BIBLIOGRAPHICAL
Inthosedimrecessesoftheconsciousnesswherethingshavetheirbeginning,ifeverthingshaveabeginning,Isupposetheoriginofthisnovelmaybetracedtoafactofafortnight’ssojournonthewesternshoreoflakeChamplaininthesummerof1891。AcrossthewaterintheStateofVermontIhadconstantlybeforemyeyesamajesticmountainformwhichtheearlierFrenchpioneershadnamed\"LeLionCouchant,\"butwhichtheirplainer—mindedYankeesuccessorspreferredtocall\"TheCamel’sHump。\"Itreallylookedlikeasleepinglion;theheadwasespeciallydefinite;andwhen,inthecourseofsometenyears,IfoundtheschemeforastoryaboutasummerhotelwhichIhadlongmeanttowrite,thisimagesuggestedthenameof’TheLandlordatLion’sHead。’Igavethetitletomyunwrittennovelatonceandneverwishedtochangeit,butrejoicedinthecertaintythat,whateverthenovelturnedouttobe,thetitlecouldnotbebetter。
Ibegantowritethestoryfouryearslater,whenweweresettledforthewinterinourflatonCentralPark,andasIwasayearindoingit,withotherthings,ImusthavetakentheunfinishedmanuscripttoandfromMagnolia,Massachusetts,andLongBeach,LongIsland,whereIspentthefollowingsummer。ItwasfirstserializedinHarper’sWeeklyandintheLondonIllustratedNews,aswellasinanAustraliannewspaper——Iforgetwhichone;anditwaspublishedasacompletedbookin1896。
Irememberconcerningitaverybecomingdespairwhen,atacertainmomentinit,IbegantowonderwhatIwasdrivingat。Ihavealwayshadsuchmomentsinmywork,andifIcannotfitlyboastofthem,Icanatleastowntotheminfreedomfromthepridethatgoesbeforeafall。
Myonlyresourceatsuchtimeswastokeepworking;keepbeatingharderandharderatthewallwhichseemedtoclosemein,tillatlastIbrokethroughintothedaylightbeyond。Inthiscase,IhadreallysuchaverygoodgripofmycharactersthatIneednothavehadtheusualfearoftheirfailuretoworkouttheirdestiny。ButevenwhenthethingwasdoneandIcarriedthecompletedmanuscripttomydearoldfriend,thelateHenryLoomisNelson,theneditoroftheWeekly,itwasinmorefearofhisjudgmentthanIcaredtoshow。Asoftenhappenedwithmymanuscriptinsuchexigencies,itseemedtogoalltoahandfulofshrivelledleaves。WhenwemetagainandheaccepteditfortheWeekly,withahandclaspofheartywelcome,Icouldscarcelygaspoutmyunfeignedrelief。Wehadtalkedtheschemeofitovertogether;hehadlikedthenotion,andheeasilymademebelieve,aftermyfirstdismay,thathelikedtheresultevenbetter。
ImyselflikedtheheroofthetalemorethanIhavelikedworthiermen,perhapsbecauseIthoughtIhadachievedinhimatruerusticNewEnglandtypeincontactwithurbanlifeunderentirelymodernconditions。Whatseemedtomemyestheticsuccessinhimpossiblysoftenedmetohisethicalshortcomings;butIdonotexpectotherstosharemyweaknessforJeffDurgin,whosestrong,roughsurnamehadbeenwaitingforhispersonalityeversinceIhadgotitoffthesideofanice—cartmanyyearsbefore。
AtthetimethestorywasimaginedHarvardhadbeenforfouryearsmuchinthedirectknowledgeoftheauthor,andIpleasedmyselfinrealizingthehero’sexperiencetherefromevenmoreintimacywiththeuniversitymoodsandmannersthanhadsupportedmeinthestudiesofanearlierfictiondealingwiththem。IhadnotlivedtwelveyearsinCambridgewithoutacquaintancesuchasevenaneldermanmustmakewiththeundergraduatelife;butitisonlyfromitsownlevelthatthiscanbetrulylearned,andIhavealwaysbeenreadytostandcorrectedbyundergraduateexperience。Still,Ihavemybeliefthatasajay——thewordmaynowbeobsolete——JeffDurginisnotaltogetheroutofdrawing;
thoughthisis,ofcourse,thephaseofhischaracterwhichisoneoftheleastimportant。WhatImostprizeinhim,ifImaygotothebottomoftheinkhorn,istherealizationofthatanti—PuritanqualitywhichwasalwaysvexingtheheartofPuritanism,andwhichIhadconstantlyfeltoneofthemostinterestingfactsinmyobservationofNewEngland。
