Ordestoodquitemotionless，overcomebyastonishment。Herface，itslongovalframedinthebandsofthegrayveilandthedown—
　　turnedbrimofthehat，lookedupsmilingintohis。Thefreshairhaddeepenedthecolourbeneathherskinandhadblownloosestraylocksofthefineshadow—filledhair。Herredlips，withthequaintlyup—turnedcorners，smiledathimwithanewfrankness，andtheblackeyes——theeyessoblackastoresemblespots——hadlosttheirhalf—indolentreserveandbrimmedoverquitefranklywiththejoyoflife。Shescoopedupahandfulofthedry，cleansandfromeithersideofher，raiseditaloft，andletittrickleslowlybetweenherfingers。Thewindgthappearedatinyblackinsect，strugglingagainsttherolling，overwhelmingsands。
　　Withgreatcarethegirlscoopedthisnewcomeroutandsethimonthelevelground。ShelookeduphappilyatOrde，thrustingtheloosehairfrominfrontofhereyes。
　　"Iwasconvincedweoughttodigahole，"saidshegravely。"Now，let’sgosomewhereelse。"
　　Shearosetoherfeet，shakingthesandfreefromherskirts。
　　"Ithink，throughthesewoods，"shedecided。"Canwegetbacktotownthisway？"
　　ReceivingOrde’sassurance，sheturnedatoncedowntheslopethroughthefringeofscrubsprucesandjunipersintothetallwoods。Heretheairfellstill。Sheremarkedonhowwarmitseemed，andbegantountiefromoverherearsthenarrowbandofveilthatheldcloseherhat。
　　"Yes，"repliedOrde。"Thelumber—jackssaythatthewoodsarethepoorman’sovercoat。"
　　Shepausedtosavourthis，herheadononeside，herarmsupraisedtotheknot。
　　"Oh，Ilikethat！"saidshe，continuinghertask。Inamomentorsotheveilhungfree。Sheremoveditandthehat，andswungthembothfromonefinger，andthrewbackherhead。
　　"Hearallthebirds！"shesaid。
　　Softlyshebegantoutteracheepingnoisebetweenherlipsandteeth，lowandplaintive。Atoncethevolumeofbird—soundsaboutincreased；thehalf—seenflashesbecamemorefrequent。Asecondlaterthetwigswerealivewithtinywarblersandcreepers，flirtingfrombranchtobranch，withlarger，morecircumspectchewinks，catbirds，andfincheshoppingdownfromabove，verysilent，verygrave。Inthedepthsofthethicketstheshyerhermitandolivethrushesandtheovenbirdsrevealedthemselvesghost—like，orassea—growthsliftintoahalfvisibilitythroughtranslucentshadowsthecolourofthemselves。Allwereveryintent，veryearnest，veryinterested，eachafterhisownmanner，inthecomradeshipofthefeatherhoodheimaginedtobeutteringdistressfulcries。Afew，likethechickadees，quiveredtheirwings，openedtheirlittlemouths，fluttereddowntinybutaggressiveagainstthedisaster。
　　Othershoppedhereandthererestlessly，utteringplaintive，low—
　　tonedcheeps。Theshyestcontentedthemselvesbyadiscreet，silent，anddistantsympathy。ThreeorfourfreebootingJays，attractednotsomuchbythesupposedcallsforhelpasbycuriosity，flutteredamongthetopsofthetrees，utteringtheirharshnotes。
　　Finally，thegirlendedherperformanceinamusicallaugh。
　　"Runaway，Brighteyes，"shecalled。"It’sallright；nobody’sdamaged。"
　　Shewavedherhand。Asthoughatasignal，thehostshehadevokedmeltedbackintotheshadowsoftheforest。Onlythechickadee，impudentasever，retreatedscoldingratherostentatiously，andthejays，splendidintheirornateblue，screamedopinionsateachotherfromthetopsoftrees。
