Yetitmaybethatherpartintheconversationwasnotaltogetherwithoutapurpose。SheledmetospeakofDenboroanditspeople，ofhowtheylived，andoftheolddaysofsailingshipsanddeepseaskippers。GeorgeTaylor’snamewasmentionedandIpraisedhimhighly，tellingofhisrisefrompoorboytosuccessfulman，asweratedsuccesslocally。
\"Hemanagesthatbankwell，\"Ideclared。\"Everyonesaysso。And，fromwhatIhaveseenofhismanagement，Iknowittobetrue。\"
\"Howdoyouknow？\"sheasked。
\"BecauseIhavehadsomeexperienceinbankingmyself。I——\"
Istoppedshort。Mytonguewasrunningawaywithme。ShedidnotaskthequestionwhichIdreadedandexpected。Insteadshesaid，lookingdownatme：
\"Youarealoyalfriend，aren’tyou，Mr。Paine。\"
\"IhavereasontobeloyaltoGeorge，\"Ianswered，withfeeling。
\"Areyouasloyaltoyourself？\"
Ilookedupatherinsurprise。
\"Whatdoyoumean？\"Iasked。
\"Ihavebeentryingtounderstandyou，Mr。Paine。Tryingtogettheanswertothepuzzle。InonewayIthinkIhaveit。I
understandyourattitudeintheLaneaffairandIthinkIknowwhyyoucametoDenboroandarestayinghere。\"
Istoppedshort。\"You——youknowTHAT？\"Icried。
\"IthinkIdo。Youbelievethatyourmotherneedsyouandyouwillnotleaveher。Thatisyourreasonforlivinghere，Ithink。But，inanotherway，Icannotunderstandyouatall。\"
Shespoketothehorseandwemovedonagain。Iwaitedforhertocontinue，butshewassilent。
\"How？Whatistheotherway！Thewayinwhichyoucannotunderstandme？\"Iasked。
\"ShallItellyou？Doyouwishmetobeperfectlyfrank？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Icannotunderstandhowamansuchasyouseemtobe，young，educated，andwithlifebeforehim，canbecontenttodoasyoudo，spendyourtimeinfishing，orsailing，orshooting。Tohavenoambitionatall。Myfatherwasapoorcountryboy，likeyourfriend，Mr。Taylor，butheworkednightanddayuntilhebecamewhatheisnow。Andevennowheworks，andworkshard。Oh，Iamproudofhim！Notbecauseheiswhatheis，butbecausehehasdoneitallhimself。IfIwereamanIwouldhavesomepurposeinlife；IwoulddoSOMETHINGworthwhileifitwereonlytosellfishfromacart，likethatoldfellowwiththequeername——whatisit？——
Oh，yes！TheophilusNewcomb。\"
Ididnotanswer。Shehadsaidallthatwasnecessary，andmore。
Itwasquiteenoughforme。
\"There！\"sheobserved，afteramoment。\"YouaskedmetotellyouandIdid。IfyouneverspeaktomeagainitwillbeexactlywhatIdeserve。ButIthoughtitandsoIsaidit。Expressingmythoughtsisoneofmybadhabits……Oh，why，wearealmosthome，aren’twe！\"
WehadcometotheedgeofthegroveborderingBeriahHolt’spasture。Thegrovewasonthewestsideofalittlehill。BeforeusthepastureslopedawaytoBeriah’shouseandbarn，withtheroadbeyondit。Andbeyondthat，inthedistance，werethesteeplesandroofsofDenboro。AmongthemthegablesandtoweroftheColtonmansionrose，conspicuousandcostly。
Sheturnedinthesaddle。\"IpresumeImayleaveyounow，Mr。
Paine，\"shesaid。\"Evenyoumustadmitthattherestofthewayisplainsailing。Thankyouforyourhospitalityandforyourservicesasguide。Iwillsendthebasketandnetoverbyoneoftheservants。\"
\"Iwilltakethemnow，\"Isaid，shortly。
\"Verywell，ifyouprefer。Heretheyare。\"
Itookthemfromher。
\"Goodafternoon，\"shesaid。\"Andthanksoncemoreforaverypleasantpicnic。\"
\"Youarequitewelcome，I’msure。Thankyouforyourfrankopinionofmy——worthlessness。Itwaskindofyoutoexpressit。\"
Thesarcasmwasnotlostuponher。
\"Imeantitasakindness，\"shereplied。
