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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。"
