下载辰思小说免费APP
"Justlovely!"Alicesaid，cheerily，andaftershehadarrangedthelatchforWalter，whohadgonetoreturnthelittlecar，shefollowedhermotherupstairsandhummedadance-tuneontheway。
"Oh，I\'msogladyouhadanicetime，"Mrs。Adamssaid，astheyreachedthedoorofherdaughter\'sroomtogether。"YouDESERVED
to，andit\'slovelytothink——"
Butatthis，withoutwarning，Alicethrewherselfintohermother\'sarms，sobbingsoloudlythatinhisroom，closeby，herfather，halfdrowsingthroughthenight，startedtofullwakefulness。
CHAPTERIX
Onamorning，aweekafterthiscollapseoffestalhopes，Mrs。
Adamsandherdaughterwereconcludingathree-days\'disturbance，the"Springhouse-cleaning"——postponeduntilnowbyAdams\'slongillness——andAlice，onherkneesbeforeachestofdrawers，inhermother\'sroom，pausedthoughtfullyafterdustingapacketofletterswrappedinwornmuslin。Shecalledtohermother，whowasscrubbingthefloorofthehallwayjustbeyondtheopendoor，"Theseoldlettersyouhadinthebottomdrawer，weren\'ttheysomepapawroteyoubeforeyouweremarried？"
Mrs。Adamslaughedandsaid，"Yes。Justput\'embackwheretheywere——orelseupintheattic——anywhereyouwantto。"
"DoyoumindifIreadone，mama？"
Mrs。Adamslaughedagain。"Oh，Iguessyoucanifyouwantto。
Iexpectthey\'reprettyfunny!"
Alicelaughedinresponse，andchosethetopmostletterofthepacket。"Mydear，beautifulgirl，"itbegan；andshestaredatthesesingularwords。Theygaveherashocklikethatcausedbyoverhearingsomebewilderingimpropriety；and，havingreadthemovertoherselfseveraltimes，shewentontoexperienceothershocks。
MYDEAR，BEAUTIFULGIRL:
ThistimeyesterdayIhadamightybadcaseofbluesbecauseI
hadnothadawordfromyouintwowholelongdaysandwhenIdonothearfromyoueverydaythingslookmightydowninthemouthtome。NowitisallsodifferentbecauseyourletterhasarrivedandbesidesIhavegotapieceofnewsIbelieveyouwillthinkasfineasIdo。Darling，youwillbesurprised，sogetreadytohearaboutabigeffectonourfuture。Itisthisway。
IhadsortofasuspiciontheheadofthefirmkindoftookafancytomefromthefirstwhenIwentinthere，andlikedthewayIattendedtomyworkandsowhenhetookmeonthisbusinesstripwithhimIfeltprettysureofitandnowitturnsoutIwasaboutright。InreturnIguessIhavegotaboutthebestbossinthisworldandIbelieveyouwillthinksotoo。Yes，sweetheart，afterthetalkIhavejusthadwithhimifJ。A。LambaskedmetocutmyhandoffforhimIguessIwouldcomeprettyneardoingitbecausewhathesaysmeanstheendofourwaitingtobetogether。FromNewYearsonheisgoingtoputmeinentirechargeofthesundriesdept。andwhatdoyouthinkisgoingtobemysalary？Elevenhundredcooldollarsayear($1，100。00)。
That\'sall!Justonlyacoolelevenhundredperannum!Well，I
guessthatwillshowyourmotherwhetherIcantakecareofyouornot。AndohhowIwouldliketoseeyourdear，beautiful，lovingfacewhenyougetthisnews。
IwouldliketogooutonthepublicstreetsandjustdanceandshoutanditisallIcandotohelpdoingit，especiallywhenI
knowwewillbetalkingitallovertogetherthistimenextweek，andohmydarling，nowthatyourfolkshavenoexcuseforputtingitoffanylongerwemightbeinourownlittlehomebeforeXmas。
Wouldyoubeglad？
Well，darling，thissettleseverythingandmakesourfuturejustaboutassmoothforusasanybodycouldask。Icanhardlyrealizeafterallthiswaitinglife\'stroublesareoverforyouandmeandwehavenothingtodobuttoenjoythehappinessgrantedusbythiswonderful，beautifulthingwecalllife。I
knowIamnotanypoetandtheoneItriedtowriteaboutyouthedayofthepicnicwasfearfulbutthewayITHINKaboutyouisapoem。
