SCENE：AParlor—CarontheNewYorkCentralRailroad。Itislateafternoonintheearlyautumn，withacloudysunsetthreateningrain。
　　Thecarisunoccupiedsavebyagentleman，whositsfrontingoneofthewindows，withhisfeetinanotherchair；anewspaperliesacrosshislap；hishatisdrawndownoverhiseyes，andheisapparentlyasleep。Thereardoorofthecaropens，andtheconductorenterswithayounglady，heavilyveiled，theportercomingafterwithherwrapsandtravelling—bags。Thelady’sairisofmingledanxietyanddesperation，withacertainfiercenessofmovement。Shecastsacarelessglanceovertheemptychairs。
　　CONDUCTOR："Here’syourticket，madam。Youcanhaveanyoftheplacesyoulikehere，——glancingattheunconsciousgentleman，andthenattheyounglady，——"ifyouprefer，youcangoandtakethatseatintheforwardcar。"
　　MISSLUCYGALBRAITH："Oh，Ican’tridebackwards。I’llstayhere，please。Thankyou。"Theporterplacesherthingsinachairbyawindow，acrossthecarfromthesleepinggentleman，andshethrowsherselfwearilyintothenextseat，wheelsroundinit，andliftingherveilgazesabsentlyoutatthelandscape。Herface，whichisverypretty，withalowforeheadshadowedbythickblondhair，showsthetracesoftears。Shemakessearchinherpocketforherhandkerchief，whichshepressestohereyes。Theconductor，lingeringamoment，goesout。
　　PORTER："I’llberighthere，atdeendofdecah，ifyoushouldhappentowantanything，miss，"——makingafeintofarrangingtheshawlsandsatchels。"Shouldyoulikesomedesethingshungup？
　　Well，dey’llbejus’aswellindechair。We’sprettylatedisafternoon；more’nfourhoursbehin’time。OughttobeenintoAlbany’foredis。Freighttrainoffdetrackjus’dissideo’Rochester，an’hadtowait。WasyougoingtostopatSchenectady，miss？"
　　MISSGALBRAITH，absently："AtSchenectady？"Afterapause，"Yes。"
　　PORTER："Well，that’sdenextstation，anddendecahsdon’tstopag’intilldeygittoAlbany。AnythingelseIcandoforyounow，miss？"
　　MISSGALBRAITH："No，no，thankyou，nothing。"ThePorterhesitates，takesoffhiscap，andscratcheshisheadwithamurmurofembarrassment。MissGalbraithlooksupathiminquiringlyandthensuddenlytakesoutherporte—monnaie，andfeeshim。
　　PORTER："Thankyou，miss，thankyou。Ifyouwantanythingatall，miss，I’mrightdereatdeendofdecah。"Hegoesoutbythenarrowpassage—waybesidethesmallerenclosedparlor。MissGalbraithlooksaskanceatthesleepinggentleman，andthen，rising，goestothelargemirror，topinherveil，whichhasbecomeloosenedfromherhat。Shegivesalittlestartatsightofthegentlemaninthemirror，butarrangesherhead—gear，andreturningtoherplacelooksoutofthewindowagain。Afteralittlewhileshemovesaboutuneasilyinherchair，thenleansforward，andtriestoraiseherwindow；sheliftsitpartlyup，whenthecatchslipsfromherfingers，andthewindowfallsshutagainwithacrash。
　　MISSGALBRAITH："Oh，DEAR，howprovoking！IsupposeImustcalltheporter。"Sherisesfromherseat，butonattemptingtomoveawayshefindsthattheskirtofherpolonaisehasbeencaughtinthefallingwindow。Shepullsatit，andthentriestoliftthewindowagain，buttheclothhaswedgeditin，andshecannotstirit。"Well，I
　　certainlythinkthisisbeyondendurance！Porter！Ah，——Porter！Oh，he’llneverhearmeintheracketthatthesewheelsaremaking！I
　　wishthey’dstop，——I"——Thegentlemanstirsinhischair，liftshishead，listens，takeshisfeetdownfromtheotherseat，risesabruptly，andcomestoMissGalbraith’sside。
　　MR。ALLENRICHARDS："Willyouallowmetoopenthewindowforyou？"
　　Startingback，"MissGalbraith！"
　　MISSGALBRAITH："Al——Mr。Richards！"Thereisasilenceforsomemoments，inwhichtheyremainlookingateachother；then，—
　　MR。RICHARDS："Lucy"—
　　MISSGALBRAITH："Iforbidyoutoaddressmeinthatway，Mr。
　　Richards。"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Why，youwerejustgoingtocallmeAllen！"
　　MISSGALBRAITH："Thatwasanaccident，youknowverywell，——animpulse"—
　　MR。RICHARDS："Well，soisthis。"
　　MISSGALBRAITH："Ofwhichyououghttobeashamedtotakeadvantage。
　　Iwonderatyourpresumptioninspeakingtomeatall。It’squiteidle，Icanassureyou。Everythingisatanendbetweenus。ItseemsthatIborewithyoutoolong；butI’mthankfulthatIhadthespirittonotatlast，andtoactintime。Andnowthatchancehasthrownustogether，Itrustthatyouwillnotforceyourconversationuponme。Nogentlemanwould，andIhavealwaysgivenyoucreditforthinkingyourselfagentleman。Irequestthatyouwillnotspeaktome。"
　　MR。RICHARDS："You’vespokentenwordstomeforeveryoneofminetoyou。ButIwon’tannoyyou。Ican’tbelieveit，Lucy；IcanNOT
　　believeit。Itseemslikesomerascallydream，andifIhadhadanysleepsinceithappened，IshouldthinkI——"
　　MISSGALBRAITH："Oh！YouweresleepingsoundlyenoughwhenIgotintothecar！"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Iownit；Iwasperfectlyusedup，andIHADdroppedoff。"
