You ought to comb yourhair once or twice a week,
you know.
All through the waning summer he walked with Irene
Mallard. But if he knows what he has, thats something. A twilight ofgrim effort
hovered around him, above him. Ben went swiftly down the shallow steps and loped
back over thelawn. Dont let mego entirely, I beg of you, dont leave me alone. Youll
be here long after Imgone, you selfish old man! Irene Mallard slipped and veeredto
his awkward pressure, as bodiless as a fume of smoke.
Irene Mallard slipped and veeredto his awkward
pressure, as bodiless as a fume of smoke. What, said Miss Brown, with a cunning
smile, what if yourmother should see us?
And what about the theatres and
libraries?
Are there a lot of pretty houses and
finebuildings?
You folks here dont know whathot weather
is.
Ive been watching you these last few days, said
Irene Mallard. Youll be here long after Imgone, you selfish old man! Upon the
darkening porch, awaiting food, the boarders rocked, ohrocked with laughter. I will
bring you down upon the whores andboarders.
How close you have been to me, if any
one.
Yes, said Miss Brown, I believe in being
broad-minded aboutthese things, too. Thegreat pump beat slowly and irregularly, with
a hissing respiration.
The suns vastrim, blood-red, rested upon the
western earth, in a great field ofmurky pollen.
He went back and found Eliza preparingto retire to
her little cell. It was decided that he must go again to Baltimore.
Arethere no other women in the world, that you
should let one get thebest of you like this? It keeps trying to, but it wont,it
never has. Hes almost as tall as you are andtwice as broad. When he had fed he went
out on the porch. I will bring you down upon the whores andboarders.
But he unpacked the burden of his heart,trembling
and passionate. She took his trembling hand and held it between her coolpalms until
he grew quieter.