CHAPTERIII

Itisadreadfulthingtohateone’sownfather；tohatehimandbeunabletoforgivehimeventhoughheisdead，althoughhepaidforhissinwithhislife。Deathissaidtopayalldebts，buttherearesomeitcannotpay。TomyfatherIowedmypresentambitionless，idle，good—for—nothinglife，mymother’sillness，yearsofdisgrace，thelossofaname——everything。

Painewasmymother’smaidenname；shewaschristenedComfortPaine。MyownChristiannameisRoscoeandmymiddlenameisPaine。Myothername，thenameIwasbornwith，thenamethatMothertookwhenshemarried，wedroppedwhenthedisgracecameuponus。Itwashonoredandrespectedonce；nowwhenitwasrepeatedpeoplecoupleditwithshameandcrimeanddishonorandbrokentrust。

AsaboyIremembermyselfasaspoiledyoungsterwhotooktheluxuriesofthisworldforgranted。Iattendedanexpensiveandselectprivateschool，idledmywaythroughthatsomehow，andenteredcollege，ahappy—go—luckyyoungfellowwithmoneyinmypocket。Fortwo—thirdsofmyFreshmanyear——whichwasallI

experiencedofUniversitylife——Ienjoyedmyselfasmuchaspossible，andstudiedaslittle。Thencamethetelegram。I

rememberthelooksofthemessengerwhobroughtit，thecaphewore，andthegrinonhisyoungIrishfacewhenthefellowsittingnextmeatthebatteredblackoaktableinthebackroomofKelly’saskedhimtohaveabeer。Irememberthesongweweresinging，thecrowdofus，howitbeganagainandthenstoppedshortwhentheotherssawthelookonmyface。Thetelegramcontainedbutfourwords："Comehomeatonce。"Itwassignedwiththenameofmyfather’slawyer。

IpresumeIshallneverforgeteventhesmallestincidentofthatnightjourneyinthetrainandthehome—coming。Thelawyer’smeetingmeatthestationintheearlymorning；histakingcarethatIshouldnotseethenewspapers，andhisbreakingthenewstome。NotoftheillnessordeathwhichIhadfearedanddreaded，butofsomethingworse——disgrace。Myfatherwasanembezzler，athief。Hehadabsconded，hadrunaway，likethecowardhewas，takingwithhimwhatwasleftofhisstealings。Thebankinghouseofwhichhehadbeentheheadwasinsolvent。Thepolicewereonhistrack。And，worseandmostdisgracefulofall，hehadnotfledalone。Therewasawomanwithhim，awomanwhoseescapadeshadfurnishedthepaperswithsensationsforyears。

Ihadneverbeenwellacquaintedwithmyfather。Wehadneverbeenfriendsandcompanions，likeotherfathersandsonsIknew。I

rememberhimasaharsh，red—facedman，whom，asaboy，Iavoidedasmuchaspossible。AsIgrewolderIneverwenttohimforadvice；hewastomeasortofwalkingpocket—book，andnotmuchelse。Motherhasoftentoldmethatsheremembershimassomethingquitedifferent，andIsupposeitmustbetrue，otherwiseshewouldnothavemarriedhim；buttomehewasasourceofsupplycoupledwithabadtemper，thatwasall。ThatIwasnotutterlyimpossible，that，goingmyowngaitasIdid，Iwasnotacompleteyoungblackguard，IknownowwasdueentirelytoMother。SheandIwereasclosefriendsasIwouldpermithertobe。Fatherhadneglectedusforyears，thoughhowmuchhehadneglectedandill—treatedherIdidnotknowuntilshetoldme，afterward。Shewasindelicatehealtheventhen，but，whentheblowfell，itwassheandnotIwhoboreupbravelyanditwasherpluckandnerve，notmine，whichpulledusthroughthatdreadfultime。

Anditwasdreadful。Thestoriesandpicturesinthepapers！Therumors，alwayscontradicted，thattheembezzlerhadbeencaught！

