"Justlovely!"Alicesaid，cheerily，andaftershehadarrangedthelatchforWalter，whohadgonetoreturnthelittlecar，shefollowedhermotherupstairsandhummedadance-tuneontheway。
　　"Oh，I'msogladyouhadanicetime，"Mrs。Adamssaid，astheyreachedthedoorofherdaughter'sroomtogether。"YouDESERVED
　　to，andit'slovelytothink——"
　　Butatthis，withoutwarning，Alicethrewherselfintohermother'sarms，sobbingsoloudlythatinhisroom，closeby，herfather，halfdrowsingthroughthenight，startedtofullwakefulness。
　　CHAPTERIX
　　Onamorning，aweekafterthiscollapseoffestalhopes，Mrs。
　　Adamsandherdaughterwereconcludingathree-days'disturbance，the"Springhouse-cleaning"——postponeduntilnowbyAdams'slongillness——andAlice，onherkneesbeforeachestofdrawers，inhermother'sroom，pausedthoughtfullyafterdustingapacketofletterswrappedinwornmuslin。Shecalledtohermother，whowasscrubbingthefloorofthehallwayjustbeyondtheopendoor，"Theseoldlettersyouhadinthebottomdrawer，weren'ttheysomepapawroteyoubeforeyouweremarried？"
　　Mrs。Adamslaughedandsaid，"Yes。Justput'embackwheretheywere——orelseupintheattic——anywhereyouwantto。"
　　"DoyoumindifIreadone，mama？"
　　Mrs。Adamslaughedagain。"Oh，Iguessyoucanifyouwantto。
　　Iexpectthey'reprettyfunny!"
　　Alicelaughedinresponse，andchosethetopmostletterofthepacket。"Mydear，beautifulgirl，"itbegan；andshestaredatthesesingularwords。Theygaveherashocklikethatcausedbyoverhearingsomebewilderingimpropriety；and，havingreadthemovertoherselfseveraltimes，shewentontoexperienceothershocks。
　　MYDEAR，BEAUTIFULGIRL:
　　ThistimeyesterdayIhadamightybadcaseofbluesbecauseI
　　hadnothadawordfromyouintwowholelongdaysandwhenIdonothearfromyoueverydaythingslookmightydowninthemouthtome。NowitisallsodifferentbecauseyourletterhasarrivedandbesidesIhavegotapieceofnewsIbelieveyouwillthinkasfineasIdo。Darling，youwillbesurprised，sogetreadytohearaboutabigeffectonourfuture。Itisthisway。
　　IhadsortofasuspiciontheheadofthefirmkindoftookafancytomefromthefirstwhenIwentinthere，andlikedthewayIattendedtomyworkandsowhenhetookmeonthisbusinesstripwithhimIfeltprettysureofitandnowitturnsoutIwasaboutright。InreturnIguessIhavegotaboutthebestbossinthisworldandIbelieveyouwillthinksotoo。Yes，sweetheart，afterthetalkIhavejusthadwithhimifJ。A。LambaskedmetocutmyhandoffforhimIguessIwouldcomeprettyneardoingitbecausewhathesaysmeanstheendofourwaitingtobetogether。FromNewYearsonheisgoingtoputmeinentirechargeofthesundriesdept。andwhatdoyouthinkisgoingtobemysalary？Elevenhundredcooldollarsayear$1，100。00。
　　That'sall!Justonlyacoolelevenhundredperannum!Well，I
　　guessthatwillshowyourmotherwhetherIcantakecareofyouornot。AndohhowIwouldliketoseeyourdear，beautiful，lovingfacewhenyougetthisnews。
　　IwouldliketogooutonthepublicstreetsandjustdanceandshoutanditisallIcandotohelpdoingit，especiallywhenI
　　knowwewillbetalkingitallovertogetherthistimenextweek，andohmydarling，nowthatyourfolkshavenoexcuseforputtingitoffanylongerwemightbeinourownlittlehomebeforeXmas。
　　Wouldyoubeglad？
　　Well，darling，thissettleseverythingandmakesourfuturejustaboutassmoothforusasanybodycouldask。Icanhardlyrealizeafterallthiswaitinglife'stroublesareoverforyouandmeandwehavenothingtodobuttoenjoythehappinessgrantedusbythiswonderful，beautifulthingwecalllife。I
　　knowIamnotanypoetandtheoneItriedtowriteaboutyouthedayofthepicnicwasfearfulbutthewayITHINKaboutyouisapoem。
