34 files changed, 81761 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6833f05
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitattributes
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+* text=auto
+*.txt text
+*.md text
diff --git a/15775-0.txt b/15775-0.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..610cadd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/15775-0.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,9668 @@
+The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary by Anne Warner
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and
+most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions
+whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms
+of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at
+www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you
+will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before
+using this eBook.
+
+Title: The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary
+
+Author: Anne Warner
+
+Release Date: May 2005 [eBook #15775]
+[Most recently updated: May 8, 2021]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: UTF-8
+
+Produced by: Suzanne Shell, Josephine Paolucci, Joshua Hutchinson and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team
+
+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE REJUVENATION OF AUNT MARY ***
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary
+
+by Anne Warner
+
+Author of “A Woman’s Will,” “Susan Clegg and Her Friend
+Mrs. Lathrop,” “Susan Clegg and a Man in the House,”
+etc.
+
+NEW EDITION
+With Additional Pictures from the Play
+
+Boston
+Little, Brown, and Company
+1910
+
+Copyright, 1904,
+By Ainslee Magazine Company.
+
+Copyright, 1905,
+By Little, Brown, and Company.
+
+Copyright, 1907,
+By Little, Brown, and Company,
+
+All rights reserved
+
+Fourteenth Printing
+
+Printers
+S.J. Parkhill & Co., Boston, U.S.A.
+
+
+Contents
+
+ Chapter One—Introducing Aunt Mary
+ Chapter Two—Jack
+ Chapter Three—Introducing Jack
+ Chapter Four—Married
+ Chapter Five—The Day After Falling in Love
+ Chapter Six—The Other Man
+ Chapter Seven—Developments
+ Chapter Eight—The Resolution He Took
+ Chapter Nine—The Downfall of Hope
+ Chapter Ten—The Woes of the Disinherited.
+ Chapter Eleven—The Dove of Peace
+ Chapter Twelve—A Trap For Aunt Mary
+ Chapter Thirteen—Aunt Mary Entrapped
+ Chapter Fourteen—Aunt Mary En Fête
+ Chapter Fifteen—Aunt Mary Enthralled
+ Chapter Sixteen—A Reposeful Interval
+ Chapter Seventeen—Aunt Mary’s Night About Town
+ Chapter Eighteen—A Departure And A Return
+ Chapter Nineteen—Aunt Mary’s Return
+ Chapter Twenty—Jack’s Joy
+ Chapter Twenty-One—The Peace and Quiet of the Country
+ Chapter Twenty-Two—“Granite”
+ Chapter Twenty-Three—“Granite”—Continued.
+ Chapter Twenty-Four—Two Are Company
+ Chapter Twenty-Five—Grand Finale
+
+
+Illustrations
+
+ “Aunt Mary en fête” (May Robson as “Aunt Mary”)
+ “‘Do not let us play any longer,’ she said. ‘Let us be in earnest’”
+ “‘She’s goin’ to the city all alone!’ Lucinda’s voice suddenly proclaimed behind him”
+ Aunt Mary and Her Escorts
+ “The carriage stopped three hundred feet below the level of a roof-garden”
+ “And now the fun’s all over and the work begins”
+ “‘Yesterday I played poker until I didn’t know a blue chip from a white one’”
+ “Aunt Mary had also had her eyes open”
+
+
+
+
+Chapter One
+Introducing Aunt Mary
+
+
+The first time that Jack was threatened with expulsion from college his
+Aunt Mary was much surprised and decidedly vexed—mainly at the college.
+His family were less surprised, viewing the young man through a clearer
+atmosphere than his Aunt Mary ever had, and knowing that he had barely
+escaped similar experiences earlier in his career by invariably leaving
+school the day before the board of inquiry convened.
+
+Jack’s preparatory days having been more or less tempestous, his family
+(Aunt Mary excepted) had expected some sort of after-clap when he
+entered college. Nevertheless, they had fervently hoped that it would
+not be quite as bad as this.
+
+Jack’s sister Arethusa was visiting her aunt when the news came. Not
+because she wanted to, for the old lady was dreadfully deaf and
+fearfully arbitrary, but because Lucinda had said that she must go to
+her cousin’s wedding, and the family always had to bow to Lucinda’s
+mandates. Lucinda was Aunt Mary’s maid, but she had become so
+indispensable as a sitter at the off-end of the latter’s ear-trumpet
+that none of the grand-nephews or grand-nieces ever thought for an
+instant of crossing one of her wishes. So it was to Arethusa that the
+explanations due Aunt Mary’s interest in her scapegrace fell, and she
+bowed her back to the burden with the resignation which the
+circumstances demanded.
+
+“Whatever is the difference between bein’ expelled and bein’
+suspended?” Aunt Mary demanded, in her tone of imperious impatience.
+“Well, why don’t you answer? I was brought up to speak when you’re
+spoken to, an’ I’m a great believer in livin’ up to your bringin’ up—if
+you had a good one. What’s the difference, an’ which costs most? That’s
+what I want to know. I do wish you’d answer me, Arethusa; there’s two
+things I’ve asked you now, an’ you suckin’ your finger an’ puttin’ on
+your thimble as if you were sittin’ alone in China.”
+
+“I don’t know which costs most,” Arethusa shrieked.
+
+“You needn’t scream so,” said Aunt Mary. “I ain’t so hard to hear as
+you think. I ain’t but seventy, and I’ll beg you to remember that,
+Arethusa. Besides, I don’t want to hear you talk. I just want to hear
+about Jack. I’m askin’ about his bein’ expelled and suspended, an’
+what’s the difference, an’ in particular if there’s anything to pay for
+broken glass. It’s always broken glass! That boy’s bills for broken
+glass have been somethin’ just awful these last two years. Well, why
+don’t you answer?”
+
+“I don’t know what to answer,” Arethusa screamed.
+
+“What do you suppose he’s done, anyhow?”
+
+“Something bad.”
+
+Aunt Mary frowned.
+
+“I ain’t mad,” she said sharply. “What made you think I was mad? I
+ain’t mad at all! I’m just askin’ what’s the difference between bein’
+expelled an’ bein’ suspended, an’ it seems to me this is the third time
+I’ve asked it. Seems to me it is.”
+
+Arethusa laid down her work, drew a mighty breath, very nearly got into
+the ear-trumpet, and explained that being suspended was infinitely less
+heinous than being expelled, and decidedly less final.
+
+Aunt Mary looked relieved.
+
+“Oh, then he’s gettin’ better, is he?” she said. “Well, I’m sure that’s
+some comfort.”
+
+And then there was a long pause, during which she appeared to be
+engaged in deep reflection, and her niece continued her embroidery in
+peace. The pause endured until a sudden sneeze on the part of the old
+lady set the wheels of conversation turning again.
+
+“Arethusa,” she said, “I wish you’d go an’ get the ink an’ write to Mr.
+Stebbins. I want him to begin to look up another college with good
+references right away. I don’t want to waste any of the boy’s life, an’
+if bein’ suspended means waitin’ while the college takes its time to
+consider whether it wants him back again or not I ain’t goin’ to wait.
+I’m a great believer in a college education, but I don’t know that it
+cuts much figure whether it’s the same college right through or not.
+Anyway, you write Mr. Stebbins.”
+
+Arethusa obeyed, and the authorities having seen fit to be uncommonly
+discreet as to the cause of the young man’s withdrawal, no great
+difficulty was experienced in finding another campus whereon Aunt
+Mary’s pride and joy might freely disport himself. Mr. Stebbins threw
+himself into the affair with all the tact and ardor of an experienced
+legal mind and soon after Lucinda’s return to her home allowed Arethusa
+to follow suit, the hopeful younger brother of the latter became a
+candidate for his second outfit of new sweaters and hat bands that
+year.
+
+Aunt Mary wrote him a letter upon the occasion of his new start in
+life, Mr. Stebbins delivered him a lecture, and things went smoothly in
+consequence for three whole weeks. I say three whole weeks because
+three whole weeks was a long time for the course of Jack’s life to flow
+smoothly. At the end of a fortnight affairs were always due to run more
+rapidly and three weeks produced, as a general thing, some species of
+climax.
+
+The climax in this case came to time as usual his evil genius inciting
+the young man to attempt, one very dark night, the shooting of a cat
+which he thought he saw upon the back fence. Whether he really had seen
+a cat or not mattered very little in the later development of the
+matter. He was certainly successful as far as the going off of the gun
+was concerned, but the damage that resulted, resulted not to any cat,
+but to the arm of a next-door’s cook, who was peacefully engaged in
+taking in her week’s wash on the other side of the fence. The cook
+ceased abruptly to take in the wash, the affair was at once what is
+technically termed looked into, and three days later Jack became the
+defendant in a suit for damages.
+
+Naturally Mr. Stebbins was at once notified and he had no choice except
+to write Aunt Mary.
+
+Aunt Mary was somewhat less patient over the third escapade than she
+had been with the first two.
+
+The letter found her alone with Lucinda and she read it to herself
+three times and then read it aloud to her companion. Lucinda, whose
+thorough knowledge of the imperious will and impervious eardrums of her
+mistress rendered her, as a rule, extremely monosyllabic, not to say
+silent, vouchsafed no comment upon the contents of the epistle, and
+after a few minutes Aunt Mary herself took the field:
+
+“Now, what do you suppose possessed that boy to shoot at a cook?” she
+asked, regarding the letter with a portentous frown. “Cooks are so
+awful hard to get nowadays. I don’t see why he didn’t shoot a tramp if
+he had to shoot somethin’.”
+
+“He wa’n’t tryin’ to shoot a cook, ’pears like,” then cried
+Lucinda—Lucinda’s voice, be it said, _en passant_, was of that sibilant
+and penetrating timbre which is best illustrated in the accents of a
+steamfitter’s file—“’pears like he was tryin’ for a cat.”
+
+“Not a bat,” said her mistress correctively; “it was a cat. You look at
+this letter an’ you’ll see. And, anyway, how could a man shootin’ at a
+cat hit a cook?—not ’nless she was up a tree birds’-nestin’ after owls’
+eggs. You don’t seem to pay much attention to what I read to you,
+Lucinda; only I should think your commonsense would help you out some
+when it comes to a boy you’ve known from the time he could walk, an’ a
+strange cook. But, anyhow, that’s neither here nor there. The question
+that bothers me is, what’s to pay with this damage suit? I think myself
+five hundred dollars is too much for any cook’s arm. A cook ain’t in no
+such vital need of two arms. If she has to shut the door of the oven
+while she’s stirrin’ somethin’ on the top of the stove, she can easy
+kick it to with her foot. It won’t be for long, anyway, and I’m a great
+believer in making the best of things when you’ve got to.”
+
+Lucinda screwed up her face and made no comment. Lucinda’s face in
+repose was a cross between a monkey’s and a peanut; screwed up, it was
+particularly awful, and always exasperated her mistress.
+
+“Well, why don’t you say somethin’, Lucinda? I ain’t askin’ your
+advice, but, all the same, you can say anything if you’ve got a mind
+to.”
+
+“I ain’t got a mind to say anythin’,” the faithful maid rejoined.
+
+“I guess you hit the nail on the head that time,” said Aunt Mary,
+without any unnecessary malevolence concealed behind her sarcasm; then
+she re-read the note and frowned afresh.
+
+“Five hundred dollars is too much,” she said again. “I’m going to write
+to Mr. Stebbins an’ tell him so to-night. He can compromise on two
+hundred and fifty, just as well as not. Get me some paper and my desk,
+Lucinda. Now get a spryness about you.”
+
+Lucinda laid aside her work and forthwith got a spryness about her,
+bringing her mistress’ writing-desk with commendable alacrity. Aunt
+Mary took the writing-desk and wrote fiercely for some time, to the end
+that she finally wrote most of the fierceness out of herself.
+
+“After all, boys will be boys,” she said, as she sealed her letter,
+“and if this is the end I shan’t feel it’s money wasted. I’m a great
+believer in bein’ patient. Most always, that is. Here, Lucinda you take
+this to Joshua and tell him to take it right to mail. Be prompt, now.
+I’m a great believer in doin’ things prompt.”
+
+Lucinda took the letter and was prompt. “She wants this letter took
+right to the mail,” she said to Joshua, Aunt Mary’s longest-tried
+servitor.
+
+“Then it’ll be took right to mail,” said Joshua.
+
+“She’s pretty mad,” said Lucinda.
+
+“Then she’ll soon get over it,” replied the other, taking up his hat
+and preparing to depart for the barn forthwith.
+
+Lucinda returned to Aunt Mary with a species of dried-up sigh. One is
+not the less a slave because one has been enslaved for twenty years,
+and Lucinda at moments did sort of peek out through her bars—possibly
+envying Joshua the daily drives to mail when he had full control of
+something that was alive.
+
+Lucinda had been, comparatively speaking, young when she had come to
+wait upon the pleasure of the Watkins millions, and her waiting had
+been so pertinent and so patient that it had endured over a quarter of
+a century. Aunt Mary had been under fifty in the hour of Lucinda’s
+dawn; she was over seventy now. Jack hadn’t been born then; he was in
+college now; and Jack’s older brothers and sisters and his
+dead-and-gone father and mother had been living somewhere out West
+then, quite hopeful as to their own lives and quite hopeless as to the
+stern old great-aunt who never had paid any attention to her niece
+since she had chosen to elope with the doctor’s reprobate son. Now the
+father and mother were dead and buried, the brothers and sisters
+reinstated in their rights and had all grown up and become great
+credits to the old lady, whose heart had suddenly melted at the arrival
+of five orphans all at once. And there was only Jack to continue to
+worry about.
+
+Jack was not anything particularly remarkable; he was just one of those
+lovable good-for-nothings that seem born to get better people into
+trouble all their lives long. He had been spoiled originally by being
+ten years younger than the next youngest in the family; and then, when
+the children had been shipped on to Aunt Mary’s tender mercies, Jack
+had won her heart immediately because she accidentally discovered that
+he had never been baptized, and so felt fully justified in re-naming
+him after her own father and having the name branded into him for keeps
+by her own religious apparatus. It followed naturally that John
+Watkins, Jr., Denham, for so her father’s daughter had insisted that
+her youngest nephew should be called, was the favorite nephew of his
+aunt.
+
+And it was lucky for him that he was the favorite, for Aunt Mary, who
+was highly spiced at fifty, became peppery at sixty, and almost biting
+at seventy. And yet for Jack she would sign checks almost without a
+murmur. Mr. Stebbins was much more censorious and impatient with the
+young man than she ever was; and to all the rest of the world Mr.
+Stebbins was an urbane and agreeable gentleman, whereas to all the rest
+of the world Aunt Mary was a problem or a terror. But Mr. Stebbins
+needed to be a man of tact and management, for he was the real manager
+of that fortune of which “Mary, only surviving child of John Watkins,
+merchant and ship owner,” was the legal possessor; and so tactful was
+Mr. Stebbins that he and his powerful client had never yet clashed, and
+they had been in close business relations for almost as many years as
+Lucinda had been established on the hearthstone of the Watkins home.
+Perhaps one reason why Mr. Stebbins endured so well was that he had a
+real talent for compromising, and that he had skillfully transformed
+Aunt Mary’s inherited taste for driving a bargain into an acquired
+pleasure in what is really a polite form of the same action.
+
+So, when it came to the matter of Jack’s difficulties, Mr. Stebbins
+could always find a half-way measure that saved the situation; and when
+he received the letter as to the cook and her claim he hied himself to
+the city at once, and wrote back that the claim could be settled for
+three hundred dollars.
+
+“And enough, I must say,” Aunt Mary remarked to Lucinda upon receipt of
+the statement; “three hundred dollars for one cat—for, after all, Jack
+blames the whole on the cat, an’ he didn’t hit it, even then.”
+
+Lucinda did not answer.
+
+“But if the boy settles down now I shan’t mind payin’ the three—Where
+are you goin’?”
+
+For Lucinda was walking out of the room.
+
+“I’m goin’ to the door,” said she raspingly. “The bell’s ringin’.”
+
+After a minute or two she came back.
+
+“Telegram!” she announced, handing the yellow envelope over.
+
+Aunt Mary put on her glasses, opened it, and read:
+
+Cook has blood poison. Sues for a thousand. Probable amputation.
+
+
+STEBBINS.
+
+
+Aunt Mary dropped the paper with a gasp.
+
+Lucinda looked at her with interest.
+
+“It’s that same arm again,” said Aunt Mary, “just as I thought it was
+settled for!” Her eyes seemed to fairly crackle with indignation. “Why
+don’t she put it in a sling an’ have a little patience?”
+
+Lucinda took the telegram and read it.
+
+“’Pears like she can’t,” she commented, in a tone like a buzz saw;
+“’pears like it’s goin’ to be took off.”
+
+Aunt Mary reached forth her hand for the telegram and after a second
+reading shook her head in a way that, if her companion had been a
+globe-trotter, would have brought matadores and Seville to the front in
+her mind in that instant.
+
+“I declare,” she said, “seems like I had enough on my mind without a
+cook, too. What’s to be done now? I only know one thing! I ain’t goin’
+to pay no thousand dollars this week for no arm that wasn’t worth but
+three hundred last week. Stands to reason that there ain’t no reason in
+that. I guess you’d better bring me my desk, Lucinda; I’m goin’ to
+write to Mr. Stebbins, an’ I’m goin’ to write to Jack, and I’m goin’ to
+tell ’em both just what I think. I’m goin’ to write Jack that he’d
+better be lookin’ out, and I’m goin’ to write to Mr. Stebbins that next
+time he settles things I want him to take a receipt for that arm in
+full.”
+
+The letters were duly written and Mr. Stebbins, upon the receipt of
+his, redoubled his efforts, and did succeed in permanently settling
+with the cook, the arm being eventually saved. Aunt Mary regarded the
+sum as much higher than necessary, but still pleasantly less than that
+demanded of her, and so life in general moved quietly on until Easter.
+
+But Easter is always a period of more or less commotion in the time of
+youth and leads to various hilarious outbreaks. Jack’s Easter took him
+to town for a “little time,” and the “little time” ended in the
+station-house at three o’clock on Sunday morning.
+
+Accusation: Producing concussion of the brain on a cab driver.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter Two
+Jack
+
+
+The news was conveyed to Aunt Mary through private advices from Mr.
+Stebbins (who had been hastily summoned to the city for purposes of
+bail); she was very angry indeed, this time—primarily at the indignity
+done her flesh and blood by arresting it. Then, as she re-read the
+lawyer’s letter, other reflections crowded to the fore in her mind.
+
+“Funny! Whatever could have made the boy get up and go downtown at
+three in the morning, anyway?” she said. “Seems kind of queer, don’t
+you think, Arethusa? Do you suppose he was ill and huntin’ for a drug
+store?”
+
+Arethusa had been sent for the second day previous because Lucinda’s
+youngest sister’s youngest child had come down with scarlet fever, and
+the family wanted Lucinda to enliven the quarantine. Arethusa had sent
+invitations out for a dinner party, but she had recalled them and
+hastened to obey the summons. It was an evil hour for her, for she
+loved her brother and was mightily distressed at the bad news.
+
+“I don’t believe he can have been ill,” she said, at the top of her
+voice; “if he’d been ill he wouldn’t have had the strength to hit the
+cab driver so hard.”
+
+“I don’t blame him for hittin’ the cab driver,” said Aunt Mary warmly.
+“As near as I can recollect, I’ve often wanted to do that myself. But I
+can’t make out where he got the man to hit, or why he was there to hit
+him. I can’t make rhyme or reason out of it. I wish we knew more. Well,
+I presume we will, later.”
+
+Her surmise was correct. They knew much more later. They knew more from
+Mr. Stebbins, and they knew profusely more from the evening papers.
+
+“I think our boy’d better have come home for his Easter,” Aunt Mary
+remarked, with a species of angry undertow threading the current of her
+speech. “There’s no sayin’ what this will cost before we’re done with
+it.”
+
+Arethusa choked; it was all so very terrible to her.
+
+“What is it that the cabman wants, anyhow?” her aunt demanded
+presently.
+
+“He doesn’t want anything,” yelled the unhappy sister. “He’s going to
+die.”
+
+“Well, who is going to sue me, then?”
+
+“It’s his wife; she wants five thousand dollars damages.”
+
+Aunt Mary’s lips tightened.
+
+“Five thousand dollars!” she said, with a bitter patience. “I can see
+that this is goin’ to be an awful business. Five thousand dollars!
+Dear, dear! I must say that that wife sets a pretty high price on her
+husband—at least, a’cordin’ to my order of thinkin’, she does. From
+what I’ve seen of cabmen, I’d undertake to get her another just as good
+for a tenth of the money, any day.”
+
+Arethusa was silent, staring thoughtfully at the newspaper cuts of a
+great Tammany leader and a noted pugilist, which had been labeled as
+the principals in the family tragedy.
+
+Aunt Mary turned over another of the many papers received, and scanned
+its sensational columns afresh.
+
+“Arethusa,” she exclaimed suddenly, “do you know, I bet anythin’ I know
+what this editor means to insinuate? It just strikes me that he’s
+tryin’ to give the impression that our boy’s been drinkin’.”
+
+“Perhaps so,” Arethusa screamed.
+
+“Well, I don’t believe it,” said Aunt Mary firmly, “and I ain’t goin’
+to believe it. And I ain’t goin’ to pay no five thousand dollars for no
+cabman’s brains, neither. You write to Mr. Stebbins to compromise on
+two or maybe three.”
+
+She stopped and bit her lips and shook her head. “I don’t see why Jack
+grows up so hard,” she murmured, half in anger and half in sorrow.
+“Edward and Henry never had such times. Oh, well,” she sighed, “boys
+will be boys, I suppose; an’ if this all results in the boy’s settlin’
+down it’ll be money well spent in the end, after all.
+Maybe—probably—most likely.”
+
+The days that followed were anxious days, but at last the cabman
+rallied and concluded not to die, and Jack went off yachting with a
+light heart and a choice collection of good advice from Mr. Stebbins
+and Aunt Mary.
+
+Nothing happened to mar his holiday. He ran a borrowed steam launch on
+to some rocks with rather heavy consequences to his aunt’s exchequer,
+and returned from the West Indies so late that she never had a visit
+from him at all that summer; but, barring these slightly unwelcome
+incidents, he did remarkably well, and when he returned to college in
+the fall he was regarded as having become, at last, a stable
+proposition.
+
+“I wonder whether our boy’s comin’ home for Christmas?” Aunt Mary asked
+her niece, Mary, as that happy period of family reunions drew near.
+Mary had come up to stay with her aunt while Lucinda went away to bury
+a second cousin. Mary was very different from Arethusa, having a voice
+that, when raised, was something between an icicle and a steam whistle,
+and a temperament so much on the order of her aunt’s that neither could
+abide the other an hour longer than was absolutely necessary. But
+Arethusa had a sprained ankle, so there was no help for existing
+circumstances.
+
+“No, he isn’t,” said Mary, who had no patience at all with her brother,
+and showed it. “He’s going West with the glee club.”
+
+“With the she club!” cried poor Aunt Mary, in affright.
+
+Mary explained.
+
+“I don’t like the idea,” said the old lady, shaking her head.
+“Somethin’ will be sure to happen. I can feel it runnin’ up and down my
+bones this minute.”
+
+“Oh, if he can get into trouble, of course, Jack will,” said Mary
+cheerfully.
+
+Aunt Mary didn’t hear her, because she didn’t raise her voice
+particularly. Besides, the old lady was absorbed for the nonce in the
+most dismal sort of prognostications.
+
+And they all came true, too. Something unfortunate beyond all
+expectations came to pass during the glee club’s visit to Chicago, and
+the result was that, before the new year was well out of its incubator
+Jack had papers in a breach-of-promise suit served on him. He wrote Mr.
+Stebbins that it was all a joke, and had merely been a portion of that
+foam which a train of youthful spirits are apt to leave in their wake;
+but the girl stood solid for her rights, and, as she had never heard
+from her fiancé since the night of the dance, her family—who were
+rural, but sharp—thought it would take at least fifteen thousand
+dollars to patch the crack in her heart. If the news could have been
+kept from Aunt Mary until after Mr. Stebbins had looked into the
+matter, everything might have resulted differently. But the Chicago
+lawyer who had the case took good care that the wealthy aunt knew all
+as quickly as possible, and it seemed as if this was the final straw
+under which the camel must succumb.
+
+And Aunt Mary did appear to waver.
+
+“Fifteen thousand dollars!” she cried, aghast. “Heaven help us! What
+next?”
+
+It was Lucinda who was seated calmly opposite at this crisis.
+
+“Do you suppose he really did it?” the aunt continued, after a minute
+of appalled consideration.
+
+“It’s about the only thing he ain’t never done,” the tried and true
+servant answered, her tone more gratingly penetrative than ever.
+
+Aunt Mary eyed her sharply, not to say furiously.
+
+“I wish you’d give a plain answer when I ask you a plain question,
+Lucinda,” she said coldly. “If you’d ever got a breach-of-promise suit
+in the early mail you’d know how I feel. Perhaps—probably.”
+
+“I ain’t a doubt but what he done it,” Lucinda screamed out; “an’ if I
+was her an’ he wouldn’t marry me after sayin’ he would I’d sue him for
+a hundred thousand, an’ think I let him off cheap then.”
+
+Aunt Mary deigned to smile faintly over the subtlety of this speech;
+but the next minute she was frowning blacker than ever.
+
+“A girl from Kalamazoo, too, just up in Chicago for a week—just up in
+Chicago long enough to come down on me for fifteen thousand dollars.”
+
+“Maybe she’ll take five thousand instead,” Lucinda remarked.
+
+“Maybe!” ejaculated her mistress, in fine scorn. “Maybe! Well, if you
+don’t talk as if money was sweet peas an’ would dry up if it wasn’t
+picked!”
+
+Lucinda screwed up her face.
+
+Aunt Mary gave her one awful look.
+
+“You get me some paper an’ my desk, Lucinda,” she said. “I think it’s
+about time I was takin’ a hand in it myself. I’ve been pretty patient,
+an’ I don’t see as it’s helped matters any. Now I’m goin’ to write that
+boy a letter that’ll settle him an’ his cats, an’ his cooks, an’ his
+cabmen, an’ his Kalamazoo, just once for all. I guess I can do what I
+set out to do. Pretty generally—most always.”
+
+Lucinda brought the desk, and Aunt Mary frowned fearfully and began to
+write the letter.
+
+It developed very strongly. As her pen sized up the situation in black
+and white, the old lady seemed to realize the iniquities of the case
+more and more plainly; and as the letter grew her wrath grew also. The
+whole came, in the end, to a threat—made in good earnest—to take a very
+serious step indeed if any more “foolishness” developed.
+
+Aunt Mary prided herself on her granite-like will. She had full faith
+in her ability to slay her nearest and dearest if it seemed right and
+best to do so.
+
+She sealed her letter tight, stuck the stamp on square and hard, and
+bid Lucinda convey it to Joshua and tell him never to quit it until he
+saw it safe on to the evening train.
+
+“She’s awful mad at him for sure, this time,” said Lucinda after she
+had delivered her message, and while Joshua was considering the front
+and back of the letter with a deliberateness born of long servitude.
+
+“I sh’d think she would be,” he said.
+
+As nearly all of Jack’s private difficulties were printed in every
+newspaper in America, Joshua naturally was on the inside of all their
+history.
+
+“She scrinched up her face just awful over that letter,” Lucinda
+continued. “I’m sure I wish he’d ’a’ been by to ’a’ taken warnin’.”
+
+“He ain’t got nothin’ to really fret over,” said Joshua serenely; “he
+knows it, ’n’ I know it, ’n’ you know it, too.”
+
+“You don’t know nothin’ of the sort,” said Lucinda. “She’s madder’n
+usual this time. She’s good an’ mad. You mark my words, if he goes off
+on a ’nother spree this spring he’ll get cut out o’ her will.”
+
+Joshua laughed.
+
+“You mark my words!” rasped Lucinda, shaking her finger in witchlike
+warning.
+
+Joshua laughed again.
+
+“Them laughs best what laughs last,” said Aunt Mary’s handmaiden. She
+turned away, and then returned to give Joshua a look that proved that
+the peppery mistress had inculcated some cayenne into the souls of
+those about her. “You mark my words—them laughs best what laughs last,
+an’ there’ll be little grinnin’ for him if he ain’t a chalk-walker for
+one while now.”
+
+Joshua laughed.
+
+But, as a matter of fact, Jack’s situation was suddenly become
+extremely precarious.
+
+“There ain’t no sense in it,” said Aunt Mary to herself, with an
+emphasis that screwed her face up until she looked quite like Lucinda;
+“that life those young men lead on their little vacations is to blame
+for everything. Cities are wells of iniquity; they’re full of all kinds
+of doin’s that respectable people wouldn’t be seen at, and I’m proud to
+say that I haven’t been in one myself for twenty-five years. I’m a
+great believer in keepin’ out of trouble, an’ if Jack’d just stuck to
+college an’ let towns go, he’d never have met the cabman and the
+Kalamazoo girl, an’ I’d have overlooked the cook an’ the cat. As it is,
+my patience is done. If he goes into one more scrape he’ll be done too.
+I mean what I say. So my young man had better take warnin’.
+Probably—most likely—pretty certainly.”
+
+
+
+
+Chapter Three
+Introducing Jack
+
+
+It has been previously stated that Aunt Mary’s nephew, Jack, was a
+scapegrace, and as delightful as scapegraces generally are. It goes
+without saying that he was good-looking; and of course he must have
+been jolly and pleasant or he wouldn’t have been so popular. As a
+matter of fact, Jack was very good-looking, unusually jolly, and
+uncommonly popular. He was one of the best liked men in each of the
+colleges which he had attended. There was something so winning about
+his smile and his eternal good humor that no one ever tried to dislike
+him; and if anyone ever had tried he or she would not have succeeded
+for very long. It is probably very unfortunate that the world is so
+full of this type of young man, but that which should cause us all to
+have infinite patience with them is the reflection of how much more
+unfortunate it would be if they were suddenly eliminated from the
+general scheme of things.
+
+Like all college boys, Jack had a chum. The chum was Robert Burnett,
+another charming young fellow of one-and-twenty, whose education had
+been so cosmopolitan in design and so patriotic in practice that he
+always said “Sacre bleu” and “Donnerwetter” when he thought of it, and
+“Great Scott” when he didn’t. He and Jack were as congenial a pair as
+ever existed, and they had just about as much in common as the aunt of
+the one and the father of the other had had to pay for.
+
+In the February of the year of which I write, Washington, celebrating
+his birthday as usual, gave all American students their usual chance to
+celebrate with him. Celebrations were temptations incarnate to Jack,
+and he was feeling frowningly what a clog Aunt Mary’s latest epistle
+was upon his joys, when his friend came to the rescue with an
+invitation to spend the double holiday (it doubled that year—Sunday,
+you know) at the brand-new ancestral castle which Burnett père had just
+finished building for his descendants. It may be imagined that Jack
+accepted the invitation with alacrity, and that his never-very-downcast
+heart bounded gleefully higher than usual over the prospect of two days
+of pleasure in the country.
+
+It is not necessary to state where the castle of the Burnetts was
+erected, but it was in a beautiful region, and the monthly magazines
+had written it up and called it an architectural triumph. The owner
+fully agreed with the monthly magazines, and his pride found vent in a
+house-warming which filled every guest chamber in the place.
+
+The festivities were in full swing before the youngest son and his
+friend arrived; and when the dog-cart, which brought them from the
+station, drew up under the mighty porte-cochère with its four stone
+lions, rampant in four different directions, Jack felt one of those
+delicious thrills which run through one under particularly hopeful and
+buoyant circumstances.
+
+“It’s like walking in a novel,” his friend said; as they entered under
+some heavy draperies which the footman pushed aside and found a tiny
+spiral staircase, which wound its way aloft in a style that Jack liked
+immensely and the latter agreed with all his heart.
+
+The staircase led them to the third floor and when they emerged
+therefrom they found themselves in a big semi-circular billiard room,
+with a fireplace at each end large enough to put one of the tables in,
+and cues and counters and stools and divans and smoking utensils
+sufficient for a regiment.
+
+“I tell you, this is the way to do things,” exclaimed Burnett; “isn’t
+it jolly? Time of your life, old man, time of your life!—And, oh, by
+the way,” he said, suddenly interrupting himself, “I wonder if my
+sister’s got here yet!”
+
+“Which sister?” Jack inquired; for his friend was one of a very large
+family, and he had met several of them on their various visits to town.
+
+“Betty—the one who beats all the others hollow,”—but just there the
+conversation was broken off by the servants coming up with the luggage
+and setting two doors open that showed them two big rooms, both
+exquisitely furnished, and both with windows that looked out, first on
+to a stone balustrade, and secondly on to a superb view over the river
+and the mountains beyond.
+
+The men unstrapped the things and went away, leaving such a plenitude
+of comfort behind them as led Jack to fling himself into the most
+luxurious chair in the room and stretch his arms and legs far and wide
+in utter contentment.
+
+Burnett was fishing for his key ring.
+
+“It’s a great old place, isn’t it?” he remarked parenthetically. “Great
+Scott! but I’ll bet we have fun these two days! And if my sister Betty
+is here—” He paused expressively.
+
+“Doesn’t she live at home?” Jack asked.
+
+“She’s just come home; she’s been in England for three years. Oh, but I
+tell you she’s a corker!”
+
+“I should think—”
+
+The sentence was never completed because a voice without the
+not-altogether-closed door cried:
+
+“No, don’t think, please; let me come in instead.” And in the same
+instant Burnett made one leap and flung the door open, crying as he did
+so:
+
+“Betty!”
+
+Then Jack, bunching somewhat his starfish attitude, looked across the
+room and realized instantly that it was all up with him forever after.
+
+Because—
+
+Because she who stood there in the door was quite the sweetest, the
+loveliest, the most interesting looking girl whom he had ever laid eyes
+on; and when she was seized in her brother’s arms, and kissed by her
+brother’s lips, and dragged by her brother’s hands well into the room,
+she proved to be a thousand times more irresistible than at first.
+
+“I say, Betty, you’re absolutely prettier than ever,” her brother
+exclaimed, holding her a little off from him and surveying her
+critically; and then he seemed to remember his friend’s existence, and,
+turning toward him, announced proudly:
+
+“My sister Bertha.”
+
+Jack was standing up now and thinking how lovely her eyes were just at
+that instant when they were meeting his for the first time, thinking
+much else too. Thinking that Monday was only two days away (hang it!);
+thinking that such a smile was never known before; thinking that he had
+_years_ ahead at college; thinking that the curl on her forehead was
+simply distracting (whereas all other like curls were horrid); thinking
+that he might cut college and—
+
+“My chum, Jack Denham,” Burnett continued, proving in the same instant
+how rapidly the mind may work since his friend had compassed his
+encyclopedia of sentiment and probability between the two halves of a
+formal introduction.
+
+“Oh, I’m very glad to meet you, Mr. Denham,” she said, putting out her
+hand—and he took and held it just long enough to realize that he really
+was holding it, before she took it away to keep for her own again.
+“I’ve often heard of you, and often wished I might know you.”
+
+“I’m awfully glad to hear you say that,” he said, “and if I should have
+the royal luck to be next to you at dinner, it doesn’t seem to me that
+I shall have the strength to keep from telling you why.”
+
+She clapped her hands at this, just as a very little girl might have
+done.
+
+“If that is so, I hope that they will put you next to me at dinner,”
+she said gayly; “but if they don’t, you’ll tell me some other time,
+won’t you? I’m always _so_ interested in what people have to tell me
+about myself.”
+
+Burnett began to laugh.
+
+“Jack,” he said, “I see that we’d better have a clear and above-board
+understanding right in the beginning and so I’ll just tell you that
+this sister of mine, who appears so guileless, is the very worst flirt
+ever. She looks honest, but she can’t tell the truth to save her neck.
+She means well, but she drives folks to suicide just for fun. She’d do
+anything for anybody in general, but when it’s a case of you
+individually she won’t do a thing to you, and you must heed my words
+and be forewarned and forearmed from now on. Mustn’t he, Betty?”
+
+At this the sister laughed, nodding quite as gayly as if it were a
+laughing matter, instead of the opening move in a possibly
+serious—tremendously serious—game of life.
+
+“It’s awful to have to subscribe to,” she said, with dancing eyes; “but
+I’m afraid it’s true. I’m really quite a reprobate, and I admit it
+frankly. And everyone is so good to me that I never get a chance to
+reform. And so—and so—”
+
+“But then, I suppose I ought to warn her about you, too,” said Burnett,
+turning suddenly toward his friend. “It isn’t fair to show her up and
+not show you up, you know. And really, Betty, he’s almost as bad as you
+are yourself. I may tell you in confidence—in strict confidence (for
+it’s only been in a few newspapers)—that he hasn’t got his
+breach-of-promise suit all compromised yet. Ask him to deny it, if he
+can!”
+
+The sister looked suddenly startled and curious and Jack felt himself
+to be blushing desperately.
+
+“I don’t look as if he was lying, do I?” he asked smiling; “be honest
+now, for you can see that Burnett and I both are.”
+
+“No, you don’t,” she said. “You look as if it was a very true bill.”
+
+“It is,” he said; “and it’s going to be an awfully big one, too, I’m
+afraid.”
+
+“I wouldn’t have thought you were such a bad man,” said the sister ever
+so sweetly; “but I like bad men. They interest me. They—”
+
+“There!—I see your finish,” said Burnett. “That’s one of her favorite
+opening plays. It’s all up with you, Jack, and your aunt will have to
+to go down for another damage suit when you begin to perceive that you
+have had enough of our family. But you’ll have to get out now, Betty,
+and let him get dressed for dinner. You needn’t cry about it either for
+he’s even more attractive in his glad rags than he is in his railway
+dust—my word of honor on it.”
+
+“I look nice myself when I’m dinner-dressed,” said the sister, “so I
+sympathize with him and I’ll go with pleasure. Good-bye.”
+
+She sort of backed toward the door and Jack sprang to open it for her.
+
+“You can kiss her hand, if you like,” Burnett said kindly. “They do in
+Germany, you know. I don’t mind and mamma needn’t know.”
+
+“May I?” Jack asked her; and then he caught her eye over her brother’s
+bent head and added, so quickly that there was hardly any break at all
+between the words: “Some other time?”
+
+“Some other time,” she said, with a world of meaning in the promise;
+and then she flashed one wonderful look straight into his eyes and was
+gone.
+
+“Isn’t she great?” Burnett asked, unlocking his suit-case in the most
+provokingly every-day style, as if this day was an every-day sort of
+day and not the beginning and end of all things. “Oh, I tell you, I’m
+almost dotty over that sister myself.”
+
+“Do you suppose that I could manage to have her for dinner?” Jack
+asked, feeling desperately how dull any other place at the table would
+be now.
+
+“I don’t know. When I go down to my mother I’ll try to manage it; shall
+I?”
+
+“I wish you would.”
+
+“I reckon I can; but, great loads of fire, fellow! don’t think you can
+play tag with her, and feel funny at the finish. She’ll do you up
+completely, and never turn a hair herself. She’s always at it. She
+don’t mean to be cruel, but she’s naturally a carnivorous animal. It’s
+her little way.”
+
+Jack did not look as dismal as he should have done; he smiled, and
+looked out of the window instead.
+
+“She’ll have to marry someone some day, you know,” he said
+thoughtfully.
+
+“Have to marry someone some day!” Burnett cried. “Why, she is married.
+Didn’t you know that?” and he unbuckled the shirt portfolio as he spoke
+just as if calamities and tragedies and shooting stars might not follow
+on the heels of such a simple statement as that last.
+
+It was an awful moment, but poor Jack did manage to continue looking
+out of the window. If any greater demand had been made upon him he
+might have sunk beneath the double weight.
+
+“No,” he said at last, his voice painfully steady; “I didn’t know it.”
+
+Burnett laughed heartlessly, hauling forth his apparel with a refined
+cruelty which took careful heed of possible interfolded shoes or
+cravats.
+
+“She married an Englishman when she was nineteen years old,” he said.
+“That was when they sent me to Eton that little while,—until I drove
+the horse through the drug shop. The time I told you about, don’t you
+know?”
+
+“Yes, I remember,” said Jack. He observed with sickening distinctness
+that the night had begun to fall, the river’s silver ribbon had become
+a black snake, and that the mountain range beyond loomed chill and dark
+and cheerless. “I guess I ought to be getting into my things,” he said,
+moving toward his own door.
+
+“There’s a bath in here,” his friend called after him. “We’re to divide
+it.”
+
+“Sure,” was the reply. It sounded a trifle thick.
+
+“I don’t think that she ought to,” said the brother to himself, as he
+began to draw out his stick-pin before the mirror, “I don’t care if she
+is my favorite sister—I don’t think that she ought to.”
+
+Then he went on to make ready for the securing of his half of the bath,
+and forthwith forgot his sister and his friend.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter Four
+Married
+
+
+It was almost like a scene at a ball, the great white-and-gold music
+room before dinner that night. The Burnett family proper numbered
+fifteen among themselves, and there were nearly thirty guests added. It
+was entirely too large a house party to have handled successfully for
+very long, but it would be most awfully jolly for three or four days;
+and now, when the whole crowd were gathered waiting for dinner, the
+picture was one of such bubbling joy that Jack’s very heavy heart
+seemed to himself to be terribly out of place there and he wondered
+whether he should be able to put up even a fairly presentable front
+during the endless hours that must ensue before the time for breaking
+up arrived.
+
+Burnett took him all around and introduced him to people in general,
+and people in general seemed to him to merely bring the fact of her
+pre-eminence more vividly than ever before his mind. He found himself
+looking everywhere but at them too, and listening with an acutely
+sensitive ear for sounds quite other than those of their various lips.
+But eternal disappointment rewarded his eyes and ears. She was nowhere.
+
+So he talked blindly about nothing to all the nobodies and laughed
+stupidly over all their stupidities until—suddenly and without any
+warning—a fearful jump in his throat sent the mercury in his
+constitution shooting up to 160, and he saw, heard, felt, gasped, and
+knew, that that radiant angel in silver tissue who had just entered the
+farther end of the room was indubitably Herself.
+
+(Married!)
+
+He quite forgot who, what and where he was. There was a somebody
+talking to him—a very awful and bony young lady, but she faded so
+completely out of the general scheme of his immediate present that all
+the use he made of her was to stare over her head at the distant
+apparition that was become, now and forever, his All in All. The
+distant apparition had not lied when she had told him up in her
+brother’s room that she too, looked “nice” when dressed for dinner.
+Only the word “nice” was as watered milk to the champagne of her
+appearance. She was gowned superbly and her throat and arms were half
+bared by the folds of silvered lace; her hair fitted into the back of
+her neck in the smoothest mass of puffs and coils, and the curl on her
+forehead was more distracting than ever.
+
+(Married!)
+
+She seemed to be speaking to everyone, and everyone seemed to be
+crowding around her. He couldn’t go up like everyone else, because the
+awful and bony young lady was talking hard at him and heightened her
+charms with a smile that took up two-fifths of her face, and wrinkled
+all the rest.
+
+Her name was Lome—Maude Lome. He knew that she must be a relative
+without being told, because otherwise she wouldn’t have been invited at
+all. Anyone could divine that.
+
+“Oh, isn’t dear Betty just lovely?” this fearful freak said. “I think
+she’s just too lovely for anything! She’s my cousin, you know; we’re
+often mistaken for one another.”
+
+“I can well believe it,” said Jack, heavily, not ceasing to stare
+beyond as he said it.
+
+(Married!)
+
+“Oh, you’re flattering me! Because she’s ever so much prettier than I
+am, and I know it.”
+
+He didn’t reply. It had suddenly come over him to wonder whether there
+ever had been an authentic case of heartbreak. Because he had the most
+terrible ache right in his left side!
+
+(Married! Married!)
+
+“But, then,” Miss Lome continued, “I’m younger than she is. Her being
+married makes her seem young, but she’s really twenty-four. I’m only
+twenty.”
+
+He shut his eyes, and then opened them. He wished he hadn’t come here,
+and then grew shivery to think that he might have happened not to; and
+all the while that awful twisting and wrenching at his heart was
+getting worse and worse.
+
+(Married! Married! Married!)
+
+Burnett came up just then with a man wearing a monocle and presented
+him to Denham, and forthwith handed the bony cousin to his
+safe-keeping.
+
+“She’s a great pill, isn’t she?” he began, as the couple moved away;
+and then he stopped short. “What’s the matter?” he asked. “Sick?”
+
+“I hope not,” said Jack, trying to smile.
+
+“You look hipped,” his friend said anxiously. “Better go get a bracer;
+you’ll have time if you hurry. You can’t be sick before dinner, because
+I’ve been moving all the cards around so as to get Betty next to you,
+and I could never get them back as they were before if you gave out at
+the last minute.”
+
+“I don’t believe I’m ill,” said Jack, trying to realize whether the
+news that she was to be his (for dinner) made him feel any better or
+only just about the same. “I don’t know what ails me. Do I look seedy?”
+
+“You look sort of knocked out, that’s all,” said Burnett. “Perhaps,
+though, it was just the having to talk to my cousin Maude so long.
+Isn’t she the limit, though? But I’ll tell you the one big thing about
+that girl: She’s just the biggest kind of a catch. She was my uncle’s
+eldest child; she’s worth twelve times what any of us ever will be.”
+
+“I’m sure she’ll need it,” said Jack heartily.
+
+“You’re right there,” laughed his friend; “but you’ve got to hurry and
+get your brandy now if you want it, because they’ll be going out in a
+minute.”
+
+“Oh, I’m all right,” said the poor chap, straightening his shoulders
+back a little. “I can make out well enough, I’m sure. I think I’d
+better go over by your sister and let her know that I’m ready when the
+hour of need shall strike.”
+
+Burnet nodded and then he went on and his friend walked down the room,
+no one but himself knowing that he was making his way into the lion’s
+(or, rather, lioness’s) den.
+
+And then he paused there beside her. Oh! she Was seven million times
+lovelier close to than far away. All the rot about Venus and statues
+and paintings and Helen of Troy was nowhere beside Her and he felt his
+strength come surging mightily upward and then—oh Heavens!
+
+She looked up—looked so sweetly up—right into his eyes and smiled.
+
+“I expect you are to take me into dinner,” she said; and at her words
+the man who had been talking to her murmured something meaningless and
+got out of their way.
+
+“I believe so,” he said.
+
+She rose and he noticed that the top of her head was just level with
+his coat lapel. He wondered, with a miserable pang, where she came to
+on her husband’s coat and with the wonder his surging strength surged
+suddenly out to sea again and left him feeling like Samson when he
+awoke to the realization of his haircut.
+
+“Dinner’s very late,” she said, quite as if life presented no problem
+whatever; “you see, it’s the first big company in the house. We were
+only seventeen last night, and to-night we’re forty-five. It makes a
+difference.”
+
+“I can imagine so,” he said. He was suddenly acutely aware of feeling
+very awkward, and of finding her different—quite different from what
+she had seemed up in her brother’s room.
+
+“What is it?” she asked after a minute, looking up at him; and then she
+showed that she was conscious of the change, for she added: “Something
+has happened; Bob has been saying mean things about me to you?”
+
+“Yes, he did tell me something,” he admitted; and just then the butler
+announced dinner.
+
+“What did he tell you?” she asked, as they moved away. “How could he
+say anything worse than what he said before me?”
+
+“He told me something that was worse—much worse.”
+
+She looked troubled and as if she did not understand.
+
+“But he said that I was a flirt, and that I couldn’t speak the truth,
+and that I drove people—”
+
+“Yes, I remember all that; but this was infinitely worse.”
+
+“Infinitely worse!”
+
+“Yes.”
+
+She stopped in an angle where the big room dwindled into a narrow
+gallery, and stared astonished.
+
+“I can’t at all understand,” she said.
+
+“No, you can’t,” he said, “and I can’t tell you—I mustn’t tell you—how
+terrible it is to me to look at you and think of what he told me.”
+
+After a second she went on again and presently they entered the
+dining-room. The confusion of rustling skirts and sliding chairs quite
+covered their speech for a moment and made them seem almost alone. Her
+hand had been resting on his arm and now she drew it out, looking up at
+him again as she did so. Her eyes had a premonitory mist over them.
+
+“For Heaven’s sake,” she said very earnestly, “tell me what he said?”
+
+He was silent.
+
+“Tell me,” she pleaded.
+
+He was still silent.
+
+“Tell me,” she said imperiously.
+
+He continued silent. They sat down.
+
+“Mr. Denham,” she said, as she took up her napkin, and her voice grew
+very low, and yet he heard, “I don’t think that we can pretend to be
+joking any longer. You are my brother’s friend, and I am a married
+woman. Please treat me as you should.”
+
+“That’s just it,” said Jack; “that’s all there is to it. It wouldn’t
+have amounted to anything except for that—or perhaps, if it hadn’t been
+for that, it might have amounted to a great deal.”
+
+“If it hadn’t been for what?”
+
+“For your being married.”
+
+She quite started in her seat.
+
+“What do you mean?”
+
+“You see I never knew it before.”
+
+“You never knew what before?”
+
+“That you were married.”
+
+“Until when?”
+
+“Until after you went out of the room to-night.”
+
+The men were putting the clams around. She seemed to reflect. And then
+she peppered and salted them before she spoke.
+
+“Bob is very wrong to talk so,” she said at last, picking up her fork,
+“when you’re his friend, too.”
+
+He poked his clams—he hated clams.
+
+“I suppose men think it’s amusing to do such things,” she continued,
+“but I think it’s as ill-bred as practical joking.”
+
+“But you are married,” he said, trying fiercely to pepper some taste
+into the tasteless things before him.
+
+“Yes, I’m married,” she admitted tranquilly, “but, then, my husband
+went to Africa so soon afterwards that he hardly seemed to count at
+all. And then he was killed there; so, after that, he seemed to count
+less than ever.”
+
+The air danced exclamation points and the man on the other side spoke
+to her then so that her turning to answer him gave Jack time to rally
+his wits.
+
+(A widow!)
+
+Then she turned back and said:
+
+“I think Bob mystified you unnecessarily. Of course I don’t flatter
+myself that you’ve suffered.”
+
+“Oh, but I have,” he hastened to assure her.
+
+(A widow! A widow!)
+
+“But it always makes a difference whether a woman is married or not.”
+
+“I should say it did,” he interrupted again. “It makes all the
+difference in the world.”
+
+At that she laughed outright, and someone suddenly abstracted the
+distasteful clams and substituted for them a golden and glorious soup,
+and music sounded forth from some invisible quartet, and—and—
+
+(A widow! A widow! A widow!)
+
+
+
+
+Chapter Five
+The Day After Falling in Love
+
+
+The next day was a very memorable day for Jack. The day after a falling
+in love is always a red-letter day; but the day after _the_ falling in
+love—ah!
+
+One looks back—far back—to the day before, and those hours of the day
+before, when her sun had not yet dawned, and struggles to recollect
+what ends life could have represented then. And one looks forward to
+the next day, the next week, the next year—but, particularly to the
+next morning with sensations as indescribable as they are delightful.
+
+Whichever way you tip it, the kaleidoscope of the future arranges
+itself in equally attractive shapes of rainbow hue, and the prospect
+over land or sea—even if it is raining—looks brilliant green, and
+brighter red, and brightest yellow.
+
+Upon that glorious “next day” of Jack’s the weather was quite a thing
+apart for February—partaking of the warmth of May, and owing that fact
+to a sun which early June need not have scorned to own. Under the
+circumstances the house party overflowed the house and ravaged the
+surrounding country, and Jack and Mrs. Rosscott began it all by having
+the highest cart and the fastest cob in the stables and making for the
+forest just as the clock was tolling ten.
+
+“Do you want a groom?” asked Burnett, who was occasionally very cruel.
+
+“Well, I’m not going to wait for him to get ready now,” replied his
+sister, who had sharp wits and did not disdain to give even her own
+family the benefit of them.
+
+Then she gathered up the reins and whip in a most scientific manner,
+and they were off. Jack folded his arms. He was simply flooded,
+drenched, and saturated with joy. The evening before had been Elysium
+when she had only been his now and again for a minute’s conversation,
+but now she was to be his and his alone until—until they came back—and
+his mind seemed able to grasp no dearer outlines of the form which
+Bliss Incarnate may be supposed to take. He didn’t care where they went
+or what they saw or what they talked of, just if only he and she might
+be going, seeing, and talking for the benefit of one another and of one
+another alone.
+
+They bowled away upon a firm, hard road that skirted the park, and then
+plunged deeply into the forest. Mrs. Rosscott handled the reins and the
+whip with the hands of an expert.
+
+“I like to drive,” said she.
+
+“You appear to,” he answered.
+
+“I like to do everything,” she said. “I’m very athletic and energetic.”
+
+“I’m glad of that,” he told her warmly. “I like athletic girls.”
+
+He really thought that he was speaking the truth, although upon that
+first day if she had declared herself lazy and languid he would have
+found her equally to his taste—because it was the first day.
+
+“That’s kind of you, after my speech,” she said smiling, “but let’s
+wait a bit before we begin to talk about me. Let us talk about you
+first—you’re the company, you know.”
+
+“But there’s nothing to tell about me,” said Jack, “except that I’m
+always in difficulties—financial—or otherwise,—oftenest ‘otherwise,’ I
+must confess.”
+
+“But you have a rich aunt, haven’t you?” said Mrs. Rosscott. “I thought
+that I had heard about your aunt.”
+
+“Oh, yes, I have a rich aunt,” Jack said, laughing, “and I can assure
+you that if I am not much credit to my aunt, my aunt is the greatest
+possible credit to me.”
+
+“Yes, I’ve heard that, too,” said Mrs. Rosscott, joining in the laugh,
+“you see I’m well posted.”
+
+“If you’re so well posted as to me,” Jack said, “do be kind and post me
+a little as to yourself. You don’t need information and I do.”
+
+She turned and looked at him.
+
+“What shall I tell you first?” she inquired.
+
+“Tell me what you like and what you don’t like—and that will give me
+courage to do the same later,” he added boldly.
+
+She laughed outright at that and then sobered quickly.
+
+“I told you that I liked to drive and to do everything,” she said
+lightly; “what else do you want to know about?”
+
+“What you dislike.”
+
+“But I don’t know of anything that I dislike;” she said
+thoughtfully—“perhaps I don’t like England; I am not sure, though. I
+had a pretty good time there after all—only you know, being in mourning
+was so stupid. And then, too, I didn’t fit into their ideas. I really
+didn’t seem to get the true inwardness of what was expected of me. Oh,
+I never dared let them know at home what a failure I was as an
+Englishwoman. I mortified my husband’s sisters all the time. Just
+think—after a whole year I often forgot to say ‘Fancy now!’ and used to
+say ‘Good gracious!’ instead.”
+
+Jack laughed.
+
+“My husband’s sisters were very unhappy about it. They did want to love
+me, because I had so much money; but it was tough work for them. Did
+you ever know any middle-aged English young ladies?” she asked him
+suddenly.
+
+“No, I never did,” he said.
+
+“Really, they seem to be a thing apart that can’t grow anywhere but in
+England. Every married man has not less than two, nor more than three,
+and they always are a little gray and embroider very nicely. Someone
+told me that as long as there’s any hope they wear stout boots and walk
+about and hunt, but as soon as it’s hopeless they take to
+embroidering.”
+
+“It must be rather a blue day for them when they decide definitely to
+make the change,” said Jack.
+
+“I never thought of that,” said Mrs. Rosscott soberly. “Of course it
+must! I was always very good to them. I gave them ever so many things
+that I could have used longer myself, and they used to set pieces of
+muslin in behind the open-work places and wear them.”
+
+She sighed.
+
+“It’s quite as bad as being a Girton girl,” she said. “Do you know what
+a Girton girl is?”
+
+“No, I don’t.”
+
+“It’s a girl from Girton College. It’s the most awful freak you ever
+saw. They’re really quite beyond everything. They’re so homely, and
+their hands and feet are so enormous, and their pins never pin, and
+their belts never belt. And no one has ever married one of them yet!”
+
+She paused dramatically.
+
+“I won’t either, then,” he declared.
+
+She laughed at that, and touched up the cob a trifle.
+
+“Did you live long in England?” he asked.
+
+“Forever!” she answered with emphasis; “at least it seemed like
+forever. Mamma left me there when I was nineteen (she married me off
+before she left me, of course) and I stayed there until last
+winter—until I was out of my mourning, you know—and then I was on the
+Continent for a while, and then I returned to papa.”
+
+“How do we strike you after your long absence?”
+
+“Oh, you suit me admirably,” she said, turning and smiling squarely
+into his face; “only the terrible ‘and’ of the majority does get on my
+nerves somewhat.”
+
+“What ‘and’?”
+
+“Haven’t you noticed? Why when an American runs out of talking material
+he just rests on one poor little ‘and’ until a fresh run of thought
+overwhelms him; you listen to the next person you’re talking with, and
+you’ll hear what I mean.”
+
+Jack reflected.
+
+“I will,” he said at last.
+
+The road went sweeping in and out among a thicket of bare tree trunks
+and brown copses, and the sunlight fell out of the blue sky above
+straight down upon their heads.
+
+“If it don’t annoy you, my referring to England so often,” said she
+presently, “I will state that this reminds me of Kaysmere, the country
+place of my father-in-law.”
+
+“Is your father-in-law living yet?”
+
+“Dear me, yes—and still has hold of the title that I supposed I was
+getting when I was married to his eldest son. My father-in-law is a
+particularly healthy old gentleman of eighty. He was forty years old
+when he married. He didn’t expect to marry, you know—he couldn’t see
+his way to ever affording it. But he jumped into the title suddenly and
+then, of course, he married right away. He had to. You’d know what a
+hurry he must have been in to look at my mamma-in-law’s portrait.”
+
+“Was she so very beautiful?”
+
+“No; she was so very homely. Maude’s very like her.”
+
+Jack laughed.
+
+She laughed, too.
+
+“Aren’t we happy together?” she asked.
+
+“My sky knows but one cloud,” he rejoined, “and that is that Monday
+comes after Sunday.”
+
+“But we shall meet again,” said Mrs. Rosscott. “Because,” she added
+mischievously, “I don’t suppose that it’s on account of my cousin Maude
+that you rebel at the approach of Monday.”
+
+“No,” said Jack. “It may not be polite to say so to you, but I wasn’t
+in the least thinking of your cousin.”
+
+“Poor girl!” said Mrs. Rosscott thoughtfully; “and she was so sweet to
+you, too. Mustn’t it be terrible to have a face like that?”
+
+“It must indeed,” said Jack; “I can think of but one thing worse.”
+
+“What?”
+
+“To marry a face like that.”
+
+She laughed again.
+
+“You’re cruel,” she declared; “after all her face isn’t her fortune, so
+what does it matter?”
+
+“It doesn’t matter at all to me,” said Jack. “I know of very few things
+that can matter less to me than Miss Lorne’s face.”
+
+“Now, you’re cruel again; and she was so nice to you too. Absolutely, I
+don’t believe that the edges of her smile came together once while she
+was talking to you last night.”
+
+“Did you spy on us to that extent?” said Jack. “I wouldn’t have
+believed it of you.”
+
+“Oh, I’m very awful,” she said airily. “You’ll be more surprised the
+farther you penetrate into the wilderness of my ways.”
+
+“And when will I have a chance to plunge into the jungle, do you
+think?”
+
+“Any Saturday or Sunday that you happen to be in town.”
+
+“Are you going to live in town?”
+
+“For a while. I’ve taken a house until the beginning of July. I expect
+some friends over, and I want to entertain them.”
+
+Jack felt the sky above become refulgent. He was in the habit of
+spending every Saturday night in the city—he and Burnett together.
+
+“May I come as often as I like?” he asked.
+
+“Certainly,” said she; “because you know if you should come too often I
+can tell the man at the door to say I’m ‘not at home’ to you.”
+
+“But if he ever says: ‘She’s not at home to you,’ I shall walk right in
+and fall upon the man that you are being at home to just then.”
+
+“But he is a very large man,” said Mrs. Rosscott seriously; “he’s
+larger than you are, I think.”
+
+Jack felt the blue heavens breaking up into thunderbolts for his head
+at _this_ speech.
+
+“But I’m way over six feet,” he said, his heart going heavily faster,
+even while he told himself that he might have known it, anyhow.
+
+“He’s all of six feet two,” she said meditatively. “I do believe he’s
+even taller. I remember liking him at the first glance, just because he
+struck me as so royal looking.”
+
+He was miserably conscious of acute distress.
+
+“Do—do you mind my smoking?” he stammered.
+
+(Might have known that, of course, there was bound to be someone like
+that.)
+
+“Not at all,” she rejoined amiably. “I like the odor of cigarettes.
+Shall I stop a little, while you set yourself afire?”
+
+“It isn’t necessary,” he said. “I can set myself afire under any
+circumstances.”
+
+He lit a cigarette.
+
+“Is he English?” he couldn’t help asking then.
+
+“Yes,” she said; “I like the English.”
+
+“You appear to like everything to-day.” He did not intend to seem
+bitter, but he did it unintentionally.
+
+(Confounded luck some fellows have.)
+
+“I do. I’m very well content to-day.”
+
+He was silent, thinking.
+
+“Well,” she queried, after a while.
+
+He pulled himself together with an effort.
+
+“I think perhaps it’s just as well,” he said.
+
+“What is just as well?”
+
+“That I know.”
+
+“Know what?”
+
+“About him. I shan’t ever take the chances of calling on you now.”
+
+She laughed.
+
+“He wouldn’t put you out unless I told him to,” she said. “You needn’t
+be too afraid of him, you know.”
+
+His face grew a trifle flushed.
+
+“I’m not afraid,” he said, as coldly as it was in him to speak; “but
+I’ll leave him the field.”
+
+She turned and looked at him.
+
+“The field?” she asked, with puzzled eyebrows.
+
+“Yes.”
+
+Then she frowned for an instant, and then a species of thought-ray
+suddenly flew across her face and she burst out laughing.
+
+“Why, I do believe,” she cried merrily, “I do believe you’re jealous of
+the man at the door.”
+
+“Weren’t you speaking of a man in the drawing-room?” he asked, all her
+phrases recurring to his mind together.
+
+“No,” she said laughing; “I was speaking of my footman. Oh, you are so
+funny.”
+
+The way the sun shone suddenly again! His horizon glowed so madly that
+he quite lost his head and leaning quickly downward seized her hand in
+its little tan driving glove of stitched dogskin, and kissed it—reins
+and all.
+
+“I’m not funny,” he said, “it was the most natural thing in the world.”
+
+She was laughing, but she curbed it.
+
+“You’d better not be foolish,” she said warningly. “It don’t mix well
+with college.”
+
+“I’m thinking of cutting college,” he declared boldly.
+
+“Don’t let us decide on anything definite until we’ve known one another
+twenty-four hours,” she said, looking at him with a gravity that was
+almost maternal; and then she turned the horse’s head toward home.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter Six
+The Other Man
+
+
+That evening Burnett felt it necessary to give his friend a word of
+warning.
+
+“Holloway’s going to take Betty in to-night,” he said, as they
+descended the tower stairs together.
+
+“Who’s Holloway?” Jack asked.
+
+“You can’t expect to have her all the time, you know,” Burnett
+continued: “She’s really one of the biggest guns here, even if she is
+one of the family.”
+
+“Who’s Holloway?”
+
+“Last night the _mater_ had her all mapped out for General Jiggs, and I
+had an awful time getting her off his hook and on to yours, and then
+you drove her all this morning and walked her all the afternoon, and
+the old lady says she’s got to play in Holloway’s yard to-night—jus’
+lil’ bit, you know.”
+
+“Who’s Holloway?” Jack demanded.
+
+“You know Horace Holloway; we were up at his place once for the night.
+Don’t you remember?”
+
+“I remember his place well enough; but he hadn’t got in when we came,
+and hadn’t got up when we left, so his features aren’t as distinctly
+imprinted on my memory as they might be.”
+
+“That’s so,” said Burnett, pushing aside the curtains that concealed
+the foot of the wee stair; “I’d forgotten. Well, you’ll meet him
+to-night, anyhow; he came on the five-five. Holly’s a nice fellow, only
+he’s so darned over-full of good advice that he keeps you feeling
+withersome.”
+
+Jack laughed.
+
+“Did he ever give you any advice?” he asked.
+
+“Why?”
+
+“I don’t recollect your taking it.”
+
+“I never take anything,” said Burnett; “I consider it more blessed to
+give than to receive—as regards good advice anyhow.”
+
+“Who will I have for dinner?” Jack asked presently, glancing around to
+see if there were any silver tissues or distracting curls in sight.
+
+“Well,” his friend replied, rather hesitatingly, “you must expect to
+balance up for last night, I reckon.”
+
+“Your cousin, I suppose!”
+
+Burnett nodded.
+
+“She wanted you,” he said. “She’s taken a fancy to you; and she can
+afford to marry for love,” he added.
+
+“I’m thankful that I can, too,” the other answered fervently.
+
+His friend laughed at the fervor.
+
+“You make me think of her teacher,” he said. “She sings, and when she
+was sixteen she meant to outrank Patti; she was lots homelier then.”
+
+“Oh, I say!” Jack cried. “I can believe ’most anything, but—”
+
+Burnett laughed and then sobered.
+
+“She was,” he said solemnly; “she really and truly was. And her mother
+said to her teacher,—there in Dresden: ‘She will be the greatest
+soprano, won’t she?’ And he said: ‘Madame, she has only that one
+chance—to be _the_ greatest.’”
+
+Jack laughed.
+
+“But why ‘Lorne’?” he asked suddenly. “Why not ‘Burnett,’ since she’s
+your uncle’s child?”
+
+“Oh, that’s straight enough; there’s a hyphen there. My uncle died and
+my aunt married a title. My aunt’s Lady Chiheleywicks, but the family
+name is Lorne. And you pronounce my aunt’s name Chix.”
+
+“I’m glad I know,” said Jack.
+
+“Oh, we’re great on titles,” said Burnett, modestly. “If the Boers
+hadn’t killed Col. Rosscott, Betty would have been a Lady, too, some
+day. But as it is—” he added thoughtfully, “she’s nothing but a widow.”
+
+“‘Nothing but’!” Jack cried indignantly.
+
+“Oh, well,” said Burnett, “of course it’s great, her being a widow—but
+then she’d have been great the other way too.”
+
+“But if he was English and a colonel,” Jack said suddenly, “he must
+have been all of—”
+
+“Fifty!” interposed Burnett; “oh, he was! Maybe more, but he dyed his
+hair. It was a splendid match for her. It isn’t every girl who can get
+a—”
+
+Their conversation was suddenly cut short by voices, accompanied by a
+sort of sweet and silky storm of little rustles and the sound of
+feet—little feet—coming down the great hall. Aunt Mary’s nephew felt
+himself suddenly wondering if any other fellow present had such a
+tempest within his bosom as he himself was conscious of attempting to
+regulate unperceived.
+
+And then, after all, she wasn’t among the influx! Miss Maude, was,
+though, and he had to go up to her and talk to her; and terribly dull
+hard labor it was.
+
+While he was rolling the Sisyphus stone of conversation uphill for the
+sixth or seventh time, Jack noticed a gentleman pass by and throw a
+more than ordinarily interesting glance their way. He was a very
+well-built, fairly good-sized man of thirty-five or forty years, with a
+handsome, uninteresting face and heavy, sleepy dark eyes.
+
+“Who is that?” he asked of his companion, his curiosity supplementing
+his wish that she would begin to bear her share of the burden of her
+entertainment.
+
+“Don’t you know?” she said in surprise. “That’s Mr. Holloway. He’s just
+come. Oh, he’s so horrid! I think he’s just too awfully horrid for any
+use.”
+
+“Why?”
+
+“Because he does such mean things. I just know Bob must have told you
+how he treated me. Bob’s always telling it. Surely he’s told you. It’s
+his favorite story.”
+
+“No, never,” said Jack (his eyes riveted on the staircase); “he never
+told me. But do tell me. I’ll enjoy hearing your side of it.”
+
+“But I haven’t any side. It’s just Horace Holloway’s meanness. There’s
+nothing funny.”
+
+“But tell me anyway.”
+
+“Do you really want to hear?”
+
+“Indeed, I do.”
+
+“Well, it’s just that we were up in the mountains, and I was rowing
+myself, and the boat didn’t go well, and Mr. Holloway came down off the
+hotel piazza and called to me that she needed ballast, and—and I said:
+‘Is that the trouble?’ And he said: ‘Yes, row ashore, and I’ll ballast
+you.’ And so, of course I rowed ashore to get him, and (of course, I
+supposed he meant himself), and when I was up by the dock he picked up
+a great stone and dropped it in, and shoved me off, and called after
+me: ‘She’ll go better now,’ and—everyone laughed!”
+
+Miss Lome stopped, breathless.
+
+“I never would have believed it of him,” Jack exclaimed, turning to see
+where Holloway kept his sense of humor; but just as his eye fell upon
+the latter, the latter’s eyes altered and suddenly became so bright and
+intent that his observer involuntarily turned his own gaze quickly in
+the same direction.
+
+It was Mrs. Rosscott who was approaching, all in cerise with lines of
+Chantilly lace sweeping about her. It seemed a cruelty to every woman
+present that she should be so beautiful. Jack wanted to fly and fall at
+her feet, but he couldn’t, of course—he was tied to her hyphenated
+cousin.
+
+But Holloway went forward and greeted her with all possible
+_empressement_, and the man who was so much his junior felt an awful
+weight of youth upon him as he saw her led out of his sight.
+
+“I think dear Betty will marry Mr. Holloway,” her cousin chirped
+blandly, thus settling her fate forever. “He came over in her party,
+you know, and—she’s always been fond of him.”
+
+Jack suddenly recollected how Mrs. Rosscott had commented on the
+terrible tendency to land upon “and,” and wondered why he had never
+noticed before how disagreeable said tendency was.
+
+(Going to marry Holloway!)
+
+“But, then, dear Cousin Betty’s such a coquette that no one can ever
+tell whom she does like. She’s very insincere.”
+
+Jack twisted uneasily. If there was any comfort to be derived from Miss
+Lorne’s last speech, it was certainly of a most chilly sort.
+
+(Probably going to marry Holloway!)
+
+“Now, I think it’s too bad, when there are so many simple, sweet girls
+in the world, that men seem to adore those that flirt like dear Cousin
+Betty. I don’t approve of flirting anyway. I wouldn’t flirt for
+anything. I don’t want to break men’s hearts.”
+
+“That’s awfully good of you,” Jack said, looking eagerly to where
+Holloway and Mrs. Rosscott stood together.
+
+“Oh, no it isn’t,” said Miss Lorne, “I don’t take any credit for it—I
+was born so. Dear Betty was a regular flirt when she was ever so small,
+but I never was. I’m sincere and I can’t take any credit for it. I was
+born so.”
+
+Holloway was talking and Mrs. Rosscott’s eyes were uplifted to his.
+Jack was sure there was adoration in them. He knew Holloway was in love
+with her. How could he be a man and help it. Oh, it was
+damnable—unbearable.
+
+He stood up suddenly. He couldn’t help it. He was crazed, maddened,
+choked, stifled. The fates must intervene and rescue his reason or
+else—
+
+There was a blessed sound—the announcing of dinner.
+
+
+Later there was music in the great white salon where the organ was.
+Maude Lome sang, and the man with the monocle accompanied her on the
+organ. Mrs. Rosscott sat on a divan between Holloway and General Jiggs.
+Jack was left out in the cold.
+
+(Surely in love with Holloway!)
+
+It was only twenty-six hours since he had first met her, and he hated
+to consider his life as unalterably blasted, or to even give up the
+fight. Nevertheless, whenever he looked across the room he saw fresh
+signs of the most awful kind. Even the way that she didn’t trouble to
+trouble over the one man, but devoted herself to General Jiggs, was in
+itself a very bad portent. Well, such was life and one must bear it
+somehow and be a man. Probably he would suffer less after the first
+five or ten years—he hoped so at any rate. But, great heavens, what a
+fearful prospect until those first five or ten years were gone by!
+
+Finally he went up to his own room and put on another collar and sat
+down at the open window and thought about it for a good while all quiet
+and alone by himself. After that he went back downstairs.
+
+She was gone, and Holloway, too. He felt freshly unhappy. When you come
+to consider, it was so damned unjust for one man to be thirty-five
+while another—just as decent a fellow in every way—was in college. He—
+
+A hand touched his arm.
+
+He turned from where he was standing in the window recess, and looked
+into her eyes.
+
+“I’m very wicked, am I not?” she asked, looking up at him so straight
+and honest.
+
+“I can’t admit that,” he replied.
+
+“But I am. I know it myself. What Bob told you was all true. I’m a
+heartless wretch.”
+
+She spoke so earnestly that his heart sank lower and lower.
+
+“I wanted to speak to you about to-morrow morning,” she said, after a
+little pause. “You know we were going to drive at ten together, and—and
+I wondered if—you see, Mr. Holloway’s an old friend, and he’s had so
+much to tell me to-night, and he isn’t half through—”
+
+She was drawing him with a chain, a hair chain, which she had woven out
+of her eyelashes in the twinkling of an eye (either eye).
+
+He felt himself helpless—and choked.
+
+“Of course I don’t mind. You go with him. It’s quite one to me.”
+
+She gave a tiny little start.
+
+“Oh, I didn’t mean that at all,” she cried. “I meant—I meant—you see
+it’s all been a little tiring—and to-morrow’s Sunday anyway and I—I
+Wanted to—to ask you if we couldn’t go out at eleven instead of ten?”
+
+She looked so sweetly questioning, and his relief was so great, and his
+joy—
+
+(Probably don’t care a rap for Holloway!)
+
+—so intense, that he could hardly refrain from seizing her in his arms.
+
+But he only seized her little hand instead and pressed it fervently to
+his lips. When he raised his eyes she was smiling, and her smile filled
+him with happiness.
+
+“You’re such a boy!” she said softly, and turned and left him there in
+the window recess alone again,—but this time he didn’t care.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter Seven
+Developments
+
+
+It was during that drive the next morning that Jack buoyed up by
+memories of Saturday and hopes of coming Saturdays, poured out the
+history of his life at Mrs. Rosscott’s knees. He told her the whole
+story of Aunt Mary, and _his_ side of the cat, the cabman, and
+Kalamazoo. It interested her, for she had arrived too recently to have
+had the full details in the newspapers beforehand, but when he spoke of
+Aunt Mary’s last letter she grew large-eyed and shook her head gravely.
+
+“You will have to be very good now,” she said seriously.
+
+“Why?” he asked. “Just to keep from being disinherited? That wouldn’t
+be so awful.”
+
+“Wouldn’t it be awful to you?” she asked, turning her bright eyes upon
+him. “What could be worse?”
+
+“Things,” he said very vaguely.
+
+Then she touched up the cob a little; and, after a minute or two, as
+she said nothing, he continued:
+
+“I almost fancy quitting college and going to work. I was thinking
+about it last night.”
+
+She touched up the cob a little more, and remained silent.
+
+Finally he said:
+
+“What would you think of my doing that?”
+
+“I don’t know,” she said slowly. “You see, I’m a great philosopher. I
+never fret or worry, because I regard it as useless; similarly, I never
+rebel at the way fate shapes my life—I regard that as something past
+helping. I believe in predestination; do you?”
+
+She turned and looked at him so seriously—so unlike her _riante_
+self—that he felt startled, and did not know what to say for a minute.
+
+Then:
+
+“I don’t know,” he said slowly; “I don’t know that I dare to. It rather
+startles me to think that maybe all of our future is laid out now.”
+
+“It doesn’t startle me,” she said. “It seems to me the natural plan of
+the universe. I believe that everything that crosses our path—down to
+the tiniest gnat—comes there in the fulfillment of a purpose.”
+
+“I’m sure that all the mosquitoes that ever crossed my path came there
+in the fulfillment of a purpose,” Jack interrupted. “I never doubted
+_that_.”
+
+She smiled a little.
+
+“It’s the same with people,” she went on.
+
+
+[Illustration: “Do not let us play any longer,’ she said. ‘Let us be
+in earnest.’”]
+
+
+“Only less painful,” he interrupted again.
+
+“Sometimes not,” she said, with a look that silenced him. “Sometimes
+much more so—my Cousin Maude, for example.”
+
+“Hip, hip, hurrah for the mosquito!” he murmured. They laughed softly
+together. Then she grew earnest, and looked so grave that he became
+serious too.
+
+“There is always a purpose,” she said, with a touch of some feeling
+which he had never guessed at. “If you and I have met, it is because we
+are to have some influence over one another. I can’t just see how; I
+can’t form any idea—”
+
+“I can,” he said eagerly.
+
+She looked up so suddenly and steadily that he was silent.
+
+“Do not let us play any longer,” she said. “Let us be in earnest.”
+
+“But I am in earnest,” he asseverated.
+
+“You don’t know what I mean,” she went on very gently. “You’re in
+college. Let’s fight it out on those lines if it takes all summer.”
+
+He looked up into her face and loved her better than ever for the frank
+kindliness that shone in her eyes.
+
+“All right, if you say so,” he vowed.
+
+“I do say so,” she said. “I like to see men stick it through in college
+if they begin. I like to see people finish up every one of life’s jobs
+that they set out on.”
+
+“But I’m coming to see you in town, you know,” he went on with great
+apparent irrelevance.
+
+She laughed merrily.
+
+“Yes, surely. You must promise me that.—No,” she stopped and looked
+thoughtful, “I’ll tell you what I want you to promise me. Promise me
+that you’ll come once a week or else write me why you can’t come. Will
+you?”
+
+“You can’t suppose that you’ll ever see my handwriting under such
+circumstances—can you?” Jack asked.
+
+She laughed again.
+
+“Is it a promise?”
+
+“Yes, it’s a promise.”
+
+Oh, joy unmeasured in the time of spring! No other February like that
+had ever been for them—nor ever would be. The drive came to an end, the
+day came to an end, but the good-nights, which were good-bys, too, were
+not so fraught with hopelessness as he had dreaded, for the promise
+asked and given paved a broad road illuminated by the most hopeful kind
+of stars,—a broad road leading straight from college to town,—and his
+fancy showed him a figure treading it often. A figure that was his own.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter Eight
+The Resolution He Took
+
+
+That first meeting was in February, you know, and by the last of April
+it had been followed by so many others that Burnett remarked one day to
+his chum:
+
+“Say, aren’t you going a little faster than auntie’ll stand for?”
+
+Jack turned in surprise.
+
+“I never went so straight in my life before,” he exclaimed, not in
+indignation but in astonishment.
+
+“I didn’t mean that,” said Burnett. “Perhaps instead of ‘auntie’ I
+should have said ‘Betty.’”
+
+Jack hoisted the colors of Harvard, and was silent.
+
+“I warned you at first that that was Tangle town,” his friend went on.
+“Don’t suppose I’m saying anything against her—or against you; but
+she’s just as much to ten other men as she is to you, and they all are
+old enough to carry lots of weight.”
+
+“And I suppose I’m not,” Jack answered, going over by the fireplace. “I
+know that as well as anyone, of course.”
+
+“_Natürlich_,” said Burnett, with conclusiveness that was not meant to
+be cruel, yet cut like a two edged knife.
+
+There was silence in the room. Jack stood by the chimney-piece, his
+hands upraised to rest upon its lofty shelf, his head dropped forward,
+and his eyes fixed on the empty blackness below.
