"Mother，howoftenhaveItoldyounottospeaklikethat。"
　　"Buthedoes。Manytimes，whenyouandIhavebeenheretogether，Ihavebeenonthepointofurgingyoutoleavemeandgobacktotheworldandtakeyourplaceinit。Morethanonce，youremember，dear，Ihavehintedatsuchathing，butyouhavealwayschosennottounderstandthehints，andIhavebeensoweakandselfishthatI
　　havenotpressedthem。Iamgladyouhavedonethis，ifitseemsrighttoyou。Butdoesit？Areyousure？"
　　"Ithinkso，Mother。IconfessIamnotsure。"
　　"Thiscountrybankisaprettysmallplace，isn’tit？Notbigenoughformyboytoprovehisworthin。"
　　"Itisquitebigenoughforthat。Thatdoesn’trequireaRothschild’sestablishment。"
　　"Butyourdecisionmusthavebeenaverysuddenone。Youdidnotmentionthatyouthoughtofsuchathing。Noteventome。"
　　"Itwassudden，"Ianswered。"Itookthepositiononthespurofthemoment。"
　　"Butwhy？Whatledyoutodoit？"
　　"Idon’tknow，Mother。"
　　"Whatinfluencedyou？Hasanyoneurgedyou？"
　　"GeorgeTaylorofferedmetheplacesometimeago。Heurgedme。"
　　"Nooneelse？"
　　Iavoidedtheissue。"Youdon’tmind，then，Mother，"Isaid。"YouarewillingthatIshouldtrytheexperiment？"
　　"Iamglad，ifitpleasesyou。Andyoumustletmesaythisnow，Roscoe，becauseitistrueandImeanit。Ifanotherandbetteropportunitycomestoyou，onethatmighttakeyouawayfromDenboro——andfromme——foratime，ofcourse，Iwantyoutopromisemethatyouwillnotrefuseitonmyaccount。Willyoupromise？"
　　"No。OfcourseIshan’tpromiseanysuchthing。IsitlikelythatIwouldleaveyou，Mother？"
　　"IknowthatyouwouldnotleavemeunlessIwerewillingforyoutogo。Iknowthat，Roscoe。ButIammuchbetterandstrongerthanIwas。Ishallneverbewell——"
　　"Don’tsaythat，"Iinterrupted，hastily。
　　"ButImustsayit，becauseitistrue。Ishallneverbewell，butIamstrongenoughnowtobearthethoughtofyourleavingmeandwhenthetimecomesIshallinsistuponyourdoingso。Iamgladwehavehadthistalk，dear。Iamglad，too，thatyouaregoingtobebusyoncemoreinthewayyoulikeandoughttobe。Youmusttellmeaboutyourworkeveryday。Nowgo，becauseyourdinnerisreadyand，ofcourse，youmustbegettingbacktothebank。Kissme，Boy。"
　　AndasIbentoverhersheputherarmsaboutmyneck。
　　"Boy，"shewhispered，"Iknowthereissomereasonforyourdoingthis，areasonwhichyouhavenottoldme。Youwilltellmesomeday，won’tyou？"
　　Istraightenedhurriedlyandtriedtolaugh。"OfcourseI’lltellyou，Mother，"Ireplied。"Ifthereisanythingtotell。"
　　Theclampiewasonthetableinthedining—roomandDorindawasseatedmajesticallybeforeit。Lutewasfidgetinginhischair。
　　"Hereheis，"heexclaimed，asIjoinedthepairatthetable。
　　"Ros，howdidyouevercometodoit？"
　　Hiswifesquelchedhim，asusual。"IfRoscoe’sgotanythingtotell，"sheobserved，withdignity，"he’lltellitwithoutyourhelporanybodyelse’s。Ifheain’t，hewon’t。Thispie’scolderthanitoughttobe，butthatisn’tmyfault。"
　　AsIateItoldthemofmysuddendeterminationtobecomealaboringman。IgavethereasonsthatIhadgivenMother。
　　"Um—hm，"saidDorinda。
　　"ButIcan’tunderstand，"pleadedLute。"Youdon’tneedtowork，andI’vesortoftookaprideinyournotdoin’it。IfIwaswell—
　　off，sameasyoube，IbetGeorgeTaylor’dhavetowhistleaforeI
　　woreoutMYbrainsinhisoldbank。"
　　"Hewouldn’thavetimetowhistlemore’nonce，"wasDorinda’scomment。
