第7章

XVI。

Westovermettheladiescomingoutofthedining—roomashewentinratherlatetobreakfast；hehadbeenmakingastudyofLion’sHeadinthemorninglightafterthecloudliftedfromit。HewasalwaysdoingLion’sHeads，itseemedtohim；buthelovedthemountain，andhewasalwaysfindingsomethingnewinit。

Hewasnowseeingitinwardlywithsoexclusiveavisionthathehadnoeyesfortheseextremelyprettywomentilltheywereoutofsight。Thenherememberednoticingthem，andstartedwithasenseofrecognition，whichheverifiedbythehotelregisterwhenhehadfinishedhismeal。

Itwas，infact，Mrs。JamesW。Vostrand，anditwasMissVostrand，whomWestoverhadknowtenyearsbeforeinItaly。Mrs。Vostrandhadthenlatelycomeabroadfortheeducationofherchildren，andwaspausingindoubtatFlorencewhethersheshouldeducatetheminGermanyorSwitzerland。Herhusbandhadapparentlyabandonedthisquestiontoher，andhedidnotcontributehispresencetohermoralsupportduringherstrugglewithaproblemwhichWestoverrememberedashavingatendencytosolutioninthedirectionofapermanentstayinFlorence。

InthosedayshelikedMrs。Vostrandverymuch，andattwentyheconsideredheratthirtydistinctlymiddle—aged。Foronewintershehadafriendlylittlesalon，whichwasthemostattractiveplaceinFlorencetohim，thenacubpaintersufficientlyunlicked。Hewasawareofherchildrenbeingagooddealinthesalon：agirlofeight，whowaslikehermother，andquiteasavagelittleboyoffive，whomayhavebeenlikehisfather。Ifhewas，andtheabsentMr。Vostrandhadthesamehabitofsulkingandkickingatpeople’sshins，WestovercouldpartlyunderstandwhyMrs。VostrandhadcometoEuropefortheeducationofherchildren。

Itallcamevividlybacktohim，whilehewentaboutlookingforMrs。

Vostrandandherdaughterontheverandasandintheparlors。Buthedidnotfindthem，andhewasgoingtosendhisnametotheirroomswhenhecameuponJeffDurginfiguringabouttheofficeinafreshLondonconceptionofanoutingcostume。

"You’reveryswell，"saidWestover，haltinghimtotakefullnoteofit。

"Likeit？Well，Iknewyou’dunderstandwhatitmeant。Motherthinksit’salittletoorowdy—looking。Herideaisblackbroadclothfrock—coatanddoeskintrousersforagentleman，youknow。"Helaughedwithayoungjoyousness，andthenbecameserious。"Coupleofladieshere，somewhere，I’dliketointroduceyouto。Cameoverwithmefromthedepotlastnight。Verynicepeople，andI’dliketomakeitpleasantforthem——getupsomething——gosomewhere——andwhenyouseetheirstyleyoucanjudgewhatithadbetterbe。Mrs。Vostrandandherdaughter。"

"Thankyou，"saidWestover。"IthinkIknowthemalreadyatleastoneofthem。IusedtogotoMrs。Vostrand’shouseinFlorence。"

"Thatso？Well，factis，Icrossedwiththem；butIcamesecond—cabin，becauseI’dspentallmymoney，andIdidn’tgetacquaintedwiththemontheship，butwemetinthetraincominguplastnight。SaidtheyhadheardofLion’sHeadontheothersidefromfriends。Butitwasquiteacoincidence，don’tyouthink？I’dliketohavethemseewhatthisneighborhoodreallyis；andIwish，Mr。Westover，you’dfindout，ifyoucan，whatthey’dlike。Ifthey’reforwalking，wecouldgetWhitwelltopersonallyconductaparty，andifthey’refordriving，I’dliketoshowthemalittlemountain—coachingmyself。"

"Idon’tknowwhetherI’dbetternotleavethewholethingtoyou，Jeff，"

Westoversaid，afteramoment’sreflection。"Idon’tseeexactlyhowI

couldbringthequestionintoafirstinterview。"