Asforthesortofsummerhotelportrayedinthesepages,itwasmaterializedfromanacquaintancewithsummerhotelsextendingoverquarterofacentury,andscarcelytobesurpassedifparalleled。IhadapassionforknowingaboutthemandunderstandingtheiroperationwhichIindulgedateveryopportunity,andwhichIrememberwassatisfiedastoeveryreasonabledetailatoneofthepleasantestseasidehostelriesbyoneofthemostintelligentandobligingoflandlords。Yet,hotelsforhotels,Iwasinterestedinthoseofthehillsratherthanthoseoftheshores。
Iworkedsteadilyifnotrapidlyatthestory。OftenIwentbackoverit,andtoreittopiecesandputittogetheragain。ItmademefeelattimesasifIshouldneverlearnmytrade,butsodideverynovelIhavewritten;everynovel,infact,hasbeenanewtrade。In,thecaseofthisonethepublisherswerehurryingmeintherevisionforcopytogivetheillustrator,whowashurryinghispicturesfortheEnglishandAustralianserializations。
KITTERYPOINT,MAINE,July,1909。
THELANDLORDATLION’SHEAD
I。
Ifyoulookedatthemountainfromthewest,thelineofthesummitwaswanderinganduncertain,likethatofmostmountain—tops;but,seenfromtheeast,themassofgraniteshowingabovethedenseforestsofthelowerslopeshadtheformofasleepinglion。Theflanksandhauncheswerevaguelydistinguishedfromthemass;butthemightyhead,restingwithitstossedmaneuponthevastpawsstretchedbeforeit,wasboldlysculpturedagainstthesky。Thelikenesscouldnothavebeenmoreperfect,whenyouhaditinprofile,ifithadbeenadefiniteintentionofart;andyoucouldtravelfarnorthandfarsouthbeforetheillusionvanished。Inwintertheheadwasblottedbythesnows;andsometimesthevagrantcloudscaughtuponitanddeformedit,orhidit,atotherseasons;butcommonly,afterthelastsnowwentinthespringuntilthefirstsnowcameinthefall,theLion’sHeadwasapartofthelandscape,asimperativeandimportunateastheGreatStoneFaceitself。
Longafterotherpartsofthehillcountrywereopenedtosummersojourn,theregionofLion’sHeadremainedalmostprimitivelysolitaryandsavage。Astonymountainroadfollowedthebedofthetorrentthatbrawledthroughthevalleyatitsbase,andatacertainpointastillrougherlaneclimbedfromtheroadalongthesideoftheoppositeheighttoalonelyfarm—housepushedbackonanarrowshelfofland,withameagreacreageoffieldandpasturebrokenoutofthewoodsthatclothedalltheneighboringsteeps。Thefarm—houselevelcommandedthebestviewofLion’sHead,andthevisitorsalwaysmountedtoit,whethertheycameonfoot,orarrivedonbuckboardsorinbuggies,ordroveupintheConcordstagesfromthefartherandnearerhotels。Thedriversofthecoachesrestedtheirhorsesthere,andwateredthemfromthespringthatdrippedintothegreenlogatthebarn;thepassengersscatteredaboutthedoor—yardtolookattheLion’sHead,towonderatitandmockatit,accordingtotheirseveralmakesandmoods。Theycouldscarcelyhavefeltthattheyeverhadawelcomefromthestalwart,handsomewomanwhosoldthemmilk,iftheywantedit,andsmallcakesofmaplesugariftheywereverystrenuousforsomethingelse。Theladieswerenotabletomakemuchofherfromthefirst;butsomeofthemaskedherifitwerenotratherlonelythere,andshesaidthatwhenyouheardthecatamountsscreamatnight,andthebearsgrowlinthespring,itdidseemlonesome。
