第12章

"The21stofJune。"

"Well，he’searlyenoughwithhisinvitation，"shegrumbled。

"Yes，heis，"saidCynthia；andshelaughedforshameandpleasureassheconfessed，"Iwasthinkinghewasratherlate。"

Shehungherheadandturnedherfaceaway。ButMrs。Durginunderstood。

"Yoube’nexpectin’itallalong，then。"

"Iguessso。"

"Ipresume，"saidtheelderwoman，"thathe’stalkedtoyouaboutit。

Henevertellsmemuch。Idon’tseewhyyoushouldwanttogo。What’sitlike？"

"Oh，Idon’tknow。Butit’sthedaythegraduatingclasshavetothemselves，andalltheirfriendscome。"

"Well，Idon’tknowwhyanybodyshouldwanttogo，"saidMrs。Durgin。

"Isha’n’t。Tellhimhewon’twanttoownmewhenheseesme。WhatamI

goin’towear，Ishouldliketoknow？Whatyougoin’towear，Cynthy？"

XXVIII。

Jeff’splaceatHarvardhadbeentoolongfixedamongthejaystoallowthehopeofwhollyretrievinghisconditionnow。Itwastoolateforhimtobechoseninanyofthenicerclubsorsocieties，buthewasnotbeyondthemountingsentimentofcomradery，whichbeginstotellinthelastyearamongcollegemen，andwhichhaditsdueeffectwithhisclass。

Oneofthemen，whohadalwayshadafoibleforhumanity，tookadvantageoftheprevailingmoodinanotherman，andwroughtuponhimtoask，amongthefellowshewasaskingtoateaathisrooms，severalfellowswhoweredistinctlyandalmosttypicallyjay。Theteawasfortheauntofthemanwhogaveit，averyprettywomanfromNewYork，anditwassorichlyqualifiedbyyoungpeopleoffashionfromBostonthattheinfusionofthejayflavorcouldnotspoilit，ifitwouldnotratheraddanagreeablepiquancy。Thiscollegemoodcoincidedthatyearwithabenevolentemotioninthelargerworld，fromwhichfashionwasnotexempt。Societyhadjustbeenstirredbythereadingofacertainbook，whichhadthenaverygreatvogue，andseveralpeoplehadbeendownamongthewretchedattheNorthEnddoinggoodinaconscience—strickenefforttoavertthemillenniumwhichthebookinquestionseemedtothreaten。TheladywhomatronizedtheteawassaidtohavedonemoregoodthanyoucouldimagineattheNorthEnd，andshecaughtatthechancetomeetthecollegejaysinaspiritofChristiancharity。Whenthemanwhowasgoingtogivethetearathersheepishlyconfessedwhatthealtruisticmanhadgothiminfor，shepraisedhimsomuchthathewentawayfeelingliketheheroofaholycause。Shepromisedtheassistanceandsympathyofseveralbravegirls，whowouldnotbeafraidofallthejaysincollege。

Afterall，onlyoneofthejayscame。Notmany，infact，hadbeenasked，andwhenJeffDurginactuallyappeared，itwasnotknownthathewasboththefirstandthelastofhiskind。Theladywhowasmatronizingthetearecognizedhim，withathroeofherquickenedconscience，astheyoungfellowwhomshehadmettwowintersbeforeatthestudioteawhichMr。

WestoverhadgiventothosequeerFlorentinefriendsofhis，andwhomshehadneverthoughtofsince，thoughshehadthenpromisedherselftodosomethingforhim。Shehadthenevengivenhimsomevaguehintsofaprospectivehospitality，andsheconfessedhersinofomissioninaswiftbutgraphicretrospecttooneofherbravegirls，whileJeffstoodblockingoutaspaceforhisstalwartbulkamidthealienelegancejustwithinthedoorway，andthehostwasmakinghiswaytowardhim，withanoutstretchedhandofhardywelcome。

