第1章

CHAPTERI

\"I’mgoinguptothevillage，\"ItoldDorinda，takingmycapfromthehookbehindthedining—roomdoor。

\"Whatfor？\"askedDorinda，pushingmetoonesideandreachingforthedust—cloth，whichalsowasbehindthedoor。

\"Oh，justforthewalk，\"Ianswered，carelessly。

\"Um—hm，\"observedDorinda。

\"Um—hm\"is，Ibelieve，goodScotchfor\"Yes。\"Ihavereadthatitis，somewhere——inoneofBarrie’syarns，Ithink。IhadneverbeeninScotland，ormuchofanywhereelse，exceptthecityIwasbornin，andmycollegetown，andBoston——andCapeCod。\"Um—hm\"meantyesontheCape，too，exceptwhenDorindasaidit；thenitmightmeanalmostanything。WhenMotheraskedhertolowerthewindowshadeinthebed—roomshesaid\"Um—hm\"andloweredit。And，fiveminuteslater，whenLutecamein，loadedtotheguardswithexplanationsastowhyhehadforgottentocleanthefishfordinner，shesaiditagain。AndtheEquatorandtheNorthPolearenoneareralike，sofarastemperatureisconcerned，thanthosetwo\"Um—hms。\"Andbetweenthemshehadothers，expressingalldegreesfromfrigidtosemi—torrid。

Her\"Um—hm\"thistimewassomewherealongthenorthernedgeofLabrador。

\"It’sagoodmorningforawalk，\"Isaid。

\"Um—hm，\"repeatedDorinda，crossingovertoGreenland，sotospeak。

Iopenedtheoutsidedoor。Thewarmspringsunshine，pouringin，wasapleasantcontrastandmademeforget，forthemoment，theglacieratmyback。Cometothinkofit，\"glacier\"isn’tagoodword；glaciersmoveslowlyandthatwasn’tDorinda’sway。

\"Whatareyougoingtodo？\"Iasked。

\"Work，\"snappedDorinda，unfurlingthedustcloth。\"It’sagoodmornin’forthat，too。\"

Iwentout，turnedthecornerofthehouseandfoundLutesoundasleeponthewashbenchbehindthekitchen。HisfullnamewasLutherMillardFilmoreRogers，andhewasDorinda’shusbandbylaw，andtheburdenwhichProvidence，orhardluck，hadorderedhertocarrythroughthisvaleoftears。ShewasagoodMethodistandtherewasnodoubtinhermindthatProvidencewasresponsible。

Whensherosetotestifyinprayer—meetingshealwaysmentionedher\"cross\"andeverybodyknewthatthecrosswasLuther。Shecarriedhim，butitisnomorethanfairtosaythatshedidn’tprovidehimwithcushions。Sheneverlethimforgetthathewasasteeragepassenger。However，Lutewaswellupholsteredwithphilosophy，ofakind，and，solongashedidn’thavetoworkhispassage，washappy，evenifthevoyagewasaratherroughone。

Justnowhewassupposedtoberakingthebackyard，buttherakewasbetweenhisknees，hisheadwastippedbackagainsttheshingledwallofthekitchen，andhewassleeping，withthesunshineilluminatinghisopenmouth，\"foralltheworldlikealampinapotatocellar，\"ashiswifehadsaidthelasttimeshecaughthiminthisposition。Shewentontosaythatitwasapityhewouldn’tstandonhisheadwhenheslept。\"ThenIcouldseeifyourskullwasashollerasIbelieveitis，\"shetoldhim。

LuteheardmeasIpassedhimandwokeup。The\"potatocellar\"

closedwithasnapandheseizedtherakehandleswithbothhands。

\"Iwastakin’asortofobservation，\"heexplainedhurriedly。

\"Figgerin’whetherI’dbetterbeginhereoroverbythebarn。Oh，it’syou，Roscoe，isit！Landsakes！Ithoughtfirst’twasDorindy。Whereyoubound？\"

\"Uptothevillage，\"Isaid。

\"Ain’tgoin’tothepost—office，beyou？\"

