Hesentoutwordbyhisoffice—boythathewouldliketoseeMr。Coreyforafewminutesafterclosing。
　　Thetype—writergirlhadlingeredtoo，asifshewishedtospeakwithhim，andCoreystoodinabeyanceasshewenttowardLapham’sdoor。
　　"Can’tseeyouto—night，Zerrilla，"hesaidbluffly，butnotunkindly。"PerhapsI’llcallatthehouse，ifit’simportant。"
　　"Itis，"saidthegirl，withaspoiledairofinsistence。
　　"Well，"saidLapham，and，noddingtoCoreytoenter，heclosedthedooruponher。Thenheturnedtotheyoung，mananddemanded："WasIdrunklastnight？"
　　XV。
　　LAPHAM’Sstrenuousfacewasbrokenupwiththeemotionsthathadforcedhimtothisquestion：shame，fearofthethingsthatmusthavebeenthoughtofhim，mixedwithafainthopethathemightbemistaken，whichdiedoutattheshockedandpityinglookinCorey’seyes。
　　"WasIdrunk？"herepeated。"Iaskyou，becauseIwasnevertouchedbydrinkinmylifebefore，andIdon’tknow。"
　　Hestoodwithhishugehandstremblingonthebackofhischair，andhisdrylipsapart，ashestaredatCorey。
　　"Thatiswhateveryoneunderstood，ColonelLapham，"
　　saidtheyoungman。"Everyonesawhowitwas。
　　Don’t————"
　　"DidtheytalkitoverafterIleft？"askedLaphamvulgarly。
　　"Excuseme，"saidCorey，blushing，"myfatherdoesn’ttalkhisguestsoverwithoneanother。"Headded，withyouthfulsuperfluity，"Youwereamonggentlemen。"
　　"Iwastheonlyonethatwasn’tagentlemanthere！"
　　lamentedLapham。"Idisgracedyou！Idisgracedmyfamily！I
　　mortifiedyourfatherbeforehisfriends！"Hisheaddropped。
　　"IshowedthatIwasn’tfittogowithyou。I’mnotfitforanydecentplace。WhatdidIsay？WhatdidIdo？"
　　heasked，suddenlyliftinghisheadandconfrontingCorey。
　　"Outwithit！Ifyoucouldbeartoseeitandhearit，Ihadoughttobeartoknowit！"
　　"Therewasnothing——reallynothing，"saidCorey。
　　"Beyondthefactthatyouwerenotquiteyourself，therewasnothingwhatever。MyfatherDIDspeakofittome，"heconfessed，"whenwewerealone。Hesaidthathewasafraidwehadnotbeenthoughtfulofyou，ifyouwereinthehabitoftakingonlywater；ItoldhimIhadnotseenwineatyourtable。Theotherssaidnothingaboutyou。"
　　"Ah，butwhatdidtheythink？"
　　"Probablywhatwedid：thatitwaspurelyamisfortune——
　　anaccident。"
　　"Iwasn’tfittobethere，"persistedLapham。"Doyouwanttoleave？"heasked，withsavageabruptness。
　　"Leave？"falteredtheyoungman。
　　"Yes；quitthebusiness？Cutthewholeconnection？"
　　"Ihaven’ttheremotestideaofit！"criedCoreyinamazement。
　　"WhyintheworldshouldI？""Becauseyou’reagentleman，andI’mnot，anditain’trightIshouldbeoveryou。
　　Ifyouwanttogo，Iknowsomepartiesthatwouldbegladtogetyou。Iwillgiveyouupifyouwanttogobeforeanythingworsehappens，andIshan’tblameyou。
　　IcanhelpyoutosomethingbetterthanIcanofferyouhere，andIwill。"
　　"There’snoquestionofmygoing，unlessyouwishit，"
　　saidCorey。"Ifyoudo————"
　　"Willyoutellyourfather，"interruptedLapham，"thatIhadanotionallthetimethatIwasactingthedrunkenblackguard，andthatI’vesufferedforitallday？WillyoutellhimIdon’twanthimtonoticemeifweevermeet，andthatIknowI’mnotfittoassociatewithgentlemeninanythingbutabusinessway，ifIamthat？"
