BIBLIOGRAPHICAL

Inthosedimrecessesoftheconsciousnesswherethingshavetheirbeginning，ifeverthingshaveabeginning，Isupposetheoriginofthisnovelmaybetracedtoafactofafortnight’ssojournonthewesternshoreoflakeChamplaininthesummerof1891。AcrossthewaterintheStateofVermontIhadconstantlybeforemyeyesamajesticmountainformwhichtheearlierFrenchpioneershadnamed"LeLionCouchant，"butwhichtheirplainer—mindedYankeesuccessorspreferredtocall"TheCamel’sHump。"Itreallylookedlikeasleepinglion；theheadwasespeciallydefinite；andwhen，inthecourseofsometenyears，IfoundtheschemeforastoryaboutasummerhotelwhichIhadlongmeanttowrite，thisimagesuggestedthenameof’TheLandlordatLion’sHead。’Igavethetitletomyunwrittennovelatonceandneverwishedtochangeit，butrejoicedinthecertaintythat，whateverthenovelturnedouttobe，thetitlecouldnotbebetter。

Ibegantowritethestoryfouryearslater，whenweweresettledforthewinterinourflatonCentralPark，andasIwasayearindoingit，withotherthings，ImusthavetakentheunfinishedmanuscripttoandfromMagnolia，Massachusetts，andLongBeach，LongIsland，whereIspentthefollowingsummer。ItwasfirstserializedinHarper’sWeeklyandintheLondonIllustratedNews，aswellasinanAustraliannewspaper——Iforgetwhichone；anditwaspublishedasacompletedbookin1896。

Irememberconcerningitaverybecomingdespairwhen，atacertainmomentinit，IbegantowonderwhatIwasdrivingat。Ihavealwayshadsuchmomentsinmywork，andifIcannotfitlyboastofthem，Icanatleastowntotheminfreedomfromthepridethatgoesbeforeafall。

Myonlyresourceatsuchtimeswastokeepworking；keepbeatingharderandharderatthewallwhichseemedtoclosemein，tillatlastIbrokethroughintothedaylightbeyond。Inthiscase，IhadreallysuchaverygoodgripofmycharactersthatIneednothavehadtheusualfearoftheirfailuretoworkouttheirdestiny。ButevenwhenthethingwasdoneandIcarriedthecompletedmanuscripttomydearoldfriend，thelateHenryLoomisNelson，theneditoroftheWeekly，itwasinmorefearofhisjudgmentthanIcaredtoshow。Asoftenhappenedwithmymanuscriptinsuchexigencies，itseemedtogoalltoahandfulofshrivelledleaves。WhenwemetagainandheaccepteditfortheWeekly，withahandclaspofheartywelcome，Icouldscarcelygaspoutmyunfeignedrelief。Wehadtalkedtheschemeofitovertogether；hehadlikedthenotion，andheeasilymademebelieve，aftermyfirstdismay，thathelikedtheresultevenbetter。

ImyselflikedtheheroofthetalemorethanIhavelikedworthiermen，perhapsbecauseIthoughtIhadachievedinhimatruerusticNewEnglandtypeincontactwithurbanlifeunderentirelymodernconditions。Whatseemedtomemyestheticsuccessinhimpossiblysoftenedmetohisethicalshortcomings；butIdonotexpectotherstosharemyweaknessforJeffDurgin，whosestrong，roughsurnamehadbeenwaitingforhispersonalityeversinceIhadgotitoffthesideofanice—cartmanyyearsbefore。

AtthetimethestorywasimaginedHarvardhadbeenforfouryearsmuchinthedirectknowledgeoftheauthor，andIpleasedmyselfinrealizingthehero’sexperiencetherefromevenmoreintimacywiththeuniversitymoodsandmannersthanhadsupportedmeinthestudiesofanearlierfictiondealingwiththem。IhadnotlivedtwelveyearsinCambridgewithoutacquaintancesuchasevenaneldermanmustmakewiththeundergraduatelife；butitisonlyfromitsownlevelthatthiscanbetrulylearned，andIhavealwaysbeenreadytostandcorrectedbyundergraduateexperience。Still，Ihavemybeliefthatasajay——thewordmaynowbeobsolete——JeffDurginisnotaltogetheroutofdrawing；

thoughthisis，ofcourse，thephaseofhischaracterwhichisoneoftheleastimportant。WhatImostprizeinhim，ifImaygotothebottomoftheinkhorn，istherealizationofthatanti—PuritanqualitywhichwasalwaysvexingtheheartofPuritanism，andwhichIhadconstantlyfeltoneofthemostinterestingfactsinmyobservationofNewEngland。

