第1章

MARJORYwalkedpensivelyalongthehall。Inthecoolshadowsmadebythepalmsonthewindowledge，herfaceworetheexpressionofthoughtfulmelancholyexpectedonthefacesofthedevoteeswhopaceincloisteredgloom。Shehaltedbeforeadoorattheendofthehallandlaidherhandontheknob。Shestoodhesitating，herheadbowed。Itwasevidentthatthismissionwastorequiregreatfortitude。

Atlastsheopenedthedoor。\"Father，\"shebeganatonce。

Therewasdisclosedanelderly，narrow-facedmanseatedatalargetableandsurroundedbymanuscriptsandbooks。ThesunlightflowingthroughcurtainsofTurkeyredfellsanguinelyuponthebustofdead-eyedPericlesonthemantle。Alittleclockwasticking，hiddensomewhereamongthecountlessleavesofwriting，themapsandbroadheavytomesthatswarmeduponthetable。

Herfatherlookedupquicklywithanogreishscowl。

Goaway!\"hecriedinarage。\"Goaway。Goaway。Getout\"

\"Heseemedonthepointofarisingtoejectthevisitor。Itwasplaintoherthathehadbeeninterruptedinthewritingofoneofhissentences，ponderous，solemnandendless，inwhichwanderedmultitudesofhomelessandfriendlessprepositions，adjectiveslookingforaparent，andquarrellingnouns，sentenceswhichnolongersymbolisedthelanguageformofthoughtbutwhichhadaboutthemaquaintaromafromthedensoflong-deadscholars。\"Getout，\"

snarledtheprofessor。

Father，\"falteredthegirl。Eitherbecausehisformulatedthoughtwasnowcompletelyknockedoutofhismindbyhisownemphasisindefendingit，orbecausehedetectedsomethingofportentinherexpression，hismannersuddenlychanged，andwithapetulantglanceathiswritinghelaiddownhispenandsankbackinhischairtolisten。\"Well，whatisit，mychild？\"

Thegirltookachairnearthewindowandgazedoutuponthesnow-strickencampus，whereatthemomentagroupofstudentsreturningfromaclassroomwerefestivelyhurlingsnow-balls。\"I\'vegotsomethingimportanttotellyou，father，\"

saidshe，butidon\'tquiteknowhowtosayit。\"

\"Somethingimportant？\"repeatedtheprofessor。Hewasnothabituallyinterestedintheaffairsofhisfamily，butthisproclamationthatsomethingimportantcouldbeconnectedwiththem，filledhismindwithacapriciousinterest。\"Well，whatisit，Marjory？\"

Sherepliedcalmly:\"RufusColemanwantstomarryme。\"

\"What？\"demandedtheprofessorloudly。\"RufusColeman。

Whatdoyoumean？\"

Thegirlglancedfurtivelyathim。Shedidnotseemtobeabletoframeasuitablesentence。

Asfortheprofessor，hehad，likeallmenboththoughtlessandthoughtful，toldhimselfthatonedayhisdaughterwouldcometohimwithataleofthiskind。Hehadneverforgottenthatthelittlegirlwastobeawoman，andhehadneverforgottenthatthistall，lithecreature，thepresentMarjory，wasawoman。

Hehadbeenentrancedandconfidentorentrancedandapprehensiveaccording\'tothetime。Amanfocusseduponastronomy，thepigmarketorsocialprogression，mayneverthelesshaveasecondarymindwhichhoverslikeaspiritoverhisdahliatubersanddreamsuponthemysteryoftheirslowandtenderrevelations。Theprofessor\'ssecondarymindhaddweltalwayswithhisdaughterandwatchedwithafaithanddelightthechangingtoawomanofacertainfatandmumblingbabe。However，henowsawthismachine，thisself-

sustaining，self-operativelove，whichhadrunwiththeeaseofaclock，suddenlycrumbletoashesandleavethemindofagreatscholarstaringatacalamity。\"RufusColeman，\"herepeated，stunned。Herewashisdaughter，veryobviouslydesirousofmarryingRufusColeman。\"Marjory，\"hecriedinamazementandfear，\"whatpossesses，you？MarryRufusColman？\"

Thegirlseemedtofeelastrongsenseofreliefathispromptrecognitionofafact。Beingfreedfromthenecessityofmakingaflatdeclaration，shesimplyhungherheadandblushedimpressively。Ahushfelluponthem。Theprofessorstaredlongathisdaugh。ter。Theshadowofunhappinessdeepeneduponhisface。\"Marjory，Marjory，\"hemurmuredatlast。Hehadtrampedheroicallyuponhispanicanddevotedhisstrengthtobringingthoughtintosomekindofattitudetowardthisterriblefact。\"Iam-Iamsurprised，\"hebegan。Fixingherthenwithasterneye，heasked:\"Whydoyouwishtomarrythisman？You，withyouropportunitiesofmeetingpersonsofintelligence。Andyouwanttomarry-\"Hisvoicegrewtragic。\"YouwanttomarrytheSundayeditoroftheNewYorkEclipse。\"

\"Itisnotsoveryterrible，isit？\"saidMarjorysullenly。

\"Waitamoment；don\'ttalk，\"criedtheprofessor。Hearoseandwalkednervouslytoandfro，hishandsflyingintheair。HewasveryredbehindtheearsaswhenintheClassroomsomestudentoffendedhim。\"Agambler，asporteroffineclothes，anexpertonchampagne，apoliteloafer，awitnessknavewhoeditstheSundayeditionofagreatoutrageuponoursensibilities。