　　"CertainlyIshalldonothingofthekind，"retortedCorey。
　　"Ican’tlistentoyouanylonger。Whatyousayisshockingtome——shockinginawayyoucan’tthink。"
　　"Why，man！"exclaimedLapham，withastonishment；"ifI
　　canstandit，YOUcan！"
　　"No，"saidCorey，withasicklook，"thatdoesn’tfollow。
　　Youmaydenounceyourself，ifyouwill；butIhavemyreasonsforrefusingtohearyou——myreasonswhyICAN’Thearyou。
　　IfyousayanotherwordImustgoaway。"
　　"Idon’tunderstandyou，"falteredLapham，inbewilderment，whichabsorbedevenhisshame。
　　"Youexaggeratetheeffectofwhathashappened，"
　　saidtheyoungman。"It’senough，morethanenough，foryoutohavementionedthemattertome，andIthinkit’sunbecominginmetohearyou。"
　　Hemadeamovementtowardthedoor，butLaphamstoppedhimwiththetragichumilityofhisappeal。"Don’tgoyet！Ican’tletyou。I’vedisgustedyou，——Iseethat；
　　butIdidn’tmeanto。I——Itakeitback。"
　　"Oh，there’snothingtotakeback，"saidCorey，witharepressedshudderfortheabasementwhichhehadseen。
　　"Butletussaynomoreaboutit——thinknomore。
　　Therewasn’toneofthegentlemenpresentlastnightwhodidn’tunderstandthematterpreciselyasmyfatherandIdid，andthatfactmustenditbetweenustwo。"
　　Hewentoutintothelargerofficebeyond，leavingLaphamhelplesstopreventhisgoing。IthadbecomeavitalnecessitywithhimtothinkthebestofLapham，buthismindwasinawhirlofwhateverthoughtsweremostinjurious。
　　Hethoughtofhimthenightbeforeinthecompanyofthoseladiesandgentlemen，andhequiveredinresentmentofhisvulgar，braggart，uncouthnature。Herecognisedhisownallegiancetotheexclusivenesstowhichhewasbornandbred，asamanperceiveshisdutytohiscountrywhenherrightsareinvaded。Hiseyefellontheportergoingaboutinhisshirt—sleevestomaketheplacefastforthenight，andhesaidtohimselfthatDenniswasnotmoreplebeianthanhismaster；thatthegrossappetites，thebluntsense，thepurblindambition，thestupidarrogancewerethesameinboth，andthedifferencewasinabrutewillthatprobablylefttheporterthegentlermanofthetwo。
　　TheveryinnocenceofLapham’slifeinthedirectioninwhichhehaderredwroughtagainsthimintheyoungman’smood：itcontainedtheinsultofclownishinexperience。
　　Amidstthestingsandflashesofhiswoundedpride，allthesocialtraditions，allthehabitsoffeeling，whichhehadsilencedmoreandmorebyforceofwillduringthepastmonths，assertedtheirnaturalsway，andheriotedinhiscontemptoftheoffensiveboor，whowasevenmoreoffensiveinhisshamethaninhistrespass。
　　HesaidtohimselfthathewasaCorey，asifthatweresomewhat；yetheknewthatatthebottomofhisheartallthetimewasthatwhichmustcontrolhimatlast，andwhichseemedsweetlytobesufferinghisrebellion，secureofhissubmissionintheend。Itwasalmostwiththegirl’svoicethatitseemedtopleadwithhim，toundoinhim，effectbyeffect，theworkofhisindignantresentment，tosetallthingsinanotherandfairerlight，togivehimhopes，tosuggestpalliations，toprotestagainstinjustices。ItWASinLapham’sfavourthathewassoguiltlessinthepast，andnowCoreyaskedhimselfifitwerethefirsttimehecouldhavewishedaguestathisfather’stabletohavetakenlesswine；
