\"Yes，\"saidWestover，\"butthewrongthingsdon’thappenfrompeoplewhoareinthehabitofmeaningtherightones。\"
\"Ibelievetheydo，fullyhalfthetime，\"Jeffreturned；\"and，asfarasthegrandresultisconcerned，youmightaswellthinkthemandintendthemasnot。Idon’tmeanthatyououghttodoit；that’sanotherthing，andifIhadtriedtogetLyndedrunk，andthengonetodancewithhissister，IshouldhavebeenwhatyousayIam。ButIsawhimgettingworsewithoutmeaningtomakehimso；andIwentbacktoherbecause——I
wantedto。\"
\"Andyouthink，Isuppose，\"saidWestover，\"thatshewouldn’thavecaredanymorethanyoucaredifshehadknownwhatyoudid。\"
\"Ican’tsayanythingaboutthat。\"
Thepaintercontinued，bitterly：\"Youusedtocomeinhere，thefirstyear，withnotionsofsocietywomenthatwouldhavedisgracedaGoth，oragorilla。DidyouformyourestimateofMissLyndefromthosepremises？\"
\"I’mnotaboynow，\"Jeffanswered，\"andIhaven’tstayedallthekindsofafoolIwas。\"
\"Thenyoudon’tthinkMissLyndewouldspeaktoyou，orlookatyou，aftersheknewwhatyouhaddone？\"
\"Ishouldliketotellherandsee，\"saidJeff，withahardylaugh。
\"ButIguessIsha’n’thavethechance。I’veneverbeenafavoriteinsociety，andIdon’texpecttomeetheragain。\"
\"Perhapsyou’dliketohavemetellher？\"
\"Why，yes，IbelieveIshould，ifyoucouldtellmewhatshethought——notwhatshesaidaboutit。\"
\"Youareabrute，\"answeredWestover，withapuzzledair。Whatpuzzledhimmostandpleasedhimleastwasthefellow’spatienceunderhisseverity，whichheseemedeithernottofeelornottomind。ItwasofapiecewiththebehavioroftherascallyboywhomhehadcuffedforfrighteningCynthiaandherlittlebrotherlongago，andhewonderedwhatfinalmalevolenceitportended。
Jeffsaid，asiftheircontroversywereatanendandtheymightnowturntomorepersonalthings：\"Youlookprettyslim，Mr。Westover。A’n’ttheresomethingIcandoforyou—getyou？I’vecomeinwithamessagefrommother。ShesaysifyoueverwanttogetthatwinterviewofLion’sHead，now’syourtime。Shewantsyoutocomeupthere；sheandCynthiabothdo。Theycanmakeyouascomfortableasyouplease，andthey’dliketohaveavisitfromyou。Can’tyougo？\"
Westovershookhisheadruefully。\"It’sgoodofthem，andIwantyoutothankthemforme。ButIdon’tknowwhenI’mgoingtogetoutagain。\"
\"Oh，you’llsoongetout，\"saidJeff。\"I’mgoingtolookafteryoualittle，\"andthistimeWestoverwastooweaktoprotest。HedidnotforbidJeff’stakingoffhisovercoat；hesufferedhimtolighthisspirit—lampandmakeapunchofthewhiskeywhichheownedthedoctorwasgivinghim；andwhenJeffhandedhimthesteamingglass，andaskedhim，\"How’sthat？\"heanswered，withapleasureinitwhichheknewtobedeplorable，\"It’sfine。\"
Jeffstayedthewholeeveningwithhim，andmadehimmorecomfortablethanhehadbeensincehiscoldbegan。Westovernowtalkedseriouslyandfranklywithhim，butnolongersoharshly，andinhisrelentinghefeltareturnofhisoldillogicallikingforhim。HefanciedinDurgin’skindnesstohimselfanindirectregret，andadesiretoatoneforwhathehaddone，andhesaid：\"Theeffectisinyou——theworsteffect。Idon’tthinkeitheroftheyoungLyndesveryexemplarypeople。Butyou’dbedoingyourselfagreaterwrongthanyou’vedonethenifyoudidn’trecognizethatyouhadbeenguiltytowardthem。\"
Jeffseemedstruckbythisnotion。\"Whatdoyouwantmetodo？WhatcanIdo？Chasemyselfoutofsociety？Somethinglikethat？I’mwilling。
It’stooeasy，though。AsIsaid，I’veneverbeenwantedmuch，there，andIshouldn’tbemissed。\"
