第15章
Yetitmaybethatherpartintheconversationwasnotaltogetherwithoutapurpose。SheledmetospeakofDenboroanditspeople，ofhowtheylived，andoftheolddaysofsailingshipsanddeepseaskippers。GeorgeTaylor’snamewasmentionedandIpraisedhimhighly，tellingofhisrisefrompoorboytosuccessfulman，asweratedsuccesslocally。
"Hemanagesthatbankwell，"Ideclared。"Everyonesaysso。And，fromwhatIhaveseenofhismanagement，Iknowittobetrue。"
"Howdoyouknow？"sheasked。
"BecauseIhavehadsomeexperienceinbankingmyself。I——"
Istoppedshort。Mytonguewasrunningawaywithme。ShedidnotaskthequestionwhichIdreadedandexpected。Insteadshesaid，lookingdownatme：
"Youarealoyalfriend，aren’tyou，Mr。Paine。"
"IhavereasontobeloyaltoGeorge，"Ianswered，withfeeling。
"Areyouasloyaltoyourself？"
Ilookedupatherinsurprise。
"Whatdoyoumean？"Iasked。
"Ihavebeentryingtounderstandyou，Mr。Paine。Tryingtogettheanswertothepuzzle。InonewayIthinkIhaveit。I
understandyourattitudeintheLaneaffairandIthinkIknowwhyyoucametoDenboroandarestayinghere。"
Istoppedshort。"You——youknowTHAT？"Icried。
"IthinkIdo。Youbelievethatyourmotherneedsyouandyouwillnotleaveher。Thatisyourreasonforlivinghere，Ithink。But，inanotherway，Icannotunderstandyouatall。"
Shespoketothehorseandwemovedonagain。Iwaitedforhertocontinue，butshewassilent。
"How？Whatistheotherway！Thewayinwhichyoucannotunderstandme？"Iasked。
"ShallItellyou？Doyouwishmetobeperfectlyfrank？"
"Yes。"
"Icannotunderstandhowamansuchasyouseemtobe，young，educated，andwithlifebeforehim，canbecontenttodoasyoudo，spendyourtimeinfishing，orsailing，orshooting。Tohavenoambitionatall。Myfatherwasapoorcountryboy，likeyourfriend，Mr。Taylor，butheworkednightanddayuntilhebecamewhatheisnow。Andevennowheworks，andworkshard。Oh，Iamproudofhim！Notbecauseheiswhatheis，butbecausehehasdoneitallhimself。IfIwereamanIwouldhavesomepurposeinlife；IwoulddoSOMETHINGworthwhileifitwereonlytosellfishfromacart，likethatoldfellowwiththequeername——whatisit？——
Oh，yes！TheophilusNewcomb。"
Ididnotanswer。Shehadsaidallthatwasnecessary，andmore。
Itwasquiteenoughforme。
"There！"sheobserved，afteramoment。"YouaskedmetotellyouandIdid。IfyouneverspeaktomeagainitwillbeexactlywhatIdeserve。ButIthoughtitandsoIsaidit。Expressingmythoughtsisoneofmybadhabits……Oh，why，wearealmosthome，aren’twe！"
WehadcometotheedgeofthegroveborderingBeriahHolt’spasture。Thegrovewasonthewestsideofalittlehill。BeforeusthepastureslopedawaytoBeriah’shouseandbarn，withtheroadbeyondit。Andbeyondthat，inthedistance，werethesteeplesandroofsofDenboro。AmongthemthegablesandtoweroftheColtonmansionrose，conspicuousandcostly。
Sheturnedinthesaddle。"IpresumeImayleaveyounow，Mr。
Paine，"shesaid。"Evenyoumustadmitthattherestofthewayisplainsailing。Thankyouforyourhospitalityandforyourservicesasguide。Iwillsendthebasketandnetoverbyoneoftheservants。"
"Iwilltakethemnow，"Isaid，shortly。
"Verywell，ifyouprefer。Heretheyare。"
Itookthemfromher。
"Goodafternoon，"shesaid。"Andthanksoncemoreforaverypleasantpicnic。"
"Youarequitewelcome，I’msure。Thankyouforyourfrankopinionofmy——worthlessness。Itwaskindofyoutoexpressit。"
Thesarcasmwasnotlostuponher。
"Imeantitasakindness，"shereplied。
