第15章

"Oh，comeinwithhim！"Bessieimplored，andatalittleyieldinginJeffherbrotheradded：

"Comein，youdamnjay！"HepulledatJeff。

Jeffmadehastetoshutthedoorbehindthem。Hewaslaughing；andifitwasfrommerebruteinsensibilitytowhatwouldhaveshockedanotherinthesituation，hisfrankrecognitionofitsgrotesquenesswasofbettereffectthananyhopelessefforttoignoreitwouldhavebeen。Peopleadjustthemselvestotheirtrials；itisthepretenceofthewitnessthatthereisnotrialwhichhurts，andBessiewasnotwoundedbyJeff’slaugh。

"There’safirehereinthereception—room，"shesaid。"Canyougethimin？"

"Iguessso。"

JeffliftedAlanintotheroomandstayedhimonfootthere，whilehetookoffhishatandovercoat，andthenhelethimsinkintotheloweasy—chairBessiehadjustrisenfrom。Allthetime，Alanwasbiddingherringandhavesomechampagneandcoldmeatsetoutontheside—board，andshewaslightlypromisingandcoaxing。Buthedrowsedquicklyinthewarmth，andthelastdemandforsupperdiedhalfutteredonhislips。

Jeffaskedacrosshim："Can’tIgethimup—stairsforyou？Icancarryhim。"

Sheshookherheadandwhisperedback，"Icanleavehimhere，"andshelookedatJeffwithamoment’shesitation。"Didyou——doyouthinkthat——

anyonenoticedhimatMrs。Enderby’s？"

"No；theyhadgothiminaroombyhimself——thecaterer’smenhad。"

"Andyoufoundhimthere？"

"Mr。Westoverfoundhimthere，"Jeffanswered。

"Idon’tunderstand。"

"Didn’thecometoyouafterIleft？"

"Yes。"

"Itoldhimtoexcuseme——"

"Hedidn’t。"

"Well，Iguesshewasprettybadlyrattled。"Jeffstoppedhimselfinthevaguelaughofonewhorememberssomethingludicrous，andturnedhisfaceaway。

"Tellmewhatitwas！"shedemanded，nervously。

"Mr。Westoverhadbeenhomewithhimonce，andhewouldn’tstay。HemadeMr。Westovercomebackforme。"

"Whatdidhewantwithyou？"

Jeffshrugged。

"Andthenwhat？"

"Wewentouttothecarriage，assoonasIcouldgetawayfromyou；buthewasn’tinit。IsentMr。Westoverbacktoyouandsetouttolookforhim。"

"Thatwasverygoodofyou。AndI——thankyouforyourkindnesstomybrother。Ishallnotforgetit。AndIwishtobegyourpardon。"

"Whatfor？"askedJeff，bluntly。

"Forblamingyouwhenyoudidn’tcomebackforthedance。"

IfBessiehadmeantnothingbutwhatwasfittingtothemomentsomeinherentlightnessofnatureplayedherfalse。Buteventhehistrionictouchwhichshecouldnotkeepoutofhervoice，hermanner，anothersortofmanmighthavefoundmerelypathetic。

Jefflaughedwithsubtleintelligence。"Wereyouveryhardonme？"

"Very，"sheansweredinkind，forgettingherbrotherandthewholeterriblesituation。

"Tellmewhatyouthoughtofme，"hesaid，andhecamealittlenearertoher，lookingveryhandsomeandverystrong。"Ishouldliketoknow。"

"IsaidIshouldneverspeaktoyouagain。"

"Andyoukeptyourword，"saidJeff。"Well，that’sallright。Good—

night—orgood—morning，whicheveritis。"Hetookherhand，whichshecouldnotwithdraw，orfeignedtoherselfthatshecouldnotwithdraw，andlookedatherwithasilentlaugh，andahardy，scepticalglancethatshefelttakeineverydetailofherprettiness，herplainness。Thenheturnedandwentout，andsheranquicklyandlockedthedooruponhim。

XXXV。

Bessiecreptuptoherroom，whereshespenttherestofthenightinherchair，amidatumultofemotionwhichshewouldhavecalledthinking。

