CHAPTERXI
　　Albertreadthenameonthecard。Hewastooastonishedtospeak。
　　Herfather！Hewashere！He——
　　Hisgrandfatherspokeagain，andhistonewasbriskandbusinesslike。
　　Goon，Al，heordered。Outthroughthissidedoorandaroundtothefront。Lively，son，lively！
　　Buttheyoungman’switswerereturning。Hescowledatthecard。
　　No，hesaidstoutly，I’mnotgoingtorunaway。I’mnotafraidofhim。Ihaven’tdoneanythingtobeashamedof。
　　Thecaptainnodded。Ifyouhad，IshouldASKyoutorunaway，hesaid。Asitis，Ijustaskyoutostepoutandwaitalittlewhile，that’sall。
　　But，Grandfather，IWANTtoseehim。
　　Allright，Iwantyouto——butnotuntilheandIhavetalkedfirst。Come，boy，come！I’velivedalittlelongerthanyouhave，andmaybeIknowabouthalfasmuchaboutsomethings。Thisisoneof’em。Youclearoutandstandby。I’llcallyouwhenIwantyou。
　　Albertwent，butreluctantly。Afterhehadgonehisgrandfatherwalkedtothedooroftheouterofficeandopenedit。
　　Stepaboard，Mr。Fosdick，hesaid。Comein，sir。
　　Mr。FletcherFosdickwasalargeman，portly，andwithaheadwhichwasrapidlylosingitsthatch。Hissmoot-shavenfacewasruddyandhisblueeyemild。HeenteredtheprivateofficeofZ。SnowandCo。andshookthehandwhichCaptainZelotesproffered。
　　Howdoyoudo，CaptainSnow？heaskedpleasantly。YouandI
　　havehadsomebusinessdealings，butwehavenevermetbefore，I
　　believe。
　　Thecaptainwavedtowardachair。That’safact，Mr。Fosdick，hesaid。Idon’tbelieveweeverhave，butit’sbetterlatethanbyandby，asthefellersaid。Sitdown，sitdown，Mr。Fosdick。
　　Throwoffyourcoat，won’tyou？It’ssortofwarminherecomparedtooutdoor。
　　Thevisitoradmittedthedifferenceintemperaturebetweentheinteriorandexteriorofthebuilding，andremovedhisovercoat。
　　Alsohesatdown。CaptainZelotesopenedadrawerofhisdeskandproducedaboxofcigars。
　　Haveasmoke，won’tyou？heinquired。
　　Mr。Fosdickglancedatthelabelonthebox。
　　Why——why，Iwasratherhopingyouwouldsmokeoneofmine，hesaid。Ihaveapocketfull。
　　WhenIcomecallin’onyouatyourplaceinNewYorkIwillsmokeyours。Nowitkindoflookstomeasifyou’doughttosmokemine。
　　Seemsreasonablewhenyouthinkitover，don’tit？
　　Fosdicksmiled。Perhapsyou’reright，hesaid。Hetookoneofthegaudilybandedperfectosfromhishost’sboxandacceptedalightfromthematchthecaptainheld。Bothmenblewacloudofsmokeandthroughthosecloudseachlookedattheother。Thepreliminarieswereover，butneitherseemedparticularlyanxioustobegintherealconversation。Itwasthevisitorwho，atlast，beganit。
　　CaptainSnow，hesaid，IpresumeyourclerktoldyouIwishedtoseeyouonamatterofbusiness。
　　Who？Oh，Labe，youmean？Yes，hetoldme。
　　Itoldhimtotellyouthat。Itmaysurpriseyou，however，tolearnthatthebusinessIwishedtoseeyouabout——thatIcameonfromNewYorktoseeyouabout——hasnothingwhatevertodowiththehouseI’mbuildingdownhere。
　　CaptainZelotesremovedhiscigarfromhislipsandlookedmeditativelyatitsburningend。No-o，hesaidslowly，thatdon’tsurprisemeverymuch。Ical’lated’twasn’taboutthehouseyouwishedtoseeme。
　　Oh，Isee！……Humph！TheFosdickmildblueeyelost，forthemoment，justatrifleofitsmildnessandbecamealmostkeen，asitsownerflashedaglanceatthebigfigureseatedatthedesk。
　　Isee，saidMr。Fosdick。Andhaveyou——er——guessedwhatIdidcometoseeyouabout？
　　No-o。Iwouldn’tcallitguessin’，exactly。
　　Wouldn’tyou？Whatwouldyoucallit？
　　We-ll，Idon’tknowbutI’driskcallin’itknowin’。Yes，IthinklikelyIwould。
　　Oh，Isee……Humph！Haveyouhadaletter——onthesubject？
　　Ye-es。
　　Isee。FromMrs。Fosdick，ofcourse。Shesaidshewasgoingtowrite——I’mnotsureshedidn’tsayshehadwritten。butIhadtheimpressionitwasto——well，toanothermemberofyourfamily，CaptainSnow。
　　No，’twastome。Comethismornin’smail。
　　Isee。Mymistake。Well，I’mobligedtoherinaway。Ifthenewshasbeenbrokentoyou，Ishan’thavetobreakitandwecangetdowntobrasstacksjustsomuchsooner。Thesurprisebeingover——Itakeit，itWASasurprise，Captain？
　　Youtakeitright。Justasmuchofasurprisetomeasyou。
　　Ofcourse。Well，thesurprisebeingoverforbothofus，wecantalkoftheaffair——calmlyandcoolly。Whatdoyouthinkaboutit，Captain？
　　Oh，Idon’tknowasIknowexactlywhattothink。WhatdoYOU
　　thinkaboutit，Mr。Fosdick？
　　Ithink——IimagineIthinkverymuchasyoudo。
　　Ishouldn’thesurprised。And——er——what’syournotionofwhatI
　　think？
　　CaptainZelotes’grayeyetwinkledasheaskedthequestion，andtheFosdickblueeyetwinkledinreturn。Bothmenlaughed。
　　Wearen’tgettingveryfarthisway，Captain，observedthevisitor。There’snousedodging，Isuppose。I，forone，amnotverywellpleased。Mrs。Fosdick，foranother，isn’tpleasedatall。sheisabsolutelyandentirelyopposedtothewholeaffair。
　　Shewon’thearofit，that’sall，andshesaidsomuchthatI
　　thoughtperhapsIhadbettercomedownhereatonce，seeyou，and——
　　andtheyoungfellowwiththequeername——
　　Mygrandson。
　　Whyyes。Heisyourgrandson，isn’the？Ibegyourpardon。
　　That’sallright。Ishan’tfightwithyoubecauseyoudon’tlikehisname。Goahead。Youdecidedtocomeandseehim——andme——？
　　Yes，Idid。Idecidedtocomebecauseithasbeenmyexperiencethatafrank，straighttalkisbetter，incaseslikethis，thanahundredletters。Andthatthetimetotalkwasnow，beforemattersbetweentheyoungfoo——theyoungpeoplewentanyfurther。Don’tyouagreewithme？
　　CaptainZelotesnodded。
　　Thatnowisagoodtimetotalk？Yes，Ido，hesaid。
　　Good！Thensupposewetalk。
　　Allright。
　　Therewasanotherintervalofsilence。ThenFosdickbrokeitwithachuckle。AndI’mtheonetodothetalking，eh？hesaid。
　　CaptainLote’seyetwinkled。We-ll，youcameallthewayfromNewYorkonpurpose，youknow，heobserved。Thenheadded：Butthere，Mr。Fosdick，Idon’twantyoutothinkIain’tpoliteorwon’ttalk，myself。I’lldomysharewhenthetimecomes。Butitdoesseemtomethatyououghttodoyoursfirstasit’syourfamilysofarthat’sdonetheobjectin’……Yourcigar’sgoneout。Haveanotherlight，won’tyou？
　　Thevisitorshookhishead。No，thankyou，notnow，hesaidhastily，placingthedefunctcigarcarefullyonthecaptain’sdesk。
