第5章

Havingderivedthismuchsatisfactionfrommyreflections，Iwentdownstairs。Dorindawassettingthetableforsupper。ShelookedatmeasIcamein。

"Beenvisitin’，Ihear，"sheobserved，wipinganimaginaryspeckfromthecornerofaplatewithher"afternoon"apron。

"Yes，"saidI。

"Um—hm，"saidDorinda。"Haveagoodtime？"

Ismiled。"Ihadaninterestingone，"Itoldher。

"Um—hm，Ijudgedso，fromwhatLutesaid。"

"WhereisLute？"

"Outinthebarn，beddin’downthehorse。Thatis，Itoldhimtodothat，buthisheadwassofullofyouandwhatyoutoldhimyousaidtoMr。ColtonthatIshouldn’tbesurprisedifhe’sbeddeddownthehensandwashuntin’inthemangerforeggs。"

"LutethinksI’vegonecrazy，"Iobserved。

"Um—hm。Hewasallforfetchin’thedoctorrightoff，butItoldhimIcal’latedwecouldbearwithyourravin’sforaspell。Didyousaywhathesaidyousaid？"

"I’mafraidIdid。"

"Um—hm。Well，itdidn’tdoanygood，didit？"

"Good？Whatdoyoumean？"

"Imeanhedidn’tobeyorders——Colton，thatis。"

"Hehadn’twhenIleft。"

"Ithoughtnot。Ineversawanygoodcomefromprofanelanguageyet；and，besides，judgin’fromwhatIhearaboutthewaythatColtonmanlives，andwhathedoesonSundaysandall，he’llmaketheportyousenthimtowhenhistimecomes。Allyouneedispatience。"

Ilaughed，andshebegansortingtheplatedspoons。Wehadsilverones，butDorindainsistedonkeepingthosetousewhenwehadcompany。Inconsequenceweusedthemabouttwiceayear，whentheministercame。

"Ofcourse，"shesaid，"Iain’taskin’youwhathappenedoverthereorwhyhewantedtoseeyou。ButIgiveyoufairwarnin’that，ifIdon’t，Lutewill。Lute’ssostuffedwithcuriositythathe’sli’bletobustthestitchesanyminute。"

"I’lltellyouboth，atsupper，"Isaid。

"Um—hm，"saidDorinda。"Well，Icanwait，andLute’llhaveto。Bytheway，"sheadded，seeingmeabouttoenterMother’sroom，"ifit’sanythingtoounpleasantIwouldn’tworryComfortwithit。

She’llwanttoknow，ofcourse，butI’dsortofsmooththeedges。"

Motherdidwanttoknow，andItoldher，"smoothingtheedges"allIcould。Iomittedmyfinalorderto"BigJim"andIsaidnothingwhateverabouthisdaughter。MotherseemedtothinkIhaddonerightinrefusingtosell，though，asusual，shewasreadytomakeallowancesfortheotherside。

"Poorwoman，"shesaid，"Isupposethenoiseofthewagonsandallthatareannoyingtoanyonewithweaknerves。Itmustbedreadfultobeinthatcondition。Iamsosorryforher。"

Shemeantit，too。ButI，rememberingtheColtonmansion，whatI

hadseenofit，andcontrastingitssplendorwiththebarenecessityofthatdarkenedbedroom，foundithardtosparepityforthesuffererfrom"nerves。"

"Youneedn’tbe，"Isaid，bitterly。"Iimagineshewouldn’tthinkofyou，iftheconditionswerereversed。Idoubtifshethinksofanyonebutherself。"

"Youshouldn’tsaythat，Roscoe。Youdon’tknow。Youhavenevermether。"

"Ihavemettherestofthefamily。No，Mother，Ithinkyouneedn’thesorryforthatwoman。Shehaseverythingunderthesun。

Whereasyou——"

"Hush！hush！Thereisonethingshehasn’tgot。Shehasn’tasonlikeyou，Boy。"

"Humph！Thatmustbeaterribledeprivation。There！there！

Mother，Iwon’tbedisagreeable。Let’schangethesubject。DidMatildaDeancometoseeyouthisafternoon？"

