第9章

ItoccurredtoWestover，andnotforthefirsttime，thatthefrankestthinginJeffDurginwashisdispositiontousehisfriends。ItseemedtohimthatJeffwasalwaysaskingsomethingofhim，anditdidnotchangethefactthatinthiscasehethoughthimaltogetherintheright。

HesaidthatifMrs。Durginspoketohimofthematterhewouldnotkeepthelightfromher。Helookedbehindhim，now，forthefirsttime，inrecognitionoftheplacewheretheyhadstopped。"Why，thisisWhitwell’sClearing。"

"Didn’tyouknowit？"Jeffasked。"Itchangesagooddealeveryyear，andyouhaven’tbeenhereforawhile，haveyou？"

"NotsinceMrs。Marven’spicnic，"saidWestover，andheadded，quickly，toeffacethepainfulassociationwhichhemusthavecalledupbyhisheedlesswords：

"Thewoodshavecrowdedbackuponitso。Itcan’tbemorethanhalfitsoldsize。"

"No，"Jeffassented。Hestruckhisheelagainstafragmentofthepineboughhehadbeenwhittling，anddroveitintothesoftgroundbesidethelog，andsaid，withoutlookingupfromit："Imetthatwomanatadancelastwinter。Itwasn’therdance，butshewasrunningitasifitwere，justthewayshedidwiththepicnic。Sheseemedtowanttoletbygonesbebygones，andIdancedwithherdaughter。She’sanicegirl。

Ithoughtmotherdidwrongaboutthat。"NowhelookedatWestover。

"Shecouldn’thelpit，butitwasn’tthethingtodo。Ahotelisapublichouse，andyoucan’tactasifitwasn’t。Ifmotherhadn’tknownhowtokeepahotelsowellinotherways，shemighthaveruinedthehousebynotknowinginathinglikethat。Butwe’vegotsomeofthepeoplewithusthisyearthatusedtocomeherewhenwefirsttookfarm—

boarders；motherdon’tknowthatthey’reeversomuchnicer，socially，thanthepeoplethattakethefifty—dollarrooms。"Helaughed，andthenhesaid，seriously："IfIeverhadason，Idon’tbelieveIshouldletmyprideinhimriskdoinghimmischief。Andifyou’veamindtoletherunderstandthatyoubelieveI’msetagainstthelawforgoodandall——"

"IguessIshallnotbeyourambassador，sofarasthat。Whydon’tyoutellheryourself？"

"Shewon’tbelieveme，"saidJeff，withalaugh。"ShethinksIdon’tknowmymind。AndIdon’tlikethewaywedifferwhenwediffer。Wediffermorethanwemeanto。Idon’tpretendtosayI’malwaysright。

Shewasrightaboutthatotherpicnic——theoneIwantedtomakeforMrs。

Vostrand。Isuppose，"heended，unexpectedly，"thatyouhearfromthem，nowandthen？"

"No，Idon’t。Ihaven’theardfromthemforayear；notsince——YouknewGenevievewasmarried？"

"Yes，Iknewthat，"saidJeff，steadily。

"Idon’tquitemakeitallout。Mr。Vostrandwasverymuchopposedtoit，Mrs。Vostrandtoldme；buthemusthavegivenwayatlast；andhemusthaveputupthemoney。"Jefflookedpuzzled，andWestoverexplained。"YouknowtheofficersintheItalianarmy——andalltheotherarmiesinEurope，forthatmatter——havetodepositacertainsumwiththegovernmentbeforetheycanmarryandinthecaseofCountGrassi，Mr。Vostrandhadtofurnishthemoney。"

Jeffsaid，afteramoment："Well，shecouldn’thelpthat。"

"No，thegirlwasn’ttoblame。Idon’tknowthatanyonewastoblame。

ButI’mafraidourgirlswouldn’tmarrymanytitlesiftheirfathersdidn’tputupthemoney。"

"Well，Idon’tseewhytheyshouldn’tspendtheirmoneythatwayaswellasanyother，"saidJeff，andthisproofofhisimpartialitysuggestedtoWestoverthathewasnotonlyindifferenttothemercenaryinternationalmarriages，whichareascandaltosomanyofourcasuists，buthadquiteoutlivedhispassionforthegirlconcernedinthis。