Youwanttomarryhim，thisman？Marjory，youareinsane。Thisfraudwhoassertsthathisworkisintelligent，thisfoolcomesheretomyhouseand-\"

Hebecameawarethathisdaughterwasregardinghimcoldly。

\"Ithoughtwehadbesthaveallthispartofitoveratonce，\"sheremarked。

Heconfrontedherinanewkindofsurprise。Thelittlekeen-

eyedprofessorwasatthistimeimperial，onthevergeofamajesticoutburst。\"Bestill，\"hesaid。\"Don\'tbecleverwithyourfather。Don\'tbeadodger。Or，ifyouare，don\'tspeakofittome。I

supposethisfineyoungmanexpectstoseemepersonally？\"

\"Hewascomingto-morrow，\"repliedMarjory。Shebegantoweep。\"Hewascomingto-morrow。\"

\"Um，\"saidtheprofessor。HecontinuedhispacingwhileMarjoryweptwithherheadbowedtothearmofthechair。Hisbrowmadethethreedarkverticalcreviceswellknowntohisstudents。Some。timeshegloweredmurderouslyatthephotographsofancienttempleswhichadornedthewalls。\"Mypoorchild，\"hesaidonce，ashepausednearher，\"tothinkI

neverknewyouwereafool。Ihavebeendeludingmyself。Ithasbeenmyfaultasmuchasithasbeenyours。Iwillnotreadilyforgivemyself。\"

Thegirlraisedherfaceandlookedathim。Finally，resolvedtodisregardthedishevelmentwroughtbytears，shepresentedadesperatefrontwithherweteyesandflushedcheeks。Herhairwasdisarrayed。\"Idon\'tseewhyyoucancallmeafool，\"shesaid。Thepausebeforethissentencehadbeensoportentousofawildandrebelliousspeechthattheprofessoralmostlaughednow。Butstillthefatherforthefirsttimeknewthathewasbeingun-dauntedlyfacedbyhischildinhisownlibrary，inthepresenceOf372

pagesofthebookthatwastobehismasterpiece。Atthebackofhismindhefeltagreataweasifhisownyouthfulspirithadcomefromthepastandchallengedhimwithaglance。Foramomenthewasalmostadefeatedman。Hedroppedintoachair。

\"Doesyourmotherknowofthis\"\"heaskedmournfully。

\"Yes，\"repliedthegirl。\"Sheknows。ShehasbeentryingtomakemegiveupRufus。\"

\"Rufus，\"criedtheprofessorrejuvenatedbyanger。

\"Well，hisnameisRufus，\"saidthegirl。

\"Butpleasedon\'tcallhimsobeforeme，\"saidthefatherwithicydignity。\"IdonotrecognisehimasbeingnamedRufus。

Thatisacontentionofyourswhichdoesnotarousemyinterest。Iknowhimverywellasagamblerandadrunkard，andifincidentally，heisnamedRufus，Ifailtoseeanyimportancetoit。\"

\"Heisnotagamblerandheisnotadrunkard，\"shesaid。

\"Um。Hedrinksheavily-thatiswellknown。Hegambles。

Heplayscardsformoney——morethanhepossesses-atleasthedidwhenhewasincollege。\"

\"Yousaidyoulikedhimwhenhewasincollege。\"

\"SoIdid。SoIdid，\"answeredtheprofessorsharply。\"I

oftenfindmyselflikingthatkindofaboyincollege。Don\'tI

knowthem-thoseladswiththeirbeerandtheirpokergamesinthedeadofthenightwithatowelhungoverthekeyhole。Theirhabitsareoftenviciousenough，butsomethingremainsinthemthroughitallandtheymaygoawayanddogreatthings。Thishappens。Weknowit。Ithappenswithconfusinginsistence。Itdestroystheo-ries。There-thereisn\'tmuchtosayaboutit。Andsometimeswelikethiskindofaboybetterthanwedothe-theothers。FormypartIknowofmanyapure，piousandfine-

mindedstudentthatIhavepositivelyloathedfromapersonalpoint-of-view。But，\"headded，\"thisRufusColeman，hislifeincollegeandhislifesince，gotoprovehowoftenwegetoffthetrack。Thereisnogaugeofcollegiateconductwhatever，untilwecangetevidenceoftheman\'sworkintheworld。Yourpreciousscoundrel\'sevidenceisnowallinandheisafailure，orworse。\"

\"Youarenothabituallysofierceinjudgingpeople，\"saidthegirl。

\"Iwouldbeiftheyallwantedtomarrymydaughter，\"

rejoinedtheprofessor。\"Ratherthanletthatmanmakelovetoyou-orevenbewithinashortrailwayjourneyofyou，I\'llcartyouofftoEuropethiswinterandkeepyouthereuntilyouforget。Ifyoupersistinthissillyfancy，Ishallatoncebecomemedieval。\"

Marjoryhadevidentlyrecoveredmuchofhercomposure。

\"Yes，father，newclimatesarealway\'ssupposedtocureone，\"

sheremarkedwithakindoflightness。

\"Itisn\'tsomuchtheoldexpedient，\"saidtheprofessormusingly，\"asitisthatIwouldbeafraidtoleaveyouherewithnoprotectionagainstthatdrinkinggamblerandgamblingdrunkard。\"