\"Imay；Idon’tknow。\"

Lutesighed。\"Iwaskindofcal’latin’togotheremyself，\"heobserved，regretfully。\"ThophNewcombandCap’nJedDeanandtherestofuswashavin’atalkonpoliticslastnightupthereand’twasmightyinterestin’。OldDeanhadThophprettywelloutoftheracewhenIhauledalongside，butwhenIgotintotheargument’twasdifferent。’What’sgoin’tobecomeofthelaborin’menofthiscountryifyouhavefreetrade？’Isays。Deanhadtogiveinthathedidn’tknow。’Mighthavetolettheirwivessupport’em，’

hesays，pompousasever。’Thatwouldbeacalamity，wouldn’tit，Lute？’Thatwasn’tnoanswer，ofcourse。Butyoucan’texpectsenseofaDemocrat。Ilefthimfumin’andcomeaway。I’vethoughtofalotmorequestionstoaskhimsinceandIwashopin’I

couldgetathimthismornin’。Butno！Dorindy’ssotonhavin’

thisyardraked，soIs’poseI’vegottodoit。\"

Hehaddroppedtherake，butnowheleanedover，pickeditup，androsefromthewashbench。

\"Is’poseI’vegottodoit，\"herepeated，\"unless，\"hopefully，\"youwantmetorunuptothevillageanddoyourerrandforyou。\"

\"No；Ihadn’tanyerrand。\"

\"Well，thenIs’poseI’dbetterstartin。Unlesstherewassomethin’elseyou’drutherI’ddoto—day。IftherewasIcoulddothisto—morrer。\"

\"To—morrowwouldhaveoneadvantage：therewouldbemoretorakethen。However，judgingbyDorinda’stemperthismorning，Ithink，perhaps，youhadbetterdoitto—day。\"

\"What’sDorindydoin’？\"

\"Sheisdustingthedining—room。\"

\"I’llbetyou！Andshedustedityesterdayandthedayafore。Doyouknow——\"Lutesatdownagainonthebench——\"sometimesIgetrealworriedabouther。\"

\"No！Doyou？\"

\"Yes，Ido。Ithinksheworkstoohard。Seems’sifsometimesithadkindofstrucktoherbrains——work，Imean。Shedon’tthinkofnothin’else。Nowtakethedustin’，forinstance。Dustin’sallright；Ibelieveindustin’things。ButIdon’tbelieveinwearin’

’emoutdustin’’em。Thatain’tsense，isit？\"

\"Itdoesn’tseemlikeit，that’safact。\"

\"Youbetitdon’t！Anditain’tgoodreligion，neither。Nowtake——

well，takethisyard，forinstance。WhatisitthatI’mslavin’

myselfoverthisfinemornin’？Why，rakin’thisyard！AndwhatamIrakin’？Why，deadleavesfromlastfall，andstrawsandsticksandpiecesofseaweedandsuchthathaveblowedindurin’thewinter。Andwhatblowed’emin？Why，thewind，sartin！Andwhosewindwasit？TheAlmighty’s，that’swhose！Nowthen！iftheAlmightydidn’tintendtohavedeadleavesaroundwhydidheputtreesfor’emtofalloffof？Ifhedidn’twantstrawsandseaweedandtruckaroundwhydidHesendthemeverlastin’no’theasterslastNovember？Didthatideaeverstrikeyou？\"

\"Idon’tknowthatiteverdid，exactlyinthatway。\"

\"No。Well，that’s’causeyouain’treasoneditout，sameasI

have。You’vegotthesametroublethatmostfolkshave，youdon’treasonthingsout。Now，let’slookatitstraightintheface。\"

Luteletgooftherakealtogetherandusedbothhandstoillustratehispoint。\"Thatfingerthere，we’llsay，isme，rakin’

andrakin’hardaseverIcan。AndthatfistthereistheAlmighty，notmeanin’anythingirreverent。Irake，sameasI’mdoin’thismornin’。Theyard’sallcleanedup。Then——zing！\"