Sheaskedherselfthemostsearchingquestions，butshegotnoverycandidanswerstothem，andshedecidedthatshemustseethewholefactwithsomeother’seyesbeforeshecouldknowwhatshehadmeantorwhatshehaddone。

Whensheletthedaylightintoherroom，itshowedherafaceinhermirrorthatborenotraceofconflictinganxieties。Hercomplexionfavoredthiseffectofinwardcalm；itwasalwaysthick；andhereyesseemedtoherallthebrighterfortheirvigils。

Asmile，even，hoveredonhermouthasshesatdownatthebreakfast—

table，intheprettynegligeeshehadwornallnight，andpouredoutMissLynde’scoffeeforher。

"That’salwaysverybecomingtoyou，Bessie，"saidheraunt。"It’sthenicestbreakfastgownyouhave。"

"Doyouthinkso？"Bessielookeddownatit，firstononesideandthenontheother，asawomanalwaysdoeswhenherdressisspokenof。

"Mr。Alansaidhewouldhavehisbreakfastinhisroom，miss，"murmuredthebutler，inhuskyrespectfulness，ashereturnedtoBessiefromcarryingMissLynde’scuptoher。"Hedon’twantanythingbutalittletoastandcoffee。"

Sheperceivedthatthewordsweremeanttomakeiteasyforhertoask：

"Isn’theverywell，Andrew？"

"Aboutasusual，miss，"saidAndrew，athoughtmoresepulchralthanbefore。"He’sgoingon——aboutasusual。"

Sheknewthistomeanthathewasgoingonfrombadtoworse，andthathislastnight’sexcesswasthebeginningofadebauchwhichcouldendonlyinoneway。Shemustsendforthedoctor；hewoulddecidewhatwasbest，whenhesawhowAlancamethroughtheday。

LateintheafternoonsheheardMaryEnderby’svoiceinthereception—

room，biddingthemansaythatifMissBessiewerelyingdownshewouldcomeuptoher，orwouldgoaway，justasshewished。Sheflewdownstairswithagladcryof"Molly！Whataninspiration！Iwasjustthinkingofyou，andwishingforyou。ButIdidn’tsupposeyouwereupyet！"

"It’sprettyearly，"saidMissEnderby。"ButIshouldhavebeenherebeforeifIcould，forIknewIshouldn’twakeyou，Bessie，withyourhabitofturningnightintoday，andgettingupanytimeintheforenoon。"

"Howdissipatedyousound！"

"Yes，don’tI？ButI’vebeenthinkingaboutyoueversinceIwoke，andI

hadtocomeandfindoutifyouwerealive，anyhow。"

"Comeup—stairsandsee！"saidBessie，holdingherfriend’shandonthesofawheretheyhaddroppeddowntogether，andgoingalloverthesceneoflastnightinthatplaceforthethousandthtime。

"No，no；Ireallymustn’t。Ihopeyouhadagoodtime？"

"Atyourhouse！"

"Howdearofyou！But，Bessie，Igottothinkingyou’dbeenrathersacrificed。ItcameintomymindtheinstantIwoke，andgavemethisseverecaseofconscience。Isupposeit’sakindofconscience。"

"Yes，yes。Goon！Ilikehavingbeenamartyr，ifIdon’tknowwhatabout。"

"Why，youknow，Bessie，orifyoudon’tyouwillpresently，thatitwasI

whogotmammatosendhimacard；Ifeltrathersorryforhim，thatdayatMrs。Bevidge’s，becauseshe’dsoobviouslygothimtheretousehim，andIgotmammatoaskhim。Everythingtakescareofitself，atalargeaffair，andIthoughtImighttrustinProvidencetodealwithhimafterhecame；andthenIsawyoumadeameansthewholeevening！Ididn’treflectthattherealwayshastobeameans！"

"It’saquestionofMr。Durgin？"saidBessie，coldlythrillingatthesoundofanamethatshepronouncedsogaylyinatoneofsympatheticamusement。

MissEnderbybobbedherhead。"Itshowsthatweoughtnevertodoagoodaction，doesn’tit？But，poorthing！Howyoumusthavebeenswearingoff！"

