Andwe’llleavetheschool，too，becausenomatterifitwasthebestoneonearthyoucouldn’tgothere。Ishouldn’tfeel’twasrighttospendasmuchmoneyasthatatanyschool，andyou——well，son，youain’tgotittospend。Didyouhaveanyideawhatyourfatherleftyou，inthewayoftangibleassets？
No。Iknewhehadplentyofmoneyalways。Hewasoneofthemostfamoussingersinthiscountry。
Maybeso。
ItWASso，hotly。Andhewaspaidenoughinoneweektobuythiswholetown——oralmost。Why，myfather——
Sshh！Sssh！
No，I’mnotgoingtohush。I’mproudofmyfather。Hewasa——agreatman。And——andI’mnotgoingtostandhereandhaveyou——
Betweenindignationandemotionhechokedandcouldnotfinishthesentence。Thetearscametohiseyes。
I’mnotgoingtohaveyouoranyoneelsetalkabouthimthatway，
heconcluded，fiercely。
Hisgrandfatherregardedhimwithasteady，butnotatallunkindly，gaze。
Iain’trunnin’downyourfather，Albert，hesaid。
Yes，youare。Youhatedhim。Anybodycouldseeyouhatedhim。
Thecaptainslowlyrappedthedeskwiththepencil。Hedidnotansweratonce。
Well，hesaid，afteramoment，Idon’tknowasIoughttodenythat。Idon’tknowasIcandenyitandbehonest。Yearsagohetookawayfrommewhatamountedtothree-quartersofeverythingthatmademylifeworthwhile。Somedayyou’llknowmoreaboutitthanyoudonow，andmaybeyou’llunderstandmyp’intofviewbetter。No，Ididn’tlikeyourfather——Eh？Whatwasyousayin’？
Albert，whohadmutteredsomething，wasratherconfused。However，hedidnotattempttoequivocate。IsaidIguessedthatdidn’tmakemuchdifferencetoFather，heanswered，sullenly。
Ipresumelikelyitdidn’t。Butwewon’tgointothatquestionnow。WhatI’mtryin’togetatinthistalkwe’rehavingisyouandyourfuture。Nowyoucan’tgobacktoschoolbecauseyoucan’taffordit。Allyourfatherleftwhenhediedwas——thisisthehonesttruthI’mtellin’younow，andifI’mputtin’itprettybluntit’sbecauseIalwaysthinkit’sbesttogetabadmessoutofthewayinahurry——allyourfatherleftwasdebts。Hedidn’tleavemoneyenoughtoburyhim，hardly。
Theboystaredathimaghast。Hisgrandfather，leaningalittletowardhim，wouldhaveputahandonhisknee，butthekneewasjerkedoutoftheway。
There，that’sover，Al，wentonCaptainZelotes。Youknowtheworstnowandyoucansay，’Whatofit？’Imeanjustthat：Whatofit？Bein’leftwithoutacent，butwithyourhealthandafairchancetomakegood——that，atseventeenoreighteenain’tabadlookout，byanymannerofmeans。It’stheoutlook_I_hadatfifteen——exceptin’thechance——andIain’taskedmanyfavorsofanybodysince。Atyourage，oramonthortwoolder，doyouknowwhereIwas？Iwasfirstmateofathree-mastedschooner。AttwentyIwasskipper。andattwenty-five，bytheAlmighty，Iownedashareinher。Al，allyouneednowisachancetogotowork。
AndI’mgoin’togiveyouthatchance。
Albertgasped。Doyoumean——doyoumeanI’vegottobea——asailor？hestammered。
CaptainZelotesputbackhisheadandlaughed，laughedaloud。
Asailor！herepeated。Ho，ho！Nowonderyoulookedscared。
No，Iwan’tcal’latin’tomakeasailoroutofyou，son。Foronereason，sailorin’ain’twhatitusedtobe。and，foranother，I
havemydoubtswhetherayoungfellerofyourbringin’upwouldmakemuchofagohandlin’abunchoffo’masthandsthefirstdayout。No，Iwasn’tfiggerin’tosendyoutosea……WhatdoyousupposeIbroughtyoudowntothisplaceforthismornin’？
AndthenAlbertunderstood。Heknewwhyhehadbeenconductedthroughthelumberyards，aboutthehardwareshop，whyhisgrandfatherandMr。Pricehadtakensomuchpainstoexhibitandexplain。Hisheartsank。
Ibroughtyoudownhere，continuedthecaptain，becauseit’safirst-rateideatolookavesseloveraforeyoushipaboardher。
It’skindoflatetobackoutafteryouhaveshipped。EversinceI
madeupmymindtosendforyouandhaveyoulivealongwithyourgrandmotherandmeI’vebeenplannin’whattodowithyou。Iknew，ifyouwasadecent，ambitiousyoungchap，you’dwanttodosomethin’towardsmakin’astartinlife。Wecanuse——thatis，thisbusinesscanusethatkindofachaprightnow。Hecouldlarntokeepbooksandknowlumberandhardwareandhowtosellandhowtobuy。Hecanlarnthewholething。There’sachancehere，son。
It’syourchance。I’mgivin’ittoyou。Howbigachanceitturnsouttobe’lldependonyou，yourself。
Hestopped。Albertwassilent。Histhoughtswereconfused，butoutoftheirdismayedconfusiontwoorthreefixedideasrearedthemselveslikecragsfromawhirlpool。HewastoliveinSouthHamissalways——always。hewastokeepbooks——Heavens，howhehatedmathematics，detailworkofanykind！——fordrunkenoldKeeler。hewastoheavelumberwithIssyPrice。He——Oh，itwasdreadful！
Itwashorrible。Hecouldn’t！Hewouldn’t！He——
CaptainZeloteshadbeenwatchinghim，hisheavybrowsdrawingclosertogetherastheboydelayedanswering。
Well？heasked，foranotherminute。DidyouhearwhatIsaid？
Yes。
Understood，didyou？
Yes——sir。
Well？
Albertwasclutchingatstraws。I——Idon’tknowhowtokeepbooks，hefaltered。
Ididn’tsupposeyoudid。Don’timaginetheyteachanythingaspracticalasbookkeepin’upatthatschoolofyours。Butyoucanlarn，can’tyou？
I——Iguessso。
Iguessso，too。GoodLord，IHOPEso！Humph！Youdon’tseemtobejumpin’forjoyovertheprospect。There’sahalfdozensmartyoungfellershereinSouthHarnissthatwould，Itellyouthat。
Albertdevoutlywishedtheyhadjumped——andlanded——beforehisarrival。Hisgrandfather’stonegrewmorebrusque。
Don’tyouwanttowork？hedemanded。
Why，yes，I——IsupposeIdo。I——Ihadn’tthoughtmuchaboutit。
Humph！ThenIthinkit’stimeyoubegun。Hadn’tyouhadANY
notionofwhatyouwantedtodowhenyougotoutofthatschoolofyours？
Iwasgoingtocollege。
Humph！……Yes，Ipresumelikely。Well，afteryougotoutofcollege，whatwasyouplannin’todothen？
Iwasn’tsure。IthoughtImightdosomethingwithmymusic。I
canplayalittle。Ican’tsing——thatis，notwellenough。IfI
could，wistfully，Ishouldhavelikedtobeinopera，asfatherwas，ofcourse。
CaptainZelotes’onlycommentwasasnifforsnort，orcombinationofboth。Albertwenton。
Ihadthoughtofwriting——writingbooksandpoems，youknow。I’vewrittenquiteagooddealfortheschoolmagazine。AndIthinkI
shouldliketobeanactor，perhaps。I——
GoodGod！Hisgrandfather’sfistcamedownuponthedeskbeforehim。Slowlyheshookhishead。
A——apoetrywriterandanactor！herepeated。Whew！……
Well，there！Perhapsmaybewehadn’tbettertalkanymorejustnow。Youcanhavetherestofthedaytorunaroundtownandsortofgetacquainted，ifyouwantto。Thento-morrowmornin’youandI’llcomeoverheretogetherandwe’llbegintobreakyouin。I
