Sheremainedtoclearawaythetable，whentherestleftit，andWestoverfollowedMrs。Durginintotheparlor，wheresheindemnifiedherselfforrefrainingfromanyexplicitallusiontoJeffbeforeCynthia。"Theboy，"
　　sheexplained，whenshehadmadehimransackhismemoryforeveryscrapoffactconcerningherson，"don’thardlyeverwritetome，andIguesshedon’tgiveCynthyverymuchnews。Ipresumehe’sworkin’harderthaneverthisyear。AndI’mgladhe’sgoin’aboutalittle，fromwhatyousay。Iguesshe’sgottofeelin’alittlebetter。Itdidworrymeforhimtofeelsowhatyoumaycallmeechin’aboutfolks。Youseeanythingthatmadeyouthinkhewa’n’tappreciated？"
　　AfterWestovergotbackintohisownroom，someoneknockedathisdoor，andhefoundWhitwelloutside。Hescarcelyaskedhimtocomein，butWhitwellscarcelyneededtheinvitation。"Goteverythingyouwant？
　　ItoldCynthyI’dcomeupandseeafteryou；Frankwon’tbebackintime。"Hesatdownandputhisfeetontopofthestove，andstrucktheheelsofhisbootsonitsedge，fromthehabitofknockingthecakedsnowofftheminthatwayonstove—tops。Hedidnotwaittofindoutthattherewasnoresponsivesizzlingbeforeheasked，withalongnasalsigh，"Well，howisJeffgettin’along？"
　　HelookedacrossatWestover，whohadprovisionallyseatedhimselfonhisbed。
　　"Why，intheoldway。"Whitwellkepthiseyeonhim，andheadded：
　　"Isupposewedon’tanyofuschange；wedevelop。"
　　Whitwellsmiledwithpleasureinthelooselyphilosophicsuggestion。
　　"Youmeanthathe’sthesamekindofamanthathewasaboy？Well，I
　　guessthat’sso。Thequestionis，whatkindofaboywashe？I’vebeenmullin’overthatconsid’ablesinceCynthyandhimfixedituptogether。
　　Ofcourse，Iknowit’stheirbusiness，andallthat；butIpresumeI’vegotarighttospee’lateaboutit？"
　　HereferredthepointtoWestover，whoknewaninnerearnestnessinit，inspiteofWhitwell’shabitofoutsidejocosity。"Everyrightintheworld，Ishouldsay，Mr。Whitwell，"heanswered，seriously。
　　"Well，I’mgladyoufeelthatway，"saidWhitwell，withalittleapparentsurprise。"Idon’twanttomeddle，any；butIknowwhatCynthyis——Inoneedtobragherup——andIdon’tfeelsooverandabovecertain’tIknowwhatheis。He’sagooddealofamixture，ifyouwanttoknowhowhestrikesme。Idon’tmeanIdon’tlikehim；Ido；thefellow’sgotawaywithhimthatmakesmekindoflikehimwhenIseehim。He’sgood—
　　naturedandclever；andhe’swillin’totakeanyamountoftroubleforyou；butyoucan’ttellwheretohavehim。"WestoverdeniedtheappealforexplicitassentinWhitwell’seye，andhewenton："IfI’ddonethatfellowagoodturn，inspiteofhim，orifI’dheldhimuptosomethingthatheallowedwasright，andconsentedto，Ishouldwanttokeepasharplookoutthathedidn’tplaymesomeuglytrickforit。He’sacomicaldevil，"Whitwellended，ratherinadequately。"Howd’sitlooktoyou？Seenanythinglatelythatseemedtotallywithmyidee？"
　　"No，no；Ican’tsaythatIhave，"saidWestover，reluctantly。Hewishedtobefrankerthanhenowmeanttobe，butheconsultedascruplethathedidnotwhollyrespect；amereconventionitseemedtohim，presently。
　　Hesaid："I’vealwaysfeltthatcharminhim，too，andI’veseentheothertraits，thoughnotsoclearlyasyouseemtohavedone。Hehasapowerfulwill，yes——"
　　Hestopped，andWhitwellasked："Beenuptoanydeviltrylately？"
　　"Ican’tsayhehas。NothingthatIcancallintentional。"
　　"No，"saidWhitwell。"What’shedone，though？"
　　"Really，Mr。Whitwell，Idon’tknowthatyouhaveanyrighttoexpectmetotalkhimover，whenI’mhereashismother’sguest——hisownguest——？"
　　"No。Iha’n’t，"saidWhitwell。"Whataboutthefatherofthegirlhe’sgoin’tomarry？"