　　Iwon’tsmokefortheminute。Soyouwantmetobeginthetalking，doyou？ItseemstomeIhavebegunit。ItoldyouthatIdonotliketheideaofmydaughter’sbeingengagedto——tosaynothingofmarrying——yourgrandson。MywifelikesitevenlessthanIdo。Thatisenoughofastatementtobeginwith，isn’tit？
　　Why，no，notexactly，ifyou’llexcusemysayin’so。Yourdaughterherself——howdoesshefeelaboutit？
　　Oh，sheisenthusiastic，naturally。Sheappearstobesufferingfromtemporaryinsanityonthesubject。
　　Shedon’tseemtothinkit’squiteas——er——preposterous，andridiculousandoutrageous——andLordknowswhatall——asyourwifedoes，eh？
　　No。Isay，Snow，Ihopeyou’renottoodeeplyoffendedbywhatmywifewroteyou。Ijudgeyouarequotingfromherletterandapparentlyshepileditonred-hot。You’llhavetoexcuseher。shewasalmostwildalldayyesterday。I’llaskyourpardononherbehalf。
　　Sho，sho！Noneed，Mr。Fosdick，noneedatall。Iknowwhatwomenare，eventheeasy-goin’kind，whenthey’vegotsteamup。
　　I’vegotawife——andIhadadaughter。But，gettin’backonthecourseagain，youthinkyourdaughter’scrazybecauseshewantstomarrymygrandson。Isthatit？
　　Why，no，Iwouldn’tsaythat，exactly。Ofcourse，Iwouldn’tsaythat。
　　But，yousee，youdidsayit。However，we’llleavethattoonesideforaspell。Whatobjection——whatrealobjectionistheretothosetwomarryin’——mygrandsonandyourdaughter——providedthattheycareforeachotherasthey’doughtto？
　　Mr。Fosdick’sexpressionchangedslightly。Histone，asherepliedtothequestion，wascolderandhismannerlesscordial。
　　Idon’tknowthatitisworthwhileansweringthatindetail，hesaid，afteraninstant’spause。Frankly，CaptainSnow，Ihadratherhopedyouwouldsee，foryourself，thereasonswhysuchamarriagewouldn’tbedesirable。Ifyoudon’tseethem，ifyouarebackingupyourgrandsoninhisbusiness，why——well，thereisnouseinourdiscussingthematteranyfurther，isthere？Weshouldonlyloseourtempersandnotgainmuch。Sowehadbetterenditnow，Ithink。
　　Herosetohisfeet。CaptainZelotes，leaningforward，heldupaprotestinghand。
　　Now——now，Mr。Fosdick，hesaidearnestly，Idon’twantyoutomisunderstandme。AndI’msorryifwhatIsaidhasmadeyoumad。
　　Fosdicksmiled。Oh，I’mnotmad，heansweredcheerfully。I
　　makeitaruleinallmybusinessdealingsnottogetmad，or，moreespecially，nottolettheotherfellowknowthatI’mgettingthatway。Mytemperhasn’taruffleinitjustnow，andIamleavingmerelybecauseIwantittoremainsmooth。IjudgethatyouandI
　　aren’tgoingtoagree。Allright，thenwe’lldiffer，butwe’lldifferwithoutafight，that’sall。Goodafternoon，Captain。
　　ButCaptainLote’shandstillremaineduplifted。
　　Mr。Fosdick，hesaid。justaminutenow——justaminute。YouneverhavemetAlbert，mygrandson，haveyou？Neverevenseenhim，maybe？
　　No，butIintendtomeethimandtalkwithhimbeforeIleaveSouthHarniss。HewasoneofthetwopeopleIcameheretomeet。
　　AndIwastheother，eh？Um-hm……Isee。Youthinkyou’vefoundoutwhereIstandandnowyou’llsizehimup。Honest，Mr。
　　Fosdick，I……Humph！MindifItellyoualittlestory？
　　’Twon’ttakelong。WhenIwasalittleshaver，meandmygranddad，thefirstCap’nLoteSnow——there’sbeentwosince——weregreatchums。WhenhewashomefromseaheandIstucktogetherlikehotpitchandoakum。Onedayweweresittin’outinthefrontyardofhishouse——it’smine，now——watchin’ahoptoadcatchflies。You’veseenatoadcatchflies，haven’tyou，Mr。Fosdick？Mr。Toadsitsthere，lookin’halfasleepandaspiousanddemureasapickpocketatcamp-meetin’，untilaflycomesalongandgetstoonear。Then，Zip！outshootsaboutsixinchesoftoadtongueandthatfly’sbeenaskedintodinner。Well，granddadandIsatlookin’atourparticulartoadwhenalongcameabumble-beeandlightedonahoneysuckleblossomrightinfrontofthecritter。Thetoaddidn’ttaketimetothinkitover，allhesawwasasquaremeal，andhistongueflashedoutandnailedthatbumble-beeandsnappeditintothepantry。Inaboutahalfsecond，though，therewasachange。
　　Thepantryhadbeenemptied，thebumble-beewasonhiswayagain，andMr。Toadwasonhis，hoppin’livelyandhuntin’for——well，foricewaterorsomethin’coolin’，Iguesslikely。Granddadtappedmeontheshoulder。’Sonny，’sayshe，’there’salessonforyou。
　　Thathoptoaddidn’twaittomakesurethatbumble-beewasgoodtoeat。hetookitforgranted，andwassorryafterward。Itdon’tpaytojumpatconclusions，son，’hesays。’Someconclusionsarelikethatbumble-bee’s，theyhavestingsin’em。’
　　CaptainLote，havingfinishedhisstory，feltinhispocketforamatch。Fosdick，foraninstant，appearedpuzzled。Thenhelaughed。
　　Isee，hesaid。YouthinkImadetooquickajumpwhenI
　　concludedyouwerebackingyourgrandsoninthisaffair。Allright，I’mgladtohearit。Whatdoyouwantmetodo，sitdownagainandlisten？
　　Heresumedhisseatasheaskedthequestion。CaptainZelotesnodded。
　　Ifyoudon’tmind，heanswered。Yousee，youmisunderstoodme，Mr。Fosdick。Ididn’tmeananymorethanwhatIsaidwhenIaskedyouwhatrealobjectiontherewas，inyouropiniontoAlbert’smarryin’your——er——Madeline，that’shername，Ibelieve。Seemstomethewayforustogettoanunderstandin’——youandI——istofindoutjusthowthesituationlookstoeachofus。Whenwe’vefoundoutthat，we’llknowhownighwecometoagreein’ordisagreein’
　　andcanactaccordin’。Soundsreasonable，don’tit？
　　Fosdicknoddedinhisturn。Perfectly，headmitted。Well，askyourquestions，andI’llanswerthem。AfterthatperhapsI’llasksomemyself。Goahead。
　　Ihavegoneahead。I’veaskedonealready。
　　Yes，butitissuchageneralquestion。Theremaybesomanyobjections。
　　Isee。Allright，thenI’llasksome：Whatdothelawyerscall’em？——Atlantic？Pacific？I’vegotit——I’llasksomespecificquestions。Here’sone。DoyouobjecttoAlpersonally？Tohischaracter？
　　Notatall。Weknownothingabouthischaracter。Verylikelyhemaybeayoungsaint。
　　Well，heain’t，sowe’llletthatslide。He’sagoodboy，though，sofarasI’veeverbeenabletofindout。Isithislooks？
　　You’veneverseenhim，butyourwifehas。Don’tshelikehislooks？
　　Shehasn’tmentionedhislookstome。
　　Isithismoney？Hehasn’tgotanyofhisown。
　　We-ell，ofcoursethatdoescountalittlebit。Madelineisouronlychild，andnaturallyweshouldprefertohaveherpickoutahusbandwithadollarorsoinreserve。
　　Um-hm。Al’stwenty-one，Mr。Fosdick。WhenIwastwenty-oneIhadsomeputby，butnotmuch。Ipresumelikely’twasdifferentwithyou，maybe。Probablyyouwereprettywellfixed。
