BIBLIOGRAPHICAL
Inthosedimrecessesoftheconsciousnesswherethingshavetheirbeginning，ifeverthingshaveabeginning，Isupposetheoriginofthisnovelmaybetracedtoafactofafortnight’ssojournonthewesternshoreoflakeChamplaininthesummerof1891。AcrossthewaterintheStateofVermontIhadconstantlybeforemyeyesamajesticmountainformwhichtheearlierFrenchpioneershadnamed"LeLionCouchant，"butwhichtheirplainer—mindedYankeesuccessorspreferredtocall"TheCamel’sHump。"Itreallylookedlikeasleepinglion；theheadwasespeciallydefinite；andwhen，inthecourseofsometenyears，IfoundtheschemeforastoryaboutasummerhotelwhichIhadlongmeanttowrite，thisimagesuggestedthenameof’TheLandlordatLion’sHead。’Igavethetitletomyunwrittennovelatonceandneverwishedtochangeit，butrejoicedinthecertaintythat，whateverthenovelturnedouttobe，thetitlecouldnotbebetter。
Ibegantowritethestoryfouryearslater，whenweweresettledforthewinterinourflatonCentralPark，andasIwasayearindoingit，withotherthings，ImusthavetakentheunfinishedmanuscripttoandfromMagnolia，Massachusetts，andLongBeach，LongIsland，whereIspentthefollowingsummer。ItwasfirstserializedinHarper’sWeeklyandintheLondonIllustratedNews，aswellasinanAustraliannewspaper——Iforgetwhichone；anditwaspublishedasacompletedbookin1896。
Irememberconcerningitaverybecomingdespairwhen，atacertainmomentinit，IbegantowonderwhatIwasdrivingat。Ihavealwayshadsuchmomentsinmywork，andifIcannotfitlyboastofthem，Icanatleastowntotheminfreedomfromthepridethatgoesbeforeafall。
Myonlyresourceatsuchtimeswastokeepworking；keepbeatingharderandharderatthewallwhichseemedtoclosemein，tillatlastIbrokethroughintothedaylightbeyond。Inthiscase，IhadreallysuchaverygoodgripofmycharactersthatIneednothavehadtheusualfearoftheirfailuretoworkouttheirdestiny。ButevenwhenthethingwasdoneandIcarriedthecompletedmanuscripttomydearoldfriend，thelateHenryLoomisNelson，theneditoroftheWeekly，itwasinmorefearofhisjudgmentthanIcaredtoshow。Asoftenhappenedwithmymanuscriptinsuchexigencies，itseemedtogoalltoahandfulofshrivelledleaves。WhenwemetagainandheaccepteditfortheWeekly，withahandclaspofheartywelcome，Icouldscarcelygaspoutmyunfeignedrelief。Wehadtalkedtheschemeofitovertogether；hehadlikedthenotion，andheeasilymademebelieve，aftermyfirstdismay，thathelikedtheresultevenbetter。
ImyselflikedtheheroofthetalemorethanIhavelikedworthiermen，perhapsbecauseIthoughtIhadachievedinhimatruerusticNewEnglandtypeincontactwithurbanlifeunderentirelymodernconditions。Whatseemedtomemyestheticsuccessinhimpossiblysoftenedmetohisethicalshortcomings；butIdonotexpectotherstosharemyweaknessforJeffDurgin，whosestrong，roughsurnamehadbeenwaitingforhispersonalityeversinceIhadgotitoffthesideofanice—cartmanyyearsbefore。
AtthetimethestorywasimaginedHarvardhadbeenforfouryearsmuchinthedirectknowledgeoftheauthor，andIpleasedmyselfinrealizingthehero’sexperiencetherefromevenmoreintimacywiththeuniversitymoodsandmannersthanhadsupportedmeinthestudiesofanearlierfictiondealingwiththem。IhadnotlivedtwelveyearsinCambridgewithoutacquaintancesuchasevenaneldermanmustmakewiththeundergraduatelife；butitisonlyfromitsownlevelthatthiscanbetrulylearned，andIhavealwaysbeenreadytostandcorrectedbyundergraduateexperience。Still，Ihavemybeliefthatasajay——thewordmaynowbeobsolete——JeffDurginisnotaltogetheroutofdrawing；
thoughthisis，ofcourse，thephaseofhischaracterwhichisoneoftheleastimportant。WhatImostprizeinhim，ifImaygotothebottomoftheinkhorn，istherealizationofthatanti—PuritanqualitywhichwasalwaysvexingtheheartofPuritanism，andwhichIhadconstantlyfeltoneofthemostinterestingfactsinmyobservationofNewEngland。
