\"Ohyes，Ido，\"saidthepainter。\"Weneverknowwhenwemaybeuponthepointofrevelation。Iwouldn’tmissanychance。\"
WhetherWhitwellfeltanironicslantinthewordsornot，hepausedamomentbeforehesaid：\"Wanttostartherup，Jackson？\"
Jacksonbroughttothefloortheforefeetofhischair，whichhehadtiltedfromitinleaningback，andwithoutotheranswerputhishandontheplanchette。Itbegantoflyoverthelargesheetofpaperspreaduponthetable，incurvesandanglesandeccentrics。
\"Feelspoottylivelyto—night，\"saidWhitwell，withaglanceatWestover。
ThelittleCanuck，asifhehadnownofurtherconcerninthematter，satdowninacornerandsmokedsilently。Whitwellasked，afteramoment’simpatience：
\"Can’tyougitherdowntobusiness，Jackson？\"
Jacksongasped：\"She’llcomedownwhenshewantsto。\"
Thelittleinstrumentseemed，infact，tryingtocontrolitself。Itsmovementsbecamelesswildandlarge；thezigzagsbegantoshapethemselvesintosomethinglikecharacters。Jackson’swastedfacegavenotokenofinterest；Whitwelllaidhalfhisgauntlengthacrossthetableintheendeavortomakeoutsomemeaninginthem；theCanuck，withhishandscrossedonhisstomach，smokedon，withthesamegleaminhispipeandeye。
Theplanchettesuddenlystoodmotionless。
\"Shedone？\"murmuredWhitwell。
\"Iguesssheis，foraspell，anyway，\"saidJackson，wearily。
\"Let’strytomakeoutwhatshesays。\"WhitwelldrewthesheetstowardhimselfandWestover，whosatnexthim。\"You’vegottolookfortheletterseverywhere。Sometimesshe’llgiveyoufairandsquarewritin’，andthenagainshe’llslatthelettersdowneverywhichway，andyou’vegottohunt’emoutforyourself。Here’saBI’vegot。Thatbeginsalongprettyearlyinthealphabet。Let’sseewhatwecanfindnext。\"
WestoverfanciedhecouldmakeoutanFandaT。
WhitwellexultedinanunmistakableKandN；andhemadesureofanI，andanE。ThepainterwasnotsosureofanS。\"Well，callitanS，\"
saidWhitwell。\"AndIguessI’vegotanOhere，andanH。Hello！
Here’sanAaslargeaslife。Poottymuchofamixture。\"
\"Yes；Idon’tseethatwe’remuchbetteroffthanwewerebefore，\"saidWestover。
\"Well，Idon’tknowaboutthat，\"saidWhitwell。
\"Write’emdowninarowandseeifwecan’tpickoutsomesense。I’vehadworsefindsthanthis；novowelsatallsometimes；buthere’sthree。\"
Hewrotethelettersdown，whileJacksonleanedbackagainstthewall，inpatientquiet。
\"Well，sir，\"saidWhitwell，pushingthepaper，wherehehadwrittenthelettersinaline，toWestover，\"makeanythingoutof’em？\"
Westoverstruggledwiththemamoment。\"Icanmakeoutoneword—shaft。\"
\"Anythingelse？\"demandedWhitwell，withaglanceoftriumphatJackson。
Westoverstudiedtheremainingletters。\"Yes，Igetoneotherword—
broken。\"
\"JustwhatIdone！ButIwantedyoutospeakfirst。It’sBrokenShaft。
Jackson，shecaughtrightontowhatwewastalkin’about。Thislife，\"heturnedtoWestover，insolemnexegesis，\"isabrokenshaftwhendeathcomes。Itrestsupontheearth，butyougottolookforthetopofitintheskies。That’sthewayIlookatit。Whatdoyouthink，Jackson？
Jombateeste？\"
Ithinkanybodycan’tseethat。Bettergoandgetsomeheye—glass。\"
Westoverremainedinashamefulminority。Hesaid，meekly：\"Itsuggestsabeautifulhope。\"
Jacksonbroughthischair—legsdownagain，andputhishandontheplanchette。
