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have their virtues； they exaggerate these； and they conceive a kindness
even for the qualities which are not their virtues。 Mrs。 Mavering's life
was secluded again from the family seclusion； and their peculiarities were
intensified in her。 Besides； she had some very marked peculiarities of
her own； and these were also intensified by the solitude to which she was
necessarily left so much。 She meditated a great deal upon the character
of her children； and she liked to analyse and censure it both in her own
mind and openly in their presence。 She was very trenchant and definite in
these estimates of them； she liked to ticket them； and then ticket them
anew。 She explored their ancestral history on both sides for the origin
of their traits； and there were times when she reduced them in formula to
mere congeries of inherited characteristics。 If Eunice was self…willed
and despotic； she was just like her grandmother Mavering； if Minnie was
all sentiment and gentle stubbornness； it was because two aunts of hers；
one on either side； were exactly so； if Dan loved pleasure and beauty； and
was sinuous and uncertain in so many ways； and yet was so kind and
faithful and good； as well as shilly…shallying and undecided； it was
because her mother； and her mother's father； had these qualities in the
same combination。
When she took her children to pieces before their faces； she was sharp and
admonitory enough with them。 She warned them to what their characters
would bring them to if they did not look out； but perhaps because she
beheld them so hopelessly the present effect of the accumulated tendencies
of the family past； she was tender and forgiving to their actions。 The
mother came in there； and superseded the student of heredity： she found
excuse for them in the perversity of circumstance； in the peculiar
hardship of the case； in the malignant misbehaviour of others。
As Dan entered； with the precedence his father and sister yielded him as
the principal actor in the scene which must follow； she lifted herself
vigorously in bed； and propped herself on the elbow of one arm while she
stretched the other towards him。
〃I'm glad of it； Dan！〃 she called； at the moment he opened the door； and
as he came toward her she continued； with the amazing velocity of
utterance peculiar to nervous sufferers of her sex： 〃I know all about it；
and I don't blame you a bit！ And I don't blame her！ Poor helpless young
things！ But it's a perfect mercy it's all over； it's the greatest
deliverance I ever heard of！ You'd have been eaten up alive。 I saw it；
and I knew it from the very first moment； and I've lived in fear and
trembling for you。 You could have got on well enough if you'd been left
to yourselves； but that you couldn't have been nor hope to be as long as
you breathed； from the meddling and the machinations and the malice of
that unscrupulous and unconscionable old Cat！〃
By the time Mrs。 Mavering had hissed out the last word she had her arm
round her boy's neck and was clutching him； safe and sound after his
peril； to her breast； and between her kissing and crying she repeated her
accusals and denunciations with violent volubility。
Dan could not have replied to them in that effusion of gratitude and
tenderness he felt for his mother's partisanship； and when she went on in
almost the very terms of his self…defence； and told him that he had done
as he had because it was easy for him to yield； and he could not imagine a
Cat who would put her daughter up to entrapping him into a promise that
she knew must break his mother's heart； he found her so right on the main
point that he could not help some question of Mrs。 Pasmer in his soul。
Could she really have been at the bottom of it all？ She was very sly； and
she might be very false； and it was certainly she who had first proposed
their going abroad together。 It looked as if it might be as his mother
said； and at any rate it was no time to dispute her； and he did not say a
word in behalf of Mrs。 Pasmer； whom she continued to rend in a thousand
pieces and scatter to the winds till she had to stop breathless。
〃Yes！ it's quite as I expected！ She did everything she could to trap you
into it。 She fairly flung that poor girl at you。 She laid her plans so
that you couldn't say noshe understood your character from the start！
and then； when it came out by accident； and she saw that she had older
heads to deal with； and you were not going to be quite at her mercy； she
dropped the mask in an instant； and made Alice break with you。 Oh； I
could see through her from the beginning！ And the next time； Dan； I
advise you； as you never suspect anybody yourself； to consult with
somebody who doesn't take people for what they seem； and not to let
yourself be flattered out of your sensor； even if you see your father is。〃
Mrs。 Mavering dropped back on her pillow； and her husband smiled patiently
at their daughter。
Dan saw his patient smile and understood it； and the injustice which his
father bore made him finally unwilling to let another remain under it。
Hard as it was to oppose his mother in anything when she was praising him
so sweetly and comforting him in the moment of his need； he pulled himself
together to protest： 〃No； no； mother！ I don't think Mrs。 Pasmer was to
blame； I don't believe she had anything to do with it。 She's always stood
my friend〃
〃Oh； I've no doubt she's made you think so； Dan；〃 said his mother； with
unabated fondness for him； 〃and you think so because you're so simple and
good； and never suspect evil of any one。 It's this hideous optimism
that's killing everything'
A certain note in the invalid's falling voice seemed to warn her hearers
of an impending change that could do no one good。 Eunice rose hastily and
interrupted： 〃Mother； Mr。 Boardman's here。 He came up with Dan。 May
Minnie come in with him？〃
Mrs。 Mavering shot a glance of inquiry at Dan； and then let a swift
inspection range over all the details of the room； and finally concentrate
itself on the silk and lace of her bed； over which she passed a smoothing
hand。 〃Mr。 Boardman？〃 she cried； with instantly recovered amiability。 〃Of
course she may！〃
XLVII。
In Boston the rumour of Dan's broken engagement was followed promptly by a
denial of it； both the rumour and the denial were apparently
authoritative； but it gives the effect of a little greater sagacity to
distrust rumours of all kinds； and most people went to bed； after the teas
and dinners and receptions and clubs at which the fact was first debated；
in the self…persuasion that it was not so。 The next day they found the
rumour still persistent； the denial was still in the air too； but it
seemed weaker； at the end of the third day it had become a question as to
which broke the engagement； and why； by the end of a week it was known
that Alice had broken the engagement； but the reason could not be
ascertained。
This was not for want of asking； more or less direct。 Pasmer； of course；
went and came at his club with perfect immunity。 Men are quite as curious
as women； but they set business bounds to their curiosity； and do not
dream of passing these。 W