Lute’sclenchedfistsweptacrossandknockedtheoffendingfingeroutoftheway。\"Zing！herecomesoneoftheAlmighty’sno’theasters，sameaswe’relikelytohaveto—morrer，andtheconsarnedyardisjustasdirtyasever。Ain’tthatso？\"

Ilookedattheyard。\"Itseemstobeaboutasitwas，\"Iagreed，withsomesarcasm。Lutewasanimmune，sofarassarcasmwasconcerned。

\"Yup，\"hesaid，triumphantly。\"Now，Dorindy，she’sagood，piouswoman。ShebelievesthePowersaboveordereverything。Ifthat’sso，thenain’titsacrilegioustobeallthetimeflyin’inthefaceofthemPowersbyrakin’andrakin’anddustin’anddustin’？

That’sthequestion。\"

\"But，accordingtothatreasoning，\"Iobserved，\"weshouldneitherrakenordust。Wouldn’tthatmakeoursurroundingsratheruncomfortable，afterawhile？\"

\"Sartin。Butwhentheygotuncomfortablethenwecouldturntoandmake’emcomfortableagain。Iain’targuin’againstwork——needfulwork，youunderstand。Ilikeit。AndIain’tthinkin’ofmyself，youknow，butaboutDorindy。Itworriesmetoseeherwearin’

herselfoutwith——withdustin’andsuch。Itain’tsenseand’tain’tgoodreligion。She’smywifeandit’smydutytothinkforherandlookoutforher。\"

Hepausedandreachedintohisoverallspocketforapipe。Findingit，hereachedintoanotherpocketforthewherewithaltofillit。

\"Haveyousuggestedtoherthatshe’sflyinginthefaceofProvidence？\"Iasked。

Luteshookhishead。\"No，\"headmitted，\"Iain’t。Gotanytobaccoaboutyou？Dorindyhovemyplugawayyesterday。Ileftitbackoftheclockandshefounditandwasmad——dustin’again，ofcourse。\"

HetookthepouchIhandedhim，filledhispipeandabsentlyputthepouchinhispocket。

\"Gotamatch？\"heasked。\"Thanks。No，Iain’tspoketoheraboutit，thoughit’sbeenonmymindforalongspell。Ididn’tknowbutyoumightsaysomethin’toheralongthatline，Roscoe。

’Twouldn’tsoundsopersonal，comin’fromyou。Whatdoyouthink？\"

Ishookmyhead。\"Dorindawouldn’tpaymuchattentiontomyideasonsuchsubjects，I’mafraid，\"Ianswered。\"SheknowsI’mnotaregularchurch—goer。\"

Lutewasplainlydisappointed。\"Well，\"hesaid，withasigh，\"maybeyou’reright。Shedoescal’lateyou’rekindofheathen，thoughshehopesyou’llseethelightsomeday。But，justthesame，\"headded，\"it’sagoodargument。Itrieditontheganguptothepost—officelastnight。Isaysto’em，saysI，’Work’sallright。Ibelieveinit。I’maworkin’man，myself。Buttoworkwhenyoudon’thavetoiswrong。TakeRosPaine，’Isays——\"

\"Whyshouldyoutakeme？\"Iinterrupted，rathersharply。

\"’Causeyou’rethebestexampleIcouldthinkof。Everybodyknowsyoudon’tdonowork。Shootin’andsailin’andfishin’ain’twork，andthat’saboutallyoudo。’TakeRos，’saysI。’Hemightbetowork。Hewasinabankuptothecityonceandheknowsthebankin’trade。Hemightbeatitnow，butwhatwouldbetheuse？’

Isays。’He’sgotenoughtoliveonandhelivesonit，’steadofkeepin’somepoorfelleroutofajob。’That’sright，too，ain’tit？\"

Ididn’tansweratonce。TherewasnoreasonwhyIshouldbeirritatedbecauseLutherRogershadheldmeupasashiningexampleofthedo—nothingclasstothecrowdofhangers—oninacountrypost—office。WhatdidIcareforDenboroopinion？Sixyearsinthatgossipyvillagehadmademe，soIthought，capableofrisingabovesuchthings。

