第17章

Sheremainedtoclearawaythetable，whentherestleftit，andWestoverfollowedMrs。Durginintotheparlor，wheresheindemnifiedherselfforrefrainingfromanyexplicitallusiontoJeffbeforeCynthia。"Theboy，"

sheexplained，whenshehadmadehimransackhismemoryforeveryscrapoffactconcerningherson，"don’thardlyeverwritetome，andIguesshedon’tgiveCynthyverymuchnews。Ipresumehe’sworkin’harderthaneverthisyear。AndI’mgladhe’sgoin’aboutalittle，fromwhatyousay。Iguesshe’sgottofeelin’alittlebetter。Itdidworrymeforhimtofeelsowhatyoumaycallmeechin’aboutfolks。Youseeanythingthatmadeyouthinkhewa’n’tappreciated？"

AfterWestovergotbackintohisownroom，someoneknockedathisdoor，andhefoundWhitwelloutside。Hescarcelyaskedhimtocomein，butWhitwellscarcelyneededtheinvitation。"Goteverythingyouwant？

ItoldCynthyI’dcomeupandseeafteryou；Frankwon’tbebackintime。"Hesatdownandputhisfeetontopofthestove，andstrucktheheelsofhisbootsonitsedge，fromthehabitofknockingthecakedsnowofftheminthatwayonstove—tops。Hedidnotwaittofindoutthattherewasnoresponsivesizzlingbeforeheasked，withalongnasalsigh，"Well，howisJeffgettin’along？"

HelookedacrossatWestover，whohadprovisionallyseatedhimselfonhisbed。

"Why，intheoldway。"Whitwellkepthiseyeonhim，andheadded：

"Isupposewedon’tanyofuschange；wedevelop。"

Whitwellsmiledwithpleasureinthelooselyphilosophicsuggestion。

"Youmeanthathe’sthesamekindofamanthathewasaboy？Well，I

guessthat’sso。Thequestionis，whatkindofaboywashe？I’vebeenmullin’overthatconsid’ablesinceCynthyandhimfixedituptogether。

Ofcourse，Iknowit’stheirbusiness，andallthat；butIpresumeI’vegotarighttospee’lateaboutit？"

HereferredthepointtoWestover，whoknewaninnerearnestnessinit，inspiteofWhitwell’shabitofoutsidejocosity。"Everyrightintheworld，Ishouldsay，Mr。Whitwell，"heanswered，seriously。

"Well，I’mgladyoufeelthatway，"saidWhitwell，withalittleapparentsurprise。"Idon’twanttomeddle，any；butIknowwhatCynthyis——Inoneedtobragherup——andIdon’tfeelsooverandabovecertain’tIknowwhatheis。He’sagooddealofamixture，ifyouwanttoknowhowhestrikesme。Idon’tmeanIdon’tlikehim；Ido；thefellow’sgotawaywithhimthatmakesmekindoflikehimwhenIseehim。He’sgood—

naturedandclever；andhe’swillin’totakeanyamountoftroubleforyou；butyoucan’ttellwheretohavehim。"WestoverdeniedtheappealforexplicitassentinWhitwell’seye，andhewenton："IfI’ddonethatfellowagoodturn，inspiteofhim，orifI’dheldhimuptosomethingthatheallowedwasright，andconsentedto，Ishouldwanttokeepasharplookoutthathedidn’tplaymesomeuglytrickforit。He’sacomicaldevil，"Whitwellended，ratherinadequately。"Howd’sitlooktoyou？Seenanythinglatelythatseemedtotallywithmyidee？"

"No，no；Ican’tsaythatIhave，"saidWestover，reluctantly。Hewishedtobefrankerthanhenowmeanttobe，butheconsultedascruplethathedidnotwhollyrespect；amereconventionitseemedtohim，presently。

Hesaid："I’vealwaysfeltthatcharminhim，too，andI’veseentheothertraits，thoughnotsoclearlyasyouseemtohavedone。Hehasapowerfulwill，yes——"

Hestopped，andWhitwellasked："Beenuptoanydeviltrylately？"

"Ican’tsayhehas。NothingthatIcancallintentional。"

"No，"saidWhitwell。"What’shedone，though？"

"Really，Mr。Whitwell，Idon’tknowthatyouhaveanyrighttoexpectmetotalkhimover，whenI’mhereashismother’sguest——hisownguest——？"

