"No——"
　　"Why，yes。WemustgoouttopoorChecco，now；Mr。Vostrandinsistsuponthat。Ifeverweareaunitedfamilyagain，Mr。Westover——ifMr。
　　Vostrandcanarrangehisbusiness，whenCheccoisreadytoenterHarvard——ImeantotakeahouseinBoston。I’msureIshouldbecontentedtolivenowhereelseinAmerica。Theplacehasquitebewitchedme——dearold，sober，charmingBoston！I’msureIshouldliketoliveherealltherestofmylife。Butwhyintheworlddopeoplegooutoftownsoearly？
　　Thosehousesovertherehavebeenshutforawholemonthpast！"
　　TheyweresittingatMrs。Vostrand’swindowlookingoutontheavenue，wherethepaleglobularelectricswereswimminglikejelly—fishinthecleareveningair，andabovetheranksoflowtreesthehousesontheothersidewereclose—shutteredfrombasementtoattic。
　　Westoveranswered："Somegobecausetheyhavesuchpleasanthousesattheshore，andsomebecausetheywanttododgetheirtaxes。"
　　"Tododgetheirtaxes？"sherepeated，andhehadtoexplainhowifpeoplewereintheircountry—housesbeforethe1stofMaytheywouldnothavetopaythehighpersonaltaxofthecity；andshesaidthatshewouldwritethattoMr。Vostrand；itwouldbeanotherpointinfavorofBoston。
　　Women，shedeclared，wouldneverhavethoughtofsuchathing；shedenouncedthemasculpablyignorantofsomanymattersthatconcernedthem，especiallylegalmatters。"Andyouthink，"sheasked，"thatMr。
　　Durginwillbeagoodlawyer？Thathewill—distinguishhimself？"
　　Westoverthoughtitratherashort—cuttoJefffromthethingstheyhadbeentalkingof，butifshewishedtospeakofhimhehadnoreasontoopposeherwish。"I’veheardit’sallchangedagooddeal。Therearestilldistinguishedlawyers，andlawyerswhogeton，buttheydon’tdistinguishthemselvesintheoldwaysomuch，andtheygetonbestbybecomingcounselforsomepowerfulcorporation。"
　　"Andyouthinkhehastalent？"shepursued。"Forthat，Imean。"
　　"Oh，Idon’tknow，"saidWestover。"Ithinkhehasagoodhead。Hecandowhathelikeswithincertainlimits，andthelimitsarenotallonthesideIusedtofancy。Hebafflesme。ButoflateIfancyyou’veseenrathermoreofhimthanIhave。"
　　"Ihaveurgedhimtogomoretoyou。But，"saidMrs。Vostrand，withaburstoffrankness，"hethinksyoudon’tlikehim。"
　　"He’swrong，"saidWestover。"ButImightdislikehimverymuch。"
　　"Iseewhatyoumean，"saidMrs。Vostrand，"andI’mgladyou’vebeensofrankwithme。I’vebeensointerestedinMr。Durgin，sointerested！
　　Isn’theveryyoung？"
　　ThequestionseemedabitofindirectiontoWestover。Butheanswereddirectlyenough。"He’sratheroldforaSophomore，Ibelieve。He’stwenty—two。"
　　"AndGenevieveistwenty。Mr。Westover，mayItrustyouwithsomething？"
　　"Witheverything，Ihope，Mrs。Vostrand。"
　　"It’saboutGenevieve。Herfatherissoopposedtohermakingaforeignmarriage。Itseemstobehisonegreatdread。And，ofcourse，she’sverymuchexposedtoit，livingabroadsomuchwithme，andIfeeldoublyboundonthataccounttorespectherfather’sopinions，orevenprejudices。BeforeweleftFlorence——infact，lastwinter——therewasamostdelightfulyoungofficerwishedtomarryher。Idon’tknowthatshecaredanythingforhim，thoughhewaseverythingthatIcouldhavewished：handsome，brilliant，accomplished，goodfamily；everythingbutrich，andthatwaswhatMr。Vostrandobjectedto；or，rather，heobjectedtoputtingup，ashecalledit，thesumthatCaptainGrassiwouldhavehadtodepositwiththegovernmentbeforehewasallowedtomarry。
