CHAPTERII
　　Thepost—officewasatEldredge’sstore，andEldredge’sstore，situatedatthecorners，wheretheMainRoadandtheDepotRoad——
　　whichisalsothedirectroadtoSouthDenboro——join，wasthemercantileandsocialcenterofDenboro。SimeonEldredgekeptthestore，andSimeonwasalsopostmaster，aswellasthetownconstable，undertaker，andauctioneer。Ifyouwantedaspoolofthread，acoffin，orthelatestbitofgossip，youappliedatEldredge’s。Thegossipyoucouldbemorallycertainofgettingatonce；thethreadorthecoffinyoumighthavetowaitfor。
　　IscarcelyknowwhyIwenttoEldredge’sthatmorning。Ididnotexpectmail，andIdidnotrequireSimeon’sservicesinanyoneofhisprofessionalcapacities。PossiblyLute’ssuggestionhadsomesortofpsychiceffectandIstoppedatthepost—officeinvoluntarily。Atanyrate，Iwokefromthetranceinwhichtheencounterwiththeautomobilehadleftmetofindmyselfwalkinginatthedoor。
　　Themailwasnotyetdue，tosaynothingofhavingarrivedorbeensorted，buttherewasafair—sizedcrowdonthesetteesandperchedontheedgeofthecounter。EzraMulletwasthere，andAlonzoBlackandAlvinBakerandThophNewcomb。BeriahDoaneandSamCahoon，wholivedinSouthDenboro，werethere，too，havingdrivenoverbehindBeriah’shorse，onanerrand；thatis，BeriahhadanerrandandSamcamealongtohelphimrememberit。Intherearofthestore，bytheframeofletterboxes，CaptainJedediahDeanwastalkingwithSimeon。
　　AlvinBakersawmefirstandhailedmeasIentered。
　　"Here’sRosPaine，"heexclaimed。"He’llknowmoreaboutitthananybodyelse。Hey，Ros，howmanyhiredhelpdoeshekeep，anyhow？
　　Thophsaysit’seight，butIknowIcountedmore’nthat，myself。"
　　"It’seight，Itellyou，"brokeinNewcomb，beforeIcouldanswer。
　　"There’sthetwocooksandtheboythatwaitson’em——"
　　"Theideaofhavinganybodywaitonacook！"interruptedMullet。
　　"That’sblamefoolishness。"
　　"Ineversaidhewaitedonthecooks。Isaidhewaitedonthem——onthefamily。Andthere’sacoachman——"
　　"Whydotheycallthemkindoffellerscoachmen？"putinThoph。
　　"Thereain’tanycoach。Iseethecarriageswhentheycome——twofreightcarsfullof’em。Therewasaopentwo—seater，andabuckboard，andthathigh—wheeledthingtheycalledadog—cart。"
　　BeriahDoanelaugheduproariously。"Landoflove！"heshouted。
　　"Doesthedoghaveacartalltohimself？That’sagoodone！Youandmeain’tgotnodog，Sam，butwemighthaveacoupleofcat—
　　carts，hey？Haw！haw！"
　　Thophpaidnoattentiontothispleasantry。"Therewasthedog—
　　cart，"herepeated，"andanotherthingtheycalledthe’trap。’Buttherewan’tanycoach；I’llsweartoit。"
　　"Don’tmakenodifference，"declaredAlvin；"therewasamanalongthatSAIDhewasthecoachman，anyhow。Andabigminister—lookin’
　　fellerwhowasabutler，andtwohiredgirlsbesidesthecooks。
　　That’snine，anyhow。Onemore’nyousaid，Thoph。"
　　"Andthatdon’tcountthechauffeur，thechapthatrunstheautomobiles，"saidAlonzoBlack。"He’sthetenth。Say，Ros，"
　　turningtome，"howmanyisthere，altogether？"
　　"Howmanywhat？"Iasked。Itwasmyfirstopportunitytospeak。