　　Fosdicklaughedaloud。Youmakeagoodcross-examiner，Snow，heobserved。Asamatteroffact，whenIwastwenty-oneIwasassistantbookkeeperinaNewHavenbroker’soffice。Ididn’thaveacentexceptmysalary，andIhadthatonlyforthefirstfivedaysintheweek。
　　However，yougotmarried？
　　Yes，Idid。MorefoolI！IfIhadknownanything，Ishouldhavewaitedfiveyearsatleast。Ididn’thaveanyonetotellmeso。
　　Myfatherandmotherwerebothdead。
　　Thinkyou’dhavelistenedto’emiftheyhadbeenaliveandhadtoldyou？However，however，that’salltooneside。Well，Albert’shavin’nomoneytospeakofisanobjection——andagoodhonestonefromyourpointofview。Hisprospectshereinthisbusinessofminearefair，andheisdoin’betteratitthanhewas，sohemaymakeacomf’tablelivin’——acomf’tableSouthHarnisslivin’，thatis——byandby。
　　Oh，heiswithyou，then？Oh，yes，Iremembermywifesaidheworkedinyouroffice。Butshesaidmoreabouthisbeingsomesortofa——apoet，wasn’tit？
　　Forthefirsttimesincetheinterviewbeganthecaptainlookedillateaseandembarrassed。
　　Thunderation！heexclaimedtestily，youmustn’tpayattentiontothat。Hedoesmakeuppoetry’pieces——er——ontheside，asyoumightsay，butIkeephopin’allthetimehe’llgrowoutofit，givehimtime。It’ain’thisregularjob，youmustn’tthink’tis。
　　Thevisitorlaughedagain。I’mgladofthat，hesaid，bothforyoursakeandmine。IjudgethatyouandI，Snow，areincompleteagreementasfarasouropinionofpoetryandthatsortofstuffisconcerned。OfcourseI’mnotcondemningallpoetry，youunderstand。
　　LongfellowandTennysonandtheregularpoetsareallright。YouunderstandwhatI’mgettingat？
　　Sartin。Iusedtoknow’DownwenttheR’yalGeorgewithallhercrewcomplete，’andalotmore。Usedtosay’emovertomyselfwhenIfirstwenttoseaandstoodwatchalonenights。Buttheyweredifferent，youknow。they——they——
　　Sure！Mywife——why，Igiveyoumywordthatmyownwifeandhersetgoperfectlydaffyoverchapswhowritestuffthatrhymesandthatthepapersareprintingcolumnsabout。Snow，ifthisgrandsonofyourswasagenuinepress-touted，women’sclubpoetinsteadofawould-be——well，Idon’tknowwhatmighthappen。InthatcaseshemightbeasstrongFORthisengagementassheisnowagainstit。
　　Hepaused，seemingabitashamedofhisownheat。CaptainZelotes，however，regardedhimwithmoreapprovalthanhehadyetshown。
　　It’sbeenmyobservationthatwomenarelikelytogetoffthecoursechasin’falsesignalslikethat，heobserved。Whenamanbeginslettin’hishairandhismouthrunwildtogetherseemsasifthecombinationhadanattractionforagoodmanywomenfolks。Alkeepshishaircut，though，I’llsaythatforhim，headded。Itcurlssome，butitain’tlong。Iwouldn’thavehimintheofficeif’twas。
　　Well，Mr。Fosdick，hecontinued，whatotherobjectionsarethey？
　　Manners？Familyandrelations？Education？Anyobjectionsalongthatline？
　　No-o，no。I——well，Idon’tknow。yousee，Idon’tknowmuchabouttheyoungfellow。
　　PerhapsIcanhelpyouout。Astomanners——well，youcanjudgethemforyourselfwhenyouseehim。Heseemstobeinabouteverykindofsocialdoin’sthereisdownhere，andhe’sasmuchormorepopularwiththesummerfolksthanwiththeyear-’rounders。
　　Education？Well，that’sfairtomiddlin’，asIseeit。Hespentnineortenyearsinamightyexpensiveboardin’schoolupinNewYorkState。
　　Didhe？Whatschool？
　　Thecaptaingavethenameoftheschool。Fosdicklookedsurprised。
　　Humph！ThatISagoodschool，hesaid。
　　Isit？Dependsonwhatyoucallgood，Ical’late。Allearnedagooddealofthisandthat，alittlebitofforeignlanguage，somethattheycalldeadandsomethatoughttobedead——andburied，’cordin’tomynotion。Whenhecametomehecouldn’taddupacolumnoftenfiggerswithoutmakin’amistake，andasforbusiness——well，whatheknewaboutbusinesswasaboutequaltowhatNoahknewaboutagasengine。
　　Hepausedtochuckle，andFosdickchuckledwithhim。
　　Astofamily，wentonCaptainLote，he’saSnowonhismother’sside，andthere’sbeensevengenerationsofSnow’sinthispartoftheCapesincethefirstonelandedhere。SofarasIknow，they’veallmanagedtokeepoutofjail，whichmayhavebeenmoregoodluckthandeservin’insomecases。
　　Hisfather？queriedFosdick。
　　Thecaptain’sheavybrowsdrewtogether。HisfatherwasaPortygee——orSpaniard，Ibelieveisright——andhewasaplay-actor，oneofthose——whatdoyoucall’em？——operasingers。
　　Fosdickseemedsurprisedandinterested。Oh，indeed，heexclaimed，anoperasinger？……Why，hewasn’tSperanza，thebaritone，washe？
　　Maybe。Ibelievehewas。Hemarriedmydaughterand——well，wewon’ttalkabouthim，ifyoudon’tmind。
　　ButSperanzawasa——
　　IFyoudon’tmind，Mr。Fosdick。
　　CaptainLotelapsedintosilence，drummingthedeskwithhisbigfingers。Hisvisitorwaitedforafewmoments。Atlengthhesaid：
　　Well，CaptainSnow，Ihaveansweredyourquestionsandyouhaveansweredmine。Doyouthinkweareanyneareranagreementnow？
　　CaptainZelotesseemedtoawakewithastart。Eh？hequeried。
　　Agreement？Oh，Idon’tknow。Didyoufindany——er——whatyoumightcallvitalobjectionsintheboy’srecord？
　　No-o。No，allthatisallright。Hisfamilyandhiseducationandalltherestaregoodenough，I’msure。But，nevertheless——
　　Youstillobjecttotheyoungfolksgettin’married。
　　Yes，Ido。Hangitall，Snow，thisisn’tathingonecanreasonout，exactly。Madelineisouronlychild。sheisourpet，ourbaby。NaturallyhermotherandIhaveplannedforher，hopedforher，figuredthatsomeday，whenwehadtogiveherup，itwouldbeto——to——
　　Tosomebodythatwasn’tAlbertSperanzaofSouthHarniss，Mass……Eh？
　　Yes。Notthatyourgrandsonisn’tallright。Ihavenodoubtheisatip-topyoungfellow。But，yousee——
　　CaptainLotesuddenlyleanedforward。CourseIsee，Mr。Fosdick，
　　heinterrupted。CourseIsee。Youobject，andtheobjectionain’tamiteweakeronaccountofyournotbein’abletosayexactlywhat’tis。
　　That’stheidea。Thankyou，Captain。
　　You’rewelcome。Icanunderstand。Iknowjusthowyoufeel，becauseI’vebeenfeelin’thesamewaymyself。
　　Oh，youhave？Good！ThenyoucansympathizewithMrs。Fosdickandwithme。Yousee——youunderstandwhywehadratherourdaughterdidnotmarryyourgrandson。
　　Sartin。Yousee，I’vehadjustthesamesortofgeneralkindofobjectiontoAl’smarryin’yourdaughter。