　　Writemewhatyouthinkofthenews。Iknowbutwritemeanyhow。
　　I'llgetitbeforewestarthomeandIcanbereadingitoverallthetimeonthetram。
　　YouralwayslovingVIRGIL。
　　Thesoundofhermother'sdiligentscrubbinginthehallcamebackslowlytoAlice'shearing，assherestoredthelettertothepacket，wrappedthepacketinitsmuslincovering，andreturnedittothedrawer。Shehadremaineduponherkneeswhileshereadtheletter；nowshesankbackward，sittinguponthefloorwithherhandsbehindher，anunconsciousrelaxingforbettereasetothink。Uponherfacetherehadfallenalookofwonder。
　　Forthefirsttimeshewasvaguelyperceivingthatlifeiseverlastingmovement。Youthreallybelieveswhatisrunningwatertobeapermanentcrystallizationandseestimefixedtoapoint:somepeoplehavedarkhair，somepeoplehaveblondhair，somepeoplehavegrayhair。Untilthismoment，Alicehadnoconvictionthattherewasauniversebeforeshecameintoit。
　　Shehadalwaysthoughtofitasthebackgroundofherself:themoonwassomethingtomakeherprettieronasummernight。
　　Butthisoldletter，throughwhichshesawstillflickeringanancientstarlightofyounglove，astoundedher。Faintlybeforeheritrevealedthewholelivesofherfatherandmother，whohadbeenyoung，afterall——theyREALLYhad——andtheiryouthwasnowsoutterlypassedfromthemthatthepictureofit，intheletter，waslikeaburlesqueofthem。Andsoshe，herself，mustpasstosuchchanges，too，andallthatnowseemedvitaltoherwouldbenothing。
　　Whenherworkwasfinished，thatafternoon，shewentintoherfather'sroom。HisrecoveryhadprogressedwellenoughtopermitthedepartureofMissPerry；andAdams，wearingoneofMrs。
　　Adams'swrappersoverhisnight-gown，satinahigh-backedchairbyaclosedwindow。Theweatherwaswarm，buttheclosedwindowandtheflannelwrapperhadnotsufficedhim:roundhisshouldershehadanoldcrochetedscarfofAlice's；hislegswerewrappedinaheavycomfort；and，withtheseswathingsabouthim，andhiseyesclosed，histhinandgrizzledheadmakingbutaslightindentationinthepillowsupportingit，helookedoldandlittleandqueer。
　　Alicewouldhavegoneoutsoftly，butwithoutopeninghiseyes，hespoketoher:"Don'tgo，dearie。Comesitwiththeoldmanalittlewhile。"
　　Shebroughtachairnearhis。"Ithoughtyouwerenapping。"
　　"No。Idon'thardlyeverdothat。Ijustdriftalittlesometimes。"
　　"Howdoyoumeanyoudrift，papa？"
　　Helookedathervaguely。"Oh，Idon'tknow。Kindofpictures。
　　Theygetalittlemixedup——oldtimeswithtimesstillahead，likeplanningwhattodo，youknow。That'sasnearanapasI
　　get——whenthepicturesmixupsome。Isupposeit'ssortofdrowsing。"
　　Shetookoneofhishandsandstrokedit。"Whatdoyoumeanwhenyousayyouhavepictureslike'planningwhattodo'？"sheasked。
　　"ImeanplanningwhattodowhenIgetoutandabletogotoworkagain。"
　　"Butthatdoesn'tneedanyplanning，"Alicesaid，quickly。
　　"You'regoingbacktoyouroldplaceatLamb's，ofcourse。"
　　Adamsclosedhiseyesagain，sighingheavily，butmadenootherresponse。
　　"Why，ofCOURSEyouare!"shecried。"Whatareyoutalkingabout？"
　　Hisheadturnedslowlytowardher，revealingtheeyes，openinahaggardstare。"Iheardyoutheothernightwhenyoucamefromtheparty，"hesaid。"Iknowwhatwasthematter。"
　　"Indeed，youdon't，"sheassuredhim。"Youdon'tknowanythingaboutit，becausetherewasn'tanythingthematteratall。"
　　"Don'tyousupposeIheardyoucrying？What'dyoucryforiftherewasn'tanythingthematter？"
　　"Justnerves，papa。Itwasn'tanythingelseintheworld。"
　　"Nevermind，"hesaid。"Yourmothertoldme。"
　　"Shepromisedmenotto!"
