XLIV
\"Whatisit，Jeff？\"askedCynthia，thenextnight，astheystartedouttogetheraftersupper，andbegantostrolldownthehilltowardherfather’shouse。Itlaylookingverylittleandlowinthenookatthefootofthelane，onthevergeofthewoodsthatdarkenedawaytothenorthwardfromit，undertheglassynightsky，litwiththespareyoungmoon。Thepeepingofthefrogsinthemarshyplacesfilledtheair；thehoarsevoiceofthebrookmadeitselfheardatintervalsthroughthem。
\"It’snotsowarmhere，quite，asitisinBoston，\"hereturned。\"Areyouwrappedupenough？Thisairhasanedgetoit。\"
\"I’mallright，\"saidthegirl。\"Whatisit？\"
\"Youthinkthere’ssomething？Youdon’tbelieveI’vecomeupforrestoverSunday？Iguessmotherherselfdidn’t，andIcouldseeyourfatherfollowingupmylittleliesasifhewa’n’tgoingtoletoneescapehim。
Well，you’reright。Thereissomething。Thinkoftheworstthingyoucan，Cynthy！\"
Shepulledherhandoutofhisarm，whichshehadtaken，andhaltedhimbyherabruptpause。\"You’renotgoingtogetthrough！\"
\"I’mallrightonmyconditions，\"saidJeff，withforlornderision。
\"You’llhavetoguessagain。\"Hestoodlookingbackoverhisshoulderatherface，whichshowedwhiteinthemoonlight，swathedairilyroundintheold—fashionedsoftwoollencloudshewore。
\"Isitsometroubleyou’vegotinto？Ishallstandbyyou！\"
\"Oh，yousplendidgirl！Thetrouble’sover，butit’ssomethingyoucan’tstandbymein，Iguess。YouknowthatgirlIwrotetoyouabout——theoneImetatthecollegetea，and——\"
\"Yes！MissLynde！\"
\"Comeon！Wecan’tstayheretalking。Let’sgodownandsitonyourporch。\"Shemechanicallyobeyedhim，andtheystartedontogetherdownthehillagain；butshedidnotoffertotakehisarm，andhekeptthewidthoftheroadwayfromher。
\"Whatabouther？\"shequietlyasked。
\"LastnightIendeduptheflirtationI’vebeencarryingonwithhereversince。\"
\"Iwanttoknowjustwhatyoumean，Jeff。\"
\"ImeanthatlastweekIgotengagedtoher，andlastnightIbrokewithher。\"Cynthiaseemedtostumbleonsomething；hesprangoverandcaught。
her，andnowsheputherhandinhisarm，andstayedherselfbyhimastheywalked。
\"Goon，\"shesaid。
\"That’sallthereisofit。\"
\"No！\"Shestopped，andthensheasked，withakindofgentlebewilderment：\"Whatdidyouwanttotellmefor？\"
\"Toletyoubreakwithme——ifyouwantedto。\"
\"Don’tyoucareformeanymore？\"
\"Yes，morethaneverIdid。ButI’mnotfitforyou，Cynthia。Mr。
WestoversaidIwasn’t。Itoldhimaboutit——\"
\"Whatdidhesay？\"
\"ThatIoughttobreakwithyou。\"
\"Butifyoubrokewithher？\"
\"Hetoldmetosticktoher。Hewasrightaboutyou，Cynthy。I’mnotfitforyou，andthat’safact。\"
\"Whatwasitaboutthatgirl？Tellmeeverything。\"Shespokeinatoneofplaintiveentreaty，veryunlikethecommandsheonceusedwithJeffwhenshewasurginghimtobefrankwithherandtruetohimself。Theyhadcometoherfather’shouseandshefreedherhandfromhisarmagain，andsatdownonthestepbeforethesidedoorwithalittlesighasoffatigue。
\"You’lltakecold，\"saidJeff，whoremainedonfootinfrontofher。
\"No，\"shesaid，briefly。\"Goon。\"
\"Why，\"Jeffbegan，harshly，andwithanoteofscornforhimselfandhisthemeinhisvoice，\"thereisn’tanymoreofit，butthere’snoendtoher。IpromisedMr。WestoverIshouldn’twhitewashmyself，andI
