第4章

Athomeherdresshadseemedbeautiful；butthatwasdifferent，too，wherethereweredozensofbrilliantfabrics，fashionedinnewways——someofthesenewwaysstartling，whichonlymadethewearerscentersofinterestandshockednoone。AndAlicerememberedthatshehadheardagirlsay，notlongbefore，"Oh，ORGANDIE!Nobodywearsorgandieforeveninggownsexceptinmidsummer。"Alicehadthoughtlittleofthis；butasshelookedaboutherandsawnoorgandieexceptherown，shefoundgreaterdifficultyinkeepinghersmileasarchandspontaneousasshewishedit。Infact，itwasbeginningtomakeherfaceachealittle。

Mildredcameinfromthecorridor，heavilyattended。Shecarriedagreatbouquetofvioletslacedwithliliesof-the-valley；andthevioletswerelusty，bigpurplethings，theirstemswrappedinclothofgold，withsilkencordsdependent，endinginlongtassels。SheandherconvoypassednearthetwoyoungAdamses；

anditappearedthatoneoftheconvoybesoughthishostesstopermit"cuttingin"；theywere"doingitotherplaces"oflate，heurged；buthewasdeniedandtoldtoconsolehimselfbyholdingthebouquet，atintervals，untilhisthirdofthesixteenthdanceshouldcome。Alicelookeddubiouslyatherownbouquet。

Suddenlyshefeltthatthevioletsbetrayedher；thatanyonewholookedatthemcouldseehowrustic，howinnocentofanyflorist"scrafttheywere"Ican"teatdeadviolets，"Waltersaid。Thelittlewildflowers，dyingindeedinthewarmair，weredroopinginaforlornmass；anditseemedtoherthatwhoevernoticedthemwouldguessthatshehadpickedthemherself。Shedecidedtogetridofthem。

Walterwasbecomingrestive。"Lookhere!"hesaid。"Can"tyouflagoneo"theselong-tailedbirdstotakeyouonforthenextdance？Youcametohaveagoodtime；whydon"tyougetbusyandhaveit？Iwanttogetoutandsmoke。"

"YouMUSTN"Tleaveme，Walter，"shewhispered，hastily。

"Somebody"llcomeformebeforelong，butuntiltheydo——"

"Well，couldn"tyousitsomewhere？"

"No，no!Thereisn"tanyoneIcouldsitwith。"

"Well，whynot？Lookatthoseoledamesinthecorners。What"sthematteryourtyin"upwithsomeo"themforawhile？"

"PLEASE，Walter；no!"

Infact，thatindomitablesmileofherswasthemoredifficulttomaintainbecauseoftheseveryelderstowhomWalterreferred。

Theyweremothersofgirlsamongthedancers，andtheyweretheretofendandcontrivefortheiroffspring；tokeepthemincountenancethroughanytrial；tolendthemdiplomacyinthecarryingoutofallenterprises；tobe"background"forthem；andintheseessentiallybiologicalfunctioningstoimitatetheirownmatingsandrenewtheexcitementoftheirnuptialperiods。Oldermen，husbandsoftheseladiesandfathersofeligiblegirls，werealsotobeseen，mostofthemwithMr。Palmerinabilliard-roomacrossthecorridor。Mr。andMrs。Adamshadnotbeeninvited。

"OfcoursepapaandmamajustbarelyknowMildredPalmer，"Alicethought，"andmostoftheothergirls"fathersandmothersareoldfriendsofMr。andMrs。Palmer，butIdothinkshemighthaveASKEDpapaandmama，anyway——sheneedn"thavebeenafraidjusttoaskthem；sheknewtheycouldn"tcome。"Andhersmilingliptwitchedalittlethreateningly，assheconcludedthesilentmonologue。"IsupposeshethinksIoughttobegladenoughsheaskedWalter!"

Walterwas，infact，rathernoticeable。HewasnotMildred"sonlyguesttowearashortcoatandtoappearwithoutgloves；buthewassingular(atleastinhispresentsurroundings)onaccountofakindofcoiffuringhefavoured，hishairhavingbeenshapedafterwhatseemedaMongolinspiration。Onlyuponthetopoftheheadwasactualhairperceived，therestappearingtobenudity。

Andevenmorethanbyanydifferenceinmodehewassetapartbyhislookandmanner，inwhichthereseemedtobeabrooding，secretiveandjeeringsuperiorityandthiswasmostvividlyexpressedwhenhefeltcalleduponforhisloud，short，lop-sidedlaugh。WheneverheuttereditAlicelaughed，too，asloudlyasshecould，tocoverit。

"Well，"hesaid。"Howlongwegoin"tostandhere？Myfeetaresproutin"roots。"

Alicetookhisarm，andtheybegantowalkaimlesslythroughtherooms，thoughshetriedtolookasiftheyhadadefinitedestination，keepinghereyeseagerandherlipsparted；——peoplehadcalledjoviallytothemfromthedistance，shemeanttoimply，andtheyweregoingtojointhesemerryfriends。Shewasstilluponthisghostlyerrandwhenafuriousoutbreakofdrumsandsaxophonessoundedapreludefortheseconddance。

Walterdancedwithheragain，buthegaveherawarning。"I

don"twanttoleaveyouhighanddry，"hetoldher，"butIcan"tstandit。IgottogetsomewhereIdon"thaf"tohurtmyeyeswiththeseberries；I"llgoblindifIgottolookatanymoreof"em。I"mgoin"outtosmokeassoonasthemusicbeginsthenexttime，andyoubettergetfixedforit。"

