Yetitmaybethatherpartintheconversationwasnotaltogetherwithoutapurpose。SheledmetospeakofDenboroanditspeople，ofhowtheylived，andoftheolddaysofsailingshipsanddeepseaskippers。GeorgeTaylor’snamewasmentionedandIpraisedhimhighly，tellingofhisrisefrompoorboytosuccessfulman，asweratedsuccesslocally。
　　"Hemanagesthatbankwell，"Ideclared。"Everyonesaysso。And，fromwhatIhaveseenofhismanagement，Iknowittobetrue。"
　　"Howdoyouknow？"sheasked。
　　"BecauseIhavehadsomeexperienceinbankingmyself。I——"
　　Istoppedshort。Mytonguewasrunningawaywithme。ShedidnotaskthequestionwhichIdreadedandexpected。Insteadshesaid，lookingdownatme：
　　"Youarealoyalfriend，aren’tyou，Mr。Paine。"
　　"IhavereasontobeloyaltoGeorge，"Ianswered，withfeeling。
　　"Areyouasloyaltoyourself？"
　　Ilookedupatherinsurprise。
　　"Whatdoyoumean？"Iasked。
　　"Ihavebeentryingtounderstandyou，Mr。Paine。Tryingtogettheanswertothepuzzle。InonewayIthinkIhaveit。I
　　understandyourattitudeintheLaneaffairandIthinkIknowwhyyoucametoDenboroandarestayinghere。"
　　Istoppedshort。"You——youknowTHAT？"Icried。
　　"IthinkIdo。Youbelievethatyourmotherneedsyouandyouwillnotleaveher。Thatisyourreasonforlivinghere，Ithink。But，inanotherway，Icannotunderstandyouatall。"
　　Shespoketothehorseandwemovedonagain。Iwaitedforhertocontinue，butshewassilent。
　　"How？Whatistheotherway！Thewayinwhichyoucannotunderstandme？"Iasked。
　　"ShallItellyou？Doyouwishmetobeperfectlyfrank？"
　　"Yes。"
　　"Icannotunderstandhowamansuchasyouseemtobe，young，educated，andwithlifebeforehim，canbecontenttodoasyoudo，spendyourtimeinfishing，orsailing，orshooting。Tohavenoambitionatall。Myfatherwasapoorcountryboy，likeyourfriend，Mr。Taylor，butheworkednightanddayuntilhebecamewhatheisnow。Andevennowheworks，andworkshard。Oh，Iamproudofhim！Notbecauseheiswhatheis，butbecausehehasdoneitallhimself。IfIwereamanIwouldhavesomepurposeinlife；IwoulddoSOMETHINGworthwhileifitwereonlytosellfishfromacart，likethatoldfellowwiththequeername——whatisit？——
　　Oh，yes！TheophilusNewcomb。"
　　Ididnotanswer。Shehadsaidallthatwasnecessary，andmore。
　　Itwasquiteenoughforme。
　　"There！"sheobserved，afteramoment。"YouaskedmetotellyouandIdid。IfyouneverspeaktomeagainitwillbeexactlywhatIdeserve。ButIthoughtitandsoIsaidit。Expressingmythoughtsisoneofmybadhabits……Oh，why，wearealmosthome，aren’twe！"
　　WehadcometotheedgeofthegroveborderingBeriahHolt’spasture。Thegrovewasonthewestsideofalittlehill。BeforeusthepastureslopedawaytoBeriah’shouseandbarn，withtheroadbeyondit。Andbeyondthat，inthedistance，werethesteeplesandroofsofDenboro。AmongthemthegablesandtoweroftheColtonmansionrose，conspicuousandcostly。
　　Sheturnedinthesaddle。"IpresumeImayleaveyounow，Mr。