　　Mr。FletcherFosdickleanedslowlybackwardinhischair。Hisappearancewassuggestiveofonewhohasreceivedanunexpectedthumpbetweentheeyes。
　　Oh，youhave！hesaidagain，butnotwiththesameexpression。
　　Um-hm，saidCaptainZelotesgravely。I’mlikeyouinoneway。
　　I’venevermetyourMadelineanymorethanyouhavemetAl。I’veseenheronceortwice，andsheisrealprettyandnice-lookin’。
　　ButIdon’tknowheratall。NowIdon’tdoubtforaminutebutthatshe’sarealnicegirlanditmightbethatshe’dmakeAlafairlygoodwife。
　　Er——well，——thanks。
　　Oh，that’sallright，Imeanit。Itmightbeshewould。AndI
　　ain’tgotathingagainstyouoryourfolks。
　　Humph，——er——thanksagain。
　　That’sallright。youdon’tneedtothankme。Butit’sthiswaywithme——IliveinSouthHarnissalltheyearround。IwanttoliveheretillIdie，and——afterIdieI’dlikefirst-ratetohaveAltakeuptheZ。SnowandCo。businessandtheSnowhouseandlandandkeepthemgoin’tillHEdies。Mind，Iain’tatallsurethathe’lldoit，orbecapableofdoin’it，butthat’swhatI’dlike。
　　Nowyou’reinNewYorkmostoftheyear，andso’syourwifeanddaughter。NewYorkisallright——Iain’tsayin’awordagainstit——
　　butNewYorkandSouthHarnissaredifferent。
　　TheFosdickliptwitched。Somewhatdifferent，headmitted。
　　Um-hm。Thatsoundslikeajoke，Iknow。butIdon’tmeanitso，notnow。WhatImeanisthatIknowSouthHarnissandSouthHarnissfolks。Idon’tknowNewYork——notsoverywell，thoughI’vebeenthereplentyoftimes——andIdon’tknowNewYorkways。
　　ButIdoknowSouthHarnissways，andtheysuitme。Wouldtheysuityourdaughter——notjustforsummer，butasareg’larthingrightstraightalongyearinandout？Idoubtit，Mr。Fosdick，I
　　doubtitconsid’able。CourseIdon’tknowyourdaughter——
　　Ido——andIshareyourdoubts。
　　Um-hm。Butwhethershelikeditornotshe’dhavetocomehereifshemarriedmygrandson。Eitherthatorhe’dhavetogotoNewYork。AndifhewenttoNewYork，howwouldheearnhislivin’？
　　Getanewbookkeepin’jobandstartalloveragain，orliveonpoetry？
　　Mr。Fosdickopenedhismouthasiftospeak，seemedtochangehismindandcloseditagain，withoutspeaking。CaptainZelotes，lookingkeenlyathim，seemedtoguesshisthoughts。
　　Ofcourse，hesaiddeliberately，butwithafirmnesswhichpermittednomisunderstandingofhismeaning，ofcourseyoumustn’tgetitintoyourheadforoneminutethattheboyisfiggerin’onyourdaughter’sbein’arichgirl。Hehasn’tgiventhatathought。Youtakemywordforthat，Mr。Fosdick。Hedoesn’tknowhowmuchmoneysheoryouhavegotandhedoesn’tcare。Hedoesn’tcareacontinentaldarn。
　　Hisvisitorsmiledslightly。Nevertheless，hebegan。Thecaptaininterruptedhim。
　　No，thereain’tanynevertheless，hesaid。AlberthasbeenwithmeenoughyearsnowsothatIknowalittleabouthim。AndIknowthatallhewantsisyourdaughter。Astohowmuchshe’sworthinmoneyorhowthey’regoin’toliveafterhe’sgother——Iknowthathehasn’tgivenitonethought。Idon’timagineshehas，either。
　　Foronereason，headded，withasmile，heistoopoorabusinessmantothinkofmarriageasabusiness，bill-payin’contract，andforanother，——foranother——why，goodLord，Fosdick！heexclaimed，leaningforward，don’tyouknowwhatthisthingmeanstothosetwoyoungfolks？Itmeansjustmoonshineandmushandlookin’intoeachother’seyes，that’saboutall。THEYhaven’tthoughtanypracticalthoughtsaboutit。Why，thinkwhattheiragesare！
　　Thinkofyourselfatthatage！Can’tyouremember……Humph！
　　Well，I’mtalkin’fiftyrevolutionstothesecond。Ibegyourpardon。
　　That’sallright，Snow。AndIbelieveyouhavethesituationsizedupasitis。Still——
　　Excuseme，Mr。Fosdick，butdon’tyouthinkit’sabouttimeyouhadalookattheboyhimself？I’mgoin’toaskhimtocomeinhereandmeetyou。
　　Fosdicklookedtroubled。Thinkitisgoodpolicy？heaskeddoubtfully。Iwanttoseehimandspeakwithhim，butIdohateascene。
　　Therewon’tbeanyscene。Youjustmeethimfacetofaceandtalkenoughwithhimtogetalittleideaofwhatyourfirstimpressionis。Don’tcontradictorcommityourselforanything。AndI’llsendhimoutattheendoftwoorthreeminutes。
　　Withoutwaitingforareply，herose，openedthedoortotheouterofficeandcalled，Al，comeinhere！WhenAlberthadobeyedtheorderheclosedthedoorbehindhimandturningtothegentlemaninthevisitor’schair，said：Mr。Fosdick，thisismygrandson，AlbertSperanza。Al，shakehandswithMr。FosdickfromNewYork。
　　Whileawaitingthesummonstomeetthefatherofhisadored，Alberthadbeenrehearsingandre-rehearsingthespeechesheintendedmakingwhenthatmeetingtookplace。Sittingathisdesk，peninhandandpretendingtobebusywiththebookkeepingofZ。SnowandCompany，hehadseen，nottheruledpageofthedaybook，buttheparentalcountenanceoftheHonorableFletcherFosdick。And，tohismind’seye，thatcountenancewasasruggedandsternastherock-boundcoastuponwhichthePilgrimslanded，andaboutasunyieldingandimpregnableasthedooroftheofficesafe。So，whenhisgrandfathercalledhim，hedescendedfromthetalldeskstoolandcrossedthethresholdoftheinnerroom，atriflepale，alittleshakyattheknees，butwiththesetchinanderectheadofonewho，facingalmosthopelessodds，intendsfightingtothelastgasp。
　　TohisastonishmenttheFosdickcountenancewasnotashisimaginationhadpicturedit。Theblueeyesmethis，notwithaglareoraglower，butwithalookofinterestandinquiry。TheFosdickhandshookhiswithpoliteness，andtheFosdickmannerwas，ifnotgenial，atleastquietandmatteroffact。Hewastakenaback。Whatdiditmean？WasitpossiblethatMadeline’sfatherwasinclinedtoregardherengagementtohimwithfavor？Agreatthrobofjoyaccompaniedthethought。Thenherememberedtheletterhehadjustread，theletterfromMadeline’smother，andthehopesubsided。
　　Albert，saidCaptainZelotes，Mr。Fosdickhascomeonheretotalkwithus。thatis，withmeandyou，aboutyouraffairs。HeandIhavetalkeduptothepointwhereitseemedtomeyououghttocomeinforaspell。I’vetoldhimthatthenewsthatyouandhisdaughterwere——er——favorablydisposedtowardeachotherwasassuddenandasbigasurprisetomeas’twastohim。Evenyourgrandmadon’tknowityet。NowIpresumelikelyhe’dliketoaskyouafewquestions。Heaveahead，Mr。Fosdick。
