第12章

Ordethoughttocatchtheechoofquotationinthesewords。

"Didyourmothersendyoutome？"heasked。

"Ifwehadanyoneelseworththenameofmaninthefamily，I

wouldn’thavetocome，"saidKendrick，almostinthemannerofonerepeatingalesson。

"Whatdoyouwantmetodo？"askedOrdeafteramomentofthought。

"Goaway，"criedKendrick。"Stopthisunmanlycontestagainstadefencelesswoman。"

"Icannotdothat，"repliedOrdequietly。

Kendrick’sfaceassumedalividpallor，andhiseyesseemedtoturnblackwithexcitement。Tremblingineverylimb，butwithouthesitation，headvancedonOrde，drewashortriding—whipfrombeneathhiscoat，andslashedtheyoungmanacrosstheface。Ordemadeaninvoluntarymovementtoarise，butsankback，andlookedsteadilyattheboy。OnceagainKendrickhit；raisedhisarmforthethirdtime；hesitated。Hislipswrithed，andthen，withasob，hecastthelittlewhipfromhimandburstfromtheroom。

Ordesatwithoutmoving，whiletworedlinesslowlydefinedthemselvesacrosshisface。Thetheatricalqualityofthesceneandtheturgidrhetoricalbathosoftheboy’sspeechesattestedhisyouthandtheunformedviolenceofhisemotions。Didtheyalsoindicatearehearsal，orhadtheboymerelybeengoadedtovagueactionbyimplicitbeliefinawoman’svagaries？Ordedidnotknow，buttheincidentbroughthometohim，asnothingelsecould，theturmoilofthathousehold。

"Pooryoungster！"heconcludedhisreverie，andwenttowashhisfaceinhotwater。

HehadleftCarrollthatafternooninacomparativelyphilosophicalandhopefulframeofmind。Thenextdayshecametohimwithhurried，nervoussteps，herusuallypalecheeksmountingdangersignalsofflamingred，hereyesswimming。Whenshegreetedhimshechoked，andtwoofthetearsoverflowed。Quiteunmindfulofthenursemaidsacrossthesquare，Ordeputhisarmcomfortinglyabouthershoulder。Shehidherfaceagainsthissleeveandbegansoftlytocry。

Ordedidnotattemptasyettodrawfromherthecauseofthisunusualagitation。Aparkbenchstoodbetweentwodensebushes，screenedfromalldirectionssaveone。Tothisheledher。Hecomfortedherasonecomfortsachild，strokingclumsilyherhair，murmuringtrivialitieswithoutmeaning，lettingheremotionrelieveitself。Afterawhilesherecoveredsomewhathercontrolofherselfandsatupawayfromhim，dabbingathereyeswithahandkerchiefdampenedintoatinywad。Butevenaftershehadshakenherheadvigorouslyatlast，andsmiledupathimrathertremulouslyintokenthatthestormwasover，shewouldnottellhimthatanythingdefinitehadhappenedtobringontheoutburst。

"Ijustneededyou，"shesaid，"that’sall。It’sjustnothingbutbeingawoman，Ithink。You’llgetusedtolittlethingslikethat。"

"Thisthinghasgottoquit！"saidhegrimly。

Shesaidnothing，butreachedupshylyandtouchedhisfacewhereKendrick’swhiphadstung，andhereyesbecameverytender。A

carriagerolledaroundWashingtonArch，and，comingtoastand，dischargeditssinglepassengeronthepavement。

"Why，it’sGerald！"criedCarroll，surprised。

Theyoungman，catchingsightofthem，pickedhiswaydaintilyandleisurelytowardthem。Hewas，asusual，dressedwithmeticulousnicety，thecarnationinhisbutton—hole，theglossonhishatandshoes，thefreshnessonhisgloves，thecorrectangleonhisstick。

