\"Whattimeisit？\"Idemanded。
\"Abouthalf—pastfive，sir，orthereabouts，\"wastheanswer，inatoneofmingledwearinessandresentment。PlainlyMr。Johnsonhadbeenupallnightandconsideredhimselfimposedupon。
Iwasthankfulthatmylapsefromdutyhadbeenofnolongerduration。Ithadbeenmuchtoolongasitwas。
\"HowisMr。Colton？\"Iasked。
\"Better，sir，Ibelieve。Heisrestingmorequietatpresent。\"
\"WhereisCahoon？\"
\"HereIbe，\"thisfromPhineasinthenextroom。\"Haveagoodsnooze，didyou，Ros？\"
\"Toogood。\"Iwalkedinandfoundhimstillsittingbythetelegraphinstrument。\"Hasanythinghappened？\"Iasked。
\"Narything。Allquietasthetombsincethatlastmessage，theoneyouheard。Prettynighfellasleepmyself，Idid。GuessI
shouldhave，onlyMissColtonshecameinandkeptmecomp’nyforaspell。\"
\"MissColton——hasshebeenhere？Whydidn’tyoucallme，Ros？\"
\"Iwasgoin’to，butshewouldn’tletme。Saidyouwasallworeout，poorfeller，andthatyouwan’ttobedisturbedunless’twasnecessary。She’sanawfulniceyoungwoman，ain’tshe。Nothin’
stuckupabouther，atall。Sethereandtalkedwithmejustassociableandfolksyasifshewan’twuthacent。Askedmorequestionsthanafew，shedid。\"
\"Didshe？\"Iwasnotpayingmuchattentiontohisremarks。Mymindwasbusywithmoreimportantthings。IwaswonderingwhatDaviswasdoingjustthen。Phinwenton。
\"Yup。Ihappenedtorememberthatyouwan’tatthebankto—dayandIaskedherifsheknewthereasonwhy。’Howdidyouknowhewasn’tthere？’saysshe。’AlvinBakertoldmefust，’Isays，’andSamWheelertoldhim。Everybodyknewitandwaswonderin’aboutit。Theycal’latedRoswassick，’Itoldher，’butthatcouldn’tbeorhewouldn’tberoundheresettin’upallnight。’WhatWAS
thereasonyouwan’tthere，Ros？\"
Ithoughtitstrangethathe，andeveryoneelseintown，didnotknowthereasonbeforethis。WasitpossiblethatCaptainDeanaloneknewofmy\"treason\"toDenboro，andthathewaskeepingthediscoverytohimself？Whyshouldhekeepittohimself？Hehadthreatenedtodrivemeoutoftown。
\"Ihadotherbusinessto—day，Phin，\"Ianswered，shortly。
\"Yup。SoIgatheredfromwhatCap’nJedsaid。Hewasinthedepotthisnoonsendin’atelegramandIaskedhimaboutyou。’IsRossick？’Isays。’Huh！’sayshe——youknowhowhegrunts，Ros；foralltheworldlikeahog——’Huh！’sayshe，’sick！No，butI
cal’latehe’llbeprettysickaforelong。’Whatdidhemeanbythat，doyous’pose？\"
Iknew，butIdidnotexplain。Imadenoreply。
\"Twasaqueersortoftalk，seemedtome，\"continuedPhin。\"I
askedhimagainwhyyouwan’tatthebank，andhesaidyouhadotherbusiness，justsameasyousaidnow。Hewasuglyasacowwithasorehornoversomethin’andIjudged’twasbesttokeepstill。Thattelegramhesentwasasurprisin’thing，too。’Twasto——butthere！hemademepromiseIwouldn’ttellandsoImustn’t。
Iain’ttoldasoul——exceptone——andthenitslippedoutaforeI
thought。However，thatonewon’tmakenodifference。Sheain’tinterestedin——intheonethetelegramwassentto，’tain’tlikely。\"
\"WhereisMissColtonnow？\"Iasked。
\"Withhermaandpa，Ipresumelikely。Herandmesetandwhisperedtogetherforalongspell。Landsakes！shewouldn’tletmespeaklouder’nawhisperforfearofwakin’youup。Abody’dthinkyouwasayoung—oneinarms，thecareshetookofyou。\"
