MARJORYwalkedpensivelyalongthehall。Inthecoolshadowsmadebythepalmsonthewindowledge，herfaceworetheexpressionofthoughtfulmelancholyexpectedonthefacesofthedevoteeswhopaceincloisteredgloom。Shehaltedbeforeadoorattheendofthehallandlaidherhandontheknob。Shestoodhesitating，herheadbowed。Itwasevidentthatthismissionwastorequiregreatfortitude。
Atlastsheopenedthedoor。\"Father，\"shebeganatonce。
Therewasdisclosedanelderly，narrow-facedmanseatedatalargetableandsurroundedbymanuscriptsandbooks。ThesunlightflowingthroughcurtainsofTurkeyredfellsanguinelyuponthebustofdead-eyedPericlesonthemantle。Alittleclockwasticking，hiddensomewhereamongthecountlessleavesofwriting，themapsandbroadheavytomesthatswarmeduponthetable。
Herfatherlookedupquicklywithanogreishscowl。
Goaway!\"hecriedinarage。\"Goaway。Goaway。Getout\"
\"Heseemedonthepointofarisingtoejectthevisitor。Itwasplaintoherthathehadbeeninterruptedinthewritingofoneofhissentences，ponderous，solemnandendless，inwhichwanderedmultitudesofhomelessandfriendlessprepositions，adjectiveslookingforaparent，andquarrellingnouns，sentenceswhichnolongersymbolisedthelanguageformofthoughtbutwhichhadaboutthemaquaintaromafromthedensoflong-deadscholars。\"Getout，\"
snarledtheprofessor。
Father，\"falteredthegirl。Eitherbecausehisformulatedthoughtwasnowcompletelyknockedoutofhismindbyhisownemphasisindefendingit，orbecausehedetectedsomethingofportentinherexpression，hismannersuddenlychanged，andwithapetulantglanceathiswritinghelaiddownhispenandsankbackinhischairtolisten。\"Well，whatisit，mychild？\"
Thegirltookachairnearthewindowandgazedoutuponthesnow-strickencampus，whereatthemomentagroupofstudentsreturningfromaclassroomwerefestivelyhurlingsnow-balls。\"I\'vegotsomethingimportanttotellyou，father，\"
saidshe，butidon\'tquiteknowhowtosayit。\"
\"Somethingimportant？\"repeatedtheprofessor。Hewasnothabituallyinterestedintheaffairsofhisfamily，butthisproclamationthatsomethingimportantcouldbeconnectedwiththem，filledhismindwithacapriciousinterest。\"Well，whatisit，Marjory？\"
Sherepliedcalmly:\"RufusColemanwantstomarryme。\"
\"What？\"demandedtheprofessorloudly。\"RufusColeman。
Whatdoyoumean？\"
Thegirlglancedfurtivelyathim。Shedidnotseemtobeabletoframeasuitablesentence。
Asfortheprofessor，hehad，likeallmenboththoughtlessandthoughtful，toldhimselfthatonedayhisdaughterwouldcometohimwithataleofthiskind。Hehadneverforgottenthatthelittlegirlwastobeawoman，andhehadneverforgottenthatthistall，lithecreature，thepresentMarjory，wasawoman。
Hehadbeenentrancedandconfidentorentrancedandapprehensiveaccording\'tothetime。Amanfocusseduponastronomy，thepigmarketorsocialprogression，mayneverthelesshaveasecondarymindwhichhoverslikeaspiritoverhisdahliatubersanddreamsuponthemysteryoftheirslowandtenderrevelations。Theprofessor\'ssecondarymindhaddweltalwayswithhisdaughterandwatchedwithafaithanddelightthechangingtoawomanofacertainfatandmumblingbabe。However，henowsawthismachine，thisself-
sustaining，self-operativelove，whichhadrunwiththeeaseofaclock，suddenlycrumbletoashesandleavethemindofagreatscholarstaringatacalamity。\"RufusColeman，\"herepeated，stunned。Herewashisdaughter，veryobviouslydesirousofmarryingRufusColeman。\"Marjory，\"hecriedinamazementandfear，\"whatpossesses，you？MarryRufusColman？\"
Thegirlseemedtofeelastrongsenseofreliefathispromptrecognitionofafact。Beingfreedfromthenecessityofmakingaflatdeclaration，shesimplyhungherheadandblushedimpressively。Ahushfelluponthem。Theprofessorstaredlongathisdaugh。ter。Theshadowofunhappinessdeepeneduponhisface。\"Marjory，Marjory，\"hemurmuredatlast。Hehadtrampedheroicallyuponhispanicanddevotedhisstrengthtobringingthoughtintosomekindofattitudetowardthisterriblefact。\"Iam-Iamsurprised，\"hebegan。Fixingherthenwithasterneye，heasked:\"Whydoyouwishtomarrythisman？You，withyouropportunitiesofmeetingpersonsofintelligence。Andyouwanttomarry-\"Hisvoicegrewtragic。\"YouwanttomarrytheSundayeditoroftheNewYorkEclipse。\"
\"Itisnotsoveryterrible，isit？\"saidMarjorysullenly。
\"Waitamoment；don\'ttalk，\"criedtheprofessor。Hearoseandwalkednervouslytoandfro，hishandsflyingintheair。HewasveryredbehindtheearsaswhenintheClassroomsomestudentoffendedhim。\"Agambler，asporteroffineclothes，anexpertonchampagne，apoliteloafer，awitnessknavewhoeditstheSundayeditionofagreatoutrageuponoursensibilities。