　　Westovercouldnotdenytheforceofthis。"You’dbeanxiousifIdidn’ttellyouwhatIhadinmind，Idaresay，morethanifIdid。"HetoldhimofJeff’sbehaviorwithAlanLynde，andofhistalkwithhimaboutit。"AndIthinkhewashonest。Itwassomethingthathappened，thatwasn’tmeant。"
　　Whitwelldidnotassentdirectly，somewhattoWestover’ssurprise。Heasked："FelloweverdoneanythingtoJeff？"
　　"NotthatIknowof。Idon’tknowthattheyevermetbefore。"
　　Whitwellkickedhisheelsontheedgeofthestoveagain。"Thenitmightbeenanaccident，"hesaid，dryly。
　　Westoverhadtobreakthesilencethatfollowed，andhefoundhimselfdefendingJeff，thoughsomehownotforJeff’ssake。Heurgedthatifhehadthestrongwilltheybothrecognizedinhim，hewouldnevercommittheerrorsofaweakman，whichwereusuallythebasest。
　　"Howdoyouknowthatastrong—willedmana’n’taweakone？"Whitwellastonishedhimbyasking。"A’n’twhatwecallastrongwilljustakindofabull—dogclinchthatthedoghimselfcan’tunloose？Itakeitamanthathasagoodwillisastrongman。IfJeffdonearightthingagainsthiswill，hewouldn’tresteasytillhe’dshowedthathewa’n’tobligedto，bysomemischiefworse’nwhathewaskeptoutof。Itellyou，Mr。
　　Westover，ifI’dmadethatfellowtoethemarkanyway，I’dbeafraidofhim。"WhitwelllookedatWestoverwitheyesofsignificance，ifnotofconfidence。Thenherosewithaprolonged"M——wel—l—l！We’reallborn，butwea’n’tallburied。Thisworldisaqueerplace。ButIguessJeff’llcomeoutrightintheend。"
　　Westoversaid，"I’msurehewill！"andheshookhandswarmlywiththefatherofthegirlJeffwasgoingtomarry。
　　Whitwellcameback，afterhehadgotsomepacesaway，andsaid："Ofcourse，thisisbetweenyouandme，Mr。Westover。"
　　"Ofcourse！"
　　"Idon’tmeanMis’Durgin。Ishouldn’tcarewhatshethoughtofmytalkin’himoverwithyou。Idon’tknow，"hecontinued，puttinguphishandagainstthedoor—frame，togivehimselfthecomfortofitssupportwhilehetalked，"asyouunderstoodwhatshemeanbytheyoungladiesatBostonkeepin’upwiththefellowsincollege。Well，that’swhatCynthy’sdoin’withJeff，rightalong；andifheeverworksoffthemconditionsofhis，andgitshisdegree，it’llbebecauseshehelpedhimto。Itellyou，there’smorethanonekindoftelepathyinthisworld，Mr。Westover。That’sall。"
　　XXXIX
　　WestoverunderstoodfromWhitwell’safterthoughtthatitwasCynthiahewasanxioustokeepignorantofhismisgivings，iftheyweresomuchasmisgivings。Buttheimportanceofthisfactcouldnotstayhimagainstthetideofsleepwhichwasbearinghimdown。Whenhisheadtouchedthepillowitsweptoverhim，andherosefromitinthemorningwithagayetyofheartwhichheknewtobereturninghealth。Hejumpedoutofbed，andstuffedsomeshavingsintohisstovefromthewood—boxbesideit，andlaidsomelogsonthem；heslidthedamperopen，andthenlaydownagain，listeningtothefirethatshoweditsredteeththroughtheslatsandroaredandlaughedtothedaywhichsparkledonthewhiteworldwithout。Whenhegotoutofbedasecondtime，hefoundtheroomsohotthathehadtopulldownhiswindow—sash，andhedressedinatemperatureoftwentydegreesbelowzerowithoutknowingthatthedryairwasmorethanfresh。Mrs。Durgincalledtohimthroughtheopendoorofherparlor，asheenteredthedining—room："Cynthywillgiveyouyourbreakfast，Mr。Westover。We’realldonelongago，andI’mbusyinhere，"
　　andthegirlappearedwiththecoffee—potandthedishesshehadbeenkeepinghotforhimatthekitchenstove。Sheseemedtobegoingtoleavehimwhenshehadputthemdownbeforehim，butshefaltered，andthensheasked："DoyouwantIshouldpouryourcoffeeforyou？"
　　"Ohyes！Do！"hebegged，andshesatdownacrossthetablefromhim。