　　"Now，Dorinda，whatkindoftalkisthat？Wouldn’thavetimetowhistle？Youdosaymorethingswithoutanysenseto’em！Justtalktohearyourself，Ical’late。Whatareyougrinnin’at，Roscoe？"
　　"Ican’timagine，Lute。Thisclampieisatriumph。MayIhaveanotherhelping，Dorinda？"
　　Dorindadidnotanswer，butthesecondhelpingwasaliberalone。
　　ShewassoquietandtheglancesshegavemefromtimetotimeweresooddthatIbegantofeeluneasy。Iwasfairlysurethatsheapprovedofmynewventure，butwhydidshelookatmelikethat？
　　"Well，"saidI，lookingatmywatchandrising，"whatdoyouthinkofit？AmIdoingright？"
　　Luteleanedbackinhischair。"There’sconsider’bletobesaidonthatsubject，"heannounced。"Work，asageneralthing，Iconsiderallright；I’vetoldyouthatafore。Butwhenitcomesto——"
　　"Whatdoyouthink，Dorinda？"Iinterrupted。
　　Dorindastirredhertea。
　　"Think？"sherepeated。"Ithink……When’sthatColtongirlcomin’tocallonComfortagain？"
　　Ihadtakenmyhatfromthehook。Now，withitinmyhand，I
　　turnedandfacedher。
　　"HowshouldIknowthat？"Idemanded。"That’satrifleoffthesubject，isn’tit？"
　　"Um—hm，"saidDorinda。"Maybe’tis。"
　　Iwentouthurriedly。
　　WithintheweekIwasathomeinmynewposition。Thestrangenessofregularhoursandregularemploymentworeawaywithsurprisingrapidity。Therewere，ofcourse，morningswhenseaandskyandthefreshnessofoutdoorstemptedmeandIwonderedwhetherornotI
　　hadbeenfoolishtogiveupmyfineandeasylife。ButtheseperiodsoftemptationwereshorterandlessfrequentasIbecamemoreandmorefamiliarwithmydutiesandwiththeroutineofthebank。Ifoundmyselftakingagreaterinterestintheinstitutionand，tomyastonishment，IwasactuallysorrywhenSaturdaycame。
　　ItseemedoddenoughtooncemorehavemoneyinmypocketwhichI
　　hadearned。Itwasnotagreatamount，ofcourse，butIfeltittobemine。Yes，therewasnodoubtaboutit，Ihaddonetherightthing，andwasglad。IwasgratefultoTaylorforhavinggivenmetheopportunity。PerhapsIshouldhavebeengratefultothepersonwhosebrutalandimpertinentfranknesshadpiquedmeintograspingthatopportunity，butIwasnot。
　　ShemadehersecondcalluponMothertwodaysafterourimpromptupicnicatSeabury’sPond。IheardallaboutitwhenIcamehomethatafternoon。Itappearedthatshehadbroughtmoreflowersandafreshsupplyofbooks。ShehadremainedevenlongerthanonherfirstvisitandsheandMotherhadtalkedaboutalmosteverythingunderthesun。Onetopic，however，hadnotbeendiscussed，afactwhichmyguardedquestionsmadecertain。She，likemyself，hadsaidnothingconcerningthedayinthewoods。
　　"ItoldherofyourconsentingtohelpMr。Taylorinhisdilemma，"
　　saidMother。
　　"Didyou？"saidI。"Itwaskindofyoutoputitinthatway。"
　　"Thatwasthetruthfulwayofputtingit，wasn’tit？Sheseemedverymuchinterested。"
　　"Indeed。Andsurprised，Ipresume。"
　　"Why，yes，Ithinkso。Sheseemedsurprisedatfirst；thenshelaughed；Icouldnotunderstandwhy。Shehasaverypleasantlaugh，hasn’tshe？"
　　"Ihavenevernoticed。"Thiswasuntrue。
　　"Shehas。Sheisacharminggirl。Iamsorryyouwerenotherewhenshecalled。Itoldheryouwouldbehomesoonandaskedhertowait，butshewouldnot。"
　　"Iamgladshedidn’t。"
　　"Roscoe！"
　　"Iam，Mother。Thatyoungladycomesheretoseeyoumerelybecauseshehasnothingelsetodojustnow。Ishouldn’taccepttoomanyfavorsfromher。"