Youwanttomarryhim，thisman？Marjory，youareinsane。Thisfraudwhoassertsthathisworkisintelligent，thisfoolcomesheretomyhouseand-\"
Hebecameawarethathisdaughterwasregardinghimcoldly。
\"Ithoughtwehadbesthaveallthispartofitoveratonce，\"sheremarked。
Heconfrontedherinanewkindofsurprise。Thelittlekeen-
eyedprofessorwasatthistimeimperial，onthevergeofamajesticoutburst。\"Bestill，\"hesaid。\"Don\'tbecleverwithyourfather。Don\'tbeadodger。Or，ifyouare，don\'tspeakofittome。I
supposethisfineyoungmanexpectstoseemepersonally？\"
\"Hewascomingto-morrow，\"repliedMarjory。Shebegantoweep。\"Hewascomingto-morrow。\"
\"Um，\"saidtheprofessor。HecontinuedhispacingwhileMarjoryweptwithherheadbowedtothearmofthechair。Hisbrowmadethethreedarkverticalcreviceswellknowntohisstudents。Some。timeshegloweredmurderouslyatthephotographsofancienttempleswhichadornedthewalls。\"Mypoorchild，\"hesaidonce，ashepausednearher，\"tothinkI
neverknewyouwereafool。Ihavebeendeludingmyself。Ithasbeenmyfaultasmuchasithasbeenyours。Iwillnotreadilyforgivemyself。\"
Thegirlraisedherfaceandlookedathim。Finally，resolvedtodisregardthedishevelmentwroughtbytears，shepresentedadesperatefrontwithherweteyesandflushedcheeks。Herhairwasdisarrayed。\"Idon\'tseewhyyoucancallmeafool，\"shesaid。Thepausebeforethissentencehadbeensoportentousofawildandrebelliousspeechthattheprofessoralmostlaughednow。Butstillthefatherforthefirsttimeknewthathewasbeingun-dauntedlyfacedbyhischildinhisownlibrary，inthepresenceOf372
pagesofthebookthatwastobehismasterpiece。Atthebackofhismindhefeltagreataweasifhisownyouthfulspirithadcomefromthepastandchallengedhimwithaglance。Foramomenthewasalmostadefeatedman。Hedroppedintoachair。
\"Doesyourmotherknowofthis\"\"heaskedmournfully。
\"Yes，\"repliedthegirl。\"Sheknows。ShehasbeentryingtomakemegiveupRufus。\"
\"Rufus，\"criedtheprofessorrejuvenatedbyanger。
\"Well，hisnameisRufus，\"saidthegirl。
\"Butpleasedon\'tcallhimsobeforeme，\"saidthefatherwithicydignity。\"IdonotrecognisehimasbeingnamedRufus。
Thatisacontentionofyourswhichdoesnotarousemyinterest。Iknowhimverywellasagamblerandadrunkard，andifincidentally，heisnamedRufus，Ifailtoseeanyimportancetoit。\"
\"Heisnotagamblerandheisnotadrunkard，\"shesaid。
\"Um。Hedrinksheavily-thatiswellknown。Hegambles。
Heplayscardsformoney——morethanhepossesses-atleasthedidwhenhewasincollege。\"
\"Yousaidyoulikedhimwhenhewasincollege。\"
\"SoIdid。SoIdid，\"answeredtheprofessorsharply。\"I
oftenfindmyselflikingthatkindofaboyincollege。Don\'tI
knowthem-thoseladswiththeirbeerandtheirpokergamesinthedeadofthenightwithatowelhungoverthekeyhole。Theirhabitsareoftenviciousenough，butsomethingremainsinthemthroughitallandtheymaygoawayanddogreatthings。Thishappens。Weknowit。Ithappenswithconfusinginsistence。Itdestroystheo-ries。There-thereisn\'tmuchtosayaboutit。Andsometimeswelikethiskindofaboybetterthanwedothe-theothers。FormypartIknowofmanyapure，piousandfine-
mindedstudentthatIhavepositivelyloathedfromapersonalpoint-of-view。But，\"headded，\"thisRufusColeman，hislifeincollegeandhislifesince，gotoprovehowoftenwegetoffthetrack。Thereisnogaugeofcollegiateconductwhatever，untilwecangetevidenceoftheman\'sworkintheworld。Yourpreciousscoundrel\'sevidenceisnowallinandheisafailure，orworse。\"
\"Youarenothabituallysofierceinjudgingpeople，\"saidthegirl。
\"Iwouldbeiftheyallwantedtomarrymydaughter，\"
rejoinedtheprofessor。\"Ratherthanletthatmanmakelovetoyou-orevenbewithinashortrailwayjourneyofyou，I\'llcartyouofftoEuropethiswinterandkeepyouthereuntilyouforget。Ifyoupersistinthissillyfancy，Ishallatoncebecomemedieval。\"
Marjoryhadevidentlyrecoveredmuchofhercomposure。
\"Yes，father，newclimatesarealway\'ssupposedtocureone，\"
sheremarkedwithakindoflightness。
\"Itisn\'tsomuchtheoldexpedient，\"saidtheprofessormusingly，\"asitisthatIwouldbeafraidtoleaveyouherewithnoprotectionagainstthatdrinkinggamblerandgamblingdrunkard。\"
\"Father，IhavetoaskyounottousesuchtermsinspeakingofthemanthatIshallmarry。\"