Alicetriedtogetfixedforit。Astheydancedshenoddedsunnilytoeverymanwhoseeyeshecaught，smiledhersmilewiththeunderlipcaughtbetweenherteeth；butitwasnotuntiltheendoftheintermissionafterthedancethatshesawhelpcoming。

Acrosstheroomsattheglobularladyshehadencounteredthatmorning，andbesidetheglobularladysataround-headed，round-bodiedgirl；herdaughter，atfirstglance。ThefamilycontourwasalsoasevidentacharacteristicoftheshortyoungmanwhostoodinfrontofMrs。Dowling，engagedwithherinadiscussionwhichwasnotwithoutevidencesofanearnestnessalmostimpassioned。LikeWalter，hewasdecliningtodanceathirdtimewithsister；hewishedtogoelsewhere。

Alicefromasidelongeyewatchedthecontroversy:shesawtheglobularyoungmanglancetowardher，overhisshoulder；

whereuponMrs。Dowling，followingthisglance，gaveAlicealookofopenfury，becamemuchmorevehementintheargument，andevenstruckherkneewitharound，fatfistforemphasis。

"I"monmyway，"saidWalter。"There"sthemusicstartin"upagain，andItoldyou——"

Shenoddedgratefully。"It"sallright——butcomebackbeforelong，Walter。"

Theglobularyoungman，redwithannoyance，hadtornhimselffromhisfamilyandwashasteningacrosstheroomtoher。"C"nIhavethisdance？"

"Why，youniceFrankDowling!"Alicecried。"Howlovely!"

CHAPTERVII

Theydanced。Mr。Dowlingshouldhavefoundotherformsofexerciseandpastime。

Naturehasnotdesignedeveryonefordancing，thoughsometimesthoseshehasdeniedarethelasttodiscoverherniggardliness。

Buttheroundyoungmanwasatleastvigorousenough——toomuchso，whenhiskneescollidedwithAlice"s——andhewastoosturdytobethrownoffhisfeet，himself，ortoallowhispartnertofallwhenhetrippedher。Heheldherupvaliantly，andcontinuedtobeatapaththroughthecrowdofotherdancersbymainforce。

Hepaidnoattentiontoanythingsuggestedbytheeffortsofthemusicians，andappearedtobeunawarethatthereshouldhavebeensomeconnectionbetweenwhattheyweredoingandwhathewasdoing；buthemayhavelistenedtoothermusicofhisown，forhisexpressionwasofhighcontent；heseemedtofeelnodoubtwhateverthathewasdancing。Alicekeptasfarawayfromhimasunderthecircumstancesshecould；andwhentheystoppedsheglanceddown，andfoundtheexecutionofunseenmanoeuvres，withintheprotectionofherskirt，helpfultooneofherinstepsandtothetoesofbothofherslippers。

Hercheerypartnerwaspaddlinghisrosybrowswithafinehandkerchief。"Thatwasgreat!"hesaid。"Let"sgooutandsitinthecorridor；they"vegotsomecomfortablechairsoutthere。"

"Well——let"snot，"shereturned。"IbelieveI"dratherstayinhereandlookatthecrowd。"

"No；thatisn"tit，"hesaid，chidingherwithawaggishforefinger。"Youthinkifyougooutthereyou"llmissachanceofsomeoneelseaskingyouforthenextdance，andsoyou"llhavetogiveittome。"

"Howabsurd!"Then，afteralookaboutherthatrevealednothingencouraging，sheaddedgraciously，"Youcanhavethenextifyouwantit。"

"Great!"heexclaimed，mechanically。"Nowlet"sgetoutofhere——outofTHISroom，anyhow。"

"Why？What"sthematterwith——"

"Mymother，"Mr。Dowlingexplained。"Butdon"tlookather。

ShekeepsmotioningmetocomeandseeafterElla，andI"msimplyNOTgoingtodoit，yousee!"

Alicelaughed。"Idon"tbelieveit"ssomuchthat，"shesaid，andconsentedtowalkwithhimtoapointinthenextroomfromwhichMrs。Dowling"scontinuoussignallingcouldnotbeseen。

"Yourmotherhatesme。"

"Oh，no；Iwouldn"tsaythat。No，shedon"t，"heprotested，innocently。"Shedon"tknowyoumorethanjusttospeakto，yousee。Sohowcouldshe？"

"Well，shedoes。Icantell。"

Afrownappeareduponhisroundedbrow。"No；I"lltellyouthewayshefeels。It"slikethis:Ellaisn"tTOOpopular，youknow——it"shardtoseewhy，becauseshe"sarightnicegirl，inherway——andmotherthinksIoughttolookafterher，yousee。

ShethinksIoughttodanceawholelotwithhermyself，andstirupotherfellowstodancewithher——it"ssimplyimpossibletomakemotherunderstandyouCAN"Tdothat，yousee。Andthenaboutme，yousee，ifshehadherwayIwouldn"tgettodancewithanybodyatallexceptgirlslikeMildredPalmerandHenriettaLamb。Motherwantstorunmywholeprogrammeforme，youunderstand，butthetroubleofitis——aboutgirlslikethat，youseewell，Icouldn"tdowhatshewants，evenifIwantedtomyself，becauseyoutakethosegirls，andbythetimeIgetEllaoffmyhandsforaminute，why，theirdancesarealwayseverylastonetaken，andwheredoIcomein？"

Alicenodded，heramiabilityundamaged。"Isee。Sothat"swhyyoudancewithme。"

"No，Iliketo，"heprotested。"IratherdancewithyouthanI

dowiththosegirls。"AndheaddedwitharetrospectivedeterminationwhichshowedthathehadbeenthroughquiteanexperiencewithMrs。Dowlinginthismatter。"ITOLDmotherI

would，too!"

