CHAPTERIII
Itisadreadfulthingtohateone’sownfather；tohatehimandbeunabletoforgivehimeventhoughheisdead，althoughhepaidforhissinwithhislife。Deathissaidtopayalldebts，buttherearesomeitcannotpay。TomyfatherIowedmypresentambitionless，idle，good—for—nothinglife，mymother’sillness，yearsofdisgrace，thelossofaname——everything。
Painewasmymother’smaidenname；shewaschristenedComfortPaine。MyownChristiannameisRoscoeandmymiddlenameisPaine。Myothername，thenameIwasbornwith，thenamethatMothertookwhenshemarried，wedroppedwhenthedisgracecameuponus。Itwashonoredandrespectedonce；nowwhenitwasrepeatedpeoplecoupleditwithshameandcrimeanddishonorandbrokentrust。
AsaboyIremembermyselfasaspoiledyoungsterwhotooktheluxuriesofthisworldforgranted。Iattendedanexpensiveandselectprivateschool，idledmywaythroughthatsomehow，andenteredcollege，ahappy—go—luckyyoungfellowwithmoneyinmypocket。Fortwo—thirdsofmyFreshmanyear——whichwasallI
experiencedofUniversitylife——Ienjoyedmyselfasmuchaspossible，andstudiedaslittle。Thencamethetelegram。I
rememberthelooksofthemessengerwhobroughtit，thecaphewore，andthegrinonhisyoungIrishfacewhenthefellowsittingnextmeatthebatteredblackoaktableinthebackroomofKelly’saskedhimtohaveabeer。Irememberthesongweweresinging，thecrowdofus，howitbeganagainandthenstoppedshortwhentheotherssawthelookonmyface。Thetelegramcontainedbutfourwords：\"Comehomeatonce。\"Itwassignedwiththenameofmyfather’slawyer。
IpresumeIshallneverforgeteventhesmallestincidentofthatnightjourneyinthetrainandthehome—coming。Thelawyer’smeetingmeatthestationintheearlymorning；histakingcarethatIshouldnotseethenewspapers，andhisbreakingthenewstome。NotoftheillnessordeathwhichIhadfearedanddreaded，butofsomethingworse——disgrace。Myfatherwasanembezzler，athief。Hehadabsconded，hadrunaway，likethecowardhewas，takingwithhimwhatwasleftofhisstealings。Thebankinghouseofwhichhehadbeentheheadwasinsolvent。Thepolicewereonhistrack。And，worseandmostdisgracefulofall，hehadnotfledalone。Therewasawomanwithhim，awomanwhoseescapadeshadfurnishedthepaperswithsensationsforyears。
Ihadneverbeenwellacquaintedwithmyfather。Wehadneverbeenfriendsandcompanions，likeotherfathersandsonsIknew。I
rememberhimasaharsh，red—facedman，whom，asaboy，Iavoidedasmuchaspossible。AsIgrewolderIneverwenttohimforadvice；hewastomeasortofwalkingpocket—book，andnotmuchelse。Motherhasoftentoldmethatsheremembershimassomethingquitedifferent，andIsupposeitmustbetrue，otherwiseshewouldnothavemarriedhim；buttomehewasasourceofsupplycoupledwithabadtemper，thatwasall。ThatIwasnotutterlyimpossible，that，goingmyowngaitasIdid，Iwasnotacompleteyoungblackguard，IknownowwasdueentirelytoMother。SheandIwereasclosefriendsasIwouldpermithertobe。Fatherhadneglectedusforyears，thoughhowmuchhehadneglectedandill—treatedherIdidnotknowuntilshetoldme，afterward。Shewasindelicatehealtheventhen，but，whentheblowfell，itwassheandnotIwhoboreupbravelyanditwasherpluckandnerve，notmine，whichpulledusthroughthatdreadfultime。
Anditwasdreadful。Thestoriesandpicturesinthepapers！Therumors，alwayscontradicted，thattheembezzlerhadbeencaught！
