第10章

"Itwasgoodofyoutocomesopromptly，"saidshe。"I’msoanxioustohearallaboutthedearpeopleatRedding。"

Shesettledgracefullyinoneofthelittlechairs。Ordesatdown，oncemoremasterofhimself，butstillinclinedtodevourherwithhisgaze。Shewasdressedinamorninggown，alllacesandribbonsandlong，flowinglines。Herhairwasdonelowonthebackofherheadandonthenapeofherneck。Thebloodebbedandflowedbeneathherclearskin。Afaintfragranceofcleanlinessdiffuseditselfabouther——thecool，sweetfragranceofdaintiness。Theyenteredbusilyintoconversation。Herattitudeswerenolongerrelaxedandlanguidlygracefulasintheeasychairsunderthelamplight。Shesatforward，herhandscrossedonherlap，afiresmoulderingdeepbeneaththecoolsurfacelightsofhereyes。

Thesoundsinthenextroomincreasedinvolume，asthoughseveralpeoplemusthaveenteredthatapartment。Inamomentorsothecurtainstothehallpartedtoframetheservant。

"Mrs。Bishopwishestoknow，miss，"saidthatfunctionary，"ifyou’renotcomingtobreakfast。"

Ordesprangtohisfeet。

"Haven’tyouhadyourbreakfastyet？"hecried，consciencestricken。

"Didn’tyougatherthefactthatI’mjustup？"shemockedhim。"I

assureyouitdoesn’tmatter。Thefamilyhasjustcomedown。"

"But，"criedOrde，"Iwasn’thereuntilnineo’clock。Ithought，ofcourse，you’dbearound。I’mmightysorry——"

"Oh，lala！"shecried，cuttinghimshort。"Whatabotheraboutnothing。Don’tyousee——I’maheadawholehourofgoodtalk。"

"Yousee，youtoldmeinyournotetocomeearly，"saidOrde。

"Iforgotyouwereoneofthosedreadfuloutdoormen。Youdidn’tseeanyworms，didyou？NexttimeI’lltellyoutocomethedayafter。"

Ordewasfortakinghisleave，butthisshewouldnothave。

"Youmustmeetmyfamily，"shenegatived。"Forifyou’rehereforsoshortatimewewanttoseesomethingofyou。Comerightoutnow。"

Ordethereuponfollowedherdownanarrow，darkhall，squeezedbetweenthestairsandthewall，toadoorthatopenedslantwiseintoadining—roomtheexactcounterpartinshapetotheparlourattheothersideofthehouse。Onlyinthiscasethemorningsunandmorediaphanouscurtainslentanairofbrightness，furtherenhancedbyawirestandofflowersinthebow—windows。

Thecentreoftheroomwasoccupiedbyaroundtable，aboutwhichweregroupedseveralpeopleofdifferentages。Withherbacktothebow—windowsatawomanwellbeyondmiddleage，butwithevidentlysomepretensionstoyouth。Shewastall，desiccated，quickinmovement。Darkringsbelowhereyesattestedeitheranervousdisease，anhystericaltemperament，orboth。Immediatelyatherleftsataboyofaboutfourteenyearsofage，hisfaceacuriouscontradictionbetweenanaturallyfrankandopenexpressionandagrowingsullenness。Nexthimstoodavacantchair，evidentlyforMissBishop。Oppositelolledayoungman，holdinganewspaperinonehandandacoffeecupintheother。Hewasveryhandsome，withadroopingblackmoustache，darkeyes，underlashesalmosttooluxuriant，andalong，ovalface，darkincomplexion，andatriflesardonicinexpression。IntheVIS—A—VIStoMrs。Bishop，Ordewassurprisedtofindhisex—militaryfriendofthestreetcar。MissBishopperformedthenecessaryintroductions，whicheachacknowledgedafterhisfashion，butwithanapparentindifferencethatdashedOrde，accustomedtoamoreWesterncordiality。Mrs。

Bishopheldoutalanguidlygracefulhand，theboymumbledagreeting，theyoungmannoddedlazilyoverhisnewspaper。OnlyGeneralBishop，recognisinghim，aroseandgraspedhishand，withareal，thoughratherfussy，warmth。