　　"I’mashamedtomakethistroubleforyou，"headded。"Ididn’tknowitwassolate。"
　　"Oh，wehavethewholedayforourwork，"sheanswered，tolerantly。
　　Helaughed，andsaid："Howstrangethatseems！IsupposeIshallgetusedtoit。Butintownweseemnevertohaveawholedayforaday’swork；wealwayshavetodopartofitatnight，orthenextmorning。Doyoueverhaveadayherethat’stoolargeasizeforitswork？"
　　"Youcannearlyalwaysfindsomethingtodoaboutahouse，"shereturned，evasively。"Butthetimedoesn’tgothewayitdoesinthesummer。"
　　"Oh，Iknowhowthecountryisinthewinter，"hesaid。"Iwasbroughtupinthecountry。"
　　"Ididn’tknowthat，"shesaid，andshegavehimastareofsurprisebeforehereyesfell。
　　"Yes。OutinWisconsin。Mypeoplewereemigrants，andIlivedinthewoods，there，tillIbegantopaintmywayout。Ibeganprettyearly，butIwasinthewoodstillIwassixteen。"
　　"Ididn’tknowthat，"sherepeated。"Ialwaysthoughtthatyouwere——"
　　"Summerfolks，liketherest？No，I’mall—the—year—roundfolksoriginally。ButIhaven’tbeeninthecountryinthewintersinceIwasaboy；andit’sallbeencomingbacktome，here，likesomeoneelse’sexperience。"
　　Shedidnotsayanything，buttheinterestinhereyes，whichshecouldnotkeepfromhisfacenow，promptedhimtogoon。
　　"YoucanmakeabeginningintheWesteasierthanyoucanintheEast，andsomepeoplewhocametoourlumbercampdiscoveredme，andgavemeachancetobegin。IwenttoMilwaukeefirst，andtheymademethinkIwassomebody。ThenIcameontoNewYork，andtheymademethinkIwasnobody。IhadtogotoEuropetofindoutwhichIwas；butafterIhadbeentherelongenoughIdidn’tcaretoknow。WhatIwastryingtodowastheimportantthingtome；notthefellowwhowastryingtodoit。"
　　"Yes，"shesaid，withintelligence。
　　"ImetsomeBostonpeopleinItaly，andIthoughtIshouldliketolivewherethatkindofpeoplelived。That’sthewayIcametobeinBoston。
　　Itallseemsverysimplenow，butIusedtothinkitmightlookromanticfromtheoutside。I’vehadahappylife；andI’mgladitbeganinthecountry。Ishouldn’tcareifitendedthere。Idon’tknowwhyI’vebotheredyouwithmyautobiography，though。PerhapsbecauseIthoughtyouknewitalready。"
　　Shelookedasifshewouldhavesaidsomethingfittingifshecouldhaveruledherselftoit；butshesaidnothingatall。Herfailureseemedtoabashher，andshecouldonlyaskhimifhewouldnothavesomemorecoffee，andthenexcuseherself，andleavehimtofinishhisbreakfastalone。
　　Thatdayhetriedforhispicturefromseveralpointsout—of—doorsbeforehefoundthathisownwindowgavehimthebest。Withthewindowopen，andthestovewarmathisback，heworkedthereingreatcomfortnearlyeveryafternoon。Thesnowskeptoff，andtheclearsunsetsburnedbehindthesummitdayafterday。Hepaintedfranklyandfaithfully，andmadeapicturewhich，hesaidtohimself，noonewouldbelievein，withthatwarmcolortenderuponthefrozenhills。Thesoftsuffusionofthewinterscenewasimprobabletohimwhenhehaditin，naturebeforehiseyes；whenhelookedatitashegotitonhiscanvasitwassimplyimpossible。
　　Intheforenoonshehadnothingtodo，forheworkedathispictureonlywhentheconditionsrenewedthemselveswiththesinkingsun。Hetriedtobeintheopenair，andgetthegoodofit；buthisstrengthforwalkinghadfailedhim，andhekeptmostlytothepathsbrokenaroundthehouse。
　　HewentagooddealtothebarnwithWhitwellandJombateestetolookafterthecattleandthehorses，whosesubduedstampingandchampinggavehimasortofanimalpleasure。Theblendedodorsofthehay—mowsandofthecreatures’breathscametohimwiththefaintwarmthwhichtheirbodiesdiffusedthroughthecoldobscurity。