　　whetherLaphamwasnotrathertobehonouredfornotknowinghowtocontainhisfollywhereaveterantransgressormighthaveheldhistongue。Heaskedhimself，withathrillofsuddenremorse，whether，whenLaphamhumbledhimselfinthedustsoshockingly，hehadshownhimthesympathytowhichsuchABANDONhadtheright；andhehadtoownthathehadmethimonthegentlemanlyground，sparinghimselfandassertingthesuperiorityofhissort，andnotrecognisingthatLapham’shumiliationcamefromthesenseofwrong，whichhehadhelpedtoaccumulateuponhimbysuperfinelystandingaloofandrefusingtotouchhim。
　　Heshuthisdeskandhurriedoutintotheearlynight，nottogoanywhere，buttowalkupanddown，totrytofindhiswayoutofthechaos，whichnowseemedruin，andnowthematerialsoutofwhichfineactionsandahappylifemightbeshaped。ThreehourslaterhestoodatLapham’sdoor。
　　Attimeswhathenowwishedtodohadseemedforeverimpossible，andagainithadseemedasifhecouldnotwaitamomentlonger。
　　Hehadnotbeencareless，butverymindfulofwhatheknewmustbethefeelingsofhisownfamilyinregardtotheLaphams，andhehadnotconcealedfromhimselfthathisfamilyhadgreatreasonandjusticeontheirsideinnotwishinghimtoalienatehimselffromtheircommonlifeandassociations。Themostthathecouldurgetohimselfwasthattheyhadnotallthereasonandjustice；
　　buthehadhesitatedanddelayedbecausetheyhadsomuch。
　　Oftenhecouldnotmakeitappearrightthatheshouldmerelypleasehimselfinwhatchieflyconcernedhimself。
　　HeperceivedhowfarapartinalltheirexperiencesandidealstheLaphamgirlsandhissisterswere；howdifferentMrs。Laphamwasfromhismother；howgrotesquelyunlikewerehisfatherandLapham；andthedisparityhadnotalwaysamusedhim。
　　Hehadoftentakenitveryseriously，andsometimeshesaidthathemustforegothehopeonwhichhisheartwasset。
　　Therehadbeenmanytimesinthepastmonthswhenhehadsaidthathemustgonofurther，andasoftenashehadtakenthisstandhehadyieldedit，uponthisorthatexcuse，whichhewasawareoftrumpingup。Itwaspartofthecomplicationthatheshouldheunconsciousoftheinjuryhemightbedoingtosomeonebesideshisfamilyandhimself；
　　thiswasthedefectofhisdiffidence；andithadcometohiminapangforthefirsttimewhenhismothersaidthatshewouldnothavetheLaphamsthinkshewishedtomakemoreoftheacquaintancethanhedid；andthenithadcometoolate。Sincethathehadsufferedquiteasmuchfromthefearthatitmightnotbeasthatitmightbeso；andnow，inthemood，romanticandexalted，inwhichhefoundhimselfconcerningLapham，hewasasfarasmightbefromvainconfidence。Heendedthequestioninhisownmindbyaffirmingtohimselfthathewasthere，firstofall，toseeLaphamandgivehimanultimateproofofhisownperfectfaithandunabatedrespect，andtoofferhimwhatreparationthisinvolvedforthatwantofsympathy——ofhumanity——whichhehadshown。
　　XVI。
　　THENovaScotiasecond—girlwhoansweredCorey’sringsaidthatLaphamhadnotcomehomeyet。
