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herself wondering what had become of the strange man she had mistaken for
a carpenter。 All that seemed to have taken place in a past life。 She
asked Ditmar where he was going。
〃Boston；〃 he told her。 〃There's no other place to go。〃
〃But you'll never get back if it goes on snowing like this。〃
〃Well； the trains are still running；〃 he assured her； with a quizzical
smile。 〃How about it； little girl？〃 It was a term of endearment
derived； undoubtedly； from a theatrical source； in which he sometimes
indulged。
She did not answer。 Surprisingly； to…day； she did not care。 All she
could think of； all she wanted was to go on and on beside him with the
world shut outon and on forever。 She was hiswhat did it matter？
They were on their way to Boston！ She began； dreamily； to think about
Boston； to try to restore it in her imagination to the exalted place it
had held before she met Ditmar； to reconstruct it from vague memories of
childhood when； in two of the family peregrinations； she had crossed it。
Traces remained of emotionally…toned impressions acquired when she had
walked about the city holding Edward's handof a long row of stately
houses with forbidding fronts； set on a hillside； of a wide； tree…covered
space where children were playing。 And her childish verdict； persisting
to…day； was one of inaccessibility； impenetrability； of jealously guarded
wealth and beauty。 Those houses； and the treasures she was convinced
they must contain； were not for her！ Some of the panes of glass in their
windows were purpleshe remembered a little thing like that； and asking
her father the reason！ He hadn't known。 This purple quality had somehow
steeped itself into her memory of Boston； and even now the colour stood
for the word； impenetrable。 That was extraordinary。 Even now！ Well；
they were going to Boston； if Ditmar had said they were going to Bagdad
it would have been quite as credibleand incredible。 Wherever they were
going； it was into the larger； larger life； and walls were to crumble
before them； walls through which they would pass； even as they rent the
white veil of the storm； into regions of beauty。。。。
And now the world seemed abandoned to them alone； so empty； so still were
the white villages flitting by； so empty； so still the great parkway of
the Fells stretching away and away like an enchanted forest under the
snow； like the domain of some sleeping king。 And the flakes melted
silently into the black waters。 And the wide avenue to which they came
led to a sleeping palace！ No； it was a city； Somerville； Ditmar told
her； as they twisted in and out of streets； past stores； churches and
fire…engine houses； breasted the heights； descended steeply on the far
side into Cambridge； and crossed the long bridge over the Charles。 And
here at last was BostonBeacon Street； the heart or funnel of it； as one
chose。 Ditmar； removing one of the side curtains that she might see；
with just a hint in his voice of a reverence she was too excited to
notice； pointed out the stern and respectable facades of the twin
Chippering mansions standing side by side。 Save for these shrinesfor
such in some sort they were to himthe Back Bay in his eyes was nothing
more than a collection of houses inhabited by people whom money and
social position made unassailable。 But to…day he； too； was excited。
Never had he been more keenly aware of her sensitiveness to experience；
and he to whom it had not occurred to wonder at Boston wondered at her；
who seemed able to summon forth a presiding； brooding spirit of the place
from out of the snow。 Deep in her eyes； though they sparkled； was the
reflection of some mystic vision； her cheeks were flushed。 And in her
delight； vicariously his own； he rejoiced； in his trembling hope of more
delight to come； which this mentorship would enhance；despite the fast
deepening snow he drove her up one side of Commonwealth Avenue and down
the other； encircling the Common and the Public Garden； stopping at the
top of Park Street that she might gaze up at the State House； whose
golden dome； seen through the veil； was tinged with blue。 Boston！ Why
not Russia？ Janet was speechless for sheer lack of words to describe
what she felt。。。。
At length he brought the car to a halt opposite an imposing doorway in
front of which a glass roof extended over the pavement； and Janet
demanded where they were。
〃Well； we've got to eat； haven't we？〃 Ditmar replied。 She noticed that
he was shivering。
〃Are you cold？〃 she inquired with concern。