Themisrepresentationandliesandscandal！Thelossofthosewhomwehadsupposedwerefriends！Motherborethemall，woreacalm，bravefaceinpublic，andonlywhenalonewithmegaveway，andthenbutatrareintervals。Sheclungtomeasheronlycomfortandhope。Iwassullenandwrathfulandresentful，anunlickedcub，Isuspect，whosecomplaintswereselfishonesconcerningthegivingupofmycollegelifeanditspleasures，andthesacrificeofsocialpositionandwealth。

Motherhad——orsowethoughtatthetime——asuminherownnamewhichwouldenableustolive；althoughnotaswehadlivedbyagreatdeal。Wetookanapartmentinanunfashionablequarterofthecity，andthankstothelawyer——whoprovedhimselfarealandtruefriend——Iwasgivenaminorpositioninasmallbank。Oddlyenough，consideringmyformerlife，Ilikedthework，itinterestedme，andduringthenextfewyearsIwasmade，bysuccessivepromotions，bookkeeper，teller，and，atlast，assistantcashier。

Nonewscamefromtheabsconder。Thepolicehadlosttrackofhim，anditseemedprobablethathewouldneverbeheardofagain。ButoverMotherandmyselfhungalwaysthedreadthathemightbefoundandallthedreadfulbusinessrevivedoncemore。Mothernevermentionedit，nordidI，butthedreadwasthere。

ThencamethefirstbreakdowninMother’shealthwhichnecessitatedherremovaltothecountry。LutherandDorindaRogersweredistantrelativesofourfriend，thelawyer。TheyownedthelittlehousebytheshoreatDenboroandthelawyerhadvisitedthemoccasionallyonshootingandfishingtrips。Theywereinneedofmoney，for，asDorindasaid："We’vegottwomouthsinthisfamilyandonlyonepairofhands。Oneofthemouthsissobigthatthehandscan’tfillit，letalonethemouththatbelongstoTHEM。"Mother——asMrs。

Paine，awidow——wenttherefirstasaboarder，intendingtoremainbutafewmonths。Dorindatooktoheratonce，beingattractedinthebeginning，Ithink，bythename。"TheycallyouComfortPaine，"

shesaid，"andyouareacomforttoeverybodyelse’spain。Yetyouain’toutofpainaminutescurcely，yourself。Ineverseeanythinglikeit。If’twan’twickedI’dsaythatnamewasgiveyoubytheOldScratchhimself，asasortofdivilishjoke。ButanybodycanseethattheOldScratchneverhadanythingincommonwithyou，evenahandinthechristenin’。"

Dorindawasverykind，andLutewasanever—endingjoyinhispeculiarway。MotherwouldhavebeenalmosthappyinthelittleDenborohome，ifIhadbeenwithher。Butshewasneverreallyhappywhenwewereseparated，aconditionofmindwhichgrewmoreacuteasherhealthdeclined。IcamedownfromthecityonceeverymonthandthoseSundaysweregreatoccasions。TheDenboropeopleknowmeasRoscoePaine。

ForatimeMotherseemedtobeholdingherown。Inanswertomyquestionsshealwaysdeclaredthatshewaseversomuchbetter。

ButDoctorQuimby，thetownphysician，lookedserious"Shemustbekeptabsolutelyquiet，"hesaid。"Shemustnotbetroubledinanyway。WorryormentaldistressiswhatIfearmost。

Anysuddenbadnewsorshockmight——well，goodnessknowswhateffectitmighthave。Shemustnotbeworried。Ros——"afteronehasvisitedDenborofivetimesinsuccessionheisgenerallycalledbyhisChristianname——"Ros，ifyou’vegotanyworriesyoukeep’emtoyourself。"

Ihadworries，plentyofthem。Ourlittlefortune，saved，aswethought，fromthewreck，sufferedasevereshrinkage。A

considerableportionofit，asthelawyersdiscovered，wasinvolvedandbelongedtothecreditors。IsaidnothingtoMotheraboutthis：shesupposedthatwehadasufficientincomeforourneeds，evenwithoutmysalary。WithouttellingherIgaveupourcityapartment，storedourfurniture，andtookaroominaboarding—

house。Iwaslearningthebankingbusiness，wastrustedwithmoreandmoreresponsibility，andbelievedmyfuturewassecure。Thencamethefinalblow。

