Mycalmaffirmativeseemedtoastonishhim。Ithinkheexpectedadenial。Hishandleftthedoorknobandhesteppedtowardme。
\"You——HAVE！\"hecried。\"Youdon’teventakethetroubleto——Youhavethefacetostandthereandtellme——\"
Healmostchoked。
\"CaptainDean，\"Iinterrupted，quickly，\"waitamoment。Listentome。IhavesoldColtontheland。Ididnotintendsellingitatall，leastofalltohim，butcircumstancescompelledmetochangemymind。IdiditbecauseIwasobligedto。Itisdone。IamsorryIhadtodoit，but，underthesameconditions，Ishoulddoitagain。Iamnotashamed。\"
Heleanedforward，steadyinghimselfwithahanduponthetable，andstaredatme。
\"Youain’tashamed？\"herepeated。\"Youain’tashamed！Why，you——
Didn’tyoutellmeyou’dneversellthatland？Didn’tyoupromiseme？\"
\"Ididnotpromiseanything。AtfirstIpromisednottosellwithoutlettingyouknowofmyintention。AfterwardItookbackthatpromise。\"
\"Butwhydidyousell？Yousaiditwan’taquestionofpriceatall。Youmadeyourbragsthatitwan’t！Tome，overandover，youmade’em。Andthenyousneakoffand——\"
\"Stop！Ididthinkitwasnotaquestionofprice。ThenIfoundoutthatitwas。\"
Heclenchedhisfist。
\"Damnyou！\"heshouted，furiously。\"Youliar！Yousneak！AfterI——\"
\"Thatisenough，Captain。Thishasgonefarenough。Ihavesoldtheland——forwhatseemedtomeagoodreason——andyourcallingmenameswillnotchangethesituation。Idon’tcaretohearthem。
Youhadbettergo。\"
\"WHAT？\"
\"Isayyouhadbettergo。\"
\"_I_go？You’llputmeout？\"
\"No，certainlynot。Butthereisnothingtobegainedbyaquarrel，andso，forbothoursakes，Ithinkyouhadbettergoaway。\"
ForamomentIthoughthewouldstrikeme。Thenhisfistfellheavilyuponthetable。Hislipswerequiveringlikethoseofaninfirmperson。Helookedold，andIhadneverbeforeconsideredhimanoldman。
\"Whatmadeyoudoit？\"hecried，desperately。\"Whatmadeyoudoit？Isitallsettled？Can’tyoubackout？\"
\"No。\"
\"But——butwhydidn’tyouselltome——tothetown？Ifyouhadtosellwhydidn’tyoudothat？Whydidyougotohim？\"
\"BecausehewouldpaymewhatIneeded；becausehispricewashigherthananyyouorthetowncouldoffer。\"
\"Howdidyouknowthat？Myheavensabove！I’dhavepaid——I’dhavepaidmostanything——outofmyownpocket，Iwould。Itellyouthismeanteverythingtome。I’mgettin’alonginyears。Iain’tbeenanytoowelllikedhereinDenboro，andIknewit。Youthinkthatdidn’tmakenodifferencetome，maybeIpretendeditdidn’t，butitdid；bytheAlmighty，itdid！Iintendedforfolkstobethankfultomefor——I——Oh，WHYdidyoudoit，Ros？\"
Ishookmyhead。Iwassorryforhimnow——sorryandastonished。
HehadgivenmeaglimpseoftherealJedediahDean，notthepompous，loud—voicedtownpoliticianandboss，butthemandesirousoffightinghiswayintotheesteemandlikingofhisneighbors。
\"I’msorry，Captain，\"Isaid。\"IfIhadknown——ifIhadhadtimetothink，perhapsImighthaveacteddifferently。ButIhadnotime。IfoundthatImusthavethemoneywhichthatlandwouldbringandthatIhadtohaveitimmediately。SoIwentwhereI
knewIcouldgetit。\"
\"Money？Youneededmoney？Whydidn’tyoucometome？I’dhavelentittoyou。\"
\"You？\"
\"Yes，me。Whatdoyoucal’lateI’vebeenbackin’youallthissummerfor？WhatdidIgetyouthatjobinmybankfor？\"
\"YOU？GeorgeTaylorengagedmeforthatplace。\"
