第13章

"Enemy？"

"Well，friend。It’sthesamething。"

"Isee，"saidthegirl。"YoubelongtothepessimisticschoolofSeniors。"

"Whydon’tyoutrytomakeanoptimistofme？"

"Woulditbeworthwhile？"

"Thatisn’tformetosay。"

"Don’tbediffident！That’sstaleryet。"

"I’llbeanythingyoulike。"

"I’mnotsureyoucould。"ForaninstantJeffdidnotfeelthepoint，andhehadnotthemagnanimity，whenhedid，toownhimselftouchedagain。Apparently，ifthisgirlcouldnotrattlehim，shecouldbeathimatfence，andthewilltodominateherbegantostirinhim。Ifhecouldhavethoughtofanysarcasm，nomatterhowcrushing，hewouldhavecomebackatherwithit。Hecouldnotthinkofanything，andhewalkedatherside，inwardlychafingforthechancewhichwouldnotcome。

"Whentheyreachedherdoortherewasayoungmanatthelockwithalatch—key，whichhewasnotmakingwork，for，afterabatedblasphemyofhisfailure，heturnedandtwitchedthebellimpatiently。

MissLyndelaughedprovokingly，andhelookedoverhisshoulderatherandatJeff，whofelthisinjuryincreasedbythedisadvantagethisyoungmanputhimat。Jeffwasascorrectlydressed；heworeasilkhatofthelastshape，andalongfrock—coat；hewasproperlyglovedandshod；hisclothesfittedhim，andwerefromthebesttailor；butatsightofthisyoungmaninclothesofthesamedesignhefeltill—dressed。Hewasinlikesortawareofbeingrudelyblockedoutphysically，andcoarselycoloredastohisblondtintsofhairandeyeandcheek。Eventhesinistersomethingintheyoungman’slookhaddistinction，andtherewasstyleinthesignsofdissipationinhishandsomefacewhichJeffsawwithahungertooutdohim。

MissLyndesaidtoJeff，"Mybrother，Mr。Durgin，"andthensheaddedtotheother，"Yououghttoringfirst，Arthur，andtryyourkeyafterward。"

"Thekey’sallright，"saidtheyoungman，withoutpayinganyattentiontoJeffbeyondaglanceofrecognition；heturnedhisback，andwaitedforthedoortobeopened。

Hissistersuggested，withanamiabilitywhichJefffeltwasmeantinreparationtohim，"Perhapsanightlatchneverworksbeforedark——orverywellbeforemidnight。"Thedoorwasopened，andshesaidtoJeff，withwinningentreaty，"Won’tyoucomein，Mr。Durgin？"

Jeffexcusedhimself，forheperceivedthatherpolitenesswasnotsomuchaninvitationtohimasadefiancetoherbrother；hegavehercreditfornomorethanitwasworth，andhedidnotwishanythelesstogetevenwithherbecauseofit。

XXX。

Atdinner，intheabsenceofthebutler，AlanLyndeattackedhissisteracrossthetableforlettingherselfbeseenwithajay，whowasnotonlyajay，butacad，andpersonallysooffensivetomostofthecollegementhathehadnevergotintoadecentcluborsociety；hehadbeensuspendedthefirstyear，andifhehadnothadthedensestkindofcheekhewouldneverhavecomeback。Lyndesaidhewouldliketoknowwhereshehadpickedthefellowup。

Sheansweredthatshehadpickedhimup，ifthatwasthephraseheliked，atMrs。Bevidge’s；andthenAlansworealittle，soasnottobeheardbytheiraunt，whosatattheheadofthetable，andlookeddownitslengthbetweenthem，serenelyignorant，inherslightdeafness，ofwhatwasgoingonbetweenthem。ToherperceptionAlanwasnomorevehementthanusual，andBessienomoresmilinglyself—contained。HesaidhesupposedthatitwassomemoreofLancaster’sdamnedmissionarywork，then，andhewonderedthatagentlemanlikeMorlandhadeverletLancasterworksuchajayinonhim；hehadseenher’afficher’herselfwiththefellowatMorland’stea；hecommandedhertostopit；andheprofessedtospeakforhergood。

