Itwaswellalongintheforenoonofabitterwinter\'sday。ThetownofEastport，inthestateofMaine，layburiedunderadeepsnowthatwasnewlyfallen。Thecustomarybustleinthestreetswaswanting。Onecouldlooklongdistancesdownthemandseenothingbutadead-whiteemptiness，withsilencetomatch。OfcourseIdonotmeanthatyoucouldseethesilence——no，youcouldonlyhearit。Thesidewalksweremerelylong，deepditches，withsteepsnowwallsoneitherside。Hereandthereyoumighthearthefaint，farscrapeofawoodenshovel，andifyouwerequickenoughyoumightcatchaglimpseofadistantblackfigurestoopinganddisappearinginoneofthoseditches，andreappearingthenextmomentwithamotionwhichyouwouldknowmeanttheheavingoutofashovelfulofsnow。Butyouneededtobequick，forthatblackfigurewouldnotlinger，butwouldsoardropthatshovelandscudforthehouse，thrashingitselfwithitsarmstowarmthem。Yes，itwastoovenomouslycoldforsnow-shovelersoranybodyelsetostayoutlong。
Presentlytheskydarkened；thenthewindroseandbegantoblowinfitful，vigorousgusts，whichsentcloudsofpowderysnowaloft，andstraightahead，andeverywhere。Undertheimpulseofoneofthesegusts，greatwhitedriftsbankedthemselveslikegravesacrossthestreets；amomentlateranothergustshiftedthemaroundtheotherway，drivingafinesprayofsnowfromtheirsharpcrests，asthegaledrivesthespumeflakesfromwave-crestsatsea；athirdgustsweptthatplaceascleanasyourhand，ifitsawfit。Thiswasfooling，thiswasplay；buteachandallofthegustsdumpedsomesnowintothesidewalkditches，forthatwasbusiness。
AlonzoFitzClarencewassittinginhissnugandelegantlittleparlor，inalovelybluesilkdressing-gown，withcuffsandfacingsofcrimsonsatin，elaboratelyquilted。Theremainsofhisbreakfastwerebeforehim，andthedaintyandcostlylittletableserviceaddedaharmoniouscharmtothegrace，beauty，andrichnessofthefixedappointmentsoftheroom。Acheeryfirewasblazingonthehearth。
Afuriousgustofwindshookthewindows，andagreatwaveofsnowwashedagainstthemwithadrenchingsound，sotospeak。Thehandsomeyoungbachelormurmured:
\"Thatmeans，nogoingoutto-day。Well，Iamcontent。Butwhattodoforcompany？Motheriswellenough，AuntSusaniswellenough；butthese，likethepoor，Ihavewithmealways。Onsogrimadayasthis，oneneedsanewinterest，afreshelement，towhetthedulledgeofcaptivity。Thatwasveryneatlysaid，butitdoesn\'tmeananything。
Onedoesn\'twanttheedgeofcaptivitysharpenedup，youknow，butjustthereverse。\"
HeglancedathisprettyFrenchmantel-clock。
\"Thatclock\'swrongagain。Thatclockhardlyeverknowswhattimeitis；
andwhenitdoesknow，itliesaboutit——whichamountstothesamething。
Alfred!\"
Therewasnoanswer。
\"Alfred!……Goodservant，butasuncertainastheclock。\"
Alonzotouchedanelectricbellbuttoninthewall。Hewaitedamoment，thentoucheditagain；waitedafewmomentsmore，andsaid:
\"Batteryoutoforder，nodoubt。ButnowthatIhavestarted，Iwillfindoutwhattimeitis。\"Hesteppedtoaspeaking-tubeinthewall，blewitswhistle，andcalled，\"Mother!\"andrepeatedittwice。
\"Well，that\'snouse。Mother\'sbatteryisoutoforder，too。Can\'traiseanybodydown-stairs——thatisplain。\"
Hesatdownatarosewooddesk，leanedhischinontheleft-handedgeofitandspoke，asiftothefloor:\"AuntSusan!\"
Alow，pleasantvoiceanswered，\"Isthatyou，Alonzo？\'
\"Yes。I\'mtoolazyandcomfortabletogodownstairs；Iaminextremity，andIcan\'tseemtoscareupanyhelp。\"
\"Dearme，whatisthematter？\"