\"Well，\"Iaskedafteramoment，\"whatdidtheysaytothat？\"

\"Oh，nothin’much。Theycouldn’t；Ihad’em，yousee。Someof’emlaughedandoldCap’nJedhehoveoutsomethin’aboutbirdsofafeatherstickin’upforeachother。Nosensetoit。But，asI

saidafore，whatcanyouexpectofaDemocrat？\"

Iturnedonmyheelandmovedtowardthebackgate。\"Ain’tgoin’，beyou？\"askedLute。\"Hadn’tyoubettersetdownandrestyourbreakfastaspell？\"

\"No，I’mgoing。Bytheway，ifyou’rethroughwiththattobaccopouchofmine，I’lltakeitoffyourhands。Imaywanttosmokebyandby。\"

Lutecoollyexplainedthathehadforgottenthepouch；ithad\"gonecleanoutofhishead。\"However，hehandeditoverandIlefthimseatedonthewashbench，withhisheadtippedbackagainsttheshingles。Iopenedthegateandstrolledslowlyalongthepathbytheedgeofthebluff。IhadgoneperhapsahundredyardswhenI

heardashrillvoicebehindme。Turning，IsawDorindastandingbythecornerofthekitchen，dustclothinhand。Herhusbandwasrakingfordearlife。

Iwalkedon。Themorningwasabeautifulone。Besidethepath，onthelandwardside，thebayberryandbeach—plumbusheswereinbud，thegreenofthenewgrasswasshowingabovethedeadbrownoftheold，abluebirdwasswayingonthestumpofawildcherrytree，andthepinesandscruboaksofthegrovebytheShoreLanewerebright，vividsplashesofcoloragainsttheblueofthesky。Atmyrighthandtheyellowsandofthebluffbrokesharplydowntothewhitebeachandthewatersofthebay，nowbeginningtoebb。

AcrossthebaythelighthouseatCrowPointglistenedwithnewpaintandIcouldseeamovingblackspeck，whichIknewwasBenSmall，thekeeper，busywhitewashingthefencebesideit。DownonthebeachZebKendrickwasoverhaulinghisdory。Inthedistance，beyondthegrove，Icouldhearthecarpenters’hammersontheroofofthebigAtwatermansion，whichwasnowthepropertyofJamesColton，theNewYorkmillionaire，whoserumoredcomingtoDenborotolivehadfilledthecolumnsofthecountryweeklyforthreemonths。ThequahaugboatswereanchoredjustinsidethePoint；aclamdiggerwaswadingalongtheouteredgeofthesedge；alobstermanwashaulinghispotsinthechannel；eventhebluebirdonthewildcherrystumphadastrawinhisbeakandwasplainlyinthemidstofnestbuilding。Everyonehadsomethingtodoandwasdoingit——everyoneexceptLuteRogersandmyself，the\"birdsofafeather。\"AndevenLutewasworkingnow，undercompulsion。

Ordinarilythesightofallthisindustrywouldnothaveaffectedme。Ihadseenitallbefore，orsomethinglikeit。ThesixyearsIhadspentinDenboro，thesixeverlasting，idle，monotonousyears，hadhadtheireffect。Ihadgrownhardenedandhadcometoacceptmyfate，atfirstrebelliously，thenwithmoreofLute’speculiarkindofphilosophy。Circumstanceshaddoomedmetobeagood—for—nothing，agentlemanloaferwithouttheusualexcuse——

money——and，asitwasmydoom，Iforcedmyselftoacceptit，ifnotwithpleasure，atleastwithresignation。AndIdeterminedtogetwhateverpleasuretheremightbeinit。So，whenIsawthemajorityofthehumanrace，eachwithapurposeinlife，strugglingtoattainthatpurpose，Ipassedthembywithmygunorfishingrodonmyshoulder，andasmileonmylips。Ifmyremnantofaconsciencepresumedtoriseandreproveme，Istampeditdown。Ithadnoreasonableexcuseforrising；Iwasn’twhatIwasfromchoice。