BessiereturnedthatsheknewhowstronglyhefeltfromthewayhehadmisbehavedwhensheintroducedhimtoMr。Durgin，butthatshesupposedhehadbeenattheclubandhisnerveswereunstrung。Wasthatthereason，perhaps，whyhecouldnotmakehislatchkeywork？Mr。Durginmightbeacad，andshewouldnotsayhewasnotajay，butsofarhehadnotswornather；and，ifhehadbeensuspendedandcomeback，thereweresomepeoplewhohadnotbeensuspendedorcomeback，either，thoughthatmighthavebeenforwantofcheek。

Sheendedbydeclaringshewasusedtogoingintosocietywithoutherbrother’sprotection，orevenhiscompany，andshewoulddoherbesttogetonwithouthisadvice。Orwasithisconducthewishedhertoprofitby？

Ithadcometothefishgoingoutbythistime，andAlan，whohadeatenwithnoappetite，anddrunkenfeverishlyofapollinaris，flungdownhisnapkinandwentout，too。

"Whatisthematter？"askedhisaunt，lookingafterhim。

Bessieshrugged，butshesaid，presently，withherlipsmorethanhervoice："Idon’tthinkhefeelsverywell。"

"Doyouthinkhe——"

Thegirlfrownedassent，andthemealwentontoitsend。Thensheandherauntwentintothelarge，dulllibrary，wheretheypassedtheeveningswhichBessiedidnotspendinsomesocialfunction。Theseeveningsweregrowingrathermorefrequent，withheradvancingyears，forshewasnownearlytwenty—five，andtherewerefewSeniorssoold。

ShewasnotthekindofgirltorenewheryouthwiththeSophomoresandFreshmenintheclassessucceedingtheclasswithwhichshehaddancedthroughcollege；sofarasshehadkeptuptheoldrelationwithstudents，shecontinueditwiththemenwhohadgoneintothelaw—school。

Butshesawlessandlessofthesewithoutseeingmoreofothermen，andperhapsinthelastanalysisshewasnotafavorite。Shewasallowedtobefascinating，butshewasnotfelttobeflattering，andpeoplewouldratherbeflatteredthanfascinated。Infact，themenweremostlyafraidofher；andithasbeenobservedofgirlsofthiskindthatthemenwhoarenotafraidofthemaresuchastheywoulddowelltobeafraidof。

WhetherthatwasquitethecasewithBessieLyndeornot，itwascertainthatshewhowasalwaysthecleverestgirlintheroom，andifnottheprettiest，thenthemosteffective，hadnotthebestmenabouther。Hermenwereapttobethosewhomtheothergirlscalledstupidorhorrid，andwhomitwouldnotbeeasy，thoughitmightbemorejust，toclassifyotherwise。Theothergirlswonderedwhatshecouldseeinthem；butperhapsitwasnotnecessarythatsheshouldseeanythinginthem，iftheycouldseeallshewishedthemtosee，andnomore，inher。

Theroomwhereteawasnowbroughtandputbeforeherwasvolumedroundbythecollectionsofhergrandfather，exceptforthespacesfilledbyhisportraitandthatofearlierancestors，goingbacktothetimewhenCopleymademasterpiecesofhisfellow—Bostonians。Herauntherselflookedafamilyportraitofthemiddleperiod，alittleanteriortoherfather’s，butsubsequenttohergreat—grandfather’s。Shehadacomelyface，withlarge，smoothcheeksandprominenteyes；theedgesofherdecorousbrownwigwerecombedratherneartheircorners，andafittingcappalliatedbutdidnotdenythewig。Shehadthequietbutratherdulllookofpeopleslightlydeaf，andshehadperhapsbeenstupefiedbyalifeofunalloyedprosperityandpropriety。Shehadgrownanoldmaidnaturally，butnotinvoluntarily，andshewaswithoutthesadnessortheharshnessofdisappointment。Shehadneverknownmuchoftheworld，thoughshehadalwayslivedinit。Sheknewthatitwasmadeupoftwokindsofpeople——peoplewhowerelikeherandpeoplewhowerenotlikeher；andshehadlivedsolelyinthesocietyofpeoplewhowerelikeher，andintheshelteroftheiropinionsandideals。Shedidnotcontemnorexcludethepeoplewhowereunlikeher，butshehadneverhadanymorecontactwiththemthanshenowhadwiththeweatherofthestreets，asshesat，fillingherlargearm—chairfullofherladylikecorrectness，inthelibraryofthehandsomehouseherfatherhadlefther。Theirruptionofherbrother’ssonanddaughterintoitscloisteredquiethadscarcelybrokenitsinvulnerableorder。Itwasrightandfittheyshouldbethereafterhisdeath，anditwasnotstrangethatinthecourseoftimetheyshouldbothshowcertainunregulatedtendencieswhich，sincetheywerenotknowntobeLyndetendencies，musthavebeenderivedfromtheSouthwesternwomanherbrotherhadmarriedduringhissocialandfinancialpericlitationsinaregionwhollyinconceivabletoher。Theirmotherwasdead，too，andtheiraunt’slifeclosedaboutthemwithfullacceptance，ifnotcomplacence，aspartofherworld。Theyhadgrowntomanhoodandwomanhoodwithoutmateriallydiscomposingherfaithintheold—fashionedUnitariandeity，whoseserviceshehadalwaysattended。

WhenAlanleftcollegeinhisFreshmanyear，anddidnotgoback，butwentrathertoEuropeandEgyptandJapan，itappearedtohermyopicoptimismthathisescapadeshadbeenprettywellhushedupbytimeanddistance。Afterhecamehomeanddevotedhimselftohisclub，shecouldhavewishedthathehadtakenupsomeprofessionorbusiness；butsincetherewasmoneyenough，shewaitedinnogreatdisquietuntilheshowedasdecidedatasteforsomethingelseasheseemedforthepresenttohaveonlyforhorses。Inthemeanwhile，fromtimetotime，itcametoherdoctor’sadvisinghisgoingtoacertainretreat。Buthecameoutthefirsttimesomuchbetterandremainedwellsolongthathisauntfeltakindofsecurityinhisgoingagainandagain，wheneverhebecameatallworse。Healwayscamebackbetter。AsshetookthecupofteathatBessiepouredoutforher，sherecurredtothequestionthatshehadpartlyaskedalready：

"DoyouthinkAlanisgettingworseagain？"

"Notsoverymuch，"saidthegirl，candidly。"He’sbeenattheclub，Isuppose，butheleftthetablepartlybecauseIvexedhim。"

"Becauseyouwhat？"

"BecauseIvexedhim。Hewasscoldingme，andIwouldn’tstandit。"

Heraunttastedhertea，andfounditsoquitewhatshelikedthatshesaid，fromanaturalsatisfactionwithBessie，"Idon’tseewhathehadtoscoldyouabout。"

"Well，"returnedBessie，andshegotherprettyvoicetothelevelofheraunt’shearing，withsomestraining，andkeptitthere，"whenheisinthatstate，hehastoscoldsomeone；andIhadbeenratherannoying，I

suppose。"

"Whathadyoubeendoing？"askedheraunt，makingoutherwordsmorefromthesightthanfromthesound，afterall。

"Ihadbeenwalkinghomewithajay，andwefoundAlantryingtogetinatthefrontdoorwithhiskey，andIintroducedhimtothejay。"

MissLouisaLyndehadheardthewordsooftenfromhernieceandnephew，thatsheimaginedherselfinfullpossessionofitsmeaning。Sheasked：

"Wherehadyoumethim？"

