Speaker 1: A Christmas Eve suit. The Christmas holidays had come, and
with them a welcome vacation for Hedley Marston. Although as
yet a briefless young lawyer, he had a case in
hand which absorbed many of his thoughts, the conflicting claims
of two young women in his native village on the Hudson.
It must not be imagined that the young women were
pressing their claims, except as they did so unconsciously by
virtue of their sex and various charms. Nevertheless, Marsden was
not the first lawyer who had clients over whom midnight
oil was burned, they remaining unaware of the fact. If
not yet a constitutional attorney, he was at least constitutionally one.
Falling helplessly in love with one girl simplifies matters. There
are no distracting pros and cons, nothing required but a
concentration of faculties to win the enslaver and so achieve mastery.
Marsden did not appear amenable to the subtle influences which
blind the eyes and dethrone reason, inspiring in its place
an overwhelming impulse to capture a fortuitous girl, because to
a heated imagination, she surpasses all her sex. Indeed, he
was level headed enough to believe that he would never
capture any such girl, but he hoped to secure one
who promised to make as good a wife as he
would try to be a husband. And with a fair
amount of self esteem, he was conscious of imperfections. Therefore,
instead of fancying that any of his fair acquaintances were angels,
he had deliberately, and some may think in a very
cold blooded fashion, endeavored to discover what they actually were.
He had observed that a good deal of prose followed
the poetry of wooing and the lunacy of the honeymoon,
and he thought it might be well to criticize a
little before marriage as well as after it. There were
a number of charming girls in the social circle of
his native town, and he had, during later years made
himself quite impartially agreeable to them. Indeed, without much effort
on his part, he had become what is known as
a general favorite. He had been too diligent a student
to become a society man, but was ready enough in
vacation periods to make the most of every country frolic,
and even on great occasions, to rush up from the
city and return at some unearthly hour in the morning,
when his partners and dance were not half through their dreams.
While on these occasions he had shared in the prevailing hilarity,
he nevertheless had the presentiment that some one of the laughing,
light footed girls would one day pour his coffee and
send him to his office in either a good or
bad mood, to grapple with the problems awaiting him there.
He had, in a measure decided that when he married,
it should be to a girl whom he had played
with in childhood and whom he knew a good deal about,
and not to a chance acquaintance of the world at large.
So beneath all his diversified gallantries he had maintained a
quiet little policy of observation until his thoughts had gradually
gathered around two of his young associates, who unconsciously to
themselves as we have said, but in stronger and stronger
claims every time he saw them. They asserted these claims
in the only way in which he would have recognized them,
by being more charming, agreeable, and as he fancied, by
being better than the others. He had not made them aware,
even by manner of the distinction accorded to them, and
as yet he was merely a friend. But the time
had come, he believed for definite action. While he weighed
and considered, some prompter fellows might take the case out
of his hands entirely. Therefore, he welcomed this vacation and
the opportunities it afforded. The festivities began with what is
termed in the country a large party, and Carrie Mitchell
and Lottie Waldo were both there, resplendent in new gowns
made for the occasion. Marston thought them both charming. They
danced equally well and talked nonsense with much the same
ease and vivacity. He could not decide which was the prettier,
nor did the eyes and attentions of others afford him
any aid. They were general favorites as well as himself,
although it was evident that to some they might become more.
But they were apparently in the heyday of their girlhood,
and thus far had preferred miscellaneous admiration to individual devotion.
By the time the evening was over, Marston felt that
if life consisted of large parties, he might as well
settle the question by the toss of a copper. It
must not be supposed that he was such a conceited
prig as to imagine that such a fortuitous proceeding, or
his best efforts afterward, could settle the question as it
related to the girls. It would only decide his own procedure.
He was like an old marauding baron in honest doubt
from which town he can carry off the richest booty.
