absence　was　modified　by　a　sudden；　vehement　protest　against　sordidness。　　Why
  should　she　not　live　by　herself　amidst　clean　and　tidy　surroundings？　　She　had
  begun　to　earn　enough；　and　somehow　a　vista　had　been　opened　upa　vista　whose　end
  she　could　not　see；　alluring；　enticing。。。。　　In　the　dining…room；　by　the　cleared
  table；　her　father　was　reading　the　Banner；　her　mother　appeared　in　the　kitchen
  door。
  〃What　in　the　world　happened　to　you；　Janet？〃　she　exclaimed。
  〃Nothing；〃　said　Janet。　　〃Mr。　Ditmar　asked　me　to　staythat　was　all。　　He'd　been
  away。〃
  〃I　was　worried；　I　was　going　to　make　your　father　go　down　to　the　mill。　　I've
  saved　you　some　supper。〃
  〃I　don't　want　much；〃　Janet　told　her；　〃I'm　not　hungry。〃
  〃I　guess　you　have　to　work　too　hard　in　that　new　place；〃　said　Hannah；　as　she
  brought　in　the　filled　plate　from　the　oven。
  〃Well；　it　seems　to　agree　with　her；　mother；〃　declared　Edward；　who　could　always
  be　counted　on　to　say　the　wrong　thing　with　the　best　of　intentions。　　〃I　never　saw
  her　looking　as　wellwhy；　I　swan；　she's　getting　real　pretty！〃
  Hannah　darted　at　him　a　glance；　but　restrained　herself；　and　Janet　reddened　as
  she　tried　to　eat　the　beans　placed　before　her。　　The　pork　had　browned　and
  hardened　at　the　edges；　the　gravy　had　spread；　a　crust　covered　the　potatoes。
  When　her　father　resumed　his　reading　of　the　Banner　and　her　mother　went　back　into
  the　kitchen　she　began　to　speculate　rather　resentfully　and　yet　excitedly　why　it
  was　that　this　adventure　with　a　man；　with　Ditmar；　made　her　look　better；　feel
  better；more　alive。　　She　was　too　honest　to　disguise　from　herself　that　it　was
  an　adventure；　a　high　one；　fraught　with　all　sorts　of　possibilities；　dangers；　and
  delights。　　Her　promotion　had　been　merely　incidental。　　Both　her　mother　and
  father；　did　they　know　the　true　circumstances；that　Mr。　Ditmar　desired　her；　was
  perhaps　in　love　with　herwould　be　disturbed。　　Undoubtedly　they　would　have
  believed　that　she　could　〃take　care〃　of　herself。　　She　knew　that　matters　could
  not　go　on　as　they　were；　that　she　would　either　have　to　leave　Mr。　Ditmar　orand
  here　she　baulked　at　being　logical。　　She　had　no　intention　of　leaving　him：　to
  remain；　according　to　the　notions　of　her　parents；　would　be　wrong。　　Why　was　it
  that　doing　wrong　agreed　with　her；　energized　her；　made　her　more　alert；　cleverer；
  keying　up　her　faculties？　　turned　life　from　a　dull　affair　into　a　momentous　one？
  To　abandon　Ditmar　would　be　to　slump　back　into　the　humdrum；　into　something　from
  which　she　had　magically　been　emancipated；　symbolized　by　the　home　in　which　she
  sat；　by　the　red…checked　tablecloth；　the　ugly　metal　lamp；　the　cherry　chairs　with
  the　frayed　seats；　the　horsehair　sofa　from　which　the　stuffing　protruded；　the
  tawdry　pillow　with　its　colours；　once　gay；　that　Lise　had　bought　at　a　bargain　at
  the　Bagatelle。。。。　　The　wooden　clock　with　the　round　face　and　quaint　landscape
  belowthe　family's　most　cherished　heirloomthough　long　familiar；　was　not　so
  bad；　but　the　two　yellowed　engravings　on　the　wall　offended　her。　　They　had　been
  wedding　presents　to　Edward's　father。　　One　represented　a　stupid　German　peasant
