\"EvenBetty，\"hehadsaidtohimself，nowandthen。\"EvenmyBetty。GoodGod——whoknows！\"
Becauseofthis，hehadreadeachletterwithkeeneyes。
Theywerelongletters，fullofdetailandcolour，becausesheknewheenjoyedthem。Shehadadelightfultouch。HesometimesfeltasiftheywalkedtheEnglishlanestogether。
Hisintimacywithherneighbours，andherneighbourhood，wasoneofhisrelaxations。HefoundhimselfthinkingofoldDobyandMrs。Welden，asasortofsoporificmeasure，whenhelayawakeatnight。ShehadsentphotographsofStornham，ofDunholmCastle，andofDole，andhadevenfoundanoldengravingofLadyAlanbyinheryouth。HerevidentlikingfortheDunholmshadpleasedhim。Theywerepeoplewhosedignityandadmirablenesswerepartofgeneralknowledge。LordWestholtwasplainlyayoungmanofmanyattractions。Ifthetwoweredrawntoeachother——andwhatmorenatural——allwouldbewell。HewonderedifitwouldbeWestholt。Buthislovequickenedasagacitywhichneedednostimulus。Hesaidtohimselfintimethat，thoughshelikedandadmiredWestholt，shewentnofarther。Thatotherspaidcourttoherhecouldguesswithoutbeingtold。Hehadseentheeffectshehadproducedwhenshehadbeenathome，andalsoanunexpectedlettertohiswifefromMillyBowenhadrevealedmanythings。Milly，havingnotedMrs。Vanderpoel’seageranxietytoheardirectnewsofLadyAnstruthers，wasnotthepersontoletfallfromherhandausefulthreadofconnection。Shehadwrittenquiteatlength，managingadroitlytoconveyallthatshehadseen，andallthatshehadheard。ShehadbeenmakingavisitwithindrivingdistanceofStornham，andhadhadthepleasureofmeetingbothLadyAnstruthersandMissVanderpoelatvariousparties。
ShewassosurethatMrs。VanderpoelwouldliketohearhowwellLadyAnstrutherswaslooking，thatsheventuredtowrite。Betty’seffectuponthecountywasmadequiteclear，asalsowastheinterestedexpectationofherappearanceintownnextseason。Mr。Vanderpoel，perhaps，gatheredmorefromtheletterthanhiswifedid。Inhermind，relievedhappinessandconsternationweremingled。
\"Doyouthink，Reuben，thatBettywillmarrythatLordWestholt？\"sheratherfaltered。\"Heseemsverynice，butIwouldrathershemarriedanAmerican。IshouldfeelasifIhadnogirlsatall，iftheybothlivedinEngland。\"
\"LadyBowengiveshimagoodcharacter，\"herhusbandsaid，smiling。\"Butifanythinguntowardhappens，Annie，youshallhaveahouseofyourownhalfwaybetweenDunholmCastleandStornhamCourt。\"
WhenhehadbeguntodecidethatLordWestholtdidnotseemtobethemanFatewasveeringtowards，henotunnaturallycastamentaleyeoversuchotherpersonsasthelettersmentioned。AtexactlywhatperiodhisthoughtfirstdweltashadeanxiouslyonMountDunstanhecouldnothavetold，butheatlengthbecameconsciousthatitsodwelt。
Hehadbegunbyfeelinganinterestinhisstory，andhadaskedquestionsabouthim，becauseasituationsuchashissuggestedquerytoamanofaffairs。Thus，ithadbeennaturalthatthelettersshouldspeakofhim。Whatshehadwrittenhadrecalledtohimcertainrumoursofthedisgracefuloldscandal。
Yes，theyhadbeenabadlot。Hearrangedtoputacasual—
soundingquestionorsotocertainpersonswhoknewEnglishsocietywell。Whathegatheredwasnotencouraging。ThepresentLordMountDunstanwasconsideredratherasurlybrute，andlivedamysterioussortoflifewhichmightcovermanythings。Itwasbadblood，andpeoplewerenaturallyshyofit。Ofcourse，themanwasapauper，andhisplaceabarrackfallingtoruin。TherehadbeensomethingrathershadyinhisgoingtoAmericaorAustraliaafewyearsago。
