Ordestoodquitemotionless，overcomebyastonishment。Herface，itslongovalframedinthebandsofthegrayveilandthedown—
turnedbrimofthehat，lookedupsmilingintohis。Thefreshairhaddeepenedthecolourbeneathherskinandhadblownloosestraylocksofthefineshadow—filledhair。Herredlips，withthequaintlyup—turnedcorners，smiledathimwithanewfrankness，andtheblackeyes——theeyessoblackastoresemblespots——hadlosttheirhalf—indolentreserveandbrimmedoverquitefranklywiththejoyoflife。Shescoopedupahandfulofthedry，cleansandfromeithersideofher，raiseditaloft，andletittrickleslowlybetweenherfingers。Thewindgthappearedatinyblackinsect，strugglingagainsttherolling，overwhelmingsands。
Withgreatcarethegirlscoopedthisnewcomeroutandsethimonthelevelground。ShelookeduphappilyatOrde，thrustingtheloosehairfrominfrontofhereyes。
\"Iwasconvincedweoughttodigahole，\"saidshegravely。\"Now，let’sgosomewhereelse。\"
Shearosetoherfeet，shakingthesandfreefromherskirts。
\"Ithink，throughthesewoods，\"shedecided。\"Canwegetbacktotownthisway？\"
ReceivingOrde’sassurance，sheturnedatoncedowntheslopethroughthefringeofscrubsprucesandjunipersintothetallwoods。Heretheairfellstill。Sheremarkedonhowwarmitseemed，andbegantountiefromoverherearsthenarrowbandofveilthatheldcloseherhat。
\"Yes，\"repliedOrde。\"Thelumber—jackssaythatthewoodsarethepoorman’sovercoat。\"
Shepausedtosavourthis，herheadononeside，herarmsupraisedtotheknot。
\"Oh，Ilikethat！\"saidshe，continuinghertask。Inamomentorsotheveilhungfree。Sheremoveditandthehat，andswungthembothfromonefinger，andthrewbackherhead。
\"Hearallthebirds！\"shesaid。
Softlyshebegantoutteracheepingnoisebetweenherlipsandteeth，lowandplaintive。Atoncethevolumeofbird—soundsaboutincreased；thehalf—seenflashesbecamemorefrequent。Asecondlaterthetwigswerealivewithtinywarblersandcreepers，flirtingfrombranchtobranch，withlarger，morecircumspectchewinks，catbirds，andfincheshoppingdownfromabove，verysilent，verygrave。Inthedepthsofthethicketstheshyerhermitandolivethrushesandtheovenbirdsrevealedthemselvesghost—like，orassea—growthsliftintoahalfvisibilitythroughtranslucentshadowsthecolourofthemselves。Allwereveryintent，veryearnest，veryinterested，eachafterhisownmanner，inthecomradeshipofthefeatherhoodheimaginedtobeutteringdistressfulcries。Afew，likethechickadees，quiveredtheirwings，openedtheirlittlemouths，fluttereddowntinybutaggressiveagainstthedisaster。
Othershoppedhereandthererestlessly，utteringplaintive，low—
tonedcheeps。Theshyestcontentedthemselvesbyadiscreet，silent，anddistantsympathy。ThreeorfourfreebootingJays，attractednotsomuchbythesupposedcallsforhelpasbycuriosity，flutteredamongthetopsofthetrees，utteringtheirharshnotes。
Finally，thegirlendedherperformanceinamusicallaugh。
\"Runaway，Brighteyes，\"shecalled。\"It’sallright；nobody’sdamaged。\"
Shewavedherhand。Asthoughatasignal，thehostshehadevokedmeltedbackintotheshadowsoftheforest。Onlythechickadee，impudentasever，retreatedscoldingratherostentatiously，andthejays，splendidintheirornateblue，screamedopinionsateachotherfromthetopsoftrees。