"Imethimfirst，"saidthegirl，"atWillieMorland’stea，lastweek，andto—dayIfoundhimatMrs。Bevidge’saltruistictoot。"

"Ididn’tknow，"saidheraunt，afteramomentaryattentiontohertea，"thatjayswereinterestedinthatsortofthing。"

Thegirllaughed。"Ibelievethey’renot。Ithasn’tquitereachedthem，yet；andIdon’tthinkitwilleverreachmyjay。Mrs。Bevidgetriedtoworkhimintothecause，butherefusedsopromptly，andso—

intelligently，don’tyouknow——andsoalmostbrutally，thatpoorFreddyLancasterhadtocomeandapologizetohimforherwantoftact。"Bessieenjoyedthefact，whichshehadcoloredalittle，inanotherlaugh，butshehadapparentlynotpossessedherauntofthehumorofit。Sheremainedseriously—attentive，andthegirlwenton："Hewasnottheleastabashedathavingrefused；hestayedtillthelast，andaswecameouttogetherandhewasgoingmyway，Ilethimwalkhomewithme。He’sajay，butheisn’tacommonjay。"BessieleanedforwardandtriedtoimplantsomenotionofJeff’scharacterandpersonalityinheraunt’smind。

MissLyndelistenedattentivelyenough，butshemerelyasked，whenallwassaid："AndwhywasAlanvexedwithyouabouthim？"

"Well，"saidthegirl，fallingbackintoherchair，"generallybecausethisman’sajay，andparticularlybecausehe’sbeenratherabaddishjay，Ibelieve。Hewassuspendedinhisfirstyearforsomethingorother，andyouknowpoorAlan’sveryparticular！ButMollyEnderbysaysFreddyLancastergiveshimthebestofcharactersnow。"Bessiepulleddownhermouth，withaneffectbefittingthenotionofrepentanceandatonement。Thensheflashedout："Perhapshehadbeendrinkingwhenhegotintotrouble。Alancouldneverforgivehimforthat。"

"Ithink，"saidheraunt，"itistoyourbrother’screditthatheisanxiousaboutyourassociations。"

"Oh，verymuch！"shoutedBessie，withaburstoflaughter。"Andasheisn’tpracticallyso，Ioughttohavebeenmorepatientwithhistheory。

ButwhenhebegantoscoldmeIlostmytemper，andIgavehimafewwholesometruthsintheguiseoftaunts。Thatwaswhatmadehimgoaway，Isuppose。"

"ButIdon’treallysee，"herauntpursued，——"whatoccasionhehadtobeangrywithyouinthisinstance。"

"Oh，Ido！"saidBessie。"Mr。Durginisn’tonetoinspirethecasualbeholderwiththenotionofhisspiritualdistinction。Hisfaceissorudeandstrong，andhehassuchaprimitiveeffectinhisclothes，thatyoufeelasifyouwerecomingdownthestreetwithaprehistoricmanthatthebarbersandtailorshadputa’findesiecle’surfaceon。"Atthemystificationwhichappearedinheraunt’sfacethegirllaughedagain。"Ishouldhavebeenquiteasanxious，ifIhadbeeninAlan’splace，andIshalltellhimso，sometime。IfIhadnotbeensointerestedinthesituationIdon’tbelieveIcouldhavekeptmycourage。

WheneverIlookedround，andfoundthatprehistoricmanatmyelbow，itgavemethecreeps，alittle，asifhewerereallycarryingmeofftohiscave。IshalltrytoexpressthattoAlan。"

XXXI。

Theladiesfinishedtheirtea，andthebutlercameandtookthecupsaway。MissLynderemainedsilentinherchairatherendofthelibrary—

table，andby—and—byBessiegotabookandbegantoread。Whenherauntwokeupitwashalfpastnine。"WasthatAlancomingin？"sheasked。

"Idon’tthinkhe’sbeenout，"saidthegirl。"Itisn’tlateenoughforhimtocomein——orearlyenough。"

"IbelieveI’llgotobed，"MissLyndereturned。"Ifeelratherdrowsy。"

