"Andmeantime？"hesaid，lookingupatElinor。
　　"Yes，meantime，it'sJunetime，"Elinorreplied。
　　"Well，andwhatofSunrise？Didwe——"
　　"Oh，yes，wedid。Thecollegefirst。Therulingpassion，stronginthehospital。WhenaWreamgetstokingdom-come，healwaysasksSaintPeterfirstforamortarboardandgowninsteadofacrownandwings。”Norrie'seyeswereshining。
　　"Andhe'salittleparticularabouttheliningofthewings，too——Purple，forLaw；White，forLetters；Blue，forPhilosophy；Red，forDivinity。Takethisquietingpowder。
　　Collegepresidentsshouldbeseenandnotheard。”
　　Shesmilinglysilencedhim。
　　Underhergentleministrations，Dr。FennebencouldpicturewhatcomfortmightbeinstoreforVincentBurgessinaday，doubtlessonlytwoyearsaway。
　　HeresentedJoshuaWream'sestimateofElinor。SurelyJoshuahadneverseenherintheplaceofnurse。
　　"Now，meantime，UncleLloyd，"Elinorwassaying，"commencementpassedoffbeautifullyunderActing-DeanBurgess，consideringhowsadandheavy-heartedeverybodywas。
　　ThetrusteeswanttoraiseProfessorBurgess'ssalarynextyear——
　　he'ssocompetent。
　　LloydFenneben'seyeswerenotbandaged，andashelookedatElinorhewonderedatherutterlackofreserveandsentiment，whenshespokeofBurgessinsuchafrank，matter-of-factway。
　　Whenhewasinloveyearsago——buttimesmusthavechanged。
　　"Thearrangementsfornextyeararealllookedafter。
　　Everythingwillbedoneexactlyasyouwouldhaveitdone。
　　There'snotonethingtoputaworryintothatcottonroundyourhead。”
　　"Good!Now，tellmeof`beforehand。'"Hissmilewasascharmingasever。
　　"Inyourfeveryou'vebeentellingusaboutaone-armedmanwhohadtwoarmstopushpeopleintotheriver，ofhiswantingyoutosavesomechild'slife，andofyourstumblingoverthestone。
　　That'sallweknowaboutthat。BondSaxonandProfessorBurgessfoundyouinthewateratthenorthbendintheWalnutclosetothathermitwoman'shouse。Eitheryoufellin，orsomebodypushedyoudownthebank，headforemost，andyoustruckaledgeofrock。”
　　Elinor'seyeswerefulloftearsnow。"Youwouldhavebeendrowned，ifthatwhite-hairedwomanhadn'tjumpedinandheldyourheadabovewaterwhilesheclungtothebusheswithonehand。
　　Herdoghelped，too，likearealhero。Itstoodonthebankandheldtohershawlthatshehadfastenedroundyoutoholdyou。
　　Andtheriverwasrisingsofast，too。Itwasawful。
　　Idon'tknowjusthowitwasallmanaged，UncleLloyd，butitwasmanagedbetweenthewomanandherdogatfirst，andProfessorBurgessandBondSaxonatlast，andyouaresafenow，andonthehighroad，theveryelevatedtracks，torecovery。
　　Whenyourfeverwasthehighest，thedoctorskepttellingmeaboutyoursplendidconstitutionandyourtemperatelife。
　　Youmustgetwellnow。”
　　Shebentoverhimandsoftlycaressedhishand。
　　"Whereisthatwomannow？DennieSaxonaskedmeoncetodosomethingforherinherloneliness。Shegotaheadofmynegligenceanddidsomethingforme，itseems。”
　　"SheleftLagondaLedgetheverydaytheyrushedusupheretothehospital。
　　Isn'tshestrange？Andsheissogentleandsweet，butsosad。