　　AtthatAdamslaughedmournfully。"Itwouldn'tbeverylikelyI'dhearyousoupsetandnotaskaboutit，evenifshedidn'tcomeandtellmeonherownhook。Youneedn'ttrytofoolme；I
　　tellyouIknowwhatwasthematter。"
　　"TheonlymatterwasIhadasillyfit，"Aliceprotested。"Itdidmegood，too。"
　　"How'sthat？"
　　"BecauseI'vedecidedtodosomethingaboutit，papa。"
　　"Thatisn'tthewayyourmotherlooksatit，"Adamssaid，ruefully。"Shethinksit'sourplacetodosomethingaboutit。
　　Well，Idon'tknow——Idon'tknow；everythingseemssochangedthesedays。You'vealwaysbeenagooddaughter，Alice，andyououghttohaveasmuchasanyofthesegirlsyougowith；she'sconvincedmeshe'srightaboutTHAT。Thetroubleis——"Hefaltered，apologetically，thenwenton，"Imeanthequestionis——howtogetitforyou。"
　　"No!"shecried。"Ihadnobusinesstomakesuchafussjustbecausealotofidiotsdidn'tbreaktheirneckstogetdanceswithmeandbecauseIgotmortifiedaboutWalter——WalterWAS
　　prettyterrible——"
　　"Oh，me，my!"Adamslamented。"Iguessthat'ssomethingwejusthavetoleaveworkoutitself。Whatyougoingtodowithaboynineteenortwentyyearsoldthatmakeshisownliving？Can'twhiphim。Can'tkeephimlockedupinthehouse。Justgottohopehe'lllearnbetter，Isuppose。"
　　"Ofcoursehedidn'twanttogotothePalmers'，"Aliceexplained，tolerantly——"andasmamaandImadehimtakeme，andhethoughtthatwasprettyselfishinme，why，hefelthehadarighttoamusehimselfanywayhecould。Ofcourseitwasawfulthatthis——thatthisMr。Russellshould——"Inspiteofher，therecollectionchokedher。
　　"Yes，itwasawful，"Adamsagreed。"Justawful。Oh，me，my!"
　　ButAlicerecoveredherselfatonce，andshowedhimacheerfulface。"Well，justafewyearsfromnowIprobablywon'tevenrememberit!Ibelievehardlyanythingamountstoasmuchaswethinkitdoesatthetime。"
　　"Well——sometimesitdon't。"
　　"WhatI'vebeenthinking，papa:itseemstomeIoughttoDO
　　something。"
　　"Whatlike？"
　　Shelookeddreamy，butwasobviouslyseriousasshetoldhim:
　　"Well，ImeanIoughttobesomethingbesidesjustakindofnobody。Ioughtto——"Shepaused。
　　"What，dearie？"
　　"Well——there'sonethingI'dliketodo。I'msureICOULDdoit，too。"
　　"What？"
　　"Iwanttogoonthestage:IknowIcouldact。"Atthis，herfatherabruptlygaveutterancetoafeeblecacklingoflaughter；
　　andwhenAlice，surprisedandalittleoffended，pressedhimforhisreason，hetriedtoevade，saying，"Nothing，dearie。Ijustthoughtofsomething。"Butshepersisteduntilhehadtoexplain。
　　"Itmademethinkofyourmother'ssister，yourAuntFlora，thatdiedwhenyouwerelittle，"hesaid。"Shewasalwaystellinghowshewasgoingonthestage，andtalkingabouthowshewascertainshe'dmakeagreatactress，andallsoon；andonedayyourmotherbrokeoutandsaidsheought'a'goneonthestage，herself，becauseshealwaysknewshehadthetalentforit——and，well，theygotintokindofaspataboutwhichone'dmakethebestactress。Ihadtogooutinthehalltolaugh!"