Writemewhatyouthinkofthenews。Iknowbutwritemeanyhow。
I\'llgetitbeforewestarthomeandIcanbereadingitoverallthetimeonthetram。
YouralwayslovingVIRGIL。
Thesoundofhermother\'sdiligentscrubbinginthehallcamebackslowlytoAlice\'shearing，assherestoredthelettertothepacket，wrappedthepacketinitsmuslincovering，andreturnedittothedrawer。Shehadremaineduponherkneeswhileshereadtheletter；nowshesankbackward，sittinguponthefloorwithherhandsbehindher，anunconsciousrelaxingforbettereasetothink。Uponherfacetherehadfallenalookofwonder。
Forthefirsttimeshewasvaguelyperceivingthatlifeiseverlastingmovement。Youthreallybelieveswhatisrunningwatertobeapermanentcrystallizationandseestimefixedtoapoint:somepeoplehavedarkhair，somepeoplehaveblondhair，somepeoplehavegrayhair。Untilthismoment，Alicehadnoconvictionthattherewasauniversebeforeshecameintoit。
Shehadalwaysthoughtofitasthebackgroundofherself:themoonwassomethingtomakeherprettieronasummernight。
Butthisoldletter，throughwhichshesawstillflickeringanancientstarlightofyounglove，astoundedher。Faintlybeforeheritrevealedthewholelivesofherfatherandmother，whohadbeenyoung，afterall——theyREALLYhad——andtheiryouthwasnowsoutterlypassedfromthemthatthepictureofit，intheletter，waslikeaburlesqueofthem。Andsoshe，herself，mustpasstosuchchanges，too，andallthatnowseemedvitaltoherwouldbenothing。
Whenherworkwasfinished，thatafternoon，shewentintoherfather\'sroom。HisrecoveryhadprogressedwellenoughtopermitthedepartureofMissPerry；andAdams，wearingoneofMrs。
Adams\'swrappersoverhisnight-gown，satinahigh-backedchairbyaclosedwindow。Theweatherwaswarm，buttheclosedwindowandtheflannelwrapperhadnotsufficedhim:roundhisshouldershehadanoldcrochetedscarfofAlice\'s；hislegswerewrappedinaheavycomfort；and，withtheseswathingsabouthim，andhiseyesclosed，histhinandgrizzledheadmakingbutaslightindentationinthepillowsupportingit，helookedoldandlittleandqueer。
Alicewouldhavegoneoutsoftly，butwithoutopeninghiseyes，hespoketoher:"Don\'tgo，dearie。Comesitwiththeoldmanalittlewhile。"
Shebroughtachairnearhis。"Ithoughtyouwerenapping。"
"No。Idon\'thardlyeverdothat。Ijustdriftalittlesometimes。"
"Howdoyoumeanyoudrift，papa？"
Helookedathervaguely。"Oh，Idon\'tknow。Kindofpictures。
Theygetalittlemixedup——oldtimeswithtimesstillahead，likeplanningwhattodo，youknow。That\'sasnearanapasI
get——whenthepicturesmixupsome。Isupposeit\'ssortofdrowsing。"
Shetookoneofhishandsandstrokedit。"Whatdoyoumeanwhenyousayyouhavepictureslike\'planningwhattodo\'？"sheasked。
"ImeanplanningwhattodowhenIgetoutandabletogotoworkagain。"
"Butthatdoesn\'tneedanyplanning，"Alicesaid，quickly。
"You\'regoingbacktoyouroldplaceatLamb\'s，ofcourse。"
Adamsclosedhiseyesagain，sighingheavily，butmadenootherresponse。
"Why，ofCOURSEyouare!"shecried。"Whatareyoutalkingabout？"
Hisheadturnedslowlytowardher，revealingtheeyes，openinahaggardstare。"Iheardyoutheothernightwhenyoucamefromtheparty，"hesaid。"Iknowwhatwasthematter。"
"Indeed，youdon\'t，"sheassuredhim。"Youdon\'tknowanythingaboutit，becausetherewasn\'tanythingthematteratall。"
"Don\'tyousupposeIheardyoucrying？What\'dyoucryforiftherewasn\'tanythingthematter？"
"Justnerves，papa。Itwasn\'tanythingelseintheworld。"
"Nevermind，"hesaid。"Yourmothertoldme。"
"Shepromisedmenotto!"
