第2章
AdamsbycolleaguesinhisdepartmentatLambandCompany"s。
AdamshadshownsomefeelingwhenAlicebegantourgeitsremovaltoobscurityinthe"upstairshall"；heevenresistedforseveraldaysaftershehadthe"Colosseum"chargedtohim，framedinoak，andsenttothehouse。Shecheeredhimup，ofcourse，whenhegaveway；andherheartnevermisgaveherthattheremightbeadoubtwhichofthetwopictureswasthemoredismaying。
Overthepictures，thevases，theoldbrownplushrocking-chairsandthestool，overthethreegiltchairs，overthenewchintz-coveredeasychairandthegrayveluresofa——overeverythingeverywhere，wasthefamiliarcoatingofsmokegrime。
Ithadworkedintoeveryfibreofthelacecurtains，dingyingthemtoanunpleasantgray；itlayonthewindow-sillsanditdimmedtheglasspanes；itcoveredthewalls，coveredtheceiling，andwassmeareddarkerandthickerinallcorners。Yetherewasnofaultofhousewifery；thecursecouldnotbelifted，astheingrainedsmudgespermanentontheoncewhitewoodworkproved。Thegrimewasperpetuallyrenewed；scrubbingonlygrounditin。
ThisparticularuglinesswassmallpartofAlice"sdiscontent，forthoughthecoatinggrewalittledeepereachyearshewasusedtoit。Moreover，sheknewthatshewasnotlikelytofindanythingbetterinathousandmiles，solongasshekepttocities，andthatnoneofherfriends，howeveropulent，hadanyadvantageofherhere。Indeed，throughoutallthegreatsoft-coalcountry，peoplewhoconsiderthemselvescomparativelypoormayfindthisconsolation:cleanlinesshasbeenaddedtothevirtuesandbeatitudesthatmoneycannotbuy。
Alicebrightenedalittleasshewentforwardtothefrontdoor，andshebrightenedmorewhenthespringbreezemetherthere。
Thenalldepressionleftherasshewalkeddowntheshortbrickpathtothesidewalk，lookedupanddownthestreet，andsawhowbravelythemapleshade-trees，inspiteoftheblackpowdertheybreathed，wereflingingouttheirthousandsofyounggreenparticlesoverhead。
Sheturnednorth，treadingthenewlittleshadowsonthepavementbriskly，and，havingfinishedbuttoninghergloves，swungdownherMalaccastickfromunderherarmtoletittapamoreleisurelyaccompanimenttoherquick，shortstep。Shehadtostepquicklyifshewastogetanywhere；fortheclosenessofherskirt，inspiteofitslittlelength，permittednonaturalstride；butshewaspleasedtobeimpeded，thesebrevitiesformingpartofhershowoffashion。
Otherpedestriansfoundthemnotwithoutcharm，thoughapprovalmayhavebeenlackinghereandthere，andatthefirstcrossingAlicesufferedwhatshemighthaveaccountedanactualinjury，hadsheallowedherselftobesosensitive。Anelderlywomaninfussyblacksilkstoodthere，waitingforastreetcar；shewasallofaglobularmodelling，withafacepatternedlikeafrost-bittenpeach；andthattheapproachinggracefulnesswasuncongenialshenaivelymadetooevident。Herround，waneyesseemedrousedtobitterlifeastheyrosefromthecurvedhighheelsofthebuckledslipperstothetightlittleskirt，andthencewithstartledferocitytotheMalaccacane，whichplainlyappearedtoherasadecorationnotmoreastoundingthanitwasinsulting。
Perceivingthatthegirlwasbowingtoher，theglobularladyhurriedlymadeshifttoalterherinjuriousexpression。"Goodmorning，Mrs。Dowling，"Alicesaid，gravely。Mrs。DowlingreturnedthesalutationwithasmileasconvincinglybenevolentastheghastlysmileuponaSantaClausface；andthen，whileAlicepassedon，explodedtowardherasinglecompactedbreaththroughtightenedlips。
Thesoundwaseloquentlyaudible，thoughMrs。Dowlingremainedunawarethatinthisoranymannerwhatevershehadshedalightuponherthoughts；foritwasherlifelonginnocentconvictionthatotherpeoplesawheronlyasshewishedtobeseen，andheardfromheronlywhatsheintendedtobeheard。Athomeitwasalwaysherhusbandwhopulleddowntheshadesoftheirbedroomwindow。
Alicelookedseriousforafewmomentsafterthelittleencounter，thenfoundsomeconsolationinthebehaviourofagentlemanoffortyorsowhowascomingtowardher。LikeMrs。
Dowling，hehadbeguntoshowconsciousnessofAlice"sapproachwhileshewasyetafaroff；buthistokenswereofakindpleasantertoher。HewaslikeMrs。Dowlingagain，however，inhisconceptionthatAlicewouldnotrealizethesignificanceofwhathedid。Hepassedhishandoverhisneck-scarftoseethatitlayneatlytohiscollar，smoothedalapelofhiscoat，andadjustedhishat，seemingtobepreoccupiedthewhilewithproblemsthatkepthiseyestothepavement；then，ashecamewithinafewfeetofher，helookedup，asinasurprisedrecognitionalmostdramatic，smiledwinningly，liftedhishatdecisively，andcarriedittothefullarm"slength。
