"Yes，atonce。You’dbettercablehim。Haveyougothisaddress？"
　　Whitwellhadit，andhetastedallthedramaticqualityofsendingwordtoJeff，whichhewouldreceiveinFlorenceanhourafteritleftBoston。
　　"IdidhopeIcouldha’cabledoncetoJacksonwhilehewasgone，"hesaid，regretfully，"but，unlesswecanfixupawirewiththeotherworld，IguessIshan’teverdoitnow。IsupposeJackson’sstillhangin’roundMars，some’res。"
　　HehadasectarianprideinthebeautyoftheSpiritualTemplewhichWestoverwalkedhimbyonhiswaytoseeTrinityChurchandtheFineArtsMuseum，andhesorrowedthathecouldnotattendaservice’there。ButhewasconsoledbythelunchwhichhehadwithWestoveratarestaurantwhereitwasservedincourses。"IpresumethisiswhatJeff’sgoin’togive’ematLion’sHeadwhenhegitsitgoin’again。"
　　"Howisithe’sinFlorence？"itoccurredtoWestovertoask。"IthoughthewasgoingtoNiceforthewinter。"
　　"Idon’tknow。That’stheaddresshegiveinhislastletter，"saidWhitwell。"I’llbegladwhenI’vedonewithhimforgoodandall。
　　He’sallkindsofadevil。"
　　ItwasinWestover’smindtosaythathewishedtheWhitwellshadneverhadanythingtodowithDurginafterhismother’sdeath。Hehadfeltitawantofdelicacyinthemthattheyhadbeenwillingtostayoninhisemploy，andhisidealofCynthiahadsufferedakindofwoundfromwhatmusthavebeenherdecisioninthematter。Hewouldhaveexpectedsomethingaltogetherdifferentfromherpride，herself—respect。Buthenowmerelysaid："Yes，Ishallbeglad，too。I’mafraidhe’sabadfellow。"
　　HiswordsseemedtoappealtoWhitwell’simpartiality。"Well，Id’knowasIshouldsaybad，exactly。He’samixture。"
　　"He’sabadmixture，"saidWestover。
　　"Well，Iguessyou’repartlyrightthere，"Whitwelladmitted，withalaugh。Afteradreamymomentheasked："EverhearanythingmoreaboutthatgirlhereinBoston？"
　　WestoverknewthathemeantBessieLynde。"She’sabroadsomewhere，withheraunt。"
　　Whitwellhadnottakenanywine；apparentlyhewasafraidofforminginstantlythehabitofdrinkifhetouchedit；buthetoleratedWestover’spintofZinfandel，andheseemedtowarmsympatheticallytoagreaterconfidenceasthepaintermadeawaywithit。"There’sonethingInevertoldCynthyyet；well，Jombateestedidn’ttellmehimselftillafterJeffwasgone；andthen，thinksI，what’stheuse？ButIguessyouhadbetterknow。"
　　Heleanedforwardacrossthetable，andgaveJombateeste’sstoryoftheencounterbetweenJeffandAlanLyndeintheclearing。"NowwhatdoyousupposewasthereasonJeffletuponthefeller？Ofcourse，hemeanttochokethelifeoutofhim，andhisjustketchin’sightofJombateeste——doyoubelievethatwasenoughtostophim，whenhe’dstartedinforathinglikethat？Orwhatwasitdoneit？"
　　Westoverlistenedwithlessthoughtofthefactitselfthanofanotherfactthatitthrewlightupon。ItwascleartohimnowthattheClass—
　　DayscrappingwhichhadleftitsmarksuponJeff’sfacewaswithLynde，andthatwhenJeffgothiminhispowerhewasinsuchafuryforrevengethatnomeremotiveofprudencecouldhavearrestedhim。Inbothevents，itmusthavebeenBessieLyndethatwasthemovingcause；butwhatwasitthatstayedJeffinhisvengeance？
　　"Lethimup，andlethimwalkaway，yousay？"hedemandedofWhitwell。
　　Whitwellnodded。"That’swhatJombateestesaid。SaidJeffsaidifheletthefellerlookbackhe’dshoothim。Buthedidn’thafto。"
　　"Ican’tmakeitout，"Westoversighed。
　　"It’sbeentoomuchforme，"Whitwellsaid。"ItoldJombateestehe’dbetterkeepittohimself，andIguesshedoneso。S’poseJeffstillhadasneakin’fondnessforthegirl？"
