Alice Adams

ss the narrow hall between her husband's door and the one opposite. Her expression was matter-of-course, rather than pathetic, as she entered the pre

ds behind her neck, and tilting back her head to foreshorten the face in a tableau conceived to represent sauciness, then one of smiling weariness, then one of scornfu

her was well enough. She was often called "a right pretty girl"-temperate praise meaning a girl rather pretty than otherwise, and this she deserved, to say the least. Even in repose she deserved it, though repose was anything but her habit, being seldom seen upon her except at home.

o define the effect upon him of all this generosity of emphasis. He said that "the way she used her cute hazel eyes and the wonderful glow of her facial expression gave her a mighty spiritual quality." His

wooden things, jealous of everything they were incapable of themselves; and then Alice, getting more championship than she sought, grew uneasy lest Mrs. Adams should repeat such

etulant as Alice thought that Mrs. Adams might have had a glimpse of the posturings to the mirror. This was a needless w

e the room and shut the door! PLEASE don't

Mrs. Adams explained, obeying. "Mi

of complaint. "I could hear both of you, and I don't think you ought

s so and Miss Perry says so; and if we don't get him into the right frame of mind now we never will. The first day he's outdoors he'll g

you could use a littl

er was much use with him. I don't think y

want to with each other. Why can't they do the same thing after they're married? When you and papa were young people and engaged, he'd hav

ell, WHY can't you? Why can't you ask him to do things the way you used to ask him when you were

with a pathos somewhat emphasized. "Is that how

er my question? What's the matter with using a little more tact on papa? Why can't you treat him the way you pro

er mother said, gently. "Maybe you will w

on't you answer my quest

you can't answer to

upposed to have some intelligence, isn't she? And intelligence is the ability to understand, isn't it? Why do

know everything by being intelligent, and by the time you could understand the answer you're asking for you'd know it, and wouldn't nee

n't think making scenes ever changes anybody," she grumbled.

of this phrase into an ironic lament. "Yes, there was a

the 'jolly' part

o offer their solace to Mrs. Adams. "I might have expected you to say that, Alice; you never

e little concerned. "Oh, well, I think there are bett

little cry of pain.

ter went on, briskly, "I believe papa'd alre

thing. Well, I won't interfere fr

ink it makes him more obstinate to get him cross. You probably do understand him better, but that's one thing I've found out and y

and appeared in her father's room with one hand still

y time he's better somebody talks him into ge

rows, looked up at her wistfully. "I suppose

er, too!" Alice laughed.

ame danged

en you get well?" Alice asked, with cheerful in

moved upward to a pattern of suffering so familiar to his daughter that it meant nothin

hands. "Just think how many grand openings there must be for a man that knows as

still deepened. "Don't you think we've alw

n it-but the way things are now I expect mama's really pretty practical in her ideas, though, I think it's a shame for her to

age to find these grand openings you speak of. And when you've passed half-way from fifty to si

e bent over him, giving him a gay little kiss on the bridge of his nose. "There! I must run to breakfast. Cheer

and, still whistling, she came into the dining-room, where her mother and her brother were already at the t

s to trouble

de airy response. "What's

e of an effective sort; for he furnished a short laugh to go with it, and turne

s to be acted for the benefit of some mysterious audience inside himself, and he always gets its applause. Take what he said just now: he seems to think it means someth

a flattened packet in glazed blue paper; extracted with stained fingers a bent and wrinkled little cigarette, lighted it, hitche

L secrets," she said. "Don't you think you

ery brave about not being able to have the advantages that are enjoyed by t

ied. "I should think you wouldn't! He didn't ev

the boys he'd grown up with went to Eastern schools to prepare for college, a

r. He doesn't care for anything nice that I ever heard of. What do you suppose he does like, mama? He

all day. He doesn't get through until five

nner, and goes out, heaven knows where, right afterward!" Alice shook her

isn't his fault, poor child! The boys he knew whe

hen they're here at holiday-time or vacati

iends. It's natural for him t

sis. "But who are they? I've got an idea h

was not that of thoroughgoing conviction, and she added, "Life might be a

more with papa if we just let him alone about it for a day or two. Promise me you won't

"I think you can trust me to know a FEW things, Alic

forget it's the same as a promise, and do just cheer him

are you

ng to wear to-night, and then I want to go down and buy a yard of chiffon and some

went toward the front stairs together; but an hour la

reau drawer," she said. "He

r voice, and Alice, looking shrewd

what you promised me you wouldn'

lmly. "Besides, you're mistaken in saying I promised you anyth

r, strode to her father's door, flung it open, went to him,

othered any more at all! He doesn't need to have everybody telling him how to get away from

nother gay departure, the charming hand again fluttering