第9章

"Andsoyoujustupandasked！"sheteased。

"IbegyourpardonifIwasrude，"hesaidhumbly。

Thelaughterdiedslowlyfromhereyes。

"Don’t，"shesaid。"Itwouldbeaskingpardonforbeingyourself。

Youwantedtoknow：soyouasked。AndI’mgoingtoanswer。Ishallbeverygladtocorrespondwithyouandtellyouaboutmysortofthings，ifyouhappentobeinterestedinthem。Iwarnyou：theyarenotveryexciting。"

"Theyareyours，"saidhe。

Shehalfrosetobowinmockgraciousness，caughtherself，andsankback。

"No，Iwon’t，"shesaid，morethanhalftoherself。Shesatbroodingforamoment；thensuddenlyhermoodchanged。Shesprangup，shookherskirtsfree，andseatedherselfatthepiano。ToOrde，whohadalsoarisen，shemadeaquaintgrimaceoverhershoulder。

"Admireyourhandiwork！"shetoldhim。"Youarerapidlybringingmeto’tellthetruthandshamethedevil。’Oh，hemustbedyingofmortificationthisevening！"Shestruckagreatcrashingchord，holdingthekeyswhilethestringsreverberatedandechoeddownslowlyintosilenceagain。"Itisn’tfair，"shewenton，"foryoubigsimplementodisarmus。Idon’tcare！Ihavemyprivateopinionofsuchbrutestrength。JEMEMOQUE！"

Shewrinkledhernoseandnarrowedhereyes。Thenruthlesslyshedrownedhisreplyinatorrentofmusic。Likemadsheplayed，rockingherslenderbodybackandforthalongthekey—board；holdingrigidherfingers，herhands，andthemusclesofherarms。Thebassnotesroaredliketherumblingofthunder；thetrebleflashedlikethedartoflightnings。Abruptlyshemutedtheinstrument。Silencefellassomethingthathadbeenpentandsuddenlyreleased。Shearosefromthepianostoolquitenaturally，bothhandsatherhair。

"Aren’tMr。andMrs。Hubbarddearoldpeople？"saidshe。

"WhatisyouraddressinNewYork？"demandedOrde。Shesankintoachairnearbywithaprettyupliftedgestureofdespair。

"Isurrender！"shecried，andthenshelaugheduntilthetearsstartedfromhereyesandshehadtobrushthemawaywithwhatseemedtoOrdeanabsurdaffairtocallahandkerchief。"Oh，youaredelicious！"shesaidatlast。"Well，listen。Iliveat12WestNinthStreet。Canyourememberthat？"Ordenodded。"Andnowanyotherquestionstheprisonercanreplytowithoutincriminatingherself，sheiswillingtoanswer。"Shefoldedherhandsdemurelyinherlap。

TwodayslaterOrdesawthetraincarryheraway。Hewatchedtherearcardisappearbetweenthedownwardslopesoftwohills，andthenfinallythelastsmokefromthelocomotivedissipateintheclearblue。

DecliningJane’skindlymeantofferofalift，hewalkedbacktotown。

XV

Thenewfirmplungedbusilyintoitsmorepressingactivities。Orshovels，axes，andscraperswerecuttingoutandlevellingaroadwhichwould，whenfinished，meetthecountyroadtotown。Thenumerousbayousofgreatmarshwerecrossedby"float—bridges，"lyingflatonthesurfaceofthewater，whichspurtedupinrhythmicallittlejetsundertheimpactofhoofs。Downstreameightmiles，belowthemills，andjustbeyondwherethedrawbridgecrossedovertoMonrovia，DuncanMcLeod’sshipyardsclippedandsawed，andsteamedandbentandboltedawayattwotugboats，themachineryforwhichwasalreadybeingstowedintheholdofavessellyingatwharfinChicago。Inthestoreroomsofhardwarefirmsporterscarriedandclerkscheckedoffchains，strapiron，bolts，spikes，staples，bandiron，bariron，peavies，cant—hooks，pike—poles，sledge—hammers，blocks，ropes，andcables。

