XVI。
Westovermettheladiescomingoutofthedining—roomashewentinratherlatetobreakfast；hehadbeenmakingastudyofLion’sHeadinthemorninglightafterthecloudliftedfromit。HewasalwaysdoingLion’sHeads，itseemedtohim；buthelovedthemountain，andhewasalwaysfindingsomethingnewinit。
Hewasnowseeingitinwardlywithsoexclusiveavisionthathehadnoeyesfortheseextremelyprettywomentilltheywereoutofsight。Thenherememberednoticingthem，andstartedwithasenseofrecognition，whichheverifiedbythehotelregisterwhenhehadfinishedhismeal。
Itwas，infact，Mrs。JamesW。Vostrand，anditwasMissVostrand，whomWestoverhadknowtenyearsbeforeinItaly。Mrs。Vostrandhadthenlatelycomeabroadfortheeducationofherchildren，andwaspausingindoubtatFlorencewhethersheshouldeducatetheminGermanyorSwitzerland。Herhusbandhadapparentlyabandonedthisquestiontoher，andhedidnotcontributehispresencetohermoralsupportduringherstrugglewithaproblemwhichWestoverrememberedashavingatendencytosolutioninthedirectionofapermanentstayinFlorence。
InthosedayshelikedMrs。Vostrandverymuch，andattwentyheconsideredheratthirtydistinctlymiddle—aged。Foronewintershehadafriendlylittlesalon，whichwasthemostattractiveplaceinFlorencetohim，thenacubpaintersufficientlyunlicked。Hewasawareofherchildrenbeingagooddealinthesalon：agirlofeight，whowaslikehermother，andquiteasavagelittleboyoffive，whomayhavebeenlikehisfather。Ifhewas，andtheabsentMr。Vostrandhadthesamehabitofsulkingandkickingatpeople’sshins，WestovercouldpartlyunderstandwhyMrs。VostrandhadcometoEuropefortheeducationofherchildren。
Itallcamevividlybacktohim，whilehewentaboutlookingforMrs。
Vostrandandherdaughterontheverandasandintheparlors。Buthedidnotfindthem，andhewasgoingtosendhisnametotheirroomswhenhecameuponJeffDurginfiguringabouttheofficeinafreshLondonconceptionofanoutingcostume。
\"You’reveryswell，\"saidWestover，haltinghimtotakefullnoteofit。
\"Likeit？Well，Iknewyou’dunderstandwhatitmeant。Motherthinksit’salittletoorowdy—looking。Herideaisblackbroadclothfrock—coatanddoeskintrousersforagentleman，youknow。\"Helaughedwithayoungjoyousness，andthenbecameserious。\"Coupleofladieshere，somewhere，I’dliketointroduceyouto。Cameoverwithmefromthedepotlastnight。Verynicepeople，andI’dliketomakeitpleasantforthem——getupsomething——gosomewhere——andwhenyouseetheirstyleyoucanjudgewhatithadbetterbe。Mrs。Vostrandandherdaughter。\"
\"Thankyou，\"saidWestover。\"IthinkIknowthemalreadyatleastoneofthem。IusedtogotoMrs。Vostrand’shouseinFlorence。\"
\"Thatso？Well，factis，Icrossedwiththem；butIcamesecond—cabin，becauseI’dspentallmymoney，andIdidn’tgetacquaintedwiththemontheship，butwemetinthetraincominguplastnight。SaidtheyhadheardofLion’sHeadontheothersidefromfriends。Butitwasquiteacoincidence，don’tyouthink？I’dliketohavethemseewhatthisneighborhoodreallyis；andIwish，Mr。Westover，you’dfindout，ifyoucan，whatthey’dlike。Ifthey’reforwalking，wecouldgetWhitwelltopersonallyconductaparty，andifthey’refordriving，I’dliketoshowthemalittlemountain—coachingmyself。\"
\"Idon’tknowwhetherI’dbetternotleavethewholethingtoyou，Jeff，\"
Westoversaid，afteramoment’sreflection。\"Idon’tseeexactlyhowI
couldbringthequestionintoafirstinterview。\"