\"Maybeso。Butdoyousupposehediditonhisownhook？HE
couldn’thireyouunlessthedirectorssaidsoandthedirectorsdon’tsayanything，themajorityof’em，unlessIsayitfirst。
_I_putthenotioninGeorge’shead。Hedidn’tknowit，butIdid。
AndIputitinthedirectors’heads，too。RosPaine，Ialwayslikedyou，thoughIdidusetothinkyouwasagentlemanloafer。
Therewasasomethin’aboutyoueventhen，akindofhands—off，mindyourownbusinessindependenceaboutyouthatIliked，thoughIknewmightywellyouneverlikedme。AndafteryouandmegottogetheronthisLanethingIlikedyoumoreandmore。Youcouldtellmetogotothedevilaswellasyoucouldanybodyelse，andI’llshakehandswithafellerthat’lldothat。Ialwayswantedaboyofmyown。Nellie’sagoodgirl，nobetterafloatorashore，butsheisagirl。Georgeisagoodfeller，too，butsomehow，or’nother，I’dcometothinkofyouasthekindofsonI’dhavehad，iftheAlmightyhadgivemeone。Oh，whatdidyoudothisfor？\"
Icouldnotanswer。Hehadoverwhelmedme。Ineverfeltmeanerormorewicked。Ihadbeenreadytofacehim，readyfortheinterviewwithhimwhichIknewwasinevitableandwhichIhadforeseen，butnotthiskindofaninterview。
Hetookhishandfromthetableandstooderect。
\"Money！\"hesaid。\"Youwantedmoney。Youmusthavewanteditbad。
Whatdidyouwantitfor？\"
\"Ican’ttellyou。\"
\"Youhadbetter。It’syouronlychance，Itellyouthat！\"
\"Ican’thelpit，CaptainDean。Ican’ttellyou。IwishI
could。\"
Heregardedmeinsilenceforamoment。Then：\"Allright，\"hesaid，solemnly。\"I’mthroughwithyou，RosPaine。InonewayI’mthroughwithyou。InanotherIain’t。Ical’lateyouwasfiggerin’togostraightuptothebank，asboldasbrass，andsetdownatGeorgeTaylor’sdeskanddrawyourwageslikeanhonestman。Don’tyoueverdaresetfootinthatbankagain。You’refired！bounced！kickedout！Doyouunderstand？\"
\"Verywell；Iunderstand。\"
\"Youwillunderstand，whetheryoudonowornot。Colton’sgottheShoreLaneandyou’vegothisdirtymoneyinyourpocket。He’spaidyou，butthetownain’t。Thetownyousoldoutain’tpaidyou——butI’mgoin’toseethatitdoes。RosPaine，I’mgoin’todriveyououtofDenboro。\"
Heturnedonhisheel，strodetothedoor，wentout，andslammeditbehindhim。
Iwentbacktothedining—room。Lutewasnowhereinsight，butDorindawasstandingbythemantel，dusting，asusual，wheretherewasnodust。Ididnotspeakbutwalkedtowardthedoorleadingtothestairs。Dorindasteppedinfrontofme。
\"Roscoe，\"shesaid，sharply，\"canhedoit？\"
\"Doit？\"Irepeated。\"Whatdoyoumean？\"
\"Canhegiveyouyourwalkin’papersatthatbank？Oh，Iheardhim！Itriednotto，butheholleredsoIcouldn’thelpit。Thatkitchendoorain’tmuchthicker’nasheetofpaper，anyhow。Canhedoit？\"
\"Iguessso。Heseemstobebossofthatinstitution。\"
\"Butcan’t’LishaWarrenorsomeoftheotherdirectorshelpyou？
JedDeandon’tboss’LishaWarren——notmuch。\"
\"Ishan’taskforhelp。Pleasedon’ttroubleme，Dorinda。\"
Itriedtopassher，butshewouldnotpermitit。
\"Ishan’ttroubleyou，Ros，\"shesaid。\"Iguessyou’vegottroublesenoughwithoutme。Butyouletmeaskyouthis：Areyougoin’tolethimdriveyououtoftown？\"
Ishruggedmyshoulders。\"Itmaynottakemuchdriving，\"I
announced，listlessly，\"ifitwerenotforMotherIshouldbeonlytoogladtogo。\"
AgainItriedtopass，butthistimesheseizedmyarm。