Alice"sresponsewasallhecouldhaveasked。Thecaneinherrighthandstoppedshortinitsswing，whileherlefthandmovedinaprettygestureasifanimpulsecarriedittowardtheheart；
andshesmiled，withherunderlipcaughtsuddenlybetweenherteeth。Monthsagoshehadseenanactressusethissmileinaplay，anditcameperfectlytoAlicenow，withoutconsciousdirection，ithadbeensowellacquired；buttheprettyhand"slittleimpulsetowardtheheartwasanoriginalbitallherown，onthespurofthemoment。
Thegentlemanwenton，passingfromherforwardvisionashereplacedhishat。OfhimselfhewasnothingtoAlice，exceptforthegraciouscircumstancethathehadshownstrongconsciousnessofaprettygirl。Hewasmiddle-aged，substantial，afamilyman，securelymarried；andAlicehadwithhimoneofthoselongacquaintancesthatneverbecomeemphasizedbysomuchasfiveminutesoftalk；yetforthisinconsequentmeetingshehadenactedalittlepartlikeafragmentinapantomimeofSpanishwooing。
Itwasnotforhim——noteventoimpresshim，exceptasamessenger。Alicewasherselfalmostunawareofherthought，whichwasoneoftherunningthousandsofherthoughtsthattooknodeliberateforminwords。Nevertheless，shehadit，anditwastheimpulseofallherprettybitsofpantomimewhenshemetotheracquaintanceswhomadetheirappreciationvisible，asthissubstantialgentlemandid。InAlice"sunwordedthought，hewastobethusencouragedasinsomemeasureachampiontospeakwellofhertotheworld；butmorethanthis:hewastotellsomemagnificentunknownbachelorhowwonderful，howmysterious，shewas。
Shehastenedongravely，alittlestirredreciprocallywiththesupposedstirringsinthebreastofthatshadowyducalmate，whomustbesomewhere"waiting，"orperhapsalreadyseekingher；forshemoreoftenthoughtofherselfas"waiting"whilehesoughther；andsometimesthisviewofthingsbecamesodefinitethatitshapedintoamurmuronherlips。"Waiting。Justwaiting。"Andshemightadd，"Forhim!"Then，beingtwenty-two，shewasapttoconcludethemysticinterviewbylaughingatherself，thoughnotwithoutacontinuedwistfulness。
Shecametoagroupofsmallcolouredchildrenplayingwaywardlyinapuddleatthemouthofamuddyalley；andatsightofhertheygaveovertheirpastimeinordertostare。Shesmiledbrilliantlyuponthem，buttheyweretoostruckwithwondertocomprehendthatthemanifestationwasfriendly；andasAlicepickedherwayinalittledetourtokeepfromthemud，sheheardoneofthemsay，"Ladygotcane!Jeez"!"
Sheknewthatmanycolouredchildrenuseimpietiesfamiliarly，andshewasnotstartled。Shewasdisturbed，however，byanunfavourablehintinthespeaker"stone。Hewassix，probably，butthestingofacriticismisnotnecessarilyallayedbyknowledgeofitsignoblesource，andAlicehadalreadybeguntofeelaslightuneasinessabouthercane。Mrs。Dowling"sstarehadbeenstrikinglyprojectedatit；otherwomenmorethanmerelyglanced，theirbrowsandlipscontractingimpulsively；andAlicewasawarethatoneortwoofthemfranklyhaltedassoonasshehadpassed。
Shehadseeninseveralmagazinespicturesofladieswithcanes，andonthataccountshehadboughtthisone，neverquestioningthatfashionisrecognized，evenintheprovinces，assoonasbeheld。Onthecontrary，thesestaringwomenobviouslyfailedtorealizethatwhattheywerebeingshownwasnotaneccentricoutburst，butthebrightharbingerofanillustriousmode。Alicehadappliedabitofartificialpigmenttoherlipsandcheeksbeforeshesetforththismorning；shedidnotneedit，havingareadycolourofherown，whichnowmountedhighwithannoyance。
Thenasplendidlyshiningclosedblackautomobile，withwindowsofpolishedglass，camesilentlydownthestreettowardher。
Withinit，asinaluxuriouslittleapartment，threecomelyladiesinmourningsatandgossiped；butwhentheysawAlicetheyclutchedoneanother。Theyinstantlyrecovered，bowingtohersolemnlyastheywereborneby，yetwerenotgonefromhersightsoswiftlybuttheedgeofhersideglancecaughtaflashofteethinmouthssuddenlyopened，andthedarkglistenofblackglovesagainclutchingtosharemirth。
ThecolourthatoutdidtherougeonAlice"scheekextendeditsareaandgrewwarmerassherealizedhowalltoocordialhadbeenhernodandsmiletothesehumorousladies。Butintheiridentitylayasignificancecausingherasharpersmart，fortheywereofthefamilyofthatLamb，chiefofLambandCompany，whohademployedherfathersincebeforeshewasborn。
"Andknowhissalary!They"dbeSUREtofindoutaboutthat!"