That is, in case he can capture any one of them,
his overtures for capitulation might be met with the slings
and arrows of outrageous fortune, and he be sent limping
off the field. Nevertheless, no man regrets that he must
take the initiative, and he would be less than a
man who would fear to do so. When it came
to this point in the affair, Marston shrugged his shoulders
and thought, I must take my chances like the rest.
But he wished to be sure that he had attained
this point, and not lay siege to one girl, only
to wish afterward it had been the other. His course,
that evening proved that he not only had a legal
cast of mind, but also a judicial one. He invited
both Miss Mitchell and Miss Waldo to take a sleigh
ride with him the following evening, fancying that when sandwiched
between them in the cutter, he could impartially note his impressions.
His unsuspecting clients laughingly accepted, utterly unaware of the momentous
character of the trial scene before them. As Marston smoked
a cigar before retiring that night, he admitted to himself
that it was rather a remarkable court that was about
to be held. He was the only advocate for the
claims of each and finally he proposed to take a
seat on the bench and judge between them. Indeed, before
he slept, he decided to take that august position at
once and maintain a judicial impartiality while noting his impressions.
Christmas Eve happened to be a cold, clear, starlit night,
and when Marston drove to Miss Waldo's door, he asked himself,
could a fellow ask for anything daintier and finer than
the red lipped, dark eyed girl revealed by the hall
lamp as she tripped lightly out, her anxious mamma following
her with words of unheeded caution about not taking cold
and coming home early. He had not traversed the mile
which intervened between the residences of the two girls before.
He almost wished he could continue the drive under the
present auspices, and that, as in the old times, he
could take toll at every bridge and encircle his companion
with his arm. As they bounced over the thank'ee ma'am's.
The frosty air appeared to give keenness and piquancy to
Miss Lottie's wit, and the chime of the bells was
not merrier or more musical than her voice. But when
a little later he saw blue eyed Carrie Mitchell in
her furs and hood silhouetted in the window, his old
dilemma became as perplexing as ever. Nevertheless, it was the
most delightful uncertainty that he had ever experienced, and he
had a presentiment that he had better make the most
of it, since it could not last much longer. Meanwhile,
he was hedged about with blessings, clearly not in disguise,
and he gave utterance to this truth as they drove away.
Surely there was never so lucky a fellow here. I
am kept warm and happy by the two finest girls
in town. Yes, said Lottie. And it's a shame you
can't sit on both sides of us. I assure you,
I wish it were possible. It would double my pleasure.
I'm very well content, remarked carry quietly, as long as
I can keep on the right side of people. Well,
you are not on the right side to night, interrupted Lottie.
Good gracious, thought Marston. She's next to my heart. I
wonder if that will give her unfair advantage. But Carrie explained,
of course I was speaking metaphorically in that aspect of
the case. It would be ashamed to me if any
side I have is not right toward those who have
so honored me. He hastened to say, Oh, Carrie has
all the advantage. She is next to your heart. Would
you like to exchange places? Was the query flashed back
by Carrie. Oh no, I'm quite as content as you are.
Why then, since I am more than content exultant? Indeed,
it appears that we all start from excellent premises to
reach a happy conclusion of our Christmas eve, cried Marston.
Now you are talking shop, mister, long premises and conclusions. Indeed,
said Lottie, since you are such a happy sandwich. You
must be a tongue sandwich and be very entertaining. He
did his best, the two girls seconding his efforts so
genially that he found himself, after driving five miles, psychologically
just where he was physically between them as near to
one in his thoughts and preferences as to the other.
Let us take the river road home, suggested Lottie. As
long as you agree, he answered, You both are sovereign potentates.
If you should express conflicting wishes, I should have to
stop here in the road till one abdicated in favor
of the other, or we all froze. But you, sitting
so snugly between us, would not freeze, said Lottie. If
we were obstinate, we would have to assume our pleasantest expressions,
and then you could eventually take us home as bits
of sculpture. In fact, I'm getting cold already, are you also,
miss Carrie? Oh? I'll fall out before summer. Don't mind me? Well,
then mind me resumed, Lotty. See how white and smooth
the river looks. Why can't we drive home on the ice?
