Page:Booth Tarkington - Alice Adams.djvu/416

 all the difference in the world to my family—and now look what you've done to me for it! I tell you, Mr. Lamb, there never was a man looked up to another man the way I looked up to you the whole o' my life, but I don't look up to you any more! You think you got a fine day of it now, riding up in your automobile to look at that sign—and then over here at my poor little works that you've ruined. But listen to me just this one last time!" The cracking voice broke into falsetto, and the gesticulating hands fluttered uncontrollably. "Just you listen!" he panted. "You think I did you a bad turn, and now you got me ruined for it, and you got my works ruined, and my family ruined; and if anybody 'd 'a' told me this time last year I'd ever say such a thing to you I'd called him a dang liar, but I do say it: I say you've acted toward me like—like a—a doggone mean—man!"

His voice, exhausted, like his body, was just able to do him this final service; then he sank, crumpled, into the chair by the table, his chin down hard upon his chest.

"I tell you, you're crazy!" Lamb said again. "I never in the world" But he checked himself, staring in sudden perplexity at his accuser. "Look,