　　Paine，"shesaid。"Evenyoumustadmitthattherestofthewayisplainsailing。Thankyouforyourhospitalityandforyourservicesasguide。Iwillsendthebasketandnetoverbyoneoftheservants。"
　　"Iwilltakethemnow，"Isaid，shortly。
　　"Verywell，ifyouprefer。Heretheyare。"
　　Itookthemfromher。
　　"Goodafternoon，"shesaid。"Andthanksoncemoreforaverypleasantpicnic。"
　　"Youarequitewelcome，I’msure。Thankyouforyourfrankopinionofmy——worthlessness。Itwaskindofyoutoexpressit。"
　　Thesarcasmwasnotlostuponher。
　　"Imeantitasakindness，"shereplied。
　　"Yes。Anditwastrueenough，probably。DoubtlessIshallderivegreatbenefitfromyour——wordsofwisdom。"
　　Herpatience，evidently，wasexhausted。Sheturnedaway。"Oh，that，"shesaid，indifferently，"isyouraffair。ItoldyouwhatI
　　believedtobethetruth，thatwasall。Whatyoudoisnotlikelytobeofvastimportancetome，onewayortheother。Come，Don！"
　　Doncantereddowntheslope。Iwatchedhimandhisriderdisappearbeyondthetreesinthedistance。ThenIpickedupmypailandotherburdensandfollowedintheirwake。Thesunwasbehindacloud。Ithadbeenastrangedaywithamiserableending。Iwasfuriouslyangrywithher，butIwasmoreangrywithmyself。ForwhatshehadtoldmeWASthetruth，andIknewit。
　　Istrodeon，headdown，throughthevillage。Peoplespoketome，askingwhatluckIhadhadandwhereIhadbeen，butIscarcelynoticedthem。AsIreachedtheCornersandwaspassingthebanksomeonecalledmyname。IglancedupandsawGeorgeTaylordescendingthesteps。
　　"Holdon，Ros，"hehailed。"Waitaminute。What’syourrush？
　　Holdon！"
　　Ihaltedreluctantly。
　　"Fishingagain，Isee，"heobserved，ashereachedmyside。"Anyluck？"
　　"Fair，"Itoldhim。
　　"Whatpond？"
　　"Seabury’s。"
　　"Goalone？"
　　"Yes。"ThatIhadnotbeenalonesincewasnobusinessofhis。
　　"Humph！Youain’texactlywhatafellow’dcalltalkativethisafternoon，seemstome。Anythingwrong？"
　　"No。"
　　"Tuckeredout？"
　　"Iguessso。"
　　"Well，soamI，butIain’thadyourfungettingthatway。SmallandIhavebeenatitnightanddaygettingthingsinshapesohecouldleave。He’sgone。Wentthisnoon。Andthatain’ttheworstofit；Ihaven’tgotanybodyyettotakehisplace。I’llhavetobecashierandbookkeepertooforaspell。There’sapplicantsenough；buttheydon’tsuit。Guesslikelyyou’llhavetohelpmeout，afterall，Ros。Thejobisyoursifyousaytheword。"
　　Helaughedashesaidit。Eventohimtheideaofmyworkingwasajoke。
　　Butthejokedidnotseemfunnytome，justthen。Iwalkedonforsomedistancewithoutaword。ThenIaskedaquestion。
　　"Whatisexpectedofamaninthatposition？"Iasked。
　　"Expected？Why，plainbankbookkeeping——notmuchelseatfirst。
　　Yetthere’sagoodchanceforalikelyfellowtobeconsiderablemore，intime。Ineedhelpinmypartofthework。That’swhyI
　　haven’thiredanyofthedozenorsowhoareaftertheplace。Whatmakesyouask？Youdon’tknowofagoodmanforme，doyou，Ros？"
　　"Whendoyouwanthimtobegin？"
　　"To—morrowmorning，ifhesatisfiesme。"
　　"WouldIsatisfyyou？"
　　"You！Humph！Trymeandsee，that’sallI’dask。"
