Havingderivedthismuchsatisfactionfrommyreflections，Iwentdownstairs。Dorindawassettingthetableforsupper。ShelookedatmeasIcamein。
　　"Beenvisitin’，Ihear，"sheobserved，wipinganimaginaryspeckfromthecornerofaplatewithher"afternoon"apron。
　　"Yes，"saidI。
　　"Um—hm，"saidDorinda。"Haveagoodtime？"
　　Ismiled。"Ihadaninterestingone，"Itoldher。
　　"Um—hm，Ijudgedso，fromwhatLutesaid。"
　　"WhereisLute？"
　　"Outinthebarn，beddin’downthehorse。Thatis，Itoldhimtodothat，buthisheadwassofullofyouandwhatyoutoldhimyousaidtoMr。ColtonthatIshouldn’tbesurprisedifhe’sbeddeddownthehensandwashuntin’inthemangerforeggs。"
　　"LutethinksI’vegonecrazy，"Iobserved。
　　"Um—hm。Hewasallforfetchin’thedoctorrightoff，butItoldhimIcal’latedwecouldbearwithyourravin’sforaspell。Didyousaywhathesaidyousaid？"
　　"I’mafraidIdid。"
　　"Um—hm。Well，itdidn’tdoanygood，didit？"
　　"Good？Whatdoyoumean？"
　　"Imeanhedidn’tobeyorders——Colton，thatis。"
　　"Hehadn’twhenIleft。"
　　"Ithoughtnot。Ineversawanygoodcomefromprofanelanguageyet；and，besides，judgin’fromwhatIhearaboutthewaythatColtonmanlives，andwhathedoesonSundaysandall，he’llmaketheportyousenthimtowhenhistimecomes。Allyouneedispatience。"
　　Ilaughed，andshebegansortingtheplatedspoons。Wehadsilverones，butDorindainsistedonkeepingthosetousewhenwehadcompany。Inconsequenceweusedthemabouttwiceayear，whentheministercame。
　　"Ofcourse，"shesaid，"Iain’taskin’youwhathappenedoverthereorwhyhewantedtoseeyou。ButIgiveyoufairwarnin’that，ifIdon’t，Lutewill。Lute’ssostuffedwithcuriositythathe’sli’bletobustthestitchesanyminute。"
　　"I’lltellyouboth，atsupper，"Isaid。
　　"Um—hm，"saidDorinda。"Well，Icanwait，andLute’llhaveto。Bytheway，"sheadded，seeingmeabouttoenterMother’sroom，"ifit’sanythingtoounpleasantIwouldn’tworryComfortwithit。
　　She’llwanttoknow，ofcourse，butI’dsortofsmooththeedges。"
　　Motherdidwanttoknow，andItoldher，"smoothingtheedges"allIcould。Iomittedmyfinalorderto"BigJim"andIsaidnothingwhateverabouthisdaughter。MotherseemedtothinkIhaddonerightinrefusingtosell，though，asusual，shewasreadytomakeallowancesfortheotherside。
　　"Poorwoman，"shesaid，"Isupposethenoiseofthewagonsandallthatareannoyingtoanyonewithweaknerves。Itmustbedreadfultobeinthatcondition。Iamsosorryforher。"
　　Shemeantit，too。ButI，rememberingtheColtonmansion，whatI
　　hadseenofit，andcontrastingitssplendorwiththebarenecessityofthatdarkenedbedroom，foundithardtosparepityforthesuffererfrom"nerves。"
　　"Youneedn’tbe，"Isaid，bitterly。"Iimagineshewouldn’tthinkofyou，iftheconditionswerereversed。Idoubtifshethinksofanyonebutherself。"
　　"Youshouldn’tsaythat，Roscoe。Youdon’tknow。Youhavenevermether。"
　　"Ihavemettherestofthefamily。No，Mother，Ithinkyouneedn’thesorryforthatwoman。Shehaseverythingunderthesun。
　　Whereasyou——"
　　"Hush！hush！Thereisonethingshehasn’tgot。Shehasn’tasonlikeyou，Boy。"
　　"Humph！Thatmustbeaterribledeprivation。There！there！
　　Mother，Iwon’tbedisagreeable。Let’schangethesubject。DidMatildaDeancometoseeyouthisafternoon？"
　　"No。Ipresumeshewastoobusy。But，Roscoe，itisplainenoughwhyCaptainDeanspoketoyouabouttheLaneattheofficethismorning。Hemusthaveheard，somehow，thatMr。Coltonwishedtobuyit。"