　　"Idon’tknow；perhaps，"Westoverasserted。
　　Whitwellthrewhisheadbackinasuddenlaughthatshowedalltheworkofhisdentist。"Well，wouldn’titbeajokeifhewasthereinFlorenceafterher？BejustlikeJeff。"
　　"ItwouldbelikeJeff；Idon’tknowwhetheritwouldbeajokeornot。
　　Ihopehewon’tfinditajoke，ifit’sso，"saidWestover，gloomily。
　　Afantasticapprehensionseizedhim，whichmadehimwishforthemomentthatitmightbeso，andwhichthenpassed，leavinghimsimplysorryforanychancethatmightbringBessieLyndeintothefellow’swayagain。
　　FortheeveningWhitwell’spreferencewouldhavebeenalectureofsomesort，buttherewasnoneadvertised，andheconsentedtogowithWestovertothetheatre。Hecamebacktothepainteratdinner—time，afterawaryexplorationofthecity，whichhadresultednotonlyinapersonalacquaintancewithitsmonuments，butanimmunityfromitsdangersandtemptationswhichhepridedhimselfhardlylessupon。HehadseenFaneuilHall，theoldStateHouse，BunkerHill，thePublicLibrary，andtheOldSouthChurch，andhehadnotbeensandbaggedorbuncoedorledastrayfromthepathsofpropriety。Inthecomfortablesenseofescape，hewasdisposed，tomoralizeuponthecivilizationofgreatcities，whichhenowwitnessedatfirsthandforthefirsttime；andthroughouttheevening，betweentheactsofthe"OldHomestead，"whichhefoundaplayofsomemerit，butofnotsomuchnoveltyinitscharactersashehadsomehowledhimselftoexpect，herecurredtothedifficultiesanddangersthatmustbesetayoungmanincomingtoaplacelikeBoston。
　　WestoverfoundhimlessamusingthanhehadonhisowngroundatLion’sHead，andtastedaqualityofcommonplaceinhisdeliveranceswhichmadehimquestionwhetherhehadnot，perhaps，alwaysowedmoretothisenvironmentthanhehadsuspected。Buttheypartedupontermsofmutualrespectandinthecommonhopeofmeetingagain。WhitwellpromisedtoletWestoverknowwhatheheardofJeff，but，whenthepainterhadwalkedthephilosopherhometohishotel，hefoundamessageawaitinghimathisstudiofromJeffdirect：
　　Whitwell’sdespatchreceived。Waitletter。
　　"DURGIN。"
　　Westoverragedattheintelligentthriftofthistelegram，andattheimplicationthathenotonlyknewallaboutthebusinessofWhitwell’sdespatch，butthathewasincommunicationwithhim，andwouldbesufficientlyinterestedtoconveyJeff’smessagetohim。Ofcourse，DurginhadatoncedivinedthatWhitwellmusthavecometohimforadvice，andthathewouldhearfromhim，whetherhewasstillinBostonornot。BycablingtoWestover，JeffsavedthecostofanelaborateaddresstoWhitwellatLion’sHead，andhadbroughtthepainterinforfurtherconsultationandassistanceinhisaffairs。Whatvexedhimstillmorewashisownconsciousnessthathecouldnotdefeatthisimpudentexpectation。Hehad，indeed，somedifficultywithhimselftokeepfromgoingtoWhitwell’shotelwiththedespatchatonce，andhesleptbadly，inhisfearthathemightnotgetittohiminthemorningbeforehelefttown。
　　ThesumofJeff’sletterwhenitcame，anditcametoWestoverandnottoWhitwell，wastorequestthepaintertoseealawyerinhisbehalf，andputhisinsurancepoliciesinhishands，withfullauthoritytoguardhisinterestsinthematter。HetoldWestoverwherehispolicieswouldbefound，andenclosedthekeyofhisboxintheSafetyVaults，withaduedemandforWestover’sadmissiontoit。Heregisteredhisletter，andhejocoselypromisedWestovertodoasmuchforhimsomeday，inpleadingthattherewasreallynooneelsehecouldturnto。Heputthewholebusinessuponhim，andWestoverdischargedhimselfofitasbrieflyashecouldbydeliveringthepaperstothelawyerhehadalreadyconsultedforWhitwell。
