第3章
"Isforme，"hesaid。"Gotdate。"
"Iknowyouhave，butthere"splentyoftime。"
Hesmiledinbenevolentpity。"YOUknow，doyou？Ifyoumadeanycoffee——don"tbotherifyoudidn"t。Getsomedown-town。"Heseemedabouttoriseanddepart；whereuponAlice，bitingherlip，sentapanic-strickenglanceathermother。
ButMrs。Adamsseemednotatalldisturbed；andlaughedagain。
"Why，whatnonsense，Walter!I"llbringyourcoffeeinafewminutes，butwe"regoingtohavedessertfirst。"
"Whatsort？"
"Somelovelypeaches。"
"Doe"want"nycannedpeaches，"saidthefrankWalter，movingbackhischair。"G"-night。"
"Walter!Itdoesn"tbegintillaboutnineo"clockattheearliest。"
Hepaused，mystified。"Whatdoesn"t？"
"Thedance。"
"Whatdance？"
"Why，MildredPalmer"sdance，ofcourse。"
Walterlaughedbriefly。"What"sthattome？"
"Why，youhaven"tforgottenit"sTO-NIGHT，haveyou？"Mrs。Adamscried。"Whataboy!"
"ItoldyouaweekagoIwasn"tgoingtothatoledance，"hereturned，frowning。"Youheardme。"
"Walter!"sheexclaimed。"OfCOURSEyou"regoing。Igotyourclothesalloutthisafternoon，andbrushedthemforyou。
They"lllookverynice，and——"
"Theywon"tlookniceonME，"heinterrupted。"Gotdatedown-town，Itellyou。"
"Butofcourseyou"ll——"
"Seehere!"Waltersaid，decisively。"Don"tgetanywrongideasinyourhead。I"mjustasliabletogouptothatoledanceatthePalmers"asIamtoeatacoupleofbarrelsofbrokenglass。"
"But，Walter——"
Walterwasbeginningtobeseriouslyannoyed。"Don"t"Walter"
me!I"mnos"cietysnake。Iwouldn"tjazzwiththatPalmercrowdiftheycoaxedmewithdiamonds。"
"Walter——"
"Didn"tItellyouit"snouseto"Walter"me？"hedemanded。
"Mydearchild——"
"Oh，Glory!"
AtthisMrs。Adamsabandonedherairofamusement，lookedhurt，andglancedatthedemureMissPerryacrossthetable。"I"mafraidMissPerrywon"tthinkyouhaveverygoodmanners，Walter。"
"You"rerightshewon"t，"heagreed，grimly。"NotifIhaftohearanymoreaboutmegoin"to——"
Buthismotherinterruptedhimwithsomeasperity:"ItseemsverystrangethatyoualwaysobjecttogoinganywhereamongOUR
friends，Walter。"
"YOURfriends!"hesaid，and，risingfromhischair，gaveutterancetoanironicallaughstrictlymonosyllabic。"Yourfriends!"herepeated，goingtothedoor。"Oh，yes!Certainly!
Good-NIGHT!"
Andlookingbackoverhisshouldertoofferafinalbriefviewofhisderisiveface，hetookhimselfoutoftheroom。
Alicegasped:"Mama——"
"I"llstophim!"hermotherresponded，sharply；andhurriedafterthetruant，catchinghimatthefrontdoorwithhishatandraincoaton。
"Walter——"
"Toldyouhadadatedown-town，"hesaid，gruffly，andwouldhaveopenedthedoor，butshecaughthisarmanddetainedhim。
"Walter，pleasecomebackandfinishyourdinner。WhenItakeallthetroubletocookitforyou，Ithinkyoumightatleast——"
"Now，now!"hesaid。"Thatisn"twhatyou"reupto。Youdon"twanttomakemeeat；youwanttomakemelisten。"
"Well，youMUSTlisten!"Sheretainedhergraspuponhisarm，andmadeittighter。"Walter，please!"sheentreated，hervoicebecomingtremulous。"PLEASEdon"tmakemesomuchtrouble!"
Hedrewbackfromherasfarasherholduponhimpermitted，andlookedathersharply。"Lookhere!"hesaid。"Igetyou，allright!What"sthematterofAliceGOIN"tothatpartybyherself？"
"ShejustCAN"T!"
