Sheremainedtoclearawaythetable，whentherestleftit，andWestoverfollowedMrs。Durginintotheparlor，wheresheindemnifiedherselfforrefrainingfromanyexplicitallusiontoJeffbeforeCynthia。\"Theboy，\"
sheexplained，whenshehadmadehimransackhismemoryforeveryscrapoffactconcerningherson，\"don’thardlyeverwritetome，andIguesshedon’tgiveCynthyverymuchnews。Ipresumehe’sworkin’harderthaneverthisyear。AndI’mgladhe’sgoin’aboutalittle，fromwhatyousay。Iguesshe’sgottofeelin’alittlebetter。Itdidworrymeforhimtofeelsowhatyoumaycallmeechin’aboutfolks。Youseeanythingthatmadeyouthinkhewa’n’tappreciated？\"
AfterWestovergotbackintohisownroom，someoneknockedathisdoor，andhefoundWhitwelloutside。Hescarcelyaskedhimtocomein，butWhitwellscarcelyneededtheinvitation。\"Goteverythingyouwant？
ItoldCynthyI’dcomeupandseeafteryou；Frankwon’tbebackintime。\"Hesatdownandputhisfeetontopofthestove，andstrucktheheelsofhisbootsonitsedge，fromthehabitofknockingthecakedsnowofftheminthatwayonstove—tops。Hedidnotwaittofindoutthattherewasnoresponsivesizzlingbeforeheasked，withalongnasalsigh，\"Well，howisJeffgettin’along？\"
HelookedacrossatWestover，whohadprovisionallyseatedhimselfonhisbed。
\"Why，intheoldway。\"Whitwellkepthiseyeonhim，andheadded：
\"Isupposewedon’tanyofuschange；wedevelop。\"
Whitwellsmiledwithpleasureinthelooselyphilosophicsuggestion。
\"Youmeanthathe’sthesamekindofamanthathewasaboy？Well，I
guessthat’sso。Thequestionis，whatkindofaboywashe？I’vebeenmullin’overthatconsid’ablesinceCynthyandhimfixedituptogether。
Ofcourse，Iknowit’stheirbusiness，andallthat；butIpresumeI’vegotarighttospee’lateaboutit？\"
HereferredthepointtoWestover，whoknewaninnerearnestnessinit，inspiteofWhitwell’shabitofoutsidejocosity。\"Everyrightintheworld，Ishouldsay，Mr。Whitwell，\"heanswered，seriously。
\"Well，I’mgladyoufeelthatway，\"saidWhitwell，withalittleapparentsurprise。\"Idon’twanttomeddle，any；butIknowwhatCynthyis——Inoneedtobragherup——andIdon’tfeelsooverandabovecertain’tIknowwhatheis。He’sagooddealofamixture，ifyouwanttoknowhowhestrikesme。Idon’tmeanIdon’tlikehim；Ido；thefellow’sgotawaywithhimthatmakesmekindoflikehimwhenIseehim。He’sgood—
naturedandclever；andhe’swillin’totakeanyamountoftroubleforyou；butyoucan’ttellwheretohavehim。\"WestoverdeniedtheappealforexplicitassentinWhitwell’seye，andhewenton：\"IfI’ddonethatfellowagoodturn，inspiteofhim，orifI’dheldhimuptosomethingthatheallowedwasright，andconsentedto，Ishouldwanttokeepasharplookoutthathedidn’tplaymesomeuglytrickforit。He’sacomicaldevil，\"Whitwellended，ratherinadequately。\"Howd’sitlooktoyou？Seenanythinglatelythatseemedtotallywithmyidee？\"
\"No，no；Ican’tsaythatIhave，\"saidWestover，reluctantly。Hewishedtobefrankerthanhenowmeanttobe，butheconsultedascruplethathedidnotwhollyrespect；amereconventionitseemedtohim，presently。
Hesaid：\"I’vealwaysfeltthatcharminhim，too，andI’veseentheothertraits，thoughnotsoclearlyasyouseemtohavedone。Hehasapowerfulwill，yes——\"
Hestopped，andWhitwellasked：\"Beenuptoanydeviltrylately？\"
\"Ican’tsayhehas。NothingthatIcancallintentional。\"
\"No，\"saidWhitwell。\"What’shedone，though？\"
\"Really，Mr。Whitwell，Idon’tknowthatyouhaveanyrighttoexpectmetotalkhimover，whenI’mhereashismother’sguest——hisownguest——？\"
\"No。Iha’n’t，\"saidWhitwell。\"Whataboutthefatherofthegirlhe’sgoin’tomarry？\"