　　Ineversawsuchapatheticfaceashers，UncleLloyd。”
　　"Whendidyouseeher？"Fennebenasked。
　　"Shecametoaskafteryou。Nobodythoughtyouwouldgetoverit。”
　　Elinor'svoicetrembled。"Thefeverwasburningyouupandittookthreedoctorstoholdyou。IsawherfacewhenDennieSaxonsaidtheythoughtyouwouldn'tpullthrough。
　　Yourownsistercouldn'thaveturnedwhiter，UncleLloyd。”
　　"Andtheone-armedmanIseemedtoremember？"
　　"Idon'tknow。I'vebeentoobusytoaskmanyquestions。
　　LagondaLedgeisinmourningforyou。Itwillrunuptheflagabovehalf-mastwhenIwritehowmuchbetteryouare。
　　BondSaxonhasatheorythatsomethiefwantedtorobyouanddecoyedyouawayonpretenseofhelpingsomebodyoutoftheriver。
　　Youareaneasymark，Uncle。”
　　"WhyshouldBondSaxonhaveatheory？Andhowdidheknowwheretofindme？
　　Andhowdidthatgray-hairedwomanandherdoghappeninonthescenejustthen？Thisisagrimsortofdimenovelbusiness，Norrie。Thingsdon'tfalloutthiswayinreallifeunlessthereissomereasonbackofthem。
　　IthinkI'llbearinvestigating。”
　　"Ithinksomyself——youoryourromanticrescuingsquad。
　　Youmightcallthedogtothewitnessstandfirst，forhewasthefirstonthescene。Iforgotthoughthatthedogisdead。
　　Theyfoundhimdowntheriverwithhisthroatcut。
　　Theplotthickens。”Elinor'sfrivolousspiritwasreturningwiththelesseningofcare。
　　"Tellmeabouttheballgame，"Fennebensaidnext。
　　"Oh，itrainedforhoursandhours，andtherewasn'tanytrainserviceforLagondaLedgeforaweek，andalltheInter-CollegiateAthleticeventsfortheseasonwerecalledoffforSunrise-by-the-Walnut。”
　　"Andthestudents，generally？"Dr。Fennebenquestioned。
　　"Mr。Trenchwillbeback，"Elinorexclaimed，"andfolkshavejustfoundoutthatit'soldTrenchwho'skeepingthatcrippledboyinschool，theonetheycall`Limpy。'Trenchrustlesjobsforhimanddivideshisownincomeforcollegeexpenseswiththeboyfortherestofthecost。Idon'tknowhowthestorygotout，butIaskedhimaboutitwhenhewasupheretoseeyou。
　　Hejustgrinnedanddrawledlazily，`Icansavealittleonshoeleather，thatsomefellowswearouthurryingso，andI
　　don'tburstupsomanyhatswithaswelledheadassomedo。
　　SoIkeepalittleextrachangeontheseaccounts。
　　We'regoingdowntoOklahomawhenwegraduate。Limpy'sgoingtobeaMethodistpreacherandIastockman。I'llkeephiminrawmaterialforconvertsoutofthecowboysI'llhavetohandle。'
　　Isn'toldTrenchyahero？HesaysDeanFunnyboneshowedhimhowtothinkaboutsomebodyelsebesideTrenchalittlebit。”
　　"Oh，yes；TrenchisaheroandI'veknownaboutthatwholethingforalongwhile，"theDeanasserted。"AndVictorBurleigh？"
　　Ashadowinthebeautifuldarkeyes，ahalf-toneloweringofthevoice，andageneralindifferenceofmanner，asElinoranswered:
　　"I'msureIdon'tknowanythingabouthim，exceptthathe'scomingbacknextyear。”
　　Dr。Fennebenreadthewholestoryinthewordsandmanneroftheanswer，andhesmiledgrimlyashethoughtofBurgessandoftheconflictofWreamagainstWreamifElinorandhisbrotherJoshuaevercametotheclashofarms。Buthewastooweaknowtodirectmatters。
