"Iguessso，"hereplied。"Idon'tjustknowwhatmakesagirladarlingtoanothergirl。Ionlyknow"——hewasonthinicenow——"andIdon'tevenknowthatverywell。”
　　Theyturnedtothelandscapeagain。Thewholebuildingwasgrowingquiet。Footstepswerefadingawaydownthehalls。
　　Doorsclickedfaintlyhereandthere。Somebodywassingingsoftlyinthebasementlaboratory，andthesunsetskywasexquisitelylovelyabovethequietgrayDecemberprairies。
　　"Itistoobeautifultolast，"Elinorsaid，turningtotheyoungmanbesideher。"Thejoyofitistoodeepforustohold。”
　　Shedidnotmeantostayamomentlonger，forallthescenecouldbehersforeverinmemory——imperishable!——andVictordidnotmeantodetainher。
　　Butherfaceassheturnedfromthewindow，thehallowedsettingoftimeandopportunity，andaheart-lovehungeringthroughhopeless，slow-draggingmonths，allhadtheirownwaywithhim。
　　Heputouthisarmstoherandshenestledwithinthem，liftingafacetohisowntransfiguredwithlove'ssweetness。
　　Andhebentandkissedherredlips，holdinghercloseinhisarms。
　　Andintheshadowytwilight，withthefaintlyroseatebannersofthesunset'safter-glowtrailingthroughit，forjustoneminute，heavenandearthcameveryneartogetherforthesetwo。
　　Andthentheyremembered，andElinorputherhandinVictor's，whohelditinhiswithoutaword。
　　Outinthehall，Trenchwithsoftlazystephadjustcometothestudydoorintimetoseeandturnawayunseen，andslowlypassoutofthebigfrontdoor，whistlinglowthewhile:
　　MysweetheartlivesontheprairieswideBythesandyCimarron，Inadaytocomeshewillbemybride，BythesandyCimarron。
　　Outbythebigstonepillarsoftheportico，helookedtowardthesouthturretandsawDr。FennebenasVichadseenElinorontheeveningoftheMaystorm。
　　Hedidnotcall，butwithatwistofthefingersasofunlockingadoor，hedodgedbackintothebuildinganduptothechapelendoftheturretstairstoreleasetheDean。
　　Dr。Fennebenhadstarteddowntothestudybythesameold"roadtoperdition"stairsandpausedatthewindowasDennieandBurgesswerepassingout，unconsciousofthreepairsofeyesonthem。
　　ThentheDeansawdownthroughthehalf-openstudydoorthetwoyoungpeoplebythewindow，andheknewhewasnotneededthere。
　　Whatthatlookinhisblackeyesmeant，asheturnedtothehalf-waywindowoftheturret，itwouldhavebeenhardtoread。
　　Andthepictureofafair-facedgirlcamebacktohisownhungrymemory。
　　HewastryingtocalculatethedistancefromtheturretwindowtothegroundwhenTrenchwig-waggedarescuesignal。
　　"Youareabrick，Trench，"hesaid，astheupperstairwaydoorswungopentoreleasehim。
　　"You'vethewholechimney，"Trenchresponded，asheswunghimselfaway。
　　Dr。FennebenmetElinorintherotunda。
　　"Waitaminute，Norrie，andI'llwalkhomewithyou。”
　　InthestudyhemetBurleigh，whosesternfacewastenderwithapatheticsadness，buttherewasnoembarrassmentinhisglance。
　　AndFenneben，beingamanhimself，knewwhatpowerforsacrificelaybackofthosebeautifuleyes。
　　"Ican'tgivehimthemessageImeanttogivenow。Themansaidtherewasnohurry。Averitabletramphelookedtobe。
