"Oh, no," Alice said. "It doesn't matter one way or the other. Please
don't call me that."

"So that's how you feel?" Mr. Malone laughed indulgently, without much
interest. "I've been meaning to come to see you for a long time honestly
I have--because I wanted to have a good talk with you about old times. I
know you think it was funny, after the way I used to come to your house
two or three times a week, and sometimes oftener--well, I don't blame
you for being hurt, the way I stopped without explaining or anything.
The truth is there wasn't any reason: I just happened to have a lot of
important things to do and couldn't find the time. But I AM going to
call on you some evening--honestly I am. I don't wonder you think----"

"You're mistaken," Alice said. "I've never thought anything about it at
all."

"Well, well!" he said, and looked at her languidly. "What's the use of
being cross with this old man? He always means well." And, extending his
arm, he would have given her a friendly pat upon the shoulder but she
evaded it. "Well, well!" he said. "Seems to me you're getting awful
tetchy! Don't you like your old friends any more?"

"Not all of them."

"Who's the new one?" he asked, teasingly. "Come on and tell us, Alice.
Who is it you were holding this chair for?"

"Never mind."

"Well, all I've got to do is to sit here till he comes back; then I'll
see who it is."

"He may not come back before you have to go."

"Guess you got me THAT time," Malone admitted, laughing as he rose.
"They're tuning up, and I've got this dance. I AM coming around to
see you some evening." He moved away, calling back over his shoulder,
"Honestly, I am!"

Alice did not look at him.

She had held her tableau as long as she could; it was time for her to
abandon the box-trees; and she stepped forth frowning, as if a little
annoyed with the absentee for being such a time upon her errand;
whereupon the two chairs were instantly seized by a coquetting pair
who intended to "sit out" the dance. She walked quickly down the broad
corridor, turned into the broader hall, and hurriedly entered the
dressing-room where she had left her wraps.

She stayed here as long as she could, pretending to arrange her hair
at a mirror, then fidgeting with one of her slipper-buckles; but the
intelligent elderly woman in charge of the room made an indefinite
sojourn impracticable. "Perhaps I could help you with that buckle,
Miss," she suggested, approaching. "