"Idon’tknow。Wasitsoverybad？I’mtryingtothink，"saidBessie，thinkingthatafterthisbeginningitwouldbeimpossibletoconfideinMaryEnderby。

"Oh，now，Bessie！Don’tyoubepatient，orIshallbegintolosemyfaithinhumannature。JustsayatoncethatitwasanoutrageandI’llforgiveyou！Yousee，"MissEnderbywenton，"itisn’tmerelythathe’sajay；butheisn’taverynicejay。Noneofthemenlikehim——exceptFreddyLancaster，ofcourse；helikeseverybody，onprinciple；hedoesn’tcount。Ithoughtthatperhaps，althoughhe’ssocrudeandblunt，hemightbesensitiveandhigh—minded；you’realwaysreadingaboutsuchthings；buttheysayheisn’t，intheleast；oh，nottheleast！Theysayhegoeswithasetoffastjays，andthathe’sdreadful；thoughhehasaverygoodmind，andcoulddoverywellifhechose。That’swhatcousinJimsaidto—day；he’sjustbeenatourhouse；anditwassoextremelytelepathicthatIthoughtImustrunroundandpreventyourhavingthemanonyourconscienceifyoufeltyouhadhadtoomuchofhim。Youwon’tlayhimupagainstus，willyou？"Shejumpedtoherfeet。

"Youdear！"saidBessie，keepingMaryEnderby’shand，andpressingitbetweenbothofhersagainstherbreastastheynowstoodfacetoface，"docomeupandhavesometea！"

"No，no！Really，Ican’t。"

Theywerebothinvoluntarilysilent。Thedoorhadbeenopenedtosomeone，andtherewasabriefparley，whichendedinavoicetheyknewtobethedoctor’s，saying，"ThenI’llgorightuptohisroom。"Boththegirlsbrokeintolaughingadieux，tohidetheirconsciousnessthatthedoctorwasgoinguptoseeAlanLynde，whowasneversickexceptintheoneway。

MissEnderbyevensaid："IwassogladtoseeAlanlookingsowell，lastnight。"

"Yes，hehadsuchagoodtime，"saidBessie，andshefollowedherfriendtothedoor，whereshekissedherreassuringly，andthankedherfortakingallthetroubleshehad，biddinghernotbetheleastanxiousonheraccount。

Itseemedtoherthatsheshouldsinkuponthestairsinmountingthemtothelibrary。MaryEnderbyhadtoldheronlywhatshehadknownbefore；

itwaswhatherbrotherhadtoldher；butthenithadnotbeenpossibleforthemantosaythathehadbroughtAlanhometipsy，andbeenaloneinthehousewithheratthreeo’clockinthemorning。Hewouldnotonlyboastofittoallthatvulgarcomradehoodofhis，butitmightgetintothoseterriblepaperswhichpublishedthesocietyscandals。Therewouldbenowaybuttoappealtohispity，hisgenerosity。Shefanciedherselfwritingtohim，buthecouldshowhernote，andshemustsendforhimtocomeandseeher，andtrytoputhimonhishonor。Or，thatwouldnotdo，either。Shemustmakeithappenthattheyshouldbethrowntogether，andthenspeaktohim。Eventhatmightmakehimthinkshewasafraidofhim；orhemighttakeitwrong，andbelievethatshecaredforhim。

HehadreallybeenverygoodtoAlan，andshetriedtofeelsafeinthethoughtofthat。Shedidfeelsafeforamoment；butifshehadmeantnothingbuttomakehimbelievehergrateful，whatmustheinferfromhertalkingtohiminthelightwayshedidaboutforgivinghimfornotcomingbacktodancewithher。Hermanner，herlooks，hertone，hadgivenhimtherighttosaythatshehadbeenwillingtoflirtwithhimthere，atthathour，andinthosedreadfulcircumstances。

Shefoundherselflyinginadeeparm—chairinthelibrary，whenshewasawareofDr。Lacypausingatthedoorandlookingtentativelyinuponher。

"Comein，doctor，"shesaid，andsheknewthatherfacewaswetwithtears，andthatshespokewiththevoiceofweeping。

