"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。