\"Father，IhavetoaskyounottousesuchtermsinspeakingofthemanthatIshallmarry。\"

Therewasasilence。Toallintents，theprofessorremainedunmoved。Hesmotethetipsofhisfingersthoughtfullytogether。\"Ye-es，\"heobserved。\"Thatsoundsreasonablefromyourstandpoint。\"Hiseyesstudiedherfaceinalongandsteadyglance。Hearoseandwentintothehall。Whenhereturnedheworehishatandgreatcoat。Hetookabookandsomepapersfromthetableandwentaway。

Marjorywalkedslowlythroughthehallsanduptoherroom。

Fromawindowshecouldseeherfathermakinghiswayacrossthecampuslabouriouslyagainstthewindandwhirlingsnow。

Shewatchedit，thislittleblackfigure，bentforward，patient，steadfast。Itwasaninferiorfactthatherfatherwasoneofthefamousscholarsofthegeneration。Toher，hewasnowalittleoldmanfacingthewintrywinds。Recollect。ingherselfandRufusColemanshebegantoweepagain，wailingamidtheruinsofhertumbledhopes。Herskieshadturnedtopaperandhertreesweremerebitsofgreensponge。Butamidallthiswoeappearedthelittleblackimageofherfathermakingitswayagainstthestorm。

CHAPTERII。

INahigh-walledcorriderofoneofthecollegebuildings，acrowdofstudentswaitedamidjostlingsandaloudbuzzoftalk。

Suddenlyahugepairofdoorsflewopenandawedgeofyoungmeninserteditselfboisterouslyanddeeplyintothethrong。

Therewasagreatscuffleattendedbyageneralbangingofbooksuponheads。Thetwolowerclassesengagedinherculeanplaywhilemembersofthetwohigherclasses，standingaloof，devotedthemselvesstrictlytotheencouragementofwhicheverpartyforamomentlostgroundorheart。Thiswasinordertoprolongtheconflict。

Thecombat，wagedinthedesperationofproudestyouth，waxedhotandhotter。Thewedgehadbeeninstantlysmittenintoakindofblockofmen。Ithadcrumpledintoanirregularsquareandonthreesidesitwasnowassailedwithremarkableferocity。

Itwasamatterofwallmeetwallinterrificrushes，duringwhichladscouldfeeltheirveryheartsleavingtheminthecompressoffriendsandfoes。TheyontheoutskirtsupheldthehonouroftheirclassesbysqueezingintopaperthicknessthelungsofthoseoftheirfellowswhoformedthecentreofthemeleeInsomewayitresembledapanicatatheatre。

Thefirstlance-likeattackoftheSophomoreshadbeenformidable，buttheFreshmenoutnumberingtheirenemiesandsmartingfromcontinualSophomoricoppression，hadswarmedtothefrontlikedrilledcollegiansandgiventhearrogantfoethefirstseriouscheckoftheyear。ThereforethetallGothicwindowswhichlinedonesideofthecorridorlookeddownuponasincomprehensibleandenjoyableatumultascouldmarkthestepsofadvancededucation。TheSeniorsandjuniorscheeredthemselvesill。Longfreedfromthejoyofsuchmeetings，theironlymeansforthiskindofrecreationwastoinvolvethelowerclasses，andtheyhadneverseenthevictimsfalltowithsuchvigourandcourage。Bitsofprintedleaves，tornnote-books，dismantledcollarsandcravats，allfloatedtothefloorbeneaththefeetofthewarringhordes。Therewerenoblows；itwasabattleofpressure。Itwasadeadlypushingwheretheleadersoneithersideoftensufferedthemostcruelandsickeningagonycaughtthusbetweenphalanxesofshoulderswithfriendaswellasfoecontributingtothepain。

ChargeafterchargeofFreshmenbeatuponthenowcompactandorganisedSophomores。Then，finally，therockbegantogiveslowway。AroarcamefromtheFreshmenandtheyhurledthemselvesinafrenzyupontheirbetters。

TobeunderthegazeofthejuniorsandSeniorsistobeinsightofallmen，andsotheSophomoresatthisimportantmomentlabouredwiththedesperationofthehalf-

doomedtostemtheterribleFreshmen。

Inthekindofgame，itwasthetimewhenbadtemperscamestronglytothefront，andinmanySophomores\'mindsathoughtaroseoftheincomparableinsolenceoftheFreshmen。

Ablowwasstruck；aninfuriatedSophomorehadswunganarmhighandsmoteaFreshman。

Althoughithadseemedthatnogreaternoisecouldbemadebythegivennumbers，thedinthatsucceededthismanifestationsurpassedeverything。ThejuniorsandSeniorsimmediatelysetupanangryhowl。Theseveteranclassesprojectedthemselvesintothemiddleofthefight，buffetingeverybodywithsmallthoughtastomerit。Thismethodofbringingpeacewasasmilitantasalandslide，buttheyhadmuchtroublebeforetheycouldseparatethecentralclumpofantagonistsintoitsparts。

AscoreofFreshmenhadcriedout:\"ItwasCoke。Cokepunchedhim。Coke。\"Adozenofthemweretempestuouslyendeavouringtoregistertheirprotestagainstfisticuffsbymeansofanintroductionofmorefisticuffs。

Theupperclassmenwereswift，harshandhard。\"Come，now，Freshies，quitit。Getback，getback，d\'y\'hear？\"WithawrenchofmusclestheyforcedthemselvesinfrontofCoke，whowasbeingblindlydefendedbyhisclassmatesfromintenselyearnestattacksbyoutragedFreshmen。