washerthought，coupledwithanotherbitteronetotheeffectthattheyhadprobablymadeinstantaneousfinancialestimatesofwhatsheworethoughcertainlyherwalking-stickhadmostfedtheirhilarity。
Shetuckeditunderherarm，notswingingitagain；andherbreathbecamequickandirregularasemotionbesether。Shehadbeenenjoyingherwalk，butwithinthespaceofthefewblocksshehadgonesinceshemetthesubstantialgentleman，shefoundthatmorethanthewalkwasspoiled:suddenlyherlifeseemedtobespoiled，too；thoughshedidnotviewtheruinwithcomplaisance。TheseLambwomenthoughtherandhercaneridiculous，didthey？shesaidtoherself。Thatwastheirparvenublood:tothinkbecauseagirl"sfatherworkedfortheirgrandfathershehadnorighttoberatherstrikinginstyle，especiallywhenthestrikingWASherstyle。Probablyalltheothergirlsandwomenwouldagreewiththemandwouldlaughatherwhentheygottogether，and，whatmightbefatal，wouldtrytomakeallthementhinkherasillypretender。Menwerejustlikesheep，andnothingwaseasierthanforwomentosetupasshepherdsandpentheminafold。"Tokeepoutoutsiders，"Alicethought。"Andmake"embelieveIAManoutsider。What"stheuseofliving？"
Allseemedlostwhenatrimyoungmanappeared，stridingoutofacross-streetnotfarbeforeher，and，turningatthecorner，cametowardher。Visibly，heslackenedhisgaittolengthenthetimeofhisapproach，and，ashewasastrangertoher，nomotivecouldbeascribedtohimotherthanawishtohavealongertimetolookather。
Sheliftedaprettyhandtoapinatherthroat，bitherlip——notwiththesmile，butmysteriously——andatthelastinstantbeforehershadowtouchedthestranger，lethereyesgravelymeethis。
Amomentlater，havingarrivedbeforethehousewhichwasherdestination，shehaltedattheentrancetoadrivewayleadingthroughfinelawnstotheintentionallyimportantmansion。Itwasapleasantandimpressiveplacetobeseenentering，butAlicedidnotenteratonce。Shepaused，examiningatinybitofmortarwhichthemasonshadforgottentoscrapefromabrickinoneofthemassivegate-posts。Shefrownedatthistinydefacement，andwithanairofannoyancescrapeditaway，usingtheferruleofhercaneanactoffastidiousproprietorship。Ifanyonehadlookedbackoverhisshoulderhewouldnothavedoubtedthatshelivedthere。
Alicedidnotturntoseewhetheranythingofthesorthappenedornot，butshemayhavesurmisedthatitdid。Atallevents，itwaswithaninvigoratedstepthatsheleftthegatewaybehindherandwentcheerfullyupthedrivetothehouseofherfriendMildred。
CHAPTERIV
Adamshadarestlessmorning，andtowardnoonheaskedMissPerrytocallhisdaughter；hewishedtosaysomethingtoher。
"IthoughtIheardherleavingthehouseacoupleofhoursago——maybelonger，"thenursetoldhim。"I"llgosee。"Andshereturnedfromthebrieferrand，herimpressionconfirmedbyinformationfromMrs。Adams。"Yes。ShewentuptoMissMildredPalmer"stoseewhatshe"sgoingtowearto-night。"
AdamslookedatMissPerrywearily，butremainedpassive，makingnoinquiries；forhewaslongaccustomedtowhatseemedtohimakindofjargonamongladies，whichbecamethemoreincomprehensiblewhentheytriedtoexplainit。Aman"sbestcourse，hehadfound，wasjusttoletitgoassomuchsound。
Hissorrowfuleyesfollowedthenurseasshewentbacktoherrocking-chairbythewindow，andherplacidityshowedhimthattherewasnomysteryforherinthefactthatAlicewalkedtwomilestoasksosimpleaquestionwhentherewasatelephoneinthehouse。ObviouslyMissPerryalsocomprehendedwhyAlicethoughtitimportanttoknowwhatMildredmeanttowear。AdamsunderstoodwhyAliceshouldbeconcernedwithwhatsheherselfwore"tolookneatandtidyandatherbest，why，ofcourseshe"dwantto，"hethought——butherealizedthatitwasforeverbeyondhimtounderstandwhytheclothingofotherpeoplehadlongsincebecomeanabsorbingpartofherlife。
Herexcursionthismorningwasnonovelty；shewascontinuallygoingtoseewhatMildredmeanttowear，orwhatsomeothergirlmeanttowear；andwhenAlicecamehomefromwhereverothergirlsorwomenhadbeengathered，shealwayshurriedtohermotherwithearnestdescriptionsoftheclothingshehadseen。Atsuchtimes，ifAdamswaspresent，hemightrecognize"organdie，"or"taffeta，"or"chiffon，"aswordsdefiningcertaintextiles，buttherestwastootechnicalforhim，andhewaslikeadismalboyatasermon，justwaitingforittogetitselffinished。Nottheleastofthemysterywashiswife"sinterest:shewasalmostindifferentaboutherownclothes，andwhensheconsultedAliceaboutthemspokehurriedlyandwithanairofapology；butwhenAlicedescribedotherpeople"sclothes，Mrs。Adamslistenedaseagerlyasthedaughtertalked。