"No。Ipresumeshewastoobusy。But，Roscoe，itisplainenoughwhyCaptainDeanspoketoyouabouttheLaneattheofficethismorning。Hemusthaveheard，somehow，thatMr。Coltonwishedtobuyit。"

"Yes。Or，ifhedidn’thearjustthat，heheardenoughtomakehimguesstherest。Heisprettyshrewd。"

"Youpromisedhimyouwouldn’tsellwithouttellinghimbeforehand。

ShallyoutellhimofMr。Colton’soffer？"

"Ifheasksme，Ishall，Isuppose。"

"Iwonderwhathewilldothen。DoyousupposehewilltrytopersuadetheSelectmentobuytheLaneforthetown？"

"Idon’tknow。Ishouldn’twonder。"

"Itwillbehardertorefusethetown’soffer。"

"Yes。Althoughthetowncan’taffordtopayColton’sprices。I

believethatmanwouldhaveraisedhisbidtoathousand，ifIhadlethim。Asamatterofbusinessandnothingelse，IsupposeIamfoolishnottopushthepriceashighaspossibleandthensell。

Thelandisworthlesstous。"

"Iknow。Butthisisn’tjustamatterofbusiness，isit？AndweDON’Tneedthemoney。We’renotrich，butwearen’tpoor，arewe，Boy。"

"No。No，ofcoursenot。But，Mother，justseewhatIcoulddo——

foryou——withathousanddollars。Why，therearesomanylittlethings，littleluxuries，thatyouneed。"

"Ihadrathernotgetthemthatway。No，Roscoe，Iwouldn’tselltoMr。Colton。AndIthinkIwouldn’tselltothetowneither。"

"Whynot？"

"Well，becausewedon’thavetosell，andsellingtoeitherpartywouldmakeill—feeling。Ishould——ofcourseI’monlyawoman；youareamanandknowmuchmoreaboutsuchthingsthanI——butwhynotletmattersstayjustastheyare？ThetownspeoplecanusetheLane，justastheyhavealwaysdone，and，asItoldyoubefore，everyonehasbeensokindtousthatIliketofeelwearedoingalittleinreturn。LetthemusetheLane，withoutcost。Whynot？"

"WhatdoyouthinktheColtonswouldsaytothat？"

"Perhapstheydon’tunderstandtherealsituation。ThenexttimeyouseeMr。Coltonyoucouldexplainmorefully；tellhimwhattheLanemeanstothetown，andsoon。I’msurehewouldunderstand，ifyoutoldhimthat。Andthen，ifthesightofthewagonswastooannoying，hecouldputupsomekindofascreen，orplantarowoffirtreesbythefence。Don’tyouthinkso？"

Iimaginedthegreatman’sreplytosuchasuggestion。However，I

didnotexpressmythoughts。ItoldMothernottoworry，Iwassureeverythingwouldbeallright，and，asDorindacalledmetosupper，Iwentintothedining—room。

Lutewaswaitingformeatthetable，andDorinda，aftertakingthetrayintoMother’sroom，joinedus。Lutewassofullofexcitementandcuriositythathealmostforgottoeat，amiracleofitselfandmadegreaterbythefactthathedidnotaskasinglequestionuntilhiswifeaskedonefirst。Thenheaskedthreeinsuccession。

Dorinda，whowasquiteascuriousashebutwouldnothaveshownitfortheworld，stoppedhimatthebeginningofthefourth。

"There！there！"shesaid，sharply，"thisissupposedtobeameal，notaparrotshop，andwe’rehumans，notapasselofbirdsonatelegraphwireallhollerin’atonce。Drinkyourteaandstopyourcawin’，LuteRogers。Ros’lltelluswhenhegetsready。WhatDID

Mr。Coltonwantofyou，Roscoe？"

ItoldthemasmuchoftheinterviewattheColtons’asIthoughtnecessarytheyshouldknow。Lutekeptremarkablyquiet，forhim，untilInamedthefigureofferedbythemillionaire。Thenhecouldholdinnolonger。

