CHAPTERIII
　　Itisadreadfulthingtohateone’sownfather；tohatehimandbeunabletoforgivehimeventhoughheisdead，althoughhepaidforhissinwithhislife。Deathissaidtopayalldebts，buttherearesomeitcannotpay。TomyfatherIowedmypresentambitionless，idle，good—for—nothinglife，mymother’sillness，yearsofdisgrace，thelossofaname——everything。
　　Painewasmymother’smaidenname；shewaschristenedComfortPaine。MyownChristiannameisRoscoeandmymiddlenameisPaine。Myothername，thenameIwasbornwith，thenamethatMothertookwhenshemarried，wedroppedwhenthedisgracecameuponus。Itwashonoredandrespectedonce；nowwhenitwasrepeatedpeoplecoupleditwithshameandcrimeanddishonorandbrokentrust。
　　AsaboyIremembermyselfasaspoiledyoungsterwhotooktheluxuriesofthisworldforgranted。Iattendedanexpensiveandselectprivateschool，idledmywaythroughthatsomehow，andenteredcollege，ahappy—go—luckyyoungfellowwithmoneyinmypocket。Fortwo—thirdsofmyFreshmanyear——whichwasallI
　　experiencedofUniversitylife——Ienjoyedmyselfasmuchaspossible，andstudiedaslittle。Thencamethetelegram。I
　　rememberthelooksofthemessengerwhobroughtit，thecaphewore，andthegrinonhisyoungIrishfacewhenthefellowsittingnextmeatthebatteredblackoaktableinthebackroomofKelly’saskedhimtohaveabeer。Irememberthesongweweresinging，thecrowdofus，howitbeganagainandthenstoppedshortwhentheotherssawthelookonmyface。Thetelegramcontainedbutfourwords："Comehomeatonce。"Itwassignedwiththenameofmyfather’slawyer。
　　IpresumeIshallneverforgeteventhesmallestincidentofthatnightjourneyinthetrainandthehome—coming。Thelawyer’smeetingmeatthestationintheearlymorning；histakingcarethatIshouldnotseethenewspapers，andhisbreakingthenewstome。NotoftheillnessordeathwhichIhadfearedanddreaded，butofsomethingworse——disgrace。Myfatherwasanembezzler，athief。Hehadabsconded，hadrunaway，likethecowardhewas，takingwithhimwhatwasleftofhisstealings。Thebankinghouseofwhichhehadbeentheheadwasinsolvent。Thepolicewereonhistrack。And，worseandmostdisgracefulofall，hehadnotfledalone。Therewasawomanwithhim，awomanwhoseescapadeshadfurnishedthepaperswithsensationsforyears。
　　Ihadneverbeenwellacquaintedwithmyfather。Wehadneverbeenfriendsandcompanions，likeotherfathersandsonsIknew。I
　　rememberhimasaharsh，red—facedman，whom，asaboy，Iavoidedasmuchaspossible。AsIgrewolderIneverwenttohimforadvice；hewastomeasortofwalkingpocket—book，andnotmuchelse。Motherhasoftentoldmethatsheremembershimassomethingquitedifferent，andIsupposeitmustbetrue，otherwiseshewouldnothavemarriedhim；buttomehewasasourceofsupplycoupledwithabadtemper，thatwasall。ThatIwasnotutterlyimpossible，that，goingmyowngaitasIdid，Iwasnotacompleteyoungblackguard，IknownowwasdueentirelytoMother。SheandIwereasclosefriendsasIwouldpermithertobe。Fatherhadneglectedusforyears，thoughhowmuchhehadneglectedandill—treatedherIdidnotknowuntilshetoldme，afterward。Shewasindelicatehealtheventhen，but，whentheblowfell，itwassheandnotIwhoboreupbravelyanditwasherpluckandnerve，notmine，whichpulledusthroughthatdreadfultime。
　　Anditwasdreadful。Thestoriesandpicturesinthepapers！Therumors，alwayscontradicted，thattheembezzlerhadbeencaught！
