\"Mother，howoftenhaveItoldyounottospeaklikethat。\"
\"Buthedoes。Manytimes，whenyouandIhavebeenheretogether，Ihavebeenonthepointofurgingyoutoleavemeandgobacktotheworldandtakeyourplaceinit。Morethanonce，youremember，dear，Ihavehintedatsuchathing，butyouhavealwayschosennottounderstandthehints，andIhavebeensoweakandselfishthatI
havenotpressedthem。Iamgladyouhavedonethis，ifitseemsrighttoyou。Butdoesit？Areyousure？\"
\"Ithinkso，Mother。IconfessIamnotsure。\"
\"Thiscountrybankisaprettysmallplace，isn’tit？Notbigenoughformyboytoprovehisworthin。\"
\"Itisquitebigenoughforthat。Thatdoesn’trequireaRothschild’sestablishment。\"
\"Butyourdecisionmusthavebeenaverysuddenone。Youdidnotmentionthatyouthoughtofsuchathing。Noteventome。\"
\"Itwassudden，\"Ianswered。\"Itookthepositiononthespurofthemoment。\"
\"Butwhy？Whatledyoutodoit？\"
\"Idon’tknow，Mother。\"
\"Whatinfluencedyou？Hasanyoneurgedyou？\"
\"GeorgeTaylorofferedmetheplacesometimeago。Heurgedme。\"
\"Nooneelse？\"
Iavoidedtheissue。\"Youdon’tmind，then，Mother，\"Isaid。\"YouarewillingthatIshouldtrytheexperiment？\"
\"Iamglad，ifitpleasesyou。Andyoumustletmesaythisnow，Roscoe，becauseitistrueandImeanit。Ifanotherandbetteropportunitycomestoyou，onethatmighttakeyouawayfromDenboro——andfromme——foratime，ofcourse，Iwantyoutopromisemethatyouwillnotrefuseitonmyaccount。Willyoupromise？\"
\"No。OfcourseIshan’tpromiseanysuchthing。IsitlikelythatIwouldleaveyou，Mother？\"
\"IknowthatyouwouldnotleavemeunlessIwerewillingforyoutogo。Iknowthat，Roscoe。ButIammuchbetterandstrongerthanIwas。Ishallneverbewell——\"
\"Don’tsaythat，\"Iinterrupted，hastily。
\"ButImustsayit，becauseitistrue。Ishallneverbewell，butIamstrongenoughnowtobearthethoughtofyourleavingmeandwhenthetimecomesIshallinsistuponyourdoingso。Iamgladwehavehadthistalk，dear。Iamglad，too，thatyouaregoingtobebusyoncemoreinthewayyoulikeandoughttobe。Youmusttellmeaboutyourworkeveryday。Nowgo，becauseyourdinnerisreadyand，ofcourse，youmustbegettingbacktothebank。Kissme，Boy。\"
AndasIbentoverhersheputherarmsaboutmyneck。
\"Boy，\"shewhispered，\"Iknowthereissomereasonforyourdoingthis，areasonwhichyouhavenottoldme。Youwilltellmesomeday，won’tyou？\"
Istraightenedhurriedlyandtriedtolaugh。\"OfcourseI’lltellyou，Mother，\"Ireplied。\"Ifthereisanythingtotell。\"
Theclampiewasonthetableinthedining—roomandDorindawasseatedmajesticallybeforeit。Lutewasfidgetinginhischair。
\"Hereheis，\"heexclaimed，asIjoinedthepairatthetable。
\"Ros，howdidyouevercometodoit？\"
Hiswifesquelchedhim，asusual。\"IfRoscoe’sgotanythingtotell，\"sheobserved，withdignity，\"he’lltellitwithoutyourhelporanybodyelse’s。Ifheain’t，hewon’t。Thispie’scolderthanitoughttobe，butthatisn’tmyfault。\"
AsIateItoldthemofmysuddendeterminationtobecomealaboringman。IgavethereasonsthatIhadgivenMother。
\"Um—hm，\"saidDorinda。
\"ButIcan’tunderstand，\"pleadedLute。\"Youdon’tneedtowork，andI’vesortoftookaprideinyournotdoin’it。IfIwaswell—
off，sameasyoube，IbetGeorgeTaylor’dhavetowhistleaforeI
woreoutMYbrainsinhisoldbank。\"
\"Hewouldn’thavetimetowhistlemore’nonce，\"wasDorinda’scomment。