　　"Allright。I’llbeonhandinthemorning。"
　　Hestopped，lookedatme，andthenseizedmebythearm。
　　"Seehere！"hecried，"I’mlostinthefog，Iguesslikely。Whatdoyoumeanbythat？Isittimetolaugh——orwhat？"
　　"Itmaybe；Idon’tknow。ButItakethebookkeeper’spositioninyourbank。Now，good—by。Don’ttalktome。Idon’tfeelliketalking。"
　　"But——but，Ros。"
　　"Good—by。"
　　Iwalkedon。Ihadtakenbutafewstepswhenheovertookme。
　　"Ros，"hesaid，"Iain’tgoingtosaybutjustonething。IfyoumeantwhatyousaidI’mthemosttickledmanontheCape。Butyouain’taskedawordaboutthesalary。"
　　"Iknowit。Ihaven’taskedbecauseIdon’tcare。I’llbeonhandinthemorning。"
　　Ilefthimstandingthere，andhurrieddowntheLowerRoad。AsI
　　hadsaidtohim，Ididnotfeelliketalking。Ididnotwanteventoseeanyone。Iwantedtobeletalone。ButitwasfatedthatI
　　shouldnotbe，notyet。SimEldredgewaswaitingformearoundthecorner。Hesteppedoutfrombehindthefencewherehehadbeenhidden。
　　"Ros！"hewhispered。"RosPaine！Wait。It’sme，Sim。Iwanttoaskyousomethin’。Wan’tthatGeorgeTayloryouwasspeakin’tojustnow？"
　　"Yes，"Ianswered，impatiently。"Whatofit？"
　　"Say，Ros，youandmeain’tpulledthatColtontradeoff，butitain’tmyfault。Youain’tgotnohardfeelin’sagainstme，Iknow。
　　AndIwantyoutodoalittlemiteoffavorforme。Willyou？"
　　"Whatisit？IfithasanythingtodowiththeLane，Itellyounowthat——"
　　"Itain’t——itain’t。It’saboutthatbookkeepin’jobinthebank，HenrySmall’splace，theonehe’sjustquit。I’vegotathirdcousin，nameofJosiahBadger，overtoSouthHarniss。He’sasmartyoungchap，andanA—1accountantatfiggers。He’sbeenkeepin’
　　booksdownatthefishwharf——see？Now，he’dlikethatjoband，bein’asyouandGeorgearesothick，Ical’latedmaybeyou’dsortofuseyourinfluencealongofGeorge，and——andgetitforhim。
　　Thereain’tnothin’initforme——thatis，nothin’much。ButI
　　feelfriendlytowardJosiahandyouknowIliketodolittlekindnessesforfolks。So——"
　　"There！there！"Iinterrupted。"It’snouse，Sim。Ican’thelpyou。"
　　"Why！yesyoucan。"
　　"No，Ican’t。Idon’tknowyourcousin，andbesides——well，youaretoolate。Theplaceisfilled。"
　　Sim’sexpressionchanged。Helookedsurprisedandcrestfallen。
　　"Filled？"heexclaimed。"Why，no，’tain’t！If’twasI’dhaveknownit，wouldn’tI？Who’dyouhearhadgotit？Whoeveryouheard，’tain’tso。"
　　"Yes，itis。"
　　"Howdoyouknow？Whoisit，then？"
　　Ihesitated。BeforenoonofthenextdayeverysoulinDenborowouldhaveheardthenews。Eldredgemightaswellhearitnow。
　　"I’vetakentheplacemyself，"Isaid。
　　"You？"Simactuallyforgottowhisper；heshoutedtheword。"YOU！
　　Ha！ha！ha！Ros，quityourfoolin’。"
　　"I’mnotfooling。Igotoworkinthebankto—morrowmorning。"
　　"But——Oh，mysoul！You！Aw，Iknowbetter！Say，Ros，don’tlet’swastetimelikethis。Fun’sallright，but……MyheavenstoBetsy！YOUworkforalivin’！IfIbelievedthatI’dbelieveanything。Tellme，now。Whohasgotthatjob？……Whydon’tyouanswerme？"