\"Feelthattinglin’？\"asked。Whitwell，andJacksonmadeyeswithsilentlips。\"Afterhe’sbeenworkin’theplantchetteforaspell，andthenleavesoff，andshewantstosaysomethingmore，\"WhitwellexplainedtoWestover，\"heseemstofeelakindoftinglin’inhisarm，asifitwasasleep，andthenhe’sgottotackleheragain。Writin’steadyenoughnow，Jackson！\"hecried，joyously。\"Let’ssee。\"Heleanedoverandread，\"ThomasJefferson——\"Theplanchettestopped，\"My，Ididn’tgotodothat，\"saidWhitwell，apologetically。\"YoumuchacquaintedwithJefferson’swritin’s？\"heaskedofWestover。
Thepainterhadtoownhisignoranceofallexceptthedictionthatthegovernmentisbestwhichgovernsleast；buthewasnotinapositiontodenythatJeffersonhadeversaidanythingaboutabrokenshaft。
\"Itmayhavecometohimontheotherside，\"saidWhitwell。
\"Perhaps，\"Westoverassented。
Theplanchettebegantostiritselfagain。\"She’sgoin’ahead！\"criedWhitwell。Heleanedoverthetablesoastogeteveryletterasitwasformed。\"D——Yes！Death。DeathistheBrokenShaft。Goon！\"Afteramomentoffalteringtheplanchetteformedanotherletter。ItwasaU，anditwasfollowedbyanR，andsoon，tillDurginhadbeenspelled。
\"Thunder！\"criedWhitwell。\"Ifanything’shappenedtoJeff！\"
Jacksonliftedhishandfromtheplanchette。
\"Oh，goon，Jackson！\"Whitwellentreated。\"Don’tleaveitso！\"
\"Ican’tseemtogoon，\"Jacksonwhispered，andWestovercouldnotresistthefearthatsuddenlyroseamongthem。Buthemadethefirststruggleagainstit。\"Thisisnonsense。Or，ifthere’sanysenseinit，itmeansthatJeff’sshiphasbrokenhershaftandputback。\"
Whitwellgavealoudlaughofrelief。\"That’sso！You’vehitit，Mr。
Westover。\"
Jacksonsaid，quietly：\"Hedidn’tmeantostarthometilltomorrow。Andhowcouldhesendanymessageunlesshewas——\"
\"Easily！\"criedWestover。\"It’ssimplyaninstanceofmentalimpression—
oftelepathy，astheycallit。\"
\"That’sso！\"shoutedWhitwell，witheagerandinstantconviction。
WestovercouldseethatJacksonstilldoubted。\"Ifyoubelievethatadisembodiedspiritcancommunicatewithyou，whynotanembodiedspirit？
Ifanythinghashappenedtoyourbrother’sship，hismindwouldbestronglyonyouathome，andwhycouldn’titconveyitsthoughttoyou？\"
\"Becauseheha’n’tstartedyet，\"saidJackson。
Westoverwantedtolaugh；buttheyallheardvoiceswithout，whichseemedtobecomingnearer，andhelistenedwiththerest。HemadeoutFrankWhitwell’svoice，andhissister’s；andthenanothervoice，louderandgayer，roseboisterouslyabovethem。Whitwellflungthedooropenandplungedoutintothenight。Hecameback，haulingJeffDurgininbytheshoulder。
\"Here，now，\"beshoutedtoJackson，\"youjustletthisfellerandplantchettefightitouttogether！\"
\"What’sthematterwithplantchette？\"saidJeff，beforehesaidtohisbrother，\"Hello，Jackson！\"andtotheCanuck，\"Hello，Jombateeste！\"
Heshookhandsconventionallywiththemboth，andthenwiththepainter，whomhegreetedwithgreaterinterest。\"Gladtoseeyouhere，Mr。
Westover。DidItakeyoubysurprise？\"heaskedofthecompanyatlarge。
\"No，sir，\"saidWhitwell。\"Didn’tsurpriseusany，ifyouareafortnightaheadoftime，\"headded，withawinkattheothers。
\"Well，ItookanotionIwouldn’twaitforthecattle—ship，andIstartedbackonaFrenchboat。ThoughtI’dtryit。Theylivewell。ButIhopedIshouldastonishyoualittle，too。Imightaswellwaited。\"