　　"Howwouldyouliketobeabird？"sheinquired。
　　"Hadn’tthought，"repliedOrde。
　　"Don’tyoueverindulgeinvainandidlespeculations？"sheinquired。"Nevermind，don’tanswer。It’stoomuchtoexpectofaman。"
　　Shesetherselfinidlemotiondowntheslope，swingingthehatattheendofitsveil，pausingtolookorlisten，hummingalittlemelodybetweenherclosedlips，throwingherheadbacktobreathedeepthewarmair，revellinginthewoodssoundsandwoodsodoursandwoodslifewithentireself—abandonment。Ordefollowedherinsilence。Sheseemedtobequitewithoutresponsibilityinregardtohim；andyetanoccasionalrandomremarkthrowninhisdirectionprovedthathewasnotforgotten。Finallytheyemergedfromthebeachwoods。
　　Theyfacedanopenrollingcountry。Asfarastheeyecouldreachweretheoldstumpsofpinetrees。Sometimestheystoodinplace，burnedandscarred，butattestingmutelytheabidingplaceofaspiritlongsincepassedaway。Sometimestheyhadbeenuprootedanddraggedtomarktheboundariesoffields，wheretheyraisedanabatisoftwistedrootstothesky。
　　Thegirlstoppedshortasshecamefacetofacewiththisopencountry。Theinneruplift，thathadlenttoheraspectthewide—
　　eyed，carelessjoyofachild，faded。Initsplacecameanewandseriousgravity。Sheturnedonhimtroubledeyes。
　　"Youdothis，"sheaccusedhimquitesimply。
　　Foranswerhemotionedtotheleftwherebelowthemlayawideandcultivatedcountryside——farmhousessurroundedbyelms；compactwoodlotsofhardwood；cropsandorchards，allfairandpleasantacrossthebosomofafertilenature。
　　"Andthis，"saidhe。"Thatvalleywasoncenothingbutapineforest——andsowasallthesouthernpartoftheState，thepeachbeltandthefarms。AndforthatmatterIndiana，too，andalltheotherforestStatesrightouttotheprairies。Wherewouldwebenow，ifweHADN’Tdonethat？"hepointedacrossatthestump—coveredhills。
　　Mischiefhaddrivenoutthegravityfromthegirl’seyes。Shehadloweredherheadslightlysidewiseasthoughtoconcealtheirexpressionfromhim。
　　"Iwasbeginningtobeafraidyou’dsay’yes—indeed，’"saidshe。
　　Ordelookedbewildered，thenrememberedtheIncubus，andlaughed。
　　"Ihaven’tbeenveryconversational，"heacknowledged。
　　"CertainlyNOT！"shesaidseverely。"Thatwouldhavebeenverydisappointing。Therehasbeennothingtosay。"Sheturnedandwavedherhatatthebeechwoodsfallingsombreagainsttheloweringsun。
　　"Good—bye，"shesaidgravely，"andpleasantdreamstoyou。Ihopethoseverysaucylittlebirdswon’tkeepyouawake。"ShelookedupatOrde。"Hewasrathernicetousthisafternoon，"sheexplained，"andit’salwayswelltobepolitetothemanyway。"ShegazedsteadilyatOrdeforsignsofamusement。Heresolutelyheldhisfacesympathetic。
　　"NowIthinkwe’llgohome，"saidshe。
　　Theymadetheirwaybetweenthestumpstotheedgeofthesand—hilloverlookingthevillage。Withoneaccordtheystopped。Thelow—
　　slantingsuncastacrossthevistaasleepylightofevening。
　　"Howwouldyouliketoliveinaplacelikethatallyourlife？"
　　askedOrde。
　　"Idon’tknow。"Sheweighedherwordscarefully。"Itwoulddepend。
　　Theplaceisn’tofsomuchimportance，itseemstome。It’sthelifeoneiscalledto。It’swhetheronefindshersoul’srealmornotthataplaceisliveableornot。Icanimagineenteringmykingdomatarailwaywater—tank，"shesaidquaintly，"ormissingitentirelyinabigcity。"