It will save myles. I mean it looks so inviting. Oh, dear,
cried Carrie, I feel like protesting now. The longest way
round may be both the shortest and safest way home.
You ladies shall decide this morning, I drove over the
rout we would take to night, and I should not
fear to take a ton of coal over it. A
comparison suggesting warmth and a great fire. I vote for
the river, said Lotty promptly. Oh well, mister Marston, if
you've been over the ice so recently, I only wish
to feel reasonably safe, I declare, thought Marston, Lotty is
the braver and more brilliant girl, and the fact that
she is not inclined to forego the comfort of the
home fire for the pleasure of my company reveals the
difficulty of, and therefore incentive to, the suit I may
decide to enter upon before New Year's Meanwhile, his high
art on Carrie's side began to grow warm and alert,
as if recognizing an affinity to some object not far off.
Granting that she had not been so brilliant as Lottie,
she had been eminently companionable in a more quiet way.
If there had not been such bursts of enthusiasm at
the beginning of the drive, her enjoyment appeared to have
more staying powers. He liked her none the less that
her eyes were often turned towards the stars or the
dark silhouettes of the leafless trees against the snow. She
did not keep saying, Ah, how lovely, what a fine
bit that is. But he had only to follow her
eyes to see something worth looking at. A proof that
Miss Carrie also is not so preoccupied with the pleasure
of my company that she has no thoughts for other things,
cogitated Marston. It's rather in her favor that she prefers
nature to a great fire thereabout even Yet, meanwhile, the
horse was speeding along on the white, hard expanse of
the river skirting the west. They now had only about
a mile to drive before striking land again, and the
scene was so beautiful, with the great dim outlines of
the mountains before them, that both the girls suggested that
they should go leisurely for a time. We shouldn't hastily
and carelessly pass such a picture as that, any more
than one would if a fine copy of it were
hung in a gallery, said Carrie. The stars are so
brilliant along the brow of that highland yonder that they
form a. Dah, oh, oh, what is the matter, and
she clung to Marston's arm. The horse was breaking through
the ice. Whoa, said Marston firmly. Even as he spoke,
Lottie was out of the sleigh and running back on
the ice, crying and wringing her hands. We shall be drowned,
she almost screamed hysterically, mister Marston, what shall we do?
Can't we turn around and go back the way we came?
Miss Carrie, will you do what I ask? Will you
believe me when I say that I do not think
you are in any danger? Yes, I'll do my best,
she replied, catching her breath. She grew calm rapidly as
he tried to reassure Lotty, telling her that the water
from the rising tide had overflowed the main ice and
that thin ice had formed over it. Also that the
river at the most was only two or three feet
deep at that point, but all was of no avail.
Lotty stood out upon the ice in a panic, declaring
that he should never have brought them into such danger,
and that he must turn around at once and go
back as they came. But miss Waldo, the tide is rising,
and we may find what places returning. Besides, it would
bring us home very late. Now, Miss Carrie, and I
will drive slowly across this place and then return for
you after we have been across it twice. You surely
won't fear. I won't be left alone. Suppose you two
should break through and disappear, what would become of me?
You would be better off than we, he replied, laughing.
I think it's hard to laugh. Oh I'm so cold
and frightened. I feel as if the ice were giving
way under my feet. Why, miss Lottie, we just drove
over that spot where you stand here. Miss Carrie, shall
stay with you while I drive back and forth a loane.
Then if you were drowned, we'd both be left alone
to freeze to death. I pledge you my word. You
shall be by that grape fire within less than an
hour if you will trust me five minutes. Oh well,
if you will risk your life and ours too. But Carrie,
you must stay with me. Will you trust me, Miss Carrie,
and help me out of this scrape? Carrie was recovering
from her panic and replied, I have given you my promise.
