第20章

XLIV

"Whatisit，Jeff？"askedCynthia，thenextnight，astheystartedouttogetheraftersupper，andbegantostrolldownthehilltowardherfather’shouse。Itlaylookingverylittleandlowinthenookatthefootofthelane，onthevergeofthewoodsthatdarkenedawaytothenorthwardfromit，undertheglassynightsky，litwiththespareyoungmoon。Thepeepingofthefrogsinthemarshyplacesfilledtheair；thehoarsevoiceofthebrookmadeitselfheardatintervalsthroughthem。

"It’snotsowarmhere，quite，asitisinBoston，"hereturned。"Areyouwrappedupenough？Thisairhasanedgetoit。"

"I’mallright，"saidthegirl。"Whatisit？"

"Youthinkthere’ssomething？Youdon’tbelieveI’vecomeupforrestoverSunday？Iguessmotherherselfdidn’t，andIcouldseeyourfatherfollowingupmylittleliesasifhewa’n’tgoingtoletoneescapehim。

Well，you’reright。Thereissomething。Thinkoftheworstthingyoucan，Cynthy！"

Shepulledherhandoutofhisarm，whichshehadtaken，andhaltedhimbyherabruptpause。"You’renotgoingtogetthrough！"

"I’mallrightonmyconditions，"saidJeff，withforlornderision。

"You’llhavetoguessagain。"Hestoodlookingbackoverhisshoulderatherface，whichshowedwhiteinthemoonlight，swathedairilyroundintheold—fashionedsoftwoollencloudshewore。

"Isitsometroubleyou’vegotinto？Ishallstandbyyou！"

"Oh，yousplendidgirl！Thetrouble’sover，butit’ssomethingyoucan’tstandbymein，Iguess。YouknowthatgirlIwrotetoyouabout——theoneImetatthecollegetea，and——"

"Yes！MissLynde！"

"Comeon！Wecan’tstayheretalking。Let’sgodownandsitonyourporch。"Shemechanicallyobeyedhim，andtheystartedontogetherdownthehillagain；butshedidnotoffertotakehisarm，andhekeptthewidthoftheroadwayfromher。

"Whatabouther？"shequietlyasked。

"LastnightIendeduptheflirtationI’vebeencarryingonwithhereversince。"

"Iwanttoknowjustwhatyoumean，Jeff。"

"ImeanthatlastweekIgotengagedtoher，andlastnightIbrokewithher。"Cynthiaseemedtostumbleonsomething；hesprangoverandcaught。

her，andnowsheputherhandinhisarm，andstayedherselfbyhimastheywalked。

"Goon，"shesaid。

"That’sallthereisofit。"

"No！"Shestopped，andthensheasked，withakindofgentlebewilderment："Whatdidyouwanttotellmefor？"

"Toletyoubreakwithme——ifyouwantedto。"

"Don’tyoucareformeanymore？"

"Yes，morethaneverIdid。ButI’mnotfitforyou，Cynthia。Mr。

WestoversaidIwasn’t。Itoldhimaboutit——"

"Whatdidhesay？"

"ThatIoughttobreakwithyou。"

"Butifyoubrokewithher？"

"Hetoldmetosticktoher。Hewasrightaboutyou，Cynthy。I’mnotfitforyou，andthat’safact。"

"Whatwasitaboutthatgirl？Tellmeeverything。"Shespokeinatoneofplaintiveentreaty，veryunlikethecommandsheonceusedwithJeffwhenshewasurginghimtobefrankwithherandtruetohimself。Theyhadcometoherfather’shouseandshefreedherhandfromhisarmagain，andsatdownonthestepbeforethesidedoorwithalittlesighasoffatigue。

"You’lltakecold，"saidJeff，whoremainedonfootinfrontofher。

"No，"shesaid，briefly。"Goon。"