　　"Why，hiredhelp——servants，youknow。HowmanydoesMr。Coltonkeep？"
　　"Idon’tknowhowmanyhekeeps，"Isaid。"WhyshouldI？"
　　Thegrouplookedatmeinamazement。ThophNewcombvoicedthegeneralastonishment。
　　"Whyshouldyou！"herepeated。"Whyshouldn’tyou，youmean！
　　You’relivin’rightnextdoorto’em，asyoumightsay！Mysoul！
　　IfIwasyouIcal’lateI’dknowaforethistime。"
　　"Nodoubtyouwould，Thoph。ButIdon’t。Ididn’tknowtheColtonshadarriveduntilIcamebyjustnow。Theyhavearrived，I
　　takeit。"
　　Arrived！Therewasnoquestionofthearrival，norofitsbeingwitnessedbyeveryonepresent，myselfandtheSouthDenborodelegatesexcepted。NewcombandBakerandMulletandBlackbegantalkingalltogether。IlearnedthattheColtoninvasionofDenborowasaspectacleonlyequaledbytheyearlycomingofthecircustoHyannis，ortheopeningofthecattleshowatOstable。
　　Thecarriagesandhorseshadarrivedbyfreightthemorningbefore；
　　theservantsandthefamilyontheafternoontrain。
　　"Isee’emmyself，"affirmedAlonzo。"Iwasasnighto’emasIbetoyou。Mrs。Coltonissortoffleshy，butashandsomeawomanasyou’dwanttosee。Ispoketoher，too。’It’saniceday，’I
　　says，’ain’tit？’"
　　"Whatdidshesay？"askedNewcomb。
　　"Shedidn’tsaynothin’。Enginewasmakin’suchanoiseshedidn’thear，Ipresumelikely。"
　　"Humph！"sniffedBaker，evidentlyenvious；"Iguesssheheardyou，allright。Fellerslikeyoumakemetired。Grabbin’everychancetocurryfavorwithrichfolks！Wonderyoudidn’ttellheryoudroveafish—cartandwantedhertrade！Asforme，I’mindependent。
　　Don’tmakenodifferencetomehowwell—offapersonis。They’rehuman，justthesameasIam，and_I_don’ttoadyto’em。Iftheywanttotalktheycansendforme。I’llwaittilltheydo。"
　　"Hopeyou’vegotlotsofpatience，Alvin，"observedMulletdrily。
　　Duringthehilaritywhichfollowed，andwhiletheoffendedapostleofindependencewastryingtothinkofasufficientlycuttingreply，Iwalkedtotherearofthestore。
　　OurletterboxwasNumber218，inthecenteroftherack，and，asI
　　approached，Iglancedatitinvoluntarily。Tomysurprisetherewasaletterinit；Icouldseeitthroughtheglassoftheboxdoor。Lutehad，asIknew，gotthemailthepreviouseveningandthemorning’smailhadnotyetarrived。ThereforethislettermusthavebeenwrittenbysomeoneinDenboroandpostedlatethenightbeforeorearlythatmorning。ItwasnotthecustomforDenbororesidentstocommunicatewitheachotherthroughthemediumofthepost。Theypreferredtosavethetwocentsstampmoney，asageneralthing。Billssometimescamebymail，butthiswasthetenth，notthefirst，ofthemonth；and，besides，ourbillswerepaid。
　　Ireachedintomypocketformykeys，unlockedtheboxandtookouttheletter。Theenvelopewassquare，ofanexpensivequality，andeminentlyaristocratic。ItwaspostmarkedDenboro，datedthatmorning，andaddressedinasharp，clearmasculinehandunfamiliartome，to"RoscoePaine，Esq。"The"Esq。"wouldhavesettledit，ifthehandwritinghadnot。Nofellow—townsmanofmyacquaintancewouldaddressme，oranyoneelse，asEsquire。MistersandCaptainswerecommonenough，butEsquires——no。
