Hisexpressionchanged。Heknockedtheashesfromhiscigarandfrowned。
　　"Isee，"hesneered。"Humph！Well，I’vetriedtomakeitplaintoyoufellowsdownherethatIcouldn’tbeheldup。IthoughtI’ddoneit，butevidentlyIhaven’t。Fivehundredisagoodpriceforthatland。Fivethousandisridiculous，butIgaveyoumyreasonsforbeingwillingtoberobbedthatmuch。That，however，isthelimit。I’llgiveyoufivethousand，butnotanothercent。Youcantakeitorgetout。"
　　Thiswasbetter。WhenhetalkedlikethatIcouldanswerhimandenjoyit。
　　"I’llgetoutveryshortly，"Isaid。"YouarenomoreanxioustohavethathappenthanIam。Idon’twantyourothercent。Idon’twantyourfivethousanddollars。I’llsellyouthelandononecondition——no，ontwo。Thefirstisthatyoupaymethirty—fivehundreddollarsforit。"
　　"WHAT？"
　　Ihadupsethiscomposurethistime。Heforgottosneer；heevenforgottosmoke。
　　"What？"hecriedagain。"Thirty—fivehundred！Why，Iofferedyou——"
　　"Iknowyouroffer。Thisismine：Iwillsellyouthelandforthirty—fivehundred，andnotanothercent。That，asyousay，isthelimit。Youcantakeitor——orIwillfollowyoursuggestionandgetout。"
　　Welookedateachother。Hisfingersmovedtowardthematchboxonthetable。Hetookamatch，scratchedit，andheldittotheendofhiscigar。Thenhetookthecigarfromhislips，blewoutthematchandtossedthelatterintothefireplace。
　　"Whatisthesecondcondition？"heasked，abruptly。
　　"Thatyoupaymeincash，inmoneyandnotbycheck，atonce。"
　　"Atonce？Now，doyoumean？"
　　"Yes，now。To—nightifpossible；ifnot，nolaterthannineo’clockto—morrowmorning。"
　　"Humph！DoyouthinkIcarrythirty—fivehundredlooseinmychangepocket？"
　　"Idon’tknow。Butthatisthesecondcondition。"
　　"Humph！……Lookhere，Paine；what——？Iofferedyouthefivethousand。Thatofferholdsgood。"
　　"Idon’tacceptit。Iwillsellforthirty—fivehundred；nomoreandnoless。"
　　"Butwhynotmore？"
　　"Idon’tknow。Yes，Ido，too。Yousaidoncethatyouwerewillingtopayforty—fivehundredfortheprivilegeofhavingyourownway。PerhapsIamwillingtosacrificefifteenhundredfortheprivilegeofhavingmine。AtalleventsImeanwhatIsay。"
　　"Butwhyjustthirty—five？Wouldn’tyoutakethirty—six？"
　　"No。Itisuselesstoargue，Mr。Colton，anduselesstoaskmyreasons。Ihavethem，andthatisenough。WillyouacceptMY
　　offer？"
　　Hehesitated。Thesneerhadlefthisfaceandhistonewhenheaddressedmewasrespectful，thoughtherewasacuriousnoteofchagrinordissatisfactioninit。Ihadexpectedhimtobeeagerand，perhaps，mockinglytriumphant。Hewasnot。Heseemedreluctant，almostdisappointed。
　　"IsupposeI’llhaveto，"hesaid。"But，Paine，whatisup？Whyareyoudoingthis？You’renotafraidofme？No，ofcourseyou’renot。You’renotthekindtosquealandliedownbecauseyouthinktheoddsareagainstyou……Confoundyou！"withasuddenburstofimpatience，"youareenoughtoupsetalltheself—conceitaman’sgotinhim。JustasIthinkI’mbeginningtosizeyouupyoubreaklooseinanewplace。"
　　"Pardonme，"Iputin，"butIdon’tseethatyouarehelpingtosavethatvaluabletimeofyours。Iunderstandthatyouaccept。
　　Willyoupaymenow？"
　　Herose，threwawayhiscigar，and，withhishandsinhispockets，stoodregardingme。
