\"Ifyouhadbeenaboy，andIownIamgladyouwerenot——amanwantsadaughter——IshouldhavebeenquitewillingtoallowyouyourflutteronWallStreet，oryourtryatanythingyoufeltyouwouldliketohandle。Itwouldhaveinterestedmetolookonandseewhatyouweremadeof，whatyouwanted，andhowyousetabouttryingtogetit。It’sanewkindofdealyouhaveundertaken。It’smoreromanticthanWallStreet，butIthinkIdoseewhatyouseeinit。EvenapartfromRosyandtheboy，itwouldinterestmetoseewhatyouwoulddowithit。Thisisyour`flutter。’Ilikethewayyoufaceit。Ifyouwereasoninsteadofadaughter，IshouldseeImighthaveconfidenceinyou。IcouldnotconfidetoWallStreetwhatIwilltellyou——whichisthatinthemidstofthedriveandswirlandtumultofmylifehere，Ilikewhatyouseeinthething，Ilikeyourideaofthelordoftheland，whoshouldlovethelandandthesoulsbornonit，andbethefriendandstrengthofthemandgivethebestandgetitbackinfairexchange。There’sasteadinessinthethoughtofsuchalifeamongone’skindwhichhasattractionsforamanwhohasspentyearsinamaelstrom，snatchingatwhatwhirlsamongtheeddiesofit。Yournotesandsketchesandsummingupofprobablecostsdidusbothcredit——Isay`both’becauseyourbusinesseducationistheresultofourlongtalksandjourneyingstogether。Youbegantotrainforthiswhenyoubegangoingtovisitminesandrailroadswithmeattwelveyearsold。
Ileavethewholethinginyourhands，mygirl，IleaveRosyinyourhands，andinleavingRosytoyou，youknowhowIamtrustingyouwithyourmother。Yourletterstohertellheronlywhatisgoodforher。Sheisbeginningtolookhappierandyoungeralready，andislookingforwardtothedaywhenRosyandtheboywillcomehometovisitus，andwhenweshallgoinstatetoStornhamCourt。Godblessher，sheismadeupofaffectionandsimpletrust，andthatmakesiteasytokeepthingsfromher。Shehasneverbeenill—treated，andsheknowsIloveher，sowhenItellherthatthingsarecomingright，sheneverdoubtsme。
\"WhileyouarerebuildingtheplaceyouwillrebuildRosysothatthesightofhermaynotbeapainwhenhermotherseesheragain，whichiswhatsheislivingfor。\"
CHAPTERXXIII
INTRODUCINGG。SELDEN
Abirdwaspercheduponaswayingbranchofaslimyoungsaplingnearthefence—supportedhedgewhichboundedthepark，andMountDunstanhadstoppedtolookatitandlisten。Asoftshowerhadfallen，andafteritspassing，thesuncomingthroughthelightclouds，therehadbrokenforthagaininthetreesbrieftrillsandcallsandflutingofbirdnotes。
Theswardandfernsglitteredfreshgreenundertheraindrops；
theyoungleavesontreesandhedgeseemedvisiblytouncurl，theuncoveredearthlookedrichlydarkandmoist，andsentforththefragrancefromitsdeeps，which，risingtoaman’snostrils，stirsandthrillshimbecauseitisthescentoflife’sself。
Thebirduponthesaplingwasarobin，thetinyroundbodypercheduponhisdelicatelegs，plumpandbrightplumagedformating。Hetouchedhiswarmredbreastwithhisbeak，fluffedoutandshookhisfeathers，and，swellinghisthroat，pouredforthhissmall，entrancedsong。Itwasagay，brief，jauntything，butpure，joyous，gallant，liquidmelody。Therewasdaintybravadoinit，saucydemandandallurement。Itwasaddressedtosomeinvisiblehearerofthetendersex，andwheresoevershemightbehidden——whetheringreatbranchorlowthicketorhedge——therewashintednodoubtinhersmallwooer’snotethatshewouldhearitandinduetimerespond。MountDunstan，listening，evenlaughedatitsconfidentmusic。ThetinythingutteringitsCalloftheWorld——jubilantinthesuretyofanswer！