\"Yes。Anditwastrueenough，probably。DoubtlessIshallderivegreatbenefitfromyour——wordsofwisdom。\"
Herpatience，evidently，wasexhausted。Sheturnedaway。\"Oh，that，\"shesaid，indifferently，\"isyouraffair。ItoldyouwhatI
believedtobethetruth，thatwasall。Whatyoudoisnotlikelytobeofvastimportancetome，onewayortheother。Come，Don！\"
Doncantereddowntheslope。Iwatchedhimandhisriderdisappearbeyondthetreesinthedistance。ThenIpickedupmypailandotherburdensandfollowedintheirwake。Thesunwasbehindacloud。Ithadbeenastrangedaywithamiserableending。Iwasfuriouslyangrywithher，butIwasmoreangrywithmyself。ForwhatshehadtoldmeWASthetruth，andIknewit。
Istrodeon，headdown，throughthevillage。Peoplespoketome，askingwhatluckIhadhadandwhereIhadbeen，butIscarcelynoticedthem。AsIreachedtheCornersandwaspassingthebanksomeonecalledmyname。IglancedupandsawGeorgeTaylordescendingthesteps。
\"Holdon，Ros，\"hehailed。\"Waitaminute。What’syourrush？
Holdon！\"
Ihaltedreluctantly。
\"Fishingagain，Isee，\"heobserved，ashereachedmyside。\"Anyluck？\"
\"Fair，\"Itoldhim。
\"Whatpond？\"
\"Seabury’s。\"
\"Goalone？\"
\"Yes。\"ThatIhadnotbeenalonesincewasnobusinessofhis。
\"Humph！Youain’texactlywhatafellow’dcalltalkativethisafternoon，seemstome。Anythingwrong？\"
\"No。\"
\"Tuckeredout？\"
\"Iguessso。\"
\"Well，soamI，butIain’thadyourfungettingthatway。SmallandIhavebeenatitnightanddaygettingthingsinshapesohecouldleave。He’sgone。Wentthisnoon。Andthatain’ttheworstofit；Ihaven’tgotanybodyyettotakehisplace。I’llhavetobecashierandbookkeepertooforaspell。There’sapplicantsenough；buttheydon’tsuit。Guesslikelyyou’llhavetohelpmeout，afterall，Ros。Thejobisyoursifyousaytheword。\"
Helaughedashesaidit。Eventohimtheideaofmyworkingwasajoke。
Butthejokedidnotseemfunnytome，justthen。Iwalkedonforsomedistancewithoutaword。ThenIaskedaquestion。
\"Whatisexpectedofamaninthatposition？\"Iasked。
\"Expected？Why，plainbankbookkeeping——notmuchelseatfirst。
Yetthere’sagoodchanceforalikelyfellowtobeconsiderablemore，intime。Ineedhelpinmypartofthework。That’swhyI
haven’thiredanyofthedozenorsowhoareaftertheplace。Whatmakesyouask？Youdon’tknowofagoodmanforme，doyou，Ros？\"
\"Whendoyouwanthimtobegin？\"
\"To—morrowmorning，ifhesatisfiesme。\"
\"WouldIsatisfyyou？\"
\"You！Humph！Trymeandsee，that’sallI’dask。\"
\"Allright。I’llbeonhandinthemorning。\"
Hestopped，lookedatme，andthenseizedmebythearm。
\"Seehere！\"hecried，\"I’mlostinthefog，Iguesslikely。Whatdoyoumeanbythat？Isittimetolaugh——orwhat？\"
\"Itmaybe；Idon’tknow。ButItakethebookkeeper’spositioninyourbank。Now，good—by。Don’ttalktome。Idon’tfeelliketalking。\"
\"But——but，Ros。\"
\"Good—by。\"
Iwalkedon。Ihadtakenbutafewstepswhenheovertookme。
\"Ros，\"hesaid，\"Iain’tgoingtosaybutjustonething。IfyoumeantwhatyousaidI’mthemosttickledmanontheCape。Butyouain’taskedawordaboutthesalary。\"
\"Iknowit。Ihaven’taskedbecauseIdon’tcare。I’llbeonhandinthemorning。\"
Ilefthimstandingthere，andhurrieddowntheLowerRoad。AsI
hadsaidtohim，Ididnotfeelliketalking。Ididnotwanteventoseeanyone。Iwantedtobeletalone。ButitwasfatedthatI
shouldnotbe，notyet。SimEldredgewaswaitingformearoundthecorner。Hesteppedoutfrombehindthefencewherehehadbeenhidden。