shouldn’twonder，headded，dryly，ifyoufounditkindofdullatfirst——comparedtothatschoolandpoetrymakin’andsuch——butit’llberespectableandit’llpayforboardandclothesandsomethin’toeatonceinawhile，whichmaynotseemsoimportanttoyounowas’twilllateron。AndsomedayIcal’late——anyhowwe’llhope——you’llbemightygladyoudidit。
PoorAlbertlookedandfeltanythingbutgladjustthen。CaptainZelotes，hishandsinhispockets，stoodregardinghim。He，too，didnotlookparticularlyhappy。
You’llremember，heobserved，orperhapsyoudon’tknow，thatwhenyourfatheraskedustolookoutforyou——
Albertinterrupted。Did——didfatheraskyoutotakecareofme？
hecried，insurprise。
Um-hm。Heaskedsomebodywhowaswithhimtoaskustodojustthat。
Theboydrewalongbreath。Well，then，hesaid，hopelessly，I’ll——I’lltry。
Thanks。Nowyourunaroundtownandseethesights。Dinner’sathalfpasttwelveprompt，sobeonhandforthat。
Afterhisgrandsonhadgone，thecaptain，handsstillinhispockets，stoodforsometimelookingoutofthewindow。Atlengthhespokealoud。
Aplayactororapoetrywriter！heexclaimed。Tut，tut，tut！
Nousetalkin’，bloodwilltell！
Issachar，whowasputtingcoalontheofficefire，turnedhishead。
Eh？hequeried。
Nothin’，saidCaptainLote。
Hewouldhavebeensurprisedifhecouldhaveseenhisgrandsonjustatthatmoment。Albert，onthebeachwhitherhehadstrayedinhisdesiretobealone，safelyhiddenfromobservationbehindasanddune，waslyingwithhisheaduponhisarmsandsobbingbitterly。
AdisinterestedpersonmighthavedecidedthattheinterviewwhichhadjusttakenplaceandwhichCaptainZeloteshopefullytoldhiswifethatmorningwouldprobablyresultinaclear，comf’tableunderstandin’betweentheboyandme——suchadisinterestedpersonmighthavedecidedthatithadresultedinexactlytheopposite。
Incalculatingtheresultstobeobtainedfromthatinterviewthecaptainhadnottakenintoconsiderationtwoelements，onehisownandtheotherhisgrandson’s。Theseelementswereprejudiceandtemperament。
CHAPTERIV
Thenextmorning，withmuchthesamefeelingthataconvictmustexperiencewhenheentersuponalifeimprisonment，AlbertenteredtheemployofZ。SnowandCo。，LumberandBuilders’Hardware。
Theday，hewouldhaveswornit，wasatleastayearlong。Theintervalbetweenbreakfastanddinnerwasquitesixmonths，yetthedinnerhouritselfwastheshortestsixtyminuteshehadeverknown。Mr。Keelerhadnotyetreturnedtohislabors，sotherewasnoinstructioninbookkeeping。buthisgrandfathergavehimletterstofileandlongdrearycolumnsofinvoicefigurestoadd。TwiceCaptainZeloteswentoutandthen，justasAlbertsettledbackforarestandbreathingspell，IssacharPriceappeared，warnedapparentlybysomesortofdevilishintuition，andinventedcheckingupstockandsimilarmenialandtiresometaskstokeephimuncomfortabletillthecaptainreturned。ThecustomerswhocameinaskedquestionsconcerninghimandhewasintroducedtoatleastadozencitizensofSouthHarniss，whoobservedSho！andIwanttoknow！whentoldhisidentityand，insomeinstances，addressedhimasBub，whichwasofitselfacrimedeservingcapitalpunishment。
Thatnight，ashelayinbedinthebackbedroom，hefellasleepfacingthedrearyprospectofanothermonotonousimprisonmentthefollowingday，andthenextday，andthedayafterthat，andafterthat——andafterthat——andsoon——andon——andon——foreverandever，aslongaslifeshouldlast。This，then，wastobetheendofallhisdreams，thisdrudgeryinacountrytownamongthesecommonplacecountrypeople。Thiswastheendofhisdreamsofsomedaywritingdeathlessodesandsonnetsorthrillingromances。oftreadingtheboardsastheheroofromanticdramawhilestar-eyeddaughtersofmulti-millionairesgazedfromtheboxesinspellboundrapture。
This……Thethoughtofthestar-eyedonesremindedhimofthegirlwhohadcomeintotheofficetheafternoonofhisfirstvisittothattorturechamber。Hehadthoughtofhermanytimessincetheirmeetingandalwayswithhumiliationandresentment。Itwashisownfoolishtonguewhichhadbroughtthehumiliationuponhim。
WhenshehadsuggestedthathemightbeemployedbyZ。SnowandCo。
hehadreplied：Me？WorkHERE！Well，IshouldsayNOT！Andallthetimeshe，knowingwhohewas，musthaveknownhewasdoomedtoworkthere。Heresentedthatsuperiorknowledgeofhers。Hehadmadeafoolofhimselfbutshewastoblameforit。Well，byGeorge，hewouldNOTworkthere！Hewouldrunaway，hewouldshowher，andhisgrandfatherandalltherestwhatwaswhat。Nightafternighthefellasleepvowingtorunaway，todoallsortsofdesperatedeeds，andmorningaftermorninghewentbacktothatoffice。
Onthefourthmorningtheprodigalcamehome，thestraylambreturnedtothefold——Mr。Keelerreturnedtohisdeskandhisduties。TherewasapremonitionofhisreturnattheSnowbreakfasttable。ForthreedaysMrs。Ellishadswathedherheadinwhiteandhersoulinblack。Forthreedaysherfavoriteaccompanimenttoconversationhadbeenagroanorasigh。Now，onthisfourthmorning，sheappearedwithoutthebandageonherbroworthecrapeuponherspirit。Shewasnothilariousbutshedidnotgroanonce，andtwiceduringthemealsheactuallysmiled。CaptainLotecommenteduponthechange，shebeingabsentfromtablemomentarily。
Whew！heobserved，inanundertone，addressinghiswife。Ifitain’tacomforttoseethewrinklesonRachel’sfacecurvin’upinsteadofdown。I’mscaredtodeaththatshe’llgooutsometimeinacoldspellwhenshe’shavin’oneofthemsympatheticsofhers，andherface’llfreezethatway。Well，Albert，turningtohisgrandson，thecolors’llbeh’istedtothetrucknowinsteadofhalf-mastandlife’llbesomethin’besidesoneeverlastin’’lastlookattheremains。’Nowwecantakeoffthemournin’tillthenextfuneral。
Yes，saidOlive，andLaban’llbeback，too。I’msureyoumusthavemissedhimawfully，Zelotes。
Missedhim！Ishouldsayso。Foronething，Imisshavin’himbetweenmeandIssy。WhenLabe’sthereIstalkstohimandLabekeepsonthinkin’ofsomethin’elseandsoitdon’tworryhimany。
Ican’tdothat，andmyeardrumsgettowearin’thinandthatmakesmenervous。Maybeyou’venoticedthatIssy’sflowofconversationain’twhatyou’dcallatrickle，headded，turningtoAlbert。
Alberthadnoticedit。But，heasked，whatmakesRachel——Mrs。
Ellis——socheerfulthismorning？DoessheknowthatMr。Keelerwillbebackatwork？Howdoessheknow？Shehasn’tseenhim，hasshe？
No，repliedthecaptain。Sheain’tseenhim。Nobodyseeshim，far’sthatgoes。Hegenerallyclearsoutsomewheresandlockshimselfupinaroom，Ijudge，tillhisvacation’sover。Isupposethat’sonewaytohavefun，butitain’twhatI’dcallhilarious。
Don’t，Zelotes，saidMrs。Snow。Idowishyouwouldn’tcallitfun。
Idon’t，butLabanseemsto。Ifhedon’tdoitforfunIdon’tknowwhathedoesitfor。Maybeit’sfromasenseofduty。Itain’ttoobligeme，Iknowthat。
Albertrepeatedhisquestion。Buthowdoessheknowhewillbebackto-day？heasked。