  woman　holding　a　baby；　and　standing　in　front　of　a　thatched　cottage；　its
  companion　was　a　sylvan　scene　in　which　certain　wooden　rustics　were　supposed　to
  be　enjoying　themselves。　　Between　the　two；　and　dotted　with　flyspecks；　hung　an
  insurance　calendar　on　which　was　a　huge　head　of　a　lady；　florid；　fluffy…haired；
  flirtatious。　　Lise　thought　her　beautiful。
  The　room　was　ugly。　　She　had　long　known　that；　but　tonight　the　realization　came
  to　her　that　what　she　chiefly　resented　in　it　was　the　note　it　proclaimedthe
  note　of　a　mute　acquiescence；　without　protest　or　struggle；　in　what　life　might
  send。　　It　reflected　accurately　the　attitude　of　her　parents；　particularly　of　her
  father。　　With　an　odd　sense　of　detachment；　of　critical　remoteness　and　contempt
  she　glanced　at　him　as　he　sat　stupidly　absorbed　in　his　newspaper；　his　face
  puckered；　his　lips　pursed；　and　Ditmar　rose　before　herDitmar；　the　embodiment
  of　an　indomitableness　that　refused　to　be　beaten　and　crushed。　　She　thought　of
  the　story　he　had　told　her；　how　by　self…assertion　and　persistence　he　had　become
  agent　of　the　Chippering　Mill；　how　he　had　convinced　Mr。　Stephen　Chippering　of
  his　ability。　　She　could　not　think　of　the　mill　as　belonging　to　the　Chipperings
  and　the　other　stockholders；　but　to　Ditmar；　who　had　shaped　it　into　an　expression
  of　himself；　since　it　was　his　ideal。　　And　now　it　seemed　that　he　had　made　it　hers
  also。　　She　regretted　having　repulsed　him；　pushed　her　plate　away　from　her；　and
  rose。
  〃You　haven't　eaten　anything；〃　said　Hannah；　who　had　come　into　the　room。　　〃Where
  are　you　going？〃
  〃Outto　Eda's；〃　Janet　answered。。。。
  〃It's　late；〃　Hannah　objected。　　But　Janet　departed。　　Instead　of　going　to　Eda's
  she　walked　alone；　seeking　the　quieter　streets　that　her　thoughts　might　flow
  undisturbed。　　At　ten　o'clock；　when　she　returned；　the　light　was　out　in　the
  diningroom；　her　sister　had　not　come　in；　and　she　began　slowly　to　undress；
  pausing　every　now　and　then　to　sit　on　the　bed　and　dream；　once　she　surprised
  herself　gazing　into　the　glass　with　a　rapt　expression　that　was　almost　a　smile。
  What　was　it　about　her　that　had　attracted　Ditmar？　　No　other　man　had　ever　noticed
  it。　　She　had　never　thought　herself　good　looking；　and　nowit　was　astonishing！
  she　seemed　to　have　changed；and　she　saw　with　pride　that　her　arms　and　neck　were
  shapely；　that　her　dark　hair　fell　down　in　a　cascade　over　her　white　shoulders　to
  her　waist。　　She　caressed　it；　it　was　fine。　　When　she　looked　again；　a　radiancy
  seemed　to　envelop　her。　　She　braided　her　hair　slowly；　in　two　long　plaits；
  looking　shyly　in　the　mirror　and　always　seeing　that　radiancy。。。。
  Suddenly　it　occurred　to　her　with　a　shock　that　she　was　doing　exactly　what　she
  had　despised　Lise　for　doing；　and　leaving　the　mirror　she　hurried　her　toilet；　put
  out　the　light；　and　got　into　bed。　　For　a　long　time；　however；　she　remained
  wakeful；　turning　first　on　one　side　and　then　on　the　other；　trying　to　banish　from
  her　mind　the　episode　that　had　excited　her。　　But　always　it　came　back　again。　　She
  saw　Ditmar　before　her；　virile；　vital；　electric　with　desire。　　At　last　she　fell
  asleep。
  Gradually　she　was　awakened　by　something　penetrating　her　consciousness；