　　"Oh，"saidtheyoungman，hesitatingontheouterstep。
　　"Iguessyoubettercomein，"saidthegirl，"I’llgoandseewhenthey’reexpectinghim。"
　　Coreywasinthemoodtobeswayedbyanychance。
　　Heobeyedthesuggestionofthesecond—girl’spatronisingfriendliness，andlethershuthimintothedrawing—room，whileshewentupstairstoannouncehimtoPenelope。
　　"Didyoutellhimfatherwasn’tathome？"
　　"Yes。Heseemedsokindofdisappointed，Itoldhimtocomein，andI’dseewhenheWOULDbein，"saidthegirl，withthehumaninterestwhichsometimesreplacesintheAmericandomestictheserviledeferenceofothercountries。
　　AgleamofamusementpassedoverPenelope’sface，assheglancedatherselfintheglass。"Well，"shecriedfinally，droppingfromhershouldersthelightshawlinwhichshehadbeenhuddledoverabookwhenCoreyrang，"Iwillgodown。"
　　"Allright，"saidthegirl，andPenelopebeganhastilytoamendthedisarrayofherhair，whichshetumbledintoamassonthetopofherlittlehead，settingoffthepaledarkofhercomplexionwithaflashofcrimsonribbonatherthroat。Shemovedacrossthecarpetonceortwicewiththequaintgracethatbelongedtohersmallfigure，madeadissatisfiedgrimaceatitintheglass，caughtahandkerchiefoutofadrawerandsliditintoherpocket，andthendescendedtoCorey。
　　TheLaphamdrawing—roominNankeenSquarewasintheparti—colouredpaintwhichtheColonelhadhopedtorepeatinhisnewhouse：thetrimofthedoorsandwindowswasinlightgreenandthepanelsinsalmon；thewallswereaplaintintofFrenchgreypaper，dividedbygiltmouldingsintobroadpanelswithawidestripeofredvelvetpaperrunningupthecorners；thechandelierwasofmassiveimitationbronze；themirroroverthemantelrestedonafringedmantel—coverofgreenreps，andheavycurtainsofthatstuffhungfromgiltlambrequinframesatthewindow；thecarpetwasofasmallpatternincrudegreen，which，atthetimeMrs。Laphamboughtit，coveredhalfthenewfloorsinBoston。Inthepanelledspacesonthewallsweresomestone—colouredlandscapes，representingthemountainsandcanyonsoftheWest，whichtheColonelandhiswifehadvisitedononeoftheearlyofficialrailroadexcursions。InfrontofthelongwindowslookingintotheSquarewerestatues，kneelingfigureswhichturnedtheirbacksuponthecompanywithin—doors，andrepresentedallegoriesofFaithandPrayertopeoplewithout。Awhitemarblegroupofseveralfigures，expressinganItalianconceptionofLincolnFreeingtheSlaves，——aLatinnegroandhiswife，——withourEagleflappinghiswingsinapproval，atLincoln’sfeet，occupiedonecorner，andbalancedthewhat—notofanearlierperiodinanother。Thesephantasmsaddedtheirchilltothatimpartedbythetoneofthewalls，thelandscapes，andthecarpets，andcontributedtotheviolenceofthecontrastwhenthechandelierwaslightedupfullglare，andtheheatofthewholefurnacewelledupfromtheregistersintothequiveringatmosphereononeoftherareoccasionswhentheLaphamsinvitedcompany。
　　Coreyhadnotbeeninthisroombefore；thefamilyhadalwaysreceivedhiminwhattheycalledthesitting—room。