Westovercouldnotdenytheforceofthis。\"You’dbeanxiousifIdidn’ttellyouwhatIhadinmind，Idaresay，morethanifIdid。\"HetoldhimofJeff’sbehaviorwithAlanLynde，andofhistalkwithhimaboutit。\"AndIthinkhewashonest。Itwassomethingthathappened，thatwasn’tmeant。\"
Whitwelldidnotassentdirectly，somewhattoWestover’ssurprise。Heasked：\"FelloweverdoneanythingtoJeff？\"
\"NotthatIknowof。Idon’tknowthattheyevermetbefore。\"
Whitwellkickedhisheelsontheedgeofthestoveagain。\"Thenitmightbeenanaccident，\"hesaid，dryly。
Westoverhadtobreakthesilencethatfollowed，andhefoundhimselfdefendingJeff，thoughsomehownotforJeff’ssake。Heurgedthatifhehadthestrongwilltheybothrecognizedinhim，hewouldnevercommittheerrorsofaweakman，whichwereusuallythebasest。
\"Howdoyouknowthatastrong—willedmana’n’taweakone？\"Whitwellastonishedhimbyasking。\"A’n’twhatwecallastrongwilljustakindofabull—dogclinchthatthedoghimselfcan’tunloose？Itakeitamanthathasagoodwillisastrongman。IfJeffdonearightthingagainsthiswill，hewouldn’tresteasytillhe’dshowedthathewa’n’tobligedto，bysomemischiefworse’nwhathewaskeptoutof。Itellyou，Mr。
Westover，ifI’dmadethatfellowtoethemarkanyway，I’dbeafraidofhim。\"WhitwelllookedatWestoverwitheyesofsignificance，ifnotofconfidence。Thenherosewithaprolonged\"M——wel—l—l！We’reallborn，butwea’n’tallburied。Thisworldisaqueerplace。ButIguessJeff’llcomeoutrightintheend。\"
Westoversaid，\"I’msurehewill！\"andheshookhandswarmlywiththefatherofthegirlJeffwasgoingtomarry。
Whitwellcameback，afterhehadgotsomepacesaway，andsaid：\"Ofcourse，thisisbetweenyouandme，Mr。Westover。\"
\"Ofcourse！\"
\"Idon’tmeanMis’Durgin。Ishouldn’tcarewhatshethoughtofmytalkin’himoverwithyou。Idon’tknow，\"hecontinued，puttinguphishandagainstthedoor—frame，togivehimselfthecomfortofitssupportwhilehetalked，\"asyouunderstoodwhatshemeanbytheyoungladiesatBostonkeepin’upwiththefellowsincollege。Well，that’swhatCynthy’sdoin’withJeff，rightalong；andifheeverworksoffthemconditionsofhis，andgitshisdegree，it’llbebecauseshehelpedhimto。Itellyou，there’smorethanonekindoftelepathyinthisworld，Mr。Westover。That’sall。\"
XXXIX
WestoverunderstoodfromWhitwell’safterthoughtthatitwasCynthiahewasanxioustokeepignorantofhismisgivings，iftheyweresomuchasmisgivings。Buttheimportanceofthisfactcouldnotstayhimagainstthetideofsleepwhichwasbearinghimdown。Whenhisheadtouchedthepillowitsweptoverhim，andherosefromitinthemorningwithagayetyofheartwhichheknewtobereturninghealth。Hejumpedoutofbed，andstuffedsomeshavingsintohisstovefromthewood—boxbesideit，andlaidsomelogsonthem；heslidthedamperopen，andthenlaydownagain，listeningtothefirethatshoweditsredteeththroughtheslatsandroaredandlaughedtothedaywhichsparkledonthewhiteworldwithout。Whenhegotoutofbedasecondtime，hefoundtheroomsohotthathehadtopulldownhiswindow—sash，andhedressedinatemperatureoftwentydegreesbelowzerowithoutknowingthatthedryairwasmorethanfresh。Mrs。Durgincalledtohimthroughtheopendoorofherparlor，asheenteredthedining—room：\"Cynthywillgiveyouyourbreakfast，Mr。Westover。We’realldonelongago，andI’mbusyinhere，\"
andthegirlappearedwiththecoffee—potandthedishesshehadbeenkeepinghotforhimatthekitchenstove。Sheseemedtobegoingtoleavehimwhenshehadputthemdownbeforehim，butshefaltered，andthensheasked：\"DoyouwantIshouldpouryourcoffeeforyou？\"
\"Ohyes！Do！\"hebegged，andshesatdownacrossthetablefromhim。