　　Herelithiscigarstumpandleanedbackinhischair。Mr。Fosdickleanedforwardinhis。Albertstoodverystraight，hisshouldersbracedfortheencounter。ThequizzicaltwinkleshoneinCaptainLote’seyeasheregardedhisgrandson。Fosdickalsosmiledmomentarilyashecaughttheexpressionoftheyouth’sface。
　　Well，Speranza，hebegan，insocheerfulatonethatAlbert’sastonishmentgrewevengreater，yourgrandfatherhasbeenkindenoughtogetusthroughthepreliminaries，sowe’llcomeatoncetotheessentials。Youandmydaughterconsideryourselvesengagedtomarry？
　　Yes，sir。WeAREengaged。
　　Isee。Howlonghaveyou——um——beenthatway，sotospeak？
　　SincelastAugust。
　　Whyhaven’tyousaidanythingaboutittous——toMrs。Fosdickormeoryourpeoplehere？Youmustexcusethesepersonalquestions。
　　AsIhavejustsaidtoCaptainSnow，Madelineisouronlychild，andherhappinessandwelfaremeanaboutallthereisinlifetohermotherandme。So，naturally，themansheisgoingtomarryisanimportantconsideration。YouandIhavenevermetbefore，sothequickestwayofreachinganunderstandingbetweenusisbythequestionroute。Yougetmymeaning？
　　Yes，sir，IguessIdo。
　　Good！Thenwe’llgoahead。Whyhaveyoutwokeptitasecretsolong？
　　Because——well，becauseweknewwecouldn’tmarryyetawhile，sowethoughtwehadbetternotannounceitforthepresent。
　　Oh！……AndtheideathatperhapsMrs。FosdickandImightbeslightlyinteresteddidn’toccurtoyou？
　　Why，yes，sir，itdid。But，——butwethoughtitbestnottotellyouuntillater。
　　Perhapsthesuspicionthatwemightnotbeoverjoyedbythenewshadalittleweightwithyou，eh？Possiblythathelpedtodelaythe——er——announcement？
　　No，sir，I——Idon’tthinkitdid。
　　Oh，don’tyou！PerhapsyouthoughtweWOULDbeoverjoyed？
　　No，sir。Wedidn’tthinksoverymuchaboutit。Well，that’snotquitetrue。Madelinefeltthathermother——andyou，too，sir，I
　　suppose，althoughshedidn’tspeakasoftenofyouinthatway——shefeltthathermotherwoulddisapproveatfirst，andsowehadbetterwait。
　　Untilwhen？
　　Until——untilbyandby。UntilIhadgoneaheadfurther，youknow。
　　I’mnotsurethatIdoknow。Goneaheadhow？Untilyouhadabetterposition，moresalary？
　　No，notexactly。Untilmywritingswerebetterknown。UntilI
　　wasalittlemoresuccessful。
　　Successful？Untilyouwrotemorepoetry，doyoumean？
　　Yes，sir。Poetryandotherthings，storiesandplays，perhaps。
　　Doyoumean——DidyoufigurethatyouandMadelineweretoliveonwhatyoumadebywritingpoetryandtheotherstuff？
　　Yes，sir，ofcourse。
　　FosdicklookedacrossatCaptainZelotes。TheCaptain’sfacewasworthlookingat。
　　Here，here，holdon！heexclaimed，jumpingintotheconversation。
　　Al，whatareyoutalkin’about？You’rebookkeeperforme，ain’tyou。forthisconcernrightherewhereyouare？Whatdoyoumeanbytalkin’asifyourjobwasmakin’uppoetrypieces？That’sonlywhatyoudoontheside，andyouknowit。Eh，ain’tthatso？
　　Alberthesitated。Hehad，momentarily，forgottenhisgrandfatherandthelatter’sprejudices。Afterall，whatwastheuseofstirringupadditionaltrouble。
　　Yes，Grandfather，hesaid。
　　Courseit’sso。It’sinthisofficethatyoudrawyourwages。
　　Yes，Grandfather。
　　Allright。Excusemefornosin’in，Mr。Fosdick，butIknewtheboywasn’tputtin’thethingasplainasitoughttobe，andI
　　didn’twantyoutogetthewrongnotion。Heaveahead。
　　Fosdicksmiledslightly。Allright，Captain，hesaid。Igetit，Ithink。Well，then，turningagaintoAlbert，yourplanforsupportingmydaughterwastowaituntilyourpositionhere，plusthepoetry，shouldbringinsufficientrevenue。Itdidn’toccurtoyouthat——well，thattheremightbeapossibilityofgettingmoney——
　　elsewhere？
　　Albertplainlydidnotunderstand，butitwasjustasplainthathisgrandfatherdid。CaptainZelotesspokesharply。
　　Mr。Fosdick，hesaid，Ijustansweredthatquestionforyou。
　　Yes，Iknow。Butifyouwereinmyplaceyoumightliketohavehimanswerit。Idon’tmeantobeoffensive，butbusinessisbusiness，and，afterall，thisisabusinesstalk。So——
　　TheCaptaininterrupted。Sowe’lltalkitinabusinessway，eh？
　　hesnapped。Allright。Al，whatMr。Fosdickmeansishadyoucal’latedthat，ifyoumarriedhisdaughter，maybeherdad’smoneymighthelpyouandhertokeepgoin’？Toputitevenplainer：hadyouplannedsomeonherbein’arichgirl？
　　Fosdicklookedannoyed。Oh，Isay，Snow！hecried。That’stoostrong，altogether。
　　Notamite。It’swhatyou’vehadinthebackofyourheadallalong。I’mjusthelpin’ittocomeoutofthefront。Well，Al？
　　TheredspotswereburningintheSperanzacheeks。Hechokedasheanswered。
　　No，hecriedfiercely。OfcourseIhaven’tplannedonanysuchthing。Idon’tknowhowrichsheis。Idon’tcare。Iwishshewasaspooras——asIam。IwantHER，that’sall。Andshewantsme。Wedon’teitherofuscareaboutmoney。Iwouldn’ttakeacentofyourmoney，Mr。Fosdick。ButI——IwantMadelineand——and——
　　Ishallhaveher。
　　Inspiteofherparents，eh？
　　Yes……I’msorrytospeakso，Mr。Fosdick，butitistrue。
　　We——weloveeachother。We——we’veagreedtowaitforeachother，nomatter——nomatterifitisyearsandyears。Andasforthemoneyandallthat，ifyoudisinherither，or——orwhateveritistheydo——wedon’tcare。I——Ihopeyouwill。I——she——
　　CaptainZelotes’voicebrokeinupontheimpassionedoutburst。
　　Steady，Al。steady，son，hecautionedquietly。Ical’lateyou’vesaidenough。Idon’tthinkanymore’snecessary。You’dbettergobacktoyourdesknow。
　　But，Grandfather，Iwanthimtounderstand——
　　Iguesslikelyhedoes。Ishouldsayyou’dmadeitrealplain。
　　Gonow，Al。
　　Albertturned，but，withashakinghanduponthedoorknob，turnedbackagain。
　　I’m——I——I’msorry，Mr。Fosdick，hefaltered。I——Ididn’tmeantosayanythingtohurtyourfeelings。But——but，yousee，Madeline——sheandI——we——
　　Hecouldnotgoon。Fosdick’snodandanswerwerenotunkindly。
　　Allright，Speranza，hesaid，I’mnotoffended。HopeIwasn’ttooblunt，myself。Good-day。
　　WhenthedoorhadclosedbehindtheyoungmanheturnedtoCaptainLote。
　　SorryifIoffendedyou，Snow，heobserved。Ithrewinthathintaboutmarryingjusttoseewhateffectitwouldhave，that’sall。
　　Um-hm。SoIjudged。Well，yousaw，didn’tyou？
　　Idid。Say，Captain，exceptasaprospectiveson-in-law，andthenonlybecauseIdon’tseehiminthatlight——Iratherlikethatgrandsonofyours。He’safine，upstandingyoungchap。
　　Thecaptainmadenoreply。Hemerelypulledathisbeard。