He was out of the sleigh instantly, and the thin
ice broke with him. Also, I must carry you a
short distance, he said, I cannot allow you to get
your feet wet. Put one arm around my neck, so
now please obey as you promised. She did so without
a word, and he bore her beyond the water, inwardly
exalting and blessing that thin ice. His decision was coming
with the passing seconds. Indeed it had come. Returning to
the sleigh, he drove slowly forward, his horse making a
terrible crunching and splashing Lotti, meanwhile keeping up a staccato
accompaniment of little shrieks. Ah, my charming creature, He thought,
with you, it was only what will become of me.
I might not have found out until it was too late,
the relative importance of me in the universe had we
not struck this bad crossing. And one comes to plenty
of bad places to cross in a lifetime. The area
of thin ice was not very narrow, and he was
becoming but a dim and shadowy outline to the girls.
Lotty was now screaming for his return. Having crossed the
overflowed space and absolutely assured himself that there was no danger,
he returned more rapidly and found Carrie trying to calm
her companion. Oh, sobbed Lottie. My feet are wet and
almost frozen. The ice underneath may have borne you, but
it won't bear all three of us. Oh dear, I
wish I hadn't. I wish I was home, and I
feel as if I'd never get there, Miss Lottie. I
assure you that the ice will hold a ton. But
I'll tell you what I'll do. I shall put you
in the sleigh, and Miss Carrie will drive you over.
You two together do not weigh much more than I do.
I'll walk just behind you with my hands on the
back of the sleigh, and if I see the slightest danger,
I'll lift you out of the sleigh first and carry
you to safety. This proposition promised so well that she hesitated,
and he lifted her instantly before she could change her mind,
then helped carry in with a quiet pressure of the hand.
As much as to say, I shall depend on you,
But mister Marston, your feet will get wet, protested Carrie.
That doesn't matter, he replied, good naturedly. I shall be
no worse offt than Miss Lottie, and I'm determined to
convince her of safety. Now go straight ahead as I direct.
Once the horse stumbled and Lottie thought he was going
down head first. Oh lift me out, quick, quick, she cried, Yes, indeed,
I will miss Lottie as soon as we are opposite
that great fire of yours. They were soon safely over,
and within a half hour reached Lottie's home. It was
evident she was a little ashamed of her behavior, and
she made some effort to retrieve herself, but she was
cold and miserable, vexed with herself, and still more vexed
with Marstern that a latent sense of justice forbade The
latter feeling only irritated her. The more individuals, as well
as communities, must have scapegoats, and it is not an
unusual impulse on the part of some to blame and
dislike those before whom they have humiliated themselves. She gave
her companions a rather formal invitation to come in and
get warm before proceeding further, but Marston said very politely
that he thought it was too late unless Miss Carrie
was cold. Carrie protested that she was not so cold,
but that she could easily wait till she reached her
own fireside. Well, good night then, and the door was
shut a trifle emphatically, mister Marston said, Carrie sympathetically, your
feet must be very cold and wet after splashing through
all that ice water. They are, he replied, but I
don't mind it. Well, if I had tried for years,
I could not have found such a test of character
as we had to night. What do you mean, Oh, well,
you two girls did not behave exactly alike. I like
the way you behaved. You helped me out of a
confounded scrape. Would you have tried for years to find
a test? She asked, concealing the keenness of her query
under a laugh. I should have been well rewarded if
I had by such a fine contrast, he replied. Carrie's
faculties had not so congealed, but that his words set
her thinking. She had entertained at times the impression that
she and Lottie were his favorites. Had he taken them
out that night together in hope of contrasts a finding
test that would help his halting decision, He had ventured
where the intuitions of a girl like Carrie Mitchell were
almost equal to second sight, and she was alert for
what would come next, He accepted her invitation to come
in and warm his feet at the glowing fire in
the grate, which Carrie's father had made before retiring. Missus Mitchell,
feeling that her daughter was with an old friend and playmate,
did not think the presence of a chaperone essential and
left the young people alone. Carrie bustled about, brought cake
and made hot lemonade, while Marston stretched his feet to
the grate with a luxurious sense of comfort and complacency,
thinking how homelike it all was, and how paradisical life
would become if such a charming little he bee presided
over his home. His lemonade became nectar offered by such hands.