"Yes。Anditwastrueenough，probably。DoubtlessIshallderivegreatbenefitfromyour——wordsofwisdom。"
Herpatience，evidently，wasexhausted。Sheturnedaway。"Oh，that，"shesaid，indifferently，"isyouraffair。ItoldyouwhatI
believedtobethetruth，thatwasall。Whatyoudoisnotlikelytobeofvastimportancetome，onewayortheother。Come，Don！"
Doncantereddowntheslope。Iwatchedhimandhisriderdisappearbeyondthetreesinthedistance。ThenIpickedupmypailandotherburdensandfollowedintheirwake。Thesunwasbehindacloud。Ithadbeenastrangedaywithamiserableending。Iwasfuriouslyangrywithher，butIwasmoreangrywithmyself。ForwhatshehadtoldmeWASthetruth，andIknewit。
Istrodeon，headdown，throughthevillage。Peoplespoketome，askingwhatluckIhadhadandwhereIhadbeen，butIscarcelynoticedthem。AsIreachedtheCornersandwaspassingthebanksomeonecalledmyname。IglancedupandsawGeorgeTaylordescendingthesteps。
"Holdon，Ros，"hehailed。"Waitaminute。What’syourrush？
Holdon！"
Ihaltedreluctantly。
"Fishingagain，Isee，"heobserved，ashereachedmyside。"Anyluck？"
"Fair，"Itoldhim。
"Whatpond？"
"Seabury’s。"
"Goalone？"
"Yes。"ThatIhadnotbeenalonesincewasnobusinessofhis。
"Humph！Youain’texactlywhatafellow’dcalltalkativethisafternoon，seemstome。Anythingwrong？"
"No。"
"Tuckeredout？"
"Iguessso。"
"Well，soamI，butIain’thadyourfungettingthatway。SmallandIhavebeenatitnightanddaygettingthingsinshapesohecouldleave。He’sgone。Wentthisnoon。Andthatain’ttheworstofit；Ihaven’tgotanybodyyettotakehisplace。I’llhavetobecashierandbookkeepertooforaspell。There’sapplicantsenough；buttheydon’tsuit。Guesslikelyyou’llhavetohelpmeout，afterall，Ros。Thejobisyoursifyousaytheword。"
Helaughedashesaidit。Eventohimtheideaofmyworkingwasajoke。
Butthejokedidnotseemfunnytome，justthen。Iwalkedonforsomedistancewithoutaword。ThenIaskedaquestion。
"Whatisexpectedofamaninthatposition？"Iasked。
"Expected？Why，plainbankbookkeeping——notmuchelseatfirst。
Yetthere’sagoodchanceforalikelyfellowtobeconsiderablemore，intime。Ineedhelpinmypartofthework。That’swhyI
haven’thiredanyofthedozenorsowhoareaftertheplace。Whatmakesyouask？Youdon’tknowofagoodmanforme，doyou，Ros？"
"Whendoyouwanthimtobegin？"
"To—morrowmorning，ifhesatisfiesme。"
"WouldIsatisfyyou？"
"You！Humph！Trymeandsee，that’sallI’dask。"
"Allright。I’llbeonhandinthemorning。"
Hestopped，lookedatme，andthenseizedmebythearm。
"Seehere！"hecried，"I’mlostinthefog，Iguesslikely。Whatdoyoumeanbythat？Isittimetolaugh——orwhat？"
"Itmaybe；Idon’tknow。ButItakethebookkeeper’spositioninyourbank。Now，good—by。Don’ttalktome。Idon’tfeelliketalking。"
"But——but，Ros。"
"Good—by。"
Iwalkedon。Ihadtakenbutafewstepswhenheovertookme。
"Ros，"hesaid，"Iain’tgoingtosaybutjustonething。IfyoumeantwhatyousaidI’mthemosttickledmanontheCape。Butyouain’taskedawordaboutthesalary。"
"Iknowit。Ihaven’taskedbecauseIdon’tcare。I’llbeonhandinthemorning。"
Ilefthimstandingthere，andhurrieddowntheLowerRoad。AsI
hadsaidtohim，Ididnotfeelliketalking。Ididnotwanteventoseeanyone。Iwantedtobeletalone。ButitwasfatedthatI
shouldnotbe，notyet。SimEldredgewaswaitingformearoundthecorner。Hesteppedoutfrombehindthefencewherehehadbeenhidden。