Goodlooking？Well，sofewpeoplehadseenhim。Thelady，whowasspeaking，hadheardthathewasoneofthosebig，ratherlumpymen，andhadanill—temperedexpression。Shealwaysgaveawideberthtoamanwholookednasty—tempered。
OneortwootherpersonswhohadspokenofhimhadconveyedtoMr。Vanderpoelaboutthesameamountofvaguelyunpromisinginformation。TheepisodeofG。Seldenhadbeeninterestingenough，withitssuggestionsofpicturesquecontrastsandcombinations。Betty’stouchhadmadethejuniorsalesmanattracting。Itwasagoodtypethis，ofayoungfellowwho，battlingwiththediscouragementsofahardlife，stilldidnotlosehisamazinggoodcheerandpatience，andfoundhealthysleepandhonestwaking，eveninthehallbedroom。HehadconsentedtoBetty’srequestthathewouldseehim，partlybecausehewasinclinedtolikewhathehadheard，andpartlyforareasonwhichBettydidnotsuspect。
ByextraordinarychanceG。SeldenhadseenMountDunstanandhissurroundingsatcloserange。Mr。VanderpoelhadlikedwhathehadgatheredofMountDunstan’sattitudetowardsapersonalitysosingularlyexotictohimself。Crude，uneducated，andslangy，thejuniorsalesmanwasnotinanydegreeafool。
ToanAmericanfatherwithadaughterlikeBetty，thesumming—
upofanormal，nice—natured，commonyoungdenizenoftheUnitedStates，freshfromcontactwiththeeffete，mightbesubtlyinstructive，andwellworthhearing，ifitwasunconsciouslyexpressed。Mr。Vanderpoelthoughtheknewhow，afterhehadovercomehisvisitor’sfirstawkwardness——ifhechancedtobeself—conscious——hecouldleadhimtotalk。WhathehopedtodowastomakehimforgethimselfandbegintotalktohimashehadtalkedtoBetty，toingenuouslyrevealimpressionsandpointsofview。Youngmenofhisclean，rudimentarytypewereverydefiniteaboutthethingstheylikedanddisliked，andcouldbetrustedtorevealadmiration，orlackofit，withoutabsoluteintentionoractualstatement。
Beingelementalandundismayed，theysawthingsclearedofthemistsofsocialprejudiceandmodification。Yes，hefeltheshouldbegladtohearofLordMountDunstanandtheMountDunstanestatefromG。Seldeninahappymomentofunawareness。
WhywasitthatithappenedtobeMountDunstanhewasdesiroustohearof？Well，theabsolutereasonforthathecouldnothaveexplained，either。Hehadaskedhimselfquestionsonthesubjectmorethanonce。Therewasnowell—
foundedreason，perhaps。IfBetty’slettershadspokenofMountDunstanandhishome，theyhadalsodescribedLordWestholtandDunholmCastle。Ofthesetwomenshehadcertainlyspokenmorefullythanofothers。OfMountDunstanshehadhadmoretorelatethroughtheincidentofG。Selden。HesmiledasherealisedtheimportanceofthefigureofG。Selden。
ItwasSeldenandhisbrokenlegthetwomenhadriddenoverfromMountDunstantovisit。ButforSelden，BettymightnothavemetMountDunstanagain。Hewasreasonenoughforallshehadsaid。Andyet————！Perhaps，betweenBettyandhimselfthereexistedthethingwhichimpressesandcommunicateswithoutwords。Perhaps，becausetheiraffectionwasunusual，theyrealisedeachother’semotions。Thehalf—definedanxietyhefeltnowwasnotanewthing，butheconfessedtohimselfthatithadbeenspurredalittlebytheletterthelaststeamerhadbroughthim。ItwasNOTLordWestholt，itdefinitelyappeared。Hehadaskedhertobehiswife，andshehaddeclinedhisproposal。