Asforthesortofsummerhotelportrayedinthesepages，itwasmaterializedfromanacquaintancewithsummerhotelsextendingoverquarterofacentury，andscarcelytobesurpassedifparalleled。IhadapassionforknowingaboutthemandunderstandingtheiroperationwhichIindulgedateveryopportunity，andwhichIrememberwassatisfiedastoeveryreasonabledetailatoneofthepleasantestseasidehostelriesbyoneofthemostintelligentandobligingoflandlords。Yet，hotelsforhotels，Iwasinterestedinthoseofthehillsratherthanthoseoftheshores。
Iworkedsteadilyifnotrapidlyatthestory。OftenIwentbackoverit，andtoreittopiecesandputittogetheragain。ItmademefeelattimesasifIshouldneverlearnmytrade，butsodideverynovelIhavewritten；everynovel，infact，hasbeenanewtrade。In，thecaseofthisonethepublisherswerehurryingmeintherevisionforcopytogivetheillustrator，whowashurryinghispicturesfortheEnglishandAustralianserializations。
KITTERYPOINT，MAINE，July，1909。
THELANDLORDATLION’SHEAD
I。
Ifyoulookedatthemountainfromthewest，thelineofthesummitwaswanderinganduncertain，likethatofmostmountain—tops；but，seenfromtheeast，themassofgraniteshowingabovethedenseforestsofthelowerslopeshadtheformofasleepinglion。Theflanksandhauncheswerevaguelydistinguishedfromthemass；butthemightyhead，restingwithitstossedmaneuponthevastpawsstretchedbeforeit，wasboldlysculpturedagainstthesky。Thelikenesscouldnothavebeenmoreperfect，whenyouhaditinprofile，ifithadbeenadefiniteintentionofart；andyoucouldtravelfarnorthandfarsouthbeforetheillusionvanished。Inwintertheheadwasblottedbythesnows；andsometimesthevagrantcloudscaughtuponitanddeformedit，orhidit，atotherseasons；butcommonly，afterthelastsnowwentinthespringuntilthefirstsnowcameinthefall，theLion’sHeadwasapartofthelandscape，asimperativeandimportunateastheGreatStoneFaceitself。
Longafterotherpartsofthehillcountrywereopenedtosummersojourn，theregionofLion’sHeadremainedalmostprimitivelysolitaryandsavage。Astonymountainroadfollowedthebedofthetorrentthatbrawledthroughthevalleyatitsbase，andatacertainpointastillrougherlaneclimbedfromtheroadalongthesideoftheoppositeheighttoalonelyfarm—housepushedbackonanarrowshelfofland，withameagreacreageoffieldandpasturebrokenoutofthewoodsthatclothedalltheneighboringsteeps。Thefarm—houselevelcommandedthebestviewofLion’sHead，andthevisitorsalwaysmountedtoit，whethertheycameonfoot，orarrivedonbuckboardsorinbuggies，ordroveupintheConcordstagesfromthefartherandnearerhotels。Thedriversofthecoachesrestedtheirhorsesthere，andwateredthemfromthespringthatdrippedintothegreenlogatthebarn；thepassengersscatteredaboutthedoor—yardtolookattheLion’sHead，towonderatitandmockatit，accordingtotheirseveralmakesandmoods。Theycouldscarcelyhavefeltthattheyeverhadawelcomefromthestalwart，handsomewomanwhosoldthemmilk，iftheywantedit，andsmallcakesofmaplesugariftheywereverystrenuousforsomethingelse。Theladieswerenotabletomakemuchofherfromthefirst；butsomeofthemaskedherifitwerenotratherlonelythere，andshesaidthatwhenyouheardthecatamountsscreamatnight，andthebearsgrowlinthespring，itdidseemlonesome。
