Iwaswonderingthatverything。Thatparticularthunderclapwaslouderandmoreterrifyingthanthoseprecedingit。However，therewasnouseinalarmingher。
　　"Iguessnot，"Ianswered。"He’llbeheresoon，Iamsure。"
　　Buthedidnotcome。Thestormseemedtobepassingover。Theflasheswerejustasfrequent，buttherewasalongerintervalbetweeneachflashanditsthunderpeal。Therainwasstillasteadydownpour。
　　MissColtonwasplainlygrowingmoreanxious。
　　"Wherecanhebe？"shemurmured。
　　"Don’tbefrightened，"Iurged。"Heisallright。I’llgoandlookhimup，ifyoudon’tmindbeingleftalone。"
　　"Can’t——can’twegotogether？"
　　"Wecould，ofcourse，butthereisnouseinyourgettingwetterthanyouare。IfyouarewillingtostayhereIwillrunuptheroadandseeifIcanfindhim。"
　　"Thankyou。Butyouwillgetwetyourself。"
　　"Oh，Iamwetalready。Taketheumbrella。I’llbebackinaminute。"
　　Ipressedthehandleoftheumbrellaintoherhand——itwasassteadyasmine——anddartedoutintotheflood。Ithinkshecalledmetocomeback，butIdidnotobey。IranuptheroaduntilIwassomedistancebeyondthepointwhereIhadstoppedtherunaway，buttherewerenosignsofhorse，carriageorcoachman。Icalledrepeatedly，butgotnoreply。Then，reluctantly，Igaveitupandreturnedtotheporch。
　　ShegavealittlegaspofreliefwhenIreachedherside。
　　"Oh！"sheexclaimed，"didyoufindhim？"
　　"No，"Ianswered。"Heseemstohavegoneon。Hecannothavegonefar。ItisonlyalittlewaytotheCorners。"
　　"Is——isn’tthereahouse，ahousewithpeoplelivinginit，nearthisplace？"
　　"Nonearerthanyourhouse，MissColton。WeseemtohavechosenthemostforsakenspotinDenborotobecastawayin。Iamverysorry。"
　　"Iamnotfrightenedformyself。ButIknowmyfatherandmotherwillbealarmedifIdon’tcomesoon。IamsureCaesarmusthaverunawayagain，andIamafraidJenkinsmustbehurt。"
　　Ihadthoughtofthat，too。Onlyanaccidentcouldexplainthecoachman’snon—appearanceor，atleast，hisnotsendinghelptohismistress。
　　"Ifyouarereallynotafraidtoremainhere，MissColton，"Isaid，"Iwillgotoyourhousemyself。"
　　"Ohno！Someonewillcomesoon。Ican’tunderstandwhereVictor——
　　Mr。Carver——canbe。Hewastohavejoinedmeatthechurch。"
　　Ididnotanswer。KnowingMr。Carver’sassociatesandtheerranduponwhichhehadgone，IimaginedIcouldguessthecauseofhisdelay。ButIdidnotspeakmyguess。
　　"Thestormisnotasseverejustnow，"Isaid。"Icangettoyourhouseinalittlewhile，ifyouarewillingIshouldleaveyou。"
　　Sheputherhandonmyarm。"Come，"shesaid。"Shallwestartnow？"
　　"Butyoumustnotgo。Youcouldn’tgetthereonfoot，suchanightasthis。"
　　"Yes，Ican。Imeanto。Pleasecome。"
　　Istillhesitated。Shetookherhandfrommyarmandsteppedoutintotherain。"Areyoucoming？"shesaid。
　　Ijoinedher，stillprotesting。Wesplashedonthroughthemudandwater，sheclinginglightlytomyarmandIholdingtheperfectlyuselessumbrellaoverherhead。Therainwasdescendingsteadilyandtheskyoverheadwasjustblack，butalongthewesternhorizon，asIcaughtaglimpseofitbetweenthetrees，Ifanciedtheblacknesswasalittlelessopaque。Thestormwaspassingover，sureenough。
