Havingderivedthismuchsatisfactionfrommyreflections，Iwentdownstairs。Dorindawassettingthetableforsupper。ShelookedatmeasIcamein。
\"Beenvisitin’，Ihear，\"sheobserved，wipinganimaginaryspeckfromthecornerofaplatewithher\"afternoon\"apron。
\"Yes，\"saidI。
\"Um—hm，\"saidDorinda。\"Haveagoodtime？\"
Ismiled。\"Ihadaninterestingone，\"Itoldher。
\"Um—hm，Ijudgedso，fromwhatLutesaid。\"
\"WhereisLute？\"
\"Outinthebarn，beddin’downthehorse。Thatis，Itoldhimtodothat，buthisheadwassofullofyouandwhatyoutoldhimyousaidtoMr。ColtonthatIshouldn’tbesurprisedifhe’sbeddeddownthehensandwashuntin’inthemangerforeggs。\"
\"LutethinksI’vegonecrazy，\"Iobserved。
\"Um—hm。Hewasallforfetchin’thedoctorrightoff，butItoldhimIcal’latedwecouldbearwithyourravin’sforaspell。Didyousaywhathesaidyousaid？\"
\"I’mafraidIdid。\"
\"Um—hm。Well，itdidn’tdoanygood，didit？\"
\"Good？Whatdoyoumean？\"
\"Imeanhedidn’tobeyorders——Colton，thatis。\"
\"Hehadn’twhenIleft。\"
\"Ithoughtnot。Ineversawanygoodcomefromprofanelanguageyet；and，besides，judgin’fromwhatIhearaboutthewaythatColtonmanlives，andwhathedoesonSundaysandall，he’llmaketheportyousenthimtowhenhistimecomes。Allyouneedispatience。\"
Ilaughed，andshebegansortingtheplatedspoons。Wehadsilverones，butDorindainsistedonkeepingthosetousewhenwehadcompany。Inconsequenceweusedthemabouttwiceayear，whentheministercame。
\"Ofcourse，\"shesaid，\"Iain’taskin’youwhathappenedoverthereorwhyhewantedtoseeyou。ButIgiveyoufairwarnin’that，ifIdon’t，Lutewill。Lute’ssostuffedwithcuriositythathe’sli’bletobustthestitchesanyminute。\"
\"I’lltellyouboth，atsupper，\"Isaid。
\"Um—hm，\"saidDorinda。\"Well，Icanwait，andLute’llhaveto。Bytheway，\"sheadded，seeingmeabouttoenterMother’sroom，\"ifit’sanythingtoounpleasantIwouldn’tworryComfortwithit。
She’llwanttoknow，ofcourse，butI’dsortofsmooththeedges。\"
Motherdidwanttoknow，andItoldher，\"smoothingtheedges\"allIcould。Iomittedmyfinalorderto\"BigJim\"andIsaidnothingwhateverabouthisdaughter。MotherseemedtothinkIhaddonerightinrefusingtosell，though，asusual，shewasreadytomakeallowancesfortheotherside。
\"Poorwoman，\"shesaid，\"Isupposethenoiseofthewagonsandallthatareannoyingtoanyonewithweaknerves。Itmustbedreadfultobeinthatcondition。Iamsosorryforher。\"
Shemeantit，too。ButI，rememberingtheColtonmansion，whatI
hadseenofit，andcontrastingitssplendorwiththebarenecessityofthatdarkenedbedroom，foundithardtosparepityforthesuffererfrom\"nerves。\"
\"Youneedn’tbe，\"Isaid，bitterly。\"Iimagineshewouldn’tthinkofyou，iftheconditionswerereversed。Idoubtifshethinksofanyonebutherself。\"
\"Youshouldn’tsaythat，Roscoe。Youdon’tknow。Youhavenevermether。\"
\"Ihavemettherestofthefamily。No，Mother，Ithinkyouneedn’thesorryforthatwoman。Shehaseverythingunderthesun。
Whereasyou——\"
\"Hush！hush！Thereisonethingshehasn’tgot。Shehasn’tasonlikeyou，Boy。\"
\"Humph！Thatmustbeaterribledeprivation。There！there！
Mother，Iwon’tbedisagreeable。Let’schangethesubject。DidMatildaDeancometoseeyouthisafternoon？\"
