"Well，that’sgood，atanyrate，"hervisitorrepliedwithadeterminedeffortatcheerfulness。Then，turningtothefire，headdedblankly，"Ifyouwanthim。"
　　"OfcourseIwanthim。IwouldneverhaveaskedsuchathingofhimifIhadn’twantedhimagreatdeal。It’saveryexpensivetrip。"Theaspokeseverely。Thenshewenton，inamildertone。"Hedoesn’tsayanythingaboutthemoney，butIthinkhiscomingmeansthathecanletmehaveit。"
　　Fredwasstandingbeforethemantel，rubbinghishandstogethernervously。"Probably。Youarestilldeterminedtocallonhim？"HesatdowntentativelyinthechairTheahadindicated。"Idon’tseewhyyouwon’tborrowfromme，andlethimsignwithyou，forinstance。Thatwouldconstituteaperfectlyregularbusinesstransaction。Icouldbringsuitagainsteitherofyouformymoney。"
　　Theaturnedtowardhimfromthedesk。"Wewon’ttakethatupagain，Fred。IshouldhaveadifferentfeelingaboutitifIwentonyourmoney。InawayIshallfeelfreeronDr。Archie’s，andinanotherwayIshallfeelmorebound。
　　Ishalltryevenharder。"Shepaused。"Heisalmostlikemyfather，"sheaddedirrelevantly。
　　"Still，heisn’t，youknow，"Fredpersisted。"Itwouldn’tbeanythingnew。I’veloanedmoneytostudentsbefore，andgotitback，too。"
　　"Yes；Iknowyou’regenerous，"Theahurriedoverit，"butthiswillbethebestway。HewillbehereonFridaydidItellyou？"
　　"Ithinkyoumentionedit。That’srathersoon。MayIsmoke？"hetookoutasmallcigarettecase。"Isup—
　　poseyou’llbeoffnextweek？"heaskedashestruckamatch。
　　"JustassoonasIcan，"sherepliedwitharestlessmove—
　　mentofherarms，asifherdark—bluedressweretootightforher。"ItseemsasifI’dbeenhereforever。"
　　"Andyet，"theyoungmanmused，"wegotinonlyfour
　　daysago。Factsreallydon’tcountformuch，dothey？It’sallinthewaypeoplefeel：eveninlittlethings。"
　　Theawinced，butshedidnotanswerhim。Sheputthetelegrambackinitsenvelopeandplaceditcarefullyinoneofthepigeonholesofthedesk。
　　"Isuppose，"Fredbroughtoutwitheffort，"thatyourfriendisinyourconfidence？"
　　"Healwayshasbeen。Ishallhavetotellhimaboutmy—
　　self。IwishIcouldwithoutdraggingyouin。"
　　Fredshookhimself。"Don’tbotheraboutwhereyoudragme，please，"heputin，flushing。"Idon’tgive——"
　　hesubsidedsuddenly。
　　"I’mafraid，"Theawentongravely，"thathewon’tunderstand。He’llbehardonyou。"
　　Fredstudiedthewhiteashofhiscigarettebeforeheflickeditoff。"Youmeanhe’llseemeasevenworsethanIam。Yes，IsupposeIshalllookverylowtohim：afifth—
　　ratescoundrel。Butthatonlymattersinsofarasithurtshisfeelings。"
　　Theasighed。"We’llbothlookprettylow。Andafterall，wemustreallybejustaboutasweshalllooktohim。"
　　Ottenburgstartedupandthrewhiscigaretteintothegrate。"ThatIdeny。Haveyoueverbeenreallyfrankwiththispreceptorofyourchildhood，evenwhenyouWEREachild？Thinkaminute，haveyou？Ofcoursenot！Fromyourcradle，asIoncetoldyou，you’vebeen`doingit’ontheside，livingyourownlife，admittingtoyourselfthingsthatwouldhorrifyhim。You’vealwaysdeceivedhimtotheextentoflettinghimthinkyoudifferentfromwhatyouare。Hecouldn’tunderstandthen，hecan’tunder—
　　standnow。Sowhynotspareyourselfandhim？"
　　Sheshookherhead。"Ofcourse，I’vehadmyownthoughts。Maybehehashadhis，too。ButI’veneverdoneanythingbeforethathewouldmuchmind。Imustputmyselfrightwithhim，——asrightasIcan，——tobegin
　　over。He’llmakeallowancesforme。Healwayshas。ButI’mafraidhewon’tforyou。"