　　MothersaidIwasunreasonableandprejudicedandIdidnotarguethepoint。LuteandDorindadiscussedthecalleratthesuppertableuntilIwasconstrainedtoleavetheroom。MabelColtonmightamuseherselfwithMotherandthetwomembersofourhouseholdwhomshehaddescribedas"characters，"shemightdeludethemintobelievingherthoughtfulandsympatheticandwithoutfalsepride，butIknewbetter。Shehadinsultedme。Shehad，insomanywords，toldmethatIwaslazyandworthless，justasshemighthavetoldherchauffeuroroneoftheservants。Thatitwastruemadenodifference。Wouldshehavespokeninthatwayto——toVictorCarver，forinstance？Hardly。ShewasjustwhatIhadthoughtheratfirst，afeminineeditionofVictor，withmorebrainsthanhepossessed。
　　CaptainJedDeancameintothebankthethirddayaftermyinstallationasbookkeeperandteller。Iwasaloneinthedirector’sroom，goingoversomepapers，andheenteredandshookhandswithme。Theoldfellowprofesseddelightatmypresencethere。
　　"Georgetellsmeyou’retakin’holdfust—rate，"hesaid。"That’sgood。I’mgladtohearit。"
　　"Why？"Iasked。Therewasatraceofhisoldpomposityinthespeech——orIimaginedtherewas——andIchosetoresentit。ThesewerethedayswhenIwasinthemoodtoresentalmostanything。
　　"Why？"herepeated，insurprise。"Whatdoyoumean？"
　　"Whyareyouglad？"Isaid。"Ican’tseewhatdifferenceitmakestoyouwhetherIsucceedornot。"
　　Heregardedmewithapuzzledexpression，but，insteadoftakingoffense，helaughed。
　　"You’vegotachiponyourshoulder，ain’tyou，Ros？"heobserved。
　　"Workin’youtoohardatthestart，arewe？"
　　"No，"Ianswered，curtly。
　　"Thenwhatisthematter？"
　　"Why，nothing，unlessitisthateveryoneImeetseemstotakesuchagreatinterestinmybeinghere。IbelieveallofDenborotalksofnothingelse。"
　　"Notmuchelse，Ishouldn’twonder。Butthat’stobeexpected，ain’tit？Everybody’sgladyou’remakin’good。"
　　"Humph！Theyallseemtoregardthatastheeighthwonderoftheworld。Thepositiondoesn’trequireamarvelofintelligence；
　　almostanyonewithateaspoonfulofbrainscouldfillit。"
　　"Whyno，theycouldn’t。Butthat’snothin’todowithit。Iseewhat’sthematterwithyou，Ros。Youthinkallhandsareknockedontheirbeamendsbecauseyou’vegonetowork。Someof’emare，that’safact，andyoucan’tblame’emmuch，considerin’howlongyou’velivedherewithoutdoin’anything。Butallof’emthatamounttoathree—centpieceareglad，andtherestdon’tcountanyway。You’vemadeagoodmanyfriendsinthistownlately，son。"
　　Ismiledbitterly。"Friends，"Isaid。
　　"Why，yes，friends。Andfriendsareworthhavin’，especiallyifyoumake’emwithoutbeggin’fortheirfriendship。Igiveinthatyou’vesurprisedsomeofus。Wedidn’tknowthatyouhaditinyou。Butyourstandin’uptooldColtonwasafinething，andweappreciatedit。"
　　"ThatisbecauseyouwereagainsthisgrabbingtheLane。"
　　"Whatofit？And’twan’tthataltogether。I，forone，ain’tcomplainin’becauseyoustooduptomeandwouldn’tselltothetown。Bytheway，TimHallet’sganghaven’tbotheredyoulately，havethey？"
　　"No。AndIadvisethemnotto。"
　　Hechuckled。"Iheardyouadvised’emtothateffect，"hesaid。
　　"Iain’tcomplainin’atthat，either，eventhoughIknewwhattheywasuptoandthought’twasmoreorlessofajoke。ButIlikedthewayyoufired’emoutofthere，notcarin’atinker’sdarnwhowasbehind’em。Solongasamanstandssquareinhisbootsanddon’tknuckletoanybodyhewon’tloseanythingwithJedDean。