Thesethingstooktimeandattentiontodetails；alsoacarefulsupervision。Thespringincreased，burstintoleafandbloom，andsettledintosummer。Ordewasconstantlyonthemove。Assoonaslowwatercamewithmidsummer，however，hearrangedmatterstorunthemselvesasfaraspossible，leftwithNewmarkminuteinstructionsastopersonalsupervision，andhimselfdepartedtoRedding。HerehejoinedacrewwhichTomNorthhadalreadycollected，andbetookhimselftotheheadoftheriver。

Heknewexactlywhatheintendedtodo。Farbackonthehead—watershebuiltadam。Theconstructionofitwascrude，consistingmerelyoflogcribsfilledwithstoneanddebrisplacedatintervalsacrossthebedofthestream，againstwhichslantedlogsmadeaface。Thegateoperatedsimply，andcouldberaisedtoletlooseanentireflood。Andindeedthiswasthewholepurposeofthedam。Itcreatedareservoirfromwhichcouldbefreednewsuppliesofwatertoekeoutthedroppingspringfreshets。

Havingaccomplishedthisformidablelabour——forthetreeshadtobecutandhauled，thestonecarted，andtheearthshovelled——thecrewnextmoveddownagoodtenmilestowheretheriverdroppedoverarapidsroughandfullofboulders。Herewerebuiltandplacedarowofstone—filledlogcribsinadoublerowdownstreamtodefinethechannelandtoholdthedriveinitandawayfromtheshallowsneareitherbank。Theprofileofthesecribswasthatofaright—angledtriangle，theslantingsideupstream。Boomschainedbetweenthemhelpeddeflectthedrivefromtheshoals。Theirmoreimportantoffice，however，wastogivefootingtothedrivers。

Fortwenty—fivemilesthennothingofimportancewasundertaken。

Twoorthreeparticularlybadbouldersweresplitoutbytheexplosionofpowdercharges；anumberofsnagsandoldtreeswerecutawayanddisposedof；thechannelwascarefullyexaminedforobstructionsofanykindwhatever。Thenthepartycametothefalls。

HereOrdepurposedhismostelaboratebitofroughengineering。Thefallswereonlyaboutfifteenfeethigh，buttheyfellstraightdowntoabedofsheerrock。Thishadbeeneatenbytheeddiesintopot—

holesandcranniesuntilajaggedirregularscoop—hollowhadformedimmediatelyunderneaththefall。Naturallythisimpliedaledgebelow。

Infloodtimethewaterboiledandroaredthroughthisobstructioninatorrent。Thesawlogs，caughtintherush，plungedendonintothescoop—hollow，hitwithacrash，andwerespewedoutbelowmoreorlessbattered，barked，andstripped。Sometimes，however，whenthechanceofthedrivebroughtdownahundredlogstogether，theyfailedtoshootoverthebarrieroftheledge。Thenfollowedajam，abadjam，difficultanddangeroustobreak。Thefallshadtakenherusuriousshareofthelivestheriverannuallydemandsashertoll。

ThisconditionofaffairsOrdehaddetermined，ifpossible，toobviate。Fromthethirty—fiveorfortymilesofriverthatlayabove，andfromitstributarieswouldcomethebulkofthewhiteandNorwaypineforyearstofollow。AtleasttwothirdsofeachdriveOrdefiguredwouldcomefromabovethefall。

"If，"saidhetoNorth，"wecouldcarryanaprononaslantfromjustunderthecrestandoverthepot—holes，itwouldshootboththewaterandthelogsoffabetterangle。"

"Sure，"agreedNorth，"butyou’llhavefunplacingyourapronwithallthatwaterrunningthrough。Why，itwoulddrownus！"

"I’vegotanotiononthat，"saidOrde。"Firstthingistogetthematerialtogether。"

Ahardwoodforesttoppedtheslope。Intothiswenttheaxe—men。

Thestraightesttreestheyfelled，trimmed，anddragged，downtravoytrailstheyconstructed，onsledstheybuiltforthepurpose，tothebanksoftheriver。Heretheyboredthetwoholesthrougheitherendtoreceivetheboltswhenlatertheyshouldbelockedtogethersidebysideintheirpawhorsesandpiledthemalsoforapossiblefutureuse；blockedthetemporarychannelwithatreeorso——andearth。Theriver，restoredtoitsimmemorialchannelbythesemenwhohadsononchalantlyturneditaside，roaredon，singingagainthesongithaduntilnowsunguninterruptedlyforcenturies。Ordeandhiscrewtrampedbacktothefalls，andgazedontheirhandiworkwithsatisfaction。Insteadofplungingoveranedgeintoaturmoiloffoamandeddies，nowthewaterflowedsmoothly，almostwithoutabreak，overaninclineofthirtydegrees。