　　ItwasaDenborocustom，whenonereceivedamysteriousletter，togetthefullestenjoymentoutofthemysterybeforesolvingit。I
　　hadknownDorindaRogerstoguess，surmiseandspeculatefortenminutesbeforeopeningapatentmedicinecircular。But，thoughmysterieswereuncommonenoughinmylife，IthinkIshouldhavereachedthesolutionofthisoneinthenextsecond——infact，Ihadtorntheendfromtheenvelope——whenIwasinterrupted。
　　ItwasCaptainDeanwhointerruptedme。Hehadevidentlyconcludedhisconversationwiththepostmasterandnowwasbearingdownmajesticallyuponme，likeatenthousandtonsteameronaporgieschooner。
　　"Hey，you——Ros！"heroared。Hewasatmyelbow，butheroaredjustthesame。Skipperofacoasterinhisearlydays，hehadneveroutgrownthehabitofpitchinghisvoicetocarryaboveafifty—
　　milegale。"Hey，Ros。Seehere；Iwanttotalktoyou。"
　　Ididnotwanttotalkwithanyone，particularlywithhim。Hewastheindividualwho，accordingtoLute，hadbracketedMr。Rogersandmyselfasbirdsofafeather，theremarkwhichwasprimarilyresponsibleformyillhumorofthemorning。Ifhehadnotsaidthat，andifLutehadnotquotedthesayingtome，Imighthavebehavedlesslikeafoolwhenthatautomobileovertookme，Imightnothavegiventhatyoungidiot，whoseChristiannameitseemedwasVictor，theopportunitytobesmartatmyexpense。ThatgirlwiththedarkeyesmightnothavelookedatmeasifIwereawormoraJunebug。Confoundher！whatrighthadshetolookatmelikethat？Victor，orwhateverhisnamewas，wasacubandacadandasfreshasthenewpaintonBenSmall’slighthouse，buthehaddeignedtospeak。Whereasthatgirl——！
　　No，IdidnotwanttotalkwithJedediahDean。However，hewantedtotalktome，andwhathewantedheusuallygot。
　　CaptainDeanwasoneofDenboro’sleadingcitizens。HisparentshadbeenaspoorasJob’sturkey，butJedediahhaddeterminedtogetmoneyandnowhehadit。Hewasreputedtobeworth"upwardsofthirtythousand，"ownedacresandacresofcranberryswamps，andthenewhousehehadjustbuiltwasalmostasbigasitwasugly，whichissayingconsiderable。Hehadwantedtobeadeaconinthechurchand，thoughthechurchwasbynomeanssoeager，deaconhebecame。HewasanuncompromisingDemocrat，buthehadforcedhimselfintotheBoardofSelectmen，everyothermemberaRepublican。HewasdirectorintheDenborobank，anditwastowntalkthathismostardentdesireatthepresenttimewastoseehisdaughterHelen——Nellie，weallcalledher——marriedtoGeorgeTaylor，cashierofthatbank。AsGeorgeandNelliewere"keepingcompany"itseemedlikelythatCaptainJedwouldbegratifiedinthis，asinallotherdesires。Hewasabornboss，anddidhisbesttorunthetownaccordingtohisideas。CaptainElishaWarren，wholivedoverinSouthDenboroandwasalsoadirectorinthebank，coveredthesituationwhenhesaid："JedDeanisoneofthosefellerswhooughttohaveabigfamilytoorderaround。TheAlmightygavehimonlyonechildandsoheadoptedDenboroandisbossin’that。"
　　"Iwanttotalktoyou，Ros，"repeatedCaptainJed。"Comehere。"
　　Heledthewaytothesetteebythecalicoanddressgoodscounter。
　　Iputtheunreadletterinmypocketandfollowedhim。
　　"Setdown，"heordered。"Cometoanchoralongside。"
