第19章

"YouknowhewasupatLion’sHeadinFebruary，andgotawinterimpressionofthemountain。Didyouseeit？"

"No。Wasthatwhatyouweretalkingabout？"

"Wetalkedaboutsomethingagreatdealmoreinteresting——theimpressionhegotofme。"

"Winterimpression。"

"Coldenough。HehadcometotheconclusionthatIwasveryselfishandunworthy；thatIusedotherpeopleformyownadvantage，orletthemusethemselves；thatIwastreacherousandvindictive，andifIdidn’tbetrayamanIcouldn’tbehappytillIhadbeatenhim。HesaidthatifIeverbehavedwell，itcameafterIhadbeensuccessfulonewayortheother。"

"Howperfectlyfascinating！"Bessierestedherelbowonthecornerofthetable，andherchininthepalmofthehandwhosethinfingerstappedherredlips；thelightsleevefelldownandshowedherpretty，leanlittleforearm。"Diditstrikeyouastrue，atall？"

"Icouldseehowitmightstrikehimastrue。"

"Nowyouarecandid。Butgoon！Whatdidheexpectyoutodoaboutit？"

"Nothing。Hesaidhedidn’tsupposeIcouldhelpit。"

"Thisisimmense，"saidBessie。"IhopeI’mtakingitallin。Howcamehetogiveyouthisflatteringlittleimpression？Sohopeful，too！Or，perhapsyourfranknessdoesn’tgoanyfarther？"

"Oh，Idon’tmindsaying。Heseemedtothinkitwasasortofabstractdutyheowedtomypeople。"

"Your—folks？"askedBessie。

"Yes，"saidJeff，withacertaindryness。Butasherfacelookedblanklyinnocent，hemusthavedecidedthatshemeantnothingoffensive。Herelaxedintoabroadsmile。"It’saqueerhouseholdupthere，inthewinter。Iwonderwhatyouwouldthinkofit。"

"Youmightdescribeittome，andperhapsweshallsee。"

"Youcouldn’trealizeit，"saidJeff，withafinalitythatpiquedher。

Hereachedoutforthebottleofapollinaris，withsomehowtheeffectofbeinginanotherstudent’sroom，andpouredhimselfaglass。Thiswouldhaveamusedher，ninetimesoutoften，butthetenthtimehadcomewhenshechosetoresentit。

"Isuppose，"shesaid，"youareallverymuchexcitedaboutClassDayatCambridge。"

"Thatsoundslikearemarkmadetoopenthewaytoconversation。"Jeffwentontoburlesqueareplyinthesamespirit。"Oh，verymuchsoindeed，MissLynde！Wearealllookingforwardtoitsoeagerly。Areyoucoming？"

Sherejectedhisleadwithaslightsighsoskilfullydrawnthatitdeceivedhimwhenshesaid，gravely：

"Idon’tknow。It’sapttobeaverybafflingtimeatthebest。Allthementhatyoulikearetakenupwiththeirownpeople，andeventhementhatyoudon’tlikeovervaluethemselves，andthinkthey’redoingyouafavoriftheygiveyouaturnattheGymorbringyouaplateofsomething。"

"Well，theyare，aren’tthey？"

"Isuppose，yes，that’swhatmakesmehateit。Onedoesn’tliketohavesuchmendooneafavor。Andthen，Juniorsgetyoungereveryyear！EvenaniceJuniorisonlyaJunior，"sheconcluded，withasadfallofhermockingvoice。"

"Idon’tbelievethere’saSeniorinHarvardthatwouldn’tforsakehisfamilyandcometotherescueifyourfeelingscouldbeknown，"saidJeff。Heliftedthebottleathiselbowandfounditempty，andthisseemedtoremindhimtorise。

"Don’tmakethemknown，please，"saidBessie。"Ishouldn’twantanovation。"Shesat，afterhehadrisen，asifshewishedtodetainhim，butwhenhecameuptotakeleaveshehadtoputherhandinhis。Shelookedatitthere，andsodidhe；itseemedverylittleandslim，aboutone—thirdthesizeofhispalm，anditseemedtogotonothinginhisgrasp。"Ishouldthink，"sheadded，"thatthejayswouldhavethebesttimeonClassDay。Ishouldliketodanceatoneoftheirspreads，anddoeverythingtheydid。Itwouldbetwicethefun，andtherewouldbesomenatureinit。IshouldliketoseeajayClassDay。"