"No。Iha’n’t，"saidWhitwell。"Whataboutthefatherofthegirlhe’sgoin’tomarry？"

Westovercouldnotdenytheforceofthis。"You’dbeanxiousifIdidn’ttellyouwhatIhadinmind，Idaresay，morethanifIdid。"HetoldhimofJeff’sbehaviorwithAlanLynde，andofhistalkwithhimaboutit。"AndIthinkhewashonest。Itwassomethingthathappened，thatwasn’tmeant。"

Whitwelldidnotassentdirectly，somewhattoWestover’ssurprise。Heasked："FelloweverdoneanythingtoJeff？"

"NotthatIknowof。Idon’tknowthattheyevermetbefore。"

Whitwellkickedhisheelsontheedgeofthestoveagain。"Thenitmightbeenanaccident，"hesaid，dryly。

Westoverhadtobreakthesilencethatfollowed，andhefoundhimselfdefendingJeff，thoughsomehownotforJeff’ssake。Heurgedthatifhehadthestrongwilltheybothrecognizedinhim，hewouldnevercommittheerrorsofaweakman，whichwereusuallythebasest。

"Howdoyouknowthatastrong—willedmana’n’taweakone？"Whitwellastonishedhimbyasking。"A’n’twhatwecallastrongwilljustakindofabull—dogclinchthatthedoghimselfcan’tunloose？Itakeitamanthathasagoodwillisastrongman。IfJeffdonearightthingagainsthiswill，hewouldn’tresteasytillhe’dshowedthathewa’n’tobligedto，bysomemischiefworse’nwhathewaskeptoutof。Itellyou，Mr。

Westover，ifI’dmadethatfellowtoethemarkanyway，I’dbeafraidofhim。"WhitwelllookedatWestoverwitheyesofsignificance，ifnotofconfidence。Thenherosewithaprolonged"M——wel—l—l！We’reallborn，butwea’n’tallburied。Thisworldisaqueerplace。ButIguessJeff’llcomeoutrightintheend。"

Westoversaid，"I’msurehewill！"andheshookhandswarmlywiththefatherofthegirlJeffwasgoingtomarry。

Whitwellcameback，afterhehadgotsomepacesaway，andsaid："Ofcourse，thisisbetweenyouandme，Mr。Westover。"

"Ofcourse！"

"Idon’tmeanMis’Durgin。Ishouldn’tcarewhatshethoughtofmytalkin’himoverwithyou。Idon’tknow，"hecontinued，puttinguphishandagainstthedoor—frame，togivehimselfthecomfortofitssupportwhilehetalked，"asyouunderstoodwhatshemeanbytheyoungladiesatBostonkeepin’upwiththefellowsincollege。Well，that’swhatCynthy’sdoin’withJeff，rightalong；andifheeverworksoffthemconditionsofhis，andgitshisdegree，it’llbebecauseshehelpedhimto。Itellyou，there’smorethanonekindoftelepathyinthisworld，Mr。Westover。That’sall。"

XXXIX

WestoverunderstoodfromWhitwell’safterthoughtthatitwasCynthiahewasanxioustokeepignorantofhismisgivings，iftheyweresomuchasmisgivings。Buttheimportanceofthisfactcouldnotstayhimagainstthetideofsleepwhichwasbearinghimdown。Whenhisheadtouchedthepillowitsweptoverhim，andherosefromitinthemorningwithagayetyofheartwhichheknewtobereturninghealth。Hejumpedoutofbed，andstuffedsomeshavingsintohisstovefromthewood—boxbesideit，andlaidsomelogsonthem；heslidthedamperopen，andthenlaydownagain，listeningtothefirethatshoweditsredteeththroughtheslatsandroaredandlaughedtothedaywhichsparkledonthewhiteworldwithout。Whenhegotoutofbedasecondtime，hefoundtheroomsohotthathehadtopulldownhiswindow—sash，andhedressedinatemperatureoftwentydegreesbelowzerowithoutknowingthatthedryairwasmorethanfresh。Mrs。Durgincalledtohimthroughtheopendoorofherparlor，asheenteredthedining—room："Cynthywillgiveyouyourbreakfast，Mr。Westover。We’realldonelongago，andI’mbusyinhere，"

andthegirlappearedwiththecoffee—potandthedishesshehadbeenkeepinghotforhimatthekitchenstove。Sheseemedtobegoingtoleavehimwhenshehadputthemdownbeforehim，butshefaltered，andthensheasked："DoyouwantIshouldpouryourcoffeeforyou？"

