第2章
GRINNIDGE，smokingpeacefullythroughthesilencewhichhisfriendhasabsent—mindedlyletfollowuponhislastwords:"Well，youseemdisposedtotakeyourtimeaboutit。"
RANSOM:"Aboutwhat？Oh，yes！Well"—
MISSREED:"’Sh！Listen。"
MISSSPAULDING:"Iwon’tlisten！It’sshameful:it’swicked！I
don’tseehowyoucandoit，Ethel！"Sheremains，however，kneelingneartheregister，andsheinvoluntarilyinclinesalittlemoretowardit。
RANSOM:"——Itisn’tathingthatIcaretoshoutfromthehouse—
tops。"Hereturnsfromthewindowtothechimney—piece。"Iwrotetherudestkindofnote，andsentbackherletterandhermoneyinit。Shehadsaidthatshehopedouracquaintancewasnottoendwiththesummer，butthatwemightsometimesmeetinBoston；andI
answeredthatouracquaintancehadendedalready，andthatIshouldbesorrytomeetheranywhereagain。"
GRINNIDGE:"Well，ifyouwantedtomakeanassofyourself，youdiditprettycompletely。"
MISSREED，whispering:"Howwittyheis！Thosemenarealwayssohumorouswitheachother。"
RANSOM:"Yes；Ididn’tdoitbyhalves。"
MISSREED，whispering:"Oh，THAT’Sfunny，too！"
GRINNIDGE:"Itdidn’toccurtoyouthatshemightfeelboundtopayyouforthefirsthalf—dozen，andwasembarrassedhowtooffertopayforthemalone？"
MISSREED:"HowheDOESgototheheartofthematter！"ShepressesMissSpaulding’shandinanecstasyofapproval。
RANSOM:"Yes，itdid——afterward。"
MISSREED，inatendermurmur:"Oh，POOROliver！"
RANSOM:"Anditoccurredtomethatshewasperfectlyrightinthewholeaffair。"
MISSREED:"Oh，howgenerous！hownoble！"
RANSOM:"Ihadhadathousandopportunities，andIhadn’tbeenmanenoughtotellherthatIwasinlovewithher。"
MISSREED:"Howcanhesayitrightoutsobluntly？Butifit’strue"—
RANSOM:"ICOULDN’Tspeak。Iwasafraidofputtinganendtotheaffair——offrighteningher——disgustingher。"
MISSREED:"Oh，howlittletheyknowus，Nettie！"
RANSOM:"Sheseemedsomuchabovemeineveryway——sosensitive，sorefined，sogentle，sogood，soangelic！"
MISSREED:"There！NOWdoyoucalliteavesdropping？Iflistenersneverhearanygoodofthemselves，whatdoyousaytothat？ItprovesthatIhaven’tbeenlistening。"
MISSSPAULDING:"’Sh！They’resayingsomethingelse。"
RANSOM:"Butallthat’sneitherherenorthere。Icanseenowthatunderthecircumstancesshecouldn’tasaladyhaveactedotherwisethanshedid。Shewasforcedtotreatourwholeacquaintanceasabusinessmatter，andIhadforcedhertodoit。"
MISSREED:"YouHAD，youpoorthing！"
GRINNIDGE:"Well，whatdoyouintendtodoaboutit？"
RANSOM:"Well"—
MISSREED:"’Sh！"
MISSSPAULDING:"’Sh！"
RANSOM:"——that’swhatIwanttosubmittoyou，Grinnidge。Imustseeher。"
GRINNIDGE:"Yes。I’mglad_I_mustn’t。"
MISSREED，stiflingalaughonMissSpaulding’sshoulder:"They’reactuallyAFRAIDofus，Nettie！"
RANSOM:"Seeher，andgodowninthedust。"
MISSREED:"Myverywords！"
RANSOM:"IhavebeentryingtothinkwhatwastheveryhumblestpieIcouldeat，bywayofpenance；anditappearstomethatIhadbetterbeginbysayingthatIhavecometoaskherforthemoneyI
refused。"
MISSREED，enraptured:"Oh！doesn’titseemjustlike——like——
inspiration，Nettie？"
MISSSPAULDING:"’Sh！Bequiet，do！You’llfrightenthemaway！"
GRINNIDGE:"Andthenwhat？"
RANSOM:"Whatthen？Idon’tknowwhatthen。Butitappearstomethat，asagentleman，I’vegotnothingtodowiththeresult。AllthatI’vegottodoistosubmittomyfate，whateveritis。"