Thesemeetingsbetweenthelowerclassesatthedoorofarecitationroomwereaccountedquitecomfortableandidleaffairs，andablowdeliveredopenlyandinhatredfracturedasharplydefinedruleofconduct。Thecorridorwasinahubbub。

ManySeniorsandJuniors，burstingfromoldandirondiscipline，wildlyclamouredthatsomeFreshmanshouldbegiventheprivilegeofasingleencounterwithCoke。TheFreshmenthemselveswerefrantic。TheybesiegedthetightanddauntlesscircleofmenthatencompassedCoke。NonedaredconfronttheSeniorsopenly，butbyheadlongrushesatauspiciousmomentstheytriedtocometoquarterswiththeringsofdark-browedSophomores。Itwasnolongerafestival，agame；itwasariot。

Coke，wild-eyed，pallidwithfury，aribbonofbloodonhischin，swayedinthemiddleofthemobofhisclassmates，comradeswhowaivedtheethicsoftheblowunderthecircumstanceofbeingobligedasacorpstostandagainstthescornofthewholecollege，aswellasagainstthetremendousassaultsoftheFreshmen。Shamedbytheirownman，butknowingfullwelltherighttimeandthewrongtimeforapalaverofregretanddisavowal，thisbattalionstruggledinthedesperationofdespair。OncetheywereuponthevergeofmakingunholycampaignagainsttheinterferingSeniors。Thisfieryimpertinencewasthemeasureoftheirstate。

Itwasacriticalmomentintheplayofthecollege。FourorfivedefeatsfromtheSophomoresduringthefallhadtaughttheFreshmenmuch。Theyhadlearnedthecomparativemeasurements，andtheyknewnowthattheirprowesswasripetoenablethemtoamplyrevengewhatwas，accordingtotheirstandards，anexecrabledeedbyamanwhohadnotthevirtuetoplaytheroughgame，butwasobligedtoresorttouncommonmethods。Inshort，theFreshmenwerealmostoutofcontrol，andtheSophomoresdebasedbutdefiant，werequiteoutofcontrol。

TheSeniorandjuniorclasseswhich，inAmericancollegesdictateintheseaffrays，foundtheirdignitytoppling，andinconsequencetherewasasuddenoncomeoftheentireforceofupperclassmenfootballplayersnaturallyinadvance。Alldistinctionsweredissolvedatonceinageneralfracas。ThestiffandstillGothicwindowssurveyedasceneofdirecarnage。

Suddenlyavoicerangbrazenlythroughthetumult。Itwasnotloud，butitwasdifferent。\"Gentlemen!Gentlemen!\'\"

Instantlytherewasaremarkablenumberofhaltings，abruptreplacements，quickchanges。Prof。Wainwrightstoodatthedoorofhisrecitationroom，lookingintotheeyesofeachmemberofthemobofthreehundred。\"Ssh!\"saidthemob。\"

Ssh!Quit!Stop!It\'stheEmbassador!Stop!\"HehadoncebeenministertoAustro-Hungary，andforevernowtothestudentsofthecollegehisnamewasEmbassador。Hesteppedintothecorridor，andtheyclearedforhimalittlerespectfulzoneoffloor。Helookedabouthimcoldly。\"Itseemsquiteageneraldishevelment。TheSophomoresdisplayanenergyinthehallswhichIdonotdetectintheclassroom。\"A

feeblemurmurofappreciationarosefromtheoutskirtsofthethrong。Whilehehadbeenspeakingseveralremotegroupsofbattlingmenhadbeenviolentlysignaledandsuppressedbyotherstudents。Theprofessorgazedintoterracesoffacesthatwerestillinflamed。\"Ineedn\'tsaythatIamsurprised，\"heremarkedintheacceptedrhetoricofhiskind。Headdedmusingly:\"Thereseemstobeagreatdealoftornlinen。Whoistheyounggentlemanwithbloodonhischin？\"

Thethrongmovedrestlessly。Amanfulsilence，suchasmightbeinthetombsofsternandhonourableknights，fellupontheshadowedcorridor。Thesubduedrustlinghadfaintedtonothing。ThenoutofthecrowdCoke，paleanddesperate，deliveredhimself。

\"Oh，Mr。Coke，\"saidtheprofessor，\"Iwouldbegladifyouwouldtellthegentlementheymayretiretotheirdormitories。\"

Hewaitedwhilethestudentspassedouttothecampus。

Theprofessorreturnedtohisroomforsomebooks，andthenbeganhisownmarchacrossthesnowycampus。Thewindtwistedhiscoat-tailsfantastically，andhewasobligedtokeeponehandfirmlyonthetopofhishat。

Whenhearrivedhomehemethiswifeinthehall。\"Lookhere，Mary，\"hecried。Shefollowedhimintothelibrary。\"Lookhere，\"

hesaid。\"Whatisthisallabout？MarjorytellsmeshewantstomarryRufusColeman。\"

Mrs。Wainwrightwasafatwomanwhowassaidtoprideherselfuponbeingverywiseandifnecessary，sly。Inadditionshelaughedcontinuallyinaninexplicablypersonalway，whichapparentlymadeeverybodywhoheardherfeeloffended。Mrs。

Wainwrightlaughed。

\"Well，\"saidtheprofessor，bristling，\"whatdoyoumeanbythat？\"