Asforthesortofsummerhotelportrayedinthesepages，itwasmaterializedfromanacquaintancewithsummerhotelsextendingoverquarterofacentury，andscarcelytobesurpassedifparalleled。IhadapassionforknowingaboutthemandunderstandingtheiroperationwhichIindulgedateveryopportunity，andwhichIrememberwassatisfiedastoeveryreasonabledetailatoneofthepleasantestseasidehostelriesbyoneofthemostintelligentandobligingoflandlords。Yet，hotelsforhotels，Iwasinterestedinthoseofthehillsratherthanthoseoftheshores。

Iworkedsteadilyifnotrapidlyatthestory。OftenIwentbackoverit，andtoreittopiecesandputittogetheragain。ItmademefeelattimesasifIshouldneverlearnmytrade，butsodideverynovelIhavewritten；everynovel，infact，hasbeenanewtrade。In，thecaseofthisonethepublisherswerehurryingmeintherevisionforcopytogivetheillustrator，whowashurryinghispicturesfortheEnglishandAustralianserializations。

KITTERYPOINT，MAINE，July，1909。

THELANDLORDATLION’SHEAD

I。

Ifyoulookedatthemountainfromthewest，thelineofthesummitwaswanderinganduncertain，likethatofmostmountain—tops；but，seenfromtheeast，themassofgraniteshowingabovethedenseforestsofthelowerslopeshadtheformofasleepinglion。Theflanksandhauncheswerevaguelydistinguishedfromthemass；butthemightyhead，restingwithitstossedmaneuponthevastpawsstretchedbeforeit，wasboldlysculpturedagainstthesky。Thelikenesscouldnothavebeenmoreperfect，whenyouhaditinprofile，ifithadbeenadefiniteintentionofart；andyoucouldtravelfarnorthandfarsouthbeforetheillusionvanished。Inwintertheheadwasblottedbythesnows；andsometimesthevagrantcloudscaughtuponitanddeformedit，orhidit，atotherseasons；butcommonly，afterthelastsnowwentinthespringuntilthefirstsnowcameinthefall，theLion’sHeadwasapartofthelandscape，asimperativeandimportunateastheGreatStoneFaceitself。

Longafterotherpartsofthehillcountrywereopenedtosummersojourn，theregionofLion’sHeadremainedalmostprimitivelysolitaryandsavage。Astonymountainroadfollowedthebedofthetorrentthatbrawledthroughthevalleyatitsbase，andatacertainpointastillrougherlaneclimbedfromtheroadalongthesideoftheoppositeheighttoalonelyfarm—housepushedbackonanarrowshelfofland，withameagreacreageoffieldandpasturebrokenoutofthewoodsthatclothedalltheneighboringsteeps。Thefarm—houselevelcommandedthebestviewofLion’sHead，andthevisitorsalwaysmountedtoit，whethertheycameonfoot，orarrivedonbuckboardsorinbuggies，ordroveupintheConcordstagesfromthefartherandnearerhotels。Thedriversofthecoachesrestedtheirhorsesthere，andwateredthemfromthespringthatdrippedintothegreenlogatthebarn；thepassengersscatteredaboutthedoor—yardtolookattheLion’sHead，towonderatitandmockatit，accordingtotheirseveralmakesandmoods。Theycouldscarcelyhavefeltthattheyeverhadawelcomefromthestalwart，handsomewomanwhosoldthemmilk，iftheywantedit，andsmallcakesofmaplesugariftheywereverystrenuousforsomethingelse。Theladieswerenotabletomakemuchofherfromthefirst；butsomeofthemaskedherifitwerenotratherlonelythere，andshesaidthatwhenyouheardthecatamountsscreamatnight，andthebearsgrowlinthespring，itdidseemlonesome。

