeyondhimselffromtheloveofmischief，suchashadpromptedhimtoteaselittlechildreninhisboyhood，orwastryingtoingratiatehimselfwiththeyoungfellowthroughhisweakness，ordoinghimharmoutofmerethoughtlessness，Westovercameawayveryunhappyatwhathehadseen。
　　HisunhappinessconnecteditselfsodistinctlywithLynde’sfamilythathewentandsatdownbesideMissLyndefromanobscureimpulseofcompassion，andtriedtotalkwithher。Itwouldnothavebeensohardifsheweremerelydeaf，forshehadtheskillofdeafpeopleinarrangingtheconversationsothatanoddedyesornowouldbeallthatwasneededtocarryitforward。ButtoWestovershewasterriblydull，andhewasgasping，asinanexhaustedreceiver，whenBessiecameupwithasmileofradiantrecognitionforhisextremity。Shegotridofherpartner，anddevotedherselfatoncetoWestover。"Howgoodofyou！"
　　shesaid，withoutgivinghimthepainofanawkwarddisclaimer。
　　Hecouldcounterinequalsincerityandambiguity，"Howbeautifulofyou。"
　　"Yes，"shesaid，"Iamlookingratherwell，tonight；butdon’tyouthinkeffectivewouldhavebeenabetterword？"Shesmiledacrossherauntathimoutofacloudofpink，fromwhichherthinshouldersandslenderneckemerged，andherarms，glovedtothetop，fellintoherlap；oneofthemseemedtoterminatenaturallyinthefanwhichsensitivelysharedtheinquiescenceofherperson。
　　"Iwillsayeffective，too，ifyouinsist，"saidWestover。"Butatthesametimeyou’rethemostbeautifulpersonhere。"
　　"Howlovelyofyou，evenifyoudon’tmeanit，"shesighed。"Ifgirlscouldhavemoreofthosethingssaidtothem，theywouldbebetter，don’tyouthink？Oratleastfeelbetter。"
　　Westoverlaughed。"Wemightorganizeasociety——theyhavethemfornearlyeverythingnow——forsayingpleasantthingstoyoungladieswithaviewtothemoraleffect。"
　　"Oh，doI"
　　"Butitoughttobedoneconscientiously，andyoucouldn’tgoroundtellingeveryonethatshewasthemostbeautifulgirlintheroom。"
　　"Whynot？She’dbelieveit！"
　　"Yes；buttheeffectonthemembersofthesociety？"
　　"Ohyes；that！Butyoucouldvaryitsoastosaveyourconscience。Youcouldsay，’Howdivinelyyou’relooking！’or’Howangelic！’or’You’retheverypoetryofmotion，’or’Youaregraceitself，’or’Yourgownisaperfectdream，oranylittlecommonplace，andeveryonewouldtakeitforpraiseofherpersonalappearance，andfeelherselfagreatbeauty，justasIdonow，thoughIknowverywellthatI’malloutofdrawing，andjustchicquedtogether。"
　　"Icouldn’tallowanyonebutyoutosaythat，MissBessie；andIonlyletitpassbecauseyousayitsowell。"
　　"Yes；you’realwayssogood！Youwouldn’tcontradictmeevenwhenyouturnedmeoutofyourclass。"
　　"DidIturnyououtofmyclass？"
　　"Notjustinsomanywords，butwhenIsaidIcouldn’tdoanythinginart，youdidn’tinsistthatitwasbecauseIwouldn’t，andofcoursethenIhadtogo。I’veneverforgivenyou，Mr。Westover，never！Dokeepontalkingveryexcitedly；there’samancominguptousthatIdon’twanttothinkIseehim，orhe’llstop。There！He’sveeredoff！Wherewereyou，Mr。Westover？"
　　"Ah，MissBessie，"saidthepainter；delightedatherdrama，"thereisn’tanythingyoucouldn’tdoifyouwould。"
　　"Youmeanparlorentertainments；impersonations；impressions；thatsortofthing？Ihavethoughtofit。Butitwouldbetooeasy。Iwanttotrysomethingdifficult。"
　　"Forinstance。"
　　"Well，beingvery，verygood。Iwantsomethingthatwouldreallytaxmypowers。Ishouldliketobeanexample。ItriedittheothernightjustbeforeIwenttosleep，anditwasfine。Ibecameanexampletoothers。
　　ButwhenIwokeup——Iwentonintheoldway。Iwantsomethinghard，don’tyouknow；butIwantittobeeasy！"