　　Themisrepresentationandliesandscandal！Thelossofthosewhomwehadsupposedwerefriends！Motherborethemall，woreacalm，bravefaceinpublic，andonlywhenalonewithmegaveway，andthenbutatrareintervals。Sheclungtomeasheronlycomfortandhope。Iwassullenandwrathfulandresentful，anunlickedcub，Isuspect，whosecomplaintswereselfishonesconcerningthegivingupofmycollegelifeanditspleasures，andthesacrificeofsocialpositionandwealth。
　　Motherhad——orsowethoughtatthetime——asuminherownnamewhichwouldenableustolive；althoughnotaswehadlivedbyagreatdeal。Wetookanapartmentinanunfashionablequarterofthecity，andthankstothelawyer——whoprovedhimselfarealandtruefriend——Iwasgivenaminorpositioninasmallbank。Oddlyenough，consideringmyformerlife，Ilikedthework，itinterestedme，andduringthenextfewyearsIwasmade，bysuccessivepromotions，bookkeeper，teller，and，atlast，assistantcashier。
　　Nonewscamefromtheabsconder。Thepolicehadlosttrackofhim，anditseemedprobablethathewouldneverbeheardofagain。ButoverMotherandmyselfhungalwaysthedreadthathemightbefoundandallthedreadfulbusinessrevivedoncemore。Mothernevermentionedit，nordidI，butthedreadwasthere。
　　ThencamethefirstbreakdowninMother’shealthwhichnecessitatedherremovaltothecountry。LutherandDorindaRogersweredistantrelativesofourfriend，thelawyer。TheyownedthelittlehousebytheshoreatDenboroandthelawyerhadvisitedthemoccasionallyonshootingandfishingtrips。Theywereinneedofmoney，for，asDorindasaid："We’vegottwomouthsinthisfamilyandonlyonepairofhands。Oneofthemouthsissobigthatthehandscan’tfillit，letalonethemouththatbelongstoTHEM。"Mother——asMrs。
　　Paine，awidow——wenttherefirstasaboarder，intendingtoremainbutafewmonths。Dorindatooktoheratonce，beingattractedinthebeginning，Ithink，bythename。"TheycallyouComfortPaine，"
　　shesaid，"andyouareacomforttoeverybodyelse’spain。Yetyouain’toutofpainaminutescurcely，yourself。Ineverseeanythinglikeit。If’twan’twickedI’dsaythatnamewasgiveyoubytheOldScratchhimself，asasortofdivilishjoke。ButanybodycanseethattheOldScratchneverhadanythingincommonwithyou，evenahandinthechristenin’。"
　　Dorindawasverykind，andLutewasanever—endingjoyinhispeculiarway。MotherwouldhavebeenalmosthappyinthelittleDenborohome，ifIhadbeenwithher。Butshewasneverreallyhappywhenwewereseparated，aconditionofmindwhichgrewmoreacuteasherhealthdeclined。IcamedownfromthecityonceeverymonthandthoseSundaysweregreatoccasions。TheDenboropeopleknowmeasRoscoePaine。
　　ForatimeMotherseemedtobeholdingherown。Inanswertomyquestionsshealwaysdeclaredthatshewaseversomuchbetter。
　　ButDoctorQuimby，thetownphysician，lookedserious"Shemustbekeptabsolutelyquiet，"hesaid。"Shemustnotbetroubledinanyway。WorryormentaldistressiswhatIfearmost。
　　Anysuddenbadnewsorshockmight——well，goodnessknowswhateffectitmighthave。Shemustnotbeworried。Ros——"afteronehasvisitedDenborofivetimesinsuccessionheisgenerallycalledbyhisChristianname——"Ros，ifyou’vegotanyworriesyoukeep’emtoyourself。"
　　Ihadworries，plentyofthem。Ourlittlefortune，saved，aswethought，fromthewreck，sufferedasevereshrinkage。A