　　MISSGALBRAITH，scornfully："ThenperhapsyouHAVEdreamedit。"
　　MR。RICHARDS："I’llthinksotillyoutellmeagainthatourengagementisbroken；thatthefaithfulloveofyearsistogofornothing；thatyoudismissmewithcruelinsult，withoutonewordofexplanation，withoutawordofintelligibleaccusation，even。It’stoomuch！I’vebeenthinkingitalloverandover，andIcan’tmakeheadortailofit。Imeanttoseeyouagainassoonaswegottotown，andimploreyoutohearme。Come，it’samightyseriousmatter，Lucy。I’mnotamantoputonheroicsandthat；but_I_
　　believeit’llplaytheverydeucewithme，Lucy，——thatistosay，MissGalbraith，——Idoindeed。It’llgivemealowopinionofwoman。"
　　MISSGALBRAITH，avertingherface："Oh，averyhighopinionofwomanyouhavehad！"
　　MR。RICHARDS，withsentiment："Well，therewasonewomanwhomI
　　thoughtaperfectangel。"
　　MISSGALBRAITH："Indeed！MayIaskhername？"
　　MR。RICHARDS，withaforlornsmile。"Ishallbeobligedtodescribehersomewhatformallyas——MissGalbraith。"
　　MISSGALBRAITH："Mr。Richards！"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Why，you’vejustforbiddenmetosayLUCY！Youmusttellme，dearest，whatIhavedonetooffendyou。Theworstcriminalsarenotcondemnedunheard，andI’vealwaysthoughtyouweremercifulifnotjust。AndnowIonlyaskyoutobejust。"
　　MISSGALBRAITH，lookingoutofthewindow："Youknowverywellwhatyou’vedone。Youcan’texpectmetohumiliatemyselfbyputtingyouroffenceintowords。"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Uponmysoul，Idon’tknowwhatyoumean！IDON’T
　　knowwhatI’vedone。Whenyoucameatme，lastnight，withmyringandpresentsandotherlittletraps，youmighthaveknockedmedownwiththelightestofthelot。Iwasperfectlydazed；Icouldn’tsayanythingbeforeyouwereoff，andallIcoulddowastohopethatyou’dbemorelikeyourselfinthemorning。Andinthemorning，whenIcameroundtoMrs。Philips’s，Ifoundyouweregone，andIcameafteryoubythenexttrain。"
　　MISSGALBRAITH："Mr。Richards，yourpersonalhistoryforthelasttwenty—fourhoursisamatterofperfectindifferencetome，asitshallbeforthenexttwenty—fourhundredyears。Iseethatyouareresolvedtoannoyme，andsinceyouwillnotleavethecar，Imustdoso。"Sheriseshaughtilyfromherseat，buttheimprisonedskirtofherpolonaisetwitchesherabruptlybackintoherchair。Sheburstsintotears。"Oh，whatSHALLIdo？"
　　MR。RICHARDS，dryly："Youshalldowhateveryoulike，MissGalbraith，whenI’vesetyoufree；forIseeyourdressiscaughtinthewindow。Whenit’sonceout，I’llshutthewindow，andyoucancalltheportertoraiseit。"Heleansforwardoverherchair，andwhilesheshrinksbackthelengthofhertether，hetugsatthewindow—fastening。"Ican’tgetatit。Wouldyoubesogoodastostandup，——allyoucan？"MissGalbraithstandsup，droopingly，andMr。Richardsmakesamovementtowardsher，andthenfallsback。"No，thatwon’tdo。Pleasesitdownagain。"Hegoesroundherchairandtriestogetatthewindowfromthatside。"Ican’tgetanypurchaseonit。Whydon’tyoucutoutthatpiece？"MissGalbraithstaresathimindumbamazement。"Well，Idon’tseewhatwe’retodo：I’llgoandgettheporter。"Hegoestotheendofthecar，andreturns。"I
　　can’tfindtheporter，——hemustbeinoneoftheothercars。But"——
　　brighteningwiththefortunateconception——"I’vejustthoughtofsomething。Willitunbutton？"
　　MISSGALBRAITH："Unbutton？"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Yes；thisgarmentofyours。"
　　MISSGALBRAITH："Mypolonaise？"Inquiringly，"Yes。"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Well，then，it’saverysimplematter。IfyouwilljusttakeitoffIcaneasily"—
　　MISSGALBRAITH，faintly："Ican’t。Apolonaiseisn’tlikeanovercoat"—
　　MR。RICHARDS，withdismay："Oh！Well，then"——Heremainsthinkingamomentinhopelessperplexity。
　　MISSGALBRAITH，withpoliteceremony："Theporterwillbebacksoon。
　　Don’ttroubleyourselfanyfurtheraboutit，please。Ishalldoverywell。"
　　MR。RICHARDS，withoutheedingher："Ifyoucouldkneelonthatfoot—
　　cushion，andfacethewindow"—
　　MISSGALBRAITH，kneelingpromptly："So？"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Yes，andnow"——kneelingbesideher——"ifyou’llallowmeto——togetatthewindow—catch，"——hestretchesbotharmsforward；
　　sheshrinksfromhisrightintohisleft，andthenbackagain，——"andpullwhileIraisethewindow"—
　　MISSGALBRAITH："Yes，yes；butdohurry，please。Ifanyonesawus，Idon’tknowwhattheywouldthink。It’sperfectlyridiculous！"——
　　pulling。"It’scaughtinthecornerofthewindow，betweentheframeandthesash，anditwon’tcome！Ismyhairtroublingyou？Isitinyoureyes？"
　　MR。RICHARDS："It’sinmyeyes，butitisn’ttroublingme。AmI
　　inconveniencingyou？"