\"I’mashamedtomakethistroubleforyou，\"headded。\"Ididn’tknowitwassolate。\"
\"Oh，wehavethewholedayforourwork，\"sheanswered，tolerantly。
Helaughed，andsaid：\"Howstrangethatseems！IsupposeIshallgetusedtoit。Butintownweseemnevertohaveawholedayforaday’swork；wealwayshavetodopartofitatnight，orthenextmorning。Doyoueverhaveadayherethat’stoolargeasizeforitswork？\"
\"Youcannearlyalwaysfindsomethingtodoaboutahouse，\"shereturned，evasively。\"Butthetimedoesn’tgothewayitdoesinthesummer。\"
\"Oh，Iknowhowthecountryisinthewinter，\"hesaid。\"Iwasbroughtupinthecountry。\"
\"Ididn’tknowthat，\"shesaid，andshegavehimastareofsurprisebeforehereyesfell。
\"Yes。OutinWisconsin。Mypeoplewereemigrants，andIlivedinthewoods，there，tillIbegantopaintmywayout。Ibeganprettyearly，butIwasinthewoodstillIwassixteen。\"
\"Ididn’tknowthat，\"sherepeated。\"Ialwaysthoughtthatyouwere——\"
\"Summerfolks，liketherest？No，I’mall—the—year—roundfolksoriginally。ButIhaven’tbeeninthecountryinthewintersinceIwasaboy；andit’sallbeencomingbacktome，here，likesomeoneelse’sexperience。\"
Shedidnotsayanything，buttheinterestinhereyes，whichshecouldnotkeepfromhisfacenow，promptedhimtogoon。
\"YoucanmakeabeginningintheWesteasierthanyoucanintheEast，andsomepeoplewhocametoourlumbercampdiscoveredme，andgavemeachancetobegin。IwenttoMilwaukeefirst，andtheymademethinkIwassomebody。ThenIcameontoNewYork，andtheymademethinkIwasnobody。IhadtogotoEuropetofindoutwhichIwas；butafterIhadbeentherelongenoughIdidn’tcaretoknow。WhatIwastryingtodowastheimportantthingtome；notthefellowwhowastryingtodoit。\"
\"Yes，\"shesaid，withintelligence。
\"ImetsomeBostonpeopleinItaly，andIthoughtIshouldliketolivewherethatkindofpeoplelived。That’sthewayIcametobeinBoston。
Itallseemsverysimplenow，butIusedtothinkitmightlookromanticfromtheoutside。I’vehadahappylife；andI’mgladitbeganinthecountry。Ishouldn’tcareifitendedthere。Idon’tknowwhyI’vebotheredyouwithmyautobiography，though。PerhapsbecauseIthoughtyouknewitalready。\"
Shelookedasifshewouldhavesaidsomethingfittingifshecouldhaveruledherselftoit；butshesaidnothingatall。Herfailureseemedtoabashher，andshecouldonlyaskhimifhewouldnothavesomemorecoffee，andthenexcuseherself，andleavehimtofinishhisbreakfastalone。
Thatdayhetriedforhispicturefromseveralpointsout—of—doorsbeforehefoundthathisownwindowgavehimthebest。Withthewindowopen，andthestovewarmathisback，heworkedthereingreatcomfortnearlyeveryafternoon。Thesnowskeptoff，andtheclearsunsetsburnedbehindthesummitdayafterday。Hepaintedfranklyandfaithfully，andmadeapicturewhich，hesaidtohimself，noonewouldbelievein，withthatwarmcolortenderuponthefrozenhills。Thesoftsuffusionofthewinterscenewasimprobabletohimwhenhehaditin，naturebeforehiseyes；whenhelookedatitashegotitonhiscanvasitwassimplyimpossible。
Intheforenoonshehadnothingtodo，forheworkedathispictureonlywhentheconditionsrenewedthemselveswiththesinkingsun。Hetriedtobeintheopenair，andgetthegoodofit；buthisstrengthforwalkinghadfailedhim，andhekeptmostlytothepathsbrokenaroundthehouse。
HewentagooddealtothebarnwithWhitwellandJombateestetolookafterthecattleandthehorses，whosesubduedstampingandchampinggavehimasortofanimalpleasure。Theblendedodorsofthehay—mowsandofthecreatures’breathscametohimwiththefaintwarmthwhichtheirbodiesdiffusedthroughthecoldobscurity。