"Didittakeallyourcourage，Frank？"

Helookedathershrewdly。"Nowyou"retryingtoteaseme，"hesaid。"Idon"tcare；IWOULDratherdancewithyou!Inthefirstplace，you"reaperfectlybeautifuldancer，yousee，andinthesecond，amanfeelsalotmorecomfortablewithyouthanhedoeswiththem。OfcourseIknowalmostalltheotherfellowsgetalongwiththosegirlsallright；butIdon"twasteanytimeon"emIdon"thaveto。_I_likepeoplethatarealwayscordialtoeverybody，yousee——thewayyouare。"

"Thankyou，"shesaid，thoughtfully。

"Oh，IMEANit，"heinsisted。"Theregoesthebandagain。Shallwe？"

"Supposewesititout？"shesuggested。"IbelieveI"dliketogooutinthecorridor，afterall——it"sprettywarminhere。"

Assentingcheerfully，Dowlingconductedhertoapairofeasy-chairswithinasecludinggroveofbox-trees，andwhentheycametothisretreattheyfoundMildredPalmerjustdeparting，underescortofawell-favouredgentlemanaboutthirty。Asthesetwowalkedslowlyaway，inthedirectionofthedancing-floor，theyleftitnottobedoubtedthattheywereonexcellenttermswitheachother；Mildredwasevidentlywillingtomaketheirprogressevenslower，forshehaltedmomentarily，onceortwice；

andherupwardglancestohertallcompanion"sfacewereofagentle，almostblushingdeference。NeverbeforehadAliceseenanythinglikethisinherfriend"smanner。

"Howqueer!"shemurmured。

"What"squeer？"Dowlinginquiredastheysatdown。

"Whowasthatman？"

"Haven"tyoumethim？"

"Ineversawhimbefore。Whoishe？"

"Why，it"sthisArthurRussell。"

"WhatArthurRussell？Ineverheardofhim。"Mr。Dowlingwaspuzzled。"Why，THAT"Sfunny!OnlythelasttimeIsawyou，youweretellingmehowawfullywellyouknewMildredPalmer。"

"Why，certainlyIdo，"Aliceinformedhim。"She"smymostintimatefriend。"

"That"swhatmakesitseemsofunnyyouhaven"theardanythingaboutthisRussell，becauseeverybodysaysevenifsheisn"tengagedtohimrightnow，shemostlikelywillbebeforeverylong。Imustsayitlooksagooddealthatwaytome，myself。"

"Whatnonsense!"Aliceexclaimed。"She"sneverevenmentionedhimtome。"

Theyoungmanglancedatherdubiouslyandpassedafingeroverthetinyprongthatdashinglycomposedthewholesubstanceofhismoustache。

"Well，yousee，MildredISprettyreserved，"heremarked。"ThisRussellissomekindofcousinofthePalmerfamily，I

understand。"

"Heis？"

"Yes——secondorthirdorsomething，thegirlssay。Yousee，mysisterEllahasn"tgotmuchtodoathome，anddon"treadanything，orsew，orplaysolitaire，yousee；andshehearsaboutprettymucheverythingthatgoeson，yousee。Well，EllasaysalotofthegirlshavebeentalkingaboutMildredandthisArthurRussellforquiteawhileback，yousee。Theywereallwonderingwhathewasgoingtolooklike，yousee；becauseheonlygothereyesterday；andthatprovesshemusthavebeentalkingtosomeof"em，orelsehow——"

Alicelaughedairily，buttheprettysoundendedabruptlywithanaudibleintakeofbreath。"Ofcourse，whileMildredISmymostintimatefriend，"shesaid，"Idon"tmeanshetellsmeeverything——andnaturallyshehasotherfriendsbesides。WhatelsedidyoursistersayshetoldthemaboutthisMr。Russell？"

"Well，itseemshe"sVERYwelloff；atleastHenriettaLambtoldEllahewas。Ellasays——"

Aliceinterruptedagain，withanincreasedirritability。"Oh，nevermindwhatEllasays!Let"sfindsomethingbettertotalkaboutthanMr。Russell!"

"Well，I"Mwilling，"Mr。Dowlingassented，ruefully。"Whatyouwanttotalkabout？"

Butthisliberalofferfoundherunresponsive；shesatleaningback，silent，herarmsalongthearmsofherchair，andhereyes，moistandbright，fixeduponawidedoorwaywherethedancersfluctuated。ShewasdisquietedbymorethanMildred"sreserve，thoughreservesomarkedhadcertainlythesignificanceofawarningthatAlice"sdefinition，"mymostintimatefriend，"

lackedsanction。Indirectnoticetothiseffectcouldnotwellhavebeenmoreemphatic，butthestingofitwasleftforalatermoment。SomethingelsepreoccupiedAlice:shehadjustbeensurprisedbyanoddexperience。AtfirstsightofthisMr。

ArthurRussell，shehadsaidtoherselfinstantly，inwordsasdefiniteasifshespokethemaloud，thoughtheyseemedmorelikewordsspokentoherbysomeunknownpersonwithinher:"There!

That"sexactlythekindoflookingmanI"dliketomarry!"

