Mycalmaffirmativeseemedtoastonishhim。Ithinkheexpectedadenial。Hishandleftthedoorknobandhesteppedtowardme。
　　"You——HAVE！"hecried。"Youdon’teventakethetroubleto——Youhavethefacetostandthereandtellme——"
　　Healmostchoked。
　　"CaptainDean，"Iinterrupted，quickly，"waitamoment。Listentome。IhavesoldColtontheland。Ididnotintendsellingitatall，leastofalltohim，butcircumstancescompelledmetochangemymind。IdiditbecauseIwasobligedto。Itisdone。IamsorryIhadtodoit，but，underthesameconditions，Ishoulddoitagain。Iamnotashamed。"
　　Heleanedforward，steadyinghimselfwithahanduponthetable，andstaredatme。
　　"Youain’tashamed？"herepeated。"Youain’tashamed！Why，you——
　　Didn’tyoutellmeyou’dneversellthatland？Didn’tyoupromiseme？"
　　"Ididnotpromiseanything。AtfirstIpromisednottosellwithoutlettingyouknowofmyintention。AfterwardItookbackthatpromise。"
　　"Butwhydidyousell？Yousaiditwan’taquestionofpriceatall。Youmadeyourbragsthatitwan’t！Tome，overandover，youmade’em。Andthenyousneakoffand——"
　　"Stop！Ididthinkitwasnotaquestionofprice。ThenIfoundoutthatitwas。"
　　Heclenchedhisfist。
　　"Damnyou！"heshouted，furiously。"Youliar！Yousneak！AfterI——"
　　"Thatisenough，Captain。Thishasgonefarenough。Ihavesoldtheland——forwhatseemedtomeagoodreason——andyourcallingmenameswillnotchangethesituation。Idon’tcaretohearthem。
　　Youhadbettergo。"
　　"WHAT？"
　　"Isayyouhadbettergo。"
　　"_I_go？You’llputmeout？"
　　"No，certainlynot。Butthereisnothingtobegainedbyaquarrel，andso，forbothoursakes，Ithinkyouhadbettergoaway。"
　　ForamomentIthoughthewouldstrikeme。Thenhisfistfellheavilyuponthetable。Hislipswerequiveringlikethoseofaninfirmperson。Helookedold，andIhadneverbeforeconsideredhimanoldman。
　　"Whatmadeyoudoit？"hecried，desperately。"Whatmadeyoudoit？Isitallsettled？Can’tyoubackout？"
　　"No。"
　　"But——butwhydidn’tyouselltome——tothetown？Ifyouhadtosellwhydidn’tyoudothat？Whydidyougotohim？"
　　"BecausehewouldpaymewhatIneeded；becausehispricewashigherthananyyouorthetowncouldoffer。"
　　"Howdidyouknowthat？Myheavensabove！I’dhavepaid——I’dhavepaidmostanything——outofmyownpocket，Iwould。Itellyouthismeanteverythingtome。I’mgettin’alonginyears。Iain’tbeenanytoowelllikedhereinDenboro，andIknewit。Youthinkthatdidn’tmakenodifferencetome，maybeIpretendeditdidn’t，butitdid；bytheAlmighty，itdid！Iintendedforfolkstobethankfultomefor——I——Oh，WHYdidyoudoit，Ros？"
　　Ishookmyhead。Iwassorryforhimnow——sorryandastonished。
　　HehadgivenmeaglimpseoftherealJedediahDean，notthepompous，loud—voicedtownpoliticianandboss，butthemandesirousoffightinghiswayintotheesteemandlikingofhisneighbors。
　　"I’msorry，Captain，"Isaid。"IfIhadknown——ifIhadhadtimetothink，perhapsImighthaveacteddifferently。ButIhadnotime。IfoundthatImusthavethemoneywhichthatlandwouldbringandthatIhadtohaveitimmediately。SoIwentwhereI
　　knewIcouldgetit。"
　　"Money？Youneededmoney？Whydidn’tyoucometome？I’dhavelentittoyou。"
　　"You？"
　　"Yes，me。Whatdoyoucal’lateI’vebeenbackin’youallthissummerfor？WhatdidIgetyouthatjobinmybankfor？"
　　"YOU？GeorgeTaylorengagedmeforthatplace。"