　　MISSGALBRAITH："Oh，notatall。"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Well，nowthen，pullhard！"Heliftsthewindowwithagreateffort；thepolonaisecomesfreewithastart，andshestrikesviolentlyagainsthim。Insupportingtheshockhecannotforbearcatchingherforaninstanttohisheart。Shefreesherself，andstartsindignantlytoherfeet。
　　MISSGALBRAITH："Oh，whatacowardly——subterfuge！"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Cowardly？You’venoideahowmuchcourageittook。"
　　MissGalbraithputsherhandkerchieftoherface，andsobs。"Oh，don’tcry！Blessmyheart，——I’msorryIdidit！ButyouknowhowdearlyIloveyou，Lucy，thoughIdothinkyou’vebeencruellyunjust。ItoldyouInevershouldloveanyoneelse，andInevershall。Icouldn’thelpit；uponmysoul，Icouldn’t。Nobodycould。
　　Don’tletitvexyou，my"——Heapproachesher。
　　MISSGALBRAITH："Pleasenottouchme，sir！Youhavenolongeranyrightwhatevertodoso。"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Youmisinterpretaveryinoffensivegesture。Ihavenoideaoftouchingyou，butIhopeImaybeallowed，asaspecialfavor，to——pickupmyhat，whichyouareintheactofsteppingon。"
　　MissGalbraithhastilyturns，andstrikesthehatwithherwhirlingskirts；itrollstotheothersideoftheparlor，andMr。Richards，whogoesafterit，uttersanironical"Thanks！"Hebrushesit，andputsiton，lookingatherwhereshehasagainseatedherselfatthewindowwithherbacktohim，andcontinues，"Asforanyfurthermolestationfromme"—
　　MISSGALBRAITH："IfyouWILLtalktome"—
　　MR。RICHARDS："Excuseme，Iamnottalkingtoyou。"
　　MISSGALBRAITH："Whatwereyoudoing？"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Iwasbeginningtothinkaloud。I——Iwassoliloquizing。IsupposeImaybeallowedtosoliloquize？"
　　MISSGALBRAITH，verycoldly："Youcandowhatyoulike。"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Unfortunatelythat’sjustwhatIcan’tdo。IfI
　　coulddoasIliked，Ishouldaskyouasinglequestion。"
　　MISSGALBRAITH，afteramoment："Well，sir，youmayaskyourquestion。"Sheremainsasbefore，withherchininherhand，lookingtearfullyoutofthewindow；herfaceisturnedfromMr。Richards，whohesitatesamomentbeforehespeaks。
　　MR。RICHARDS："Iwishtoaskyoujustthis，MissGalbraith：ifyoucouldn’tridebackwardsintheothercar，whydoyouridebackwardsinthis？"
　　MISSGALBRAITH，buryingherfaceinherhandkerchief，andsobbing：
　　"Oh，oh，oh！Thisistoobad！"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Oh，comenow，Lucy。Itbreaksmyhearttohearyougoingonso，andallfornothing。Bealittlemercifultobothofus，andlistentome。I’venodoubtIcanexplaineverythingifI
　　onceunderstandit，butit’sprettyhardexplainingathingifyoudon’tunderstandityourself。Doturnround。Iknowitmakesyousicktorideinthatway，andifyoudon’twanttofaceme——there！"——
　　wheelinginhischairsoastoturnhisbackuponher——"youneedn’t。
　　Thoughit’srathertryingtoafellow’spoliteness，nottomentionhisotherfeelings。Now，whatinthename"—
　　PORTER，whoatthismomententerswithhisstep—ladder，andbeginstolightthelamps："Goingprettyslowag’in，sah。"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Yes；what’sthetrouble？"
　　PORTER："Well，Idon’tknowexactly，sah。Somethingdematterwithdelocomotive。Wesha’n’tbeintoAlbanymuch’foreeighto’clock。"
　　MR。RICHARDS："What’sthenextstation？"
　　PORTER："Schenectady。"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Isthewholetrainasemptyasthiscar？"
　　PORTER，laughing："Well，no，sah。Factis，discahdon’tbelongondistrain。It’saPullmanthatwehitchedonwhenyougotin，andwe’stakingitalongforoneofdeEasternroads。Weletyouin’causedeDrawing—roomswasallfull。Samewithdelady，"——lookingsympatheticallyather，ashetakeshisstepstogoout。"CanIdoanythingforyounow，miss？"
　　MISSGALBRAITH，plaintively："No，thankyou；nothingwhatever。"ShehasturnedwhileMr。RichardsandThePorterhavebeenspeaking，andnowfacesthebackoftheformer，butherveilisdrawnclosely。ThePortergoesout。
　　MR。RICHARDS，wheelingroundsoastoconfronther："Iwishyouwouldspeaktomehalfaskindlyasyoudotothatdarky，Lucy。"
　　MISSGALBRAITH："HEisaGENTLEMAN！"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Heisanurbaneandwell—informednobleman。Atanyrate，he’samanandabrother。ButsoamI。"MissGalbraithdoesnotreply，andafterapauseMr。Richardsresumes。"Talkingofgentlemen，Irecollect，once，comingupontheday—boattoPoughkeepsie，therewasapoordevilofatipsymankeptfollowingayoungfellowabout，andannoyinghimtodeath——tryingtofighthim，asatipsymanwill，andinsistingthattheyoungfellowhadinsultedhim。Byandbyhelosthisbalanceandwentoverboard，andtheotherjumpedafterhimandfishedhimout。"SensationonthepartofMissGalbraith，whostirsuneasilyinherchair，looksoutofthewindow，thenlooksatMr。Richards，anddropsherhead。"Therewasayoungladyonboard，whohadseenthewholething——averycharmingyoungladyindeed，withpaleblondhairgrowingverythickoverherforehead，anddarkeyelashestothesweetestblueeyesintheworld。