Hecameforwardandlookednarrowlyather，withoutsittingdown。

"There’snothingtobealarmedabout，MissBessie，"hesaid。"ButI

thinkyourbrotherhadbetterleavehomeagain，forawhile。"

"Yes，"shesaid，blankly。Hermindwasnotonhiswords。

"Iwillmakethearrangements。"

"Thankyou，"saidBessie，listlessly。

Thedoctorhadmadeastepbackward，asifheweregoingaway，andnowhestopped。"Aren’tyoufeelingquitewell，MissBessie？"

"Ohyes，"shesaid，andshebegantocry。

Thedoctorcameforwardandsaid，cheerily："Letmesee。"Hepulledachairuptohers，andtookherwristbetweenhisfingers。"IfyouwereatMrs。Enderby’slastnight，you’llneedanothernighttoputyoujustright。Butyou’reprettywellasitis。"Heletherwristsoftlygo，andsaid："Youmustn’tdistressyourselfaboutyourbrother’scase。

Ofcourse，it’shardtohaveithappennowafterhe’sheldupsolong；

longerthanithasbeenbefore，Ithink，isn’tit？Butit’ssomethingthatithasbeensolong。Thenexttime，letushope，itwillbelongerstill。"

Thedoctormadeasiftorise。Bessieputherhandouttostayhim。

"Whatisitmakeshimdoit？"

"Ah，that’sagreatmystery，"saidthedoctor。"Isupposeyoumightsaytheexcitement。"

"Yes！"

"Butitseemstomeveryoften，insuchcases，asifitweretoescapetheexcitement。Ithinkyou’rebothkeyedupprettysharplybynature，MissBessie，"saidthedoctor，withthepersonalkindnesshefeltforthegirl，andthepitysofteninghisscientificspirit。

"Iknow！"sheanswered。"We’realike。Whydon’tItaketodrinking，too？"

Thedoctorlaughedatsuchaquestionfromayounglady，butwithaninnerseriousnessinhislaugh，asif，comingfromapatient，itwastobeweighed。"Well，Isupposeitisn’tthehabitofyoursex，MissBessie。"

"Sometimesitis。Sometimeswomengetdrunk，andthenIthinktheydolessharmthaniftheydidotherthingstogetawayfromtheexcitement。"

Shelongedtoconfideinhim；thewordswereonhertongue；shebelievedhecouldhelpher，tellherwhattodo；outofhisstoresofknowledgeandexperiencehemusthavesomesuggestion，someremedy；hecouldadviseher；hecouldstandherfriend，sofar。Peopletoldtheirdoctorsallkindsofthings，sillythings。Whyshouldshenottellherdoctorthis？

Itwouldhavebeeneasierifithadbeenanolderman，whomighthavehadadaughterofherage。Buthewasinthatperiodoftheearlyfortieswhenadoctorsometimeshasamatter—of—fact，disagreeablewifewhoseideastandsbetweenhimandthespiritualintimacyofhispatients，sothatitseemsasiftheyweredeliveringtheirconfidencesrathertoherthantohim。Hewasable，hewasgood，hewasextremelyacute，hewasevenwiththelatestfactsandtheories；butashesatstraightupinhischairhisstomachdefineditselfasahalf—moonbeforehim，andhesaidtothequiveringheapofemotionsbesidehim，"Youmeanlikebreakinghearts，andsuchlittlematters？"

Itwasfatallystupid，anditbeatherbackintoherself。

"Yes，"shesaid，withacontemptthatsheeasilyhidfromhim，"that’sworsethangettingdrunk，isn’tit？"

"Well，itisn’tsoregarded，"saidthedoctor，whosupposedhimselftohavemadeasprightlyanswer，andlaughedatit。"Iwish，MissBessie，you’dtakealittleremedyI’mgoingtosendyou。You’vemerelybeenuptoolate，butit’saverygoodthingforpeoplewho’vebeenuptoolate。"

"Thankyou。Andaboutmybrother？"

"Oh！I’llsendamantolookafterhimto—night，andtomorrowIreallythinkhe’dbettergo。"

XXXVI。

MissLyndehadgoneearlierthanusualtobed，whenBessieheardAlan’sdooropen，andthenheardhimfeelinghiswayfumbinglydown—stairs。Shesurmisedthathehaddrunkupallthathehadinhisroom，andwasmakingfortheside—boardinthedining—room。