Whitwelllaughed。\"Weheardfromyou——plantchettekeptrightroundafteryou。\"
\"Thatso？\"askedJeff，carelessly。
\"Fact。Haveagoodvoyage？\"Whitwellhadtheairofputtingacasualquestion。
\"First—rate，\"saidJeff。\"Plantchettesaynot？\"
\"No。Onlyaboutthebrokenshaft。\"
\"Brokenshaft？Wedidn’thaveanybrokenshaft。Plantchette’sgotmixedalittle。Gotthewrongship。\"
Afteramomentofchop—fallenness，Whitwellsaid：
\"Thensomebody’sbeenmakin’freewithyourname。Curioushowthemdevilscutupoftentimes。\"
Heexplained，andJefflaugheduproariouslywhenheunderstoodthewholecase。\"Plantchette’sbeenhavin’funwithyou。\"
Whitwellgavehimselftimeforreflection。\"No，sir，Idon’tlookatitthatway。Iguessthewiresgotcrossedsomeway。Ifthere’ssuchathingasthespiritso’thelivin’influencin’plantchette，accordin’toMr。Westover’ssay，here，Idon’tseewhyitwa’n’t。Jeff’sbeingsonearthatgotcontrolofherandmadehersignhisnametosomebodyelse’swords。Itshowsthere’ssomethinginit。\"
\"Well，I’mgladtocomebackalive，anyway，\"saidJeff，withajovialitynewtoWestover。\"Itellyou，therea’n’tmanyplacesfinerthanoldLion’sHead，afterall。Don’tyouthinkso，Mr。Westover？Iwanttogetthedaylightonit，butitdoeswellbymoonlight，even。\"Helookedroundatthetallgirl，whohadbeenlingeringtohearthetalkofplanchette；atthebackwardtilthegavehishead，togetherinrange，shefrownedasifshefelthiswordsabetrayal，andslippedoutoftheroom；theboyhadalreadygone，andwasmakinghimselfheardinthelowroomoverhead。
\"There’salotoffolksherethissummer，mothersays，\"heappealedfromthecheckhehadgottoJackson。\"Everyroomtakenforthewholemonth，shesays。\"
\"We’vebeenprettyfullallJuly，too，\"saidJackson，blankly。
\"Well，it’sagreatbusiness；andI’vepickedupalotofhintsoverthere。We’renotsosmartaswethinkweare。TheSwisscanteachusathingortwo。Theyknowhowtokeepahotel。\"
\"GotoSwitzerland？\"askedWhitwell。
\"Islippedoverintotheedgeofit。\"
\"Iwanttoknow！Well，nowthemAlps，now——theysomuchbigger’ntheWhiteHills，afterall？\"
\"Well，Idon’tknowaboutallof’em，\"saidJeff。\"Theremaybesomethatwouldcomparewithourhills，butIshouldsaythatyoucouldtakeMountWashingtonupandsetitinthelapofalmostanyoneoftheAlpsI
saw，anditwouldlooklikeababyonitsmother’sknee。\"
\"Iwanttoknow！\"saidWhitwellagain。Histoneexpresseddisappointment，butimpartiality；hewoulddojusticetoforeignsuperiorityifhemust。\"Andabouttheocean。Whataboutwavesrunnin？
mountainshigh？\"
\"Well，wedidn’thaveitveryrough。ButIdon’tbelieveIsawanywavesmuchhigherthanLion’sHead。\"JefflaughedtofindWhitwelltakinghimseriously。\"Won’tthatsatisfyyou？\"
\"Oh，itsatisfiesme。Truthalwaysdoes。But，now，aboutLondon。Youdidn’tseemtosaysomuchaboutLondoninyourletters，now。Isitsobigastheyleton？Big——thatis，tothenakedeye，asyoumaysay？\"
\"Therea’n’tanyoneplacewhereyoucangetacompletebird’s—eyeviewofit，\"saidJeff，\"andtwo—thirdsofitwouldbehidinsmoke，anyway。
You’vegottothinkofaplacethatwouldtakeinthewholepopulationofNewEngland，outsideofMassachusetts，andnotfeelasifithadmorethanacomfortablemeal。\"
Whitwelllaughedforjoyintheboldfigure。
\"I’lltellyou。Whenyou’velandedandcrossedupfromLiverpool，andstruckLondon，youfeelasifyou’dgonetoseaagain。It’sanocean——
