Whentheyarrivedatthefootofthelane，mountingtothefarm，Westoversawwhatchangeshadbeenmadeinthehouse。Therewerelargeadditions，tastelessandcharacterless，butgivingtheroomsthatwereneeded。
Therewasavulgarmodernityinthenewparts，expressedwithafinalintensityinthefour—lightwindows，whichareesteemedthelastwordofdomesticarchitectureinthecountry。Jeffsaidnothingastheyapproachedthehouse，butWestoversaid：\"Well，you’vecertainlyprospered。You’requitemagnificent。\"
Theyreachedtheoldlevelinfrontofthehouse，artificiallywidenedoutofhisremembrance，withawhiteflag—poleplantedatitsedge，andhelookedupatthefrontofthehouse，whichwasunchanged，exceptthatithadbeenbuiltastoryhigherbackoftheoldfront，anddiscoveredthewindowofhisoldroom。HecouldhardlywaittogethisgreetingsoverwithMrs。DurginandJackson，whobothshowedadecorouspleasureandsurpriseathiscoming，beforeheasked：
\"Andcouldyouletmehavemyownroom，Mrs。Durgin？\"
\"Why，yes，\"shesaid，\"ifyoudon’twantsomethingalittlenicer。\"
\"Idon’tbelieveyou’vegotanythingnicer，\"Westoversaid。
\"Allright，ifyouthinkso，\"sheretorted。\"Youcanhavetheoldroom，anyway。\"
X。
Westovercouldnothavesaidhefeltverymuchathomeonhisfirstsojournatthefarm，orthathehadcaredgreatlyfortheDurgins。Butnowhefeltverymuchathome，andasifhewereinthehandsoffriends。
Itwastowardthecloseoftheafternoonthathearrived，andhewentinpromptlytothemealthatwasservedshortlyafter。Hefoundthatthefarm—househadnotevolvedsofarinthedirectionofahotelastohavereachedthestageofalatedinner。Itwasteathathesatdownto，butwhenheaskediftherewerenotsomethinghot，afterlisteningtoacatalogueofthecoldmeats，thespectacledwaitressbehindhischairdemanded，withtheairofputtinghimonhishonor：
\"Youamongthosethatcamethisafternoon？\"
Westoverclaimedtobeofthenewarrivals。
\"Well，then，youcanhavesteakorchopsandbakedpotatoes。\"
Hefoundthesteakexcellent，thoughsuccinct，andhelookedroundinthedistinctionitconferreduponhim，ontheolderguests，whowereservedwithcoldham，tongue，andcorned—beef。HehadexpectedtobeappointedhisplacebyCynthiaWhitwell，butJeffcametothedining—roomwithhimandshowedhimtothetableheoccupied，withaneffectofdoinghimspecialcredit。
Fromhisimpressionsoftheberries，thecream，thetoast，andthetea，aswellasthesteak，hedecidedthatonthegastronomicsidetherecouldbenoquestionbuttheDurginsknewhowtokeepahotel；andhisfurtheracquaintancewiththehouseanditsappointmentsconfirmedhiminhisbelief。Allwasverysimple，butsufficient；andnoguestcouldhavetruthfullyclaimedthathewasstintedintowels，inwater，inlamp—
light，inthequantityorqualityofbedding，inhooksforclothes，orwardrobeorbureauroom。WestovermadeMrs。Durginhissincerecomplimentsonhersuccessastheysatintheoldparlor，whichshehadkeptforherselfmuchinitsformerstate，andsheacceptedthemwithsimplesatisfaction。
\"ButIdon’tknowasIshouldeverhadthecouragetotryitifithadn’tbeenforyouhappeningalongjustwhenyoudid，\"shesaid。
\"ThenI’mthefounderofyourfortunes？\"
\"Ifyouwanttocallthemfortunes。Wedon’tcomplainIt’sbeenafight，butIguesswe’vegotthebestofit。Thehouseisfull，andwe’returnin’folksaway。Iguesstheycan’tsaythatatthebighotelstheyusedtodriveoverfromtoseeLion’sHeadatthefarm。\"Shegavealow，comfortablechuckle，andtoldWestoverofthestruggletheyhadmade。Itwasaninterestingstoryandpathetic，likeallstoriesofhumanendeavortheeffortsofthemostselfishambitionhavesomethingofthisinterest；