"Ifyou’llcomeout，I’llshowyouone，"saidJeff，withoutwincing。

"Oh，willyou？"shesaid，takingawayherhand。"Thatwouldbedelightful。Butwhatwouldbecomeofyourfolks？"Shecaughtacornerofhermouthwithherteeth，asifthewordhadslippedout。

"Doyoucallthemfolks？"askedJeff，quietly：

"I——supposed——Don’tyou？"

"NotinBoston。IdoatLion’sHead。"

"Oh！Well—people。"

"Idon’tknowasthey’recoming。"

"Howdelightful！Idon’tmeanthat；butifthey’renot，andifyoureallyknewsomejays，andcouldgetmealittleglimpseoftheirClassDay——"

"IthinkIcouldmanageitforyou。"Hespokeasbefore，buthelookedatherwithamockeryinhislipsandeyesasintelligentasherown，andthelatentchangeinhismoodgaveherthesenseofbeinginthepresenceofavividemotion。Sheroseinherexcitement；shecouldseethatheadmiredher，andwasenjoyingherinsolencetoo，inaway，thoughinawaythatshedidnotthinkshequiteunderstood；andshehadthewishtomakehimadmireheralittlemore。

Sheletalightoflaughtercomeintohereyes，ofharmlessmischiefplayedtoanend。"Idon’tdeserveyourkindness，andIwon’tcome。

I’vebeenverywicked，don’tyouthink？"

"Notvery——foryou，"saidJeff。

"Oh，howgood！"shebrokeout。"Butbefranknow！I’veoffendedyou。"

"How？IknowI’majay，andinthecountryI’vegotfolks。"

"Ah，Iseeyou’rehurtatmyjoking，andI’mawfullysorry。Iwishtherewassomewayofmakingyouforgiveme。Butitcouldn’tbethatalone，"

shewentonratheraimlesslyastoherwords，trustingtohisanswerforsomeleading，andwillingmeanwhiletoprolongthesituationfortheeffectinhernerves。Ithadbeenaverydullandtediousday，andshewasfindingmuchmorethanshecouldhaveexpectedinthemingledfearandslightwhichheinspiredherwithinsuchsingularmeasure。Thesefemininesubtletiesofmotivearebeyondanybutthefinestnaturesintheothersex，andperhapsallthatJeffperceivedwasthenoteofinsincerityinherwords。

"Couldn’tbewhatalone？"heasked。

"WhatI’vesaid，"sheventured，lettinghereyesfall；buttheywerenoteyesthatfelleffectively，andsheinstantlyliftedthemagaintohis。

"Youhaven’tsaidanything，andifyou’vethoughtanything，whathaveI

gottodowiththat？Ithinkallsortsofthingsaboutpeople——orfolks，asyoucallthem——"

"Oh，thankyou！Nowyouareforgivingme！"

"Ithinkthemaboutyou"

"Oh，dositdownandtellmethekindofthingsyouthinkaboutme！"

Bessieimplored，sinkingbackintoherchair。

"Youmightn’tlikethem。"

"Butiftheywoulddomegood？"

"WhatshouldIwanttodoyougoodfor？"

"That’strue，"sighedBessie，thoughtfully。

"People——folks——"

"Thankyousomuch！"

"Don’ttrytodoeachothergood，unlessthey’recrankslikeLancaster，orboreslikeMrs。Bevidge——"

"YoubelongtotheanalyticalschoolofSeniors！Goon！"

"That’sall，"saidJeff。

"Andyoudon’tthinkI’vetriedtodoyougood？"

Helaughed。Hercomedywasdelicioustohim。Hehadneverfound，anybodysoamusing；healmostrespectedherforit。

"Ifthatisyouropinionofme，Mr。Durgin，"shesaid，verygravely，"Iamsorry。MayIremarkthatIdon’tseewhyyoucome，then？"

"Icantellyou，"saidJeff，andheadvanceduponherwhereshesatsoabruptlythatshestartedandshrankbackinherchair。"Icomebecauseyou’vegotbrains，andyou’retheonlygirlthathas——here。"TheywereAlan’swords，almosthiswords，andforaninstantshethoughtofherbrother，endwonderedwhathewouldthinkofthisjay’spraisingherinhisterms。"Because，"Jeffwenton，"you’vegotmoresenseandnonsense——thanallthewomenhereputtogether。Becauseit’sbetterthanaplaytohearyoutalk——andact；andbecauseyou’regraceful——andfascinating，andchic，and——Good—night，MissLynde。"

