Sheformulatedthisfeelingnomorethantheothers，butshesaidtoWestover，whomJeffbadehertelloftheengagement："Ita’n’texactlyasIcould’a’wishedittobe。ButIdon’tknowasmothersareeverquitesuitedwiththeirchildren’smarriages。Ipresumeit’sfromalwayskindofhavin’hadherroundundermyfeeteversinceshewasborn，asyoumaysay，andseein’herfamilyalwayssoshiftless。Well，Ican’tsaythatofFrank，either。He’sturnedoutafineboy；butthefather！Cynthyisoneofthemostcapablegirls，smartasatrap，andbrightasabiscuit。
She’smasterful，too！sheNEEDtohaveawillofherownwithJeff。"
Somethingoftheinsensatepridethatmothershaveintheirchildren’sfaults，astheirquicktempers，ortheirwastefulness，ortheirrevengefulness，expresseditselfinhertone；anditwasperhapsthisthatirritatedWestover。
"Ihopehe’llneverletherknowit。Idon’tthinkastrongwillisathingtobeprized，andIshouldn’tconsideritoneofCynthia’sgoodpoints。Thehappiestlifeforherwouldbeonethatneverforcedhertouseit。"
"Idon’tknowasIunderstandyouexactly，"saidMrs。Durgin，withsomedryness。"IknowJeff’sgotratherofadomineeringdisposition，butI
don’tbelievebutshecanmanagehimwithoutmeetin’himonhisownground，asyoumaysay。"
"She’sagirlinathousand，"Westoverreturned，evasively。
"Thenyouthinkhe’sshownsenseinchoosin’ofher？"pursuedJeff’smother，resolutetofindsomepraiseofhiminWestover’swords。
"He’saveryfortunateman，"saidthepainter。
"Well，Iguessyou’reright，"Mrs。Durginacquiesced，asmuchtoJeff’sadvantageasshecould。"YouknowIwasalwaysafraidhewouldmakeafoolofhimself，butIguesshe’skepthiseyesprettywellopenallthewhile。Well！"Sheclosedthesubjectwiththisexclamation。"HimandCynthy’sbeenatmeaboutJackson，"sheadded，abruptly。"They’vecookeditupbetween’emthathe’soutofhealthorrundownorsomething。"
HermannerreferredthemattertoWestover，andhesaid："Heisn’tlookingsowellthissummer。Heoughttogoawaysomewhere。"
"That’swhattheythought，"saidMrs。Durgin，smilinginherpleasureathavingtheiropinionconfirmedbytheoldandvaluedfriendofthefamily。
Whereaboutsdoyouthinkhe’dbestgo？"
"Oh，Idon’tknow。Italy——orEgypt——"
"Iguess，ifyoucouldgetJacksontogoawayatall，itwouldbetosomeofthemoldBiblecountries，"saidMrs。Durgin。"We’vegottohaveafighttogethimoff，makethebestofit，andI’vethoughtitoversincethechildrenspokeaboutit，andIcouldn’tseemtoseeJacksonwillin’
togoouttoCalifornyorColorady，toeitherofhisbrothers。ButI
guesshewouldgotoEgypt。Thatagoodclimateforthe——hiscomplaint？"
Sheenteredeagerlyintothequestion，andWestoverpromisedtowritetoaBostondoctor，whomheknewverywell，andreportJackson’scasetohim，andgethisviewsofEgypt。
"Tellhimhowitis，"saidMrs。Durgin，"andthetussleweshallhavetohaveanywaytomakeJacksonbelievehe’doughttohavearest。He’llgotoEgyptifhe’llgoanywheres，becausehismindkeepsrunnin’onBiblequestions，andit’llinteresthimtogooutthere；andwecanmakehimbelieveit’sjusttobangaroundforthewinter。He’sterriblehopeful。"
Nowthatshebegantospeak，allherlong—repressedanxietypoureditselfout，andshehitchedherchairnearertoWestoverandwistfullyclutchedhissleeve。"That’stheworstofJackson。Youcan’tmakehimbelieveanything’sthematter。SometimesIcan’tbeartohearhimgoonabouthimselfasifhewasawellyoungman。Heexpectsthatmedium’sstuffisgoin’tocurehim！"
"Peoplesickinthatwayarealwayshopeful，"saidWestover。
"Oh，don’tIknowit！Ha’n’tIseenmychildrenandmyhusband——Oh，doaskthatdoctortoanswerasquickashecan！"