\"Howwouldyouliketobeabird？\"sheinquired。
\"Hadn’tthought，\"repliedOrde。
\"Don’tyoueverindulgeinvainandidlespeculations？\"sheinquired。\"Nevermind，don’tanswer。It’stoomuchtoexpectofaman。\"
Shesetherselfinidlemotiondowntheslope，swingingthehatattheendofitsveil，pausingtolookorlisten，hummingalittlemelodybetweenherclosedlips，throwingherheadbacktobreathedeepthewarmair，revellinginthewoodssoundsandwoodsodoursandwoodslifewithentireself—abandonment。Ordefollowedherinsilence。Sheseemedtobequitewithoutresponsibilityinregardtohim；andyetanoccasionalrandomremarkthrowninhisdirectionprovedthathewasnotforgotten。Finallytheyemergedfromthebeachwoods。
Theyfacedanopenrollingcountry。Asfarastheeyecouldreachweretheoldstumpsofpinetrees。Sometimestheystoodinplace，burnedandscarred，butattestingmutelytheabidingplaceofaspiritlongsincepassedaway。Sometimestheyhadbeenuprootedanddraggedtomarktheboundariesoffields，wheretheyraisedanabatisoftwistedrootstothesky。
Thegirlstoppedshortasshecamefacetofacewiththisopencountry。Theinneruplift，thathadlenttoheraspectthewide—
eyed，carelessjoyofachild，faded。Initsplacecameanewandseriousgravity。Sheturnedonhimtroubledeyes。
\"Youdothis，\"sheaccusedhimquitesimply。
Foranswerhemotionedtotheleftwherebelowthemlayawideandcultivatedcountryside——farmhousessurroundedbyelms；compactwoodlotsofhardwood；cropsandorchards，allfairandpleasantacrossthebosomofafertilenature。
\"Andthis，\"saidhe。\"Thatvalleywasoncenothingbutapineforest——andsowasallthesouthernpartoftheState，thepeachbeltandthefarms。AndforthatmatterIndiana，too，andalltheotherforestStatesrightouttotheprairies。Wherewouldwebenow，ifweHADN’Tdonethat？\"hepointedacrossatthestump—coveredhills。
Mischiefhaddrivenoutthegravityfromthegirl’seyes。Shehadloweredherheadslightlysidewiseasthoughtoconcealtheirexpressionfromhim。
\"Iwasbeginningtobeafraidyou’dsay’yes—indeed，’\"saidshe。
Ordelookedbewildered，thenrememberedtheIncubus，andlaughed。
\"Ihaven’tbeenveryconversational，\"heacknowledged。
\"CertainlyNOT！\"shesaidseverely。\"Thatwouldhavebeenverydisappointing。Therehasbeennothingtosay。\"Sheturnedandwavedherhatatthebeechwoodsfallingsombreagainsttheloweringsun。
\"Good—bye，\"shesaidgravely，\"andpleasantdreamstoyou。Ihopethoseverysaucylittlebirdswon’tkeepyouawake。\"ShelookedupatOrde。\"Hewasrathernicetousthisafternoon，\"sheexplained，\"andit’salwayswelltobepolitetothemanyway。\"ShegazedsteadilyatOrdeforsignsofamusement。Heresolutelyheldhisfacesympathetic。
\"NowIthinkwe’llgohome，\"saidshe。
Theymadetheirwaybetweenthestumpstotheedgeofthesand—hilloverlookingthevillage。Withoneaccordtheystopped。Thelow—
slantingsuncastacrossthevistaasleepylightofevening。
\"Howwouldyouliketoliveinaplacelikethatallyourlife？\"
askedOrde。
\"Idon’tknow。\"Sheweighedherwordscarefully。\"Itwoulddepend。
Theplaceisn’tofsomuchimportance，itseemstome。It’sthelifeoneiscalledto。It’swhetheronefindshersoul’srealmornotthataplaceisliveableornot。Icanimagineenteringmykingdomatarailwaywater—tank，\"shesaidquaintly，\"ormissingitentirelyinabigcity。\"
