\"Andsoyoujustupandasked！\"sheteased。
\"IbegyourpardonifIwasrude，\"hesaidhumbly。
Thelaughterdiedslowlyfromhereyes。
\"Don’t，\"shesaid。\"Itwouldbeaskingpardonforbeingyourself。
Youwantedtoknow：soyouasked。AndI’mgoingtoanswer。Ishallbeverygladtocorrespondwithyouandtellyouaboutmysortofthings，ifyouhappentobeinterestedinthem。Iwarnyou：theyarenotveryexciting。\"
\"Theyareyours，\"saidhe。
Shehalfrosetobowinmockgraciousness，caughtherself，andsankback。
\"No，Iwon’t，\"shesaid，morethanhalftoherself。Shesatbroodingforamoment；thensuddenlyhermoodchanged。Shesprangup，shookherskirtsfree，andseatedherselfatthepiano。ToOrde，whohadalsoarisen，shemadeaquaintgrimaceoverhershoulder。
\"Admireyourhandiwork！\"shetoldhim。\"Youarerapidlybringingmeto’tellthetruthandshamethedevil。’Oh，hemustbedyingofmortificationthisevening！\"Shestruckagreatcrashingchord，holdingthekeyswhilethestringsreverberatedandechoeddownslowlyintosilenceagain。\"Itisn’tfair，\"shewenton，\"foryoubigsimplementodisarmus。Idon’tcare！Ihavemyprivateopinionofsuchbrutestrength。JEMEMOQUE！\"
Shewrinkledhernoseandnarrowedhereyes。Thenruthlesslyshedrownedhisreplyinatorrentofmusic。Likemadsheplayed，rockingherslenderbodybackandforthalongthekey—board；holdingrigidherfingers，herhands，andthemusclesofherarms。Thebassnotesroaredliketherumblingofthunder；thetrebleflashedlikethedartoflightnings。Abruptlyshemutedtheinstrument。Silencefellassomethingthathadbeenpentandsuddenlyreleased。Shearosefromthepianostoolquitenaturally，bothhandsatherhair。
\"Aren’tMr。andMrs。Hubbarddearoldpeople？\"saidshe。
\"WhatisyouraddressinNewYork？\"demandedOrde。Shesankintoachairnearbywithaprettyupliftedgestureofdespair。
\"Isurrender！\"shecried，andthenshelaugheduntilthetearsstartedfromhereyesandshehadtobrushthemawaywithwhatseemedtoOrdeanabsurdaffairtocallahandkerchief。\"Oh，youaredelicious！\"shesaidatlast。\"Well，listen。Iliveat12WestNinthStreet。Canyourememberthat？\"Ordenodded。\"Andnowanyotherquestionstheprisonercanreplytowithoutincriminatingherself，sheiswillingtoanswer。\"Shefoldedherhandsdemurelyinherlap。
TwodayslaterOrdesawthetraincarryheraway。Hewatchedtherearcardisappearbetweenthedownwardslopesoftwohills，andthenfinallythelastsmokefromthelocomotivedissipateintheclearblue。
DecliningJane’skindlymeantofferofalift，hewalkedbacktotown。
XV
Thenewfirmplungedbusilyintoitsmorepressingactivities。Orshovels，axes，andscraperswerecuttingoutandlevellingaroadwhichwould，whenfinished，meetthecountyroadtotown。Thenumerousbayousofgreatmarshwerecrossedby\"float—bridges，\"lyingflatonthesurfaceofthewater，whichspurtedupinrhythmicallittlejetsundertheimpactofhoofs。Downstreameightmiles，belowthemills，andjustbeyondwherethedrawbridgecrossedovertoMonrovia，DuncanMcLeod’sshipyardsclippedandsawed，andsteamedandbentandboltedawayattwotugboats，themachineryforwhichwasalreadybeingstowedintheholdofavessellyingatwharfinChicago。Inthestoreroomsofhardwarefirmsporterscarriedandclerkscheckedoffchains，strapiron，bolts，spikes，staples，bandiron，bariron，peavies，cant—hooks，pike—poles，sledge—hammers，blocks，ropes，andcables。