　　Well，thisyounglady’spapawasamongstthosewhocameuptosaycivilthingstotheyoungfellowwhenhegotaboardagain，andtoaskthehonor——hesaidtheHONOR——ofhisacquaintance。Andwhenhecameoutofhisstateroomindryclothes，thisinfatuatedoldgentlemanwaswaitingforhim，andtookhimandintroducedhimtohiswifeanddaughter；andthedaughtersaid，withtearsinhereyes，andaperfectlyintoxicatingimpulsiveness，thatitwasthegrandestandthemostheroicandthenoblestthingthatshehadeverseen，andsheshouldalwaysbeabettergirlforhavingseenit。Excuseme，MissGalbraith，fortroublingyouwiththesefactsofapersonalhistory，which，asyousay，isamatterofperfectindifferencetoyou。Theyoungfellowdidn’tthinkatthetimehehaddoneanythingextraordinary；butIdon’tsupposeheDIDexpecttolivetohavethesamegirltellhimhewasnogentleman。"
　　MISSGALBRAITH，wildly："OAllen，Allen！YouKNOWIthinkyouareagentleman，andIalwaysdid！"
　　MR。RICHARDS，languidly："Oh，Imerelyhadyourwordforit，justnow，thatyoudidn’t。"Tenderly，"Willyouhearme，Lucy？"
　　MISSGALBRAITH，faintly："Yes。"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Well，whatisitI’vedone？WillyoutellmeifI
　　guessright？"
　　MISSGALBRAITH，withdignity："Iaminnohumorforjesting，Allen。
　　AndIcanassureyouthatthoughIconsenttohearwhatyouhavetosay，orask，NOTHINGwillchangemydetermination。Allisoverbetweenus。"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Yes，Iunderstandthat，perfectly。Iamnowaskingmerelyforgeneralinformation。Idonotexpectyoutorelent，and，infact，Ishouldconsideritratherfrivolousifyoudid。No。WhatIhavealwaysadmiredinyourcharacter，Lucy，isafirm，logicalconsistency；aclearnessofmentalvisionthatleavesnosideofasubjectunsearched；andanunwaveringconstancyofpurpose。YoumaysaythatthesetraitsarecharacteristicofALLwomen；buttheyarepre—eminentlycharacteristicofyou，Lucy。"MissGalbraithlooksaskanceathim，tomakeoutwhetherheisinearnestornot；hecontinues，withaperfectlyseriousair。"AndIknownowthatifyou’reoffendedwithme，it’sfornotrivialcause。"Shestirsuncomfortablyinherchair。WhatIhavedoneIcan’timagine，butitmustbesomethingmonstrous，sinceithasmadelifewithmeappearsoimpossiblethatyouarereadytoflingawayyourownhappiness——
　　forIknowyouDIDloveme，Lucy——anddestroymine。IwillbeginwiththeworstthingIcanthinkof。WasitbecauseIdancedsomuchwithFannyWatervliet？"
　　MISSGALBRAITH，indignantly："HowcanyouinsultmebysupposingthatIcouldbejealousofsuchaperfectlittlegooseasthat？No，Allen！WhateverIthinkofyou，Istillrespectyoutoomuchforthat。"
　　MR。RICHARDS："I’mgladtohearthatthereareyetdepthstowhichyouthinkmeincapableofdescending，andthatMissWatervlietisoneofthem。Iwillnowtakealittlehigherground。PerhapsyouthinkIflirtedwithMrs。Dawes。Ithought，myself，thatthethingmightbegintohavethatappearance，butIgiveyoumywordofhonorthatassoonastheideaoccurredtome，Idroppedher——ratherrudely，too。Thetroublewas，don’tyouknow，thatIfeltsoperfectlysafewithaMARRIEDfriendofyours。Icouldn’tbehangingaboutyouallthetime，andIwasafraidImightvexyouifIwentwiththeothergirls；andIdidn’tknowwhattodo。"
　　MISSGALBRAITH："Ithinkyoubehavedrathersilly，gigglingsomuchwithher。But"—
　　MR。RICHARDS："Iownit，Iknowitwassilly。But"—
　　MISSGALBRAITH："Itwasn’tthat；itwasn’tthat！"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Wasitmyforgettingtobringyouthosethingsfromyourmother？"
　　MISSGALBRAITH："No！"
　　MR。RICHARDS："WasitbecauseIhadn’tgivenupsmokingyet？"
　　MISSGALBRAITH："YouKNOWIneveraskedyoutogiveupsmoking。Itwasentirelyyourownproposition。"
　　MR。RICHARDS："That’strue。That’swhatmademesoeasyaboutit。
　　IknewIcouldleaveitoffANYtime。Well，Iwillnotdisturbyouanylonger，MissGalbraith。"Hethrowshisovercoatacrosshisarm，andtakesuphistravelling—bag。"Ihavefailedtoguessyourfatal—
　　—conundrum；andIhavenolongeranyexcuseforremaining。Iamgoingintothesmoking—car。ShallIsendtheportertoyouforanything？"
　　MISSGALBRAITH："No，thanks。"Sheputsupherhandkerchieftoherface。
　　MR。RICHARDS："Lucy，doyousendmeaway？"
　　MISSGALBRAITH，behindherhandkerchief："Youweregoing，yourself。"
　　MR。RICHARDS，overhisshoulder："ShallIcomeback？"
　　MISSGALBRAITH："Ihavenorighttodriveyoufromthecar。"
　　MR。RICHARDS，comingback，andsittingdowninthechairnearesther：
　　"Lucy，dearest，tellmewhat’sthematter。"