"Ros！"hewhispered。"RosPaine！Wait。It’sme，Sim。Iwanttoaskyousomethin’。Wan’tthatGeorgeTayloryouwasspeakin’tojustnow？"
"Yes，"Ianswered，impatiently。"Whatofit？"
"Say，Ros，youandmeain’tpulledthatColtontradeoff，butitain’tmyfault。Youain’tgotnohardfeelin’sagainstme，Iknow。
AndIwantyoutodoalittlemiteoffavorforme。Willyou？"
"Whatisit？IfithasanythingtodowiththeLane，Itellyounowthat——"
"Itain’t——itain’t。It’saboutthatbookkeepin’jobinthebank，HenrySmall’splace，theonehe’sjustquit。I’vegotathirdcousin，nameofJosiahBadger，overtoSouthHarniss。He’sasmartyoungchap，andanA—1accountantatfiggers。He’sbeenkeepin’
booksdownatthefishwharf——see？Now，he’dlikethatjoband，bein’asyouandGeorgearesothick，Ical’latedmaybeyou’dsortofuseyourinfluencealongofGeorge，and——andgetitforhim。
Thereain’tnothin’initforme——thatis，nothin’much。ButI
feelfriendlytowardJosiahandyouknowIliketodolittlekindnessesforfolks。So——"
"There！there！"Iinterrupted。"It’snouse，Sim。Ican’thelpyou。"
"Why！yesyoucan。"
"No，Ican’t。Idon’tknowyourcousin，andbesides——well，youaretoolate。Theplaceisfilled。"
Sim’sexpressionchanged。Helookedsurprisedandcrestfallen。
"Filled？"heexclaimed。"Why，no，’tain’t！If’twasI’dhaveknownit，wouldn’tI？Who’dyouhearhadgotit？Whoeveryouheard，’tain’tso。"
"Yes，itis。"
"Howdoyouknow？Whoisit，then？"
Ihesitated。BeforenoonofthenextdayeverysoulinDenborowouldhaveheardthenews。Eldredgemightaswellhearitnow。
"I’vetakentheplacemyself，"Isaid。
"You？"Simactuallyforgottowhisper；heshoutedtheword。"YOU！
Ha！ha！ha！Ros，quityourfoolin’。"
"I’mnotfooling。Igotoworkinthebankto—morrowmorning。"
"But——Oh，mysoul！You！Aw，Iknowbetter！Say，Ros，don’tlet’swastetimelikethis。Fun’sallright，but……MyheavenstoBetsy！YOUworkforalivin’！IfIbelievedthatI’dbelieveanything。Tellme，now。Whohasgotthatjob？……Whydon’tyouanswerme？"
Iansweredhim。"Shutup！"Isaid，fiercely。ThenIvaultedthefenceandsetoutforhomeacrosslots。
IheardthenextdaythatSimwentbacktothepost—officeandinformedthegatheringtherethatRosPainehadtakentodrinking。
"Hewastightasabiledowl，"declaredSim；"andugly——don’ttalk！
WantedtofightmebecauseIwouldn’tbelievehewasgoin’towork。
Him！Whatintheeverlastin’wouldHEwanttoworkfor？MyheavenstoBetsy！"
CHAPTERXIII
IthinkTaylorwasalmostassurprisedasEldredgehadbeen，when，athalf—pasteightthefollowingmorning，Iappearedatthebank。
Hewasalreadyathisdeskand，whenhelookedupandsawme，hewhistled。
"Whew！"heexclaimed。"So。Ididn’tdreamit，afterall。You’rehere，ain’tyou。"
"Iamhere，"Ianswered，openingthegateandsteppinginbehindtherail。
"Goingtotakeitbackandsayyouneversaidit？"
"No。"
"Cometogotowork？Really？"
"Thatismyintention，unlessyouhavechangedyourmind。"
"Notme。Itain’tlikely。But，Ros，I——sitdownaminuteandlet’stalk。Whatareyoudoingthisfor？"
ItwasaquestionIhadbeenaskingmyselfatintervalsduringarestlessnight。NowIgavetheonlytruthfulanswer。
"Idon’tknow，"Isaid。
"Youdon’tknow！"
"No。AndIdon’tseemtocare。Supposewedon’ttalkaboutit。I
amhere，andIamreadytobeginwork。That’senough，isn’tit？"
"Why，no；notquite。You’renotdoingitjusttohelpmeout？"
"No。"
"Youdon’tneedtowork。You’vegotmoneyenough。"
"No，Ihaven’t。Butmoneyisn’tmyreason。Ihaven’tanyreason。
Nowshowmethebooks，willyou？"