andthestruggleoftheDurginshadthegraceofthewishtokeeptheirhome。
\"AndisJeffaswellsatisfiedastherest？\"Westoverasked，afterothertalkandcommentonthefacts。
\"Toomuchso，\"saidMrs。Durgin。\"IshouldliketotalkwithyouaboutJeff，Mr。Westover；youandhimwasalwayssuchfriends。\"
\"Yes，\"saidWestover；\"IshallbegladifIcanbeofusetoyou。\"
\"Why，it’sjustthis。Idon’tseewhyJeffshouldn’tdosomethingbesideskeepahotel。\"
Westover’seyeswanderedtothephotographofhispaintingofLion’sHeadwhichhungoverthemantelpiece，inwhathefelttobetheplaceofthegreatesthonorinthewholehouse，andasuddenfearcameuponhimthatperhapsJeffhaddevelopedanartistictalentinthebeliefofhisfamily。Buthewaitedsilentlytohear。
\"Wedidthinkthatbeforewegotthroughtheimprovementslastspringayearagoweshouldhavetogetthesavings—banktoputamortgageontheplace；butwehadjustenoughtostarttheseasonwith，andwethoughtwewouldtrytopullthrough。Wehadasplendidseason，andmademoney，andthisyearwe’redoin’sowellthatIain’tafraidforthefutureanymore，andIwanttogiveJeffachanceintheworld。Iwantheshouldgotocollege。\"
Westoverfeltalltheboldnessoftheaspiration，butitwasatleastnotinthedirectionofart。\"Wouldn’tyourathermisshiminthemanagement？\"
\"Weshould，some。Buthewouldbeherethebestpartofthesummer，inhisvacations，andJacksonandIarefullabletorunthehousewithouthim。\"
\"Jacksonseemsverywell，\"saidWestover，evasively。
\"He’sbetter。He’sonlythirty—fouryearsold。Hisfatherlivedtobesixty，andhehadthesamekind。JefftellyouhehadbeenatLovewellAcademy？\"
\"Yes；hedid。\"
\"Hedonewellthere。Allhisteachersthatheeverhad，\"Mrs。Durginwenton，withthemother—pridethatsoonmakesitselftiresometothelistener，\"saidJeffdonewellatschoolwhenhehadamindto，andattheAcademyhestudiedrealhard。Iguess，\"saidMrs。Durgin，withherchuckle，\"thathethoughtthatwasgoin’tobetheendofit。Onething，hehadtokeepupwithCynthy，andthatputhimonhispride。YouseenCynthyyet？\"
\"No。Jefftoldmeshewasinchargeofthediningroom。\"
\"IguessI’minchargeofthewholehouse，\"saidMrs。Durgin。\"Cynthy’sthehousekeeper，though。She’safinegirl，andasmartgirl，\"saidMrs。
Durgin，withavisiblerelentingfromsomegrudge，\"andshe’lldowellwhereveryouputher。ShewenttotheAcademythefirsttwowintersJeffdid。We’veaboutscoopedinthewholeWhitwellfamily。Franky’shere，andhisfather’s——well，hisfather’skindofphilosophertotheladyboarders。\"Mrs。Durginlaughed，andWestoverlaughedwithher。\"Yes，I
wantJeffshouldgotocollege，andIwantheshouldbealawyer。\"
Westoverdidnotfindthathehadanythingusefultosaytothis；sohesaid：\"I’venodoubtit’sbetterthanbeingapainter。\"
\"I’mnotsosure；threehundreddollarsforalittlethinglikethat。\"
SheindicatedthephotographofhisLion’sHead，andshewasevidentlysoproudofitthathereservedforthemomentthetruthastothepricehehadgotforthepainting。\"Iwassurprisedwhenyousentmeaphotographfullasbig。Idon’tleteveryoneinhere，butagoodmanyoftheladiesareartiststhemselves—amateurs，Iguess——andfirstandlasttheyallwanttoseeit。Iguessthey’llallwanttoseeyou，Mr。Westover。
They’llbewild，astheycallit，whentheyknowyou’reinthehouse。
Yes，ImeanJeffshallgotocollege。\"
\"BowdoinorDartmouth？\"Westoversuggested。
\"Well，Iguessyou’llthinkI’maboutasforth—puttingasIwaswhenI
wantedyoutogivemeathree—hundred—dollarpictureforaweek’sboard。\"
\"Ionlygotahundredandsixty，Mrs。Durgin，\"saidWestover，conscientiously。