　　Icametoanchor。
　　"How’syourmother？"heasked。"Matildawascal’latin’togodownandsetwithheraspellthisafternoon，ifshedidn’thaveanythingelsetodo——ifMatildadidn’t，Imean。"
　　Matildawashiswife。Inherhusband’scompanyshewasasdumbasabrokenphonograph；whenhewasnotwithhershetalkedcontinuously，asiftogeteven。AcallfromMatildaDeanwasoneoftheadditionaltrialswhichmadeMother’sinvalidstatehardertobear。
　　"Courseshemaynotcome，"Jedediahhastenedtosay。"She’sprettybusythesedays。Butifshedon’thaveanythingelsetodoshewill。Itoldhershe’dbetter。"
　　"Motherwillbecharmed，"Isaid。CaptainJedwasnofoolandhelookedatmesharply。
　　"Um；yes，"hegrunted。"Ipresumelikely。You’recharmed，too，ain’tyou？"
　　Iwasnotexpectingthis。ImurmuredsomethingtotheeffectthatIwasdelighted，ofcourse。
　　"Sartin。Well，that’sallright。Ididn’tgetyouonthissetteetocharmyou。Iwanttotalkbusinesswithyouaminute。"
　　"Business！Withme？"
　　"Yup。Oritmaybebusinesslateron。I’vebeenthinkin’aboutthatShoreLane，theonethatrunsthroughyourland。Ustownfolksusethatawholelot。Ical’latemosteverybody’scometolookatitasareg’larpublicroadtothebeach。"
　　"Why，yes，Isupposetheyhave，"Isaid，puzzledtoknowwhathewasdrivingat。"Itisapublicroad，practically。"
　　"No，’tain’t，neither。It’saprivateway，andifyouwantedtoyoucouldshutitoffanyday。Agoodmanyfolkswouldhaveshutitoffaforethis。"
　　"Oh，Iguessnot。"
　　"Iguessyes。I’dshutitoffmyself。Iwouldn’thaveTom，DickandHarrydrivin’fishwagonsandtipcartsfullofseaweedthroughmypremisesfreegratisfornothin’。"
　　"Why？"Iasked。"Whatharmdoesitdo？"
　　"Idon’tknowasitdoesany。Butbecauseatrampsleepin’onmyfrontpiazzamightnotharmthepiazza，that’snoreasonwhyI’dlethimsleepthere。"
　　Ilaughed。"Thetwocasesaren’texactlyalike，arethey？"Isaid。
　　"Thelandisofnovaluetousatpresent。MotherandIaregladtohavetheLaneused，ifitisaconvenience，asIsupposeitis。"
　　"It’sthat，sartin。Ros，whoownsthatlandtheLanerunsthrough——
　　youoryourmother？"
　　"Itisinmyname，"Isaid。
　　"Um—hm。Well，wouldyousellit？"
　　"Sellit！Sellthatstripofsandandbeachgrass！Whowouldbuyit？"
　　"Idon’tknowasanybodywould。Ijustaskedifyou’dsellit，that’sall。"
　　"PerhapsIwould。IpresumeIshould，ifIhadthechance。"
　　"Ain’thadanychanceyet，haveyou？"
　　"Whatdoyoumeanbythat？"
　　"Oh，nothin’，nothin’！Well，youjustthinkitover。Ifyoudecideyouwouldsellitandgetsofurasfixin’apriceonit，letmeknow，willyou？"
　　"Captain，whatintheworlddoyouwantofthatland？Seehere！
　　youdon’twanttoshutofftheShoreLane，doyou？"
　　"WhatintimewouldIwanttoshutitofffor？Iuseitasmuchasanybody，don’tI？"
　　"ThenIdon’tsee——"
　　"Maybethereain’tnothin’TOsee。Only，ifyoudecidetosell，letmeknow。Yes，anddon’tsellWITHOUTlettin’meknow。
　　Understand？"
　　"No，Idon’t。"
　　"Well，youunderstandenough，Ical’late。AllIwantyoutodoistopromisenottosellthatlandtheLane’sonwithoutspeakin’tomefust。Willyoupromisethat？"
　　Iconsideredforamoment。"Yes，"Isaid，"I’llpromisethat。