　　Penelopelookedintothisfirst，andthenshelookedintotheparlour，withasmilethatbrokeintoalaughasshediscoveredhimstandingunderthesingleburnerwhichthesecond—girlhadlightedforhiminthechandelier。
　　"Idon’tunderstandhowyoucametobeputinthere，"
　　shesaid，assheledthewaytothecozierplace，"unlessitwasbecauseAlicethoughtyouwereonlyhereonprobation，anyway。Fatherhasn’tgothomeyet，butI’mexpectinghimeverymoment；Idon’tknowwhat’skeepinghim。DidthegirltellyouthatmotherandIrenewereout？"
　　"No，shedidn’tsay。It’sverygoodofyoutoseeme。"
　　Shehadnotseentheexaltationwhichhehadbeenfeeling，heperceivedwithhalfasigh；itmustallbeuponthislowerlevel；perhapsitwasbestso。"TherewassomethingIwishedtosaytoyourfather————Ihope，"hebrokeoff，"you’rebetterto—night。"
　　"Ohyes，thankyou，"saidPenelope，rememberingthatshehadnotbeenwellenoughtogotodinnerthenightbefore。
　　"Weallmissedyouverymuch。"
　　"Oh，thankyou！I’mafraidyouwouldn’thavemissedmeifIhadbeenthere。"
　　"Ohyes，weshould，"saidCorey，"Iassureyou。"
　　Theylookedateachother。
　　"IreallythinkIbelievedIwassayingsomething，"
　　saidthegirl。
　　"AndsodidI，"repliedtheyoungman。Theylaughedratherwildly，andthentheybothbecamerathergrave。
　　Hetookthechairshegavehim，andlookedacrossather，whereshesatontheothersideofthehearth，inachairlowerthanhis，withherhandsdroppedinherlap，andthebackofherheadonhershouldersasshelookedupathim。
　　Thesoft—coalfireinthegratepurredandflickered；
　　thedrop—lightcastamellowradianceonherface。
　　Shelethereyesfall，andthenliftedthemforanirrelevantglanceattheclockonthemantel。
　　"MotherandIrenehavegonetotheSpanishStudents’concert。"
　　"Oh，havethey？"askedCorey；andheputhishat，whichhehadbeenholdinginhishand，onthefloorbesidehischair。
　　Shelookeddownatitfornoreason，andthenlookedupathisfacefornoother，andturnedalittlered。
　　Coreyturnedalittleredhimself。Shewhohadalwaysbeensoeasywithhimnowbecamealittleconstrained。
　　"Doyouknowhowwarmitisout—of—doors？"heasked。
　　"No，isitwarm？Ihaven’tbeenoutallday。"
　　"It’slikeasummernight。"
　　Sheturnedherfacetowardsthefire，andthenstartedabruptly。"Perhapsit’stoowarmforyouhere？"
　　"Ohno，it’sverycomfortable。"
　　"Isupposeit’sthecoldofthelastfewdaysthat’sstillinthehouse。Iwasreadingwithashawlonwhenyoucame。"
　　"Iinterruptedyou。"
　　"Ohno。Ihadfinishedthebook。Iwasjustlookingoveritagain。"
　　"Doyouliketoreadbooksover？"
　　"Yes；booksthatIlikeatall。"
　　"Thatwasit？"askedCorey。
　　Thegirlhesitated。"Ithasratherasentimentalname。
　　Didyoueverreadit？——Tears，IdleTears。"
　　"Ohyes；theyweretalkingofthatlastnight；it’safamousbookwithladies。Theybreaktheirheartsoverit。
　　Diditmakeyoucry？"
　　"Oh，it’sprettyeasytocryoverabook，"saidPenelope，laughing；"andthatoneisverynaturaltillyoucometothemainpoint。Thenthenaturalnessofalltherestmakesthatseemnaturaltoo；butIguessit’sratherforced。"
　　"Hergivinghimuptotheotherone？"