\"IcouldnothaveLIKEDamananymorewithoutbeinginlovewithhim，\"shewrote。\"ILIKEhimmorethanIcansay——somuch，indeed，thatIfeelalittledepressedbymycertaintythatIdonotlovehim。\"
Ifshehadlovedhim，thewholematterwouldhavebeensimplified。Iftheothermanhaddrawnher，thethingwouldnotbesimple。Herfatherforesawallthecomplications——andhedidnotwantcomplicationsforBetty。Yetemotionswereperverseandirresistiblethings，andthestrongerthecreatureswayedbythem，themoreenormoustheirpower。But，ashesatinhiseasychairandthoughtoveritall，theonefeelingpredominantinhismindwasthatnothingmatteredbutBetty——nothingreallymatteredbutBetty。
InthemeantimeG。SeldenwaswalkingupFifthAvenue，atoncetouchedandexhilaratedbythestirabouthimandhissenseofhome—coming。ItwasprettygoodtobeinlittleoldNewYorkagain。Thehurriedpaceofthelifeabouthimstimulatedhisyoungblood。TherewerenostreetcarsinFifthAvenue，buttherewerecarriages，waggons，carts，motors，allpantinglyhurried，andfrettingandstrugglingwhenthecrowdedstateofthethoroughfareheldthemback。Thebeautifullydressedwomeninthecarriagesworenolightairofbeingatleisure。Itwasevidentthattheyweregoingtokeepengagements，todothings，toachieveobjects。
\"Somethingdoing。Somethingdoing，\"washischeerfulself—congratulatorythought。Hehadspenthislifeinthemidstofit，helikedit，anditwelcomedhimback。
Theappointmenthewasonhiswaytokeepthrilledhimintoanupliftedmood。Onceortwiceahalf—nervouschucklebrokefromhimashetriedtorealisethathehadbeengiventhechancewhichayearagohadseemedsoimpossiblethatitsmereincrediblenesshadmadeitanaturalsubjectforjokes。
HewasgoingtocallonReubenS。Vanderpoel，andhewasgoingbecauseReubenS。hadmadeanappointmentwithhim。
HeworehisLondonsuitofclothesandhefeltthathelookedprettydecent。Hecouldonlydohisbestinthematterofbearing。Healwaysthoughtthat，solongasafellowdidn’tget\"chesty\"andkepthisheadfromswelling，hewasallright。OfcoursehehadneverbeeninoneoftheseswellFifthAvenuehouses，andhefeltabitnervous——butMissVanderpoelwouldhavetoldherfatherwhatsortoffellowhewas，andherfatherwaslikelytobesomethinglikeherself。
Thehouse，whichhadbeenbuiltsinceLadyAnstruthers’
marriage，waswell\"up—town，\"andwasbigandimposing。
Whenamanservantopenedthefrontdoor，thesquarehalllookedverysplendidtoSelden。Itwasfulloflight，andofrichfurniture，whichwaslikethestuffhehadseeninoneortwospecialshopwindowsinFifthAvenue——placeswheretheysoldmagnificentgildedorcarvencoffersandvases，piecesoftapestryandmarvellousembroideries，antiquitiesfromforeignpalaces。Thoughitwasquitedifferent，itwasasswellinitswayasthehouseatMountDunstan，andthereweregleamsofpicturesonthewallsthatlookedfine，andnomistake。
Hewasexpected。ThemanledhimacrossthehalltoMr。
Vanderpoel’sroom。Afterhehadannouncedhisnameheclosedthedoorquietlyandwentaway。Mr。Vanderpoelrosefromanarmchairtocomeforwardtomeethisvisitor。
Hewastallandstraight——Bettyhadinheritedherslenderheightfromhim。Hiswell—balancedfacesuggestedtherelationshipbetweenthem。Hehadasteadymouth，andeyeswhichlookedasiftheysawmuchandfar。