+
+“I wonder,” he said at last, “I wonder what will become of me if—if—”
+
+He stopped.
+
+Burnett didn’t speak.
+
+“I wonder if she thinks of me as a boy,” the young man continued. “I
+wonder if she’s so good to me because I’m her youngest brother’s
+friend.”
+
+Burnett did not comment on this speech.
+
+“I don’t know what to do,” the other said. “When I first met her I
+wanted to cut college and get out in the world and go to work like a
+man. I told her so. But she wanted me to stay in college, and as it was
+the first thing she’d ever wanted of me, I did it. I’d do anything she
+asked me. I’ve quit drinking. I’m going at everything as hard as it’s
+in me to go; but—I don’t know—I feel—I feel as if it isn’t me—it’s just
+because she wants me to, and, do you know, old man, it frightens me to
+think how—if she—if she went out of my—my life—”
+
+He stopped and his broken phrases were not continued to any ending.
+
+Another long silence ensued.
+
+It was finally terminated by the brother’s saying:
+
+“You must confess, old man, that you aren’t fixed so as to be able to
+say one really serious word to any woman—unless it is, ‘Wait.’”
+
+“I know that,” Jack answered; “but I suppose—”
+
+“She’d be taking so many chances,” the friend interrupted. “A man in
+college is never the real thing. You’d better give it up.”
+
+Then the other whirled about and faced him.
+
+“Give it up, did you say?” he asked almost angrily.
+
+“Yes, that’s what.”
+
+For a minute they looked at one another. Then:
+
+“I shall never give it up,” the lover said very slowly and
+steadily—“never, until she gives me up.”
+
+Burnett sucked in his breath with a sudden compression of his lips.
+
+“All right,” he said, not unkindly; “but I don’t believe you’ll ever
+get her, and that’s flat. There are too many being entered for that
+race, and long before you and I get out of here she’ll be Mrs. Somebody
+Else.”
+
+Jack stared at him as if he hardly heard, and then suddenly he stepped
+nearer and spoke.
+
+“Did she ask you to have this talk with me?”
+
+“No,” said the brother in surprise, “she never says anything about you
+to me.”
+
+A look of relief fled across his friend’s face, and then a look of
+resolution succeeded it.
+
+“I’m not going to be discouraged,” he said; “not for a while, at any
+rate.”
+
+“You’d better be.”
+
+Jack laughed. The laugh sounded a trifle hollow, but still it was a
+laugh, and that in itself was a triumph of which none but himself might
+ever measure the extent.
+
+Because in that moment he decided to lay the whole case before her the
+next time that he went to town, and the coming to a resolution was a
+relief from the uncertainty that clouded his days and nights—even if a
+further black curtain of darkest doubt hung before the possibilities of
+what her answer might be.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter Nine
+The Downfall of Hope
+
+
+It was on a Saturday about the middle of May that Jack came to town,
+his mind well braced with love and arguments, and his main thoughts
+being that when he returned something would be settled.
+
+It was a beautiful day, warm and sunny, and at five in the afternoon
+both of the drawing-room windows of Mrs. Rosscott’s house were wide
+open, and the lace curtains were taking the breeze like little sails.
+
+Just as Jack mounted the steps, the door opened, and a plainly dressed,
+unattractive-looking man was let out. The servant who did the letting
+out saw Jack and let him in without closing the door between the egress
+of the one and the ingress of the other. So he entered without ringing,
+and, as he was very well known and intensely popular with all of Mrs.
+Rosscott’s servants, the man invited him to walk up unannounced, since
+he himself was just “bringing in the tea.”
+
+Jack went upstairs, and because the carpet was of thickly piled velvet
+and his boots were the boots of a well-shod gentleman, he made no noise
+whatever in the so doing.
+
+There were double parlors above stairs in the domicile which Burnett’s
+sister had taken until July, and they were furnished in the most
+correct and trying mode of Louis XIV. The chairs were gilt and very
+uncomfortable. The ornaments were all straight up and down and made in
+such shapes that there was no place to flick off cigarette ashes
+anywhere. Nothing could be pulled up to anything else and there was not
+a single good place to rest one’s elbows anywhere. The only saving
+grace in the situation was that after five minutes or so Mrs. Rosscott
+invariably suggested removal to the library which lay beyond—a very
+different species of apartment where no mode at all prevailed except
+the terrible _démodé_ thing known as comfort. To prevent her visitors,
+when seated (for the five minutes aforementioned) amid the correct
+carving of French art, from looking longingly through at the
+easy-chairs of American manufacture, Mrs. Rosscott had ordered that the
+blue velvet portières which hung between should never be pushed aside,
+and it was owing to this order that Jack, entering the drawing-room,
+heard voices, but could not see into the library beyond. Also it was
+owing to this order that those in the library could not see or hear
+Jack.
+
+The result was that the young man, finding the drawing-room unoccupied,
+was just crossing toward the blue velvet curtains, intending to wait in
+the library until the returning servant should advise him of the
+whereabouts of his mistress, when he was stopped by suddenly hearing a
+voice—her voice—crying (and laughing at the same time)—
+
+“Kisses barred! Kisses barred!”
+
+It may be understood that had Mrs. Rosscott known that anyone was
+within hearing she certainly would never have made any such speech, and
+it may be further understood that, had whoever was with her, also
+mistrusted the close propinquity of another man, he would never have
+replied (as he did reply):
+
+“Certainly,” the same being spoken in a most calm and careless tone.
+
+Jack, the eavesdropper, stood transfixed at the voices and speeches,
+and forgot every other consideration in the overwhelming sickness of
+soul which overcame him that instant. All his other soul-sicknesses
+were trifles compared to this one, and the world—his world—their
+world—seemed to revolve and whirl and turn upside down, as he steadied
+himself against a spindle-legged cabinet and felt its spindle-legs
+trembling in sympathy with his own.
+
+“Darling,” said Holloway, a second or two later (and this time his
+voice was not calm and careless, but deep and impassioned), “the letter
+was very sweet, and if you knew how I longed to take the tired little
+girl to my bosom and comfort her troubles, and replace them by joys!”
+
+“Will that day ever come, do you think?” Mrs. Rosscott answered, in low
+tones, which nevertheless were most painfully clear and distinct in the
+next room.
+
+“It must,” Holloway replied, “just as surely as that I hold this dear
+little hand—”
+
+But Jack never knew more. He had heard enough—more than enough. Four
+thousand times too much. He turned and went out of the rooms, back down
+the stairs and out of the door, closed it noiselessly behind him, and
+found himself in a world which, although bright and sunny to all the
+rest of mankind, had turned dark, lonely, and cheerless to him.
+
+At first he hardly knew what to do with himself, he was so altogether
+used up by the discovery just made. He drifted up and down some unknown
+streets for an hour or two—or stood still on corners—he never was very
+sure which. And then at last he went downtown and took a drink in a
+half-dazed way; and because it was quite two months since his last
+indulgence, its suggestion was potent.
+
+The pity—or rather, the apparent pity—of what followed!
+
+Burnett was Sundaying at the ancestral castle; and Burnett wasn’t the
+warning sort, anyhow. He was always tow and pitch for any species of
+flame. So his absence counted for nothing in the crisis.
+
+And what ensued was a crisis—a crisis with a vengeance.
+
+That tear upon which Aunt Mary’s nephew went was something lurid and
+awful. It lasted until Monday, and then its owner returned to college,
+as ill of body and as embittered of spirit as it was in him to be. The
+lightsome devil who had ruled him up to his meeting with Mrs. Rosscott
+resumed its sway with terrible force. The authorities showed a tendency
+to patience because young Denham had appeared to reform lately and had
+been working hard; but young Denham felt no thankful sentiments for
+their leniency, and proved his position shortly.
+
+There was a man named Tweedwell whom circumstances threw directly in
+the path of destruction. Tweedwell was an inoffensive mortal who was
+studying for the ministry. He was progressive in his ideas, and
+believed that a clergyman, to hold a great influence, should know his
+world. He thought that knowledge of the world was to be gained by
+skirting the outside edge of every species of worldliness. The result
+of this course of action was not what it should have been, for
+Tweedwell was an easy mark for all who wanted fun, and the
+consciousness of his innocence so little accelerated the pace at which
+he got out of the way that he was always being called to account for
+what he hadn’t done.
+
+The Saturday night after his Saturday in town, Jack concocted a piece
+of deviltry which was as dangerous as it was foolish. The result was
+that an explosion took place, and the author of the gun-powder plot had
+all the skin on both hands blistered. Burnett, in escaping, fell and
+broke his collarbone and two ribs. The house in which the affair took
+place caught fire, and was badly damaged. And Tweedwell was arrested on
+the strongest kind of circumstantial evidence, and had to answer for
+the whole. Naturally, in the investigation that followed, the two who
+were guilty had to confess or see the candidate for the ministry
+disgraced forever.
+
+The result of their confession was that Burnett’s father, a jovial,
+peppery old gentleman—we all know the kind—lost his patience and wrote
+his son that he’d better not come home again that year. But Aunt Mary
+lost her temper much more completely and the result, as affecting Jack,
+was awful.
+
+She might not have acted as she did had the disastrous news arrived
+either a week later or a week earlier; but it came just in the middle
+of a discouraging ten days’ downpour, which had caused a dam to break
+and a chain of valuable cranberry bogs to be drowned out for that year.
+The cranberry bogs were especially dear to their owner’s heart.
+
+“Why can’t they drain ’em?” she had asked Lucinda, who was particularly
+nutcracker-like in appearance since her quarantine episode.
+
+“’Pears like they’re lower’n everywhere else,” Lucinda answered, her
+words sounding as if she had sharpened them on a grindstone.
+
+Aunt Mary bit her lip and frowned at the rain. She felt mad all the way
+through, and longed to take it out on someone.
+
+Ten minutes after Joshua arrived with the mail and the mail bore one
+ominous letter. Joshua felt something was wrong before the fact was
+assured.
+
+“She wants the mail,” Lucinda said, coming to the door with her hand
+out as usual.
+
+“She’ll get the mail,” said Joshua, and as he spoke he gave the seeker
+after tidings a blood-curdling wink.
+
+“There isn’t a telegram in one o’ the letters, is there?” Lucinda
+asked, much appalled by the wink.
+
+“No, there isn’t no telegram in none o’ the letters,” said Joshua.
+
+“Joshua Whittlesey, I do believe you was born to drive saints mad. What
+_is_ the matter?”
+
+“Nothin’ ain’t the matter as I know of.”
+
+“Then what in Kingdom Come did you wink for?”
+
+“I winked,” said Joshua meaningly, “cause I expect it’ll be a good
+while before we’ll feel like winkin’ again.”
+
+Lucinda gave him a look in which curiosity and aggravation fought
+catch-as-catch-can. Then she turned and went in with the letters.
+
+Aunt Mary was sitting stonily staring at the rain.
+
+“I thought you’d gone to take a drive with Joshua,” she said coldly.
+“Well, ’s long ’s you’re back I’ll be glad to have my mail. Most folks
+like to get their mail as soon as it comes an’ I—Mercy on us!”
+
+It was the letter from the authorities enclosed in one from Mr.
+Stebbins.
+
+Lucinda stood bolt upright before her mistress.
+
+“What’s happened?” she yelled breathlessly, after a few seconds of the
+direst kind of silence had loaded the atmosphere while the letter was
+being carefully read.
+
+Then:
+
+“Happened!—” said Aunt Mary, transfixing the terrible typewritten
+communication with a yet more terrible look of determination.
+“Happened!—Well, jus’ what I expected ’s happened an’ jus’ what nobody
+expects ’ll happen now. Lucinda, you run like you was paid for it and
+tell Joshua not to unharness. Don’t stop to open your mouth. You’ll
+need your breath before you get to the barn. Scurry!”
+
+Lucinda scurried. She splashed and spattered down through the lane that
+led to Joshua’s kingdom with a vigor that was commendable in one of her
+age.
+
+“She says ‘don’t unharness,’” she panted, bouncing in through the
+doorway just as Joshua was slowly and carefully folding the lap-robe in
+the crease to which it had become habituated.
+
+Joshua continued to fold.
+
+“Then I won’t unharness,” he said calmly. He hung the robe over the
+line that was stretched to hang robes over and Lucinda gasped for wind
+with which to inflate further conversation.
+
+“She says what nobody expects is goin’ to happen,” she panted as soon
+as she could.
+
+“What nobody expects is always happenin’ where he’s concerned,” said
+Joshua.
+
+“I s’pose he’s in some new row,” said Lucinda.
+
+“I’m sure he is,” said Joshua, “an’ if you don’t go back to her pretty
+quick you won’t be no better off.”
+
+Lucinda turned away and returned to the house. She found Aunt Mary
+still staring at the letters with the same concentrated fury as before.
+
+“Well, is Joshua a’comin’ to the door?” she asked when she saw her maid
+before her.
+
+“You didn’t say for him to come to the door,” Lucinda howled, “you said
+for him to stay harnessed.”
+
+Aunt Mary appeared on the verge of ignition.
+
+“Lucinda,” she said, “every week I live under the same roof with you
+your brains strike me ’s some shrunk from the week before. What in
+Heaven’s name should I want Joshua to stay harnessed in the barn for? I
+want him to go for Mr. Stebbins an’ I want him to understand ’t if Mr.
+Stebbins can’t come he’s got to come just the same’s if he could
+anyhow. I may seem quiet to you, Lucinda, but if I do, it only shows
+all over again how little you know. This is a awful day an’ if you knew
+how awful you’d be half way back to the barn right now. I ain’t
+triflin’—I’m meanin’ every word. Every syllable. Every letter.”
+
+Lucinda fled out into the open again. Her footprints of the time before
+were little oblong ponds now and she laid out a new course parallel to
+their splashes. She found Joshua sponging the dasher.
+
+“She wants you to go straight out again.”
+
+Joshua flung the sponge into the pail.
+
+“Then I’ll go straight out again,” he said, moving toward the horse’s
+head.
+
+“You’re to bring Mr. Stebbins whether he can come or not.”
+
+“He’ll come,” said Joshua; and then he backed the horse so suddenly
+that the buggy wheel nearly went over Lucinda.
+
+“She says this is an awful day—” began Lucinda.
+
+Joshua got into the buggy and tucked the rubber blanket around himself.
+
+“She says—”
+
+Joshua drove out of the barn and away.
+
+Lucinda went slowly back to the house. Aunt Mary had ceased to glare at
+the letter and was now glaring at the rain instead.
+
+“Lucinda,” she said “I’ll thank you not to ever mention my nephew to me
+again. I’ve took a vow to never speak his name again myself. By no
+means—not at all—never.”
+
+“Which nephew?” shrieked Lucinda.
+
+Aunt Mary’s eyes snapped.
+
+“Jack!” she said, with an accent that seemed to split the short word in
+two.
+
+After a little she spoke again.
+
+“Lucinda, it’s all been owin’ to the city an’ this last is all city. ’F
+I cared a rap what happened to him after this I’d never let him go near
+a place over two thousand again as long as he lived. It’s no use tryin’
+to explain things to you, Lucinda, because it never has been any use
+an’ never will be—an’ anyway, I’m done with it all. I sh’ll want you
+for a witness when I’m through with Mr. Stebbins, and then you can get
+some marmalade out for tea an’ we’ll all live in peace hereafter.”
+
+Joshua returned with Mr. Stebbins and the latter gentleman went to work
+with a will and willed Jack out of Aunt Mary’s. Later Joshua took him
+home again. Lucinda got the marmalade out of the cellar and Aunt Mary
+had it with her tea. It was a bitter tea—unsugared indeed—and the days
+that followed matched.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter Ten
+The Woes of the Disinherited.
+
+
+It was some days later on in the world’s history that Holloway was
+calling on Bertha Rosscott.
+
+They were sitting in that comfortable library previously referred to
+and were sweetly unaware that any untoward series of incidents had ever
+led to an invasion of their privacy.
+
+Holloway lay well back in a sleepy-hollow chair and looked indolently,
+lazily handsome; his hostess was up on—well up on the divan, and he had
+the full benefit of her admirable bottines and their dainty heels and
+buckles.
+
+“Honestly,” he said, looking her over with a gaze that was at once
+roving and well content, “honestly, I think that every time I see you,
+you appear more attractive than the time before.”
+
+“It’s very nice of you to say so,” she replied. “And, of course, I
+believe you, for every time that I get a new gown I think that very
+same thing myself. Still, I do regard it as strange if I look nicely
+to-day, for I’ve been crying like a baby all the morning.”
+
+“You crying! And why?”
+
+She raised her eyes to his.
+
+“Such bad news!” she said simply.
+
+“From where? Of whom?”
+
+“From mamma, about Bob.”
+
+“Have _his_ wounds proved serious?” Holloway looked slightly distressed
+as was proper.
+
+“It isn’t that. It’s papa. Papa has forbidden him the house. He’s very,
+very angry.”
+
+Holloway looked relieved.
+
+“Your father won’t stay angry long, and you know it,” he said. “Just
+think how often he has lost his temper over the boys and how often he’s
+found it again.”
+
+“It isn’t just Bob,” said Mrs. Rosscott. “I’ve someone else on my mind,
+too.”
+
+“Who, pray?”
+
+“His friend.”
+
+“Young Denham?”
+
+“Yes.”
+
+With that she threw her head up and looked very straightly at her
+caller whose visage shaded ever so slightly in spite of himself.
+
+“Have his wounds proved serious?” he asked, smiling, but unable to
+altogether do away with a species of parenthetical inflection in his
+voice.
+
+“It wasn’t over his wounds that I cried.”
+
+“Did you really cry at all for him?”
+
+“I cried more for him than I did for Bob,” she admitted boldly.
+
+“He is a fortunate boy! But why the tears in his case?”
+
+“I felt so badly to be disappointed in him.”
+
+“Did you expect to work a miracle there, my dear? Did you think to
+reform such an inveterate young reprobate with a glance?”
+
+“I’m not sure that I ever asked myself either of those questions,” she
+replied, slowly; “but he promised me something, and I expected him to
+keep his word.”
+
+“Men don’t keep such promises, Bertha,” the visitor said. “You
+shouldn’t have expected it.”
+
+“I don’t know why not.”
+
+“Because a man who drinks will drink again.”
+
+“I didn’t refer to drinking,” she said quietly. “It was quite another
+thing.”
+
+“Ah!”
+
+She looked down at her rings and seemed to consider how much of her
+confidence she should give him, and the consideration led her to look
+up presently and say:
+
+“He promised me that if he could not call any week he would write me a
+line instead. He came to town last week, and he neither called nor
+wrote. That wasn’t like the man I saw in him. That was a direct
+breaking of his word. I can’t understand, and I’m disappointed.”
+
+Holloway took out his cigarette case and turned it over and over
+thoughtfully in his hands.
+
+“He’s nothing but a boy,” he said at last, with an effort.
+
+“He’s no boy,” she said. “He’s almost twenty-two years old. He’s a
+man.”
+
+“Some are men at twenty-two, and some are boys,” Holloway remarked. “I
+was a man before I was eighteen—a man out in the world of men. But
+Denham’s a boy.”
+
+He rose as he spoke, and she held out her hand for him to raise her,
+too.
+
+“It’s early to go,” she remarked parenthetically.
+
+“I know,” he replied; “but I hear someone being shown into the
+drawing-room. I don’t feel formal to-day, and if I can’t lounge in here
+alone with you I’d rather go.”
+
+“How egotistical!” she commented.
+
+“I am egotistical,” he admitted.
+
+And went.
+
+The footman passed him in the hall; he had a card upon his silver
+salver, and was seeking his mistress in the library. But when he
+entered there the room was empty. Mrs. Rosscott had slipped through the
+blue velvet portières, expecting to see a friend, and had stopped short
+on the other side, amazed at finding herself face to face with an utter
+stranger.
+
+“I gave the man my card,” said the stranger, in a tone as faded as his
+mustache. He was a long, thin man, but what the Germans style “_sehr
+korrect_.”
+
+“I didn’t wait to get it,” the hostess said. “I supposed that, of
+course, it was somebody that I knew.”
+
+“That was natural,” he admitted.
+
+There was a slight pause of awkwardness.
+
+“Won’t you sit down?” she asked.
+
+“Certainly,” said the caller, and sat down.
+
+Then she sat down, too, and another awkward pause ensued.
+
+“You didn’t expect to see me, did you?” said the stranger, smiling.
+
+“No, I didn’t,” said Mrs. Rosscott frankly. “I expected to see someone
+else—someone that I knew. Nearly all my visitors are people whom I
+know.”
+
+Her eyes rather demanded an observance of the conventionalities while
+her words were putting the best face possible on the queer five
+minutes. The stranger smiled.
+
+“My name is Clover,” he said then. “Of course, as you never saw me
+before, you want to know that first of all.”
+
+“I’d choose to know,” she said. And then the uncompromising neutrality
+of her expression deepened so plainly that he hastened to add:
+
+“I’m H. Wyncoop Clover.”
+
+“Oh!” she said. And then smiled, too; having heard the name before.
+
+“Why don’t you ask me my business?” went on H. Wyncoop Clover. “I must
+have come for some reason, you know.”
+
+“I didn’t know it,” said Mrs. Rosscott—“I don’t know anything about you
+yet.”
+
+They both smiled—and then H. Wyncoop resumed his colorless sobriety at
+once.
+
+“It’s about Jack,” he said—“these terrible new developments—” he
+stopped short, seeing his _vis-à-vis_ turn deathly white, “it’s nothing
+to be frightened over,” he said reassuringly.
+
+Mrs. Rosscott was furious with herself for having paled. She became
+instantly haughty.
+
+“I was alarmed for my brother,” she said. “I always think of them both
+as together.”
+
+“Oh, in that case, I can reassure you instantly,” said the caller.
+“Burnett is doing finely.”
+
+Mrs. Rosscott was conscious of being suddenly and skillfully
+countercharged. She blushed with vexation, bit her lip in perturbation,
+and cast upon the trying individual opposite a look of most appealing
+interrogation.
+
+“You see,” said Clover pleasantly, “I was coming to town, so I came in
+handy for the purpose of telling you.”
+
+She gave him a glance that prayed him to be decent and go on with his
+errand.
+
+“Burnett is about recovered,” he said.
+
+She clasped her hands hard.
+
+“I wouldn’t be a man for anything!” she exclaimed with sudden fervor,
+“they are so awfully mean. Why _don’t_ you go on and tell me _what_
+you’ve come about?”
+
+He raised his eyebrows.
+
+“May I?” he asked.
+
+She choked down some of her exasperation.
+
+“Yes, you may.”
+
+“Oh, thank you so much. I’ll begin at once then. Only premising that as
+I go to school with your little brother, and as he is rather under a
+cloud just at present, we clubbed together to bring you a letter about
+him and Jack. He was going to dictate it, but in the end Mitchell wrote
+it all. Here it is.”
+
+With that he put his hand into his pocket, drew out an envelope and
+handed it to her.
+
+“How awfully good of you,” she said gratefully. “Do excuse my reading
+it at once, won’t you? You see, I’ve been so anxious about—about my
+brother.”
+
+He nodded understandingly, and she hastily tore open the envelope and
+ran her eyes over the written sheets.
+
+MY DEAR MRS. ROSSCOTT:—
+    Being the prize writer of the class, I am chosen to take down the
+    ante mortem confessions of our shattered friends. It is in a sad
+    hour for them that I do so, because I am naturally so truthful that
+    I shall not force you to look for my meaning between the lines. On
+    the contrary, I shall set the cold facts out as neatly as the
+    pickets on the fence. And in evidence thereof, I open the ball by
+    telling you frankly that they both look fierce. If they had looked
+    less awful, and Burnett had had more lime in his bones, we might
+    have escaped the Powers That Be by simply admitting a sprained
+    ankle and carefully concealing everything else. But if one man
+    cracks where you can’t finish the deal, even by the most unlimited
+    outlay of mucilage and persistence, and another blazes his whole
+    surface-area in a manner that seems to make the underbrush dubious
+    to count on forever henceforth; why, you then have a logarithm the
+    square of which is probably as far beyond your depth as I am beyond
+    my own just at this point of this sentence.
+    The long and short of my fresh start is, that your brother wants to
+    write you, but he is so handicapped (forgive me, but you’re the
+    only one who hasn’t had that joke sprung on them!) with bandages,
+    that it’s cruel to expect much of him. It is true that he has his
+    bosom friend to fall back upon, but if you could see that friend as
+    we see him these days you wouldn’t be sure whether it was true or
+    not. The old woman, who had the peddler-and-petticoat episode, was
+    not in it the same day with your brother’s friend! I do assure you.
+    And anyhow—even if he still has brains—his writing apparatus is all
+    done up in arnica, so there you are!
+    But do not allow me to alarm you unduly! When all’s said and done,
+    they’re not so badly off physically. Hair and ribs are mere
+    vanities, anyhow, and we’re here to-day and gone to-morrow!
+    Something much worse than disfigurements and broken bones has
+    sprung forth from chaos, and has almost stared them out of
+    countenance since. It is the wolf that is at the door, and the
+    howling and prowling of their particular wolf is not to be sneezed
+    at, let me tell you. To put a modern political face upon an ancient
+    Greek fable, the wolf in their case symbolizes the bitter question
+    of whose roof is going to roof them when they get out of the
+    plaster casts that are bed and board to them just at present. Where
+    are they to go? All those which used to be open to them are
+    suddenly shut tight. They’ve both been expelled, and both been
+    disinherited. If I was inclined to look on the blue side of the
+    blanket, I should certainly feel that they were playing in very
+    tough luck. Burnett, of course, can come to you, and his soul is
+    full of the wish to bring his fellow-fright along with him. Which
+    wish of his is the gist of my epistle. Can he bring him? He wants
+    to know before he broaches the proposition. I’m to be skinned alive
+    if Jack ever learns that such a plea was made, so I beg you
+    whatever other rash acts you see fit to commit during your meteoric
+    flight across my plane of existence, don’t ever give me away.
+    Firstly, because if I ever get a chance to do so, I’m positive that
+    I should want to cling to you as the mistletoe does to the oak, and
+    could not bear to be given away; and secondly, because I’m so
+    attached to my own skin that I should really suffer pain if it was
+    taken from me by force. Bob wants you to think it over, and let him
+    know as to the whats and whens by return mail.
+    You are so inspiring that I could write you all day, but those
+    relics of what once was, but alas! will never be again, need to be
+    rolled up afresh in absorbent cotton, and so I must nail my Red
+    Cross on to my left arm, and get down to business. If you saw how
+    useful I am to your brother, you’d thank his lucky stars that I
+    came through myself with nothing worse than getting my ear stepped
+    on. I was hugging the ladder (being canny and careful), and the man
+    above me toed in. Isn’t it curious to think that if he’d worn
+    braces in early youth my ear would be all right now.
+    Behold me at your feet.
+
+
+Respectfully yours,
+HERBERT KENDRICK MITCHELL.
+
+
+When Mrs. Rosscott had finished the letter she looked across at her
+caller, and said:
+
+“You’ve read this, haven’t you?”
+
+“No,” said he. “I tried to unstick it two or three times coming on the
+train, but it was too much for me.”
+
+“Don’t you really know what it says?” she asked more earnestly.
+
+“Yes, I do,” Clover answered, “but Denham must never know that I do.”
+
+“I won’t tell him,” she said smiling faintly. “But surely he can’t be
+as badly off as this says. Has he really lost all his hair?”
+
+“Not all—only in spots,” Clover reassured her; but then his
+recollections overcame him, and he added, with a grin: “But he’s a
+fearful looking specimen, all right, though.”
+
+“About my brother,” she went on, turning the letter thoughtfully in her
+fingers; “when can he get out, do they think?”
+
+“Any time next week.”
+
+“I’ll write him,” she said. “I’ll write him and tell him that
+everything will be arranged for—for—for them both.”
+
+Clover sprang to his feet.
+
+“Oh, thank you,” he exclaimed. “That’s most awfully good in you!”
+
+“Not at all,” she answered. “I’m very glad to be able to welcome them.
+You must impress that upon them—particularly—particularly on my
+brother.”
+
+Clover smiled.
+
+“I will,” he said, rising to go.
+
+“I’d ask you to stay longer,” she said, holding out her hand, “but I’m
+due at a charity entertainment to-night, and I have to go very early.”
+
+“I know,” he said; “I’ve come up on purpose to go to it.”
+
+“Then I shall see you there?” she asked him.
+
+“It will be what I shall be looking forward to most of all,” he said.
+
+“It’s been a great pleasure to meet you,” she said, holding out her
+hand, “you’re—well, you’re ‘unlike,’ as they say in literary
+criticisms.”
+
+“Thank you,” he replied; “but may I ask if you intend that as a
+compliment?”
+
+“Dear me,” she laughed, “let me think how I did intend it.—Yes, it was
+meant for a compliment.”
+
+“Thank you,” he said, shaking her hand warmly, “it’s so nice to know,
+you know. Good-by.”
+
+“Good-by.”
+
+Then he went away.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter Eleven
+The Dove of Peace
+
+
+The first result of Mrs. Rosscott’s invitation was that Jack refused.
+He said that he had a sister of his own—two, if it came to that—and so
+he could easily manage for himself. He was very decided about it, and
+somewhat lofty and bitter—a stand which no one understood his taking.
+
+His flat refusal was communicated to his would be hostess and it goes
+without saying that she was as unable to understand as all the rest. It
+keyed well enough with his lately shown indifference, but the
+indifference keyed not at all with all that had gone before and still
+less with her very correct comprehension of Jack himself. She was quite
+positive as to the sincerity of those protestations which he had made
+so haltingly—so boyishly—and in such absolutely truthful accents. Why
+he had turned over a new—and bad—leaf so suddenly she did not at all
+know, but her woman’s wit—backed up by the many good instincts which
+good women always get from Heaven knows just where—made her feel firmer
+than ever as to her hospitable intentions. Jack had told her many times
+that she was his good angel, and it did not seem to her that now, when
+he was so deeply involved in so much trouble, was the hour for a man’s
+good angel to quietly turn away. Suppose he was haughty!—she knew men
+well enough to know that in his case haughtiness and shame would be two
+Dromios that even he himself would be unable to tell apart. Suppose he
+did rebel against her kindness!—she knew women well enough to know that
+under some circumstances they can put down rebellion single-handed—if
+they can only be left in the room alone with it for a few minutes. As
+regarded Jack, she knew that there was something to explain; and as to
+herself she was delightfully positive as to her own irresistibleness.
+Given two such statements and the conclusion is easy. Mrs. Rosscott
+wrote to Mitchell and here is what she wrote:
+
+MY DEAR MR. MITCHELL:
+    I should have answered your letter before only that in the
+    excitement of corresponding with my brother I forgot all else. But
+    my manners have returned by slow degrees and in hunting through my
+    desk for a bill I found you and so take up my pen.
+    I am quite sure that—in spite of that beautiful opening play of
+    mine—you are wondering why I am really writing and so I will tell
+    you at once. When Bob comes here to stay with me I want Mr. Denham
+    to come too. I have various reasons for wanting him to come. One is
+    that he has nowhere else to go where he will have half as good a
+    time as he will here and another is that if he goes anywhere else I
+    won’t have half as good a time as if he comes here. Pray excuse my
+    brutal candor, but I am only a woman; brutal candor and womanly
+    weakness always have gone about encouraging one another, you know.
+    I cannot see any good reason for Mr. Denham’s not coming except
+    that he declines my invitation. It is very silly in him, and I
+    regard it as no reason at all. I am quite unused to being declined
+    and do not intend to acquire the habit until I am a good deal older
+    than I was my last birthday. Still, I can understand that he is too
+    big to force against his will, so I think the kindest way to break
+    the back of the opposition will be for me to do it personally. As
+    an over-ruler I nearly always succeed. All I require is an
+    opportunity.
+    Please lay the two halves of your brain evenly together and devise
+    a train and an interview for me. Of course you will meet me at the
+    train and leave me at the interview. These are the fundamental
+    rules of my game. I know that you are clever and before we have
+    left the station you will know that I am. As arch-conspirators we
+    shall surely win out together, won’t we?
+
+
+Yours very truly,
+    BERTHA ROSSCOTT.
+
+
+This missive posted, Jack’s good angel made herself patient until the
+afternoon of the next day when she might and did expect an answer.
+
+She was not disappointed. The letter came and it was pleasantly bulky
+and appeared ample enough to have contained an indexed gun powder plot.
+She was so sure that Mitchell had been fully equal to the occasion that
+she tore the envelope open with a smile—and read:
+
+MY DEAR MRS. ROSSCOTT:
+
+    To think of my having some of your handwriting for my own!—I was
+    nearly petrified with joy.
+    You see I know your writing from having read Burnett all those
+    “Burn this at once” epistles. And I know it still better from
+    having to catalogue them for his ready reference. You know how
+    impatient he is. (But I have run into an open switch and must
+    digress backwards.)
+    I shall preserve your letter till I die. In war I shall wear it
+    carefully spread all over wherever I may be killed, and in peace I
+    intend to keep my place in my Bible with it. Could words say more!
+    (Being backed up again, I will now begin.)
+    I was not at all surprised at your writing me. If you had known me
+    it would have been different. But where ignorance is bliss any
+    woman but yourself is always liable to pitch in with a pen, and you
+    see you are not yourself but only “any woman” to me as yet.
+    Besides, women have written to me before you. My mother does so
+    regularly. She encloses a postal card and all I have to do is to
+    mail it and there she is answered. It’s a great scheme which I
+    proudly invented when I first went away to school and I recommend
+    it to you if you—if you ever have a mother.
+    How my ink does run away with me! Let me refer to your esteemed
+    favor again! Ah! we have worked down to the bed-rock, or—in Hugh
+    Miller’s colloquial phrasing—to the “old red sandstone,” of the
+    fact that you want Jack. You state the fact with what you designate
+    as brutal candor—and I reply with candied brutality, that I have
+    thought that all along. If you are averse to my view of the matter,
+    you must look out of the window the whole time that I continue, for
+    once entered I always fight to a finish and I cannot retire to my
+    corner on this auspicious occasion without announcing through a
+    trumpet that even if Jack is a most idiotic fellow I never have
+    caught the microbe from him, and, as a sequence, have always seen
+    clear through and out of the other side of the whole situation. Of
+    course I should not say this to any woman but you because it would
+    not have any meaning to her, but, between you and me all things are
+    printed in plain black and white and, therefore, I respectfully
+    submit a program consisting of the two o’clock train Tuesday and
+    myself, to be recognized by a beaming look of burning joy, upon the
+    platform. Beyond that you may confide yourself to waxing waxy in my
+    hands. They are not bad hands to be in as your brother and
+    whatever-you-call-Jack can testify. I will lay my lines in the dark
+    to the end that you may bloom in the sun.
+    Trust me. You need do no more—except buy your ticket.
+    The two o’clock on Tuesday. You can easily remember it by the
+    T’s—if you don’t get mixed with three o’clock on Thursday. Try
+    remembering it by the 2’s. A safe way would be to put it down.
+
+
+Yours to obey,
+    HERBERT KENDRICK MITCHELL.
+
+
+P.S. Please recollect that I am only handsome according to the good old
+proverb, and do not mistake me for an enterprising hackman.
+
+
+Mrs. Rosscott clapped her hands with delight when she finished the
+letter. She was overjoyed at the success of her “opening play,” and she
+wrote her new correspondent two lines accepting his invitation, and
+went down on the appointed train on the appointed day. He met her at
+the depot and they divined one another at the first glance. It was
+impossible not to know so pretty a woman—or so homely a man. For the
+ancestors of Mitchell had worn kilts and red hair in centuries gone by,
+and although he proved the truth of the red-hair proposition, no one
+would ever believe that anything of his build could ever have been
+induced to have put itself into kilts—knowingly. Furthermore, his voice
+had a crick in it, and went by jerks, and his eyebrows sympathized with
+his voice, and the eyes below them were little and gray and twinkling,
+and altogether he was the sort of man who is termed—according to a
+certain style of phrasing—“above suspicion.” But she liked him, oh!
+immensely, and he liked her. And when they were riding up in the
+carriage together she felt how thoroughly trustworthy his gray eyes and
+good smile declared him to be, and had no hesitation in telling him
+what she wanted to do, and in asking him what she wanted to know.
+
+Mitchell certainly had a talent for plotting, for when they reached the
+house where the culprits were temporarily domiciled, Burnett had gone
+out to give his mended ribs some exercise, and Jack was reading alone
+in the room where they shared one another’s liniments with friendly
+generosity.
+
+The arch-conspirator went upstairs, came down, and then, seeking the
+lady whom he had left in the parlor, said to her:
+
+“Denham’s up there and you can go up and say whatever you have to say.
+You know ‘In union there is strength.’ Well you’ve got him alone now,
+and he’ll prove weakly as a consequence or I miss my guess.”
+
+Then he walked straight over by the window and picked up a magazine as
+if it was all settled, and she only hesitated for half a second before
+she turned and went upstairs.
+
+There was a door half open in the hall above, and she knew that that
+must be the door. She tapped at it lightly, and a man’s voice (a voice
+that she knew well), called out gruffly:
+
+“Come in!”
+
+She pushed the door open at that and entered, and saw Jack, and he saw
+her. He turned very pale at the sight, and then the color flooded his
+face, and he rose from his chair abruptly, and put his hand up to the
+strips that held the bandage on his head.
+
+“Burnett isn’t here,” he said quickly. “He went out just a few minutes
+ago.”
+
+His tone was hard, and yet at the same time it shook slightly.
+
+She approached him, holding out her hand.
+
+“I’m glad of that,” she said, “because it was to see you that I came.”
+
+To her great surprise something mutinous and scornful flashed in his
+eyes as he rolled a chair forward for her.
+
+“You honor me,” he said, and his tone and manner both hardened yet
+more. His general appearance was that of a man ten years older; he had
+changed terribly in the weeks since she had last seen him. She took the
+chair and sat down, still looking at him. He sat down too, and his eyes
+went restlessly around the room as if they sought a hold that should
+withhold them from her searching gaze. There was a short pause.
+
+“Don’t speak like that,” she said at last. “It isn’t your way, and I
+know you too well—we know one another too well—to be anything but
+sincere. You owe me something, too, and if I forbear you should
+understand why.”
+
+“I owe you something, do I?” he asked. “What do I owe you?”
+
+Mrs. Rosscott caught her under lip in her teeth.
+
+“You gave me a promise, Mr. Denham,” she said, quite low, but most
+distinctly—“a promise which you broke.”
+
+Jack flushed; his eyelids drooped for a minute.
+
+“I didn’t break it,” he said. “I gave it up.”
+
+“Is there any difference?”
+
+“A great difference.”
+
+He shrugged his shoulders.
+
+“Do you want to have the truth?” he said. “If you really do, I’ll tell
+you. But I don’t ask to tell you, recollect, and if I were you I’d drop
+the whole—I certainly would.—If I were you.”
+
+She looked at him in astonishment.
+
+“I don’t understand,” she said. “Tell me what you mean.”
+
+He raised his hand to his bandaged head again.
+
+“I think,” he said, fighting hard to speak with utter indifference, “I
+think that it would have been better if you had told me about
+Holloway.”
+
+At that her big eyes opened widely.
+
+“What should I tell you about Mr. Holloway?” she asked. “What could I
+tell you about him?”
+
+“It isn’t any use speaking like that,” he said; and with the words he
+suddenly leaped from his chair and began to plunge back and forth
+across the small room. “You see I’m not a boy any more. I’ve come to my
+senses. I know now! I understand now! It’s all plain to me now. Now and
+always. I’ve been fooled once but only once and by All that Is, I never
+will be fooled again. Your’re pretty and awfully fascinating, and it’s
+always fun for the woman—especially if she knows all her bets are
+safely hedged. And I was so completely done up that I was even more
+sport than the common run, I suppose; but—” she was staring at him in
+unfeigned amazement, and he was lashing himself to fury with the
+feelings that underlaid his words—“but even if you made it all right
+with yourself by calling your share by the name of ‘having a good
+influence’ over me (I know that’s how married women always pat
+themselves on the back while they’re sending us to the devil), even
+then, I think that it would have been better to have been fair and
+square with me. It would have been better all round. I’d have been left
+with some belief in—in people. As it is, when I saw that you’d only
+been laughing at me, I—well, I went pretty far.”
+
+He stopped short, and transfixed her paleness with his big, dark eyes.
+
+“Why weren’t you honest?” he asked angrily. And then he said again,
+more bitterly, more scornfully, than before: “Why wasn’t I told about
+Holloway?”
+
+She clasped her hands tightly together.
+
+“What has been told you about Mr. Holloway and myself?” she asked.
+
+“Nothing.”
+
+“Then why do you speak as you do?”
+
+At that he thrust his hands into his pockets and again began to fling
+himself back and forth across the room.
+
+“Perhaps you’ll think I’m a sneak,” he said, “but I wasn’t a sneak. I
+went in to see you that Saturday as usual, and when I went upstairs—you
+were with him in the library. I heard three words. God! they were
+enough! I didn’t know that anything could knock the bottom out of life
+so quickly. My sun and stars all fell at once—I reckon my Heaven went
+too. At all events I went out of your house and down town and I drank
+and drank—and all to the truth and honor of women.”
+
+He halted with his back to her, and there was silence in the room for
+many minutes.
+
+When he faced around after a little, she was weeping bitterly, having
+turned in her seat so that her face might be buried in the chair back.
+Her whole body was shaking with suppressed sobs. He stood still and
+stared down upon her and finally she lifted up her face and said with
+trembling lips:
+
+“And all the trouble came from that. Oh, what shall I do? What shall I
+say?”
+
+“I don’t know what you can do, or what you can say,” he said, remaining
+still and watching her sincere distress. “I’d feel pretty blamed mean
+if I were you, though. Understand, I don’t question your good taste in
+choosing Holloway, nor your right to love him, nor his right to be
+there; but I fail to understand why you were to me just as you were,
+and I think it was unfair—out-and-out mean!”
+
+“Mr. Denham,” she said almost painfully, “you’ve made a dreadful
+mistake.” Then she stopped and moistened her lips. “I don’t know just
+what words you overheard, but the dramatic instructor was there that
+afternoon drilling Mr. Holloway and myself for the parts which we took
+in the charity play that week; after he went out we went over one of
+the scenes alone. Perhaps you heard part of that.” She stopped and
+almost choked. “Mr. Holloway has never really made any love to
+me—perhaps he never wanted to—perhaps I’ve never wanted him to.”
+
+Jack stared. His misconception was so strongly intrenched in the
+forefront of his brain that he could not possibly dislodge it at once.
+
+Mrs. Rosscott continued to dry the tears that continued to rise; she
+seemed terribly affected at finding herself to have been the cause (no
+matter how innocently) of this latest tale of wrack and ruin.
+
+“Do you mean to say,” the young man said, at last, “that there was no
+truth in what I heard? Don’t you expect to marry Holloway?”
+
+“I never expect to marry anyone, but certainly not him,” she replied,
+trying to regain her composure.
+
+“Honest?”
+
+“Assuredly.”
+
+It was as if an unseen orchestra had suddenly burst forth just near
+enough and just far enough away. He came to the side of her chair and
+laid his hand upon its back.
+
+“Then what have you been thinking of me lately?” he asked.
+
+“Very sad thoughts,” she confessed—hiding her face again.
+
+“Did you care?”
+
+“Yes, I cared.”
+
+He stood beside her for a long time without speaking or moving. Then he
+suddenly pulled a chair forward, and sat down close in front of her.
+
+“Don’t cry,” he said, almost daring to be tender. “There’s nothing to
+cry about now, you know.”
+
+“I think there’s plenty for me to cry about,” she said, looking up
+through her long wet lashes. “It is so terrible for me to be the one
+that is to blame. Papa swears he’ll never forgive Bob, and your aunt—”
+
+“Lord love you!” he exclaimed; “don’t worry over me or my aunt. I
+don’t. I don’t mind anything, with Holloway staked in the ditch. I can
+get along well enough now.”
+
+He smiled—actually smiled—as he spoke.
+
+“Oh, you mustn’t speak so,” she said, blushing; “indeed, you must not.”
+And smiled, too, in spite of herself.
+
+“Who’s going to stop me?” he said. “You know that you can’t; I’m miles
+the biggest.”
+
+She looked at him and tried to frown, but only blushed again instead.
+He put out his hand and took hers into its clasp.
+
+“I’m everlasting glad to shake college,” he declared gayly; “it never
+was my favorite alley. I’ve made up my mind to go to work just as soon
+as I get these pastry strips off my head.”
+
+“Where?”
+
+“I don’t know. Anywhere. I don’t care.”
+
+“But you’ll come to my house when Bob comes next week, won’t you?” she
+asked suddenly. “I can see now why you wouldn’t before, but—but it’s
+different now. Isn’t it?”
+
+“Is it?” he said, asking the question chiefly of her pretty eyes. “Is
+it honestly different now?”
+
+“I think it is,” she answered.
+
+A door banged below.
+
+“That’s Burr!” he exclaimed, remembering suddenly the proximity of
+their chairs, and making haste to place himself farther away.
+
+Burnett’s step was heard on the stair.
+
+“You never said anything to him, did you?” she questioned quickly.
+
+“Certainly not.”
+
+The next instant Burnett was in the room, and his sister was in his
+arms. (Astonishing how coolly he accepted the fact, too.)
+
+“Mr. Denham is coming to me with you, Bob,” she said when he released
+her. “I’ve persuaded him.”
+
+“How did you do it?” she was asked.
+
+“By undertaking to reconcile him with his aunt, dear,” she replied,
+blandly. “It’s a contract that we’ve drawn up between us. You know that
+I was always rather good in the part of the peacemaker.”
+
+As she spoke, her eyes fell warningly on the manifest astonishment of
+Aunt Mary’s nephew.
+
+“You don’t know what you’re undertaking, Betty,” said her brother. “You
+never had a chance to take Aunt Mary for better, for worse—I have.”
+
+“I’m not alarmed,” said she, “I’m very courageous. I’m sure I’ll
+succeed.”
+
+“Can the mender of ways—other people’s ways—come in?” asked a voice at
+the door.
+
+It was Mitchell’s voice, and he came in without waiting for an
+invitation.
+
+“Is it time that I went?” Mrs. Rosscott asked him, anxiously.
+
+“Half an hour yet.”
+
+“Oh, I say Jack,” cried Burnett, “let’s boil some water in the
+witch-hazel pan, and make a rarebit in the poultice pan, and have some
+tea here.”
+
+“Sure,” said Jack, suddenly become his blithe and buoyant self again.
+“You just take off your hat and look the other way, Mrs. Rosscott, and
+we’ll have you a lunch in a jiffy.”
+
+
+
+
+Chapter Twelve
+A Trap For Aunt Mary
+
+
+In Aunt Mary’s part of the country the skies had been crying themselves
+sick for the last six weeks. The cranberry bog was a goner forever, it
+was feared, and a little house, very handy for sorting berries in, had
+had its foundations undermined, and disappeared beneath the face of the
+waters also.
+
+Under such propitious circumstances, Aunt Mary sat by her own
+particular window and looked sternly and severely out across the garden
+and down the road. Lucinda sat by the other window sewing. Lucinda
+hadn’t changed materially, but her general appearance struck her
+mistress as more irritating than ever. Everything and everybody seemed
+to have become more and more irritating ever since Jack had been
+disinherited. Of course, it was right that he should have been
+disinherited, but Aunt Mary hadn’t thought much beforehand as to what
+would happen afterward, and it was too aggravating to have him turn out
+so well just when she had lost all patience with him and so cast him
+off forever, and for him to develop such a beautiful character, all of
+a sudden too—just as if education and good advice had been his undoing
+and seclusion and illness were the guardian angels arrived just in time
+to save him from the evil effects thereof.
+
+It hadn’t occurred to Aunt Mary that people keep on living just the
+same even after they have been cut out of a will. And she never had
+counted on Jack’s taking his bitter medicine in the spirit he was
+manifesting. She had not calculated any of the possible effects of her
+hasty action very maturely, but she certainly had not anticipated a
+lamblike submission to even the harshest of her edicts, nor had she
+expected Jack to be one who would strictly observe the Bible
+regulations and so return good for evil—in other words, write her now
+when he had never written her in the bygone years (unless under
+sharpest financial stress of circumstances).
+
+Yet such was the case. Jack had become a “ready letter-writer” ever
+since his removal to the city, whither some kind friends had invited
+him directly he could leave his sick-room. Aunt Mary did not know who
+the friends were and had hesitated somewhat as to opening the first
+letter. But it had borne no sting—being instead most sweetly pathetic,
+and since then, others had followed with touching frequency. Their
+polished periods fell upon the old lady’s stony hardness of heart with
+the persistent frequency of the proverbial drop of water. After the
+second she had ceased to regard the instructions given Lucinda as to
+mentioning her nephew’s name, and after the third he became again her
+favorite topic of conversation.
+
+It seemed that the poor boy had had the misfortune to contract measles,
+and in his weakened state the disease had nearly proved fatal. You can
+perhaps divine the effect of this statement on the grand-aunt, and the
+further effect of the words: “But never mind, Aunt Mary,” with which he
+concluded the brief narration.
+
+Aunt Mary had tried to snort and had sniffed instead; she had turned
+back to the first page, read, “All my head has been shaved, but I don’t
+care about having any more fun, anyhow,” and had let the letter fall in
+her lap. Every time that she had thought since of “our boy,” her anger
+had fallen hotter upon whoever was handiest. Lucinda (who was used to
+it) lived under a figurative rain of cinders, and thrived
+salamander-like in their midst; but Arethusa—who had come up for a
+week—found herself totally unable to stand the endless lava and boiling
+ashes, and fled back to the bosom of Mr. Arethusa the third morning
+after her arrival.
+
+“I’ve got to go, I find,” she had yelled the night before her
+departure.
+
+“I certainly wish you would,” replied her aunt. “I’m a great believer
+in married women paying attention at home before they begin to pry into
+their neighbors’ affairs. It’s a good idea. Most generally—most
+always.”
+
+This was bitterly unkind, since Arethusa was in the habit of taking the
+long journey purely out of a sense of duty and to keep Lucinda up to
+the mark; but grateful appreciation is rarely ever a salient point in
+the character of an autocrat.
+
+“I’m glad she’s gone,” Aunt Mary told Lucinda, when they were left
+together once more. “She puts me beyond all patience. She chatters
+gibberish that I can’t make out a word of for an hour at a time, and
+then, all of a sudden, she screams, ‘Dinner’s ready,’ or something
+equally silly, in a voice like a carvin’ knife. It’s enough to drive a
+sane person stark, raving mad. It is.”
+
+Lucinda acquiesced with a nod. Lucinda herself was glad that Arethusa
+had gone. She resented the manner in which the latter always looked
+over the preserve closet and counted the silver. Nothing was ever
+missing, because Lucinda was as honest as a day twenty-five hours long,
+but the more honest those of Lucinda’s caliber are, the more mad they
+get if they feel that they are being watched. So Lucinda acquiesced
+with a nod.
+
+The mistress and maid were sitting alone together, with the June rain
+falling without, and it was that pleasantly exciting hour which comes
+only in the country and is known as “about mail-time.”
+
+“There’s Joshua now,” Aunt Mary exclaimed, presently, “I see him
+turnin’ in the gate. He’ll be at the door before you get there,
+Lucinda,—he will. There, he’s twistin’ his wheel off. He’s tryin’ to
+hold Billy an’ hold the letters an’ whistle, all at once. Why don’t you
+go to him, Lucinda? Can’t you hear a whistle that I can see? Or, if you
+can’t hear the whistle, can’t you hear me? Do you think whoever wrote
+those letters would be much pleased if they could see you so slow about
+gettin’ them? Do—”
+
+Just here the old lady, turning toward Lucinda, perceived that she had
+been gone—Heaven knew how long. She felt decidedly vexed at finding
+herself to be in the wrong, rubbed her nose impatiently, and waited in
+a temper to match the rubbing.
+
+“My Lord! how slow she is!” she thought. “Well, if I don’t die of old
+age first, I presume I’ll get my letters some time. Maybe.”
+
+As a matter of fact, the door had blown shut behind Lucinda, and the
+latter personage was making her way, with well-hoisted skirts, around
+the house to the back door. She didn’t pass the window where the
+Argus-eyed was looking forth; because that lady had strong opinions of
+those who let doors bang behind them without their own volition.
+
+Five minutes later the maid did finally appear with one letter.
+
+“I thought you was waitin’ to bring to-morrow’s mail at the same time,”
+said Aunt Mary, icily.
+
+Then she found that the letter was from Jack, and Lucinda was
+completely forgotten in the pleasure of opening and reading it.
+
+DEAR AUNT MARY:
+
+It seems so strange how I’m just learning the pleasure of writing
+letters. I enjoy it more every day. When I see a pen I can hardly keep
+from feeling that I ought to write you directly. I think of you, then,
+because I’m thinking of you most always. It seems as if I never
+appreciated you before, Aunt Mary.
+
+I want to tell you something that I know will make you happy. I’ve
+never made you very happy Aunt Mary, but I’m going to begin now. I’ve
+got a place where I can earn my own living, and I’m going to work just
+as soon as I am strong enough. I’m as tickled as a baby over it. I’ll
+lay you any odds I get to be a richer man than the other John Watkins.
+I reckon money was bad for me, Aunt Mary, and I can see that you’ve
+done just the right thing to make a man of me. That isn’t surprising,
+because you always did do just the right thing, Aunt Mary; it was I
+that always did just the wrong thing, but I’m straightened out now and
+this time it’s forever—you just wait and see.
+
+There’s one thing bothers me some, and that is I don’t get strong very
+fast. They want me to take a tonic, but I don’t think a tonic would
+help me much. I feel so sort of blue and depressed, and perhaps that’s
+natural, for Bob’s away most of the time and I’m here all alone. It’s a
+big house and sort of lonely and sometimes I find myself imagining how
+it would seem to have someone from home in it with me, and I find
+myself almost crying—I do, for a fact, Aunt Mary.
+
+Next week, Bob is going to be away more than usual, and I’m dreading it
+awfully; but never mind, Aunt Mary, I don’t want to make you blue,
+because honestly I don’t think I’m going into a decline, even if the
+doctor does. And, after all, if I did sort of dwindle away it wouldn’t
+matter much, for I’m not worth anything, and no one knows that as well
+as myself—except you, Aunt Mary. I must stop because it’s nine o’clock
+and time I was in bed. I’ve got some socks to wash out first, too; you
+see, I’m learning how to economize just as fast as I can. It’s only two
+miles to my work, and I’m going to walk back and forth always—that’ll
+be between fifty cents and a dollar saved each week. I’m figuring on
+how to live on my salary and never have a debt, and you’ll be proud of
+me yet, Aunt Mary—if I don’t die first.
+
+Think of me all alone here next week. If I wasn’t steadfast as a rock I
+believe I’d do something foolish just to get out of myself. But never
+mind, Aunt Mary, it’s all right.
+
+Your afft. nephew,
+JOHN WATKINS, JR., DENHAM.
+
+
+When Lucinda returned from drying her feet, Aunt Mary had her
+handkerchief in one hand and spectacles in the other.
+
+“Saints and sinners!” cried the maid, in a voice that grated with
+sympathy. “He ain’t writ to say he’s dead, is he?”
+
+“No,” said Aunt Mary; “but he isn’t as well as he makes out. There’s no
+deceivin’ me, Lucinda!”
+
+“Dear! dear!” cried the Trusty and True; “is that so? What’s to be
+done? Do you want Joshua to run anywhere?”
+
+Aunt Mary suddenly regained her composure.
+
+“Run anywhere?” she asked, with her usual bitter intonation. “If you
+ain’t the greatest fool I ever was called upon to bed and board,
+Lucinda! Will you kindly explain to me how settin’ Joshua trottin’ is
+goin’ to do any mortal good to my poor boy away off there in that
+dreadful city?”
+
+“He could telegraph to Miss Arethusa,” Lucinda suggested. The
+suggestion bespoke the superior moral quality of Lucinda’s make-up—her
+own feeling toward Arethusa being considered.
+
+“I don’t want her,” said Aunt Mary with a positiveness that was final.
+“I don’t want her. My heavens, Lucinda, ain’t we just had enough of
+her? Anyhow, if you ain’t, I have. I don’t want her, nor no livin’ soul
+except my trunk; an’ I want that just as quick as Joshua can haul it
+down out of the attic.”
+
+“You ain’t thinkin’ of goin’ travelin’!” the maid cried in
+consternation; “you can’t never be thinkin’ of _that?_”
+
+“No,” said her mistress with fine irony; “I want the trunk to make a
+pie out of, probably.”
+
+Lucinda was speechless.
+
+“Lucinda,” her mistress said, after a few seconds had faded away
+unimproved, “seems to me I mentioned wantin’ Joshua to get down a
+trunk—seems to me I did.”
+
+The maid turned and left the room. She felt more or less dazed. Nothing
+so startling as Aunt Mary’s wanting a trunk had happened in years.
+Disinheriting Jack was not in it by comparison. She went slowly away to
+find Joshua and found him in the farther end of the rear woodhouse—John
+Watkins, like several of his ilk, having marked each forward step in
+the world by a back extension of his house.
+
+Joshua was chopping wood; his ax was high in the air. He also was calm
+and unsuspecting.
+
+“She’s goin’ to the city all alone!” Lucinda’s voice suddenly
+proclaimed behind him.
+
+The ax fell.
+
+“Who says so?” its handler demanded, facing about in surprise.
+
+“She says so.”
+
+Joshua picked up the ax and poised it afresh. He was himself again.
+
+“She’ll go then,” he said calmly.
+
+Lucinda marched around in front of him, and planted herself firmly
+among the chips.
+
+“Joshua Whittlesey!”
+
+“We can’t help it,” said Joshua stolidly. “We’re here to mind her. If
+she wants to go to New York, or to change her will, all we’ve got to do
+is to be simple witnesses.”
+
+“She don’t want Miss Arethusa telegraphed,” said Lucinda.
+
+“I don’t blame her,” said Joshua; “if I was her and if I was goin’ to
+New York I wouldn’t want no one telegraphed.”
+
+“She wants her trunk out of the attic.”
+
+“Then she’ll get her trunk out of the attic. When does she want it?”
+
+“She wants it now.”
+
+
+[Illustration: “She’s goin’ to the city all alone!’ Lucinda’s voice
+suddenly proclaimed behind him.”]
+
+
+“Then she’ll get it now,” said Joshua. From the general trend of this
+and other remarks of Joshua the reader will readily divine why he had
+been in Aunt Mary’s employ for thirty years, and had always been
+characterized by her as “a most sensible man,” and anyone who had seen
+the alacrity with which the trunk was brought and the respectful
+attention with which Aunt Mary’s further commands were received would
+have been forced to coincide in her opinion.
+
+The packing of the trunk was a task which fell to Lucinda’s lot and was
+performed under the eagle eye of her mistress. Aunt Mary’s ideas of
+what she would require were delightfully unsophisticated and brought up
+short on the farther-side of her tooth brush and her rubbers.
+Nevertheless she agreed in Lucinda’s suggestions as to more extensive
+supplies.
+
+Late that afternoon Joshua drove into town (amidst a wealth of mud
+spatters) and dispatched the answer to Jack’s letter. Aunt Mary was
+urged to haste by several considerations, some well defined, and others
+not so much so. To Lucinda she imparted her terrible anxiety over the
+dear boy’s health, but not even to herself did she admit her much more
+terrible anxiety lest Arethusa or Mary should suddenly appear and
+insist on accompanying her. She wanted to go, but she wanted to go
+alone.
+
+Jack telegraphed a response that night, and his aunt left by the Monday
+morning train. She had a six o’clock breakfast, and drove into town at
+a quarter of nine so as to be absolutely certain not to miss the train.
+Joshua drove, with the trunk perched beside him. It was a small and
+unassuming trunk, but Aunt Mary was not one who believed in putting on
+airs just because she was rich. Lucinda sat on the back seat with her
+mistress.
+
+“I’m sure I hope you’ll enjoy yourself,” she said.
+
+“Of course he’s nothing but a boy,” Aunt Mary replied,—“an’ I’ve told
+you a hundred times that boys will be boys and we mustn’t expect
+otherwise.”
+
+They arrived on time, and only had an hour and three-quarters to wait
+in the station. Toward the last Aunt Mary grew very nervous for fear
+something had happened to the train; but it came to time according to
+the waiting-room clock. Joshua put her aboard, and she soon had nothing
+left to worry over except the wonder as to whether Jack would be on
+hand to meet her or not.
+
+Joshua drove back home, let Lucinda out at the door, and put the horse
+up before going in to where she sat in solitary glory.
+
+“I wonder what _he’s_ up to?” she said with a pleasant sense of
+unlimited freedom as to the subject and duration of the conversation.
+
+“Suthin’, of course,” was the answer.
+
+“Do you s’pose he’s really sick?”
+
+“No, I don’t.”
+
+“Do you s’pose she thinks he’s really sick?”
+
+“Mebbe.”
+
+“Ain’t you goin’ to sit down, Joshua?”
+
+“I don’t see nothin’ to make me sit down here for.”
+
+“What do you think of her going?” she said, as he walked toward the
+door.
+
+“I think she’ll have a good time.”
+
+“At her age?”
+
+“Havin’ a good time ain’t a matter o’ age,” said Joshua. “It’s a matter
+o’ bein’ willin’ to have a good time.”
+
+Lucinda screwed her face up mightily.
+
+“If I was sure she’d be gone for a week,” she said, “I’d go a-visitin’
+myself.”
+
+“She’ll be gone a week,” said Joshua; and the manner and matter of his
+speech were both those of a prophet.
+
+Then he went out and the door slammed to behind him.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter Thirteen
+Aunt Mary Entrapped
+
+
+Aunt Mary’s arrival in the city just coincided with the arrival of that
+day’s five o’clock. Five o’clock in early June is very bright daylight,
+therefore she was rather bewildered when the train pulled up in the
+darkness and electricity of the station’s confusion. The change from
+sunlight to smoke blinded her somewhat and the view from the car window
+did not restore her equanimity. When the porter, to whom she had been
+discreetly recommended by Joshua, came for her bags, she felt woefully
+distressed and not at all like her usual self.
+
+“Oh, do I have to get out?” she said. “I ain’t been in this place for
+twenty-five years, and I was to be met.”
+
+The porter’s grin hovered comfortingly over her head.
+
+“You can stay here jus’ ’s long as you like, ma’am,” he yelled, in the
+voice of a train dispatcher. “I’ll send your friends in when they
+inquiahs.”
+
+Aunt Mary eyed him gratefully, and gave him the nickel which she had
+been carefully holding in her hand for the last hour.
+
+Then she looked up, and saw Jack!
+
+A perfectly splendid Jack, in resplendent attire, handsome, beaming,
+with a big bouquet of violets in his hand!
+
+“For you, Aunt Mary,” he said, and dropped them into her lap, and
+hugged her fervently. She clung to him with a cling that forgot the
+immediate past, disinheriting and all. Oh! she was so glad to see him!
+
+The porter approached with a beneficent look.
+
+“Has he taken good care of you, Aunt Mary?” Jack asked, as the man
+gathered up the things and they started to leave the car.
+
+“Yes, indeed,” Aunt Mary declared.
+
+So Jack gave the porter a dollar.
+
+Then they left the train.
+
+“I was so worried,” Aunt Mary said, as she went along the platform
+hanging on her nephew’s arm. “I thought you’d met with an accident.”
+
+“I couldn’t get on until the rest got off,” he said, gazing down on her
+with a smile; “but I was on hand, all right. My, but it’s good to think
+that you’re here, Aunt Mary! Maybe you think that I don’t appreciate
+your taking all this trouble for me, but I do, just the same.”
+
+Aunt Mary smiled all over. Everyone who passed them was smiling, too,
+and that added to the general joy of the atmosphere. Aunt Mary felt
+proud of Jack, and rejoiced as to herself. Her content with life in
+general was, for the moment, limitless. She did not stop to dissect the
+sources of her delight. She was not in a critical mood just then.
+
+“Why don’t you stick those flowers in your belt, Aunt Mary?” her nephew
+asked, as they penetrated the worst of the human jungle, and the
+preservation of the violets appeared to be the main question of the
+day. “That’s what the girls do.”
+
+His aunt looked vaguely down at herself. She had no belt to stick her
+violets in. She wore no belt. She wore a basque. A basque is a beltless
+something that you can’t remember, but that females did, once upon a
+time, cover the upper half of their forms with. Basques buttoned down
+the front with ten to thirty buttons, and may be studied at leisure in
+any good collection of daguerreotypes. Ladies like Aunt Mary are apt to
+scorn such futilities as waning styles after they pass beyond a certain
+age, and for that reason there was no place for Jack’s violets.
+
+“Never mind,” he said cheerfully, having followed her dubiousness with
+his understanding. “Just hang on to them a minute longer, and we’ll be
+out of all this.”
+
+His words came true, and they finally did emerge from the seething mass
+and found a carriage, the door of which happened to be standing
+mysteriously open. Within, upon the small seat, some omniscient hands
+had already deposited Aunt Mary’s bags. It did not take long to stow
+Aunt Mary, face to her luggage, and she was barely established there
+before her trunk came, too; and, although the coachman looked so
+gorgeous, he was nevertheless obliging enough to allow it to couch
+humbly at his feet.
+
+Then they rolled away.
+
+Jack sat sideways and looked at his aunt, holding her hand. His eyes
+were unfeignedly happy, and his companion matched his eyes. Neither
+seemed to recollect that one was bitterly angry, and that the other was
+on the verge of melancholia. Instead, Jack declared fervently:
+
+“Aunt Mary, I’ve made up my mind to give you the time of your life!”
+
+And Aunt Mary drew a sigh of relief in his words and anticipation of
+their fulfillment.
+
+“I’ll be happy takin’ care of you,” she said, benevolently. “My!—but
+your letter scared me. An’ yet you look well.”
+
+He laughed.
+
+“It’s the knowing you were coming that’s done that, Aunt Mary. You
+ought to have seen me when I got your telegram. I almost turned a
+somersault.”
+
+Aunt Mary smiled rapturously and patted his hand.
+
+And just then they drew up in front of the house. She looked out, and
+her face fell a trifle.
+
+“It’s awful high and narrow,” she said.
+
+“They all are,” Jack replied, opening the carriage door and jumping out
+to receive her.
+
+The door at the top of the steps opened, and a man came down for the
+bags. In the hall above, a pretty maid waited with a welcoming smile.
+
+Jack piloted his aunt, first up the entrance steps, and then up the
+staircase within, and led her to the lovely room which had been vacated
+for her. The maid followed with tea and biscuits, and the man brought
+the luggage and ranged it unobtrusively in a corner. There was a lavish
+richness about everything which made Aunt Mary and her trunk appear as
+gray and insignificant as a pair of mice, by contrast; but she didn’t
+feel it, and so she didn’t mind it.
+
+Jack kissed her tenderly.
+
+“Welcome to town, Aunt Mary,” he said heartily, “and may you never live
+to look upon this day as other than the luckiest of your life!” Then,
+turning to the servant, he said:
+
+“Janice, you see that you do all that money can buy for my aunt.”
+
+The maid courtesied. She had arranged the tray upon a little table and
+the spout of the tea pot and the round hole in the middle of the
+toast-cover were each pouring forth a pleasant suggestion.
+
+Aunt Mary began at once to haul forth her keys.
+
+“Why, Aunt Mary,” Jack cried, wondering if her nose was deaf, too, or
+whether she didn’t feel hungry, “don’t you see your tea? Or don’t you
+want any?”
+
+Aunt Mary thumbed her trunk key.
+
+“I want a nightgown,” she said; “maybe I’ll want something else later.
+Maybe.”
+
+“You’re not going to _bed!_”
+
+She drew herself up.
+
+“I guess I can if I want to; I guess I can. There’s the bed and here’s
+me.”
+
+“Whatever are you saying? It isn’t half-past six o’clock.”
+
+“I’m not _prayin_’ about anything,” said the old lady. “I don’t pray
+about things. I do ’em when needful. And when I’m tired I go to bed.”
+
+“All right, Aunt Mary,” with sugary sweetness and lamb-like
+submissiveness. “I thought we’d dine out together, but if you don’t
+want to, we needn’t. And if you feel like it when you waken, we can.”
+
+“Dine out,” said Aunt Mary, blankly; “has the cook left? I never was a
+great approver of goin’ and eatin’ at boarding houses.”
+
+“Well, never mind,” Jack said in a key pitched to rhyme with high C.
+“I’ll leave you now—and we can see about everything later.”
+
+He kissed her, and retired from the room.
+
+“Did he say we’re goin’ out to dinner?” Aunt Mary asked, when she was
+left alone with the maid, who hurried to take her bonnet and shawl, and
+get her into juxtaposition with the tea-tray as rapidly as possible.
+
+“Yes, ma’am,” the girl screamed, nodding.
+
+“I don’t want to,” said the old lady firmly. “Lots of trouble comes
+through gettin’ out of house habits. I’ve come here to take care of a
+sick boy and not to go gallivantin’ round myself. I’ve seen the evils
+of gallivantin’ a good deal lately and I don’t want to see no more. Not
+here and not nowhere.”
+
+Then she began to eat and drink and reflect, all at the same time.
+
+“By the way, what’s your name?” she asked, suddenly. “Jack didn’t tell
+me.”
+
+“Janice, ma’am.”
+
+“Granite?” said Aunt Mary. “What a funny idea to name you that! Did
+they call you for the tinware or for the rocks?”
+
+“I don’t know,” shrieked Janice, who was busily occupied in unpacking
+the traveler’s trunk.
+
+Her new mistress watched her with a critical eye at first, but it
+became a more or less sleepy eye as the warmth of the tea meandered
+slowly through its owner. There was a battle within Aunt Mary’s brain;
+she wanted to please Jack, and she was almost dead with sleep.
+
+“Do you think that I ought to try and go out with my nephew to-night?”
+she asked Janice.
+
+“If it was me, I should go,” cried the maid.
+
+“I never was called slow before,” Aunt Mary said, bridling. “I’ll thank
+you to remember your place, young woman.”
+
+Janice explained.
+
+“Oh! I didn’t hear plainly,” said Aunt Mary. “I don’t always. Well go
+or not go, I’ve _got_ to sleep first. I’m dreadfully sleepy, and I’ve
+always been a great believer in sleepin’ when you’re sleepy.”
+
+The fact of the sleepiness was so evident that no attempt was made to
+gainsay it. Janice brought down a quilt from the closet and tucked her
+charge up luxuriously on the great bed. Five minutes later she was in
+dreamland.
+
+Jack came in about seven and looked at her.
+
+“She mustn’t be disturbed,” he said thoughtfully. “If she wakes up
+before ten we’ll go out then.”
+
+She awoke about nine, and when she opened her eyes the first thing that
+she saw was Janice, sitting near by.
+
+“I feel real good,” said Aunt Mary.
+
+“I’m so glad,” yelled Janice, and smiled, too.
+
+The old lady sat up.
+
+“I believe I could have gone out, after all,” she said. “Only I don’t
+want to take dinner anywhere.”
+
+Then she paused and reflected. It was surprising how good she felt and
+how she did want to make Jack happy. “After all boys will be boys,” she
+thought, tenderly, “an’ I ain’t but seventy, so I don’t see why I
+shouldn’t go out with him if he wants to. I’m a great believer in doin’
+what you want to—I mean, in doin’ what other folks want you to. At any
+rate I’m a great believer in it sometimes. To-day—this time.”
+
+“Your nephew is waiting,” the maid howled. “Shall I tell him you want
+to go after all?”
+
+“Is it late?” the old lady inquired.
+
+“Oh, dear, no!”
+
+“Wouldn’t you go if you was me?” asked the old lady.
+
+Janice smiled.
+
+“Indeed I would.”
+
+Aunt Mary rose. A flood of metropolitan fever suddenly surged up and
+around and over and through her.
+
+“Tell him I’ll be down in five minutes,” she said.
+
+“Can you change in that time?” Janice stopped to shriek.
+
+“What should I change for?” Aunt Mary demanded in astonishment. “Ain’t
+I all dressed now?”
+
+Janice did not attempt to shriek any counter-advice, and while she was
+gone to find Jack, her mistress brushed herself in some places, soaped
+herself in others, and considered her toilet made. When Janice returned
+she caught up a loose lock of hair, and put the placket-hole of her
+skirt square in the middle of Aunt Mary’s back, and dared go no
+further. There was an air even about the back of Jack’s influential
+aunt which forbade too much liberty to those dealing with her.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter Fourteen
+Aunt Mary En Fête
+
+
+[Illustration: Aunt Mary en Fête. May Robson as “Aunt Mary.”]
+
+
+Aunt Mary descended the stairs about half-past nine; she thought it was
+about a quarter to eight, but the difference between the hour that it
+was and the hour that she thought that it was will be all the same a
+hundred years from now.
+
+Jack came out of the Louis XIV. drawing room when he heard her step in
+the hall. There was another young man with him.
+
+“This is my friend Burnett, Aunt Mary,” her nephew roared. “You must
+excuse his not bowing lower, but you know he broke his collarbone
+recently.”
+
+Aunt Mary shook hands warmly; she knew all about the ribs and the
+collarbone, because they had formed big items in the testimony which
+had momentarily and as momentously relegated Jack to the comradeship of
+the devil himself, in her eyes. However, she recalled them merely as
+facts now—not at all in a disagreeable way—and gave Burnett an extra
+squeeze of good-fellowship, as she said:
+
+“You had a narrow escape, young man.”
+
+“I didn’t have any escape at all,” said Burnett. “The escape went down
+at the back, and I had to jump from a cornice.”
+
+“Burnett is going out to dine with us, Aunt Mary,” said Jack. “There’s
+so little he can eat on account of his ribs that he’s a good dinner
+guest for me.”
+
+Jack’s aunt felt vaguely uncomfortable over this allusion to her
+grand-nephew’s circumstances, and coughed in slight embarrassment.
+
+Burnett opened the door, and the carriage lamp shone below. (Is there
+ever anything more delightfully suggestive than a carriage lamp shining
+down below?) They took her down and put her in, and the carriage rolled
+away.
+
+It was that June when “Bedelia” covered nearly the whole of the
+political horizon; it was the date of June when West Point, Vassar, the
+Blue, the Red, the Black and Yellow and every known device for getting
+rid of young and growing-up America are all cast loose at once on our
+fair land. The streets were a scene of glorious confusion, and but for
+Aunt Mary no considerations could have kept Burnett’s collarbone and
+Jack’s melancholia cooped up in a closed carriage. As it was, they were
+both fidgeting like two youthful Uncle Sams in a European railway
+coupé, when the latter suddenly exclaimed: “Here we are!” and threw
+open the door as he spoke. Then he got out and Burnett got out and
+between them they got Aunt Mary out.
+
+Aunt Mary regarded the awning and carpet and general glitter with a
+more or less appalled gaze.
+
+“Looks like—” she began; and was interrupted by a voice at her side:
+
+“Hello, Jack!”
+
+“Hello, Clover!”
+
+She turned and saw him of the pale mustache whom we once met in Mrs.
+Rosscott’s drawing room. He was in no wise altered since that occasion
+except that his attire was slightly more resplendent and he had on a
+silk hat.
+
+Jack shook hands warmly and then he turned to his relative.
+
+“Aunt Mary, this is my friend Clover; he’s often heard me speak of
+you.”
+
+“Glad to meet you, Mr. Rover,” said Aunt Mary, cordially, and she, too,
+shook hands with that cordiality that flourishes beyond city limits.
+
+Her nephew bent over her ear-trumpet.
+
+“Clover!” he howled, with all the strength he owned.
+
+“I heard before,” said Aunt Mary, somewhat coldly.
+
+“Come on and dine with us, Clover,” said Jack; “that’ll make four.” (By
+the way, isn’t it odd how many people ask their friends to dinner for
+the simple reason that, arithmetically considered, each counts as one!)
+
+“All right, I will,” said Clover, in his languid drawl.
+
+Aunt Mary saw his lips.
+
+“It’s no use my deceivin’ you as to my bein’ a little hard of hearin’,”
+she said to him, “because you can see my ear-trumpet; so I’ll trouble
+you to say that over again.”
+
+“All right, I will,” Clover wailed, good-humoredly.
+
+“What?” asked Aunt Mary. “I didn’t—”
+
+Jack cut her short by leading the party inside.
+
+The scene within was as gorgeous with golden stucco as the dining-room
+of a German liner. Aunt Mary was so overcome that she traversed half
+the room before she became aware of the mighty attention which she and
+her three escorts were attracting. In truth, it is not every day that
+three good-looking young men take a tiny old lady, a bunch of violets
+and an ear-trumpet out to dine at ten o’clock.
+
+“Everyone’s lookin’,” she said to Jack.
+
+“It’s your back, Aunt Mary,” he replied, in a voice that shook some
+loose golden flakes from the ceiling. “I tell you, not many women of
+your age have a back like yours, and don’t you forget it.”
+
+The compliment pleased Aunt Mary, because she had all her life been
+considered round-shouldered. It also pleased her because she never had
+received many compliments. The Aunt Marys of this world love flattery
+just as dearly as the Mrs. Rosscotts; the sad part of life is that they
+rarely get any. The women like Mrs. Rosscott know why the Aunt Marys go
+unflattered, but the Aunt Marys never understand. It’s all sad—and
+true—and undeniable.
+
+They went to a table, and were barely seated when another man came up.
+
+“Hello, Jack!”
+
+“Hello, Mitchell!”
+
+It was he of Scotch ancestry. Jack sprang up and greeted him with
+warmth, then he turned to Aunt Mary.
+
+“Aunt Mary,” he screamed, “this is my friend”—he paused, put on all
+steam and ploughed right through—“Herbert Kendrick Mitchell.”
+
+“I didn’t catch that at all,” said Aunt Mary, calmly, “but I’m just as
+glad to meet the gentleman.”
+
+Mitchell clasped her hand with an expression as burning as if it was
+real.
+
+“I declare,” he yelled straight at her, “if this isn’t what I’ve been
+dreaming towards ever since I first knew Jack.”
+
+Aunt Mary fairly shone.
+
+“Dear me,” she began, “if I’d known—”
+
+“You’d better dine with us, Mitchell,” said Jack; “that’ll make five.”
+
+“It won’t make but three for me,” said Mitchell. “I haven’t had but two
+dinners before to-night.”
+
+Clover smiled because he heard, and Aunt Mary smiled because she
+didn’t, but was happy anyway. She had altogether forgotten that she had
+demurred at dining out. They all sat down and shook out their napkins.
+Mitchell and Clover shook Aunt Mary’s for her and gave it a beautiful
+cornerways spread across her lap.
+
+Then the waiter laid another plate for Mitchell, and brought oyster
+cocktails for everyone. Aunt Mary eyed hers with early curiosity and
+later suspicion; and she smelled of it very carefully.
+
+“I don’t believe they’re good oysters,” she said.
+
+“Yes, they are,” cried Mitchell reassuringly. His voice, when he turned
+it upon her, was pitched like a clarionet. The blind would surely have
+seen as well as the deaf have heard had there been any candidates for
+miracles in his immediate vicinity. “They’re first-class,” he added,
+“you just go at them and see.”
+
+The reassured took another whiff.
+
+“You can have mine,” she said directly afterwards; and there was an air
+of decision about her speech which brooked no opposition. Yet Mitchell
+persisted.
+
+“Oh, no,” he yelled; “you must learn how. Just throw your head back and
+take ’em quick—after the fashion that they eat raw eggs, don’t you
+know?”
