第14章

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。