\"Well，perhapsitwouldberatherrushingit。But，ifIgetupsomething，you’llcome，Mr。Westover？\"
\"Iwill，withgreatpleasure，\"saidWestover，andhewenttomakehiscall。
Ahalf—hourlaterhewaspassingthedooroftheoldparlorwhichMrs。
Durginstillkeptforhers，onhiswayuptohisroom，whenasoundofangryvoicescameouttohim。ThenthevoiceofMrs。Durgindefineditselfinthewords：\"I’mnotgoin’tohavetoaskanymorefolksfortheirroomsonyouraccount，JeffDurgin——Mr。Westover！Mr。Westover，isthatyou？\"hervoicebrokeofftocallafterhimashehurriedby，\"Won’tyoucomeinhereaminute？\"
Hehesitated，andthenJeffcalled，\"Yes，comein，Mr。Westover。\"
Thepainterfoundhimsittingontheoldhair—clothsofa，withhisstickbetweenhishandsandknees，confrontinghismother，whowasrockingexcitedlytoandfrointheoldhair—clotheasy—chair。
\"YouknowthesefolksthatJeff’ssocrazyabout？\"shedemanded。
\"Crazy！\"criedJeff，laughingandfrowningatthesametime。\"What’scrazyinwantingtogooffonadriveandchooseyourownparty？\"
\"Doyouknowthem？\"Mrs。DurginrepeatedtoWestover。
\"TheVostrands？Why，yes。IknewMrs。VostrandinItalyagoodmanyyearsago，andI’vejustbeencallingonherandherdaughter，whowasalittlegirlthen。\"
\"Whatkindoffolksarethey？\"
\"Whatkind？Really！Why，they’reverycharmingpeople——\"
\"SoJeffseemstothink。Anycalltoshowthemanyparticularattention？\"
\"Idon’tknowifIquiteunderstand——\"
\"Why，it’sjustthis。Jeff，here，wantstomakeapicnicforthem，orsomething，andIcan’tseethesenseofit。Yourememberwhathappenedatthatotherpicnic，withthatMrs。Marven\"——Jefftappedthefloorwithhisstickimpatiently，andWestoverfeltsorryforhim——\"andIdon’twantittohappenagain，andI’vetoldJeffso。Ipresumehethinksit’llsethimrightwiththem，ifthey’rethinkin’demeaningofhimbecausehecameoversecond—cabinontheirship。\"
Jeffsethisteethandcompressedhislipstobearasbesthecould，thegive—awaywhichhismothercouldnotappreciateinitsimportancetohim：
\"They’renotthekindofpeopletotakesuchathingshabbily，\"saidWestover。\"Theydidn’thappentomentionit，butMrs。Vostrandmusthavegotusedtoseeingyoungfellowsinstraitsofallkindsduringherlifeabroad。IknowthatIsometimesmadethecupofteaandbiscuitsheusedtogivemeinFlorencedodutyforadinner，andIbelievesheknewit。\"
JefflookedupatWestoverwithagrateful，sidelongglance。
Hismothersaid：\"Well，then，that’sallright，andJeffneedn’tdoanythingforthemonthataccount。AndI’vemadeupmymindaboutonething：whateverthehoteldoeshasgottobedoneforthewholehotel。
Itcan’tpickandchooseamongsttheguests。\"Westoverlikedsolittlethepartofoldfamilyfriendwhichheseemed，whetherhelikeditornot，tobearwiththeDurgins，thathewouldgladlyhavegotawaynow，butMrs。Durgindetainedhimwithadirectappeal。\"Don’tyouthinkso，Mr。Westover？\"
Jeffsparedhimthepainofaresponse。\"Verywell，\"hesaidtohismother；\"I’mnotthehotel，andyouneverwantmetobe。Icandothisonmyownaccount。\"
\"Notwithmycoachandnotwithmyhosses，\"saidhismother。
Jeffrose。\"ImightaswellgoondowntoCambridge，andgettoworkonmyconditions。\"
\"Justasyoupleaseaboutthat，\"saidMrs。Durgin，withthesameimpassionedquietthatshowedinherson’shandsomefaceandmadeitoneangryredtohisyellowhair。\"We’vegotalongwithoutyousofar，thissummer，andIguesswecantherestofthetime。Andthesooneryouworkoffyourconditionsthebetter，Ipresume。\"
