第13章

"Shedidcall，yousee。Shekeptherword。Itwaskindofher，wasn’tit？"

Isatdownintherockingchairbythewindow。

"Well，"Iasked，afteramoment，"whatdidshesay？Didshecondescendtopityherpauperneighbors？"

"Roscoe！"

"DidsheexpresshorrifiedsympathyandoffertocallyourcasetotheattentionofhercousininchargeofthePoorWardintheCityGeneralHospital，likethatwomanfromtheHarnisshotellastsummer？"

"Boy！Howcanyou！"

"Oh，well；Iamajealousbeast，Mother；Iadmitit。ButIhavenotbeenabletobringyouflowerslikethatanditgallsmetothinkthatotherscan。Theydon’tdeservetohaveallthebeautifulthingsinlife，whiletherestofushavenone。"

"Butitisn’therfaultthatshehasthem，isit？Anditwaskindtosharethemwithus。"

"Isupposeso。Well，whatdidshesaytoyou？Dorindasaysshewaswithyounearlyanhour。Whatdidyouandshetalkabout？Shedidnotoffercharity，didshe？"

"DoyouthinkIshouldhaveacceptedit，ifshehad？Roscoe，I

haveneverseenyousoprejudicedasyouareagainstournewneighbors。Itdoesn’tseemlikeyou，atall。AndifherfatherandmotherarelikeMissMabel，youareverywrong。Ilikeherverymuch。"

"Youwouldtrytolikeanyone，Mother。"

"Ididnothavetotrytolikeher。AndIwasalittleprejudiced，too，atfirst。Shewassowealthy，andanonlychild；Ifearedshemightbeconceitedandspoiled。Butsheisn’t。"

"Notconceited！Humph！"

"No，notreally。Atfirstsheseemedatrifledistant，andI

thoughtherhaughty；but，afterward，whenherstrangenessandconstrainthadwornaway，shewassimpleandunaffectedanddelightful。Andsheisverypretty，isn’tshe。"

"Yes。"

"Shetoldmeagreatdealaboutherself。ShehasbeenthroughVassarandhastraveledagreatdeal。Thisisthefirstsummersincehergraduationwhichshehasnotspentabroad。SheandI

talkedofRomeandFlorence。I——ItoldherofthemonthIspentinItalywhenyouwereababy，Roscoe。"

"Youdidnottellheranythingmore，Mother？Anythingsheshouldnotknow？"

"Boy！"reproachfully。

"Pardonme，Mother。Ofcourseyoudidn’t。Didshetellyouwhyshecalledonus——onyou，Imean？"

"Yes，inaway。Iimagine——thoughshedidnotsayso——thatyouareresponsibleforthat。SheandNellieDeanseemtobewellacquainted，almostfriendly，whichisodd，forIcanscarcelythinkoftwogirlsmoredifferent。ButshelikesNellie，thatisevident，andNellieandGeorgehavetoldheraboutyouandme。"

"Isee。Andsoshewascuriousconcerningtheinterestinginvalid。

Probablyanythingevenmildlyinterestingisagodsendtoher，downhere。DidshementiontheShoreLanerumpus？"

"Yes。AlthoughImentioneditfirst。Itwasplainthatshecouldnotunderstandyourpositioninthematter，Roscoe，andIexplaineditaswellasIcould。ItoldherthatyoufelttheLanewasanecessitytothetownspeople，andthat，underthecircumstances，youcouldnotsell。Itoldherhowdeeplyyousympathizedwithhermother——"

"Didyoutellherthat？"

"Why，yes。Itistrue，isn’tit？"

"Humph！Mildlyso，maybe。Whatmoredidshesay？"

"Shesaidshethoughtsheunderstoodbetternow。Itoldheraboutyou，Boy，andwhatagoodsonyouhadbeentome。Howyouhadsacrificedyourfutureandyourcareerformysake。OfcourseI

couldnotgointoparticulars，atall，butwetalkedagreatdealaboutyou，Roscoe。"

"Thatmusthavebeendeliriouslyinteresting——toher。"

"Ithinkitwas。Shetoldmeofyourhelpingherhomethroughthestorm，andofsomethingelseyouhadnottoldme，Boy：ofyourbringingherandMr。Carverofftheflatintheboatthatday。Whydidyoukeepthatasecret？"

"Itwasnotworthtelling。"