"Theretheygo!"hemutteredto-day，amomentafterheheardthefrontdoorclosing，asoundrecognizablethroughoutmostofthethinlybuilthouse。Alicehadjustreturned，andMrs。Adamscalledtoherfromtheupperhallway，notfarfromAdams"sdoor。
"WhatdidsheSAY？"
"Shewassortofsnippyaboutit，"Alicereturned，ascendingthestairs。"Shegetsthatwaysometimes，andpretendedshehadn"tmadeuphermind，butI"mprettysureit"llbethemaizeGeorgettewithMalinesflounces。"
"Didn"tyousaysheworethatatthePattersons"？"Mrs。Adamsinquired，asAlicearrivedatthetopofthestairs。"Anddidn"tyoutellmesheworeitagainatthe——"
"Certainlynot，"Aliceinterrupted，ratherpetulantly。"She"sneverwornitbutonce，andofcourseshewouldn"twanttowearanythingto-nightthatpeoplehaveseenherinalot。"
MissPerryopenedthedoorofAdams"sroomandsteppedout。
"Yourfatherwantstoknowifyou"llcomeandseehimaminute，，MissAdams。"
"Pooroldthing!Ofcourse!"Aliceexclaimed，andwentquicklyintotheroom，MissPerryremainingoutside。"What"sthematter，papa？Gettingawfulsickoflyingonhistiredoldback，I
expect。"
"I"vehadkindofapoormorning，"Adamssaid，asshepattedhishandcomfortingly。"Ibeenthinking——"
"Didn"tItellyounotto？"shecried，gaily。"Ofcourseyou"llhavepoortimeswhenyougoanddojustexactlywhatIsayyoumustn"t。Youstopthinkingthisveryminute!"
Hesmiledruefully，closinghiseyes；wassilentforamoment，thenaskedhertositbesidethebed。"IbeenthinkingofsomethingIwantedtosay，"headded。
"Whatlike，papa？"
"Well，it"snothing——much，"hesaid，withsomethingdeprecatoryinhistone，asifhefeltvagueimpulsestowardbothhumourandapology。"IjustthoughtmaybeIoughtto"vesaidmoretoyousometimeorotherabout——well，aboutthewaythingsARE，downatLambandCompany"s，forinstance。"
"Now，papa!"Sheleanedforwardinthechairshehadtaken，andpretendedtoslaphishandcrossly。"Isn"tthatexactlywhatI
saidyoucouldn"tthinkonesinglethinkabouttillyougetALL
well？"
"Well——"hesaid，andwentonslowly，notlookingather，butattheceiling。"Ijustthoughtmaybeitwouldn"tbeenanyharmifsometimeorotherItoldyousomethingaboutthewaytheysortofdependonmedownthere。"
"Whydon"ttheyshowit，then？"sheasked，quickly。"That"sjustwhatmamaandIhavebeenfeelingsomuch；theydon"tappreciateyou。"
"Why，yes，theydo，"hesaid。"Yes，theydo。Theybeganh"istingmysalarythesecondyearIwentinthere，andthey"veh"isteditalittleeverytwoyearsallthetimeI"veworkedfor"em。I"vebeenheadofthesundriesdepartmentforsevenyearsnow，andIcouldhardlyhavemoreauthorityinthatdepartmentunlessIwasamemberofthefirmitself。"
"Well，whydon"ttheymakeyouamemberofthefirm？That"swhattheyoughtto"vedone!Yes，andlongago!"
Adamslaughed，butsighedwithmoreheartinessthanhehadlaughed。"Theycallmetheir"oldeststand-by"downthere。"Helaughedagain，apologetically，asiftoexcusehimselffortakingalittleprideinthistitle。"Yes，sir；theysayI"mtheir"oldeststand-by"；andIguesstheyknowtheycancountonmydepartment"sturninginasgoodareportastheylookfor，attheendofeverymonth；buttheydon"thavetotakeamanintothefirmtogethimtodomywork，dearie。"
"Butyousaidtheydependedonyou，papa。"
"Sotheydo；butofcoursenotso"stheycouldn"tgetalongwithoutme。"Hepaused，reflecting。"Idon"tjustseemtoknowhowtoputit——ImeanhowtoputwhatIstartedouttosay。I
kindofwantedtotellyou——well，itseemsfunnytome，theselastfewyears，thewayyourmother"stakentofeelingaboutit。
I"dliketoseeabetterestablishedwholesaledrugbusinessthanLambandCompanythissidetheAlleghanies——Idon"tsaybigger，I
saybetterestablished——andit"skindoffunnyforamanthat"sbeenwithabusinesslikethataslongasIhavetohearitcalleda"hole。"It"skindoffunnywhenyouthink，yourself，you"vedoneprettyfairlywellinabusinesslikethat，andthemenattheheadofitseemtothinkso，too，andputyoursalaryjustaboutashighasanybodycouldconsidercustomary——well，whatImean，Alice，it"skindoffunnytohaveyourmotherthinkit"smostlyjust——mostlyjustafailure，sotospeak。"
Hisvoicehadbecometremulousinspiteofhim；andthissignofweaknessandemotionhadsufficienteffectuponAlice。Shebentoverhimsuddenly，withherarmabouthimandhercheekagainsthis。"Poorpapa!"shemurmured。"Poorpapa!"