Hisdark，longfacewithitsromanticmoustache，anditsalmosteffeminatesofteyes，wasasunemotionalandweariedasever。Asheapproached，heraisedhisstickslightlybywayofsalutation。

"Ihavebrought，"saidhe，"acarriage，andIwishyouwouldbothdomethefavourtoaccompanymeonashortexcursion。"

Takingtheirconsentforgranted，hesignalledthevehicle，whichrapidlyapproached。

Thethree——CarrollandOrdesomewhatbewildered——tooktheirseats。

Duringabriefdrive，Geraldmadeconversationondifferenttopics，apparentlyquiteindifferentastowhetherornothiscompanionsreplied。Afteranintervalthecarriagedrewupoppositeabrown—

stonedwellingonasidestreet。Geraldrangthebell，andamomentlaterthethreewereusheredbyadiscreetandelderlymaidintoalittlesquarereception—roomimmediatelyoffthehall。Themaidwithdrew。

Geraldcarefullydepositedhistophatonthefloor，placedinithisgloves，andleanedhisstickagainstitsbrim。

"Ihavebroughtyouhere，amongotherpurposes，tohearfrommealittlebriefwisdomdrawnfromexperienceandtheobservationoflife，"hebegan，addressinghisexpectantandcuriousguests。"Thatwisdomisbrieflythis：therecomesatimeintheaffairsofeveryhouseholdwhenamanmustasserthimselfastheruler。Inallthedetailshemaydependonthewoman’sjudgment，experience，andknowledge，butwhenitcomestothebigcrises，wherelifeisdeflectedintoonechannelortheother，then，unlessthemandoesthedeciding，heislostforever，andhishappiness，andthehappinessofthosewhodependonhim。Thisisabstruse，butIcometotheparticularapplicationshortly。

"Butmomentsofdecisionarealwayscloudedbymanyconsiderations。

Thedecisionissuretocutacrossmuchthatisexpedient，muchthatseemstobenecessary，muchthatisdear。Carrollremembersthecaseofourownfather。Thegeneralwouldhavemadeanameforhimselfinthearmy；hiswifedemandedhisretirement；heretired，andhiscareerended。Thatwasthemomentofhisdecision。Itisveryeasytosay，inviewofthatsimplestatement，thatthegeneralwasweakinyieldingtohiswife，butaconsiderationofthecircumstances——"

"Whydoyousayallthis？"interruptedOrde。

Geraldraisedhishand。

"Believeme，itisnecessary，asyouwillagreewhenyouhaveheardmethrough。Mrs。Bishopwasinpoorhealth；thegeneralinpoorfinancialcircumstances。ThedoctorssaidtheRiviera。Mrs。

Bishop’sparents，whowerewealthy，furnishedthemoneyforhersojourninthatclimate。Shecouldnotbeartobeseparatedfromherhusband。Arefusaltoresignthen，arefusaltoacceptthefinancialaidoffered，wouldhavebeencastagainsthimasareproach——hedidnotlovehiswifeenoughtosacrificehispride，hisambition，hiswhat—you—will。Nevertheless，thatwashismomentofdecision。

"Icouldmultiplyinstances，yetitwouldonlyaccumulateneedlessproof。Mypointisthatinthesegreatmomentsamancanaffordtotakeintoconsiderationonlytheaffairitself。Nevermusthethinkofanythingbutthesimpleelementsoftheproblem——hemustignorewhosetoesaretroddenupon，whosefeelingsarehurt，whosehappinessisapparentlymarred。Fornotethis：ifamandoesfearlesslytherightthing，Iamconvincedthatinthereadjustmentalltheseconflictinginterestsfindthemselvesbetteredinsteadofinjured。Youwantaconcreteinstance？Ibelievefirmlythatifthegeneralhadkepttohisarmylife，andmadehiswifeconformtoit，afterthestormhadpassedshewouldhavesettleddowntoahappyexistence。Icannotproveit——Ibelieveit。"