　　"Yourmindismadeup，isit？"heasked。
　　"Yes。"
　　"Humph！HaveyouthoughtofwhatourmutualfriendDeanandtherestofthepatriotsmaysaywhentheyfindthisout？"
　　Ihadthoughtoflittleelseallthewayfromthebanktohisdoor。
　　Iwasthinkingofitthen。
　　"Ofcourse，"headded，"thatisnotmyaffair，but——"
　　"Itisnot。"
　　"You’reright；itisn’t。Still——hangitall，Paine！Idon’toftenfeelanycompunctionswhenIbeatafellowinagamelikethis，andIdidintendtohavemyownwayinthisone——"
　　"Well，you’rehavingit，aren’tyou？"Iputin。"Whytalksomuchaboutit？"
　　"BecauseIamnotsosureIamhavingit。OfcourseIcanseethat，forsomereasonorother，youneedthirty—fivehundreddollars。Anyonebutyou，iftheyweregoingtosell，wouldgetthelastdimetheycouldsqueeze。Youwon’t，becauseyouareaspig—
　　headedas——as——"
　　"Oh，docutitshort，"Isnapped。Andthen，atrifleashamedofmyrudeness，"Excuseme，Mr。Colton，butthisisn’texactlypleasantformeandIwanttogetitover。Willyoupaymenow？"
　　"Holdon；letmefinish。Iwasgoingtosaythat，ifyouneededthethirty—five，perhapsIcouldmanagetoletyouhaveit。"
　　Istaredathim。"Letmehaveit！"Icried。"Doyoumeanyou’lllendittome？"
　　"Why，yes，maybe。YouandIhavehadsuchafirst—rate，square，standupfightthatIratherhatetohaveitend。Iwanttolickyou，nothaveyouquitbeforeI’vereallybeguntofight。There’snofoolphilanthropyinthis，understand；itisjustformyownsatisfaction。"
　　IwassotakenabackbythistotallyunexpectedofferfromthemanwhomIhadinsultedadozentimessinceIenteredhishouse，thatI
　　founditalmostimpossibletoanswer。
　　"Whatdoyousay？"heasked。
　　"No，"Ifaltered。Andthenmorefirmly，"No；certainlynot。I——I
　　ammuchobligedtoyou，Mr。Colton，but——no。"
　　"Allright。Youknowbest。I’lltakeyourofferandIwillhandyouthemoneyatthebankto—morrowmorning。Willthatdo？"
　　"Notatthebank，Mr。Colton。Senditovertothehouse，ifyoucanconveniently。"
　　"I’llhaveitherebeforeten。Mylawyerwilldrawupthepapersandarrangefortransferoftitleinafewdays。What？Going，areyou？Goodnight。Oh——er——Paine，rememberthatmyotheroffer，thatoftheplaceinmyoffice，isopenwhenyou’rereadytotakeit。"
　　Ishookmyhead。Ihadturnedtogo，butnowIturnedback，feelingthat，perhaps，Ishouldapologizeagainformyrudeness。
　　Afterall，hehadbeenkind，verykind，andIhadscarcelythankedhim。SoIturnedbacktosaysomething，Ihardlyknewwhat。
　　Mydoingsowasamistake。Thedoorbehindmeopenedandavoicesaidreproachfully，"Father，areyoustillhere？Thedoctorsaid……Oh，Ibegpardon。"
　　Irecognizedthevoice。OfallvoicesintheworldIwishedleasttohearitjustthen。MybackwastowardthedoorandIkeptitso。Ifshewouldonlygo！Ifshewouldonlyshutthatdoorandgoaway！
　　Ithinkshewouldhavegonebutherfathercalledher。
　　"Mabel，"hecried，"Mabel，don’tgo。It’sallright。Comein。
　　PaineandIhavefinishedourtalk。Nothingmoreyouwishedtosay，wasthere，Paine？"
　　"No，"saidI。Iwasobligedtoturnnow；Icouldnotgetoutofthatroomwithoutdoingit。SoturnIdid，andwefacedeachother。
　　"Goodevening，MissColton，"Isaid，withallthecalmnessIcouldmuster。