　　Ordelookedoutovertherawlittlevillagewithanewinterest。
　　"OfcourseIcanseehowaman’sworkcanlieinasmallplace，"
　　saidhe；"butawomanisdifferent。"
　　"Whyisawomandifferent？"shechallenged。"Whatisher’work，’asyoucallit；andwhyshouldn’tit，aswellasaman’s，lieinasmallplace？Whatiswork——outsideofdrudgery——unlessitiscorrespondenceofone’sabilitiestoone’stask？"
　　"Butthecompensations——"beganOrdevaguely。
　　"Compensations？"shecried。"Whatdoyoumean？Herearethewoodsandfields，theriver，thelake，thebirds，andthebreezes。We’llcheckthemoffagainstthetheatreandballs。Bookscanbehadhereaswellasanywhere。Astopeople：inalargecityyoumeetagreatmany，andthey’reallbusy，andunlessyoumakeanespecialandparticulareffort——whichyou’renotlikelyto——you’llseethemonlycasuallyandonceinagreatwhile。Inasmallplaceyouknowfewerpeople；butyouknowthemintimately。"Shebrokeoffwithahalf—
　　laugh。"I’mfromNewYork，"shestatedhumorously，"andyou’vemagickedmeintoaneloquentdefenseofPodunk！"ShelaughedupatOrdequitefrankly。"GiantStrides！"shechallengedsuddenly。Sheturnedofftheedgeofthesand—hill，andbegantoplungedownitsslope，leaningfarback，herarmsextended，increasingasmuchaspossiblethelengthofeachstep。Ordefollowedatfullspeed。
　　Whenthebottomwasreached，hesteadiedhertoahalt。Sheshookherself，straightenedherhat，andwoundtheveilaroundit。Herwholeaspectseemedtohavechangedwiththedescentintotheconventionalityofthevillagestreet。Theold，gentlethoughcapableandself—containedreservehadreturned。ShemovedbesideOrdewithdignity。
　　"IcamedownwithJaneandMrs。HubbardtoseeMr。HubbardoffontheboatforMilwaukeelastnight，"shetoldhim。"OfcoursewehadtowaitoverSunday。Mrs。HubbardandJanehadtoseesomerelativeorother；butIpreferredtotakeawalk。"
　　"Whereareyoustaying？"askedOrde。
　　"AttheBennetts’。Doyouknowwhereitis？"
　　"Yes，"repliedOrde。
　　TheysaidlittlemoreuntiltheBennetts’gatewasreached。Ordedeclinedtocomein。
　　"Good—night，"shesaid。"Iwanttothankyou。YoudidnotonceactasthoughyouthoughtIwassillyorcrazy。Andyoudidn’ttry，asalltherestofthemwould，toactsillytoo。Youcouldn’thavedoneit；andyoudidn’ttry。Oh，youmayhavefeltit——Iknow！"
　　Shesmiledoneofherquaintandquizzicalsmiles。"Butmenaren’tbuiltforfoolishness。Theyhavetoleavethattous。You’vebeenverynicethisafternoon；andit’shelpedalot。I’mgoodforquitealongstretchnow。Good—night。"
　　Shenoddedtohimandlefthimtongue—tiedbythegate。
　　Orde，however，walkedbacktothehotelinablackragewithhimselfoverwhathetermedhisimbecility。Asherememberedit，hehadmadejustoneconsecutivespeechthatafternoon。
　　"Joe，"saidhetoNewmark，atthehoteloffice，"what’sthepluralformofIncubus？Idimlyrememberitisn’t’busses。’"
　　"Incubi，"answeredNewmark。
　　"Thanks，"saidOrdegloomily。
　　XIII
　　IhaveHeinzman’scontractalldrawn，"saidNewmarkthenextmorning，"andIthinkI’llgoaroundwithyoutotheoffice。"
　　AttheappointedtimetheyfoundthelittleGermanawaitingthem，arotundsmileoffalsegood—natureilluminatinghisrosyface。Ordeintroducedhispartner。Newmarkimmediatelytookchargeoftheinterview。