　　Andmeantime，whileLagondaLedgewasholdingitsbreathinanxietyanddread，andallthechurcheswerejoininginunionprayerserviceforthelifeoftheirbelovedDeanFenneben，andthecollegeyearwasendinginahaltingbetweenhopeanddread——meantime，thesamequeriesofDr。FennebenastomotiveswerealsoqueriesinProfessorBurgess'mind。
　　TotheschoolandthetownDr。Fenneben'srecoverywastheonlythingaskedfor。Therewasasyetnoclewregardingthecauseoftheassault。
　　BondSaxonhadavoidedBurgesssincetheevent，sotheyoungmanhimselfmadeoccasiontogetBondupintoDr。Fenneben'sstudyoneJunedayjustbeforecommencement。
　　"Saxon，"hesaidgravely，"youareamanofsense，andyouknowthatthere'ssomethingwrongaboutthisFennebenassault。
　　You'veputupsomesmoothstoriesaboutourhappeningtobeoutatthebendoftheriverthatnight，soIguesssuspicionwillbeturnedfromusallrightwhenLagondaLedgegetstimetothinkaboutcauses；butImustbeletintothetruthnow。”
　　Burgesswasadamantnow。
　　Foralittlewhiletheoldmanlookedawaythroughthestudywindowattheprairieempiretobefoundforthelooking。
　　"Doyouseethatlittletwistofbluesmokeoverwest？"
　　hequeriedpresently。
　　"Whatofit？"Burgessasked。
　　"Nothing，onlythemanhuddlin'downroundthefiremakin'thatsmokewaydownwhereit'scoldanddark，that'sthemanwho——say，Professor!"
　　OldBondlookedupappealingly，andthepitifulfacetouchedBurgess'heart。
　　"Whatisit，Saxon？Befranknow，butbefair，too。Soonerorlater，thisthingmustberundown。Fennebenwilldoithimself，anyhow，assoonashe'swellenough。”
　　"Professor，Ihaveaskedyoutwiceifyou'dbegoodtoDennie——"
　　"Yes，yes；youalwayscomebacktothat。Anybodywouldbegoodtoher，andshe'sacapablegirlwhodoesn'tneedanybody'scare，anyhow。
　　Now，goon。”
　　"Iwill"——itseemedanheroicresolve——"IaskedthisforDennie，becausemyownlifeisneversafe。”
　　"Soyouhavesaid。Whynot？"Burgessinsisted。
　　Therewasnowaytoevadethequestionnow。
　　"That'smyownbusiness——justalittlelonger，"Bondansweredslowly。
　　"Onethingmore；IwantyourpromisenottotellwhatIsay——yetawhile。
　　Itcan'thurtanyonetokeepstill，anditwillhelpsomefolks。”
　　"Oh，I'llhelpyouallIcan。”Burgess'skindlypatiencenowwasstrangelyunlikethearistocratic，resentfulmantowhomoldBondSaxonhadappealedonestormyOctobernight。
　　"I'mafailure，Professor。I'vespoiledmylifebymyinfernalweakwillandappetiteforwhisky。Iknowitaswellasyoudo。
　　ButI'mnotmeantforabadman。”TherewasunspeakablepathosinSaxon'sfaceandwords。
　　"Nobodywouldcallyoubad。Youarealovablemanwhenyou——
　　keepstraight，"Burgessdeclaredcordially。
　　"Igraduatedfromtheuniversitybackinthesixties，"
　　Bondwenton。
　　"You!"Burgessexclaimed。
　　"Yes，I'moneofyouralumnibrothersfromHarvard。Ittakesmore'nacollegediplomatomakeamansometimes，althoughthiswouldmightysoongettobeacheap，destructiblenation，ifweshouldpullthecollegesoutofit。TheboysI'veseenSunrisemakeintomendoesanoldman'sheartgoodtothinkabout!