"Mydearsir，"hecried，"Iamhonouredtoseeyouagain。This，mydear，"headdressedhiswife，"istheyoungmanIwastellingyouabout——inthestreetcar，"heexplained。

"Howveryinteresting，"saidMrs。Bishop，withevidentlynocomprehensionandlessinterest。

GeraldBishopcastanironicallyamusedglanceacrossatOrde。Theboylookedupathimquickly，thesullennessforamomentgonefromhisface。

CarrollBishopappearedquiteunconsciousofanatmospherewhichseemedtoOrdestrained，butsankintoherplaceatthetableandunfoldedhernapkin。ThesilentbutlerdrewforwardachairforOrde，andstoodlookingimpassivelyinMrs。Bishop’sdirection。

"Youwillhavesomebreakfastwithus？"sheinquired。"No？Acupofcoffee，atleast？"

Shebegantomanipulatethecoffeepot，withoutpayingtheslightestattentiontoOrde’sdisclaimer。Thegeneralpuffedouthischeeks，andcoughedabitinembarrassment。

"Agoodcupofcoffeeisneveramisstoanoldcampaigner，"hesaidtoOrde。"It’sasgoodasafullmealinapinch。IrememberwhenIwasamajorintheEleventh，downneartheCityofMexico，in’48，thetimeHardy’scommandwassonearlywipedoutbythatviaduct——"

HehalfturnedtowardOrde，hisfacelightingup，hisfingersreachingfortheforkwithwhich，afterthecustomofoldsoldiers，totracethechartofhisreminiscences。

Mrs。Bishoprattledhercupandsaucerwithanuncontrollablynervousjerkofherslenderbody。Forsomemomentsshehadawaitedachancetogetthegeneral’sattention。"Spareus，father，"shesaidbrusquely。"Willyouhaveanothercupofcoffee？"

Theoldgentleman，arrestedinmid—career，swallowed，lookedatriflebewildered，butsubsidedmeekly。

"No，thankyou，mydear，"saidhe，andwentfuriouslyathisbreakfast。

Orde，overwhelmedbyembarrassment，discoveredthatnoneoftheothershadpaidtheincidenttheslightestattention。OnlyonthelipsofGeraldBishophesurprisedafine，detachedsmile。

Atthismomentthebutlerenteredbearingthemail。Mrs。Bishoptorehersopenrapidly，droppingthemangledenvelopesatherside。

Thecontentsofoneseemedtovexher。

"Oh！"shecriedaloud。"ThatmiserableMarie！Shepromisedmetohaveitdoneto—day，andnowsheputsitoffuntilMonday。It’stooprovoking！"SheturnedtoOrdeforsympathy。"DoyouknowANYTHING

moreaggravatingthantoworkandslavetothelimitofendurance，andthenhaveeverythingupsetbythestupidityofsomeoneelse？"

Ordemurmuredanappropriatereply，towhichMrs。Bishoppaidnoattentionwhatever。Shestartedsuddenlyupfromthetable。

"Imustseeaboutit！"shecried。"IplainlyseeIshallhavetodoitmyself。IWILLdoitmyself。IpromiseditforSunday。"

"Youmustn’tdoanotherstitch，mother，"putinCarrollBishopdecidedly。"Youknowwhatthedoctortoldyou。You’llhaveyourselfdownsick。"

"Well，seeforyourself！"criedMrs。Bishop。"That’swhatcomesofleavingthingstoothers！IfI’ddoneitmyself，itwouldhavesavedmeallthisbotherandfuss，anditwouldhavebeendone。AndnowI’vegottodoitanyway。"

"Mydear，"putinthegeneral，"perhapsCarrollcanseeMarieaboutit。Inanycase，there’snothingtoworkyourselfupintosuchanexcitementabout。"