"Whynot？"
"ItmakesthingstooMEANforher，Walter。Alltheothergirlshavesomebodytodependonaftertheygetthere。"
"Well，whydoesn"tshehavesomebody？"heasked，testily。
"SomebodybesidesME，Imean!Whyhasn"tsomebodyaskedhertogo？SheoughttobeTHATpopular，anyhow，Ish"dthink——sheTRIESenough!"
"Idon"tunderstandhowyoucanbesohard，"hismotherwailed，huskily。"Youknowwhytheydon"trunafterherthewaytheydotheothergirlsshegoeswith，Walter。It"sbecausewe"repoor，andshehasn"tgotanybackground。
""Background？""Walterrepeated。""Background？"Whatkindoftalkisthat？"
"YouWILLgowithherto-night，Walter？"hismotherpleaded，notstoppingtoenlightenhim。"Youdon"tunderstandhowhardthingsareforherandhowbravesheisaboutthem，oryouCOULDN"Tbesoselfish!It"dbemorethanIcanbeartoseeherdisappointedto-night!ShewentclearouttoBelleviewParkthisafternoon，Walter，andspenthoursandhourspickingvioletstowear。YouWILL——"
Walter"sheartwasnotiron，andtheepisodeofthevioletsmayhavereachedit。"Oh，BLUB!"hesaid，andflunghissofthatviolentlyatthewall。
Hismotherbeamedwithdelight。"THAT"Sagoodboy，darling!
You"llneverbesorryyou——"
"Cutitout，"herequested。"IfItakeher，willyoupayforataxi？"
"Oh，Walter!"AndagainMrs。Adamsshoweddistress。"Couldn"tyou？"
"No，Icouldn"t；I"mnotgoin"tothrowawaymygoodmoneylikethat，andyoucan"ttellwhattimeo"nightit"llbebeforeshe"swillin"tocomehome。What"sthematteryoupayin"forone？"
"Ihaven"tanymoney。"
"Well，father——"
Sheshookherheaddolefully。"Igotsomefromhimthismorning，andIcan"tbotherhimforanymore；itupsetshim。He"sALWAYS
beensoterriblyclosewithmoney——"
"Iguesshecouldn"thelpthat，"Walterobserved。"We"reliabletogotothepoorhousethewayitis。Well，what"sthematterourwalkin"tothisrottenparty？"
"Intherain，Walter？"
"Well，it"sonlyadrizzleandwecantakeastreetcartowithinablockofthehouse。"
Againhismothershookherhead。"Itwouldn"tdo。"
"Well，darntheluck，allright!"heconsented，explosively。
"I"llgethersomethingtoridein。Itmeansseventy-fivecents。"
"Why，Walter!"Mrs。Adamscried，muchpleased。"Doyouknowhowtogetacabforthatlittle？Howsplendid!"
"Tain"tacab，"Walterinformedhercrossly。"It"satinLizzie，butyoudon"thaf"totellherwhatitistillIgetherintoit，doyou？"
Mrs。Adamsagreedthatshedidn"t。
CHAPTERVI
Alicewasbusywithherselffortwohoursafterdinner；butalittlebeforenineo"clockshestoodinfrontofherlongmirror，completed，bright-eyedandsolemn。Herhair，exquisitelyarranged，gaveallsheaskedofit；whatartificialitiesincolourshehaduseduponherfacewereonlybitsofemphasisthatmadeherprettinessthemoredistinct；andthedress，notrumpledbyhermother"scarefulhoursofwork，wasawhitecloudofloveliness。Finallythereweretwotriumphantbouquetsofviolets，eachwiththestemswrappedintin-foilshroudedbyabowofpurplechiffon；andonebouquetsheworeatherwaistandtheothershecarriedinherhand。
MissPerry，calledinbyarapturousmotherforthefreetreatofalookatthisradiance，insistedthatAlicewasavision。
"Purelyandsimplyavision!"shesaid，meaningthatnootherdefinitionwhateverwouldsatisfyher。"Ineversawanybodylookavisionifshedon"tlookoneto-night，"theadmiringnursedeclared。"Herpapa"llthinkthesameIdoaboutit。Youseeifhedoesn"tsayshe"spurelyandsimplyavision。"
AdamsdidnotfulfilthepredictionquiteliterallywhenAlicepaidabriefvisittohisroomto"show"himandbidhimgood-night；buthechuckledfeebly。"Well，well，well!"hesaid。
"Youlookmightyfine——MIGHTYfine!"Andhewaggledabonyfingerathertwobouquets。"Why，Alice，who"syourbeau？"
"Neveryoumind!"shelaughed，archlybrushinghisnosewiththevioletsinherhand。"Hetreatsmeprettywell，doesn"the？"
"Mustliketothrowhismoneyaround!Thesevioletssmellmightysweet，andtheyoughtto，ifthey"regoingtoapartywithYOU。
Haveagoodtime，dearie。"
"Imeanto!"shecried；andsherepeatedthisgaily，butwithanemphasisexpressingsharpdeterminationasshelefthim。"IMEAN
to!"