　　Butthere'smorethanbook-learninginaMaster'sDegree。TheremustbeMASTERYinit。Inevergotfarther'nanA。B。，partlybecauseNaturemademeeasygoing，butmostlybecausewhiskyruinedme。
　　IfinallycametoKansas。I'dhavehadtremenslongagobutforthat。
　　Butevenhereaman'sgottokeepthelawinside，ornohumanlawcanpreventhismakingabeastofhimself。”
　　Saxonpaused，andtheprofessorwaited。
　　"Themanthatsetsthecussedtrapformeisalawbreaker，anescapedconvict，andamurderer。That'swhatdrinkingdidforhim；
　　drinkingandinjusticeinmoneymatterstogether。”
　　Burgessstartedandhisfacegrewpale。
　　"Oh，it'safact，Professor。Thereareseveralroadstoruin。
　　OnebytherouteI'vetaken。Onemaybetoomuchloveofmoney，ofwomen，orofhavingyourownway。Youcanruinyoursoulbygettingitsetononethingaboveeverythingelse。Education，forinstance，liketheWreamsbackthereinCambridge。”
　　"TheWreams!"Burgessexclaimed。
　　"Yes，oldJoshuaWreamsoldhimselftoanappetiteformustyoldSanscrittillhe'dsacrificeanybody'scomfortandjoyforit，sameasIsoldouttoafool'scravingfordrink。
　　You'llknowtheWreamssometimeasIknow'emnow。
　　Fenneben'sonlyastepbrotherandtheWestmadeamanofhim。
　　Hewasalwaysagentleman。”
　　"Goon!"Vincent'svoicewashardlyaudible。
　　"Thisoutlaw，boot-legger，thief，andmurdererwasarespectablefellowonce，theadoptedsonofawealthyfamilybackEast，whobeganbyspoilinghim，lavishedmoneyonhim，andlethimhavehisownwayineverything。
　　Hewasagayyoungsterontheside，giventodrinkingandfastcompany。
　　Hefellinlovewithaprettygirl，butwhenshefoundhimout，shecuthim。Thenhewenttothedogs，blamingherbecauseshehadsenseenoughtothrowhimoverwherehebelonged。
　　Shefellinlove——therightkindoflove——withanotherman。
　　Andthisyoungfoolwhohadnoclaimonheratall，sworevengeance。
　　Herfamilywantedhertomarrytheyoungsportbecausehehadmoney。
　　Theywerelongonmoney——herfatherwas，anyhow。Butshewouldn'tdoit。”
　　"Didshemarrytheoneshereallycaredfor？"Burgessaskedeagerly。
　　"No；butthat'sanotherstory。Meantimethisfellow'sfatherdied，leavingtheboyhe，himself，hadstartedonthewrongroad，entirelyoutofhiswill。Theboywenttothedevil——
　　andhe'sstillthere。”
　　Saxonpausedandlookedoncemoreatthetinywaveringsmokecolumn，hardlyvisiblenow。
　　"He'soveryonderhidingawayfromthelightofdayunderthebluffsbythefirethatsendsthatcurlofsmokeupthroughthecrevicesintherock，anoutlawthief。”
　　SaxongazedlongatthelandscapebeyondtheWalnut。Whenhespokeagain，itwaswithaneffort。
　　"Professor，thisoutlawgotaholdonmeoncewhenIwasdrunk，drunkbyhismaking。Itwoulddonogoodtotellyouaboutthat。
　　Youcouldn'thelpme，norharmhim。You'lltrustmeinthis？"
　　ApictureofDenniedownintheKickapooCorral，withtheflickeringfirelightonherripplinghair，theweird，shadowywoodland，andtheoldIndianlegendallcamebacktotheyoungmannow，thoughwhyhecouldnotsay。
　　"Icertainlywouldneverbringharmtoyounoryours，"
　　hesaidkindly。
　　"Ican'tinformonthescoundrel。Icanonlywatchhim。Thewomanhewasinlovewithyearsago，whowouldn'tstandforhiswildways——
　　that'sthegray-hairedwomanatPigeonPlace。Herlife'sbeenonelongtragedy，thoughsheisnotfortyyet。”
　　Theanguishontheoldman'sfacewaspitifulashespoke。
　　"Shehasareasonofherownforlivinghere，andsheisthesoulofcourage。