Ordelookedoutovertherawlittlevillagewithanewinterest。
\"OfcourseIcanseehowaman’sworkcanlieinasmallplace，\"
saidhe；\"butawomanisdifferent。\"
\"Whyisawomandifferent？\"shechallenged。\"Whatisher’work，’asyoucallit；andwhyshouldn’tit，aswellasaman’s，lieinasmallplace？Whatiswork——outsideofdrudgery——unlessitiscorrespondenceofone’sabilitiestoone’stask？\"
\"Butthecompensations——\"beganOrdevaguely。
\"Compensations？\"shecried。\"Whatdoyoumean？Herearethewoodsandfields，theriver，thelake，thebirds，andthebreezes。We’llcheckthemoffagainstthetheatreandballs。Bookscanbehadhereaswellasanywhere。Astopeople：inalargecityyoumeetagreatmany，andthey’reallbusy，andunlessyoumakeanespecialandparticulareffort——whichyou’renotlikelyto——you’llseethemonlycasuallyandonceinagreatwhile。Inasmallplaceyouknowfewerpeople；butyouknowthemintimately。\"Shebrokeoffwithahalf—
laugh。\"I’mfromNewYork，\"shestatedhumorously，\"andyou’vemagickedmeintoaneloquentdefenseofPodunk！\"ShelaughedupatOrdequitefrankly。\"GiantStrides！\"shechallengedsuddenly。Sheturnedofftheedgeofthesand—hill，andbegantoplungedownitsslope，leaningfarback，herarmsextended，increasingasmuchaspossiblethelengthofeachstep。Ordefollowedatfullspeed。
Whenthebottomwasreached，hesteadiedhertoahalt。Sheshookherself，straightenedherhat，andwoundtheveilaroundit。Herwholeaspectseemedtohavechangedwiththedescentintotheconventionalityofthevillagestreet。Theold，gentlethoughcapableandself—containedreservehadreturned。ShemovedbesideOrdewithdignity。
\"IcamedownwithJaneandMrs。HubbardtoseeMr。HubbardoffontheboatforMilwaukeelastnight，\"shetoldhim。\"OfcoursewehadtowaitoverSunday。Mrs。HubbardandJanehadtoseesomerelativeorother；butIpreferredtotakeawalk。\"
\"Whereareyoustaying？\"askedOrde。
\"AttheBennetts’。Doyouknowwhereitis？\"
\"Yes，\"repliedOrde。
TheysaidlittlemoreuntiltheBennetts’gatewasreached。Ordedeclinedtocomein。
\"Good—night，\"shesaid。\"Iwanttothankyou。YoudidnotonceactasthoughyouthoughtIwassillyorcrazy。Andyoudidn’ttry，asalltherestofthemwould，toactsillytoo。Youcouldn’thavedoneit；andyoudidn’ttry。Oh，youmayhavefeltit——Iknow！\"
Shesmiledoneofherquaintandquizzicalsmiles。\"Butmenaren’tbuiltforfoolishness。Theyhavetoleavethattous。You’vebeenverynicethisafternoon；andit’shelpedalot。I’mgoodforquitealongstretchnow。Good—night。\"
Shenoddedtohimandlefthimtongue—tiedbythegate。
Orde，however，walkedbacktothehotelinablackragewithhimselfoverwhathetermedhisimbecility。Asherememberedit，hehadmadejustoneconsecutivespeechthatafternoon。
\"Joe，\"saidhetoNewmark，atthehoteloffice，\"what’sthepluralformofIncubus？Idimlyrememberitisn’t’busses。’\"
\"Incubi，\"answeredNewmark。
\"Thanks，\"saidOrdegloomily。
XIII
IhaveHeinzman’scontractalldrawn，\"saidNewmarkthenextmorning，\"andIthinkI’llgoaroundwithyoutotheoffice。\"
AttheappointedtimetheyfoundthelittleGermanawaitingthem，arotundsmileoffalsegood—natureilluminatinghisrosyface。Ordeintroducedhispartner。Newmarkimmediatelytookchargeoftheinterview。
