第1章

SCENE：AParlor—CarontheNewYorkCentralRailroad。Itislateafternoonintheearlyautumn，withacloudysunsetthreateningrain。

Thecarisunoccupiedsavebyagentleman，whositsfrontingoneofthewindows，withhisfeetinanotherchair；anewspaperliesacrosshislap；hishatisdrawndownoverhiseyes，andheisapparentlyasleep。Thereardoorofthecaropens，andtheconductorenterswithayounglady，heavilyveiled，theportercomingafterwithherwrapsandtravelling—bags。Thelady’sairisofmingledanxietyanddesperation，withacertainfiercenessofmovement。Shecastsacarelessglanceovertheemptychairs。

CONDUCTOR：\"Here’syourticket，madam。Youcanhaveanyoftheplacesyoulikehere，——glancingattheunconsciousgentleman，andthenattheyounglady，——\"ifyouprefer，youcangoandtakethatseatintheforwardcar。\"

MISSLUCYGALBRAITH：\"Oh，Ican’tridebackwards。I’llstayhere，please。Thankyou。\"Theporterplacesherthingsinachairbyawindow，acrossthecarfromthesleepinggentleman，andshethrowsherselfwearilyintothenextseat，wheelsroundinit，andliftingherveilgazesabsentlyoutatthelandscape。Herface，whichisverypretty，withalowforeheadshadowedbythickblondhair，showsthetracesoftears。Shemakessearchinherpocketforherhandkerchief，whichshepressestohereyes。Theconductor，lingeringamoment，goesout。

PORTER：\"I’llberighthere，atdeendofdecah，ifyoushouldhappentowantanything，miss，\"——makingafeintofarrangingtheshawlsandsatchels。\"Shouldyoulikesomedesethingshungup？

Well，dey’llbejus’aswellindechair。We’sprettylatedisafternoon；more’nfourhoursbehin’time。OughttobeenintoAlbany’foredis。Freighttrainoffdetrackjus’dissideo’Rochester，an’hadtowait。WasyougoingtostopatSchenectady，miss？\"

MISSGALBRAITH，absently：\"AtSchenectady？\"Afterapause，\"Yes。\"

PORTER：\"Well，that’sdenextstation，anddendecahsdon’tstopag’intilldeygittoAlbany。AnythingelseIcandoforyounow，miss？\"

MISSGALBRAITH：\"No，no，thankyou，nothing。\"ThePorterhesitates，takesoffhiscap，andscratcheshisheadwithamurmurofembarrassment。MissGalbraithlooksupathiminquiringlyandthensuddenlytakesoutherporte—monnaie，andfeeshim。

PORTER：\"Thankyou，miss，thankyou。Ifyouwantanythingatall，miss，I’mrightdereatdeendofdecah。\"Hegoesoutbythenarrowpassage—waybesidethesmallerenclosedparlor。MissGalbraithlooksaskanceatthesleepinggentleman，andthen，rising，goestothelargemirror，topinherveil，whichhasbecomeloosenedfromherhat。Shegivesalittlestartatsightofthegentlemaninthemirror，butarrangesherhead—gear，andreturningtoherplacelooksoutofthewindowagain。Afteralittlewhileshemovesaboutuneasilyinherchair，thenleansforward，andtriestoraiseherwindow；sheliftsitpartlyup，whenthecatchslipsfromherfingers，andthewindowfallsshutagainwithacrash。

MISSGALBRAITH：\"Oh，DEAR，howprovoking！IsupposeImustcalltheporter。\"Sherisesfromherseat，butonattemptingtomoveawayshefindsthattheskirtofherpolonaisehasbeencaughtinthefallingwindow。Shepullsatit，andthentriestoliftthewindowagain，buttheclothhaswedgeditin，andshecannotstirit。\"Well，I

certainlythinkthisisbeyondendurance！Porter！Ah，——Porter！Oh，he’llneverhearmeintheracketthatthesewheelsaremaking！I

wishthey’dstop，——I\"——Thegentlemanstirsinhischair，liftshishead，listens，takeshisfeetdownfromtheotherseat，risesabruptly，andcomestoMissGalbraith’sside。

MR。ALLENRICHARDS：\"Willyouallowmetoopenthewindowforyou？\"

Startingback，\"MissGalbraith！\"

MISSGALBRAITH：\"Al——Mr。Richards！\"Thereisasilenceforsomemoments，inwhichtheyremainlookingateachother；then，—

MR。RICHARDS：\"Lucy\"—

MISSGALBRAITH：\"Iforbidyoutoaddressmeinthatway，Mr。

Richards。\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Why，youwerejustgoingtocallmeAllen！\"

MISSGALBRAITH：\"Thatwasanaccident，youknowverywell，——animpulse\"—

MR。RICHARDS：\"Well，soisthis。\"

MISSGALBRAITH：\"Ofwhichyououghttobeashamedtotakeadvantage。

Iwonderatyourpresumptioninspeakingtomeatall。It’squiteidle，Icanassureyou。Everythingisatanendbetweenus。ItseemsthatIborewithyoutoolong；butI’mthankfulthatIhadthespirittonotatlast，andtoactintime。Andnowthatchancehasthrownustogether，Itrustthatyouwillnotforceyourconversationuponme。Nogentlemanwould，andIhavealwaysgivenyoucreditforthinkingyourselfagentleman。Irequestthatyouwillnotspeaktome。\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"You’vespokentenwordstomeforeveryoneofminetoyou。ButIwon’tannoyyou。Ican’tbelieveit，Lucy；IcanNOT

believeit。Itseemslikesomerascallydream，andifIhadhadanysleepsinceithappened，IshouldthinkI——\"

MISSGALBRAITH：\"Oh！YouweresleepingsoundlyenoughwhenIgotintothecar！\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Iownit；Iwasperfectlyusedup，andIHADdroppedoff。\"