　　OnthenightoftheFennebenaccident，Iwasoutherway——yes，runningawayfromBondSaxon。IknewifIstayedintown，I'dgetdrunkonabottleleftatmydoor。SoItoreoutintherainandthedarktofightitoutwiththedevilinsideofme。AndoutatPigeonPlaceIrunontothisfiend。
　　WhenIorderedhimbacktohishidingplace，hevowedhe'dgetFennebenandputhimintheriver。There'soneortwohumanthingsabouthimstill。
　　Oneishisfearoflittlechildren，andoneishisloveforthatwoman。
　　Hereallydidadoreheryearsago。Itrackedhomeafterhim，andyouknowtherest。HeputupsomestorytotheDeantoenticehimoutthere。”
　　Hehesitated，thenceasedtospeak。
　　"WhytheDean？"Burgessasked。
　　"BecauseLloydFenneben'sthemanshelovedyearsago，andherfolkswouldn'tlethermarry，"BondSaxonsaidsadly。
　　Burgessfeltasifthelimestoneridgewasgivingwaybeneathhim。
　　"Whereisshenow？"
　　She'sgone，nobodyknowswhere。Ihopetoheavenshewillnevercomeback，"
　　theoldmanreplied。
　　"AnditwasshewhosavedDr。Fenneben'slife？Doesheknowwhosheis？"
　　"No，no。She'sneverlethimknow，andifshedoesn'twanthimtoknow，whosebusinessisittotellhim？"Saxonurged。
　　"IhavehungaboutandprotectedherwhensheneverknewIwasnear。
　　ButwhenI'mdrunk，I'manidiotandmymindisbentagainsther。
　　I'ddietosaveher，andyetImaykillhersomedaywhenIdon'tknowit。”
　　BondSaxon'sheadwasdroopingpitifullylow。
　　"Butwhyliveinsuchslavery？Whynottellallyouknowaboutthismanandletthelawprotectahelplesswoman？"Burgessurged。
　　OldBondSaxonlookedupandutteredonlyoneword——"Dennie!"
　　VincentBurgessturnedawayamoment。Dennie!Yes，therewasDennie。
　　"Thiswomanhadahusband，yousay？"heaskedpresently。
　　BondSaxonstaredstraightathimandslowlynoddedhishead。
　　"Whatbecameofhim？Doyouknow？Vincentquestioned。
　　Saxonleanedforward，and，clutchingVincentBurgessbythearm，whisperedhoarsely，"He'sdead。Ikilledhim。ButIwasdrunkwhenIdidit。Andthismanknowsitandholdsmebound，"
　　SERVICE
　　_Ifyouwereborntohonor，showitnow；
　　ifputuponyou，makethejudgmentgoodthatthoughtyouworthyofit_——
　　SHAKESPEARE
　　CHAPTERXI
　　THESINSOFTHEFATHERS
　　_Theyenslavetheirchildren'schildrenwhomakecompromisewithsin_——
　　LOWELL
　　ITwasmid-DecemberbeforeLloydFennebensawLagondaLedgeagain。
　　Inthemurderousattemptuponhislife，hehadbeenhurled，head-downward，uponthehiddenrock-ledgewithsuchforcethatevenhisstrongnervoussystemcouldbarelyovercometheshock。
　　Hoursofunconsciousnesswerefollowedbyaragingbrainfever，andparalysis，insanity，anddeathstrovetogetheragainsthim。
　　Hisfinalcompleterecoverywasslow，andhewaswiseenoughtoletnaturehaveampletimeforrebuildingwhathadbeensocruellywrenchedoutofline。Itwasthisverypatienceandwillingnesstotakelifecalmly，whenmostmenwouldhavebeeninafeverofanxietyaboutneglectedbusiness，thatbroughtLloydFennebenbacktoLagondaLedgeinDecember，aperfectlywellman；andasidefromtheholidaygiveninhonoroftheevent，asidefromthedisplayofflagsandthebig"Welcome"
　　doneinelectriclightsawaitinghimattherailroadstation，wherealltheportablepopulationofLagondaLedgeandmostoftheWalnutValley，headedbytheSunrisecontingent，enmasse，seemedtobewaitingalso——asidefromthedemonstrationandgeneralhilarityandthanksgivingandrejoicing，thereseemednodifferencebetweentheDeanofthedaysthatfollowedandtheDeanoftheyearsbefore。Hisblackhairwasaslongandheavyasever。
　　Hisblackeyeshadlostnothingoftheirkeenness。
　　Hissmilewasjustthesameold，genialoutbreakofgoodwill，asheheardthewildlyenthusiasticrefrain:
　　RahforFunnybone!
