Whentheyarrivedatthefootofthelane，mountingtothefarm，Westoversawwhatchangeshadbeenmadeinthehouse。Therewerelargeadditions，tastelessandcharacterless，butgivingtheroomsthatwereneeded。
　　Therewasavulgarmodernityinthenewparts，expressedwithafinalintensityinthefour—lightwindows，whichareesteemedthelastwordofdomesticarchitectureinthecountry。Jeffsaidnothingastheyapproachedthehouse，butWestoversaid："Well，you’vecertainlyprospered。You’requitemagnificent。"
　　Theyreachedtheoldlevelinfrontofthehouse，artificiallywidenedoutofhisremembrance，withawhiteflag—poleplantedatitsedge，andhelookedupatthefrontofthehouse，whichwasunchanged，exceptthatithadbeenbuiltastoryhigherbackoftheoldfront，anddiscoveredthewindowofhisoldroom。HecouldhardlywaittogethisgreetingsoverwithMrs。DurginandJackson，whobothshowedadecorouspleasureandsurpriseathiscoming，beforeheasked：
　　"Andcouldyouletmehavemyownroom，Mrs。Durgin？"
　　"Why，yes，"shesaid，"ifyoudon’twantsomethingalittlenicer。"
　　"Idon’tbelieveyou’vegotanythingnicer，"Westoversaid。
　　"Allright，ifyouthinkso，"sheretorted。"Youcanhavetheoldroom，anyway。"
　　X。
　　Westovercouldnothavesaidhefeltverymuchathomeonhisfirstsojournatthefarm，orthathehadcaredgreatlyfortheDurgins。Butnowhefeltverymuchathome，andasifhewereinthehandsoffriends。
　　Itwastowardthecloseoftheafternoonthathearrived，andhewentinpromptlytothemealthatwasservedshortlyafter。Hefoundthatthefarm—househadnotevolvedsofarinthedirectionofahotelastohavereachedthestageofalatedinner。Itwasteathathesatdownto，butwhenheaskediftherewerenotsomethinghot，afterlisteningtoacatalogueofthecoldmeats，thespectacledwaitressbehindhischairdemanded，withtheairofputtinghimonhishonor：
　　"Youamongthosethatcamethisafternoon？"
　　Westoverclaimedtobeofthenewarrivals。
　　"Well，then，youcanhavesteakorchopsandbakedpotatoes。"
　　Hefoundthesteakexcellent，thoughsuccinct，andhelookedroundinthedistinctionitconferreduponhim，ontheolderguests，whowereservedwithcoldham，tongue，andcorned—beef。HehadexpectedtobeappointedhisplacebyCynthiaWhitwell，butJeffcametothedining—roomwithhimandshowedhimtothetableheoccupied，withaneffectofdoinghimspecialcredit。
　　Fromhisimpressionsoftheberries，thecream，thetoast，andthetea，aswellasthesteak，hedecidedthatonthegastronomicsidetherecouldbenoquestionbuttheDurginsknewhowtokeepahotel；andhisfurtheracquaintancewiththehouseanditsappointmentsconfirmedhiminhisbelief。Allwasverysimple，butsufficient；andnoguestcouldhavetruthfullyclaimedthathewasstintedintowels，inwater，inlamp—
　　light，inthequantityorqualityofbedding，inhooksforclothes，orwardrobeorbureauroom。WestovermadeMrs。Durginhissincerecomplimentsonhersuccessastheysatintheoldparlor，whichshehadkeptforherselfmuchinitsformerstate，andsheacceptedthemwithsimplesatisfaction。
　　"ButIdon’tknowasIshouldeverhadthecouragetotryitifithadn’tbeenforyouhappeningalongjustwhenyoudid，"shesaid。
　　"ThenI’mthefounderofyourfortunes？"
　　"Ifyouwanttocallthemfortunes。Wedon’tcomplainIt’sbeenafight，butIguesswe’vegotthebestofit。Thehouseisfull，andwe’returnin’folksaway。Iguesstheycan’tsaythatatthebighotelstheyusedtodriveoverfromtoseeLion’sHeadatthefarm。"Shegavealow，comfortablechuckle，andtoldWestoverofthestruggletheyhadmade。Itwasaninterestingstoryandpathetic，likeallstoriesofhumanendeavortheeffortsofthemostselfishambitionhavesomethingofthisinterest；