Havingflungitforth，hepausedamomentandwaited，hissmallheadturnedsideways，hisbig，round，dew—brightblackeyeroguishlyattentive。Thenwithmoreswellingofthethroathetrilledandrippledgaylyanew，undisturbedandundoubting，butwithatrifleofinsistence。Thenhelistened，triedagaintwoorthreetimes，withbravechirpsandexultantlittleroulades。\"HereamI，thebright—breasted，theliquid—eyed，theslender—legged，thejoyousandconquering！Listentome——listentome。ListenandanswerinthecallofGod’sworld。\"
Itwasthejoyandtriumphantfaithinthetinynoteofthetinything——Lifeashehimselfwas，thoughLifewhosemysteryhisman’shandcouldhavecrushed——which，whilehelaughed，setMountDunstanthinking。Springwarmthandspringscentsandspringnotessetaman’sbeingintunewithinfinitethings。
Thebrightrouladebeganagain，prolongeditselfwithrenewedeffort，rosetoitsheight，andended。Fromabushinthethicketfartheruptheroadaliquidanswercame。AndMountDunstan’slaughatthesoundofitwasechoedbyanotherwhichcameapparentlyfromthebankrisingfromtheroadontheothersideofthehedge，andaccompanyingthelaughwasagood—naturednasalvoice。
\"She’scaughton。There’snomistakeaboutthat。Iguessit’stimeforyoutohustle，Mr。Rob。\"
MountDunstanlaughedagain。JemSalterhadheardvoiceslikeit，andcheerfulslangphrasesofthesameorderinhisranchdays。Ontheothersideofhisparkfencetherewasevidentlysitting，throughsomeoddchance，anAmericanofthecheery，casualorder，notsufficientlypolishedbytraveltohavelosthispicturesquenationalcharacteristics。
MountDunstanputahandonabrokenpaneloffenceandleapedoverintotheroad。
Abicyclewaslyingupontheroadsidegrass，andonthebank，lookingasthoughhehadbeenshelteringhimselfunderthehedgefromtherain，satayoungmaninacheapbicyclingsuit。Hisfeaturesweresharplycutandkeen，hiscapwaspushedbackfromhisforehead，andhehadapairofshrewdlycarelessboyisheves。
MountDunstanlikedthelookofhim，andseeinghisnaturalstartattheunheraldedleapoverthegap，whichwasquiteclosetohim，hespoke。
\"Good—morning，\"hesaid。\"IamafraidIstartledyou。\"
\"Good—morning，\"wastheresponse。\"Itwasabitofajoltseeingyoujumpalmostovermyshoulder。Wheredidyoucomefrom？Youmusthavebeenjustbehindme。\"
\"Iwas，\"explainedMountDunstan。\"Standingintheparklisteningtotherobin。\"
Theyoungfellowlaughedoutright。
\"Say，\"hesaid，\"thatwasprettyfine，wasn’tit？Wasn’thegettingitoffhischest！HewasanEnglishrobin，Iguess。
Americanrobinsarethreeorfourtimesasbig。Ilikedthatlittlechap。Hewasawinner。\"
\"YouareanAmerican？\"
\"Sure，\"nodding。\"GoodoldStarsandStripesformine。
FirsttimeI’vebeenhere。Camepartforbusinessandpartforpleasure。Havingthetimeofmylife。\"
MountDunstansatdownbesidehim。Hewantedtohearhimtalk。Hehadlikedtoheartheranchmentalk。Thisonewasofthecitytype，buthisgenialconversationalwanderingswouldbefullofquaintslangandgoodspirits。Hewasquitereadytoconverse，aswasmademanifestbyhisnextspeech。