Atanearlierperiodofhisneglectandexclusion，Jeffwouldnothaverespondedtothebelatedoverturewhichhadnowbeenmadehim，fornoreasonthathecoulddivine。Buthehadnothingtolosebyacceptingtheinvitation，andhehadpromisedthealtruisticman，whomheratherliked；

hedidnotdislikethegiveroftheteasomuchassomeothermen，andsohecame。

Thebravegirlwhomthematronwaspreparingtodevotetohimstoodshrinkingwithatrepidationwhichshecouldnotconcealatsightofhisstrangemassiveness，withhisrust—goldhaircomingdowntowardhisthickyellowbrowsandmockingblueeyesinadensebang，andhisjawsquaringitselfundertheratherinsolentsmileofhisfullmouth。Thematronfeltthathervictimteasperhapsgoingtofailher，whenavoiceatherearsaid，asifthequestionwereextorted，"Whointheworldisthat？"

Sheinstantlyturned，andflashedoutinafewinspiredsyllablesthefactshehadjustimpartedtohertreacherousheroine。"Doletmeintroducehim，MissLynde。Imustdosomethingforhim，whenhegetsuptome，ifheeverdoes。"

"Byallmeans，"saidthegirl，whohadanimpulsetolaughattherudeforceofJeff’sfaceandfigure，sodisproportionedtotheoccasion，andsheventeditatthematron’stribulation。Thematronwasshakinghandswithpeoplerightandleft，andexchanginginaudiblebanalitieswiththem。Shedidnotknowwhatthegirlsaidinanswer，butshewasawarethatsheremainednearher。ShehadprofessedherjoyatseeingJeffagain，whenhereachedher，andsheturnedwithhimandsaid，"LetmepresentyoutoMissLynde，Mr。Durgin，"andsoabandonedthemtoeachother。

AsJeffhadnoneoftheanxietyforsocialsuccesswhichhewouldhavefeltatanearlierperiod，henowleftittoMissLyndetobeginthetalk，ornot，asshechose。Heborehimselfwithsomuchindifferencethatshewaspiquedtoanefforttoholdhiseyes，thatwanderedfromhertothisfaceandthatinthecrowd。

"Doyoufindmanypeopleyouknow，Mr。Durgin？"

"Idon’tfindany。"

"Isupposedyoudidn’tfromthewayyoulookedatthem。"

"HowdidIlookatthem？"

"Asifyouwantedtoeatthem，andoneneverwantstoeatone’sfriends。"

"Why？"

"Oh，Idon’tknow。Theywouldn’tagreewithone。"

Jeff，laughed，andhenowtookfullernoteoftheslendergirlwhostoodbeforehim，andswayedalittlebackward，inagracefulcurve。Hesawthatshehadadull，thickcomplexion，withliquideyes，setwideapartandslantedupwardslightly，andanosethatwasdeflectedinwardfromthestraightline；buthermouthwasbeautifulandvividlyredlikeacrimsonblossom。

"Couldn’tyoufindmesomeplacetositdown，Mr。Durgin？"sheasked。

Hehaditonhistonguetosay，"Well，notunlessyouwanttositdownonsomeenemy，"buthedidnotventurethis：whenitcomestodaringofthatsort，theboldestmaniscommonlyalittlebehindatimidwoman。

Severalofthefellowshadclubbedtheirrooms，andlentthemtothemanwhowasgivingthetea；heusedoneoftheapartmentsforacloak—room，andhemeanttheotherforthesocialoverflowfromhisown。Butpeoplealwaysprefertoremaindammed—uptogetherintheroomwheretheyarereceived，andMissLyndelookedbetweentheneighboringheads，andovertheneighboringshoulders，andsawtheborrowedapartmentquiteempty。

AtthemomentofthisdiscoverythehostcamefightinghiswayuptomakesurethatJeffhadbeenprovidedforinthewayofintroductions。HepromptlyintroducedhimtoMissLynde。Shesaid："Oh，that’sbeendone！

Can’tyouthinkofsomethingnew？"Jefflikedthestyleofthis。

"Idon’tmindit，butI’mafraidMr。Durginmustfinditmonotonous。"