　　andthestruggleoftheDurginshadthegraceofthewishtokeeptheirhome。
　　"AndisJeffaswellsatisfiedastherest？"Westoverasked，afterothertalkandcommentonthefacts。
　　"Toomuchso，"saidMrs。Durgin。"IshouldliketotalkwithyouaboutJeff，Mr。Westover；youandhimwasalwayssuchfriends。"
　　"Yes，"saidWestover；"IshallbegladifIcanbeofusetoyou。"
　　"Why，it’sjustthis。Idon’tseewhyJeffshouldn’tdosomethingbesideskeepahotel。"
　　Westover’seyeswanderedtothephotographofhispaintingofLion’sHeadwhichhungoverthemantelpiece，inwhathefelttobetheplaceofthegreatesthonorinthewholehouse，andasuddenfearcameuponhimthatperhapsJeffhaddevelopedanartistictalentinthebeliefofhisfamily。Buthewaitedsilentlytohear。
　　"Wedidthinkthatbeforewegotthroughtheimprovementslastspringayearagoweshouldhavetogetthesavings—banktoputamortgageontheplace；butwehadjustenoughtostarttheseasonwith，andwethoughtwewouldtrytopullthrough。Wehadasplendidseason，andmademoney，andthisyearwe’redoin’sowellthatIain’tafraidforthefutureanymore，andIwanttogiveJeffachanceintheworld。Iwantheshouldgotocollege。"
　　Westoverfeltalltheboldnessoftheaspiration，butitwasatleastnotinthedirectionofart。"Wouldn’tyourathermisshiminthemanagement？"
　　"Weshould，some。Buthewouldbeherethebestpartofthesummer，inhisvacations，andJacksonandIarefullabletorunthehousewithouthim。"
　　"Jacksonseemsverywell，"saidWestover，evasively。
　　"He’sbetter。He’sonlythirty—fouryearsold。Hisfatherlivedtobesixty，andhehadthesamekind。JefftellyouhehadbeenatLovewellAcademy？"
　　"Yes；hedid。"
　　"Hedonewellthere。Allhisteachersthatheeverhad，"Mrs。Durginwenton，withthemother—pridethatsoonmakesitselftiresometothelistener，"saidJeffdonewellatschoolwhenhehadamindto，andattheAcademyhestudiedrealhard。Iguess，"saidMrs。Durgin，withherchuckle，"thathethoughtthatwasgoin’tobetheendofit。Onething，hehadtokeepupwithCynthy，andthatputhimonhispride。YouseenCynthyyet？"
　　"No。Jefftoldmeshewasinchargeofthediningroom。"
　　"IguessI’minchargeofthewholehouse，"saidMrs。Durgin。"Cynthy’sthehousekeeper，though。She’safinegirl，andasmartgirl，"saidMrs。
　　Durgin，withavisiblerelentingfromsomegrudge，"andshe’lldowellwhereveryouputher。ShewenttotheAcademythefirsttwowintersJeffdid。We’veaboutscoopedinthewholeWhitwellfamily。Franky’shere，andhisfather’s——well，hisfather’skindofphilosophertotheladyboarders。"Mrs。Durginlaughed，andWestoverlaughedwithher。"Yes，I
　　wantJeffshouldgotocollege，andIwantheshouldbealawyer。"
　　Westoverdidnotfindthathehadanythingusefultosaytothis；sohesaid："I’venodoubtit’sbetterthanbeingapainter。"
　　"I’mnotsosure；threehundreddollarsforalittlethinglikethat。"
　　SheindicatedthephotographofhisLion’sHead，andshewasevidentlysoproudofitthathereservedforthemomentthetruthastothepricehehadgotforthepainting。"Iwassurprisedwhenyousentmeaphotographfullasbig。Idon’tleteveryoneinhere，butagoodmanyoftheladiesareartiststhemselves—amateurs，Iguess——andfirstandlasttheyallwanttoseeit。Iguessthey’llallwanttoseeyou，Mr。Westover。
　　They’llbewild，astheycallit，whentheyknowyou’reinthehouse。
　　Yes，ImeanJeffshallgotocollege。"
　　"BowdoinorDartmouth？"Westoversuggested。
　　"Well，Iguessyou’llthinkI’maboutasforth—puttingasIwaswhenI
　　wantedyoutogivemeathree—hundred—dollarpictureforaweek’sboard。"
　　"Ionlygotahundredandsixty，Mrs。Durgin，"saidWestover，conscientiously。