\"Well，then，howwouldyouliketoleaveittothepeopleatLion’sHeadtosaywhatyoushoulddo？\"Westoversuggested。
Ishouldn’tlikeit，\"saidJeff，promptly。\"They’djudgeitasyoudo——asifthey’ddoneitthemselves。That’sthereasonwomenarenotfittojudge。\"Hisgayfacedarkened。\"Buttell’emifyouwantto。\"
\"Bah！\"criedthepainter。\"WhyshouldIwanttoI’mnotawomanineverything。\"
\"Ibegyourpardon，Mr。Westover。Ididn’tmeanthat。Ionlymeantthatyou’reanidealist。Ilookatthisthingasifsomeoneelsehaddoneit；Ibelievethat’sthepracticalway；andIshouldn’tgoinforpunishinganyoneelseforsuchathingveryseverely。\"Hemadeanotherpunch——forhimselfthistime，hesaid；butWestoverjoinedhiminaglassofit。
\"Itwon’tdototakethatviewofyourfaults，Jeff，\"hesaid，gravely。
\"What’sthereason？\"Jeffdemanded；andnoweitherthepunchhadbeguntoworkinWestover’sbrain，orsomeotherinfluenceoflikeforceandquality。Heperceivedthatinthisearth—boundtemperamentwasthepotentialityofallthesuccessitaimedat。Theacceptanceofthemoralfactasitwas，withouttheunconsciousefforttobetterit，ortoholdhimselfstrictlytoaccountforit，wasthesecretofthepowerinthemanwhichwouldbringaboutthematerialresultshedesired；andthissimplicityofthemotiveinvolvedhaditscharm。
WestoverwasawareoflikingDurginatthatmomentmuchmorethanheought，andoflikinghimhelplessly。Inthelightofhisgood—naturedselfishness，theinjurytotheLyndesshowedmuchlessasacrilegethanithadseemed；WestoverbegantoseeitwithJeff’seyes，andtoseeitwithreferencetowhatmightbelowandmeaninthem，insteadofwhatmightbefineandhigh。
HewassensibleofthegrowthJeffhadmadeintellectually。HehadnotbeenatHarvardnearlyfouryearsfornothing。Hehadphrasesandcouldhandlethem。Inwhateverobscureorperversefashion，hehadprofitedbyhisopportunities。Thefellowwhocouldaccusehimofbeinganidealist，andcouldinsomesortproveit，wasnolongeranaughtyboytobetutoredandpunished。Therevoltlatentinhimwouldbeviolentinproportiontothepressureputuponhim，andWestoverbegantobewithoutthewishtopresshisfaulthometohimsostrongly。Intheoptimismgeneratedbythepunch，hefeltthathemightleavethecasetoJeffhimself；orelseinthecomfortweallexperienceinsinkingtoalowerlevel，hewasunwillingtomaketheefforttokeephisownmoralelevation。Buthedidmakeanefforttosavehimselfbysaying：\"Youcan’tgetwhatyou’vedonebeforeyourselfasyoucantheactionofsomeoneelse。It’spartofyou，andyouhavetojudgethemotiveaswellastheeffect。\"
\"Well，that’swhatI’mdoing，\"saidJeff；\"butitseemstomethatyou’retryingtohavemejudgeoftheeffectfromamotiveIdidn’thave。AsfarasIcanmakeout，Ihadn’tanymotiveatall。\"
Helaughed，andallthatWestovercouldsaywas，\"Thenyou’restillresponsiblefortheresult。\"Butthisnolongerappearedsotruetohim。
XXXVIII。
ItwasnotaconditionofWestover’swelcomeatLion’sHeadthatheshouldseempeculiarlythefriendofJeffDurgin，buthecouldnothelpmakingitso，andhebegantooveractthepartassoonashemetJeff’smother。HehadtospeakofhiminthankingherforrememberinghiswishtopaintLion’sHeadinthewinter，andhehadtotellherofJeff’sthoughtfulnessduringthepastfortnight；hehadtosaythathedidnotbelieveheshouldeverhavegotawayifithadnotbeenforhim。Thiswastrue；DurginhadevencomeinfromCambridgetoseehimoffonthetrain；hebehavedasiftheincidentwithLyndeandalltheirtalkaboutithadcementedthefriendshipbetweenWestoverandhimself，andhecouldnotbetoodevoted。ItnowcameoutthathehadwrittenhomeallaboutWestover，andmadehismotherputupastoveinthepainter’soldroom，sothatheshouldhavetheinstantuseofitwhenhearrived。