　　"Maybeyouwerewrong，"Alicesaid，gravely。"Iftheybothfeltit，whywouldn'tthatlookasiftherewastalentinthefamily？
　　I'veALWAYSthought——"
　　"No，dearie，"hesaid，withafinalchuckle。"YourmotherandFloraweren'tdifferentfromagoodmanyothers。Iexpectninetypercent。ofallthewomenIeverknewwerejustsurethey'dbemightyfineactressesiftheyevergotthechance。Well，Iguessit'sagoodthing；theyenjoythinkingaboutitanditdon'tdoanybodyanyharm。"
　　Alicewaspiqued。Forseveraldaysshehadthoughtalmostcontinuouslyofacareertobewonbyherowngenius。Notthatsheplanneddetails，orconcernedherselfwithfirststeps；herpicturingsoverleapedallthat。Principally，shesawhernamegreatonallthebill-boardsofthatunkindcity，andherself，unchangedinagebutglamorouswithfameandParisclothes，returninginaprivatecar。NodoubtthepleasantestdevelopmentofhervisionwasadialoguewithMildred；andthisbecamesorealthat，assheprojectedit，Aliceassumedtheproperexpressionsforbothpartiestoit，formedwordswithherlips，andevenspokesomeofthemaloud。"No，Ihaven'tforgottenyou，Mrs。Russell。Irememberyouquitepleasantly，infact。YouwereaMissPalmer，Irecall，inthosefunnyolddays。Verykindofyou，I'mshaw。Iappreciateyoureagernesstodosomethingformeinyourownlittlehome。Asyousay，areceptionWOULD
　　renewmyacquaintanceshipwithmanyoldfriends——butI'mshawyouwon'tmindmymentioningthatIdon'tfindmuchinspirationintheseprovincials。Ireallymustaskyounottopressme。Anartist'stimeisnotherown，thoughofcourseIcouldhardlyexpectyoutounderstand——"
　　ThusAliceilluminatedthedulltime；butsheretiredfromtheinterviewwithherfatherstillmanfullydisplayinganoutwardcheerfulness，whiledepressiongrewheavierwithin，asifshehadeatensoggycake。Herfatherknewnothingwhateverofthestage，andshewasawareofhisignorance，yetforsomereasonhisinnocentlyskepticalamusementreducedherbrightprojectalmosttonothing。Somethinglikethisalwayshappened，itseemed；shewascontinuallymakingtheseilluminations，allgaywithgildingsandcolourings；andthenassoonasanybodyelsesomuchasglancedatthem——evenherfather，wholovedher——theprettydesignswerestrickenwithadesolatingpallor。"IsthisLIFE？"
　　Alicewondered，notdoubtingthatthequestionwasoriginalandallherown。"Isitlifetospendyourtimeimaginingthingsthataren'tso，andneverwillbe？Beautifulthingshappentootherpeople；whyshouldIbetheonlyonetheyneverCANhappento？"
　　Themoodlastedovernight；andwasstilluponherthenextafternoonwhenanerrandforherfathertookherdown-town。