"Oh，well，dosomethingoriginalyourself，then，MissLynde！"saidthehost。"Startamovementforthatroomacrossthepassage；that’smine，too，fortheoccasion；andsavesomeofthesepeople’slives。It’ssuffocatinginhere。"

"Idon’tmindsavingMr。Durgin’s，"saidthegirl，"ifhewantsitsaved。"

"Oh，Iknowhe’sjustdyingtohaveyousaveit，"saidthehost，andheleftthem，toinspireotherpeopletofollowtheirexample。Butsuchasglancedacrossthepassageintotheoverflowroomseemedtothinkitnowthepossessionsolelyofthepioneersofthemovement。Atanyrate，theymadenoshowofjoiningthem；andafterMissLyndeandJeffhadlookedatthepicturesonthewallsandthephotographsonthemanteloftheroomwheretheyfoundthemselves，theysatdownonchairsfrontingtheopendoorandthedooroftheroomtheyhadleft。Thewindow—seatwouldhavebeenmoretoJeff’smind，andhehadproposedit，butthegirlseemednottohaveheardhim；shetookthedeepeasy—chairinfullviewofthecompanyopposite，andlefthimtopullupachairbesideher。

"Ialwaysliketoseethepicturesinaman’sroom，"shesaid，withalittlesighofrelieffromtheirinspectionandapartialyieldingofherfiguretotheluxuryofthechair。"ThenIknowwhatthemanis。Thisman——Idon’tknowwhoseroomitis——seemstohavespentagooddealofhistimeatthetheatre。"

"Isn’tthatwheremostofthemspendtheirtime？"askedJeff。

"I’msureIdon’tknow。Isthatwhereyouspendyours？"

"Itusedtobe。I’mnotspendingmytimeanywherejustnow。"Shelookedquestioningly，andheadded，"Ihaven’tgotanytospend。"

"Oh，indeed！Isthatareason？Whydon’tyouspendsomebodyelse’s？"

"Nobodyhasany，thatIknow。"

"You’reallworkingoffconditions，youmean？"

"That’swhatI’mdoing，ortryingto。"

"Thenit’snevercertainwhetheryoucandoit，afterall？"

"Notsocertainastobefreefromexcitement，"saidJeff，smiling。

"AndareyouconsumedwiththemelancholythatseemstobeballingupallthemenattheprospectofhavingtoleaveHarvardandgooutintothehard，coldworld？"

"Idon’tlookit，doI？Jeffasked：

"No，youdon’t。Andyoudon’tfeelit？You’renottryingconcealment，andsoforth？"

"No；ifI’dhadmyownway，I’dhaveleftHarvardbeforethis。"Hecouldseethathisboldassumptionofdifference，orindifference，tolduponher。"Icouldn’tgetoutintothehard，coldworldtoosoon。"

"Howfearless！Mostofthemdon’tknowwhatthey’regoingtodoinit。"

"Ido。"

"Andwhatareyougoingtodo？Orperhapsyouthinkthat’sasking！"

"Ohno。I’mgoingtokeepahotel。"

Hehadhopedtostartleher，butsheasked，ratherquietly，"Whatdoyoumean？"andsheadded，asiftopunishhimfortryingtomystifyher：

"I’veheardthatitrequiresgiftsforthat。Isn’ttheresomeproverb？"

"Yes。ButI’mgoingtotrytodoitonexperience。"Helaughed，andhedidnotmindhertryingtohithim，forhesawthatbehadmadehercurious。

"Doyoumeanthatyouhavekeptahotel？"

"Forthreegenerations，"hereturned，withagravitythatmockedherfromhisboldeyes。

"I’msureIdon’tknowwhatyoumean，"shesaid，indifferently。"Whereisyourhotel？InBoston——NewYork——Chicago？"

"It’sinthecountry——it’sasummerhotel，"hesaid，asbefore。

Shelookedawayfromhimtowardtheotherroom。"There’smybrother。

Ididn’tknowhewascoming。"