\"Ihaveexecutedherethecontract，andthebondssecuredbyMr。
Orde’sandmysharesofstockinthenewcompany，\"heexplained。
\"Itisonlynecessarythatyouaffixyoursignatureandsummontherequiredwitnesses。\"
Heinzmanreachedhishandsforthepapers，beamingoverhisglassesatthetwoyoungmen。
Asheread，however，hissmilevanished，andhelookedupsharply。
\"Vatisthis？\"heinquired，anewcrispnessinhisvoice。\"Youtoltme，\"heaccusedOrde，\"dotyouwerenotbreparedtobreakouttherollways。Youtoltmeyouwouldegspectmetodothatformyself。\"
\"Certainly，\"agreedOrde。
\"Vell，whydoyouputinthis？\"demandedHeinzman，readingfromthepaperinhishand。\"’Incasesaidrollwaysbelongingtosaidpartiesofthesecondpartarenotbrokenoutbythetimethedrivehasreachedthem，andincaseondemandsaidpartiesofthesecondpartdorefuseordonotexerciseduediligenceinbreakingoutsaidrollways，thesaidpartiesofthefirstpartshallthemselvesbreakoutsaidrollways，andthesaidpartiesofthesecondpartdoherebyagreetoreimbursesaidpartiesofthefirstpartattherateofadollarperthousandboardfeet。’\"
\"Thatismerelytoprotectourselves，\"struckinNewmark。
\"But，\"explodedHeinzman，hisfacepurpling，\"adollaratousandisabsurd！\"
\"Ofcourseitis，\"agreedNewmark。\"Weexpectittobe。Butalsoweexpectyoutobreakoutyourownrollwaysintime。Itisintendedasapenaltyincaseyoudon’t。\"
\"Ivillnotstandforsuchfoolishness，\"poundedHeinzmanonthearmofhischair。
\"Verywell，\"saidNewmarkcrisply，reachingforthecontract。
ButHeinzmanclungtoit。
\"Itisabsurd，\"herepeatedinamildertone。\"See，Ivillstrikeitout。\"Hedidsowithafewdashesofthepen。
\"Wehavenointention，\"statedNewmarkwithdecision，\"ofgivingyouthechancetohangupourdrive。\"
Heinzmancaughthisbreathlikeachildabouttocryout。
\"Sothatiswhatyouthink！\"heshoutedatthem。\"That’sthesortofmenyouthinkweare！I’llshowyouyoucannotcomeintohonestmen’sofficestoinsooltthembysuchinsinuations！\"Hetorethecontractinpiecesandthrewitinthewastebasket。\"Getoudtofhere！\"hecried。
Newmarkaroseasdryandpreciseasever。Ordewasgoingredandwhitebyturns，andhishandstwitched。
\"ThenIunderstandyoutorefuseouroffer？\"askedNewmarkcoolly。
\"Refuse！Yes！Youandyourwholekapoodle！\"yelledHeinzman。
Hehoppeddownandfollowedthemtothegrilldoor，repeatingoverandoverthathehadbeeninsulted。Theclerksstaredinamazement。
Onceatthefootofthedarkstairsandintheopenstreet，Ordelookedupattheskywithadeepbreathofrelief。
\"Whew！\"saidhe，\"thatwasaterror！We’vegoneoffthewrongfootthattime。\"
Newmarklookedathimwithsomeamusement。
\"Youdon’tmeantosaythatfooledyou！\"hemarvelled。
\"What？\"askedOrde。
\"Allthattalkaboutinsults，andtherestoftherubbish。Hesawwehadspottedhislittlescheme；andhehadtoretreatsomehow。Itwasasplainasthenoseonyourface。\"
\"Youthinkso？\"doubtedOrde。
\"Iknowso。Ifhewasmadatall，itwasonlyatbeingfoundout。\"
\"Maybe，\"saidOrde。
\"We’vegotanenemyonourhandsinanycase，\"concludedNewmark，\"andonewe’llhavetolookoutfor，Idon’tknowhowhe’lldoit；
buthe’lltrytomaketroubleontheriver。Perhapshe’lltrytoblockthestreambynotbreakinghisrollways。\"