"Logs’llslipoverthatslickasagunbarrel，"saidTomNorth。

"Howlongdoyouthinkshe’lllast？"

"Haven’tanidea，"repliedOrde。"Wemayhavetodoitagainnextsummer，butIdon’tthinkit。There’snothingbutthesmoothofthewatertowearthoselogsuntiltheybegintorot。"

Quitecheerfulllaces。Asfastastheywereprepared，menwithcant—hooksrolledthemdowntheslopetoaflatbelowthefalls。Theydidthesethingsswiftlyandwell，becausetheywerepartofthepractisedday’swork，buttheyshooktheirheadsatthefalls。

Afterthetreeshadbeencutinsufficientnumber——therewereseventy—fiveofthem，eachtwenty—sixfeetlong——Ordeledthewaybackupstreamahalfmiletoashallows，wherehecommandedtheconstructionofanumberofexaggeratedsawhorseswithverywidespreadslantinglegs。Inthemeantimethecook—wagonandthebed—wagonhadevidentlybeenmakingmanytripstoSandCreek，fifteenmilesaway，aswasattestedbyalargepileofheavyplanks。

Whenthesawhorseswerecompleted，Ordedirectedthepicksandshovelstobebroughtup。

Atthispointtheriver，ashasbeenhinted，widenedovershoals。

Thebanksateitherhand，too，wereflatandcomparativelylow。Asisoftenthecaseinbendsofriverssubjecttoannualfloods，thebanksslopedbackforsomedistanceintoalowerblack—ashswampterritory。

Ordesethismentodiggingachannelthroughthisbank。Itwasnoslightjob，fromonepointofview，astheslopedownintotheswampbeganonlyatapointfortyorfiftyfeetinland；butontheotherhandtheearthwassoftandfreefromrocks。Whencompletedthechannelgavepassagetoaratherfeeblestreamletfromtheouterfringeoftheriver。Themenwerepuzzled，butOrde，bythestrangefreakofhisotherwisefrankandopennature，asusualtoldnothingofhisplans，eventoTomNorth。

"Hecan’texpecttoturnthatriver，"saidTimNolan，whowasoncemorewiththecrew。"He’dhavetodigalongwaysbelowthatleveltocatchthemaincurrent——andthensome。"

"Lethimalone，"advisedNorth，puffingathisshortpipe。"He’swiserthanatreefullofowls。"

NextOrdeassignedtwomentoeachofthequeer—shapedsawhorses，andinstructedthemtoplacethehorsesinarowacrosstheshallowestpartoftheriver，andbroadsidetothestream。Thiswasdone。Themen，half—waytotheirkneesintheswiftwater，boredownheavilytokeeptheirchargesinplace。Othermenimmediatelybegantolaytheheavyplankssidebyside，perpendiculartoandontheup—streamsideofthehorses。Theweightofthewaterclampedtheminplace；bigrocksandgravelshovelledoninquantitypreventedthelowerendsfromrising；thewideslantofthelegsdirectedthepressuresofardownwardthatthehorseswerepreventedfromfloatingaway。Andslowlythebulkofthewater，thusraisedagoodthreefeetaboveitsformerlevel，turnedasideintothenewchannelandpouredouttoinundatetheblack—ashswampbeyond。

Agoodvolumestillpouredoverthetopofthetemporarydamanddowntothefall；butitwasbythisexpedientsofarreducedthatworkbecamepossible。

"Now，boys！"criedOrde。"Lively，whilewe’vegotthechance！"