"Atanyrate，"Jeffadded，"Ihaven’tgotanythingtosayagainstit。

Mr。Westover，I’vealwayswantedtosayonethingtoyou。ThenIcametoyourroomthatnight，IwantedtocomplainofMrs。Vostrandfornotlettingmeknowabouttheengagement；andIwasn’tmanenoughtoacknowledgethatwhatyousaidwouldaccountfortheirlettingmemakeafoolofmyself。ButIbelieveIamnow，andIwanttosayit。"

"I’mgladyoucanseeitinthatway，"saidWestover，"andsinceyoudo，Idon’tmindsayingthatIthinkMrs。Vostrandmighthavebeenalittlefrankerwithyouwithoutbeinglesskind。Shewaskind，butshewasn’tquitefrank。"

"Well，it’sallovernow，"saidJeff，andheroseupandbrushedthewhittlingsfromhisknees。"AndIguessit’sjustaswell。"

XXI。

ThatafternoonWestoversawJeffhelpingCynthiaWhitwellintohisbuckboard，andthen，afterhislivelyhorsehadmadesomepacesofastart，springtotheseatbesideher，andbringittoastand。"CanIdoanythingforyouoveratLovewell，Mr。Westover？"hecalled，andhesmiledtowardthepainter。Thenhelightenedthereinsonthemare’sback；shesquaredherselfforastartinearnest，andflasheddowntheslopinghotelroadtothehighwaybelow，andwaslosttosightintheclumpofwoodstothesouthward。

"That’sagoodfriendofyours，Cynthy，"hesaid，leaningtowardthegirlwithasimplecomfortinherproximity。Shewasdressedinapale—pinkcolor，withahatofyetpalerpink；withouthavingagreatdealoffashion，shehadagooddealofstyle。Shelookedbrightandfresh；

therewasadashofpinkinhercheeks，whichsuggestedthecolorofthesweetbrier，itspurityandsweetness，andiftherewassomethinginCynthia’scharacterandtemperamentthatsuggesteditsthornstoo，onestillcouldnotdenythatshewaslikethatflower。Shelikedtoshop，andshelikedtorideafteragoodhorse，astheneighborswouldhavesaid；shewasgoingovertoLovewelltobuyanumberofthings，andJeffDurginwasdrivinghertherewiththeswiftmarethatwashispeculiarproperty。Shesmileduponhimwithouttheusualreservationsshecontrivedtoexpressinhersmiles。

"Well，Idon’tknowanybodyI’dratherhaveformyfriendthanMr。

Westover。"Sheadded："HeactedlikeafriendtheveryfirsttimeIsawhim。"

Jefflaughedwithshamelesspleasureinthereminiscenceherwordssuggested。"Well，Ididgetmycome—uppingsthattime。AndIdon’tknowbuthe’sbeenaprettygoodfriendtome，too。I’mnotsurehelikesme；

butMr。Westoverisamanthatcouldbeyourfriendifhedidn’tlikeyou。"

"Whathaveyoudonetomakehimlikeyou？"askedthegirl。

"Nothing！"saidJeff，withashoutoflaughterinhisconviction。

"I’vedonealotofthingstomakehimdespisemefromthestart。Butifyoulikeapersonyourself，youwanthimtolikeyouwhetheryoudeserveitornot。"

"Idon’tknowasIdo。"

"Yousaythatbecauseyoualwaysdeserveit。Youcan’ttellhowitiswithafellowlikeme。Ishouldwantyoutolikeme，Cynthy，whateveryouthoughtofme。"Helookedroundintoherface，butsheturneditaway。

Theyhadstruckthelevel，longforthehillcountry，atthefootofthehotelroad，andthemare，thatfoundherselfneithermountingnordescendingasteep，droppedfromthetrotproperforanacclivityintoarapidwalk。

"ThismarecanwalklikeaKentuckyhorse，"saidJeff。"IbelieveI

couldteachhersingle—foot。"Headded，withalaugh，"IfIknewhow，"

andnowCynthialaughedwithhim。

"Iwasjustgoingtosaythat。"