\"Well，it’sashame。Anyrate，threehundred’sthepricetoallmyboarders。My，ifI’vetoldthatstoryonce，IguessI’vetolditfiftytimes！\"
Mrs。Durginlaughedatherselfjollily，andWestovernotedhowprosperityhadchangedher。Ithadfreedhertongue，ithasbrightenedherhumor，ithadcheeredherheart；shehadputonflesh，andherstalwartframewasnowafargreaterbulkthanheremembered。
\"Well，there，\"shesaid，\"thelongandtheshortofitis，IwantJeffshouldgotoHarvard。\"
Hecommandedhimselftosay：\"Idon’tseewhyheshouldn’t。\"
Mrs。Durgincalledout，\"Comein，Jackson，\"andWestoverlookedroundandsawtheeldersonlikeagauntshadowinthedoorway。\"I’vejustgotwhereI’vetoldMr。WestoverwhereIwantJeffshouldgo。Itdon’tseemtohaveca’dhimoffhisfeetany，either。\"
\"Ipresume，\"saidJackson，cominginandsittinglanklydowninthefeather—cushionedrocking—chairwhichhismotherpushedtowardhimwithherfoot，\"thattheexpensewouldbemoreatHarvardthanitwouldattheothercolleges。\"
\"Ifyouwantthebestyougottopayforit，\"saidMrs。Durgin。
\"Isupposeitwouldcostmore，\"WestoveransweredJackson’sconjecture。
\"Ireallydon’tknowmuchaboutit。OnehearstremendousstoriesatBostonoftherateoflivingamongtheswellstudentsinCambridge。
Peopletalkoffivethousandayear，andthatsortofthing。\"Mrs。
Durginshutherlips，aftercatchingherbreath。\"ButIfancythatit’slargelytalk。IhaveafriendwhosesonwentthroughHarvardforathousandayear，andIknowthatmanyfellowsdoitformuchless。\"
\"IguesswecanmanagetoletJeffhaveathousandayear，\"saidMrs。
Durgin，proudly，\"andnotscrimpverymuch，either。\"
Shelookedatherelderson，whosaid：\"Idon’tbelievebutwhatwecould。It’smoreofaquestionwithmewhatsortofinfluenceJeffwouldcomeunderthere。Ithinkhe’sprettymuchspoiledhere。\"
\"Now，Jackson！\"saidhismother。
\"I’veheard，\"saidWestover，\"thatHarvardtakesthenonsenseoutofaman。Ican’tenterintowhatyousay，anditisn’tmyaffair；butinregardtoinfluenceatHarvard，itdependsuponthesetJeffisthrownwithorthrowshimselfwith。So，atleast，IinferfromwhatI’veheardmyfriendsayofhissonthere。Therearehard—workingsets，loafingsets，andfastsets；andIsupposeitisn’tdifferentatHarvardinsuchmattersfromothercolleges。\"
Mrs。Durginlookedalittlegrave。\"Ofcourse，\"shesaid，\"wedon’tknowanybodyatCambridge，exceptsomeladiesthatboardedwithusonesummer，andIshouldn’twanttoaskanyfavorofthem。ThetroublewouldbetogetJeffstartedright。\"
Westoversurmisedagoodmanythings，butintheabsenceofanyconfidencesfromtheDurginshecouldnottelljusthowmuchJacksonmeantinsayingthatJeffwasprettymuchspoiled，orhowlittle。
Atfirst，fromMrs。Durgin’spromptprotest，hefanciedthatJacksonmeantthattheboyhadbeenover—indulgedbyhismother：\"Iunderstand，\"
hesaid，indefaultofsomethingelsetosay，\"thattherequirementsatHarvardareprettysevere。\"
\"He’spassedhispreliminaryexaminations，\"saidJackson，withatouchofhauteur，\"andIguesshecanenterthisfallifweshouldsodecide。
He’llhavesomeconditions，prob’ly，butnonebutwhathecanworkoff，Iguess。\"
\"Then，ifyouwishtohavehimgotocollege，byallmeanslethimgotoHarvard，Ishouldsay。It’sourgreatuniversityandouroldest。I’mnotacollegemanmyself；but，ifIwere，IshouldwishtohavebeenaHarvardman。IfJeffhasanynonsenseinhim，itwilltakeitout；
andIdon’tbelievethere’sanythinginHarvard，asHarvard，tomakehimworse。\"
\"That’swhatweboththink，\"saidJackson。