　　"Maybeso。Butdoyousupposehediditonhisownhook？HE
　　couldn’thireyouunlessthedirectorssaidsoandthedirectorsdon’tsayanything，themajorityof’em，unlessIsayitfirst。
　　_I_putthenotioninGeorge’shead。Hedidn’tknowit，butIdid。
　　AndIputitinthedirectors’heads，too。RosPaine，Ialwayslikedyou，thoughIdidusetothinkyouwasagentlemanloafer。
　　Therewasasomethin’aboutyoueventhen，akindofhands—off，mindyourownbusinessindependenceaboutyouthatIliked，thoughIknewmightywellyouneverlikedme。AndafteryouandmegottogetheronthisLanethingIlikedyoumoreandmore。Youcouldtellmetogotothedevilaswellasyoucouldanybodyelse，andI’llshakehandswithafellerthat’lldothat。Ialwayswantedaboyofmyown。Nellie’sagoodgirl，nobetterafloatorashore，butsheisagirl。Georgeisagoodfeller，too，butsomehow，or’nother，I’dcometothinkofyouasthekindofsonI’dhavehad，iftheAlmightyhadgivemeone。Oh，whatdidyoudothisfor？"
　　Icouldnotanswer。Hehadoverwhelmedme。Ineverfeltmeanerormorewicked。Ihadbeenreadytofacehim，readyfortheinterviewwithhimwhichIknewwasinevitableandwhichIhadforeseen，butnotthiskindofaninterview。
　　Hetookhishandfromthetableandstooderect。
　　"Money！"hesaid。"Youwantedmoney。Youmusthavewanteditbad。
　　Whatdidyouwantitfor？"
　　"Ican’ttellyou。"
　　"Youhadbetter。It’syouronlychance，Itellyouthat！"
　　"Ican’thelpit，CaptainDean。Ican’ttellyou。IwishI
　　could。"
　　Heregardedmeinsilenceforamoment。Then："Allright，"hesaid，solemnly。"I’mthroughwithyou，RosPaine。InonewayI’mthroughwithyou。InanotherIain’t。Ical’lateyouwasfiggerin’togostraightuptothebank，asboldasbrass，andsetdownatGeorgeTaylor’sdeskanddrawyourwageslikeanhonestman。Don’tyoueverdaresetfootinthatbankagain。You’refired！bounced！kickedout！Doyouunderstand？"
　　"Verywell；Iunderstand。"
　　"Youwillunderstand，whetheryoudonowornot。Colton’sgottheShoreLaneandyou’vegothisdirtymoneyinyourpocket。He’spaidyou，butthetownain’t。Thetownyousoldoutain’tpaidyou——butI’mgoin’toseethatitdoes。RosPaine，I’mgoin’todriveyououtofDenboro。"
　　Heturnedonhisheel，strodetothedoor，wentout，andslammeditbehindhim。
　　Iwentbacktothedining—room。Lutewasnowhereinsight，butDorindawasstandingbythemantel，dusting，asusual，wheretherewasnodust。Ididnotspeakbutwalkedtowardthedoorleadingtothestairs。Dorindasteppedinfrontofme。
　　"Roscoe，"shesaid，sharply，"canhedoit？"
　　"Doit？"Irepeated。"Whatdoyoumean？"
　　"Canhegiveyouyourwalkin’papersatthatbank？Oh，Iheardhim！Itriednotto，butheholleredsoIcouldn’thelpit。Thatkitchendoorain’tmuchthicker’nasheetofpaper，anyhow。Canhedoit？"
　　"Iguessso。Heseemstobebossofthatinstitution。"
　　"Butcan’t’LishaWarrenorsomeoftheotherdirectorshelpyou？
　　JedDeandon’tboss’LishaWarren——notmuch。"
　　"Ishan’taskforhelp。Pleasedon’ttroubleme，Dorinda。"
　　Itriedtopassher，butshewouldnotpermitit。
　　"Ishan’ttroubleyou，Ros，"shesaid。"Iguessyou’vegottroublesenoughwithoutme。Butyouletmeaskyouthis：Areyougoin’tolethimdriveyououtoftown？"
　　Ishruggedmyshoulders。"Itmaynottakemuchdriving，"I
　　announced，listlessly，"ifitwerenotforMotherIshouldbeonlytoogladtogo。"
　　AgainItriedtopass，butthistimesheseizedmyarm。