sha’n’t。I’vebeenbehavingbadly，andit’snoexcuseformebecauseshewantedmeto。IbegantogoforherassoonasIsawthatshewantedmeto，andthatshelikedtheexcitement。Theexcitementisallthatshecaredfor；shedidn’tcareformeexceptfortheexcitementofit。Shethoughtshecouldhavefunwithme，andthenthrowmeover；butIguessshefoundhermatch。Youcouldn’tunderstandsuchagirl，andIdon’tbragofit。Allshecaredforwastoflirtwithme，andshelikeditallthemorebecauseIwasajayandshecouldgetsomethingnewoutofit。
Ican’texplainit；butIcouldseeitrightalong。Shefooledherselfmorethanshefooledme。\"
\"Wasshe——verygood—looking？\"Cynthiaasked，listlessly。
\"No！\"shoutedJeff。\"Shewasn’tgood—lookingatall。Shewasdarkandthin，andshehadlittleslantingeyes；butshewasgraceful，andsheknewhowtomakeherselfgofurtherthananygirlIeversaw。Ifshecameintoaroom，shemadeyoulookather，oryouhadtosomehow。Shewasbright，too；andshehadmoresensethanalltheothergirlsthereputtogether。Butshewasafool，allthesame。\"Jeffpaused。\"Isthatenough？\"
\"Itisn’tall。\"
\"No，itisn’tall。Wedidn’tmeetmuchatfirst，butIgottowalkinghomewithherfromsometeas；andthenwemetatabigball。Idancedwithherthewholewhilenearly，and——andItookherbrotherhome——Pshaw！
Hewasdrunk；andI——well，hehadgotdrunkdrinkingwithmeattheball。
Thewinedidn’ttouchme，butitturnedhishead；andItookhimhome；
he’sadrunkard，anyway。Sheletusinwhenwegottotheirhouse，andthatkindofmadeatiebetweenus。Shepretendedtothinkshewasunderobligationstome，andsoIgottogoingtoherhouse。\"
\"Didsheknowhowherbrothergotdrunk？\"
\"Shedoesnow。Itoldherlastnight。\"Howcameyoutotellher？\"
\"Iwantedtobreakwithher。Iwantedtostopit，onceforall，andI
thoughtthatwoulddoit，ifanythingwould。\"
\"Didthatmakeherwillingtogiveyouup？\"
Jeffcheckedhimselfinasortofretrospectivelaugh。\"I’mnotsosure。
Iguessshelikedtheexcitementofthat，too。Youcouldn’tunderstandthekindofgirlshe——ShewantedtoflirtwithmethatnightIbroughthimhometipsy。\"
\"Idon’tcaretohearanymoreabouther。Whydidyougiveherup？\"
\"BecauseIdidn’tcareforher，andIdidcareforyou，Cynthy。\"
\"Idon’tbelieveit。\"Cynthiarosefromthestep，whereshehadbeensitting，asifwithrenewedstrength。\"Goupandtellfathertocomedownhere。Iwanttoseehim。\"Sheturnedandputherhandonthelatchofthedoor。
\"You’renotgoinginthere，Cynthia，\"saidJeff。\"Itmustbelikedeathinthere。\"
\"It’smorelikedeathouthere。Butifit’sthecoldyoumean，youneedn’tbetroubled。We’vehadafireto—day，airingoutthehouse。
Willyougo？\"
\"Butwhatdoyou——whatareyougoingtosaytome？\"
\"Idon’tknow，yet。IfIsaidanythingnow，IshouldtellyouwhatMr。
Westoverdid：gobacktothatgirl，ifshe’llletyou。You’refitforeachother，ashesaid。Didyoutellherthatyouwereengagedtosomeoneelse？\"
\"Idid，lastnight。\"
\"Butbeforethatshedidn’tknowhowfalseyouwere。Well，you’renotfitforher，then；you’renotgoodenough。\"
Sheopenedthedoorandwentin，closingitafterher。Jeffturnedandwalkedslowlyaway；thenhecamequicklyback，asifheweregoingtofollowherwithin。Butthroughthewindowhesawherasshestoodbythetablewithalampinherhand。Shehadturnedupthelight，whichshonefullinherfaceandrevealeditsseverebeautybrokenandwrithenwiththeefforttorepressherweeping。Hemightnothavemindedtheseverityorthebeauty，butthepathoswasmorethanhecouldstand。\"Oh，Lord！\"