"Well，perhapsitwouldberatherrushingit。But，ifIgetupsomething，you’llcome，Mr。Westover？"

"Iwill，withgreatpleasure，"saidWestover，andhewenttomakehiscall。

Ahalf—hourlaterhewaspassingthedooroftheoldparlorwhichMrs。

Durginstillkeptforhers，onhiswayuptohisroom，whenasoundofangryvoicescameouttohim。ThenthevoiceofMrs。Durgindefineditselfinthewords："I’mnotgoin’tohavetoaskanymorefolksfortheirroomsonyouraccount，JeffDurgin——Mr。Westover！Mr。Westover，isthatyou？"hervoicebrokeofftocallafterhimashehurriedby，"Won’tyoucomeinhereaminute？"

Hehesitated，andthenJeffcalled，"Yes，comein，Mr。Westover。"

Thepainterfoundhimsittingontheoldhair—clothsofa，withhisstickbetweenhishandsandknees，confrontinghismother，whowasrockingexcitedlytoandfrointheoldhair—clotheasy—chair。

"YouknowthesefolksthatJeff’ssocrazyabout？"shedemanded。

"Crazy！"criedJeff，laughingandfrowningatthesametime。"What’scrazyinwantingtogooffonadriveandchooseyourownparty？"

"Doyouknowthem？"Mrs。DurginrepeatedtoWestover。

"TheVostrands？Why，yes。IknewMrs。VostrandinItalyagoodmanyyearsago，andI’vejustbeencallingonherandherdaughter，whowasalittlegirlthen。"

"Whatkindoffolksarethey？"

"Whatkind？Really！Why，they’reverycharmingpeople——"

"SoJeffseemstothink。Anycalltoshowthemanyparticularattention？"

"Idon’tknowifIquiteunderstand——"

"Why，it’sjustthis。Jeff，here，wantstomakeapicnicforthem，orsomething，andIcan’tseethesenseofit。Yourememberwhathappenedatthatotherpicnic，withthatMrs。Marven"——Jefftappedthefloorwithhisstickimpatiently，andWestoverfeltsorryforhim——"andIdon’twantittohappenagain，andI’vetoldJeffso。Ipresumehethinksit’llsethimrightwiththem，ifthey’rethinkin’demeaningofhimbecausehecameoversecond—cabinontheirship。"

Jeffsethisteethandcompressedhislipstobearasbesthecould，thegive—awaywhichhismothercouldnotappreciateinitsimportancetohim：

"They’renotthekindofpeopletotakesuchathingshabbily，"saidWestover。"Theydidn’thappentomentionit，butMrs。Vostrandmusthavegotusedtoseeingyoungfellowsinstraitsofallkindsduringherlifeabroad。IknowthatIsometimesmadethecupofteaandbiscuitsheusedtogivemeinFlorencedodutyforadinner，andIbelievesheknewit。"

JefflookedupatWestoverwithagrateful，sidelongglance。

Hismothersaid："Well，then，that’sallright，andJeffneedn’tdoanythingforthemonthataccount。AndI’vemadeupmymindaboutonething：whateverthehoteldoeshasgottobedoneforthewholehotel。

Itcan’tpickandchooseamongsttheguests。"Westoverlikedsolittlethepartofoldfamilyfriendwhichheseemed，whetherhelikeditornot，tobearwiththeDurgins，thathewouldgladlyhavegotawaynow，butMrs。Durgindetainedhimwithadirectappeal。"Don’tyouthinkso，Mr。Westover？"

Jeffsparedhimthepainofaresponse。"Verywell，"hesaidtohismother；"I’mnotthehotel，andyouneverwantmetobe。Icandothisonmyownaccount。"

"Notwithmycoachandnotwithmyhosses，"saidhismother。

Jeffrose。"ImightaswellgoondowntoCambridge，andgettoworkonmyconditions。"

