Thepatient，anold-fashionedman，thoughtthenursemadeamistakeinkeepingbothofthewindowsopen，andhersprightlydisregardofhisprotestsaddedsomethingtohishatredofher。
　　Everyeveninghetoldherthatanybodywithordinarygumptionoughttorealizethatnightairwasbadforthehumanframe。
　　"Thehumanframewon'tstandeverything，MissPerry，"hewarnedher，resentfully。"Evenachild，ifithadjustordinarygumption，oughttoknowenoughnottoletthenightairblowonsickpeopleyes，norwellpeople，either!'Keepoutofthenightair，nomatterhowwellyoufeel。'That'swhatmymotherusedtotellmewhenIwasaboy。'Keepoutofthenightair，Virgil，'
　　she'dsay。'Keepoutofthenightair。'"
　　"Iexpectprobablyhermothertoldherthesamething，"thenursesuggested。
　　"Ofcourseshedid。Mygrandmother——"
　　"Oh，IguessyourGRANDmotherthoughtso，Mr。Adams!Thatwaswhenallthisflatcentralcountrywasswampishandhadn'tbeendrainedoffyet。Iguessthetruthmustbeentheswampmosquitoesbitpeopleandgave'emmalaria，especiallybeforetheybegantoputscreensintheirwindows。Well，wegotscreensinthesewindows，andnomosquitoesaregoin'tobiteus；sojustyoubeagoodboyandrestyourmindandgotosleeplikeyouneedto。"
　　"Sleep？"hesaid。"Likely!"
　　HethoughtthenightairworstofallinApril；hehadn'tadoubtitwouldkillhim，hedeclared。"It'smiraculouswhatthehumanframeWILLsurvive，"headmittedonthelasteveningofthatmonth。"Butyouandthedoctoroughttobothbetaughtitwon'tstandtoodangmuch!YoupoisonamanandpoisonandpoisonhimwiththisAprilnightair——"
　　"Can'tpoisonyouwithmuchmoreofit，"MissPerryinterruptedhim，indulgently。"To-morrowit'llbeMaynightair，andI
　　expectthat'llbealotbetterforyou，don'tyou？Nowlet'sjustsoberdownandbeagoodboyandgetsomenicesoundsleep。"
　　Shegavehimhismedicine，and，havingsettheglassuponthecentertable，returnedtohercot，where，afterastillinterval，shesnoredfaintly。Uponthis，hisexpressionbecamethatofamangoadedoutofoverpoweringwearinessintoirony。
　　"Sleep？Oh，CERTAINLY，thankyou!"
　　However，hedidsleepintermittently，drowsedbetweentimes，andevendreamed；but，forgettinghisdreamsbeforeheopenedhiseyes，andhavingsomepartofhimallthewhileawareofhisdiscomfort，hebelieved，asusual，thathelayawakethewholenightlong。Hewasconsciousofthecityasofsomesinglegreatcreaturerestingfitfullyinthedarkoutsidehiswindows。Itlayallroundabout，inthedampcoverofitsnightcloudofsmoke，andtriedtokeepquietforafewhoursaftermidnight，butwastoopowerfulagrowingthingevertoliealtogetherstill。Evenwhileitstrovetosleepitmutteredwithdigestionsofthedaybefore，andthesealreadymergedwithrumblingsofthemorrow。"Owl"cars，bringinginlastpassengersoverdistanttrolley-lines，nowandthenhowledonacurve；farawaymetallicstirringscouldbeheardfromfactoriesinthesootysuburbsontheplainoutsidethecity；east，west，andsouth，switch-engineschuggedandsnortedonsidings；
　　andeverywhereintheairthereseemedtobeafaint，voluminoushumasofinnumerablewirestremblingoverheadtovibrationofmachineryunderground。
　　InhisyouthAdamsmighthavebeenlessresentfulofsoundssuchasthesewhentheyinterferedwithhisnight'ssleep:evenduringanillnesshemighthavetakensomeprideinthemasproofofhiscitizenshipina"livetown"；butatfifty-fivehemerelyhatedthembecausetheykepthimawake。They"pressedonhisnerves，"
　　asheputit；andsodidalmosteverythingelse，forthatmatter。
　　Heheardthemilk-wagondriveintothecross-streetbeneathhiswindowsandstopateachhouse。Themilkmancarriedhisjarsroundtothe"backporch，"whilethehorsemovedslowlyaheadtothegateofthenextcustomerandwaitedthere。"He'sgoneintoPollocks'，"Adamsthought，followingthisprogress。"Ihopeit'llsouron'embeforebreakfast。DeliveredtheAndersons'。
　　Nowhe'sgettingoutours。Listentothedarnbrute!What'sHE
　　carewhowantstosleep!"Hiscomplaintwasofthehorse，whocasuallyshiftedweightwithaclinkofsteelshoesonthewornbrickpavementofthestreet，andthenheartilyshookhimselfinhisharness，perhapstodislodgeaflyfaraheadofitsseason。
　　Lighthadjustfilmedthewindows；andwiththatthefirstsparrowwoke，chirpedinstantly，androusedneighboursinthetreesofthesmallyard，includingaloud-voicedrobin。
　　Vociferationsbeganirregularly，butweresoonunanimous。
　　"Sleep？Danglikelynow，ain'tit!"