　　Youknowhowitiswiththepoorfellowsinthearmy，there；Idon’tunderstandtheprocessexactly，butthesumissomethinglikesixtythousandfrancs，Ibelieve；andpoorGigihadn’tit：IalwayscalledhimGigi，buthisnameisCountLuigide’PopolaniGrassi；andheisdescendedfromoneoftheoldrepublicanfamiliesofFlorence。Heissonice！Mr。Vostrandwasopposedtohimfromthebeginning，andassoonasheheardofthesixtythousandfrancs，heutterlyrefused。Hecalleditbuyingason—in—law，butIdon’tseewhyheneedhavelookedatitinthatlight。However，itwasbrokenoff，andweleftFlorence——moreforpoorGigi’ssakethanforGenevieve’s，Imustsay。Hewasquiteheart—
　　broken；Ipitiedhim。"
　　Hervoicehadatenderfallintheclosingwords，andWestovercouldfancyhowsweetshewouldmakehercompassiontotheyoungman。Shebeganseveralsentencesaimlessly，andhesuggested，tosupplythebrokenthreadofherdiscourseratherthantoofferconsolation，whilehereyesseemedtowanderwithhermind，andrangedtheavenueupanddown："Thoseforeignmarriagesarenotalwayssuccessful。"
　　"No，theyarenot，"sheassented。"Butdon’tyouthinkthey’rebetterwithItaliansthanwithGermans，forinstance。"
　　"Idon’tsupposetheItaliansexpecttheirwivestoblacktheirboots，butI’veheardthattheybeatthem，sometimes。"
　　"Inexaggeratedcases，perhapstheydo，"Mrs。Vostrandadmitted。"And，ofcourse，"sheadded，thoughtfully，"thereisnothinglikeapurelyAmericanmarriageforhappiness。"
　　Westoverwonderedhowshereallyregardedherownmarriage，butsheneverbetrayedanyconsciousnessofitsvariancefromthetype。
　　XIX。
　　AyoungcouplecamestrollingdowntheavenuewhotoWestover’sartisticeyefirsttypifiedgraceandstrength，andthentohismorepersonalperceptionidentifiedthemselvesasGenevieveVostrandandJeffDurgin。
　　Theyfalteredbeforeoneofthebenchesbesidethemall，andheseemedtobebegginghertositdown。Shecasthereyesroundtilltheymusthavecaughtthewindowofhermother’sapartment；then，asifshefeltsafeunderit，shesankintotheseatandJeffputhimselfbesideher。Itwasquitetooearlyyetforthesimpleloverswhopubliclynotifytheirhappinessbytheembracesandhand—claspseverywhereevidentinourparksandgardens；andaBostonpairofsocialtraditionwouldnothavedreamedofsittingonabenchinCommonwealthAvenueatanyhour。ButtwosuchaliensasJeffandMissVostrandmightverywelldoso；andWestoversympathizedwiththeirbohemianimpulse。
　　Mrs。Vostrandandhewatchedthemawhile，intalkthatstraggledawayfromthem，andbecamemoreandmoredistraughtinviewofthem。Jeffleanedforward，anddrewonthegroundwiththepointofhisstick；
　　Genevieveheldherheadmotionlessatapensivedroop。ItwasonlytheirbacksthatWestovercouldsee，andhecouldnot，ofcourse，makeoutasyllableofwhatwaseffectivelytheirsilence；butallthesamehebegantofeelasifhewerepeepingandeavesdropping。Mrs。Vostrandseemednottosharehisfeeling，andtherewasnoreasonwhyheshouldhaveitifshehadnot。Heofferedtogo，butshesaid，No，no；hemustnotthinkofittillGenevievecamein；andsheaddedsomebanalitiesaboutheralwaysscoldingwhenshehadmissedoneofhiscalls；theywouldbesofew，now，atthemost。
