“Well, I’ll see what can be done,” Eunice finally assented.

Whatever her feelings were in regard to the matter, she must have satisfied herself that the situation was not to be changed by her disliking it, and she began to talk so sympathetically with Dan that she soon had the whole story of his love out of him.  They laughed a good deal together at it, but it convinced her that he had not been hoodwinked into the engagement.  It is always the belief of a young man’s family, especially his mother and sisters, that unfair means have been used to win him, if the family of his betrothed are unknown to them; and it was a relief, if not exactly a comfort, for Eunice Mavering to find that Alice was as great a simpleton as Dan, and perhaps a sincerer simpleton.

XXXII.

A week later, in fulfilment of the arrangement made by Mrs. Pasmer and Eunice Mavering, Alice and her mother returned the formal visit of Dan’s people.

While Alice stood before the mirror in one of the sumptuously furnished rooms assigned them, arranging a ribbon for the effect upon Dan’s mother after dinner, and regarding its relation to her serious beauty, Mrs. Pasmer came out of her chamber adjoining, and began to inspect the formal splendour of the place.

“What a perfect man’s house!” she said, peering about.  “You can see that everything has been done to order.  They have their own taste; they’re artistic enough for that—­or the father is—­and they’ve given orders to have things done so and so, and the New York upholsterer has come up and taken the measure of the rooms and done it.  But it isn’t like New York, and it isn’t individual.  The whole house is just like those girls’ tailor-made costumes in character.  They were made in New York, but they don’t wear them with the New York style; there’s no more atmosphere about them than if they were young men dressed up.  There isn’t a thing lacking in the house here; there’s an awful completeness; but even the ornaments seem laid on, like the hot and cold water.  I never saw a handsomer, more uninviting room than that drawing room.  I suppose the etching will come some time after supper.  What do you think of it all, Alice?”

“Oh, I don’t know.  They must be very rich,” said the girl indifferently.

“You can’t tell.  Country people of a certain kind are apt to put everything on their backs and their walls and floors.  Of course such a house here doesn’t mean what it would in town.”  She examined the texture of the carpet more critically, and the curtains; she had no shame about a curiosity that made her daughter shrink.

“Don’t, mamma!” pleaded the girl.  “What if they should come?”

“They won’t come,” said Mrs. Pasmer; and her notice being called to Alice, she made her take off the ribbon.  “You’re better without it.”

“I’m so nervous I don’t know what I’m doing,” said Alice, removing it, with a whimper.