me. I felt kind o' bad a year ago when that feller
didn't come to time, but, Alfred, I know myself better than I did then.
I thought I'd have stood up at the altar with a man I never saw, but
I'll bet now that I'd have backed out at the sight of him. I was blinded
the same way about this last one. When you told me about him, in your
kind way, I thought he was just what I was looking for, but when you
fetched him to me that day at Carlton it was an awful comedown. I can't
explain it to you, but, somehow, I felt like he was butting in with his
big head and loud voice between me and another one I was expecting."

"I see, I see. Long don't quite fill the bill," Henley said. "I was
afraid there might be a hitch somewhere, and he has all the essentials,
too--that is, I mean--" But Henley hardly knew what he meant.

"There is just one main essential, to use your big word," she said, her
fine, eyes resting on his in a wise gaze, "and that is love--the genuine
article. At one time I thought it was a fine house, and things to wear,
and comfort for them I love and protect that I needed, but it was
downright, unselfish love for somebody. Alfred, to my dying day I shall
shudder over all that parade yesterday. The man or woman who attempts to
get pleasure out of sitting in a finer seat, or living in a finer house,
or wearing finer duds than his neighbor, or even his enemy, will miss
it, unless he is of a low order and taste. When I saw all them good
folks gaping and staring at me like I was a comet with a tail, right
there in the house of God, while a good man was teaching humility, and
prayers, and songs was going up to the throne--I say, while all that was
taking place I felt like a cheat and a swindler hiding under plumes,
clap-trap flowers, and flounces that ud fade. I looked across and saw
Carrie--poor Carrie!--with that blank stare of death in her eyes. She
seemed to say, 'You've whipped me clean to the earth, Dix; I'm done; I'm
all in; but have mercy, don't you see how awful it is?' She may have
thought I was crowing over her, but I wasn't--God knows I wasn't. During
the first prayer I knelt down and prayed for her and begged forgiveness
for my silly caper. The poor thing has lost even her boy-lover. She's
yearning for something she may never lay her hands on. As God is my
judge, if I could give her this man that was here yesterday I'd do it at
the drop of a hat. Alfred, I don't want him, nohow. I thought I might
come round t