"Ohyes！Do！"hebegged，andshesatdownacrossthetablefromhim。

"I’mashamedtomakethistroubleforyou，"headded。"Ididn’tknowitwassolate。"

"Oh，wehavethewholedayforourwork，"sheanswered，tolerantly。

Helaughed，andsaid："Howstrangethatseems！IsupposeIshallgetusedtoit。Butintownweseemnevertohaveawholedayforaday’swork；wealwayshavetodopartofitatnight，orthenextmorning。Doyoueverhaveadayherethat’stoolargeasizeforitswork？"

"Youcannearlyalwaysfindsomethingtodoaboutahouse，"shereturned，evasively。"Butthetimedoesn’tgothewayitdoesinthesummer。"

"Oh，Iknowhowthecountryisinthewinter，"hesaid。"Iwasbroughtupinthecountry。"

"Ididn’tknowthat，"shesaid，andshegavehimastareofsurprisebeforehereyesfell。

"Yes。OutinWisconsin。Mypeoplewereemigrants，andIlivedinthewoods，there，tillIbegantopaintmywayout。Ibeganprettyearly，butIwasinthewoodstillIwassixteen。"

"Ididn’tknowthat，"sherepeated。"Ialwaysthoughtthatyouwere——"

"Summerfolks，liketherest？No，I’mall—the—year—roundfolksoriginally。ButIhaven’tbeeninthecountryinthewintersinceIwasaboy；andit’sallbeencomingbacktome，here，likesomeoneelse’sexperience。"

Shedidnotsayanything，buttheinterestinhereyes，whichshecouldnotkeepfromhisfacenow，promptedhimtogoon。

"YoucanmakeabeginningintheWesteasierthanyoucanintheEast，andsomepeoplewhocametoourlumbercampdiscoveredme，andgavemeachancetobegin。IwenttoMilwaukeefirst，andtheymademethinkIwassomebody。ThenIcameontoNewYork，andtheymademethinkIwasnobody。IhadtogotoEuropetofindoutwhichIwas；butafterIhadbeentherelongenoughIdidn’tcaretoknow。WhatIwastryingtodowastheimportantthingtome；notthefellowwhowastryingtodoit。"

"Yes，"shesaid，withintelligence。

"ImetsomeBostonpeopleinItaly，andIthoughtIshouldliketolivewherethatkindofpeoplelived。That’sthewayIcametobeinBoston。

Itallseemsverysimplenow，butIusedtothinkitmightlookromanticfromtheoutside。I’vehadahappylife；andI’mgladitbeganinthecountry。Ishouldn’tcareifitendedthere。Idon’tknowwhyI’vebotheredyouwithmyautobiography，though。PerhapsbecauseIthoughtyouknewitalready。"

Shelookedasifshewouldhavesaidsomethingfittingifshecouldhaveruledherselftoit；butshesaidnothingatall。Herfailureseemedtoabashher，andshecouldonlyaskhimifhewouldnothavesomemorecoffee，andthenexcuseherself，andleavehimtofinishhisbreakfastalone。

Thatdayhetriedforhispicturefromseveralpointsout—of—doorsbeforehefoundthathisownwindowgavehimthebest。Withthewindowopen，andthestovewarmathisback，heworkedthereingreatcomfortnearlyeveryafternoon。Thesnowskeptoff，andtheclearsunsetsburnedbehindthesummitdayafterday。Hepaintedfranklyandfaithfully，andmadeapicturewhich，hesaidtohimself，noonewouldbelievein，withthatwarmcolortenderuponthefrozenhills。Thesoftsuffusionofthewinterscenewasimprobabletohimwhenhehaditin，naturebeforehiseyes；whenhelookedatitashegotitonhiscanvasitwassimplyimpossible。

Intheforenoonshehadnothingtodo，forheworkedathispictureonlywhentheconditionsrenewedthemselveswiththesinkingsun。Hetriedtobeintheopenair，andgetthegoodofit；buthisstrengthforwalkinghadfailedhim，andhekeptmostlytothepathsbrokenaroundthehouse。