  something　insistent；　pervasive；　unescapable；　which　in　drowsiness　she　could　not
  define。　　The　gas　was　burning；　Lise　had　come　in；　and　was　moving　peculiarly　about
  the　room。　　Janet　watched　her。　　She　stood　in　front　of　the　bureau；　just　as　Janet
  herself　had　done；　her　hands　at　her　throat。　　At　last　she　let　them　fall；　her　head
  turning　slowly；　as　though　drawn；　by　some　irresistible；　hypnotic　power；　and
  their　eyes　met。　　Lise's　were　filmed；　like　those　of　a　dog　whose　head　is　being
  stroked；　expressing　a　luxuriant　dreaminess　uncomprehending；　passionate。
  〃Say；　did　I　wake　you？〃　she　asked。　　〃I　did　my　best　not　to　make　any　noisehonest
  to　God。〃
  〃It　wasn't　the　noise　that　woke　me　up；〃　said　Janet。
  〃It　couldn't　have　been。〃
  〃You've　been　drinking！〃　said　Janet；　slowly。
  Lise　giggled。
  〃What's　it　to　you；　angel　face！〃　　she　inquired。　　〃Quiet　down；　now；　and　go　bye…
  bye。〃
  Janet　sprang　from　the　bed；　seized　her　by　the　shoulders；　and　shook　her。　　She　was
  limp。　　She　began　to　whimper。
  〃Cut　it　outleave　me　go。　　It　ain't　nothing　to　you　what　I　doI　just　had　a
  highball。〃
  Janet　released　her　and　drew　back。
  〃I　just　had　a　highballhonest　to　God！〃
  〃Don't　say　that　again！〃　whispered　Janet；　fiercely。
  〃Oh；　very　well。　　For　God's　sake；　go　to　bed　and　leave　me　aloneI　can　take　care
  of　myself；　I　guessI　ain't　nutty　enough　to　hit　the　booze。　　But　I　ain't　like
  youI've　got　to　have　a　little　fun　to　keep　alive。〃
  〃A　little　fun！〃　Janet　exclaimed。　　The　phrase　struck　her　sharply。　　A　little　fun
  to　keep　alive！
  With　that　same　peculiar；　cautious　movement　she　had　observed；　Lise　approached　a
  chair；　and　sank　into　it；jerking　her　head　in　the　direction　of　the　room　where
  Hannah　and　Edward　slept。
  〃D'you　want　to　wake　'em　up？　　Is　that　your　game？〃　she　asked；　and　began　to　fumble
  at　her　belt。　　Overcoming　with　an　effort　a　disgust　amounting　to　nausea；　Janet
  approached　her　sister　again；　little　by　little　undressing　her；　and　finally
  getting　her　into　bed；　when　she　immediately　fell　into　a　profound　slumber。
  Janet；　too；　got　into　bed；　but　sleep　was　impossible：　the　odour　lurked　like　a
  foul　spirit　in　the　darkness；　mingling　with　the　stagnant；　damp　air　that　came　in
  at　the　open　window；　fairly　saturating　her　with　horror：　it　seemed　the　very
  essence　of　degradation。　　But　as　she　lay　on　the　edge　of　the　bed；　shrinking　from
  contamination；　in　the　throes　of　excitement　inspired　by　an　unnamed　fear；　she
  grew　hot；　she　could　feel　and　almost　hear　the　pounding　of　her　heart。　　She　rose；
  felt　around　in　the　clammy　darkness　for　her　wrapper　and　slippers；　gained　the
  door；　crept　through　the　dark　hall　to　the　dining…room；　where　she　stealthily　lit
  the　lamp；　darkness　had　become　a　terror。　　A　cockroach　scurried　across　the
  linoleum。　　The　room　was　warm　and　close；　it　reeked　with　the　smell　of　stale　food；
  but　at　least　she　found　relief　from　that　other　odour。　　She　sank　down　on　the
  sofa。
  Her　sister　was　drunk。　　That　in　itself　was　terrible　enough；　yet　it　was　not　the
  drunkenness　alone　that　had　sickened　Janet；　but　the　suggestion　of　something
  else。　　Where　had　Lise　been？　　In　whose　company　had　she