　　Shelaughed，andWestoversaid："Iamgladyou’renotserious。Nooneoughttobeanexampletoothers。Tobeexemplaryisasdangerousastobecomplimentary。
　　"Itcertainlyisn’tsoagreeabletotheobject，"saidthegirl。"Butit’sfineforthesubjectaslongasitlasts。Howmetaphysicalwe’regetting！Theobjectiveandthesubjective。It’squitewhatIshouldexpectoftalkataBostondanceifIwereaNew—Yorker。Haveyouseenanythingofmybrother，withinthelasthourorso，Mr。Westover？"
　　"Yes；Ijustlefthiminthesupper—room。ShallIgogethimforyou？"
　　Whenhehadsaidthis，withthenotionofrescuinghimfromJeff，Westoverwassorry，forhedoubtedifAlanLyndewereanylongerinthestatetobebroughtawayfromthesupper—room，andhewasgladtohaveBessiesay：
　　"No，no。He’lllookusupinthecourseoftheevening——orthemorning。"
　　Ayoungfellowcametoclaimherforadance，andWestoverhadnotthefacetoleaveMissLynde，allthelessbecauseshetoldhimhemustnotthinkofstaying。Hestayedtillthedancewasover，andBessiecamebacktohim。
　　"Whattimeisit，Mr。Westover？Iseemyauntbeginningtonodonherperch。"
　　Westoverlookedathiswatch。"It’stenminutespasttwo。"
　　"Howearly！"sighedthegirl。"I’mtiredofit，aren’tyou？"
　　"Very，"saidWestover。"Iwastiredanhourago。"
　　Bessiesankbackinherchairwithanairofnervouscollapse，anddidnotsayanything。Westoversawherwatchingtheyoungcoupleswhopassedinandoutoftheroomwherethedancingwas，orfoundcornersonsofas，orwindow—seats，orshelteredspacesbesidethedoorsandthechimney—
　　piece，thegirlspantingandthemenleaningforwardtofanthem。Shelookedverytiredofit；andwhenayoungfellowcameupandaskedhertodance，shetoldhimthatshewasprovisionallyengaged。"Comebackandgetme，ifyoucan’tdobetter，"shesaid，andheansweredtherewasnousetryingtodobetter，andsaidhewouldwaittilltheothermanturnedup，ordidn’t，ifshewouldlethim。Hesatdownbesideher，andsomeyoungtalkbeganbetweenthem。
　　InthemidstofitJeffappeared。HelookedatWestoverfirst，andthenapproachedwithanembarrassedface。
　　Bessiegotvividlytoherfeet。"Noapologies，Mr。Durgin，please！Butinjustanothermomentyou’dhavelastyourdance。"
　　WestoversawwhathebelievedachangepassinJeff’slookfromembarrassmenttosurpriseandthentoflatteredintelligence。Hebeamedallover；andhewentawaywithBessietowardtheballroom，andleftWestovertoawhollyunsupportedbeliefthatshehadnotbeenengagedtodancewithJeff。Hewonderedwhatherrecklessmeaningcouldbe，buthehadalwaysthoughtherayoungladysingularlyfittedbynatureandarttotakecareofherself，andwhenhereasoneduponwhatwasinhismindhehadtoownthattherewasnoharminJeff’sdancingwithher。
　　HetookleaveofMissLynde，andwasgoingtogethiscoatandhatforhiswalkhomewhenhewasmysteriouslystoppedinacornerofthestairsbyoneofthecaterer’smenwhomheknew。Itissounnaturaltobeaddressedbyaservantatallunlessheasksyouifyouwillhavesomethingtoeatordrink，thatWestoverwasinamannerpreparedtohavehimsaysomethingstartling。"It’saboutyoungMr。Lynde，sor。We’vegotuminoneoftheroomsup—stairs，butheain’tfittogohomealone，andI’vebeenlookin’forsomebodythatknowsthefamilytohelpgetumintoacar’ge。Hewon’tgoforannyofus，sor。"
　　"Whereishe？"askedWestover，inanguishatbeingunabletorefusetheappeal，butloathingtheofficeputuponhim。
　　"I’llshowyou，sor，"saidthecaterer’sman，andhesprangupthestairsbeforeWestover，withgladalacrity。
　　XXXIII。