　　Shesaid，"Goodevening，"distantlyandwithoutanyenthusiasm，butIsawherglanceatherfatherandthenatmeandIknewshewaswonderingwhatourbeingtogethercouldpossiblymean。
　　"Painehasbeenmakingmealittlecall，"explainedColton，hiseyetwinkling。"Mabel，I’llriskanotherbetthatyoucan’tguesswhyhecame。"
　　"Ishallnottry，"shesaid，disdainfully。
　　"Oh，you’dbetter！No？Youwon’t？Well，then，I’lltellyou。Hehasjustsoldmethatlandofhis……Don’tlookatmelikethat；hehas。Wehadalittledisagreementastoprice，but，"withagrin，"Imethisfiguresandweclosedthedeal。Aren’tyougoingtocongratulatehimonhavingcometohissensesatlast？
　　Come！he’swaitingforcongratulations。"
　　Thiswasnottrue。Iwaswaitingfornothing；Iwasonmywaytothedoor。But，toreachitIwasobligedtopassherandoureyesmet。Myglancewavered，Iknow，buthersdidnot。Foramomentshelookedatme。Thenshesmiled。WheneverIamtemptedtobevain，evennow，Irememberthatsmile。
　　"Icongratulatehim，"shesaid。"Come，Father；youmustgotobednow。"
　　CHAPTERXVII
　　Iamnotgoingtoattemptadescriptionofmythoughtsthatnight。
　　Itwouldtaketoolongandthedescriptionwouldbewearisome。
　　Otherpeople’smiseriesarenotinterestingandIshallnotcatalogmine。MorningcameatlastandIrose，bathedmyhotfaceincoldwater，andwentdownstairs。Earlyasitwas，notyetsix，IheardDorindainthekitchenand，havingnodesireforconversation，I
　　wentoutandwalkedupanddownthebeachuntilbreakfasttime。I
　　hadtopretendtoeat，butIatesolittlethatbothLuteandDorindaoncemorecommenteduponmylackofappetite。Lute，whohadneverbecomefullyreconciledtomybecomingamemberoftheworkingclass，hastenedtolaytheblameformyconditionuponmylaborsatthebank。
　　"Thetroubleis，"heannounced，dogmatically，"thetroubleis，Roscoe，thatyouain’tfittedforbein’shutupasternofadeck。
　　Lookatyourselfnow！JustgointoComfort’sroomandstandinfrontofherlookin’glassandlookatyourself。Thereyoube，paleandpeakedandworeout。LookforalltheworldjustasI
　　donewhenIhadthetonsilstwowintersago。Ain’tthatso，Dorindy？"
　　Hiswife’sanswerwasacontemptuoussniff。
　　"Ifyoumeantosaythatyoulookedpeakedwhenyouhadsorethroat，"sheannounced，"thenthere’ssomethin’thematterwithyourmindoryoureyesight，oneort’other。Youpeaked？Why，yourfacewasswelleduplikeayoungone’sballoonFourthofJulyDay。
　　Andasforbein’pale！Mysoul！IgiveyoumywordIcouldn’tscurcelytellwhereyourneckleftoffandthestripofredflannelyoumademetie’rounditbegun。"
　　"Don’tmakenodifference！IFELTpale，anyhow。AndIdidn’teatnomore’nRosdoes。You’llhavetogiveintothat，Dorindy。I
　　didn’teatnothin’butbeefteaandgruel。"
　　"Youetenoughofthemtofloataschooner。"
　　"MaybeIdid，"withgrieveddignity；"maybeIdid。Butthat’snoreasonwhyyoushouldsetthereandheavemysufferin’sinmyface。"
　　"Whatisthemantalkin’aboutnow？Ididn’theave’eminyourface。Theycometherethemselves，sameassorethroatsufferin’sgenerallydo，andifyouhadn’twadedaroundinthesnowwithleakyboots，becauseyouwastoolazytotake’emtotheshoemaker’stobepatched，theywouldn’t。"
　　Lutedrewbackfromthetable。"It’snouse！"hedeclared，"amancan’tevenbesickinpeaceinthishouse。Somewiveswouldhavebeensorrytoseetheirhusbandswithonefootinthegrave。"