+
+“But she can’t,” said Clover. “There’s too much, particularly as she
+isn’t used to them. I’ll tell you, Miss Watkins,” he cried, hoisting
+his own voice to the masthead, “you eat the oysters, and leave the
+cocktail. That’s the way to get gradually trained into the wheel.”
+
+Aunt Mary thought some of obeying; she fished out one oyster, wiped it
+carefully with a bit of bread, regarded it with more than dubious
+countenance, and then suddenly decided not to.
+
+“I’d rather be at home when I try experiments,” she said, decidedly;
+and the waiter carried off her cocktail and gave her food that was good
+beyond question thereafter.
+
+The dinner went with zest. It was an enlivening party that consumed it,
+and what they consumed with it enlivened them still more. The gentlemen
+soon reached the point where they could laugh over jokes they could not
+understand, and the one lady member became equally merry over wit that
+she did not hear. She forgot for the nonce that there were any phases
+of life in which she was not a believer, and whether this was owing to
+the surrounding gayety or to the champagne which they persuaded her to
+taste it is not my province to explain.
+
+“Now we must lay our lines for events to come,” Jack said, when they
+advanced upon the dessert and prepared to occupy an extensive territory
+of ices, fruit, and jellied something or other. “It would be a sin for
+Aunt Mary to leave this famous battlefield without a few honorable
+scars! We must take her out in a bubble for one thing and—”
+
+“In mine!” cried Clover. “To-morrow! Why can’t she?—I held up my hand
+first?”
+
+“All right,” said Jack; “to-morrow she’s your’s. At four o’clock.”
+
+“She must have goggles,” cried Mitchell. “She must have goggles and be
+all fixed up, and when you have got her the goggles and she has been
+all fixed up, I ask, as a last boon, that I may go along, just so as to
+see everyone who sees her.”
+
+“We’ll all go,” Clover explained. “I’ll ‘chuff’ her myself and then
+there’ll be room for everyone.”
+
+“To the auto and to to-morrow!” cried Burnett, hastily pouring out a
+fresh toast, which even Aunt Mary applauded, not at all knowing what
+she was applauding.
+
+“And now for the next day,” said Jack. “I think I’ll give her a
+box-party. Don’t you want to go to the theater in a box, Aunt Mary?”
+
+“Go where in a box?” said Aunt Mary, starting a little. “I didn’t quite
+catch that.”
+
+“To the theater,” Jack yelled.
+
+“To the theater,” repeated his aunt a trifle blankly, “I—”
+
+“And the next day,” said Mitchell suddenly (he had been reflecting
+maturely), “I’ll take you all up the sound in my yacht.”
+
+“Oh, hurrah,” cried Burnett, “that’ll be bully! And the day after I’ll
+give her a picnic.”
+
+“Time of your life, Aunt Mary,” Jack shrieked in her ear-trumpet; “time
+of your life!”
+
+“Dear me!” said Aunt Mary, “I don’t just—”
+
+“Aunt Mary! glasses down!” cried Clover; “may she live forever and
+forever.”
+
+“To Aunt Mary, glasses up,” said Mitchell. “Glasses up come before
+glasses down always. It’s one of the laws of Nature—human nature—also
+of good nature. Here’s to Aunt Mary, and if she isn’t the Aunt Mary of
+all of us here’s a hoping she may get there some day; I don’t just see
+how, but I ask the indulgence of those present on the plea that I have
+indulged quite a little myself to-night. Honi soit qui mal y pense; ora
+pro nobis, Erin-go-Bragh. Present company being present, and impossible
+to except on that account, we will omit the three cheers and choke down
+the tiger.”
+
+They all drank, and the dinner having by this time dwindled down to
+coffee grounds and cheese crumbs a vote was taken as to where they
+should go next.
+
+Aunt Mary suggested home, but she was over-ruled, and they all went
+elsewhere. She never could recollect where she went or what she saw;
+but, as everyone else has been and seen over and over again, I won’t
+fuss with detailing it.
+
+The visitor from the country reached home in a carriage in the small
+hours in the morning, and Janice received her, looking somewhat
+nervous.
+
+“This is pretty late,” she ventured to remind the bearers; but as they
+didn’t seem to think so, and she was a maiden, wise beyond her years,
+she spoke no further word, but went to work and undressed the aged
+reveller, got her comfortably established in bed, and then left her to
+get a good sleep, an occupation which occupied the weary one fully
+until two that afternoon.
+
+When she did at last open her eyes it was several minutes before she
+knew where she was. Her brain seemed dazed, her intellect more than
+clouded. It is a state of mind to which those who habitually go about
+in hansoms at the hour of dawn are well accustomed, but to Aunt Mary it
+was painfully new. She struggled to remember, and felt helplessly
+inadequate to the task. Janice finally came in with a glass of
+something that foamed and fizzed, and the victim of late hours drank
+that and came to her senses again. Then she recollected.
+
+“My! but I had a good time last night!” she said, putting her hand to
+her head. “What time is it now, anyhow?”
+
+“Breakfast time,” cried the handmaiden. “You’ll have just long enough
+to eat and dress leisurely before you go out.”
+
+“Oh!” said Aunt Mary blankly; “where ’m I goin’? Do you know?”
+
+“Mr. Denham told me that you had promised to attend an automobile party
+at four.”
+
+“Oh, yes,” said Aunt Mary hastily. “I guess I remember. I guess I do. I
+saw Jack wanted to go, so I said I’d go, too. I’m a great believer in
+lettin’ the young enjoy themselves.”
+
+She looked sharply at Janice as she spoke, but Janice was serene.
+
+“I didn’t come to town to do anything but make Jack happy,” continued
+Aunt Mary, “and I see that he won’t take any fresh air without I go
+along—so I shall go too while I’m here. Mostly. As a general thing.”
+
+“Mr. Mitchell called and left these flowers with his card,” Janice
+said, opening a huge box of roses; “and a man brought a package. Shall
+I open it?”
+
+Aunt Mary’s wrinkles fairly radiated.
+
+“Well, did I ever!” she exclaimed. “Yes; open it.”
+
+Janice proceeded to obey, and the package was found to contain an
+automobile wrap, a pair of goggles and a note from Clover.
+
+“My gracious me!” cried Aunt Mary.
+
+“Mr. Denham sent the violets,” Janice said, pointing to a great bowl of
+lilac and white blossoms.
+
+Just then the doorbell rang, and it was a ten-pound box of candy from
+Burnett.
+
+Aunt Mary collapsed among her pillows.
+
+“I _never_ did!” she murmured feebly, and then she suddenly exclaimed:
+“An’ to think of me livin’ up there all my life with plenty of money—”
+she stopped short. I tell you when you come to New York on a mission
+and stay for the Bacchanalia it is hard to hold consistently to either
+standard.
+
+But Janice had gone for her lady’s breakfast, and after the lady had
+eaten it and had herself dressed for the day’s joys, Jack knocked at
+the door.
+
+“Well, Aunt Mary,” he roared, when he was let in, “if you don’t look
+fine! You’re the freshest of the bunch to-day, sure. You’ll be ready
+for another night to-night, and you’ve only to say where, you know.”
+
+“Granite did my hair,” said his aunt; “you must praise her, not me.”
+
+“And you’ve got your goggles all ready, too,” he continued. “Who sent
+’em?”
+
+“Oh, I shan’t wiggle,” said Aunt Mary “although I can’t see how it
+could hurt if I did.”
+
+“Come on and let’s dress her up,” said Jack to the maid, “Glory! what
+fun!”
+
+Thereupon they went to work and rigged the old lady out. She was
+certainly a sight, for she stood by her own bonnet, and that failed to
+jibe with the goggles.
+
+Burnett was summoned in to view the proceedings, but just as he caught
+the first glimpse he was taken with a fearful cramp in his broken ribs
+and was forced to beat the hastiest sort of a retreat.
+
+“I hope he’ll get over it and be able to go out with us,” said Aunt
+Mary anxiously.
+
+“I guess he’ll recover,” Jack yelled cheerfully. “Oh, there’s Clover!”
+
+A sort of dull, ponderous panting sounded in the street without, and
+let all the neighbors know that “The Threshing Machine” (as Clover had
+christened his elephantine toy) was waiting for someone.
+
+Its owner came in for a stirrup cup; Mitchell was with him. Both were
+togged out as if entered for the annual Paris-Bordeaux.
+
+Burnett brought out the cut-glass jugs.
+
+“Ye gods and little fishes! Sapristi! Sacre bleu!” he said to his
+friends. “Just you wait till you see our Aunt Mary!”
+
+“Has she got ’em all on?” Clover asked.
+
+“Has she got ’em all on!” said Burnett. “She has got ’em all on; and
+how Jack held his own in the room with her I cannot understand. I took
+one look, and if mine had been a surgical case of stitches the last
+thread would have bust that instant. I don’t believe I dare go out with
+you. This is a life and death game to Jack, and I won’t risk smashing
+his future by not being able to keep sober in the face of Aunt Mary.”
+
+“Oh, come on,” Clover urged in his wiry voice. “You needn’t look at
+her; or, if you do look at her, you can look the other way right
+afterwards, you know.”
+
+“I’ll sit next to her,” Mitchell explained. “As a sitter by Aunt Mary’s
+side I shone last night; and where a man has sat once, the same man can
+surely sit again.”
+
+Burnett hesitated, and just then voices were heard in the hall. Jack
+and Janice were convoying Aunt Mary below.
+
+Mitchell went out into the hall.
+
+“Well, Miss Watkins,” he said, in a tone such as one would use to call
+down Santos-Dumont, “I’m mighty glad to see you looking so well.”
+
+Aunt Mary turned the goggles full upon him.
+
+“A present from Mr. Clover,” she said smiling.
+
+“I never knew him to take so much trouble for any lady before,” said
+Mitchell; and as she arrived just then at the foot of the staircase he
+pressed her proffered hand warmly and forthwith led her in upon the two
+men in the library.
+
+She looked exactly like a living edition of one of the bug pictures,
+and Clover had to think and swallow fast and hard to keep from being
+overcome. But he was true blue, and came out right side up. Aunt Mary
+was acclaimed on all sides, and escorted to the “bubble.”
+
+Burnett couldn’t resist going, too, at the last moment; but, as his
+ribs were really tender yet, he sat in front with Clover. Jack and
+Mitchell sat behind, and deftly inserted the honored guest between
+them.
+
+“It’s an even thing as to which is the ear-trumpet side,” Mitchell
+said, as they all stood about preparatory to climbing in. “Of course,
+that side don’t need to holler quite so loud; but then, to balance, he
+may get his one and only pair of front teeth knocked out any minute.”
+
+“I’ll take that side,” said Jack. “I’m used to fighting under the
+inspiration of the trumpet.”
+
+“And God be with you,” said his friend piously. “May he watch over you
+and bring you out safe and whole—teeth, eyes, etc.”
+
+“Come on,” said Clover impatiently; “don’t you know this thing’s
+getting up power and you’re wasting it talking.”
+
+“Curious,” laughed Burnett. “I never knew that it was gasolene that men
+were consuming when they kept an automobile waiting.”
+
+And then they got in and were off—a merry load, indeed.
+
+“Dear me, but it’s a-goin’!” Aunt Mary exclaimed, as the thing began to
+whiz and she felt suddenly impelled to clutch wildly at her flanking
+escorts. “Suppose we met a dog.”
+
+“We’d leave a floor mat,” shrieked Mitchell. “Oh, but isn’t this
+great—greater—greatest?”
+
+“Time of your life, Aunt Mary!” Jack howled, as they went over a
+boarded spot in the pavement, and the old lady nearly went over the
+back in consequence. “You’re in for the time of your life!”
+
+“How do you like it?” yelled Clover, throwing a glance over his
+shoulder.
+
+Aunt Mary started to answer, but they came to four car tracks one after
+another, and the successive shocks rendered her speechless.
+
+“Where are we going?” Burnett asked.
+
+“Nowhere,” said Clover. “Just waking up the machine.” And he turned on
+another million volts as he spoke.
+
+“Oh, my bonnet!” cried poor Aunt Mary, and that bit of her adornment
+was in the street and had been run over four times before they could
+slow up, turn around, and get back to the scene of its output.
+
+It speaks volumes for the permeating atmosphere of “having the time of
+your life” that its owner laughed when the wreck was shown to her.
+
+“I don’t care a bit,” she said. “I can go down to Delmonico’s an’ get
+me another to-morrow mornin’, easy.”
+
+“What a trump you are, Aunt Mary!” said Jack admiringly. “Here,
+Burnett, fish her out that extra cap from the cane rack; there’s always
+one in the bottom. There—now you won’t take cold, Aunt Mary.”
+
+The cap, with its fore-piece, was the crowning glory of Aunt Mary’s
+get-up. The brain measurements of him who had bought the cap being to
+its present wearer’s as five is to three, the effect of its
+proportions, in addition to the goggles and the ear-trumpet, was such
+as to have overawed a survivor of Medusa’s stare.
+
+“Oh, I say,” said Mitchell, “it’s a sin to keep as good a joke as this
+in the family! We must drive her around town until the night falls down
+or the battery burns out.”
+
+“I say so too,” said Burnett. “This is more sport than oiling railroad
+tracks and seeing old Tweedwell brought up for it. Say, set her
+a-buzzing again. It’s a big game, isn’t it?”
+
+Clover thought so, with the result that they speeded through tranquil
+neighborhoods and churned leisurely where the masses seethed until
+countless thousands were wondering what under the sun those four young
+fellows had in the back of their car.
+
+The sad part about all good fun is that it has to end sooner or later;
+and about six o’clock the whole party began to be aware that, if
+refreshments were not taken, their end was surely close at hand. They
+therefore called a brief halt somewhere to get what is technically
+known as a “sandwich,” and the results were thoroughly satisfactory to
+everyone but Aunt Mary. She took one bite of her sandwich, and then
+opened it with an abruptness which merged into disgust when it proved
+to be full of fish eggs.
+
+“Why didn’t you tell me what it was made of?” she asked in annoyance.
+“I feel just as if I’d swallowed a marsh—a green one!”
+
+“That’s a shame!” said Clover indignantly. “I’ll get you something that
+will take that taste out of your mouth double quick. Here!” he called
+to a waiter, and then he gave the man certain careful directions.
+
+The latter nodded wisely, and a few minutes later brought in a tiny
+glass containing a pousse-café in three different colors.
+
+“It’s a cocktail. Drink it quick,” Clover directed.
+
+Aunt Mary demurred.
+
+“I never drank a cocktail,” she began.
+
+“No time like the present to begin,” said Clover, “you’ll have to learn
+some day.”
+
+“Cocktails,” said Mitchell, “are the advance guard of a newer and
+brighter civilization. They—”
+
+“If she’s going to take it at all she must take it now,” said Clover
+authoritatively. “The green and the yellow are beginning to run
+together. Quick now!”
+
+His confiding guest drank quick and became the three different colors
+quicker yet.
+
+“What’s the matter?” Jack asked anxiously.
+
+Aunt Mary was speechless.
+
+“He mixed it wrong,” said Clover in a sad, discouraged tone. “What she
+ought to have got first she got last, that’s all. The cocktail is
+upside down inside of her, and the effect of it is upside down on the
+outside of her.”
+
+“Feel any better now, Aunt Mary?” Jack yelled.
+
+“I can’t seem to keep the purple swallowed,” said the poor old lady. “I
+want to go home. I’ve always been a great believer in going home when
+you feel like I do now. In general—as a rule.”
+
+“I would strongly recommend your obeying her wishes,” said Mitchell,
+with great earnestness. “There’s a time for all things, and, in my
+opinion, she’s had about all the queer tastes that she can absorb for
+to-day. Things being as they are and mainly as they shouldn’t be, I
+cast my vote in with what looks as if it would soon become the losing
+side, and vote to bubble back for all we’re worth.”
+
+There was a general acquiescence in his view of the case, which led
+them all to pile into “The Threshing Machine” with unaffected haste and
+rush Aunt Mary bedward as rapidly as was possible considering the hour
+and the policemen.
+
+Janice received her mistress with the tender welcome that every
+prodigal may count on and was especially expeditious with tea and toast
+and a robe de nuit. Aunt Mary sighed luxuriously when she felt herself
+finally tucked up.
+
+“After all, Granite,” she said dreamily, “there’s nothin’ like gettin’
+stretched out to think it over—is there?”
+
+But Janice was turning out the lights.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter Fifteen
+Aunt Mary Enthralled
+
+
+Jack’s aunt slept long and dreamlessly again. That thrice-blessed sleep
+which follows nights abroad in the metropolis.
+
+When, toward four o’clock, Aunt Mary opened her eyes, she was at first
+almost as hazy in her conceptions as she had found herself upon the
+previous day.
+
+“I feel as if the automobile was runnin’ up my back and over my head,”
+she said, thoughtfully passing her hand along the machine’s imaginary
+course. Then she rang her bell and Janice appeared from the room
+beyond.
+
+“I guess you’d better give me some of that that you gave me yesterday,”
+the elderly lady suggested; “what do you think?”
+
+“Yes, indeed,” said Janice—and went at once and brought it in separate
+glasses on a tray, and mixed it by pouring, while Aunt Mary looked on
+with an intuitive understanding that passed instinct and bordered on a
+complete comprehension of things to her hitherto unknown.
+
+“They’d ought to advertise that,” she said, as she set down the empty
+glass a few seconds later. “There’d be a lot of folks who’d be glad to
+know there was such a thing when they first wake up mornin’s
+after—after—well, mornin’s after anythin’. It’s jus’ what you want
+right off; it sort of runs through your hair and makes you begin to
+remember.”
+
+“Yes, ma’am,” said Janice, turning to put down the tray, and then
+crossing the room to seek something on the chimney-piece.
+
+Aunt Mary gave a sudden twist,—as if the drink had infused an
+effervescing energy into her frame. “Well what am I goin’ to do
+to-day?” she asked.
+
+“Mr. Denham has written out your engagements here,” said Janice,
+handing her a jeweler’s box as she spoke.
+
+Aunt Mary tore off the tissue paper with trembling haste—lifted the
+cover—and beheld a tiny ivory and gold memoranda card.
+
+“Well, that boy!” she ejaculated.
+
+“Shall I read the list aloud to you?” the maid inquired.
+
+“Yes, read it.”
+
+So Janice read the dates proposed the night before and Aunt Mary sat up
+in bed, held her ear-trumpet, and beamed beatifically.
+
+“I don’t believe I ever can do all that,” she said when Janice paused;
+“I never was one to rush around pell-mell, but I’ve always been a great
+believer in lettin’ other folks enjoy themselves an’ I shall try not to
+interfere.”
+
+Janice hung the tiny memoranda up beside its owner’s watch and stood at
+attention for further orders.
+
+“But I d’n know I’m sure what I can wear to-night,” continued the one
+in bed; “you know my bonnet was run over yesterday.”
+
+“Was it?”
+
+“Yes,—it was the most sudden thing I ever saw. I thought it was the top
+of my head at first.”
+
+“Was it spoiled?”
+
+“Well, it wouldn’t do for me again and I don’t really believe it would
+even do for Lucinda. We didn’t bring it home with us anyhow an’ so its
+no use talkin’ of it any more. I’m sure I wish I’d brought my other
+with me. It wasn’t quite as stylish, but it set so good on my head. As
+it is I ain’t got any bonnet to wear an’ we’re goin’ in a box, Jack
+says,—I should hate to look wrong in a box.”
+
+“But ladies in boxes do not wear anything,” cried Janice reasuringly.
+
+Aunt Mary jumped.
+
+“Not _anything?_”
+
+“On their heads.”
+
+“Oh!—Well, then the bonnet half of me’ll be all right, but what _shall_
+I wear on the rest of me? I don’t want to look out of fashion, you
+know. My, but I wish I’d brought my Paisley shawl. I’ve got a Paisley
+shawl that’s a very rare pattern. There’s cocoanuts in the border and a
+twisted design of monkeys and their tails done in the center. An’ there
+ain’t a moth hole in it—not one.”
+
+Janice looked out of the window.
+
+“I’ve got a cameo pin, too,” continued Aunt Mary reflectively. “My, but
+that’s a handsome pin, as I remember it. It’s got Jupiter on it holdin’
+a bunch of thunder and lightnin’ an’ receivin’ the news of somebody’s
+bein’ born—I used to know the whole story. But, you see, I expected to
+just be sittin’ by Jack’s bed and I never thought to bring any of those
+dress-up kind of things,” she sighed.
+
+Janice returned to the bed side.
+
+“Hadn’t you better begin to dress?” she howled suggestively. “They are
+going to dine here before going to the theater and dinner is ordered in
+an hour.”
+
+“Maybe I had,” said Aunt Mary, “but—oh dear—I don’t know what I _will_
+wear!” She began to emerge from the bedclothes as she spoke.
+
+“How would my green plaid waist do?” she asked earnestly.
+
+“I think it would be lovely,” shrieked the maid.
+
+“Well, shake it out then,” said Aunt Mary, “it ought to be in the
+fashion—all the silk they put in the sleeves. An’ if you’ll do my hair
+just as you did it yesterday—”
+
+“Yes, I will.”
+
+Then the labor of the toilette began in good earnest, and
+three-quarters of an hour later Aunt Mary was done, and sitting by the
+window while Janice laced her boots.
+
+A rap sounded at the door.
+
+“Come in,” cried the maid.
+
+It was Jack with a regular fagot of American Beauties.
+
+“Well, Aunt Mary,” he cried with his customary hearty greeting. “How!”
+
+“How what?” asked Aunt Mary, whose knowledge of Sioux social customs
+had been limited by the border line of New England.
+
+Jack laughed. “How are you?” he asked in correction of his imperfect
+phrasing. And then he handed over the rose wood.
+
+“I’m pretty well,” said his aunt; “but, my goodness you mustn’t bring
+me so many presents—you—”
+
+Jack stopped her words with a kiss. “Now, Aunt Mary, don’t you scold,
+because you’re my company and I won’t have it. This is my treat, and
+just don’t you fret. What do you say to your roses?”
+
+Aunt Mary looked a bit uneasy.
+
+“They’re pretty big,” she hesitated.
+
+“That’s the fashion,” said Jack; “the longer you can buy ’em the better
+the girls like it. I tried to get you some eight feet long but they
+only had two of that number and I wanted the whole bunch to match—”
+
+He was interrupted by another rap on the door.
+
+“Hallo!” he cried. “Come in.”
+
+It was Mitchell with several dozen carnations, the most brilliant yet
+prized—or priced.
+
+“Well, I declare!” exclaimed Aunt Mary.
+
+“For you, Miss Watkins,” cried the newcomer, gracefully offering his
+homage, “with the assurance of my sincere regret that I came on the
+scene too late to have been making a scene with you fifty years ago.”
+
+“I didn’t quite catch that,” said Aunt Mary, rapturously. But never
+mind,—Granite, get a tin basin or suthin’ for these flowers.”
+
+“Where’s Burnett?” Jack asked the newcomer,—“isn’t he dressed? It’s
+getting late.”
+
+“He’s all right,” said Mitchell; “he and Clover are—here they are!”
+
+The two came in together at that second. Clover’s mustache just showed
+over the top of the largest bunch of violets ever constructed, and
+Burnett bore with assiduous care a bouquet of orchids tied with a Roman
+sash.
+
+Aunt Mary leaned back and shut her eyes. If it hadn’t been for her
+smile, they might possibly have feared for her life.
+
+But she was only momentarily stunned by surpassing ecstasy.
+
+“You’d better put some water in the bath-tub, Granite,” she said,
+recovering, “nothing else will be big enough.”
+
+The four young men drew up chairs and rivalled her smiles with theirs.
+
+“I d’n know how I ever can thank you,” said the old lady warmly. “I’ve
+always had such a poor opinion o’ life in cities, too!”
+
+“Life in cities, my dear Miss Watkins,” screamed Mitchell, “is always
+pictured as very black, but it’s only owing to the soft coal—not to the
+people who burn it.”
+
+Aunt Mary smiled again.
+
+“I guess the bath-tub will be big enough to keep ’em fresh,” she said
+simply, and Mitchell gave up and dried his forehead with his
+handkerchief.
+
+They dined at home upon this occasion and afterwards took two carriages
+for the theater. Aunt Mary, Jack, Clover, the American Beauties and the
+violets went in the first, and what remained of the party and the
+floral decorations followed in the second.
+
+“I mean to smoke,” said that part of the second load which habitually
+answered to the name of Mitchell. “There is nothing so soothing when
+you have thorns in your legs as a cigarette in your mouth.”
+
+“Too—too;” laughed his companion. “Jimmy! but our aunt is game, isn’t
+she?”
+
+“To my order of thinking,” said Mitchell thoughtfully scratching a
+match, “Aunt Mary has been hung up in cold storage just long enough to
+have acquired the exactly proper gamey flavor. It cannot be denied that
+to worn, worldly, jaded mortals like you and me, the sight of fresh,
+ever bubbling, youthful enthusiasm like hers is as thrilling and
+trilling and rilling as—as—as—” he paused to light his cigarette.
+
+
+[Illustration: Aunt Mary and Her Escorts.]
+
+
+“Yes, you’d better stutter,” said Burnett. “I thought you were running
+ahead of your proper signals.”
+
+“It isn’t that,” said Mitchell, puffing gently. “It is that I suddenly
+recollected that I was alone with you, and my brains tell me that it is
+a waste of brains to use them in the sense of a plural noun with you.
+The word in your company,—my dear boy—only comes to me as a verb—as an
+active verb—and dear knows how often I have itched to apply it
+forcibly.”
+
+Then they drew up in front of the theater and saw Aunt Mary being
+unloaded just beyond.
+
+“Great Scott, I feel as if I was a part of a poster!” said Burnett,
+diving into the carriage depths for the last lot of flowers.
+
+“I feel as if I were a part of the Revelation,” said Mitchell, “I
+mean—the Revel-eration.”
+
+They rapidly formed on somewhat after the plan of the famous “Marriage
+under the Directoire.” Aunt Mary commanded the center-rush, leaning on
+Jack’s arm, and the rest acted as half-backs, left wings, or
+flower-bearers, just as the reader prefers.
+
+They made quite a sensation as they proceeded to their box and more yet
+when they entered it. They were late—very late—as is the privilege of
+all box parties and their seating problem absorbed the audience to a
+degree never seen before or since.
+
+Jack put Aunt Mary and her green plaid waist in the middle and flanked
+her with purple violets and red carnations. The ear-trumpet was laid
+upon the orchids just where she could reach it easily. Then her escorts
+took positions as a sort of half-moon guard behind and each held two or
+three American Beauties straight up and down as if they were the
+insignia of his rank and office.
+
+The effect was gorgeous. The very actors saw and were interested at
+once. They directed all their attention to that one box, and at the end
+of the act the stage manager got the writer of the topical song on the
+wire and had a brand new and very apropos verse added which brought
+down the house.
+
+Jack and his party caught on and clapped like mad, Aunt Mary beat the
+front of the box with her ear-trumpet, and when Clover suggested that
+she throw some flowers to the heroine she threw the orchids and came
+near maiming the bass viol for life. Burnett rushed out between acts
+and bought her a cane to pound with, Jack rushed out between more acts
+and bought her a pair of opera glasses, Mitchell rushed out between
+still further acts and procured her one of those Japanese fans which
+they use for fire-screens, and agitated it around her during the rest
+of the evening.
+
+“Time of your life, Aunt Mary,” Jack vociferated under the cover of a
+general chorus; “Time of your life!”
+
+“Oh, my,” said Aunt Mary, heaving a great sigh, “seems if I’d _die_
+when I think of Lucinda.”
+
+They got out of the theater somewhat after eleven and Clover took them
+all to a French café for supper, so that again it was pretty well along
+into the day after when Janice regained her charge.
+
+“Granite,” said Aunt Mary very solemnly, as she collapsed upon her bed
+twenty minutes later yet, “put it down on that memoranda for me never
+to find no fault with nothing ever again. Never—not ever—not never
+again.”
+
+
+The second day after was that which had been set for Mitchell’s
+yachting party. They allowed a day to lapse between because a yachting
+party has to begin early enough so that you can see to get on board.
+Mitchell wanted his to begin early enough so that they could see the
+yacht too.
+
+“A yacht, Miss Watkins,” he said into the ear trumpet, “is a delight
+that it takes daylight to delight in. If my words sound somewhat mixed,
+believe me, it is the effect of what is to come casting its shadow
+before. I speak with understanding and sympathy—you will know all
+later.”
+
+Aunt Mary smiled sweetly. Sometimes she thought that Mitchell was the
+nicest of the three—times when she wasn’t talking to Clover or Burnett.
+
+Jack took his aunt out to drive on the afternoon of the intervening day
+and bought her a blue suit with a red tape around one arm, and some
+rubbersoled shoes, and a yachting cap and a mackintosh. There was
+something touching in Aunt Mary’s joyful confidence and
+anticipation—she having never been cast loose from shore in all her
+life.
+
+“When do you s’pose we’ll get home?” she asked Jack.
+
+“Oh, some time toward night,” he replied.
+
+She smiled with a trust as colossal as Trusts usually are.
+
+“I’m sure I shall have a good time,” she said. “I always liked to see
+pictures of waves.”
+
+“You’ll see the real things now, Aunt Mary,” cried her nephew heartily.
+He was not a bit malicious, possessing a stomach whose equilibrium
+could not conceive any other anatomical condition.
+
+Janice, however, had doubts, and on the morning of the next day her
+doubts deepened. She looked from the window and shook her head.
+
+“Feel a fly?” inquired Aunt Mary.
+
+“No, I see some clouds,” yelled her maid.
+
+“I didn’t ask you to speak loud,” said the old lady. “I always hear
+what you say. Always.”
+
+Janice went out of the room and voiced her views of the weather to the
+proprietors of the expedition. The proprietors were having an
+uproarious breakfast on ham and eggs—all but Mitchell, who sat somewhat
+aloof and contented himself with an old and reliable breakfast food
+long known to his race.
+
+“Are you really going to take her up the Sound to-day?” the maid
+demanded of the merry mob.
+
+“I’m not,” said Burnett; “it’s the yacht that’s going to take her. Pass
+the syrup, Jack, like the jack you are.”
+
+“Doesn’t she feel well?” Jack asked, passing the syrup as requested.
+“If she doesn’t feel well, of course, we won’t go.”
+
+“I like that,” said Mitchell, “when it’s my day for my party and my
+cook all provisioned with provisions for provisioning us all. How long
+do you suppose ice cream stays together in this month of roses,
+anyhow?”
+
+“She is very well,” said the maid quietly, “but it’s blowing pretty
+fresh here in the city and I thought that out on the Sound—”
+
+“Blowing fresh, is it?” laughed Burnett; “well, it’ll salt her fast
+enough when we get out. Don’t you fuss over what’s none of your
+business, my dear girl; just trot along upstairs and dress dolly, and
+when she’s dressed we’ll take her off your hands.”
+
+Jack appeared unduly quiet.
+
+“Do you think it is going to storm?” he asked Mitchell. Mitchell was
+scraping his saucer with the thrift that thrives north of the Firth of
+Forth and hatches yachts on the west shores of the Atlantic.
+
+“I don’t think at all during vacation,” he said mildly. “I repose and
+reap ‘Oh’s’—from other people.”
+
+“If there was any chance of a storm——?” said the nephew, thoughtfully.
+
+“Fiddle-dee-dee,” said Burnett impatiently, “what do you think yachts
+are for, anyhow? To let alone?” He looked at the maid as he spoke and
+pointed significantly to the door. She went out at once and returned
+upstairs to her mistress whom she found quite restless to “get-a-goin’”
+as she expressed it.
+
+The boxes filled with yesterday’s purchases were brought out at once
+and Janice proceeded to rubber-sole and blue-serge Aunt Mary. The
+latter regarded every step of the performance in the huge three-fold
+cheval glass which had been wont to tell Mrs. Rosscott things that
+every woman longs to know.
+
+When her toilette was complete it must be admitted that as a
+yachtswoman Aunt Mary fairly outshone her automobile portrait. She
+surveyed herself long and carefully.
+
+“I expect it’ll be quite an experience,” she said with many new
+wrinkles of anticipation.
+
+“Yes,” said Janice, with a glance at the fluttering window curtains, “I
+expect it will be.”
+
+Aunt Mary went downstairs and was greeted with loud acclamations. The
+breakfast party broke up at once and, while Janice phoned for cabs,
+Aunt Mary’s quartette of escorts sought hats, coats, etcetera. After
+that they all sallied forth and took their places as joyfully as ever.
+
+It was quite a long drive to where “Lady Belle” had been brought up,
+and they had to stop once to lay in two or three pounds of current
+literature.
+
+“Do you read mostly?” asked Aunt Mary.
+
+“It’s best to be on the safe side,” said Clover vaguely.
+
+Then they entered the tangle of docks and express wagons and obstacles
+in general and Mitchell had great difficulty in finding where his
+launch had been taken to meet them.
+
+But at last they got Aunt Mary down a flight of very slippery steps and
+into a boat whose everything was labeled “Lady Belle,” and Mitchell
+said something and they cast loose and were off.
+
+“Seems rather a small yacht,” said Aunt Mary, glancing cheerfully
+about. “I ain’t surprised that you’d rather come in nights.”
+
+“Bless your heart, Aunt Mary,” shrieked Jack, “this isn’t the yacht,
+this is the way we get to her.”
+
+“Oh,” said Aunt Mary blankly.
+
+“That’s the yacht,” yelled Burnett, “that white one with the black
+smoke coming out and the sail up.”
+
+“What are they getting up steam for?” asked Clover. “The time to get up
+steam is when you get down sails generally.”
+
+“They aren’t getting up steam,” said Mitchell, “they’re getting up
+dinner. It looks like a lot of smoke because of the shadow on the sail.
+And, speaking of getting up dinner, reminds me that the topic before us
+now is, how in thunder are we to get up Aunt Mary?”
+
+“Put a rope around her and board her as if she was a cavalry horse,”
+suggested Burnett.
+
+“I scorn the suggestion,” said their host; “if the worst comes to the
+worst I can give her a back up, but I trust that Aunt Mary will rise to
+the heights of the sail and the situation all at once and not make me
+do any vertebratical stunts so early in the day.”
+
+They were running alongside of “Lady Belle” as he spoke, and the first
+thing Aunt Mary knew she and her party were attached to the former by
+some mysterious and not altogether solid connection.
+
+“What do we do now?” she asked uneasily.
+
+“I’ll show you,” laughed Burnett, and seizing two flapping ropes he
+went skipping up a sort of stepladder and sprang upon the deck above.
+
+Aunt Mary started to emulate his prowess and stood up at once. But the
+next second she sat down extremely hard without knowing why she had
+done so.
+
+“Hold on, Miss Watkins,” Mitchell cried hastily; “just you hold on
+until I give you something to hold on to, and when you’ve got something
+to hold on to, please keep holding on to it, until I tell you that the
+hour has come in which to let go again.”
+
+“I didn’t quite catch that,” said Aunt Mary, “but I’m ready to do
+anythin’ you say if you only—” and again she sprang up and again was
+thrown down as hard as before.
+
+“Look out,” cried Jack, springing to her side; and he got hold of his
+valuable relative and held her fast while Mitchell grasped the ladder
+and a sailor strove to keep the launch still.
+
+“Now, Aunt Mary,” cried the nephew, “hang on to me and hang on to those
+ropes and remember I’m right back of you—”
+
+“My Lord alive,” cried Aunt Mary, turning her gaze upwards, “am I
+expected to go alone all that way to the top?”
+
+“It’ll pay you to keep on to the top,” screamed Clover; “you’ll have,
+comparatively speaking, very little fun if you hang on to the ladder
+all day—and you’ll get so wet too.”
+
+“There’s more room at the top,” cried Mitchell, “there’s always room at
+the top, Miss Watkins. Put yourself in the place of any young man
+entering a profession and struggle bravely upwards, bearing ever in—”
+
+“Oh, I never can,” said Aunt Mary, recoiling abruptly; “I never could
+climb trees when I was little—I never had no grip in my legs—and I just
+know I can’t. It’s too high. An’ it looks slippery. An’ I don’t want
+to, anyhow.”
+
+“What rot!” yelled Jack, “the very idea! Why, Aunt Mary, you know you
+can skin up there just like a cat if you only make up your mind to it.
+Here, Mitchell, give her a boost and I’ll plant her feet firmly.
+Now—have you got hold of the ropes, Aunt Mary?”
+
+“Oh, mercy—on—me!” wailed Aunt Mary, “the yacht is turnin’ a-round an’
+the harder I pull the faster it turns.”
+
+“Catch her from above, Burr,” Clover called excitedly; “hook her with
+anything if you can’t reach her with your hand.”
+
+“Oh, my cap!” shrieked poor Aunt Mary, and the cap went off and she
+went on up and was landed safe above.
+
+“How on the chart do you suppose we’ll ever unload her?” Jack asked,
+wide-eyed, as he swung himself quickly after her.
+
+“What man hath done man can do,” quoted Mitchell sententiously,
+following his lead.
+
+“But no man ever unloaded Aunt Mary,” Clover reminded him, as they
+brought up the rear.
+
+Then they were all on deck, a chair was brought for the honored guest,
+and Mitchell introduced his sailing-master who had been drawn to gaze
+upon the rather novel manner in which she had been brought aboard.
+
+“I want Miss Watkins to have the sail of her life, Renfew,” said
+Mitchell. “We aren’t coming back until night.”
+
+“We’ll have sail enough sure, sir,” said Renfew, touching his cap, and
+then he walked away and the work of starting off began. A tug had been
+engaged to tow them out into the breeze and Jack thought it would be
+nice to show Aunt Mary around while they were being meandered through
+coal barges, etc. They went below and Aunt Mary saw everything with a
+most flattering interest.
+
+“I d’n know but what I’d enjoy a little yacht of my own,” she said to
+Mitchell. “I think it’s so amusin’ the way everythin’ turns over into
+suthin’ else. I suppose Joshua could learn to sail me—I wouldn’t want
+to trust no new man, I know.”
+
+“Why, of course,” said Jack, “and we could all come and visit you, Aunt
+Mary.”
+
+Aunt Mary smiled hospitably.
+
+“I’d be glad to see you all any day,” she said cordially; “and I shall
+have a hole in the bottom of the boat for people to go in and out of,
+and a nice staircase down to it, so you needn’t mind the notion of how
+you’ll get on and off.”
+
+They all laughed and continued the tour below and Aunt Mary grew more
+and more enthusiastic for quite a while. She liked the kitchen and she
+liked the dining-room. She thought the arrangement for keeping the
+table level most ingenious. Mitchell took her into the main cabin and
+told her that that was hers for the day. On the dresser was a
+photograph of the “Lady Belle” framed in silver, which the young host
+presented to his guest as a souvenir of the “voyage.”
+
+Aunt Mary’s pleasure was at its height. Oh, the pity of Fate which
+makes the apex of everything so very limited as to standing room! Three
+minutes after the presentation and acceptation of the photograph Aunt
+Mary’s glance became suddenly vague, and then especially piercing.
+
+“What makes this up and down feeling?” she asked Mitchell.
+
+“What up and down feeling?” he asked, secure in the good conscience and
+pure living of an oatmeal breakfast. “I don’t feel up and down.”
+
+“I do,” said Aunt Mary abruptly; “I want to be somewhere else.”
+
+“You want to be on deck,” said Burnett, suddenly emerging from
+somewhere; “I know the symptoms. I always have ’em. Come on. And when
+we get up there, I’ll collar Jack for urging those six last griddle
+cakes on me this morning.”
+
+“I ain’t sure I want to be on deck,” said Aunt Mary; “dear me—I feel as
+if I wasn’t sure of anythin’.”
+
+“What did I tell you?” said Burnett to Mitchell; “it’s blowing fresh
+and neither she nor I ought to have come. You know me when it blows.”
+
+“Shut up,” said Mitchell, hurrying Aunt Mary up the companion-way and
+shoving her into one chair and her feet into another; “there, Miss
+Watkins, you’re all right now, aren’t you?”
+
+“What’s the matter?” said Jack, coming from somewhere aloft or astern.
+“Heaven bless me, what ails you, Aunt Mary?”
+
+“I don’t wonder I’m pale,” said Aunt Mary faintly, “oh—oh—”
+
+“We must put our heads together,” said Burnett, taking a drink from a
+flask that he took out of his pocket; “I must soon put my head on
+something, and your aunt looks to me to feel the same way. Mitchell,
+why did you let me forget that vow I made last time to never come
+again?”
+
+“Your vows to never do things again are about as stable as your present
+hold on an upright position,” said Clover, laying a steadying hand upon
+his friend’s waveringness. “Sit down, little boy, sit down.”
+
+Burnett sat down, Mitchell smiled, Jack laughed, and Aunt Mary groaned.
+
+The boat was rising and falling rapidly now, and as she ran further and
+further out into the ever freshening wind she kept on rising and
+falling yet more rapidly. The more motion there was the more Aunt Mary
+seemed to sift down in her two chairs.
+
+“We’d better put back,” said Jack; “this won’t do, you know. How do you
+feel now, Aunt Mary?” he added, leaning over her.
+
+Aunt Mary opened her eyes and looked at him but made no reply.
+
+“Ask me how I feel, if you dare,” said Burnett, from where his chair
+was drawn up not far away. “I couldn’t kill you just now, but I will
+some day I promise you.”
+
+He was very white and had a look about his mouth that showed that he
+meant what he said.
+
+Some bells rang somewhere.
+
+“That’s dinner,” exclaimed Clover.
+
+Aunt Mary gave a piercing cry.
+
+“Oh, take me somewhere else,” she said, throwing her hands up to her
+face; “somewhere where there’ll never be nothin’ to eat again. I—I
+can’t bear to hear about eatin’.”
+
+“I’m going to take her down into one of the cabins,” said Jack hastily,
+“she belongs in bed.”
+
+“No, turn back the carpet and lay me in the bath-tub,” almost sobbed
+the poor victim. “I don’t feel like I could get flat enough anywhere
+else.”
+
+“She has the proper spirit,” said Burnett faintly, “only I don’t feel
+as if I could get flat enough anywhere at all. What in the name of the
+Great Pyramid ever possessed me to come?”
+
+Mitchell rose quickly to his feet.
+
+“You put your aunt to bed, Jack,” he said, “and I’ll put my yacht to
+backing. This expedition is expeditiously heading on to what might be
+termed a failure. I can see that, even if we’re only in a Sound.”
+
+“When do you suppose we’ll get back?” the nephew asked anxiously.
+
+“About four o’clock, if we don’t lose time by having to tack.”
+
+“I didn’t quite catch all that,” said Aunt Mary, “but I knew suthin’
+was loose all along. I felt it inside of me right off at first. And
+ever since, too.”
+
+Jack gathered her up in his arms and bore her tenderly away to the
+beautiful main cabin.
+
+“I wanted to live to change my will,” she said sadly, as he laid her
+down, “but somehow I don’t seem to care for nothin’ no more.”
+
+He kissed her hand.
+
+“They say being seasick is awfully _good_ for people, Aunt Mary,” he
+yelled contritely.
+
+Aunt Mary opened her eyes.
+
+“John Watkins, Jr., Denham,” she said, “if you say ‘food’ to me again
+_ever_, I’ll never leave you a penny—so there!”
+
+Jack went away and left her.
+
+“Come on to dinner, Burnett,” Clover called hilariously, “there’s liver
+with little bits of bacon—your favorite dish.”
+
+Burnett snarled the weakest kind of a snarl.
+
+“I thought I’d suffered enough for one year last month,” he murmured in
+a voice too low to be heard, and then he knew himself to be alone on
+deck.
+
+Down in the little dining-saloon the dishes were hopping merrily back
+and forth and an agreeable odor of agreeable viands filled the air.
+Clover and Jack sat down opposite their host and they all three ate and
+drank with a zest that knew no breaking waves nor sad effects.
+
+“Here’s to our aunt,” said Clover gayly, as the first course went
+around; “of course, we all love her for Jack’s sake, but at the same
+time I offer two to odds that it is a pleasure to converse in under
+tones occasionally. Who takes?”
+
+“Aunt Mary being laid upon her bed,” said Mitchell, “we will next
+proceed to lay the motion of our honorable friend upon the table. We
+regret Aunt Mary’s ill-health while we drink to her good—quotation
+marks under the latter word. Aunt Mary!—and may she arise and prosper
+all the way down into the launch again.”
+
+“I’m troubled about her, really,” said Jack soberly; “we ought to have
+brought someone to look out for her.”
+
+“The maid,” cried Mitchell, “the dainty, adorable maid! Here’s to
+Janice and—” his speech was brought to a sudden end by his two guests
+nearly disappearing under the table.
+
+Jack started up.
+
+“Ginger! Did you feel that?” he asked.
+
+“That’s nothing,” said Mitchell, calmly replacing the water-carafe
+which in the excitement of the moment he had clasped to his bosom;
+“it’s the waves which are rising to the occasion—that’s all.” But Jack
+had hurried out.
+
+He found poor Aunt Mary writhing in an agony of misery. “Oh—oh—” she
+cried, “I want to be still—I’m too much tipped—and all the wrong way! I
+want to lay smooth—and I stand on my head—all the—”
+
+“We’re going back,” said Jack, striving to soothe her; “lie still, Aunt
+Mary, and we’ll soon get there. Do you want some camphor to smell?”
+
+“I don’t feel up to smellin’,” wailed Aunt Mary, “I don’t feel up to
+anythin’. Go ’way. Right off.”
+
+Jack went on deck. He found Burnett stretched pale and green upon the
+chairs their lady guest had vacated.
+
+“If you speak to me again,” he said, in halting accents, “I’ll never
+speak to you again. Get out.”
+
+Jack went back to his place at dinner.
+
+“How are they?” asked Clover.
+
+“I don’t know,” he said quietly, “but there’s a big storm coming up.
+The sky’s all dark blue and it looks bad.”
+
+“I don’t care,” said Mitchell, sawing into the game with vigor; “if we
+go down we go down with Aunt Mary and if I were Uncle Mary I wouldn’t
+feel happier and safer as to all concerned. The ship that bore Cæsar
+and his fortune had nothing at all to bear compared to this which bears
+Jack and his. Here’s to Jack and his fortune, and may we all survive
+the dark blue sky.”
+
+“I tell you it’s serious,” said Jack. As he spoke another ominous
+heaving set the bottles tipping and nearly sent Clover backwards.
+
+“And I’m serious,” exclaimed Mitchell. “I’m always serious only I never
+can get any girl to believe it. Here’s to me, and may I grow more and
+more serious each—”
+
+A tremendous wave bore the yacht upright and then let her fall on her
+forelegs again. Clover went over backwards and the dish of peas to
+which he had just been helping himself followed after.
+
+“You didn’t say ‘excuse me’ when you left the table,” said Mitchell,
+whom the law of gravitation had suddenly raised to a pinnacle from
+which he viewed his friends with mirthful scorn; “and if you’ve hurt
+yourself it must be a judgment on you for leaving the table without
+saying ‘excuse me.’ Here’s to Clover, who has a judgment and a dish of
+peas served on him at the same time for leaving the table without
+saying ‘excuse me.’”
+
+The sailing-master appeared at the door, his cap in his hand.
+
+“I beg your pardon, sir,” he said respectfully, “but I fear it’s
+impossible to put back. We can’t turn without getting into the trough
+of the sea.”
+
+“All right, go ahead then,” said Mitchell; “go where we must go, and do
+what you’ve got to do. My motto is _veni, vidi, vici_, which freely
+translated means I can sleep asea when I can’t sleep ashore.”
+
+“But Aunt Mary?” cried Jack blankly.
+
+“She’s all right,” said Mitchell; “she’ll soon reach the cold burnt
+toast stage and when she reaches the stage we’ll all welcome her into
+any chorus. Here’s to choruses in general and one chorus girl in
+particular. I haven’t met her yet, but I shall know her when I do, for
+she will look at me. Up to now they’ve all looked elsewhere and at
+other men. If my fortune was only in my face it might draw some
+interest, but—”
+
+“Lady Belle” careened violently and Clover went over backwards for the
+second time with much in his wake.
+
+“Oh, I say,” said Mitchell, rising in disgust, “if you want everything
+on the table at once why take it. Only I’m going on deck. After you’ve
+bathed in the gravy you can have it. Ditto the other liquids. Jack and
+I are going up to dance a hornpipe and sing for Burnett. He looked
+rather ennuyéd to me when we came down.”
+
+Along toward eight o’clock that night “Lady Belle” anchored somewhere
+in the Sound and tugged vigorously at her cables all night.
+
+With the dawn she headed back towards New York.
+
+“As a success my entertainment has been a failure,” said Mitchell to
+Jack as they walked up and down the deck after breakfast; “but into
+each life some rain must fall, and I offer myself as a sacrificial
+background to Aunt Mary’s glowing, living pictures of New York.”
+
+“I wish you hadn’t, though,” said Jack; “she’ll never want a yacht of
+her own now. And how under Scorpion are we ever going to land her?”
+
+“In a sheet, my able-bodied young friend, in a sheet,” said Mitchell
+clapping him on the back. “Don’t you know the ‘Weigh the Baby’ game? It
+may double her up a bit, but the redoubtable Janice will straighten her
+out again. Here’s to the sheet, be it a wet sheet, a main sheet, or a
+sheet with your Aunt Mary tied up in it.”
+
+Mitchell was as good as his word and they landed Aunt Mary in a sheet.
+The very harbor-tugs stopped puffing and stood open-mouthed to stare at
+the performance, but it was an unalloyed success, and Aunt Mary was
+gotten onto dry land at last.
+
+“I don’t want to do nothin’ for a day or two,” she said, as they drove
+to the house.
+
+Janice had the bed open, and a hot-water bottle down where Aunt Mary’s
+feet might be expected, and all sorts of comfort ready to hand.
+
+“I’m so glad to see you safe back,” she said, almost weeping.
+
+“I don’t believe it’s broke,” said Aunt Mary, “but you might look and
+see. Oh, Granite—I—” she stopped and looked an unutterable meaning.
+
+“It stormed, didn’t it?” said the maid.
+
+“Stormed!” said Aunt Mary. “I guess it did storm. I guess it
+hurricaned. I know it did. I’m sure of it.”
+
+“But you’re safe now,” said the girl, tucking her up as snugly as if
+she had been an infant in arms.
+
+“Yes, I’m safe now,” said Aunt Mary, “but—” she looked very
+earnest—“but, oh, my Granite, how I did need that white fuzzy stuff to
+drink this morning. I never wanted nothin’ so bad in all my life
+afore.”
+
+Janice stood by the bed, her face full of regret that Aunt Mary had
+known any aching void.
+
+Aunt Mary grew yet more earnest.
+
+“Granite,” she said, “you mind what I tell you. That ought to be
+advertised. I sh’d think you could patent it. Folks ought to know about
+it.”
+
+Then she laid herself out in bed. “My heavens alive!” she sighed
+sweetly, “there’s nothin’ like home. Not anywhere—not nowhere!”
+
+
+
+
+Chapter Sixteen
+A Reposeful Interval
+
+
+The next date upon the little gold and ivory memorandum card which hung
+beside Aunt Mary’s watch was that set for Burnett’s picnic, but its
+dawning found both host and guest too much attached to their beds to
+desire any fêtes champêtre just then.
+
+Burnett was in that very weak state which follows in the immediate wake
+of only too many yachts,—and Aunt Mary was sleeping one of her long
+drawn out and utterly restorative sleeps.
+
+Jack went in and looked at her.
+
+“It did storm awfully,” he said to Janice, who was sitting by the
+window. The maid just smiled, nodded, and laid her finger on her lip.
+She never encouraged conversation when her charge was reposing.
+
+Jack went softly out and turned his steps toward the room of the other
+wreck.
+
+“Well, how are stocks to-day?” he asked cheerfully on entering.
+
+Burnett was stretched out pillowless and looked black under his hollow
+eyes. But he appeared to be on the road to recovery.
+
+“Jack,” he said seriously, “what in thunder makes me always so ready to
+go on the water? I should think after a while I’d learn a thing or
+two.”
+
+Jack leaned his elbows on the high carved footboard and returned his
+friend’s look with one of equal seriousness.
+
+“What makes all of us do lots of things?” he asked. “Why don’t we all
+learn?”
+
+Burnett sighed.
+
+“That’s a fact; why don’t we?” he said weakly. And then he shut his
+eyes again and turned his back to his caller.
+
+Jack went down to lunch. Clover and Mitchell were playing cards in the
+library.
+
+“Well, how is the hospital?” Clover asked, looking up while he shuffled
+the pack.
+
+“Never mind about Burnett,” said Mitchell, “but do relieve my mind
+about Aunt Mary. Is the one sheet still taking effect, or has she begun
+to rally on a diet of two?”
+
+“She’s asleep,” said the nephew.
+
+“God bless her slumber,” declared Clover piously. “I very much approve
+of Aunt Mary asleep. When our dearly beloved aunt sleeps we know we’ve
+got her and we don’t have to yell. Shall I deal for three?”
+
+“They are bringing up lunch,” said the latest arrival,—“no time to
+begin a hand. Better stack guns for the present.”
+
+“So say I,” said Mitchell, “with me everything goes down when lunch
+comes up. It’s quite the reverse with Burnett, isn’t it?” He laughed
+brutally at his own wit.
+
+“To think how enthusiastic Burr was,” said Clover, evening the cards
+preparatory to slipping them into their holder on the side of the
+table. “He’s always so enthusiastic and he’s always so sick. In his
+place I should feel that, if a buoyant nature is a virtue, I didn’t get
+much reward.”
+
+The gong sounded just then, and they all went down to lunch, not at all
+saddened by the sight of their comrade’s empty chair.
+
+“Now, what are we going to do next?” Clover demanded as they finished
+the bouillon.
+
+“Have a meat course, I suppose,” said Mitchell.
+
+“I don’t mean that; I mean, what are we going to do next with Aunt
+Mary?”
+
+“She hasn’t but two days more,” said Jack meditatively. “Of course—even
+if she was all chipper—this storm has knocked any picnic endways.”
+
+“I am not an ardent upholder of picnics, anyhow,” said Mitchell. “They
+require a constant sitting down on the ground and getting up from the
+ground to which I find our respected aunt very far from being equal.
+Burnett mentioned that we should go to the scene on a coach. That also
+did not meet my approval. Going anywhere on a coach requires a constant
+getting up on the coach and getting down from the coach to which I also
+consider the lady unequal. The events of yesterday have left a deep
+impression on my mind. I—”
+
+“Go on and carve,” interrupted Clover, “or else shove me the platter.
+I’m hungry.”
+
+“So’m I,” said a voice at the door. A weak voice—but one that showed
+decision in its tone.
+
+They looked up and saw Burnett, dressed in a pink silk negligée with
+flowing sleeves.
+
+“I’m ravenous,” he exclaimed explanatorily. “I haven’t had anything
+since day before yesterday at breakfast. I didn’t know I wanted
+anything till I smelt it,—then I dressed and came down.”
+
+“How sweet you look,” said Clover. “The effect of your pajama cuffs and
+collar where one greedily expects curves and contour is lovely. Where
+did you find that bath-robe?”
+
+“In the bureau drawer,” said Burnett. “It appeared to have been hastily
+shoved in there some time. I would have thought that it was a woman’s
+something-or-other, only I found one of Jack’s cards in the pocket.”
+
+They all began to laugh—Clover and Mitchell more heartily than the
+owner of the card.
+
+“Sit down,” said Mitchell finally with great cordiality. “You may as
+well sit down while they mess you up some weak tea and wet toast.”
+
+“Tea and toast?” cried the one in pink. “I’m good for dinner. _Um
+Gotteswillen_, what do you suppose I came down for?”
+
+“I wasn’t sure,” said his friend mildly; “you must admit yourself that
+your attire is misleading. My book on social etiquette says nothing as
+to when it is correct to wear a pink silk robe over blue and white
+striped pajamas. However, there’s no denying your presence, and what
+can’t be denied must be supplied, so what will you have?”
+
+“Everything.”
+
+Mitchell dived into the edibles generally and Burnett’s void was
+provided with fulfillment.
+
+“We were talking about Aunt Mary,” Clover said presently. “We were
+saying that neither you nor she would be up to a coach or down to a
+picnic for one while.”
+
+“Oh, I don’t know,” said Burnett. “I feel up to pretty nearly anything
+now that I can eat again. Pass over the horseradish, will you?”
+
+“You’re one thing, my sweet pink friend,” said Clover gently, “but Aunt
+Mary’s another. I’m not saying that New York has not had a wonderfully
+Brown-Sequardesque effect on her, but I am saying that if she is to be
+raised and lowered frequently, I want to travel with a portable crane.”
+
+“Hum, hum, hum!” cried Jack. “May I just ask who did most of the heavy
+labor of Aunt Mary yesterday?—As the man in the opera sings twenty
+times with the whole chorus to back him—‘’Twas I, ’twas I, ’twas I,
+’twas I—’”
+
+“Hand over the toast, Clover,” said Burnett. “I don’t care who it
+was—it was a success anyhow, for she’s upstairs and still alive, and I
+say she’d enjoy coaching out Riverside way, and—” he choked.
+
+“Slap him anywhere,” said Mitchell. “On his mouth would be the proper
+place. Such poor manners,—coming down to a company lunch in another
+man’s bath-robe and then trying to preach and eat dry toast at once.”
+
+Burnett gasped and recovered.
+
+“There,” said Clover, who had risen to administer the proposed slap,
+“he’s off our minds and we may again pick up Aunt Mary and put her back
+on.”
+
+“We want to send her home in a blaze of glory,” said Jack thoughtfully.
+“I want her to feel that the fun ran straight through.”
+
+“That’s just what I mean,” interposed his particular friend; “we want
+her to go home on the wings of a giant cracker, so to speak.”
+
+“How would it do,” said Clover suddenly, “to just make a night of it
+and take her along? Stock up, stack up, and ho! for it. You all know
+the kind of a time I mean.”
+
+“Clover,” said Jack gravely, “does it occur to you that Aunt Mary
+belongs to me and that I have a personal interest in keeping her
+alive?”
+
+“Nothing ever occurs to him,” said Mitchell. “Occasionally an idea
+bangs up against him inadvertently, and as it splinters a sliver or two
+penetrate his head—that’s all.”
+
+“I don’t see why the last sliver he felt wasn’t to the point,” said
+Burnett, turning the cream jug upside down as he spoke. “I think she’d
+enjoy it of all things. She enjoys everything so. I’ll guarantee that
+when she gets back home she’ll even enjoy the yachting trip. Lots of
+people are made like that. In the winter I always enjoy yachting,
+myself. Pass me the hot bread.”
+
+“Burnett,” said Mitchell warmly, “I wish that you would remember that a
+collapse invariably follows an inflated market.”
+
+“Is it Aunt Mary who is on the market, or myself?”
+
+“You.”
+
+“Oh, the rule is reversed in my case—the collapse went first. I’m only
+inflating up to the usual limit again. Is there any gravy left?”
+
+“No, there isn’t,” said Clover, looking in the dish, “there isn’t much
+of anything left.”
+
+“Let’s go to the library,” said Mitchell, rising abruptly. “It always
+makes me ill to see goose-stuffing before Thanksgiving. Come on.”
+
+“I’m done,” said Burnett, springing up and winding his lacey draperies
+about his manly form. “Come on yourself; and once settled and smoking,
+let us canvass the question and agree with Clover.”
+
+“You know there are nights about town and nights about town,” said
+Clover, as they climbed the staircase. “I do not anticipate that Aunt
+Mary will bring up with a round turn in the police station, as her
+young relative once did.”
+
+“Well, that’s some comfort,” said Mitchell. “I did not feel sure as to
+just where you did mean her to bring up. You will perhaps allow me to
+remark that making a night of it with Aunt Mary in tow is a subject
+that really is provocative of mature reflection. Making a night of it
+is a frothy sort of a proposition in which our beloved aunty may not
+beat up to quite the buoyancy of you and me.”
+
+As he finished this sage remark they all re-entered the library and
+grouped themselves around the table of smoking things.
+
+“That’s what I say,” said Jack. “I think she’s much more likely to beat
+out than to beat up—I must say.”
+
+“I’ll bet you she doesn’t,” cried Burnett eagerly. “I’ll bet five
+dollars that she doesn’t.”
+
+“I declare,” said Clover, “what a thing a backer is to be sure. I feel
+positive that Aunt Mary will go through with it now. I had my doubts
+before, but never now. Six to five on Aunt Mary for the Three-year-old
+Stakes.”
+
+“The best way is to hit a happy medium,” said Mitchell thoughtfully,
+scratching a match for the lighting of his new-rolled cigarette. “I
+think the wisest thing would be for us just to take Aunt Mary and sally
+forth and then keep it up until she must be put to bed. What say?”
+
+“Well,” said Jack, reflectively, “I don’t suppose that taking it that
+way, it would really be any worse than the other nights—”
+
+“Worse!” cried Clover. “Hear him!—slandering those brilliant occasions,
+everyone of which is a jewel in the crown of Aunt Mary’s bonnet.”
+
+“We’ll begin by dining out,” said Burnett. “I’ll give the dinner. One
+of the souvenir kind of affairs. A white mouse for every man and a
+canary bird for the lady. We’ll have a private room and speeches and
+I’ll get megaphones so we can make her hear without bustin’.”
+
+“My dear boy,” said Mitchell, “where is this private room to be in
+which the party can converse through megaphones? I had two deaf uncles
+once who played cribbage with megaphones, but they were influential and
+the rest of the family were poor. Circumstances alter cases. I ask
+again where you can get a private dining-room for the use of five
+people and four megaphones?”
+
+“I’ll see,” said Burnett; “I wish,” he added irritably, “that you’d
+wait until I finished before beginning to smash in like that, you knock
+everything out of my head.”
+
+“It’ll do you good to have a little something knocked out of you,” said
+Mitchell gently. “It may enlarge your premises, give you a spare room
+somewhere, so to speak. I should think that you’d need some spare room
+somewhere after such a breakfast.”
+
+“I’ll tell you what I think;” said Clover. “I think it’s a great
+scheme. It’s a sort of pull-in-and-out, field-glass species of idea. We
+can develop it or we can shut it off; in other words, we can parade
+Aunt Mary or bring her home just when we darn please.”
+
+“That’s what I said,” said Burnett. “Begin with my dinner, white mice
+and all, and when all is going just let it slide until it seems about
+time to slide off.”
+
+“Yes,” said Mitchell dryly, “it’s always a good plan to slide on until
+you slide off. It would be so easy to reverse the game.”
+
+“And then, too,—” began Burnett.
+
+“Excuse me,” said a voice at the door,—a woman’s voice this time.
+
+It was Janice, very pretty in her black dress and white decorations,
+hands in pockets, smile on lips.
+
+“What’s up now?” the last speaker interrupted himself to ask, “Aunt
+Mary?”
+
+“No, she’s not up,” said the maid; “but she’s awake and wants to know
+about the picnic.”
+
+“There, what did I say!” cried Burnett; “isn’t she a hero? I tell you
+Aunt Mary’d fight in the last ditch—she’d never surrender! She’s one of
+those dead-at-the-gun chaps. I’m proud to think we have known the
+companionship of joint yachting results.”
+
+“She says she feels as well as ever,” said Janice, opening her eyes a
+trifle as she noted Burnett’s pink silk negligée, “and wishes to know
+when you want to start.”
+
+“Bravo,” said Mitchell; “I, too, am fired by this exposition of pluck.
+I like spirit. She reminds me of the horse who was turned out to grass
+and then suddenly broke the world’s record.”
+
+“What horse was that?” asked Burnett.
+
+“Pegasus,” said Mitchell cruelly; “I didn’t say what kind of a record
+he broke, did I?”
+
+“What shall I tell Miss Watkins?” asked the maid.
+
+Jack, who had risen at her entrance and gone to the window, faced
+around here and said:
+
+“Tell her that if she’ll dress we’ll go out bonnet-shooting and
+afterwards drive in the park.”
+
+Janice hesitated.
+
+“She will surely ask where you are to dine,” said she, half-smiling.
+
+Jack looked at the crowd.
+
+“Fellows,” he said, “we must save up for to-morrow’s blow-out; suppose
+you let Mitchell and me dine Aunt Mary somewhere very tranquilly
+to-night and we’ll get her home by eleven.”
+
+“Yes, do,” said Janice, with sudden earnest entreaty. “Honestly, there
+is a limit.”
+
+“Of course, there is a limit,” said Mitchell. “Even cities have their
+limits. This one tried to be an exception, but San Francisco yelled
+‘Keep off’ and she drew in her claws again. Aunt Mary, possessing many
+points in common with New York, also possesses that. She has limits.
+Her limits took in more than we bargained for,—for they have taken us
+into the bargain. Still they are there, and we bow to necessity. A
+cheerful drive, a quiet tea, early to bed. And _pax vobiscum_.”
+
+“No wonder,” said Burnett, “it’s easy for you to agree when you’re to
+be one of the dinner party.” “I don’t mind being left out,” said Clover
+contentedly. “I shall sit on the sofa and whisper to ‘the one behind.’
+Whispering is an art that I have almost forgotten, but inspired by that
+pink—”
+
+“Then I’ll tell Miss Watkins to dress for the going out,” said Janice,
+pointedly addressing herself to Jack.
+
+“Yes, please do.”
+
+The maid left the room and went upstairs. Aunt Mary was tossing about
+on her pillow.
+
+“Well, what’s it to be?” she asked instantly.
+
+“The storm has made it too wet to picnic,” replied Janice. “Mr. Denham
+wants to take you to drive and afterwards you and Mr. Mitchell and he
+are to dine—”
+
+“And Burnett and Clover?” cried Aunt Mary in appalled interruption;
+“where are they goin’?”
+
+“Really, I don’t know.”
+
+“I don’t like the idea,” said Aunt Mary; “we’d ought to all be
+together. I never did approve of splittin’ up in small parties. Did
+Jack say anythin’ about my gettin’ another bonnet?”
+
+“Yes, he thought that you would go to a milliner first.”
+
+“I don’t know about lookin’ sillier,” said Aunt Mary. “Strikes me a
+woman can’t look more foolish than she does without a bonnet. However,
+I don’t feel like makin’ a fuss over anythin’ to-day. I’ve had a good
+rest and I feel fine. I’ll dress and go out with Jack, an’ I know one
+thing, I’ll enjoy every minute I can, for this week is goin’ like
+lightnin’ and when it’s over—well, you never saw Lucinda, so it’s no
+use tryin’ to make you understand, but—” she drew a long breath and
+shook her head meaningly.
+
+Janice did not reply. She busied herself with the cares of the toilet
+of her mistress, and when that was complete the carriage was summoned
+for the shopping tour.
+
+Jack saw that the bonnet was attended to first of all and then they
+went to another store and purchased a scarf pin for Joshua and a
+workbox for Lucinda. After that Aunt Mary decided that she wanted her
+four friends each to have a souvenir of her visit, so she insisted upon
+being conducted to that gorgeous establishment which is lighted with
+diamonds instead of electricity and ordered four dressing-cases to be
+constructed, everything with gold tops, to be engraved with the proper
+initials and also the inscription, “from M.W. in memory of N.Y.” Jack
+rather protested at this, asking her if she realized what the engraving
+would come to.
+
+“I don’t know,” said Aunt Mary recklessly and lavishly. “I don’t care
+what it comes to either. It’s comin’ to me, anyhow, ain’t it? I rather
+think so. Seems likely.”
+
+The clerk took down the order, and then as he was ushering them
+door-wards he fell by the wayside and craved permission to show some
+tiaras of emeralds and some pearl dog-collars. Jack rebelled.
+
+“You don’t want any of those,” he exclaimed, trying to propel her by.
+
+“I ain’t so sure,” said Aunt Mary. “I might have a dog some day.”
+
+But her nephew got her back into their conveyance, and they drove away.
+It was so late that they could not consider the park and so had to make
+a tour of Fifth Avenue to use up the time left before dinner. Then when
+they headed toward the café they were delighted to observe Mitchell
+awaiting them just where he was to have been.
+
+“I see him,” said Aunt Mary. “My! I’d know him as far off as I’d know
+anybody.” But then she sighed. “I wish the others were there, too,” she
+said sadly; “seems awful—just three of us.”
+
+The dinner which followed echoed her sentiment. It was a very nice
+dinner, but painfully quiet, and Aunt Mary grew very restless.
+
+“Seems like wastin’ time, anyhow,” she said uneasily. “I don’t see why
+the others didn’t come. Well, can’t we go to Coney Island or the Statue
+of Liberty or somewhere when we’re through?”
+
+Mitchell looked at Jack.
+
+“Why, you see, Aunt Mary,” the latter promptly shrieked, “we thought
+we’d be good and go home early and sort of rest up to-night so as to
+have a high old time to-morrow.”
+
+Aunt Mary’s face, which had fallen during the first part of their
+speech, brightened up at the last words.
+
+“What are we goin’ to do?” she inquired with unfeigned interest.
+
+“Burnett’s going to give us a dinner,” Jack answered, “and then
+afterwards we’re going to help you see the town.”
+
+“Oh!” said Aunt Mary. A pleasant gleam fled over her face.
+
+“I never was a great believer in bein’ out nights,” she said, “but I
+guess I’ll make an exception to-morrow. I might as well be doin’ that
+as anythin’, I presume. Maybe better—very likely better.”
+
+“Oh, very much better,” said Mitchell. “It is the exceptions that
+furnish all the oil in life’s machinery. The exceptions not only
+generally prove too much for the rule, but they also generally prevent
+the rule from proving too much for us. They—”
+
+“But I don’t see why we couldn’t go to two or three vaudevilles
+to-night, too,” said the old lady, suddenly. “I feel so sort of
+ready-for-anythin’.”
+
+“You always feel that way, Miss Watkins,” screamed Mitchell. “It is we
+that are the blind and the halt. You are ever fresh, but we falter and
+faint. You see it’s you that go out, but it’s we that you get back.
+You—”
+
+“We could go to one vaudeville, anyway,” said Aunt Mary abstractedly;
+“an’ if we saw any places that looked lively we could stop a few
+minutes there on our way back. I’ve never been into lots of things
+here.”
+
+Jack looked at Mitchell this time.
+
+“I’m sorry, Miss Watkins,” he roared, “but _I’ll_ have to go home,
+anyhow. You see, I’m not used to the lively life which has been
+enlivening us all this week and, being weakly in my knees, needs must
+look out.”
+
+Aunt Mary looked very disappointed.
+
+“Then Jack and I’ll go, too,” she said, “but oh! dear, I do hate to
+waste my stay in the city sleepin’ so much. I can sleep all I want
+after I get home, but—” she paused, and then said with deep feeling,
+“Well, you don’t understand about Lucinda an’ so you don’t understand
+about anythin’.”
+
+Both the young men felt truly regretful as they put her into the
+carriage for the return trip. Her deep enjoyment was so genuine and
+naive that they sympathized with her feelings when cut off from it.
+
+But it was best that this one night should pass unimproved, and so all
+five threw themselves into their respective beds with equal zest and
+slept—and slept—and slept.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter Seventeen
+Aunt Mary’s Night About Town
+
+
+The next day came up out of the ocean fair and warm, and when it drew
+toward later afternoon no more propitious night for setting forth ever
+happened.
+
+It was undeniably a night to be remembered. And Aunt Mary’s
+entertainers drew in deep breaths as they girded themselves for the
+conflict. They certainly intended to do themselves proud and on top of
+all the lesser “times of her life” to pile the one pre-eminent which
+should rest pre-eminent forever. Aunt Mary had been gay in the first
+part of the week,—gayer and gayer as the week progressed, but that
+final crowning night was indubitably the gayest of all. If you doubt
+this read on—read on—and be convinced.
+
+They began with Burnett’s dinner in the private room. No matter where
+the private room was, for it really wasn’t a private room at all—it was
+a suite of rooms borrowed and arranged especially for that one
+occasion. They gathered there at eight o’clock and began with oysters
+served on a large brass tray in a half-dim Turkish room where incense
+sticks burned about and queer daggers held up the curtains. The oysters
+were served on their arrival and the megaphones stood like
+extinguishers over each with the name cards tied to the small end. The
+effect was really unique. Aunt Mary had one, too, and they were all
+rejoiced at her delight in the scheme, and a few seconds after they
+were doubly rejoiced over its success for no one had to speak loud—the
+megaphones did it all, producing a lovely clamor which deafened all
+those who could hear and caused Aunt Mary to feel that she heard with
+the rest.
+
+Amidst the cheerful din they exchanged such very wild remarks as
+oysters always inspire and each and all were mutually content at the
+effect thereof. Then they finished, and Burnett rose at once, flung
+back the portières, and led them in upon their soup which stood smoking
+on a large card table in the next room. There were boutonnières with
+the soup, and violets for Aunt Mary, and again they used the megaphones
+and again the conversation partook of the customary conversation which
+soup produces.
+
+The soup finished, Burnett jumped up again and threw back other
+portières and they all moved out into a dining-room, with its table
+spread with a substantial dinner. This time it was the real thing.
+Candelabra, ice-pails, etc.
+
+Aunt Mary had a parrot in a gilt tower, and all the men had white mice
+in houses shaped like hat-boxes. Mitchell’s seat was flanked with wine
+coolers, and Burnett’s, too. There was all that they could desire to
+eat and drink and more. The feast began, and it was grand and glorious.
+
+“I’ll tell you what,” said Aunt Mary, in the midst of the revel, “if
+this is what it means in papers when it speaks of high livin’, I don’t
+blame ’em for bein’ willin’ to die of it young. One week like this is
+worth ten years with Lucinda. Twenty. A whole life.”
+
+“Say, Jack,” said Burnett in an undertone, “let’s have Lucinda come to
+town next and see the effect on her.”
+
+“Miss Watkins,” said Clover through his megaphone, “as a mark of my
+affection I beg to offer you my white mouse. Do you accept?”
+
+“Oh, I don’t want to go back to the house yet,” said Aunt Mary, much
+disturbed. “It’s too soon.”
+
+“We won’t go home till morning,” said Burnett. “Not by a long shot.
+Here, Mitchell, give us a speech. Home! we don’t want to _drink_ to it,
+but we do want to drink to it _here_.”
+
+“Home!” said Mitchell, rising with his glass in his hand. “Home! here’s
+to home, and I’ll drink to it in anything but a cab. Home, Aunt Mary
+and gentlemen, is the place where one may go when every other place is
+closed. As long as any other place is open, however, I do not recommend
+going home. The contrast is always sharp and bitter and to be avoided
+until unavoidable circumstances, over which we possess but little
+control, force us to give our address to the man who drives and let him
+drive us to the last place on the map. And so I drink to that last
+place—home; and here’s to it, not now, but a good deal later, and not
+then unless what must be has got to result.”
+
+Mitchell paused and they all drank.
+
+“Me next now,” exclaimed Burnett, jumping to his feet. “I’m going to
+make a speech at my own dinner, and as a good speech is best made
+off-hand, I’ve picked out an off-hand subject and arise to give you
+‘Lucinda.’ Having never met her I feel able to say nothing good about
+her and I call the company present to witness that I shall say nothing
+bad either. I gather from what I have had a stray chance of picking up
+that Lucinda is all that she should be, and nothing frisqué. The latter
+quality is too bad, but it’s not my fault. Therefore, I say again
+‘Lucinda’, and here’s to her very good health. May she never regret
+that Fate has given her no chance to have anything to regret.”
+
+Aunt Mary applauded this speech heartily even if she hadn’t quite
+caught the whole of it and had no idea of whom it was about.
+
+“Who’s goin’ to speak now?” she asked anxiously.
+
+“I am,” said Clover modestly. “I rise to propose the health of our
+honored guest, Miss Watkins. We all know what kin she is to one of us,
+and we all weep that she didn’t do as well by the rest of us. Aunt
+Mary! Glasses down!”
+
+“You can’t drink this, you know, Aunt Mary,” said Jack,—“it’s bad taste
+to drink to yourself.”
+
+“I don’t want to drink,” said Aunt Mary, beaming,—“I like to watch
+you.”
+
+“Here’s to Aunt Mary’s liking to watch us!” cried Clover.
+
+“No,” said Burnett rising, “don’t. It’s time to go and get the salad
+now.”
+
+“We’d ought to have the automobile for this party,” said Aunt Mary, and
+everyone applauded her idea, as they rose and gathered up their
+belongings.
+
+It was a droll procession of men with mice and a lady with a parrot
+that got under way and moved in among the Japanese fans and swinging
+lanterns of the next room in the suite of Burnett’s friend. Five little
+individual tables were laid there and on each table lay a Japanese
+creature of some sort which—being opened somewhere—revealed salad
+within.
+
+“Well, I never did!” exclaimed the guest; “this dinner ought to be put
+in a book!”
+
+“We’ll put it in ourselves first,” said Mitchell. “I never believe in
+booking any attraction until it has been tried on a select few. Burnett
+having selected me for one of this few, I vote we begin on the salad.”
+
+They began forthwith.
+
+Aunt Mary suddenly stopped eating.
+
+“Some one called,” she said.
+
+“It’s the parrot,” said Jack; “I heard him before.”
+
+“What does he say?” said Mitchell.
+
+“Listen and you’ll find out,” said Jack.
+
+They all listened and presently the parrot said solemnly:
+
+“Now see what you’ve done!” and relapsed into silence.
+
+“What does he mean?” Aunt Mary asked.
+
+“He’s referring to his own affairs,” said Burnett; “come on—let’s get
+coffee now!”
+
+They all adjourned to a tiny room lined with posters and decorated with
+pipe racks, and there had ice cream in the form of bulls and bears, and
+coffee of the strongest variety. And then cordials and cigarettes.
+
+“Now, where shall we go to first?” asked Burnett when all were well lit
+up. No one would have guessed that he had ever felt used up in all his
+life before.
+
+“To a roof garden,” said Mitchell. “We’ll go to a roof garden first,
+and then we’ll go to more roof gardens, and after that if the spirit
+moves we’ll go to yet a few roof gardens in addition. We’ll show our
+dear aunt what wonders can be done with roofs, and to-morrow she’ll
+wonder what was done with her.”
+
+“That’s the bill,” said Clover, “and let’s go now. I can see from the
+general manner of my mouse that he’s dying to get out and make his way
+in the wide world.”
+
+“Mine the same,” said Mitchell; “by George, it worries me to see such
+restless, feverish manners in what I had supposed would be a quiet
+domestic companion. It presages a distracted existence. But come on.”
+
+They all rose.
+
+“Where are we goin’ now?” asked Aunt Mary.
+
+“To a roof garden,” said Jack, “and we’re going to take the whole
+menagerie, Aunt Mary. We’re going to get put in the papers. That’s the
+great stunt,—to get put in the papers.”
+
+“But we’ll leave the megaphones,” said Mitchell. “I won’t go about with
+a mouse and a megaphone. People might think I looked silly. People are
+so queer.”
+
+“Put the mouse in the megaphone,” suggested Burnett. “That’s the way my
+mother taught me to pack when I was a kid. You put your tooth brush in
+a shoe, and the shoe in a sleeve and then turn the sleeve inside out.
+Oh, I tell you—what is home without a mother?—Put the mouse in the
+megaphone and stop up both ends. What are your hands and your mouth
+for?”
+
+“Yes,” said Mitchell, “I think I see myself so handling a megaphone
+that the mouse doesn’t run out either end or into my mouth. My mouth is
+a good mouth and it’s served me well and I won’t turn it over to a
+mouse at this late day.”