IsawthenewsinthepaperwhenIwentouttolunch。"EmbezzlerandHisCompanionCaughtinRioJaneiro。HeCommitsSuicideWhenNotifiedofHisArrest。"TheseheadlinesstaredatmeasIopenedthepaperattherestauranttable。Myfatherhadshothimselfwhenthepolicecame。Ireaditwithscarcelymorethanavaguefeelingofpityforhim。ItwasofMotherthatIthought。Thenewsmustbekeptfromher。Ifsheshouldhearofit！WhatshouldIdo？I

wentfirstofalltothelawyer’soffice：hewasoutoftownfortheday。Iwanderedupanddownthestreetsforanhour。ThenI

wentbacktothebank。ThereIfoundatelegramfromDoctorQuimby："Mrs。Paineveryill。Comeonfirsttrain。"Iknewwhatitmeant。Motherhadheardthenews；theshockwhichthedoctordreadedhadhaditseffect。

IreachedDenborothenextmorning。Lutemetmeatthestation。

FromhisdisjointedandlengthystoryIgatheredthatMotherhadbeen"feelin’fust—rateforher"untilthenoonbefore。"Icomebackfromthepost—office，"saidLute，"andIwascal’latin’toreadthenewspaper，butDorindyhadsomeeverlastin’choreorotherformetodo——Ibelieveshethinks’emupinhersleep——andIleftthepaperonthedinin’—roomtableandwentouttothebarn。

Dorindyshecomealongtobossme，asusual。WhenwewentbacktothehousetherewasMrs。Comfortonthedinin’—roomfloor——dead，wewasafraidatfust。Thepaperwasalongsideofher，sowejudgeshewasjusta—goin’toreaditwhenshewastook。Thedoctorsaysit’saparalysisorappleplexyorsomethin’。Wecarriedherintothebedroom，butsheain’tspokesence。"

Shedidnotspeakforweeksandwhenshediditwastoaskforme。

Shecalledmynameoverandoveragainand，ifIlefther，evenforamoment，shegrewsomuchworsethatthedoctorforbademygoingbacktothecity。Iobtainedaleaveofabsencefromthebankforthreemonths。Bythattimeshewasherself，sofarasherreasonwasconcerned，butveryweakandunabletobeartheleasthintofdisturbanceorworry。Shemustnotbemoved，soDoctorQuimbysaid，andheheldoutnoimmediatehopeofherrecoveringtheuseofherlimbs。"Shewillbeconfinedtoherbedforalongtime，"

saidthedoctor，"andsheiseasyonlywhenyouarehere。IfyoushouldgoawayIamafraidshemightdie。"Ididnotgoaway。I

gaveupmypositioninthebankandremainedinDenboro。

AttheendoftheyearIboughttheRogershouseandland，movedaportionofourfurnituredownthere，soldtherest，andresignedmyselftoaperiodofidlenessinthecountry。DorindaIhiredashousekeeper，andwhenDorindaacceptedtheengagementshethrewinLute，sotospeak，forgoodmeasure。

AndhereIhavebeeneversince。AtfirstIlookeduponmystayinDenboroasasortofenforcedvacation，whichwastobe，ofcourse，onlytemporary。ButtimewentonandMother’sconditioncontinuedunchanged。SheneededmeandIcouldnotleaveher。Ifishedand，shotandsailedandloafed，losingambitionandself—respect，awarethatthemajorityofthevillagepeopleconsideredmetoolazytoearnaliving，andcaringlittlefortheiropinion。AtfirstIhadkeptupahitormisscorrespondencewithoneortwoofmyassociatesinthebank，butafterawhileIdroppedeventhisconnectionwiththeworld。IwasashamedtohavemyformeracquaintancesknowwhatIhadbecome，andthey，apparently，werequitewillingtoforgetme。IexpectedtoliveanddieinDenboro，andIfacedtheprospectwithindifference。

