"EvenBetty，"hehadsaidtohimself，nowandthen。"EvenmyBetty。GoodGod——whoknows！"
　　Becauseofthis，hehadreadeachletterwithkeeneyes。
　　Theywerelongletters，fullofdetailandcolour，becausesheknewheenjoyedthem。Shehadadelightfultouch。HesometimesfeltasiftheywalkedtheEnglishlanestogether。
　　Hisintimacywithherneighbours，andherneighbourhood，wasoneofhisrelaxations。HefoundhimselfthinkingofoldDobyandMrs。Welden，asasortofsoporificmeasure，whenhelayawakeatnight。ShehadsentphotographsofStornham，ofDunholmCastle，andofDole，andhadevenfoundanoldengravingofLadyAlanbyinheryouth。HerevidentlikingfortheDunholmshadpleasedhim。Theywerepeoplewhosedignityandadmirablenesswerepartofgeneralknowledge。LordWestholtwasplainlyayoungmanofmanyattractions。Ifthetwoweredrawntoeachother——andwhatmorenatural——allwouldbewell。HewonderedifitwouldbeWestholt。Buthislovequickenedasagacitywhichneedednostimulus。Hesaidtohimselfintimethat，thoughshelikedandadmiredWestholt，shewentnofarther。Thatotherspaidcourttoherhecouldguesswithoutbeingtold。Hehadseentheeffectshehadproducedwhenshehadbeenathome，andalsoanunexpectedlettertohiswifefromMillyBowenhadrevealedmanythings。Milly，havingnotedMrs。Vanderpoel’seageranxietytoheardirectnewsofLadyAnstruthers，wasnotthepersontoletfallfromherhandausefulthreadofconnection。Shehadwrittenquiteatlength，managingadroitlytoconveyallthatshehadseen，andallthatshehadheard。ShehadbeenmakingavisitwithindrivingdistanceofStornham，andhadhadthepleasureofmeetingbothLadyAnstruthersandMissVanderpoelatvariousparties。
　　ShewassosurethatMrs。VanderpoelwouldliketohearhowwellLadyAnstrutherswaslooking，thatsheventuredtowrite。Betty’seffectuponthecountywasmadequiteclear，asalsowastheinterestedexpectationofherappearanceintownnextseason。Mr。Vanderpoel，perhaps，gatheredmorefromtheletterthanhiswifedid。Inhermind，relievedhappinessandconsternationweremingled。
　　"Doyouthink，Reuben，thatBettywillmarrythatLordWestholt？"sheratherfaltered。"Heseemsverynice，butIwouldrathershemarriedanAmerican。IshouldfeelasifIhadnogirlsatall，iftheybothlivedinEngland。"
　　"LadyBowengiveshimagoodcharacter，"herhusbandsaid，smiling。"Butifanythinguntowardhappens，Annie，youshallhaveahouseofyourownhalfwaybetweenDunholmCastleandStornhamCourt。"
　　WhenhehadbeguntodecidethatLordWestholtdidnotseemtobethemanFatewasveeringtowards，henotunnaturallycastamentaleyeoversuchotherpersonsasthelettersmentioned。AtexactlywhatperiodhisthoughtfirstdweltashadeanxiouslyonMountDunstanhecouldnothavetold，butheatlengthbecameconsciousthatitsodwelt。
　　Hehadbegunbyfeelinganinterestinhisstory，andhadaskedquestionsabouthim，becauseasituationsuchashissuggestedquerytoamanofaffairs。Thus，ithadbeennaturalthatthelettersshouldspeakofhim。Whatshehadwrittenhadrecalledtohimcertainrumoursofthedisgracefuloldscandal。
　　Yes，theyhadbeenabadlot。Hearrangedtoputacasual—
　　soundingquestionorsotocertainpersonswhoknewEnglishsocietywell。Whathegatheredwasnotencouraging。ThepresentLordMountDunstanwasconsideredratherasurlybrute，andlivedamysterioussortoflifewhichmightcovermanythings。Itwasbadblood，andpeoplewerenaturallyshyofit。Ofcourse，themanwasapauper，andhisplaceabarrackfallingtoruin。TherehadbeensomethingrathershadyinhisgoingtoAmericaorAustraliaafewyearsago。
