Notthattheirlifewasmeagre。Itwasthattheyfoundkeenerdelightsanddeepersatisfactionsinlittlethings。Daylight，whohadplayedthegameinitsbiggestandmostfantasticaspects，foundthathere，ontheslopesofSonomaMountain，itwasstillthesameoldgame。Manhadstillworktoperform，forcestocombat，obstaclestoovercome。Whenheexperimentedinasmallwayatraisingafewpigeonsformarket，hefoundnolesszestincalculatinginsquabsthanformerlywhenhehadcalculatedinmillions。
Achievementwasnolessachievement，whiletheprocessofitseemedmorerationalandreceivedthesanctionofhisreason。
Thedomesticcatthathadgonewildandthatpreyedonhispigeons，hefound，bythecomparativestandard，tobeofnolessparamountmenacethanaCharlesKlinknerinthefieldoffinance，tryingtoraidhimforseveralmillions。Thehawksandweaselsand’coonsweresomanyDowsetts，Lettons，andGuggenhammersthatstruckathimsecretly。Theseaofwildvegetationthattosseditssurfagainsttheboundariesofallhisclearingsandthatsometimescreptinandfloodedinasingleweekwasnomeanenemytocontendwithandsubdue。Hisfat-soiledvegetable-gardeninthenookofhillsthatfailedofitsbestwasaproblemofengrossingimportance，andwhenhehadsolveditbyputtingindrain-tile，thejoyoftheachievementwaseverwithhim。Heneverworkedinitandfoundthesoilunpackedandtractablewithoutexperiencingthethrillofaccomplishment。
Therewasthematteroftheplumbing。Hewasenabledtopurchasethematerialsthroughaluckysaleofanumberofhishairbridles。Theworkhedidhimself，thoughmorethanoncehewasforcedtocallinDedetoholdtightwithapipe-wrench。Andintheend，whenthebath-tubandthestationarytubswereinstalledandinworkingorder，hecouldscarcelytearhimselfawayfromthecontemplationofwhathishandshadwrought。
Thefirstevening，missinghim，Dedesoughtandfoundhim，lampinhand，staringwithsilentgleeatthetubs。Herubbedhishandovertheirsmoothwoodenlipsandlaughedaloud，andwasasshamefacedasanyboywhenshecaughthimthussecretlyexultinginhisownprowess。