HewentagooddealtothebarnwithWhitwellandJombateestetolookafterthecattleandthehorses，whosesubduedstampingandchampinggavehimasortofanimalpleasure。Theblendedodorsofthehay—mowsandofthecreatures’breathscametohimwiththefaintwarmthwhichtheirbodiesdiffusedthroughthecoldobscurity。

Whenthewidedoorswererolledback，andthefulldaywasletin，helikedtheappealoftheirstartledeyes，andthecallstheymadetooneanotherfromtheirstalls，whilethemenspokebacktothemintermswhichtheyseemedtohaveincommonwiththem，andwiththepoultrythatflewdownfromthebarnloftstothebarnfloorandoutintothebrilliantday，withloudclamorandaffectedalarm。

Inthesesimpleexperienceshecouldnotimaginethesummerlifeoftheplace。Itwasnowheremoreextinctthaninthehollowverandas，wheretherocking—chairsswunginJulyandAugust，andwhereWestover’sstepsinhislongtrampsupanddownwokenoechooftheabsentfeet。In—doorshekepttothefewstove—heatedroomswherehedweltwiththefamily，andsentonlynowandthenavagueconjectureintothehotelbuiltroundtheoldfarm—house。Hemeant，beforeheleft，toaskMrs。Durgintolethimgothroughthehotel，butheputitofffromdaytoday，withaphysicalshrinkingfromitscoldandsolitude。

Thedayswentbyintheswiftnessofmonotony。Hisexcursionstothebarn，hiswalksontheverandas，hisworkonhispicture，filledupthefewhoursofthelight，andwhenthedarkcamehecontentedlyjoinedthelittlegroupinMrs。Durgin’sparlor。Hehadbroughttwoorthreebookswithhim，andsometimeshereadfromoneofthem；orhetalkedwithWhitwellonsomeofthequestionsoflifeanddeaththatengagedhisspeculativemind。Jombateestepreferredthekitchenforthenapshetookaftersupperbeforehisearlybedtime。FrankWhitwellsatwithhisbooksthere，whereWestoversometimessawhissisterhelpinghimathisstudies。Hewasloyallyfaithfulandobedienttoherinallthings。Hehelpedherwiththedishes，andwasnotashamedtobeseenatthiswork；

shehadchargeofhisgoingsandcomingsinsociety；hesubmittedtohertasteinhisdress，andacceptedhercounselonmanypointswhichhereferredtoher，anddiscussedwithherinlow—spokenconferences。Heseemedaformal，seriousboy，shylikehissister；hisfatherletfallsomehintsofareligiouscastofmindinhim。Hehadanambitionbeyondthehotel；hewishedtostudyfortheministry；anditwasnotalonethechanceofgoinghomewiththegirlsthatmadehimconstantattheeveningmeetings。"Idon’tknowwherehegitsit，"saidhisfather，withashakeoftheheadthatsuggesteddoubtofthewisdomoftheson’spreferenceoftheologytoplanchette。

Cynthiahadthesamecareofherfatherasofherbrother；shekepthimneat，andheldhimupfromlapsingintotheslovenlinesstowhichhewouldhavetendedifshehadnot，asWestoversuspected，madeconstantappealstohimfortherespectduetheirguest。Mrs。Durgin，forherpart，lefteverythingtoCynthia，withacontentedacceptanceofherfutureruleandanabidingtrustinhersenseandstrength，whichincludedthedetailsofthelightworkthatemployedherratherluxuriousleisure。JombateestehimselfcametoCynthiawithhismending，andherneedlekepthimtightandfirmagainstthewinterwhichitamusedWestovertorealizewastheCanuck’snativeelement，insomuchthattherewasnowsomethingincongruousinthenotionofJombateesteandanyotherseason。

Thegirl’smotherlycareofallthehouseholddidnotleaveWestoverout。

Buttonsappearedongarmentslongusedtoshiftycontrivancesforgettingonwithoutthem；buttonholeswererestoredtotheirproperlimits；hisovercoatpocketsweresearchedforgloves，andtheglovesputbackwiththeirfinger—tipsdrawncloseasthepetalsofaflowerwhichhaddecidedtoshutandbeabudagain。