"Justasyoupleaseaboutthat，"saidMrs。Durgin，withthesameimpassionedquietthatshowedinherson’shandsomefaceandmadeitoneangryredtohisyellowhair。"We’vegotalongwithoutyousofar，thissummer，andIguesswecantherestofthetime。Andthesooneryouworkoffyourconditionsthebetter，Ipresume。"

ThenextmorningJeffcametotakeleaveofhim，whereWestoverhadpitchedhiseaselandcamp—stoolontheslopebehindthehotel。

"Why，areyoureallygoing？"heasked。"Iwasinhopesitmighthaveblownover。"

"No，thingsdon’tblowoversoeasywithmother，"saidJeff，withanembarrassedlaugh，butnoresentment。"Shegenerallymeanswhatshesays。"

"Well，inthiscase，Jeff，Ithinkshewasright。"

"Oh，Iguessso，"saidJeff，pullingupalongbladeofgrassandtakingitbetweenhisteeth。"Anyway，itcomestothesamethingasfarasI’mconcerned。It’sforhertosaywhatshallbedoneandwhatsha’n’tbedoneinherownhouse，evenifitisahotel。That’swhatIshalldoinmine。We’reusedtotheselittledifferences；butwetalkitout，andthat’stheendofit。Ishouldn’treallygo，though，ifIdidn’tthinkIoughttogetinsomeworkonthoseconditionsbeforethethingbeginsregularly。Ishouldhavelikedtohelpherealittle，forI’vehadagoodtimeandIoughttobewillingtopayforit。Butshe’singoodhands。Jackson’swell——forhim——andshe’sgotCynthia。"

TheeasysecurityoftonewithwhichJeffpronouncedthenamevexedWestover。"Isupposeyourmotherwouldhardlyknowhowtodowithouther，evenifyouwereathome，"hesaid，dryly。

"Well，that’safact，"Jeffassented，withalaughforthehit。"AndJacksonthinkstheworldofher。Ibelievehetrustsherjudgmentmorethanhedoesmother’saboutthehotel。Well，Imustbegoing。Youdon’tknowwhereMrs。Vostrandisgoingtobethiswinter，Isuppose？"

"No，Idon’t，"saidWestover。Hecouldnothelpasortofblindresentmentinthesituation。IfhecouldnotfeelthatJeffwasthebestthatcouldbeforCynthia，hehadcertainlynoreasontoregretthathisthoughtscouldbesolightlyturnedfromher。Butthefactanomalouslyincensedhimasaslighttothegirl，whomighthavebeenstillmoresacrificedbyJeff’sconstancy。Heforcedhimselftoadd："IfancyMrs。

Vostranddoesn’tknowherself。"

"IwishIdidn’tknowwhereIwasgoingtobe，"saidJeff。"Well，good—

bye，Mr。Westover。I’llseeyouinBoston。"

"Oh，good—bye。"Thepainterfreedhimselffromhisbrushandpaletteforapartinghandshake，reluctantly。

Jeffplungeddownthehill，wavingafinaladieufromthecornerofthehotelbeforehevanishedroundit。

Mrs。VostrandandherdaughterwereatbreakfastwhenWestovercameinaftertheearlylighthadbeengonesometime。Theyentreatedhimtojointhemattheirtable，andthemothersaid："IsupposeyouwereupsoonenoughtoseeyoungMr。Durginoff。Isn’tittoobadhehastogobacktocollegewhenit’ssopleasantinthecountry？"

"Notbadforhim，"saidWestover。"He’sayoungmanwhocanstandagreatdealofhardwork。"PartlybecausehewasalittletiredofJeff，andpartlybecausehewasembarrassedintheirpresencebythereasonofhisgoing，heturnedthetalkuponthedaystheyhadknowntogether。

Mrs。Vostrandwasverywillingtotalkofherpast，evenapartfromhis，andshetoldhimofhersojourninEuropesinceherdaughterhadleftschool。TheyspenttheirwintersinItalyandtheirsummersinSwitzerland，whereitseemedhersonwasstillathisstudiesinLausanne。ShewishedhimtogotoHarvard，shesaid，andshesupposedhewouldhavetofinishhispreparationatoneoftheAmericanschools；butshehadleftthechoiceentirelytoMr。Vostrand。