"Why，"Jeffbegan，harshly，andwithanoteofscornforhimselfandhisthemeinhisvoice，"thereisn’tanymoreofit，butthere’snoendtoher。IpromisedMr。WestoverIshouldn’twhitewashmyself，andI

sha’n’t。I’vebeenbehavingbadly，andit’snoexcuseformebecauseshewantedmeto。IbegantogoforherassoonasIsawthatshewantedmeto，andthatshelikedtheexcitement。Theexcitementisallthatshecaredfor；shedidn’tcareformeexceptfortheexcitementofit。Shethoughtshecouldhavefunwithme，andthenthrowmeover；butIguessshefoundhermatch。Youcouldn’tunderstandsuchagirl，andIdon’tbragofit。Allshecaredforwastoflirtwithme，andshelikeditallthemorebecauseIwasajayandshecouldgetsomethingnewoutofit。

Ican’texplainit；butIcouldseeitrightalong。Shefooledherselfmorethanshefooledme。"

"Wasshe——verygood—looking？"Cynthiaasked，listlessly。

"No！"shoutedJeff。"Shewasn’tgood—lookingatall。Shewasdarkandthin，andshehadlittleslantingeyes；butshewasgraceful，andsheknewhowtomakeherselfgofurtherthananygirlIeversaw。Ifshecameintoaroom，shemadeyoulookather，oryouhadtosomehow。Shewasbright，too；andshehadmoresensethanalltheothergirlsthereputtogether。Butshewasafool，allthesame。"Jeffpaused。"Isthatenough？"

"Itisn’tall。"

"No，itisn’tall。Wedidn’tmeetmuchatfirst，butIgottowalkinghomewithherfromsometeas；andthenwemetatabigball。Idancedwithherthewholewhilenearly，and——andItookherbrotherhome——Pshaw！

Hewasdrunk；andI——well，hehadgotdrunkdrinkingwithmeattheball。

Thewinedidn’ttouchme，butitturnedhishead；andItookhimhome；

he’sadrunkard，anyway。Sheletusinwhenwegottotheirhouse，andthatkindofmadeatiebetweenus。Shepretendedtothinkshewasunderobligationstome，andsoIgottogoingtoherhouse。"

"Didsheknowhowherbrothergotdrunk？"

"Shedoesnow。Itoldherlastnight。"Howcameyoutotellher？"

"Iwantedtobreakwithher。Iwantedtostopit，onceforall，andI

thoughtthatwoulddoit，ifanythingwould。"

"Didthatmakeherwillingtogiveyouup？"

Jeffcheckedhimselfinasortofretrospectivelaugh。"I’mnotsosure。

Iguessshelikedtheexcitementofthat，too。Youcouldn’tunderstandthekindofgirlshe——ShewantedtoflirtwithmethatnightIbroughthimhometipsy。"

"Idon’tcaretohearanymoreabouther。Whydidyougiveherup？"

"BecauseIdidn’tcareforher，andIdidcareforyou，Cynthy。"

"Idon’tbelieveit。"Cynthiarosefromthestep，whereshehadbeensitting，asifwithrenewedstrength。"Goupandtellfathertocomedownhere。Iwanttoseehim。"Sheturnedandputherhandonthelatchofthedoor。

"You’renotgoinginthere，Cynthia，"saidJeff。"Itmustbelikedeathinthere。"

"It’smorelikedeathouthere。Butifit’sthecoldyoumean，youneedn’tbetroubled。We’vehadafireto—day，airingoutthehouse。

Willyougo？"

"Butwhatdoyou——whatareyougoingtosaytome？"

"Idon’tknow，yet。IfIsaidanythingnow，IshouldtellyouwhatMr。

Westoverdid：gobacktothatgirl，ifshe’llletyou。You’refitforeachother，ashesaid。Didyoutellherthatyouwereengagedtosomeoneelse？"

"Idid，lastnight。"

"Butbeforethatshedidn’tknowhowfalseyouwere。Well，you’renotfitforher，then；you’renotgoodenough。"