　　"Why，doyouintendtogososoon？"heasked。
　　Shedidnotseemtohearhim，andhecouldseethatshewaswatchingtheyoungpeopleintently。JeffhadturnedhisfaceuptowardGenevieve，withoutliftinghisperson，andwassayingsomethingshesuddenlyshrankbackfrom。Shemadeastartasiftorise，butheputouthishandinfrontofher，beseechinglyorcompellingly，andshesankdownagain。
　　Butsheslowlyshookherheadatwhathewassaying，andturnedherfacetowardhimsothatitgaveherprofiletothespectators。Inthatlightandatthatdistanceitwasimpossibletodomorethanfancyanythingfatefulinthewordswhichsheseemedtobeuttering；butWestoverchosetofancythis。Jeffwaitedamomentinapparentsilence，aftershehadspoken。Hesaterectandfacedher，andthisgavehisprofile，too。
　　Hemusthavespoken，forsheshookherheadagain；andthen，atotherwordsfromhim，noddedassentingly。Thenshelistenedmotionlesslywhilehepouredarapidstreamofvisiblebutinaudiblewords。Heputouthishand，asiftotakehers，butsheputitbehindher；Westovercouldseeitwhitethereagainstthebeltofherdarkdress。
　　Jeffwentonmorevehemently，butsheremainedsteadfast，slowlyshakingherhead。Whenheendedshespoke，andwithsomethingofhisownenergy；
　　hemadeagestureofsubmission，andwhensheroseherose，too。Shestoodamoment，andwithagentleandalmostentreatingmovementsheputoutherhandtohim。Hestoodlookingdown，withbothhishandsrestingonthetopofhisstick，asifignoringherproffer。Thenhesuddenlycaughtherhand，helditamoment；droppedit，andwalkedquicklyawaywithoutlookingback。Genevieveranacrossthelawnandroadwaytowardthehouse。
　　"Oh，must，yougo？"Mrs。VostrandsaidtoWestover。HefoundthathehadprobablyriseninsympathywithJeff’saction。Hewasnotawareofanintentionofgoing，buthethoughthehadbetternotcorrectMrs。
　　Vostrand’serror。
　　"Yes，Ireallymust，now，"hesaid。
　　"Well，then，"shereturned，distractedly，"docomeoften。"
　　HehurriedouttoavoidmeetingGenevieve。Hepassedher，onthepublicstairsofthehouse，buthesawthatshedidnotrecognizehiminthedimlight。
　　Latethatnighthewasstartledbystepsthatseemedtobeseekingtheirwayupthestairstohislanding，andthenbyaheavyknockonhisdoor。
　　Heopenedit，andconfrontedJeffDurgin。
　　"MayIcomein，Mr。Westover？"heasked，withunwonteddeference。
　　"Yes，comein，"saidWestover，withnogreatrelish，settinghisdooropen，andthenholdingontoitamoment，asifhehopedthat，havingcomein，Jeffmightinstantlygooutagain。
　　HisreluctancewaslostuponJeff，whosaid，unconsciousofkeepinghishaton："Iwanttotalkwithyou——Iwanttotellyousomething——"
　　"Allright。Won’tyousitdown？"
　　AtthisinvitationJeffseemedremindedtotakehishatoff，andheputitonthefloorbesidehischair。"I’mnotinascrape，thistime——or，rather，I’mintheworstkindofascrape，thoughitisn’tthekindthatyouwantbailfor。"
　　"Yes，"Westoverprompted。
　　"Idon’tknowwhetheryou’venoticed——andifyouhaven’titdon’tmakeanydifference——thatI’veseemedto——careagooddealforMissVostrand？"
　　Westoversawnoreasonwhyheshouldnotbefrank，andsaid："Toomuch，I’vefanciedsometimes，forastudentinhisSophomoreyear。"