　　Nightsoundswerebecomingdaysounds；thefar-awayhootingoffreight-enginesseemedbriskerthananhouragointhedark。A
　　cheerfulwhistlerpassedthehouse，evenmorecarelessofsleepersthanthemilkman'shorsehadbeen；thenagroupofcolouredworkmencameby，andalthoughitwasimpossibletobesurewhethertheywerehomewardboundfromnight-workorontheirwaytoday-work，atleastitwascertainthattheywerejocose。
　　Loose，aboriginallaughterprecededthemafar，andbeatontheairlongaftertheyhadgoneby。
　　Thesick-roomnight-light，shieldedfromhiseyesbyanewspaperproppedagainstawater-pitcher，stillshowedathinglimmeringthathadgrownoffensivetoAdams。Inhiswanderingandenfeebledthoughts，whichweremuchmoreoftenimaginingsthanreasonings，theattemptofthenight-lighttoresistthedawnremindedhimofsomethingunpleasant，thoughhecouldnotdiscoverjustwhattheunpleasantthingwas。Herewasapuzzlethatirritatedhimthemorebecausehecouldnotsolveit，yetalwaysseemedjustonthepointofasolution。However，hemayhavelostnothingcheerfulbyremaininginthedarkuponthematter；forifhehadbeenalittlesharperinthisintrospectionhemighthaveconcludedthatthesqualorofthenight-light，initsseemingefforttoshowagainsttheforerunningofthesunitself，hadstimulatedsomehalf-buriedperceptionwithinhimtosketchthepainfullittlesynopsisofanautobiography。
　　Inspiteofnoiseswithout，hedrowsedagain，notknowingthathedid；andwhenheopenedhiseyesthenursewasjustrisingfromhercot。Hetooknopleasureinthesight，itmaybesaid。Sheexhibitedtohimafacemismodelledbysleep，andsetlikeaclayfaceleftonitscheekinahotanddrystudio。Shewasstillonlyinpartawake，however，andbythetimeshehadextinguishedthenight-lightandgivenherpatienthistonic，shehadrecoveredenoughplasticity。"Well，isn'tthatgrand!We'vehadanothergoodnight，"shesaidasshedepartedtodressinthebathroom。
　　"Yes，youhadanother!"heretorted，thoughnotuntilaftershehadclosedthedoor。
　　Presentlyheheardhisdaughtermovingaboutinherroomacrossthenarrowhall，andsoknewthatshehadrisen。Hehopedshewouldcomeintoseehimsoon，forshewastheonethingthatdidn'tpressonhisnerves，hefelt；thoughthethoughtofherhurthim，as，indeed，everythoughthurthim。Butitwashiswifewhocamefirst。
　　Sheworealankcottonwrapper，andacrescentofgrayhairescapedtoonetemplefrombeneaththehandkerchiefshehadwornuponherheadforthenightandstillretained；butshedideverythingpossibletomakeherexpressioncheering。
　　"Oh，you'rebetteragain!Icanseethat，assoonasIlookatyou，"shesaid。"MissPerrytellsmeyou'vehadanothersplendidnight。"
　　Hemadeasoundofirony，whichseemedtodisposeunfavourablyofMissPerry，andthen，inordertobemorecertainlyintelligible，headded，"Shesleptwell，asusual!"