She saw the different expression in his eyes. It was
now homage decided preference for one, and not mere gallantry
to two. Outwardly, she would to merely oblivious and maintain
simply her wonted friendliness. Marston, however, was thawing in more
senses than one, and he was possessed by a strong
impulse to begin an open siege at once. I haven't
had a single suit of any kind yet, Carrie, he said,
dropping the prefix of miss which had gradually been adopted
as they had grown up. Oh well, that was the
position of all the great lawyers once, she replied, laughing.
Marston's father was wealthy, and all knew that he could
afford to be briefless for a time. I may never
be great, but I shall work as hard as any
of them, he continued, to tell you the honest truth. However,
this would be the happiest Christmas Eve of my life
if I had a downright suit on my hands. Why
can't I be frank with you and say I'd like
to begin the chief suit of my life now, and
here a suit for this little hand. I'd plead for it,
as no lawyer ever pleaded before. I settled that much
down on the ice. And if I hadn't happened to
behave on the ice in a manner agreeable to your lordship,
you would have pleaded with the other girl, she remarked,
withdrawing her hand and looking him directly in the eyes.
What makes you think, so, he asked, somewhat confusedly, you
do He sprang up and paced the room for a
few moments, then confronted her with the words, you shall
have the whole truth. Any woman that I would ask
to be. My wife is entitled to that, And he
told her just what the attitude of his mind had
been from the first. She laughed outright, then gave him
her hand, as she said, your honesty ensures that we
can be very good friends. But I don't wish to
hear anything more about suits, which are close of kin
to law suits. He looked very dejected, feeling that he
had blundered fatally in his precipitation. Come now, Hedley, be sensible,
she resumed, half laughing, half serious. As you say, we
can be frank with you each other. Why only the
other day we were boy and girl together coasting downhill
on the same sled. You are applying your legal jargon
to a deep experience, to something sacred, the result, to
my mind, of a divine instinct. Neither you nor I
have ever felt for each other, this instinctive preference, this
subtle gravitation of the heart. Don't you see your head
has been concerned about me, and only your head. By
a kindred process, you would select one bale of merchandise
and preference to another. Good Gracious, I've faults enough. You'll
meet some other girl that will stand some other test
far better than I. I want a little of what
you call silly romance in my courtship. See I can
talk about this suit as coolly and fluently as you can.
We'd make a nice pair of lovers about as frigid
as the ice water you waded through so good naturedly.
And the girl's laugh rang out merrily, awakening echoes in
the old house. Mister and missus Mitchell might rest securely
when their daughter could laugh like that. It was the
mirth of a genuine American girl whose self protection was
better than the care of a thousand duennas. He looked
at her with honest admiration in his eyes, then rose
quietly and said, that's fine, Carrie. Your head's worth two
of mine, and you'd make a better lawyer. You see
through a case from top to bottom. You were right.
I wasn't in love with you. I don't know whether
I'm in love with you now, and you haven't an
infinitesimal spark for me. Nevertheless, I begin my suit here
and now I shall never withdraw it till you are
engaged to another fellow. So there, Carrie looked rather blank
at this result of her reductio ad absurdum process, and
he did not help her by adding a fellow isn't
always in love. There must be a beginning. And when
I arrive at this beginning under the guidance of reason, judgment,
and observation, I don't see as I'm any more absurd
than the fellow who tumbles helplessly in love. He doesn't
know why. What becomes of all these people who have
divine gravitations? You and I both know of some who
have had satanic repulsions. Afterward they use their eyes and
critical faculties after marriage instead of before. The romance exhaled
like a morning mist, and the facts came out distinctly.
