\"Allright,mother,\"saidJeff。
Shemovedherselfrestivelyinbed。\"What’sthis,\"shedemandedofherson,\"thatWhitwell’stellin’aboutyouandCynthybreakin’itoff?\"
\"Well,therewastalkofthat,\"saidJeff,passinghishandoverhislipstokeepbackthesmilethatwasstealingtothem。
\"Whodoneit?\"
CynthiakepthereyesonJeff,whodroppedhistohismother’sface。
\"Cynthydidit;butIguessIgavehergoodenoughreason。\"
\"AboutthathussyinBoston?Shewasfullmoretoblamethanwhatyouwas。Idon’tseewhatCynthywantedtodoitforonheraccount。\"
\"IguessCynthywasright。\"
Mrs。Durgin’sspeechhadbeenthickeningmoreandmore。ShenowsaidsomethingthatJeffcouldnotunderstand。HelookedinvoluntarilyatCynthia。
\"ShesaysshethinksIwashastywithyou,\"thegirlinterpreted。
Jeffkepthiseyesonhers,butheansweredtohismother:\"NotanymorethanIdeserved。Ihadn’tanyrighttoexpectthatshewouldstandit。\"
Againthesickwomantriedtosaysomething。Jeffmadeoutafewsyllables,and,afterhismotherhadrepeatedherwords,hehadtolooktoCynthiaforhelp。
\"Shewantstoknowifit’sallrightnow。\"
\"WhatshallIsay?\"askedJeff,huskily。
\"Tellherthetruth。\"
\"Whatisthetruth?\"
\"Thatwehaven’tmadeitup。\"
Jeffhesitated,andthensaid:\"Well,notyet,mother,\"andhebentanentreatinglookuponCynthiawhichshecouldnotfeelwaswhollyforhimself。\"I——Iguesswecanfixit,somehow。IbehavedverybadlytoCynthia。\"
\"No,nottome!\"thegirlprotestedinanindignantburst。
\"Nottothatlittlescalawag,then!\"criedJeff。\"Ifthewrongwasn’ttoyou,therewasn’tanywrong。\"
\"Itwastoyou!\"Cynthiaretorted。
\"Oh,IguessIcanstandit,\"saidJeff,andhissmilenowcametohislipsandeyes。
Hismotherhadfollowedtheirquickparleywitheagerlooks,asifsheweretryingtokeepherintelligencetoitsworkconcerningthem。Theeffortseemedtoexhausther,andwhenshespokeagainherwordsweresoindistinctthatevenCynthiacouldnotunderstandthemtillshehadrepeatedthemseveraltimes。
Thenthegirlwassilent,whiletheinvalidkeptaneagerlookuponher。
SheseemedtounderstandthatCynthiadidnotmeantospeak;andthetearscameintohereyes。
\"Doyouwantmetoknowwhatshesaid?\"askedJeff,respectfully,reverentlyalmost。
Cynthiasaid,gently:\"Shesaysthatthenyoumustshowyoudidn’tmeananyharmtome,andthatyoucaredforme,allthrough,andyoudidn’tcareforanybodyelse。\"
\"Thankyou,\"saidJeff,andheturnedtohismother。\"I’lldoeverythingIcantomakeCynthybelievethat,mother。\"
Thegirlbrokeintotearsandwentoutoftheroom。Shesentinthenight—watcher,andthenJefftookleaveofhismotherwithanunwontedkiss。
Intotheshadowofastarlitnighthesawthefigurehehadbeenwaitingforglideoutoftheglitterofthehotellights。Hefolloweditdowntheroad。
\"Cynthia!\"hecalled;andwhenhecameupwithherheasked:\"What’sthereasonwecan’tmakeittrue?Whycan’tyoubelievewhatmotherwantsmetomakeyou?\"
Cynthiastopped,asherwontwaswhenshewishedtospeakseriously。
\"Doyouaskthatformysakeorhers?\"
\"Forbothyoursakes。\"
\"Ithoughtso。Yououghttohaveaskeditforyourownsake,Jeff,andthenImighthavebeenfoolenoughtobelieveyou。Butnow——\"
Shestartedswiftlydownthehillagain,andthistimehedidnottrytofollowher。