XXVI。
WestoverhadadifficultyincongratulatingJeffwhichhecouldscarcelydefinetohimself，butwhichwaslikethatobscureresentmentwefeeltowardpeoplewhomwethinkunequaltotheirgoodfortune。Hewasashamedofhisgrudge，whateveritwas，andthismayhavemadehimoverdohisexpressionsofpleasure。Hewassensibleofafalsecordialityinthem，andhecheckedhimselfinaflowofforcedsentimenttosay，morehonestly："Iwishyou’dspeaktoCynthiaforme。YouknowhowmuchI
thinkofher，andhowmuchIwanttoseeherhappy。Yououghttobeaverygoodfellow，Jeff！"
"I’lltellherthat；she’lllikethat，"saidJeff。"Shethinkstheworldofyou。"
"Doesshe？Well！"
"AndIguessshe’llbegladyousentword。She’sbeenwonderingwhatyouwouldsay；she’salwayssoafraidofyou。"
"Isshe？You’renotafraidofme，areyou？Butperhapsyoudon’tthinksomuchofme。"
"IguessCynthiaandIthinkalikeonthatpoint，"saidJeff，withoutabatingWestover’sdiscomfort。
Therewasastressofsharpcoldthatyearaboutthe20thofAugust。
Thentheweatherturnedwarmagain，andheldfinetillthebeginningofOctober，withinaweekofthetimewhenJacksonwastosail。Ithadnotbeensohardtomakehimconsentwhenheknewwherethedoctorwishedhimtogo，andhehadwillinglyprofitedbyWestover’ssuggestionsaboutgettingtoEgypt。Hisinterestinthematter，whichhetriedtohideatfirstunderamaskofdecorousindifference，mountedwiththefireofWhitwell’senthusiasm，andtheyheldnightlycouncilstogether，studyinghiscourseonthemap，andconsultingplanchetteuponthepointsatvariancethatrosebetweenthem，whileJombateestesatwithhischairtiltedagainstthewall，andpulledsteadilyathispipe，whichmixeditsstrongfumeswiththesmellofthekerosene—lampandtheperennialodorofpotatoesinthecellarunderthelowroomwherethecompanionsforgathered。
TowardtheendofSeptemberWestoverspentthenightbeforehewentbacktotownwiththem。Afteraseasonwithplanchette，theirhostpushedhimselfbackwithhiskneesfromthetabletillhischairreareduponitshindlegs，andshovedhishatupfromhisforeheadintokenofphilosophicalmood。
"Itellyou，Jackson，"hesaid，"you’doughttogetholdo’somethemoccultdevilsoutthere，andsqueezetheirscienceoutof’em。AnyBuddhistsinEgypt，Mr。Westover？"
"Idon’tthinkthereare，"saidWestover。"UnlessJacksonshouldcomeacrosssomewanderingHindu。Orhemightpushon，andcomehomebythewayofIndia。"
"Doit，Jackson！"hisfriendconjuredhim。"Maycostyousomethingmore，butit’llbeworththemoney。Ifit’strue，whatsomethemBlavetskyfellersclaim，youcanvisitushereinyourastralbody——gitinwith’emtherightway。Ishouldliketohaveyoutryit。What’sthereasonIndiawouldn’tbeasgoodforhimasEgypt，anyway？"WhitwelldemandedofWestover。
"Isupposetheclimate’srathertoomoist；theheatwouldberathertryingtohimthere。"
"Thatso？"
"Andhe’stakenhisticketforAlexandria，"Westoverpursued。
"Well，Iguessthat’sso。"Whitwelltiltedhisbackwardslopinghattooneside，soastoscratchthenortheastcornerofhisbeadthoughtfully。
"Butasfarasthatisconcerned，"saidWestover，"andthedoctrineofimmortalitygenerallyisconcerned，JacksonwillhavehishandsfullifhestudiestheEgyptianmonuments。"
"Whattheygottodowithit？"
"Everything。Egyptisthehomeofthebeliefinafuturelife；itwascarriedfromEgypttoGreece。HemightcomehomebywayofAthens。"
"Why，man！"criedWhitwell。"DoyoumeantosaythatthemoldHebrewsaints，Joseph’sbrethren，thatwentdownintoEgyptaftercorn，didn’tknowaboutimmortality，andthemEgyptiandevilsdid？"