Whenoneofthemdeclaredthatifsheshouldhearacatamountscreamorabeargrowlsheshoulddie,thewomananswered,Well,shepresumedwemustalldiesometime。Buttheladieswerenotsureofacovertslantinherwords,fortheywerespokenwiththesamelooksheworewhenshetoldthemthatthemilkwasfivecentsaglass,andtheblackmaplesugarthreecentsacake。Shedidnotchangewhensheownedupontheirurgencethatthegauntmanwhomtheyglimpsedaroundthecornersofthehousewasherhusband,andthethreelankboyswithhimwerehersons;thatthechildrenwhosefaceswatchedthemthroughthewrithingwindowpaneswerehertwolittlegirls;thattheurchinwhostoodshylytwisted,allbuthiswhiteheadandsunburnedface,intoherdressandglancedatthemwithamockingblueeye,washeryoungest,andthathewasthreeyearsold。Withlikecoldnessofvoiceandface,sheassentedtotheirconjecturethatthespacewalledoffinthefarthercorneroftheorchardwasthefamilyburialground;andshesaid,withnomorefeelingthattheladiescouldseethanshehadshownconcerningtheotherfacts,thatthegravestheysawwerethoseofherhusband’sfamilyandofthechildrenshehadlosttherehadbeentenchildren,andshehadlostfour。Shedidnotvisiblyshrinkfromthepursuitofthesympathywhichexpresseditselfincuriosityastothesicknesstheyhaddiedof;theladiesleftherwiththebeliefthattheyhadmetacharacter,andsheremainedwiththeconviction,brieflyimpartedtoherhusband,thattheyweretonguey。
Thesummerfolkscamemoreandmore,everyyear,withlittlevarianceintheimpressiononeitherside。WhentheytoldherthathermaplesugarwouldsellbetterifthecakehadanimageofLion’sHeadstampedonit,sheansweredthatshegotenoughofLion’sHeadwithoutwantingtoseeitonallthesugarshemade。ButthenextyearthecakesborearudeeffigyofLion’sHead,andshesaidthatoneofherboyshadcutthestampoutwithhisknife;shenowchargedfivecentsacakeforthesugar,buthermannerremainedthesame。Itdidnotchangewhentheexcursionistsdroveaway,andthedeepsilencenativetotheplacefellaftertheirchatter。Whenacockcrew,oracowlowed,orahorseneighed,oroneoftheboysshoutedtothecattle,anechoretortedfromthegranitebaseofLion’sHead,andthenshehadallthenoiseshewanted,or,atanyrate,allthenoisetherewasmostofthetime。Nowandthenawagonpassedonthestonyroadbythebrookinthevalley,andsentupitsclattertothefarm—houseonitshighshelf,buttherewasscarcelyanotherbreakfromthesilenceexceptwhenthecoaching—partiescame。
Thecontinuousclashandrushofthebrookwaslikeapartofthesilence,astheredofthefarm—houseandthebarnwaslikeapartofthegreenofthefieldsandwoodsallroundthem:theblack—greenofpinesandspruces,theyellow—greenofmaplesandbirches,densetothetopsofthedrearyhills,andbreakinglikeabatedseaaroundtheLion’sHead。
Thefarmerstoopedathiswork,withathin,inward—curvingchest,buthiswifestoodstraightathers;andshehadamassivebeautyoffigureandaheavilymouldedregularityoffeaturethatimpressedsuchashadeyestoseehergrandeuramongthesummerfolks。Shewasfortywhentheybegantocome,andanashengraywascreepingoverthereddishheapsofherhair,likethepallorthatoverliesthecrimsonoftheautumnaloak。
Sheshowedherageearlierthanmostfairpeople,butsincehermarriageateighteenshehadlivedlonginthedeathsofthechildrenshehadlost。Theywerebornwiththetaintoftheirfather’sfamily,andtheywitheredfromtheircradles。Theyoungestboyalone;ofallherbrood,seemedtohaveinheritedherhealthandstrength。Therestastheygrewupbegantocough,asshehadheardherhusband’sbrothersandsisterscough,andthenshewaitedinhaplesspatiencethefulfilmentoftheirdoom。Thetwolittlegirlswhosefacestheladiesofthefirstcoaching—partysawatthefarm—housewindowshaddiedawayfromthem;twoofthelankboyshadescaped,andintheperpetualexileofCaliforniaandColoradohadsavedthemselvesalive。Theirfathertalkedofgoing,too,buttenyearslaterhestilldraggedhimselfspectrallyaboutthelaborsofthefarm,withthesamecoughatsixtywhichmadehisoldestsonattwenty—ninelookscarcelyyoungerthanhimself。
II。