"ShallIgoandtellhimwhereyouare？"Jeffasked，followingthedirectionofhereyes。

"No，no；hecanfindme，"saidthegirl，sinkingbackinherchairagain。

Helefthertoresumethetalkwhereshechose，andshesaid："Ifit’ssomethingancestral，ofcourse——"

"Idon’tknowasit’sthat，exactly。Mygrandfatherusedtokeepacountrytavern，andsoit’sintheblood，butthehotelImeanissomethingthatwe’veworkedupintofromafarmboarding—house。"

"Youdon’ttalklikeacountryperson，"thegirlbrokein，abruptly。

"NotinCambridge。Idointhecountry。"

"Andso，"sheprompted，"you’regoingtoturnitintoahotelwhenyou’vegotoutofHarvard。"

"It’sahotelalready，andaprettybigone；butI’mgoingtomaketherightkindofhotelofitwhenItakeholdofit。"

"Andwhatistherightkindofahotel？"

"That’salongstory。Itwouldmakeyoutired。"

"Itmight，butwe’vegottospendthetimesomehow。Youcouldbegin，andthenifIcouldn’tstandityoucouldstop。"

"It’seasiertostopfirstandbeginsomeothertime。IguessI’llletyouimaginemyhotel，MissLynde。"

"Oh，Iunderstandnow，"saidthegirl。"Thetablewillbethegreatthing。Youwillstuffpeople。"

"DoyoumeanthatI’mtryingtostuffyou？"

"HowdoIknow？Younevercantellwhatmenreallymean。"

Jefflaughedwithmountingpleasureinheraudacity，thatimpartedasenseoftoleranceforhimsuchashehadexperiencedveryseldomfromtheBostongirlshehadmet；afterall，hehadmetbutfew。Itflatteredhimtohaveherdoubtwhathehadtoldherinhisrecklessindifference；

itimpliedthathewasfitforbetterthingsthanhotel—keeping。

"Younevercantellhowmuchawomanbelieves，"heretorted。

"Andyoukeeptryingtofindout？"

"No，butIthinkthattheymightbelievethetruth。"

"You’dbettertrythemwithit！"

"Well，Iwill。DoyoureallywanttoknowwhatI’mgoingtodowhenI

getthrough？"

"Letmesee！"MissLyndeleanedforward，withherelbowonherkneeandherchininherhand，andsoftlykickedtheedgeofherskirtwiththetoeofhershoe，asifindeepthought。Jeffwaitedforhertoplayhercomedythrough。"Yes，"shesaid，"IthinkIdidwishtoknow——atonetime。"

"Butyoudon’tnow？"

"Now？HowcanItell？Itwasagreatwhileago！"

"Iseeyoudon’t。"

MissLyndedidnotmakeanyreply。Sheasked，"Doyouknowmyaunt，Durgin？"

"Ididn’tknowyouhadone。"

"Yes，everybodyhasanaunt——evenwhentheyhaven’tamother，ifyoucanbelievetheGilbertoperas。IaskbecauseIhappentolivewithmyaunt，andifyouknewhershemight——askyoutocall。"MissLyndescannedJeff’sfacefortheeffectofthis。

Hesaid，gravely："Ifyou’llintroducemetoher，I’llaskhertoletme。"

"Wouldyou，really？"saidthegirl。"I’vehalfamindtotry。Iwonderifyou’dreallyhavethecourage。"

"Idon’tthinkI’measilyrattled。"

"YoumeanthatI’mtryingtorattleyou。"

"No——"

"I’mnot。MyauntisjustwhatI’vesaid。"

"Youhaven’tsaidwhatshewas。Isshehere？"

"No；that’stheworstofit。Ifshewere，Ishouldintroduceyou，justtoseeifyou’ddare。Well，someothertimeIwill。"

"Youthinkthere’llbesomeothertime？"Jeffasked。

"Idon’tknow。Thereareallkindsoftimes。By—the—way，whattimeisit？"