\"I’veheard，\"Westovercontinued，andheroseandstoodwhilehespoke，\"thatHarvard’sliketheworld。Amangetsonthereonthesametermsthathegetsonintheworld。Hehastobeaman，andhe’dbetterbeagentleman。\"
Mrs。Durginstilllookedserious。\"HaveyoucomebacktoBostonforgoodnow？Doyouexpecttobethererightalong？\"
\"I’vetakenastudiothere。Yes，IexpecttobeinBostonnow。I’vetakentoteaching，andIfancyIcanmakealiving。IfJeffcomestoCambridge，andIcanbeofanyuse——\"
\"Weshouldbeeversomuchobligedtoyou，\"saidhismother，withanairofgreatrelief。
\"Notatall。Ishallbeveryglad。Yourmountainairisdruggingme，Mrs。Durgin。Ishallhavetosaygood—night，orIshalltumbleasleepbeforeIgetupstairs。Oh，Icanfindtheway，Iguess；thispartofthehouseseemsthesame。\"Hegotawayfromthem，andwiththelampthatJacksongavehimfoundhiswaytohisroom。Afewmomentslatersomeoneknockedathisdoor，andaboystoodtherewithapitcher。\"Someice—
water，Mr。Westover？\"
\"Why，isthatyou，Franky？I’mgladtoseeyouagain。Howareyou？\"
\"I’mprettywell，\"saidtheboy，shyly。Hewasaveryhandsomelittlefellowofdistinctlydignifiedpresence，andWestoverwasawareatoncethatherewasnotasubjectforpatronage。\"Isthereanythingelseyouwant，Mr。Westover？Matches，orsoap，oranything？\"Heputthepitcherdownandgaveakeenglanceroundtheroom。
\"No，everythingseemstobehere，Frank，\"saidWestover。
\"Well，good—night，\"saidtheboy，andheslippedout，quietlyclosingthedoorafterhim。
WestoverpusheduphiswindowandlookedatLion’sHeadinthemoonlight。
Itslumberedasifwiththesleepofcenturies—austere，august。Themoon—raysseemedtobreakandsplinterontheoutlineofthelion—shape，andleftallthemightymassblackbelow。
IntheoldporchunderhiswindowWestoverheardwhispering。Then，\"Youbehaveyourself，JeffDurgin！\"cameinavoicewhichcouldbenootherthanCynthiaWhitwell’s，andJeffDurgin’slaughfollowed。
Hesawthegirlinthemorning。Shemethimatthedoorofthedining—
room，andheeasilyfoundinhershy，proudmanner，andherpure，coldbeauty，thetemperamentandphysiognomyofthechildheremembered。
Shewastallandslim，andsheheldherselfstraightwithoutstiffness；
herfacewasfine，withastraightnose，andadecidedchin，andamouthofthesamesweetnesswhichlookedfromherstill，grayeyes；herhair，oftheaveragebrown，hadarougheffectofbeingquicklytossedintoform，whichpleasedhim；assheslippeddowntheroombeforehimtoplacehimattablehesawthatshewas，asitwere，involuntarily，unwillinglygraceful。Shemadehimthinkofawildsweetbrier，ofahermit—thrush；
but，iftherewerethissortofpoeticsuggestioninCynthia’slooks，heractswereofplainandhonestprose，suchasgivingWestoverthepleasantestplaceandthemostintelligentwaitressintheroom。
Hewouldhavelikedtokeepherintalkamoment，butshemadebusiness—
likedespatchofallhisallusionstothepast，andgotherselfquicklyaway。Afterwardshecamebacktohim，withtheeffectofhavingforcedherselftocome，andthecolordeepenedinhercheekswhileshestayed。
Sheseemedgladofhisbeingthere，buthelplessagainsttheinstinctsortraditionsthatforbadehertoshowherpleasureinhispresence。
Herreticencebecamealmostsnubbinginitsstrictnesswhenheaskedheraboutherschool—teachinginthewinter；buthefoundthatshetaughtatthelittleschool—houseatthefootofthehill，andlivedathomewithherfather。
\"Andhaveyouanybadboysthatfrightenlittlegirlsinyourschool？\"heasked，jocosely。
\"Idon’tknowasIhave，\"shesaid，withaconsciousnessthatflamedintohercheeks。
\"Perhapstheboyshavereformed？\"Westoversuggested。