Whenoneofthemdeclaredthatifsheshouldhearacatamountscreamorabeargrowlsheshoulddie，thewomananswered，Well，shepresumedwemustalldiesometime。Buttheladieswerenotsureofacovertslantinherwords，fortheywerespokenwiththesamelooksheworewhenshetoldthemthatthemilkwasfivecentsaglass，andtheblackmaplesugarthreecentsacake。Shedidnotchangewhensheownedupontheirurgencethatthegauntmanwhomtheyglimpsedaroundthecornersofthehousewasherhusband，andthethreelankboyswithhimwerehersons；thatthechildrenwhosefaceswatchedthemthroughthewrithingwindowpaneswerehertwolittlegirls；thattheurchinwhostoodshylytwisted，allbuthiswhiteheadandsunburnedface，intoherdressandglancedatthemwithamockingblueeye，washeryoungest，andthathewasthreeyearsold。Withlikecoldnessofvoiceandface，sheassentedtotheirconjecturethatthespacewalledoffinthefarthercorneroftheorchardwasthefamilyburialground；andshesaid，withnomorefeelingthattheladiescouldseethanshehadshownconcerningtheotherfacts，thatthegravestheysawwerethoseofherhusband’sfamilyandofthechildrenshehadlosttherehadbeentenchildren，andshehadlostfour。Shedidnotvisiblyshrinkfromthepursuitofthesympathywhichexpresseditselfincuriosityastothesicknesstheyhaddiedof；theladiesleftherwiththebeliefthattheyhadmetacharacter，andsheremainedwiththeconviction，brieflyimpartedtoherhusband，thattheyweretonguey。

Thesummerfolkscamemoreandmore，everyyear，withlittlevarianceintheimpressiononeitherside。WhentheytoldherthathermaplesugarwouldsellbetterifthecakehadanimageofLion’sHeadstampedonit，sheansweredthatshegotenoughofLion’sHeadwithoutwantingtoseeitonallthesugarshemade。ButthenextyearthecakesborearudeeffigyofLion’sHead，andshesaidthatoneofherboyshadcutthestampoutwithhisknife；shenowchargedfivecentsacakeforthesugar，buthermannerremainedthesame。Itdidnotchangewhentheexcursionistsdroveaway，andthedeepsilencenativetotheplacefellaftertheirchatter。Whenacockcrew，oracowlowed，orahorseneighed，oroneoftheboysshoutedtothecattle，anechoretortedfromthegranitebaseofLion’sHead，andthenshehadallthenoiseshewanted，or，atanyrate，allthenoisetherewasmostofthetime。Nowandthenawagonpassedonthestonyroadbythebrookinthevalley，andsentupitsclattertothefarm—houseonitshighshelf，buttherewasscarcelyanotherbreakfromthesilenceexceptwhenthecoaching—partiescame。

Thecontinuousclashandrushofthebrookwaslikeapartofthesilence，astheredofthefarm—houseandthebarnwaslikeapartofthegreenofthefieldsandwoodsallroundthem：theblack—greenofpinesandspruces，theyellow—greenofmaplesandbirches，densetothetopsofthedrearyhills，andbreakinglikeabatedseaaroundtheLion’sHead。

Thefarmerstoopedathiswork，withathin，inward—curvingchest，buthiswifestoodstraightathers；andshehadamassivebeautyoffigureandaheavilymouldedregularityoffeaturethatimpressedsuchashadeyestoseehergrandeuramongthesummerfolks。Shewasfortywhentheybegantocome，andanashengraywascreepingoverthereddishheapsofherhair，likethepallorthatoverliesthecrimsonoftheautumnaloak。

Sheshowedherageearlierthanmostfairpeople，butsincehermarriageateighteenshehadlivedlonginthedeathsofthechildrenshehadlost。Theywerebornwiththetaintoftheirfather’sfamily，andtheywitheredfromtheircradles。Theyoungestboyalone；ofallherbrood，seemedtohaveinheritedherhealthandstrength。Therestastheygrewupbegantocough，asshehadheardherhusband’sbrothersandsisterscough，andthenshewaitedinhaplesspatiencethefulfilmentoftheirdoom。Thetwolittlegirlswhosefacestheladiesofthefirstcoaching—partysawatthefarm—housewindowshaddiedawayfromthem；twoofthelankboyshadescaped，andintheperpetualexileofCaliforniaandColoradohadsavedthemselvesalive。Theirfathertalkedofgoing，too，buttenyearslaterhestilldraggedhimselfspectrallyaboutthelaborsofthefarm，withthesamecoughatsixtywhichmadehisoldestsonattwenty—ninelookscarcelyyoungerthanhimself。