　　"Yes。Or，ifhedidn’thearjustthat，heheardenoughtomakehimguesstherest。Heisprettyshrewd。"
　　"Youpromisedhimyouwouldn’tsellwithouttellinghimbeforehand。
　　ShallyoutellhimofMr。Colton’soffer？"
　　"Ifheasksme，Ishall，Isuppose。"
　　"Iwonderwhathewilldothen。DoyousupposehewilltrytopersuadetheSelectmentobuytheLaneforthetown？"
　　"Idon’tknow。Ishouldn’twonder。"
　　"Itwillbehardertorefusethetown’soffer。"
　　"Yes。Althoughthetowncan’taffordtopayColton’sprices。I
　　believethatmanwouldhaveraisedhisbidtoathousand，ifIhadlethim。Asamatterofbusinessandnothingelse，IsupposeIamfoolishnottopushthepriceashighaspossibleandthensell。
　　Thelandisworthlesstous。"
　　"Iknow。Butthisisn’tjustamatterofbusiness，isit？AndweDON’Tneedthemoney。We’renotrich，butwearen’tpoor，arewe，Boy。"
　　"No。No，ofcoursenot。But，Mother，justseewhatIcoulddo——
　　foryou——withathousanddollars。Why，therearesomanylittlethings，littleluxuries，thatyouneed。"
　　"Ihadrathernotgetthemthatway。No，Roscoe，Iwouldn’tselltoMr。Colton。AndIthinkIwouldn’tselltothetowneither。"
　　"Whynot？"
　　"Well，becausewedon’thavetosell，andsellingtoeitherpartywouldmakeill—feeling。Ishould——ofcourseI’monlyawoman；youareamanandknowmuchmoreaboutsuchthingsthanI——butwhynotletmattersstayjustastheyare？ThetownspeoplecanusetheLane，justastheyhavealwaysdone，and，asItoldyoubefore，everyonehasbeensokindtousthatIliketofeelwearedoingalittleinreturn。LetthemusetheLane，withoutcost。Whynot？"
　　"WhatdoyouthinktheColtonswouldsaytothat？"
　　"Perhapstheydon’tunderstandtherealsituation。ThenexttimeyouseeMr。Coltonyoucouldexplainmorefully；tellhimwhattheLanemeanstothetown，andsoon。I’msurehewouldunderstand，ifyoutoldhimthat。Andthen，ifthesightofthewagonswastooannoying，hecouldputupsomekindofascreen，orplantarowoffirtreesbythefence。Don’tyouthinkso？"
　　Iimaginedthegreatman’sreplytosuchasuggestion。However，I
　　didnotexpressmythoughts。ItoldMothernottoworry，Iwassureeverythingwouldbeallright，and，asDorindacalledmetosupper，Iwentintothedining—room。
　　Lutewaswaitingformeatthetable，andDorinda，aftertakingthetrayintoMother’sroom，joinedus。Lutewassofullofexcitementandcuriositythathealmostforgottoeat，amiracleofitselfandmadegreaterbythefactthathedidnotaskasinglequestionuntilhiswifeaskedonefirst。Thenheaskedthreeinsuccession。
　　Dorinda，whowasquiteascuriousashebutwouldnothaveshownitfortheworld，stoppedhimatthebeginningofthefourth。
　　"There！there！"shesaid，sharply，"thisissupposedtobeameal，notaparrotshop，andwe’rehumans，notapasselofbirdsonatelegraphwireallhollerin’atonce。Drinkyourteaandstopyourcawin’，LuteRogers。Ros’lltelluswhenhegetsready。WhatDID
　　Mr。Coltonwantofyou，Roscoe？"
　　ItoldthemasmuchoftheinterviewattheColtons’asIthoughtnecessarytheyshouldknow。Lutekeptremarkablyquiet，forhim，untilInamedthefigureofferedbythemillionaire。Thenhecouldholdinnolonger。
　　"Fivehundred！"herepeated"FivehundredDOLLARSfortheShoreLane！Five——"
　　"HeraisedittosixhundredandfiftybeforeIleft，"Isaid。