ThenextmorningJeffcametotakeleaveofhim，whereWestoverhadpitchedhiseaselandcamp—stoolontheslopebehindthehotel。
\"Why，areyoureallygoing？\"heasked。\"Iwasinhopesitmighthaveblownover。\"
\"No，thingsdon’tblowoversoeasywithmother，\"saidJeff，withanembarrassedlaugh，butnoresentment。\"Shegenerallymeanswhatshesays。\"
\"Well，inthiscase，Jeff，Ithinkshewasright。\"
\"Oh，Iguessso，\"saidJeff，pullingupalongbladeofgrassandtakingitbetweenhisteeth。\"Anyway，itcomestothesamethingasfarasI’mconcerned。It’sforhertosaywhatshallbedoneandwhatsha’n’tbedoneinherownhouse，evenifitisahotel。That’swhatIshalldoinmine。We’reusedtotheselittledifferences；butwetalkitout，andthat’stheendofit。Ishouldn’treallygo，though，ifIdidn’tthinkIoughttogetinsomeworkonthoseconditionsbeforethethingbeginsregularly。Ishouldhavelikedtohelpherealittle，forI’vehadagoodtimeandIoughttobewillingtopayforit。Butshe’singoodhands。Jackson’swell——forhim——andshe’sgotCynthia。\"
TheeasysecurityoftonewithwhichJeffpronouncedthenamevexedWestover。\"Isupposeyourmotherwouldhardlyknowhowtodowithouther，evenifyouwereathome，\"hesaid，dryly。
\"Well，that’safact，\"Jeffassented，withalaughforthehit。\"AndJacksonthinkstheworldofher。Ibelievehetrustsherjudgmentmorethanhedoesmother’saboutthehotel。Well，Imustbegoing。Youdon’tknowwhereMrs。Vostrandisgoingtobethiswinter，Isuppose？\"
\"No，Idon’t，\"saidWestover。Hecouldnothelpasortofblindresentmentinthesituation。IfhecouldnotfeelthatJeffwasthebestthatcouldbeforCynthia，hehadcertainlynoreasontoregretthathisthoughtscouldbesolightlyturnedfromher。Butthefactanomalouslyincensedhimasaslighttothegirl，whomighthavebeenstillmoresacrificedbyJeff’sconstancy。Heforcedhimselftoadd：\"IfancyMrs。
Vostranddoesn’tknowherself。\"
\"IwishIdidn’tknowwhereIwasgoingtobe，\"saidJeff。\"Well，good—
bye，Mr。Westover。I’llseeyouinBoston。\"
\"Oh，good—bye。\"Thepainterfreedhimselffromhisbrushandpaletteforapartinghandshake，reluctantly。
Jeffplungeddownthehill，wavingafinaladieufromthecornerofthehotelbeforehevanishedroundit。
Mrs。VostrandandherdaughterwereatbreakfastwhenWestovercameinaftertheearlylighthadbeengonesometime。Theyentreatedhimtojointhemattheirtable，andthemothersaid：\"IsupposeyouwereupsoonenoughtoseeyoungMr。Durginoff。Isn’tittoobadhehastogobacktocollegewhenit’ssopleasantinthecountry？\"
\"Notbadforhim，\"saidWestover。\"He’sayoungmanwhocanstandagreatdealofhardwork。\"PartlybecausehewasalittletiredofJeff，andpartlybecausehewasembarrassedintheirpresencebythereasonofhisgoing，heturnedthetalkuponthedaystheyhadknowntogether。
Mrs。Vostrandwasverywillingtotalkofherpast，evenapartfromhis，andshetoldhimofhersojourninEuropesinceherdaughterhadleftschool。TheyspenttheirwintersinItalyandtheirsummersinSwitzerland，whereitseemedhersonwasstillathisstudiesinLausanne。ShewishedhimtogotoHarvard，shesaid，andshesupposedhewouldhavetofinishhispreparationatoneoftheAmericanschools；butshehadleftthechoiceentirelytoMr。Vostrand。