AtthatAdamslaughedmournfully。"Itwouldn\'tbeverylikelyI\'dhearyousoupsetandnotaskaboutit，evenifshedidn\'tcomeandtellmeonherownhook。Youneedn\'ttrytofoolme；I
tellyouIknowwhatwasthematter。"
"TheonlymatterwasIhadasillyfit，"Aliceprotested。"Itdidmegood，too。"
"How\'sthat？"
"BecauseI\'vedecidedtodosomethingaboutit，papa。"
"Thatisn\'tthewayyourmotherlooksatit，"Adamssaid，ruefully。"Shethinksit\'sourplacetodosomethingaboutit。
Well，Idon\'tknow——Idon\'tknow；everythingseemssochangedthesedays。You\'vealwaysbeenagooddaughter，Alice，andyououghttohaveasmuchasanyofthesegirlsyougowith；she\'sconvincedmeshe\'srightaboutTHAT。Thetroubleis——"Hefaltered，apologetically，thenwenton，"Imeanthequestionis——howtogetitforyou。"
"No!"shecried。"Ihadnobusinesstomakesuchafussjustbecausealotofidiotsdidn\'tbreaktheirneckstogetdanceswithmeandbecauseIgotmortifiedaboutWalter——WalterWAS
prettyterrible——"
"Oh，me，my!"Adamslamented。"Iguessthat\'ssomethingwejusthavetoleaveworkoutitself。Whatyougoingtodowithaboynineteenortwentyyearsoldthatmakeshisownliving？Can\'twhiphim。Can\'tkeephimlockedupinthehouse。Justgottohopehe\'lllearnbetter，Isuppose。"
"Ofcoursehedidn\'twanttogotothePalmers\'，"Aliceexplained，tolerantly——"andasmamaandImadehimtakeme，andhethoughtthatwasprettyselfishinme，why，hefelthehadarighttoamusehimselfanywayhecould。Ofcourseitwasawfulthatthis——thatthisMr。Russellshould——"Inspiteofher，therecollectionchokedher。
"Yes，itwasawful，"Adamsagreed。"Justawful。Oh，me，my!"
ButAlicerecoveredherselfatonce，andshowedhimacheerfulface。"Well，justafewyearsfromnowIprobablywon\'tevenrememberit!Ibelievehardlyanythingamountstoasmuchaswethinkitdoesatthetime。"
"Well——sometimesitdon\'t。"
"WhatI\'vebeenthinking，papa:itseemstomeIoughttoDO
something。"
"Whatlike？"
Shelookeddreamy，butwasobviouslyseriousasshetoldhim:
"Well，ImeanIoughttobesomethingbesidesjustakindofnobody。Ioughtto——"Shepaused。
"What，dearie？"
"Well——there\'sonethingI\'dliketodo。I\'msureICOULDdoit，too。"
"What？"
"Iwanttogoonthestage:IknowIcouldact。"Atthis，herfatherabruptlygaveutterancetoafeeblecacklingoflaughter；
andwhenAlice，surprisedandalittleoffended，pressedhimforhisreason，hetriedtoevade，saying，"Nothing，dearie。Ijustthoughtofsomething。"Butshepersisteduntilhehadtoexplain。
"Itmademethinkofyourmother\'ssister，yourAuntFlora，thatdiedwhenyouwerelittle，"hesaid。"Shewasalwaystellinghowshewasgoingonthestage，andtalkingabouthowshewascertainshe\'dmakeagreatactress，andallsoon；andonedayyourmotherbrokeoutandsaidsheought\'a\'goneonthestage，herself，becauseshealwaysknewshehadthetalentforit——and，well，theygotintokindofaspataboutwhichone\'dmakethebestactress。Ihadtogooutinthehalltolaugh!"