Whenthewidedoorswererolledback，andthefulldaywasletin，helikedtheappealoftheirstartledeyes，andthecallstheymadetooneanotherfromtheirstalls，whilethemenspokebacktothemintermswhichtheyseemedtohaveincommonwiththem，andwiththepoultrythatflewdownfromthebarnloftstothebarnfloorandoutintothebrilliantday，withloudclamorandaffectedalarm。
Inthesesimpleexperienceshecouldnotimaginethesummerlifeoftheplace。Itwasnowheremoreextinctthaninthehollowverandas，wheretherocking—chairsswunginJulyandAugust，andwhereWestover’sstepsinhislongtrampsupanddownwokenoechooftheabsentfeet。In—doorshekepttothefewstove—heatedroomswherehedweltwiththefamily，andsentonlynowandthenavagueconjectureintothehotelbuiltroundtheoldfarm—house。Hemeant，beforeheleft，toaskMrs。Durgintolethimgothroughthehotel，butheputitofffromdaytoday，withaphysicalshrinkingfromitscoldandsolitude。
Thedayswentbyintheswiftnessofmonotony。Hisexcursionstothebarn，hiswalksontheverandas，hisworkonhispicture，filledupthefewhoursofthelight，andwhenthedarkcamehecontentedlyjoinedthelittlegroupinMrs。Durgin’sparlor。Hehadbroughttwoorthreebookswithhim，andsometimeshereadfromoneofthem；orhetalkedwithWhitwellonsomeofthequestionsoflifeanddeaththatengagedhisspeculativemind。Jombateestepreferredthekitchenforthenapshetookaftersupperbeforehisearlybedtime。FrankWhitwellsatwithhisbooksthere，whereWestoversometimessawhissisterhelpinghimathisstudies。Hewasloyallyfaithfulandobedienttoherinallthings。Hehelpedherwiththedishes，andwasnotashamedtobeseenatthiswork；
shehadchargeofhisgoingsandcomingsinsociety；hesubmittedtohertasteinhisdress，andacceptedhercounselonmanypointswhichhereferredtoher，anddiscussedwithherinlow—spokenconferences。Heseemedaformal，seriousboy，shylikehissister；hisfatherletfallsomehintsofareligiouscastofmindinhim。Hehadanambitionbeyondthehotel；hewishedtostudyfortheministry；anditwasnotalonethechanceofgoinghomewiththegirlsthatmadehimconstantattheeveningmeetings。\"Idon’tknowwherehegitsit，\"saidhisfather，withashakeoftheheadthatsuggesteddoubtofthewisdomoftheson’spreferenceoftheologytoplanchette。
Cynthiahadthesamecareofherfatherasofherbrother；shekepthimneat，andheldhimupfromlapsingintotheslovenlinesstowhichhewouldhavetendedifshehadnot，asWestoversuspected，madeconstantappealstohimfortherespectduetheirguest。Mrs。Durgin，forherpart，lefteverythingtoCynthia，withacontentedacceptanceofherfutureruleandanabidingtrustinhersenseandstrength，whichincludedthedetailsofthelightworkthatemployedherratherluxuriousleisure。JombateestehimselfcametoCynthiawithhismending，andherneedlekepthimtightandfirmagainstthewinterwhichitamusedWestovertorealizewastheCanuck’snativeelement，insomuchthattherewasnowsomethingincongruousinthenotionofJombateesteandanyotherseason。
Thegirl’smotherlycareofallthehouseholddidnotleaveWestoverout。
Buttonsappearedongarmentslongusedtoshiftycontrivancesforgettingonwithoutthem；buttonholeswererestoredtotheirproperlimits；hisovercoatpocketsweresearchedforgloves，andtheglovesputbackwiththeirfinger—tipsdrawncloseasthepetalsofaflowerwhichhaddecidedtoshutandbeabudagain。
Hewonderedhowhecouldthankherforhisshareoftheblessingthatherpassionformotherlycarewastoallthehouse。Itwaspathetic，andheusedsometimestoforecastherself—devotionwithatenderindignation，whichincludedaduesenseofhisownpresentdemerit。Hewasnotreconciledtothesacrificebecauseitseemedthehappiness，oratleastthewill，ofthenaturewhichmadeit。Allthesameitseemedawaste，initsrelationtothemanshewastomarry。