　　"Isthisanothercharitypatient？"askedhisfriend，withagrin。
　　"No，"repliedWestover。"Youcanchargethisfellowalongthewholeline。"
　　Beforehepartedwiththelawyerhehadhismisgivings，andhesaid：
　　"Ishouldn’twanttheblackguardtothinkIhadgotafriendafatjoboutofhim。"
　　Thelawyerlaughedintelligently。"Ishallonlymaketheusualcharge。
　　Thenheisablackguard。"
　　"Thereoughttobeamoreblisteringword。"
　　"Onethatwouldimplythathewascapableofsettingfiretohisproperty？"
　　"Idon’tsaythat。ButI’mgladhewasawaywhenittookfire，"saidWestover。
　　"Yougivehimthebenefitofthedoubt。"
　　"Yes，ofeverykindofdoubt。"
　　LII。
　　WestoveroncemorepromisedhimselftohavenothingtodowithJeffDurginorhisaffairs。Buthedidnotpromisethissoconfidentlyasuponformeroccasions，andheinstinctivelywaitedforanewcomplication。HecouldnotunderstandwhyJeffshouldnothavecomehometolookafterhisinsurance，unlessitwasbecausehehadbecomeinterestedinsomewomanevenbeyondhisconcernforhisownadvantage。
　　Hebelievedhimcapableofthrowingawayadvantagesfordisadvantagesinathingofthatkind，buthethoughtitmoreprobablethathehadfalleninlovewithonewhomhewouldlosenothingbywinning。ItdidnotseematallimpossiblethatheshouldhaveagainmetBessieLynde，andthattheyshouldhavemadeuptheirquarrel，orwhateveritwas。JeffwouldconsiderthathehaddonehiswholedutybyCynthia，andthathewasfreetorenewhissuitwithBessie；andtherewasnothinginBessie’scharacter，asWestoverunderstoodit，topreventhertakinghimbackuponaverysmallshowofrepentanceiftheneededemotionswereinprospect。
　　HehaddecidedprettyfinallythatitwouldbeBessieratherthananotherwhenhereceivedaletterfromMrs。Vostrand。ItwasdatedatFlorence，andaftersomeprettypalaverabouttheiroldfriendship，whichsheonlyhopedherememberedhalfasfondlyasshedid，theletterran：
　　"Iamturningtoyounowinaverystrangedifficulty，butIdonotknowthatIshouldturntoyouevennow，andknowingallIdoofyourgoodness，ifIwerenotaskedtodosobyanother。
　　"IbelievewehavenotheardfromeachothersincethefirstdaysofmypoorGenevieve’smarriage，wheneverythinglookedsobrightandfair，andwelittlerealizedthecloudsthatweretoovercastherhappiness。Itisalongstory，andIwillnotgointoitfully。
　　ThetruthisthatpoorGigididnottreatherverykindly，andthatshehasnotlivedwithhimsincethebirthoftheirlittlegirl，nownearlytwoyearsold，andthesweetestlittlecreatureintheworld；
　　Iwishyoucouldseeher；Iamsureitwouldinspireyourpencilwiththeideaofanangel—child。AtfirstIhopedthattheseparationwouldbeonlytemporary，andthatwhenGenevievehadregainedherstrengthshewouldbewillingtogobacktoherhusband；butnothingwouldinducehertodoso。Infact，poorGigihadspentallhermoney，andtheywouldhavehadnothingtoliveuponbuthispay，andyouknowthatthepayoftheItalianofficersisverysmall。
