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disappointed； and you can make him of great use。〃
〃You see where I got it； anyway； Alice；〃 said Dan； laughing across the bed
at her。
〃Yes； you got it from me： I own it。 A great part of my life was made up
of making life pleasant to others by fibbing。 I stopped it when I came
here。〃
〃Oh； not altogether； mother！〃 urged her son。 〃You mustn't be too hard on
yourself。〃
She ignored his interruption： 〃You'll find Dan a great convenience with
that agreeable habit of his。 You can get him to make all your verbal
excuses for you （he'll； do it beautifully）； and dictate all the thousand
and one little lying notes you'll have to write； he won't mind it in the
least； and it will save you a great wear…and…tear of conscience。〃
〃Go on； mother； go on；〃 said Dan； with delighted eyes； that asked of Alice
if it were not all perfectly charming。
〃And you can come in with your habitual truthfulness where Dan wouldn't
know what to do； poor fellow。 You'll have the moral courage to come right
to the point when he would like to shillyshally； and you can be frank
while he's trying to think how to make y…e…s spell no。〃
〃Any other little compliments； mother？〃 suggested Dan。
〃No；〃 said Mrs。 Mavering； 〃that's all。 I thought I'd better have it off
my mind； I knew you'd never get it off yours； and Alice had better know
the worst。 It is the worst； my dear； and if I talked of him till doomsday
I couldn't say any more harm of him。 I needn't tell you how sweet he is；
you know that； I'm sure； but you can't know yet how gentle and forbearing
he is； how patient； how full of kindness to every living soul； how
unselfish； how〃
She lost her voice。 〃Oh； come now； mother；〃 Dan protested huskily。
Alice did not say anything； she bent over； without repugnance； and
gathered the shadowy shape into her strong young arms； and kissed the
wasted face whose unearthly coolness was like the leaf of a flower against
her lips。 〃He never gave me a moment's trouble；〃 said the mother； 〃and
I'm sure he'll make you happy。 How kind of you not to be afraid of me〃
〃Afraid！〃 cried the girl； with passionate solemnity。 〃I shall never feel
safe away from you！〃
The door opened upon the sound of voices； and the others came in。
Mrs。 Pasmer did not wait for an introduction； but with an affectation of
impulse which she felt Mrs。 Mavering would penetrate and respect； she went
up to the bed and presented herself。 Dan's mother smiled hospitably upon
her； and they had some playful words about their children。 Mrs。 Pasmer
neatly conveyed the regrets of her husband； who had hoped up to the last
moment that the heavy cold he had taken would let him come with her； and
the invalid made her guest sit down on the right hand of her bed； which
seemed to be the place of honour； while her husband took Dan's place on
the left； and admired his wife's skill in fence。 At the end of her
encounter with Mrs。 Pasmer she called out with her strong voice； 〃Why
don't you get your banjo； Molly； and play something？〃
〃A banjo？ Oh； do！〃 cried Mrs。 Pasmer。 〃It's so picturesque and
interesting！ I heard that young ladies had taken it up； and I should so
like to hear it！〃 She had turned to Mrs。 Mavering again； and she now
beamed winningly upon her。
Alice regarded the girl with a puzzled frown as she brought her banjo in
from another room and sat down with it。 She relaxed the severity of her
stare a little as Molly played one wild air after another； singing some of
them with an evidence of training in her naive effectiveness。 There were
some Mexican songs which she had learned in a late visit to their country；
and some Creole melodies caught up in a winter's sojourn to Louisiana。
The elder sister accompanied her on the piano； not with the hard； resolute
proficiency which one might have expected of Eunice Mavering； but with a
sympathy which was perhaps the expression of her share of the family
kindliness。
〃Your children seem to have been everywhere；〃 said Mrs。 Pasmer； with a
sigh of flattering envy。 〃Oh； you're not going to stop！〃 she pleaded；
turning from Mrs。 Mavering to Molly。
〃I think Dan had better do the rheumatic uncle now；〃 said Eunice； from the
piano。
〃Oh yes！ the rheumatic uncledo；〃 said Mrs。 Pasmer。 〃We know the
rheumatic uncle；〃 she added； with a glance at Alice。 Dan looked at her
too； as if doubtful of her approval； and then he told in character a
Yankee story which he had worked up from the talk of his friend the
foreman。 It made them all laugh。
Mrs。 Pasmer was the gayest； she let herself go； and throughout the evening
she flattered right and left； and said； in her good…night to Mrs。
Mavering； that she had never imagined so delightful a time。 〃0 Mrs。
Mavering； I don't wonder your children love their home。 It's a
revelation。〃
XXXIV。
〃She's a cat； Dan；〃 said his mother quietly； and not without liking； when
he looked in for his goodnight kiss after the rest were gone； 〃a perfect
tabby。 But your Alice is sublime。〃
〃O mother〃
〃She's a little too sublime for me。 But you're young； and you can stand
it。〃
Dan laughed with delight。 〃Yes； I think I can； mother。 All I ask is the
chance。〃
〃Oh； you're very much in love； both of you； there's no doubt about that。
What I mean is that she's very high strung； very intense。 She has ideals…
…any one can see that。〃
Dan took it all for praise。 〃Yes；〃 he said eagerly； 〃that's what I told
you。 And that will be the best thing about it for me。 I have no ideals。〃
〃Well； you must find out what hers are； and live up to them。〃
〃Oh； there won't be any trouble about that；〃 said Dan buoyantly。
〃You must help her to find them out too。〃 He looked puzzled。 〃 You
mustn't expect the child to be too definite at first； nor to be always
right； even when she's full of ideals。 You must be very patient with her；
Dan。〃
〃Oh； I will； mother！ You know that。 How could I ever be impatient with
Alice？〃
〃Very forbearing； and very kind； and indefatigably forgiving。 Ask your
father how to behave。〃
Dan promised to do so； with a laugh at the joke。 It had never occurred to
him that his father was particularly exemplary in these things； or that
his mother idolised him for what seemed to Dan simply a matter…of…course
endurance of her sick whims and freaks and moods。 He broke forth into a
vehement protest of his good intentions； to which his mother did not seem
very attentive。 After a while she asked
〃Is she always so silent； Dan？〃
〃Well； not with me； mother。 Of course she was a little embarrassed； she
didn't know exactly what to say； I suppose〃
〃Oh； I rather liked that。 At least she isn't a rattle…pate。 And we shall
get acquainted； we shall like each other。 She will understand me when you
bring her home here to live with us； and〃
〃Yes；〃 said Dan； rising rather hastily； and stooping over to his mother。
〃I'm not going to let you talk any more now； or we shall have to suffer
for it to…morrow night。〃
He got gaily away before his mother could amplify a suggestion which
spoiled a little of his pleasure in the praiseshe thought they were
unqualified and enthusiastic praisesshe had been heaping upon Alice。