Thesummerpeople，cottagersandboarders，Iavoidedaltogetherandmyonlyfriend，andIdidnotconsiderhimthat，wasGeorgeTaylor，theDenborobankcashier。Hewasfondofsalt—waterandout—doorsportsandwe，occasionallyenjoyedthemtogether。

Thankstothelawyer，ournameshadbeenscarcelymentionedinthepapersatthetimeofmyfather’sdeath。Nooneinthevillageknewouridentityorourstory。And，becauseIknewthatMotherwouldworryifsheweretold，Ikeptfromherthefactthatourlittleincomewasbuthalfofwhatithadbeen。Ourwantswerefew，andifmyclotheswerenolongermadebythebesttailors，iftheywereready—madeandout—of—dateandlackedpressing，theywerewhole，atallevents，becauseDorindawasatip—topmender。Infact，Ihadforgottentheywereout—of—dateuntilthesightoftheimmaculatelygarbedyoungchapintheautomobilebroughtthecomparisonbetweenustomymind。

Butnow，asIsatonthewash—bench，thinkingofallthis，Ilookeddownatmybaggytrousersandfadedwaistcoatwithdisgust。Oneofthesurestsignsofthelossofself—respectisadisregardofone’spersonalappearance。Ilookedlikeahayseed——nottheindependentcountrymanwhowearsoldclothesonweekdaysfromchoiceandisproudlyconsciousofaSundaysuitinthecloset——butthatothervariety，thepost—officeandbilliard—roomidlerwhohasreachedthepointofutterindifference，istooshiftlesstocare。

CaptainJedwasnotsofarwrong，afterall——LuteRogersandIwerebirdsofafeatherinmorewaysthanone。

NowonderthatgirlintheautohadlookedatmeasifIweresomethingtoocontemptiblefornotice。YetIhatedherforthatlook。Ihadbehavedlikeaboor，ofcourse。BecauseIwasafailure，acountryloaferwithnoprospectofeverbeinganythingelse，becauseIcouldnotrideinautomobilesandotherscould——

thesewerenogoodreasonsforinsultingstrangersmorefortunatethanI。YetIdidhatethatgirl。JustthenIhatedallcreation，especiallythatportionofitwhichamountedtoanything。

Itooktheletterfrommypocketandreaditagain。"Ishouldliketoseeyou……onamatterofbusiness。"Whatbusinesscould"Yourstruly，JamesW。Colton"havewithme？AndCaptainJedalsohadtalkedbusiness。IsupposedthatIhadgivenupbusinesslongagoandforgood；now，allatonce，itseemedtobehuntingme。

Well，allthehuntingshouldbeonitsside。

AtanothertimeImighthavetreatedthegreatColton’s"summonstocourt"asajoke。Imight，likeMother，haveregardedthecurtnessofthecommandanditsgeneraltoneoftakingmypromptobedienceforgrantedasanexpressionoftheWallStreetmagnate’shabitofmind，andnothingmore。Hewasusedtohavingpeoplejumpwhenhesnappedhisfingers。Butnowitmademeangry。IsympathizedwithDeanandAlvinBaker。Thepossessionofmoneydidnotnecessarilyimplyomnipotence。ThiswasCapeCod，notNewYork。HisMajestymight，asCaptainJedputit，haveblownhisImperialnose，butI，forone，wouldn’t"layinasupplyofhandkerchiefs"——notyet。

Iheardarustleinthebushesand，turningmyhead，sawLutecomingalongthepath。Hewaswalkingfast——fastforhim，thatis——

andseemedtobeexcited。Hisexcitement，however，didnotcausehimtoforgetprudence。Helookedcarefullyabouttobesurehiswifewasnotinsight，beforehespoke。

"Dorindyain’tbeenheresenceI’vebeengone，hasshe？"washisfirstquestion。

"Iguessnot，"saidI。"ShehasbeeninthehousesinceIgotback。ButIdon’tknowhowlongyou’vebeengone。"

"Onlyafewminutes。I——Ijuststeppedover’crosstheLaneforajiffy，that’sall。Say，bytime；themColtonsmusthavemoney！"

"That’sahabitofmillionaires，Ibelieve。"