\"I’mbikingthroughthecountrybecauseIoncehadanoldgrandmotherthatwasEnglish，andshewasalwaystalkingaboutEnglishcountry，andhowgreenthingswas，andhowtherewashedgesinsteadofrailfences。ShethoughttherewasnothinglikelittleoldEngland。Well，asfarasroadsandhedgesgo，I’mwithher。They’reallright。IwantedafellowI
metcrossing，tocomewithme，buthetookaCook’striptoParis。He’sagaysortofboy。Saidhedidn’twantanygreenlanesinhis。HewantedBoolyvard。\"Helaughedagainandpushedhiscapfartherbackonhisforehead。\"SaidI
wasn’tmuchofasport。ItellYOU，achapthat’sgottoearnhisfifteenper，andliveonit，can’tbeTOOmuchofasport。\"
\"Fifteenper？\"MountDunstanrepeateddoubtfully。
Hiscompanionchuckled。
\"IforgotIwastalkingtoanEnglishman。Fifteendollarsperweek——that’swhat`fifteenper’means。That’swhathetoldmehegetsatLobenstien’sbreweryinNewYork。Fifteenper。Notmuch，isit？\"
\"HowdoeshemanageContinentaltravelonfifteenper？\"
MountDunstaninquired。
\"He’satypewriterandstenographer，andhedugupsomeextrajobstodoatnight。He’sbeenworkingandsavingtwoyearstodothis。Wedidn’tcomeoverononeofthebiglinerswiththeFourHundred，youcanbet。Tookacheapone，insidecabin，secondclass。\"
\"ByGeorge！\"saidMountDunstan。\"ThatwasAmerican。\"
TheAmericaneagleslightlyflappedhiswings。Theyoungmanpushedhiscapatriflesidewaysthistime，andflushedalittle。
\"Well，whenanAmericanwantsanythinghegenerallyreachesoutforit。\"
\"Wasn’titrather——rash，consideringthefifteenper？\"MountDunstansuggested。Hewasreallybeginningtoenjoyhimself。
\"What’stheuseofmakingadollarandsittingonit。I’venotgotfifteenper——steady——andhereIam。\"
MountDunstanknewhisman，andlookedathimwithinquiringinterest。Hewasquitesurehewouldgoon。Thiswasathinghehadseenbefore——anutterfreedomfromtheinsulargrudgingreserve，asortofoccultperceptionofthepresenceoffriendlysympathy，andaningenuousreadinesstomeetithalfway。Theyoungster，havingmissedhisfellow—traveler，andprobablyfeelingthelackofcompanionshipinhiscountryrides，wasinthemoodforself—revelation。
\"I’msellingforabigconcern，\"hesaid，\"andI’vegotafirst—classarticletocarry。Uptodate，youknow，andallthat。It’sthetopnotchoftypewritingmachines，theDelkoff。
Everseenit？Here’smycard，\"takingacardfromaninsidepocketandhandingittohim。Itwasinscribed：
J。BURRIDGE&SON，DELKOFFTYPEWRITERCO。
BROADWAY，NEWYORK。G。SELDEN。
\"That’smyname，\"hesaid，pointingtotheinscriptioninthecorner。\"I’mG。Selden，thejuniorassistantofMr。Jones。\"
Atthesightoftheinsigniaofhistrade，hisholidayairdroppedfromhim，andhehastilydrewfromanotherpocketanillustratedcatalogue。
\"Ifyouuseatypewriter，\"hebrokeforth，\"Icanassureyouitwouldbetoyourinteresttolookatthis。\"AndasMountDunstantooktheprofferedpamphlet，andwithamiablegravityopenedit，herapidlypouredforthhissalesman’spatter，scarcelypausingtotakehisbreath：\"It’sthemostup—to—datemachineonthemarket。Ithasallthelatestimprovedmechanicalappliances。Youwillseefromthecutinthecataloguethattheplatenrolleriseasilyremovedwithoutalongmechanicaloperation。Allyoudoistosliptwopinsbackandoffcomestheroller。Thereisalsoanotherpointworthmentioning——theribbonswitch。Byusingthisribbonswitchyoucanwriteineitherredorblueinkwhileyouareusingonlyoneribbon。