　　However，hedidnotlookdispleased。
　　He’sahandsomespecimen，isn’the？wentonFosdick。NowonderMadelinefellforhislooks。Thoseandthepoetrytogetherareacombinationhardtoresist——atherage。Andhe’sagentleman。HehandledhimselfmightywellwhileIwasstringinghimjustnow。
　　Thebeardtuggingcontinued。Um-hm，observedCaptainZelotesdryly。hedoesprettywellfora——SouthHarnissgentleman。Butwe’rekindofwastin’time，ain’twe，Mr。Fosdick？Inspiteofhislooksandhismannersandalltherest，nowthatyou’veseenhimyoustillobjecttothatengagement，Itakeit。
　　Why，yes，Ido。Theboyisallright，I’msure，but——
　　Sartin，Iunderstand。Ifeelthesamewayaboutyourgirl。She’sallright，I’msure，but——
　　We’reagreedoneverything，includin’the’but。’Andthe’but’isthatNewYorkisoneplaceandSouthHarnissisanother。
　　Exactly。
　　Sowedon’twant’emtomarry。Fine。Firstrate！Onlynowwecometothemostimportant’but’ofall。Whatarewegoingtodoaboutit？Supposewesaynoandtheysayyesandkeeponsayin’
　　it？Supposetheydecidetogetmarriednomatterwhatwesay。Howarewegoin’tostopit？
　　Hisvisitorregardedhimforamomentandthenbrokeintoaheartylaugh。
　　Snow，hedeclared，you’reallright。Yousurelyhavethefacultyofputtingyourfingerontheweakspots。Ofcoursewecan’tstopit。Ifthesetwoyoungidiotshaveamindtomarryandkeepthatmind，theyWILLmarryandwecan’tpreventitanymorethanwecouldpreventthetidecominginto-morrowmorning。_I_
　　realizedthatthiswasasortoffool’serrand，mycomingdownhere。Iknowthatthisisn’ttheagewhenparentscanforbidmarriagesandgetawaywithit，astheyusedtoonthestageintheoldplays。Boysandgirlsnowadayshaveawayofgoingtheirowngaitinsuchmatters。Butmywifedoesn’tseeitinexactlythatway，andshewassoinsistentonmycomingdownheretostopthethingifIcouldthat——well，Icame。
　　I’mgladyoudid，Mr。Fosdick，realglad。And，althoughIagreewithyouthattheveryworstthingtodo，ifwewanttostopthisteamfrompullin’together，istohaulbackonthebitsandholler’Whoa，’stillI’mkindofhopefulthat，maybe……humph！I
　　declare，itlooksasifI’dhavetotellyouanotherstory。I’mgettin’asbadasCap’nHannibalDoaneusedtobe，andtheyusedtocallhim’TheRopeWalk’’causehespunsomanyyarns。
　　Fosdicklaughedagain。Youmaygoasfarasyoulikewithyourstories，Captain，hesaid。Icangrowfatonthem。
　　Thanks。Well，thisain’tastoryexactly。itjustkindofmakesthepointI’mtryin’togetat。CalvinBangshadawhitemareonetimeandthecritterhadahabitofrunnin’away。Oncehiswife，HannahJ。，wasinthebuggyallbyherself，overtotheOstableFair，Calvinhavin’gotouttobuysomepeanutsorsomethin’。Themaregotscaredofthenoiseandcrowdandbolted。Asluckwouldhaveit，shewentrightthroughthefenceandoutontothetrottin’
　　track。Andaroundthattrackshewent，hellbentforelection。
　　Allhandswasrunnin’alongsidehollerin’’Stopher！Stopher！
　　’butnotCalvin——noSIR！Hewaitedtillthemarewasabreastofhim，themareontwolegsandthebuggyontwowheelsandHannah’mostanywheresbetweenthedasherandthenextworld，andthenhesungout：’Giveherherhead，Hannah！Giveherherhead。She’llstopwhensherunsdown。’
　　Helaughedandhisvisitorlaughedwithhim。
　　Igather，observedtheNewYorker，thatyoubelieveitthebetterpolicytogiveouryoungpeopletheirheads。
　　Inreason——yes，Ido。It’smyjudgmentthatanaffairlikethiswillhurrymoreandmoreifyoutrytoohardtostopit。Ifyoudon’ttryatallsoanyonewouldnoticeit，itmayrundownandstopofitself，thewayCalvin’smaredid。
　　Fosdicknoddedreflectively。I’minclinedtoagreewithyou，hesaid。Butdoesthatmeanthatthey’retocorrespond，writeloveletters，andallthat？
　　Why，inreason，maybe。Ifwesaynotothat，they’llwriteanyhow，won’tthey？
　　Ofcourse……Howwoulditdotogetthemtopromisetowritenothingthattheirparentsmightnotsee？OfcourseIdon’tmeanforyourgrandsontoshowyouhislettersbeforehesendsthemtoMadeline。He’stoooldforthat，andhewouldrefuse。ButsupposeyouaskedhimtoagreetowritenothingthatMadelinewouldnotbewillingtoshowhermother——orme。Doyouthinkhewould？
　　Maybe。I’llaskhim……Yes，Iguesslikelyhe’ddothat。
　　Myreasonforsuggestingitis，frankly，notsomuchonaccountoftheyoungpeopleastopacifymywife。Iamnotafraid——notverymuchafraidofthisloveaffair。Theyareyoung，bothofthem。
　　Givethemtime，and——asyousay，Snow，thethingmayrundown，peterout。
　　I’minhopes’twill。It’scalflove，asIseeit，andIbelieve’twillpaytogivethecalvesropeenough。
　　SodoI。No，I’mnotmuchtroubledabouttheyoungpeople。ButMrs。Fosdick——well，mytroublewillbewithher。She’llwanttohaveyourboyshotorjailedorhangedorsomething。
　　Ipresumelikely。Iguessyou’llhavetohandleherthewayanotherfellerwhousedtolivehereinSouthHarnisssaidhehandledhiswife。’Wedon’tneverhaveanytroubleatall，’sayshe。’Whenevershesaysyesorno，Isaythesamething。Lateron，whenitcomestodoin’，IdowhatIfeellike。’……Eh？You’renotgoin’，areyou，Mr。Fosdick？
　　Hisvisitorhadrisenandwasreachingforhiscoat。CaptainZelotesalsorose。
　　Don’thurry，don’thurry，hebegged。
　　Sorry，butImust。IwanttobebackinNewYorktomorrowmorning。
　　Butyoucan’t，canyou？Todothatyou’llhavetogetuptoBostonorFallRiver，andtheafternoontrain’sgone。You’dbetterstayandhavesupperalongwithmywifeandme，stayatourhouseovernight，andtaketheearlytrainafterbreakfastto-morrow。
　　IwishIcould。I’dlikenothingbetter。ButIcan’t。
　　Sure？Then，withasmile，headded：Alneedn’teatwithus，youknow，ifhisbein’theremakeseitherofyoufeelnervous。
　　Fosdicklaughedagain。IthinkIshouldbewillingtoriskthenervousness，hereplied。ButImustgo，really。I’vehiredachapatthegarageheretodrivemetoBostoninhiscarandI’lltakethemidnighttrainover。
　　Humph！Well，ifyoumust，youmust。Hopeyouhaveacomf’tabletrip，Mr。Fosdick。Betterwrapupwarm。it’sprettynighafive-
　　hourruntoBostonandthere’ssomecoolwindovertheOstablemarshesthistimeofyear。Good-by，sir。Gladtohavehadthistalkwithyou。
　　Hisvisitorheldouthishand。SoamI，Snow，hesaidheartily。
　　Mightyglad。
　　IhopeIwasn’ttooshortandbriskatthebeginnin’。Yousee，I’djustreadyourwife’sletter，and——er——well，ofcourse，I