　　"SIXhundred！Sixhundred——andFIFTY！FortheShoreLane！Sixhun——"
　　"Sshh！shh！"cutinDorinda。"YousoundlikeSimEldredgesellin’
　　somethin’atauction。DObequiet！Andyoutoldhim，Roscoe——？"
　　"ItoldyouwhatItoldhim，"Isaid。
　　"Um—hm。Iain’tforgotit。Bequiet，Lute。Well，Roscoe，I
　　cal’lateyouknowyourownaffairsbest，but，judgin’fromsomehintsMatildyDeanhoveoutwhenshewasherethisafternoon，I
　　don’tbelieveyou’veheardthelastfromthatShoreLane。"
　　"MatildaDean！"Irepeated。"Why，MothersaidMatildawasn’thereto—day。"
　　"Um—hm。Well，shewashere，thoughComfortdidn’tknowit。Itookpainssheshouldn’t。Matildycomeaboutthreeo’clock，inthebuggy，alongwithNellie。Nelliewasdoin’thedrivin’，ofcourse，andhermotherwastellin’herhow，asusual。Idon’twonderthatgirlissuchameek，soft—spokenkindofthing。Betweenherpa’sbullyin’andherma’stongue，it’sawondershe’sgotanyspiritleft。ItwouldbeamercyifGeorgeTaylorshouldmarryherandtakeheroutofthathouse。MatildyhadanewbookonSpiritu’lismandshewasfiggerin’toreadsomeofitoutloudtoComfort，butI
　　headedheroff。Iknow_I_wouldn’twanttobeallstirredupabout’tests’and’materializations’andsuch，andsoItoldherComfortwasasleep。"
　　"Shewasn’tasleep，neither，"declaredLute。"Whatdidyoutellsuchawhopperasthatfor？You’realwayssailin’intomeifI
　　stretchayarntheleastmite。Why，lastAprilFoolDayyougivemeHailColumbyforjokin’youaboutamouseunderthekitchentable。Calledmeallkindsofnames，youdid——afteryougotdownoffthetable。"
　　Hiswiferegardedhimscornfully。"It’sprettyhardtorememberwhichISthatpartic’lardaywithyouaround，"shesaid。"I’dtoldComfortshe’doughttotakeanapandifshewan’ttakin’it’twan’tmyfault。Iwan’tgoin’tohaveherseein’hergranddad’sghostineverycorner。But，anyhow，Matildymadealittlecallonme，and，amongstthemillionotherthingsshesaid，wassomethin’
　　aboutCap’nJedhearin’thatMr。Coltonwascal’latin’toshutoffthatLane。MatildyhintedthatherhusbandandtheSelectmenmighthavealittletosayafore’twasclosed。Ifthat’ssoIguessyoumayhearfromhimaswellastheColtonman，Roscoe。"
　　"Perhaps，"Isaid。IcouldseenouseinrepeatingmyconversationwithCaptainJed。
　　Dorindanodded。
　　"Goin’totellthetowntogo——whereyousenttheotherone？"sheasked，dryly。
　　"Idon’tknow。"
　　"Humph！Well，"withsomesarcasm，"itmustbefinetobeinapositionwheremoney’snoobject。Inevertriedit，myself，butitsoundsgood。"
　　Ididnotanswer。
　　"Um—hm，"shesaid。"Well，anyhowitlookstome——Lute，youkeepstill——asiftherewasgoin’tobetwopartiesinDenboroaforethisLanebusinessisover。OnefortheColtonsandoneagainst’em。You’llhavetotakeonesideortheother，won’tyou，Roscoe？"
　　"Notnecessarily。"
　　"Goin’tosetonthefence，hey？"
　　"That’sagoodplaceTOsit，isn’tit？"
　　Dorindasmiled，grimly。
　　"Ifit’stherightkindofafence，maybe’tis，"sheobserved。
　　"Otherwisethepicketsareliabletomakeyouuncomf’tableafteraspell，Ipresumelikely。"
　　Iwentoutsoonafterthis，formyeveningsmokeandwalkbythebluff。AsIleftthedining—roomIheardLutereiteratinghisbeliefthatIhadgonecrazy。Coltonhadsaidthesamething。I
　　wonderedwhatCaptainJed’sopinionwouldbe。
　　Whetheritwasanotherphaseofmyinsanityornot，Idon’tknow，butIwokethenextmorninginprettygoodspirits。Remembranceofthepreviousday’shumiliationstroubledmesurprisinglylittle。