"There’sverylittleproofintheOldTestamentthattheIsraelitesknewofit。"
WhitwelllookedatJackson。"Thattheideeyougot？"
"Iguesshe’sright，"saidJackson。"There’ssomethingalittleaboutitinJob，andsomethinginthePsalms：butnotagreatdeal。"
"AndwegotitfromthemEgyptiand————"
"Idon’tsaythat，"Westoverinterposed。"Buttheyhaditbeforewehad。
Asweimagineit，wegotitthoughChristianity。"
Jombateeste，whohadtakenhispipeoutofhismouthinacontroversialmanner，putitbackagain。
Westoveradded，"Butthere’snoquestionbuttheEgyptiansbelievedinthelifehereafter，andinfuturerewardsandpunishmentsforthedeedsdoneinthebody，thousandsofyearsbeforeourera。"
"Well，I’mdumned，"saidWhitwell。
Jombateestetookhispipeoutagain。"Hitshowtheygotgoodsense。
Theyknow——theyfeelitintheirbone——whatgoin’’appen——whenyoudead。
Me，Iguesstheygotsomeprophetfindithoutforthem；thentheygoin’
takethecredit。"
"Iguessthat’ssomethingso，Jombateeste，"saidWhitwell。"Itdon’tstandtoreasonthatfolkswithoutanyalphabet，asyoumaysay，andonlyalotofpicturesforwords，likeInjuns，couldfigureouttheimmortalityofthesoul。Theygottheideebyinspirationsomehow。Why，here！It’slikethis。ThemPharaohsmusthavealwaysbeenclawin’outfortheHebrewsbeforetheygotaholdofJoseph，andwhentheyfoundoutthetruedoctrine，theyhushedupwheretheygotit，andtheirpriestswentonteachin’itasifitwastheirown。"
"That’sw’atIsay。Gotitfromthe’Ebrew。"
"Well，itdon’tmatteragreatdealwheretheygotit，sotheygotit，"
saidJackson，asherose。
"IbelieveI’llgowithyou，"saidWestover。
"Allthereisaboutit，"saidthesickman，solemnly，withafrailefforttostraightenhimself，towhichhissunkenchestwouldnotrespond，"isthis：nomaneverdidfigurethatoutforhimself。Amanseesfolksdie，andasfarashissensesgo，theydon’tliveagain。Butsomehowheknowstheydo；andhisknowledgecomesfromsomewhereelse；it’sinspired——"
"That’sw’atIsay，"Jombateestehastenedtointerpose。"Gotitfromthe’Ebrew。Feelitin’isbone。"
OutunderthestarsJacksonandWestoversilentlymountedthehill—sidetogether。Atoneofthethank—you—marmsintheroadthesickmanstopped，likeawearyhorse，tobreathe。Hetookoffhishatandwipedthesweatofweaknessthathadgathereduponhisforehead，andlookedroundthesky，powderedwiththeconstellationsandtheplanets。"It’ssightly，"hewhispered。
"Yes，itisfine，"Westoverassented。"ButthestarsofourNorthernnightsarenothingtowhatyou’llseeinEgypt。"
Jacksonrepeated，vaguely："Egypt！WhereIshouldliketogoisMars。"
Hefixedhiseyesontheflamingplanets，inalongstare。"ButI
supposetheyhavetheirowntroubles，sameaswedo。Theymustgetsickanddie，liketherestofus。ButIshouldliketoknowmoreabout’em。
Youbelieveit’sinhabited，don’tyou？"
Westover’sagnosticismdidnot，somehow，extendtoMars。"Yes，I’venodoubtofit。"
Jacksonseemedpleased。"I’vereadeverythingIcanlaymyhandsonaboutit。I’vegotanotionthatifthere’sanychoosin’，afterwegetthroughhere，IshouldliketogotoMarsforawhile，oraslongasI
wasalittlehomesickstill，andwantedtokeepasneartheearthasI
could，"headded，quaintly。
Westoverlaughed。"Youcouldstudyupthesubjectofirrigation，there；
theysaythat’swhatkeepstheparallelmarkingsgreenonMars；andtelegraphafewhintstoyourbrotherinColorado，aftertheMartiansperfecttheirsignalcode。"
Perhapstheinvalid’sfancyflagged。Hedrewalong，raggedbreath。
"Idon’tknowasIcaretoleavehome，much。Ifitwa’n’takindofduty，Ishouldn’t。"Heseemedimpelledbyasuddenneedtosay，"HowdoyouthinkJeffersonandmotherwillmakeitouttogether？"