\"Oneofthefirstthingswe’lldowillbetoboomthroughachannelwhereMr。Man’srollwayswillbe，\"saidOrde。
AfaintgleamofapprovallitNewmark’seyes。
\"Iguessyou’llbeequaltotheoccasion，\"saidhedrily。
Beforetheafternoontrain，thereremainedfourhours。Thepartnersatoncehuntedoutthelittleone—storyframebuildingneartheriverinwhichJohnsonconductedhisbusiness。
Johnsonreceivedthemwithanevidentreserveofsuspicion。
\"Iseenouseinit，\"saidhe，passinghishandoverhishair\"slicked\"downinthelumber—jackfashion。\"Icanrunmeownwidouthelpfromanyman。\"
\"Whichseemstosettlethat！\"saidNewmarktoOrdeaftertheyhadleft。
\"Oh，well，hisdriveissmall；andhe’sbehindus，\"Ordepointedout。
\"True，\"saidNewmarkthoughtfully。
\"Now，\"saidNewmark，astheytrudgedbacktotheirhoteltogetlunchandtheirhand—bags。\"I’llgettoworkatmypartofit。
ThispropositionofHeinzman’shasgivenmeanidea。I’mnotgoingtotrytosellthisstockoutside，buttothemenwhoowntimberalongtheriver。Thentheywon’tbeobjectingtothetolls；forifthecompanymakesanyprofits，partwillgotothem。\"
\"Goodidea！\"criedOrde。
\"I’lltakethesecontracts，toshowwecandothebusiness。\"
\"Allcorrect。\"
\"AndI’llseeaboutincorporation。AlsoI’lllookaboutandgetaproperofficeandequipments，andgetholdofabook—keeper。Ofcoursewe’llhavetomakethisourheadquarters。\"
\"Isupposeso，\"saidOrdealittleblankly。Afteraninstanthelaughed。\"Doyouknow，Ihadn’tthoughtofthat？We’llhavetolivehere，won’twe？\"
\"Also，\"wentonNewmarkcalmly，\"I’llbuythesuppliestothebestadvantageIcan，andseethattheygethereingoodshape。Ihaveourpreliminarylists，andasfastasyouthinkyouneedanything，sendarequisitionintome，andI’llseetoit。\"
\"AndI？\"inquiredOrde。
\"You’llgetrightattheconstruction。Gettheboomsbuiltandimprovetheriverwhereitneedsit。Begintogetyourcrew——I’mnotgoingtotellyouhow；youknowbetterthanIdo。Onlygeteverythinginshapefornextspring’sdrive。Youcanstartrightoff。Wehavemymoneytobeginon。\"
Ordelaughedandstretchedhisarmsoverhishead。
\"My！She’sanicebigjob，isn’tshe？\"hecriedjoyously。
XIV
Orde，inspiteofhisactivities，managedtoseeCarrollBishoptwiceduringtheensuingweek。
OnhisreturnhomelateMondayafternoon，GrandmaOrdeinformedhimwithashrewdtwinklethatshewantedhimsurelyathomethefollowingevening。
\"I’veaskedinthreeorfouroftheyoungpeopleforacandypull，\"
saidshe。
\"Who，mother？\"askedOrde。
\"Yourcrowd。TheSmiths，Collinses，JaneHubbard，andHer，\"saidGrandmaOrde，whichprobablywenttoshowthatshehadinthemeantimebeenmakinginquiries，andwassatisfiedwiththem。
\"Doyousupposethey’llcareforcandypulling？\"hazardedOrdealittledoubtfully。
\"Youmean，willshe？\"counteredGrandma。\"Well，Ihopeforbothyoursakessheisnotbeyondalittleold—fashionedfun。\"
Soitproved。Theyoungpeoplestraggledinatanearlyhouraftersupper——everyonehadsupperinthosedays。CarrollBishopandJanearrivednearlythelast。Ordesteppedintothehalltohelpthemwiththeirwraps。Huponthevitalpointoftheevening。Hehadsaidsomethingaboutaplanfortheweekfollowing。
\"ButyouforgetthatbythattimeIshallbegone，\"saidshe。