　　MISSGALBRAITH："OAllen！yournotKNOWINGmakesitallthemorehopelessandkilling。ItshowsmethatweMUSTpart；thatyouwouldgoon，breakingmyheart，andgrindingmeintothedustaslongaswelived。"Shesobs。"Itshowsmethatyouneverunderstoodme，andyouneverwill。Iknowyou’regoodandkindandallthat，butthatonlymakesyournotunderstandingmesomuchtheworse。Idoitquiteasmuchforyoursakeasmyown，Allen。"
　　MR。RICHARDS："I’dmuchratheryouwouldn’tputyourselfoutonmyaccount。"
　　MISSGALBRAITH，withoutregardinghim："Ifyoucouldmortifymebeforeawholeroomfulofpeople，asyoudidlastnight，whatcouldI
　　expectaftermarriagebutcontinualinsult？"
　　MR。RICHARDS，inamazement："HOWdidImortifyyou？IthoughtthatItreatedyouwithallthetendernessandaffectionthatadecentregardforthefeelingsofotherswouldallow。IwasashamedtofindIcouldn’tkeepawayfromyou。"
　　MISSGALBRAITH："Oh，youwereATTENTIVEenough，Allen；nobodydeniesthat。Attentiveenoughinnon—essentials。Oh，yes！"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Well，whatvitalmattersdidIfailin？I’msureI
　　can’tremember。"
　　MISSGALBRAITH："Idaresay！Idaresaytheywon’tappearvitaltoyou，Allen。Nothingdoes。AndifIhadtoldyou，Ishouldhavebeenmetwithridicule，Isuppose。ButIknewBETTERthantotell；I
　　respectedmyselftooMUCH。"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Butnowyoumustn’trespectyourselfQUITEsomuch，dearest。AndIpromiseyouIwon’tlaughatthemostseriousthing。
　　I’minnohumorforit。Ifitwereamatteroflifeanddeath，even，Icanassureyouthatitwouldn’tbringasmiletomycountenance。
　　No，indeed！Ifyouexpectmetolaugh，now，youmustsaysomethingparticularlyfunny。"
　　MISSGALBRAITH："Iwasnotgoingtosayanythingfunny，asyoucallit，andIwillsaynothingatall，ifyoutalkinthatway。"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Well，Iwon’t，then。ButdoyouknowwhatIsuspect，Lucy？Iwouldn’tmentionittoeverybody，butIwilltoyou——instrictconfidence：Isuspectthatyou’reratherashamedofyourgrievance，ifyouhaveany。Isuspectit’snothingatall。"
　　MISSGALBRAITH，verysternlyatfirst，witharisinghystericalinflection："Nothing，Allen！DoyoucallitNOTHING，tohaveMrs。
　　Dawescomeoutwithallthataboutyouraccidentonyourwayuptheriver，andaskmeifitdidn’tfrightenmeterriblytohearofit，evenafteritwasallover；andIhadtosayyouhadn’ttoldmeawordofit？’Why，Lucy！’"——angrilymimickingMrs。Dawes，"’youmustteachhimbetterthanthat。ImakeMr。Dawestellmeeverything。’
　　Littlesimpleton！Andthentohavethemalllaugh——Oh，dear，it’stoomuch！"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Why，mydearLucy"—
　　MISSGALBRAITH，interruptinghim："Isawjusthowitwasgoingtobe，andI’mthankful，THANKFULthatithappened。Isawthatyoudidn’tcareenoughformetotakemeintoyourwholelife；thatyoudespisedanddistrustedme，andthatitwouldgetworseandworsetotheendofourdays；thatweshouldgrowfartherandfartherapart，andIshouldbeleftmopingathome，whileyouranaboutmakingconfidantesofotherwomenwhomyouconsideredWORTHYofyourconfidence。ItallFLASHEDuponmeinanINSTANT；andIresolvedtobreakwithyou，thenandthere；andIdid，justassoonaseverI
　　couldgotomyroomforyourthings，andI’mglad，——yes，——Oh，hu，hu，hu，hu，hu！——SOgladIdidit！"
　　MR。RICHARDS，grimly："Yourjoyisobvious。MayIask"—
　　MISSGALBRAITH："Oh，itwasn’ttheFIRSTproofyouhadgivenmehowlittleyoureallycaredforme，butIwasdetermineditshouldbethelast。Idaresayyou’veforgottenthem！Idaresayyoudon’tremembertellingMamieMorristhatyoudidn’tlikeembroideredcigar—
　　cases，whenyou’djustTOLDmethatyoudid，andletmebesuchafoolastocommenceoneforyou；butI’mthankfultosayTHATwentintothefire，——oh，yes，INSTANTLY！AndIdaresayyou’veforgottenthatyoudidn’ttellmeyourbrother’sengagementwastobekept，andletmecomeoutwithitthatnightattheRudges’，andthenlookedperfectlyaghast，sothateverybodythoughtIhadbeenblabbing！
　　Timeandagain，Allen，youhavemademesufferagonies，yes，AGONIES；
　　butyourpowertodosoisatanend。Iamfreeandhappyatlast。"
　　Sheweepsbitterly。
　　MR。RICHARDS，quietly："Yes，IHADforgottenthosecrimes，andI
　　supposemanysimilaratrocities。Iownit，IAMforgetfulandcareless。Iwaswrongaboutthosethings。IoughttohavetoldyouwhyIsaidthattoMissMorris：Iwasafraidshewasgoingtoworkmeone。AstothataccidentItoldMrs。Dawesof，itwasn’tworthmentioning。Ourboatsimplywalkedoverasloopinthenight，andnobodywashurt。Ishouldn’thavethoughttwiceaboutit，ifshehadn’thappenedtobragoftheirpassingclosetoanicebergontheirwayhomefromEurope；thenItrottedoutMYpretty—neardisasterasamatchforhers，——confoundher！Iwishtheiceberghadsunkthem！
　　Onlyitwouldn’thavesunkher，——she’ssolight；she’dhavegonebobbingaboutallovertheAtlanticOcean，likeacork；she’sgotaperfectlife—preserverinthatmindofhers。"MissGalbraithgivesalittlelaugh，andthenalittlemoan。"Butsinceyouarehappy，I