Intheeyesoftherestlessandthelonging，Providenceoftenappearstobeworsethaninscrutable:anunreliableOmnipotencegiventohaphazardwhimsiesindealingwithitsowncreatures，choosingatrandomsomeamongthemtoberentwithtragicdeprivationsandotherstobepettedwithblessinguponblessing。

InAlice"seyes，Mildredhadbeenblessedenough；somethingoughttobeleftover，bythistime，foranothergirl。ThefinaltouchtotheheapingperfectionofChristmas-in-everythingforMildredwasthatthisMr。ArthurRussell，good-looking，kind-looking，graceful，theperfectfiance，shouldbealso"VERYwelloff。"Ofcourse!Theserichalwaysmarriedoneanother。AndwhiletheMildredsdancedwiththeirArthurRussellsthebestanoutsidercoulddoforherselfwastositwithFrankDowling——theonelastcourseleftherthatwasbetterthandancingwithhim。

"Well，whatDOyouwanttotalkabout？"heinquired。

"Nothing，"shesaid。"Supposewejustsit，Frank。"Butamomentlatersherememberedsomething，and，withasuddenanimation，begantoprattle。Shepointedtothemusiciansdownthecorridor。"Oh，lookatthem!Lookattheleader!Aren"ttheyFUNNY？Someonetoldmethey"recalled"JazzLouieandhishalf-breedbunch。"Isn"tthatjustcrazy？Don"tyouloveit？Dowatchthem，Frank。"

Shecontinuedtochatter，and，whilethuskeepinghisglanceawayfromherself，shedetachedtheforlornbouquetofdeadvioletsfromherdressandlaiditgentlybesidetheoneshehadcarried。

Thelatteralreadyreposedintheobscurityselectedforitatthebaseofoneofthebox-trees。

Thenshewasabruptlysilent。

"Youcertainlyareafunnygirl，"Dowlingremarked。"Yousayyoudon"twanttotalkaboutanythingatall，andallofasuddenyoubreakoutandtalkabluestreak；andjustaboutthetimeIbegintogetinterestedinwhatyou"resayingyoushutoff!What"sthematterwithgirls，anyhow，whentheydothingslikethat？"

"Idon"tknow；we"rejustqueer，Iguess。"

"Isayso!Well，what"llwedoNOW？Talk，orjustsit？"

"Supposewejustsitsomemore。"，"Anythingtooblige，"heassented。"I"mwillingtositaslongasyoulike。"

Butevenashemadehisamiabilityclearinthismatter，thepeacewasthreatened——hismothercamedownthecorridorlikearolling，ominouscloud。Shewaslookingaboutheronallsides，inafidgetofannoyance，searchingforhim，andtohisdismayshesawhim。Sheimmediatelymadeahorriblefaceathiscompanion，beckonedtohimimperiouslywithadumpyarm，andshookherheadreprovingly。Theunfortunateyoungmantriedtorepulseherwithanicystare，butthisefforthavingobtainedlittletoencouragehisfeeblehopeofdrivingheraway，heshiftedhischairsothathisbackwastowardherdiscomfitingpantomime。Heshouldhaveknownbetter，theinstantresultwasMrs。Dowlinginmotionatanimpetuouswaddle。

Sheenteredthebox-treeseclusionwiththelowerrotunditiesofherfacehastilymodelledintotheresemblanceofanover-benevolentsmileacontortionwhichneglectedtospreaditsintendedgenialityupwardtotheexasperatedeyesandanxiousforehead。

"Ithinkyourmotherwantstospeaktoyou，Frank，"Alicesaid，uponthisadvent。

Mrs。Dowlingnoddedtoher。"Goodevening，MissAdams，"shesaid。"IjustthoughtasyouandFrankweren"tdancingyouwouldn"tmindmydisturbingyou——"

"Notatall，"Alicemurmured。

Mr。Dowlingseemedofadifferentmind。"Well，whatDOyouwant？"heinquired，whereuponhismotherstruckhimroguishlywithherfan。

"Badfellow!"SheturnedtoAlice。"I"msureyouwon"tmindexcusinghimtolethimdosomethingforhisoldmother，MissAdams。"

"WhatDOyouwant？"thesonrepeated。

"Twoverynicethings，"Mrs。Dowlinginformedhim。"EverybodyissoanxiousforHenriettaLambtohaveapleasantevening，becauseit"stheveryfirsttimeshe"sbeenanywheresinceherfather"sdeath，andofcourseherdeargrandfather"sanoldfriendofours，and——"

"Well，well!"hersoninterrupted。"MissAdamsisn"tinterestedinallthis，mother。"

"ButHenriettacametospeaktoEllaandme，andItoldheryouweresoanxioustodancewithher——"

"Here!"hecried。"Lookhere!I"dratherdomyown——"

"Yes；that"sjustit，"Mrs。Dowlingexplained。"Ijustthoughtitwassuchagoodopportunity；andHenriettasaidshehadmostofherdancestaken，butshe"dgiveyouoneifyouaskedherbeforetheywereallgone。SoIthoughtyou"dbetterseeherassoonaspossible。"

Dowling"sfacehadbecomerosy。"Irefusetodoanythingofthekind。"

"Badfellow!"saidhismother，gaily。"IthoughtthiswouldbethebesttimeforyoutoseeHenrietta，becauseitwon"tbelongtillallherdancesaregone，andyou"vepromisedonyourWORDtodancethenextwithElla，andyoumightn"thaveachancetodoitthen。I"msureMissAdamswon"tmindifyou——"

"Notatall，"Alicesaid。

"Well，_I_mind!"hesaid。"IwishyouCOULDunderstandthatwhenIwanttodancewithanygirlIdon"tneedmymothertoaskherforme。IreallyAMmorethansixyearsold!"