Itwasanair—tightwood—stove，anditfilledthechamberwithaheatinwhichWestoverdrowsedassoonasheenteredit。Hethrewhimselfonthebed，andsleptawaythefatigueofhisrailroadjourneyandthecoldofhisdrivewithJombateestefromthestation。Hisnapwaslong，andhewokefromitinapleasantlanguor，withthedream—cloudsstillhanginginhisbrain。Heopenedthedamperofhisstove，andsetitroaringagain；thenhepulleddowntheuppersashofhiswindowandlookedoutonaworldwhoseelementsofwoodandsnowandstonehetriedtoco—
ordinate。Therewasnothingelseinthatworldbutthesethings，sorepellentofoneanother。Hesufferedfromtheincongruityofthewoodenbulkofthehotel，withthewhitedriftsdeepaboutit，andwiththegranitecliffsofLion’sHeadbeforeit，wherethegraycragsdarkenedunderthepinkafternoonlightwhichwasbeginningtoplayuponitscrestfromtheearlysunset。Thewindthathadseemedtoborethroughhisthickcapandhisskullitself，andthathadtossedthedrysnowlikedustagainsthiseyesonhiswayfromtherailroad，hadnowfallen，andanincomparablequietwrappedthesolitudeofthehills。A
teasingsenseoftheimpossibilityofthescene，asfarashisartwasconcerned，filledhimfullofafonddespairofrenderingitsfeeling。
Hecouldgiveitslightandcolorandforminasufficientlyvividsuggestionofthefact，buthecouldnotmakethatpinkflushseemtoexhale，likealongbreath，uponthoseruggedshapes；hecouldnotimpartthatsentimentofdelicately，almostofelegance，whichhefoundinthewilderness，whileeverydetailofcivilizationphysicallydistressedhim。
Inoneplacethesnowhadbeendugdowntothepineplankingofthepathwayroundthehouse；andthecontactofthiswoodennesswiththefrozengroundpiercedhisnervesandsethisteethonedgelikeaharshnoise。Whenoncehesawithehadtomakeanefforttotakehiseyesfromit，andinasortunknowntohiminsummerheperceivedtheoffenceofthehotelitselfamidthepureandlonelybeautyofthewinterlandscape。Itwasanoteofintolerablebanality，ofphilistinepretenceandvulgarconvention，suchasWhitwell’slow，unpaintedcottageatthefootofthehilldidnotgive，northelittleredschool—house，ontheotherhand，showingthroughthenakedtrees。Thereshouldhavebeenreallynohumanhabitationvisibleexceptawigwamintheshelterofthepines，hereandthere；andwhenhesawWhitwellmakinghiswayupthehill—sideroad，Westoverfeltthatiftheremustbeanyhumanpresenceitshouldbesomesavagecladinskins，insteadofthephilosopherinhisrubberbootsandhisclothing—storeulster。Hepreferredthesmall，wiryshapeofJombateeste，inhisbluewoollencapandhisCanadianfootgear，asheranroundthecornerofthehousetowardthebarn，andleftthebreathofhispipeinthefineairbehindhim。
Thelightbegantodeepenfromthepalepinktoacrimsonwhichstainedthetopsandsteepsofsnow，anddeepenedthedarkofthewoodsmassedonthemountainslopesbetweentheirregularfieldsofwhite。Theburnishedbrownofthehard—woodtrees，thedullcarbonshadowsoftheevergreens，seemedtowithertooneblackastheredstrengthenedinthesky。
Westoverrealizedthathehadlostthebestofanypossiblepictureinlettingthatfirstdelicatecolorescapehim。Thiscrimsonwasharshandvulgarincomparison；itwouldhavealmostachromoquality；hecensuredhispleasureinitassomethinggrossandmaterial，likethatofeating；