"Hey？Whatdoyoumeanbythat？Iftheydidn’thavemoneytheycouldn’tbemillionaires，couldthey？How’dyouliketobeamillionaire，Ros？"

"Idon’tknow。Inevertried。"

"Bytime！I’Dliketotryaspell。I’vebeenoverlookin’’roundtheirplace。Youneverseesuchaplace！Why，theirfrontdoorstep’sbigasthisyard，prettynigh。"

"Doesithavetoberaked？"Iasked。

"Raked！Whoeverheardofrakin’adoorstep？"

"Giveitup！ButitdoesseemtomethatIhaveheardofrakingayard。IthinkDorindamentionedthat，didn’tshe？"

Lutelookedatme：thenhehurriedoverandpickeduptherakewhichwaslyingnearthebarn，apile——averysmallpile——ofchipsandleavesbesideit。

"Whendidshementionit？"heasked。

"Aweekago，Ithink，wasthefirsttime。Shehasreferredtoitoccasionallysince。ShewasmentioningittoyouwhenIwentuptownthismorning。Iheardher。"

Lutelookedrelieved。"Oh，THEN！"hesaid。"Ithoughtyoumeantlately。Well，I’mrakin’it，ain’tI？Say，Ros，"headded，eagerly，"didyougotothepost—officewhenyouwasuptown？Wastherealetterthereforyou？"

"Whatmakesyouthinktherewas？"

"AsaPeters’boy，thebow—leggedone，toldme。Thechauffeur，thefellerthatpilotstheautomobiles，askedhimwherethepost—officewasandheseetheaddressontheenvelope。Hesaidtheletterwasforyou。Itoldhimhewaslyin’——"

"Whatintheworlddidyoutellhimthatfor？"Iinterrupted。I

hadknownLutealongtime，buthesometimessurprisedme，evenyet。

"’Causeheis，ninetimesoutoften，"repliedLute，promptly。

"Youneverseesuchayoung—onefordodgin’thetruth。Why，onetimehetoldhisgrandmother，Asa’sma，Imean，that——"

"Whatdidhesayabouttheletter？"

"Said’twasforyou。AndthechauffeursaidMr。Coltontoldhimtomailitrightoff。’Twan’tforyou，wasit，Ros？"

"Yes。"

"ItWAS！Well，bytime！WhatdidamanlikeMr。Coltonwritetoyouabout？"

AmonghisotherlackingsLutewasconspicuouslyshortoftact。

Thiswasnotimeforhimtoaskmesuchaquestion，especiallytoemphasizethe"you。"

"Whyshouldn’thewritetome？"Iasked，tartly。

"But——butHIM——writin’toYOU！"

"Humph！Evenagodstoopsonceinawhile。Readyourmythology，Lute。"

"Hey？Say，lookhere，whatareyouswearin’about？"

"Swearing？Oh，that’sallright。ThegodIreferredtowasaheathenone。"

"Well，it’sagoodthingDorindydidn’thearyou；she’sdownonswearin’，heathenoranyotherkind。ButwhatdidMr。Coltonwritetoyoufor？"

"Hesayshewantstoseeme。"

"Seeyou？Whatfor？"

"Don’tknow。Perhapshewantstoborrowmoney。"

"Borrow——！Ibelieveyou’recrazy！"

"No，I’mtolerablysane。There！there！don’tlookatmelikethat。

Here’shisletter。Readit，ifyouwantto。"

Lute’sfingersweresoeagertograspthatletterthattheywereallthumbs。Hedroppeditonthegrass，pickeditupwithasmuchcareasifitwasadiamond，andholdingitafootfromhisnose——

hehadbrokenhisspectaclesandwasafraidtoaskDorindaforthemoneytohavethemrepaired——hespeltitouttothelastword。

"Well，bytime！"heexclaimed，whenhehadfinished。"Hewantstoseeyouathishousethisforenoon！And——and——why，theforenoon’sallbutgonenow！Whatareyousettin’herefor？"

"Well，IthoughtIshouldenjoywatchingyouraketheyard。Itisapleasuredeferredsofar。"

"Watchin’me——！RoscoePaine，youareoutofyourhead！Ain’tyougoin’toseehim？"