II。

OnesoftnooninthemiddleofAugustthefarmercameinfromthecorn—fieldthatanearlyfrosthadblighted，andtoldhiswifethattheymustgiveitup。Hesaid，inhisweak，hoarsevoice，withthecatarrhalcatchinginit，thatitwasnousetryingtomakealivingonthefarmanylonger。Theoatshadhardlybeenworthcutting，andnowthecornwasgone，andtherewasnothayenoughwithoutittowinterthestock；iftheygotthroughthemselvestheywouldhavetoliveonpotatoes。Haveavendue，andsellouteverythingbeforethesnowflew，andlettheStatetakethefarmandgetwhatitcouldforit，andturnoverthebalancethatwasleftafterthetaxes；theinterestofthesavings—bankmortgagewouldsooneatthatup。

Thelong，loosecoughtookhim，andanothercoughanswereditlikeanechofromthebarn，wherehissonwasgivingthehorsestheirfeed。Themild，wan—eyedyoungmancameroundthecornerpresentlytowardtheporchwherehisfatherandmotherweresitting，andatthesamemomentaboycameupthelanetotheothercorner；thereweresixteenyearsbetweentheagesofthebrothers，whoalonewereleftofthechildrenbornintoandborneoutofthehouse。Theyoungmanwaitedtilltheywerewithinwhisperingdistanceofeachother，andthenhegasped："Whereyoubeen？"

Theboyanswered，promptly，"Noneyourbusiness，"andwentupthestepsbeforetheyoungman，withalop—eared，liver—coloredmongrelathisheels。Hepulledoffhisraggedstrawhatandflungitontheflooroftheporch。"Dinnerover？"hedemanded。

Hisfathermadenoanswer；hismotherlookedattheboy’shandsandface，allofmuchthesameearthencast，uptotheeavesofhisthatchofyellowhair，andsaid："Yougoandwashyourself。"Atacertainlightinhismother’seye，whichhecaughtashepassedintothehousewithhisdog，theboyturnedandcutadefiantcaper。Theoldestsonsatdownonthebenchbesidehisfather，andtheyalllookedinsilenceatthemountainbeforethem。Theyheardtheboywhistlingbehindthehouse，withsputteringandblubberingnoises，asifhewerewashinghisfacewhilehewhistled；andthentheyheardhimsinging，withamuffledsound，andsharpbreaksfromthemuffledsound，asifheweresingingintothetowel；heshoutedtohisdogandthreatenedhim，andthescufflingofhisfeetcametothemthroughallasifheweredancing。

"Beenafterthemwoodchucksag’in，"hisfatherhuskilysuggested。

"Iguessso，"saidthemother。Thebrotherdidnotspeak；hecoughedvaguely，andlethisheadsinkforward。

Thefatherbeganastatementofhisaffairs。

Themothersaid："Youdon’twanttogointothat；webeenalloveritbefore。Ifit’scometothepinch，now，it’scome。Butyouwanttobesure。"

Themandidnotanswerdirectly。"IfwecouldselloffnowandgetouttowhereJimisinCaliforny，andgetapieceofland——"Hestopped，asifconfrontedwithsomedifficultywhichhehadmetbefore，buthadhopedhemightnotfindinhiswaythistime。

Hiswifelaughedgrimly。"Iguess，ifthetruthwasknown，we’retoopoortogetaway。"

"We’repoor，"hewhisperedback。Headded，withaweakobstinacy：

"Id’knowaswe’reaspoorasthatcomesto。Thethingswouldfetchsomething。"

"Enoughtogetusoutthere，andthenweshouldbeonJim’shands，"saidthewoman。

"Weshouldtillspring，maybe。Id’knowasIwanttofaceanotherwinterhere，andId’knowasJacksondoes。"

Theyoungmangaspedback，courageously："IguessIcangetalongherewellenough。"

"It’smadeJimtenyearsyounger。That’swhathesaid，"urgedthefather。

Themothersmiledasgrimlyasshehadlaughed。"Idon’tbelieveit’llmakeyoutenyearsricher，andthat’swhatyouwant。"

"Idon’tbelievebutwhatweshouldha’donesomethingwiththeplacebyspring。OrtheStatewould，"thefathersaid，lifelessly。

Thevoiceoftheboybrokeinuponthemfrombehind。"Say，mother，a’n’tyounevergoin’tohavedinner？"Hewasstandinginthedoorway，withastartlingcleannessofthehandsandface，andastrange，wetsleeknessofthehair。Hisclotheswerebedrabbleddownthefrontwithsoapandwater。

Hismotherroseandwenttowardhim；hisfatherandbrotherroselikeapparitions，andslantedafterheratoneangle。

