He could not bear her smile.
"Your mother is a good woman——"
"I suppose she is. God save us from good women!"
Mr. Farley walked on slowly. He walked like an old man. It made him feel tired when he thought that anyone questioned the nobility and excellence of his resolution.
"When you have had more experience of life, Alice, you will see how easily we err, and how it's always better to accept the weight of old burdens rather than assume new ones."
"I'm not likely to be offered new ones."
"What do you mean?"
"What I say. Ugly old maid at twenty-nine. My life will go on like this forever and ever."
Mr. Farley was ashamed with Alice because she told the truth about herself. It hurt him to face her ugliness and not be allowed to lie to her.
"That's morbid talk," he said, walking more slowly and rubbing his forehead again.