Thesethingstooktimeandattentiontodetails；alsoacarefulsupervision。Thespringincreased，burstintoleafandbloom，andsettledintosummer。Ordewasconstantlyonthemove。Assoonaslowwatercamewithmidsummer，however，hearrangedmatterstorunthemselvesasfaraspossible，leftwithNewmarkminuteinstructionsastopersonalsupervision，andhimselfdepartedtoRedding。HerehejoinedacrewwhichTomNorthhadalreadycollected，andbetookhimselftotheheadoftheriver。
Heknewexactlywhatheintendedtodo。Farbackonthehead—watershebuiltadam。Theconstructionofitwascrude，consistingmerelyoflogcribsfilledwithstoneanddebrisplacedatintervalsacrossthebedofthestream，againstwhichslantedlogsmadeaface。Thegateoperatedsimply，andcouldberaisedtoletlooseanentireflood。Andindeedthiswasthewholepurposeofthedam。Itcreatedareservoirfromwhichcouldbefreednewsuppliesofwatertoekeoutthedroppingspringfreshets。
Havingaccomplishedthisformidablelabour——forthetreeshadtobecutandhauled，thestonecarted，andtheearthshovelled——thecrewnextmoveddownagoodtenmilestowheretheriverdroppedoverarapidsroughandfullofboulders。Herewerebuiltandplacedarowofstone—filledlogcribsinadoublerowdownstreamtodefinethechannelandtoholdthedriveinitandawayfromtheshallowsneareitherbank。Theprofileofthesecribswasthatofaright—angledtriangle，theslantingsideupstream。Boomschainedbetweenthemhelpeddeflectthedrivefromtheshoals。Theirmoreimportantoffice，however，wastogivefootingtothedrivers。
Fortwenty—fivemilesthennothingofimportancewasundertaken。
Twoorthreeparticularlybadbouldersweresplitoutbytheexplosionofpowdercharges；anumberofsnagsandoldtreeswerecutawayanddisposedof；thechannelwascarefullyexaminedforobstructionsofanykindwhatever。Thenthepartycametothefalls。
HereOrdepurposedhismostelaboratebitofroughengineering。Thefallswereonlyaboutfifteenfeethigh，buttheyfellstraightdowntoabedofsheerrock。Thishadbeeneatenbytheeddiesintopot—
holesandcranniesuntilajaggedirregularscoop—hollowhadformedimmediatelyunderneaththefall。Naturallythisimpliedaledgebelow。
Infloodtimethewaterboiledandroaredthroughthisobstructioninatorrent。Thesawlogs，caughtintherush，plungedendonintothescoop—hollow，hitwithacrash，andwerespewedoutbelowmoreorlessbattered，barked，andstripped。Sometimes，however，whenthechanceofthedrivebroughtdownahundredlogstogether，theyfailedtoshootoverthebarrieroftheledge。Thenfollowedajam，abadjam，difficultanddangeroustobreak。Thefallshadtakenherusuriousshareofthelivestheriverannuallydemandsashertoll。
ThisconditionofaffairsOrdehaddetermined，ifpossible，toobviate。Fromthethirty—fiveorfortymilesofriverthatlayabove，andfromitstributarieswouldcomethebulkofthewhiteandNorwaypineforyearstofollow。AtleasttwothirdsofeachdriveOrdefiguredwouldcomefromabovethefall。
\"If，\"saidhetoNorth，\"wecouldcarryanaprononaslantfromjustunderthecrestandoverthepot—holes，itwouldshootboththewaterandthelogsoffabetterangle。\"
\"Sure，\"agreedNorth，\"butyou’llhavefunplacingyourapronwithallthatwaterrunningthrough。Why，itwoulddrownus！\"
\"I’vegotanotiononthat，\"saidOrde。\"Firstthingistogetthematerialtogether。\"
Ahardwoodforesttoppedtheslope。Intothiswenttheaxe—men。
Thestraightesttreestheyfelled，trimmed，anddragged，downtravoytrailstheyconstructed，onsledstheybuiltforthepurpose，tothebanksoftheriver。Heretheyboredthetwoholesthrougheitherendtoreceivetheboltswhenlatertheyshouldbelockedtogethersidebysideintheirpawhorsesandpiledthemalsoforapossiblefutureuse；blockedthetemporarychannelwithatreeorso——andearth。Theriver，restoredtoitsimmemorialchannelbythesemenwhohadsononchalantlyturneditaside，roaredon，singingagainthesongithaduntilnowsunguninterruptedlyforcenturies。Ordeandhiscrewtrampedbacktothefalls，andgazedontheirhandiworkwithsatisfaction。Insteadofplungingoveranedgeintoaturmoiloffoamandeddies，nowthewaterflowedsmoothly，almostwithoutabreak，overaninclineofthirtydegrees。