Whenoneofthemdeclaredthatifsheshouldhearacatamountscreamorabeargrowlsheshoulddie，thewomananswered，Well，shepresumedwemustalldiesometime。Buttheladieswerenotsureofacovertslantinherwords，fortheywerespokenwiththesamelooksheworewhenshetoldthemthatthemilkwasfivecentsaglass，andtheblackmaplesugarthreecentsacake。Shedidnotchangewhensheownedupontheirurgencethatthegauntmanwhomtheyglimpsedaroundthecornersofthehousewasherhusband，andthethreelankboyswithhimwerehersons；thatthechildrenwhosefaceswatchedthemthroughthewrithingwindowpaneswerehertwolittlegirls；thattheurchinwhostoodshylytwisted，allbuthiswhiteheadandsunburnedface，intoherdressandglancedatthemwithamockingblueeye，washeryoungest，andthathewasthreeyearsold。Withlikecoldnessofvoiceandface，sheassentedtotheirconjecturethatthespacewalledoffinthefarthercorneroftheorchardwasthefamilyburialground；andshesaid，withnomorefeelingthattheladiescouldseethanshehadshownconcerningtheotherfacts，thatthegravestheysawwerethoseofherhusband’sfamilyandofthechildrenshehadlosttherehadbeentenchildren，andshehadlostfour。Shedidnotvisiblyshrinkfromthepursuitofthesympathywhichexpresseditselfincuriosityastothesicknesstheyhaddiedof；theladiesleftherwiththebeliefthattheyhadmetacharacter，andsheremainedwiththeconviction，brieflyimpartedtoherhusband，thattheyweretonguey。
Thesummerfolkscamemoreandmore，everyyear，withlittlevarianceintheimpressiononeitherside。WhentheytoldherthathermaplesugarwouldsellbetterifthecakehadanimageofLion’sHeadstampedonit，sheansweredthatshegotenoughofLion’sHeadwithoutwantingtoseeitonallthesugarshemade。ButthenextyearthecakesborearudeeffigyofLion’sHead，andshesaidthatoneofherboyshadcutthestampoutwithhisknife；shenowchargedfivecentsacakeforthesugar，buthermannerremainedthesame。Itdidnotchangewhentheexcursionistsdroveaway，andthedeepsilencenativetotheplacefellaftertheirchatter。Whenacockcrew，oracowlowed，orahorseneighed，oroneoftheboysshoutedtothecattle，anechoretortedfromthegranitebaseofLion’sHead，andthenshehadallthenoiseshewanted，or，atanyrate，allthenoisetherewasmostofthetime。Nowandthenawagonpassedonthestonyroadbythebrookinthevalley，andsentupitsclattertothefarm—houseonitshighshelf，buttherewasscarcelyanotherbreakfromthesilenceexceptwhenthecoaching—partiescame。
Thecontinuousclashandrushofthebrookwaslikeapartofthesilence，astheredofthefarm—houseandthebarnwaslikeapartofthegreenofthefieldsandwoodsallroundthem：theblack—greenofpinesandspruces，theyellow—greenofmaplesandbirches，densetothetopsofthedrearyhills，andbreakinglikeabatedseaaroundtheLion’sHead。
Thefarmerstoopedathiswork，withathin，inward—curvingchest，buthiswifestoodstraightathers；andshehadamassivebeautyoffigureandaheavilymouldedregularityoffeaturethatimpressedsuchashadeyestoseehergrandeuramongthesummerfolks。Shewasfortywhentheybegantocome，andanashengraywascreepingoverthereddishheapsofherhair，likethepallorthatoverliesthecrimsonoftheautumnaloak。
Sheshowedherageearlierthanmostfairpeople，butsincehermarriageateighteenshehadlivedlonginthedeathsofthechildrenshehadlost。Theywerebornwiththetaintoftheirfather’sfamily，andtheywitheredfromtheircradles。Theyoungestboyalone；ofallherbrood，seemedtohaveinheritedherhealthandstrength。Therestastheygrewupbegantocough，asshehadheardherhusband’sbrothersandsisterscough，andthenshewaitedinhaplesspatiencethefulfilmentoftheirdoom。Thetwolittlegirlswhosefacestheladiesofthefirstcoaching—partysawatthefarm—housewindowshaddiedawayfromthem；twoofthelankboyshadescaped，andintheperpetualexileofCaliforniaandColoradohadsavedthemselvesalive。Theirfathertalkedofgoing，too，buttenyearslaterhestilldraggedhimselfspectrallyaboutthelaborsofthefarm，withthesamecoughatsixtywhichmadehisoldestsonattwenty—ninelookscarcelyyoungerthanhimself。
