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Nothing could have changed her from being Alice。
〃Yes； I wished to consecrate the first morning of our engagement； and I'm
always going。 I determined that I would go before breakfastthat was
what made breakfast so late。 Don't you like it？〃 she asked timidly。
〃Like it！〃 he said。 〃I'm going with you：〃
〃Oh no！〃 she turned upon him。 〃That wouldn't do。〃 She became grave
again。 〃I'm glad you approve of it； for I should feel that there was
something wanting to our happiness。 If marriage is a sacrament； why
shouldn't an engagement be？〃
〃It is；〃 said Dan； and he felt that it was holy； till then he had never
realised that marriage was a sacrament； though he had often heard the
phrase。
At the end of an hour they took a tender leave of each other； hastened by
the sound of Mrs。 Pasmer's voice without。 Alice escaped from one door
before her mother entered by the other。 Dan remained； trying to look
unconcerned； but he was sensible of succeeding so poorly that he thought
he had better offer his hand to Mrs。 Pasmer at once。 He told her that he
was going up to Ponkwasset Falls at two o'clock； and asked her to please
remember him to Mr。 Pasmer。
She said she would； and asked him if he were to be gone long。
〃Oh no； just overnighttill I can tell them what's happened。〃 He felt it
a comfort to be trivial with Mrs。 Pasmer； after bracing up to Alice's
ideals。 〃I suppose they'll have to know。〃
〃What an exemplary son！〃 said Mrs。 Pasmer。 〃Yes； I suppose they will。〃
〃I supposed it would be enough if I wrote； but Alice thinks I'd better
report in person。〃
〃I think you had； indeed！ And it will be a good thing for you both to
have the time for clarifying your ideas。 Did she tell you she had been at
matins this morning？〃 A light of laughter trembled in Mrs。 Pasmer's eyes；
and Mavering could not keep a responsive gleam out of his own。 In an
instant the dedication of his engagement by morning prayer ceased to be a
high and solemn thought； and became deliciously amusing； and this laughing
Alice over with her mother did more to realise the fact that she was his
than anything else had yet done。
In that dark passage outside he felt two arms go tenderly round his neck；
and a soft shape strain itself to his heart。 〃I know you have been
laughing about me。 But you may。 I'm yours now； even to laugh at； if you
want。〃
〃You are mine to fall down and worship；〃 he vowed； with an instant
revulsion of feeling。
Alice didn't say anything； he felt her hand fumbling about his coat lapel。
〃Where is your breast pocket？〃 she asked； and he took hold of her hand；
which left a carte…de…visite…shaped something in his。
〃It isn't very good；〃 she murmured； as well as she could； with her lips
against his cheek； 〃but I thought you'd like to show them some proof of my
existence。 I shall have none of yours while you're gone。〃
〃O Alice！ you think of everything！〃
His heart was pierced by the soft reproach implied in her words； he had
not thought to ask her for her photograph； but she had thought to give it；
she must have felt it strange that he had not asked for it； and she had
meant to slip it in his pocket and let him find it there。 But even his
pang of self…upbraiding was a part of his transport。 He seemed to float
down the stairs； his mind was in a delirious whirl。 〃I shall go mad；〃 he
said to himself in the excess of his joy〃I shall die！〃
XXVIII。
The parting scene with Alice persisted in Mavering's thought far on the
way to Ponkwasset Falls。 He now succeeded in saying everything to her：
how deeply he felt her giving him her photograph to cheer him in his
separation from her； how much he appreciated her forethought in providing
him with some answer when his mother and sisters should ask him about her
looks。 He took out the picture； and pretended to the other passengers to
be looking very closely at it； and so managed to kiss it。 He told her
that now he understood what love really was； how powerful； how it did
conquer everything； that it had changed him and made him already a better
man。 He made her refuse all merit in the work。
When he began to formulate the facts for communication to his family； love
did not seem so potent； he found himself ashamed of his passion； or at
least unwilling to let it be its own excuse even； he had a wish to give it
almost any other appearance。 Until he came in sight of the station and
the Works； it had not seemed possible for any one to object to Alice。 He
had been going home as a matter of form to receive the adhesion of his
family。 But now he was forced to see that she might be considered
critically； even reluctantly。 This would only be because his family did
not understand how perfect Alice was； but they might not understand。
With his father there would be no difficulty。 His father had seen Alice
and admired her； he would be all right。 Dan found himself hoping this
rather anxiously； as if from the instinctive need of his father's support
with his mother and sisters。 He stopped at the Works when he left the
train； and found his father in his private office beyond the book…keeper's
picket…fence； which he penetrated； with a nod to the accountant。
〃Hello； Dan！〃 said his father； looking up； and 〃Hello； father！〃 said Dan。
Being alone； the father and son not only shook hands； but kissed each
other； as they used to do in meeting after an absence when Dan was
younger。
He had closed his father's door with his left hand in giving his right；
and now he said at once； 〃Father； I've come home to tell you that I'm
engaged to be married。〃
Dan had prearranged his father's behaviour at this announcement； but he
now perceived that he would have to modify the scene if it were to
represent the facts。 His father did not brighten all over and demand；
〃Miss Pasmer； of course？〃 he contrived to hide whatever start the news had
given him； and was some time in asking； with his soft lisp； 〃Isn't that
rather sudden； Dan？〃
〃Well； not for me；〃 said Dan； laughing uneasily。 It'syou know her；
fatherMiss Pasmer。〃
〃Oh yes；〃 said his father； certainly not with displeasure； and yet not
with enthusiasm。
〃I've had ever since Class Day to think it over； and itcame to a climax
yesterday。〃
〃And then you stopped thinking；〃 said his fatherto gain time； it
appeared to Dan。
〃Yes； sir；〃 said Dan。 〃I haven't thought since。〃
〃Well；〃 said his father； with an amusement which was not unfriendly。 He
added； after a moment； 〃But I thought that had been broken off；〃 and Dan's
instinct penetrated to the lurking fact that his father must have talked
the rupture over with his mother； and not wholly regretted it。
〃There was a kind ofhitch at one time；〃 he admitted； 〃but it's all right
now。〃
〃Well； well；〃 said his father； 〃this is great newsgreat news；〃 and he
seemed to be shaping himself to the new posture of affairs； while giving
it a conditional recognition。 〃She's a beautiful creature。〃
〃Isn't she？〃 cried Dan； with a little break in his voice； for he had found
his father's manner rather trying。 〃And she's good too。 I assure you
that she isshe is simply perfect every way。〃
〃Well；〃 said the elder Maver