\"Now，Dorinda，whatkindoftalkisthat？Wouldn’thavetimetowhistle？Youdosaymorethingswithoutanysenseto’em！Justtalktohearyourself，Ical’late。Whatareyougrinnin’at，Roscoe？\"
\"Ican’timagine，Lute。Thisclampieisatriumph。MayIhaveanotherhelping，Dorinda？\"
Dorindadidnotanswer，butthesecondhelpingwasaliberalone。
ShewassoquietandtheglancesshegavemefromtimetotimeweresooddthatIbegantofeeluneasy。Iwasfairlysurethatsheapprovedofmynewventure，butwhydidshelookatmelikethat？
\"Well，\"saidI，lookingatmywatchandrising，\"whatdoyouthinkofit？AmIdoingright？\"
Luteleanedbackinhischair。\"There’sconsider’bletobesaidonthatsubject，\"heannounced。\"Work，asageneralthing，Iconsiderallright；I’vetoldyouthatafore。Butwhenitcomesto——\"
\"Whatdoyouthink，Dorinda？\"Iinterrupted。
Dorindastirredhertea。
\"Think？\"sherepeated。\"Ithink……When’sthatColtongirlcomin’tocallonComfortagain？\"
Ihadtakenmyhatfromthehook。Now，withitinmyhand，I
turnedandfacedher。
\"HowshouldIknowthat？\"Idemanded。\"That’satrifleoffthesubject，isn’tit？\"
\"Um—hm，\"saidDorinda。\"Maybe’tis。\"
Iwentouthurriedly。
WithintheweekIwasathomeinmynewposition。Thestrangenessofregularhoursandregularemploymentworeawaywithsurprisingrapidity。Therewere，ofcourse，morningswhenseaandskyandthefreshnessofoutdoorstemptedmeandIwonderedwhetherornotI
hadbeenfoolishtogiveupmyfineandeasylife。ButtheseperiodsoftemptationwereshorterandlessfrequentasIbecamemoreandmorefamiliarwithmydutiesandwiththeroutineofthebank。Ifoundmyselftakingagreaterinterestintheinstitutionand，tomyastonishment，IwasactuallysorrywhenSaturdaycame。
ItseemedoddenoughtooncemorehavemoneyinmypocketwhichI
hadearned。Itwasnotagreatamount，ofcourse，butIfeltittobemine。Yes，therewasnodoubtaboutit，Ihaddonetherightthing，andwasglad。IwasgratefultoTaylorforhavinggivenmetheopportunity。PerhapsIshouldhavebeengratefultothepersonwhosebrutalandimpertinentfranknesshadpiquedmeintograspingthatopportunity，butIwasnot。
ShemadehersecondcalluponMothertwodaysafterourimpromptupicnicatSeabury’sPond。IheardallaboutitwhenIcamehomethatafternoon。Itappearedthatshehadbroughtmoreflowersandafreshsupplyofbooks。ShehadremainedevenlongerthanonherfirstvisitandsheandMotherhadtalkedaboutalmosteverythingunderthesun。Onetopic，however，hadnotbeendiscussed，afactwhichmyguardedquestionsmadecertain。She，likemyself，hadsaidnothingconcerningthedayinthewoods。
\"ItoldherofyourconsentingtohelpMr。Taylorinhisdilemma，\"
saidMother。
\"Didyou？\"saidI。\"Itwaskindofyoutoputitinthatway。\"
\"Thatwasthetruthfulwayofputtingit，wasn’tit？Sheseemedverymuchinterested。\"
\"Indeed。Andsurprised，Ipresume。\"
\"Why，yes，Ithinkso。Sheseemedsurprisedatfirst；thenshelaughed；Icouldnotunderstandwhy。Shehasaverypleasantlaugh，hasn’tshe？\"
\"Ihavenevernoticed。\"Thiswasuntrue。
\"Shehas。Sheisacharminggirl。Iamsorryyouwerenotherewhenshecalled。Itoldheryouwouldbehomesoonandaskedhertowait，butshewouldnot。\"
\"Iamgladshedidn’t。\"
\"Roscoe！\"
\"Iam，Mother。Thatyoungladycomesheretoseeyoumerelybecauseshehasnothingelsetodojustnow。Ishouldn’taccepttoomanyfavorsfromher。\"