Themisrepresentationandliesandscandal！Thelossofthosewhomwehadsupposedwerefriends！Motherborethemall，woreacalm，bravefaceinpublic，andonlywhenalonewithmegaveway，andthenbutatrareintervals。Sheclungtomeasheronlycomfortandhope。Iwassullenandwrathfulandresentful，anunlickedcub，Isuspect，whosecomplaintswereselfishonesconcerningthegivingupofmycollegelifeanditspleasures，andthesacrificeofsocialpositionandwealth。
Motherhad——orsowethoughtatthetime——asuminherownnamewhichwouldenableustolive；althoughnotaswehadlivedbyagreatdeal。Wetookanapartmentinanunfashionablequarterofthecity，andthankstothelawyer——whoprovedhimselfarealandtruefriend——Iwasgivenaminorpositioninasmallbank。Oddlyenough，consideringmyformerlife，Ilikedthework，itinterestedme，andduringthenextfewyearsIwasmade，bysuccessivepromotions，bookkeeper，teller，and，atlast，assistantcashier。
Nonewscamefromtheabsconder。Thepolicehadlosttrackofhim，anditseemedprobablethathewouldneverbeheardofagain。ButoverMotherandmyselfhungalwaysthedreadthathemightbefoundandallthedreadfulbusinessrevivedoncemore。Mothernevermentionedit，nordidI，butthedreadwasthere。
ThencamethefirstbreakdowninMother’shealthwhichnecessitatedherremovaltothecountry。LutherandDorindaRogersweredistantrelativesofourfriend，thelawyer。TheyownedthelittlehousebytheshoreatDenboroandthelawyerhadvisitedthemoccasionallyonshootingandfishingtrips。Theywereinneedofmoney，for，asDorindasaid：\"We’vegottwomouthsinthisfamilyandonlyonepairofhands。Oneofthemouthsissobigthatthehandscan’tfillit，letalonethemouththatbelongstoTHEM。\"Mother——asMrs。
Paine，awidow——wenttherefirstasaboarder，intendingtoremainbutafewmonths。Dorindatooktoheratonce，beingattractedinthebeginning，Ithink，bythename。\"TheycallyouComfortPaine，\"
shesaid，\"andyouareacomforttoeverybodyelse’spain。Yetyouain’toutofpainaminutescurcely，yourself。Ineverseeanythinglikeit。If’twan’twickedI’dsaythatnamewasgiveyoubytheOldScratchhimself，asasortofdivilishjoke。ButanybodycanseethattheOldScratchneverhadanythingincommonwithyou，evenahandinthechristenin’。\"
Dorindawasverykind，andLutewasanever—endingjoyinhispeculiarway。MotherwouldhavebeenalmosthappyinthelittleDenborohome，ifIhadbeenwithher。Butshewasneverreallyhappywhenwewereseparated，aconditionofmindwhichgrewmoreacuteasherhealthdeclined。IcamedownfromthecityonceeverymonthandthoseSundaysweregreatoccasions。TheDenboropeopleknowmeasRoscoePaine。
ForatimeMotherseemedtobeholdingherown。Inanswertomyquestionsshealwaysdeclaredthatshewaseversomuchbetter。
ButDoctorQuimby，thetownphysician，lookedserious\"Shemustbekeptabsolutelyquiet，\"hesaid。\"Shemustnotbetroubledinanyway。WorryormentaldistressiswhatIfearmost。
Anysuddenbadnewsorshockmight——well，goodnessknowswhateffectitmighthave。Shemustnotbeworried。Ros——\"afteronehasvisitedDenborofivetimesinsuccessionheisgenerallycalledbyhisChristianname——\"Ros，ifyou’vegotanyworriesyoukeep’emtoyourself。\"
Ihadworries，plentyofthem。Ourlittlefortune，saved，aswethought，fromthewreck，sufferedasevereshrinkage。A