　　"Yes，Iknowthat。Well，it’sover，whetheritwastoomuchortoolittle。"Helaughedinajoyless，helplessway，andlookeddeprecatinglyatWestover。"IguessI’vebeenmakingafoolofmyself——that’sall。"
　　"It’sbettertomakeafoolofone’sselfthantomakeafoolofsomeoneelse，"saidWestover，oracularly。
　　"Yes，"saidJeff，apparentlyfindingnothingmoredefiniteintheoraclethanpeoplecommonlyfindinoracles。"ButIthink，"hewenton，withatouchofbitterness，"thathermothermighthavetoldmethatshewasengaged——orthesameasengaged。"
　　"Idon’tknowthatshewasboundtotakeyouseriously，ortosupposeyoutookyourselfso，atyourageandwithyourprospectsinlife。Ifyouwanttoknow"——Westoverfaltered，andthenwenton——"shebegantobekindtoyoubecauseshewasafraidthatyoumightthinkshedidn’ttakeyourcominghomesecond—cabinintherightway；andonethingledtoanother。
　　Youmustn’tblameherforwhat’shappened。"
　　WestoverdefendedMrs。Vostrand，buthedidnotfeelstronginherdefence；hewasnotsurethatDurginwasquitewrong，absurdashehadbeen。Hesatdownandlookedupathisvisitorunderhisbrows。
　　"Whatareyouherefor，Jeff？NottocomplainofMrs。Vostrand？"
　　Jeffgaveashort，shamefacedlaugh。"No，it’sthisyou’resuchanoldfriendofMrs。Vostrand’sthatIthoughtshe’dbeprettysuretotellyouaboutit；andIwantedtoask——toask——thatyouwouldn’tsayanythingtomother。"
　　"Youareaboy！Ishouldn’tthinkofmeddlingwithyouraffairs，"saidWestover；hegotupagain，andJeffrose，too。
　　BeforenoonthenextdayadistrictmessengerbroughtWestoveraletterwhichheeasilyknew，from，thenowbelatedtall，angularhand，tobefromMrs。Vostrand。Itannouncedonamuchcriss—crossedlittlesheetthatsheandGenevievewereinconsolablytakingaverysuddendeparture，andweregoingonthetwelve—o’clocktraintoNewYork，whereMr。
　　Vostrandwastomeetthem。"InregardtothataffairwhichImentionedlastnight，hewithdrawshisobjections（wehavehadanovernighttelegram），andsoIsupposeallwillgowell。Icannottellyouhowsorrywebotharenottoseeyouagain；youhavebeensuchadear，goodfriendtous；andifyoudon’thearfromusagainatNewYork，youwillfromtheotherside。Genevievehadsomeverystrangenewswhenshecamein，andwebothfeelverysorryforthepooryoungfellow。Youmustconsolehimfromusallyoucan。IdidnotknowbeforehowmuchshewasattachedtoGigi：butitturnedoutveryfortunatelythatshecouldsaysheconsideredherselfboundtohim，anddideverythingtosaveMr。D。’sfeelings。"
　　XX。
　　WestoverwasnotatLion’sHeadagaintillthesummerbeforeJeff’sgraduation。Inthemeantimethehotelhadgrownlikealivingthing。
　　Hecouldnothaveimaginedwingsinconnectionwiththemainedifice，butithadputforthwings——onethatshelteredanewandenlargeddining—
　　room，withtwostoriesofchambersabove，andanotherthathoveredaparlorandball—roomunderalikeprovisionofchambers。Anellhadbeenpushedbackonthelevelbehindthehouse；thebarnhadbeenmovedfarthertothesouthward，andonitsoldsitealaundrybuilt，withquartersforthehelpoverit。Allhadbeencarefully，frugally，yetsufficientlydone，andWestoverwasnotsurprisedtolearnthatitwasalltheeffectofJacksonDurgin’singenuityandenergy。Mrs。Durginconfessedtohavingnopartinit；butshehadkeptpace，withCynthiaWhitwell’shelp，inthehousekeeping。