第5章

XII。

ThepicnicwasheldinWhitwell’sClearing，onthesideofLion’sHead，wherethemoss，almostaswhiteassnow，laylikebelateddriftsamongthetall，thingrasswhichoverranthespaceopenedbytheaxe，andcrepttothevergeofthelowpinesgrowingintheshelteroftheloftierwoods。ItwastheendofoneofWhitwell’s"TrampsHometoNature，"ashecalledhiswalksandtalkswiththeladies，andonthisdayWestover’sfellow—painterhadaddedtohislessonsinwoodloretheclaimsofart，intendingthathisclassshouldmakestudiesofvariousbitsintheclearing，andshouldtrytocatchsomethingofitspeculiarcharm。HeaskedWestoverwhathethoughtofthenotion，andWestovergaveithisapproval，whichbecameenthusiasticwhenhesawtheplace。Hefoundinitthemelancholygrace，thepoignantsentimentofruinwhichexpressesitselfinsomemeasurewherevermanhasinvadednatureandthenlefthisconquesttoheragain。InWhitwell’sClearingtheeffectwasintensifiedbytheapproachonthefadingwoodroad，whichthewagonshadmadeinformerdayswhentheyhauledthefallentimbertothepulp—mill。Inplacesitwassovagueandfaintastobehardlyatrail；inothers，wherethewheel—tracksremainedvisible，thetreeshadsentoutanewgrowthoflowerbranchesintheplaceofthoseloppedaway，andalmostforbadetheadvanceoffoot—passengers。TheladiessaidtheydidnotseehowJeffwasevergoingtogetthroughwiththewagon，andtheyexpressedfearsforthelunchhewasbringing，whichseemedonlytoowellgrounded。

ButWhitwell，whowasleadingthemon，said："YouletaDurginalonetodoathingwhenhe’smadeuphismindtoit。Iguessyou’llhaveyourlunchallright"；andbythetimethattheyhadgotenoughofBrowningtheyheardthewelcomesoundofwheelscrashingupondeadboughsandswishingthroughtheunderbrush，and，inthepausesofthesepleasantnoises，thevoiceofJeffDurginencouraginghishorses。Thechildrenofthepartybrokeawaytomeethim，andthenhecameinsightaheadofhisteam，lookingstrongandhandsomeinhiskeepingwiththescene：Beforehegotwithinhearing，theladiesmurmuredahymnofpraisetohistypeofbeauty；theysaidhelookedlikeayoungHercules，andWestoverownedwithaninwardsmilethatJeffhadcertainlymadethebestofhimselfforthetimebeing。Hehadtakenaleaffromthebookofthesummerfolks；

hisstalwartcalvesrevealedthemselvesinthick，ribbedstockings；heworeknickerbockersandaNorfolkjacketofcorduroy；hehadstyleaswellasbeauty，andhehadthecourageofhisclothesandlooks。

WestoverwasstillinthefirstsurpriseoftheAmericanfacts，andhewonderedjustwhatpartinthepicnicJeffwastobearsocially。Hewasneitherquitehostnorguest；butnodoubtintheeasyplayofthelife，whichWestoverwasratherproudtofindsocharming，thequestionwouldsolveitselfrationallyandgracefully。

"Wheredoyouwantthethings？"theyoungfellowaskedofthecompanyatlarge，asheadvanceduponthemfromthegreenportalsoftheroadway，pullingoffhissoftwoolhat，andwipinghiswetforeheadwithhisblue—

borderedwhitehandkerchief。

"Oh，righthere，Jeff！"ThenimblestofthenymphssprangtoherfeetfromtheloungingandcrouchingcircleaboutWestover。Shewasayoungnymphnolonger，butwithadaughternotsomuchyoungerthanherselfastomakethecontrastofhersixteenyearspainful。Westoverrecognizedtheofficious，self—approvingkindofthewoman，butheadmiredthebriskefficiencywithwhichshehadtakenpossessionoftheaffairfromthebeginningandinspiredeveryonetohelp，instrictsubordinationtoherself。

Whentheclothswerelaidonthesmooth，elasticmoss，andthemealwasspread，sheheapedaplatewithoutsufferinganyintervalinheractivities。