"No。"

"YouAIN’T！"

"No。"

"RosPaine，haveyoujinedinwiththemdarnfoolsuptown？"

"Who’sswearingnow？Whatfoolsdoyoumean？"

"Darnain’tswearin’。Dorindyherselfsaysthatonceinawhile。

ImeanAlvinBaker，andJedDeanandtherestof’em。Theywasgoin’onaboutMr。Coltonlastnight；saidTHEYwan’tgoin’torunathisbeckandcall。Itold’em，saysI，’Youain’thadthechance。You’llrunfastenoughwhenyoudo。’"

"DidyousaythattoCaptainJed？"

"No—o。IsaidittoAlvin，butoldJed’sjustasbad。He’sdownonanybodythat’sgotmore’nhehas。ButRos，youain’tfoolishenoughtosidewithJedDean。Justthink！Here’sMr。Colton，richer’nKingSolomonandallhisglory。He’sgotservantsandbutlersandbondsandcowponsandhorsesandteamsandautomobilesand——"

Irosefromthewashbench。

"Iknowwhathe’sgot，Lute，"Iinterrupted。"AndIknowwhathehasn’tgot。"

"What？Isthereanythingheain’tgot？"

"Hehasn’tgotme——notyet。Ifhewantstoseemehemay。Iexpecttobeathomeforthenextdayortwo。"

"Youdon’tmeanyouexpectamillionairelikehimtocomecruisin’

afterYOU！Well，bytime！IthinkIseehim！"

"Whenyoudo，letmeknow，"Isaid。"Ishouldliketobeprepared。"

"Well，——by——time！"saidLute，bywayofsummingup。IatedinnerwithDorinda。Herhusbanddidnotjoinus。Dorindapaidavisittothebackyardand，seeinghowlittlerakinghadbeendone，announcedthatuntilthejobwasfinishedtherewouldbe"nodinnerforsomefolks。"SosheandIateandLuteraked，underprotest，andvowingthathewassofaintandhollerhecal’latedtocollapse’mostanytime。

AfterthemealwasfinishedIwentdowntotheboathouse。Theboathousewasalittlebuildingonthebeachatthefootofthebluffbelowthehouse。ItwasafavoriteresortofmineandI

spentmanyhoursthere。Myeighteenfootmotorlaunch，theComfort，theoneexpensiveluxuryIallowedmyselfandwhichIhadboughtsecond—handtwoyearsbefore，wasjackedupinthemiddleofthefloor。Theengine，whichIhadtakenaparttoclean，wasinpiecesbesideit。Onthewallshungmytwoshotgunsandmyfishingrod。Outside，onthebeach，wasmyflat—bottomedskiff，whichIusedforrowingaboutthebay，heroarsunderthethwarts。

Intheboathousewasacomfortablearmchairandasmallshelfofbooks，novelsforthemostpart。Acheapclockandabroken—downcouch，thelatteradiscardfromtheoriginaloutfitofthecottage，madeupthelistoffurniture。

Myideaincomingtotheboathousewastocontinuemyworkwiththeengine。Itrieditforahalfhourorsoandthengaveitup。Itdidnotinterestmethen。Ishutthedooratthesideofthebuilding，thatbywhichIhadentered——thebigdoubledoorsinfrontIhadnotopenedatall——and，takingabookfromtheshelf，stretchedmyselfonthecouchtoread。

ThebookIhadchosenwasonebelongingtotheDenboroLadies’

Library；MissAlmenaDoane，thelibrarian，hadrecommendedithighly，asa"realinterestingstory，withlotsofupliftingthoughtsinit。"ThethoughtsmightbeupliftingtoAlmena，buttheydidnotelevatemyspirits。Asforthestory——well，theherowasayounggentlemanwhowaspoorbuttremendouslycleverandhandsome，andtheheroinehadeyes"asdarkanddeepasstarlitpools。"Thepoorbutbeautifulpersonmetthepool—eyedoneataconcert，wherehesat，"hiswholesoultransfiguredbythemusic，"

andshehadbeen"fascinatedinspiteofherself"bythelookonhisface。Ireadasfarasthatanddroppedthebookindisgust。