　　Ihopethereisnoharmtotheboyinit。WhyshouldagirllikeNorrielovethepocketbook，andthethingsofthepocketbook，whenaheartlikeVictorBurleigh'scallstoher？Iknowmen。
　　Inevershallknowwomen。”Sohethought。Aloudhesaid:
　　"Iwasdetained，Burleigh，andI'llhavetoseeyouagain。
　　Ihavesomematterstoconsiderwithyousoon。”
　　AndBurleighwonderedmuchwhat"somematters"mightbe。
　　WhenProfessorBurgessleftDenniehesaid，lightly:
　　"MissDennie，Ineedalittlehelpinmywork。
　　Wouldyouletmecallthiseveningandtalkitoverwithyou？
　　Idon'tbelieveanybodyelsewouldgetholdofitquitesowell。”
　　DenniehadsupposedthisfirsteveningafterElinor'sreturnwouldfindherlovermakinguseofit。WhyshouldDennienotfeelathrillofpleasurethatherservicesout-weighedeverythingelse？
　　PoorDennie!Shewasnoflirt，butmuchassociationwithVincentBurgesshadgivenherinsighttoknowthatNorrieWreamwouldneverunderstandhim。
　　WhenBurgessreturnedtotheSaxonHouselaterintheevening，hemetBondSaxonatthedoor。
　　"Say，Professor，thedevilwillbetopayagain。ThatMrs。Marianisback。
　　GothereonthesametrainFunnybonecameon。And，"loweringhisvoice，"hewillbeoverthereagain，"pointingtowardthewestbluffs。"He'llhoundFunnybonetohisdoomyet。Andshe——she'llstandbetween'emtothelast。
　　Itoldyouoneofthetwohumantraitsleftinthatbeastishisfoolfondnessforthatwomanwhowouldn'tlethimsetfootonhergroundifsheknewit。
　　It'sagrimtragedybeingplayedoutherewithnobodyknowingbutyouandme。”
　　"Saxon，I'minnomoodforallthistonight，"Burgesssaid，"butforyourdaughter'ssakekeepawayfromtheman'sbottlenow。”
　　"Yes，forDennie'ssake——"BondlookedimploringlyatBurgess。
　　"Yes，yes，I'lldomydutyasIpromised。Butwhynotdoityourselftowardher？Whynotbeamanandafather？"
　　"Me!Acriminal!Doyouknowwhatthatkindofslaveryis？"
　　Saxonwhispered。
　　"Almost，"Burgessanswered，buttheoldmandidnotcatchhismeaning。
　　Denniewaswaitingintheparlor，acosylittleroombutwithouttheluxuriousappointmentsofNorrieWream'shome。
　　YettonightDennieseemedbeautifultoBurgess，andthisquietlittleroom，ahavenofsafety。
　　"Dennie，"hesaid，plungingintohispurposeatonce。
　　"IcometoyoubecauseIneedafriendandyouaretemperedsteel。”
　　TonightDennie'sgrayeyesweredarkandshining。TheripplingwavesofyellowbrownhairgaveasortofMadonnaoutlinetoherface，andtherewasabouthersomethingindefinablypleasant。
　　"WhatcanIdoforyou，ProfessorBurgess？"sheasked。
　　"Listentome，Dennie，andthenadviseme。”
　　Wasthistheacting-deanofSunrise，asecondFenneben，alreadydeclared？
　　Hisfacewasfullofpathos，yeteveninhisfeverishgriefitseemedabetterfacetoDenniethanthecoldscholarlycountenanceoftwoyearsago。
　　"Mytroublesgobackalongway。Myfatherwasgiventogreed。
　　Hesoldhimselfandmysister'shappinessandmineformoney。
　　Youthinkyourfatherisaslave，Dennie，becausehehasacravingforwhisky。Lessthanhalfadozentimesayearthedemoninsidegetshimdown。”