　　Inalittleroomatthesideofthatwherethemen’shatsandcoatswerechecked，AlanLyndesatdroopingforwardinanarm—chair，withhisheadfallenonhisbreast。Herousedhimselfattheflashoftheburnerwhichthemanturnedup。"What’sallthis？"hedemanded，haughtily。"Where’sthecarriage？What’sthematter？"
　　"Yourcarriageiswaiting，Lynde，"saidWestover。"I’llseeyoudowntoit，"andhemurmured，hopelessly，tothecaterer’sman："Isthereanybackway？"
　　"There’sthewanwegotumupby。"
　　"Itwilldo，"saidWestover，assimply。
　　ButLyndecalledout，defiantly："Backway；Isha’n’tgodownbackway。
　　Inshulttoguest。Iwish——say——good—nightto——Mrs。Enderby。Whoyou，anyway？Damncaterer’sman？"
　　"I’mWestover，Lynde，"thepainterbegan，buttheyoungfellowbrokeinuponhim，shakinghishandandthentakinghisarm。
　　"Oh，Westover！Allright！I’llgodownbackwaywithyou。Thought——
　　thoughtitwasdamncaterer’sman。No——offence。"
　　"No。It’sallright。"WestovergothisarmunderLynde’selbow，and，withthemangoingbeforeforthemtofalluponjointlyincasetheyshouldstumble，hegothimdownthedarkandtwistingstairsandthroughthebasementhall，whichwasvaguelyhauntedbythedispossessedwomenservantsofthefamily，andsooutuponthepavementofthemoonlightedstreets。
　　"CallMissLynde’scar’ge，"shoutedthecaterer’smantothebarker，andescapedbackintothebasement，leavingWestovertostayhishelplesschargeonthesidewalk。
　　Itseemedapublicationofthewretch’sshamewhenthebarkerbegantofillthenightwithhoarsecriesof，"MissLynde’scarriage；carriageforMissLynde！"Thecriesweretakenupbyacoachmanhereandthereintherankofvehicleswhosevarnishedroofsshoneinthemoonupanddownthestreet。AfteratimethatWestoverofcoursefelttobelongerthanitwas，MissLynde’soldcoachmanwasrousedfromhissleepontheboxandstartedoutoftherank。Hetookinthesituationwiththeeyeofcustom，whenhesawAlansupportedonthesidewalkbyastrangerattheendofthecanopycoveringthepavement。
　　Hesaid，"Oh，ahlright，sor！"andwhenthetwowhite—glovedpolicemenfromeithersideofithelpedWestoverintothecarriagewithLynde，hesetoffataquicktrot。Thepolicemenclappedtheirhandstogether，andsmiledacrossthestripofcarpetthatseparatedthem，andwinksandnodsofintelligencepassedamongthebarkerstothefootmenaboutthecurbandsteps。Therewerenoneofthemsorrytoseeagentlemaninthatstate；someofthemhadperhapsseenAlaninthatstatebefore。
　　Half—wayhomeherousedhimselfandputhishandonthecarriage—doorlatch。"Tellthecoachmandriveusto——the——club。Makenightofit。"
　　"No，no，"saidWestover，tryingtorestrainhim。"We’dbettergorightontoyourhouse。"
　　"Who——who——whoareyou？"demandedAlan。
　　"Westover。"
　　"Ohyes——Westover。ThoughtweleftWestoveratMrs。Enderby’s。Thoughtitwasthatjay——What’shisname？Durgin。He’sawfuljay，butciviltome，andIwantbeciviltohim。You’renot——jay？No？That’sright。
　　Fellowmademesick；butItookhischampagne；andImustshowhimsome——attention。"Hereleasedthedoor—handle，andfellbackagainstthecushionedcarriagewall。"He’sablackguard！"hesaid，sourly。"Not——
　　simplejay—blackguard，too。No——no——businessbringinmysister’sname，hey？You——yousayit’s——Westover？Ohyes，Westover。Oldfriendoffamily。Tellyougoodjoke，Westover——mysister’s。Nomorejaysforme，nomorejagsforyou。That’swhatshesay——justbetweenherandme，youknow；she’salady，Bessis；knowswhentouse——slang。Mark——markofaladyknowwhentouseslang。Prettygood——jaysandjags。Guesswedidn’tcountthistime——eitherofus。"
　　WhenthecarriagepulledupbeforeMissLynde’shouse，Westoveropenedthedoor。"You’reathome，now，Lynde。Come，let’sgetout。"