andonasuddenhefelthungry。Hewonderedwhattimetheywouldgivehimsupper，andhetookslightaccountofthefactthatacapriceofthewindhadtornitshoodofsnowfromthemountainsummit，andthattheprofileoftheLion’sHeadshowedalmostasdistinctlyasinsummer。Hestoodbeforethepicturewhichforthatdayatleastwaslosttohim，andquestionedwhethertherewouldbeaheartymeal，somethinglikeadinner，orwhethertherewouldbesomethinglikeafarmhousesupper，mainlyofdoughnutsandtea。
Hepulleduphiswindowandwasgoingtoliedownagain，whensomeoneknocked，andFrankWhitwellstoodatthedoor。\"Doyouwantweshouldbringyoursuppertoyouhere，Mr。Westover，orwillyou——\"
\"Oh，letmejoinyouall！\"criedthepainter，eagerly。\"Isitready——
shallIcomenow？\"
\"Well，inaboutfiveminutesorso。\"Frankwentaway，aftersettingdownintheroomthelamphehadbrought。ItwasalampwhichWestoverthoughtherememberedfromthefarm—houseperiod，andonhiswaydownherealizedashehadsomehownotdoneinhissummersojourns，theentiretyoftheoldhouseinthehotelwhichhadencompassedit。Theprimitivecoldofitsstairwaysandpassagesstruckuponhimassoonashelefthisownroom，andhefoundtheparlordoorclosedagainstthechill。Therewasahotstove—firewithin，andakerosene—lampturnedlow，buttherewasnoonethere，andhehadthephotographofhisfirstpictureofLion’sHeadtohimselfinthedimlight。ThevoicesofMrs。DurginandCynthiacametohimfromthedining—room，andfromthekitchenbeyond，withtheoccasionalclashofcrockery，andtheclangofironuponironaboutthestove，andthequicktreadofwomen’sfeetuponthebarefloor。
Withthesepleasantnoisescamethesmellofcooking，andlatertherewasanopeningandshuttingofdoors，withathrillofthefreezingairfromwithout，andthedullthumpingofWhitwell’srubberboots，andthequickerflappingofJombateeste’ssoftleathernsoles。Thentherewasthesweepofskirtedfeetattheparlordoor，andCynthiaWhitwellcameinwithoutperceivinghim。Shewenttothetablebythedarkeningwindow，andquicklyturnedupthelightofthelamp。Inherignoranceofhispresence，hesawherasifshehadbeenalone，almostasifshewereoutofthebody；hereceivedfromherunconsciousnesstheimpressionofsomethingrarelypureandfine，andhehadasuddencompassionforher，asforsomethingpreciousthatisfatedtobewastedormisprized。Atalittlemovementwhichhemadetorelievehimselffromasenseofeavesdropping，shegaveastart，andshutherlipsuponthelittlecrythatwouldhaveescapedfromanothersortofwoman。
\"Ididn’tknowyouwerehere，\"shesaid；andsheflushedwiththeshynessofhimwhichshealwaysshowedatfirst。Shehadmethimalreadywiththerest，buttheyhadscarcelyspokentogether；andheknewofthestruggleshemustnowbemakingwithherselfwhenshewenton：\"Ididn’tknowyouhadbeencalled。Ithoughtyouwerestillsleeping。\"
\"Yes。Iseemedtosleepforcenturies，\"saidWestover，\"andIwokeupfeelingcoevalwithLion’sHead。ButIhopetogrowyoungeragain。\"
Shefaltered，andthensheasked：\"Didyouseethelightonitwhenthesunwentdown？\"
\"IwishIhadn’t。Icouldnevergetthatlight——evenifitevercameagain。\"
\"It’sthereeveryafternoon，whenit’sclear。\"
\"I’msorryforthat；Ishallhavetotryforit，then。\"
\"Wasn’tthatwhatyoucamefor？\"sheasked，byoneoftheeffortsshewasmakingwitheverythingshesaid。Hecouldhavebelievedhesawthepulsethrobbinginherneck。Butsheheldherselfstone—still，andhedivinedherresolutiontoconquerherself，ifsheshoulddieforit。