　　"Leavethattohimandme。Itakeityouwantmetoseehim？"Fredsatdownagainandbeganabsentlytotracethecarpetpatternwithhiscane。"Attheworst，"hespokewanderingly，"Ithoughtyou’dperhapsletmegoinonthebusinessendofitandinvestalongwithyou。You’dputinyourtalentandambitionandhardwork，andI’dputinthemoneyand——well，nobody’sgoodwishesaretobescorned，notevenmine。Then，whenthethingpannedoutbig，wecouldsharetogether。Yourdoctorfriendhasn’tcaredhalfsomuchaboutyourfutureasIhave。"
　　"He’scaredagooddeal。Hedoesn’tknowasmuchaboutsuchthingsasyoudo。Ofcourseyou’vebeenagreatdealmorehelptomethananyoneelseeverhas，"Theasaidquietly。Theblackclockonthemantelbegantostrike。Shelistenedtothefivestrokesandthensaid，"I’dhavelikedyourhelpingmeeightmonthsago。Butnow，you’dsimplybekeepingme。"
　　"Youweren’treadyforiteightmonthsago。"Fredleanedbackatlastinhischair。"Yousimplyweren’treadyforit。Youweretootired。Youweretootimid。Yourwholetonewastoolow。Youcouldn’trisefromachairlikethat，"——shehadstartedupapprehensivelyandgonetowardthewindow。——"Youwerefumblingandawkward。
　　Sincethenyou’vecomeintoyourpersonality。Youwerealwayslockinghornswithitbefore。Youwereasullenlittledrudgeeightmonthsago，afraidofbeingcaughtateitherlookingormovinglikeyourself。Nobodycouldtellanythingaboutyou。Avoiceisnotaninstrumentthat’sfoundready—made。Avoiceispersonality。Itcanbeasbigasacircusandascommonasdirt。——There’sgoodmoneyinthatkind，too，butIdon’thappentobeinterestedinthem。——Nobodycouldtellmuchaboutwhatyoumightbeabletodo，lastwinter。Idivinedmorethananybodyelse。"
　　"Yes，Iknowyoudid。"Theawalkedovertotheold—
　　fashionedmantelandheldherhandsdowntotheglowofthefire。"Iowesomuchtoyou，andthat’swhatmakesthingshard。That’swhyIhavetogetawayfromyoualtogether。Idependonyouforsomanythings。Oh，Ididevenlastwinter，inChicago！"Shekneltdownbythegrateandheldherhandsclosertothecoals。"Andonethingleadstoanother。"
　　Ottenburgwatchedherasshebenttowardthefire。Hisglancebrightenedalittle。"Anyhow，youcouldn’tlookasyoudonow，beforeyouknewme。YouWEREclumsy。Andwhateveryoudonow，youdosplendidly。Andyoucan’tcryenoughtospoilyourfaceformorethantenminutes。
　　Itcomesrightback，inspiteofyou。It’sonlysinceyou’veknownmethatyou’veletyourselfbebeautiful。"
　　Withoutrisingsheturnedherfaceaway。Fredwentonimpetuously。"Oh，youcanturnitawayfromme，Thea；
　　youcantakeitawayfromme！Allthesame——"hisspurtdiedandhefellback。"Howcanyouturnonmeso，afterall！"hesighed。
　　"Ihaven’t。Butwhenyouarrangedwithyourselftotakemeinlikethat，youcouldn’thavebeenthinkingverykindlyofme。Ican’tunderstandhowyoucarrieditthrough，whenIwassoeasy，andallthecircumstancesweresoeasy。"
　　Hercrouchingpositionbythefirebecamethreatening。
　　Fredgotup，andTheaalsorose。
　　"No，"hesaid，"Ican’tmakeyouseethatnow。Sometimelater，perhaps，youwillunderstandbetter。Foronething，Ihonestlycouldnotimaginethatwords，names，meantsomuchtoyou。"Fredwastalkingwiththedes—
　　perationofamanwhohasputhimselfinthewrongandwhoyetfeelsthattherewasanideaoftruthinhisconduct。
　　"Supposethatyouhadmarriedyourbrakemanandlivedwithhimyearafteryear，caringforhimevenlessthanyoudoforyourdoctor，orforHarsanyi。Isupposeyouwould
　　havefeltquiteallrightaboutit，becausethatrelationhasanameingoodstanding。Tome，thatseems——sickening！"
　　HetookarapidturnabouttheroomandthenasThearemainedstanding，herolledoneoftheelephantinechairsuptothehearthforher。