"Whatwashetalkingabout？"hermotherinquired，smoothingtheratherwornandoldeveningwrapshehadplacedonAlice"sbed。
"Whatwereyoutellinghimyou"meanto？""
Alicewentbacktohertriplemirrorforthelasttime，thenstoodbeforethelongone。"ThatImeantohaveagoodtimeto-night，"shesaid；andassheturnedfromherreflectiontothewrapMrs。Adamsheldupforher，"ItlooksasthoughICOULD，don"tyouthinkso？"
"You"lljustbeaqueento-night，"hermotherwhisperedinfondemotion。"Youmustn"tdoubtyourself。"
"Well，there"sonething，"saidAlice。"IthinkIdolookniceenoughtogetalongwithouthavingtodancewiththatFrankDowling!AllIaskisforittohappenjustonce；andifhecomesnearmeto-nightI"mgoingtotreathimthewaytheothergirlsdo。DoyousupposeWalter"sgotthetaxioutinfront？"
"He——he"swaitingdowninthehall，"Mrs。Adamsanswered，nervously；andsheheldupanothergarmenttogooverthewrap。
Alicefrownedatit。"What"sthat，mama？"
"It"s——it"syourfather"sraincoat。Ithoughtyou"dputitonover——"
"ButIwon"tneeditinataxicab。"
"Youwilltogetinandout，andyouneedn"ttakeitintothePalmers"。Youcanleaveitinthe——inthe——It"sdrizzling，andyou"llneedit。"
"Oh，well，"Aliceconsented；andafewminuteslater，aswithWalter"sassistancesheclimbedintothevehiclehehadprovided，shebetterunderstoodhermother"ssolicitude。
"WhatonearthISthis，Walter？"sheasked。
"Nevermind；it"llkeepyoudryenoughwiththetopup，"hereturned，takinghisseatbesideher。Thenforatime，astheywentratherjerkilyupthestreet，shewassilent；butfinallysherepeatedherquestion:"WhatISit，Walter？"
"What"swhat？"
"This——thisCAR？"
"It"saottomobile。"
"Imean——whatkindisit？"
"Haven"tyougoteyes？"
"It"stoodark。"
"It"sasecond-handtinLizzie，"saidWalter。"D"youknowwhatthatmeans？Itmeansaflivver。"
"Yes，Walter。"
"Got"ny"bjections？"
"Why，no，dear，"shesaid，placatively。"Isityours，Walter？
Haveyouboughtit？"
"Me？"helaughed。"_I_couldn"tbuyausedwheelbarrow。IrentthissometimeswhenI"mgoin"outamong"em。Costsmeseventy-fivecentsandthepriceo"thegas。"
"Thatseemsverymoderate。"
"Iguessitis!Thefellerowesmesomemoney，andthisistheonlywayI"devergetitoffhim。"
"Isheagarage-keeper？"
"Notexactly!"Walterutteredhuskysoundsofamusement。"You"llbejustashappy，Iguess，ifyoudon"tknowwhoheis，"hesaid。
Histonemisgaveher；andshesaidtruthfullythatshewascontentnottoknowwhoownedthecar。"Ijokesometimesabouthowyoukeepthingstoyourself，"sheadded，"butIreallyneverdopryinyouraffairs，Walter。"
"Oh，no，youdon"t!"