Sheopenedthedoorandwentin，closingitafterher。Jeffturnedandwalkedslowlyaway；thenhecamequicklyback，asifheweregoingtofollowherwithin。Butthroughthewindowhesawherasshestoodbythetablewithalampinherhand。Shehadturnedupthelight，whichshonefullinherfaceandrevealeditsseverebeautybrokenandwrithenwiththeefforttorepressherweeping。Hemightnothavemindedtheseverityorthebeauty，butthepathoswasmorethanhecouldstand。"Oh，Lord！"

hesaid，withashrug，andheturnedagainandwalkedslowlyupthehill。

WhenWhitwellfacedhisdaughterinthelittlesitting—room，whoselowceilinghishatalmosttouchedashestoodbeforeher，thestormhadpassedwithher，andhertear—drenchedvisageworeitswontedlookofstillpatience。

"DidJefftellyouwhyIsentforyou，father？"

"No。ButIknewitwastrouble，"saidWhitwell，withadignitywhich—

hissympathyforhergaveacountenancebetteradaptedtotheexpressionofthelighteremotions。

"Iguessyouwererightabouthim，"sheresumed：ShewentontotellinbriefthestorythatJeffhadtoldher。Herfatherdidnotinterrupther，butattheendhesaid，inadequately："He’sacomicaldevil。Iknewabouthisgittin’thatfellerdrunk。Mr。Westovertoldmewhenhewasuphere。"

"Mr。Westoverdid！"saidCynthia，inanoteofindignation。

"Hedidn’tofferto，"Whitwellexplained。"Igotitoutofhiminspiteofhim，Iguess。"Hehadsatdownwithhishaton，ashisabsent—mindedhabitwas，andhenowbracedhiskneesagainsttheedgeofthetable。

Cynthiasatacrossitfromhimwithherheaddroopedoverit，drawingvaguefiguresontheboardwithherfinger。"Whatareyougoin’todo？"

"Idon’tknow，"sheanswered。

"Iguessyoudon’tquiterealizeityet，"herfathersuggested，tenderly。

"Well，Idon’twanttohurryyouany。Takeyourtime。"

"IguessIrealizeit，"saidthegirl。

"Well，it’sapoottyplaincase，that’safact，"Whitwellconceded。Shewassilent，andheasked："Howdidhecometotellyou？"

"It’swhathecameupfor。Hebegantotellmeatonce。Iwascertaintherewassometrouble。"

"Wasithisnotiontocome，Iwonder，orMr。Westover’s？"

"Itwashis。ButMr。Westovertoldhimtobreakoffwithme，andkeeponwithher，ifshewouldlethim。"

"Iguessthatwaspoottygoodadvice，"saidWhitwell，lettinghisfacebetrayhishumorousrelishofit。"Iguessthere’sapairof’em。"

"Shewasnotplayinganyoneelsefalse，"saidCynthia，bitterly。

"Well，Iguessthat’sso，too，"herfatherassented。"’Ta’n’tsomuchofamuchnessasyoumightthink，inthatlight。"Hetookrefugefromthesubjectinanundirectedwhistle。

Afteramomentthegirlasked，forlornly："Whatshouldyoudo，father，ifyouwereinmyplace？"

"Well，thereIguessyougotme，Cynthy，"saidherfather。"Idon’tbelieve’tanyman，Idon’tcarehowoldheis，orhowmuchexperiencehe’shad，knowsexactlyhowagirlfeelsaboutathinglikethis，orhasgotanycalltoadviseher。Ofcourse，thewayIfeelisliketakin’thetopofhisheadoff。ButId’know，"headded，"asthatwoulddoagreatdealofgood，either。Ipresumeawoman’sgotratherofachoretogetalongwithaman，anyway。Wea’n’tanyofusmuchtobragon。It’souto’sight，outo’mind，withthebestofus，Iguess。"

"Itwouldn’tbewithJackson——itwouldn’tbewithMr。Westover。"

"Therea’n’tmanymenlikeMr。Westover——well，notagreatmany；orJackson，either。Time！IwishJacksonwashome！He’dknowhowtostraightenthisthingout，andhewouldn’tweakenoverJeffmuch——well，notmuch。Buthea’n’there，andyou’vegottoactforyourself。ThewayIlookatitisthis：youtookJeffwhenyouknowedwhatacomicaldevilhewas，andIpresumeyouha’n’tgotquitethesamerighttobedisappointedinwhathedoneasifyouhadn’tknowed。Nowmind，Ia’n’texcusin’him。Butifyouknowedhewasthefellertoplaythedevilifhegotachance，thequestioniswhether——whether——"