　　ThoughIcan’timaginewhatyou’redrivingat。"
　　"Youdon’tneedto。MaybeI’mjustdrivin’blind；IhopeIam。
　　That’sallIwantedtotalkabout，"risingfromthesettee。"Oh，bytheway，"headded，"yourneighborhood’shonoredjustnow，ain’tit？TheKingofNewYork’sarrived，theytellme。"
　　"KingofNewYork？Oh！Isee；youmeantheColtons。"
　　"Sartin。Whoelse？MethisMajestyyet？"
　　"No。Haveyou？"
　　"Imethimwhenhewasdownamonthago。SimEldredgeintroducedmerighthereinthestore。’Mr。Colton，’saysSim，proudbuthumble，sotospeak，’letmemakeyouacquaintedwithoneofourselectmen，Cap’nDean。Cap’n，shakehandswithMr。ColtonofNewYork。’Weshook，andIcal’lateI’doughttohavekeptthathandinaglasscaseeversince。But，somehoworother，Iain’t。"
　　"WhatsortofachapisColton？"Iasked。
　　"Oh，allrightofhiskind，Iguess。Inamongstagangofhighfinancerslikehimselfhe’dsizeupasaprettygoodsport，I
　　shouldn’twonder。Andhewaspoliteenoughtome，Isuppose。But，darnhim，Ididn’tlikethewayhelookedatme！Helookedasif——
　　asif——well，Ican’ttellyouhowhelooked。"
　　"Youdon’tneedto，"Isaid，brusquely。"Iknow。"
　　"Youdo，hey？Heain’tlookedatyou，hashe？No，courseheain’t！Yousaidyouhadn’tmethim。"
　　"I’vemetothersofhiskind。"
　　"Yes。Well，I’mahayseedandIknowit。I’mjustacountrymanandhe’samillionaire。He’llbethebigshowinthistownfromnowon。Whenheblowshisnoseseven—eighthsofthiscommunity’llstartinworkin’upacoldinthehead。"
　　Heturnedonhisheelandstartedtogo。
　　"Willyou？"Iasked，slily。
　　Helookedbackoverhisshoulder。"Iain’tsubjecttocolds——
　　much，"hesnapped。"ButYOUbetterlayinasupplyofhandkerchiefs，Ros。"
　　Ismiled。Iknewwhatwastroublinghim。Alittletingodhasapleasanttimeofit，nodoubt，untilthecomingoftheeighteencaratgoldidol。CaptainJedhadbeenbossofDenboro——self—
　　appointedtothateminentposition，butholdingitnevertheless——
　　andtobepushedfromhisperchbyacityrivalwasdisagreeable。
　　IfIknewhimhewouldnotbedethronedwithoutafight。Therewerelikelytobesomeinterestingandlivelytimesinourvillage。
　　IcouldunderstandDean’sdislikeofColton，buthisinterestintheShoreLanewasamystery。Whyshouldhewishtobuythatworthlessstripofland？AndwhatdidhemeanbyaskingifIhadchancestosellit？Stillponderingoverthispuzzle，Iwalkedtowardthefrontofthestore，pastthegroupwaitingforthemail，wherethediscussionconcerningtheColtonswasstillgoingon，ThophNewcombandAlvinBakerbothtalkingatonce。
　　"YouaskRos，"shoutedAlvin，poundingthecounterbesidehim。
　　"Say，Ros，Newcombhereseemstothinkthatbecauseafellercomesfromthecityandisrichthatthatgiveshimtherighttoordertherestofusaroundasifwewasfo’masthands。Hesays——"
　　"Idon’tneither！"yelledThoph。"WhatIsayisthatmoneycounts，and——"
　　"Youdo，too！Ros，doYOUintendtogetdownonyourkneestothemColtons？"
　　Ilaughedandwentonwithoutreplying。Ileftthestoreandstrolledacrosstheroadtothebank，intendingtomakeashortcallonGeorgeTaylor，thecashier，mymostintimateacquaintanceandtheonepersoninDenborowhocamenearesttobeingmyfriend。