Therewasasilence。Toallintents，theprofessorremainedunmoved。Hesmotethetipsofhisfingersthoughtfullytogether。\"Ye-es，\"heobserved。\"Thatsoundsreasonablefromyourstandpoint。\"Hiseyesstudiedherfaceinalongandsteadyglance。Hearoseandwentintothehall。Whenhereturnedheworehishatandgreatcoat。Hetookabookandsomepapersfromthetableandwentaway。
Marjorywalkedslowlythroughthehallsanduptoherroom。
Fromawindowshecouldseeherfathermakinghiswayacrossthecampuslabouriouslyagainstthewindandwhirlingsnow。
Shewatchedit，thislittleblackfigure，bentforward，patient，steadfast。Itwasaninferiorfactthatherfatherwasoneofthefamousscholarsofthegeneration。Toher，hewasnowalittleoldmanfacingthewintrywinds。Recollect。ingherselfandRufusColemanshebegantoweepagain，wailingamidtheruinsofhertumbledhopes。Herskieshadturnedtopaperandhertreesweremerebitsofgreensponge。Butamidallthiswoeappearedthelittleblackimageofherfathermakingitswayagainstthestorm。
CHAPTERII。
INahigh-walledcorriderofoneofthecollegebuildings，acrowdofstudentswaitedamidjostlingsandaloudbuzzoftalk。
Suddenlyahugepairofdoorsflewopenandawedgeofyoungmeninserteditselfboisterouslyanddeeplyintothethrong。
Therewasagreatscuffleattendedbyageneralbangingofbooksuponheads。Thetwolowerclassesengagedinherculeanplaywhilemembersofthetwohigherclasses，standingaloof，devotedthemselvesstrictlytotheencouragementofwhicheverpartyforamomentlostgroundorheart。Thiswasinordertoprolongtheconflict。
Thecombat，wagedinthedesperationofproudestyouth，waxedhotandhotter。Thewedgehadbeeninstantlysmittenintoakindofblockofmen。Ithadcrumpledintoanirregularsquareandonthreesidesitwasnowassailedwithremarkableferocity。
Itwasamatterofwallmeetwallinterrificrushes，duringwhichladscouldfeeltheirveryheartsleavingtheminthecompressoffriendsandfoes。TheyontheoutskirtsupheldthehonouroftheirclassesbysqueezingintopaperthicknessthelungsofthoseoftheirfellowswhoformedthecentreofthemeleeInsomewayitresembledapanicatatheatre。
Thefirstlance-likeattackoftheSophomoreshadbeenformidable，buttheFreshmenoutnumberingtheirenemiesandsmartingfromcontinualSophomoricoppression，hadswarmedtothefrontlikedrilledcollegiansandgiventhearrogantfoethefirstseriouscheckoftheyear。ThereforethetallGothicwindowswhichlinedonesideofthecorridorlookeddownuponasincomprehensibleandenjoyableatumultascouldmarkthestepsofadvancededucation。TheSeniorsandjuniorscheeredthemselvesill。Longfreedfromthejoyofsuchmeetings，theironlymeansforthiskindofrecreationwastoinvolvethelowerclasses，andtheyhadneverseenthevictimsfalltowithsuchvigourandcourage。Bitsofprintedleaves，tornnote-books，dismantledcollarsandcravats，allfloatedtothefloorbeneaththefeetofthewarringhordes。Therewerenoblows；itwasabattleofpressure。Itwasadeadlypushingwheretheleadersoneithersideoftensufferedthemostcruelandsickeningagonycaughtthusbetweenphalanxesofshoulderswithfriendaswellasfoecontributingtothepain。
ChargeafterchargeofFreshmenbeatuponthenowcompactandorganisedSophomores。Then，finally，therockbegantogiveslowway。AroarcamefromtheFreshmenandtheyhurledthemselvesinafrenzyupontheirbetters。
TobeunderthegazeofthejuniorsandSeniorsistobeinsightofallmen，andsotheSophomoresatthisimportantmomentlabouredwiththedesperationofthehalf-
doomedtostemtheterribleFreshmen。
Inthekindofgame，itwasthetimewhenbadtemperscamestronglytothefront，andinmanySophomores\'mindsathoughtaroseoftheincomparableinsolenceoftheFreshmen。
Ablowwasstruck；aninfuriatedSophomorehadswunganarmhighandsmoteaFreshman。
Althoughithadseemedthatnogreaternoisecouldbemadebythegivennumbers，thedinthatsucceededthismanifestationsurpassedeverything。ThejuniorsandSeniorsimmediatelysetupanangryhowl。Theseveteranclassesprojectedthemselvesintothemiddleofthefight，buffetingeverybodywithsmallthoughtastomerit。Thismethodofbringingpeacewasasmilitantasalandslide，buttheyhadmuchtroublebeforetheycouldseparatethecentralclumpofantagonistsintoitsparts。
AscoreofFreshmenhadcriedout:\"ItwasCoke。Cokepunchedhim。Coke。\"Adozenofthemweretempestuouslyendeavouringtoregistertheirprotestagainstfisticuffsbymeansofanintroductionofmorefisticuffs。
Theupperclassmenwereswift，harshandhard。\"Come，now，Freshies，quitit。Getback，getback，d\'y\'hear？\"WithawrenchofmusclestheyforcedthemselvesinfrontofCoke，whowasbeingblindlydefendedbyhisclassmatesfromintenselyearnestattacksbyoutragedFreshmen。