\"No。Ipresumeshewastoobusy。But，Roscoe，itisplainenoughwhyCaptainDeanspoketoyouabouttheLaneattheofficethismorning。Hemusthaveheard，somehow，thatMr。Coltonwishedtobuyit。\"
\"Yes。Or，ifhedidn’thearjustthat，heheardenoughtomakehimguesstherest。Heisprettyshrewd。\"
\"Youpromisedhimyouwouldn’tsellwithouttellinghimbeforehand。
ShallyoutellhimofMr。Colton’soffer？\"
\"Ifheasksme，Ishall，Isuppose。\"
\"Iwonderwhathewilldothen。DoyousupposehewilltrytopersuadetheSelectmentobuytheLaneforthetown？\"
\"Idon’tknow。Ishouldn’twonder。\"
\"Itwillbehardertorefusethetown’soffer。\"
\"Yes。Althoughthetowncan’taffordtopayColton’sprices。I
believethatmanwouldhaveraisedhisbidtoathousand，ifIhadlethim。Asamatterofbusinessandnothingelse，IsupposeIamfoolishnottopushthepriceashighaspossibleandthensell。
Thelandisworthlesstous。\"
\"Iknow。Butthisisn’tjustamatterofbusiness，isit？AndweDON’Tneedthemoney。We’renotrich，butwearen’tpoor，arewe，Boy。\"
\"No。No，ofcoursenot。But，Mother，justseewhatIcoulddo——
foryou——withathousanddollars。Why，therearesomanylittlethings，littleluxuries，thatyouneed。\"
\"Ihadrathernotgetthemthatway。No，Roscoe，Iwouldn’tselltoMr。Colton。AndIthinkIwouldn’tselltothetowneither。\"
\"Whynot？\"
\"Well，becausewedon’thavetosell，andsellingtoeitherpartywouldmakeill—feeling。Ishould——ofcourseI’monlyawoman；youareamanandknowmuchmoreaboutsuchthingsthanI——butwhynotletmattersstayjustastheyare？ThetownspeoplecanusetheLane，justastheyhavealwaysdone，and，asItoldyoubefore，everyonehasbeensokindtousthatIliketofeelwearedoingalittleinreturn。LetthemusetheLane，withoutcost。Whynot？\"
\"WhatdoyouthinktheColtonswouldsaytothat？\"
\"Perhapstheydon’tunderstandtherealsituation。ThenexttimeyouseeMr。Coltonyoucouldexplainmorefully；tellhimwhattheLanemeanstothetown，andsoon。I’msurehewouldunderstand，ifyoutoldhimthat。Andthen，ifthesightofthewagonswastooannoying，hecouldputupsomekindofascreen，orplantarowoffirtreesbythefence。Don’tyouthinkso？\"
Iimaginedthegreatman’sreplytosuchasuggestion。However，I
didnotexpressmythoughts。ItoldMothernottoworry，Iwassureeverythingwouldbeallright，and，asDorindacalledmetosupper，Iwentintothedining—room。
Lutewaswaitingformeatthetable，andDorinda，aftertakingthetrayintoMother’sroom，joinedus。Lutewassofullofexcitementandcuriositythathealmostforgottoeat，amiracleofitselfandmadegreaterbythefactthathedidnotaskasinglequestionuntilhiswifeaskedonefirst。Thenheaskedthreeinsuccession。
Dorinda，whowasquiteascuriousashebutwouldnothaveshownitfortheworld，stoppedhimatthebeginningofthefourth。
\"There！there！\"shesaid，sharply，\"thisissupposedtobeameal，notaparrotshop，andwe’rehumans，notapasselofbirdsonatelegraphwireallhollerin’atonce。Drinkyourteaandstopyourcawin’，LuteRogers。Ros’lltelluswhenhegetsready。WhatDID
Mr。Coltonwantofyou，Roscoe？\"
ItoldthemasmuchoftheinterviewattheColtons’asIthoughtnecessarytheyshouldknow。Lutekeptremarkablyquiet，forhim，untilInamedthefigureofferedbythemillionaire。Thenhecouldholdinnolonger。
\"Fivehundred！\"herepeated\"FivehundredDOLLARSfortheShoreLane！Five——\"
\"HeraisedittosixhundredandfiftybeforeIleft，\"Isaid。