　　Buthiswife'ssmilepersisted。"It'sagoodsigntobecross；
　　itmeansyou'repracticallyconvalescentrightnow。"
　　"Oh，Iam，amI？"
　　"Nodoubtintheworld!"sheexclaimed。"Why，you'repracticallyawellman，Virgil——allexceptgettingyourstrengthback，ofcourse，andthatisn'tgoingtotakelong。You'llberightonyourfeetinacoupleofweeksfromnow。"
　　"Oh，Iwill？"
　　"Ofcourseyouwill!"Shelaughedbriskly，and，goingtothetableinthecenteroftheroom，movedhisglassofmedicineaninchortwo，turnedabookoversothatitlayuponitsotherside，andforafewmomentsoccupiedherselfwithsimilarfutilities，havingtakenontheairofapersonwhomakesthingsneat，thoughsheproducednosuchactualeffectuponthem。"Ofcourseyouwill，"sherepeated，absently。"You'llbeasstrongasyoueverwere；maybestronger。"Shepausedforamoment，notlookingathim，thenadded，cheerfully，"Sothatyoucanflyaroundandfindsomethingreallygoodtogetinto。"
　　Somethingimportantbetweenthemcamenearthesurfacehere，forthoughshespokewithwhatseemedbutacasualcheerfulness，therewasalittlebetrayingbreakinhervoice，atremblingjustperceptibleintheutteranceofthefinalword。Andshestillkeptuptheaffectationofbeinghelpfullypreoccupiedwiththetable，anddidnotlookatherhusband——perhapsbecausetheyhadbeenmarriedsomanyyearsthatwithoutlookingsheknewjustwhathisexpressionwouldbe，andpreferredtoavoidtheactualsightofitaslongaspossible。Meanwhile，hestaredhardather，hislipsbeginningtomovewithlittledistortionsnotlackinginthepathosofasickman'sagitation。
　　"Sothat'sit，"hesaid。"That'swhatyou'rehintingat。"
　　"'Hinting？'"Mrs。Adamslookedsurprisedandindulgent。"Why，I'mnotdoinganyhinting，Virgil。"
　　"Whatdidyousayaboutmyfinding'somethinggoodtogetinto？'"
　　heasked，sharply。"Don'tyoucallthathinting？"
　　Mrs。Adamsturnedtowardhimnow；shecametothebedsideandwouldhavetakenhishand，buthequicklymoveditawayfromher。
　　"Youmustn'tletyourselfgetnervous，"shesaid。"Butofcoursewhenyougetwellthere'sonlyonethingtodo。Youmustn'tgobacktothatoldholeagain。"
　　"'Oldhole？'That'swhatyoucallit，isit？"Inspiteofhisweakness，angermadehisvoicestrident，anduponthisstimulationshespokemoreurgently。
　　"Youjustmustn'tgobacktoit，Virgil。It'snotfairtoanyofus，andyouknowitisn't。"
　　"Don'ttellmewhatIknow，please!"
　　Sheclaspedherhands，suddenlycarryingherurgencytoplaintiveentreaty。"Virgil，youWON'Tgobacktothathole？"
　　"That'sanicewordtousetome!"hesaid。"Callaman'sbusinessahole!"
　　"Virgil，ifyoudon'toweittometolookforsomethingdifferent，don'tyouoweittoyourchildren？Don'ttellmeyouwon'tdowhatweallwantyouto，andwhatyouknowinyourheartyououghtto!AndifyouHAVEgotintooneofyourstubbornfitsandareboundtogobacktherefornootherreasonexcepttohaveyourownway，don'ttellmeso，forIcan'tbearit!"
　　Helookedupatherfiercely。"You'vegotafinewaytocureasickman!"hesaid；butshehadconcludedherappeal——forthattime——andinsteadofmakinganymorewordsinthematter，lethimseethatthereweretearsinhereyes，shookherhead，andlefttheroom。
　　Alone，helaybreathingrapidly，hisemaciatedchestprovingitselfequaltothedemandshisemotionputuponit。"Fine!"herepeated，withhuskyindignation。"Finewaytocureasickman!
　　Fine!"Then，afterasilence，hegaveforthwhisperingsoundsasoflaughter，hisexpressionthewhileremainingsoreandfarfromhumour。
　　"Andgiveusourdailybread!"headded，meaningthathiswife'slittleperformancewasnonovelty。
　　CHAPTERII