\"Matterenough，Icantellyou!\"
\"Oh，don\'tkeepmeinsuspense，dear!Whatisit？\"
\"Iwanttoknowwhattimeitis。\"
\"Youabominableboy，whataturnyoudidgiveme!Isthatall？\"
\"All——onmyhonor。Calmyourself。Tellmethetime，andreceivemyblessing。\"
\"Justfiveminutesafternine。Nocharge——keepyourblessing。\"
\"Thanks。Itwouldn\'thaveimpoverishedme，aunty，norsoenrichedyouthatyoucouldlivewithoutothermeans。\"
Hegotup，murmuring，\"Justfiveminutesafternine，\"andfacedhisclock。\"Ah，\"saidhe，\"youaredoingbetterthanusual。Youareonlythirty-fourminuteswrong。Letmesee……，letmesee……
Thirty-threeandtwenty-onearefifty-four；fourtimesfifty-fouraretwohundredandthirty-six。Oneoff，leavestwohundredandthirty-five。
That\'sright。\"
Heturnedthehandsofhisclockforwardtilltheymarkedtwenty-fiveminutestoone，andsaid，\"Nowseeifyoucan\'tkeeprightforawhile——elseI\'llraffleyou!\"
Hesatdownatthedeskagain，andsaid，\"AuntSusan!\"
\"Yes，dear。\"
\"Hadbreakfast？\"
\"Yes，indeed，anhourago。\"
\"Busy？\"
\"No——exceptsewing。Why？\"
\"Gotanycompany？\"
\"No，butIexpectsomeathalfpastnine。\"
\"IwishIdid。I\'mlonesome。Iwanttotalktosomebody。\"
\"Verywell，talktome。\"
\"Butthisisveryprivate。\"
\"Don\'tbeafraid——talkrightalong，there\'snobodyherebutme。\"
\"Ihardlyknowwhethertoventureornot，but——\"
\"Butwhat？Oh，don\'tstopthere!Youknowyoucantrustme，Alonzo——youknow，youcan。\"
\"Ifeelit，aunt，butthisisveryserious。Itaffectsmedeeply——me，andallthefamily——eventhewholecommunity。\"
\"Oh，Alonzo，tellme!Iwillneverbreatheawordofit。Whatisit？\"
\"Aunt，ifImightdare——\"
\"Oh，pleasegoon!Iloveyou，andfeelforyou。Tellmeall。
Confideinme。Whatisit？\"
\"Theweather!\"
\"Plaguetaketheweather!Idon\'tseehowyoucanhavethehearttoservemeso，Lon。\"
\"There，there，auntydear，I\'msorry；Iam，onmyhonor。Iwon\'tdoitagain。Doyouforgiveme？\"
\"Yes，sinceyouseemsosincereaboutit，thoughIknowIoughtn\'tto。
YouwillfoolmeagainassoonasIhaveforgottenthistime。\"
\"No，Iwon\'t，honorbright。Butsuchweather，oh，suchweather!You\'vegottokeepyourspiritsupartificially。Itissnowy，andblowy，andgusty，andbittercold!Howistheweatherwithyou？\"
\"Warmandrainyandmelancholy。Themournersgoaboutthestreetswiththeirumbrellasrunningstreamsfromtheendofeverywhalebone。There\'sanelevateddoublepavementofumbrellas，stretchingdownthesidesofthestreetsasfarasIcansee。I\'vegotafireforcheerfulness，andthewindowsopentokeepcool。Butitisvain，itisuseless:nothingcomesinbutthebalmybreathofDecember，withitsburdenofmockingodorsfromtheflowersthatpossesstherealmoutside，andrejoiceintheirlawlessprofusionwhilstthespiritofmanislow，andflaunttheirgaudysplendorsinhisfacewhilehissoulisclothedinsackclothandashesandhisheartbreaketh。\"
Alonzoopenedhislipstosay，\"Yououghttoprintthat，andgetitframed，\"butcheckedhimself，forheheardhisauntspeakingtosomeoneelse。Hewentandstoodatthewindowandlookedoutuponthewintryprospect。Thestormwasdrivingthesnowbeforeitmorefuriouslythanever；window-shutterswereslammingandbanging；aforlorndog，withbowedheadandtailwithdrawnfromservice，waspressinghisquakingbodyagainstawindwardwallforshelterandprotection；ayounggirlwasplowingknee-deepthroughthedrifts，withherfaceturnedfromtheblast，andthecapeofherwaterproofblowingstraightrearwardoverherhead。Alonzoshuddered，andsaidwithasigh，\"Bettertheslop，andthesultryrain，andeventheinsolentflowers，thanthis!\"