\"SIXhundred！Sixhundred——andFIFTY！FortheShoreLane！Sixhun——\"
\"Sshh！shh！\"cutinDorinda。\"YousoundlikeSimEldredgesellin’
somethin’atauction。DObequiet！Andyoutoldhim，Roscoe——？\"
\"ItoldyouwhatItoldhim，\"Isaid。
\"Um—hm。Iain’tforgotit。Bequiet，Lute。Well，Roscoe，I
cal’lateyouknowyourownaffairsbest，but，judgin’fromsomehintsMatildyDeanhoveoutwhenshewasherethisafternoon，I
don’tbelieveyou’veheardthelastfromthatShoreLane。\"
\"MatildaDean！\"Irepeated。\"Why，MothersaidMatildawasn’thereto—day。\"
\"Um—hm。Well，shewashere，thoughComfortdidn’tknowit。Itookpainssheshouldn’t。Matildycomeaboutthreeo’clock，inthebuggy，alongwithNellie。Nelliewasdoin’thedrivin’，ofcourse，andhermotherwastellin’herhow，asusual。Idon’twonderthatgirlissuchameek，soft—spokenkindofthing。Betweenherpa’sbullyin’andherma’stongue，it’sawondershe’sgotanyspiritleft。ItwouldbeamercyifGeorgeTaylorshouldmarryherandtakeheroutofthathouse。MatildyhadanewbookonSpiritu’lismandshewasfiggerin’toreadsomeofitoutloudtoComfort，butI
headedheroff。Iknow_I_wouldn’twanttobeallstirredupabout’tests’and’materializations’andsuch，andsoItoldherComfortwasasleep。\"
\"Shewasn’tasleep，neither，\"declaredLute。\"Whatdidyoutellsuchawhopperasthatfor？You’realwayssailin’intomeifI
stretchayarntheleastmite。Why，lastAprilFoolDayyougivemeHailColumbyforjokin’youaboutamouseunderthekitchentable。Calledmeallkindsofnames，youdid——afteryougotdownoffthetable。\"
Hiswiferegardedhimscornfully。\"It’sprettyhardtorememberwhichISthatpartic’lardaywithyouaround，\"shesaid。\"I’dtoldComfortshe’doughttotakeanapandifshewan’ttakin’it’twan’tmyfault。Iwan’tgoin’tohaveherseein’hergranddad’sghostineverycorner。But，anyhow，Matildymadealittlecallonme，and，amongstthemillionotherthingsshesaid，wassomethin’
aboutCap’nJedhearin’thatMr。Coltonwascal’latin’toshutoffthatLane。MatildyhintedthatherhusbandandtheSelectmenmighthavealittletosayafore’twasclosed。Ifthat’ssoIguessyoumayhearfromhimaswellastheColtonman，Roscoe。\"
\"Perhaps，\"Isaid。IcouldseenouseinrepeatingmyconversationwithCaptainJed。
Dorindanodded。
\"Goin’totellthetowntogo——whereyousenttheotherone？\"sheasked，dryly。
\"Idon’tknow。\"
\"Humph！Well，\"withsomesarcasm，\"itmustbefinetobeinapositionwheremoney’snoobject。Inevertriedit，myself，butitsoundsgood。\"
Ididnotanswer。
\"Um—hm，\"shesaid。\"Well，anyhowitlookstome——Lute，youkeepstill——asiftherewasgoin’tobetwopartiesinDenboroaforethisLanebusinessisover。OnefortheColtonsandoneagainst’em。You’llhavetotakeonesideortheother，won’tyou，Roscoe？\"
\"Notnecessarily。\"
\"Goin’tosetonthefence，hey？\"
\"That’sagoodplaceTOsit，isn’tit？\"
Dorindasmiled，grimly。
\"Ifit’stherightkindofafence，maybe’tis，\"sheobserved。
\"Otherwisethepicketsareliabletomakeyouuncomf’tableafteraspell，Ipresumelikely。\"
Iwentoutsoonafterthis，formyeveningsmokeandwalkbythebluff。AsIleftthedining—roomIheardLutereiteratinghisbeliefthatIhadgonecrazy。Coltonhadsaidthesamething。I
wonderedwhatCaptainJed’sopinionwouldbe。
Whetheritwasanotherphaseofmyinsanityornot，Idon’tknow，butIwokethenextmorninginprettygoodspirits。Remembranceofthepreviousday’shumiliationstroubledmesurprisinglylittle。