Heputouthishand，butshedidnottakeitassherosehaughtily。

"We’vesaidgood—nightonce。Iprefertosaygood—byethistime。I’msureyouwillunderstandwhyafterthisIcannotseeyouagain。"Sheseemedtoexaminehimfortheeffectofthesewordsuponhimbeforeshewenton。

"No，Idon’tunderstand，"heanswered，coolly；"butitisn’tnecessaryI

should；andI’mquitewillingtosaygood—bye，ifyouprefer。Youhaven’tbeensofrankwithmeasIhavewithyou；butthatdoesn’tmakeanydifference；perhapsyounevermeanttobe，orcouldn’tbe，ifyoumeant。Good—bye。"Hebowedandturnedtowardthedoor。

Sheflutteredbetweenhimandit。"Iwishtoknowwhatyouaccusemeof！"

"I？Nothing。"

"YouimplythatIhavebeenunjusttowardyou。"

"Ohno！"

"AndIcan’tletyougotillyouproveit。"

"Provetoawomanthat——Willyouletmepass？"

"No！"Shespreadherslenderarmsacrossthedoorway。

"Oh，verywell！"Jefftookherhandsandputthembothintheholdofoneofhislarge，strongbands。Then，withthecontact，itcametohim，fromavariedexperienceofgirlsinhisrusticpast，thatthisyounglady，whowasnothingbutagirlafterall，wasplayinghercomedywithacertainpurpose，howeverlittleshemightknowitorownit。Heputhisotherlarge，stronghanduponherwaist，andpulledhertohimandkissedher。Anothersortofman，nomatterwhathehadbelievedofher，wouldhavefelthisactasacrilegethenandthere。Jeffonlyknewthatshehadnotmadethefainteststraggleagainsthim；shehadeventrembledtowardhim，andhebrutallyexultedinthebeliefthathehaddonewhatshewished，whetheritwaswhatshemeantornot。

She，forherpart，realizedthatshehadbeenkissedasonceshehadhappenedtoseeoneofthemaidskissedbythegrocer’sboyatthebasementdoor。Inaninstantthismanhadabolishedallherdefencesoffamily，ofsociety，ofpersonality，andputhimselfonalevelwithherinthemostsacredthingsoflife。Hermindgraspedthefactandsherealizeditintellectually，whileasyetallheremotionsseemedparalyzed。Shedidnotknowwhethersheresenteditasanabominableoutrageornot；whethershehatedthemanforitornot。Butperhapshewasinlovewithher，andhisloveoverpoweredhim；inthatcaseshecouldforgivehim，ifshewereinlovewithhim。Sheaskedherselfwhethershewas，andwhethershehadbetrayedherselftohimsothathewassomehowwarrantedinwhathedid。Shewonderedifanothersortofmanwouldhavedoneit，agentleman，whobelievedshewasinlovewithhim。Shewonderedifshewereasmuchshockedasshewasastonished。

Sheknewthattherewaseverythinginthesituationtomakethefactshocking，butshegotnodistinctreplyfromherjarredconsciousness。

Itoughttobeknown，andknownatonce；sheoughttotellherbrother，assoonasshesawhim；shethoughtoftellingheraunt，andshefanciedhavingtoshouttheaffairintoherear，andhavingtorepeat，"Hekissedme！Don’tyouunderstand？Kissedme！"Thenshereflectedwithastartthatshecouldnevertellanyone，thatinthemidstofherworldshewasaloneinrelationtothis；shewasashelplessandfriendlessasthepoorestandlowliestgirlcouldbe。Shewasmoreso，forifshewerelikethemaidwhomthegrocer’sboykissedshewouldbeofanorderofthingsinwhichshecouldadvisewithsomeoneelsewhohadbeenkissed；

andshewouldknowwhattofeel。

Sheaskedherselfwhethershewasatallmovedatheart；tillnowitseemedtoherthatithadnotbeendifferentwithhertowardhimfromwhatithadbeentowardalltheothermenwhosemeaningshewouldhavelikedtofindout。Shehadnotintheleastrespectedthem，andshedidnotrespecthim；butifithappenedbecausehewasovercomebyhisloveforher，andcouldnothelpit，thenperhapsshemustforgivehimwhethershecaredforhimornot。