hesaid，withashrug，andheturnedagainandwalkedslowlyupthehill。
WhenWhitwellfacedhisdaughterinthelittlesitting—room，whoselowceilinghishatalmosttouchedashestoodbeforeher，thestormhadpassedwithher，andhertear—drenchedvisageworeitswontedlookofstillpatience。
\"DidJefftellyouwhyIsentforyou，father？\"
\"No。ButIknewitwastrouble，\"saidWhitwell，withadignitywhich—
hissympathyforhergaveacountenancebetteradaptedtotheexpressionofthelighteremotions。
\"Iguessyouwererightabouthim，\"sheresumed：ShewentontotellinbriefthestorythatJeffhadtoldher。Herfatherdidnotinterrupther，butattheendhesaid，inadequately：\"He’sacomicaldevil。Iknewabouthisgittin’thatfellerdrunk。Mr。Westovertoldmewhenhewasuphere。\"
\"Mr。Westoverdid！\"saidCynthia，inanoteofindignation。
\"Hedidn’tofferto，\"Whitwellexplained。\"Igotitoutofhiminspiteofhim，Iguess。\"Hehadsatdownwithhishaton，ashisabsent—mindedhabitwas，andhenowbracedhiskneesagainsttheedgeofthetable。
Cynthiasatacrossitfromhimwithherheaddroopedoverit，drawingvaguefiguresontheboardwithherfinger。\"Whatareyougoin’todo？\"
\"Idon’tknow，\"sheanswered。
\"Iguessyoudon’tquiterealizeityet，\"herfathersuggested，tenderly。
\"Well，Idon’twanttohurryyouany。Takeyourtime。\"
\"IguessIrealizeit，\"saidthegirl。
\"Well，it’sapoottyplaincase，that’safact，\"Whitwellconceded。Shewassilent，andheasked：\"Howdidhecometotellyou？\"
\"It’swhathecameupfor。Hebegantotellmeatonce。Iwascertaintherewassometrouble。\"
\"Wasithisnotiontocome，Iwonder，orMr。Westover’s？\"
\"Itwashis。ButMr。Westovertoldhimtobreakoffwithme，andkeeponwithher，ifshewouldlethim。\"
\"Iguessthatwaspoottygoodadvice，\"saidWhitwell，lettinghisfacebetrayhishumorousrelishofit。\"Iguessthere’sapairof’em。\"
\"Shewasnotplayinganyoneelsefalse，\"saidCynthia，bitterly。
\"Well，Iguessthat’sso，too，\"herfatherassented。\"’Ta’n’tsomuchofamuchnessasyoumightthink，inthatlight。\"Hetookrefugefromthesubjectinanundirectedwhistle。
Afteramomentthegirlasked，forlornly：\"Whatshouldyoudo，father，ifyouwereinmyplace？\"
\"Well，thereIguessyougotme，Cynthy，\"saidherfather。\"Idon’tbelieve’tanyman，Idon’tcarehowoldheis，orhowmuchexperiencehe’shad，knowsexactlyhowagirlfeelsaboutathinglikethis，orhasgotanycalltoadviseher。Ofcourse，thewayIfeelisliketakin’thetopofhisheadoff。ButId’know，\"headded，\"asthatwoulddoagreatdealofgood，either。Ipresumeawoman’sgotratherofachoretogetalongwithaman，anyway。Wea’n’tanyofusmuchtobragon。It’souto’sight，outo’mind，withthebestofus，Iguess。\"
\"Itwouldn’tbewithJackson——itwouldn’tbewithMr。Westover。\"
\"Therea’n’tmanymenlikeMr。Westover——well，notagreatmany；orJackson，either。Time！IwishJacksonwashome！He’dknowhowtostraightenthisthingout，andhewouldn’tweakenoverJeffmuch——well，notmuch。Buthea’n’there，andyou’vegottoactforyourself。ThewayIlookatitisthis：youtookJeffwhenyouknowedwhatacomicaldevilhewas，andIpresumeyouha’n’tgotquitethesamerighttobedisappointedinwhathedoneasifyouhadn’tknowed。Nowmind，Ia’n’texcusin’him。Butifyouknowedhewasthefellertoplaythedevilifhegotachance，thequestioniswhether——whether——\"