Theydidnotseemnearlysogreatintheretrospect。Whatdifferencediditmaketomewhatthatcrowdofsnobsdidorsaidorthought？
However，therewasjustenoughbitternessinmymorning’sreviewofyesterday’shappeningstomakemealittlemorecarefulinmydress。Ididnotexpecttomeetmyaristocraticneighbors——I
devoutlywisheditmightbemygoodlucknevertomeetanyofthemagain——butinmakingselectionsfrommylimitedwardrobeIchosewithmorethoughtthanusual。DorindanoticedtheresultwhenI
camedowntobreakfast。
\"Gotyourothersuiton，ain’tyou，\"sheobserved。
\"Yes，\"saidI。
\"Goin’anywheresspecial？\"
\"No。Downtotheboathouse，that’sall。\"
\"Humph！Idon’tseewhatyouputthosebluepantsonfor。They’reawfulthingstoshowwaterspots。Didyouleaveyourbrownonesupstairs？Um—hm。Well，I’llgetat’emsometimeto—day。I
noticedtheywaswearin’alittle，sortof，onthebottomsofthelegs。\"
Ihadnoticedit，too，andthisreminderconfirmedmysuspicionsthatothershadmadethesameobservations。
\"I’lltryandmend’emthisafternoon，\"wentonDorinda，\"ifIcanfindtime。But，formercy’ssake，don’tspotthoseallup，forI
maynotgettime，andthenyou’dhavetowearyourSundayones。\"
Ipromised，curtly，tobecareful，and，aftersayinggoodmorningtoMother，Iwentdowntotheboathouseandsettoworkontheengine。ItwastheonlythinginthenatureofworkthatIhadtodo，but，somehoworother，IdidnotfeellikedoingitanymorethanIhadthedaybefore。Alittleofmygoodspiritswerewearingoff，likethelegsofmy\"other\"trousers，andafteranhourofintermittenttinkeringIthrewdownthewrenchanddecidedtogoforarow。Thesunwasshiningbrightly，butthebreezewasfresh，and，asmyskiffwaslowinthegunwaleandtherewaslikelytobesomewaterflying，Iputonanoldoilskin\"slicker\"andsou—westerbeforestarting。
Ihaddeterminedtorowacrossthebayovertothelighthouse，andaskBenSmall，thekeeper，iftherewereanysignsoffishalongshore。Thepullwasalongone，butIenjoyedeverystrokeofit。Thetidewasalmostfull，justbeginningtoebb，sotherewasscarcelyanycurrentandIcouldmakeastraightcutacross，insteadoffollowingthetortuouschannel。Myskiffwasaflatbottomedaffair，drawingverylittle，butinDenborobay，atlowtide，evenaflat—bottomedskiffhastobewareofsandandeel—
grass。
Smallwasbusywhitewashing，buthewasgladtoseeme。Ifyoukeepalighthouse，theaveragelighthouse，youaregladtoseeanybody。Heputhisbrushintothepailandinsistedonmycomingtothehouse，because\"theoldwoman，\"hiswife，wouldwanttohear\"allthesewin’circlenews。\"\"It’sthebiggesthardshipofherlife，\"saidBen，\"thatshehastomisssewin’circlewhenthebayicesin。Soon’sitclearsshe’satmetorowheracrosttothemeetin’s。I’vetookhertotwothisspring，butshemissedthelastone，onaccountofthiswhitewashin’，andshe’scrazytoknowwho’sbeentalkedaboutnow。Ifanythingdisgracefulhashappenedforthelandsakestellher；thenshe’llhemorereconciled。\"