Bessiedidnotsmileatacomedywhichwasapttoberepeatedeveryeveningthatsheandherauntspentathometogether；theypartedforthenightwiththedecenciesoffamilyaffection，andBessiedeliveredtheelderladyovertohermaid。Thenthegirlsankdownagain，andlaymusinginherdeepchairbeforethefirewithherbookshutonherthumb。

Shelookedratheroldandworninherreverie；herfacelosttheairofgaybanterwhich，afterthebeautyofherqueereyesandhervividmouth，wasitscharm。Theeyeswereratherdullnow，andthemouthwasalittlewithered。

Shewaswaitingforherbrothertocomedown，ashewasapttodoifhewasinthehouse，aftertheirauntwenttobed，tosmokeacigarinthelibrary。Hewasinhishouseshoeswhenheshuffledintotheroom，butherearhaddetectedhispresencebeforeahiccoughannouncedit。Shedidnotlookup，butlethimmakeseveralfailurestolighthiscigar，anddamnthematchesunderhisbreath，beforeshepushedthedrop—lighttohiminsilentsuggestion。Asheleanedoverherchair—backtoreachitschimneywithhiscigarinhismouth，shesaid，"You’reallright，Alan。"

Hewaitedtillhegotroundtohisaunt’seasy—chairanddroppedintoitbeforeheanswered，"Soareyou，Bess。"

"I’mnotsosureofthat，"saidthegirl，"asIshouldbeifyouwerestillscoldingme。Iknewthathewasajay，wellenough，andI’djustseenhimbehavingverylikeacadtoMrs。Bevidge。"

"ThenIdon’tunderstandhowyoucametobewithhim。"

"Ohyes，youdo，Alan。Youmustn’tbelogical！Youmightaswellsayyoucan’tunderstandhowyoucametobemoreseriousthansober。"Thebrotherlaughedhelplessly。"Itwastheexcitement。"

"Butyoucan’tgivewaytothatsortofthing，Bess，"saidherbrother，withthegravityofamanfeelingtheconsequencesofhisownerrors。

"IknowIcan’t，butIdo，"shereturned。"Iknowit’sbadforme，ifitisn’tforotherpeople。Come！I’llswearoffifyouwill！"

"I’malwaysready，toswearoff，"saidtheyoungman，gloomily。Headded，"Butyou’vegotbrains，Bess，andIhatetoseeyouplayingthefool。"

"Doyoureally，Alan？"askedthegirl，pleasedperhapsasmuchbyhisreproachasbyhispraise。"DoyouthinkI’vegotbrains？"

"You’retheonlygirlthathas。"

"Oh，Ididn’tmeantoasksomuchasthat！Butwhat’sthereasonIcan’tdoanythingwiththem？Othergirlsdraw，andplay，andwrite。Idon’tdoanythingbutgoinfortheexcitementthat’sbadforme。Iwishyou’dexplainit。"

AlanLyndedidnottry。Thequestionseemedtoturnhisthoughtsbackuponhimselftodispiritingeffect。"I’vegotbrains，too，Ibelieve，"

hebegan。

"Lotsofthem！"criedhissister，generously。"Thereisn’tanyofthementocomparewithyou。IfIhadyoutotalkwithallthetime，I

shouldn’twantjays。Idon’tmeantoflatter。You’reaconstantfeastofreason；Idon’tcareforflowsofsoul。Youalwaystakerightviewsofthingswhenyou’reyourself，andevenwhenyou’resomebodyelseyou’renotstupid。Youcouldbeanythingyouchose。"

"ThedevilofitisIcan’tchoose，"hereplied。

"Yes，Isupposethat’sthedevilofit，"saidthegirl。

"Yououghtn’ttousesuchlanguageasthat，Bess，"saidherbrother，severely。

"Oh，Idon’twitheverybody，"shereturned。"Neverwithladies！"