　　"Well，it’sashame。Anyrate，threehundred’sthepricetoallmyboarders。My，ifI’vetoldthatstoryonce，IguessI’vetolditfiftytimes！"
　　Mrs。Durginlaughedatherselfjollily，andWestovernotedhowprosperityhadchangedher。Ithadfreedhertongue，ithasbrightenedherhumor，ithadcheeredherheart；shehadputonflesh，andherstalwartframewasnowafargreaterbulkthanheremembered。
　　"Well，there，"shesaid，"thelongandtheshortofitis，IwantJeffshouldgotoHarvard。"
　　Hecommandedhimselftosay："Idon’tseewhyheshouldn’t。"
　　Mrs。Durgincalledout，"Comein，Jackson，"andWestoverlookedroundandsawtheeldersonlikeagauntshadowinthedoorway。"I’vejustgotwhereI’vetoldMr。WestoverwhereIwantJeffshouldgo。Itdon’tseemtohaveca’dhimoffhisfeetany，either。"
　　"Ipresume，"saidJackson，cominginandsittinglanklydowninthefeather—cushionedrocking—chairwhichhismotherpushedtowardhimwithherfoot，"thattheexpensewouldbemoreatHarvardthanitwouldattheothercolleges。"
　　"Ifyouwantthebestyougottopayforit，"saidMrs。Durgin。
　　"Isupposeitwouldcostmore，"WestoveransweredJackson’sconjecture。
　　"Ireallydon’tknowmuchaboutit。OnehearstremendousstoriesatBostonoftherateoflivingamongtheswellstudentsinCambridge。
　　Peopletalkoffivethousandayear，andthatsortofthing。"Mrs。
　　Durginshutherlips，aftercatchingherbreath。"ButIfancythatit’slargelytalk。IhaveafriendwhosesonwentthroughHarvardforathousandayear，andIknowthatmanyfellowsdoitformuchless。"
　　"IguesswecanmanagetoletJeffhaveathousandayear，"saidMrs。
　　Durgin，proudly，"andnotscrimpverymuch，either。"
　　Shelookedatherelderson，whosaid："Idon’tbelievebutwhatwecould。It’smoreofaquestionwithmewhatsortofinfluenceJeffwouldcomeunderthere。Ithinkhe’sprettymuchspoiledhere。"
　　"Now，Jackson！"saidhismother。
　　"I’veheard，"saidWestover，"thatHarvardtakesthenonsenseoutofaman。Ican’tenterintowhatyousay，anditisn’tmyaffair；butinregardtoinfluenceatHarvard，itdependsuponthesetJeffisthrownwithorthrowshimselfwith。So，atleast，IinferfromwhatI’veheardmyfriendsayofhissonthere。Therearehard—workingsets，loafingsets，andfastsets；andIsupposeitisn’tdifferentatHarvardinsuchmattersfromothercolleges。"
　　Mrs。Durginlookedalittlegrave。"Ofcourse，"shesaid，"wedon’tknowanybodyatCambridge，exceptsomeladiesthatboardedwithusonesummer，andIshouldn’twanttoaskanyfavorofthem。ThetroublewouldbetogetJeffstartedright。"
　　Westoversurmisedagoodmanythings，butintheabsenceofanyconfidencesfromtheDurginshecouldnottelljusthowmuchJacksonmeantinsayingthatJeffwasprettymuchspoiled，orhowlittle。
　　Atfirst，fromMrs。Durgin’spromptprotest，hefanciedthatJacksonmeantthattheboyhadbeenover—indulgedbyhismother："Iunderstand，"
　　hesaid，indefaultofsomethingelsetosay，"thattherequirementsatHarvardareprettysevere。"
　　"He’spassedhispreliminaryexaminations，"saidJackson，withatouchofhauteur，"andIguesshecanenterthisfallifweshouldsodecide。
　　He’llhavesomeconditions，prob’ly，butnonebutwhathecanworkoff，Iguess。"
　　"Then，ifyouwishtohavehimgotocollege，byallmeanslethimgotoHarvard，Ishouldsay。It’sourgreatuniversityandouroldest。I’mnotacollegemanmyself；but，ifIwere，IshouldwishtohavebeenaHarvardman。IfJeffhasanynonsenseinhim，itwilltakeitout；
　　andIdon’tbelievethere’sanythinginHarvard，asHarvard，tomakehimworse。"
　　"That’swhatweboththink，"saidJackson。