MISSGALBRAITH，scornfully：\"ThenperhapsyouHAVEdreamedit。\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"I’llthinksotillyoutellmeagainthatourengagementisbroken；thatthefaithfulloveofyearsistogofornothing；thatyoudismissmewithcruelinsult，withoutonewordofexplanation，withoutawordofintelligibleaccusation，even。It’stoomuch！I’vebeenthinkingitalloverandover，andIcan’tmakeheadortailofit。Imeanttoseeyouagainassoonaswegottotown，andimploreyoutohearme。Come，it’samightyseriousmatter，Lucy。I’mnotamantoputonheroicsandthat；but_I_

believeit’llplaytheverydeucewithme，Lucy，——thatistosay，MissGalbraith，——Idoindeed。It’llgivemealowopinionofwoman。\"

MISSGALBRAITH，avertingherface：\"Oh，averyhighopinionofwomanyouhavehad！\"

MR。RICHARDS，withsentiment：\"Well，therewasonewomanwhomI

thoughtaperfectangel。\"

MISSGALBRAITH：\"Indeed！MayIaskhername？\"

MR。RICHARDS，withaforlornsmile。\"Ishallbeobligedtodescribehersomewhatformallyas——MissGalbraith。\"

MISSGALBRAITH：\"Mr。Richards！\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Why，you’vejustforbiddenmetosayLUCY！Youmusttellme，dearest，whatIhavedonetooffendyou。Theworstcriminalsarenotcondemnedunheard，andI’vealwaysthoughtyouweremercifulifnotjust。AndnowIonlyaskyoutobejust。\"

MISSGALBRAITH，lookingoutofthewindow：\"Youknowverywellwhatyou’vedone。Youcan’texpectmetohumiliatemyselfbyputtingyouroffenceintowords。\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Uponmysoul，Idon’tknowwhatyoumean！IDON’T

knowwhatI’vedone。Whenyoucameatme，lastnight，withmyringandpresentsandotherlittletraps，youmighthaveknockedmedownwiththelightestofthelot。Iwasperfectlydazed；Icouldn’tsayanythingbeforeyouwereoff，andallIcoulddowastohopethatyou’dbemorelikeyourselfinthemorning。Andinthemorning，whenIcameroundtoMrs。Philips’s，Ifoundyouweregone，andIcameafteryoubythenexttrain。\"

MISSGALBRAITH：\"Mr。Richards，yourpersonalhistoryforthelasttwenty—fourhoursisamatterofperfectindifferencetome，asitshallbeforthenexttwenty—fourhundredyears。Iseethatyouareresolvedtoannoyme，andsinceyouwillnotleavethecar，Imustdoso。\"Sheriseshaughtilyfromherseat，buttheimprisonedskirtofherpolonaisetwitchesherabruptlybackintoherchair。Sheburstsintotears。\"Oh，whatSHALLIdo？\"

MR。RICHARDS，dryly：\"Youshalldowhateveryoulike，MissGalbraith，whenI’vesetyoufree；forIseeyourdressiscaughtinthewindow。Whenit’sonceout，I’llshutthewindow，andyoucancalltheportertoraiseit。\"Heleansforwardoverherchair，andwhilesheshrinksbackthelengthofhertether，hetugsatthewindow—fastening。\"Ican’tgetatit。Wouldyoubesogoodastostandup，——allyoucan？\"MissGalbraithstandsup，droopingly，andMr。Richardsmakesamovementtowardsher，andthenfallsback。\"No，thatwon’tdo。Pleasesitdownagain。\"Hegoesroundherchairandtriestogetatthewindowfromthatside。\"Ican’tgetanypurchaseonit。Whydon’tyoucutoutthatpiece？\"MissGalbraithstaresathimindumbamazement。\"Well，Idon’tseewhatwe’retodo：I’llgoandgettheporter。\"Hegoestotheendofthecar，andreturns。\"I

can’tfindtheporter，——hemustbeinoneoftheothercars。But\"——

brighteningwiththefortunateconception——\"I’vejustthoughtofsomething。Willitunbutton？\"

MISSGALBRAITH：\"Unbutton？\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Yes；thisgarmentofyours。\"

MISSGALBRAITH：\"Mypolonaise？\"Inquiringly，\"Yes。\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Well，then，it’saverysimplematter。IfyouwilljusttakeitoffIcaneasily\"—

MISSGALBRAITH，faintly：\"Ican’t。Apolonaiseisn’tlikeanovercoat\"—

MR。RICHARDS，withdismay：\"Oh！Well，then\"——Heremainsthinkingamomentinhopelessperplexity。

MISSGALBRAITH，withpoliteceremony：\"Theporterwillbebacksoon。

Don’ttroubleyourselfanyfurtheraboutit，please。Ishalldoverywell。\"

MR。RICHARDS，withoutheedingher：\"Ifyoucouldkneelonthatfoot—

cushion，andfacethewindow\"—

MISSGALBRAITH，kneelingpromptly：\"So？\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Yes，andnow\"——kneelingbesideher——\"ifyou’llallowmeto——togetatthewindow—catch，\"——hestretchesbotharmsforward；

sheshrinksfromhisrightintohisleft，andthenbackagain，——\"andpullwhileIraisethewindow\"—

MISSGALBRAITH：\"Yes，yes；butdohurry，please。Ifanyonesawus，Idon’tknowwhattheywouldthink。It’sperfectlyridiculous！\"——

pulling。\"It’scaughtinthecornerofthewindow，betweentheframeandthesash，anditwon’tcome！Ismyhairtroublingyou？Isitinyoureyes？\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"It’sinmyeyes，butitisn’ttroublingme。AmI

inconveniencingyou？\"