"Isupposeyou’vegottogobacktoyourhorses，Jeff，andyoushallbethefirstserved，"shesaid，andsheofferedhimtheplatewithabrightsmileandfriendlygrace，whichweremeanttokeephimfromthehurtofherintention。

Jeffdidnotoffertotaketheplatewhichsheraisedtohimfromwhereshewaskneeling，butlookeddownatherwithperfectintelligence。

"IguessIdon’twantanything，"hesaid，andturnedandwalkedawayintothewoods。

Theill—advisedwomanremainedkneelingforamomentwithheringratiatingsmilehardeningonherface，whilethesenseofherblunderpetrifiedtherest。Shewasthefirsttorecoverherself，andshesaid，withalaughthatshetriedtomakereckless，"Well，friends，Isupposetherestofyouarehungry；IknowIam，"andshebegantoeat。

Theothersate，too，thoughtheirappetitesmightwellhavebeenaffectedbythediplomaticbehaviorofWhitwell。Hewouldnottakeanything，justatpresent，hesaid，andgothislonglengthupfromtherootofatreewherehehadfoldeditdown。"Idon’tseemtocaremuchforanythinginthemiddleoftheday；breakfast’smybestmeal，"andhefollowedJeffoffintothewoods。

"Really，"saidthelady，"whatdidtheyexpect？"Butthequestionwassodifficultthatnooneseemedabletomakethesimpleanswer。

Theincidentdarkenedthedayandspoileditspleasure；itcastalesseningshadowintotheeveningwhentheguestsmetroundthefireinthelarge，uglynewparloratthehotel。

Thenextmorningtheladiesassembledagainonthepiazzatodecidewhatshouldbedonewiththebeautifuldaybeforethem。Whitwellstoodatthefootoftheflag—staffwithonehandstayinghispersonagainstit，likeafigureposedinaphotographtoverifyproportionsinthedifferentfeaturesofaprospect。

Theheroineoftheunhappyaffairofthepicniccouldnotforbearauthorizingherselftoinvokehisopinionatacertainpointofthedebate，and"Mr。Whitwell，"shecalledtohim，"won’tyoupleasecomehereamoment？"

Whitwellslowlypulledhimselfacrossthegrasstothegroup，andatthesamemoment，asifshehadbeenwaitingforhimtobepresent，Mrs。

Durgincameoutoftheofficedoorandadvancedtowardtheladies。

"Mrs。Marven，"shesaid，withthestonypassivitywhichtheladiesusedtonoteinherwhentheycameovertoLion’sHeadFarminthetally—hos，"thestageleaveshereattwoo’clocktogetthedowntrainatthree。I

wantyoushouldhaveyourtrunksreadytogoonthewagonalittlebeforetwo。"

"YouwantIshouldhavemy——Whatdoyoumean，Mrs。Durgin？"

"Iwantyourrooms。"

"Youwantmyrooms？"

Mrs。Durgindidnotanswer。Shelethersteadfastlooksuffice；andMrs。

Marvenwentoninarisingflutter："Why，youcan’thavemyrooms！

Idon’tunderstandyou。I’vetakenmyroomsforthewholeofAugust，andtheyaremine；and——"

"Ihavegottohaveyourrooms，"saidMrs。Durgin。

"Verywell，then，Iwon’tgivethemup，"saidthelady。"Abargain’sabargain，andIhaveyouragreement——"

"Ifyou’renotoutofyourroomsbytwoo’clock，yourthingswillbeputout；andafterdinnerto—dayyouwillnoteatanotherbiteundermyroof。"

Mrs。Durginwentin，anditremainedforthecompanytomakewhattheycouldoftheaffair。Mrs。Marvendidnotwaitfortheresult。Shewasnotadignifiedperson，butsherosewithhauteurandwhippedawaytoherrooms，hersnolonger，tomakeherpreparations。Sheknewatleasthowtogivehergoingtheeffectofquittingtheplacewithdisdainandabhorrence。

Theincidentofherexpulsionwasbrutal，butitwasclearlymeanttobeso。ItmadeWestoveralittlesick，andhewouldhavelikedtopityMrs。

Marvenmorethanhecould。TheladiessaidthatMrs。Durgin’sbehaviorwasanoutrage，andtheyoughtalltoresentitbygoingstraighttotheirownroomsandpackingtheirthingsandleavingonthesamestagewithMrs。Marven。Noneofthemdidso，andtheirtalkveeredaroundtosomethingextenuating，ifnotjustifying，Mrs。Durgin’saction。