　　"Ihaveexecutedherethecontract，andthebondssecuredbyMr。
　　Orde’sandmysharesofstockinthenewcompany，"heexplained。
　　"Itisonlynecessarythatyouaffixyoursignatureandsummontherequiredwitnesses。"
　　Heinzmanreachedhishandsforthepapers，beamingoverhisglassesatthetwoyoungmen。
　　Asheread，however，hissmilevanished，andhelookedupsharply。
　　"Vatisthis？"heinquired，anewcrispnessinhisvoice。"Youtoltme，"heaccusedOrde，"dotyouwerenotbreparedtobreakouttherollways。Youtoltmeyouwouldegspectmetodothatformyself。"
　　"Certainly，"agreedOrde。
　　"Vell，whydoyouputinthis？"demandedHeinzman，readingfromthepaperinhishand。"’Incasesaidrollwaysbelongingtosaidpartiesofthesecondpartarenotbrokenoutbythetimethedrivehasreachedthem，andincaseondemandsaidpartiesofthesecondpartdorefuseordonotexerciseduediligenceinbreakingoutsaidrollways，thesaidpartiesofthefirstpartshallthemselvesbreakoutsaidrollways，andthesaidpartiesofthesecondpartdoherebyagreetoreimbursesaidpartiesofthefirstpartattherateofadollarperthousandboardfeet。’"
　　"Thatismerelytoprotectourselves，"struckinNewmark。
　　"But，"explodedHeinzman，hisfacepurpling，"adollaratousandisabsurd！"
　　"Ofcourseitis，"agreedNewmark。"Weexpectittobe。Butalsoweexpectyoutobreakoutyourownrollwaysintime。Itisintendedasapenaltyincaseyoudon’t。"
　　"Ivillnotstandforsuchfoolishness，"poundedHeinzmanonthearmofhischair。
　　"Verywell，"saidNewmarkcrisply，reachingforthecontract。
　　ButHeinzmanclungtoit。
　　"Itisabsurd，"herepeatedinamildertone。"See，Ivillstrikeitout。"Hedidsowithafewdashesofthepen。
　　"Wehavenointention，"statedNewmarkwithdecision，"ofgivingyouthechancetohangupourdrive。"
　　Heinzmancaughthisbreathlikeachildabouttocryout。
　　"Sothatiswhatyouthink！"heshoutedatthem。"That’sthesortofmenyouthinkweare！I’llshowyouyoucannotcomeintohonestmen’sofficestoinsooltthembysuchinsinuations！"Hetorethecontractinpiecesandthrewitinthewastebasket。"Getoudtofhere！"hecried。
　　Newmarkaroseasdryandpreciseasever。Ordewasgoingredandwhitebyturns，andhishandstwitched。
　　"ThenIunderstandyoutorefuseouroffer？"askedNewmarkcoolly。
　　"Refuse！Yes！Youandyourwholekapoodle！"yelledHeinzman。
　　Hehoppeddownandfollowedthemtothegrilldoor，repeatingoverandoverthathehadbeeninsulted。Theclerksstaredinamazement。
　　Onceatthefootofthedarkstairsandintheopenstreet，Ordelookedupattheskywithadeepbreathofrelief。
　　"Whew！"saidhe，"thatwasaterror！We’vegoneoffthewrongfootthattime。"
　　Newmarklookedathimwithsomeamusement。
　　"Youdon’tmeantosaythatfooledyou！"hemarvelled。
　　"What？"askedOrde。
　　"Allthattalkaboutinsults，andtherestoftherubbish。Hesawwehadspottedhislittlescheme；andhehadtoretreatsomehow。Itwasasplainasthenoseonyourface。"
　　"Youthinkso？"doubtedOrde。
　　"Iknowso。Ifhewasmadatall，itwasonlyatbeingfoundout。"
　　"Maybe，"saidOrde。
　　"We’vegotanenemyonourhandsinanycase，"concludedNewmark，"andonewe’llhavetolookoutfor，Idon’tknowhowhe’lldoit；
