"Isee。That’sabrilliantsuggestion，Lute。WhenIadoptitI’llappointyoutoll—keeper。"
　　"Bytime！Iwishyouwould。I’dmakeThophNewcombpayup。Heowesmetencents；betitonetimeandneversettled。"
　　Yes，mypositioninDenborohadchanged。ButItooknoprideinthechange，asIhadatfirst；Iknewthereasonforthissuddenburstofpopularity。Theknowledgemadememorecynicalthanever——
　　cynical，andlonely。ForthefirsttimesinceIcametotheCapeIlongedforarealfriend，notarelativeoranacquaintance，butafriendtotrustandconfidein。Someone，withnostringofhisowntopull，whocaredformebecauseIwasmyself。
　　AndallthetimeIhadsuchafriendanddidnotrealizeit。Theknowledgecametomeinthisway。Motherhadoneofherseizures，oneofthenowinfrequent"sinkingspells，"asthedoctorcalledthem，onaneveningwhenIwasalonewithher。DorindaandLutehadgone，withthehorseandbuggy，tovisitacousininBayport。
　　Theyweretostayovernightandreturnbeforebreakfastthenextmorning。
　　Iwasaloneinthedining—roomwhenMothercalledmyname。TherewassomethinginhertonewhichalarmedmeandIhastenedtoherbedside。Oneglanceatherfacewasenough。
　　"Boy，"shesaid，weakly，"IamafraidIamgoingtobeill。Ihavetriednottoalarmyou，butIfeelfaintandIam——youwon’tbealarmed，willyou？Iknowitisnothingserious。"
　　Itoldhernottoworryandnottotalk。Ihurriedouttothekitchen，gotthehotwaterandthebrandy，madeherswallowalittleofthemixture，andbathedherforeheadandwristswithvinegar，anold—fashionedrestorativewhichDorindaalwaysused。
　　Shesaidshefeltbetter，butIwasanxiousand，assoonasitwassafetoleaveher，hurriedouttobringthedoctor。Shebeggedmenottogo，becauseitwasbeginningtorainandImightgetwet，butIassuredheritwasnotraininghard，andwent。
　　ItwasnotraininghardwhenIstarted，buttherewaseverysignofaseverestormcloseathand。ItwaspitchdarkandIwaswearyfromstumblingthroughthebushesandovertheroughpathwhenI
　　reachedthecorneroftheLaneandtheLowerRoad。Thenacarriagecamedownthatroad。ItwasanopenwagonandGeorgeTaylorwasthedriver。HehadbeenuptotheDeans’andwasonhiswayhome。
　　Ihailedthevehicle，intendingtoaskforaride，butwhenTaylordiscoveredwhohishailerwasheinsistedonmygoingbacktothehouse。Hewouldgetthedoctor，hesaid，andbringhimdownatonce。Iwasafraidhewouldbecaughtinthestorm，andhesitatedinacceptingtheoffer，butheinsisted。Ididgobacktothehouse，foundMotherinmuchthesameconditionaswhenIlefther，andhadscarcelygottenintothekitchenagainwhenTayloroncemoreappeared。
　　"IbroughtNelliealongtostaywithyourmother，"hesaid。"TheCap’nandtheoldlady"——meaningMatilda——"wereupatthemeeting—
　　houseandwejustleftanotesayingwherewe’dgone。Nellie’sallright。Betweenyouandme，shedon’ttalkyoudeaf，dumbandblindlikeherma，andshe’sgoodcompanyforsickfolks。NowI’llfetchthedoctorandberightback。"
　　"Butit’srainingpitchforks，"Isaid。"You’llbewetthrough。"
　　"No，Iwon’t。I’llhaveDocQuimbyhereinnotime。"
