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。