L。
Mrs。Durgin’sspeechneverregainedthemeasureofclearnessithadbefore;noonebutCynthiacouldunderstandher,andoftenshecouldnot。
ThedoctorfromLovewellsurmisedthatshehadsustainedanotherstroke,lighter,moreobscurethanthefirst,anditwasthatwhichhadrenderedheralmostinarticulate。Theparalysismighthavealsoaffectedherbrain,andsilencedherthoughtsaswellasherwords。EithershebelievedthatthereconciliationbetweenJeffandCynthiahadtakenplace,orelseshecouldnolongercare。Shedidnotquestionthemagain,butpeacefullyweakenedmoreandmore。NeartheendofSeptembershehadathirdstroke,andfromthisshedied。
ThedayafterthefuneralJeffhadatalkwithWhitwell,andopenedhismindtohim。
\"I’mgoingovertotheotherside,andIshan’tbebackbeforespring,orabouttimetostarttheseasonhere。WhatIwanttoknowiswhether,ifI’moutofthehouse,andnotlikelytocomeback,you’llstayhereandlookaftertheplacethroughthewinter。Ithasn’tbeenagoodseason,butIguessIcanaffordtomakeitworthyourwhileifyoulookatitasamatterofbusiness。\"
Whitwellleanedforwardandtookastrawintohismouthfromthegoldenwallofoatsheavesinthebarnwheretheyweretalking。AsoftrustlinginthemowoverheadmarkedtheremotepresenceofJombateeste,whowasgettingforwardthehayforthehorses,pushingittowardtheholeswhereitshouldfallintotheirracks。
\"Ishouldwanttothinkaboutit,\"saidWhitwell。\"Ido’knowasCynthy’dcaremuchaboutstayin’——orFrank。\"
\"Howlongdoyouwanttothinkaboutit?\"Jeffdemanded,ignoringthepossiblewishesofCynthiaandFrank。
\"IguessIcouldletyouknowbynight。\"
\"Allright,\"saidJeff。
Hewasturningaway,whenWhitwellremarked:
\"Idon’tknowasIshouldwanttostaywithoutIcouldhavesomebodyI
coulddependon,withme,tolookafterthehosses。Frankwouldn’twantto。\"
\"Who’dyoulike?\"
\"Well——Jombateeste。\"
\"Askhim。\"
WhitwellcalledtotheCanuck,andhecameforwardtotheedgeofthemow,andstood,forkinhand,lookingdown。
\"Wanttostayherethiswinterandlookafterthehorses,Jombateeste?\"
Whitwellasked。
\"Nosseh!\"saidtheCanuck,withamislikingeyeonJeff。
\"Imean,alongwithme,\"Whitwellexplained。\"IfIconcludetostay,willyou?Jeff’sgoin’abroad。\"
\"IguessIstay,\"saidJombateeste。
\"Don’tstrainyourself,Jombateeste,\"saidJeff,withmalevolentderision。
\"Notforyou,JeffDorrgin,\"returnedtheCanuck。\"IstrainmyselftillIbust,ifIwant。\"
JeffsneeredtoWhitwell:\"Well,then,themostimportantpointissettled。Letmeknowabouttheminordetailsassoonasyoucan。\"
\"Allright。\"
Whitwelltalkedthematteroverwithhischildrenatsupperthatevening。
Jeffhadmadehimagoodoffer,andhehadthewinterbeforehimtoprovidefor。
\"Idon’tknowwhatdeviltryhe’supto,\"hesaidinconclusion。
Franklookedtohissisterfortheircommondecision。\"Iamgoingtotryforaschool,\"shesaid,quietly。\"It’sprettylate,butIguessIcangetsomething。YouandFrankhadbetterstay。\"
\"Andyoudon’tfeelasifitwaskindofmeechin’,ourtakin’upwithhisoffer,afterwhat’s——\"Whitwelldelicatelyforboretofillouthissentence。
\"Youaredoingthefavor,father,\"saidthegirl。\"Heknowsthat,andI