　　ButGeorgewasbusyinthedirectors’room，and，afterwaitingafewmomentsinconversationwithHenrySmall，thebookkeeper，I
　　gaveitupandwalkedhome，acrossthefieldsthistime；Ihadnodesiretomeetmoreautomobilists。
　　Dorindahadfinisheddustingthediningroomandwasbusyupstairs。
　　Icouldheartheswish—swishofherbroomoverhead。IopenedthedoorleadingtoMother’sbedroomandentered，closingthedoorbehindme。
　　Thecurtainsweredrawn，astheyalwayswereonsunnydays，andtheroomwasindeepshadow。Motherhadbeenasleep，Ithink，butsheheardmystepandrecognizedit。
　　"Isthatyou，Boy？"sheasked。IfIhadbeenfifty，insteadofthirty—one，Motherwouldhavecalledme"Boy"justthesame。
　　"Yes，Mother，"Isaid。
　　"Wherehaveyoubeen？Forawalk？Itisabeautifulmorning，isn’tit。"
　　Heronlywayofknowingthatthemorningwasabeautifulonewasthattheshadesweredrawn。Shehadnotseenthesunlightonthebay，northebluesky；shehadnotfeltthespringbreezeonherface，orthegreengrassbeneathherfeet。Heronlyglimpsesoftheoutsideworldwerethosewhichshegotoncloudyorstormydayswhentheshadeswereraisedafewinchesand，turningherheadonthepillow，shecouldseebeneaththem。Forsixyearsshehadbeenhelplessandbedriddeninthatlittleroom。Butshenevercomplained。
　　ItoldherthatIhadbeenuptownforawalk。
　　"Didyoumeetanyone？"sheasked。
　　IsaidthatIhadmetCaptainDeanandNewcombandtherest。I
　　saidnothingofmyencounterwiththemotorcar。
　　"CaptainJedgraciouslyinformedmethathiswifemightbedowntositwithyouthisafternoon，"Isaid。"Providedshedidn’thaveanythingelsetodo；hetookpainstoaddthat。Youmustn’tseeher，ofcourse。"
　　Shesmiled。"Whynot？"sheasked。"Matildaisalittletiresomeattimes，butshemeanswell。"
　　"Humph！Mother，IthinkyouwouldmakeexcusesfortheOldHarryhimself。Thatwomanwilltalkyoutodeath。"
　　"Oh，no！Notasbadasthat。AndpoorMatildadoesn’ttalkmuchathome，I’mafraid。"
　　"Herhusbandseestothat；Idon’tblamehim。Bytheway，theCaptainhadaqueerbeeinhisbonnetthismorning。Heseemstobethinkingofbuyingsomeofourproperty。"
　　ItoldherofJedediah’sinterestintheShoreLaneandhishintconcerningitspossiblepurchase。Shelistenedandthensaidthoughtfully：
　　"Whathaveyoudecidedtodoaboutit，Roscoe？"
　　"Ihaven’tdecidedatall。Whatdoyouthink，Mother？"
　　"ItseemstomethatIshouldn’tsell，atleastuntilIknewhisreasonforwantingtobuy。Itwouldbedifferentifweneededthemoney，but，ofcourse，wedon’t。"
　　"Ofcourse，"Isaid，hastily。"Butwhynotsell？Wedon’tusetheland。"
　　"No。ButtheDenboropeopleneedthatLane。Theyuseitagreatdeal。Ifitwerecloseditwouldputmanyofthemtoagreatinconvenience，particularlythosewhogettheirlivingalongshore。
　　EveryoneinDenborohasbeensokindtous。Ifeelthatweowethemadebtwenevercanrepay。"
　　"Noonecouldhelpbeingkindtoyou，Mother。Oh！Ihaveanotherpieceofnews。Didyouknowthatournewneighbors，theColtons，havearrived？"
　　"Yes。Dorindatoldme。Haveyoumetanyofthem？"
　　"No。"