　　"RoscoePaine，"shecried，"don’tyoutalklikethat。Idon’twanttohearanotherwordlikethat。Don’tyouletJedDeanornobodyelsedriveyououtofDenboro。Youain’tdonenothin’tobeashamedof，haveyou？"
　　"IsoldthatlandtoMr。Colton。Idon’tknowhowCaptainJedfounditout，butitistrueenough；IdidexactlywhathesaidI
　　did。"
　　"Foundout！HefoundoutfromsomebodyovertoOstablewherethedeedwasrecorded，thatishowhefoundout。Hesaidso。ButI
　　don’tcareforthat。AndIdon’tcareifyousoldtheLanetentimesover。Youdidn’tdoitforanymeanorselfishreason，thatIknow。Thereain’taselfishboneinyourbody，Roscoe。I’velivedalongwithyoualltheseyearsandIknow。Nobodythatwasmeanorselfishwouldgiveuptheirchancesinlifeandstayhereinthisone—hosstownbecausehismawassickandhadtookanotionthatshecouldn’tbeartopartwithhim。Don’tyoumindJedDean——
　　pig—headedoldthing！——oranybodyelseinDenboro。Holdupyourheadandshow’emyoudon’tcareforthewholecaboodleof’em。
　　Let’emtalkandactlikefools，iftheywantto。Itcomesnaturaltomostof’em，Ical’late，andthey’llbesorrysomeday。Don’tyoulet’emdriveyouout。Theywon’tcomeinsideTHIShousewiththeirtalk，notwhileI’mhere，Itellyouthat！"
　　Hereyes，behindthebrass—rimmedspectacles，flashedfire。ThiswasthelongestspeechIhadeverheardhermake。
　　"There，Dorinda，"Isaid，smiling，"don’tworryonmyaccount。I’mnotworthit。And，whateverIdo，IshallseethatyouandLuteareprovidedfor。"
　　Insteadofcalmingherthisstatementseemedtohavetheexactlyoppositeeffect。
　　"Stopit！"shesnapped。"Theidea！Doyousupposeit’sformyselfI’mtalkin’thiswaytoyou？Iguess’tain’t！Mysoul！I’lllookoutformyself，andLute，too，long’sI’mabletowalk；andwhenI
　　can’twalk’twillbebecauseI’vestoppedbreathin’。It’sforyouI’mtalkin’，foryouandComfort。Thinkofher。"
　　Isighed。"Ihavebeenthinkingofher，Dorinda，"Ideclared。
　　"Shedoesn’tknowawordaboutthis。"
　　"Thentellher。"
　　"Ican’ttellhermyreasonforselling，anymorethanIcantellyou——orDean。"
　　"Tellherwhatyoucan，then。Tellherasmuchofthetruthasyoucan。She’llsayyoudoneright，ofcourse。Whateveryoudoisrighttoher。"
　　Imadenoreply。Sheregardedmekeenly。
　　"Roscoe，"shewenton，"doyouWANTtogosomewhereselse？"
　　"Idon’tknow，Dorinda。Imightaswellbehereasanywhere，perhaps。Iamratherblueanddiscouragedjustnow，that’sall。"
　　"Ican’tblameyoumuch。Butbein’discourageddon’tdoanygood。
　　Besides，it’salwaysdarkestjustaforedawn，theysay；anyhow，I’vehadthatpreachedtomeeversinceIwasagirlandI’vetriedtobelieveitthroughagoodmanycloudyspells。Roscoe，don’tyouletoldJedoranybodyDRIVEyououtofDenboro，but，ifyouWANT
　　togo——ifyouthinkyou’doughttogo，toearnmoneyoranything，don’tyouworryaboutleavin’Comfort。I’lllookoutforheraswellasifshewasmyown。Rememberthat。"
　　Ilaidmyhandonhers。"Thankyou，"Isaid，earnestly。"Dorinda，youareagoodwoman。"
　　Tomysurprisetheeyesbehindthespectaclesbecamemisty。TearsinDorinda’seyes！Whenshespokeitwasin，forher，acuriouslyhesitatingtone。
　　"Roscoe，"shefaltered，"Iwonderifyou’dbecrossifIaskedaboutwhatwan’tanyofmybusiness。I’moldenoughtobeyourgrandma，prettynigh，soI’mgoin’toriskit。Youusedtobeindependentenough。Youneverusedtocareforthetownoranybodyinit。Latelyyou’vechanged。Changedinagoodmanyways。Issomethin’besidesthisLaneaffairfrettin’you？Issomebodyfrettin’you？Areyouworriedabout——thatone？"