MothersaidIwasunreasonableandprejudicedandIdidnotarguethepoint。LuteandDorindadiscussedthecalleratthesuppertableuntilIwasconstrainedtoleavetheroom。MabelColtonmightamuseherselfwithMotherandthetwomembersofourhouseholdwhomshehaddescribedas\"characters，\"shemightdeludethemintobelievingherthoughtfulandsympatheticandwithoutfalsepride，butIknewbetter。Shehadinsultedme。Shehad，insomanywords，toldmethatIwaslazyandworthless，justasshemighthavetoldherchauffeuroroneoftheservants。Thatitwastruemadenodifference。Wouldshehavespokeninthatwayto——toVictorCarver，forinstance？Hardly。ShewasjustwhatIhadthoughtheratfirst，afeminineeditionofVictor，withmorebrainsthanhepossessed。
CaptainJedDeancameintothebankthethirddayaftermyinstallationasbookkeeperandteller。Iwasaloneinthedirector’sroom，goingoversomepapers，andheenteredandshookhandswithme。Theoldfellowprofesseddelightatmypresencethere。
\"Georgetellsmeyou’retakin’holdfust—rate，\"hesaid。\"That’sgood。I’mgladtohearit。\"
\"Why？\"Iasked。Therewasatraceofhisoldpomposityinthespeech——orIimaginedtherewas——andIchosetoresentit。ThesewerethedayswhenIwasinthemoodtoresentalmostanything。
\"Why？\"herepeated，insurprise。\"Whatdoyoumean？\"
\"Whyareyouglad？\"Isaid。\"Ican’tseewhatdifferenceitmakestoyouwhetherIsucceedornot。\"
Heregardedmewithapuzzledexpression，but，insteadoftakingoffense，helaughed。
\"You’vegotachiponyourshoulder，ain’tyou，Ros？\"heobserved。
\"Workin’youtoohardatthestart，arewe？\"
\"No，\"Ianswered，curtly。
\"Thenwhatisthematter？\"
\"Why，nothing，unlessitisthateveryoneImeetseemstotakesuchagreatinterestinmybeinghere。IbelieveallofDenborotalksofnothingelse。\"
\"Notmuchelse，Ishouldn’twonder。Butthat’stobeexpected，ain’tit？Everybody’sgladyou’remakin’good。\"
\"Humph！Theyallseemtoregardthatastheeighthwonderoftheworld。Thepositiondoesn’trequireamarvelofintelligence；
almostanyonewithateaspoonfulofbrainscouldfillit。\"
\"Whyno，theycouldn’t。Butthat’snothin’todowithit。Iseewhat’sthematterwithyou，Ros。Youthinkallhandsareknockedontheirbeamendsbecauseyou’vegonetowork。Someof’emare，that’safact，andyoucan’tblame’emmuch，considerin’howlongyou’velivedherewithoutdoin’anything。Butallof’emthatamounttoathree—centpieceareglad，andtherestdon’tcountanyway。You’vemadeagoodmanyfriendsinthistownlately，son。\"
Ismiledbitterly。\"Friends，\"Isaid。
\"Why，yes，friends。Andfriendsareworthhavin’，especiallyifyoumake’emwithoutbeggin’fortheirfriendship。Igiveinthatyou’vesurprisedsomeofus。Wedidn’tknowthatyouhaditinyou。Butyourstandin’uptooldColtonwasafinething，andweappreciatedit。\"
\"ThatisbecauseyouwereagainsthisgrabbingtheLane。\"
\"Whatofit？And’twan’tthataltogether。I，forone，ain’tcomplainin’becauseyoustooduptomeandwouldn’tselltothetown。Bytheway，TimHallet’sganghaven’tbotheredyoulately，havethey？\"
\"No。AndIadvisethemnotto。\"
Hechuckled。\"Iheardyouadvised’emtothateffect，\"hesaid。
\"Iain’tcomplainin’atthat，either，eventhoughIknewwhattheywasuptoandthought’twasmoreorlessofajoke。ButIlikedthewayyoufired’emoutofthere，notcarin’atinker’sdarnwhowasbehind’em。Solongasamanstandssquareinhisbootsanddon’tknuckletoanybodyhewon’tloseanythingwithJedDean。