Thisseemedastrangeeventaftertwelveyears’stayinEuropefortheeducationofherchildren，butWestoverdidnotfeelauthorizedtomakeanycommentuponit。Hefellrathertothinkinghowverypleasantbothmotheranddaughterwere，andtowonderinghowmuchwisdomtheyhadbetweenthem。Hereflectedthatmenhadverylittlewisdom，asfarasheknewthem，andhequestionedwhether，afterall，themaindifferencebetweenmenandwomenmightnotbethatwomentalkedtheirfolliesandmenactedtheirs。ProbablyMrs。Vostrand，withallherbabble，haddonefewerfoolishthingsthanherhusband，buthereWestoverfelthisjudgmentdisabledbythefactthathehadnevermetherhusband；andhismindbegantowandertoaquestionofherdaughter，whomhehadtherebeforehim。Hefoundhimselfbentuponknowingmoreofthegirl，andtryingtoeliminatehermotherfromthetalk，or，atleast，tomakeGenevieveleadinit。Butapparentlyshewasnotoneofthenaturesthatliketolead；atanyrate，sheremaineddiscreetlyinabeyance，andWestoverfanciedsheevenrespectedhermother’sopinionsandideas。
Hethoughtthisverywellforbothofthem，whetheritwastheeffectofMrs。Vostrand’smeritorMissVostrand’straining。Theyseemedbothofoneexquisitegentleness，andofonesweetmanner，whichwasratherelaborateandformalinexpression。Theydeferredtoeachotheraspolitelyastheydeferredtohim，but，ifanything，thedaughterdeferredmost。
XVII。
TheVostrandsdidnotstaylongatLion’sHead。BeforetheweekwasoutMrs。VostrandhadalettersummoningthemtomeetherhusbandatMontreal，wherethatmysteriousman，whonevercameintotherangeofWestover’svision，somehow，waskeptbybusinessfromjoiningtheminthemountains。
EarlyinOctoberthepainterreceivedMrs。Vostrand’scardathisstudioinBoston，andlearnedfromthescribblewhichcovereditthatshewaswithherdaughterattheHotelVendome。Hewentatoncetoseethemthere，andwasmet，almostbeforethegreetingswerepast，withaprayerforhisopinion。
\"Favorableopinion？\"heasked。
\"Favorable？Ohyes；ofcourse。It’ssimplythis。WhenIsentyoumycard，weweremerelybirdsofpassage，andnowIdon’tknowbutweare——
Whatistheoppositeofbirdsofpassage？\"
Westovercouldnotthink，andsaidso。
\"Well，itdoesn’tmatter。Wewerewalkingdownthestreet，here，thismorning，andwesawthesignofanapartmenttolet，inawindow，andwethought，justforamusement，wewouldgoinandlookatit。\"
\"Andyoutookit？\"
\"No，notquitesorapidasthat。Butitwaslovely；insuchapretty’hotelgarni’，andsoexquisitelyfurnished！Wedidn’treallythinkofstayinginBoston；we’dquitemadeupourmindsonNewYork；butthisapartmentisatemptation。\"
\"Whynotyield，then？\"saidWestover。\"That’stheeasiestwaywithatemptation。Confess，now，thatyou’vetakentheapartmentalready！\"
\"No，no，Ihaven’tyet，\"saidMrs。Vostrand。
\"AndifIadvisednot，youwouldn’t？\"
\"Ah，that’sanotherthing！\"
\"Whenareyougoingtotakepossession，Mrs。Vostrand？\"
\"Oh，atonce，Isuppose——ifwedo！\"
\"AndmayIcomeinwhenI’mhungry，justasIusedtodoinFlorence，andwillyoustaymewithflagonsintheoldway？\"
\"Thereneverwasanythingbuttea，youknowwellenough。\"
\"Theteahadruminit。\"
\"Well，perhapsitwillhaveruminithere，ifyou’reverygood。\"
\"Iwilltrymybest，onconditionthatyou’llmakeanyandeverypossibleuseofme。Mrs。Vostrand，Ican’ttellyouhowverygladIamyou’regoingtostay，\"saidthepainter，withafervorthatmadeherimpulsivelyputoutherhandtohim。Hekeptitwhilehecouldadd，\"Idon’tforget——Icanneverforget——howgoodyouweretomeinthosedays，\"andatthatshegavehishandaquickpressure。\"IfIcandoanythingatallforyou，youwillletme，won’tyou。I’mafraidyou’llbesowellprovidedforthattherewon’tbeanything。Askthemtoslightyou，tomisuseyouinsomething，sothatIcancometoyourrescue。\"