　　Shehadcaughtmeunawares。Ifeltthebloodtingleinmycheeks。
　　Itriedtolaughandmadeafailureoftheattempt。
　　"Thatone？"Irepeated。"I——Why，Idon’tunderstand，Dorinda。"
　　"Don’tyou？Well，ifyoudon’tthenI’mjusttalkin’silly，that’sall。Ifyoudo，I……Humph！Imighthaveknownit！"
　　Sheturnedlikeashotandjerkedthedooropen。Therewasarattle，aseriesofthumps，andacrash。Lutewassprawlingupontheflooratourfeet。Igazedathiminopen—mouthedastonishment。
　　Dorindasniffedscornfully。
　　"Imighthaveknownit，"sherepeated。"Sittin’onthestairsthere，listenin’，wan’tyou？"
　　Luteraisedhimselftohisknees。
　　"Ithink，"hepanted，"I——Iswan！Ishouldn’twonderifI’dbrokemyleg！"
　　"Um—hm！Well，ifyou’dbrokeyourneck’twouldn’thavebeennomore’nyoudeserve。Shameonyou！Sneakin’thing！"
　　"Now，Dorindy，I——Iwan’tlistenin’。Iwasjust——"
　　"Don’ttalktome。Don’tyouopenyourmouth。AndifyouopenittoanybodyelseaboutwhatyouheardI’ll——IdeclareI’llshutyouupinthedarkclosetandkeepyouthere，asifyouwasthreeyearold。SometimesIthinkyourheadain’tanyolderthanthat。Gorightoutofthishouse。"
　　"Butwhere’llIgo？"
　　"Idon’tcarewhereyougo。Onlydon’tletmeseteyesonyoutilldinnertime。March！"
　　Lutebackedawayassheadvanced，wavingbothhishandsandpleadingandexpostulating。
　　"Dorindy，Itellyou……WHATmakesyousounlikely？……I
　　wasjust……Allrightthen，"desperately，"I’llgo！Andifyouneverseteyesonmeagain’twon’tbemyfault。You’llbesorrythen。Ifyouneverseemenomoreyou’llbesorry。"
　　"I’llseteyesonyouatdinnertime。Iain’tafraidofthat。
　　Git！"
　　Shefollowedhimtothekitchenandthenreturned。
　　"Ahhum！"shesighed，"it’sprettyhardtorememberthataboutdarkestjustaforedawnwhenyouhaveaburdenlikethatonyourshoulderstolugthroughlife。It’snightmostofthetimethen。
　　Poorcritter！hemeanswellenough，too。Andoncehewasalikelyenoughyoungfeller，thoughshiftless，eventhen。Buthehadalongspelloffeverthreeyearafterwewasmarriedandhe’sneverbeengoodformuchsince。Itrytorememberthat，andtobepatientwithhim，butit’saprettyhardjobsometimes。"
　　Shesighedagain。IhadoftenwonderedhowawomanofhersensecouldhavemarriedLutherRogers。Nowshewastellingme。
　　"Ineverreallycaredforhim，"shewenton，lookingtowardthedoorthroughwhichthediscomfitedeavesdropperhadmadehisexit。
　　"TherewassomebodyelseIdidcarefor，butheandIquarreled，andItookLutheroutofspiteandbecausemyfolkswantedmeto。
　　I’vepaidforitsince。Roscoe，"earnestly，"Roscoe，ifyoucareforanybodyandshecaresforyou，don’tletanythingkeepyouapart。Ifshe’sworthamillionorfiftycentsthatdon’tmakeanydifference。Itshouldn’tbeamatterofherfolksoryourfolksormoneyorprideoranythingelse。It’samatterforjustyouandher。Andifyouloveeachother，that’senough。Itellyouso，andIknow。"
　　Iwasmoreastonishedthanever。Icouldscarcelybelievethatthiswasthedry，practicalDorindaRogerswhohadkepthouseforMotherandmealltheseyears。Andwithmyastonishmentwereotherfeelings，feelingswhichwarnedmethatIhadbettermakemyescapebeforeIwastrappedintobetrayingthatwhich，allthewayhomefromMackerelIsland，Ihadbeenswearingnooneshouldeverknow。