　　"Sitdownandlistentomeforamoment，Thea。"Hebeganpacingfromthehearthrugtothewindowandbackagain，whileshesatdowncompliantly。"Don’tyouknowmostofthepeopleintheworldarenotindividualsatall？
　　Theyneverhaveanindividualideaorexperience。Alotofgirlsgotoboarding—schooltogether，comeoutthesameseason，danceatthesameparties，aremarriedoffingroups，havetheirbabiesataboutthesametime，sendtheirchildrentoschooltogether，andsothehumancroprenewsitself。Suchwomenknowasmuchabouttherealityoftheformstheygothroughastheyknowaboutthewarstheylearnthedatesof。Theygettheirmostper—
　　sonalexperiencesoutofnovelsandplays。Everythingissecond—handwiththem。Why，youCOULDN’Tlivelikethat。"
　　Theasatlookingtowardthemantel，hereyeshalfclosed，herchinlevel，herheadsetasifshewereenduringsome—
　　thing。Herhands，verywhite，laypassiveonherdarkgown。FromthewindowcornerFredlookedatthemandather。Heshookhisheadandflashedanangry，tormentedlookoutintothebluetwilightovertheSquare，throughwhichmuffledcriesandcallsandtheclangofcarbellscameupfromthestreet。Heturnedagainandbegantopacethefloor，hishandsinhispockets。
　　"Saywhatyouwill，TheaKronborg，youarenotthatsortofperson。Youwillneversitalonewithapacifierandanovel。Youwon’tsubsistonwhattheoldladieshaveputintothebottleforyou。Youwillalwaysbreakthroughintotherealities。ThatwasthefirstthingHarsanyifoundoutaboutyou；thatyoucouldn’tbekeptontheoutside。
　　Ifyou’dlivedinMoonstoneallyourlifeandgotonwiththediscreetbrakeman，you’dhavehadjustthesame
　　nature。Yourchildrenwouldhavebeentherealitiesthen，probably。Ifthey’dbeencommonplace，you’dhavekilledthemwithdriving。You’dhavemanagedsomewaytolivetwentytimesasmuchasthepeoplearoundyou。"
　　Fredpaused。Hesoughtalongtheshadowyceilingandheavymouldingsforwords。Whenhebeganagain，hisvoicewaslower，andatfirsthespokewithlessconviction，thoughagainitgrewonhim。"NowIknewallthis——oh，knewitbetterthanIcanevermakeyouunderstand！
　　You’vebeenrunningahandicap。Youhadnotimetolose。
　　Iwantedyoutohavewhatyouneedandtogetonfast——
　　getthroughwithme，ifneedbe；Icountedonthat。You’venotimetositroundandanalyzeyourconductoryourfeelings。Otherwomengivetheirwholelivestoit。They’venothingelsetodo。Helpingamantogethisdivorceisacareerforthem；justthesortofintellectualexercisetheylike。"
　　Freddivedfiercelyintohispocketsasifhewouldripthemoutandscattertheircontentstothewinds。Stop—
　　pingbeforeher，hetookadeepbreathandwentonagain，thistimeslowly。"Allthatsortofthingisforeigntoyou。You’dbenowhereatit。Youhaven’tthatkindofmind。Thegrammaticalnicetiesofconductaredarktoyou。You’resimple——andpoetic。"Fred’svoiceseemedtobewanderingaboutinthethickeningdusk。"Youwon’tplaymuch。Youwon’t，perhaps，lovemanytimes。"Hepaused。"Andyoudidloveme，youknow。Yourrailroadfriendwouldhaveunderstoodme。ICOULDhavethrownyouback。Thereversewasthere，——itstaredmeintheface，——
　　butIcouldn’tpullit。Iletyoudriveahead。"Hethrewouthishands。WhatTheanoticed，oddlyenough，wastheflashofthefirelightonhiscufflink。Heturnedagain。
　　"Andyou’llalwaysdriveahead，"hemuttered。"It’syourway。"
　　Therewasalongsilence。Fredhaddroppedintoachair。
　　Heseemed，aftersuchanexplosion，nottohaveaword
　　leftinhim。Theaputherhandtothebackofherneckandpressedit，asifthemusclestherewereaching。