OnesoftnooninthemiddleofAugustthefarmercameinfromthecorn—fieldthatanearlyfrosthadblighted,andtoldhiswifethattheymustgiveitup。Hesaid,inhisweak,hoarsevoice,withthecatarrhalcatchinginit,thatitwasnousetryingtomakealivingonthefarmanylonger。Theoatshadhardlybeenworthcutting,andnowthecornwasgone,andtherewasnothayenoughwithoutittowinterthestock;iftheygotthroughthemselvestheywouldhavetoliveonpotatoes。Haveavendue,andsellouteverythingbeforethesnowflew,andlettheStatetakethefarmandgetwhatitcouldforit,andturnoverthebalancethatwasleftafterthetaxes;theinterestofthesavings—bankmortgagewouldsooneatthatup。
Thelong,loosecoughtookhim,andanothercoughanswereditlikeanechofromthebarn,wherehissonwasgivingthehorsestheirfeed。Themild,wan—eyedyoungmancameroundthecornerpresentlytowardtheporchwherehisfatherandmotherweresitting,andatthesamemomentaboycameupthelanetotheothercorner;thereweresixteenyearsbetweentheagesofthebrothers,whoalonewereleftofthechildrenbornintoandborneoutofthehouse。Theyoungmanwaitedtilltheywerewithinwhisperingdistanceofeachother,andthenhegasped:\"Whereyoubeen?\"
Theboyanswered,promptly,\"Noneyourbusiness,\"andwentupthestepsbeforetheyoungman,withalop—eared,liver—coloredmongrelathisheels。Hepulledoffhisraggedstrawhatandflungitontheflooroftheporch。\"Dinnerover?\"hedemanded。
Hisfathermadenoanswer;hismotherlookedattheboy’shandsandface,allofmuchthesameearthencast,uptotheeavesofhisthatchofyellowhair,andsaid:\"Yougoandwashyourself。\"Atacertainlightinhismother’seye,whichhecaughtashepassedintothehousewithhisdog,theboyturnedandcutadefiantcaper。Theoldestsonsatdownonthebenchbesidehisfather,andtheyalllookedinsilenceatthemountainbeforethem。Theyheardtheboywhistlingbehindthehouse,withsputteringandblubberingnoises,asifhewerewashinghisfacewhilehewhistled;andthentheyheardhimsinging,withamuffledsound,andsharpbreaksfromthemuffledsound,asifheweresingingintothetowel;heshoutedtohisdogandthreatenedhim,andthescufflingofhisfeetcametothemthroughallasifheweredancing。
\"Beenafterthemwoodchucksag’in,\"hisfatherhuskilysuggested。
\"Iguessso,\"saidthemother。Thebrotherdidnotspeak;hecoughedvaguely,andlethisheadsinkforward。
Thefatherbeganastatementofhisaffairs。
Themothersaid:\"Youdon’twanttogointothat;webeenalloveritbefore。Ifit’scometothepinch,now,it’scome。Butyouwanttobesure。\"
Themandidnotanswerdirectly。\"IfwecouldselloffnowandgetouttowhereJimisinCaliforny,andgetapieceofland——\"Hestopped,asifconfrontedwithsomedifficultywhichhehadmetbefore,buthadhopedhemightnotfindinhiswaythistime。
Hiswifelaughedgrimly。\"Iguess,ifthetruthwasknown,we’retoopoortogetaway。\"
\"We’repoor,\"hewhisperedback。Headded,withaweakobstinacy:
\"Id’knowaswe’reaspoorasthatcomesto。Thethingswouldfetchsomething。\"
\"Enoughtogetusoutthere,andthenweshouldbeonJim’shands,\"saidthewoman。
\"Weshouldtillspring,maybe。Id’knowasIwanttofaceanotherwinterhere,andId’knowasJacksondoes。\"
Theyoungmangaspedback,courageously:\"IguessIcangetalongherewellenough。\"
\"It’smadeJimtenyearsyounger。That’swhathesaid,\"urgedthefather。
Themothersmiledasgrimlyasshehadlaughed。\"Idon’tbelieveit’llmakeyoutenyearsricher,andthat’swhatyouwant。\"
\"Idon’tbelievebutwhatweshouldha’donesomethingwiththeplacebyspring。OrtheStatewould,\"thefathersaid,lifelessly。
Thevoiceoftheboybrokeinuponthemfrombehind。\"Say,mother,a’n’tyounevergoin’tohavedinner?\"Hewasstandinginthedoorway,withastartlingcleannessofthehandsandface,andastrange,wetsleeknessofthehair。Hisclotheswerebedrabbleddownthefrontwithsoapandwater。