\"RoscoePaine，\"shecried，\"don’tyoutalklikethat。Idon’twanttohearanotherwordlikethat。Don’tyouletJedDeanornobodyelsedriveyououtofDenboro。Youain’tdonenothin’tobeashamedof，haveyou？\"
\"IsoldthatlandtoMr。Colton。Idon’tknowhowCaptainJedfounditout，butitistrueenough；IdidexactlywhathesaidI
did。\"
\"Foundout！HefoundoutfromsomebodyovertoOstablewherethedeedwasrecorded，thatishowhefoundout。Hesaidso。ButI
don’tcareforthat。AndIdon’tcareifyousoldtheLanetentimesover。Youdidn’tdoitforanymeanorselfishreason，thatIknow。Thereain’taselfishboneinyourbody，Roscoe。I’velivedalongwithyoualltheseyearsandIknow。Nobodythatwasmeanorselfishwouldgiveuptheirchancesinlifeandstayhereinthisone—hosstownbecausehismawassickandhadtookanotionthatshecouldn’tbeartopartwithhim。Don’tyoumindJedDean——
pig—headedoldthing！——oranybodyelseinDenboro。Holdupyourheadandshow’emyoudon’tcareforthewholecaboodleof’em。
Let’emtalkandactlikefools，iftheywantto。Itcomesnaturaltomostof’em，Ical’late，andthey’llbesorrysomeday。Don’tyoulet’emdriveyouout。Theywon’tcomeinsideTHIShousewiththeirtalk，notwhileI’mhere，Itellyouthat！\"
Hereyes，behindthebrass—rimmedspectacles，flashedfire。ThiswasthelongestspeechIhadeverheardhermake。
\"There，Dorinda，\"Isaid，smiling，\"don’tworryonmyaccount。I’mnotworthit。And，whateverIdo，IshallseethatyouandLuteareprovidedfor。\"
Insteadofcalmingherthisstatementseemedtohavetheexactlyoppositeeffect。
\"Stopit！\"shesnapped。\"Theidea！Doyousupposeit’sformyselfI’mtalkin’thiswaytoyou？Iguess’tain’t！Mysoul！I’lllookoutformyself，andLute，too，long’sI’mabletowalk；andwhenI
can’twalk’twillbebecauseI’vestoppedbreathin’。It’sforyouI’mtalkin’，foryouandComfort。Thinkofher。\"
Isighed。\"Ihavebeenthinkingofher，Dorinda，\"Ideclared。
\"Shedoesn’tknowawordaboutthis。\"
\"Thentellher。\"
\"Ican’ttellhermyreasonforselling，anymorethanIcantellyou——orDean。\"
\"Tellherwhatyoucan，then。Tellherasmuchofthetruthasyoucan。She’llsayyoudoneright，ofcourse。Whateveryoudoisrighttoher。\"
Imadenoreply。Sheregardedmekeenly。
\"Roscoe，\"shewenton，\"doyouWANTtogosomewhereselse？\"
\"Idon’tknow，Dorinda。Imightaswellbehereasanywhere，perhaps。Iamratherblueanddiscouragedjustnow，that’sall。\"
\"Ican’tblameyoumuch。Butbein’discourageddon’tdoanygood。
Besides，it’salwaysdarkestjustaforedawn，theysay；anyhow，I’vehadthatpreachedtomeeversinceIwasagirlandI’vetriedtobelieveitthroughagoodmanycloudyspells。Roscoe，don’tyouletoldJedoranybodyDRIVEyououtofDenboro，but，ifyouWANT
togo——ifyouthinkyou’doughttogo，toearnmoneyoranything，don’tyouworryaboutleavin’Comfort。I’lllookoutforheraswellasifshewasmyown。Rememberthat。\"
Ilaidmyhandonhers。\"Thankyou，\"Isaid，earnestly。\"Dorinda，youareagoodwoman。\"
Tomysurprisetheeyesbehindthespectaclesbecamemisty。TearsinDorinda’seyes！Whenshespokeitwasin，forher，acuriouslyhesitatingtone。
\"Roscoe，\"shefaltered，\"Iwonderifyou’dbecrossifIaskedaboutwhatwan’tanyofmybusiness。I’moldenoughtobeyourgrandma，prettynigh，soI’mgoin’toriskit。Youusedtobeindependentenough。Youneverusedtocareforthetownoranybodyinit。Latelyyou’vechanged。Changedinagoodmanyways。Issomethin’besidesthisLaneaffairfrettin’you？Issomebodyfrettin’you？Areyouworriedabout——thatone？\"