considerableportionofit，asthelawyersdiscovered，wasinvolvedandbelongedtothecreditors。IsaidnothingtoMotheraboutthis：shesupposedthatwehadasufficientincomeforourneeds，evenwithoutmysalary。WithouttellingherIgaveupourcityapartment，storedourfurniture，andtookaroominaboarding—
house。Iwaslearningthebankingbusiness，wastrustedwithmoreandmoreresponsibility，andbelievedmyfuturewassecure。Thencamethefinalblow。
IsawthenewsinthepaperwhenIwentouttolunch。\"EmbezzlerandHisCompanionCaughtinRioJaneiro。HeCommitsSuicideWhenNotifiedofHisArrest。\"TheseheadlinesstaredatmeasIopenedthepaperattherestauranttable。Myfatherhadshothimselfwhenthepolicecame。Ireaditwithscarcelymorethanavaguefeelingofpityforhim。ItwasofMotherthatIthought。Thenewsmustbekeptfromher。Ifsheshouldhearofit！WhatshouldIdo？I
wentfirstofalltothelawyer’soffice：hewasoutoftownfortheday。Iwanderedupanddownthestreetsforanhour。ThenI
wentbacktothebank。ThereIfoundatelegramfromDoctorQuimby：\"Mrs。Paineveryill。Comeonfirsttrain。\"Iknewwhatitmeant。Motherhadheardthenews；theshockwhichthedoctordreadedhadhaditseffect。
IreachedDenborothenextmorning。Lutemetmeatthestation。
FromhisdisjointedandlengthystoryIgatheredthatMotherhadbeen\"feelin’fust—rateforher\"untilthenoonbefore。\"Icomebackfromthepost—office，\"saidLute，\"andIwascal’latin’toreadthenewspaper，butDorindyhadsomeeverlastin’choreorotherformetodo——Ibelieveshethinks’emupinhersleep——andIleftthepaperonthedinin’—roomtableandwentouttothebarn。
Dorindyshecomealongtobossme，asusual。WhenwewentbacktothehousetherewasMrs。Comfortonthedinin’—roomfloor——dead，wewasafraidatfust。Thepaperwasalongsideofher，sowejudgeshewasjusta—goin’toreaditwhenshewastook。Thedoctorsaysit’saparalysisorappleplexyorsomethin’。Wecarriedherintothebedroom，butsheain’tspokesence。\"
Shedidnotspeakforweeksandwhenshediditwastoaskforme。
Shecalledmynameoverandoveragainand，ifIlefther，evenforamoment，shegrewsomuchworsethatthedoctorforbademygoingbacktothecity。Iobtainedaleaveofabsencefromthebankforthreemonths。Bythattimeshewasherself，sofarasherreasonwasconcerned，butveryweakandunabletobeartheleasthintofdisturbanceorworry。Shemustnotbemoved，soDoctorQuimbysaid，andheheldoutnoimmediatehopeofherrecoveringtheuseofherlimbs。\"Shewillbeconfinedtoherbedforalongtime，\"
saidthedoctor，\"andsheiseasyonlywhenyouarehere。IfyoushouldgoawayIamafraidshemightdie。\"Ididnotgoaway。I
gaveupmypositioninthebankandremainedinDenboro。
AttheendoftheyearIboughttheRogershouseandland，movedaportionofourfurnituredownthere，soldtherest，andresignedmyselftoaperiodofidlenessinthecountry。DorindaIhiredashousekeeper，andwhenDorindaacceptedtheengagementshethrewinLute，sotospeak，forgoodmeasure。
AndhereIhavebeeneversince。AtfirstIlookeduponmystayinDenboroasasortofenforcedvacation，whichwastobe，ofcourse，onlytemporary。ButtimewentonandMother’sconditioncontinuedunchanged。SheneededmeandIcouldnotleaveher。Ifishedand，shotandsailedandloafed，losingambitionandself—respect，awarethatthemajorityofthevillagepeopleconsideredmetoolazytoearnaliving，andcaringlittlefortheiropinion。AtfirstIhadkeptupahitormisscorrespondencewithoneortwoofmyassociatesinthebank，butafterawhileIdroppedeventhisconnectionwiththeworld。IwasashamedtohavemyformeracquaintancesknowwhatIhadbecome，andthey，apparently，werequitewillingtoforgetme。IexpectedtoliveanddieinDenboro，andIfacedtheprospectwithindifference。