MISSREED，breathlessly:"Whatprincelycourage！Whatdelicatemagnanimity！Oh，heneedn’thavetheLEASTfear！IfIcouldonlytellhimthat！"
GRINNIDGE，afteranintervalofmeditativesmoking:"Yes，Iguessthat’sthebestthingyoucando。Itwillstrikeherfancy，ifshe’sanimaginativegirl，andshe’llthinkyouafinefellow。"
MISSREED:"Oh，thehorridthing！"
GRINNIDGE:"Ifyouhumbleyourselftoawomanatall，doitthoroughly。Ifyougohalfwaydownshe’llbetemptedtopushyoutherestoftheway。Ifyouflattenoutatherfeettobeginwith，tentoonebutshewillpickyouup。"
RANSOM:"Yes，thatwasmyidea。"
MISSREED:"Oh，wasit，indeed！Well！"
RANSOM:"ButI’venothingtodowithherpickingmeuporpushingmedown。AllthatI’vegottodoistogoandsurrendermyself。"
GRINNIDGE:"Yes。Well；Iguessyoucan’tgotoosoon。Ilikeyourcompany；butIadviseyouasafriendnottolosetime。Wheredoesshelive？"
RANSOM:"That’stheremarkablepartofit:shelivesinthishouse。"
MISSREEDandMissSpaulding，insubduedchorus:"Oh！"
GRINNIDGE，takinghispipeoutofhismouthinastonishment:"No！"
RANSOM:"IjustcameinheretogivemygoodresolutionsarestwhileIwasscrewingmycourageuptoaskforher。"
MISSREED:"Don’tyouthinkhe’sVERYhumorous？Givehisgoodresolutionsarest！That’sthewayheALWAYStalks。"
MISSSPAULDING:"’Sh！"
GRINNIDGE:"Yousaidyoucameformyadvice。"
RANSOM:"SoIdid。ButIdidn’tpromisetoactuponit。Well！"Hegoestowardthedoor。
GRINNIDGE，withouttroublinghimselftorise:"Well，goodlucktoyou！"
MISSREED:"Howdrolltheyarewitheachother！Don’tyouLIKEtohearthemtalk？Oh，Icouldlistenallday。"
GRINNIDGE，callingafterRansom:"Youhaven’ttoldmeyourduck’sname。"
MISSREED:"IsTHATwhattheycallus？Duck！Doyouthinkit’sveryrespectful，Nettie？Idon’tbelieveIlikeit。Or，yes，whynot？It’snoharm——ifIAMhisduck！"
RANSOM，comingback:"Well，Idon’tproposetogoshoutingitround。
HernameisMissReed——EthelReed。"
MISSREED:"HowCANhe？"
GRINNIDGE:"Slender，willowyparty，withalotofblondhairthatlooksasifitmightbeindigenous？Ratherpensive—looking？"
MISSREED:"Indigenous！Ishouldhopeso！"
RANSOM:"Yes。Butsheisn’tpensive。She’sawfullydeep。Itmakesmeshuddertothinkhowdeepthatgirlis。AndwhenIthinkofmycourageindaringtobeinlovewithher——astupid，straightforwardidiotlikeme——Ibegintorespectmyselfinspiteofbeingsuchanass。Well，I’moff。IfIstayanylongerIshallnevergo。"Heclosesthedoorafterhim，andMissReedinstantlyspringstoherfeet。
MISSREED:"Nowhe’llhavetogodowntotheparlorandsenduphisname，andthatjustgivesmetimetodothenecessaryprinking。Youstayhereandreceivehim，Nettie。"
MISSSPAULDING:"Never！Afterwhat’shappenedIcanneverlookhiminthefaceagain。Oh，howlow，andmean，andguiltyIfeel！"
MISSREED，withsurprise:"Why，howdroll！Now_I_don’tfeeltheleastso。"
MISSSPAULDING:"Oh，it’sverydifferentwithYOU。YOU’REinlovewithhim。"
MISSREED:"Forshame，Nettie！I’mNOTinlovewithhim。"
MISSSPAULDING:"Andyoucanexplainandjustifyit。ButInevercanjustifyittomyself，muchlesstohim。Letmego，Ethel！I
shalltellMrs。McKnightthatwemustchangethisroominstantly。
AndjustafterI’dgotitsonearlyinorder！Godownandreceivehimintheparlor，Ethel。ICAN’Tseehim。"