\"Ipresume，\"shesaid，stiffly，\"thatthere’sroomforimprovementineveryone，\"andthen，asifshewereafraidhemighttakethispersonally，shelookedunhappyandtriedtospeakofotherthings。
SheaskedhimifhedidnotseeagreatmanychangesatLion’sHead；
heanswered，gravely，thathewishedhecouldhavefounditjustasheleftit，andthenshemusthavethoughtshehadgonewrongagain，forshelefthiminanembarrassmentthatwaspathetic，butwhichwascharming。
XI。
AfterbreakfastWestoverwalkedoutandsawWhitwellstandingonthegrassinfrontofthehouse，besidetheflagstaff。HesufferedWestovertomakethefirstadvancestowardtherenewaloftheiracquaintance，butwhenhewassureofhisfriendlyintentionherespondedwithacordialopennesswhichthepainterhadfanciedwantinginhischildren。
Whitwellhadnotchangedmuch。Themostnoticeabledifferencewasthecompactphalanxofnewteethwhichhadreplacedthestaggeringveteransofformerdays，andwhichdisplayedthemselvesinhissmileofrelenting。
Therewassomenoveltyofeffectalsoinanarrangementofthingsinhishat—band。AtfirstWestoverthoughttheywerefishhooksandartificialflies，suchastheguideswearintheAdirondackstoadvertisetheircallingaboutthehotelofficesandthepiazzas。Butanotherglanceshowdhimthattheywerespraysandwildflowersofvarioussorts，withgaymossesandfungiandsomestemsofIndian—pipe。
WhitwellseemedpleasedthatthesethingsshouldhavecaughtWestover’seye。Hesaid，almostimmediately：\"Lookin’atmyalmanac？Thisisoneofourfield—days；wehave’emonceaweek；andIliketolettheladiesseebeforehandwhatnature’sgotonthebillfor’em，inthewoodsandpastur’s。\"
\"It’sagoodidea，\"saidWestover，\"andit’sfreshandpicturesque。\"
Whitwelllaughedforpleasure。
\"Theytoldmewhataconsolationyouweretotheladies，withyourwalksandtalks。\"
\"Well，Itrytogive’emsomethingtothinkabout，\"saidWhitwell。
\"Butwhydoyouconfineyourministrationstoonesex？\"
\"Idon’t，onpurpose。Butit’stheonlysexhere，three—fourthsofthetime。Eventhechildrenaremostlyallgirls。WhenthehusbandscomeupSaturdaynights，theydon’twanttogoonatrampSundays。Theywanttolayoffandrest。That’sabouthowitis。Well，youseesomechangesaboutLion’sHead，Ipresume？\"heasked，withwhatseemedanimpersonalpleasureinthem。
\"Ishouldratherhavefoundtheoldfarm。ButImustsayI’mgladtofindsuchagoodhotel。\"
\"Jeffandhismothermadetheirbragstoyou？\"saidWhitwell，withakindofamiablescorn。\"Iguessifitwa’n’tforCynthyshewouldn’tknowwhereshewasstandin’，halfthetime。Itdon’tmatterwhereJeffstands，Iguess。Jackson’sthebesto’thelot，nowtheoldman’sgone。\"
TherewasnoonebyatthemomenttoheartheseinjuriesexceptWestover，butWhitwellcalledthemoutwithafranknesswhichwasperhapsmorecarefullyadaptedtothesituationthanitseemed。Westovermadenoattempttoparrythemformally；butheofferedsomegeneralitiesinextenuationoftheunworthinessoftheDurgins，whichWhitwelldidnotaltogetherrefuse。
\"Oh，it’sailright。OldwomantalktoyouaboutJeff’sgoingtocollege？Ithoughtso。WantstomakeanotherDan’elWebsterofhim。
Guessshecan’sfarforthasDan’el’sgraduatin’went。\"Westovertriedtorememberhowthishadbeenwiththestatesman，butcouldnot。
Whitwelladded，withintensifyingironysooflookandtone：\"GuessthesecondDan’elwon’thaveachancetotearhisdegreeup；guesshewouldn’teverb’enreadytotryforitifithaddependedonhim。Theydon’tkeepanyrecordatHarvard，dothey，ofthewayfellowsarepreparedfortheirpreliminaryexaminations？\"
\"Idon’tquiteknowwhatyoumean，\"saidWestover。
\"Oh，nothin’。YougetachancesometimetoaskJeffwhodonemostofhisstudyin’forhimattheAcademy。\"