"It’sveryeasyforyoutotalk，isn’tit？"criedMrs。Bishop，turningonhim。"Ilikethewayyouallsitaroundlikelumpsanddonothing，andthentellmehowIoughttohavedoneit。John，havethecarriagearoundatonce。"SheturnedtenselytoOrde。"I

hopeyou’llexcuseme，"shesaidverybriefly；"Ihavesomethingveryimportanttoattendto。"

Carrollhadalsorisen。Ordeheldouthishand。

"Imustbegoing，"saidhe。

"Well，"sheconceded，"IsupposeI’dbetterseeifIcan’thelpmotherout。Butyou’llcomeinagain。Comeanddinewithusthisevening。Motherwillbedelighted。"

AsMrs。Bishophaddepartedfromtheroom，Ordehadtotakeforgrantedtheexpressionofthisdelight。Hebowedtotheotheroccupantsofthetable。Thegeneralwaseatingnervously。Gerald’seyeswerefixedamusedlyonOrde。

ToOrde’ssurprise，hewasalmostimmediatelyjoinedonthestreetbyyoungMr。Bishop，mostcorrectlyappointed。

"Goinganywhereinparticular？"heinquired。"Let’sgouptheavenue，then。Everybodywillbeout。"

Theyturnedupthegreatpromenade，atourofwhichwasthen，evenmorethannow，consideredobligatoryonthegracefullyidle。

Neithersaidanything——OrdebecausehewastooabsorbedintheemotionsthissuddenrevelationofCarroll’senvironmenthadarousedinhim；Gerald，apparently，becausehewastooindifferent。

Neverthelessitwastheyoungexquisitewhofinallybrokethesilence。

"Itwasanaltarcloth，"saidhesuddenly。

"What？"askedOrde，ratherbewildered。

"MotherisprobablythemostdevoutwomaninNewYork，"wentonGerald’sevenvoice。"Sheisoneofthehardestworkersinthechurch。Shekeepsallthefastdays，andattendsalltheservices。

Althoughshehasnostrengthtospeakof，shehasjustcompletedanelaborateembroideredaltarcloth。Theworksheaccomplishedwhileonherknees。Oftenshespentfiveorsixhoursadayinthatposition。Itwasverydevout，butagainstthedoctor’sorders，andsheisatpresentmuchpulleddown。Finallyshegavewaytopersuasiontotheextentofsendingtheembroideryouttobeboundandcorded。Asaresult，thealtarclothwillnotbedonefornextSunday。"

Hedeliveredthisstatementinavoiceabsolutelycolourless，withoutthefaintesttracediscernibleofeitherapprovalordisapproval，withouttheslightestirony，yetOrdefeltvaguelyuncomfortable。

"Itmusthavebeenannoyingtoher，"hesaidgravely，"andIhopeshewillgetitdoneintime。PerhapsMissBishopwillbeabletodoit。"

"That，"saidGerald，"isMadisonSquare——orperhapsyouknowNewYork？Mysisterwould，ofcourse，beonlytoogladtofinishthework，butIfearthatmymother’speculiarlyardenttemperamentwillnowinsistonherownaccomplishmentofthetask。Butperhapsyoudonotunderstandtemperaments？"

"Verylittle，I’mafraid，"confessedOrde。

Theywalkedonforsomedistancefarther。

"YourfatherwasintheMexicanWar？"saidOrde，tochangethetrendofhisownthoughts。

"Hewasamostdistinguishedofficer。IbelievehereceivedtheMedalofHonourforapartintheaffairoftheMolinadelRey。"

"WhatcommandhadheintheCivilWar？"askedOrde。"Ifooledaroundtheoutskirtsofthatalittlemyself。"

"Myfatherresignedfromthearmyin’54，"repliedGerald，withhiscool，impersonalcourtesy。

"Thatwastoobad；justbeforethechanceformoreservice，"saidOrde。

"Armylifewasincompatiblewithmymother’stemperament，"statedGerald。

Ordesaidnothingmore。ItwasGerald’sturntoendthepause。

"YouarefromRedding，ofcourse，"saidhe。"Mysisterisveryenthusiasticabouttheplace。Youareinbusinessthere？"