\"Oh，Harris，\"shereplied。\"Oh，Harris。\"

Theprofessorstraightenedinhischair。\"Idonotseeanyilluminationinthoseremarks，Mary。IunderstandfromMarjory\'smannerthatsheisbentuponmarryingRufusColeman。Shesaidyouknewofit。\"

\"Why，ofcourseIknew。Itwasasplain——\"

\"Plain!\"scoffedtheprofessor。\"Plain!\"

Why，ofcourse，\"shecried。\"Iknewitallalong。\"

Therewasnothinginhertonewhichprovedthatsheadmiredtheeventitself。Shewasevidentlycarriedawaybythetriumphofherpenetration。\"Iknewitallalong，\"sheadded，nodding。

Theprofessorlookedatheraffectionately。\"Youknewitallalong，then，Mary？Whydidn\'tyoutellme，dear？\"

\"Becauseyououghttohaveknownit，\"sheansweredblatantly。

Theprofessorwasglaring。Finallyhespokeintonesofgrimreproach。\"Mary，wheneveryouhappentoknowanything，dear，itseemsonlyamatterofpartialrecompensethatyoushouldtellme。\"

Thewifehadbeentaughtinaterribleschoolthatsheshouldneverinventanyinexpensiveretortsconcerningbookwormsandsosheyawedatonce。\"Really，Harris。Really，Ididn\'tsupposetheaffairwasserious。Youcouldhaveknockedmedownwithafeather。Ofcoursehehasbeenhereveryoften，butthenMarjorygetsagreatdealofattention。Agreatdealofattention。\"

Theprofessorhadbeenthinking。\"Ratherthanletmygirlmarrythatscalawag，I\'lltakeyouandhertoGreecethiswinterwiththeclass。Separation。Itisasurecurethathasthesanctionofantiquity。\"

\"Well，\"saidMrs。Wainwright，\"youknowbest，Harris。Youknowbest。\"Itwasacommonremarkwithher，anditprobablymeanteitherapprobationordisapprobationifitdidnotmeansimplediscretion。

CHAPTERIII。

THEREhadbeenababewithnoarmsborninoneofthewesterncountiesofMassachusetts。Inplaceofupperlimbsthechildhadgrowingfromitschestapairoffin-likehands，merebitsofskin-coveredbone。Furthermore，ithadonlyoneeye。

Thisphenomenonlivedfourdays，butthenewsofthebirthhadtravelledupthiscountryroadandthroughthatvillageuntilitreachedtheearsoftheeditoroftheMichaelstownTribune。

HewasalsoacorrespondentoftheNewYorkEclipse。Onthethirddayheappearedatthehomeoftheparentsaccompaniedbyaphotographer。Whilethelatterarrangedhis，instrument，thecorrespondenttalkedtothefatherandmother，twocoweyedandyellow-facedpeoplewhoseemedtosufferaprimitivefrightofthestrangers。Afterwardsasthecorrespondentandthephotographerwereclimbingintotheirbuggy，themothercreptfurtivelydowntothegateandasked，inaforeigner\'sdialect，iftheywouldsendheracopyofthephotograph。Thecorrespondentcarelesslyindulgent，promisedit。Asthebuggyswungaway，thefathercamefrombehindanappletree，andthetwosemi-humanswatcheditwithitsburdenofgloriousstrangersuntilitrumbledacrossthebridgeanddisappeared。Thecorrespondentwaselate；hetoldthephotographerthattheEclipsewouldprobablypayfiftydollarsforthearticleandthephotograph。

TheofficeoftheNewYorkEclipsewasatthetopoftheimmensebuildingonBroadway。Itwasasheermountaintotheheightsofwhichtheinterminablethunderofthestreetsarosefaintly。TheHudsonwasabroadpathofsilverinthedistance。Itsedgewasmarkedbythetraceryofsailingships\'riggingandbythehugeandmany-colouredstacksofoceanliners。AtthefootoftheclifflayCityHallPark。Itseemednolargerthanaquilt。Thegreywalkspatternedthesnow-coveringintotrianglesandovalsanduponthemmanytinypeoplescurriedhereandthere，withoutsound，likeafishatthebottomofapool。Itwasonlythevehiclesthatsenthigh，unmistakable，thedeepbassoftheirmovement。Andyetafterlisteningoneseemedtohearasingularmurmurousnote，apulsation，asifthecrowdmadenoisebyitsmereliving，amellowhumoftheeternalstrife。Thensuddenlyoutofthedeepsmightringahumanvoice，anewsboyshoutperhaps，thecryofafarawayjackalatnight。

Fromtheleveloftheordinaryroofs，combinedinmanyplateaus，dottedwithshortironchimneysfromwhichcurledwispsofsteam，aroseothermountainsliketheEclipseBuilding。Theyweregreatpeaks，ornate，glitteringwithpaintorpolish。Northwardtheysubsidedtosun-crownedranges。

FromsomeofthewindowsoftheEclipseofficedroppedthewallsofaterriblechasminthedarknessofwhichcouldbeseenvaguestrugglingfigures。Lookingdownintothisappallingcreviceonediscoveredonlythetopsofhatsandkneeswhichinspasmodicjerksseemedtotouchtherimsofthehats。Thescenerepresentedsomeweirdfightordanceorcarouse。Itwasnotanexhibitionofmenhurryingalonganarrowstreet。