Thesummerpeople，cottagersandboarders，Iavoidedaltogetherandmyonlyfriend，andIdidnotconsiderhimthat，wasGeorgeTaylor，theDenborobankcashier。Hewasfondofsalt—waterandout—doorsportsandwe，occasionallyenjoyedthemtogether。
Thankstothelawyer，ournameshadbeenscarcelymentionedinthepapersatthetimeofmyfather’sdeath。Nooneinthevillageknewouridentityorourstory。And，becauseIknewthatMotherwouldworryifsheweretold，Ikeptfromherthefactthatourlittleincomewasbuthalfofwhatithadbeen。Ourwantswerefew，andifmyclotheswerenolongermadebythebesttailors，iftheywereready—madeandout—of—dateandlackedpressing，theywerewhole，atallevents，becauseDorindawasatip—topmender。Infact，Ihadforgottentheywereout—of—dateuntilthesightoftheimmaculatelygarbedyoungchapintheautomobilebroughtthecomparisonbetweenustomymind。
Butnow，asIsatonthewash—bench，thinkingofallthis，Ilookeddownatmybaggytrousersandfadedwaistcoatwithdisgust。Oneofthesurestsignsofthelossofself—respectisadisregardofone’spersonalappearance。Ilookedlikeahayseed——nottheindependentcountrymanwhowearsoldclothesonweekdaysfromchoiceandisproudlyconsciousofaSundaysuitinthecloset——butthatothervariety，thepost—officeandbilliard—roomidlerwhohasreachedthepointofutterindifference，istooshiftlesstocare。
CaptainJedwasnotsofarwrong，afterall——LuteRogersandIwerebirdsofafeatherinmorewaysthanone。
NowonderthatgirlintheautohadlookedatmeasifIweresomethingtoocontemptiblefornotice。YetIhatedherforthatlook。Ihadbehavedlikeaboor，ofcourse。BecauseIwasafailure，acountryloaferwithnoprospectofeverbeinganythingelse，becauseIcouldnotrideinautomobilesandotherscould——
thesewerenogoodreasonsforinsultingstrangersmorefortunatethanI。YetIdidhatethatgirl。JustthenIhatedallcreation，especiallythatportionofitwhichamountedtoanything。
Itooktheletterfrommypocketandreaditagain。\"Ishouldliketoseeyou……onamatterofbusiness。\"Whatbusinesscould\"Yourstruly，JamesW。Colton\"havewithme？AndCaptainJedalsohadtalkedbusiness。IsupposedthatIhadgivenupbusinesslongagoandforgood；now，allatonce，itseemedtobehuntingme。
Well，allthehuntingshouldbeonitsside。
AtanothertimeImighthavetreatedthegreatColton’s\"summonstocourt\"asajoke。Imight，likeMother，haveregardedthecurtnessofthecommandanditsgeneraltoneoftakingmypromptobedienceforgrantedasanexpressionoftheWallStreetmagnate’shabitofmind，andnothingmore。Hewasusedtohavingpeoplejumpwhenhesnappedhisfingers。Butnowitmademeangry。IsympathizedwithDeanandAlvinBaker。Thepossessionofmoneydidnotnecessarilyimplyomnipotence。ThiswasCapeCod，notNewYork。HisMajestymight，asCaptainJedputit，haveblownhisImperialnose，butI，forone，wouldn’t\"layinasupplyofhandkerchiefs\"——notyet。
Iheardarustleinthebushesand，turningmyhead，sawLutecomingalongthepath。Hewaswalkingfast——fastforhim，thatis——
andseemedtobeexcited。Hisexcitement，however，didnotcausehimtoforgetprudence。Helookedcarefullyabouttobesurehiswifewasnotinsight，beforehespoke。
\"Dorindyain’tbeenheresenceI’vebeengone，hasshe？\"washisfirstquestion。