Orderepliedbriefly，but，forcedbythedirect，cold，andpolitecross—questioningofhiscompanion，hegavethelatterasuccinctideaofthesortofoperationsinwhichhewasinterested。

"Andyou，"hesaidatlast；"Isupposeyou’reeitherabrokerorlawyer；mostmenaredownhere。"

"Iamneitheronenortheother，"statedGerald。"Iampossessedofasufficientincomefromalegacytomakebusinessunnecessary。"

"Idon’tbelieveI’dcareto——beidle，"saidOrdevaguely。

"Thereisplentytooccupyone’stime，"repliedGerald。"Ihavemyclubs，mygymnasium，myhorse，andmyfriends。"

"Isn’tthereanythingthatparticularlyattractsyou？"askedOrde。

Theyoungman’slanguideyesgrewthoughtful，andhepuffedmorestronglyonhiscigarette。

"Ishouldlike，"saidheslowly，atlast，"toenterthenavy。"

"Whydon’tyou？"askedOrdebluntly。

"Certainfamilyreasonsmakeitinexpedientatpresent，"saidGerald。"Mymotherisinaverynervousstate；shedependsonus，andanyhintofourleavingherissufficienttorenderherconditionserious。"

Bythistimethetwoyoungmenwerewelluptown。OnGerald’sinitiative，theyturneddownasidestreet，andshortlycametoastop。

"Thatismygymnasium，"saidGerald，pointingtoabuildingacrosstheway。"Won’tyoucomeinwithme？Iamduenowformypractice。"

XVII

Orde’seveningwasadisappointmenttohim。Mrs。Bishophad，byCarroll’sreport，workedfeverishlyatthealtarclothalltheafternoon。Asaconsequence，shehadgonetobedwithabadheadache。Thisstateofaffairsseemedtothrowtheentirefamilyintoastateofindecision。Itwasdividedinmindastowhattodo，theabsoluteinutilityofanyeffortbalancingstronglyagainstasenseofwhattheinvalidexpected。

"Iwonderifmotherwouldn’tlikejustatasteofthisbeef，"

speculatedthegeneral，movingfussilyinhischair。"Ibelievesomebodyoughttotakesomeup。SheMIGHTwantit。"

Themandepartedwiththeplate，butreturnedafewmomentslater，impassive——butstillwiththeplate。

"Hasshegotherhot—waterbag？"askedtheboyunexpectedly。

"Yes，MasterKendrick，"repliedthebutler。

Afterapreoccupiedsilencethegeneralagainbrokeout：

"Seemstomesomebodyoughttobeuptherewithher。"

"Youknow，father，thatshecan’tstandanyoneintheroom，"saidCarrollequably。

Towardthecloseofthemeal，however，adistantbelltinkledfaintly。Everyonejumpedasthoughguilty。Carrollsaidahastyexcuseandranout。Afterringingthebell，theinvalidhadevidentlyanticipateditsanswerbyemergingfromherroomtotheheadofthestairs，forOrdecaughtthesharptonesofcomplaint，andoverheardsomethingabout"takeallnighttoeatasimplemeal，whenI’mlyingheresuffering。"

AttheendofanintervalamaidappearedinthedoorwaytosaythatMissCarrollsentwordshewouldnotbedownagainforatime，anddidnotcareforanymoredinner。Thisseemedtorelievethegeneral’smindofresponsibility。Heassumedhislittlefussyairofcheerfulness，toldseveralstoriesofthewar，andfinally，afterKendrickhadleft，broughtoutsomewhiskyandwater。HewinkedslylyatOrde。

"Can’tdothisbeforetheyoungsters，youknow，"hechirrupedcraftily。

ThroughoutthemealGeraldhadsatbacksilent，afaintamusementinhiseye。Afterdinnerhearose，yawned，consultedhiswatch，anddeparted，pleadinganengagement。Ordelingeredsometime，listeningtothegeneral，inthehopethatCarrollwouldreappear。