Itwasgoodtoturnone\'seyesfromthatplacetothevistaofthecity\'ssplendidreaches，withspireandsparshiningintheclearatmosphereandthemarveloftheJerseyshore，pearl-

mistedorbrilliantwithdetail。Fromthisheightthesweepofasnow-stormwasdefinedandmajestic。Evenaslightsummershower，withswordsofluridyellowsunlightpiercingitsedgesasifwarriorswerecontestingeveryfootofitsadvance，wasfromtheEclipseofficesomethingsoinspiringthatthechancepilgrimfeltasenseofexultationasiffromthispeakhewassurveyingtheworldwidewaroftheelementsandlife。ThestaffoftheEclipseusuallyworkedwithoutcoatsandamidthesmokefrompipes。

TooneoftheeditorialchamberscameaphotographandanarticlefromMichaelstown，Massachusetts。Aboyplacedthepacketandmanyothersuponthedeskofayoungmanwhowasstandingbeforeawindowandthoughtfullydrumminguponthepane。Heturnedatthethuddingofthepacketsuponhisdesk。\"Blastyou，\"heremarkedamiably。\"Oh，Iguessitwon\'thurtyoutowork，\"

answeredtheboy，grinningwithacomrade\'sInsolence。Baker，anassistanteditorfortheSundaypaper，tookscatathisdeskandbeganthetaskofexaminingthepackets。Hisfacecouldnotdisplayanyparticularinterestbecausehehadbeenatthesameworkfornearlyafortnight。

Thefirstlongenvelopeheopenedwasfromawoman。

Therewasaneatlittlemanuscriptaccompaniedbyaletterwhichexplainedthatthewriterwasawidowwhowastryingtomakeherlivingbyherpenandwho，further，hopedthatthegenerosityoftheeditoroftheEclipsewouldleadhimtogiveherarticletheopportunitywhichshewassureitdeserved。Shehopedthattheeditorwouldpayheraswellaspossibleforit，assheneededthemoneygreatly。SheaddedthatherbrotherwasareporterontheLittleRockSentinelandhehaddeclaredthatherliterarystylewasexcellent。

Bakerreallydidnotreadthisnote。Hisvastexperienceofafortnighthadenabledhimtodetectitskindintwoglances。Heunfoldedthemanuscript，lookedatitwoodenlyandthentosseditwiththelettertothetopofhisdesk，whereitlaywiththeothercorpses。NonecouldthinkofwidowsinArkansas，ambitiousfromthepraiseofthereporterontheLittleRockSentinel，waitingforacrownofliterarygloryandmoney。Inthenextenvelopeamanusingthenote-paperofaBostonjournalbeggedtoknowiftheaccompanyingarticlewouldbeacceptable；ifnotitwastobekindlyreturnedintheenclosedstampedenvelope。Itwasahumourousessayontrolleycars。

Adventuringthroughtheoddscrapsthatwerecometothegreatmill，Bakerpausedoccasionallytorelighthispipe。

Ashewentthroughenvelopeafterenvelope，thedesksabouthimgraduallywereoccupiedbyyoungmenwhoenteredfromthehallwiththeirfacesstillredfromthecoldofthestreets。ForthemostparttheyboretheunmistakablestampoftheAmericancollege。Theyhadthatconfidentpoisewhichiseasilybroughtfromtheathleticfield。Moreover，theirclotheswerequiteinthewayofbeingofthenewestfashion。Therewasanairofprecisionabouttheircravatsandlinen。Butontheotherhandtheremightbewiththemsomeindifferentwesternerwhowasobligedtoresorttoirregularmeansandharanguestartledshop-keepersinordertoprovidehimselfwithcollarsofastrangekind。Hewasusuallyveryquickandbraveofeyeandnotedforhisinabilitytoperceiveadistinctionbetweenhisownhabitandthehabitofothers，hiswesterncharacterpreservingitselfinviolateamidaconfusionofmanners。

Themen，comingoneandone，ortwoandtwo，flungbadinagetoallcornersoftheroom。Afterward，astheywheeledfromtimetotimeintheirchairs，theybitterlyinsultedeachotherwiththeutmostgood-nature，takingunerringaimatfaultsandriddlingpersonalitieswiththequaintandcynicalhumourofanewspaperoffice。Throughoutthisbanter，itwasstrangetonotehowinfrequentlythemensmiled，particularlywhendirectlyengagedinanencounter。

Awidedooropenedintoanotherapartmentwhereweremanylittleslantedtables，eachunderanelectricglobewithagreenshade。Hereacurly-headedscoundrelwithacorncobpipewashurlingpaperballsthesizeofapplesattheheadofanindustriousmanwho，underthesedifficulties，wastryingtodrawapictureofanawfulwreckwithghastly-facedsailorsfrozenintherigging。NearthispairaladywaschallengingaGermanartistwhoresembledNapoleonIII。withhavingbeenpubliclydrunkatamusichallonthepreviousnight。Nexttothegreatgloomycorridorofthissixteenthfloorwasalittleofficepresidedoverbyanaustereboy，andherewaitedinenforcedpatiencealittledismalbandofpeoplewhowantedtoseetheSundayeditor。

Bakertookamanuscriptandafterglancingabouttheroom，walkedovertoamanatanotherdesk，Hereissomethingthat。Ithinkmightdo，\"hesaid。

Themanatthedeskreadthefirsttwopages。\"Butwhereisthephotogragh\"\"heaskedthen。\"Thereshouldbeaphotographwiththisthing。\"