Shehadcaughtmeunawares。Ifeltthebloodtingleinmycheeks。
Itriedtolaughandmadeafailureoftheattempt。
\"Thatone？\"Irepeated。\"I——Why，Idon’tunderstand，Dorinda。\"
\"Don’tyou？Well，ifyoudon’tthenI’mjusttalkin’silly，that’sall。Ifyoudo，I……Humph！Imighthaveknownit！\"
Sheturnedlikeashotandjerkedthedooropen。Therewasarattle，aseriesofthumps，andacrash。Lutewassprawlingupontheflooratourfeet。Igazedathiminopen—mouthedastonishment。
Dorindasniffedscornfully。
\"Imighthaveknownit，\"sherepeated。\"Sittin’onthestairsthere，listenin’，wan’tyou？\"
Luteraisedhimselftohisknees。
\"Ithink，\"hepanted，\"I——Iswan！Ishouldn’twonderifI’dbrokemyleg！\"
\"Um—hm！Well，ifyou’dbrokeyourneck’twouldn’thavebeennomore’nyoudeserve。Shameonyou！Sneakin’thing！\"
\"Now，Dorindy，I——Iwan’tlistenin’。Iwasjust——\"
\"Don’ttalktome。Don’tyouopenyourmouth。AndifyouopenittoanybodyelseaboutwhatyouheardI’ll——IdeclareI’llshutyouupinthedarkclosetandkeepyouthere，asifyouwasthreeyearold。SometimesIthinkyourheadain’tanyolderthanthat。Gorightoutofthishouse。\"
\"Butwhere’llIgo？\"
\"Idon’tcarewhereyougo。Onlydon’tletmeseteyesonyoutilldinnertime。March！\"
Lutebackedawayassheadvanced，wavingbothhishandsandpleadingandexpostulating。
\"Dorindy，Itellyou……WHATmakesyousounlikely？……I
wasjust……Allrightthen，\"desperately，\"I’llgo！Andifyouneverseteyesonmeagain’twon’tbemyfault。You’llbesorrythen。Ifyouneverseemenomoreyou’llbesorry。\"
\"I’llseteyesonyouatdinnertime。Iain’tafraidofthat。
Git！\"
Shefollowedhimtothekitchenandthenreturned。
\"Ahhum！\"shesighed，\"it’sprettyhardtorememberthataboutdarkestjustaforedawnwhenyouhaveaburdenlikethatonyourshoulderstolugthroughlife。It’snightmostofthetimethen。
Poorcritter！hemeanswellenough，too。Andoncehewasalikelyenoughyoungfeller，thoughshiftless，eventhen。Buthehadalongspelloffeverthreeyearafterwewasmarriedandhe’sneverbeengoodformuchsince。Itrytorememberthat，andtobepatientwithhim，butit’saprettyhardjobsometimes。\"
Shesighedagain。IhadoftenwonderedhowawomanofhersensecouldhavemarriedLutherRogers。Nowshewastellingme。
\"Ineverreallycaredforhim，\"shewenton，lookingtowardthedoorthroughwhichthediscomfitedeavesdropperhadmadehisexit。
\"TherewassomebodyelseIdidcarefor，butheandIquarreled，andItookLutheroutofspiteandbecausemyfolkswantedmeto。
I’vepaidforitsince。Roscoe，\"earnestly，\"Roscoe，ifyoucareforanybodyandshecaresforyou，don’tletanythingkeepyouapart。Ifshe’sworthamillionorfiftycentsthatdon’tmakeanydifference。Itshouldn’tbeamatterofherfolksoryourfolksormoneyorprideoranythingelse。It’samatterforjustyouandher。Andifyouloveeachother，that’senough。Itellyouso，andIknow。\"
Iwasmoreastonishedthanever。Icouldscarcelybelievethatthiswasthedry，practicalDorindaRogerswhohadkepthouseforMotherandmealltheseyears。Andwithmyastonishmentwereotherfeelings，feelingswhichwarnedmethatIhadbettermakemyescapebeforeIwastrappedintobetrayingthatwhich，allthewayhomefromMackerelIsland，Ihadbeenswearingnooneshouldeverknow。