Bythrowingtheswitchonthisside，youcanusethirteenyardsontheupperedgeoftheribbon，byreversingit，youusethirteenyardsontheloweredge——thusgettingpracticallytwenty—sixyardsofgood，serviceableribbonoutofonethatisonlythirteenyardslong——makingasavingoffiftypercent。inyourribbonexpenditurealone，whichyouwillseeisquiteanitemtoanyenterprisingfirm。\"
Hewasobligedtopausehereforasecondorso，butasMountDunstanexhibitednosignsofintendingtouseviolence，and，onthecontrary，continuedtoinspectthecatalogue，hebrokeforthwithrenewedcheeryvolubility：
\"Anotheradvantageisthenewbasketshift。Also，thecarriageonthismachineisperfectlystationaryandrigid。Onallothermachinesitisfastenedbyaseriesofconnectingboltsandlinks，whichyouwillreadilyunderstandmakesperfectalignmentuncertain。Thenourtabulatorisapartandparceloftheinstrument，costingyounothingmorethantheoriginalpriceofthemachine，whichisonehundreddollars——withoutdiscount。\"
\"Itseemsagoodthing，\"saidMountDunstan。\"IfIhadmuchbusinesstotransact，Ishouldbuyone。\"
\"Ifyouboughtoneyou’dHAVEbusiness，\"respondedSelden。
\"That’swhat’sthematter。It’stheup—to—datemachinesthatsetthingshumming。Aslow，old—fashionedtypewriterusesafirm’stime，andtime’smoney。\"
\"Idon’tfinditso，\"saidMountDunstan。\"IhavemoretimethanIcanpossiblyuse——andnomoney。\"
G。Seldenlookedathimwithfriendlyinterest。Hisexperience，whichwasvaried，hadtaughthimtorecognizesymptoms。Thisnice，rough—lookingchap，who，despitehisrathershabbyclothes，lookedlikeagentleman，woreanexpressionJones’sjuniorassistanthadseenmanyatimebefore。Hehadseenitfrequentlyonthecountenancesofotherjuniorassistantswhohadtrampedthestreetsandmetmoreorlesssavagerebuffsthroughaday’slength，withoutdisposingofasingleDelkoff，andtherebyaddingfivedollarstothetenper。Itwasthekindofthingwhichwipedtheyouthoutofaman’sfaceandgavehimahard，wornlookabouttheeyes。Hehadlookedlikethathimselfmanyanunfeelingdaybeforehehadlearnedto\"knowtheropesandnotmindabitofhotair。\"
Hisbuoyant，slangysoulwasafriendlything。Hewasagregariouscreature，andlikedhisfellowman。Hefelt，indeed，moreateasewithhimwhenheneeded\"jollyingalong。\"
Reticencewasnotevenetiquetteinacaseasusualasthis。
\"Say，\"hebrokeout，\"perhapsIoughtn’ttohaveworriedyou。
Areyouupagainstit？Downonyourluck，Imean，\"inhastytranslation。
MountDunstangrinnedalittle。
\"That’saverygoodwayofputtingit，\"heanswered。\"I
neverheard`upagainstit’before。It’sgood。Yes，I’mupagainstit。
\"Outofajob？\"withgenialsympathy。
\"Well，thejobIhadwastoobigforme。Itneededcapital。\"Hegrinnedslightlyagain，recallingaphraseofhisWesternpast。\"I’mafraidI’mdownandout。\"
\"No，you’renot，\"withcheerfulscorn。\"You’renotdead，areyou？S’longasaman’snotbeendeadamonth，there’salwaysachancethatthere’sluckroundthecorner。Howdidyouhappenhere？Areyoupikingit？\"