Thesemeetingsbetweenthelowerclassesatthedoorofarecitationroomwereaccountedquitecomfortableandidleaffairs，andablowdeliveredopenlyandinhatredfracturedasharplydefinedruleofconduct。Thecorridorwasinahubbub。
ManySeniorsandJuniors，burstingfromoldandirondiscipline，wildlyclamouredthatsomeFreshmanshouldbegiventheprivilegeofasingleencounterwithCoke。TheFreshmenthemselveswerefrantic。TheybesiegedthetightanddauntlesscircleofmenthatencompassedCoke。NonedaredconfronttheSeniorsopenly，butbyheadlongrushesatauspiciousmomentstheytriedtocometoquarterswiththeringsofdark-browedSophomores。Itwasnolongerafestival，agame；itwasariot。
Coke，wild-eyed，pallidwithfury，aribbonofbloodonhischin，swayedinthemiddleofthemobofhisclassmates，comradeswhowaivedtheethicsoftheblowunderthecircumstanceofbeingobligedasacorpstostandagainstthescornofthewholecollege，aswellasagainstthetremendousassaultsoftheFreshmen。Shamedbytheirownman，butknowingfullwelltherighttimeandthewrongtimeforapalaverofregretanddisavowal，thisbattalionstruggledinthedesperationofdespair。OncetheywereuponthevergeofmakingunholycampaignagainsttheinterferingSeniors。Thisfieryimpertinencewasthemeasureoftheirstate。
Itwasacriticalmomentintheplayofthecollege。FourorfivedefeatsfromtheSophomoresduringthefallhadtaughttheFreshmenmuch。Theyhadlearnedthecomparativemeasurements，andtheyknewnowthattheirprowesswasripetoenablethemtoamplyrevengewhatwas，accordingtotheirstandards，anexecrabledeedbyamanwhohadnotthevirtuetoplaytheroughgame，butwasobligedtoresorttouncommonmethods。Inshort，theFreshmenwerealmostoutofcontrol，andtheSophomoresdebasedbutdefiant，werequiteoutofcontrol。
TheSeniorandjuniorclasseswhich，inAmericancollegesdictateintheseaffrays，foundtheirdignitytoppling，andinconsequencetherewasasuddenoncomeoftheentireforceofupperclassmenfootballplayersnaturallyinadvance。Alldistinctionsweredissolvedatonceinageneralfracas。ThestiffandstillGothicwindowssurveyedasceneofdirecarnage。
Suddenlyavoicerangbrazenlythroughthetumult。Itwasnotloud，butitwasdifferent。\"Gentlemen!Gentlemen!\'\"
Instantlytherewasaremarkablenumberofhaltings，abruptreplacements，quickchanges。Prof。Wainwrightstoodatthedoorofhisrecitationroom，lookingintotheeyesofeachmemberofthemobofthreehundred。\"Ssh!\"saidthemob。\"
Ssh!Quit!Stop!It\'stheEmbassador!Stop!\"HehadoncebeenministertoAustro-Hungary，andforevernowtothestudentsofthecollegehisnamewasEmbassador。Hesteppedintothecorridor，andtheyclearedforhimalittlerespectfulzoneoffloor。Helookedabouthimcoldly。\"Itseemsquiteageneraldishevelment。TheSophomoresdisplayanenergyinthehallswhichIdonotdetectintheclassroom。\"A
feeblemurmurofappreciationarosefromtheoutskirtsofthethrong。Whilehehadbeenspeakingseveralremotegroupsofbattlingmenhadbeenviolentlysignaledandsuppressedbyotherstudents。Theprofessorgazedintoterracesoffacesthatwerestillinflamed。\"Ineedn\'tsaythatIamsurprised，\"heremarkedintheacceptedrhetoricofhiskind。Headdedmusingly:\"Thereseemstobeagreatdealoftornlinen。Whoistheyounggentlemanwithbloodonhischin？\"
Thethrongmovedrestlessly。Amanfulsilence，suchasmightbeinthetombsofsternandhonourableknights，fellupontheshadowedcorridor。Thesubduedrustlinghadfaintedtonothing。ThenoutofthecrowdCoke，paleanddesperate，deliveredhimself。
\"Oh，Mr。Coke，\"saidtheprofessor，\"Iwouldbegladifyouwouldtellthegentlementheymayretiretotheirdormitories。\"
Hewaitedwhilethestudentspassedouttothecampus。
Theprofessorreturnedtohisroomforsomebooks，andthenbeganhisownmarchacrossthesnowycampus。Thewindtwistedhiscoat-tailsfantastically，andhewasobligedtokeeponehandfirmlyonthetopofhishat。
Whenhearrivedhomehemethiswifeinthehall。\"Lookhere，Mary，\"hecried。Shefollowedhimintothelibrary。\"Lookhere，\"
hesaid。\"Whatisthisallabout？MarjorytellsmeshewantstomarryRufusColeman。\"
Mrs。Wainwrightwasafatwomanwhowassaidtoprideherselfuponbeingverywiseandifnecessary，sly。Inadditionshelaughedcontinuallyinaninexplicablypersonalway，whichapparentlymadeeverybodywhoheardherfeeloffended。Mrs。
Wainwrightlaughed。
\"Well，\"saidtheprofessor，bristling，\"whatdoyoumeanbythat？\"
\"Oh，Harris，\"shereplied。\"Oh，Harris。\"
Theprofessorstraightenedinhischair。\"Idonotseeanyilluminationinthoseremarks，Mary。IunderstandfromMarjory\'smannerthatsheisbentuponmarryingRufusColeman。Shesaidyouknewofit。\"