\"Logs’llslipoverthatslickasagunbarrel，\"saidTomNorth。
\"Howlongdoyouthinkshe’lllast？\"
\"Haven’tanidea，\"repliedOrde。\"Wemayhavetodoitagainnextsummer，butIdon’tthinkit。There’snothingbutthesmoothofthewatertowearthoselogsuntiltheybegintorot。\"
Quitecheerfulllaces。Asfastastheywereprepared，menwithcant—hooksrolledthemdowntheslopetoaflatbelowthefalls。Theydidthesethingsswiftlyandwell，becausetheywerepartofthepractisedday’swork，buttheyshooktheirheadsatthefalls。
Afterthetreeshadbeencutinsufficientnumber——therewereseventy—fiveofthem，eachtwenty—sixfeetlong——Ordeledthewaybackupstreamahalfmiletoashallows，wherehecommandedtheconstructionofanumberofexaggeratedsawhorseswithverywidespreadslantinglegs。Inthemeantimethecook—wagonandthebed—wagonhadevidentlybeenmakingmanytripstoSandCreek，fifteenmilesaway，aswasattestedbyalargepileofheavyplanks。
Whenthesawhorseswerecompleted，Ordedirectedthepicksandshovelstobebroughtup。
Atthispointtheriver，ashasbeenhinted，widenedovershoals。
Thebanksateitherhand，too，wereflatandcomparativelylow。Asisoftenthecaseinbendsofriverssubjecttoannualfloods，thebanksslopedbackforsomedistanceintoalowerblack—ashswampterritory。
Ordesethismentodiggingachannelthroughthisbank。Itwasnoslightjob，fromonepointofview，astheslopedownintotheswampbeganonlyatapointfortyorfiftyfeetinland；butontheotherhandtheearthwassoftandfreefromrocks。Whencompletedthechannelgavepassagetoaratherfeeblestreamletfromtheouterfringeoftheriver。Themenwerepuzzled，butOrde，bythestrangefreakofhisotherwisefrankandopennature，asusualtoldnothingofhisplans，eventoTomNorth。
\"Hecan’texpecttoturnthatriver，\"saidTimNolan，whowasoncemorewiththecrew。\"He’dhavetodigalongwaysbelowthatleveltocatchthemaincurrent——andthensome。\"
\"Lethimalone，\"advisedNorth，puffingathisshortpipe。\"He’swiserthanatreefullofowls。\"
NextOrdeassignedtwomentoeachofthequeer—shapedsawhorses，andinstructedthemtoplacethehorsesinarowacrosstheshallowestpartoftheriver，andbroadsidetothestream。Thiswasdone。Themen，half—waytotheirkneesintheswiftwater，boredownheavilytokeeptheirchargesinplace。Othermenimmediatelybegantolaytheheavyplankssidebyside，perpendiculartoandontheup—streamsideofthehorses。Theweightofthewaterclampedtheminplace；bigrocksandgravelshovelledoninquantitypreventedthelowerendsfromrising；thewideslantofthelegsdirectedthepressuresofardownwardthatthehorseswerepreventedfromfloatingaway。Andslowlythebulkofthewater，thusraisedagoodthreefeetaboveitsformerlevel，turnedasideintothenewchannelandpouredouttoinundatetheblack—ashswampbeyond。
Agoodvolumestillpouredoverthetopofthetemporarydamanddowntothefall；butitwasbythisexpedientsofarreducedthatworkbecamepossible。
\"Now，boys！\"criedOrde。\"Lively，whilewe’vegotthechance！\"
Bymeansofblocksandtacklesandtheteamhorsesthetwenty—six—