　　Iansweredhim。"Shutup！"Isaid，fiercely。ThenIvaultedthefenceandsetoutforhomeacrosslots。
　　IheardthenextdaythatSimwentbacktothepost—officeandinformedthegatheringtherethatRosPainehadtakentodrinking。
　　"Hewastightasabiledowl，"declaredSim；"andugly——don’ttalk！
　　WantedtofightmebecauseIwouldn’tbelievehewasgoin’towork。
　　Him！Whatintheeverlastin’wouldHEwanttoworkfor？MyheavenstoBetsy！"
　　CHAPTERXIII
　　IthinkTaylorwasalmostassurprisedasEldredgehadbeen，when，athalf—pasteightthefollowingmorning，Iappearedatthebank。
　　Hewasalreadyathisdeskand，whenhelookedupandsawme，hewhistled。
　　"Whew！"heexclaimed。"So。Ididn’tdreamit，afterall。You’rehere，ain’tyou。"
　　"Iamhere，"Ianswered，openingthegateandsteppinginbehindtherail。
　　"Goingtotakeitbackandsayyouneversaidit？"
　　"No。"
　　"Cometogotowork？Really？"
　　"Thatismyintention，unlessyouhavechangedyourmind。"
　　"Notme。Itain’tlikely。But，Ros，I——sitdownaminuteandlet’stalk。Whatareyoudoingthisfor？"
　　ItwasaquestionIhadbeenaskingmyselfatintervalsduringarestlessnight。NowIgavetheonlytruthfulanswer。
　　"Idon’tknow，"Isaid。
　　"Youdon’tknow！"
　　"No。AndIdon’tseemtocare。Supposewedon’ttalkaboutit。I
　　amhere，andIamreadytobeginwork。That’senough，isn’tit？"
　　"Why，no；notquite。You’renotdoingitjusttohelpmeout？"
　　"No。"
　　"Youdon’tneedtowork。You’vegotmoneyenough。"
　　"No，Ihaven’t。Butmoneyisn’tmyreason。Ihaven’tanyreason。
　　Nowshowmethebooks，willyou？"
　　"Don’tbeinahurry。Whatdoesyourmotherthinkaboutit？"
　　"Ihaven’ttoldheryet。TimeenoughforthatwhenIknowthatI
　　reallymeanitandyouknowthatIamcompetenttofilltheposition。George，ifyoukeeponcross—examiningmeIamlikelytoquitbeforeIbegin。Idon’tknowwhyIamdoingthis，butjustnowIthinkIamgoingtodoitifIcan。However，Iamnotsure。
　　Soyouhadbetterbecareful。"
　　"Humph！Whatdidyoucatchupatthatpondyesterday？Ineversawaday’sfishingmakesuchadifferenceinamaninmylife……
　　Allright，Ros。Allright。Iwon’tpesteryou。Toogladtohaveyouhereforthat。Nowaboutthesalary。"
　　"Beforewespeakofthatthereisonemorepoint。Howaboutyourdirectors？Deanandtherest？Dotheyknowyouofferedmetheposition？"
　　"Surething！Theyputthewholeaffairinmyhands。They’llbesatisfied。AndasforCap’nJed——why，hewastheonethatsuggestedhiringyouinthefirstplace。"
　　"CaptainJed！CaptainJedDean！HEsuggestedit？"
　　"Yup。Inaway，hedid。Youmaynotknowit，Ros，butyou’vemadeagooddealofahitwiththeoldman。Heain’tbeenusedtohavinganybodystanduptohimasyouhave。AsageneralthingDenborojumpswhenhesnapsthewhip。Youdidn’t，andhecouldn’tunderstandwhy。Heisthekindthatrespectsanythingtheycan’tunderstand。Then，too，Nellielikesyou，andshe’shisidol，youknow。Ahhum！"
　　Hesighedand，foramoment，seemedtoforgetmealtogether。I
　　remindedhimbyanotherquestion。
　　"Butwhyshouldthecaptainthinkofmeforthisplace？"Iasked。