\"Iamgladtoseeyou，Mr。Selden，\"hesaid，shakinghandswithhim。\"Youhaveseenmydaughters，andcantellmehowtheyare。MissVanderpoelhaswrittentomeofyouseveraltimes。\"
Heaskedhimtositdown，andashetookhischairSeldenfeltthathehadbeenrightintellinghimselfthatReubenS。Vanderpoelwouldbesomehowlikehisgirl。Shewasagirl，andhewasanelderlymanofbusiness，buttheywerelikeeachother。Therewasthesamekindofstraightwayofdoingthings，andthesamestraight—seeinglookinbothofthem。
Itwasqueerhownaturalthingsseemed，whentheyreallyhappenedtoafellow。HerehewassittinginabigleatherchairandoppositetohiminitsfellowsatReubenS。
Vanderpoel，lookingathimwithfriendlyeyes。Anditseemedallright，too——notasifhehadmanagedto\"buttin，\"andwouldfindhimselfpolitelyfiredoutdirectly。HemighthavebeenoneoftheFourHundredmakingacall。ReubenS。
knewhowtomakeamanfeeleasy，andnomistake。ThisG。Seldenobservedatonce，thoughhehad，infact，noknowledgeofthepracticaltactwhichdealtwithhim。HefoundhimselfansweringquestionsaboutLadyAnstruthersandhersister，whichledtotheopeningupofothersubjects。Hedidnotrealisethathebegantoexpressingenuousopinionsanddescribethings。Hislistener’sinterestledhimon，aquestionhere，aratherpleasedlaughthere，wereencouraging。
HehadenjoyedhimselfsomuchduringhisstayinEngland，andhadfelthisexperiencessogreatlytoberejoicedover，thattheywereeasytotalkofatanytime——infact，itwasevenatrifledifficultnottotalkofthem——but，stimulatedbythelookwhichrestedonhim，bythedeftwordandreadysmile，wordsflowedreadilyandwithouttherestraintofself—consciousness。
\"Whenyouthinkthatallofitsortofbeganwitharobin，it’squeerenough，\"hesaid。\"ButforthatrobinIshouldn’tbehere，sir，\"withaboyishlaugh。\"AndhewasanEnglishrobin——alittlefellownothalfthesizeofthekindthathopsaboutCentralPark。\"
\"Letmehearaboutthat，\"saidMr。Vanderpoel。
Itwasagoodstory，andhetolditwell，thoughinhisownjuniorsalesmanphrasing。Hebeganwithhisbicyclerideintothegreencountry，hisspinoverthefineroads，hisrestunderthehedgeduringtheshower，andthenthesongoftherobinperchedamongthefreshwetleafage，hisfeatherspuffedout，hisredyoungsatin—glossedbreastpulsatingandswelling。Hiswordswerecolloquialenough，buttheycalledupthepicture。
\"Everythingsortofglitteringwiththesunshineonthewetdrops，andthingssmellinggood，liketheydoafterrain——
leaves，andgrass，andgoodearth。Itellyouitmadeafellowfeelasifthewholeworldwashisbrother。AndwhenMr。
Rob。litonthattwigandswelledhisredbreastasifheknewthewholethingwashis，andbegantoletthemnotesout，callingforhisladyfriendtocomeandgohalveswithhim，I
justhadtolaughandspeaktohim，andthatwaswhenLordMountDunstanheardmeandjumpedoverthehedge。He’dbeenlistening，too。\"
TheexpressionReubenS。Vanderpoelworemadeitanagreeablethingtotalk——togoon。Heevidentlycaredtohear。SoSeldendidhisbest，andenjoyedhimselfindoingit。Hisstylemadeforrealismandbroughtthingsclearlybeforeone。Thebig—builtmanintheroughandshabbyshootingclothes，hiswaywhenhedroppedintothegrasstositbesidethestrangerandtalk，certainmeaningsinhiswordswhichconveyedtoVanderpoelwhathadnotbeenconveyedtoG。Selden。Yes，themancarriedaheavinessaboutwithhimandhatedtheburden。Seldenquiteunconsciouslybroughthimoutstrongly。