AgainIdidnotanswer，andagainthegarrulousstationmastercontinuedwithoutwaitingforareply。
\"Isaystoher，saysI，’It’sapityGeorgeTaylorain’ttohome，’
Isays。’Ishouldn’twonderifhecouldhelpyouwiththisLouisvillestockyou’resoworriedabout。Georgewasconsider’bleinterestedinthatstockhimselfaspellago。IsentmuchasadozentelegramsfromhimaboutthatverystocktosomebrokerfolksuptoBoston，andtheywasmightyanxioustelegrams，too。Itellyou！’Isays。\"
Hehadcaughtmyattentionatlast。
\"Didyoutellherthat？\"Idemanded。
\"SureIdid！Inevermeantto，nuther。Ain’ttoldanothersoul。
Yousee，George，heaskedmenotto。Butshe’sgotawaywithherthatwouldmakeOldNickconfesshissins，ifshesetouttolarn’em。IwassortofashamedafterItoldherandIexplainedtoherthatIhadn’toughttodoneit。’ButIguessit’sallrightnow，anyway，’Isays。’IftherewasanytroublealongofGeorgeandthatstockIcal’lateit’sallover。Heacteddreadfulworriedforaspell，butfortheweekaforehewasmarriedheseemedchipperasever。Biggestchangeinhimyoueversee，’saysI。’Somytellin’
youisallright，Iguess，’Isays。’I’msureit’sallright，’
saysshe，andherfacekindoflightedup，asyoumightsay。WhenshelookedatmethatwayI’dhavegivenhermyhouseandlot，ifshe’dwanted’em，thoughyouneedn’ttellmyoldwomanthatIsaidso。He！he！’Ofcourseit’sallright，’shesays。’Butyouhadbetternottellanyoneelse。We’llhaveitforoursecret，won’twe，Mr。Cahoon？’shesays，smilin’。’Sartinwewill，’saysI。
And——well，bythunder！\"asifthethoughtoccurredtohimforthefirsttime。\"Isaidthat，andnowI’vebeenandblattedoutthewholebusinesstoyou！IamtheDARNDESTfool！\"
Ididnotcontradicthim。Iwastooangryanddisturbedeventospeaktohimforthemoment。And，beforeIcouldspeak，wewereinterrupted。Theyoungladyherselfappearedinthedoorway。SHE
hadnotslept，thatwasplain。Herfacewaspaleandthereweredarkshadowsbeneathhereyes。AsIlookedatherIwasmoreashamedofmyownunpremeditatednapthanever。Yetshewas，asthedoctorhadsaid，calmanduncomplaining。Sheevensmiledasshegreetedus。
\"Goodmorning，\"shesaid。\"Yourbreakfastisready，Mr。Cahoon。I
knowyoufeelthatyoumustbegettingbacktoyourworkatthestation。\"
Phineaspulledoutanenormousnickelwatchandglancedatit。
\"Landsakes！mostsix，ain’tit，\"heexclaimed。\"Iguessyou’reright。I’llhavetobetrottin’along。Butyouneedn’tfussfornobreakfastforme。I’musedtomissin’ameal’svittlesnowandagainandIetenoughlastnighttolastmeonespell。\"
Hewashurryingfromtheroom，butshewouldnotlethimgo。
\"Therehasbeenno’fuss’whatever，Mr。Cahoon，\"shesaid。
\"Breakfastisready，hereinthelibrary。Andyoursisready，too，Mr。Paine。Ihopeyourfewminutes’sleephasrestedyou。Iamsorryyouwokesosoon。ItoldJohnsontobecarefulandnotdisturbyou。\"
\"Ideservetobeshotforsleepingatall，\"Ideclared，inselfreproach。\"Ididnotmeanto。Ilaydownforamomentand——well，IsupposeIwasrathertired。\"
\"Iknow。Lastnight’sexperiencewasenoughtotireanyone。\"
\"Nonsense！Itwasnoworseformethanforyou，\"Isaid。