　　"WhyshouldhedreamthatIwouldtakeit？Igaveyounoencouragement。"
　　"Idon’tknowashediddreamit。ButheandIwerespeakingofyouandhesaidhe’dliketodosomethingtoshowyouwhatthetownthoughtofyourholdingoutagainstColton。Thattickledhimdowntothekeel。Isaidyou’dbeafirst—classhelpertomeinthisbank，thatIheardyouknewsomethingaboutbanking——"
　　"George！"
　　"It’sallright。IonlymentionedthatIheardrumorsthatyouwereinacitybanksomewhereatonetime。Hedidn’taskanymoreandIshouldn’thavetoldhimifhehad。Buttheideapleasedhim，Icouldseethat。’Whydon’tyoutrytogethim？’sayshe。’Maybethedaysofmiraclesain’tpast。Perhapsevenhe’dcondescendtowork，iftherightjobcamehisway。’"
　　"Sothat’swhatyoucallhissuggestingme，doyou？Humph！"
　　"Well，Itoldhimaboutitlastnight，whenIwasuptoseeNellie，andhewaspleasedasPunch。Surprised，ofcourse，butpleased。
　　He’spracticallythewholeboard，asfarassettlingthingsisconcerned，soitisallright。Heain’ttheworstfriendyou’vegot，byalongshot。"
　　IimaginedthatIunderstoodwhatCaptainJed’s"friendship"meant。
　　MyacceptingthebankpositionwasonemorebondbindingmetohissideintheShoreLanebattle。And，solongasIwasunderTaylor’seyeandhisown，IcouldnotbesubjecttotheColtoninfluence。
　　GeorgeandIdiscussedthequestionofsalary，ifhisofferandmypromptacceptancemightbecalledadiscussion。Thepaywasnotlargetobeginwith，butitwasmorethanIhadarighttoexpect。
　　AndIwasperfectlyhonestwhenIsaidthatmoneywasnottheconsiderationwhichledmetomakethesuddenchangeinmyhabitoflife。Iwassickofidleness；Ihadlongedforsomethingtooccupymylifeandtime；Imightaswellbedoingthisasanything；
　　Taylor’sofferhadappealedtomewhenhefirstmadeit；theseweretheexcusesIevolvedformyownsatisfactionandItriedtobelievethemreal。ButonereasonIwouldnotadmit，eveninmythoughts，asapossibility。Itwasnotthatgirl，oranythingshehadsaid，whichinfluencedme。No！overandoveragain——no。
　　SamWheeler，theyoungfellowwhoactedasassistantbookkeeperandmessenger，camein，andTaylor，aftershowingmethebooksandgivingmeafewhintsastowhatmydutieswouldbe，turnedmeovertohimforfurtherinstruction。IfoundIneededbutlittle。Thepages，withtheirrowsoffigures，seemedlikeoldfriends。I
　　almostenjoyedporingoverthem。WasitpossiblethatIwasgoingtolikethisnewventureofmine？
　　BeforenoonIwasfairlycertainofit。Theworkinacountrybankisdifferentfromthatinthelargecityinstitutions，inthatitisbynomeansasspecialized。Ifoundthat，lateron，Ishouldbeexpectedtocombinetheworkoftellerwiththatofbookkeeper。
　　Andthis，too，seemednatural。IworkedassteadilyasIcould，consideringinterruptions，andtheforenoonwasoveralmostbeforeIknewit。