MISSGALBRAITH：\"Oh，notatall。\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Well，nowthen，pullhard！\"Heliftsthewindowwithagreateffort；thepolonaisecomesfreewithastart，andshestrikesviolentlyagainsthim。Insupportingtheshockhecannotforbearcatchingherforaninstanttohisheart。Shefreesherself，andstartsindignantlytoherfeet。

MISSGALBRAITH：\"Oh，whatacowardly——subterfuge！\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Cowardly？You’venoideahowmuchcourageittook。\"

MissGalbraithputsherhandkerchieftoherface，andsobs。\"Oh，don’tcry！Blessmyheart，——I’msorryIdidit！ButyouknowhowdearlyIloveyou，Lucy，thoughIdothinkyou’vebeencruellyunjust。ItoldyouInevershouldloveanyoneelse，andInevershall。Icouldn’thelpit；uponmysoul，Icouldn’t。Nobodycould。

Don’tletitvexyou，my\"——Heapproachesher。

MISSGALBRAITH：\"Pleasenottouchme，sir！Youhavenolongeranyrightwhatevertodoso。\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Youmisinterpretaveryinoffensivegesture。Ihavenoideaoftouchingyou，butIhopeImaybeallowed，asaspecialfavor，to——pickupmyhat，whichyouareintheactofsteppingon。\"

MissGalbraithhastilyturns，andstrikesthehatwithherwhirlingskirts；itrollstotheothersideoftheparlor，andMr。Richards，whogoesafterit，uttersanironical\"Thanks！\"Hebrushesit，andputsiton，lookingatherwhereshehasagainseatedherselfatthewindowwithherbacktohim，andcontinues，\"Asforanyfurthermolestationfromme\"—

MISSGALBRAITH：\"IfyouWILLtalktome\"—

MR。RICHARDS：\"Excuseme，Iamnottalkingtoyou。\"

MISSGALBRAITH：\"Whatwereyoudoing？\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Iwasbeginningtothinkaloud。I——Iwassoliloquizing。IsupposeImaybeallowedtosoliloquize？\"

MISSGALBRAITH，verycoldly：\"Youcandowhatyoulike。\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Unfortunatelythat’sjustwhatIcan’tdo。IfI

coulddoasIliked，Ishouldaskyouasinglequestion。\"

MISSGALBRAITH，afteramoment：\"Well，sir，youmayaskyourquestion。\"Sheremainsasbefore，withherchininherhand，lookingtearfullyoutofthewindow；herfaceisturnedfromMr。Richards，whohesitatesamomentbeforehespeaks。

MR。RICHARDS：\"Iwishtoaskyoujustthis，MissGalbraith：ifyoucouldn’tridebackwardsintheothercar，whydoyouridebackwardsinthis？\"

MISSGALBRAITH，buryingherfaceinherhandkerchief，andsobbing：

\"Oh，oh，oh！Thisistoobad！\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Oh，comenow，Lucy。Itbreaksmyhearttohearyougoingonso，andallfornothing。Bealittlemercifultobothofus，andlistentome。I’venodoubtIcanexplaineverythingifI

onceunderstandit，butit’sprettyhardexplainingathingifyoudon’tunderstandityourself。Doturnround。Iknowitmakesyousicktorideinthatway，andifyoudon’twanttofaceme——there！\"——

wheelinginhischairsoastoturnhisbackuponher——\"youneedn’t。

Thoughit’srathertryingtoafellow’spoliteness，nottomentionhisotherfeelings。Now，whatinthename\"—

PORTER，whoatthismomententerswithhisstep—ladder，andbeginstolightthelamps：\"Goingprettyslowag’in，sah。\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Yes；what’sthetrouble？\"

PORTER：\"Well，Idon’tknowexactly，sah。Somethingdematterwithdelocomotive。Wesha’n’tbeintoAlbanymuch’foreeighto’clock。\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"What’sthenextstation？\"

PORTER：\"Schenectady。\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Isthewholetrainasemptyasthiscar？\"

PORTER，laughing：\"Well，no，sah。Factis，discahdon’tbelongondistrain。It’saPullmanthatwehitchedonwhenyougotin，andwe’stakingitalongforoneofdeEasternroads。Weletyouin’causedeDrawing—roomswasallfull。Samewithdelady，\"——lookingsympatheticallyather，ashetakeshisstepstogoout。\"CanIdoanythingforyounow，miss？\"

MISSGALBRAITH，plaintively：\"No，thankyou；nothingwhatever。\"ShehasturnedwhileMr。RichardsandThePorterhavebeenspeaking，andnowfacesthebackoftheformer，butherveilisdrawnclosely。ThePortergoesout。

MR。RICHARDS，wheelingroundsoastoconfronther：\"Iwishyouwouldspeaktomehalfaskindlyasyoudotothatdarky，Lucy。\"

MISSGALBRAITH：\"HEisaGENTLEMAN！\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Heisanurbaneandwell—informednobleman。Atanyrate，he’samanandabrother。ButsoamI。\"MissGalbraithdoesnotreply，andafterapauseMr。Richardsresumes。\"Talkingofgentlemen，Irecollect，once，comingupontheday—boattoPoughkeepsie，therewasapoordevilofatipsymankeptfollowingayoungfellowabout，andannoyinghimtodeath——tryingtofighthim，asatipsymanwill，andinsistingthattheyoungfellowhadinsultedhim。Byandbyhelosthisbalanceandwentoverboard，andtheotherjumpedafterhimandfishedhimout。\"SensationonthepartofMissGalbraith，whostirsuneasilyinherchair，looksoutofthewindow，thenlooksatMr。Richards，anddropsherhead。\"Therewasayoungladyonboard，whohadseenthewholething——averycharmingyoungladyindeed，withpaleblondhairgrowingverythickoverherforehead，anddarkeyelashestothesweetestblueeyesintheworld。