Hisgrandmothershookherhead。That’sthemysteriouspartaboutit，shewhispered。Itmakesapersonthinktheremaybesomethin’inthesympatheticnotionshetalkssomuchabout。Shedon’tseehimatallandyetwecanalwaystellwhenhe’scomin’
backtoworkbyherspirits。Ifheain’tbackto-dayhewillbeto-morrow，you’llsee。Shenevermissesbymorethanaday。_I_
thinkit’srealsortofmysterious，butZeloteslaughsatme。
CaptainLote’sliptwitched。Yes，Mother，hesaid，it’saboutasmysteriousastheclock’sstrikin’twelvewhenit’snoon。_I_
knowit’smorallysartinthatLabe’llbebackaboardto-dayorto-
morrowbecausehisspreesdon’teverlastmorethanfivedays。I
can’tsweartohowsheknows，butthat’show_I_know——andI’mdarnedsurethere’sno’sympathy’aboutmypart。Then，asifrealizingthathehadtalkedmorethanusual，hecalled，brusquely：
Comeon，Al，comeon。Timewewereonthejob，boy。
Sureenough，astheypassedthewindowoftheoffice，there，seatedonthestoolbehindthetalldesk，Albertsawthediminutivefigureofthemanwhohadbeenhisdriveronthenightofhisarrival。
Hewascurioustoseehowthedelinquentwouldapologizefororexplainhisabsence。ButMr。Keelerdidneither，nordidCaptainSnowaskaquestion。Insteadthepairgreetedeachotherasiftheyhadpartedinthatofficeatthecloseofbusinessonthepreviousday。
Mornin’，Cap’nLote，saidLaban，quietly。
Mornin’，Labe，repliedthecaptain，justascalmly。
Hewentonandopenedhisowndesk，leavinghisgrandsonstandingbythedoor，notknowingwhethertospeakoroffertoshakehands。
Thesituationwasalittledifficult，particularlyasMr。Keelergavenosignofrecognition，but，afteraglanceathisemployer’scompanion，wentonmakingentriesintheledger。
CaptainZeloteslookedupamomentlater。HisgrayeyesinspectedthepairandtheexpressiononAlbert’sfacecausedthemtotwinkleslightly。Labe，hesaid，thisismygrandson，Albert，theoneI
toldyouwascomin’tolivewithus。
Labanturnedonthestool，regardedAlbertoverhisspectacles，andextendedahand。
Pleasedtomeetyou，hesaid。Yes，yes……Yes，yes，yes……
Pleasedtomeetyou。Cap’nLotesaidyouwascomin’——er——er——
Alfred。Howdydo。
Theyshookhands。Mr。Keeler’shandtrembledalittle，butthatwastheonlysymptomofhisrecentvacationwhichtheyouthcouldnotice。Certainvividremembrancesofhisfather’sbadhumoronmorningsfollowingconvivialeveningsrecurredtohim。Wasitpossiblethatthisodd，precise，dried-uplittlemanhadbeenonaspreeforfourdays？Itdidnotseempossible。Helookedmoreasifhemightbeexpectedtoraponthedeskandasktheschooltocometoorder。
Albert’sgoin’totakeholdherewithusintheoffice，wentonCaptainLote。You’llrememberIspoketoyouaboutthatwhenwetalkedabouthiscomin’。Al，Labe——Mr。Keelerhere——willstartyouinlarnin’tobookkeep。He’llbeyourfirstmatefromnowon。
Don’tforgetyou’reafo’masthandyetawhileandthewayforafo’masthandtogetaheadistoobeyorders。Anddon’t，headded，withaquietchuckle，doanyplay-actin’orpoetry-makin’whenit’syourwatchondeck。LabannorIain’tverystrongforplay-
actin’，arewe，Labe？
Laban，towhomthereferencewasanythingbutclear，repliedrathervaguelythathedidn’tknowashewas，very。Albert’stemperflaredupagain。Hisgrandfatherwassneeringathimoncemore。hewasalwayssneeringathim。Allright，lethimsneer——now。Somedayhewouldbeshown。Hescowledandturnedaway。AndCaptainZelotes，noticingthescowl，wasremindedofascowlhehadseenuponthefaceofaSpanishoperasingersometwentyyearsbefore。
Hedidnotliketoberemindedofthatman。
HewentoutsoonafterwardandthenLaban，turningtoAlbert，askedafewquestions。
Howdoyouthinkyou’regoin’tolikeSouthHarniss，Ansel？heasked。
Albertwastemptedtoreplythathe，Keeler，hadaskedhimthatveryquestionbefore，buthethoughtitbestnottodoso。
Idon’tknowyet，heanswered，carelessly。Wellenough，I
guess。
You’lllikeitfust-ratebimeby。Everybodydoeswhentheygetusedtoit。Takessometimetogetusedtoaplace，don’tyouknowitdoes，Ansel？
MynameisAlbert。
Eh？Yes，yes，so’tis。Yes，yes，yes。Idon’tknowwhyIcalledyouAnsel，’less’twasonaccountofmyknowin’anAnselOlsenonce……Hum……Yes，yes。Well，you’lllikeSouthHarnisswhenyougetusedtoit。
Theboydidnotanswer。Hewasoftheopinionthatheshoulddielongbeforethegettingusedprocesswascompleted。Mr。Keelercontinued。
Comeonyesterday’strain，didyou？heasked。
Albertlookedathim。Wasthefellowjoking？Hedidnotlookasifhewas。
Whyno，hereplied。IcamelastMondaynight。Don’tyouremember？
Eh？Oh，yes……Yes，yes，yes……LastMondaynightyoucome，eh？Onthenighttrain，eh？Hehesitatedamomentandthenasked。Cap’nLotefetchyoudownfromthedepot？
Albertstaredathimopen-mouthed。
Why，no！heretorted。Youdrovemedownyourself。
Forthefirsttimeaslightshadeofembarrassmentcrossedthebookkeeper’sfeatures。Hedrewalongbreath。
Yes，hemused。Yes，yes，yes。IkindofthoughtI——yes，yes，——
I——IthoughtlikelyIdid……Yes，yes，courseIdid，courseI
did。Well，nowmaybewe’dbetterbestartin’youintowork——er——
Augustus。Knowanythingaboutdouble-entry，doyou？
Albertdidnot，norhadhetheslightestdesiretolearn。Butbeforethefirsthourwasoverheforesawthathewasdestinedtolearn，ifheremainedinthatoffice，whetherhewantedtoornot。
LabanKeelermightbe，andevidentlywas，peculiarinhisways，butasabookkeeperhewasthoroughnesspersonified。Andasateacherofhisprofessionhewasjustasthorough。AllthatforenoonAlbertpracticedthefirstprinciplesofdoubleentryand，aftertheblessedhourfordinner，camebacktopracticetheremainderoftheworkingday。
Andsoformanydays。Littlebylittlehelearnedtoinvoiceandjournalizeandpostintheledgerandalltherestofthedetailofbookkeeping。NotthathisinstructorpermittedhimtodoagreatdealofactualworkuponthebooksofZ。SnowandCo。Thosebooksweretoospotlessandpreciousforthat。LookingoverthemAlbertwassurprisedandobligedtoadmitagrudgingadmirationatthemannerinwhich，forthemostpart，theyhadbeenkept。Pageafterpageoftheneatestofminutefigures，notablot，notablur，notanerasure。Soformonths。then，intheminorbooks，liketheday-bookorjournal，wouldsuddenlybreakoutaneruptionofsmudgesandscrawlsintheruggedhandwritingofCaptainZelotes。WhenhefirsthappenedupononeoftheseAlbertunthinkinglyspoketoMr。Keeleraboutit。Heaskedthelatterwhatitmeant。
Labanslowlystrokedhisnosewithhisthumbandfinger，ahabithehad。
Ical’lateIwasawayforaspellthen，hesaid，gravely。Yes，yes……Yes，yes，yes。Iwasawayforalittlespell。
Hewentsoberlybacktohisdesk。Hisnewassistant，catchingaglimpseofhisface，feltapangofrealpityforthelittleman。