　　Dennielookedupwithasorrowfulface。
　　"Yes，butthinkofwhathemightdo。Youdon'tknowwhatdreadfulthingshehasdone——"
　　"Yes，Ido。Hetoldmehimselftheveryworst。I'llneverbetrayhim，Dennie。Hispunishmentisheavyenough。”
　　Burgesslaidhishandonherdimpledhandintokenofsincerity。
　　"Butthat'sonlyrarely，littlegirl。Myfathereverydayintheyeargavehimselftoanappetiteformoneytillhecaredfornothingelse。
　　Mysister，whodiedbelievingthatIalsohadturnedagainsther，wasforcedtomarryamanshedidnotlovebecausehehadmoney。
　　Ineverknewthemanshedidlove。Itwasaromanceofhergirlhood。
　　Iwasawayfromhomethemostofmyboyhoodyears，andshenevermentionedhisnameaftertheaffairwasbrokenoff。AllIknowisthatshewasdeceivedandmadetobelievesomecruelstoryagainsthim。
　　SheandherhusbandcameWest，wheretheydied。MyfatherneverforgavethemforgoingWest，norpermittedmetospeakhernametohim。
　　Ineverknewwhyuntilyesterday。Mysister'shusbandhadabrotheroutherewithwhomhemeanttodividesomepossessionshehadinherited。
　　Thatsettledhimwithmyfatherforever。TherewasnoDIVISION
　　ofpropertyinhiscreed。”
　　Burgesspaused。Dennie'sinterestandsympathymadehersilentcompanyacomfort。
　　"Iwasheirtomyfather'sestate，andheiralsotosomefundsheheldintrust。Iwasascholarwithambitionforhonors——
　　aMaster'sDegreeandahighprofessionalplaceinagreatuniversity。
　　Itrustedmywholelifeplanstothemanwhoknewmyfatherbest——
　　Dr。JoshuaWream。”
　　Dennielookedup，questioningly。
　　"Yes，toElinor'suncle，asunlikeDr。Fennebenasnightandday。”
　　"Donotblameme，Dennie，iftwomenhavehelpedtomisshapemylife。Myfatherbelievedthatmoneyisabsolute。
　　Dr。Wreamholdsscholarlyachievementasthegreatestlifework。
　　IthasbeenDr。Fenneben'sparttoshowmethedangerandthepowerineach。”
　　ItwasdimlydawningonBurgessthatthepresenceofDennie，good，sensibleDennie，wasablessingoutsideofthesethingsthatcouldgofartowardmakinglifesuccessful。
　　Buthedidnotgraspitclearlyyet。
　　"Dr。WreamandImadeacompactbeforeIcameWest。Itseemedfairtomethen。ByitstermsIwasassured，first，ofmyrighttocertainfundsmyfatherheldintrust。ItwasWreamwhosecuredtheserightsforme。
　　Second，IwastosucceedtohischairinHarvardifIprovedworthyinSunrise。InreturnIpromisedtomarryElinorWreamandtoprovideforhercomfortandluxurywiththesetrustfundsmyfatherandWreamhadsomehowbeenmanipulating。”
　　Oh，yes!Denniewaslevel-headed。AndbecauseshedidnotlookupnorcryoutVincentBurgessdidnotseenorguessanything。
　　Hislifehadbeenashelteredone。HowcouldhemeasureDennie'slife-disciplineinself-controlandlovingbravery？
　　"ElinorwasheavyonWream'sconscienceVincentwenton，"becauseheandherfather，Dr。NathanWream，tookthefortunetoendowcollegesanduniversitychairsthatshouldhavebeenhersfromhermother'sestate。
　　Yousee，Dennie，therewasnowrongintheplan。Elinorwouldbeprovidedforbyme。Iwouldgetupinmychosenprofession。