　　HedroveoffandNellieDeanwentintoMother’sroom。IhadalwaysconsideredNellieamilk—and—wateryyoungfemale，butsomehowherquietwaysandsoftvoiceseemedjustwhatwereneededinasickroom。IleftthetwotogetherandcameouttowaitforTaylorandthedoctor。
　　Buttheydidnotcome。Thestormwasunderfullheadwaynow，andthewindwasdashingtheraininsheetsagainstthewindows。I
　　waitednearlyanhourandstillnosignofthedoctor。
　　NelliecameoutofMother’sroomandclosedthedoorsoftlybehindher。
　　"She’squietnow，"shewhispered。"Ithinkshe’sasleep。WheredoyousupposeGeorgeis？"
　　"Goodnessknows！"Ianswered。"Ishouldn’thavelethimgo，anightlikethis。"
　　"I’mafraidyoucouldn’tstophimifhismindwasmadeup。He’sdreadfuldeterminedwhenhesetsouttobe。"
　　"He’sagoodfellow，"Isaid，topleaseher。Sheworshippedthecashier，afactofwhichallDenborowasaware，andwhichcausedgossiptoreportthatshedidthecourtingforthetwo。
　　Sheblushedandsmiled。
　　"Hethinksalotofyou，"sheobserved。"He’salwaystalkingtomeaboutyou。It’sagoodthingyou’reamanorIshouldbejealous。"
　　Ismiled。"Iseemtobetalkedaboutgenerally，justnow，"saidI。
　　"Areyou？Oh，youmeanabouttheShoreLane。Yes，Pacan’tmakeyououtaboutthat。Hesaysyou’vegotsomethingupyoursleeveandhehasn’tdecidedwhatitis。IaskedGeorgewhatPameantandhejustlaughed。Hesaidwhateveryouhadinyoursleevewasyouraffairand，ifhewasanyjudgeofcharacter，itwouldstaytheretillyougotreadytoshakeitout。Healwaysstoodupforyou，evenbeforetheShoreLanebusinesshappened。IthinkhelikesyoubetterthananyoneelseinDenboro。"
　　"Presentcompanyexcepted，ofcourse。"
　　"Oh，ofcourse。Ifthatwasn’texceptedIshouldREALLYbejealous。Then，"moreseriously，"Roscoe，doesitseemtoyouthatGeorgeisworriedortroubledaboutsomethinglately？"
　　IthoughtofTaylor’ssuddenchangeofexpressionthatdayinthebank，andofhisremarkthathewishedhehadmychance。ButI
　　concealedmythoughts。
　　"Theprospectofmarriageisenoughtomakeanymanworried，isn’tit？"Iasked。"Iimagineherealizesthatheisn’tgoodenoughforyou。"
　　Therewassarcasminthisremark，sarcasmofwhichIshouldhavebeenashamed。Butshetookitliterallyandasacompliment。Shelookedatmereproachfully。
　　"Goodenoughforme！"sheexclaimed。"He！SometimesIwonderifitisrightformetobesohappy。Ifeelalmostasifitwaswrong。Asifsomethingmusthappentopunishmeforit。"
　　Ididnotanswer。Totellthetruth，Iwasenvious。Therewasrealhappinessintheworld。Thiscountrygirlhadfoundit；thatMabelColtonwould，nodoubt，finditsomeday——unlessshemarriedherVictor，inwhichcaseIhadmydoubts。Butwhathappinesswasinstoreforme？
　　Nelliedidmostofthetalkingthereafter；principallyaboutGeorge，andwhyhedidnotcome。AtlastshewentintoseeifMotherneededher，and，twentyminuteslater，whenIlookedintothebedroom，Isawthatshehadfallenasleeponthecouch。
　　Mother，too，seemedtobesleeping，andIleftthemthus。
　　Itwasalmosteleveno’clockwhenthesoundofcarriagewheelsintheyardbroughtmetothewindowandthentothedoor。DoctorQuimbyhadcomeatlastandTaylorwaswithhim。Thedoctor，inhismackintoshandovershoes，wasdryenough，buthiscompanionwaswettotheskin。