　　Adamshaddecidedtobeginsmokingagain，andAlicefeltratherdegraded，aswellasembarrassed，whenshewentintothelargeshopherfatherhadnamed，andaskedforthecheaptobaccoheusedinhispipe。Shefellbackuponanairofamusedindulgence，hopingthustosuggestthatherpurchasewasmadeforsomefaithfuloldretainer，nowinfirm；andalthoughthecalmnessoftheclerkwhoservedhercalledfornosuchelaborationofhersketch，sheornamenteditwithalittlelaughandwiththeremark，asshedroppedthepackageintohercoat-pocket，"I'msureit'llpleasehim；theytellmeit'sthekindhelikes。"
　　StillplayingLadyBountiful，smilingtoherselfinanticipationofthejoyshewasbringingtothesimpleoldnegroorIrishfollowerofthefamily，shelefttheshop；butasshecameoutuponthecrowdedpavementhersmilevanishedquickly。
　　Nexttothedoorofthetobacco-shop，therewastheopenentrancetoastairway，and，abovethisratherbleakanddarkaperture，asign-boarddisplayedinbegrimedgiltletterstheinformationthatFrincke'sBusinessCollegeoccupiedtheupperfloorsofthebuilding。Furthermore，Frinckeherepubliclyoffered"personalinstructionandtraininginpracticalmathematics，bookkeeping，andallbranchesofthebusinesslife，includingstenography，typewriting，etc。"
　　Alicehaltedforamoment，frowningatthissignboardasthoughitweresomethingsurprisinganddistastefulwhichshehadneverseenbefore。Yetitwasconspicuousinabusyquarter；shealmostalwayspasseditwhenshecamedown-town，andneverwithoutnoticingit。Norwasthisthefirsttimeshehadpausedtolifttowarditthatsameglanceofvaguemisgiving。
　　Thebuildingwasnotwhatthechangefulcitydefinedasamodernone，andthedustywoodenstairway，asseenfromthepavement，disappearedupwardintoasmokydarkness。Sowouldthefootstepsofagirlascendingthereleadtoahideousobscurity，Alicethought；anobscurityasdrearyandaspermanentasdeath。AndlikedryleavesfallingabouthershesawherwintryimaginingsintheMayair:prettygirlsturningintowitheredcreaturesastheyworkedattyping-machines；oldmaids"takingdictation"frommenwithdoublechins；Alicesawoldmaidsofadozendifferentkinds"takingdictation。"Hermind'seyewascrowdedwiththem，asitalwayswaswhenshepassedthatstairwayentrance；andthoughtheywerealldifferentfromoneanother，allofthemlookedalittlelikeherself。
　　Shehatedtheplace，andyetsheseldomhurriedbyitoravertedhereyes。Ithadanunpleasantfascinationforher，andamysteriousreproach，whichshedidnotseektofathom。Shewalkedonthoughtfullyto-day；andwhen，atthenextcorner，sheturnedintothestreetthatledtowardhome，shewasgivenasurprise。ArthurRussellcamerapidlyfrombehindher，liftinghishatasshesawhim。
　　"Areyouwalkingnorth，MissAdams？"heasked。"DoyoumindifI
　　walkwithyou？"
　　Shewasnotdelighted，butseemedso。"Howcharming!"shecried，givinghimalittleflourishoftheshapelyhands；andthen，becauseshewonderedifhehadseenhercomingoutofthetobacco-shop，shelaughedandadded，"I'vejustbeenonthemostridiculouserrand!"