　　buthe’lltrytomaketroubleontheriver。Perhapshe’lltrytoblockthestreambynotbreakinghisrollways。"
　　"Oneofthefirstthingswe’lldowillbetoboomthroughachannelwhereMr。Man’srollwayswillbe，"saidOrde。
　　AfaintgleamofapprovallitNewmark’seyes。
　　"Iguessyou’llbeequaltotheoccasion，"saidhedrily。
　　Beforetheafternoontrain，thereremainedfourhours。Thepartnersatoncehuntedoutthelittleone—storyframebuildingneartheriverinwhichJohnsonconductedhisbusiness。
　　Johnsonreceivedthemwithanevidentreserveofsuspicion。
　　"Iseenouseinit，"saidhe，passinghishandoverhishair"slicked"downinthelumber—jackfashion。"Icanrunmeownwidouthelpfromanyman。"
　　"Whichseemstosettlethat！"saidNewmarktoOrdeaftertheyhadleft。
　　"Oh，well，hisdriveissmall；andhe’sbehindus，"Ordepointedout。
　　"True，"saidNewmarkthoughtfully。
　　"Now，"saidNewmark，astheytrudgedbacktotheirhoteltogetlunchandtheirhand—bags。"I’llgettoworkatmypartofit。
　　ThispropositionofHeinzman’shasgivenmeanidea。I’mnotgoingtotrytosellthisstockoutside，buttothemenwhoowntimberalongtheriver。Thentheywon’tbeobjectingtothetolls；forifthecompanymakesanyprofits，partwillgotothem。"
　　"Goodidea！"criedOrde。
　　"I’lltakethesecontracts，toshowwecandothebusiness。"
　　"Allcorrect。"
　　"AndI’llseeaboutincorporation。AlsoI’lllookaboutandgetaproperofficeandequipments，andgetholdofabook—keeper。Ofcoursewe’llhavetomakethisourheadquarters。"
　　"Isupposeso，"saidOrdealittleblankly。Afteraninstanthelaughed。"Doyouknow，Ihadn’tthoughtofthat？We’llhavetolivehere，won’twe？"
　　"Also，"wentonNewmarkcalmly，"I’llbuythesuppliestothebestadvantageIcan，andseethattheygethereingoodshape。Ihaveourpreliminarylists，andasfastasyouthinkyouneedanything，sendarequisitionintome，andI’llseetoit。"
　　"AndI？"inquiredOrde。
　　"You’llgetrightattheconstruction。Gettheboomsbuiltandimprovetheriverwhereitneedsit。Begintogetyourcrew——I’mnotgoingtotellyouhow；youknowbetterthanIdo。Onlygeteverythinginshapefornextspring’sdrive。Youcanstartrightoff。Wehavemymoneytobeginon。"
　　Ordelaughedandstretchedhisarmsoverhishead。
　　"My！She’sanicebigjob，isn’tshe？"hecriedjoyously。
　　XIV
　　Orde，inspiteofhisactivities，managedtoseeCarrollBishoptwiceduringtheensuingweek。
　　OnhisreturnhomelateMondayafternoon，GrandmaOrdeinformedhimwithashrewdtwinklethatshewantedhimsurelyathomethefollowingevening。
　　"I’veaskedinthreeorfouroftheyoungpeopleforacandypull，"
　　saidshe。
　　"Who，mother？"askedOrde。
　　"Yourcrowd。TheSmiths，Collinses，JaneHubbard，andHer，"saidGrandmaOrde，whichprobablywenttoshowthatshehadinthemeantimebeenmakinginquiries，andwassatisfiedwiththem。
　　"Doyousupposethey’llcareforcandypulling？"hazardedOrdealittledoubtfully。
　　"Youmean，willshe？"counteredGrandma。"Well，Ihopeforbothyoursakessheisnotbeyondalittleold—fashionedfun。"
　　Soitproved。Theyoungpeoplestraggledinatanearlyhouraftersupper——everyonehadsupperinthosedays。CarrollBishopandJanearrivednearlythelast。Ordesteppedintothehalltohelpthemwiththeirwraps。Huponthevitalpointoftheevening。Hehadsaidsomethingaboutaplanfortheweekfollowing。
　　"ButyouforgetthatbythattimeIshallbegone，"saidshe。
