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sensible to him in their subtlest intention。
Perhaps a mere witness of the fact would have been alarmed by a note which
began without an address； except that on the envelope； and ended its
peremptory brevity with the writer's name signed in full。 Dan read
calamity in it； and he had all the more trouble to pull himself together
to meet it because he had parted with unusual tenderness from Alice the
night before； after an evening in which it seemed to him that their ideals
had been completely reconciled。
The note came； as her notes were apt to come； while Dan was at breakfast；
which he was rather luxurious about for so young a man； and he felt
formlessly glad afterward that he had drunk his first cup of coffee before
he opened it； for it chilled the second cup； and seemed to take all
character out of the omelet。
He obeyed it； wondering what the doom menaced in it might be； but knowing
that it was doom； and leaving his breakfast half…finished； with a dull
sense of the tragedy of doing so。
He would have liked to ask for Mrs。 Pasmer first； and interpose a moment
of her cheerful unreality between himself and his interview with Alice；
but he decided that he had better not do this； and they met at once； with
the width of the room between them。 Her look was one that made it
impassable to the simple impulse he usually had to take her in his arms
and kiss her。 But as she stood holding out a letter to him； with the
apparent intention that he should come and take it； he traversed the
intervening space and took it。
〃Why； it's from mother！〃 he said joyously； with a glance at the
handwriting。
〃Will you please explain it？〃 said Alice； and Dan began to read it。
It began with a good many excuses for not having written before； and went
on with a pretty expression of interest in Alice's letters and gratitude
for them； Mrs。 Mavering assured the girl that she could not imagine what a
pleasure they had been to her。 She promised herself that they should be
great friends； and she said that she looked forward eagerly to the time；
now drawing near； when Dan should bring her home to them。 She said she
knew Alice would find it dull at the Falls except for him； but they would
all do their best； and she would find the place very different from what
she had seen it in the winter。 Alice could make believe that she was
there just for the summer； and Mrs。 Mavering hoped that before the summer
was gone she would be so sorry for a sick old woman that she would not
even wish to go with it。 This part of the letter； which gave Dan away so
hopelessly； as he felt； was phrased so touchingly； that he looked up from
it with moist eyes to the hard cold judgment in the eyes of Alice。
〃Will you please explain it？〃 she repeated。
He tried to temporise。 〃Explain what？〃
Alice was prompt to say； 〃Had you promised your mother to take me home to
live？〃
Dan did not answer。
〃You promised my mother to go abroad。 What else have you promised？〃 He
continued silent； and she added； 〃You are a faithless man。〃 They were the
words of Romola； in the romance； to Tito； she had often admired them； and
they seemed to her equally the measure of Dan's offence。
〃Alice〃
〃Here are your letters and remembrances； Mr。 Mavering。〃 Dan mechanically
received the packet she had been holding behind her； with a perverse freak
of intelligence he observed that； though much larger now； it was tied up
with the same ribbon which had fastened it when Alice returned his letters
and gifts before。 〃Good…bye。 I wish you every happiness consistent with
your nature。〃
She bowed coldly； and was about to leave him； as she had planned； but she
had not arranged that he should be standing in front of the door； and he
was there； with no apparent intention of moving。
〃Will you allow me to pass？〃 she was forced to ask； however； haughtily。
〃No！〃 he retorted； with a violence that surprised him。 〃I will not let
you pass till you have listened to metill you tell me why you treat me
so。 I won't stand itI've had enough of this kind of thing。〃
It surprised Alice too a little； and after a moment's hesitation she said；
〃I will listen to you；〃 so much more gently than she had spoken before
that Dan relaxed his imperative tone； and began to laugh。 〃But；〃 she
added； and her face clouded again； 〃it will be of no use。 My mind is made
up this time。 Why should we talk？〃
Why； because mine isn't；〃 said Dan。 〃What is the matter； Alice？ Do you
think I would force you； or even ask you； to go home with me to live
unless you were entirely willing？ It could only be a temporary
arrangement anyway。〃
〃That isn't the question；〃 she retorted。 〃The question is whether you've
promised your mother one thing and me another。〃
〃Well； I don't know about promising；〃 said Dan； laughing a little more
uneasily； but still laughing。 〃As nearly as I can remember； I wasn't
consulted about the matter。 Your mother proposed one thing； and my mother
proposed another。〃
〃And you agreed to both。 That is quite enoughquite characteristic！〃
Dan flushed； and stopped laughing。 〃I don't know what you mean by
characteristic。 The thing didn't have to be decided at once； and I didn't
suppose it would be difficult for either side to give way； if it was
judged best。 I was sure my mother wouldn't insist。〃
〃It seems very easy for your family to make sacrifices that are not likely
to be required of them。〃
〃You mustn't criticise my mother！〃 cried Dan。
〃I have not criticised her。 You insinuate that we would be too selfish to
give up； if it were for the best。〃
〃I do nothing of the kind； and unless you are determined to quarrel with
me you wouldn't say so。〃
〃I don't wish a quarrel； none is necessary；〃 said Alice coldly。
〃You accuse me of being treacherous〃
〃I didn't say treacherous！〃
〃Faithless； then。 It's a mere quibble about words。 I want you to take
that back。〃
〃I can't take it back； it's the truth。 Aren't you faithless； if you let
us go on thinking that you're going to Europe； and let your mother think
that we're coming home to live after we're married？〃
〃No！ I'm simply leaving the question open！〃
〃Yes；〃 said the girlsadly； 〃you like to leave questions open。 That's
your way。〃
〃Well； I suppose I do till it's necessary to decide them。 It saves the
needless effusion of talk；〃 said Dan； with a laugh； and then； as people do
in a quarrel； he went back to his angry mood； and said 〃Besides； I
supposed you would be glad of the chance to make some sacrifice for me。
You're always asking for it。〃
〃Thank you； Mr。 Mavering；〃 said Alice； 〃for reminding me of it； nothing is
sacred to you； it seems。 I can't say that you have ever sought any
opportunities of self…sacrifice。〃
〃I wasn't allowed time to do so； they were always presented。〃
〃Thank you again； Mr。 Mavering。 All this is quite a revelation。 I'm glad
to know how you really felt about things that you seemed so eager for。〃
〃Alice； you know that I would do anything for you！〃 cried Dan； rueing his
precipitate words。
〃Yes； that's what you've repeatedly told me。 I used to believe it。〃
〃And I always believed what you said。 You said a