　　willnotrepine，MissGalbraith。Idon’tpretendtobeveryhappymyself，butthen，Idon’tdeserveit。Sinceyouarereadytoletanabsolutelyunconsciousoffenceonmypartcancelallthepast；sinceyouletmydevotedloveweighasnothingagainstthemomentarypiquethatamaliciouslittlerattle—pate——shewasvexedatmyleavingher—
　　—couldmakeyoufeel，andchoosetogratifyawickedresentmentatthecostofanysufferingtome，why，Icanbegladandhappytoo。"
　　Withrisinganger，"Yes，MissGalbraith。AllISoverbetweenus。
　　Youcango！Irenounceyou！"
　　MISSGALBRAITH，springingfiercelytoherfeet："Go，indeed！
　　Renounceme！Besogoodastorememberthatyouhaven’tgotmeTO
　　renounce！"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Well，it’sallthesamething。I’drenounceyouifI
　　had。Good—evening，MissGalbraith。IwillsendbackyourpresentsassoonasIgettotown；itwon’tbenecessarytoacknowledgethem。
　　Ihopewemaynevermeetagain。"Hegoesoutofthedoortowardsthefrontoftheear，butreturnsdirectly，andglancesuneasilyatMissGalbraith，whoremainswithherhandkerchiefpressedtohereyes。
　　"Ah——a——thatis——Ishallbeobligedtointrudeuponyouagain。Thefactis"—
　　MISSGALBRAITH，anxiously："Why，thecarshavestopped！AreweatSchenectady？"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Well，no；notEXACTLY；notstoppedexactlyatSCHENECTADY"—
　　MISSGALBRAITH："Thenwhatstationisthis？Havetheycarriedmeby？"Observinghisembarrassment，"Allen，whatisthematter？Whathashappened？Tellmeinstantly！Areweoffthetrack？Havewerunintoanothertrain？Havewebrokenthroughabridge？Shallwebeburntalive？Tellme，Allen，tellme，——Icanbearit！——arewetelescoped？"Shewringsherhandsinterror。
　　MR。RICHARDS，unsympathetically："Nothingofthekindhashappened。
　　Thiscarhassimplycomeuncoupled，andtherestofthetrainhasgoneonahead，andleftusstandingonthetrack，nowhereinparticular。"Heleansbackinhischair，andwheelsitroundfromher。
　　MISSGALBRAITH，mortified，yetanxious："Well？"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Well，untiltheymissus，andrunbacktopickusup，Ishallbeobligedtoaskyourindulgence。Iwilltrynottodisturbyou；Iwouldgooutandstandontheplatform，butit’sraining。"
　　MISSGALBRAITH，listeningtotherain—fallontheroof："Why，soitis！"Timidly，"Didyounoticewhenthecarstopped？"
　　MR。RICHARDS："No。"Herisesandgoesoutatthereardoor，comesback，andsitsdownagainMISSGALBRAITH，rises，andgoestothelargemirrortowipeawayhertears。SheglancesatMr。Richards，whodoesnotmove。Shesitsdowninaseatnearerhimthanthechairshehasleft。Aftersomefaintmurmursandhesitations，sheasks，"Willyoupleasetellmewhyyouwentoutjustnow？"
　　MR。RICHARDS，withindifference："Yes。Iwenttoseeiftherearsignalwasout。"
　　MISSGALBRAITH，afteranotherhesitation："Why？"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Because，ifitwasn’tout，sometrainmightrunintousfromthatdirection。"
　　MISSGALBRAITH，tremulously："Oh！Andwasit？"
　　MR。RICHARDS，dryly："Yes。"
　　MISSGALBRAITHreturnstoherformerplace，withawoundedair，andforamomentneitherspeaks。Finallysheasksverymeekly，"Andthere’snodangerfromthefront？"
　　MR。RICHARDS，coldly："No。"
　　MISSGALBRAITH，aftersomelittlenoisesandmovementsmeanttocatchMr。Richards’sattention："Ofcourse，Inevermeanttoimplythatyouwereintentionallycarelessorforgetful。"
　　MR。RICHARDS，stillverycoldly："Thankyou。"
　　MISSGALBRAITH："Ialwaysdidjusticetoyourgood—heartedness，Allen；you’reperfectlylovelythatway；andIknowthatyouwouldbesorryifyouknewyouhadwoundedmyfeelings，howeveraccidentally。"
　　Shedroopsherheadsoastocatchasidelongglimpseofhisface，andsighs，whileshenervouslypinchesthetopofherparasol，restingthepointonthefloor。Mr。Richardsmakesnoanswer。"Thataboutthecigar—casemighthavebeenamistake；Isawthatmyself，and，asyouexplainit，why，itwascertainlyverykindandverycreditableto——toyourthoughtfulness。ItWASthoughtful！"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Iamgratefulforyourgoodopinion。"
　　MISSGALBRAITH："Butdoyouthinkitwasexactly——itwasquite——
　　nice，nottotellmethatyourbrother’sengagementwastobekept，whenyouknow，Allen，Ican’tbeartoblunderinsuchthings？"
　　Tenderly，"DOyou？YouCAN’Tsayitwas？"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Ineversaiditwas。"
　　MISSGALBRAITH，plaintively："No，Allen。That’swhatIalwaysadmiredinyourcharacter。Youalwaysownedup。Don’tyouthinkit’seasierformentoownupthanitisforwomen？"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Idon’tknow。Ineverknewanywomantodoit。"
　　MISSGALBRAITH："Oh，yes，Allen！YouknowIOFTENownup。"
　　MR。RICHARDS："No，Idon’t。"
　　MISSGALBRAITH："Oh，howcanyoubeartosayso？WhenI’mrash，oranythingofthatkind，youknowIacknowledgeit。"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Doyouacknowledgeitnow？"