Well，thisyounglady’spapawasamongstthosewhocameuptosaycivilthingstotheyoungfellowwhenhegotaboardagain，andtoaskthehonor——hesaidtheHONOR——ofhisacquaintance。Andwhenhecameoutofhisstateroomindryclothes，thisinfatuatedoldgentlemanwaswaitingforhim，andtookhimandintroducedhimtohiswifeanddaughter；andthedaughtersaid，withtearsinhereyes，andaperfectlyintoxicatingimpulsiveness，thatitwasthegrandestandthemostheroicandthenoblestthingthatshehadeverseen，andsheshouldalwaysbeabettergirlforhavingseenit。Excuseme，MissGalbraith，fortroublingyouwiththesefactsofapersonalhistory，which，asyousay，isamatterofperfectindifferencetoyou。Theyoungfellowdidn’tthinkatthetimehehaddoneanythingextraordinary；butIdon’tsupposeheDIDexpecttolivetohavethesamegirltellhimhewasnogentleman。\"

MISSGALBRAITH，wildly：\"OAllen，Allen！YouKNOWIthinkyouareagentleman，andIalwaysdid！\"

MR。RICHARDS，languidly：\"Oh，Imerelyhadyourwordforit，justnow，thatyoudidn’t。\"Tenderly，\"Willyouhearme，Lucy？\"

MISSGALBRAITH，faintly：\"Yes。\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Well，whatisitI’vedone？WillyoutellmeifI

guessright？\"

MISSGALBRAITH，withdignity：\"Iaminnohumorforjesting，Allen。

AndIcanassureyouthatthoughIconsenttohearwhatyouhavetosay，orask，NOTHINGwillchangemydetermination。Allisoverbetweenus。\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Yes，Iunderstandthat，perfectly。Iamnowaskingmerelyforgeneralinformation。Idonotexpectyoutorelent，and，infact，Ishouldconsideritratherfrivolousifyoudid。No。WhatIhavealwaysadmiredinyourcharacter，Lucy，isafirm，logicalconsistency；aclearnessofmentalvisionthatleavesnosideofasubjectunsearched；andanunwaveringconstancyofpurpose。YoumaysaythatthesetraitsarecharacteristicofALLwomen；buttheyarepre—eminentlycharacteristicofyou，Lucy。\"MissGalbraithlooksaskanceathim，tomakeoutwhetherheisinearnestornot；hecontinues，withaperfectlyseriousair。\"AndIknownowthatifyou’reoffendedwithme，it’sfornotrivialcause。\"Shestirsuncomfortablyinherchair。WhatIhavedoneIcan’timagine，butitmustbesomethingmonstrous，sinceithasmadelifewithmeappearsoimpossiblethatyouarereadytoflingawayyourownhappiness——

forIknowyouDIDloveme，Lucy——anddestroymine。IwillbeginwiththeworstthingIcanthinkof。WasitbecauseIdancedsomuchwithFannyWatervliet？\"

MISSGALBRAITH，indignantly：\"HowcanyouinsultmebysupposingthatIcouldbejealousofsuchaperfectlittlegooseasthat？No，Allen！WhateverIthinkofyou，Istillrespectyoutoomuchforthat。\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"I’mgladtohearthatthereareyetdepthstowhichyouthinkmeincapableofdescending，andthatMissWatervlietisoneofthem。Iwillnowtakealittlehigherground。PerhapsyouthinkIflirtedwithMrs。Dawes。Ithought，myself，thatthethingmightbegintohavethatappearance，butIgiveyoumywordofhonorthatassoonastheideaoccurredtome，Idroppedher——ratherrudely，too。Thetroublewas，don’tyouknow，thatIfeltsoperfectlysafewithaMARRIEDfriendofyours。Icouldn’tbehangingaboutyouallthetime，andIwasafraidImightvexyouifIwentwiththeothergirls；andIdidn’tknowwhattodo。\"

MISSGALBRAITH：\"Ithinkyoubehavedrathersilly，gigglingsomuchwithher。But\"—

MR。RICHARDS：\"Iownit，Iknowitwassilly。But\"—

MISSGALBRAITH：\"Itwasn’tthat；itwasn’tthat！\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Wasitmyforgettingtobringyouthosethingsfromyourmother？\"

MISSGALBRAITH：\"No！\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"WasitbecauseIhadn’tgivenupsmokingyet？\"

MISSGALBRAITH：\"YouKNOWIneveraskedyoutogiveupsmoking。Itwasentirelyyourownproposition。\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"That’strue。That’swhatmademesoeasyaboutit。

IknewIcouldleaveitoffANYtime。Well，Iwillnotdisturbyouanylonger，MissGalbraith。\"Hethrowshisovercoatacrosshisarm，andtakesuphistravelling—bag。\"Ihavefailedtoguessyourfatal—

—conundrum；andIhavenolongeranyexcuseforremaining。Iamgoingintothesmoking—car。ShallIsendtheportertoyouforanything？\"

MISSGALBRAITH：\"No，thanks。\"Sheputsupherhandkerchieftoherface。

MR。RICHARDS：\"Lucy，doyousendmeaway？\"

MISSGALBRAITH，behindherhandkerchief：\"Youweregoing，yourself。\"

MR。RICHARDS，overhisshoulder：\"ShallIcomeback？\"

MISSGALBRAITH：\"Ihavenorighttodriveyoufromthecar。\"

MR。RICHARDS，comingback，andsittingdowninthechairnearesther：

\"Lucy，dearest，tellmewhat’sthematter。\"

