Hestartedatthesoundofmyentranceandawoke。
"I——Ibegyourpardon，sir，"hestammered。"I——Ibegyourpardon，sir，I’msure。I’vebeen——I’aven’tclosedmyeyesforthepasttwonights，sir，andIamtiredout。Mr。Coltonwishestoseeyouatonce，sir。Hewishesyoutocomeoverimmediately。"
Iwassurprisednow。"MR。Coltonwishesit，"Irepeated。"YoumeanMissColton，don’tyou，Johnson。"
"No，sir。ItisMr。Coltonthistime，sir。MissColtonisoutinthemotor，sir。"
"ButMr。Coltonistooilltoseeme，oranyoneelse。"
"No，sir，heisn’t。He’sverymuchbetter。He’squitehimself，sir，really。Andheisveryanxioustoseeyou。Onamatterofbusiness，hesays。"
Ihesitated。Ihadexpectedthis，thoughnotsosoon。Hewantedtoaskquestionsconcerningmycrazydipintohisfinancialaffairs，doubtless。Well，Ishouldhavetoseehimsometimeorother，anditmightaswellbenow。
IcalledtoDorinda，whowasinthekitchen，andbadehertellMother，ifsheinquiredforme，thatIhadgoneout，butwouldbebacksoon。ThenJohnsonandIwalkedbrisklyalongthebluffpath。
Weenteredthebighouse。
"Mr。Coltonisinhisroom，sir，"explainedthebutler。"Youaretoseehimthere。Thisway，sir。"
ButbeforewereachedthefootofthestairsDoctorQuimbycameoutofthelibrary。HeandIshookhands。Thedoctorwasahappyman。
"Well！"heexclaimed，"what’sthematterwiththeone—horse，country—jaydoctornow，hey！IfthereisanyoneoftheBostonspecialistsatahundredavisitwhocanyankamanoutofaserioussicknessandputhimonhisfeetquickerthanIcan，whytrothimalong，that’sall！Iwanttoseehim！I’vebeenthrowingbouquetsatmyselfforthelasttenhours。Ho！ho！Say，Ros，you’llthinkmyheadisswelledprettybad，won’tyou！Ho！ho！"
Iaskedhowthepatientwasgettingon。
"Fine！Tip—top！Theonlytroubleisthatheoughttokeepperfectlyquietandnotdoathingorthinkofathing，exceptgettinghisstrengthback，forthenextweek。Buthehadn’tbeenconsciousmorethanacoupleofhoursbeforehewasaskingquestionsaboutbusinessandsoon。Heandhisdaughterhadalongconfabthismorningandafterthathewasneithertobindortie。
Hemustseeyou，that’salltherewastoit。Say，Ros，whatdidyouandPhinCahoonandtheColtongirldoyesterday？"
"Oh，weputthroughoneofMr。Colton’slittletradesforhim，that’sall。"
"That’sall，hey！Well，whatever’twas，heandIoweyouavoteofthanks。Hebegantogetbettertheminuteheheardit。He’sfeelingsochipperthat，ifitwasn’tthatIsworeheshouldn’t，he’dhavegotoutofbedbythistime。Youmustgoupandseehim，Isuppose，butdon’tstaytoolong。He’sawonderforstrengthandrecuperativepowers，butdon’ttirehimtoomuch。IfthatwifeofhiswasinEuropeorsomewhere，I’dfeeleasier。She’sthemosttiringthinginthehouse。"
Johnsonledthewayupstairs。Atthechamberdoorheknockedandannouncedmypresence。
"Bringhimin！Whatishewaitingfor？"demandedavoicewhich，consideringhowrecentlyitsownerhadbeenatdeath’sdoor，wassurprisinglystrong。Ienteredtheroom。
Hewasinbed，proppedupwithpillows。BesidehimsatMrs。