Mrs。DurginandCynthiasatbythelampandsewedatnight，orlistenedtothetalkofthemen。IfWestoverreadaloud，theywhisperedtogetherfromtimetotimeaboutsomemattersremotefromit，aswomenalwaysdowherethereisreading。Itwasquiet，butitwasnotdullforWestover，whofoundhimselfinnohurrytogetbacktotown。
Sometimeshethoughtofthetownwithrepulsion；itsunrest，itsvacuous，troubledlifehauntedhimlikeamemoryofsickness；buthesupposedthatwhenheshouldbequitewellagainallthatwouldchange，andbeasitwasbefore。Heinterestedhimself，withthesortofshrewdignoranceofitthatCynthiashowedinthequestionssheaskedaboutitnowandthenwhentheychancedtobeleftalonetogether。HefanciedthatshewastryingtoformsomeintelligibleimageofJeff’senvironmentthere，andwaspiecingtogetherfromhistalkofittheimpressionsshehadgotfromsummerfolks。Hedidhisbesttohelpher，andtoconstructforheraveritablelikenessoftheworldasfarasheknewit。
AtimecamewhenhespokefranklyofJeffinsomethingtheyweresaying，andsheshowednosuchshrinkingashehadexpectedshewould；hereflectedthatshemighthavemadestricterconditionswithMrs。Durginthansheexpectedtokeepherselfinmentioninghim。Thismightwellhavebeennecessarywiththemother’sprideinherson，whichknewnostopwhenitoncebegantoindulgeitself。WhatstruckWestovermorethanthegirl’sself—possessionwhentheytalkedofJeffwasacertainausterityinherwithregardtohim。Sheseemedtoholdherselftenseagainstanypraiseofhim，asifsheshouldfailhimsomehowifsherelaxedatallinhisfavor。
This，atleast，wastherathermystifyingimpressionwhichWestovergotfromherevidentwishtocriticiseandunderstandexactlyallthathereported，ratherthantoflatterherselffromit。Whateverhermotivewas，hewasawarethatthroughitallshepermittedherselfacloserandfullertrustofhimself。Attimesitwasalmosttooimplicit；hewouldhavelikedtodeserveitbetterbylayingopenallthathadbeeninhisheartagainstJeff。Butheforbore，ofcourse，andhetookrefuge，aswellashecould，intherespectbywhichsheheldherselfatareverentdistancefromhimwhenhecouldnotwhollyrespecthimself。
XL。
OnemorningWestovergotleavefromMrs。DurgintohelpCynthiaopenthedimroomsandcoldcorridorsatthehoteltothesunandair。Shepromisedhimheshouldtakehisdeath，buthesaidhewouldwrapupwarm，andwhenhecametojointhegirlinhisovercoatandfurcap，hefoundCynthiaequippedwithawoollencloudtiedaroundherhead，andalittleshawlpinnedacrossherbreast。
\"Isthatall？\"hereproachedher。\"Ioughttohaveputonasinglewreathofartificialflowersandsomesortofablazerforthisexpedition。Don’tyouthinkso，Mrs。Durgin？\"
\"Ibelievewomencanstandabouttwiceasmuchcoldasyoucan，thebestofyou，\"sheanswered，grimly。
\"ThenImusttrytokeepmyselfaswarmasIcanwithwork，\"hesaid。
\"Youmustletmedoalltheroughworkofairingout，won’tyou，Cynthia？\"
\"Thereisn’tanyroughworkaboutit，\"sheanswered，inasortofmotherlytolerationofhismood，withoutlosinganythingofherfilialreverence。
Shetookcareofhim，heperceived，asshetookcareofherbrotherandherfather，butwithadelicaterespectforhissuperiority，whichwasnolongershyness。
Theybeganwiththeofficeandtheparlor，wheretheyflungupthewindows，andopenedthedoors，andthentheyopenedthedining—room，wherethetablesstoodinlongrows，withthechairspiledonthemlegsupward。Cynthiawentaboutwithmanysighsforthedustoneverything，thoughtoWestover’seyesitallseemedfrigidlyclean。\"Ifitgoesonasithasforthepasttwoyears，\"shesaid，\"weshallhavetoaddonanewdining—room。Idon’tknowasIliketohaveitgetsolarge！\"