Bymeansofblocksandtacklesandtheteamhorsesthetwenty—six—

footlogswereplacedsidebyside，slantingfromapointtwofeetbelowtherimofthefalltotheledgebelow。Theywereboltedtogethertopandbottomthroughthefourholesboredforthatpurpose。Thiswasaconfusingandwetbusiness。Sufficientwaterstillflowedinthenaturalchanneloftherivertodashinsprayovertheentirework。Mentoiled，wettotheskin，theirgarmentsclingingtothem，theireyesfullofwater，barelyabletobreathe，yetgropingdoggedlyatit，andarrivingatlast。Theweatherwaswarmwiththemidsummer。Theymadeajokeofthedifficulty，andfoundinexhaustiblehumourinthefactthatoneoftheirnumberwasanImmersionBaptist。Whenthetaskwasfinished，theypriedtheflash—boardsfromtheimproviseddam；piledthemneatlybeyondreachofhighwater；rescuedthesytheytookuptheirlong，painstakingjourneybackdowntheriver。

Traveldowntheriverwasattimesverypleasant，andattimesverydisagreeable。Thegroundhadnowhardenedsothatawaniganboatwasunnecessary。Instead，thecampoutfitwastransportedinwaggons，whichoftenhadtojourneyfarinland，tomakeextraordinarydetours，butwhichalwaysarrivedsomehowatthevariouscampingplaces。Ordeandhismen，ofcourse，tooktherivertrail。

Therivertrailranalmostunbrokenforoverahundredmilesofmeanderingway。Itclimbedupthehighbanksatthepoints，itcrossedthebluffsalongtheirsheeredges，itdescendedtothethicketsintheflats，itcrossedtheswampsonpole—trails，itskirtedthegreat，solemnwoods。Sometimes，inthelowerreaches，itscontinuitywasbrokenbyatown，butalwaysafteritrecoveredfromitsconfusionitledonwithpurposeunvarying。Neverdiditdesertforlongtheriver。Thecool，greenstillreaches，orthetumblingofthewhite—water，werealwayswithinitssight，sometimesbeneathitsverytread。Whenoccasionallyitcutinacrossaverylongbend，italwayssentfromitselfalittletributarytrailwhichtracedallthecurves，andreturnedatlasttoitsparent，undoubtedlywithafullreportofitstask。Andthetrailwasbeatenhardbythefeetofcountlessmen，who，likeOrdeandhiscrew，hadtakengrave，interestedchargeoftheriverfromherbirthtoherfinalrestinthegreatexpansesoftheLake。Itisthereto—day，althoughthelifethatbroughtitintobeinghasbeengonefromitthesemanyyears。

InmidsummerOrdefoundtherivertrailmostunfamiliarinappearance。Hardlydidherecogniseitinsomeplaces。Itpossessedawide，leisurelyexpansiveness，anindolentluxury，alazyinvitationbornofbroadgreenleaves，deepandmysteriousshadows，thegrowthofferns，docks，andthelikecoolintheshadeoftheforest，theshimmerofaspensandpoplarsthroughtheheat，thegreenoftanglingvines，thedroneofinsects，thelow—voicedcallofbirds，theopulentsplashingofsun—goldthroughthewoods，quitelackingtothehard，tightseasoninwhichhisriverworkwasusuallyperformed。What，intheearlyyear，hadbeenmerelyawhipofbrush，nowhadbecomeascreenthroughwhosewaving，shiftingintersticeshecaughtglimpsesoftheriverflowinggreenandcool。

Whathadbeenbaretimberamongstwhosetwigsandbranchesthefulldaylighthadshoneunobstructed，nowhadclotheditselfinfoliageandleanedovertomakeblackandmysteriousthewaterthatflowedbeneath。Countlessinsectshoveredoverthepolishedsurfaceofthatwater。Dragon—fliescruisedabout。Littlebirdsswoopedsilentlydownandflutteredback，intentontheirtinyprey。Water—

bugsskatedhitherandthitherinapparentlypurposelessdiagonals。

Onceinagreatwhiletheblackdepthswerestirred。Abassrolledlazilyover，carryingwithhimhiscapturedinsect，leavingonthesurfaceofthewaterconcentricringswhichwidenedanddiedaway。

Thetrailledthecrewthroughmanyminorlabours，allofwhichconsumedtime。AtReed’sMillOrdeenteredintodiplomaticnegotiationswithOldManReed，whomhefoundsingularlyamenable。