\"Yes，itwas。Youhadthecareandtheresponsibility。I，yousee，knewthatIwaswellguarded。Besides，Isleptforhoursthismorning。Come，bothofyou。Breakfastisready。\"
Phineaswasalreadyseatedatthetable，glancingoverhisshoulderatthebutler，whoselookofdignifieddisgustatbeingobligedtowaituponacountrymaninhisshirtsleeveswouldhavebeenfunny，ifIhadbeeninamoodforfun。Idon’tknowwhichwasthemoreuncomfortable，Cahoonorthebutler。
\"Won’tyoujoinus，MissColton？\"Iasked。
\"Why——why，yes，perhapsIwill，ifyoudon’tmind。IamnothungrybutIwilltakeacupofcoffee，Johnson。\"
Phineasdidalmostallthetalkingwhileheremainedwithus，whichwasnotlong。Heswallowedhisbreakfastinatremendoushurry，aproceedingwhichstillfurtherdiscomposedthestatelyJohnson，andthenroseandputonhiscoat。
\"Ihatetoleaveyoushorthandedandonaleeshore，Miss，\"heexplained，apologetically；\"butIknowyouunderstandhow’tiswithme。Myjob’sallI’vegotandI’llhavetohangontoit。Theuptrain’sdueinfortyminutesandI’vegottobeonhandatthedeepo。However，I’vegotthatDavisfeller’saddressandI’llraisehimthefirstthingtosendhismessagestomeandI’llget’emrightdownherebythereg’lartelephone。Hecanusethat——
what—do—you—call—it？——thatcodething，ifhe’sscartofanybody’sfindin’outwhathesays。Thebossschool—marmofallcreationcouldn’treadthatgibberishwithoutthebook。\"
Ihatedtohavehimgo，buttherewasnoalternative。AfterhehadgoneandsheandIwerelefttogetheratthetableasenseofrestraintseemedtofalluponusboth。Toseehersittingoppositemeatthetable，pouringmycoffeeandbreakfastingwithmeinthisintimate，familyfashion，wassowonderfulandstrangethatIcouldthinkofnothingelse。Itremindedme，inaway，ofourluncheonatSeabury’sPond，butthathadbeenoutofdoors，animpromptupicnic，withallapicnic’ssurroundings。Thiswasdifferent，quitedifferent。Itwassofamiliar，sohomelike，soconventional，andyet，forherandme，soimpossible。Ilookedatherandshe，lookingupatthemoment，caughtmyeyes。Thecolormountedtohercheeks。Ifeltmyownfaceflushing。Dorinda——practical，unromanticDorinda——hadguessedmyfeelingforthisgirl；Motherhaddivinedit。Itwasplainenoughforanyonetoread。Iglancedapprehensivelyatthebutler，halfexpectingtoseeuponhisclericalcountenancethelookofscornfulcontemptwhichwouldprovethathe，too，waspossessedoftheknowledge。Buthemerelybentforwardwithadeferential，\"Yes，sir。Whatisit？\"andI
meeklyrequestedanotherroll。ThenIbegan，desperately，totalk。
IinquiredaboutMr。Colton’sconditionandwastoldthathewas，orappearedtobe，atriflebetter。Mrs。Coltonwas，atlast，thankstothedoctor’spowders，asleep。JohnsonlefttheroomforthemomentandIswitchedtothesubjectwhichneitherofushadmentionedsincethenightbefore，theLouisvilleandTranscontinentalmuddle。IexplainedwhathadbeendoneandpretendedaconfidencewhichIdidnotfeelthateverythingwouldendwell。Shelistened，but，itseemedtome，shewasnotasinterestedasIexpected。Atlengthsheinterruptedme。