Shedidnot，sofinallyhetookhisleave。

Hetrudgedbacktohishotelgloomily。Thedayhadpassedinamostunsatisfactorymanner，accordingtohiswayoflookingatit。Yethehadcomemoreclearlytoanunderstandingofthegirl；hercheerfulness，herunselfishness，and，aboveall，thesweet，beautifulphilosophyoflifethatmustlieback，torenderhersouncomplaininglytheslaveoftheself—willedwoman，yetwithouttheindifferentcynicismofGerald，thesullen，yetreal，partisanshipofKendrick，orthegeneral’sweek—kneedacquiescence。

ThenextmorninghesucceededinmakinganarrangementbyletterforanexcursiontothenewlyprojectedCentralPark。Promptlyattwoo’clockhewasattheBishops’house。TohisinquirythebutlersaidthatMrs。Bishophadrecoveredfromherindisposition，andthatMissBishopwouldbedownimmediately。Ordehadnotlongtowaitforher。TheSWISH，PAT—PATofherjoyousdescentofthestairsbroughthimtohisfeet。Shesweptasidetheportieres，andstoodbetweentheirfolds，biddinghimwelcome。

"I’msosorryaboutlastnight，"saidshe，"butpoormotherdoesdependonmesoatsuchtimes。Isn’titagorgeousdaytowalk？Itwon’tbemuchlikeOURwoods，willit？Butitwillbesomething。

OH，I’msogladtogetout！"

Shewasinoneofherelfishmoods，thelanguidgraceofhersleepy—

eyedmomentsforgotten。Withalittlecryofrapturesherantothepiano，anddashedintoagay，tinklingairwithbrilliancyandabandon。Herhead，surmountedbyaperky，high—peaked，narrow—

brimmedhat，withaflamingredbirdinfront，glorifiedbythebraidand"waterfall"ofthatday，bentforwardandturnedtoflashanappealforsympathytowardOrde。

"There，Ifeelmoreabletostayonearth！"shecried，springingtoherfeet。"NowI’llgetonmyglovesandwe’llstart。"

Sheturnedslowlybeforethemirror，examiningquitefranklythehangofherskirt，thefitofherclose—cutwaist，theturnoftheadorableround，low—cutcollarsthatwerethenthemode。

"Itpaystobeparticular；weareinNewYork，"sheanswered，orparried，Orde’sglanceofadmiration。

Theglovesfinallydrawnonandbuttoned，Ordeheldasidetheportieres，andshepassedfairlyunderhisupliftedhand。Hewantedtodrophisarmabouther，thisslendergirlwithherquaintdignity，herbird—likeways，hergentle，graceful，mysterious，femininesoul。Theflame—redbirdlentitscolourtohercheeks；

hereyes，blackandfathomless，thepupilswideinthisdimlight，shonewithtwostarsofdelight。

But，astheymovedtowardthemassivefrontdoors，Mrs。Bishopcamedownthestairsbehindthem。She，too，wasdressedforthestreet。

ShereceivedOrde’sgreetingandcongratulationoverherimprovedhealthinratheranabsentmanner。Indeed，assoonasshecouldhurrythispreliminaryover，sheplungedintowhatevidentlysheconsideredamoreimportantmatter。

"Youaren’tthinkingofgoingout，areyou？"sheaskedCarroll。

"Itoldyou，mother；don’tyouremember？Mr。OrdeandIaregoingtogetalittleairinthepark。"

"I’msorry，"saidMrs。Bishop，withgreatbrevityanddecision，"butI’mgoingtotherectorytohelpMr。Merritt，andIshallwantyoutogotoo，toseeaboutthesilver。"

"But，mother，"expostulatedCarroll，"wouldn’tMariedojustaswell？"

"Youknowverywellshecan’tbetrustedwithoutdirection。"

"IDOsowanttogotothepark，"saidCarrollwistfully。Mrs。

Bishop’sthin，nervousfigurejerkedspasmodically。"Thereisverylittleaskedofyoufrommorninguntilnight，"shesaid，withsomeasperity，"andIshouldthinkyou’dhavesomeslightconsiderationforthefactthatI’mjustupfromasickbedtosparemeallyoucould。Besideswhich，youdoverylittleforthechurch。Iwon’tinsist。Doexactlyasyouthinkbest。"