　　didn’tknow——just——yousee，youandIhadnevermet，andso——
　　Certainly，certainly。Iquiteunderstand。And，fool’serrandornot，I’mverygladIcamehere。Ifyou’llpardonmysayingso，itwasworththetriptogetacquaintedwithyou。Ihope，whatevercomesoftheotherthing，thatouracquaintanceshipwillcontinue。
　　Samehere，samehere。Gorightoutthesidedoor，Mr。Fosdick，savesgoin’throughtheoffice。Goodday，sir。
　　HewatchedthebulkyfigureoftheNewYorkbankertrampingacrosstheyardbetweenthepilesoflumber。Amomentlaterheenteredtheouteroffice。AlbertandKeelerwereattheirdesks。CaptainZelotesapproachedthelittlebookkeeper。
　　Labe，hequeried，thereisn’tanythingparticularyouwantmetotalkaboutjustnow，isthere？
　　Lahanlookedupinsurprisefromhisfiguring。
　　Why——why，no，Cap’nLote，don’tknow’sthereis，hesaid。Don’tknow’sthereis，notnow，no，no，no。
　　Hisemployernodded。Good！heexclaimed。ThenI’mgoin’backinsidethereandsitdownandrestmychinforanhour，anyhow。
　　I’vetalkedsomuchto-daythatmyjawssqueak。Don’tdisturbmeforanythingshortofafireoramutiny。
　　CHAPTERXII
　　Hewasnotdisturbedandthatevening，aftersupperwasover，hewasreadytotalkagain。HeandAlbertsattogetherinthesittingroom——Mrs。SnowandRachelwereinthekitchenwashingdishes——andCaptainZelotestoldhisgrandsonasmuchashethoughtadvisabletotellofhisconversationwiththeHonorableFletcherFosdick。
　　AtfirstAlbertwasinclinedtorebelattheideaofpermittinghisletterstoMadelinetobereadbythelatter’sparents，butatlengthheagreed。
　　I’lldoitbecauseitmaymakeiteasierforher，hesaid。
　　She’llhaveadreadfultime，Isuppose，withthatunreasonablemotherofhers。But，byGeorge，Grandfather，heexclaimed，isn’tshesplendid，though！
　　Who？Mrs。Fosdick？
　　No，ofcoursenot，indignantly。Madeline。Isn’tshesplendidandfineandloyal！Iwantyoutoknowher，Grandfather，youandGrandmother。
　　Um-hm。Well，we’llhopeto，someday。Now，son，I’mgoin’toaskforanotherpromise。Itmayseemahardonetomake，butI’maskin’youtomakeit。Iwantyoutogivemeyourwordthat，nomatterwhathappensorhowlongyouhavetowait，youandMadelinewon’tgetmarriedwithouttellin’herfolksandyoursbeforehand。
　　Youwon’trunawayandmarry。Willyoupromisemethat？
　　Albertlookedathim。ThisWASahardpromisetomake。Intheirtalksbeneaththerainbows，wheneverheandMadelinehadreferredtothefutureanditsdoubts，theyhadalwayspushedthosedoubtsasidewithvaguehintsofanelopement。Iftheunreasonablenessofparentsandgrandparentsshouldcrowdthemtoofar，theyhadalwaysasalastresort，thesolutionoftheirproblembywayofarunawaymarriage。AndnowCaptainZeloteswasaskinghimtogiveupthislastresort。
　　Thecaptain，watchinghimkeenly，divinedwhatwasinhisgrandson’smind。
　　Thinkitover，Al，hesaidkindly。Don’tanswermenow，butthinkitover，andto-morrowmornin’tellmehowyoufeelaboutit。Hehesitatedamomentandthenadded：YouknowyourgrandmotherandI，we——well，wehavemaybecausetobealittlemiteprejudicedagainstthiselopin’business。
　　SoAlbertthought，andthenextmorning，asthepairwerewalkingtogethertotheoffice，hespokehisthought。CaptainZeloteshadnotmentionedthesubject。
　　Grandfather，saidAlbert，withsomeembarrassment，I’mgoingtogiveyouthatpromise。
　　Hisgrandfather，whohadbeenstridingalong，hisheavybrowsdrawntogetherandhisglancefixeduponthefrozengroundbeneathhisfeet，lookedup。
　　Eh？hequeried，uncomprehendingly。
　　Youaskedmelastnighttopromiseyousomething，youknow……
　　Youaskedmetothinkitover。Ihave，andI’mgoingtopromiseyouthat——MadelineandIwon’tmarrywithoutfirsttellingyou。
　　CaptainZelotesstoppedinhisstride。thenhewalkedonagain。
　　Thankyou，Al，hesaidquietly。Ihopedyou’dseeitthatway。
　　Yes——yes，I——Ido。Idon’twanttobringanymore——troubleofthatkindtoyouandGrandmother……Itseemstomethatyou——
　　thatyouhavehadtoomuchalready。
　　Thankyou，son……Muchobliged。
　　Thecaptain’stonewasalmostgruffandthatwashisonlyreferencetothesubjectofthepromise。butsomehowAlbertfeltthatatthatmomentheandhisgrandfatherwereclosertogether，werenearertoamutualunderstandingandmutualappreciationthantheyhadeverbeenbefore。
　　Topromise，however，isonething，tofulfilltheobligationanother。AsthedayspassedAlbertfoundhispromiseconcerningletter-writingvery，veryhardtokeep。When，eacheveninghesatdownatthetableinhisroomtopourouthissouluponpaperitwasamostunsatisfactoryoutpouring。TheconstantlyenforcedrecollectionthatwhateverhewrotewouldbesubjecttothechillingglanceoftheeyeofFosdickmaterwasofitselfacheckupontheflow。TowritealovelettertoMadelinehadhithertobeenajoy，arapture，tofillpagesandpagesadelight。Now，somehow，thesepageswerehardtofill。Omittingtheverythingsyouweredyingtosay，theprecious，theintimatethings——whatwasthereleft？Heandshehad，attheirmeetingsandintheirformercorrespondence，inventedmanydelightfullittlepetnamesforeachother。Nowthosenamesweretaboo。or，atanyrate，theymightaswellbe。ThethoughtofMrs。Fosdick’ssniffofindignantdisgustatfindingherdaughterreferredtoassomeone’sownestlittlerosebudwitheredthatbudbeforeitreachedthepaper。
　　AndMadeline’sletterstohimwerequiteasunsatisfactory。Theywerelengthy，butoh，somatteroffact！Saharasoffactwithoutoneoasisofsentiment。Shewaswellandshehaddonethisandthatandhadbeentoseesuchandsuchplaysandoperas。Fatherwaswellandverybusy。Mother，too，waswell，sowasGoogoo——buttheselasttwobitsofnewsfailedtocomforthimastheyperhapsshould。Hecouldonlytrytogleanbetweenthelines，andasMrs。
　　Fosdickhadrakedbetweenthoselinesbeforehim，thegleaningwasscantpickingindeed。
　　Hefoundhimselfgrowingdisconsolateanddespondent。Summerseemedagesaway。Andwhenatlastitshouldcome——whatwouldhappenthen？Hecouldseeheronlywhenproperlychaperoned，onlywhenMother，andprobablyGoogoo，werepresent。HeflewforconsolationtotheMuseandtheMuserefusedtoconsole。Thepoemshewrotewereblueanddespairinglikewise。Consequentlytheydidnotsell。Hewasgrowingdesperate，readyforanything。Andsomethingcame。GermanydeliveredtoourGovernmentitsarrogantmandateconcerningunlimitedsubmarinewarfare。Along-sufferingPresidentthrewpatienceoverboardandansweredthatmandateinunmistakableterms。Congressstoodathisbackandbehindthemaunitedandindignantpeople。TheUnitedStatesdeclaredwarupontheHun。