Heturnedfromthewindow，movedastep，andstoppedinalisteningattitude。Thefaint，sweetnotesofafamiliarsongcaughthisear。Heremainedthere，withhisheadunconsciouslybentforward，drinkinginthemelody，stirringneitherhandnorfoot，hardlybreathing。Therewasablemishintheexecutionofthesong，buttoAlonzoitseemedanaddedcharminsteadofadefect。Thisblemishconsistedofamarkedflattingofthethird，fourth，fifth，sixth，andseventhnotesoftherefrainorchorusofthepiece。Whenthemusicended，Alonzodrewadeepbreath，andsaid，\"Ah，Ineverhaveheard\'IntheSweetBy-and-by\'sunglikethatbefore!\"
Hesteppedquicklytothedesk，listenedamoment，andsaidinaguarded，confidentialvoice，\"Aunty，whoisthisdivinesinger？\"
\"SheisthecompanyIwasexpecting。Stayswithmeamonthortwo。
Iwillintroduceyou。Miss——\"
\"Forgoodness\'sake，waitamoment，AuntSusan!Youneverstoptothinkwhatyouareabout!\"
Heflewtohisbedchamber，andreturnedinamomentperceptiblychangedinhisoutwardappearance，andremarking，snappishly:
\"Hangit，shewouldhaveintroducedmetothisangelinthatsky-bluedressing-gownwithred-hotlapels!Womenneverthink，whentheygeta-going。\"
Hehastenedandstoodbythedesk，andsaideagerly，\"Now，Aunty，Iamready，\"andfelltosmilingandbowingwithallthepersuasivenessandelegancethatwereinhim。
\"Verywell。MissRosannahEthelton，letmeintroducetoyoumyfavoritenephew，Mr。AlonzoFitzClarence。There!Youarebothgoodpeople，andIlikeyou；soIamgoingtotrustyoutogetherwhileIattendtoafewhouseholdaffairs。Sitdown，Rosannah；sitdown，Alonzo。Good-by；I
sha\'n\'tbegonelong。\"
Alonzohadbeenbowingandsmilingallthewhile，andmotioningimaginaryyoungladiestositdowninimaginarychairs，butnowhetookaseathimself，mentallysaying，\"Oh，thisisluck!Letthewindsblownow，andthesnowdrive，andtheheavensfrown!LittleIcare!\"
Whiletheseyoungpeoplechatthemselvesintoanacquaintanceship，letustakethelibertyofinspectingthesweeterandfairerofthetwo。Shesatalone，athergracefulease，inarichlyfurnishedapartmentwhichwasmanifestlytheprivateparlorofarefinedandsensiblelady，ifsignsandsymbolsmaygoforanything。Forinstance，byalow，comfortablechairstoodadainty，top-heavyworkstand，whosesummitwasafancifullyembroideredshallowbasket，withvaricoloredcrewels，andotherstringsandodds，andendsprotrudingfromunderthegapinglidandhangingdowninnegligentprofusion。OnthefloorlaybrightshredsofTurkeyred，Prussianblue，andkindredfabrics，bitsofribbon，aspoolortwo，apairofscissors，andarollorsooftintedsilkenstuffs。
Onaluxurioussofa，upholsteredwithsomesortofsoftIndiangoodswroughtinblackandgoldthreadsinterwebbedwithotherthreadsnotsopronouncedincolor，layagreatsquareofcoarsewhitestuff，uponwhosesurfacearichbouquetofflowerswasgrowing，underthedeftcultivationofthecrochet-needle。Thehouseholdcatwasasleeponthisworkofart。
Inabay-windowstoodaneaselwithanunfinishedpictureonit，andapaletteandbrushesonachairbesideit。Therewerebookseverywhere:
Robertson\'sSermons，Tennyson，MoodyandSankey，Hawthorne，RabandHisFriends，cook-books，prayer-books，pattern-books——andbooksaboutallkindsofodiousandexasperatingpottery，ofcourse。Therewasapiano，withadeck-loadofmusic，andmoreinatender。Therewasagreatplentyofpicturesonthewalls，ontheshelvesofthemantelpiece，andaroundgenerally；wherecoignsofvantageofferedwerestatuettes，andquaintandprettygimcracks，andrareandcostlyspecimensofpeculiarlydevilishchina。Thebay-windowgaveuponagardenthatwasablazewithforeignanddomesticflowersandfloweringshrubs。