Ihadnothingdisgracefultotell，butMrs。Smallwasgladtoseeme，nevertheless。Shebroughtoutdoughnutsandbeach—plumjellyandinsistedonmysamplingboth，thedoughnutsbecausetheywerejustmadeandshe\"mistrusted\"therewastoomuchflourinthem，andthejellybecauseitwassomeshehadleftoverandshewantedtoseeifIthoughtitwas\"keepin’\"allright。Afterthis，Bentookmeouttoseehishens，andthenwewalkedtothebackofthebeachandtalkedfish。TheforenoonwasalmostgonewhenIgotbacktotheskiff。ThetidehadebbedsofarthatthelightkeeperandIhadtopullthelittleboattwentyfeettolaunchher。
\"There！\"saidBen，\"nowyou’reafloat，ain’tyou。Cal’lateyou’llhavetogoway’roundRobinHood’sbarntokeepofftheflats。I
forgotaboutthetideorIwouldn’thavetalkedsomuch。Hello！
there’sanothercraftaboutyoursizeoffyonder。Somebodyelseoutrowin’。Twosomebodys。Myeyesain’tasgoodforpickin’emoutastheyusedtobe，butoneof’emISafemale，ain’tit？\"
Ilookedovermyshoulder，asIsatintheskiffandsaw，outinthemiddleofthebay，anotherrowboatwithtwopeopleinit。
\"Thatain’tadoryoraskiff，\"shoutedBen，raisinghisvoiceasI
pulledawayfromhim。\"WayshesetsoutofwaterI’dcallheralap—streakdingy。Ifthatfeller’stakin’hisgirloutrowin’
he’llhavetoworkhispassagehomeagainstthistide……Well，solong，Ros。Comeagain。\"
Inoddedagoodby，andsettleddownformylongrow，agooddeallongerthistimeonaccountoftheebb。Therewaswaterenoughonthissideofthebay，butonthevillagesidethechannelmadeawidedetourandIshouldbeobligedtofollowitfornearlyamileupthebay，beforeturninginbehindthelongsandbarwhichmadeoutfromthepointbeyondmyboathouse。
Thebreezehadgonedown，whichmaderowingeasier，butthepullofthetidemorethanoffsetthisadvantage。However，Ihadmasteredthattidemanytimesbeforeand，exceptthatthedelaymightmakemelatefordinner，theprospectdidnottroubleme。Iswungintothechannelandsettheskiff’sbowagainstthecurrent。ThenfromthebeachIhadjustleftIheardafainthail。Turningmyhead，I
sawBenSmallwavinghisarms。Hewasshoutingsomething，too，butIwastoofarawaytocatchthewords。
Thelightkeepercontinuedtoshoutandwave。Iliftedanoartoshowthathehadmyattention。Herecognizedthesignal，andbeganpointingoutoverthewaterasternofme。Ilookedwherehewaspointing。Icouldnotseeanythingoutoftheordinary。Exceptformyownskiffandthegulls，andtherowboatwiththetwopersonsinittherewasnothingastironthebay。ButBenkeptonwavingandpointing。AtlastIdecidedthatitmustbetherowboathewaspointingat。Istoppedrowingandlooked。
Therowboatwasagooddistanceoffanditsoccupantswerebutspecks。Nowoneofthespecksstoodupandwaveditsarms。SofarasIcouldsee，theboatwasdrifting；therewerenoflashesofsunlightonwetbladestoshowthattheoarswereinuse。No，itwasdrifting，and，asIlooked，itswungbroadsideon。Thestandingfigurecontinuedtowaveitsarms。
Thosepeoplemustbeintroubleofsomesort，Idecided，anditwasevidentthatSmallthoughtso，too。Therecouldnoimminentdangerthreatenfor，onadaylikethis，withnosearunning，therewasnothingtofearinthebay。If，however，theyshoulddriftoutofthebayitmightbeunpleasant。Andtheycertainlyweredrifting。
Iresignedmyselftotheindefinitepostponementofmydinner，swungtheskiffabout，andpulledashardasIcouldinthedirectionoftherowboat。
WiththetidetohelpmeImadegoodprogress，but，evenatthat，ittookmesometimetoovertakethedriftingcraft。Shewas，asBenhadsaid，alap—streaked，keel—bottomeddingy——goodenoughasayacht’stenderorindeepwater，buttheworstboatintheworldtorowaboutDenborobayatlowtide。Herhighrailcaughtwhatbreezetherewasblowingandthishelpedtopushheralong。