　　SouthHarniss，likeeveryothercommunity，becamewildlyexcited。
　　CaptainZelotesSnow’sgrayeyesflashedfierysatisfaction。TheflagsattheSnowplaceandatthelumberyardflewhighnightandday。Heboughtnewspapersgaloreandreadfromthemaloudatmeals，intheevenings，andbeforebreakfast。Issachar，asusual，talkedmuchandsaidlittle。LabanKeeler’scommentswerepithyanddrylypointed。Albertwasveryquiet。
　　Butoneforenoonhespoke。CaptainLotewasintheinneroffice，themorningnewspaperinhishand，whenhisgrandsonenteredandclosedthedoorbehindhim。Thecaptainlookedup。
　　Well，Al，whatisit？heasked。
　　Albertcameoverandstoodbesidethedesk。Thecaptain，afteramoment’sscrutinyoftheyoungman’sface，putdownhisnewspaper。
　　Well，Al？hesaid，again。
　　Albertseemedtofindithardtospeak。
　　Grandfather，hebegan，I——I——Grandfather，Ihavecometoaskafavorofyou。
　　Thecaptainnodded，slowly，hisgazefixeduponhisgrandson’sface。
　　Allright。heaveahead，hesaidquietly。
　　Grandfather，youandIhavehadafouryears’agreementtoworktogetherinthisoffice。Itisn’tupyet，but——butIwanttobreakit。Iwantyoutoletmeoff。
　　Humph！……Letyouoff，eh？……Whatfor？
　　That’swhatIcameheretotellyou。Grandfather，Ican’tstayhere——now。Iwanttoenlist。
　　CaptainZelotesdidnotanswer。Hishandmovedupwardandpulledathisbeard。
　　Iwanttoenlist，repeatedAlbert。Ican’tstanditanotherminute。Imust。Ifithadn’tbeenforyouandourpromiseand——
　　andMadeline，IthinkIshouldhavejoinedtheCanadianArmyayearormoreago。Butnowthatwehavegoneintothewar，ICAN’Tstayout。Grandfather，youdon’twantmeto，doyou？Ofcourseyoudon’t。
　　Hisgrandfatherappearedtoponder。
　　Ifyoucanwaitaspell，hesaidslowly，Imightbeabletofixitso’syoucangetachanceforanofficer’scommission。I’doughttohavesomepullsomewheres，seemsso。
　　Albertsniffedimpatientdisgust。Idon’twanttogetacommission——inthatway，hedeclared。
　　Humph！You’llfindthere’splentythatdo，Ishouldn’twonder。
　　Perhaps，butI’mnotoneofthem。AndIdon’tcaresomuchforacommission，unlessIcanearnit。AndIdon’twanttostayhereandstudyforit。Iwanttogonow。Iwanttogetintothething。
　　Idon’twanttowait。
　　CaptainLoteleanedforward。Hisgrayeyessnapped。
　　Wanttofight，doyou？hequeried。
　　YoubetIdo！
　　Allright，myboy，thengo——andfight。I’dbeashamedofmyselfifIheldyoubackaminute。Goandfight——andfighthard。IonlywishtoGodIwasyoungenoughtogowithyou。
　　CHAPTERXIII
　　Andso，inthisunexpectedfashion，cameprematurelytheendofthefouryeartrialagreementbetweenAlbertSperanzaandZ。SnowandCo。OfcourseneitherCaptainZelotesnorAlbertadmittedthatithadended。Eachprofessedtoregardthebreakasmerelytemporary。
　　You’llbebackatthatdeskinalittlewhile，Al，saidthecaptain，addin’upfiggersandtormentin’Issy。AndAlbert’sreplywasinvariably，Why，ofcourse，Grandfather。
　　Hehaddreadedhisgrandmother’sreceptionofthenewsofhisintendedenlistment。Oliveworshipedherdaughter’sboyand，althoughanardentpatriot，wasbynomeansasfiercelybelligerentasherhusband。SheprayedeachnightforthedefeatoftheHun，whereasCaptainLotewasforlickinghimfirstandprayingafterwards。Albertfearedascene。hefearedthatshemightbeprostratedwhenshelearnedthathewastogotowar。Butsheboreitwonderfullywell，andasforthedreadedscene，therewasnone。
　　Zelotessayshethinksit’stherightthingforyoutodo，Albert，
　　shesaid，soIsupposeIoughttothinkso，too。But，oh，mydear，DOyoureallyfeelthatyoumust？I——itdon’tseemasIcouldbearto……butthere，Imustn’ttalkso。Itain’tamiteharderformethanitisforthousandsofwomenalloverthisworld……Andperhapsthegovernmentfolkswon’ttakeyou，anyway。RachelsaidshereadintheItemaboutsomeyoungmanoverinBayportwhowasrejectedbecausehehadfatfeet。Shemeantflatfeet，Isuppose，poorthing。Oh，dearme，I’mlaughin’，anditseemswickedtolaughatimelikethis。AndwhenIthinkofyougoin’，Albert，I——I……
　　butthere，IpromisedZelotesIwouldn’t……AndtheyMAYnottakeyou……Butoh，ofcoursetheywill，ofcoursetheywill！……I’mgoin’tomakeyouachickenpiefordinnerto-day。
　　Iknowhowyoulikeit……IfonlytheyMIGHTrejectyou！……
　　Butthere，IsaidIwouldn’tandIwon’t。
　　RachelEllis’sopiniononthesubjectandherwayofexpressingthatopinionweredistinctlyherown。Albertaroseearlyinthemorningfollowingtheannouncementofhisdecisiontoentertheservice。Hehadnotsleptwell。hismindwastoobusywithproblemsandspeculationstoresignitselftosleep。HehadtossedaboutuntildawnandhadthenrisenandsatdownatthetableinhisbedroomtowriteMadelineofthestephehaddeterminedtotake。Hehadnotwrittenherwhilehewasconsideringthatstep。
　　Hefelt，somehow，thathealonewithnopressurefromwithoutshouldmakethedecision。Nowthatitwasmade，andirrevocablymade，shemustofcoursebetold。Tellingher，however，wasnotaneasytask。Hewassureshewouldagreethathehaddonetherightthing，theonlything，but——
　　Itisgoingtobeveryhardforyou，dear，hewrote，heedlessofthefactthatMrs。Fosdick’scensoriouseyewouldseeandcondemnthedear。Itisgoingtobehardforbothofus。ButIamsureyouwillfeelasIdothatICOULDN’Tdoanythingelse。IamyoungandstrongandfitandIamanAmerican。IMUSTgo。Youseeit，don’tyou，Madeline。IcanhardlywaituntilyourlettercomestellingmethatyoufeelIdidjustthethingyouwouldwishmetodo。
　　Hehesitatedandthen，evenmoreregardlessofthecensor，addedthequotationwhichcountlessyoungloverswerefindingsoaptjustthen：
　　Icouldnotlovethee，dear，somuch，LovedInothonormore。
　　Sowhen，freshfromtheintimacyofthiscommunicationwithhisadoredandwiththeletterinhishand，heenteredthesitting-roomatthatearlyhourhewasnotoverjoyedtofindthehousekeeperthereaheadofhim。Andherfirstsentenceshowedthatshehadbeenawaitinghiscoming。
　　Goodmornin’，Albert，shesaid。Iheardyoustirrin’’roundupinyourroomandIcamedownhereso’syouandIcouldtalktogetherforaminutewithoutanybody’sdisturbin’us