"Maybeyouwerewrong，"Alicesaid，gravely。"Iftheybothfeltit，whywouldn\'tthatlookasiftherewastalentinthefamily？
I\'veALWAYSthought——"
"No，dearie，"hesaid，withafinalchuckle。"YourmotherandFloraweren\'tdifferentfromagoodmanyothers。Iexpectninetypercent。ofallthewomenIeverknewwerejustsurethey\'dbemightyfineactressesiftheyevergotthechance。Well，Iguessit\'sagoodthing；theyenjoythinkingaboutitanditdon\'tdoanybodyanyharm。"
Alicewaspiqued。Forseveraldaysshehadthoughtalmostcontinuouslyofacareertobewonbyherowngenius。Notthatsheplanneddetails，orconcernedherselfwithfirststeps；herpicturingsoverleapedallthat。Principally，shesawhernamegreatonallthebill-boardsofthatunkindcity，andherself，unchangedinagebutglamorouswithfameandParisclothes，returninginaprivatecar。NodoubtthepleasantestdevelopmentofhervisionwasadialoguewithMildred；andthisbecamesorealthat，assheprojectedit，Aliceassumedtheproperexpressionsforbothpartiestoit，formedwordswithherlips，andevenspokesomeofthemaloud。"No，Ihaven\'tforgottenyou，Mrs。Russell。Irememberyouquitepleasantly，infact。YouwereaMissPalmer，Irecall，inthosefunnyolddays。Verykindofyou，I\'mshaw。Iappreciateyoureagernesstodosomethingformeinyourownlittlehome。Asyousay，areceptionWOULD
renewmyacquaintanceshipwithmanyoldfriends——butI\'mshawyouwon\'tmindmymentioningthatIdon\'tfindmuchinspirationintheseprovincials。Ireallymustaskyounottopressme。Anartist\'stimeisnotherown，thoughofcourseIcouldhardlyexpectyoutounderstand——"
ThusAliceilluminatedthedulltime；butsheretiredfromtheinterviewwithherfatherstillmanfullydisplayinganoutwardcheerfulness，whiledepressiongrewheavierwithin，asifshehadeatensoggycake。Herfatherknewnothingwhateverofthestage，andshewasawareofhisignorance，yetforsomereasonhisinnocentlyskepticalamusementreducedherbrightprojectalmosttonothing。Somethinglikethisalwayshappened，itseemed；shewascontinuallymakingtheseilluminations，allgaywithgildingsandcolourings；andthenassoonasanybodyelsesomuchasglancedatthem——evenherfather，wholovedher——theprettydesignswerestrickenwithadesolatingpallor。"IsthisLIFE？"
Alicewondered，notdoubtingthatthequestionwasoriginalandallherown。"Isitlifetospendyourtimeimaginingthingsthataren\'tso，andneverwillbe？Beautifulthingshappentootherpeople；whyshouldIbetheonlyonetheyneverCANhappento？"
Themoodlastedovernight；andwasstilluponherthenextafternoonwhenanerrandforherfathertookherdown-town。