\"Yes，Iwill，\"Mrs。Vostrandpromised。\"Andmaywecometoyourstudiotoimploreyourprotection？\"
\"Thesoonerthebetter。\"Westovergothimselfawaywithaverysweetfriendshipinhisheartforthisratheranomalouslady，who，morethanhalfherdaughter’slife，hadlivedawayfromherdaughter’sfather，uponapparentlyperfectlygoodtermswithhim，andsodiscreetlyandself—respectfullythatnobreathofreproachhadtouchedher。Untilnow，however，herpositionhadnotreallyconcernedWestover，anditwouldnothaveconcernedhimnow，ifithadnotbeenforadesignthatformeditselfinhismindassoonasheknewthatMrs。VostrandmeanttopassthewinterinBoston。Hefeltatoncethathecouldnotdothingsbyhalvesforawomanwhohadoncedonethemforhimbywholesandsomethingover，andhehadinstantlydecidedthathemustnotonlybeverypleasanttoherhimself，buthemustgethisfriendstobepleasant，too。HisfriendsweresomeofthenicestpeopleinBoston；niceinboththepersonalandthesocialsense；heknewtheywouldnothesitatetosacrificethemselvesforhiminagoodcause，andthatmadehimallthemoreanxiousthatthecauseshouldbegoodbeyondquestion。
SincehislastreturnfromParishehadbeenratherafadasateacher，andhisclasshadbeenkeptquitestrictlytotheladieswhogotitupandtosuchastheychosetoletenterit。Thesewerenotallchosenforwealthorfamily；thereweresomewhosegiftsgavetheclassdistinction，andtheladiesweregladtohavethem。ItwouldbeeasytoexplainMrs。
Vostrandtothese，buttheothersmightbemoredifficult；theymighthavetheiranxieties，andWestovermeanttoasktheleaderoftheclasstohelphimreceiveatthestudioteahehadatonceimaginedfortheVostrands，andthatwouldmakeherdoublyresponsible。
Hefoundhimselfdrawingaverydeepandlongbreathbeforehebegantomountthemanystairstohisstudio，andwishingeitherthatMrs。
VostrandhadnotdecidedtospendthewinterinBoston，orelsethathewereofaslackerconscienceandcouldwearhisgratitudemorelightly。
Buttherewassomereliefinthinkingthathecoulddonothingforamonthyet。Hegainedadegreeofcouragebytellingtheladies，whenhewenttofindthemintheirnewapartment，thatheshouldwantthemtomeetafewofhisfriendsatteaassoonaspeoplebegantogetbacktotown；andhemadethemostoftheirinstantjoyinacceptinghisinvitation。
Hispleasurewassomehowdashedalittle，beforeheleftthem，bytheannouncementofJeffDurgin’sname。
\"Ifeltboundtosendhimmycard，\"saidMrs。Vostrand，whileJeffwasfollowinghisupintheelevator。\"HewassoverykindtousthedaywearrivedatZion’sHead；andIdidn’tknowbuthemightbefeelingalittlesensitiveaboutcomingoversecond—cabininourship；and——\"
\"Howlikeyou，Mrs。Vostrand！\"criedWestover，andhewasnowdistinctlygladhehadnottriedtosneakoutofdoingsomethingforher。\"Yourkindnesswon’tbeworsewastedonDurginthanitwasonme，intheolddays，whenIsupposedIhadtakenasecond—cabinpassageforthevoyageoflife。There’sagreatdealofgoodinhim；Idon’tmeantosayhegotthroughhisFreshmanyearwithouttroublewiththecollegeauthorities，buttheSophomoreyeargenerallybringswisdom。\"
\"Oh，\"saidMrs。Vostrand，\"they’realwaysalittlewildatfirst，I
suppose。\"