\"Yes，Icameforthat，\"saidWestover。\"That’swhatmakesitsodismaying。IfIhadonlyhappenedonit，Ishouldn’thavebeenresponsibleforthefailureIshallmakeofit。\"
Shesmiled，asifshelikedhislightness，butdoubtedifsheought。
\"Wedon’toftengetLion’sHeadclearofsnow。\"
\"Yes；that’sanotherhardship，\"saidthepainter。\"Everythingisagainstme！Ifwedon’thaveasnowovernight，andacloudydayto—morrow，I
shallbeindespair。\"
Sheplayedwiththelittlewheelofthewick；shelookeddown，andthen，withaglanceflashedathim，shegasped：\"Ishallhavetotakeyourlampforthetableteaisready。\"
\"Oh，well，ifyouwillonlytakemewithit。I’mfrightfullyhungry。\"
Apparentlyshecouldnotsayanythingtothat。Hetriedtogetthelamptocarryitoutforher，butshewouldnotlethim。\"Itisn’theavy，\"
shesaid，andhurriedoutbeforehim。
Itwasallnothing，butitwasallverycharming，andWestoverwasrichlycontentwithit；andyetnotcontent，forhefeltthatthepleasureofitwasnottrulyhis，butwasamomentofmerelyborrowedhappiness。
Thetablewaslaidintheoldfarm—housesitting—roomwherehehadbeenservedalonewhenhefirstcametoLion’sHead。Butnowhesatdownwiththewholefamily，eventoJombateeste，whobroughtinafaintodorofthebarnwithhim。
Theyhadeachbeenincontactwiththefinerworldwhichrevisitsnatureinthesummer—time，andtheymustallhaveknownsomethingofitsusages，buttheyhadrevertedinformandsubstancetotherusticlivingoftheirneighbors。TheyhadsteakforWestover，andbakedpotatoes；butforthemselvestheyhadsuchfarmfareasMrs。Durginhadgivenhimthefirsttimehesuppedthere。Theymadetheirmealchieflyofdoughnutsandtea，andhotbiscuit，withsomesweetdishesofafestivesortaddedinrecognitionofhispresence；andtherewasmince—pieforall。Mrs。
DurginandWhitwellatewiththeirknives，andJombateestefilledhimselfsosoonwitheveryimplementathandthathewasabletoaskexcuseoftheothersifheleftthemforthehorsesbeforetheyhadhalffinished。
FrankWhitwellfedwithakindofofficialorfunctionalconformitytothewaysofsummerfolks；butCynthia，atwhomWestoverglancedwithanxiety，onlydranksometeaandatealittlebreadandbutter。Hewasashamedofhisanxiety，forhehadownedthatitoughtnottohavematteredifshehadusedherknifelikeherfather；anditseemedtohimasifhehadpromptedMrs。Durginbyhiscuriousglancetosay：\"Wedon’tknowhalfthetimehowthechildlives。Cynthy！Takesomethingtoeat！\"
Cynthiapleadedthatshewasnothungry；Mrs。Durgindeclaredthatshewoulddieifshekeptonasshewasgoing；andthenthegirlescapedtothekitchenononeoftheerrandswhichshemadefromtimetotimebetweenthestoveandthetable。
\"Ipresumeit’syourcoming，Mr。Westover，\"Mrs。Durginwenton，withthecomfortablesuperiorityofelderlypeopletoallthetrialsoftheyoung。
\"Idon’tknowwhysheshouldmakeastrangerofyou，everytime。You’veknownherprettymuchallherlife。\"
\"EversinceyougiveJeffwhathedeservedforscaringherandFrankwithhisdog，\"saidWhitwell。
\"PoorFox！\"Mrs。Durginsighed。\"HedidhavetheleastsenseforadogI
eversaw。AndJeffusedtobesofondofhim！Well，Iguesshegottiredofhim，too，towardthelast。\"
\"He’sgonetothehappyhunting—groundsnow。Coloradydidn’tagreewithhim—oroldage，\"saidWhitwell。\"Idon’tseewhytheInjunswa’n’tright，\"hepursued，thoughtfully。\"Ifthey’vegotsouls，whyha’n’ttheirdogs？IsupposeMr。Westoverherewouldsaytherewa’n’tanycertaintyabouttheInjunsthemselves！\"
\"Youknowmyweakpoint，Mr。Whitwell，\"thepainterconfessed。\"ButI
can’tprovetheyhaven’t。\"