\"Iknowwhatyoumean，father，\"saidthegirl，\"andIdon’twanttoshirkmyresponsibility。Itwaseverythingtohavehimcomerightupandtellme。\"
\"Well，\"saidWhitwell，impartially，\"asfarforthasthatgoes，Idon’tthinkhe’sstrainedhimself。He’dknowyouwouldhearofitsoonerorlateranyway，andheha’n’tjustfoundoutthathewasgoin’wrong。
Beenkeepin’itupforthelastthreemonths，andwritin’youallthewhilethemlettersyouwassocrazytoget。\"
\"Yes，\"sighedthegirl。\"Butwe’vegottobejusttohisdispositionaswellashisactions。Icanseeitinonelightthatcanexcuseitsome。
Hecan’tbeartobeputdown，andIknowhe’sbeenleftoutagooddealamongthestudents，andit’smadehimbitter。Hetoldmeaboutit；
that’sonereasonwhyhewantedtoleaveHarvardthislastyear。Hesawotheryoungmenmademuchof，whenhedidn’tgetanynotice；andwhenhehadthechancetopaythembackwithagirloftheirownsetthatwastryingtomakeafoolofhim——\"
\"Thatwasthetimeforhimtorememberyou，\"saidWhitwell。
Cynthiabrokeunderthedefenceshewastryingtomake。\"Yes，\"shesaid，withanindrawnsigh，andshebegantosobpiteously。
Thesightofhergriefseemedtokindleherfather’swrathtoaflame。
\"Anywayyoulookathim，he’sbeenadumnblackguard；that’swhathe’sbeen。You’reamilliontimestoogoodforhim；andI——\"
Shesobbedherselfquiet，andthenshesaid：\"Father，Idon’tliketogoupthereto—night。Iwanttostayhere。\"
\"Allright，Cynthia。I’llcomedownandstaywithyou。Yougoteverythingwewanthere？\"
\"Yes。AndI’llgoupandgetthebreakfastfortheminthemorning。
Therewon’tbemuchtodo。\"
\"Dumn’em！Let’emgettheirownbreakfast！\"saidWhitwell，recklessly。
\"And，father，\"thegirlwentonasifhehadnotspoken，\"don’tyoutalktoMrs。Durginaboutit，willyou？\"
\"No，no。Isha’n’tspeaktoher。I’lljusttellFrankyouandmearegoin’tostaydownhereto—night。She’llsuspicionsomething，butshecanfigureitoutforherself。OrshecanmakeJefftellher。Itcan’tbekeptfromher。\"
\"Well，lethimbetheonetotellher。Whateverhappens，Ishallneverspeakofittoasoulbesidesyou。\"
Allright，Cynthy。You’llhavethenighttothinkitover——Iguessyouwon’tsleepmuch—andI’lltrustyoutodowhat’sthebestthingaboutit。\"
XLV。
CynthiafoundMrs。Durginintheoldfarm—housekitchenatworkgettingbreakfastwhenshecameuptothehotelinthemorning。Shewasearly，buttheelderwomanhadbeenearlierstill，andherheavyfaceshowedmoreoftheircommonnight—longtroublethanthegirl’s。
Shedemanded，atsightofher，\"What’sthematterwithyouandJeff，Cynthy？\"
Cynthiawasunrollingthecloudfromherhair。Shesaid，asshetiedonherapron：\"Youmustgethimtotellyou，Mrs。Durgin。\"
\"Thenthereissomething？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"HasJeffbeenusingyouwrong？\"
Cynthiastoopedtoopentheovendoor，andtoturnthepanofbiscuitshefoundinside。Sheshutthedoorsharplyto，andsaid，assherose：
\"Idon’twanttotellanythingaboutit，andIsha’n’t，Mrs。Durgin。Hecandoit，ifhewantsto。ShallImakethecoffee？\"
\"Yes；youseemtomakeitbetterthanIdo。DoyouthinkIshouldn’tbelieveyouwasfairtohim？\"
\"Iwasn’tthinkingofthat。Butit’shissecret。Ifhewantstokeepit，hecankeepit，forallme。\"
\"Youha’n’tgiveeachotherup？\"