\"Why，ofcourseIknew。Itwasasplain——\"
\"Plain!\"scoffedtheprofessor。\"Plain!\"
Why，ofcourse，\"shecried。\"Iknewitallalong。\"
Therewasnothinginhertonewhichprovedthatsheadmiredtheeventitself。Shewasevidentlycarriedawaybythetriumphofherpenetration。\"Iknewitallalong，\"sheadded，nodding。
Theprofessorlookedatheraffectionately。\"Youknewitallalong，then，Mary？Whydidn\'tyoutellme，dear？\"
\"Becauseyououghttohaveknownit，\"sheansweredblatantly。
Theprofessorwasglaring。Finallyhespokeintonesofgrimreproach。\"Mary，wheneveryouhappentoknowanything，dear，itseemsonlyamatterofpartialrecompensethatyoushouldtellme。\"
Thewifehadbeentaughtinaterribleschoolthatsheshouldneverinventanyinexpensiveretortsconcerningbookwormsandsosheyawedatonce。\"Really，Harris。Really，Ididn\'tsupposetheaffairwasserious。Youcouldhaveknockedmedownwithafeather。Ofcoursehehasbeenhereveryoften，butthenMarjorygetsagreatdealofattention。Agreatdealofattention。\"
Theprofessorhadbeenthinking。\"Ratherthanletmygirlmarrythatscalawag，I\'lltakeyouandhertoGreecethiswinterwiththeclass。Separation。Itisasurecurethathasthesanctionofantiquity。\"
\"Well，\"saidMrs。Wainwright，\"youknowbest，Harris。Youknowbest。\"Itwasacommonremarkwithher，anditprobablymeanteitherapprobationordisapprobationifitdidnotmeansimplediscretion。
CHAPTERIII。
THEREhadbeenababewithnoarmsborninoneofthewesterncountiesofMassachusetts。Inplaceofupperlimbsthechildhadgrowingfromitschestapairoffin-likehands，merebitsofskin-coveredbone。Furthermore，ithadonlyoneeye。
Thisphenomenonlivedfourdays，butthenewsofthebirthhadtravelledupthiscountryroadandthroughthatvillageuntilitreachedtheearsoftheeditoroftheMichaelstownTribune。
HewasalsoacorrespondentoftheNewYorkEclipse。Onthethirddayheappearedatthehomeoftheparentsaccompaniedbyaphotographer。Whilethelatterarrangedhis，instrument，thecorrespondenttalkedtothefatherandmother，twocoweyedandyellow-facedpeoplewhoseemedtosufferaprimitivefrightofthestrangers。Afterwardsasthecorrespondentandthephotographerwereclimbingintotheirbuggy，themothercreptfurtivelydowntothegateandasked，inaforeigner\'sdialect，iftheywouldsendheracopyofthephotograph。Thecorrespondentcarelesslyindulgent，promisedit。Asthebuggyswungaway，thefathercamefrombehindanappletree，andthetwosemi-humanswatcheditwithitsburdenofgloriousstrangersuntilitrumbledacrossthebridgeanddisappeared。Thecorrespondentwaselate；hetoldthephotographerthattheEclipsewouldprobablypayfiftydollarsforthearticleandthephotograph。
TheofficeoftheNewYorkEclipsewasatthetopoftheimmensebuildingonBroadway。Itwasasheermountaintotheheightsofwhichtheinterminablethunderofthestreetsarosefaintly。TheHudsonwasabroadpathofsilverinthedistance。Itsedgewasmarkedbythetraceryofsailingships\'riggingandbythehugeandmany-colouredstacksofoceanliners。AtthefootoftheclifflayCityHallPark。Itseemednolargerthanaquilt。Thegreywalkspatternedthesnow-coveringintotrianglesandovalsanduponthemmanytinypeoplescurriedhereandthere，withoutsound，likeafishatthebottomofapool。Itwasonlythevehiclesthatsenthigh，unmistakable，thedeepbassoftheirmovement。Andyetafterlisteningoneseemedtohearasingularmurmurousnote，apulsation，asifthecrowdmadenoisebyitsmereliving，amellowhumoftheeternalstrife。Thensuddenlyoutofthedeepsmightringahumanvoice，anewsboyshoutperhaps，thecryofafarawayjackalatnight。
Fromtheleveloftheordinaryroofs，combinedinmanyplateaus，dottedwithshortironchimneysfromwhichcurledwispsofsteam，aroseothermountainsliketheEclipseBuilding。Theyweregreatpeaks，ornate，glitteringwithpaintorpolish。Northwardtheysubsidedtosun-crownedranges。
FromsomeofthewindowsoftheEclipseofficedroppedthewallsofaterriblechasminthedarknessofwhichcouldbeseenvaguestrugglingfigures。Lookingdownintothisappallingcreviceonediscoveredonlythetopsofhatsandkneeswhichinspasmodicjerksseemedtotouchtherimsofthehats。Thescenerepresentedsomeweirdfightordanceorcarouse。Itwasnotanexhibitionofmenhurryingalonganarrowstreet。
Itwasgoodtoturnone\'seyesfromthatplacetothevistaofthecity\'ssplendidreaches，withspireandsparshiningintheclearatmosphereandthemarveloftheJerseyshore，pearl-