MISSGALBRAITH：\"OAllen！yournotKNOWINGmakesitallthemorehopelessandkilling。ItshowsmethatweMUSTpart；thatyouwouldgoon，breakingmyheart，andgrindingmeintothedustaslongaswelived。\"Shesobs。\"Itshowsmethatyouneverunderstoodme，andyouneverwill。Iknowyou’regoodandkindandallthat，butthatonlymakesyournotunderstandingmesomuchtheworse。Idoitquiteasmuchforyoursakeasmyown，Allen。\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"I’dmuchratheryouwouldn’tputyourselfoutonmyaccount。\"

MISSGALBRAITH，withoutregardinghim：\"Ifyoucouldmortifymebeforeawholeroomfulofpeople，asyoudidlastnight，whatcouldI

expectaftermarriagebutcontinualinsult？\"

MR。RICHARDS，inamazement：\"HOWdidImortifyyou？IthoughtthatItreatedyouwithallthetendernessandaffectionthatadecentregardforthefeelingsofotherswouldallow。IwasashamedtofindIcouldn’tkeepawayfromyou。\"

MISSGALBRAITH：\"Oh，youwereATTENTIVEenough，Allen；nobodydeniesthat。Attentiveenoughinnon—essentials。Oh，yes！\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Well，whatvitalmattersdidIfailin？I’msureI

can’tremember。\"

MISSGALBRAITH：\"Idaresay！Idaresaytheywon’tappearvitaltoyou，Allen。Nothingdoes。AndifIhadtoldyou，Ishouldhavebeenmetwithridicule，Isuppose。ButIknewBETTERthantotell；I

respectedmyselftooMUCH。\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Butnowyoumustn’trespectyourselfQUITEsomuch，dearest。AndIpromiseyouIwon’tlaughatthemostseriousthing。

I’minnohumorforit。Ifitwereamatteroflifeanddeath，even，Icanassureyouthatitwouldn’tbringasmiletomycountenance。

No，indeed！Ifyouexpectmetolaugh，now，youmustsaysomethingparticularlyfunny。\"

MISSGALBRAITH：\"Iwasnotgoingtosayanythingfunny，asyoucallit，andIwillsaynothingatall，ifyoutalkinthatway。\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Well，Iwon’t，then。ButdoyouknowwhatIsuspect，Lucy？Iwouldn’tmentionittoeverybody，butIwilltoyou——instrictconfidence：Isuspectthatyou’reratherashamedofyourgrievance，ifyouhaveany。Isuspectit’snothingatall。\"

MISSGALBRAITH，verysternlyatfirst，witharisinghystericalinflection：\"Nothing，Allen！DoyoucallitNOTHING，tohaveMrs。

Dawescomeoutwithallthataboutyouraccidentonyourwayuptheriver，andaskmeifitdidn’tfrightenmeterriblytohearofit，evenafteritwasallover；andIhadtosayyouhadn’ttoldmeawordofit？’Why，Lucy！’\"——angrilymimickingMrs。Dawes，\"’youmustteachhimbetterthanthat。ImakeMr。Dawestellmeeverything。’

Littlesimpleton！Andthentohavethemalllaugh——Oh，dear，it’stoomuch！\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Why，mydearLucy\"—

MISSGALBRAITH，interruptinghim：\"Isawjusthowitwasgoingtobe，andI’mthankful，THANKFULthatithappened。Isawthatyoudidn’tcareenoughformetotakemeintoyourwholelife；thatyoudespisedanddistrustedme，andthatitwouldgetworseandworsetotheendofourdays；thatweshouldgrowfartherandfartherapart，andIshouldbeleftmopingathome，whileyouranaboutmakingconfidantesofotherwomenwhomyouconsideredWORTHYofyourconfidence。ItallFLASHEDuponmeinanINSTANT；andIresolvedtobreakwithyou，thenandthere；andIdid，justassoonaseverI

couldgotomyroomforyourthings，andI’mglad，——yes，——Oh，hu，hu，hu，hu，hu！——SOgladIdidit！\"

MR。RICHARDS，grimly：\"Yourjoyisobvious。MayIask\"—

MISSGALBRAITH：\"Oh，itwasn’ttheFIRSTproofyouhadgivenmehowlittleyoureallycaredforme，butIwasdetermineditshouldbethelast。Idaresayyou’veforgottenthem！Idaresayyoudon’tremembertellingMamieMorristhatyoudidn’tlikeembroideredcigar—

cases，whenyou’djustTOLDmethatyoudid，andletmebesuchafoolastocommenceoneforyou；butI’mthankfultosayTHATwentintothefire，——oh，yes，INSTANTLY！AndIdaresayyou’veforgottenthatyoudidn’ttellmeyourbrother’sengagementwastobekept，andletmecomeoutwithitthatnightattheRudges’，andthenlookedperfectlyaghast，sothateverybodythoughtIhadbeenblabbing！

Timeandagain，Allen，youhavemademesufferagonies，yes，AGONIES；

butyourpowertodosoisatanend。Iamfreeandhappyatlast。\"

Sheweepsbitterly。

MR。RICHARDS，quietly：\"Yes，IHADforgottenthosecrimes，andI

supposemanysimilaratrocities。Iownit，IAMforgetfulandcareless。Iwaswrongaboutthosethings。IoughttohavetoldyouwhyIsaidthattoMissMorris：Iwasafraidshewasgoingtoworkmeone。AstothataccidentItoldMrs。Dawesof，itwasn’tworthmentioning。Ourboatsimplywalkedoverasloopinthenight，andnobodywashurt。Ishouldn’thavethoughttwiceaboutit，ifshehadn’thappenedtobragoftheirpassingclosetoanicebergontheirwayhomefromEurope；thenItrottedoutMYpretty—neardisasterasamatchforhers，——confoundher！Iwishtheiceberghadsunkthem！