Adamshaddecidedtobeginsmokingagain，andAlicefeltratherdegraded，aswellasembarrassed，whenshewentintothelargeshopherfatherhadnamed，andaskedforthecheaptobaccoheusedinhispipe。Shefellbackuponanairofamusedindulgence，hopingthustosuggestthatherpurchasewasmadeforsomefaithfuloldretainer，nowinfirm；andalthoughthecalmnessoftheclerkwhoservedhercalledfornosuchelaborationofhersketch，sheornamenteditwithalittlelaughandwiththeremark，asshedroppedthepackageintohercoat-pocket，"I\'msureit\'llpleasehim；theytellmeit\'sthekindhelikes。"
StillplayingLadyBountiful，smilingtoherselfinanticipationofthejoyshewasbringingtothesimpleoldnegroorIrishfollowerofthefamily，shelefttheshop；butasshecameoutuponthecrowdedpavementhersmilevanishedquickly。
Nexttothedoorofthetobacco-shop，therewastheopenentrancetoastairway，and，abovethisratherbleakanddarkaperture，asign-boarddisplayedinbegrimedgiltletterstheinformationthatFrincke\'sBusinessCollegeoccupiedtheupperfloorsofthebuilding。Furthermore，Frinckeherepubliclyoffered"personalinstructionandtraininginpracticalmathematics，bookkeeping，andallbranchesofthebusinesslife，includingstenography，typewriting，etc。"
Alicehaltedforamoment，frowningatthissignboardasthoughitweresomethingsurprisinganddistastefulwhichshehadneverseenbefore。Yetitwasconspicuousinabusyquarter；shealmostalwayspasseditwhenshecamedown-town，andneverwithoutnoticingit。Norwasthisthefirsttimeshehadpausedtolifttowarditthatsameglanceofvaguemisgiving。
Thebuildingwasnotwhatthechangefulcitydefinedasamodernone，andthedustywoodenstairway，asseenfromthepavement，disappearedupwardintoasmokydarkness。Sowouldthefootstepsofagirlascendingthereleadtoahideousobscurity，Alicethought；anobscurityasdrearyandaspermanentasdeath。AndlikedryleavesfallingabouthershesawherwintryimaginingsintheMayair:prettygirlsturningintowitheredcreaturesastheyworkedattyping-machines；oldmaids"takingdictation"frommenwithdoublechins；Alicesawoldmaidsofadozendifferentkinds"takingdictation。"Hermind\'seyewascrowdedwiththem，asitalwayswaswhenshepassedthatstairwayentrance；andthoughtheywerealldifferentfromoneanother，allofthemlookedalittlelikeherself。
Shehatedtheplace，andyetsheseldomhurriedbyitoravertedhereyes。Ithadanunpleasantfascinationforher，andamysteriousreproach，whichshedidnotseektofathom。Shewalkedonthoughtfullyto-day；andwhen，atthenextcorner，sheturnedintothestreetthatledtowardhome，shewasgivenasurprise。ArthurRussellcamerapidlyfrombehindher，liftinghishatasshesawhim。
"Areyouwalkingnorth，MissAdams？"heasked。"DoyoumindifI
walkwithyou？"
Shewasnotdelighted，butseemedso。"Howcharming!"shecried，givinghimalittleflourishoftheshapelyhands；andthen，becauseshewonderedifhehadseenhercomingoutofthetobacco-shop，shelaughedandadded，"I\'vejustbeenonthemostridiculouserrand!"