Jefflookedathiswatch。"Quarteraftersix。"

"ThenImustgo。"Shejumpedtoherfeet，andfacedaboutforaglimpseofherselfinthelittleglassonthemantel，andputherhandonthelargepinkrosesmassedatherwaist。Oneheavybuddroppedfromitsstemtothefloor，where，whileshestood，theedgeofherskirtpulledandpushedit。Shemovedalittleasidetopeeroverataphotograph。

Jeffstoopedandpickeduptheflower，whichheofferedher。

"Youdroppedit，"hesaid，bowingoverit。

"DidI？"Shelookedatitwithaneffectofsurpriseanddoubt。

"Ithoughtso，butifyoudon’t，Ishallkeepit。"

Thegirlremovedhercarelesseyesfromit。"Whentheybreakoffsoshort，theywon’tgoback。"

"IfIwerearose，Ishouldwanttogoback，"saidJeff。

Shestoppedinoneofhermanyaversionsandreversions，andlookedathimsteadilyacrosshershoulder。"Youwon’thavetokeepapoet，Mr。

Durgin。"

"Thankyou。Ialwaysexpectedtowritethecircularsmyself。I’llsendyouone。"

"Do。"

"Withthisrosepressedbetweentheleaves，soyou’llknow。"

"Thatwould，beverypretty。ButyoumusttakemetoMrs。Bevidge，now，ifyoucan。"

"IguessIcan，"saidJeff；andinaminuteortwotheystoodbeforethematronizinghostess，afterapassagethroughthebabblingandlaughinggroupsthatlookedasimpossibleaftertheyhadmadeitasitlookedbefore。

Mrs。Bevidgegavethegirl’shandapressuredistinctfromtheofficialtouchofparting，andcontrivedtosay，forherhearingalone："Thankyousomuch，Bessie。You’vedonemissionarywork。"

"Ishouldn’tcallitthat。"

"Itwilldoforyoutosayso！Hewasn’treallysobad，then？Thankyouagain，dear！"

Jeffhadwaitedhisturn。Butnow，afterthegirlhadturnedaway，asifshehadforgottenhim，hiseyesfollowedher，andhedidnotknowthatMrs。Bevidgewasspeakingtohim。MissLyndehadslimlylostherselfinthemass，tillshewasonlyagracefultiltofhat，beforesheturnedwithadistraughtair。WhenhereyesmetJeff’stheylightedupwithalookthatcomesintothefacewhenonerememberswhatonehasbeentryingtothinkof。Shegavehimabrilliantsmilethatseemedtoilluminehimfromheadtofoot，andbeforeitwasquenchedhefeltasifshehadkissedherhandtohimfromherrichmouth。

ThenheheardMrs。Bevidgeaskingsomethingaboutahall，andhewasawareofherbendinguponhimalookofthedaringhumanitythathadcarriedhertriumphantlythroughhergoodworksattheNorthEnd。

"Oh，I’mnotintheYard，"saidJeff，withbelatedintelligence。

"ThenwilljustCambridgereachyou？"

Hegavehisnumberandstreet，andshethankedhimwiththebenevolencethatavailedsomuchwiththelowerclasses。Hewentawaythrillingandtingling，withthatgirl’stonesinhisear，hermotionsinhisnerves，andthecolorsofherfacefillinghissight，whichheprintedontheairwheneverheturned，asonedoeswithavividlightafterlookingatit。

XXIX

WhenJeffreachedhisroomhefelttheneedofwritingtoCynthia，withwhateverobscureintentionofatonement。Hetoldherofthecollegeteahehadjustcomefrom，andmadefunofit，andthekindofpeoplehehadmet，especiallytheaffectedgirlwhohadtriedtorattlehim；hesaidheguessedshedidnotthinkshehadrattledhimagreatdeal。