　　"Gone！"heechoedblankly。"Where？"
　　"Home，"saidshe。"Don’tyourememberIamtogoSundaymorning？"
　　"Ithoughtyouweregoingtostayamonth。"
　　"Iwas，butI——certainthingscameupthatmadeitnecessaryformetoleavesooner。"
　　"I——I’msorryyou’regoing，"stammeredOrde。
　　"SoamI，"saidshe。"I’vehadaverynicetimehere。"
　　"ThenIwon’tseeyouagain，"saidOrde，stillgropingforrealisation。"ImustgotoMonroviato—morrow。ButI’llbedowntoseeyouoff。"
　　"Docome，"saidshe。
　　"It’snottobeforgood？"heexpostulated。"You’llbecomingback。"
　　Shethrewherhandspalmout，withaprettygestureofignorance。
　　"Thatisinthelapofthegods，"saidshe。
　　"WilewassurprisedasheapproachedMissBishoptolifthercloakfromhershoulders，tofindthatthetopofherdaintilypoisedhead，withitssoft，finehair，camewellbelowthelevelofhiseyes。Somehowherpoise，herslendergraceofmovementandofattitude，hadlenthertheimpressionofastatureshedidnotpossess。To—nighthereyes，whilefathomlessasever，shonequietlyinanticipation。
　　"Doyouknow，"shetoldOrdedelightedly，"Ihaveneverbeentoarealcandypullinmylife。Itwassogoodofyourmothertoaskme。Whatadearshelooksto—night。Andisthatyourfather？I’mgoingtospeaktohim。"
　　Sheturnedthroughthenarrowdoorintothelighted，low—ceilingedparlourwherethecompanywerechattingbusily。Ordemechanicallyfollowedher。HewasarrestedbythesoundofJaneHubbard’sslowgood—humouredvoicebehindhim。
　　"Now，Jack，"shedrawled，"Iagreewithyouperfectly；butthatisNOreasonwhyIshouldbeneglectedentirely。Comeandhangupmycoat。"
　　Fullofremorse，Ordeturned。JaneHubbardstoodaccusinglyinthemiddleofthehall，herplain，shrewd，good—humouredfacesmilingfaintly。Ordemetherfrankwideeyeswithsomeembarrassment。
　　"Hereitis，"saidJane，holdingoutthecoat。"Idon’tmuchcarewhetheryouhangitupornot。Ijustwantedtocallyoubacktowishyouluck。"Herslowsmilewidened，andhergrayeyesmethisstillmoreknowingly。
　　Ordeseizedthecoatandherhandatthesametime。
　　"Jane，you’reatrump，"saidhe。"Nowonderyou’rethemostpopulargirlintown。"
　　"OfcourseIam，Jack，"sheagreedindolently。Sheenteredtheparlour。
　　Thecandypullingwasasuccess。Ofcourseeverybodygotburnedalittleandspatteredagooddeal；butthatwastobeexpected。
　　Aftertheproducthadbeenbrokenandbeenpiledondishes，alltroopedtotheinformal"backsitting—room，"whereanopenfireinvitedtostoriesandgamesofthequietersort。Someofthegirlssatinchairs，thoughmostjoinedthemenonthehearth。
　　CarrollBishop，however，seemedpossessedofaspiritofrestlessness。Theplaceseemedtointeresther。Shewanderedhereandthereintheroom，lookingnowatthewalnut—framedphotographofUncleJimOrde，nowatthegreatpinkconchshellseithersidethedoor，nowatthemarble—toppedtablewithitssquarepaper—
　　weightofpolishedagateanditsglass"bell，"beneathwhichstoodaverylife—likerobin。This"backsitting—room"containedlittleinthewayofornament。Itwasfilled，onthecontrary，witholdcomfortablechairs，andworncalf—backedbooks。Thegirlpeeredatthetitlesofthese；butthegas—jetshadbeenturnedlowinfavourofthefirelight，andshehadtogiveovertheefforttoidentifythevolumes。OnceshewanderedclosetoGrandmaOrde’scushionedwoodenrocker，andpassedherhandlightlyovertheoldlady’sshoulder。