　　"Well，"shesaidatlast，"IatleastoverlookmoreinyouthanIdoinmyself。Iamalwaysexcusingyoutomyself。
　　Idon’tdomuchelse。"
　　"Thenwhy，inHeaven’sname，won’tyouletmebeyourfriend？Youmakeascoundrelofme，borrowingmoneyfromanothermantogetoutofmyclutches。"
　　"IfIborrowfromhim，it’stostudy。AnythingItookfromyouwouldbedifferent。AsIsaidbefore，you’dbekeepingme。"
　　"Keeping！Ilikeyourlanguage。It’spureMoonstone，Thea，——likeyourpointofview。Iwonderhowlongyou’llbeaMethodist。"Heturnedawaybitterly。
　　"Well，I’veneversaidIwasn’tMoonstone，haveI？I
　　am，andthat’swhyIwantDr。Archie。Ican’tseeanythingsofunnyaboutMoonstone，youknow。"Shepushedherchairbackalittlefromthehearthandclaspedherhandsoverherknee，stilllookingthoughtfullyintotheredcoals。
　　"Wealwayscomebacktothesamething，Fred。Thename，asyoucallit，makesadifferencetomehowIfeelaboutmyself。Youwouldhaveactedverydifferentlywithagirlofyourownkind，andthat’swhyIcan’ttakeanythingfromyounow。You’vemadeeverythingimpossible。Beingmarriedisonethingandnotbeingmarriedistheotherthing，andthat’sallthereistoit。Ican’tseehowyoureasonedwithyourself，ifyoutookthetroubletoreason。
　　YousayIwastoomuchalone，andyetwhatyoudidwastocutmeoffmorethanIeverhadbeen。NowI’mgoingtotrytomakegoodtomyfriendsoutthere。That’sallthereisleftforme。"
　　"Makegoodtoyourfriends！"Fredburstout。"WhatoneofthemcaresasIcare，orbelievesasIbelieve？I’vetoldyouI’llneveraskagraciouswordfromyouuntilI
　　canaskitwithallthechurchesinChristendomatmyback。"
　　Thealookedup，andwhenshesawFred’sface，shethoughtsadlythathe，too，lookedasifthingswerespoiledforhim。"Ifyouknowmeaswellasyousayyoudo，Fred，"
　　shesaidslowly，"thenyouarenotbeinghonestwithyour—
　　self。YouknowthatIcan’tdothingshalfway。Ifyoukeptmeatall——you’dkeepme。"Shedroppedherheadwearilyonherhandandsatwithherforeheadrestingonherfingers。
　　Fredleanedoverherandsaidjustabovehisbreath，"Then，whenIgetthatdivorce，you’lltakeitupwithmeagain？You’llatleastletmeknow，warnme，beforethereisaseriousquestionofanybodyelse？"
　　Withoutliftingherhead，Theaansweredhim。"Oh，I
　　don’tthinktherewilleverbeaquestionofanybodyelse。
　　NotifIcanhelpit。IsupposeI’vegivenyoueveryreasontothinktherewillbe，——atonce，onshipboard，anytime。"
　　Ottenburgdrewhimselfuplikeashot。"Stopit，Thea！"
　　hesaidsharply。"That’sonethingyou’veneverdone。
　　That’slikeanycommonwoman。"Hesawhershouldersliftalittleandgrowcalm。Thenhewenttotheothersideoftheroomandtookuphishatandglovesfromthesofa。
　　Hecamebackcheerfully。"Ididn’tdropintobullyyouthisafternoon。Icametocoaxyoutogooutforteawithmesomewhere。"Hewaited，butshedidnotlookuporliftherhead，stillsunkonherhand。
　　Herhandkerchiefhadfallen。Fredpickeditupandputitonherknee，pressingherfingersoverit。"Good—night，dearandwonderful，"hewhispered，——"wonderfulanddear！
　　HowcanyouevergetawayfrommewhenIwillalwaysfollowyou，througheverywall，througheverydoor，wher—
　　everyougo。"Helookeddownatherbenthead，andthecurveofherneckthatwassosad。Hestooped，andwithhislipsjusttouchedherhairwherethefirelightmadeitruddiest。"Ididn’tknowIhaditinme，Thea。Ithoughtitwasallafairytale。Idon’tknowmyselfanymore。"Heclosedhiseyesandbreatheddeeply。"Thesalt’sallgone
　　outofyourhair。It’sfullofsunandwindagain。Ibelieveithasmemories。"Againsheheardhimtakeadeepbreath。