　　MISSGALBRAITH："Why，howcanI，whenIhaven’tBEENrash？WHAT
　　haveIbeenrash"—
　　MR。RICHARDS："Aboutthecigar—case，forexample。"
　　MISSGALBRAITH："Oh！THAT！Thatwasagreatwhileago！Ithoughtyoumeantsomethingquiterecent。"Asoundasoftheapproachingtramisheardinthedistance。Shegivesastart，andthenleavesherchairagainforonealittlenearerhis。"Ithoughtperhapsyoumeantabout——lastnight。"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Well。"
　　MISSGALBRAITH，veryjudicially："Idon’tthinkitwasRASH，exactly。No，notRASH。ItmightnothavebeenveryKINDnotto——to—
　　—trustyoumore，whenIknewthatyoudidn’tmeananything；but——No，ItooktheonlycourseIcould。Nobodycouldhavedonedifferentlyunderthecircumstances。ButifIcausedyouanypain，I’mverysorry；oh，yes，verysorryindeed。ButIwasnotprecipitate，andI
　　knowIdidright。AtleastITRIEDtoactforthebest。Don’tyoubelieveIdid？"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Why，ifyouhavenodoubtuponthesubject，myopinionisofnoconsequence。"
　　MISSGALBRAITH："Yes。Butwhatdoyouthink？Ifyouthinkdifferently，andcanmakemeseeitdifferently，oughtn’tyoutodoso？"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Idon’tseewhy。Asyousay，allisoverbetweenus。"
　　MISSGALBRAITH："Yes。"Afterapause，"Ishouldsupposeyouwouldcareenoughforyourselftowishmetolookatthematterfromtherightpointofview。"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Idon’t。"
　　MISSGALBRAITH，becomingmoreandmoreuneasyasthenoiseoftheapproachingtraingrowslouder："Ithinkyouhavebeenveryquickwithmeattimes，quiteasquickasIcouldhavebeenwithyoulastnight。"Thenoiseismoredistinctlyheard。"I’msurethatifI
　　couldonceseeitasyoudo，noonewouldbemorewillingtodoanythingintheirpowertoatonefortheirrashness。OfcourseI
　　knowthateverythingisover。"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Astothat，Ihaveyourword；and，inviewofthefact，perhapsthisanalysisofmotive，ofcharacter，howeverinterestingongeneralgrounds，isalittle"—
　　MISSGALBRAITH，withsuddenviolence："Sayit，andtakeyourrevenge！Ihaveputmyselfatyourfeet，andyoudorighttotrampleonme！Oh，thisiswhatwomenmayexpectwhentheytrusttomen’sgenerosity！Well，itISovernow，andI’mthankful，thankful！
　　Cruel，suspicious，vindictive，you’reallalike，andI’mgladthatI’mnolongersubjecttoyourheartlesscaprices。AndIdon’tcarewhathappensafterthis，Ishallalways——Oh！You’resureit’sfromthefront，Allen？Areyousuretherearsignalisout？"
　　MR。RICHARDS，relenting："Yes，butifitwilleaseyourmind，I’llgoandlookagain。"Herises，andstartstowardsthereardoor。
　　MISSGALBRAITH，quickly："Oh，no！Don’tgo！Ican’tbeartobeleftalone！"Thesoundoftheapproachingtraincontinuallyincreasesinvolume。"Oh，isn’titcomingvery，very，VERYfast？"
　　MR。RICHARDS："No，no！Don’tbefrightened。"
　　MISSGALBRAITH，runningtowardsthereardoor。"Oh，IMUSTgetout！
　　Itwillkillme，Iknowitwill。Comewithme！Do，do！"Herunsafterher，andhervoiceisheardattherearofthecar。"Oh，theoutsidedoorislocked，andwearetrapped，trapped，trapped！Oh，quick！Let’strythedoorattheotherend。"Theyre—entertheparlor，andtheroarofthetrainannouncesthatitisuponthem。
　　"No，no！It’stoolate，it’stoolate！I’mawicked，wickedgirl，andthisisalltopunishme！Oh，it’scoming，it’scomingatfullspeed！"Heremainsbewildered，confrontingher。Sheuttersawildcry，andasthetrainstrikesthecarwithaviolentconcussion，sheflingsherselfintohisarms。"There，there！Forgiveme，Allen！
　　Letusdietogether，myown，ownlove！"Shehangsfaintingonhisbreast。Voicesareheardwithout，andafteralittledelayThePortercomesinwithalantern。
　　PORTER："Rathermoreofajahthanwemeanttogiveyou，sah！Wehadtorundownprettyquickafterwemissedyou，andtherainmadethetrackalittleslippery。Ladymuchfrightened？"
　　MISSGALBRAITH，disengagingherself："Oh，notatall！Notintheleast。Wethoughtitwasatraincomingfrombehind，andgoingtorunintous，andso——we——I"—
　　PORTER："Notquitesobadasthat。We’llbeintoSchenectadyinafewminutes，miss。I’llcomeforyourthings。"Hegoesoutattheotherdoor。
　　MISSGALBRAITH，inafearfulwhisper："Allen！Whatwillheeverthinkofus？I’msurehesawus！"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Idon’tknowwhathe’llthinkNOW。HeDIDthinkyouwerefrightened；butyoutoldhimyouwerenot。However，itisn’timportantwhathethinks。ProbablyhethinksI’myourlong—lostbrother。Ithadakindoffamilylook。"
　　MISSGALBRAITH："Ridiculous！"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Why，he’dneversupposethatIwasajiltedloverofyours！"