\"Nordogs，neither，Iguess，\"saidWhitwell，tolerantly。\"It’scurious，though，ifanimalshavegotsouls，thatweha’n’teverhadanycommunicationsfrom’em。Youmightsaythatag’in’theidea。\"
\"No，I’llletyousayit，\"returnedWestover。\"Butagoodmanyofthecommunicationsseemtocomefromthelowerintelligences，ifnottheloweranimals。\"
Whitwelllaughedouthisdelightinthethrust。\"Well，Iguessthat’ssomethingso。AndthemoldEgyptiandevils，overthere，thatyousaydiscoveredthedoctrineofimmortality，seemedtothinkacatwasaboutasgoodasaman。What’sthat，\"heappealedtoMrs。Durgin，\"Jacksonsaidinhislastletterabouttheircatmummies？\"
\"Well，IguessI’llfinishmysupperfirst，\"saidMrs。Durgin，whosenervesWestoverwouldnototherwisehavesuspectedoffaintness。\"ButJackson’sletters，\"shecontinued，loyally，\"areaboutthebestletters！\"
\"Knowthey’dgotsomeof’eminthepapers？\"Whitwellasked；andatthesurprisethatWestovershowedhetoldhimhowafellowwhowastryingtomakeapapergooverattheHuddle，hadheardofJackson’slettersandteasedforsomeofthem，andhadprintedthemasneighborhoodnewsinthatsideofhispaperwhichhedidnotbuyreadyprintedinBoston。
Mrs。DurginstudiedwithmodestdeprecationtheeffectofthefactuponWestover，andseemedsatisfiedwithit。\"Well，ofcourse，it’sinterestin’toJackson’soldfriendsinthecountry，here。Theyknowhe’dlookatthings，overthere，prettymuchastheywould。Well，Ihadtolendthelettersroundsomuch，anyway，itwasakindofarelieftohave’eminthepaper，whereeverybodycouldsee’em，andbedonewithit。Mr。Whit’ellhere，hefixes’emupso’stoleaveoutthefamilypart，andIguessthey’reprettywellthoughtof。\"
Westoversaidhehadnodoubttheywere，andheshouldwanttoseealltheletterstheycouldshowhim，inprintandoutofprint。
\"IfJacksononlyhadJeff’shealthandopportunities——\"themotherbegan，withasuppressedpassioninherregret。
FrankWhitwellpushedbackhischair。\"IguessI’llasktobeexcused，\"
hesaidtotheheadoftable。
\"There！Ia’n’tgoin’tosayanymoreaboutthat，ifthat’swhatyou’reafraidof，Frank，\"saidMrs。Durgin。\"Well，IpresumeIdotalkagooddealaboutJacksonwhenIgetgoin’，andIpresumeit’snaturalCynthyshouldn’twantIshouldtalkaboutJeffbeforefolks。Frank，a’n’tyougoin’towaitforthatplateofhotbiscuit？——ifsheevergitsithere！\"
\"IguessIdon’tcareforanythingmore，\"saidFrank，andhegothimselfoutoftheroommoreinarticulatelythanheneed，Westoverthought。
His，fatherfollowedhisretreatwithaneyeofhumorousintelligence。
\"IguessFrankdon’twanttokeeptheyoungladieswaitin’agreatwhile。
There’sachurchsociableover’ttheHuddle，\"heexplainedtoWestover。
\"Oh，that’sit，isit？\"Mrs。Durginputin。\"Whydidn’thesayso。\"
\"Well，theyoungfolksdon’tanyof’emseemtowanttotalkaboutsuchthingsnowadays，andIdon’tknowastheyeverdid。\"WhitwelltookWestoverintohisconfidencewithawink。
ThebiscuitthatCynthiabroughtinwereburnedalittleontop，andMrs。
Durginrecognizedthefactwiththequestion，\"Didyougettostudyin’，outthere？Takeone，do，Mr。Westover！Youha’n’tmadehalfameal！
IfIdidn’tkeeproundafterher，Idon’tknowwhatwouldbecomeofusall。TheyoungladiesdownatBoston，anyof’em，trytokeepupwiththefellowsincollege？\"
\"IsupposetheydointheHarvardAnnex，\"saidWestover，simply，inspiteoftheglancewithwhichMrs。Durgintriedtoconveyacovertmeaning。
Heunderstooditafterward，butforthepresenthissingle—mindednesssparedthegirl。