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and passion of youth as factors in the case。 The closest of the kindred；
with the romantic delicacy of Americans in such things； approached the
question of Dan's position and prospects； and heard with satisfaction the
good accounts which Mrs。 Pasmer was able to give of his father's
prosperity。 There had always been more or less apprehension among them of
a time when a family subscription would be necessary for Bob Pasmer； and
in the relief which the new situation gave them some of them tried to
remember having known Dan's father in College； but it finally came to
their guessing that they must have heard John Munt speak of him。
Mrs。 Pasmer had a supreme control in the affair。 She believed with the
restso deeply is this delusion seatedthat she had made the match； but
knowing herself to have used no dishonest magic in the process； she was
able to enjoy it with a clean conscience。 She grew fonder of Dan； they
understood each other； she was his refuge from Alice's ideals； and helped
him laugh off his perplexity with them。 They were none the less sincere
because they were not in the least frank with each other。 She let Dan
beat about the bush to his heart's content； and waited for him at the
point which she knew he was coming to； with an unconsciousness which he
knew was factitious； neither of them got tired of this； or failed freshly
to admire the other's strategy。
XL。
It cannot be pretended that Alice was quite pleased with the way her
friends took her engagement； or rather the way in which they spoke of Dan。
It seemed to her that she alone； or she chiefly； ought to feel that
sweetness and loveliness of which every one told her； as if she could not
have known it。 If he was sweet and lovely to every one； how was he
different to her except in degree？ Ought he not to be different in kind？
She put the case to Miss Cotton； whom it puzzled； while she assured Alice
that he was different in kind to her； though he might not seem so； the
very fact that he was different in degree proved that he was different in
kind。 This logic sufficed for the moment of its expression； but it did
not prevent Alice from putting the case to Dan himself。 At one of those
little times when she sat beside him alone and rearranged his necktie； or
played with his watch chain； or passed a critical hand over his cowlick；
she asked him if he did not think they ought to have an ideal in their
engagement。 〃What ideal？〃 he asked。 He thought it was all solid ideal
through and through。 〃Oh；〃 she said； 〃be more and more to each other。〃
He said he did not see how that could be； if there was anything more of
him； she was welcome to it； but he rather thought she had it all。 She
explained that she meant being less to others； and he asked her to explain
that。
〃Well； when we're anywhere together； don't you think we ought to show how
different we are to each other from what we are to any one else。〃
Dan laughed。 〃I'm afraid we do； Alice； I always supposed one ought to
hide that little preference as much as possible。 You don't want me to be
dangling after you every moment？〃
〃No…o…o。 But notdangle after others。〃
Dan sighed a littlea little impatiently。 〃Do I dangle after others？〃
〃Of course not。 But show that we're thoroughly united in all our tastes
and feelings； andlike and dislike the same persons。〃
〃I don't think that will be difficult；〃 said Dan。
She was silent a moment； and then she said； 〃You don't like to have me
bring up such things？〃
〃Oh yes； I do。 I wish to be and do just what you wish。〃
〃But I can see； I can understand； that you would sooner pass the time
without talking of them。 You like to be perfectly happy； and not to have
any cares whenwhen you're with me this way？〃
〃Well； yes； I suppose I do；〃 said Dan； laughing again。 〃I suppose I
rather do like to keep pleasure and duty apart。 But there's nothing you
can wish； Alice； that isn't a pleasure to me。〃
〃I'm very different；〃 said the girl。 〃I can't be at peace unless I know
that I have a right to be so。 But now； after this； I'm going to do your
way。 If it's your way； it'll be the right wayfor me。〃 She looked
sublimely resolved； with a grand lift of the eyes； and Dan caught her to
him in a rapture； breaking into laughter。
〃Oh； don't！ Mine's a bad waythe worst kind of a way；〃 he cried。
〃It makes everybody like you； and mine makes nobody like me。〃
〃It makes me like you； and that's quite enough。 I don't want other people
to like you！〃
〃Yes； that's what I mean！〃 cried Alice； and now she flung herself on his
neck； and the tears came。 〃Do you suppose it can be very pleasant to have
everybody talking of you as if everybody loved you as muchas much as I
do？〃 She clutched him tighter and sobbed。
〃O Alice！ Alice！ Alice！ Nobody could ever be what you are to me！〃 He
soothed and comforted her with endearing words and touches； but before he
could have believed her half consoled she pulled away from him； and asked；
with shining eyes； 〃Do you think Mr。 Boardman is a good influence in your
life？〃
〃Boardman！〃 cried Mavering； in astonishment。 〃Why； I thought you liked
Boardman？〃
〃I do； and I respect him very much。 But that isn't the question。 Don't
you think we ought to ask ourselves how others influence us？〃
〃Well； I don't see much of Boardy nowadays； but I like to drop down and
touch earth in Boardy once in a whileI'm in the air so much。 Board has
more common…sense； more solid chunk…wisdom； than anybody I know。 He's
kept me from making a fool of myself more times〃
〃Wasn't he with you that day withwith those women in Portland？〃
Dan winced a little； and then laughed。 〃No； he wasn't。 That was the
trouble。 Boardman was off on the press boat。 I thought I told you。 But
if you object to Boardman〃
〃I don't。 You mustn't think I object to people when I ask you about them。
All that I wished was that you should think yourself what sort of
influence he was。 I think he's a very good influence。〃
〃He's a splendid fellow； Boardman is； Alice！〃 cried Dan。 〃You ought to
have seen how he fought his way through college on such a little money；
and never skulked or felt mean。 He wasn't appreciated for it； the men
don't notice these things much； but he didn't want to have it noticed；
always acted as if it was neither here nor there； and now I guess he sends
out home whatever he has left after keeping soul and body together every
week。〃
He spoke； perhaps； with too great an effect of relief。 Alice listened； as
it seemed； to his tone rather than his words； and said absently
〃Yes； that's grand。 But I don't want you to act as if you were afraid of
me in such things。〃
〃 Afraid？〃 Dan echoed。
〃I don't mean actually afraid； but as if you thought I couldn't be
reasonable； as if you supposed I didn't expect you to make mistakes or to
be imperfect。〃
〃Yes； I know you're very reasonable； and you're more patient with me than
I deserve； I know all that； and it's only my wish to come up to your
standard； I suppose； that gives me that apprehensive appearance。〃
〃That was what vexed me with you there at Campobello； when youasked me 〃
〃Yes； I know。〃
〃You