Ofcoursethereasonforthehiatusinthebookswasplainenough。
Heknewaboutthoselittlespells。OddlyenoughLabanseemedtofeelsorryforthem。Herememberedhowfunnythebookkeeperhadappearedattheirfirstmeeting，whenonespellwasjustdeveloping，andthecontrastbetweenthesinging，chirrupingclownandtheprecise，gravelittlepersonatthedeskstruckevenhisyouthfulmindaspeculiar。HehadreadDoctorJekyllandMr。
Hyde，andnowherewasanexampleofsomethingsimilar。HewasbeginningtolikeLabanKeeler，althoughhewasperfectlysurethatheshouldneverlikebookkeeping。
Hedidnotslaveatthebooksallthetime，ofcourse。Forstretches，sometimeslastingwholedays，hisslaverywasofanothersort。ThenhewasworkinginthelumberyardwithIssachar，orwaitingoncustomersinthehardwareshop。Thecoldofwintersetininearnestnowandhandlingtwobyfoursandothertimberoutwheretherawwindssweptpiercinglythroughone’sovercoatandgarmentsandfleshtotheverybonewasatryingexperience。Hishandswerechappedandcracked，eventhoughhisgrandmotherhadknithimapairofenormousredmittens。Heappreciatedthewarmthofthemittens，buthehatedthecolor。Whyinthenameofallthatwasinartisticdidshechoosered。notadeep，richcrimson，butascreechingvermilion，likeafireman’sshirt？
Issachar，whenhehadtheopportunity，wasahardboss。ItsuitedMr。Pricetodisplayhissuperiorknowledgeandtofindfaultwithhishelper’slackofskill。Albert’shottemperwasattheboilingpointmanytimes，buthefoughtitdown。Occasionallyheretortedinkind，buthisusualandmosteffectiveweaponwasamoreorlessdelicatesarcasm。Issachardidnotunderstandsarcasmandunderrapidfirehewasinclinedtolosehishead。
Consarnit！hesnapped，irritably，ononeoccasion。Consarnit，Al，whydon’tyouh’istupont’otherendofthatj’ist？Whatdoyoucal’lateyou’reoutherealongofmefor。tolookharnsome？
Albertshookhishead。No，Is，heanswered，gravely。No，thatwouldn’tbeanyuse。Withyouaroundnobodyelsehasalook-inatthe’handsome’game。Issy，whatdoyoudotoyourface？
Dotoit？Whatdoyoumeanbydotoit？
Whatdoyoudotoittomakeitlookthewayitdoes？Don’ttellmeitgrewthatwaynaturally。
Grew！Courseitgrew！Whatkindoftalk’sthat？
Issy，withafacelikeyourshowdoyoukeepthebirdsaway？
Eh？Keepthebirdsaway！Nowlookhere，just——
Excuseme。DidIsay’birds，’Issy？Ididn’tmeanbirdslike——
likecrows。Ofcourseafacelikeyourswouldkeepthecrowsawayallrightenough。Imeantgirls。Howdoyoukeepthegirlsaway？
Ishouldthinktheywouldbemakingloveallthetime。
Aw，youshutup！Just’causeyou’reCap’nLote’sgrandsonI
presumelikelyyouthinkyoucantalkanykindoftalk，don’tye？
Notanykind，Is。Ican’ttalklikeyou。Willyouteachme？
Shutup！Now，byCrimus，you——youfurriner——youSperanzy——
Mr。Keelerappearedattheofficewindow。Hisshrillvoicerosepipinglyinthewintryairashedemandedtoknowwhatwasthetroubleoutthere。
Mr。Price，stillfoaming，strodetowardthewindow。Albertlaughinglyfollowedhim。
What’sthematter？repeatedLaban。There’senoughnoiseforasewin’circle。Bestill，Is，can’tyou，foraminute。Al，what’sthetrouble？
Issy’sbeentalkingabouthisface，explainedAlbert，soberly。
Iain’tneither。Iwash’istin’upmyendofaj’ist，sameasI’mpaidtodo，and，’steadofhelpin’hestandsthereandheavesouttalkabout——about——
Well，aboutwhat？
Aw，about——aboutmeand——andgirls——andallsortsofdumfoolishness。Itellye，I’vegotsomethin’elsetodobesidelistentothatkindofcheaptalk。
Um。Yes，yes。Isee。Well，Al，whathaveyougottosay？
Nothing。I’msureIdon’tknowwhatitisallabout。IwasworkingashardasIcouldandallatoncehebeganpitchingintome。
Pitchin’intoyou？How？
Oh，Idon’tknow。Somethingaboutmylookshedidn’tlike，I
guess。WantedtoknowifIthoughtIwasashandsomeashewas，orsomethinglikethat。
Eh？Ineverneither！AllIsaidwas——
Mr。Keelerraisedhishand。Seemstobeacaseforanumpire，heobserved。Um。Seem’sif’twas，seemsso，seemsso。Well，CaptainLote’sjustcomin’acrosstheroadand，ifyousaytheword，I’llcallhimintoreferee。Whatdoyousay？
Theysaidnothingrelevanttothesubjectinhand。Issacharmadetheonlyremark。Crimus-TEE！heejaculated。Comeon，Al，comeon。
Thepairhurriedawaytoresumelumberpiling。Labansmiledslightlyandclosedthewindow。Itmaybegatheredfromthisincidentthatwhenthecaptainwasinchargeofthedecktherewaslittleidlepersiflageamongthefo’masthands。They，likeothersinSouthHarniss，didnotpresumetotriflewithCaptainLoteSnow。
SothebusinesseducationofAlbertoMiguelCarlosSperanzaprogressed。AttheendofthefirstsixweeksinSouthHarnisshehadlearnedalittleaboutbookkeeping，alittleaboutsellinghardware，alittleaboutmeasuringandmarkinglumber。Anditmustbeadmittedthatthatlittlehadbeenacquired，notbecauseofvigorousapplicationonthepartofthepupil，butbecause，beingnaturallyquickandintelligent，hecouldnothelplearningsomething。Helikedtheworkjustaslittleashehadinthebeginningofhisapprenticeship。And，althoughhewasforgettinghisthoughtsofrunningaway，ofattemptingfortuneonhisownhook，hewasjustasrebelliousaseveragainstafuturetobespentinthatofficeandatthatwork。
Outsidetheofficeandthehatefulbookkeepinghewasbeginningtofindseveralrealinterests。AttheoldhousewhichhadforgenerationsbeencalledtheSnowplace，hewasbeginningtofeelalmostathome。Heandhisgrandmotherwerebecomingclosefriends。Shewasnotlookingfortrouble，sheneversatforlongintervalsgazingathimasifshewereguessing，guessing，guessingconcerninghim。CaptainZelotesdidthat，butOlivedidnot。Shehadtakentheboy，herJanie’sboy，toherheartfromthemomentshesawhimandshemotheredhimandlovedhiminawaywhich——solongasitwasnotdoneinpublic——comfortedhislonelysoul。Theyhadnotyetreachedthestagewhereheconfidedinhertoanygreatextent，butthatwascertaintocomelater。Itwashisgrandmother’sloveandtheaffectionhewasalreadybeginningtofeelforherwhich，duringthesefirstlonesome，miserableweeks，kepthimfrom，perhaps，turningtherunningawayfantasyintoareality。
AnotherinmateoftheSnowhouseholdwithwhomAlbertwasbecomingbetteracquaintedwithwasMrs。RachelEllis。TheirrealacquaintanceshipbeganoneSundayforenoonwhenCaptainZelotesandOlivehadgonetochurch。Ordinarilyhewouldhaveaccompaniedthem，tositinthestraight-backedoldpewonacushionwhichfeltlumpyandsmeltancientandmusty，andpretendtolistenwhileoldMr。Kendallpreachedasermonwhichwasancientandmustylikewise。