Hewonderedhowhecouldthankherforhisshareoftheblessingthatherpassionformotherlycarewastoallthehouse。Itwaspathetic，andheusedsometimestoforecastherself—devotionwithatenderindignation，whichincludedaduesenseofhisownpresentdemerit。Hewasnotreconciledtothesacrificebecauseitseemedthehappiness，oratleastthewill，ofthenaturewhichmadeit。Allthesameitseemedawaste，initsrelationtothemanshewastomarry。

Mrs。DurginandCynthiasatbythelampandsewedatnight，orlistenedtothetalkofthemen。IfWestoverreadaloud，theywhisperedtogetherfromtimetotimeaboutsomemattersremotefromit，aswomenalwaysdowherethereisreading。Itwasquiet，butitwasnotdullforWestover，whofoundhimselfinnohurrytogetbacktotown。

Sometimeshethoughtofthetownwithrepulsion；itsunrest，itsvacuous，troubledlifehauntedhimlikeamemoryofsickness；buthesupposedthatwhenheshouldbequitewellagainallthatwouldchange，andbeasitwasbefore。Heinterestedhimself，withthesortofshrewdignoranceofitthatCynthiashowedinthequestionssheaskedaboutitnowandthenwhentheychancedtobeleftalonetogether。HefanciedthatshewastryingtoformsomeintelligibleimageofJeff’senvironmentthere，andwaspiecingtogetherfromhistalkofittheimpressionsshehadgotfromsummerfolks。Hedidhisbesttohelpher，andtoconstructforheraveritablelikenessoftheworldasfarasheknewit。

AtimecamewhenhespokefranklyofJeffinsomethingtheyweresaying，andsheshowednosuchshrinkingashehadexpectedshewould；hereflectedthatshemighthavemadestricterconditionswithMrs。Durginthansheexpectedtokeepherselfinmentioninghim。Thismightwellhavebeennecessarywiththemother’sprideinherson，whichknewnostopwhenitoncebegantoindulgeitself。WhatstruckWestovermorethanthegirl’sself—possessionwhentheytalkedofJeffwasacertainausterityinherwithregardtohim。Sheseemedtoholdherselftenseagainstanypraiseofhim，asifsheshouldfailhimsomehowifsherelaxedatallinhisfavor。

This，atleast，wastherathermystifyingimpressionwhichWestovergotfromherevidentwishtocriticiseandunderstandexactlyallthathereported，ratherthantoflatterherselffromit。Whateverhermotivewas，hewasawarethatthroughitallshepermittedherselfacloserandfullertrustofhimself。Attimesitwasalmosttooimplicit；hewouldhavelikedtodeserveitbetterbylayingopenallthathadbeeninhisheartagainstJeff。Butheforbore，ofcourse，andhetookrefuge，aswellashecould，intherespectbywhichsheheldherselfatareverentdistancefromhimwhenhecouldnotwhollyrespecthimself。

XL。

OnemorningWestovergotleavefromMrs。DurgintohelpCynthiaopenthedimroomsandcoldcorridorsatthehoteltothesunandair。Shepromisedhimheshouldtakehisdeath，buthesaidhewouldwrapupwarm，andwhenhecametojointhegirlinhisovercoatandfurcap，hefoundCynthiaequippedwithawoollencloudtiedaroundherhead，andalittleshawlpinnedacrossherbreast。

"Isthatall？"hereproachedher。"Ioughttohaveputonasinglewreathofartificialflowersandsomesortofablazerforthisexpedition。Don’tyouthinkso，Mrs。Durgin？"

"Ibelievewomencanstandabouttwiceasmuchcoldasyoucan，thebestofyou，"sheanswered，grimly。

"ThenImusttrytokeepmyselfaswarmasIcanwithwork，"hesaid。

"Youmustletmedoalltheroughworkofairingout，won’tyou，Cynthia？"

"Thereisn’tanyroughworkaboutit，"sheanswered，inasortofmotherlytolerationofhismood，withoutlosinganythingofherfilialreverence。

Shetookcareofhim，heperceived，asshetookcareofherbrotherandherfather，butwithadelicaterespectforhissuperiority，whichwasnolongershyness。

Theybeganwiththeofficeandtheparlor，wheretheyflungupthewindows，andopenedthedoors，andthentheyopenedthedining—room，wherethetablesstoodinlongrows，withthechairspiledonthemlegsupward。Cynthiawentaboutwithmanysighsforthedustoneverything，thoughtoWestover’seyesitallseemedfrigidlyclean。"Ifitgoesonasithasforthepasttwoyears，"shesaid，"weshallhavetoaddonanewdining—room。Idon’tknowasIliketohaveitgetsolarge！"