　　considerableportionofit，asthelawyersdiscovered，wasinvolvedandbelongedtothecreditors。IsaidnothingtoMotheraboutthis：shesupposedthatwehadasufficientincomeforourneeds，evenwithoutmysalary。WithouttellingherIgaveupourcityapartment，storedourfurniture，andtookaroominaboarding—
　　house。Iwaslearningthebankingbusiness，wastrustedwithmoreandmoreresponsibility，andbelievedmyfuturewassecure。Thencamethefinalblow。
　　IsawthenewsinthepaperwhenIwentouttolunch。"EmbezzlerandHisCompanionCaughtinRioJaneiro。HeCommitsSuicideWhenNotifiedofHisArrest。"TheseheadlinesstaredatmeasIopenedthepaperattherestauranttable。Myfatherhadshothimselfwhenthepolicecame。Ireaditwithscarcelymorethanavaguefeelingofpityforhim。ItwasofMotherthatIthought。Thenewsmustbekeptfromher。Ifsheshouldhearofit！WhatshouldIdo？I
　　wentfirstofalltothelawyer’soffice：hewasoutoftownfortheday。Iwanderedupanddownthestreetsforanhour。ThenI
　　wentbacktothebank。ThereIfoundatelegramfromDoctorQuimby："Mrs。Paineveryill。Comeonfirsttrain。"Iknewwhatitmeant。Motherhadheardthenews；theshockwhichthedoctordreadedhadhaditseffect。
　　IreachedDenborothenextmorning。Lutemetmeatthestation。
　　FromhisdisjointedandlengthystoryIgatheredthatMotherhadbeen"feelin’fust—rateforher"untilthenoonbefore。"Icomebackfromthepost—office，"saidLute，"andIwascal’latin’toreadthenewspaper，butDorindyhadsomeeverlastin’choreorotherformetodo——Ibelieveshethinks’emupinhersleep——andIleftthepaperonthedinin’—roomtableandwentouttothebarn。
　　Dorindyshecomealongtobossme，asusual。WhenwewentbacktothehousetherewasMrs。Comfortonthedinin’—roomfloor——dead，wewasafraidatfust。Thepaperwasalongsideofher，sowejudgeshewasjusta—goin’toreaditwhenshewastook。Thedoctorsaysit’saparalysisorappleplexyorsomethin’。Wecarriedherintothebedroom，butsheain’tspokesence。"
　　Shedidnotspeakforweeksandwhenshediditwastoaskforme。
　　Shecalledmynameoverandoveragainand，ifIlefther，evenforamoment，shegrewsomuchworsethatthedoctorforbademygoingbacktothecity。Iobtainedaleaveofabsencefromthebankforthreemonths。Bythattimeshewasherself，sofarasherreasonwasconcerned，butveryweakandunabletobeartheleasthintofdisturbanceorworry。Shemustnotbemoved，soDoctorQuimbysaid，andheheldoutnoimmediatehopeofherrecoveringtheuseofherlimbs。"Shewillbeconfinedtoherbedforalongtime，"
　　saidthedoctor，"andsheiseasyonlywhenyouarehere。IfyoushouldgoawayIamafraidshemightdie。"Ididnotgoaway。I
　　gaveupmypositioninthebankandremainedinDenboro。
　　AttheendoftheyearIboughttheRogershouseandland，movedaportionofourfurnituredownthere，soldtherest，andresignedmyselftoaperiodofidlenessinthecountry。DorindaIhiredashousekeeper，andwhenDorindaacceptedtheengagementshethrewinLute，sotospeak，forgoodmeasure。
　　AndhereIhavebeeneversince。AtfirstIlookeduponmystayinDenboroasasortofenforcedvacation，whichwastobe，ofcourse，onlytemporary。ButtimewentonandMother’sconditioncontinuedunchanged。SheneededmeandIcouldnotleaveher。Ifishedand，shotandsailedandloafed，losingambitionandself—respect，awarethatthemajorityofthevillagepeopleconsideredmetoolazytoearnaliving，andcaringlittlefortheiropinion。AtfirstIhadkeptupahitormisscorrespondencewithoneortwoofmyassociatesinthebank，butafterawhileIdroppedeventhisconnectionwiththeworld。IwasashamedtohavemyformeracquaintancesknowwhatIhadbecome，andthey，apparently，werequitewillingtoforgetme。IexpectedtoliveanddieinDenboro，andIfacedtheprospectwithindifference。