MISSREED:"Receivehimintheparlor！Why，Nettie，dear，you’recrazy！I’mgoingtoACCEPThim:andhowcanIaccepthim——withalltheconsequences——inapublicparlor？No，indeed！Ifyouwon’tmeethimhereforamoment，justtoobligeme，youcangointotheotherroom。Or，no——you’dbelisteningtoeverywordthroughthekey—hole，you’resodemoralized！"
MISSSPAULDING:"Yes，yes，Ideserveyourcontempt，Ethel。"
MISSREED，laughing:"Youwillhavetogooutforawalk，youpoorthing；andI’mnotgoingtohaveyoucomingbackinfiveortenminutes。Youhavegottostayoutagoodhour。"
MISSSPAULDING，runningtogetherthingsfromthenextroom:"Oh，I’llstayouttillmidnight！"
MISSREED，respondingtoatapatthedoor:"Ye—e—s！Comein！——
You’recaught，Nettie。"
AMAID—SERVANT，appearingwithacard:"Thisgentlemanisaskingforyouintheparlor，MissReed。"
MISSREED:"Oh！Askhimtocomeuphere，please。——Nettie！Nettie！"
Shecallstoherfriendinthenextroom。"He’scomingrightup，andifyoudon’trunyou’retrapped。"
MISSSPAULDING，re—appearing，cloakedandbonneted:"Idon’tblameYOU，Ethel，comparativelyspeaking。Youcansaythateverythingisfairinlove。Hewilllikeit，andlaughatitinyou，becausehe’lllikeeverythingyou’vedone。Besides，you’venoprinciples，andI
HAVE。"
MISSREED:"Oh，I’velotsofprinciples，Nettie，butI’venopractice！"
MISSSPAULDING:"Nomatter。There’snoexcuseforme。IlistenedsimplybecauseIwasawoman，andcouldn’thelpit；and，oh，whatwillhethinkofme？"
MISSREED:"Iwon’tgiveyouaway；ifyoureallyfeelsobadly"—
MISSSPAULDING:"Oh，DOyouthinkyoucankeepfromtellinghim，Etheldear？Try！AndIwillbeyourslaveforever！"Stepsareheardonthestairsoutside。"Oh，therehecomes！"Shedashesoutofthedoor，andclosesitafterher，amomentbeforethemaid—
servant，followedbyMr。Ransom，tapsatit。
III。
SCENE:MissReedopensthedoor，andreceivesMr。Ransomwithwell—
affectedsurpriseandstate，sufferinghimtostandawkwardlyonthethresholdforamoment。
SHE，coldly:"Oh！——Mr。Ransom！"
HE，abruptly:"I’vecome"—
SHE:"Won’tyoucomein？"
HE，advancingafewpacesintotheroom:"I’vecome"—
SHE，indicatingachair:"Willyousitdown？"
HE:"Imuststandforthepresent。I’vecometoaskyouforthatmoney，MissReed，whichIrefusedyesterday，intermsthatIblushtothinkof。Iwasaltogetherandwhollyinthewrong，andI’mreadytoofferanyimaginableapologyorreparation。I’mreadytotakethemoneyandtosignareceipt，andthentobedismissedwithwhateverignominyyouplease。Ideserveanything——everything！"
SHE:"Themoney？Excuseme；Idon’tknow——I’mafraidthatI’mnotpreparedtopayyouthewholesumto—day。"
HE，hastily:"Oh，nomatter！nomatter！Idon’tcareforthemoneynow。Imerelywishto——toassureyouthatIthoughtyouwereperfectlyrightinofferingit，andto——to"—
SHE:"What？"
HE:"Nothing。Thatis——ah——ah"—
SHE:"It’sextremelyembarrassingtohavepeoplerefusetheirmoneywhenit’sofferedthem，andthencomethenextdayforit，whenperhapsitisn’tsoconvenienttopayit——VERYembarrassing。"
HE，hotly:"ButItellyouIdon’twanttheMONEY！Ineverwantedit，andwouldn’ttakeitonanyaccount。"
SHE:"Oh！Ithoughtyousaidyoucametogetit？"
HE:"Isaid——Ididn’tsay——Imeant——thatis——ah——I"——Hestops，open—
mouthed。
SHE，quietly:"Icouldgiveyoupartofthemoneynow。"
HE:"Oh，whateveryoulike；it’sindifferent"—