guesshewouldn’tknowwheretolookifyourefused。And,afterall,what’shappenednowisasmuchmydoingashis。\"
\"Iguessthat’ssomethingso,\"saidWhitwell,withalongsighofrelief。
\"Well,I’mgladyoucanlookatitinthatlight,Cynthy。It’sthewaythefeller’sbuilt,Ipresume,asmuchasanything。\"
Hisdaughterwaivedthepoint。\"Ishouldn’tfeeljustrightifnoneofusstayedintheoldplace。IshouldfeelasifwehadturnedourbacksonMrs。Durgin。\"
Hereyesshone,andherfathersaid:\"Well,Iguessthat’sso,cometothinkofit。She’sbeenlikeamothertoyou,thispastyear,ha’n’tshe?Anditmusthavecomepoottyhardforher,sidin’ag’in’Jeff。Butshedoneit。\"
Thegirlturnedherheadaway。Theyweresittinginthelittle,lowkeeping—roomofWhitwell’shouse,andherfatherhadhishatonprovisionally。Throughthewindowtheycouldseethelightofthelanternattheofficedoorofthehotel,whosemasswaslostinthedarkaboveandbehindthelamp。Itwasallverystilloutside。
\"Ideclare,\"Whitwellwenton,musingly,\"IwishtMr。Westoverwashere。\"
Cynthiastarted,butitwastoask:\"DoyouwantIshouldhelpyouwithyourLatin,Frank?\"
Whitwellcamebackanhourlaterandfoundthemstillattheirbooks。
Hetoldthemitwasallarranged;Durginwastogiveuptheplacetohiminaweek,andhewastosurrenderitagainwhenJeffcamebackinthespring。Inthemeantimethingsweretoremainastheywere;afterhewasgone,theycouldallgoandliveatLion’sHeadiftheychose。
\"We’llsee,\"saidCynthia。\"I’vebeenthinkingthatmightbethebestway,afterall。Imightnotgetaschool,it’ssolate。\"
\"That’sso,\"herfatherassented。\"Ideclare,\"headded,afteramoment’smuse,\"Ifeltsorryforthefellersettin’uptherealone,withnobodytodoforhimbutthatoldthinghe’sgotin。Shecan’tcookanymorethan——\"Hedesistedforwantofacomparison,andsaid:\"Suchalookin’table,too。\"
\"DoyouthinkIbettergoandlookafterthingsalittle?\"Cynthiaasked。
\"Well,younoneedto,\"saidherfather。Hegotdowntheplanchette,andlaboredwithit,whilehischildrenreturnedtoFrank’slessons。
\"Dumn’fIcanmakethethingwork,\"hesaidtohimselfatlast。
\"Ican’tgitanyof’emup。IfJacksonwashere,now!\"
ThriceadayCynthiawentuptothehotelandoversawthepreparationofJeff’smealsandkepttauttheslackhousekeepingoftheoldIrishwomanwhohadremainedasafavor,afterthehotelclosed,andprofessedtohavelostthechanceofaplaceforthewinterbyhercomplaisance。
ShesubmittedtoCynthia’sauthority,andtriedtomakeinterestforanindefinitestaybysuddenzealandindustry,andthelastdaysofJeffinthehotelweremorecomfortablethanheopenlyrecognized。HeleftthecareofthebuildingwhollytoWhitwell,andshuthimselfupintheoldfarmparlorwiththeplansforanewhotelwhichhesaidhemeanttoputupsomeday,ifhecouldevergetridoftheoldone。HewentoncetoLovewell,whereherenewedtheinsurance,andsomewhatincreasedit;andheputasmallmortgageontheproperty。Heforestalledtheslowprogressoftheknowledgeofothers’affairs,which,inthecountry,isassureasitisslow,andtoldWhitwellwhathehaddone。Hesaidhewantedthemortgagemoneyforhisjourney,andtheinsurancemoney,ifhecouldhavethelucktocashupbyagoodfire,torebuildwith。