Hespokewithtoomuchvehemence，andMrs。Dowlingatoncesawhowtohaveherway。Aswithhusbandsandwives，sowithmanyfathersanddaughters，andsowithsomesonsandmothers:themanwillhimselfbecrossinpublicandthinknothingofit，norwillhegreatlymindalittlecrossnessonthepartofthewoman；butlethershowagitationbeforeanyspectator，heisinstantlyreducedtoacoward"sslavery。Womenunderstandthatancientweakness，ofcourse；foritisoneoftheirmostimportantmeansofdefense，butcanbeusedignobly。

Mrs。Dowlingpermittedatremulousnesstobecomeaudibleinhervoice。"Itisn"tvery——verypleasant——tobetalkedtolikethatbyyourownson——beforestrangers!"

"Oh，my!Lookhere!"thestrickenDowlingprotested。"_I_

didn"tsayanything，mother。IwasjustjokingabouthowyounevergetoverthinkingI"malittleboy。Ionly——"

Mrs。Dowlingcontinued:"IjustthoughtIwasdoingyoualittlefavour。Ididn"tthinkitwouldmakeyousoangry。"

"Mother，forgoodness"sake!MissAdams"llthink——"

"Isuppose，"Mrs。Dowlinginterrupted，piteously，"Isupposeitdoesn"tmatterwhat_I_think!"

"Oh，gracious!"

Aliceinterfered；sheperceivedthattheruthlessMrs。Dowlingmeanttohaveherway。"Ithinkyou"dbettergo，Frank。

Really。"

"There!"hismothercried。"MissAdamssaysso，herself!Whatmoredoyouwant？"

"Oh，gracious!"helamentedagain，and，withasicklookoverhisshoulderatAlice，permittedhismothertotakehisarmandpropelhimaway。Mrs。Dowling"sspiritshadstrikinglyrecoveredevenbeforethepairpassedfromthecorridor:shemovedalmostbouncinglybesideherembitteredson，andhereyesandalltheconvolutionsofherabundantfacewereblithe。

AlicewentinsearchofWalter，butwithoutmuchhopeoffindinghim。Whathedidwithhimselfatfrozen-facedanceswasoneofhismostsuccessfulmysteries，andherpresentexcursiongavehernoclueleadingtoitssolution。Whenthemusiciansagainloweredtheirinstrumentsforanintervalshehadreturned，alone，toherformerseatwithinthepartialshelterofthebox-trees。

Shehadnowtopracticeanartthataffordsbutalimitedvarietyofmethods，eventotheexpert:theartofseemingtohaveanescortorpartnerwhenthereisnone。Thepractitionermustimply，merelybyexpressionandattitude，thatthesupposedcompanionhasleftherforonlyafewmoments，thatsheherselfhassenthimuponanerrand；and，ifpossible，themindsofobserversmustbedirectedtowardaconclusionthatthiserrandofherdevisingisanamusingone；atallevents，sheisalonetemporarilyandofchoice，notdeserted。Sheawaitsadevotedmanwhomayreturnatanyinstant。

OtherpeopledesiredtositinAlice"snook，butdiscoveredherinoccupancy。Shehadmovedthevacantchairclosertoherown，andshesatwithherarmextendedsothatherhand，holdingherlacekerchief，resteduponthebackofthissecondchair，claimingit。Suchapreemption，likethatofatraveller"sbagintherack，wasunquestionable；and，foradditionalevidence，sittingwithherkneescrossed，shekeptonefootcontinuouslymovingalittle，incadencewiththeother，whichtappedthefloor。Moreover，sheaddedafinedetail:herhalf-smile，withtheunderlipcaught，seemedtostruggleagainstrepression，asifshefoundtheserviceengagingherabsentcompanionevenmoreamusingthanshewouldlethimseewhenhereturned:therewasjovialintrigueofsomesortafoot，evidently。Hereyes，beamingwithsecretfun，wereavertedfromintruders，butsometimes，whencouplesapproached，seekingpossessionofthenook，herthoughtsabouttheabsenteeappearedtothreatenherwithoutrightlaughter；andthoughoneortwogirlslookedatherskeptically，astheyturnedaway，theirescortsfeltnosuchdoubts，andmerelywonderedwhatimportantlyfunnyaffairAliceAdamswasengagedin。Shehadlearnedtodoitperfectly。

Shehadlearneditduringthelasttwoyears；shewastwentywhenforthefirsttimeshehadtheshockoffindingherselfwithoutanapplicantforoneofherdances。Whenshewassixteen"alltheniceboysintown，"ashermothersaid，crowdedtheAdamses"

smallverandaandsteps，orsatnearby，cross-leggedonthelawn，onsummerevenings；andateighteenshehadreplacedtheboyswith"theoldermen。"Bythistimemostof"theothergirls，"hercontemporaries，wereawayatschoolorcollege，andwhentheycamehometostay，they"cameout"——thatfeeblerevivalofanancientcustomofferingthemaidentotheceremonialinspectionofthetribe。Aliceneitherwentawaynor"cameout，"

and，incontrastwiththosewhodid，shemayhaveseemedtolackfreshnessoflustre——jewelsarerichestwhenrevealedallnewinawhitevelvetbox。AndAlicemayhavebeentooeagertosecurenewretainers，tookindinhereffortstokeeptheoldones。Shehadbeenabelletoosoon。