"Shethoughtitwas。Shelaughedaboutit；saidyouhandledtheaffairinamostbusinesslikeandunsentimentalway；sheneverfeltmorelikeabundleofdry—goodsinherlife，butthatthatappearedtobeyourmannerofhandlingpeople。Itwasasomewhatstartlingmanner，butveryeffective，shesaid。Idon’tknowwhatshemeantbythat。"

Iknew，butIdidnotexplain。

"Youdon’tmeantosay，Mother，thatyouglorifiedmetoherforanhour？"Idemanded。

"No，indeed。Wetalkedofeversomanythings。Ofbooks，andpictures，andmusic。I’mafraidIwasratherwearisome。Itseemedsogoodtohavesomeone——exceptyou，ofcourse，dear——todiscusssuchsubjectswith。Mostofmycallersarenotinterestedinthem。"

Iwassilent。

"Sheiscomingagain，shesays，"continuedMother。"Shehassomenewbookssheisgoingtolendme。Youmustreadthemtome。Andaren’tthoseroseswonderful？Shepickedthem，herself，intheirconservatory。Itoldherhowfondyouwereofflowers。"

IjudgedthattheyoungladymusthavegoneawaywiththeideathatIwasacombinationoflongshoreloutandeffeminatedilettante，withthefinancialresourcesoftheformer。Shemightaswellhavethatideaasanyother，Isupposed，but，inhereyes，Imustbemoreofafreakthanever。Ishouldtakecaretokeepoutofthesightofthoseeyesasmuchaspossible。Butthatthemillionaire’sdaughterhadmadeahitontheoccasionofherfirstcallwasplain。

NotonlyhadMotherbeenfavorablyimpressed，buteventhepracticalandunromanticDorinda’sshellwasdented。Shedeignedtoobservethattheyoungladyseemedtohave"consider’blecommon—sense，considerin’herbringin’up。"This，fromDorinda，washighpraise，andIwonderedwhatthecallerhadsaidordonetowinsuchatriumph。Lutemadethematterclear。

"Bytime！"hesaid，whenheandIweretogether，"thatgirl’sasmartone。I’dgivesomethin’tohaveherkindofsmartness。

Dorindywasterriblecrankyallthetimeshewasinyourma’sroomandIdidn’tknowwhatwouldhappenwhenshecomeout。Butthefustthingshedonewhenshecomeoutwastolookaroundthedinin’

roomandsay，’Oh！whatapleasant，homeyplace！Andsoclean！

Why，itisperfectlyspotless！’Landsakes！theoldladythawedoutlikeacranberryboginApril。Afterthattheytalkedabouthousekeepin’andcookin’andsuch，sociableascouldbe。Dorindy’sgoin’togiveherherreceiptfordoughnutsnexttimeshecomes。

AndIbetthatgirlnevercookedadoughnutinherlifeoreverwill。IfIcouldthinkoftherightthingtosay，likethat，’twouldsavememore’noneear—ache。ButIneverdothinkofittillthenextday，andthenit’stoolate。"

Heborrowedmytobacco，filledhispipe，andcontinued：

"Say，Ros，"heasked，"what’syourideaofwhatmadehercomehere？"

"ToseeMother，ofcourse，"Ianswered。

"That’syournotion，isit？"

"Certainly。Whatelse？"

"Humph！There’sothersickfolksintown。Whydon’tshegotoseethem？"

"Perhapsshedoes。Idon’tknow。"

"Ibetyoutencentsshedon’t。No，I’vebeenreasonin’ofitout，sameasIgen’rallydo，andI’vegotsomenotionsofmyown。Youdon’tcal’lateherpasentherso’stosortofsoftsoaparoundtowardhisgettin’theShoreLane？Youdon’tcal’late’twaspartofthatgame，doyou？"

Thatsuppositionhadcrossedmymindmorethanonce。IwasashamedofitandnowIdeniedit，indignantly。

"Ofcoursenot，"Ianswered。

"Well，Idon’tthinkso，myself。Butif’tain’tthatit’sanotherreason。ShemaybeinterestedinComfort；Idon’tsaysheain’t；

butthatain’tallshe’sinterestedin。"

"Whatdoyoumean？"

"Nevermind。Iain’tsaidnothin’。I’mjustwaitin’tosee，that’sall。Ihavehadsomeexperienceinthisworld，Ihave。

There’sdifferenttimescomin’forthisfamily，yousetthatdowninyourlog—book，RosPaine。"

"Lookhere，Lute；ifyouarehintingthatMissColtonorherpeopleintendofferinguscharity——"