Theskirmishinthespringseemedtohavetakenallthefightoutofhim；orperhaps，moresimply，Orde’sattitudetowardhimatthattimehadwonhimovertotheyoungman’sside。Atanyrate，assoonasheunderstoodthatOrdewasnowinbusinessforhimself，hereadilycametoanagreement。ThereuponOrde’screwbuiltanewsluicewayandgatefarenoughdowntoassureagoodheadinthepondabove。Otherdamownersfartherdownthestreamalsosignedagreementshavingtodowithsupplyingwateroverandabovewhatthelawrequiredofthem。AboveoneparticularlyshallowrapidOrdebuiltadamofhisown。

Allthistooktime，andthesummermonthsslippedaway。Ordehadfallenintothewildlifeasintoahabit。Helivedontheriverorthetrail。Hisfacetookonaruddierhuethanever；hisclothesfadedtoanondescriptneutralcolouroftheirown；hishairbelowhisnarrowfelthatbleachedthreeshades。Hedidhiswork，andfiguredonhisschemes，andsmokedhispipe，andoccasionallytooklittletripstothenearesttown，wherehespentthedayatthehoteldesksreadingandansweringhisletters。Theweatherwasgenerallyverywarm。Thunder—stormswerenotinfrequent。UntilthelatterpartofAugust，mosquitoesandblackflieswerebad。

AboutthemiddleofSeptemberthecrewhadworkeddownasfarasRedding，leavingbehindthemarivertamed，groomed，andharnessedfortheiruses。RemainedstillthefortymilesbetweenReddingandtheLaketobeimproved。As，however，navigationforlightdraughtvesselsextendedasfarasthatcity，Ordeherepaidoffhismen。A

fewdays’workwithapiledriverwouldfencetheprincipalshoalsfromthechannel。

Hestayedovernightwithhisparents，andatoncetookthetrainforMonrovia。Therehemadehiswayimmediatelytothelittleofficethenewfirmhadrented。Newmarkhadjustcomedown。

"Hullo，Joe，"greetedOrde，histeethflashingincontrasttothetanofhisface。"I’mdone。Anythingnewsinceyouwrotelast？"

Newmarkhadacquiredhisarticlesofincorporationandsoldhisstock。Howmanyexcursions，demonstrations，representations，andargumentsthatimplied，onlyonewhohasundertakenthefloatingofanewanduntriedschemecanimagine。PerhapshistaskhadinitasmuchofdifficultyasOrde’stamingoftheriver。Certainlyhecarriedittoassuccessfulaconclusion。Thebulkofthestockhesoldtothelog—ownersthemselves；theresthescatteredhereandthereandeverywhereinsmalllots，ashewasable。SomefivehundredandthousanddollarblocksevenwenttoChicago。HisownlittlefortuneoftwentythousandhepaidinforthesharesthatrepresentedhishalfofthemajorityretainedbyhimselfandOrde。

Thelattergaveanoteattenpercentforhisproportionofthestock。Newmarkthenborrowedfifteenthousandmore，givingassecurityamortgageonthecompany’snewlyacquiredproperty——thetugs，booms，buildings，andrealestate。Thuswasthefinancingdetermined。Itleftthecompanywithobligationsoffifteenhundreddollarsayearininterest，expenseswhichwouldrunheavilyintothethousands，andanobligationtomakegoodoutsidestockworthatparexactlyforty—ninethousanddollars。Inaddition，Ordehadchargedagainsthisaccountaburdenoftwothousanddollarsayearinterestonhispersonaldebt。Tooffsettheseliabilities——outsidetheriverimprovementsandequipments，whichwouldholdlittleornovalueincaseoffailure——thefirmheldcontractstodeliveraboutonehundredmillionfeetoflogs。Aftersomediscussionthepartnersdecidedtoallowthemselvestwenty—fivehundreddollarsapiecebywayofsalary。

"Ifwedon’tmakeanydividendsatfirst，"Ordepointedout，"I’vegottokeepevenonmyinterest。"

"Youcan’tliveonfivehundred，"objectedNewmark。

"I’llbeontheriverandattheboomssixmonthsoftheyear，"

repliedOrde，"andIcan’tspendmuchthere。"