CHAPTERVIII

Thedeviceoftheabsenteepartnerhasthedefectthatitcannotbeemployedforlongerthantenorfifteenminutesatatime，anditmaynotberepeatedmorethantwiceinoneevening:asinglerepetition，indeed，isweak，andmayproveabetrayal。Aliceknewthatherpresentperformancecouldbeeffectiveduringonlythisintervalbetweendances；andthoughhereyeswereguarded，sheanxiouslycountedoverthepartnerlessyoungmenwholoungedtogetherinthedoorwayswithinherview。Everyoneofthemoughttohaveaskedherfordances，shethought，andalthoughshemighthavebeenputtoittogiveareasonwhyanyofthem"ought，"herheartwashotwithresentmentagainstthem。

Foragirlwhohasbeenabelle，itishardertolivethroughthesebadtimesthanitisforonewhohasneverknownanythingbetter。Likeafigureofpaintedandbrightlyvarnishedwood，EllaDowlingsatagainstthewallthroughdanceafterdancewithglassyimperturbability；itwaseasiertobewooden，Alicethought，ifyouhadyourmotherwithyou，asEllahad。Youwereleftwithatleasttheshredofapretensethatyoucametositwithyourmotherasaspectator，andnottoofferyourselftobedancedwithbymenwholookedyouoverandrejectedyou——notforthefirsttime。"Notforthefirsttime":therelayasting!

Whyhadyouthoughtthistimemightbedifferentfromtheothertimes？Whyhadyoubrokenyourbackpickingthosehundredsofviolets？

Hatingthefatuousyoungmeninthedoorwaysmorebitterlyforeveryinstantthatshehadtomaintainhertableau，thesmilingAliceknewfierceimpulsestospringtoherfeetandshoutatthem，"YouIDIOTS!"Handsinpockets，theyloungedagainstthepilasters，orfacedoneanother，laughingvaguely，eachoneofthemseemingtoAlicenomorethansomuchmeanbeefinclothes。

Shewantedtotellthemtheywerenobetterthanthat；anditseemedacruelthingofheaventoletthemgoonbelievingthemselvesyounglords。Theyweredoingnothing，killingtime。

Wasn"tsheatherlowestvalueatleastameansofkillingtime？

Evidentlythemeanbeevesthoughtnot。Andwhenoneofthemfinallyloungedacrossthecorridorandspoketoher，hewastheveryonetowhomshepreferredherloneliness。

"Waitingforsomebody，LadyAlicia？"heasked，negligently；andhiseasyburlesqueofhernamewaslikethefamiliarityoftherestofhim。Hewasoneofthosefull-bodied，grosslyhandsomemenwhoarepowerfulandactive，butneversubmitthemselvestotherigourofbecomingathletes，thoughtheyshootandfishfromexpensivecamps。Glossisthemostshiningoutwardmarkofthetype。Nowadaysthesemennolongerusebrilliantineontheirmoustaches，buttheyhaveglossboughtfrommanicure-girls，frommasseurs，andfromautomobile-makers；andtheireyes，usuallylarge，areglossy。Noneofthisisallowedtointerferewithbusiness；theseare"goodbusinessmen，"andoftenmakelargefortunes。Theyaremenofimaginationabouttwothings——womenandmoney，and，combiningtheirimaginingsaboutboth，usuallymakeawisefirstmarriage。Later，however，theyareapttoimaginetoomuchaboutsomelittlewomanwithoutwhomlifeseemsdullerthanneedbe。Theyrunaway，leavingthefirstwifewellenoughdowered。Theyareneverintentionallyunkindtowomen，andintheendtheyusuallymakethemistakeofthinkingtheyhavehadtheirmoney"sworthoflife。HerewasMr。HarveyMalone，ayoungspecimeninanearlierstageofdevelopment，tryingtomarryHenriettaLamb，andnowsaunteringovertospeaktoAlice，asatime-killerbeforehisnextdancewithHenrietta。

Alicemadenoresponsetohisquestion，andhedroppedlazilyintothevacantchair，fromwhichshesharplywithdrewherhand。

"Imightaswellusehischairtillhecomes，don"tyouthink？

Youdon"tMIND，doyou，oldgirl？"

"Oh，no，"Alicesaid。"Itdoesn"tmatteronewayortheother。

Pleasedon"tcallmethat。"

"Sothat"showyoufeel？"Mr。Malonelaughedindulgently，withoutmuchinterest。"I"vebeenmeaningtocometoseeyouforalongtimehonestlyIhave——becauseIwantedtohaveagoodtalkwithyouaboutoldtimes。Iknowyouthinkitwasfunny，afterthewayIusedtocometoyourhousetwoorthreetimesaweek，andsometimesoftener——well，Idon"tblameyouforbeinghurt，thewayIstoppedwithoutexplainingoranything。Thetruthistherewasn"tanyreason:Ijusthappenedtohavealotofimportantthingstodoandcouldn"tfindthetime。ButIAM

goingtocallonyousomeevening——honestlyIam。Idon"twonderyouthink——"

"You"remistaken，"Alicesaid。"I"veneverthoughtanythingaboutitatall。"

"Well，well!"hesaid，andlookedatherlanguidly。"What"stheuseofbeingcrosswiththisoldman？Healwaysmeanswell。"