"I’venodoubtthey’llmanage，"saidWestover。
"They’reagooddealalike，"Jacksonsuggested。
Westoverpreferrednottomeethisoverture。You’llbeback，youknow，almostassoonastheseasoncommences，nextsummer。"
"Yes，"Jacksonassented，morecheerfully。"Andnow，Cynthy’ssuretobehere。"
"Yes，shewillbehere，"saidWestover，notsocheerfully。
Jacksonseemedtofindtheopeninghewasseeking，inWestover’stone。
"Whatdoyouthinkofgettin’married，anyway，Mr。Westover？"heasked。
"Wehaven’teitherofusthoughtsowellofitastotryit，Jackson，"
saidthepainter，jocosely。
"Thinkit’sakindofchance？"
"It’sachance。"
Jacksonwassilent。Then，"Ia’n’toneofthem，"hesaid，abruptly，"thatthinkaman’sgoin’tobemadeoverbymarryin’thiswomanorthat。
Ifhea’n’tgoin’tobetherightkindofamanhimself，hea’n’tbecausehiswife’sagoodwoman。SometimesIthinkthataman’swifeisthelastpersonintheworldthatcanchangehisdisposition。Shecaninfluencehimaboutthisandaboutthat，butshecan’tchangehim。Itseemsasifhecouldn’tletherifhetried，andafterthefirststart—offhedon’ttry。"
"That’strue，"Westoverassented。"We’reterriblyinflexible。Nothingbutsomethinglikeachangeofheart，astheyusedtocallit，canmakeusdifferent，andeventhenwe’reapttogobacktoouroldshape。Whenyoulookatitinthatlight，marriageseemsimpossible。Yetittakesplaceeveryday！"
"It’sagreatriskforawoman，"saidJackson，puttingonhishatandstirringforanonwardmovement。"ButIpresumethatifthemanishonestwithherit’sthebestthingshecanhave。Thegreattroubleisforthemantobehonestwithher。"
"Honestyisdifficult，"saidWestover。
HemadeJacksonpromisetospendadaywithhiminBoston，onhiswaytotaketheMediterraneansteameratNewYork。Whentheymetheyieldedtoanimpulsewhichtheinvalid’sforlornnessinspired，andwentontoseehimoff。Hewasgladthathedidthat，for，thoughJacksonwasnotsadatparting，hewasvisiblytouchedbyWestover’skindness。
Ofcoursehetalkedawayfromit。"IguessI’veleft’eminprettygoodshapeforthewinteratLion’sHead，"hesaid。"I’vegotWhitwelltoagreetocomeupandliveinthehousewithmother，andshe’llhaveCynthywithher，anyway；andFrankandJombateestecanlookafterthebosseseasyenough。"
Hehadsaidsomethinglikethisbefore，butWestovercouldseethatitcomfortedhimtorepeatit，andheencouragedhimtodosoinfull。Hemadehimtalkaboutgettinghomeinthespring，afterthefrostwasoutoftheground，buthequestionedinvoluntarily，whilethesickmanspoke，whetherhemightnotthenbelyingunderthesandsthathadneverknownafrostsincetheglacialepoch。Whenthelastwarningforvisitorstogoashorecame，Jacksonsaid，withawansmile，whileheheldWestover’shand："Isha’n’tforgetthisverysoon。"
"Writetome，"saidWestover。
EndTheLandlordAtLionsHeadV2
byWilliamDeanHowellsPartII。
XXVII。
JacksonkepthispromisetowritetoWestover，buthewasbetterthanhiswordtohismother，andwrotetohereveryweekthatwinter。
"Iseemjusttolivefromlettertoletter。It’sridic’lous，"shesaidtoCynthiaoncewhenthegirlbroughtthemailinfromthebarn，wherethemenfolkskeptittilltheyhadputawaytheirhorsesafterdrivingoverfromLovewellwithit。Thetrainsonthebranchroadweretakenoffinthewinter，andthepost—officeatthehotelwasdiscontinued。Themenhadtogotothetownbycutter，overahighwaythatthewindssiftedhalffullofsnowafterithadbeenbrokenoutbytheox—teamsinthemorning。ButMrs。DurginhadstudiedthesteamerdaysandcalculatedthetimeitwouldtakeletterstocomefromNewYorktoLovewell；and，unlessablizzardwasraging，someonehadtogoforthemailwhenthedaycame。