mistedorbrilliantwithdetail。Fromthisheightthesweepofasnow-stormwasdefinedandmajestic。Evenaslightsummershower，withswordsofluridyellowsunlightpiercingitsedgesasifwarriorswerecontestingeveryfootofitsadvance，wasfromtheEclipseofficesomethingsoinspiringthatthechancepilgrimfeltasenseofexultationasiffromthispeakhewassurveyingtheworldwidewaroftheelementsandlife。ThestaffoftheEclipseusuallyworkedwithoutcoatsandamidthesmokefrompipes。
TooneoftheeditorialchamberscameaphotographandanarticlefromMichaelstown，Massachusetts。Aboyplacedthepacketandmanyothersuponthedeskofayoungmanwhowasstandingbeforeawindowandthoughtfullydrumminguponthepane。Heturnedatthethuddingofthepacketsuponhisdesk。\"Blastyou，\"heremarkedamiably。\"Oh，Iguessitwon\'thurtyoutowork，\"
answeredtheboy，grinningwithacomrade\'sInsolence。Baker，anassistanteditorfortheSundaypaper，tookscatathisdeskandbeganthetaskofexaminingthepackets。Hisfacecouldnotdisplayanyparticularinterestbecausehehadbeenatthesameworkfornearlyafortnight。
Thefirstlongenvelopeheopenedwasfromawoman。
Therewasaneatlittlemanuscriptaccompaniedbyaletterwhichexplainedthatthewriterwasawidowwhowastryingtomakeherlivingbyherpenandwho，further，hopedthatthegenerosityoftheeditoroftheEclipsewouldleadhimtogiveherarticletheopportunitywhichshewassureitdeserved。Shehopedthattheeditorwouldpayheraswellaspossibleforit，assheneededthemoneygreatly。SheaddedthatherbrotherwasareporterontheLittleRockSentinelandhehaddeclaredthatherliterarystylewasexcellent。
Bakerreallydidnotreadthisnote。Hisvastexperienceofafortnighthadenabledhimtodetectitskindintwoglances。Heunfoldedthemanuscript，lookedatitwoodenlyandthentosseditwiththelettertothetopofhisdesk，whereitlaywiththeothercorpses。NonecouldthinkofwidowsinArkansas，ambitiousfromthepraiseofthereporterontheLittleRockSentinel，waitingforacrownofliterarygloryandmoney。Inthenextenvelopeamanusingthenote-paperofaBostonjournalbeggedtoknowiftheaccompanyingarticlewouldbeacceptable；ifnotitwastobekindlyreturnedintheenclosedstampedenvelope。Itwasahumourousessayontrolleycars。
Adventuringthroughtheoddscrapsthatwerecometothegreatmill，Bakerpausedoccasionallytorelighthispipe。
Ashewentthroughenvelopeafterenvelope，thedesksabouthimgraduallywereoccupiedbyyoungmenwhoenteredfromthehallwiththeirfacesstillredfromthecoldofthestreets。ForthemostparttheyboretheunmistakablestampoftheAmericancollege。Theyhadthatconfidentpoisewhichiseasilybroughtfromtheathleticfield。Moreover，theirclotheswerequiteinthewayofbeingofthenewestfashion。Therewasanairofprecisionabouttheircravatsandlinen。Butontheotherhandtheremightbewiththemsomeindifferentwesternerwhowasobligedtoresorttoirregularmeansandharanguestartledshop-keepersinordertoprovidehimselfwithcollarsofastrangekind。Hewasusuallyveryquickandbraveofeyeandnotedforhisinabilitytoperceiveadistinctionbetweenhisownhabitandthehabitofothers，hiswesterncharacterpreservingitselfinviolateamidaconfusionofmanners。
Themen，comingoneandone，ortwoandtwo，flungbadinagetoallcornersoftheroom。Afterward，astheywheeledfromtimetotimeintheirchairs，theybitterlyinsultedeachotherwiththeutmostgood-nature，takingunerringaimatfaultsandriddlingpersonalitieswiththequaintandcynicalhumourofanewspaperoffice。Throughoutthisbanter，itwasstrangetonotehowinfrequentlythemensmiled，particularlywhendirectlyengagedinanencounter。
Awidedooropenedintoanotherapartmentwhereweremanylittleslantedtables，eachunderanelectricglobewithagreenshade。Hereacurly-headedscoundrelwithacorncobpipewashurlingpaperballsthesizeofapplesattheheadofanindustriousmanwho，underthesedifficulties，wastryingtodrawapictureofanawfulwreckwithghastly-facedsailorsfrozenintherigging。NearthispairaladywaschallengingaGermanartistwhoresembledNapoleonIII。withhavingbeenpubliclydrunkatamusichallonthepreviousnight。Nexttothegreatgloomycorridorofthissixteenthfloorwasalittleofficepresidedoverbyanaustereboy，andherewaitedinenforcedpatiencealittledismalbandofpeoplewhowantedtoseetheSundayeditor。
Bakertookamanuscriptandafterglancingabouttheroom，walkedovertoamanatanotherdesk，Hereissomethingthat。Ithinkmightdo，\"hesaid。
Themanatthedeskreadthefirsttwopages。\"Butwhereisthephotogragh\"\"heaskedthen。\"Thereshouldbeaphotographwiththisthing。\"