\"Ineverwantedittogobeyondtheoriginalfarmhouse，\"saidWestover。
\"I’vebeenjealousofeveryboarderbutthefirst。Ishouldhavelikedtokeepitformyself，andlettheworldknowLion’sHeadfrommypictures。\"
\"IguessMrs。Durginthinksitwasyourpicturethatbegantosendpeoplehere。\"
\"Anddoyoublameme，too？WhatifthethingI’mdoingnowshouldmakeitawinterresort？Nothingcouldsaveyou，then，butafire。Ibelievethat’sJeff’sambition。Onlyhewouldwanttoputanotherhotelinplaceofthis；somethingthatwouldbemorepopular。ThentheruinIbeganwouldbecomplete，andIshouldn’tcomeanymore；Icouldn’tbearthesight。\"
\"IguessMrs。Durginwouldn’tthinkitwaslion’sHeadifyoustoppedcoming，\"saidCynthia。
\"Butyouwouldknowbetterthanthat，\"saidWestover；andthenhewassorryhehadsaidit，foritseemedtoasksomethingofdifferentqualityfromherhonestwishtomakehimknowtheirregardforhim。
Shedidnotanswer，butwentdownalongcorridortowhichtheyhadmounted，toraisethewindowattheend，whileheraisedanotherattheoppositeextremity。Whentheymetatthestairwayagaintoclimbtothestoryabove，hesaid：\"IamalwaysashamedwhenItrytomakeapersonofsensesayanythingsilly，\"andsheflushed，stillwithoutanswering，asifsheunderstoodhim，andhismeaningpleasedher。\"Butfortunatelyapersonofsenseisusuallyequaltothetemptation。Oneoughttobeseriouswhenhetriesitwithapersonoftheothersort；butIdon’tknowthatoneis！\"
\"Doyoufeelanydraughtbetweenthesewindows？\"askedCynthia，abruptly。
\"Idon’twantyoushouldtakecold。\"
\"Oh，I’mallright，\"saidWestover。
Shewentintotheroomsononesideofthecorridor，andputuptheirwindows，andflungtheblindsback。Hedidthesameontheotherside。
Hegotapeculiareffectofdesolationfromthemattressespulleddownoverthefootofthebedsteads，andthedismantledinteriorsreflectedinthemirrorsofthedressing—cases；andhewasgoingtospeakofitwhenherejoinedCynthiaatthestairwayleadingtothethirdstory，whenshesaid，\"ThosewereMrs。Vostrand’sroomsIcameoutofthelast。\"Shenoddedherheadoverhershouldertowardthefloortheywereleaving。
\"Weretheyindeed！Anddoyourememberpeople’sroomssolong？\"
\"Yes；Ialwaysthinkofroomsbythenameofpeoplethathavethem，ifthey’reanywaypeculiar。\"
Hethoughtthisbitofuncandorcharming，andaccepteditasifitwerethewholetruth。\"AndMrs。Vostrandwascertainlypeculiar。Tellme，Cynthia，whatdidyouthinkofher？\"
\"Shewasonlyherealittlewhile。\"
\"Butyouwouldn’thavecometothinkofherroomsbyhernameifshehadn’tmadeastrongimpressiononyou！\"Shedidnotanswer，andhesaid，\"Iseeyoudidn’tlikeher！\"
Thegirlwouldnotspeak，andMr。Westoverwenton：\"Sheusedtobeverygoodtome，andIthinksheusedtobebettertoherselfthansheisnow。\"HeknewthatJeffmusthavetoldCynthiaofhisaffairwithGenevieveVostrand，andhekepthimselffromspeakingofherbyaresolutionhethoughtcreditable，ashemountedthestairstotheupperstoryinthesilencetowhichCynthialefthislastremark。Atthetopshemadealittlepauseintheobscurerlightoftheclose—shutteredcorridor，whileshesaid：\"Ilikedherdaughterthebest。\"
\"Yes？\"hereturned。\"I——neverfeltverywellacquaintedwithher，I
believe。Onecouldn’tgetfarwithher。Though，forthematterofthat，onedidn’tgetfarwithMrs。Vostrandherself。DidyouthinkGenevievewasmuchinfluencedbyhermother？\"
\"Shedidn’tseemastrongcharacter。\"