　　Nobodywasrobbedordefrauded。JoshuaWream'slastyearswouldbepeacefulwithhisconscienceatrestregardingElinor'sproperty。
　　And，Dennie，whowouldn'twanttomarryElinorWream？"
　　"Yes，whowouldn't？"Dennielookedupwithasmile。
　　AndifthereweretearsinhereyesBurgessknewtheywerebornofDennie'ssweetspiritofsympathy。
　　"Whatiswrong，then？"sheasked。"IsElinorunwilling？"
　　"ElinorandIareboundbypromisestoeachother，althoughnowordhaseverbeenspokenbetweenus。Itisimpossibletomakeanychangenow。
　　Weareveryhappy，ofcourse。”
　　"Ofcourse，"Dennieechoed。
　　"IhadaletterfromDr。Wreamlastnight。Apitifulletter，forhe'sgettingnearthebrink。Dennie——thesefundsIhold——
　　Ihaveneverquiteunderstood，butIhadfeltsuretherewasnootherclaimant。Therewasaclauseinthestrangely-wordedbequest:
　　`forV。B。andhisheirs。Failinginthat，tothenearestrelatedV。B。'Itwasathingforlawyers，notGreekprofessors，tosettle，andIcametobethenearestrelatedV。B。，VincentBurgess，forI
　　findthemoneybelongedtomysister'shusband，andIthoughtheleftnoheirsandIamthenearestrelatedV。B。bymarriage，yousee？"
　　"Well？"Dennie'smindwasjumpingtotheend。
　　"MysistermarriedaVictorBurleigh，whocametoKansastofindhisbrother。Bothmenaredeadnow。Theonlyoneofthetwofamilieslivingisthisbrother'sson，youngVictorBurleigh，juniorinSunriseCollege。HeknowsnothingofhisUncleVictor，mybrother-in-law——norofmoneythathemightclaim。
　　Hebelongstothesoilouthere。Nobodyhasanyclaimsonhim，norhasheanyambitionforachairinHarvard，noranypromisetomarryandprovideforabeautifulgirlwholooksuponhimasherfutureguardian。”
　　VincentBurgesssuddenlyceasedspeakingandlookedatDennie。
　　"Icannotbreakanoldman'sheart。Heimploresmenottorevealallthis，butIhadtotellsomebody，andyouarethebestfriendamancouldeverhave，DennieSaxon，soIcometoyou，"headdedpresently。
　　"WhendidthisDr。WreamfindoutaboutVic？"Dennieasked。
　　"Amonthago。Somestrange-lookingtrampofafellowbroughthimproofsthatareincontestable，"Burgessreplied。
　　"Anditisforanoldman'speaceyouwouldkeepthissecret？"
　　Denniequestioned。
　　"ForhimandforElinor——andformyself。Don'thateme，Dennie。Elinorlooksuponmeasherfuturehusband。Ihavepromisedtoprovideforherwiththecomfortsdeniedherbyherfather，andIhavelivedintheambitionofholdingthatHarvardchair——Oh，itisallahopelesstangle。
　　IcouldnevergotoVictorBurleighnow。HewouldnotbelievethatI
　　hadbeenignorantofhisclaimallthistime。Hewasneverwrappedupinthepursuitofacareer——Oh，Dennie，Dennie，whatshallIdo？"
　　HerosetohisfeetandDenniestoodupbeforehim。
　　Hegentlyrestedhishandsonhershouldersandlookeddownather。
　　"Whatshallyoudo？"Dennierepeated，slowly。"Whisky，Money，Ambition——
　　theappetitethatdestroys!VincentBurgess，ifyouwanttowinaMaster'sDegree，wintotheMasteryofManhoodfirst。
　　Thesinsofthefathers，yoursandmine，wecannotundo。
　　Butyoucanbeaman。”
　　Shehadputherdimpledhandsonhisarmsastheystoodthere，andthebravecourageofherupturnedfacecalledbackagaintherainyMaynight，andthefaceofVictorBurleighbesideBugBuler'scot，andhislowvoiceashesaid:
　　"Icannotplayintomorrow'sgameandbeaman。”
　　CHAPTERXII
　　THESILVERPITCHER
　　_Apicketfrozenonduty——
　　Amotherstarvedforherbrood——
　　Socratesdrinkingthehemlock，AndJesusontherood。
　　Andmillionswho，humbleandnameless，Thestraighthardpathwaytrod——
　　SomecallitConsecration，AndotherscallitGod_——
　　WILLIAMHERBERTCARRUTH
　　"DR。FENNEBEN，Ishouldlikemuchtodismissmyclassesfortheafternoon，"
　　ProfessorBurgesssaidtotheDeaninhisstudythenextday。
　　"Verywell，Professor，Iamafraidyouareoverworkedwithallmydutiesaddedtoyourshere。Butyoudon'tlookit，"
　　Fennebensaid，smiling。
　　Burgesswasgrowingalmoststalwartinthisgraciousclimate。
　　"Iamverywell，Doctor。Whatabeautifulviewthisis。”
　　HewaslookingintentlynowattheEmpirethathadfailedtointeresthimonce。
　　"Yes；itismyinspiration。`Eachman'schimneyishisgoldenmilestone，'
　　"Fennebenquoted。"I'vewatchedthesmokefrommanychimneysupanddowntheWalnutValleyduringmyyearshere，andlaterI'vehuntedoutthepeopleofeachhearthstoneandmadefriendswiththem。
　　SowhenIlookawayfrommyworkhereIseefriendlytokensofthoseI
　　knowoutthere。”Hewavedhishandtowardthewholevalley。
　　"Andmaybe，whentheylookuphereandseethedomebyday，orcatchourbeaconlightbynight，theythinkof`Funnybone，'too。
　　Itiswelltoliveclosetothefolksofyourvalleyalways。”
　　"Youareawonderfulman，Doctor，"Burgesssaid。
　　"Therearetwo`milestones'I'veneverreached，"theDoctorwenton。
　　"Oneisthatplacebythebendintheriver。Seethepigeonsrisingaboveitnow。Iwonderifthatstrangewhite-hairedwomanevercamebackagain。
　　ElinorsaidsheleftLagondaLedgelastsummer。”
　　"Where'stheotherplace？"Burgesswouldchangethesubject。
　　"Iti'salittleshaftofbluesmokefromawoodfirerisingabovethoserockyplacesacrosstheriver。
　　I'veseenitsooften，atirregulartimes，thatI'vegrowninterestedinit，butIhavemisseditsinceIcameback。
　　It'slikelosingafriend。Everymanhashisvagaries。
　　Oneofmineisthisfriendshipwiththesymbolsofhumanhomes。”
　　Burgessofferednocommentinresponse。HecouldnotseethatthetimehadcometotellFennebenwhatBondSaxonhadconfidedtohimaboutthemanbelowthesmoke。SoheleftthehilltopandwentdowntotheSaxonHouse。HewantedtoseeDennie，butfoundherfatherinstead。
　　"Thatwoman'sleftPigeonPlaceagain，"Saxonsaid。"Wentearlythismorning。It'sfreedomformewhenIdon'thavetothinkofthemtwo。
　　Thinkingofmyselfisslaveryenough。”
　　Burgessloiteredaimlesslyaboutthedoorwayforawhile。
　　Itwasamildafternoon，withnohintofwinter，norChristmasglitteroficeandsnowaboutit。JustagloriousfinishingofanidyllicKansasautumnroundingoutinthebeautyofasunshinymid-Decemberday。Buttothemanwhostoodthere，waitingfornothingatall，thedaywasamockery。
　　Behindthefinescholarlyfaceastormwasragingandtherewasonlyonefriendwhomhecouldtrust——Dennie。
　　"Let'sgowalking，youandme!"