"Whatwasthat？"
"Toordersomecigarsformyfather。He\'sbeenquiteill，poorman，andhe\'ssoparticular——butwhatintheworlddo_I_knowaboutcigars？"
Russelllaughed。"Well，whatDOyouknowabout\'em？Didyouselectbytheprice？"
"Mercy，no!"sheexclaimed，andadded，withanafterthought，"OfcoursehewrotedownthenameofthekindhewantedandIgaveittotheshopman。Icouldneverhavepronouncedit。"
CHAPTERX
Inherpocketasshespokeherhandresteduponthelittlesackoftobacco，whichrespondedaccusinglytothetouchofherrestlessfingers；andshefoundtimetowonderwhyshewasbuildingupthisfictionforMr。ArthurRussell。HisdiscoveryofWalter\'sdeviceforwhilingawaythedulleveninghadshamedanddistressedher；butshewouldhavesufferednolessifalmostanyotherhadbeenthediscoverer。Inthisgentleman，afterhearingthathewasMildred\'sMr。ArthurRussell，Alicefeltnottheslightest"personalinterest"；andtherewasyettodevelopinherlifesuchathingasaninterestnotpersonal。Attwenty-twothisstateofaffairsisnotunique。
SofarasAlicewasconcernedRussellmighthavewornaplacard，"Engaged。"Shelookeduponhimasdinersenteringarestaurantlookupontablesmarked"Reserved":theglance，slightlydiscontented，passesonatonce。Orsotheeyeofaprospectorwandersquerulouslyoverstakedandestablishedclaimsonthemountainside，andseeksthevirginlandbeyond；unless，indeed，theprospectorbedishonest。ButAlicewasnoclaim-jumper——solongasthenoticeofownershipwasplainlyposted。
Thoughshewasindifferentnow，habitruledher:and，attheverytimeshewonderedwhyshecreatedfictitiouscigarsforherfather，shewasalsoregrettingthatshehadnotboldlycarriedherMalaccastickdown-townwithher。Hervivacityincreasedautomatically。
"Perhapstheclerkthoughtyouwantedthecigarsforyourself，"
Russellsuggested。"HemayhavetakenyouforaSpanishcountess。"
"I\'msurehedid!"Aliceagreed，gaily；andshehummedabarortwoof"LaPaloma，"snappingherfingersascastanets，andswayingherbodyalittle，tosuggesttheacceptedstencilofa"SpanishDancer。""Wouldyouhavetakenmeforone，Mr。Russell？"sheasked，assheconcludedtheimpersonation。
"I？Why，yes，"hesaid。"I\'Dtakeyouforanythingyouwantedmeto。"
"Why，whataspeech!"shecried，and，laughing，gavehimaquickglanceinwhichthereglimmeredsomerealsurprise。Hewaslookingatherquizzically，butwiththeliveliestappreciation。
Hersurpriseincreased；andshewasgladthathehadjoinedher。
Tobeseenwalkingwithsuchacompanionaddedtoherpleasure。
Shewouldhavedescribedhimas"altogetherquitestunning-looking"；andshelikedhistall，darkthinness，hisgrayclothes，hissofthat，andhiscleanbrownshoes；shelikedhiseasyswingofthestickhecarried。
"Shouldn\'tIhavesaidit？"heasked。"WouldyourathernotbetakenforaSpanishcountess？"
"Thatisn\'tit，"sheexplained。"Yousaid——"
"IsaidI\'dtakeyouforwhateveryouwantedmeto。Isn\'tthatallright？"
"Itwouldalldepend，wouldn\'tit？"
"Ofcourseitwoulddependonwhatyouwanted。"
"Oh，no!"shelaughed。"Itmightdependonalotofthings。"
"Suchas？"
"Well——"Shehesitated，havingthemischievousimpulsetosay，"SuchasMildred!"Butshedecidedtoomitthisreference，andbecameserious，rememberingRussell\'sservicetoheratMildred\'shouse。"SpeakingofwhatIwanttobetakenfor，"shesaid；——"I\'vebeenwonderingeversincetheothernightwhatyoudidtakemefor!Youmusthavetakenmeforthesisterofaprofessionalgambler，I\'mafraid!"
Russell\'slookofkindnesswasthetruthabouthim，shewastodiscover；andhereassuredhernowbythepromptnessofhisfriendlychuckle。"ThenyouryoungbrothertoldyouwhereI
foundhim，didhe？Ikeptmyfacestraightatthetime，butI
laughedafterward——tomyself。Itstruckmeasoriginal，tosaytheleast:hisamusinghimselfwiththosedarkies。"
"WalterISoriginal，"Alicesaid；and，havingadoptedthisnewviewofherbrother\'seccentricities，sheimpulsivelywentontomakeitmoreplausible。"He\'saveryoddboy，andIwasafraidyou\'dmisunderstand。Hetellswonderful\'darkystories，\'andhe\'lldoanythingtodrawcolouredpeopleoutandmakethemtalk；
andthat\'swhathewasdoingatMildred\'swhenyoufoundhimforme——hesayshewinstheirconfidencebyplayingdicewiththem。
Inthefamilywethinkhe\'llprobablywriteaboutthemsomeday。
He\'sratherliterary。"
"Areyou？"Russellasked，smiling。
"I？Oh——"Shepaused，liftingbothhandsinacharminggestureofhelplessness。"Oh，I\'mjust——me!"