"Whosaidanythingaboutcharity？No；ifshehadthatideeinherhead，hertalkwithyourmawoulddriveitout。’Tain’tcharity，I

ain’tsayin’what’tis……Iwonderhow’twouldseemtoberich。"

"Lute，you’regrowingmorefoolisheveryday。"

"SoDorindysays；butshenoryouain’tofferednoproofyet。Allright，youwaitandsee。Andsay，Ros，don’tmentionourtalktoDorindy。She’smore’nextrydownonmejustnow，andifIbreathethatMabelColton’snameshehopsrightupintheair。How’dI

knowthataskin’ifawomanwho’sbeensickinbedsixyearormorewas’in’meantcouldshehavefolkscometoseeher？"

MotherwouldhavediscussedtheColtonswithmefrequently，butI

avoidedthesubjectasmuchaspossible。Thepromisedbooksarrived——broughtoverbyJohnson，thebutler，whoviewedourhumblequarterswithloftydisdain——andIreadoneofthemaloudtoMother，achaptereachevening。Moreflowerscamealsoandthedarkenedbedroombecameabowerofbeautyandperfume。IfIhadyieldedtomyownwishesIshouldhavereturnedbothrosesandbooks。Itwasbetter，asIsawit，thatweandourwealthyneighborshadnothingtodowitheachother。Realfriendshipwasoutofthequestion；thememoryofMrs。Colton’sfrigidbowandherreferencetomeasa"person"provedthat。Herdaughtermightthinkotherwise，ormightthinkthatshethoughtso，butIknewbetter。However，IdidnotliketopainMotherbyrefusingofferingswhich，toher，wereexpressionsofsympathyandregard，soIhadnoprotestandtriedtoenthuseoverthegiftsandloans。

Afterall，whatdidtheyamountto？Onetea—rosebredfromDorinda’scarefullytendedbush，oronegushfulstorybookselectedbyAlmenaDoanefromthenewadditionstothetownlibraryandsentbecauseshethought"Mrs。Comfortmightfinditsortofsoothin’

anddistractin’，"meantmorerealunselfishthoughtandkindlyfeelingthanalltheconservatoryexoticsandnewnovelswhichtherichgirl’swhimsuppliedfromheroverflowingstore。Iwassurprisedonlythatthewhimlastedsolong。

Behindallthis，Ithink，andconfirmingmyfeeling，wasthefactthatMissColtondidnotrepeathercall。Aweekormorepassedandshedidnotcome。Icaughtglimpsesofheroccasionallyintheauto，oratthepost—office，butItookcarethatsheshouldnotseeme。Ididnotwishtobeseen，thoughpreciselywhyIcouldnothaveexplainedeventomyself。Thememoryofthatnightintherain，andofourmeetingsinthegrove，troubledmebecauseIcouldnotkeepthemfrommymind。Theykeptrecurring，nomatterwhatI

didorwhereIwent。No，Ididnotwanttomeetheragain。

Somehow，thesightandmemoryofhermadememoredissatisfiedanddiscontentedthanever。Ifoundmyselfmoodilywishingforthingsbeyondmyreach，longingtobesomethingmorethanIwas——morethanthenobodywhichIknewImustalwaysbe。IrememberedmyfeelingsonthemorningofthedaywhenIfirstsawher。Nowtheyseemedalmostlikepremonitions。

Ikeptaway；notonlyfromher，butfromGeorgeTaylorandCaptainDeanandthetownspeople。Iwenttothevillagescarcelyatall。

SimEldredge，whohadevidentlyreceivedordersfromheadquarterstodroptheLane"agency，"troubledmenomore，merelygloweringreproachfullywhenwemet；andAlvinBaker，whosenotehadbeenrenewed，althoughhehailedmewitheffusivecordiality，didnotpresshissocietyuponme，havingnoaxetogrindatpresent。ZebKendrickwasusingtheLaneagain，buthetookcaretobringnomore"billiardroomers"aspassengers。IhadasyetheardnothingfrommyquarrelwithTimHallet。