\"Oh，Iforgot，\"saidBaker。Hebroughtfromhisdeskaphotographofthebabethathadbeenbornlackingarmsandoneeye。Baker\'ssuperiorbracedakneeagainsthisdeskandsettledbacktoajudicialattitude。Hetookthephotographandlookedatitimpassively。\"Yes，\"hesaid，afteratime，\"that\'saprettygoodthing。YoubettershowthattoColemanwhenhecomesin。\"
Inthelittleofficewherethedismalbandwaited，therehadbeenasharphopefulstirwhenRufusColeman，theSundayeditor，passedrapidlyfromdoortodoorandvanishedwithintheholyprecincts。Ithadevidentlybeeninthemindsofsometoaccosthimthen，buthiseyesdidnotturnonceintheirdirection。Itwasasifhehadnotseenthem。Manyexperienceshadtaughthimthatthepropermannerofpassingthroughthisofficewasatablindgallop。
Thedismalbandturnedthenupontheaustereofficeboy。
Somedemandedwithterribledignitythatheshouldtakeintheircardsatonce。Otherssoughttoingratiatethemselvesbysmilesoftenderfriendliness。Heforhispartemployedwhatwewouldhavecalledhisknowledgeofmenandwomenuponthegroup，andinconsequenceblunderedandbungledvividly，freezingwithaglanceanannoyedandimportunateArcticexplorerwhowascometotalkofillustrationsforanarticlethathadbeenlavishlypaidforinadvance。Theheromighthavethoughthewasagaininthenorthernseas。AtthenextmomenttheboywastreatingalmostcourteouslyaGermanfromthecastsidewhowantedtheEclipsetoprintagrandfullpageadvertisingdescriptionofhisinvention，agunwhichwassupposedtohavearangeoffortymilesandtobeabletopenetrateanythingwithequanimityandjoy。Thegun，asamatteroffact，hadoncebeeninducedtogooffwhenithadhurleditselfpassionatelyuponitsback，incidentallybreakingitsinventor\'sleg。Theprojectilehadwanderedsomefourhundredyardsseaward，whereitdugaholeinthewaterwhichwasreallyamenacetonavigation。Sincethentherehadbeennothingtangiblesavetheinventor，insplintsandoutofsplints，asthefortunesofsciencedecreed。Inshort，thisofficeboymixedhisbusinessintheperfectmannerofanunderdoneladdealingwithmatterstoolargeforhim，andthroughouthedisplayedtheprideandassuranceofagod。
AsColemancrossedthelargeofficehisfacestillworethesternexpressionwhichheinvariablyusedtocarryhimunmolestedthroughtheranksofthedismalband。AshewasremovinghisLondonovercoatheaddressedtheimperturbablebackofoneofhisstaff，whohadadeskagainsttheoppositewall。\"HasHasskinssentinthatdrawingofthemineaccidentyet？\"Themandidnotlifthisheadfromhiswork-，butheansweredatonce:\"No；notyet。\"Colemanwaslayinghishatonachair。\"Well，whyhasn\'the？\"hedemanded。Heglancedtowardthedooroftheroominwhichthecurly-headedscoundrelwiththecorncobpipewasstillhurlingpaperballsatthemanwhowastryingtoinventtheposturesofdeadmarinersfrozenintherigging。TheofficeboycametimidlyfromhispostandinformedColemanofthewaitingpeople。\"Allright，\"saidtheeditor。Hedroppedintohischairandbegantofingerhisletters，whichhadbeenneatlyopenedandplacedinalittlestackbyaboy。Bakercameinwiththephotographofthemiserablebabe。
ItwaspubliclybelievedthattheSundaystaffoftheEclipsemusthaveakindofaestheticdelightinpicturesofthiskind，butColeman\'sfacebetrayednoemotionashelookedatthisspecimen。Helitafreshcigar，tiltedhischairandsurveyeditwithacoldandstonystare。\"Yes，that\'sallright，\"hesaidslowly。Thereseemedtobenoaffectionaterelationbetweenhimandthispicture。Evidentlyhewasweighingitsvalueasamorseltobeflungtoaravenouspublic，whosewolf-likeappetite，couldonlysatisfyitselfuponmentalentrails，abominations。Asforhimself，heseemedtoberemote，exterior。
ItwasamatteroftheEclipsebusiness。
SuddenlyColemanbecameexecutive。\"BettergiveittoSchoonerandtellhimtomakeahalf-page——or，no，sendhiminhereandI\'lltellhimmyidea。How\'sthearticle？Anygood？Well，giveittoSmithtorewrite。\"
Anartistcamefromtheotherroomandpresentedforinspectionhisdrawingoftheseamendeadintheriggingofthewreck，acompanyofgrizzlyandhorriblefigures，bony-fingered，shrunkenandwithawfuleyes。\"Hum，\"saidColeman，afteraprolongedstudy，\"that\'sallright。That\'sgood，Jimmie。Butyou\'dbetterwork\'emuparoundtheeyesalittlemore。\"Theofficeboywasdeployinginthedistance，waitingforthecorrectmomenttopresentsomecardsandnames。
TheartistwascheerfullytakingawayhiscorpseswhenColemanhailedhim。\"Oh，Jim，letmeseethatthingagain，willyou？Now，howaboutthisspar？Thisdon\'tlookrighttome。\"
\"Itlooksrighttome，\"repliedtheartist，sulkily。