Colton。Ofthetwoshelookedthemoredisturbed。Hereyeswerewetandshewasdabbingatthemwithalacehandkerchief。Hermorninggownwasawondrouscreation。"BigJim，"withhisiron—
grayhairawryandhiseyessnapping，lookedremarkablywideawakeandalive。
"Howareyou，Paine？"hesaid。"Gladtoseeyou。Sorrytobringyouoverhere，butIhadtoseeyouandthatdoctorsaysImuststayinthisroomforawhileyet。Hemayberight。Myunderstandingisprettyshaky，I’lladmit。You’vemetMrs。Colton，haven’tyou？"
Ibowedandexpressedmypleasureatmeetingthelady。Herbowwasrathercurt，butsheregardedmewithanastonishingamountofagitatedinterest。Alsosheshowedsymptomsofmoretears。
"Idon’trememberwhetherornotMr。PaineandIhaveeverbeenformallyintroduced，"sheobserved。"Ifwehaven’titmakesnodifference，Isuppose。Theothermembersofthefamilyseemtoknowhimwellenough。And——andmothersnowadaysarenotconsidered。I——Imustsaythat——"
Shehadrecoursetothelacehandkerchief。Icouldunderstandwhatthedoctormeantbycallingherthe"mosttiringthinginthehouse。"Herhusbandlaidahandonhers。
"There，there，mydear，"hesaid，soothingly，"don’tbefoolish。
Sitdown，Paine。Henrietta，perhapsyouhadbetterleaveMr。PaineandItogether。Wehavesome——er——businessmatterstodiscussandyouaretiredandnervous。Ishouldgotomyroomandliedown，ifIwereyou。"
Mrs。Coltonacceptedthesuggestion，butheracceptancewasnotthemostgracious。
"Iamintheway，asusual，"sheobserved，chokingly。"Verywell，Ishouldberesignedtothatbythistime，nodoubt。Iwillgo。
ButJames，formysake，don’tbeweak。Rememberwhat——Oh，rememberallwehadhopedandplanned！WhenIthinkofit，I——I——
Anobody！Apersonwithout……WhatSHALLIdo？"
Thehandkerchiefwasinactiveoperation。Shesweptpastmetothedoor。Theresheturned。
"Imayforgiveyousometime，Mr。Paine，"shesobbed。"IsupposeI
shallhaveto。Ican’tdoanythingelse。Butdon’taskmetodoitnow。ThatwouldbeTOOmuch！"
ThedoorclosedandIheardhersobsasshemarcheddownthehall。
TosaythatIwasamazedanddecidedlyuncomfortablewouldbeaverymildestimateofmyfeelings。WhyshouldIexpecthertoforgiveme？WhathadIdone？I——orluckandItogether——hadsavedoneofherhusband’sstockspeculationsfromendinginsmash；butthatwasnoinjuryforwhichIshouldbegforgiveness。AtleastI
couldnotseethatitwas。
Coltonlookedafterherwithatroubledexpression。
"Nervesarethedevil，aren’tthey，"heobserved。"Andnervesandawomantogetherareworsethanthat。Mywife，Paine，is——well，shehasn’tbeeningoodhealthforalongtimeandMabelandIhavedoneourbesttogiveherherownway。Whenyou’vehadyourownwayforyearsitratherhurtstobecheckmated。Iknowthatfromexperience。She’llfeelbetteraboutitbyandby。"
"Betteraboutwhat？"Idemanded，involuntarily。"Idon’tunderstandMrs。Colton’smeaningintheleast。"
Helookedatmekeenlyforamomentwithoutspeaking。
"Don’tyou？"heasked。"Youaresureyoudon’t？"
"CertainlyIamsure。WhatIhavedonethatrequiresforgivenessI
don’tsee。"
Anotherpauseandmorescrutiny。