"Say，"theboycalledagaintohismother，"therecomesapeddler。"Hepointeddowntheroadatthefigureofamanbrisklyascendingthelanetowardthehouse，withapackonhisbackandsomestrangeappendagesdanglingfromit。

Thewomandidnotlookround；neitherofthemenlookedround；theyallkeptonin—doors，andshesaidtotheboy，asshepassedhim："Igotnotimetowasteonpeddlers。Youtellhimwedon’twantanything。"

Theboywaitedforthefigureonthelanetoapproach。Itwasthefigureofayoungman，whoslunghisburdenlightlyfromhisshoulderswhenhearrived，andthenstoodlookingattheboy，withhisfootplantedonthelowermosttreadofthestepsclimbingfromthegroundtotheporch。

III。

Theboymusthavepermittedtheseadvancesthathemightinflictthegreaterdisappointmentwhenhespoke。"Wedon’twantanything，"hesaid，insolently。

"Don’tyou？"thestrangerreturned。"Ido。Iwantdinner。Goinandtellyourmother，andthenshowmewhereIcanwashmyhands。"

Theboldeaseofthestrangerseemedtodaunttheboy，andhestoodirresolute。Hisdogcameroundthecornerofthehouseatthefirstwordoftheparley，and，whilehismasterwasmakinguphismindwhattodo，hesmelledatthestranger’slegs。"Well，youcan’thaveanydinner，"

saidtheboy，tentatively。Thedograisedthebristlesonhisneck，andshowedhisteethwithasnarl。Thestrangerpromptlykickedhiminthejaw，andthedogranoffhowling。"Comehere，sir！"theboycalledtohim，butthedogvanishedroundthehousewithafadingyelp。

"Now，youngman，"saidthestranger，"willyougoanddoasyou’rebid？

I’mreadytopayformydinner，andyoucansayso。"Theboystaredathim，slowlytakinginthefactsofhiscostume，witheyesthatclimbedfromtheheavy，shoesupthelegsofhisthick—ribbedstockingsandhisknickerbockers，pastthepleatsandbeltofhisNorfolkjacket，totheredneckclothtiedundertheloosecollarofhisflannelouting—shirt，andsobyhisface，withitssoft，youngbeardanditsquieteyes，tothetopofhisbraidless，bandlessslouchhatofsoftfelt。Itwasoneoftheearliestcostumesofthekindthathadshownitselfinthehillcountry，anditwasaltogethernewtotheboy。"Come，"saidthewearerofit，"don’tstandontheorderofyourgoing，butgoatonce，"andhesatdownonthestepswithhisbacktotheboy，whoheardthesestrangetermsofcommandwithafaceofvagueenvy。

Thenoondaysunshinelayinathin，silveryglisterontheslopesofthemountainbeforethem，andinthebrilliantlightthecolossalformsoftheLion’sHeadwereprismaticallyoutlinedagainstthespecklesssky。

Throughthesilveryveilthereburnedhereandthereonthedenselywoodedacclivitiesthecrimsontorchofamaple，kindledbeforeitstime，buteverywhereelsetherewastheunbrokengreenoftheforest，subduedtoonetoneofgray。Theboyheardthestrangerfetchhisbreathdeeply，andthenexpelitinalongsigh，beforehecouldbringhimselftoobeyanorderthatseemedtoleavehimwithoutthechoiceofdisobedience。Hecamebackandfoundthestrangerashehadlefthim。"Comeon，ifyouwantyourdinner，"hesaid；andthestrangerroseandlookedathim。

"What’syourname？"heasked。

"ThomasJeffersonDurgin。"

"Well，ThomasJeffersonDurgin，willyoushowmethewaytothepumpandbringatowelalong？"

"Wanttowash？"

"Ihaven’tchangedmymind。"

"Comealong，then。"Theboymadeamovementasiftoleadthewayindoors；thestrangerarrestedhim。

"Here。Takeholdofthisandputitoutoftherushoftravelsomewhere。"Heliftedhisburdenfromwherehehaddroppeditintheroadandswungittowardtheboy，whorandownthestepsandembracedit。

Ashecarriedittowardacorneroftheporchhefeltofthevariousshapesandmaterialsinit。

Thenhesaid，"Comeon！"again，andwentbeforetheguestthroughthedimhallrunningmidwayofthehousetothedoorattherear。Helefthimonanarrowspaceofstoneflaggingthere，andranwithatinbasintothespringatthebarnandbroughtitbacktohimfullofthecoldwater。