\"Supposewedonottalkaboutitnow，\"shesaid。\"AsIunderstandit，you——we，thatis——havemadeupourminds。Wehavedecidedtodocertainthingswhichseemtousright。Rightorwrong，theymustbedonenow。Iamtryingveryhardtobelievethemrightandnottoworryanymoreaboutthem。Oh，ICAN’Tworry！Ican’t！
Withalltherest，I——I——Pleaseletuschangethesubject。Mr。
Paine，Iamafraidyoumustthinkmeselfish。Ihavesaidnothingaboutyourowntrouble。Father——\"shechokedonthename，butrecoveredhercomposurealmostimmediately——\"Fathertoldme，afterhisreturnfromyourhousethismorning，thathispurchaseofthelandhadbecomepublicandthatyouwereindangeroflosingyourpositionatthebank。\"
Ismiled。\"Thatdangerispast，\"Ianswered。\"Ihavelostit。
CaptainDeangavememywalkingpapersthismorning。\"
\"Oh，Iamsosorry！\"
\"Iamnot。Iexpectedit。Thewonderisonlythatithasnothappenedbefore。IrealizedthatitwasinevitablewhenImadeupmymindtosell。Itisofnoconsequence，MissColton。\"
\"Yes，itis。ButFatherofferedyouthepositioninhisemploy。
Hesaidyourefused，buthebelievedyourrefusalwasnotfinal。\"
\"Hewaswrong。Itisfinal。\"
\"But——\"
\"Ihadrathernotdiscussthat，MissColton。\"
Shelookedatmeoddly，andwithafaintsmile。\"Verywell，\"shesaid，afteramoment，\"wewillnotdiscussitnow。ButyoucannotsupposethateitherFatherorIwillpermityoutosufferonouraccount。\"
\"Thereisnosuffering。Isoldthelandtoyourfatherdeliberatelyandwithcompleteknowledgeoftheconsequences。Astothebank——
well，IamnoworseoffthanIwasbeforeIentereditsemploy。
Iamsatisfied。\"
Shetoyedwithhercoffeespoon。
\"CaptainDeanseemstobetheonlypersoninDenborowhoknowsofthesale，\"shesaid。\"Whyhashekeptitasecret？\"
\"Idon’tknow。Hashe？\"
\"Youknowhehas，Mr。Paine。Mr。Cahoondidnotknowofit，andhewouldbeoneofthefirsttohear。Itseemsoddthatthecaptainshouldtellnoone。\"
\"Probablyheiswaitingforthefullparticulars。Hewilltell，youmaybesureofthat。HislastremarktomewasthatheshoulddrivemeoutofDenboro。\"
Iratherexpectedaburstofindignation。InfactIwassomewhathurtanddisappointedthatitdidnotcome。Shemerelysmiledoncemore。
\"Hehasnotdoneityet，\"shesaid。\"Ifheknewwhyyousoldthatland——yourrealreasonforsellingit——hewouldnotdriveyouaway，ortryto。\"
Iwasstartledandalarmed。
\"Whatdoyoumean？\"Iaskedquickly。
\"Ifheknewhewouldnotdriveyouaway，wouldhe？\"
\"Hewillneverknow。\"
\"Perhapshemay。Perhapsthepersonforwhosesakeyousolditmaytellhim。\"
\"Indeedhewillnot！Ishallseetothat。\"
\"Oh，thenthereissuchaperson！Iwassureofitbefore。Nowyouhavetoldme。\"
BeforeIcouldrecoverfromthementaldisturbanceandchagrinwhichmyslipandherquickseizureofitcausedme，thebutlerre—enteredtheroom。
\"Mrs。Coltonisawakeandaskingforyou，MissMabel，\"hesaid。
\"Thedoctorthinksyouhadbettergotoheratonce，ifyouplease。\"
Withawordofapologytome，shehurriedaway。Irosefromthetable。Ihadhadbreakfastenough。Theinterruptionhadcomeatafortunatetimeforme。Hernextquestionmighthaveforcedmetodeclinetoanswer——whichwouldhavebeenequivalenttoadmittingthetruth——ortolie。OnethingIdeterminedtodowithoutdelay。