"Soyoudon’tunderstandwhatshemeans，hey？"hesaidagain。"Allright，allright！Wewon’tdiscussthatyetawhile。Ifyoudon’tunderstand——nevermind。Timeenoughforustotalkofthatwhenyoudo。But，say，Paine，"withoneofhisdrysmiles，"whotaughtyoutobuckastockpool？"
ThisquestionIcouldunderstand。Ihadexpectedthis。
"Noonetaughtme，"Ianswered。"IfIhadanyknowledgeatallinthatdirectionIwasbornwithit，Iguess。Aformoforiginalsin。"
"It’samightyprofitablesortofwickedness——forme。Youngman，doyourealizewhatyoudid？Howdoyouexpectmetothankyouforthat，hey？"
"Idon’texpectyoutothankmeatall。Itwasbullluckthatwonforyou，Mr。Colton。Bullluckanddesperationonmypart。MissColtonsentformetohelpher。Yourconfidentialman，Davis，refusedtomakeamovewithoutordersfromyou。Youcouldn’tgiveanyorders。Someonehadtodosomething，or，soitseemedtoyourdaughterandme，yourLouisvilleandTranscontinentaldealwasagonegoose。"
"Itwasmorethanthat。Imighthavecomeprettynearbeingagonegoosealongwithit。Notquitegone，perhaps——Ishouldhavehadafewcentsleftinthestocking——butIshouldhavelostalotmorethanIcaretolose。Soitwasbullluck，hey？Idon’tbelieveit。Tellmethewholestory，frombeginningtoend，willyou？
Mabelhastoldmesome，butIwanttohearitall。Goahead！"
IthoughtofQuimby’swarning。"I’mafraidIshouldtireyou，Mr。
Colton。Itisalongstory，ifIgiveparticulars。"
"Nevermind，yougivethem。That’tiring’businessissomemoreofthatdoctor’sfoolishness。HEmakesmetired，allright。YoutellmewhatIwanttoknoworI’llgetoutofthisbedandshakeitoutofyou。"
Helookedasifhemeanttocarryouthisthreat。Ibeganmytaleatthebeginningandwentontotheastonishingend。
"Don’taskmewhyIdidthisorthat，Mr。Colton，"Iconcluded。"I
don’tknow。IthinkIwasoffmyheadpartofthetime。ButsomethingHADtobedone。Itriedtolookattheaffairinacommon—senseway，and——"
"And，HAVINGcommon—sense，youusedit。Paine，you’reabrick！
Yourkindofcommon—senseissorarethatit’sworthpayinganypricefor。Ha！ha！SoitwasKeeneandhis’DevelopmentCompany’
thatgaveyoutheidea。That’sgood！Thatlittlefailureofminewasn’taltogetherafailure，afterall。Yousawitwasacasewhereabluffmightwin，andyouhadthesandtobluffitthrough。
Thatcomesoflivingsolongwherethereismoresandthananythingelse，Iimagine，hey！Ha！ha！Well，bullluckorinsanityorwhateveryoucallit，itdidthetrick。OfcourseI’mmoreobligedtoyouthanIcantell。Youknowthat。"
"That’sallright，Mr。Colton。NowIthinkImustbegoing。
You’vetalkedenough。"
"Yousitstill。Ihaven’tbeguntotalkyet。Paine，beforeyoudidthisthingformeIhadtakenafancytoyou。IbelievedtherewasgoodstuffinyouandthatIcoulduseyouinmybusiness。NowIknowIcan’taffordtodowithoutyou……Stop！letmefinish。Youngman，ItoldyouoncethatwhenImadeupmymindtodoathing，Ialwaysdidit。ALWAYS；doyouunderstand？Iamgoingtogetyou。Youarecomingwithme。"
Ihadforeseenthis，ofcourse。ButIhadhopedtogetawayfromthatroombeforehereachedthepoint。Hehadreachedit，however，andperhapsitwasaswellhehad。Wewouldendthisforalltime。