　　That’sme！"
　　"YououghttolikeColton，then，"Isaid。"Hehasn’tknuckled，much。"
　　CaptainJedgrinned。"Well，"hesaid，slowly，"Idon’tobjecttothatinhim。Heseemstobeafighterandthat’sallright。MaybeifIwasoneofhistribeinNewYorkIshouldlikehim。ButI
　　ain’t。Andyouain’t，Ros。We’rebothofuscountryfolks，livin’
　　here，andhe’sacitysharkbuttin’intothefeedin’grounds。HewantstohogthewholeplaceandyouandIsayheshan’t。I’mthankfultohimforonething：hiscomin’herehaswakedyouup，andit’sgoin’tomakeamanofyou，orImissmyguess。"
　　Ididnotanswer。
　　"Youmustn’tgetmadbecauseItalkthisway，"hewenton。"I’moldenoughtobeyourdad，RosPaine，andIknowwhatI’mtalkin’
　　about。Inevertookmuchofashinetoyouintheolddays。Youwastoomuchofwhatthestorybookscalla’gentleman’tosuitme。
　　I’vehadtoscratchallmylifeforwhatI’vegot，butI’vegotit。
　　Whenayoung，ablefellerlikeyouwascontentedtoloafaroundasyoudidandtakenointerestinnothin’，I，naturally，figgeredhewasno—account。IseenowIwaswrong。Allyouneededwassomethin’tostiryouupandsetyougoin’。KEEPgoin’，that’smyadvicetoyou。Andsolongasyoudo，anddon’tbendwhenthepressuregetshard，you’llbesomebodyaforeyoudie。Andthefriendsyou’vemade’llstandbackofyou。"
　　"HowabouttheenemiesIhavemade？"
　　"Enemies？Isupposelikelyyouhavemadesomeenemies，butwhatofit？I’vemadeenemiesallmylife。Itain’tbecauseI’mpopularhereinDenborothatI’mwhatIam。Nowisit？"
　　Thetruthfulanswerwouldhavebeenno。CaptainDeanwasnotpopular，buthewasrespectedevenbythemanywhodislikedanddisagreedwithhim。Ihesitated，tryingtothinkwhattosay。
　　"Youknow’tain’tthat，"hesaid。"PopularityIneverhad，thoughit’sapleasantenoughthingandsometimesIwish——Butthere，thisain’texperiencemeetin’。I’mgladyou’rehereinthisbank。
　　You’resmart，andGeorgesaysyouareworthmorethanHenrySmalleverwas，evensoearly。IfyoureallyarewhatitbeginstolookasifyouareI’mgladforDenboro。Maybethere’llbesomebodybesidesGeorgefittorunthistownafterI’mgone。"
　　Ismiled。Thelastremarkwassocharacteristicthatitwasfunny。
　　Hewasturningaway，buthenoticedthesmileandturnedback。
　　"That’sajoke，hey？"heasked。
　　"Captain，"Isaid，"youarenotconsistent。WhenyouandIfirsttalkedabouttheLaneyousaidthatyouwouldnotblamemeifI
　　closedit。Ifitwasyoursyouwouldn’thaveTom，Dick，andHarrydrivingfishcartsthroughit。"
　　"DidIsaythat？"
　　"Yes。Andyousaid，onanotheroccasion，thatanyonewouldsellanythingiftheywereofferedmoneyenough。"
　　"Humph！Well，sometimesIsay’mostanythingbutmyprayers。
　　MatildysaysIforgetthemprettyoften，butItellherherFridaynightspeechesarelongenoughtomakeup。MaybeImeantwhatI
　　saidtoyouatthosetimes，Ros。Ishouldn’twonderifIdid。But’twasaliejustthesame。TherearethingsIwouldn’tsell，ofcourse。Nellie，mydaughter’soneof’em。She’sgoin’togetagoodhusbandinGeorgehere，butherhappinessmeansmoretomethanmoney。She’soneofthethingsIwouldn’tsell。AndmySelectman’sjobisanother。Ifoughtforthat，notsomuchforthehonor，orwhateveryoucallit，butbecause——well，becauseIwantedtoshow’emthatIcouldgetitifIsetoutto。Idon’tpresumelikelyyoucanunderstandthatfeelin’。"