Hisglancefollowedthelightlywavedhandswithkeenapproval，thenrosetothelivelyandcolourfulface，withitshazeleyes，itssmallandprettynose，andthelip-caughtsmilewhichseemedtheclimaxofherdecorativetransition。Neverhadheseenacreaturesoplasticorsowistful。
HerewasacontrasttohiscousinMildred，whowasnotwistful，andcontrolledanyimpulsestowardplasticity，ifshehadthem。
"ByGeorge!"hesaid。"ButyouAREdifferent!"
Withthat，thereleapedinhersuchanimpulseofroguishgallantryasshecouldneverresist。Sheturnedherhead，and，laughingandbright-eyed，lookedhimfullintheface。
"Fromwhom？"shecried。
"From——everybody!"hesaid。"Areyouamind-reader？"
"Why？"
"HowdidyouknowIwasthinkingyouweredifferentfrommycousin，MildredPalmer？"
"WhatmakesyouthinkIDIDknowit？"
"Nonsense!"hesaid。"YouknewwhatIwasthinkingandIknewyouknew。"
"Yes，"shesaidwithcoolhumour。"Howintimatethatseemstomakeusallatonce!"
Russellleftnodoubtthathewasdelightedwiththesegaietiesofhers。"ByGeorge!"heexclaimedagain。"IthoughtyouwerethissortofgirlthefirstmomentIsawyou!"
"Whatsortofgirl？Didn\'tMildredtellyouwhatsortofgirlI
amwhensheaskedyoutodancewithme？"
"Shedidn\'taskmetodancewithyou——I\'dbeenlookingatyou。
Youweretalkingtosomeoldladies，andIaskedMildredwhoyouwere。"
"Oh，soMildredDIDN\'T——"Alicecheckedherself。"WhodidshetellyouIwas？"
"ShejustsaidyouwereaMissAdams，soI——"
"\'A\'MissAdams？"Aliceinterrupted。
"Yes。ThenIsaidI\'dliketomeetyou。"
"Isee。Youthoughtyou\'dsavemefromtheoldladies。"
"No。IthoughtI\'dsavemyselffromsomeofthegirlsMildredwasgettingmetodancewith。TherewasaMissDowling——"
"Poorman!"Alicesaid，gently，andherimpulsivethoughtwasthatMildredhadtakenfewchances，andthatasamatterofself-defensehercarefulnessmighthavebeenwellfounded。ThisMr。ArthurRussellwasamuchmoreresponsivepersonthanonehadsupposed。
"So，Mr。Russell，youdon\'tknowanythingaboutmeexceptwhatyouthoughtwhenyoufirstsawme？"
"Yes，IknowIwasrightwhenIthoughtit。"
"Youhaven\'ttoldmewhatyouthought。"
"IthoughtyouwerelikewhatyouARElike。"
"Notverydefinite，isit？I\'mafraidyoushedmorelightaminuteorsoago，whenyousaidhowdifferentfromMildredyouthoughtIwas。ThatWASdefinite，unfortunately!"