+
+“Let’s keep the mice in their cages,” said Clover, and as he spoke he
+dropped his.
+
+“Now see what you’ve done!” said the parrot.
+
+“I didn’t hurt it,” said Clover. “Come on now.”
+
+“Yes, come on,” said Burnett. “It’s long after ten o’clock. You want to
+remember that even roof gardens are not eternally on tap.”
+
+“Well, I’m trying to hurry all I can,” said Mitchell. “I’m the picture
+of patience scurrying for dear life only unable to lay hands on her
+gloves.”
+
+“I don’t catch what’s the trouble,” said Aunt Mary to Jack.
+
+
+[Illustration: “The carriage stopped three hundred feet below the
+level of a roof-garden.”]
+
+
+“Nothing’s the trouble,” said Jack, “everything’s fine and dandy. We’re
+going out now. Time of your life, Aunt Mary, time of your life!”
+
+They telephoned for a carriage and all got in. Then Clover slammed the
+door.
+
+“Now see what you’ve done!” said the parrot.
+
+“Is he going to keep saying that?” Burnett asked.
+
+“I don’t know,” said Jack. “It comes in pretty pat, don’t it?”
+
+“Makes me think of my mother,” said Clover. “I wish it wouldn’t.”
+
+“I don’t catch who’s sayin’ what,” said Aunt Mary.
+
+“Nobody’s saying anything, Miss Watkins,” roared Mitchell; “we are all
+talking airy nothings just to pass the time o’ day.”
+
+The carriage stopped three hundred feet below the level of a roof
+garden.
+
+“We get out here,” said Burnett.
+
+They all got out and went up in an elevator.
+
+“Seems to be a good many goin’ to the same place,” said Aunt Mary.
+
+“Yes,” said Mitchell, “a good many people generally go to places that
+are great places for a good many people to go to.”
+
+“You ought not to end with a preposition,” said Clover.
+
+“There, I left my ear-trumpet in the carriage!” said Aunt Mary.
+
+There was a pause of consternation. No one spoke except the parrot.
+
+“We know what she’s done without your telling us,” said Clover,
+addressing the bird. “The question is what to do next?”
+
+Jack went back downstairs and found the carriage waiting in hopes of
+picking up another load. He lost no time in personally picking up the
+ear-trumpet and returning to his friends.
+
+Then they all proceeded above and bought a table and turned their
+chairs to the stage, where the attraction just at that moment was a
+quartette of pretty girls.
+
+“I’ll tell you what we’ll do,” said Burnett the instant the girls began
+to sing. “Let’s each tie a card to a mouse and present them to the
+girls!”
+
+The suggestion found favor and was followed out to the letter. But when
+the girls were through and the Chinaman who followed them on the
+programme was also over, the pleasures of life in that spot palled upon
+the party.
+
+“Oh, come,” said Burnett, “let’s go somewhere else. Let’s go out in the
+air.”
+
+His suggestion found favor. And they sallied forth and visited another
+roof garden, a theater where they saw the last quarter of the fourth
+act, a place where Aunt Mary was given a gondola ride, and a place
+where she was given something in the shape of light refreshments.
+
+Then, becoming thirsty, they ordered a few White Horses and Red Horses
+and the Necks of yet other horses, but Aunt Mary declined the horses of
+all colors and Mitchell upheld her.
+
+“That’s right,” he said, “I’m a great believer in knowing when you’ve
+had enough, and I’m sure you’ve all had so much too much that I know
+that I must have had enough and that she’s better off with none at
+all.”
+
+“I reckon you’re right,” said Clover. “I’ve had enough, surely. I can’t
+see over my pile of little saucers, and when I can’t see over my pile
+of little saucers I’m always positive that I’ve had enough.”
+
+Jack laughed and then ceased laughing and drew down the corners of his
+mouth.
+
+“Why do people sit on chairs?” Clover asked just then. “Why don’t
+everyone sit on the floor? You never feel as if you might slip off the
+floor.”
+
+“Ah,” said Mitchell, “if we were not always trying to rise above Nature
+we should all be sitting where Nature intended,—when we weren’t
+swinging by our tails and picking cocoanuts.”
+
+“Come on and let’s go somewhere else,” said Burnett. “Every time I look
+at somebody it’s someone else and that makes me nervous.”
+
+“Now see what you’ve done!” said the parrot.
+
+“Did you know his long suit when you bought him?” Clover asked Burnett.
+
+“No,” said Burnett; “they told me that he didn’t use slang and that was
+all.”
+
+It was well along in the evening—or night—and a brisk discussion arose
+as to where to go next.
+
+“I’ll tell you,” said Clover, “we’ll take a ride. Let me see what time
+is it?—12.30. Just the time for a drive. We’ll take three cabs and
+sally forth and drive up and down and back and forth in the cool night
+air.”
+
+“And jews-harps!” cried Burnett. “Oh, I say, there’s a bully idea!
+We’ll go to a drug store and buy some jews-harps and play on them as we
+drive along. We’ll each sing our own tune, and the effect will be so
+novel. Let’s do it.”
+
+“Jews-harps—” said Clover thoughtfully, “jews-harps for three
+cabs—that’ll make—let me see—that’ll make—” he hesitated.
+
+“Oh, the driver will make the change,” said Burnett impatiently. “Come
+on. If we’re going to have the cabs and jews-harps it’s time to get out
+and take the stump in the good cause.”
+
+“Where’s my ear-trumpet?” said Aunt Mary, blankly,—“it’s been left
+somewhere.”
+
+“No, it hasn’t,” said Mitchell. “It’s here! I’m holding it for you.
+It’s much easier holding it than picking it up. It seems so slippery
+to-night.”
+
+“I’m not going out to get the cabs,” said Clover. “I thought of the
+idea and someone else must work it out. I’m opposed to working after
+time and I call time at midnight.”
+
+Mitchell rose with a depressed air.
+
+“I’ll go,” he said. “I feel the need of a walk. When I feel the need of
+anything I always take it and I’ve needed and taken so freely to-night
+that I need to take a walk to—”
+
+“I don’t think it funny to talk that way,” said Burnett a little
+heatedly. “If you want to get the cabs why get the cabs. I’m going to
+get them, too, and I reckon we can get them combined just as easy as
+alone.”
+
+“I will go with you,” said his friend solemnly. “I will accompany you
+because I feel the need—” He stopped and turned his hat over and over.
+“I know there’s a hole to put my head into,” he declared, “but I can’t
+just put my hand—I mean my head—on to—I mean, into—it.”
+
+“Do you expect to find a brass hand pointing to it?” said Burnett
+testily. “Come on!”
+
+“Three cabs and five—or was it six?—jews-harps?” continued Mitchell
+dreamily. “It must have been six, five for we five, and one for Lord
+Chesterfield—but where is Lord Chesterfield?” he asked suddenly with a
+disturbed glance around. “I hope he hasn’t deserted and gone home.”
+
+“Come on, come on!” said Burnett. “There won’t be a sober cab left if
+we don’t hurry while everything is still able to stand up.”
+
+This reasoning seemed to alarm Mitchell and he went out with him at
+once.
+
+“My head feels awfully,” said Clover to Jack. “It sort of grinds and
+grates—does yours?”
+
+Jack stared straight ahead and made no reply.
+
+“I’m goin’ home no more to roam,” said Aunt Mary slowly and sadly,—“I’m
+goin’ home no more to roam, no more to sin an’ sorrow. I’m goin’ home
+no more to roam—I’m goin’ home to-morrow. O hum!” She heaved a heavy
+sigh.
+
+“Now see what you’ve done!” said the parrot with emphasis.
+
+“Never mind,” said Clover bitterly. “Better people than you have gone
+home before now; I used to do it myself before I was old enough to know
+worse. Will you excuse me if I say, ‘Damn this buzzing in my head?’”
+
+“I know how you feel,” said Aunt Mary sympathetically. “Don’t you want
+me to ring for the porter and have him make up your berth right away?”
+
+Clover didn’t seem to hear. His eyes were roving moodily about the
+room; they looked almost as faded as his mustache.
+
+“Seems to me they’re gone a long time,” said Jack presently, twisting a
+little in his seat. “It never takes me so long to get a cab. I hold up
+my hand—the man stops—and I get in—what’s the matter, Aunt Mary?” He
+asked the question in sudden alarm at seeing Aunt Mary bury her face
+hastily in her handkerchief.
+
+“What’s the matter?” he repeated loudly.
+
+“Don’t mind me,” said Aunt Mary sobbing. “It’s just that I happened to
+just think of Lu—Lu—Lucinda—and somehow I don’t seem to have no
+strength to bear it.”
+
+“Split the handkerchief between us,” said Clover. “I want to cry, too,
+and there’s no time like the present for doing what you want to do.”
+
+“Rot!” said Jack, “look here—”
+
+He was interrupted by the return of the embassy, Mitchell bearing the
+jews-harps.
+
+“What’s the matter?” Burnett asked.
+
+“Nothing,” said Clover; “we were so worried over you, that’s all.”
+Burnett called for the bill and found that he had run out of cash; “Or
+maybe I’ve had my pocket picked,” he suggested. “I’m beginning to be in
+just the mood in which I always get my pocket picked.”
+
+Jack produced a roll of bills and settled for the refreshments. Then
+they all started down stairs as Aunt Mary wouldn’t risk an elevator
+going down.
+
+“It’s all right comin’ up,” she said, “but if it broke when you were
+going down where’d you be?”
+
+“In the elevator,” said Clover. “I’d never jump, I know that.”
+
+“Oh, I’ve left my ear-trumpet,” said Aunt Mary.
+
+“Let’s draw lots to see who goes back?” Burnett suggested.
+
+They drew and the lot fell to Clover.
+
+“I’m not going back,” he said coldly. “I haven’t got the energy. Let
+her apply the megaphone.”
+
+Jack went back.
+
+Then they all got into the street and into the cabs. Aunt Mary and Jack
+went first, Mitchell and Burnett second, and Clover brought up the rear
+alone.
+
+They set off and it must be admitted that the effect of the three cabs
+going single file one after another with their five occupants giving
+forth a most imperfect version of his or her favorite tune, was at once
+novel and awe-inspiring. But like all sweet things upon this earth the
+concert was not of long endurance. It was only a few minutes before the
+duos ceased utterly to duo and the soloist in the rear fell sound
+asleep. For several blocks there was a mournful and tell-tale lack of
+harmony upon the air and then the three young men seemed to have
+exhausted their mouths and all lapsed into a more or less conscious
+state of quietude.
+
+Only Aunt Mary was indefatigable. Like Cleopatra, age seemed to have no
+power to stale her infinite variety, and leaning back in her own corner
+she continued to placidly and peacefully intone with disregard for time
+and tune which never ruffled a wrinkle. She hadn’t played on a
+jews-harp in sixty years, and being deaf she was pleasantly astonished
+at how well she still did it. Jack leaned in his corner with folded
+arms; he was deeply conscious of wishing that it was the next day—any
+day—any other day—for the week had been a wearing one and he could not
+but be mortally glad that it was so nearly over. The task of fitting
+the plan of Aunt Mary’s revelries to the measure of her personal
+capacity had been a very hard one and his soul panted for relief
+therefrom. It is one thing to undertake a task and another thing to
+persevere to its successful completion. Aunt Mary’s nephew was
+tired—very tired.
+
+A little later he felt a weight against him; he looked; it was Aunt
+Mary’s head,—she was oblivious there on his bosom.
+
+He heard a voice; it was the parrot.
+
+“Now see what you’ve done,” it said in sepulchral tones.
+
+They reached the house, bore the honored guest within, and delivered
+her to Janice.
+
+“You can have that parrot,” Jack called back to the cabman. “He’s
+guaranteed against slang.”
+
+The cabman drove away.
+
+Janice received them with a look which might have been construed in
+many ways, but they were all far past construing and the look fell to
+the ground unheeded.
+
+And again Aunt Mary was tucked carefully up to dream herself rested
+once more.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter Eighteen
+A Departure And A Return
+
+
+The next day poor Aunt Mary had to undergo the ordeal of being obliged
+to turn her face away from all those joys which had so suddenly and
+brilliantly altered the hues of life for her. It pretty nearly used her
+up. She took her reviving decoction with tears standing in her
+eyes,—and sat down the glass with a bursting sigh. “My, but I wish I
+knew when I’d be taking any more of this?” she said to Janice.
+
+“Oh, you’ll come back to the city some day,” said the maid hopefully.
+
+“Come back!” said Aunt Mary. “Well, I should say that I would come
+back! Why—I—?” she stopped suddenly, “never mind,” she said after a
+minute, “only you’ll see that I’ll come back. Pretty surely—pretty
+positively.”
+
+Janice was folding her dresses into the small trunk. Aunt Mary
+contemplated the green plaid waist with an air of mournful reflection.
+
+“I believe I’ll always keep that waist rolled away,” she murmured. “I
+shall like to shake it out once in a while to remind me of things.”
+
+“Hand me my purse,” she said to the maid five minutes afterwards.
+“Here’s twenty-five dollars an’ I want you to take it and get anythin’
+you like with it.”
+
+“But that’s too much,” Janice cried, putting her hands behind her and
+shaking her head.
+
+“Take it,” said Aunt Mary imperiously; “you’re well worth it.”
+
+“I don’t like to—truly,” said the girl.
+
+“Take it,” said Aunt Mary sternly.
+
+So Janice took it and thanked her.
+
+The train went about 4 p.m., and it seemed wise to give the traveller a
+quiet luncheon in her own room and rally her escort afterwards.
+
+When she had eaten and drank she sighed again and thoughtfully folded
+her napkin.
+
+“I’ve had a nice time,” she said, gazing fixedly out of the window.
+“I’ve had a nice time, and I guess those young men have enjoyed it,
+too. I rather think my bein’ here has given them a chance to go to a
+good many places where they’d never have thought of goin’ alone. I’m
+pretty sure of it.”
+
+Janice made no reply.
+
+“But it’s all over now,” said Aunt Mary with something that sounded
+suspiciously like a sob in her voice, “an’ I haven’t got only just one
+consolation left an’ that’s—” again she paused.
+
+Janice carried the tray away and the next minute they all burst in
+bearing their parting gifts in their arms.
+
+The gifts were an indiscriminate collection of flowers, candy,
+magazines, books, etc.
+
+Aunt Mary opened her closet door and showed the four dressing-cases.
+Everyone but Jack was mightily surprised and everyone was mightily
+pleased. The room looked like Christmas, and the faces, too.
+
+“I shall die with my head on the hair brush,” Clover declared, and
+Mitchell went down on his knees and kissed Aunt Mary’s hand.
+
+“You must all come an’ see me if you ever go anywhere near,” said the
+old lady. “Now promise.”
+
+“We promise,” they yelled in unison, and then they asked in beautiful
+rhythm “What’s the matter with Aunt Mary?” and yelled the answer “She’s
+all right!” with a fervor that nearly blew out the window.
+
+“I declare,” Aunt Mary exclaimed, as the echoes settled back among the
+furniture, “when I think of Lucinda seems as if—” she paused; further
+speech was for the nonce impossible.
+
+“The carriages are ready,” Janice announced at the door, and from then
+until they reached the train all was confusion and bustle.
+
+Only the train whistle could drown the farewells which they poured into
+her ear-trumpet, and when they could hover in her drawing-room no
+longer they stood outside the window as long as the window was there to
+stand outside of. And then they watched it until it was out of sight,
+and after that turned solemnly away.
+
+“By grab!” said Burnett, “I think she ought to leave us _all_ fortunes.
+I never was so completely done up in my life.”
+
+“My throat’s blistered,” said Clover feebly; “I’m going to stand on my
+head and gargle with salve until my throat’s healed.”
+
+“I shall never shine on the team again,” said Mitchell. “I shall hire
+out for bleacher work. He who has successfully conversed with Aunt Mary
+need not fear to attack a Wagner Opera single-handed.”
+
+Jack did not say anything. His heart was athirst for Mrs. Rosscott.
+
+She was back in her own library the next night, and he rushed thither
+as soon as his first day’s labor was over. She was prettier and her
+eyes were sweeter and brighter than ever as she rose to meet him and
+held out—first one hand, and then both. He took the one hand and then
+the two and the longing that possessed him was so overwhelming that
+only his acute consideration for all she was to him kept him from
+taking more yet.
+
+“And the week’s over,” she said, when she had dragged her fingers out
+of his and gone and nestled down upon the divan, among the pillows that
+rivaled each other in their attempts to get closer to her, “the week’s
+all over and our aunt is gone.”
+
+“Yes,” he said, rolling his favorite chair up near to her seat, “all is
+over and well over.”
+
+She smiled and he smiled too.
+
+“She must have enjoyed it,” she said thoughtfully.
+
+“Enjoyed it!” said Jack. “She won’t like Paradise in comparison.”
+
+“And you’ve been a good boy,” said Mrs. Rosscott, regarding him
+merrily. “You’ve played your part well.”
+
+He rose to his feet and put his hand to his temple.
+
+“I salute my general,” he said. “I was well trained in the maneuver.”
+
+“It’s odd,” said Mrs. Rosscott thoughtfully. “It was really so simple.
+We are only women after all, whether it is I—or Aunt Mary—or all the
+rest of the world. We do so crave the knowledge that someone cares for
+us—for our hours—for our pleasures. It isn’t the bonbons—it’s that
+someone troubled to buy the bonbons because he thought that they would
+please us.”
+
+“Doesn’t a man have the same feeling?” Jack asked. “It isn’t the tea we
+come for—it’s the knowledge that someone bothers to make it and sugar
+it and cream it.”
+
+“I wasn’t laughing,” said she.
+
+“I wasn’t laughing either,” said he.
+
+“But it’s true,” she went on, “and I think the solution of many unhappy
+puzzles lies there. Don’t forget if you ever have a wife to pay lots of
+attention to her.”
+
+“I always have paid lots of attention to her, haven’t I?” he demanded.
+
+Mrs. Rosscott shook her head.
+
+“We won’t discuss that,” she said. “We’ll stick to Aunt Mary. Aunt Mary
+is a rock whose foundation is firm; when it comes to your relations
+toward other women—” she stopped, shrugging her shoulders, and he
+understood.
+
+“But it’s going to come out all right now, I’m sure,” she went on after
+a minute, “and I’m so glad—so very glad—that the chance was given to me
+to right the wrong that I was the cause of.”
+
+
+[Illustration: “‘And now the fun’s all over and the work begins,’ she
+said, looking down.”]
+
+
+He looked at her and his eyes almost burned, they were so strong in
+their leaping desire to fling himself at her feet and adore her
+goodness and sweetness and worldliness and wisdom from that
+vantage-ground of worship.
+
+She choked a little at the glance and put her hands together in her lap
+with a quick catching at self-control.
+
+“And now the fun’s all over and the work begins,” she said, looking
+down.
+
+“I know that,” he asseverated.
+
+She lifted up her eyes and looked at him so very kindly. And then—after
+a little pause to gain command of word and thought she spoke again,
+slowly.
+
+“Listen,” she said, this time very softly, but very seriously. “I want
+to tell you one thing and I want to tell it to you now. I had a good
+and sufficient reason for helping you out with Aunt Mary; but—” She
+hesitated.
+
+“But?” he asked.
+
+“But I’ve no reason at all for helping your Aunt Mary out with you,
+unless you prove worthy of her, and—”
+
+“And?”
+
+She looked at him, and shook her head slightly.
+
+“I won’t say ‘and of me,’” she said finally.
+
+“Why not?” he asked, a storm of tempestuous impatience raging behind
+his lips. “Do say it,” he pleaded.
+
+“No, I can’t say it. It wouldn’t be right. I don’t mean it, and so I
+won’t say it. I’ll only tell you that I can promise nothing as things
+are, and that unless you go at life from now on with a tremendous
+energy I never shall even dream of a possible promising.”
+
+He rose to his feet and towered above her, tall and straight and
+handsome, and very grave.
+
+“All right,” he said simply. “I’ll remember.”
+
+Ever so much later that evening he rose to bid her good-night.
+
+“Whatever comes, you’ve been an angel to me,” he said in that hasty
+five seconds that her hand was his.
+
+“Shall I ever regret it?” she asked, looking up to his eyes.
+
+“Never,” he declared earnestly, “never, never. I can swear that, and I
+shall be able to swear the same thing when I’m as old as my Aunt Mary.”
+
+Mrs. Rosscott lowered her eyes.
+
+“Who could ask more?” she said softly.
+
+“I could,” said Jack—“but I’ll wait first.”
+
+
+
+
+Chapter Nineteen
+Aunt Mary’s Return
+
+
+Joshua was at the station to meet his mistress, and Lucinda, full to
+the brim with curiosity, sat on the back seat of the carryall.
+
+Aunt Mary quitted the train with a dignity which was sufficiently
+overpowering to counteract the effect of her bonnet’s being somewhat
+awry. She greeted Joshua with a chill perfunctoriness that was
+indescribable, and her glance glided completely over Lucinda and faded
+away in the open country on the further side of her.
+
+Lucinda did not care. Lucinda was of a hardy stock and stormy glances
+neither bent nor broke her spirit.
+
+“I’m glad to see you come back looking so well,” she screamed, when
+Aunt Mary was in and they were off.
+
+Aunt Mary raised her eyebrows in a manner that appeared a trifle
+indignant, and riveted her gaze on the hindquarters of the horse.
+
+“I thought it was more like heaven myself,” she said coldly. “Not that
+your opinion matters any to me, Lucinda.”
+
+Then she leaned forward and poked the driver.
+
+“Joshua!” she said.
+
+Joshua jumped in his seat at the asperity of her poke and her tone.
+
+“What is it?” he said hastily.
+
+“Jus’ ’s soon as we get home I want you to take the saw—that little,
+sharp one, you know—and dock Billy’s tail. Cut it off as close as you
+can; do you hear?”
+
+“I hear,” was the startled answer.
+
+“Did you have a good time?” Lucinda had the temerity to ask, after a
+minute.
+
+“I guess I could if I tried,” the lady replied; “but I’m too tired to
+try now.”
+
+“How did you leave Mr. Jack?”
+
+“I couldn’t stay forever, could I?” asked the traveler impatiently. “I
+thought that a week was long enough for the first time, anyhow.”
+
+Lucinda subsided and the rest of the drive was taken in silence. When
+they reached the house Aunt Mary enveloped everything in one glance of
+blended weariness, scorn and contempt, and then made short work of
+getting to bed, where she slept the luxurious and dreamless sleep of
+the unjust until late that afternoon.
+
+“My, but she’s come back a terror!” Lucinda cried to Joshua in a high
+whisper when he brought in the trunk. “She looks like nothin’ was goin’
+to be good enough for her from now on.”
+
+“Nothin’ ain’t goin’ to be good enough for her,” said Joshua calmly.
+
+“What are we goin’ to do, then?” asked Lucinda.
+
+“We’ll have enough to do,” said Joshua, in a tone that was portentous
+in the extreme, and then he placed the trunk in its proper position for
+unpacking and went away, leaving Lucinda to unpack it.
+
+Aunt Mary awoke just as the faithful servant was unrolling the green
+plaid waist, and the instant that she spoke it was plain that her
+attitude toward life in general was become strangely and vigorously
+changed, and that for Lucinda the rack was to be newly oiled and
+freshly racking.
+
+This attitude was not in any degree altered by the unexpected arrival
+of Arethusa that evening. Strange tales had reached Arethusa’s ears,
+and she had flown on the wings of steam and coal dust to see what under
+the sun it all meant. Aunt Mary was not one bit rejoiced to see her and
+the glare which she directed over the edge of the counterpane bore
+testimony to the truth of this statement.
+
+“Whatever did you come for?” she demanded inhospitably. “Lucinda didn’t
+send for you, did she?”
+
+Arethusa screamed the best face that she could onto her visit, but Aunt
+Mary listened with an inattention that was anything but flattering.
+
+“I don’t feel like talkin’ over my trip,” she said, when she saw her
+niece’s lips cease to move. “Of course I enjoyed myself because I was
+with Jack, but as to what we did an’ said you couldn’t understand it
+all if I did tell you, so what’s the use of botherin’.”
+
+Arethusa looked neutral, calm and curious. But Aunt Mary frowned and
+shook her head.
+
+“S’long as you’re here, though, I suppose you may as well make yourself
+useful,” she said a few minutes later. “Come to think of it, there’s an
+errand I want you to do for me. I want you to go to Boston the very
+first thing to-morrow morning an’ buy me some cotton.”
+
+Arethusa stared blankly.
+
+“Well,” said the aunt, “if you can’t hear, you’d better take my
+ear-trumpet and I’ll say it over again.”
+
+“What kind of cotton?” Arethusa yelled.
+
+“Not _stockin’s!_” said Aunt Mary; “Cotton! Cotton! C-O-T-T-O-N! It
+beats the Dutch how deaf everyone is gettin’, an’ if I had your ears in
+particular, Arethusa, I’d certainly hire a carpenter to get at ’em with
+a bit-stalk. Jus’s if you didn’t know as well as I do how many
+stockin’s I’ve got already! I should think you’d quit bein’ so
+heedless, an’ use your commonsense, anyhow. I’ve found commonsense a
+very handy thing in talkin’ always. Always.”
+
+Arethusa launched herself full tilt into the ear-trumpet.
+
+“What—kind—of—cotton?” she asked in that key of voice which makes the
+crowd pause in a panic.
+
+Aunt Mary looked disgusted.
+
+“The Boston kind,” she said, nipping her lips.
+
+Arethusa took a double hitch on her larynx, and tried again.
+
+“Do you mean thread?”
+
+Aunt Mary’s disgust deepened visibly.
+
+“If I meant silk I guess I wouldn’t say cotton. I might just happen to
+say silk. I’ve been in the habit of saying silk when I meant silk and
+cotton when I meant cotton, for quite a number of years, and I might
+not have changed to-day—I might just happen to not have. I might not
+have—maybe.”
+
+Arethusa withered under this bitter irony.
+
+“How many spools do you want?” she asked in a meek but piercing howl.
+
+“I don’t care,” said Aunt Mary loftily. “I don’t care how many—or what
+color—or what number. I just want some Boston cotton, and I want to see
+you settin’ out to get it pretty promptly to-morrow morning.”
+
+“But if you only want some cotton,” Arethusa yelled, with a force which
+sent crimson waves all over her, “why can’t I get it in the village?”
+
+Aunt Mary shot one look at her niece and the latter felt the
+concussion.
+
+“Because—I—want—you—to—get—it— in—Boston,” she said, filling the breaks
+between her words with a concentrated essence of acerbity such as even
+she had never displayed before. “When I say a thing, I mean it pretty
+generally. Quite often—most always. I want that cotton and it’s to be
+bought in Boston. There’s a train that goes in at seven-forty-five, and
+if you don’t favor the idea of ridin’ on it you can take the express
+that goes by at six-five.”
+
+Arethusa pressed her hands very tightly together and carried the
+discussion no further. She went to bed early and rose early the next
+morning and Joshua drove her in town to the seven-forty-five.
+
+“It doesn’t seem to me that my aunt is very well,” the niece said
+during the drive. “What do you think?”
+
+“I don’t think anything about her,” said Joshua with great candor. “If
+I was to give to thinkin’ I’d o’ moved out to Chicago an’ been scalpin’
+Indians to-day.”
+
+“I wonder if that trip to New York was good for her?” Arethusa wondered
+mildly.
+
+Joshua flicked Billy with the whip and refused to voice any opinion as
+to New York’s effect on his mistress.
+
+Arethusa was well on her way to Boston when Aunt Mary’s bell, rung with
+a sharp jangle, summoned Lucinda to open her bedroom blinds. While
+Lucinda was leaning far out and attempting to cause said blinds to
+catch on the hooks, which habitually held them back against the side of
+the house, her mistress addressed her with a suddeness which showed
+that she had awakened with her wits surprisingly well in hand.
+
+“Where’s Joshua? Is he got back from Arethusa? Answer me, Lucinda.”
+
+Lucinda drew herself in through the open window with an alacrity
+remarkable for one of her years.
+
+“Yes, he’s back,” she yelled.
+
+Aunt Mary looked at her with a sort of incensed patience.
+
+“Well, what’s he doin’? If he’s back, where is he? Lucinda, if you knew
+how hard it is for me to keep quiet you’d answer when I asked things.
+Why in Heaven’s name don’t you say suthin’? Anythin’? Anythin’ but
+nothin’, that is.”
+
+“He’s mowin’,” Lucinda shrieked.
+
+“Sewin’!” exclaimed Aunt Mary. “What’s he sewin’? Where’s he sewin’?
+Have you stopped doin’ his darnin’?”
+
+Lucinda gathered breath by compressing her sides with her hands, and
+then replied, directing her voice right into the ear-trumpet:
+
+“He’s mowin’ the back lawn.”
+
+Aunt Mary winced and shivered.
+
+“My heavens, Lucinda!” she exclaimed, sharply. “I wish’t there was a
+school to teach outsiders the use of an ear-trumpet. They can’t seem to
+hit the medium between either mumblin’ or splittin’ one’s ear drums.”
+
+Lucinda was too much out of breath from her effort to attempt any
+audible penitence. Her mistress continued:
+
+“Well, you find him wherever he is, and tell him to harness up the
+buggy and go and get Mr. Stebbins as quick as ever he can. Hurry!”
+
+Lucinda exited with a promptitude that fulfilled all that her lady’s
+heart could wish. She found Joshua whetting his scythe.
+
+“She wants Mr. Stebbins right off,” said Lucinda.
+
+“Then she’ll get Mr. Stebbins right off,” said Joshua. And he headed
+immediately for the barn.
+
+Lucinda ran along beside him. It did seem to Lucinda as if in
+compensation for her slavery to Aunt Mary she might have had a
+sympathizer in Joshua.
+
+“I guess she wants to change her will,” she panted, very much out of
+breath.
+
+“Then she’ll change her will,” said Joshua. And as his steady gait was
+much quicker than poor Lucinda’s halting amble, and as he saw no
+occasion to alter it, the conversation between them dwindled into space
+then and there.
+
+Half an hour later Billy went out of the drive at a swinging pace and
+an hour after that Mr. Stebbins was brought captive to Aunt Mary’s
+throne.
+
+She welcomed him cordially; Lucinda was promptly locked out, and then
+the old lady and her lawyer spent a momentous hour together. Mr.
+Stebbins was taken into his client’s fullest confidence; he was regaled
+with enough of the week’s history to guess the rest; and he foresaw the
+outcome as he had foreseen it from the moment of the rupture.
+
+Aunt Mary was very sincere in owning up to her own past errors.
+
+“I made a big mistake about the life that boy was leadin’,” she said in
+the course of the conversation. “He took me everywhere where he was in
+the habit of goin’, an’ so far from its bein’ wicked, I never enjoyed
+myself so much in my life. There ain’t no harm in havin’ fun, an’ it
+does cost a lot of money. I can understand it all now, an’ as I’m a
+great believer in settin’ wrong right whenever you can, I want Jack put
+right in my will right off. I want—” and then were unfolded the
+glorious possibilities of the future for her youngest, petted nephew.
+He was not only to be reinstated in the will, but he was to reign
+supreme. The other four children were to be rich—very rich,—but Jack
+was to be _the_ heir.
+
+Mr. Stebbins was well pleased. He was very fond of Jack and had always
+been particularly patient with him on that account. He felt that this
+was a personal reward of merit, for it cannot be denied that Jack had
+certainly cashed very large checks on the bank of his forbearance.
+
+When all was finished, and Joshua and Lucinda had been called in and
+had duly affixed their signatures to the important document, the buggy
+was brought to the door again and Mr. Stebbins stepped in and allowed
+himself to be replaced where they had taken him from.
+
+Joshua returned alone.
+
+“There, what did I tell you!” said Lucinda, who was waiting for him
+behind the wood-house,—“she did want to change her will.”
+
+“Well, she changed it, didn’t she?” said Joshua.
+
+“I guess she wants to give him all she’s got, since that week in New
+York,” said Lucinda.
+
+“Then she’ll give him all she’s got,” said Joshua.
+
+Lucinda’s eyes grew big.
+
+“An’ she’ll give it to you, too, if you don’t look out and stay where
+you can hear her bell if she rings it,” Joshua added, with his usual
+frankness, and then he whipped up Billy and drove on to the barn.
+
+Arethusa returned late in the afternoon, very warm, very wilted. Aunt
+Mary looked over the cotton purchase, and deigned to approve.
+
+“But, my heavens, Arethusa,” she exclaimed immediately afterwards, “if
+you had any idea how dirty and dusty and altogether awful you do look,
+you wouldn’t be able to get to soap and water fast enough.”
+
+At that poor Arethusa sighed, and, gathering up her hat, and hat-pins,
+and veil, and gloves, and purse, and handkerchief, went away to wash.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter Twenty
+Jack’s Joy
+
+
+About the first of July many agreeable things happened.
+
+One was that Mr. Stebbins found it advisable to address a discreet
+letter to John Watkins, Jr., Denham, conveying the information that
+although he must not count unduly upon the future, still, if he behaved
+himself, he might with safety allow his expenditures to mount upward
+monthly to a certain limit. This was the way in which Aunt Mary salved
+her conscience and saved her pride all at once.
+
+“I don’t want him to think that I don’t mean things when I say ’em,”
+she had carefully explained to Mr. Stebbins, “but I can’t bear to think
+that there’s anybody in New York without money enough to have a good
+time there.”
+
+Mr. Stebbins had made a note of the sum which the allowance was to
+compass and had promised to write the letter at once.
+
+“What did you do the last time you were in the city?” Aunt Mary asked.
+
+“I was much occupied with business,” said the lawyer, “but I found time
+to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art and—”
+
+“Good gracious!” exclaimed Aunt Mary, “who was takin’ you ’round! I
+never had a second for any museums or arts;—you ought to have seen a
+vaudeville, or that gondola place! I was ferried around four times and
+the music lasted all through.” She stopped and reflected. “I guess you
+can make that money a hundred a month more,” she said slowly. “I don’t
+want the boy to ever feel stinted or have to run in debt.”
+
+Mr. Stebbins smiled, and the result was that Jack began to pay up the
+bills for his aunt’s entertainment very much more rapidly than he had
+anticipated doing.
+
+Another pleasant thing was that a week or so later—very soon after Mrs.
+Rosscott had given up her town house and returned to the protection of
+the parental slate-tiles—Burnett’s father, a peppery but jovial old
+gentleman (we all know the kind), suddenly asked why Bob never came
+home any more. This action on the part of the head of the house being
+tantamount to the completest possible forgiveness and obliviousness of
+the past, Burnett’s mother, of whom the inquiry had been made, wept
+tears of sincerest joy and wrote to the youngest of her flock to return
+to the ancestral fold just as soon as he possibly could. He came, and
+as a result, a fortnight later Jack came, and Mitchell came, and Clover
+came. Mrs. Rosscott, as we have previously stated, was already there,
+and so were Maude Lorne and a great many others. Some of the others
+were pretty girls and Burnett and two of his friends found plenty to
+amuse them, but Burnett’s dearest friend, his bosom friend, his Fidus
+Achates, found no one to amuse him, because he was in earnest, and had
+eyes for no feminine prettiness, his sight being dazzled by the
+radiance of one surpassing loveliness. He had worked tremendously hard
+the first month of daily laboring, and felt he deserved a reward. Be it
+said for Jack that the reward of which Aunt Mary had the bestowing
+counted for very little with him except in its relation to the far
+future. The real goal which he was striving toward, the real laurels
+that he craved—Ah! they lay in another direction.
+
+Middle July is a lovely time to get off among the trees and grass, and
+lie around in white flannels or white muslins, just as the case may be.
+It was too warm to do much else than that, and Heaven knows that Jack
+desired nothing better, as long as his goddess smiled upon him.
+
+It was curious about his goddess. She seemed to grow more beautiful
+every time that he saw her. Perhaps it was her native air that gave her
+that charming flush; perhaps it was the joy of being at home again;
+perhaps it was—no, he didn’t dare to hope that. Not yet. Not even with
+all that she had done for him fresh in his memory. The humility of true
+love was so heavy on his heart that his very dreams were dulled with
+hopelessness, the majority of them seeming too vividly dyed in Paradise
+hues for their fulfillment in daily life to ever appear possible. But
+still he was very, very happy to be there with her—beside her—and to
+hear her voice and look into her eyes whenever the trouble some “other
+people” would leave them alone together. And she did seem happy, too.
+And so rejoiced that the tide of Aunt Mary’s wrath had been
+successfully turned. And so rejoiced that he was at work, even in the
+face of her hopes as to his college career. And also so rejoiced to
+take up the gay, careless thread of their mutual pleasure again.
+
+The morning after the gathering of the party was Saturday and an ideal
+day—that sort of ideal day when house parties naturally sift into pairs
+and then fade away altogether. The country surrounding our particular
+party was densely wooded and not at all settled, the woods were laid
+out in a fascinating system of walks and benches which in no case
+commanded views of one another, and the shade overhead was the shade of
+July and as propitious to rest as it was to motion. Mitchell took a
+girl in gray and two sets of golf clubs and started out in the opposite
+direction from the links, Clover took a girl in green and a camera and
+went another way, Burnett took a girl in a riding habit and two saddle
+horses and followed the horses’ noses whither they led, and Jack—Jack
+smoked cigarettes on the piazza and waited—waited.
+
+Mrs. Rosscott came out after a while and asked him why he didn’t go to
+walk also.
+
+“Just what I was thinking as to yourself,” he said, very boldly as to
+voice, and very beseechingly as to eyes.
+
+“Oh, I’m so busy,” she said, laughing up into his eyes and then
+laughing down at the ground—“you see I’m the only married daughter to
+help mamma.”
+
+“But you’ve been helping all the morning,” he complained, “and besides
+how can you help? One would think that your mother was beating eggs or
+turning mattresses.”
+
+“I have to work harder than that,” said Mrs. Rosscott; “I have to make
+people know one another and like one another and not all want to make
+love to the same girl.”
+
+“You can’t help their all wanting to make love to the same girl,” said
+Jack; “the more you try to convince them of their folly the deeper in
+love they are bound to fall. I’m an illustration of that myself.”
+
+Mrs. Rosscott looked at him then and curved her mouth sweetly.
+
+“You do say such pretty things,” she said. “I don’t see how you’ve
+learned so much in so little time. Why, General Jiggs in there is three
+times your age and he tangles himself awfully when he tries to be
+sweet.”
+
+“Perhaps his physician has recommended gymnastics,” said Jack.
+
+“Perhaps,” said Mrs. Rosscott laughing, and then she turned as if to go
+in.
+
+“Oh, don’t,” said her lover, barring the way with great suddenness;
+“you really mustn’t, you know. I’ve been patient for so long and been
+good for so long and I must be rewarded—I really must. Do come out with
+me somewhere—anywhere—for only a half-hour,—please.”
+
+She looked at him.
+
+“Won’t Maude do?” she asked.
+
+“No, she won’t,” he said beneath his breath; “whatever do you suggest
+such a thing for? You make me ready to tell you to your face that you
+want to go as bad as I want you to go, but I shan’t say so because I
+know too much.”
+
+“You do know a lot, don’t you?” said she, with an expression of great
+respect; “why, if you were to dare to hint to me that I wanted to go
+out with you instead of staying in and talking Rembrandt with Mr.
+Morley, I’d never forgive you the longest day I live.”
+
+“I know you wouldn’t,” said he, “and you may be quite sure that I shall
+not say it. On the contrary I shall merely implore you to forget your
+own pleasure in consideration of mine.”
+
+“I really ought to devote the morning to Mr. Morley,” she said
+meditatively; “it’s such an honor his coming here, you know.”
+
+“A little bit of a whiskered monkey,” said Jack in great disgust; “an
+honor, indeed!”
+
+“He’s a very great man,” said Mrs. Rosscott; “every sort of institution
+has given him a few letters to put after his name, and some have given
+him whole syllables.”
+
+“You must get a straw hat, you know, or a sun-shade; it will be hot in
+half an hour.”
+
+“Oh, I couldn’t stay out half an hour; fifteen minutes would be the
+longest.”
+
+“All right, fifteen minutes, then, but do hurry.”
+
+“I didn’t say that I would go,” she said, opening her eyes; “and yet I
+feel myself gone.” She laughed lightly.
+
+“Do hurry,” he pleaded freshly; “oh, I am so hungry to—”
+
+She disappeared within doors and five minutes later came back with one
+of those charming floppy English garden hats, tied with a muslin bow
+beneath her dimpled chin.
+
+“This is so good of me,” she said, as they went down the steps.
+
+“Very good, heavenly good,” said Jack; and then neither spoke again
+until they had crossed the Italian garden and entered the American
+wood. She looked into his eyes then and smiled half-shyly and
+half-provokingly.
+
+“You are such a baby,” she said; “such a baby! Do ask me why and I’ll
+tell you half a dozen whys. I’d love to.”
+
+The path was the smoothest and shadiest of forest paths, the hour was
+the sweetest and sunniest of summer hours, the moment was the brightest
+and happiest of all the moments which they had known together—up to
+now.
+
+“Do tell me,” he said; “I’m wild to know.”
+
+He took her hand and laid it on his arm. For that little while she was
+certainly his and his alone, and no man had a better claim to her. “Go
+on and tell me,” he repeated.
+
+“There is one big reason and there are lots of little ones. Which will
+you have first?”
+
+“The little ones, please.”
+
+“Then, listen; you are like a baby because you are impatient, because
+you are spoilt, because when you want anything you think that you must
+have it, and because you like to be walked with.”
+
+“Are those the little reasons,” he said when she paused; “and what’s
+the big one?”
+
+“The big one,” she said slowly; “Oh, I’m afraid that you won’t like the
+big one!”
+
+“Perhaps it will be all the better for me if I don’t,” he laughed; “at
+any rate I beg and pray and plead to know it.”
+
+“What a dear boy!” she laughed. “If you want to know as badly as that,
+I’d have to tell you anyhow, whether I wanted to or not. It’s because
+I’m so much the oldest.”
+
+“Oh!” said Jack, much disappointed. “Is that why?”
+
+“And then too,” she continued, “you seem even younger because of your
+being so unsophisticated.”
+
+“So I am unsophisticated, am I?” he asked grimly.
+
+“Yes,” she said nodding; “at least you impress me so.”
+
+“I’m glad of that,” he said after a little pause.
+
+She looked up quickly.
+
+“Truly?”
+
+“Yes, indeed.”
+
+“Oh,” she laughed, “if you say that, then I shall know that you are
+less unsophisticated than I thought you were.”
+
+“Why so?” he asked surprised.
+
+“Don’t you know that meek, mild men always try to insinuate that they
+are regular fire-eaters, and vice versa? Well, it’s so—and it’s so
+every time. There was once a man who was kissing me, and he drew my
+hands up around his neck in such a clever, gentle way that I was
+absolutely positive that he had had no end of practice drawing arms up
+in that way and I just couldn’t help saying: ‘Oh, how many women you
+must have kissed!’ What do you think he answered?—merely smiled and
+said: ‘Not so many as you might imagine.’ He showed how much he knew by
+the way he answered, for oh! he had. I found that out afterwards.”
+
+“What did you do then?” he asked, frowning. “Cut him?”
+
+“No; I married him. Why, of course I was going to marry him when he
+kissed me, or I wouldn’t have let him kiss me. Do you suppose I let men
+kiss me as a general thing? What are you thinking of?”
+
+“I was thinking of you,” he said. “It’s a horrible habit I’ve fallen
+into lately. But, never mind; keep on talking.”
+
+“I don’t remember what I was saying,” she said. “Oh, yes, I do too.
+About men, about good and bad men. Now, even if I didn’t know how much
+trouble you’d made in the world, I’d divine it all the instant that you
+were willing to admit being unsophisticated. People always crave to be
+the opposite of what they are; the drug shops couldn’t sell any
+peroxide of hydrogen if that wasn’t so.”
+
+He laughed and forgot his previous vexation.
+
+“Now, look at me,” she continued. “Oh, I didn’t mean really—I mean
+figuratively; but never mind. Now, I’m nothing but a bubble and a toy,
+and I ache to be considered a philosopher. Don’t you remember my
+telling you what a philosopher I was, the very first conversation that
+we ever had together? I do try so hard to delude myself into thinking I
+am one, that some days I’m almost sure that I really am one. Last
+night, for instance, I was thinking how nice it would be for my Cousin
+Maude to marry you.”
+
+“Ye gods!” cried Jack.
+
+“She’s so very rich,” Mrs. Rosscott pursued calmly; “and you know the
+law of heredity is an established scientific fact now, so you could
+feel quite safe as to her nose skipping the next generation.”
+
+Jack was audibly amused.
+
+“It’s not anything to laugh over,” his companion continued gravely.
+“It’s something to ponder and pray over. If I were Maude I should be on
+my knees about it most of the time.”
+
+“Nothing can help her now,” said Jack. “Her parents have been and gone
+and done it, as far as she’s concerned, forever. Prayer won’t change
+her nose, although age may broaden it still more.”
+
+“Don’t you believe that nothing can help her now. A good-looking
+husband could help her lots. I’ve seen homelier girls than she go just
+everywhere—on account of their husbands, you know. That was where my
+philosophy came in.”
+
+“I’d quite forgotten your philosophy.” He laughed again as he spoke. “I
+must apologize. Please tell me more about it.”
+
+She laughed, too.
+
+“I’m going to. You see, I was lying there, looking out at the moon, and
+thinking how nice it would be for Maude to marry you.”
+
+“Did you consider me at all?” he interposed.
+
+“How you interrupt!” she declared, in exasperation. “You never let me
+finish.”
+
+“I am dumb.”
+
+“Well, I thought how nice it would be for Maude to marry you. You’d
+have a baron for a papa-in-law, and an heiress to balance Aunt Mary
+with. If you went into consumption and had to retreat to Arizona for a
+term of years, the climate could not ruin her complexion as it would
+m—most people’s. And she’s so ready to have you that it’s almost
+pathetic. I can’t imagine anything more awful than to be as ready to
+marry a man who is’nt at all desirous of so doing, as Maude is of
+marrying you. But if you would only think about it. I thought and
+thought about it last night and the longer I thought the more it seemed
+like such a nice arrangement all around; and then—all of a sudden—do
+you know I began to wonder if I was philosopher enough to enjoy being
+matron-of-honor to Maude and really—”
+
+“At the wedding I could have kissed you!” he exclaimed, and suddenly
+subsided at the look with which she withered his boldness.
+
+“And really I wasn’t altogether sure; and then, it occurred to me that
+nothing on the face of the earth would ever persuade you to marry
+Maude. And I saw my card castle go smashing down, and then I saw that I
+really am a philosopher, after all, for—for I didn’t mind a bit!”
+
+Jack threw his head back and roared.
+
+“Oh,” he said after a minute, “you are so refreshing. You ruffle me up
+just to give me the joy of smoothing me down, don’t you?”
+
+“I do what I can to amuse you,” she said, demurely. “You are my
+father’s guest and my brother’s friend, and so I ought to—oughtn’t I?”
+
+“Yes,” he said, “I have a two-fold claim on you if you look at it that
+way and some day I mean to go to work and unfold still another.”
+
+They had come to a delightful little nook where the trees sighed
+gently, “Sit down,” and there seemed to be no adequate reason for
+refusing the invitation.
+
+“Let’s rest, I know you’re tired,” the young man said gently, and the
+next minute found his companion down upon the soft grass, her back
+against a twisted tree-root and her hands about her knees.
+
+He threw himself down beside her and the hush and the song of
+mid-summer were all about them, filling the air, and their ears, and
+their hearts all at once.
+
+Presently he took her hand up out of the grass where its fingers had
+wandered to hide themselves, and kissed it. She looked at him
+reprovingly when it was too late, and shook her head.
+
+“Such a little one!” he said.
+
+“I call it a pretty big one,” she answered.
+
+“I mean the hand—not the kiss,” he said smiling.
+
+“You really are sophisticated,” she told him. “Only fancy if you had
+reversed those nouns!”
+
+“I know,” he said; “but I’ve kissed hands before. You see, I’m more
+talented than you think.”
+
+“Don’t be silly,” she said smiling. “I really am beginning to think
+very well of you. You don’t want me to cease to, do you?”
+
+“Why do women always say ‘Don’t be silly’?” he queried. “I wish I could
+find one who wanted to be very original, and so said, ‘Do be silly’,
+just for a change.”
+
+“Dear me, if women were to beg men to be silly what would happen?” Mrs.
+Rosscott exclaimed. “The majority are so very foolish without any
+special egging on.”
+
+“But it is so dreadfully time-worn—that one phrase.”
+
+“Oh, if it comes to originality,” she answered, “men are not original,
+either. Whenever they lie down in the shade, they always begin to talk
+nonsense. You reflect a bit and see if that isn’t invariably so.”
+
+“But nonsense is such fun to talk in the shade,” he said, spreading her
+fingers out upon his own broad palm. “So many things are so next to
+heavenly in the shade.”
+
+“You ought not to hold my hand.”
+
+“I know it.”
+
+“I am astonished that you do not remember your Aunt Mary’s teaching you
+better.”
+
+“She never forbade my holding your hand.”
+
+“Suppose anyone should come suddenly down the path?”
+
+“They would see us and turn and go back.”
+
+“To tell everyone—”
+
+“What?”
+
+“A lie.”
+
+Jack laughed, folded her hand hard in his, and drew himself into a
+sitting posture beside her knee.
+
+“Now, don’t be silly,” she said with earnest anxiety. “I won’t have it.
+It’s putting false ideas in your head, because I’m really only playing,
+you know.”
+
+“The shadow of love,” he suggested.
+
+“Quite so.”
+
+“And if—” He leaned quite near.
+
+“Not by any means,” she exclaimed, springing quickly to her feet.
+“Come—come! It’s quite time that we were going back to the house.”
+
+“Why must we?” he remonstrated.
+
+“You know why,” she said. “It’s time we were being sensible. When a man
+gets as near as you are, I prefer to be _en promenade_. And don’t let
+us be foolish any longer, either. Let us be cool and worldly. How much
+money has your aunt, anyhow?”
+
+Jack had risen, too.
+
+“What impertinence!” he ejaculated.
+
+“Not at all,” she said. “Maude has so much money of her own that I ask
+in a wholly disinterested spirit.”
+
+“She’s very rich,” said Jack. “But if your spirit is so disinterested,
+what do you want to know for?”
+
+“This is a world of chance, and the main chance in a woman’s case is
+alimony; so it’s always nice to know how to figure it.”
+
+“It’s a slim chance for your cousin,” said Jack. “Do tell her that I
+said so.”
+
+“No, I shan’t,” said she perversely. “I won’t be a go-between for you
+and her. Besides, as to that alimony, there are more heiresses than
+Maude in our family.”
+
+“Yes,” said he; “I know that. But I know, too, that there is one among
+them who need never figure on getting any alimony out of me. If I ever
+get the iron grasp of the law on that heiress, I can assure you that
+only her death or mine will ever loosen its fangs.”
+
+“How fierce you are!” said Mrs. Rosscott. “Why do you get so worked
+up?”
+
+“Oh,” he exclaimed, with something approaching a groan, “I don’t mean
+to be—but I do care so much! And sometimes—” he caught her quickly in
+his arms, drew her within their strong embrace, and kissed her
+passionately upon the lips that had been tantalizing him for five
+interminable months.
+
+He was almost frightened the next second by her stillness.
+
+“Don’t be angry,” he pleaded.
+
+“I’m not,” she murmured, resting very quietly with her cheek against
+his heart. “But you’ll have to marry me now. My other husband did, you
+know.”
+
+“Marry you!” he exclaimed. “Next week? To-morrow? This afternoon? You
+need only say when—”
+
+“Oh, not for years and years,” she said, interrupting him. “You mustn’t
+dream of such a thing for years and years!”
+
+“For years and years!” he cried in astonishment.
+
+“That’s what I said,” she told him.
+
+He released her in his surprise and stared hard at her. And then he
+seized her again and kissed her soundly.
+
+“You don’t mean it!” he declared.
+
+“I do mean it!” she declared.
+
+And then she shook her head in a very sweet but painfully resolute
+manner.
+
+“I won’t be called a cradle-robber,” she said, firmly; and at that her
+companion swore mildly but fervently.
+
+“You’re so young,” she said further; “and not a bit settled,” she
+added.
+
+“But you’re young, too,” he reminded her.
+
+“I’m older than you are,” she said.
+
+“I suppose that you aren’t any more settled than I am, and that’s why
+you hesitate,” he said grimly.
+
+“Now that’s unworthy of you,” she cried; “and I have a good mind—”
+
+But the direful words were never spoken, for she was in his arms
+again—close in his arms; and, as he kissed her with a delicious
+sensation that it was all too good to be true, he whispered, laughing:
+
+“I always meant to lord it over my wife, so I’ll begin by saying: ‘Have
+it your own way, as long as I have you.’”
+
+Mrs. Rosscott laid her cheek back against his coat lapel, and looked up
+into his eyes with the sweetest smile that even he had ever seen upon
+even her face.
+
+“It’s a bargain,” she murmured.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter Twenty-One
+The Peace and Quiet of the Country
+
+
+Along in the beginning of the fall Aunt Mary began suddenly to grow
+very feeble indeed. After the first week or two it became apparent that
+she would have to be quiet and very prudent for some time, and it was
+when this information was imparted to her that the family discovered
+that she had been intending to go to New York for the Horse-Show.
+
+“She’s awful mad,” Lucinda said to Joshua. “The doctor says she’ll have
+to stay in bed.”
+
+“She won’t stay in bed long,” said Joshua.
+
+“The doctor says if she don’t stay in bed she’ll die,” said Lucinda.
+
+“She won’t die,” said Joshua.
+
+Lucinda looked at Joshua and felt a keen desire to throw her flatiron
+at him. The world always thinks that the Lucindas have no feelings; the
+world never knows how near the flatirons come to the Joshuas often and
+often.
+
+Arethusa came for two days and looked the situation well over.
+
+“I think I won’t stay,” she said to Lucinda, “but you must write me
+twice a week and I’ll write the others.”
+
+Then Arethusa departed and Lucinda remained alone to superintend things
+and be superintended by Aunt Mary.
+
+Aunt Mary’s superintendence waxed extremely vigorous almost at once.
+She had out her writing desk, and wrote Jack a letter, as a consequence
+of which everything published in New York was mailed to his aunt as
+soon as it was off the presses. Lucinda was set reading aloud and,
+except when the mail came, was hardly allowed to halt for food and
+sleep.
+
+“My heavens above,” said the slave to Joshua, “it don’t seem like I can
+live with her!”
+
+“You’ll live with her,” said Joshua.
+
+“It’s more as flesh and blood can bear.”
+
+“Flesh and blood can bear a good deal more’n you think for,” said
+Joshua, and then he delivered up two letters and drove off toward the
+barn.
+
+“If those are letters,” said Aunt Mary from her pillow the instant she
+heard the front door close, “I’d like ’em. I’m a great believer in
+readin’ my own mail, an’ another time, Lucinda, I’ll thank you to bring
+it as soon as you get it an’ not stand out on the porch hollyhockin’
+with Joshua for half an hour while I wait.”
+
+Lucinda delivered up the letters without demanding what species of
+conversational significance her mistress attached to the phrase,
+“holly-hocking.”
+
+Aunt Mary turned the letters through eagerly.
+
+“My lands alive!” she said suddenly, “if here isn’t one from
+Mitchell,—the dear boy. Well, I never did!—Lucinda, open the blinds to
+the other window, too—so I—can—see to—” her voice died away,—she was
+too deep in the letter to recollect what she was saying.
+
+Mitchell wrote:
+
+MY DEAR MISS WATKINS:—
+
+We are sitting in a row with ashes on the heads of our cigarettes
+mourning, mourning, mourning, because we have had the news that you are
+ill. As usual it is up to me to express our feelings, so I have decided
+to mail them and the others agree to pay for the ink.
+
+I wish to remark at once that we did not sleep any last night. Jack
+told us at dinner, and we spent the evening making a melancholy tour of
+places where we had been with you. If you had only been with us! The
+roof gardens are particularly desolate without you. The whole of the
+city seems to realize it. The watering carts weep from dawn to dark.
+All the lamp-posts are wearing black. It is sad at one extreme and
+sadder at the other.
+
+You must brace up. If you can’t do that try a belt. Life is too short
+to spend in bed. My motto has always been “Spend freely everywhere
+else.” At present I recommend anything calculated to mend you. I may in
+all modesty mention that just before Christmas I shall be traveling
+north and shall then adore to stop and cheer you up a bit if you invite
+me. I have made it an invariable rule, however, not to stay over night
+anywhere when I am not invited, so I hope you will consider my feelings
+and send me an invitation.
+
+My eyes fill as I think what it will be to sit beside you and recall
+dear old New York. It will be the next best thing to being run over by
+an automobile, won’t it?
+
+Yours, with fondest recollections,
+HERBERT KENDRICK MITCHELL.
+
+
+Aunt Mary laid the letter down.
+
+“Lucinda,” she said in a curiously veiled tone, “give me a
+handkerchief—a big one. As big a one as I’ve got.”
+
+Lucinda did as requested.
+
+“Now, go away,” said Aunt Mary.
+
+Lucinda went away. She went straight to Joshua.
+
+“She’s had a letter an’ read it an’ it’s made her cry,” she said.
+
+“That’s better’n if it made her mad,” said Joshua, who was warming his
+hands at the stove.
+
+“I ain’t sure that it won’t make her mad later,” said Lucinda. “Say,
+but she is a Tartar since she came back. Seems some days’s if I
+couldn’t live.”
+
+“You’ll live,” said Joshua, and, as his hands were now well-warmed, he
+went out again.
+
+After a while Aunt Mary’s bell jangled violently and Lucinda had to
+hurry back.
+
+“Lucinda, did the doctor say anythin’ to you about how long he thought
+I might be sick?”
+
+“Yes, he did.”
+
+“What did he say? I want to know jus’ what he said. Speak up!”
+
+“He said he didn’t have no idea how long you’d be sick.”
+
+Aunt Mary threw a look at Lucinda that ought to have annihilated her.
+
+“I want to see Jack,” she said. “Bring my writin’ desk. Right off.
+Quick.”
+
+She wrote to Jack, and he came up and spent the next Sunday with her,
+cheering her mightily.
+
+“I wish the others could have come, too,” she said once an hour all
+through his visit. Mitchell’s letter seemed to have bred a tremendous
+longing within her.
+
+“They’ll come later,” said Jack, with hearty good-will. “They all want
+to come.”
+
+“I don’t know how we could ever have any fun up here though,” said his
+aunt sadly. “My heavens alive, Jack,—but this is an awful place to live
+in. And to think that I lived to be seventy before I found it out.”
+
+Jack took her hand and kissed it. He did sympathize, even if he was
+only twenty-two and longing unutterably to be somewhere else and
+kissing someone else at that very minute.
+
+“Mitchell wrote me a letter,” continued Aunt Mary. “He said he was
+comin’. Well, dear me, he can eat mince pie and drive with Joshua when
+he goes for the mail, but I don’t know what else I can do with him. Oh,
+if I’d only been born in the city!”
+
+Jack kissed her hand again. He didn’t know what to say. Aunt Mary’s lot
+seemed to border upon the tragic just then and there.
+
+The next day he returned to town and Lucinda came on duty again. She
+soon found that the nephew’s visit had rendered the aunt harder than
+ever to get along with.
+
+“I’m goin’ to town jus’’s soon as ever I feel well enough,” she
+declared aggressively on more than one occasion. “An’ nex’ time I go
+I’m goin’ to stay jus’’s long as ever I’m havin’ a good time. Now,
+don’t contradict me, Lucinda, because it’s your place to hold your
+tongue. I’m a great believer in your holding your tongue, Lucinda.”
+
+Lucinda, who certainly never felt the slightest inclination toward
+contradiction, held her tongue, and the poor, unhappy one twisted about
+in bed, and bemoaned the quietude of her environment by the hour at a
+time.
+
+“Did you say we had a calf?” she asked suddenly one day. “Well, why
+don’t you answer? When I ask a question I expect an answer. Didn’t you
+say we had a calf?”
+
+Lucinda nodded.
+
+“Well, I want Joshua to take that calf to the blacksmith and have him
+shod behind an’ before right off. To-day—this minute.”
+
+“You want the calf shod!” cried Lucinda, suddenly alarmed by the fear
+lest her mistress had gone light-headed.
+
+Aunt Mary glared in a way that showed that she was far from being out
+of her usual mind.
+
+“If I said shod, I guess I meant shod,” she said, icily. “I do
+sometimes mean what I say. Pretty often—as a usual thing.”
+
+Lucinda stood at the foot of the bed, petrified and paralyzed.
+
+Then the invalid sat up a little and showed some mercy on her servant’s
+very evident fright.
+
+“I want the calf shod,” she explained, “so’s Joshua can run up an’ down
+the porch with him.”
+
+So far from ameliorating Lucinda’s condition, this explanation rendered
+it visibly worse. Aunt Mary contemplated her in silence for a few
+seconds, and she suddenly cried out, in a tone that was full of pathos:
+
+“I feel like maybe—maybe—the calf’ll make me think it’s horses’ feet on
+the pavement.”
+
+Lucinda rushed from the room.
+
+“She wants the calf shod!” she cried, bursting in upon Joshua, who was
+piling wood.
+
+For once in his life Joshua was shaken out of his usual placidity.
+
+“She wants the calf shod!” he repeated blankly.
+
+“Yes.”
+
+“You can’t shoe a calf.”
+
+“But she wants it done.”
+
+Joshua regained his self-control.
+
+“Oh, well,” he said, turning to go on with his work, “the calf’s gone
+to the butcher, anyhow. Tell her so.”
+
+Lucinda went back to Aunt Mary.
+
+“The calf’s gone to the butcher,” she yelled.
+
+Aunt Mary frowned heavily.
+
+“Then you go an’ get a lamp and turn it up too high an’ leave it,” she
+said,—“the smell’ll make me think of automobiles.”
+
+Lucinda was appalled. As a practical housekeeper she felt that here was
+a proposition which she could not face.
+
+“Well, ain’t you goin’?” Aunt Mary asked tartly. “Of course if you
+ain’t intendin’ to go I’d be glad to know it; ’n while you’re gone,
+Lucinda, I wish you’d get me the handle to the ice-cream freezer an’
+lay it where I can see it; it’ll help me believe in the smell.”
+
+Lucinda went away and brought the handle, but she did not light the
+lamp. The Fates were good to her, though, for Aunt Mary forgot the lamp
+in her disgust over the appearance of the handle.
+
+“Take it away,” she said sharply. “Anybody’d know it wasn’t an
+automobile crank. I don’t want to look like a fool! Well, why ain’t you
+takin’ it away, Lucinda?”
+
+Lucinda took the crank back to the freezer; but as the days passed on,
+the situation grew worse. Aunt Mary slept more and more, and awoke to
+an ever-increasing ratio of belligerency.
+
+Before long Lucinda’s third cousin demanded her assistance in “moving,”
+and there was nothing for poor Arethusa to do but to take up the
+burden, now become a fearfully heavy one.
+
+Aunt Mary was getting to that period in life when the nearer the
+relative the greater the dislike, so that when her niece arrived the
+welcome which awaited her was even less cordial than ever.
+
+“Did you bring a trunk?” she asked.
+
+“A small one,” replied the visitor.
+
+“That’s something to be grateful for,” said the aunt. “If I’d invited
+you to visit me, of course I’d feel differently about things.”
+
+Arethusa accepted this as she accepted all things, unpacked, saw
+Lucinda off, assumed charge of the house, and then dragged a rocking
+chair to her aunt’s bedside and unfolded her sewing. Ere she had
+threaded her needle Aunt Mary was sound asleep, and so her niece sewed
+placidly for an hour or more, until, like lightning out of a clear sky:
+
+“Arethusa!”
+
+The owner of the name started—but answered immediately:
+
+“Yes, Aunt Mary.”
+
+“When I die I want to be buried from a roof garden! Don’t you forget!
+You’d better go an’ write it down. Go now—go this minute!”
+
+Arethusa shook as if with the discharge of a contiguous field battery.
+She had not had Lucinda’s gradual breaking-in to her aunt’s new trains
+of thought.
+
+“Aunt Mary,” she said feebly at last.
+
+Aunt Mary saw her lips moving; she sat up in bed and her eyes flashed
+cinders.
+
+“Well, ain’t you goin’?” she asked wrathfully. “When I say do a thing,
+can’t it be done? I declare it’s bad enough to live with a pack of
+idiots without havin’ ’em, one an’ all, act as if I was the idiot!”
+
+Arethusa laid aside her work and rose to quit the room. She returned
+five minutes later with pen and ink, but Aunt Mary was now off on
+another tack.
+
+“I want a bulldog!” she cried imperatively.
+
+“A bulldog!” shrieked her niece, nearly dropping what she held in her
+hands. “What do you want a bulldog for?”
+
+“Not a bullfrog!” the old lady corrected; “a bulldog. Oh, I do get so
+sick of your stupidity, Arethusa,” she said. “What should I or any one
+else want of a bullfrog?”
+
+Arethusa sighed, and the sigh was apparent.
+
+“I’d sigh if I was you,” said her aunt. “I certainly would. If I was
+you, Arethusa, I’d certainly feel that I had cause to sigh;” and with
+that she sat up and gave her pillow a punch that was full of the direst
+sort of suggestion.
+
+Arethusa did not gainsay the truth of the sighing proposition. It was
+too apparent.
+
+The next day Aunt Mary slept until noon, and then opened her eyes and
+simultaneously declared:
+
+“Next summer I’m goin’ to have an automobile!”
+
+Then she looked about and saw that she had addressed the air, which
+made her more mad than ever. She rang her bell violently, and Arethusa
+left the lunch table so hastily that she reached the bedroom
+half-choked.
+
+“Next summer I’m goin’ to have an automobile,” said the old lady
+angrily. “Now, get me some breakfast.”
+
+Her niece went out quickly, and a maid was sent in with tea and toast
+and eggs at once. Their effect was to brace the invalid up and make the
+lot of those about her yet more wearing.
+
+“I shall run it myself,” she vowed, when Arethusa returned; “an’ I bet
+they clear out when they see me comin’.”
+
+It did seem highly probable.
+
+“I don’t know how I can live if I don’t get away from here soon,” she
+declared a few minutes later. “You don’t appreciate what life is,
+Arethusa. Seems like I’ll go mad with wantin’ to be somewhere else. I
+can see Jack gets his disposition straight from me.”
+
+There was a sigh and a pause.
+
+“I shall die,” Aunt Mary then declared with violence, “if I don’t have
+a change. Arethusa, you’ve got to write to Jack, and tell him to get me
+Granite.”
+
+“Granite!” screamed the niece in surprise.
+
+“Yes, Granite. She was a maid I had in New York. I want her to come
+here. She must come. Tell him to offer her anything, and send her
+C.O.D. If I can have Granite, maybe I’ll feel some better. You write
+Jack.”
+
+“I’ll write to-night,” shrieked Arethusa.
+
+“No, you won’t,” said Aunt Mary; “you’ll get the ink and write right
+now. Because I’ve been meeker’n Moses all my life is no reason why I
+sh’d be willin’ to be downtrodden clear to the end. Folks around me’d
+better begin to look sharp an’ step lively from now on.”
+
+Arethusa went to the desk at once and wrote:
+
+DEAR JACK:
+    Aunt Mary wants the maid that she had when she was in New York. For
+    the love of Heaven, if the girl is procurable, do get her. Hire her
+    if you can and kidnap her if you can’t. Lucinda has played her
+    usual trick on me and walked off just when she felt like it. I
+    never saw Aunt Mary in anything like the state of mind that she is,
+    but I know one thing—if you cannot send the maid, there’ll be an
+    end of me.
+
+
+Your loving sister,
+ARETHUSA.
+
+
+Jack was much perturbed upon receipt of this letter. He whistled a
+little and frowned a great deal. But at last he decided to be frank and
+tell the truth to Mrs. Rosscott. To that end he wrote her a lengthy
+note. After two preliminary pages so personal that it would not be
+right to print them for public reading, he continued thus:
+
+I’ve had a letter from my sister, who is with Aunt Mary at present. She
+says that Aunt Mary is not at all well and declares that she must have
+Janice. What under the sun am I to answer? Shall I say that the girl
+has gone to France? I’m willing to swear anything rather that put you
+to one second’s inconvenience. You know that, don’t you? etc., etc.,
+etc. [just here the letter abruptly became personal again].
+
+Jack thought that he knew his fiancée well, but he was totally
+unprepared for such an exhibition of sweet ness as was testified to by
+the letter which he received in return.
+
+It’s first six pages were even more personal than his own (being more
+feminine) and then came this paragraph:
+
+Janice is going to your aunt by to-night’s train. Now, don’t say a
+word! It is nothing—nothing—absolutely nothing. Don’t you know that I
+am too utterly happy to be able to do anything for anyone that
+you—etc., etc., etc.
+
+Jack seized his hat and hurried to where his lady-love was just then
+residing. But Janice had gone!
+
+
+
+
+Chapter Twenty-Two
+“Granite”
+
+
+Joshua was despatched to drive through mud and rain to bring Aunt
+Mary’s solace from the station.
+
+Aunt Mary had herself propped up in bed to be ready for the return
+before Billy’s feet had ceased to cry splash on the road outside of the
+gate. Her eagerness tinged her pallor pink. It was as if the prospect
+of seeing Janice gave her some of that flood of vitality which always
+seems to ebb and flow so richly in the life of a metropolis.
+
+“My gracious heavens, Lucinda” (for Lucinda was back now), she said
+joyfully, “to think that I needn’t look at you for a week if I don’t
+want to! You haven’t any idea how tired I am of looking at you,
+Lucinda. If you looked like anything it would be different. But you
+don’t.”
+
+Lucinda rocked placidly; hers was what is called an “even disposition.”
+If it hadn’t been, she might have led an entirely different life—in
+fact, she would most certainly have lived somewhere else, for she
+couldn’t possibly have lived with Aunt Mary.
+
+The hour that ensued after Joshua’s departure was so long that it
+resulted in a nap for the invalid, and Lucinda had to wake her by
+slamming the closet door when the arrival turned in at the gate.
+
+“Has he got her?” Aunt Mary cried breathlessly. “Has he got someone
+with him? Run, Lucinda, an’ bring her in. She needn’t wipe her feet,
+tell her; you can brush the hall afterwards. Well, why ain’t you
+hurryin’?”
+
+Lucinda was hurrying, her curiosity being as potent as the commands of
+her mistress, and five seconds later Janice appeared in the door with
+her predecessor just behind her—a striking contrast.
+
+“You dear blessed Granite!” cried the old lady, stretching out her
+hands in a sort of ecstasy. “Oh, my! but I’m glad to see you! Come
+right straight here. No, shut the door first. Lucinda, you go and do
+’most anything. An’ how is the city?”
+
+Janice came to the bedside and dropped on her knees there, taking Aunt
+Mary’s withered hand close in both of her own.
+
+“You didn’t shut the door,” the old lady whispered hoarsely. “I wish
+you would—an’ bolt it, too. An’ then come straight back to me.”
+
+Janice closed and bolted the door, and returned to the bedside. Aunt
+Mary drew her down close to her, and her voice and eyes were hungry,
+indeed. For a little she looked eagerly upon what she had so craved to
+possess again, and then she suddenly asked:
+
+“Granite, have you got any cigarettes with you?”
+
+The maid started a little.
+
+“Do you smoke now?” she asked, with interest.
+
+“No,” said Aunt Mary sadly, “an’ that’s one more of my awful troubles.
+You see I’m jus’ achin’ to smell smoke, an’ Joshua promised his mother
+the night before he was twenty-one. You don’t know nothin’ about how
+terrible I feel. I’m empty somewhere jus’ all the time. Don’t you
+believe’t you could get some cigarettes an’ smoke ’em right close to
+me, an’ let me lay here, an’ be so happy while I smell. I’ll have a
+good doctor for you, if you’re sick from it.”
+
+The maid reflected; then she nodded.
+
+“I’ll write to town,” she cried, in her high, clear tones. “What brand
+do you like best?”
+
+“Mitchell’s,” said Aunt Mary. “But you can’t get those because he made
+’em himself an’ sealed ’em with a lick. Oh!” she sighed, with the
+accent of a starving Sybarite, “I do wish I could see him do it again!
+Do you know,” she added suddenly, “he wrote me a letter and he’s goin’
+to come here.”
+
+“When?” asked Janice.
+
+“After a while. But you must take off your things. That’s your room in
+there,” pointing toward a half-open door at the side. “I wanted you as
+close as I could get you. My, but I’ve wanted you! I can’t tell you how
+much. But a good deal—a lot—awfully.”
+
+Janice went into the room that was to be hers, and hung up her hat and
+cloak.
+
+When she returned Aunt Mary was looking a hundred per cent, improved
+already.
+
+“Can you hum ‘Hiawatha’?” she asked immediately. “Granite, I must have
+suthin’ to amuse me an’ make me feel good. Can you hum ‘Hiawatha’ an’
+can you do that kind of ‘sh—sh—sh—’that everybody does all together at
+the end, you know?”
+
+Janice smiled pleasantly, and placing herself in the closest possible
+proximity with the ear trumpet, at once rendered the desired _morceau_
+in a style which would have done credit to a soloist in a _café
+chantant_.
+
+Aunt Mary’s lips wreathed in seraphic bliss.
+
+“My!” she said. “I feel just as if I was back eatin’ crabs’ legs and
+tails again. No one’ll ever know how I’ve missed city life this winter
+but—well, you saw Lucinda!”
+
+The glance that accompanied the speech was mysterious but significant.
+Janice nodded sympathetically.
+
+“I hope you brought a trunk. I ain’t a bit sure when I’ll be able to
+let you go,” pursued the old lady. “I don’t believe I can let you go
+until I go, too. I’ve most died here alone.”
+
+“I brought a trunk,” Janice cried into the ear trumpet.
+
+“I’m glad,” said Aunt Mary. She paused, and her eyes grew wistful.
+
+“Granite,” she asked, “do you think you could manage to do a skirt
+dance on the footboard? I’m ’most wild to see some lace shake.”
+
+Janice looked doubtfully at the footboard. It was wide for a footboard,
+but narrow—too narrow—for a skirt dance.
+
+“But I can do one on the floor,” she cried.
+
+Aunt Mary’s features became suffused with heavenly joy.
+
+“Oh, Granite!” she murmured, in accents of greatest anticipation.
+
+The maid stood up, and, going off as far as the limits of the spacious
+bedroom would allow, executed a most fetching and dainty _pas seul_ to
+a tune of her own humming.
+
+“Give me suthin’ to pound with!” cried her enthusiastic audience. “Oh,
+Granite, I ain’t been so happy since I was home! Whatever you want you
+can have, only don’t ever leave me alone with Lucinda again.”
+
+Janice was catching her tired breath, but she answered with a smile.
+
+“Can’t you get my Sunday umbrella out of the closet now an’ do a
+parasol dance?” the insatiate demanded; “one of those where you shoot
+it open an’ shut when people ain’t expectin’.”
+
+The maid went to the closet and brought out the Sunday umbrella; but
+its shiny black silk did not appear to inspire any fluffy maneuvres, so
+she utilized it in the guise of a broadsword and did something that
+savored of the Highlands, and seemed to rebel bitterly at the length of
+her skirt. Aunt Mary writhed around in bliss—utter and intense.
+
+“I feel like I was livin’ again,” she said, heaving a great sigh of
+content. “I tell you I’ve suffered enough, since I came back, to know
+what it is to have some fun again. Now, Granite, I’ll tell you what
+we’ll do,” when the girl sat down to rest; “you write for those
+cigarettes while I take a little nap and afterwards we’ll get the
+Universal Knowledge book and learn how to play poker. You don’t know
+how to play poker, do you?”
+
+“A little,” cried the maid.
+
+“Well, I want to learn how,” said the old lady, “an’ we’ll learn
+when—when I wake up.”
+
+Janice nodded assent.
+
+“Excuse me shuttin’ my eyes,” said Aunt Mary—and she was asleep in two
+minutes.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter Twenty-Three
+“Granite”
+Continued.
+
+
+Mary and Arethusa—Aunt Mary’s two nieces—were not uncommonly mercenary;
+but about three weeks after the new arrival they became seriously
+troubled over the ascendancy that she appeared to be gaining over the
+mind of their aunt. Lucinda’s duties had included for many years the
+writing of a weekly letter which contained formal advices of the
+general state of affairs, and after Janice’s establishment, these
+letters became so provocative of gradually increasing alarm that first
+Mary, and then Arethusa thought it advisable to make the journey for
+the purpose of investigating the affair personally. They found the new
+maid apparently devoid of evil intent, but certainly fast becoming
+absolutely indispensable to the daily happiness of their influential
+relative. Mary feared that a codicil for five thousand dollars would be
+the result; but Arethusa felt, with a sinking heart, that there was
+another naught going on to the sum, and that, unless the tide turned,
+the end might not be even then.
+
+Aunt Mary was so cool that neither niece stayed long, and Lucinda’s
+letters had to be looked to for the progress of events. Lucinda’s
+letters were frequent and not at all reassuring. After the sisters had
+talked them over, they sent them on to Jack.
+
+She [thus Lucinda invariably began] is the same as ever. It’s cross the
+heart and bend the knee, an’ then you ain’t down far enough to suit
+her. But she’s gettin’ so afraid she’ll go that she’s wax in her hands.
+It would scare you. She won’t let her out of her sight a minute. I must
+say that whatever she’s giving her, she certainly is earning the money,
+for she works her harder every day. The poor thing is hopping about, or
+singing, or playing cards, from dawn to dark, and unless it’s a
+provision in her will I can’t see what would pay her enough for working
+so. Lord knows I considered I earned my wages without skipping around
+with my legs crossed like she does, and she has no end of patience too,
+even if she won’t ever let her take a walk. She’s getting as pale as
+she is herself. Seems like something should be done.
+
+
+Respectfully,
+L. COOKE.
+
+
+Three days later Lucinda wrote again:
+
+She does seem to be getting worse and worse. She makes her sleep on a
+sofa beside her, and she begins to look dreadfully worn out. I do
+believe she’ll kill her, before she dies herself. I told her so to-day,
+but she only smiled. It’s funny, but I like her even if I am bolted out
+all the time. I ain’t jealous, and I’m glad of the rest. I should think
+her throat would split with talking so much, but she certainly does
+hear her better than anyone else. I think something must be done,
+though. She’s getting as crazy as she is herself. They play cards and
+call each other “aunty” for two hours at a stretch some days.
+
+
+Respectfully,
+L. COOKE.
+
+
+At the end of the week Lucinda wrote again:
+
+I think if you don’t come, she will surely die. She is very feeble
+herself, but that don’t keep her from wearing her to skin and bone. She
+keeps her doing tricks from morning to night. Every minute that she is
+awake she keeps her jumping. It’s a mercy she sleeps so much, or she
+wouldn’t get any sleep at all. I can’t do nothing, but I can see
+something has got to be done. She’s killing her, and she’s getting
+where she don’t care for nobody but her, and if she’s to be kept in
+trim to keep on amusing her she’ll have to have some rest pretty quick.
+
+
+Respectfully,
+L. COOKE.