　　Whenthewidedoorswererolledback，andthefulldaywasletin，helikedtheappealoftheirstartledeyes，andthecallstheymadetooneanotherfromtheirstalls，whilethemenspokebacktothemintermswhichtheyseemedtohaveincommonwiththem，andwiththepoultrythatflewdownfromthebarnloftstothebarnfloorandoutintothebrilliantday，withloudclamorandaffectedalarm。
　　Inthesesimpleexperienceshecouldnotimaginethesummerlifeoftheplace。Itwasnowheremoreextinctthaninthehollowverandas，wheretherocking—chairsswunginJulyandAugust，andwhereWestover’sstepsinhislongtrampsupanddownwokenoechooftheabsentfeet。In—doorshekepttothefewstove—heatedroomswherehedweltwiththefamily，andsentonlynowandthenavagueconjectureintothehotelbuiltroundtheoldfarm—house。Hemeant，beforeheleft，toaskMrs。Durgintolethimgothroughthehotel，butheputitofffromdaytoday，withaphysicalshrinkingfromitscoldandsolitude。
　　Thedayswentbyintheswiftnessofmonotony。Hisexcursionstothebarn，hiswalksontheverandas，hisworkonhispicture，filledupthefewhoursofthelight，andwhenthedarkcamehecontentedlyjoinedthelittlegroupinMrs。Durgin’sparlor。Hehadbroughttwoorthreebookswithhim，andsometimeshereadfromoneofthem；orhetalkedwithWhitwellonsomeofthequestionsoflifeanddeaththatengagedhisspeculativemind。Jombateestepreferredthekitchenforthenapshetookaftersupperbeforehisearlybedtime。FrankWhitwellsatwithhisbooksthere，whereWestoversometimessawhissisterhelpinghimathisstudies。Hewasloyallyfaithfulandobedienttoherinallthings。Hehelpedherwiththedishes，andwasnotashamedtobeseenatthiswork；
　　shehadchargeofhisgoingsandcomingsinsociety；hesubmittedtohertasteinhisdress，andacceptedhercounselonmanypointswhichhereferredtoher，anddiscussedwithherinlow—spokenconferences。Heseemedaformal，seriousboy，shylikehissister；hisfatherletfallsomehintsofareligiouscastofmindinhim。Hehadanambitionbeyondthehotel；hewishedtostudyfortheministry；anditwasnotalonethechanceofgoinghomewiththegirlsthatmadehimconstantattheeveningmeetings。"Idon’tknowwherehegitsit，"saidhisfather，withashakeoftheheadthatsuggesteddoubtofthewisdomoftheson’spreferenceoftheologytoplanchette。
　　Cynthiahadthesamecareofherfatherasofherbrother；shekepthimneat，andheldhimupfromlapsingintotheslovenlinesstowhichhewouldhavetendedifshehadnot，asWestoversuspected，madeconstantappealstohimfortherespectduetheirguest。Mrs。Durgin，forherpart，lefteverythingtoCynthia，withacontentedacceptanceofherfutureruleandanabidingtrustinhersenseandstrength，whichincludedthedetailsofthelightworkthatemployedherratherluxuriousleisure。JombateestehimselfcametoCynthiawithhismending，andherneedlekepthimtightandfirmagainstthewinterwhichitamusedWestovertorealizewastheCanuck’snativeelement，insomuchthattherewasnowsomethingincongruousinthenotionofJombateesteandanyotherseason。
　　Thegirl’smotherlycareofallthehouseholddidnotleaveWestoverout。
　　Buttonsappearedongarmentslongusedtoshiftycontrivancesforgettingonwithoutthem；buttonholeswererestoredtotheirproperlimits；hisovercoatpocketsweresearchedforgloves，andtheglovesputbackwiththeirfinger—tipsdrawncloseasthepetalsofaflowerwhichhaddecidedtoshutandbeabudagain。
　　Hewonderedhowhecouldthankherforhisshareoftheblessingthatherpassionformotherlycarewastoallthehouse。Itwaspathetic，andheusedsometimestoforecastherself—devotionwithatenderindignation，whichincludedaduesenseofhisownpresentdemerit。Hewasnotreconciledtothesacrificebecauseitseemedthehappiness，oratleastthewill，ofthenaturewhichmadeit。Allthesameitseemedawaste，initsrelationtothemanshewastomarry。
