Sheremainedtoclearawaythetable，whentherestleftit，andWestoverfollowedMrs。Durginintotheparlor，wheresheindemnifiedherselfforrefrainingfromanyexplicitallusiontoJeffbeforeCynthia。\"Theboy，\"
sheexplained，whenshehadmadehimransackhismemoryforeveryscrapoffactconcerningherson，\"don’thardlyeverwritetome，andIguesshedon’tgiveCynthyverymuchnews。Ipresumehe’sworkin’harderthaneverthisyear。AndI’mgladhe’sgoin’aboutalittle，fromwhatyousay。Iguesshe’sgottofeelin’alittlebetter。Itdidworrymeforhimtofeelsowhatyoumaycallmeechin’aboutfolks。Youseeanythingthatmadeyouthinkhewa’n’tappreciated？\"
AfterWestovergotbackintohisownroom，someoneknockedathisdoor，andhefoundWhitwelloutside。Hescarcelyaskedhimtocomein，butWhitwellscarcelyneededtheinvitation。\"Goteverythingyouwant？
ItoldCynthyI’dcomeupandseeafteryou；Frankwon’tbebackintime。\"Hesatdownandputhisfeetontopofthestove，andstrucktheheelsofhisbootsonitsedge，fromthehabitofknockingthecakedsnowofftheminthatwayonstove—tops。Hedidnotwaittofindoutthattherewasnoresponsivesizzlingbeforeheasked，withalongnasalsigh，\"Well，howisJeffgettin’along？\"
HelookedacrossatWestover，whohadprovisionallyseatedhimselfonhisbed。