Butthesweetyounggirlwasthedaintiestthingthesepremises，withinorwithout，couldofferforcontemplation:delicatelychiseledfeatures，ofGreciancast；hercomplexionthepuresnowofajaponicathatisreceivingafaintreflectedenrichmentfromsomescarletneighborofthegarden；great，softblueeyesfringedwithlong，curvinglashes；anexpressionmadeupofthetrustfulnessofachildandthegentlenessofafawn；abeautifulheadcrownedwithitsownprodigalgold；alitheandroundedfigure，whoseeveryattitudeandmovementwasinstinctwithnativegrace。
Herdressandadornmentweremarkedbythatexquisiteharmonythatcancomeonlyofafinenaturaltasteperfectedbyculture。Hergownwasofasimplemagentatulle，cutbias，traversedbythreerowsoflight-blueflounces，withtheselvageedgesturnedupwithashes-of-roseschenille；
overdressofdarkbaytarlatanwithscarletsatinlambrequins；corn-
coloredpolonaise，enzanier，loopedwithmother-of-pearlbuttonsandsilvercord，andhauledaftandmadefastbybuffvelvetlashings；basqueoflavenderreps，pickedoutwithvalenciennes；lowneck，shortsleeves；
maroonvelvetnecktieedgedwithdelicatepinksilk；insidehandkerchiefofsomesimplethree-plyingrainfabricofasoftsaffrontint；coralbraceletsandlocket-chain；coiffureofforget-me-notsandlilies-of-the-valleymassedaroundanoblecalla。
Thiswasall；yeteveninthissubduedattireshewasdivinelybeautiful。
Thenwhatmustshehavebeenwhenadornedforthefestivalortheball？
AllthistimeshehadbeenbusilychattingwithAlonzo，unconsciousofourinspection。Theminutesstillsped，andstillshetalked。Butbyandbyshehappenedtolookup，andsawtheclock。Acrimsonblushsentitsrichfloodthroughhercheeks，andsheexclaimed:
\"There，good-by，Mr。FitzClarence；Imustgonow!\"
Shesprangfromherchairwithsuchhastethatshehardlyheardtheyoungman\'sansweringgood-by。Shestoodradiant，graceful，beautiful，andgazed，wondering，upontheaccusingclock。Presentlyherpoutinglipsparted，andshesaid:
\"Fiveminutesaftereleven!Nearlytwohours，anditdidnotseemtwentyminutes!Oh，dear，whatwillhethinkofme!\"
Attheself-samemomentAlonzowasstaringathisclock。Andpresentlyhesaid:
\"Twenty-fiveminutestothree!Nearlytwohours，andIdidn\'tbelieveitwastwominutes!Isitpossiblethatthisclockishumbuggingagain？
MissEthelton!Justonemoment，please。Areyouthereyet？\"
\"Yes，butbequick；I\'mgoingrightaway。\"
\"Wouldyoubesokindastotellmewhattimeitis？\"
Thegirlblushedagain，murmuredtoherself，\"It\'srightdowncruelofhimtoaskme!\"andthenspokeupandansweredwithadmirablycounterfeitedunconcern，\"Fiveminutesaftereleven。\"
\"Oh，thankyou!Youhavetogo，now，haveyou？\"
\"I\'msorry。\"
Noreply。
\"MissEthelton!\"
\"Well？\"
\"Youyou\'rethereyet，ain\'tyou？\"
\"Yes；butpleasehurry。Whatdidyouwanttosay？\"
\"Well，I——well，nothinginparticular。It\'sverylonesomehere。It\'saskingagreatdeal，Iknow，butwouldyoumindtalkingwithmeagainbyandby——thatis，ifitwillnottroubleyoutoomuch？\"
\"Idon\'tknowbutI\'llthinkaboutit。I\'lltry。\"
\"Oh，thanks!MissEthelton!……Ah，me，she\'sgone，andherearetheblackcloudsandthewhirlingsnowandtheragingwindscomeagain!