　　Butbeforeitpasseditgaveusonegoodbysalute。WehadaboutreachedthepointontheShoreLanewhereIfirstmetherandCarverintheauto。TheshakybridgeoverMullet’scranberrybrookwasjustahead。Then，withoutwarning，theblacknightsplitwideopen，ajaggedstreakoffireshotfromheaventoearthandseemedtoexplodealmostinourfaces。IwasalmostknockedoffmyfeetandmyfingerstingledasifIhadbeenholdingthehandlesofanelectricbattery。Theumbrellaflewoutofmyhandsand，sofarasIwasconcerned，vanishedutterly。IbelieveElnathanpickeduptheruinnextday，butjustthenIneitherknewnorcaredwhathadbecomeofit。Ihadotherthingstothinkof。
　　ButforamomentIcouldnotthinkatall。IwasconsciousofagreatcrashingandrustlingandsplinteringdirectlyinfrontofmeandthenIrealizedthattheyoungladywasnolongerclingingtomyarm。Ilookedaboutandupthroughthedarkness。Thendown。
　　Shewaslyingatmyfeet。
　　Ibentoverher。
　　"MissColton！"Icried。"MissColton！Areyouhurt？"
　　Sheneitheranswerednormoved。MybrainwasstillnumbfromtheelectricshockandIhadadazedfearthatshemightbedead。I
　　shookhergentlyandshemoaned。Ispokeagainandagain，butshedidnotanswer，nortrytorise。TherainwaspouringdownuponusandIknewshemustnotliethere。Sooncemore，justasIhaddoneinthedingy，butnowunderquitedifferentcircumstancesandwithentirelydifferentfeelings，Istoopedandliftedherinmyarms。
　　MyyearsofoutdoorlifeinDenborohadhadonegoodeffectatleast；theyhadmademestrong。Icarriedherwithlittleefforttothebridge。AndthereIstopped。Thebridgewasblocked，coveredwithamassofwetleafybranchesandsplinteredwood。Thelightningbolthadmissedusbyjustthatmuch。Ithadoverthrownanddemolishedthebigwillowtreebythebrookandtogetthroughoroverthetanglewasimpossible。
　　Soagainhistoryrepeateditself。IdescendedthebankatthesideofthebridgeandwadedthroughthewaterswithMabelColtoninmyarms。Istaggereduptheoppositebankandhurriedon。Shelayquiet，herheadagainstmyshoulder。Herhathadfallenoffandawet，fragrantstrandofherhairbrushedmycheek。OnceIstoppedandbentmyheadtolisten，tomakesurethatshewasbreathing。
　　Shewas，Ifeltherbreathuponmyface。AfterwardsIrememberedallthis；justthenIwasmerelythankfulthatshewasalive。
　　Ihadgonebutalittlewayfurtherwhenshestirredinmyarmsandspoke。
　　"Whatisit？"sheasked。"Whatisthematter？"
　　"Nothing，"Ianswered，withasighofrelief。"Itisallright。
　　Weshallbetheresoon。"
　　"Butwhatisthematter？Whyareyou——letmewalk，please。"
　　"Youhadbetterstayasyouare。Youarealmosthome。"
　　"Butwhyareyoucarryingme？Whatisthematter？"
　　"You——youfainted，Ithink。Thelightning——"
　　"Ohyes，Iremember。DidIfaint？Howridiculous！Pleaseletmewalknow。Iamallright。ReallyIam。"
　　"ButIthink——"
　　"Please。Iinsist。"
　　Isethergentlyonherfeet。Shestaggeredalittle，butshewaspluckyand，afteramoment，wasabletostandandwalk，thoughslowly。
　　"Youaresureyoucanmanageit？"Iasked。
　　"Ofcourse！ButwhydidIfaint？Ineverdidsuchathingbeforeinmylife。"
　　"Thatflashwasclosetous。Itstruckthebigwillowbythebrook。"
　　"Didit！Asnearasthat？"
　　"Yes。Don’ttrytotalk。"
　　"ButIamallright……Iamnothurtatall。Arewealmosthome？"
　　"Yes。Thosearethelightsofyourhouseaheadthere。"
　　Wemovedonmorerapidly。AsweturnedinattheColtonwalkshesaid，"Why；ithasstoppedraining。"