　　Theydidnotseemnearlysogreatintheretrospect。Whatdifferencediditmaketomewhatthatcrowdofsnobsdidorsaidorthought？
　　However，therewasjustenoughbitternessinmymorning’sreviewofyesterday’shappeningstomakemealittlemorecarefulinmydress。Ididnotexpecttomeetmyaristocraticneighbors——I
　　devoutlywisheditmightbemygoodlucknevertomeetanyofthemagain——butinmakingselectionsfrommylimitedwardrobeIchosewithmorethoughtthanusual。DorindanoticedtheresultwhenI
　　camedowntobreakfast。
　　"Gotyourothersuiton，ain’tyou，"sheobserved。
　　"Yes，"saidI。
　　"Goin’anywheresspecial？"
　　"No。Downtotheboathouse，that’sall。"
　　"Humph！Idon’tseewhatyouputthosebluepantsonfor。They’reawfulthingstoshowwaterspots。Didyouleaveyourbrownonesupstairs？Um—hm。Well，I’llgetat’emsometimeto—day。I
　　noticedtheywaswearin’alittle，sortof，onthebottomsofthelegs。"
　　Ihadnoticedit，too，andthisreminderconfirmedmysuspicionsthatothershadmadethesameobservations。
　　"I’lltryandmend’emthisafternoon，"wentonDorinda，"ifIcanfindtime。But，formercy’ssake，don’tspotthoseallup，forI
　　maynotgettime，andthenyou’dhavetowearyourSundayones。"
　　Ipromised，curtly，tobecareful，and，aftersayinggoodmorningtoMother，Iwentdowntotheboathouseandsettoworkontheengine。ItwastheonlythinginthenatureofworkthatIhadtodo，but，somehoworother，IdidnotfeellikedoingitanymorethanIhadthedaybefore。Alittleofmygoodspiritswerewearingoff，likethelegsofmy"other"trousers，andafteranhourofintermittenttinkeringIthrewdownthewrenchanddecidedtogoforarow。Thesunwasshiningbrightly，butthebreezewasfresh，and，asmyskiffwaslowinthegunwaleandtherewaslikelytobesomewaterflying，Iputonanoldoilskin"slicker"andsou—westerbeforestarting。
　　Ihaddeterminedtorowacrossthebayovertothelighthouse，andaskBenSmall，thekeeper，iftherewereanysignsoffishalongshore。Thepullwasalongone，butIenjoyedeverystrokeofit。Thetidewasalmostfull，justbeginningtoebb，sotherewasscarcelyanycurrentandIcouldmakeastraightcutacross，insteadoffollowingthetortuouschannel。Myskiffwasaflatbottomedaffair，drawingverylittle，butinDenborobay，atlowtide，evenaflat—bottomedskiffhastobewareofsandandeel—
　　grass。
　　Smallwasbusywhitewashing，buthewasgladtoseeme。Ifyoukeepalighthouse，theaveragelighthouse，youaregladtoseeanybody。Heputhisbrushintothepailandinsistedonmycomingtothehouse，because"theoldwoman，"hiswife，wouldwanttohear"allthesewin’circlenews。""It’sthebiggesthardshipofherlife，"saidBen，"thatshehastomisssewin’circlewhenthebayicesin。Soon’sitclearsshe’satmetorowheracrosttothemeetin’s。I’vetookhertotwothisspring，butshemissedthelastone，onaccountofthiswhitewashin’，andshe’scrazytoknowwho’sbeentalkedaboutnow。Ifanythingdisgracefulhashappenedforthelandsakestellher；thenshe’llhemorereconciled。"
　　Ihadnothingdisgracefultotell，butMrs。Smallwasgladtoseeme，nevertheless。Shebroughtoutdoughnutsandbeach—plumjellyandinsistedonmysamplingboth，thedoughnutsbecausetheywerejustmadeandshe"mistrusted"therewastoomuchflourinthem，andthejellybecauseitwassomeshehadleftoverandshewantedtoseeifIthoughtitwas"keepin’"allright。Afterthis，Bentookmeouttoseehishens，andthenwewalkedtothebackofthebeachandtalkedfish。TheforenoonwasalmostgonewhenIgotbacktotheskiff。ThetidehadebbedsofarthatthelightkeeperandIhadtopullthelittleboattwentyfeettolaunchher。