　　Theinterruptions，however，werenumerousandannoying；someofthem，too，wereamusing。Depositorscame，sawmebehindthebarsofthewindow，and，afterexpressingtheirastonishment，demandedtoknowwhatIwasdoingthere。IfIhadansweredallthequestionsputtomebythecuriousDenboroitesIshouldhavefoundtimeforlittleelse。ButTaylorhelpedmebyshooingthecuriousonesaway。"Don’tbotherthenewhand，"hesaid。"Ifyouwanttoknowparticularsaskme。AnythingIdon’ttellyouyoucanreadinnextweek’sItem。Thisisabank，notaquestionbox。"
　　CaptainElishaWarrencameinandwasassurprisedastherest。
　　Afteraninterviewwiththecashierhereturnedtomywindowandrequestedmetoopenup。WhenIdidsohereachedinabighandandseizedmine。
　　"Shake，Ros，"hesaid，heartily。"I’mgladforthebankandI’mgladderstillforyou。Comehardatfust，doesit？"
　　"Alittle，"Iconfessed。"NotashardasIexpected，though。"
　　"Fustdayortwooutofportisalwaysthetoughest。You’llgetyoursealegsonprettysoon。Thenyou’llbegladyoushipped，I
　　cal’late。"
　　"Ihopeso，"Ianswered，ratherdubiously。
　　"Iknowyouwill。There’snothin’sotiresomeasdoin’nothin’。I
　　know，becausethat’sbeenmyjobforquiteaspell。SeemssometimesasifI’dhaveafit，Igetsosickofloafin’。"
　　Hisideaofa"loaf"wasrisingatsixandweedinghisgarden，superintendingthelaboronhiscranberryswampsorabouthisbarnsandgrounds，attendingbankandSelectmen’smeetings，andgenerallykeepingbusyuntilsunset。
　　"ItellAbbie，myhousekeeper，"hecontinued，"thatif’twan’tformyageIbelieveI’dgotoseaagainjusttokeepfromfallin’
　　apartwithdryrot。Iaskedherifshe’dnoticedhowmytimberscreaked，andshesaidIdidn’tkeepstilllongenoughforhertonoticeanything。Ho！ho！Nothin’makeshermoreprovokedthanformetomentiongettin’oldorgoin’tosea。Allthesame，Ienvyyouyouryouth，Ros。You’vegotyourlifeaforeyou，andI’mgladtoseethatyou’regoin’tomakesomethin’ofit。Ialwayssaidyou’dwakeupifsomebodygiveyouapunch。Whopunchedyou，Ros？"
　　Myreplywasnon—committal。
　　"Bettermindmyownbusiness，hadn’tI，"heobserved。"Allright，Iwill。Nooffensemeant，youunderstand。But，yousee，I’veneverbelievedthatworkwasthecussofmankind，likesomefolks，andnomatterhowmuchmoneyayoungfeller’sgotIthinkhe’sbetteroffdoin’somethin’。That’sthegospelaccordin’toElisha。
　　Well，goodluckandapleasantv’yage。Seeyouagainsoon。Say，"
　　turningback，"keepaneyeonGeorge，willyou？Folksinlovearel’bletobeabsent—minded，theytellme，andIshouldnotwanthimtobeabsentwithanyofmymoney。Hearthat，doyou，George？"
　　Taylor，whowasstandingnear，laughedandwalkedaway。AmomentlaterIsawhimlookingoutofthewindowwiththesamestrangeexpressiononhisfacewhichIhadnoticedseveraltimesbeforewhenhisapproachingmarriagewashintedat。Somethingwastroublinghim，thatwasplain。HelovedNelliedevotedly，Iknew；
　　yetheobviouslydidnotliketohearthemarriagementioned。
　　SimEldredgewasoneofthefirstvisitorstothebank，buthisvisitwasashortone。Heenteredthedoor，walkedstraighttotheteller’swindowandpeeredthroughthebars。Iheardhimcatchhisbreath。
　　"Goodmorning，Sim，"saidI。"WhatcanIdoforyou？"