\"Idon’tknow。\"Cynthiaturnedawaywithatremblingchin，andbegantobeatthecoffeeupwithaneggshehaddroppedintothepot。Sheputthebreakfastonthetablewhenitwasready，butshewouldnotsitdownwiththerest。Shesaidshedidnotwantanybreakfast，andshedrankacupofcoffeeinthekitchen。
ItfelltoJeffmainlytokeepthetalkgoing。HehadbeenoutatthebarnwithJombateestesincedaybreak，lookingafterthecattle，andthejoyoftheweatherhadgotintohisnervesandspirits。Atfirsthehadlainawakeafterhewenttobed，buthehadfallenasleepaboutmidnight，andgotagoodnight’srest。Helookedfreshandstrongandveryhandsome。Hetalkedresolutelytoeveryoneatthetable，butJombateestewasalwayspreoccupiedwitheatingathismeals，andFrankWhitwellhadonaSundaysilence，whichwasperhapsdeepenedbyafeelingthattherewassomethingwrongbetweenhissisterandJeff，anditwouldberashtocommithimselftoanopenfriendlinessuntilheunderstoodthecase。HisfathermetJeff’sadvanceswithphilosophicalblandnessandevasion，andMrs。DurginwasprovisionallydryandseverebothwiththeWhitwellsandherson。Afterbreakfastshewenttotheparlor，andJeffsetaboutatourofthehotel，insideandout。Helookedcarefullytothedetailsofitswinterkeeping。Thenhecamebackandboldlyjoinedhismotherwhereshesatbeforeherstove，whosesubduedheatshefoundpleasantinthelingeringcoldoftheearlyspring。
Hetossedhishatonthetablebesideher，andsatdownontheothersideofthestove。\"Well，Imustsaytheplacehasbeenwelllookedafter。
Idon’tbelieveJacksonhimselfcouldhavekeptitinbettershape。Whenwasthelastyouheardfromhim？\"
\"Ihope，\"saidhismother，gravely，\"you’vebeenlookin’afteryourendatBoston，too。\"
\"Well，notaswellasyouhavehere，mother，\"saidJeff，candidly。
\"HasCynthytoldyou？\"
\"Iguesssheexpectedyoutotellme，iftherewasanything。\"
\"There’salot；butIguessIneedn’tgooveritall。I’vebeenplayingthedevil。\"
\"Jeff！\"
\"Yes，Ihave。I’vebeengoingwithanothergirldownthere，onethekindyouwantedmetomakeupto，andIwentsofarI——well，Imadelovetoher；andthenIthoughtitover，andfoundoutIdidn’treallycareforher，andIhadtotellherso，andthenIcameuptotellCynthy。That’saboutthesizeofit。Whatdoyouthinkofit？\"
\"D’youtellCynthy？\"
\"Yes，Itoldher。\"
\"What’dshesay？\"
\"ShesaidI’dbettergobacktotheothergirl。\"Jefflaughedhardily，buthismotherremainedimpassive。
\"Iguessshe’sright；Iguessyouhad。\"
\"Thatseemstobethegeneralopinion。That’swhatMr。Westoveradvised。
Iseemtobetheonlyoneagainstit。IsupposeyoumeanthatI’mnotfitforCynthy。Idon’tdenyit。AllIsayisIwanther，andIdon’twanttheotherone。Whatareyougoingtodoinacaselikethat？\"
\"ThewayIshouldlookatit，\"saidhismother，\"isthis：whateveryouare，Cynthymadeyou。Youwasalazy，disobedient，worthlessboy，anditwashercarin’foryoufromthefirstthatputanyspiritandanyprincipleintoyou。Itwasherthathelpedyouatschoolwhenyouwaslittlethingstogether；andshehelpedyouattheacademy，andshe’shelpedyouatcollege。I’llbetshecouldtakeadegree，orwhateveritis，atHarvardbetterthanyoucouldnow；andifyoueverdotakeadegree，you’vegothertothankforit。\"
\"That’sso，\"saidJeff。\"Andwhat’sthereasonyoudidn’twantmetomarryherwhenIcameinherelastsummerandtoldyouI’daskedherto？\"