　　Iwouldnotevenadmitittomyself，muchlesstoanyoneelse。
　　IdidnotlookatDorinda，andmyanswertoherlongspeechwasasindifferentandcarelessasIcouldmakeit。
　　"Thankyou，Dorinda，"Isaid。"I’llrememberyouradvice，ifI
　　everneedit，whichisn’tlikely。NowImustgotomyroomandchangemyclothes。Thesearetoobadlywrinkledtobebecoming。"
　　WhenIcamedown，afteranabsenceofhalfanhour，shewassittingbythewindow，sewing。
　　"Comfort’swaitin’toseeyou，Roscoe，"shesaid。"I’vetoldherallaboutit。"
　　"YOU’VEtoldher——what？"Idemanded，inamazement。
　　"Aboutyoursellin’theLaneandlosin’yourjob，andsoon。Don’tlookatmelikethat。’Twastheonlycommon—sensethingtodo。
　　She’dheardoldLeather—Lungswhoopin’outthereinthekitchenandshe’dheardyouandmetalkin’hereinthedinin’—room。Ihopedshewasasleep，butshewan’t。Afteryouwentupstairsshecalledformeandwantedtoknowthewholestory。ItoldherwhatIknewofit。Nowyoucantellhertherest。ShetakesitjustasIknewshewould。Youdoneitandsoit’sallright。"
　　"Roscoe，isthatyou？"
　　ItwasMothercallingme。Iwentintothedarkenedroomandsatdownbesidethebed。
　　SheandIhadmuchtosaytoeachother。ThistimeIkeptbacknothing，exceptmyreasonforsellingtheland。Itoldherfranklythatthatreasonwasasecret，andthatitmustremainasecret，evenfromher。
　　"Ihatetosaythattoyou，Mother，"Itoldher。"Youdon’tknowhowIhateit。IwouldtellyouifIcould。"
　　Shepressedmyhand。"Iknowyouwould，Roscoe，"shesaid。"Iamquitecontentnottoknow。Thatyourreasonforsellingwasanhonorableone，thatisallIask。"
　　"Itwasthat，Mother。"
　　"Iamsureofit。But，"hesitatingly，"canyoutellmethis：Youdidnotdoitbecauseyouneededmoney——forme？Ourincomeisthesameasever？Wehavenotmetwithlosses？"
　　"No，Mother。Ourincomeisthesamethatithasbeenforyears。"
　　"Thenitwasnotbecauseofme；becauseyoufeltthatIshouldhavethose’luxuries’youtalkaboutsooften？Oh，Idon’tneedthem，RoscoeIreallydon’t。Iam——Iscarcelydaresayitforfearitmaynotbetrue——butITHINKIambetterthanIhavebeen。Ifeelstronger。"
　　"Iknowyouarebetter，Mother。DoctorQuimbyisverymuchencouraged。"
　　"Ishe？Iamsoglad！Foryoursake，Boy。PerhapsthetimewillcomewhenImaynotbeyourOldManOftheSeaasIamnow。Butyoudidnotsellthelandbecauseofme？"
　　"No。"
　　"Youdidnotsellitforyourself，thatIknow。Iwonder……
　　But，there！Imustn’twonder，andIwon’t。CaptainDeanwasveryangryandunreasonable，Dorindasays。Isupposehisprideishurt。
　　I’mafraidhewillmakeitunpleasantforyouinthevillage。"
　　"Hewilldohisbest，I’msureofthat。"
　　"Youpoorboy！Asifyoudidnothaveenoughtobearwithoutthat！
　　Hehasaskedyoutoresignfromthebank？"
　　Ismiled。"Hehaspitchedmeout，neckandcrop，"Ianswered。"I
　　expectedthat，ofcourse。"
　　"Butwhatwillyoudo？Can’tMr。Taylorhelpyou？Perhapshewillusehisinfluencewiththecaptain。"
　　"Idon’tneedhisinfluence，Mother。Itooktheplacemerelybecauseofawhim。NowthatIhavelostitIamnoworseoffthanIwasbefore。"
　　"Butyouenjoyedthework？"
　　"Yes。"
　　IwasonlybeginningtorealizehowmuchIhadenjoyedit。I
　　sighed，involuntarily。
　　Motherheardthesighandthepressureofherhandonminetightened。