awholeAtlanticofhouses。\"
\"That’sright！\"crowedWhitwell。\"That’sthewayIthoughtitwas。
Growin’any？\"
Jeffhesitated。\"Itgrowsinthenight。You’veheardaboutChicagogrowing？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Well，LondongrowsawholeChicagoeverynight。\"
\"Good！\"saidWhitwell。\"Thatsuitsme。AndaboutParis，now。Parisstrikeyouthesameway？\"
\"Itdon’tneedto，\"saidJeff。\"That’saplacewhereI’dliketolive。
Everybody’sathomethere。It’saman’shouseandhisfrontyard，andI
tellyoutheykeepitclean。Parisiswasheddowneverymorning；
scrubbedandmoppedandrubbeddry。Youcouldn’tfindanymoredirtthanyoucouldinmother’skitchenaftershe’shungoutherwash。Thatso，Mr。Westover？\"
WestoverconfirmedingeneralJeff’sreportofthecleanlinessofParis。
\"Andbeautiful！Youdon’tknowwhatagood—lookingtownistillyoustrikeParis。Andthey’reproudofit，too。Everymanactsasifheownedit。They’vehadthestatueofAlsaceinthatPlacedelaConcordeofyours，Mr。Whitwell，wheretheyhadtheguillotinealldrapedinblackeversincethewarwithGermany；andtheymeantohaveherback，someday。\"
\"Greatcountry，Jombateeste！\"WhitwellshoutedtotheCanuck。
Thelittlemanrousedhimselffromthemuseinwhichhewaslisteningandsmoking。\"Me，I’mFrantsh，\"hesaid。
\"Yes，that’swhatJeffwassayin’，\"saidWhitwell。\"ImeantFrance。\"
\"Oh，\"answeredJombateeste，impatiently，\"IthoughtyoumeantheHunitedState。\"
\"Well，notthistime，\"saidWhitwell，amidthegenerallaughter。
\"GoodforJombateeste，\"saidJeff。\"StandupforCanadaeverytime，John。It’sthelivestcountry，intheworldthreemonthsoftheyear，andtheicekeepsitperfectlysweettheothernine。\"
Whitwellcouldnotbrookadiversionfromthehighandseriousinquirytheyhadenteredupon。\"Itmusthavemadethiscountrylookprettyslimwhenyougotback。How’dNewYorklook，afterParis？\"
\"Likeapigpen，\"saidJeff。Helefthischairandwalkedroundthetabletowardadooropeningintotheadjoiningroom。ForthefirsttimeWestovernoticedafigureinwhiteseatedthere，andapparentlyraptinthetalkwhichhadbeengoingon。AttheapproachofJeff，andbeforehecouldhavemadehimselfseenatthedoorway，atremorseemedtopassoverthefigure；itflutteredtoitsfeet，andthenitvanishedintothefartherdarkoftheroom。WhenJeffdisappearedwithin，therewasasoundofrustlingskirtsandskurryingfeetandthecrashofaclosingdoor，andthenthefreeriseoflaughingvoiceswithout。Afteradiscreetinterval，Westoversaid：\"Mr。Whitwell，Imustsaygood—night。
I’vegotanotherday’sworkbeforeme。It’sbeenamostinterestingevening。\"
\"Youmusttryitagain，\"saidWhitwell，hospitably。\"Weha’n’tgottothebottomofthatbrokenshaftyet。You’llsee’tplantchette’llhavesomethingmoretosayaboutit：Heigh，Jackson？\"HerosetoreceiveWestover’sgoodnight；theothersnoddedtohim。
Asthepainterclimbedthehilltothehotelhesawtwofiguresontheroadbelow；theoneinwhitedraperylookedseveredbyadarklineslantingacrossitatthewaist。Inthecountry，heknew，suchanappearancemightmarktheearlieststagesoflove—making，ormereyouthfultenderness，inwhichtherewasnothingmoreimpliedorexpected。