Later，theladiesbroughtJeffwiththemwhentheycametoWestover’sstudio，andthepainterperceivedthattheywereverygoodfriends，asiftheymusthavemetseveraltimessincehehadseenthemtogether。
HeinterestedhimselfinthegrowingcorrectnessofJeff’spersonaleffect。DuringhisFreshmanyear，whiletherigoroftheunwrittenHarvardlawyetforbadehimasilkhatoracane，hehadkeptsomethingoftheboy，ifnotthecountryboy。Westoverhadnotedthathehadalwaysratheratasteforclothes，butinthisfirstyearhedidnotgetbeyondaderby—hatandasack—coat，variedtowardtheendbyacutaway。
Intheoutingdressheworeathomehewasalwayseffective，buttherewassomethinginJeff’sfigurewhichdidnotlenditselftomoreformalfashion；somethingofherculeanproportionwhichwouldhavemarkedhimofaclassicbeautyperhapsifhehadnotbeeninclothesatall，orofayeomanlyvigorandforceifhehadbeencladforwork，butwhichseemedtothreatenthemoreworldlyconceptionsofthetailorwithdanger。
Itwasasifhewereabouttoburstoutofhisclothes，notbecauseheworethemtight，butbecausetherewassomehowmoreofthemanthanthecitizeninhim；somethingnative，primitive，somethingthatWestovercouldnotfindquiteawordfor，characterizedhimphysicallyandspiritually。Whenhecameintothestudioafterthesedelicateladies，therobustJeffDurginworealongfrockcoat，withaflowerinhisbutton—hole，andinhislefthandhecarriedasilkhatturnedoverhisforearmashemusthavenoticedpeoplewhomhethoughtstylishcarryingtheirhats。Hehadondark—graytrousersandsharp—pointedenamelled—
leathershoes；andWestovergrotesquelyreflectedthathewasdressed，ashestood，toleadGenevieveVostrandtothealtar。
WestoversawatoncethatwhenhemadehisstudioteafortheVostrandshemustaskJeff；itwouldbecruel，andforseveralreasonsimpossible，nottodoso，andhereallydidnotseewhyheshouldnot。Mrs。Vostrandwastakinghimontherightground，asaHarvardstudent，andnobodyneedtakehimonanyother。Possiblypeoplewouldaskhimtoteasattheirownhouses，fromWestover’sstudio，buthecouldnotfeelthathewasconcernedinthat。Societyisinterestedinaman’sfuture，nothispast，asitisinterestedinawoman’spast，notherfuture。
Butwhenhegavehisteaitwentoffwonderfullywellineveryway，perhapsbecauseitwasoneofthefirstteasofthefall。Itbroughtpeopletogetherintheirautumnalfreshnessbeforethewinterhadbeguntowithertheirresolutionstobeamiabletooneanother，todulltheirwits，tostaletheirstories，ortogivesowideacurrencytotheirsayingsthattheycouldnotfreelyriskthemwitheveryone。
Westoverhadthoughtitbesttobefrankwiththeleadingladyofhisclass，whenshesaidsheshouldbedelightedtoreceiveforhim，andwouldprovidesuitableyoungladiestopour：abrunetteforthetea，andablondeforthechocolate。ShetookhisscrupulosityverylightlywhenhespokeofMrs。Vostrand’seducationalsojourninEurope；shelaughedandsaidsheknewthetype，andthesituationwasoneofthemostobviousphasesoftheAmericanmarriage。
HeprotestedinvainthatMrs。Vostrandwasnotthetype；shelaughedagain，andsaid，Oh，typeswerenevertypical。ButshewashospitablygraciousbothtoherandtoMissGenevieve；shewouldnotallowthatthemotherwasnotthetypewhenWestoverchallengedherexperience，butshesaidtheywerecharming，andmadehastetogetridofthequestionwiththevividdemand：\"Butwhowasyouryoungfriendwhooughttohavewornalion—skinandcarriedaclub？\"