　　"Gigimadeseveralattemptstoseeher，andhethreatenedtotakethechildfromher，buthewasalwayswillingtocompromiseformoney。Iamafraidthatheneverreallylovedherandthatwewerebothdeceivedbyhisferventprotestations。WemanagedtogetawayfromFlorencewithouthisknowingit，andwehavespentthelasttwoyearsinLausanne，veryhappily，thoughveryquietly。OurdearCheccoisintheuniversitythere，hisfatherhavinggivenuptheplanofsendinghimtoHarvard，andwehadhimwithus，whileweweretakingmeasurestosecurethedivorce。EveninthesimplewaywelivedGenevieveattractedagreatdealofattention，asshealwayshasdone，andshewouldhavehadseveraleligibleoffersifshehadbeendivorced，orifheraffectionshadnotalreadybeenengaged，asIdidnotknowatthetime。
　　"Wewereinthisstateofuncertaintyuptothemiddleoflastsummer，whenthenewsofpoorGigi’ssuddendeathcame。Iamsorrytosaythathishabitsinsomerespectswerenotgood，andthatprobablyhasteneditsome；ithadobligedhimtoleavethearmy。
　　Genevievedidnotfeelthatshecouldconsistentlyputonblackforhim，andIdidnoturgeher，underthepeculiarcircumstances；
　　thereissomuchmereformalityinthosekindofthingsatthebest；
　　butweimmediatelyreturnedtoFlorencetotryandseeifwecouldnotgetbacksomeofhereffectswhichhisfamilyhadseized。Iamopposedtolawsuitsiftheycanpossiblybeavoided，andwearrangedwithpoorGigi’sfamilybyagreeingtoletthemhaveGenevieve’sfurnitureiftheywouldpromisenevertomolestherwiththechild，andImustsaytheyhavebehavedverywell。Weareonthebestoftermswiththem，andtheyhaveletushavesomeofthethingsbackwhichwereendearedtoherbyoldassociations，ataveryreasonablerate。
　　"Thisbringsmetotheromanticpartofmyletter，andIwillsayatoncethatwefoundyourfriendMr。DurgininFlorence，intheveryhotelwewentto。Weallmetinthedining—room，atthetabled’hoteoneevening，andGenevieveandhetooktoeachotheratonce。
　　Hespenttheeveningwithusinourprivatedrawing—room，andshesaidtome，afterhewent，thatforthefirsttimeinyearsshefeltrested。Itseemsthatshehadalwayssecretlyfanciedhim，andthatshegaveuptomeinthematterofmarryingpoorGigi，becausesheknewIhadmyheartsetuponit，andshewasnotverycertainofherownfeelingswhenMr。D。offeredhimselfinBoston；buttheconvictionthatshehadmadeamistakegrewupon，hermoreandmoreaftershehadmarriedGigi。
　　"Well，now，Mr。Westover，IsupposeyouhaveguessedbythistimethatMr。Durginhasrenewedhisoffer，andGenevievehasconditionallyacceptedhim；wedonotfeelthatsheislikeanordinarywidow，andthatshehastofillupacertainseasonofmourning；sheandGigihavebeendeadtoeachotherforyears；andMr。DurginisasfondofourdearlittleBiceasherownfathercouldbe，andtheyaretogetherallthetime。HernameisBeatricede’PopolaniGrassi。Isn’titlovely？ShehaspoorGigi’sblackeyes，withthemostbeautifulgoldenhair，whichshegetsfromouraide。YourememberGenevieve’shairbackinthedearolddays，beforeanytroublehadcome，andwewereallsohappytogether？AndthisbringsmetowhatIwantedtosay。Youaretheoldestfriendwehave，andbyasingularcoincidenceyouaretheoldestfriendofMr。Durgin，too。Icannotbeartoriskmychild’shappinessasecondtime，andthoughMr。Vostrandfullyapprovesofthematch，andhascabledhisconsentfromSeattle，Washington，still，youknow，amother’sheartcannotbeatrestwithoutsomepositiveassurance。ItoldMr。DurginquitefranklyhowIfelt，andheagreedwithmethatafterourexperiencewithpoorGigiwecouldnotbetoocareful，andheauthorizedmetowritetoyouandfindoutallyouknewabouthim。Hesaidyouhadknownhimeversincehewasaboy，andthatiftherewasanythingbadinhisrecordyoucouldtellit，andhedidnotwantyoutospirethetruth。Heknowsyouwillbejust，andhewantsyoutowriteoutthefactsastheystruckyouatthetime。