Cynthiaseldommethiminhercomingsandgoings,butiftheymettheyspokeonthetermsoftheirboyandgirlassociations,andwithnoapproachthroughresentmentortendernesstotherelationthatwasendedbetweenthem。Shesawhimoftenerthanatanyothertimesettingoffonthelongtrampshetookthroughthewoodsintheafternoons。Hewasalwaysalone,and,sofarasanyoneknew,hiswanderingshadnoobjectbuttokillthetimewhichhungheavyonhishandsduringthefortnightafterhismother’sdeath,beforehesailed。ItmighthaveseemedstrangethatheshouldprefertopassthedaysatLion’sHeadafterhehadarrangedforthecareoftheplacewithWhitwell,andWhitwellalwaysbelievedthathestayedinthehopeofsomehowmakingupwithCynthia。
Oneday,towardtheverylast,Durginfoundhimselfprettywellfaggedintheoldpulp—millclearingonthesideofLion’sHead,whichstillbelongedtoWhitwell,andhesatdownonamoulderinglogtheretorest。
Ithadalwaysbeenafavoritepicnicground,buttheseasonjustpasthadknownfewpicnics,anditwasthoseofformeryearsthathadlefttheirtracesinrustysardine—cansandbrokenglassandcrockeryontheborderoftheclearing,whichwasnowalmostcoveredwithwhitemoss。JeffthoughtofthedaywhenhelurkedinthehollowbelowwithFox,whileWestoverremainedtalkingwithWhitwell。HethoughtofthepicnicthatMrs。Marvenhadembitteredforhim,andhethoughtofthelasttimethathehadbeentherewithWestover,whentheytalkedoftheVostrands。
Lifehad,sofar,notbeenwhathemeantit,andjustnowitoccurredtohimthathemightnothavewhollymadeitwhatithadbeen。Itseemedtohimthatagoodmanyotherpeoplehadcomeinandtakenahandinmakinghisownlifewhatithadbeen;andifhehadmeddledwiththeirsmorethanhewaswanted,itwasaboutaneventhing。Asfarashecouldmakeout,hewasasortofingredientinthegeneralmixture。Hehadprobablydonehisshareoftheflavoring,buthehadhadverylittletodowiththemixing。Thereweredifferentwaysoflookingatthething。Westoverhadhisway,butitstruckJeffthatitputtoomuchresponsibilityontheingredient,andtoolittleonthepowerthatchoseit。Hebelievedthathecouldproveaclearcaseinhisownfavor,asfarasthequestionoffinaljusticewasconcerned,buthehadnocomplaintstomake。Thingshadfallenoutverymuchtohismind。HewastheLandlordatLion’sHead,atlast,withthefullrighttodowhathepleasedwiththeplace,andwithhalfayear’sleisurebeforehimtothinkitover。Hedidnotmeantowastethetimewhilehewasabroad;iftherewasanythingtobelearnedanywhereaboutkeepingasummerhotel,hewasgoingtolearnit;
andhethoughtthesummerhotelcouldbeadvantageouslystudiedinitswinterphasesinthemildclimatesofSouthernEurope。HemeanttostrikefortheclassofAmericanswhoresortedtothoseclimates;todivinetheircharactersandtopleasetheirtastes。
HeunconsciouslyincludedCynthiainhisschemeofinquiry;hehadbeenusedsolongtotrusttoherinstinctsandopinions,andtorelyuponherhelp,andherealizedthatshewasnolongerinhislifewithsomethingliketheshockamanexperienceswhenthelossofalimb,whichcontinuesapartofhisinveterateconsciousness,isbroughttohissensebysomemechanicalattempttouseit。Buteveninthispanghedidnotregretthatallwasoverbetweenthem。Heknewnowthathehadnevercaredforherashehadoncethought,andonheraccount,ifnothisown,hewasgladtheirengagementwasbroken。