"Fivehundred！"herepeated"FivehundredDOLLARSfortheShoreLane！Five——"

"HeraisedittosixhundredandfiftybeforeIleft，"Isaid。

"SIXhundred！Sixhundred——andFIFTY！FortheShoreLane！Sixhun——"

"Sshh！shh！"cutinDorinda。"YousoundlikeSimEldredgesellin’

somethin’atauction。DObequiet！Andyoutoldhim，Roscoe——？"

"ItoldyouwhatItoldhim，"Isaid。

"Um—hm。Iain’tforgotit。Bequiet，Lute。Well，Roscoe，I

cal’lateyouknowyourownaffairsbest，but，judgin’fromsomehintsMatildyDeanhoveoutwhenshewasherethisafternoon，I

don’tbelieveyou’veheardthelastfromthatShoreLane。"

"MatildaDean！"Irepeated。"Why，MothersaidMatildawasn’thereto—day。"

"Um—hm。Well，shewashere，thoughComfortdidn’tknowit。Itookpainssheshouldn’t。Matildycomeaboutthreeo’clock，inthebuggy，alongwithNellie。Nelliewasdoin’thedrivin’，ofcourse，andhermotherwastellin’herhow，asusual。Idon’twonderthatgirlissuchameek，soft—spokenkindofthing。Betweenherpa’sbullyin’andherma’stongue，it’sawondershe’sgotanyspiritleft。ItwouldbeamercyifGeorgeTaylorshouldmarryherandtakeheroutofthathouse。MatildyhadanewbookonSpiritu’lismandshewasfiggerin’toreadsomeofitoutloudtoComfort，butI

headedheroff。Iknow_I_wouldn’twanttobeallstirredupabout’tests’and’materializations’andsuch，andsoItoldherComfortwasasleep。"

"Shewasn’tasleep，neither，"declaredLute。"Whatdidyoutellsuchawhopperasthatfor？You’realwayssailin’intomeifI

stretchayarntheleastmite。Why，lastAprilFoolDayyougivemeHailColumbyforjokin’youaboutamouseunderthekitchentable。Calledmeallkindsofnames，youdid——afteryougotdownoffthetable。"

Hiswiferegardedhimscornfully。"It’sprettyhardtorememberwhichISthatpartic’lardaywithyouaround，"shesaid。"I’dtoldComfortshe’doughttotakeanapandifshewan’ttakin’it’twan’tmyfault。Iwan’tgoin’tohaveherseein’hergranddad’sghostineverycorner。But，anyhow，Matildymadealittlecallonme，and，amongstthemillionotherthingsshesaid，wassomethin’

aboutCap’nJedhearin’thatMr。Coltonwascal’latin’toshutoffthatLane。MatildyhintedthatherhusbandandtheSelectmenmighthavealittletosayafore’twasclosed。Ifthat’ssoIguessyoumayhearfromhimaswellastheColtonman，Roscoe。"

"Perhaps，"Isaid。IcouldseenouseinrepeatingmyconversationwithCaptainJed。

Dorindanodded。

"Goin’totellthetowntogo——whereyousenttheotherone？"sheasked，dryly。

"Idon’tknow。"

"Humph！Well，"withsomesarcasm，"itmustbefinetobeinapositionwheremoney’snoobject。Inevertriedit，myself，butitsoundsgood。"

Ididnotanswer。

"Um—hm，"shesaid。"Well，anyhowitlookstome——Lute，youkeepstill——asiftherewasgoin’tobetwopartiesinDenboroaforethisLanebusinessisover。OnefortheColtonsandoneagainst’em。You’llhavetotakeonesideortheother，won’tyou，Roscoe？"

"Notnecessarily。"

"Goin’tosetonthefence，hey？"

"That’sagoodplaceTOsit，isn’tit？"

Dorindasmiled，grimly。

"Ifit’stherightkindofafence，maybe’tis，"sheobserved。

"Otherwisethepicketsareliabletomakeyouuncomf’tableafteraspell，Ipresumelikely。"