　　"Icoulddowithoutyouforalifetime，ifthatwouldgiveyoutoyourself。Awomanlikeyoudoesn’tfindherself，alone。"
　　Shethrustherfreehanduptohim。Hekisseditsoftly，asifshewereasleepandhewereafraidofwakingher。
　　Fromthedoorheturnedbackirrelevantly。"Astoyouroldfriend，Thea，ifhe’stobehereonFriday，why，"——hesnatchedouthiswatchandhelditdowntocatchthelightfromthegrate，——"he’sonthetrainnow！Thatoughttocheeryou。Good—night。"Sheheardthedoorclose。
　　III
　　ONFridayafternoonTheaKronborgwaswalkingex—
　　citedlyupanddownhersitting—room，whichatthathourwasfloodedbythin，clearsunshine。Bothwindowswereopen，andthefireinthegratewaslow，forthedaywasoneofthosefalsespringsthatsometimesblowintoNewYorkfromtheseainthemiddleofwinter，soft，warm，withapersuasivesaltymoistureintheairandarelaxingthawunderfoot。Theawasflushedandanimated，andsheseemedasrestlessasthesootysparrowsthatchirpedandcheepeddistractinglyaboutthewindows。Shekeptlookingattheblackclock，andthendownintotheSquare。Theroomwasfullofflowers，andshestoppednowandthentoarrangethemortomovethemintothesunlight。Afterthebellboycametoannounceavisitor，shetooksomeRomanhyacinthsfromaglassandstucktheminthefrontofherdark—bluedress。
　　WhenatlastFredOttenburgappearedinthedoorway，shemethimwithanexclamationofpleasure。"Iamgladyou’vecome，Fred。Iwasafraidyoumightnotgetmynote，andIwantedtoseeyoubeforeyouseeDr。Archie。
　　He’ssonice！"Shebroughtherhandstogethertoem—
　　phasizeherstatement。
　　"Ishe？I’mglad。YouseeI’mquiteoutofbreath。
　　Ididn’twaitfortheelevator，butranupstairs。Iwassopleasedatbeingsentfor。"Hedroppedhishatandover—
　　coat。"Yes，Ishouldsayheisnice！Idon’tseemtorecognizeallofthese，"wavinghishandkerchiefaboutattheflowers。
　　"Yes，hebroughtthemhimself，inabigbox。Hebroughtlotswithhimbesidesflowers。Oh，lotsofthings！TheoldMoonstonefeeling，"——Theamovedherhandbackand
　　forthintheair，flutteringherfingers，——"thefeelingofstartingout，earlyinthemorning，totakemylesson。"
　　"Andyou’vehadeverythingoutwithhim？"
　　"No，Ihaven’t。"
　　"Haven’t？"Helookedupinconsternation。
　　"No，Ihaven’t！"Theaspokeexcitedly，movingaboutoverthesunnypatchesonthegrimycarpet。"I’veliedtohim，justasyousaidIhadalwaysliedtohim，andthat’swhyI’msohappy。I’velethimthinkwhathelikestothink。Oh，Icouldn’tdoanythingelse，Fred，"——
　　sheshookherheademphatically。"Ifyou’dseenhimwhenhecamein，sopleasedandexcited！Youseethisisagreatadventureforhim。FromthemomentIbegantotalktohim，heentreatedmenottosaytoomuch，nottospoilhisnotionofme。Notinsomanywords，ofcourse。
　　Butifyou’dseenhiseyes，hisface，hiskindhands！Oh，no！Icouldn’t。"Shetookadeepbreath，asifwitharenewedsenseofhernarrowescape。
　　"Then，whatdidyoutellhim？"Freddemanded。
　　Theasatdownontheedgeofthesofaandbeganshuttingandopeningherhandsnervously。"Well，Itoldhimenough，andnottoomuch。Itoldhimallabouthowgoodyouweretomelastwinter，gettingmeengagementsandthings，andhowyouhadhelpedmewithmyworkmorethananybody。ThenItoldhimabouthowyousentmedowntotheranchwhenIhadnomoneyoranything。"
　　Shepausedandwrinkledherforehead。"AndItoldhimthatIwantedtomarryyouandranawaytoMexicowithyou，andthatIwasawfullyhappyuntilyoutoldmethatyoucouldn’tmarrymebecause——well，Itoldhimwhy。"
　　Theadroppedhereyesandmovedthetoeofhershoeaboutrestlesslyonthecarpet。
　　"Andhetookitfromyou，likethat？"Fredasked，almostwithawe。