　　BugBulerputuponehandtoBurgess，whileheclutchedalittleredballintheother。Bughadanirresistiblechildvoiceandchildtouch，andBurgessyieldedtotheirleading。
　　Hehadnotrealizeduntilnowhowlonelyhewas，andBugwascompanionablebyintuitionandastanchlittlestroller。
　　Northoftowntheriverlayglisteningbetweenitsvine-drapedbanks。
　　ThetwopausedatthebendwhereFennebenhadbeenhurledalmosttohisdoom，andBurgessrememberedthedarkness，andtherain，andthelimpbodyhehadheld。HethoughtFennebenwasdeadthen，andeveninthatmomenthehadfeltasenseofdisloyaltytoDennieasherealizedthathemustthinkofElinorentirelynow。
　　Butwhynot？HehadcometoKansasforthisverythinking。
　　Itmustbehislifepurposenow。
　　TodayBurgessbegantowonderwhyElinormusthavealifeofeaseprovidedforherandDennieSaxonaskfornothing。
　　WhyshouldJoshuaWream'sconsciencebehisburden，too？
　　Thenhehatedhimselfalittlemorethanever，anddutyandmanlyhonorbegantheirwrestlewithinhimagain。
　　"Let'swegoseethepigeons，"Bugsuggested，tossinghisballinhishands。
　　BurgessrememberedwhatBondhadsaidofthewoman'sleaving。
　　Therecouldbenoharmingoinginside，hethought。Theleaflesstreesandshrubberyrevealedtheneatlittlehomethatthesummerfoliageconcealed。
　　Bugranforwardwithchildishcuriosityandtiptoeduptoalowwindow，droppinghislittleredballinhiseagerness。
　　"Oh，tum!tum!"hecried。"Suchaprettypictureframeandvaseonthetable。”
　　Hewasnearlyfiveyearsoldnow，butinhisexcitementhestillusedbabylanguage，ashepulledeagerlyatVincentBurgess'coat。
　　"Itisn'tnicetopeep，Bug，"Burgessinsisted，butheshadedhiseyesandglancedintopleasetheboy。Hedidnotnotetheprettygiltframenorthevasebesideitonthetable。
　　ButthefacelookingoutofthatframemadehimturnalmostascoldandlimpasFennebenhadbeenwhenhewasdraggedfromtheriver。
　　Catchingthelittleonebythehandhehurriedaway。
　　AtthegatewayheliftedBuginhisarms。
　　Hewasnotyetateasewithchildren。
　　"Idroppedmyball，"Bugsaid。"Letmedetit。”
　　"Oh，no；I'llgetyouanotherone。Don'tgoback，"Burgessurged。
　　"Doyouknowitisveryrudetolookintowindows。
　　Let'snevertellanybodywedidit；norever，everdoitagain。
　　Willyouremember？"
　　"Umphhumph!Imean，yes，sir!Iwon'tforneverdoitagain，nortellnobody。”Bugbuttoneduphislipsforasphinx-likesecrecy。
　　"NobodybutDennie。AndImayfordetitforher。”
　　"Yes，forgetit，andwe'llgoawayuptheriverandseeotherthings。
　　Bug，whatdoyousaywhenyouwanttokeepfromdoingwrong？"
　　Buglookedupconfidingly。
　　"Iistsay，`Dod，bemercilesstome，asinner'。”
　　"Whynotmerciful，Bug？"
　　"Tause!IfHe'smercifulit'stooeasyandI'mnodooder，"
　　Bugsaid，wisely。
　　"Whotoldyouthedifference？"Burgessasked。
　　"Vic。Heknowsalot。IwishIhadmyball，butlet'sgouptheriver。”
　　"Outofthemouthsofbabes，"Burgessmurmuredandhuggedthelittleoneclosetohim。
　　VictorBurleighwasinthelittlebalconyofthedomelatethatafternoonfixingadefectivewiring。Throughtheopenwindowshecouldseetheskylineineverydirection。