Hismotherroseandwenttowardhim;hisfatherandbrotherroselikeapparitions,andslantedafterheratoneangle。
\"Say,\"theboycalledagaintohismother,\"therecomesapeddler。\"Hepointeddowntheroadatthefigureofamanbrisklyascendingthelanetowardthehouse,withapackonhisbackandsomestrangeappendagesdanglingfromit。
Thewomandidnotlookround;neitherofthemenlookedround;theyallkeptonin—doors,andshesaidtotheboy,asshepassedhim:\"Igotnotimetowasteonpeddlers。Youtellhimwedon’twantanything。\"
Theboywaitedforthefigureonthelanetoapproach。Itwasthefigureofayoungman,whoslunghisburdenlightlyfromhisshoulderswhenhearrived,andthenstoodlookingattheboy,withhisfootplantedonthelowermosttreadofthestepsclimbingfromthegroundtotheporch。
III。
Theboymusthavepermittedtheseadvancesthathemightinflictthegreaterdisappointmentwhenhespoke。\"Wedon’twantanything,\"hesaid,insolently。
\"Don’tyou?\"thestrangerreturned。\"Ido。Iwantdinner。Goinandtellyourmother,andthenshowmewhereIcanwashmyhands。\"
Theboldeaseofthestrangerseemedtodaunttheboy,andhestoodirresolute。Hisdogcameroundthecornerofthehouseatthefirstwordoftheparley,and,whilehismasterwasmakinguphismindwhattodo,hesmelledatthestranger’slegs。\"Well,youcan’thaveanydinner,\"
saidtheboy,tentatively。Thedograisedthebristlesonhisneck,andshowedhisteethwithasnarl。Thestrangerpromptlykickedhiminthejaw,andthedogranoffhowling。\"Comehere,sir!\"theboycalledtohim,butthedogvanishedroundthehousewithafadingyelp。
\"Now,youngman,\"saidthestranger,\"willyougoanddoasyou’rebid?
I’mreadytopayformydinner,andyoucansayso。\"Theboystaredathim,slowlytakinginthefactsofhiscostume,witheyesthatclimbedfromtheheavy,shoesupthelegsofhisthick—ribbedstockingsandhisknickerbockers,pastthepleatsandbeltofhisNorfolkjacket,totheredneckclothtiedundertheloosecollarofhisflannelouting—shirt,andsobyhisface,withitssoft,youngbeardanditsquieteyes,tothetopofhisbraidless,bandlessslouchhatofsoftfelt。Itwasoneoftheearliestcostumesofthekindthathadshownitselfinthehillcountry,anditwasaltogethernewtotheboy。\"Come,\"saidthewearerofit,\"don’tstandontheorderofyourgoing,butgoatonce,\"andhesatdownonthestepswithhisbacktotheboy,whoheardthesestrangetermsofcommandwithafaceofvagueenvy。
Thenoondaysunshinelayinathin,silveryglisterontheslopesofthemountainbeforethem,andinthebrilliantlightthecolossalformsoftheLion’sHeadwereprismaticallyoutlinedagainstthespecklesssky。
Throughthesilveryveilthereburnedhereandthereonthedenselywoodedacclivitiesthecrimsontorchofamaple,kindledbeforeitstime,buteverywhereelsetherewastheunbrokengreenoftheforest,subduedtoonetoneofgray。Theboyheardthestrangerfetchhisbreathdeeply,andthenexpelitinalongsigh,beforehecouldbringhimselftoobeyanorderthatseemedtoleavehimwithoutthechoiceofdisobedience。Hecamebackandfoundthestrangerashehadlefthim。\"Comeon,ifyouwantyourdinner,\"hesaid;andthestrangerroseandlookedathim。
\"What’syourname?\"heasked。
\"ThomasJeffersonDurgin。\"
\"Well,ThomasJeffersonDurgin,willyoushowmethewaytothepumpandbringatowelalong?\"
\"Wanttowash?\"
\"Ihaven’tchangedmymind。\"
\"Comealong,then。\"Theboymadeamovementasiftoleadthewayindoors;thestrangerarrestedhim。
\"Here。Takeholdofthisandputitoutoftherushoftravelsomewhere。\"Heliftedhisburdenfromwherehehaddroppeditintheroadandswungittowardtheboy,whorandownthestepsandembracedit。
Ashecarriedittowardacorneroftheporchhefeltofthevariousshapesandmaterialsinit。