Onlyitwouldn’thavesunkher，——she’ssolight；she’dhavegonebobbingaboutallovertheAtlanticOcean，likeacork；she’sgotaperfectlife—preserverinthatmindofhers。\"MissGalbraithgivesalittlelaugh，andthenalittlemoan。\"Butsinceyouarehappy，I

willnotrepine，MissGalbraith。Idon’tpretendtobeveryhappymyself，butthen，Idon’tdeserveit。Sinceyouarereadytoletanabsolutelyunconsciousoffenceonmypartcancelallthepast；sinceyouletmydevotedloveweighasnothingagainstthemomentarypiquethatamaliciouslittlerattle—pate——shewasvexedatmyleavingher—

—couldmakeyoufeel，andchoosetogratifyawickedresentmentatthecostofanysufferingtome，why，Icanbegladandhappytoo。\"

Withrisinganger，\"Yes，MissGalbraith。AllISoverbetweenus。

Youcango！Irenounceyou！\"

MISSGALBRAITH，springingfiercelytoherfeet：\"Go，indeed！

Renounceme！Besogoodastorememberthatyouhaven’tgotmeTO

renounce！\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Well，it’sallthesamething。I’drenounceyouifI

had。Good—evening，MissGalbraith。IwillsendbackyourpresentsassoonasIgettotown；itwon’tbenecessarytoacknowledgethem。

Ihopewemaynevermeetagain。\"Hegoesoutofthedoortowardsthefrontoftheear，butreturnsdirectly，andglancesuneasilyatMissGalbraith，whoremainswithherhandkerchiefpressedtohereyes。

\"Ah——a——thatis——Ishallbeobligedtointrudeuponyouagain。Thefactis\"—

MISSGALBRAITH，anxiously：\"Why，thecarshavestopped！AreweatSchenectady？\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Well，no；notEXACTLY；notstoppedexactlyatSCHENECTADY\"—

MISSGALBRAITH：\"Thenwhatstationisthis？Havetheycarriedmeby？\"Observinghisembarrassment，\"Allen，whatisthematter？Whathashappened？Tellmeinstantly！Areweoffthetrack？Havewerunintoanothertrain？Havewebrokenthroughabridge？Shallwebeburntalive？Tellme，Allen，tellme，——Icanbearit！——arewetelescoped？\"Shewringsherhandsinterror。

MR。RICHARDS，unsympathetically：\"Nothingofthekindhashappened。

Thiscarhassimplycomeuncoupled，andtherestofthetrainhasgoneonahead，andleftusstandingonthetrack，nowhereinparticular。\"Heleansbackinhischair，andwheelsitroundfromher。

MISSGALBRAITH，mortified，yetanxious：\"Well？\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Well，untiltheymissus，andrunbacktopickusup，Ishallbeobligedtoaskyourindulgence。Iwilltrynottodisturbyou；Iwouldgooutandstandontheplatform，butit’sraining。\"

MISSGALBRAITH，listeningtotherain—fallontheroof：\"Why，soitis！\"Timidly，\"Didyounoticewhenthecarstopped？\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"No。\"Herisesandgoesoutatthereardoor，comesback，andsitsdownagainMISSGALBRAITH，rises，andgoestothelargemirrortowipeawayhertears。SheglancesatMr。Richards，whodoesnotmove。Shesitsdowninaseatnearerhimthanthechairshehasleft。Aftersomefaintmurmursandhesitations，sheasks，\"Willyoupleasetellmewhyyouwentoutjustnow？\"

MR。RICHARDS，withindifference：\"Yes。Iwenttoseeiftherearsignalwasout。\"

MISSGALBRAITH，afteranotherhesitation：\"Why？\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Because，ifitwasn’tout，sometrainmightrunintousfromthatdirection。\"

MISSGALBRAITH，tremulously：\"Oh！Andwasit？\"

MR。RICHARDS，dryly：\"Yes。\"

MISSGALBRAITHreturnstoherformerplace，withawoundedair，andforamomentneitherspeaks。Finallysheasksverymeekly，\"Andthere’snodangerfromthefront？\"

MR。RICHARDS，coldly：\"No。\"

MISSGALBRAITH，aftersomelittlenoisesandmovementsmeanttocatchMr。Richards’sattention：\"Ofcourse，Inevermeanttoimplythatyouwereintentionallycarelessorforgetful。\"

MR。RICHARDS，stillverycoldly：\"Thankyou。\"

MISSGALBRAITH：\"Ialwaysdidjusticetoyourgood—heartedness，Allen；you’reperfectlylovelythatway；andIknowthatyouwouldbesorryifyouknewyouhadwoundedmyfeelings，howeveraccidentally。\"

Shedroopsherheadsoastocatchasidelongglimpseofhisface，andsighs，whileshenervouslypinchesthetopofherparasol，restingthepointonthefloor。Mr。Richardsmakesnoanswer。\"Thataboutthecigar—casemighthavebeenamistake；Isawthatmyself，and，asyouexplainit，why，itwascertainlyverykindandverycreditableto——toyourthoughtfulness。ItWASthoughtful！\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Iamgratefulforyourgoodopinion。\"

MISSGALBRAITH：\"Butdoyouthinkitwasexactly——itwasquite——

nice，nottotellmethatyourbrother’sengagementwastobekept，whenyouknow，Allen，Ican’tbeartoblunderinsuchthings？\"

Tenderly，\"DOyou？YouCAN’Tsayitwas？\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Ineversaiditwas。\"

MISSGALBRAITH，plaintively：\"No，Allen。That’swhatIalwaysadmiredinyourcharacter。Youalwaysownedup。Don’tyouthinkit’seasierformentoownupthanitisforwomen？\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Idon’tknow。Ineverknewanywomantodoit。\"

MISSGALBRAITH：\"Oh，yes，Allen！YouknowIOFTENownup。\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"No，Idon’t。\"