\"Iguessnot，\"saidI。\"ShehasbeeninthehousesinceIgotback。ButIdon’tknowhowlongyou’vebeengone。\"
\"Onlyafewminutes。I——Ijuststeppedover’crosstheLaneforajiffy，that’sall。Say，bytime；themColtonsmusthavemoney！\"
\"That’sahabitofmillionaires，Ibelieve。\"
\"Hey？Whatdoyoumeanbythat？Iftheydidn’thavemoneytheycouldn’tbemillionaires，couldthey？How’dyouliketobeamillionaire，Ros？\"
\"Idon’tknow。Inevertried。\"
\"Bytime！I’Dliketotryaspell。I’vebeenoverlookin’’roundtheirplace。Youneverseesuchaplace！Why，theirfrontdoorstep’sbigasthisyard，prettynigh。\"
\"Doesithavetoberaked？\"Iasked。
\"Raked！Whoeverheardofrakin’adoorstep？\"
\"Giveitup！ButitdoesseemtomethatIhaveheardofrakingayard。IthinkDorindamentionedthat，didn’tshe？\"
Lutelookedatme：thenhehurriedoverandpickeduptherakewhichwaslyingnearthebarn，apile——averysmallpile——ofchipsandleavesbesideit。
\"Whendidshementionit？\"heasked。
\"Aweekago，Ithink，wasthefirsttime。Shehasreferredtoitoccasionallysince。ShewasmentioningittoyouwhenIwentuptownthismorning。Iheardher。\"
Lutelookedrelieved。\"Oh，THEN！\"hesaid。\"Ithoughtyoumeantlately。Well，I’mrakin’it，ain’tI？Say，Ros，\"headded，eagerly，\"didyougotothepost—officewhenyouwasuptown？Wastherealetterthereforyou？\"
\"Whatmakesyouthinktherewas？\"
\"AsaPeters’boy，thebow—leggedone，toldme。Thechauffeur，thefellerthatpilotstheautomobiles，askedhimwherethepost—officewasandheseetheaddressontheenvelope。Hesaidtheletterwasforyou。Itoldhimhewaslyin’——\"
\"Whatintheworlddidyoutellhimthatfor？\"Iinterrupted。I
hadknownLutealongtime，buthesometimessurprisedme，evenyet。
\"’Causeheis，ninetimesoutoften，\"repliedLute，promptly。
\"Youneverseesuchayoung—onefordodgin’thetruth。Why，onetimehetoldhisgrandmother，Asa’sma，Imean，that——\"
\"Whatdidhesayabouttheletter？\"
\"Said’twasforyou。AndthechauffeursaidMr。Coltontoldhimtomailitrightoff。’Twan’tforyou，wasit，Ros？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"ItWAS！Well，bytime！WhatdidamanlikeMr。Coltonwritetoyouabout？\"
AmonghisotherlackingsLutewasconspicuouslyshortoftact。
Thiswasnotimeforhimtoaskmesuchaquestion，especiallytoemphasizethe\"you。\"
\"Whyshouldn’thewritetome？\"Iasked，tartly。
\"But——butHIM——writin’toYOU！\"
\"Humph！Evenagodstoopsonceinawhile。Readyourmythology，Lute。\"
\"Hey？Say，lookhere，whatareyouswearin’about？\"
\"Swearing？Oh，that’sallright。ThegodIreferredtowasaheathenone。\"
\"Well，it’sagoodthingDorindydidn’thearyou；she’sdownonswearin’，heathenoranyotherkind。ButwhatdidMr。Coltonwritetoyoufor？\"
\"Hesayshewantstoseeme。\"
\"Seeyou？Whatfor？\"
\"Don’tknow。Perhapshewantstoborrowmoney。\"
\"Borrow——！Ibelieveyou’recrazy！\"
\"No，I’mtolerablysane。There！there！don’tlookatmelikethat。
Here’shisletter。Readit，ifyouwantto。\"
Lute’sfingersweresoeagertograspthatletterthattheywereallthumbs。Hedroppeditonthegrass，pickeditupwithasmuchcareasifitwasadiamond，andholdingitafootfromhisnose——
hehadbrokenhisspectaclesandwasafraidtoaskDorindaforthemoneytohavethemrepaired——hespeltitouttothelastword。
\"Well，bytime！\"heexclaimed，whenhehadfinished。\"Hewantstoseeyouathishousethisforenoon！And——and——why，theforenoon’sallbutgonenow！Whatareyousettin’herefor？\"