　　"There！"saidBen，"nowyou’reafloat，ain’tyou。Cal’lateyou’llhavetogoway’roundRobinHood’sbarntokeepofftheflats。I
　　forgotaboutthetideorIwouldn’thavetalkedsomuch。Hello！
　　there’sanothercraftaboutyoursizeoffyonder。Somebodyelseoutrowin’。Twosomebodys。Myeyesain’tasgoodforpickin’emoutastheyusedtobe，butoneof’emISafemale，ain’tit？"
　　Ilookedovermyshoulder，asIsatintheskiffandsaw，outinthemiddleofthebay，anotherrowboatwithtwopeopleinit。
　　"Thatain’tadoryoraskiff，"shoutedBen，raisinghisvoiceasI
　　pulledawayfromhim。"WayshesetsoutofwaterI’dcallheralap—streakdingy。Ifthatfeller’stakin’hisgirloutrowin’
　　he’llhavetoworkhispassagehomeagainstthistide……Well，solong，Ros。Comeagain。"
　　Inoddedagoodby，andsettleddownformylongrow，agooddeallongerthistimeonaccountoftheebb。Therewaswaterenoughonthissideofthebay，butonthevillagesidethechannelmadeawidedetourandIshouldbeobligedtofollowitfornearlyamileupthebay，beforeturninginbehindthelongsandbarwhichmadeoutfromthepointbeyondmyboathouse。
　　Thebreezehadgonedown，whichmaderowingeasier，butthepullofthetidemorethanoffsetthisadvantage。However，Ihadmasteredthattidemanytimesbeforeand，exceptthatthedelaymightmakemelatefordinner，theprospectdidnottroubleme。Iswungintothechannelandsettheskiff’sbowagainstthecurrent。ThenfromthebeachIhadjustleftIheardafainthail。Turningmyhead，I
　　sawBenSmallwavinghisarms。Hewasshoutingsomething，too，butIwastoofarawaytocatchthewords。
　　Thelightkeepercontinuedtoshoutandwave。Iliftedanoartoshowthathehadmyattention。Herecognizedthesignal，andbeganpointingoutoverthewaterasternofme。Ilookedwherehewaspointing。Icouldnotseeanythingoutoftheordinary。Exceptformyownskiffandthegulls，andtherowboatwiththetwopersonsinittherewasnothingastironthebay。ButBenkeptonwavingandpointing。AtlastIdecidedthatitmustbetherowboathewaspointingat。Istoppedrowingandlooked。
　　Therowboatwasagooddistanceoffanditsoccupantswerebutspecks。Nowoneofthespecksstoodupandwaveditsarms。SofarasIcouldsee，theboatwasdrifting；therewerenoflashesofsunlightonwetbladestoshowthattheoarswereinuse。No，itwasdrifting，and，asIlooked，itswungbroadsideon。Thestandingfigurecontinuedtowaveitsarms。
　　Thosepeoplemustbeintroubleofsomesort，Idecided，anditwasevidentthatSmallthoughtso，too。Therecouldnoimminentdangerthreatenfor，onadaylikethis，withnosearunning，therewasnothingtofearinthebay。If，however，theyshoulddriftoutofthebayitmightbeunpleasant。Andtheycertainlyweredrifting。
　　Iresignedmyselftotheindefinitepostponementofmydinner，swungtheskiffabout，andpulledashardasIcouldinthedirectionoftherowboat。
　　WiththetidetohelpmeImadegoodprogress，but，evenatthat，ittookmesometimetoovertakethedriftingcraft。Shewas，asBenhadsaid，alap—streaked，keel—bottomeddingy——goodenoughasayacht’stenderorindeepwater，buttheworstboatintheworldtorowaboutDenborobayatlowtide。Herhighrailcaughtwhatbreezetherewasblowingandthishelpedtopushheralong。