SHE:"PleasesitdownwhileIwriteareceipt。"Sheplacesherselfdeliberatelyatthetable，andopensherportfolio。"Iwillpayyounow，Mr。Ransom，forthefirstsixlessonsyougaveme——theonesbeforeyoutoldmethatIcouldneverlearntodoanything。"
HE，sinkingmechanicallyintothechairsheindicates:"Oh，justasyoulike！"Helooksupattheceilinginhopelessbewilderment，whileshewrites。
SHE，blottingthepaper:"There！Andnowletmeofferyoualittlepieceofadvice，Mr。Ransom，whichmaybeusefultoyouintakingpupilshereafter。"
HE，burstingout:"Inevertakepupils！"
SHE:"Nevertakepupils！Idon’tunderstand。YoutookME。"
HE，confusedly:"Itookyou——yes。Youseemedtowish——youseemed——
thecasewaspeculiar——peculiarcircumstances。"
SHE，withseverity:"MayIaskWHYthecircumstanceswerepeculiar？
Isawnothingpeculiaraboutthecircumstances。Itseemedtomeitwasaverysimplematter。ItoldyouthatIhadalwayshadagreatcuriositytoseewhetherIcoulduseoilpaints，andIaskedyouaveryplainquestion，whetheryouwouldletmestudywithyou。Didn’tI？"
HE:"Yes。"
SHE:"Wasthereanythingwrong——anythingqueeraboutmyaskingyou？"
HE:"No，no！Notatall——notintheleast。"
SHE:"Didn’tyouwishmetotakethelessonsofyou？Ifyoudidn’t，itwasn’tkindofyoutoletme。"
HE:"Oh，Iwasperfectlywilling——verygladindeed，verymuchso——
certainly！"
SHE:"Ifitwasn’tyourCUSTOMtotakepupils，yououghttohavetoldme，andIwouldn’thaveforcedmyselfuponyou。"
HE，desperately:"Itwasn’tforcingyourselfuponme。TheLordknowshowhumblygratefulIwas。Itwaslikeahopeofheaven！"
SHE:"Really，Mr。Ransom，thisisverystrangetalk。WhatamItounderstandbyit？Whyshouldyoubegratefultoteachme？Whyshouldgivingmelessonsbelikeahopeofheaven？"
HE:"Oh，Iwilltellyou！"
SHE:"Well？"
HE，afteramomentofagony:"Becausetobewithyou"—
SHE:"Yes？"
HE:"BecauseIwishedtobewithyou。Because——thosedaysinthewoods，whenyouread，andI"—
SHE:"Paintedonmypictures"—
HE:"Werethehappiestofmylife。Because——Ilovedyou！"
SHE:"Mr。Ransom！"
HE:"Yes，Imusttellyouso。Ilovedyou；Iloveyoustill。I
shallalwaysloveyou，nomatterwhat"—
SHE:"Youforgetyourself，Mr。Ransom。Hastherebeenanythinginmymanner——conduct——tojustifyyouinusingsuchlanguagetome？"
HE:"No——no"—
SHE:"DidyousupposethatbecauseIfirsttooklessonsofyoufrom—
—from——anenthusiasmforart，andthencontinuedthemfor——for——
amusement，thatIwishedyoutomakelovetome？"
HE:"No，Ineversupposedsuchathing。I’mincapableofit。I
beseechyoutobelievethatnoonecouldhavemorerespect——
reverence"——Hetwirlshishatbetweenhishands，andcastsanimploringglanceather。
SHE:"Oh，respect——reverence！Iknowwhattheymeaninthemouthsofmen。Ifyourespected，ifyoureverencedme，couldyoudaretotellme，aftermyunguardedtrustofyouduringthepastmonths，thatyouhadbeenallthetimesecretlyinlovewithme？"
HE，pluckingupalittlecourage:"Idon’tseethatthethreethingsareincompatible。"
SHE:"Oh，thenyouacknowledgethatyoudidpresumeuponsomethingyouthoughtyousawinmetotellmethatyoulovedme，andthatyouwereinlovewithmeallthetime？"
HE，contritely:"Ihavenorighttosupposethatyouencouragedme；
andyet——Ican’tdenyitnow——Iwasinlovewithyouallthetime。"
SHE:"Andyouneversaidawordtoletmebelievethatyouhadanysuchfeelingtowardme！"
HE:"I——I"—