Iwouldnotevenadmitittomyself，muchlesstoanyoneelse。
IdidnotlookatDorinda，andmyanswertoherlongspeechwasasindifferentandcarelessasIcouldmakeit。
\"Thankyou，Dorinda，\"Isaid。\"I’llrememberyouradvice，ifI
everneedit，whichisn’tlikely。NowImustgotomyroomandchangemyclothes。Thesearetoobadlywrinkledtobebecoming。\"
WhenIcamedown，afteranabsenceofhalfanhour，shewassittingbythewindow，sewing。
\"Comfort’swaitin’toseeyou，Roscoe，\"shesaid。\"I’vetoldherallaboutit。\"
\"YOU’VEtoldher——what？\"Idemanded，inamazement。
\"Aboutyoursellin’theLaneandlosin’yourjob，andsoon。Don’tlookatmelikethat。’Twastheonlycommon—sensethingtodo。
She’dheardoldLeather—Lungswhoopin’outthereinthekitchenandshe’dheardyouandmetalkin’hereinthedinin’—room。Ihopedshewasasleep，butshewan’t。Afteryouwentupstairsshecalledformeandwantedtoknowthewholestory。ItoldherwhatIknewofit。Nowyoucantellhertherest。ShetakesitjustasIknewshewould。Youdoneitandsoit’sallright。\"
\"Roscoe，isthatyou？\"
ItwasMothercallingme。Iwentintothedarkenedroomandsatdownbesidethebed。
SheandIhadmuchtosaytoeachother。ThistimeIkeptbacknothing，exceptmyreasonforsellingtheland。Itoldherfranklythatthatreasonwasasecret，andthatitmustremainasecret，evenfromher。
\"Ihatetosaythattoyou，Mother，\"Itoldher。\"Youdon’tknowhowIhateit。IwouldtellyouifIcould。\"
Shepressedmyhand。\"Iknowyouwould，Roscoe，\"shesaid。\"Iamquitecontentnottoknow。Thatyourreasonforsellingwasanhonorableone，thatisallIask。\"
\"Itwasthat，Mother。\"
\"Iamsureofit。But，\"hesitatingly，\"canyoutellmethis：Youdidnotdoitbecauseyouneededmoney——forme？Ourincomeisthesameasever？Wehavenotmetwithlosses？\"
\"No，Mother。Ourincomeisthesamethatithasbeenforyears。\"
\"Thenitwasnotbecauseofme；becauseyoufeltthatIshouldhavethose’luxuries’youtalkaboutsooften？Oh，Idon’tneedthem，RoscoeIreallydon’t。Iam——Iscarcelydaresayitforfearitmaynotbetrue——butITHINKIambetterthanIhavebeen。Ifeelstronger。\"
\"Iknowyouarebetter，Mother。DoctorQuimbyisverymuchencouraged。\"
\"Ishe？Iamsoglad！Foryoursake，Boy。PerhapsthetimewillcomewhenImaynotbeyourOldManOftheSeaasIamnow。Butyoudidnotsellthelandbecauseofme？\"
\"No。\"
\"Youdidnotsellitforyourself，thatIknow。Iwonder……
But，there！Imustn’twonder，andIwon’t。CaptainDeanwasveryangryandunreasonable，Dorindasays。Isupposehisprideishurt。
I’mafraidhewillmakeitunpleasantforyouinthevillage。\"
\"Hewilldohisbest，I’msureofthat。\"
\"Youpoorboy！Asifyoudidnothaveenoughtobearwithoutthat！
Hehasaskedyoutoresignfromthebank？\"
Ismiled。\"Hehaspitchedmeout，neckandcrop，\"Ianswered。\"I
expectedthat，ofcourse。\"
\"Butwhatwillyoudo？Can’tMr。Taylorhelpyou？Perhapshewillusehisinfluencewiththecaptain。\"
\"Idon’tneedhisinfluence，Mother。Itooktheplacemerelybecauseofawhim。NowthatIhavelostitIamnoworseoffthanIwasbefore。\"
\"Butyouenjoyedthework？\"
\"Yes。\"
IwasonlybeginningtorealizehowmuchIhadenjoyedit。I
sighed，involuntarily。
Motherheardthesighandthepressureofherhandonminetightened。
