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in the probable event another proof of their father's total want of
discernment where women were concerned； for the elder Mavering had come
home from Class Day about as much smitten with this mysterious Miss
Pasmer as Dan was。 She talked it over indignantly with her daughters；
they were glad of Dan's escape； but they were incensed with the girl who
could let him escape； and they inculpated her in a high degree of
heartless flirtation。 They knew how sweet Dan was； and they believed him
most sincere and good。 He had been brilliantly popular in college； and
he was as bright as he could be。 What was it she chose not to like in
him？ They vexed themselves with asking how or in what way she thought
herself better。 They would not have had her love Dan； but they were hot
against her for not loving him。
They did not question him； but they tried in every way to find out how
much he was hurt； and they watched him in every word and look for signs
of change to better or worse； with a growing belief that he was not very
much hurt。
It could not be said that in three weeks he forgot Alice； or had begun to
forget her； but he had begun to reconcile himself to his fate； as people
do in their bereavements by death。 His consciousness habituated itself
to the facts as something irretrievable。 He no longer framed in his mind
situations in which the past was restored。 He knew that he should never
love again； but he had moments； and more and more of them； in which he
experienced that life had objects besides love。 There were times when he
tingled with all the anguish of the first moment of his rejection； when
he stopped in whatever he was doing； or stood stock…still； as a man does
when arrested by a physical pang； breathless； waiting。 There were other
times when he went about steeped in gloom so black that all the world
darkened with it； and some mornings when he woke he wished that the night
had lasted for ever； and felt as if the daylight had uncovered his misery
and his shame to every one。 He never knew when he should have these
moods； and he thought he should have them as long as he lived。 He
thought this would be something rather fine。 He had still other moods；
in which he saw an old man with a grey moustache； like Colonel Newcome；
meeting a beautiful white…haired lady； the man had never married； and he
had not seen this lady for fifty years。 He bent over； and kissed her
hand。
〃You idiot！〃 said Mavering to himself。 Throughout he kept a good
appetite。 In fact； after that first morning in Portland； he had been
hungry three times a day with perfect regularity。 He lost the idea of
being sick； he had not even a furred tongue。 He fell asleep pretty
early； and he slept through the night without a break。 He had to laugh a
great deal with his mother and sisters； since he could not very well mope
without expecting them to ask why； and he did not wish to say why。 But
there were some laughs which he really enjoyed with the Yankee foreman of
the works； who was a droll； after a common American pattern； and said
things that were killingly funny； especially about women； of whom his
opinions were sarcastic。
Dan Mavering suffered； but not solidly。 His suffering was short； and
crossed with many gleams of respite and even joy。 His disappointment
made him really unhappy； but not wholly so； it was a genuine sorrow； but
a sorrow to which he began to resign himself even in the monotony of
Ponkwasset Falls； and which admitted the thought of Mrs。 Frobisher's
sister by the time business called him to Boston。
XXIV。
Before the end of the first week after Dan came back to town； that which
was likely to happen whenever chance brought him and Alice together had
taken place。
It was one of the soft days that fall in late October； when the impending
winter seems stayed； and the warm breath of the land draws seaward and
over a thousand miles of Indian summer。 The bloom came and went in quick
pulses over the girl's temples as she sat with her head thrown back in
the corner of the car； and from moment to moment she stirred slightly as
if some stress of rapture made it hard for her to get her breath； a
little gleam of light fell from under her fallen eyelids into the eyes of
the young man beside her； who leaned forward slightly and slanted his
face upward to meet her glances。 They said some words； now and then；
indistinguishable to the others； in speaking they smiled slightly。
Sometimes her hand wavered across her lap； in both their faces there was
something beyond happinessa transport； a passion； the brief splendour
of a supreme moment。
They left the car at the Arlington Street corner of the Public Garden；
and followed the winding paths diagonally to the further corner on
Charles Street。
〃How stupid we were to get into that ridiculous horse…car！〃 she said。
〃What in the world possessed us to do it？〃
〃I can't imagine；〃 he answered。 〃What a waste of time it was！ If we had
walked； we might have been twice as long coming。 And now you're going to
send me off so soon！〃
〃I don't send you；〃 she murmured。
〃But you want me to go。〃
〃Oh no！ But you'd better。〃
〃I can't do anything against your wish。〃
〃I wish itfor your own good。〃
〃Ah； do let me go home with you； Alice？〃
〃Don't ask it； or I must say yes。〃
〃Part of the way； then？〃
〃No； not a step！ You must take the first car for Cambridge。 What time
is it now？〃
〃You can see by the clock on the Providence Depot。〃
〃But I wish you to go by your watch； now。 Look！〃
〃Alice！〃 he cried； in pure rapture。
〃Look！〃
〃It's a quarter of one。〃
〃And we've been three hours together already！ Now you must simply fly。
If you came home with me I should be sure to let you come in； and if I
don't see mamma alone first； I shall die。 Can't you understand？〃
〃No； but I can do the next best thing： I can misunderstand。 You want to
be rid of me。〃
〃Shall you be rid of me when we've parted？〃 she asked； with an inner
thrill of earnestness in her gay tone。
〃Alice！〃
〃You know I didn't mean it； Dan。〃
〃Say it again。〃
〃What？〃
〃Dan。〃
〃Dan； love！ Dan； dearest！〃
〃Will that car of yours never come？ I've promised myself not to leave
you till it does； and if I stay here any longer I shall go wild。 I can't
believe it's happened。 Say it again！〃
〃Say what？〃
〃That〃
〃That I love you？ That we're engaged？〃
〃I don't believe it。 I can't。〃 She looked impatiently up the street。
〃Oh； there comes your car！ Run！ Stop it！〃
〃I don't run to stop cars。〃 He made a sign； which the conductor obeyed；
and the car halted at the further crossing。
She seemed to have forgotten it； and made no movement to dismiss him。
〃Oh； doesn't it seem too good to be standing here talking in this way；
and people think it's about the weather； or society？〃 She set her head a
little on one side； and twirled the open parasol on her shoulder。
〃Yes； it does。 Tell me it's true； love！〃
〃It's true。 How splendid you are！〃 She said it with an effect for the
world outside of saying it was a lovely day。
He retorted； with the same apparent nonchalance； 〃How beautiful you are！
How good！ How di