\"Ros！\"hewhispered。\"RosPaine！Wait。It’sme，Sim。Iwanttoaskyousomethin’。Wan’tthatGeorgeTayloryouwasspeakin’tojustnow？\"
\"Yes，\"Ianswered，impatiently。\"Whatofit？\"
\"Say，Ros，youandmeain’tpulledthatColtontradeoff，butitain’tmyfault。Youain’tgotnohardfeelin’sagainstme，Iknow。
AndIwantyoutodoalittlemiteoffavorforme。Willyou？\"
\"Whatisit？IfithasanythingtodowiththeLane，Itellyounowthat——\"
\"Itain’t——itain’t。It’saboutthatbookkeepin’jobinthebank，HenrySmall’splace，theonehe’sjustquit。I’vegotathirdcousin，nameofJosiahBadger，overtoSouthHarniss。He’sasmartyoungchap，andanA—1accountantatfiggers。He’sbeenkeepin’
booksdownatthefishwharf——see？Now，he’dlikethatjoband，bein’asyouandGeorgearesothick，Ical’latedmaybeyou’dsortofuseyourinfluencealongofGeorge，and——andgetitforhim。
Thereain’tnothin’initforme——thatis，nothin’much。ButI
feelfriendlytowardJosiahandyouknowIliketodolittlekindnessesforfolks。So——\"
\"There！there！\"Iinterrupted。\"It’snouse，Sim。Ican’thelpyou。\"
\"Why！yesyoucan。\"
\"No，Ican’t。Idon’tknowyourcousin，andbesides——well，youaretoolate。Theplaceisfilled。\"
Sim’sexpressionchanged。Helookedsurprisedandcrestfallen。
\"Filled？\"heexclaimed。\"Why，no，’tain’t！If’twasI’dhaveknownit，wouldn’tI？Who’dyouhearhadgotit？Whoeveryouheard，’tain’tso。\"
\"Yes，itis。\"
\"Howdoyouknow？Whoisit，then？\"
Ihesitated。BeforenoonofthenextdayeverysoulinDenborowouldhaveheardthenews。Eldredgemightaswellhearitnow。
\"I’vetakentheplacemyself，\"Isaid。
\"You？\"Simactuallyforgottowhisper；heshoutedtheword。\"YOU！
Ha！ha！ha！Ros，quityourfoolin’。\"
\"I’mnotfooling。Igotoworkinthebankto—morrowmorning。\"
\"But——Oh，mysoul！You！Aw，Iknowbetter！Say，Ros，don’tlet’swastetimelikethis。Fun’sallright，but……MyheavenstoBetsy！YOUworkforalivin’！IfIbelievedthatI’dbelieveanything。Tellme，now。Whohasgotthatjob？……Whydon’tyouanswerme？\"
Iansweredhim。\"Shutup！\"Isaid，fiercely。ThenIvaultedthefenceandsetoutforhomeacrosslots。
IheardthenextdaythatSimwentbacktothepost—officeandinformedthegatheringtherethatRosPainehadtakentodrinking。
\"Hewastightasabiledowl，\"declaredSim；\"andugly——don’ttalk！
WantedtofightmebecauseIwouldn’tbelievehewasgoin’towork。
Him！Whatintheeverlastin’wouldHEwanttoworkfor？MyheavenstoBetsy！\"
CHAPTERXIII
IthinkTaylorwasalmostassurprisedasEldredgehadbeen，when，athalf—pasteightthefollowingmorning，Iappearedatthebank。
Hewasalreadyathisdeskand，whenhelookedupandsawme，hewhistled。
\"Whew！\"heexclaimed。\"So。Ididn’tdreamit，afterall。You’rehere，ain’tyou。\"
\"Iamhere，\"Ianswered，openingthegateandsteppinginbehindtherail。
\"Goingtotakeitbackandsayyouneversaidit？\"
\"No。\"
\"Cometogotowork？Really？\"
\"Thatismyintention，unlessyouhavechangedyourmind。\"
\"Notme。Itain’tlikely。But，Ros，I——sitdownaminuteandlet’stalk。Whatareyoudoingthisfor？\"
ItwasaquestionIhadbeenaskingmyselfatintervalsduringarestlessnight。NowIgavetheonlytruthfulanswer。
\"Idon’tknow，\"Isaid。
\"Youdon’tknow！\"
\"No。AndIdon’tseemtocare。Supposewedon’ttalkaboutit。I
amhere，andIamreadytobeginwork。That’senough，isn’tit？\"
\"Why，no；notquite。You’renotdoingitjusttohelpmeout？\"
\"No。\"
\"Youdon’tneedtowork。You’vegotmoneyenough。\"
\"No，Ihaven’t。Butmoneyisn’tmyreason。Ihaven’tanyreason。
Nowshowmethebooks，willyou？\"