"Isuppose，"oneofthemsaid，"thatshefeltmoreindignantaboutitbecauseshehasbeensoverygoodtoMrs。Marven，andherdaughter，too。

Theywerebothsickonherhandshereforaweekaftertheycame，firstoneandthentheother，andshelookedafterthemanddidforthemlikeamother。"

"Andyet，"anotherladysuggested，"whatcouldMrs。Marvenhavedone？

Whatdidshedo？Hewasn’taskedtothepicnic，andIdon’tseewhyheshouldhavebeentreatedasaguest。Hewasthere，purelyandsimply，tobringthethingsandtakethemaway。And，besides，ifthereisanythingindistinctions，indifferences，ifwearetochoosewhoistoassociatewithus——orourdaughters——"

"Thatistrue，"theladiessaid，inoneformoranother，withthetoneofconviction；buttheywerenotsodeeplyconvincedthattheydidnotwantaman’sopinion，andtheyalllookedatWestover。

Hewouldnotrespondtotheirlook，andtheladywhohadarguedforMrs。

Marvenhadtoask："Whatdoyouthink，Mr。Westover？"

"Ah，it’sadifficultquestion，"hesaid。"Isupposethataslongasonepersonbelieveshimselforherselfsociallybetterthananother，itmustalwaysbeafreshproblemwhattodoineverygivencase。"

Theladiessaidtheysupposedso，andtheywereforcedtomakewhattheycouldofwisdominwhichtheymightcertainlyhavefeltawantoffinality。

WestoverwentawayfromtheminaperplexedmindwhichwasnotsimplifiedbythecontempthehadatthebottomofallforsomethingunmanlyinJeff，whohadcarriedhisgrievancetohismotherlikeaslightedboy，andprovokedhertotakeuparmsforhim。

ThesympathyforMrs。Marvenmountedagainwhenitwasseenthatshedidnotcometodinner，orpermitherdaughtertodoso，andwhenitbecameknownlaterthatshehadrefusedforboththedishessenttotheirrooms。

Herfarewellstotheotherladies，whentheygatheredtoseeheroffonthestage，wereairyratherthancheery；therewasalmostademonstrationinherbehalf，butWestoverwasoppressedbyakindofinherentsqualorintheincident。

AtnightherespondedtoaknockwhichhesupposedthatofFrankWhitwellwithice—water，andMrs。Durgincameintohisroomandsatdowninoneofhistwochairs。"Mr。Westover，"shesaid，"ifyouknewallIhaddoneforthatwomanandherdaughter，andhowmuchshehadpretendedtothinkofusall，Idon’tbelieveyou’dbesoreadytojudgeme。"

"Judgeyou！"criedWestover。"Blessmysoul，Mrs。Durgin！Ihaven’tsaidawordthatcouldbetormentedintotheslightestcensure。"

"ButyouthinkIdonewrong？"

"Ihavenotbeenatallabletosatisfymyselfonthatpoint，Mrs。

Durgin。Ithinkit’salwayswrongtorevengeone’sself。"

"Yes，Isupposeitis，"saidMrs。Durgin，humbly；andthetearscameintohereyes。"Igotthetrayreadywithmyownhandsthatwassenttoherroom；butshewouldn’ttouchit。Ipresumeshedidn’tlikehavingaplatepreparedforher！ButIdidfeelsorryforher。Shea’n’toverandabovestrong，andI’mafraidshe’llbesick；therea’n’tanyrest’rantatourdepot。"

WestoverfanciedthisafitmoodinMrs。Durginforherfurtherinstruction，andhesaid："Andifyou’llexcuseme，Mrs。Durgin，Idon’tthinkwhatyoudidwasquitethewaytokeepahotel。"

MoretearsflashedintoMrs。Durgin’seyes，buttheyweretearsofwrathnow。"Iwould’a’doneit，"shesaid，"ifIthoughteverysingleoneof’emwould’a’leftthehousethenextminute，fortherea’n’tonethathasthefirstwordtosayagainstme，anyotherway。Itwa’n’tthatI

caredwhethershethoughtmysonwasgoodenoughtoeatwithherornot；

IknowwhatIthink，andthat’senoughforme。Hewa’n’tinvitedtothepicnic，andhea’n’tonetoputhimselfforward。Ifshedidn’twanthimtostay，allshehadtodowastodonothin’。Buttomakehimupaplatebeforeeverybody，andhandittohimtoeatwiththehorses，likeatramporadog——"Mrs。Durginfilledtothethroatwithherwrath，andthesightofhermadeWestoverkeenlyunhappy。