ButthisSundaymorningheawokewithaheadacheandhisgrandmotherhadpleadedforhim，declaringthatheoughttolaytobedawhileandgetoverit。Hegotoveritwithsurprisingquicknessafterthechurchbellceasedringing，andcamedownstairstoreadIvanhoeinthesittingroom。Hehadreaditseveraltimesbefore，buthewantedtoreadsomethingandthechoiceofvolumesintheSnowbookcasewaslimited。Hewasstretchedoutonthesofawiththebookinhishandwhenthehousekeeperentered，armedwithadust-cloth。ShewenttochurchonlyeveryotherSunday。Thiswasoneoftheotherswithoutanevery，andshewasathome。
Whatareyoureadin’，Albert？sheasked，afterafew’minutesvigorouswieldingofthedust-cloth。Itmustbeawfulinterestin’，youstickatitsoclose。
TheBlackKnightwasjustthenhammeringwithhisbattle-axeatthegateofFrontdeBuef’scastle，notmindingthestonesandbeamscastdownuponhimfromabovenomorethaniftheywerethistle-
downorfeathers。Albertabsentlyadmittedthatthestorywasinteresting。Thehousekeeperrepeatedherrequesttobetolditsname。
Ivanhoe，repliedtheboy。adding，asthenamedidnotseemtoconveyanydefiniteideatohisinterrogator’smind：It’sbyWalterScott，youknow。
Mrs。Ellismadenoremarkimmediately。WhenshediditwastotheeffectthatsheusedtoknowacoloredmannamedScottwhoworkedatthehotelonce。Hesweptoutandcarriedtrunksandsuchthings，sheexplained。Heseemedtobearealnicesortofcoloredman，faraseverIheard。
AlbertwasmoreinterestedintheBlackKnightofIvanhoethantheblackmanofthehotel，sohewentonreading。Rachelsatdowninachairbythewindowandlookedout，twistinganduntwistingthedust-clothinherlap。
Ipresumelikelylotsandlotsoffolkshavereadthatbook，ain’tthey？sheasked，afteranotherinterval。
What？Oh，yes，almosteverybody。It’saclassic，Isuppose。
What’sthat？
What’swhat？
Whatyousaidthebookwas。Aclass-somethin’orother？
Oh，aclassic。Why，it’s——it’ssomethingeverybodyknowsabout，or——oroughttoknowabout。Oneofthebigthings，youknow。
Like——likeShakespeareor——orRobinsonCrusoeorParadiseLostor——
lotsofthem。It’sabookeverybodyreadsandalwayswill。
Isee。Humph！Well，Ineverreadit……Ipresumelikelyyouthinkthat’sprettyfunny，don’tyou？
Alberttorehimselfawayfromthefightatthegate。
Why，Idon’tknow，hereplied。
Yes，youdo。Youthinkit’sawfulfunny。Well，youwouldn’tifyouknewmoreabouthowbusyI’vebeenallmylife。Iain’thadtimetoreadthewayI’doughtto。IreadabookoncethoughthatI’llneverforget。DidyoueverreadabookcalledFoulPlay？
No……Why，holdon，though。IthinkIhave。ByCharlesReade，wasn’tit？
Yes，that’swhowroteit，amannamedCharlesReade。Labantoldmethatpartofit。hereadsalot，Labandoes。Inevernoticedwhowroteit，myself。Iwastoointerestedinittonoticelittleextrythingslikethat。Butain’tthataWONDERFULbook？Ain’tthatthebestbookyoueverreadinallyourLIFE？
Shedroppedthedust-clothandwastooexcitedandenthusiastictopickitup。AlbertdidhisbesttorecallsomethingdefiniteconcerningFoulPlay。Thebookhadbeenintheschoollibraryandhe，whoreadalmosteverything，hadreaditalongwiththeothers。
Letmesee，hesaidmusingly。Aboutashipwreck——somethingaboutashipwreckinit，wasn’tthere？
Ishouldsaytherewas！Mystarsabove！Notthecommonkindofshipwreck，neither，thekindtheyhavedowntoSetuckitP’intontheshoals。Nosir-ee！Thisonewassunkonpurpose。ThatJoeWylieboredholesrightdownthroughherwithagimlet，thewickedthing！Andthatset’emafloatrightoutontheseainaboat，andtherewan’tanythingtoeattillRobertPenfold——oh，HEwasthesmartone。he’dfindanything，thatman！——hefoundthebarnaclesonthebottomoftheboat，justthesameashefoundouthowtodiffuseintelligencetiedontoaduck’slegoverlandknowshowmanylegs——leagues，Imean——ofocean。Butthatcomelater。Don’tyourememberTHAT？
Albertlaughed。Thestorywasbeginningtocomebacktohim。
Oh，sure！heexclaimed。Iremembernow。He——thePenfoldfellow——andthegirllandedonthisislandandhadallsortsofadventures，andfellinloveandallthatsortofstuff，andthenherdadcameandtookherbacktoEnglandandshe——shedidsomethingorotherthereto——togetthePenfoldguyoutoftrouble。
Didsomethin’！Ishouldsayshedid！Why，shefoundoutallaboutwhoforgedtheletter——thenote，Imean——that’swhatshedone。’TwasArthurWardlaw，that’swho’twas。Andhewastryin’
togetHelenallthetimeforhimself，theskinner！Don’ttalktomeaboutthatArthurWardlaw！InevercouldbearHIM。
ShespokeasifshehadknownthedetestedWardlawintimatelyfromchildhood。YoungSperanzawashugelyamused。Ivanhoewasquiteforgotten。
FoulPlaywasgreatstuff，heobserved。Whendidyoureadit？
Eh？When？Oh，everandeversolongago。WhenIwasabouttwenty，Iguess，andlaidupwiththemeasles。That’stheonlytimeIeverwasrealwhatyoumightcalldownsickinmylife，andIcommencedwithmeasles。That’sthewayagoodmanyfolkscommence，Iknow，buttheydon’tgenerallywaittillthey’reoutoftheir’teensaforetheystart。Iwasworkin’forMrs。PhilanderBassettatthetime，andshesaystome：’Rachel，’shesays，’you’reonthemendin’handnow，wouldn’tyoulikeabooktoread？’
Isays，’Why，maybeIwould。’Andshefetchedupthreeof’em。I
cansee’emnow，allthree，plainasday。OnewasBarriersBurnedAway。Shesaidthatwassomethin’aboutabigfire。Well，I’mawfulnervousaboutfires，havebeenfromachild，soIdidn’treadthat。Andanotherhadthequeerestkindofaname，ifyou’dcallitanameatall。’twasShe。
Albertnodded。
Yes，hesaid。I’vereadthat。
Haveyou？Well，Ibegunto，butmystars，THATwasn’tanybooktogivetoapersonwithnervesymptoms。IgotasfaraswherethoseIndiansorwhatevertheywasstartedtoputred-hotkettlesonfolks’sheads，andthatwasenoughforME。’Givemesomethin’
civilized，’saysI，’ornotatall。’SoIcommencedFoulPlay，andItellyouIkeptrightontotheend。
Idon’tsuppose，shewenton，thatthereeverwasamuchbetterbookthanthatwrote，wasthere？
Alberttemporized。Itisagoodone，headmitted。
Don’tseemtometherecouldbemuchbetter。Labansaysit’sgood，thoughhewon’tgosofarastosayit’stheverybest。He’sreadlotsandlotsofbooks，Labanhas。Readsanawfullotinhissparetime。He’swhatyou’dcallaneducatedperson，whichiswhatIain’t。AndIguessyou’llsaythatlastisplainenoughwithoutbein’told，sheadded。
Hercompanion，notexactlyknowinghowtoanswer，wassilentforamoment。Rachel，whohadpickedupandwasagaintwistingthedust-
cloth，returnedtothesubjectshesodelightedin。
ButthatFoulPlaybook，shecontinued，I’vereadtillI’veprettynighworethecoversoff。WhenMrs。BassettsawhowmuchI
likeditshegaveittomeforapresent。Ireadalittlebitiniteverylittlewhile。Ikindoffitthefolksinthatbooktofolksinreallife，sortofcompare’em，youknow。Doyoueverdothat？