　　"Do？"herepeated。"Doforme？Nothin’——nothin’，’special。You——
　　youmeantit，then？"
　　"ItoldyouIdid。"
　　"Mysoul！"wasalltheanswerhemade。Thenheturnedandwalkedout。
　　Atabouteleveno’clockIwashalf—waythroughtheadditionofacolumnoffigureswhenIheardsomeonesay，"Well，bytime！"withsuchanguishedfervorthatitwasalmostlikeaprayerforhelp。I
　　lookedup。LuteRogerswasstaringinatme，open—mouthedandhorror—stricken。
　　"Hello，Lute！"Isaid。
　　Luteswallowedhard。
　　"Theytoldme’twasso，"hestammered。"Theysaidsoand——andI
　　laughedat’em。Ros，youain’t，beyou？"
　　"What？"
　　"Goin’tostayinthereand——andtakeHenry’sjob？"
　　"Yes。"
　　"Yoube！Andyouneversaidnothin’tonobody？ToDorinda？OrevenComfort？"
　　"No；notyet。"
　　"Nortome。ToME，bytime！Youletthemfellersatthestoremakeafoolofme——"
　　"Noonecoulddothat，Lute。Ihavetoldyousooften。"
　　"AndyouletthemknowitaforeIdid。Andmelivin’rightinthehousewithyou！Bytime！I——I——"
　　"There，there，Lute！don’tcry。I’lltellyouallaboutitwhenI
　　comehomefordinner。"
　　"Yes，Ishouldthinkyoumightdothatmuch。Treatin’yourownfamilylike——whydidyoutellSimEldredge？"
　　"SimaskedmeandsoItoldhim，thatwasall。Don’tstandtherefidgeting。Runalonghome，there’sagoodfellow。Mr。Taylorhashiseyeonyoualready。"
　　Luteglancedapprehensivelytowardthecashier’sdeskandturnedtogo。
　　"Well！"heexclaimed，"I’vesaidyouwascrazymore’nonce，that’ssomesatisfaction。Say！canItell’emtohome？"
　　Ihesitated。"YoumaytellDorindaifyoulike，"Ianswered。"ButIprefertotellMother，myself。"
　　GeorgerosefromhisdeskjustthenandLutehurriedtothedoor。
　　Ismiled。Iimaginedhisarrivalinourkitchenandhowhewouldexplodethesensationalnewsuponhisunsuspectingwife。
　　ButIwasnotaltogethercalm，thoughIdidmybesttoappearso，whenIenteredthatkitchenataquarterpasttwelve。Lutewasseatedinachairbythewindow，evidentlywatchingandwaiting。
　　HesprangupasIentered。
　　"Setdown，"orderedDorinda，whowastakingaclampiefromtheoven。ShemerelynoddedwhenIcamein。Dorindaoftenspokeinmeetingagainst"sinfulpride"；yetshehadhershareofpride，sinfulornot。Shewouldnotaskquestionsordeigntoappearexcited，notshe。
　　"ButDorinda，"criedherhusband，"it’sRos。Don’tyousee？"
　　"Yousetdown，LuteRogers。Well，"turningtome，"dinner’sready，ifyouare。"
　　"Ishallbeinafewminutes，"Ianswered。"IwanttoseeMotherfirst。"
　　BreakingthenewstoMotherwasadutywhichIdreaded。Butitturnedouttobenotdreadfulatall。Motherwassurprised，ofcourse，butshedidnotofferasingleobjection。Herprincipalfeelingseemedtobecuriosityastomyreasonsforthesuddenchange。
　　"Ofcourse，Roscoe，ifyouarehappierIshallbe，too，"shesaid。
　　"Iknowitmusthavebeenverydullforyouhere。Myconsciencehastroubledmenotalittlealltheseyears。Irealizethataman，ayoungmanlikeyou，needsaninterestinlife；hewantssomethingmorethanthecareandcompanionshipofauselesscreaturelikeme。"