"Yes，youdon’tlosemanychancestogivemeadig，doyou？"

"Oh，Idon’tknowasIlookforthem。PerhapsIdon’tneedto。"Thepinewoodsweredeeponeitherside。Theywhisperedinthethin，sweetwind，andgaveouttheirodorinthehigh，westeringsun。Theycoveredwiththeirshadowstheroadthatranvelvetybetweenthem。

"Thisisnice，"saidJeff，lettinghimselfrestagainstthebackoftheseat。Hestretchedhisleftarmalongthetop，andpresentlyitdroppedandfoldeditselfaboutthewaistofthegirl。

"Youmaytakeyourarmaway，Jeff，"shesaid，quietly。

"Why？"

"Becauseithasnorightthere，foronething！"Shedrewherselfalittleasideandlookedroundathim。"Youwouldn’tputitroundatowngirlifyouwereridingwithher。"

"Ishouldn’tberidingwithher：Girlsdon’tgobuggy—ridingintownanymore，"saidJeff，brutally。

"ThenIshallknowwhattodothenexttimeyouaskme。"

"Oh，they’dgoquickenoughifIaskedthemuphereinthecountry。

Etiquettedon’tcountwiththemwhenthey’reonavacation。"

"I’mnotonavacation；soitcountswithme。Pleasetakeyourarmaway，"saidCynthia。

"Oh，allright。ButIshouldn’tobjecttoyourputtingyourarmaroundme。"

"Youwillneverhavethechance。"

"Whyareyousohardonme，Cynthy？"askedJeff。"Youdidn’tusedtobeso。"

"Peoplechange。"

"DoI？"

"Notforthebetter。"

Jeffwasdumb。Shewaspleasedwithherhit，andlaughed。Butherlaughdidnotencouragehimtoputhisarmroundheragain。Heletthemarewalkon，andlefthertoresumetheconversationatwhateverpointshewould。

Shemadenohastetoresumeit。Atlastshesaid，withsufficientapparentremotenessfromthesubjecttheyhaddropped："Jeff，Idon’tknowwhetheryouwantmetotalkaboutit。ButIguessIoughtto，evenifitisn’tmyplaceexactly。Idon’tthinkJackson’sverywell，thissummer。"

Jefffacedroundtowardher。"Whatmakesyouthinkheisn’twell？"

"He’sweaker。Haven’tyounoticedit？"

"Yes，Ihavenoticedthat。He’sworkeddown；that’sall。"

"No，thatisn’tall。Butifyoudon’tthinkso——"

"Iwanttoknowwhatyouthink，Cynthy，"saidJeff，withtheamorousresentmentallgonefromhisvoice。"Sometimesfolksoutsidenoticethesignsmore——Idon’tmeanthatyou’reanoutsider，asfaraswe’reconcerned——"

Sheputbythatpoint。"Father’snoticedit，too；andhe’swithJacksonagooddeal。"

"I’lllookafterit。Ifheisn’tsowell，he’sgottohaveadoctor。

Thatmedium’sstuffcan’tdohimanygood。Don’tyouthinkheoughttohaveadoctor？"

"Ohyes。"

"Youdon’tthinkadoctorcandohimmuchgood？"

"Heoughttohaveone，"saidthegirl，noncommittally。

"Cynthia，I’venoticedthatJacksonwasweak，too；andit’snousepretendingthathe’ssimplyworkeddown。Ibelievehe’swornout。Doyouthinkmother’severnoticedit？"

"Idon’tbelieveshehas。"

"It’stheonethingIcan’tverywellmakeupmymindtospeaktoherabout。Idon’tknowwhatshewoulddo。"Hedidnotsay，"IfshelostJackson，"butCynthiaknewhemeantthat，andtheywerebothsilent。

"Ofcourse，"hewenton，"Iknowthatsheplacesagreatdealofdependenceuponyou，butJackson’shermainstay。He’sagoodman，andhe’sagoodson。IwishI’dalwaysbeenhalfasgood。"