IwouldwriteTayloratoncewarninghimtobemoreclose—mouthedthanever。UndernoconditionswouldIpermithimtospeak。IfitwerenecessaryIwouldgotoWashington，whereheandNelliewerespendingtheirhoneymoon，andmakehimpromisetokeepsilence。
Histellingthetruthmightruinhim，anditcertainlywouldnothelpme。Intheoneessentialthing——theonewhichwasclenchingmydeterminationtoleaveDenboroassoonasIcouldandseekforgetfulnessandoccupationelsewhere——noonecouldhelpme。I
musthelpmyself，orbemiserablealways。Justnowtheeternalmiseryseemedinevitable，nomatterwhatIdid。
Johnsonclearedthetableandleftmealoneinthelibrary。Thehourspassed。Nineo’clockcame，thennine—thirty。Itwasalmosttimeforthestockmarkettoopen。Mythoughts，whichhadbeendivertedfrommyrashplungeintotheintricaciesofhighfinance，begantoreturntoit。Asteno’clockdrewnear，IbegantorealizewhatIhadbadeDavisdo，andtothinkwhatmighthappenbecauseofit。I，RoscoePaine，nolongerevenacountrybanker，wasatthehelmof\"BigJim\"Colton’sbarkinthemaelstromofthestockmarket。Itwouldhavebeenfunnyifithadnotbeensodesperate。Anddesperateitwas，sheerrecklessdesperationandnothingelse。Imusthavebeencrazierthanever，morewildlyinsanethanIhadbeenforthepastmonth，toeventhinkofsuchathing。Itwasnottoolateyet，IcouldtelegraphDavis——
Thetelephoneonthedesk——notthepublic，thelocal，’phone，buttheother，Colton’sprivatewiretoNewYork——rang。Ipickedupthereceiver。
\"Hello—o！Hello—o！\"afaintvoicewascalling。\"IsthisColton’shouseatDenboro？……Yes，thisisDavis……Thewireisallrightnow……IsthisMr。Coltonspeaking？\"
\"No，\"Ianswered，\"Mr。Coltonishereinthehouse。Youmaygivethemessagetome。\"
\"Iwanttoknowifhisordershold。AmItobuy？Askhim。Iwillwait。Hurry！Themarketopensinfiveminutes。\"
Iputdownthereceiver。Nowwasmyopportunity。Icouldbackoutnow。Fiveminutesmoreanditwouldbetoolate。ButifIdidbackout——what？
Oneoftheminutespassed。Thenanother。Iseizedthetelephone。
\"Goahead！\"Ishouted。\"Carryoutyourorders。\"
Afaint\"Allright\"answeredme。
Thediewascast。Iwasinforit。Therewasnothingtodobutwait。
AndIwaitedalone。Iwalkedupanddownthefloorofthelittleroom，lookingattheclockandwonderingwhatwashappeningonthatcrowdedfloorofthebigBroadStreetbuilding。Themarketwasopen。DaviswasbuyingasIhaddirected。Butatwhatfigurewashebuying？
Noonecamenearme，noteventhebutler。Itwasten—twentybeforethebellrangagain。
\"Hello！ThisisMr。Davis’soffice。IsthisMr。Colton？TellhimMr。DavissaysL。andT。isonehundredandfiftynowandjumpingtwentypointsatalick。Thereisthedeviltopay。Scarcelyanystockinsightandnextdoortoapanic。Shallwegoonbuying？\"
Iwastryingtodecideuponananswerwhensomeonetouchedmyelbow。MissColtonwasstandingbesideme。Shedidnotspeak，butshelookedthequestion。
ItoldherwhatIhadjustheard。
\"Onehundredandfifty！\"sheexclaimed。\"Thatis——Why，thatisdreadful！Whatwillyoudo？\"
Ishookmyhead。\"Thatisforyoutosay，\"Ianswered。
\"No，itisforyou。Youaredoingthis。Itrustyou。Dowhatyouthinkisright——youandMr。Davis。ThatiswhatFatherwouldwishifheknew。\"
\"Daviswilldonothingonhisownresponsibility。\"