"I’msatisfied，"saidNewmarkthoughtfully，"I’mgettingalittlebetterthangoodinterestonmyowninvestmentfromthestart。Andinafewyearsafterwe’vepaidup，there’llbemightybigmoneyinit。"

Heremovedhisglassesandtappedhispalmwiththeiredge。

"Theonlypointthatisatallriskytome，"saidhe，"isthatwehaveonlyone—seasoncontracts。Ifforanyreasonwehangupthedrive，orfailtodeliverpromptly，we’regoingtogetlefttheyearfollowing。Andthenit’sB—U—S—T，bust。"

"Well，we’lljusttrynottohangher，"repliedOrde。

XVI

Orde’sbankaccount，inspiteofhislaughingassertiontoNewmark，containedsomeelevenhundreddollars。Afterabriefbutcomprehensivetourofinspectionoveralltheworksthenforward，hedrewahundredofthisandannouncedtoNewmarkthatbusinesswouldtakehimawayforabouttwoweeks。

"Ihavesomeprivateaffairstoattendtobeforesettlingdowntobusinessforkeeps，"hetoldNewmarkvaguely。

AtRedding，whitherhewenttopackhislittlesole—leathertrunk，hetoldGrandmaOrdethesamething。Shesaidnothingatthetime，butlater，whenGrandpaOrde’sslenderfigurehaddeparted，verycourteous，veryerect，verydignified，withitsoldlinendusterflappingaroundit，shecameandstoodbythemanleaningoverthetrunk。

"Speaktoher，Jack，"saidshequietly。"Shecaresforyou。"

Ordelookedupinastonishment，buthedidnotpretendtodenytheimpliedaccusationastohisdestination。

"Why，mother！"hecried。"She’sonlyseenmethreeorfourtimes！

It’sabsurd——yet。"

"Iknow，"noddedGrandmaOrde，wisely。"Iknow。Butyoumarkmywords；shecaresforyou。"

Shesaidnothingmore，butstoodlookingwhileOrdefoldedandlaidaway，hisheadbentlowinthought。Thensheplacedherhandforaninstantonhisshoulderandwentaway。TheOrdeswerenotademonstrativepeople。

ThejourneytoNewYorkwasatthattimeverylonganddisagreeable，butOrdeboreitwithhisaccustomedstoicism。Hehadvisitedthemetropolisbefore，soitwasnotunfamiliartohim。Hewasveryglad，however，togetawayfromthedustandmonotonyoftherailroadtrain。TheSeptembertwilightwasjustfalling。Throughitsduskthestreetlampswerepoppingintoilluminationasthelamp—lightermadehisrapidway。Ordeboardedahorse—carandjingledawaydownFourthAvenue。Hewaspleasedathavingarrived，andstretchedhislegsandfilledhislungstwicewithsoevidentanenjoymentthatseveralpeoplesmiled。

Hiscomfortwassoondisturbed，however，byaninfluxofpeopleboardingthecaratTwenty—thirdStreet。Theseatswereimmediatelyfilled，andlatecomersfoundthemselvesobligedtostandintheaisle。Amongthesewereseveralwomen。Themennearestburiedthemselvesinthepapersafterthealmostuniversalmetropolitancustom。Twoorthreearosetooffertheirseats，amongthemOrde。

When，however，thelatterhadturnedtoindicatetooneofthewomenthevacatedseat，hediscovereditoccupiedbyachubbyandflashilydressedyouthofthesortcommonenoughinthevicinityofFourteenthStreet；impudentofeye，cynicalofdemeanour，andslightlycontemptuousofeverythingunaccustomed。HehadslippedinbackofOrdewhenthatyoungmanarose，whetherundertheimpressionthatOrdewasabouttogetoffthecarorfromsheerimpudence，itwouldbeimpossibletosay。

Ordestaredathim，alittleastonished。

"Iintendedthatseatforthislady，"saidOrde，touchinghimontheshoulder。

Theyouthlookedupcoolly。

"Youdon’tcomethat！"saidhe。

Ordewastednotimeindiscussion，whichnodoubtsavedthenecessityofamoreseriousdisturbance。Hereachedoversuddenly，seizedtheyouthbythecollar，bracedhiskneeagainsttheseat，andheavedtheinterlopersorapidlytohisfeetthatheallbutplungedforwardamongthepassengerssittingopposite。