footlogswereplacedsidebyside，slantingfromapointtwofeetbelowtherimofthefalltotheledgebelow。Theywereboltedtogethertopandbottomthroughthefourholesboredforthatpurpose。Thiswasaconfusingandwetbusiness。Sufficientwaterstillflowedinthenaturalchanneloftherivertodashinsprayovertheentirework。Mentoiled，wettotheskin，theirgarmentsclingingtothem，theireyesfullofwater，barelyabletobreathe，yetgropingdoggedlyatit，andarrivingatlast。Theweatherwaswarmwiththemidsummer。Theymadeajokeofthedifficulty，andfoundinexhaustiblehumourinthefactthatoneoftheirnumberwasanImmersionBaptist。Whenthetaskwasfinished，theypriedtheflash—boardsfromtheimproviseddam；piledthemneatlybeyondreachofhighwater；rescuedthesytheytookuptheirlong，painstakingjourneybackdowntheriver。
Traveldowntheriverwasattimesverypleasant，andattimesverydisagreeable。Thegroundhadnowhardenedsothatawaniganboatwasunnecessary。Instead，thecampoutfitwastransportedinwaggons，whichoftenhadtojourneyfarinland，tomakeextraordinarydetours，butwhichalwaysarrivedsomehowatthevariouscampingplaces。Ordeandhismen，ofcourse，tooktherivertrail。
Therivertrailranalmostunbrokenforoverahundredmilesofmeanderingway。Itclimbedupthehighbanksatthepoints，itcrossedthebluffsalongtheirsheeredges，itdescendedtothethicketsintheflats，itcrossedtheswampsonpole—trails，itskirtedthegreat，solemnwoods。Sometimes，inthelowerreaches，itscontinuitywasbrokenbyatown，butalwaysafteritrecoveredfromitsconfusionitledonwithpurposeunvarying。Neverdiditdesertforlongtheriver。Thecool，greenstillreaches，orthetumblingofthewhite—water，werealwayswithinitssight，sometimesbeneathitsverytread。Whenoccasionallyitcutinacrossaverylongbend，italwayssentfromitselfalittletributarytrailwhichtracedallthecurves，andreturnedatlasttoitsparent，undoubtedlywithafullreportofitstask。Andthetrailwasbeatenhardbythefeetofcountlessmen，who，likeOrdeandhiscrew，hadtakengrave，interestedchargeoftheriverfromherbirthtoherfinalrestinthegreatexpansesoftheLake。Itisthereto—day，althoughthelifethatbroughtitintobeinghasbeengonefromitthesemanyyears。
InmidsummerOrdefoundtherivertrailmostunfamiliarinappearance。Hardlydidherecogniseitinsomeplaces。Itpossessedawide，leisurelyexpansiveness，anindolentluxury，alazyinvitationbornofbroadgreenleaves，deepandmysteriousshadows，thegrowthofferns，docks，andthelikecoolintheshadeoftheforest，theshimmerofaspensandpoplarsthroughtheheat，thegreenoftanglingvines，thedroneofinsects，thelow—voicedcallofbirds，theopulentsplashingofsun—goldthroughthewoods，quitelackingtothehard，tightseasoninwhichhisriverworkwasusuallyperformed。What，intheearlyyear，hadbeenmerelyawhipofbrush，nowhadbecomeascreenthroughwhosewaving，shiftingintersticeshecaughtglimpsesoftheriverflowinggreenandcool。
Whathadbeenbaretimberamongstwhosetwigsandbranchesthefulldaylighthadshoneunobstructed，nowhadclotheditselfinfoliageandleanedovertomakeblackandmysteriousthewaterthatflowedbeneath。Countlessinsectshoveredoverthepolishedsurfaceofthatwater。Dragon—fliescruisedabout。Littlebirdsswoopedsilentlydownandflutteredback，intentontheirtinyprey。Water—
bugsskatedhitherandthitherinapparentlypurposelessdiagonals。
Onceinagreatwhiletheblackdepthswerestirred。Abassrolledlazilyover，carryingwithhimhiscapturedinsect，leavingonthesurfaceofthewaterconcentricringswhichwidenedanddiedaway。
Thetrailledthecrewthroughmanyminorlabours，allofwhichconsumedtime。AtReed’sMillOrdeenteredintodiplomaticnegotiationswithOldManReed，whomhefoundsingularlyamenable。