CarrollthrewapatheticglanceatOrde。

"Howsoonareyougoing？"sheaskedhermother。

"Inabouttenminutes，"repliedMrs。Bishop；"assoonasI’veseenHonorineaboutthedinner。"Sheseemedabruptlytorealisethattheamenitiesdemandedsomethingofher。"I’msorrywemustgososoon，"shesaidbrieflytoOrde，"butofcoursechurchbusiness——Weshallhopetoseeyouoften。"

OncemoreOrdeheldasidethecurtains。Theflame—birddroopedfromthetwilightofthehallintothedimnessoftheparlour。Allthebrightnessseemedtohavedrainedfromtheday，andallthejoyoflifeseemedtohavefadedfromthegirl’ssoul。Shesankintoachair，andtriedpatheticallytosmileacrossatOrde。

"I’msuchababyaboutdisappointments，"saidshe。

"Iknow，"hereplied，verygently。

"Andit’ssuchablueandgoldday。"

"Iknow，"herepeated。

Shetwistedhergloveinherlap，abrightspotofcolourburningineachcheek。

"Motherisnotwell，andshehasagreatdealtotryher。Poormother！"shesaidsoftly，herheadcastdown。

"Iknow，"saidOrdeinhisgentletones。

Afteramomenthearosetogo。Sheremainedseated，herheaddown。

"I’msorryaboutthisafternoon，"saidhecheerfully，"butitcouldn’tbehelped，couldit？Janeusedtotellmeaboutyourharpplaying。I’mgoingtocomeintohearyouthisevening。MayI？"

"Yes，"shesaid，inastifledvoice，andheldoutherhand。Shesatquitestilluntilsheheardthefrontdoorcloseafterhim；thensherantothecurtainsandlookedafterhissturdy，squarefigure，asitswungupthestreet。

"Welldone；oh，welldone，gentleheart！"shebreathedafterhim。

Thenshewentbacktothepiano。

ButOrde’smouth，couldshehaveseenit，wassetingrimlines，andhisfeet，couldshehaveheardthem，rangonthepavementwithquitesuperfluousvigour。Heturnedtotheleft，and，withoutpause，walkedsometenortwelvemiles。

Theeveningturnedoutverywell，fortunately；Ordecouldnothavestoodmuchmore。Theyhadtheparlourquitetothemselves。Carrolltookthecoverfromthetallharp，and，leaninghercheekagainstit，sheplayeddreamilyforahalfhour。Herarmswerebare，andasherfingersreachedoutlingeringlyandcaressinglytodrawthepure，goldenchordsfromthegoldeninstrument，hersoftbosompressedagainstthebroadsoundingboard。Thereisaboutthetonesofaharpwellplayedsomethingluminous，likerich，warmsunlight。

Whenthegirlmutedthestringsatlast，itseemedtoOrdeasthoughallatoncetheroomhadperceptiblydarkened。Hetookhisleavefinally，hisspiritsoothedandrestored。

Tranquillitywasnotforlong，however。Orde’svisitswere，naturally，asfrequentaspossible。TothemalmostinstantlyMrs。