"Yourseat，madam，"saidOrde。

Thewoman，frightened，unwillingtobecometheparticipantofasceneofanysort，stoodlookinghereandthere。Orde，comprehendingherembarrassment，twistedhisantagonistabout，and，beforehecouldrecoverhisequilibriumsufficientlytoofferresistance，propelledhimrapidlytotheopendoor，thepassengershastilymakingwayforthem。

"Now，myfriend，"saidOrde，releasinghisholdontheother’scollar，"don’tdosuchthingsanymore。Theyaren’tnice。"

Trivialastheincidentwas，itservedtodrawOrdetotheparticularnoticeofanelderlymanleaningagainsttherearrail。

Hewasaverywell—groomedman，dressedingarmentswhosefitwasevidentlytheproductofthehighestart，wellbuttonedup，wellbrushed，wellcaredforineveryway。Inhisbuttonholeheworeapinkcarnation，andinhisglovedhandhecarriedastraight，gold—

headedcane。Asilkhatcoveredhishead，frombeneathwhichshowedaslightlyempurpledcountenance，withbushywhiteeyebrows，awhitemoustache，andapairofratherbloodshot，butkindly，blueeyes。

Inspiteofhissomewhatpudgyrotundity，hecarriedhimselfquiteerect，inamannerthatbespoketheretiredmilitaryman。

"Youhavecourage，sir，"saidthisgentleman，inclininghisbeadgravelytoOrde。

Theyoungmanlaughedinhisgood—humouredfashion。

"Notmuchcouragerequiredtorootoutthatkindofaskunk，"saidhecheerfully。

"Irefertothecourageofyourconvictions。Theyoungmenofthisgenerationseemtoprefertoavoidpublicdisturbances。Thatbreedisquitecapableofmakingarow，callingthepolice，raisingthedeuce，andallthat。"

"Whatofit？"saidOrde。

Theelderlygentlemanpuffedouthischeeks。

"YouarefromtheWest，areyounot？"hestated，ratherthanasked。

"WecallittheEastoutthere，"saidOrde。"It’sMichigan。"

"Ishouldcallthatprettyfarwest，"saidtheoldgentleman。

Nothingmorewassaid。AfterablockortwoOrdedescendedonhiswaytoasmallhoteljustoffBroadway。Theoldgentlemansaluted。

Ordenoddedgood—humouredly。Inhisprivatesoulhewasalittleamusedattheoldboy。Tohisviewamanandclothescarriedtotheirlastrefinementwerecontradictoryterms。

Ordeate，dressed，andsetoutafootinsearchofMissBishop’saddress。Hearrivedinfrontofthehousealittlepasteighto’clock，and，afteramoment’shesitation，mountedthestepsandrangthebell。

Thedoorswungsilentlybacktoframeanimpassiveman—servantdressedinlivery。ToOrde’sinquiryhestatedthatMissBishophadgoneouttothetheatre。Theyoungmanlefthisnameandamessageofregret。Atthisthefootman，withanironysosubtleastobequitelostonOrde，demandedacard。Ordescribbledalineinhisnote—book，toreitout，foldedit，andleftit。Inithestatedhisregret，hisshortresidenceinthecity，anddesiredanearlyopportunitytocall。Thenhedeparteddownthebrownstonesteps，totallyunconsciousofthecontempthehadinspiredintheheartoftheliveriedmanbehindhim。

Heretiredearlyandaroseearly，ashadbecomehishabit。Whenhedescendedtotheofficethenightclerk，whohadnotyetbeenrelieved，handedhimanotedeliveredthenightbefore。Orderippeditopeneagerly。

"MYDEARMR。ORDE：

"Iwassosorrytomissyouthateveningbecauseofastupidplay。

Comearoundasearlyasyoucanto—morrowmorning。Ishallexpectyou。

"Sincerelyyours，"CARROLLBISHOP。"