Helookedatheroutofthecornerofhiseyewithasmileatonceruefulandcomic。

"Yougotme，Iguess，thattime，"heowned。

"’Touche’，’Mr。Durginsays。Hefences，itseems，andhespeaksFrench。

ItwaslikeananimalspeakingFrench；youalwaysexpectthemtospeakEnglish。ButIdon’tmindyourswearingbeforeme；Iknowthatithelpstocarryofftheelectricity。"Shelaughed，andmadehimlaughwithher。

"Isthereanythingtohim？"hegrowled，whentheystoppedlaughing。

"Yes，agooddeal，"saidBessie，withanairofthoughtfulness；andthenshewentontotellallthatJeffhadtoldherofhimself，andshedescribedhisaplombindealingwiththebenevolentBevidge，asshecalledher，andsketchedhischaracter，asitseemedtoher。Thesketchwasfullofshrewdguesses，andshemadeitamusingtoherbrother，whofromthevantageofhisownbaddishnessnodoubtjudgedtheoriginalmoreintelligently。

"Well，you’dbetterlethimalone，afterthis，"hesaid，attheend。

"Yes，"shepensivelyassented。"Isupposeit’sasifyoutooktosomeverycommonkindofwhiskey，isn’tit？Iseewhatyoumean。Ifonemust，itoughttobechampagne。"

Sheturneduponhimalookofthatkeenbutlimitedknowledgewhichrenderswomen’sconjecturesofevilalwayssoamusing，orsopathetic，tomen。

"Betterletthechampagnealone，too，"saidherbrother，darkly。

"Yes，Iknowthat，"sheadmitted，andshelaybackinherchair，lookingdreamilyintothefire。Afterawhilesheasked，abruptly："WillyougiveitupifIwill？"

"IamafraidIcouldn’t。"

"Youcouldtry。"

"Oh，I’musedtothat。"

"Thenit’sabargain，"shesaid。Shejumpedfromherchairandwentovertohim，andsmoothedhishairoverhisforeheadandkissedtheplaceshehadsmoothed，thoughitwasunpleasantlydamptoherlips。"Poorboy，poorboy！Now，remember！Nomorejaysforme，andnomorejagsforyou。

Goodnight。"

Herbrotherbrokeintoawildlaughatherslanging，whichhadsuchabizarreeffectinrelationtoherphysicaldelicacy。

XXXII。

JeffdidnotknowwhetherMissBessieLyndemeanttogotoMrs。Bevidge’sThursdaysornot。Hethoughtshemighthavebeenbanteringhimbywhatshesaid，andhedecidedthathewouldriskgoingtothefirstofthemonthechanceofmeetingher。Shewasnotthere，andtherewasnoonetherewhomheknew。Mrs。Bevidgemadenoefforttoenlargehisacquaintance，andafterhehaddrunkacupofherteahewentawaywithrageagainstsocietyinhisheart，whichhepromisedhimselftoventatthefirstchanceofrefusingitsfavors。Butthechanceseemednottocome。Theworldwhichhadopeneditsgatestohimwasfastshutagain，andhehadtomakewhathecouldofrenouncingit。Heworkedprettyhard，andherenewedhimselfinhisfealtytoCynthia，whilehismindstrayedcuriouslytothatothergirl。Buthehadalmostabandonedthehopeofmeetingheragain，whenalargepartywasgivenontheeveoftheHarvardMid—YearExaminations，whichendtheyoungergayetiesofBoston，forafortnightatleast，inJanuary。Thepartywassolargethattheinvitationsoverflowedthestrictboundsofsocietyatsomepoints。InthecaseofJeffDurgintheexcesswasintentionalbeyondthevaguebenevolencewhichpromptedthegiverofthepartytoaskcertainotheroutsiders。Shewasaladyofasoulseveralsizeslargerthanthesoulsofsomeothersocietyleaders；shewasnotafraidtodoassheliked；forinstance，shehadnotonlymettheVostrandsatWestover’stea，severalyearsbefore，butshehadafterwardofferedsomehospitalitiestothoseladieswhichhaddischargedherwholedutytowardthemwithoutinvolvingherinanydisadvantages。JeffhadbeenpresentedtoheratWestover’s，butshedislikedhimsopromptlyanddecidedlythatshehadlefthimoutofeventhethingsthatsheaskedsomeotherjaysto，likelecturesandparlorreadingsforgoodobjects。Itwasnotuntiloneofherdaughtersmethim，firstatWillieMorland’steaandthenatMrs。Bevidge’smeeting，thathersocialconscienceconcerneditselfwithhim。Atthefirstherdaughterhadnotspokentohim，asmightverywellhavehappened，sinceBessieLyndehadkepthimawaywithhernearlyallthetime；butatthelastshehadbowedpleasantlytohimacrosstheroom，andJeffhadrespondedwithastiffobeisance，whosecoldnessshefeltthemoreforhavingbeensomewhatsoftenedherselfinMrs。Bevidge’saltruisticatmosphere。