IspentagooddealofmytimeintheComfort，orwanderingabouttheshoreandinthewoods。Onewarm，cloudymorningthenotionseizedmetogouptothepondsandtryforblackbass。Therearebassinsomeofthelargerponds——lakestheywouldbecalledanywhereelseexceptonCapeCod——and，ifoneislucky，andtheweatherisright，andthebaittempting，theymaybecaught。Thisparticularmorningpromisedtofurnishtheproperbrandofweather，andashortexcursionontheflatsprovidedasupplyofshrimpsandminnowsforbait。Dorinda，whohappenedtobeingoodhumor，putupalunchformeand，atseveno’clock，withmyrodandlandingnetintheircases，strapped，withmyfishingbootsandcoffeepot，tomyback，andmybaitpailinonehandandlunchbasketintheother，Istartedonmytramp。ItwasalongfourmilestoSeabury’sPond，mydestination，andLute，towhom，likemostcountrypeople，theideaofafour—milewalkwassheerlunacy，urgedmyharnessingthehorseanddrivingthere。ButIknewtheovergrownwoodroadsandthedifficultyofpilotingavehiclethroughthem，and，moreover，Ireallypreferredtogoafoot。SoI

marchedoffandlefthimprotesting。

Veryfewsummerpeople——andonlysummerpeopleorirresponsiblepersonslikemyselfwastetimeinfreshwaterfishingontheCape——

knewwhereSeabury’sPondwas。Itlayfarfrommacadamroadsandautomobilethoroughfaresanditssandyshoreswereborderedwithverdure—cladhillsshuttingitinlikethesidesofabowl。ToreachitfromDenboroonelefttheBayportroadat"BeriahHolt’splace，"followedBeriah’scowpathtothepasture，plungedintotheoakandbirchgroveatthesouthernedgeofthatpasture，emergedonagrass—grownandbush—encumberedtrackwhichhadoncebeenthewaytosomeearlysettler’shome，andhadbeenforsakenforyears，andfollowedthattrack，inallitswindings，untilhesawthegleamofwaterbetweentheupperfringeofbrushandthelowerlimbsofthetrees。Thenheleftthetrackandclambereddownthesteepslopetothepond。

Iamagoodwalker，butIwastiredlongbeforeIreachedtheslope。Thebaitpail，whichIrefilledwithfreshwateratBeriah’spump，grewheavierasIwenton，andIbegantothinkLuteknewwhathewastalkingaboutwhenhedeclaredmetobe"plumbcrazy，hoofin’itfourmileloadeddownwithallthatdunnage。"

However，whenthelong"hoof"wasover，andIsatdowninapatchof"hog—cranberry"vinesforasmoke，withthepondbeforeme，I

wasmeasurablyhappy。ThiswasthesortofthingIliked。HeretherewerenoShoreLanecontroversies，butrealindependenceandpeace。

AftermysmokewasfinishedandIhadrested，Icarriedmy"dunnage"aroundtothepointwhereIintendedtobeginmyfishing，putthelunchbasketinashadyplacebeneaththebushes，andthebaitpailinthewaternearby，changedmyshoesforthefishingboots，riggedmyrodandwasready。

Atfirstthefishingwasratherpoor。Thepondwasfullofperchandtheyweretroublesome。Byandby，however，Ihookedafour—

poundpickerelandhestirredmylaggingambition。Iwadedon，castingandplayingbeyondthelilypadsandsedge。AtlastIgotmyfirstbass，asmallone，andhadscarcelylandedhimthanabigfellowstruck，fought，roseandbrokeaway。Thatwasspursufficient。AlltheforenoonIwadedabouttheshoresofthatpond。Whenathalf—pasteleventhesuncameoutandIknewmysportwasover，forthetimeatleast，Ihadfourbass——twoofthemfineones——andtwo，pickerel。ThenIrememberedmyappetiteandDorinda’sluncheon。

Iwentbacktothepointandinspectedthecontentsofthebasket。

Sandwiches，coldchicken，eggs，doughnutsandapplepuffs。Theylookedgoodtome。Alsotherewerepepperandsaltinonepaper，sugarinanother，coffeeinathird，andmilkinabottle。I

collectedsomedrychipsandbranchesandpreparedtokindleafire。AsIbentovertheheapofsticksandchipsIheardthesoundofhorses’hoofsinthewoodsnearby。

Iwassurprisedandannoyed。TheprincipalcharmofSeaburyPondwasthatsofewpeoplevisitedit。Alsofewerstillknewhowgoodthefishingwasthere。Iwasnotmorethanordinarilyselfish，butIdidnotcaretohavetheplaceoverrunwithexcursionistsfromthecity，whohadnoscruplesastonumberandsizeoffishcaughtandwouldruinthesportastheyhadruineditatotherandbetterknownponds。Thepasserby，whoeverhewas——anativeprobably——

would，ifhesawme，askquestionsconcerningmyluck，andbealmostsuretotelleveryonehemet。Ileftmyfireunkindled，steppedbacktotheshadeofthebushesandwaitedinsilence，hopingthedriverwouldgoonwithoutstopping。Therewasnorealroadonthissideofthepond，buttherewasanabandonedwoodtrack，likethatbywhichIhadcome。Thehorsewasapproachingalongthetrack；thesoundsofhoofsandcracklingbranchesgrewplainer。