"Mr。Colton，"Ianswered，"youhaveamonopolyofsomethings，butofothersyouhavenot。Iamjustasdeterminedtohavemyownwayinthismatterasyouare。IshallNOTacceptyourofferofemployment。Thatisfinal。"
"Finalbedamned！Youngman——"
"Mr。Colton，ifyoupersistIshallgoaway。"
"Goaway！BeforeItellyouto？Why，you——"
Irose。"Thedoctortoldmethatyoumustnotexciteyourself，"I
said。"Iamgoing。Good—by。"
Hewasexcited，therewasnodoubtofthat。Hesatupinbed。
"Youcomeback！"heordered。"Comeback！Ifyoudon’t——Well，bytheLord，ifyoudon’tI’llgetupandcomeafteryou！"
Ibelievehewouldhavetriedtodoit。Iwasfrightened，onhisaccount。Iturnedreluctantly。Hesankbackonthepillow，grinningtriumphantly。
"Sitdownthere，"hepanted。"Sitdown。NowIwantyoutotellmetherealreasonwhyyouwon’tworkforme。Bygad！you’rethefirstoneinmanyadayIhavehadtoasktwice。Why？Tellmethetruth！Why？"
Ihesitated。"Well，foronereason，"Isaid，"Idon’tcareforyourbusiness。"
"Don’tCAREforit！Afterwhatyoujustdid！"
"IdidthatbecauseIwasdriventoit。ButIdon’tcareforthestockgame。OnceIusedtothinkIlikedthatsortofthing；nowI
knowIdon’t。IfIamanythingIamabankman，apoorsortofone，perhaps，but——"
"Bankman！Why，youidiot！Idon’tcarewhatyouare。Icanuseyouinadozenplaces。Youdon’thavetobuckthemarket。I’lldothatmyself。Butthereareplentyofplaceswhereyourbrainsandthatcommon—senseyoutalkaboutwillbeinvaluabletome。Idoabankingbusiness，ontheside，myself。Iownaminingproperty，agoodone，outWest。Itneedsafinancialmanager，andneedsonebadly。Youcomewithme，doyouhear！I’llplaceyouwhereyoufit，beforeIgetthroughwithyou，andI’llmakeyouarichmanintenyears。There！nowwillyousayyes？"
Ishookmyhead。"No，"Isaid。
"NO！Youareenoughtodriveawellmancrazy，tosaynothingofahalf—sickreliclikeme。_I_sayyes——yes——YES！SoonerorlaterI’llMAKEyou。You’velostyourplacehere。YoutoldmeyourselfthatthatoldcrankDeanisgoingtomakethistowntoohottoholdyou。You’llHAVEtogoaway。Nowwon’tyou？"
Inodded。"Ishallgoaway，"Ianswered。"Ihavemadeupmymindtogo，nowthatMotherseemswellenoughformetoleaveher。"
"Wherewillyougo？"
"Idon’tknow。"
Hestaredatmeinsilenceforwhatseemedalongtime。Ithoughthemustbeexhausted，andoncemoreIrosetogo。
"Stop！Staywhereyouare，"heordered。"Ihaven’tgottheanswertoyouyet，andIknowit。There’ssomethingbackofallthis，somethingIdon’tknowabout。I’mgoingtofindoutwhatitis，ifittakesmeayear。Youcantellmenow，ifyouwantto。Itwillsavetime。Whatistherealreasonwhyyouwon’ttakemyoffer？"
Idon’tknowwhyIdidit。Ihadkeptthesecretalltheyearsandcertainly，whenIenteredthatroom，Ihadnointentionofrevealingit。Yet，now，whenheaskedthisquestionIturnedonhimandblurtedoutwhatIhadswornnoone——leastofallheorhis——shouldeverknow。
"I’lltellyouwhy，"Icried，desperately。"Ican’ttaketheplaceyouofferbecauseyouknownothingaboutme。Youdon’tknowwhoI
am。Ifyoudidyou……Mr。Colton，youdon’tevenknowmyname。"