　　"Poorboy！"shesaidagain。Then，afteramoment，"IwishImighttalkwithMissColtonaboutthis。"
　　Istartedviolently。Whathadputthatideainherhead？
　　"MissColton！"Iexclaimed。"Mother，whateveryoudo，don’tspeaktoher——aboutme。"
　　"Whynot？Shehasnotcalledonusforsometime，butsheisinterestedinyou，Iknow。Andperhapsherfathercould——"
　　"Mother，don’t。"
　　Shewassilentforaninstant。Thenshesaid，quietly。"Boy，whatisit？Istheresomethingelseyouhaven’ttoldme？Somethingabout——her？"
　　"No，no，"Istammered。
　　"Isn’tthere？Areyousure？"
　　IdonotknowwhatreplyIshouldhavemade。Herquestion，comingsocloseupontheheelsofDorinda’shints，upsetmecompletely。
　　Wasitwrittenuponmyface，foreveryonetosee？DidIlooktheincredibleidiotthatIknewmyselftobe？ForIdidknowit。Inspiteofmydeterminationnottoadmititeveninmyinnermostthoughts，Iknew。IwasinlovewithMabelColton——madly，insanely，hopelesslyinlovewithher，andshouldbeuntilmydyingday。
　　Ihadplayedwithfiretoolong。
　　BeforeIcouldanswertherecameaknockatthedoor。ItopenedandDorinda’sheadappeared。Sheseemed，forher，excited。
　　"There’ssomebodytoseeyou，Ros，"shesaid。"You’dbettercomeoutsoon’syoucan。He’sinahurry。"
　　"Someonetoseeme，"Irepeated。"Whoisit？"
　　DorindaglancedatMotherandthenatme。Shedidnotsomuchaswhisper，butherlipsformedaname。Irosefrommychair。
　　MotherlookedatmeandthenatDorinda。
　　"Whoisit，Roscoe？"sheasked。
　　"Justacalleronabusinessmatter，"Ianswered，hurriedly。"I’llbeoutatonce，Dorinda。"
　　"Butwhoisit，Roscoe？"
　　"It’sMr。Colton，Mother。Hehasprobablycometo——"
　　"Dorinda，"Motherinterruptedme，"askMr。Coltontocomeinhere。"
　　"But，Mother——"
　　"Askhimtocomeinhere，Dorinda。Ishouldliketomeethim。"
　　Dorindahesitated，butwhenMotherspokeinthattonenoneofushesitatedlong。Shedisappeared。AmomentlaterthedooropenedwideandColtonentered。Thesuddentransitionfromsunlighttosemidarknessbewilderedhimforamoment，doubtless，forhestoodtherewithoutspeaking。Dorinda，whohadusheredhimin，wentoutandclosedthedoor。Isteppedforward。
　　"Goodmorning，Mr。Colton，"Isaid，ascalmlyasIcould。"Youhavenevermetmymother，Ithink。Mother，thisisMr。Colton，ourneighbor。"
　　Coltonturnedtowardthebedandmurmuredafewwords。Foronce，I
　　think，hewasstartledoutofhiscustomarycoolself—possession。
　　AndwhenMotherspokeitseemedtomethatshe，too，wasdisturbed。
　　"Roscoe，"shesaid，quickly，"willyoudrawthatwindow—shadealittlemore？Thelightisratherstrong。Thankyou。Mr。Colton，Iamverygladtomeetyou。Ihaveheardofyouoften，ofcourse，andIhavemetyourdaughter。Shehasbeenverykindtome，inmanyways。Won’tyousitdown？"
　　Idrewforwardachair。Ourvisitoracceptedit。
　　"Thankyou，Mrs。Paine，"hesaid。"Iwillsit。Tobehonest，I’mverygladoftheopportunity。Ihavebeenunderthedoctor’scareforthepastfewweeksandlastnight’sperformanceisnotthebestsortoftreatmentforatenderdigestion。ThedoctortoldmewhatIneededwasrestandsleepandfreedomfromcare。ItoldhimI
　　probablyshouldn’tgetthelastitemtillIwasdead。Asfortherest——andsleep——Humph！"withashortlaugh，"Iwonderwhathewouldhavesaidifhehadseenmelastnight。"
　　Mother’sfacewasturnedawayfromhimonthepillow。"Iamsorrytohearthatyouhavebeenill，Mr。Colton，"shesaid。