　　"DoyoumindifIlookatthings？"sheasked。"It’ssodearandsweetandoldanddifferentfromourNewYorkhomes。"
　　"Lookallyouwantto，dearie，"saidGrandmaOrde。
　　Afteramomentshepassedintothedining—room。HereOrdefoundher，herhandslinkedinfrontofher。
　　"Oh，itissoquaintanddelightful，"sheexhaledslowly。"Thisdear，dearoldhousewithitslowceilingsanditsqueerhaphazardlines，anditsdeepwindows，anditsoldpictures，andqueerunexpectedthingsthattakeyourbreathaway。"
　　"Itisoneoftheoldesthousesintown，"saidOrde，"andIsupposeitispicturesque。But，yousee，Iwasbroughtuphere，soI’musedtoit。"
　　"Waituntilyouleaveit，"saidsheprophetically，"andliveawayfromit。Thenallthesethingswillcomebacktoyoutomakeyourheartacheforthem。"
　　Theyrambledabouttogether，Orde’senthusiasmgraduallykindlingattheflameofherown。HeshowedherthemarvellousandpainstakingpencilsketchofNapoleonlookingoutoveramaltese—crosssunsetdonebyAuntMarthaattheageoften。Ithungframedintheupperhall。
　　"Ithasalwaysbeenthere，eversinceIcanremember，"saidOrde，"andithasseemedtobelongthere。I’veneverthoughtofitasgoodorbad，justasbelonging。"
　　"Iknow，"shenodded。
　　InthisspiritalsotheyviewedtheplasterstatueofWashingtoninthelowerhall，andtheRoger’sgroupintheparlour。Theglasscabinetof"curiosities"interestedhergreatly——thecarvedivorychessmen，thedriedsea—weeds，thestonefromSugarLoafRock，thebitfromthlyouwritemeoccasionally？"hebegged。
　　"Astothat——"shebegan——"I’maverypoorcorrespondent。"
　　"Butwon’tyouwrite？"heinsisted。
　　"Idonotmakeitacustomdeespeciallyhadaninfinitudeofdetailsonhishands。Thefatnote—
　　bookinhissidepocketfilledrapidlywithroughsketches，lists，andestimates。Constantlyheinterviewedmenofallkinds——
　　rivermen，millmen，contractors，boatbuilders，hardwaredealers，pile—drivercaptains，builders，wholesalegrocerymen，cooks，axe—
　　men，choreboys——allalittleworldinitself。
　　Thesignsofprogresssoonmanifestedthemselves。BelowBigBendthepile—driverswereatwork，thesquaremassesoftheirhammersrisingrapidlytothetopsofthederricks，theretopauseamomentbeforedroppingswiftlytoadullTHUMP！Theywereplacingalong，compactrow，whichshouldbetheouterbulwarksseparatingthesorting—boomsfromthechanneloftheriver。Ashorethecarpenterswereknockingtogetheralong，lowstructureforthecook—houseandalargerbuilding，destinedtoserveasbunk—housefortheregularboom—crew。Therewouldalsobeablacksmith’sforge，astorehouse，atoolandsupply—house，abarn，andsmallseparateshantiesforthemarriedmen。Belowmorelabourerswithpicks，ewreckoftheNORTHSTAR，thegoldandsilvershells，theglitteringgeodesandpyrites，thesandal—woodfan，andallthehundredandoneknick—knacksitwasthenthecustomtocollectunderglass。Theyevenventuredpartwayupthecreakyatticstairs，butitwastoodarktoenterthatmysteriousregion。
　　"Ihearthedripofwater，"shewhispered，herfingeronherlips。
　　"It’sthetank，"saidOrde。
　　"AndhasitaDarkPlacebehindit？"shebegged。
　　"That’sjustwhatithas，"saidhe。