"Indeed，Idon"t。"
"Yes，you"remightyniceandcooingwhenyougotmewhereyouwantme，"hejeered。"Well，_I_justassoontellyouwhereI
getthiscar。"
"I"djustassoonyouwouldn"t，Walter，"shesaid，hurriedly。
"Pleasedon"t。"
ButWaltermeanttotellher。"Why，there"snothin"exactlyCRIMINALaboutit，"hesaid。"ItbelongstooldJ。A。Lambhimself。Hekeepsitfortheircoonchauffeur。Irentitfromhim。"
"FromMr。LAMB？"
"No；fromthecoonchauffeur。"
"Walter!"shegasped。
"SureIdo!Icangetitanynightwhenthecoonisn"tgoin"touseithimself。He"sdrivin"theirlimousineto-night——thatlittleHenriettaLamb"sgoin"totheparty，nomatterifherfatherHASonlybeendeadless"nayear!"Hepaused，theninquired:"Well，howd"youlikeit？"
Shedidnotspeak，andhebegantoberemorsefulforhavingimpartedsomuchinformation，thoughhiswayofexpressingregretwashisown。"Well，youWILLmakethefolksmakemetakeyoutoparties!"hesaid。"IgottodoitthebestwayICAN，don"tI？"
Thenasshemadenoresponse，"Oh，thecar"sCLEANenough，"hesaid。"Thiscoon，he"sasparticularasanywhiteman；youneedn"tworryaboutthat。"Andasshestillsaidnothing，headdedgruffly，"I"dofhadabettercarifIcouldaffordedit。
Youneedn"tgetsoupsetaboutit。"
"Idon"tunderstand——"shesaidinalowvoice——"Idon"tunderstandhowyouknowsuchpeople。"
"Suchpeopleaswho？"
"As——colouredchauffeurs。"
"Oh，lookhere，now!"heprotested，loudly。"Don"tyouknowthisisademocraticcountry？"
"Notquitethatdemocratic，isit，Walter？"
"Thetroublewithyou，"heretorted，"youdon"tknowthere"sanybodyintownexceptjustthissilk-shirtcrowd。"Hepaused，seemingtoawaitarefutation；butasnonecame，heexpressedhimselfdefinitely:"Theymakemesick。"
Theywerecomingneartheirdestination，andtheglowofthebig，brightlylightedhousewasseenbeforetheminthewetnight。
Othercars，notliketheirs，wereapproachingthiscenterofbrilliance；longtrianglesoflightnearthegroundsweptthroughthefinedrizzle；smallredtail-lightsgleamedagainfromthemoistpavementofthestreet；and，throughthemyriadsoflittleglisteningleavesalongthecurvingdriveway，glimpseswerecaughtoflivelycoloursmovinginawhiteglareasthelimousinesreleasedtheiroccupantsundertheshelteroftheporte-cochere。
AliceclutchedWalter"sarminapanic；theywerejustatthedrivewayentrance。"Walter，wemustn"tgointhere。"
"What"sthematter？"
"Leavethisawfulcaroutside。"
"Why，I——"
"Stop!"sheinsisted，vehemently。"You"vegotto!Goback!"
"Oh，Glory!"
Thelittlecarwasbetweentheentranceposts；butWalterbackeditout，avoidingacollisionwithanimpressivemachinewhichswervedawayfromthemandpassedontowardtheporte-cochere，showingaman"sfacegrinningatthewindowasitwentby。
"Flivverrunaboutgotthewrongnumber!"hesaid。
"DidheSEEus？"Alicecried。
"Didwhoseeus？"
"HarveyMalone——inthatforeigncoupe。"
"No；hecouldn"ttellwhowewereunderthistop，"Walterassuredherashebroughtthelittlecartoastandstillbesidethecurbstone，outinthestreet。"What"sitmatterifhedid，thebigfish？"
Alicerespondedwithaloudsigh，andsatstill。
"Well，wanttogoonback？"Walterinquired。"YoubetI"mwilling!"
"No。"
"Well，then，what"sthematterourdrivin"onuptotheporte-cochere？There"sroomformetoparkjusttheothersideofit。"
"No，NO!"