\"Gone！\"heechoedblankly。\"Where？\"
\"Home，\"saidshe。\"Don’tyourememberIamtogoSundaymorning？\"
\"Ithoughtyouweregoingtostayamonth。\"
\"Iwas，butI——certainthingscameupthatmadeitnecessaryformetoleavesooner。\"
\"I——I’msorryyou’regoing，\"stammeredOrde。
\"SoamI，\"saidshe。\"I’vehadaverynicetimehere。\"
\"ThenIwon’tseeyouagain，\"saidOrde，stillgropingforrealisation。\"ImustgotoMonroviato—morrow。ButI’llbedowntoseeyouoff。\"
\"Docome，\"saidshe。
\"It’snottobeforgood？\"heexpostulated。\"You’llbecomingback。\"
Shethrewherhandspalmout，withaprettygestureofignorance。
\"Thatisinthelapofthegods，\"saidshe。
\"WilewassurprisedasheapproachedMissBishoptolifthercloakfromhershoulders，tofindthatthetopofherdaintilypoisedhead，withitssoft，finehair，camewellbelowthelevelofhiseyes。Somehowherpoise，herslendergraceofmovementandofattitude，hadlenthertheimpressionofastatureshedidnotpossess。To—nighthereyes，whilefathomlessasever，shonequietlyinanticipation。
\"Doyouknow，\"shetoldOrdedelightedly，\"Ihaveneverbeentoarealcandypullinmylife。Itwassogoodofyourmothertoaskme。Whatadearshelooksto—night。Andisthatyourfather？I’mgoingtospeaktohim。\"
Sheturnedthroughthenarrowdoorintothelighted，low—ceilingedparlourwherethecompanywerechattingbusily。Ordemechanicallyfollowedher。HewasarrestedbythesoundofJaneHubbard’sslowgood—humouredvoicebehindhim。
\"Now，Jack，\"shedrawled，\"Iagreewithyouperfectly；butthatisNOreasonwhyIshouldbeneglectedentirely。Comeandhangupmycoat。\"
Fullofremorse，Ordeturned。JaneHubbardstoodaccusinglyinthemiddleofthehall，herplain，shrewd，good—humouredfacesmilingfaintly。Ordemetherfrankwideeyeswithsomeembarrassment。
\"Hereitis，\"saidJane，holdingoutthecoat。\"Idon’tmuchcarewhetheryouhangitupornot。Ijustwantedtocallyoubacktowishyouluck。\"Herslowsmilewidened，andhergrayeyesmethisstillmoreknowingly。
Ordeseizedthecoatandherhandatthesametime。
\"Jane，you’reatrump，\"saidhe。\"Nowonderyou’rethemostpopulargirlintown。\"
\"OfcourseIam，Jack，\"sheagreedindolently。Sheenteredtheparlour。
Thecandypullingwasasuccess。Ofcourseeverybodygotburnedalittleandspatteredagooddeal；butthatwastobeexpected。
Aftertheproducthadbeenbrokenandbeenpiledondishes，alltroopedtotheinformal\"backsitting—room，\"whereanopenfireinvitedtostoriesandgamesofthequietersort。Someofthegirlssatinchairs，thoughmostjoinedthemenonthehearth。
CarrollBishop，however，seemedpossessedofaspiritofrestlessness。Theplaceseemedtointeresther。Shewanderedhereandthereintheroom，lookingnowatthewalnut—framedphotographofUncleJimOrde，nowatthegreatpinkconchshellseithersidethedoor，nowatthemarble—toppedtablewithitssquarepaper—
weightofpolishedagateanditsglass\"bell，\"beneathwhichstoodaverylife—likerobin。This\"backsitting—room\"containedlittleinthewayofornament。Itwasfilled，onthecontrary，witholdcomfortablechairs，andworncalf—backedbooks。Thegirlpeeredatthetitlesofthese；butthegas—jetshadbeenturnedlowinfavourofthefirelight，andshehadtogiveovertheefforttoidentifythevolumes。OnceshewanderedclosetoGrandmaOrde’scushionedwoodenrocker，andpassedherhandlightlyovertheoldlady’sshoulder。