Theseideaspresentedthemselveswiththesimultaneityofthingsinadreaminthatinstantwhenshelingeredhelplesslyinhishold，andsheevenwonderedifbyanychanceAndrewhadseenthem；butsheheardhissteponthefloorbelow；andatthesametimeitappearedtoherthatshemustbeinlovewiththismanifshedidnotresentwhathehaddone。

XLIII

Westoverwassittingatanopenwindowofhisstudiosmokingoutintotheeveningair，andlookingdownintothethinlyfoliagedtopsofthepublicgarden，wheretheelectricsfaintedandflushedandhissed。Carstroopedbyinthetroubledstreet，scrapingthewiresoverheadthatscreamedasifwithpainatthetouchoftheirtrolleys，andkindlingnowandagainasoftplanet，asthetrolleysstruckthebatlikeplatesthatconnectedthecrossinglines。Thepainterwasgettingalmostasmuchpleasureoutoftheplanetsaspainoutofthescreams，andhewasinanafter—dinnerlanguorinwhichhewasveryreluctanttorecognizeastep，whichhethoughtheknew，onhisstairsandhisstairs—landing。Aknockathisdoorfollowedthesoundoftheapproachingsteps。Heliftedhimself，andcalledout，inhospitably，"Comein！"and，asheexpected，JeffDurgincamein。Westover’smeetingswithhimhadbeenanincreasingdiscomfortsincehisreturnfromLion’sHead。TheuneasinesswhichhecommonlyfeltatthefirstmomentofencounterwithhimyieldedlessandlesstotheinfluenceofJeff’scynicalbonhomie，anditreturnedinforceassoonastheyparted。

Itwasratherdimintheplace，exceptforthelightthrownupintoitfromtheturmoiloflightsoutside，buthecouldseethattherewasnothingofthesmilingmockeryonJeff’sfacewhichhabituallyexpressedhisinnerhardihood。Itwasafrowningmockery。

"Hello！"saidWestover，"Hello！"answeredJeff。"AnycommandsforLion’sHead？"

"Whatdoyoumean？"

"I’mgoingupthereto—morrow。I’vegottoseeCynthia，andtellherwhatI’vebeendoing。"

Westoverwaitedamomentbeforeheasked："Doyouwantmetoaskwhatyou’vebeendoing？"

"Ishouldn’tmindit。"

Thepainterpausedagain。"Idon’tknowthatIcaretoask。Isitanygood？"

"No！"shoutedJeff。"It’stheworstthingyet，Iguessyou’llthink。

Icouldn’thavebelieveditmyself，ifIhadn’tbeenthroughit。

Ishouldn’thavesupposedIwassuchafool。Idon’tcareforthegirl；

Ineverdid。"

"Cynthia？"

"Cynthia？No！MissLynde。Oh，trytotakeitin！"Jeffcried，withalaughatthedazeinWestover’sface。"Youmusthaveknownabouttheflirtation；ifyouhaven’t，you’retheonlyone。"Hisvanityinthefactbetrayeditselfinhisvoice。"Itcametoacrisislastweek，andwetriedtomakeeachotherbelievethatwewereinearnest。Buttherewon’tbeanyreallovelost。"

Westoverdidnotspeak。Hecouldnotmakeoutwhetherhewassurprisedorwhetherhewasshocked，anditseemedtohimthathewasneithersurprisednorshocked。Hewonderedwhetherhehadreallyexpectedsomethingofthekind，soonerorlater，orwhetherhewasnotalwayssoapprehensiveofsomedeviltryinDurginthatnothinghedidcouldquitetakehimunawares。Atlasthesaid："Isupposeit’strue——eventhoughyousayit。It’sprobablytheonlytruthinyou。"

"That’ssomethinglike，"saidJeff，asifthecontemptgavehimasortofpleasure；andhisheavyfacelightedupandthendarkenedagain。

"Well，"saidWestover，"whatarewegoingtodo？You’vecometotellme。"

"I’mgoingtobreakwithher。Idon’tcareforher——that！"Hesnappedhisfingers。"ItoldherIcaredbecausesheprovokedmeto。Ithappenedbecauseshewantedittoandleduptoit。"