However，Igotwithineasyhailingdistanceafterawhileandcalled，overmyshoulder，toaskwhatwasthematter。
Aman’svoiceansweredme。
\"We’velostanoar，\"heshouted。\"We’redriftingouttosea。Lendusahand，willyou？\"
\"Allright，\"Ianswered。\"I’llbethereinaminute。\"
WithintheminuteIwasalmostalongside。ThenIturned，intendingtospeakagain；butIdidnot。ThetwopersonsinthedingywereVictor——Ididnotknowhisothername——andMabelColton。
Iwaswearingtheoilskinslickerandhadpulleddownthebrimofmysou’westertokeepthesunfrommyeyes；thereforetheyhadnotrecognizedmebefore。AndI，busyattheoarsandlookingovermyshoulderonlyoccasionally，hadnotrecognizedthem。Nowtherecognitionwasmutual。MissColtonspokefirst。
\"Why，Victor！\"shesaid，\"itis——\"
\"What？\"askedhercompanion。Then，lookingatme，\"Oh！it’syou，isit？\"
Ididnotanswer。Luckwascertainlyagainstme。NomatterwhereIwent，onlandorwater，Iwasfatedtomeetthesetwo。
Victor，apparently，wasthinkingthesamething。\"ByJove！\"heobserved；\"Mabel，weseemdestinedto……Humph！Well？Willyougiveusahand？\"
Themostprovokingpartofitwasthat，ifIhadknownwhowasinthatrowboat，Icouldhaveavoidedtheencounter。BenSmallcouldhavegonetotheirrescuejustaswellasI。However，hereIwas，andheretheywere。AndIcouldnotverywellgoawayandleavethem，underthecircumstances。
Victor’spatiencewasgivingway。
\"Whatareyouwaitingfor？\"hedemanded。\"Aren’tyougoingtohelpus？We’llpayyouforit。\"
Ipulledtheskiffalittlecloserand，drawinginmyoars，turnedandpickeduptheslackofmyanchorrope。
\"Here，\"Isaid，brusquely；\"catchthislineandI’lltowyou。\"
Itossedhimtheloopofropeandhecaughtit。
\"WhatshallIdowithit？\"heasked。
\"Holdit，justasitis，forthepresent。Whatbecameofyourotheroar？\"
\"Lostitoverboard。\"
\"Whydidn’tyouthrowoveryouranchorandwaitwhereyouwere？\"
Ithinkhehadnotthoughtoftheanchor，buthedidnotdeigntoexplain。Insteadhebeganpullingontheropeandthetwoboatsdrewtogether。
\"Don’tdothat，\"Isaid。\"Wait。\"
Iuntiedtherope，whereitwasmadefasttotheskiff’sbow，andwithitandtheanchorinmyhands，scrambledaftandwedgedtheanchorunderthesternthwartofthelittlecraft。
\"Now，\"Isaid，\"youcanpullintheslackuntilyougettotheend。
Thenmakeitfasttoyourbowsomewhere。\"
Isupposehedidhisbesttofollowinstructions，buttheropewasashortone，theendjerkedloosesuddenlyandhewentbackwardinaheap。Ithought，foraninstant，thathewasgoingoverboardandthatminewouldbethemixedpleasureoffishinghimout。
MissColtongavealittlescream，whichchangedtoarippleoflaughter。Imighthavelaughed，too，underdifferentcircumstances，butjustnowIdidnotfeellikeit。Besides，therope，havingflownoutofhishands，wasinthewateragainandthetwoboatsweredriftingapart。
\"Whatdidyoudothatfor？\"demandedthefallenone，scramblingtohisknees。Iheardasoundfromthedingy’ssternasiftheyoungladywastryingtostiflehermerriment。Victor，doubtless，heardit，too。
\"Whereareyougoing？\"hesputtered，angrily。\"Givemethatrope。\"
Igaveittohim，literallygaveit，forIpulledalongsideandputtheendinhishands。