Theskirmishinthespringseemedtohavetakenallthefightoutofhim；orperhaps，moresimply，Orde’sattitudetowardhimatthattimehadwonhimovertotheyoungman’sside。Atanyrate，assoonasheunderstoodthatOrdewasnowinbusinessforhimself，hereadilycametoanagreement。ThereuponOrde’screwbuiltanewsluicewayandgatefarenoughdowntoassureagoodheadinthepondabove。Otherdamownersfartherdownthestreamalsosignedagreementshavingtodowithsupplyingwateroverandabovewhatthelawrequiredofthem。AboveoneparticularlyshallowrapidOrdebuiltadamofhisown。
Allthistooktime，andthesummermonthsslippedaway。Ordehadfallenintothewildlifeasintoahabit。Helivedontheriverorthetrail。Hisfacetookonaruddierhuethanever；hisclothesfadedtoanondescriptneutralcolouroftheirown；hishairbelowhisnarrowfelthatbleachedthreeshades。Hedidhiswork，andfiguredonhisschemes，andsmokedhispipe，andoccasionallytooklittletripstothenearesttown，wherehespentthedayatthehoteldesksreadingandansweringhisletters。Theweatherwasgenerallyverywarm。Thunder—stormswerenotinfrequent。UntilthelatterpartofAugust，mosquitoesandblackflieswerebad。
AboutthemiddleofSeptemberthecrewhadworkeddownasfarasRedding，leavingbehindthemarivertamed，groomed，andharnessedfortheiruses。RemainedstillthefortymilesbetweenReddingandtheLaketobeimproved。As，however，navigationforlightdraughtvesselsextendedasfarasthatcity，Ordeherepaidoffhismen。A
fewdays’workwithapiledriverwouldfencetheprincipalshoalsfromthechannel。
Hestayedovernightwithhisparents，andatoncetookthetrainforMonrovia。Therehemadehiswayimmediatelytothelittleofficethenewfirmhadrented。Newmarkhadjustcomedown。
\"Hullo，Joe，\"greetedOrde，histeethflashingincontrasttothetanofhisface。\"I’mdone。Anythingnewsinceyouwrotelast？\"
Newmarkhadacquiredhisarticlesofincorporationandsoldhisstock。Howmanyexcursions，demonstrations，representations，andargumentsthatimplied，onlyonewhohasundertakenthefloatingofanewanduntriedschemecanimagine。PerhapshistaskhadinitasmuchofdifficultyasOrde’stamingoftheriver。Certainlyhecarriedittoassuccessfulaconclusion。Thebulkofthestockhesoldtothelog—ownersthemselves；theresthescatteredhereandthereandeverywhereinsmalllots，ashewasable。SomefivehundredandthousanddollarblocksevenwenttoChicago。HisownlittlefortuneoftwentythousandhepaidinforthesharesthatrepresentedhishalfofthemajorityretainedbyhimselfandOrde。
Thelattergaveanoteattenpercentforhisproportionofthestock。Newmarkthenborrowedfifteenthousandmore，givingassecurityamortgageonthecompany’snewlyacquiredproperty——thetugs，booms，buildings，andrealestate。Thuswasthefinancingdetermined。Itleftthecompanywithobligationsoffifteenhundreddollarsayearininterest，expenseswhichwouldrunheavilyintothethousands，andanobligationtomakegoodoutsidestockworthatparexactlyforty—ninethousanddollars。Inaddition，Ordehadchargedagainsthisaccountaburdenoftwothousanddollarsayearinterestonhispersonaldebt。Tooffsettheseliabilities——outsidetheriverimprovementsandequipments，whichwouldholdlittleornovalueincaseoffailure——thefirmheldcontractstodeliveraboutonehundredmillionfeetoflogs。Aftersomediscussionthepartnersdecidedtoallowthemselvestwenty—fivehundreddollarsapiecebywayofsalary。
\"Ifwedon’tmakeanydividendsatfirst，\"Ordepointedout，\"I’vegottokeepevenonmyinterest。\"
\"Youcan’tliveonfivehundred，\"objectedNewmark。