\"Poorboy！\"shesaidagain。Then，afteramoment，\"IwishImighttalkwithMissColtonaboutthis。\"
Istartedviolently。Whathadputthatideainherhead？
\"MissColton！\"Iexclaimed。\"Mother，whateveryoudo，don’tspeaktoher——aboutme。\"
\"Whynot？Shehasnotcalledonusforsometime，butsheisinterestedinyou，Iknow。Andperhapsherfathercould——\"
\"Mother，don’t。\"
Shewassilentforaninstant。Thenshesaid，quietly。\"Boy，whatisit？Istheresomethingelseyouhaven’ttoldme？Somethingabout——her？\"
\"No，no，\"Istammered。
\"Isn’tthere？Areyousure？\"
IdonotknowwhatreplyIshouldhavemade。Herquestion，comingsocloseupontheheelsofDorinda’shints，upsetmecompletely。
Wasitwrittenuponmyface，foreveryonetosee？DidIlooktheincredibleidiotthatIknewmyselftobe？ForIdidknowit。Inspiteofmydeterminationnottoadmititeveninmyinnermostthoughts，Iknew。IwasinlovewithMabelColton——madly，insanely，hopelesslyinlovewithher，andshouldbeuntilmydyingday。
Ihadplayedwithfiretoolong。
BeforeIcouldanswertherecameaknockatthedoor。ItopenedandDorinda’sheadappeared。Sheseemed，forher，excited。
\"There’ssomebodytoseeyou，Ros，\"shesaid。\"You’dbettercomeoutsoon’syoucan。He’sinahurry。\"
\"Someonetoseeme，\"Irepeated。\"Whoisit？\"
DorindaglancedatMotherandthenatme。Shedidnotsomuchaswhisper，butherlipsformedaname。Irosefrommychair。
MotherlookedatmeandthenatDorinda。
\"Whoisit，Roscoe？\"sheasked。
\"Justacalleronabusinessmatter，\"Ianswered，hurriedly。\"I’llbeoutatonce，Dorinda。\"
\"Butwhoisit，Roscoe？\"
\"It’sMr。Colton，Mother。Hehasprobablycometo——\"
\"Dorinda，\"Motherinterruptedme，\"askMr。Coltontocomeinhere。\"
\"But，Mother——\"
\"Askhimtocomeinhere，Dorinda。Ishouldliketomeethim。\"
Dorindahesitated，butwhenMotherspokeinthattonenoneofushesitatedlong。Shedisappeared。AmomentlaterthedooropenedwideandColtonentered。Thesuddentransitionfromsunlighttosemidarknessbewilderedhimforamoment，doubtless，forhestoodtherewithoutspeaking。Dorinda，whohadusheredhimin，wentoutandclosedthedoor。Isteppedforward。
\"Goodmorning，Mr。Colton，\"Isaid，ascalmlyasIcould。\"Youhavenevermetmymother，Ithink。Mother，thisisMr。Colton，ourneighbor。\"
Coltonturnedtowardthebedandmurmuredafewwords。Foronce，I
think，hewasstartledoutofhiscustomarycoolself—possession。
AndwhenMotherspokeitseemedtomethatshe，too，wasdisturbed。
\"Roscoe，\"shesaid，quickly，\"willyoudrawthatwindow—shadealittlemore？Thelightisratherstrong。Thankyou。Mr。Colton，Iamverygladtomeetyou。Ihaveheardofyouoften，ofcourse，andIhavemetyourdaughter。Shehasbeenverykindtome，inmanyways。Won’tyousitdown？\"
Idrewforwardachair。Ourvisitoracceptedit。
\"Thankyou，Mrs。Paine，\"hesaid。\"Iwillsit。Tobehonest，I’mverygladoftheopportunity。Ihavebeenunderthedoctor’scareforthepastfewweeksandlastnight’sperformanceisnotthebestsortoftreatmentforatenderdigestion。ThedoctortoldmewhatIneededwasrestandsleepandfreedomfromcare。ItoldhimI
probablyshouldn’tgetthelastitemtillIwasdead。Asfortherest——andsleep——Humph！\"withashortlaugh，\"Iwonderwhathewouldhavesaidifhehadseenmelastnight。\"
Mother’sfacewasturnedawayfromhimonthepillow。\"Iamsorrytohearthatyouhavebeenill，Mr。Colton，\"shesaid。