\"DoyoumindifIlookatthings？\"sheasked。\"It’ssodearandsweetandoldanddifferentfromourNewYorkhomes。\"
\"Lookallyouwantto，dearie，\"saidGrandmaOrde。
Afteramomentshepassedintothedining—room。HereOrdefoundher，herhandslinkedinfrontofher。
\"Oh，itissoquaintanddelightful，\"sheexhaledslowly。\"Thisdear，dearoldhousewithitslowceilingsanditsqueerhaphazardlines，anditsdeepwindows，anditsoldpictures，andqueerunexpectedthingsthattakeyourbreathaway。\"
\"Itisoneoftheoldesthousesintown，\"saidOrde，\"andIsupposeitispicturesque。But，yousee，Iwasbroughtuphere，soI’musedtoit。\"
\"Waituntilyouleaveit，\"saidsheprophetically，\"andliveawayfromit。Thenallthesethingswillcomebacktoyoutomakeyourheartacheforthem。\"
Theyrambledabouttogether，Orde’senthusiasmgraduallykindlingattheflameofherown。HeshowedherthemarvellousandpainstakingpencilsketchofNapoleonlookingoutoveramaltese—crosssunsetdonebyAuntMarthaattheageoften。Ithungframedintheupperhall。
\"Ithasalwaysbeenthere，eversinceIcanremember，\"saidOrde，\"andithasseemedtobelongthere。I’veneverthoughtofitasgoodorbad，justasbelonging。\"
\"Iknow，\"shenodded。
InthisspiritalsotheyviewedtheplasterstatueofWashingtoninthelowerhall，andtheRoger’sgroupintheparlour。Theglasscabinetof\"curiosities\"interestedhergreatly——thecarvedivorychessmen，thedriedsea—weeds，thestonefromSugarLoafRock，thebitfromthlyouwritemeoccasionally？\"hebegged。
\"Astothat——\"shebegan——\"I’maverypoorcorrespondent。\"
\"Butwon’tyouwrite？\"heinsisted。
\"Idonotmakeitacustomdeespeciallyhadaninfinitudeofdetailsonhishands。Thefatnote—
bookinhissidepocketfilledrapidlywithroughsketches，lists，andestimates。Constantlyheinterviewedmenofallkinds——
rivermen，millmen，contractors，boatbuilders，hardwaredealers，pile—drivercaptains，builders，wholesalegrocerymen，cooks，axe—
men，choreboys——allalittleworldinitself。
Thesignsofprogresssoonmanifestedthemselves。BelowBigBendthepile—driverswereatwork，thesquaremassesoftheirhammersrisingrapidlytothetopsofthederricks，theretopauseamomentbeforedroppingswiftlytoadullTHUMP！Theywereplacingalong，compactrow，whichshouldbetheouterbulwarksseparatingthesorting—boomsfromthechanneloftheriver。Ashorethecarpenterswereknockingtogetheralong，lowstructureforthecook—houseandalargerbuilding，destinedtoserveasbunk—housefortheregularboom—crew。Therewouldalsobeablacksmith’sforge，astorehouse，atoolandsupply—house，abarn，andsmallseparateshantiesforthemarriedmen。Belowmorelabourerswithpicks，ewreckoftheNORTHSTAR，thegoldandsilvershells，theglitteringgeodesandpyrites，thesandal—woodfan，andallthehundredandoneknick—knacksitwasthenthecustomtocollectunderglass。Theyevenventuredpartwayupthecreakyatticstairs，butitwastoodarktoenterthatmysteriousregion。
\"Ihearthedripofwater，\"shewhispered，herfingeronherlips。
\"It’sthetank，\"saidOrde。
\"AndhasitaDarkPlacebehindit？\"shebegged。
\"That’sjustwhatithas，\"saidhe。
\"And——tellme——arethererealhairtrunkswithbrassknobson’em？\"