But，somehow，onthisparticularmorning，myunreasonableconsciencewasagainaliveandkicking。Perhapsitwasthequickeninginfluenceofthespringwhichresurrectedit；perhapsLuther’squotationfromtheremarksofCaptainJedediahDeanhadstirredittorebellion。Amanmayknow，inhisheart，thatheisnogoodandstillresenthavingotherssaythatheis，particularlywhentheysaythatheandLutherRogersarebirdsofafeather。I

didn’tcareforDean’sgoodopinion；ofcourseIdidn’t！NorforthatofanyoneelseinDenboro，mymotherexcepted。ButDeanandtherestshouldkeeptheiropinionstothemselves，confoundthem！

Thepathfromourhouse——thelattereveryDenboronativespokeofasthe\"PainePlace\"——woundalongtheedgeofthebluffforperhapsthreehundredyards，thenturnedsharplythroughthegroveofscruboaksandpitchpinesandemergedontheShoreLane。TheShoreLanewasnotapublicroad，inthestrictestsenseoftheterm。Itwasreallyapartofmylandand，leading，asitdid，fromtheLowerRoadtothebeach，wasusedasapublicroadmerelybecausemotherandIpermittedittobe。Ithadbeensoused，bysufferanceoftheformerowner，foryears，andwhenwecameintopossessionofthepropertywedidnotinterferewiththecustom。Landalongtheshorewasworthpreciouslittleatthattimeand，besides，itwaspleasant，ratherthandisagreeable，tohearthefishcartsgoingouttotheweirs，andthewagonscomingtothebeachforseaweed，or，filledwithpicnicparties，rattlingdowntheLane。Wecouldnotseethemfromthehouseuntiltheyhadpassedthegroveandemergeduponthebeach，buteventhenoiseofthemwaswelcome。

ThePainePlacewasagoodhalf—milefromtheLowerRoadandtherewerefewneighbors；therefore，especiallyinthewintermonths，anysoundsofsocietywerecomforting。

Istrodethroughthegrove，kickingthedeadbranchesoutofmyway，formymindwasstillbusywithLutherandCaptainDean。AsI

cameoutintotheLaneIlookedacrossattheAtwatermansion，nowthepropertyofthegreatandonlyColton，\"BigJim\"Colton，whosedealsandcornersinWallStreetsuppliedsomanyandsuchvariedsensationsforthefinancialpagesofthecitypapers，justasthoseofhiswifeandfamilysuppliednewsforthesocietycolumns；

Ilookedacross，Isay，andthenIstoppedshorttotakealongerlook。

Icouldseethecarpenters，whosehammersIhadheard，atworkupontheroofofthebarn，nowdestinedtododoubledutyasastableandgarage。They，andthepaintersandplumbers，hadbeenbusyonthepremisesformonths。Theestablishmenthadbeenabigone，evenwhenMajorAtwaterownedit，butthenewownershadtorndownandaddedandrebuiltuntilthehouseloomeduplikeapalaceoraNewportvilla。ANewportvillainDenboro！WhyonearthanyoneshoulddeliberatelychooseDenboroasaplacetoliveinIcouldn’tunderstand；butwhyamillionaire，withallcreationtoselectfrom，shouldbuildaNewportvillaonthebluffoverlookingDenboroBaywasbeyondcomprehension。ThereasongivenintheCapeCodItemwasthatMrs。Coltonwas\"indebilitatedhealth，\"whateverthatis，andhadbeencommandedbyherdoctorstoseekseaairandseclusionandrest。Well，therewasseaairandrest，nottomentionseclusionorsandandmosquitoes，forasquaremileaboutthenewvilla，andnooneknewthatbetterthanI，condemnedtolivewithinthesquare。ButifMrs。Coltonhaddeliberatelychosenthespot，withmaliceaforethought，theplaceforherwasahomeforthefeebleminded。Atleast，thatwasmyopiniononthatparticularmorning。