"Don’tbeinahurry。Whatdoesyourmotherthinkaboutit？"
"Ihaven’ttoldheryet。TimeenoughforthatwhenIknowthatI
reallymeanitandyouknowthatIamcompetenttofilltheposition。George，ifyoukeeponcross—examiningmeIamlikelytoquitbeforeIbegin。Idon’tknowwhyIamdoingthis，butjustnowIthinkIamgoingtodoitifIcan。However，Iamnotsure。
Soyouhadbetterbecareful。"
"Humph！Whatdidyoucatchupatthatpondyesterday？Ineversawaday’sfishingmakesuchadifferenceinamaninmylife……
Allright，Ros。Allright。Iwon’tpesteryou。Toogladtohaveyouhereforthat。Nowaboutthesalary。"
"Beforewespeakofthatthereisonemorepoint。Howaboutyourdirectors？Deanandtherest？Dotheyknowyouofferedmetheposition？"
"Surething！Theyputthewholeaffairinmyhands。They’llbesatisfied。AndasforCap’nJed——why，hewastheonethatsuggestedhiringyouinthefirstplace。"
"CaptainJed！CaptainJedDean！HEsuggestedit？"
"Yup。Inaway，hedid。Youmaynotknowit，Ros，butyou’vemadeagooddealofahitwiththeoldman。Heain’tbeenusedtohavinganybodystanduptohimasyouhave。AsageneralthingDenborojumpswhenhesnapsthewhip。Youdidn’t，andhecouldn’tunderstandwhy。Heisthekindthatrespectsanythingtheycan’tunderstand。Then，too，Nellielikesyou，andshe’shisidol，youknow。Ahhum！"
Hesighedand，foramoment，seemedtoforgetmealtogether。I
remindedhimbyanotherquestion。
"Butwhyshouldthecaptainthinkofmeforthisplace？"Iasked。
"WhyshouldhedreamthatIwouldtakeit？Igaveyounoencouragement。"
"Idon’tknowashediddreamit。ButheandIwerespeakingofyouandhesaidhe’dliketodosomethingtoshowyouwhatthetownthoughtofyourholdingoutagainstColton。Thattickledhimdowntothekeel。Isaidyou’dbeafirst—classhelpertomeinthisbank，thatIheardyouknewsomethingaboutbanking——"
"George！"
"It’sallright。IonlymentionedthatIheardrumorsthatyouwereinacitybanksomewhereatonetime。Hedidn’taskanymoreandIshouldn’thavetoldhimifhehad。Buttheideapleasedhim，Icouldseethat。’Whydon’tyoutrytogethim？’sayshe。’Maybethedaysofmiraclesain’tpast。Perhapsevenhe’dcondescendtowork，iftherightjobcamehisway。’"
"Sothat’swhatyoucallhissuggestingme，doyou？Humph！"
"Well，Itoldhimaboutitlastnight，whenIwasuptoseeNellie，andhewaspleasedasPunch。Surprised，ofcourse，butpleased。
He’spracticallythewholeboard，asfarassettlingthingsisconcerned，soitisallright。Heain’ttheworstfriendyou’vegot，byalongshot。"
IimaginedthatIunderstoodwhatCaptainJed’s"friendship"meant。
MyacceptingthebankpositionwasonemorebondbindingmetohissideintheShoreLanebattle。And，solongasIwasunderTaylor’seyeandhisown，IcouldnotbesubjecttotheColtoninfluence。
GeorgeandIdiscussedthequestionofsalary，ifhisofferandmypromptacceptancemightbecalledadiscussion。Thepaywasnotlargetobeginwith，butitwasmorethanIhadarighttoexpect。
AndIwasperfectlyhonestwhenIsaidthatmoneywasnottheconsiderationwhichledmetomakethesuddenchangeinmyhabitoflife。Iwassickofidleness；Ihadlongedforsomethingtooccupymylifeandtime；Imightaswellbedoingthisasanything；
Taylor’sofferhadappealedtomewhenhefirstmadeit；theseweretheexcusesIevolvedformyownsatisfactionandItriedtobelievethemreal。ButonereasonIwouldnotadmit，eveninmythoughts，asapossibility。Itwasnotthatgirl，oranythingshehadsaid，whichinfluencedme。No！overandoveragain——no。