　　Goodlooking？Well，sofewpeoplehadseenhim。Thelady，whowasspeaking，hadheardthathewasoneofthosebig，ratherlumpymen，andhadanill—temperedexpression。Shealwaysgaveawideberthtoamanwholookednasty—tempered。
　　OneortwootherpersonswhohadspokenofhimhadconveyedtoMr。Vanderpoelaboutthesameamountofvaguelyunpromisinginformation。TheepisodeofG。Seldenhadbeeninterestingenough，withitssuggestionsofpicturesquecontrastsandcombinations。Betty’stouchhadmadethejuniorsalesmanattracting。Itwasagoodtypethis，ofayoungfellowwho，battlingwiththediscouragementsofahardlife，stilldidnotlosehisamazinggoodcheerandpatience，andfoundhealthysleepandhonestwaking，eveninthehallbedroom。HehadconsentedtoBetty’srequestthathewouldseehim，partlybecausehewasinclinedtolikewhathehadheard，andpartlyforareasonwhichBettydidnotsuspect。
　　ByextraordinarychanceG。SeldenhadseenMountDunstanandhissurroundingsatcloserange。Mr。VanderpoelhadlikedwhathehadgatheredofMountDunstan’sattitudetowardsapersonalitysosingularlyexotictohimself。Crude，uneducated，andslangy，thejuniorsalesmanwasnotinanydegreeafool。
　　ToanAmericanfatherwithadaughterlikeBetty，thesumming—
　　upofanormal，nice—natured，commonyoungdenizenoftheUnitedStates，freshfromcontactwiththeeffete，mightbesubtlyinstructive，andwellworthhearing，ifitwasunconsciouslyexpressed。Mr。Vanderpoelthoughtheknewhow，afterhehadovercomehisvisitor’sfirstawkwardness——ifhechancedtobeself—conscious——hecouldleadhimtotalk。WhathehopedtodowastomakehimforgethimselfandbegintotalktohimashehadtalkedtoBetty，toingenuouslyrevealimpressionsandpointsofview。Youngmenofhisclean，rudimentarytypewereverydefiniteaboutthethingstheylikedanddisliked，andcouldbetrustedtorevealadmiration，orlackofit，withoutabsoluteintentionoractualstatement。
　　Beingelementalandundismayed，theysawthingsclearedofthemistsofsocialprejudiceandmodification。Yes，hefeltheshouldbegladtohearofLordMountDunstanandtheMountDunstanestatefromG。Seldeninahappymomentofunawareness。
　　WhywasitthatithappenedtobeMountDunstanhewasdesiroustohearof？Well，theabsolutereasonforthathecouldnothaveexplained，either。Hehadaskedhimselfquestionsonthesubjectmorethanonce。Therewasnowell—
　　foundedreason，perhaps。IfBetty’slettershadspokenofMountDunstanandhishome，theyhadalsodescribedLordWestholtandDunholmCastle。Ofthesetwomenshehadcertainlyspokenmorefullythanofothers。OfMountDunstanshehadhadmoretorelatethroughtheincidentofG。Selden。HesmiledasherealisedtheimportanceofthefigureofG。Selden。
　　ItwasSeldenandhisbrokenlegthetwomenhadriddenoverfromMountDunstantovisit。ButforSelden，BettymightnothavemetMountDunstanagain。Hewasreasonenoughforallshehadsaid。Andyet————！Perhaps，betweenBettyandhimselfthereexistedthethingwhichimpressesandcommunicateswithoutwords。Perhaps，becausetheiraffectionwasunusual，theyrealisedeachother’semotions。Thehalf—definedanxietyhefeltnowwasnotanewthing，butheconfessedtohimselfthatithadbeenspurredalittlebytheletterthelaststeamerhadbroughthim。ItwasNOTLordWestholt，itdefinitelyappeared。Hehadaskedhertobehiswife，andshehaddeclinedhisproposal。