　　Mrs。DurginandCynthiasatbythelampandsewedatnight，orlistenedtothetalkofthemen。IfWestoverreadaloud，theywhisperedtogetherfromtimetotimeaboutsomemattersremotefromit，aswomenalwaysdowherethereisreading。Itwasquiet，butitwasnotdullforWestover，whofoundhimselfinnohurrytogetbacktotown。
　　Sometimeshethoughtofthetownwithrepulsion；itsunrest，itsvacuous，troubledlifehauntedhimlikeamemoryofsickness；buthesupposedthatwhenheshouldbequitewellagainallthatwouldchange，andbeasitwasbefore。Heinterestedhimself，withthesortofshrewdignoranceofitthatCynthiashowedinthequestionssheaskedaboutitnowandthenwhentheychancedtobeleftalonetogether。HefanciedthatshewastryingtoformsomeintelligibleimageofJeff’senvironmentthere，andwaspiecingtogetherfromhistalkofittheimpressionsshehadgotfromsummerfolks。Hedidhisbesttohelpher，andtoconstructforheraveritablelikenessoftheworldasfarasheknewit。
　　AtimecamewhenhespokefranklyofJeffinsomethingtheyweresaying，andsheshowednosuchshrinkingashehadexpectedshewould；hereflectedthatshemighthavemadestricterconditionswithMrs。Durginthansheexpectedtokeepherselfinmentioninghim。Thismightwellhavebeennecessarywiththemother’sprideinherson，whichknewnostopwhenitoncebegantoindulgeitself。WhatstruckWestovermorethanthegirl’sself—possessionwhentheytalkedofJeffwasacertainausterityinherwithregardtohim。Sheseemedtoholdherselftenseagainstanypraiseofhim，asifsheshouldfailhimsomehowifsherelaxedatallinhisfavor。
　　This，atleast，wastherathermystifyingimpressionwhichWestovergotfromherevidentwishtocriticiseandunderstandexactlyallthathereported，ratherthantoflatterherselffromit。Whateverhermotivewas，hewasawarethatthroughitallshepermittedherselfacloserandfullertrustofhimself。Attimesitwasalmosttooimplicit；hewouldhavelikedtodeserveitbetterbylayingopenallthathadbeeninhisheartagainstJeff。Butheforbore，ofcourse，andhetookrefuge，aswellashecould，intherespectbywhichsheheldherselfatareverentdistancefromhimwhenhecouldnotwhollyrespecthimself。
　　XL。
　　OnemorningWestovergotleavefromMrs。DurgintohelpCynthiaopenthedimroomsandcoldcorridorsatthehoteltothesunandair。Shepromisedhimheshouldtakehisdeath，buthesaidhewouldwrapupwarm，andwhenhecametojointhegirlinhisovercoatandfurcap，hefoundCynthiaequippedwithawoollencloudtiedaroundherhead，andalittleshawlpinnedacrossherbreast。
　　"Isthatall？"hereproachedher。"Ioughttohaveputonasinglewreathofartificialflowersandsomesortofablazerforthisexpedition。Don’tyouthinkso，Mrs。Durgin？"
　　"Ibelievewomencanstandabouttwiceasmuchcoldasyoucan，thebestofyou，"sheanswered，grimly。
　　"ThenImusttrytokeepmyselfaswarmasIcanwithwork，"hesaid。
　　"Youmustletmedoalltheroughworkofairingout，won’tyou，Cynthia？"
　　"Thereisn’tanyroughworkaboutit，"sheanswered，inasortofmotherlytolerationofhismood，withoutlosinganythingofherfilialreverence。
　　Shetookcareofhim，heperceived，asshetookcareofherbrotherandherfather，butwithadelicaterespectforhissuperiority，whichwasnolongershyness。
　　Theybeganwiththeofficeandtheparlor，wheretheyflungupthewindows，andopenedthedoors，andthentheyopenedthedining—room，wherethetablesstoodinlongrows，withthechairspiledonthemlegsupward。Cynthiawentaboutwithmanysighsforthedustoneverything，thoughtoWestover’seyesitallseemedfrigidlyclean。"Ifitgoesonasithasforthepasttwoyears，"shesaid，"weshallhavetoaddonanewdining—room。Idon’tknowasIliketohaveitgetsolarge！"