　　"Whatwasthat？"
　　"Toordersomecigarsformyfather。He'sbeenquiteill，poorman，andhe'ssoparticular——butwhatintheworlddo_I_knowaboutcigars？"
　　Russelllaughed。"Well，whatDOyouknowabout'em？Didyouselectbytheprice？"
　　"Mercy，no!"sheexclaimed，andadded，withanafterthought，"OfcoursehewrotedownthenameofthekindhewantedandIgaveittotheshopman。Icouldneverhavepronouncedit。"
　　CHAPTERX
　　Inherpocketasshespokeherhandresteduponthelittlesackoftobacco，whichrespondedaccusinglytothetouchofherrestlessfingers；andshefoundtimetowonderwhyshewasbuildingupthisfictionforMr。ArthurRussell。HisdiscoveryofWalter'sdeviceforwhilingawaythedulleveninghadshamedanddistressedher；butshewouldhavesufferednolessifalmostanyotherhadbeenthediscoverer。Inthisgentleman，afterhearingthathewasMildred'sMr。ArthurRussell，Alicefeltnottheslightest"personalinterest"；andtherewasyettodevelopinherlifesuchathingasaninterestnotpersonal。Attwenty-twothisstateofaffairsisnotunique。
　　SofarasAlicewasconcernedRussellmighthavewornaplacard，"Engaged。"Shelookeduponhimasdinersenteringarestaurantlookupontablesmarked"Reserved":theglance，slightlydiscontented，passesonatonce。Orsotheeyeofaprospectorwandersquerulouslyoverstakedandestablishedclaimsonthemountainside，andseeksthevirginlandbeyond；unless，indeed，theprospectorbedishonest。ButAlicewasnoclaim-jumper——solongasthenoticeofownershipwasplainlyposted。
　　Thoughshewasindifferentnow，habitruledher:and，attheverytimeshewonderedwhyshecreatedfictitiouscigarsforherfather，shewasalsoregrettingthatshehadnotboldlycarriedherMalaccastickdown-townwithher。Hervivacityincreasedautomatically。
　　"Perhapstheclerkthoughtyouwantedthecigarsforyourself，"
　　Russellsuggested。"HemayhavetakenyouforaSpanishcountess。"
　　"I'msurehedid!"Aliceagreed，gaily；andshehummedabarortwoof"LaPaloma，"snappingherfingersascastanets，andswayingherbodyalittle，tosuggesttheacceptedstencilofa"SpanishDancer。""Wouldyouhavetakenmeforone，Mr。Russell？"sheasked，assheconcludedtheimpersonation。
　　"I？Why，yes，"hesaid。"I'Dtakeyouforanythingyouwantedmeto。"
　　"Why，whataspeech!"shecried，and，laughing，gavehimaquickglanceinwhichthereglimmeredsomerealsurprise。Hewaslookingatherquizzically，butwiththeliveliestappreciation。
　　Hersurpriseincreased；andshewasgladthathehadjoinedher。
　　Tobeseenwalkingwithsuchacompanionaddedtoherpleasure。
　　Shewouldhavedescribedhimas"altogetherquitestunning-looking"；andshelikedhistall，darkthinness，hisgrayclothes，hissofthat，andhiscleanbrownshoes；shelikedhiseasyswingofthestickhecarried。
　　"Shouldn'tIhavesaidit？"heasked。"WouldyourathernotbetakenforaSpanishcountess？"
　　"Thatisn'tit，"sheexplained。"Yousaid——"
　　"IsaidI'dtakeyouforwhateveryouwantedmeto。Isn'tthatallright？"
　　"Itwouldalldepend，wouldn'tit？"
　　"Ofcourseitwoulddependonwhatyouwanted。"
　　"Oh，no!"shelaughed。"Itmightdependonalotofthings。"
　　"Suchas？"
　　"Well——"Shehesitated，havingthemischievousimpulsetosay，"SuchasMildred!"Butshedecidedtoomitthisreference，andbecameserious，rememberingRussell'sservicetoheratMildred'shouse。"SpeakingofwhatIwanttobetakenfor，"shesaid；——"I'vebeenwonderingeversincetheothernightwhatyoudidtakemefor!Youmusthavetakenmeforthesisterofaprofessionalgambler，I'mafraid!"
　　Russell'slookofkindnesswasthetruthabouthim，shewastodiscover；andhereassuredhernowbythepromptnessofhisfriendlychuckle。"ThenyouryoungbrothertoldyouwhereI
　　foundhim，didhe？Ikeptmyfacestraightatthetime，butI
　　laughedafterward——tomyself。Itstruckmeasoriginal，tosaytheleast:hisamusinghimselfwiththosedarkies。"
　　"WalterISoriginal，"Alicesaid；and，havingadoptedthisnewviewofherbrother'seccentricities，sheimpulsivelywentontomakeitmoreplausible。"He'saveryoddboy，andIwasafraidyou'dmisunderstand。Hetellswonderful'darkystories，'andhe'lldoanythingtodrawcolouredpeopleoutandmakethemtalk；
　　andthat'swhathewasdoingatMildred'swhenyoufoundhimforme——hesayshewinstheirconfidencebyplayingdicewiththem。
　　Inthefamilywethinkhe'llprobablywriteaboutthemsomeday。
　　He'sratherliterary。"
　　"Areyou？"Russellasked，smiling。
　　"I？Oh——"Shepaused，liftingbothhandsinacharminggestureofhelplessness。"Oh，I'mjust——me!"