Cynthiadidnotprotestagainsthisself—reproachashepossiblyhopedshewould。Shesaid："IthinkJackson’sgotaverygoodmind。Hereadsagreatdeal，andhe’sthoughtagreatdeal，andwhenitcomestotalking，Ineverheardanyoneexpressthemselvesbetter。Theothernight，wewereoutlookingatthestars——Icamepartofthewayhomewithhim；Ididn’tliketolethimgoalone，heseemedsofeebleandhegottoshowingmeMars。Hethinksit’sinhabited，andhe’sreadallthattheastronomerssayaboutit，andtheseasandthecanalsthatthey’vefoundonit。Hespokeverybeautifullyabouttheotherlife，andthenhespokeaboutdeath。"Cynthia’svoicebroke，andshepulledherhandkerchiefoutofherbelt，andputittohereyes。Jeff’sheartmeltedinhimatthesight；hefeltatenderaffectionforher，veryunlikethegrosscontenthehadenjoyedinherpresencebefore，andheputhisarmroundheragain，butthistimealmostunconsciously，anddrewhertowardhim。Shedidnotrepelhim；sheevenallowedherheadtorestamomentonhisshoulder；thoughshequicklyliftedit，anddrewherselfaway，notresentfully，itseemed，butforhergreaterfreedomintalking。

"Idon’tbelievehe’sgoingtodie，"Jeffsaid，consolingly，moreasifitwereherbrotherthanhisthathemeant。"Buthe’saverysickman，andhe’sgottoknockoffandgosomewhere。Itwon’tdoforhimtopassanotherwinterhere。HemustgotoCalifornia，orColorado；they’dbegladtohavehimthere，eitherofthem；orhecangotoFlorida，orovertoItaly。Itwon’tmatterhowlonghestays——"

"Whatareyoutalkingabout，JeffDurgin？"Cynthiademanded，severely。"

Whatwouldyourmotherdo？Whatwouldshedothiswinter？"

"Thatbringsmetosomething，Cynthia，"saidJeff，"andIdon’twantyoutosayanythingtillI’vegotthrough。IguessIcouldhelpmotherruntheplaceaswellasJackson，andIcouldstayherenextwinter。"

"You？"

"Now，youletmetalk！Mymind’smadeupaboutonething：I’mnotgoingtobealawyer。Idon’twanttogobacktoHarvard。I’mgoingtokeepahotel，and，ifIdon’tkeeponehereatLion’sHead，I’mgoingtokeepitsomewhereelse。"

"Haveyoutoldyourmother？"

"Notyet：Iwantedtohearwhatyouwouldsayfirst。"

"I？Oh，Ihaven’tgotanythingtodowithit，"saidCynthia。

"Yes，youhave！You’vegoteverythingtodowithit，ifyou’llsayonethingfirst。Cynthia，youknowhowIfeelaboutyou。It’sbeensoeversincewewereboyandgirlhere。Iwantyoutopromisetomarryme。

Willyou？"

Thegirlseemedneithersurprisednorverygreatlypleased；perhapsherpleasurehadspentitselfinthatmomentoftriumphantexpectationwhensheforesawwhatwascoming，orperhapsshewaspreoccupiedinclearingthewayinherownmindtoadefiniteresult。

"Whatdoyousay，Cynthia？"Jeffpursued，withmoreinjurythanmisgivinginhisvoiceatherdelayinanswering。"Don’tyou—careforme？"

"Ohyes，IpresumeI’vealwaysdonethat——eversincewewereboyandgirl，asyousay。But————"

"Well？"saidJeff，patiently，butnotinsecurely。

"Haveyou？"

"HaveIwhat？"

"Alwayscaredforme。"

Hecouldnotfindhisvoicequiteaspromptlyasbefore。Heclearedhisthroatbeforeheasked："HasMr。Westoverbeensayinganythingaboutme？"

"Idon’tknowwhatyoumean，exactly；butIpresumeyoudo。"

"Well，then——Ialwaysexpectedtotellyou——Ididhaveafancyforthatgirl，forMissVostrand，andItoldherso。It’slikesomethingthatneverhappened。Shewouldn’thaveme。That’sall。"