　　"IcouldnothaveLIKEDamananymorewithoutbeinginlovewithhim，"shewrote。"ILIKEhimmorethanIcansay——somuch，indeed，thatIfeelalittledepressedbymycertaintythatIdonotlovehim。"
　　Ifshehadlovedhim，thewholematterwouldhavebeensimplified。Iftheothermanhaddrawnher，thethingwouldnotbesimple。Herfatherforesawallthecomplications——andhedidnotwantcomplicationsforBetty。Yetemotionswereperverseandirresistiblethings，andthestrongerthecreatureswayedbythem，themoreenormoustheirpower。But，ashesatinhiseasychairandthoughtoveritall，theonefeelingpredominantinhismindwasthatnothingmatteredbutBetty——nothingreallymatteredbutBetty。
　　InthemeantimeG。SeldenwaswalkingupFifthAvenue，atoncetouchedandexhilaratedbythestirabouthimandhissenseofhome—coming。ItwasprettygoodtobeinlittleoldNewYorkagain。Thehurriedpaceofthelifeabouthimstimulatedhisyoungblood。TherewerenostreetcarsinFifthAvenue，buttherewerecarriages，waggons，carts，motors，allpantinglyhurried，andfrettingandstrugglingwhenthecrowdedstateofthethoroughfareheldthemback。Thebeautifullydressedwomeninthecarriagesworenolightairofbeingatleisure。Itwasevidentthattheyweregoingtokeepengagements，todothings，toachieveobjects。
　　"Somethingdoing。Somethingdoing，"washischeerfulself—congratulatorythought。Hehadspenthislifeinthemidstofit，helikedit，anditwelcomedhimback。
　　Theappointmenthewasonhiswaytokeepthrilledhimintoanupliftedmood。Onceortwiceahalf—nervouschucklebrokefromhimashetriedtorealisethathehadbeengiventhechancewhichayearagohadseemedsoimpossiblethatitsmereincrediblenesshadmadeitanaturalsubjectforjokes。
　　HewasgoingtocallonReubenS。Vanderpoel，andhewasgoingbecauseReubenS。hadmadeanappointmentwithhim。
　　HeworehisLondonsuitofclothesandhefeltthathelookedprettydecent。Hecouldonlydohisbestinthematterofbearing。Healwaysthoughtthat，solongasafellowdidn’tget"chesty"andkepthisheadfromswelling，hewasallright。OfcoursehehadneverbeeninoneoftheseswellFifthAvenuehouses，andhefeltabitnervous——butMissVanderpoelwouldhavetoldherfatherwhatsortoffellowhewas，andherfatherwaslikelytobesomethinglikeherself。
　　Thehouse，whichhadbeenbuiltsinceLadyAnstruthers’
　　marriage，waswell"up—town，"andwasbigandimposing。
　　Whenamanservantopenedthefrontdoor，thesquarehalllookedverysplendidtoSelden。Itwasfulloflight，andofrichfurniture，whichwaslikethestuffhehadseeninoneortwospecialshopwindowsinFifthAvenue——placeswheretheysoldmagnificentgildedorcarvencoffersandvases，piecesoftapestryandmarvellousembroideries，antiquitiesfromforeignpalaces。Thoughitwasquitedifferent，itwasasswellinitswayasthehouseatMountDunstan，andthereweregleamsofpicturesonthewallsthatlookedfine，andnomistake。
　　Hewasexpected。ThemanledhimacrossthehalltoMr。
　　Vanderpoel’sroom。Afterhehadannouncedhisnameheclosedthedoorquietlyandwentaway。Mr。Vanderpoelrosefromanarmchairtocomeforwardtomeethisvisitor。
　　Hewastallandstraight——Bettyhadinheritedherslenderheightfromhim。Hiswell—balancedfacesuggestedtherelationshipbetweenthem。Hehadasteadymouth，andeyeswhichlookedasiftheysawmuchandfar。