　　"IthinkIcan，"Ianswered。"Mr。ColtongaveaboutthesamereasonforhisdeterminationtoclosetheLane。Youandheseemtobeagooddealalike，afterall。"
　　Helookedatmefrombeneathhisbushybrows。Hismouthtwistedinagrimsmile。
　　"Say，son，"hesaid，"ifIhadn’tbeensofreewithmyproclamationsaboutbein’yourfriendyouandmewouldhaveasettlementforthatlittlebitoftalk。TheEmperorandmealike！Ugh！"
　　Thenextafternoonhecameinagainandaskedmetostepoutsidetherailing。Hehadsomethingtosaytome，hedeclared。
　　Wesatdowntogetheronthesetteebythewall。
　　"Ros，"hesaid，inalowtone，"haveyouhadanynewofferforyourproperty？NotfromColtonorthetown，butfromanybodyelse？"
　　"No，"Ianswered。"Whatdoyoumean？"
　　"Youain’theardanythingfromaBostonfirmclaimin’torepresenttheBayShoreDevelopmentCompany，orsomesuch？"
　　"No。Whatsortofacompanyisthat？"
　　"Idon’tknow；thatis，Idon’tknowmuchaboutit。Butthere’stalkdriftin’’roundthataBostonsyndicateiscal’latin’tobuyupalltheshorefrontlandfromSouthOstabletotheBayportlineandopenitupforsummerhouselots。ThenameistheBayShoreDevelopmentCompany，orsomethin’likethat。Youain’theardfrom’em，then？"
　　"Notaword。Wheredidyourinformationcomefrom？"
　　"Fromnobodyinparticular。Itjustseemstobeintheair。AlvinBakerhearditovertoOstable。Thefellerthattoldhimgotitfromsomebodyelse，whogotitfromanothersomebody，andsoon。
　　There’stalkaboutgoodpricesbein’offeredand，accordin’toAlvin，Ostablefolksareprettyexcited。ElnathanMullet，whoownsthatstripbelowyourhouse，knowssomethin’aboutit，Ithink。I
　　shouldn’twonderifhe’dhadanoffer，orahint，orsomethin’。
　　ButElnathan’smouthshutstighterthanamuskrattrapandI
　　couldn’tgetnothin’outofhim。Hejustlookedknowin’andthatwasall。But，ifit’sso，itmaymeanaheaptoDenboro。"
　　Iwasconsideringthenewswhenhespokeagain。
　　"Itmightmeanalottoyou，Ros，"hewhispered。
　　"Howso？"
　　"Why，thisway：Ifthisconcernofferedyouenoughmoneyyoumightsellouttothem，mightn’tyou？Sellallyourplace，Imean；youcouldgetanotheroneeasyenough。Youain’tparticularaboutlivin’bytheshore。"
　　"But——youurgemetoSELL！"Iexclaimed。"SelltheShoreLanewiththerest？"
　　"Whynot？Youwouldn’tbesellin’toColton。And，ifthisdevelopmentschemeiswhattheysayitis，there’llberoadscutthroughallalongshore。Thetowncoulduseanyof’em；atleastthatarrangementmightbemade。Thinkitover，Ros。Iftheydoofferandofferenough，I’dsell，ifIwasyou。Say！thatwouldbeareefunderHisMajesty’sbows，hey？Jolthimsome，Ical’late。"
　　Ididnotanswer。Thiswasanewpossibility。Ofcoursehisreasonforadvisingmysellingwasplainenough，but，leavingtheColtonsentirelyaside，theideawasnotwithoutallurement。Thetown’sconvenienceinthematterofaroadmightbeconsidered，justashesaid。Andmyscruplesagainstsellingataprofitwere，afterall，baseduponthatfeature。
　　"Youthinkitover，"hecounseled。"Don’tsaynothin’tonobody，butjustthink——andwait。I’llkeepmyeyetowind’ardandseewhatIcanfindout。Itellyouhonest，Ros，I’llfeelsaferwhenIknowoldImperial’sgame’sblockedforgoodandall。"
　　OldImperialhimselfmadehisappearancebeforeclosinghours。I