Thisseemedastrangeeventaftertwelveyears’stayinEuropefortheeducationofherchildren，butWestoverdidnotfeelauthorizedtomakeanycommentuponit。Hefellrathertothinkinghowverypleasantbothmotheranddaughterwere，andtowonderinghowmuchwisdomtheyhadbetweenthem。Hereflectedthatmenhadverylittlewisdom，asfarasheknewthem，andhequestionedwhether，afterall，themaindifferencebetweenmenandwomenmightnotbethatwomentalkedtheirfolliesandmenactedtheirs。ProbablyMrs。Vostrand，withallherbabble，haddonefewerfoolishthingsthanherhusband，buthereWestoverfelthisjudgmentdisabledbythefactthathehadnevermetherhusband；andhismindbegantowandertoaquestionofherdaughter，whomhehadtherebeforehim。Hefoundhimselfbentuponknowingmoreofthegirl，andtryingtoeliminatehermotherfromthetalk，or，atleast，tomakeGenevieveleadinit。Butapparentlyshewasnotoneofthenaturesthatliketolead；atanyrate，sheremaineddiscreetlyinabeyance，andWestoverfanciedsheevenrespectedhermother’sopinionsandideas。

Hethoughtthisverywellforbothofthem，whetheritwastheeffectofMrs。Vostrand’smeritorMissVostrand’straining。Theyseemedbothofoneexquisitegentleness，andofonesweetmanner，whichwasratherelaborateandformalinexpression。Theydeferredtoeachotheraspolitelyastheydeferredtohim，but，ifanything，thedaughterdeferredmost。

XVII。

TheVostrandsdidnotstaylongatLion’sHead。BeforetheweekwasoutMrs。VostrandhadalettersummoningthemtomeetherhusbandatMontreal，wherethatmysteriousman，whonevercameintotherangeofWestover’svision，somehow，waskeptbybusinessfromjoiningtheminthemountains。

EarlyinOctoberthepainterreceivedMrs。Vostrand’scardathisstudioinBoston，andlearnedfromthescribblewhichcovereditthatshewaswithherdaughterattheHotelVendome。Hewentatoncetoseethemthere，andwasmet，almostbeforethegreetingswerepast，withaprayerforhisopinion。

"Favorableopinion？"heasked。

"Favorable？Ohyes；ofcourse。It’ssimplythis。WhenIsentyoumycard，weweremerelybirdsofpassage，andnowIdon’tknowbutweare——

Whatistheoppositeofbirdsofpassage？"

Westovercouldnotthink，andsaidso。

"Well，itdoesn’tmatter。Wewerewalkingdownthestreet，here，thismorning，andwesawthesignofanapartmenttolet，inawindow，andwethought，justforamusement，wewouldgoinandlookatit。"

"Andyoutookit？"

"No，notquitesorapidasthat。Butitwaslovely；insuchapretty’hotelgarni’，andsoexquisitelyfurnished！Wedidn’treallythinkofstayinginBoston；we’dquitemadeupourmindsonNewYork；butthisapartmentisatemptation。"

"Whynotyield，then？"saidWestover。"That’stheeasiestwaywithatemptation。Confess，now，thatyou’vetakentheapartmentalready！"

"No，no，Ihaven’tyet，"saidMrs。Vostrand。

"AndifIadvisednot，youwouldn’t？"

"Ah，that’sanotherthing！"

"Whenareyougoingtotakepossession，Mrs。Vostrand？"

"Oh，atonce，Isuppose——ifwedo！"

"AndmayIcomeinwhenI’mhungry，justasIusedtodoinFlorence，andwillyoustaymewithflagonsintheoldway？"

"Thereneverwasanythingbuttea，youknowwellenough。"

"Theteahadruminit。"

"Well，perhapsitwillhaveruminithere，ifyou’reverygood。"