　　"And——tellme——arethererealhairtrunkswithbrassknobson’em？"
　　"Yes，motherhastwoorthree。"
　　"O—o—h！"shebreathedsoftly。"Don’ttellmewhat’sinthem。I
　　wanttobelieveinbrocadesandsashes。Doyouknow，"shelookedathimsoberly，"Ineverhadanydarkplacesbehindthetank，normysterioustrunks，whenIwasachild。"
　　"Youmightbeginnow，"suggestedOrde。
　　"DoyoumeantoinsinuateIhaven’tgrownup？"shemocked。"Thankyou！LookOUT！"shecriedsuddenly，"theBoojumwillcatchus，"andpickingupherskirtsshefairlyflewdownthenarrowstairs。Ordecouldhearthelightswishofherdraperiesdownthehall，andthenthepatofherfeetonthestaircarpetofthelowerflight。
　　Hefollowedratherdreamily。Aglanceintothesitting—roomshowedthegroupgatheredclosearoundthefirelisteningtoLemCollin’sattemptataghoststory。Shewasnotthere。Hefoundher，then，intheparlour。Shewaskneelingonthefloorbeforetheglasscabinetofcuriosities，andshehadquiteflattenedherlittlenoseagainstthepane。Athisexclamationshelookedupwithalaugh。
　　"Thisistheproperaltitudefromwhichtoviewacabinetofcuriosities，"saidshe，"andsomethingtellsmeyououghttoflattenyournose，too。"Sheheldoutbothhandstobehelpedup。"Oh，WHATahouseforachild！"shecried。
　　Afterthecompanyhadgone，Ordestoodlongbythefrontgatelookingupintotheinfinitespaces。Somehow，andvaguely，hefeltthenighttobeakintoherelusivespirit。Fartherandfartherhissoulpenetratedintoitsdepths；andyetotherdepthslaybeyond，othermysteries，otherunguessedrealms。Andyetitsbeautywasthesimplicityofspaceanddarkandthestars。
　　Thenexttimehesawherwasatherownhouse——orratherthehouseofthefriendshevisited。OrdewenttocallonFridayeveningandwasluckyenoughtofindthegirlshomeandalone。AfteradecentintervalJanemadeanexcuseandwentout。Theytalkedonagreatvarietyofsubjects，andwithaconsiderableapproachtowardintimacy。NotuntilnearlytimetogodidOrdestumbletowritetoyoungmen。"
　　"Oh！"hecried，believinghimselfenlightened。"WillyouanswerifIwriteyou？"
　　"Thatdepends。"
　　"Onwhat？"
　　"Onwhetherthereisareplytomake。"
　　"ButmayIwriteyou？"
　　"IsupposeIcouldn’tverywellpreventyou，ifyouweresuretoputonathree—centstamp。"
　　"Doyouwantmeto？"persistedOrde。
　　Shebegangentlytolaugh，quitetoherself，asthoughenjoyingajokeentirelywithinherownpersonalprivilege。
　　"Youaresodirectandpersistentandboy—like，"saidshepresently。
　　"Nowifyou’llbeverygood，andnotwhispertotheotherlittlepupils，I’lltellyouhowtheydosuchthingsusually。"Shesatupstraightfromthedepthsofherchair，herwhite，delicatelytaperingforearmsrestinglightlyonherknees。"Youngmendesiringtocommunicatewithyoungladiesdonotaskthembluntly。Theymakesomeexcuse，likesendingabook，amagazine，amarkednewspaper，orevenabitofdesiredinformation。Atthesametime，theysendnotesinformingthegirlofthefact。Thegirlisnaturallyexpectedtoacknowledgethepoliteness。Ifshewishesthecorrespondencetocontinue，sheasksaquestion，orinsomeotherwayleavesanopening。Doyousee？"
　　"Yes，Isee，"saidOrde，slightlycrestfallen。"Butthat’salongtimetowait。Iliketofeelsettledaboutathing。Iwantedtoknow。"
　　Shedroppedbackagainstthecushionedslantofhereasychair，andlaughedagain。