　　Hisglancefollowedthelightlywavedhandswithkeenapproval，thenrosetothelivelyandcolourfulface，withitshazeleyes，itssmallandprettynose，andthelip-caughtsmilewhichseemedtheclimaxofherdecorativetransition。Neverhadheseenacreaturesoplasticorsowistful。
　　HerewasacontrasttohiscousinMildred，whowasnotwistful，andcontrolledanyimpulsestowardplasticity，ifshehadthem。
　　"ByGeorge!"hesaid。"ButyouAREdifferent!"
　　Withthat，thereleapedinhersuchanimpulseofroguishgallantryasshecouldneverresist。Sheturnedherhead，and，laughingandbright-eyed，lookedhimfullintheface。
　　"Fromwhom？"shecried。
　　"From——everybody!"hesaid。"Areyouamind-reader？"
　　"Why？"
　　"HowdidyouknowIwasthinkingyouweredifferentfrommycousin，MildredPalmer？"
　　"WhatmakesyouthinkIDIDknowit？"
　　"Nonsense!"hesaid。"YouknewwhatIwasthinkingandIknewyouknew。"
　　"Yes，"shesaidwithcoolhumour。"Howintimatethatseemstomakeusallatonce!"
　　Russellleftnodoubtthathewasdelightedwiththesegaietiesofhers。"ByGeorge!"heexclaimedagain。"IthoughtyouwerethissortofgirlthefirstmomentIsawyou!"
　　"Whatsortofgirl？Didn'tMildredtellyouwhatsortofgirlI
　　amwhensheaskedyoutodancewithme？"
　　"Shedidn'taskmetodancewithyou——I'dbeenlookingatyou。
　　Youweretalkingtosomeoldladies，andIaskedMildredwhoyouwere。"
　　"Oh，soMildredDIDN'T——"Alicecheckedherself。"WhodidshetellyouIwas？"
　　"ShejustsaidyouwereaMissAdams，soI——"
　　"'A'MissAdams？"Aliceinterrupted。
　　"Yes。ThenIsaidI'dliketomeetyou。"
　　"Isee。Youthoughtyou'dsavemefromtheoldladies。"
　　"No。IthoughtI'dsavemyselffromsomeofthegirlsMildredwasgettingmetodancewith。TherewasaMissDowling——"
　　"Poorman!"Alicesaid，gently，andherimpulsivethoughtwasthatMildredhadtakenfewchances，andthatasamatterofself-defensehercarefulnessmighthavebeenwellfounded。ThisMr。ArthurRussellwasamuchmoreresponsivepersonthanonehadsupposed。
　　"So，Mr。Russell，youdon'tknowanythingaboutmeexceptwhatyouthoughtwhenyoufirstsawme？"
　　"Yes，IknowIwasrightwhenIthoughtit。"
　　"Youhaven'ttoldmewhatyouthought。"
　　"IthoughtyouwerelikewhatyouARElike。"
　　"Notverydefinite，isit？I'mafraidyoushedmorelightaminuteorsoago，whenyousaidhowdifferentfromMildredyouthoughtIwas。ThatWASdefinite，unfortunately!"