Sheranandgotthetwodecanters—oneofwhiskeyandoneofbrandy，whichhewasinthehabitofcarryingbacktohisroomfromsuchanincursion。

"Alan！"shecalledtohim，inalowvoice。

"Whereareyou？"heansweredback。

"Inthelibrary，"shesaid。"Comeinhere，please。"

Hecame，andstoodlookinggloomilyinfromthedoorway。Hecaughtsightofthedecantersandtheglassesonthelibrarytable。"Oh！"hesaid，andgavealaughcutintwobyahiccough。

"Comein，andshutthedoor，Alan，"shesaid。"Let’smakeanightofit。

I’vegotthematerialshere。"Shewavedherhandtowardthedecanters。

Alanshrugged。"Idon’tknowwhatyoumean。"Buthecameforward，andslouchedintooneofthedeepchairs。

"Well，I’lltellyouwhat，"saidBessie，withalaugh。"We’rebothexcited，andwewanttogetawayfromourselves。Isn’tthatwhat’sthematterwithyouwhenitbegins？DoctorLacythinksitis。"

"Doeshe？"Alanasked。"Ididn’tsupposehehadsomuchsense。Whatofit？"

"Nothing。MerelythatI’mgoingtodrinkaglassofwhiskeyandaglassofbrandyforeveryglassthatyoudrinkto—night。"

"Youmustn’tplaythefool，Bess，"saidherbrother，withdignifiedseverity。

"ButI’mreallyserious，Alan。ShallIgiveyousomething？Whichshallwebeginon？Andwe’dbetterbeginsoon，forthere’samancomingfromthedoctortolookafteryou，andthenyouwon’tgetanything。"

"Don’tberidiculous！Givemethosedecanters！"Alanstruggledoutofhischair，andtrembledovertowhereshehadthemonthetablebesideher。

Shecaughtthemup，oneineitherhand，andheldthemashighasshecouldliftthem。"Ifyoudon’tsitdownandpromisetokeepstill，I’llsmashthembothonthehearth。YouknowIwill。"

Herstrangeeyesgleamed，andhehesitated；thenhewentbacktohischair。

"Idon’tseewhat’sgotintoyouto—night。Idon’twantanything，"hesaid。Hetriedtobraveitout，butpresentlyhecastapiteousglanceatthedecanterswhereshehadputthemdownbesideheragain。"DoesthedoctorthinkI’dbettergoagain？"heasked。

"Yes。"

"When？"

"To—morrow。"

Helookedatthedecanters。"Andwhenisthatfellowcoming？"

"Hemaybehereanymoment。"

"It’sprettyrough，"hesighed。"Twoglassesofthatstuffwoulddriveyousowildyouwouldn’tknowwhereyouwere，Bess，"heexpostulated。

"Well，IwishIdidn’tknowwhereIwas。IwishIwasn’tanywhere。"Helookedather，andthendroppedhiseyes，withtheeffectofgivingupahopelessconundrum。

Butheasked："What’sthematter？"

Shescannedhimkeenlybeforesheanswered："SomethingthatIshouldliketotellyou——thatyououghttoknow。Alan，doyouthinkyouarefittojudgeofaveryseriousmatter？"

Helaughedpathetically。"Idon’tbelieveI’minaveryjudicialframeofmindto—night，Bess。To—morrow——"

"Oh，to—morrow！Wherewillyoubeto—morrow？"

"That’strue！Well，whatisit？I’lltrytolisten。Butifyouknewhowmynervesweregoing。"Hiseyeswanderedfromhersbacktothedecanters。"IfIhadjustoneglass——"

"I’llhaveone，too，"shesaid，withamotiontowardthedecanternexther。

Hethrewuphisarms。"Ohwell，goon。I’lllistenaswellasIcan。"

Hesankdowninhischairandstretchedhislittlefeetouttowardthefire。"Goon！"

Shehesitatedbeforeshebegan。"Doyouknowwhobroughtyouhomelastnight，Alan？"

"Yes，"heanswered，quickly，"Westover。"