"No，no，"hesaid。"Ididn"tmeananythingtotroubleyou。I
justthought——"Hehesitated。"Ijustwondered——Ithoughtmaybeitwouldn"tbeanyharmifIsaidsomethingabouthowthingsAREdownthere。Igottothinkingmaybeyoudidn"tunderstandit"saprettygoodplace。They"refinepeopletoworkfor；andthey"vealwaysseemedtothinksomethingofme；——thewaytheytookWalteron，forinstance，soonasIasked"em，lastyear。Don"tyouthinkthatlookedagooddealasiftheythoughtsomethingofme，Alice？"
"Yes，papa，"shesaid，notmoving。
"Andthework"srightpleasant，"hewenton。"Mightyniceboysinourdepartment，Alice。Well，theyareinallthedepartments，forthatmatter。Wehaveagooddealoffundowntheresomedays。"
Sheliftedherhead。"Morethanyoudoathome"somedays，"I
expect，papa!"shesaid。
Heprotestedfeebly。"Now，Ididn"tmeanthat——Ididn"twanttotroubleyou——"
Shelookedathimthroughwinkingeyelashes。"I"msorryIcalledita"hole，"papa。"
"No，no，"heprotested，gently。"Itwasyourmothersaidthat。"
"No。Idid，too。"
"Well，ifyoudid，itwasonlybecauseyou"dheardher。"
Sheshookherhead，thenkissedhim。"I"mgoingtotalktoher，"
shesaid，androsedecisively。
Butatthis，herfather"stroubledvoicebecamequicklylouder:
"Youbetterletheralone。Ijustwantedtohavealittletalkwithyou。Ididn"tmeantostartany——yourmotherwon"t——"
"Now，papa!"Alicespokecheerfullyagain，andsmileduponhim。
"Iwantyoutoquitworrying!Everything"sgoingtobeallrightandnobody"sgoingtobotheryouanymoreaboutanything。You"llsee!"
Shecarriedhersmileoutintothehall，butaftershehadclosedthedoorherfacewasallpity；andhermother，waitingforherintheoppositeroom，spokesympathetically。
"What"sthematter，Alice？Whatdidhesaythat"supsetyou？"
"Waitaminute，mama。"Alicefoundahandkerchief，useditforeyesandsuffusednose，gulped，thensuddenlyanddesolatelysatuponthebed。"Poor，poor，POORpapa!"shewhispered。
"Why？"Mrs。Adamsinquired，mildly。"What"sthematterwithhim？Sometimesyouactasifheweren"tgettingwell。What"shebeentalkingabout？"
"Mama——well，IthinkI"mprettyselfish。Oh，Ido!"
"Didhesayyouwere？"
"Papa？No，indeed!WhatImeanis，maybewe"rebothalittleselfishtotrytomakehimgooutandhuntaroundforsomethingnew。"
Mrs。Adamslookedthoughtful。"Oh，that"swhathewasupto!"
"Mama，Ithinkweoughttogiveitup。Ididn"tdreamithadreallyhurthim。"
"Well，doesn"thehurtus？"
"NeverthatIknowof，mama。"
"Idon"tmeanbySAYINGthings，"Mrs。Adamsexplained，impatiently。"Therearemorewaysthanthatofhurtingpeople。
Whenamanstickstoasalarythatdoesn"tprovideforhisfamily，isn"tthathurtingthem？"
"Oh，it"provides"foruswellenough，mama。Wehavewhatweneed——ifIweren"tsoextravagant。Oh，_I_knowIam!"
Butatthisadmissionhermothercriedoutsharply。
""Extravagant!"Youhaven"tonetenthofwhattheothergirlsyougowithhave。AndyouCAN"Thavewhatyououghttoaslongashedoesn"tgetoutofthathorribleplace。Itprovidesbarefoodandshelterforus，butwhat"sthat？"
"Idon"tthinkweoughttotryanymoretochangehim。"
"Youdon"t？"Mrs。Adamscameandstoodbeforeher。"Listen，Alice:yourfather"sasleep；that"shistrouble，andhe"sgottobewakedup。Hedoesn"tknowthatthingshavechanged。WhenyouandWalterwerelittlechildrenwedidhaveenough——atleastitseemedtobeaboutasmuchasmostofthepeopleweknew。Butthetownisn"twhatitwasinthosedays，andtimesaren"twhattheywerethen，andthesefearfulPRICESaren"ttheoldprices。
Everythingelsebutyourfatherhaschanged，andallthetimehe"sstoodstill。Hedoesn"tknowit；hethinksbecausethey"vegivenhimahundreddollarsmoreeverytwoyearshe"squiteaprosperousman!AndhethinksthatbecausehischildrencosthimmorethanheandIcostourparentshegivesthem——enough!"