SamWheeler，theyoungfellowwhoactedasassistantbookkeeperandmessenger，camein，andTaylor，aftershowingmethebooksandgivingmeafewhintsastowhatmydutieswouldbe，turnedmeovertohimforfurtherinstruction。IfoundIneededbutlittle。Thepages，withtheirrowsoffigures，seemedlikeoldfriends。I
almostenjoyedporingoverthem。WasitpossiblethatIwasgoingtolikethisnewventureofmine？
BeforenoonIwasfairlycertainofit。Theworkinacountrybankisdifferentfromthatinthelargecityinstitutions，inthatitisbynomeansasspecialized。Ifoundthat，lateron，Ishouldbeexpectedtocombinetheworkoftellerwiththatofbookkeeper。
Andthis，too，seemednatural。IworkedassteadilyasIcould，consideringinterruptions，andtheforenoonwasoveralmostbeforeIknewit。
Theinterruptions，however，werenumerousandannoying；someofthem，too，wereamusing。Depositorscame，sawmebehindthebarsofthewindow，and，afterexpressingtheirastonishment，demandedtoknowwhatIwasdoingthere。IfIhadansweredallthequestionsputtomebythecuriousDenboroitesIshouldhavefoundtimeforlittleelse。ButTaylorhelpedmebyshooingthecuriousonesaway。"Don’tbotherthenewhand，"hesaid。"Ifyouwanttoknowparticularsaskme。AnythingIdon’ttellyouyoucanreadinnextweek’sItem。Thisisabank，notaquestionbox。"
CaptainElishaWarrencameinandwasassurprisedastherest。
Afteraninterviewwiththecashierhereturnedtomywindowandrequestedmetoopenup。WhenIdidsohereachedinabighandandseizedmine。
"Shake，Ros，"hesaid，heartily。"I’mgladforthebankandI’mgladderstillforyou。Comehardatfust，doesit？"
"Alittle，"Iconfessed。"NotashardasIexpected，though。"
"Fustdayortwooutofportisalwaysthetoughest。You’llgetyoursealegsonprettysoon。Thenyou’llbegladyoushipped，I
cal’late。"
"Ihopeso，"Ianswered，ratherdubiously。
"Iknowyouwill。There’snothin’sotiresomeasdoin’nothin’。I
know，becausethat’sbeenmyjobforquiteaspell。SeemssometimesasifI’dhaveafit，Igetsosickofloafin’。"
Hisideaofa"loaf"wasrisingatsixandweedinghisgarden，superintendingthelaboronhiscranberryswampsorabouthisbarnsandgrounds，attendingbankandSelectmen’smeetings，andgenerallykeepingbusyuntilsunset。
"ItellAbbie，myhousekeeper，"hecontinued，"thatif’twan’tformyageIbelieveI’dgotoseaagainjusttokeepfromfallin’
apartwithdryrot。Iaskedherifshe’dnoticedhowmytimberscreaked，andshesaidIdidn’tkeepstilllongenoughforhertonoticeanything。Ho！ho！Nothin’makeshermoreprovokedthanformetomentiongettin’oldorgoin’tosea。Allthesame，Ienvyyouyouryouth，Ros。You’vegotyourlifeaforeyou，andI’mgladtoseethatyou’regoin’tomakesomethin’ofit。Ialwayssaidyou’dwakeupifsomebodygiveyouapunch。Whopunchedyou，Ros？"
Myreplywasnon—committal。
"Bettermindmyownbusiness，hadn’tI，"heobserved。"Allright，Iwill。Nooffensemeant，youunderstand。But，yousee，I’veneverbelievedthatworkwasthecussofmankind，likesomefolks，andnomatterhowmuchmoneyayoungfeller’sgotIthinkhe’sbetteroffdoin’somethin’。That’sthegospelaccordin’toElisha。
Well，goodluckandapleasantv’yage。Seeyouagainsoon。Say，"
turningback，"keepaneyeonGeorge，willyou？Folksinlovearel’bletobeabsent—minded，theytellme，andIshouldnotwanthimtobeabsentwithanyofmymoney。Hearthat，doyou，George？"