That’sme！\"
\"YououghttolikeColton，then，\"Isaid。\"Hehasn’tknuckled，much。\"
CaptainJedgrinned。\"Well，\"hesaid，slowly，\"Idon’tobjecttothatinhim。Heseemstobeafighterandthat’sallright。MaybeifIwasoneofhistribeinNewYorkIshouldlikehim。ButI
ain’t。Andyouain’t，Ros。We’rebothofuscountryfolks，livin’
here，andhe’sacitysharkbuttin’intothefeedin’grounds。HewantstohogthewholeplaceandyouandIsayheshan’t。I’mthankfultohimforonething：hiscomin’herehaswakedyouup，andit’sgoin’tomakeamanofyou，orImissmyguess。\"
Ididnotanswer。
\"Youmustn’tgetmadbecauseItalkthisway，\"hewenton。\"I’moldenoughtobeyourdad，RosPaine，andIknowwhatI’mtalkin’
about。Inevertookmuchofashinetoyouintheolddays。Youwastoomuchofwhatthestorybookscalla’gentleman’tosuitme。
I’vehadtoscratchallmylifeforwhatI’vegot，butI’vegotit。
Whenayoung，ablefellerlikeyouwascontentedtoloafaroundasyoudidandtakenointerestinnothin’，I，naturally，figgeredhewasno—account。IseenowIwaswrong。Allyouneededwassomethin’tostiryouupandsetyougoin’。KEEPgoin’，that’smyadvicetoyou。Andsolongasyoudo，anddon’tbendwhenthepressuregetshard，you’llbesomebodyaforeyoudie。Andthefriendsyou’vemade’llstandbackofyou。\"
\"HowabouttheenemiesIhavemade？\"
\"Enemies？Isupposelikelyyouhavemadesomeenemies，butwhatofit？I’vemadeenemiesallmylife。Itain’tbecauseI’mpopularhereinDenborothatI’mwhatIam。Nowisit？\"
Thetruthfulanswerwouldhavebeenno。CaptainDeanwasnotpopular，buthewasrespectedevenbythemanywhodislikedanddisagreedwithhim。Ihesitated，tryingtothinkwhattosay。
\"Youknow’tain’tthat，\"hesaid。\"PopularityIneverhad，thoughit’sapleasantenoughthingandsometimesIwish——Butthere，thisain’texperiencemeetin’。I’mgladyou’rehereinthisbank。
You’resmart，andGeorgesaysyouareworthmorethanHenrySmalleverwas，evensoearly。IfyoureallyarewhatitbeginstolookasifyouareI’mgladforDenboro。Maybethere’llbesomebodybesidesGeorgefittorunthistownafterI’mgone。\"
Ismiled。Thelastremarkwassocharacteristicthatitwasfunny。
Hewasturningaway，buthenoticedthesmileandturnedback。
\"That’sajoke，hey？\"heasked。
\"Captain，\"Isaid，\"youarenotconsistent。WhenyouandIfirsttalkedabouttheLaneyousaidthatyouwouldnotblamemeifI
closedit。Ifitwasyoursyouwouldn’thaveTom，Dick，andHarrydrivingfishcartsthroughit。\"
\"DidIsaythat？\"
\"Yes。Andyousaid，onanotheroccasion，thatanyonewouldsellanythingiftheywereofferedmoneyenough。\"
\"Humph！Well，sometimesIsay’mostanythingbutmyprayers。
MatildysaysIforgetthemprettyoften，butItellherherFridaynightspeechesarelongenoughtomakeup。MaybeImeantwhatI
saidtoyouatthosetimes，Ros。Ishouldn’twonderifIdid。But’twasaliejustthesame。TherearethingsIwouldn’tsell，ofcourse。Nellie，mydaughter’soneof’em。She’sgoin’togetagoodhusbandinGeorgehere，butherhappinessmeansmoretomethanmoney。She’soneofthethingsIwouldn’tsell。AndmySelectman’sjobisanother。Ifoughtforthat，notsomuchforthehonor，orwhateveryoucallit，butbecause——well，becauseIwantedtoshow’emthatIcouldgetitifIsetoutto。Idon’tpresumelikelyyoucanunderstandthatfeelin’。\"