\"Oh，Iforgot，\"saidBaker。Hebroughtfromhisdeskaphotographofthebabethathadbeenbornlackingarmsandoneeye。Baker\'ssuperiorbracedakneeagainsthisdeskandsettledbacktoajudicialattitude。Hetookthephotographandlookedatitimpassively。\"Yes，\"hesaid，afteratime，\"that\'saprettygoodthing。YoubettershowthattoColemanwhenhecomesin。\"

Inthelittleofficewherethedismalbandwaited，therehadbeenasharphopefulstirwhenRufusColeman，theSundayeditor，passedrapidlyfromdoortodoorandvanishedwithintheholyprecincts。Ithadevidentlybeeninthemindsofsometoaccosthimthen，buthiseyesdidnotturnonceintheirdirection。Itwasasifhehadnotseenthem。Manyexperienceshadtaughthimthatthepropermannerofpassingthroughthisofficewasatablindgallop。

Thedismalbandturnedthenupontheaustereofficeboy。

Somedemandedwithterribledignitythatheshouldtakeintheircardsatonce。Otherssoughttoingratiatethemselvesbysmilesoftenderfriendliness。Heforhispartemployedwhatwewouldhavecalledhisknowledgeofmenandwomenuponthegroup，andinconsequenceblunderedandbungledvividly，freezingwithaglanceanannoyedandimportunateArcticexplorerwhowascometotalkofillustrationsforanarticlethathadbeenlavishlypaidforinadvance。Theheromighthavethoughthewasagaininthenorthernseas。AtthenextmomenttheboywastreatingalmostcourteouslyaGermanfromthecastsidewhowantedtheEclipsetoprintagrandfullpageadvertisingdescriptionofhisinvention，agunwhichwassupposedtohavearangeoffortymilesandtobeabletopenetrateanythingwithequanimityandjoy。Thegun，asamatteroffact，hadoncebeeninducedtogooffwhenithadhurleditselfpassionatelyuponitsback，incidentallybreakingitsinventor\'sleg。Theprojectilehadwanderedsomefourhundredyardsseaward，whereitdugaholeinthewaterwhichwasreallyamenacetonavigation。Sincethentherehadbeennothingtangiblesavetheinventor，insplintsandoutofsplints，asthefortunesofsciencedecreed。Inshort，thisofficeboymixedhisbusinessintheperfectmannerofanunderdoneladdealingwithmatterstoolargeforhim，andthroughouthedisplayedtheprideandassuranceofagod。

AsColemancrossedthelargeofficehisfacestillworethesternexpressionwhichheinvariablyusedtocarryhimunmolestedthroughtheranksofthedismalband。AshewasremovinghisLondonovercoatheaddressedtheimperturbablebackofoneofhisstaff，whohadadeskagainsttheoppositewall。\"HasHasskinssentinthatdrawingofthemineaccidentyet？\"Themandidnotlifthisheadfromhiswork-，butheansweredatonce:\"No；notyet。\"Colemanwaslayinghishatonachair。\"Well，whyhasn\'the？\"hedemanded。Heglancedtowardthedooroftheroominwhichthecurly-headedscoundrelwiththecorncobpipewasstillhurlingpaperballsatthemanwhowastryingtoinventtheposturesofdeadmarinersfrozenintherigging。TheofficeboycametimidlyfromhispostandinformedColemanofthewaitingpeople。\"Allright，\"saidtheeditor。Hedroppedintohischairandbegantofingerhisletters，whichhadbeenneatlyopenedandplacedinalittlestackbyaboy。Bakercameinwiththephotographofthemiserablebabe。

ItwaspubliclybelievedthattheSundaystaffoftheEclipsemusthaveakindofaestheticdelightinpicturesofthiskind，butColeman\'sfacebetrayednoemotionashelookedatthisspecimen。Helitafreshcigar，tiltedhischairandsurveyeditwithacoldandstonystare。\"Yes，that\'sallright，\"hesaidslowly。Thereseemedtobenoaffectionaterelationbetweenhimandthispicture。Evidentlyhewasweighingitsvalueasamorseltobeflungtoaravenouspublic，whosewolf-likeappetite，couldonlysatisfyitselfuponmentalentrails，abominations。Asforhimself，heseemedtoberemote，exterior。

ItwasamatteroftheEclipsebusiness。

SuddenlyColemanbecameexecutive。\"BettergiveittoSchoonerandtellhimtomakeahalf-page——or，no，sendhiminhereandI\'lltellhimmyidea。How\'sthearticle？Anygood？Well，giveittoSmithtorewrite。\"

Anartistcamefromtheotherroomandpresentedforinspectionhisdrawingoftheseamendeadintheriggingofthewreck，acompanyofgrizzlyandhorriblefigures，bony-fingered，shrunkenandwithawfuleyes。\"Hum，\"saidColeman，afteraprolongedstudy，\"that\'sallright。That\'sgood，Jimmie。Butyou\'dbetterwork\'emuparoundtheeyesalittlemore。\"Theofficeboywasdeployinginthedistance，waitingforthecorrectmomenttopresentsomecardsandnames。

TheartistwascheerfullytakingawayhiscorpseswhenColemanhailedhim。\"Oh，Jim，letmeseethatthingagain，willyou？Now，howaboutthisspar？Thisdon\'tlookrighttome。\"

\"Itlooksrighttome，\"repliedtheartist，sulkily。

\"But，see。It\'sgoingtotakeuphalfapage。Can\'tyouchangeitsomehow\"