"Whatyouexpecttodo？SitHEREallnight？"
"No，leavethecarhere。"
"_I_don"tcarewhereweleaveit，"hesaid。"SitstilltillI
lockher，sononeo"thesemillionairesaroundhere"llrunoffwithher。"Hegotoutwithapadlockandchain；and，havingputtheseinplace，offeredAlicehishand。"Comeon，ifyou"reready。"
"Wait，"shesaid，and，divestingherselfoftheraincoat，handedittoWalter。"Pleaseleavethiswithyourthingsinthemen"sdressing-room，asifitwereanextraoneofyourown，Walter。"
Henodded；shejumpedout；andtheyscurriedthroughthedrizzle。
Astheyreachedtheporte-cochereshebegantolaughairily，andspoketotheimpassivemaninliverywhostoodthere。"Jokeonus!"shesaid，hurryingbyhimtowardthedoorofthehouse。
"Ourcarbrokedownoutsidethegate。"
Themanremainedimpassive，thoughherespondedwithafaintgleamasWalter，lookingbackathim，producedforhisbenefitacynicaldistortionofcountenancewhichofferedlittleconfirmationofAlice"saccountofthings。Thenthedoorwasswiftlyopenedtothebrotherandsister；andtheycameintoamarble-flooredhall，whereadozensleekedyoungmenlounged，smokedcigarettesandfastenedtheirgloves，astheywaitedfortheirladies。Alicenoddedtooneoranotherofthese，andwentquicklyon，herfaceupliftedandsmiling；butWalterdetainedheratthedoortowhichshehastened。
"Listenhere，"hesaid。"Isupposeyouwantmetodancethefirstdancewithyou——"
"Ifyouplease，Walter，"shesaid，meekly。
"Howlongyougoin"tohangaroundfixin"upinthatdressin"-room？"
"I"llbeoutbeforeyou"rereadyyourself，"shepromisedhim；andkeptherword，shewassoeagerforhergoodtimetobegin。Whenhecameforher，theywentdownthehalltoacorridoropeninguponthreegreatroomswhichhadbeenthrownopentogether，withthefurnitureremovedandthebroadfloorswaxed。Atoneendofthecorridormusicianssatinagreengrove，andWalter，withsomeinterest，turnedtowardthese；buthissister，pressinghisarm，impelledhimintheoppositedirection。
"What"sthematternow？"heasked。"That"sJazzLouieandhishalf-breedbunch——threewhiteandfourmulatto。Let"s——？"
"No，no，"shewhispered。"WemustspeaktoMildredandMr。andMrs。Palmer。"
""Speak"to"em？Ihaven"tgotathingtosaytoTHOSEberries!"
"Walter，won"tyouPLEASEbehave？"
Heseemedtoconsent，forthemoment，atleast，andsufferedhertotakehimdownthecorridortowardafloralbowerwherethehostessstoodwithherfatherandmother。Othercouplesandgroupsweremovinginthesamedirection，carryingwiththemahubbuboflaughterandfragmentarychatterings；andAlice，smilingallthetime，greetedpeopleoneverysideofhereagerly——alittlemoreeagerlythanmostofthemresponded——whileWalternoddedinanoncommittalmannertooneortwo，saidnothing，andyawnedaudibly，thelastresourceofapersonwhofindshimselfnervousinafalsesituation。Herepeatedhisyawnandwasbeginninganotherwhenaconvulsivepressureuponhisarmmadehimunderstandthathemustabandonthismethodofreassuringhimself。Theywerecloseuponthefloralbower。
Mildredwasgivingherhandtooneandanotherofherguestsasrapidlyasshecould，passingthemontoherfatherandmother，andatthesametimeresistingtheeffortsofthreeorfourdetachedbachelorswhobesoughthertogiveoverherdutyinfavourofthedance-musicjustbeginningtoblare。
Shewasalarge，fairgirl，withakindnessofeyesomewhatwithheldbyanexpressionoffastidiousness；atfirstsightofheritwasclearthatshewouldneverinherlifedoanything"incorrect，"orwearanything"incorrect。"Buthercorrectnesswasofthefinersort，andhadnoairofbeingstudiedorachieved；conductwouldneverofferheraproblemtobesettledfromabookofrules，fortherulesweresodeepwithinherthatshewasunconsciousofthem。AndbehindthisperfectiontherewasanevenamplerperfectionofwhatMrs。Adamscalled"background。"Thebig，rich，simplehousewaspartofit，andMildred"sfatherandmotherwerepartofit。Theystoodbesideher，large，serenepeople，murmuringgraciouslyandgentlyincliningtheirhandsomeheadsastheygavetheirhandstotheguests；andeventheyoungestandmostebullientofthesetookonahushedmannerlinesswithacloserapproachtothebower。
WhentheopportunitycameforAliceandWaltertopasswithinthisprecinct，Alice，goingfirst，leanedforwardandwhisperedinMildred"sear。"YouDIDN"Twearthemaizegeorgette!That"swhatIthoughtyouweregoingto。ButyoulooksimplyDARLING!