Iwentoutsoonafterthis，formyeveningsmokeandwalkbythebluff。AsIleftthedining—roomIheardLutereiteratinghisbeliefthatIhadgonecrazy。Coltonhadsaidthesamething。I

wonderedwhatCaptainJed’sopinionwouldbe。

Whetheritwasanotherphaseofmyinsanityornot，Idon’tknow，butIwokethenextmorninginprettygoodspirits。Remembranceofthepreviousday’shumiliationstroubledmesurprisinglylittle。

Theydidnotseemnearlysogreatintheretrospect。Whatdifferencediditmaketomewhatthatcrowdofsnobsdidorsaidorthought？

However，therewasjustenoughbitternessinmymorning’sreviewofyesterday’shappeningstomakemealittlemorecarefulinmydress。Ididnotexpecttomeetmyaristocraticneighbors——I

devoutlywisheditmightbemygoodlucknevertomeetanyofthemagain——butinmakingselectionsfrommylimitedwardrobeIchosewithmorethoughtthanusual。DorindanoticedtheresultwhenI

camedowntobreakfast。

"Gotyourothersuiton，ain’tyou，"sheobserved。

"Yes，"saidI。

"Goin’anywheresspecial？"

"No。Downtotheboathouse，that’sall。"

"Humph！Idon’tseewhatyouputthosebluepantsonfor。They’reawfulthingstoshowwaterspots。Didyouleaveyourbrownonesupstairs？Um—hm。Well，I’llgetat’emsometimeto—day。I

noticedtheywaswearin’alittle，sortof，onthebottomsofthelegs。"

Ihadnoticedit，too，andthisreminderconfirmedmysuspicionsthatothershadmadethesameobservations。

"I’lltryandmend’emthisafternoon，"wentonDorinda，"ifIcanfindtime。But，formercy’ssake，don’tspotthoseallup，forI

maynotgettime，andthenyou’dhavetowearyourSundayones。"

Ipromised，curtly，tobecareful，and，aftersayinggoodmorningtoMother，Iwentdowntotheboathouseandsettoworkontheengine。ItwastheonlythinginthenatureofworkthatIhadtodo，but，somehoworother，IdidnotfeellikedoingitanymorethanIhadthedaybefore。Alittleofmygoodspiritswerewearingoff，likethelegsofmy"other"trousers，andafteranhourofintermittenttinkeringIthrewdownthewrenchanddecidedtogoforarow。Thesunwasshiningbrightly，butthebreezewasfresh，and，asmyskiffwaslowinthegunwaleandtherewaslikelytobesomewaterflying，Iputonanoldoilskin"slicker"andsou—westerbeforestarting。

Ihaddeterminedtorowacrossthebayovertothelighthouse，andaskBenSmall，thekeeper，iftherewereanysignsoffishalongshore。Thepullwasalongone，butIenjoyedeverystrokeofit。Thetidewasalmostfull，justbeginningtoebb，sotherewasscarcelyanycurrentandIcouldmakeastraightcutacross，insteadoffollowingthetortuouschannel。Myskiffwasaflatbottomedaffair，drawingverylittle，butinDenborobay，atlowtide，evenaflat—bottomedskiffhastobewareofsandandeel—

grass。

Smallwasbusywhitewashing，buthewasgladtoseeme。Ifyoukeepalighthouse，theaveragelighthouse，youaregladtoseeanybody。Heputhisbrushintothepailandinsistedonmycomingtothehouse，because"theoldwoman，"hiswife，wouldwanttohear"allthesewin’circlenews。""It’sthebiggesthardshipofherlife，"saidBen，"thatshehastomisssewin’circlewhenthebayicesin。Soon’sitclearsshe’satmetorowheracrosttothemeetin’s。I’vetookhertotwothisspring，butshemissedthelastone，onaccountofthiswhitewashin’，andshe’scrazytoknowwho’sbeentalkedaboutnow。Ifanythingdisgracefulhashappenedforthelandsakestellher；thenshe’llhemorereconciled。"