　　"Iamgladtoseeyou，Mr。Selden，"hesaid，shakinghandswithhim。"Youhaveseenmydaughters，andcantellmehowtheyare。MissVanderpoelhaswrittentomeofyouseveraltimes。"
　　Heaskedhimtositdown，andashetookhischairSeldenfeltthathehadbeenrightintellinghimselfthatReubenS。Vanderpoelwouldbesomehowlikehisgirl。Shewasagirl，andhewasanelderlymanofbusiness，buttheywerelikeeachother。Therewasthesamekindofstraightwayofdoingthings，andthesamestraight—seeinglookinbothofthem。
　　Itwasqueerhownaturalthingsseemed，whentheyreallyhappenedtoafellow。HerehewassittinginabigleatherchairandoppositetohiminitsfellowsatReubenS。
　　Vanderpoel，lookingathimwithfriendlyeyes。Anditseemedallright，too——notasifhehadmanagedto"buttin，"andwouldfindhimselfpolitelyfiredoutdirectly。HemighthavebeenoneoftheFourHundredmakingacall。ReubenS。
　　knewhowtomakeamanfeeleasy，andnomistake。ThisG。Seldenobservedatonce，thoughhehad，infact，noknowledgeofthepracticaltactwhichdealtwithhim。HefoundhimselfansweringquestionsaboutLadyAnstruthersandhersister，whichledtotheopeningupofothersubjects。Hedidnotrealisethathebegantoexpressingenuousopinionsanddescribethings。Hislistener’sinterestledhimon，aquestionhere，aratherpleasedlaughthere，wereencouraging。
　　HehadenjoyedhimselfsomuchduringhisstayinEngland，andhadfelthisexperiencessogreatlytoberejoicedover，thattheywereeasytotalkofatanytime——infact，itwasevenatrifledifficultnottotalkofthem——but，stimulatedbythelookwhichrestedonhim，bythedeftwordandreadysmile，wordsflowedreadilyandwithouttherestraintofself—consciousness。
　　"Whenyouthinkthatallofitsortofbeganwitharobin，it’squeerenough，"hesaid。"ButforthatrobinIshouldn’tbehere，sir，"withaboyishlaugh。"AndhewasanEnglishrobin——alittlefellownothalfthesizeofthekindthathopsaboutCentralPark。"
　　"Letmehearaboutthat，"saidMr。Vanderpoel。
　　Itwasagoodstory，andhetolditwell，thoughinhisownjuniorsalesmanphrasing。Hebeganwithhisbicyclerideintothegreencountry，hisspinoverthefineroads，hisrestunderthehedgeduringtheshower，andthenthesongoftherobinperchedamongthefreshwetleafage，hisfeatherspuffedout，hisredyoungsatin—glossedbreastpulsatingandswelling。Hiswordswerecolloquialenough，buttheycalledupthepicture。
　　"Everythingsortofglitteringwiththesunshineonthewetdrops，andthingssmellinggood，liketheydoafterrain——
　　leaves，andgrass，andgoodearth。Itellyouitmadeafellowfeelasifthewholeworldwashisbrother。AndwhenMr。
　　Rob。litonthattwigandswelledhisredbreastasifheknewthewholethingwashis，andbegantoletthemnotesout，callingforhisladyfriendtocomeandgohalveswithhim，I
　　justhadtolaughandspeaktohim，andthatwaswhenLordMountDunstanheardmeandjumpedoverthehedge。He’dbeenlistening，too。"
　　TheexpressionReubenS。Vanderpoelworemadeitanagreeablethingtotalk——togoon。Heevidentlycaredtohear。SoSeldendidhisbest，andenjoyedhimselfindoingit。Hisstylemadeforrealismandbroughtthingsclearlybeforeone。Thebig—builtmanintheroughandshabbyshootingclothes，hiswaywhenhedroppedintothegrasstositbesidethestrangerandtalk，certainmeaningsinhiswordswhichconveyedtoVanderpoelwhathadnotbeenconveyedtoG。Selden。Yes，themancarriedaheavinessaboutwithhimandhatedtheburden。Seldenquiteunconsciouslybroughthimoutstrongly。