Butshesaidgood-by。Shedidn\'tsaygoodmorning，shesaidgood-by!……
Theclockwasright，afterall。Whatalightning-wingedtwohoursitwas!\"
Hesatdown，andgazeddreamilyintohisfireforawhile，thenheavedasighandsaid:
\"Howwonderfulitis!TwolittlehoursagoIwasafreeman，andnowmyheart\'sinSanFrancisco!\"
AboutthattimeRosannahEthelton，proppedinthewindow-seatofherbedchamber，bookinhand，wasgazingvacantlyoutovertherainyseasthatwashedtheGoldenGate，andwhisperingtoherself，\"HowdifferentheisfrompoorBurley，withhisemptyheadandhissinglelittleantictalentofmimicry!\"
II
FourweekslaterMr。SidneyAlgernonBurleywasentertainingagayluncheoncompany，inasumptuousdrawing-roomonTelegraphHill，withsomecapitalimitationsofthevoicesandgesturesofcertainpopularactorsandSanFranciscanliterarypeopleandBonanzagrandees。Hewaselegantlyupholstered，andwasahandsomefellow，barringatriflingcastinhiseye。Heseemedveryjovial，butneverthelesshekepthiseyeonthedoorwithanexpectantanduneasywatchfulness。Byandbyanobby。
lackeyappeared，anddeliveredamessagetothemistress，whonoddedherheadunderstandingly。ThatseemedtosettlethethingforMr。Burley；
hisvivacitydecreasedlittlebylittle，andadejectedlookbegantocreepintooneofhiseyesandasinisteroneintotheother。
Therestofthecompanydepartedinduetime，leavinghimwiththemistress，towhomhesaid:
\"Thereisnolongeranyquestionaboutit。Sheavoidsme。Shecontinuallyexcusesherself。IfIcouldseeher，ifIcouldspeaktoheronlyamomentbutthissuspense——\"
\"Perhapsherseemingavoidanceismereaccident，Mr。Burley。Gotothesmalldrawing-roomup-stairsandamuseyourselfamoment。Iwilldespatchahouseholdorderthatisonmymind，andthenIwillgotoherroom。Withoutdoubtshewillbepersuadedtoseeyou。\"
Mr。Burleywentup-stairs，intendingtogotothesmalldrawing-room，butashewaspassing\"AuntSusan\'s\"privateparlor，thedoorofwhichstoodslightlyajar，heheardajoyouslaughwhichherecognized；sowithoutknockorannouncementhesteppedconfidentlyin。Butbeforehecouldmakehispresenceknownheheardwordsthatharroweduphissoulandchilledhisyoungblood，dieheardavoicesay:
\"Darling，ithascome!\"
ThenheheardRosannahEthelton，whosebackwastowardhim，say:
\"Sohasyours，dearest!\"
Hesawherbowedformbendlower；heheardherkisssomething——notmerelyonce，butagainandagain!Hissoulragedwithinhim。Theheartbreakingconversationwenton:
\"Rosannah，Iknewyoumustbebeautiful，butthisisdazzling，thisisblinding，thisisintoxicating!\"
\"Alonzo，itissuchhappinesstohearyousayit。Iknowitisnottrue，butIamsogratefultohaveyouthinkitis，nevertheless!Iknewyoumusthaveanobleface，butthegraceandmajestyoftherealitybeggarthepoorcreationofmyfancy。\"
Burleyheardthatrattlingshowerofkissesagain。
\"Thankyou，myRosannah!Thephotographflattersme，butyoumustnotallowyourselftothinkofthat。Sweetheart？\"
\"Yes，Alonzo。\"
\"Iamsohappy，Rosannah。\"
\"Oh，Alonzo，nonethathavegonebeforemeknewwhatlovewas，nonethatcomeaftermewilleverknowwhathappinessis。Ifloatinagorgeouscloudland，aboundlessfirmamentofenchantedandbewilderingecstasy!\"