　　Lyndedidnotstir。HeaskedWestoveragainwhohewas，andwhenhehadmadesureofhim，hesaid，withdignity，Verywell；nowtheymustgettheotherfellow。Westoverentreated；heevenreasoned；Lyndelaybackinthecornerofthecarriage，andseemedasleep。
　　Westoverthoughtofpullinghimupandgettinghimindoorsbymainforce。
　　Heappealedtothecoachmantoknowiftheycouldnotdoittogether。
　　"Why，yousee，Icouldn’tleavemeharsses，sor，"saidthecoachman。
　　"What’shewants，sor？"HebenturbanelydownfromhisboxandlistenedtotheexplanationthatWestovermadehim，standinginthecoldonthecurbstone，withonehandonthecarriagedoor。"Thenit’snouse，sor，"
　　themandecided。"Whig"he’sthatway，ahlhellcouldn’tstirum。Bestgoback，sor，andtrytofindthegentleman。"
　　ThiswasintheendwhatWestoverhadtodo，feelingallthetimethatathingsofranticallyabsurdcouldnotbeawakingact，buthelplesstoescapefromitsperformance。Hethoughtofabandoninghischargeandleavinghim，tohisfatewhenheopenedthecarriagedoorbeforeMrs。
　　Enderby’shouse；butwiththenextthoughtheperceivedthatthiswasonallaccountsimpossible。Hewentin，andbeganhisquestforJeff，sendingvariousserving"menaboutwithvaguedescriptionsofhim，andaskingforhimofdepartingguests，mostlyyoungmenhedidnotknow，butwho，hethought，mightknowJeff。
　　Hehadtotakeoffhisovercoatatlast，andreappearattheball。Thecrowdwasstillgreat，butvisiblylessdensethanithadbeen。Byasuddeninspirationhemadehiswaytothesupper—room，andhefoundJeffthere，fillingaplate，asifhewereabouttocarryitoffsomewhere。
　　HecommandedJeff’sinstantpresenceinthecarriageoutside；hetoldhimofAlan’sdesireforhim。
　　Jeffleanedbackagainstthewallwiththeplateinhishandandlaughedtillithalfslippedfromhishold。Whenhecouldgethisbreath，hesaid："I’llbebackinafewminutes；I’vegottotakethistoMissBessieLynde。ButI’llberightback。"
　　Westoverhardlybelievedhim。Butwhenhegotonhisownthingsagain，Jeffjoinedhiminhishatandovercoat，andtheywentouttogether。
　　Itwasanothercarriagethatstoppedthewaynow，andoncemorethebarkermadethenightringwithwhatWestoverfelthisheartlessandshamelesscriesforMissLynde’scarriage。Afteramaddeningdelay，itlaggeduptothecurbandJeffpulledthedooropen。
　　"Hello！"hesaid。"There’snobodyhere！"
　　"Nobodythere？"criedWestover，andtheyfelluponthecoachmanwithwildquestionandreproach，；thepolicemanhadtotellhimatlastthatthecarriagemustmoveon，tomakewayforothers。
　　Thecoachmanhadnoexplanationtooffer：hedidnotknowhoworwhenMr。
　　Alanhadgotaway。
　　"Butyoucangiveaguesswherehe’sgone？"Jeffsuggested，withapresenceofmindwhichWestovermutelyadmired。
　　"Well，sor，Iknowwherehedobegahn，sometimes，"themanadmitted。
　　"Well，thatwilldo；takemethere，"saidJeff。"YougoinandaccountformetoMissLynde，"heinstructedWestover，acrosshisshoulder。
　　"I’llgethimhomebeforemorning，somehow；andI’llsendthecarriagerightbackfortheladies，now。"
　　WestoverhadtheforethoughttodecidethatMissBessieshouldaskforJeffifshewantedhim，andthissimplifiedmattersverymuch。Sheaskednothingabouthim。AtsightofWestovercominguptoherwhereshesatwithheraunt，shemerelysaid："Why，Mr。Westover！Ithoughtyoutookleaveofthissceneofgayetylongago。"
　　"Didyou？"Westoverreturned，provisionally，andshesavedhimfromthesinofframingsomedeceitinfinalanswerbyhernextquestion。
　　"HaveyouseenanythingofAlanlately？"sheasked，inavoiceinvoluntarilylowered。
　　Westoverrepliedinthesameoctave："Yes；Isawhimgoingagoodwhileago。"