AsJacksonhadcautiouslyfelthiswaytotheneedsoftheirpublicintheenlargementandrearrangementofthehotel，thetwohousewiveshadwatchfullystudied，notmerelythedemands，butthehalf—consciousinstinctsoftheirguests，andhadrespondedtothemsimplyandadequately，inthespiritofJackson’sexteriorandstructuralimprovements。Thewallsofthenewroomswereleftunpaperedandtheirfloorsuncarpeted；therewerethinrugsputdown；thewood—workwasmerelystained。Westoverfoundthatheneednottoaskespeciallyforsomehotdishatnight；therewasalmosttheabundanceofadinner，thoughdinnerwasstillatoneo’clock。
　　Mrs。Durginaskedhimthefirstdayifhewouldnotliketogointotheserving—roomandseeitwhiletheywereservingdinner。Shetriedtoconcealherprideinthebusyscene——thewaitressespushinginthroughonevalveofthedouble—hingeddoorswiththeiremptytrays，andoutthroughtheotherwiththetraysfullladen；deliveringtheirdisheswiththebrokenvictualatthewicket，wheretheuntouchedportionswereputasideandtherestpouredintothewaste；followinginprocessionalongthereekingsteamtable，withitsgreattanksofsoupandvegetables，where，thecarversstoodwiththejointsandthetrussedfowlssmokingbeforethem，whichtheyslicedwithquicksweepsoftheirblades，orwaitingtheirturnattheboardwherethelittleplateswithportionsoffruitanddessertstoodready。Allwentregularlyonamidaclatterofknivesandvoicesanddishes；andtheclashingriseandfallofthewirebasketsplungingthesoiledcrockeryintomistydepths，whenceitcameupcleananddrywithoutthetouchoffingerortowel。Westovercouldnotdenythattherewereelementsofthepicturesqueinit，sothathedidnotrespondquiteinkindtoJeff’ssuggestion——"Sceneforapainter，Mr。
　　Westover。"
　　Theyoungfellowfollowedsatiricallyathismother’selbow，andmadeamockofherprideinit，tryingtocatchWestover’seyewhensheledhimthroughthekitchenwithitsimmenserange，andintroducedhimtoanewchef，whowipedhishandonhiswhiteaprontoofferittoWestover。
　　"Don’tlethimgetawaywithoutseeingthelaundry，mother，"hersonjeeredatafinalairofabsent—mindednessinher，andshedefiantlyacceptedhischallenge。
　　"Jeff’smadbecausehewasn’tconsulted，"sheexplained，"andbecausewedon’trunthehouselikehisone—horseEuropeanhotels。"
　　"Oh，I’mnotinitatall，Mr。Westover，"saidtheyoungfellow。"I’masmuchapassengerasyouare。TheonlydifferenceisthatI’mallowedtoworkmypassage。"
　　"Well，onething，"saidhismother，"isthatwe’vegotahigherclassofboardersthanweeverhadbefore。You’llsee，Mr。Westover，ifyoustayonheretillAugust。There’saclassthatboardsalltheyearround，andthatknowswhatahotelis——aboutaswellasJeff，Iguess。You’llfind’ematthebigcityhouses，thefirstofthewinter，andthentheygodowntoFloridyorGeorgyforFebruaryandMarch；andtheygetuptoFortressMonroeinApril，andworkalongnorthaboutthemiddleofMaytothemfamilyhotelsinthesuburbsaroundBoston；andtheystaytheretillit’stimetogototheshore。TheystayattheshorethroughJuly，andthentheycomehereinAugust，andstaytilltheleavesturn。
　　They’refolksthatliveontheirmoney，andthey’retheveryhighestclass，Iguess。It’saroundofgayetywith’emthewholeyearthrough。"