AsoftmelancholyforhisowndisappointmentimparteditselftohisthoughtsofCynthia。Hefelttrulysorryforher,andhetrulyadmiredandrespectedher。Hewasinaverylenientmoodtowardeveryone,andhewentsofarinthoughttowardforgivinghisenemiesthathewaswillingatleasttopardonallthosewhomhehadinjured。Alittlerustlingintheunderbrushacrosstheclearingcaughthisquickear,andhelookeduptoseeJombateestepartingtheboughsoftheyoungpinesonitsedgeandadvancingintotheopenwithagunonhisshoulder。Hecalledtohim,cheerily:\"Hello,John!Anyluck?\"
Jombateesteshookhishead。\"Nawthing。\"Hehesitated。
\"Whatareyouafter?\"
\"Partridge,\"Jombateesteventuredback。
JeffcouldnotresistthedesiretoscoffwhichalwayscameuponhimatsightoftheCanuck。\"Oh,pshaw!Whydon’tyougoforwoodchucks?Theyflylow,andyoucanhitthemonthewing,ifyoucan’tsneakon’emsitting。\"
Jombateestereceivedhisrailleryindignifiedsilence,andturnedbackintothewoodsagain。HeleftDurgininheightenedgood—humorwithhimselfandwiththeworld,whichhadfinallysowelladapteditselftohisdesiresanddesigns。
Jeffwatchedhisresentfulgoingwithagrin,andthenthrewhimselfbackonthethickbedofdrymosswherehehadbeensitting,andwatchedthecloudsdriftingacrossthespaceofbluewhichtheclearingopenedoverhead。HisownactionremindedhimofJackson,lyingintheorchardandlookingupatthesky。Hefeltstrangelyatonewithhim,andheexperiencedatendernessforhismemorywhichhehadnotknownbefore。
Jacksonhadbeenagoodman;herealizedthatwithacurioussenseofnoveltyinthereflection;hewonderedwhattheincentivesandtheobjectsofsuchmenasJacksonandWestoverwere,anyway。Somethinglikegriefforhisbrothercameuponhim;notsuchgriefashehadfelt,passionatelyenough,thoughtacitly,forhismother,butaregretfornothavingshownJacksonduringhislifethathecouldappreciatehisunselfishness,thoughhecouldnotseethereasonorthemeaningofit。
Hesaidtohimself,intheirsaferemotenessfromeachother,thathewishedhecoulddosomethingforJackson。Hewonderedifinthecourseoftimeheshouldgettobesomethinglikehim。Heimaginedtrying。
Heheardsoundsagainintheedgeoftheclearing,buthedecidedthatitwasthatfoolJombateestecomingback;andwhenstepsapproachedsoftlyandhesitantlyacrossthemoss,hedidnottroublehimselftotakehiseyesfromtheclouds。Hewasonlyvexedtohavehisreverybrokeninupon。
AvoicethatwasnotJombateeste’sspoke:\"Isay!CanyoutellmethewaytotheBrookerInstitute,ortotheroaddownthemountain?\"
Jeffsatsuddenlybolt—upright;inanothermomenthejumpedtohisfeet。
TheBrookerInstitutewasabranchoftheKeeleyCurerecentlyestablishedneartheHuddle,andthismustbeapatientwhohadwanderedfromit,ononeoftheexcursionstheinmatesmadewiththeirguardians,andlosthisway。ThiswasthefactthatJeffrealizedatthefirstglancehegavetheman。ThenextherecognizedthatthemanwasAlanLynde。
\"Oh,it’syou,\"hesaid,quitesimply。Hefeltsocruellythehardshipofhisoneunforgivenenemy’scominguponhimjustwhenhehadresolvedtobegoodthatthetearscameintohiseyes。Thenhisrageseemedtoswellupinhimliketheriseofavolcanicflood。\"I’mgoingtokillyou!\"he,roared,andhelaunchedhimselfuponLynde,whostooddazed。