ThishintwasnotsodarklingbutWestovercouldunderstandthatWhitwellattributedJeff’sscholarshiptothehelpofCynthia，buthewouldnotpresshimtoanopenassertionofthefact。Therewassomethingpainfulinittohim；ithadthepathoswhichperhapsmostofthesuccessintheworldwouldrevealifwecouldpenetrateitsoutside。
Hewassilent，andWhitwellleftthepoint。\"Well，\"heconcluded，\"what’sgoin’oninthemoldEuropeancountries？\"
\"Oh，theoldthing，\"saidWestover。\"ButIcan’tspeakforanyexceptFrance，verywell。\"
\"What’stheirrepubliclike，overthere？Ours？Seeanythingofit，howitworks？\"
\"Well，youknow，\"saidWestover，\"Iwasworkingsohardmyselfallthetime——\"
\"Good！\"Whitwellslappedhisleg。WestoversawthathehadonlongIndia—rubberboots，whichcameuptohisknees，andhegaveawaywardthoughttothemiserytheywouldbeonanAugustdaytoanotherman；butWhitwellwasprobablyinsensibletoanydiscomfortfromthem。\"Whenaman’smindin’hisownbusinessanygovernment’sgood，Iguess。ButI
shouldliketoprowlroundsomethemplaceswheretheyhadtheworstscenesoftheRevolution，EverbeeninthePlacedelaConcorde？\"
WhitwellgaveitthefullEnglishpronunciation。
\"Ipassedthroughitnearlyeveryday。\"
\"Iwanttoknow！Andthatcolumnthatthey，pulleddownintheCommunethathadthatlittleBoneyonit——seethat？\"
\"InthePlaceVendome？\"
\"Yes，PlassVonndome。\"
\"Ohyes。Youwouldn’tknowithadeverbeendown。\"
\"Northethingsitstoodfor？\"
\"Astothat，Ican’tbesosure。\"
\"Well，it’sfunny，\"saidthephilosopher，\"howtheworldseemstoalwayscomeoutatthesameholeitwentinat！\"Hepaused，withhismouthopen，asiftoletthenotionhavefulleffectwithWestover。
Thepaintersaid：\"Andyou’restillintheoldplace，Mr。Whitwell？\"
\"Yes，Ilikemyownhouse。They’vewantedmetocomeuphereoftenenough，butI’msatisfiedwhereIam。It’squietdownthere，and，whenI
getthroughfortheday，Icanread。AndIliketokeepmyfamilytogether。CynthyandFrankalwayssleepathome，andJombateesteeatswithme。YourememberJombateeste？\"
Westoverhadtosaythathedidnot。
\"Well，Idon’tknowasyoudidseehimmuch。HewasthatCanuckIhadhelpin’meclearthatpieceoveronLion’sHeadforthepulp—mill；pulp—
millwentalltothunder，andInevergotacent。AndsometimesJacksoncomesdownwithhisplantchette，andwehaveagoodtime。\"
\"Jacksonstillbelievesinthemanifestations？\"
\"Yes。Buthe’sneverdevelopedmuchhimself。Hecan’tseemtodomuchwithouttheplantchette。We’vehadupsomeofthemoldphilosopherslately。We’vehadupSocrates。\"
\"Isthatso？Itmustbeveryinteresting。\"
Whitwelldidnotanswer，andWestoversawhiseyewander。Helookedround。Severalladieswerecomingacrossthegrasstowardhimfromthehotel，liftingtheirskirtsandtiptoeingthroughthedew。Theycalledtohim，\"Good—morning，Mr。Whitwell！\"and\"AreyougoingupLion’sHeadto—day？\"and\"Don’tyouthinkitwillrain？\"\"Guessnot，\"saidWhitwell，withafatherlyurbanityandanairofamusementattheanxietiesofthesexwhichseemedhabitualtohim。Hewaitedtranquillyforthemtocomeup，andthenasked，withawaveofhishandtowardWestover：\"AcquaintedwithMr。Westover，theattist？\"Henamedeachofthem，anditwouldhavebeennogreatvanityinWestovertothinktheyhadmadetheirlittlemovementacrossthegrassquiteasmuchinthehopeofanintroductiontohimasinthewishtoconsultWhitwellabouthisplans。
Thepainterfoundhimselfthecentreofanagreeableexcitementwithalltheladiesinthehouse。Forthisitwasperhapssufficienttobeaman。
