help a soft thrill at the sight of any pretty shape； the sound of any
piquant voice； and Alice had merely been the synthesis of all that was
most charming to this fancy。 This is a truth which it is the convention
of the poets and the novelists to deny； but it is also true that she might
have remained the sum of all that was loveliest if she would； or if she
could。
It was chiefly because she would not or could not that his glance
recognised the charm of Miss Anderson's back hair； both in its straying
gossamer and in the loose mass in which it was caught up under her hat；
when he laid her sacque on her shoulders。 They met that afternoon at a
Senator's； and in the house of a distinguished citizen； to whose wife Dan
had been presented at Mrs。 Whittington's； and who had somehow got his
address； and sent him a card for her evening。 They encountered here with
a jocose old friendliness； and a profession of being tired of always
meeting Miss Anderson and Mr。 Mavering。 He brought her salad and ice； and
they made an appointment for another walk in the morning； if it was fine。
He carried her some flowers。 A succession of fine days followed； and they
walked every morning。 Sometimes Dan was late； and explained that it was
his patent…right man had kept him。 She was interested in the patent…right
man； whom Dan began to find not quite so simple as at first； but she was
not exacting with him about his want of punctuality； she was very easy…
going； she was not always ready herself。 When he began to beat about the
bush； to talk insincerities； and to lose himself in intentionless
plausibilities； she waited with serene patience for him to have done； and
met him on their habitual ground of frankness and reality as if he had
not left it。 He got to telling her all his steps with his patent…right
man； who seemed to be growing mote and more slippery； and who presently
developed a demand for funds。 Then she gave him some very shrewd；
practical advice； and told him to go right into the hotel office and
telegraph to his father while she was putting on her bonnet。
〃Yes；〃 he said； 〃that's what I thought of doing。〃 But he admired her for
advising him； he said to himself that Miss Anderson was the kind of girl
his father would admire。 She was good； and she was of the world too；
that was what his father meant。 He imagined himself arriving home and
saying； 〃Well father； you know that despatch I sent you； about Lafflin's
wanting money？〃 and telling him about Miss Anderson。 Then he fancied her
acquainted with his sisters and visiting them； and his father more and
more fond of her； and perhaps in declining health； and eager to see his
son settled in life； and he pictured himself telling her that he had done
with love for ever； but if she could accept respect； fidelity； gratitude；
he was ready to devote his life to her。 She refused him； but they always
remained good friends and comrades； she married another； perhaps Boardman；
while Dan was writing out his telegram； and he broke into whispered
maledictions on his folly； which attracted the notice of the operator。
One morning when he sent up his name to Miss Anderson； whom he did not
find in the hotel parlour； the servant came back with word that Miss Van
Hook would like to have him come up to their rooms。 But it was Miss
Anderson who met him at the door。
〃It seemed rather formal to send you word that Miss Van Hook was
indisposed； and Miss Anderson would be unable to walk this morning；
and I thought perhaps you'd rather come up and get my regrets in person。
And I wanted you to see our view。〃
She led the way to the window for it； but they did not look at it； though
they sat down there apparently for the purpose。 Dan put his hat beside
his chair； and observed some inattentive civilities in inquiring after
Miss Van Hook's health； and in hearing that it was merely a bad headache；
one of a sort in which her niece hated to leave her to serve herself with
the wet compresses which Miss Van Hook always bore on her forehead for it。
〃One thing： it's decided us to be off for Fortress Monroe at last。 We
shall go by the boat to…morrow； if my aunt's better。〃
〃To…morrow？〃 said Dan。 〃What's to become of me when you're gone？〃
〃Oh； we shall not take the whole population with us；〃 suggested Miss
Anderson。
〃I wish you would take me。 I told Mrs。 Brinkley I would come while she
was there； but I'm afraid I can't get off。 Lafflin is developing into all
sorts of strange propositions。〃
〃I think you'd better look out for that man；〃 said Miss Anderson。
〃Oh； I do nothing without consulting my father。 But I shall miss you。〃
〃Thank you；〃 said the girl gravely。
〃I don't mean in a business capacity only。〃
They both laughed； and Dan looked about the room； which he found was a
private hotel parlour； softened to a more domestic effect by the signs of
its prolonged occupation by two refined women。 On a table stood a leather
photograph envelope with three cabinet pictures in it。 Along the top lay
a spray of withered forceythia。 Dan's wandering eyes rested on it。 Miss