"Iknowwhatyoumean，father，"saidthegirl，"andIdon’twanttoshirkmyresponsibility。Itwaseverythingtohavehimcomerightupandtellme。"

"Well，"saidWhitwell，impartially，"asfarforthasthatgoes，Idon’tthinkhe’sstrainedhimself。He’dknowyouwouldhearofitsoonerorlateranyway，andheha’n’tjustfoundoutthathewasgoin’wrong。

Beenkeepin’itupforthelastthreemonths，andwritin’youallthewhilethemlettersyouwassocrazytoget。"

"Yes，"sighedthegirl。"Butwe’vegottobejusttohisdispositionaswellashisactions。Icanseeitinonelightthatcanexcuseitsome。

Hecan’tbeartobeputdown，andIknowhe’sbeenleftoutagooddealamongthestudents，andit’smadehimbitter。Hetoldmeaboutit；

that’sonereasonwhyhewantedtoleaveHarvardthislastyear。Hesawotheryoungmenmademuchof，whenhedidn’tgetanynotice；andwhenhehadthechancetopaythembackwithagirloftheirownsetthatwastryingtomakeafoolofhim——"

"Thatwasthetimeforhimtorememberyou，"saidWhitwell。

Cynthiabrokeunderthedefenceshewastryingtomake。"Yes，"shesaid，withanindrawnsigh，andshebegantosobpiteously。

Thesightofhergriefseemedtokindleherfather’swrathtoaflame。

"Anywayyoulookathim，he’sbeenadumnblackguard；that’swhathe’sbeen。You’reamilliontimestoogoodforhim；andI——"

Shesobbedherselfquiet，andthenshesaid："Father，Idon’tliketogoupthereto—night。Iwanttostayhere。"

"Allright，Cynthia。I’llcomedownandstaywithyou。Yougoteverythingwewanthere？"

"Yes。AndI’llgoupandgetthebreakfastfortheminthemorning。

Therewon’tbemuchtodo。"

"Dumn’em！Let’emgettheirownbreakfast！"saidWhitwell，recklessly。

"And，father，"thegirlwentonasifhehadnotspoken，"don’tyoutalktoMrs。Durginaboutit，willyou？"

"No，no。Isha’n’tspeaktoher。I’lljusttellFrankyouandmearegoin’tostaydownhereto—night。She’llsuspicionsomething，butshecanfigureitoutforherself。OrshecanmakeJefftellher。Itcan’tbekeptfromher。"

"Well，lethimbetheonetotellher。Whateverhappens，Ishallneverspeakofittoasoulbesidesyou。"

Allright，Cynthy。You’llhavethenighttothinkitover——Iguessyouwon’tsleepmuch—andI’lltrustyoutodowhat’sthebestthingaboutit。"

XLV。

CynthiafoundMrs。Durginintheoldfarm—housekitchenatworkgettingbreakfastwhenshecameuptothehotelinthemorning。Shewasearly，buttheelderwomanhadbeenearlierstill，andherheavyfaceshowedmoreoftheircommonnight—longtroublethanthegirl’s。

Shedemanded，atsightofher，"What’sthematterwithyouandJeff，Cynthy？"

Cynthiawasunrollingthecloudfromherhair。Shesaid，asshetiedonherapron："Youmustgethimtotellyou，Mrs。Durgin。"

"Thenthereissomething？"

"Yes。"

"HasJeffbeenusingyouwrong？"

Cynthiastoopedtoopentheovendoor，andtoturnthepanofbiscuitshefoundinside。Sheshutthedoorsharplyto，andsaid，assherose：

"Idon’twanttotellanythingaboutit，andIsha’n’t，Mrs。Durgin。Hecandoit，ifhewantsto。ShallImakethecoffee？"