Ihadnothingdisgracefultotell，butMrs。Smallwasgladtoseeme，nevertheless。Shebroughtoutdoughnutsandbeach—plumjellyandinsistedonmysamplingboth，thedoughnutsbecausetheywerejustmadeandshe"mistrusted"therewastoomuchflourinthem，andthejellybecauseitwassomeshehadleftoverandshewantedtoseeifIthoughtitwas"keepin’"allright。Afterthis，Bentookmeouttoseehishens，andthenwewalkedtothebackofthebeachandtalkedfish。TheforenoonwasalmostgonewhenIgotbacktotheskiff。ThetidehadebbedsofarthatthelightkeeperandIhadtopullthelittleboattwentyfeettolaunchher。

"There！"saidBen，"nowyou’reafloat，ain’tyou。Cal’lateyou’llhavetogoway’roundRobinHood’sbarntokeepofftheflats。I

forgotaboutthetideorIwouldn’thavetalkedsomuch。Hello！

there’sanothercraftaboutyoursizeoffyonder。Somebodyelseoutrowin’。Twosomebodys。Myeyesain’tasgoodforpickin’emoutastheyusedtobe，butoneof’emISafemale，ain’tit？"

Ilookedovermyshoulder，asIsatintheskiffandsaw，outinthemiddleofthebay，anotherrowboatwithtwopeopleinit。

"Thatain’tadoryoraskiff，"shoutedBen，raisinghisvoiceasI

pulledawayfromhim。"WayshesetsoutofwaterI’dcallheralap—streakdingy。Ifthatfeller’stakin’hisgirloutrowin’

he’llhavetoworkhispassagehomeagainstthistide……Well，solong，Ros。Comeagain。"

Inoddedagoodby，andsettleddownformylongrow，agooddeallongerthistimeonaccountoftheebb。Therewaswaterenoughonthissideofthebay，butonthevillagesidethechannelmadeawidedetourandIshouldbeobligedtofollowitfornearlyamileupthebay，beforeturninginbehindthelongsandbarwhichmadeoutfromthepointbeyondmyboathouse。

Thebreezehadgonedown，whichmaderowingeasier，butthepullofthetidemorethanoffsetthisadvantage。However，Ihadmasteredthattidemanytimesbeforeand，exceptthatthedelaymightmakemelatefordinner，theprospectdidnottroubleme。Iswungintothechannelandsettheskiff’sbowagainstthecurrent。ThenfromthebeachIhadjustleftIheardafainthail。Turningmyhead，I

sawBenSmallwavinghisarms。Hewasshoutingsomething，too，butIwastoofarawaytocatchthewords。

Thelightkeepercontinuedtoshoutandwave。Iliftedanoartoshowthathehadmyattention。Herecognizedthesignal，andbeganpointingoutoverthewaterasternofme。Ilookedwherehewaspointing。Icouldnotseeanythingoutoftheordinary。Exceptformyownskiffandthegulls，andtherowboatwiththetwopersonsinittherewasnothingastironthebay。ButBenkeptonwavingandpointing。AtlastIdecidedthatitmustbetherowboathewaspointingat。Istoppedrowingandlooked。

Therowboatwasagooddistanceoffanditsoccupantswerebutspecks。Nowoneofthespecksstoodupandwaveditsarms。SofarasIcouldsee，theboatwasdrifting；therewerenoflashesofsunlightonwetbladestoshowthattheoarswereinuse。No，itwasdrifting，and，asIlooked，itswungbroadsideon。Thestandingfigurecontinuedtowaveitsarms。

Thosepeoplemustbeintroubleofsomesort，Idecided，anditwasevidentthatSmallthoughtso，too。Therecouldnoimminentdangerthreatenfor，onadaylikethis，withnosearunning，therewasnothingtofearinthebay。If，however，theyshoulddriftoutofthebayitmightbeunpleasant。Andtheycertainlyweredrifting。

Iresignedmyselftotheindefinitepostponementofmydinner，swungtheskiffabout，andpulledashardasIcouldinthedirectionoftherowboat。