\"Don’tbeinahurry。Whatdoesyourmotherthinkaboutit？\"
\"Ihaven’ttoldheryet。TimeenoughforthatwhenIknowthatI
reallymeanitandyouknowthatIamcompetenttofilltheposition。George，ifyoukeeponcross—examiningmeIamlikelytoquitbeforeIbegin。Idon’tknowwhyIamdoingthis，butjustnowIthinkIamgoingtodoitifIcan。However，Iamnotsure。
Soyouhadbetterbecareful。\"
\"Humph！Whatdidyoucatchupatthatpondyesterday？Ineversawaday’sfishingmakesuchadifferenceinamaninmylife……
Allright，Ros。Allright。Iwon’tpesteryou。Toogladtohaveyouhereforthat。Nowaboutthesalary。\"
\"Beforewespeakofthatthereisonemorepoint。Howaboutyourdirectors？Deanandtherest？Dotheyknowyouofferedmetheposition？\"
\"Surething！Theyputthewholeaffairinmyhands。They’llbesatisfied。AndasforCap’nJed——why，hewastheonethatsuggestedhiringyouinthefirstplace。\"
\"CaptainJed！CaptainJedDean！HEsuggestedit？\"
\"Yup。Inaway，hedid。Youmaynotknowit，Ros，butyou’vemadeagooddealofahitwiththeoldman。Heain’tbeenusedtohavinganybodystanduptohimasyouhave。AsageneralthingDenborojumpswhenhesnapsthewhip。Youdidn’t，andhecouldn’tunderstandwhy。Heisthekindthatrespectsanythingtheycan’tunderstand。Then，too，Nellielikesyou，andshe’shisidol，youknow。Ahhum！\"
Hesighedand，foramoment，seemedtoforgetmealtogether。I
remindedhimbyanotherquestion。
\"Butwhyshouldthecaptainthinkofmeforthisplace？\"Iasked。
\"WhyshouldhedreamthatIwouldtakeit？Igaveyounoencouragement。\"
\"Idon’tknowashediddreamit。ButheandIwerespeakingofyouandhesaidhe’dliketodosomethingtoshowyouwhatthetownthoughtofyourholdingoutagainstColton。Thattickledhimdowntothekeel。Isaidyou’dbeafirst—classhelpertomeinthisbank，thatIheardyouknewsomethingaboutbanking——\"
\"George！\"
\"It’sallright。IonlymentionedthatIheardrumorsthatyouwereinacitybanksomewhereatonetime。Hedidn’taskanymoreandIshouldn’thavetoldhimifhehad。Buttheideapleasedhim，Icouldseethat。’Whydon’tyoutrytogethim？’sayshe。’Maybethedaysofmiraclesain’tpast。Perhapsevenhe’dcondescendtowork，iftherightjobcamehisway。’\"
\"Sothat’swhatyoucallhissuggestingme，doyou？Humph！\"
\"Well，Itoldhimaboutitlastnight，whenIwasuptoseeNellie，andhewaspleasedasPunch。Surprised，ofcourse，butpleased。
He’spracticallythewholeboard，asfarassettlingthingsisconcerned，soitisallright。Heain’ttheworstfriendyou’vegot，byalongshot。\"
IimaginedthatIunderstoodwhatCaptainJed’s\"friendship\"meant。
MyacceptingthebankpositionwasonemorebondbindingmetohissideintheShoreLanebattle。And，solongasIwasunderTaylor’seyeandhisown，IcouldnotbesubjecttotheColtoninfluence。
GeorgeandIdiscussedthequestionofsalary，ifhisofferandmypromptacceptancemightbecalledadiscussion。Thepaywasnotlargetobeginwith，butitwasmorethanIhadarighttoexpect。
AndIwasperfectlyhonestwhenIsaidthatmoneywasnottheconsiderationwhichledmetomakethesuddenchangeinmyhabitoflife。Iwassickofidleness；Ihadlongedforsomethingtooccupymylifeandtime；Imightaswellbedoingthisasanything；
Taylor’sofferhadappealedtomewhenhefirstmadeit；theseweretheexcusesIevolvedformyownsatisfactionandItriedtobelievethemreal。ButonereasonIwouldnotadmit，eveninmythoughts，asapossibility。Itwasnotthatgirl，oranythingshehadsaid，whichinfluencedme。No！overandoveragain——no。