"Andyouexpectmetotakewhatshewouldn’thave？"

"Ifyouliketocallitthat。ButIshouldcallittakingamanthathadbeenoutofhisheadforawhile，andhadcometohissensesagain。"

"Idon’tknowasIshouldeverfeelsafewithamanthathadbeenoutofhisheadonce。"

"Youwouldn’tfindmanymenthathadn’t，"saidJeff，withalaughthatwasratherscornfulofherignorance。

"No，Ipresumenot，"shesighed。"Shewasbeautiful，andIbelieveshewasgood，too。Shewasverynice。PerhapsIfeelstrangelyaboutit。

But，ifshehadn’tbeensonice，Ishouldn’thavebeensowillingthatyoushouldhavecaredforher。"

"IsupposeIdon’tunderstand，"saidJeff，"butIknowIwashardhit。

What’stheuse？It’sover。She’smarried。Ican’tgobackandunliveitall。Butifyouwanttimetothink——ofcourseyoudo——I’vetakentimeenough——"

Hewasabouttoliftthereinsonthemare’sbackasasigntoherthatthetalkwasoverforthepresent，andtoquickenherpace，whenCynthiaputoutherhandandlaiditonhis，andsaidwithacertaineffectofauthority："Ishouldn’twantyoushouldgiveupyourlastyearinHarvard。"

"Justasyousay，Cynthy；"andintokenofintelligencehewoundhisarmroundherneckandkissedher。Itwasnotthefirstkissbyanymeans；

inthecountrykissesarenotcountedveryserious，oratallbinding，andCynthiawasacountrygirl；buttheybothfeltthatthiskisssealedasolemntrothbetweenthem，andthatacommonlifebeganforthemwithit。

XXII。

Cynthiacamebackintimetogointothedining—roomandseethatallwasinorderthereforsupperbeforethedooropened。Thewaitressesknewthatshehadbeenoutriding，astheycalledit，withJeffDurgin；thefacthadspreadelectricallytothemwheretheysatinashadyangleofthehotellisteningtoonewhoreadanovelaloud，andskippedallbutthemostexcitingloveparts。TheyconjecturedthatthepairhadgonetoLovewell，buttheyknewnothingmore，andthesubtlestofthemwouldnothavefoundreasonforfurtherconjectureinCynthia’sbehavior，whenshecameinandscannedthetablesandthegirls’dressesandhair，wheretheystoodrangedagainstthewall。Shewasneitherwhiternorredderthanusual，andhernervesandhertoneswereunderasgoodcontrolasagirl’severareaftershehasbeenoutridingwithafellow。Itwasnotsuchagreatthing，anyway，toridewithJeffDurgin。Firstandlast，nearlyalltheyoungladyboardershadbeenoutwithhim，upononeerrandoranothertoLovewell。

Aftersupper，whenthegirlshadgoneovertotheirroomsinthehelps’

quarters，andtheguestshadgatheredinthewide，lowoffice，inthelightofthefirekindledonthehearthtobreaktheeveningchill，JeffjoinedCynthiainherinspectionofthedining—room。Shealwaysgaveitalastlook，toseethatitwasinperfectorderforbreakfast，beforeshewenthomeforthenight。Jeffwenthomewithher；hewasimpatientofherduties，buthewasinnohurrywhentheystoleoutofthesidedoortogetherunderthestars，andbegantostraysidelongdownthehilloverthedewlessgrass。

Helingeredmoreandmoreastheydrewnearherfather’shouse，intheabandonofaman’slove。Hewishedtogivehimselfsolelyuptoit，tothinkandtotalkofnothingelse，afteraman’sfashion。Butawoman’sloveisnosuchmeredelight。Itisserious，practical。Forheritisallfuture，andshecannotgiveherselfwhollyuptoanypresentmomentofit，asamandoes。

"Now，Jeff，"shesaid，afteracertainnumberofpartings，inwhichshehadapparentlykepthisdutyclearlyinmind，"youhadbettergohomeandtellyourmother。"

