Yet,onthewhole,Ifeltacertaincomplacencyaboutitall;Iknewthatsufferingwasdisagreeable,Ihadlearnedhowtoavoidit,andImayhavehad,deepwithinme,afeelingthatImightmarryherafterall.
Meanwhilemylifewasfull,andgavepromiseofbecomingevenfuller,moreabsorbingandexcitingintheimmediatefuture.
Oneofthemostfascinatingfigures,tome,ofthatOrderbeingwoven,likeaclothofgold,outofourhithertodrabcivilization,——anOrderintowhichIwasreadyandeagertobeinitiated,——wasthatofAdolfScherer,thegiantGermanimmigrantattheheadoftheBoyneIronWorks.
Hislifewouldeasilylenditselftoriotousromance.Intheoldcountry,inavalleybelowthecastleperchedontherackabove,hehadbegunlifebytendinghisfather\'sgeese.Whatacontrastto\"Steeltown\"
withitssmellsandsickeningsummerheat,totheshantywhereMrs.