WiththetidetohelpmeImadegoodprogress，but，evenatthat，ittookmesometimetoovertakethedriftingcraft。Shewas，asBenhadsaid，alap—streaked，keel—bottomeddingy——goodenoughasayacht’stenderorindeepwater，buttheworstboatintheworldtorowaboutDenborobayatlowtide。Herhighrailcaughtwhatbreezetherewasblowingandthishelpedtopushheralong。

However，Igotwithineasyhailingdistanceafterawhileandcalled，overmyshoulder，toaskwhatwasthematter。

Aman’svoiceansweredme。

"We’velostanoar，"heshouted。"We’redriftingouttosea。Lendusahand，willyou？"

"Allright，"Ianswered。"I’llbethereinaminute。"

WithintheminuteIwasalmostalongside。ThenIturned，intendingtospeakagain；butIdidnot。ThetwopersonsinthedingywereVictor——Ididnotknowhisothername——andMabelColton。

Iwaswearingtheoilskinslickerandhadpulleddownthebrimofmysou’westertokeepthesunfrommyeyes；thereforetheyhadnotrecognizedmebefore。AndI，busyattheoarsandlookingovermyshoulderonlyoccasionally，hadnotrecognizedthem。Nowtherecognitionwasmutual。MissColtonspokefirst。

"Why，Victor！"shesaid，"itis——"

"What？"askedhercompanion。Then，lookingatme，"Oh！it’syou，isit？"

Ididnotanswer。Luckwascertainlyagainstme。NomatterwhereIwent，onlandorwater，Iwasfatedtomeetthesetwo。

Victor，apparently，wasthinkingthesamething。"ByJove！"heobserved；"Mabel，weseemdestinedto……Humph！Well？Willyougiveusahand？"

Themostprovokingpartofitwasthat，ifIhadknownwhowasinthatrowboat，Icouldhaveavoidedtheencounter。BenSmallcouldhavegonetotheirrescuejustaswellasI。However，hereIwas，andheretheywere。AndIcouldnotverywellgoawayandleavethem，underthecircumstances。

Victor’spatiencewasgivingway。

"Whatareyouwaitingfor？"hedemanded。"Aren’tyougoingtohelpus？We’llpayyouforit。"

Ipulledtheskiffalittlecloserand，drawinginmyoars，turnedandpickeduptheslackofmyanchorrope。

"Here，"Isaid，brusquely；"catchthislineandI’lltowyou。"

Itossedhimtheloopofropeandhecaughtit。

"WhatshallIdowithit？"heasked。

"Holdit，justasitis，forthepresent。Whatbecameofyourotheroar？"

"Lostitoverboard。"

"Whydidn’tyouthrowoveryouranchorandwaitwhereyouwere？"

Ithinkhehadnotthoughtoftheanchor，buthedidnotdeigntoexplain。Insteadhebeganpullingontheropeandthetwoboatsdrewtogether。

"Don’tdothat，"Isaid。"Wait。"

Iuntiedtherope，whereitwasmadefasttotheskiff’sbow，andwithitandtheanchorinmyhands，scrambledaftandwedgedtheanchorunderthesternthwartofthelittlecraft。

"Now，"Isaid，"youcanpullintheslackuntilyougettotheend。

Thenmakeitfasttoyourbowsomewhere。"

Isupposehedidhisbesttofollowinstructions，buttheropewasashortone，theendjerkedloosesuddenlyandhewentbackwardinaheap。Ithought，foraninstant，thathewasgoingoverboardandthatminewouldbethemixedpleasureoffishinghimout。

MissColtongavealittlescream，whichchangedtoarippleoflaughter。Imighthavelaughed，too，underdifferentcircumstances，butjustnowIdidnotfeellikeit。Besides，therope，havingflownoutofhishands，wasinthewateragainandthetwoboatsweredriftingapart。

"Whatdidyoudothatfor？"demandedthefallenone，scramblingtohisknees。Iheardasoundfromthedingy’ssternasiftheyoungladywastryingtostiflehermerriment。Victor，doubtless，heardit，too。

"Whereareyougoing？"hesputtered，angrily。"Givemethatrope。"

Igaveittohim，literallygaveit，forIpulledalongsideandputtheendinhishands。

"Tieitinthebowofyourboat，"Isaid。Hedidso。Idrewintheslackuntilafairtowinglengthremainedandmadeitfast。