WhilehewrotehekeptthinkinghowthisMissLyndewasnearerhisearlyidealoffashion，ofhighlife，whichWestoverhadprettywellsnubbedoutofhim，thananywomanhehadseenyet；sheseemedagirlwhowoulddowhatshepleased，andwouldnotbeafraidifitdidnotpleaseotherpeople。Helikedherhavingtriedtorattlehim，andhesmiledtohimselfinrecallingherfailure。Itwasasifshehadlaidholdofhimwithherlittlehandstoshakehim，andhadshakenherself。Helaughedoutinthedarkwhenthisimagecameintohismind；itsintimacyflatteredhim；andhebelievedthatitwasuponsomehintfromherthatMrs。Bevidgehadaskedhisaddress。Shemustbegoingtoaskhimtoherhouse，andverysoon，foritwaspartofJeff’smeagresocialexperiencethatthiswasthewayswellsdid；theymightneveraskyoutwice，buttheywouldaskyoupromptly。

ThethingthatMrs。BevidgeaskedJeffto，whenhernotereachedhimtheseconddayafterthetea，wasameetingtointerestyoungpeopleintheworkattheNorthEnd，andJeffsworeunderhisbreathatthedisappointmentandindignityputuponhim。Hehadreckoneduponanafternoontea，atleast，oreven，intheflightsoffancywhichhenowdisownedtohimself，adanceaftertheMid—Years，orpossiblyanearlierreceptionofsomesort。Heburnedwithshametothinkofatheatre—

party，whichhehadfondlyspecialized，withaseatnextMissLynde。

HetoreMrs。Bevidge’snotetopieces，anddecidednottoansweritatall，asthebestwayofshowinghowhehadtakenherinvitation。ButMrs。Bevidge’sbenevolencewasnotwantingincourage；shebelievedthatJeffshouldpayhisfootinginsociety，suchasitwas，andshouldallowhimselftobemadeuseof，thefirstthing；whenshehadnoreplyfromhim，shewrotehimagain，askinghimtoanadjournedmeetingofthefirstconvocation，whichhadbeensosuccessfulineverythingbutnumbers。

Thistimeshebaitedherhook，inhopingthattheyoungmenwouldfeelsomethingoftheinteresttheyoungladieshadalreadyshowninthematter。SheexpressedthefearthatMr。Durginhadnotgotherearlierletter，andshesentthissecondtothecareofthemanwhohadgiventhetea。

Jeff’sresentmentwasnowsofarpastthathewouldhavecivillydeclinedtogotothewoman’shouse；butallhishopesofseeingthatgirl，ashealwayscalledMissLyndeinhisthought，wererevivedbythementionoftheyoungladiesinterestedinthecause。Heaccepted，thoughallthewayintoBostonhelaidwagerswithhimselfthatshewouldnotbethere；

anduptothemomentoftakingherhandherefusedhimselfanyhopeofwinning。

Therewasnotmuchbusinessbeforethemeeting；thathadreallybeenalltransactedbefore；itwasmainlytomakesureoftheyoungmen，whowerepresentintheproportionofonetofiveyoungladiesatleast。Mrs。

Bevidgeexplainedthatshehadseenthewastefulnessofamateureffortamongthepoor，andannouncedthathereaftershewasgoingtoworkwiththeestablishedcharities。Thesewereverymuchinwantofvisitors，especiallyyoungmen，togoaboutamongtheapplicantsforrelief，andinquireintotheirrealnecessities，andgetworkforthem。Shewashersselfgoingtoactassecretaryforthemeetingsduringthecomingmonth，andapparentlyshewishedtosignalizeheraccessiontotheregularforcesofcharitybybringingintocampaslargeabodyofrecruitsasshecould。

ButJeffhadnotcometobemadeuseof，orasajaywhowaswillingtoworkforhisfootinginsociety。HehadcomeinthehopeofmeetingMissLynde，andnowthathehadmetherhehadnogratitudetoMrs。Bevidgeasameans，andnoregretforthedefeatofhergoodpurposessofarassheintendedtheirfulfilmentinhim。Hewassocoolandself—possessedinexcusinghimself，forreasonsthathetooknopainstomakeseemunselfish，thatthealtruisticmanwhohadgothimaskedtothecollegeteaasafriendlessjayfeltitlaiduponhimtoapologizeforMrs。