MomentarilyMountDunstanwasbaffled。G。Selden，recognisingthefact，enlightenedhim。\"That’sNewYorkagain，\"
hesaid，withaboyishtouchofapology。\"Itmeansonthetramp。Travellingalongtheturnpike。Youdon’tlookasifyouhadcometothat——thoughit’squeerthesortoffellowsyoudomeetpikingsometimes。Theatricalcompaniesthathavegonetopiecesontheroad，youknow。Perhaps——\"withasuddenthought，\"you’reanactor。Areyou？\"
MountDunstanadmittedtohimselfthathelikedthejuniorassistantofJonesimmensely。Amoreingenuouslycommonyoungman，amoreinnocentoutsider，ithadneverbeenhisblessedprivilegetoenterintocloseconversewith，buthisverycommonnesswasahealthy，normalthing。Itmadenoefforttowreatheitselfwithchapletsofelegance；itwasbeautifullyunawarethatsuchadornmentwasnecessary。Itenjoyeditself，youthfully；attackedtheearningofitsbreadwithgenialpluck，anditsgood—naturedhumannesshadtouchedhim。Hehadenjoyedhistalk；hewantedtohearmoreofit。Hewasnotinthemoodtolethimgohisway。ToPenzance，whowastolunchwithhimto—day，hewouldpresentastudyofabsorbinginterest。
\"No，\"heanswered。\"I’mnotanactor。MynameisMountDunstan，andthisplace，\"withanodoverhisshoulder，\"ismine——butI’mupagainstit，nevertheless。\"
Seldenlookedatrifledisgusted。Hebegantopickuphisbicycle。Hehadgivenadegreeofnaturalsympathy，andthiswasanEnglishchap’sideaofajoke。
\"I’mthePrinceofWales，myself，\"heremarked，\"andmymother’sexpectingmetolunchatWindsor。Solong，melord，\"andhesethisfootonthetreadle。
MountDunstanrose，feelingratherawkward。Thepointseemedsomewhatdifficulttocontend。
\"Itisnotajoke，\"hesaid，consciousthathespokeratherstiffly。
\"LittleWillie’snotquiteaseasyashelooks，\"wasthecrypticremarkofMr。Selden。
MountDunstanlosthisrathereasilylosttemper，whichhappenedtobethebestthinghecouldhavedoneunderthecircumstances。
\"Damnit，\"heburstout。\"I’mnotsuchafoolasIevidentlylook。AniceassIshouldbetoplayanidiotjokelikethat。
I’mspeakingthetruth。Goifyoulike——andbehanged。\"
Selden’sattentionwasarrested。Thefellowwasinearnest。
Theplacewashis。Hemustbetheearlchaphehadheardspokenofatthewaysidepublichousehehadstoppedatforapotofbeer。Hedismountedfromhisbicycle，andcameback，pushingitbeforehim，good—naturedrelentingandawkwardnesscombininginhislook。
\"Allright，\"hesaid。\"Iapologise——ifit’scoldfact。I’mnotcallingyoualiar。\"
\"Thankyou，\"stillalittlestiffly，fromMountDunstan。
TheunabashedgoodcheerofG。Seldencarriedhimlightlyoveraslightlydifficultmoment。Helaughed，pushinghiscapback，ofcourse，andlookingoverthehedgeatthesweepofpark，withagroupofdeercroppingsoftlyintheforeground。
\"IguessIshouldgetabithotmyself，\"hevolunteeredhandsomely，\"ifIwasanearl，andownedaplacelikethis，andafoolfellowcamealongandtookmeforatramp。Thatwasaprettybadbreak，wasn’tit？ButIdidsayyoudidn’tlooklikeit。Anywayyouneedn’tmindme。Ishouldn’tgetontoPierpontMorganorW。K。Vanderbilt，ifImet’eminthestreet。\"
HespokethetwonamesasanEnglishmanofhisclasswouldhavespokenoftheDukesofWestminsterorMarlborough。