"Thismaybeallverytrue，Gerald，"saidOrde，"butIfailtoseewhyyouhavebroughtustothisstrangehousetotellit。"

"Inamoment，"repliedGerald。"Havepatience。Believingthatthoroughly，Ihavecomeinthelasttwenty—fourhourstoadecision。

Thatthishappensnottoaffectmyownimmediatefortunesdoesnotseemtometoinvalidatemyphilosophy。"

Hecarefullyunbuttonedhisfrockcoat，crossedhislegs，producedapaperandapackagefromhisinsidepocket，andeyedthetwobeforehim。

"Ihavehere，"hewentonsuddenly，"marriagepapersdulymadeout；

inthispackageisaplaingoldring；inthenextroomiswaiting，byprearrangement，averygoodfriendofmineintheclergy。

PersonallyIamatyourdisposal。"

Helookedatthemexpectantly。

"Theverything！""Oh，no！"criedOrdeandCarrollinunison。

Nevertheless，inspiteofthisdivergenceofopinion，tenminuteslaterthethreepassedthroughthedoorintothebackapartment——

Carrollstillhesitant，Ordeintriumph，Geraldascorrectandunemotionalasever。

Inthisbackroomtheyfoundwaitingayoungclergymanconversingeasilywithtwoyounggirls。AtthesightofCarroll，theselatterrushedforwardandoverwhelmedherwithendearments。Carrollbrokeintoaquicklysuppressedsobandclaspedthemclosetoher。

"Oh，youdears！"shecried，"I’msogladyou’rehere！"SheflashedagratefullookinGerald’sdirection，andamomentlatertookoccasiontopresshisarmandwhisper：

"You’vethoughtofeverything！You’rethedearestbrotherintheworld！"

Geraldreceivedthiscalmly，andsetaboutorganisingtheceremony。

Infifteenminutesthelittlepartyseparatedatthefrontdoor，amidachatterofcongratulationsandgoodwishes。Mr。andMrs。

Ordeenteredthecabanddroveaway。

XX

"Oh，itISthebestway，dear，afterall！"criedCarroll，pressingclosetoherhusband。"AfewminutesagoIwasalldoubtsandfears，butnowIfeelsosafeandsettled，"shelaughedhappily。

"ItisasthoughIhadbelongedtoyoualways，youoldRockofGibraltar！andanythingthathappensnowwillcomefromtheoutside，andnotfromtheinside，won’tit，dear？"

"Yes，sweetheart，"saidOrde。

"Poormother！Iwonderhowshe’lltakeit。"

"We’llsoonknow，anyway，"repliedOrde，alittlegrimly。

InthehallwayoftheBishophouseOrdekissedher。

"Bebrave，sweetheart，"saidhe，"butrememberthatnowyou’remywife。"

Shenoddedathimgravelyanddisappeared。

Ordesatinthedimparlourforwhatseemedtobeaninterminableperiod。Occasionallythesoundsofdistantvoicesrosetohisearanddiedawayagain。Thefrontdooropenedtoadmitsomeone，butOrdecouldnotseewhoitwas。Twiceascurryingoffeetoverheadseemedtoindicatethebustleofexcitement。Theafternoonwaned。

Afaintwhiffofcooking，escapingthroughsomecarelesslyopendoor，wasbornetohisnostrils。Itgrewdark，butthelampsremainedunlighted。Finallyheheardtherustleoftheportieres，andturnedtoseethedimformofthegeneralstandingthere。

"Badbusiness！badbusiness！"mutteredtheoldman。"It’sveryhardonme。Perhapsyoudidtherightthing——youmustbegoodtoher——

butIcannotcountenancethisaffair。Itwasmosthigh—handed，sir！"

Theportieresfellagain，andhedisappeared。

Finally，afteranotherinterval，Carrollreturned。Shewentimmediatelytothegas—fixture，whichshelit。Ordethensawthatshewassobbingviolently。Shecametohim，andforamomenthidherfaceagainsthisbreast。Hepattedherhair，waitingforhertospeak。Afteralittleshecontrolledherself。