They learned what kind of a man and woman they
actually were, and two idealized creatures were sent to limbo.
Because I don't blunder upon the woman I wish to marry,
but pick her out. That's no reason I can't and
won't love her. Your analysis and judgment were correct only
up to date. You have now to meet a suit
honestly openly announced. This may be bad policy on my part,
yet I have so much faith in you and respect
for you, that I don't believe you will let my precipitation,
create a prejudice, give me a fair hearing, That's all
I ask. Well, well, I'll promise not to frown, even
though some finer paragon would throw me completely in the shade.
You don't believe in me yet, he resumed, after a
moment of thought. I felt that I had blundered awfully
a while ago, but I doubt it. A girl of
your perceptions would soon have seen it all. I've not
lost anything by being frank from the start. Be just
to me, however, It wasn't policy that led me to speak,
but this homelike scene, and you appearing like the good
genius of a home. He pulled out his watch and
gave a low whistle as he held it toward her.
Then his manner suddenly became grave and gentle. Carrie, he said,
I wish you not a merry Christmas, but a happy one,
and many of them. It seems to me it would
be a great privilege for a man to make a
woman like you happy. Is this the beginning of the suit,
she asked, with a laugh that was a little forced.
I don't know. Perhaps it is, but I spoke just
as I felt. Good night. She would not admit of
a trace of sentiment on her part. Good Night, she said,
Merry Christmas, go home and hang up your stocking. Bless me,
she thought, as she went slowly up the stairs. I
thought it was going to be through with him for
good and all, except as a friend. But if he
goes on this way, the next morning, a basket of
superb roses was left at her home. There was no card,
and Mamma queried and surmised, but the girl knew they
were not displeasing to her, and somehow, before the day
was over they found their way to her room. But
she shook her head decidedly, as she said, he must
be careful not to send me other gifts, for I
will return them instantly. Flowers in moderation never commit a girl.
But then came another gift, a book of pencilings here
and there, not against sentimental passages, but words that made
her think it was his manner in society, however, that
at once annoyed, perplexed and pleased her. On the first
occasion they met in the company with others, he made
it clear to every one that he was her suitor.
Yet he was not a burr which she could not shake. Off.
He rather seconded all her efforts to have a good
time with any and every one she chose. Nor did
he wallflower, fashion mope in the meanwhile and look unutterable things.
He added to the pleasure of a score of others,
and even conciliated Lottie, Yet at the same time surrounded
the girl of his choice with an atmosphere of unobtrusive devotion.
She was congratulated on her conquest, rather maliciously so by Lottie.
Her air of courteous indifference was well maintained, Yet she
was a woman and could not help being flattered. Certain
generous straits in her nature were touched also by a
homage which yielded everything and exacted nothing. The holidays soon
passed and he returned to his work. She learned, incidentally,
that he toiled faithfully, instead of mooning around at every
coin of vantage she found him, or some token of
his ceaseless effort. She was compelled to think of him
and to think well of him. Though Mamma and Papa
judiciously said little, it was evident that they liked the
style of lover into which he was developing. Once during
the summer, she said, I don't think it's right to
let you go on in this way any longer. Are
my attentions so very annoying? No? Indeed, a girl never
had a more agreeable or useful friend. Are you engaged
to some other fellow? Of course not? You know better.
There is no, of course, not about it. I couldn't
and wouldn't lay a straw in the way. You are
not bound, but I you bound. Certainly You must remember
what I said, then I must except the first man
that asked me. I ask you no some one else
so as to unloose your conscience and give you a
happy deliverance. You would leave me still bound and hopeless.
In that case, I love you now, Carrie Mitchell, Oh dear,
you are incorrigible. It's just a lawyer's persistence in winning
a suit. You can still swear on the dictionary that
you don't love me at all. I might on the
dictionary there I won't talk about such things any more.