Thesewerehisnobles——theheadsofthegreatAmericanhouses，andentirelyparallel，inhismind，withtheheadsofanygreathouseinEngland。Theywieldedthepoweroftheworld，andcouldwielditforevilorgood，asanyprinceordukemight。
MountDunstansawtheparallel。
\"Iapologise，allright，\"G。Seldenendedgenially。
\"Iamnotoffended，\"MountDunstananswered。\"Therewasnoreasonwhyyoushouldknowmefromanotherman。
Iwastakenforagamekeeperafewweekssince。Iwassavageamoment，becauseyourefusedtobelieveme——andwhyshouldyoubelievemeafterall？\"
G。Seldenhesitated。Helikedthefellowanyhow。
\"Yousaidyouwereupagainstit——thatwasit。And——andI’veseenchapsdownontheirluckoftenenough。GoodLord，thehard—luckstoriesIheareverydayofmylife。Andtheygetasortoflookabouttheeyesandmouth。Ihatetoseeitonanyfellow。Itmakesmesortofsicktocomeacrossiteveninachapthat’sonlygothisfoolselftoblame。Imaybemakinganotherbreak，tellingyou——butyoulookedsortofthatway。\"
\"Perhaps，\"stolidly，\"Idid。\"Then，hisvoicewarming，\"Itwasjollygood—naturedofyoutothinkaboutitatall。
Thankyou。\"
\"That’sallright，\"inpoliteacknowledgment。Thenwithanotherlookoverthehedge，\"Say——whatoughtItocallyou？
Earl，ormyLord？\"
\"It’snotnecessaryforyoutocallmeanythinginparticular——asarule。Ifyouwerespeakingofme，youmightsayLordMountDunstan。\"
G。Seldenlookedrelieved。
\"Idon’twanttobetoomuchoff，\"hesaid。\"AndI’dliketoaskyouafavour。I’veonlythreeweekshere，andI
don’twanttomissanychances。\"
\"Whatchancewouldyoulike？\"
\"OneofthethingsI’mbikingoverthecountryfor，istogetalookatjustsuchaplaceasthis。Wehaven’tgot’eminAmerica。Myoldgrandmotherwasalwaystalkingaboutthem。BeforehermotherbroughthertoNewYorkshe’dlivedinavillagenearsomeparkgates，andshechinnedaboutittillshedied。WhenIwasalittlechapIlikedtohearher。Shewasn’tmuchofanAmerican。Woreablacknetcapwithpurpleribbonsinit，andhadn’toutlivedherrespectforaristocracy。Gee！\"chuckling，\"ifshe’dheardwhatI
saidtoyoujustnow，Ireckonshe’dhavethrownafit。AnyhowshemademefeelI’dliketoseethekindofplacesshetalkedabout。AndIshallthinkmyselfinluckifyou’llletmehavealookatyours——justabikearoundthepark，ifyoudon’tobject——orI’llleavethebikeoutside，ifyou’drather。\"
\"Idon’tobjectatall，\"saidMountDunstan。\"Thefactis，Ihappenedtobeonthepointofaskingyoutocomeandhavesomelunch——whenyougotonyourbicycle。\"
Seldenpushedhiscapandclearedhisthroat。
\"Iwasn’texpectingthat，\"hesaid。\"I’mprettydusty，\"
withaglanceathisclothes。\"Ineedawashandbrushup——
particularlyifthereareladies。\"
Therewerenoladies，andhecouldbemadecomfortable。
Thisbeingexplainedtohim，hewasobviouslyrejoiced。Withunembarrassedfrankness，heexpressedexultation。Suchluckhadnot，atanytime，presenteditselftohimasapossibilityinhisholidayscheme。
\"Bygee，\"heejaculated，astheywalkedunderthebroadoaksoftheavenueleadingtothehouse。\"Speakingofluck，thisisthelimit！Ican’thelpthinkingofwhatmygrandmotherwouldsayifshesawme。\"
Hewasaneworderofcompanion，butbeforetheyhadreachedthehouse，MountDunstanhadbeguntofindhiminspiringtothespirits。Hisjovial，ifcrudeyouth，hisunaffectedacknowledgmentofunaccustomednesstograndeur，evenwhenindilapidation，hisdelightinthenoveltyoftheparticularformsofeverythingabouthim——treesandsward，fernsandmoss，hisopenself—congratulation，werewithoutdoubtcheerfulthings。