TheoddpartofitwasthatIheardnorattleofwheels。Itwasalmostasifthepersonwasonhorseback。Thisseemedimpossible，becausenooneinDenboroorBayport——nooneIcouldthinkof，atleast——ownedorrodeasaddlehorse。Yetthehoofbeatsgrewlouderandtherewasnosqueak，orjolt，orrattletobearthemcompany。TheycametoapointinthewoodsdirectlyoppositewhereIsatintheshadeofthebushesandtheretheystopped。Thentheyrecommencedandthecrackleofbrancheswaslouderthanever。Therider，whoeverhewas，wascomingdownthebanktothepond。

Amomentmoreandthetallswamp—huckleberrybushesattheedgeofthesandybeachpartedandbetweenthemsteppedgingerlyaclean—

cut，handsomebrownhorse，whichthrewupitsheadatthesightofthewaterandthentrottedlightlytowardit。Therider，whosatsoeasilyinthesaddle，wasagirl。AndthegirlwasMabelColton！

Shedidnotnoticemeatfirst，butgaveherattentiontothehorse。Theanimalwadedintothewatertoitskneesand，inobediencetoapullonthereins，stopped，bentitshead，andbegantodrink。Thentheriderturnedinherseat，lookedabouther，sawtheheapofwoodforthefire，theopenlunchbasket，therodsandlanding—net，and——me。

Ihadsteppedfromthebusheswhenshefirstappearedandwasstandingmotionless，staring，Iimagine，likewhatDorindasometimescalledherhusband——a"borngump。"TherewasFateinthis！nodoubtaboutit。ThefurtherIwenttoavoidthisgirl，andthemoreoutlandishandforsakenthespottowhichIfled，thegreaterthecertaintyofourmeeting。Afeelingofhelplessnesscameoverme，asifIwereintheclutchofdestinyandnoeffortofminecouldbreakthatclutch。

Foramomentshelookedasifshemightbethinkingthesamething。

Shestartedwhenshesawmeandherlipsparted。

"Oh！"sheexclaimed，softly。Thenwegazedateachotherwithoutspeaking。

Shewasthefirsttorecoverfromthesurprise。Herexpressionchanged。Thelookofalarmcausedbymysuddenappearanceleftherface，butthewonderremained。

"Why！Why，Mr。Paine！"shecried。"Isityou？"

Isteppedforward。

"Why，MissColton！"saidI。

Shedrewabreathofrelief。"ItISyou！"shedeclared。"Iwasbeginningtobelieveinhallucinations。Howyoustartledme！Whatareyoudoinghere？"

"ThatisexactlywhatIwasgoingtoaskyou，"Ireplied。"Iamhereforafishingexcursion。Butwhatbroughtyoutothisout—of—

the—wayplace？"

Shesmiledandpattedthehorse’sshoulder。"Donherebroughtme，"

sheanswered。"HesawthewaterandIknewhewasthirsty，soI

camestraightdownthebank。ButIdidn’texpecttofindanyonehere。Ihaven’tseenahorseorahumanbeingforanhour。Whataprettylittlelakethisis。Whatisitsname？"

"ItiscalledSeabury’sPond。Howdidyoufindit？"

"Ididn’t。Donfoundit。HeandIcameforagallopinthewoodsandIlethimchoosehisownpaths。Ihavebeeninhischargeallthemorning。Ihaven’ttheleastideawhereweare。There，Don！

youhavehadenoughandyouaresplashingusdreadfully。Comeback！"

Shebackedthehorseoutofthewaterandturnedhisheadtowardthewoods。

"Itisgreatfuntobelost，"sheobserved。"Ididn’tsupposeanyonecouldbelostinDenboro。"

"Butthisisn’tDenboro。Seabury’sPondisinBayporttownship。"

"Isit，really？InBayport？ThenImustbealongwayfromhome。"

"Youare；fourmilesandahalf，atleast。Morethanthatovertheroad。"