　　"Yourfeetwasinthecookstoveovenmostofthetime。There！
　　there！themoreyoutalkthefurtherfromhomeyouget。YoustartedinwithRoscoeandthebankandyou’reinthegravealready。IfIwasyouI’dquitaforeIwentanyfurther。Landknowswhereyoumightfetchupifyoukepton！I……Mercyonus！who’satthekitchendoorthistimeinthemornin’？"
　　Herhusband，evercurious，wasonhiswaytoanswertheknockalready。Hecameback，amomentlater，sputteringwithexcitement。
　　"It’sthatMr。butler，theJohnsonovertoMr。Colton’s，"hewhispered。"Imeanit’sthatJutler——that——There，Dorindy！youseewhatsortofastateyourhectorin’hasworkedmeinto！It’sthatparsoncritterwhoopensColton’sdoorforhim，that’swho’tis。AndhewantstoseeRos。Itriedtofindoutwhatfor，buthewouldn’ttell。"
　　EvenDorindashowedsurprise。Shelookedattheclock，"Thishourofthemornin’！"sheexclaimed；"whatintheworld——？"
　　Ihastenedtothekitchen，closingthedining—roomdoorbehindmejustintimetopreventLute’sfollowingme。Johnson，thebutler，wasstandingonthemicaslabatthethresholdinspectingourhumblepremiseswithloftydisdain。
　　"Mr。Coltonsentthistoyou，sir，"hesaid，handingmeanenvelope。"Hewishesyoutosendareceiptbyme。"
　　Itooktheenvelopeand，steppingbackoutofsight，toreitopen。
　　InsidewasacheckonaNewYorkbankforfourthousanddollars。
　　Itwasmadepayableto"Bearer。"Withitwasthisbriefnote：
　　DearPaine：
　　ThisisthebestIcandoforyou，asIhaven’tthemoneyonhand。
　　Cashityourself，takeoutyourthirty—fivehundredandholdtheadditionalfivehundreduntilI，oroneofthefamily，callforit。
　　ImadethethingpayabletoBearerbecauseIimaginedyouwouldpreferitthatway。SendmesomesortofreceiptbyJohnson；
　　anythingwilldo。Iwillseemylawyerinadayortwo。Meanwhilehaveyourpapers，deeds，etc。，readywhenhecallsforthem。
　　Yourstruly，JAMESW。COLTON。
　　ForaminuteIconsidered。IfIcouldcashthecheckatthebankwithoutTaylor’sknowledgeandgethimofftoBostonontheearlytrain，Imightbeabletocovermytracks。Itwasnecessarythattheyshouldbecovered。KnowingGeorgeasIdidIknewthathewouldneverconsenttomysacrifice。HewouldnotpermitmetowreckmyfutureinDenborotosavehim。ThemoneymustbeturnedovertotheBostonbankersandthebank’sbondsoncemoreinthevaultwheretheybelongedbeforehelearnedwherethatmoneycamefrom。Thenitwouldbetoolatetorefuseandtoolatetoundowhathadbeendone。HewouldhavetoacceptandImightbeabletoprevailuponhimtokeepsilentregardingthewholeaffair。I
　　dislikedthecheckwithColton’snameuponit；Ishouldhavemuchpreferredthecash；butcash，itseemed，couldnotbehadwithoutconsiderabledelay，andwiththatbankexaminer’svisitimminenteverymomentoftimewasvaluable。Ifoldedthecheck，putitinmypocketbook，and，hastilyscribblingareceiptinpencilatthebottomofColton’snote，replacedthelatterintheenvelopeandhandedittoJohnson，whodeparted。
　　Enteringthedining—roomIfoundDorindaandLuteatthewindow，peeringafterthebutler。
