There were fine lace curtains at the windows and beautiful pictures on the walls . There was a little white bed , and a dressing-table , a bookcase full of books , a stand with a work basket on it , and a rocking-chair . There was a woman 's picture above the bookcase . Mrs. Griggs says she thinks it was a coloured photograph , but she did n't know who it was . Anyway , it was a very pretty girl . But the most amazing thing of all was that A WOMAN 'S DRESS was hanging over a chair by the table . Mrs. Griggs says it NEVER belonged to Jasper Dale 's mother , for she thought it a sin to wear anything but print and drugget ; and this dress was of PALE BLUE silk . Besides that , there was a pair of blue satin slippers on the floor beside it -- HIGH-HEELED slippers . And on the fly-leaves of the books the name ` Alice ' was written . Now , there never was an Alice in the Dale connection and nobody ever heard of the Awkward Man having a sweetheart . There , is n't that a lovely mystery ? '' `` It 's a pretty queer yarn , '' said Felix . `` I wonder if it is true -- and what it means . '' `` I intend to find out what it means , '' said the Story Girl . `` I am going to get acquainted with the Awkward Man sometime , and then I 'll find out his Alice-secret . '' `` I do n't see how you 'll ever get acquainted with him , '' said Felicity . `` He never goes anywhere except to church . He just stays home and reads books when he is n't working . Mother says he is a perfect hermit . '' `` I 'll manage it somehow , '' said the Story Girl -- and we had no doubt that she would .
`` But I must wait until I 'm a little older , for he would n't tell the secret XXXXX the west room to a little girl .
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