　　"SorryI’msolate，Ros，"saidthedoctor。"IwaswayuptoEbenezerCahoon’sinWestDenboro。There’saneweditionofEbenezer，madeportthismorning，andIwasalittlebitconcernedaboutthemissus。She’sallright，though。How’syourmother？"
　　"Better，Ithink。She’sasleepnow。SoisNellie。IsupposeGeorgetoldyoushewaswithher。"
　　"Yes。GeorgehadaroughpassageoverthatWestDenbororoad。
　　It’sbadenoughindaylight，butonanightlikethis——whew！I
　　carriedawayawheelturningintoEbenezer’syard，andifGeorgehadn’thadhisteamalongIdon’tknowhowI’dhavegothere。I’llgorightinandseeMrs。Paine。"
　　HeleftusandIturnedtoTaylor。
　　"You’resoakedthrough，"Ideclared。"Comeouttothekitchenstove。Whatintheworldmadeyoudrivewayuptothatforsakenplace？It’sagoodsevenmiles。Comeouttothekitchen。Quick！"
　　Hesatdownbythestoveandputhiswetbootsonthehearth。I
　　mixedhimaglassofthebrandyandhotwaterandhandedhimacigar。
　　"Whydidyoudoit，George？"Isaid。"Ineverwouldhavethoughtofaskingsuchathing。"
　　"Iknowit，"hesaid。"Courseyouwouldn’taskit。There’splentyinthistownthatwould，butyouwouldn’t。Maybethat’sonereasonIwassogladtodoitforyou。"
　　"Iamalmostsorryyoudid。Itistoogreatakindnessaltogether。
　　I’mafraidIshouldn’thavedoneasmuchforyou。"
　　"Goon！Yes，youwould。Iknowyou。"
　　Ishookmyhead。
　　"No，youdon’t，"Ianswered。"CaptainJed——yourprospectivefather—in—law——saidtheotherdaythathehadbeenmistaken；hethoughtheknewme，buthewasbeginningtofindhedidnot。"
　　"Didhesaythat？Whatdidhemean？"
　　"Iimaginehemeanthewasn’tsurewhetherIwasthefoolhehadbelievedmetobe，orjustasharprascal。"
　　Taylorlookedatmeovertheedgeofhisglass。
　　"Youthinkthat’swhathemeant，doyou？"
　　"Iknowit。"
　　Heputtheglassonthefloorbesidehimandlaidahandonmyknee。
　　"Ros，"hesaid，"Idon’tknowforsurewhattheCap’nmeant，thoughifhethinksyou’reeitheroneofthetwohe’sthefool。But_I_
　　knowyou——better，maybe，thanyouknowyourself。AtleastI
　　believeIknowyoubetterthananyoneelseinthetown。"
　　"Thatwouldn’tbesayingmuch。"
　　"Wouldn’tit？Well，maybenot。Butwhosefaultisit？It’syours，thewayIlookatit。Ros，I’vebeenmeaningtohaveatalkwithyousomeday；perhapsthisisasgoodatimeasany。YoumakeabigmistakeinthewayyoutreatDenboroandthefolksinit。"
　　"Whatdoyoumean？"
　　"Imeanjustthat。Yourwholeattitudeiswrong，hasbeenwrongeversinceyoufirstcameheretolive。Younevergaveanyofusachancetoknowyouandlikeyou——anybodybutme，Imean，andevenI
　　neverhadbuthalfachance。Youmakeamistake，Itellyou。
　　There’slotsofgoodfolksinthistown，lotsof’em。Cap’nElishaWarren’soneof’emandthere’splentymore。They’recountrymen，sameasIam，butthey’regood，plain，sensiblefolks，andthey’dliketolikeyouiftheyhadachance。YoubelongtotheTownImprovementSociety，butyounevergotoameeting。Yououghttogetoutandmixmore。"
　　Ishruggedmyshoulders。"Iguessmymixingwouldn’tbeverywelcome，"Isaid。"And，besides，Idon’tcaretomix。"