"Ineverwantedittogobeyondtheoriginalfarmhouse，"saidWestover。

"I’vebeenjealousofeveryboarderbutthefirst。Ishouldhavelikedtokeepitformyself，andlettheworldknowLion’sHeadfrommypictures。"

"IguessMrs。Durginthinksitwasyourpicturethatbegantosendpeoplehere。"

"Anddoyoublameme，too？WhatifthethingI’mdoingnowshouldmakeitawinterresort？Nothingcouldsaveyou，then，butafire。Ibelievethat’sJeff’sambition。Onlyhewouldwanttoputanotherhotelinplaceofthis；somethingthatwouldbemorepopular。ThentheruinIbeganwouldbecomplete，andIshouldn’tcomeanymore；Icouldn’tbearthesight。"

"IguessMrs。Durginwouldn’tthinkitwaslion’sHeadifyoustoppedcoming，"saidCynthia。

"Butyouwouldknowbetterthanthat，"saidWestover；andthenhewassorryhehadsaidit，foritseemedtoasksomethingofdifferentqualityfromherhonestwishtomakehimknowtheirregardforhim。

Shedidnotanswer，butwentdownalongcorridortowhichtheyhadmounted，toraisethewindowattheend，whileheraisedanotherattheoppositeextremity。Whentheymetatthestairwayagaintoclimbtothestoryabove，hesaid："IamalwaysashamedwhenItrytomakeapersonofsensesayanythingsilly，"andsheflushed，stillwithoutanswering，asifsheunderstoodhim，andhismeaningpleasedher。"Butfortunatelyapersonofsenseisusuallyequaltothetemptation。Oneoughttobeseriouswhenhetriesitwithapersonoftheothersort；butIdon’tknowthatoneis！"

"Doyoufeelanydraughtbetweenthesewindows？"askedCynthia，abruptly。

"Idon’twantyoushouldtakecold。"

"Oh，I’mallright，"saidWestover。

Shewentintotheroomsononesideofthecorridor，andputuptheirwindows，andflungtheblindsback。Hedidthesameontheotherside。

Hegotapeculiareffectofdesolationfromthemattressespulleddownoverthefootofthebedsteads，andthedismantledinteriorsreflectedinthemirrorsofthedressing—cases；andhewasgoingtospeakofitwhenherejoinedCynthiaatthestairwayleadingtothethirdstory，whenshesaid，"ThosewereMrs。Vostrand’sroomsIcameoutofthelast。"Shenoddedherheadoverhershouldertowardthefloortheywereleaving。

"Weretheyindeed！Anddoyourememberpeople’sroomssolong？"

"Yes；Ialwaysthinkofroomsbythenameofpeoplethathavethem，ifthey’reanywaypeculiar。"

Hethoughtthisbitofuncandorcharming，andaccepteditasifitwerethewholetruth。"AndMrs。Vostrandwascertainlypeculiar。Tellme，Cynthia，whatdidyouthinkofher？"

"Shewasonlyherealittlewhile。"

"Butyouwouldn’thavecometothinkofherroomsbyhernameifshehadn’tmadeastrongimpressiononyou！"Shedidnotanswer，andhesaid，"Iseeyoudidn’tlikeher！"

Thegirlwouldnotspeak，andMr。Westoverwenton："Sheusedtobeverygoodtome，andIthinksheusedtobebettertoherselfthansheisnow。"HeknewthatJeffmusthavetoldCynthiaofhisaffairwithGenevieveVostrand，andhekepthimselffromspeakingofherbyaresolutionhethoughtcreditable，ashemountedthestairstotheupperstoryinthesilencetowhichCynthialefthislastremark。Atthetopshemadealittlepauseintheobscurerlightoftheclose—shutteredcorridor，whileshesaid："Ilikedherdaughterthebest。"

"Yes？"hereturned。"I——neverfeltverywellacquaintedwithher，I

believe。Onecouldn’tgetfarwithher。Though，forthematterofthat，onedidn’tgetfarwithMrs。Vostrandherself。DidyouthinkGenevievewasmuchinfluencedbyhermother？"

"Shedidn’tseemastrongcharacter。"