　　"I’veheard，"Westovercontinued，andheroseandstoodwhilehespoke，"thatHarvard’sliketheworld。Amangetsonthereonthesametermsthathegetsonintheworld。Hehastobeaman，andhe’dbetterbeagentleman。"
　　Mrs。Durginstilllookedserious。"HaveyoucomebacktoBostonforgoodnow？Doyouexpecttobethererightalong？"
　　"I’vetakenastudiothere。Yes，IexpecttobeinBostonnow。I’vetakentoteaching，andIfancyIcanmakealiving。IfJeffcomestoCambridge，andIcanbeofanyuse——"
　　"Weshouldbeeversomuchobligedtoyou，"saidhismother，withanairofgreatrelief。
　　"Notatall。Ishallbeveryglad。Yourmountainairisdruggingme，Mrs。Durgin。Ishallhavetosaygood—night，orIshalltumbleasleepbeforeIgetupstairs。Oh，Icanfindtheway，Iguess；thispartofthehouseseemsthesame。"Hegotawayfromthem，andwiththelampthatJacksongavehimfoundhiswaytohisroom。Afewmomentslatersomeoneknockedathisdoor，andaboystoodtherewithapitcher。"Someice—
　　water，Mr。Westover？"
　　"Why，isthatyou，Franky？I’mgladtoseeyouagain。Howareyou？"
　　"I’mprettywell，"saidtheboy，shyly。Hewasaveryhandsomelittlefellowofdistinctlydignifiedpresence，andWestoverwasawareatoncethatherewasnotasubjectforpatronage。"Isthereanythingelseyouwant，Mr。Westover？Matches，orsoap，oranything？"Heputthepitcherdownandgaveakeenglanceroundtheroom。
　　"No，everythingseemstobehere，Frank，"saidWestover。
　　"Well，good—night，"saidtheboy，andheslippedout，quietlyclosingthedoorafterhim。
　　WestoverpusheduphiswindowandlookedatLion’sHeadinthemoonlight。
　　Itslumberedasifwiththesleepofcenturies—austere，august。Themoon—raysseemedtobreakandsplinterontheoutlineofthelion—shape，andleftallthemightymassblackbelow。
　　IntheoldporchunderhiswindowWestoverheardwhispering。Then，"Youbehaveyourself，JeffDurgin！"cameinavoicewhichcouldbenootherthanCynthiaWhitwell’s，andJeffDurgin’slaughfollowed。
　　Hesawthegirlinthemorning。Shemethimatthedoorofthedining—
　　room，andheeasilyfoundinhershy，proudmanner，andherpure，coldbeauty，thetemperamentandphysiognomyofthechildheremembered。
　　Shewastallandslim，andsheheldherselfstraightwithoutstiffness；
　　herfacewasfine，withastraightnose，andadecidedchin，andamouthofthesamesweetnesswhichlookedfromherstill，grayeyes；herhair，oftheaveragebrown，hadarougheffectofbeingquicklytossedintoform，whichpleasedhim；assheslippeddowntheroombeforehimtoplacehimattablehesawthatshewas，asitwere，involuntarily，unwillinglygraceful。Shemadehimthinkofawildsweetbrier，ofahermit—thrush；
　　but，iftherewerethissortofpoeticsuggestioninCynthia’slooks，heractswereofplainandhonestprose，suchasgivingWestoverthepleasantestplaceandthemostintelligentwaitressintheroom。
　　Hewouldhavelikedtokeepherintalkamoment，butshemadebusiness—
　　likedespatchofallhisallusionstothepast，andgotherselfquicklyaway。Afterwardshecamebacktohim，withtheeffectofhavingforcedherselftocome，andthecolordeepenedinhercheekswhileshestayed。
　　Sheseemedgladofhisbeingthere，buthelplessagainsttheinstinctsortraditionsthatforbadehertoshowherpleasureinhispresence。
　　Herreticencebecamealmostsnubbinginitsstrictnesswhenheaskedheraboutherschool—teachinginthewinter；buthefoundthatshetaughtatthelittleschool—houseatthefootofthehill，andlivedathomewithherfather。
　　"Andhaveyouanybadboysthatfrightenlittlegirlsinyourschool？"heasked，jocosely。
　　"Idon’tknowasIhave，"shesaid，withaconsciousnessthatflamedintohercheeks。
　　"Perhapstheboyshavereformed？"Westoversuggested。