　　Thefar-reachinggrayprairie，overhungbyitsdomeofamethystborderedroundwithopalandrimmedwithjasper，seemedineveryblendingtintandtonetocallhimbacktoNorrie。ThewestbluffabovetheoldKickapooCorralintheautumn，theglenfullofshadow-fleckedlightunderthetenderyoungAprilleaves，theDecemberlandscapeasitlaybeyondDr。Fenneben'sstudywindows——
　　thesebelongedtoElinor。Andallofthemwereblendedinthisvisionofinexpressiblegrandeur，unfoldedtohimnowfromthedome'shighvantageplace。
　　"TwiceNorriehasletmeholdherinmyarmsandkissher，"hemused。
　　"WhenIdothatthethirdtimeitmustbewhentherewillbenoremorsetohoundmeafterward。”HelookeddownthewindingWalnuttowardthewhirlpool。
　　"I'dratherswimthatwaterthanflounderhere。”
　　ThesoundoffootstepsontherotundastairsmadehimturntoseeVincentBurgessjustreachingthelittlebalconyofthedome。
　　"I'vecometohaveawordwithyouuphere，"hesaid。
　　"Wemetoncebeforeinthisrotunda。”
　　"Yes，downthereinthearena，"Vicreplied，recallinghowlikeabeasthehadfeltthen。"Iwasayounghyenathatday。
　　BugBulercamejustintimetosavebothofus。
　　Thereisacomfortinfeelingwecanlearnsomething。
　　I'veneededbooksandcollegeprofessorstotempermetocourtesy。”
　　ItwastheonlyapologyVichadeverofferedtoBurgess，whoaccepteditasallthathedeserved。
　　"Welearnmorefrommenthanfrombookssometimes。I'velearnedfromthemhowcourageousamanmaybewhentheneedforsacrificecomes。
　　Sitdown，Burleigh，andletmetellyousomething。”
　　Theysatdownonthelowseatbesidethedomewindows。Overheadgleamedthemessageofhighcourage，_AdAstraPerAspera_。Belowwastheartisticbeautyoftherotunda，wheretheeveningshadowsweredeepening。
　　"Wearehigherthanwewerethatotherday。Wecarelessforfightingaswegetfartherup，maybe，"Burgesssaid，pleasantly。
　　"Theonlyplacetofightamanisinacave，anyhow，"Burleighreplied，lookingathisbrawnyarms，nordreaminghowprophetichiswordsmightbe。
　　"Wedon'tbelongtothatclassofmennow，whateverourfaroffancestorsmayhavebeen，butwearethesonsofourfathers，Burleigh，anditislefttothelivingtorightthewrongsthedeadhavebegun。”
　　Then，briefly，VincentBurgess，A。B。，GreekProfessorfromHarvard，toldtoVicBurleighfromaprairieclaimoutbeyondtheWalnut，apartofwhathehadalreadytoldtoDennieSaxon，ofthefundswithheldfromhimsolong。
　　Tolditingeneralterms，however，notshieldinghisfatheratall，butgivingnohintthatthefirstVictorBurleighwashisownbrother-in-law。
　　AndofthecompactwithJoshuaWreamandofNorriehetoldnothing。
　　"ThreedaysagoIdidnotknowthatyoucouldbeheirtothisproperty，"
　　heconcluded。"I'vebeeninterestedinbooksandhaveleftlegalmatterstothosewhocontrolledthemforme。”
　　Herosehastily，forBurleigh，sayingnothing，waslookingathimwithwide-openbrowneyesthatseemedtolookstraightintohissoul。
　　"Icanrestoreyourpropertytoyou。Icannotchangethepast。
　　Youhaveallthefutureinwhichtouseitbetterthanmyfatherdid，orImighthavedone。Goodnight。”
　　Heturnedawayandpassedslowlydowntherotundastairs。
　　WhenhewasgoneVictorBurleighturnedtotheopenwindowofthedome。