"Howwasit？"askedOrde，then。

Sheshivered。

"Ineverknewpeoplecouldbesocruel，"shecomplainedinalmostabewilderedmanner。"Jack，wemustgoto—night。She——shehasorderedmeoutofthehouse，andsayssheneverwantstoseemyfaceagain。"Shebrokedownforasecond。"Oh，Jack！shecan’tmeanthat。I’vealwaysbeenagooddaughtertoher。Andshe’sverybitteragainstGerald。Oh！Itoldheritwasn’thisfault，butshewon’tlisten。ShesentforthatodiousMr。Merritt——herrector，youknow——andhesupportedher。Ibelievehe’sangrybecausewedidnotgotohim。Couldyoubelievesuchathing！Andshe’sshutherselfupinherairofhighvirtue，andunderneathitshe’s，oh，soangry！"

"Well，it’snaturalsheshouldbeupset，"comfortedOrde。"Don’tthinktoomuchofwhatshedoesnow。Latershe’llgetoverit。"

Carrollshiveredagain。

"Youdon’tknow，dear，andI’mnotgoingtotellyou。Why，"shecried，"shetoldmethatyouandIwereinaconspiracytodrivehertohergravesowecouldgethermoney！"

"Shemustbealittlecrazy，"saidOrde，stillpacifically。

"Come，helpme，"saidCarroll。"Imustgetmythings。"

"Can’tyoujustpackabagandleavetherestuntiltomorrow？It’sabouthungrytime"

"ShesaysImusttakeeverystitchbelongingtometonight。"

Theypackedtrunksuntillatethatnight，quitealone。Geraldhaddepartedpromptlyafterbreakingthenews，probablywithoutrealisingtowhatapassaffairswouldcome。Afrightenedservant，evidentlyindisobedienceofordersandinfearofdestruction，broughtthematrayoffood，whichsheputdownonasmalltableandhastilyfled。InaroomdownthehalltheycouldhearthemurmurofvoiceswhereMrs。Bishopreceivedspiritualconsolationfromheradviser。Whenthetrunkswerepacked，Ordesentforabaggagewaggon。Carrollwentsilentlyfromplacetoplace，sayingfarewelltosuchofhertreasuresasshehadmadeuphermindtoleave。OrdescribbledanotetoGerald，requestinghimtopackupthemiscellaniesandsendthemtoMichiganbyfreight。ThebaggagemanandOrdecarriedthetrunksdownstairs。Nooneappeared。CarrollandOrdewalkedtogethertothehotel。NextmorninganinterviewwithGeraldconfirmedthemintheirresolutionofimmediatedeparture。

"Sheissetinheroppositionnow，andatpresentshebelievesfirmlythatherinfluencewillseparateyou。Suchastateofmindcannotbechangedinanhour。"

"Andyou？"askedCarroll。

"Oh，I，"heshrugged，"willgoonasusual。Ihavemyinterests。"

"Iwishyouwouldcomeoutinourpartofthecountry，"venturedOrde。

Geraldsmiledhisfinesmile。

"Good—bye，"saidhe。"Goingtoatrainisuseless，andaboretoeverybody。"

Carrollthrewherselfonhisneckinanaccessofpassionateweeping。

"YouWILLwriteandtellmeofeverything，won’tyou？"shebegged。

"Ofcourse。Therenow，good—bye。"

Ordefollowedhimintothehall。

Itwouldbequiteuselesstoattemptanotherinterview？"heinquired。

Geraldmadealittlemouth。

"Iaminthesamepredicamentasyourselves，"saidhe，"andhavesinceninethismorningtakenupmyquartersattheclub。PleasedonottellCarroll；itwouldonlypainher。"