\"Idon’tknowwhetherI’mthekindoffellowwhoisalwaysmakingbreaks，\"hesaid，withhisboy’slaughagain，\"butifIam，InevermadeaworseonethanwhenIaskedhimstraightifhewasoutofajob，andonthetramp。Itshowedwhatanicefellowhewasthathedidn’tgethotaboutit。Somefellowswould。Heonlylaughed——sortofshort——
andsaidhisjobhadbeenmorethanhecouldhandle，andhewasafraidhewasdownandout。\"
Mr。Vanderpoelwasconsciousthatsofarhewassomewhatattractedbythiscentralfigure。G。Seldenwasalsoprovingsatisfactoryinthematterofrevealinghisexcellentlysimpleviewsofpersonsandthings。
\"TheonlytimehegotmadwaswhenIwouldn’tbelievehimwhenhetoldmewhohewas。Iwasabithotinthecollarmyself。I’dfeltsorryforhim，becauseIthoughthewasachaplikemyself，andhewasupagainstit。Iknowwhatthatis，andI’dwantedtojollyhimalongabit。WhenhesaidhisnamewasMountDunstan，andtheplacebelongedtohim，Iguessedhethoughthewasmakingajoke。SoI
gotonmywheelandstartedoff，andthenhegotmadforkeeps。Hesaidhewasn’tsuchadamnedfoolashelooked，andwhathe’dsaidwastrue，andIcouldgoandbehanged。\"
ReubenS。Vanderpoellaughed。Helikedthat。ItsoundedlikedecentBritishhottemper，whichhehadoftenfoundaccompaniedhonestBritishdecencies。
Helikedotherthings，asthestoryproceeded。Thepictureofthehugehousewiththeshutwindows，madehimslightlyrestless。Theconcealedimagination，combinedwiththefinancier’sresentmentofdormantinterests，disturbedhim。
ThatwhichhadattractedSeldenintheReverendLewisPenzancestronglyattractedhimself。Also，amanwasagooddealtobejudgedbyhisfriends。Themanwholivedaloneinthemidstofstatelydesolatenessandheldashischiefintimateahigh—bredandgentle—mindedscholarofripeyears，gave，indoingthis，certainevidencewhichdidnottellagainsthim。
Thewholesituationmeantsomethingasplendid，vivid—mindedyoungcreaturemightbemovedby——mightbealluredby，evendespiteherself。
Therewassomethingfantasticintheoddlinkingofincidents——Selden’schanceviewofBettyassherodeby，hisnextday’ssuddenresolvetoturnbackandgotoStornham，hisaccident，allthatfollowedseemed，ifonewerefanciful——partofaschemeprearranged\"WhenIcametomyself，\"G。Seldensaid，\"IfeltlikethatfellowintheShakespeareplaythattheydressupandputtobedinthepalacewhenhe’sdrunk。IthoughtI’dgoneoffmyhead。AndthenMissVanderpoelcame。\"Hepausedamomentandlookeddownonthecarpet，thinking。\"Geewhiz！ItWASqueer，\"hesaid。
BettyVanderpoel’sfathercouldalmosthearhervoiceastherestwastold。Heknewhowherlaughhadsounded，andwhatherpresencemusthavebeentotheyoungfellow。Hisdelightful，human，alwayssatisfyingBetty！
Throughthisoddtrickoffortune，MountDunstanhadbeguntoseeher。Since，throughtheunfairendowmentofNature——thatitwasnotwhollyfairhehadoftentoldhimself——
shewasallthethingsthatdesirecouldyearnfor，thereweremanychancesthatwhenamansawherhemustlongtoseeheragain，andtherewerethesamechancesthatsuchanoneasMountDunstanmightlongalso，and，ifFatewasagainsthim，longwithabitterstrength。SeldenwasnotawarethathehadspokenmorefullyofMountDunstanandhisplacethanofotherthings。Thatthishadbeenthecase，hadbeenbecauseMr。Vanderpoelhadintendeditshouldbeso。HehadsubtlydrawnoutandencouragedadetailedaccountofthetimespentatMountDunstanvicarage。Itwaseasilyencouraged。Selden’saffectionateadmirationforthevicarledhimontoenthusiasm。Thequiethouseandgarden，theoldbooks，theafternoonteaunderthecopperbeech，andthelongtalksofoldthings，whichhadbeensonewtotheyoungNewYorker，hadplainlymadeamarkuponhislife，notlikelytobeerasedevenbytherushofafteryears。