　　HewasnottoblamethatthebeautifulearthunderamagnificentDecembersunsetskyseemedallhisownnow。
　　"`Ifbig，handsomeVictorBurleighhadhiscornersknockedoffandwassandpapereddown，'"hemused。"Well，whatcornersI
　　haven'tknockedoffmyselfhavebeenknockedoffformeandI'vebeensandpapered——Lord，I'vebeensandpapereddownallright。
　　I'mathomeonacarpetnow。`Andifhehadmoney'。”
　　Vic'sfacewastriumphant。"Ithascomeatlast——themoney。
　　AndwhatofElinor？"
　　Thesacredmemoriesofbrieffleetingmomentswithhertoldhim"whatofElinor。”
　　"Thebarriersaredownnow。Itisagloriousoldworld。
　　ImusthuntupTrenchandthen——"
　　Heclosedthedomewindow，lookedamomentatthebraveKansasmotto，radiantinthesunsetlight，andthen，pickinguphistools，hewentdownstairs。
　　"Hello，TrenchIhecalledashereachedtherotundafloor。
　　Imustseeyouaminute。”
　　"Hello，youAngel-face!Caseofnecessity。Well，lookaminute，"
　　Trenchdrawled。"Butthat'sthelimit，andtwiceaslongasI'dcaretoseeyou，although，Iwashuntingyou。
　　Funnybonewantstoseeyouinthere。”
　　Victor'seyeswereglowingwithagoldenlightasheenteredFenneben'sstudy，andtheDeannotedthewonderfulchangefromthebig，awkwardfellowwithabulldogcountenancetothisself-poisedgentlemanwhosefinefaceitwasajoytosee。
　　"Ihaveamessageforyou，Burleigh。NohurryaboutitIwastold，butI
　　amcalledawayonimportantbusinessandImustgetitoutofmymind。
　　Anodd-lookingfellowcalledatmydooronthenightIcamehomeandleftapackageforyou。Hesaidhehadtriedtofindyouandfailed，thathewasastrangerhere，andthatyouwouldunderstandthemessageinside。
　　Heinsistedonnotgivingthisinanyhurry，andasmycominghomehasbroughtmeamassofthingstoconsider，Ihavenotbeenpromptaboutit。”
　　FennebenputasmallpackageintoBurleigh'shands。
　　"Examineithere，ifyoucareto。Youcanfastenthedoorwhenyouleave。
　　Goodby!"andhewasgone。
　　Victorsatdownandopenedthepackage。Insidewasaquaintlittlesilverpitcher，muchornamented，withtheinitialB
　　embossedonthesmoothside。
　　"Thelostpitcher——stolenthedaymymotherdied——
　　andIwaswarnednevertotrytofindwhostoleit。”
　　Heturnedtothelightofthewestwindow。
　　"ItistheverythingIfoundinthecavethatnight。
　　Themanwhotookitmayhavebeenoverthere。”Heglancedoutofthewindowandsawathintwistofbluesmokerisingabovetheledgesacrosstheriver。
　　"Whocanhavehaditallthistime，andwhyreturnitnow？"hequestioned。
　　Asheturnedthepitcherinhishandsapaperfellout。
　　"Themessageinside!"Hespreadoutthepaperandread"themessageinside。”
　　WellforhimthatDr。Fennebenhadlefthimalone。
　　Theshiningfaceandeyesaglowchangedsuddenlytoawhite，hardcountenanceashereadthismessageinside。Itran:
　　"VictorBurleigh。First，don'tevertrytofollowme。
　　ThedayyoudoI'llsendyouwhereIsentyourfather。
　　NoBurleighcanstaynearmeandlive。Nowbewise。
　　"Second。YousavedthebabyIleftintheolddugout。
　　BeforeGodInevermeanttokillitthen。ThethoughtofithascursedmysoulnightanddaytillIfoundoutyouhadsavedhim。
　　"Third。Thegirlyouwanttomarry——goandmarry。Doanything，goodorbad，todestroyBurgess。