AsRuth'sfrontdoorclosedbehindthemandhecamedownthestepswithher, , , onthestreets, withpersonsofherclass, thatthewomentookthemen', again, hehadseenthemwhentheydidn't; andhewonderedifitwasonlyintheeveningthatarmsweretaken, oronlybetweenhusbandsandwivesandrelatives.

Justbeforehereachedthesidewalk, , becausehehadgonealongontheinside, andshehadlaidthelawdowntohimthatagentlemanalwayswalkedontheoutside—, whenevertheycrossedfromonesideofthestreettotheother, , andwhetherithadfiltereddownfromaboveandwasallright.

Itwouldn'tdoanyharmtotryit, hedecided, bythetimetheyhadreachedthesidewalk; ? ' , sidebyside, andafterthatitwasarmsaroundthewaists, andheadsagainstthefellows' '.

Hecrookedthearmnexttoher—crookeditveryslightlyandwithsecrettentativeness, notinvitingly, butjustcasually, , , ? Andifhedidso, wouldhehavetorepeatthemanoeuvrethenexttime? Andthenext? Therewassomethingwrongaboutit, , andwhenhefoundhimselfontheinside, hetalkedquicklyandearnestly, makingashowofbeingcarriedawaybywhathewassaying, sothat, incasehewaswronginnotchangingsides, hisenthusiasmwouldseemthecauseforhiscarelessness.

AstheycrossedBroadway, , , , , notwithsoftandgentleeyeslikeRuth's, butwitheyesthatwerehandsomeandhard, , too, withquickeyesthatweretimidandmildasadove's, butwhichsaw, inalookthatwasaflutteronandpast, theworking-classgirlinhercheapfineryandunderthestrangehatthatallworking-classgirlswerewearingjustthen.

"Whataprettygirl!" Ruthsaidamomentlater.

Martincouldhaveblessedher, thoughhesaid:-