Westoverbythistimedisdainedpalliation。HesaidthatJeffwasthesonofthelandladyatLion’sHeadMountain，whichhehadpaintedsomuch，andhewasnowinhissecondyearatHarvard，wherehewasgoingtomakealawyerofhimself；andthisinterestedthelady。Sheaskedifhehadtalent，andanumberofotherthingsabouthimandabouthismother；
andWestoverpermittedhimselftoberathergraphicintellingofhisacquaintancewithMrs。Durgin。
XVIII。
Afterall，itwasratherasimple—heartedthingofWestovertohaveeitherhopedorfearedverymuchfortheVostrands。Society，inthesenseofgoodsociety，canalwaystakecareofitself，anddoessoperfectly。InthecaseofMrs。VostrandsomeladieswholikedWestoverandwishedtobeciviltohimaskedherandherdaughtertootherafternoonteas，shookhandswiththemattheircoming，andsaid，whentheywent，theyweresorrytheymustbegoingsosoon。Inthecrowdspeoplerecognizedthemnowandthen，bothofthosewhohadmetthematWestover’sstudio，andofthosewhohadmetthematFlorenceandLausanne。Butiftheseweremerelypeopleoffashiontheywerereadily，ridoftheVostrands，whomthedullestamongthemquicklyperceivednottobeoftheirownsort，somehow。ManyoftheladiesofWestover’sclassmadeGenevievepromisetoletthempainther；andherbeautyandhergraceavailedforseverallargedancesatthehousesofmoredaringspirits，wherethedaughtersmadeadutyofgettingpartnersforher，anddischargeditconscientiously。Butthereneverwasanapproachtomoreintimatehospitalities，andtowardtheendofFebruary，whengoodsocietyinBostongoessouthwardtoindulgeaLentengriefatOldPointComfort，GenevievehadsomanyvacantafternoonsandeveningsatherdisposalthatshecouldnothavetruthfullypleadedapreviousengagementtotheinvitationsJeffDurginmadeher。Theywerechieflyforthetheatre，andWestoversawhimwithherandhermotheratdifferentplays；hewonderedhowJeffhadcaughtontothenotionofaskingMrs。Vostrandtocomewiththem。
Jeff’sintroductionsatWestover’steahadnotbeenmany，andtheyhadnotavailedhimatall。HehadbeenaskedtonoBostonhouses，andwhenotherstudents，whomheknew，weregoingintodances，thewholewinterhewassociallyasquiet，butfortheVostrands，asattheMid—yearExaminations。Westovercouldnotresenttheneglectofsocietyinhiscase，andhecouldnotfindthathequiteregrettedit；buthethoughtitcharacteristicallyniceofMrs。Vostrandtomakeasmuchofthefriendlessfellowasshefitlycould。Hehadnodoubtbuthertactwouldbeequaltohismanagementineveryway，andthatshecouldeasilyseetoitthathedidnotbecomeembarrassingtoherdaughterorherself。
Oneday，aftertheeastwindhadceasedtoblowthebreathoftheice—
fieldsofLabradoragainsttheNewEnglandcoast，andthebudsonthetreesalongthemallbetweenthelawnsoftheavenuewereventuringforthinahardyexperimentoftheBostonMay，Mrs。VostrandaskedWestoverifshehadtoldhimthatMr。VostrandwasactuallycomingontoBoston。
Herejoicedwithherinthisprospect，andhereciprocatedthewishwhichshesaidMr。Vostrandhadalwayshadforameetingwithhimself。
Afortnightlater，whentheleaveshadsofarinuredthemselvestotheweatherastohavefullyexpanded，sheannouncedanotherletterfromMr。
Vostrand，sayingthat，afterall，heshouldnotbeabletocometoBoston，buthopedtobeinNewYorkbeforeshesailed。
\"Sailed！\"criedWestover。
\"Why，yes！Didn’tyouknowweweregoingtosailinJune？IthoughtI
hadtoldyou！\"