　　"Iknowyoudon’t，butyououghtto，justthesame。"
　　"Nonsense！George，I’mnotblind，ordeaf。Don’tyousupposeI
　　knowwhatWarrenandDeanandtherestthinkofme？Theyconsidermealoaferandnogood。I’veheardwhattheysay。I’venoticedhowtheytreatme。"
　　"Howyoutreatthem，youmean。Youareascoldandfreezingasacakeofice。Theywaswillingtobefriendsbutyouwouldn’thaveit。And，asfortheircallingyoualoafer——well，that’syourownfault，too。YouOUGHTtodosomething；notwork，perhaps，butyou’dbeawholelotbetteroffifyougotreallyinterestedinsomething。Getintopolitics；getintotownaffairs；getoutandknowthepeopleyou’relivingwith。"
　　"Idon’tcaretoknowthem；andI’msuretheydon’tcaretoknowme。"
　　"Yes，theydo。Iunderstandhowyoufeel。InthisShoreLanematternow：youthinkCap’nJedandColton，becausetheypretendtocallyouafool，don’trespectyoufortakingthestandyouhave。
　　Theydo。Theydon’tunderstandyou，maybe，buttheycan’thelprespectingyouand，iftheyknewyouevenaswellasIdo，they’dlikeyou。Come！Iain’tthrowin’anybouquets，butwhydoyousupposeI’dbewillingtodrivetoWestDenborofortytimesover，onfortytimesworsenightsthanthis，foryou？Why？"
　　"Heavenknows！Wouldyou？"
　　"Iwould。Ilikeyou，Ros。ItookashinetoyouthefirsttimeI
　　metyou。Idon’tknowwhyexactly。Whydoesanybodylikeanybodyelse？ButIthinkawholelotofyou。Iknowthissoundsfoolish，andyoudon’tfeelthatwaytowardsme，butit’sthetruth。"
　　Iwasamazed。IhadalwayslikedGeorgeTaylor，butIneverfeltanystrongaffectionforhim。IwasalittlelessindifferenttohimthantoothersinDenboro，thatwasall。AndIhadtakenitforgrantedthathislikingformewasofthesamecasual，lukewarmvariety。Tohearhimdeclarehimselfinthiswaywasastonishing——
　　he，thedry，keen，Yankeebanker。
　　"Butwhy，George？"Irepeated。
　　"Idon’tknowwhy；Itoldyouthat。It’sbecauseIcan’thelpit，Isuppose。Orbecause，asIsaid，Iknowyoubetterthananyoneelse。"
　　Isighed。"Nobodyknowsmehere，"Isaid。
　　"Oneknowsyou，Ros。Iknowyou。"
　　"Youmaythinkyoudo，butyoudon’t。YoucanthankGodforyourignorance。"
　　"MaybeIain’tsoignorant。"
　　Ilookedathim。Hewaslookingmestraightintheeye。
　　"Whatdoyouknow？"Iasked，slowly。
　　"Iknow，foronething，thatyournameain’tPaine。"
　　Icouldnotanswer。IamnotcertainwhetherIattemptedtospeakormove。Idorememberthatthepressureofhishandonmykneetightened。
　　"It’sallright，Ros，"hesaid，earnestly。"Nobodyknowsbutme，andnobodyevershallknowifIcanhelpit。"
　　"How——howmuchdoyouknow？"Istammered。
　　"Why，prettymuchall，Iguess。I’veknowneversinceyourmotherwastakensick。SomethingsIreadinthepaper，andthepicturesof——ofyourfather，putmeon，andafterwardsIgotmorecertainofit。Butit’sallright。Nobodybutmeknowsorshallknow。"
　　Ileanedmyheadonmyhand。Hepattedmyknee，gently。
　　"Are——areyousurenooneelseknows？"Iasked。
　　"Certainsure。Therewasonetimewhenitmighthaveallcomeout。
　　AreporterfellowfromoneoftheBostonpapersgotonthetracksomehowandcamedownheretoinvestigate。LuckilyIwasthefirstmanhetackled，andIsteeredhimaway。IpresumelikelyIliedsome，butmyconscienceiseasysofarasthatgoes。"