\"I’llbeontheriverandattheboomssixmonthsoftheyear，\"
repliedOrde，\"andIcan’tspendmuchthere。\"
\"I’msatisfied，\"saidNewmarkthoughtfully，\"I’mgettingalittlebetterthangoodinterestonmyowninvestmentfromthestart。Andinafewyearsafterwe’vepaidup，there’llbemightybigmoneyinit。\"
Heremovedhisglassesandtappedhispalmwiththeiredge。
\"Theonlypointthatisatallriskytome，\"saidhe，\"isthatwehaveonlyone—seasoncontracts。Ifforanyreasonwehangupthedrive，orfailtodeliverpromptly，we’regoingtogetlefttheyearfollowing。Andthenit’sB—U—S—T，bust。\"
\"Well，we’lljusttrynottohangher，\"repliedOrde。
XVI
Orde’sbankaccount，inspiteofhislaughingassertiontoNewmark，containedsomeelevenhundreddollars。Afterabriefbutcomprehensivetourofinspectionoveralltheworksthenforward，hedrewahundredofthisandannouncedtoNewmarkthatbusinesswouldtakehimawayforabouttwoweeks。
\"Ihavesomeprivateaffairstoattendtobeforesettlingdowntobusinessforkeeps，\"hetoldNewmarkvaguely。
AtRedding，whitherhewenttopackhislittlesole—leathertrunk，hetoldGrandmaOrdethesamething。Shesaidnothingatthetime，butlater，whenGrandpaOrde’sslenderfigurehaddeparted，verycourteous，veryerect，verydignified，withitsoldlinendusterflappingaroundit，shecameandstoodbythemanleaningoverthetrunk。
\"Speaktoher，Jack，\"saidshequietly。\"Shecaresforyou。\"
Ordelookedupinastonishment，buthedidnotpretendtodenytheimpliedaccusationastohisdestination。
\"Why，mother！\"hecried。\"She’sonlyseenmethreeorfourtimes！
It’sabsurd——yet。\"
\"Iknow，\"noddedGrandmaOrde，wisely。\"Iknow。Butyoumarkmywords；shecaresforyou。\"
Shesaidnothingmore，butstoodlookingwhileOrdefoldedandlaidaway，hisheadbentlowinthought。Thensheplacedherhandforaninstantonhisshoulderandwentaway。TheOrdeswerenotademonstrativepeople。
ThejourneytoNewYorkwasatthattimeverylonganddisagreeable，butOrdeboreitwithhisaccustomedstoicism。Hehadvisitedthemetropolisbefore，soitwasnotunfamiliartohim。Hewasveryglad，however，togetawayfromthedustandmonotonyoftherailroadtrain。TheSeptembertwilightwasjustfalling。Throughitsduskthestreetlampswerepoppingintoilluminationasthelamp—lightermadehisrapidway。Ordeboardedahorse—carandjingledawaydownFourthAvenue。Hewaspleasedathavingarrived，andstretchedhislegsandfilledhislungstwicewithsoevidentanenjoymentthatseveralpeoplesmiled。
Hiscomfortwassoondisturbed，however，byaninfluxofpeopleboardingthecaratTwenty—thirdStreet。Theseatswereimmediatelyfilled，andlatecomersfoundthemselvesobligedtostandintheaisle。Amongthesewereseveralwomen。Themennearestburiedthemselvesinthepapersafterthealmostuniversalmetropolitancustom。Twoorthreearosetooffertheirseats，amongthemOrde。
When，however，thelatterhadturnedtoindicatetooneofthewomenthevacatedseat，hediscovereditoccupiedbyachubbyandflashilydressedyouthofthesortcommonenoughinthevicinityofFourteenthStreet；impudentofeye，cynicalofdemeanour，andslightlycontemptuousofeverythingunaccustomed。HehadslippedinbackofOrdewhenthatyoungmanarose，whetherundertheimpressionthatOrdewasabouttogetoffthecarorfromsheerimpudence，itwouldbeimpossibletosay。
Ordestaredathim，alittleastonished。
\"Iintendedthatseatforthislady，\"saidOrde，touchinghimontheshoulder。
Theyouthlookedupcoolly。
\"Youdon’tcomethat！\"saidhe。