　　"Bytime！"exclaimedLute，"ifIdidn’tknowIshouldsayhewasabiggerbig—bugthanoldColtonhimself。Lookhowhestruts！Hesartinisadignifiedlookin’man。Idon’tseehowheevercometobejusthiredhelp。"
　　"Um—hm，"sniffedthecynicalMrs。Rogers。"Well；youcangetanawfullotofdignityforitsboardandlodgin’！There’snothin’
　　muchmoredignifiedorstrutsmuchbetter’narooster，butit’sthehensthatlaytheeggs。Whatdidhewant，Roscoe？"
　　ImadesomeexcuseorotherforMr。Johnson’searlycalland，takingmycapfromtherack，hurriedfromthehouse。Iwent"acrosslots"and，runningagoodpartoftheway，reachedthebankjustasSamWheelerwassweepingout。Heexpressedsurpriseatmyearlyarrivalandwishedtoknowwhatwasup。
　　"Ain’tnothin’wrong，isthere，Ros？"askedSamanxiously。"Isawbythepaperthatthemarketwasfeverishagainyesterday。"
　　Samwasanambitiousyouthand，beingdesirousofbecomingabankerintheshortestpossibletime，readthefinancialpagewithconscientiousthoroughness。Iassuredhimthatthemarket’sfeverwasnotcontagious——atleastIhadnotcontractedthedisease——andsenthimouttosweepthefrontsteps。AssoonashehadgoneI
　　openedthesafe，found，tomyjoy，thatwehadanabundanceofcurrencyonhand，cashedtheColtoncheckandlockeditsecurelyinthedrawerofmyowndesk。SofarIwassafe。NowtosecureGeorge’ssafety。
　　Hecameinsoonafter，lookingasif，ashehadtoldme，hehadnotsleptforyears。HebadeSamgoodmorningandthenwalkedovertomyside。
　　"Well，Ros？"heasked，layingashakinghandonthedeskbesideme。
　　"Nothere，George，"Iwhispered。"Comeintothedirectors’room。"
　　Iledthewayandhefollowedme。Iclosedthedoorbehindus，tookthethirty—fivehundreddollarsinnotesfrommypocketandlaidthemonthetable。
　　"There’sthemoney，George，"Isaid。"Nowyou’vegotjusttimeenoughtocatchthatnineo’clocktrainforBoston。"
　　Ithought，foramoment，hewasgoingtocollapsealtogether。Thenhepounceduponthemoney，counteditwithfingersthattrembledsohecouldscarcelycontrolthem，andturnedtome。
　　"Ros——Ros——"hestammered。"Wheredidyou——howdidyou——GreatGod，man！I——I——"
　　"There！there！"Iinterrupted。"ItoldyouIwasn’tapauperexactly。Putthatwhereyouwon’tloseitandclearout。Youhaven’tanytimetoargue。"
　　"But——but，Ros，Ihadn’toughttotakethisfromyou。Idon’tseewhereyougotitand——"
　　"That’smybusiness。Willyougo？"
　　"Idon’tknowasIevercanpayyou。LordknowsI’lltryallmylife，but——"
　　Iseizedhisarm。"George，"Iurged，impatiently，"youfool，don’twastetime。Getthattrain，doyouhear！Thosebondsmustbeinthatsafebynight。Go！"
　　Thementionofthebondsdidwhatmyurginghadfailedtodo。Hecrammedthebillsintohispocketbook，thrustthelatterintoaninsidepocket，andrushedfromtheroom。Ifollowedhimasfarastheouterdoor。Hewasrunninguptheroadlikeawildman。Samstaredafterhim。
　　"Formercysakes！"hecried，"what’sthematterwiththeboss？Hashegoneloony？"
　　"No，"Isaid，turningbacktomydesk；"he’ssaneenough，Iguess。
　　He’safterthetrain。"
　　"Ishouldthinkhewasaftersomethin’。Didyouseethefacehehadonhim？Ifheain’tcrazythenyouandIare，that’sallI’vegottosay。"
　　"Allright，Sam，"Ianswered，drawingalongbreath，"perhapsthat’sit。PerhapsyouandIarethecrazyones——oneofus，atanyrate。"