MISSGALBRAITH：\"Oh，howcanyoubeartosayso？WhenI’mrash，oranythingofthatkind，youknowIacknowledgeit。\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Doyouacknowledgeitnow？\"

MISSGALBRAITH：\"Why，howcanI，whenIhaven’tBEENrash？WHAT

haveIbeenrash\"—

MR。RICHARDS：\"Aboutthecigar—case，forexample。\"

MISSGALBRAITH：\"Oh！THAT！Thatwasagreatwhileago！Ithoughtyoumeantsomethingquiterecent。\"Asoundasoftheapproachingtramisheardinthedistance。Shegivesastart，andthenleavesherchairagainforonealittlenearerhis。\"Ithoughtperhapsyoumeantabout——lastnight。\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Well。\"

MISSGALBRAITH，veryjudicially：\"Idon’tthinkitwasRASH，exactly。No，notRASH。ItmightnothavebeenveryKINDnotto——to—

—trustyoumore，whenIknewthatyoudidn’tmeananything；but——No，ItooktheonlycourseIcould。Nobodycouldhavedonedifferentlyunderthecircumstances。ButifIcausedyouanypain，I’mverysorry；oh，yes，verysorryindeed。ButIwasnotprecipitate，andI

knowIdidright。AtleastITRIEDtoactforthebest。Don’tyoubelieveIdid？\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Why，ifyouhavenodoubtuponthesubject，myopinionisofnoconsequence。\"

MISSGALBRAITH：\"Yes。Butwhatdoyouthink？Ifyouthinkdifferently，andcanmakemeseeitdifferently，oughtn’tyoutodoso？\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Idon’tseewhy。Asyousay，allisoverbetweenus。\"

MISSGALBRAITH：\"Yes。\"Afterapause，\"Ishouldsupposeyouwouldcareenoughforyourselftowishmetolookatthematterfromtherightpointofview。\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Idon’t。\"

MISSGALBRAITH，becomingmoreandmoreuneasyasthenoiseoftheapproachingtraingrowslouder：\"Ithinkyouhavebeenveryquickwithmeattimes，quiteasquickasIcouldhavebeenwithyoulastnight。\"Thenoiseismoredistinctlyheard。\"I’msurethatifI

couldonceseeitasyoudo，noonewouldbemorewillingtodoanythingintheirpowertoatonefortheirrashness。OfcourseI

knowthateverythingisover。\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Astothat，Ihaveyourword；and，inviewofthefact，perhapsthisanalysisofmotive，ofcharacter，howeverinterestingongeneralgrounds，isalittle\"—

MISSGALBRAITH，withsuddenviolence：\"Sayit，andtakeyourrevenge！Ihaveputmyselfatyourfeet，andyoudorighttotrampleonme！Oh，thisiswhatwomenmayexpectwhentheytrusttomen’sgenerosity！Well，itISovernow，andI’mthankful，thankful！

Cruel，suspicious，vindictive，you’reallalike，andI’mgladthatI’mnolongersubjecttoyourheartlesscaprices。AndIdon’tcarewhathappensafterthis，Ishallalways——Oh！You’resureit’sfromthefront，Allen？Areyousuretherearsignalisout？\"

MR。RICHARDS，relenting：\"Yes，butifitwilleaseyourmind，I’llgoandlookagain。\"Herises，andstartstowardsthereardoor。

MISSGALBRAITH，quickly：\"Oh，no！Don’tgo！Ican’tbeartobeleftalone！\"Thesoundoftheapproachingtraincontinuallyincreasesinvolume。\"Oh，isn’titcomingvery，very，VERYfast？\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"No，no！Don’tbefrightened。\"

MISSGALBRAITH，runningtowardsthereardoor。\"Oh，IMUSTgetout！

Itwillkillme，Iknowitwill。Comewithme！Do，do！\"Herunsafterher，andhervoiceisheardattherearofthecar。\"Oh，theoutsidedoorislocked，andwearetrapped，trapped，trapped！Oh，quick！Let’strythedoorattheotherend。\"Theyre—entertheparlor，andtheroarofthetrainannouncesthatitisuponthem。

\"No，no！It’stoolate，it’stoolate！I’mawicked，wickedgirl，andthisisalltopunishme！Oh，it’scoming，it’scomingatfullspeed！\"Heremainsbewildered，confrontingher。Sheuttersawildcry，andasthetrainstrikesthecarwithaviolentconcussion，sheflingsherselfintohisarms。\"There，there！Forgiveme，Allen！

Letusdietogether，myown，ownlove！\"Shehangsfaintingonhisbreast。Voicesareheardwithout，andafteralittledelayThePortercomesinwithalantern。

PORTER：\"Rathermoreofajahthanwemeanttogiveyou，sah！Wehadtorundownprettyquickafterwemissedyou，andtherainmadethetrackalittleslippery。Ladymuchfrightened？\"

MISSGALBRAITH，disengagingherself：\"Oh，notatall！Notintheleast。Wethoughtitwasatraincomingfrombehind，andgoingtorunintous，andso——we——I\"—

PORTER：\"Notquitesobadasthat。We’llbeintoSchenectadyinafewminutes，miss。I’llcomeforyourthings。\"Hegoesoutattheotherdoor。

MISSGALBRAITH，inafearfulwhisper：\"Allen！Whatwillheeverthinkofus？I’msurehesawus！\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Idon’tknowwhathe’llthinkNOW。HeDIDthinkyouwerefrightened；butyoutoldhimyouwerenot。However，itisn’timportantwhathethinks。ProbablyhethinksI’myourlong—lostbrother。Ithadakindoffamilylook。\"

MISSGALBRAITH：\"Ridiculous！\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Why，he’dneversupposethatIwasajiltedloverofyours！\"