　　"Yes，justlikethat，andaskednoquestions。Hewashurt；hehadsomewretchedmoments。Icouldseehim
　　squirmingandsquirmingandtryingtogetpastit。Hekeptshuttinghiseyesandrubbinghisforehead。ButwhenItoldhimthatIabsolutelyknewyouwantedtomarryme，thatyouwouldwheneveryoucould，thatseemedtohelphimagooddeal。"
　　"Andthatsatisfiedhim？"Fredaskedwonderingly。
　　HecouldnotquiteimaginewhatkindofpersonDr。Archiemightbe。
　　"Hetookmebytheshouldersonceandasked，oh，insuchafrightenedway，`Thea，washeGOODtoyou，thisyoungman？’WhenItoldhimyouwere，helookedatmeagain：`Andyoucareforhimagreatdeal，youbelieveinhim？’Thenheseemedsatisfied。"Theapaused。"Yousee，he’sjusttremendouslygood，andtremendouslyafraidofthings——ofsomethings。OtherwisehewouldhavegotridofMrs。Archie。"Shelookedupsuddenly："Youwereright，though；onecan’ttellpeopleaboutthingstheydon’tknowalready。"
　　Fredstoodinthewindow，hisbacktothesunlight，fingeringthejonquils。"Yes，youcan，mydear。Butyoumusttellitinsuchawaythattheydon’tknowyou’retellingit，andthattheydon’tknowthey’rehear—
　　ingit。"
　　Theasmiledpasthim，outintotheair。"Isee。It’sasecret。Likethesoundintheshell。"
　　"What’sthat？"Fredwaswatchingherandthinkinghowmovingthatfarawayexpression，inher，happenedtobe。"Whatdidyousay？"
　　Shecameback。"Oh，somethingoldandMoonstony！
　　Ihavealmostforgottenitmyself。ButIfeelbetterthanI
　　thoughtIevercouldagain。Ican’twaittobeoff。Oh，Fred，"shesprangup，"Iwanttogetatit！"
　　Asshebrokeoutwiththis，shethrewupherheadandliftedherselfalittleonhertoes。Fredcoloredandlookedatherfearfully，hesitatingly。Hereyes，whichlookedoutthroughthewindow，werebright——theyhadnomemories。
　　No，shedidnotremember。Thatmomentaryelevationhadnoassociationsforher。Itwasunconscious。
　　Helookedherupanddownandlaughedandshookhishead。"YouarejustallIwantyoutobe——andthatis，——
　　notforme！Don’tworry，you’llgetatit。Youareatit。
　　MyGod！haveyouever，foronemoment，beenatanythingelse？"
　　Theadidnotanswerhim，andclearlyshehadnotheardhim。Shewaswatchingsomethingoutinthethinlightofthefalsespringanditstreacherouslysoftair。
　　Fredwaitedamoment。"Areyougoingtodinewithyourfriendto—night？"
　　"Yes。HehasneverbeeninNewYorkbefore。Hewantstogoabout。WhereshallItellhimtogo？"
　　"Wouldn’titbeabetterplan，sinceyouwishmetomeethim，foryoubothtodinewithme？Itwouldseemonlynaturalandfriendly。You’llhavetoliveupalittletohisnotionofus。"Theaseemedtoconsiderthesuggestionfavorably。"Ifyouwishhimtobeeasyinhismind，"
　　Fredwenton，"thatwouldhelp。Ithink，myself，thatwearerathernicetogether。Putononeofthenewdressesyougotdownthere，andlethimseehowlovelyyoucanbe。Youowehimsomepleasure，afterallthetroublehehastaken。"
　　Thealaughed，andseemedtofindtheideaexcitingandpleasant。"Oh，verywell！I’lldomybest。Onlydon’twearadresscoat，please。Hehasn’tone，andhe’snervousaboutit。"
　　Fredlookedathiswatch。"Yourmonumentupthereisfast。I’llbeherewithacabateight。I’manxioustomeethim。You’vegivenmethestrangestideaofhiscallowinnocenceandagedindifference。"
　　Sheshookherhead。"No，he’snoneofthat。He’sverygood，andhewon’tadmitthings。Ilovehimforit。Now，asIlookbackonit，IseethatI’vealways，evenwhenIwaslittle，shieldedhim。"
　　Asshelaughed，Fredcaughtthebrightsparkinhereyethatheknewsowell，andhelditforahappyin—
　　stant。Thenheblewherakisswithhisfinger—tipsandfled。