　　"Idon’tknowwhetherI’mthekindoffellowwhoisalwaysmakingbreaks，"hesaid，withhisboy’slaughagain，"butifIam，InevermadeaworseonethanwhenIaskedhimstraightifhewasoutofajob，andonthetramp。Itshowedwhatanicefellowhewasthathedidn’tgethotaboutit。Somefellowswould。Heonlylaughed——sortofshort——
　　andsaidhisjobhadbeenmorethanhecouldhandle，andhewasafraidhewasdownandout。"
　　Mr。Vanderpoelwasconsciousthatsofarhewassomewhatattractedbythiscentralfigure。G。Seldenwasalsoprovingsatisfactoryinthematterofrevealinghisexcellentlysimpleviewsofpersonsandthings。
　　"TheonlytimehegotmadwaswhenIwouldn’tbelievehimwhenhetoldmewhohewas。Iwasabithotinthecollarmyself。I’dfeltsorryforhim，becauseIthoughthewasachaplikemyself，andhewasupagainstit。Iknowwhatthatis，andI’dwantedtojollyhimalongabit。WhenhesaidhisnamewasMountDunstan，andtheplacebelongedtohim，Iguessedhethoughthewasmakingajoke。SoI
　　gotonmywheelandstartedoff，andthenhegotmadforkeeps。Hesaidhewasn’tsuchadamnedfoolashelooked，andwhathe’dsaidwastrue，andIcouldgoandbehanged。"
　　ReubenS。Vanderpoellaughed。Helikedthat。ItsoundedlikedecentBritishhottemper，whichhehadoftenfoundaccompaniedhonestBritishdecencies。
　　Helikedotherthings，asthestoryproceeded。Thepictureofthehugehousewiththeshutwindows，madehimslightlyrestless。Theconcealedimagination，combinedwiththefinancier’sresentmentofdormantinterests，disturbedhim。
　　ThatwhichhadattractedSeldenintheReverendLewisPenzancestronglyattractedhimself。Also，amanwasagooddealtobejudgedbyhisfriends。Themanwholivedaloneinthemidstofstatelydesolatenessandheldashischiefintimateahigh—bredandgentle—mindedscholarofripeyears，gave，indoingthis，certainevidencewhichdidnottellagainsthim。
　　Thewholesituationmeantsomethingasplendid，vivid—mindedyoungcreaturemightbemovedby——mightbealluredby，evendespiteherself。
　　Therewassomethingfantasticintheoddlinkingofincidents——Selden’schanceviewofBettyassherodeby，hisnextday’ssuddenresolvetoturnbackandgotoStornham，hisaccident，allthatfollowedseemed，ifonewerefanciful——partofaschemeprearranged"WhenIcametomyself，"G。Seldensaid，"IfeltlikethatfellowintheShakespeareplaythattheydressupandputtobedinthepalacewhenhe’sdrunk。IthoughtI’dgoneoffmyhead。AndthenMissVanderpoelcame。"Hepausedamomentandlookeddownonthecarpet，thinking。"Geewhiz！ItWASqueer，"hesaid。
　　BettyVanderpoel’sfathercouldalmosthearhervoiceastherestwastold。Heknewhowherlaughhadsounded，andwhatherpresencemusthavebeentotheyoungfellow。Hisdelightful，human，alwayssatisfyingBetty！
　　Throughthisoddtrickoffortune，MountDunstanhadbeguntoseeher。Since，throughtheunfairendowmentofNature——thatitwasnotwhollyfairhehadoftentoldhimself——
　　shewasallthethingsthatdesirecouldyearnfor，thereweremanychancesthatwhenamansawherhemustlongtoseeheragain，andtherewerethesamechancesthatsuchanoneasMountDunstanmightlongalso，and，ifFatewasagainsthim，longwithabitterstrength。SeldenwasnotawarethathehadspokenmorefullyofMountDunstanandhisplacethanofotherthings。Thatthishadbeenthecase，hadbeenbecauseMr。Vanderpoelhadintendeditshouldbeso。HehadsubtlydrawnoutandencouragedadetailedaccountofthetimespentatMountDunstanvicarage。Itwaseasilyencouraged。Selden’saffectionateadmirationforthevicarledhimontoenthusiasm。Thequiethouseandgarden，theoldbooks，theafternoonteaunderthecopperbeech，andthelongtalksofoldthings，whichhadbeensonewtotheyoungNewYorker，hadplainlymadeamarkuponhislife，notlikelytobeerasedevenbytherushofafteryears。