　　Infact，theagitationofMrs。Adamswasgenuine，butsowellunderhercontrolthatitstracesvanishedduringthethreeshortstepsshetooktocrossthenarrowhallbetweenherhusband'sdoorandtheoneopposite。Herexpressionwasmatter-of-course，ratherthanpathetic，assheenteredtheprettyroomwhereherdaughter，halfdressed，satbeforeadressing-tableandplayedwiththereflectionsofathree-leafedmirrorframedinblueenamel。Thatis，justbeforethemomentofhermother'sentrance，Alicehadbeenplayingwiththemirror'sreflections——posturingherarmsandherexpressions，claspingherhandsbehindherneck，andtiltingbackherheadtoforeshortenthefaceinatableauconceivedtorepresentsauciness，thenoneofsmilingweariness，thenoneofscornfultoleration，andallverypiquant；butasthedooropenedshehurriedlyresumedthepractical，andoccupiedherhandsinthearrangementofherplentifulbrownishhair。
　　Theywereprettyhands，ofashapelinessdelicateandfine。"Thebestthingsshe'sgot!"acold-bloodedgirlfriendsaidofthem，andmeanttoincludeAlice'smindandcharacterintheimpliedlistofpossessionssurpassedbythenotablehands。Howeverthatmayhavebeen，therestofherwaswellenough。Shewasoftencalled"arightprettygirl"——temperatepraisemeaningagirlratherprettythanotherwise，andthisshedeserved，tosaytheleast。Eveninreposeshedeservedit，thoughreposewasanythingbutherhabit，beingseldomseenuponherexceptathome。Onexhibitionsheledalifeofgestures，theunkindsaidtomakeherlovelyhandsmorememorable；butallofherusuallyaccompaniedthegesturesofthehands，theshouldersevergivingthemtheirimpulsesfirst，andevenherfeetbeingcalledupon，atthesametime，foreloquence。
　　Somuchlivelinesstookproperplaceasonlyaccessorytothatoftheface，wherehervivacityreacheditsclimax；anditwasunfortunatethatanungiftedyoungman，newinthetown，shouldhaveattemptedtodefinetheeffectuponhimofallthisgenerosityofemphasis。Hesaidthat"thewaysheusedhercutehazeleyesandthewonderfulglowofherfacialexpressiongaveheramightyspiritualquality。"Hisactualrenditionofthewordwas"spirichul"；butitwasnothispronunciationthatembalmedthisoutburstintheperenniallaughterofAlice'sgirlfriends；theymadethemisfortunefarlesshisthanhers。
　　Hermothercomfortedhertooheartily，insistingthatAlicehad"plentyenoughspiritualqualities，"certainlymorethanpossessedbytheothergirlswhoflungthephraseather，woodenthings，jealousofeverythingtheywereincapableofthemselves；
　　andthenAlice，gettingmorechampionshipthanshesought，grewuneasylestMrs。Adamsshouldrepeatsuchdefenses"outsidethefamily"；andMrs。Adamsendedbyweepingbecausethedaughtersodistrustedherintelligence。Alicefrequentlythoughtitnecessarytoinstructhermother。
　　Hermorninggreetingwasaninstructionto-day；or，rather，itwasanadmonitioninthestyleofanentreaty，themorepetulantasAlicethoughtthatMrs。Adamsmighthavehadaglimpseoftheposturingstothemirror。Thiswasaneedlessworry；themotherhadcaughtathousandsuchglimpses，withAliceunaware，andshethoughtnothingoftheonejustflitted。
　　"Forheaven'ssake，mama，comeclearinsidetheroomandshutthedoor!PLEASEdon'tleaveitopenforeverybodytolookatme!"
　　"Thereisn'tanybodytoseeyou，"Mrs。Adamsexplained，obeying。
　　"MissPerry'sgonedownstairs，and——"
　　"Mama，Iheardyouinpapa'sroom，"Alicesaid，notdroppingthenoteofcomplaint。"Icouldhearbothofyou，andIdon'tthinkyououghttogetpooroldpapasoupset——notinhispresentcondition，anyhow。"
　　Mrs。Adamsseatedherselfontheedgeofthebed。"He'sbetterallthetime，"shesaid，notdisturbed。"He'salmostwell。ThedoctorsayssoandMissPerrysaysso；andifwedon'tgethimintotherightframeofmindnowweneverwill。Thefirstdayhe'soutdoorshe'llgobacktothatoldhole——you'llsee!Andifheoncedoesthat，he'llsettledownthereandit'llbetoolateandwe'llnevergethimout。"
　　"Well，anyhow，Ithinkyoucouldusealittlemoretactwithhim。"
　　"Idotryto，"themothersighed。"Itneverwasmuchusewithhim。Idon'tthinkyouunderstandhimaswellasIdo，Alice。"
　　"There'sonethingIdon'tunderstandabouteitherofyou，"Alicereturned，crisply。"Beforepeoplegetmarriedtheycandoanythingtheywanttowitheachother。Whycan'ttheydothesamethingafterthey'remarried？Whenyouandpapawereyoungpeopleandengaged，he'dhavedoneanythingyouwantedhimto。