\"Tieitinthebowofyourboat，\"Isaid。Hedidso。Idrewintheslackuntilafairtowinglengthremainedandmadeitfast。
WhilehewasbusyIventuredtoglanceatMissColton。Hereyesweresnappingwithfunandsheseemedtobeenjoyingthesituation。
But，catchingmylook，herexpressionchanged。Sheturnedawayandlookedindifferentlyouttosea。
Iswungtheskiff’sbowaround。
\"Wheredoyouwanttogo？\"Iasked。
Victoranswered。\"BacktoMr。Colton’slanding，\"hesaid。\"Getasmuchofamoveonasyoucan，willyou？I’llmakeitworthyourwhile。\"
Iwasasanxioustogetthereashewas。Ididnotcareforaquarrel，andIknewifhecontinuedtousethattoneinhisremarkstomeIshouldanswerasIfelt。Ipulledwithallmystrength，butagainstthetidetowingwashardwork。
Victorsatontheamidshipsthwartofthedingy，withhisbacktome。ButMissColton，seatedinthestern，wasfacingmeandI
couldnothelplookingather。Shedidnotlookatme，or，ifshedid，itwasasifIweremerelyapartoftheview；nothingtobeinterestedin，onewayortheother。
Shewasbeautiful；therewasnodoubtofthat。Prettiereven，intheblueandwhiteboatingcostumeandrough—and—readywhitefelthat，thanshehadseemedwhenIsawherintheautoorherfather’slibrary。SherepresentedtheworldthatIhadlost。Ihadknowngirlslikeher。Theyhadnotasmuchmoneyasshe，perhaps，buttheywerejustaswell—bredandrefined，andalmostaspretty。I
hadassociatedwiththemasanequal。Iwonderedwhatshewouldsay，orthink，ifsheknewthat。Nothing，probably；shewouldnotcareenoughtothinkatall。Itdidnotmattertomewhatshethought；butIdidwishIhadnotputonthosefooloilskins。I
mustlookmorelikeacountrylongshoremanthanever。
IfIhadanydoubtsaboutittheyweredispelledwhenIhadrowedthetwoboatsupthebayuntilwewereabreasttheColtonmansion。
ThenVictor，whohadbeentalkinginalowtonewithhisfellowpassengerinthedingy，lookedatthedistantshoreand，overhisshoulder，atme。
\"Here！\"heshouted。\"Whereareyougoing？That’sthelandingoverthere。\"
\"Iknow，\"Ianswered。\"Butweshallhavetogoaroundthatflat。
Wecan’tcrosshere。\"
\"Why？What’sthereasonwecan’t？\"
\"Becausethereisn’twaterenough。Weshouldgetaground。\"
Hestooduptolook。
\"Nonsense！\"hesaid。\"There’splentyofwater。Ican’tseeanyflat，orwhateveryoucallit。\"
\"It’sthere，thoughyoucan’tseeit。Itiscoveredwitheelgrassanddoesn’tshow。Weshallhavetogoahalfmilefurtherbeforeweturnin。\"
\"Ahalfmile！Why，confoundit！it’spastoneo’clocknow。Wehaven’tanytimetowaste。\"
\"I’msorry，butwecan’tcrossyet。And，ifIwereyou，I
shouldn’tstandupinthatboat。\"
Hepaidnoattentiontothissuggestion。
\"Therearehalfadozenboats，biggerthanthese，bythelanding，\"
hedeclared。\"Thereiswaterenoughforthem。Whatareyouafraidof？Wehaven’tanytimetowaste，Itellyou。\"
Ididnotanswer。Silence，onmypart，wasthesafestthingjustthen。Icontinuedrowingupthebay。
MissColtonspoketohimandhesatdown，aproceedingforwhichI
wasthankful。Theywhisperedtogetherforamoment。Thenheturnedtome。
\"Seehere，\"hesaid；\"thisladyandIhaveanappointment。Wemustgetashore。Gostraightin。Ifyou’reafraidI’lltaketherisk。
IfthereisanydangerI’llpayforthat，too。\"
Therewasnoquestionofrisk。Itwasacertainty。Iknewthatchannel。
\"Wecan’tcrosshere，\"Isaid，shortly。
\"Why，confoundyou——\"