　　lookedupfrommyworktoseehimstandingbythewindow。Hehadnotexpectedtoseemethere——evidentlyhisdaughterhadnotconsideredMother’snewsofsufficientimportancetorepeat——and，atfirst，hedidnotrecognizeme。
　　"Goodafternoon，Mr。Colton，"saidI。
　　Henodded。"Cashthisforme，willyou，"hesaid，pushingacheckthroughtheopening。"What？Hello！Whatinblazesareyoudoinginthere？"
　　"Iamemployedherenow，"Ianswered。
　　"Humph！howlongsince？"
　　"Tendays，orsuchmatter。"
　　"Whatareyoudoinginabank？"
　　"Bankingwasmybusiness，atonetime。"
　　"Thoughtyouhadn’tanybusiness。"
　　"Ihaven’thadany，forsomeyears。NowIhave。Howdoyouwishthismoney？Intensandfives？"
　　"Yes。Nothingbigger。Downhereitrestrictsthecirculationifyouspringatwentydollarbillonthem。Soyou’vetakentobanking？Iwasthinkingofcorralingyouforagunningtriponeofthesedays。Nowit’salloff，Isuppose。"
　　"Itlooksthatway。SorryIamtobedeprivedofthepleasure。"
　　"Humph！"Then，withoneofhissuddenchanges，"Howbigabusinessdoesthisconcerndo？Whatdoyourdepositsamountto？"
　　Igavehimthefigures，asprintedintheyearlystatement。Hemadenocomment。Insteadheobserved，"Youhaven’tbeenaroundtoacceptthatofferofmineyet，Paine。"
　　"Notyet，"Ianswered。
　　"SupposeIoughttoraiseit，nowthatyou’reafinancieryourself。
　　However，Ishan’t。"
　　"Ihaven’taskedyouto。"
　　Hesmiled。"No，youhaven’t，"hesaid。"Well，itisopen——forawhile。IfIwereyouI’dacceptitprettysoon。"
　　"Possibly。"
　　"MeaningthatIamnotyou，hey？I’mnot。Ihaven’tyourhighprinciples，Paine。Can’tafford’em。You’rewhattheycalla’Progressive’inpolitics，too，aren’tyou？"
　　"Hereisyourmoney，"Isaid，ignoringthequestion。
　　"I’llbetyouare！"hedeclared，takingthebills。"Ineversawoneofyouhigh—principledchapsyetthatwasn’t——untilhegotrichenoughtobesomethingelse。Progressisallright，maybe，butI
　　noticethatyoufellowspayforitandtherestofusgetit。JustasIamgoingtogetthatlandofyours。"
　　"Youhaven’tgotityet，"Isaid，serenely。Ihadmadeupmymindthatthistimeheshouldnotprovokemeintolosingmytemper。
　　Heseemedtodivinemydetermination。Hiseyetwinkled。"You’reimproving，Paine，"heobserved。"I’llgiveyouapieceofadvice；
　　ithascostmeagooddealtolearn，butI’llgiveittoyou：
　　Don’teverlettheotherfellowmakeyoumad。"
　　IrememberedourfirstinterviewandIcouldnotresistthetemptationtoretort。
　　"Ifmyrecollectioniscorrect，"Isaid，"youforgotthatthefirsttimewemet。"
　　Helaughedaloud。"SoIdid，"headmitted。"MaybeifIhadn’titwouldnotcostmesomuchtogetmyownwayinyourcase。"
　　Hewalkedoutofthebuilding。Iheardoneexclamationfrombehindand，turning，sawSamWheeler，myyouthfulassistant，staringatme。
　　"My——gosh！"exclaimedSam，histoneamixtureofwonderandadmiration，"Idon’tseehowyoudasttotalkbacktohimlikethat，Ros。He’llsicthe——the’System’ontoyou，won’the？"
　　ItwasevidentthatSamhadbeenreadingthemagazines。
　　IheardnomorefromCaptainJedandnothingfromthemysterious"DevelopmentCompany"fortheremainderofthatweek。ButonSunday，asIsatintheboathouse，smokingmyafterdinnerpipeandreading，Luteexcitedlyentered，followedbyawell—dressed，smooth—shavenmanofmiddleage，whomheintroducedasMr。KeeneofBoston，"who’sdrivenallthewayfromOstablea—purposetoseeyou，Ros。"