"Iwilltrymybest，onconditionthatyou’llmakeanyandeverypossibleuseofme。Mrs。Vostrand，Ican’ttellyouhowverygladIamyou’regoingtostay，"saidthepainter，withafervorthatmadeherimpulsivelyputoutherhandtohim。Hekeptitwhilehecouldadd，"Idon’tforget——Icanneverforget——howgoodyouweretomeinthosedays，"andatthatshegavehishandaquickpressure。"IfIcandoanythingatallforyou，youwillletme，won’tyou。I’mafraidyou’llbesowellprovidedforthattherewon’tbeanything。Askthemtoslightyou，tomisuseyouinsomething，sothatIcancometoyourrescue。"

"Yes，Iwill，"Mrs。Vostrandpromised。"Andmaywecometoyourstudiotoimploreyourprotection？"

"Thesoonerthebetter。"Westovergothimselfawaywithaverysweetfriendshipinhisheartforthisratheranomalouslady，who，morethanhalfherdaughter’slife，hadlivedawayfromherdaughter’sfather，uponapparentlyperfectlygoodtermswithhim，andsodiscreetlyandself—respectfullythatnobreathofreproachhadtouchedher。Untilnow，however，herpositionhadnotreallyconcernedWestover，anditwouldnothaveconcernedhimnow，ifithadnotbeenforadesignthatformeditselfinhismindassoonasheknewthatMrs。VostrandmeanttopassthewinterinBoston。Hefeltatoncethathecouldnotdothingsbyhalvesforawomanwhohadoncedonethemforhimbywholesandsomethingover，andhehadinstantlydecidedthathemustnotonlybeverypleasanttoherhimself，buthemustgethisfriendstobepleasant，too。HisfriendsweresomeofthenicestpeopleinBoston；niceinboththepersonalandthesocialsense；heknewtheywouldnothesitatetosacrificethemselvesforhiminagoodcause，andthatmadehimallthemoreanxiousthatthecauseshouldbegoodbeyondquestion。

SincehislastreturnfromParishehadbeenratherafadasateacher，andhisclasshadbeenkeptquitestrictlytotheladieswhogotitupandtosuchastheychosetoletenterit。Thesewerenotallchosenforwealthorfamily；thereweresomewhosegiftsgavetheclassdistinction，andtheladiesweregladtohavethem。ItwouldbeeasytoexplainMrs。

Vostrandtothese，buttheothersmightbemoredifficult；theymighthavetheiranxieties，andWestovermeanttoasktheleaderoftheclasstohelphimreceiveatthestudioteahehadatonceimaginedfortheVostrands，andthatwouldmakeherdoublyresponsible。

Hefoundhimselfdrawingaverydeepandlongbreathbeforehebegantomountthemanystairstohisstudio，andwishingeitherthatMrs。

VostrandhadnotdecidedtospendthewinterinBoston，orelsethathewereofaslackerconscienceandcouldwearhisgratitudemorelightly。

Buttherewassomereliefinthinkingthathecoulddonothingforamonthyet。Hegainedadegreeofcouragebytellingtheladies，whenhewenttofindthemintheirnewapartment，thatheshouldwantthemtomeetafewofhisfriendsatteaassoonaspeoplebegantogetbacktotown；andhemadethemostoftheirinstantjoyinacceptinghisinvitation。

Hispleasurewassomehowdashedalittle，beforeheleftthem，bytheannouncementofJeffDurgin’sname。

"Ifeltboundtosendhimmycard，"saidMrs。Vostrand，whileJeffwasfollowinghisupintheelevator。"HewassoverykindtousthedaywearrivedatZion’sHead；andIdidn’tknowbuthemightbefeelingalittlesensitiveaboutcomingoversecond—cabininourship；and——"

"Howlikeyou，Mrs。Vostrand！"criedWestover，andhewasnowdistinctlygladhehadnottriedtosneakoutofdoingsomethingforher。"Yourkindnesswon’tbeworsewastedonDurginthanitwasonme，intheolddays，whenIsupposedIhadtakenasecond—cabinpassageforthevoyageoflife。There’sagreatdealofgoodinhim；Idon’tmeantosayhegotthroughhisFreshmanyearwithouttroublewiththecollegeauthorities，buttheSophomoreyeargenerallybringswisdom。"