"ButWalter——"Alicefaltered。"Walterdoesn"tcosthimanythingatallanymore。"Andsheconcluded，inastrickenvoice，"It"sall——me!"
"Whyshouldn"titbe？"hermothercried。"You"reyoung——you"rejustatthetimewhenyourlifeshouldbefullestofgoodthingsandhappiness。Yetwhatdoyouget？"
Alice"slipquivered；shewasnotunsusceptibletosuchanappeal，butshecontrivedthesemblanceofaprotest。"Idon"thavesuchabadtimenotagoodDEALofthetime，anyhow。I"vegotagoodMANYofthethingsothergirlshave——"
"Youhave？"Mrs。Adamswaspiteouslysatirical。"Isupposeyou"vegotalimousinetogotothatdanceto-night？Isupposeyou"veonlygottocallafloristandtellhimtosendyousomeorchids？Isupposeyou"ve——"
ButAliceinterruptedthislist。Apparentlyinasingleinstantallemotionlefther，andshebecamebusinesslike，asoneinthemidstoftriflesremindedofreallyseriousmatters。Shegotupfromthebedandwenttothedooroftheclosetwhereshekeptherdresses。"Oh，seehere，"shesaid，briskly。"I"vedecidedtowearmywhiteorgandieifyoucouldputinanewliningforme。I"mafraidit"lltakeyounearlyallafternoon。"
Shebroughtforththedress，displayedituponthebed，andMrs。
Adamsexamineditattentively。
"Doyouthinkyoucouldgetitdone，mama？"
"Idon"tseewhynot，"Mrs。Adamsanswered，passingathoughtfulhandoverthefabric。"Itoughtn"ttotakemorethanfourorfivehours。"
"It"sashametohaveyousitatthemachinethatlong，"Alicesaid，absently，adding，"AndI"msureweoughttoletpapaalone。
Let"sjustgiveitup，mama。"
Mrs。Adamscontinuedherthoughtfulexaminationofthedress。
"Didyoubuythechiffonandribbon，Alice？"
"Yes。I"msureweoughtn"ttotalktohimaboutitanymore，mama。"
"Well，we"llsee。"
"Let"sbothagreethatwe"llNEVERsayanothersinglewordtohimaboutit，"saidAlice。"It"llbeagreatdealbetterifwejustlethimmakeuphismindforhimself。"
CHAPTERV
Withthis，havingmoreimmediatelypracticalquestionsbeforethem，theydroppedthesubject，tobendtheirentireattentionuponthedress；andwhenthelunch-gongsoundeddownstairsAlicewasstillsketchingrepairsandalterations。Shecontinuedtosketchthem，notheedingthesummons。
"Isupposewe"dbettergodowntolunch，"Mrs。Adamssaid，absently。"She"satthegongagain。"Inaminute，mama。Nowaboutthesleeves——"Andshewentonwithherplanning。
Unfortunatelythegongwasinexpressiveofthemoodofthepersonwhobeatuponit。Itconsistedofthreelittlemetalbowlsuponastring；theywereunequalinsize，and，uponbeingtappedwithapaddedstick，gaveforthvibrationsalmostmusicallypleasant。
ItwasAlicewhohadsubstitutedthiscontrivanceforthebrass"dinner-bell"inusethroughoutherchildhood；andneithershenortheothersofherfamilyrealizedthatthesubstitutionofsweetersoundshadmadethelifeofthathouseholdmoredifficult。Inspiteofdismayingincreasesinwages，theAdamsesstillstrovetokeepacook；and，astheywereunabletopaythehigherratesdemandedbyagoodone，whattheyusuallyhadwasawhimsicalcolouredwomanofnomadicimpulses。Inthehandsofsuchapersontheold-fashioned"dinner-bell"wassatisfying；
lifecouldinstantlybemadeintolerableforanyonedawdlingonhiswaytoameal；thebellwascapableofeverydesirableprofanityandleftnothingbottledupinthebreastoftheringer。Butthechamois-coveredstickmightwhackuponAlice"slittleChinesebowlsforaconsiderablelengthoftimeandproducenogreateffectofurgencyuponahearer，noranyothereffect，exceptfuryinthecook。Theironicalimpossibilityofexpressingindignationotherwisethanbysoundsofgentleharmonyprovedexasperating；thecookwasapttobecomesurcharged，sothatexplosiveresignations，neverrare，weresomewhatmorefrequentaftertheintroductionofthegong。