"Ithinkhewashurt，mamma，"thegirlexplainedtohermother，"thatyou’veneverhadhimtoanything。Isupposetheymustfeelit。"

"Oh，well，sendhimacard，then，"saidhermother；andwhenJeffgotthecard，ratherneartheeleventhhour，hemadehastetoaccept，notbecausehecaredtogotoMrs。Enderby’shouse，butbecausehehopedheshouldmeetMissLyndethere。

Bessiewasthefirstpersonhemetafterheturnedfrompayinghisdutytothehostess。Shewaswithheraunt，andshepresentedhim，andpromisedhimadance，whichshelethimwriteonhercard。Shesatoutanotherdancewithhim，andhetookhertosupper。

ToWestover，whohadgonewiththeincreasingforlornnessamanfeelsinsuchpleasuresafterthirty—five，itseemedasifthetwowereineachother’scompanythewholeevening。TheimpressionwassostrongwithhimthatwhenJeffrestoredBessietoherauntforthedancethatwastobeforsomeoneelse，andcamebacktothesupper—room，thepaintertriedtosatisfyacertainuneasinessbymakingtalkwithhim。ButJeffwouldnottalk；hegotawaywithabottleofchampagne，whichhehadcaptured，andaplateheapedwithcroquettesandpease，andgalantineandsalad。Therewerenoladiesleftintheroombythattime，andfewyoungmen；buttheoldsterscrowdedtheplace，withtheirbaldheadsdevoutlybowedovertheirvictual，ortheirfrostymustachesbathedintheirdrink，singlyoringroups；thenoiseoftheirtalkandlaughtermixedwiththesoundoftheireatinganddrinking，andtheclashoftheknivesanddishes。OvertheirstoopedshouldersandpasttheirroundedstomachsWestoversawAlanLyndevaguelymakinghiswaywithaglassinhishand，andlookingvaguelyaboutforwine；hesawJeffcatchhiswanderingeye，andmakeofferofhisbottle，andthensawLynde，afteramomentofhaughtypause，unbendandacceptit。Histhinfacewasflushed，andhishairtossedoverhisforehead，butJeffseemednottotakenoteofthat。HelaughedboisterouslyatsomethingLyndesaid，andkeptfillinghisglassforhim。

Hisowncolorremainedclearandcool。Itwasasifhispowerfulphysiqueabsorbedthewinebeforeitcouldreachhisbrain。

Westoverwantedtointerfere，andsofarasJeffwasconcernedhewouldnothavehesitated；butLyndewasconcerned，too，andyoucannotsavesuchamanfromhimselfwithoutoffence。Hemadehiswaytotheyoungman，hopinghemightsomehowhavethecouragehewanted。

Jeffheldupthebottle，andcalledtohim，"Getyourselfaglass，Mr。

Westover。"Heputontheairofahost，andwouldhardlybedenied。

"KnowMr。Westover，Mr。Lynde？Justtalkingaboutyou，"heexplainedtoWestover。