"Yes，yes，"hesaid，"itwasamiserablebusiness。"Hecouldnothelpadding："IfJeffcouldhavekeptittohimself——butperhapsthatwasn’tpossible。"

"Mr。Westover！"saidMrs。Durgin，sternly。"DoyouthinkJeffwouldcometome，likeagreatcrybaby，andcomplainofmyladyboardersandthewaytheyusedhim？ItwasMr。Whit’ellthatletitout，orIdon’tknowasI

shouldeverknownaboutit。"

"I’mgladJeffdidn’ttellyou，"saidWestover，witharevulsionofgoodfeelingtowardhim。

"He’d’a’diedfirst，"saidhismother。"ButMr。Whit’elldonejustrightallthrough，andIsha’n’tsoonforgetit。Jeff’sgivemeapropergoin’overforwhatIdone；boththeboyshave。ButIcouldn’thelpit，andIshoulddojustsoagain。Allis，Iwantedyoushouldknowjustwhatyouwasblamin’mefor——"

"Idon’tknowthatIblameyou。Ionlywishyoucouldhavehelpedit——

managedsomeotherway。"

"Ididtrytogetoverit，andallIdonewastoloseanight’srest。

Then，thismorning，whenIseehersettin’theresocoolandmightywiththeboarders，andtakin’theleadasusual，IjustwaitedtillshegotWhit’ellacross，andnearlyeverybodywastherethatsawwhatshedonetoJeff，andthenIflewoutonher。"

Westovercouldnotsuppressalaugh。"Well，Mrs。Durgin，yourretaliationwascomplete；itwasdramatic。"

"Idon’tknowwhatyoumeanbythat，"saidMrs。Durgin，risingandresumingherself—control；shedidnotrefuseherselfagrimsmile。

"ButIguessshethoughtitwasprettyperfectherself——orshewill，whenshe’sabletogivehermindtoit。I’msorryforherdaughter；Ineverhadanythingagainsther；orhermother，either，forthatmatter，before。

Frankylookafteryouprettywell？I’llsendhimupwithyourice—water。

Goteverythingelseyouwant？"

IshouldhavetoinventawantifIwishedtocomplain，"saidWestover。

"Well，Ishouldliketohaveyoudoit。Wecan’teverdotoomuchforyou。Well，good—night，Mr。Westover。"

"Good’—night，Mrs。Durgin。"

XIII。

JeffDurginenteredHarvardthatfall，withfewerconditionsthanmoststudentshavetoworkoff。ThiswassetdowntothecreditofLovewellAcademy，wherehehadpreparedfortheuniversity；andsomeobserversinsuchmatterswereinterestedtonotehowthoroughlytheoldschoolinaremotetownhaddoneitsworkforhim。

Nonewhoformedpersonalrelationswithhimatthattimeconjecturedthathehaddonemuchoftheworkforhimself，andeventoWestover，whenJeffcametohimsomeweeksafterhissettlementinCambridge，heseemedpainfullyoutofhiselement，andunamiablyawareofit。Forthetime，atleast，hehadlostthejovialhumor，nottookindlyalways，whichlargelycharacterizedhim，andexpresseditselfinsalliesofironywhichwerenotsounkindly，either。Thepainterperceivedthathewasonhisguardagainsthisownfriendlyinterest；Jeffmadehastetoexplainthathecamebecausehehadtoldhismotherthathewoulddoso。Hescarcelyinvitedareturnofhisvisit，andheleftWestoverwonderingatthesortofvaguerebellionagainsthisnewlifewhichheseemedtobein。ThepainterwentouttoseehiminCambridge，notlongafter，andwasrathergladtofindhimroomingwithsomeotherrusticFreshmaninahumblestreetrunningfromthesquaretowardtheriver；forhethoughtJeffmusthavetakenhislodgingforitscheapness，outofregardtohismother’smeans。ButJeffwasnotgladtobefoundthere，apparently；hesaidatoncethatheexpectedtogetaroomintheYardthenextyear，andeatatMemorialHall。Hespokescornfullyofhisboarding—houseasaplacewheretheywereallalotofjaystogether；andWestoverthoughthimstillmoreatoddswithhisenvironmentthanhehadbefore。ButJeffconsentedtocomeinanddinewithhimathisrestaurant，andafterwardgotothetheatrewithhim。