Mrs。Adamstookthisincreasedfrequencytobeonlyanothermanifestationoftheinexplicablenewdifficultiesthatbesetallhousekeeping。Youpaidacookdoublewhatyouhadpaidoneafewyearsbefore；andthecookknewhalfasmuchofcookery，andhadnogratitude。Themoreyougavethesepeople，itseemed，theworsetheybehaved——aconditionnottoberemediedbysimplygivingthemless，becauseyoucouldn"tevengettheworstunlessyoupaidherwhatshedemanded。Nevertheless，Mrs。Adamsremainedfitfullyanoptimistinthematter。Broughtupbyhermothertospeakofafemalecookas"thegirl，"shehadbeeninstructedbyAlicetodropthatdefinitioninfavourofonenotanimprovementinaccuracy:"themaid。"Almostalways，duringthefirstdayorsoaftereverycookcame，Mrs。Adamswouldsay，atintervals，withanairoftriumph:"Ibelieve——ofcourseit"salittlesoontobesure——butIdoreallybelievethisnewmaidisthetreasurewe"vebeenlookingforsolong!"MuchinthesamewaythatAlicedreamedofamysteriousperfectmateforwhomshe"waited，"hermotherhadafairytheorythathiddensomewhereintheuniversetherewasthetreasure，theperfect"maid，"whowouldcomeandcookintheAdamses"kitchen，notfourdaysorfourweeks，butforever。
Thepresentincumbentwasnotshe。Alice，profoundlyinterestedherself，kepthermotherlikewisesopreoccupiedwiththedressthattheywerebutvaguelyconsciousofthegong"ssoftwarnings，thoughthesewererepeatedandprotractedunusually。Finallythesoundofaheartyvoice，independentandenraged，reachedthepair。Itcamefromthehallbelow。
"Isaysgoo"-BYE!"itcalled。"Da"ssall!"
Thenthefrontdoorslammed。
"Why，what——"Mrs。Adamsbegan。
Theywentdownhurriedlytofindout。MissPerryinformedthem。
"Icouldn"tmakeherlistentoreason，"shesaid。"Sherangthegongfourorfivetimesandgottotalkingtoherself；andthenshewentuptoherroomandpackedherbag。Itoldhershehadnobusinesstogooutthefrontdoor，anyhow。"
Mrs。Adamstookthenewsphilosophically。"IthoughtshehadsomethinglikethatinhereyewhenIpaidherthismorning，andI"mnotsurprised。Well，wewon"tletMr。Adamsknowanything"sthemattertillIgetanewone。"
Theyluncheduponwhatthelateincumbenthadleftchillingonthetable，andthenMrs。Adamspreparedtowashthedishes；shewould"havethemdoneinajiffy，"shesaid，cheerfully。ButitwasAlicewhowashedthedishes。
"IDON"Tliketohaveyoudothat，Alice，"hermotherprotested，followingherintothekitchen。"Itroughensthehands，andwhenagirlhashandslikeyours——"
"Iknow，mama。"Alicelookedtroubled，butshookherhead。"Itcan"tbehelpedthistime；you"llneedeveryminutetogetthatdressdone。"
Mrs。Adamswentawaylamenting，whileAlice，noexpert，begantosplashtheplatesandcupsandsaucersinthewarmwater。Afterawhile，assheworked，hereyesgrewdreamy:shewasmakinglittlegay-colouredpicturesofherself，unfoundedpropheciesofhowshewouldlookandwhatwouldhappentoherthatevening。
Shesawherself，charminganddemure，wearingafluffyidealizationofthedresshermothernowdeterminedlystruggledwithupstairs；shesawherselfframedinagarlandedarchway，theentrancetoaballroom，andsawthepeopleontheshiningfloorturningdramaticallytolookather；thenfromallpointsarushofyoungmenshoutingfordanceswithher；andsheconstructedasuperbstranger，tall，dark，masterfullysmiling，whoswungheroutoftheclamouringgroupasthemusicbegan。Shesawherselfdancingwithhim，sawthehalf-troubledsmileshewouldgivehim；
andsheaccuratelysmiledthatsmileassherinsedtheknivesandforks。
Thesehopefulfragmentsofdramawerenottoberealized，sheknew；butsheplayedthattheyweretrue，andwentoncreatingthem。Inallofthemsheworeorcarriedflowers——hermother"ssorrowforherinthisdetailbutmadeitthemoreimportant——
andshesawherselfglamorouswithorchids；discardedtheseforanarmfuloflong-stemmed，heavyroses；tossedthemawayforagreatbouquetofwhitecamellias；andsowandereddownalengtheninghothousegalleryoffloralbeauty，allcostlyandbeyondherreachexceptinsuchawistfulday-dream。Anduponherpresentwholehorizon，thoughshesearcheditearnestly，shecoulddiscovernofigureofasenderofflowers。
Outofherfanciesthedesireforflowerstowearthatnightemergeddefinitelyandbecamepoignant；shebegantofeelthatitmightbeparticularlyimportanttohavethem。"Thismightbethenight!"Shewasstillattheagetodreamthatthenightofanydancemaybethevitalpointindestiny。Nomatterhowcommonplaceordisappointingotherdancenightshavebeenthisonemaybringthegreatmeeting。Theunknownmagnificomaybethere。