\"Ill！I’mnotill。IhaveneverbeensickinmylifeandIdon’tproposetobeginnow。IfthecrowdinNewYorkwouldletmealoneIshouldbeallrightenough。Thereisadealontherethatislikelytocometoaheadprettysoonandmypeopleattheofficearenervous。Theykeep’phoningandtelegraphingandupsettingthingsgenerally。I’llhavetorunovertheremyselfinadayortwoandstraightenitout。Butthere！Ididn’tcomeheretoworryyouwithmytroubles。IfeelasifIknewyou，Mrs。Paine。\"
\"Knewme？KnewME，Mr。Colton？\"
\"Yes。Ihaveneverhadthepleasureofmeetingyoubefore，butmydaughterhasspokenofyouoften。Sheisagreatadmirerofyours。
Iwon’ttellyouallthenicethingsshehassaidaboutyou，forshehasprobablysaidthemtoyouortoyourson，already。\"
\"Youshouldbeveryproudofyourdaughter，Mr。Colton。Sheisacharminggirl。\"
\"Thanks。JustamongusthreeI’lladmit，inconfidence，thatI
thinkyou’reright。AndI’lladmit，too，thatyouhaveaprettygoodsortofason，Mrs。Paine。Heisinclinedtobe，\"withaglanceinmydirection，\"alittletoostubbornandhigh—principledforthispracticalworld，but，\"withachuckle，\"hecanbemadetolistentoreason，ifyougivehimtimeenough。Thatisso，isn’tit，Paine？\"
Ididnotanswer。Motherspokeforme。
\"IamnotsurethatIunderstandyou，Mr。Colton，\"shesaid，quietly。\"Ipresumeyouarereferringtothesaleoftheland。I
donotknowwhyRoscoechangedhismindinthatmatter，butIdoknowthathisreasonwasagoodone，andanhonestone。\"
\"Hehasn’ttoldittoyou，then？\"
\"No。ButIknowthathethoughtitrightorheneverwouldhavesold。\"
Ibrokeinhere。Ididnotcaretohearmyownpraises。
\"DidyoucalltodiscusstheShoreLane，Mr。Colton？\"Iinquired。
\"Ithoughtthataffairsettled。\"
\"Itis。No，Ididn’tcometodiscussthat。Mrs。Paine，Idon’tknowwhyyoursonsoldmethatland，butI’minclinedtothink，likeyou，thathewouldn’thavedoneitunlesshethoughtitwasright。Iknowmightywellhewasn’tafraidofme。Oh，youneedn’tlaugh，youngman。ThereAREpeopleinthatfix，plentyof’em。
No，Ididn’tcometotalk’Lane。’Thatbirdisdead。Icame，firstofall，tothankyouforwhatyoudidformydaughterlastnight。\"
Motherturnedherheadandlookedathim。
\"Foryourdaughter？Lastnight？Roscoe，whatdoeshemean？\"
\"Nothing，Mother，nothing，\"Isaid，hastily。\"IwasunluckyenoughtoruntheComfortintoMissColton’scanoeinthebayyesterdayafternooninthefog。FortunatelyIgotherintothelaunchand——
and——\"
\"Andsavedherfromdrowning，thenandadozentimesafterward。Hehasn’ttoldyou，Mrs。Paine？No，Icanseethathehasn’t。Allright，Iwill。Paine，ifyouringrowingmodestywon’tstandthepressureyouhadbetterleavetheroom。Thisisaboutwhathappened，Mrs。Paine，asMabeltellsit。\"
Itriedtopreventhim，butitwasnouse。Heignoredmealtogetherandwentontotellofthecollisioninthefog，thevoyageacrossthebay，andmytelephonefromthelighthouse。Thestory，ashetoldit，magnifiedwhathecalledmycoolnessandcommon—sensetoaridiculousextent。IlostpatienceasI
listened。
\"Mr。Colton，\"Iinterrupted，\"thisissilly。Mother，thewholeaffairwasmoremyfaultthanmygoodjudgment。IfIhadanchoredwhenitfirsthappenedweshouldhavebeenhomeinanhour，insteadofdriftingallnight。\"
\"Whydidn’tyouanchor，then？\"askedColton。
\"BecauseI——I——\"