　　"Ipresume，"shesaid，stiffly，"thatthere’sroomforimprovementineveryone，"andthen，asifshewereafraidhemighttakethispersonally，shelookedunhappyandtriedtospeakofotherthings。
　　SheaskedhimifhedidnotseeagreatmanychangesatLion’sHead；
　　heanswered，gravely，thathewishedhecouldhavefounditjustasheleftit，andthenshemusthavethoughtshehadgonewrongagain，forshelefthiminanembarrassmentthatwaspathetic，butwhichwascharming。
　　XI。
　　AfterbreakfastWestoverwalkedoutandsawWhitwellstandingonthegrassinfrontofthehouse，besidetheflagstaff。HesufferedWestovertomakethefirstadvancestowardtherenewaloftheiracquaintance，butwhenhewassureofhisfriendlyintentionherespondedwithacordialopennesswhichthepainterhadfanciedwantinginhischildren。
　　Whitwellhadnotchangedmuch。Themostnoticeabledifferencewasthecompactphalanxofnewteethwhichhadreplacedthestaggeringveteransofformerdays，andwhichdisplayedthemselvesinhissmileofrelenting。
　　Therewassomenoveltyofeffectalsoinanarrangementofthingsinhishat—band。AtfirstWestoverthoughttheywerefishhooksandartificialflies，suchastheguideswearintheAdirondackstoadvertisetheircallingaboutthehotelofficesandthepiazzas。Butanotherglanceshowdhimthattheywerespraysandwildflowersofvarioussorts，withgaymossesandfungiandsomestemsofIndian—pipe。
　　WhitwellseemedpleasedthatthesethingsshouldhavecaughtWestover’seye。Hesaid，almostimmediately："Lookin’atmyalmanac？Thisisoneofourfield—days；wehave’emonceaweek；andIliketolettheladiesseebeforehandwhatnature’sgotonthebillfor’em，inthewoodsandpastur’s。"
　　"It’sagoodidea，"saidWestover，"andit’sfreshandpicturesque。"
　　Whitwelllaughedforpleasure。
　　"Theytoldmewhataconsolationyouweretotheladies，withyourwalksandtalks。"
　　"Well，Itrytogive’emsomethingtothinkabout，"saidWhitwell。
　　"Butwhydoyouconfineyourministrationstoonesex？"
　　"Idon’t，onpurpose。Butit’stheonlysexhere，three—fourthsofthetime。Eventhechildrenaremostlyallgirls。WhenthehusbandscomeupSaturdaynights，theydon’twanttogoonatrampSundays。Theywanttolayoffandrest。That’sabouthowitis。Well，youseesomechangesaboutLion’sHead，Ipresume？"heasked，withwhatseemedanimpersonalpleasureinthem。
　　"Ishouldratherhavefoundtheoldfarm。ButImustsayI’mgladtofindsuchagoodhotel。"
　　"Jeffandhismothermadetheirbragstoyou？"saidWhitwell，withakindofamiablescorn。"Iguessifitwa’n’tforCynthyshewouldn’tknowwhereshewasstandin’，halfthetime。Itdon’tmatterwhereJeffstands，Iguess。Jackson’sthebesto’thelot，nowtheoldman’sgone。"
　　TherewasnoonebyatthemomenttoheartheseinjuriesexceptWestover，butWhitwellcalledthemoutwithafranknesswhichwasperhapsmorecarefullyadaptedtothesituationthanitseemed。Westovermadenoattempttoparrythemformally；butheofferedsomegeneralitiesinextenuationoftheunworthinessoftheDurgins，whichWhitwelldidnotaltogetherrefuse。
　　"Oh，it’sailright。OldwomantalktoyouaboutJeff’sgoingtocollege？Ithoughtso。WantstomakeanotherDan’elWebsterofhim。
　　Guessshecan’sfarforthasDan’el’sgraduatin’went。"Westovertriedtorememberhowthishadbeenwiththestatesman，butcouldnot。
　　Whitwelladded，withintensifyingironysooflookandtone："GuessthesecondDan’elwon’thaveachancetotearhisdegreeup；guesshewouldn’teverb’enreadytotryforitifithaddependedonhim。Theydon’tkeepanyrecordatHarvard，dothey，ofthewayfellowsarepreparedfortheirpreliminaryexaminations？"
　　"Idon’tquiteknowwhatyoumean，"saidWestover。
　　"Oh，nothin’。YougetachancesometimetoaskJeffwhodonemostofhisstudyin’forhimattheAcademy。"