"Oh，"saidMrs。Vostrand，"they’realwaysalittlewildatfirst，I

suppose。"

Later，theladiesbroughtJeffwiththemwhentheycametoWestover’sstudio，andthepainterperceivedthattheywereverygoodfriends，asiftheymusthavemetseveraltimessincehehadseenthemtogether。

HeinterestedhimselfinthegrowingcorrectnessofJeff’spersonaleffect。DuringhisFreshmanyear，whiletherigoroftheunwrittenHarvardlawyetforbadehimasilkhatoracane，hehadkeptsomethingoftheboy，ifnotthecountryboy。Westoverhadnotedthathehadalwaysratheratasteforclothes，butinthisfirstyearhedidnotgetbeyondaderby—hatandasack—coat，variedtowardtheendbyacutaway。

Intheoutingdressheworeathomehewasalwayseffective，buttherewassomethinginJeff’sfigurewhichdidnotlenditselftomoreformalfashion；somethingofherculeanproportionwhichwouldhavemarkedhimofaclassicbeautyperhapsifhehadnotbeeninclothesatall，orofayeomanlyvigorandforceifhehadbeencladforwork，butwhichseemedtothreatenthemoreworldlyconceptionsofthetailorwithdanger。

Itwasasifhewereabouttoburstoutofhisclothes，notbecauseheworethemtight，butbecausetherewassomehowmoreofthemanthanthecitizeninhim；somethingnative，primitive，somethingthatWestovercouldnotfindquiteawordfor，characterizedhimphysicallyandspiritually。Whenhecameintothestudioafterthesedelicateladies，therobustJeffDurginworealongfrockcoat，withaflowerinhisbutton—hole，andinhislefthandhecarriedasilkhatturnedoverhisforearmashemusthavenoticedpeoplewhomhethoughtstylishcarryingtheirhats。Hehadondark—graytrousersandsharp—pointedenamelled—

leathershoes；andWestovergrotesquelyreflectedthathewasdressed，ashestood，toleadGenevieveVostrandtothealtar。

WestoversawatoncethatwhenhemadehisstudioteafortheVostrandshemustaskJeff；itwouldbecruel，andforseveralreasonsimpossible，nottodoso，andhereallydidnotseewhyheshouldnot。Mrs。Vostrandwastakinghimontherightground，asaHarvardstudent，andnobodyneedtakehimonanyother。Possiblypeoplewouldaskhimtoteasattheirownhouses，fromWestover’sstudio，buthecouldnotfeelthathewasconcernedinthat。Societyisinterestedinaman’sfuture，nothispast，asitisinterestedinawoman’spast，notherfuture。

Butwhenhegavehisteaitwentoffwonderfullywellineveryway，perhapsbecauseitwasoneofthefirstteasofthefall。Itbroughtpeopletogetherintheirautumnalfreshnessbeforethewinterhadbeguntowithertheirresolutionstobeamiabletooneanother，todulltheirwits，tostaletheirstories，ortogivesowideacurrencytotheirsayingsthattheycouldnotfreelyriskthemwitheveryone。

Westoverhadthoughtitbesttobefrankwiththeleadingladyofhisclass，whenshesaidsheshouldbedelightedtoreceiveforhim，andwouldprovidesuitableyoungladiestopour：abrunetteforthetea，andablondeforthechocolate。ShetookhisscrupulosityverylightlywhenhespokeofMrs。Vostrand’seducationalsojourninEurope；shelaughedandsaidsheknewthetype，andthesituationwasoneofthemostobviousphasesoftheAmericanmarriage。

HeprotestedinvainthatMrs。Vostrandwasnotthetype；shelaughedagain，andsaid，Oh，typeswerenevertypical。ButshewashospitablygraciousbothtoherandtoMissGenevieve；shewouldnotallowthatthemotherwasnotthetypewhenWestoverchallengedherexperience，butshesaidtheywerecharming，andmadehastetogetridofthequestionwiththevividdemand："Butwhowasyouryoungfriendwhooughttohavewornalion—skinandcarriedaclub？"