　　"Ill！I’mnotill。IhaveneverbeensickinmylifeandIdon’tproposetobeginnow。IfthecrowdinNewYorkwouldletmealoneIshouldbeallrightenough。Thereisadealontherethatislikelytocometoaheadprettysoonandmypeopleattheofficearenervous。Theykeep’phoningandtelegraphingandupsettingthingsgenerally。I’llhavetorunovertheremyselfinadayortwoandstraightenitout。Butthere！Ididn’tcomeheretoworryyouwithmytroubles。IfeelasifIknewyou，Mrs。Paine。"
　　"Knewme？KnewME，Mr。Colton？"
　　"Yes。Ihaveneverhadthepleasureofmeetingyoubefore，butmydaughterhasspokenofyouoften。Sheisagreatadmirerofyours。
　　Iwon’ttellyouallthenicethingsshehassaidaboutyou，forshehasprobablysaidthemtoyouortoyourson，already。"
　　"Youshouldbeveryproudofyourdaughter，Mr。Colton。Sheisacharminggirl。"
　　"Thanks。JustamongusthreeI’lladmit，inconfidence，thatI
　　thinkyou’reright。AndI’lladmit，too，thatyouhaveaprettygoodsortofason，Mrs。Paine。Heisinclinedtobe，"withaglanceinmydirection，"alittletoostubbornandhigh—principledforthispracticalworld，but，"withachuckle，"hecanbemadetolistentoreason，ifyougivehimtimeenough。Thatisso，isn’tit，Paine？"
　　Ididnotanswer。Motherspokeforme。
　　"IamnotsurethatIunderstandyou，Mr。Colton，"shesaid，quietly。"Ipresumeyouarereferringtothesaleoftheland。I
　　donotknowwhyRoscoechangedhismindinthatmatter，butIdoknowthathisreasonwasagoodone，andanhonestone。"
　　"Hehasn’ttoldittoyou，then？"
　　"No。ButIknowthathethoughtitrightorheneverwouldhavesold。"
　　Ibrokeinhere。Ididnotcaretohearmyownpraises。
　　"DidyoucalltodiscusstheShoreLane，Mr。Colton？"Iinquired。
　　"Ithoughtthataffairsettled。"
　　"Itis。No，Ididn’tcometodiscussthat。Mrs。Paine，Idon’tknowwhyyoursonsoldmethatland，butI’minclinedtothink，likeyou，thathewouldn’thavedoneitunlesshethoughtitwasright。Iknowmightywellhewasn’tafraidofme。Oh，youneedn’tlaugh，youngman。ThereAREpeopleinthatfix，plentyof’em。
　　No，Ididn’tcometotalk’Lane。’Thatbirdisdead。Icame，firstofall，tothankyouforwhatyoudidformydaughterlastnight。"
　　Motherturnedherheadandlookedathim。
　　"Foryourdaughter？Lastnight？Roscoe，whatdoeshemean？"
　　"Nothing，Mother，nothing，"Isaid，hastily。"IwasunluckyenoughtoruntheComfortintoMissColton’scanoeinthebayyesterdayafternooninthefog。FortunatelyIgotherintothelaunchand——
　　and——"
　　"Andsavedherfromdrowning，thenandadozentimesafterward。Hehasn’ttoldyou，Mrs。Paine？No，Icanseethathehasn’t。Allright，Iwill。Paine，ifyouringrowingmodestywon’tstandthepressureyouhadbetterleavetheroom。Thisisaboutwhathappened，Mrs。Paine，asMabeltellsit。"
　　Itriedtopreventhim，butitwasnouse。Heignoredmealtogetherandwentontotellofthecollisioninthefog，thevoyageacrossthebay，andmytelephonefromthelighthouse。Thestory，ashetoldit，magnifiedwhathecalledmycoolnessandcommon—sensetoaridiculousextent。IlostpatienceasI
　　listened。
　　"Mr。Colton，"Iinterrupted，"thisissilly。Mother，thewholeaffairwasmoremyfaultthanmygoodjudgment。IfIhadanchoredwhenitfirsthappenedweshouldhavebeenhomeinanhour，insteadofdriftingallnight。"
　　"Whydidn’tyouanchor，then？"askedColton。
　　"BecauseI——I——"