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had first attracted him to her。 Dan Mavering had never been able to snub
any one in his life； it gave him a great respect for Alice that it seemed
not to cost her an effort or a regret； and it charmed him to think that
her severity was part of the unconscious sham which imposed her upon the
world for a person of inflexible design and invariable constancy to it。
He was not long in seeing that she shared this illusion； if it was an
illusion； and that perhaps the only person besides himself who was in the
joke was her mother。 Mrs。 Pasmer and he grew more and more into each
other's confidence in talking Alice over； and he admired the intrepidity
of this lady； who was not afraid of her daughter even in the girl's most
topping moments of self…abasement。 For his own part； these moods of hers
never failed to cause him confusion and anxiety。 They commonly intimated
themselves parenthetically in the midst of some blissful talk they were
having； and overcast his clear sky with retrospective ideals of conduct or
presentimental plans for contingencies that might never occur。 He found
himself suddenly under condemnation for not having reproved her at a given
time when she forced him to admit she had seemed unkind or cold to others；
she made him promise that even at the risk of alienating her affections he
would make up for her deficiencies of behaviour in such matters whenever
he noticed them。 She now praised him for what he had done for Mrs。
Frobisher and her sister at Mrs。 Bellingham's reception； she said it was
generous； heroic。 But Mavering rested satisfied with his achievement in
that instance； and did not attempt anything else of the kind。 He did not
reason from cause to effect in regard to it： a man's love is such that
while it lasts he cannot project its object far enough from him to judge
it reasonable or unreasonable； but Dan's instincts had been disciplined
and his perceptions sharpened by that experience。 Besides； in bidding him
take this impartial and even admonitory course toward her； she stipulated
that they should maintain to the world a perfect harmony of conduct which
should be an outward image of the union of their lives。 She said that
anything less than a continued self…sacrifice of one to the other was not
worthy of the name of love； and that she should not be happy unless he
required this of her。 She said that they ought each to find out what was
the most distasteful thing which they could mutually require； and then do
it； she asked him to try to think what she most hated； and let her do that
for him； as for her； she only asked to ask nothing of him。
Mavering could not worship enough this nobility of soul in her； and he
celebrated it to Boardman with the passionate need of imparting his
rapture which a lover feel。 Boardman acquiesced in silence； with a glance
of reserved sarcasm； or contented himself with laconic satire of his
friend's general condition； and avoided any comment that might
specifically apply to the points Dan made。 Alice allowed him to have this
confidant； and did not demand of him a report of all he said to Boardman。
A main fact of their love； she said； must be their utter faith in each
other。 She had her own confidante； and the disparity of years between her
and Miss Cotton counted for nothing in the friendship which their exchange
of trust and sympathy cemented。 Miss Cotton； in the freshness of her
sympathy and the ideality of her inexperience； was in fact younger than
Alice； at whose feet； in the things of soul and character； she loved to
sit。 She never said to her what she believed： that a girl of her
exemplary principles； a nature conscious of such noble ideals； so superior
to other girls； who in her place would be given up to the happiness of the
moment； and indifferent to the sense of duty to herself and to others； was
sacrificed to a person of Mavering's gay； bright nature and trivial
conception of life。 She did not deny his sweetness； that was perhaps the
one saving thing about him； and she confessed that he simply adored Alice；
that counted for everything； and it was everything in his favour that he
could appreciate such a girl。 She hoped； she prayed； that Alice might
never realise how little depth he had； that she might go through life and
never suspect it。 If she did so； then they might be happy together to the
end； or at least Alice might never know she was unhappy。
Miss Cotton never said these things in so many words； it is doubtful if
she ever said them in any form of words； with her sensitive anxiety not to
do injustice to any one； she took Dan's part against those who viewed the
engagement as she allowed it to appear only to her secret heart。 She
defended him the more eagerly because she felt that it was for Alice's
sake； and that everything must be done to keep her from knowing how people
looked at the affair； even to changing people's minds。 She said to all
who spoke to her of it that of course Alice was superior to him； but he
was devoted to her； and he would grow into an equality with her。 He was
naturally very refined； she said； and； if he was not a very serious
person； he was amiable beyond anything。 She alleged many little incidents
of their acquaintance at Campobello in proof of her theory that he had an
instinctive appreciation of Alice； and she was sure that no one could
value her nobleness of character more than he。 She had seen them a good
deal together since their engagement； and it was beautiful to see his
manner with her。 They were opposites； but she counted a good deal upon
that very difference in their temperaments to draw them to each other。
It was an easy matter to see Dan and Alice together。 Their engagement
came out in the usual way： it had been announced to a few of their nearest
friends； and intelligence of it soon spread from their own set through
society generally； it had been published in the Sunday papers while it was
still in the tender condition of a rumour； and had been denied by some of
their acquaintance and believed by all。
The Pasmer cousinship had been just in the performance of the duties of
blood toward Alice since the return of her family from Europe； and now did
what was proper in the circumstances。 All who were connected with her
called upon her and congratulated her； they knew Dan； the younger of them；
much better than they knew her； and though he had shrunk from the nebulous
bulk of social potentiality which every young man is to that much smaller
nucleus to which definite betrothal reduces him； they could be perfectly
sincere in calling him the sweetest fellow that ever was； and too lovely
to live。
In such a matter Mr。 Pasmer was naturally nothing； he could not be less
than he was at other times； but he was not more； and it was Mrs。 Pasmer
who shared fully with her daughter the momentary interest which the
engagement gave Alice with all her kindred。 They believed； of course；
that they recognised in it an effect of her skill in managing； they agreed
to suppose that she had got Mavering for Alice； and to ignore the beauty
and passion of youth as factors in the case。 The closest of the kindred；
with the romantic d