Albert，repressingachuckle，said，Sure！again。Shenodded。
Nowthere’sGeneralRollesoninthatbook，shesaid。Doyouknowwhohemakesmethinkof？Cap’nLote，yourgrandpa，that’swho。
GeneralRolleson，asAlbertrememberedhim，wasanextremelydignified，culturedandpreciseoldgentleman。JustwhatresemblancetheremightbebetweenhimandCaptainZelotesSnow，ex-skipperoftheOliveS。，hecouldnotimagine。Hecouldnotrepressagrin，andthehousekeepernoticedit。
Seemsfunnytoyou，Ipresumelikely，shesaid。Well，nowyouthinkaboutit。ThisGeneralRollesonmanwaskindofproudandsotinhiswaysjustasyourgrandpais，Albert。Hehadadaughterhethoughtalltheworldof。sodidCap’nLote。Alongcomeapersonthatwantedtomarrythedaughter。Inthebook’twasRobertPenfold，whohadbeenaconvict。Inyourgrandpa’scase，’twasyourpa，whohadbeenaplay-actor。Soyousee——
Albertsatuponthesofa。Holdon！heinterruptedindignantly。
Doyoumeantocomparemyfatherwitha——withaCONVICT？Iwantyoutounderstand——
Mrs。Ellisheldupthedust-cloth。Now，now，now，sheprotested。
Don’tgoputtin’wordsinmymouththatIdidn’tsay。Idon’tdoubtyourpawasaniceman，inhisway，thoughInevermethim。
But’twan’tCap’nLote’swayanymorethanRobertPenfold’swasGeneralRolleson’s。
Myfatherwasfamous，declaredtheyouthhotly。Hewasoneofthemostfamoussingersinthiscountry。Everybodyknowsthat——
thatis，everybodybutGrandfatherandthegangdownhere，headded，indisgust。
Idon’tsayyou’rewrong。Labantellsmethatsomeofthosesingin’folksgetawfulhighwages，morethanthecap’nofasteamboat，hesays，thoughthatseemslikestretchin’ittome。
But，asIsay，Cap’nLotewasproud，andnobodybutthebestwouldsatisfyhimforJanie，yourmother。Well，inthatway，yousee，heremindsmeofGeneralRollesoninthebook。
Lookhere，Mrs。Ellis。TellmeaboutthisbusinessofDad’smarryingmymother。Ineverknewmuchofanythingaboutit。
Youdidn’t？Didyourpanevertellyou？
No。
Humph！That’sfunny。Still，Idon’tknow’sas’twas，afterall，considerin’youwasonlyaboy。Probablyhe’dhavetoldyousomeday。Well，Idon’tsupposethere’sanysecretaboutit。’Twastowntalkdownherewhenithappened。
Shetoldhimthestoryoftherunawaymarriage。Albertlistenedwithinterestandthealmostincredulousamazementwithwhichtheyoungalwaysreceivetalesoftheirparents’loveaffairs。Love，forpeopleofhisageoratrifleolder，wasanaturalandunderstandablething，butforhisfather，asherememberedhim，tohavebehavedinthiswaywasincomprehensible。
So，saidRachel，inconclusion，that’showithappened。That’swhyCap’nLotecouldn’teverforgiveyourfather。
Hetossedhishead。Well，heoughttohaveforgivenhim，hedeclared。Hewasdeadluckytogetsuchamanforason-in-law，ifyouaskme。
Hedidn’tthinkso。Andhewouldn’tevermentionyourpa’sname。
Oh，Idon’tdoubtthat。AnybodycanseehowhehatedFather。Andhehatesmethesameway，headdedmoodily。
Mrs。Elliswasmuchdisturbed。Oh，no，hedon’t，shecried。
Youmustn’tthinkthat，Albert。Hedon’thateyou，I’msureofit。He’sjustkindofdoubtfulaboutyou，that’sall。Heremembershowyourpaacted——orhowhethinksheacted——andsohecan’thelpbein’theleastmiteafraidthesamethingmaycropoutinyou。Ifyoujuststicktoyourjoboverthereatthelumberyardsandkeepontryin’topleasehim，he’llgetalloverthatsuspicion，seeifhedon’t。Cap’nLoteSnowisstubbornsometimesandhardtoturn，buthe’ssquareasabrick。There’ssomethatdon’tlikehim，andagoodmanythatdon’tagreewithhim——buteverybodyrespectshim。
Albertdidnotanswer。Thehousekeeperrosefromherchair。
There！sheexclaimed。Idon’tknowwhenI’vesetdownforsolong。GoodnessknowsI’vegotworkenoughtodowithoutsettin’
aroundtalkin’。Ican’tthinkwhatpossessedmetodoitthistime，unless’twasseein’youreadin’thatbook。Shepausedamomentandthensaid：Albert，I——Idon’twantyouandyourgrandpatohaveanyquarrels。Yousee——well，yousee，Iusedtoknowyourmotherrealwell，and——andIthoughtanawfulsightofher。Iwish——Idowishwhenyouandthecap’nhaveanytroubleoranything，orwhenyouthinkyou’reliabletohaveany，you’dcomeandtalkitoverwithme。I’mlikethefellerthatLabantellsaboutinhisdog-fightyarn。Thisfellerwaswatchin’thefightandwhentheyaskedhimtostopitaforeoneort’otherofthedogswaskilled，hejustshookhishead。’No-o，’hesays，kindofslowandmoderate，’IguessIshan’tinterfere。Oneof’em’sbeenstealin’mychickensandtheotheronebitme。I’mafriendtobothparties，’hesays。CourseIdon’tmeanitexactlythatway，
sheadded，withasmile，butyouknowwhatIdomean，Iguess。
WILLyoutalkthingsoverwithmesometimes，Albert？
Hisanswerwasnotveryenthusiastic，buthesaidheguessedso，andRachelseemedsatisfiedwiththat。Shewentonwithherdusting，andhewithhisreading，buttheconversationwasthefirstofmanybetweenthepair。ThehousekeeperappearedtoconsiderhishavingreadherbelovedFoulPlayasortofpasswordadmittinghimtoherlodgeandthatthereaftertheywere，inconsequence，tobeconfidantsandcomrades。Sheneverhesitatedtoaskhimthemostpersonalquestionsconcerninghiswork，hisplans，thefriendsoracquaintanceshewasmakinginthevillage。Someofthosequestionsheansweredhonestlyandfully，somehedodged，somehedidnotansweratall。Mrs。Ellisneverresentedhisnotanswering。Ipresumelikelythatain’tanyofmybusiness，isit？shewouldsay，andaskaboutsomethingelse。
Ontheotherhand，shewasperfectlyoutspokenconcerningherownaffairs。Hewasnearlyovercomewithhilariousjoywhen，oneday，sheadmittedthat，inhermind，RobertPenfold，theheroofFoulPlay，livedagaininthepersonofLabanKeeler。
Why，Mrs。Ellis，hecried，assoonashecouldtrusthimselftospeakatall，Idon’tseeTHAT。Penfoldwasasix-footer，wasn’the？And——andathletic，youknow，and——andaminister，andyoung——
younger，Imean——and——
Rachelinterrupted。Yes，yes，Iknow，shesaid。AndLabanislittle，andnotveryyoung，and，whateverelseheis，heain’taminister。Iknowallthat。Iknowtheoutsideofhimdon’tlooklikeRobertPenfoldatall。But，somewhatapologetically，youseeI’vebeenacquaintedwithhimsomanyyearsI’vegotintothehabitofseein’hisINSIDE。Nowthatsoundskindofridiculous，I
know，sheadded。SoundsasifI——I——well，asifIwasinthehabitoftakin’himapart，likeawatchorsomethin’。WhatImeanisthatIknowhimallthrough。I’veknownhimforalong，longwhile。Heain’tmuchtolookat，bein’solittleandsortofdriedup，buthe’sgotabig，fineheartandbigbrains。Hecando’mostanythinghesetshishandto。WhenIusedtoknowhim，whenIwasagirl，folkswasalwaysprophesyin’thatLabanKeelerwouldturnouttobeawholelotmore’ntheaverage。Hewould，too，onlyforonething，andyouknowwhatthatis。It’swhathaskeptmefrommarryin’himallthistime。IsworeI’dnevermarryamanthatdrinks，andIneverwill。Why，ifitwasn’tforliquorLabewouldhavebeenrunnin’hisownbusinessandgettin’richlongago。HeallbutrunsCap’nLote’splaceas’tis。Thecap’nandagoodmanyotherfolksdon’trealizethat，butit’sso。