　　Ithad，thoughIhadnotnoticedit。TheflashwhichsmashedthewillowhadbeentheaccompanimentofwhatLutewouldcallthe"clearing—upshower。"Thestormwasreallyover。
　　WesteppedupontheporticoofthebighouseandIrangthebell。
　　Thebutleropenedthedoor。Hisface，ashesawthepairofdripping，bedraggledoutcastsbeforehim，wasworthlookingat。Hewasshockedoutofhisdignity。
　　"Why！Why，MissMabel！"hestammered，withalmosthumanagitation。
　　"What——"
　　Avoice，apetulantfemalevoice，calledfromtheheadofthestairs。
　　"Johnson，"itquavered，"whoisit？Mabel，isthatyou？"
　　ThelibrarydoorflewopenandMr。Coltonhimselfappeared。
　　"Eh？What？"heexclaimed。"ByGeorge！Mabel，wherehaveyoubeen？Ihavebeenraisingheavenandearthtolocateyou。The’phoneseemstobeoutoforderand——GreatScott，girl！you’rewetthrough。Jenkins，what——？Hey？Why，itisn’tJenkins！"
　　Thefactthathisdaughter’sescortwasnotthecoachmanhadjustdawneduponhim。Hestaredatmeiniratebewilderment。Beforehecouldaskaquestionorhisdaughtercouldspeakorexplaintherecamealittleshriekfromthestairs，arustleofsilkenskirts，andaplump，white—facedwomaninanelaboratehousegownrushedacrossthehallwithbothwhitearmsoutstretched。
　　"Mabel！"shecried，"whereHAVEyoubeen。Youpoorchild！Ihavebeenalmostbesidemyself，and——"
　　MissColtonlaughinglyavoidedtherush。"Takecare，Mother，"shewarned。"Iamverywet。"
　　"Wet？Why！you’reabsolutelydrenched！Jenkins——Mabel，whereisJenkins？Andwhoisthis——er——person？"
　　Ithoughtitquitetimeformetowithdraw。
　　"Goodnight，MissColton，"Isaid，andsteppedtowardthedoor。
　　But"BigJim"roaredmyname。
　　"It’sthat——it’sPaine！"heexclaimed。"Here！whatdoesthismean，anyway？"
　　Ithinkhisdaughterwasabouttoexplain，whentherecameanotherinterruption。Fromthedrivewaysoundedtheblareofanautohorn。
　　Johnsonthrewopenthedoorjustasthebigcarwhirleduptotheporch。
　　"Hereweare！"laughedCarver，emergingfrombehindthedrawncurtainsofthemachine。"Homeagainfromaforeignshore。Comein，fellows，andhaveadrink。We’vehadwaterenoughforonenight。Comein。"
　　Hestumbledashecrossedthesill，recoveredhisbalance，laughed，andthenallatonceseemedtobecomeawareofthegroupinthehall。Helookedabouthim，swayingalittleashedidso。
　　"Ah，Mabel！"heexclaimed，genially。"Gotherefirst，didn’tyou？
　　SorryIwaslate，butitwasalloldParker’sfault。Wouldn’tletussaygoodby。Butwecamesomewhenwedidcome。ThebridgeisdownandwemadeOscarrunherrightthroughthewater。Greatex—
　　experience。Hello！Why，what’smatter？Who’sthis？What？it’sReuben，isn’tit！Mabel，whatonearth——"
　　Shepaidnoattentiontohim。Iwasatthedoorwhensheovertookme。
　　"Mr。Paine，"shesaid，"Iamverygratefulforyourkindness。Bothforwhatyouhavedonetonightandforyourhelptheotherafternoon。Thankyou。"
　　Sheheldoutherhand。Itookit，scarcelyknowingthatIdidso。
　　"Thankyou，"shesaid，again。Imurmuredsomethingorotherandwentout。AsIsteppedfromtheporchIheardVictor’svoice。
　　"Well，byJove！"heexclaimed。"Mabel！"
　　Ilookedback。Hewasstandingbythedoor。Shewentpasthimwithoutreplyingorevenlookingathim。FromtheautomobileI
　　heardsmotheredchucklesandexclamations。Thebutlerclosedthedoor。