+
+
+If the sisters were perturbed by the general trend of these epistles,
+Jack was half wild over the situation. He swore vigorously and he
+tramped up and down his room nights until the people underneath put it
+in their prayers that his woes might suggest suicide as speedily as
+possible. In vain he wrote to Mrs. Rosscott to restore Janice to her
+proper place in town; Mrs. Rosscott answered that as long as Aunt Mary
+desired Janice at her side, at her side Janice should stay. Jack knew
+his lady well enough to know that she would keep her word, and although
+he longed to assert his authority he was man enough to feel that he had
+better wait now and settle the debt after marriage.
+
+Nevertheless the whole affair was unbearably vexatious and at last he
+felt that he could endure it no longer.
+
+“I’m a fool,” he said, in a spirit of annoyance that came so close to
+anger that it led to an utter loss of patience. “I’ll take the train
+for Aunt Mary’s to-day, and straighten out that mess in short order.”
+
+It was Saturday, and he arranged to leave by the noon train. He laid in
+a heavy supply of bribes for his aged relative and of reading matter
+for himself, and went to the station with a heart divided ’twixt many
+different emotions. It was an unconscionably long ride, but he did get
+there safely about ten o’clock.
+
+It was a pleasant night—not too cold—even suggestive of some lingering
+Indian summer intentions on the part of Jack’s namesake. The young man
+thought that he would walk out to his childhood’s home, and his
+decision was aided by the discovery that there was no other way to get
+there.
+
+So he took his suit-case in his hand and set off with a stride that
+covered the intervening miles in short order and brought him, almost
+before he knew it, to where he could see Lucinda’s light in the
+dining-room and her pug-nosed profile outlined upon the drawn shade.
+Everyone else was evidently abed, and as he looked, she, too, arose and
+took up the lamp. He hurried his steps so that she might let him in
+before she went upstairs, but in the same instant the light went out
+and with its withdrawal he perceived a little figure sitting alone upon
+the doorstep.
+
+His heart gave a tremendous leap—but not with fright—and he made three
+rapid steps and spoke a name.
+
+She lifted up her head. Of course it was Janice, and although she had
+been weeping, her eyes were as beautiful as ever.
+
+“Oh, Jack!” she exclaimed, and happy the man who hears his name called
+in such a tone—even if it be only for once in the whole course of his
+existence.
+
+He pitched his suit-case down upon the grass and took the maid in his
+arms.
+
+What did anything matter; they both were lonely and both needed
+comforting.
+
+He kissed her not once but twenty times,—not twenty times but a
+hundred.
+
+“It’s abominable you’re being here,” he said at last.
+
+“I am very, very tired,” she confessed.
+
+“And you’ll go back to the city when I go?” he asked.
+
+“I don’t know,” she said, doubtfully. “I don’t know whether she’ll let
+me.”
+
+Jack laughed.
+
+“To-morrow I will beard Aunt Mary in her den,” he declared; “now let’s
+go in and—and—”
+
+The hundred and first!
+
+
+
+
+Chapter Twenty-Four
+Two Are Company
+
+
+To the large square room where he had slept (on and off) during a
+goodly portion of his boyhood life, Jack went to repose from his
+journey, there to meditate the situation which he had come to comfort,
+and to try and devise a way to better its existing circumstances.
+
+It was a pleasant room, one window looking down the driveway, and the
+other leading forth to a square balcony that topped the little porch of
+the side entrance. There were lambrequins of dark blue with fringe that
+always caught in the shutters, and a bedroom suite of mahogany that had
+come down from the original John Watkins’s aunt, and had been polished
+by her descendants so faithfully that its various surfaces shone like
+mirrors. Over the bed hung a tent drapery of chintz; over the washstand
+hung a crayon done by Arethusa in her infancy—the same representing a
+lady engaged in the pleasant and useful occupation of spinning wheat
+with a hand composed of five fingers, and no thumb. In the corner stood
+a cheval-glass which Jack had seen shrink steadily for years until now
+it could no longer reflect his shoulders unless he retired back for
+some two yards or more. There was a delectable closet to the room, all
+painted white inside, with shelves and cupboards and little bins for
+shoes and waste paper and soiled clothes.
+
+Oh! it was really an altogether delightful place in which to abide, and
+the pity was that its owner had spent so little time therein of late
+years.
+
+To-night—returning to the scene of many childish and boyish
+meditations—Jack placed his lamp upon the nightstand at the head of the
+bed and sat himself down on a chair near by.
+
+It was late—quite midnight—for he and Aunt Mary’s new maid had talked
+long and freely ere they separated at last. From his room he could hear
+the little faint sounds below stairs, that told of her final
+preparations for Lucinda’s morning eye, and he rested quiet until all
+else was quiet and then leaned back upon the chair’s hind legs and,
+tipping slowly to and fro in that position, tried to see just what he
+had better do the first thing on the following day.
+
+
+[Illustration: “‘Yesterday I played poker until I didn’t know a blue
+chip from a white one.’”]
+
+
+It was a riddle with a vengeance. It is so easy to say “I’ll cut that
+Gordian knot!” and then pack one’s tooth-brush and start off
+unknotting, but it is quite another matter when one comes face to face
+with the problem and is met by the “buts” of those who have previously
+been essaying to disentangle it.
+
+“She won’t let me go,” Mrs. Rosscott had declared, “she won’t consider
+it for a minute.”
+
+“But she must,” Jack had declared on his side. “My dearest, you can’t
+stay and play maid to Aunt Mary indefinitely, and you know that as well
+as I do.”
+
+“Yes, I know that,” the whilom Janice then murmured. “It’s getting to
+be an awful question. They want me to come home for Thanksgiving. They
+think that I’ve been at the rest-cure long enough.”
+
+Jack had laughed a bit just there, and then he suddenly ceased laughing
+and frowned a good deal instead.
+
+“You were crying when I came,” he said. “The truth is you are working
+yourself to death and getting completely used up.”
+
+“It is wearing, I must confess,” she answered. “Yesterday I played
+poker until I didn’t know a blue chip from a white one, and she won the
+whole pot with two little bits of pairs while I was drawing to a king.
+I begin to fear that my mind will give way. And yet, I really don’t see
+how to stop. She is so sick and tired of life here and she isn’t strong
+enough to go to town.”
+
+“I know a very short way to put an end to everything,” said Jack. “I
+see two ways in fact,—one is to tell her the truth.”
+
+“Oh, don’t do that,” cried his fiancée affrightedly. “The shock would
+kill her outright.”
+
+“The other way,—” said Jack slowly, “would be for me to marry you and
+let her think that you are Janice in good earnest.”
+
+“Oh, that wouldn’t do at all,” said the pretty widow. “In the first
+place she would go crazy at the idea of her darling nephew’s marrying
+her maid,—and in the second place—”
+
+“Well,—in the second place?”
+
+“I wouldn’t marry you,—I said I wouldn’t and I won’t. You’re too
+young.”
+
+“But you’ve promised to marry me some day.”
+
+“Yes, I know—but not till—not till—”
+
+“Not till when?”
+
+“I haven’t just decided,” said Mrs. Rosscott, airily. “Not for a good
+while, not until you seem to require marrying at my hands.”
+
+“I never shall require marrying at anyone else’s hands,” the lover
+vowed, “but if you are so set about it as all that comes to, I shall
+not cut up rough for a while. Aunt Mary is the main question just
+now—not you.”
+
+“I know,” said his lady in anything but a jealous tone, “and as she is
+the question, what are we to do?”
+
+“You will go to bed,” he said, kissing her, “and I will go to think.”
+
+“Can you see any way?” she asked anxiously.
+
+Then he put his hands on either side of her face and turned it up to
+his own.
+
+“You plotted once and overthrew my aunt,” he said. “It’s my turn now.”
+
+“Are you going to plot?”
+
+“I’m going to try.”
+
+“I’ll pray for your success,” she whispered.
+
+“Pray for me,” he answered, and shortly after they had achieved the
+feat of saying good-night and parting once more, and the result of it
+all had been that Jack found himself tipping back and forth on the
+small chair, in the big room, at half-past midnight, puzzled,
+perturbed, and very much perplexed as to what to do first when the next
+morning should have become a settled fact. He was not used to
+conspiring, and being only a man, he had not those curious instinctive
+gifts of inspiration and luminous conception which fairly radiate
+around the brain of clever womankind.
+
+It was some time—a very long time indeed—before any light stole in upon
+his Stygian darkness, and then, when the light did come, it came in
+skyrocket guise, and had its share of cons attached to its very evident
+pros.
+
+“But I don’t care,” he declared viciously, as he rose and began to
+undress; “something’s got to be done,—some chances have got to be
+taken,—as well that as anything else. Perhaps better—very likely
+better.”
+
+Then he laughed over his unconscious imitation of his aunt’s
+phraseology, and made short work of finishing his disrobing and getting
+to bed.
+
+It was when Lucinda crept forth to begin to unlock the house at 6.30
+upon the morning after, that the fact of the nephew’s arrival was first
+known to anyone except Janice.
+
+Lucinda saw the coat and hat,—recognized the initial on the
+handkerchief in the inside pocket, threw out her arms and gave a faint
+squeak in utter bewilderment, and then tore off at once to the barn to
+tell Joshua.
+
+She found Joshua milking the cow.
+
+“What do you think!” she panted briefly, with wide-open eyes and
+uplifted hands; “Joshua Whittlesey, _what_ do you think?”
+
+“I don’t think nothin’,” said Joshua. “I’m milkin’.”
+
+“What would you say if I told you as _he_ was come.”
+
+“I’d say he was here.”
+
+“Well, he is. He must ’a’ come last night, an’ Lord only knows how he
+ever got in, for nothing was left open an’ yet he’s there.”
+
+Joshua made no comment.
+
+“I wonder what he came for?”
+
+Joshua made no comment.
+
+“I wonder how long he’ll stay?”
+
+Still Joshua made no comment.
+
+“Joshua Whittlesey, before you get your breakfast, you’re the meanest
+man I ever saw, and I’ll swear to that anywhere.”
+
+“Why don’t you get me my breakfast then?” said Joshua calmly; and the
+effect of his speech and his demeanor was to cause Lucinda to turn and
+leave him at once—too outraged to address another word to him.
+
+Aunt Mary herself did not awake until ten o’clock. She rang her bell
+vigorously then and Janice flew to its answering.
+
+“I dreamed of Jack,” said the old lady, looking up with a smile. “I
+dreamed we was each ridin’ on camels in a merry-go-round.”
+
+Janice smiled too, and then set briskly to work to put the room in
+order and arrange its occupant for the day.
+
+“Did there come any mail?” Aunt Mary inquired, when her coiffure was
+made and her dressing-gown adjusted. “I feel jus’ like I might hear
+from Jack. Seems as if I sort of can’t think of anythin’ but him.”
+
+“I’ll go and see,” said Janice pleasantly, and she went to the dining
+room where the Reformed Prodigal sat reading the newspaper with his
+feet on the table—an action which convinced Lucinda that he had not
+reformed so very much after all.
+
+“Suppose you go to her—instead of me,” suggested the maid, pausing
+before the reader and usurping all the attention to which the paper
+should have laid claim.
+
+“Suppose I do,” said Jack, jumping up, “and suppose you stay away and
+let me try what I can accomplish single-handed.”
+
+“Only—” began Janice—and then she stopped and lifted a warning finger.
+
+Jack listened and a stealthy creak betrayed Lucinda’s proximity
+somewhere in the vicinity.
+
+It was plain to be seen that there were many issues to be kept in mind,
+and the young man grit his teeth because he didn’t dare embrace his
+betrothed, and then walked away in the direction of Aunt Mary’s room.
+
+If she was glad to see him! One would have supposed that ten years and
+two oceans had elapsed since their last meeting the month before.
+
+She fairly screamed with joy.
+
+“Jack!—You dear, dear, _dear_ boy! Well, if I ever did!—When did you
+come?”
+
+He was by the bed hugging her. “And how are they all? How _is_ the
+city? Oh, Jack, if I could only go back with you this time!”
+
+“Never mind, Aunt Mary; you’ll be coming soon—in the spring, you know.”
+
+Aunt Mary sank back on the pillows.
+
+“Jack,” she said, “if I have to wait for spring, I shall die. I ain’t
+strong enough to be able to bear livin’ in the country much longer.
+I’ve pretty much made up my mind to buy a house in town and just keep
+this place so’s to have somewhere to put Lucinda.”
+
+“Do you think you’d be happy in town, Aunt Mary?” Jack yelled; “I mean
+if you lived there right along?”
+
+“I don’t see how I could be anythin’ else. I don’t see how anyone could
+be anythin’ else. I want a nice house with a criss-cross iron gate in
+front of it an’ an automobile. An’—I don’t want you to say nothin’
+about this to her jus’ yet—but I’m goin’ to keep Granite to look after
+everythin’ for me. I don’t ever mean to let Granite go again. Never.
+Not for one hour.”
+
+Jack smiled. He felt as if Fate was playing into his hands.
+
+“I want you to live with me,” Aunt Mary continued, “an’ I want the
+house big enough so’s Clover an’ Mitchell an’ Burnett can come whenever
+they feel like it and stay as long as they like. I don’t want any house
+except for us all together. Oh, my! Seems like I can’t hardly wait!”
+
+She leaned back and shut her eyes in a sort of impatient ecstasy of
+joys been and to be.
+
+Jack reached forward to get a cigarette from the box on the table at
+the bedside.
+
+“Do you smoke now, Aunt Mary?” he inquired, as he took a match.
+
+“No, Granite does.”
+
+“Janice does!” he repeated, quickly knitting his brows.
+
+“Yes, she does it for me—I’m so happy smellin’ the smell. They made her
+a little sick at first but she took camphor and now she don’t mind. Not
+much—not any.”
+
+Jack arose and walked about the room. The idea of his darling sickening
+herself to provide smoke for Aunt Mary braced him afresh to the
+conflict.
+
+“What do you do all day?” he asked, presently.
+
+“Well, we do most everythin’. When Lucinda’s out she does Lucinda for
+me an’ when Lucinda’s in she does Joshua. It’s about as amusin’ as
+anythin’ you ever saw to see her do Lucinda. I never found Lucinda
+amusin’, Lord knows, but I like to see Granite do her. An’ we play
+cards, an’ she dances, an’—”
+
+“Aunt Mary,” said Jack abruptly, “do you know the people who had Janice
+want her back again?”
+
+“I didn’t quite catch that,” said his aunt, “but you needn’t bother to
+repeat it because I ain’t never goin’ to let her go. Not never.”
+
+Jack came back and sat down beside the bed, and took her hand.
+
+“Aunt Mary,” he said in a pleading shriek, “don’t you see how pale and
+thin she’s getting?”
+
+“No, I don’t,” said his aunt, turning her head away, “an’ it’s no use
+tellin’ me such things because it’s about my nap-time and I’ve always
+been a great believer in takin’ my nap when it’s my nap-time. As a
+general thing.”
+
+Jack sighed and watched her close her eyes and go instantly to sleep.
+Janice came in a few minutes later.
+
+“No—no,” she whispered hastily, as he came toward her,—“you mustn’t—you
+mustn’t. I don’t believe that she really is asleep and even if she is,
+Lucinda is _everywhere_.”
+
+“Where can we go?” Jack asked in despair. “It’s out of all reason to
+expect me to behave all the time.”
+
+“We can’t go anywhere,” said Mrs. Rosscott; “we must resign ourselves.
+I’ve learned that it’s the only way. Dear me, when I think how long
+I’ve been resigned it certainly seems to me that you might do a little
+in the same line.”
+
+“Well, but I haven’t learned to resign myself,” said her lover, “and
+what is more, I positively decline to learn to resign myself. You
+should do the same, too. Where is the sense in humoring her so? I
+wouldn’t if I were you.”
+
+Janice lifted up her lovely eyes.
+
+“Oh, yes, you would,” she said simply. “If somebody’s future happiness
+depended upon her you would humor her just as much as I do.”
+
+Jack was touched.
+
+“You are an angel of unselfishness,” he exclaimed, warmly, “and I don’t
+deserve such devotion.”
+
+“Oh, don’t be too grateful,” she replied, dimpling. “The person to
+whose future happiness I referred was myself.”
+
+They both laughed softly at that—softly and mutually.
+
+“Nevertheless,” Jack went on after a minute, “if to all the other
+puzzles is to be added the torture of being unable to see you or speak
+freely to you, I think the hour for action has arrived.”
+
+“For action!” she cried; “what are you thinking of doing?”
+
+“This,” he said, and straightway took her into his arms and kissed her
+as he had kissed her on the night before.
+
+“Oh, if Lucinda has heard or your aunt has seen!” poor Janice cried,
+extricating herself and setting her cap to rights with a species of
+fluttered haste that led Jack to wonder suddenly why men didn’t fall in
+love with maids even oftener than they do. “I do believe that you have
+gone and done it this time.”
+
+“Nobody heard and nobody saw,” he assured her, but he didn’t at all
+mean what he said, for his prayers were fervent that his kiss had been
+public property.
+
+And such was the fact.
+
+Lucinda bounced in on Joshua with a bounce that turned the can of
+harness polish upside down, for Joshua was oiling the harnesses.
+
+“He kissed her!” she cried in a state of tremendous excitement.
+
+“Well, she’s his aunt, ain’t she?” Joshua demanded, picking up the can
+and privately wishing Lucinda in Halifax.
+
+“I don’t mean her;—I mean Janice.”
+
+“I don’t see anythin’ surprisin’ in that,” said Joshua,—“not if he got
+a good chance.”
+
+“What do you think of such goin’s on?”
+
+“I think they’ll lead to goin’s offs.”
+
+“I never would ’a’ believed it,” said Lucinda; “Well, all I can say is
+I wish he’d ’a’ tried it on me.”
+
+“You’ll wish a long time,” said Joshua, placidly; and his tone, as
+usual, made Lucinda even more angry than his words; so she forthwith
+left him and tore back to the house.
+
+Aunt Mary had also had her eyes open, and in this particular case it
+was impossible to have one’s eyes open without having one’s eyes
+opened. So Aunt Mary had both.
+
+She shut them at once and reflected deeply, and when Janice went out of
+the room at last she immediately sat up in bed and addressed her
+nephew.
+
+“Jack, what did you kiss her for?”
+
+Jack was fairly wild with joy at the brilliant way in which he had
+begun. Mrs. Rosscott had laid one scheme for the overthrow of Aunt Mary
+and her plan of attack had been absolutely successful. Now it was his
+turn and he, too, was in it to win undying glory or else—well, no
+matter. There wouldn’t be any “also ran” in this contest.
+
+“You don’t deny that you kissed her, do you?” said his aunt severely.
+“Answer this minute. I’m a great believer in answerin’ when you’re
+spoken to.”
+
+“Yes, I kissed her,” he said easily.
+
+
+[Illustration: “Aunt Mary had also had her eyes open.”]
+
+
+“Well, what did you do it for?”
+
+“I’m very fond of her;” the words came forth with great apparent
+reluctance.
+
+“Fond of her!” said Aunt Mary with great contempt.
+
+Jack lifted his eyes quickly at the tone of her comment.
+
+“_Fond_ of her! Do you think a girl like that is the kind to be fond
+of! Why ain’t you in _love_ with her?”
+
+The young man felt his brains suddenly swimming. This surpassed his
+maddest hopes.
+
+“Shall I say that I am in love with her?” he cried into the
+ear-trumpet.
+
+Aunt Mary raised up in bed,—her eyes sparkling.
+
+“Jack,” she said, almost quivering with excitement, “_are_ you in love
+with her?”
+
+“Yes, I am,” he owned, wondering what would come next, but feeling that
+the tide was all his way.
+
+Aunt Mary collapsed with a joyful sigh.
+
+“My heavens alive,” she said rapturously, “seems like it’s too good to
+be true! Jack,” she continued solemnly, “if you’re in love with her you
+shall marry her. If there’s any way to keep a girl like that in the
+family I guess I ain’t goin’ to let her slip through my fingers not
+while I’ve got a live nephew. You shall marry her an’ I’ll buy you a
+house in New York and come an’ live with you.”
+
+Jack sat silent, but smiling.
+
+“Do you think she will want to marry me?” he asked presently.
+
+“You go and bring her to me,” said the old lady vigorously. “I’ll soon
+find out. Just tell her I want to speak to her—don’t tell her what
+about. That ain’t none of your business an’ I’m a great believer in
+people’s not interfering in what’s none of their business. You just get
+her and then leave her to me.”
+
+Jack went and found Janice. He was sufficiently mean not to tell her
+what had happened, and Janice—being built on a different plan from
+Lucinda—had not kept near enough to the keyhole to be posted anyway.
+
+“Mr. Denham says you want me,” she said, coming to the bedside with her
+customary pleasant smile.
+
+“I do,” said her mistress. “I want to speak to you on a very serious
+subject and I want you to pay a lot of attention. It’s this: I want you
+to marry Jack.”
+
+Poor Janice jumped violently,—there was no doubt as to the genuineness
+of her surprise.
+
+“Well, don’t you want to?” asked Aunt Mary.
+
+“I don’t believe I do.”
+
+At this it was the old lady’s turn to be astonished.
+
+“Why don’t you?” she said; “my heavens alive, what are you a-expectin’
+to marry if you don’t think my nephew’s good enough for you?”
+
+“But I don’t want to marry!” cried poor Janice, in most evident
+distress.
+
+Aunt Mary looked at her severely.
+
+“Then what did you kiss him for?” she asked, in the tone in which one
+plays the trump ace.
+
+Janice started again.
+
+“Kiss—him—” she faltered.
+
+Aunt Mary regarded her sternly.
+
+“Granite,” she said, “I ain’t a-intendin’ to be unreasonable, but I
+must ask you jus’ one simple question. You kissed him, for I saw you;
+an’ will you kindly tell me why, in heaven’s name, you ain’t willin’ to
+marry any man that you’re willin’ to kiss?”
+
+“There’s such a difference,” wailed the maid.
+
+“I don’t see it,” said her mistress, shaking her head. “I don’t see it
+at all. Of course I never for a minute thought of doin’ either myself,
+but if I had thought of doin’ either, I’d had sense enough to have seen
+that I’d have to make up my mind to do both. I’m a great believer in
+never doin’ things by halves. It don’t pay. Never—nohow.”
+
+Janice was biting her lips.
+
+“But I don’t want to marry!” she repeated obstinately.
+
+“Then you shouldn’t have let him kiss you. You’ve got him all started
+to lovin’ you and if he’s stopped too quick no one can tell what may
+happen. I want him to settle down, but I want him to settle down
+because he’s happy an’ not because he’s shattered. He says he’s willin’
+to marry you an’ I don’t see any good reason why not.”
+
+Janice’s mouth continued to look rebellious.
+
+“Go and get him,” said Aunt Mary. “I can see that this thing has got to
+be settled pleasantly right off, or we shan’t none of us have any
+appetite for dinner. You find Jack, or if you can’t find him tell
+Lucinda that she’s got to.”
+
+Janice went out and found Jack in the hall.
+
+“Is this a trap?” she asked reproachfully.
+
+Jack laughed.
+
+“No,” he said “it’s a counter-mine.”
+
+“Your aunt wants you at once,” said Janice, putting her hands into her
+pockets and looking out of the window.
+
+“I fly to obey,” he said obediently, and went at once to his elderly
+relative.
+
+“Jack,” she said, the instant he opened the door, “I’ve had a little
+talk with Granite. She don’ want to marry you, but she looks to me like
+she really didn’t know her own mind. I’ve said all I can say an’ I’m
+too tired holdin’ the ear-trumpet to say any more. I think the best
+thing you can do is to take her out for a walk an’ explain things
+thoroughly. It’s no good our talkin’ to her together; and, anyway, I’ve
+always been a great believer in ‘Two’s company—three’s none.’ That was
+really the big reason why I’d never let Lucinda keep a cat. You take
+her and go to walk and I guess everything’ll come out all right. It
+ought to. My heavens alive!”
+
+Jack took the maid and they went out to walk. When they were beyond
+earshot the first thing that they did was to laugh long and loud.
+
+“Of all my many and varied adventures!” cried Mrs. Rosscott, and Jack
+took the opportunity to kiss her again—under no protest this time.
+
+“We shall have to be married very soon, now, you know,” he said gayly.
+“Aunt Mary won’t be able to wait.”
+
+“Oh, as to that—we’ll see,” said Mrs. Rosscott, and laughed afresh.
+“But there is one thing that must be done at once.”
+
+“What’s that?” Jack asked.
+
+“We must tell Aunt Mary who I am.”
+
+“Oh, to be sure,” said the young man.
+
+“I hope she won’t take it in any way but the right way!” the widow said
+thoughtfully.
+
+“My dearest, in what other way could she take it? I think she has
+proved her opinion of you pretty sincerely.”
+
+“Yes,” said Mrs. Rosscott, with a little smile, “I certainly have cause
+to feel that she loves me for myself alone.”
+
+When they returned to the house they went straightway to Aunt Mary’s
+room, and the first glance through the old lady’s eye-glasses told her
+that her wishes had all been fulfilled. She sat up in bed, took a hand
+of each into her own, and surveyed them in an access of such utter joy
+as nearly caused all three to weep together.
+
+“Well, I am so glad,” was all she said for the first few seconds, and
+nobody doubted her words forever after.
+
+Then Mrs. Rosscott removed her hat and jacket, and when she returned to
+the bedside her future aunt made her sit down close to her and hold one
+of her hands while Jack held the other.
+
+“I’m so glad you’re to have the runnin’ of Jack,” the old lady declared
+sincerely. “All I ask of you is to be patient with him. I always was.
+That is, most always.”
+
+“Dear Aunt Mary,” said Mrs. Rosscott, slipping down on her knees beside
+the bed, “you are so good to me that you encourage me to tell you my
+secret. It isn’t long, and it isn’t bad, but I have a confession to
+make.”
+
+“Oh, I say,” cried Jack, “if you put it that way let me do the owning
+up!”
+
+“Hush,” said his love authoritatively, “it’s my confession. Leave it to
+me.”
+
+“What is it?” said Aunt Mary, looking anxiously from one to the other;
+“you haven’t broke your engagement already, I hope.”
+
+“No,” said Mrs. Rosscott, “it’s nothing like that. It’s only rather a
+surprise. But it’s a nice surprise,—at least, I hope you’ll think that
+it is.”
+
+“Well, hurry and tell me then,” said the old lady. “I’m a great
+believer in bein’ told good news as soon as possible. What is it?”
+
+“It’s that I’m not a maid,” said the pretty widow.
+
+“Not—a—” cried Aunt Mary blankly.
+
+“I’m a widow!” said Janice. “I’m Burnett’s sister.”
+
+“Wh—a—at!” cried Aunt Mary. “I didn’t jus’ catch that.”
+
+“You see,” screamed Jack, “she was afraid to have me entertain you in
+New York,—afraid you wouldn’t be properly looked after, Aunt Mary, so
+she dressed up for your maid and looked after you herself.”
+
+“My heavens alive!”
+
+“Wasn’t she an angel?” he asked.
+
+“But whatever made you take such an interest?” Aunt Mary demanded of
+Janice.
+
+Janice rose from her knees and, leaning over the bed, drew the old lady
+close in her arms.
+
+“I’ll tell you,” she screamed gently. “I loved Jack, and so I loved his
+aunt even before I had ever seen her.”
+
+Aunt Mary’s joy fairly overflowed at that view of things, and, putting
+her hands to either side of the lovely face so close to her own, she
+kissed it warmly again and again.
+
+“I always knew you were suthin’ out of the ordinary,” she declared
+vigorously. “You know I wouldn’t have let him marry you if I hadn’t
+been pretty sure as you were different from Lucinda an’ the common
+run.”
+
+And then she beamed on them both and Jack beamed on them both and Mrs.
+Rosscott kissed each of them and dried her own happy eyes.
+
+“Now I want to know jus’ how an’ where you learned to love him?” the
+aunt asked next.
+
+“I loved him almost directly I knew him,” she answered, and at that
+Aunt Mary seemed on the point of applauding with the ear-trumpet
+against the headboard.
+
+“It was jus’ the same with me,” she said delightedly. “He was only a
+baby then, but the first look I took I jus’ had a feelin’—”
+
+“Yes,” said Mrs. Rosscott sympathetically, “so did I.”
+
+They all laughed together.
+
+“An’ now,” said Aunt Mary, laying back and folding her arms upon her
+bosom, “an’ now comes the main question,—when do you two want to be
+married?”
+
+“Oh!” said the widow starting, “we—I—Jack—”
+
+“Well, go on,” said Aunt Mary. “Say whenever you like. An’ then Jack
+can do the same.”
+
+The two young people exchanged glances.
+
+“Speak right up,” said Aunt Mary. “I’m a great believer in not hangin’
+back when anythin’ has got to be decided. Jack, what do you think?”
+
+“I want to get married right off,” said Jack decidedly.
+
+“I think he’s too young,” put in Mrs. Rosscott hastily.
+
+“I don’t know,” said Aunt Mary, looking at her nephew reflectively.
+“Seems to me he’s big enough, an’ I’m a great believer in never
+dilly-dallyin’ over what’s got to be done some time. Why not
+Thanksgiving?”
+
+“Thanksgiving!” shrieked Mrs. Rosscott.
+
+“Yes,” said Aunt Mary. “I think it would be a good time, an’ then I can
+come and spend Christmas with you in the city.”
+
+“Great idea!” declared her nephew; “me for Thanksgiving.”
+
+“What do you say?” said Aunt Mary to the bride-to-be.
+
+“Oh, I don’t see—” began the latter, wrinkling her pretty forehead in a
+prettier perplexity and looking helplessly back and forth between their
+double eagerness.
+
+“Well, why not?” said the aunt. “It ain’t as if there was any reason
+for waitin’. If there was I’d be the first to be willin’ to do all I
+could to be patient, but as it is—even if you an’ Jack ain’t in any
+particular hurry, I am, an’ I was brought up to go right to work at
+gettin’ what you want as soon as you know what it is.”
+
+“But this is so sudden,” wailed Mrs. Rosscott.
+
+Aunt Mary glanced at her sharply.
+
+“That’s what they all say, a’cordin’ to the papers,” she said calmly,
+“an’ it never is counted as anythin’ but a joke.”
+
+“But I’m not joking,” Janice cried.
+
+“Then you jus’ take a little time an’ think it over,” proposed the old
+lady,—“I’ll tell you what you can do. You can get me Lucinda because I
+want to tell her suthin’ and then you and Jack can sit down together
+an’ think it over anywhere an’ anyhow you like.”
+
+“Do you really want Lucinda,” said Janice, rising to her feet, “or is
+it something that I can do? You know I’m yours just the same as ever,
+Aunt Mary. Next to being good to Jack, I want to always be good to
+you.”
+
+Aunt Mary looked up with a light in her eyes that was fine to see.
+
+“Bless you, my child,” she said heartily. “I know that, but I really
+want Lucinda, an’ you an’ Jack can take care of yourselves for a while.
+Leastways, I hope you can. I guess you can. I presume so, anyway.”
+
+It was late that afternoon that Lucinda, looking as if she had been
+accidentally overtaken by a road-roller, joined Joshua in the potato
+cellar.
+
+“Well, the sky c’n fall whenever it likes now!” she said, sitting down
+on an empty barrel with a resigned sigh.
+
+“That’s a comfort to know,” said Joshua.
+
+“She’s got it all made up for ’em to marry each other.”
+
+“That ain’t no great news to me,” said Joshua.
+
+“Joshua Whittlesey, you make my blood boil. Things is goin’ rackin’ and
+ruinin’ at a great pace here an’ you as cold as a cauliflower over it
+all.”
+
+Joshua sorted potatoes phlegmatically and said nothing.
+
+“S’posin’ I’d ’a’ wanted to marry him?”
+
+Joshua continued to sort potatoes.
+
+“Or, s’posin’ you wanted to marry her?”
+
+Joshua looked up quickly.
+
+“Which one?” he said.
+
+“Janice!”
+
+“Oh,” he said in a relieved tone.
+
+“Why did you say ‘oh,’—did you think I meant her?”
+
+“I didn’t know who you meant.”
+
+“Why, you wouldn’t think o’ marryin’ her, would you?”
+
+“No,” said Joshua emphatically. “I’d as soon think o’ marryin’ you
+yourself.”
+
+Lucinda deliberated for a minute or so as to whether to accept this
+insult in silence or not, and finally decided to make just one more
+remark.
+
+“I wonder if she’ll send any word to Arethusa ’n’ Mary.”
+
+“They’ll know soon enough,” said Joshua oracularly.
+
+“How’ll they know, I’d like to know?”
+
+“You’ll write ’em.”
+
+Lucinda was dumb. The fact that the letter was already written only
+made the serpent-tooth of Joshua’s intimate knowledge cut the deeper.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter Twenty-Five
+Grand Finale
+
+
+She has it all made up for him to marry her, and she is certainly as
+happy as she is and he is themselves. She is making plans at a great
+rate and she has consented to have her wedding here because she wants
+to be there herself. The day is set for Thanksgiving and the Lord be
+with us for everything has got to be just so and she is no more good at
+helping now that he’s come. They are all going back to New York as soon
+as possible after it’s over and I hope to be forgiven for stating
+plainly that it will be the happiest day’ of my life.
+
+Respectfully,
+L. COOKE.
+
+
+Upon receipt of this astounding news Arethusa took the train and flew
+to the scene where such momentous happenings were piling up on one
+another. Her arrival was unexpected and the changes which she found
+ensued and ensuing were of a nature bewildering in the extreme. Aunt
+Mary had quit her régime of soup and sleep and was not only more
+energetically vigorous as to mind than ever, but strengthening daily as
+to bodily force. It might have been the excitement, for Burnett was
+there, Clover was _en route_, and Mitchell was expected within
+twenty-four hours. Other great changes were visible everywhere. A corps
+of servants from town had fairly swamped Lucinda and twenty carpenters
+were putting up an extra addition to the house in which to give the
+wedding room to spread. Nor was this all, for Aunt Mary had turned a
+furniture man and an upholsterer loose with no other limit than that
+comprised by the two words “_carte blanche_.”
+
+Mrs. Rosscott still continued to wait upon Aunt Mary, but another maid
+had arrived to await upon Mrs. Rosscott. The latter had shed her black
+uniform and bloomed forth in rose-hued robes. Mr. Stebbins was kept on
+tap from dawn to dark and the checks flowed like water. Emissaries had
+been despatched to New York to buy the young couple a suitable house
+and furnish that also from top to bottom.
+
+“Well, Arethusa,” the aunt said to the niece when they met the morning
+after her arrival, “I’m feelin’ better ’n I was last time you were
+here.”
+
+“I’m so glad,” yelled Arethusa.
+
+“They’ll live in New York and I’ll live with them. As far as I’ve seen
+there ain’t no other place on earth to live. I’m goin’ to get me a coat
+lined with black-spotted white cat’s fur and have my glasses put on a
+parasol handle, and I’m going to have the collars and sleeves left out
+of most of my dresses an’ look like other people. I’m a great believer
+in doin’ as others do, an’ Jack won’t ever have no cause to complain
+that I didn’t take easy to city life.”
+
+Arethusa felt herself dumb before these revelations.
+
+Later she was conducted to see the wedding presents, which were
+gorgeous. Among them was the biggest and brightest of crimson
+automobiles; and Mitchell, who had presented it, had christened it
+beforehand “The Midnight Sun.” Aunt Mary’s gift was the New York house
+and money enough for them to live on the income.
+
+“I know you’re able to look out for yourself,” she told the bride, “but
+I don’t want Jack to have to worry over things at all, and, although I
+know it’s a good habit, still I shouldn’t like to have him ever work so
+hard that he wouldn’t feel like goin’ around with us nights. Not ever.
+Not even sometimes.”
+
+Mitchell was overjoyed at the way things had turned out.
+
+“My dear Miss Watkins,” he screamed, when he was ushered into Aunt
+Mary’s presence, “who could have guessed in the hour of that sad
+parting in New York that such a glad future was held in store for us
+all!”
+
+“I didn’t quite catch that,” Aunt Mary exclaimed, rapturously, “but it
+doesn’t matter—as long as you got here safe at last.”
+
+“Safe!” exclaimed the young man; “it would have been the very
+refinement of cruelty if my train had smashed me on this journey.”
+
+Burnett was equally happy.
+
+“I suppose it will be up to me to give you away,” he said to his
+sister; “before all these people, too. What a mean trick!”
+
+Jack had thought that he would like to have Tweedwell marry him, as
+that young man had put in the summer vacation getting ordained.
+Tweedwell accepted—although he had just taken charge of a living in
+Seattle and came through on a flyer which arrived two hours before
+_the_ hour. Some fifty or sixty of the guests came in on the same
+train, and Burnett and Clover met them all at the cars and made the
+majority comfortable in the different hotels and honored the minority
+with Aunt Mary’s hospitality.
+
+The day was gorgeous. The addition to the house was done and lined with
+white and decorated in gold. An orchestra was ensconced behind palms
+just as orchestras always covet to be and a magnificent breakfast had
+been sent up from the city in its own car with its own service and
+attendants to serve it.
+
+There was only one hitch in the entire programme. That was that when
+they got to the church Tweedwell did not show up. Jack was distressed
+even though Mrs. Rosscott laughed. Mitchell wanted to read the
+ceremony, but Aunt Mary was afraid it wouldn’t be legal, and Mr.
+Stebbins agreed with her. In the end the regular clergyman married
+them; and just as they were all filing out they met Tweedwell and
+Lucinda tearing along, he in his surplice and she in the black silk
+dress which Aunt Mary had given her in celebration of the occasion.
+They were both too exhausted to be able to explain for several minutes;
+but it finally came out (of Lucinda) that Burnett, whose place it was
+to have overseen officiating Tweedwell, had forgotten all about him,
+and the poor fellow, exhausted by his long journey, had never awakened
+until Lucinda, going in to clear up his room, had let forth a piercing
+howl of surprise.
+
+So far from dampening anyone’s spirits this little _contretemps_ only
+seemed to set things off at a livelier pace. They had a brisk ride
+home, and the wedding feast and the wedding cake were all that could be
+desired. What went with it was the finest that any of the guests ever
+tasted before or since, and the champagne was all but served in beer
+steins.
+
+When it came to the healths they drank to Aunt Mary along with the
+bride and groom, and Mitchell made a speech, invoking Heaven’s
+blessings on the triple compact and covering himself with glory.
+
+“Here’s to Aunt Mary and her bride and her groom,” he cried, when they
+told him to rise and proclaim. “Here’s to Aunt Mary and her bride and
+groom, and here’s to their health and their wealth and their happiness.
+Here’s to their brilliant past, their roseate present and their
+gorgeous future. And here’s to hoping that Fate, who is ready and
+willing to deal any man a bride, may some time see fit to deal some one
+of us another such as Jack’s Aunt Mary. So I propose her health before
+all else. Aunt Mary, long may she wave!”
+
+Aunt Mary looked as if words and actions were poor things in which to
+attempt to express her feelings, but no one who glanced at her could be
+in two minds as to her state of approval as to everything that was
+going on.
+
+The bridal pair drove away somewhere after five o’clock, and about
+seven the main body of the guests returned to the city.
+
+Mrs. Rosscott’s mother and Mitchell and Burnett remained a day or two
+to keep Aunt Mary from feeling blue, but Aunt Mary was not at all
+inclined that way.
+
+“If those two young people are lookin’ forward to anythin’ like as much
+fun as I am,” she said over and over again, “well, all is they’re
+lookin’ forward to a good deal.”
+
+“Won’t we whoop her up next summer!” said Burnett; “well, I don’t
+know!”
+
+“My dear Robert,” said his mother gently.
+
+“Don’t stop him,” said Aunt Mary. “He knows just how I feel an’ I know
+jus’ how he feels. It isn’t wrong, Mrs. Burnett, it’s natural. We were
+born to be happy, only sometimes we don’t know just how to set about
+it.”
+
+“Miss Watkins has hit the nail on the head,” said Mitchell, rolling a
+cigarette. “She has not only hit the nail on its own head, but she has
+succeeded in driving its point well into all our heads. She taught us
+many things during her short visit. I, for one, am her debtor forever.
+Me for joy, from now on!”
+
+Aunt Mary smiled. “My heavens!” she murmured; “to think how nice it all
+come out, and how really put out I was when Jack first began, too.”
+
+Burnett put his hand in his pocket and pulled out some gum.
+
+“Robert!” cried his mother, “you don’t chew gum, do you?”
+
+“Of course he doesn’t,” said his friend quickly; “that’s why he had it
+in his pocket.”
+
+Aunt Mary looked thoughtfully at him.
+
+“Give me a little,” she said, “maybe it’s suthin’ I’ve been missin’.”
+
+Mrs. Burnett left the next day, and Mitchell went the day after.
+
+The carpenters took down the addition, and the wedding presents were
+shipped to town.
+
+“She says she’ll be goin’ soon,” said Lucinda to Joshua.
+
+“Then she’ll be goin’ soon,” said Joshua.
+
+“I’m sure I’ll be glad,” said Lucinda; “such hifalutin sky-larkin’!”
+
+Joshua said nothing. Mr. Stebbins had apprised him of Aunt Mary’s
+arrangements in his behalf and he felt no inclination to criticize any
+of her doings and sayings.
+
+Toward the end of the next week this telegram was received.
+
+Dear Aunt Mary: We’re home and ready when you are. Telegraph what
+train.
+
+
+J. and J.
+
+
+The telegram was handed to Aunt Mary at ten in the morning. Her fingers
+trembled as she opened it.
+
+“My heavens alive, Lucinda,” she cried, the next minute, “I do believe,
+if you’ll be quick, that I can make the twelve-twenty! Run! Tell Joshua
+to get my trunk down and harness Billy as quick as he can. He can
+telegraph that I’m comin’ after I’m gone.”
+
+Lucinda flew Joshua-wards.
+
+“She wants to make the twelve-twenty train!” she cried. Joshua looked
+up.
+
+“Then she’ll make it,” he said.
+
+She made it!
+
+_Anne Warner’s “Susan Clegg” Books_
+
+SUSAN CLEGG AND HER FRIEND MRS. LATHROP
+
+_By_ ANNE WARNER
+With Frontispiece, $1.00
+
+Nothing better in the new homely philosophy style of fiction has been
+written.—_San Francisco Bulletin_.
+
+One of the most genuinely humorous books ever written.—_St. Louis
+Globe-Democrat_.
+
+Anything more humorous than the Susan Clegg stories would be hard to
+find.—_The Critic_, New York.
+
+
+_By the Same Author:_
+
+SUSAN CLEGG AND HER NEIGHBORS’ AFFAIRS
+
+With Frontispiece, $1.00
+
+All the stories brim over with quaint humor, caustic sarcasm, and
+concealed contempt for male and matrimonial chains.—_Philadelphia
+Ledger_.
+
+
+SUSAN CLEGG AND A MAN IN THE HOUSE
+
+Illustrated by Alice Barber Stephens. $1.50
+
+Susan is a positive joy, and the reading world owes Anne Warner a vote
+of thanks for her contribution to the list of American humor.—_New York
+Times_.
+
+LITTLE, BROWN, & CO., Publishers
+34 Beacon Street, Boston
+
+_An exceedingly clever volume of stories_
+
+AN ORIGINAL GENTLEMAN
+
+_By_ ANNE WARNER
+
+With frontispiece by Alice Barber Stephens
+
+Cloth. $1.50
+
+Exhibits her cleverness and sense of humor.—_New York Times_.
+
+Crisply told, quaintly humorous.—_Boston Transcript_.
+
+An “Original Gentleman” is truly also one of the most entertaining and
+witty gentlemen that it has been our fortune to run across in many a
+day, not to mention the more original lady that he has to do
+with.—_Louisville Evening Post_.
+
+
+By the same author
+
+A WOMAN’S WILL
+
+Illustrated. 360 pages. Cloth. $1.50
+
+A deliciously funny book.—_Chicago Tribune_.
+
+It is bright, charming, and intense as it describes the wooing of a
+young American widow on the European Continent by a German musical
+genius.—_San Francisco Chronicle_.
+
+As refreshing a bit of fiction as one often finds.—_Providence
+Journal_.
+
+LITTLE, BROWN, & CO., PUBLISHERS
+34 BEACON STREET, BOSTON
+
+_Anne Warner’s Latest Character Creation_
+
+IN A MYSTERIOUS WAY
+
+_By_ ANNE WARNER
+
+Illustrated by J.V. McFall. Cloth. $1.50
+
+A story of love and sacrifice that teems with the author’s original
+humor.—_Baltimore American_.
+
+The humor peculiar to her pen is here in wonted strength, but in a new
+guise; and set against it, or interwoven with it, is a story of love
+and the strange sacrifice of which a few loving hearts are
+capable.—_New York American_.
+
+
+_By the same author_
+
+YOUR CHILD AND MINE
+
+Illustrated. 12mo. Cloth. $1.50
+
+The child heart, strange and sweet and tender, lies open to this
+sympathetic writer, and other human hearts—and eyes—should be opened by
+her narratives.—_Chicago Record-Herald_.
+
+The literary charm of the stories is not the least of their
+attractions. The interest is all the greater for the style in which the
+story is told, and the author’s sympathy with her young friends lends a
+vital warmth to her narrative.—_Philadelphia Public Ledger_.
+
+LITTLE, BROWN, & CO., PUBLISHERS
+34 BEACON STREET, BOSTON
+
+_By the Author of “Aunt Jane of Kentucky”_
+
+THE LAND OF LONG AGO
+
+_By_ ELIZA CALVERT HALL
+
+Illustrated by G. Patrick Nelson and Beulah Strong 12mo. Cloth. $1.50
+
+The book is an inspiration.—_Boston Globe_.
+
+Without qualification one of the worthiest publications of the
+year.—_Pittsburg Post_.
+
+Aunt Jane has become a real personage in American literature.—_Hartford
+Courant_.
+
+A philosophy sweet and wholesome flows from the lips of “Aunt
+Jane.”—_Chicago Evening Post_.
+
+The sweetness and sincerity of Aunt Jane’s recollections have the same
+unfailing charm found in “Cranford.”—_Philadelphia Press_.
+
+To a greater degree than her previous work it touches the heart by its
+wholesome, quaint human appeal.—_Boston Transcript_.
+
+The stories are prose idyls; the illuminations of a lovely spirit shine
+upon them, and their literary quality is as rare as
+beautiful.—_Baltimore Sun_.
+
+MARGARET E. SANGSTER says: “It is not often that an author competes
+with herself, but Eliza Calvert Hall has done so successfully, for her
+second volume centred about Aunt Jane is more fascinating than her
+first.”
+
+LITTLE, BROWN, & CO., PUBLISHERS
+34 BEACON STREET, BOSTON
+
+
+
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE REJUVENATION OF AUNT MARY ***
+
+***** This file should be named 15775-0.txt or 15775-0.zip *****
+This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
+    https://www.gutenberg.org/1/5/7/7/15775/
+
+Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will
+be renamed.
+
+Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright
+law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works,
+so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the
+United States without permission and without paying copyright
+royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part
+of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm
+concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark,
+and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following
+the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use
+of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for
+copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very
+easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation
+of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project
+Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away--you may
+do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected
+by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark
+license, especially commercial redistribution.
+
+START: FULL LICENSE
+
+THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
+PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
+
+To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free
+distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
+(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full
+Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at
+www.gutenberg.org/license.
+
+Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works
+
+1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
+and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
+(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all
+the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or
+destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your
+possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a
+Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound
+by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the
+person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph
+1.E.8.
+
+1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be
+used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
+agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few
+things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
+even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See
+paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this
+agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below.
+
+1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the
+Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection
+of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual
+works in the collection are in the public domain in the United
+States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the
+United States and you are located in the United States, we do not
+claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing,
+displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as
+all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope
+that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting
+free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm
+works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the
+Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily
+comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the
+same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when
+you share it without charge with others.
+
+1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
+what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are
+in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States,
+check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this
+agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing,
+distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any
+other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no
+representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any
+country other than the United States.
+
+1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
+
+1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other
+immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear
+prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work
+on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the
+phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed,
+performed, viewed, copied or distributed:
+
+  This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and
+  most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no
+  restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it
+  under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this
+  eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the
+  United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where
+  you are located before using this eBook.
+
+1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is
+derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not
+contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the
+copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in
+the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are
+redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply
+either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or
+obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm
+trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted
+with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
+must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any
+additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms
+will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works
+posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the
+beginning of this work.
+
+1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
+work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
+
+1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
+electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
+prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
+active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm License.
+
+1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
+compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including
+any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access
+to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format
+other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official
+version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm website
+(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense
+to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means
+of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain
+Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the
+full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
+
+1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
+performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works
+unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
+access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
+provided that:
+
+* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
+  the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method
+  you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed
+  to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has
+  agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project
+  Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid
+  within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are
+  legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty
+  payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project
+  Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in
+  Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg
+  Literary Archive Foundation."
+
+* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
+  you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
+  does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+  License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all
+  copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue
+  all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm
+  works.
+
+* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of
+  any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
+  electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of
+  receipt of the work.
+
+* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
+  distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than
+are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing
+from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of
+the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the Foundation as set
+forth in Section 3 below.
+
+1.F.
+
+1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
+effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
+works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project
+Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may
+contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate
+or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other
+intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or
+other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or
+cannot be read by your equipment.
+
+1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right
+of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
+liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
+fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
+LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
+PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
+TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
+LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
+INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
+DAMAGE.
+
+1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
+defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
+receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
+written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you
+received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium
+with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you
+with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in
+lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person
+or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second
+opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If
+the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing
+without further opportunities to fix the problem.
+
+1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
+in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO
+OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT
+LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
+
+1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
+warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of
+damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement
+violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the
+agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or
+limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or
+unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the
+remaining provisions.
+
+1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
+trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
+providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in
+accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the
+production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses,
+including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of
+the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this
+or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or
+additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any
+Defect you cause.
+
+Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of
+electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of
+computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It
+exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations
+from people in all walks of life.
+
+Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
+assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's
+goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will
+remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
+and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future
+generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see
+Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at
+www.gutenberg.org
+
+Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit
+501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
+state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
+Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification
+number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by
+U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.
+
+The Foundation's business office is located at 809 North 1500 West,
+Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up
+to date contact information can be found at the Foundation's website
+and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact
+
+Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without
+widespread public support and donations to carry out its mission of
+increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
+freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest
+array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations
+($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
+status with the IRS.
+
+The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
+charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
+States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
+considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
+with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations
+where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND
+DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular
+state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate
+
+While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
+have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
+against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
+approach us with offers to donate.
+
+International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
+any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
+outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
+
+Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation
+methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other
+ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To
+donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate
+
+Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
+
+Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be
+freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and
+distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of
+volunteer support.
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed
+editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in
+the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not
+necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper
+edition.
+
+Most people start at our website which has the main PG search
+facility: www.gutenberg.org
+
+This website includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm,
+including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
+subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
+
+
diff --git a/15775-0.zip b/15775-0.zip
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..404b461
--- /dev/null
+++ b/15775-0.zip
diff --git a/15775-h.zip b/15775-h.zip
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6602eae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/15775-h.zip
diff --git a/15775-h/15775-h.htm b/15775-h/15775-h.htm
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d056adc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/15775-h/15775-h.htm
@@ -0,0 +1,15078 @@
+<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN"
+"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">
+<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">
+<head>
+<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" />
+<meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" />
+<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary, by Anne Warner</title>
+<link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" />
+<style type="text/css">
+
+body { margin-left: 20%;
+       margin-right: 20%;
+       text-align: justify; }
+
+h1, h2, h3, h4, h5 {text-align: center; font-style: normal; font-weight:
+normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-top: .5em; margin-bottom: .5em;}
+
+h1 {font-size: 300%;
+    margin-top: 0.6em;
+    margin-bottom: 0.6em;
+    letter-spacing: 0.12em;
+    word-spacing: 0.2em;
+    text-indent: 0em;}
+h2 {font-size: 150%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 1em;}
+h3 {font-size: 130%; margin-top: 1em;}
+h4 {font-size: 120%;}
+h5 {font-size: 110%;}
+
+.no-break {page-break-before: avoid;} /* for epubs */
+
+div.chapter {page-break-before: always; margin-top: 4em;}
+
+hr {width: 80%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;}
+
+p {text-indent: 1em;
+   margin-top: 0.25em;
+   margin-bottom: 0.25em; }
+
+.p2 {margin-top: 2em;}
+
+p.letter {text-indent: 0%;
+          margin-left: 10%;
+          margin-right: 10%;
+          margin-top: 1em;
+          margin-bottom: 1em; }
+
+p.center  {text-align: center;
+           text-indent: 0em;
+           margin-top: 1em;
+           margin-bottom: 1em; }
+
+p.right {text-align: right;
+         margin-right: 10%;
+         margin-top: 1em;
+         margin-bottom: 1em; }
+
+div.fig { display:block;
+          margin:0 auto;
+          text-align:center;
+          margin-top: 1em;
+          margin-bottom: 1em;}
+
+p.caption {font-weight: bold;
+           text-align: center; }
+
+a:link {color:blue; text-decoration:none}
+a:visited {color:blue; text-decoration:none}
+a:hover {color:red}
+
+</style>
+
+</head>
+
+<body>
+
+<div style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold;'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary by Anne Warner</div>
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and
+most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions
+whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms
+of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online
+at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you
+are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the
+country where you are located before using this eBook.
+</div>
+<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary</div>
+<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Anne Warner</div>
+<div style='display:block;margin:1em 0'>Release Date: May 2005 [eBook #15775]<br />
+[Most recently updated: May 8, 2021]</div>
+<div style='display:block;margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div>
+<div style='display:block;margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div>
+<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: Suzanne Shell, Josephine Paolucci, Joshua Hutchinson and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team</div>
+<div style='margin-top:2em;margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE REJUVENATION OF AUNT MARY ***</div>
+
+<div class="fig" style="width:55%;">
+<img src="images/cover.jpg" style="width:100%;" alt="[Illustration]" />
+</div>
+
+<h1>The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary</h1>
+
+<h2 class="no-break">by Anne Warner</h2>
+
+<p class="center">
+Author of &ldquo;A Woman&rsquo;s Will,&rdquo; &ldquo;Susan Clegg and Her Friend
+Mrs. Lathrop,&rdquo; &ldquo;Susan Clegg and a Man in the House,&rdquo;
+etc.<br/>
+NEW EDITION<br/>
+With Additional Pictures from the Play
+</p>
+
+<p class="center">
+Boston<br/>
+Little, Brown, and Company<br/>
+1910<br/>
+Copyright, 1904,<br/>
+By Ainslee Magazine Company.
+</p>
+
+<p class="center">
+Copyright, 1905,<br/>
+By Little, Brown, and Company.
+</p>
+
+<p class="center">
+Copyright, 1907,<br/>
+By Little, Brown, and Company,
+</p>
+
+<p class="center">
+All rights reserved
+</p>
+
+<p class="center">
+Fourteenth Printing
+</p>
+
+<p class="center">
+Printers<br/>
+S.J. Parkhill &amp; Co., Boston, U.S.A.
+</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2>Contents</h2>
+
+<table summary="" style="">
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#chap01">Chapter One&mdash;Introducing Aunt Mary</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#chap02">Chapter Two&mdash;Jack</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#chap03">Chapter Three&mdash;Introducing Jack</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#chap04">Chapter Four&mdash;Married</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#chap05">Chapter Five&mdash;The Day After Falling in Love</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#chap06">Chapter Six&mdash;The Other Man</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#chap07">Chapter Seven&mdash;Developments</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#chap08">Chapter Eight&mdash;The Resolution He Took</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#chap09">Chapter Nine&mdash;The Downfall of Hope</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#chap10">Chapter Ten&mdash;The Woes of the Disinherited.</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#chap11">Chapter Eleven&mdash;The Dove of Peace</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#chap12">Chapter Twelve&mdash;A Trap For Aunt Mary</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#chap13">Chapter Thirteen&mdash;Aunt Mary Entrapped</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#chap14">Chapter Fourteen&mdash;Aunt Mary En Fête</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#chap15">Chapter Fifteen&mdash;Aunt Mary Enthralled</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#chap16">Chapter Sixteen&mdash;A Reposeful Interval</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#chap17">Chapter Seventeen&mdash;Aunt Mary&rsquo;s Night About Town</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#chap18">Chapter Eighteen&mdash;A Departure And A Return</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#chap19">Chapter Nineteen&mdash;Aunt Mary&rsquo;s Return</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#chap20">Chapter Twenty&mdash;Jack&rsquo;s Joy</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#chap21">Chapter Twenty-One&mdash;The Peace and Quiet of the Country</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#chap22">Chapter Twenty-Two&mdash;&ldquo;Granite&rdquo;</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#chap23">Chapter Twenty-Three&mdash;&ldquo;Granite&rdquo;&mdash;Continued.</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#chap24">Chapter Twenty-Four&mdash;Two Are Company</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#chap25">Chapter Twenty-Five&mdash;Grand Finale</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+</table>
+
+<h2>Illustrations</h2>
+
+<table summary="" style="">
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#illus01">&ldquo;Aunt Mary en fête&rdquo; (May Robson as &ldquo;Aunt Mary&rdquo;)</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#illus02">&ldquo;&lsquo;Do not let us play any longer,&rsquo; she said. &lsquo;Let us be in earnest&rsquo;&rdquo;</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#illus03">&ldquo;&lsquo;She&rsquo;s goin&rsquo; to the city all alone!&rsquo; Lucinda&rsquo;s voice suddenly proclaimed behind him&rdquo;</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#illus04">Aunt Mary and Her Escorts</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#illus05">&ldquo;The carriage stopped three hundred feet below the level of a roof-garden&rdquo;</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#illus06">&ldquo;And now the fun&rsquo;s all over and the work begins&rdquo;</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#illus07">&ldquo;&lsquo;Yesterday I played poker until I didn&rsquo;t know a blue chip from a white one&rsquo;&rdquo;</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td> <a href="#illus08">&ldquo;Aunt Mary had also had her eyes open&rdquo;</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+</table>
+
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<h2><a name="chap01"></a>Chapter One<br/>
+Introducing Aunt Mary</h2>
+
+<p>
+The first time that Jack was threatened with expulsion from college his Aunt
+Mary was much surprised and decidedly vexed&mdash;mainly at the college. His
+family were less surprised, viewing the young man through a clearer atmosphere
+than his Aunt Mary ever had, and knowing that he had barely escaped similar
+experiences earlier in his career by invariably leaving school the day before
+the board of inquiry convened.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack&rsquo;s preparatory days having been more or less tempestous, his family
+(Aunt Mary excepted) had expected some sort of after-clap when he entered
+college. Nevertheless, they had fervently hoped that it would not be quite as
+bad as this.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack&rsquo;s sister Arethusa was visiting her aunt when the news came. Not
+because she wanted to, for the old lady was dreadfully deaf and fearfully
+arbitrary, but because Lucinda had said that she must go to her cousin&rsquo;s
+wedding, and the family always had to bow to Lucinda&rsquo;s mandates. Lucinda
+was Aunt Mary&rsquo;s maid, but she had become so indispensable as a sitter at
+the off-end of the latter&rsquo;s ear-trumpet that none of the grand-nephews or
+grand-nieces ever thought for an instant of crossing one of her wishes. So it
+was to Arethusa that the explanations due Aunt Mary&rsquo;s interest in her
+scapegrace fell, and she bowed her back to the burden with the resignation
+which the circumstances demanded.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Whatever is the difference between bein&rsquo; expelled and bein&rsquo;
+suspended?&rdquo; Aunt Mary demanded, in her tone of imperious impatience.
+&ldquo;Well, why don&rsquo;t you answer? I was brought up to speak when
+you&rsquo;re spoken to, an&rsquo; I&rsquo;m a great believer in livin&rsquo; up
+to your bringin&rsquo; up&mdash;if you had a good one. What&rsquo;s the
+difference, an&rsquo; which costs most? That&rsquo;s what I want to know. I do
+wish you&rsquo;d answer me, Arethusa; there&rsquo;s two things I&rsquo;ve asked
+you now, an&rsquo; you suckin&rsquo; your finger an&rsquo; puttin&rsquo; on
+your thimble as if you were sittin&rsquo; alone in China.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know which costs most,&rdquo; Arethusa shrieked.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You needn&rsquo;t scream so,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary. &ldquo;I ain&rsquo;t
+so hard to hear as you think. I ain&rsquo;t but seventy, and I&rsquo;ll beg you
+to remember that, Arethusa. Besides, I don&rsquo;t want to hear you talk. I
+just want to hear about Jack. I&rsquo;m askin&rsquo; about his bein&rsquo;
+expelled and suspended, an&rsquo; what&rsquo;s the difference, an&rsquo; in
+particular if there&rsquo;s anything to pay for broken glass. It&rsquo;s always
+broken glass! That boy&rsquo;s bills for broken glass have been somethin&rsquo;
+just awful these last two years. Well, why don&rsquo;t you answer?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know what to answer,&rdquo; Arethusa screamed.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What do you suppose he&rsquo;s done, anyhow?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Something bad.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary frowned.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I ain&rsquo;t mad,&rdquo; she said sharply. &ldquo;What made you think I
+was mad? I ain&rsquo;t mad at all! I&rsquo;m just askin&rsquo; what&rsquo;s the
+difference between bein&rsquo; expelled an&rsquo; bein&rsquo; suspended,
+an&rsquo; it seems to me this is the third time I&rsquo;ve asked it. Seems to
+me it is.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Arethusa laid down her work, drew a mighty breath, very nearly got into the
+ear-trumpet, and explained that being suspended was infinitely less heinous
+than being expelled, and decidedly less final.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary looked relieved.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, then he&rsquo;s gettin&rsquo; better, is he?&rdquo; she said.
+&ldquo;Well, I&rsquo;m sure that&rsquo;s some comfort.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And then there was a long pause, during which she appeared to be engaged in
+deep reflection, and her niece continued her embroidery in peace. The pause
+endured until a sudden sneeze on the part of the old lady set the wheels of
+conversation turning again.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Arethusa,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;I wish you&rsquo;d go an&rsquo; get
+the ink an&rsquo; write to Mr. Stebbins. I want him to begin to look up another
+college with good references right away. I don&rsquo;t want to waste any of the
+boy&rsquo;s life, an&rsquo; if bein&rsquo; suspended means waitin&rsquo; while
+the college takes its time to consider whether it wants him back again or not I
+ain&rsquo;t goin&rsquo; to wait. I&rsquo;m a great believer in a college
+education, but I don&rsquo;t know that it cuts much figure whether it&rsquo;s
+the same college right through or not. Anyway, you write Mr. Stebbins.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Arethusa obeyed, and the authorities having seen fit to be uncommonly discreet
+as to the cause of the young man&rsquo;s withdrawal, no great difficulty was
+experienced in finding another campus whereon Aunt Mary&rsquo;s pride and joy
+might freely disport himself. Mr. Stebbins threw himself into the affair with
+all the tact and ardor of an experienced legal mind and soon after
+Lucinda&rsquo;s return to her home allowed Arethusa to follow suit, the hopeful
+younger brother of the latter became a candidate for his second outfit of new
+sweaters and hat bands that year.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary wrote him a letter upon the occasion of his new start in life, Mr.
+Stebbins delivered him a lecture, and things went smoothly in consequence for
+three whole weeks. I say three whole weeks because three whole weeks was a long
+time for the course of Jack&rsquo;s life to flow smoothly. At the end of a
+fortnight affairs were always due to run more rapidly and three weeks produced,
+as a general thing, some species of climax.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The climax in this case came to time as usual his evil genius inciting the
+young man to attempt, one very dark night, the shooting of a cat which he
+thought he saw upon the back fence. Whether he really had seen a cat or not
+mattered very little in the later development of the matter. He was certainly
+successful as far as the going off of the gun was concerned, but the damage
+that resulted, resulted not to any cat, but to the arm of a next-door&rsquo;s
+cook, who was peacefully engaged in taking in her week&rsquo;s wash on the
+other side of the fence. The cook ceased abruptly to take in the wash, the
+affair was at once what is technically termed looked into, and three days later
+Jack became the defendant in a suit for damages.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Naturally Mr. Stebbins was at once notified and he had no choice except to
+write Aunt Mary.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary was somewhat less patient over the third escapade than she had been
+with the first two.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The letter found her alone with Lucinda and she read it to herself three times
+and then read it aloud to her companion. Lucinda, whose thorough knowledge of
+the imperious will and impervious eardrums of her mistress rendered her, as a
+rule, extremely monosyllabic, not to say silent, vouchsafed no comment upon the
+contents of the epistle, and after a few minutes Aunt Mary herself took the
+field:
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Now, what do you suppose possessed that boy to shoot at a cook?&rdquo;
+she asked, regarding the letter with a portentous frown. &ldquo;Cooks are so
+awful hard to get nowadays. I don&rsquo;t see why he didn&rsquo;t shoot a tramp
+if he had to shoot somethin&rsquo;.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;He wa&rsquo;n&rsquo;t tryin&rsquo; to shoot a cook, &rsquo;pears
+like,&rdquo; then cried Lucinda&mdash;Lucinda&rsquo;s voice, be it said, <i>en
+passant</i>, was of that sibilant and penetrating timbre which is best illustrated
+in the accents of a steamfitter&rsquo;s file&mdash;&ldquo;&rsquo;pears like he
+was tryin&rsquo; for a cat.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Not a bat,&rdquo; said her mistress correctively; &ldquo;it was a cat.
+You look at this letter an&rsquo; you&rsquo;ll see. And, anyway, how could a
+man shootin&rsquo; at a cat hit a cook?&mdash;not &rsquo;nless she was up a
+tree birds&rsquo;-nestin&rsquo; after owls&rsquo; eggs. You don&rsquo;t seem to
+pay much attention to what I read to you, Lucinda; only I should think your
+commonsense would help you out some when it comes to a boy you&rsquo;ve known
+from the time he could walk, an&rsquo; a strange cook. But, anyhow,
+that&rsquo;s neither here nor there. The question that bothers me is,
+what&rsquo;s to pay with this damage suit? I think myself five hundred dollars
+is too much for any cook&rsquo;s arm. A cook ain&rsquo;t in no such vital need
+of two arms. If she has to shut the door of the oven while she&rsquo;s
+stirrin&rsquo; somethin&rsquo; on the top of the stove, she can easy kick it to
+with her foot. It won&rsquo;t be for long, anyway, and I&rsquo;m a great
+believer in making the best of things when you&rsquo;ve got to.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lucinda screwed up her face and made no comment. Lucinda&rsquo;s face in repose
+was a cross between a monkey&rsquo;s and a peanut; screwed up, it was
+particularly awful, and always exasperated her mistress.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Well, why don&rsquo;t you say somethin&rsquo;, Lucinda? I ain&rsquo;t
+askin&rsquo; your advice, but, all the same, you can say anything if
+you&rsquo;ve got a mind to.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I ain&rsquo;t got a mind to say anythin&rsquo;,&rdquo; the faithful maid
+rejoined.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I guess you hit the nail on the head that time,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary,
+without any unnecessary malevolence concealed behind her sarcasm; then she
+re-read the note and frowned afresh.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Five hundred dollars is too much,&rdquo; she said again.
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m going to write to Mr. Stebbins an&rsquo; tell him so to-night.
+He can compromise on two hundred and fifty, just as well as not. Get me some
+paper and my desk, Lucinda. Now get a spryness about you.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lucinda laid aside her work and forthwith got a spryness about her, bringing
+her mistress&rsquo; writing-desk with commendable alacrity. Aunt Mary took the
+writing-desk and wrote fiercely for some time, to the end that she finally
+wrote most of the fierceness out of herself.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;After all, boys will be boys,&rdquo; she said, as she sealed her letter,
+&ldquo;and if this is the end I shan&rsquo;t feel it&rsquo;s money wasted.
+I&rsquo;m a great believer in bein&rsquo; patient. Most always, that is. Here,
+Lucinda you take this to Joshua and tell him to take it right to mail. Be
+prompt, now. I&rsquo;m a great believer in doin&rsquo; things prompt.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lucinda took the letter and was prompt. &ldquo;She wants this letter took right
+to the mail,&rdquo; she said to Joshua, Aunt Mary&rsquo;s longest-tried
+servitor.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Then it&rsquo;ll be took right to mail,&rdquo; said Joshua.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;She&rsquo;s pretty mad,&rdquo; said Lucinda.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Then she&rsquo;ll soon get over it,&rdquo; replied the other, taking up
+his hat and preparing to depart for the barn forthwith.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lucinda returned to Aunt Mary with a species of dried-up sigh. One is not the
+less a slave because one has been enslaved for twenty years, and Lucinda at
+moments did sort of peek out through her bars&mdash;possibly envying Joshua the
+daily drives to mail when he had full control of something that was alive.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lucinda had been, comparatively speaking, young when she had come to wait upon
+the pleasure of the Watkins millions, and her waiting had been so pertinent and
+so patient that it had endured over a quarter of a century. Aunt Mary had been
+under fifty in the hour of Lucinda&rsquo;s dawn; she was over seventy now. Jack
+hadn&rsquo;t been born then; he was in college now; and Jack&rsquo;s older
+brothers and sisters and his dead-and-gone father and mother had been living
+somewhere out West then, quite hopeful as to their own lives and quite hopeless
+as to the stern old great-aunt who never had paid any attention to her niece
+since she had chosen to elope with the doctor&rsquo;s reprobate son. Now the
+father and mother were dead and buried, the brothers and sisters reinstated in
+their rights and had all grown up and become great credits to the old lady,
+whose heart had suddenly melted at the arrival of five orphans all at once. And
+there was only Jack to continue to worry about.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack was not anything particularly remarkable; he was just one of those lovable
+good-for-nothings that seem born to get better people into trouble all their
+lives long. He had been spoiled originally by being ten years younger than the
+next youngest in the family; and then, when the children had been shipped on to
+Aunt Mary&rsquo;s tender mercies, Jack had won her heart immediately because
+she accidentally discovered that he had never been baptized, and so felt fully
+justified in re-naming him after her own father and having the name branded
+into him for keeps by her own religious apparatus. It followed naturally that
+John Watkins, Jr., Denham, for so her father&rsquo;s daughter had insisted that
+her youngest nephew should be called, was the favorite nephew of his aunt.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And it was lucky for him that he was the favorite, for Aunt Mary, who was
+highly spiced at fifty, became peppery at sixty, and almost biting at seventy.
+And yet for Jack she would sign checks almost without a murmur. Mr. Stebbins
+was much more censorious and impatient with the young man than she ever was;
+and to all the rest of the world Mr. Stebbins was an urbane and agreeable
+gentleman, whereas to all the rest of the world Aunt Mary was a problem or a
+terror. But Mr. Stebbins needed to be a man of tact and management, for he was
+the real manager of that fortune of which &ldquo;Mary, only surviving child of
+John Watkins, merchant and ship owner,&rdquo; was the legal possessor; and so
+tactful was Mr. Stebbins that he and his powerful client had never yet clashed,
+and they had been in close business relations for almost as many years as
+Lucinda had been established on the hearthstone of the Watkins home. Perhaps
+one reason why Mr. Stebbins endured so well was that he had a real talent for
+compromising, and that he had skillfully transformed Aunt Mary&rsquo;s
+inherited taste for driving a bargain into an acquired pleasure in what is
+really a polite form of the same action.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+So, when it came to the matter of Jack&rsquo;s difficulties, Mr. Stebbins could
+always find a half-way measure that saved the situation; and when he received
+the letter as to the cook and her claim he hied himself to the city at once,
+and wrote back that the claim could be settled for three hundred dollars.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;And enough, I must say,&rdquo; Aunt Mary remarked to Lucinda upon
+receipt of the statement; &ldquo;three hundred dollars for one cat&mdash;for,
+after all, Jack blames the whole on the cat, an&rsquo; he didn&rsquo;t hit it,
+even then.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lucinda did not answer.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But if the boy settles down now I shan&rsquo;t mind payin&rsquo; the
+three&mdash;Where are you goin&rsquo;?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+For Lucinda was walking out of the room.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m goin&rsquo; to the door,&rdquo; said she raspingly. &ldquo;The
+bell&rsquo;s ringin&rsquo;.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+After a minute or two she came back.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Telegram!&rdquo; she announced, handing the yellow envelope over.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary put on her glasses, opened it, and read:
+</p>
+
+<p class="letter">
+Cook has blood poison. Sues for a thousand. Probable amputation.
+</p>
+
+<p class="right">
+STEBBINS.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary dropped the paper with a gasp.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lucinda looked at her with interest.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It&rsquo;s that same arm again,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary, &ldquo;just as I
+thought it was settled for!&rdquo; Her eyes seemed to fairly crackle with
+indignation. &ldquo;Why don&rsquo;t she put it in a sling an&rsquo; have a
+little patience?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lucinda took the telegram and read it.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;&rsquo;Pears like she can&rsquo;t,&rdquo; she commented, in a tone like
+a buzz saw; &ldquo;&rsquo;pears like it&rsquo;s goin&rsquo; to be took
+off.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary reached forth her hand for the telegram and after a second reading
+shook her head in a way that, if her companion had been a globe-trotter, would
+have brought matadores and Seville to the front in her mind in that instant.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I declare,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;seems like I had enough on my mind
+without a cook, too. What&rsquo;s to be done now? I only know one thing! I
+ain&rsquo;t goin&rsquo; to pay no thousand dollars this week for no arm that
+wasn&rsquo;t worth but three hundred last week. Stands to reason that there
+ain&rsquo;t no reason in that. I guess you&rsquo;d better bring me my desk,
+Lucinda; I&rsquo;m goin&rsquo; to write to Mr. Stebbins, an&rsquo; I&rsquo;m
+goin&rsquo; to write to Jack, and I&rsquo;m goin&rsquo; to tell &rsquo;em both
+just what I think. I&rsquo;m goin&rsquo; to write Jack that he&rsquo;d better
+be lookin&rsquo; out, and I&rsquo;m goin&rsquo; to write to Mr. Stebbins that
+next time he settles things I want him to take a receipt for that arm in
+full.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The letters were duly written and Mr. Stebbins, upon the receipt of his,
+redoubled his efforts, and did succeed in permanently settling with the cook,
+the arm being eventually saved. Aunt Mary regarded the sum as much higher than
+necessary, but still pleasantly less than that demanded of her, and so life in
+general moved quietly on until Easter.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+But Easter is always a period of more or less commotion in the time of youth
+and leads to various hilarious outbreaks. Jack&rsquo;s Easter took him to town
+for a &ldquo;little time,&rdquo; and the &ldquo;little time&rdquo; ended in the
+station-house at three o&rsquo;clock on Sunday morning.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Accusation: Producing concussion of the brain on a cab driver.
+</p>
+
+</div><!--end chapter-->
+
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<h2><a name="chap02"></a>Chapter Two<br/>
+Jack</h2>
+
+<p>
+The news was conveyed to Aunt Mary through private advices from Mr. Stebbins
+(who had been hastily summoned to the city for purposes of bail); she was very
+angry indeed, this time&mdash;primarily at the indignity done her flesh and
+blood by arresting it. Then, as she re-read the lawyer&rsquo;s letter, other
+reflections crowded to the fore in her mind.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Funny! Whatever could have made the boy get up and go downtown at three
+in the morning, anyway?&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Seems kind of queer,
+don&rsquo;t you think, Arethusa? Do you suppose he was ill and huntin&rsquo;
+for a drug store?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Arethusa had been sent for the second day previous because Lucinda&rsquo;s
+youngest sister&rsquo;s youngest child had come down with scarlet fever, and
+the family wanted Lucinda to enliven the quarantine. Arethusa had sent
+invitations out for a dinner party, but she had recalled them and hastened to
+obey the summons. It was an evil hour for her, for she loved her brother and
+was mightily distressed at the bad news.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t believe he can have been ill,&rdquo; she said, at the top
+of her voice; &ldquo;if he&rsquo;d been ill he wouldn&rsquo;t have had the
+strength to hit the cab driver so hard.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t blame him for hittin&rsquo; the cab driver,&rdquo; said
+Aunt Mary warmly. &ldquo;As near as I can recollect, I&rsquo;ve often wanted to
+do that myself. But I can&rsquo;t make out where he got the man to hit, or why
+he was there to hit him. I can&rsquo;t make rhyme or reason out of it. I wish
+we knew more. Well, I presume we will, later.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Her surmise was correct. They knew much more later. They knew more from Mr.
+Stebbins, and they knew profusely more from the evening papers.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I think our boy&rsquo;d better have come home for his Easter,&rdquo;
+Aunt Mary remarked, with a species of angry undertow threading the current of
+her speech. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s no sayin&rsquo; what this will cost before
+we&rsquo;re done with it.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Arethusa choked; it was all so very terrible to her.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What is it that the cabman wants, anyhow?&rdquo; her aunt demanded
+presently.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;He doesn&rsquo;t want anything,&rdquo; yelled the unhappy sister.
+&ldquo;He&rsquo;s going to die.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Well, who is going to sue me, then?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It&rsquo;s his wife; she wants five thousand dollars damages.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary&rsquo;s lips tightened.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Five thousand dollars!&rdquo; she said, with a bitter patience. &ldquo;I
+can see that this is goin&rsquo; to be an awful business. Five thousand
+dollars! Dear, dear! I must say that that wife sets a pretty high price on her
+husband&mdash;at least, a&rsquo;cordin&rsquo; to my order of thinkin&rsquo;,
+she does. From what I&rsquo;ve seen of cabmen, I&rsquo;d undertake to get her
+another just as good for a tenth of the money, any day.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Arethusa was silent, staring thoughtfully at the newspaper cuts of a great
+Tammany leader and a noted pugilist, which had been labeled as the principals
+in the family tragedy.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary turned over another of the many papers received, and scanned its
+sensational columns afresh.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Arethusa,&rdquo; she exclaimed suddenly, &ldquo;do you know, I bet
+anythin&rsquo; I know what this editor means to insinuate? It just strikes me
+that he&rsquo;s tryin&rsquo; to give the impression that our boy&rsquo;s been
+drinkin&rsquo;.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Perhaps so,&rdquo; Arethusa screamed.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Well, I don&rsquo;t believe it,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary firmly, &ldquo;and
+I ain&rsquo;t goin&rsquo; to believe it. And I ain&rsquo;t goin&rsquo; to pay
+no five thousand dollars for no cabman&rsquo;s brains, neither. You write to
+Mr. Stebbins to compromise on two or maybe three.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She stopped and bit her lips and shook her head. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t see why
+Jack grows up so hard,&rdquo; she murmured, half in anger and half in sorrow.
+&ldquo;Edward and Henry never had such times. Oh, well,&rdquo; she sighed,
+&ldquo;boys will be boys, I suppose; an&rsquo; if this all results in the
+boy&rsquo;s settlin&rsquo; down it&rsquo;ll be money well spent in the end,
+after all. Maybe&mdash;probably&mdash;most likely.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The days that followed were anxious days, but at last the cabman rallied and
+concluded not to die, and Jack went off yachting with a light heart and a
+choice collection of good advice from Mr. Stebbins and Aunt Mary.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Nothing happened to mar his holiday. He ran a borrowed steam launch on to some
+rocks with rather heavy consequences to his aunt&rsquo;s exchequer, and
+returned from the West Indies so late that she never had a visit from him at
+all that summer; but, barring these slightly unwelcome incidents, he did
+remarkably well, and when he returned to college in the fall he was regarded as
+having become, at last, a stable proposition.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I wonder whether our boy&rsquo;s comin&rsquo; home for Christmas?&rdquo;
+Aunt Mary asked her niece, Mary, as that happy period of family reunions drew
+near. Mary had come up to stay with her aunt while Lucinda went away to bury a
+second cousin. Mary was very different from Arethusa, having a voice that, when
+raised, was something between an icicle and a steam whistle, and a temperament
+so much on the order of her aunt&rsquo;s that neither could abide the other an
+hour longer than was absolutely necessary. But Arethusa had a sprained ankle,
+so there was no help for existing circumstances.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;No, he isn&rsquo;t,&rdquo; said Mary, who had no patience at all with
+her brother, and showed it. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s going West with the glee
+club.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;With the she club!&rdquo; cried poor Aunt Mary, in affright.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Mary explained.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t like the idea,&rdquo; said the old lady, shaking her head.