\"Well，IthoughtIshouldenjoywatchingyouraketheyard。Itisapleasuredeferredsofar。\"
\"Watchin’me——！RoscoePaine，youareoutofyourhead！Ain’tyougoin’toseehim？\"
\"No。\"
\"YouAIN’T！\"
\"No。\"
\"RosPaine，haveyoujinedinwiththemdarnfoolsuptown？\"
\"Who’sswearingnow？Whatfoolsdoyoumean？\"
\"Darnain’tswearin’。Dorindyherselfsaysthatonceinawhile。
ImeanAlvinBaker，andJedDeanandtherestof’em。Theywasgoin’onaboutMr。Coltonlastnight；saidTHEYwan’tgoin’torunathisbeckandcall。Itold’em，saysI，’Youain’thadthechance。You’llrunfastenoughwhenyoudo。’\"
\"DidyousaythattoCaptainJed？\"
\"No—o。IsaidittoAlvin，butoldJed’sjustasbad。He’sdownonanybodythat’sgotmore’nhehas。ButRos，youain’tfoolishenoughtosidewithJedDean。Justthink！Here’sMr。Colton，richer’nKingSolomonandallhisglory。He’sgotservantsandbutlersandbondsandcowponsandhorsesandteamsandautomobilesand——\"
Irosefromthewashbench。
\"Iknowwhathe’sgot，Lute，\"Iinterrupted。\"AndIknowwhathehasn’tgot。\"
\"What？Isthereanythingheain’tgot？\"
\"Hehasn’tgotme——notyet。Ifhewantstoseemehemay。Iexpecttobeathomeforthenextdayortwo。\"
\"Youdon’tmeanyouexpectamillionairelikehimtocomecruisin’
afterYOU！Well，bytime！IthinkIseehim！\"
\"Whenyoudo，letmeknow，\"Isaid。\"Ishouldliketobeprepared。\"
\"Well，——by——time！\"saidLute，bywayofsummingup。IatedinnerwithDorinda。Herhusbanddidnotjoinus。Dorindapaidavisittothebackyardand，seeinghowlittlerakinghadbeendone，announcedthatuntilthejobwasfinishedtherewouldbe\"nodinnerforsomefolks。\"SosheandIateandLuteraked，underprotest，andvowingthathewassofaintandhollerhecal’latedtocollapse’mostanytime。
AfterthemealwasfinishedIwentdowntotheboathouse。Theboathousewasalittlebuildingonthebeachatthefootofthebluffbelowthehouse。ItwasafavoriteresortofmineandI
spentmanyhoursthere。Myeighteenfootmotorlaunch，theComfort，theoneexpensiveluxuryIallowedmyselfandwhichIhadboughtsecond—handtwoyearsbefore，wasjackedupinthemiddleofthefloor。Theengine，whichIhadtakenaparttoclean，wasinpiecesbesideit。Onthewallshungmytwoshotgunsandmyfishingrod。Outside，onthebeach，wasmyflat—bottomedskiff，whichIusedforrowingaboutthebay，heroarsunderthethwarts。
Intheboathousewasacomfortablearmchairandasmallshelfofbooks，novelsforthemostpart。Acheapclockandabroken—downcouch，thelatteradiscardfromtheoriginaloutfitofthecottage，madeupthelistoffurniture。
Myideaincomingtotheboathousewastocontinuemyworkwiththeengine。Itrieditforahalfhourorsoandthengaveitup。Itdidnotinterestmethen。Ishutthedooratthesideofthebuilding，thatbywhichIhadentered——thebigdoubledoorsinfrontIhadnotopenedatall——and，takingabookfromtheshelf，stretchedmyselfonthecouchtoread。
ThebookIhadchosenwasonebelongingtotheDenboroLadies’
Library；MissAlmenaDoane，thelibrarian，hadrecommendedithighly，asa\"realinterestingstory，withlotsofupliftingthoughtsinit。\"ThethoughtsmightbeupliftingtoAlmena，buttheydidnotelevatemyspirits。Asforthestory——well，theherowasayounggentlemanwhowaspoorbuttremendouslycleverandhandsome，andtheheroinehadeyes\"asdarkanddeepasstarlitpools。\"Thepoorbutbeautifulpersonmetthepool—eyedoneataconcert，wherehesat，\"hiswholesoultransfiguredbythemusic，\"