　　AllthatdayIworkedhard。Ididnotgohomeforlunch，butsentSamovertoEldredge’sstoreforcannedhamandcrackerswhichI
　　ateatmydesk。Itwasafairlybusyday，fortunately，andIcouldalwaysfindsometasktooccupymymind。Lutecalled，attwoo’clock，toinquirewhyIhadnotbeenhomeandItoldhimthatTaylorwasawayandIshouldbelateforsupper。Hedeparted，shakinghishead。
　　"It’sjustasIsaid，"hedeclared，"you’reworkin’yourselfsick，that’swhatyou’redoin’。You’regrowin’foolishintheheadaboutwork，justthesameasDorindy。AndYOUdon’tneedto；you’vegotmoneyenough。IfIhadindependentmeanssameasyou’vegotItellyouI’dhavemoresense。Onesickinvalidinthefamily’senough，ain’tit？"
　　"Nodoubt，Lute，"Ireplied。"Atalleventsyoumusttakecareofyourhealth。Don’tYOUworkyourselfsick。"
　　Luteturnedonme。"Itrynotto，"hesaid，seriously；"Itrynotto，butit’sahardjob。Youknowwhatthatwifeofmineiscal’latin’tohavemedonext？Washthehenhousewindow！Yessir！washthewindowso’sthehenscanlookatthescenery，I
　　presumelikely。Isaystoher，saysI，’ThatbeatsanyfoolishnesseverIheard！Nextthingyou’llwantmetoputdownacarpetinthepigsty，won’tye？Youwouldifwekeptapig，Iknow。’"
　　"Whatdidshesaytothat？"Iinquired。
　　"Oh，thelandknows！Somethin’aboutkeepin’onepigbein’troubleenough。Ididn’tpaymuchattention。ButIshan’twashnohen’swindow，nowyoucanbetonthat！"
　　Ishouldn’thavebetmuchonit。Hewentaway，tospendthenexthourinapoliticaldebateatEldredge’s，andIwroteletters，needlesslylongones。ClosingtimecameandSamwenthome，leavingmetolockup。Thetrainwasdueatsix—twenty，butitwasnearlysevenbeforeIhearditwhistleatthestation。Istoodatthefrontwindowlookinguptheroadandwaiting。
　　Iwaitedonlyafewminutes，buttheywerelongones。ThenIsawGeorgecoming，notrunningthistime，butwalkingwithrapidstrides。Thecrowd，waitingonthepost—officesteps，shoutedathimbuthepaidnoattention。Hesprangupthestepsandenteredthebank。Isteppedforwardandseizedhishand。Onelookathisfacewasenough；hehadthebonds，Iknewit。
　　"Ros，youhere！"heexclaimed。"Isitallright？Theexaminerhasn’tshowedup？"
　　"No，"Ianswered。"Youhavethem，George？"
　　"Rightinmypocket，thanktheLord——andyou，RosPaine。JustletmegetthemintothatsafeandI——What！You’renotgoing？"
　　"Yes，I’mgoing。Icongratulateyou，George。Iamasgladasyouare。Goodnight。"
　　"ButRos，Iwanttotellyouaboutit。Iwanttothankyouagain。
　　Inevershallforget……Ros，holdon！"
　　ButIwasalreadyatthedoor。"Goodnight，"Icalledagain，andwentout。Iwentstraighthome，atesupper，spentahalfhourwithMother，andthenwenttomyroomandtobed。Theexcitementwasover，forgoodorbadthethingwasdonebeyondrecall，andI
　　suddenlyrealizedthatIwasverytired。Ifellasleepalmostimmediatelyandsleptsoundlyuntilmorning。Iwastootiredeventothink。
　　Ihadplentyoftimetothinkduringthefortnightwhichfollowedandtherewasenoughtothinkabout。ThelawyercameandthepapersweresignedtransferringtoJamesW。ColtonthestripoflandoverwhichDenborohadexciteditselfformonths。EachdayI
　　satatmydeskexpectingCaptainDeanandadelegationofindignantcitizenstorushinanddenouncemeasatraitorandaturncoat。