Atthestation，justbeforetheypassedintothetrain，thegeneralappeared。

"There，there！"hefussed。"Ifyourmothershouldhearofmybeinghere，itwouldbeaverybadbusiness，verybad。Thisisverysad；

but——well，good—bye，dear；andyou，sir，begoodtoher。Andwriteyourdaddy，Carroll。He’llbelonesomeforyou。"Heblewhisnoseveryloudlyandwipedhisglasses。"Now，runalong，runalong，"hehurriedthem。"Letusnothaveanyscenes。Here，mydear，openthisenvelopewhenyouarewellstarted。Itmayhelpcheerthejourney。Notaword！"

Hehurriedthemthroughthegate，payingnoheedtowhattheyweretryingtosay。Thenhesteamedawayandbustledintoacabwithoutoncelookingback。

WhenthetrainhadpassedtheHarlemRiverandwasswayingitsunevenwayacrosstheopencountry，Carrollopenedtheenvelope。Itcontainedacheckforathousanddollars。

"Dearolddaddy！"shemurmured。"Ouronlyweddingpresent！"

"Youarethecapitalistofthefamily，"saidOrde。"Youdon’tknowhowpooramanyou’vemarried。Ihaven’tmuchmorethantheproverbialsilverwatchandbadnickel。"

Shereachedouttopresshishandinreassurance。Hecomparedithumorouslywithhisown。

"Whatahomely，knotted，tannedoldthingitisbyyours，"saidhe。

"It’sastronghand，"sherepliedsoberly，"it’sadearhand。"

Suddenlyshesnatcheditupandpresseditforafleetinginstantagainsthercheek，lookingathimhalfashamed。

XXI

ThewintermonthswerespentatMonrovia，whereOrdeandhiswifelivedforatimeatthehotel。Thiswassomewhatexpensive，butOrdewasnotquitereadytodecideonahome，andhedevelopedunexpectedoppositiontolivingatReddingintheOrdehomestead。

"No，I’vebeenthinkingaboutit，"hetoldGrandmaOrde。"Ayoungcoupleshouldstartoutontheirownresponsibility。Iknowyou’dbegladtohaveus，butIthinkit’sbettertheotherway。Besides，ImustbeatMonroviaagooddealofthetime，andIwantCarrollwithme。Shecanmakeyouagoodlongvisitinthespring，whenI

havetogoupriver。"

TothisGrandmaOrde，beingawiseoldlady，hadtonodherassent，althoughshewouldmuchhavelikedhersonnearher。

AtMonrovia，then，theytookuptheirquarters。Carrollsoonbecameacquaintedwiththelifeoftheplace。Monrovia，likemosttownsofitssortandsize，consistedofanupperstratumofmillownersandlumberoperators，possessedofconsiderablewealth，somecultivation，anddefinitesocialideas；agawky，countrified，middleestateofstorekeepers，cateringbothtothefarmandlocaltradeandthelumbermilloperatives，generallyofHollandextraction，whodweltinsimpleunpaintedboardshanties。Theclassfirstmentionedcomprisedasmallcoterie，amongwhomCarrollsoonfoundtwoorthreecongenials——EdithFuller，wifeoftheyoungcashierinthebank；ValerieCathcart，whosehusbandhadbeenkilledintheCivilWar；ClaraTaylor，wifeoftheleadingyounglawyerofthevillage；

and，strangelyenough，MinaHeinzman，thesixteen—year—olddaughterofoldHeinzman，thelumberman。NothingwasmoreindicativeoftheabsolutedivorceofbusinessandsociallifethantheunbrokenevennessofCarroll’sfriendshipfortheyoungergirl。ThoughlatertheoldGermanandOrdelockedinseriousstruggleontheriver，theycontinuedtomeetsociallyquiteasusual；andthedaughterofoneandthewifeoftheotherneversuspectedanythingoutoftheordinary。Thisimpersonalityofstrugglehasalwaysbeencharacteristicofthepioneerbusinessman’sgood—nature。