　　"Thewayheknewhistorywaswhatgotme，"hesaid。
　　"Andthewayyougotinterestedinit，whenhetalked。Itwasn’tjustHISTORY，likeyoulearnatschool，andforget，andneverseetheuseof，anyhow。Itwasthingsaboutmen，justlikeyourself——hustlingforalivingintheirway，justaswe’rehustlinginBroadway。Mostofitwasfighting，andtherearemoundsscatteredaboutthataretheremainsoftheirfortsandcamps。Romancamps，someofthem。Hetookmetoseethem。Hehadalittleoldponychaisewetrundledaboutin，andhe’ddrawupandwe’dsitandtalk。`Thereweremenhereonthisveryspot，’he’dsay，`lookingoutforattack，eating，drinking，cookingtheirfood，polishingtheirweapons，laughing，andshouting——MEN——Selden，fifty—fiveyearsbeforeChristwasborn——andsometimestheNewTestamenttimesseemtoussofarawaythattheyarehalfadream。’Thatwasthekindofthinghe’dsay，andI’dsometimesfeelasifI
　　heardtheRomansshouting。Thecountryabouttherewasfullofqueerplaces，andbothheandLordDunstanknewmoreaboutthemthanIknowaboutTwenty—thirdStreet。"
　　"YousawLordMountDunstanoften？"Mr。Vanderpoelsuggested。
　　"Everyday，sir。AndthemoreIsawhim，themoreIgottolikehim。He’sallright。Butit’shardlucktobefixedasheis——that’sstone—coldtruth。What’samantodo？Themoneyheoughttohavetokeepuphisplacewasspentbeforehewasborn。Hisfatherandhiseldestbrotherwereabumlot，andhisgrandfatherandgreat—grandfatherwerefools。
　　Hecan’tselltheplace，andhewouldn’tifhecould。Mr。
　　Penzancewassofondofhimthatsometimeshe’dsaythings。
　　But，"hastily，"perhapsI’mtalkingtoomuch。"
　　"YouhappentobetalkingaboutquestionsIhavebeengreatlyinterestedin。Ihavethoughtagooddealattimesofthepositionoftheholdersoflargeestatestheycannotaffordtokeepup。Thisspecialinstanceisacaseinpoint。"
　　G。Seldenfelthimselfinluckagain。ReubenS。，quiteevidently，foundhissubjectworthyofundividedattention。
　　SeldenhadnotheartilylikedLordMountDunstan，andlivedintheatmospheresurroundinghim，lookingabouthimwithsharpyoungNewYorkeyes，withoutlearningagooddeal。
　　Hehadseenthepracticalhardshipofthesituation，andlaiditbare。
　　"WhatMr。Penzancesaysisthathe’slikethementhatbuiltthingsinthebeginning——foughtforthem——foughtRomansandSaxonsandNormans——perhapsthewholelotatdifferenttimes。IusedtoliketogetMr。PenzancetotellstoriesabouttheMountDunstans。Theyweresplendid。Itmustbeprettyfinetolookbackaboutathousandyearsandknowyourfolkshavebeensomething。Allthesameitsprettyfiercetohavetostandaloneattheendofit，notabletohelpyourself，becausesomeofyourrelationswerecrazyfools。Idon’twonderhefeelsmad。"
　　"Doeshe？"Mr。Vanderpoelinquired。
　　"He’sstraight，"saidG。Seldensympathetically。"He’sallright。Butonlymoneycanhelphim，andhe’sgotnone，sohehastostandandstareatthingsfallingtopieces。And——well，Itellyou，Mr。Vanderpoel，heLOVESthatplace——he’scrazyaboutit。Andhe’sproud——Idon’tmeanhe’sgottheswell—