WhilehewasbusyIventuredtoglanceatMissColton。Hereyesweresnappingwithfunandsheseemedtobeenjoyingthesituation。

But，catchingmylook，herexpressionchanged。Sheturnedawayandlookedindifferentlyouttosea。

Iswungtheskiff’sbowaround。

"Wheredoyouwanttogo？"Iasked。

Victoranswered。"BacktoMr。Colton’slanding，"hesaid。"Getasmuchofamoveonasyoucan，willyou？I’llmakeitworthyourwhile。"

Iwasasanxioustogetthereashewas。Ididnotcareforaquarrel，andIknewifhecontinuedtousethattoneinhisremarkstomeIshouldanswerasIfelt。Ipulledwithallmystrength，butagainstthetidetowingwashardwork。

Victorsatontheamidshipsthwartofthedingy，withhisbacktome。ButMissColton，seatedinthestern，wasfacingmeandI

couldnothelplookingather。Shedidnotlookatme，or，ifshedid，itwasasifIweremerelyapartoftheview；nothingtobeinterestedin，onewayortheother。

Shewasbeautiful；therewasnodoubtofthat。Prettiereven，intheblueandwhiteboatingcostumeandrough—and—readywhitefelthat，thanshehadseemedwhenIsawherintheautoorherfather’slibrary。SherepresentedtheworldthatIhadlost。Ihadknowngirlslikeher。Theyhadnotasmuchmoneyasshe，perhaps，buttheywerejustaswell—bredandrefined，andalmostaspretty。I

hadassociatedwiththemasanequal。Iwonderedwhatshewouldsay，orthink，ifsheknewthat。Nothing，probably；shewouldnotcareenoughtothinkatall。Itdidnotmattertomewhatshethought；butIdidwishIhadnotputonthosefooloilskins。I

mustlookmorelikeacountrylongshoremanthanever。

IfIhadanydoubtsaboutittheyweredispelledwhenIhadrowedthetwoboatsupthebayuntilwewereabreasttheColtonmansion。

ThenVictor，whohadbeentalkinginalowtonewithhisfellowpassengerinthedingy，lookedatthedistantshoreand，overhisshoulder，atme。

"Here！"heshouted。"Whereareyougoing？That’sthelandingoverthere。"

"Iknow，"Ianswered。"Butweshallhavetogoaroundthatflat。

Wecan’tcrosshere。"

"Why？What’sthereasonwecan’t？"

"Becausethereisn’twaterenough。Weshouldgetaground。"

Hestooduptolook。

"Nonsense！"hesaid。"There’splentyofwater。Ican’tseeanyflat，orwhateveryoucallit。"

"It’sthere，thoughyoucan’tseeit。Itiscoveredwitheelgrassanddoesn’tshow。Weshallhavetogoahalfmilefurtherbeforeweturnin。"

"Ahalfmile！Why，confoundit！it’spastoneo’clocknow。Wehaven’tanytimetowaste。"

"I’msorry，butwecan’tcrossyet。And，ifIwereyou，I

shouldn’tstandupinthatboat。"

Hepaidnoattentiontothissuggestion。

"Therearehalfadozenboats，biggerthanthese，bythelanding，"

hedeclared。"Thereiswaterenoughforthem。Whatareyouafraidof？Wehaven’tanytimetowaste，Itellyou。"

Ididnotanswer。Silence，onmypart，wasthesafestthingjustthen。Icontinuedrowingupthebay。

MissColtonspoketohimandhesatdown，aproceedingforwhichI

wasthankful。Theywhisperedtogetherforamoment。Thenheturnedtome。

"Seehere，"hesaid；"thisladyandIhaveanappointment。Wemustgetashore。Gostraightin。Ifyou’reafraidI’lltaketherisk。

IfthereisanydangerI’llpayforthat，too。"

Therewasnoquestionofrisk。Itwasacertainty。Iknewthatchannel。

"Wecan’tcrosshere，"Isaid，shortly。

"Why，confoundyou——"