\"Oh，myRosannah!foryouaremine，areyounot？\"
\"Wholly，oh，whollyyours，Alonzo，nowandforever!Allthedaylong，andallthroughmynightlydreams，onesongsingsitself，anditssweetburdenis，\'AlonzoFitzClarence，AlonzoFitzClarence，Eastport，stateofMaine!\'\"
\"Cursehim，I\'vegothisaddress，anyway!\"roaredBurley，inwardly，andrushedfromtheplace。
JustbehindtheunconsciousAlonzostoodhismother，apictureofastonishment。Shewassomuffledfromheadtoheelinfursthatnothingofherselfwasvisiblebuthereyesandnose。Shewasagoodallegoryofwinter，forshewaspowderedalloverwithsnow。
BehindtheunconsciousRosannahstood\"Aunt\'Susan，\"anotherpictureofastonishment。Shewasagoodallegoryofsummer，forshewaslightlyclad，andwasvigorouslycoolingtheperspirationonherfacewithafan。
Bothofthesewomenhadtearsofjoyintheireyes。
\"Soho!\"exclaimedMrs。FitzClarence，\"thisexplainswhynobodyhasbeenabletodragyououtofyourroomforsixweeks，Alonzo!\"
\"Soho!\"exclaimedAuntSusan，\"thisexplainswhyyouhavebeenahermitforthepastsixweeks，Rosannah!\"
Theyoungcouplewereontheirfeetinaninstant，abashed，andstandinglikedetecteddealersinstolengoodsawaitingjudgeLynch\'sdoom。
\"Blessyou，myson!Iamhappyinyourhappiness。Cometoyourmother\'sarms，Alonzo!\"
\"Blessyou，Rosannah，formydearnephew\'ssake!Cometomyarms!\"
ThenwasthereaminglingofheartsandoftearsofrejoicingonTelegraphHillandinEastportSquare。
Servantswerecalledbytheelders，inbothplaces。Untoonewasgiventheorder，\"Pilethisfirehigh，withhickorywood，andbringmearoasting-hotlemonade。\"
Untotheotherwasgiventheorder，\"Putoutthis，fire，andbringmetwopalm-leaffansandapitcherofice-water。\"
Thentheyoungpeopleweredismissed，andtheelderssatdowntotalkthesweetsurpriseoverandmaketheweddingplans。
SomeminutesbeforethisMr。BurleyrushedfromthemansiononTelegraphHillwithoutmeetingortakingformalleaveofanybody。Hehissedthroughhisteeth，inunconsciousimitationofapopularfavoriteinmelodrama，\"Himshallsheneverwed!Ihaveswornit!EregreatNatureshallhavedoffedherwinter\'serminetodontheemeraldgaudsofspring，sheshallbemine!\"
III
Twoweekslater。Everyfewhours，duringsamethreeorfourdays，averyprimanddevout-lookingEpiscopalclergyman，withacastinhiseye，hadvisitedAlonzo。Accordingtohiscard，hewastheRev。MeltonHargrave，ofCincinnati。Hesaidhehadretiredfromtheministryonaccountofhishealth。Ifhehadsaidonaccountofill-health，hewouldprobablyhaveerred，tojudgebyhiswholesomelooksandfirmbuild。Hewastheinventorofanimprovementintelephones，andhopedtomakehisbreadbysellingtheprivilegeofusingit。\"Atpresent，\"hecontinued，\"amanmaygoandtapatelegraphwirewhichisconveyingasongoraconcertfromonestatetoanother，andhecanattachhisprivatetelephoneandstealahearingofthatmusicasitpassesalong。Myinventionwillstopallthat。\"
\"Well，\"answeredAlonzo，\"iftheownerofthemusiccouldnotmisswhatwasstolen，whyshouldhecare？\"
\"Heshouldn\'tcare，\"saidtheReverend。
\"Well？\"saidAlonzo，inquiringly。