ItwasusuallyJombateeste，whorevertedinwintertothetypeofhabitantfromwhichhehadsprung。Heworeabluewoollencap，likealargesock，pulledoverhisearsandclosetohiseyes，andbelowithisclean—shavenbrownfaceshowed。Hehadbluewoollenmittens，andbootsofrussetleather，withoutheels，cametohisknees；hegotapaireverytimehewenthomeonSt。John’sday。Hisleanlittlebodywasswathedinseveralshortjackets，andhebroughtthelettersbuttonedintooneoftheinnermostpockets。HeproducedtheletterfromJacksonpromptlyenoughwhenCynthiacameouttothebarnforit，andthenhemadeashowofgettinghishorseoutofthecuttershafts，andshoutinginternationalreproachesatit，tillshewasforcedtoask，"Haven’tyougotsomethingforme，Jombateeste？"
"Youexpec’someletter？"hesaid，unbucklingastrapandshoutinglouder。
"YouknowwhetherIdo。Giveittome。"
"Idon’know。IthinkIdropsomethingontheroad。Isawsomethingwhite；maybesnow；gooddealofsnow。"
"Don’tplague！Giveithere！"
"WaitIfinishunhitch。Ican’tfindanylettertillIgetsometimetolook。"
"Oh，now，Jombateeste！Givememyletter！"
"W’atyouwantletterfor？Alwayssamething。Well！’Oldthe’oss；I
goin’tofeel。"
Jombateestefeltinonepocketafteranother，whileCynthiaclungtothecolt’sbridle，andhewasuncertaintillthelastwhetherhehadanyletterforher。Whenitappearedshemadeaflyingsnatchatitandran；
andthecomedywasover，toberepeatedinsomeformthenextweek。
ThegirlsomehowalwayspossessedherselfofwhatwasinherlettersbeforeshereachedtheroomwhereMrs。Durginwaswaitingforhers。ShehadtoreadthataloudtoJackson’smother，andintheeveningshehadtoreaditagaintoMrs。DurginandWhitwellandJombateesteandFrank，aftertheyhaddonetheirchores，andtheyhadgatheredintheoldfarm—
houseparlor，aroundtheair—tightsheet—ironstove，inaheatofeightydegrees。Whitwelllistened，withplanchettereadyonthetablebeforehim，andheconsulteditfortelepathicimpressionsofJackson’sactualmentalstatewhenthereadingwasover。
Hegotverylittleoutoftheperverseinstrument。"Ican’tseemtoworkher。IfJacksonwashere——"
"Weshouldn’tneedtoaskplanchetteabouthim，"Cynthiaoncesuggested，withthesparesenseofhumorthatsometimesrevealeditselfinher。
"Well，Iguessthat’ssomethingso，"herfathercandidlyadmitted。Butthenexttimeheconsultedthehelplessplanchetteashopefullyasbefore。"Youcan’ttell，youcan’ttell，"heurged。
"Thetroubleseemstobethatplanchettecan’ttell，"saidMrs。Durgin，andtheyalllaughed。Theywerenotpeoplewholaughedagreatdeal，andtheywereeachintentuponsomepointinthefuturethatkeptthemfrompleasureinthepresent。ThelittleCanuckwastheonlyonewhosufferedhimselfacontemporaneousconsolation。HisearlyfaithhadsofarlapsedfromhimthathecouldhospitablyentertainthewildpsychicalconjecturesofWhitwellwithoutanaccusingsenseofheresy，andhefoundthewinterofnorthernNewEnglandsomildafterthatofLowerCanadathatheexperiencedahighdegreeofanimalcomfortinit，andlookedforwardtonothingbetter。Tobewellfed，wellhoused，andwellheated；
tosmokesuccessivepipeswhiletheotherstalked，andtocatchthroughhissmoke—wreathsvagueglimpsesoftheirmeanings，wasenough。HefeltthatinbeingpromotedtothecareofthestablesinJackson’sabsenceheoccupiedadignifiedandresponsibleposition，withaconfidentialrelationtotheexilewhichjustifiedhiminsendingspecialmessagestohim，andattachingpeculiarvaluetoJackson’sremembrances。