SamWheeler，theyoungfellowwhoactedasassistantbookkeeperandmessenger，camein，andTaylor，aftershowingmethebooksandgivingmeafewhintsastowhatmydutieswouldbe，turnedmeovertohimforfurtherinstruction。IfoundIneededbutlittle。Thepages，withtheirrowsoffigures，seemedlikeoldfriends。I
almostenjoyedporingoverthem。WasitpossiblethatIwasgoingtolikethisnewventureofmine？
BeforenoonIwasfairlycertainofit。Theworkinacountrybankisdifferentfromthatinthelargecityinstitutions，inthatitisbynomeansasspecialized。Ifoundthat，lateron，Ishouldbeexpectedtocombinetheworkoftellerwiththatofbookkeeper。
Andthis，too，seemednatural。IworkedassteadilyasIcould，consideringinterruptions，andtheforenoonwasoveralmostbeforeIknewit。
Theinterruptions，however，werenumerousandannoying；someofthem，too，wereamusing。Depositorscame，sawmebehindthebarsofthewindow，and，afterexpressingtheirastonishment，demandedtoknowwhatIwasdoingthere。IfIhadansweredallthequestionsputtomebythecuriousDenboroitesIshouldhavefoundtimeforlittleelse。ButTaylorhelpedmebyshooingthecuriousonesaway。\"Don’tbotherthenewhand，\"hesaid。\"Ifyouwanttoknowparticularsaskme。AnythingIdon’ttellyouyoucanreadinnextweek’sItem。Thisisabank，notaquestionbox。\"
CaptainElishaWarrencameinandwasassurprisedastherest。
Afteraninterviewwiththecashierhereturnedtomywindowandrequestedmetoopenup。WhenIdidsohereachedinabighandandseizedmine。
\"Shake，Ros，\"hesaid，heartily。\"I’mgladforthebankandI’mgladderstillforyou。Comehardatfust，doesit？\"
\"Alittle，\"Iconfessed。\"NotashardasIexpected，though。\"
\"Fustdayortwooutofportisalwaysthetoughest。You’llgetyoursealegsonprettysoon。Thenyou’llbegladyoushipped，I
cal’late。\"
\"Ihopeso，\"Ianswered，ratherdubiously。
\"Iknowyouwill。There’snothin’sotiresomeasdoin’nothin’。I
know，becausethat’sbeenmyjobforquiteaspell。SeemssometimesasifI’dhaveafit，Igetsosickofloafin’。\"
Hisideaofa\"loaf\"wasrisingatsixandweedinghisgarden，superintendingthelaboronhiscranberryswampsorabouthisbarnsandgrounds，attendingbankandSelectmen’smeetings，andgenerallykeepingbusyuntilsunset。
\"ItellAbbie，myhousekeeper，\"hecontinued，\"thatif’twan’tformyageIbelieveI’dgotoseaagainjusttokeepfromfallin’
apartwithdryrot。Iaskedherifshe’dnoticedhowmytimberscreaked，andshesaidIdidn’tkeepstilllongenoughforhertonoticeanything。Ho！ho！Nothin’makeshermoreprovokedthanformetomentiongettin’oldorgoin’tosea。Allthesame，Ienvyyouyouryouth，Ros。You’vegotyourlifeaforeyou，andI’mgladtoseethatyou’regoin’tomakesomethin’ofit。Ialwayssaidyou’dwakeupifsomebodygiveyouapunch。Whopunchedyou，Ros？\"
Myreplywasnon—committal。
\"Bettermindmyownbusiness，hadn’tI，\"heobserved。\"Allright，Iwill。Nooffensemeant，youunderstand。But，yousee，I’veneverbelievedthatworkwasthecussofmankind，likesomefolks，andnomatterhowmuchmoneyayoungfeller’sgotIthinkhe’sbetteroffdoin’somethin’。That’sthegospelaccordin’toElisha。
Well，goodluckandapleasantv’yage。Seeyouagainsoon。Say，\"
turningback，\"keepaneyeonGeorge，willyou？Folksinlovearel’bletobeabsent—minded，theytellme，andIshouldnotwanthimtobeabsentwithanyofmymoney。Hearthat，doyou，George？\"
Taylor，whowasstandingnear，laughedandwalkedaway。AmomentlaterIsawhimlookingoutofthewindowwiththesamestrangeexpressiononhisfacewhichIhadnoticedseveraltimesbeforewhenhisapproachingmarriagewashintedat。Somethingwastroublinghim，thatwasplain。HelovedNelliedevotedly，Iknew；