II。
OnesoftnooninthemiddleofAugustthefarmercameinfromthecorn—fieldthatanearlyfrosthadblighted，andtoldhiswifethattheymustgiveitup。Hesaid，inhisweak，hoarsevoice，withthecatarrhalcatchinginit，thatitwasnousetryingtomakealivingonthefarmanylonger。Theoatshadhardlybeenworthcutting，andnowthecornwasgone，andtherewasnothayenoughwithoutittowinterthestock；iftheygotthroughthemselvestheywouldhavetoliveonpotatoes。Haveavendue，andsellouteverythingbeforethesnowflew，andlettheStatetakethefarmandgetwhatitcouldforit，andturnoverthebalancethatwasleftafterthetaxes；theinterestofthesavings—bankmortgagewouldsooneatthatup。
Thelong，loosecoughtookhim，andanothercoughanswereditlikeanechofromthebarn，wherehissonwasgivingthehorsestheirfeed。Themild，wan—eyedyoungmancameroundthecornerpresentlytowardtheporchwherehisfatherandmotherweresitting，andatthesamemomentaboycameupthelanetotheothercorner；thereweresixteenyearsbetweentheagesofthebrothers，whoalonewereleftofthechildrenbornintoandborneoutofthehouse。Theyoungmanwaitedtilltheywerewithinwhisperingdistanceofeachother，andthenhegasped："Whereyoubeen？"
Theboyanswered，promptly，"Noneyourbusiness，"andwentupthestepsbeforetheyoungman，withalop—eared，liver—coloredmongrelathisheels。Hepulledoffhisraggedstrawhatandflungitontheflooroftheporch。"Dinnerover？"hedemanded。
Hisfathermadenoanswer；hismotherlookedattheboy’shandsandface，allofmuchthesameearthencast，uptotheeavesofhisthatchofyellowhair，andsaid："Yougoandwashyourself。"Atacertainlightinhismother’seye，whichhecaughtashepassedintothehousewithhisdog，theboyturnedandcutadefiantcaper。Theoldestsonsatdownonthebenchbesidehisfather，andtheyalllookedinsilenceatthemountainbeforethem。Theyheardtheboywhistlingbehindthehouse，withsputteringandblubberingnoises，asifhewerewashinghisfacewhilehewhistled；andthentheyheardhimsinging，withamuffledsound，andsharpbreaksfromthemuffledsound，asifheweresingingintothetowel；heshoutedtohisdogandthreatenedhim，andthescufflingofhisfeetcametothemthroughallasifheweredancing。
"Beenafterthemwoodchucksag’in，"hisfatherhuskilysuggested。
"Iguessso，"saidthemother。Thebrotherdidnotspeak；hecoughedvaguely，andlethisheadsinkforward。
Thefatherbeganastatementofhisaffairs。
Themothersaid："Youdon’twanttogointothat；webeenalloveritbefore。Ifit’scometothepinch，now，it’scome。Butyouwanttobesure。"
Themandidnotanswerdirectly。"IfwecouldselloffnowandgetouttowhereJimisinCaliforny，andgetapieceofland——"Hestopped，asifconfrontedwithsomedifficultywhichhehadmetbefore，buthadhopedhemightnotfindinhiswaythistime。
Hiswifelaughedgrimly。"Iguess，ifthetruthwasknown，we’retoopoortogetaway。"
"We’repoor，"hewhisperedback。Headded，withaweakobstinacy：
"Id’knowaswe’reaspoorasthatcomesto。Thethingswouldfetchsomething。"
"Enoughtogetusoutthere，andthenweshouldbeonJim’shands，"saidthewoman。
"Weshouldtillspring，maybe。Id’knowasIwanttofaceanotherwinterhere，andId’knowasJacksondoes。"
Theyoungmangaspedback，courageously："IguessIcangetalongherewellenough。"
"It’smadeJimtenyearsyounger。That’swhathesaid，"urgedthefather。
Themothersmiledasgrimlyasshehadlaughed。"Idon’tbelieveit’llmakeyoutenyearsricher，andthat’swhatyouwant。"
"Idon’tbelievebutwhatweshouldha’donesomethingwiththeplacebyspring。OrtheStatewould，"thefathersaid，lifelessly。
Thevoiceoftheboybrokeinuponthemfrombehind。"Say，mother，a’n’tyounevergoin’tohavedinner？"Hewasstandinginthedoorway，withastartlingcleannessofthehandsandface，andastrange，wetsleeknessofthehair。Hisclotheswerebedrabbleddownthefrontwithsoapandwater。