Whenhecame，Westoverdidnotquitelikehisdespatchofthehalf—bottleofCaliforniaclaretservedeachofthemwiththeItaliantabled’hote。

Hedidnotlikehishavingalreadyseentheplayheproposed；andhefoundsomedifficultyinchoosingaplaywhichJeffhadnotseen。Itappearedthenthathehadbeenatthetheatretwoorthreetimesaweekforthelastmonth，andthatitwasalmostasgreatapassionwithhimaswithWestoverhimself。Hehadbecomealreadyacriticofacting，witharoughgoodsenseofit，andadecidedopinion。Heknewwhichactorshepreferred，andwhichactresses，betterstill。ItwassomeconsolationforWestovertofindthathemostlytookanadmissionticketwhenhewenttothetheatre；but，thoughhecouldnotblameJeffforshowinghisownfondnessforit，hewishedthathehadnothisfondness。

SofarJeffseemedtohavespentveryfewofhiseveningsinCambridge，andWestoverthoughtitwouldbewellifhehadsomeacquaintancethere。

Hemadefavorforhimwithafriendlyfamily，whoaskedhimtodinner。

TheydidittoobligeWestover，againsttheirownjudgmentandknowledge，fortheysaiditwasalwaysthesamewithFreshmen；asingleactofhospitalityfinishedtheacquaintance。Jeffcame，andhebehavedwithasgreatindifferencetothekindnessmeanthimasifhewerediningouteverynight；heexcusedhimselfveryearlyintheeveningonthegroundthathehadtogointoBoston，andheneverpaidhisdinner—call。AfterthatWestovertriedtoconsiderhiswholedutytohimfulfilled，andnottotroublehimselffurther。Nowandthen，however，JeffdisappointedtheexpectationWestoverhadformedofhim，bycomingtoseehim，andbeingapparentlygladoftheprivilege。Buthedidnotmakethepainterthinkthathewasgrowingingraceorwisdom，thoughheapparentlyfeltanincreasingconfidenceinhisownknowledgeoflife。

Westovercouldonlyfeelapainfulinteresttingedwithamusementinhisgrotesquemisconceptionsoftheworldwherehehadnotyetbeguntorighthimself。Jeffbelievedluridthingsofthesocietywhollyunknowntohim；tohisgrosscredulity，Bostonhouses，whichattheworstwerethehomesofastiffandcoldexclusiveness，werethescenesofriotonlylessscandalousthanthedissipationtowhichfashionableladiesabandonedthemselvesatchampagnesuppersintheBackBayhotelsandontheirsecretvisitstotheChineseopium—jointsinKingstonStreet。

Westovertriedtomakehimseehowimpossiblehisfallacieswere；buthecouldperceivethatJeffthoughthimeitherwilfullyignorantorhelplesslyinnocent，andoffarlessauthoritythanabarberwhohadtheentreeofalltheseswellfamiliesashair—dresser，andwhocorroboratedthewitnessofahotelnight—clerk（Jeffwouldnotgivetheirnames）tothedepravityoftheupperclasses。Hehadtocontenthimselfwithsaying："Ihopeyouwillbeashamedsomedayofhavingbelievedsuchrot。

ButIsupposeit’ssomethingyou’vegottogothrough。Youmaytakemywordforit，though？thatitisn’tgoingtodoyouanygood。It’sgoingtodoyouharm，andthat’swhyIhatetohaveyouthinkit，foryourownsake。Itcan’thurtanyoneelse。"