　　ThishintwasnotsodarklingbutWestovercouldunderstandthatWhitwellattributedJeff’sscholarshiptothehelpofCynthia，buthewouldnotpresshimtoanopenassertionofthefact。Therewassomethingpainfulinittohim；ithadthepathoswhichperhapsmostofthesuccessintheworldwouldrevealifwecouldpenetrateitsoutside。
　　Hewassilent，andWhitwellleftthepoint。"Well，"heconcluded，"what’sgoin’oninthemoldEuropeancountries？"
　　"Oh，theoldthing，"saidWestover。"ButIcan’tspeakforanyexceptFrance，verywell。"
　　"What’stheirrepubliclike，overthere？Ours？Seeanythingofit，howitworks？"
　　"Well，youknow，"saidWestover，"Iwasworkingsohardmyselfallthetime——"
　　"Good！"Whitwellslappedhisleg。WestoversawthathehadonlongIndia—rubberboots，whichcameuptohisknees，andhegaveawaywardthoughttothemiserytheywouldbeonanAugustdaytoanotherman；butWhitwellwasprobablyinsensibletoanydiscomfortfromthem。"Whenaman’smindin’hisownbusinessanygovernment’sgood，Iguess。ButI
　　shouldliketoprowlroundsomethemplaceswheretheyhadtheworstscenesoftheRevolution，EverbeeninthePlacedelaConcorde？"
　　WhitwellgaveitthefullEnglishpronunciation。
　　"Ipassedthroughitnearlyeveryday。"
　　"Iwanttoknow！Andthatcolumnthatthey，pulleddownintheCommunethathadthatlittleBoneyonit——seethat？"
　　"InthePlaceVendome？"
　　"Yes，PlassVonndome。"
　　"Ohyes。Youwouldn’tknowithadeverbeendown。"
　　"Northethingsitstoodfor？"
　　"Astothat，Ican’tbesosure。"
　　"Well，it’sfunny，"saidthephilosopher，"howtheworldseemstoalwayscomeoutatthesameholeitwentinat！"Hepaused，withhismouthopen，asiftoletthenotionhavefulleffectwithWestover。
　　Thepaintersaid："Andyou’restillintheoldplace，Mr。Whitwell？"
　　"Yes，Ilikemyownhouse。They’vewantedmetocomeuphereoftenenough，butI’msatisfiedwhereIam。It’squietdownthere，and，whenI
　　getthroughfortheday，Icanread。AndIliketokeepmyfamilytogether。CynthyandFrankalwayssleepathome，andJombateesteeatswithme。YourememberJombateeste？"
　　Westoverhadtosaythathedidnot。
　　"Well，Idon’tknowasyoudidseehimmuch。HewasthatCanuckIhadhelpin’meclearthatpieceoveronLion’sHeadforthepulp—mill；pulp—
　　millwentalltothunder，andInevergotacent。AndsometimesJacksoncomesdownwithhisplantchette，andwehaveagoodtime。"
　　"Jacksonstillbelievesinthemanifestations？"
　　"Yes。Buthe’sneverdevelopedmuchhimself。Hecan’tseemtodomuchwithouttheplantchette。We’vehadupsomeofthemoldphilosopherslately。We’vehadupSocrates。"
　　"Isthatso？Itmustbeveryinteresting。"
　　Whitwelldidnotanswer，andWestoversawhiseyewander。Helookedround。Severalladieswerecomingacrossthegrasstowardhimfromthehotel，liftingtheirskirtsandtiptoeingthroughthedew。Theycalledtohim，"Good—morning，Mr。Whitwell！"and"AreyougoingupLion’sHeadto—day？"and"Don’tyouthinkitwillrain？""Guessnot，"saidWhitwell，withafatherlyurbanityandanairofamusementattheanxietiesofthesexwhichseemedhabitualtohim。Hewaitedtranquillyforthemtocomeup，andthenasked，withawaveofhishandtowardWestover："AcquaintedwithMr。Westover，theattist？"Henamedeachofthem，anditwouldhavebeennogreatvanityinWestovertothinktheyhadmadetheirlittlemovementacrossthegrassquiteasmuchinthehopeofanintroductiontohimasinthewishtoconsultWhitwellabouthisplans。
　　Thepainterfoundhimselfthecentreofanagreeableexcitementwithalltheladiesinthehouse。Forthisitwasperhapssufficienttobeaman。