HowamIgoingtochangeit？\"saidtheother，gloweringatColeman。\"That\'sthewayitoughttobe。HowamIgoingtochangeit？That\'sthewayitoughttobe。\"

\"No，itisn\'tatall，\"saidColeman。\"You\'vegotasparstickingoutofthemainbodyofthedrawinginawaythatwillspoilthelookofthewholepage。\"

Theartistwasamanofremarkablepopularreputationandhewasverystubbornandconceitedofit，constantlymakinghimselfunbearablewithcovert，threatsthatifhewasnotdelicatelyplacatedatallpoints，hewouldfreighthisgeniusovertotheofficeofthegreatoppositionjournal。

\"That\'sthewayitoughttobe，\"herepeated，inatoneatoncesullenandsuperior。\"Thesparisallright。Ican\'trigsparsonshipsjusttosuityou。\"

\"AndIcan\'tgiveupthewholepapertoyouraccursedspars，either，\"saidColeman，withanimation。\"Don\'tyouseeyouuseaboutathirdofapagewiththissparstickingoffintospace？

Now，youwerealwayssoclever，Jimmie，inadaptingyourselftothepage。Can\'tyoushortenit，orcutitoff，orsomething？Or，breakit-that\'sthething。Makeitabrokenspardanglingdown。

See？\"

\"Yes，Is\'poseIcoulddothat，\"saidtheartist，mollifiedbyathoughtoftheeasewithwhichhecouldmakethechange，andmollified，too，bythebrazentributetoapartofhiscleverness。

\"Well，doit，then，\"saidtheSundayeditor，turningabruptlyaway。Theartist，withheadhigh，walkedmajesticallybacktotheotherroom。Whereatthecurly-headedoneimmediatelyresumedtherainofpaperballsuponhim。TheofficeboycametimidlytoColemanandsuggestedthepresenceofthepeopleintheouteroffice。\"LetthemwaituntilIreadmymail，\"saidColeman。Heshuffledthepackoflettersindifferentlythroughhishands。Suddenlyhecameuponalittlegreyenvelope。Heopeneditatonceandscanneditscontentswiththespeedofhiscraft。Afterwardhelaiditdownbeforehimonthedeskandsurveyeditwithacoolandmusingsmile。

\"So？\"heremarked。\"That\'sthecase，isit？\"

Hepresentlyswungaroundinhischair，andforatimeheldtheentireattentionofthemenatthevariousdesks。HeoutlinedtothemagaintheirvariouspartsinthecompositionofthenextgreatSundayedition。Inafewbrisksentenceshesetacomplexmachineinpropermotion。Hismennolongerthrilledwithadmirationattheprecisionwithwhichhegraspedeachobligationofthecampaigntowardasuccessfuledition。TheyhadgrowntoacceptitastheyacceptedhishatorhisLondonclothes。Atthistimehisfacewaslitwithsomethingoftheself-containedenthusiasmofageneral。Immediatelyafterwardhearoseandreachedforhiscoatandhat。

Theofficeboy，comingcircuitouslyforward，presentedhimwithsomecardsandalsowithascrapofpaperuponwhichwasscrawledalongandsemicoherentword。\"Whatarethese？\"

grumbledColeman。

\"Theyarewaitingoutside，\"answeredtheboy，withtrepidation。Itwaspartofthelawthatthelionoftheante-roomshouldcringelikeacoldmonkey，moreorless，assoonashewasoutofhisprivatejungle。\"Oh，Tallerman，\"criedtheSundayeditor，\"here\'sthisArcticmancometoarrangeabouthisillustration。Iwishyou\'dgoandtalkitoverwithhim。\"Bychancehepickedupthescrapofpaperwithitscrypticword。\"Oh，\"hesaid，scowlingattheofficeboy。

\"Pityyoucan\'trememberthatfellow。Ifyoucan\'trememberfacesanybetterthanthatyoushouldbeadetective。Getoutnowandtellhimtogotothedevil。\"Thewiltedslaveturnedatonce，butColemanhailedhim。\"Holdon。Cometothinkofit，I

willseethisidiot。Sendhimin，\"hecommanded，grimly。

Colemanlapsedintoadreamoverthesheetofgreynotepaper。Presently，amiddle-agedman，apalpableGerman，camehesitatinglyintotheroomandbuntedamongthedesksasunmanageablyasatempest-tossedscow。Finallyhewasimpatientlytowedintherightdirection。HecameandstoodatColeman\'selbowandwaitednervouslyfortheengrossedmantoraisehiseyes。Itwasplainthatthisinterviewmeantimportantthingstohim。Somehowonhiscommonplacecountenancewastobefoundtheexpressionofadreamer，afashionerofgreatandabsurdprojects，afine，tenderfool。Hecasthopefulandreverentglancesatthemanwhowasdeeplycontemplativeofthegreynote。Heevidentlybelievedhimselfonthethresholdofatriumphofsomekind，andheawaitedhisfruitionwithajoythatwasonlymadesharperbytheusualhumansuspicionofcomingevents。

Colemanglancedupatlastandsawhisvisitor。

\"Oh，it\'syou，isit？\"heremarkedicily，bendingupontheGermanthestareofatyrant。\"Soyou\'vecomeagain，haveyou？\"

Hewheeledinhischairuntilhecouldfullydisplayacontemptuous，mercilesssmile。\"Now，Mr。