"Yes；youseemtomakeitbetterthanIdo。DoyouthinkIshouldn’tbelieveyouwasfairtohim？"

"Iwasn’tthinkingofthat。Butit’shissecret。Ifhewantstokeepit，hecankeepit，forallme。"

"Youha’n’tgiveeachotherup？"

"Idon’tknow。"Cynthiaturnedawaywithatremblingchin，andbegantobeatthecoffeeupwithaneggshehaddroppedintothepot。Sheputthebreakfastonthetablewhenitwasready，butshewouldnotsitdownwiththerest。Shesaidshedidnotwantanybreakfast，andshedrankacupofcoffeeinthekitchen。

ItfelltoJeffmainlytokeepthetalkgoing。HehadbeenoutatthebarnwithJombateestesincedaybreak，lookingafterthecattle，andthejoyoftheweatherhadgotintohisnervesandspirits。Atfirsthehadlainawakeafterhewenttobed，buthehadfallenasleepaboutmidnight，andgotagoodnight’srest。Helookedfreshandstrongandveryhandsome。Hetalkedresolutelytoeveryoneatthetable，butJombateestewasalwayspreoccupiedwitheatingathismeals，andFrankWhitwellhadonaSundaysilence，whichwasperhapsdeepenedbyafeelingthattherewassomethingwrongbetweenhissisterandJeff，anditwouldberashtocommithimselftoanopenfriendlinessuntilheunderstoodthecase。HisfathermetJeff’sadvanceswithphilosophicalblandnessandevasion，andMrs。DurginwasprovisionallydryandseverebothwiththeWhitwellsandherson。Afterbreakfastshewenttotheparlor，andJeffsetaboutatourofthehotel，insideandout。Helookedcarefullytothedetailsofitswinterkeeping。Thenhecamebackandboldlyjoinedhismotherwhereshesatbeforeherstove，whosesubduedheatshefoundpleasantinthelingeringcoldoftheearlyspring。

Hetossedhishatonthetablebesideher，andsatdownontheothersideofthestove。"Well，Imustsaytheplacehasbeenwelllookedafter。

Idon’tbelieveJacksonhimselfcouldhavekeptitinbettershape。Whenwasthelastyouheardfromhim？"

"Ihope，"saidhismother，gravely，"you’vebeenlookin’afteryourendatBoston，too。"

"Well，notaswellasyouhavehere，mother，"saidJeff，candidly。

"HasCynthytoldyou？"

"Iguesssheexpectedyoutotellme，iftherewasanything。"

"There’salot；butIguessIneedn’tgooveritall。I’vebeenplayingthedevil。"

"Jeff！"

"Yes，Ihave。I’vebeengoingwithanothergirldownthere，onethekindyouwantedmetomakeupto，andIwentsofarI——well，Imadelovetoher；andthenIthoughtitover，andfoundoutIdidn’treallycareforher，andIhadtotellherso，andthenIcameuptotellCynthy。That’saboutthesizeofit。Whatdoyouthinkofit？"

"D’youtellCynthy？"

"Yes，Itoldher。"

"What’dshesay？"

"ShesaidI’dbettergobacktotheothergirl。"Jefflaughedhardily，buthismotherremainedimpassive。

"Iguessshe’sright；Iguessyouhad。"

"Thatseemstobethegeneralopinion。That’swhatMr。Westoveradvised。

Iseemtobetheonlyoneagainstit。IsupposeyoumeanthatI’mnotfitforCynthy。Idon’tdenyit。AllIsayisIwanther，andIdon’twanttheotherone。Whatareyougoingtodoinacaselikethat？"

"ThewayIshouldlookatit，"saidhismother，"isthis：whateveryouare，Cynthymadeyou。Youwasalazy，disobedient，worthlessboy，anditwashercarin’foryoufromthefirstthatputanyspiritandanyprincipleintoyou。Itwasherthathelpedyouatschoolwhenyouwaslittlethingstogether；andshehelpedyouattheacademy，andshe’shelpedyouatcollege。I’llbetshecouldtakeadegree，orwhateveritis，atHarvardbetterthanyoucouldnow；andifyoueverdotakeadegree，you’vegothertothankforit。"