　　"Ididn'tsayit，"Russellexplained。"Ithoughtit，andyoureadmymind。That'sthesortofgirlIthoughtyouwere——onethatcouldreadaman'smind。Whydoyousay'unfortunately'
　　you'renotlikeMildred？"
　　Alice'ssmoothgestureseemedtosketchMildred。"Becauseshe'sperfect——why，she'sPERFECTLYperfect!Shenevermakesamistake，andeverybodylooksuptoher——oh，yes，weallfairlyadoreher!She'slikesomebig，noble，coldstatue——'wayabovetherestofus——andshehardlyeverdoesanythingmeanortreacherous。OfallthegirlsIknowIbelieveshe'splayedthefewestreallypettytricks。She's——"
　　Russellinterrupted；helookedperplexed。"Yousayshe'sperfectlyperfect，butthatshedoesplaySOME——"
　　Alicelaughed，asifathissweetinnocence。"Menaresofunny!"
　　sheinformedhim。"OfcoursegirlsALLdomeanthingssometimes。
　　Myowncareer'sjustonelongbrazensmirchof'em!WhatImeanis，Mildred'sperfectlyperfectcomparedtotherestofus。
　　"Isee，"hesaid，andseemedtoneedamomentortwoofthoughtfulness。Thenheinquired，"WhatsortoftreacherousthingsdoYOUdo？"
　　"I？Oh，theveryworstkind!Mostpeopleboremeparticularlythemeninthistown——andIshowit。"
　　"ButIshouldn'tcallthattreacherous，exactly。"
　　"Well，THEYdo，"Alicelaughed。"It'smademeaterriblyunpopularcharacter!Idoalotofthingstheyhate。Forinstance，atadanceI'dalotratherfindsomecleveroldwomanandtalktoherthandancewithnine-tenthsofthesenonentities。
　　Iusuallydoit，too。"
　　"Butyoudancedasifyoulikedit。YoudancedbetterthananyothergirlI——"
　　"Thisflatteryofyoursdoesn'tquiteturnmyhead，Mr。
　　Russell，"Aliceinterrupted。"ParticularlysinceMildredonlygaveyouEllaDowlingtocomparewithme!"
　　"Oh，no，"heinsisted。"Therewereothers——andofcourseMildred，herself。"
　　"Oh，ofcourse，yes。Iforgotthat。Well——"Shepaused，thenadded，"IcertainlyOUGHTtodancewell。"
　　"Whyisitsomuchaduty？"
　　"WhenIthinkofthedancing-teachersandtheexpensetopapa!
　　Allsortsoffancyinstructors——Isupposethat'swhatdaughtershavefathersfor，though，isn'tit？Tothrowmoneyawayonthem？"
　　"Youdon't——"Russellbegan，andhislookwasoneofalarm。
　　"Youhaven'ttakenup——"
　　Sheunderstoodhisapprehensionandrespondedmerrily，"Oh，murder，no!Youmeanyou'reafraidIbreakoutsometimesinapieceofcheeseclothandrunaroundafountainthirtytimes，andthen，foranencore，showhowmuchlikesnakesIcanmakemyarmslook。"
　　"ISAIDyouwereamind-reader!"heexclaimed。"That'sexactlywhatIwaspretendingtobeafraidyoumightdo。"
　　"'Pretending？'That'snicerofyou。No；it'snotmymania。"
　　"Whatis？"
　　"Oh，nothinginparticularthatIknowofjustnow。OfcourseI'vehadtheusualone:theonethateverygirlgoesthrough。"
　　"What'sthat？"
　　"Goodheavens，Mr。Russell，youcan'texpectmetobelieveyou'rereallyamanoftheworldifyoudon'tknowthateverygirlhasatimeinherlifewhenshe'spositiveshe'sdivinelytalentedforthestage!It'stheonlyuniversalruleaboutwomenthathasn'tgotanexception。Idon'tmeanweallwanttogoonthestage，butweallthinkwe'dbewonderfulifwedid。EvenMildred。Oh，shewouldn'tconfessittoyou:you'dhavetoknowheragreatdealbetterthananymancaneverknowhertofindout。"
　　"Isee，"hesaid。"Girlsarealwaystellinguswecan'tknowthem。Iwonderifyou——"
　　Shetookuphisthoughtbeforeheexpressedit，andagainhewasfascinatedbyherquickness，whichindeedseemedtohimalmosttelepathic。"Oh，butDON'Tweknowoneanother，though!"shecried。