Butwhateverthefactwas，Westoverfeltavaguedistasteforit，which，asitrelateditselftoamoreseriouspossibility，deepenedtosomethinglikepain。Itwasprobablethatitshouldcometothisbetweenthosetwo，butWestoverrebelledagainsttheeventwithasenseofitsunfitnessforwhichhecouldnotgivehimselfanyvalidreason；andintheendheaccusedhimselfofbeingafool。
Twoladiessatontheverandaofthehotelandwatchedacloud—wreathtryingtoliftitselffromthesummitofLion’sHead。Intheeffortitthinnedawaytotransparencyinplaces；inothers，ittoreitsfrailtextureasunderandletpartsofthemountainshowthrough；thenthefragmentsknittedthemselveslooselytogether，andthevaporlayagainindreamyquiescence。
Theladieswereolderandyounger，andapparentlymotheranddaughter。
Themotherhadkeptheryouthinfaceandfiguresoadmirablythatinanotherlightshewouldhavelookedscarcelytheelder。Itwasthecandorofthemorningwhichconfessedthefineverticallinesrunningupanddowntoherlips，onlyashadepalerthanthegirl’s，andthatshowedherhairatriflethinnerinitscopperybrown，herblueeyesalittledimmer。Theywerebothverygraceful，andtheyhadsoft，caressingvoices；theynowbegantotalkverypolitelytoeachother，asiftheywerestrangers，orasifstrangerswereby。Theytalkedofthelandscape，andofthestrangecloudeffectbeforethem。TheysaidthattheysupposedtheyshouldseetheLion’sHeadwhenthecloudlifted，andtheywerebothsuretheyhadneverbeenquitesonearacloudbefore。
TheyagreedthatthiswasbecauseinSwitzerlandthemountainsweresomuchhigherandfartheroff。Thenthedaughtersaid，withoutchangingthedirectionofhereyesorthetoneofhervoice，\"Thegentlemanwhocameoverfromthestationwithuslastnight，\"andthemotherwasawareofJeffDurginadvancingtowardthecorneroftheverandawheretheysat。
\"Ihopeyouhavegotrested，\"hesaid，withthejovialbluntnesswhichwascharacteristicofhimwithwomen。
\"Oh，yesindeed，\"saidtheelderlady。Jeffhadspokentoher，buthadlookedchieflyattheyounger。\"Isleptbeautifully。Soquiethere，andwiththisdeliciousair！Haveyoujusttastedit？\"
\"No；I’vebeenupeversincedaylight，drivinground，\"saidJeff。\"I’mgladyouliketheair，\"hesaid，afteracertainhesitation。\"WealwayswanttohavepeopledothatatLion’sHead。There’snoairlikeit，thoughperhapsIshouldn’tsayso。\"
\"Shouldn’t？\"theladyrepeated。
\"Yes；weowntheairhere——thispartofit。\"Jeffsmiledeasilydownatthelady’spuzzledface。
\"Oh！Thenyouare——areyouasonofthehouse？\"
\"Sonofthehotel，yes，\"saidJeff，withincreasingease。Theladycontinuedherquestioninalook，andhewenton：\"I’vebeenscouringthecountryforbutterandeggsthismorning。WeshallgetalloursuppliesfromBostonnextyear，Ihope，butwedependontheneighborsalittleyet。\"
\"Howveryinteresting！\"saidthelady。\"Youmusthaveagreatmanyqueeradventures，\"shesuggestedinaprovisionaltone。
\"Well，nothing’squeertomeinthehillcountry。Butyouseesomecharactershere。\"HenoddedoverhisshouldertowhereWhitwellstoodbytheflag—staff，waitingthemorningimpulseoftheladies。\"There’soneofthegreatestofthemnow。\"
TheladyputupalorgnetteandinspectedWhitwell。\"Whatarethosestrangethingshehasgotinhishatband？\"
\"Theflowersandthefungioftheseason，\"saidJeff。\"Hetakespartiesoftheladieswalking，andthatcollectioniswhathecallshisalmanac。\"
\"Really？\"criedthegirl。\"That’scharming！\"