　　"DorindasaysMrs。Coltonisaninvalid。Poorwoman！itmustbehardtobeillwhenonehassomuchtoenjoy。Dorindasaystheyhaveaveryprettydaughter。"
　　Imadenocomment。Iwasnotinterestedinprettydaughters，justthen。Thememoryofthegirlintheautowastoofreshinmymind。
　　"Didyougotothepost—office，Roscoe？"askedMother。"Isupposetherewerenoletters。Thereseldomare。"
　　ThenIrememberedtheletterinmypocket。Ihadforgottenitaltogether。
　　"Why，yes，therewasaletter，aletterforme。Ihaven’treadityet。"
　　Itooktheenvelopefrommypocketanddrewouttheenclosure。Thelatterwasanote，verybriefandverymuchtothepoint。Ireadit。
　　"Well，byGeorge！"Iexclaimed，angrily。
　　"Whatisit，Roscoe？"
　　"ItappearstobeasummonsfromwhatCaptainJedcalledtheKingofNewYork。Asummonstoappearatcourt。"
　　"Atcourt？"
　　"Oh，notthecriminalcourt。MerelythepalaceofhisMajesty。
　　Justlisten。"
　　Thiswastheletter：
　　RoscoePaine，Esq。
　　DearSir：
　　Ishouldliketoseeyouatmyhousethis——Thursday——forenoon，onamatterofbusiness。Ishallexpectyouatanytimeafterteninthemorning。
　　Yourstruly，JAMESW。COLTON。
　　"FromMr。Colton！"exclaimedMother。"Why！whatcanhewantofyou？"
　　"Idon’tknow，"Ianswered。"AndIdon’tparticularlycare。"
　　"Roscoe！"
　　"Mother，didyoueverhearsuchacool，nervypropositioninyourlife？Hewantstoseemeandheordersmetocometohim。Whydoesn’thecometome？"
　　"Isupposehedidn’tthinkofit。HeisabigmaninNewYorkandhehasbeenaccustomedtohavingpeoplecomeathisconvenience。
　　It’shiswayofdoingthings，Isuppose。"
　　"ThenIdon’tliketheway。ThisisDenboro，notNewYork。Hewillexpectmeatanytimeafterten，willhe？Well，asMulletsaidtoAlvinBakerjustnowatthepost—office，Ihopehehaslotsofpatience。He’llneedit。"
　　"Butwhatcanhewantofyou？"
　　"Idon’tknow。Wantstolookoverhisnearestjayneighbor，I
　　shouldimagine，andseewhatsortofacurioheis。Hethinksitmaybenecessarytoputupbarbedwirefences，Isuppose。"
　　"Roscoe，don’tbenarrow—minded。Mr。Colton’swaysaren’toursandwemustmakeallowances。"
　　"Lethimmakeafew，forachange。"
　　"Aren’tyougoingtoseehim？"
　　"No。AtleastnotuntilIgetgoodandready。"
　　DorindacameinjustthentoaskMothersomequestionsconcerningdinner，for，thoughMotherhadnotseenthediningroomsincethatday，sixyearsago，whenshewascarriedfromittoherbedroom，shekeptherinterestinhouseholdaffairsandinsistedonbeingconsultedonallquestionsofmanagementandinternaleconomy。I
　　rosefrommychairandstartedtowardthedoor。
　　"Areyougoing，Roscoe？"askedMother。
　　"Yes。"
　　"Where？"
　　"Oh，justoutofdoors；perhapstotheboat—house。"
　　"Boy。"
　　"Yes，Mother？"
　　"Whatisthematter？Somethinghasgonewrong；Iknewitassoonasyoucamein。Whatisit？"
　　"Nothing。Thatis，nothingofanyconsequence。I’malittleoutofsortsto—dayandthatman’sletterirritatesme。I’llgetoverit。I’llbebacksoon。Good—by，Mother。"
　　"Good—by，Boy。"
　　Iwentoutthroughthediningroomandkitchen，tothebackyard，where，seatingmyselfonLute’sfavoriterestingplace，thewashbench，Ilitmypipeandsatthinking，gloomilythinking。’