"Ah！"saidWestover。"Youputitonher！"ButhewaitedforDurgin’sjustificationwithadreadthatheshouldfindsomethinginit。

"Pshaw！What’stheuse？It’sbeenagamefromthebeginning，andaquestionwhichshouldruin。Iwon。Shemeanttothrowmeover，ifthetimecameforher，butitcameformefirst，andit’sonlyaquestionnowwhichshallbreakfirst；we’vebothbeennearitonceortwicealready。

Idon’tmeansheshallgetthestartofme。"

Westoverhadaglimpseoftheinnateenmityofthesexesinthisgame；

ofitspresenceinpassionthatwaslivedandofitsprevalenceinpassionthatwasplayed。Butthefateofneithergamblerconcernedhim；

hewasimpatientofhisinterestinwhatJeffnowwentontotellhim，withoutscrupleconcerningher，orpalliationofhimself。Hescarcelyrealizedthathewaslistening，butafterwardheremembereditall，withalittlepityforBessieandnoneforJeff，butwithmoreshameforher，too。Loveseemsmoresacredlyconfidedtowomenthantomen；itisandmustbeahigherandfineraswellasaholierthingwiththem；theirblameforitsbetrayalmustalwaysbetheheavier。HehadsometimessuspectedBessie’swillingnesstoamuseherselfwithJeff，aswithanyothermanwhowouldletherplaywithhim；andhewouldnothaverelieduponanythinginhimtodefeatherpurpose，ifithadbeenanythingsoseriousasapurpose。

AttheendofDurgin’sstoryhemerelyasked："AndwhatareyougoingtodoaboutCynthia？"

"Iamgoingtotellher，"saidJeff。"That’swhatIamgoinguptherefor。"

Westoverrose，butJeffremainedsittingwherehehadputhimselfastrideofachair，withhisfaceovertheback。Thepainterwalkedslowlyupanddownbeforehiminthecapriciousplayofthestreetlight。Heturnedalittlesick，andhestoppedamomentatthewindowforabreathofair。

"Well？"askedJeff。

"Oh！Youwantmyadvice？"Westoverstillfeltphysicallyincapableoftheindignationwhichhestronglyimagined。"Idon’tknowwhattosaytoyou，Durgin。Youtranscendmypowers。Areyouabletoseethiswholethingyourself？"

"Iguessso，"Jeffanswered。"Idon’tidealizeit，though。Ilookatfacts；they’rebadenough。Youdon’tsupposethatMissLyndeisgoingtobreakherheartover——"

"Idon’tbelieveIcareforMissLyndeanymorethanIcareforyou。

ButIbelieveIwishyouwerenotgoingtobreakwithher。"

"Why？"

"Becauseyouandshearefitforeachother。Ifyouwantmyadvice，I

adviseyoutobetruetoher——ifyoucan。"

"AndCynthia？"

"Breakwithher。"

"Oh！"Jeffgaveasnortofderision。

"You’renotfitforher。Youcouldn’tdoacruelerthingforherthantokeepfaithwithher。"

"Doyoumeanit？"

"Yes，Imeanit。SticktoMissLynde——ifshe’llletyou。"

JeffseemedpuzzledbyWestover’sattitude，whichwaseithertoosincereortooironicalforhim。Hepushedhishat，whichhehadkepton，backfromhisforehead。"DamnedifIdon’tbelieveshewould，"hemusedaloud。Thenotionseemedtoflatterhimandrepayhimforwhathemusthavebeensuffering。Hesmiled，buthesaid："Shewouldn’tdo，evenifshewereanygood。Cynthiaisworthamillionofher。Ifshewantstogivemeupaftersheknowsallaboutme，wellandgood。Ishu’n’tblameher。ButIshallgiveherafairchance，andIshu’n’twhitewashmyself；

youneedn’tbeafraidofthat，Mr。Westover。"

"WhyshouldIcarewhatyoudo？"askedthepainter，scornfully。

"Well，youcan’t，onmyaccount，"Durginallowed。"Butyoudocareonheraccount。"

"Yes，Ido，"saidWestover，sittingdownagain，andhedidnotsayanythingmore。

Durginwaitedalongwhileforhimtospeakbeforeheasked："Thenthat’sreallyyouradvice，isit？"

"Yes，breakwithher。"