　　"Oh！"saidthegirl。"ThenIthinkmyauntandIhadbettergo，too。"
　　Stillshedidnotgo，andtherewasanintervalinwhichshehadtheairofvaguelywaiting。ToWestover’svision，theyoungpeoplestillpassingtoandfromtheballroomwerelikethepaintedfiguresofapicturequickenedwithsuddenanimation。Therewerescarcelyanyelderstobeseennow，exceptthechaperons，whosatintheirplaceswithironfortitude；Westoverrealizedthathewastheonlymanofhisageleft。
　　Hefeltthatthelightsoughttohavegrowndim，buttheplacewasasbrilliantasever。Awindowhadbeenopenedsomewhere，andthecoldbreathofthenightwasdrawingthroughtheheatedrooms。
　　HewascontenttohaveBessiestayon，thoughhewasalmostdroppingwithsleep，forhewasafraidthatifshewentatonce，thecarriagemightnothavegotback，andthewholeaffairmustsomehowbegivenaway；atlast，ifshewerewaiting，shedecidedtowaitnolonger，andthenWestoverdidnotknowhowtokeepher。Hesawherriseandstoopoverheraunt，puttinghermouthtotheelderlady’sear，andheheardhersaying，"Iamgoinghome，AuntLouisa。"Sheturnedsweetlytohim。"Won’tyouletussetyoudown，Mr。Westover？"
　　"Why，thankyou，IbelieveIpreferwalking。Butdoletmehaveyourcarriagecalled，"andagainhehurriedhimselfintohisovercoatandhat，andrandown—stairs，andthebarkerathirdtimesentforthhislamentablecriesinsummonsofMissLynde’scarriage。
　　Whilehestoodonthecurb—stoneeagerlypeeringupanddownthestreet，heheard，withoutbeingableeithertoenjoyorresentit，oneofthepolicemensayacrosshimtotheother，"Misslyndeseemstobedoin’alivery—stablebusinessto—night。"
　　Almostatthemomentacarriagedroveup，andherecognizedMissLynde’scoachman，whorecognizedhim。
　　"Justgotback，sor，"hewhispered，andaminutelaterBessiecamedaintilyoutoverthecarpetedwaywithheraunt。
　　"Howgoodofyou！"shesaid，and"Good—night，Mr。Westover，"saidMissLynde，withanimplicationinhervoicethatvirtuewaspeculiarlyitsownrewardforthosewhoperformedanygoodofficeforherorhers。
　　Westovershutthemin，thecarriagerolledoff，andhestartedonhishomewardwalkwithalongsighofrelief。
　　XXXIV。
　　Bessieaskedthesleepymanwhoopenedheraunt’sdoorwhetherherbrotherhadcomeinyet，andfoundthathehadnot。Shehelpedherauntoffup—stairswithhermaid，andwhenshecamedownagainshesentthemantobed；shetoldhimshewasgoingtositupandshewouldletherbrotherin。ThecapricesofAlan’slatch—keywereknowntoalltheservants，andthemanunderstoodwhatshe，meant。Hesaidhehadleftalightinthereception—roomandtherewasafirethere；andBessietrippedondownfromthelibraryfloor，whereshehadmethim。Shehadputoffherballdressandhadslippedintothesimplestandeasiestofbreakfastfrocks，whichwasbynomeansplain。Bessiehadnoplainfrocksforanyhouroftheday；herfrocksallexpressedinstuffandstyleandcolor，andthebraveryoftheirflyinglacesandribbons，theaudacityofspiritwithwhichshewasherselfchicquedtogether，asshesaid。Thisoneshehadonnowwassomethingthatbrightenedherdullcomplexion，andbroughtoutthebesteffectofhereyesandmouth，andseemedtheeffluenceofherpersonaldashandgrace。Itmadethemostofher，andshelikeditbeyondallherothernegligeesforitscomplaisance。