\"IthinkIcan，\"Ianswered。\"Mr。ColtongaveaboutthesamereasonforhisdeterminationtoclosetheLane。Youandheseemtobeagooddealalike，afterall。\"
Helookedatmefrombeneathhisbushybrows。Hismouthtwistedinagrimsmile。
\"Say，son，\"hesaid，\"ifIhadn’tbeensofreewithmyproclamationsaboutbein’yourfriendyouandmewouldhaveasettlementforthatlittlebitoftalk。TheEmperorandmealike！Ugh！\"
Thenextafternoonhecameinagainandaskedmetostepoutsidetherailing。Hehadsomethingtosaytome，hedeclared。
Wesatdowntogetheronthesetteebythewall。
\"Ros，\"hesaid，inalowtone，\"haveyouhadanynewofferforyourproperty？NotfromColtonorthetown，butfromanybodyelse？\"
\"No，\"Ianswered。\"Whatdoyoumean？\"
\"Youain’theardanythingfromaBostonfirmclaimin’torepresenttheBayShoreDevelopmentCompany，orsomesuch？\"
\"No。Whatsortofacompanyisthat？\"
\"Idon’tknow；thatis，Idon’tknowmuchaboutit。Butthere’stalkdriftin’’roundthataBostonsyndicateiscal’latin’tobuyupalltheshorefrontlandfromSouthOstabletotheBayportlineandopenitupforsummerhouselots。ThenameistheBayShoreDevelopmentCompany，orsomethin’likethat。Youain’theardfrom’em，then？\"
\"Notaword。Wheredidyourinformationcomefrom？\"
\"Fromnobodyinparticular。Itjustseemstobeintheair。AlvinBakerhearditovertoOstable。Thefellerthattoldhimgotitfromsomebodyelse，whogotitfromanothersomebody，andsoon。
There’stalkaboutgoodpricesbein’offeredand，accordin’toAlvin，Ostablefolksareprettyexcited。ElnathanMullet，whoownsthatstripbelowyourhouse，knowssomethin’aboutit，Ithink。I
shouldn’twonderifhe’dhadanoffer，orahint，orsomethin’。
ButElnathan’smouthshutstighterthanamuskrattrapandI
couldn’tgetnothin’outofhim。Hejustlookedknowin’andthatwasall。But，ifit’sso，itmaymeanaheaptoDenboro。\"
Iwasconsideringthenewswhenhespokeagain。
\"Itmightmeanalottoyou，Ros，\"hewhispered。
\"Howso？\"
\"Why，thisway：Ifthisconcernofferedyouenoughmoneyyoumightsellouttothem，mightn’tyou？Sellallyourplace，Imean；youcouldgetanotheroneeasyenough。Youain’tparticularaboutlivin’bytheshore。\"
\"But——youurgemetoSELL！\"Iexclaimed。\"SelltheShoreLanewiththerest？\"
\"Whynot？Youwouldn’tbesellin’toColton。And，ifthisdevelopmentschemeiswhattheysayitis，there’llberoadscutthroughallalongshore。Thetowncoulduseanyof’em；atleastthatarrangementmightbemade。Thinkitover，Ros。Iftheydoofferandofferenough，I’dsell，ifIwasyou。Say！thatwouldbeareefunderHisMajesty’sbows，hey？Jolthimsome，Ical’late。\"
Ididnotanswer。Thiswasanewpossibility。Ofcoursehisreasonforadvisingmysellingwasplainenough，but，leavingtheColtonsentirelyaside，theideawasnotwithoutallurement。Thetown’sconvenienceinthematterofaroadmightbeconsidered，justashesaid。Andmyscruplesagainstsellingataprofitwere，afterall，baseduponthatfeature。
\"Youthinkitover，\"hecounseled。\"Don’tsaynothin’tonobody，butjustthink——andwait。I’llkeepmyeyetowind’ardandseewhatIcanfindout。Itellyouhonest，Ros，I’llfeelsaferwhenIknowoldImperial’sgame’sblockedforgoodandall。\"
OldImperialhimselfmadehisappearancebeforeclosinghours。I