　　"Ineverwantedittogobeyondtheoriginalfarmhouse，"saidWestover。
　　"I’vebeenjealousofeveryboarderbutthefirst。Ishouldhavelikedtokeepitformyself，andlettheworldknowLion’sHeadfrommypictures。"
　　"IguessMrs。Durginthinksitwasyourpicturethatbegantosendpeoplehere。"
　　"Anddoyoublameme，too？WhatifthethingI’mdoingnowshouldmakeitawinterresort？Nothingcouldsaveyou，then，butafire。Ibelievethat’sJeff’sambition。Onlyhewouldwanttoputanotherhotelinplaceofthis；somethingthatwouldbemorepopular。ThentheruinIbeganwouldbecomplete，andIshouldn’tcomeanymore；Icouldn’tbearthesight。"
　　"IguessMrs。Durginwouldn’tthinkitwaslion’sHeadifyoustoppedcoming，"saidCynthia。
　　"Butyouwouldknowbetterthanthat，"saidWestover；andthenhewassorryhehadsaidit，foritseemedtoasksomethingofdifferentqualityfromherhonestwishtomakehimknowtheirregardforhim。
　　Shedidnotanswer，butwentdownalongcorridortowhichtheyhadmounted，toraisethewindowattheend，whileheraisedanotherattheoppositeextremity。Whentheymetatthestairwayagaintoclimbtothestoryabove，hesaid："IamalwaysashamedwhenItrytomakeapersonofsensesayanythingsilly，"andsheflushed，stillwithoutanswering，asifsheunderstoodhim，andhismeaningpleasedher。"Butfortunatelyapersonofsenseisusuallyequaltothetemptation。Oneoughttobeseriouswhenhetriesitwithapersonoftheothersort；butIdon’tknowthatoneis！"
　　"Doyoufeelanydraughtbetweenthesewindows？"askedCynthia，abruptly。
　　"Idon’twantyoushouldtakecold。"
　　"Oh，I’mallright，"saidWestover。
　　Shewentintotheroomsononesideofthecorridor，andputuptheirwindows，andflungtheblindsback。Hedidthesameontheotherside。
　　Hegotapeculiareffectofdesolationfromthemattressespulleddownoverthefootofthebedsteads，andthedismantledinteriorsreflectedinthemirrorsofthedressing—cases；andhewasgoingtospeakofitwhenherejoinedCynthiaatthestairwayleadingtothethirdstory，whenshesaid，"ThosewereMrs。Vostrand’sroomsIcameoutofthelast。"Shenoddedherheadoverhershouldertowardthefloortheywereleaving。
　　"Weretheyindeed！Anddoyourememberpeople’sroomssolong？"
　　"Yes；Ialwaysthinkofroomsbythenameofpeoplethathavethem，ifthey’reanywaypeculiar。"
　　Hethoughtthisbitofuncandorcharming，andaccepteditasifitwerethewholetruth。"AndMrs。Vostrandwascertainlypeculiar。Tellme，Cynthia，whatdidyouthinkofher？"
　　"Shewasonlyherealittlewhile。"
　　"Butyouwouldn’thavecometothinkofherroomsbyhernameifshehadn’tmadeastrongimpressiononyou！"Shedidnotanswer，andhesaid，"Iseeyoudidn’tlikeher！"
　　Thegirlwouldnotspeak，andMr。Westoverwenton："Sheusedtobeverygoodtome，andIthinksheusedtobebettertoherselfthansheisnow。"HeknewthatJeffmusthavetoldCynthiaofhisaffairwithGenevieveVostrand，andhekepthimselffromspeakingofherbyaresolutionhethoughtcreditable，ashemountedthestairstotheupperstoryinthesilencetowhichCynthialefthislastremark。Atthetopshemadealittlepauseintheobscurerlightoftheclose—shutteredcorridor，whileshesaid："Ilikedherdaughterthebest。"
　　"Yes？"hereturned。"I——neverfeltverywellacquaintedwithher，I
　　believe。Onecouldn’tgetfarwithher。Though，forthematterofthat，onedidn’tgetfarwithMrs。Vostrandherself。DidyouthinkGenevievewasmuchinfluencedbyhermother？"
　　"Shedidn’tseemastrongcharacter。"