　　However，Igotwithineasyhailingdistanceafterawhileandcalled，overmyshoulder，toaskwhatwasthematter。
　　Aman’svoiceansweredme。
　　"We’velostanoar，"heshouted。"We’redriftingouttosea。Lendusahand，willyou？"
　　"Allright，"Ianswered。"I’llbethereinaminute。"
　　WithintheminuteIwasalmostalongside。ThenIturned，intendingtospeakagain；butIdidnot。ThetwopersonsinthedingywereVictor——Ididnotknowhisothername——andMabelColton。
　　Iwaswearingtheoilskinslickerandhadpulleddownthebrimofmysou’westertokeepthesunfrommyeyes；thereforetheyhadnotrecognizedmebefore。AndI，busyattheoarsandlookingovermyshoulderonlyoccasionally，hadnotrecognizedthem。Nowtherecognitionwasmutual。MissColtonspokefirst。
　　"Why，Victor！"shesaid，"itis——"
　　"What？"askedhercompanion。Then，lookingatme，"Oh！it’syou，isit？"
　　Ididnotanswer。Luckwascertainlyagainstme。NomatterwhereIwent，onlandorwater，Iwasfatedtomeetthesetwo。
　　Victor，apparently，wasthinkingthesamething。"ByJove！"heobserved；"Mabel，weseemdestinedto……Humph！Well？Willyougiveusahand？"
　　Themostprovokingpartofitwasthat，ifIhadknownwhowasinthatrowboat，Icouldhaveavoidedtheencounter。BenSmallcouldhavegonetotheirrescuejustaswellasI。However，hereIwas，andheretheywere。AndIcouldnotverywellgoawayandleavethem，underthecircumstances。
　　Victor’spatiencewasgivingway。
　　"Whatareyouwaitingfor？"hedemanded。"Aren’tyougoingtohelpus？We’llpayyouforit。"
　　Ipulledtheskiffalittlecloserand，drawinginmyoars，turnedandpickeduptheslackofmyanchorrope。
　　"Here，"Isaid，brusquely；"catchthislineandI’lltowyou。"
　　Itossedhimtheloopofropeandhecaughtit。
　　"WhatshallIdowithit？"heasked。
　　"Holdit，justasitis，forthepresent。Whatbecameofyourotheroar？"
　　"Lostitoverboard。"
　　"Whydidn’tyouthrowoveryouranchorandwaitwhereyouwere？"
　　Ithinkhehadnotthoughtoftheanchor，buthedidnotdeigntoexplain。Insteadhebeganpullingontheropeandthetwoboatsdrewtogether。
　　"Don’tdothat，"Isaid。"Wait。"
　　Iuntiedtherope，whereitwasmadefasttotheskiff’sbow，andwithitandtheanchorinmyhands，scrambledaftandwedgedtheanchorunderthesternthwartofthelittlecraft。
　　"Now，"Isaid，"youcanpullintheslackuntilyougettotheend。
　　Thenmakeitfasttoyourbowsomewhere。"
　　Isupposehedidhisbesttofollowinstructions，buttheropewasashortone，theendjerkedloosesuddenlyandhewentbackwardinaheap。Ithought，foraninstant，thathewasgoingoverboardandthatminewouldbethemixedpleasureoffishinghimout。
　　MissColtongavealittlescream，whichchangedtoarippleoflaughter。Imighthavelaughed，too，underdifferentcircumstances，butjustnowIdidnotfeellikeit。Besides，therope，havingflownoutofhishands，wasinthewateragainandthetwoboatsweredriftingapart。
　　"Whatdidyoudothatfor？"demandedthefallenone，scramblingtohisknees。Iheardasoundfromthedingy’ssternasiftheyoungladywastryingtostiflehermerriment。Victor，doubtless，heardit，too。
　　"Whereareyougoing？"hesputtered，angrily。"Givemethatrope。"
　　Igaveittohim，literallygaveit，forIpulledalongsideandputtheendinhishands。