lookedupfrommyworktoseehimstandingbythewindow。Hehadnotexpectedtoseemethere——evidentlyhisdaughterhadnotconsideredMother’snewsofsufficientimportancetorepeat——and，atfirst，hedidnotrecognizeme。
\"Goodafternoon，Mr。Colton，\"saidI。
Henodded。\"Cashthisforme，willyou，\"hesaid，pushingacheckthroughtheopening。\"What？Hello！Whatinblazesareyoudoinginthere？\"
\"Iamemployedherenow，\"Ianswered。
\"Humph！howlongsince？\"
\"Tendays，orsuchmatter。\"
\"Whatareyoudoinginabank？\"
\"Bankingwasmybusiness，atonetime。\"
\"Thoughtyouhadn’tanybusiness。\"
\"Ihaven’thadany，forsomeyears。NowIhave。Howdoyouwishthismoney？Intensandfives？\"
\"Yes。Nothingbigger。Downhereitrestrictsthecirculationifyouspringatwentydollarbillonthem。Soyou’vetakentobanking？Iwasthinkingofcorralingyouforagunningtriponeofthesedays。Nowit’salloff，Isuppose。\"
\"Itlooksthatway。SorryIamtobedeprivedofthepleasure。\"
\"Humph！\"Then，withoneofhissuddenchanges，\"Howbigabusinessdoesthisconcerndo？Whatdoyourdepositsamountto？\"
Igavehimthefigures，asprintedintheyearlystatement。Hemadenocomment。Insteadheobserved，\"Youhaven’tbeenaroundtoacceptthatofferofmineyet，Paine。\"
\"Notyet，\"Ianswered。
\"SupposeIoughttoraiseit，nowthatyou’reafinancieryourself。
However，Ishan’t。\"
\"Ihaven’taskedyouto。\"
Hesmiled。\"No，youhaven’t，\"hesaid。\"Well，itisopen——forawhile。IfIwereyouI’dacceptitprettysoon。\"
\"Possibly。\"
\"MeaningthatIamnotyou，hey？I’mnot。Ihaven’tyourhighprinciples，Paine。Can’tafford’em。You’rewhattheycalla’Progressive’inpolitics，too，aren’tyou？\"
\"Hereisyourmoney，\"Isaid，ignoringthequestion。
\"I’llbetyouare！\"hedeclared，takingthebills。\"Ineversawoneofyouhigh—principledchapsyetthatwasn’t——untilhegotrichenoughtobesomethingelse。Progressisallright，maybe，butI
noticethatyoufellowspayforitandtherestofusgetit。JustasIamgoingtogetthatlandofyours。\"
\"Youhaven’tgotityet，\"Isaid，serenely。Ihadmadeupmymindthatthistimeheshouldnotprovokemeintolosingmytemper。
Heseemedtodivinemydetermination。Hiseyetwinkled。\"You’reimproving，Paine，\"heobserved。\"I’llgiveyouapieceofadvice；
ithascostmeagooddealtolearn，butI’llgiveittoyou：
Don’teverlettheotherfellowmakeyoumad。\"
IrememberedourfirstinterviewandIcouldnotresistthetemptationtoretort。
\"Ifmyrecollectioniscorrect，\"Isaid，\"youforgotthatthefirsttimewemet。\"
Helaughedaloud。\"SoIdid，\"headmitted。\"MaybeifIhadn’titwouldnotcostmesomuchtogetmyownwayinyourcase。\"
Hewalkedoutofthebuilding。Iheardoneexclamationfrombehindand，turning，sawSamWheeler，myyouthfulassistant，staringatme。
\"My——gosh！\"exclaimedSam，histoneamixtureofwonderandadmiration，\"Idon’tseehowyoudasttotalkbacktohimlikethat，Ros。He’llsicthe——the’System’ontoyou，won’the？\"
ItwasevidentthatSamhadbeenreadingthemagazines。
IheardnomorefromCaptainJedandnothingfromthemysterious\"DevelopmentCompany\"fortheremainderofthatweek。ButonSunday，asIsatintheboathouse，smokingmyafterdinnerpipeandreading，Luteexcitedlyentered，followedbyawell—dressed，smooth—shavenmanofmiddleage，whomheintroducedasMr。KeeneofBoston，\"who’sdrivenallthewayfromOstablea—purposetoseeyou，Ros。\"