　　MISSGALBRAITH，ruefully："No。"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Come，Lucy，"——takingherhand，——"youwishedtodiewithme，amomentago。Don’tyouthinkyoucanmakeonemoreefforttolivewithme？Iwon’ttakeadvantageofwordsspokeninmortalperil，butIsupposeyouwereinearnestwhenyoucalledmeyourown—
　　—own"——Herheaddroops；hefoldsherinhisarmsamoment，thenshestartsawayfromhim，asifsomethinghadsuddenlyoccurredtoher。
　　MISSGALBRAITH："Allen，whereareyougoing？"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Going？Uponmysoul，Ihaven’ttheleastidea。"
　　MISSGALBRAITH："WhereWEREyougoing？"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Oh，IWASgoingtoAlbany。"
　　MISSGALBRAITH："Well，don’t！AuntMaryisexpectingmehereatSchenectady，——Itelegraphedher，——andIwantyoutostophere，too，andwe’llreferthewholemattertoher。She’ssuchawiseoldhead。
　　I’mnotsure"—
　　MR。RICHARDS："What？"
　　MISSGALBRAITH，demurely："ThatI’mgoodenoughforyou。"
　　MR。RICHARDS，starting，inburlesqueofhermovement，asifathoughthadstruckHIM："Lucy！howcameyouonthistrainwhenyouleftSyracuseonthemorningexpress？"
　　MISSGALBRAITH，faintly："IwaitedoveratrainatUtica。"Shesinksintoachair，andavertsherface。
　　MR。RICHARDS："MayIaskwhy？"
　　MISSGALBRAITH，morefaintlystill："Idon’tliketotell。I"—
　　MR。RICHARDS，comingandstandinginfrontofher，withhishandsinhispockets："Lookmeintheeye，Lucy！"Shedropsherveiloverherface，andlooksupathim。"Didyou——didyouexpecttofindME
　　onthistrain？"
　　MISSGALBRAITH："IwasafraiditneverWOULDgetalong，——itwassolate！"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Don’t——tergiversate。"
　　MISSGALBRAITH："Don’tWHAT？"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Fib。"
　　MISSGALBRAITH："Notforworlds！"
　　MR。RICHARDS："HowdidyouknowIwasinthiscar？"
　　MISSGALBRAITH："MustI？IthoughtIsawyouthroughthewindow；
　　andthenImadesureitwasyouwhenIwenttopinmyveilon，——Isawyouinthemirror。"
　　MR。RICHARDS，afteralittlesilence："MissGalbraith，doyouwanttoknowwhatYOUare？"
　　MISSGALBRAITH，softly："Yes，Allen。"
　　MR。RICHARDS："You’reahumbug！"
　　MISSGALBRAITH，springingfromherseat，andconfrontinghim。"Soareyou！Youpretendedtobeasleep！"
　　MR。RICHARDS："I——I——Iwastakenbysurprise。Ihadtotaketimetothink。"
　　MISSGALBRAITH："SodidI。"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Andyouthoughtitwouldbeagoodplantogetyourpolonaisecaughtinthewindow？"
　　MISSGALBRAITH，hidingherfaceonhisshoulder："No，no，Allen！
　　ThatIneverWILLadmit。NOwomanwould！"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Oh，Idaresay！"Afterapause："Well，Iamapoor，weak，helplessman，withnoonetoadvisemeorcounselme，andI
　　havebeencruellydeceived。Howcouldyou，Lucy，howcouldyou？I
　　cannevergetoverthis。"Hedropshisheaduponhershoulder。
　　MISSGALBRAITH，startingawayagain，andlookingaboutthecar：
　　"Allen，Ihaveanidea！DoyousupposeMr。PullmancouldbeinducedtoSELLthiscar？"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Why？"
　　MISSGALBRAITH："Why，becauseIthinkit’sperfectlylovely，andI
　　shouldliketoliveinitalways。Itcouldbefittedupforasortofsummer—house，don’tyouknow，andwecouldhaveitinthegarden，andyoucouldsmokeinit。"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Admirable！Itwouldlookjustlikeatravellingphotographicsaloon。No，Lucy，wewon’tbuyit；wewillsimplykeepitasaprecioussouvenir，asacredmemory，abeautifuldream，——andletitgoonfulfillingitsdestinyallthesame。"
　　PORTER，entering，andgatheringupMissGalbraith’sthings："BeatSchenectadyinhalfaminute，miss。Won’thavemuchtime。"
　　MISSGALBRAITH，rising，andadjustingherdress，andthenlookingaboutthecar，whileshepassesherhandthroughherlover’sarm：
　　"Oh，IdoHATEtoleaveit。Farewell，youdear，kind，good，lovelycar！Mayyouneverhaveanotheraccident！"Shekissesherhandtothecar，uponwhichtheybothlookbackastheyslowlyleaveit。
　　MR。RICHARDS，kissinghishandinthelikemanner："Good—by，sweetchariot！Mayyounevercarryanybutbridalcouples！"
　　MISSGALBRAITH："Orengagedones！"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Orhusbandsgoinghometotheirwives！"
　　MISSGALBRAITH："Orwiveshasteningtotheirhusbands。"
　　MR。RICHARDS："Oryoungladieswhohavewaitedonetrainover，soastobewiththeyoungmentheyhate。"
　　MISSGALBRAITH："Oryoungmenwhoaresoindifferentthattheypretendtobeasleepwhentheyoungladiescomein！"Theypauseatthedoorandlookbackagain。"’AndmustIleavethee，Paradise？’"
　　Theybothkisstheirhandstothecaragain，and，theirfacesbeingveryclosetogether，theyimpulsivelykisseachother。ThenMissGalbraiththrowsbackherhead，andsolemnlyconfrontshim。"Onlythink，Allen！Ifthiscarhadn’tbrokenITSengagement，wemightneverhavemendedours。"