　　Thesummerpeople，cottagersandboarders，Iavoidedaltogetherandmyonlyfriend，andIdidnotconsiderhimthat，wasGeorgeTaylor，theDenborobankcashier。Hewasfondofsalt—waterandout—doorsportsandwe，occasionallyenjoyedthemtogether。
　　Thankstothelawyer，ournameshadbeenscarcelymentionedinthepapersatthetimeofmyfather’sdeath。Nooneinthevillageknewouridentityorourstory。And，becauseIknewthatMotherwouldworryifsheweretold，Ikeptfromherthefactthatourlittleincomewasbuthalfofwhatithadbeen。Ourwantswerefew，andifmyclotheswerenolongermadebythebesttailors，iftheywereready—madeandout—of—dateandlackedpressing，theywerewhole，atallevents，becauseDorindawasatip—topmender。Infact，Ihadforgottentheywereout—of—dateuntilthesightoftheimmaculatelygarbedyoungchapintheautomobilebroughtthecomparisonbetweenustomymind。
　　Butnow，asIsatonthewash—bench，thinkingofallthis，Ilookeddownatmybaggytrousersandfadedwaistcoatwithdisgust。Oneofthesurestsignsofthelossofself—respectisadisregardofone’spersonalappearance。Ilookedlikeahayseed——nottheindependentcountrymanwhowearsoldclothesonweekdaysfromchoiceandisproudlyconsciousofaSundaysuitinthecloset——butthatothervariety，thepost—officeandbilliard—roomidlerwhohasreachedthepointofutterindifference，istooshiftlesstocare。
　　CaptainJedwasnotsofarwrong，afterall——LuteRogersandIwerebirdsofafeatherinmorewaysthanone。
　　NowonderthatgirlintheautohadlookedatmeasifIweresomethingtoocontemptiblefornotice。YetIhatedherforthatlook。Ihadbehavedlikeaboor，ofcourse。BecauseIwasafailure，acountryloaferwithnoprospectofeverbeinganythingelse，becauseIcouldnotrideinautomobilesandotherscould——
　　thesewerenogoodreasonsforinsultingstrangersmorefortunatethanI。YetIdidhatethatgirl。JustthenIhatedallcreation，especiallythatportionofitwhichamountedtoanything。
　　Itooktheletterfrommypocketandreaditagain。"Ishouldliketoseeyou……onamatterofbusiness。"Whatbusinesscould"Yourstruly，JamesW。Colton"havewithme？AndCaptainJedalsohadtalkedbusiness。IsupposedthatIhadgivenupbusinesslongagoandforgood；now，allatonce，itseemedtobehuntingme。
　　Well，allthehuntingshouldbeonitsside。
　　AtanothertimeImighthavetreatedthegreatColton’s"summonstocourt"asajoke。Imight，likeMother，haveregardedthecurtnessofthecommandanditsgeneraltoneoftakingmypromptobedienceforgrantedasanexpressionoftheWallStreetmagnate’shabitofmind，andnothingmore。Hewasusedtohavingpeoplejumpwhenhesnappedhisfingers。Butnowitmademeangry。IsympathizedwithDeanandAlvinBaker。Thepossessionofmoneydidnotnecessarilyimplyomnipotence。ThiswasCapeCod，notNewYork。HisMajestymight，asCaptainJedputit，haveblownhisImperialnose，butI，forone，wouldn’t"layinasupplyofhandkerchiefs"——notyet。
　　Iheardarustleinthebushesand，turningmyhead，sawLutecomingalongthepath。Hewaswalkingfast——fastforhim，thatis——
　　andseemedtobeexcited。Hisexcitement，however，didnotcausehimtoforgetprudence。Helookedcarefullyabouttobesurehiswifewasnotinsight，beforehespoke。