And，extendinghisarm，hewouldhavegivenherafriendlypatupontheshoulderbutsheevadedit。"Well，well!"hesaid。

"Seemstomeyou"regettingawfultetchy!Don"tyoulikeyouroldfriendsanymore？"

"Notallofthem。"

"Who"sthenewone？"heasked，teasingly。"Comeonandtellus，Alice。Whoisityouwereholdingthischairfor？"

"Nevermind。"

"Well，allI"vegottodoistositheretillhecomesback；thenI"llseewhoitis。"

"Hemaynotcomebackbeforeyouhavetogo。"

"GuessyougotmeTHATtime，"Maloneadmitted，laughingasherose。"They"retuningup，andI"vegotthisdance。IAMcomingaroundtoseeyousomeevening。"Hemovedaway，callingbackoverhisshoulder，"Honestly，Iam!"

Alicedidnotlookathim，Shehadheldhertableauaslongasshecould；itwastimeforhertoabandonthebox-trees；andshesteppedforthfrowning，asifalittleannoyedwiththeabsenteeforbeingsuchatimeuponhererrand；whereuponthetwochairswereinstantlyseizedbyacoquettingpairwhointendedto"sitout"thedance。Shewalkedquicklydownthebroadcorridor，turnedintothebroaderhall，andhurriedlyenteredthedressing-roomwhereshehadleftherwraps。

Shestayedhereaslongasshecould，pretendingtoarrangeherhairatamirror，thenfidgetingwithoneofherslipper-buckles；

buttheintelligentelderlywomaninchargeoftheroommadeanindefinitesojournimpracticable。"PerhapsIcouldhelpyouwiththatbuckle，Miss，"shesuggested，approaching。"Hasitcomeloose？"Alicewrencheddesperately；thenitwasloose。Thecompetentwoman，producingneedleandthread，deftlymadethebucklefast；andtherewasnothingforAlicetodobuttoexpresshergratitudeandgo。

Shewenttothedoorofthecloak-roomopposite，whereacolouredmanstoodwatchfullyinthedoorway。"Iwonderifyouknowwhichofthegentlemenismybrother，Mr。WalterAdams，"shesaid。

"Yes"m；Iknowhim。"

"Couldyoutellmewhereheis？"

"No"m；Icouldn"tsay。"

"Well，ifyouseehim，wouldyoupleasetellhimthathissister，MissAdams，islookingforhimandveryanxioustospeaktohim？"

"Yes"m。Sho"ly，sho"ly!"

Asshewentawayhestaredafterherandseemedtoswellwithsomeburstingemotion。Infact，itwastoomuchforhim，andhesuddenlyretiredwithintheroom，releasingstrangulatedlaughter。

Walterremonstrated。Behindanexcellentscreenofcoatsandhats，inaremotepartoftheroom，hewaskneelingonthefloor，engagedinagameofchancewithasecondcolouredattendant；andthelaughterbecamesovehementthatitnotonlyinterferedwiththepastimeinhand，butthreatenedtoattractfrozen-faceattention。

"Icain"he"pit，man，"thelaughterexplained。"Icain"he"pit!Yousut"n"ythebeatin"es"whiteboy"n"iscity!"

Thedancerswereswingingintoan"encore"asAlicehaltedforanirresolutemomentinadoorway。Acrosstheroom，aclusterofmatronssatchattingabsently，theireyesontheirdancingdaughters；andAlice，findingarefugee"scourage，dodgedthroughthescurryingcouples，seatedherselfinachairontheoutskirtsofthiscolonyofelders，andbegantotalkeagerlytothematronnearesther。Thematronseemedunaccustomedtosomuchvivacity，andrespondedbutdryly，whereuponAlicewasmorevivaciousthanever；forshemeantnowtopresentthepictureofajollygirltoomuchinterestedinthesewiseolderwomentobotherabouteveryfoolishyoungmanwhoaskedherforadance。

Hermatronwasconstrainedtogosofarastosupplyatolerantnod，nowandthen，incomplementtothegirl"sanimation，andAlicewasgratefulforthenods。Inthisfashionshesupplementedtheexhaustedresourcesofthedressing-roomandthebox-treenook；andlivedthroughtwomoredances，whenagainMr。

FrankDowlingpresentedhimselfasapartner。

Sheneedednopretensetoseekthedressing-roomforrepairsafterthatnumber；thistimetheywerenecessaryandgenuine。

Dowlingwaitedforher，andwhenshecameoutheexplainedforthefourthorfifthtimehowtheaccidenthadhappened。"Itwasentirelythoseotherpeople"sfault，"hesaid。"Theygotmeinakindofacorner，becauseneitherofthosefellowsknowstheleastthingaboutguiding；theyjustjamaheadandexpecteverybodytogetoutoftheirway。ItwasCharlotteThom"sdiamondcrescentpinthatgotcaughtonyourdressinthebackandmadesucha——"

"Nevermind，"Alicesaidinatiredvoice。"Themaidfixeditsothatshesaysitisn"tverynoticeable。"

"Well，itisn"t，"hereturned。"Youcouldhardlytellthere"dbeenanythingthematter。Wheredoyouwanttogo？Mother"sbeeninterferinginmyaffairssomemoreandI"vegotthenexttaken。"

"IwassittingwithMrs。GeorgeDresser。Youmighttakemebackthere。"