"Oh，there’stimeenoughforthat，"hebegan。

"Iwantyoutotellherrightaway，ortherewon’tbeanythingtotell。"

"Isthatso？"hejokedback。"Well，ifImust，Imust，Isuppose。ButI

didn’tthinkyou’dtakethewhip—handsosoon，Cynthia。"

"Oh，Idon’teverwanttotakethewhip—handwithyou，Jeff。Don’tmakeme！"

"Well，Iwon’t，then。Butwhatareyouinsuchahurrytohavemotherknowfor？She’snotgoingtoobject。Andifshedoes——"

"Itisn’tthat，"saidthegirl，quickly。"IfIhadtogoroundasingledaywithyourmotherhidingthisfromher，Ishouldbegintohateyou。

Icouldn’tbeartheconcealment。IshalltellfatherassoonasIgoin。"

"Oh，yourfather’llbeallright，ofcourse。"

"Yes，he’llbeallright，butifhewouldn’t，andIknewit，Ishouldhavetotellhim，allthesame。Now，good—night。Well，there，then；

andthere！Now，letmego！"

Shepausedforamomentinherownroom，tosmoothhertumbledhair，andtrytoidentifyherselfinherglass。Thenshewentintothesitting—

room，whereshefoundherfatherpulleduptothetable，withhishaton，andporingoverasheetofhieroglyphics，whichrepresentedtheusualeveningwithplanchette。

"HaveyoubeentohelpJacksonup？"sheasked。

"Well，Iwantedto，buthewouldn’thearofit。He’sfeelin’eversomuchbetterto—night，andhewantedtogoalone。Ijustcomein。"

"Yes，you’vegotyourhatonyet。"

Whitwellputhishandupandfoundthathisdaughterwasright。Helaughed，andsaid："IguessImust’a’forgotit。We’vehadthemostinterestin’seasonwithplantchettethatIguesswe’veabouteverhad。

She’ssaidsomethinghere——"

"Well，nevermind；I’vegotsomethingmoreimportanttosaythanplantchettehas，"saidCynthia，andshepulledthesheetawayfromunderherfather’seyes。

Thismadehimlookupather。"Why，what’shappened？"

"Nothing。JeffDurginhasaskedmetomarryhim。"

"Hehas！"TheNewEnglandtrainingisnotsuchastofitpeoplefortheexpressionofstrongemotion，andthebestthatWhitwellfoundhimselfabletodoinviewofthefactwastopuckerhismouthforawhistlewhichdidnotcome。

"Yes——thisafternoon，"saidCynthia，lifelessly。Thetensionofhernervesrelaxedinalanguorwhichwasevidenteventoherfather，thoughhiseyesstillwanderedtothesheetshehadtakenfromhim。

"Well，youdon’tseemoverandaboveexcitedaboutit。Did——didyour——

Whatdidyousay——"

"HowshouldIknowwhatIsaid？Whatdoyouthinkofit，father？"

"Idon’tknowasIevergivethesubjectmuchattention，"saidthephilosopher。"Ialwaysmeanttotakeitoutofhim，somehow，ifhegottoplayin’thefool。"

"ThenyouwantedIshouldaccepthim？"

"Whatdifference’ditmakewhatIwanted？Thatwhatyoudone？"

"Yes，I’veacceptedhim，"saidthegirl，withasigh。"IguessI’vealwaysexpectedto。"

"Well，Ithoughtlikelyitwouldcometothat，myself。AllIcansay，Cynthy，is’the’saluckyfeller。"

Whitwellleanedback，bracinghiskneesagainstthetable，whichwasoneofhisphilosophicposes。"IhavesometimesbelievedthatJeffDurginwasgoin’toturnoutablackguard。He’sgotitinhim。He’saslikehisgran’fatherastwopeas，andhewasanolddevil。Butyougottoaccountinalltheseherehereditycasesforcounteractin’influences。

TheDurginsareasgoodaswheat，rightalong，allof’em；andIguessMis’Durgin’smothermusthavebeenaprettygoodwomantoo。Mis’