andshehadbeen\"fascinatedinspiteofherself\"bythelookonhisface。Ireadasfarasthatanddroppedthebookindisgust。
AfterthatImusthavefallenasleep。Whatawakenedmewasaknockonthedoor。ItwasLute，ofcourse。Probablymotherwantedmeforsomethingorother，andDorindahadsentherhusbandtohuntmeup。
Theknockwasrepeated。
\"Comein，\"Isaid，sleepily。
Thedooropenedandincame，notLute，butatall，portlyman，withayachtingcaponthebackofhisgrayhead，andacigarinhismouth。HelookedatmeasIlayonthecouchandIlayonthecouchandlookedathim。
\"Afternoon，\"hesaid，curtly。\"IsyournamePaine？\"
Inodded。Iwaswakingrapidly，butIwastooastonishedtospeak。
\"RoscoePaine？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Well，mine’sColton。Isentyoualetterthismorning。Didyougetit？\"
CHAPTERIV
Isatuponthecouch。Mr。Coltonknockedtheashesfromhiscigar，waitedaninstant，andthenrepeatedhisquestion。
\"Didyougetmyletter？\"heasked。
\"Yes，\"Isaid。
\"Oh，youdid。Iwasafraidthatmanofminemighthaveforgottentomailit。\"
\"No，Igotit。Won’tyou——er——won’tyousitdown？\"Hepulledthearmchairtowardhimandsatdown。Inoticedthathehadahabitofdoingthingsquickly。Hissentenceswereshortandtothepointandhespokeandactedlikeoneaccustomedtohavinghisownway。
Hecrossedhiskneesandlookedaboutthelittlebuilding。
\"Itisapleasantday，\"Iobserved，forthesakeofsayingsomething。Hedidnotseemtohearme，or，ifhedid，hewasnotinterestedintheweather。FormypartIfoundthesituationembarrassing。Iknewwhathisnextquestionwouldbe，andIdidnotknowhowtoanswer。Sureenough，heaskedit。
\"Iwroteyoutocomeovertomyplacethisforenoon，\"hesaid。
\"Youdidn’tcome。\"
\"No。I——\"
\"Whynot？\"
Herewastheissuejoined。Here，ifever，wastheopportunitytoassertmyindependencealaJedDeanandAlvinBaker。Buttoassertitnow，afterhehaddonetheunexpected，afterthemountainhadcometoMahomet，seemedcaddishandridiculous。SoI
temporized，weakly。
\"Ididn’treadyourletteruntilaboutnoon，\"Isaid。
\"Isee。Well，Iwaiteduntiltwoo’clockandthenIdecidedtohuntyouup。Icalledatyourhouse。Thewomantheresaidyouweredownhere。Yourmother？\"
\"No。\"Myanswerwaspromptandsharpenoughthistime。Itwasnatural，perhaps，thatheshouldpresumeDorindatobemymother，butIdidnotlikeit。
Hepaidabsolutelynoattentiontothetoneofmyreplyoritscurtness。HedidnotrefertoDorindaagain。Shemighthavebeenmywifeormygreat—auntforallhecared。
\"Thisyourworkshop？\"heasked，abruptly。Then，noddingtowardthedismemberedengine，\"Whatareyou？aboatbuilder？\"
\"No，notexactly。\"
\"What’sthepriceofaboatlikethat？\"indicatingtheComfortwithakickinherdirection。
\"Abouttwohundredandfiftydollars，Ibelieve，\"Ianswered。
\"Youbelieve！Don’tyouknow？\"
\"No。Iboughtthatboatsecond—hand。\"
Hedidnotrefertotheboatagain；apparentlyforgotitaltogether。
Hisnextmovewastoriseandturntowardthedoor。Iwatchedhim，wonderingwhatwasgoingtohappennext。Hehadahabitofjumpingfromonesubjecttoanotherwhichwasbewildering。
\"What’sthatfellowdoingoffthere？\"heasked，suddenly。
Ilookedwherehewaspointing。
\"ThatisZebKendrick，\"Ianswered。\"He’srakingforquahaugs。\"
\"Rakingforwhathogs？\"
\"Quahaugs。WhatyouNewYorkerscallclams。\"
\"Oh！Sell’em，doeshe？\"
\"Yes。\"