Tobereasonablyyounganddecentlygood—looking，tobeanartist，andanartistnotunknown，wereadvantageswhichhadthesplendorofsuperfluity。
HelikedfindinghimselfinthesimpleandinnocentAmericancircumstanceagain，andhewasnotsorrytobeconfrontedatoncewithoneofthemostcharacteristicaspectsofoursummer。HecouldreadinthepresentdevelopmentofLion’sHeadHouseallthehistoryofitsevolutionfromthefirstconceptionoffarm—board，whichsufficedtheearliestcomers，toitsgrowthinthecomfortsandconvenienceswhichmorefastidioustastesandlargerpursesdemanded。Beforethispointwasreached，theboarderswouldbeofagoodandwholesomesort，buttheywouldbepeopleofnosocialadvantages，andnotofmuchcultivation，thoughtheymightbeintelligent；theywouldcertainlynotbefashionable；fivedollarsaweekimpliedallthat，exceptinthecaseofsomewanderingartistorthefamilyofsomepooryoungprofessor。Butwhenthefarmbecameaboarding—houseandcalleditselfahotel，asatpresentwithLion’sHeadHouse，andpeoplepaidtendollarsaweek，ortwelvefortransients，amomentofitscharacterwasreachedwhichcouldnotbesurpassedwhenitsprosperitybecamegreateranditsinmatesmorepretentious。Infact，thepeoplewhocanaffordtopaytendollarsaweekforsummerboard，andnotmuchmore，areoftenthebestoftheAmericanpeople，or，atleast，oftheNewEnglandpeople。Theymaynotknowit，andthosewhoarerichermaynotimagineit。Theyareapttobemiddle—agedmaidenladiesfromuniversitytowns，livinguponcarefullyguardedinvestments；
youngmarriedladieswithascantchildortwo，andneedingrestandchangeofair；collegeprofessorswithnothingbuttheirmodestsalaries；
literarymenorwomeninthebeginningoftheirtemperedsuccess；
clergymenandtheirwivesawayfromtheirchurchesinthelargercountrytownsorthesmallersuburbsofthecities；hereandthereanagreeablebachelorinmiddlelife，fondofliteratureandnature；hostsofyoungandprettygirlswithdistincttastesinart，anddevotedtothecleveryoungpainterwholeadsthemtothesourcesofinspirationinthefieldsandwoods。Suchpeoplearerefined，humane，appreciative，sympathetic；
andWestover，freshfromthelifeabroadwherelifeisseldomsofreeasourswithoutsomestain，wasgladtofindhimselfinthemidstofthisunrestraint，whichwassosweetandpure。Hehadseenenoughofrichpeopletoknowthatrichesseldomboughtthehighestqualities，evenamonghisfellow—countrymenwhosupposethatrichescandoeverything，andthefirstaspectsofsocietyatLion’sHeadseemedtohimArcadian。
Therereallyprovedtobeashepherdortwoamongallthattroopofshepherdesses，oldandyoung；thoughitwasinthemiddleoftheweek，remotealikefromtheSaturdayofarrivalsandtheMondayofdepartures。
Tobesure，therewasnonequitesoyoungashimself，exceptJeffDurgin，whowasofficiallyexteriortothesociallife。
Thepainterwhogavelessonstotheladieswasalreadyamanofforty，andhewasstronglydragonedroundbyawifealmostasold，whohadtakengreatpainstosecurehimforherself，andwhoworkedhimtofargreateradvantageinhisprofessionthanhecouldpossiblyhaveworkedhimself：
shegothimorders；soldhispictures，eveninBoston，wheretheyneverbuyAmericanpictures；foundhimpupils，andkepttheboldestofthesefromflirtingwithhim。Westover，whowassonewlyfromParis，wasabletoconsolehimwithtalkofthesalonsandateliers，whichhehadnotheardfromsodirectlyintenyears。Afterthefirstinevitablemomentofjealousy，hiswifeforgaveWestoverwhenshefoundthathedidnotwantpupils，andshetookaleadingpartinthemovementtohavehimreadBrowningatapicnic，organizedbytheladiesshortlyafterhecame。