Theexile’sletterssaidverylittleabouthishealth，whichinthesenseofnonewshismotherheldtobegoodnews，buttheywerefullconcerningthemonumentsandtheethnologicalinterestoflifeinEgypt。
Theywerelargelyrescriptsofeachday’sobservationsandexperiences，closeandfull，ashismotherlikedtheminregardtofact，andgenerouslyphilosophizedonthesideofpoliticsandreligionforWhitwell。TheEasternquestionbecameinthesnow—chokedhillsofNewEnglandtheengrossingconcernofthisspeculativemind，andhewasapttospringituponMrs。DurginandCynthiaatmealtimesandotherdefencelessmoments。HetriedtodebateitwithJombateeste，whoconceivedofitasaformofspiritualisticinquiry，andansweredfromthehay—loft，wherehewasthrowingdownfodderforthecattletoWhitwell，volublyreceivingitonthebarnfloorbelow，thathebelieved，him，everybodygotahastralbody，EnglishsameasMormons。
"GuessyoumeanMoslems，"saidWhitwell，andJombateesteaskedthedifference，defiantly。
TheletterswhichcametoCynthiacouldnotbemadeasmuchageneralinterest，and，infact，nooneelsecaredsomuchforthemasforJackson’sletters，notevenJeff’smother。AfterCynthiagotoneofthem，shewouldask，perfunctorily，whatJeffsaid，butwhenshewastoldtherewasnonewsshedidnotpressherquestion。
"IfJacksondon’tgetbackintimenextsummer，"Mrs。Durginsaid，inoneofthetalksshehadwiththegirl，"IguessIshallhavetoletJeffandyourunthehousealone。"
"Iguessweshallwantalittlehelpfromyou，"saidCynthia，demurely。
ShedidnotrefusetheimplicationofMrs。Durgin’swords，butshewouldnotassumethattherewasmoreinthemthantheyexpressed。
WhenJeffcamehomeforthethreedays’vacationatThanksgiving，hewishedagaintorelinquishhislastyearatHarvard，andCynthiahadtosummonallherforcestokeephimtohispromiseofstaying。Hebroughthomethebookswithwhichhewasworkingoffhisconditions，withahalf—
heartedintentionofstudy，andshetookholdwithhim，andtogethertheyfoughtforwardoverthegroundhehadtogain。Hismotherwasalmostwillingatlastthatheshouldgiveuphislastyearincollege。
"Whatistheuse？"sheasked。"He’sgiveupthelaw，andhemightaswellcommenceherefirstaslast，ifhe’sgoin’to。"
Thegirlhadnoreasontourgeagainstthis；shecouldonlyurgeherfeelingthatheoughttogobackandtakehisdegreewiththerestofhisclass。
"Ifyou’regoingtokeepLion’sHeadthewayyoupretendyouare，"shesaidtohim，asshecouldnotsaytohismother，"youwanttokeepallyourHarvardfriends，don’tyou，andhavethemrememberyou？Goback，Jeff，anddon’tyoucomehereagaintillafteryou’vegotyourdegree。
NevermindtheChristmasvacation，northeEaster。StayinCambridgeandworkoffyourconditions。Youcandoit，ifyoutry。Oh，don’tyousupposeIshouldliketohaveyouhere？"shereproachedhim。
Hewentback，withakindofgrudgeinhisheart，whichheconfessedinhisfirstletterhometoher，whenhetoldherthatshewasrightandhewaswrong。Hewassurenow，withtheimpulsewhichtheirworkonthemincommonhadgivenhim，thatheshouldgethisconditionsoff，andhewantedherandhismothertobeginpreparingtheirmindstocometohisClassDay。Heplannedhowtheycouldbothbeawayfromthehotelforthatday。Thehousewastobeopenedonthe20thofJune，butitwasnotlikelythattherewouldbesomanypeopleatoncethattheycouldnotgivethe21sttoClassDay；FrankandhisfathercouldrunLion’sHeadsomehow，or，iftheycouldnot，thentheopeningcouldbepostponedtillthe24th。Atallevents，theymustnotfailtocome。Cynthiashowedthewholelettertohismother，whorefusedtothinkofsuchathing，andthenasked，asifthefacthadnotbeenfullysetbeforeher："Whenisittobe？"