　　"Ishallbeonpinsandneedles，asthesayingis，tillwehearfromyou，andyouknowhewGenevieveandMr。D。mustbefeeling。Sheisfullyresolvednottohavehimwithoutyourendorsement，andheisquitewillingtoabidebywhatyousay。
　　IcouldalmostwishyoutocablemejustGoodorBad，butIknowthatthiswillnotbewise，andIamgoingtowaitforyourletter，andgetyouropinioninfull。
　　"Wealljoininthekindestregards。Mr。D。istalkingwithGenevievewhileIwrite，andhasourdarlingBiceonhisknees。
　　Youcannotimaginewhatapictureitmakes，herchildishdelicacycontrastedwithhisstalwartstrength。Shesaystosendyouabaciettino，andIwishyouwereheretoreceiveitfromherangellips。Yoursfaithfully，"MEDORAVOSTRAND。
　　"P。S。——Mr。D。saysthathefellinlovewithGenevieveacrossthebarrierbetweenthefirstandsecondcabinwhenhecameoverwithusontheAquitainefouryearsago，andthathehasneverceasedtoloveher，thoughatonetimehepersuadedhimselfthathecaredforanotherbecausehefeltthatshewaslosttohimforever，anditwasnouse：Hereallydidcarefortheladyhewasengagedto，andhadatrueaffectionforher，whichhemistookforawarmerfeeling。Hesaysthatshewasworthyofanyman’sloveandofthehighestrespect。ItellGenevievethat，sheoughttohonorhimforit，andthatshemustneverbejealousofamemory。WeareveryhappyinMr。Vostrand’scordialapprovalofthematch。HeissogladtothinkthatMr。D。isabusinessman。HiscablefromSeattlewasmostenthusiastic。
　　"M。D。"
　　Westoverdidnotknowwhethertolaughorcrywhenhereadthisletter，whichcoveredseveralsheetsofpaperinlinesthattraversedeachotherindifferentdirections。Hisold，youthfulidealofMrs。Vostrandfinallyperishedinitspresence，thoughstillhecouldnotblameherforwishingtoseeherdaughterwellmarriedafterhavingseenhermarriedsoill。Heaskedhimself，withoutgettinganyverydefiniteresponse，whetherMrs。Vostrandhadalwaysbeenthiskindofawoman，orhadgrownintoitbytheuseofartswhichherpeculiarplanoflifehadrenderednecessarytoher。HerememberedtheintelligenttolerationofCynthiainspeakingofher，andhisindignationinbehalfofthegirlwasalsothrillofjoyforherescapefromthefatewhichMrs。Vostrandwassoeagerlyinvokingforherdaughter。ButhethoughtofGenevievewithsomethingofthesametenderness，andwithacompassionthatwasforheralone。Sheseemedtohimavictimwhowastobesacrificedasecondtime，andhehadclearlyadutytoherwhichhemustnotevade。Theonlyquestioncouldbehowbesttodischargeit，andWestovertooksomehoursfromhisworktoturnthequestionoverinhismind。Intheend，whenhewasabouttogivethewholeaffairupforthepresent，andloseanight’ssleepoveritlater，hehadaninspiration，andheacteduponitatonce。
　　HeperceivedthatheowednoformalresponsetothesentimentalinsinceritiesofMrs。Vostrand’sletter，andhedecidedtowritetoDurginhimself，andtoputthecasealtogetherinhishands。IfDurginchosetoshowtheVostrandswhatheshouldwrite，verywell；ifhechosenottoshowit，thenWestover’sapparentsilencewouldbeasufficientreplytoMrs。Vostrand’sappeal。
　　"Iprefertoaddressyou，"hebegan，"becauseIdonotchoosetoletyouthinkthatIhaveanyfeelingtoindulgeagainstyou，andbecauseIdonotthinkIhavetherighttotakeyououtofyourownkeepinginanyway。YouwouldbeinmykeepingifIdid，andIdonotwishthat，notonlybecauseitwouldbeabothertome，butbecauseitwouldbeawrongtoyou。