　　"Yes；simplybecauseshehappenedtoknowthattheotheronehadcaredforhimfirst。Whyshouldshehavedoneit？Whatrighthadshe？"
　　"Idon’tknow。Isupposethattheself—sacrifice————"
　　"ButitWASN’Tself—sacrifice——ornotself—sacrificealone。
　　Shewassacrificinghimtoo；andforsomeonewhocouldn’tappreciatehimhalfasmuchasshecould。
　　I’mprovokedwithmyselfwhenIthinkhowIcriedoverthatbook——forIdidcry。It’ssilly——it’swickedforanyonetodowhatthatgirldid。Whycan’ttheyletpeoplehaveachancetobehavereasonablyinstories？"
　　"Perhapstheycouldn’tmakeitsoattractive，"
　　suggestedCorey，withasmile。
　　"Itwouldbenovel，atanyrate，"saidthegirl。
　　"Butsoitwouldinreallife，Isuppose，"sheadded。
　　"Idon’tknow。Whyshouldn’tpeopleinlovebehavesensibly？"
　　"That’saveryseriousquestion，"saidPenelopegravely。
　　"Icouldn’tanswerit，"andshelefthimtheembarrassmentofsupportinganinquirywhichshehadcertainlyinstigatedherself。Sheseemedtohavefinallyrecoveredherowneaseindoingthis。"Doyouadmireourautumnaldisplay，Mr。Corey？"
　　"Yourdisplay？"
　　"ThetreesintheSquare。WEthinkit’squiteequaltoanopeningatJordan&Marsh’s。"
　　"Ah，I’mafraidyouwouldn’tletmebeseriousevenaboutyourmaples。"
　　"Ohyes，Ishould——ifyouliketobeserious。"
　　"Don’tyou？"
　　"Wellnotaboutseriousmatters。That’sthereasonthatbookmademecry。"
　　"Youmakefunofeverything。MissIrenewastellingmelastnightaboutyou。"
　　"Thenit’snouseformetodenyitsosoon。ImustgiveIreneatalkingto。"
　　"Ihopeyouwon’tforbidhertotalkaboutyou！"
　　Shehadtakenupafanfromthetable，andheldit，nowbetweenherfaceandthefire，andnowbetweenherfaceandhim。Herlittlevisage，withthatarch，lazylookinit，toppedbyitsmassofduskyhair，anddwindlingfromthefullcheekstothesmallchin，hadaJapaneseeffectinthesubduedlight，andithadthecharmwhichcomestoanywomanwithhappiness。
　　Itwouldbehardtosayhowmuchofthissheperceivedthathefelt。Theytalkedaboutotherthingsawhile，andthenshecamebacktowhathehadsaid。Sheglancedathimobliquelyroundherfan，andstoppedmovingit。
　　"DoesIrenetalkaboutme？"sheasked。"Ithinkso——yes。
　　Perhapsit’sonlyIwhotalkaboutyou。Youmustblamemeifit’swrong，"hereturned。
　　"Oh，Ididn’tsayitwaswrong，"shereplied。"ButI
　　hopeifyousaidanythingverybadofmeyou’llletmeknowwhatitwas，sothatIcanreform————"
　　"No，don’tchange，please！"criedtheyoungman。
　　Penelopecaughtherbreath，butwentonresolutely，——
　　"orrebukeyouforspeakingevilofdignities。"
　　Shelookeddownatthefan，nowflatinherlap，andtriedtogovernherhead，butittrembled，andsheremainedlookingdown。Againtheyletthetalkstray，andthenitwashewhobroughtitbacktothemselves，asifithadnotleftthem。
　　"IhavetotalkOFyou，"saidCorey，"becauseIgettotalkTOyousoseldom。"
　　"YoumeanthatIdoallthetalkingwhenwe’re——together？"
　　Sheglancedsidewiseathim；butshereddenedafterspeakingthelastword。
　　"We’resoseldomtogether，"hepursued。
　　"Idon’tknowwhatyoumean————"
　　"SometimesI’vethought——I’vebeenafraidthatyouavoidedme。"
　　"Avoidedyou？"