"That’sso，"saidJeff。"Andwhat’sthereasonyoudidn’twantmetomarryherwhenIcameinherelastsummerandtoldyouI’daskedherto？"

"Youknowwellenoughwhatthereasonwas。Itwaspartofthesamethingasmywantin’youtobealawyer；butImightknowedthatifyoudidn’thaveCynthytogointocourtwithyou，andputthewordsintoyourmouth，youwouldn’tmakeaspeechthatwould"——Mrs。Durginpausedforafittingfigure——"saveafleafromthegallows。"

Jeffburstintoalaugh。"Well，Iguessthat’sso，mother。AndnowyouwantmetothrowawaytheonlychanceI’vegotoflearninghowtorunLion’sHeadintherightwaybybreakingwithCynthy。"

"NobodywantsyoutorunLion’sHeadforawhileyet，"hismotherreturned，scornfully。"JacksonisgoingtorunLion’sHead。He’llbehometheendofJune，andI’llrunLion’sHeadtillhegetshere。Youtalk，"shewenton，"asifitwasinyourhandstobreakwithCynthy，orthrowawaythechancewithher。ThewayIlookatit，she’sbrokewithyou，andyouha’n’tgotanychancewithher。Oh，Jeff，"shesuddenlyappealedtohim，"tellmeallaboutit！Whathaveyoubeenupto？

IfIunderstooditonce，IknowIcanmakeherseeitintherightlight。"

"Thebetteryouunderstandit，mother，thelessyou’lllikeit；andI

guessCynthyseesitintherightlightalready。Whatdidshesay？"

"Nothing。Shesaidshe’dleaveittoyou。"

"Well，that’slikeCynthy。I’lltellyou，then，"saidJeff；andhetoldhismotherhiswholeaffairwithBessieLynde。Hehadtobeveryelemental，andhewasaware，ashehadneverbeenbefore，ofthedifferencebetweenBessie’sworldandhismother’sworld，intryingtomakeBessie’sworldconceivabletoher。

Hewaspatientingoingovereveryobscurepoint，andillustratingfromthecharactersandconditionofdifferentsummerfolksthefactsofBessie’sentourage。Itisdoubtful，however，ifhesucceededinconveyingtohismotheraclearandjustnotionofthepurelychicnatureofthegirl。Intheendsheseemedtoconceiveofhersimplyasahussy，andsopronouncedher，withoutlimitorqualification，inspiteofJeff’slaughingattempttopalliateherbehavior，andtoinculpatehimself。

Shesaidshedidnotseewhathehaddonethatwassomuchoutoftheway。Thatthinghadledhimonfromthebeginning；shehadmerelygothercome—uppings，whenallwassaid。Mrs。DurginbelievedCynthiawouldlookatitasshedid，ifshecouldhaveitputbeforeherrightly。Jeffshookhisheadwithpersistentmisgiving。HisnotionwasthatCynthiasawtheaffaironlytooclearly，andthattherewasnonewlighttobethrownonitfromherpointofview。Mrs。Durginwouldnotallowthis；

shewassurethatshecouldbringCynthiaround；andsheaskedJeffwhetheritwashisgettingthatfellowdrunkthatsheseemedtoblamehimforthemost。Heansweredthathethoughtthatwasprettybad，buthedidnotbelievethatwastheworstthinginCynthia’seyes。Hedidnotforbidhismother’stryingtodowhatshecouldwithher，andhewentawayforawalk，andleftthehousetothetwowomen。Jombateestewasinthebarn，whichhepreferredtothehouse，andFrankWhitwellhadgonetochurchoverattheHuddle。AsJeffpassedWhitwell’scottageinsettingoutonhisstrollhesawthephilosopherthroughthewindow，seatedwithhislegsonthetable，hishatpushedback，andhisspectaclesfallentothepointofhisnose，reading，andmovinghislipsasheread。