\"Thenyoumustdoitalone。Doit！doit！\"
Iturnedtothe’phoneoncemore。\"Buyallyoucanget，\"I
ordered。\"Keeponbidding。ButbesureandspreadthenewsthatitisColtonbuyingtosecurecontroloftheroad，nottocoverhisshorts。Besurethatleaksout。Everythingdependsonthat。\"
Ihungupthereceiver。SheandIlookedateachother。
\"Whatwillhappen，doyouthink？\"sheasked。
\"Godknows！……Areyougoing？Don’tgo！\"
\"Imust，\"gently。\"Fatherisworse，Ifear，andImustnotleavehim。DoctorQuimbysaysthenextfewhoursmaytelluswhetherheis——is——whetherheistobewithusornot。Imustgo。Bebrave。
Itrustyou。Bebrave，for——forIamtryingsohardtobe。\"
Iseizedherhand。Shedrewitfrommygraspandhastenedaway。
Brave！Well，forhersake，Imustbe。YetitwasbecauseofherthatIwassuchacoward。
AsIrecallallthisnowIwonderatmyself。Thewholethingseemstooimprobabletobetrue，yettrueitwas。Ilostmyidentitythatday，Ithink，and，asthetelephonemessageskeptcoming，andthesituationbecamemoreandmoredesperate，becamesomeoneelse，someoneagreatdealbraverandcoolerandmoreclear—sightedthaneverIhadbeenorshallbeagain。Iseemedtoseemycourseplainereverymomentandtofeelsurerofmyselfandthatmymethod——mybluff，ifyoulike——wastheonlysalvation。
AtelevenLouisvilleandTranscontinentalwasselling——thelittlethatwassold——atfourhundredandfiftydollarsashare，onaparvalueoffifty。Ateleven—thirtyithadclimbedanotherhundred。
ThewholeStreetwasaBedlam，sothey’phonedme，andthenewspaperswereissuing\"panic\"extras。
\"TellDavistostopbuyingnow，\"Iordered。\"LetitbeknownthatColtonhassecuredcontrolandissatisfied。\"
Atnoonthefigurewas700bidand800asked。Therewasnotradingatall，forthesufficientreasonthatnosharesweretobehad。
Johnsoncameintoaskifheshouldbringmyluncheon。Ibadehimclearoutandletmealone。Ashewastip—toeingawayIcalledafterhim。
\"HowisMr。Colton？\"Iasked。
\"Verybadindeed，sir。MissMabelwishedmetosaythatshecouldnotleavehimaninstant。Itisthecrisis，thedoctorthinks。\"
Thereweretwocrisesthen，oneoneachfloorofthebighouse。AtoneDavishimself’phoned。
\"Stillhangingaround700，\"heannounced。\"Beginstolookasifthetophadbeenreached。WhatshallIdonow？\"
MyplanwasreadyandIgavemyordersasifIhadbeendoingsuchthingsforyears。
\"Sell，insmalllots，atintervals，\"Itoldhim。\"Then，ifthepricebreaks，beginbuyingthroughanotherbrokerascautiouslyasyoucan。\"
Theanswerwasinadifferenttone；therewasanewnote，almostofhope，init。
\"BytheLord，Ibelieveyouhavegotit！\"hecried。\"Itmaywork。
I’llreporttoyou，Mr。Colton，rightaway。\"
Plainlyhehadnodoubtthat\"BigJim\"wasdirectingthefightinperson。Farwasitfrommetoundeceivehim！
Anotherinterval。Thenhereportedadropofahundredpoints。
\"Thebottomisbeginningtofallout，Ihonestlybelieve。Theythinkyou’vedone’emagain。Iamspreadingthereportthatyouhavethecontrolcinched。AssoonasthescrambleisreallyonI’llhaveahalfdozenbrokersbuyingforus。\"
Itwashalf—pasttwowhenthenextmessagecame。Itwasexultant，triumphant。
\"Downlikeanavalanche。Amgrabbingeveryshareoffered。We’vegot’em，sure！\"