Bishopopposedthestrongandintuitivejealousyofegotism。Shehadasyetnofearsastotheyoungman’sintentions，butinstinctivelyshefeltaninfluencethatopposedherownsupremedominance。Inconsequence，Ordehadmuchtimetohimself。Carrollandtherestofthefamily，withthepossibleexceptionofGerald，sharedthebeliefthattheslightestrealoppositiontoMrs。Bishopwouldsufficetothrowherintooneofher"spells，"aconditionofalarmingandpossiblygenuinecollapse。"Todrivemotherintoaspell"wasanexpressionoftheworstpossibledomesticcrime。Itaccusedtheperpetrator——throughMrs。Bishop——offorgettingthestateofaffairs，ofingratitudeforcareandaffection，ofcommoninhumanity，andofimpietyinrenderingimpossibleofperformancethemultifariouschurchdutiesMrs。Bishophadinventedandassumedassomanyparticularlyshiningvirtues。OrdesoondiscoveredthatCarrollwentoutinsocietyverylittleforthesimplereasonthatshecouldnevergiveanunqualifiedacceptancetoaninvitation。Atthelastmoment，whenshehaddonnedherstreetwrapsandthecarriagewasatthedoor，shewasliabletobecalledback，eithertoassistatsomereligiousfunction，which，byitssacredcharacter，wassupposedtohaveprecedenceovereverything，ortoattendanervouscrisis，broughtonbysomememberofthehousehold，orbymereuntowardcircumstances。Thegirlalwaysacquiescedmostsweetlyintheserecurrentdisappointments。AndtheveryfactthatsheacceptedfewinvitationsgaveOrdemanymorechancestoseeher，inspiteofMrs。Bishop’sincreasingexactions。Hedidnotrealisethisfact，however，butgroundhisteethandclungblind—eyedtohistemperwheneverthemothercutshorthisvisitsorannulledhisengagementsonsomepettyexcuseofherown。Hecouldalmostbelievetheseinterruptionsmalicious，wereitnotthathesoondiscoveredMrs。Bishopwelldisposedtowardhimpersonallywheneverheshowedhimselfreadytomeetherevenquarterwayonthetopicsthatinterestedher——thechurchandherhealth。

Inthismannertheweekpassed。OrdesawasmuchashecouldofMissBishop。TheremainderofthetimehespentwalkingthestreetsandreadingintheclubroomstowhichGerald’scourtesyhadgivenhimaccess。Geraldhimselfseemedtobemuchoccupied。Preciselyateleveneverymorning，however，heappearedatthegymnasiumforhispractice；andinthisOrdedroppedintothehabitofjoininghim。Whentheyoungmenfirststrippedineachother’spresence，theyeyedeachotherwithasecretsurprise。Gerald’sslenderandelegantbodyturnedouttobesmoothlyandgracefullymuscledonthelonglinesoftheFlyingMercury。Hisbonesweresmall，buthisfleshwashard，andhisskinhealthywiththeflowofbloodbeneath。

Orde，ontheotherhand，hadearnedfromtheriverthetorsoofanancientathlete。Theround，fullarchofhischestwastoppedbyamassofclean—cutmuscle；acrosshisback，beneaththesmoothskin，themusclesrippledandridgedanddimpledwitheverymovement；thebeautifulcurveofthedeltoids，fromthepointoftheshouldertothearm，mettheotherbeautifulcurveoftheunflexedbicepsandthatfulnessofthebackarmsooftenlackinginaone—sideddevelopment；thesurfaceoftheabdomenshowedthepeculiarcorrugationoftheverystrongman；theround，columnarneckarosemassive。

"ByJove！"saidGerald，rousedatlastfromhishabitualapathy。

"What’sthematter？"askedOrde，lookingupfromtyingtherubber—

soledshoesthatGeraldhadlenthim。

"Murphy，"calledGerald，"comehere。"

Averyhairy，thick—set，bullet—headedman，thetypeofsemi—

professional"handlers，"emergedfromsomewhereacrossthegymnasium。

"Doyouthinkyoucoulddownthisfellow？"askedGerald。

MurphylookedOrdeovercritically。

"Whoyeringin’inonme？"heinquired。

"Thisisafriendofmine，"saidGeraldseverely。

"Begyourpardon。Thegentlemaniswellputup。Howmuchexperiencehashehad？"

"Everboxmuch？"GeraldaskedOrde。

"Box？"Ordelaughed。"Neverhadtimeforthatsortofthing。Hadtheglovesonafewtimes。"

"Wheredilhim。He’safriendofmine。"

Thenhesteppedback，thesamejoyinhissoulthatinspiresarivermanwhenheencountersahigh—banker；ahunterwhenhetakesoutagreenhorn，oracowboyashewatchesthetenderfootabouttoclimbthebronco。

"Time！"saidhe。

Thefirstroundwassharp。WhenGeraldcalledtheend，Ordegrinnedathimcheerfully。