　　"Yes！Triednottobealonewithme。"
　　Shemighthavetoldhimthattherewasnoreasonwhysheshouldbealonewithhim，andthatitwasverystrangeheshouldmakethiscomplaintofher。Butshedidnot。
　　Shekeptlookingdownatthefan，andthensheliftedherburningfaceandlookedattheclockagain。
　　"MotherandIrenewillbesorrytomissyou，"shegasped。
　　Heinstantlyroseandcametowardsher。Sherosetoo，andmechanicallyputoutherhand。Hetookitasiftosaygood—night。"Ididn’tmeantosendyouaway，"
　　shebesoughthim。
　　"Oh，I’mnotgoing，"heansweredsimply。"Iwantedtosay——tosaythatit’sIwhomakehertalkaboutyou。
　　TosayI————ThereissomethingIwanttosaytoyou；
　　I’vesaiditsooftentomyselfthatIfeelasifyoumustknowit。"Shestoodquitestill，lettinghimkeepherhand，andquestioninghisfacewithabewilderedgaze。"YouMUST
　　know——shemusthavetoldyou——shemusthaveguessed————"
　　Penelopeturnedwhite，butoutwardlyquelledthepanicthatsentthebloodtoherheart。"I——Ididn’texpect——I
　　hopedtohaveseenyourfather——butImustspeaknow，whatever————Iloveyou！"
　　Shefreedherhandfrombothofthosehehadcloseduponit，andwentbackfromhimacrosstheroomwithasinuousspring。
　　"ME！"Whateverpotentialcomplicityhadlurkedinherheart，hiswordsbroughtheronlyimmeasurabledismay。
　　Hecametowardsheragain。"Yes，you。Whoelse？"
　　Shefendedhimoffwithanimploringgesture。
　　"Ithought——I——itwas————"
　　Sheshutherlipstight，andstoodlookingathimwhereheremainedinsilentamaze。Thenherwordscameagain，shudderingly。"Oh，whathaveyoudone？"
　　"Uponmysoul，"hesaid，withavaguesmile，"Idon’tknow。
　　Ihopenoharm？"
　　"Oh，don’tlaugh！"shecried，laughinghystericallyherself。
　　"Unlessyouwantmetothinkyouthegreatestwretchintheworld！"
　　"I？"heresponded。"Forheaven’ssaketellmewhatyoumean！"
　　"YouknowIcan’ttellyou。Canyousay——canyouputyourhandonyourheartandsaythat——you——sayyounevermeant——thatyoumeantme——allalong？"
　　"Yes！——yes！Whoelse？Icameheretoseeyourfather，andtotellhimthatIwishedtotellyouthis——toaskhim————Butwhatdoesitmatter？Youmusthaveknownit——youmusthaveseen——andit’sforyoutoanswerme。
　　I’vebeenabrupt，Iknow，andI’vestartledyou；butifyouloveme，youcanforgivethattomylovingyousolongbeforeIspoke。"
　　Shegazedathimwithpartedlips。
　　"Oh，mercy！WhatshallIdo？Ifit’strue——whatyousay——youmustgo！"shesaid。"Andyoumustnevercomeanymore。
　　Doyoupromisethat？"
　　"Certainlynot，"saidtheyoungman。"WhyshouldI
　　promisesuchathing——soabominablywrong？Icouldobeyifyoudidn’tloveme————"
　　"Oh，Idon’t！IndeedIdon’t！Nowwillyouobey。"
　　"No。Idon’tbelieveyou。""Oh！"
　　Hepossessedhimselfofherhandagain。
　　"Mylove——mydearest！Whatisthistrouble，thatyoucan’ttellit？Itcan’tbeanythingaboutyourself。
　　Ifitisanythingaboutanyoneelse，itwouldn’tmaketheleastdifferenceintheworld，nomatterwhatitwas。
　　IwouldbeonlytoogladtoshowbyanyactordeedIcouldthatnothingcouldchangemetowardsyou。"
　　"Oh，youdon’tunderstand！"
　　"No，Idon’t。Youmusttellme。"
　　"Iwillneverdothat。"