And she resolutely changed the subject. But she couldn't swear
even on the dictionary. She didn't know where she stood
or how it would all end. But with increasing frequency,
the words I love you now haunted her, waking and
dreaming hours. The holidays were near again, and then came
a letter from Marstern asking her to take another sleigh
ride with him on Christmas Eve. His concluding words were,
there is no other woman in the world that I
want on the other side of me. She kissed these words,
then looked around in a startled, shamefaced manner, blushing even
in the solitude of her room. Christmas Eve came, but
with it a wild storm of wind and sleet. She
was surprised at the depth of her disappointment. Would he
even come to call through such a tempest? He did come,
and come early, and she said demurely, I I did
not expect you on such a night as this. He
looked at her for a moment, half humorously, half seriously,
and her eyes drooped before his. You will know better
what to expect next time, was his comment. When is
next time? Any and every time which gives me a
chance to see you? Who should know that better than you?
Are you never going to give up? She asked, with
averted face, Not till you become engaged. Hush, They are
all in the parlor. Well. They ought to know as much.
By this time also, she thought it was astonishing how
he made himself at home in the family circle. In
half an hour, there was scarcely any restraint left because
a visitor was present, Yet, as if impelled by some
mysterious influence, one after another slipped out, and Carrie saw
with strange little thrills of dismay that she would soon
be alone with that indomitable lawyer. She signaled to her mother,
but the old lady's eyes were glued to her knitting.
At last they were alone, and she expected a prompt
and powerful appeal from the plaintiff. But Marston drew his
chair to the opposite side of the hearth and chatted
so easily, naturally and kindly, that her trepidation passed utterly.
It began to grow late, and a heavier gust than
usual shook the house. It appeared to waken him to
the dire necessity of breasting the gale, and he rose
and said, I feel as if I could sit here forever, Carrie.
It's just the impression I had a year ago. Tonight,
You sitting there by the fire, gave then, and give
now to this place the irresistible charm of home. I
think I had then the decided beginning of the divine gravitation.
Wasn't that what you called it? Which has been growing
so strong ever since? You thought then that the ice
water I waited was in my veins? Do you think so? Now?
If you do, I shall have to take another year
to prove the contrary. Neither am I convinced of the
absurdity of my course, as you put it. Then, I
studied you coolly and deliberately before I began to love you,
and reason and judgment have had no chance to jeer
at my love. But Hedley, she began with a slight
tremor in her tones. You are idealizing me as certainly
as the blindest. I've plenty of faults. I haven't denied that.
So have I plenty of faults. What right have I
to demand a perfection I can't offer. I have known
people to marry who imagined each other perfect, and then
come to court for a separation on the ground of
incompatibility of temperament. They learned the meaning of that long
word too late, and were scarcely longer about it than
the word itself. Now I'm satisfied that I could cordially
agree with you on some points, unlovingly disagree with you
on others. Chief of all, it's your instinct to make
a home. You appear better at your own fireside than
when in full dress at a reception. You see here,
you've got to give up this suit at last. I'm engaged,
and she looked away as if she could not meet
his eyes. Engaged, he said, slowly, looking at her with
startled eyes. Well about the same as engaged. My heart
has certainly gone from me beyond recall. He drew a
long breath. I was foolish enough to begin to hope.
He faltered, You must dismiss hope to night. Then she said,
her face still averted. He was silent, and she slowly
turned toward him. He had sunk into a chair and
buried his face in his hands, the picture of dejected defeat.
There was a sudden flash of mirth through tear jimmed eyes,
a glance at the clock, then noiseless steps, and she
was on her knees beside him, her arms around his neck,
her blushing face near his wondering eyes, as she breathed,
Happy Christmas, Hedley, how do you like your first gift?
And what room is there now for hope? End of
a Christmas Eve? Suit by Edward P. Rowe,