Itwasplainthatsheworshipedthelittlebookkeeperand，exceptduringtheperiodsofvacationandsympathetics，wastremendouslyproudofhim。AlbertsoondiscoveredthatMr。
Keeler’sfeelingforherwasequallystrong。Inhiscase，though，therewasalsoastrongstrainofgratitude。
She’safinewoman，Al，heconfidedtohisassistantononeoccasion。Afinewoman……Yes，yes，yes。Theydon’tmake’emanyfiner。Ahhum！AndnotsolongagoIreadaboutapasselofdarnfoolsarguin’thattheangelsinheavenwasallhe-ones……Umph！……Sho，sho！Ifmenwasasgoodaswomen，Ansel——Alfred——Albert，Imean——wecouldstartanoppositionheavendownheremostanytime。’Mostanytime——yes，yes。
Itwasconsiderableforhimtosay。Exceptwhenonavacation，Labanwasnotloquacious。
EachSundayafternoon，whentheweatherwaspleasant，hecame，dressedinhisbestblackcutaway，shinyatelbowsandtheunderpartofthesleeves，stripedtrousersandapearlgraysofthatwithablackband，ahatwhichlookedasmuchoutofplaceabovehisround，witheredlittlefaceasaredroofmighthavelookedonafamilyvault，andheandthehousekeeperwentforawalk。
Rachel，inherSundayblack，bulkedlargebesidehim。AsCaptainZelotessaid，thepairlookedlikeatugtakin’alinerouttosea。
CHAPTERV
OutsideofthegatesoftheSnowplaceAlbertwasmakingmanyacquaintancesandafewfriends。AfterchurchonSundayshisgrandmotherhadadistressfulhabitofsuddenlyseizinghisarmorhiscoat-tailashewashurryingtowardthevestibuleandthesunshineofoutdoors，andsaying：Oh，Albert，justaminute！
Here’ssomebodyyouhaven’tmetyet，Iguess。Elsie——orNellieorMabelorHenryorCharlieorGeorge，whicheverithappenedtobe——
thisismygrandson，AlbertSperanza。Andtheyoungpersontowhomhewasthusintroducedwould，ifamale，extendahesitatinghand，givehisownanembarrassedshake，smileuncertainlyandsay，Yes——er——yes。Pleasedtomeetyou。Or，ifoftheothersex，wouldblushalittleandventuretheobservationthatitwasalovelymorning，andwasn’tthesermonsplendid。
TheseSabbathintroductionsledtoweek-day，orratherweek-
evening，meetings。TheprincipalexcitementinSouthHarnisswasgoingforthemail。Atnoonandaftersupperfullyone-halfofthevillagepopulationjourneyedtothepostoffice。Albert’slaborsforZ。SnowandCo。preventedhisattendingthenoongatherings——hisgrandfatherusuallygotthemorningmail——butheearlyformedthehabitofsaunteringdownstreetintheeveningiftheweatherwasnottoocoldordisagreeable。TherehewascertaintofindgroupsofSouthHarnissyouthofbothsexes，talking，giggling，skylarkingandflirting。Sometimeshejoinedoneortheotherofthesegroups。quiteasoftenhedidnot，butkeptaloofandbyhimself，foritmayaswellbeacknowledgednow，ifitisnotalreadyplain，thatthesonofMiguelCarlosSperanzahadinheritedashareofhisfather’stemperamentandself-esteem。
Thewhimofthemomentmightleadhimtofavortheseyoungpeoplewithhissociety，buthewasfarfromconsideringhimselfunderobligationtodoso。Hehadnottheleastideathathewasinanywayasnob，hewouldhavehotlyresentedbeingcalledone，butheacceptedhisestimateofhisownworthassomethingabsoluteandcertain，tobetakenforgranted。
Nowthisattitudeofmindhaditsdangers。Coupledwithitspossessor’sextraordinarygoodlooks，itwasfascinatingtoalargepercentageofthevillagegirls。TheSperanzaeyesandtheSperanzacurlsandnoseandchinwere，whenjoinedwiththeeasycondescensionoftheSperanzamanner，acombinationfataltothesusceptible。TheSouthHarnissflappers，mostofthem，enthusedoverthenewbookkeeperinthelumberoffice。Theyogledandgiggledandgushedinhispresence，andhewastolerantorbored，justashehappenedtobefeelingatthemoment。Butheneverdisplayedamarkedinterestinanyoneofthem，fortheverygoodreasonthathehadnosuchinterest。Tohimtheyweremerelygirls，niceenoughintheirway，perhaps，butthatwaynothis。
Mostofthetownyoungfellowsofhisagehefoundhadagirlandalmosteverygirlhadafellow。therewascalfloveinabundance，buthewasadifferentbrandofveal。
However，agreatmanmustamusehimself，andsoheacceptedinvitationstochurchsocialsandsuppersandtoanoccasionaldanceorparty。HisstyleofdancingwasnotthatofSouthHarnissinthewinter。ItwascommonenoughatthehotelortheteahouseinJulyandAugustwhenthesummerpeoplewerethere，butnotatthetownhallattheRedMen’sAnnualBallinFebruary。A
fellowwhocouldfoxtrotashecouldsweptallbeforehim。SamThatcher，oflastyear’sclassinthehighschool，butnowclerkinginthedrugstore，whohadhithertoreignedasthebesttwo-
stepperintown，suddenlybecameconsciousofhisfeet。Then，too，thecontentsofthethreetrunkswhichhadbeensentonfromschoolwerenowinevidence。NoBostonorBrocktonAdvancedStylesheldacandletothosesuitswhichthetailorofthelateMiguelCarloshadturnedoutforhispatron’sonlyson。Noothereighteen-year-olderamongthetown’syear-aroundresidentspossessedasuitofeveningclothes。AlbertworehisTuxattheRedMen’sBallandheartspalpitatedbeneathnewmuslingownsandbitterenvystirredbeneaththeBrocktonAdvancedStyles。
Inconsequence，byspringthesocialstatusofAlbertSperanzaamongthoseofhisownageinthevillagehadbecomesomethinglikethis：Hewasinhighfavorwithmostofthegirlsandincorrespondingdisfavorwithmostoftheyoungfellows。Thegirls，althoughtheyagreedthathewasstand-offishandkindofqueer，
votedhimjustlovely，allthesame。Theirenviousbeauxreferredtohimsneeringlyamongthemselvesasastuck-updude。
SomeoneofthemrememberedhavingbeentoldthatCaptainZelotes，yearsbefore，hadbeenaccustomedtospeakofhishatedson-in-lawasthePortygee。Behindhisbacktheyformedthehabitofreferringtotheirnewrivalinthesameway。ThefirsttimeAlbertheardhimselfcalledaPortygeewasafterprayermeetingonFridayevening，when，obeyingawhim，hehadwalkedhomewithGertieKendrick，quiteforgetfulofthefactthatSamThatcher，whoaspiredtobeGertie’ssteady，washimselfwaitingonthechurchstepsforthatprivilege。
EventhennothingmighthavecomeofithadheandSamnotmetinthepathashewassaunteringbackacrosslotstothemainroadandhome。Itwasabrilliantmoonlightnightandthepaircametogether，literally，atthebendwherethepathturnssharplyaroundthecornerofElijahDoane’scranberryshanty。Sam，plowingalong，headdownandhandsinhispockets，swungaroundthatcornerandbumpedviolentlyintoAlbert，who，acigarettebetweenhislips——outhereinthefields，awayfromcivilizationandCaptainZelotes，wasasatisfyinglycomfortableplacetosmokeacigarette——