\"But，see。It\'sgoingtotakeuphalfapage。Can\'tyouchangeitsomehow\"
HowamIgoingtochangeit？\"saidtheother，gloweringatColeman。\"That\'sthewayitoughttobe。HowamIgoingtochangeit？That\'sthewayitoughttobe。\"
\"No，itisn\'tatall，\"saidColeman。\"You\'vegotasparstickingoutofthemainbodyofthedrawinginawaythatwillspoilthelookofthewholepage。\"
Theartistwasamanofremarkablepopularreputationandhewasverystubbornandconceitedofit，constantlymakinghimselfunbearablewithcovert，threatsthatifhewasnotdelicatelyplacatedatallpoints，hewouldfreighthisgeniusovertotheofficeofthegreatoppositionjournal。
\"That\'sthewayitoughttobe，\"herepeated，inatoneatoncesullenandsuperior。\"Thesparisallright。Ican\'trigsparsonshipsjusttosuityou。\"
\"AndIcan\'tgiveupthewholepapertoyouraccursedspars，either，\"saidColeman，withanimation。\"Don\'tyouseeyouuseaboutathirdofapagewiththissparstickingoffintospace？
Now，youwerealwayssoclever，Jimmie，inadaptingyourselftothepage。Can\'tyoushortenit，orcutitoff，orsomething？Or，breakit-that\'sthething。Makeitabrokenspardanglingdown。
See？\"
\"Yes，Is\'poseIcoulddothat，\"saidtheartist，mollifiedbyathoughtoftheeasewithwhichhecouldmakethechange，andmollified，too，bythebrazentributetoapartofhiscleverness。
\"Well，doit，then，\"saidtheSundayeditor，turningabruptlyaway。Theartist，withheadhigh，walkedmajesticallybacktotheotherroom。Whereatthecurly-headedoneimmediatelyresumedtherainofpaperballsuponhim。TheofficeboycametimidlytoColemanandsuggestedthepresenceofthepeopleintheouteroffice。\"LetthemwaituntilIreadmymail，\"saidColeman。Heshuffledthepackoflettersindifferentlythroughhishands。Suddenlyhecameuponalittlegreyenvelope。Heopeneditatonceandscanneditscontentswiththespeedofhiscraft。Afterwardhelaiditdownbeforehimonthedeskandsurveyeditwithacoolandmusingsmile。
\"So？\"heremarked。\"That\'sthecase，isit？\"
Hepresentlyswungaroundinhischair，andforatimeheldtheentireattentionofthemenatthevariousdesks。HeoutlinedtothemagaintheirvariouspartsinthecompositionofthenextgreatSundayedition。Inafewbrisksentenceshesetacomplexmachineinpropermotion。Hismennolongerthrilledwithadmirationattheprecisionwithwhichhegraspedeachobligationofthecampaigntowardasuccessfuledition。TheyhadgrowntoacceptitastheyacceptedhishatorhisLondonclothes。Atthistimehisfacewaslitwithsomethingoftheself-containedenthusiasmofageneral。Immediatelyafterwardhearoseandreachedforhiscoatandhat。
Theofficeboy，comingcircuitouslyforward，presentedhimwithsomecardsandalsowithascrapofpaperuponwhichwasscrawledalongandsemicoherentword。\"Whatarethese？\"
grumbledColeman。
\"Theyarewaitingoutside，\"answeredtheboy，withtrepidation。Itwaspartofthelawthatthelionoftheante-roomshouldcringelikeacoldmonkey，moreorless，assoonashewasoutofhisprivatejungle。\"Oh，Tallerman，\"criedtheSundayeditor，\"here\'sthisArcticmancometoarrangeabouthisillustration。Iwishyou\'dgoandtalkitoverwithhim。\"Bychancehepickedupthescrapofpaperwithitscrypticword。\"Oh，\"hesaid，scowlingattheofficeboy。
\"Pityyoucan\'trememberthatfellow。Ifyoucan\'trememberfacesanybetterthanthatyoushouldbeadetective。Getoutnowandtellhimtogotothedevil。\"Thewiltedslaveturnedatonce，butColemanhailedhim。\"Holdon。Cometothinkofit，I
willseethisidiot。Sendhimin，\"hecommanded，grimly。
Colemanlapsedintoadreamoverthesheetofgreynotepaper。Presently，amiddle-agedman，apalpableGerman，camehesitatinglyintotheroomandbuntedamongthedesksasunmanageablyasatempest-tossedscow。Finallyhewasimpatientlytowedintherightdirection。HecameandstoodatColeman\'selbowandwaitednervouslyfortheengrossedmantoraisehiseyes。Itwasplainthatthisinterviewmeantimportantthingstohim。Somehowonhiscommonplacecountenancewastobefoundtheexpressionofadreamer，afashionerofgreatandabsurdprojects，afine，tenderfool。Hecasthopefulandreverentglancesatthemanwhowasdeeplycontemplativeofthegreynote。Heevidentlybelievedhimselfonthethresholdofatriumphofsomekind，andheawaitedhisfruitionwithajoythatwasonlymadesharperbytheusualhumansuspicionofcomingevents。
Colemanglancedupatlastandsawhisvisitor。
\"Oh，it\'syou，isit？\"heremarkedicily，bendingupontheGermanthestareofatyrant。\"Soyou\'vecomeagain，haveyou？\"
Hewheeledinhischairuntilhecouldfullydisplayacontemptuous，mercilesssmile。\"Now，Mr。