MISSGALBRAITH，ruefully：\"No。\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Come，Lucy，\"——takingherhand，——\"youwishedtodiewithme，amomentago。Don’tyouthinkyoucanmakeonemoreefforttolivewithme？Iwon’ttakeadvantageofwordsspokeninmortalperil，butIsupposeyouwereinearnestwhenyoucalledmeyourown—

—own\"——Herheaddroops；hefoldsherinhisarmsamoment，thenshestartsawayfromhim，asifsomethinghadsuddenlyoccurredtoher。

MISSGALBRAITH：\"Allen，whereareyougoing？\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Going？Uponmysoul，Ihaven’ttheleastidea。\"

MISSGALBRAITH：\"WhereWEREyougoing？\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Oh，IWASgoingtoAlbany。\"

MISSGALBRAITH：\"Well，don’t！AuntMaryisexpectingmehereatSchenectady，——Itelegraphedher，——andIwantyoutostophere，too，andwe’llreferthewholemattertoher。She’ssuchawiseoldhead。

I’mnotsure\"—

MR。RICHARDS：\"What？\"

MISSGALBRAITH，demurely：\"ThatI’mgoodenoughforyou。\"

MR。RICHARDS，starting，inburlesqueofhermovement，asifathoughthadstruckHIM：\"Lucy！howcameyouonthistrainwhenyouleftSyracuseonthemorningexpress？\"

MISSGALBRAITH，faintly：\"IwaitedoveratrainatUtica。\"Shesinksintoachair，andavertsherface。

MR。RICHARDS：\"MayIaskwhy？\"

MISSGALBRAITH，morefaintlystill：\"Idon’tliketotell。I\"—

MR。RICHARDS，comingandstandinginfrontofher，withhishandsinhispockets：\"Lookmeintheeye，Lucy！\"Shedropsherveiloverherface，andlooksupathim。\"Didyou——didyouexpecttofindME

onthistrain？\"

MISSGALBRAITH：\"IwasafraiditneverWOULDgetalong，——itwassolate！\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Don’t——tergiversate。\"

MISSGALBRAITH：\"Don’tWHAT？\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Fib。\"

MISSGALBRAITH：\"Notforworlds！\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"HowdidyouknowIwasinthiscar？\"

MISSGALBRAITH：\"MustI？IthoughtIsawyouthroughthewindow；

andthenImadesureitwasyouwhenIwenttopinmyveilon，——Isawyouinthemirror。\"

MR。RICHARDS，afteralittlesilence：\"MissGalbraith，doyouwanttoknowwhatYOUare？\"

MISSGALBRAITH，softly：\"Yes，Allen。\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"You’reahumbug！\"

MISSGALBRAITH，springingfromherseat，andconfrontinghim。\"Soareyou！Youpretendedtobeasleep！\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"I——I——Iwastakenbysurprise。Ihadtotaketimetothink。\"

MISSGALBRAITH：\"SodidI。\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Andyouthoughtitwouldbeagoodplantogetyourpolonaisecaughtinthewindow？\"

MISSGALBRAITH，hidingherfaceonhisshoulder：\"No，no，Allen！

ThatIneverWILLadmit。NOwomanwould！\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Oh，Idaresay！\"Afterapause：\"Well，Iamapoor，weak，helplessman，withnoonetoadvisemeorcounselme，andI

havebeencruellydeceived。Howcouldyou，Lucy，howcouldyou？I

cannevergetoverthis。\"Hedropshisheaduponhershoulder。

MISSGALBRAITH，startingawayagain，andlookingaboutthecar：

\"Allen，Ihaveanidea！DoyousupposeMr。PullmancouldbeinducedtoSELLthiscar？\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Why？\"

MISSGALBRAITH：\"Why，becauseIthinkit’sperfectlylovely，andI

shouldliketoliveinitalways。Itcouldbefittedupforasortofsummer—house，don’tyouknow，andwecouldhaveitinthegarden，andyoucouldsmokeinit。\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Admirable！Itwouldlookjustlikeatravellingphotographicsaloon。No，Lucy，wewon’tbuyit；wewillsimplykeepitasaprecioussouvenir，asacredmemory，abeautifuldream，——andletitgoonfulfillingitsdestinyallthesame。\"

PORTER，entering，andgatheringupMissGalbraith’sthings：\"BeatSchenectadyinhalfaminute，miss。Won’thavemuchtime。\"

MISSGALBRAITH，rising，andadjustingherdress，andthenlookingaboutthecar，whileshepassesherhandthroughherlover’sarm：

\"Oh，IdoHATEtoleaveit。Farewell，youdear，kind，good，lovelycar！Mayyouneverhaveanotheraccident！\"Shekissesherhandtothecar，uponwhichtheybothlookbackastheyslowlyleaveit。

MR。RICHARDS，kissinghishandinthelikemanner：\"Good—by，sweetchariot！Mayyounevercarryanybutbridalcouples！\"

MISSGALBRAITH：\"Orengagedones！\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Orhusbandsgoinghometotheirwives！\"

MISSGALBRAITH：\"Orwiveshasteningtotheirhusbands。\"

MR。RICHARDS：\"Oryoungladieswhohavewaitedonetrainover，soastobewiththeyoungmentheyhate。\"

MISSGALBRAITH：\"Oryoungmenwhoaresoindifferentthattheypretendtobeasleepwhentheyoungladiescomein！\"Theypauseatthedoorandlookbackagain。\"’AndmustIleavethee，Paradise？’\"

Theybothkisstheirhandstothecaragain，and，theirfacesbeingveryclosetogether，theyimpulsivelykisseachother。ThenMissGalbraiththrowsbackherhead，andsolemnlyconfrontshim。\"Onlythink，Allen！Ifthiscarhadn’tbrokenITSengagement，wemightneverhavemendedours。\"