Newmarkreceivedthenewsofhispartner’ssuddenmarriagewithoutevincinganysurprise，butwithasardonicgleaminonecornerofhiseye。Hecalledpromptly，conversedpolitelyforahalfhour，andthentookhisleave。

"Howdoyoulikehim？"askedOrde，whenhehadgone。

"Helookslikeaveryshrewdman，"repliedCarroll，pickingherwordsforfearofsayingthewrongthing。

Ordelaughed。

"Youdon’tlikehim，"hestated。

"Idon’tdislikehim，"saidCarroll。"I’venotathingagainsthim。

Butwecouldneverbeintheslightestdegreesympathetic。HeandI

don’t——don’t——"

"Don’tjibe，"Ordefinishedforher。"Ididn’tmuchthinkyouwould。Joeneverwasmuchofasocietybug。"ItwasonthetipofCarroll’stonguetoreplythat"societybugs"werenottheonlysortshecouldappreciate，butsherefrained。Shehadbeguntorealisetheextentofherinfluenceoverherhusband’sopinion。

Newmarkdidnotliveatthehotel。Earlyinthefallhehadrentedasmallone—storyhousesituatedjustoffMainStreet，setwellbackfromthesidewalkamongclumpsofoleanders。Intothisheretiredasasnailintoitsshell。Atfirsthetookhismealsatthehotel，butlaterheimportedanimpassive，secretiveman—servant，whotookchargeofhimcompletely。Neithermasternormanmadeanyfriends，andinfactrebuffedalladvances。OneSunday，CarrollandOrde，outforawalk，passedthisquaintlittleplace，withitspicketfence。

"Let’sgoinandreturnJoe’scall，"suggestedOrde。

Theirknockatthedoorbroughtthecalmvalet。

"Mr。Newmarkish’out，sir，"saidhe。"Yes，sir，I’lltellhimthatyoucalled。"

Theyturnedaway。Astheysauntereddownthelittlebrick—laidwalk，Carrollsuddenlypressedclosetoherhusband’sarm。

"Jack，"shebegged，"Iwantalittlehouselikethat，forourveryown。"

"Wecan’taffordit，sweetheart。"

"Nottoown，"sheexplained，"justtorent。Itwillbenextbesttohavingahomeofourown。"

"We’dhavetohaveagirl，dear，"saidOrde，"andwecan’tevenaffordthat，yet。"

"Agirl！"criedCarrollindignantly。"Forustwo！"

"Youcouldn’tdothehouseworkandthecooking，"saidOrde。"You’veneverdonesuchathinginyourlife，andIwon’thavemylittlegirlslaving。"

"Itwon’tbeslaving，itwillbefun——justlikeplay—housekeeping，"

protestedCarroll。"AndI’vegottolearnsometime。Iwasbroughtupmostabsurdly，andIrealiseitnow。"

"We’llsee，"saidOrdevaguely。

Thesubjectwasdroppedforthetimebeing。LaterCarrollbroughtitupagain。Shewasarmedwithseveralsheetsofhotelstationery，coveredwithfiguresshowinghowmuchcheaperitwouldbetokeephousethantoboard。

"Youcertainlymakeoutastrongcase——onpaper，"laughedOrde。"Ifyoubuyaroosterandahen，andsheraisestwobroods，attheendofayearyou’llhavetwenty—six；andiftheyallbreed——evenallowinghalfroosters——you’llhaveoverthreehundred；andiftheyallbreed，you’llhaveaboutthirty—fivehundred；andif——"

"Stop！stop！"criedCarroll，coveringherears。

"Allright，"agreedOrdeequably，"butthat’sthewayitfigures。

Funnytheearthisn’toverrunwithchickens，isn’tit？"

Shethrusthertablesoffiguresintoherdeskdrawer。"You’rejustmakingfunofmealways，"shesaidreproachfully。