Ordewastednotimeindiscussion，whichnodoubtsavedthenecessityofamoreseriousdisturbance。Hereachedoversuddenly，seizedtheyouthbythecollar，bracedhiskneeagainsttheseat，andheavedtheinterlopersorapidlytohisfeetthatheallbutplungedforwardamongthepassengerssittingopposite。
\"Yourseat，madam，\"saidOrde。
Thewoman，frightened，unwillingtobecometheparticipantofasceneofanysort，stoodlookinghereandthere。Orde，comprehendingherembarrassment，twistedhisantagonistabout，and，beforehecouldrecoverhisequilibriumsufficientlytoofferresistance，propelledhimrapidlytotheopendoor，thepassengershastilymakingwayforthem。
\"Now，myfriend，\"saidOrde，releasinghisholdontheother’scollar，\"don’tdosuchthingsanymore。Theyaren’tnice。\"
Trivialastheincidentwas，itservedtodrawOrdetotheparticularnoticeofanelderlymanleaningagainsttherearrail。
Hewasaverywell—groomedman，dressedingarmentswhosefitwasevidentlytheproductofthehighestart，wellbuttonedup，wellbrushed，wellcaredforineveryway。Inhisbuttonholeheworeapinkcarnation，andinhisglovedhandhecarriedastraight，gold—
headedcane。Asilkhatcoveredhishead，frombeneathwhichshowedaslightlyempurpledcountenance，withbushywhiteeyebrows，awhitemoustache，andapairofratherbloodshot，butkindly，blueeyes。
Inspiteofhissomewhatpudgyrotundity，hecarriedhimselfquiteerect，inamannerthatbespoketheretiredmilitaryman。
\"Youhavecourage，sir，\"saidthisgentleman，inclininghisbeadgravelytoOrde。
Theyoungmanlaughedinhisgood—humouredfashion。
\"Notmuchcouragerequiredtorootoutthatkindofaskunk，\"saidhecheerfully。
\"Irefertothecourageofyourconvictions。Theyoungmenofthisgenerationseemtoprefertoavoidpublicdisturbances。Thatbreedisquitecapableofmakingarow，callingthepolice，raisingthedeuce，andallthat。\"
\"Whatofit？\"saidOrde。
Theelderlygentlemanpuffedouthischeeks。
\"YouarefromtheWest，areyounot？\"hestated，ratherthanasked。
\"WecallittheEastoutthere，\"saidOrde。\"It’sMichigan。\"
\"Ishouldcallthatprettyfarwest，\"saidtheoldgentleman。
Nothingmorewassaid。AfterablockortwoOrdedescendedonhiswaytoasmallhoteljustoffBroadway。Theoldgentlemansaluted。
Ordenoddedgood—humouredly。Inhisprivatesoulhewasalittleamusedattheoldboy。Tohisviewamanandclothescarriedtotheirlastrefinementwerecontradictoryterms。
Ordeate，dressed，andsetoutafootinsearchofMissBishop’saddress。Hearrivedinfrontofthehousealittlepasteighto’clock，and，afteramoment’shesitation，mountedthestepsandrangthebell。
Thedoorswungsilentlybacktoframeanimpassiveman—servantdressedinlivery。ToOrde’sinquiryhestatedthatMissBishophadgoneouttothetheatre。Theyoungmanlefthisnameandamessageofregret。Atthisthefootman，withanironysosubtleastobequitelostonOrde，demandedacard。Ordescribbledalineinhisnote—book，toreitout，foldedit，andleftit。Inithestatedhisregret，hisshortresidenceinthecity，anddesiredanearlyopportunitytocall。Thenhedeparteddownthebrownstonesteps，totallyunconsciousofthecontempthehadinspiredintheheartoftheliveriedmanbehindhim。
Heretiredearlyandaroseearly，ashadbecomehishabit。Whenhedescendedtotheofficethenightclerk，whohadnotyetbeenrelieved，handedhimanotedeliveredthenightbefore。Orderippeditopeneagerly。
\"MYDEARMR。ORDE：
\"Iwassosorrytomissyouthateveningbecauseofastupidplay。
Comearoundasearlyasyoucanto—morrowmorning。Ishallexpectyou。
\"Sincerelyyours，\"CARROLLBISHOP。\"