yetheobviouslydidnotliketohearthemarriagementioned。
SimEldredgewasoneofthefirstvisitorstothebank，buthisvisitwasashortone。Heenteredthedoor，walkedstraighttotheteller’swindowandpeeredthroughthebars。Iheardhimcatchhisbreath。
\"Goodmorning，Sim，\"saidI。\"WhatcanIdoforyou？\"
\"Do？\"herepeated。\"Doforme？Nothin’——nothin’，’special。You——
youmeantit，then？\"
\"ItoldyouIdid。\"
\"Mysoul！\"wasalltheanswerhemade。Thenheturnedandwalkedout。
Atabouteleveno’clockIwashalf—waythroughtheadditionofacolumnoffigureswhenIheardsomeonesay，\"Well，bytime！\"withsuchanguishedfervorthatitwasalmostlikeaprayerforhelp。I
lookedup。LuteRogerswasstaringinatme，open—mouthedandhorror—stricken。
\"Hello，Lute！\"Isaid。
Luteswallowedhard。
\"Theytoldme’twasso，\"hestammered。\"Theysaidsoand——andI
laughedat’em。Ros，youain’t，beyou？\"
\"What？\"
\"Goin’tostayinthereand——andtakeHenry’sjob？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Yoube！Andyouneversaidnothin’tonobody？ToDorinda？OrevenComfort？\"
\"No；notyet。\"
\"Nortome。ToME，bytime！Youletthemfellersatthestoremakeafoolofme——\"
\"Noonecoulddothat，Lute。Ihavetoldyousooften。\"
\"AndyouletthemknowitaforeIdid。Andmelivin’rightinthehousewithyou！Bytime！I——I——\"
\"There，there，Lute！don’tcry。I’lltellyouallaboutitwhenI
comehomefordinner。\"
\"Yes，Ishouldthinkyoumightdothatmuch。Treatin’yourownfamilylike——whydidyoutellSimEldredge？\"
\"SimaskedmeandsoItoldhim，thatwasall。Don’tstandtherefidgeting。Runalonghome，there’sagoodfellow。Mr。Taylorhashiseyeonyoualready。\"
Luteglancedapprehensivelytowardthecashier’sdeskandturnedtogo。
\"Well！\"heexclaimed，\"I’vesaidyouwascrazymore’nonce，that’ssomesatisfaction。Say！canItell’emtohome？\"
Ihesitated。\"YoumaytellDorindaifyoulike，\"Ianswered。\"ButIprefertotellMother，myself。\"
GeorgerosefromhisdeskjustthenandLutehurriedtothedoor。
Ismiled。Iimaginedhisarrivalinourkitchenandhowhewouldexplodethesensationalnewsuponhisunsuspectingwife。
ButIwasnotaltogethercalm，thoughIdidmybesttoappearso，whenIenteredthatkitchenataquarterpasttwelve。Lutewasseatedinachairbythewindow，evidentlywatchingandwaiting。
HesprangupasIentered。
\"Setdown，\"orderedDorinda，whowastakingaclampiefromtheoven。ShemerelynoddedwhenIcamein。Dorindaoftenspokeinmeetingagainst\"sinfulpride\"；yetshehadhershareofpride，sinfulornot。Shewouldnotaskquestionsordeigntoappearexcited，notshe。
\"ButDorinda，\"criedherhusband，\"it’sRos。Don’tyousee？\"
\"Yousetdown，LuteRogers。Well，\"turningtome，\"dinner’sready，ifyouare。\"
\"Ishallbeinafewminutes，\"Ianswered。\"IwanttoseeMotherfirst。\"
BreakingthenewstoMotherwasadutywhichIdreaded。Butitturnedouttobenotdreadfulatall。Motherwassurprised，ofcourse，butshedidnotofferasingleobjection。Herprincipalfeelingseemedtobecuriosityastomyreasonsforthesuddenchange。
\"Ofcourse，Roscoe，ifyouarehappierIshallbe，too，\"shesaid。
\"Iknowitmusthavebeenverydullforyouhere。Myconsciencehastroubledmenotalittlealltheseyears。Irealizethataman，ayoungmanlikeyou，needsaninterestinlife；hewantssomethingmorethanthecareandcompanionshipofauselesscreaturelikeme。\"