Andthosepearls——"
Otherswerecrowdingdecorouslyforward，anxioustobedonewithceremonyandgettothedancing；andMildreddidnotprolongtheintimacyofAlice"senthusiasticwhispering。Withafaintaccessionofcolourandasmiletendingsomewhatinthedirectionofrigidity，shecarriedAlice"shandimmediatelyonwardtoMrs。
Palmer"s。Alice"sowncolourshowedalittleheighteningassheacceptedthesuggestionthusimplied；norwasthatemotionaltintinanywisedecreased，amomentlater，byanimpressionthatWalter，inconcludingthebriefexchangeofcourtesiesbetweenhimselfandthestatelyMr。Palmer，hadagainreassuredhimselfwithayawn。
ButshedidnotspeakofittoWalter；shepreferrednottoconfirmtheimpressionandtoleaveinhermindapossibledoubtthathehaddoneit。Hefollowedheroutuponthewaxedfloor，saidresignedly:"Well，comeon，"puthisarmabouther，andtheybegantodance。
Alicedancedgracefullyandwell，butnotsowellasWalter。Ofallthestepsandruns，ofallthewhimsicalturnsandtwirlings，ofalltherhythmicswayingsanddipscommandedthatseasonbysuchblaringsaswerethebarbaricproduct，loudandwild，oftheJazzLouiesandtheirhalf-breedbunches，thethinandsallowyouthwasamaster。Uponhisfacecouldbeseencontemptoftheeasymarvelsheperformedashemovedinswiftprecisionfromonesmoothagilitytoanother；andifsometoo-daintyorjealouscavaliercomplainedthattobesomuchastylistindancingwas"notquitelikeagentleman，"atleastWalter"sstylewaswhatthemusiccalledfor。Nootherdancerintheroomcouldbethoughtcomparabletohim。Alicetoldhimso。
"It"swonderful!"shesaid。"Andthemysteryis，whereyoueverlearnedtoDOit!Youneverwenttodancing-school，butthereisn"tamanintheroomwhocandancehalfsowell。Idon"tseewhy，whenyoudancelikethis，youalwaysmakesuchafussaboutcomingtoparties。"
Hesoundedhisbrieflaugh，ajeeringbarkoutofonesideofthemouth，andswunghermiraculouslythroughaclosingspacebetweentwoothercouples。"Youknowalotaboutwhatgoeson，don"tyou？Youprob"lythinkthere"snootherplacetodanceinthistownexceptthesefrozen-facejoints。"
""Frozenface？""sheechoed，laughing。"Why，everybody"shavingasplendidtime。Lookatthem。"
"Oh，theyhollerloudenough，"hesaid。"Theydoittomakeeachotherthinkthey"rehavin"agoodtime。Youdon"tcallthatPalmerfamilyfrozen-faceberries，Is"pose。No？"
"Certainlynot。They"rejustdignifiedand——"
"Yeuh!"saidWalter。"They"redignified，"speciallywhenyoutriedtowhispertoMildredtoshowhowINwithheryouwere，andshemovedyouonthatway。SHE"Sahotfriend，isn"tshe!"
"Shedidn"tmeananythingbyit。She——"
"OlePalmer"sahearty，slapyou-on-the-backoleberry，"Walterinterrupted；addinginacasualtone，"AllI"dlike，I"dliketohithim。"
"Walter!Bytheway，youmustn"tforgettoaskMildredforadancebeforetheeveningisover。"
"Me？"Heproducedthelop-sidedappearanceofhislaugh，butwithoutmakingitvocal。"Youwatchmedoit!"