　　IwalkedhomeasfastasIcould。Dorindawaswaitingupforme。
　　WhatshesaidwhenshesawtheruinofmySundaysuithadbetternotberepeated。ShewasstillsayingitwhenItookmylampandwentuptobed。
　　CHAPTERIX
　　Thestrawberryfestivalandthe"tempest"were，ofcourse，thesubjectsmostdiscussedatthebreakfasttablenextmorning。Lutemonopolizedtheconversation，afactforwhichIwasthankful，foritenabledmetododgeDorinda’squestionsastomyownadventures。
　　Ididnotcaretotalkaboutthelatter。Myfeelingsconcerningthemwerecuriouslymixed。WasIgladorsorrythatFatehadchosenmetoplayoncemoretheroleofrescuerofayoungfemaleindistress？ThatmyplayingoftherolehadalteredmystandinginMabelColton’smindIfeltreasonablysure。Herwordsatpartingwithmerangtrue。Shewasgrateful，andshehadshakenhandswithme。Doubtlessshewouldtellherfatherthewholestoryandhe，too，incommondecency，wouldbegratefultomeforhelpinghisdaughter。But，afterall，didIcareforgratitudefromthatfamily？Andwhatformwouldthatgratitudetake？WouldColton，likeVictorCarver，offertopaymeformyservices？No，hardlythat，Ithought。Hewasamanofwideexperienceand，ifhedidofferpayment，itwouldbeinsomelesscrudeformthanafivedollarbill。
　　ButIdidnotwantpaymentinanyform。Ididnotwantcondescensionandpatronizingthanks。Ididnotwantanything——thatwasit。Uptonow，theoccupantsofthebighouseandIhadbeenenemies，openandconfessed。Ihad，sofaraspossible，keptoutoftheirwayandhopedtheywouldkeepoutofmine。Butnowthesituationwasmorecomplicated。Ididnotknowwhattoexpect。Ofcoursetherewasnochanceofourbecomingfriends。Thedifferenceinsocialposition，astheyreckonedit，madethattooridiculoustoconsiderasapossibility，evenifIwishedit，whichIdistinctlydidnot。Butsomething，aninterview，awkwardanddisagreeableforbothsides，orapatronizingnoteofthanks，was，attheveryleast，certaintofollowthehappeningsofthepreviousnight。IwishedIhadgonehomewhentheColtonsfirstcametothefestival。IwishedIhadnotpromisedTaylorthatIwouldattendthatfestival。Iwished——I
　　wishedagreatmanythings。ThethoughtofyoungCarver’spublicsnubbingbeforehisfriendswasmyoneunmixedsatisfaction。I
　　ratherimaginedthathewasmoreuncomfortablethanIwasorcouldbe。
　　Lutecrowedvaingloriouslyoverhisowngoodjudgmentinleavingforhomeearly。
　　"Idon’tknowhow’twas，"hedeclared。"Somethin’seemedtotellmewewasinforaturribletempest。Iwassettin’talkin’withAlvinBakerandeatin’mysecondsasserofberries，when——"
　　"SECONDsasser？"interruptedDorinda，sharply。"Where’dyougetmoneyfortwosassers？Igaveyouthirtycentswhenyoustartedforthatfestival。Itcostyoufifteentogetinsidethegate，andMatildyDeantoldmethechurchfolkswascal’latin’tochargefifteenforahelpin’ofberriesandcream。Andyouhadtwosassers，yousay。Whopaidforthesecondone？"
　　Herhusbandswallowedhalfacupofcoffeebeforereplying。Thenhisreplyhadnothingtodowiththequestion。
　　"Idon’tknowhow’twas，"hewenton。"Ijusthadthefeelin’，that’sall。Sortofapresent——presentuary，Iguess，comeoverme。
　　Ilookedupattheskyand’twasgettin’black，andthenIlookedtothewest—ardandIseeaflashoflightnin’。’Nothin’butheatlightnin’，’saysAlvin。’Heatlightnin’nothin’！’saysI，’Itellyou——"