+&ldquo;Somethin&rsquo; will be sure to happen. I can feel it runnin&rsquo; up
+and down my bones this minute.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, if he can get into trouble, of course, Jack will,&rdquo; said Mary
+cheerfully.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary didn&rsquo;t hear her, because she didn&rsquo;t raise her voice
+particularly. Besides, the old lady was absorbed for the nonce in the most
+dismal sort of prognostications.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And they all came true, too. Something unfortunate beyond all expectations came
+to pass during the glee club&rsquo;s visit to Chicago, and the result was that,
+before the new year was well out of its incubator Jack had papers in a
+breach-of-promise suit served on him. He wrote Mr. Stebbins that it was all a
+joke, and had merely been a portion of that foam which a train of youthful
+spirits are apt to leave in their wake; but the girl stood solid for her
+rights, and, as she had never heard from her fiancé since the night of the
+dance, her family&mdash;who were rural, but sharp&mdash;thought it would take
+at least fifteen thousand dollars to patch the crack in her heart. If the news
+could have been kept from Aunt Mary until after Mr. Stebbins had looked into
+the matter, everything might have resulted differently. But the Chicago lawyer
+who had the case took good care that the wealthy aunt knew all as quickly as
+possible, and it seemed as if this was the final straw under which the camel
+must succumb.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And Aunt Mary did appear to waver.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Fifteen thousand dollars!&rdquo; she cried, aghast. &ldquo;Heaven help
+us! What next?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+It was Lucinda who was seated calmly opposite at this crisis.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Do you suppose he really did it?&rdquo; the aunt continued, after a
+minute of appalled consideration.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It&rsquo;s about the only thing he ain&rsquo;t never done,&rdquo; the
+tried and true servant answered, her tone more gratingly penetrative than ever.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary eyed her sharply, not to say furiously.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I wish you&rsquo;d give a plain answer when I ask you a plain question,
+Lucinda,&rdquo; she said coldly. &ldquo;If you&rsquo;d ever got a
+breach-of-promise suit in the early mail you&rsquo;d know how I feel.
+Perhaps&mdash;probably.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I ain&rsquo;t a doubt but what he done it,&rdquo; Lucinda screamed out;
+&ldquo;an&rsquo; if I was her an&rsquo; he wouldn&rsquo;t marry me after
+sayin&rsquo; he would I&rsquo;d sue him for a hundred thousand, an&rsquo; think
+I let him off cheap then.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary deigned to smile faintly over the subtlety of this speech; but the
+next minute she was frowning blacker than ever.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;A girl from Kalamazoo, too, just up in Chicago for a week&mdash;just up
+in Chicago long enough to come down on me for fifteen thousand dollars.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Maybe she&rsquo;ll take five thousand instead,&rdquo; Lucinda remarked.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Maybe!&rdquo; ejaculated her mistress, in fine scorn. &ldquo;Maybe!
+Well, if you don&rsquo;t talk as if money was sweet peas an&rsquo; would dry up
+if it wasn&rsquo;t picked!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lucinda screwed up her face.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary gave her one awful look.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You get me some paper an&rsquo; my desk, Lucinda,&rdquo; she said.
+&ldquo;I think it&rsquo;s about time I was takin&rsquo; a hand in it myself.
+I&rsquo;ve been pretty patient, an&rsquo; I don&rsquo;t see as it&rsquo;s
+helped matters any. Now I&rsquo;m goin&rsquo; to write that boy a letter
+that&rsquo;ll settle him an&rsquo; his cats, an&rsquo; his cooks, an&rsquo; his
+cabmen, an&rsquo; his Kalamazoo, just once for all. I guess I can do what I set
+out to do. Pretty generally&mdash;most always.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lucinda brought the desk, and Aunt Mary frowned fearfully and began to write
+the letter.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+It developed very strongly. As her pen sized up the situation in black and
+white, the old lady seemed to realize the iniquities of the case more and more
+plainly; and as the letter grew her wrath grew also. The whole came, in the
+end, to a threat&mdash;made in good earnest&mdash;to take a very serious step
+indeed if any more &ldquo;foolishness&rdquo; developed.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary prided herself on her granite-like will. She had full faith in her
+ability to slay her nearest and dearest if it seemed right and best to do so.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She sealed her letter tight, stuck the stamp on square and hard, and bid
+Lucinda convey it to Joshua and tell him never to quit it until he saw it safe
+on to the evening train.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;She&rsquo;s awful mad at him for sure, this time,&rdquo; said Lucinda
+after she had delivered her message, and while Joshua was considering the front
+and back of the letter with a deliberateness born of long servitude.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I sh&rsquo;d think she would be,&rdquo; he said.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+As nearly all of Jack&rsquo;s private difficulties were printed in every
+newspaper in America, Joshua naturally was on the inside of all their history.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;She scrinched up her face just awful over that letter,&rdquo; Lucinda
+continued. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m sure I wish he&rsquo;d &rsquo;a&rsquo; been by to
+&rsquo;a&rsquo; taken warnin&rsquo;.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;He ain&rsquo;t got nothin&rsquo; to really fret over,&rdquo; said Joshua
+serenely; &ldquo;he knows it, &rsquo;n&rsquo; I know it, &rsquo;n&rsquo; you
+know it, too.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You don&rsquo;t know nothin&rsquo; of the sort,&rdquo; said Lucinda.
+&ldquo;She&rsquo;s madder&rsquo;n usual this time. She&rsquo;s good an&rsquo;
+mad. You mark my words, if he goes off on a &rsquo;nother spree this spring
+he&rsquo;ll get cut out o&rsquo; her will.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Joshua laughed.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You mark my words!&rdquo; rasped Lucinda, shaking her finger in
+witchlike warning.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Joshua laughed again.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Them laughs best what laughs last,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary&rsquo;s
+handmaiden. She turned away, and then returned to give Joshua a look that
+proved that the peppery mistress had inculcated some cayenne into the souls of
+those about her. &ldquo;You mark my words&mdash;them laughs best what laughs
+last, an&rsquo; there&rsquo;ll be little grinnin&rsquo; for him if he
+ain&rsquo;t a chalk-walker for one while now.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Joshua laughed.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+But, as a matter of fact, Jack&rsquo;s situation was suddenly become extremely
+precarious.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;There ain&rsquo;t no sense in it,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary to herself, with
+an emphasis that screwed her face up until she looked quite like Lucinda;
+&ldquo;that life those young men lead on their little vacations is to blame for
+everything. Cities are wells of iniquity; they&rsquo;re full of all kinds of
+doin&rsquo;s that respectable people wouldn&rsquo;t be seen at, and I&rsquo;m
+proud to say that I haven&rsquo;t been in one myself for twenty-five years.
+I&rsquo;m a great believer in keepin&rsquo; out of trouble, an&rsquo; if
+Jack&rsquo;d just stuck to college an&rsquo; let towns go, he&rsquo;d never
+have met the cabman and the Kalamazoo girl, an&rsquo; I&rsquo;d have overlooked
+the cook an&rsquo; the cat. As it is, my patience is done. If he goes into one
+more scrape he&rsquo;ll be done too. I mean what I say. So my young man had
+better take warnin&rsquo;. Probably&mdash;most likely&mdash;pretty
+certainly.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+</div><!--end chapter-->
+
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<h2><a name="chap03"></a>Chapter Three<br/>
+Introducing Jack</h2>
+
+<p>
+It has been previously stated that Aunt Mary&rsquo;s nephew, Jack, was a
+scapegrace, and as delightful as scapegraces generally are. It goes without
+saying that he was good-looking; and of course he must have been jolly and
+pleasant or he wouldn&rsquo;t have been so popular. As a matter of fact, Jack
+was very good-looking, unusually jolly, and uncommonly popular. He was one of
+the best liked men in each of the colleges which he had attended. There was
+something so winning about his smile and his eternal good humor that no one
+ever tried to dislike him; and if anyone ever had tried he or she would not
+have succeeded for very long. It is probably very unfortunate that the world is
+so full of this type of young man, but that which should cause us all to have
+infinite patience with them is the reflection of how much more unfortunate it
+would be if they were suddenly eliminated from the general scheme of things.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Like all college boys, Jack had a chum. The chum was Robert Burnett, another
+charming young fellow of one-and-twenty, whose education had been so
+cosmopolitan in design and so patriotic in practice that he always said
+&ldquo;Sacre bleu&rdquo; and &ldquo;Donnerwetter&rdquo; when he thought of it,
+and &ldquo;Great Scott&rdquo; when he didn&rsquo;t. He and Jack were as
+congenial a pair as ever existed, and they had just about as much in common as
+the aunt of the one and the father of the other had had to pay for.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+In the February of the year of which I write, Washington, celebrating his
+birthday as usual, gave all American students their usual chance to celebrate
+with him. Celebrations were temptations incarnate to Jack, and he was feeling
+frowningly what a clog Aunt Mary&rsquo;s latest epistle was upon his joys, when
+his friend came to the rescue with an invitation to spend the double holiday
+(it doubled that year&mdash;Sunday, you know) at the brand-new ancestral castle
+which Burnett père had just finished building for his descendants. It may be
+imagined that Jack accepted the invitation with alacrity, and that his
+never-very-downcast heart bounded gleefully higher than usual over the prospect
+of two days of pleasure in the country.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+It is not necessary to state where the castle of the Burnetts was erected, but
+it was in a beautiful region, and the monthly magazines had written it up and
+called it an architectural triumph. The owner fully agreed with the monthly
+magazines, and his pride found vent in a house-warming which filled every guest
+chamber in the place.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The festivities were in full swing before the youngest son and his friend
+arrived; and when the dog-cart, which brought them from the station, drew up
+under the mighty porte-cochère with its four stone lions, rampant in four
+different directions, Jack felt one of those delicious thrills which run
+through one under particularly hopeful and buoyant circumstances.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It&rsquo;s like walking in a novel,&rdquo; his friend said; as they
+entered under some heavy draperies which the footman pushed aside and found a
+tiny spiral staircase, which wound its way aloft in a style that Jack liked
+immensely and the latter agreed with all his heart.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The staircase led them to the third floor and when they emerged therefrom they
+found themselves in a big semi-circular billiard room, with a fireplace at each
+end large enough to put one of the tables in, and cues and counters and stools
+and divans and smoking utensils sufficient for a regiment.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I tell you, this is the way to do things,&rdquo; exclaimed Burnett;
+&ldquo;isn&rsquo;t it jolly? Time of your life, old man, time of your
+life!&mdash;And, oh, by the way,&rdquo; he said, suddenly interrupting himself,
+&ldquo;I wonder if my sister&rsquo;s got here yet!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Which sister?&rdquo; Jack inquired; for his friend was one of a very
+large family, and he had met several of them on their various visits to town.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Betty&mdash;the one who beats all the others hollow,&rdquo;&mdash;but
+just there the conversation was broken off by the servants coming up with the
+luggage and setting two doors open that showed them two big rooms, both
+exquisitely furnished, and both with windows that looked out, first on to a
+stone balustrade, and secondly on to a superb view over the river and the
+mountains beyond.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The men unstrapped the things and went away, leaving such a plenitude of
+comfort behind them as led Jack to fling himself into the most luxurious chair
+in the room and stretch his arms and legs far and wide in utter contentment.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Burnett was fishing for his key ring.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a great old place, isn&rsquo;t it?&rdquo; he remarked
+parenthetically. &ldquo;Great Scott! but I&rsquo;ll bet we have fun these two
+days! And if my sister Betty is here&mdash;&rdquo; He paused expressively.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Doesn&rsquo;t she live at home?&rdquo; Jack asked.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;She&rsquo;s just come home; she&rsquo;s been in England for three years.
+Oh, but I tell you she&rsquo;s a corker!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I should think&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The sentence was never completed because a voice without the
+not-altogether-closed door cried:
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;No, don&rsquo;t think, please; let me come in instead.&rdquo; And in the
+same instant Burnett made one leap and flung the door open, crying as he did
+so:
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Betty!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then Jack, bunching somewhat his starfish attitude, looked across the room and
+realized instantly that it was all up with him forever after.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Because&mdash;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Because she who stood there in the door was quite the sweetest, the loveliest,
+the most interesting looking girl whom he had ever laid eyes on; and when she
+was seized in her brother&rsquo;s arms, and kissed by her brother&rsquo;s lips,
+and dragged by her brother&rsquo;s hands well into the room, she proved to be a
+thousand times more irresistible than at first.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I say, Betty, you&rsquo;re absolutely prettier than ever,&rdquo; her
+brother exclaimed, holding her a little off from him and surveying her
+critically; and then he seemed to remember his friend&rsquo;s existence, and,
+turning toward him, announced proudly:
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;My sister Bertha.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack was standing up now and thinking how lovely her eyes were just at that
+instant when they were meeting his for the first time, thinking much else too.
+Thinking that Monday was only two days away (hang it!); thinking that such a
+smile was never known before; thinking that he had <i>years</i> ahead at college;
+thinking that the curl on her forehead was simply distracting (whereas all
+other like curls were horrid); thinking that he might cut college and&mdash;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;My chum, Jack Denham,&rdquo; Burnett continued, proving in the same
+instant how rapidly the mind may work since his friend had compassed his
+encyclopedia of sentiment and probability between the two halves of a formal
+introduction.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, I&rsquo;m very glad to meet you, Mr. Denham,&rdquo; she said,
+putting out her hand&mdash;and he took and held it just long enough to realize
+that he really was holding it, before she took it away to keep for her own
+again. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve often heard of you, and often wished I might know
+you.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m awfully glad to hear you say that,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;and
+if I should have the royal luck to be next to you at dinner, it doesn&rsquo;t
+seem to me that I shall have the strength to keep from telling you why.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She clapped her hands at this, just as a very little girl might have done.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;If that is so, I hope that they will put you next to me at
+dinner,&rdquo; she said gayly; &ldquo;but if they don&rsquo;t, you&rsquo;ll
+tell me some other time, won&rsquo;t you? I&rsquo;m always <i>so</i> interested in
+what people have to tell me about myself.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Burnett began to laugh.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Jack,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;I see that we&rsquo;d better have a clear
+and above-board understanding right in the beginning and so I&rsquo;ll just
+tell you that this sister of mine, who appears so guileless, is the very worst
+flirt ever. She looks honest, but she can&rsquo;t tell the truth to save her
+neck. She means well, but she drives folks to suicide just for fun. She&rsquo;d
+do anything for anybody in general, but when it&rsquo;s a case of you
+individually she won&rsquo;t do a thing to you, and you must heed my words and
+be forewarned and forearmed from now on. Mustn&rsquo;t he, Betty?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+At this the sister laughed, nodding quite as gayly as if it were a laughing
+matter, instead of the opening move in a possibly serious&mdash;tremendously
+serious&mdash;game of life.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It&rsquo;s awful to have to subscribe to,&rdquo; she said, with dancing
+eyes; &ldquo;but I&rsquo;m afraid it&rsquo;s true. I&rsquo;m really quite a
+reprobate, and I admit it frankly. And everyone is so good to me that I never
+get a chance to reform. And so&mdash;and so&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But then, I suppose I ought to warn her about you, too,&rdquo; said
+Burnett, turning suddenly toward his friend. &ldquo;It isn&rsquo;t fair to show
+her up and not show you up, you know. And really, Betty, he&rsquo;s almost as
+bad as you are yourself. I may tell you in confidence&mdash;in strict
+confidence (for it&rsquo;s only been in a few newspapers)&mdash;that he
+hasn&rsquo;t got his breach-of-promise suit all compromised yet. Ask him to
+deny it, if he can!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The sister looked suddenly startled and curious and Jack felt himself to be
+blushing desperately.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t look as if he was lying, do I?&rdquo; he asked smiling;
+&ldquo;be honest now, for you can see that Burnett and I both are.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;No, you don&rsquo;t,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;You look as if it was a
+very true bill.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It is,&rdquo; he said; &ldquo;and it&rsquo;s going to be an awfully big
+one, too, I&rsquo;m afraid.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I wouldn&rsquo;t have thought you were such a bad man,&rdquo; said the
+sister ever so sweetly; &ldquo;but I like bad men. They interest me.
+They&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;There!&mdash;I see your finish,&rdquo; said Burnett. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s
+one of her favorite opening plays. It&rsquo;s all up with you, Jack, and your
+aunt will have to to go down for another damage suit when you begin to perceive
+that you have had enough of our family. But you&rsquo;ll have to get out now,
+Betty, and let him get dressed for dinner. You needn&rsquo;t cry about it
+either for he&rsquo;s even more attractive in his glad rags than he is in his
+railway dust&mdash;my word of honor on it.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I look nice myself when I&rsquo;m dinner-dressed,&rdquo; said the
+sister, &ldquo;so I sympathize with him and I&rsquo;ll go with pleasure.
+Good-bye.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She sort of backed toward the door and Jack sprang to open it for her.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You can kiss her hand, if you like,&rdquo; Burnett said kindly.
+&ldquo;They do in Germany, you know. I don&rsquo;t mind and mamma needn&rsquo;t
+know.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;May I?&rdquo; Jack asked her; and then he caught her eye over her
+brother&rsquo;s bent head and added, so quickly that there was hardly any break
+at all between the words: &ldquo;Some other time?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Some other time,&rdquo; she said, with a world of meaning in the
+promise; and then she flashed one wonderful look straight into his eyes and was
+gone.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Isn&rsquo;t she great?&rdquo; Burnett asked, unlocking his suit-case in
+the most provokingly every-day style, as if this day was an every-day sort of
+day and not the beginning and end of all things. &ldquo;Oh, I tell you,
+I&rsquo;m almost dotty over that sister myself.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Do you suppose that I could manage to have her for dinner?&rdquo; Jack
+asked, feeling desperately how dull any other place at the table would be now.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know. When I go down to my mother I&rsquo;ll try to manage
+it; shall I?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I wish you would.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I reckon I can; but, great loads of fire, fellow! don&rsquo;t think you
+can play tag with her, and feel funny at the finish. She&rsquo;ll do you up
+completely, and never turn a hair herself. She&rsquo;s always at it. She
+don&rsquo;t mean to be cruel, but she&rsquo;s naturally a carnivorous animal.
+It&rsquo;s her little way.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack did not look as dismal as he should have done; he smiled, and looked out
+of the window instead.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;She&rsquo;ll have to marry someone some day, you know,&rdquo; he said
+thoughtfully.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Have to marry someone some day!&rdquo; Burnett cried. &ldquo;Why, she is
+married. Didn&rsquo;t you know that?&rdquo; and he unbuckled the shirt
+portfolio as he spoke just as if calamities and tragedies and shooting stars
+might not follow on the heels of such a simple statement as that last.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+It was an awful moment, but poor Jack did manage to continue looking out of the
+window. If any greater demand had been made upon him he might have sunk beneath
+the double weight.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;No,&rdquo; he said at last, his voice painfully steady; &ldquo;I
+didn&rsquo;t know it.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Burnett laughed heartlessly, hauling forth his apparel with a refined cruelty
+which took careful heed of possible interfolded shoes or cravats.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;She married an Englishman when she was nineteen years old,&rdquo; he
+said. &ldquo;That was when they sent me to Eton that little while,&mdash;until
+I drove the horse through the drug shop. The time I told you about, don&rsquo;t
+you know?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes, I remember,&rdquo; said Jack. He observed with sickening
+distinctness that the night had begun to fall, the river&rsquo;s silver ribbon
+had become a black snake, and that the mountain range beyond loomed chill and
+dark and cheerless. &ldquo;I guess I ought to be getting into my things,&rdquo;
+he said, moving toward his own door.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;There&rsquo;s a bath in here,&rdquo; his friend called after him.
+&ldquo;We&rsquo;re to divide it.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Sure,&rdquo; was the reply. It sounded a trifle thick.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think that she ought to,&rdquo; said the brother to
+himself, as he began to draw out his stick-pin before the mirror, &ldquo;I
+don&rsquo;t care if she is my favorite sister&mdash;I don&rsquo;t think that
+she ought to.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he went on to make ready for the securing of his half of the bath, and
+forthwith forgot his sister and his friend.
+</p>
+
+</div><!--end chapter-->
+
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<h2><a name="chap04"></a>Chapter Four<br/>
+Married</h2>
+
+<p>
+It was almost like a scene at a ball, the great white-and-gold music room
+before dinner that night. The Burnett family proper numbered fifteen among
+themselves, and there were nearly thirty guests added. It was entirely too
+large a house party to have handled successfully for very long, but it would be
+most awfully jolly for three or four days; and now, when the whole crowd were
+gathered waiting for dinner, the picture was one of such bubbling joy that
+Jack&rsquo;s very heavy heart seemed to himself to be terribly out of place
+there and he wondered whether he should be able to put up even a fairly
+presentable front during the endless hours that must ensue before the time for
+breaking up arrived.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Burnett took him all around and introduced him to people in general, and people
+in general seemed to him to merely bring the fact of her pre-eminence more
+vividly than ever before his mind. He found himself looking everywhere but at
+them too, and listening with an acutely sensitive ear for sounds quite other
+than those of their various lips. But eternal disappointment rewarded his eyes
+and ears. She was nowhere.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+So he talked blindly about nothing to all the nobodies and laughed stupidly
+over all their stupidities until&mdash;suddenly and without any warning&mdash;a
+fearful jump in his throat sent the mercury in his constitution shooting up to
+160, and he saw, heard, felt, gasped, and knew, that that radiant angel in
+silver tissue who had just entered the farther end of the room was indubitably
+Herself.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+(Married!)
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He quite forgot who, what and where he was. There was a somebody talking to
+him&mdash;a very awful and bony young lady, but she faded so completely out of
+the general scheme of his immediate present that all the use he made of her was
+to stare over her head at the distant apparition that was become, now and
+forever, his All in All. The distant apparition had not lied when she had told
+him up in her brother&rsquo;s room that she too, looked &ldquo;nice&rdquo; when
+dressed for dinner. Only the word &ldquo;nice&rdquo; was as watered milk to the
+champagne of her appearance. She was gowned superbly and her throat and arms
+were half bared by the folds of silvered lace; her hair fitted into the back of
+her neck in the smoothest mass of puffs and coils, and the curl on her forehead
+was more distracting than ever.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+(Married!)
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She seemed to be speaking to everyone, and everyone seemed to be crowding
+around her. He couldn&rsquo;t go up like everyone else, because the awful and
+bony young lady was talking hard at him and heightened her charms with a smile
+that took up two-fifths of her face, and wrinkled all the rest.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Her name was Lome&mdash;Maude Lome. He knew that she must be a relative without
+being told, because otherwise she wouldn&rsquo;t have been invited at all.
+Anyone could divine that.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, isn&rsquo;t dear Betty just lovely?&rdquo; this fearful freak said.
+&ldquo;I think she&rsquo;s just too lovely for anything! She&rsquo;s my cousin,
+you know; we&rsquo;re often mistaken for one another.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I can well believe it,&rdquo; said Jack, heavily, not ceasing to stare
+beyond as he said it.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+(Married!)
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, you&rsquo;re flattering me! Because she&rsquo;s ever so much
+prettier than I am, and I know it.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He didn&rsquo;t reply. It had suddenly come over him to wonder whether there
+ever had been an authentic case of heartbreak. Because he had the most terrible
+ache right in his left side!
+</p>
+
+<p>
+(Married! Married!)
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But, then,&rdquo; Miss Lome continued, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m younger than she
+is. Her being married makes her seem young, but she&rsquo;s really twenty-four.
+I&rsquo;m only twenty.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He shut his eyes, and then opened them. He wished he hadn&rsquo;t come here,
+and then grew shivery to think that he might have happened not to; and all the
+while that awful twisting and wrenching at his heart was getting worse and
+worse.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+(Married! Married! Married!)
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Burnett came up just then with a man wearing a monocle and presented him to
+Denham, and forthwith handed the bony cousin to his safe-keeping.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;She&rsquo;s a great pill, isn&rsquo;t she?&rdquo; he began, as the
+couple moved away; and then he stopped short. &ldquo;What&rsquo;s the
+matter?&rdquo; he asked. &ldquo;Sick?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I hope not,&rdquo; said Jack, trying to smile.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You look hipped,&rdquo; his friend said anxiously. &ldquo;Better go get
+a bracer; you&rsquo;ll have time if you hurry. You can&rsquo;t be sick before
+dinner, because I&rsquo;ve been moving all the cards around so as to get Betty
+next to you, and I could never get them back as they were before if you gave
+out at the last minute.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t believe I&rsquo;m ill,&rdquo; said Jack, trying to realize
+whether the news that she was to be his (for dinner) made him feel any better
+or only just about the same. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know what ails me. Do I look
+seedy?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You look sort of knocked out, that&rsquo;s all,&rdquo; said Burnett.
+&ldquo;Perhaps, though, it was just the having to talk to my cousin Maude so
+long. Isn&rsquo;t she the limit, though? But I&rsquo;ll tell you the one big
+thing about that girl: She&rsquo;s just the biggest kind of a catch. She was my
+uncle&rsquo;s eldest child; she&rsquo;s worth twelve times what any of us ever
+will be.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m sure she&rsquo;ll need it,&rdquo; said Jack heartily.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You&rsquo;re right there,&rdquo; laughed his friend; &ldquo;but
+you&rsquo;ve got to hurry and get your brandy now if you want it, because
+they&rsquo;ll be going out in a minute.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, I&rsquo;m all right,&rdquo; said the poor chap, straightening his
+shoulders back a little. &ldquo;I can make out well enough, I&rsquo;m sure. I
+think I&rsquo;d better go over by your sister and let her know that I&rsquo;m
+ready when the hour of need shall strike.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Burnet nodded and then he went on and his friend walked down the room, no one
+but himself knowing that he was making his way into the lion&rsquo;s (or,
+rather, lioness&rsquo;s) den.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And then he paused there beside her. Oh! she Was seven million times lovelier
+close to than far away. All the rot about Venus and statues and paintings and
+Helen of Troy was nowhere beside Her and he felt his strength come surging
+mightily upward and then&mdash;oh Heavens!
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She looked up&mdash;looked so sweetly up&mdash;right into his eyes and smiled.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I expect you are to take me into dinner,&rdquo; she said; and at her
+words the man who had been talking to her murmured something meaningless and
+got out of their way.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I believe so,&rdquo; he said.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She rose and he noticed that the top of her head was just level with his coat
+lapel. He wondered, with a miserable pang, where she came to on her
+husband&rsquo;s coat and with the wonder his surging strength surged suddenly
+out to sea again and left him feeling like Samson when he awoke to the
+realization of his haircut.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Dinner&rsquo;s very late,&rdquo; she said, quite as if life presented no
+problem whatever; &ldquo;you see, it&rsquo;s the first big company in the
+house. We were only seventeen last night, and to-night we&rsquo;re forty-five.
+It makes a difference.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I can imagine so,&rdquo; he said. He was suddenly acutely aware of
+feeling very awkward, and of finding her different&mdash;quite different from
+what she had seemed up in her brother&rsquo;s room.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What is it?&rdquo; she asked after a minute, looking up at him; and then
+she showed that she was conscious of the change, for she added:
+&ldquo;Something has happened; Bob has been saying mean things about me to
+you?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes, he did tell me something,&rdquo; he admitted; and just then the
+butler announced dinner.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What did he tell you?&rdquo; she asked, as they moved away. &ldquo;How
+could he say anything worse than what he said before me?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;He told me something that was worse&mdash;much worse.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She looked troubled and as if she did not understand.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But he said that I was a flirt, and that I couldn&rsquo;t speak the
+truth, and that I drove people&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes, I remember all that; but this was infinitely worse.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Infinitely worse!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She stopped in an angle where the big room dwindled into a narrow gallery, and
+stared astonished.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I can&rsquo;t at all understand,&rdquo; she said.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;No, you can&rsquo;t,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;and I can&rsquo;t tell
+you&mdash;I mustn&rsquo;t tell you&mdash;how terrible it is to me to look at
+you and think of what he told me.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+After a second she went on again and presently they entered the dining-room.
+The confusion of rustling skirts and sliding chairs quite covered their speech
+for a moment and made them seem almost alone. Her hand had been resting on his
+arm and now she drew it out, looking up at him again as she did so. Her eyes
+had a premonitory mist over them.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;For Heaven&rsquo;s sake,&rdquo; she said very earnestly, &ldquo;tell me
+what he said?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He was silent.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Tell me,&rdquo; she pleaded.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He was still silent.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Tell me,&rdquo; she said imperiously.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He continued silent. They sat down.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Mr. Denham,&rdquo; she said, as she took up her napkin, and her voice
+grew very low, and yet he heard, &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think that we can pretend
+to be joking any longer. You are my brother&rsquo;s friend, and I am a married
+woman. Please treat me as you should.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;That&rsquo;s just it,&rdquo; said Jack; &ldquo;that&rsquo;s all there is
+to it. It wouldn&rsquo;t have amounted to anything except for that&mdash;or
+perhaps, if it hadn&rsquo;t been for that, it might have amounted to a great
+deal.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;If it hadn&rsquo;t been for what?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;For your being married.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She quite started in her seat.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What do you mean?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You see I never knew it before.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You never knew what before?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;That you were married.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Until when?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Until after you went out of the room to-night.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The men were putting the clams around. She seemed to reflect. And then she
+peppered and salted them before she spoke.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Bob is very wrong to talk so,&rdquo; she said at last, picking up her
+fork, &ldquo;when you&rsquo;re his friend, too.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He poked his clams&mdash;he hated clams.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I suppose men think it&rsquo;s amusing to do such things,&rdquo; she
+continued, &ldquo;but I think it&rsquo;s as ill-bred as practical
+joking.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But you are married,&rdquo; he said, trying fiercely to pepper some
+taste into the tasteless things before him.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes, I&rsquo;m married,&rdquo; she admitted tranquilly, &ldquo;but,
+then, my husband went to Africa so soon afterwards that he hardly seemed to
+count at all. And then he was killed there; so, after that, he seemed to count
+less than ever.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The air danced exclamation points and the man on the other side spoke to her
+then so that her turning to answer him gave Jack time to rally his wits.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+(A widow!)
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then she turned back and said:
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I think Bob mystified you unnecessarily. Of course I don&rsquo;t flatter
+myself that you&rsquo;ve suffered.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, but I have,&rdquo; he hastened to assure her.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+(A widow! A widow!)
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But it always makes a difference whether a woman is married or
+not.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I should say it did,&rdquo; he interrupted again. &ldquo;It makes all
+the difference in the world.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+At that she laughed outright, and someone suddenly abstracted the distasteful
+clams and substituted for them a golden and glorious soup, and music sounded
+forth from some invisible quartet, and&mdash;and&mdash;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+(A widow! A widow! A widow!)
+</p>
+
+</div><!--end chapter-->
+
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<h2><a name="chap05"></a>Chapter Five<br/>
+The Day After Falling in Love</h2>
+
+<p>
+The next day was a very memorable day for Jack. The day after a falling in love
+is always a red-letter day; but the day after <i>the</i> falling in love&mdash;ah!
+</p>
+
+<p>
+One looks back&mdash;far back&mdash;to the day before, and those hours of the
+day before, when her sun had not yet dawned, and struggles to recollect what
+ends life could have represented then. And one looks forward to the next day,
+the next week, the next year&mdash;but, particularly to the next morning with
+sensations as indescribable as they are delightful.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Whichever way you tip it, the kaleidoscope of the future arranges itself in
+equally attractive shapes of rainbow hue, and the prospect over land or
+sea&mdash;even if it is raining&mdash;looks brilliant green, and brighter red,
+and brightest yellow.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Upon that glorious &ldquo;next day&rdquo; of Jack&rsquo;s the weather was quite
+a thing apart for February&mdash;partaking of the warmth of May, and owing that
+fact to a sun which early June need not have scorned to own. Under the
+circumstances the house party overflowed the house and ravaged the surrounding
+country, and Jack and Mrs. Rosscott began it all by having the highest cart and
+the fastest cob in the stables and making for the forest just as the clock was
+tolling ten.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Do you want a groom?&rdquo; asked Burnett, who was occasionally very
+cruel.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Well, I&rsquo;m not going to wait for him to get ready now,&rdquo;
+replied his sister, who had sharp wits and did not disdain to give even her own
+family the benefit of them.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then she gathered up the reins and whip in a most scientific manner, and they
+were off. Jack folded his arms. He was simply flooded, drenched, and saturated
+with joy. The evening before had been Elysium when she had only been his now
+and again for a minute&rsquo;s conversation, but now she was to be his and his
+alone until&mdash;until they came back&mdash;and his mind seemed able to grasp
+no dearer outlines of the form which Bliss Incarnate may be supposed to take.
+He didn&rsquo;t care where they went or what they saw or what they talked of,
+just if only he and she might be going, seeing, and talking for the benefit of
+one another and of one another alone.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+They bowled away upon a firm, hard road that skirted the park, and then plunged
+deeply into the forest. Mrs. Rosscott handled the reins and the whip with the
+hands of an expert.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I like to drive,&rdquo; said she.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You appear to,&rdquo; he answered.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I like to do everything,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m very athletic
+and energetic.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m glad of that,&rdquo; he told her warmly. &ldquo;I like
+athletic girls.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He really thought that he was speaking the truth, although upon that first day
+if she had declared herself lazy and languid he would have found her equally to
+his taste&mdash;because it was the first day.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;That&rsquo;s kind of you, after my speech,&rdquo; she said smiling,
+&ldquo;but let&rsquo;s wait a bit before we begin to talk about me. Let us talk
+about you first&mdash;you&rsquo;re the company, you know.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But there&rsquo;s nothing to tell about me,&rdquo; said Jack,
+&ldquo;except that I&rsquo;m always in difficulties&mdash;financial&mdash;or
+otherwise,&mdash;oftenest &lsquo;otherwise,&rsquo; I must confess.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But you have a rich aunt, haven&rsquo;t you?&rdquo; said Mrs. Rosscott.
+&ldquo;I thought that I had heard about your aunt.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, yes, I have a rich aunt,&rdquo; Jack said, laughing, &ldquo;and I
+can assure you that if I am not much credit to my aunt, my aunt is the greatest
+possible credit to me.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes, I&rsquo;ve heard that, too,&rdquo; said Mrs. Rosscott, joining in
+the laugh, &ldquo;you see I&rsquo;m well posted.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;If you&rsquo;re so well posted as to me,&rdquo; Jack said, &ldquo;do be
+kind and post me a little as to yourself. You don&rsquo;t need information and
+I do.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She turned and looked at him.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What shall I tell you first?&rdquo; she inquired.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Tell me what you like and what you don&rsquo;t like&mdash;and that will
+give me courage to do the same later,&rdquo; he added boldly.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She laughed outright at that and then sobered quickly.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I told you that I liked to drive and to do everything,&rdquo; she said
+lightly; &ldquo;what else do you want to know about?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What you dislike.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But I don&rsquo;t know of anything that I dislike;&rdquo; she said
+thoughtfully&mdash;&ldquo;perhaps I don&rsquo;t like England; I am not sure,
+though. I had a pretty good time there after all&mdash;only you know, being in
+mourning was so stupid. And then, too, I didn&rsquo;t fit into their ideas. I
+really didn&rsquo;t seem to get the true inwardness of what was expected of me.
+Oh, I never dared let them know at home what a failure I was as an
+Englishwoman. I mortified my husband&rsquo;s sisters all the time. Just
+think&mdash;after a whole year I often forgot to say &lsquo;Fancy now!&rsquo;
+and used to say &lsquo;Good gracious!&rsquo; instead.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack laughed.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;My husband&rsquo;s sisters were very unhappy about it. They did want to
+love me, because I had so much money; but it was tough work for them. Did you
+ever know any middle-aged English young ladies?&rdquo; she asked him suddenly.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;No, I never did,&rdquo; he said.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Really, they seem to be a thing apart that can&rsquo;t grow anywhere but
+in England. Every married man has not less than two, nor more than three, and
+they always are a little gray and embroider very nicely. Someone told me that
+as long as there&rsquo;s any hope they wear stout boots and walk about and
+hunt, but as soon as it&rsquo;s hopeless they take to embroidering.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It must be rather a blue day for them when they decide definitely to
+make the change,&rdquo; said Jack.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I never thought of that,&rdquo; said Mrs. Rosscott soberly. &ldquo;Of
+course it must! I was always very good to them. I gave them ever so many things
+that I could have used longer myself, and they used to set pieces of muslin in
+behind the open-work places and wear them.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She sighed.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It&rsquo;s quite as bad as being a Girton girl,&rdquo; she said.
+&ldquo;Do you know what a Girton girl is?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;No, I don&rsquo;t.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a girl from Girton College. It&rsquo;s the most awful freak
+you ever saw. They&rsquo;re really quite beyond everything. They&rsquo;re so
+homely, and their hands and feet are so enormous, and their pins never pin, and
+their belts never belt. And no one has ever married one of them yet!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She paused dramatically.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I won&rsquo;t either, then,&rdquo; he declared.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She laughed at that, and touched up the cob a trifle.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Did you live long in England?&rdquo; he asked.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Forever!&rdquo; she answered with emphasis; &ldquo;at least it seemed
+like forever. Mamma left me there when I was nineteen (she married me off
+before she left me, of course) and I stayed there until last winter&mdash;until
+I was out of my mourning, you know&mdash;and then I was on the Continent for a
+while, and then I returned to papa.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;How do we strike you after your long absence?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, you suit me admirably,&rdquo; she said, turning and smiling squarely
+into his face; &ldquo;only the terrible &lsquo;and&rsquo; of the majority does
+get on my nerves somewhat.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What &lsquo;and&rsquo;?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Haven&rsquo;t you noticed? Why when an American runs out of talking
+material he just rests on one poor little &lsquo;and&rsquo; until a fresh run
+of thought overwhelms him; you listen to the next person you&rsquo;re talking
+with, and you&rsquo;ll hear what I mean.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack reflected.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I will,&rdquo; he said at last.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The road went sweeping in and out among a thicket of bare tree trunks and brown
+copses, and the sunlight fell out of the blue sky above straight down upon
+their heads.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;If it don&rsquo;t annoy you, my referring to England so often,&rdquo;
+said she presently, &ldquo;I will state that this reminds me of Kaysmere, the
+country place of my father-in-law.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Is your father-in-law living yet?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Dear me, yes&mdash;and still has hold of the title that I supposed I was
+getting when I was married to his eldest son. My father-in-law is a
+particularly healthy old gentleman of eighty. He was forty years old when he
+married. He didn&rsquo;t expect to marry, you know&mdash;he couldn&rsquo;t see
+his way to ever affording it. But he jumped into the title suddenly and then,
+of course, he married right away. He had to. You&rsquo;d know what a hurry he
+must have been in to look at my mamma-in-law&rsquo;s portrait.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Was she so very beautiful?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;No; she was so very homely. Maude&rsquo;s very like her.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack laughed.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She laughed, too.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Aren&rsquo;t we happy together?&rdquo; she asked.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;My sky knows but one cloud,&rdquo; he rejoined, &ldquo;and that is that
+Monday comes after Sunday.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But we shall meet again,&rdquo; said Mrs. Rosscott.
+&ldquo;Because,&rdquo; she added mischievously, &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t suppose
+that it&rsquo;s on account of my cousin Maude that you rebel at the approach of
+Monday.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;No,&rdquo; said Jack. &ldquo;It may not be polite to say so to you, but
+I wasn&rsquo;t in the least thinking of your cousin.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Poor girl!&rdquo; said Mrs. Rosscott thoughtfully; &ldquo;and she was so
+sweet to you, too. Mustn&rsquo;t it be terrible to have a face like
+that?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It must indeed,&rdquo; said Jack; &ldquo;I can think of but one thing
+worse.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;To marry a face like that.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She laughed again.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You&rsquo;re cruel,&rdquo; she declared; &ldquo;after all her face
+isn&rsquo;t her fortune, so what does it matter?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It doesn&rsquo;t matter at all to me,&rdquo; said Jack. &ldquo;I know of
+very few things that can matter less to me than Miss Lorne&rsquo;s face.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Now, you&rsquo;re cruel again; and she was so nice to you too.
+Absolutely, I don&rsquo;t believe that the edges of her smile came together
+once while she was talking to you last night.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Did you spy on us to that extent?&rdquo; said Jack. &ldquo;I
+wouldn&rsquo;t have believed it of you.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, I&rsquo;m very awful,&rdquo; she said airily. &ldquo;You&rsquo;ll be
+more surprised the farther you penetrate into the wilderness of my ways.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;And when will I have a chance to plunge into the jungle, do you
+think?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Any Saturday or Sunday that you happen to be in town.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Are you going to live in town?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;For a while. I&rsquo;ve taken a house until the beginning of July. I
+expect some friends over, and I want to entertain them.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack felt the sky above become refulgent. He was in the habit of spending every
+Saturday night in the city&mdash;he and Burnett together.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;May I come as often as I like?&rdquo; he asked.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Certainly,&rdquo; said she; &ldquo;because you know if you should come
+too often I can tell the man at the door to say I&rsquo;m &lsquo;not at
+home&rsquo; to you.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But if he ever says: &lsquo;She&rsquo;s not at home to you,&rsquo; I
+shall walk right in and fall upon the man that you are being at home to just
+then.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But he is a very large man,&rdquo; said Mrs. Rosscott seriously;
+&ldquo;he&rsquo;s larger than you are, I think.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack felt the blue heavens breaking up into thunderbolts for his head at <i>this</i>
+speech.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But I&rsquo;m way over six feet,&rdquo; he said, his heart going heavily
+faster, even while he told himself that he might have known it, anyhow.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;He&rsquo;s all of six feet two,&rdquo; she said meditatively. &ldquo;I
+do believe he&rsquo;s even taller. I remember liking him at the first glance,
+just because he struck me as so royal looking.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He was miserably conscious of acute distress.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Do&mdash;do you mind my smoking?&rdquo; he stammered.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+(Might have known that, of course, there was bound to be someone like that.)
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Not at all,&rdquo; she rejoined amiably. &ldquo;I like the odor of
+cigarettes. Shall I stop a little, while you set yourself afire?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It isn&rsquo;t necessary,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I can set myself afire
+under any circumstances.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He lit a cigarette.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Is he English?&rdquo; he couldn&rsquo;t help asking then.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; she said; &ldquo;I like the English.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You appear to like everything to-day.&rdquo; He did not intend to seem
+bitter, but he did it unintentionally.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+(Confounded luck some fellows have.)
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I do. I&rsquo;m very well content to-day.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He was silent, thinking.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Well,&rdquo; she queried, after a while.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He pulled himself together with an effort.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I think perhaps it&rsquo;s just as well,&rdquo; he said.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What is just as well?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;That I know.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Know what?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;About him. I shan&rsquo;t ever take the chances of calling on you
+now.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She laughed.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;He wouldn&rsquo;t put you out unless I told him to,&rdquo; she said.
+&ldquo;You needn&rsquo;t be too afraid of him, you know.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+His face grew a trifle flushed.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not afraid,&rdquo; he said, as coldly as it was in him to
+speak; &ldquo;but I&rsquo;ll leave him the field.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She turned and looked at him.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;The field?&rdquo; she asked, with puzzled eyebrows.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then she frowned for an instant, and then a species of thought-ray suddenly
+flew across her face and she burst out laughing.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Why, I do believe,&rdquo; she cried merrily, &ldquo;I do believe
+you&rsquo;re jealous of the man at the door.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Weren&rsquo;t you speaking of a man in the drawing-room?&rdquo; he
+asked, all her phrases recurring to his mind together.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;No,&rdquo; she said laughing; &ldquo;I was speaking of my footman. Oh,
+you are so funny.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The way the sun shone suddenly again! His horizon glowed so madly that he quite
+lost his head and leaning quickly downward seized her hand in its little tan
+driving glove of stitched dogskin, and kissed it&mdash;reins and all.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not funny,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;it was the most natural
+thing in the world.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She was laughing, but she curbed it.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You&rsquo;d better not be foolish,&rdquo; she said warningly. &ldquo;It
+don&rsquo;t mix well with college.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m thinking of cutting college,&rdquo; he declared boldly.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t let us decide on anything definite until we&rsquo;ve known
+one another twenty-four hours,&rdquo; she said, looking at him with a gravity
+that was almost maternal; and then she turned the horse&rsquo;s head toward
+home.
+</p>
+
+</div><!--end chapter-->
+
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<h2><a name="chap06"></a>Chapter Six<br/>
+The Other Man</h2>
+
+<p>
+That evening Burnett felt it necessary to give his friend a word of warning.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Holloway&rsquo;s going to take Betty in to-night,&rdquo; he said, as
+they descended the tower stairs together.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Who&rsquo;s Holloway?&rdquo; Jack asked.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You can&rsquo;t expect to have her all the time, you know,&rdquo;
+Burnett continued: &ldquo;She&rsquo;s really one of the biggest guns here, even
+if she is one of the family.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Who&rsquo;s Holloway?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Last night the <i>mater</i> had her all mapped out for General Jiggs, and I had
+an awful time getting her off his hook and on to yours, and then you drove her
+all this morning and walked her all the afternoon, and the old lady says
+she&rsquo;s got to play in Holloway&rsquo;s yard to-night&mdash;jus&rsquo;
+lil&rsquo; bit, you know.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Who&rsquo;s Holloway?&rdquo; Jack demanded.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You know Horace Holloway; we were up at his place once for the night.
+Don&rsquo;t you remember?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I remember his place well enough; but he hadn&rsquo;t got in when we
+came, and hadn&rsquo;t got up when we left, so his features aren&rsquo;t as
+distinctly imprinted on my memory as they might be.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;That&rsquo;s so,&rdquo; said Burnett, pushing aside the curtains that
+concealed the foot of the wee stair; &ldquo;I&rsquo;d forgotten. Well,
+you&rsquo;ll meet him to-night, anyhow; he came on the five-five. Holly&rsquo;s
+a nice fellow, only he&rsquo;s so darned over-full of good advice that he keeps
+you feeling withersome.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack laughed.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Did he ever give you any advice?&rdquo; he asked.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Why?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t recollect your taking it.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I never take anything,&rdquo; said Burnett; &ldquo;I consider it more
+blessed to give than to receive&mdash;as regards good advice anyhow.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Who will I have for dinner?&rdquo; Jack asked presently, glancing around
+to see if there were any silver tissues or distracting curls in sight.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Well,&rdquo; his friend replied, rather hesitatingly, &ldquo;you must
+expect to balance up for last night, I reckon.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Your cousin, I suppose!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Burnett nodded.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;She wanted you,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;She&rsquo;s taken a fancy to you;
+and she can afford to marry for love,&rdquo; he added.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m thankful that I can, too,&rdquo; the other answered fervently.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+His friend laughed at the fervor.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You make me think of her teacher,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;She sings, and
+when she was sixteen she meant to outrank Patti; she was lots homelier
+then.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, I say!&rdquo; Jack cried. &ldquo;I can believe &rsquo;most anything,
+but&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Burnett laughed and then sobered.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;She was,&rdquo; he said solemnly; &ldquo;she really and truly was. And
+her mother said to her teacher,&mdash;there in Dresden: &lsquo;She will be the
+greatest soprano, won&rsquo;t she?&rsquo; And he said: &lsquo;Madame, she has
+only that one chance&mdash;to be <i>the</i> greatest.&rsquo;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack laughed.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But why &lsquo;Lorne&rsquo;?&rdquo; he asked suddenly. &ldquo;Why not
+&lsquo;Burnett,&rsquo; since she&rsquo;s your uncle&rsquo;s child?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, that&rsquo;s straight enough; there&rsquo;s a hyphen there. My uncle
+died and my aunt married a title. My aunt&rsquo;s Lady Chiheleywicks, but the
+family name is Lorne. And you pronounce my aunt&rsquo;s name Chix.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m glad I know,&rdquo; said Jack.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, we&rsquo;re great on titles,&rdquo; said Burnett, modestly.
+&ldquo;If the Boers hadn&rsquo;t killed Col. Rosscott, Betty would have been a
+Lady, too, some day. But as it is&mdash;&rdquo; he added thoughtfully,
+&ldquo;she&rsquo;s nothing but a widow.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;&lsquo;Nothing but&rsquo;!&rdquo; Jack cried indignantly.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, well,&rdquo; said Burnett, &ldquo;of course it&rsquo;s great, her
+being a widow&mdash;but then she&rsquo;d have been great the other way
+too.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But if he was English and a colonel,&rdquo; Jack said suddenly,
+&ldquo;he must have been all of&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Fifty!&rdquo; interposed Burnett; &ldquo;oh, he was! Maybe more, but he
+dyed his hair. It was a splendid match for her. It isn&rsquo;t every girl who
+can get a&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Their conversation was suddenly cut short by voices, accompanied by a sort of
+sweet and silky storm of little rustles and the sound of feet&mdash;little
+feet&mdash;coming down the great hall. Aunt Mary&rsquo;s nephew felt himself
+suddenly wondering if any other fellow present had such a tempest within his
+bosom as he himself was conscious of attempting to regulate unperceived.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And then, after all, she wasn&rsquo;t among the influx! Miss Maude, was,
+though, and he had to go up to her and talk to her; and terribly dull hard
+labor it was.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+While he was rolling the Sisyphus stone of conversation uphill for the sixth or
+seventh time, Jack noticed a gentleman pass by and throw a more than ordinarily
+interesting glance their way. He was a very well-built, fairly good-sized man
+of thirty-five or forty years, with a handsome, uninteresting face and heavy,
+sleepy dark eyes.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Who is that?&rdquo; he asked of his companion, his curiosity
+supplementing his wish that she would begin to bear her share of the burden of
+her entertainment.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t you know?&rdquo; she said in surprise. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s
+Mr. Holloway. He&rsquo;s just come. Oh, he&rsquo;s so horrid! I think
+he&rsquo;s just too awfully horrid for any use.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Why?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Because he does such mean things. I just know Bob must have told you how
+he treated me. Bob&rsquo;s always telling it. Surely he&rsquo;s told you.
+It&rsquo;s his favorite story.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;No, never,&rdquo; said Jack (his eyes riveted on the staircase);
+&ldquo;he never told me. But do tell me. I&rsquo;ll enjoy hearing your side of
+it.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But I haven&rsquo;t any side. It&rsquo;s just Horace Holloway&rsquo;s
+meanness. There&rsquo;s nothing funny.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But tell me anyway.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Do you really want to hear?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Indeed, I do.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Well, it&rsquo;s just that we were up in the mountains, and I was rowing
+myself, and the boat didn&rsquo;t go well, and Mr. Holloway came down off the
+hotel piazza and called to me that she needed ballast, and&mdash;and I said:
+&lsquo;Is that the trouble?&rsquo; And he said: &lsquo;Yes, row ashore, and
+I&rsquo;ll ballast you.&rsquo; And so, of course I rowed ashore to get him, and
+(of course, I supposed he meant himself), and when I was up by the dock he
+picked up a great stone and dropped it in, and shoved me off, and called after
+me: &lsquo;She&rsquo;ll go better now,&rsquo; and&mdash;everyone
+laughed!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Miss Lome stopped, breathless.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I never would have believed it of him,&rdquo; Jack exclaimed, turning to
+see where Holloway kept his sense of humor; but just as his eye fell upon the
+latter, the latter&rsquo;s eyes altered and suddenly became so bright and
+intent that his observer involuntarily turned his own gaze quickly in the same
+direction.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+It was Mrs. Rosscott who was approaching, all in cerise with lines of Chantilly
+lace sweeping about her. It seemed a cruelty to every woman present that she
+should be so beautiful. Jack wanted to fly and fall at her feet, but he
+couldn&rsquo;t, of course&mdash;he was tied to her hyphenated cousin.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+But Holloway went forward and greeted her with all possible <i>empressement</i>, and
+the man who was so much his junior felt an awful weight of youth upon him as he
+saw her led out of his sight.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I think dear Betty will marry Mr. Holloway,&rdquo; her cousin chirped
+blandly, thus settling her fate forever. &ldquo;He came over in her party, you
+know, and&mdash;she&rsquo;s always been fond of him.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack suddenly recollected how Mrs. Rosscott had commented on the terrible
+tendency to land upon &ldquo;and,&rdquo; and wondered why he had never noticed
+before how disagreeable said tendency was.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+(Going to marry Holloway!)
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But, then, dear Cousin Betty&rsquo;s such a coquette that no one can
+ever tell whom she does like. She&rsquo;s very insincere.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack twisted uneasily. If there was any comfort to be derived from Miss
+Lorne&rsquo;s last speech, it was certainly of a most chilly sort.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+(Probably going to marry Holloway!)
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Now, I think it&rsquo;s too bad, when there are so many simple, sweet
+girls in the world, that men seem to adore those that flirt like dear Cousin
+Betty. I don&rsquo;t approve of flirting anyway. I wouldn&rsquo;t flirt for
+anything. I don&rsquo;t want to break men&rsquo;s hearts.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;That&rsquo;s awfully good of you,&rdquo; Jack said, looking eagerly to
+where Holloway and Mrs. Rosscott stood together.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, no it isn&rsquo;t,&rdquo; said Miss Lorne, &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t take
+any credit for it&mdash;I was born so. Dear Betty was a regular flirt when she
+was ever so small, but I never was. I&rsquo;m sincere and I can&rsquo;t take
+any credit for it. I was born so.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Holloway was talking and Mrs. Rosscott&rsquo;s eyes were uplifted to his. Jack
+was sure there was adoration in them. He knew Holloway was in love with her.
+How could he be a man and help it. Oh, it was damnable&mdash;unbearable.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He stood up suddenly. He couldn&rsquo;t help it. He was crazed, maddened,
+choked, stifled. The fates must intervene and rescue his reason or else&mdash;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+There was a blessed sound&mdash;the announcing of dinner.
+</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<p>
+Later there was music in the great white salon where the organ was. Maude Lome
+sang, and the man with the monocle accompanied her on the organ. Mrs. Rosscott
+sat on a divan between Holloway and General Jiggs. Jack was left out in the
+cold.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+(Surely in love with Holloway!)
+</p>
+
+<p>
+It was only twenty-six hours since he had first met her, and he hated to
+consider his life as unalterably blasted, or to even give up the fight.
+Nevertheless, whenever he looked across the room he saw fresh signs of the most
+awful kind. Even the way that she didn&rsquo;t trouble to trouble over the one
+man, but devoted herself to General Jiggs, was in itself a very bad portent.
+Well, such was life and one must bear it somehow and be a man. Probably he
+would suffer less after the first five or ten years&mdash;he hoped so at any
+rate. But, great heavens, what a fearful prospect until those first five or ten
+years were gone by!
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Finally he went up to his own room and put on another collar and sat down at
+the open window and thought about it for a good while all quiet and alone by
+himself. After that he went back downstairs.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She was gone, and Holloway, too. He felt freshly unhappy. When you come to
+consider, it was so damned unjust for one man to be thirty-five while
+another&mdash;just as decent a fellow in every way&mdash;was in college.
+He&mdash;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+A hand touched his arm.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He turned from where he was standing in the window recess, and looked into her
+eyes.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m very wicked, am I not?&rdquo; she asked, looking up at him so
+straight and honest.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I can&rsquo;t admit that,&rdquo; he replied.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But I am. I know it myself. What Bob told you was all true. I&rsquo;m a
+heartless wretch.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She spoke so earnestly that his heart sank lower and lower.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I wanted to speak to you about to-morrow morning,&rdquo; she said, after
+a little pause. &ldquo;You know we were going to drive at ten together,
+and&mdash;and I wondered if&mdash;you see, Mr. Holloway&rsquo;s an old friend,
+and he&rsquo;s had so much to tell me to-night, and he isn&rsquo;t half
+through&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She was drawing him with a chain, a hair chain, which she had woven out of her
+eyelashes in the twinkling of an eye (either eye).
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He felt himself helpless&mdash;and choked.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Of course I don&rsquo;t mind. You go with him. It&rsquo;s quite one to
+me.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She gave a tiny little start.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, I didn&rsquo;t mean that at all,&rdquo; she cried. &ldquo;I
+meant&mdash;I meant&mdash;you see it&rsquo;s all been a little tiring&mdash;and
+to-morrow&rsquo;s Sunday anyway and I&mdash;I Wanted to&mdash;to ask you if we
+couldn&rsquo;t go out at eleven instead of ten?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She looked so sweetly questioning, and his relief was so great, and his
+joy&mdash;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+(Probably don&rsquo;t care a rap for Holloway!)
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&mdash;so intense, that he could hardly refrain from seizing her in his arms.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+But he only seized her little hand instead and pressed it fervently to his
+lips. When he raised his eyes she was smiling, and her smile filled him with
+happiness.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You&rsquo;re such a boy!&rdquo; she said softly, and turned and left him
+there in the window recess alone again,&mdash;but this time he didn&rsquo;t
+care.
+</p>
+
+</div><!--end chapter-->
+
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<h2><a name="chap07"></a>Chapter Seven<br/>
+Developments</h2>
+
+<p>
+It was during that drive the next morning that Jack buoyed up by memories of
+Saturday and hopes of coming Saturdays, poured out the history of his life at
+Mrs. Rosscott&rsquo;s knees. He told her the whole story of Aunt Mary, and <i>his</i>
+side of the cat, the cabman, and Kalamazoo. It interested her, for she had
+arrived too recently to have had the full details in the newspapers beforehand,
+but when he spoke of Aunt Mary&rsquo;s last letter she grew large-eyed and
+shook her head gravely.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You will have to be very good now,&rdquo; she said seriously.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Why?&rdquo; he asked. &ldquo;Just to keep from being disinherited? That
+wouldn&rsquo;t be so awful.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Wouldn&rsquo;t it be awful to you?&rdquo; she asked, turning her bright
+eyes upon him. &ldquo;What could be worse?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Things,&rdquo; he said very vaguely.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then she touched up the cob a little; and, after a minute or two, as she said
+nothing, he continued:
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I almost fancy quitting college and going to work. I was thinking about
+it last night.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She touched up the cob a little more, and remained silent.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Finally he said:
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What would you think of my doing that?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know,&rdquo; she said slowly. &ldquo;You see, I&rsquo;m a
+great philosopher. I never fret or worry, because I regard it as useless;
+similarly, I never rebel at the way fate shapes my life&mdash;I regard that as
+something past helping. I believe in predestination; do you?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She turned and looked at him so seriously&mdash;so unlike her <i>riante</i>
+self&mdash;that he felt startled, and did not know what to say for a minute.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then:
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know,&rdquo; he said slowly; &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know
+that I dare to. It rather startles me to think that maybe all of our future is
+laid out now.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It doesn&rsquo;t startle me,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;It seems to me the
+natural plan of the universe. I believe that everything that crosses our
+path&mdash;down to the tiniest gnat&mdash;comes there in the fulfillment of a
+purpose.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m sure that all the mosquitoes that ever crossed my path came
+there in the fulfillment of a purpose,&rdquo; Jack interrupted. &ldquo;I never
+doubted <i>that</i>.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She smiled a little.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It&rsquo;s the same with people,&rdquo; she went on.
+</p>
+
+<div class="fig" style="width:100%;">
+<a name="illus02"></a>
+<img src="images/image02.png" width="366" height="600" alt="[Illustration: ]" />
+<p class="caption">&ldquo;Do not let us play any longer,&rsquo; she said.
+&lsquo;Let us be in earnest.&rsquo;&rdquo;</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Only less painful,&rdquo; he interrupted again.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Sometimes not,&rdquo; she said, with a look that silenced him.
+&ldquo;Sometimes much more so&mdash;my Cousin Maude, for example.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Hip, hip, hurrah for the mosquito!&rdquo; he murmured. They laughed
+softly together. Then she grew earnest, and looked so grave that he became
+serious too.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;There is always a purpose,&rdquo; she said, with a touch of some feeling
+which he had never guessed at. &ldquo;If you and I have met, it is because we
+are to have some influence over one another. I can&rsquo;t just see how; I
+can&rsquo;t form any idea&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I can,&rdquo; he said eagerly.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She looked up so suddenly and steadily that he was silent.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Do not let us play any longer,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Let us be in
+earnest.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But I am in earnest,&rdquo; he asseverated.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You don&rsquo;t know what I mean,&rdquo; she went on very gently.
+&ldquo;You&rsquo;re in college. Let&rsquo;s fight it out on those lines if it
+takes all summer.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He looked up into her face and loved her better than ever for the frank
+kindliness that shone in her eyes.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;All right, if you say so,&rdquo; he vowed.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I do say so,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I like to see men stick it through
+in college if they begin. I like to see people finish up every one of
+life&rsquo;s jobs that they set out on.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But I&rsquo;m coming to see you in town, you know,&rdquo; he went on
+with great apparent irrelevance.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She laughed merrily.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes, surely. You must promise me that.&mdash;No,&rdquo; she stopped and
+looked thoughtful, &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll tell you what I want you to promise me.
+Promise me that you&rsquo;ll come once a week or else write me why you
+can&rsquo;t come. Will you?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You can&rsquo;t suppose that you&rsquo;ll ever see my handwriting under
+such circumstances&mdash;can you?&rdquo; Jack asked.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She laughed again.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Is it a promise?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes, it&rsquo;s a promise.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Oh, joy unmeasured in the time of spring! No other February like that had ever
+been for them&mdash;nor ever would be. The drive came to an end, the day came
+to an end, but the good-nights, which were good-bys, too, were not so fraught
+with hopelessness as he had dreaded, for the promise asked and given paved a
+broad road illuminated by the most hopeful kind of stars,&mdash;a broad road
+leading straight from college to town,&mdash;and his fancy showed him a figure
+treading it often. A figure that was his own.
+</p>
+
+</div><!--end chapter-->
+
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<h2><a name="chap08"></a>Chapter Eight<br/>
+The Resolution He Took</h2>
+
+<p>
+That first meeting was in February, you know, and by the last of April it had
+been followed by so many others that Burnett remarked one day to his chum:
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Say, aren&rsquo;t you going a little faster than auntie&rsquo;ll stand
+for?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack turned in surprise.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I never went so straight in my life before,&rdquo; he exclaimed, not in
+indignation but in astonishment.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t mean that,&rdquo; said Burnett. &ldquo;Perhaps instead of
+&lsquo;auntie&rsquo; I should have said &lsquo;Betty.&rsquo;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack hoisted the colors of Harvard, and was silent.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I warned you at first that that was Tangle town,&rdquo; his friend went
+on. &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t suppose I&rsquo;m saying anything against her&mdash;or
+against you; but she&rsquo;s just as much to ten other men as she is to you,
+and they all are old enough to carry lots of weight.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;And I suppose I&rsquo;m not,&rdquo; Jack answered, going over by the
+fireplace. &ldquo;I know that as well as anyone, of course.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;<i>Natürlich</i>,&rdquo; said Burnett, with conclusiveness that was not meant
+to be cruel, yet cut like a two edged knife.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+There was silence in the room. Jack stood by the chimney-piece, his hands
+upraised to rest upon its lofty shelf, his head dropped forward, and his eyes
+fixed on the empty blackness below.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I wonder,&rdquo; he said at last, &ldquo;I wonder what will become of me
+if&mdash;if&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He stopped.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Burnett didn&rsquo;t speak.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I wonder if she thinks of me as a boy,&rdquo; the young man continued.
+&ldquo;I wonder if she&rsquo;s so good to me because I&rsquo;m her youngest
+brother&rsquo;s friend.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Burnett did not comment on this speech.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know what to do,&rdquo; the other said. &ldquo;When I
+first met her I wanted to cut college and get out in the world and go to work
+like a man. I told her so. But she wanted me to stay in college, and as it was
+the first thing she&rsquo;d ever wanted of me, I did it. I&rsquo;d do anything
+she asked me. I&rsquo;ve quit drinking. I&rsquo;m going at everything as hard
+as it&rsquo;s in me to go; but&mdash;I don&rsquo;t know&mdash;I feel&mdash;I
+feel as if it isn&rsquo;t me&mdash;it&rsquo;s just because she wants me to,
+and, do you know, old man, it frightens me to think how&mdash;if she&mdash;if
+she went out of my&mdash;my life&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He stopped and his broken phrases were not continued to any ending.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Another long silence ensued.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+It was finally terminated by the brother&rsquo;s saying:
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You must confess, old man, that you aren&rsquo;t fixed so as to be able
+to say one really serious word to any woman&mdash;unless it is,
+&lsquo;Wait.&rsquo;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I know that,&rdquo; Jack answered; &ldquo;but I suppose&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;She&rsquo;d be taking so many chances,&rdquo; the friend interrupted.
+&ldquo;A man in college is never the real thing. You&rsquo;d better give it
+up.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then the other whirled about and faced him.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Give it up, did you say?&rdquo; he asked almost angrily.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes, that&rsquo;s what.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+For a minute they looked at one another. Then:
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I shall never give it up,&rdquo; the lover said very slowly and
+steadily&mdash;&ldquo;never, until she gives me up.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Burnett sucked in his breath with a sudden compression of his lips.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;All right,&rdquo; he said, not unkindly; &ldquo;but I don&rsquo;t
+believe you&rsquo;ll ever get her, and that&rsquo;s flat. There are too many
+being entered for that race, and long before you and I get out of here
+she&rsquo;ll be Mrs. Somebody Else.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack stared at him as if he hardly heard, and then suddenly he stepped nearer
+and spoke.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Did she ask you to have this talk with me?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;No,&rdquo; said the brother in surprise, &ldquo;she never says anything
+about you to me.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+A look of relief fled across his friend&rsquo;s face, and then a look of
+resolution succeeded it.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not going to be discouraged,&rdquo; he said; &ldquo;not for a
+while, at any rate.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You&rsquo;d better be.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack laughed. The laugh sounded a trifle hollow, but still it was a laugh, and
+that in itself was a triumph of which none but himself might ever measure the
+extent.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Because in that moment he decided to lay the whole case before her the next
+time that he went to town, and the coming to a resolution was a relief from the
+uncertainty that clouded his days and nights&mdash;even if a further black
+curtain of darkest doubt hung before the possibilities of what her answer might
+be.
+</p>
+
+</div><!--end chapter-->
+
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<h2><a name="chap09"></a>Chapter Nine<br/>
+The Downfall of Hope</h2>
+
+<p>
+It was on a Saturday about the middle of May that Jack came to town, his mind
+well braced with love and arguments, and his main thoughts being that when he
+returned something would be settled.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+It was a beautiful day, warm and sunny, and at five in the afternoon both of
+the drawing-room windows of Mrs. Rosscott&rsquo;s house were wide open, and the
+lace curtains were taking the breeze like little sails.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Just as Jack mounted the steps, the door opened, and a plainly dressed,
+unattractive-looking man was let out. The servant who did the letting out saw
+Jack and let him in without closing the door between the egress of the one and
+the ingress of the other. So he entered without ringing, and, as he was very
+well known and intensely popular with all of Mrs. Rosscott&rsquo;s servants,
+the man invited him to walk up unannounced, since he himself was just
+&ldquo;bringing in the tea.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack went upstairs, and because the carpet was of thickly piled velvet and his
+boots were the boots of a well-shod gentleman, he made no noise whatever in the
+so doing.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+There were double parlors above stairs in the domicile which Burnett&rsquo;s
+sister had taken until July, and they were furnished in the most correct and
+trying mode of Louis XIV. The chairs were gilt and very uncomfortable. The
+ornaments were all straight up and down and made in such shapes that there was
+no place to flick off cigarette ashes anywhere. Nothing could be pulled up to
+anything else and there was not a single good place to rest one&rsquo;s elbows
+anywhere. The only saving grace in the situation was that after five minutes or
+so Mrs. Rosscott invariably suggested removal to the library which lay
+beyond&mdash;a very different species of apartment where no mode at all
+prevailed except the terrible <i>démodé</i> thing known as comfort. To prevent her
+visitors, when seated (for the five minutes aforementioned) amid the correct
+carving of French art, from looking longingly through at the easy-chairs of
+American manufacture, Mrs. Rosscott had ordered that the blue velvet portières
+which hung between should never be pushed aside, and it was owing to this order
+that Jack, entering the drawing-room, heard voices, but could not see into the
+library beyond. Also it was owing to this order that those in the library could
+not see or hear Jack.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The result was that the young man, finding the drawing-room unoccupied, was
+just crossing toward the blue velvet curtains, intending to wait in the library
+until the returning servant should advise him of the whereabouts of his
+mistress, when he was stopped by suddenly hearing a voice&mdash;her
+voice&mdash;crying (and laughing at the same time)&mdash;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Kisses barred! Kisses barred!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+It may be understood that had Mrs. Rosscott known that anyone was within
+hearing she certainly would never have made any such speech, and it may be
+further understood that, had whoever was with her, also mistrusted the close
+propinquity of another man, he would never have replied (as he did reply):
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Certainly,&rdquo; the same being spoken in a most calm and careless
+tone.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack, the eavesdropper, stood transfixed at the voices and speeches, and forgot
+every other consideration in the overwhelming sickness of soul which overcame
+him that instant. All his other soul-sicknesses were trifles compared to this
+one, and the world&mdash;his world&mdash;their world&mdash;seemed to revolve
+and whirl and turn upside down, as he steadied himself against a spindle-legged
+cabinet and felt its spindle-legs trembling in sympathy with his own.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Darling,&rdquo; said Holloway, a second or two later (and this time his
+voice was not calm and careless, but deep and impassioned), &ldquo;the letter
+was very sweet, and if you knew how I longed to take the tired little girl to
+my bosom and comfort her troubles, and replace them by joys!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Will that day ever come, do you think?&rdquo; Mrs. Rosscott answered, in
+low tones, which nevertheless were most painfully clear and distinct in the
+next room.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It must,&rdquo; Holloway replied, &ldquo;just as surely as that I hold
+this dear little hand&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+But Jack never knew more. He had heard enough&mdash;more than enough. Four
+thousand times too much. He turned and went out of the rooms, back down the
+stairs and out of the door, closed it noiselessly behind him, and found himself
+in a world which, although bright and sunny to all the rest of mankind, had
+turned dark, lonely, and cheerless to him.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+At first he hardly knew what to do with himself, he was so altogether used up
+by the discovery just made. He drifted up and down some unknown streets for an
+hour or two&mdash;or stood still on corners&mdash;he never was very sure which.
+And then at last he went downtown and took a drink in a half-dazed way; and
+because it was quite two months since his last indulgence, its suggestion was
+potent.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The pity&mdash;or rather, the apparent pity&mdash;of what followed!
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Burnett was Sundaying at the ancestral castle; and Burnett wasn&rsquo;t the
+warning sort, anyhow. He was always tow and pitch for any species of flame. So
+his absence counted for nothing in the crisis.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And what ensued was a crisis&mdash;a crisis with a vengeance.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+That tear upon which Aunt Mary&rsquo;s nephew went was something lurid and
+awful. It lasted until Monday, and then its owner returned to college, as ill
+of body and as embittered of spirit as it was in him to be. The lightsome devil
+who had ruled him up to his meeting with Mrs. Rosscott resumed its sway with
+terrible force. The authorities showed a tendency to patience because young
+Denham had appeared to reform lately and had been working hard; but young
+Denham felt no thankful sentiments for their leniency, and proved his position
+shortly.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+There was a man named Tweedwell whom circumstances threw directly in the path
+of destruction. Tweedwell was an inoffensive mortal who was studying for the
+ministry. He was progressive in his ideas, and believed that a clergyman, to
+hold a great influence, should know his world. He thought that knowledge of the
+world was to be gained by skirting the outside edge of every species of
+worldliness. The result of this course of action was not what it should have
+been, for Tweedwell was an easy mark for all who wanted fun, and the
+consciousness of his innocence so little accelerated the pace at which he got
+out of the way that he was always being called to account for what he
+hadn&rsquo;t done.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The Saturday night after his Saturday in town, Jack concocted a piece of
+deviltry which was as dangerous as it was foolish. The result was that an
+explosion took place, and the author of the gun-powder plot had all the skin on
+both hands blistered. Burnett, in escaping, fell and broke his collarbone and
+two ribs. The house in which the affair took place caught fire, and was badly
+damaged. And Tweedwell was arrested on the strongest kind of circumstantial
+evidence, and had to answer for the whole. Naturally, in the investigation that
+followed, the two who were guilty had to confess or see the candidate for the
+ministry disgraced forever.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The result of their confession was that Burnett&rsquo;s father, a jovial,
+peppery old gentleman&mdash;we all know the kind&mdash;lost his patience and
+wrote his son that he&rsquo;d better not come home again that year. But Aunt
+Mary lost her temper much more completely and the result, as affecting Jack,
+was awful.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She might not have acted as she did had the disastrous news arrived either a
+week later or a week earlier; but it came just in the middle of a discouraging
+ten days&rsquo; downpour, which had caused a dam to break and a chain of
+valuable cranberry bogs to be drowned out for that year. The cranberry bogs
+were especially dear to their owner&rsquo;s heart.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Why can&rsquo;t they drain &rsquo;em?&rdquo; she had asked Lucinda, who
+was particularly nutcracker-like in appearance since her quarantine episode.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;&rsquo;Pears like they&rsquo;re lower&rsquo;n everywhere else,&rdquo;
+Lucinda answered, her words sounding as if she had sharpened them on a
+grindstone.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary bit her lip and frowned at the rain. She felt mad all the way
+through, and longed to take it out on someone.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Ten minutes after Joshua arrived with the mail and the mail bore one ominous
+letter. Joshua felt something was wrong before the fact was assured.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;She wants the mail,&rdquo; Lucinda said, coming to the door with her
+hand out as usual.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;She&rsquo;ll get the mail,&rdquo; said Joshua, and as he spoke he gave
+the seeker after tidings a blood-curdling wink.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;There isn&rsquo;t a telegram in one o&rsquo; the letters, is
+there?&rdquo; Lucinda asked, much appalled by the wink.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;No, there isn&rsquo;t no telegram in none o&rsquo; the letters,&rdquo;
+said Joshua.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Joshua Whittlesey, I do believe you was born to drive saints mad. What
+<i>is</i> the matter?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Nothin&rsquo; ain&rsquo;t the matter as I know of.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Then what in Kingdom Come did you wink for?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I winked,&rdquo; said Joshua meaningly, &ldquo;cause I expect
+it&rsquo;ll be a good while before we&rsquo;ll feel like winkin&rsquo;
+again.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lucinda gave him a look in which curiosity and aggravation fought
+catch-as-catch-can. Then she turned and went in with the letters.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary was sitting stonily staring at the rain.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I thought you&rsquo;d gone to take a drive with Joshua,&rdquo; she said
+coldly. &ldquo;Well, &rsquo;s long &rsquo;s you&rsquo;re back I&rsquo;ll be
+glad to have my mail. Most folks like to get their mail as soon as it comes
+an&rsquo; I&mdash;Mercy on us!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+It was the letter from the authorities enclosed in one from Mr. Stebbins.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lucinda stood bolt upright before her mistress.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What&rsquo;s happened?&rdquo; she yelled breathlessly, after a few
+seconds of the direst kind of silence had loaded the atmosphere while the
+letter was being carefully read.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then:
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Happened!&mdash;&rdquo; said Aunt Mary, transfixing the terrible
+typewritten communication with a yet more terrible look of determination.
+&ldquo;Happened!&mdash;Well, jus&rsquo; what I expected &rsquo;s happened
+an&rsquo; jus&rsquo; what nobody expects &rsquo;ll happen now. Lucinda, you run
+like you was paid for it and tell Joshua not to unharness. Don&rsquo;t stop to
+open your mouth. You&rsquo;ll need your breath before you get to the barn.
+Scurry!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lucinda scurried. She splashed and spattered down through the lane that led to
+Joshua&rsquo;s kingdom with a vigor that was commendable in one of her age.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;She says &lsquo;don&rsquo;t unharness,&rsquo;&rdquo; she panted,
+bouncing in through the doorway just as Joshua was slowly and carefully folding
+the lap-robe in the crease to which it had become habituated.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Joshua continued to fold.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Then I won&rsquo;t unharness,&rdquo; he said calmly. He hung the robe
+over the line that was stretched to hang robes over and Lucinda gasped for wind
+with which to inflate further conversation.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;She says what nobody expects is goin&rsquo; to happen,&rdquo; she panted
+as soon as she could.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What nobody expects is always happenin&rsquo; where he&rsquo;s
+concerned,&rdquo; said Joshua.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I s&rsquo;pose he&rsquo;s in some new row,&rdquo; said Lucinda.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m sure he is,&rdquo; said Joshua, &ldquo;an&rsquo; if you
+don&rsquo;t go back to her pretty quick you won&rsquo;t be no better
+off.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lucinda turned away and returned to the house. She found Aunt Mary still
+staring at the letters with the same concentrated fury as before.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Well, is Joshua a&rsquo;comin&rsquo; to the door?&rdquo; she asked when
+she saw her maid before her.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You didn&rsquo;t say for him to come to the door,&rdquo; Lucinda howled,
+&ldquo;you said for him to stay harnessed.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary appeared on the verge of ignition.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Lucinda,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;every week I live under the same roof
+with you your brains strike me &rsquo;s some shrunk from the week before. What
+in Heaven&rsquo;s name should I want Joshua to stay harnessed in the barn for?
+I want him to go for Mr. Stebbins an&rsquo; I want him to understand &rsquo;t
+if Mr. Stebbins can&rsquo;t come he&rsquo;s got to come just the same&rsquo;s
+if he could anyhow. I may seem quiet to you, Lucinda, but if I do, it only
+shows all over again how little you know. This is a awful day an&rsquo; if you
+knew how awful you&rsquo;d be half way back to the barn right now. I
+ain&rsquo;t triflin&rsquo;&mdash;I&rsquo;m meanin&rsquo; every word. Every
+syllable. Every letter.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lucinda fled out into the open again. Her footprints of the time before were
+little oblong ponds now and she laid out a new course parallel to their
+splashes. She found Joshua sponging the dasher.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;She wants you to go straight out again.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Joshua flung the sponge into the pail.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Then I&rsquo;ll go straight out again,&rdquo; he said, moving toward the
+horse&rsquo;s head.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You&rsquo;re to bring Mr. Stebbins whether he can come or not.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;He&rsquo;ll come,&rdquo; said Joshua; and then he backed the horse so
+suddenly that the buggy wheel nearly went over Lucinda.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;She says this is an awful day&mdash;&rdquo; began Lucinda.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Joshua got into the buggy and tucked the rubber blanket around himself.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;She says&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Joshua drove out of the barn and away.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lucinda went slowly back to the house. Aunt Mary had ceased to glare at the
+letter and was now glaring at the rain instead.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Lucinda,&rdquo; she said &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll thank you not to ever mention
+my nephew to me again. I&rsquo;ve took a vow to never speak his name again
+myself. By no means&mdash;not at all&mdash;never.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Which nephew?&rdquo; shrieked Lucinda.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary&rsquo;s eyes snapped.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Jack!&rdquo; she said, with an accent that seemed to split the short
+word in two.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+After a little she spoke again.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Lucinda, it&rsquo;s all been owin&rsquo; to the city an&rsquo; this last
+is all city. &rsquo;F I cared a rap what happened to him after this I&rsquo;d
+never let him go near a place over two thousand again as long as he lived.