　　RahforFunnybone!
　　RahforFunnybone!
　　_Rah!_RAH!!RAH!!!
　　Itwastwilightwhenthetrainpulleduptothestation。
　　TheDecembereveningwasclearandcrispassouthernKansasDecembersusuallyare。Thelightsofthetownweretwinklinginthedusk。
　　Outbeyondtheriveragorgeouspurpleandscarletafter-sunsetglowwasfillingthewestwiththatmagnificenceofcoloringonlythehandofNaturedarestopaint。
　　Severalpassengersleftthetrain，butthecompanyhadeyesonlyforthePullmancarwhereFennebenwasriding。Nobody，exceptBondSaxon，andacabdriverontheedgeofthecrowd，noticedagray-hairedwomanwhoalightedsoquietlyandslippedtothecabsoquicklythatshewasalmostouttoPigeonPlacebeforeFennebenhadbeenabletocleartheplatform。
　　BehindtheDeanwashisniece，whohaltedonthecarstepswhileherunclewentintotheoutstretchedarmsofLagondaLedge。Atsightofher，thehatswenthighinair，asshestoodtheresmilingabovethecrowd。ItwasMaytimewhenshewentaway。
　　TheyhadrememberedherindaintyMaytimegowns。
　　Theywerenotpreparedforherinherhandsometravelingcostumeofgoldenbrown，herbrownbeaverhat，andprettyfurs。
　　Abeautifulgirlcanbesocharminginherwinterfeathers。
　　ShehadexpectedthatBurgesswouldbefirsttomeether，andshewasready，shethought，togreethim，becomingly。
　　Butastheporterhelpedhertotheplatform，thecrowdclosedin，shuttinghimawaymomentarily，andahandcaughthers，abig，stronghandwhoseclasp，socloseandwarm，seemedtoholdherhandbyrightofeternalpossession。AndVictorBurleigh'sbrowneyesfullofajoyouslightwerelookingdownather。
　　Itwasallsuchasweet，shadowytimethatnobodycrowdingaboutthemcouldseeclearlyhowElinor，withshiningface，nestledinvoluntarilyclosetohisarmforjustoneinstant，andherlowmurmuredwords，"Iamgladyouwerefirst，"
　　werelosttoallbutthebigfellowbeforeher，andabigger，vastlylazyfellow，Trench，justbehindher。ItwasTrench'sbulkthathadblockedthewayfortheprofessoramomentbefore。
　　Thenshewasswallowedinthejollygreetingsofgoodfellowship，andVincentBurgesscarriedherawaytothecarriagewhereherunclewaited。
　　"Thethingissettlednow，"theyoungfolksthought。
　　ButDennieSaxonandTrench，whowalkedhometogether，knewthatmanythingswerehopelesslyunsettled。Bythelawofnaturalfitness，DennieandTrenchshouldhavefalleninlovewitheachother。Theyweresoalikeingoodnessofheart。
　　Butsuchmatingoflikewithlike，israre，andunderitsrulingtheworldwouldgrowsomonotonouslygood，ontheonehand，andbad，ontheother，thatlifewouldbeuninteresting。
　　DuringDr。Fenneben'sabsence，ProfessorBurgesswasacting-dean。
　　Foramanwho，twoyearsbefore，hadneverheardofaJayhawker，whohopedthebarrenprairieswouldfurnishseclusionforprofoundresearchinhislibrary，andwhoseinterestinthestudentbodylayinitsmaterialtofurnish"types，"DeanBurgess，ontheoutside，certainlymeasuredupwelltowardthestatureoftherealDean——
　　broad-minded，beloved"Funnybone。”
　　AndasVincentBurgessgrewinbreadthofviewandhumaninterest，hispopularityincreasedandhisopportunitiesmultiplied。