　　Thatmusthavebeenbecauseyouknewhowtomanagehimthen。Whycan'tyougoathimthesamewaynow？"
　　Mrs。Adamssighedagain，andlaughedalittle，makingnootherresponse；butAlicepersisted。"Well，WHYcan'tyou？Whycan'tyouaskhimtodothingsthewayyouusedtoaskhimwhenyouwerejustinlovewitheachother？Whydon'tyouanyhowtryit，mama，insteadofding-dongingathim？"
　　"'Ding-dongingathim，'Alice？"Mrs。Adamssaid，withapathossomewhatemphasized。"IsthathowmytryingtodowhatIcanforyoustrikesyou？"
　　"Nevermindthat；it'snothingtohurtyourfeelings。"Alicedisposedofthepathosbriskly。"Whydon'tyouanswermyquestion？What'sthematterwithusingalittlemoretactonpapa？Whycan'tyoutreathimthewayyouprobablydidwhenyouwereyoungpeople，beforeyouweremarried？Ineverhaveunderstoodwhypeoplecan'tdothat。"
　　"PerhapsyouWILLunderstandsomeday，"hermothersaid，gently。
　　"Maybeyouwillwhenyou'vebeenmarriedtwenty-fiveyears。"
　　"Youkeepevading。Whydon'tyouanswermyquestionrightstraightout？"
　　"Therearequestionsyoucan'tanswertoyoungpeople，Alice。"
　　"Youmeanbecausewe'retooyoungtounderstandtheanswer？I
　　don'tseethatatall。Attwenty-twoagirl'ssupposedtohavesomeintelligence，isn'tshe？Andintelligenceistheabilitytounderstand，isn'tit？WhydoIhavetowaittillI'velivedwithamantwenty-fiveyearstounderstandwhyyoucan'tbetactfulwithpapa？"
　　"Youmayunderstandsomethingsbeforethat，"Mrs。Adamssaid，tremulously。"Youmayunderstandhowyouhurtmesometimes。
　　Youthcan'tknoweverythingbybeingintelligent，andbythetimeyoucouldunderstandtheansweryou'reaskingforyou'dknowit，andwouldn'tneedtoask。Youdon'tunderstandyourfather，Alice；youdon'tknowwhatittakestochangehimwhenhe'smadeuphismindtobestubborn。"
　　Aliceroseandbegantogetherselfintoaskirt。"Well，Idon'tthinkmakingsceneseverchangesanybody，"shegrumbled。"I
　　thinkalittlejollypersuasiongoestwiceasfar，myself。"
　　"'Alittlejollypersuasion!'"Hermotherturnedtheechoofthisphraseintoanironiclament。"Yes，therewasatimewhenI
　　thoughtthat，too!Itdidn'twork；that'sall。"
　　"Perhapsyouleftthe'jolly'partofitout，mama。"
　　Forthesecondtimethatmorning——itwasnowalittleafterseveno'clock——tearsseemedabouttooffertheirsolacetoMrs。Adams。
　　"Imighthaveexpectedyoutosaythat，Alice；youneverdomissachance，"shesaid，gently。"Itseemsqueeryoudon'tsometimemissjustONEchance!"
　　ButAlice，progressingwithhertoilet，appearedtobelittleconcerned。"Oh，well，Ithinktherearebetterwaysofmanagingamanthanjusthammeringathim。"
　　Mrs。Adamsutteredalittlecryofpain。"'Hammering，'Alice？"
　　"Ifyou'dleftitentirelytome，"herdaughterwenton，briskly，"Ibelievepapa'dalreadybewillingtodoanythingwewanthimto。"
　　"That'sit；tellmeIspoileverything。Well，Iwon'tinterferefromnowon，youcanbesureofit。"
　　"Pleasedon'ttalklikethat，"Alicesaid，quickly。"I'moldenoughtorealizethatpapamayneedpressureofallsorts；I
　　onlythinkitmakeshimmoreobstinatetogethimcross。Youprobablydounderstandhimbetter，butthat'sonethingI'vefoundoutandyouhaven't。There!"Shegavehermotherafriendlytapontheshoulderandwenttothedoor。"I'llhopinandsayhellotohimnow。"
　　Asshewent，shecontinuedthefasteningofherblouse，andappearedinherfather'sroomwithonehandstillthusengaged，butshepattedhisforeheadwiththeother。
　　"Pooroldpapa-daddy!"shesaid，gaily。"Everytimehe'sbettersomebodytalkshimintogettingsomadhehasarelapse。It'sashame!"
　　Herfather'seyes，beneaththeirmelancholybrows，lookedupatherwistfully。"Isupposeyouheardyourmothergoingforme，"
　　hesaid。
　　"Iheardyougoingforher，too!"Alicelaughed。"Whatwasitallabout？"
　　"Oh，thesamedangedoldstory!"