Taylor，whowasstandingnear，laughedandwalkedaway。AmomentlaterIsawhimlookingoutofthewindowwiththesamestrangeexpressiononhisfacewhichIhadnoticedseveraltimesbeforewhenhisapproachingmarriagewashintedat。Somethingwastroublinghim，thatwasplain。HelovedNelliedevotedly，Iknew；
yetheobviouslydidnotliketohearthemarriagementioned。
SimEldredgewasoneofthefirstvisitorstothebank，buthisvisitwasashortone。Heenteredthedoor，walkedstraighttotheteller’swindowandpeeredthroughthebars。Iheardhimcatchhisbreath。
"Goodmorning，Sim，"saidI。"WhatcanIdoforyou？"
"Do？"herepeated。"Doforme？Nothin’——nothin’，’special。You——
youmeantit，then？"
"ItoldyouIdid。"
"Mysoul！"wasalltheanswerhemade。Thenheturnedandwalkedout。
Atabouteleveno’clockIwashalf—waythroughtheadditionofacolumnoffigureswhenIheardsomeonesay，"Well，bytime！"withsuchanguishedfervorthatitwasalmostlikeaprayerforhelp。I
lookedup。LuteRogerswasstaringinatme，open—mouthedandhorror—stricken。
"Hello，Lute！"Isaid。
Luteswallowedhard。
"Theytoldme’twasso，"hestammered。"Theysaidsoand——andI
laughedat’em。Ros，youain’t，beyou？"
"What？"
"Goin’tostayinthereand——andtakeHenry’sjob？"
"Yes。"
"Yoube！Andyouneversaidnothin’tonobody？ToDorinda？OrevenComfort？"
"No；notyet。"
"Nortome。ToME，bytime！Youletthemfellersatthestoremakeafoolofme——"
"Noonecoulddothat，Lute。Ihavetoldyousooften。"
"AndyouletthemknowitaforeIdid。Andmelivin’rightinthehousewithyou！Bytime！I——I——"
"There，there，Lute！don’tcry。I’lltellyouallaboutitwhenI
comehomefordinner。"
"Yes，Ishouldthinkyoumightdothatmuch。Treatin’yourownfamilylike——whydidyoutellSimEldredge？"
"SimaskedmeandsoItoldhim，thatwasall。Don’tstandtherefidgeting。Runalonghome，there’sagoodfellow。Mr。Taylorhashiseyeonyoualready。"
Luteglancedapprehensivelytowardthecashier’sdeskandturnedtogo。
"Well！"heexclaimed，"I’vesaidyouwascrazymore’nonce，that’ssomesatisfaction。Say！canItell’emtohome？"
Ihesitated。"YoumaytellDorindaifyoulike，"Ianswered。"ButIprefertotellMother，myself。"
GeorgerosefromhisdeskjustthenandLutehurriedtothedoor。
Ismiled。Iimaginedhisarrivalinourkitchenandhowhewouldexplodethesensationalnewsuponhisunsuspectingwife。
ButIwasnotaltogethercalm，thoughIdidmybesttoappearso，whenIenteredthatkitchenataquarterpasttwelve。Lutewasseatedinachairbythewindow，evidentlywatchingandwaiting。
HesprangupasIentered。
"Setdown，"orderedDorinda，whowastakingaclampiefromtheoven。ShemerelynoddedwhenIcamein。Dorindaoftenspokeinmeetingagainst"sinfulpride"；yetshehadhershareofpride，sinfulornot。Shewouldnotaskquestionsordeigntoappearexcited，notshe。
"ButDorinda，"criedherhusband，"it’sRos。Don’tyousee？"
"Yousetdown，LuteRogers。Well，"turningtome，"dinner’sready，ifyouare。"
"Ishallbeinafewminutes，"Ianswered。"IwanttoseeMotherfirst。"
BreakingthenewstoMotherwasadutywhichIdreaded。Butitturnedouttobenotdreadfulatall。Motherwassurprised，ofcourse，butshedidnotofferasingleobjection。Herprincipalfeelingseemedtobecuriosityastomyreasonsforthesuddenchange。
"Ofcourse，Roscoe，ifyouarehappierIshallbe，too，"shesaid。
"Iknowitmusthavebeenverydullforyouhere。Myconsciencehastroubledmenotalittlealltheseyears。Irealizethataman，ayoungmanlikeyou，needsaninterestinlife；hewantssomethingmorethanthecareandcompanionshipofauselesscreaturelikeme。"