\"Thewayheknewhistorywaswhatgotme，\"hesaid。
\"Andthewayyougotinterestedinit，whenhetalked。Itwasn’tjustHISTORY，likeyoulearnatschool，andforget，andneverseetheuseof，anyhow。Itwasthingsaboutmen，justlikeyourself——hustlingforalivingintheirway，justaswe’rehustlinginBroadway。Mostofitwasfighting，andtherearemoundsscatteredaboutthataretheremainsoftheirfortsandcamps。Romancamps，someofthem。Hetookmetoseethem。Hehadalittleoldponychaisewetrundledaboutin，andhe’ddrawupandwe’dsitandtalk。`Thereweremenhereonthisveryspot，’he’dsay，`lookingoutforattack，eating，drinking，cookingtheirfood，polishingtheirweapons，laughing，andshouting——MEN——Selden，fifty—fiveyearsbeforeChristwasborn——andsometimestheNewTestamenttimesseemtoussofarawaythattheyarehalfadream。’Thatwasthekindofthinghe’dsay，andI’dsometimesfeelasifI
heardtheRomansshouting。Thecountryabouttherewasfullofqueerplaces，andbothheandLordDunstanknewmoreaboutthemthanIknowaboutTwenty—thirdStreet。\"
\"YousawLordMountDunstanoften？\"Mr。Vanderpoelsuggested。
\"Everyday，sir。AndthemoreIsawhim，themoreIgottolikehim。He’sallright。Butit’shardlucktobefixedasheis——that’sstone—coldtruth。What’samantodo？Themoneyheoughttohavetokeepuphisplacewasspentbeforehewasborn。Hisfatherandhiseldestbrotherwereabumlot，andhisgrandfatherandgreat—grandfatherwerefools。
Hecan’tselltheplace，andhewouldn’tifhecould。Mr。
Penzancewassofondofhimthatsometimeshe’dsaythings。
But，\"hastily，\"perhapsI’mtalkingtoomuch。\"
\"YouhappentobetalkingaboutquestionsIhavebeengreatlyinterestedin。Ihavethoughtagooddealattimesofthepositionoftheholdersoflargeestatestheycannotaffordtokeepup。Thisspecialinstanceisacaseinpoint。\"
G。Seldenfelthimselfinluckagain。ReubenS。，quiteevidently，foundhissubjectworthyofundividedattention。
SeldenhadnotheartilylikedLordMountDunstan，andlivedintheatmospheresurroundinghim，lookingabouthimwithsharpyoungNewYorkeyes，withoutlearningagooddeal。
Hehadseenthepracticalhardshipofthesituation，andlaiditbare。
\"WhatMr。Penzancesaysisthathe’slikethementhatbuiltthingsinthebeginning——foughtforthem——foughtRomansandSaxonsandNormans——perhapsthewholelotatdifferenttimes。IusedtoliketogetMr。PenzancetotellstoriesabouttheMountDunstans。Theyweresplendid。Itmustbeprettyfinetolookbackaboutathousandyearsandknowyourfolkshavebeensomething。Allthesameitsprettyfiercetohavetostandaloneattheendofit，notabletohelpyourself，becausesomeofyourrelationswerecrazyfools。Idon’twonderhefeelsmad。\"
\"Doeshe？\"Mr。Vanderpoelinquired。
\"He’sstraight，\"saidG。Seldensympathetically。\"He’sallright。Butonlymoneycanhelphim，andhe’sgotnone，sohehastostandandstareatthingsfallingtopieces。And——well，Itellyou，Mr。Vanderpoel，heLOVESthatplace——he’scrazyaboutit。Andhe’sproud——Idon’tmeanhe’sgottheswell—