　　SunriseforgotthatithadeverregardedhimasawalkingGreektextbookinpaperbinding。NexttoDr。LloydFenneben，hisplaceatSunrisewouldbethehardesttofillnow；andwithal，sometimeinthenearfuture，therewaswaitingforhimtheprettiestgirlthateverclimbedthestepsfromthelowercampustotheSunrisedoor。
　　BurgesshadneverdreamedthatlifeinKansascouldbesofullofpleasureforhim。
　　Andallthewhile，ontheinside，anotherBurgesswasgrowingupwhoquarreleddailywiththishappyouterBurgess。ThisinnermanitwaswhoheldthesecretofBondSaxon'sawfulcrime；
　　themanwhoknewthelifestoryofthewould-beassassinofLloydFenneben，andwhoknewthetragedythathadturnedafair-facedgirltoagray-hairedwoman，yetyounginyears。
　　Heknewthetragedy，butthewomanherselfhehadneverseen，saveinthedarknessandrainofthatawfulnightwhenshehadheldLloydFenneben'sheadabovethefastrisingwatersoftheWalnut。Hehadneverevenheardhervoice，forhehadsustainedthelimpbodyofDr。FennebenwhileSaxonhelpedthewomanfromtheriverandasfarastoherowngate。
　　Buttheseweresecretthingsoutsideofhisownconscience。
　　Insideofhisconsciencetherealbattlewasfoughtandwon，andlost，onlytobewonandlostoverandover。SolongasElinorWreamwasaway，hecouldstayexecutiononhimself。
　　ThesametrainthatbroughtherhometoLagondaLedge，broughtalettertoProfessorVincentBurgess，A。B。TheletterheadingboreasmanyofDr。JoshuaWream'stitlesasspacewouldpermit，butthecramped，old-fashionedhandwritingbelongedtoamanofmorethanfourscoreyears，anditwassignedjust"J。R。”
　　BurgessreadthislettermanytimesthatnightafterhereturnedfromdinnerattheFennebenhome。Andsometimeshisfistswereclinchedandsometimeshisblueeyeswerefulloftears。
　　ThenherememberedlittleBug，whohaddeclaredoncethat"DonFonnybonewasdoodfortwoubleness。”
　　"Ican'ttakethistoFenneben，"hemused，ashereadJoshuaWream'sletterforthetenthtime。"NorcanIgotoSaxon。He'sneversureofhimselfandwhenhe'sdrunk，hereverseshimselfandturnsagainsthisbestfriends。
　　AndwhoamItoturntoamanlikeBondSaxonformyconfidences？"
　　"WhataboutElinor？"cameavoicefromsomewhere。
　　"Thewomanyouwouldmakeyourwifeshouldbetheonetowhoselovingsympathyyoucouldturnatanyoflife'sangles，elsethatwerenorealmarriage。”
　　"Elinor，ofallpeopleintheworld，theverylast。
　　Sheshallneverknow，never!"Soheansweredtheinwardquestioner。
　　DimlythenroseupbeforehimthepictureofVictorBurleighontherainyMaynightwhenhestoodbesidelittleBugBuler'sbed——
　　VictorBurleigh，withhiswhite，sorrowfulface，andburningbrowneyes，tellinginavoicelikemusicthereasonwhyhemustrenounceathletichonorsinSunrise。
　　Burgesshadbeenunconsciouslyexultantovertheboy'sconfession。
　　ItwouldputtheconfessoroutofreachofanyclaimtoElinor'sfriendshipwhenthetruthwasknownabouthispovertyandhisprofessionalplaying。
　　AndyethehadfollowedBondSaxon'sleadthemorewillinglythatnightthathewashatinghimselfforrejoicingwithhimself。
　　OnthisDecembernight，withElinoroncemoreinLagondaLedge，VictorBurleighmustcomeagaintotroublehim。
　　Whatapricethatboymusthavepaidforhishonesty!