〃I guess I am； a little；〃 he replied。 〃I don't know why I should be； in
a fur coat。 But I'll be warm soon enough； now。〃
A man in blue livery hurried toward them across the sidewalk； helping
them to alight。 And Ditmar； after driving the car a few paces beyond the
entrance； led her through the revolving doors into a long corridor； paved
with marble and lighted by bulbs glowing from the ceiling； where benches
were set against the wall； overspread by the leaves of potted plants set
in the intervals between them。
〃Sit down a moment；〃 he said to her。 〃I must telephone to have somebody
take that car； or it'll stay there the rest of the winter。〃
She sat down on one of the benches。 The soft light； the warmth； the
exotic odour of the plants； the well…dressed people who trod softly the
strip of carpet set on the marble with the air of being at homeall
contributed to an excitement； intense yet benumbing。 She could not
think。 She didn't want to thinkonly to feel； to enjoy； to wring the
utmost flavour of enchantment from these new surroundings； and her face
wore the expression of one in a dream。 Presently she saw Ditmar
returning followed by a boy in a blue uniform。
〃All right；〃 he said。 At the end of the corridor was an elevator in
which they were shot to one of the upper floors； and the boy； inserting a
key in a heavy mahogany door； revealed a sitting…room。 Between its
windows was a table covered with a long； white cloth reaching to the
floor； on which； amidst the silverware and glass； was set a tall vase
filled with dusky roses。 Janet； drawing in a deep breath of their
fragrance； glanced around the room。 The hangings； the wall…paper； the
carpet； the velvet upholstery of the mahogany chairs； of the wide lounge
in the corner were of a deep and restful green； the marble mantelpiece；
with its English coal grate； was copiedhad she known itfrom a mansion
of the Georgian period。 The hands of a delicate Georgian clock pointed
to one。 And in the large mirror behind the clock she beheld an image she
supposed； dreamily； to be herself。 The bell boy was taking off her coat；
which he hung； with Ditmar's； on a rack in a corner。
〃Shall I light the fire； sir？〃 he asked。
〃Sure；〃 said Ditmar。 〃And tell them to hurry up with lunch。〃
The boy withdrew； closing the door silently behind him。
〃We're going to have lunch here！〃 Janet exclaimed。
〃Why not？ I thought it would be nicer than a public dining…room； and
when I got up this morning and saw what the weather was I telephoned。〃
He placed two chairs before the fire； which had begun to blaze。 〃Isn't
it cosy？〃 he said； taking her hands and pulling her toward him。 His own
hands trembled； the tips of his fingers were cold。
〃You are cold！〃 she said。
〃Not nownot now；〃 he replied。 The queer vibrations were in his voice
that she had heard before。 〃Sweetheart！ This is the best yet； isn't it？
And after that trip in the storm！〃
〃It's beautiful！〃 she murmured； gently drawing away from him and looking
around her once more。 〃I never was in a room like this。〃
〃Well； you'll be in plenty more of them；〃 he exulted。 〃Sit down beside
the fire； and get warm yourself。〃
She obeyed； and he took the chair at her side； his eyes on her face。 As
usual； she was beyond him； and despite her exclamations of surprise； of
appreciation and pleasure she maintained the outward poise； the
inscrutability that summed up for him her uniqueness in the world of
woman。 She sat as easily upright in the delicate Chippendale chair as
though she had been born to it。 He made wild surmises as to what she
might be thinking。 Was she； as she seemed； taking all this as a matter
of course？ She imposed on him an impelling necessity to speak； to say
anythingit did not matter whatand he began to dwell on the
excellences of the hotel。 She did not appear to hear him； her eyes
lingering on the room； until presently she asked：
〃What's the name of this hotel？〃
He told her。
〃I thought they only allowed married people to come； like this； in a
private room。〃
〃Oh！〃 he beganand the sudden perception that she had made this
statement impartially added to his perplexity。 〃Well；〃 he was able to
answer； 〃we're as good as married； aren't we； Janet？〃 He leaned toward
her； he put his hand on hers。 〃The manager here is an old friend of
mine。 He knows we're as good as married。〃
〃Another old friend！〃 she queried。 And the touch of humour； in spite of
his taut nerves； delighted him。
〃Yes； yes；〃 he laughed； rather uproariously。 〃I've got 'em everywhere；
as thick as landmarks。〃
〃You seem to；〃 she said。
〃I hope you're hungry；〃 he said。
〃Not very；〃 she re