SHE:"Youwouldhavepartedfrommewithoutasyllabletosuggestit——perhapspartedfrommeforever？"Afterapauseofsilenthumiliationforhim:"Doyoucallthatbraveorgenerous？Doyoucallitmanly——supposing，asyouhoped，that_I_hadanysuchfeeling？"
HE:"No；itwascowardly，itwasmean，itwasunmanly。Iseeitnow，butIwillspendmylifeinrepairingthewrong，ifyouwillonlyletme。"Heimpetuouslyadvancessomepacestowardher，andthenstops，arrestedbyherirresponsiveattitude。
SHE，withalightsigh，andlookingdownatthepaper，whichshehascontinuedtoholdbetweenherhands:"Therewasatime——amoment——
whenImighthaveansweredasyouwish。"
HE:"Oh！thentherewillbeagain。Ifyouhavechangedonce，youmaychangeoncemore。Letmehopethatsometime——anytime，dearest"
—
SHE，quenchinghimwithalook:"Mr。Ransom，IshallNEVERchangetowardyou！Youconfessthatyouhadyouropportunity，andthatyoudespisedit。"
HE:"Oh！NOTdespisedit！"
SHE:"Neglectedit。"
HE:"Notwilfully——no。IconfessthatIwasstupidly，vilely，pusillan——pusillan——illani"—
SHE:"’Monsly"—
HE:"Thanks——’mouslyunworthyofit；butIdidn’tdespiseit；I
didn’tneglectit；andifyouwillonlyletmeshowbyalifetimeofdevotionhowdearlyandtrulyIhavelovedyoufromthefirstmomentIdrovethatcowaway"—
SHE:"Mr。Ransom，IhavetoldyouthatIshouldneverchangetowardyou。Thatcowwasnothingwhenweighedinthebalanceagainstyourbeingwillingtoleaveapoorgirl，whomyousupposedinterestedinyou，andtowhomyouhadpaidthemostmarkedattention，withoutawordtoshowherthatyoucaredforher。Whatisacow，orawholeherdofcows，ascomparedwithobligingayoungladytoofferyoumoneythatyouhadn’tearned，andthensavagelyflingingitbackinherface？Ayokeofoxenwouldbenothing——oramadbull。"
HE:"Oh，Iacknowledgeit！Iconfessit。"
SHE:"AndyouownthatIamrightinrefusingtolistentoyounow？"
HE，desolately:"Yes，yes。"
SHE:"Itseemsthatyougavemelessonsinordertobewithme，andifpossibletointerestmeinyou；andthenyouweregoingawaywithoutaword。"
HE，withagroan:"ItwasonlybecauseIwasafraidtospeak。"
SHE:"Oh，isTHATanyexcuse？"
HE:"No；none。"
SHE:"Amanoughtalwaystohavecourage。"Afterapause，inwhichhestandsbeforeherwithbowedhead:"Thenthere’snothingformebuttogiveyouthismoney。"
HE，withsuddenenergy:"Thisistoomuch！I"—
SHE，offeringhimthebank—notes:"No；itistheexactsum。I
counteditverycarefully。"
HE:"Iwon’ttakeit；Ican’t！I’llnevertakeit！"
SHE，standingwiththemoneyinheroutstretchedhand:"Ihaveyourwordasagentlemanthatyouwilltakeit。"
HE，gasping:"Oh，well——Iwilltakeit——Iwill"——Heclutchesthemoney，andrushestowardthedoor。"Good—evening；ah——good—by"—
SHE，callingafterhim:"Thereceipt，Mr。Ransom！Pleasesignthisreceipt！"Shewavesthepaperintheair。
HE:"Oh，yes，certainly！Whereisit——what——which"——Herushesbacktoher，andseizingthereceipt，feelsblindlyaboutforthepenandink。"WhereshallIsign？"
SHE:"Readitfirst。"
HE:"Oh，it’sall——allright"—
SHE:"Iinsistuponyourreadingit。It’sabusinesstransaction。
Readitaloud。"
HE，desperately:"Well，well！"Hereads。"’ReceivedfromMissEthelReed，infull，fortwenty—fivelessonsinoil—painting，onehundredandtwenty—fivedollars，andherhand，heart，anddearestloveforever。’"Helooksupather。"Ethel！"
SHE，smiling:"Signit，signit！"
HE，catchingherinhisarmsandkissingher:"Oh，yes——HERE！"