"No，thatwasit。Shewaswhathermotherwishedhertobe。I’veoftenwonderedhowmuchshewasinterestedinthemarriageshemade。"

Cynthialetarusticsilenceensue，andWestovershrankagainfromtheinquisitionhelongedtomake。

ItwasnotGenevieveVostrand’smarriagewhichreallyconcernedhim，butCynthia’sengagement，anditwashermindthathewouldhavelikedtolookinto。Itmightwellbesupposedthatsheregardeditinaperfectmatter—of—factway，andwithnoambitionbeyondit。Shewasacountrygirl，acquaintedfromchildhoodwithfactsoflifewhichtown—bredgirlswouldnothaveknownwithoutabluntingofthesensibilities，andwhyshouldshebedifferentfromothercountrygirls？Shemightbeasgoodandasfineashesawher，andyetbeinsensibletothespiritualtoughnessofJeff，becauseofherloveforhim。Herverygoodnessmightmakehisbadnessunimaginabletoher，andifherrefinementwerefromtheconsciencemerely，andnotfromthetastesandexperiences，too，therewasnotsomuchtodreadforherinhermarriagewithsuchaman。Still，hewouldhaveliked，ifhecould，totellherwhathehadtoldherfatherofDurgin’sbehaviorwithLynde，andletherbringthetestofherself—

devotiontothecasewithaclearunderstanding。HehadsometimesbeenafraidthatWhitwellmightnotbeabletokeepittohimself；butnowhewishedthatthephilosopherhadnotbeensodiscreet。Hehadallthissoabsorbinglyinmindthathestartedpresentlywiththefearthatshehadsaidsomethingandhehadnotanswered，butwhenheaskedherhefoundthatshehadnotspoken。TheywerestandingatanopenwindowlookingoutuponLion’sHead，whenhesaid："Idon’tknowhowIshallshowmygratitudetoMrs。Durginandyouforthinkingofhavingmeuphere。

I’vedoneapictureofLion’sHeadthatmightbeeversomuchworse；

butIshouldn’thavedreamedofgettingatitifithadn’tbeenforyou，thoughI’vesooftendreamedofdoingit。NowIshallgohomericherineverysortofway—thankstoyou。"

Sheanswered，simply："Youneedn’tthankanybody；butitwasJeffwhothoughtofit；wewerereadyenoughtoaskyou。"

"Thatwasverygoodofhim，"saidWestover，whomherwordsconfirmedinasuspicionhehadhadallalong。ButwhatdiditmatterthatJeffhadsuggestedtheiraskinghim，andthenattributedthenotiontothem？ItwasnotsomalignforhimtousethatmeansofingratiatinghimselfwithWestover，andofmakinghimforgethisbehaviorwithLynde，anditwasnotunnatural。Itwasverycharacteristic；attheworstitmerelyprovedthatJeffwasmoreashamedofwhathehaddonethanhewouldallow，andthatwastohiscredit。

HeheardCynthiaasking："Mr。Westover，haveyoueverbeenatClassDay？

Hewantsustocome。"

"ClassDay？Oh，ClassDay！"Hetookalittletimetogatherhimselftogether。"Yes，I’vebeenatagoodmany。Ifyoucaretoseesomethingpretty，it’stheprettiestthingintheworld。Thestudents’sistersandmotherscomefromeverywhere；andthere’sfashionandfeastingandflirting，fromteninthemorningtilltenatnight。I’mnotsurethere’ssomuchhappiness；butIcan’ttell。Theyoungpeopleknowaboutthat。Ifancythere’sagooddealofdefeatanddisappointmentinitall。Butifyoulikebeautifuldresses，andmusicanddancing，andagreatflutterofgayety，youcangetmoreofitatClassDaythanyoucaninanyotherway。Thegoodtimedependsagreatdealupontheacquaintanceastudenthas，andwhetherheispopularincollege。"

Westoverfoundthisroadalittleimpassable，andhefaltered。

Cynthiadidnotapparentlynoticehishesitation。"DoyouthinkMrs。

Durginwouldlikeit？"

"Mrs。Durgin？"Westoverfoundthathehadbeenleavingheroutoftheaccount，andhadbeenthinkingonlyofCynthia’spleasureorpain。

"Well，Idon’tsuppose——itwouldberatherfatiguing——DidJeffwanthertocometoo？"