sh to see Alice by leaving her those flowers; he
was a fool, for now he would have to postpone coming a little, because
he had already come.

The girl who answered the bell did not understand the charge he gave her
about the roses, and he repeated his words. Some one passing through
the room beyond seemed to hesitate and pause at the sound of his voice.
Could it be Alice? Then he should see her, after all! The girl looked
over her shoulder, and said, "Mrs. Pasmer."

Mrs. Pasmer came forward, and he fell into a complicated explanation and
apology. At the end she said, "You had better give them yourself. She
will be here directly." They were in the room now, and Mrs. Pasmer made
the time pass in rapid talk; but Dan felt that he ought to apologise
from time to time. "No!" she said, letting herself go. "Stay and
breakfast with us, Mr. Mavering. We shall be so glad to have you."

At last Alice came in, and they decorously shook hands. Mrs. Pasmer
turned away a smile at their decorum. "I will see that there's a place
for you," she said, leaving them.

They were instantly in each other's arms. It seemed to him that all this
had happened because he had so strongly wished it.

"What is it, Dan? What did you come for?" she asked.

"To see if it was really true, Alice. I couldn't believe it."

"Well--let me go--you mustn't--it's too silly. Of course it's true."
She pulled herself free. "Is my hair tumbled? You oughtn't to have come;
it's ridiculous; but I'm glad you came. I've been thinking it all over,
and I've got a great many things to say to you. But come to breakfast
now."

She had a business-like way of treating the situation that was more
intoxicating than sentiment would have been, and gave it more actuality.

Mrs. Pasmer was alone at the table, and explained that Alice's father
never breakfasted with them, or very seldom. "Where are your flowers?"
she asked Alice.

"Flowers? What flowers?"

"That Mr. Mavering brought."

They all looked at one another. Dan ran out and brought in his roses.

"They were trying to get away in the excitement, I guess, Mrs. Pasmer;
I found them behind the door." He had flung them there, without knowing
it, when Mrs. Pasmer left him with Alice.

He expected her to join him and her mother in being amused at this, but
he was as well pleased to have her touched at his having brought them,
and to turn their gaiety off in praise of the roses. She got a vase for
them, and set it on th