"Yes，Mr。Westoverbroughtyon，andyouwouldn’tstay。Youdon’trememberanythingelse？"

"No。Whatelse？"

"Nothingforyou，ifyoudon’tremember。"Shesatinsilenthopelessnessforawhile，andherbrother’seyesdweltonthedecanters，whichsheseemedtohaveforgotten。"Alan！"shebrokeout，abruptly，"I’mworried，andifIcan’ttellyouaboutitthere’snooneIcan。"

Theappealintiervoicemusthavereachedhim，thoughheseemedscarcelytohaveheededherwords。"Whatisit？"heasked，kindly。

"YouwentbacktotheEnderbys’afterMr。Westoverbroughtyouhome，andthensomeoneelsehadtobringyouagain。"

"Howdoyouknow？"

"Iwasup，andletyouin——"

"Didyou，Bessie？Thatwaslikeyou，"hesaid，tenderly。

"AndIhadtolethimin，too。Youpulledhimintothehouse，andyoumadesuchadisturbanceatthedoorthathehadtocomeinforfearyouwouldbringthepolice。"

"Whatabeast！"saidAlan，ofhimself，asifitweresomeoneelse。

"Hecameinwithyou。Andyouwantedhimtohavesomesupper。Andyoufellasleepbeforethefireinthereception—room。"

"That——thatwasthedream！"saidAlan，severely。"Whatareyoutalkingthatstufffor，Bessie？"

"Ohno！"sheretorted，withalaugh，asifthepleasureofitscominginsofitlywerecompensationfortheshameofthefact。"Thedreamwaswhathappenedafterward。Thedreamwasthatyoufellasleepthere，andleftmetherewithhim——"

"Well，pooroldWestover；he’sagentleman！Youneedn’tbeworriedabouthim——"

"You’renotfit！"criedthegirl。"Igiveitup。"Shegotuponherfeetandstoodamomentlistless。

"No，I’mnot，Bessie。Ican’tpullmymindtogethertonight。Butlookhere！"Heseemedtolosewhathewantedtosay。Heasked："IsitsomethingI’vegotyouinfor？DoIunderstandthat？"

"Partly，"shesaid。

"Well，then，I’llhelpyouout。Youcantrustme，Bessie；youcan，indeed。Youdon’tbelieveit？"

"Oh，IbelieveyouthinkIcantrustyou。"

"Butthistimeyoucan。IfyouneedmyhelpIwillstandbyyou，rightorwrong。IfyouwanttotellmenowI’lllisten，andI’lladviseyouthebestIcan——"

"It’sjustsomethingI’vegotnervousabout，"shesaid，whilehereyesshonewithsuddentears。"ButIwon’ttroubleyouwithitto—night。

There’snosuchgreathurry。Wecantalkaboutitinthemorningifyou’rebetterthen。Oh，Iforgot！You’regoingaway！"

"No，"saidtheyoungman，withpatheticdignity，"I’mnotgoingifyouneedmyhelp。Butyou’rerightaboutmetonight，Bessie。I’mnotfit。

I’mafraidIcan’tgraspanythingto—night。Tellmeinthemorning。

Oh，don’tbeafraid！"hecriedoutattheglanceshegavethedecanters。

"That’sover，now；youcouldputtheminmyhandsandbesafeenough。

I’mgoingbacktobed，andinthemorning——"

Heroseandwenttowardthedoor。"Ifthatdoctor’smancomesto—nightyoucansendhimawayagain。Heneedn’tbother。"

"Allright，Alan，"shesaid，fondly。"Good—night。Don’tworryaboutme。

Trytogetsomesleep。"

"Andyoumustsleep，too。Youcantrustme，Bessie。"

Hecamebackafterhegotoutoftheroomandlookedin。"Bess，ifyou’reanxiousaboutit，ifyoudon’tfeelperfectlysureofme，youcantakethosethingstoyourroomwithyou。"Heindicatedthedecanterswithaglance。

"Ohno！Ishallleavethemhere。Itwouldn’tbeanyuseyourjustkeepingwellovernight。You’llhavetokeepwellalongtime，Alan，ifyou’regoingtohelpme。Andthat’sthereasonI’drathertalktoyouwhenyoucangiveyourwholemindtowhatIsay。"