　　"Andyouhavetoldnoone？NotevenNellie？"
　　"No。ItellNelliemostthings，butnotall——notall。"
　　Irememberedafterwardsthathesighedashesaidthisandtookhishandfrommyknee；butthenmyagitationwastoogreattodomorethancasuallynoticeit。Irosetomyfeet。
　　"George！George！"Icried。"I——Ican’tsaytoyouwhatIshouldlike。Butwhy——WHYdidyoushieldme？Andlieforme？Whydidyoudoit？Iwashardlymorethanastranger。"
　　Hesighed。"Don’tknow，"heanswered。"Inevercouldquiteseewhyaman’ssinsshouldbevisitedonthewidowsandfatherless。
　　And，ofcourse，Irealizedthatyouandyourmotherchangedyournameandcamedownheretogetawayfromgossipandtalk。ButI
　　guesstherealreasonwasthatIlikedyou，Ros。Loveatfirstsight，sameaswereadabout；hey？"
　　Helookedupandsmiled。Iseizedhishand。
　　"George，"Isaid，chokingly，"IdidnotbelieveIhadarealfriendintheworld，exceptMotherandDorindaandLute，ofcourse。I
　　can’tthankyouenoughforshieldingusalltheseyears；there’snouseinmytrying。ButifeverIcandoanythingtohelpYOU——
　　anything——I’lldoit。I’llsweartothat。"
　　Heshookmyhand。
　　"Iknowyouwill，Ros，"hesaid。"ItoldyouIknewyou。"
　　"IfeverIcandoanything——"
　　Heinterruptedme。
　　"There’sonethingyoucandorightnow，"hesaid。"That’sgetoutandmix。That’llpleasemeasmuchasanything。Andbeginrightoff。Why，seehere，theMethodistsocietyisgoingtogiveastrawberryfestivalonthemeeting—houselawnnextThursdaynight。
　　Abouteverybody’sgoing，NellieandIincluded。Youcome，willyou？"
　　Ihesitated。Ihadheardaboutthefestival，butIcertainlyhadnotcontemplatedattending。
　　"Come！"heurged。"Youwon’tsaynotothefirstfavorIaskyou。
　　Promisemeyou’llbeonhand。"
　　BeforeIcouldanswer，weheardthedoorofMother’sroomopen。
　　GeorgeandIhastenedintothedining—room。DoctorQuimbyandNellieDeanwerethere。Nellierushedovertoherlover’sside。
　　"Youbadboy，"shecried。"You’rewetthrough。"
　　DoctorQuimbyturnedtome。
　　"Yourma’sgettingonallright，"hedeclared。"Aboutallthatailshernowisthatshewantstoseeyou。"
　　GeorgewasassistingNellietoputonherwraps。
　　"Gottoleaveyounow，Ros，"hesaid。"Cap’nJedandMatildy’llthinkwe’veelopedaheadoftime。Good—night。Oh，say，willyoupromisemetotakeinthestrawberryfestival？"
　　"Why"Ianswered，"Isuppose——Yes，Mother，I’mcoming——Why，yes，George，I’llpromise，topleaseyou。"
　　IhaveoftenwonderedsincewhatmylifestorywouldhavebeenifI
　　hadnotmadethatpromise。
　　CHAPTERVIII
　　TheMethodistchurchstoodontheslopeofalittlehill，backfromtheMainRoad，andtheparsonagewasnextdoor。Betweenthechurchandtheparsonagewasastretchoflawn，dottedwithshrubsandcedarsandshadedbytwobigsilver—leafpoplars。Itwasonthislawnthat，providedthenightwasfair，thestrawberryfestivalwastobeheld。Iftheweathershouldbeunpropitiousthefestivalwastobeinthechurchvestry。