\"No，thatwasit。Shewaswhathermotherwishedhertobe。I’veoftenwonderedhowmuchshewasinterestedinthemarriageshemade。\"
Cynthialetarusticsilenceensue，andWestovershrankagainfromtheinquisitionhelongedtomake。
ItwasnotGenevieveVostrand’smarriagewhichreallyconcernedhim，butCynthia’sengagement，anditwashermindthathewouldhavelikedtolookinto。Itmightwellbesupposedthatsheregardeditinaperfectmatter—of—factway，andwithnoambitionbeyondit。Shewasacountrygirl，acquaintedfromchildhoodwithfactsoflifewhichtown—bredgirlswouldnothaveknownwithoutabluntingofthesensibilities，andwhyshouldshebedifferentfromothercountrygirls？Shemightbeasgoodandasfineashesawher，andyetbeinsensibletothespiritualtoughnessofJeff，becauseofherloveforhim。Herverygoodnessmightmakehisbadnessunimaginabletoher，andifherrefinementwerefromtheconsciencemerely，andnotfromthetastesandexperiences，too，therewasnotsomuchtodreadforherinhermarriagewithsuchaman。Still，hewouldhaveliked，ifhecould，totellherwhathehadtoldherfatherofDurgin’sbehaviorwithLynde，andletherbringthetestofherself—
devotiontothecasewithaclearunderstanding。HehadsometimesbeenafraidthatWhitwellmightnotbeabletokeepittohimself；butnowhewishedthatthephilosopherhadnotbeensodiscreet。Hehadallthissoabsorbinglyinmindthathestartedpresentlywiththefearthatshehadsaidsomethingandhehadnotanswered，butwhenheaskedherhefoundthatshehadnotspoken。TheywerestandingatanopenwindowlookingoutuponLion’sHead，whenhesaid：\"Idon’tknowhowIshallshowmygratitudetoMrs。Durginandyouforthinkingofhavingmeuphere。
I’vedoneapictureofLion’sHeadthatmightbeeversomuchworse；
butIshouldn’thavedreamedofgettingatitifithadn’tbeenforyou，thoughI’vesooftendreamedofdoingit。NowIshallgohomericherineverysortofway—thankstoyou。\"
Sheanswered，simply：\"Youneedn’tthankanybody；butitwasJeffwhothoughtofit；wewerereadyenoughtoaskyou。\"
\"Thatwasverygoodofhim，\"saidWestover，whomherwordsconfirmedinasuspicionhehadhadallalong。ButwhatdiditmatterthatJeffhadsuggestedtheiraskinghim，andthenattributedthenotiontothem？ItwasnotsomalignforhimtousethatmeansofingratiatinghimselfwithWestover，andofmakinghimforgethisbehaviorwithLynde，anditwasnotunnatural。Itwasverycharacteristic；attheworstitmerelyprovedthatJeffwasmoreashamedofwhathehaddonethanhewouldallow，andthatwastohiscredit。
HeheardCynthiaasking：\"Mr。Westover，haveyoueverbeenatClassDay？
Hewantsustocome。\"
\"ClassDay？Oh，ClassDay！\"Hetookalittletimetogatherhimselftogether。\"Yes，I’vebeenatagoodmany。Ifyoucaretoseesomethingpretty，it’stheprettiestthingintheworld。Thestudents’sistersandmotherscomefromeverywhere；andthere’sfashionandfeastingandflirting，fromteninthemorningtilltenatnight。I’mnotsurethere’ssomuchhappiness；butIcan’ttell。Theyoungpeopleknowaboutthat。Ifancythere’sagooddealofdefeatanddisappointmentinitall。Butifyoulikebeautifuldresses，andmusicanddancing，andagreatflutterofgayety，youcangetmoreofitatClassDaythanyoucaninanyotherway。Thegoodtimedependsagreatdealupontheacquaintanceastudenthas，andwhetherheispopularincollege。\"
Westoverfoundthisroadalittleimpassable，andhefaltered。
Cynthiadidnotapparentlynoticehishesitation。\"DoyouthinkMrs。
Durginwouldlikeit？\"
\"Mrs。Durgin？\"Westoverfoundthathehadbeenleavingheroutoftheaccount，andhadbeenthinkingonlyofCynthia’spleasureorpain。
\"Well，Idon’tsuppose——itwouldberatherfatiguing——DidJeffwanthertocometoo？\"