+It&rsquo;s no use tryin&rsquo; to explain things to you, Lucinda, because it
+never has been any use an&rsquo; never will be&mdash;an&rsquo; anyway,
+I&rsquo;m done with it all. I sh&rsquo;ll want you for a witness when I&rsquo;m
+through with Mr. Stebbins, and then you can get some marmalade out for tea
+an&rsquo; we&rsquo;ll all live in peace hereafter.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Joshua returned with Mr. Stebbins and the latter gentleman went to work with a
+will and willed Jack out of Aunt Mary&rsquo;s. Later Joshua took him home
+again. Lucinda got the marmalade out of the cellar and Aunt Mary had it with
+her tea. It was a bitter tea&mdash;unsugared indeed&mdash;and the days that
+followed matched.
+</p>
+
+</div><!--end chapter-->
+
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<h2><a name="chap10"></a>Chapter Ten<br/>
+The Woes of the Disinherited.</h2>
+
+<p>
+It was some days later on in the world&rsquo;s history that Holloway was
+calling on Bertha Rosscott.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+They were sitting in that comfortable library previously referred to and were
+sweetly unaware that any untoward series of incidents had ever led to an
+invasion of their privacy.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Holloway lay well back in a sleepy-hollow chair and looked indolently, lazily
+handsome; his hostess was up on&mdash;well up on the divan, and he had the full
+benefit of her admirable bottines and their dainty heels and buckles.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Honestly,&rdquo; he said, looking her over with a gaze that was at once
+roving and well content, &ldquo;honestly, I think that every time I see you,
+you appear more attractive than the time before.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It&rsquo;s very nice of you to say so,&rdquo; she replied. &ldquo;And,
+of course, I believe you, for every time that I get a new gown I think that
+very same thing myself. Still, I do regard it as strange if I look nicely
+to-day, for I&rsquo;ve been crying like a baby all the morning.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You crying! And why?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She raised her eyes to his.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Such bad news!&rdquo; she said simply.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;From where? Of whom?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;From mamma, about Bob.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Have <i>his</i> wounds proved serious?&rdquo; Holloway looked slightly
+distressed as was proper.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It isn&rsquo;t that. It&rsquo;s papa. Papa has forbidden him the house.
+He&rsquo;s very, very angry.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Holloway looked relieved.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Your father won&rsquo;t stay angry long, and you know it,&rdquo; he
+said. &ldquo;Just think how often he has lost his temper over the boys and how
+often he&rsquo;s found it again.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It isn&rsquo;t just Bob,&rdquo; said Mrs. Rosscott. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve
+someone else on my mind, too.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Who, pray?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;His friend.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Young Denham?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+With that she threw her head up and looked very straightly at her caller whose
+visage shaded ever so slightly in spite of himself.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Have his wounds proved serious?&rdquo; he asked, smiling, but unable to
+altogether do away with a species of parenthetical inflection in his voice.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It wasn&rsquo;t over his wounds that I cried.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Did you really cry at all for him?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I cried more for him than I did for Bob,&rdquo; she admitted boldly.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;He is a fortunate boy! But why the tears in his case?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I felt so badly to be disappointed in him.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Did you expect to work a miracle there, my dear? Did you think to reform
+such an inveterate young reprobate with a glance?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not sure that I ever asked myself either of those
+questions,&rdquo; she replied, slowly; &ldquo;but he promised me something, and
+I expected him to keep his word.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Men don&rsquo;t keep such promises, Bertha,&rdquo; the visitor said.
+&ldquo;You shouldn&rsquo;t have expected it.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know why not.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Because a man who drinks will drink again.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t refer to drinking,&rdquo; she said quietly. &ldquo;It was
+quite another thing.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Ah!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She looked down at her rings and seemed to consider how much of her confidence
+she should give him, and the consideration led her to look up presently and
+say:
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;He promised me that if he could not call any week he would write me a
+line instead. He came to town last week, and he neither called nor wrote. That
+wasn&rsquo;t like the man I saw in him. That was a direct breaking of his word.
+I can&rsquo;t understand, and I&rsquo;m disappointed.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Holloway took out his cigarette case and turned it over and over thoughtfully
+in his hands.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;He&rsquo;s nothing but a boy,&rdquo; he said at last, with an effort.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;He&rsquo;s no boy,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s almost twenty-two
+years old. He&rsquo;s a man.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Some are men at twenty-two, and some are boys,&rdquo; Holloway remarked.
+&ldquo;I was a man before I was eighteen&mdash;a man out in the world of men.
+But Denham&rsquo;s a boy.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He rose as he spoke, and she held out her hand for him to raise her, too.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It&rsquo;s early to go,&rdquo; she remarked parenthetically.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I know,&rdquo; he replied; &ldquo;but I hear someone being shown into
+the drawing-room. I don&rsquo;t feel formal to-day, and if I can&rsquo;t lounge
+in here alone with you I&rsquo;d rather go.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;How egotistical!&rdquo; she commented.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I am egotistical,&rdquo; he admitted.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And went.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The footman passed him in the hall; he had a card upon his silver salver, and
+was seeking his mistress in the library. But when he entered there the room was
+empty. Mrs. Rosscott had slipped through the blue velvet portières, expecting
+to see a friend, and had stopped short on the other side, amazed at finding
+herself face to face with an utter stranger.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I gave the man my card,&rdquo; said the stranger, in a tone as faded as
+his mustache. He was a long, thin man, but what the Germans style &ldquo;<i>sehr
+korrect</i>.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t wait to get it,&rdquo; the hostess said. &ldquo;I
+supposed that, of course, it was somebody that I knew.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;That was natural,&rdquo; he admitted.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+There was a slight pause of awkwardness.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Won&rsquo;t you sit down?&rdquo; she asked.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Certainly,&rdquo; said the caller, and sat down.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then she sat down, too, and another awkward pause ensued.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You didn&rsquo;t expect to see me, did you?&rdquo; said the stranger,
+smiling.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;No, I didn&rsquo;t,&rdquo; said Mrs. Rosscott frankly. &ldquo;I expected
+to see someone else&mdash;someone that I knew. Nearly all my visitors are
+people whom I know.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Her eyes rather demanded an observance of the conventionalities while her words
+were putting the best face possible on the queer five minutes. The stranger
+smiled.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;My name is Clover,&rdquo; he said then. &ldquo;Of course, as you never
+saw me before, you want to know that first of all.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;d choose to know,&rdquo; she said. And then the uncompromising
+neutrality of her expression deepened so plainly that he hastened to add:
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m H. Wyncoop Clover.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh!&rdquo; she said. And then smiled, too; having heard the name before.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Why don&rsquo;t you ask me my business?&rdquo; went on H. Wyncoop
+Clover. &ldquo;I must have come for some reason, you know.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t know it,&rdquo; said Mrs. Rosscott&mdash;&ldquo;I
+don&rsquo;t know anything about you yet.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+They both smiled&mdash;and then H. Wyncoop resumed his colorless sobriety at
+once.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It&rsquo;s about Jack,&rdquo; he said&mdash;&ldquo;these terrible new
+developments&mdash;&rdquo; he stopped short, seeing his <i>vis-à-vis</i> turn deathly
+white, &ldquo;it&rsquo;s nothing to be frightened over,&rdquo; he said
+reassuringly.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Mrs. Rosscott was furious with herself for having paled. She became instantly
+haughty.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I was alarmed for my brother,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I always think of
+them both as together.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, in that case, I can reassure you instantly,&rdquo; said the caller.
+&ldquo;Burnett is doing finely.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Mrs. Rosscott was conscious of being suddenly and skillfully countercharged.
+She blushed with vexation, bit her lip in perturbation, and cast upon the
+trying individual opposite a look of most appealing interrogation.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You see,&rdquo; said Clover pleasantly, &ldquo;I was coming to town, so
+I came in handy for the purpose of telling you.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She gave him a glance that prayed him to be decent and go on with his errand.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Burnett is about recovered,&rdquo; he said.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She clasped her hands hard.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I wouldn&rsquo;t be a man for anything!&rdquo; she exclaimed with sudden
+fervor, &ldquo;they are so awfully mean. Why <i>don&rsquo;t</i> you go on and tell me
+<i>what</i> you&rsquo;ve come about?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He raised his eyebrows.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;May I?&rdquo; he asked.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She choked down some of her exasperation.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes, you may.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, thank you so much. I&rsquo;ll begin at once then. Only premising
+that as I go to school with your little brother, and as he is rather under a
+cloud just at present, we clubbed together to bring you a letter about him and
+Jack. He was going to dictate it, but in the end Mitchell wrote it all. Here it
+is.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+With that he put his hand into his pocket, drew out an envelope and handed it
+to her.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;How awfully good of you,&rdquo; she said gratefully. &ldquo;Do excuse my
+reading it at once, won&rsquo;t you? You see, I&rsquo;ve been so anxious
+about&mdash;about my brother.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He nodded understandingly, and she hastily tore open the envelope and ran her
+eyes over the written sheets.
+</p>
+
+<p class="letter">
+M<small>Y</small> D<small>EAR</small> M<small>RS</small>.
+R<small>OSSCOTT</small>:&mdash;<br/>
+    Being the prize writer of the class, I am chosen to take down the ante mortem
+confessions of our shattered friends. It is in a sad hour for them that I do
+so, because I am naturally so truthful that I shall not force you to look for
+my meaning between the lines. On the contrary, I shall set the cold facts out
+as neatly as the pickets on the fence. And in evidence thereof, I open the ball
+by telling you frankly that they both look fierce. If they had looked less
+awful, and Burnett had had more lime in his bones, we might have escaped the
+Powers That Be by simply admitting a sprained ankle and carefully concealing
+everything else. But if one man cracks where you can&rsquo;t finish the deal,
+even by the most unlimited outlay of mucilage and persistence, and another
+blazes his whole surface-area in a manner that seems to make the underbrush
+dubious to count on forever henceforth; why, you then have a logarithm the
+square of which is probably as far beyond your depth as I am beyond my own just
+at this point of this sentence.<br/>
+    The long and short of my fresh start is, that your brother wants to write you,
+but he is so handicapped (forgive me, but you&rsquo;re the only one who
+hasn&rsquo;t had that joke sprung on them!) with bandages, that it&rsquo;s
+cruel to expect much of him. It is true that he has his bosom friend to fall
+back upon, but if you could see that friend as we see him these days you
+wouldn&rsquo;t be sure whether it was true or not. The old woman, who had the
+peddler-and-petticoat episode, was not in it the same day with your
+brother&rsquo;s friend! I do assure you. And anyhow&mdash;even if he still has
+brains&mdash;his writing apparatus is all done up in arnica, so there you are!<br/>
+    But do not allow me to alarm you unduly! When all&rsquo;s said and done,
+they&rsquo;re not so badly off physically. Hair and ribs are mere vanities,
+anyhow, and we&rsquo;re here to-day and gone to-morrow!<br/>
+    Something much worse than disfigurements and broken bones has sprung forth from
+chaos, and has almost stared them out of countenance since. It is the wolf that
+is at the door, and the howling and prowling of their particular wolf is not to
+be sneezed at, let me tell you. To put a modern political face upon an ancient
+Greek fable, the wolf in their case symbolizes the bitter question of whose
+roof is going to roof them when they get out of the plaster casts that are bed
+and board to them just at present. Where are they to go? All those which used
+to be open to them are suddenly shut tight. They&rsquo;ve both been expelled,
+and both been disinherited. If I was inclined to look on the blue side of the
+blanket, I should certainly feel that they were playing in very tough luck.
+Burnett, of course, can come to you, and his soul is full of the wish to bring
+his fellow-fright along with him. Which wish of his is the gist of my epistle.
+Can he bring him? He wants to know before he broaches the proposition.
+I&rsquo;m to be skinned alive if Jack ever learns that such a plea was made, so
+I beg you whatever other rash acts you see fit to commit during your meteoric
+flight across my plane of existence, don&rsquo;t ever give me away. Firstly,
+because if I ever get a chance to do so, I&rsquo;m positive that I should want
+to cling to you as the mistletoe does to the oak, and could not bear to be
+given away; and secondly, because I&rsquo;m so attached to my own skin that I
+should really suffer pain if it was taken from me by force. Bob wants you to
+think it over, and let him know as to the whats and whens by return mail.<br/>
+    You are so inspiring that I could write you all day, but those relics of what
+once was, but alas! will never be again, need to be rolled up afresh in
+absorbent cotton, and so I must nail my Red Cross on to my left arm, and get
+down to business. If you saw how useful I am to your brother, you&rsquo;d thank
+his lucky stars that I came through myself with nothing worse than getting my
+ear stepped on. I was hugging the ladder (being canny and careful), and the man
+above me toed in. Isn&rsquo;t it curious to think that if he&rsquo;d worn
+braces in early youth my ear would be all right now.<br/>
+    Behold me at your feet.
+</p>
+
+<p class="right">
+Respectfully yours,<br/>
+H<small>ERBERT</small> K<small>ENDRICK</small> M<small>ITCHELL</small>.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When Mrs. Rosscott had finished the letter she looked across at her caller, and
+said:
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You&rsquo;ve read this, haven&rsquo;t you?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;No,&rdquo; said he. &ldquo;I tried to unstick it two or three times
+coming on the train, but it was too much for me.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t you really know what it says?&rdquo; she asked more
+earnestly.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes, I do,&rdquo; Clover answered, &ldquo;but Denham must never know
+that I do.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I won&rsquo;t tell him,&rdquo; she said smiling faintly. &ldquo;But
+surely he can&rsquo;t be as badly off as this says. Has he really lost all his
+hair?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Not all&mdash;only in spots,&rdquo; Clover reassured her; but then his
+recollections overcame him, and he added, with a grin: &ldquo;But he&rsquo;s a
+fearful looking specimen, all right, though.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;About my brother,&rdquo; she went on, turning the letter thoughtfully in
+her fingers; &ldquo;when can he get out, do they think?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Any time next week.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll write him,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll write him and
+tell him that everything will be arranged for&mdash;for&mdash;for them
+both.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Clover sprang to his feet.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, thank you,&rdquo; he exclaimed. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s most awfully
+good in you!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Not at all,&rdquo; she answered. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m very glad to be able
+to welcome them. You must impress that upon
+them&mdash;particularly&mdash;particularly on my brother.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Clover smiled.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I will,&rdquo; he said, rising to go.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;d ask you to stay longer,&rdquo; she said, holding out her hand,
+&ldquo;but I&rsquo;m due at a charity entertainment to-night, and I have to go
+very early.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I know,&rdquo; he said; &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve come up on purpose to go to
+it.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Then I shall see you there?&rdquo; she asked him.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It will be what I shall be looking forward to most of all,&rdquo; he
+said.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It&rsquo;s been a great pleasure to meet you,&rdquo; she said, holding
+out her hand, &ldquo;you&rsquo;re&mdash;well, you&rsquo;re
+&lsquo;unlike,&rsquo; as they say in literary criticisms.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Thank you,&rdquo; he replied; &ldquo;but may I ask if you intend that as
+a compliment?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Dear me,&rdquo; she laughed, &ldquo;let me think how I did intend
+it.&mdash;Yes, it was meant for a compliment.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Thank you,&rdquo; he said, shaking her hand warmly, &ldquo;it&rsquo;s so
+nice to know, you know. Good-by.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Good-by.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he went away.
+</p>
+
+</div><!--end chapter-->
+
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<h2><a name="chap11"></a>Chapter Eleven<br/>
+The Dove of Peace</h2>
+
+<p>
+The first result of Mrs. Rosscott&rsquo;s invitation was that Jack refused. He
+said that he had a sister of his own&mdash;two, if it came to that&mdash;and so
+he could easily manage for himself. He was very decided about it, and somewhat
+lofty and bitter&mdash;a stand which no one understood his taking.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+His flat refusal was communicated to his would be hostess and it goes without
+saying that she was as unable to understand as all the rest. It keyed well
+enough with his lately shown indifference, but the indifference keyed not at
+all with all that had gone before and still less with her very correct
+comprehension of Jack himself. She was quite positive as to the sincerity of
+those protestations which he had made so haltingly&mdash;so boyishly&mdash;and
+in such absolutely truthful accents. Why he had turned over a new&mdash;and
+bad&mdash;leaf so suddenly she did not at all know, but her woman&rsquo;s
+wit&mdash;backed up by the many good instincts which good women always get from
+Heaven knows just where&mdash;made her feel firmer than ever as to her
+hospitable intentions. Jack had told her many times that she was his good
+angel, and it did not seem to her that now, when he was so deeply involved in
+so much trouble, was the hour for a man&rsquo;s good angel to quietly turn
+away. Suppose he was haughty!&mdash;she knew men well enough to know that in
+his case haughtiness and shame would be two Dromios that even he himself would
+be unable to tell apart. Suppose he did rebel against her kindness!&mdash;she
+knew women well enough to know that under some circumstances they can put down
+rebellion single-handed&mdash;if they can only be left in the room alone with
+it for a few minutes. As regarded Jack, she knew that there was something to
+explain; and as to herself she was delightfully positive as to her own
+irresistibleness. Given two such statements and the conclusion is easy. Mrs.
+Rosscott wrote to Mitchell and here is what she wrote:
+</p>
+
+<p class="letter">
+M<small>Y</small> D<small>EAR</small> M<small>R</small>. M<small>ITCHELL</small>:<br/>
+    I should have answered your letter before only that in the excitement of
+corresponding with my brother I forgot all else. But my manners have returned
+by slow degrees and in hunting through my desk for a bill I found you and so
+take up my pen.<br/>
+    I am quite sure that&mdash;in spite of that beautiful opening play of
+mine&mdash;you are wondering why I am really writing and so I will tell you at
+once. When Bob comes here to stay with me I want Mr. Denham to come too. I have
+various reasons for wanting him to come. One is that he has nowhere else to go
+where he will have half as good a time as he will here and another is that if
+he goes anywhere else I won&rsquo;t have half as good a time as if he comes
+here. Pray excuse my brutal candor, but I am only a woman; brutal candor and
+womanly weakness always have gone about encouraging one another, you know. I
+cannot see any good reason for Mr. Denham&rsquo;s not coming except that he
+declines my invitation. It is very silly in him, and I regard it as no reason
+at all. I am quite unused to being declined and do not intend to acquire the
+habit until I am a good deal older than I was my last birthday. Still, I can
+understand that he is too big to force against his will, so I think the kindest
+way to break the back of the opposition will be for me to do it personally. As
+an over-ruler I nearly always succeed. All I require is an opportunity.<br/>
+    Please lay the two halves of your brain evenly together and devise a train and
+an interview for me. Of course you will meet me at the train and leave me at
+the interview. These are the fundamental rules of my game. I know that you are
+clever and before we have left the station you will know that I am. As
+arch-conspirators we shall surely win out together, won&rsquo;t we?
+</p>
+
+<p class="right">
+Yours very truly,<br/>
+    B<small>ERTHA</small> R<small>OSSCOTT</small>.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+This missive posted, Jack&rsquo;s good angel made herself patient until the
+afternoon of the next day when she might and did expect an answer.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She was not disappointed. The letter came and it was pleasantly bulky and
+appeared ample enough to have contained an indexed gun powder plot. She was so
+sure that Mitchell had been fully equal to the occasion that she tore the
+envelope open with a smile&mdash;and read:
+</p>
+
+<p class="letter">
+M<small>Y</small> D<small>EAR</small> M<small>RS</small>. R<small>OSSCOTT</small>:
+<br/>
+    To think of my having some of your handwriting for my own!&mdash;I was nearly
+petrified with joy.<br/>
+    You see I know your writing from having read Burnett all those &ldquo;Burn this
+at once&rdquo; epistles. And I know it still better from having to catalogue
+them for his ready reference. You know how impatient he is. (But I have run
+into an open switch and must digress backwards.)<br/>
+    I shall preserve your letter till I die. In war I shall wear it carefully
+spread all over wherever I may be killed, and in peace I intend to keep my
+place in my Bible with it. Could words say more! (Being backed up again, I will
+now begin.)<br/>
+    I was not at all surprised at your writing me. If you had known me it would
+have been different. But where ignorance is bliss any woman but yourself is
+always liable to pitch in with a pen, and you see you are not yourself but only
+&ldquo;any woman&rdquo; to me as yet. Besides, women have written to me before
+you. My mother does so regularly. She encloses a postal card and all I have to
+do is to mail it and there she is answered. It&rsquo;s a great scheme which I
+proudly invented when I first went away to school and I recommend it to you if
+you&mdash;if you ever have a mother.<br/>
+    How my ink does run away with me! Let me refer to your esteemed favor again!
+Ah! we have worked down to the bed-rock, or&mdash;in Hugh Miller&rsquo;s
+colloquial phrasing&mdash;to the &ldquo;old red sandstone,&rdquo; of the fact
+that you want Jack. You state the fact with what you designate as brutal
+candor&mdash;and I reply with candied brutality, that I have thought that all
+along. If you are averse to my view of the matter, you must look out of the
+window the whole time that I continue, for once entered I always fight to a
+finish and I cannot retire to my corner on this auspicious occasion without
+announcing through a trumpet that even if Jack is a most idiotic fellow I never
+have caught the microbe from him, and, as a sequence, have always seen clear
+through and out of the other side of the whole situation. Of course I should
+not say this to any woman but you because it would not have any meaning to her,
+but, between you and me all things are printed in plain black and white and,
+therefore, I respectfully submit a program consisting of the two o&rsquo;clock
+train Tuesday and myself, to be recognized by a beaming look of burning joy,
+upon the platform. Beyond that you may confide yourself to waxing waxy in my
+hands. They are not bad hands to be in as your brother and
+whatever-you-call-Jack can testify. I will lay my lines in the dark to the end
+that you may bloom in the sun.<br/>
+    Trust me. You need do no more&mdash;except buy your ticket.<br/>
+    The two o&rsquo;clock on Tuesday. You can easily remember it by the
+T&rsquo;s&mdash;if you don&rsquo;t get mixed with three o&rsquo;clock on
+Thursday. Try remembering it by the 2&rsquo;s. A safe way would be to put it
+down.
+</p>
+
+<p class="right">
+Yours to obey,<br/>
+    H<small>ERBERT</small> K<small>ENDRICK</small> M<small>ITCHELL</small>.
+</p>
+
+<p class="letter">
+P.S. Please recollect that I am only handsome according to the good old
+proverb, and do not mistake me for an enterprising hackman.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Mrs. Rosscott clapped her hands with delight when she finished the letter. She
+was overjoyed at the success of her &ldquo;opening play,&rdquo; and she wrote
+her new correspondent two lines accepting his invitation, and went down on the
+appointed train on the appointed day. He met her at the depot and they divined
+one another at the first glance. It was impossible not to know so pretty a
+woman&mdash;or so homely a man. For the ancestors of Mitchell had worn kilts
+and red hair in centuries gone by, and although he proved the truth of the
+red-hair proposition, no one would ever believe that anything of his build
+could ever have been induced to have put itself into kilts&mdash;knowingly.
+Furthermore, his voice had a crick in it, and went by jerks, and his eyebrows
+sympathized with his voice, and the eyes below them were little and gray and
+twinkling, and altogether he was the sort of man who is termed&mdash;according
+to a certain style of phrasing&mdash;&ldquo;above suspicion.&rdquo; But she
+liked him, oh! immensely, and he liked her. And when they were riding up in the
+carriage together she felt how thoroughly trustworthy his gray eyes and good
+smile declared him to be, and had no hesitation in telling him what she wanted
+to do, and in asking him what she wanted to know.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Mitchell certainly had a talent for plotting, for when they reached the house
+where the culprits were temporarily domiciled, Burnett had gone out to give his
+mended ribs some exercise, and Jack was reading alone in the room where they
+shared one another&rsquo;s liniments with friendly generosity.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The arch-conspirator went upstairs, came down, and then, seeking the lady whom
+he had left in the parlor, said to her:
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Denham&rsquo;s up there and you can go up and say whatever you have to
+say. You know &lsquo;In union there is strength.&rsquo; Well you&rsquo;ve got
+him alone now, and he&rsquo;ll prove weakly as a consequence or I miss my
+guess.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he walked straight over by the window and picked up a magazine as if it
+was all settled, and she only hesitated for half a second before she turned and
+went upstairs.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+There was a door half open in the hall above, and she knew that that must be
+the door. She tapped at it lightly, and a man&rsquo;s voice (a voice that she
+knew well), called out gruffly:
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Come in!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She pushed the door open at that and entered, and saw Jack, and he saw her. He
+turned very pale at the sight, and then the color flooded his face, and he rose
+from his chair abruptly, and put his hand up to the strips that held the
+bandage on his head.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Burnett isn&rsquo;t here,&rdquo; he said quickly. &ldquo;He went out
+just a few minutes ago.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+His tone was hard, and yet at the same time it shook slightly.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She approached him, holding out her hand.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m glad of that,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;because it was to see
+you that I came.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+To her great surprise something mutinous and scornful flashed in his eyes as he
+rolled a chair forward for her.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You honor me,&rdquo; he said, and his tone and manner both hardened yet
+more. His general appearance was that of a man ten years older; he had changed
+terribly in the weeks since she had last seen him. She took the chair and sat
+down, still looking at him. He sat down too, and his eyes went restlessly
+around the room as if they sought a hold that should withhold them from her
+searching gaze. There was a short pause.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t speak like that,&rdquo; she said at last. &ldquo;It
+isn&rsquo;t your way, and I know you too well&mdash;we know one another too
+well&mdash;to be anything but sincere. You owe me something, too, and if I
+forbear you should understand why.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I owe you something, do I?&rdquo; he asked. &ldquo;What do I owe
+you?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Mrs. Rosscott caught her under lip in her teeth.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You gave me a promise, Mr. Denham,&rdquo; she said, quite low, but most
+distinctly&mdash;&ldquo;a promise which you broke.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack flushed; his eyelids drooped for a minute.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t break it,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I gave it up.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Is there any difference?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;A great difference.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He shrugged his shoulders.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Do you want to have the truth?&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;If you really do,
+I&rsquo;ll tell you. But I don&rsquo;t ask to tell you, recollect, and if I
+were you I&rsquo;d drop the whole&mdash;I certainly would.&mdash;If I were
+you.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She looked at him in astonishment.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t understand,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Tell me what you
+mean.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He raised his hand to his bandaged head again.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I think,&rdquo; he said, fighting hard to speak with utter indifference,
+&ldquo;I think that it would have been better if you had told me about
+Holloway.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+At that her big eyes opened widely.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What should I tell you about Mr. Holloway?&rdquo; she asked. &ldquo;What
+could I tell you about him?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It isn&rsquo;t any use speaking like that,&rdquo; he said; and with the
+words he suddenly leaped from his chair and began to plunge back and forth
+across the small room. &ldquo;You see I&rsquo;m not a boy any more. I&rsquo;ve
+come to my senses. I know now! I understand now! It&rsquo;s all plain to me
+now. Now and always. I&rsquo;ve been fooled once but only once and by All that
+Is, I never will be fooled again. Your&rsquo;re pretty and awfully fascinating,
+and it&rsquo;s always fun for the woman&mdash;especially if she knows all her
+bets are safely hedged. And I was so completely done up that I was even more
+sport than the common run, I suppose; but&mdash;&rdquo; she was staring at him
+in unfeigned amazement, and he was lashing himself to fury with the feelings
+that underlaid his words&mdash;&ldquo;but even if you made it all right with
+yourself by calling your share by the name of &lsquo;having a good
+influence&rsquo; over me (I know that&rsquo;s how married women always pat
+themselves on the back while they&rsquo;re sending us to the devil), even then,
+I think that it would have been better to have been fair and square with me. It
+would have been better all round. I&rsquo;d have been left with some belief
+in&mdash;in people. As it is, when I saw that you&rsquo;d only been laughing at
+me, I&mdash;well, I went pretty far.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He stopped short, and transfixed her paleness with his big, dark eyes.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Why weren&rsquo;t you honest?&rdquo; he asked angrily. And then he said
+again, more bitterly, more scornfully, than before: &ldquo;Why wasn&rsquo;t I
+told about Holloway?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She clasped her hands tightly together.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What has been told you about Mr. Holloway and myself?&rdquo; she asked.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Nothing.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Then why do you speak as you do?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+At that he thrust his hands into his pockets and again began to fling himself
+back and forth across the room.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Perhaps you&rsquo;ll think I&rsquo;m a sneak,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;but
+I wasn&rsquo;t a sneak. I went in to see you that Saturday as usual, and when I
+went upstairs&mdash;you were with him in the library. I heard three words. God!
+they were enough! I didn&rsquo;t know that anything could knock the bottom out
+of life so quickly. My sun and stars all fell at once&mdash;I reckon my Heaven
+went too. At all events I went out of your house and down town and I drank and
+drank&mdash;and all to the truth and honor of women.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He halted with his back to her, and there was silence in the room for many
+minutes.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When he faced around after a little, she was weeping bitterly, having turned in
+her seat so that her face might be buried in the chair back. Her whole body was
+shaking with suppressed sobs. He stood still and stared down upon her and
+finally she lifted up her face and said with trembling lips:
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;And all the trouble came from that. Oh, what shall I do? What shall I
+say?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know what you can do, or what you can say,&rdquo; he said,
+remaining still and watching her sincere distress. &ldquo;I&rsquo;d feel pretty
+blamed mean if I were you, though. Understand, I don&rsquo;t question your good
+taste in choosing Holloway, nor your right to love him, nor his right to be
+there; but I fail to understand why you were to me just as you were, and I
+think it was unfair&mdash;out-and-out mean!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Mr. Denham,&rdquo; she said almost painfully, &ldquo;you&rsquo;ve made a
+dreadful mistake.&rdquo; Then she stopped and moistened her lips. &ldquo;I
+don&rsquo;t know just what words you overheard, but the dramatic instructor was
+there that afternoon drilling Mr. Holloway and myself for the parts which we
+took in the charity play that week; after he went out we went over one of the
+scenes alone. Perhaps you heard part of that.&rdquo; She stopped and almost
+choked. &ldquo;Mr. Holloway has never really made any love to me&mdash;perhaps
+he never wanted to&mdash;perhaps I&rsquo;ve never wanted him to.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack stared. His misconception was so strongly intrenched in the forefront of
+his brain that he could not possibly dislodge it at once.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Mrs. Rosscott continued to dry the tears that continued to rise; she seemed
+terribly affected at finding herself to have been the cause (no matter how
+innocently) of this latest tale of wrack and ruin.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Do you mean to say,&rdquo; the young man said, at last, &ldquo;that
+there was no truth in what I heard? Don&rsquo;t you expect to marry
+Holloway?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I never expect to marry anyone, but certainly not him,&rdquo; she
+replied, trying to regain her composure.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Honest?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Assuredly.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+It was as if an unseen orchestra had suddenly burst forth just near enough and
+just far enough away. He came to the side of her chair and laid his hand upon
+its back.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Then what have you been thinking of me lately?&rdquo; he asked.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Very sad thoughts,&rdquo; she confessed&mdash;hiding her face again.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Did you care?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes, I cared.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He stood beside her for a long time without speaking or moving. Then he
+suddenly pulled a chair forward, and sat down close in front of her.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t cry,&rdquo; he said, almost daring to be tender.
+&ldquo;There&rsquo;s nothing to cry about now, you know.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I think there&rsquo;s plenty for me to cry about,&rdquo; she said,
+looking up through her long wet lashes. &ldquo;It is so terrible for me to be
+the one that is to blame. Papa swears he&rsquo;ll never forgive Bob, and your
+aunt&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Lord love you!&rdquo; he exclaimed; &ldquo;don&rsquo;t worry over me or
+my aunt. I don&rsquo;t. I don&rsquo;t mind anything, with Holloway staked in
+the ditch. I can get along well enough now.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He smiled&mdash;actually smiled&mdash;as he spoke.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, you mustn&rsquo;t speak so,&rdquo; she said, blushing;
+&ldquo;indeed, you must not.&rdquo; And smiled, too, in spite of herself.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Who&rsquo;s going to stop me?&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;You know that you
+can&rsquo;t; I&rsquo;m miles the biggest.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She looked at him and tried to frown, but only blushed again instead. He put
+out his hand and took hers into its clasp.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m everlasting glad to shake college,&rdquo; he declared gayly;
+&ldquo;it never was my favorite alley. I&rsquo;ve made up my mind to go to work
+just as soon as I get these pastry strips off my head.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Where?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know. Anywhere. I don&rsquo;t care.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But you&rsquo;ll come to my house when Bob comes next week, won&rsquo;t
+you?&rdquo; she asked suddenly. &ldquo;I can see now why you wouldn&rsquo;t
+before, but&mdash;but it&rsquo;s different now. Isn&rsquo;t it?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Is it?&rdquo; he said, asking the question chiefly of her pretty eyes.
+&ldquo;Is it honestly different now?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I think it is,&rdquo; she answered.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+A door banged below.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;That&rsquo;s Burr!&rdquo; he exclaimed, remembering suddenly the
+proximity of their chairs, and making haste to place himself farther away.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Burnett&rsquo;s step was heard on the stair.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You never said anything to him, did you?&rdquo; she questioned quickly.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Certainly not.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The next instant Burnett was in the room, and his sister was in his arms.
+(Astonishing how coolly he accepted the fact, too.)
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Mr. Denham is coming to me with you, Bob,&rdquo; she said when he
+released her. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve persuaded him.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;How did you do it?&rdquo; she was asked.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;By undertaking to reconcile him with his aunt, dear,&rdquo; she replied,
+blandly. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a contract that we&rsquo;ve drawn up between us. You
+know that I was always rather good in the part of the peacemaker.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+As she spoke, her eyes fell warningly on the manifest astonishment of Aunt
+Mary&rsquo;s nephew.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You don&rsquo;t know what you&rsquo;re undertaking, Betty,&rdquo; said
+her brother. &ldquo;You never had a chance to take Aunt Mary for better, for
+worse&mdash;I have.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not alarmed,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m very
+courageous. I&rsquo;m sure I&rsquo;ll succeed.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Can the mender of ways&mdash;other people&rsquo;s ways&mdash;come
+in?&rdquo; asked a voice at the door.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+It was Mitchell&rsquo;s voice, and he came in without waiting for an
+invitation.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Is it time that I went?&rdquo; Mrs. Rosscott asked him, anxiously.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Half an hour yet.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, I say Jack,&rdquo; cried Burnett, &ldquo;let&rsquo;s boil some water
+in the witch-hazel pan, and make a rarebit in the poultice pan, and have some
+tea here.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Sure,&rdquo; said Jack, suddenly become his blithe and buoyant self
+again. &ldquo;You just take off your hat and look the other way, Mrs. Rosscott,
+and we&rsquo;ll have you a lunch in a jiffy.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+</div><!--end chapter-->
+
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<h2><a name="chap12"></a>Chapter Twelve<br/>
+A Trap For Aunt Mary</h2>
+
+<p>
+In Aunt Mary&rsquo;s part of the country the skies had been crying themselves
+sick for the last six weeks. The cranberry bog was a goner forever, it was
+feared, and a little house, very handy for sorting berries in, had had its
+foundations undermined, and disappeared beneath the face of the waters also.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Under such propitious circumstances, Aunt Mary sat by her own particular window
+and looked sternly and severely out across the garden and down the road.
+Lucinda sat by the other window sewing. Lucinda hadn&rsquo;t changed
+materially, but her general appearance struck her mistress as more irritating
+than ever. Everything and everybody seemed to have become more and more
+irritating ever since Jack had been disinherited. Of course, it was right that
+he should have been disinherited, but Aunt Mary hadn&rsquo;t thought much
+beforehand as to what would happen afterward, and it was too aggravating to
+have him turn out so well just when she had lost all patience with him and so
+cast him off forever, and for him to develop such a beautiful character, all of
+a sudden too&mdash;just as if education and good advice had been his undoing
+and seclusion and illness were the guardian angels arrived just in time to save
+him from the evil effects thereof.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+It hadn&rsquo;t occurred to Aunt Mary that people keep on living just the same
+even after they have been cut out of a will. And she never had counted on
+Jack&rsquo;s taking his bitter medicine in the spirit he was manifesting. She
+had not calculated any of the possible effects of her hasty action very
+maturely, but she certainly had not anticipated a lamblike submission to even
+the harshest of her edicts, nor had she expected Jack to be one who would
+strictly observe the Bible regulations and so return good for evil&mdash;in
+other words, write her now when he had never written her in the bygone years
+(unless under sharpest financial stress of circumstances).
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Yet such was the case. Jack had become a &ldquo;ready letter-writer&rdquo; ever
+since his removal to the city, whither some kind friends had invited him
+directly he could leave his sick-room. Aunt Mary did not know who the friends
+were and had hesitated somewhat as to opening the first letter. But it had
+borne no sting&mdash;being instead most sweetly pathetic, and since then,
+others had followed with touching frequency. Their polished periods fell upon
+the old lady&rsquo;s stony hardness of heart with the persistent frequency of
+the proverbial drop of water. After the second she had ceased to regard the
+instructions given Lucinda as to mentioning her nephew&rsquo;s name, and after
+the third he became again her favorite topic of conversation.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+It seemed that the poor boy had had the misfortune to contract measles, and in
+his weakened state the disease had nearly proved fatal. You can perhaps divine
+the effect of this statement on the grand-aunt, and the further effect of the
+words: &ldquo;But never mind, Aunt Mary,&rdquo; with which he concluded the
+brief narration.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary had tried to snort and had sniffed instead; she had turned back to
+the first page, read, &ldquo;All my head has been shaved, but I don&rsquo;t
+care about having any more fun, anyhow,&rdquo; and had let the letter fall in
+her lap. Every time that she had thought since of &ldquo;our boy,&rdquo; her
+anger had fallen hotter upon whoever was handiest. Lucinda (who was used to it)
+lived under a figurative rain of cinders, and thrived salamander-like in their
+midst; but Arethusa&mdash;who had come up for a week&mdash;found herself
+totally unable to stand the endless lava and boiling ashes, and fled back to
+the bosom of Mr. Arethusa the third morning after her arrival.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve got to go, I find,&rdquo; she had yelled the night before her
+departure.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I certainly wish you would,&rdquo; replied her aunt. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m a
+great believer in married women paying attention at home before they begin to
+pry into their neighbors&rsquo; affairs. It&rsquo;s a good idea. Most
+generally&mdash;most always.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+This was bitterly unkind, since Arethusa was in the habit of taking the long
+journey purely out of a sense of duty and to keep Lucinda up to the mark; but
+grateful appreciation is rarely ever a salient point in the character of an
+autocrat.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m glad she&rsquo;s gone,&rdquo; Aunt Mary told Lucinda, when
+they were left together once more. &ldquo;She puts me beyond all patience. She
+chatters gibberish that I can&rsquo;t make out a word of for an hour at a time,
+and then, all of a sudden, she screams, &lsquo;Dinner&rsquo;s ready,&rsquo; or
+something equally silly, in a voice like a carvin&rsquo; knife. It&rsquo;s
+enough to drive a sane person stark, raving mad. It is.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lucinda acquiesced with a nod. Lucinda herself was glad that Arethusa had gone.
+She resented the manner in which the latter always looked over the preserve
+closet and counted the silver. Nothing was ever missing, because Lucinda was as
+honest as a day twenty-five hours long, but the more honest those of
+Lucinda&rsquo;s caliber are, the more mad they get if they feel that they are
+being watched. So Lucinda acquiesced with a nod.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The mistress and maid were sitting alone together, with the June rain falling
+without, and it was that pleasantly exciting hour which comes only in the
+country and is known as &ldquo;about mail-time.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;There&rsquo;s Joshua now,&rdquo; Aunt Mary exclaimed, presently,
+&ldquo;I see him turnin&rsquo; in the gate. He&rsquo;ll be at the door before
+you get there, Lucinda,&mdash;he will. There, he&rsquo;s twistin&rsquo; his
+wheel off. He&rsquo;s tryin&rsquo; to hold Billy an&rsquo; hold the letters
+an&rsquo; whistle, all at once. Why don&rsquo;t you go to him, Lucinda?
+Can&rsquo;t you hear a whistle that I can see? Or, if you can&rsquo;t hear the
+whistle, can&rsquo;t you hear me? Do you think whoever wrote those letters
+would be much pleased if they could see you so slow about gettin&rsquo; them?
+Do&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Just here the old lady, turning toward Lucinda, perceived that she had been
+gone&mdash;Heaven knew how long. She felt decidedly vexed at finding herself to
+be in the wrong, rubbed her nose impatiently, and waited in a temper to match
+the rubbing.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;My Lord! how slow she is!&rdquo; she thought. &ldquo;Well, if I
+don&rsquo;t die of old age first, I presume I&rsquo;ll get my letters some
+time. Maybe.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+As a matter of fact, the door had blown shut behind Lucinda, and the latter
+personage was making her way, with well-hoisted skirts, around the house to the
+back door. She didn&rsquo;t pass the window where the Argus-eyed was looking
+forth; because that lady had strong opinions of those who let doors bang behind
+them without their own volition.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Five minutes later the maid did finally appear with one letter.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I thought you was waitin&rsquo; to bring to-morrow&rsquo;s mail at the
+same time,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary, icily.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then she found that the letter was from Jack, and Lucinda was completely
+forgotten in the pleasure of opening and reading it.
+</p>
+
+<p class="p2">
+D<small>EAR</small> A<small>UNT</small> <small>MARY</small>:
+</p>
+
+<p>
+It seems so strange how I&rsquo;m just learning the pleasure of writing
+letters. I enjoy it more every day. When I see a pen I can hardly keep from
+feeling that I ought to write you directly. I think of you, then, because
+I&rsquo;m thinking of you most always. It seems as if I never appreciated you
+before, Aunt Mary.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+I want to tell you something that I know will make you happy. I&rsquo;ve never
+made you very happy Aunt Mary, but I&rsquo;m going to begin now. I&rsquo;ve got
+a place where I can earn my own living, and I&rsquo;m going to work just as
+soon as I am strong enough. I&rsquo;m as tickled as a baby over it. I&rsquo;ll
+lay you any odds I get to be a richer man than the other John Watkins. I reckon
+money was bad for me, Aunt Mary, and I can see that you&rsquo;ve done just the
+right thing to make a man of me. That isn&rsquo;t surprising, because you
+always did do just the right thing, Aunt Mary; it was I that always did just
+the wrong thing, but I&rsquo;m straightened out now and this time it&rsquo;s
+forever&mdash;you just wait and see.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+There&rsquo;s one thing bothers me some, and that is I don&rsquo;t get strong
+very fast. They want me to take a tonic, but I don&rsquo;t think a tonic would
+help me much. I feel so sort of blue and depressed, and perhaps that&rsquo;s
+natural, for Bob&rsquo;s away most of the time and I&rsquo;m here all alone.
+It&rsquo;s a big house and sort of lonely and sometimes I find myself imagining
+how it would seem to have someone from home in it with me, and I find myself
+almost crying&mdash;I do, for a fact, Aunt Mary.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Next week, Bob is going to be away more than usual, and I&rsquo;m dreading it
+awfully; but never mind, Aunt Mary, I don&rsquo;t want to make you blue,
+because honestly I don&rsquo;t think I&rsquo;m going into a decline, even if
+the doctor does. And, after all, if I did sort of dwindle away it
+wouldn&rsquo;t matter much, for I&rsquo;m not worth anything, and no one knows
+that as well as myself&mdash;except you, Aunt Mary. I must stop because
+it&rsquo;s nine o&rsquo;clock and time I was in bed. I&rsquo;ve got some socks
+to wash out first, too; you see, I&rsquo;m learning how to economize just as
+fast as I can. It&rsquo;s only two miles to my work, and I&rsquo;m going to
+walk back and forth always&mdash;that&rsquo;ll be between fifty cents and a
+dollar saved each week. I&rsquo;m figuring on how to live on my salary and
+never have a debt, and you&rsquo;ll be proud of me yet, Aunt Mary&mdash;if I
+don&rsquo;t die first.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Think of me all alone here next week. If I wasn&rsquo;t steadfast as a rock I
+believe I&rsquo;d do something foolish just to get out of myself. But never
+mind, Aunt Mary, it&rsquo;s all right.
+</p>
+
+<p class="right">
+Your afft. nephew,<br/>
+J<small>OHN</small> W<small>ATKINS</small>, J<small>R</small>., D<small>ENHAM</small>.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When Lucinda returned from drying her feet, Aunt Mary had her handkerchief in
+one hand and spectacles in the other.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Saints and sinners!&rdquo; cried the maid, in a voice that grated with
+sympathy. &ldquo;He ain&rsquo;t writ to say he&rsquo;s dead, is he?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;No,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary; &ldquo;but he isn&rsquo;t as well as he makes
+out. There&rsquo;s no deceivin&rsquo; me, Lucinda!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Dear! dear!&rdquo; cried the Trusty and True; &ldquo;is that so?
+What&rsquo;s to be done? Do you want Joshua to run anywhere?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary suddenly regained her composure.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Run anywhere?&rdquo; she asked, with her usual bitter intonation.
+&ldquo;If you ain&rsquo;t the greatest fool I ever was called upon to bed and
+board, Lucinda! Will you kindly explain to me how settin&rsquo; Joshua
+trottin&rsquo; is goin&rsquo; to do any mortal good to my poor boy away off
+there in that dreadful city?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;He could telegraph to Miss Arethusa,&rdquo; Lucinda suggested. The
+suggestion bespoke the superior moral quality of Lucinda&rsquo;s
+make-up&mdash;her own feeling toward Arethusa being considered.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t want her,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary with a positiveness that
+was final. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t want her. My heavens, Lucinda, ain&rsquo;t we
+just had enough of her? Anyhow, if you ain&rsquo;t, I have. I don&rsquo;t want
+her, nor no livin&rsquo; soul except my trunk; an&rsquo; I want that just as
+quick as Joshua can haul it down out of the attic.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You ain&rsquo;t thinkin&rsquo; of goin&rsquo; travelin&rsquo;!&rdquo;
+the maid cried in consternation; &ldquo;you can&rsquo;t never be thinkin&rsquo;
+of <i>that?</i>&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;No,&rdquo; said her mistress with fine irony; &ldquo;I want the trunk to
+make a pie out of, probably.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lucinda was speechless.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Lucinda,&rdquo; her mistress said, after a few seconds had faded away
+unimproved, &ldquo;seems to me I mentioned wantin&rsquo; Joshua to get down a
+trunk&mdash;seems to me I did.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The maid turned and left the room. She felt more or less dazed. Nothing so
+startling as Aunt Mary&rsquo;s wanting a trunk had happened in years.
+Disinheriting Jack was not in it by comparison. She went slowly away to find
+Joshua and found him in the farther end of the rear woodhouse&mdash;John
+Watkins, like several of his ilk, having marked each forward step in the world
+by a back extension of his house.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Joshua was chopping wood; his ax was high in the air. He also was calm and
+unsuspecting.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;She&rsquo;s goin&rsquo; to the city all alone!&rdquo; Lucinda&rsquo;s
+voice suddenly proclaimed behind him.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The ax fell.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Who says so?&rdquo; its handler demanded, facing about in surprise.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;She says so.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Joshua picked up the ax and poised it afresh. He was himself again.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;She&rsquo;ll go then,&rdquo; he said calmly.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lucinda marched around in front of him, and planted herself firmly among the
+chips.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Joshua Whittlesey!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;We can&rsquo;t help it,&rdquo; said Joshua stolidly. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re
+here to mind her. If she wants to go to New York, or to change her will, all
+we&rsquo;ve got to do is to be simple witnesses.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;She don&rsquo;t want Miss Arethusa telegraphed,&rdquo; said Lucinda.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t blame her,&rdquo; said Joshua; &ldquo;if I was her and if
+I was goin&rsquo; to New York I wouldn&rsquo;t want no one telegraphed.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;She wants her trunk out of the attic.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Then she&rsquo;ll get her trunk out of the attic. When does she want
+it?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;She wants it now.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<div class="fig" style="width:100%;">
+<a name="illus03"></a>
+<img src="images/image03.png" width="368" height="600" alt="[Illustration: ]" />
+<p class="caption">&ldquo;She&rsquo;s goin&rsquo; to the city all alone!&rsquo;
+Lucinda&rsquo;s voice suddenly proclaimed behind him.&rdquo;</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Then she&rsquo;ll get it now,&rdquo; said Joshua. From the general trend
+of this and other remarks of Joshua the reader will readily divine why he had
+been in Aunt Mary&rsquo;s employ for thirty years, and had always been
+characterized by her as &ldquo;a most sensible man,&rdquo; and anyone who had
+seen the alacrity with which the trunk was brought and the respectful attention
+with which Aunt Mary&rsquo;s further commands were received would have been
+forced to coincide in her opinion.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The packing of the trunk was a task which fell to Lucinda&rsquo;s lot and was
+performed under the eagle eye of her mistress. Aunt Mary&rsquo;s ideas of what
+she would require were delightfully unsophisticated and brought up short on the
+farther-side of her tooth brush and her rubbers. Nevertheless she agreed in
+Lucinda&rsquo;s suggestions as to more extensive supplies.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Late that afternoon Joshua drove into town (amidst a wealth of mud spatters)
+and dispatched the answer to Jack&rsquo;s letter. Aunt Mary was urged to haste
+by several considerations, some well defined, and others not so much so. To
+Lucinda she imparted her terrible anxiety over the dear boy&rsquo;s health, but
+not even to herself did she admit her much more terrible anxiety lest Arethusa
+or Mary should suddenly appear and insist on accompanying her. She wanted to
+go, but she wanted to go alone.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack telegraphed a response that night, and his aunt left by the Monday morning
+train. She had a six o&rsquo;clock breakfast, and drove into town at a quarter
+of nine so as to be absolutely certain not to miss the train. Joshua drove,
+with the trunk perched beside him. It was a small and unassuming trunk, but
+Aunt Mary was not one who believed in putting on airs just because she was
+rich. Lucinda sat on the back seat with her mistress.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m sure I hope you&rsquo;ll enjoy yourself,&rdquo; she said.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Of course he&rsquo;s nothing but a boy,&rdquo; Aunt Mary
+replied,&mdash;&ldquo;an&rsquo; I&rsquo;ve told you a hundred times that boys
+will be boys and we mustn&rsquo;t expect otherwise.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+They arrived on time, and only had an hour and three-quarters to wait in the
+station. Toward the last Aunt Mary grew very nervous for fear something had
+happened to the train; but it came to time according to the waiting-room clock.
+Joshua put her aboard, and she soon had nothing left to worry over except the
+wonder as to whether Jack would be on hand to meet her or not.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Joshua drove back home, let Lucinda out at the door, and put the horse up
+before going in to where she sat in solitary glory.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I wonder what <i>he&rsquo;s</i> up to?&rdquo; she said with a pleasant sense of
+unlimited freedom as to the subject and duration of the conversation.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Suthin&rsquo;, of course,&rdquo; was the answer.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Do you s&rsquo;pose he&rsquo;s really sick?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;No, I don&rsquo;t.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Do you s&rsquo;pose she thinks he&rsquo;s really sick?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Mebbe.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Ain&rsquo;t you goin&rsquo; to sit down, Joshua?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t see nothin&rsquo; to make me sit down here for.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What do you think of her going?&rdquo; she said, as he walked toward the
+door.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I think she&rsquo;ll have a good time.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;At her age?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Havin&rsquo; a good time ain&rsquo;t a matter o&rsquo; age,&rdquo; said
+Joshua. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a matter o&rsquo; bein&rsquo; willin&rsquo; to have a
+good time.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lucinda screwed her face up mightily.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;If I was sure she&rsquo;d be gone for a week,&rdquo; she said,
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;d go a-visitin&rsquo; myself.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;She&rsquo;ll be gone a week,&rdquo; said Joshua; and the manner and
+matter of his speech were both those of a prophet.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he went out and the door slammed to behind him.
+</p>
+
+</div><!--end chapter-->
+
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<h2><a name="chap13"></a>Chapter Thirteen<br/>
+Aunt Mary Entrapped</h2>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary&rsquo;s arrival in the city just coincided with the arrival of that
+day&rsquo;s five o&rsquo;clock. Five o&rsquo;clock in early June is very bright
+daylight, therefore she was rather bewildered when the train pulled up in the
+darkness and electricity of the station&rsquo;s confusion. The change from
+sunlight to smoke blinded her somewhat and the view from the car window did not
+restore her equanimity. When the porter, to whom she had been discreetly
+recommended by Joshua, came for her bags, she felt woefully distressed and not
+at all like her usual self.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, do I have to get out?&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I ain&rsquo;t been in
+this place for twenty-five years, and I was to be met.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The porter&rsquo;s grin hovered comfortingly over her head.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You can stay here jus&rsquo; &rsquo;s long as you like,
+ma&rsquo;am,&rdquo; he yelled, in the voice of a train dispatcher.
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll send your friends in when they inquiahs.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary eyed him gratefully, and gave him the nickel which she had been
+carefully holding in her hand for the last hour.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then she looked up, and saw Jack!
+</p>
+
+<p>
+A perfectly splendid Jack, in resplendent attire, handsome, beaming, with a big
+bouquet of violets in his hand!
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;For you, Aunt Mary,&rdquo; he said, and dropped them into her lap, and
+hugged her fervently. She clung to him with a cling that forgot the immediate
+past, disinheriting and all. Oh! she was so glad to see him!
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The porter approached with a beneficent look.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Has he taken good care of you, Aunt Mary?&rdquo; Jack asked, as the man
+gathered up the things and they started to leave the car.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes, indeed,&rdquo; Aunt Mary declared.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+So Jack gave the porter a dollar.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then they left the train.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I was so worried,&rdquo; Aunt Mary said, as she went along the platform
+hanging on her nephew&rsquo;s arm. &ldquo;I thought you&rsquo;d met with an
+accident.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I couldn&rsquo;t get on until the rest got off,&rdquo; he said, gazing
+down on her with a smile; &ldquo;but I was on hand, all right. My, but
+it&rsquo;s good to think that you&rsquo;re here, Aunt Mary! Maybe you think
+that I don&rsquo;t appreciate your taking all this trouble for me, but I do,
+just the same.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary smiled all over. Everyone who passed them was smiling, too, and that
+added to the general joy of the atmosphere. Aunt Mary felt proud of Jack, and
+rejoiced as to herself. Her content with life in general was, for the moment,
+limitless. She did not stop to dissect the sources of her delight. She was not
+in a critical mood just then.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Why don&rsquo;t you stick those flowers in your belt, Aunt Mary?&rdquo;
+her nephew asked, as they penetrated the worst of the human jungle, and the
+preservation of the violets appeared to be the main question of the day.
+&ldquo;That&rsquo;s what the girls do.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+His aunt looked vaguely down at herself. She had no belt to stick her violets
+in. She wore no belt. She wore a basque. A basque is a beltless something that
+you can&rsquo;t remember, but that females did, once upon a time, cover the
+upper half of their forms with. Basques buttoned down the front with ten to
+thirty buttons, and may be studied at leisure in any good collection of
+daguerreotypes. Ladies like Aunt Mary are apt to scorn such futilities as
+waning styles after they pass beyond a certain age, and for that reason there
+was no place for Jack&rsquo;s violets.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Never mind,&rdquo; he said cheerfully, having followed her dubiousness
+with his understanding. &ldquo;Just hang on to them a minute longer, and
+we&rsquo;ll be out of all this.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+His words came true, and they finally did emerge from the seething mass and
+found a carriage, the door of which happened to be standing mysteriously open.
+Within, upon the small seat, some omniscient hands had already deposited Aunt
+Mary&rsquo;s bags. It did not take long to stow Aunt Mary, face to her luggage,
+and she was barely established there before her trunk came, too; and, although
+the coachman looked so gorgeous, he was nevertheless obliging enough to allow
+it to couch humbly at his feet.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then they rolled away.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack sat sideways and looked at his aunt, holding her hand. His eyes were
+unfeignedly happy, and his companion matched his eyes. Neither seemed to
+recollect that one was bitterly angry, and that the other was on the verge of
+melancholia. Instead, Jack declared fervently:
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Aunt Mary, I&rsquo;ve made up my mind to give you the time of your
+life!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And Aunt Mary drew a sigh of relief in his words and anticipation of their
+fulfillment.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll be happy takin&rsquo; care of you,&rdquo; she said,
+benevolently. &ldquo;My!&mdash;but your letter scared me. An&rsquo; yet you
+look well.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He laughed.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It&rsquo;s the knowing you were coming that&rsquo;s done that, Aunt
+Mary. You ought to have seen me when I got your telegram. I almost turned a
+somersault.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary smiled rapturously and patted his hand.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And just then they drew up in front of the house. She looked out, and her face
+fell a trifle.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It&rsquo;s awful high and narrow,&rdquo; she said.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;They all are,&rdquo; Jack replied, opening the carriage door and jumping
+out to receive her.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The door at the top of the steps opened, and a man came down for the bags. In
+the hall above, a pretty maid waited with a welcoming smile.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack piloted his aunt, first up the entrance steps, and then up the staircase
+within, and led her to the lovely room which had been vacated for her. The maid
+followed with tea and biscuits, and the man brought the luggage and ranged it
+unobtrusively in a corner. There was a lavish richness about everything which
+made Aunt Mary and her trunk appear as gray and insignificant as a pair of
+mice, by contrast; but she didn&rsquo;t feel it, and so she didn&rsquo;t mind
+it.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack kissed her tenderly.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Welcome to town, Aunt Mary,&rdquo; he said heartily, &ldquo;and may you
+never live to look upon this day as other than the luckiest of your
+life!&rdquo; Then, turning to the servant, he said:
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Janice, you see that you do all that money can buy for my aunt.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The maid courtesied. She had arranged the tray upon a little table and the
+spout of the tea pot and the round hole in the middle of the toast-cover were
+each pouring forth a pleasant suggestion.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary began at once to haul forth her keys.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Why, Aunt Mary,&rdquo; Jack cried, wondering if her nose was deaf, too,
+or whether she didn&rsquo;t feel hungry, &ldquo;don&rsquo;t you see your tea?
+Or don&rsquo;t you want any?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary thumbed her trunk key.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I want a nightgown,&rdquo; she said; &ldquo;maybe I&rsquo;ll want
+something else later. Maybe.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You&rsquo;re not going to <i>bed!</i>&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She drew herself up.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I guess I can if I want to; I guess I can. There&rsquo;s the bed and
+here&rsquo;s me.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Whatever are you saying? It isn&rsquo;t half-past six
+o&rsquo;clock.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not <i>prayin</i>&rsquo; about anything,&rdquo; said the old lady.
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t pray about things. I do &rsquo;em when needful. And when
+I&rsquo;m tired I go to bed.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;All right, Aunt Mary,&rdquo; with sugary sweetness and lamb-like
+submissiveness. &ldquo;I thought we&rsquo;d dine out together, but if you
+don&rsquo;t want to, we needn&rsquo;t. And if you feel like it when you waken,
+we can.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Dine out,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary, blankly; &ldquo;has the cook left? I
+never was a great approver of goin&rsquo; and eatin&rsquo; at boarding
+houses.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Well, never mind,&rdquo; Jack said in a key pitched to rhyme with high
+C. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll leave you now&mdash;and we can see about everything
+later.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He kissed her, and retired from the room.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Did he say we&rsquo;re goin&rsquo; out to dinner?&rdquo; Aunt Mary
+asked, when she was left alone with the maid, who hurried to take her bonnet
+and shawl, and get her into juxtaposition with the tea-tray as rapidly as
+possible.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes, ma&rsquo;am,&rdquo; the girl screamed, nodding.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t want to,&rdquo; said the old lady firmly. &ldquo;Lots of
+trouble comes through gettin&rsquo; out of house habits. I&rsquo;ve come here
+to take care of a sick boy and not to go gallivantin&rsquo; round myself.
+I&rsquo;ve seen the evils of gallivantin&rsquo; a good deal lately and I
+don&rsquo;t want to see no more. Not here and not nowhere.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then she began to eat and drink and reflect, all at the same time.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;By the way, what&rsquo;s your name?&rdquo; she asked, suddenly.
+&ldquo;Jack didn&rsquo;t tell me.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Janice, ma&rsquo;am.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Granite?&rdquo; said Aunt Mary. &ldquo;What a funny idea to name you
+that! Did they call you for the tinware or for the rocks?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know,&rdquo; shrieked Janice, who was busily occupied in
+unpacking the traveler&rsquo;s trunk.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Her new mistress watched her with a critical eye at first, but it became a more
+or less sleepy eye as the warmth of the tea meandered slowly through its owner.
+There was a battle within Aunt Mary&rsquo;s brain; she wanted to please Jack,
+and she was almost dead with sleep.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Do you think that I ought to try and go out with my nephew
+to-night?&rdquo; she asked Janice.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;If it was me, I should go,&rdquo; cried the maid.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I never was called slow before,&rdquo; Aunt Mary said, bridling.
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll thank you to remember your place, young woman.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Janice explained.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh! I didn&rsquo;t hear plainly,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary. &ldquo;I
+don&rsquo;t always. Well go or not go, I&rsquo;ve <i>got</i> to sleep first. I&rsquo;m
+dreadfully sleepy, and I&rsquo;ve always been a great believer in
+sleepin&rsquo; when you&rsquo;re sleepy.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The fact of the sleepiness was so evident that no attempt was made to gainsay
+it. Janice brought down a quilt from the closet and tucked her charge up
+luxuriously on the great bed. Five minutes later she was in dreamland.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack came in about seven and looked at her.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;She mustn&rsquo;t be disturbed,&rdquo; he said thoughtfully. &ldquo;If
+she wakes up before ten we&rsquo;ll go out then.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She awoke about nine, and when she opened her eyes the first thing that she saw
+was Janice, sitting near by.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I feel real good,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m so glad,&rdquo; yelled Janice, and smiled, too.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The old lady sat up.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I believe I could have gone out, after all,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Only
+I don&rsquo;t want to take dinner anywhere.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then she paused and reflected. It was surprising how good she felt and how she
+did want to make Jack happy. &ldquo;After all boys will be boys,&rdquo; she
+thought, tenderly, &ldquo;an&rsquo; I ain&rsquo;t but seventy, so I don&rsquo;t
+see why I shouldn&rsquo;t go out with him if he wants to. I&rsquo;m a great
+believer in doin&rsquo; what you want to&mdash;I mean, in doin&rsquo; what
+other folks want you to. At any rate I&rsquo;m a great believer in it
+sometimes. To-day&mdash;this time.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Your nephew is waiting,&rdquo; the maid howled. &ldquo;Shall I tell him
+you want to go after all?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Is it late?&rdquo; the old lady inquired.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, dear, no!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Wouldn&rsquo;t you go if you was me?&rdquo; asked the old lady.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Janice smiled.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Indeed I would.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary rose. A flood of metropolitan fever suddenly surged up and around and
+over and through her.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Tell him I&rsquo;ll be down in five minutes,&rdquo; she said.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Can you change in that time?&rdquo; Janice stopped to shriek.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What should I change for?&rdquo; Aunt Mary demanded in astonishment.
+&ldquo;Ain&rsquo;t I all dressed now?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Janice did not attempt to shriek any counter-advice, and while she was gone to
+find Jack, her mistress brushed herself in some places, soaped herself in
+others, and considered her toilet made. When Janice returned she caught up a
+loose lock of hair, and put the placket-hole of her skirt square in the middle
+of Aunt Mary&rsquo;s back, and dared go no further. There was an air even about
+the back of Jack&rsquo;s influential aunt which forbade too much liberty to
+those dealing with her.
+</p>
+
+</div><!--end chapter-->
+
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<h2><a name="chap14"></a>Chapter Fourteen<br/>
+Aunt Mary En Fête</h2>
+
+<div class="fig" style="width:100%;">
+<a name="illus01"></a>
+<img src="images/image01.png" width="480" height="368" alt="[Illustration: ]" />
+<p class="caption">Aunt Mary en Fête. May Robson as &ldquo;Aunt Mary.&rdquo;</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary descended the stairs about half-past nine; she thought it was about a
+quarter to eight, but the difference between the hour that it was and the hour
+that she thought that it was will be all the same a hundred years from now.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack came out of the Louis XIV. drawing room when he heard her step in the
+hall. There was another young man with him.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;This is my friend Burnett, Aunt Mary,&rdquo; her nephew roared.
+&ldquo;You must excuse his not bowing lower, but you know he broke his
+collarbone recently.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary shook hands warmly; she knew all about the ribs and the collarbone,
+because they had formed big items in the testimony which had momentarily and as
+momentously relegated Jack to the comradeship of the devil himself, in her
+eyes. However, she recalled them merely as facts now&mdash;not at all in a
+disagreeable way&mdash;and gave Burnett an extra squeeze of good-fellowship, as
+she said:
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You had a narrow escape, young man.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t have any escape at all,&rdquo; said Burnett. &ldquo;The
+escape went down at the back, and I had to jump from a cornice.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Burnett is going out to dine with us, Aunt Mary,&rdquo; said Jack.
+&ldquo;There&rsquo;s so little he can eat on account of his ribs that
+he&rsquo;s a good dinner guest for me.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack&rsquo;s aunt felt vaguely uncomfortable over this allusion to her
+grand-nephew&rsquo;s circumstances, and coughed in slight embarrassment.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Burnett opened the door, and the carriage lamp shone below. (Is there ever
+anything more delightfully suggestive than a carriage lamp shining down below?)
+They took her down and put her in, and the carriage rolled away.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+It was that June when &ldquo;Bedelia&rdquo; covered nearly the whole of the
+political horizon; it was the date of June when West Point, Vassar, the Blue,
+the Red, the Black and Yellow and every known device for getting rid of young
+and growing-up America are all cast loose at once on our fair land. The streets
+were a scene of glorious confusion, and but for Aunt Mary no considerations
+could have kept Burnett&rsquo;s collarbone and Jack&rsquo;s melancholia cooped
+up in a closed carriage. As it was, they were both fidgeting like two youthful
+Uncle Sams in a European railway coupé, when the latter suddenly exclaimed:
+&ldquo;Here we are!&rdquo; and threw open the door as he spoke. Then he got out
+and Burnett got out and between them they got Aunt Mary out.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary regarded the awning and carpet and general glitter with a more or
+less appalled gaze.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Looks like&mdash;&rdquo; she began; and was interrupted by a voice at
+her side:
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Hello, Jack!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Hello, Clover!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She turned and saw him of the pale mustache whom we once met in Mrs.
+Rosscott&rsquo;s drawing room. He was in no wise altered since that occasion
+except that his attire was slightly more resplendent and he had on a silk hat.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack shook hands warmly and then he turned to his relative.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Aunt Mary, this is my friend Clover; he&rsquo;s often heard me speak of
+you.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Glad to meet you, Mr. Rover,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary, cordially, and she,
+too, shook hands with that cordiality that flourishes beyond city limits.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Her nephew bent over her ear-trumpet.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Clover!&rdquo; he howled, with all the strength he owned.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I heard before,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary, somewhat coldly.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Come on and dine with us, Clover,&rdquo; said Jack; &ldquo;that&rsquo;ll
+make four.&rdquo; (By the way, isn&rsquo;t it odd how many people ask their
+friends to dinner for the simple reason that, arithmetically considered, each
+counts as one!)
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;All right, I will,&rdquo; said Clover, in his languid drawl.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary saw his lips.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It&rsquo;s no use my deceivin&rsquo; you as to my bein&rsquo; a little
+hard of hearin&rsquo;,&rdquo; she said to him, &ldquo;because you can see my
+ear-trumpet; so I&rsquo;ll trouble you to say that over again.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;All right, I will,&rdquo; Clover wailed, good-humoredly.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What?&rdquo; asked Aunt Mary. &ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack cut her short by leading the party inside.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The scene within was as gorgeous with golden stucco as the dining-room of a
+German liner. Aunt Mary was so overcome that she traversed half the room before
+she became aware of the mighty attention which she and her three escorts were
+attracting. In truth, it is not every day that three good-looking young men
+take a tiny old lady, a bunch of violets and an ear-trumpet out to dine at ten
+o&rsquo;clock.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Everyone&rsquo;s lookin&rsquo;,&rdquo; she said to Jack.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It&rsquo;s your back, Aunt Mary,&rdquo; he replied, in a voice that
+shook some loose golden flakes from the ceiling. &ldquo;I tell you, not many
+women of your age have a back like yours, and don&rsquo;t you forget it.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The compliment pleased Aunt Mary, because she had all her life been considered
+round-shouldered. It also pleased her because she never had received many
+compliments. The Aunt Marys of this world love flattery just as dearly as the
+Mrs. Rosscotts; the sad part of life is that they rarely get any. The women
+like Mrs. Rosscott know why the Aunt Marys go unflattered, but the Aunt Marys
+never understand. It&rsquo;s all sad&mdash;and true&mdash;and undeniable.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+They went to a table, and were barely seated when another man came up.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Hello, Jack!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Hello, Mitchell!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+It was he of Scotch ancestry. Jack sprang up and greeted him with warmth, then
+he turned to Aunt Mary.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Aunt Mary,&rdquo; he screamed, &ldquo;this is my friend&rdquo;&mdash;he
+paused, put on all steam and ploughed right through&mdash;&ldquo;Herbert
+Kendrick Mitchell.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t catch that at all,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary, calmly,
+&ldquo;but I&rsquo;m just as glad to meet the gentleman.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Mitchell clasped her hand with an expression as burning as if it was real.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I declare,&rdquo; he yelled straight at her, &ldquo;if this isn&rsquo;t
+what I&rsquo;ve been dreaming towards ever since I first knew Jack.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary fairly shone.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Dear me,&rdquo; she began, &ldquo;if I&rsquo;d known&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You&rsquo;d better dine with us, Mitchell,&rdquo; said Jack;
+&ldquo;that&rsquo;ll make five.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It won&rsquo;t make but three for me,&rdquo; said Mitchell. &ldquo;I
+haven&rsquo;t had but two dinners before to-night.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Clover smiled because he heard, and Aunt Mary smiled because she didn&rsquo;t,
+but was happy anyway. She had altogether forgotten that she had demurred at
+dining out. They all sat down and shook out their napkins. Mitchell and Clover
+shook Aunt Mary&rsquo;s for her and gave it a beautiful cornerways spread
+across her lap.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then the waiter laid another plate for Mitchell, and brought oyster cocktails
+for everyone. Aunt Mary eyed hers with early curiosity and later suspicion; and
+she smelled of it very carefully.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t believe they&rsquo;re good oysters,&rdquo; she said.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes, they are,&rdquo; cried Mitchell reassuringly. His voice, when he
+turned it upon her, was pitched like a clarionet. The blind would surely have
+seen as well as the deaf have heard had there been any candidates for miracles
+in his immediate vicinity. &ldquo;They&rsquo;re first-class,&rdquo; he added,
+&ldquo;you just go at them and see.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The reassured took another whiff.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You can have mine,&rdquo; she said directly afterwards; and there was an
+air of decision about her speech which brooked no opposition. Yet Mitchell
+persisted.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, no,&rdquo; he yelled; &ldquo;you must learn how. Just throw your
+head back and take &rsquo;em quick&mdash;after the fashion that they eat raw
+eggs, don&rsquo;t you know?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But she can&rsquo;t,&rdquo; said Clover. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s too much,
+particularly as she isn&rsquo;t used to them. I&rsquo;ll tell you, Miss
+Watkins,&rdquo; he cried, hoisting his own voice to the masthead, &ldquo;you
+eat the oysters, and leave the cocktail. That&rsquo;s the way to get gradually
+trained into the wheel.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary thought some of obeying; she fished out one oyster, wiped it
+carefully with a bit of bread, regarded it with more than dubious countenance,
+and then suddenly decided not to.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;d rather be at home when I try experiments,&rdquo; she said,
+decidedly; and the waiter carried off her cocktail and gave her food that was
+good beyond question thereafter.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The dinner went with zest. It was an enlivening party that consumed it, and
+what they consumed with it enlivened them still more. The gentlemen soon
+reached the point where they could laugh over jokes they could not understand,
+and the one lady member became equally merry over wit that she did not hear.
+She forgot for the nonce that there were any phases of life in which she was
+not a believer, and whether this was owing to the surrounding gayety or to the
+champagne which they persuaded her to taste it is not my province to explain.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Now we must lay our lines for events to come,&rdquo; Jack said, when
+they advanced upon the dessert and prepared to occupy an extensive territory of
+ices, fruit, and jellied something or other. &ldquo;It would be a sin for Aunt
+Mary to leave this famous battlefield without a few honorable scars! We must
+take her out in a bubble for one thing and&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;In mine!&rdquo; cried Clover. &ldquo;To-morrow! Why can&rsquo;t
+she?&mdash;I held up my hand first?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;All right,&rdquo; said Jack; &ldquo;to-morrow she&rsquo;s your&rsquo;s.
+At four o&rsquo;clock.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;She must have goggles,&rdquo; cried Mitchell. &ldquo;She must have
+goggles and be all fixed up, and when you have got her the goggles and she has
+been all fixed up, I ask, as a last boon, that I may go along, just so as to
+see everyone who sees her.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;We&rsquo;ll all go,&rdquo; Clover explained. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll
+&lsquo;chuff&rsquo; her myself and then there&rsquo;ll be room for
+everyone.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;To the auto and to to-morrow!&rdquo; cried Burnett, hastily pouring out
+a fresh toast, which even Aunt Mary applauded, not at all knowing what she was
+applauding.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;And now for the next day,&rdquo; said Jack. &ldquo;I think I&rsquo;ll
+give her a box-party. Don&rsquo;t you want to go to the theater in a box, Aunt
+Mary?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Go where in a box?&rdquo; said Aunt Mary, starting a little. &ldquo;I
+didn&rsquo;t quite catch that.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;To the theater,&rdquo; Jack yelled.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;To the theater,&rdquo; repeated his aunt a trifle blankly,
+&ldquo;I&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;And the next day,&rdquo; said Mitchell suddenly (he had been reflecting
+maturely), &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll take you all up the sound in my yacht.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, hurrah,&rdquo; cried Burnett, &ldquo;that&rsquo;ll be bully! And the
+day after I&rsquo;ll give her a picnic.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Time of your life, Aunt Mary,&rdquo; Jack shrieked in her ear-trumpet;
+&ldquo;time of your life!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Dear me!&rdquo; said Aunt Mary, &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t just&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Aunt Mary! glasses down!&rdquo; cried Clover; &ldquo;may she live
+forever and forever.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;To Aunt Mary, glasses up,&rdquo; said Mitchell. &ldquo;Glasses up come
+before glasses down always. It&rsquo;s one of the laws of Nature&mdash;human
+nature&mdash;also of good nature. Here&rsquo;s to Aunt Mary, and if she
+isn&rsquo;t the Aunt Mary of all of us here&rsquo;s a hoping she may get there
+some day; I don&rsquo;t just see how, but I ask the indulgence of those present
+on the plea that I have indulged quite a little myself to-night. Honi soit qui
+mal y pense; ora pro nobis, Erin-go-Bragh. Present company being present, and
+impossible to except on that account, we will omit the three cheers and choke
+down the tiger.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+They all drank, and the dinner having by this time dwindled down to coffee
+grounds and cheese crumbs a vote was taken as to where they should go next.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary suggested home, but she was over-ruled, and they all went elsewhere.
+She never could recollect where she went or what she saw; but, as everyone else
+has been and seen over and over again, I won&rsquo;t fuss with detailing it.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The visitor from the country reached home in a carriage in the small hours in
+the morning, and Janice received her, looking somewhat nervous.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;This is pretty late,&rdquo; she ventured to remind the bearers; but as
+they didn&rsquo;t seem to think so, and she was a maiden, wise beyond her
+years, she spoke no further word, but went to work and undressed the aged
+reveller, got her comfortably established in bed, and then left her to get a
+good sleep, an occupation which occupied the weary one fully until two that
+afternoon.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When she did at last open her eyes it was several minutes before she knew where
+she was. Her brain seemed dazed, her intellect more than clouded. It is a state
+of mind to which those who habitually go about in hansoms at the hour of dawn
+are well accustomed, but to Aunt Mary it was painfully new. She struggled to
+remember, and felt helplessly inadequate to the task. Janice finally came in
+with a glass of something that foamed and fizzed, and the victim of late hours
+drank that and came to her senses again. Then she recollected.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;My! but I had a good time last night!&rdquo; she said, putting her hand
+to her head. &ldquo;What time is it now, anyhow?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Breakfast time,&rdquo; cried the handmaiden. &ldquo;You&rsquo;ll have
+just long enough to eat and dress leisurely before you go out.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh!&rdquo; said Aunt Mary blankly; &ldquo;where &rsquo;m I goin&rsquo;?
+Do you know?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Mr. Denham told me that you had promised to attend an automobile party
+at four.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, yes,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary hastily. &ldquo;I guess I remember. I
+guess I do. I saw Jack wanted to go, so I said I&rsquo;d go, too. I&rsquo;m a
+great believer in lettin&rsquo; the young enjoy themselves.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She looked sharply at Janice as she spoke, but Janice was serene.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t come to town to do anything but make Jack happy,&rdquo;
+continued Aunt Mary, &ldquo;and I see that he won&rsquo;t take any fresh air
+without I go along&mdash;so I shall go too while I&rsquo;m here. Mostly. As a
+general thing.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Mr. Mitchell called and left these flowers with his card,&rdquo; Janice
+said, opening a huge box of roses; &ldquo;and a man brought a package. Shall I
+open it?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary&rsquo;s wrinkles fairly radiated.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Well, did I ever!&rdquo; she exclaimed. &ldquo;Yes; open it.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Janice proceeded to obey, and the package was found to contain an automobile
+wrap, a pair of goggles and a note from Clover.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;My gracious me!&rdquo; cried Aunt Mary.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Mr. Denham sent the violets,&rdquo; Janice said, pointing to a great
+bowl of lilac and white blossoms.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Just then the doorbell rang, and it was a ten-pound box of candy from Burnett.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary collapsed among her pillows.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I <i>never</i> did!&rdquo; she murmured feebly, and then she suddenly
+exclaimed: &ldquo;An&rsquo; to think of me livin&rsquo; up there all my life
+with plenty of money&mdash;&rdquo; she stopped short. I tell you when you come
+to New York on a mission and stay for the Bacchanalia it is hard to hold
+consistently to either standard.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+But Janice had gone for her lady&rsquo;s breakfast, and after the lady had
+eaten it and had herself dressed for the day&rsquo;s joys, Jack knocked at the
+door.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Well, Aunt Mary,&rdquo; he roared, when he was let in, &ldquo;if you
+don&rsquo;t look fine! You&rsquo;re the freshest of the bunch to-day, sure.
+You&rsquo;ll be ready for another night to-night, and you&rsquo;ve only to say
+where, you know.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Granite did my hair,&rdquo; said his aunt; &ldquo;you must praise her,
+not me.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;And you&rsquo;ve got your goggles all ready, too,&rdquo; he continued.