　　Jeff，fromthevantageofhisgreaterworldlyexperience，wastryingtoexchangelooksofintelligencewithWestoverconcerningthosehotel—
　　dwellerswhomhismotherreveredasaristocrats；buthedidnotopenlyquestionherconceptions。"They’vetoldmehowtheydo，someoftheladieshave，"shewenton。"They’vegotthemoneyforit，andtheyknowhowtogetthemostfortheirmoney。Why，Mr。Westover，we’vegotroomsinthishouse，now，thatweletforthirty—fivetofiftydollarsaweekfortwopersons，andfolkslikethattake’emrightalongthroughAugustandSeptember，andwantaroomapiece。It’sdifferentnow，Icantellyou，fromwhatitwaswhenfolksthoughtwewaskillin’’emifwewantedtenortwelvedollars。"
　　Westoverhadfinishedhisdinnerbeforethistourofthehousebegan，andwhenitwasoverthetwomenstrolledawaytogether。
　　"Yousee，it’sontheregularAmericanlines，"Jeffpursued，afterpartingwithhismother。"Jackson’sdoneit，andhecan’timagineanythingelse。Idon’tsayitisn’twelldoneinitsway，buttheway’swrong；it’sstupidandclumsy。"Whentheyweregotsofarfromthehotelastocommandaprospectofitsungainlymasssprawledupontheplateau，hissmoulderingdisgustburstout："Lookatit！Didyoueverseeanythinglikeit？Iwishthedamnedthingwouldburnup——ordown！"
　　WestoverwasawareinmorewaysthanoneofJeff’sexclusionfromauthorityintheplace，wherehewasconstantlysetasidefromthemanagementasifhisfutureweresodefinitelydedicatedtoanothercallingthatnotevenhisadvicewasdesiredorpermitted；andhecouldnothelpsympathizingalittlewithhimwhenhechafedathisrejection。
　　Hesawagreatdealofhim，andhethoughthimquiteuptotheaverageofHarvard’sSeniorsinsomeessentials。Hehadbeensobered，apparently，byexperience；hisunfortunatelove—affairseemedtohaveimprovedhim，asthephraseis。
　　Theyhadsomelongwalksandlongtalkstogether，andinoneofthemJeffopenedhismind，ifnothisheart，tothepainter。HewantedtobetheLandlordoftheLion’sHead，whichhebelievedhecouldmakethebesthotelinthemountains。Heknew，ofcourse，thathecouldnothopetomakeanychangesthatdidnotsuithismotherandhisbrother，aslongastheyhadthecontrol，buthethoughttheywouldlethimhavethecontrolsoonerifhismothercouldonlybegottogiveupthenotionofhisbeingalawyer。Asnearlyashecouldguess，shewantedhimtobealawyerbecauseshedidnotwanthimtobeahotel—keeper，andherprejudiceagainstthatwasbecauseshebelievedthatsellingliquormadeherfatheradrunkard。
　　"Well，nowyouknowenoughaboutme，Mr。Westover，toknowthatdrinkisn’tmydanger。"
　　"Yes，IthinkIdo，"saidWestover。
　　"IwentalittlewildinmyFreshmanyear，andIgotintothatscrape，butI’veneverbeentheworseforliquorsince；factis，Inevertouchitnow。Thereisn’tanymorereasonwhyIshouldtaketodrinkbecauseI
　　keepahotelthanJackson；butjustthatonetimehassetmotheragainstit，andIcan’tseemtomakeherunderstandthatonceisenoughforme。
　　Why，Ishouldkeepatemperancehouse，here，ofcourse；youcan’tdoanythingelseinthesedays。IfIwaslefttochoosebetweenhotel—
　　keepingandanyotherlifethatIknowof，I’dchooseiteverytime，"