Whatdisgustedthepaintermostwasthat，withallhisbeliefinthewickednessofthefineworld，itwasclearthatJeffwouldhavewillinglybeenofit；andhedivinedthatifhehadanystrongaspirationstheywereforsocietyandforsocialacceptance。Hehadfancied，whenthefellowseemedtocaresolittleforthestudiesoftheuniversity，thathemightcomeforwardinitssports。Jeffgavemoreandmoretheeffectoftremendousstrengthinhispeculiarphysique，thoughtherewasalwaysthedisappointmentofnotfindinghimtall。Hewasofthemiddleheight，buthewashewnoutandsquaredupwardmassively。Hefeltlikestonetoanyaccidentalcontact，andthepainterbroughtawayabruisefromthemerebruntofhisshoulders。HelearnedthatJeffwasafrequenterofthegymnasium，wherehisstrengthmusthavebeenknown，buthecouldnotmakeoutthathehadanystandingamongthemenwhowentinforathletics。IfJeffhadeventhis，thesortofstandingincollegewhichhefailedofwouldeasilyhavebeenwon，too。Buthehadbeenfalselyplacedatthestart，orsomequalityofhisnatureneutralizedotherqualitiesthatwouldhavemadehimaleaderincollege，andheremainedoneoftheleastforwardmeninit。Otherjayswonfavorandliking，andceasedtobejays；Jeffcontinuedajay。Hewasnotchosenintoanyofthenicersocieties；thosethathejoinedwhenhethoughttheywereswellhecouldnotcareforwhenhefoundtheywerenot。

Westovercameintoaknowledgeofthefactsthroughhiscasualandscarcelyvoluntaryconfidences，andhepitiedhimsomewhatwhileheblamedhimagreatdealmore，withoutbeingabletohelphimatall。

Itappearedtohimthatthefellowhadgonewrongmorethroughignorancethanperversity，andthatitwasastubbornnessofspiritratherthanabadnessofheartthatkepthimfromgoingright。Hesometimeswonderedwhetheritwasnotmoreabaffledwishtobejustifiedinhisownesteemthananythingelsethatmadehimovervaluethethingshemissed。HeknewhowsuchanexperienceasthatwithMrs。Marvenranklesintheheartofyouth，andwillnotceasetosmarttillsometriumphinkindbrinesitease；butbetweenthemanofthirtyandtheboyoftwentythereisagulffixed，andhecouldnotask。Hedidnotknowthatacollegemanoftengoeswronginhisfirstyear，outofnoimpulsethathecanveryclearlyaccountforhimself，andthenwhenheceasestobemerelyofhistypeandbecomesmoreofhischaracter，hepullsupandgoesright。HedidnotknowhowmuchJeffhadbeenwithasetthatwasfastwithoutbeingfine。

Theboyhadnowandthenabookinhishandwhenhecame；notalwayssuchabookasWestovercouldhavewished，butstillabook；andtohisoccasionalquestionsabouthowhewasgettingonwithhiscollegework，Jeffmadebriefanswers，whichgavethenotionthathewasnotneglectingit。

TowardtheendofhisfirstyearhesenttoWestoveronenightfromastation—house，wherehehadbeenlockedupforbreakingastreet—lampinBoston。Byhisownshowinghehadnotbrokenthelamp，orassisted，exceptthroughhispresence，atthemisdeedofthetipsystudentswhohaddoneit。Hisbreathbetrayedthathehadbeendrinking，too；butotherwiseheseemedassoberasWestoverhimself，whodidnotknowwhethertoaugurwellorillforhimfromtheproofshehadgivenbeforeofhisabilitytocarryoffabottleofwinewithaperfectlylevelhead。

JeffseemedtobelieveWestoverapersonofsuchinfluencethathecouldsecurehisreleaseatonce，andhewasabashedtofindthathemustpassthenightinthecell，whereheconferredwithWestoverthroughthebars。

Inthepolicecourt，wherehiscompanionswerefined，thenextmorning，hewasdischargedforwantofevidenceagainsthim；buttheuniversityauthoritiesdidnottakethesameviewasthecivilauthorities。Hewassuspended，andforthetimehepassedoutofWestover’ssightandknowledge。

HeexpectedtofindhimatLion’sHead，wherehewenttopassthemonthofAugust——inpaintingthosepicturesofthemountainwhichhadinsomesort，almostinspiteofhim，becomehisspecialty。ButMrs。DurginemployedthefirstfreemomentsaftertheirmeetinginexplainingthatJeffhadgotachancetoworkhiswaytoLondononacattle—steamer，andhadbeenabroadthewholesummer。Hehadwrittenhomethatthevoyagehadbeenglorious，withplentytoeatandlittletodo；andhehadmadefavorwiththecaptainforhisreturnbythesamevesselinSeptember。