　　EverytimeSamWheelermetmeatmyarrivalatthebankIdreadedtolookhimintheface，fearingthathehadlearnedofmyactionandwaswaitingtoquestionmeaboutit。Inspiteofallmyboastsandsolemnvowsnottopermit"BigJim"ColtontoobtaintheShoreLaneIhadsoldittohim；hecould，anditwastobeexpectedthathewould，closeitatonce；Denborowouldmakeitsjustdemanduponmeforexplanations，explanationswhich，forGeorgeandNellie’ssake，Icouldnotgive；andafterthatthedeluge。IwassittingoverapowdermineandIbracedmyselffortheexplosion。
　　Buthoursanddayspassedandnoexplosioncame。ThefishcartsrattleddowntheLanewithouthindrance。ExceptforthelittleflurryofexcitementcausedbythecomingweddingattheDeanhomesteadthevillagelifemovedonitslazy，uneventfuljog。I
　　couldnotunderstandit。WhydidColtondelay？He，whoseoneobjectinlifewastohavehisownway，haditoncemore。Nowthathehaditwhydidn’themakeuseofit？Whywasheholdingback？
　　Outofpityforme？Ididnotbelieveit。Muchmorelikelythathisdaughter，whoseprideIhaddaredtooffend，hadtakentheaffairinherhandsandthisagonyofsuspensewasapreliminarytorture，apartofmypunishmentforpresumingtoactcontrarytoherimperialwill。
　　Isawheroccasionally，althoughItriedmybestnottodoso。
　　OncewepassedeachotheronthestreetandIstubbornlykeptmyheadturnedintheotherdirection。Iwouldrisknomorelookssuchasshehadgivenmewhen，inresponsetoherfather’swould—behumoroussuggestion，shehadofferedmeher"congratulations。"
　　Once，too，Isawheronthebay，IwasaboardtheComfort，havingjustanchoredafterashortcruise，andshewentbyinthecanoe，hernewestplaything，whichhadarrivedbyfreightafewdaysbefore。AcanoeinDenboroBaywasadistinctnovelty；probablynotsincethedaysoftheIndianshadoneofthelight，gracefullittlevesselsfloatedthere，andthisonecarriedmuchcommentamongtheoldsaltsalongshore。Itwasthegeneralopinionthatitwasnocraftforsaltwater。
　　"Themthings，"saidZebKendrick，sagely，"areallrightforpondsorriversorcrickswherethereain’tnotidenorsearunnin’。
　　Floatanywhereswherethere’saheavydew，theysaytheywill。Butnodarterofmineshouldgooutpasttheflatsinoneof’emifI
　　hadthesay。It’stoobigarisk。"
　　"Yup；well，Zeb，youain’tgotthesay，Ical’late，"observedThophNewcomb。"Andittakesmore’nsaytogetaskifflikethatone。
　　Theytellmethemetalworkaboardherissilver—plated——silverorgold，Iain’tsurewhich。Wondertheoldmandidn’tmakeitsolidgoldwhilehewasaboutit。He’ddoanythingforthatgirlifsheaskedhimto。Andshesartindoeshandleitlikeabird！Shewentbymydoryt’othermornin’andIswantomanifsheandthecanoetogetherwan’tasightforsoreeyes。Isetandwatchedherfortwentyminutes。"
　　"Um——ye—es，"gruntedZeb。"Andthenyouchargedthetwentyminutesinagainsttheday’sworkquahaugin’youwassupposedtobedoin’
　　forme，Isuppose。"
　　"Youcantakeoutthetencentswhenyoupayme——ifyoueverdo，"
　　saidNewcomb，gallantly。"’Twaswuthmore’nthatjusttolookather。"