Helookedatmeandshookhishead，impatiently。"EitheryouARE
crazy，orIam，"hemuttered。"Don’tknowyourname！"
"No，youdon’t！YouthinkIamRoscoePaine。Iamnot。IamRoscoeBennett，andmyfatherwasCarletonBennett，theembezzler。"
Ihadsaidit。AndthemomentafterwardIwassorry。Iwouldhavegivenanythingtotakebackthewords，butrepentancecametoolate。Ihadsaidit。
Iheardhimdrawadeepbreath。Ididnotlookathim。IdidnotcaretoseehisfaceandreadonitthedisgustandcontemptIwassureitexpressed。
"Humph！"heexclaimed。"Humph！DoyoumeantotellmethatyourfatherwasCarletonBennett——BennettofBennettandCompany？"
"Yes。"
"Well！well！well！CarletonBennett！Nowondertherewassomethingfamiliaraboutyourmother，somethingthatIseemedtoremember。Imetheryearsago。Well！well！Soyou’reCarletonBennett’sson？"
"Yes，Iamhisson。"
"Well，whatofit？"
Ilookedathimnow。Hewassmiling，actuallysmiling。Hisillnesshadaffectedhismind。
"WhatOFit！"Igasped。
"Ye—es，whatofit？Whathasthatgottodowithyourworkingforme？"
Icouldhavestruckhim。IfhehadnotbeenweakandillandirresponsibleforwhathewassayingIthinkIshould。
"Mr。Colton，"Isaid，strivingtospeakcalmly，"youdon’tunderstand。MyfatherwasCarletonBennett，theembezzler，thethief，themanwhosenamewasandisadisgracealloverthecountry。MotherandIcameheretohidefromthatdisgrace，tobeginanew，cleanlifeunderacleanname。Doyouthink——？Oh，youdon’tunderstand！"
"Iunderstandallright。ThisisthefirsttimeIHAVEunderstood。
IseenowwhyaclevermanlikeyouwaswillingtospendhisdaysinaplacelikeDenboro。Well，youaren’tgoingtospendanymoreofthemthere。You’regoingtoletmemakesomethingworthwhileoutofyou。"
Thissounded，inoneway，likesanity。Butinanother——
"Mr。Colton，"Icried，"evenifyoumeantit，whichyoudon’t——doyousupposeIwouldgobacktoNewYork，wheresomanyknowme，andenteryouremployunderanassumedname？Runtheriskof——"
"Hush！Enteritunderyourownname。It’sagoodname。TheBennettsareoneofouroldestfamilies。Askmywife；she’lltellyouthat。"
"Agoodname！"
"Yes。Ideclare，Paine——Bennett，Imean——Ishallbegintobelieveyouhaven’tgotthesenseIcreditedyouwith。Icanseewhathasbeenthematterwithyou。Youcamehere，youandyoursickmother，withthescandalofyourfather’scrookednesshangingoveryouandhersicknessmakinghersuper—sensitive，andyoutwokeptthesecretandbroodedoveritsolongthatyouhavecometothinkyouarecriminals，too。You’renot。Youhaven’tdoneanythingcrooked。What’sthematterwithyou，man？Besensible！"
"Sensible！"
"Yes，sensible，ifyoucan。Idon’tcarewhoyourfatherwas。Hewasasmartbanker，beforehewentwrong，andIcanseenowwhereyouinheritedyourability。Butnevermindthat。He’sdead；lethimstayso。I’mnottryingtogethim。It’syouIwant。"
"YouwantME！Doyoumeanyouwouldtakemeintoyouremploy，knowingwhoIam？"
"Sure！ItisbecauseIknowWHATyouarethatIwantyou。"
"Mr。Colton，you——Idon’tknowwhattosaytoyou。"
"Trysaying’yes’andseehowitseems。Itwillbeachange，anyhow。"
"No，no！Icannot；itisimpossible。"