\"Yes，motherhastwoorthree。\"
\"O—o—h！\"shebreathedsoftly。\"Don’ttellmewhat’sinthem。I
wanttobelieveinbrocadesandsashes。Doyouknow，\"shelookedathimsoberly，\"Ineverhadanydarkplacesbehindthetank，normysterioustrunks，whenIwasachild。\"
\"Youmightbeginnow，\"suggestedOrde。
\"DoyoumeantoinsinuateIhaven’tgrownup？\"shemocked。\"Thankyou！LookOUT！\"shecriedsuddenly，\"theBoojumwillcatchus，\"andpickingupherskirtsshefairlyflewdownthenarrowstairs。Ordecouldhearthelightswishofherdraperiesdownthehall，andthenthepatofherfeetonthestaircarpetofthelowerflight。
Hefollowedratherdreamily。Aglanceintothesitting—roomshowedthegroupgatheredclosearoundthefirelisteningtoLemCollin’sattemptataghoststory。Shewasnotthere。Hefoundher，then，intheparlour。Shewaskneelingonthefloorbeforetheglasscabinetofcuriosities，andshehadquiteflattenedherlittlenoseagainstthepane。Athisexclamationshelookedupwithalaugh。
\"Thisistheproperaltitudefromwhichtoviewacabinetofcuriosities，\"saidshe，\"andsomethingtellsmeyououghttoflattenyournose，too。\"Sheheldoutbothhandstobehelpedup。\"Oh，WHATahouseforachild！\"shecried。
Afterthecompanyhadgone，Ordestoodlongbythefrontgatelookingupintotheinfinitespaces。Somehow，andvaguely，hefeltthenighttobeakintoherelusivespirit。Fartherandfartherhissoulpenetratedintoitsdepths；andyetotherdepthslaybeyond，othermysteries，otherunguessedrealms。Andyetitsbeautywasthesimplicityofspaceanddarkandthestars。
Thenexttimehesawherwasatherownhouse——orratherthehouseofthefriendshevisited。OrdewenttocallonFridayeveningandwasluckyenoughtofindthegirlshomeandalone。AfteradecentintervalJanemadeanexcuseandwentout。Theytalkedonagreatvarietyofsubjects，andwithaconsiderableapproachtowardintimacy。NotuntilnearlytimetogodidOrdestumbletowritetoyoungmen。\"
\"Oh！\"hecried，believinghimselfenlightened。\"WillyouanswerifIwriteyou？\"
\"Thatdepends。\"
\"Onwhat？\"
\"Onwhetherthereisareplytomake。\"
\"ButmayIwriteyou？\"
\"IsupposeIcouldn’tverywellpreventyou，ifyouweresuretoputonathree—centstamp。\"
\"Doyouwantmeto？\"persistedOrde。
Shebegangentlytolaugh，quitetoherself，asthoughenjoyingajokeentirelywithinherownpersonalprivilege。
\"Youaresodirectandpersistentandboy—like，\"saidshepresently。
\"Nowifyou’llbeverygood，andnotwhispertotheotherlittlepupils，I’lltellyouhowtheydosuchthingsusually。\"Shesatupstraightfromthedepthsofherchair，herwhite，delicatelytaperingforearmsrestinglightlyonherknees。\"Youngmendesiringtocommunicatewithyoungladiesdonotaskthembluntly。Theymakesomeexcuse，likesendingabook，amagazine，amarkednewspaper，orevenabitofdesiredinformation。Atthesametime，theysendnotesinformingthegirlofthefact。Thegirlisnaturallyexpectedtoacknowledgethepoliteness。Ifshewishesthecorrespondencetocontinue，sheasksaquestion，orinsomeotherwayleavesanopening。Doyousee？\"
\"Yes，Isee，\"saidOrde，slightlycrestfallen。\"Butthat’salongtimetowait。Iliketofeelsettledaboutathing。Iwantedtoknow。\"
Shedroppedbackagainstthecushionedslantofhereasychair，andlaughedagain。