　　Tobereasonablyyounganddecentlygood—looking，tobeanartist，andanartistnotunknown，wereadvantageswhichhadthesplendorofsuperfluity。
　　HelikedfindinghimselfinthesimpleandinnocentAmericancircumstanceagain，andhewasnotsorrytobeconfrontedatoncewithoneofthemostcharacteristicaspectsofoursummer。HecouldreadinthepresentdevelopmentofLion’sHeadHouseallthehistoryofitsevolutionfromthefirstconceptionoffarm—board，whichsufficedtheearliestcomers，toitsgrowthinthecomfortsandconvenienceswhichmorefastidioustastesandlargerpursesdemanded。Beforethispointwasreached，theboarderswouldbeofagoodandwholesomesort，buttheywouldbepeopleofnosocialadvantages，andnotofmuchcultivation，thoughtheymightbeintelligent；theywouldcertainlynotbefashionable；fivedollarsaweekimpliedallthat，exceptinthecaseofsomewanderingartistorthefamilyofsomepooryoungprofessor。Butwhenthefarmbecameaboarding—houseandcalleditselfahotel，asatpresentwithLion’sHeadHouse，andpeoplepaidtendollarsaweek，ortwelvefortransients，amomentofitscharacterwasreachedwhichcouldnotbesurpassedwhenitsprosperitybecamegreateranditsinmatesmorepretentious。Infact，thepeoplewhocanaffordtopaytendollarsaweekforsummerboard，andnotmuchmore，areoftenthebestoftheAmericanpeople，or，atleast，oftheNewEnglandpeople。Theymaynotknowit，andthosewhoarerichermaynotimagineit。Theyareapttobemiddle—agedmaidenladiesfromuniversitytowns，livinguponcarefullyguardedinvestments；
　　youngmarriedladieswithascantchildortwo，andneedingrestandchangeofair；collegeprofessorswithnothingbuttheirmodestsalaries；
　　literarymenorwomeninthebeginningoftheirtemperedsuccess；
　　clergymenandtheirwivesawayfromtheirchurchesinthelargercountrytownsorthesmallersuburbsofthecities；hereandthereanagreeablebachelorinmiddlelife，fondofliteratureandnature；hostsofyoungandprettygirlswithdistincttastesinart，anddevotedtothecleveryoungpainterwholeadsthemtothesourcesofinspirationinthefieldsandwoods。Suchpeoplearerefined，humane，appreciative，sympathetic；
　　andWestover，freshfromthelifeabroadwherelifeisseldomsofreeasourswithoutsomestain，wasgladtofindhimselfinthemidstofthisunrestraint，whichwassosweetandpure。Hehadseenenoughofrichpeopletoknowthatrichesseldomboughtthehighestqualities，evenamonghisfellow—countrymenwhosupposethatrichescandoeverything，andthefirstaspectsofsocietyatLion’sHeadseemedtohimArcadian。
　　Therereallyprovedtobeashepherdortwoamongallthattroopofshepherdesses，oldandyoung；thoughitwasinthemiddleoftheweek，remotealikefromtheSaturdayofarrivalsandtheMondayofdepartures。
　　Tobesure，therewasnonequitesoyoungashimself，exceptJeffDurgin，whowasofficiallyexteriortothesociallife。
　　Thepainterwhogavelessonstotheladieswasalreadyamanofforty，andhewasstronglydragonedroundbyawifealmostasold，whohadtakengreatpainstosecurehimforherself，andwhoworkedhimtofargreateradvantageinhisprofessionthanhecouldpossiblyhaveworkedhimself：
　　shegothimorders；soldhispictures，eveninBoston，wheretheyneverbuyAmericanpictures；foundhimpupils，andkepttheboldestofthesefromflirtingwithhim。Westover，whowassonewlyfromParis，wasabletoconsolehimwithtalkofthesalonsandateliers，whichhehadnotheardfromsodirectlyintenyears。Afterthefirstinevitablemomentofjealousy，hiswifeforgaveWestoverwhenshefoundthathedidnotwantpupils，andshetookaleadingpartinthemovementtohavehimreadBrowningatapicnic，organizedbytheladiesshortlyafterhecame。