Heleftherwiththematron，andAlicereturnedtoherpicture-making，sothatoncemore，whiletwonumberspassed，whoevercaredtolookwasofferedthesketchofajolly，clevergirlpreoccupiedwithherelders。ThenshefoundherfriendMildredstandingbeforeher，presentingMr。ArthurRussell，whoaskedhertodancewithhim。

Alicelookeduncertain，asthoughnotsurewhatherengagementswere；butherperplexitycleared；shenodded，andswungrhythmicallyawaywiththetallapplicant。Shewasnotgratefultoherhostessforthisalms。Whatayounghostessdoeswithafiance，Alicethought，istomakehimdancewiththeunpopulargirls。ShesupposedthatMr。ArthurRussellhadalreadydancedwithEllaDowling。

Theloanofalover，underthesecircumstances，maybepainfultothelessee，andAlice，smilingnevermorebrightly，foundnothingtosaytoMr。Russell，thoughshethoughthemighthavefoundsomethingtosaytoher。"IwonderwhatMildredtoldhim，"shethought。"Probablyshesaid，"Dearest，there"sonemoregirlyou"vegottohelpmeoutwith。Youwouldn"tlikehermuch，butshedanceswellenoughandshe"shavingarottentime。Nobodyevergoesnearheranymore。""

Whenthemusicstopped，Russelladdedhisapplausetothehand-clappingthatencouragedtheuproariousinstrumentstocontinue，andastheyrenewedthetumult，hesaidheartily，"That"ssplendid!"

Alicegavehimaglance，necessarilyatshortrange，andfoundhiseyeskindlyandpleased。Herewasafriendlysoul，itappeared，whoprobably"likedeverybody。"Nodoubthehadapplaudedforan"encore"whenhedancedwithEllaDowling，gaveEllathesamegeniallook，andsaid，"That"ssplendid!"

Whenthe"encore"wasover，Alicespoketohimforthefirsttime。

"Mildredwillbelookingforyou，"shesaid。"Ithinkyou"dbettertakemebacktowhereyoufoundme。"

Helookedsurprised。"Oh，ifyou——"

"I"msureMildredwillbeneedingyou，"Alicesaid，andasshetookhisarmandtheywalkedtowardMrs。Dresser，shethoughtitmightbejustpossibletomakeafurtheruseoftheloan。"Oh，I

wonderifyou——"shebegan。

"Yes？"hesaid，quickly。

"Youdon"tknowmybrother，WalterAdams，"shesaid。"Buthe"ssomewhereIthinkpossiblyhe"sinasmoking-roomorsomeplacewheregirlsaren"texpected，andifyouwouldn"tthinkittoomuchtroubletoinquire——"

"I"llfindhim，"Russellsaid，promptly。"Thankyousomuchforthatdance。I"llbringyourbrotherinamoment。"

Itwastobealongmoment，Alicedecided，presently。Mrs。

Dresserhadgrownrestive；andhernodsandvagueresponsestoheryoungdependent"sgaietieswereasmeagerastheycouldwellbe。EvidentlythematronhadnointentionofappearingtoherworldinthelightofachaperoneforAliceAdams；andshefinallymadethisclear。Withawordortwoofexcuse，breakingintosomethingAlicewassaying，sheroseandwenttositnexttoMildred"smother，whohadbecomethenucleusofthecluster。SoAlicewasleftverymuchagainstthewall，withshortstretchesofvacantchairsoneachsideofher。Shehadcometotheendofherpicture-making，andcouldonlypretendthattherewassomethingamusingthematterwiththearmofherchair。

ShesupposedthatMildred"sMr。RussellhadforgottenWalterbythistime。"I"mnotevenanintimateenoughfriendofMildred"sforhimtohavethoughtheoughttobothertotellmehecouldn"tfindhim，"shethought。AndthenshesawRussellcomingacrosstheroomtowardher，withWalterbesidehim。Shejumpedupgaily。

"Oh，thankyou!"shecried。"Iknowthisnaughtyboymusthavebeenterriblyhardtofind。Mildred"llNEVERforgiveme!I"veputyoutosomuch——"

"Notatall，"hesaid，amiably，andwentaway，leavingthebrotherandsistertogether。

"Walter，let"sdancejustoncemore，"Alicesaid，touchinghisarmplacatively。"Ithought——well，perhapswemightgohomethen。"

ButWalter"sexpressionwasthatofapersonuponwhomanoutragehasjustbeenperpetrated。"No，"hesaid。"We"vestayedTHIS

long，I"mgoin"towaitandseewhattheygottoeat。Andyoulookhere!"Heturneduponherangrily。"Don"tyoueverdothatagain!"

"Dowhat？"

"Sendsomebodyaftermethatpokeshisnoseintoeverycornerofthehousetillhefindsme!"AreyouMr。WalterAdams？"hesays。IguesshemustaskedeverybodyintheplaceiftheywereMr。WalterAdams!Well，I"llbetafewironmenyouwouldn"tsendanybodytohuntformeagainifyouknewwherehefoundme!"

"Wherewasit？"

Walterdecidedthatherfitpunishmentwastoknow。"Iwasshootin"dicewiththosecoonsinthecloak-room。"

"Andhesawyou？"

"Unlesshewasblind!"saidWalter。"Comeon，I"lldancethisonemoredancewithyou。Suppercomesafterthat，andTHENwe"llgohome。"

Mrs。AdamsheardAlice"skeyturninginthefrontdoorandhurrieddownthestairstomeether。

"Didyougetwetcomingin，darling？"sheasked。"Didyouhaveagoodtime？"