TwodayslaterOrdetookheroneblockupthestreettolookatatinylittlehousetuckedonafifty—footlotbeneaththeshadowofthechurch。

"It’smightylittle，"saidhe。"I’llhavetogooutinthehalltochangemycollar，andwecouldn’thavemorethantwopeopleatatimetocallonus。"

"It’sadear！"saidshe，"andI’mnotsoe—nor—mousmyself，whateverYOUmaybe。"

Theyendedbyrentingthelittlehouse，andCarrolltookchargeofitdelightedly。Whatdifficultiessheovercame，andwhatlaughableandcryablemistakesshemadeonlythosewhohaveencounteredalikesituationcouldrealise。Shelearnedfast，however，andtookarealprideinhertinyboxofahome。Apianowas，ofcourse，outofthequestion，butthegreatgoldenharpoccupiedonecorner，orratheroneside，oftheparlour。Standingthusenshroudedinitscovering，itratherresembledanaugustandtremendousveileddeity。ToCarroll’sgreatdelight，Ordeusedsolemnlytogodownonallfoursandknockhisforeheadthriceonthefloorbeforeitwhenheenteredthehouseatevening。Whentheverycoldweathercameandtheyhadtolightthebase—burnerstove，whichOrdestoutlymaintainedoccupiedalltheotherhalfoftheparlour，theharp’sdelicateconstitutionnecessitateditsstandinginthehall。Nevertheless，Carrollhadgreatcomfortfromit。WhileOrdewasawayattheoffice，shewhisperedthroughitsmellowstringshergreathappiness，thedreamsforheryoungmotherhoodwhichwouldcomeinthesummer，thevagueandlingeringpainoverthehaplessbutbelovedonesshehadleftbehindherinherotherlife。Thenshearoserefreshed，andwentaboutthesimpledutiesofhertinydomain。

Thewinterwassevere。Alltheworldwaswhite。ThepilesofsnowalongthesidewalksgrewuntilCarrollcouldhardlylookoverthem。

Greatfiercewindssweptinfromthelake。SometimesOrdeandhiswifedrovetwomilestothetopofthesandhills，wherefirsttheyhadmetinthistheirpresenthome，andlookedoutbeyondthetumbledshoreicetothesteel—gray，angrywaters。Thewindprickedtheirfaces，and，goinghome，thesleigh—bellsjingled，thesnowballsfromthehorses’hoofshitagainstthedash，thecoldairsearedtheinsideoftheirnostrils。WhenOrdehelpedCarrollfrombeneaththewarmbuffalorobes，shehelduptohimafaceglowingwithcolour，framedinthesoftfluffyfurofahood。

"Youdarling！"hecried，andstoopedtokisshersmooth，coldcheek。

Whenhehadreturnedfromthestablearoundthecorner，hefoundthelitlampthrowingitsmodifiedlightandshadeoverthelittleroundtable。Heshookdownthebase—burnervigorously，thrustseveralbilletsofwoodinitsdoor，andturnedtomeethereyesacrossthetable。

"Kindoffunbeingmarried，isn’tit？"saidhe。

"Kindof，"sheadmitted，noddinggravely。

Thebusinessofthefirmwasbynowaboutinshape。Alltheboomarrangementshadbeenmade；thetwotugswereinthewaterandtheirmachineryinstalled；suppliesandequipmentswerestoredaway；theforemenofthecrewsengaged，andthecrewsthemselvesprettywellpickedout。Onlythereneededtobuildthewanigan，andtocartinthesuppliesfortheupperriverworksbeforethespringbreak—upandthealmostcompletedisappearanceoftheroads。Therefore，Ordehadthegoodfortuneofunusualleisuretoenjoythesefirstmonthswithhisbride。TheyenteredtogethertheUnexploredCountry，andfounditmorewonderfulthantheyhaddreamed。Almostbeforetheyknewit，JanuaryandFebruaryhadflown。