　　"No，thatwasit。Shewaswhathermotherwishedhertobe。I’veoftenwonderedhowmuchshewasinterestedinthemarriageshemade。"
　　Cynthialetarusticsilenceensue，andWestovershrankagainfromtheinquisitionhelongedtomake。
　　ItwasnotGenevieveVostrand’smarriagewhichreallyconcernedhim，butCynthia’sengagement，anditwashermindthathewouldhavelikedtolookinto。Itmightwellbesupposedthatsheregardeditinaperfectmatter—of—factway，andwithnoambitionbeyondit。Shewasacountrygirl，acquaintedfromchildhoodwithfactsoflifewhichtown—bredgirlswouldnothaveknownwithoutabluntingofthesensibilities，andwhyshouldshebedifferentfromothercountrygirls？Shemightbeasgoodandasfineashesawher，andyetbeinsensibletothespiritualtoughnessofJeff，becauseofherloveforhim。Herverygoodnessmightmakehisbadnessunimaginabletoher，andifherrefinementwerefromtheconsciencemerely，andnotfromthetastesandexperiences，too，therewasnotsomuchtodreadforherinhermarriagewithsuchaman。Still，hewouldhaveliked，ifhecould，totellherwhathehadtoldherfatherofDurgin’sbehaviorwithLynde，andletherbringthetestofherself—
　　devotiontothecasewithaclearunderstanding。HehadsometimesbeenafraidthatWhitwellmightnotbeabletokeepittohimself；butnowhewishedthatthephilosopherhadnotbeensodiscreet。Hehadallthissoabsorbinglyinmindthathestartedpresentlywiththefearthatshehadsaidsomethingandhehadnotanswered，butwhenheaskedherhefoundthatshehadnotspoken。TheywerestandingatanopenwindowlookingoutuponLion’sHead，whenhesaid："Idon’tknowhowIshallshowmygratitudetoMrs。Durginandyouforthinkingofhavingmeuphere。
　　I’vedoneapictureofLion’sHeadthatmightbeeversomuchworse；
　　butIshouldn’thavedreamedofgettingatitifithadn’tbeenforyou，thoughI’vesooftendreamedofdoingit。NowIshallgohomericherineverysortofway—thankstoyou。"
　　Sheanswered，simply："Youneedn’tthankanybody；butitwasJeffwhothoughtofit；wewerereadyenoughtoaskyou。"
　　"Thatwasverygoodofhim，"saidWestover，whomherwordsconfirmedinasuspicionhehadhadallalong。ButwhatdiditmatterthatJeffhadsuggestedtheiraskinghim，andthenattributedthenotiontothem？ItwasnotsomalignforhimtousethatmeansofingratiatinghimselfwithWestover，andofmakinghimforgethisbehaviorwithLynde，anditwasnotunnatural。Itwasverycharacteristic；attheworstitmerelyprovedthatJeffwasmoreashamedofwhathehaddonethanhewouldallow，andthatwastohiscredit。
　　HeheardCynthiaasking："Mr。Westover，haveyoueverbeenatClassDay？
　　Hewantsustocome。"
　　"ClassDay？Oh，ClassDay！"Hetookalittletimetogatherhimselftogether。"Yes，I’vebeenatagoodmany。Ifyoucaretoseesomethingpretty，it’stheprettiestthingintheworld。Thestudents’sistersandmotherscomefromeverywhere；andthere’sfashionandfeastingandflirting，fromteninthemorningtilltenatnight。I’mnotsurethere’ssomuchhappiness；butIcan’ttell。Theyoungpeopleknowaboutthat。Ifancythere’sagooddealofdefeatanddisappointmentinitall。Butifyoulikebeautifuldresses，andmusicanddancing，andagreatflutterofgayety，youcangetmoreofitatClassDaythanyoucaninanyotherway。Thegoodtimedependsagreatdealupontheacquaintanceastudenthas，andwhetherheispopularincollege。"
　　Westoverfoundthisroadalittleimpassable，andhefaltered。
　　Cynthiadidnotapparentlynoticehishesitation。"DoyouthinkMrs。
　　Durginwouldlikeit？"
　　"Mrs。Durgin？"Westoverfoundthathehadbeenleavingheroutoftheaccount，andhadbeenthinkingonlyofCynthia’spleasureorpain。
　　"Well，Idon’tsuppose——itwouldberatherfatiguing——DidJeffwanthertocometoo？"