Theforenoonsunwassoft，buttheairwascool。

Therewasstillplentyofsnowontheupperslopesofthehills，andtherewasadrifthereandthereinacornerofpasturewallinthevalley；butthespringtimegreenwasbeginningtohoveroverthewetplacesinthefields；thecatkinssilveredthegoldentraceryofthewillowbranchesbythebrook；therewasabuzzofbeesaboutthem，andaboutthemaples，blackenedbytheearlierflowofsapthroughtheholesinthebarkmadebythewoodpeckers’bills。Nowandthenthetremoloofabluebirdshookinthetenderlightandthekeenair。Atonepointintheroadwherethesunfelluponsomeyoungpinesinashelteredspotabalsamicodorexhaledfromthem。

ThesegentlesightsandsoundsandodorsblendedintheinfluencewhichJeff’sspiritfeltmoreandmore。Herealizedthathewasablotonthelovelinessofthemorning。Hehadalongingtomakeatonementandtowinforgiveness。HisheartwashumbledtowardCynthia，andhewentwonderinghowhismotherwouldmakeitoutwithher，andhow，ifshewonhimanyadvantage，heshouldavailhimselfofitandregainthegirl’strust；

hehadnodoubtofherlove。Heperceivedthattherewasnothingforhimhereafterbutthemostperfectconstancyofthoughtanddeed，andhedesirednothingbetter。

AtaturnofhisroadwhereitbranchedtowardtheHuddleagroupofyounggirlsstoodjokingandlaughing；beforeJeffcameupwiththemtheyseparated，andallbutonecontinuedonthewaybeyondtheturning。ShecametowardJeff，whogaylyrecognizedherasshedrewnear。

Sheblushedandbridledathisbowandathisbeautyandsplendor，andinherembarrassmentpertlysaidthatshedidnotsupposehewouldhaverememberedher。Shewasveryyoung，butatfifteenacountrygirlisnotsoyoungashertownsisterateighteeninthewaysoftheothersex。

Jeffansweredthatheshouldhaveknownheranywhere，inspiteofherlookingsomucholderthanshedidinthesummerwhenshehadcomewithberriestothehotel。Hesaidshemustbefeelingherselfquiteayoungladynow，inherlongdresses，andhepraisedthedresswhichshehadon。

Hesaiditbecameherstyle；andhefoundsuchrelieffromhisheavythoughtsintheseharmlesspleasantriesthathekeptonwiththem。Hehadinvoluntarilyturnedwithhertowalkbacktoherhouseonthewayhehadcome，andheaskedherifhemightnotcarryhercatkinsforher。

Shehadasheafoftheminthehollowofherslenderarm，whichseemedtohimverypretty，andafteralittlestrugglesheyieldedthemtohim。

Thestrugglegavehimstillgreaterrelieffromhisself—reproach，andathergatehebeggedhertolethimkeeponeswitchofthepussywillows，andhestoodamomentwonderingwhetherhemightnotaskherforsomethingelse。Shechoseonefromthebundle，anddrewitlightlyacrosshisfacebeforesheputitinhishand。"YoumayhavethisforCynthy，"shesaid，andsheranlaughinglyupthepathwaytoherdoor。

XLVI

Cynthiadidnotappearatdinner，andJeffaskedhismotherwhenhesawheraloneifshehadspokentothegirl。"Yes，butshesaidshedidnotwanttotalkyet。"

"Allright，"hereturned。"I’mgoingtotakeanap；IbelieveIfeelasifIhadn’tsleptforamonth。"

Hesleptthegreaterpartoftheafternoon，andcamedownratherdulltotheearlytea。Cynthiawasabsentagain，andhismotherwassilentandworeatroubledlook。Whitwellwasfullofanovelconceptionoftheagencyofhypnotismininterpretingthelifeofthesoulasitisintimatedindreams。Hehadbeenreadingabookthataffirmedtheconsubstantialityofthesleep—dreamandthehypnoticillusion。HewantedtoknowifJeff，downatBoston，hadseenanythingofthehypnoticdoingsthatwouldthrowlightonthistheory。