Hismotherroseandwenttowardhim；hisfatherandbrotherroselikeapparitions，andslantedafterheratoneangle。
"Say，"theboycalledagaintohismother，"therecomesapeddler。"Hepointeddowntheroadatthefigureofamanbrisklyascendingthelanetowardthehouse，withapackonhisbackandsomestrangeappendagesdanglingfromit。
Thewomandidnotlookround；neitherofthemenlookedround；theyallkeptonin—doors，andshesaidtotheboy，asshepassedhim："Igotnotimetowasteonpeddlers。Youtellhimwedon’twantanything。"
Theboywaitedforthefigureonthelanetoapproach。Itwasthefigureofayoungman，whoslunghisburdenlightlyfromhisshoulderswhenhearrived，andthenstoodlookingattheboy，withhisfootplantedonthelowermosttreadofthestepsclimbingfromthegroundtotheporch。
III。
Theboymusthavepermittedtheseadvancesthathemightinflictthegreaterdisappointmentwhenhespoke。"Wedon’twantanything，"hesaid，insolently。
"Don’tyou？"thestrangerreturned。"Ido。Iwantdinner。Goinandtellyourmother，andthenshowmewhereIcanwashmyhands。"
Theboldeaseofthestrangerseemedtodaunttheboy，andhestoodirresolute。Hisdogcameroundthecornerofthehouseatthefirstwordoftheparley，and，whilehismasterwasmakinguphismindwhattodo，hesmelledatthestranger’slegs。"Well，youcan’thaveanydinner，"
saidtheboy，tentatively。Thedograisedthebristlesonhisneck，andshowedhisteethwithasnarl。Thestrangerpromptlykickedhiminthejaw，andthedogranoffhowling。"Comehere，sir！"theboycalledtohim，butthedogvanishedroundthehousewithafadingyelp。
"Now，youngman，"saidthestranger，"willyougoanddoasyou’rebid？
I’mreadytopayformydinner，andyoucansayso。"Theboystaredathim，slowlytakinginthefactsofhiscostume，witheyesthatclimbedfromtheheavy，shoesupthelegsofhisthick—ribbedstockingsandhisknickerbockers，pastthepleatsandbeltofhisNorfolkjacket，totheredneckclothtiedundertheloosecollarofhisflannelouting—shirt，andsobyhisface，withitssoft，youngbeardanditsquieteyes，tothetopofhisbraidless，bandlessslouchhatofsoftfelt。Itwasoneoftheearliestcostumesofthekindthathadshownitselfinthehillcountry，anditwasaltogethernewtotheboy。"Come，"saidthewearerofit，"don’tstandontheorderofyourgoing，butgoatonce，"andhesatdownonthestepswithhisbacktotheboy，whoheardthesestrangetermsofcommandwithafaceofvagueenvy。
Thenoondaysunshinelayinathin，silveryglisterontheslopesofthemountainbeforethem，andinthebrilliantlightthecolossalformsoftheLion’sHeadwereprismaticallyoutlinedagainstthespecklesssky。
Throughthesilveryveilthereburnedhereandthereonthedenselywoodedacclivitiesthecrimsontorchofamaple，kindledbeforeitstime，buteverywhereelsetherewastheunbrokengreenoftheforest，subduedtoonetoneofgray。Theboyheardthestrangerfetchhisbreathdeeply，andthenexpelitinalongsigh，beforehecouldbringhimselftoobeyanorderthatseemedtoleavehimwithoutthechoiceofdisobedience。Hecamebackandfoundthestrangerashehadlefthim。"Comeon，ifyouwantyourdinner，"hesaid；andthestrangerroseandlookedathim。
"What’syourname？"heasked。
"ThomasJeffersonDurgin。"
"Well，ThomasJeffersonDurgin，willyoushowmethewaytothepumpandbringatowelalong？"
"Wanttowash？"
"Ihaven’tchangedmymind。"
"Comealong，then。"Theboymadeamovementasiftoleadthewayindoors；thestrangerarrestedhim。
"Here。Takeholdofthisandputitoutoftherushoftravelsomewhere。"Heliftedhisburdenfromwherehehaddroppeditintheroadandswungittowardtheboy，whorandownthestepsandembracedit。
Ashecarriedittowardacorneroftheporchhefeltofthevariousshapesandmaterialsinit。