ButthemurderwhichJeffmeantwasnottobesoeasilydone。Lyndehadnotgrownupindissoluteidlenesswithoutacquiringsomeoftheartsofself—defencewhicharecalledmanly。HemetJeff’sonsetwithrememberedskillandwiththestrengthwhichhehadgainedinthreemonthsofthewholesomeregimenoftheBrookerInstitute。Hehadbeensentthere,notbyDr。Lacy’sjudgment,butbyhisdespair,andsofartheCurehadcured。Hefeltstrongandfresh,andthehatewhichfilledJeffatsightofhimsteeledhisshakennervesandreinforcedhisfeeblermuscles,too。
Hemadeadesperatefightwherehecouldnothopeformercy,andkepthimselffreeofhispowerfulfoe,whomhefoughtroundandfoiled,ifhecouldnothurthim。JeffneverknewoftheblowsLyndegotinuponhim;
hehadhisownscience,too,buthewouldnotemployit。HewantedtocrashthroughLynde’sdefenceandlayholdofhimandcrushthelifeoutofhim。
Thecontestcouldnothavelastedlongatthebest;butbeforeLyndewaswornouthecaughthisheelinanoldlaurelroot,andwhilehewhirledtorecoverhisfootingJeffclosedinuponhim,caughthimbythemiddle,flunghimdownuponthemoss,andwaskneelingonhisbreastwithbothhandsathisthroat。
Heglareddownintohisenemy’sface,andsuddenlyitlookedpitifullylittleandweak,likeagirl’sface,achild’s。
Sometimes,afterward,itseemedtohimthatheforborebecauseatthatinstanthesawJombateesteappearattheedgeoftheclearingandcomerunninguponthem。Atothertimeshehadthefancythathisactionwaspurelyvoluntary,andthat,againstthelogicofhishateandhabitofhislife,hehadmercyuponhisenemy。Hedidnotpridehimselfuponit;
heratherhumbledhimselfbeforethefact,whichwasaccomplishedthroughhiswill,andnotbyit,andremainedamysteryhedidnottrytosolve。
HetookhishandsfromLynde’sthroatandhiskneesoffhisbreast。\"Getup,\"hesaid;andwhenLyndestoodtremblingonhisfeethesaidtoJombateeste:\"ShowthismanthewaytotheBrookerInstitute。I’lltakeyourgunhomeforyou,\"anditwaseasyforhimtodetachthepiecefromthebewilderedCanuck’sgrasp。\"Go!Andifyoustop,orevenlethimlookback,I’llshoothim。Quick!\"
LI。
ThedayafterThanksgiving,whenWestoverwastryingtofeelwellaftertheturkeyandcranberryandciderwhichaladyhadgivenhimataconsciouslyold—fashionedThanksgivingdinner,butnotmakingitoutsufficientlytobeabletowork,hewasastonishedtoreceiveavisitfromWhitwell。
\"Well,sir,\"saidthephilosopher,withoutgivinghimselfpausefortheexchangeofreflectionsuponhispresenceinBoston,whichmighthavebeenagreeabletohimonalessmomentousoccasion。\"It’sallupwithLion’sHead。\"
\"Whatdoyoumean?\"demandedWestover,withhisminduponthemountain,whichheelectricallyfiguredinanincredibledestruction。
\"She’sburnt。Burntdownthedaybeforeyist’d’yaft’noon。A’n’thardlyastickofherleft。KetehedLordknowshow,fromthekitchenchimney,andahighnorthwestwindblowin’,thatca’dthesparkstothebarn,andsetfiretothat,too。Hassesgone;couldn’tgetroundto’em;onlythreeofusthere,andmixedupsoaboutthehousetillitwassolatethecritterswouldn’tcomeout。FolksfromoverHuddlewayseetheblaze,andhelpedailtheycould;butitwa’n’tnouse。Iguessallwesaved,about,wastheflag—pole。\"