Itwasnotthecarpenterswhocausedmetopauseinmywalkandlookacrossthelaneandoverthestonewallatmynewneighbor’sresidence。Whatcaughtmyattentionwasthattheplacelookedtobeinhabited。Thewindowswereopen——fiftyorsoofthem——smokewasissuingfromoneofthesixchimneys；amaidinawhitecapandapronwasstandingbytheservants’entrance。Yes，andatall，bulkymanwithayachtingcaponthebackofhisheadandacigarinhismouthwastalkingwithAsaPeters，thebosscarpenter，bythebigdoorofthebarn。

Ihadnotbeenuptothevillagefortwodays，havingbeenemployedatourboat—houseonthebeachbelowthehouse，gettingmymotordoryintocommissionforthesummer。ButnowIrememberedthatLutehadsaidsomethingabouttheColtonsbeingexpected，orhavingarrived，andthatheseemedmuchexcitedoverit。Hewouldhavesaidmore，butDorindahadpouncedonhimandsenthimouttoshutupthechickens，whichgavehimtheexcusetoplaytruantandtakehisevening’striptothepost—office。ItwasplainthattheColtonsHADarrived。Verylikelythestoutmanwiththeyachtingcapwasthemighty\"BigJim\"himself。Well，Ididn’tenvyhiminhispresentsituation。Hehadmypity，ifanything。

PossiblythefactthatIcouldpitysomeoneotherthanmyselfhelpedtoraisemyspirits。AtanyrateImanagedtoshakeoffalittleofmygloomandtrampedonuptheLane，feelingmorelikeahumanbeingandlesslikeayellowdog。LessasIshouldimagineayellowdogoughttofeel，Imean，for，asamatteroffact，mostyellowdogsofmyacquaintanceseemtobeashappyastheirbrownorwhiteorblackrelatives。IwalkeduptheLane，turnedintotheLowerRoad，andheadedforthevillage。Thedaywasagorgeousone，theairbracingasatonic，andmythirtiethbirthdaywasnotyetsofarasternastobelostinthefog。Afterall，thereweresomeconsolationsinbeingaliveandinastateofhealthnot\"debilitated。\"Ibegantowhistle。

AquarterofamilefromthejunctionoftheShoreLane，ontheLowerRoad，wasawillow—shadedspot，wherethebrookwhichirrigatedElnathanMullet’scranberryswampranunderasmallwoodenbridge。ItwastherethatIfirstheardthehornand，turning，sawtheautomobilecomingfrombehindme。Itwasapproachingataspeedof，Ishouldsay，thirtymilesanhour，andIjumpedtotherailofthebridgetoletitpass。AutoswerenotascommonontheCapethenastheyhavebecomesince。Nowtheaveragepedestrianofcommon—sensejumpsfirstandlooksafterwards。

However，Ijumpedintime，andstoodstilltowatchthecarasitwentby。Butitdidnotgoby——notthen。Itsspeedslackenedasitapproachedanditcametoahaltonthebridgebesideme。Abigcar；anaristocraticcar；amachineofpompandpriceandpolish，suchasDenborosawbutseldom。Itcontainedthreepersons——acappedandgoggledchauffeuronthefrontseat，andayoungfellowandagirlinthetonneau。Theyattractedmyattentioninjustthatorder——firstthechauffeur，thentheyoungfellow，and，lastofall，thegirl。

Itwasthechauffeurwhohailedme。Heleanedacrosstheupholsterybesidehimand，stillholdingthewheel，said：

\"Say，Bill，what’sthequickestwaytogettoBayport？\"

Nowmynamedoesn’thappentobeBillandjustthenIobjectedtothere—christening。AtanothertimeImighthaveappreciatedthejokeandgivenhimtheinformationwithoutcomment。ButthismorningIdidn’tfeellikejoking。Mydissatisfactionwiththeworldingeneralincludedautomobilistswhomadecommonfolksgetoutoftheirway，andIwasresentful。