Hisexclamation，whentheycamewithinsightofthehouseitself，wasforamomentdisturbingtoMountDunstan’scomposure。
\"Hullygee！\"hesaid。\"Theoldladywasright。AllI’vethoughtabout’emwas’wayoff。It’sbiggerthanamuseum。\"Hisapprovalwasimmense。
Duringtheabsenceinwhichhewassuppliedwiththe\"washandbrushup，\"MountDunstanfoundMr。Penzanceinthelibrary。Heexplainedtohimwhathehadencountered，andhowithadattractedhim。
\"YouhavelikedtohearmedescribemyWesternneighbours，\"
hesaid。\"ThisyoungsterisaNewYorkdevelopment，andofadifferenttype。Butthereisalikeness。Ihaveinvitedtolunchwithus，ayoungmanwhom——Tenham，forinstance，ifhewerehere——wouldcall`abounder。’Heisnothingofthesort。Inhisjunior—assistant—salesmanway，heisratherafinething。Ineversawanythingmoredecentlyhumanthanhiswayofaskingme——mantoman，makingfriendsbytheroadsideifIwas`upagainstit。’NootherfellowIhaveknownhaseverexhibitedthesamehealthysympathy。\"
TheReverendLewiswasentranced。Alreadyhewasreallyquiteflushedwithinterest。AsAssyriancharacter，engraveduponsarcophogi，wouldhavealluredandthrilledhim，sowashealluredbythecrypticnatureofthetwoorthreeAmericanslangphrasesMountDunstanhadrepeatedtohim。Hiswasthestudent’ssimpleardour。
\"Upagainstit，\"heechoed。\"Really！Dear！Dear！Andthatsignifies，yousay————\"
\"Apparentlyitmeansthatamanhascomefacetofacewithanobstacledifficultorimpossibletoovercome。\"
\"But，uponmyword，thatisnotbad。Itisstrongfigureofspeech。Itbringsupapicture。Amanhurryingtoanend——muchdesired——comesunexpectedlyuponastonewall。
Onecanalmostheartheimpact。Heisupagainstit。Mostvivid。Excellent！Excellent！\"
ThenatureofSelden’scallingwassuchthathewasnotaccustomedtobeingreceivedwithahintofenthusiasticwelcome。
Therewassomethingalmostakintothisinthevicar’scourteouslyamiable，aquilinecountenancewhenherosetoshakehandswiththeyoungmanonhisentrance。Mr。Penzancewasindeedslightlydisappointedthathisgreetingwasnotrespondedtobysomecharacteristicphrasing。HisAmericanwasthatofSamSlickandArtemusWard，PunchandvariousEnglishwitticismsinanecdote。LifeatthevicarageofDunstanhadnotrevealedtohimthatthemodelhadbecomearchaic。
TherevelationdawneduponhimduringhisintercoursewithG。Selden。Theyoungmaninhischeapbicyclingsuitwasanewdevelopment。HewasmarkedlyunlikeanEnglishyouthofhisclass，ashewasneithershy，norlaboriouslyathisease。Thathewasathiseasetoquiteanamazingdegreemightperhapshavebeenremotelyresentedbytheinsularmind，accustomedtoanotherorderofbearinginitssocialinferiors，haditnotbeensoobviouslyfoundedonentireunconsciousnessofself，andsomingledwithopenappreciationoftheunanticipatedpleasuresoftheoccasion。NothingcouldhavebeenfartherfromG。Seldenthananydesiretoattempttoconveytheimpressionthathehadenjoyedthehospitalityofpersonsofrankonpreviousoccasions。Hefoundindeedagleefulpointinthejokeoftheincongruousnessofhisownpresenceamidsuchsurroundings。