　　"Youmeanshewantsyoutotrysomethingnewwhenyougetwell？"
　　Aliceasked，withcheerfulinnocence。"Sowecouldallhavealotmoremoney？"
　　Atthishissorrowfulforeheadwasmoresorrowfulthanever。Thedeephorizontallinesmovedupwardtoapatternofsufferingsofamiliartohisdaughterthatitmeantnothingtoher；buthespokequietly。"Yes；sowewouldn'thaveanymoneyatall，mostlikely。"
　　"Oh，no!"shelaughed，and，finishingwithherblouse，pattedhischeekswithbothhands。"Justthinkhowmanygrandopeningstheremustbeforamanthatknowsasmuchasyoudo!Ialwaysdidbelieveyoucouldgetrichifyouonlycaredto，papa。"
　　Butuponhisforeheadthepainfulpatternstilldeepened。"Don'tyouthinkwe'vealwayshadenough，thewaythingsare，Alice？"
　　"NotthewaythingsARE!"Shepattedhischeeksagain；laughedagain。"Itusedtobeenough，maybeanywaywedidskimpalongonit——butthewaythingsarenowIexpectmama'sreallyprettypracticalinherideas，though，Ithinkit'sashameforhertobotheryouaboutitwhileyou'resoweak。Don'tyouworryaboutit，though；justthinkaboutotherthingstillyougetstrong。"
　　"Youknow，"hesaid；"youknowitisn'texactlytheeasiestthingintheworldforamanofmyagetofindthesegrandopeningsyouspeakof。Andwhenyou'vepassedhalf-wayfromfiftytosixtyyou'reapttoseesomeriskingivingupwhatyouknowhowtodoandtryingsomethingnew。"
　　"My，whatafrown!"shecried，blithely。"Didn'tItellyoutostopthinkingaboutittillyougetALLwell？"Shebentoverhim，givinghimagaylittlekissonthebridgeofhisnose。"There!
　　Imustruntobreakfast。Cheerupnow!Au'voir!"Andwithherprettyhandshewavedfurtherencouragementfromtheclosingdoorasshedeparted。
　　Lightsomelydescendingthenarrowstairway，shewhistledasshewent，herfingersdrummingtimeontherail；and，stillwhistling，shecameintothedining-room，wherehermotherandherbrotherwerealreadyatthetable。Thebrother，athinandsallowboyoftwenty，greetedherwithoutmuchapprovalasshetookherplace。
　　"Nothingseemstotroubleyou!"hesaid。
　　"No；nothingmuch，"shemadeairyresponse。"What'stroublingyourself，Walter？"
　　"Don'tletthatworryyou!"hereturned，seemingtoconsiderthistobereparteeofaneffectivesort；forhefurnishedashortlaughtogowithit，andturnedtohiscoffeewiththemannerofonewhohassatisfactorilyclosedanepisode。
　　"Walteralwaysseemstohavesomanysecrets!"Alicesaid，studyinghimshrewdly，butwithafriendlyenoughamusementinherscrutiny。"Everythinghedoesorsaysseemstobeactedforthebenefitofsomemysteriousaudienceinsidehimself，andhealwaysgetsitsapplause。Takewhathesaidjustnow:heseemstothinkitmeanssomething，butifitdoes，why，that'sjustanothersecretbetweenhimandthesecretaudienceinsideofhim!
　　Wedon'treallyknowanythingaboutWalteratall，dowe，mama？"
　　Walterlaughedagain，inamannerthatsustainedhertheorywellenough；thenafterfinishinghiscoffee，hetookfromhispocketaflattenedpacketinglazedbluepaper；extractedwithstainedfingersabentandwrinkledlittlecigarette，lightedit，hitcheduphisbeltedtrouserswiththeairofapersonwhoturnsfromtriflestothingsbetterworthhisattention，andlefttheroom。
　　Alicelaughedasthedoorclosed。"He'sALLsecrets，"shesaid。
　　"Don'tyouthinkyoureallyoughttoknowmoreabouthim，mama？"
　　"I'msurehe'sagoodboy，"Mrs。Adamsreturned，thoughtfully。
　　"He'sbeenverybraveaboutnotbeingabletohavetheadvantagesthatareenjoyedbytheboyshe'sgrownupwith。I'veneverheardawordofcomplaintfromhim。"
　　"Abouthisnotbeingsenttocollege？"Alicecried。"Ishouldthinkyouwouldn't!Hedidn'tevenhaveenoughambitiontofinishhighschool!"