Alicewasalmostunawareofherownreveriesinwhichthisbeingappeared——reveriesoftensotransitorythattheydevelopedandpassedinafewseconds。Andinsomeofthemthebeingwasnotwhollyastranger；thereweremomentswhenheseemedtobecomposedofrecognizablefragmentsofyoungmensheknew——asmileshehadliked，fromone；thefigureofanother，thehairofanother——andsometimesshethoughthemightbeconcealed，sotosay，withinthepersonofanactualacquaintance，someoneshehadneversuspectedofbeingtherightseekerforher，someonewhohadneversuspectedthatitwasshewho"waited"forhim。
Anythingmightrevealthemtoeachother:alook，aturnofthehead，asingularword——perhapssomeflowersuponherbreastorinherhand。
Shewipedthedishesslowly，concludingtheoperationbydroppingasaucerupontheflooranddreamilysweepingthefragmentsunderthestove。Shesighedandreplacedthebroomnearawindow，lettingherglancewanderoverthesmallyardoutside。Thegrass，repulsivelybesootedtothecolourofcoal-smokeallwinter，hadlatelycometolifeagainandnowsparkledwithgreen，inthemidstofwhichatinyshotofbluesuddenlyfixedherabsenteyes。Theyremaineduponitforseveralmoments，becominglessabsent。
Itwasaviolet。
Aliceranupstairs，putonherhat，wentoutdoorsandbegantosearchouttheviolets。Shefoundtwenty-two，abrightomen——sincethenumberwasthatofheryears——butnotenoughviolets。Therewerenomore；shehadransackedeveryfootoftheyard。
Shelookeddubiouslyatthelittlebunchinherhand，glancedatthelawnnextdoor，whichofferednofavourableprospect；thenwentthoughtfullyintothehouse，lefthertwenty-twovioletsinabowlofwater，andcamequicklyoutagain，herbrowmarkedwithafrownofdecision。Shewenttoatrolley-lineandtookacartotheoutskirtsofthecitywhereanewparkhadbeenopened。
Heresheresumedhersearch，butitwasnotaneasilyrewardedone，andforanhourafterherarrivalshefoundnoviolets。Shewalkedconscientiouslyoverthewholestretchofmeadow，hereyesrovingdiscontentedly；therewasneverabluedotinthegroomedexpanse；butatlast，asshecamenearthebordersofanoldgroveoftrees，leftuntouchedbythemunicipallandscapers，thelittleflowersappeared，andshebegantogatherthem。Shepickedthemcarefully，looseningtheearthroundeachtinyplant，soastobringtherootsupwithit，thatitmightlivethelonger；andshehadbroughtanapkin，whichshedrenchedatahydrant，andkeptlooselywrappedaboutthestemsofhercollection。
Theturfwastoodampforhertokneel；sheworkedpatiently，stoopingfromthewaist；andwhenshegothomeinadrizzleofrainatfiveo"clockherkneesweretremulouswithstrain，herbackached，andshewastiredallover，butshehadthreehundredviolets。HermothermoanedwhenAliceshowedthemtoher，fragrantinabasinofwater。
"Oh，youPOORchild!Tothinkofyourhavingto:worksohardtogetthingsthatothergirlsonlyneed；lifttheirlittlefingersfor!"
"Nevermind，"saidAlice，huskily。"I"vegot"emandIAMgoingtohaveagoodtimeto-night!"
"You"vejustgotto!"Mrs。Adamsagreed，intenselysympathetic。
"TheLordknowsyoudeserveto，afterpickingalltheseviolets，poorthing，andHewouldn"tbemeanenoughtokeepyoufromit。
ImayhavetogetdinnerbeforeIfinishthedress，butIcangetitdoneinafewminutesafterward，andit"sgoingtolookrightpretty。Don"tyouworryaboutTHAT!Andwithalltheselovelyviolets——"
"Iwonder——"Alicebegan，paused，thenwenton，fragmentarily:
"Isuppose——well，Iwonder——doyousupposeitwouldhavebeenbetterpolicytohavetoldWalterbefore——"
"No，"saidhermother。"Itwouldonlyhavegivenhimlongertogrumble。"
"Buthemight——"
"Don"tworry，"Mrs。Adamsreassuredher。"He"llbealittlecross，buthewon"tbestubborn；justletmetalktohimanddon"tyousayanythingatall，nomatterwhatHEsays。"
ThesereferencestoWalterconcernedsomenecessarymanoeuvreswhichtookplaceatdinner，andwereconductedbythemother，Alicehavingacceptedheradvicetositinsilence。Mrs。Adamsbeganbylaughingcheerfully。"IwonderhowmuchlongerittookmetocookthisdinnerthanitdoesWaltertoeatit？"shesaid。
"Don"tgobble，child!There"snohurry。"
IncontactwithhisownfamilyWalterwasnosquandererofwords。