Phineasdidnotwait，butevensohispursuercaughthimbeforehe，reachedthegate。Jed，whohadruntothewindow，sawtheMajor，andthehardwaredealerinearnestconversation。Theformerseemed，tobedoingmostofthetalking。Thentheyseparated，Grover，remainingbythegateandPhineasstridingoffinthedirectionof，hisshop。Hewasmutteringtohimselfandhisfacewasworking，withemotion。Betweenbaffledmaliceandsuppressedhatredhe，lookedalmostasifheweregoingtocry。Evenamidhisown，feelingsofthankfulnessandreliefJedfeltapangofpityfor，PhineasBabbitt。Thelittlemanwastheincarnationofspiteand，envyandvindictivebitterness，butJedwassorryforhim，justas，hewouldhavebeensorryforamosquitowhichhadbittenhim。He，mightbeobligedtocrushthecreature，buthewouldfeelthatit，wasnotmuchtoblameforthebite;bothitandPhineascouldnot，helpbeingastheywere——theyweremadethatway。
Heheardanexclamationathisshoulderandturnedtofindthat，CaptainSamhadalsobeenregardingthepartingatthegate。
“Humph！”gruntedthecaptain。”Phinlooksasifhe’dbeeneatin’
somethin’thatdidn’tsetanytoogood。What’sstartedhimto，obeyin’ordersfromthatGrovermanalltoonce？，Ialwaysthought，hehatedsoldierin’worsethanahenhatesaswim……Humph！……
Well，that’sthesecondqueerestthingI’verunacrossto-day。”