ByotherlettersitseemedthathehadspentthetimemostlyinEngland；

buthehadcrossedoverintoFranceforafortnight，andhadspentaweekinParis。HismotherreadsomepassagesfromhislettersaloudtoshowWestoverhowJeffwaskeepinghiseyesopen。Hisaccountsofhistravelwereamixtureofcrudesensationsinthepresenceoffamousscenesandobjectsofinterest，hard—headedobservationofthefactsoflife，narrow—mindedmisconceptionofconditions，andwhollyintelligentandadequatestudyoftheartofinn—keepingincityandcountry。

Mrs。Durginseemedtofeelthattherewassomeexcuseduefortherelativequantityofthelast。"Heknowsthat’swhatI’dcareforthemost；andJeffa’n’tonetoforgethismother。"Asifthewordremindedher，sheadded，afteramoment："Wesha’n’tanyofussoonforgetwhatyoudoneforJeff——thattime。"

"Ididn’tdoanythingforhim，Mrs。Durgin；Icouldn’t，"Westoverprotested。

"Youdonewhatyoucould，andIknowthatyousawthethingintherightlight，oryouwouldn’t’a’triedtodoanything。Jefftoldmeeverywordaboutit。Iknowhewaswithaprettyharum—scarumcrowd。Butitwasalessontohim；andIwa’n’tgoin’tohavehimcomebackhere，rightaway，andhavefolkstalkin’aboutwhattheycouldn’tunderstand，afterthewaythepaperhadit。"

"Diditgetintothepapers？"

"Mm。"Mrs。Durginnodded。"Andsomedirty，sneakin’thing，here，wrotealettertothepaperandtoldapasselo’liesaboutJeffandallofus；

andthepaperprintedJeff’spicturewithit；Idon’tknowhowtheygotaholdofit。Sowhenhegotthatchancetogo，Ijustsaid，’Go。’You’llseehe’llkeepallstraightenoughafterthis，Mr。Westover。"

"OldwomanreadyouanyofJeff’sletters？"Whit—wellasked，whenhischanceforprivateconferencewithWestovercame。"Whatwastherightsofthatscrapehegotinto？"

WestoverexplainedasfavorablytoJeffashecould；theworstoftheaffairwasthebadcompanyhewasin。

Well，wherethere’ssmokethere’ssomefire。Cou’tdischargedhimandcollegesuspendedhim。That’saboutwhereitis？Iguesshe’llkeepouto’harm’swaynexttime。ReadyouwhathesaidaboutthemscenesoftheRevolutioninParis？"

"Yes；heseemstohavelookeditallupprettythoroughly。"

"Doneitforme，Iguess，muchasanything。Iwasalwaystalkin’itupwithhim。Jeff’skep’hiseyesopen，that’safact。He’sgotaheadonhim，more’nIeverthought。"

WestoverdecidedthatMrs。Durgin’sprepotentbehaviortowardMrs。Marventhesummerbeforehadnothurthermaterially，withthewitnesseseven。

Thereweremanynewboarders，butmostofthosewhomhehadalreadymetwereagainatLion’sHead。Theysaidtherewasnoairlikeit，andnoplacesocomfortable。Iftheyhadsoldtheirbirthrightforamessofpottage，Westoverhadtoconfessthatthepottagewasverygood。InsteadoftheIrishwomanattendollarsaweekwhohadhithertobeenMrs。

Durgin’scook，underherpersonalsurveillanceanddirection，shehadnowamancook，whomsheboldlycalledachefandpaideightydollarsamonth。Heworethewhiteapronandwhitecapofhiscalling，butWestoverheardhimspeakYankeethroughhisnosetooneofthestablemenastheyexchangedhilaritiesacrossthespacebetweenthebasementandthebarn—door。"Yes，"Mrs。Durginadmitted，"he’sanAmerican；andhelearnthistradeatoneofthebesthotelsinPortland。He’sprettyheadstrong，butIguesshedoeswhathe’stold——intheend。Themeanyous？

Oh，FrankyWhitwellprintsthen。He’sgotanamateurprinting—officeinthestable—loft。"