\"Delightful！\"saidthemother，movedbythesameimpulse，apparently。
\"Yes，\"saidJeff。\"Yououghttohearhimtalk。I’llintroducehimtoyouafterbreakfast，ifyoulike。\"
\"Oh，weshouldonlybetoohappy，\"saidthemother，andherdaughter，fromherinflection，knewthatshewouldbewillingtodeferherhappiness。
ButJeffdidnot。\"Mr。Whitwell！\"hecalledout，andWhitwellcameacrossthegrasstotheedgeoftheveranda。\"IwanttointroduceyoutoMrs。Vostrand——andMissVostrand。\"
Whitwelltooktheirslimhandssuccessivelyintohisbroad，flatpalm，andmadeMrs。Vostrandrepeathernametohim。\"StrangersatLion’sHead，Ipresume？\"Mrs。Vostrandownedasmuch；andheadded：\"Well，Iguessyouwon’tfindamuchsightlierplaceanywhere；though，accordin’
toJeff’ssay，here，they’vegotbiggermountainsontheotherside。
EverbeeninEurope？\"
\"Why，yes，\"saidMrs。Vostrand，withalittlemouthofdeprecation。
\"Infact，we’vejustcomehome。We’vebeenlivingthere。\"
\"Thatso？\"returnedWhitwell，inhumoroustoleration。\"Gladtogetback，Ipresume？\"
\"Ohyes——yes，\"saidMrs。Vostrand，inasortofwillowyconcession，asifthecharacterbeforeherwerenottobecrossedorgainsaid。
\"Well，it’lldoyougoodhere，\"saidWhitwell。\"’N’theyounglady，too。Afewtrampsoverthesehills’llmakeyoulooklikeanotherwoman。\"Headded，asifhehadperhapsmadehisremarkstoopersonaltothegirl，\"Bothofyou。\"
\"Ohyes，\"themotherassented，fervently。\"Weshallcountuponyourshowingusalltheir—mysteries。\"
Whitwelllookedpleased。\"I’lldomybest—wheneveryou’reready。\"
Hewenton：\"Why，Jeff，here，hasjustgotback，too。Jeff，whatwasthenameofthatFrenchboatyousaidyoucrossedon？IwanttoseeifI
can’tmakeoutwhatplantchettemeantbythatbrokenshaft。Shemusthavemeantsomething，andifIcouldfindoutthenameoftheship——
Telltheladiesaboutit？\"Jefflaughed，withashakeofthehead，andWhitwellcontinued，\"Why，itwaslikethis，\"andhepossessedtheladiesofafactwhichtheyprofessedtofindextremelyinteresting。AttheendoftheirpoliteexpressionsheaskedJeffagain：\"Whatdidyousaythenamewas？\"
\"Aquitaine，\"saidJeff，briefly。
\"Why，wecameontheAquitaine！\"saidMrs。Vostrand，withasmileforJeff。\"Buthowdidwehappennottoseeoneanother？\"
\"Oh，Icamesecond—cabin，\"saidJeff。\"Iworkedmywayoveronacattle—
shiptoLondon，and，whenIdecidednottoworkmywayback，IfoundI
hadn’tenoughmoneyforafirst—cabinpassage。IwasinahurrytogetbackintimetogetsettledatHarvard，andsoIcamesecond—cabin。Itwasn’tbad。Iusedtoseeyouacrosstherail。\"
\"Well！\"saidWhitwell。
\"Howvery——amusing！\"saidMrs。Vostrand。\"Whatasmallworlditis！\"
Withthesewordsshefellintoavagary；herdaughterrecalledherfromitwithaslightmovement。\"Breakfast？Howimpatientyouare，Genevieve！Well！\"ShesmiledthesweetestpartingtoWhitwell，andsufferedherselftobeledawaybyJeff。
\"Andyou’reatHarvard？I’msointerested！Myownboywillbegoingtheresoon。\"
\"Well，there’snoplacelikeHarvard，\"saidJeff。\"I’minmySophomoreyearnow。\"
\"Oh，aSophomore！Fancy！\"criedMrs。Vostrand，asifnothingcouldgivehermorepleasure。\"MysonisgoingtoprepareatSt。Mark’s。Didyoupreparethere？\"
\"No，IpreparedatLovewellAcademy，overhere。\"Jeffnoddedinasoutherlydirection。
