"Whattimeisit？"Idemanded。
　　"Abouthalf—pastfive，sir，orthereabouts，"wastheanswer，inatoneofmingledwearinessandresentment。PlainlyMr。Johnsonhadbeenupallnightandconsideredhimselfimposedupon。
　　Iwasthankfulthatmylapsefromdutyhadbeenofnolongerduration。Ithadbeenmuchtoolongasitwas。
　　"HowisMr。Colton？"Iasked。
　　"Better，sir，Ibelieve。Heisrestingmorequietatpresent。"
　　"WhereisCahoon？"
　　"HereIbe，"thisfromPhineasinthenextroom。"Haveagoodsnooze，didyou，Ros？"
　　"Toogood。"Iwalkedinandfoundhimstillsittingbythetelegraphinstrument。"Hasanythinghappened？"Iasked。
　　"Narything。Allquietasthetombsincethatlastmessage，theoneyouheard。Prettynighfellasleepmyself，Idid。GuessI
　　shouldhave，onlyMissColtonshecameinandkeptmecomp’nyforaspell。"
　　"MissColton——hasshebeenhere？Whydidn’tyoucallme，Ros？"
　　"Iwasgoin’to，butshewouldn’tletme。Saidyouwasallworeout，poorfeller，andthatyouwan’ttobedisturbedunless’twasnecessary。She’sanawfulniceyoungwoman，ain’tshe。Nothin’
　　stuckupabouther，atall。Sethereandtalkedwithmejustassociableandfolksyasifshewan’twuthacent。Askedmorequestionsthanafew，shedid。"
　　"Didshe？"Iwasnotpayingmuchattentiontohisremarks。Mymindwasbusywithmoreimportantthings。IwaswonderingwhatDaviswasdoingjustthen。Phinwenton。
　　"Yup。Ihappenedtorememberthatyouwan’tatthebankto—dayandIaskedherifsheknewthereasonwhy。’Howdidyouknowhewasn’tthere？’saysshe。’AlvinBakertoldmefust，’Isays，’andSamWheelertoldhim。Everybodyknewitandwaswonderin’aboutit。Theycal’latedRoswassick，’Itoldher，’butthatcouldn’tbeorhewouldn’tberoundheresettin’upallnight。’WhatWAS
　　thereasonyouwan’tthere，Ros？"
　　Ithoughtitstrangethathe，andeveryoneelseintown，didnotknowthereasonbeforethis。WasitpossiblethatCaptainDeanaloneknewofmy"treason"toDenboro，andthathewaskeepingthediscoverytohimself？Whyshouldhekeepittohimself？Hehadthreatenedtodrivemeoutoftown。
　　"Ihadotherbusinessto—day，Phin，"Ianswered，shortly。
　　"Yup。SoIgatheredfromwhatCap’nJedsaid。Hewasinthedepotthisnoonsendin’atelegramandIaskedhimaboutyou。’IsRossick？’Isays。’Huh！’sayshe——youknowhowhegrunts，Ros；foralltheworldlikeahog——’Huh！’sayshe，’sick！No，butI
　　cal’latehe’llbeprettysickaforelong。’Whatdidhemeanbythat，doyous’pose？"
　　Iknew，butIdidnotexplain。Imadenoreply。
　　"Twasaqueersortoftalk，seemedtome，"continuedPhin。"I
　　askedhimagainwhyyouwan’tatthebank，andhesaidyouhadotherbusiness，justsameasyousaidnow。Hewasuglyasacowwithasorehornoversomethin’andIjudged’twasbesttokeepstill。Thattelegramhesentwasasurprisin’thing，too。’Twasto——butthere！hemademepromiseIwouldn’ttellandsoImustn’t。
　　Iain’ttoldasoul——exceptone——andthenitslippedoutaforeI
　　thought。However，thatonewon’tmakenodifference。Sheain’tinterestedin——intheonethetelegramwassentto，’tain’tlikely。"
　　"WhereisMissColtonnow？"Iasked。
　　"Withhermaandpa，Ipresumelikely。Herandmesetandwhisperedtogetherforalongspell。Landsakes！shewouldn’tletmespeaklouder’nawhisperforfearofwakin’youup。Abody’dthinkyouwasayoung—oneinarms，thecareshetookofyou。"
　　AgainIdidnotanswer，andagainthegarrulousstationmastercontinuedwithoutwaitingforareply。
　　"Isaystoher，saysI，’It’sapityGeorgeTaylorain’ttohome，’
　　Isays。’Ishouldn’twonderifhecouldhelpyouwiththisLouisvillestockyou’resoworriedabout。Georgewasconsider’bleinterestedinthatstockhimselfaspellago。IsentmuchasadozentelegramsfromhimaboutthatverystocktosomebrokerfolksuptoBoston，andtheywasmightyanxioustelegrams，too。Itellyou！’Isays。"
　　Hehadcaughtmyattentionatlast。
　　"Didyoutellherthat？"Idemanded。
　　"SureIdid！Inevermeantto，nuther。Ain’ttoldanothersoul。
　　Yousee，George，heaskedmenotto。Butshe’sgotawaywithherthatwouldmakeOldNickconfesshissins，ifshesetouttolarn’em。IwassortofashamedafterItoldherandIexplainedtoherthatIhadn’toughttodoneit。’ButIguessit’sallrightnow，anyway，’Isays。’IftherewasanytroublealongofGeorgeandthatstockIcal’lateit’sallover。Heacteddreadfulworriedforaspell，butfortheweekaforehewasmarriedheseemedchipperasever。Biggestchangeinhimyoueversee，’saysI。’Somytellin’
　　youisallright，Iguess，’Isays。’I’msureit’sallright，’
　　saysshe，andherfacekindoflightedup，asyoumightsay。WhenshelookedatmethatwayI’dhavegivenhermyhouseandlot，ifshe’dwanted’em，thoughyouneedn’ttellmyoldwomanthatIsaidso。He！he！’Ofcourseit’sallright，’shesays。’Butyouhadbetternottellanyoneelse。We’llhaveitforoursecret，won’twe，Mr。Cahoon？’shesays，smilin’。’Sartinwewill，’saysI。
　　And——well，bythunder！"asifthethoughtoccurredtohimforthefirsttime。"Isaidthat，andnowI’vebeenandblattedoutthewholebusinesstoyou！IamtheDARNDESTfool！"
　　Ididnotcontradicthim。Iwastooangryanddisturbedeventospeaktohimforthemoment。And，beforeIcouldspeak，wewereinterrupted。Theyoungladyherselfappearedinthedoorway。SHE
　　hadnotslept，thatwasplain。Herfacewaspaleandthereweredarkshadowsbeneathhereyes。AsIlookedatherIwasmoreashamedofmyownunpremeditatednapthanever。Yetshewas，asthedoctorhadsaid，calmanduncomplaining。Sheevensmiledasshegreetedus。
　　"Goodmorning，"shesaid。"Yourbreakfastisready，Mr。Cahoon。I
　　knowyoufeelthatyoumustbegettingbacktoyourworkatthestation。"
　　Phineaspulledoutanenormousnickelwatchandglancedatit。
　　"Landsakes！mostsix，ain’tit，"heexclaimed。"Iguessyou’reright。I’llhavetobetrottin’along。Butyouneedn’tfussfornobreakfastforme。I’musedtomissin’ameal’svittlesnowandagainandIetenoughlastnighttolastmeonespell。"
　　Hewashurryingfromtheroom，butshewouldnotlethimgo。
　　"Therehasbeenno’fuss’whatever，Mr。Cahoon，"shesaid。
　　"Breakfastisready，hereinthelibrary。Andyoursisready，too，Mr。Paine。Ihopeyourfewminutes’sleephasrestedyou。Iamsorryyouwokesosoon。ItoldJohnsontobecarefulandnotdisturbyou。"
　　"Ideservetobeshotforsleepingatall，"Ideclared，inselfreproach。"Ididnotmeanto。Ilaydownforamomentand——well，IsupposeIwasrathertired。"
　　"Iknow。Lastnight’sexperiencewasenoughtotireanyone。"
　　"Nonsense！Itwasnoworseformethanforyou，"Isaid。
　　"Yes，itwas。Youhadthecareandtheresponsibility。I，yousee，knewthatIwaswellguarded。Besides，Isleptforhoursthismorning。Come，bothofyou。Breakfastisready。"
　　Phineaswasalreadyseatedatthetable，glancingoverhisshoulderatthebutler，whoselookofdignifieddisgustatbeingobligedtowaituponacountrymaninhisshirtsleeveswouldhavebeenfunny，ifIhadbeeninamoodforfun。Idon’tknowwhichwasthemoreuncomfortable，Cahoonorthebutler。
　　"Won’tyoujoinus，MissColton？"Iasked。
　　"Why——why，yes，perhapsIwill，ifyoudon’tmind。IamnothungrybutIwilltakeacupofcoffee，Johnson。"
　　Phineasdidalmostallthetalkingwhileheremainedwithus，whichwasnotlong。Heswallowedhisbreakfastinatremendoushurry，aproceedingwhichstillfurtherdiscomposedthestatelyJohnson，andthenroseandputonhiscoat。
　　"Ihatetoleaveyoushorthandedandonaleeshore，Miss，"heexplained，apologetically；"butIknowyouunderstandhow’tiswithme。Myjob’sallI’vegotandI’llhavetohangontoit。Theuptrain’sdueinfortyminutesandI’vegottobeonhandatthedeepo。However，I’vegotthatDavisfeller’saddressandI’llraisehimthefirstthingtosendhismessagestomeandI’llget’emrightdownherebythereg’lartelephone。Hecanusethat——
　　what—do—you—call—it？——thatcodething，ifhe’sscartofanybody’sfindin’outwhathesays。Thebossschool—marmofallcreationcouldn’treadthatgibberishwithoutthebook。"
　　Ihatedtohavehimgo，buttherewasnoalternative。AfterhehadgoneandsheandIwerelefttogetheratthetableasenseofrestraintseemedtofalluponusboth。Toseehersittingoppositemeatthetable，pouringmycoffeeandbreakfastingwithmeinthisintimate，familyfashion，wassowonderfulandstrangethatIcouldthinkofnothingelse。Itremindedme，inaway，ofourluncheonatSeabury’sPond，butthathadbeenoutofdoors，animpromptupicnic，withallapicnic’ssurroundings。Thiswasdifferent，quitedifferent。Itwassofamiliar，sohomelike，soconventional，andyet，forherandme，soimpossible。Ilookedatherandshe，lookingupatthemoment，caughtmyeyes。Thecolormountedtohercheeks。Ifeltmyownfaceflushing。Dorinda——practical，unromanticDorinda——hadguessedmyfeelingforthisgirl；Motherhaddivinedit。Itwasplainenoughforanyonetoread。Iglancedapprehensivelyatthebutler，halfexpectingtoseeuponhisclericalcountenancethelookofscornfulcontemptwhichwouldprovethathe，too，waspossessedoftheknowledge。Buthemerelybentforwardwithadeferential，"Yes，sir。Whatisit？"andI
　　meeklyrequestedanotherroll。ThenIbegan，desperately，totalk。
　　IinquiredaboutMr。Colton’sconditionandwastoldthathewas，orappearedtobe，atriflebetter。Mrs。Coltonwas，atlast，thankstothedoctor’spowders，asleep。JohnsonlefttheroomforthemomentandIswitchedtothesubjectwhichneitherofushadmentionedsincethenightbefore，theLouisvilleandTranscontinentalmuddle。IexplainedwhathadbeendoneandpretendedaconfidencewhichIdidnotfeelthateverythingwouldendwell。Shelistened，but，itseemedtome，shewasnotasinterestedasIexpected。Atlengthsheinterruptedme。
　　"Supposewedonottalkaboutitnow，"shesaid。"AsIunderstandit，you——we，thatis——havemadeupourminds。Wehavedecidedtodocertainthingswhichseemtousright。Rightorwrong，theymustbedonenow。Iamtryingveryhardtobelievethemrightandnottoworryanymoreaboutthem。Oh，ICAN’Tworry！Ican’t！
　　Withalltherest，I——I——Pleaseletuschangethesubject。Mr。
　　Paine，Iamafraidyoumustthinkmeselfish。Ihavesaidnothingaboutyourowntrouble。Father——"shechokedonthename，butrecoveredhercomposurealmostimmediately——"Fathertoldme，afterhisreturnfromyourhousethismorning，thathispurchaseofthelandhadbecomepublicandthatyouwereindangeroflosingyourpositionatthebank。"
　　Ismiled。"Thatdangerispast，"Ianswered。"Ihavelostit。
　　CaptainDeangavememywalkingpapersthismorning。"
　　"Oh，Iamsosorry！"
　　"Iamnot。Iexpectedit。Thewonderisonlythatithasnothappenedbefore。IrealizedthatitwasinevitablewhenImadeupmymindtosell。Itisofnoconsequence，MissColton。"
　　"Yes，itis。ButFatherofferedyouthepositioninhisemploy。
　　Hesaidyourefused，buthebelievedyourrefusalwasnotfinal。"
　　"Hewaswrong。Itisfinal。"
　　"But——"
　　"Ihadrathernotdiscussthat，MissColton。"
　　Shelookedatmeoddly，andwithafaintsmile。"Verywell，"shesaid，afteramoment，"wewillnotdiscussitnow。ButyoucannotsupposethateitherFatherorIwillpermityoutosufferonouraccount。"
　　"Thereisnosuffering。Isoldthelandtoyourfatherdeliberatelyandwithcompleteknowledgeoftheconsequences。Astothebank——
　　well，IamnoworseoffthanIwasbeforeIentereditsemploy。
　　Iamsatisfied。"
　　Shetoyedwithhercoffeespoon。
　　"CaptainDeanseemstobetheonlypersoninDenborowhoknowsofthesale，"shesaid。"Whyhashekeptitasecret？"
　　"Idon’tknow。Hashe？"
　　"Youknowhehas，Mr。Paine。Mr。Cahoondidnotknowofit，andhewouldbeoneofthefirsttohear。Itseemsoddthatthecaptainshouldtellnoone。"
　　"Probablyheiswaitingforthefullparticulars。Hewilltell，youmaybesureofthat。HislastremarktomewasthatheshoulddrivemeoutofDenboro。"
　　Iratherexpectedaburstofindignation。InfactIwassomewhathurtanddisappointedthatitdidnotcome。Shemerelysmiledoncemore。
　　"Hehasnotdoneityet，"shesaid。"Ifheknewwhyyousoldthatland——yourrealreasonforsellingit——hewouldnotdriveyouaway，ortryto。"
　　Iwasstartledandalarmed。
　　"Whatdoyoumean？"Iaskedquickly。
　　"Ifheknewhewouldnotdriveyouaway，wouldhe？"
　　"Hewillneverknow。"
　　"Perhapshemay。Perhapsthepersonforwhosesakeyousolditmaytellhim。"
　　"Indeedhewillnot！Ishallseetothat。"
　　"Oh，thenthereissuchaperson！Iwassureofitbefore。Nowyouhavetoldme。"
　　BeforeIcouldrecoverfromthementaldisturbanceandchagrinwhichmyslipandherquickseizureofitcausedme，thebutlerre—enteredtheroom。
　　"Mrs。Coltonisawakeandaskingforyou，MissMabel，"hesaid。
　　"Thedoctorthinksyouhadbettergotoheratonce，ifyouplease。"
　　Withawordofapologytome，shehurriedaway。Irosefromthetable。Ihadhadbreakfastenough。Theinterruptionhadcomeatafortunatetimeforme。Hernextquestionmighthaveforcedmetodeclinetoanswer——whichwouldhavebeenequivalenttoadmittingthetruth——ortolie。OnethingIdeterminedtodowithoutdelay。
　　IwouldwriteTayloratoncewarninghimtobemoreclose—mouthedthanever。UndernoconditionswouldIpermithimtospeak。IfitwerenecessaryIwouldgotoWashington，whereheandNelliewerespendingtheirhoneymoon，andmakehimpromisetokeepsilence。
　　Histellingthetruthmightruinhim，anditcertainlywouldnothelpme。Intheoneessentialthing——theonewhichwasclenchingmydeterminationtoleaveDenboroassoonasIcouldandseekforgetfulnessandoccupationelsewhere——noonecouldhelpme。I
　　musthelpmyself，orbemiserablealways。Justnowtheeternalmiseryseemedinevitable，nomatterwhatIdid。
　　Johnsonclearedthetableandleftmealoneinthelibrary。Thehourspassed。Nineo’clockcame，thennine—thirty。Itwasalmosttimeforthestockmarkettoopen。Mythoughts，whichhadbeendivertedfrommyrashplungeintotheintricaciesofhighfinance，begantoreturntoit。Asteno’clockdrewnear，IbegantorealizewhatIhadbadeDavisdo，andtothinkwhatmighthappenbecauseofit。I，RoscoePaine，nolongerevenacountrybanker，wasatthehelmof"BigJim"Colton’sbarkinthemaelstromofthestockmarket。Itwouldhavebeenfunnyifithadnotbeensodesperate。Anddesperateitwas，sheerrecklessdesperationandnothingelse。Imusthavebeencrazierthanever，morewildlyinsanethanIhadbeenforthepastmonth，toeventhinkofsuchathing。Itwasnottoolateyet，IcouldtelegraphDavis——
　　Thetelephoneonthedesk——notthepublic，thelocal，’phone，buttheother，Colton’sprivatewiretoNewYork——rang。Ipickedupthereceiver。
　　"Hello—o！Hello—o！"afaintvoicewascalling。"IsthisColton’shouseatDenboro？……Yes，thisisDavis……Thewireisallrightnow……IsthisMr。Coltonspeaking？"
　　"No，"Ianswered，"Mr。Coltonishereinthehouse。Youmaygivethemessagetome。"
　　"Iwanttoknowifhisordershold。AmItobuy？Askhim。Iwillwait。Hurry！Themarketopensinfiveminutes。"
　　Iputdownthereceiver。Nowwasmyopportunity。Icouldbackoutnow。Fiveminutesmoreanditwouldbetoolate。ButifIdidbackout——what？
　　Oneoftheminutespassed。Thenanother。Iseizedthetelephone。
　　"Goahead！"Ishouted。"Carryoutyourorders。"
　　Afaint"Allright"answeredme。
　　Thediewascast。Iwasinforit。Therewasnothingtodobutwait。
　　AndIwaitedalone。Iwalkedupanddownthefloorofthelittleroom，lookingattheclockandwonderingwhatwashappeningonthatcrowdedfloorofthebigBroadStreetbuilding。Themarketwasopen。DaviswasbuyingasIhaddirected。Butatwhatfigurewashebuying？
　　Noonecamenearme，noteventhebutler。Itwasten—twentybeforethebellrangagain。
　　"Hello！ThisisMr。Davis’soffice。IsthisMr。Colton？TellhimMr。DavissaysL。andT。isonehundredandfiftynowandjumpingtwentypointsatalick。Thereisthedeviltopay。Scarcelyanystockinsightandnextdoortoapanic。Shallwegoonbuying？"
　　Iwastryingtodecideuponananswerwhensomeonetouchedmyelbow。MissColtonwasstandingbesideme。Shedidnotspeak，butshelookedthequestion。
　　ItoldherwhatIhadjustheard。
　　"Onehundredandfifty！"sheexclaimed。"Thatis——Why，thatisdreadful！Whatwillyoudo？"
　　Ishookmyhead。"Thatisforyoutosay，"Ianswered。
　　"No，itisforyou。Youaredoingthis。Itrustyou。Dowhatyouthinkisright——youandMr。Davis。ThatiswhatFatherwouldwishifheknew。"
　　"Daviswilldonothingonhisownresponsibility。"
　　"Thenyoumustdoitalone。Doit！doit！"
　　Iturnedtothe’phoneoncemore。"Buyallyoucanget，"I
　　ordered。"Keeponbidding。ButbesureandspreadthenewsthatitisColtonbuyingtosecurecontroloftheroad，nottocoverhisshorts。Besurethatleaksout。Everythingdependsonthat。"
　　Ihungupthereceiver。SheandIlookedateachother。
　　"Whatwillhappen，doyouthink？"sheasked。
　　"Godknows！……Areyougoing？Don’tgo！"
　　"Imust，"gently。"Fatherisworse，Ifear，andImustnotleavehim。DoctorQuimbysaysthenextfewhoursmaytelluswhetherheis——is——whetherheistobewithusornot。Imustgo。Bebrave。
　　Itrustyou。Bebrave，for——forIamtryingsohardtobe。"
　　Iseizedherhand。Shedrewitfrommygraspandhastenedaway。
　　Brave！Well，forhersake，Imustbe。YetitwasbecauseofherthatIwassuchacoward。
　　AsIrecallallthisnowIwonderatmyself。Thewholethingseemstooimprobabletobetrue，yettrueitwas。Ilostmyidentitythatday，Ithink，and，asthetelephonemessageskeptcoming，andthesituationbecamemoreandmoredesperate，becamesomeoneelse，someoneagreatdealbraverandcoolerandmoreclear—sightedthaneverIhadbeenorshallbeagain。Iseemedtoseemycourseplainereverymomentandtofeelsurerofmyselfandthatmymethod——mybluff，ifyoulike——wastheonlysalvation。
　　AtelevenLouisvilleandTranscontinentalwasselling——thelittlethatwassold——atfourhundredandfiftydollarsashare，onaparvalueoffifty。Ateleven—thirtyithadclimbedanotherhundred。
　　ThewholeStreetwasaBedlam，sothey’phonedme，andthenewspaperswereissuing"panic"extras。
　　"TellDavistostopbuyingnow，"Iordered。"LetitbeknownthatColtonhassecuredcontrolandissatisfied。"
　　Atnoonthefigurewas700bidand800asked。Therewasnotradingatall，forthesufficientreasonthatnosharesweretobehad。
　　Johnsoncameintoaskifheshouldbringmyluncheon。Ibadehimclearoutandletmealone。Ashewastip—toeingawayIcalledafterhim。
　　"HowisMr。Colton？"Iasked。
　　"Verybadindeed，sir。MissMabelwishedmetosaythatshecouldnotleavehimaninstant。Itisthecrisis，thedoctorthinks。"
　　Thereweretwocrisesthen，oneoneachfloorofthebighouse。AtoneDavishimself’phoned。
　　"Stillhangingaround700，"heannounced。"Beginstolookasifthetophadbeenreached。WhatshallIdonow？"
　　MyplanwasreadyandIgavemyordersasifIhadbeendoingsuchthingsforyears。
　　"Sell，insmalllots，atintervals，"Itoldhim。"Then，ifthepricebreaks，beginbuyingthroughanotherbrokerascautiouslyasyoucan。"
　　Theanswerwasinadifferenttone；therewasanewnote，almostofhope，init。
　　"BytheLord，Ibelieveyouhavegotit！"hecried。"Itmaywork。
　　I’llreporttoyou，Mr。Colton，rightaway。"
　　Plainlyhehadnodoubtthat"BigJim"wasdirectingthefightinperson。Farwasitfrommetoundeceivehim！
　　Anotherinterval。Thenhereportedadropofahundredpoints。
　　"Thebottomisbeginningtofallout，Ihonestlybelieve。Theythinkyou’vedone’emagain。Iamspreadingthereportthatyouhavethecontrolcinched。AssoonasthescrambleisreallyonI’llhaveahalfdozenbrokersbuyingforus。"
　　Itwashalf—pasttwowhenthenextmessagecame。Itwasexultant，triumphant。
　　"Downlikeanavalanche。Amgrabbingeveryshareoffered。We’vegot’em，sure！"
　　And，asthreeo’clockstruck，camethefinalcrow。
　　"Hoorayforourside！They’redeadandburied！Youhavetwohundredsharesmorethanfiftypercent，ofthecommonstock。TheLouisvilleroadisinyourpocket，Mr。Colton。Icongratulateyou。
　　Mighthaveknowntheycouldn’tlicktheoldman。Youareawonder。
　　I’llwritefullparticularsandthenIamgoinghomeandtobed。
　　I’mdead。Ididn’tbelieveyoucoulddoit！Howdidyou？"
　　Isatthere，staringatthe’phone。Then，allatonce，Ibegantolaugh，weaklyandhysterically，buttolaugh，nevertheless。
　　"I——IorganizedaDevelopmentCompany，"Igasped。"Goodnight。"
　　Irosefromthechairandwalkedoutintothelibrary。IwassocompletelyfaggedoutbythestrainIhadbeenunderthatI
　　staggeredasIwalked。ThelibrarydooropenedandJohnsoncamein。Hewasbeaming，actuallybeamingwithjoy。
　　"He’sverymuchbetter，sir，"hecried。"He’sconsciousandthedoctorsaysheconsiders’imoutofdangernow。MissMabelsentwordshewouldbedowninashortwhile。Shecan’tleavethemistressimmediate，butshe’llbedownsoon，sir。"
　　Ilookedathiminadazedway。"TellMissColtonthatIamveryglad，Johnson，"Isaid。"Andtellher，too，thateverythinghereissatisfactoryalso。TellherthatMr。Painesaysherfatherhashiscontrol。"
　　"’Hiscontrol！’Andwhatmaythatbe，ifyouplease，sir？"
　　"Shewillunderstand。Saythateverythingisallright，wehavewonandthatMr。Coltonhashiscontrol。Don’tforget。"
　　"And——andwherewillyoube，sir？"
　　"Iamgoinghome，Ithink。Iamgoinghomeand——tobed。"
　　CHAPTERXXIII
　　ThenextthingIrememberwithanydistinctnessisDorinda’sknockingatmybedroomdoor。Irememberreachingthatbedroom，ofcourse，andofmeetingLuteinthekitchenandtellinghimthatI
　　wasnottobedisturbed，thatIshouldnotcomedowntosupperandthatIwantedtobeletalone——tobeletALONE——untilIsawfittoshowmyself。Butthesememoriesareallfoggyandmixedwithdreamsandnightmares。AsIsay，thenextthingthatIrememberdistinctlyafterstaggeringfromtheColtonlibraryisDorinda’sknockingatthedoorofmybedroom。
　　"Ros！Roscoe！"shewascalling。"Canyougetupnow？Thereissomebodydownstairswaitin’toseeyou。"
　　Iturnedoverinbedandbegantocollectmysenses。
　　"Whattimeisit，Dorinda？"Iasked，drowsily。
　　"Aboutten，oralittleafter。"
　　Ten！ThenIhadnotsleptsolong，afterall。ItwasnearlyfourwhenIwenttobedand……Butwhatmadetheroomsolight？
　　Therewasnolamp。Andthewindows……Isatup。
　　"Youdon’tmeantotellmeitisteno’clockINTHEFORENOON！"I
　　cried。
　　"Um—hm。Ihatedtodisturbyou。You’vebeensleepin’liketheeverlastin’hillsandIknewyoumustbecompletelyworeout。ButIfeltprettysartinyou’dwanttoseethe——who’tisthathere’stoseeyou，soIdecidedtowakeyouup。"
　　"Itishightimeyoudid，Ishouldthink！I’llbedowninaminute。Whoisitthatwishestoseeme，Dorinda？"
　　ButDorindahadgone。Idressedhurriedlyanddescendedthestairstothedining—room。There，seatedinachairbythedoor，hiseyesclosed，hischinrestinguponhischest，andhisaristocraticnoseproclaimingthefactthatheslumbered，wasJohnson，theColtonbutler。Iwasnotgreatlysurprised。Ihadrathersuspectedthatmycallermightbehe，orsomeothermessengerfromthebighouse。