"Towel，"hesaid，pullingatthefamilyrollerinsidethelittleporchatthedoor；andhewatchedthestrangerwashhishandsandface，andthensearchforafreshplaceonthetowel。

Beforethestrangerhadfinishedthefatherandtheelderbrothercameout，and，afteranineffectualattempttosalutehim，slantedawaytothebarntogether。Thewoman，in—doors，wasmoresuccessful，whenhefoundherinthedining—room，wheretheboyshowedhim。Thetablewassetforhimalone，anditaffectedhimasifthefamilyhadbeenhurriedawayfromitthathemighthaveittohimself。Everythingwasverysimple：

theironforkshadtwoprongs；theknivesbonehandles；thedullglasswaspressed；theheavyplatesandcupswerewhite，butsowasthecloth，andallwereclean。Thewomanbroughtinagoodboileddinnerofcorned—beef，potatoes，turnips，andcarrotsfromthekitchen，andateapot，andsaidsomethingabouthavingkeptthemhotonthestoveforhim；shebroughthimaplateofbiscuitfreshfromtheoven；thenshesaidtotheboy，"Youcomeoutandhaveyourdinnerwithme，Jeff，"andlefttheguesttomakehismealunmolested。

Theroomwassquare，withtwonorthwindowsthatlookeddownthelanehehadclimbedtothehouse。Anopendoorledintothekitcheninanell，andacloseddooroppositeprobablygaveaccesstoaparlororaground—

floorchamber。Thewindowsweredarkeneddowntothelowersashbygreenpapershades；thewallswerepaperedinapatternofbrownroses；overthechimneyhungalargepicture，alife—sizepencil—drawingoftwolittlegirls，oneslightlyolderandslightlylargerthantheother，eachwithroundeyesandpreciseringlets，andwithherhandclaspedintheother’shand。

Theguestseemedhelplesstotakehisgazefromit，andhesatfallenbackinhischairatitwhenthewomancameinwithapie。

"Thankyou，IbelieveIdon’twantanydessert，"hesaid。"Thefactis，thedinnerwassogoodthatIhaven’tleftanyroomforpie。Arethoseyourchildren？"

"Yes，"saidthewoman，lookingupatthepicturewiththepieinherhand。"They’rethelasttwoIlost。"

"Oh，excuseme——"theguestbegan。

"It’sthewaytheyappearinthespiritlife。It’saspiritpicture。"

"Oh，Ithoughttherewassomethingstrangeaboutit。"

"Well，it’sagooddeallikethephotographwehadtakenaboutayearbeforetheydied。It’sagoodlikeness。Theysaytheydon’tchangeagreatdealatfirst。"

Sheseemedtoreferthepointtohimforhisjudgment，butheansweredwideofit：

"Icameupheretopaintyourmountain，ifyoudon’tmind，Mrs。

Durgin—Lion’sHead，Imean。"

"Ohyes。Well，Idon’tknowaswecouldstopyouifyouwantedtotakeitaway。"Aspareglimmerlightedupherface。

Thepainterrejoinedinkind："Thetownmighthavesomethingtosay，I

suppose。"

"Notifyouwastoleaveagoodpieceofintervaleinplaceofit。We’vegotmountainstospare。"

"Well，then，that’sarranged。Whataboutaweek’sboard？"

"Iguessyoucanstayifyou’resatisfied。"

"I’llbesatisfiedifIcanstay。Howmuchdoyouwant？"

Thewomanlookeddown，probablywithaninwardanxietybetweenthefearofaskingtoomuchandthefollyofaskingtoolittle。Shesaid，tentatively："Someofthefolksthatcomeoverfromthehotelssaytheypayasmuchastwentydollarsaweek。"

"Butyoudon’texpecthotelprices？"

"Idon’tknowasIdo。We’veneverhadanybodybefore。"

Thestrangerrelaxedthefrownhehadputonatthegreedofhersuggestion；itmighthavecomefromignoranceormereinnocence。"I’minthehabitofpayingfivedollarsforfarmboard，whereIstayseveralweeks。Whatdoyousaytosevenforasingleweek？"

"Iguessthat’lldo，"saidthewoman，andshewentoutwiththepie，whichshehadkeptinherhand。

【推荐阅读】幽幽深宫，醒来一梦似千年，重生于下堂妃身躯中的她，将如何手刃仇人? 点击阅读