Anderson went and softly closed the door opening into the next room。
〃I was afraid our talking might disturb my aunt；〃 she said； and on her way
back to him she picked up the photograph case and brought it to the light。
〃These are my father and mother。 We live at Yonkers； but I'm with my aunt
a good deal of the time in towneven when I'm at home。〃 She laughed at
her own contradictory statement； and put the case back without explaining
the third figurea figure in uniform。 Dan conjectured a military
brother； or from her indifference perhaps a militia brother； and
then forgot about him。 But the partial Yonkers residence accounted for
traits of unconventionality in Miss Anderson which he had not been able to
reconcile with the notion of an exclusively New York breeding。 He felt
the relief； the sympathy； the certainty of intelligence which every person
whose life has been partly spent in the country feels at finding that a
suspected cockney has also had the outlook into nature and simplicity。
On the Yonkers basis they became more intimate； more personal； and Dan
told her about Ponkwasset Falls and his mother and sisters； he told her
about his father； and she said she should like to see his father； she
thought he must be like her father。
〃All at once； and for no reason that he could think of afterward； except；
perhaps； the desire to see the case with her eyes； he began to tell her of
his affair with Alice； and how and why it was broken off； he told the
whole truth in regard to that； and did not spare himself。
She listened without once speaking； but without apparent surprise at the
confidence； though she may have felt surprised。 At times she looked as if
her thoughts were away from what he was saying。
He ended with； 〃I'm sure I don't know why I've told you all this。 But I
wanted you to know about me。 The worst。〃
Miss Anderson said； looking down； 〃I always thought she was a very
conscientious giyl。〃 Then after a pause； in which she seemed to be
overcoming an embarrassment in being obliged to speak of another in such a
conviction； 〃I think she was very moybid。 She was like ever so many New
England giyls that I've met。 They seem to want some excuse for suffering；
and they must suffer even if it's through somebody else。 I don't know；
they're romantic； New England giyls are； they have too many ideals。〃
Dan felt a balm in this； he too had noticed a superfluity of ideals in
Alice； he had borne the burden of realising some of them； they all seemed
to relate in objectionable degree to his perfectionation。 So he said
gloomily； 〃She was very good。 And I was to blame。〃
〃Oh yes！〃 said Miss Anderson； catching her breath in a queer way； 〃she
seyved you right。〃
She rose abruptly； as if she heard her aunt speak； and Dan perceived that
he had been making a long call。
He went away dazed and dissatisfied； he knew now that he ought not to have
told Miss Anderson about his affair； unless he meant more by his
confidence than he really didunless he meant to follow it up。
He took leave of her； and asked her to make his adieux to her aunt； but
the next day he came down to the boat to see them off。 It seemed to him
that their interview had ended too hastily； he felt sore and restless over
it； he hoped that something more conclusive might happen。 But at the boat
Miss Anderson and her aunt were inseparable。 Miss Van Hook said she hoped
they should soon see him at the Hygeia； and he replied that he was not
sure that he should be able to come after all。
Miss Anderson called something after him as he turned from them to go
ashore。 He ran back eagerly to know what it was。 〃 Better lookout for
that Mr。 Lafflin of yours；〃 she repeated。
〃Oh！ oh yes；〃 he said； indefinitely disappointed。 〃I shall keep a sharp
eye on him。〃 He was disappointed； but he could not have said what he had
hoped or expected her to say。 He was humbled before himself for having
told Miss Anderson about his affair with Alice； and had wished she would
say something that he might scramble back to his self…esteem upon。 He had
told her all that partly from mere weakness； from his longing for the
sympathy which he was always so ready to give； and partly from the
willingness to pose before her as a broken heart； to dazzle her by the
irony and persiflage with which he could treat such a tragical matter； but
he could not feel that he had succeeded。 The sum of her comment had been
that Alice had served him right。 He did not know whether she really
believed that or merely said it to punish him for some reason； but he
could never let it be the last word。 He tingled as he turned to wave his
handkerchief to her on the boat； with the suspicion that she was laughing
at him； and he could not console himself with any hero of a novel who had
got himself into just such a box。 There were always circumstances；
incidents； mitigations； that kept the hero still a hero； and ennobled the
box into an unjust prison cell。
L。
On the long sunny piazza of the Hygeia Mrs。 Brinkley and Miss Van Hook sat
and talked in a community of interest which they h