\"Oh，indeed！\"saidMrs。Vostrand，asifsheknewwhereLovewellwas，andinstantlyrecognizedthenameoftheancientschool。
Theyhadreachedthediningroom，andJeffpushedthescreen—dooropenwithonehand，andfollowedtheladiesin。Hehadtheeffectofwelcomingthemlikeinvitedguests；heplacedtheladieshimselfatawindow，wherehesaidMrs。Vostrandwouldbeoutofthedraughts，andtheycouldhaveagoodviewofLion’sHead。
Heleanedoverbetweenthem，whentheywereseated，togetsightofthemountain，and，\"There！\"hesaid。\"Thatcloud’sgoneatlast。\"Then，asifitwouldbemodesterintheproprietoroftheviewtoleavethemtotheirflatteringrapturesinit，hemovedawayandstoodtalkingamomentwithCynthiaWhitwellnearthedooroftheserving—room。Hetalkedgayly，withmanytossesoftheheadandturnsabout，whileshelistenedwithavaguesmile，motionlessly。
\"She’sverypretty，\"saidMissVostrandtohermother。
\"Yes。TheNewEnglandtype，\"murmuredthemother。
\"Theyallhavethesamelook，agooddeal，\"saidthegirl，glancingovertheroomwherethewaitressesstoodrangedagainstthewallwiththeirhandsfoldedattheirwaists。\"Theyhavebetterfacesthanfigures，butsheisbeautifuleveryway。Doyousupposetheyareallschoolteachers？
Theylookintellectual。Orisittheirglasses？\"
\"Idon’tknow，\"saidthemother。\"Theyusedtobe；butthingschangeheresorapidlyitmayallbedifferent。Doyoulikeit？\"
\"Ithinkit’scharminghere，\"saidtheyoungerlady，evasively。
\"Everythingissoexquisitelyclean。Andthefoodisverygood。Isthiscorn—bread——thatyou’vetoldmeaboutsomuch？\"
\"Yes，thisiscorn—bread。Youwillhavetogetaccustomedtoit。\"
\"Perhapsitwon’ttakelong。Icouldfancythatgirlknowingabouteverything。Don’tyoulikeherlooks？\"
\"Oh，verymuch。\"Mrs。VostrandturnedforanotherglanceatCynthia。
\"Whatsay？\"Theirsmilingwaitresscameforwardfromthewallwhereshewasleaning，asifshethoughttheyhadspokentoher。
\"Oh，wewerespeaking——theyoungladytowhomMr。Durginwastalking——sheis——\"
\"She’sthehousekeeper——MissWhitwell。\"
\"Oh，indeed！Sheseemssoyoung——\"
\"Iguesssheknowswhattodo—o—o，\"thewaitresschanted。\"Wethinkshe’saboutri—i—ght。\"Shesmiledtolerantlyuponthemisgivingofthestranger，ifitwasthat，andthenretreatedwhenthemotheranddaughterbegantalkingtogetheragain。
Theyhadpraisedthemountainwiththecloudoff，toJeff，verypolitely，andnowthemothersaid，alittlemoreintimately，butstillwiththedeferenceofasocietyacquaintance：\"Heseemsverygentlemanly，andIamsureheisverykind。Idon’tquiteknowwhattodoaboutit，doyou？\"
\"No，Idon’t。It’sallstrangetome，youknow。\"
\"Yes，Isupposeitmustbe。Butyouwillgetusedtoitifweremaininthecountry。Doyouthinkyouwilldislikeit？\"
\"Ohno！It’sverydifferent。\"
\"Yes，it’sdifferent。Heisveryhandsome，inacertainway。\"Thedaughtersaidnothing，andthemotheradded：\"Iwonderifhewastryingtoconcealthathehadcomesecond—cabin，andwasnotgoingtoletusknowthathecrossedwithus？\"
\"Doyouthinkhewasboundtodoso？\"
\"No。Butitwasveryodd，hisnotmentioningit。Andhisgoingoutonacattle—steamer？\"themotherobserved。
\"Oh，butthat’sverychic，I’veheard，\"thedaughterreplied。\"I’veheardthattheyoungmenlikeitandthinkitagreatchance。Theyhavegreatfun。Itisn’tatalllikesecond—cabin。\"
\"Youyoungpeoplehaveyourownworld，\"themotheranswered，caressingly。