　　Mrs。Adamssighed。"ItseemedtomeWalterlosthisambitionwhennearlyalltheboyshe'dgrownupwithwenttoEasternschoolstoprepareforcollege，andwecouldn'taffordtosendhim。Ifonlyyourfatherwouldhavelistened——"
　　Aliceinterrupted:"Whatnonsense!Walterhatedbooksandstudying，andathletics，too，forthatmatter。Hedoesn'tcareforanythingnicethatIeverheardof。Whatdoyousupposehedoeslike，mama？Hemustlikesomethingorothersomewhere，butwhatdoyousupposeitis？Whatdoeshedowithhistime？"
　　"Why，thepoorboy'satLambandCompany'sallday。Hedoesn'tgetthroughuntilfiveintheafternoon；hedoesn'tHAVEmuchtime。"
　　"Well，weneverhavedinneruntilaboutseven，andhe'salwayslatefordinner，andgoesout，heavenknowswhere，rightafterward!"Aliceshookherhead。"Heusedtogowithourfriends'boys，butIdon'tthinkhedoesnow。"
　　"Why，howcouldhe？"Mrs。Adamsprotested。"Thatisn'thisfault，poorchild!Theboysheknewwhenhewasyoungerarenearlyallawayatcollege。"
　　"Yes，buthedoesn'tseeanythingof'emwhenthey'rehereatholiday-timeorvacation。Noneof'emcometothehouseanymore。"
　　"Isupposehe'smadeotherfriends。It'snaturalforhimtowantcompanions，athisage。"
　　"Yes，"Alicesaid，withdisapprovingemphasis。"Butwhoarethey？I'vegotanideaheplayspoolatsomeroughplacedown-town。"
　　"Oh，no；I'msurehe'sasteadyboy，"Mrs。Adamsprotested，buthertonewasnotthatofthoroughgoingconviction，andsheadded，"Lifemightbeaverydifferentthingforhimifonlyyourfathercanbebroughttosee——"
　　"Nevermind，mama!Itisn'tmethathastobeconvinced，youknow；andwecandoalotmorewithpapaifwejustlethimaloneaboutitforadayortwo。Promisemeyouwon'tsayanymoretohimuntil——well，untilhe'sabletocomedownstairstotable。
　　Willyou？"
　　Mrs。Adamsbitherlip，whichhadbeguntotremble。"IthinkyoucantrustmetoknowaFEWthings，Alice，"shesaid。"I'malittleolderthanyou，youknow。"
　　"That'sagoodgirl!"Alicejumpedup，laughing。"Don'tforgetit'sthesameasapromise，anddojustcheerhimupalittle。
　　I'llsaygood-byetohimbeforeIgoout。"
　　"Whereareyougoing？"
　　"Oh，I'vegotlotstodo。IthoughtI'drunouttoMildred'stoseewhatshe'sgoingtowearto-night，andthenIwanttogodownandbuyayardofchiffonandsomenarrowribbontomakenewbowsformyslippers——you'llhavetogivemesomemoney——"
　　"Ifhe'llgiveittome!"hermotherlamented，astheywenttowardthefrontstairstogether；butanhourlatershecameintoAlice'sroomwithabillinherhand。
　　"Hehassomemoneyinhisbureaudrawer，"shesaid。"Hefinallytoldmewhereitwas。"
　　Thereweretracesofemotioninhervoice，andAlice，lookingshrewdlyather，sawmoistureinhereyes。
　　"Mama!"shecried。"Youdidn'tdowhatyoupromisedmeyouwouldn't，didyou——NOTbeforeMissPerry!"
　　"MissPerry'sgettinghimsomebroth，"Mrs。Adamsreturned，calmly。"Besides，you'remistakeninsayingIpromisedyouanything；IsaidIthoughtyoucouldtrustmetoknowwhatisright。"
　　"Soyoudidbringitupagain!"AndAliceswungawayfromher，strodetoherfather'sdoor，flungitopen，wenttohim，andputalighthandsoothinglyoverhisunrelaxedforehead。
　　"Pooroldpapa!"shesaid。"It'sashamehoweverybodywantstotroublehim。Heshan'tbebotheredanymoreatall!Hedoesn'tneedtohaveeverybodytellinghimhowtogetawayfromthatoldholehe'sworkedinsolongandbegintomakeusallniceandrich。HEknowshow!"
　　Thereuponshekissedhimaconsolinggood-bye，andmadeanothergaydeparture，thecharminghandagainflutteringlikeawhitebutterflyintheshadowoftheclosingdoor。
　　CHAPTERIII
　　Mrs。AdamshadremainedinAlice'sroom，buthermoodseemedtohavechanged，duringherdaughter'slittlemorethanmomentaryabsence。
　　"WhatdidheSAY？"sheasked，quickly，andhertonewashopeful。
　　"'Say？'"Alicerepeated，impatiently。"Why，nothing。Ididn'tlethim。Really，mama，Ithinkthebestthingforyoutodowouldbetojustkeepoutofhisroom，becauseIdon'tbelieveyoucangointhereandnottalktohimaboutit，andifyoudotalkwe'llnevergethimtodotherightthing。Never!"
　　Themother'sresponsewasagrievingsilence；sheturnedfromherdaughterandwalkedtothedoor。
　　"Now，forgoodness'sake!"Alicecried。"Don'tgomakingtragedyoutofmyofferingyoualittlepracticaladvice!"