SHE，pullingalittleawayfromhim，andlaughing:"Oh，oh！IonlywantedONEsignature！Twentyautographsaretoomany，unlessyou’llletmetradethemoff，asthecollectorsdo。"
HE:"No；keepthemall！Icouldn’tthinkoflettinganyoneelsehavethem。Onemore！"
SHE:"No；it’squiteenough！"
SHEfreesherself，andretiresbeyondthetable。"Thisunexpectedaffection"—
HE:"ISitunexpected——seriously？"
SHE:"Whatdoyoumean？"
HE:"Oh，nothing！"
SHE:"Yes，tellme！"
HE:"Ihoped——Ithought——perhaps——thatyoumighthavebeenpreparedforsomesuchdemonstrationonmypart。"
SHE:"Andwhydidyouthink——hope——perhaps——THAT，Mr。Ransom，mayI
ask？"
HE:"IfIhadn’t，howshouldIhavedaredtospeak？"
SHE:"Dared？Youwereobligedtospeak！Well，sinceit’sallover，Idon’tmindsayingthatIDIDhavesomeslightapprehensionsthatsomethinginthewayofadeclarationmightbeextortedfromyou。"
HE:"Extorted？Oh！"Hemakesanimpassionedrushtowardher。
SHE，keepingthetablebetweenthem:"No，no。"
HE:"Oh，Imerelywishedtoaskwhyyouchosetomakemesufferso，afterIhadcometothepoint。"
SHE:"Askitacrossthetable，then。"Afteramoment’sreflection，"Imadeyousuffer——Imadeyousuffer——sothatyoumighthavearealizingsenseofwhatyouhadmadeMEsuffer。"
HE，enrapturedbythisconfession:"Oh，youangel！"
SHE，withtendermagnanimity:"No；onlyawoman——apoor，trusting，foolishwoman！"Shepermitshimtosurroundthetable，withimaginableresults。Then，withherheadonhisshoulder:"You’llNEVERletmeregretit，willyou，darling？You’llneverobligemetopunishyouagain，dearest，willyou？Oh，ithurtMEfarworsetoSEE
yourpainthanitdidyouto——to——feelit！"Ontheothersideofthepartition，Mr。Grinnidge’spipefallsfromhislips，partedinslumber，andshiverstoatomsontheregister。"Oh！"Shefliesattheregisterwithashriekofdismay，andisabouttocloseit。
"Thatwretchhasbeenlistening，andhasheardeveryword！"
HE，preventingher:"Whatwretch？Where？"
SHE:"Don’tyouhearhim，mumblingandgrumblingthere？"
GRINNIDGE:"Well，Iswear！Cashvalueoftwenty—fivedollars，anduntoldtoilincoloringit！"
RANSOM，listeningwithanairofmystification:"Who’sthat？"
SHE:"Gummidge，Grimmidge——whateveryoucalledhim。Oh！"Shearrestsherselfinconsternation。"NowIHAVEdoneit！"
HE:"Donewhat？"
SHE:"Oh——nothing！"
HE:"Idon’tunderstand。DoyoumeantosaythatmyfriendGrinnidge’sroomisontheotheraideofthewall，andthatyoucanhearhimtalkthroughtheregister？"
SHEpreservesthesilenceofabjectterror。Hestoopsovertheregister，andcallsdownit。"Grinnidge！Hallo！"
GRINNIDGE:"Hallo，yourself！"
RANSOM，toMissReed:"Soundsliketheghostlysqueakofthephonograph。"ToGrinnidge:"What’sthetrouble？"
GRINNIDGE:"Smashedmypipe。Dozedoffandletitdroponthisinfernalregister。"
RANSOM，turningfromtheregisterwithimpressivedeliberation:
"MissReed，mayIaskHOWyoucametoknowthathisnamewasGummidge，orGrimmidge，orwhateverIcalledhim？"
SHE:Oh，dearest，ICAN’Ttellyou！Or——yes，Ihadbetter。"
Impulsively:"Iwilljudgeyoubymyself。_I_couldforgiveYOU
anything！"
HE，doubtfully:"Oh，couldyou？"
SHE:"Everything！Ihad——Ihadbettermakeacleanbreastofit。
Yes，Ihad。ThoughIdon’tliketo。I——Ilistened！"
HE:"Listened？"
SHE:"Throughtheregisterto——to——what——you——weresayingbeforeyou——cameinhere。"Herheaddroops。