\"Youknowwellenoughwhatthereasonwas。Itwaspartofthesamethingasmywantin’youtobealawyer；butImightknowedthatifyoudidn’thaveCynthytogointocourtwithyou，andputthewordsintoyourmouth，youwouldn’tmakeaspeechthatwould\"——Mrs。Durginpausedforafittingfigure——\"saveafleafromthegallows。\"
Jeffburstintoalaugh。\"Well，Iguessthat’sso，mother。AndnowyouwantmetothrowawaytheonlychanceI’vegotoflearninghowtorunLion’sHeadintherightwaybybreakingwithCynthy。\"
\"NobodywantsyoutorunLion’sHeadforawhileyet，\"hismotherreturned，scornfully。\"JacksonisgoingtorunLion’sHead。He’llbehometheendofJune，andI’llrunLion’sHeadtillhegetshere。Youtalk，\"shewenton，\"asifitwasinyourhandstobreakwithCynthy，orthrowawaythechancewithher。ThewayIlookatit，she’sbrokewithyou，andyouha’n’tgotanychancewithher。Oh，Jeff，\"shesuddenlyappealedtohim，\"tellmeallaboutit！Whathaveyoubeenupto？
IfIunderstooditonce，IknowIcanmakeherseeitintherightlight。\"
\"Thebetteryouunderstandit，mother，thelessyou’lllikeit；andI
guessCynthyseesitintherightlightalready。Whatdidshesay？\"
\"Nothing。Shesaidshe’dleaveittoyou。\"
\"Well，that’slikeCynthy。I’lltellyou，then，\"saidJeff；andhetoldhismotherhiswholeaffairwithBessieLynde。Hehadtobeveryelemental，andhewasaware，ashehadneverbeenbefore，ofthedifferencebetweenBessie’sworldandhismother’sworld，intryingtomakeBessie’sworldconceivabletoher。
Hewaspatientingoingovereveryobscurepoint，andillustratingfromthecharactersandconditionofdifferentsummerfolksthefactsofBessie’sentourage。Itisdoubtful，however，ifhesucceededinconveyingtohismotheraclearandjustnotionofthepurelychicnatureofthegirl。Intheendsheseemedtoconceiveofhersimplyasahussy，andsopronouncedher，withoutlimitorqualification，inspiteofJeff’slaughingattempttopalliateherbehavior，andtoinculpatehimself。
Shesaidshedidnotseewhathehaddonethatwassomuchoutoftheway。Thatthinghadledhimonfromthebeginning；shehadmerelygothercome—uppings，whenallwassaid。Mrs。DurginbelievedCynthiawouldlookatitasshedid，ifshecouldhaveitputbeforeherrightly。Jeffshookhisheadwithpersistentmisgiving。HisnotionwasthatCynthiasawtheaffaironlytooclearly，andthattherewasnonewlighttobethrownonitfromherpointofview。Mrs。Durginwouldnotallowthis；
shewassurethatshecouldbringCynthiaround；andsheaskedJeffwhetheritwashisgettingthatfellowdrunkthatsheseemedtoblamehimforthemost。Heansweredthathethoughtthatwasprettybad，buthedidnotbelievethatwastheworstthinginCynthia’seyes。Hedidnotforbidhismother’stryingtodowhatshecouldwithher，andhewentawayforawalk，andleftthehousetothetwowomen。Jombateestewasinthebarn，whichhepreferredtothehouse，andFrankWhitwellhadgonetochurchoverattheHuddle。AsJeffpassedWhitwell’scottageinsettingoutonhisstrollhesawthephilosopherthroughthewindow，seatedwithhislegsonthetable，hishatpushedback，andhisspectaclesfallentothepointofhisnose，reading，andmovinghislipsasheread。
Theforenoonsunwassoft，buttheairwascool。