　　"Dorindyain’tbeenheresenceI’vebeengone，hasshe？"washisfirstquestion。
　　"Iguessnot，"saidI。"ShehasbeeninthehousesinceIgotback。ButIdon’tknowhowlongyou’vebeengone。"
　　"Onlyafewminutes。I——Ijuststeppedover’crosstheLaneforajiffy，that’sall。Say，bytime；themColtonsmusthavemoney！"
　　"That’sahabitofmillionaires，Ibelieve。"
　　"Hey？Whatdoyoumeanbythat？Iftheydidn’thavemoneytheycouldn’tbemillionaires，couldthey？How’dyouliketobeamillionaire，Ros？"
　　"Idon’tknow。Inevertried。"
　　"Bytime！I’Dliketotryaspell。I’vebeenoverlookin’’roundtheirplace。Youneverseesuchaplace！Why，theirfrontdoorstep’sbigasthisyard，prettynigh。"
　　"Doesithavetoberaked？"Iasked。
　　"Raked！Whoeverheardofrakin’adoorstep？"
　　"Giveitup！ButitdoesseemtomethatIhaveheardofrakingayard。IthinkDorindamentionedthat，didn’tshe？"
　　Lutelookedatme：thenhehurriedoverandpickeduptherakewhichwaslyingnearthebarn，apile——averysmallpile——ofchipsandleavesbesideit。
　　"Whendidshementionit？"heasked。
　　"Aweekago，Ithink，wasthefirsttime。Shehasreferredtoitoccasionallysince。ShewasmentioningittoyouwhenIwentuptownthismorning。Iheardher。"
　　Lutelookedrelieved。"Oh，THEN！"hesaid。"Ithoughtyoumeantlately。Well，I’mrakin’it，ain’tI？Say，Ros，"headded，eagerly，"didyougotothepost—officewhenyouwasuptown？Wastherealetterthereforyou？"
　　"Whatmakesyouthinktherewas？"
　　"AsaPeters’boy，thebow—leggedone，toldme。Thechauffeur，thefellerthatpilotstheautomobiles，askedhimwherethepost—officewasandheseetheaddressontheenvelope。Hesaidtheletterwasforyou。Itoldhimhewaslyin’——"
　　"Whatintheworlddidyoutellhimthatfor？"Iinterrupted。I
　　hadknownLutealongtime，buthesometimessurprisedme，evenyet。
　　"’Causeheis，ninetimesoutoften，"repliedLute，promptly。
　　"Youneverseesuchayoung—onefordodgin’thetruth。Why，onetimehetoldhisgrandmother，Asa’sma，Imean，that——"
　　"Whatdidhesayabouttheletter？"
　　"Said’twasforyou。AndthechauffeursaidMr。Coltontoldhimtomailitrightoff。’Twan’tforyou，wasit，Ros？"
　　"Yes。"
　　"ItWAS！Well，bytime！WhatdidamanlikeMr。Coltonwritetoyouabout？"
　　AmonghisotherlackingsLutewasconspicuouslyshortoftact。
　　Thiswasnotimeforhimtoaskmesuchaquestion，especiallytoemphasizethe"you。"
　　"Whyshouldn’thewritetome？"Iasked，tartly。
　　"But——butHIM——writin’toYOU！"
　　"Humph！Evenagodstoopsonceinawhile。Readyourmythology，Lute。"
　　"Hey？Say，lookhere，whatareyouswearin’about？"
　　"Swearing？Oh，that’sallright。ThegodIreferredtowasaheathenone。"
　　"Well，it’sagoodthingDorindydidn’thearyou；she’sdownonswearin’，heathenoranyotherkind。ButwhatdidMr。Coltonwritetoyoufor？"
　　"Hesayshewantstoseeme。"
　　"Seeyou？Whatfor？"
　　"Don’tknow。Perhapshewantstoborrowmoney。"
　　"Borrow——！Ibelieveyou’recrazy！"
　　"No，I’mtolerablysane。There！there！don’tlookatmelikethat。
　　Here’shisletter。Readit，ifyouwantto。"
　　Lute’sfingersweresoeagertograspthatletterthattheywereallthumbs。Hedroppeditonthegrass，pickeditupwithasmuchcareasifitwasadiamond，andholdingitafootfromhisnose——
　　hehadbrokenhisspectaclesandwasafraidtoaskDorindaforthemoneytohavethemrepaired——hespeltitouttothelastword。
　　"Well，bytime！"heexclaimed，whenhehadfinished。"Hewantstoseeyouathishousethisforenoon！And——and——why，theforenoon’sallbutgonenow！Whatareyousettin’herefor？"
　　"Well，IthoughtIshouldenjoywatchingyouraketheyard。Itisapleasuredeferredsofar。"
　　"Watchin’me——！RoscoePaine，youareoutofyourhead！Ain’tyougoin’toseehim？"
　　"No。"
　　"YouAIN’T！"
　　"No。"
　　"RosPaine，haveyoujinedinwiththemdarnfoolsuptown？"
　　"Who’sswearingnow？Whatfoolsdoyoumean？"
　　"Darnain’tswearin’。Dorindyherselfsaysthatonceinawhile。
　　ImeanAlvinBaker，andJedDeanandtherestof’em。Theywasgoin’onaboutMr。Coltonlastnight；saidTHEYwan’tgoin’torunathisbeckandcall。Itold’em，saysI，’Youain’thadthechance。You’llrunfastenoughwhenyoudo。’"
　　"DidyousaythattoCaptainJed？"
　　"No—o。IsaidittoAlvin，butoldJed’sjustasbad。He’sdownonanybodythat’sgotmore’nhehas。ButRos，youain’tfoolishenoughtosidewithJedDean。Justthink！Here’sMr。Colton，richer’nKingSolomonandallhisglory。He’sgotservantsandbutlersandbondsandcowponsandhorsesandteamsandautomobilesand——"
　　Irosefromthewashbench。
　　"Iknowwhathe’sgot，Lute，"Iinterrupted。"AndIknowwhathehasn’tgot。"
　　"What？Isthereanythingheain’tgot？"
　　"Hehasn’tgotme——notyet。Ifhewantstoseemehemay。Iexpecttobeathomeforthenextdayortwo。"
　　"Youdon’tmeanyouexpectamillionairelikehimtocomecruisin’
　　afterYOU！Well，bytime！IthinkIseehim！"
　　"Whenyoudo，letmeknow，"Isaid。"Ishouldliketobeprepared。"
　　"Well，——by——time！"saidLute，bywayofsummingup。IatedinnerwithDorinda。Herhusbanddidnotjoinus。Dorindapaidavisittothebackyardand，seeinghowlittlerakinghadbeendone，announcedthatuntilthejobwasfinishedtherewouldbe"nodinnerforsomefolks。"SosheandIateandLuteraked，underprotest，andvowingthathewassofaintandhollerhecal’latedtocollapse’mostanytime。
　　AfterthemealwasfinishedIwentdowntotheboathouse。Theboathousewasalittlebuildingonthebeachatthefootofthebluffbelowthehouse。ItwasafavoriteresortofmineandI
　　spentmanyhoursthere。Myeighteenfootmotorlaunch，theComfort，theoneexpensiveluxuryIallowedmyselfandwhichIhadboughtsecond—handtwoyearsbefore，wasjackedupinthemiddleofthefloor。Theengine，whichIhadtakenaparttoclean，wasinpiecesbesideit。Onthewallshungmytwoshotgunsandmyfishingrod。Outside，onthebeach，wasmyflat—bottomedskiff，whichIusedforrowingaboutthebay，heroarsunderthethwarts。
　　Intheboathousewasacomfortablearmchairandasmallshelfofbooks，novelsforthemostpart。Acheapclockandabroken—downcouch，thelatteradiscardfromtheoriginaloutfitofthecottage，madeupthelistoffurniture。
　　Myideaincomingtotheboathousewastocontinuemyworkwiththeengine。Itrieditforahalfhourorsoandthengaveitup。Itdidnotinterestmethen。Ishutthedooratthesideofthebuilding，thatbywhichIhadentered——thebigdoubledoorsinfrontIhadnotopenedatall——and，takingabookfromtheshelf，stretchedmyselfonthecouchtoread。
　　ThebookIhadchosenwasonebelongingtotheDenboroLadies’
　　Library；MissAlmenaDoane，thelibrarian，hadrecommendedithighly，asa"realinterestingstory，withlotsofupliftingthoughtsinit。"ThethoughtsmightbeupliftingtoAlmena，buttheydidnotelevatemyspirits。Asforthestory——well，theherowasayounggentlemanwhowaspoorbuttremendouslycleverandhandsome，andtheheroinehadeyes"asdarkanddeepasstarlitpools。"Thepoorbutbeautifulpersonmetthepool—eyedoneataconcert，wherehesat，"hiswholesoultransfiguredbythemusic，"
　　andshehadbeen"fascinatedinspiteofherself"bythelookonhisface。Ireadasfarasthatanddroppedthebookindisgust。
　　AfterthatImusthavefallenasleep。Whatawakenedmewasaknockonthedoor。ItwasLute，ofcourse。Probablymotherwantedmeforsomethingorother，andDorindahadsentherhusbandtohuntmeup。
　　Theknockwasrepeated。
　　"Comein，"Isaid，sleepily。
　　Thedooropenedandincame，notLute，butatall，portlyman，withayachtingcaponthebackofhisgrayhead，andacigarinhismouth。HelookedatmeasIlayonthecouchandIlayonthecouchandlookedathim。
　　"Afternoon，"hesaid，curtly。"IsyournamePaine？"
　　Inodded。Iwaswakingrapidly，butIwastooastonishedtospeak。
　　"RoscoePaine？"
　　"Yes。"
　　"Well，mine’sColton。Isentyoualetterthismorning。Didyougetit？"
　　CHAPTERIV
　　Isatuponthecouch。Mr。Coltonknockedtheashesfromhiscigar，waitedaninstant，andthenrepeatedhisquestion。
　　"Didyougetmyletter？"heasked。
　　"Yes，"Isaid。
　　"Oh，youdid。Iwasafraidthatmanofminemighthaveforgottentomailit。"
　　"No，Igotit。Won’tyou——er——won’tyousitdown？"Hepulledthearmchairtowardhimandsatdown。Inoticedthathehadahabitofdoingthingsquickly。Hissentenceswereshortandtothepointandhespokeandactedlikeoneaccustomedtohavinghisownway。
　　Hecrossedhiskneesandlookedaboutthelittlebuilding。
　　"Itisapleasantday，"Iobserved，forthesakeofsayingsomething。Hedidnotseemtohearme，or，ifhedid，hewasnotinterestedintheweather。FormypartIfoundthesituationembarrassing。Iknewwhathisnextquestionwouldbe，andIdidnotknowhowtoanswer。Sureenough，heaskedit。
　　"Iwroteyoutocomeovertomyplacethisforenoon，"hesaid。
　　"Youdidn’tcome。"
　　"No。I——"
　　"Whynot？"
　　Herewastheissuejoined。Here，ifever，wastheopportunitytoassertmyindependencealaJedDeanandAlvinBaker。Buttoassertitnow，afterhehaddonetheunexpected，afterthemountainhadcometoMahomet，seemedcaddishandridiculous。SoI
　　temporized，weakly。
　　"Ididn’treadyourletteruntilaboutnoon，"Isaid。
　　"Isee。Well，Iwaiteduntiltwoo’clockandthenIdecidedtohuntyouup。Icalledatyourhouse。Thewomantheresaidyouweredownhere。Yourmother？"
　　"No。"Myanswerwaspromptandsharpenoughthistime。Itwasnatural，perhaps，thatheshouldpresumeDorindatobemymother，butIdidnotlikeit。
　　Hepaidabsolutelynoattentiontothetoneofmyreplyoritscurtness。HedidnotrefertoDorindaagain。Shemighthavebeenmywifeormygreat—auntforallhecared。
　　"Thisyourworkshop？"heasked，abruptly。Then，noddingtowardthedismemberedengine，"Whatareyou？aboatbuilder？"
　　"No，notexactly。"
　　"What’sthepriceofaboatlikethat？"indicatingtheComfortwithakickinherdirection。
　　"Abouttwohundredandfiftydollars，Ibelieve，"Ianswered。
　　"Youbelieve！Don’tyouknow？"
　　"No。Iboughtthatboatsecond—hand。"
　　Hedidnotrefertotheboatagain；apparentlyforgotitaltogether。
　　Hisnextmovewastoriseandturntowardthedoor。Iwatchedhim，wonderingwhatwasgoingtohappennext。Hehadahabitofjumpingfromonesubjecttoanotherwhichwasbewildering。
　　"What’sthatfellowdoingoffthere？"heasked，suddenly。
　　Ilookedwherehewaspointing。
　　"ThatisZebKendrick，"Ianswered。"He’srakingforquahaugs。"
　　"Rakingforwhathogs？"
　　"Quahaugs。WhatyouNewYorkerscallclams。"
　　"Oh！Sell’em，doeshe？"
　　"Yes。"