Ordeglancedattheclock，whichpointedtoseven。Hebreakfasted，readthemorningpaper，finallystartedleisurelyinthedirectionofWestNinthStreet。Hewalkedslowly，soastoconsumemoretime，thenatUniversityPlacewasseizedwithapanic，andhurriedrapidlytohisdestination。Thedoorwasansweredbythesamemanwhohadopenedthenightbefore，butnow，insomeindefinableway，hiscalm，whileflawlessexternally，seemedtohaveliftedtoameresurface，asthoughhemighthastilyhaveassumedhiscoat。ToOrde’sinquiryhestatedwithgreatbrevitythatMissBishopwasnotyetvisible，andpreparedtoclosethedoor。
\"Youaremistaken，\"saidOrde，withequalbrevity，andsteppedinside。\"IhaveanengagementwithMissBishop。TellherMr。Ordeishere。\"
Themandepartedinsomedoubt，leavingOrdestandinginthegloomyhall。Thatyoungman，however，quitecheerfullypartedtheheavycurtainsleadingintoaparlour，andsatdowninaspindle—leggedchair。Athisentrance，amaiddisappearedoutanotherdoor，carryingwithhertheimplementsofdustingandbrushing。
Ordelookedaroundtheroomwithsomecuriosity。Itwaslong，narrow，andveryhigh。Tallwindowsadmittedlightatoneend。Theilluminationwas，however，modifiedgreatlybyhangingsoflacecoveringallthewindows，supplementedbyheavydraperiesdrawnbacktoeitherside。Theembrasurewasoccupiedbyasmalltable，overwhichseemedtoflutterabeautifulmarblePsyche。Arubberplant，thenasnowthemarkofthecityandsuburbandweller，sentaloftitsspare，shinyleavesalongsideaclosedsquarepiano。Thelackofornamentsatopthelatterbespokethemusician。Throughthefilteredgloomofthedemi—lightOrdesurveyedwithinteresttheexcellentreproductionsoftheOldWorldmasterpiecesframedonthewalls——\"Madonnas\"byRaphael，Murillo，andPerugino，the\"MonaLisa，\"andBotticelli’s\"Spring\"——thethreeoilportraitsoccupyingthelargespaces；thespindle—leggedchairsandtables，theteaserviceinthecorner，thetallbronzelampbythepiano，theneatlittlegrate—hearth，withitsmantelofmarble；theormoluclock，allthedecorousanddecoratedgentilitywhichmarkedtheirreproachablecorrectnessofwhoeverhadfurnishedtheapartment。
Darkandheavyhangingsdependedinfrontofadoubledoorleadingintoanotherroombeyond。EquallydarkandheavyhangingshadclosedbehindOrdeasheentered。Anabsoluteandshroudedstillnessseemedtosettledownuponhim。Theormoluclocktickedsteadily。Muffledsoundscameatlongintervalsfrombehindtheportieres。Ordebegantofeeloppressedandsubdued。
Forquitethreequartersofanhourhewaitedwithouthearinganyotherindicationsoflifethanthemuffledsoundsjustremarkedupon。Occasionallyheshiftedhisposition，butcautiously，asthoughhefearedtoawakensomeone。Thethreeoilportraitsstaredathimwithallthereservedaloofnessoftheirpaintedeyes。Hebegantodoubtwhetherthemanhadannouncedhimatall。
Then，breakingthestillnesswithalmoststartlingabruptness，heheardaclear，highvoicesayingsomethingatthetopofthestairsoutside。ArhythmicalSWISHofskirts，punctuatedbythelightPAT—
PATofagirltrippingdownstairs，broughthimtohisfeet。A
momentlaterthecurtainspartedandsheentered，holdingoutherhand。
\"Oh，Ididkeepyouwaitingsuchalongtime！\"shecried。
Hestoodholdingherhand，suddenlyunabletosayaword，lookingatherhungrily。Afloodofemotion，ofwhichhehadhadnoprevision，swelledupwithinhimtofillhisthroat。Analmostirresistibleimpulseallbutcontrolledhimtocrushhertohim，tokissherlipsandherthroat，tolosehisfingersinthesoft，shadowyfinenessofherhair。Thecrestofthewavepassedalmostimmediately，butitlefthimshaken。Afaintcolourdeepenedunderthetransparenceofherskin；herfathomlessblackeyeswidenedeversolittle；shereleasedherhand。