Bevidge’swantoftact。

"Shemeanswell，andshe’sverymuchinearnest，inthiswork；butImustsayshecanmakeherselfveryoffensive——whenshedoesn’ttry！Shehasarighttoaskourhelp，butnottoparadeusasthecaptivesofherbowandspear。"

"Oh，that’sallright，"saidJeff。HeperceivedthattheamiablefellowwasclaimingforallaneffectthatJeffknewreallyimplicatedhimselfalone。"Icouldn’tloadupwithanythingofthatsort，ifI’mtoworkoffmyconditions，youknow。"

"Areyouinthatboat？"saidthealtruist，asifhewere，too；andheputhishandcompassionatelyonJeff’sironshoulder，andlefthimtoMissLynde，whosesidehehadnotstirredfromsincehehadfoundher。

"Itseemstome，"shesaid，"thatwheretherearesomanyofyouinthesameboat，youmightmanagetogetashoresomehow。"

"Yes，orallgodowntogether。"Jefflaughed，andateMrs。Bevidge’sbread—and—butter，anddrankhertea，witharelishunaffectedbyhisrefusaltodowhatsheaskedhim。Hewasright，perhaps，andperhapsshedeservednothingbetterathishands，butthealtruist，whenheglancedathimfromtheothersideoftheroom，thoughtthathehadpossiblywastedhisexcusesuponJeff’sself—complacence。

Hewentawayinahaloofyoungladies；severaloftheothergirlsgroupedthemselvesintheirdeparture；andithappenedthatMissLyndeandJefftookleavetogether。Mrs。Bevidgesaidtoher，withthecaressingtendernessofoneinthesameset，"Good—bye，dear！"ToJeffshesaid，withthecoldconscienceofthosewhomtheirnobilityobliges，"IamalwaysathomeonThursdays，Mr。Durgin。"

"Oh，thankyou，"saidJeff。Heunderstoodwhatthewordsandthemannermeanttogether，butbothwereinstantlyindifferenttohimwhenhegotoutsideandfoundthatMissLyndewasnotdriving。Something，whichwasneitherlook，norsmile，norword，ofcourse，butnothingmoreatmostthanacertainpullandtiltoftheshoulder，assheturnedtowalkawayfromMrs。Bevidge’sdoor，toldhimfromherthathemightwalkhomewithherifhewouldnotseemtodoso。

Itwasoneofthepinkevenings，dryandclear，thatcomeintheBostonDecember，andtheywalkeddownthesidehillstreet，underthedelicatetraceryoftheelmboughsinthefaceofthemetallicsunset。InthesectionoftheCharlesthattheperspectiveofthestreetblockedout，thewrinkledcurrentshowedasifglazedwiththehardcolor。Jeff’sstrongframerejoicedinthecoldwithahalepleasurewhenhelookedroundintothefaceofthegirlbesidehim，withthegrayfilmofherveilpressedsoftlyagainstherredmouthbyherswiftadvance。Theirfaceswerenearlyonalevel，astheylookedintoeachother’seyes，andhekeptseeingtheplayoftheveil’sedgeagainstherlipsastheytalked。

"Whysha’n’tyougotoMrs。Bevidge’sThursdays？"sheasked。"They’reverynice。"

HowdoyouknowI’mnotgoing？"heretorted。

"Bythewayyouthankedher。"

"Doyouadvisemetogo？"

"Ihaven’tgotanythingtodowithit。Whatdomeanbythat？"

"Idon’tknow。Curiosity，Isuppose。"

"Well，Idoadviseyoutogo，"saidthegirl。ShallyoubetherenextThursday？"

"I？InevergotoMrs。Bevidge’sThursdays！"

"Touche，"saidJeff，andtheybothlaughed。"Canyoualwaysgetinatanenemythatway？"