　　"Whopaidforthatsecondsasserofberries？"repeatedhiswife，relentlessly。
　　"Whynow，Dorindy——"
　　"Whopaidfor’em？If’twasAlvinBakeryououghttobeashamedofyourself，spongin’onhimforyourvittles。"
　　"Alvin！Goodland！didyoueverknowhimtopayforanythinghedidn’thaveto？"
　　"NevermindwhatIknow。Didyougettrustedfor’em？HowmanytimeshaveItoldyou——"
　　"Inevergottrusted。Iain’tthatkind。AndIdidn’tsponge’em，neither。Ipaidcash，rightoutofmyownpocket，likeaman。"
　　"Youdid！Um—hm。Iwanttoknow！Wellthen——MAN，wheredidthecashinthatpocketcomefrom？"
　　Lutesquirmed。"I——I——"hestammered。
　　"Wherediditcomefrom？Answerme。"
　　"Well——well，Dorindy，yousee——whenyousentmeuptothestoret’otherdayafterthebrownsugarand——andnumber50spoolcottonyougivemeseventy—fivecents。Yourememberyoudid，yourself。"
　　"Yes，andIrememberyousaidtherewasaholeinyourpocketandyoulostthechange。Iain’tlikelytoforgetit，andIshouldn’tthinkyou’dbe。"
　　"Ididn’tforget。Bytime！myearsain’tdonesingin’yet。Butthatshowshowrecklessyoutalktome。Ineverlostthatchangeatall。Ifounditafterwardsinmyvest，soallyourjawin’wasjustfornothin’。Ros，sheoughttobegmypardon，hadn’tshe？
　　Hadn’tshenow？"
　　Dorindasavedmethetroubleofanswering。
　　"Um—hm！"sheobserved，dryly。"Well，I’llbegmyownpardoninstead，forbein’sodumbasnottogothroughyourvestmyself。
　　SoTHAT’Swheretheotherfifteencentscomefrom！Isee。Well，youmarchouttothewoodpileandchoptillItellyoutoquit。"
　　"But，Dorindy，I’vegotoneofmydyspepsyspells。Idon’tfeelrealgoodthismornin’。ItoldyouIdidn’t。"
　　"Folksthatmakepigsofthemselvesonstolenberrieshadn’toughttofeelgood。Exerciseisfinefordyspepsy。Youmarch。"
　　Lutemarched，andImarchedwithhimasfarasthebackyard。
　　ThereIlefthim，groaningbeforethewoodpile，andwentdowntotheboathouse。
　　TheComfort’soverhaulingwascompleteandIhadlaunchedhertheweekbefore。Nowshelayanchoredattheedgeofthechannel。ForthewantofsomethingmoreimportanttodoItookdownmyshotgunandbegantopolishitsalreadyglitteringbarrels。
　　TryasImightIcouldnotgetthememoryofmyadventureinthe"tempest"outofmyhead。Irevieweditfromendtoend，thinkingofmanythingsImighthavedonewhich，inthelightofwhatfollowed，wouldhavebeenbetterandmoresensible。If，insteadofleavingthecoachman，Ihadremainedtohelphimwiththefrightenedhorse，Ishouldhavebeenbetteremployed。BetweenuswecouldhavesubduedtheanimalandMissColtonmighthaveriddenhome。I
　　wonderedwhathadbecomeofJenkinsandthehorse。IwonderedifthegirlknewIcarriedherthroughthebrook。Victorhadsaidthebridgewasdown；shemustknow。Iwonderedwhatshethoughtoftheproceeding；probablythatsplashingaboutwithyoungladiesinmyarmswasahabitofmine。
　　ItoldmyselfthatIdidnotcarewhatshethought。Iresolvedtoforgetthewholeaffairandtofocusmyattentionuponcleaningthegun。ButIcouldnotforget。IwadedthatbrookadozentimesasIsatthere。Irememberedeverydetail；howstillshelayinmyarms；howwhiteherfacelookedasthedistantlightningflashesrevealedittome；howherhairbrushedmycheekasIbentoverher。Iwasusingawadofcottonwastetopolishthegunbarrel，andIthrewitintoacorner，havingtheinsanenotionthat，insomeway，theassociationofideascamefromthatbunchofwaste。