Durgin’sallright，too，ifshehasgotawillofherown。"Whitwellreturnedfromhisscientificinquirytoask："How’llshetakeit？"

"Idon’tknow，"saidCynthia，dreamily，butwithoutapparentmisgiving。

"That’sJeff’slookout。"

"So’tis。Iguessshewon’tmakemuchfuss。Awomanneverlikestoseehersongetmarried；butyou’vebeenakindofdaughtertohersolong。

Well，Iguessthatpartofit’llbeallright。Jackson，"saidWhitwell，inatoneofrelief，asifturningfromanirrelevantmattertosomethingofrealimportance，"wasdownhereto—nighttryin’toringupsomethemspiritsfromtheplanetMars。Martians，hecalls’em。Hismind’sgottorunnin’agooddealonMarslately。Iguessit’sthisappositionthattheytalkaboutthatdoesit。Marscomin’somuchnearertheearthbyamillionofmilesorso，itstandstoreasonthatheshouldbemoreinfluencedbythemindsonit。Iguessit’sacaseo’thattelepathythatMr。Westovertellsabout。IjudgethatifhekeptatitbeforeMarsgitsofftoofaragainhemightmakesomethingoutofit。Icouldn’tseemtofindmuchsenseinwhatplantchettedoneto—night；wecouldn’teitherofus；butshehasherspellswhenyoucan’tmakeheadortailofher。Butmebbeshe’sjustleadin’uptosomething，thewayshedidaboutthatbrokenshaftwhenJeffcomehome。Weha’n’tevermadeoutexactlywhatshemeantbythatyet。"

Whitwellpaused，andCynthiaseizedtheadvantageofhisgettingroundtoJeffagain。"HewantedtogiveupgoingtoHarvardthislastyear，butI

wouldn’tlethim。"

"Jeffdid？"askedherfather。"Well，youdoneagoodthingthattime，anyway，Cynthy。Hismother’dnevergetoverit。"

"There’ssomethingelseshe’sgottogetover，andIdon’tknowhowsheeverwill。He’sgoingtogiveupthelaw。"

"Giveupthelaw！"

"Yes。Don’ttease，father！Hesayshe’snevercaredaboutit，andhewantstokeepahotel。IthoughtthatI’doughttotellhimhowwefeltaboutJackson’shavingarestandgoingoffsomewhere；andhewantedtobeginatonce。ButIsaidifheleftoffthelastyearatHarvardI

wouldn’thaveanythingtodowithhim。"

Whitwellputhishandinhispocketforhisknife，andmechanicallylookeddownforasticktowhittle。Indefaultofany，hescratchedhishead。"Iguessshe’llmakeitwarmforhim。She’shadhermindsetonhisstudyin’lawsolong，’tshewon’tgiveupinahurry。Shecan’tseethatJacksonain’tfittohelpherrunthehotelanymore——tillhe’shadarest，anyway——andIbelieveshethinksherandFrankcouldrunit——andyou。She’llmakeanawfulkick，"saidWhitwell，solemnly。"Ihopeyoudidn’tencouragehim，Cynthy？"

"Ishouldencouragehim，"saidthegirl。"He’sgottherighttoshapehisownlife，andnobodyelsehasgottherighttodoit；andIshouldtellhismotherso，ifsheeversaidanythingtomeaboutit。"

"Allright，"saidWhitwell。"Isupposeyouknowwhatyou’reabout。"

"Ido，father。Jeffwouldmakeagoodlandlord；he’sgotideasaboutahotel，andIcanseethatthey’retherightones。He’sbeenoutintheworld，andhe’skepthiseyesopen。HewillmakeLion’sHeadthebesthotelinthemountains。"

"It’sthatalready。"

"Hedoesn’tthinkit’shalfasgoodashecanmakeit。"

"Itwouldn’tbehalfwhatitisnow，ifitwa’n’tforyouandFrank。"

"Iguessheunderstandsthat，"saidCynthia。"Frankwouldbetheclerk。"

"Gotitallmappedout！"saidWhitwell，proudly，inhisturn。"Lookoutyoudon’tslipupinyourcalculations。That’sall。"

"Iguesswecha’n’tslipup。"