"Oh，youmakemeweary！……Humph！Whatisitnow？Anymore’reasons’？"
’Yes。"Ifacedhimsquarely。"Yes，"Isaid，"thereisanotherreason，onethatmakesitimpossible，utterlyimpossible，ifnothingelsedid。WhenItellyouwhatitisyouwillunderstandwhatImeanandagreewithme。YourdaughterandIhavebeenthrowntogetheragreatdealsinceshecametoDenboro。Ourmeetingshavenotbeenofmyseeking，norofhers。OflateIhaverealizedthat，formyownsake，forthesakeofmypeaceofmind，I
mustnotmeether。Imustnotbewheresheis。I——"
"Here！Stop！"hebrokeinsharply。"Whatisthis？DoyoumeantotellmethatyouandMabel——"
"Itisnotherfault。Itismyown，entirely。Mr。Colton，I——"
"Stop，Itellyou！Doyoumeantotellmethatyouare——thatyouhavebeenmakinglovetomydaughter？"
"No。Certainlynot。"
"Thenwhatdoyoumean？Thatshehasbeenmakinglovetoyou？"
"Mr。Colton——"
"There！Don’tactliketheWildManofBorneo。Doyoumeanthatyouareinlovewithher？"
"Don’tyouseenowwhyIcannotaccept？Imustgoaway。Iamgoing。"
"Humph！Thatwilldo……Humph！Well，Paine——Bennett，I
shouldsay；itishardtokeeptrackofyournames——youarerather——
er——reckless，itseemstome。MabelisouronlychildandhermotherandI，naturally，hadplannedforherfuture……Haveyoutoldherofyour——recklessness？"
"Ofcoursenot！Ishallnotseeheragain。IshallleaveDenboroassoonasIcan。Shewillneverknow。"
"Humph！Isee……Isee……Well，Idon’tknowthatthereisanythingformetosay。"
"Thereisnot。"
"Iamsorryforyou，ofcourse。"
"Thankyou。"
Therewasasharprapatthedoor。DoctorQuimbyopeneditandenteredtheroom。Heglancedfrommetohispatientandhisfaceexpressedsharpdisapproval。
"You’dbettergo，Ros，"hesnapped。"Whatisthematterwithyou？
Didn’tItellyounottoexcitehim。"
"I’Mnotexcited，"observedColton，drily。
"Clearoutthisminute！"continuedtheangrydoctor。"RosPaine，I
thoughtyouhadmoresense。"
"SodidI，"thisfrom"BigJim"。"However，Iamlearningalotthesedays。Good—by，Paine。"
Iwasatthedoor。
"Oh，bytheway，"hecalledafterme，"letmemakeasuggestion。
IfIwereyou，Roscoe，Iwouldn’tleaveDenboroto—day。Notbeforeto—morrowmorning，atanyrate。"
IdidnotunderstandhimandIaskedfornoexplanation。ItwasthefirsttimehehadaddressedmebymyChristianname，butitwasnotuntilafterwardthatIrememberedthatfact。
ThatafternoonIwasaloneinmyhavenofrefuge，theboathouse。
MotherandIhadhadalongtalk。Itoldhereverythingthathadtranspired。Ikeptbacknothing，eitherofmyactsormyfeelings。
ShesaidshewasnotsorryforwhatIhaddone。Shewasratherglad，thanotherwise，thatIhaddisclosedoursecrettoMr。
Colton。
"Heknowsnow，Roscoe，"shesaid。"Andhewasright，too。YouandIhavebroodedoveroursorrowandwhatweconsideredourdisgracemuchmorethanweshould。Heisright，Boy。Weareinnocentofanywrong—doing。"
"Yes，Mother，"Ianswered，"Isupposeweare。Butwemustkeepthesecretstill。NooneelseinDenboromustknow。Youknowwhatgossiptherewouldbe。Thereisenoughnow。IpresumeIamcalledatraitorandablackguardbyeverypersoninthetown。"