　　"Mrs。Vostrand，whoselettertomeIwillleaveyoutoanswerbyshowingherthis，orinanyothermanneryouchoose，tellsmeyoudonotwantmetosparethetruthconcerningyou。Ihaveneverbeenquitecertainwhatthetruthwasconcerningyou；youknowthatbetterthanIdo；andIdonotproposetowriteyourbiographyhere。
　　ButIwillremindyouofafewthings。
　　"ThefirstdayIsawyou，Icaughtyouamusingyourselfwiththeterroroftwolittlechildren，andIhadthepleasureofcuffingyouforit。Butyouwereonlyaboythen，andafterwardyoubehavedsowellthatIdecidedyouwerenotsomuchcruelasthoughtlesslymischievous。Whenyouhaddoneallyoucouldtoleadmetothisfavorableconclusion，yousuddenlyturnedandavengedyourselfonme，sofarasyoucould，forthehelpIhadgiventhelittleonesagainstyou。Inevergreatlyblamedyouforthat，forIdecidedthatyouhadavindictivetemperament，andthatyouwerenotresponsibleforyourtemperament，butonlyforyourcharacter。
　　"InyourfirstyearatHarvardyourassociationswerebad，andyourconductgenerallywassobadthatyouweresuspended。Youwerearrestedwithotherrowdystudents，andpassedthenightinapolicestation。Ibelieveyouwerejustlyacquittedofanyspecificoffence，andIalwaysbelievedthatifyouhadexperiencedgreaterkindnesssociallyduringyourfirstyearincollegeyouwouldhavebeenabetterman。
　　"YouseemtohavetoldMrs。Vostrandofyourengagement，andIwillnotspeakofthat。Itwascreditabletoyouthatsowiseandgoodagirlasyourbetrothedshouldhavetrustedyou，andIdonotknowthatitwasagainstyouthatanothergirlwhowasneitherwisenorgoodshouldhavetrustedyouatthesametime。Youbrokewiththelast，becauseyouhadtochoosebetweenthetwo；and，sofarasI
　　know，youacceptedwithaduesenseofyourfaithlessnessyourdismissalbythefirst。InthisconnectionImustremindyouthatwhileyouweredoingyourbesttomakethepartytoyoursecondengagementbelievethatyouwereinlovewithher，yougotherbrother，anhabitualinebriate，drunk，andwere，sofar，instrumentalinbreakingdowntheweakwillwithwhichhewasstrugglingagainsthispropensity。ItisonlyfairtoyouthatI
　　shouldaddthatyoupersuadedmeyougothimonlyalittledrunkerthanhealreadygothimself，andthatyoumeanttohavelookedafterhim，butforgothiminyourpreoccupationwithhissister。
　　"Idonotknowwhattookplacebetweenyouandthesepeopleafteryoubrokeyourengagementwiththesister，untilyourencounterwiththebrotherinWhitwell’sClearing，andIknowofthisonlyatsecondhand。Icanwellbelievethatyouhadsomerealorfanciedinjurytopayoff；andIgiveyouallthecredityoumaywishtoclaimforsparinghimatlast。Foroneofyourvindictivetemperamentitmusthavebeendifficult。
　　"IhavetoldyoutheworstthingsIknowofyou，andIdonotpretendtoknowthemmorethansuperficially。Iamnotaskedtojudgeyou，andIwillnot。Youmustbeyourownjudge。Youaretodecidewhethertheseandotheractsofyoursaretheactsofamangoodenoughtobeintrustedwiththehappinessofawomanwhohasalreadybeenveryunhappy。
　　"Youhavesometimes，however——oftenerthanIwished——cometomeforadvice，andInowofferyousomeadvicevoluntarily。Donotsupposethatbecauseyoulovethiswoman，asyoubelieve，youarefittobethekeeperofherfuture。Askyourselfhowyouhavedealthithertowiththosewhohavelovedyou，andwhominasortyouloved，anddonotgofurtherunlesstheanswerissuchasyoucanfullyandfaithfullyreporttothewomanyouwishtomarry。Whatyouhavemadeyourselfyouwillbetotheend。Youoncecalledmeanidealist，andperhapsyouwillcallthisidealism。Iwillonlyadd，andIwillgivethelastwordinyourdefence，youaloneknowwhatyouare。"