Therewasstillplentyofsnowontheupperslopesofthehills，andtherewasadrifthereandthereinacornerofpasturewallinthevalley；butthespringtimegreenwasbeginningtohoveroverthewetplacesinthefields；thecatkinssilveredthegoldentraceryofthewillowbranchesbythebrook；therewasabuzzofbeesaboutthem，andaboutthemaples，blackenedbytheearlierflowofsapthroughtheholesinthebarkmadebythewoodpeckers’bills。Nowandthenthetremoloofabluebirdshookinthetenderlightandthekeenair。Atonepointintheroadwherethesunfelluponsomeyoungpinesinashelteredspotabalsamicodorexhaledfromthem。
ThesegentlesightsandsoundsandodorsblendedintheinfluencewhichJeff’sspiritfeltmoreandmore。Herealizedthathewasablotonthelovelinessofthemorning。Hehadalongingtomakeatonementandtowinforgiveness。HisheartwashumbledtowardCynthia，andhewentwonderinghowhismotherwouldmakeitoutwithher，andhow，ifshewonhimanyadvantage，heshouldavailhimselfofitandregainthegirl’strust；
hehadnodoubtofherlove。Heperceivedthattherewasnothingforhimhereafterbutthemostperfectconstancyofthoughtanddeed，andhedesirednothingbetter。
AtaturnofhisroadwhereitbranchedtowardtheHuddleagroupofyounggirlsstoodjokingandlaughing；beforeJeffcameupwiththemtheyseparated，andallbutonecontinuedonthewaybeyondtheturning。ShecametowardJeff，whogaylyrecognizedherasshedrewnear。
Sheblushedandbridledathisbowandathisbeautyandsplendor，andinherembarrassmentpertlysaidthatshedidnotsupposehewouldhaverememberedher。Shewasveryyoung，butatfifteenacountrygirlisnotsoyoungashertownsisterateighteeninthewaysoftheothersex。
Jeffansweredthatheshouldhaveknownheranywhere，inspiteofherlookingsomucholderthanshedidinthesummerwhenshehadcomewithberriestothehotel。Hesaidshemustbefeelingherselfquiteayoungladynow，inherlongdresses，andhepraisedthedresswhichshehadon。
Hesaiditbecameherstyle；andhefoundsuchrelieffromhisheavythoughtsintheseharmlesspleasantriesthathekeptonwiththem。Hehadinvoluntarilyturnedwithhertowalkbacktoherhouseonthewayhehadcome，andheaskedherifhemightnotcarryhercatkinsforher。
Shehadasheafoftheminthehollowofherslenderarm，whichseemedtohimverypretty，andafteralittlestrugglesheyieldedthemtohim。
Thestrugglegavehimstillgreaterrelieffromhisself—reproach，andathergatehebeggedhertolethimkeeponeswitchofthepussywillows，andhestoodamomentwonderingwhetherhemightnotaskherforsomethingelse。Shechoseonefromthebundle，anddrewitlightlyacrosshisfacebeforesheputitinhishand。\"YoumayhavethisforCynthy，\"shesaid，andsheranlaughinglyupthepathwaytoherdoor。
XLVI
Cynthiadidnotappearatdinner，andJeffaskedhismotherwhenhesawheraloneifshehadspokentothegirl。\"Yes，butshesaidshedidnotwanttotalkyet。\"
\"Allright，\"hereturned。\"I’mgoingtotakeanap；IbelieveIfeelasifIhadn’tsleptforamonth。\"
Hesleptthegreaterpartoftheafternoon，andcamedownratherdulltotheearlytea。Cynthiawasabsentagain，andhismotherwassilentandworeatroubledlook。Whitwellwasfullofanovelconceptionoftheagencyofhypnotismininterpretingthelifeofthesoulasitisintimatedindreams。Hehadbeenreadingabookthataffirmedtheconsubstantialityofthesleep—dreamandthehypnoticillusion。HewantedtoknowifJeff，downatBoston，hadseenanythingofthehypnoticdoingsthatwouldthrowlightonthistheory。