Thenhesaid，"Comeon！"again，andwentbeforetheguestthroughthedimhallrunningmidwayofthehousetothedoorattherear。Helefthimonanarrowspaceofstoneflaggingthere，andranwithatinbasintothespringatthebarnandbroughtitbacktohimfullofthecoldwater。
"Towel，"hesaid，pullingatthefamilyrollerinsidethelittleporchatthedoor；andhewatchedthestrangerwashhishandsandface，andthensearchforafreshplaceonthetowel。
Beforethestrangerhadfinishedthefatherandtheelderbrothercameout，and，afteranineffectualattempttosalutehim，slantedawaytothebarntogether。Thewoman，in—doors，wasmoresuccessful，whenhefoundherinthedining—room，wheretheboyshowedhim。Thetablewassetforhimalone，anditaffectedhimasifthefamilyhadbeenhurriedawayfromitthathemighthaveittohimself。Everythingwasverysimple：
theironforkshadtwoprongs；theknivesbonehandles；thedullglasswaspressed；theheavyplatesandcupswerewhite，butsowasthecloth，andallwereclean。Thewomanbroughtinagoodboileddinnerofcorned—beef，potatoes，turnips，andcarrotsfromthekitchen，andateapot，andsaidsomethingabouthavingkeptthemhotonthestoveforhim；shebroughthimaplateofbiscuitfreshfromtheoven；thenshesaidtotheboy，"Youcomeoutandhaveyourdinnerwithme，Jeff，"andlefttheguesttomakehismealunmolested。
Theroomwassquare，withtwonorthwindowsthatlookeddownthelanehehadclimbedtothehouse。Anopendoorledintothekitcheninanell，andacloseddooroppositeprobablygaveaccesstoaparlororaground—
floorchamber。Thewindowsweredarkeneddowntothelowersashbygreenpapershades；thewallswerepaperedinapatternofbrownroses；overthechimneyhungalargepicture，alife—sizepencil—drawingoftwolittlegirls，oneslightlyolderandslightlylargerthantheother，eachwithroundeyesandpreciseringlets，andwithherhandclaspedintheother’shand。
Theguestseemedhelplesstotakehisgazefromit，andhesatfallenbackinhischairatitwhenthewomancameinwithapie。
"Thankyou，IbelieveIdon’twantanydessert，"hesaid。"Thefactis，thedinnerwassogoodthatIhaven’tleftanyroomforpie。Arethoseyourchildren？"
"Yes，"saidthewoman，lookingupatthepicturewiththepieinherhand。"They’rethelasttwoIlost。"
"Oh，excuseme——"theguestbegan。
"It’sthewaytheyappearinthespiritlife。It’saspiritpicture。"
"Oh，Ithoughttherewassomethingstrangeaboutit。"
"Well，it’sagooddeallikethephotographwehadtakenaboutayearbeforetheydied。It’sagoodlikeness。Theysaytheydon’tchangeagreatdealatfirst。"
Sheseemedtoreferthepointtohimforhisjudgment，butheansweredwideofit：
"Icameupheretopaintyourmountain，ifyoudon’tmind，Mrs。
Durgin—Lion’sHead，Imean。"
"Ohyes。Well，Idon’tknowaswecouldstopyouifyouwantedtotakeitaway。"Aspareglimmerlightedupherface。
Thepainterrejoinedinkind："Thetownmighthavesomethingtosay，I
suppose。"
"Notifyouwastoleaveagoodpieceofintervaleinplaceofit。We’vegotmountainstospare。"
"Well，then，that’sarranged。Whataboutaweek’sboard？"
"Iguessyoucanstayifyou’resatisfied。"
"I’llbesatisfiedifIcanstay。Howmuchdoyouwant？"
Thewomanlookeddown，probablywithaninwardanxietybetweenthefearofaskingtoomuchandthefollyofaskingtoolittle。Shesaid，tentatively："Someofthefolksthatcomeoverfromthehotelssaytheypayasmuchastwentydollarsaweek。"
"Butyoudon’texpecthotelprices？"
"Idon’tknowasIdo。We’veneverhadanybodybefore。"
Thestrangerrelaxedthefrownhehadputonatthegreedofhersuggestion；itmighthavecomefromignoranceormereinnocence。"I’minthehabitofpayingfivedollarsforfarmboard，whereIstayseveralweeks。Whatdoyousaytosevenforasingleweek？"
"Iguessthat’lldo，"saidthewoman，andshewentoutwiththepie，whichshehadkeptinherhand。