　　AllthatdayDorindawasbusybakingandicingcake。Shewasnotgoingtothefestival——partlybecauseIwasgoingandshecouldnotleaveMother——butprincipallybecausesuchaffairswerealtogethertoofrivoloustofitinherschemeoforthodoxy。"Idon’trecollect，"shesaid，"thattheapostlesdidmuchstrawberryfestivalin’；theyhadotherthingstoattendto。"Lute，however，wasgoingandifhehadbeeninvitedtoaPresidentialreceptionhecouldnothavebeenmuchmoreexcited。Hewasdressedandreadyatsuppertime，althoughthefestivaldidnotbeginuntilseven—
　　thirty。
　　"ThinkI’mallright，Dorindy，doyou？"hequeried，anxiouslyturninghimselfaboutforhiswife’sinspection。"Howaboutthesenewpants？Furenoughdownonmyboots，bethey？"
　　Dorindalookedhimoverwithacriticaleye。"Um—hm，"sheobserved，"thatendof’emseemstobeallright。ButIcal’latetheupperendain’tbeenintroducedtoyourvestyet。Anyhow，thetwodon’tseemtobewellenoughacquaintedtoassociateclose。"
　　Lutebentforwardtoinspectthehiatusbetweentrousersandwaistcoat。"Bytime！"heexclaimed，"ItoldSimEldredgetheywastooshortinthewaist。Hesaidiftheywasanylongerthey’dwrinkleunderthearms。Idon’tknowwhattodo。IfIhist’emupthey’llbewhatthefellerscallhigh—water，won’tthem？"
　　"Humph！I’drutherhave’emhigh—waterthanshoalinthemiddleofthechannel。You’llhavetoaverageupsomehow。Ioughttohaveknownbetterthantotrustyoutobuyanythingallbyyourself。"
　　Shecondescendedtoapproveofmyappearancewhen，anhourlater，I
　　camedownstairs，garbedinmybest。
　　"Humph！"shevouchsafed，afteralonglook。"Ideclare！I’dhardlyknowyou，Roscoe。Youlookmoreasyouusedtowhenyoufustcomeheretolive。"
　　"Thanks，"Ianswered，drily。"I’mgladtoseethatyourespectoldage。Thissuitisvenerableenoughtocommandthatkindofrespect。"
　　"’Tain’tthesuit，thoughthat’sallrightenough。It’sthewayyouwearit，Iguess。YoulookBETTERthanyouusedto。You’rebrownedupandbroadenedoutandit’srealbecomin’。But，"sheadded，withcharacteristiccaution，"youmustrememberthatgoodlooksdon’tcountformuch。Myfatherusedtosaytomethathandsomeisthathandsomedoes。NotthatIwassohomelyI’dscarethecrows，buthedidn’twantmetobevain。Nowdon’tfalloverboardinTHATsuit，willyou？"
　　MothernoticedmyunwontedgrandeurwhenIwentintosaygood—
　　nighttoher。
　　"Why，Roscoe！"sheexclaimed。"Youmustconsiderthisstrawberryfestivalveryimportant。"
　　"Why，Mother？"
　　"Becauseyou’vetakensuchpainstodressforit。"
　　"Itdidnotrequireagreatdealofpains。ImerelyputonwhatDorindacallsmySundayclothes。Idon’tknowwhyIdid，either。
　　Icertainlydon’tconsiderthefestivalimportant。"
　　"Iamgladyoudid。Ihavebeenalittletroubledaboutyouoflate，Boy。Ithasseemedtomethatyouweregrowing——well，notcareless，exactly，butindifferent。Asifyouwerelosinginterestinlife。Idon’tblameyou。Compelledtowasteyourtimehereinthecountry，acompaniontoabedriddenoldwomanlikeme。"
　　"Hush，Mother。You’renotold；andastowastingmytime——why，Mother，youknow——"
　　"Yes，yes，Boy，Iknowwhatyouwouldsay。Butitdoestroubleme，nevertheless。Ioughttobidyougobackintotheworld，andtakeyourplaceamongmen。AhundredtimesIhavebeenuponthepointoftellingyoutoleaveme，but——but——IamSOselfish。"