　　"Tieitinthebowofyourboat，"Isaid。Hedidso。Idrewintheslackuntilafairtowinglengthremainedandmadeitfast。
　　WhilehewasbusyIventuredtoglanceatMissColton。Hereyesweresnappingwithfunandsheseemedtobeenjoyingthesituation。
　　But，catchingmylook，herexpressionchanged。Sheturnedawayandlookedindifferentlyouttosea。
　　Iswungtheskiff’sbowaround。
　　"Wheredoyouwanttogo？"Iasked。
　　Victoranswered。"BacktoMr。Colton’slanding，"hesaid。"Getasmuchofamoveonasyoucan，willyou？I’llmakeitworthyourwhile。"
　　Iwasasanxioustogetthereashewas。Ididnotcareforaquarrel，andIknewifhecontinuedtousethattoneinhisremarkstomeIshouldanswerasIfelt。Ipulledwithallmystrength，butagainstthetidetowingwashardwork。
　　Victorsatontheamidshipsthwartofthedingy，withhisbacktome。ButMissColton，seatedinthestern，wasfacingmeandI
　　couldnothelplookingather。Shedidnotlookatme，or，ifshedid，itwasasifIweremerelyapartoftheview；nothingtobeinterestedin，onewayortheother。
　　Shewasbeautiful；therewasnodoubtofthat。Prettiereven，intheblueandwhiteboatingcostumeandrough—and—readywhitefelthat，thanshehadseemedwhenIsawherintheautoorherfather’slibrary。SherepresentedtheworldthatIhadlost。Ihadknowngirlslikeher。Theyhadnotasmuchmoneyasshe，perhaps，buttheywerejustaswell—bredandrefined，andalmostaspretty。I
　　hadassociatedwiththemasanequal。Iwonderedwhatshewouldsay，orthink，ifsheknewthat。Nothing，probably；shewouldnotcareenoughtothinkatall。Itdidnotmattertomewhatshethought；butIdidwishIhadnotputonthosefooloilskins。I
　　mustlookmorelikeacountrylongshoremanthanever。
　　IfIhadanydoubtsaboutittheyweredispelledwhenIhadrowedthetwoboatsupthebayuntilwewereabreasttheColtonmansion。
　　ThenVictor，whohadbeentalkinginalowtonewithhisfellowpassengerinthedingy，lookedatthedistantshoreand，overhisshoulder，atme。
　　"Here！"heshouted。"Whereareyougoing？That’sthelandingoverthere。"
　　"Iknow，"Ianswered。"Butweshallhavetogoaroundthatflat。
　　Wecan’tcrosshere。"
　　"Why？What’sthereasonwecan’t？"
　　"Becausethereisn’twaterenough。Weshouldgetaground。"
　　Hestooduptolook。
　　"Nonsense！"hesaid。"There’splentyofwater。Ican’tseeanyflat，orwhateveryoucallit。"
　　"It’sthere，thoughyoucan’tseeit。Itiscoveredwitheelgrassanddoesn’tshow。Weshallhavetogoahalfmilefurtherbeforeweturnin。"
　　"Ahalfmile！Why，confoundit！it’spastoneo’clocknow。Wehaven’tanytimetowaste。"
　　"I’msorry，butwecan’tcrossyet。And，ifIwereyou，I
　　shouldn’tstandupinthatboat。"
　　Hepaidnoattentiontothissuggestion。
　　"Therearehalfadozenboats，biggerthanthese，bythelanding，"
　　hedeclared。"Thereiswaterenoughforthem。Whatareyouafraidof？Wehaven’tanytimetowaste，Itellyou。"
　　Ididnotanswer。Silence，onmypart，wasthesafestthingjustthen。Icontinuedrowingupthebay。
　　MissColtonspoketohimandhesatdown，aproceedingforwhichI
　　wasthankful。Theywhisperedtogetherforamoment。Thenheturnedtome。
　　"Seehere，"hesaid；"thisladyandIhaveanappointment。Wemustgetashore。Gostraightin。Ifyou’reafraidI’lltaketherisk。
　　IfthereisanydangerI’llpayforthat，too。"
　　Therewasnoquestionofrisk。Itwasacertainty。Iknewthatchannel。
　　"Wecan’tcrosshere，"Isaid，shortly。
　　"Why，confoundyou——"