　　head，becausehehasn’t——buthe’sjustproud。Now，forinstance，hehasn’tanyuseformenlikehimselfthatmarryjustformoney。He’sseenalotofit，andit’smadehimsick。
　　He’snotthatkind。"
　　Hehadbeenaskedandhadansweredagoodmanyquestionsbeforehewentaway，buteachhaddroppedintothetalksoincidentallythathehadnotrecognisedthemasqueries。
　　HedidnotknowthatLordMountDunstanstoodoutaclearlydefinedfigureinMr。Vanderpoel’smind，afiguretobereflectedupon，andonenotwithoutitsattraction。
　　"MissVanderpoeltellsme，"Mr。Vanderpoelsaid，whentheinterviewwasdrawingtoaclose，"thatyouareanagentfortheDelkofftypewriter。"
　　G。Seldenflushedslightly。
　　"Yes，sir，"heanswered，"butIdidn’t————"
　　"IhearthatthreemachinesareinuseontheStornhamestate，andthattheyhaveprovedsatisfactory。"
　　"It’sagoodmachine，"saidG。Selden，hisflushalittledeeper。
　　Mr。Vanderpoelsmiled。
　　"Youareabusiness—likeyoungman，"hesaid，"andI
　　havenodoubtyouhaveacatalogueinyourpocket。"
　　G。Seldenwasabusiness—likeyoungman。HegaveMr。
　　Vanderpoeloneseriouslook，andthecataloguewasdrawnforth。
　　"Itwouldn’tbebusiness，sir，formetobecaughtoutwithoutit，"hesaid。"Ishouldn’tleaveitbehindifIwenttoafuneral。Aman’sgottorunnorisks。"
　　"Ishouldliketolookatit。"
　　Thethinghadhappened。Itwasnotadream。ReubenS。
　　Vanderpoel，clothedandinhisrightmind，had，withoutpressurebeingexerteduponhim，expressedhisdesiretolookatthecatalogue——toexamineit——tohaveitexplainedtohimatlength。
　　Helistenedattentively，whileG。Seldendidhisbest。Heaskedaquestionnowandthen，ormadeacomment。Hismannerwasthatofathoroughlycomposedmanofbusiness，buthewasrememberingwhatBettyhadtoldhimofthe"tenper，"andanumberofotherthings。Hesawtheflushcomeandgounderthestillboyishskin，heobservedthatG。
　　Selden’shandwasnotwhollysteady，thoughhewasmakinganeffortnottoseemexcited。Buthewasexcited。Thisactuallymeant——thisthingsounimportanttomulti—millionaires——thathewashavinghis"chance，"andhisyoungfortuneswere，perhaps，inthebalance。
　　"Yes，"saidReubenS。，whenhehadfinished，"itseemsagood，up—to—datemachine。"
　　"It’sthebestonthemarket，"saidG。Selden，"outandout，thebest。"
　　"Iunderstandyouareonlyjuniorsalesman？"
　　"Yes，sir。TenperandfivedollarsoneverymachineI
　　sell。IfIhadaterritory，Ishouldgetten。"
　　"Then，"reflectively，"thefirstthingistogetaterritory。"
　　"PerhapsIshallgetoneintime，ifIkeepatit，"saidSeldencourageously。
　　"Itisagoodmachine。Ilikeit，"saidMr。Vanderpoel。
　　"Icanseeagoodmanyplaceswhereitcouldbeused。Perhaps，ifyoumakeitknownatyourofficethatwhenyouaregivenagoodterritory，IshallgivepreferencetotheDelkoffoverothertypewritingmachines，itmight——eh？"
　　AlightbrokeoutuponG。Selden’scountenance——alightradiantandmagnificent。Hecaughthisbreath。Adesiretoshout——toyell——towhoop，aswheninthesocietyof"theboys，"wasbarelyconqueredintime。
　　"Mr。Vanderpoel，"hesaid，standingup，"I——Mr。
　　Vanderpoel——sir——IfeelasifIwashavingapipedream。I’mnot，amI？"
　　"No，"answeredMr。Vanderpoel，"youarenot。Ilikeyou，Mr。Selden。Mydaughterlikedyou。Idonotmeantolosesightofyou。Wewillbegin，however，withtheterritory，andtheDelkoff。Idon’tthinktherewillbeanydifficultyaboutit。"