\"Butyou’reallrightyourselves?Cynthia\"
\"Well,therewasourmisfortune,\"saidWhitwell,whileWestover’sheartstoppedinamerewantonnessofapprehension。\"Ifshe’dbe’nthere,itmightha’be’ndiff’ent。Wemightha’hadmoresense;orshewould,anyway。ButshewasovertoLovewellstockin’upforThanksgivin’,andI
hadtomakeoutthebestIcould,withFrankandJombateeste。Why,thatCanuckdidn’tseemtohavenomoreheadonhimthanahen。Iwasdisgusted;butCynthywouldn’tletmesayanythingtohim,andId’knowas’t’oulddoneanygood,myself。We’vetalkeditalloverineverylight,eversince;guesswe’vesetupmostthetimetalkin’,andnothin’
woulddoherbutIshouldcomedownandseeyoubeforeItookasinglestepaboutit。\"
\"How——stepaboutwhat?\"askedWestover,witharemotesenseofhardshipatbeingbroughtin,temperedbythefactthatitwasCynthiawhohadbroughthimin。
\"Why,thatdevil,\"saidWhitwell,andWestoverknewthathemeantJeff,\"wentandpiledonalltheinsurancehecouldpileon,beforeheleft;
andIdon’tknowwhattodoaboutit。\"
\"Ishouldthinkthebestthingwastocollecttheinsurance,\"Westoversuggested,distractedly。
\"Ita’n’tsoeasyaswhatthatcomesto,\"saidWhitwell。\"Icouldn’tcollecttheinsurance;andhere’sthepoint,anyway。Whenahotel’smadeabadseason,andshe’sfullyinsured,she’spoottycertaintoburnupsometimeinthewinter。Everybodyknowsthatcomicaldevilwantedlion’sHeadtoburnupso’thecouldbuildnew,andIpresumetherea’n’taman,woman,orchildanywhereroundbutwhatbelievesIsetheronfire。Hiredtodoit。Now,see?JeffoffinEurope;daytime;noliveslost;prop’tytotalloss。’saclearcase。Heigh?Itellyou,I’mafraidI’vegottroubleahead。\"
Westovertriedtoprotest,tosaysomethinginderisionordefiance;buthewasshakenhimself,andheendedbygettinghishatandcoat;Whitwellhadkepthisownon,intheexcitement。\"We’llgooutandseealawyer。
Afriendofmine;itwon’tcostyouanything。\"HeaddedthisassuranceatacertainlookofreluctancethatcameintoWhitwell’sface,andthatleftitassoonashehadspoken。Whitwellglancedroundthestudioevencheerily。\"Who’dha’thought,\"hesaid,fasteninguponthestudywhichWestoverhadmadeofLion’sheadthewinterbefore,\"thattheoldplacewould’a’gonesosoon?\"Hedidnotmeanthemountainwhichhewaslookingat,butthehotelthatwaspresenttohismind’seye;andWestoverperceivedashehadnotbeforethattoWhitwellthehotelandnotthemountainwasLion’sHead。
HerememberedtoasknowwhereWhitwellhadlefthisfamily,andWhitwellsaidthatFrankandCynthiawereathomeinhisownhousewithJombateeste;buthepresumedhecouldnotgetbacktothemnowbeforethenextday。HerefusedtobeinterestedinanyoftheaspectsofBostonwhichWestovercasuallypointedout,butwhentheyhadseenthelawyerhecameforthanewman,vividlyinterestedineverything。Thelawyerhadbeenabletotellthemthatthoughtheinsurancecompanieswouldlooksharplyintothecauseofthefire,therewasnoprobability,hardlyapossibility,thattheywouldinculpatehim,andheneedgivehimselfnoanxietyabouttheaffair。
\"There’sonething,though,\"WhitwellsaidtoWestoverwhentheygotoutuponthestreet。\"Hadn’tIoughttoletJeffknow?\"