　　Buthepaidit，aye，hepaidit!AndthentherainsputoutthegameandnobodyknewexceptBurleighandhimself。
　　BurgessalmostresentedthekindnessofFatetotheheroicboy。
　　ButallthissolvednoproblemsforVincentBurgess，excepttherealizationthatherewasonefellowwhohadasoulofcourage。
　　CouldheconfideinBurleigh？Notinathousandyears!
　　Inutterloneliness，VincentBurgessputouthislightandstaredatthewindow。Thestreetlampsglowedinlonelyfashion，foritwasverylate，andnobodywasabroad。Uponthelimestoneridge，theSunrisebeaconshonebravely。Downintownbesidethecampusgate——hecouldjustcatchaglimpseofonesteadybeam。
　　ItwasthefaithfuloldlampinthehallwayoftheSaxonHouse，andbeyondthatunwaveringlightwasDennie。
　　"Dennie!WhyhaveInotthoughtofher？TheonlyoneintheworldwhomIcanfullytrust。Thatoughttobeaman'ssweetheart，Isuppose，butsheisnotmine。SheisjustDennie。Heavenblessher!
　　I'vesworntocareforher。Shemusthelpmenow。”
　　Andwiththecomfortingthought，hefellasleepbesidethewindow。
　　TheDecembersunsetwassuperbinagloryofendlesspurplemistsandrose-tintedsplendoroffar-reachingskies。
　　Theeveningdropsdownearlyatthisseasonandthelightsweregleaminghereandthereinthetownwheretheshadowsfallsoonestbeforetheday'sworkisfinishedupinSunrise。
　　VictorBurleigh，whohadbeencalledtoDr。Fenneben'sstudy，foundonlyElinorthere，lookingoutattheradiantbeautyofthesunsetskybeyondthehomeyshadowsstuddedwiththetwinklinglightsofLagondaLedgeatthefootoftheslope。
　　Theyoungmanhesitatedalittlebeforeentering。AlldaytheschoolhadbeenbusysettlingaffairsforProfessorBurgessand"Norrie，thebeloved。”Gossiphasswiftfeetandfromsurmisetofactisashortcourse。Twenty-fourhourshadquitecompletely"fixedthings"forElinorWreamandVincentBurgess，sofarasSunriseandLagondaLedgewereabletofixthem。
　　SoBurleigh，whosestrongfacecarriednohintofgrief，heldbackaminutenow，beforeenteringthestudy。
　　"Ibegyourpardon，Elinor。Dr。Fennebensentforme。”
　　Somehowthedeepmusicalvoiceandhernamepronouncedasnobodyelseevercouldpronounceit，andthebigmanlyformandbraveface，allseemedtocompletethespellofthesunsethour。
　　Elinordidnotspeak，butwithasmilemaderoomforhimbesideheratthewindow，andthetwolookedlongatthedeepeninggrandeuroftheheavensandthemistyshadowsofheliotropeandsilverdarkeningsoftlytothetwilightbelowthem。
　　"AndGodsawthatitwasgood。Andtheeveningandthemorningwerethefourthday，"Victorsaidatlast。
　　"Yourvoicegrowsricherwiththepassingyears，Victor，"Elinorsaidsoftly。
　　"IwantedtohearitagainthefirsttimeIheardyouspeakoutthereoneSeptemberday。”
　　"Itiswelltogrowrichinsomething，"Victorsaid，half-earnestly，half-carelessly。
　　BeforeElinorcouldsaymore，theycaughtsightofProfessorBurgessandDennieSaxon，leavingthefrontporticoastheyhaddoneontheMayeveningbeforetheassaultonDr。Fenneben。BurgessandDennieusuallyleftthebuildingtogetherthisyear。
　　"Isn'tDennieadarling？Elinorsaidcalmly。