HE:"Thenyouheardeverything？"
SHE:"Killme，butdon’tlookSOatme！Itwasaccidentalatfirst—
—indeeditwas；andthenIrecognizedyourvoice；andthenIknewyouweretalkingaboutme；andIhadsomuchatstake；andIdidloveyousodearly！YouWILLforgiveme，darling？Itwasn’tasifIwerelisteningwithanybadmotive。"
HE，takingherinhisarms:"Forgiveyou？OfcourseIdo。Butyoumustchangethisroomatonce，Ethel；youseeyouheareverythingontheotherside，too。"
SHE:"Oh，notifyouwhisperonthis。Youcouldn’thearUS？"Atadubiousexpressionofhis:"YouDIDN’Thearus？Ifyoudid，Icanneverforgiveyou！"
HE:"Itwasaccidentalatfirst——indeeditwas；andthenI
recognizedyourvoice；andthenIknewyouweretalkingaboutme；andIhadsomuchatstake；andIdidloveyousodearly！"
SHE:"Allthathasnothingwhatevertodowithit。Howmuchdidyouhear？"
HE，withexemplarymeekness:"OnlywhatyouweresayingbeforeGrinnidgecamein。Youdidn’twhisperthen。Ihadtowaitthereforhimwhile"—
SHE:"Whileyouweregivingyourgoodresolutionsarest？"
HE:"WhileIwasgivingmygoodresolutionsarest。"
SHE:"Andthataccountsforyourdeterminationtohumbleyourselfso？"
HE:"ItseemedperfectlyprovidentialthatIshouldhaveknownjustwhatconditionsyouweregoingtoexactofme。"
SHE:"Oh，don’tmakelightofit！Icantellyouit’saveryseriousmatter。"
HE:"Itwasveryseriousformewhenyoudidn’tmeetmyself—
abasementasyouhadledmetoexpectyouwould。"
SHE:"Don’tmakefun！I’mtryingtothinkwhetherIcanforgiveyou。"
HE，withinsinuation:"Don’tyoubelieveyoucouldthinkbetterifyouputyourheadonmyshoulder？"
SHE:"Nonsense！ThenIshouldforgiveyouwithoutthinking。"Afteraseasonofreflection:"No，ICAN’Tforgiveyou。Inevercouldforgiveeavesdropping。It’sTOOlow。"
HE，inastonishment:"Why，youdidityourself！"
SHE:"Butyoubeganit。Besides，it’sverydifferentforaman。
Womenareweak，poor，helplesscreatures。Theyhavetousefinesse。
Butamanshouldbeaboveit。"
HE:"Yousaidyoucouldforgivemeanything。"
SHE:"Ah，butIdidn’tknowwhatyou’dbeendoing！"
HE，withpensiveresignation，andafeintofgoing:"ThenIsupposeit’salloverbetweenus。"
SHE，relenting:"IfyoucouldthinkofanyreasonWHYIshouldforgiveyou"—
HE:"Ican’t。"
SHE，afterconsideration:"DoyousupposeMr。Grumage，orGrimidge，heardtoo？"
HE:"No；Grinnidgeisaveryhigh—principledfellow，andwouldn’tlisten；besides，hewasn’tthere，youknow。"
SHE:"Well，then，Iwillforgiveyouonthesegrounds。"Heinstantlycatcheshertohisheart。"Butthesealone，remember。"
HE，rapturously:"Oh，onany！"
SHE，tenderly:"Andyou’llalwaysbedevoted？Andnice？Andnottrytoprovokeme？Orneglectme？Oranything？"
HE:"Always！Never！"
SHE:"Oh，youdear，sweet，simpleoldthing——howIDOloveyou！"
GRINNIDGE，whohasbeenlisteningattentivelytoeverywordattheregisterathisside:"Ransom，ifyoudon’twantmetogostarkmad，SHUTTHEREGISTER！"
RANSOM，abouttocomply:"Oh，pooroldman！Iforgotitwasopen！"
MISSREED，preventinghim:"No！Ifhehasbeenvileenoughtolistenataregister，lethimsuffer。Come，sitdownhere，andI’lltellyoujustwhenIbegantocareforyou。Itwaslongbeforethecow。Doyourememberthatfirstmorningafteryouarrived"——Shedragshimclosetotheregister，sothateverywordmaytellupontheenviousGrinnidge，onwhosemanifestationsofacutedespair，arapidcurtaindescends。