Mr。Keeneshookhandswithmecordiallyandapologizedforintrudinguponmydayofrest。Heintendedreturningtothecityinthemorning，hesaid，and，ashehadalittlemattertodiscusswithme，hadtakenthelibertyofcalling。\"Ishan’ttakemorethanhalfanhourofyourtime，Mr。Paine，\"heexplained。\"AtleastIfeelcertainthatyouandIcanreachanagreementinthatperiod。IfImightbealonewithyou——\"
Thishint，evidentlyintendedforLute’sbenefit，wasquitelostuponthelastnamedindividual，whohadseatedhimselfontheedgeoftheworkbenchandwaslisteningwithbothears。Iwasobligedtotellhimthathispresencewassuperfluousandrequesthisreturningtothehouse，whichhereluctantlydid，movingslowlyandlookingbackwithanexpressionofgrieveddisappointment。AfterhehadgoneIaskedMr。Keenewhathis\"littlematter\"mightbe。
Hisreplywaspromptandtothepoint。Hegavemehiscard。Hewas，itseemed，juniorpartnerinthefirmofBarclayandKeene，realestatebrokersandpromoters，MilkStreet，Boston。And，justnow，hewasactingasrepresentativeoftheBayShoreDevelopmentCompany。\"Aconcernofwhich，inspiteofallourprecautionsandattemptsatsecrecy，youmay，perhaps，haveheard，Mr。Paine，\"headded，smiling。
IadmittedthatIhadheardrumorsconcerningthecompany’sexistence。But，exceptfortheseveryvaguerumors，Iknewnothingaboutit。
Heexpectedthat，hesaid，andwasgladtogivemefurtherandcompleteinformation。Infact，thatwashisreasonforcomingsomanymilestoseeme。IfIwouldbegoodenoughtolistenhewouldtellmejustwhattheBayShoreCompanywasandwhatitcontemplateddoing。
Ilistenedandhetalked。AccordingtohimtheBayShoresyndicate——thatiswhatitwas，asyndicateofcapitalists——
representedoneofthebiggestrealestatepropositionseverconceived。ThosebehinditwereawaketothepossibilitiesoftheCapeasasummerresort。Shoreland，waterfrontpropertyinthevicinity，wasdestinedtoincreaseinvalue，provideditwasproperlyexploitedanddeveloped。Thecompany’sideawastodojustthat——exploitanddevelop。
\"We’vebeenquietlylookingabout，\"hecontinued，\"andareallreadyforthepreliminaries。Andnaturally，thefirstpreliminaryistosecurethelandtodevelop。Youhavesomeofthatland，Mr。
Paine。Weknowjusthowmuch，aswedotheholdingsofeveryotherpartywehaveapproachedorintendtoapproach。Iamheretogetyourfiguresand，ifpossible，concludethepurchaseofyourpropertythisafternoon。ItisSunday，ofcourse，\"headded，withagood—humoredlaugh，\"andcontractssignedto—dayarenotlegal；
butwecanmakeaverbalcontractandthepapersmaybesignedlater。Iwilldefermydepartureuntiltheafternoontrainto—morrowforthatpurpose。Nownameyourfigure，Mr。Paine。\"
OfcourseIhadguessedwhatwascoming。IfIintendedtosellatallherewasmyopportunitytodoso——to，asCaptainJedexpressedit，\"blockColton’sgame\"withoutsacrificingtheprincipleforwhichIhadfought，andmakeagoodbitofmoneyformyself。
Anotherhomenearbycouldbesecured，Ihadnodoubt，andtoitMothermightbesafelyandeasilymoved。YetIhesitatedtoexpressevenaqualifiedwillingness。
\"YouappeartobecertainthatIwillsell，\"Iobserved。\"Isn’tthattakingagooddealforgranted，Mr。Keene？\"
Hesmiled——infacthesmiledalmosttoooftentopleaseme。Thereissuchathingasbeingtoocordialandgood—natured；andhewassoveryfriendlyonshortacquaintance。