Shelookedatherwatchandfrownedslightly。

"Dearme！"shesaid。"Anditisaftertwelvealready。IamperfectlysureIcan’tfindthewaybackintimeforluncheon。"

"Ishallbegladtogowithyouandshowyoutheway。"

"No，indeed！DonandIwillgethomesafely。Thisisn’tthefirsttimewehavebeenlosttogether，thoughnotonCapeCod。OfcourseIshouldn’tthinkoftakingyoufromyourfishing。Haveyouhadgoodluck？"

"Prettyfair。Somebassandtwogood—sizedpickerel。"

"Really！Bass？Ididn’tknowtherewereanyabouthere。MayI

seethem？"

"Certainly。Theyareoverthereinthebushes。"

Sheswunglightlydownfromthesaddleand，takingherhorsebythebridle，ledhimtowardthespotwheremycatchlay，coveredwithleavesandwetgrass。Iremovedthecoveringandshebentoverthefish。

"Oh，splendid！"sheexclaimed，withenthusiasm。"Thatbigonemustbeathree—pounder。Ienvyyou。Bassfishingisgreatsport。Didyougettheseonafly——thebass，Imean？"

"No。Iuseaflyinthespringandfall，butseldominJuneorJuly，here。Thoseweretakenwithlivebait—shrimp。Thepickerelwithminnows。Areyoufondoffishing，MissColton？"

"Yes，indeed。Whoa，Don！steady！Yes，IfishagooddealinSeptember，whenweareatourlodgeintheAdirondacks。Troutthere，principally。ButIhavecaughtbassinMaine。IthoughtI

mustgiveitupthisyear。Ididnotknowtherewerefish，infreshwater，ontheCape。"

"Thereare，afew。Thepeopleaboutherepaynoattentiontothem。

Theyscornsuchsmallfry。Codandpollockaremoreintheirline。"

"Isupposeso。Butthatisallthebetterforyou，isn’tit？WereyoufishingwhenIinterruptedyou？"

"No，Iwasjustgettingreadyforlunch。Myfirewasreadytokindle。"

"Fire？Whydidyouneedafire？"

"Formycoffee。"

"Coffee！Youarealuxuriouspicnicer，Mr。Paine。Hotcoffeeonafishingtrip！andwithoutaguide。Andyouareunfeeling，besides，foryouremindmethatIamveryhungry。Imustgoatonce。HowfaramIfromhome？Fourmiles，didyousay？"

"Fourandahalf，ormore，byroad。Andtheroadsarelikethoseyouhavebeentravelingthismorning。Idoubtifyoucouldfindtheway，evenwithyourhorse’shelp。ImustinsistupongoingwithyouasfarasthemainroadbetweenDenboroandBayport。"

"Ishallnotpermitit。"

"ButIinsist。"

Heranswerwasalittlelaugh。Sheputherfootinthestirrupandvaultedtothesaddle。

"Yourinsistingisuseless，yousee，"shesaid。"YouareonfootandIhavetheadvantage。No，DonandIwillgoalone，thankyou。

Now，willyoupleasetellmetheway？"

Ishruggedmyshoulders。"Gobackalongtheroadyoucame，"I

said，"untilyoureachthesecond，no，thethird，pathtotheright。Followthattothesecondontheleft。Thenfollowthatfortwohundredyardsorsountil——well，untilyoureachaclumpofbushes，highbushes。Behindtheseisanotherpath，ablindone，andyoumusttakecaretopicktherightclump，becausethereisanotheronewithapathbehinditandthatpathjoinstheroadtoHarniss。IfyoushouldtaketheHarnissroadyouwouldgomilesoutofyourway。TaketheblindpathIspeakofand——"

Sheinterruptedme。"Stop！stop！"sheexclaimed；"pleasedon’t。I

amabsolutelybewilderedalready。IhadnoideaIwasinsuchamaze。Letmesee！Secondtotheright；thirdtotheleft——"

"No，thirdtotherightandsecondtotheleft。"

"Andthenthebushesandthechoiceofblindpaths。Don，IseeplainlythatyouandImusttrusttoProvidence。Well，itisfortunatethatthefamilyareaccustomedtomyways。Theywon’tbealarmed，nomatterhowlateImaybe。"

"MissColton，Iamnotgoingtoallowyoutogoalone。OfcourseI

amnot。Icansetyouontherightroadandgetbackhereinplentyoftimeforfishing。Thefisharenothungryinthemiddleoftheday。"

"No，butyouare。Iknowyoumustbe，because——no，goodday，Mr。

Paine。"