　　"I'mnot，"Mrs。Adamsgulped，halting。"I'mjust——justgoingtodustthedownstairs，Alice。"Andwithherfacestillaverted，shewentoutintothelittlehallway，closingthedoorbehindher。Amomentlatershecouldbehearddescendingthestairs，thesoundofherfootstepscarryingsomehowaneffectofresignation。
　　Alicelistened，sighed，and，breathingthewords，"Oh，murder!"
　　turnedtocheeriermatters。Sheputonalittleapple-greenturbanwithadimgoldbandroundit，andthen，havingshroudedtheturbaninawhiteveil，whichshekeptpushedupaboveherforehead，shegotherselfintoatancoatofsoftclothfashionedwithrakishseverity。Afterthat，havingstudiedherselfgravelyinalongglass，shetookfromoneofthedrawersofherdressing-tableablackleathercard-casecorneredinsilverfiligree，butfounditempty。
　　Sheopenedanotherdrawerwhereinweretwowhitepasteboardboxesofcards，theonesetshowingsimply"MissAdams，"theotherengravedinGothiccharacters，"MissAlysTuttleAdams。"ThelatterbelongedtoAlice's"Alys"period——mostgirlsgothroughit；andAlicemusthavefeltthatshehadgraduated，for，afterfrowningthoughtfullyattheexhibitthismorning，shetooktheboxwithitscontents，andletthewhiteshowerfallfromherfingersintothewaste-basketbesidehersmalldesk。Shereplenishedthecard-casefromthe"MissAdams"box；then，havingfoundapairoffreshwhitegloves，shetuckedanivory-toppedMalaccawalking-stickunderherarmandsetforth。
　　Shewentdownthestairs，buttoningherglovesandstillwearingthefrownwithwhichshehadput"Alys"finallyoutofherlife。
　　Shedescendedslowly，andpausedontheloweststep，lookingaboutherwithanexpressionthatneededbutaslightdeepeningtobetokenbitterness。Itsconnectionwithherdropping"Alys"
　　foreverwasslight，however。
　　Thesmallframehouse，aboutfifteenyearsold，wasalreadyincliningtobecomeanewColonialrelic。TheAdamseshadbuiltit，movingintoitfromthe"QueenAnne"housetheyhadrenteduntiltheytookthisstepinfashion。Butfifteenyearsisalongtimetostandstillinthemidlandcountry，evenforahouse，andthisonewaslightlymade，thoughtheAdamseshadnotrealizedhowflimsilyuntiltheyhadlivedinitforsometime。
　　"Solid，compact，andconvenient"weretheinstructionstothearchitect，andhehadmadeitcompactsuccessfully。Alice，pausingatthefootofthestairway，wasatthesametimefairlyinthe"living-room，"fortheonlyseparationbetweenthe"livingroom"andthehallwasademarcationsuggestedtowillingimaginationsbyapairofwoodencolumnspaintedwhite。Thesecolumns，pineunderthepaint，werebruisedandchippedatthebase；oneofthemshowedacrackthatthreatenedtobecomeasplit；the"hard-wood"floorhadbecomeuneven；andinacornerthewallsapparentlyfailedofsolidity，wherethewall-paperhaddeclinedtoaccompanysomestaggeringsoftheplasterbeneathit。
　　Thefurniturewasingreatpartanaccumulationbegunwiththeweddinggifts；thoughsomeofitwasolder，twolargepatentrocking-chairsandafootstoolhavingbelongedtoMrs。Adams'smotherinthedaysofhardbrownplushandveneer。Fordecorationtherewerepicturesandvases。Mrs。Adamshadalwaysbeenfondofvases，shesaid，andeveryyearherhusband'sChristmaspresenttoherwasavaseofonesortoranother——whatevertheclerkshowedhim，markedatabouttwelveorfourteendollars。Thepicturesweresomeofthemetchingsframedingilt:Rheims，Canterbury，schoonersgroupedagainstawharf；
　　andAlicecouldrememberhow，inherchildhood，herfathersometimespointedoutthewateryreflectionsinthislastasveryfine。Butitwasalongtimesincehehadshowninterestinsuchthings——"orinanythingmuch，"asshethought。
　　Otherpicturesweretwowater-coloursinbaroqueframes；onebeingtheAmalfimonkonapergolawall，whilethesecondwasayard-widedisplayofirisblossoms，paintedbyAliceherselfatfourteen，asabirthdaygifttohermother。Alice'sglancepauseduponitnowwithnogreatpride，butshowedmoreapprovalofanenormousphotographoftheColosseum。Thisshethoughtofas"theonlygoodthingintheroom"；itpossessedandbestoweddistinction，shefelt；andshedidnotregrethavingwonherstruggletogetithunginitsconspicuousplaceofhonouroverthemantelpiece。Formerlythatplacehadbeenheldforyearsbyasteel-engraving，anaccuraterepresentationoftheSuspensionBridgeatNiagaraFalls。Itwasalmostaslargeasitssuccessor，the"Colosseum，"andithadbeenpresentedtoMr。