　　Mr。Keeneshookhandswithmecordiallyandapologizedforintrudinguponmydayofrest。Heintendedreturningtothecityinthemorning，hesaid，and，ashehadalittlemattertodiscusswithme，hadtakenthelibertyofcalling。"Ishan’ttakemorethanhalfanhourofyourtime，Mr。Paine，"heexplained。"AtleastIfeelcertainthatyouandIcanreachanagreementinthatperiod。IfImightbealonewithyou——"
　　Thishint，evidentlyintendedforLute’sbenefit，wasquitelostuponthelastnamedindividual，whohadseatedhimselfontheedgeoftheworkbenchandwaslisteningwithbothears。Iwasobligedtotellhimthathispresencewassuperfluousandrequesthisreturningtothehouse，whichhereluctantlydid，movingslowlyandlookingbackwithanexpressionofgrieveddisappointment。AfterhehadgoneIaskedMr。Keenewhathis"littlematter"mightbe。
　　Hisreplywaspromptandtothepoint。Hegavemehiscard。Hewas，itseemed，juniorpartnerinthefirmofBarclayandKeene，realestatebrokersandpromoters，MilkStreet，Boston。And，justnow，hewasactingasrepresentativeoftheBayShoreDevelopmentCompany。"Aconcernofwhich，inspiteofallourprecautionsandattemptsatsecrecy，youmay，perhaps，haveheard，Mr。Paine，"headded，smiling。
　　IadmittedthatIhadheardrumorsconcerningthecompany’sexistence。But，exceptfortheseveryvaguerumors，Iknewnothingaboutit。
　　Heexpectedthat，hesaid，andwasgladtogivemefurtherandcompleteinformation。Infact，thatwashisreasonforcomingsomanymilestoseeme。IfIwouldbegoodenoughtolistenhewouldtellmejustwhattheBayShoreCompanywasandwhatitcontemplateddoing。
　　Ilistenedandhetalked。AccordingtohimtheBayShoresyndicate——thatiswhatitwas，asyndicateofcapitalists——
　　representedoneofthebiggestrealestatepropositionseverconceived。ThosebehinditwereawaketothepossibilitiesoftheCapeasasummerresort。Shoreland，waterfrontpropertyinthevicinity，wasdestinedtoincreaseinvalue，provideditwasproperlyexploitedanddeveloped。Thecompany’sideawastodojustthat——exploitanddevelop。
　　"We’vebeenquietlylookingabout，"hecontinued，"andareallreadyforthepreliminaries。Andnaturally，thefirstpreliminaryistosecurethelandtodevelop。Youhavesomeofthatland，Mr。
　　Paine。Weknowjusthowmuch，aswedotheholdingsofeveryotherpartywehaveapproachedorintendtoapproach。Iamheretogetyourfiguresand，ifpossible，concludethepurchaseofyourpropertythisafternoon。ItisSunday，ofcourse，"headded，withagood—humoredlaugh，"andcontractssignedto—dayarenotlegal；
　　butwecanmakeaverbalcontractandthepapersmaybesignedlater。Iwilldefermydepartureuntiltheafternoontrainto—morrowforthatpurpose。Nownameyourfigure，Mr。Paine。"
　　OfcourseIhadguessedwhatwascoming。IfIintendedtosellatallherewasmyopportunitytodoso——to，asCaptainJedexpressedit，"blockColton’sgame"withoutsacrificingtheprincipleforwhichIhadfought，andmakeagoodbitofmoneyformyself。
　　Anotherhomenearbycouldbesecured，Ihadnodoubt，andtoitMothermightbesafelyandeasilymoved。YetIhesitatedtoexpressevenaqualifiedwillingness。
　　"YouappeartobecertainthatIwillsell，"Iobserved。"Isn’tthattakingagooddealforgranted，Mr。Keene？"
　　Hesmiled——infacthesmiledalmosttoooftentopleaseme。Thereissuchathingasbeingtoocordialandgood—natured；andhewassoveryfriendlyonshortacquaintance。