XIV。

OnemorningtowardtheendofAugust，Whitwell，whowasstartinghomeward，afterleavinghisladies，burdenedwiththeirwishesandchargesforthemorrow，metWestovercomingupthehillwithhispainting—gearinhishand。"Say！"hehailedhim。"Whydon’tyoucomedowntothehouseto—night？Jackson’sgoin’tocome，and，ifyouha’n’tseenhimworktheplantchetteforaspell，you’llbesurprised。Therea’n’thardlyanybodyhecan’thaveup。You’llcome？Goodenough！"

WhataffectedWestoverfirstofallattheseance，andperhapsmostofall，wasthequalityoftheairinthelittlehouse；itwascloseandstuffy，mixedwithanodorofmouldandanancientsmellofrats。Thekerosene—lampsetinthecentreofthetable，whereJacksonafterwardplacedhisplanchette，devouredthelittlelifethatwasleftinit。AtthegaspswhichWestovergave，withsomedespairingglancesattheclosedwindows，Whitwellsaid："Hot？Well，Iguessitisalittle。But，yousee，Jacksonhasgottobecarefulaboutthenightair；butIguessIcanfixitforyou。"Hewentoutintotheell，andWestoverheardhimraisingawindow。Hecamebackandasked，"Thatdo？It’llgetaroundinheredirectly，"andWestoverhadtoprofessrelief。

JacksoncameinpresentlywiththelittleCanuck，whomWhitwellpresentedtoWestover："KnowJombateeste？"

Thetwoweretalkingaboutalandslidewhichhadtakenplaceontheothersideofthemountain；thenewshadjustcomethattheyhadfoundamongtheruinsthebodyofthefarm—handwhohadbeenmissingsincethemorningoftheslide；hisfuneralwastobethenextday。

Jacksonputhisplanchetteonthetable，andsatdownbeforeitwithasigh；theCanuckremainedstanding，andonfoothewasscarcelyaheadhigherthantheseatedYankees。"Well，"Jacksonsaid，"Isupposeheknowsallaboutitnow，"meaningthedeadfarm—hand。

"Yes，"Westoversuggested，"ifheknowsanything。"

"Knowanything！"Whitwellshouted。"Why，man，don’tyoubelievehe’sasmuchaliveaseverhewas？"

"Ihopeso，"saidWestover，submissively。

"Don’tyouknowit？"

"NotasIknowotherthings。Infact，Idon’tknowit，"saidWestover，andhewaspainfullyawareofhavingshockedhishearersbytheagnosticismsocommonamongmenintownsthathehadconfesseditquitesimplyandunconsciously。Heperceivedthatfaithinthesoulandlifeeverlastingwasasquickaseverinthehills，whatevergrotesqueorunwontedformitwore。Jacksonsatwithclosedeyesandhisheadfallenback；Whitwellstaredatthepainter，withopenmouth；thelittleCanuckbegantowalkupanddownimpatiently；Westoverfeltareproach，almostanabhorrence，inallofthem。

Whitwellasked："Why，don’tyouthinkthere’sanyproofofit？"

"Proof？OhYes。There’stestimonyenoughtocarryconvictiontothestubbornestmindonanyotherpoint。Butit’sverystrangeaboutallthat。Itdoesn’tconvinceanybodybutthewitnesses。Ifamantellsmehe’sseenadisembodiedspirit，Ican’tbelievehim。Imustseethedisembodiedspiritmyself。"

"That’ssomethingso，"saidWhitwell，witharelentinglaugh。

"Ifonecamebackfromthedead，totellusofalifebeyondthegrave，weshouldwanttheassurancethathe’dreallybeendead，andnotmerelydreaming。"

Whitwelllaughedagain，inthedelightthephilosophicmindfindseveninthereasoningthathatesit。

TheCanuckfeltperhapsthesimplerjoythattheaveragemanhasinanystrangenotionthatheisabletograsp。Hestoppedinhiswalkandsaid："Yes，andifyouwasdeadandwenttoheaven，andstayedsolongyousmelt，likeLazarus，andyoucomebackandtol’’emwhatyousaw，nobodygoin’believeyou。"

"Well，Iguessyou’rerightthere，Jombateeste，"saidWhitwell，withpleasureintheCanuck’spoint。AfteramomenthesuggestedtoWestover：

"ThenIs’pose，ifyoufeelthewayyoudo，youdon’tcaremuchaboutplantchette？"