"Isitsomethingsoserious？"

"Idon’tknow。That’sforyoutojudge。Notvery——notatall，perhaps。"

"ThenIwon’tfailyou，Bessie。Ishall’keepwell，’asyoucallit，aslongasyouwantme。Good—night。"

"Good—night。Ishallleavethesebottleshere，remember。"

"Youneedn’tbeafraid。Youmightputthembesidemybed。"

Bessiesleptsoundly，fromexhaustion，andinthatprovisionalfashioninwhichpeoplewhohavepostponedacaretoagivenmomentareabletosleep。Butshewokeearly，andcreptdown—stairsbeforeanyoneelsewasastir，andwenttothelibrary。Thedecantersstoodthereonthetable，empty。Herbrotherlayashapelessheapinoneofthedeeparm—chairs。

XXXVII。

WestovergothomefromtheEnderbydanceatlastwiththeforecastofaviolentcoldinhissystem，whichverifieditselfthenextmorning。Hehadbeenhousedaweek，whenJeffDurgincametoseehim。"Whydidn’tyouletmeknowyouweresick？"hedemanded，"I’dhavecomeandlookedafteryou。"

"Thankyou，"saidWestover，withasmuchstiffnessashecouldcommandinhisphysicallimpness。"Ishouldn’thaveallowedyoutolookafterme；

andIwantyoutounderstand，now，thattherecan’tbeanysortoffriendlinessbetweenustillyou’veaccountedforyourbehaviorwithLyndetheothernight。"

"Youmeanattheparty？"Jeffasked，tranquilly。

"Yes！"criedWestover。"IfIhadnotbeenshutupeversince，Ishouldhavegonetoseeyouandhaditoutwithyou。I’veonlyletyouin，now，togiveyouthechancetoexplain；andIrefusetohearawordfromyoutillyoudo。"Westoverdidnotthinkthatthiswasveryforcible，andhewasnotmuchsurprisedthatitmadeJeffsmile。

"Why，Idon’tknowwhatthereistoexplain。IsupposeyouthinkIgothimdrunk；Iknowwhatyouthoughtthatnight。Buthewasprettywellloadedwhenhestruckmychampagne。Itwasn’taquestionofwhathewasgoingtodoanylonger，buthowhewasgoingtodoit。Ikeptaneyeonhim，andattherighttimeIhelpedthecaterer’smantogethimupintothatroomwherehewouldn’tmakeanytrouble。Iexpectedtogobackandlookafterhim，butIforgothim。"

"Idon’tsuppose，really，thatyou’reawarewhatadevil’sargumentthatis，"saidWestover。"YougotLyndedrunk，andthenyouwentbacktohissister，andallowedhertotreatyouasifyouwereagentleman，anddidn’tdeservetobethrownoutofthehouse。"ThisatlastwassomethinglikewhatWestoverhadimaginedhewouldsaytoJeff，andhelookedtoseeithavetheimaginedeffectuponhim。

"Doyousuppose，"askedJeff，withcheerfulcynicism，"thatitwasthefirsttimeshewasciviltoamanherbrothergotdrunkwith？"

"No！Butallthemoreyououghttohaveconsideredherhelplessness。

Itoughttohavemadeherthemoresacred"——Jeffgaveanexasperatingshrug——"toyou，andyououghttohavekeptawayfromherfordecency’ssake。"

"Iwasengagedtodancewithher。"

"Ican’tallowyoutobetrivialwithme，Durgin，"saidWestover。

"You’veactedlikeablackguard，andworse，ifthereisanythingworse。"

Jeffstoodatacornerofthefire，leaningoneelbowonthemantel，andhenowlookedthoughtfullydownonWestover，whohadsunkweaklyintoachairbeforethehearth。"Idon’tdenyitfromyourpointofview，Mr。

Westover，"hesaid，withouttheleastresentmentinhistone。"Youbelievethateverythingisdonefromapurpose，orthatathingisintendedbecauseit’sdone。ButIseethatmostthingsinthisworldarenotthoughtabout，andnotintended。Theyhappen，justasmuchastheotherthingsthatwecallaccidents。"