Ordeglancedattheclock，whichpointedtoseven。Hebreakfasted，readthemorningpaper，finallystartedleisurelyinthedirectionofWestNinthStreet。Hewalkedslowly，soastoconsumemoretime，thenatUniversityPlacewasseizedwithapanic，andhurriedrapidlytohisdestination。Thedoorwasansweredbythesamemanwhohadopenedthenightbefore，butnow，insomeindefinableway，hiscalm，whileflawlessexternally，seemedtohaveliftedtoameresurface，asthoughhemighthastilyhaveassumedhiscoat。ToOrde’sinquiryhestatedwithgreatbrevitythatMissBishopwasnotyetvisible，andpreparedtoclosethedoor。

"Youaremistaken，"saidOrde，withequalbrevity，andsteppedinside。"IhaveanengagementwithMissBishop。TellherMr。Ordeishere。"

Themandepartedinsomedoubt，leavingOrdestandinginthegloomyhall。Thatyoungman，however，quitecheerfullypartedtheheavycurtainsleadingintoaparlour，andsatdowninaspindle—leggedchair。Athisentrance，amaiddisappearedoutanotherdoor，carryingwithhertheimplementsofdustingandbrushing。

Ordelookedaroundtheroomwithsomecuriosity。Itwaslong，narrow，andveryhigh。Tallwindowsadmittedlightatoneend。Theilluminationwas，however，modifiedgreatlybyhangingsoflacecoveringallthewindows，supplementedbyheavydraperiesdrawnbacktoeitherside。Theembrasurewasoccupiedbyasmalltable，overwhichseemedtoflutterabeautifulmarblePsyche。Arubberplant，thenasnowthemarkofthecityandsuburbandweller，sentaloftitsspare，shinyleavesalongsideaclosedsquarepiano。Thelackofornamentsatopthelatterbespokethemusician。Throughthefilteredgloomofthedemi—lightOrdesurveyedwithinteresttheexcellentreproductionsoftheOldWorldmasterpiecesframedonthewalls——"Madonnas"byRaphael，Murillo，andPerugino，the"MonaLisa，"andBotticelli’s"Spring"——thethreeoilportraitsoccupyingthelargespaces；thespindle—leggedchairsandtables，theteaserviceinthecorner，thetallbronzelampbythepiano，theneatlittlegrate—hearth，withitsmantelofmarble；theormoluclock，allthedecorousanddecoratedgentilitywhichmarkedtheirreproachablecorrectnessofwhoeverhadfurnishedtheapartment。

Darkandheavyhangingsdependedinfrontofadoubledoorleadingintoanotherroombeyond。EquallydarkandheavyhangingshadclosedbehindOrdeasheentered。Anabsoluteandshroudedstillnessseemedtosettledownuponhim。Theormoluclocktickedsteadily。Muffledsoundscameatlongintervalsfrombehindtheportieres。Ordebegantofeeloppressedandsubdued。

Forquitethreequartersofanhourhewaitedwithouthearinganyotherindicationsoflifethanthemuffledsoundsjustremarkedupon。Occasionallyheshiftedhisposition，butcautiously，asthoughhefearedtoawakensomeone。Thethreeoilportraitsstaredathimwithallthereservedaloofnessoftheirpaintedeyes。Hebegantodoubtwhetherthemanhadannouncedhimatall。

Then，breakingthestillnesswithalmoststartlingabruptness，heheardaclear，highvoicesayingsomethingatthetopofthestairsoutside。ArhythmicalSWISHofskirts，punctuatedbythelightPAT—

PATofagirltrippingdownstairs，broughthimtohisfeet。A

momentlaterthecurtainspartedandsheentered，holdingoutherhand。

"Oh，Ididkeepyouwaitingsuchalongtime！"shecried。

Hestoodholdingherhand，suddenlyunabletosayaword，lookingatherhungrily。Afloodofemotion，ofwhichhehadhadnoprevision，swelledupwithinhimtofillhisthroat。Analmostirresistibleimpulseallbutcontrolledhimtocrushhertohim，tokissherlipsandherthroat，tolosehisfingersinthesoft，shadowyfinenessofherhair。Thecrestofthewavepassedalmostimmediately，butitlefthimshaken。Afaintcolourdeepenedunderthetransparenceofherskin；herfathomlessblackeyeswidenedeversolittle；shereleasedherhand。