　　ThetimehadbeenwhenIshouldhaveagreedwithThoph。Sittinginthecanoe，bare—headed，herhairtossinginthebreeze，andherroundedarmsswingingthelightpaddle，shewasasightforsoreeyes，doubtless。Butitwasnotmyeyeswhichweresore，justthen。Iwatchedherforamomentandthenbentovermyengine。I
　　didnotlookupagainuntilthecanoehaddisappearedbeyondtheColtonwharf。
　　IdidnottellMotherthatIhadsoldtheland。Iintendedtodoso；eachmorningIrosewithmymindmadeuptotellher，andalwaysIputoffthetellinguntilsomeothertime。Iknew，ofcourse，thatsheshouldbetold；thatIoughttotellherratherthantohaveherlearnthenewsfromothersasshecertainlywouldatalmostanymoment，butIknew，too，thateventoherIcouldnotdisclosemyreasonforselling。ImustkeepGeorge’ssecretashehadkeptmineandtaketheconsequenceswithaclosemouthandasmuchofmyoldindifferencetopublicopinionasIcouldmuster。
　　ButIrealized，onlytoowell，thattheindifferencewhichhadoncebeenrealwasnowonlypretense。
　　IhavesaidverylittleaboutGeorgeTaylor’sgratitudetome，norhisappreciationofwhatIhaddoneforhim。ThepoorfellowwouldhavetalkedofnothingelseifIhadlethim。
　　"You’vesavedmygoodnameandmylife，Ros，"hesaid，overandoveragain，"andnotonlymylife，butwhatisamightysightmoreworthsaving，Nellie’shappiness。Idon’tknowhowyoudidit；I
　　believeyetthatthereissomethingbehindallthis，thatyou’rekeepingsomethingfromme。Ican’tseehow，consideringallyou’vesaidtomeaboutyournotbeingwell—off，yougotthatmoneysoquick。ButIknowyoudon’twantmetotalkaboutit。"
　　"Idon’t，George，"Isaid。"AllIaskofyouisjusttoforgetthewholething。"
　　"Forget！Ishan’tforgetwhileIlive。And，assoonaseverIcanscrapeittogether，I’llpayyoubackthatloan。"
　　Hehadkepthisword，sofarastellingNellieofhisfinancialconditionwasconcerned。Hehadnot，ofcourse，toldherofhisuseofthebankbonds，buthehad，ashesaidhewould，toldherthat，inallprobability，heshouldbeleftwithnothingbuthissalary。
　　"Itoldhershewasfreetogivemeup，"hesaid，withemotion，"andwhatdoyousupposeshesaidtome？Thatshewouldmarrymeifsheknewshemustliveinthepoorhousetherestofherdays。
　　Yes，andbehappy，solongaswecouldbetogether。Well，Iain’tworthit，andItoldherso，butI’lldomybesttobeworthsomething；andsheshan’thavetoliveinthepoorhouseeither。"
　　"Idon’tthinkthere’smuchdangerofthat，"Isaid。"And，bytheway，George，yourLouisvilleandTranscontinentalspeculationmaynotbeallloss。Youmaysavesomethingoutofit。Therehasbeenconsiderabletradinginthestockduringthepasttwodays。Itisuphalfapointalready，accordingtothepapers。Didyounoticeit？"
　　"Yes，Inoticedit。ButItellyou，Ros，Idon’tcare。I’llbegladtogetsomeofmymoneyback，ofcourse；enoughtopayyouandCap’nElishaanyhow；butI’msohappytothinkthatNellieneedneverknowIwasathiefthatIdon’tseemtocaremuchforanythingelse。"
　　Nelliewashappy，too。Shecametomeandtoldmeofherhappiness。
　　ItwasallonGeorge’saccount，ofcourse。
　　"Thepoorfellowhadlostmoneyininvestments，"shesaid，"andhethoughtIwouldnotcareforhimifIfoundouthewaspoor。Heisn’tpoor，ofcourse，butifhewasitwouldmakenodifferencetome。IamsogladtoseehimwithoutthatdreadfulworriedlookonhisfacethatI——I——Oh，youmustthinkmeawfulsilly，Roscoe！I