\"Ishouldsaythatyouhadpickedaboutasquickawayasany，\"I

answered。

Thechauffeurdidn’tseemtograspthetrueinwardnessofthisbrilliantbit。

\"Aw，what——\"hestammered。\"Say，what——lookhere，Iaskedyou——\"

Thentheyoungmaninthetonneautookchargeoftheconversation。

Hewasaveryyoungman，withblondhairandasilkymustache，andhisclothesfittedhimasclotheshavenorighttofit——onCapeCod。

\"That’lldo，Oscar，\"heordered。Then，turningtome，hesaid：

\"Seehere，myman，wewanttogotoBayport。\"

Iwasnothisman，andwouldn’thavebeenforsomething。Thechauffeurhadirritatedme，butheirritatedmemore。Ididn’tlikehim，hislooks，hisclothes，and，particularly，hismanner。

Therefore，becauseIdidn’tfeellikeanswering，Ishowedmyindependencebyremainingsilent。

\"What’sthematter？\"hedemanded，impatiently。\"Areyoudeaf？I

saywewanttogotoBayport。\"

AnewspaperjokewhichIhadrecentlyreadcametomymind。\"Verywell，\"Isaid，\"youhavemypermission。\"

Itwasarudethingtosay，andnotevenoriginal。Idon’tattempttoexcuseit。Infact，IwassorryassoonasIhadsaidit。Ithaditseffect。Theyoungmanturnedred。Thenhelaughedaloud。

\"Well，byJove！\"heexclaimed。\"Whathavewehere？Ahumorist，I

dobelieve！Mabel，we’vediscoveredagenuine，ruralhumorist。

AnotherDavidHarum，byJove！Lookathim！\"

Thegirlinthetonneausweptasideherveilandlooked，asdirected。AndIlookedather。ThefacethatIsawwassweetandrefinedanddelicate，abeautifulyoungface，thefaceofalady，bornandbred。AllthisIsawandrealizedataglance；butwhatI

wasmostconsciousofatthetimewasthelookinthedarkeyesastheysurveyedmefromheadtofoot。Indifferencewasthere，andcontemptuousamusement；shedidn’tevencondescendtosmile，muchlessspeak。Underthatlookmyself—importanceshrankuntiltheyellowdogwithwhichIhadcomparedmyselfloomedaslargeasanelephant。Shemighthavelookedthatwayatsomecuriousandratherridiculousbug，justbeforecallingaservanttosteponit。

Theyoungmanlaughedagain。\"Isn’titawonder，Mabel？\"heasked。

\"Thenativewitonhisnativeheath！Reuben——pardonme，yournameisReuben，isn’tit？——nowthatyou’vehadyourlittlejoke，wouldyoucondescendtotellustheroadwhichweshouldtaketoreachBayportintheshortesttime？Wouldyouobligeustothatextent？\"

Theyoungladysmiledatthis。\"Victor，\"shesaid，\"howidioticyouare！\"

Iagreedwithher。Idiotwasoneoftheterms，themildest，whichIshouldhaveappliedtothatyoungman。IwantedverymuchtoremovehimfromthatcarbywhatLutewouldcallthescruffoftheneck。Butmostofall，justthen，Iwantedtobealone，toseethelastoftheautoanditsoccupants。

\"Firstturntotheright，secondtotheleft，\"Isaid，sullenly。

\"Thankyou，Reuben，\"vouchsafedtheyoungman。\"Here’shopingthatyourvegetablesarefresherthanyourjokes。Goahead，Oscar。\"

Thechauffeurthrewintheclutchandthecarbuzzeduptheroad，turningthecorneratfullspeed。Therewasalooseboardprojectingfromthebridgejustundermyfeet。Asamember——thoughaninactiveone——oftheVillageImprovementSocietyIshouldhavetroddenitbackintoplace。Ididn’t；Ikickeditintothebrook。

ThenIwalkedon。Buttheremainderofmymarchwasasilentone，withoutmusic。Ididnotwhistle。