wasdreamingdreamsofafuturefarawayfromSouthHarniss。SamhadbeenthinkingofGertie。Alberthadnot。Shehadbeenamereincidentoftheevening。hehadwalkedhomewithherbecausehehappenedtobeinthemoodforcompanionshipandshewasratherprettyandalwaystalkative。Hisdreamsduringthestrollbackaloneinthemoonlighthadbeenofloftythings，ofpoetryandfameandhighemprise。gigglingGertieshadnoplaceinthem。ItwasdistinctlydifferentwithSamThatcher。
Theycrashedtogether，gaspedandrecoiled。
Oh，I’msorry！exclaimedAlbert。
Can’tyouseewhereyou’regoin’，youdarnedPortygeehalf-breed？
demandedSam。
Albert，whohadsteppedpasthim，turnedandcameback。
Whatdidyousay？heasked。
Isaidyouwasadarnedhalf-breed，andyouare。You’reano-goodPortygee，likeyourfather。
Itwasallhehadtimetosay。Forthenextfewminuteshewastoobusytotalk。TheSperanzas，fatherandson，possessedtemperament。
alsotheypossessedtemper。Sam’sface，usuallyplacidandgood-natured，forSamwasbynomeansabadfellowinhisway，wasfieryred。Albert’s，onthecontrary，wentperfectlywhite。Heseemedtosettlebackonhisheelsandfromtherealmosttoflyathisinsulter。Fiveminutesorsolatertheywerebothdustyanddirtyanddishevelledandbruised，butSamwasprettythoroughlylicked。Foronething，hehadbeentakenbysurprisebyhisadversary’squickness。foranother，Albert’scompulsorytraininginathleticsatschoolgavehimanadvantage。Hewasbynomeansanunscarredvictor，butvictorhewas。Samwasdefeated，andverymuchastonished。Heleanedagainstthecranberryhouseandheldontohisnose。Ithadbeenalargenoseinthebeginning，itwaslargernow。
Albertstoodbeforehim，hisface——whereitwasnotapleasingcombinationofblackandblue——stillwhite。
Ifyou——ifyouspeakofmyfatherormeagainlikethat，hepanted，I’ll——I’llkillyou！
Thenhestrodeoff，abitwobblyonhislegs，butwithdignity。
Oddlyenough，nooneexceptthetwomostinterestedeverknewofthisencounter。Albert，ofcourse，didnottell。Hewasratherashamedofit。ForthesonofMiguelCarlosSperanzatoconquerdragonswasaworthyandheroicbusiness，butthereseemedtobemightylittleheroisminlickingSamThatcherbehind’LijeDoane’scranberryshack。AndSamdidnottell。Gertienextdayconfidedthatshedidn’tcaretwocentsforthatstuck-upAlSperanza，anyway。shehadlethimseeherhomeonlybecauseSamhaddancedsomanytimeswithElsieWixonattheballthatnight。SoSamsaidnothingconcerningthefight，explainingtheconditionofhisnosebysayingthathehadrunintosomethinginthedark。Andhedidnotappeartoholdagrudgeagainsthisconqueror。onthecontrarywhenothersspokeofthelatterasasissy，Samdefendedhim。
Hemaybeadude，saidSam。Idon’tsayheain’t。Butheain’tnosissy。
Whenpressedtotellwhyhewassocertain，hisanswerwas：
Becausehedon’tactlikeone。Itwasnotaconvincinganswer，thegeneralopinionbeingthatthatwasexactlyhowAlSperanzadidact。
TherewasoneyoungpersoninthevillagetowardwhomAlbertfoundhimselfmakingexceptionsinhisattitudeofserenelyimpersonaltolerance。ThatpersonwasHelenKendall，thegirlwhohadcomeintohisgrandfather’sofficethefirstmorningofhisstayinSouthHarniss。Hewasforcedtomaketheseexceptionsbytheyoungladyherself。Whenhemetherthesecondtime——whichwasafterchurchonhisfirstSunday——hismannerwasevenmoreloftilyreservedthanusual。Hehaddistinctrecollectionsoftheirfirstconversation。Hisownpartinithadnotbeenbrilliant，andinithehadmadetheabsurdstatement——absurdinthelightofwhatcameafter——thathewascertainlyNOTemployedbyZ。SnowandCo。
Sohewascoolandsuperiorwhenhisgrandmotherbroughtthemtogetherafterthemeetingwasover。IfHelennoticedthesuperiority，shewascertainlynotover-awedbyit，forshewassosimpleandnaturalandpleasantthathewasobligedtounbendandbenaturaltoo。Infact，attheirthirdmeetinghehimselfspokeoftheinterviewinthelumberofficeandagainexpressedhisthanksforwarninghimofhisgrandfather’sdetestationofcigarettes。
Gee！heexclaimed，I’mcertainlygladthatyouputmeontotheoldboy’sfeelings。Ithinkhe’dhavemurderedmeifhehadcomebackandfoundmepuffingaPallMallinthere。
Shesmiled。Hedoeshatethem，doesn’the？shesaid。
Hatethem！Ishouldsayhedid。HatingcigarettesisabouttheonlypointwhereheandIssygetalongwithoutanargument。Ifatravelerforahardwarehousecomesintotheofficesmokingacig，Issyopensallthewindowstoletthesmellout，andGrandfatheropensthedoortothrowthesalesmanout。Well，notexactlytothrowhimout，ofcourse，butheneverbuysasinglecent’sworthofacigarettesmoker。
Helenglancedathim。Youmustbeawfullygladyou’renotatravelingsalesman，shesaiddemurely。
Albertdidnotknowexactlywhattomakeofthatremark。He，inhisturn，lookedather，butshewasgraveandquiteunconcerned。
Why？heasked，afteramoment。
Why——what？
WhyoughtItobegladI’mnotatravelingsalesman？
Oh，Idon’tknow。Itjustseemedtomethatyouought，that’sall。
Butwhy？
Well，ifyouwereyouwouldn’tmakeagreathitwithyourgrandfather，wouldyou？
Eh？……Oh，youmeanbecauseIsmoke。Say，YOU’REnotsillyenoughtobedownoncigarettesthewaygrandfatheris，areyou？
No-o，I’mnotdownonthem，especially。I’mnotverywellacquaintedwiththem。
Neitherishe。Heneversmokedoneinhislife。It’sjustcountryprejudice，that’sall。
Well，Iliveinthecountry，too，youknow。
Yes，butyou’redifferent。
HowdoyouknowIam？
Oh，becauseanyonecanseeyouare。Themannerinwhichthisremarkwasmade，amannerimplyingawideknowledgeofhumanityandahintofpersonalinterestanddiscriminatingappreciation，hadbeenfoundquiteeffectivebytheprecociousyounggentlemanutteringit。WithvariationstosuitthecaseandtheindividualithadbeenpleasantlyreceivedbyseveraloftheMissesBradshaw’spupils。Hefolloweditwithanotherequallytriedandtrustworthy。
Say，headded，wouldYOUratherIdidn’tsmoke？
Theobviousreplyshouldhavebeen，Oh，wouldyoustopifIaskedyouto？ButHelenKendallwasamostdisconcertinggirl。Insteadofpurringapleasedrecognitionoftheimpliedflattery，shelaughedmerrily。TheSperanzadignitywashurt。
Whatistheretolaughat？hedemanded。Areyoulaughingatme？
Theanswerwasastruthfulastruthitself。
Why，ofcourseIam，shereplied。andthencompletedhisdiscomfiturebyadding，WhyshouldIcarewhetheryousmokeornot？Youhadbetteraskyourgrandfatherthatquestion，Ishouldthink。