Westoverbythistimedisdainedpalliation。HesaidthatJeffwasthesonofthelandladyatLion’sHeadMountain，whichhehadpaintedsomuch，andhewasnowinhissecondyearatHarvard，wherehewasgoingtomakealawyerofhimself；andthisinterestedthelady。Sheaskedifhehadtalent，andanumberofotherthingsabouthimandabouthismother；

andWestoverpermittedhimselftoberathergraphicintellingofhisacquaintancewithMrs。Durgin。

XVIII。

Afterall，itwasratherasimple—heartedthingofWestovertohaveeitherhopedorfearedverymuchfortheVostrands。Society，inthesenseofgoodsociety，canalwaystakecareofitself，anddoessoperfectly。InthecaseofMrs。VostrandsomeladieswholikedWestoverandwishedtobeciviltohimaskedherandherdaughtertootherafternoonteas，shookhandswiththemattheircoming，andsaid，whentheywent，theyweresorrytheymustbegoingsosoon。Inthecrowdspeoplerecognizedthemnowandthen，bothofthosewhohadmetthematWestover’sstudio，andofthosewhohadmetthematFlorenceandLausanne。Butiftheseweremerelypeopleoffashiontheywerereadily，ridoftheVostrands，whomthedullestamongthemquicklyperceivednottobeoftheirownsort，somehow。ManyoftheladiesofWestover’sclassmadeGenevievepromisetoletthempainther；andherbeautyandhergraceavailedforseverallargedancesatthehousesofmoredaringspirits，wherethedaughtersmadeadutyofgettingpartnersforher，anddischargeditconscientiously。Butthereneverwasanapproachtomoreintimatehospitalities，andtowardtheendofFebruary，whengoodsocietyinBostongoessouthwardtoindulgeaLentengriefatOldPointComfort，GenevievehadsomanyvacantafternoonsandeveningsatherdisposalthatshecouldnothavetruthfullypleadedapreviousengagementtotheinvitationsJeffDurginmadeher。Theywerechieflyforthetheatre，andWestoversawhimwithherandhermotheratdifferentplays；hewonderedhowJeffhadcaughtontothenotionofaskingMrs。Vostrandtocomewiththem。

Jeff’sintroductionsatWestover’steahadnotbeenmany，andtheyhadnotavailedhimatall。HehadbeenaskedtonoBostonhouses，andwhenotherstudents，whomheknew，weregoingintodances，thewholewinterhewassociallyasquiet，butfortheVostrands，asattheMid—yearExaminations。Westovercouldnotresenttheneglectofsocietyinhiscase，andhecouldnotfindthathequiteregrettedit；buthethoughtitcharacteristicallyniceofMrs。Vostrandtomakeasmuchofthefriendlessfellowasshefitlycould。Hehadnodoubtbuthertactwouldbeequaltohismanagementineveryway，andthatshecouldeasilyseetoitthathedidnotbecomeembarrassingtoherdaughterorherself。

Oneday，aftertheeastwindhadceasedtoblowthebreathoftheice—

fieldsofLabradoragainsttheNewEnglandcoast，andthebudsonthetreesalongthemallbetweenthelawnsoftheavenuewereventuringforthinahardyexperimentoftheBostonMay，Mrs。VostrandaskedWestoverifshehadtoldhimthatMr。VostrandwasactuallycomingontoBoston。

Herejoicedwithherinthisprospect，andhereciprocatedthewishwhichshesaidMr。Vostrandhadalwayshadforameetingwithhimself。

Afortnightlater，whentheleaveshadsofarinuredthemselvestotheweatherastohavefullyexpanded，sheannouncedanotherletterfromMr。

Vostrand，sayingthat，afterall，heshouldnotbeabletocometoBoston，buthopedtobeinNewYorkbeforeshesailed。

"Sailed！"criedWestover。

"Why，yes！Didn’tyouknowweweregoingtosailinJune？IthoughtI

hadtoldyou！"