　　It——thewaste——wasgrimyandanythingbutfragrant，asdifferentfromthedarklockwhichthewindhadblownagainstmyfaceasanythingwellcouldbe，butthehurrywithwhichIdiscardeditprovesmyimbecilityatthattime。Confoundthegirl！shewasanuisance。Iwantedtoforgetherandherfamily，andthesulphurouspersonagetowhosecareIhadonceconsignedtheheadofthefamilyapparentlytookacharacteristicdelightinarrangingmatterssothatIcouldnot。
　　Theshotgunwas，atlast，sospotlessthatevenapretenseoffurthercleaningwasridiculous。Ihelditlevelwithmyeyeandsquintedthroughthebarrels。
　　"Don’tshoot，"saidavoicefromthedoorway；"I’llcomedown。"
　　Iloweredthegun，turnedandlooked。"BigJim"Coltonwasstandingthere，cigarinmouth，caponthebackofhisheadandbothhandsinhispockets，exactlyashehadappearedinthatsamedoorwaywhenheandIfirstmet。Theexpectedhadhappened，partofitatleast。Hehadcometoseeme；thedisagreeableinterviewIhadforeseenwasathand。
　　Henoddedandenteredwithoutwaitingforaninvitation。
　　"Morning，"hesaid。
　　"Goodmorning，"saidI，guardedly。Iwonderedhowhewouldbegintheconversation。Ourpreviousmeetinghadendedalmostinafight。Wehadbeenfightingbyproxyeversince。Iwaspreparedformoretrouble，forhaughtycondescension，forperfunctoryapology，foralmostanythingexceptwhathappened。Hisnextremarkmighthavebeenaddressedtoanacquaintanceuponwhomhehadcasuallydroppedinforafriendlycall。
　　"That’sagoodlookinggunyou’vegotthere，"heobserved。"Let’sseeit。"
　　Iwastooastonishedtoanswer。"Let’slookatit，"herepeated，holdingouthishand。
　　MechanicallyIpassedhimthegun。Heexamineditasifhewasusedtosuchthings，brokeit，snappeditshut，triedthelockswithhisthumbandhandeditbacktome。
　　"Anythingworthshootingaroundhere？"heasked，pullingthearmchairtowardhimandsitting。
　　IthinkIdidnotlethimseehowastonishedIwasathisattitude。
　　Itriednotto。
　　"Whyyes，"Ianswered，"intheseason。Plentyofcoots，someblackduck，andquailandpartridgeinthewoods。"
　　"Thatso！Peters，thatcarpenterofmine，saidsomethingofthesort，Iremember，butIwouldn’tbelievehimunderoath。IcouldshootHIMwithmoreorlesspleasure，butthereseemstobenoopensessionforhisspecies。Where’syourlaunch？"
　　"Outyonder。"IpointedtotheComfortathermoorings。Helooked，butmadenocomment。Iroseandputthegunintherack。
　　ThenIreturnedtomychair。Heswungaroundinhisseatandlookedatme。
　　"Well，"hesaid，grimly，butwithatwinkleinhiseye，"thelasttimeyouandIchattedtogetheryoutoldmetogotothedevil。"
　　ThiswasquitetrueandImighthaveaddedthatIwasgladofit。
　　Butwhatwouldbetheuse？Ididnotansweratall。
　　"Ihaven’tgonethereyet，"hecontinued。"Cameoverhereinstead。
　　Gotdryyet？"
　　"Dry？"
　　"Yes。YouwereanythingbutdrywhenIsawyoulastnight。Havemanysuchcloudburstsasthatintheseparts？"
　　"Notmany。No。"
　　"Ihopenot。Idon’twantanotheruntilIsellthathorseofmine。
　　Thechapwhostuckmewithhimisafriendofmine。Hewarrantedthebeastperfectlysafeforaninfantinarmstodriveandnotafraidofanythingshortofanearthquake。Heisalovelyliar。I
