Annixterwasallbewildered。Withtheexceptionofthetimidlittlecreatureintheglove-cleaningestablishmentinSacramento，hehadhadnoacquaintancewithanywoman。Hisworldwasharsh，crude，aworldofmenonly——menwhoweretobecombatted，opposed——hishandwasagainstnearlyeveryoneofthem。Womenhedistrustedwiththeinstinctivedistrustoftheovergrownschoolboy。Now，atlength，ayoungwomanhadcomeintohislife。Promptlyhewasstruckwithdiscomfiture，annoyedalmostbeyondendurance，harassed，bedevilled，excited，madeangryandexasperated。Hewassuspiciousofthewoman，yetdesiredher，totallyignorantofhowtoapproachher，hatingthesex，yetdrawntotheindividual，confusingthetwoemotions，sometimesevenhatingHilmaasaresultofthisconfusion，butatalltimesdisturbed，vexed，irritatedbeyondpowerofexpression。
Atlength，Annixtercasthiscigarfromhimandplungedagainintotheworkoftheday。Theafternoonworetoevening，totheaccompanimentofwearyingandclamorousendeavour。Insomeunexplainedfashion，thelabourofputtingthegreatbarninreadinessforthedancewasaccomplished。thelastboltofcambricwashunginplacefromtherafters。Thelastevergreentreewasnailedtothejoistsofthewalls。thelastlanternhung，thelastnaildrivenintothemusicians’platform。Thesunset。Therewasagreatscurrytohavesupperanddress。
Annixter，lastofalltheotherworkers，leftthebarnintheduskoftwilight。Hewasalone。hehadasawunderonearm，abagoftoolswasinhishand。Hewasinhisshirtsleevesandcarriedhiscoatoverhisshoulder。ahammerwasthrustintooneofhishippockets。Hewasinexecrabletemper。Theday’sworkhadfaggedhimout。Hehadnotbeenabletofindhishat。
Andthebuckskinwithsixtydollars’worthofsaddlegone，too，
hegroaned。Oh，ain’titsweet？