AfterthatImusthavefallenasleep。Whatawakenedmewasaknockonthedoor。ItwasLute，ofcourse。Probablymotherwantedmeforsomethingorother，andDorindahadsentherhusbandtohuntmeup。

Theknockwasrepeated。

"Comein，"Isaid，sleepily。

Thedooropenedandincame，notLute，butatall，portlyman，withayachtingcaponthebackofhisgrayhead，andacigarinhismouth。HelookedatmeasIlayonthecouchandIlayonthecouchandlookedathim。

"Afternoon，"hesaid，curtly。"IsyournamePaine？"

Inodded。Iwaswakingrapidly，butIwastooastonishedtospeak。

"RoscoePaine？"

"Yes。"

"Well，mine’sColton。Isentyoualetterthismorning。Didyougetit？"

CHAPTERIV

Isatuponthecouch。Mr。Coltonknockedtheashesfromhiscigar，waitedaninstant，andthenrepeatedhisquestion。

"Didyougetmyletter？"heasked。

"Yes，"Isaid。

"Oh，youdid。Iwasafraidthatmanofminemighthaveforgottentomailit。"

"No，Igotit。Won’tyou——er——won’tyousitdown？"Hepulledthearmchairtowardhimandsatdown。Inoticedthathehadahabitofdoingthingsquickly。Hissentenceswereshortandtothepointandhespokeandactedlikeoneaccustomedtohavinghisownway。

Hecrossedhiskneesandlookedaboutthelittlebuilding。

"Itisapleasantday，"Iobserved，forthesakeofsayingsomething。Hedidnotseemtohearme，or，ifhedid，hewasnotinterestedintheweather。FormypartIfoundthesituationembarrassing。Iknewwhathisnextquestionwouldbe，andIdidnotknowhowtoanswer。Sureenough，heaskedit。

"Iwroteyoutocomeovertomyplacethisforenoon，"hesaid。

"Youdidn’tcome。"

"No。I——"

"Whynot？"

Herewastheissuejoined。Here，ifever，wastheopportunitytoassertmyindependencealaJedDeanandAlvinBaker。Buttoassertitnow，afterhehaddonetheunexpected，afterthemountainhadcometoMahomet，seemedcaddishandridiculous。SoI

temporized，weakly。

"Ididn’treadyourletteruntilaboutnoon，"Isaid。

"Isee。Well，Iwaiteduntiltwoo’clockandthenIdecidedtohuntyouup。Icalledatyourhouse。Thewomantheresaidyouweredownhere。Yourmother？"

"No。"Myanswerwaspromptandsharpenoughthistime。Itwasnatural，perhaps，thatheshouldpresumeDorindatobemymother，butIdidnotlikeit。

Hepaidabsolutelynoattentiontothetoneofmyreplyoritscurtness。HedidnotrefertoDorindaagain。Shemighthavebeenmywifeormygreat—auntforallhecared。

"Thisyourworkshop？"heasked，abruptly。Then，noddingtowardthedismemberedengine，"Whatareyou？aboatbuilder？"

"No，notexactly。"

"What’sthepriceofaboatlikethat？"indicatingtheComfortwithakickinherdirection。

"Abouttwohundredandfiftydollars，Ibelieve，"Ianswered。

"Youbelieve！Don’tyouknow？"

"No。Iboughtthatboatsecond—hand。"

Hedidnotrefertotheboatagain；apparentlyforgotitaltogether。

Hisnextmovewastoriseandturntowardthedoor。Iwatchedhim，wonderingwhatwasgoingtohappennext。Hehadahabitofjumpingfromonesubjecttoanotherwhichwasbewildering。

"What’sthatfellowdoingoffthere？"heasked，suddenly。

Ilookedwherehewaspointing。

"ThatisZebKendrick，"Ianswered。"He’srakingforquahaugs。"

"Rakingforwhathogs？"

"Quahaugs。WhatyouNewYorkerscallclams。"

"Oh！Sell’em，doeshe？"

"Yes。"

【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