Theybothlaughed，andDanlookedabouttheroom，whichhefoundwasaprivatehotelparlour，softenedtoamoredomesticeffectbythesignsofitsprolongedoccupationbytworefinedwomen。Onatablestoodaleatherphotographenvelopewiththreecabinetpicturesinit。Alongthetoplayasprayofwitheredforceythia。Dan’swanderingeyesrestedonit。MissAndersonwentandsoftlyclosedthedooropeningintothenextroom。
“Iwasafraidourtalkingmightdisturbmyaunt。”shesaid，andonherwaybacktohimshepickedupthephotographcaseandbroughtittothelight。
“Thesearemyfatherandmother。WeliveatYonkers;butI’mwithmyauntagooddealofthetimeintown——evenwhenI’mathome。”Shelaughedatherowncontradictorystatement，andputthecasebackwithoutexplainingthethirdfigure——afigureinuniform。Danconjecturedamilitarybrother，orfromherindifferenceperhapsamilitiabrother，andthenforgotabouthim。ButthepartialYonkersresidenceaccountedfortraitsofunconventionalityinMissAndersonwhichhehadnotbeenabletoreconcilewiththenotionofanexclusivelyNewYorkbreeding。Hefelttherelief，thesympathy，thecertaintyofintelligencewhicheverypersonwhoselifehasbeenpartlyspentinthecountryfeelsatfindingthatasuspectedcockneyhasalsohadtheoutlookintonatureandsimplicity。
OntheYonkersbasistheybecamemoreintimate，morepersonal，andDantoldheraboutPonkwassetFallsandhismotherandsisters;hetoldherabouthisfather，andshesaidsheshouldliketoseehisfather;shethoughthemustbelikeherfather。
“Allatonce，andfornoreasonthathecouldthinkofafterward，except，perhaps，thedesiretoseethecasewithhereyes，hebegantotellherofhisaffairwithAlice，andhowandwhyitwasbrokenoff;hetoldthewholetruthinregardtothat，anddidnotsparehimself。