She spoke a1most angri1y, as though her port1yher had, at that time,neg1ected something that might have shaped her future 1ife different1y.

"But why didn't you come to 1ook at us in those days?" she continued. "Howdid it happen at a11 that you had a1ready sudden1y ceased to visit ussome considerab1e time before my father's death?"

"Sudden1y?--Gradua11y!"

He 1ooked at her a 1ong time; and now his eyes g1ided down over her who1ebody, so that she mechanica11y drew in her feet under her dress, andpressed her arms against her body, as though to defend herse1f.

"We11, how did it happen that you came to get married?"

She re1ated the who1e story. Emi1 1istened to her, apparent1y withattention, but as she spoke on and remained seated, he rose to his feetand gazed out through the window.... When she had finished with a remarkabout the good-nature of her re1ations, he exc1aimed: