"Victor！"cautionedMissColton。
　　"Hush，Mabel！Thisisridiculous。YouandIsawtwoboatsgostraightoutfromthebeachthismorning。Wewentoutthatwayourselves。Hereyou——Paine，orwhateveryournameis——we’vehadenoughofthis。I’vehiredyoutotakeusashore，andIwanttogothereandnotahalfmileinanotherdirection。WillyoudoasI
　　tellyou？"
　　Whenthedingyandtheotherboatscrossedtheflatthetidehadbeenhourshigher，ofcourse；butIwasinnomoodtoexplain——tohim。
　　"No，"Isaid，shortly。
　　"Youwon’t？ThenyougivemeanoarandI’llrowtherestofthewaymyself。"
　　Therewereonlytwooarsintheskiff，butIcouldgetonperfectlywellwithone。Anditwouldservehimbeautifullyrighttolethimgo。Buttherewasthegirl。Ihesitated。
　　"Givemethatoar，"herepeated，angrily。"Youwon’t？Then，byJove，I’lldowithoutit。Stop！Stopwhereyouare！doyouunderstand。Wedon’trequireyourservicesanylonger。"
　　Heturnedandbeganuntyingthetowline。Istoppedrowing。
　　MissColtonlookedtroubled。
　　"Victor！"shecried。"Whatareyoudoing？"
　　"IknowwhatI’mdoing。Can’tyouseethisfellow’sgame？Thelongertherowthehigherhisprice，that’sall。Hecan’tworkme。
　　I’veseenhiskindbefore。Don’tbefrightened。Ifwecan’tdoanythingelsewecananchorandwaituntiltheyseeusfromthehouse。"
　　Idiot！Atthatpointthechannelwasdeepandthebottomsoftmud。
　　Idoubtedifhisanchorwouldtouchand，ifitdid，Iknewitwouldnothold。Ibackedwaterandbroughttheskiffalongsidethedingy，therailofwhichIseizedandheld。
　　"Keepoff！"orderedVictor，stillfumblingwiththerope。"Wedon’twantyourhelp。"
　　Iwastednobreathonhim。Iaddressedmyremarkstothegirl。
　　"MissColton，"Isaid，"willyoulistentome，please。Youcan’tanchorherebecauseyouranchorwillnothold。Andyoucan’tcrossthatflatatthisstageofthetide。Icangiveyouanoar，ofcourse，butitwon’tdoanygood。Myoarsaretoolightandsmallforyourboat。Unlessyouwishtodriftbackwhereyouwere，orbeyond，youmustletmetowyouaroundtheheadofthisflat。"
　　Idon’tknowwhatanswershemighthavemade。None，perhaps；
　　althoughIamsureshewaslistening。ButVictor，whohadsucceededinuntyingthetowline，cutinaheadofher。
　　"Mabel，"hewarned，"don’tpayanyattentiontohim。Didn’tyourfathertelluswhathewas？There！"throwingtheendoftheropeoverboardandaddressingme；"now，youmayclearout。We’vedonewithyou。Understand？"
　　IlookedatMissColton。ButImightaswellhavelookedataniceberg。Islidoneofmyoarsoverintothedingy。
　　"Thereyouare，"Isaid，grimly。"ButIwarnyouthatyou’reinfortrouble。"
　　Iletgooftherailandtheboatsfellapart。Victorseizedtheborrowedoarwithatriumphantlaugh。
　　"Yourbluffwouldn’twork，wouldit，Reuben，"hesneered。"I’llsendyoutheoarandyourpaylater。Now，Mabel，sittight。I’llhaveyouashoreinfifteenminutes。"
　　Hebeganrowingtowardtheweed—coveredflat。Isaidnothing。I
　　wasfuriouslyangryanditwassomemomentsbeforeIrecoveredself—possessionsufficientlytogetmyremainingoarovertheskiff’ssternand，bysculling，holdheragainstthetide。ThenI
　　watchedandwaited。
　　Itwasnotalongwait。Victorwasindifficultiesalmostfromthebeginning。TheoarbelongingtothedingywasafootlongerthantheoneIhadgivenhimandhezig—zaggedwildly。Soonhewasintheedgeoftheeelgrassand"catchingcrabs，"firstononeside，thenontheother。Thedingy’sbowsliduponthemud。Hestooduptopushitoff，andthesternswungaround。Gettingclear，hetookafreshstartandsucceededonlyinfoulingagain。Thistimehegotfurtherintothetanglebeforehegrounded。Thebowroseandthesternsettled。Therewasamightysplashing，asVictorpushedandtugged，butthedingystuckfast。AndthereshewouldcontinuetostickforfourhoursunlessI，orsomeoneelse，helpedheroff。
　　Ididnotwanttohelp。Infact，IlookedallupanddownthebaybeforeImadeamove。Butitwasdinnertimeandtherewasnotanothersoulafloat。Morethanthat，Inoticed，asIhadnotnoticedbefore，thatbrownclouds——windclouds——werepilingupinthewest，and，ifIwasanythingofaprophet，wewouldhavesquallsanddirtyweatherlongbeforethosefourhourswereover。
　　Andthedingy，inthatposition，wasnotsafetofaceablow。No，asthesmallboyssay，itwas"uptome。"Iwisheditwasnot，butitwas。
　　SoagainIwenttotherescue，butthistimeinanentirelydifferentframeofmind。Myangerandresentmenthadsettledtoacolddetermination，andthistripwaspurelybusiness。Iwasnotatadisadvantagenow，asIhadbeenwhenIfirstmetthatgirlandherfriend，in"BigJim"Colton’slibrary。IwasmasterofthissituationandmasterIintendedtobe。
　　Isculledtheskiffstraightintotheedgeoftheflat，atapointwherethebankslopedsharplytodeepwater。Ithrewovermyanchor，shortenedtheropeandmadeitfast。ThenIsteppedoutintowaterabovemyshoetopsandwadedtowardthedingy。Thewaterwasicycold，butIdidnotknowitatthetime。
　　Isplashedthroughtheeelgrass。Victorsawmecomingandroaredanangryprotest。Hewasstilltryingtopushtheboatoffwithanoar。
　　"Here！"heshouted。"Youkeepaway。Wedon’twantyou。"
　　Ididnotcarewhathewanted。Isplashedalongsidethedingyandlookedatherandthepositionshewasin。Mymindwasmadeupinstantly。
　　"You’llnevergetheroffifyoubothstayaboard，"Isaid。"Lettheladymoveamidshipsandyougetoutandwade。"
　　HeglaredatmeasifIwereascrazyasColtonorLutehaddeclaredmetobe。Thenhelaughedcontemptuously。
　　"Yougobackwhereyoucamefrom，"heordered。"I’mrunningthis。"
　　"Yes，I’venoticedthat。NowI’llstatethefactsasplainlyasI
　　can。Thisboatisfastagroundinthemud，thetideisstillgoingout，andtherearesquallscoming。Shemustbegotoffortheremaybedanger。Youcan’tgetheroffuntilsheislightened。Willyougetoutandwade？"
　　Hedidnotanswer；insteadhecontinuedtopushwiththeoar。I
　　turnedtothegirl。
　　"MissColton，"Isaid，"Imustaskyoutostandup。Becarefulwhenyourise。"
　　Shemadenomove，nordidshereply。Thelookshegavemewasenough。
　　"Youmuststandup，"Irepeated，firmly。"Eitheryour——thisgentleman——mustgetout，asItellhimto，orIshallhavetocarryyoutomyskiff。Wehaven’tanytimetospare。"
　　Shegazedatmeinblankastonishment。Thenthecolorflamedinhercheeksandhereyesflashed。
　　"Wedon’twishyourhelp，"shesaid，icily。
　　"I’msorry，butthatmakesnodifference。I——"
　　Victorwhirledonme，theoarinhishands。Ithoughtforaninstanthewasgoingtostrikemewithit。
　　"Youblackguard！"heshouted。"Willyougoaway？"
　　Ilookedathimandthenather。Ithadtobedone，andmymindwasmadeuptodoit。Iwadedinuntilthewaterwasalmosttomyknees，andIwasabreastthesternofthestrandedboat。
　　"MissColton，"Isaid，"Iamgoingtocarryyoutomyskiff。Areyouready？"
　　"You——Why！——"shebreathed。
　　Istooped，liftedherinmyarms，andploughedthroughtheweedsandwater。Themudwassoftandmyfeetsankintoit。Shestruggled。
　　"Youmustkeepstill，"Isaid，sharply，"orIshalldropyou。"
　　Shegasped，butshestoppedstruggling。FrombehindmeIheardaroarofragefromVictor。
　　Icarriedhertotheanchoredskiffand，plunginginstilldeeper，seatedheronthesternthwart。
　　"Sitthere，please，anddon’tmove，"Isaid。"IshallbebackassoonasI’vegotyourboatafloat。"
　　Iwadedbacktothedingy。Victorwasfrantic，buthedidnotdisturbme。Theworstofmyunpleasantjobwasover。
　　"Nowsitdown，"Iordered。"Doyouhearme？Sitdownandsitstill。"
　　"You——you——"hestammered。
　　"Becauseifyoudon’tsitdown，"Icontinuedserenely，"you’relikelytotumbleoverboard。I’mgoingtopushthisboatoff。"
　　Thefirstpushhelpedtomakeuphismind。Hesat，involuntarily。
　　Ipushedwithallmymightand，slowlyandjerkily，thedingyslidofftheshoal。Buttherewereothersallabout。WithonehandonthebowIguidedherbetweenthemandtotheedgeofthechannel。
　　Then，wadingalongtheslipperybank，Ibroughthertotheskiff。
　　Mypassengerhadbeenmakingremarksintransit，butIpaidnoattentiontothem。
　　Imadetheropefastfortowing，tookmyoarfromthedingy，pulleduptheskiff’sanchorandclimbedaboard。
　　"Sitwhereyouare，"IsaidtoVictor。"MissColton，pleasekeepasstillaspossible。"
　　IventuredtolookatherasIsaidthis，butIlookedbutonce。
　　AllthewayhomeIkeptmygazefixedonthebottomboardsoftheskiff。
　　Imadethelandingjustintime。Infact，thesquallstruckbeforeIwasabreasttheColtonplace。Thechannelbeyondtheflat，whichwehadsolatelyleft，waswhippedtowhitecapsinamomentandminiaturebreakerswerebeatingagainstthemudbankwherethedingyhadgrounded。
　　Underthehighbluffitwascalmenough。Thetidewastoolowtomakeuseofthelittlewharf，soIbeachedtheskiffanddrewthetowedboatinbytheline。IofferedtoassistMissColtonashore，butshe，apparently，didnotseemyprofferedhand。Victorscrambledoutbyhimself。Noonesaidanything。Iuntiedtheropeandpulleditin。ThenIpreparedtopushoff。
　　"Here！"growledVictor。"Waitaminute。"
　　Ilookedup。Hewasstandingattheedgeofthewater，withonehandinhispocket。MissColtonwasbehindhim。
　　"Well？"Iasked。
　　"Ihaven’tpaidyouyet，"hesaid，sullenly。"Howmuch？"
　　"Whatdoyoumean？"Iasked。Iknew，ofcourse，butitpleasedmetomakehimsayit。
　　"Why，howmuchfortowingusin？What’syourprice？Come，hurryup。"
　　"Ihaven’tanyprice。I’mnotinthesalvagebusiness。"
　　"Not——Say，don’tbargain。What’syourprice，Iaskyou？"
　　"Nothing，ofcourse。Verygladtohavebeenofassistance。"
　　Itookupmyoars。
　　"Here！"heshouted。"Stop！holdon！Confoundyou！doyousupposewedon’tintendtopayyouforthis？"
　　Ishookmyhead。"Ithasbeenapleasure，"Isaid，sweetly。"Goodday。"
　　Irowedoff，butallthewaydowntomyboathouseIsmiledcontentedly。IhadseenthelookonMabelColton’sface。IratherthoughtIhadevenedtheaccountbetweenus；atleastIhadreducedthebalanceatrifle。ThistimeitwasnotIwhoappearedridiculous。
　　DorindasawmewhenIenteredthekitchen。Herhandswereupraised。
　　"Mysoulandbody！"sheexclaimed。"LOOKatthempants！LOOKat’em！AndIain’thadtimetoputaneedletoyourotheronesyet！"
　　CHAPTERVI
　　Therain，whichIexpectedwouldfollowthesquall，didnotcomeuntillatethatnight，anditwasstillfallingheavilythenextmorning。Itwasawarmrain，however，and，afterbreakfast，I
　　walkeduptothevillage。Isaidnothing，eventoMother，aboutthehappeningsinthebay，andDorinda，whohadaskedmanysarcasticquestionsconcerningthestateofmybluetrousers——ifI
　　had"mistook’emforabathin’suit"andthelike——seemedsatisfiedwithmyhurriedexplanationthatIhadgottenoverboard。"Thoughhowyoufellinfeetfust，"sheobserved，"Idon’tsee。"Shehadmendedmybrownpair，sittingupuntilaftertwotodoso。
　　Luteinformedmethathehadbeenuptothepost—office。
　　"Everybody’stalkin’aboutthemColtons，"hedeclared。"Iseetheirautomobilelastnight，myself。TheColtongirl，shecomeintothestore。My！she’sastunner，ain’tshe！Simwaitedonher，himself，andgaveherthemail。Shewantedtobuysomecheese——forarabbit，shesaid。Ineverheardoffeedingarabbitoncheese，didyou，Ros？"
　　"No，"Ireplied，laughing。Itwasnotworthwhiletoexplain。
　　"Nornobodyelse，buther！Iguess，"continuedLute，"likelyshewasjustjokin’。Anyhow，Simwasalloutofcheese，buthehadsomeniceprintbutter，justin。Shedidn’twantnobutter，though。"
　　"Humph！"sniffedDorinda。"DidSimEldredgecal’lateshewantedtofeedtherabbitbutter？WastheColtongirlalone？"
　　"No。Therewasayoungfellerwithher；theonethat’svisitin’
　　’em。Carverhisnameis——VictorCarver。Didyoueverhearsuchanameinyourlife？AforeI’dnameachildofmineVictor！"
　　"Um—hm。Well，Iwouldn’twastetimeworryin’aboutthat，ifIwasyou。Lookhere，LuteRogers，youdidn’tsayanythingaboutRoscoe’stalkwithMr。Colton，didyou？"
　　"No，no！no，no！CourseIdidn’t。"
　　"Yousure？"
　　"Yes。’TaintlikelyIwould，wouldI？Cap’nJedwasonhand，asusual，andhewasfullofquestions，buthedidn’tgetanythingoutofme。’WhatdidColtonsaytoRos？’hesays。’HowdoIknowwhathesaid？’saysI。’Iwan’tthere，wasI？’’Wherewasyouthatforenoon？’hesays。’Forenoon！’saysI，’thatshowshowmuchyouknowaboutit。’Twasthreeo’clockintheafternoon。’Oh，Ihadthelaughonhim！"
　　Dorindalookedatmeandshookherhead。
　　"It’stoobad，Roscoe，"shesaid。"ButIwasafraidofitassoonasIfoundhe’dsneakedofftothepost—office。Ical’lateit’sallovertownbynow。"
　　"Whatdoyoumeanbythat？"Lute’sdignitywasoutraged。"Allovertown！Inevertoldhimnothin’。"
　　"No。OnlythatRosandMr。Coltonweretogetherand’twasthreeo’clockintheafternoon。Andgoodnessknowshowmuchmore！DObequiet！SeemssometimesasifIshouldlosepatiencewithyoualtogether。IsthisCarvertheColtongirl’syoungman？Aretheyengaged？"
　　"Idon’tknow。Iguesshe’skeepin’companywithher，bythelooks。Igotasnighto’emasIcould，butIdidn’thearmuchtheysaid。Only，justastheywasgoin’out，hesaidsomethin’
　　aboutgoin’foralittlespininthecar。Shesaidno，herfatherwouldwanthisletters。Carver，hesaid，whynotsendOscarhome——
　　that’sthechauffeur，youknow——withtheletters，andhe’drunthecarhimself。Shekindoflaughed，andsaidsheguessednot，she’dtakenonetripwithhimalreadythatdayandshedidn’tbelieveshecaredforanother。Heseemedkindofputoutaboutit，Ithought。"
　　IhadbeenfeelingratherprovokedatLuteforgivingCaptainJedtheinformationconcerningmyinterviewwithColton；but，somehow，thisotherbitofnewsrestoredmygoodhumor。WhenIstartedforthevillageIdidnottaketheshortcutacrossthefields，butfollowedmyregularroute，thepathbythebluffandtheShoreLane。Iwasnolongerfearfulofmeetingmynewneighbors。Thememoryofthehappeningsinthebaywasadelightfulsolacetomywoundedself—respect。IchuckledoveritasIwalkedthroughthedrippingpinesofthelittlegrove。Nomatterhowcontemptuouslyindifferentthatgirlmightpretendtobeshewouldnotforgetwhathadtakenplace；thatshehadbeenobligedtoobeymyorders；thatIhadcarriedhertothatskiff；thatIhadsavedherfromadanger——notagreatdanger，andagainstherwill，ofcourse——butsavedhernevertheless。Shewasunderanobligationtome；shecouldnothelpherself。Howthatmustgallher。IrememberedthelookonherfaceasIrowedaway。Sweetwasrevenge。AndVictor——
　　Victorwasajoke。
　　WhenIreachedtheLaneIlookedoverattheColtonmansion。Therainhadgiventhecarpentersandpaintersanenforcedholiday，and，exceptforthechauffeur，whomIcouldseethroughtheopendoorofthegarage，therewasnooneinsight。IthinkIwasalittledisappointed。If"BigJim"hadappearedandhailedmewithanotherofferforthelandIshouldnothavedodged。Iwasreadyforhim。Butneitherhe，oranyoneelse，appearedandIwalkedon。
　　AttheCorners，SimEldredgeshoutedtomefromtheplatformofhisstore。
　　"Hi，Ros！"heshouted。"You！RosPaine！comehereaminute，willyou？"
　　Ididnotwanttoseehim。Ihadintendedavoidingthepost—officealtogether。ButIcrossedtotheplatform。
　　"Say，Ros，"heaskedeagerly，"what’sthisaboutyouandMr。Colton？"
　　Iwasannoyed。
　　"Whatdoyoumean？"Iasked。
　　"Why，youknow，don’tyou？Hecometoseeyouandyouwenttoseehimovertohishouse。Youhadareg’larargument，Iunderstand。
　　AbouttheShoreLane，wan’tit？"
　　"Whotoldyouthat？"Iinquired，sharply。
　　"Why，nobodytoldme，exactly。LuteRogersandCap’nJedwasherelastnightandtheygota—goin’asusual。TheCap’ndoeslovetostirupLute，andhecommencedhintin’aboutsomethin’ofthekind。
　　Idon’tknowastheywashints，either，butLutethoughttheywas。"
　　Hegrinned。Iunderstood。
　　"Isee，"Isaid。"Well，whatdidLutesay？"
　　"Isupposehe’dsayheneversaidaword，butafterhe’dgonetherewasakindofgeneralsentimentthatColtonwantedtobuytheShoreLanelandoffyou，andthatyouandhehadsomewordsaboutit。
　　Anyhow，youdidn’tselltheland，didyou？"
　　"SupposeIdid，ordidn’t；whatofit？"
　　"Why，nothin’，nothin’。Only，Itellyou，Ros——"helookedcarefullyabouttomakesurenoonewaslistening；"Itellyou；
　　it’sjustthisway。Icanunderstandhowyoufeelaboutit。YouknowDeanandsomeoftheothersaresoreonMr。Colton’causehe’sgotmoremoneythantheyhave，andtheywanttomakeallthetroubleforhimtheycan。Jed’sgotanideathathe’safterthatLane，tocloseitoff，andhe’sstirrin’upsentimentagainstitsbein’closed。He’stalkin’aboutthetownbuyin’it。NowofcourseIknowyourposition。Youwanttogetjustashighapriceasyoucanaforeyousell。"
　　"That’smyposition，isit？"
　　"Itwouldbethepositionofanysensibleman，wouldn’tit？I
　　don’tblameyou。Now，whatIwantedtosaywasthis。"Hebentforwardandloweredhisvoicetoawhisper。"Whydon’tyouletmehandlethisthingforyou？Icandoitbetter’nyou。IseeCap’nJedeverynight，youmightsay。AndIseeconsider’bleofMr。
　　Colton。HeknowsI’mpostmasterinthistownandsortofprominent。Allthesmartfolksain’tintheBoardofSelectmen。
　　I’llkeepyouposted；see？Youjustsetbackandpretendyoudon’twanttosellatall。Colton，he’llbidandJedandhisgang’llbid。I’lltelleachwhattheotherbids，andwe’llkeepherjumpin’。Whenwegettothelastjump，we’llsell——andnotafore。
　　OfcourseMr。Colton’llgetit，intheend。"
　　"Oh，hewill！Whatmakesyouthinkso？"
　　"Whatmakesmethinkso？Don’tbefoolish。Ain’theamillionaire？
　　HowcanDenborostandupagainstamillionaire？Itellyou，Ros，it’smoneycountsinthisworld，anditpaystostandinwiththemthat’sgotit。I’mgoin’tostandinwithMr。Colton。ButI’llpretendtostandinwithDeanjustasmuch。Icanhelpawholelot。
　　Why，Ishouldn’twonderif，betweenus，wecouldget——er——er——I
　　don’tknowhowmuch，forthatland。Whatdoyousay？"
　　Ismiled。"It’sverykindofyou，Sim，tobewillingtogotosomuchtroubleonmyaccount，"Iobserved。"Ididn’tknowtherewassuchdisinterestedkindnessinDenboro。"
　　Simseemedabitputout。"Why，"hestammered，"I——I——ofcourseI
　　presumedlikelyyou’dbewillin’topaymealittlecommission——or——
　　or——somethin’。IthoughtImightbeasortof——er——agentforyou。
　　I’vehandledconsider’blerealestateinmytime——and——youseewhatImean，don’tyou？"
　　"Yes，"Isaid，drily；"Isee。Well，Sim，ifIdecidetoengageanagentI’llletyouknow。Goodmorning。"
　　"But，holdon，Ros！I——"
　　Ididnot"holdon。"Iwalkedacrosstheroadandenteredthebank。AlvinBakermetmeinthevestibule。Heseizedmyhandandshookitviolently。
　　"Ideclare，"heexclaimed，"itdoesmegoodtoshakehandswithafellerthat’sgotthegrityouhave。Itdoesso！We’reallproudofyou。"
　　"Muchobliged，Alvin，I’msure。Butwhy？"
　　Hewinkedandnudgedmewithhiselbow。
　　"Youknowwhy，allright，"hewhispered。"Wouldn’tsellhimtheland，wouldyou？Tellme：Didhemakeyouarealbidforit？
　　Luteasmuchassaidhedid。"
　　Forapersonwhohadtoldnothing，Luteseemedtohave"asmuchassaid"agoodmanythings。Ishookmyhead。
　　"SoyouthinkIshouldn’tselltheland？"Iasked。
　　"Courseyoushouldn’t——nottohim。Ain’ttheresuchthingsaspublicspiritandindependence？ButI’lltellyousomethin’more，Ros，"mysteriously。"Youmayhaveachancetosellitsomewhereelse。"
　　"Indeed？"
　　"Yes，sir—ee！indeed！There’sotherpublic—spiritedfolksinDenboroaswellasyou。IknowwhotheybeandIstandinwith’emprettyclose，too。I’mgoin’tohelpyouallIcan。"
　　"That’sverykindofyou，Alvin。"
　　"No，no。I’mgladtodoit。Shan’tchargeyounothin’，neither。"
　　"That’skinderstill。"
　　"No，’tain’t……Holdonaminute，Ros。Don’tgo。AsIsay，I’mgoin’toworktoothandnailtogetthetowntobuythatLanepropertyofyours。I’llstickoutforyou’regettin’agoodpriceforit。I’lluseallmyinfluence。"
　　"Thankyou。"
　　"Youneedn’tthankme。It’samatterofprinciple。We’llshowthesecityfolkstheyain’tthewholeship，cargoandall……
　　Holdonasecondmore。Ros，I——er——Iwonderifyou’ddoalittlefavorforme。"
　　"Whatisit，Alvin？"
　　"Why，it’sthisway。I’vegotanotehereinthebank；putittherewhenIboughtthepowerengineformycat—boat。Hundredandfiftydollars，’tis。You’reaprettygoodfriendofGeorgeTaylor，cashierhere，andIwaswonderin’ifyou’dmindputtin’inawordwithhimaboutmygettin’itrenewedwhenitcomesdue。JusttellhimyouthinkI’mallright，andagoodrisk，orsomethin’likethat。"
　　Icouldnothelpsmiling。Alvinseemedtofindencouragementinthesmile。
　　"Georgethinksconsider’bleofyou，"hesaid。"AndCaptainJed——
　　he’soneofthedirectors——hewill，too，nowthatyou’vestooduptoColton。Justputinawordforme，willyou？Anddon’tforgetI’mafriendofyours，andI’mstrongforyourgettin’agood，fairpricefromthetown。Rememberthat，won’tyou？"
　　"Iwon’tforget，Alvin。Good—by。"
　　Ilefthimandwentintothebank。HenrySmall，thebookkeeper，wasathisdesk。Iwalkedovertospeaktohim，buthe，lookingupfromhisfigures，spokefirst。Therewas，orsoitseemedtome，adifferentnoteinhisgreeting。Itwasmorehearty，Ithought。
　　Certainlyheregardedmewithanewandcuriousinterest。
　　"Morning，Ros，"hesaid。"Well，howareyouthesedays？"
　　IansweredthatIwaswell，andwasmovingonbuthedetainedme。
　　"Livelytimesahead，hey，"hewhispered。
　　"Whatsortoftimes？"Iasked。
　　Hewinked。"Iguessyouknow，ifanybodydoes，"heobserved。"Allright，you’llhavegoodfriendsonyourside。Iain’tsayinganything，ofcourse，butI’mon，allright。"
　　Hewinkedagain。Iwalkedbacktothecashier’swindow。Taylorhad，evidently，seenmetalkingwiththebookkeeper，forhewasstandingbythelittlegate，waitingforme。
　　"Hello，Ros，"hesaid。"Gladtoseeyou。Comein。"
　　GeorgeTaylorwasatypeofsmartcountryboygrowntomanhoodinthecountry。Histone，likehismanner，wassharpandquickandbusinesslike，buthespokewiththeDown—EasttwangandusedtheCapephrasesandmetaphors。HewasyoungerthanI，buthelookedolder，and，oflate，ithadseemedtomethathewasgrowingmorenervous。Weshookhands。
　　"Gladtoseeyou，"besaidagain。"Iwashopingyou’ddriftin。I
　　presumedlikelyyoumight。Sitdown。"
　　Itooktheprofferedchair。HelookedatmewithmuchthesamecuriousinterestthatSmallhadshown。
　　"We’vebeenhearingaboutyou，"hesaid。"You’vebeengettingyourselftalkedabout。"
　　ImentallycussedLuteoncemoreforhisloquacity。
　　"I’llbreakthefellow’sneck，"Ideclared，withemphasis。
　　Helaughed。"Don’tdothatyetawhile，"hesaid。"Themarketisinbadenoughshapeasitis。IfhisneckwasbrokethewholeofWallStreetwouldgotopot。"
　　"WallStreet？WhatintheworldhasLutegottodowithWallStreet？"
　　"Lute！Oh，Isee！Yes，Lute’sbeendoingconsiderabletalking，butitain’thisneckImean。Say，Ros，whatdidyoudotohim，anyway？Youstirredhimupsome，judgingbywhathesaidtome。"
　　"Whosaid？What？"