　　Shegotabook，andsatdowninalong，lowchairbeforethefireandcrossedherprettyslippersonthewarmhearth。Itwasaquarterafterthreebytheclockonthemantel；butshehadneverfeltmoreeagerlyawake。Thepartyhadnotbeenaltogethertohermind，uptomidnight，butafterthatithadbeenaseriesofrapidandvividemotions，whichcontinuedthemselvesstillinthetumultofhernerves，andseemedtodemandanindefinitesequenceofexperience。Shedidnotknowwhatstateherbrothermightbeinwhenhecamehome；shehadnotseenanythingofhimaftershefirstwentouttosupper；tillthen，though，hehadkepthimselfstraight，asheneedsmust；butshecouldnottellwhathappenedtohimafterward。Shehopedthathewouldcomehomeabletotalk，forshewishedtotalk。Shewishedtotalkaboutherself；andasshehadalreadyhadflatteryenough，shewantedsometruthaboutherself；shewantedAlantosaywhathethoughtofherbehaviorthewholeeveningwiththatjay。Hemusthaveseensomethingofitinthebeginning，andsheshouldtellhimalltherest。Sheshouldtellhimjusthowoftenshehaddancedwiththeman，andhowmanydancesshehadsatoutwithhim；howshehadpretendedoncethatshewasengagedwhenanothermanaskedher，andthendancedwiththejay，towhomshepretendedthathehadengagedherforthedance。Shehadwishedtoseehowhewouldtakeit；forthesamereasonshehadgiventosomeoneelseadancethatwasreallyhis。
　　ShewouldtellAlanhowthejayhadaskedherforthatlastdance，andthennevercomenearheragain。Thatwouldgivehimthewholesituation，andshewouldknowjustwhathethoughtofit。
　　Whatshethoughtofherselfshehardlyknew，ormadebelieveshehardlyknew。Shepridedherselfuponnotbeingaflirt；shemightnotbeverygood，asgoodnesswent，butshewasnotdespicable，andaflirtwasdespicable。Shedidnotcalltheaudacityofherbehaviorwiththejayflirting；heseemedtounderstanditaswellasshe，andtomeetherinherownspirit；shewonderednowwhetherthisjaywasreallymoreinterestingthantheothermenonemet，oronlydifferent；whetherhewasoriginal，likeAlanhimself，ormerelynovel，andwouldsoonweardowntothetiresomenessthatseemedtounderliethemall，andmadeonewishtodosomethingdreadful。Inthejay’spresenceshehadnowishtodoanythingdreadful。Wasitbecausehewasdreadfulenoughforboth，allthetime，withoutdoinganything？ShewouldliketoaskAlanthat，andseehowhewouldtakeit。Nothingseemedtoputthejayout，sofarasshehadtried，andshehadtriedsomeboldimpertinenceswithhim。Hewasveryjollythroughthemall，andattheworstofthemhelaughedandaskedherforthatdance，whichhenevercametoclaim，thoughinthemeantimehebroughthersomebelatedsupper，andwasdevotedtoherandheraunt，inventingservicestodoforthem。Thensuddenlyhewentoffanddidnotreturn，andMr。Westovermysteriouslyreappeared，andgottheircarriage。
　　Sheheardascratchingatthekey—holeoftheoutsidedoor；sheknewitwasAlan’slatch。Shehadlefttheinnerdoorajarthattheremightbenouncertaintyofhearinghim，andsheranoutintothespacebetweenthatandtheouterdoorwherethefumblingandscrapingkepton。
　　"Isthatyou，Alan？"shecalled，softly，andifshehadanydoubtbefore，shehadnonewhensheheardherbrotheroutside，cursinghisluckwithhiskeyasusual。
　　Sheflungthedooropen，andconfrontedhimwithanotherman，whohadhisarmsaroundhimasifhehadcaughthimfromfallingwiththeinwardpullofthedoor。Alangottohisfeetandgrappledwiththeman，andinsistedthatheshouldcomeinandmakeanightofit。
　　BessiesawthatitwasJeff，andtheystoodamoment，lookingateachother。JefftriedtofreehimselfwithanappealtoBessie："Ibegyourpardon，MissLynde。Iwalkedhomewithyourbrother，andIwasjusthelpinghimtogetin——Ididn’tthinkthatyou——"
　　Alansaid，withhismeasureddistinctness："Nobodycareswhatyouthink。
　　Comein，andgetsomethingtocarryyouoverthebridge。Cambridgecarsstoppedrunninglongago。Isayyoushall！"Hebegantoraisehisvoice。Alightflashedinawindowacrosstheway，andasashwaslifted；someonemustbelookingout。