　　admirehisqualificationsinthatrespect，andhopetotradewithhimagain。Hebucksthestockmarketoccasionally。"
　　Hesmiledashesaidit。Therewasnottheslightestmaliceinhistone，but，ifIhadbeenthe"friend，"Ishouldhavekeptclearofstocksforawhile。
　　"Whatbecameofthehorse？"Iasked。
　　"Ranawayagain。Jenkinshadjustgotbackintothecarriagewhenanotheroneofthosethunderclapsstartedmoretrouble。Thehorseranfourmiles，moreorless，andstoppedonlywhenthewheelsgotjammedbetweentwotrees。Ipaidninehundreddollarsforthatcarriage。"
　　"Andthecoachman？"
　　"Oh，helitonhishead，fortunately，andwasn’thurt。Spenthalfthenighttryingtofindaphonenotoutofcommissionbutfailed。
　　Gothomeaboutfouro’clock，leadingthehorse。Paine——"
　　"Yes？"
　　"OfcourseyouknowwhatI’vecomeherefor。I’mmuchobligedtoyou。"
　　"That’sallright。You’rewelcome。"
　　"MaybeIam，butIamobliged，justthesame。NotonlyforthehelpyougaveMabel——mydaughter——lastnight，butforthatbusinessinthebaytheotherafternoon。"
　　Soshehadtoldhimthewholestory。Rememberingherlastwords，asIleftherinthehall，Ihadratherimaginedshewould。
　　"Thatdidn’tamounttoanything，"Isaid，shortly。
　　"Why，yes，itdid。Itmighthaveamountedtoawholelot。IaskedPeterssomequestionsaboutthetidesouthereand，fromwhathesaid，Ijudgethatbeingstuckontheshoalsinasquallmightnotbealtogetherajoke。Mabelsaysyouhandledtheaffairmightywell。"
　　Ididnotanswer。Hechuckled。
　　"HowdidyoungCarverenjoyplayingsecondfiddle？"heasked。
　　"FromwhatI’veseenofhimhegenerallyexpectstoleadtheband。
　　Happy，washe？"
　　Iremainedsilent。Hesmiledbroadly。
　　"Heisn’tanytoohappythismorning，"hewenton。"Thatyoungmanwon’tdo。Ineverquotedhimwithintwentypointsofpar，butMabelseemedtolikehimandhermotherthoughthewastherealthing。Mrs。C。couldn’tforgetthathisfamilyisoneoftheoldestonthelist。PersonallyIdon’tgamblemuchonfamilies；
　　knowalittleaboutmyownandthatlittleisenough。Butwomenaredifferent。However，familyornot，hewon’tdo。Ishouldtellhimsomyself，butIguessMabelwillsavemethetrouble。She’sgotasurprisingamountofcommon—sense，consideringthatshe’sanonlychild——andwhoherparentsare。Bytheway，Paine，whatdidCarversaywhenyouputhimashore？"
　　"He——hesaid——oh，nothingofimportance。"
　　"Yes，Iknowthat。Ilistenedtohisexplanationslastnight。Butdidhesayanything？"
　　"Why，heofferedtopaymeformywork。"
　　"Didhe？Howmuch？"
　　"Ididnotwaittofindout。"
　　"Andyouhaven’theardfromhimsince？"
　　Ihesitated。
　　"Haveyou？"herepeated。
　　"Well，I——Ireceivedanotefromhimnextday。"
　　"Humph！Offeringapologies？"
　　"No。"
　　"Sentyoumoney，didn’the？"
　　Ilookedathiminsurprise。"Didhetellyou？"Iasked。
　　"No，nobodytoldme。I’monlytryingtofindoutwhetherornotI
　　havelostallmyjudgmentofhumannaturesinceIstruckthissandheap。Hedidsendyoumoneythen。Howmuch？"
　　"Mr。Colton，I——"
　　"Comenow！Howmuch？"
　　"Well——hesentmefivedollars。"
　　"No！hedidn’t！"
　　"Iamtellingyouthetruth。"
　　"Yes，"slowly，"Iknowyouare。I’vegotthatmuchjudgmentleft。
　　Sentyoufivedollars，didhe。Andyousentitback。"
　　"Yes。"
　　"Anymessagewithit？"