"Whyno，youarenot。Thatisthestrangethingaboutit。Lutherwasupatthepost—officethismorningandnooneseemstoknowofyoursaleoftheland。CaptainDeanhas，apparently，keptthenewstohimself。Whydoyousupposehedoesthat？"
"Idon’tknow。Idon’tknow，unlessitisbecausehe——no，Ican’tunderstanditatall。However，theywillknowsoonenough。Bytheway，IhaveneveraskedDorindawhereLutewasthatnoon——itseemsagesago——whenhewasmissingatdinnertime。AndhowdidheknowofMr。Colton’sillness？"
Shesmiled。"PoorLuther！"shesaid。"Heannouncedhisintentionofrunningaway，youremember。AsamatteroffacthemettheColtons’chauffeurinthemotorcarandthechauffeurinvitedhimtogotoBayportwithhim。Thechauffeurhadanerrandthere。
Luteaccepted——ashesays，automobileridesdon’tcomehiswayeverydayintheweek——andtheyhadtroublewiththeengineanddidnotgetbackuntilalmostnight。ThenMissColtontoldhimofherfather’sseizureandgavehimthenoteforyou。Itwastoyousheturnedinhertrouble，Boy。Shetrustsyou。Roscoe，I——Ithinkshe——"
"Don’tsayit，Mother。Allthatisended。Iamgoingtoforget——
ifIcan。"
Therestofourconversationneednotbewrittenhere。Shesaidmanythings，suchasfondmotherssaytotheirsonsandwhichthesonsknowtoowelltheydonotdeserve。WediscussedmyleavingDenboroandshewassobraveandself—sacrificingthatmyconsciencesmoteme。
"I’llstay，Mother，"Isaid。"Ican’tleaveyou。I’llstayandfightitoutwithyou。Afterall，itwillnotbemuchworsethanitwasbeforeIwenttothebank。"
Butshewouldnothearofmystaying。IhadafriendinChicago，adistantrelativewhoknewourstory。Perhapshecouldhelpmetoastartsomewhere。Shekissedmeandbademekeepupmycourage，andIlefther。Iateahurriedmeal，acombinationofbreakfastanddinner，and，dodgingLute，whowasinthebackyardwaitingtoquestionmeconcerningtheColtons，walkeddowntotheboathouse。
There，inmyarmchair，Itriedtothink，tomapoutsomesortofplanformyfuture。
Itwasahopelesstask。Iwasnotinterestedinit。Ididnotmuchcarewhatbecameofme。IfitwerenotforMotherIshouldnothavecaredatall。Nevertheless，forhersake，Imusttrytoplan，andIdid。
IwasstilltryingwhenIheardfootstepsapproachingthedoor，thesmalldoorattheside，notthebigoneinfront。Ididnotrisetoopenthedoor，nordidIturnmyhead。ThevisitorwasLute，probably，andifIkeptstillhemightthinkIwasnotwithinandgoawayagain。
Thedooropened。"Hereheis，"saidavoice，avoicethatI
recognized。Iturnedquicklyandsprangtomyfeet。StandingbehindmewasCaptainJedediahDeanandwithhimGeorgeTaylor——
GeorgeTaylor，whoshouldhavebeen——whomIhadsupposedtobeinWashingtonwithhisbride！
"Hereheis，"saidCaptainJed，again。"Well，Ros，we’vecometoseeyou。"
ButIpaidnoattentiontohim。ItwashiscompanionIwasstaringat。Whatwashedoinghere？
"George！"Icried。"GEORGE！"
Hesteppedforwardandheldouthishand。Hewassmiling，buttherewasalookinhiseyewhichexpressedtheexactoppositeofsmiles。
"Ros，"hesaid，quietly，"RosPaine，youbull—headed，big—heartedoldchump，howareyou？"