"Sheprobablywon"thaveoneleft，butyoumustaskher，anyway。"
"WhymustI？"
"Because，inthefirstplace，you"resupposedto，and，inthesecondplace，she"smymostintimatefriend。"
"Yeuh？Isshe？I"veheardyoupullthat"most-intimate-friend"
stuffoftenenoughabouther。What"sSHEeverdotoshowsheis？"
"Nevermind。Youreallymustaskher，Walter。Iwantyouto；
andIwantyoutoaskseveralothergirlsafterwhile；I"lltellyouwho。"
"Keeponwanting；it"lldoyougood。"
"Oh，butyoureally——"
"Listen!"hesaid。"I"mjustasliabletodancewithanyofthesefairiesasIamtobuyabucketo"rustytacksandeat"em。
Forgetit!SoonasIgetridofyouI"mgoin"backtothatroomwhereIleftmyhatandovercoatandsmokemyselftodeath。"
"Well，"shesaid，alittleruefully，asthefrenzyofJazzLouieandhishalf-breedswassuddenlyabatedtosilence，"youmustn"t——youmustn"tgetridofmeTOOsoon，Walter。"
Theystoodnearoneofthewidedoorways，remainingwheretheyhadstopped。Othercouples，everywhere，joinedoneanother，formingvivaciousclusters，butnoneofthesegroupsadoptedthebrotherandsister，nordidanyoneappeartobehurryinginAlice"sdirectiontoaskherforthenextdance。Shelookedabouther，stillmaintainingthatjubilanceoflookandmannershefeltsonecessary——foritistothegirlswhoare"havingagoodtime"thatpartnersareattracted——and，inordertolendgreatercolourtoherimpersonationofalivelybelle，shebegantochatterloudly，bringingintoplayanaccompanimentoffrolicsomegesture。ShebrushedWalter"snosesaucilywiththebunchofvioletsinherhand，tappedhimontheshoulder，shookherprettyforefingerinhisface，flourishedherarms，kepthershouldersmoving，andlaughedcontinuouslyasshespoke。
"YouNAUGHTYoldWalter!"shecried。"AREN"Tyouashamedtobesuchawonderfuldancerandthenonlydancewithyourownlittlesister!Youcoulddanceonthestageifyouwantedto。Why，youcouldmadeyourFORTUNEthatway!Whydon"tyou？Wouldn"titbejustlovelytohavealltherowsandrowsofpeopleclappingtheirhandsandshouting，"Hurrah!Hurrah，forWalterAdams!
Hurrah!Hurrah!Hurrah!"
Hestoodlookingatherinstolidpity。
"Cutitout，"hesaid。"Youbetterbegivin"someoftheseberriestheeyesothey"llaskyoutodance。"
Shewasnottobesoeasilychecked，andlaughedloudly，flourishinghervioletsinhisfaceagain。"YouWOULDlikeit；
youknowyouwould；youneedn"tpretend!Justthink!Awholebigaudienceshouting，"Hurrah!HURRAH!HUR——""
"Theplace"llbepulledifyougetanynoisier，"heinterrupted，notungently。"Besides，I"mnomuleycow。"
"A"COW？""shelaughed。"Whatonearth——"
"Ican"teatdeadviolets，"heexplained。"Sodon"tkeeptryin"
tomakemedoit。"
Thishadtheeffecthedesired，andsubduedher；sheabandonedherunsisterlycoquetries，andlookedbeaminglyabouther，buthersmilewasmoremechanicalthanithadbeenatfirst。
Athomeshehadseemedbeautiful；buthere，wheretheothergirlscompeted，thingswerenotastheyhadbeenthere，withonlyhermotherandMissPerrytogivecontrast。Thesecrowdsofothergirlshadalldonetheirbest，also，tolookbeautiful，thoughnotoneofthemhadworkedsohardforsuchaconsummationasAlicehad。Theydidnotneedto；theydidnotneedtogettheirmotherstomakeolddressesover；theydidnotneedtohuntvioletsintherain。