"Ididn\'tsayit，"Russellexplained。"Ithoughtit，andyoureadmymind。That\'sthesortofgirlIthoughtyouwere——onethatcouldreadaman\'smind。Whydoyousay\'unfortunately\'
you\'renotlikeMildred？"
Alice\'ssmoothgestureseemedtosketchMildred。"Becauseshe\'sperfect——why，she\'sPERFECTLYperfect!Shenevermakesamistake，andeverybodylooksuptoher——oh，yes，weallfairlyadoreher!She\'slikesomebig，noble，coldstatue——\'wayabovetherestofus——andshehardlyeverdoesanythingmeanortreacherous。OfallthegirlsIknowIbelieveshe\'splayedthefewestreallypettytricks。She\'s——"
Russellinterrupted；helookedperplexed。"Yousayshe\'sperfectlyperfect，butthatshedoesplaySOME——"
Alicelaughed，asifathissweetinnocence。"Menaresofunny!"
sheinformedhim。"OfcoursegirlsALLdomeanthingssometimes。
Myowncareer\'sjustonelongbrazensmirchof\'em!WhatImeanis，Mildred\'sperfectlyperfectcomparedtotherestofus。
"Isee，"hesaid，andseemedtoneedamomentortwoofthoughtfulness。Thenheinquired，"WhatsortoftreacherousthingsdoYOUdo？"
"I？Oh，theveryworstkind!Mostpeopleboremeparticularlythemeninthistown——andIshowit。"
"ButIshouldn\'tcallthattreacherous，exactly。"
"Well，THEYdo，"Alicelaughed。"It\'smademeaterriblyunpopularcharacter!Idoalotofthingstheyhate。Forinstance，atadanceI\'dalotratherfindsomecleveroldwomanandtalktoherthandancewithnine-tenthsofthesenonentities。
Iusuallydoit，too。"
"Butyoudancedasifyoulikedit。YoudancedbetterthananyothergirlI——"
"Thisflatteryofyoursdoesn\'tquiteturnmyhead，Mr。
Russell，"Aliceinterrupted。"ParticularlysinceMildredonlygaveyouEllaDowlingtocomparewithme!"
"Oh，no，"heinsisted。"Therewereothers——andofcourseMildred，herself。"
"Oh，ofcourse，yes。Iforgotthat。Well——"Shepaused，thenadded，"IcertainlyOUGHTtodancewell。"
"Whyisitsomuchaduty？"
"WhenIthinkofthedancing-teachersandtheexpensetopapa!
Allsortsoffancyinstructors——Isupposethat\'swhatdaughtershavefathersfor，though，isn\'tit？Tothrowmoneyawayonthem？"
"Youdon\'t——"Russellbegan，andhislookwasoneofalarm。
"Youhaven\'ttakenup——"
Sheunderstoodhisapprehensionandrespondedmerrily，"Oh，murder，no!Youmeanyou\'reafraidIbreakoutsometimesinapieceofcheeseclothandrunaroundafountainthirtytimes，andthen，foranencore，showhowmuchlikesnakesIcanmakemyarmslook。"
"ISAIDyouwereamind-reader!"heexclaimed。"That\'sexactlywhatIwaspretendingtobeafraidyoumightdo。"
"\'Pretending？\'That\'snicerofyou。No；it\'snotmymania。"
"Whatis？"
"Oh，nothinginparticularthatIknowofjustnow。OfcourseI\'vehadtheusualone:theonethateverygirlgoesthrough。"
"What\'sthat？"
"Goodheavens，Mr。Russell，youcan\'texpectmetobelieveyou\'rereallyamanoftheworldifyoudon\'tknowthateverygirlhasatimeinherlifewhenshe\'spositiveshe\'sdivinelytalentedforthestage!It\'stheonlyuniversalruleaboutwomenthathasn\'tgotanexception。Idon\'tmeanweallwanttogoonthestage，butweallthinkwe\'dbewonderfulifwedid。EvenMildred。Oh，shewouldn\'tconfessittoyou:you\'dhavetoknowheragreatdealbetterthananymancaneverknowhertofindout。"
"Isee，"hesaid。"Girlsarealwaystellinguswecan\'tknowthem。Iwonderifyou——"
Shetookuphisthoughtbeforeheexpressedit，andagainhewasfascinatedbyherquickness，whichindeedseemedtohimalmosttelepathic。"Oh，butDON\'Tweknowoneanother，though!"shecried。