\"Suppose，\"repliedtheReverend，\"supposethat，insteadofmusicthatwaspassingalongandbeingstolen，theburdenofthewirewaslovingendearmentsofthemostprivateandsacrednature？\"
Alonzoshudderedfromheadtoheel。\"Sir，itisapricelessinvention，\"
saidhe；\"Imusthaveitatanycost。\"
ButtheinventionwasdelayedsomewhereontheroadfromCincinnati，mostunaccountably。TheimpatientAlonzocouldhardlywait。ThethoughtofRosannah\'ssweetwordsbeingsharedwithhimbysomeribaldthiefwasgallingtohim。TheReverendcamefrequentlyandlamentedthedelay，andtoldofmeasureshehadtakentohurrythingsup。ThiswassomelittlecomforttoAlonzo。
OneforenoontheReverendascendedthestairsandknockedatAlonzo\'sdoor。Therewasnoresponse。Heentered，glancedeagerlyaround，。
closedthedoorsoftly，thenrantothetelephone。Theexquisitelysoftandremotestrainsofthe\"SweetBy-and-by\"camefloatingthroughtheinstrument。Thesingerwasflatting，asusual，thefivenotesthatfollowthefirsttwointhechorus，whentheReverendinterruptedherwiththisword，inavoicewhichwasanexactimitationofAlonzo\'s，withjustthefaintestflavorofimpatienceadded:
\"Sweetheart？\"
\"Yes，Alonzo？\"
\"Pleasedon\'tsingthatanymorethisweek-trysomethingmodern。\"
Theagilestepthatgoeswithahappyheartwasheardonthestairs，andtheReverend，smilingdiabolically，soughtsuddenrefugebehindtheheavyfoldsofthevelvetwindowcurtains。Alonzoenteredandflewtothetelephone。Saidhe:
\"Rosannah，dear，shallwesingsomethingtogether？\"
\"Somethingmodern？\"askedshe，withsarcasticbitterness。
\"Yes，ifyouprefer。\"
\"Singityourself，ifyoulike!\"
Thissnappishnessamazedandwoundedtheyoungman。Hesaid:
\"Rosarmah，thatwasnotlikeyou。\"
\"Isupposeitbecomesmeasmuchasyourverypolitespeechbecameyou，Mr。FitzClarence。\"
\"MisterFitzClarence!Rosannah，therewasnothingimpoliteaboutmyspeech。\"
\"Oh，indeed!Ofcourse，then，Imisunderstoodyou，andImosthumblybegyourpardon，ha-ha-ha!Nodoubtyousaid，\'Don\'tsingitanymoreto-day。\'\"
\"Singwhatanymoreto-day？\"
\"Thesongyoumentioned，ofcourse，Howveryobtuseweare，allofasudden!\"
\"Inevermentionedanysong。\"
\"Oh，youdidn\'t？\"
\"No，Ididn\'t!\"
\"Iamcompelledtoremarkthatyoudid。\"
\"AndIamobligedtoreiteratethatIdidn\'t。\"
\"Asecondrudeness!Thatissufficient，sir。Iwillneverforgiveyou。
Allisoverbetweenus。\"
Thencameamuffledsoundofcrying。Alonzohastenedtosay:
\"Oh，Rosannah，unsaythosewords!Thereissomedreadfulmysteryhere，somehideousmistake。IamutterlyearnestandsincerewhenIsayI
neversaidanythingaboutanysong。Iwouldnothurtyouforthewholeworld……Rosannah，dearspeaktome，won\'tyou？\"
Therewasapause；thenAlonzoheardthegirl\'ssobbingsretreating，andknewshehadgonefromthetelephone。Herosewithaheavysigh，andhastenedfromtheroom，sayingtohimself，\"Iwillransackthecharitymissionsandthehauntsofthepoorformymother。ShewillpersuadeherthatInevermeanttowoundher。\"
AminutelatertheReverendwascrouchingoverthetelephonelikeacatthatknoweththewaysoftheprey。Hehadnotverymanyminutestowait。