head，becausehehasn’t——buthe’sjustproud。Now，forinstance，hehasn’tanyuseformenlikehimselfthatmarryjustformoney。He’sseenalotofit，andit’smadehimsick。
He’snotthatkind。\"
Hehadbeenaskedandhadansweredagoodmanyquestionsbeforehewentaway，buteachhaddroppedintothetalksoincidentallythathehadnotrecognisedthemasqueries。
HedidnotknowthatLordMountDunstanstoodoutaclearlydefinedfigureinMr。Vanderpoel’smind，afiguretobereflectedupon，andonenotwithoutitsattraction。
\"MissVanderpoeltellsme，\"Mr。Vanderpoelsaid，whentheinterviewwasdrawingtoaclose，\"thatyouareanagentfortheDelkofftypewriter。\"
G。Seldenflushedslightly。
\"Yes，sir，\"heanswered，\"butIdidn’t————\"
\"IhearthatthreemachinesareinuseontheStornhamestate，andthattheyhaveprovedsatisfactory。\"
\"It’sagoodmachine，\"saidG。Selden，hisflushalittledeeper。
Mr。Vanderpoelsmiled。
\"Youareabusiness—likeyoungman，\"hesaid，\"andI
havenodoubtyouhaveacatalogueinyourpocket。\"
G。Seldenwasabusiness—likeyoungman。HegaveMr。
Vanderpoeloneseriouslook，andthecataloguewasdrawnforth。
\"Itwouldn’tbebusiness，sir，formetobecaughtoutwithoutit，\"hesaid。\"Ishouldn’tleaveitbehindifIwenttoafuneral。Aman’sgottorunnorisks。\"
\"Ishouldliketolookatit。\"
Thethinghadhappened。Itwasnotadream。ReubenS。
Vanderpoel，clothedandinhisrightmind，had，withoutpressurebeingexerteduponhim，expressedhisdesiretolookatthecatalogue——toexamineit——tohaveitexplainedtohimatlength。
Helistenedattentively，whileG。Seldendidhisbest。Heaskedaquestionnowandthen，ormadeacomment。Hismannerwasthatofathoroughlycomposedmanofbusiness，buthewasrememberingwhatBettyhadtoldhimofthe\"tenper，\"andanumberofotherthings。Hesawtheflushcomeandgounderthestillboyishskin，heobservedthatG。
Selden’shandwasnotwhollysteady，thoughhewasmakinganeffortnottoseemexcited。Buthewasexcited。Thisactuallymeant——thisthingsounimportanttomulti—millionaires——thathewashavinghis\"chance，\"andhisyoungfortuneswere，perhaps，inthebalance。
\"Yes，\"saidReubenS。，whenhehadfinished，\"itseemsagood，up—to—datemachine。\"
\"It’sthebestonthemarket，\"saidG。Selden，\"outandout，thebest。\"
\"Iunderstandyouareonlyjuniorsalesman？\"
\"Yes，sir。TenperandfivedollarsoneverymachineI
sell。IfIhadaterritory，Ishouldgetten。\"
\"Then，\"reflectively，\"thefirstthingistogetaterritory。\"
\"PerhapsIshallgetoneintime，ifIkeepatit，\"saidSeldencourageously。
\"Itisagoodmachine。Ilikeit，\"saidMr。Vanderpoel。
\"Icanseeagoodmanyplaceswhereitcouldbeused。Perhaps，ifyoumakeitknownatyourofficethatwhenyouaregivenagoodterritory，IshallgivepreferencetotheDelkoffoverothertypewritingmachines，itmight——eh？\"
AlightbrokeoutuponG。Selden’scountenance——alightradiantandmagnificent。Hecaughthisbreath。Adesiretoshout——toyell——towhoop，aswheninthesocietyof\"theboys，\"wasbarelyconqueredintime。
\"Mr。Vanderpoel，\"hesaid，standingup，\"I——Mr。
Vanderpoel——sir——IfeelasifIwashavingapipedream。I’mnot，amI？\"
\"No，\"answeredMr。Vanderpoel，\"youarenot。Ilikeyou，Mr。Selden。Mydaughterlikedyou。Idonotmeantolosesightofyou。Wewillbegin，however，withtheterritory，andtheDelkoff。Idon’tthinktherewillbeanydifficultyaboutit。\"