　　"Hush，Mother，please。"
　　"Yes，IAMselfishandIknowit。Iamgrowingstrongereveryday；
　　Iamsureofit。Justalittlelonger，Roscoe，justalittlelonger，andthen——"
　　"Mother，I——"
　　"There，there！"shestrokedmyhand。"Wewon’tbesad，willwe。
　　Itpleasesmetoseeyoutakinganinterestinaffairs。IthinkthisShoreLanemattermaybeagoodthing，afterall。DorindasaysthatLuthertellsheryouarebecomingverypopularintownbecauseofyourindependentstand。Everyonerecognizesyourpublicspirit。"
　　"Didshetellyouthat？"
　　"Notinthosewords。YouknowDorinda。Butwhatamountstothat。
　　IamsuretheDenboropeopleareveryproudofyou。"
　　Ithoughtofmy"popularity"andtheadmirationofmy"publicspirit"asmanifestedintheattentionsofCaptainJedandEldredgeandtheirfollowers，andIturnedmyheadawaysothatshemightnotseemyface。
　　"AndIamgladyouaregoingtothestrawberryfestival。Ican’trememberwhenyouattendedsuchafunctionbefore。Boy——"
　　"Yes，Mother。"
　　"Thereisn’tanyreason，anyspecialreason，foryourgoing，isthere？"
　　"Why，whatdoyoumean？"
　　"Imean——well，youareyoungandIdidnotknowbut，perhaps，someoneelsewasgoing，someoneyouwereinterestedin，and——and——"
　　Ilaughedaloud。"Mother！"Isaid，reproachfully。
　　"Whynot？Iamveryproudofmyhandsomeboy，andIknowthat——"
　　"There！there！Ihaven’tnoticedthatmybeautyissofascinatingastobedangerous。No，Mother，thereisno’specialreason’formygoingto—night。IpromisedGeorgeTaylor，thatwasall。"
　　"Well，Iamsureyouwillhaveagoodtime。Kissme，Boy。Good—
　　night。"
　　Iwasbynomeanssosureofthegoodtime。Infact，Iloiteredonmywaytothevillageanditwaswellpasteighto’clockwhenI
　　paidmyfifteencentsadmissionfeetoElnathanMulletatthegateofthechurchgroundsandsauntereduptheslopetowardthelightsandgaietyofthestrawberryfestival。
　　TheladiesoftheMethodistsociety，underwhosemanagementtheaffairwasgiven，werefortunateintheirchoiceofanevening。
　　TheearlyrisenmoonshonefromacloudlessskyandtherewassolittlebreezethattheJapaneselanterns，hungabovethetables，wentoutonlyoccasionally。The"beautyandeliteofDenboro"——seenextweek’sCapeCodItem——werepresentinforceand，minglingwiththem，or，ifnotmingling，atleastinspectingthemwithinterest，weresomeoftheearlyarrivalsamongthecottagersfromSouthDenboroandBayport。IsawLute，proudlyconsciousofhisnewlavendertrousers，inconversationwithMatildaDean，andI
　　wonderedwhowasthewinnerinthatwordyrace。CaptainJedediahstruttedarminarmwiththeminister。ThophNewcombandAlvinBakerweretherewiththeirwives。SimeonEldredgehadnotyetputinanappearancebutIknewthathewouldassoonastheeveningmailwassorted。
　　IfoundNellieDeaninchargeofatable，andGeorgeTaylorseatedatthattable。Iwalkedoverandjoinedthem。
　　"Goodevening，Nellie，"saidI。"Well，George，hereIam，yousee。"
　　Heshookmyhandheartily。"Iseeyouare，"hesaid。"Goodboy！
　　Howdoesitseemtosplashintosociety？"
　　"Ihaven’tsplashedyet。Ihaveonlyjustarrived。"