"AndsticktoMissLynde。"

"Ifshe’llletyou。"

Jeffwassilentinhisturn。Hestartedfromhissilencewithalaugh。

"She’dmakeadaisylandladyforLion’sHead。Ibelieveshewouldliketotryitawhilejustforthefun。Butaftertheballwasover——well，itwouldbeagoodjoke，ifitwasajoke。Cynthiaisawoman——shea’n’tanycorpse—light。Sheunderstandsme，andshedon’toverrateme，either。

SheknewjusthowmuchIwasworth，andshetookmeatherownvaluation。

I’vegotmywayinlifemarkedout，andshebelievesinitasmuchasI

do。Ifanybodycankeepmelevelandmakethebestofme，shecan，andshe’sgoingtohavethechance，ifshewantsto。I’mgoingtoactsquarewithheraboutthewholething。Iguessshe’sthebestjudgeinacaselikethis，andIshalllaythewholecasebeforeher，don’tyoubeafraidofthat。Andshe’sgottohaveafreefield。Why，eveniftherewa’n’tanyquestionofher，"hewenton，fallingmoreandmoreintohisvernacular，"Idon’tbelieveIshouldcareinthelongrunforthisotherone。Wecouldn’tmakeitgoforanytimeatall。Shewantsexcitement，andafterthesummerfolksbegantoleave，andwe’dbeentoFloridaforawinter，andthencamebacktoLion’sHead—well！Thisplanethasn’tgotexcitementenoughinitforthatgirl，andIdoubtifthesolarsystemhas。Atanyrate，I’mnotgoingtoactasadvance—agentforher。"

"Isee，"saidWestover，"thatyou’vebeenreasoningitallout，andI’mnotsurprisedthatyou’vekeptyourownadvantagesteadilyinmind。

Idon’tsupposeyouknowwhatasavageyouare，andIdon’tsupposeI

couldteachyou。Isha’n’ttry，atanyrate。I’lltakeyouonyourownground，andItellyouagainyouhadbetterbreakwithCynthia。Iwon’tsaythatit’swhatyouoweher，forthatwon’thaveanyeffectwithyou，butit’swhatyouoweyourself。Youcan’tdoawrongthingandprosperonit——"

"Ohyes，youcan，"Jeffinterrupted，withasneeringlaugh。"Howdoyousupposeallthebigfortunesweremade？BykeepingtheCommandments？"

"No。Butyou’reanunluckymaniflifehasn’ttaughtyouthatyoumustpayinsufferingofsomekind，soonerorlater，foreverywrongthingyoudo——"

"Nowthat’soneofyourold—fashionedsuperstitions，Mr。Westover，"saidJeff，withagrowingkindlinessinhistone，asifthepatheticdelusionofsuchamanreallytouchedhim。"Youpay，oryoudon’tpay，justasithappens。Ifyougethitsoonafteryou’vedonewrong，youthinkit’sretribution，andifitholdsofftillyou’veforgottenallaboutit，youthinkit’sastrangeProvidence，andyoupuzzleoverit，butyoudon’treform。Youkeeprightalongintheoldway。Prosperityandadversity，they’vegotnothingtodowithconduct。Ifyou’reastrongman，yougetthere，andifyou’reaweakman，alltherighteousnessintheuniversewon’thelpyou。ButIproposetodowhat’srightaboutCynthia，andnotwhat’swrong；andaccordingtoyourowntheory，oflife——whichwon’tholdwateraminute——Ioughttobeblessedtothethirdandfourthgeneration。

Idon’tlookforthat，though。IshallbeblessedifIlookoutformyself；andifIdon’t，Ishallsufferformywantofforesight。ButI

sha’n’tsufferforanythingelse。Well，I’mgoingtocutsomeofmyrecitations，andI’mgoinguptoLion’sHead，to—morrow，tosettlemybusinesswithCynthia。I’vegotalittlebusinesstolookafterherewithsomeoneelsefirst，andIguessIshallhavetobeaboutit。I

don’tknowwhichIshalllikethebest。"Herose，andwentovertowhereWestoverwassitting，andheldouthishandtohim。

"Whatisit？"askedWestover。

"AnycommandsforLion’sHead？"Jeffsaid，asatfirst。

"No，"saidWestover，turninghisfaceaway。

"Oh，allright。"Durginputhishandintohispocketunshaken。