　　Jeffwenton，afteramomentofsilence。"Ilikeahotel。Youcanbeyourownmanfromthestart；thestart’smadehere，andI’vehelpedtomakeit。Allyou’vegottodoistohavecommon—senseinthehotelbusiness，andyou’resuretosucceed。IbelieveI’vegotcommon—sense，andIbelieveI’vegotsomeideasthatIcanworkupintoagreatsuccess。Thereasonthatmostpeoplefailinthehotelbusinessisthattheywastesomuch，andthelandlordthatwastesonhisguestscan’ttreatthemwell。It’sgotsonowthatinthebigcityhousestheycan’tmakeanythingonfeedingpeople，andsotheytrytomakeitupontherooms。Ishouldfeedthemwell——IbelieveIknowhow——andIshouldmakemoneyonmytable，astheydoinEurope。
　　I’vethoughtagoodmanythingsout；mymindrunsonitallthetime；butI’mnotgoingtoboreyouwithitnow。"
　　"Oh，notatall，"saidWestover。"I’dliketoknowwhatyourideasare。"
　　Well，sometimeI’lltellyou。Butlookhere，Mr。Westover，Iwishifmothergetstotalkingaboutmewithyouthatyou’dletherknowhowI
　　feel。Wecan’ttalktogether，sheandI，withoutquarrellingaboutit；
　　butIguessyoucouldputinawordthatwouldshowherIwasn’tquiteafool。ShethinksI’vegonecrazyfromseeingthewaytheydothingsinEurope；thatI’mconceitedandunpatriotic，andIdon’tknowwhatall。"
　　Jefflaughedasifwithaninnerfondnessforhismother’swrong—
　　headedness。
　　"Andwouldyoubewillingtosettledownhereinthecountryfortherestofyourlife，andthrowawayyourHarvardtrainingonhotel—keeping？"
　　"WhatdotheotherfellowsdowiththeirHarvardtrainingwhentheygointobusiness，asnine—tenthsofthemdo？Businessisbusiness，whetheryoukeepahotelorimportdry—goodsormanufacturecottonorrunarailroadorhelpabigtrusttocheatlegally。HarvardhasgottotakeabackseatwhenyougetoutofHarvard。Butyoudon’tsupposethatkeepingasummerhotelwouldmeanlivinginthecountrythewholetime，doyou？That’sthewaymotherdoes，butIshouldn’t。Itisn’tgoodforthehotel，even。IfIhadsuchaplaceasLion’sHead，Ishouldputamanandhisfamilyintoitforthewintertolookafterit，andIshouldgototownmyself——toBostonorNewYork，orImightgotoLondonorParis。They’renotsofaroff，andit’ssoeasytogettothemthatyoucanhardlykeepaway。"Jefflaughed，andlookedupatWestoverfromthelogwherehesat，whittlingapinestick；Westoversatonthestumpfromwhichtheloghadbeenfelledeightortenyearsbefore。
　　"Youaremodern，"hesaid。
　　"That’swhatIshoulddoatfirst。ButIdon’tbelieveIshouldhaveLion’sHeadverylongbeforeIhadanotherhotel——inFlorida，ortheGeorgiauplands，orNorthCarolina，somewhere。Ishouldtakemyhelpbackandforth；itwouldbeaseasytoruntwohotelsasone—easier！
　　Itwouldkeepmyhandin。Butifyouwanttoknow，I’dratherstickhereinthecountry，yearinandyearout，andrunLion’sHead，thantobealawyerandhangroundtryingtogetacasefornineortenyears。Who’sgoingtosupportme？DoyousupposeIwanttoliveonmothertillI’mforty？Shedon’tthinkofthat。ShethinksIcangorightintocourtandbegindistinguishingmyself，ifIcanfightthepeopleofffromsendingmetoCongress。I’dratherliveinthecountry，anyway。Ithinktown’stheplaceforwinter，ortwo—threemonthsofit，andafterthatI
　　haven’tgotanyuseforit。Butmother，she’sgotthisold—fashionedambitiontohavemegotoacityandsetupthere。ShethinksthatifI
　　wasalawyerinBostonIshouldbeatthetopoftheheap。ButIknowbetterthanthat，andsodoyou；andIwantyoutogivehersomelittlehintofhowitreallyis：howittakesfamilyandmoneyandalotofinfluencetogettothetopinanycity。"