Thenhesaid,\"Comeon!\"again,andwentbeforetheguestthroughthedimhallrunningmidwayofthehousetothedoorattherear。Helefthimonanarrowspaceofstoneflaggingthere,andranwithatinbasintothespringatthebarnandbroughtitbacktohimfullofthecoldwater。
\"Towel,\"hesaid,pullingatthefamilyrollerinsidethelittleporchatthedoor;andhewatchedthestrangerwashhishandsandface,andthensearchforafreshplaceonthetowel。
Beforethestrangerhadfinishedthefatherandtheelderbrothercameout,and,afteranineffectualattempttosalutehim,slantedawaytothebarntogether。Thewoman,in—doors,wasmoresuccessful,whenhefoundherinthedining—room,wheretheboyshowedhim。Thetablewassetforhimalone,anditaffectedhimasifthefamilyhadbeenhurriedawayfromitthathemighthaveittohimself。Everythingwasverysimple:
theironforkshadtwoprongs;theknivesbonehandles;thedullglasswaspressed;theheavyplatesandcupswerewhite,butsowasthecloth,andallwereclean。Thewomanbroughtinagoodboileddinnerofcorned—beef,potatoes,turnips,andcarrotsfromthekitchen,andateapot,andsaidsomethingabouthavingkeptthemhotonthestoveforhim;shebroughthimaplateofbiscuitfreshfromtheoven;thenshesaidtotheboy,\"Youcomeoutandhaveyourdinnerwithme,Jeff,\"andlefttheguesttomakehismealunmolested。
Theroomwassquare,withtwonorthwindowsthatlookeddownthelanehehadclimbedtothehouse。Anopendoorledintothekitcheninanell,andacloseddooroppositeprobablygaveaccesstoaparlororaground—
floorchamber。Thewindowsweredarkeneddowntothelowersashbygreenpapershades;thewallswerepaperedinapatternofbrownroses;overthechimneyhungalargepicture,alife—sizepencil—drawingoftwolittlegirls,oneslightlyolderandslightlylargerthantheother,eachwithroundeyesandpreciseringlets,andwithherhandclaspedintheother’shand。
Theguestseemedhelplesstotakehisgazefromit,andhesatfallenbackinhischairatitwhenthewomancameinwithapie。
\"Thankyou,IbelieveIdon’twantanydessert,\"hesaid。\"Thefactis,thedinnerwassogoodthatIhaven’tleftanyroomforpie。Arethoseyourchildren?\"
\"Yes,\"saidthewoman,lookingupatthepicturewiththepieinherhand。\"They’rethelasttwoIlost。\"
\"Oh,excuseme——\"theguestbegan。
\"It’sthewaytheyappearinthespiritlife。It’saspiritpicture。\"
\"Oh,Ithoughttherewassomethingstrangeaboutit。\"
\"Well,it’sagooddeallikethephotographwehadtakenaboutayearbeforetheydied。It’sagoodlikeness。Theysaytheydon’tchangeagreatdealatfirst。\"
Sheseemedtoreferthepointtohimforhisjudgment,butheansweredwideofit:
\"Icameupheretopaintyourmountain,ifyoudon’tmind,Mrs。
Durgin—Lion’sHead,Imean。\"
\"Ohyes。Well,Idon’tknowaswecouldstopyouifyouwantedtotakeitaway。\"Aspareglimmerlightedupherface。
Thepainterrejoinedinkind:\"Thetownmighthavesomethingtosay,I
suppose。\"
\"Notifyouwastoleaveagoodpieceofintervaleinplaceofit。We’vegotmountainstospare。\"
\"Well,then,that’sarranged。Whataboutaweek’sboard?\"
\"Iguessyoucanstayifyou’resatisfied。\"
\"I’llbesatisfiedifIcanstay。Howmuchdoyouwant?\"
Thewomanlookeddown,probablywithaninwardanxietybetweenthefearofaskingtoomuchandthefollyofaskingtoolittle。Shesaid,tentatively:\"Someofthefolksthatcomeoverfromthehotelssaytheypayasmuchastwentydollarsaweek。\"
\"Butyoudon’texpecthotelprices?\"
\"Idon’tknowasIdo。We’veneverhadanybodybefore。\"
Thestrangerrelaxedthefrownhehadputonatthegreedofhersuggestion;itmighthavecomefromignoranceormereinnocence。\"I’minthehabitofpayingfivedollarsforfarmboard,whereIstayseveralweeks。Whatdoyousaytosevenforasingleweek?\"
\"Iguessthat’lldo,\"saidthewoman,andshewentoutwiththepie,whichshehadkeptinherhand。