And，asthreeo’clockstruck，camethefinalcrow。
\"Hoorayforourside！They’redeadandburied！Youhavetwohundredsharesmorethanfiftypercent，ofthecommonstock。TheLouisvilleroadisinyourpocket，Mr。Colton。Icongratulateyou。
Mighthaveknowntheycouldn’tlicktheoldman。Youareawonder。
I’llwritefullparticularsandthenIamgoinghomeandtobed。
I’mdead。Ididn’tbelieveyoucoulddoit！Howdidyou？\"
Isatthere，staringatthe’phone。Then，allatonce，Ibegantolaugh，weaklyandhysterically，buttolaugh，nevertheless。
\"I——IorganizedaDevelopmentCompany，\"Igasped。\"Goodnight。\"
Irosefromthechairandwalkedoutintothelibrary。IwassocompletelyfaggedoutbythestrainIhadbeenunderthatI
staggeredasIwalked。ThelibrarydooropenedandJohnsoncamein。Hewasbeaming，actuallybeamingwithjoy。
\"He’sverymuchbetter，sir，\"hecried。\"He’sconsciousandthedoctorsaysheconsiders’imoutofdangernow。MissMabelsentwordshewouldbedowninashortwhile。Shecan’tleavethemistressimmediate，butshe’llbedownsoon，sir。\"
Ilookedathiminadazedway。\"TellMissColtonthatIamveryglad，Johnson，\"Isaid。\"Andtellher，too，thateverythinghereissatisfactoryalso。TellherthatMr。Painesaysherfatherhashiscontrol。\"
\"’Hiscontrol！’Andwhatmaythatbe，ifyouplease，sir？\"
\"Shewillunderstand。Saythateverythingisallright，wehavewonandthatMr。Coltonhashiscontrol。Don’tforget。\"
\"And——andwherewillyoube，sir？\"
\"Iamgoinghome，Ithink。Iamgoinghomeand——tobed。\"
CHAPTERXXIII
ThenextthingIrememberwithanydistinctnessisDorinda’sknockingatmybedroomdoor。Irememberreachingthatbedroom，ofcourse，andofmeetingLuteinthekitchenandtellinghimthatI
wasnottobedisturbed，thatIshouldnotcomedowntosupperandthatIwantedtobeletalone——tobeletALONE——untilIsawfittoshowmyself。Butthesememoriesareallfoggyandmixedwithdreamsandnightmares。AsIsay，thenextthingthatIrememberdistinctlyafterstaggeringfromtheColtonlibraryisDorinda’sknockingatthedoorofmybedroom。
\"Ros！Roscoe！\"shewascalling。\"Canyougetupnow？Thereissomebodydownstairswaitin’toseeyou。\"
Iturnedoverinbedandbegantocollectmysenses。
\"Whattimeisit，Dorinda？\"Iasked，drowsily。
\"Aboutten，oralittleafter。\"
Ten！ThenIhadnotsleptsolong，afterall。ItwasnearlyfourwhenIwenttobedand……Butwhatmadetheroomsolight？
Therewasnolamp。Andthewindows……Isatup。
\"Youdon’tmeantotellmeitisteno’clockINTHEFORENOON！\"I
cried。
\"Um—hm。Ihatedtodisturbyou。You’vebeensleepin’liketheeverlastin’hillsandIknewyoumustbecompletelyworeout。ButIfeltprettysartinyou’dwanttoseethe——who’tisthathere’stoseeyou，soIdecidedtowakeyouup。\"
\"Itishightimeyoudid，Ishouldthink！I’llbedowninaminute。Whoisitthatwishestoseeme，Dorinda？\"
ButDorindahadgone。Idressedhurriedlyanddescendedthestairstothedining—room。There，seatedinachairbythedoor，hiseyesclosed，hischinrestinguponhischest，andhisaristocraticnoseproclaimingthefactthatheslumbered，wasJohnson，theColtonbutler。Iwasnotgreatlysurprised。Ihadrathersuspectedthatmycallermightbehe，orsomeothermessengerfromthebighouse。