+&ldquo;Who sent &rsquo;em?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, I shan&rsquo;t wiggle,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary &ldquo;although I
+can&rsquo;t see how it could hurt if I did.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Come on and let&rsquo;s dress her up,&rdquo; said Jack to the maid,
+&ldquo;Glory! what fun!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Thereupon they went to work and rigged the old lady out. She was certainly a
+sight, for she stood by her own bonnet, and that failed to jibe with the
+goggles.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Burnett was summoned in to view the proceedings, but just as he caught the
+first glimpse he was taken with a fearful cramp in his broken ribs and was
+forced to beat the hastiest sort of a retreat.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I hope he&rsquo;ll get over it and be able to go out with us,&rdquo;
+said Aunt Mary anxiously.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I guess he&rsquo;ll recover,&rdquo; Jack yelled cheerfully. &ldquo;Oh,
+there&rsquo;s Clover!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+A sort of dull, ponderous panting sounded in the street without, and let all
+the neighbors know that &ldquo;The Threshing Machine&rdquo; (as Clover had
+christened his elephantine toy) was waiting for someone.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Its owner came in for a stirrup cup; Mitchell was with him. Both were togged
+out as if entered for the annual Paris-Bordeaux.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Burnett brought out the cut-glass jugs.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Ye gods and little fishes! Sapristi! Sacre bleu!&rdquo; he said to his
+friends. &ldquo;Just you wait till you see our Aunt Mary!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Has she got &rsquo;em all on?&rdquo; Clover asked.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Has she got &rsquo;em all on!&rdquo; said Burnett. &ldquo;She has got
+&rsquo;em all on; and how Jack held his own in the room with her I cannot
+understand. I took one look, and if mine had been a surgical case of stitches
+the last thread would have bust that instant. I don&rsquo;t believe I dare go
+out with you. This is a life and death game to Jack, and I won&rsquo;t risk
+smashing his future by not being able to keep sober in the face of Aunt
+Mary.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, come on,&rdquo; Clover urged in his wiry voice. &ldquo;You
+needn&rsquo;t look at her; or, if you do look at her, you can look the other
+way right afterwards, you know.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll sit next to her,&rdquo; Mitchell explained. &ldquo;As a
+sitter by Aunt Mary&rsquo;s side I shone last night; and where a man has sat
+once, the same man can surely sit again.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Burnett hesitated, and just then voices were heard in the hall. Jack and Janice
+were convoying Aunt Mary below.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Mitchell went out into the hall.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Well, Miss Watkins,&rdquo; he said, in a tone such as one would use to
+call down Santos-Dumont, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m mighty glad to see you looking so
+well.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary turned the goggles full upon him.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;A present from Mr. Clover,&rdquo; she said smiling.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I never knew him to take so much trouble for any lady before,&rdquo;
+said Mitchell; and as she arrived just then at the foot of the staircase he
+pressed her proffered hand warmly and forthwith led her in upon the two men in
+the library.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She looked exactly like a living edition of one of the bug pictures, and Clover
+had to think and swallow fast and hard to keep from being overcome. But he was
+true blue, and came out right side up. Aunt Mary was acclaimed on all sides,
+and escorted to the &ldquo;bubble.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Burnett couldn&rsquo;t resist going, too, at the last moment; but, as his ribs
+were really tender yet, he sat in front with Clover. Jack and Mitchell sat
+behind, and deftly inserted the honored guest between them.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It&rsquo;s an even thing as to which is the ear-trumpet side,&rdquo;
+Mitchell said, as they all stood about preparatory to climbing in. &ldquo;Of
+course, that side don&rsquo;t need to holler quite so loud; but then, to
+balance, he may get his one and only pair of front teeth knocked out any
+minute.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll take that side,&rdquo; said Jack. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m used to
+fighting under the inspiration of the trumpet.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;And God be with you,&rdquo; said his friend piously. &ldquo;May he watch
+over you and bring you out safe and whole&mdash;teeth, eyes, etc.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Come on,&rdquo; said Clover impatiently; &ldquo;don&rsquo;t you know
+this thing&rsquo;s getting up power and you&rsquo;re wasting it talking.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Curious,&rdquo; laughed Burnett. &ldquo;I never knew that it was
+gasolene that men were consuming when they kept an automobile waiting.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And then they got in and were off&mdash;a merry load, indeed.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Dear me, but it&rsquo;s a-goin&rsquo;!&rdquo; Aunt Mary exclaimed, as
+the thing began to whiz and she felt suddenly impelled to clutch wildly at her
+flanking escorts. &ldquo;Suppose we met a dog.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;We&rsquo;d leave a floor mat,&rdquo; shrieked Mitchell. &ldquo;Oh, but
+isn&rsquo;t this great&mdash;greater&mdash;greatest?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Time of your life, Aunt Mary!&rdquo; Jack howled, as they went over a
+boarded spot in the pavement, and the old lady nearly went over the back in
+consequence. &ldquo;You&rsquo;re in for the time of your life!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;How do you like it?&rdquo; yelled Clover, throwing a glance over his
+shoulder.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary started to answer, but they came to four car tracks one after
+another, and the successive shocks rendered her speechless.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Where are we going?&rdquo; Burnett asked.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Nowhere,&rdquo; said Clover. &ldquo;Just waking up the machine.&rdquo;
+And he turned on another million volts as he spoke.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, my bonnet!&rdquo; cried poor Aunt Mary, and that bit of her
+adornment was in the street and had been run over four times before they could
+slow up, turn around, and get back to the scene of its output.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+It speaks volumes for the permeating atmosphere of &ldquo;having the time of
+your life&rdquo; that its owner laughed when the wreck was shown to her.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t care a bit,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I can go down to
+Delmonico&rsquo;s an&rsquo; get me another to-morrow mornin&rsquo;,
+easy.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What a trump you are, Aunt Mary!&rdquo; said Jack admiringly.
+&ldquo;Here, Burnett, fish her out that extra cap from the cane rack;
+there&rsquo;s always one in the bottom. There&mdash;now you won&rsquo;t take
+cold, Aunt Mary.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The cap, with its fore-piece, was the crowning glory of Aunt Mary&rsquo;s
+get-up. The brain measurements of him who had bought the cap being to its
+present wearer&rsquo;s as five is to three, the effect of its proportions, in
+addition to the goggles and the ear-trumpet, was such as to have overawed a
+survivor of Medusa&rsquo;s stare.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, I say,&rdquo; said Mitchell, &ldquo;it&rsquo;s a sin to keep as good
+a joke as this in the family! We must drive her around town until the night
+falls down or the battery burns out.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I say so too,&rdquo; said Burnett. &ldquo;This is more sport than oiling
+railroad tracks and seeing old Tweedwell brought up for it. Say, set her
+a-buzzing again. It&rsquo;s a big game, isn&rsquo;t it?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Clover thought so, with the result that they speeded through tranquil
+neighborhoods and churned leisurely where the masses seethed until countless
+thousands were wondering what under the sun those four young fellows had in the
+back of their car.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The sad part about all good fun is that it has to end sooner or later; and
+about six o&rsquo;clock the whole party began to be aware that, if refreshments
+were not taken, their end was surely close at hand. They therefore called a
+brief halt somewhere to get what is technically known as a
+&ldquo;sandwich,&rdquo; and the results were thoroughly satisfactory to
+everyone but Aunt Mary. She took one bite of her sandwich, and then opened it
+with an abruptness which merged into disgust when it proved to be full of fish
+eggs.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Why didn&rsquo;t you tell me what it was made of?&rdquo; she asked in
+annoyance. &ldquo;I feel just as if I&rsquo;d swallowed a marsh&mdash;a green
+one!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;That&rsquo;s a shame!&rdquo; said Clover indignantly. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll
+get you something that will take that taste out of your mouth double quick.
+Here!&rdquo; he called to a waiter, and then he gave the man certain careful
+directions.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The latter nodded wisely, and a few minutes later brought in a tiny glass
+containing a pousse-café in three different colors.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a cocktail. Drink it quick,&rdquo; Clover directed.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary demurred.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I never drank a cocktail,&rdquo; she began.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;No time like the present to begin,&rdquo; said Clover,
+&ldquo;you&rsquo;ll have to learn some day.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Cocktails,&rdquo; said Mitchell, &ldquo;are the advance guard of a newer
+and brighter civilization. They&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;If she&rsquo;s going to take it at all she must take it now,&rdquo; said
+Clover authoritatively. &ldquo;The green and the yellow are beginning to run
+together. Quick now!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+His confiding guest drank quick and became the three different colors quicker
+yet.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What&rsquo;s the matter?&rdquo; Jack asked anxiously.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary was speechless.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;He mixed it wrong,&rdquo; said Clover in a sad, discouraged tone.
+&ldquo;What she ought to have got first she got last, that&rsquo;s all. The
+cocktail is upside down inside of her, and the effect of it is upside down on
+the outside of her.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Feel any better now, Aunt Mary?&rdquo; Jack yelled.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I can&rsquo;t seem to keep the purple swallowed,&rdquo; said the poor
+old lady. &ldquo;I want to go home. I&rsquo;ve always been a great believer in
+going home when you feel like I do now. In general&mdash;as a rule.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I would strongly recommend your obeying her wishes,&rdquo; said
+Mitchell, with great earnestness. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s a time for all things,
+and, in my opinion, she&rsquo;s had about all the queer tastes that she can
+absorb for to-day. Things being as they are and mainly as they shouldn&rsquo;t
+be, I cast my vote in with what looks as if it would soon become the losing
+side, and vote to bubble back for all we&rsquo;re worth.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+There was a general acquiescence in his view of the case, which led them all to
+pile into &ldquo;The Threshing Machine&rdquo; with unaffected haste and rush
+Aunt Mary bedward as rapidly as was possible considering the hour and the
+policemen.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Janice received her mistress with the tender welcome that every prodigal may
+count on and was especially expeditious with tea and toast and a robe de nuit.
+Aunt Mary sighed luxuriously when she felt herself finally tucked up.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;After all, Granite,&rdquo; she said dreamily, &ldquo;there&rsquo;s
+nothin&rsquo; like gettin&rsquo; stretched out to think it over&mdash;is
+there?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+But Janice was turning out the lights.
+</p>
+
+</div><!--end chapter-->
+
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<h2><a name="chap15"></a>Chapter Fifteen<br/>
+Aunt Mary Enthralled</h2>
+
+<p>
+Jack&rsquo;s aunt slept long and dreamlessly again. That thrice-blessed sleep
+which follows nights abroad in the metropolis.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When, toward four o&rsquo;clock, Aunt Mary opened her eyes, she was at first
+almost as hazy in her conceptions as she had found herself upon the previous
+day.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I feel as if the automobile was runnin&rsquo; up my back and over my
+head,&rdquo; she said, thoughtfully passing her hand along the machine&rsquo;s
+imaginary course. Then she rang her bell and Janice appeared from the room
+beyond.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I guess you&rsquo;d better give me some of that that you gave me
+yesterday,&rdquo; the elderly lady suggested; &ldquo;what do you think?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes, indeed,&rdquo; said Janice&mdash;and went at once and brought it in
+separate glasses on a tray, and mixed it by pouring, while Aunt Mary looked on
+with an intuitive understanding that passed instinct and bordered on a complete
+comprehension of things to her hitherto unknown.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;They&rsquo;d ought to advertise that,&rdquo; she said, as she set down
+the empty glass a few seconds later. &ldquo;There&rsquo;d be a lot of folks
+who&rsquo;d be glad to know there was such a thing when they first wake up
+mornin&rsquo;s after&mdash;after&mdash;well, mornin&rsquo;s after
+anythin&rsquo;. It&rsquo;s jus&rsquo; what you want right off; it sort of runs
+through your hair and makes you begin to remember.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes, ma&rsquo;am,&rdquo; said Janice, turning to put down the tray, and
+then crossing the room to seek something on the chimney-piece.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary gave a sudden twist,&mdash;as if the drink had infused an
+effervescing energy into her frame. &ldquo;Well what am I goin&rsquo; to do
+to-day?&rdquo; she asked.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Mr. Denham has written out your engagements here,&rdquo; said Janice,
+handing her a jeweler&rsquo;s box as she spoke.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary tore off the tissue paper with trembling haste&mdash;lifted the
+cover&mdash;and beheld a tiny ivory and gold memoranda card.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Well, that boy!&rdquo; she ejaculated.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Shall I read the list aloud to you?&rdquo; the maid inquired.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes, read it.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+So Janice read the dates proposed the night before and Aunt Mary sat up in bed,
+held her ear-trumpet, and beamed beatifically.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t believe I ever can do all that,&rdquo; she said when
+Janice paused; &ldquo;I never was one to rush around pell-mell, but I&rsquo;ve
+always been a great believer in lettin&rsquo; other folks enjoy themselves
+an&rsquo; I shall try not to interfere.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Janice hung the tiny memoranda up beside its owner&rsquo;s watch and stood at
+attention for further orders.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But I d&rsquo;n know I&rsquo;m sure what I can wear to-night,&rdquo;
+continued the one in bed; &ldquo;you know my bonnet was run over
+yesterday.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Was it?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes,&mdash;it was the most sudden thing I ever saw. I thought it was the
+top of my head at first.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Was it spoiled?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Well, it wouldn&rsquo;t do for me again and I don&rsquo;t really believe
+it would even do for Lucinda. We didn&rsquo;t bring it home with us anyhow
+an&rsquo; so its no use talkin&rsquo; of it any more. I&rsquo;m sure I wish
+I&rsquo;d brought my other with me. It wasn&rsquo;t quite as stylish, but it
+set so good on my head. As it is I ain&rsquo;t got any bonnet to wear an&rsquo;
+we&rsquo;re goin&rsquo; in a box, Jack says,&mdash;I should hate to look wrong
+in a box.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But ladies in boxes do not wear anything,&rdquo; cried Janice
+reasuringly.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary jumped.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Not <i>anything?</i>&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;On their heads.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh!&mdash;Well, then the bonnet half of me&rsquo;ll be all right, but
+what <i>shall</i> I wear on the rest of me? I don&rsquo;t want to look out of fashion,
+you know. My, but I wish I&rsquo;d brought my Paisley shawl. I&rsquo;ve got a
+Paisley shawl that&rsquo;s a very rare pattern. There&rsquo;s cocoanuts in the
+border and a twisted design of monkeys and their tails done in the center.
+An&rsquo; there ain&rsquo;t a moth hole in it&mdash;not one.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Janice looked out of the window.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve got a cameo pin, too,&rdquo; continued Aunt Mary
+reflectively. &ldquo;My, but that&rsquo;s a handsome pin, as I remember it.
+It&rsquo;s got Jupiter on it holdin&rsquo; a bunch of thunder and
+lightnin&rsquo; an&rsquo; receivin&rsquo; the news of somebody&rsquo;s
+bein&rsquo; born&mdash;I used to know the whole story. But, you see, I expected
+to just be sittin&rsquo; by Jack&rsquo;s bed and I never thought to bring any
+of those dress-up kind of things,&rdquo; she sighed.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Janice returned to the bed side.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Hadn&rsquo;t you better begin to dress?&rdquo; she howled suggestively.
+&ldquo;They are going to dine here before going to the theater and dinner is
+ordered in an hour.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Maybe I had,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary, &ldquo;but&mdash;oh dear&mdash;I
+don&rsquo;t know what I <i>will</i> wear!&rdquo; She began to emerge from the
+bedclothes as she spoke.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;How would my green plaid waist do?&rdquo; she asked earnestly.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I think it would be lovely,&rdquo; shrieked the maid.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Well, shake it out then,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary, &ldquo;it ought to be in
+the fashion&mdash;all the silk they put in the sleeves. An&rsquo; if
+you&rsquo;ll do my hair just as you did it yesterday&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes, I will.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then the labor of the toilette began in good earnest, and three-quarters of an
+hour later Aunt Mary was done, and sitting by the window while Janice laced her
+boots.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+A rap sounded at the door.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Come in,&rdquo; cried the maid.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+It was Jack with a regular fagot of American Beauties.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Well, Aunt Mary,&rdquo; he cried with his customary hearty greeting.
+&ldquo;How!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;How what?&rdquo; asked Aunt Mary, whose knowledge of Sioux social
+customs had been limited by the border line of New England.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack laughed. &ldquo;How are you?&rdquo; he asked in correction of his
+imperfect phrasing. And then he handed over the rose wood.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m pretty well,&rdquo; said his aunt; &ldquo;but, my goodness you
+mustn&rsquo;t bring me so many presents&mdash;you&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack stopped her words with a kiss. &ldquo;Now, Aunt Mary, don&rsquo;t you
+scold, because you&rsquo;re my company and I won&rsquo;t have it. This is my
+treat, and just don&rsquo;t you fret. What do you say to your roses?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary looked a bit uneasy.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;They&rsquo;re pretty big,&rdquo; she hesitated.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;That&rsquo;s the fashion,&rdquo; said Jack; &ldquo;the longer you can
+buy &rsquo;em the better the girls like it. I tried to get you some eight feet
+long but they only had two of that number and I wanted the whole bunch to
+match&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He was interrupted by another rap on the door.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Hallo!&rdquo; he cried. &ldquo;Come in.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+It was Mitchell with several dozen carnations, the most brilliant yet
+prized&mdash;or priced.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Well, I declare!&rdquo; exclaimed Aunt Mary.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;For you, Miss Watkins,&rdquo; cried the newcomer, gracefully offering
+his homage, &ldquo;with the assurance of my sincere regret that I came on the
+scene too late to have been making a scene with you fifty years ago.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t quite catch that,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary, rapturously. But
+never mind,&mdash;Granite, get a tin basin or suthin&rsquo; for these
+flowers.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Where&rsquo;s Burnett?&rdquo; Jack asked the
+newcomer,&mdash;&ldquo;isn&rsquo;t he dressed? It&rsquo;s getting late.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;He&rsquo;s all right,&rdquo; said Mitchell; &ldquo;he and Clover
+are&mdash;here they are!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The two came in together at that second. Clover&rsquo;s mustache just showed
+over the top of the largest bunch of violets ever constructed, and Burnett bore
+with assiduous care a bouquet of orchids tied with a Roman sash.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary leaned back and shut her eyes. If it hadn&rsquo;t been for her smile,
+they might possibly have feared for her life.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+But she was only momentarily stunned by surpassing ecstasy.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You&rsquo;d better put some water in the bath-tub, Granite,&rdquo; she
+said, recovering, &ldquo;nothing else will be big enough.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The four young men drew up chairs and rivalled her smiles with theirs.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I d&rsquo;n know how I ever can thank you,&rdquo; said the old lady
+warmly. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve always had such a poor opinion o&rsquo; life in
+cities, too!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Life in cities, my dear Miss Watkins,&rdquo; screamed Mitchell,
+&ldquo;is always pictured as very black, but it&rsquo;s only owing to the soft
+coal&mdash;not to the people who burn it.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary smiled again.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I guess the bath-tub will be big enough to keep &rsquo;em fresh,&rdquo;
+she said simply, and Mitchell gave up and dried his forehead with his
+handkerchief.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+They dined at home upon this occasion and afterwards took two carriages for the
+theater. Aunt Mary, Jack, Clover, the American Beauties and the violets went in
+the first, and what remained of the party and the floral decorations followed
+in the second.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I mean to smoke,&rdquo; said that part of the second load which
+habitually answered to the name of Mitchell. &ldquo;There is nothing so
+soothing when you have thorns in your legs as a cigarette in your mouth.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Too&mdash;too;&rdquo; laughed his companion. &ldquo;Jimmy! but our aunt
+is game, isn&rsquo;t she?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;To my order of thinking,&rdquo; said Mitchell thoughtfully scratching a
+match, &ldquo;Aunt Mary has been hung up in cold storage just long enough to
+have acquired the exactly proper gamey flavor. It cannot be denied that to
+worn, worldly, jaded mortals like you and me, the sight of fresh, ever
+bubbling, youthful enthusiasm like hers is as thrilling and trilling and
+rilling as&mdash;as&mdash;as&mdash;&rdquo; he paused to light his cigarette.
+</p>
+
+<div class="fig" style="width:100%;">
+<a name="illus04"></a>
+<img src="images/image04.png" width="480" height="368" alt="[Illustration: ]" />
+<p class="caption">Aunt Mary and Her Escorts.</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes, you&rsquo;d better stutter,&rdquo; said Burnett. &ldquo;I thought
+you were running ahead of your proper signals.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It isn&rsquo;t that,&rdquo; said Mitchell, puffing gently. &ldquo;It is
+that I suddenly recollected that I was alone with you, and my brains tell me
+that it is a waste of brains to use them in the sense of a plural noun with
+you. The word in your company,&mdash;my dear boy&mdash;only comes to me as a
+verb&mdash;as an active verb&mdash;and dear knows how often I have itched to
+apply it forcibly.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then they drew up in front of the theater and saw Aunt Mary being unloaded just
+beyond.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Great Scott, I feel as if I was a part of a poster!&rdquo; said Burnett,
+diving into the carriage depths for the last lot of flowers.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I feel as if I were a part of the Revelation,&rdquo; said Mitchell,
+&ldquo;I mean&mdash;the Revel-eration.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+They rapidly formed on somewhat after the plan of the famous &ldquo;Marriage
+under the Directoire.&rdquo; Aunt Mary commanded the center-rush, leaning on
+Jack&rsquo;s arm, and the rest acted as half-backs, left wings, or
+flower-bearers, just as the reader prefers.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+They made quite a sensation as they proceeded to their box and more yet when
+they entered it. They were late&mdash;very late&mdash;as is the privilege of
+all box parties and their seating problem absorbed the audience to a degree
+never seen before or since.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack put Aunt Mary and her green plaid waist in the middle and flanked her with
+purple violets and red carnations. The ear-trumpet was laid upon the orchids
+just where she could reach it easily. Then her escorts took positions as a sort
+of half-moon guard behind and each held two or three American Beauties straight
+up and down as if they were the insignia of his rank and office.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The effect was gorgeous. The very actors saw and were interested at once. They
+directed all their attention to that one box, and at the end of the act the
+stage manager got the writer of the topical song on the wire and had a brand
+new and very apropos verse added which brought down the house.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack and his party caught on and clapped like mad, Aunt Mary beat the front of
+the box with her ear-trumpet, and when Clover suggested that she throw some
+flowers to the heroine she threw the orchids and came near maiming the bass
+viol for life. Burnett rushed out between acts and bought her a cane to pound
+with, Jack rushed out between more acts and bought her a pair of opera glasses,
+Mitchell rushed out between still further acts and procured her one of those
+Japanese fans which they use for fire-screens, and agitated it around her
+during the rest of the evening.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Time of your life, Aunt Mary,&rdquo; Jack vociferated under the cover of
+a general chorus; &ldquo;Time of your life!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, my,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary, heaving a great sigh, &ldquo;seems if
+I&rsquo;d <i>die</i> when I think of Lucinda.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+They got out of the theater somewhat after eleven and Clover took them all to a
+French café for supper, so that again it was pretty well along into the day
+after when Janice regained her charge.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Granite,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary very solemnly, as she collapsed upon her
+bed twenty minutes later yet, &ldquo;put it down on that memoranda for me never
+to find no fault with nothing ever again. Never&mdash;not ever&mdash;not never
+again.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<p>
+The second day after was that which had been set for Mitchell&rsquo;s yachting
+party. They allowed a day to lapse between because a yachting party has to
+begin early enough so that you can see to get on board. Mitchell wanted his to
+begin early enough so that they could see the yacht too.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;A yacht, Miss Watkins,&rdquo; he said into the ear trumpet, &ldquo;is a
+delight that it takes daylight to delight in. If my words sound somewhat mixed,
+believe me, it is the effect of what is to come casting its shadow before. I
+speak with understanding and sympathy&mdash;you will know all later.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary smiled sweetly. Sometimes she thought that Mitchell was the nicest of
+the three&mdash;times when she wasn&rsquo;t talking to Clover or Burnett.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack took his aunt out to drive on the afternoon of the intervening day and
+bought her a blue suit with a red tape around one arm, and some rubbersoled
+shoes, and a yachting cap and a mackintosh. There was something touching in
+Aunt Mary&rsquo;s joyful confidence and anticipation&mdash;she having never
+been cast loose from shore in all her life.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;When do you s&rsquo;pose we&rsquo;ll get home?&rdquo; she asked Jack.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, some time toward night,&rdquo; he replied.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She smiled with a trust as colossal as Trusts usually are.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m sure I shall have a good time,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I
+always liked to see pictures of waves.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You&rsquo;ll see the real things now, Aunt Mary,&rdquo; cried her nephew
+heartily. He was not a bit malicious, possessing a stomach whose equilibrium
+could not conceive any other anatomical condition.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Janice, however, had doubts, and on the morning of the next day her doubts
+deepened. She looked from the window and shook her head.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Feel a fly?&rdquo; inquired Aunt Mary.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;No, I see some clouds,&rdquo; yelled her maid.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t ask you to speak loud,&rdquo; said the old lady. &ldquo;I
+always hear what you say. Always.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Janice went out of the room and voiced her views of the weather to the
+proprietors of the expedition. The proprietors were having an uproarious
+breakfast on ham and eggs&mdash;all but Mitchell, who sat somewhat aloof and
+contented himself with an old and reliable breakfast food long known to his
+race.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Are you really going to take her up the Sound to-day?&rdquo; the maid
+demanded of the merry mob.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not,&rdquo; said Burnett; &ldquo;it&rsquo;s the yacht
+that&rsquo;s going to take her. Pass the syrup, Jack, like the jack you
+are.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Doesn&rsquo;t she feel well?&rdquo; Jack asked, passing the syrup as
+requested. &ldquo;If she doesn&rsquo;t feel well, of course, we won&rsquo;t
+go.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I like that,&rdquo; said Mitchell, &ldquo;when it&rsquo;s my day for my
+party and my cook all provisioned with provisions for provisioning us all. How
+long do you suppose ice cream stays together in this month of roses,
+anyhow?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;She is very well,&rdquo; said the maid quietly, &ldquo;but it&rsquo;s
+blowing pretty fresh here in the city and I thought that out on the
+Sound&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Blowing fresh, is it?&rdquo; laughed Burnett; &ldquo;well, it&rsquo;ll
+salt her fast enough when we get out. Don&rsquo;t you fuss over what&rsquo;s
+none of your business, my dear girl; just trot along upstairs and dress dolly,
+and when she&rsquo;s dressed we&rsquo;ll take her off your hands.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack appeared unduly quiet.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Do you think it is going to storm?&rdquo; he asked Mitchell. Mitchell
+was scraping his saucer with the thrift that thrives north of the Firth of
+Forth and hatches yachts on the west shores of the Atlantic.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think at all during vacation,&rdquo; he said mildly.
+&ldquo;I repose and reap &lsquo;Oh&rsquo;s&rsquo;&mdash;from other
+people.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;If there was any chance of a storm&mdash;&mdash;?&rdquo; said the
+nephew, thoughtfully.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Fiddle-dee-dee,&rdquo; said Burnett impatiently, &ldquo;what do you
+think yachts are for, anyhow? To let alone?&rdquo; He looked at the maid as he
+spoke and pointed significantly to the door. She went out at once and returned
+upstairs to her mistress whom she found quite restless to
+&ldquo;get-a-goin&rsquo;&rdquo; as she expressed it.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The boxes filled with yesterday&rsquo;s purchases were brought out at once and
+Janice proceeded to rubber-sole and blue-serge Aunt Mary. The latter regarded
+every step of the performance in the huge three-fold cheval glass which had
+been wont to tell Mrs. Rosscott things that every woman longs to know.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When her toilette was complete it must be admitted that as a yachtswoman Aunt
+Mary fairly outshone her automobile portrait. She surveyed herself long and
+carefully.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I expect it&rsquo;ll be quite an experience,&rdquo; she said with many
+new wrinkles of anticipation.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Janice, with a glance at the fluttering window
+curtains, &ldquo;I expect it will be.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary went downstairs and was greeted with loud acclamations. The breakfast
+party broke up at once and, while Janice phoned for cabs, Aunt Mary&rsquo;s
+quartette of escorts sought hats, coats, etcetera. After that they all sallied
+forth and took their places as joyfully as ever.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+It was quite a long drive to where &ldquo;Lady Belle&rdquo; had been brought
+up, and they had to stop once to lay in two or three pounds of current
+literature.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Do you read mostly?&rdquo; asked Aunt Mary.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It&rsquo;s best to be on the safe side,&rdquo; said Clover vaguely.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then they entered the tangle of docks and express wagons and obstacles in
+general and Mitchell had great difficulty in finding where his launch had been
+taken to meet them.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+But at last they got Aunt Mary down a flight of very slippery steps and into a
+boat whose everything was labeled &ldquo;Lady Belle,&rdquo; and Mitchell said
+something and they cast loose and were off.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Seems rather a small yacht,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary, glancing cheerfully
+about. &ldquo;I ain&rsquo;t surprised that you&rsquo;d rather come in
+nights.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Bless your heart, Aunt Mary,&rdquo; shrieked Jack, &ldquo;this
+isn&rsquo;t the yacht, this is the way we get to her.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary blankly.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;That&rsquo;s the yacht,&rdquo; yelled Burnett, &ldquo;that white one
+with the black smoke coming out and the sail up.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What are they getting up steam for?&rdquo; asked Clover. &ldquo;The time
+to get up steam is when you get down sails generally.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;They aren&rsquo;t getting up steam,&rdquo; said Mitchell,
+&ldquo;they&rsquo;re getting up dinner. It looks like a lot of smoke because of
+the shadow on the sail. And, speaking of getting up dinner, reminds me that the
+topic before us now is, how in thunder are we to get up Aunt Mary?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Put a rope around her and board her as if she was a cavalry
+horse,&rdquo; suggested Burnett.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I scorn the suggestion,&rdquo; said their host; &ldquo;if the worst
+comes to the worst I can give her a back up, but I trust that Aunt Mary will
+rise to the heights of the sail and the situation all at once and not make me
+do any vertebratical stunts so early in the day.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+They were running alongside of &ldquo;Lady Belle&rdquo; as he spoke, and the
+first thing Aunt Mary knew she and her party were attached to the former by
+some mysterious and not altogether solid connection.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What do we do now?&rdquo; she asked uneasily.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll show you,&rdquo; laughed Burnett, and seizing two flapping
+ropes he went skipping up a sort of stepladder and sprang upon the deck above.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary started to emulate his prowess and stood up at once. But the next
+second she sat down extremely hard without knowing why she had done so.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Hold on, Miss Watkins,&rdquo; Mitchell cried hastily; &ldquo;just you
+hold on until I give you something to hold on to, and when you&rsquo;ve got
+something to hold on to, please keep holding on to it, until I tell you that
+the hour has come in which to let go again.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t quite catch that,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary, &ldquo;but
+I&rsquo;m ready to do anythin&rsquo; you say if you only&mdash;&rdquo; and
+again she sprang up and again was thrown down as hard as before.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Look out,&rdquo; cried Jack, springing to her side; and he got hold of
+his valuable relative and held her fast while Mitchell grasped the ladder and a
+sailor strove to keep the launch still.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Now, Aunt Mary,&rdquo; cried the nephew, &ldquo;hang on to me and hang
+on to those ropes and remember I&rsquo;m right back of you&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;My Lord alive,&rdquo; cried Aunt Mary, turning her gaze upwards,
+&ldquo;am I expected to go alone all that way to the top?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It&rsquo;ll pay you to keep on to the top,&rdquo; screamed Clover;
+&ldquo;you&rsquo;ll have, comparatively speaking, very little fun if you hang
+on to the ladder all day&mdash;and you&rsquo;ll get so wet too.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;There&rsquo;s more room at the top,&rdquo; cried Mitchell,
+&ldquo;there&rsquo;s always room at the top, Miss Watkins. Put yourself in the
+place of any young man entering a profession and struggle bravely upwards,
+bearing ever in&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, I never can,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary, recoiling abruptly; &ldquo;I
+never could climb trees when I was little&mdash;I never had no grip in my
+legs&mdash;and I just know I can&rsquo;t. It&rsquo;s too high. An&rsquo; it
+looks slippery. An&rsquo; I don&rsquo;t want to, anyhow.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What rot!&rdquo; yelled Jack, &ldquo;the very idea! Why, Aunt Mary, you
+know you can skin up there just like a cat if you only make up your mind to it.
+Here, Mitchell, give her a boost and I&rsquo;ll plant her feet firmly.
+Now&mdash;have you got hold of the ropes, Aunt Mary?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, mercy&mdash;on&mdash;me!&rdquo; wailed Aunt Mary, &ldquo;the yacht
+is turnin&rsquo; a-round an&rsquo; the harder I pull the faster it
+turns.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Catch her from above, Burr,&rdquo; Clover called excitedly; &ldquo;hook
+her with anything if you can&rsquo;t reach her with your hand.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, my cap!&rdquo; shrieked poor Aunt Mary, and the cap went off and she
+went on up and was landed safe above.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;How on the chart do you suppose we&rsquo;ll ever unload her?&rdquo; Jack
+asked, wide-eyed, as he swung himself quickly after her.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What man hath done man can do,&rdquo; quoted Mitchell sententiously,
+following his lead.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But no man ever unloaded Aunt Mary,&rdquo; Clover reminded him, as they
+brought up the rear.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then they were all on deck, a chair was brought for the honored guest, and
+Mitchell introduced his sailing-master who had been drawn to gaze upon the
+rather novel manner in which she had been brought aboard.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I want Miss Watkins to have the sail of her life, Renfew,&rdquo; said
+Mitchell. &ldquo;We aren&rsquo;t coming back until night.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;We&rsquo;ll have sail enough sure, sir,&rdquo; said Renfew, touching his
+cap, and then he walked away and the work of starting off began. A tug had been
+engaged to tow them out into the breeze and Jack thought it would be nice to
+show Aunt Mary around while they were being meandered through coal barges, etc.
+They went below and Aunt Mary saw everything with a most flattering interest.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I d&rsquo;n know but what I&rsquo;d enjoy a little yacht of my
+own,&rdquo; she said to Mitchell. &ldquo;I think it&rsquo;s so amusin&rsquo;
+the way everythin&rsquo; turns over into suthin&rsquo; else. I suppose Joshua
+could learn to sail me&mdash;I wouldn&rsquo;t want to trust no new man, I
+know.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Why, of course,&rdquo; said Jack, &ldquo;and we could all come and visit
+you, Aunt Mary.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary smiled hospitably.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;d be glad to see you all any day,&rdquo; she said cordially;
+&ldquo;and I shall have a hole in the bottom of the boat for people to go in
+and out of, and a nice staircase down to it, so you needn&rsquo;t mind the
+notion of how you&rsquo;ll get on and off.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+They all laughed and continued the tour below and Aunt Mary grew more and more
+enthusiastic for quite a while. She liked the kitchen and she liked the
+dining-room. She thought the arrangement for keeping the table level most
+ingenious. Mitchell took her into the main cabin and told her that that was
+hers for the day. On the dresser was a photograph of the &ldquo;Lady
+Belle&rdquo; framed in silver, which the young host presented to his guest as a
+souvenir of the &ldquo;voyage.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary&rsquo;s pleasure was at its height. Oh, the pity of Fate which makes
+the apex of everything so very limited as to standing room! Three minutes after
+the presentation and acceptation of the photograph Aunt Mary&rsquo;s glance
+became suddenly vague, and then especially piercing.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What makes this up and down feeling?&rdquo; she asked Mitchell.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What up and down feeling?&rdquo; he asked, secure in the good conscience
+and pure living of an oatmeal breakfast. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t feel up and
+down.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I do,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary abruptly; &ldquo;I want to be somewhere
+else.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You want to be on deck,&rdquo; said Burnett, suddenly emerging from
+somewhere; &ldquo;I know the symptoms. I always have &rsquo;em. Come on. And
+when we get up there, I&rsquo;ll collar Jack for urging those six last griddle
+cakes on me this morning.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I ain&rsquo;t sure I want to be on deck,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary;
+&ldquo;dear me&mdash;I feel as if I wasn&rsquo;t sure of anythin&rsquo;.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What did I tell you?&rdquo; said Burnett to Mitchell; &ldquo;it&rsquo;s
+blowing fresh and neither she nor I ought to have come. You know me when it
+blows.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Shut up,&rdquo; said Mitchell, hurrying Aunt Mary up the companion-way
+and shoving her into one chair and her feet into another; &ldquo;there, Miss
+Watkins, you&rsquo;re all right now, aren&rsquo;t you?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What&rsquo;s the matter?&rdquo; said Jack, coming from somewhere aloft
+or astern. &ldquo;Heaven bless me, what ails you, Aunt Mary?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t wonder I&rsquo;m pale,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary faintly,
+&ldquo;oh&mdash;oh&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;We must put our heads together,&rdquo; said Burnett, taking a drink from
+a flask that he took out of his pocket; &ldquo;I must soon put my head on
+something, and your aunt looks to me to feel the same way. Mitchell, why did
+you let me forget that vow I made last time to never come again?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Your vows to never do things again are about as stable as your present
+hold on an upright position,&rdquo; said Clover, laying a steadying hand upon
+his friend&rsquo;s waveringness. &ldquo;Sit down, little boy, sit down.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Burnett sat down, Mitchell smiled, Jack laughed, and Aunt Mary groaned.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The boat was rising and falling rapidly now, and as she ran further and further
+out into the ever freshening wind she kept on rising and falling yet more
+rapidly. The more motion there was the more Aunt Mary seemed to sift down in
+her two chairs.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;We&rsquo;d better put back,&rdquo; said Jack; &ldquo;this won&rsquo;t
+do, you know. How do you feel now, Aunt Mary?&rdquo; he added, leaning over
+her.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary opened her eyes and looked at him but made no reply.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Ask me how I feel, if you dare,&rdquo; said Burnett, from where his
+chair was drawn up not far away. &ldquo;I couldn&rsquo;t kill you just now, but
+I will some day I promise you.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He was very white and had a look about his mouth that showed that he meant what
+he said.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Some bells rang somewhere.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;That&rsquo;s dinner,&rdquo; exclaimed Clover.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary gave a piercing cry.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, take me somewhere else,&rdquo; she said, throwing her hands up to
+her face; &ldquo;somewhere where there&rsquo;ll never be nothin&rsquo; to eat
+again. I&mdash;I can&rsquo;t bear to hear about eatin&rsquo;.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m going to take her down into one of the cabins,&rdquo; said
+Jack hastily, &ldquo;she belongs in bed.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;No, turn back the carpet and lay me in the bath-tub,&rdquo; almost
+sobbed the poor victim. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t feel like I could get flat enough
+anywhere else.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;She has the proper spirit,&rdquo; said Burnett faintly, &ldquo;only I
+don&rsquo;t feel as if I could get flat enough anywhere at all. What in the
+name of the Great Pyramid ever possessed me to come?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Mitchell rose quickly to his feet.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You put your aunt to bed, Jack,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;and I&rsquo;ll
+put my yacht to backing. This expedition is expeditiously heading on to what
+might be termed a failure. I can see that, even if we&rsquo;re only in a
+Sound.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;When do you suppose we&rsquo;ll get back?&rdquo; the nephew asked
+anxiously.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;About four o&rsquo;clock, if we don&rsquo;t lose time by having to
+tack.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t quite catch all that,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary, &ldquo;but I
+knew suthin&rsquo; was loose all along. I felt it inside of me right off at
+first. And ever since, too.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack gathered her up in his arms and bore her tenderly away to the beautiful
+main cabin.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I wanted to live to change my will,&rdquo; she said sadly, as he laid
+her down, &ldquo;but somehow I don&rsquo;t seem to care for nothin&rsquo; no
+more.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He kissed her hand.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;They say being seasick is awfully <i>good</i> for people, Aunt Mary,&rdquo; he
+yelled contritely.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary opened her eyes.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;John Watkins, Jr., Denham,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;if you say
+&lsquo;food&rsquo; to me again <i>ever</i>, I&rsquo;ll never leave you a
+penny&mdash;so there!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack went away and left her.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Come on to dinner, Burnett,&rdquo; Clover called hilariously,
+&ldquo;there&rsquo;s liver with little bits of bacon&mdash;your favorite
+dish.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Burnett snarled the weakest kind of a snarl.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I thought I&rsquo;d suffered enough for one year last month,&rdquo; he
+murmured in a voice too low to be heard, and then he knew himself to be alone
+on deck.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Down in the little dining-saloon the dishes were hopping merrily back and forth
+and an agreeable odor of agreeable viands filled the air. Clover and Jack sat
+down opposite their host and they all three ate and drank with a zest that knew
+no breaking waves nor sad effects.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Here&rsquo;s to our aunt,&rdquo; said Clover gayly, as the first course
+went around; &ldquo;of course, we all love her for Jack&rsquo;s sake, but at
+the same time I offer two to odds that it is a pleasure to converse in under
+tones occasionally. Who takes?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Aunt Mary being laid upon her bed,&rdquo; said Mitchell, &ldquo;we will
+next proceed to lay the motion of our honorable friend upon the table. We
+regret Aunt Mary&rsquo;s ill-health while we drink to her good&mdash;quotation
+marks under the latter word. Aunt Mary!&mdash;and may she arise and prosper all
+the way down into the launch again.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m troubled about her, really,&rdquo; said Jack soberly;
+&ldquo;we ought to have brought someone to look out for her.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;The maid,&rdquo; cried Mitchell, &ldquo;the dainty, adorable maid!
+Here&rsquo;s to Janice and&mdash;&rdquo; his speech was brought to a sudden end
+by his two guests nearly disappearing under the table.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack started up.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Ginger! Did you feel that?&rdquo; he asked.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;That&rsquo;s nothing,&rdquo; said Mitchell, calmly replacing the
+water-carafe which in the excitement of the moment he had clasped to his bosom;
+&ldquo;it&rsquo;s the waves which are rising to the occasion&mdash;that&rsquo;s
+all.&rdquo; But Jack had hurried out.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He found poor Aunt Mary writhing in an agony of misery.
+&ldquo;Oh&mdash;oh&mdash;&rdquo; she cried, &ldquo;I want to be
+still&mdash;I&rsquo;m too much tipped&mdash;and all the wrong way! I want to
+lay smooth&mdash;and I stand on my head&mdash;all the&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;We&rsquo;re going back,&rdquo; said Jack, striving to soothe her;
+&ldquo;lie still, Aunt Mary, and we&rsquo;ll soon get there. Do you want some
+camphor to smell?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t feel up to smellin&rsquo;,&rdquo; wailed Aunt Mary,
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t feel up to anythin&rsquo;. Go &rsquo;way. Right
+off.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack went on deck. He found Burnett stretched pale and green upon the chairs
+their lady guest had vacated.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;If you speak to me again,&rdquo; he said, in halting accents,
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll never speak to you again. Get out.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack went back to his place at dinner.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;How are they?&rdquo; asked Clover.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know,&rdquo; he said quietly, &ldquo;but there&rsquo;s a
+big storm coming up. The sky&rsquo;s all dark blue and it looks bad.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t care,&rdquo; said Mitchell, sawing into the game with
+vigor; &ldquo;if we go down we go down with Aunt Mary and if I were Uncle Mary
+I wouldn&rsquo;t feel happier and safer as to all concerned. The ship that bore
+Cæsar and his fortune had nothing at all to bear compared to this which bears
+Jack and his. Here&rsquo;s to Jack and his fortune, and may we all survive the
+dark blue sky.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I tell you it&rsquo;s serious,&rdquo; said Jack. As he spoke another
+ominous heaving set the bottles tipping and nearly sent Clover backwards.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;And I&rsquo;m serious,&rdquo; exclaimed Mitchell. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m
+always serious only I never can get any girl to believe it. Here&rsquo;s to me,
+and may I grow more and more serious each&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+A tremendous wave bore the yacht upright and then let her fall on her forelegs
+again. Clover went over backwards and the dish of peas to which he had just
+been helping himself followed after.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You didn&rsquo;t say &lsquo;excuse me&rsquo; when you left the
+table,&rdquo; said Mitchell, whom the law of gravitation had suddenly raised to
+a pinnacle from which he viewed his friends with mirthful scorn; &ldquo;and if
+you&rsquo;ve hurt yourself it must be a judgment on you for leaving the table
+without saying &lsquo;excuse me.&rsquo; Here&rsquo;s to Clover, who has a
+judgment and a dish of peas served on him at the same time for leaving the
+table without saying &lsquo;excuse me.&rsquo;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The sailing-master appeared at the door, his cap in his hand.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I beg your pardon, sir,&rdquo; he said respectfully, &ldquo;but I fear
+it&rsquo;s impossible to put back. We can&rsquo;t turn without getting into the
+trough of the sea.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;All right, go ahead then,&rdquo; said Mitchell; &ldquo;go where we must
+go, and do what you&rsquo;ve got to do. My motto is <i>veni, vidi, vici</i>, which
+freely translated means I can sleep asea when I can&rsquo;t sleep
+ashore.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But Aunt Mary?&rdquo; cried Jack blankly.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;She&rsquo;s all right,&rdquo; said Mitchell; &ldquo;she&rsquo;ll soon
+reach the cold burnt toast stage and when she reaches the stage we&rsquo;ll all
+welcome her into any chorus. Here&rsquo;s to choruses in general and one chorus
+girl in particular. I haven&rsquo;t met her yet, but I shall know her when I
+do, for she will look at me. Up to now they&rsquo;ve all looked elsewhere and
+at other men. If my fortune was only in my face it might draw some interest,
+but&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Lady Belle&rdquo; careened violently and Clover went over backwards for
+the second time with much in his wake.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, I say,&rdquo; said Mitchell, rising in disgust, &ldquo;if you want
+everything on the table at once why take it. Only I&rsquo;m going on deck.
+After you&rsquo;ve bathed in the gravy you can have it. Ditto the other
+liquids. Jack and I are going up to dance a hornpipe and sing for Burnett. He
+looked rather ennuyéd to me when we came down.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Along toward eight o&rsquo;clock that night &ldquo;Lady Belle&rdquo; anchored
+somewhere in the Sound and tugged vigorously at her cables all night.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+With the dawn she headed back towards New York.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;As a success my entertainment has been a failure,&rdquo; said Mitchell
+to Jack as they walked up and down the deck after breakfast; &ldquo;but into
+each life some rain must fall, and I offer myself as a sacrificial background
+to Aunt Mary&rsquo;s glowing, living pictures of New York.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I wish you hadn&rsquo;t, though,&rdquo; said Jack; &ldquo;she&rsquo;ll
+never want a yacht of her own now. And how under Scorpion are we ever going to
+land her?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;In a sheet, my able-bodied young friend, in a sheet,&rdquo; said
+Mitchell clapping him on the back. &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t you know the &lsquo;Weigh
+the Baby&rsquo; game? It may double her up a bit, but the redoubtable Janice
+will straighten her out again. Here&rsquo;s to the sheet, be it a wet sheet, a
+main sheet, or a sheet with your Aunt Mary tied up in it.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Mitchell was as good as his word and they landed Aunt Mary in a sheet. The very
+harbor-tugs stopped puffing and stood open-mouthed to stare at the performance,
+but it was an unalloyed success, and Aunt Mary was gotten onto dry land at
+last.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t want to do nothin&rsquo; for a day or two,&rdquo; she
+said, as they drove to the house.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Janice had the bed open, and a hot-water bottle down where Aunt Mary&rsquo;s
+feet might be expected, and all sorts of comfort ready to hand.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m so glad to see you safe back,&rdquo; she said, almost weeping.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t believe it&rsquo;s broke,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary,
+&ldquo;but you might look and see. Oh, Granite&mdash;I&mdash;&rdquo; she
+stopped and looked an unutterable meaning.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It stormed, didn&rsquo;t it?&rdquo; said the maid.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Stormed!&rdquo; said Aunt Mary. &ldquo;I guess it did storm. I guess it
+hurricaned. I know it did. I&rsquo;m sure of it.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But you&rsquo;re safe now,&rdquo; said the girl, tucking her up as
+snugly as if she had been an infant in arms.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes, I&rsquo;m safe now,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary, &ldquo;but&mdash;&rdquo;
+she looked very earnest&mdash;&ldquo;but, oh, my Granite, how I did need that
+white fuzzy stuff to drink this morning. I never wanted nothin&rsquo; so bad in
+all my life afore.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Janice stood by the bed, her face full of regret that Aunt Mary had known any
+aching void.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary grew yet more earnest.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Granite,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;you mind what I tell you. That ought to
+be advertised. I sh&rsquo;d think you could patent it. Folks ought to know
+about it.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then she laid herself out in bed. &ldquo;My heavens alive!&rdquo; she sighed
+sweetly, &ldquo;there&rsquo;s nothin&rsquo; like home. Not anywhere&mdash;not
+nowhere!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+</div><!--end chapter-->
+
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<h2><a name="chap16"></a>Chapter Sixteen<br/>
+A Reposeful Interval</h2>
+
+<p>
+The next date upon the little gold and ivory memorandum card which hung beside
+Aunt Mary&rsquo;s watch was that set for Burnett&rsquo;s picnic, but its
+dawning found both host and guest too much attached to their beds to desire any
+fêtes champêtre just then.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Burnett was in that very weak state which follows in the immediate wake of only
+too many yachts,&mdash;and Aunt Mary was sleeping one of her long drawn out and
+utterly restorative sleeps.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack went in and looked at her.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It did storm awfully,&rdquo; he said to Janice, who was sitting by the
+window. The maid just smiled, nodded, and laid her finger on her lip. She never
+encouraged conversation when her charge was reposing.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack went softly out and turned his steps toward the room of the other wreck.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Well, how are stocks to-day?&rdquo; he asked cheerfully on entering.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Burnett was stretched out pillowless and looked black under his hollow eyes.
+But he appeared to be on the road to recovery.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Jack,&rdquo; he said seriously, &ldquo;what in thunder makes me always
+so ready to go on the water? I should think after a while I&rsquo;d learn a
+thing or two.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack leaned his elbows on the high carved footboard and returned his
+friend&rsquo;s look with one of equal seriousness.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What makes all of us do lots of things?&rdquo; he asked. &ldquo;Why
+don&rsquo;t we all learn?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Burnett sighed.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;That&rsquo;s a fact; why don&rsquo;t we?&rdquo; he said weakly. And then
+he shut his eyes again and turned his back to his caller.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack went down to lunch. Clover and Mitchell were playing cards in the library.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Well, how is the hospital?&rdquo; Clover asked, looking up while he
+shuffled the pack.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Never mind about Burnett,&rdquo; said Mitchell, &ldquo;but do relieve my
+mind about Aunt Mary. Is the one sheet still taking effect, or has she begun to
+rally on a diet of two?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;She&rsquo;s asleep,&rdquo; said the nephew.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;God bless her slumber,&rdquo; declared Clover piously. &ldquo;I very
+much approve of Aunt Mary asleep. When our dearly beloved aunt sleeps we know
+we&rsquo;ve got her and we don&rsquo;t have to yell. Shall I deal for
+three?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;They are bringing up lunch,&rdquo; said the latest
+arrival,&mdash;&ldquo;no time to begin a hand. Better stack guns for the
+present.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;So say I,&rdquo; said Mitchell, &ldquo;with me everything goes down when
+lunch comes up. It&rsquo;s quite the reverse with Burnett, isn&rsquo;t
+it?&rdquo; He laughed brutally at his own wit.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;To think how enthusiastic Burr was,&rdquo; said Clover, evening the
+cards preparatory to slipping them into their holder on the side of the table.
+&ldquo;He&rsquo;s always so enthusiastic and he&rsquo;s always so sick. In his
+place I should feel that, if a buoyant nature is a virtue, I didn&rsquo;t get
+much reward.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The gong sounded just then, and they all went down to lunch, not at all
+saddened by the sight of their comrade&rsquo;s empty chair.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Now, what are we going to do next?&rdquo; Clover demanded as they
+finished the bouillon.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Have a meat course, I suppose,&rdquo; said Mitchell.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t mean that; I mean, what are we going to do next with Aunt
+Mary?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;She hasn&rsquo;t but two days more,&rdquo; said Jack meditatively.
+&ldquo;Of course&mdash;even if she was all chipper&mdash;this storm has knocked
+any picnic endways.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I am not an ardent upholder of picnics, anyhow,&rdquo; said Mitchell.
+&ldquo;They require a constant sitting down on the ground and getting up from
+the ground to which I find our respected aunt very far from being equal.
+Burnett mentioned that we should go to the scene on a coach. That also did not
+meet my approval. Going anywhere on a coach requires a constant getting up on
+the coach and getting down from the coach to which I also consider the lady
+unequal. The events of yesterday have left a deep impression on my mind.
+I&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Go on and carve,&rdquo; interrupted Clover, &ldquo;or else shove me the
+platter. I&rsquo;m hungry.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;So&rsquo;m I,&rdquo; said a voice at the door. A weak voice&mdash;but
+one that showed decision in its tone.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+They looked up and saw Burnett, dressed in a pink silk negligée with flowing
+sleeves.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m ravenous,&rdquo; he exclaimed explanatorily. &ldquo;I
+haven&rsquo;t had anything since day before yesterday at breakfast. I
+didn&rsquo;t know I wanted anything till I smelt it,&mdash;then I dressed and
+came down.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;How sweet you look,&rdquo; said Clover. &ldquo;The effect of your pajama
+cuffs and collar where one greedily expects curves and contour is lovely. Where
+did you find that bath-robe?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;In the bureau drawer,&rdquo; said Burnett. &ldquo;It appeared to have
+been hastily shoved in there some time. I would have thought that it was a
+woman&rsquo;s something-or-other, only I found one of Jack&rsquo;s cards in the
+pocket.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+They all began to laugh&mdash;Clover and Mitchell more heartily than the owner
+of the card.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Sit down,&rdquo; said Mitchell finally with great cordiality. &ldquo;You
+may as well sit down while they mess you up some weak tea and wet toast.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Tea and toast?&rdquo; cried the one in pink. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m good for
+dinner. <i>Um Gotteswillen</i>, what do you suppose I came down for?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I wasn&rsquo;t sure,&rdquo; said his friend mildly; &ldquo;you must
+admit yourself that your attire is misleading. My book on social etiquette says
+nothing as to when it is correct to wear a pink silk robe over blue and white
+striped pajamas. However, there&rsquo;s no denying your presence, and what
+can&rsquo;t be denied must be supplied, so what will you have?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Everything.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Mitchell dived into the edibles generally and Burnett&rsquo;s void was provided
+with fulfillment.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;We were talking about Aunt Mary,&rdquo; Clover said presently. &ldquo;We
+were saying that neither you nor she would be up to a coach or down to a picnic
+for one while.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, I don&rsquo;t know,&rdquo; said Burnett. &ldquo;I feel up to pretty
+nearly anything now that I can eat again. Pass over the horseradish, will
+you?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You&rsquo;re one thing, my sweet pink friend,&rdquo; said Clover gently,
+&ldquo;but Aunt Mary&rsquo;s another. I&rsquo;m not saying that New York has
+not had a wonderfully Brown-Sequardesque effect on her, but I am saying that if
+she is to be raised and lowered frequently, I want to travel with a portable
+crane.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Hum, hum, hum!&rdquo; cried Jack. &ldquo;May I just ask who did most of
+the heavy labor of Aunt Mary yesterday?&mdash;As the man in the opera sings
+twenty times with the whole chorus to back him&mdash;&lsquo;&rsquo;Twas I,
+&rsquo;twas I, &rsquo;twas I, &rsquo;twas I&mdash;&rsquo;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Hand over the toast, Clover,&rdquo; said Burnett. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t
+care who it was&mdash;it was a success anyhow, for she&rsquo;s upstairs and
+still alive, and I say she&rsquo;d enjoy coaching out Riverside way,
+and&mdash;&rdquo; he choked.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Slap him anywhere,&rdquo; said Mitchell. &ldquo;On his mouth would be
+the proper place. Such poor manners,&mdash;coming down to a company lunch in
+another man&rsquo;s bath-robe and then trying to preach and eat dry toast at
+once.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Burnett gasped and recovered.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;There,&rdquo; said Clover, who had risen to administer the proposed
+slap, &ldquo;he&rsquo;s off our minds and we may again pick up Aunt Mary and
+put her back on.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;We want to send her home in a blaze of glory,&rdquo; said Jack
+thoughtfully. &ldquo;I want her to feel that the fun ran straight
+through.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;That&rsquo;s just what I mean,&rdquo; interposed his particular friend;
+&ldquo;we want her to go home on the wings of a giant cracker, so to
+speak.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;How would it do,&rdquo; said Clover suddenly, &ldquo;to just make a
+night of it and take her along? Stock up, stack up, and ho! for it. You all
+know the kind of a time I mean.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Clover,&rdquo; said Jack gravely, &ldquo;does it occur to you that Aunt
+Mary belongs to me and that I have a personal interest in keeping her
+alive?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Nothing ever occurs to him,&rdquo; said Mitchell. &ldquo;Occasionally an
+idea bangs up against him inadvertently, and as it splinters a sliver or two
+penetrate his head&mdash;that&rsquo;s all.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t see why the last sliver he felt wasn&rsquo;t to the
+point,&rdquo; said Burnett, turning the cream jug upside down as he spoke.
+&ldquo;I think she&rsquo;d enjoy it of all things. She enjoys everything so.
+I&rsquo;ll guarantee that when she gets back home she&rsquo;ll even enjoy the
+yachting trip. Lots of people are made like that. In the winter I always enjoy
+yachting, myself. Pass me the hot bread.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Burnett,&rdquo; said Mitchell warmly, &ldquo;I wish that you would
+remember that a collapse invariably follows an inflated market.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Is it Aunt Mary who is on the market, or myself?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, the rule is reversed in my case&mdash;the collapse went first.
+I&rsquo;m only inflating up to the usual limit again. Is there any gravy
+left?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;No, there isn&rsquo;t,&rdquo; said Clover, looking in the dish,
+&ldquo;there isn&rsquo;t much of anything left.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Let&rsquo;s go to the library,&rdquo; said Mitchell, rising abruptly.
+&ldquo;It always makes me ill to see goose-stuffing before Thanksgiving. Come
+on.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m done,&rdquo; said Burnett, springing up and winding his lacey
+draperies about his manly form. &ldquo;Come on yourself; and once settled and
+smoking, let us canvass the question and agree with Clover.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You know there are nights about town and nights about town,&rdquo; said
+Clover, as they climbed the staircase. &ldquo;I do not anticipate that Aunt
+Mary will bring up with a round turn in the police station, as her young
+relative once did.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Well, that&rsquo;s some comfort,&rdquo; said Mitchell. &ldquo;I did not
+feel sure as to just where you did mean her to bring up. You will perhaps allow
+me to remark that making a night of it with Aunt Mary in tow is a subject that
+really is provocative of mature reflection. Making a night of it is a frothy
+sort of a proposition in which our beloved aunty may not beat up to quite the
+buoyancy of you and me.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+As he finished this sage remark they all re-entered the library and grouped
+themselves around the table of smoking things.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;That&rsquo;s what I say,&rdquo; said Jack. &ldquo;I think she&rsquo;s
+much more likely to beat out than to beat up&mdash;I must say.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll bet you she doesn&rsquo;t,&rdquo; cried Burnett eagerly.
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll bet five dollars that she doesn&rsquo;t.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I declare,&rdquo; said Clover, &ldquo;what a thing a backer is to be
+sure. I feel positive that Aunt Mary will go through with it now. I had my
+doubts before, but never now. Six to five on Aunt Mary for the Three-year-old
+Stakes.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;The best way is to hit a happy medium,&rdquo; said Mitchell
+thoughtfully, scratching a match for the lighting of his new-rolled cigarette.
+&ldquo;I think the wisest thing would be for us just to take Aunt Mary and
+sally forth and then keep it up until she must be put to bed. What say?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said Jack, reflectively, &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t suppose that
+taking it that way, it would really be any worse than the other
+nights&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Worse!&rdquo; cried Clover. &ldquo;Hear him!&mdash;slandering those
+brilliant occasions, everyone of which is a jewel in the crown of Aunt
+Mary&rsquo;s bonnet.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;We&rsquo;ll begin by dining out,&rdquo; said Burnett. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll
+give the dinner. One of the souvenir kind of affairs. A white mouse for every
+man and a canary bird for the lady. We&rsquo;ll have a private room and
+speeches and I&rsquo;ll get megaphones so we can make her hear without
+bustin&rsquo;.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;My dear boy,&rdquo; said Mitchell, &ldquo;where is this private room to
+be in which the party can converse through megaphones? I had two deaf uncles
+once who played cribbage with megaphones, but they were influential and the
+rest of the family were poor. Circumstances alter cases. I ask again where you
+can get a private dining-room for the use of five people and four
+megaphones?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll see,&rdquo; said Burnett; &ldquo;I wish,&rdquo; he added
+irritably, &ldquo;that you&rsquo;d wait until I finished before beginning to
+smash in like that, you knock everything out of my head.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It&rsquo;ll do you good to have a little something knocked out of
+you,&rdquo; said Mitchell gently. &ldquo;It may enlarge your premises, give you
+a spare room somewhere, so to speak. I should think that you&rsquo;d need some
+spare room somewhere after such a breakfast.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll tell you what I think;&rdquo; said Clover. &ldquo;I think
+it&rsquo;s a great scheme. It&rsquo;s a sort of pull-in-and-out, field-glass
+species of idea. We can develop it or we can shut it off; in other words, we
+can parade Aunt Mary or bring her home just when we darn please.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;That&rsquo;s what I said,&rdquo; said Burnett. &ldquo;Begin with my
+dinner, white mice and all, and when all is going just let it slide until it
+seems about time to slide off.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Mitchell dryly, &ldquo;it&rsquo;s always a good plan to
+slide on until you slide off. It would be so easy to reverse the game.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;And then, too,&mdash;&rdquo; began Burnett.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Excuse me,&rdquo; said a voice at the door,&mdash;a woman&rsquo;s voice
+this time.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+It was Janice, very pretty in her black dress and white decorations, hands in
+pockets, smile on lips.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What&rsquo;s up now?&rdquo; the last speaker interrupted himself to ask,
+&ldquo;Aunt Mary?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;No, she&rsquo;s not up,&rdquo; said the maid; &ldquo;but she&rsquo;s
+awake and wants to know about the picnic.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;There, what did I say!&rdquo; cried Burnett; &ldquo;isn&rsquo;t she a
+hero? I tell you Aunt Mary&rsquo;d fight in the last ditch&mdash;she&rsquo;d
+never surrender! She&rsquo;s one of those dead-at-the-gun chaps. I&rsquo;m
+proud to think we have known the companionship of joint yachting
+results.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;She says she feels as well as ever,&rdquo; said Janice, opening her eyes
+a trifle as she noted Burnett&rsquo;s pink silk negligée, &ldquo;and wishes to
+know when you want to start.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Bravo,&rdquo; said Mitchell; &ldquo;I, too, am fired by this exposition
+of pluck. I like spirit. She reminds me of the horse who was turned out to
+grass and then suddenly broke the world&rsquo;s record.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What horse was that?&rdquo; asked Burnett.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Pegasus,&rdquo; said Mitchell cruelly; &ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t say what
+kind of a record he broke, did I?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What shall I tell Miss Watkins?&rdquo; asked the maid.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack, who had risen at her entrance and gone to the window, faced around here
+and said:
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Tell her that if she&rsquo;ll dress we&rsquo;ll go out bonnet-shooting
+and afterwards drive in the park.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Janice hesitated.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;She will surely ask where you are to dine,&rdquo; said she,
+half-smiling.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack looked at the crowd.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Fellows,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;we must save up for to-morrow&rsquo;s
+blow-out; suppose you let Mitchell and me dine Aunt Mary somewhere very
+tranquilly to-night and we&rsquo;ll get her home by eleven.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes, do,&rdquo; said Janice, with sudden earnest entreaty.
+&ldquo;Honestly, there is a limit.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Of course, there is a limit,&rdquo; said Mitchell. &ldquo;Even cities
+have their limits. This one tried to be an exception, but San Francisco yelled
+&lsquo;Keep off&rsquo; and she drew in her claws again. Aunt Mary, possessing
+many points in common with New York, also possesses that. She has limits. Her
+limits took in more than we bargained for,&mdash;for they have taken us into
+the bargain. Still they are there, and we bow to necessity. A cheerful drive, a
+quiet tea, early to bed. And <i>pax vobiscum</i>.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;No wonder,&rdquo; said Burnett, &ldquo;it&rsquo;s easy for you to agree
+when you&rsquo;re to be one of the dinner party.&rdquo; &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t
+mind being left out,&rdquo; said Clover contentedly. &ldquo;I shall sit on the
+sofa and whisper to &lsquo;the one behind.&rsquo; Whispering is an art that I
+have almost forgotten, but inspired by that pink&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Then I&rsquo;ll tell Miss Watkins to dress for the going out,&rdquo;
+said Janice, pointedly addressing herself to Jack.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes, please do.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The maid left the room and went upstairs. Aunt Mary was tossing about on her
+pillow.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Well, what&rsquo;s it to be?&rdquo; she asked instantly.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;The storm has made it too wet to picnic,&rdquo; replied Janice.
+&ldquo;Mr. Denham wants to take you to drive and afterwards you and Mr.
+Mitchell and he are to dine&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;And Burnett and Clover?&rdquo; cried Aunt Mary in appalled interruption;
+&ldquo;where are they goin&rsquo;?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Really, I don&rsquo;t know.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t like the idea,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary; &ldquo;we&rsquo;d
+ought to all be together. I never did approve of splittin&rsquo; up in small
+parties. Did Jack say anythin&rsquo; about my gettin&rsquo; another
+bonnet?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes, he thought that you would go to a milliner first.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know about lookin&rsquo; sillier,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary.
+&ldquo;Strikes me a woman can&rsquo;t look more foolish than she does without a
+bonnet. However, I don&rsquo;t feel like makin&rsquo; a fuss over
+anythin&rsquo; to-day. I&rsquo;ve had a good rest and I feel fine. I&rsquo;ll
+dress and go out with Jack, an&rsquo; I know one thing, I&rsquo;ll enjoy every
+minute I can, for this week is goin&rsquo; like lightnin&rsquo; and when
+it&rsquo;s over&mdash;well, you never saw Lucinda, so it&rsquo;s no use
+tryin&rsquo; to make you understand, but&mdash;&rdquo; she drew a long breath
+and shook her head meaningly.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Janice did not reply. She busied herself with the cares of the toilet of her
+mistress, and when that was complete the carriage was summoned for the shopping
+tour.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack saw that the bonnet was attended to first of all and then they went to
+another store and purchased a scarf pin for Joshua and a workbox for Lucinda.
+After that Aunt Mary decided that she wanted her four friends each to have a
+souvenir of her visit, so she insisted upon being conducted to that gorgeous
+establishment which is lighted with diamonds instead of electricity and ordered
+four dressing-cases to be constructed, everything with gold tops, to be
+engraved with the proper initials and also the inscription, &ldquo;from M.W. in
+memory of N.Y.&rdquo; Jack rather protested at this, asking her if she realized
+what the engraving would come to.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary recklessly and lavishly.
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t care what it comes to either. It&rsquo;s comin&rsquo; to
+me, anyhow, ain&rsquo;t it? I rather think so. Seems likely.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The clerk took down the order, and then as he was ushering them door-wards he
+fell by the wayside and craved permission to show some tiaras of emeralds and
+some pearl dog-collars. Jack rebelled.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You don&rsquo;t want any of those,&rdquo; he exclaimed, trying to propel
+her by.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I ain&rsquo;t so sure,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary. &ldquo;I might have a dog
+some day.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+But her nephew got her back into their conveyance, and they drove away. It was
+so late that they could not consider the park and so had to make a tour of
+Fifth Avenue to use up the time left before dinner. Then when they headed
+toward the café they were delighted to observe Mitchell awaiting them just
+where he was to have been.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I see him,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary. &ldquo;My! I&rsquo;d know him as far
+off as I&rsquo;d know anybody.&rdquo; But then she sighed. &ldquo;I wish the
+others were there, too,&rdquo; she said sadly; &ldquo;seems awful&mdash;just
+three of us.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The dinner which followed echoed her sentiment. It was a very nice dinner, but
+painfully quiet, and Aunt Mary grew very restless.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Seems like wastin&rsquo; time, anyhow,&rdquo; she said uneasily.
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t see why the others didn&rsquo;t come. Well, can&rsquo;t we
+go to Coney Island or the Statue of Liberty or somewhere when we&rsquo;re
+through?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Mitchell looked at Jack.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Why, you see, Aunt Mary,&rdquo; the latter promptly shrieked, &ldquo;we
+thought we&rsquo;d be good and go home early and sort of rest up to-night so as
+to have a high old time to-morrow.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary&rsquo;s face, which had fallen during the first part of their speech,
+brightened up at the last words.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What are we goin&rsquo; to do?&rdquo; she inquired with unfeigned
+interest.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Burnett&rsquo;s going to give us a dinner,&rdquo; Jack answered,
+&ldquo;and then afterwards we&rsquo;re going to help you see the town.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh!&rdquo; said Aunt Mary. A pleasant gleam fled over her face.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I never was a great believer in bein&rsquo; out nights,&rdquo; she said,
+&ldquo;but I guess I&rsquo;ll make an exception to-morrow. I might as well be
+doin&rsquo; that as anythin&rsquo;, I presume. Maybe better&mdash;very likely
+better.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, very much better,&rdquo; said Mitchell. &ldquo;It is the exceptions
+that furnish all the oil in life&rsquo;s machinery. The exceptions not only
+generally prove too much for the rule, but they also generally prevent the rule
+from proving too much for us. They&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But I don&rsquo;t see why we couldn&rsquo;t go to two or three
+vaudevilles to-night, too,&rdquo; said the old lady, suddenly. &ldquo;I feel so
+sort of ready-for-anythin&rsquo;.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You always feel that way, Miss Watkins,&rdquo; screamed Mitchell.
+&ldquo;It is we that are the blind and the halt. You are ever fresh, but we
+falter and faint. You see it&rsquo;s you that go out, but it&rsquo;s we that
+you get back. You&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;We could go to one vaudeville, anyway,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary
+abstractedly; &ldquo;an&rsquo; if we saw any places that looked lively we could
+stop a few minutes there on our way back. I&rsquo;ve never been into lots of
+things here.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack looked at Mitchell this time.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m sorry, Miss Watkins,&rdquo; he roared, &ldquo;but <i>I&rsquo;ll</i>
+have to go home, anyhow. You see, I&rsquo;m not used to the lively life which
+has been enlivening us all this week and, being weakly in my knees, needs must
+look out.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary looked very disappointed.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Then Jack and I&rsquo;ll go, too,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;but oh! dear,
+I do hate to waste my stay in the city sleepin&rsquo; so much. I can sleep all
+I want after I get home, but&mdash;&rdquo; she paused, and then said with deep
+feeling, &ldquo;Well, you don&rsquo;t understand about Lucinda an&rsquo; so you
+don&rsquo;t understand about anythin&rsquo;.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Both the young men felt truly regretful as they put her into the carriage for
+the return trip. Her deep enjoyment was so genuine and naive that they
+sympathized with her feelings when cut off from it.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+But it was best that this one night should pass unimproved, and so all five
+threw themselves into their respective beds with equal zest and slept&mdash;and
+slept&mdash;and slept.
+</p>
+
+</div><!--end chapter-->
+
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<h2><a name="chap17"></a>Chapter Seventeen<br/>
+Aunt Mary&rsquo;s Night About Town</h2>
+
+<p>
+The next day came up out of the ocean fair and warm, and when it drew toward
+later afternoon no more propitious night for setting forth ever happened.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+It was undeniably a night to be remembered. And Aunt Mary&rsquo;s entertainers
+drew in deep breaths as they girded themselves for the conflict. They certainly
+intended to do themselves proud and on top of all the lesser &ldquo;times of
+her life&rdquo; to pile the one pre-eminent which should rest pre-eminent
+forever. Aunt Mary had been gay in the first part of the week,&mdash;gayer and
+gayer as the week progressed, but that final crowning night was indubitably the
+gayest of all. If you doubt this read on&mdash;read on&mdash;and be convinced.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+They began with Burnett&rsquo;s dinner in the private room. No matter where the
+private room was, for it really wasn&rsquo;t a private room at all&mdash;it was
+a suite of rooms borrowed and arranged especially for that one occasion. They
+gathered there at eight o&rsquo;clock and began with oysters served on a large
+brass tray in a half-dim Turkish room where incense sticks burned about and
+queer daggers held up the curtains. The oysters were served on their arrival
+and the megaphones stood like extinguishers over each with the name cards tied
+to the small end. The effect was really unique. Aunt Mary had one, too, and
+they were all rejoiced at her delight in the scheme, and a few seconds after
+they were doubly rejoiced over its success for no one had to speak
+loud&mdash;the megaphones did it all, producing a lovely clamor which deafened
+all those who could hear and caused Aunt Mary to feel that she heard with the
+rest.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Amidst the cheerful din they exchanged such very wild remarks as oysters always
+inspire and each and all were mutually content at the effect thereof. Then they
+finished, and Burnett rose at once, flung back the portières, and led them in
+upon their soup which stood smoking on a large card table in the next room.
+There were boutonnières with the soup, and violets for Aunt Mary, and again
+they used the megaphones and again the conversation partook of the customary
+conversation which soup produces.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The soup finished, Burnett jumped up again and threw back other portières and
+they all moved out into a dining-room, with its table spread with a substantial
+dinner. This time it was the real thing. Candelabra, ice-pails, etc.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary had a parrot in a gilt tower, and all the men had white mice in
+houses shaped like hat-boxes. Mitchell&rsquo;s seat was flanked with wine
+coolers, and Burnett&rsquo;s, too. There was all that they could desire to eat
+and drink and more. The feast began, and it was grand and glorious.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll tell you what,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary, in the midst of the
+revel, &ldquo;if this is what it means in papers when it speaks of high
+livin&rsquo;, I don&rsquo;t blame &rsquo;em for bein&rsquo; willin&rsquo; to
+die of it young. One week like this is worth ten years with Lucinda. Twenty. A
+whole life.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Say, Jack,&rdquo; said Burnett in an undertone, &ldquo;let&rsquo;s have
+Lucinda come to town next and see the effect on her.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Miss Watkins,&rdquo; said Clover through his megaphone, &ldquo;as a mark
+of my affection I beg to offer you my white mouse. Do you accept?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, I don&rsquo;t want to go back to the house yet,&rdquo; said Aunt
+Mary, much disturbed. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s too soon.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;We won&rsquo;t go home till morning,&rdquo; said Burnett. &ldquo;Not by
+a long shot. Here, Mitchell, give us a speech. Home! we don&rsquo;t want to
+<i>drink</i> to it, but we do want to drink to it <i>here</i>.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Home!&rdquo; said Mitchell, rising with his glass in his hand.
+&ldquo;Home! here&rsquo;s to home, and I&rsquo;ll drink to it in anything but a
+cab. Home, Aunt Mary and gentlemen, is the place where one may go when every
+other place is closed. As long as any other place is open, however, I do not
+recommend going home. The contrast is always sharp and bitter and to be avoided
+until unavoidable circumstances, over which we possess but little control,
+force us to give our address to the man who drives and let him drive us to the
+last place on the map. And so I drink to that last place&mdash;home; and
+here&rsquo;s to it, not now, but a good deal later, and not then unless what
+must be has got to result.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Mitchell paused and they all drank.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Me next now,&rdquo; exclaimed Burnett, jumping to his feet.
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m going to make a speech at my own dinner, and as a good speech
+is best made off-hand, I&rsquo;ve picked out an off-hand subject and arise to
+give you &lsquo;Lucinda.&rsquo; Having never met her I feel able to say nothing
+good about her and I call the company present to witness that I shall say
+nothing bad either. I gather from what I have had a stray chance of picking up
+that Lucinda is all that she should be, and nothing frisqué. The latter quality
+is too bad, but it&rsquo;s not my fault. Therefore, I say again
+&lsquo;Lucinda&rsquo;, and here&rsquo;s to her very good health. May she never
+regret that Fate has given her no chance to have anything to regret.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary applauded this speech heartily even if she hadn&rsquo;t quite caught
+the whole of it and had no idea of whom it was about.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Who&rsquo;s goin&rsquo; to speak now?&rdquo; she asked anxiously.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I am,&rdquo; said Clover modestly. &ldquo;I rise to propose the health
+of our honored guest, Miss Watkins. We all know what kin she is to one of us,
+and we all weep that she didn&rsquo;t do as well by the rest of us. Aunt Mary!
+Glasses down!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You can&rsquo;t drink this, you know, Aunt Mary,&rdquo; said
+Jack,&mdash;&ldquo;it&rsquo;s bad taste to drink to yourself.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t want to drink,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary,
+beaming,&mdash;&ldquo;I like to watch you.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Here&rsquo;s to Aunt Mary&rsquo;s liking to watch us!&rdquo; cried
+Clover.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;No,&rdquo; said Burnett rising, &ldquo;don&rsquo;t. It&rsquo;s time to
+go and get the salad now.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;We&rsquo;d ought to have the automobile for this party,&rdquo; said Aunt
+Mary, and everyone applauded her idea, as they rose and gathered up their
+belongings.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+It was a droll procession of men with mice and a lady with a parrot that got
+under way and moved in among the Japanese fans and swinging lanterns of the
+next room in the suite of Burnett&rsquo;s friend. Five little individual tables
+were laid there and on each table lay a Japanese creature of some sort
+which&mdash;being opened somewhere&mdash;revealed salad within.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Well, I never did!&rdquo; exclaimed the guest; &ldquo;this dinner ought
+to be put in a book!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;We&rsquo;ll put it in ourselves first,&rdquo; said Mitchell. &ldquo;I
+never believe in booking any attraction until it has been tried on a select
+few. Burnett having selected me for one of this few, I vote we begin on the
+salad.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+They began forthwith.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary suddenly stopped eating.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Some one called,&rdquo; she said.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It&rsquo;s the parrot,&rdquo; said Jack; &ldquo;I heard him
+before.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What does he say?&rdquo; said Mitchell.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Listen and you&rsquo;ll find out,&rdquo; said Jack.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+They all listened and presently the parrot said solemnly:
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Now see what you&rsquo;ve done!&rdquo; and relapsed into silence.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What does he mean?&rdquo; Aunt Mary asked.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;He&rsquo;s referring to his own affairs,&rdquo; said Burnett;
+&ldquo;come on&mdash;let&rsquo;s get coffee now!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+They all adjourned to a tiny room lined with posters and decorated with pipe
+racks, and there had ice cream in the form of bulls and bears, and coffee of
+the strongest variety. And then cordials and cigarettes.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Now, where shall we go to first?&rdquo; asked Burnett when all were well
+lit up. No one would have guessed that he had ever felt used up in all his life
+before.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;To a roof garden,&rdquo; said Mitchell. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ll go to a roof
+garden first, and then we&rsquo;ll go to more roof gardens, and after that if
+the spirit moves we&rsquo;ll go to yet a few roof gardens in addition.
+We&rsquo;ll show our dear aunt what wonders can be done with roofs, and
+to-morrow she&rsquo;ll wonder what was done with her.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;That&rsquo;s the bill,&rdquo; said Clover, &ldquo;and let&rsquo;s go
+now. I can see from the general manner of my mouse that he&rsquo;s dying to get
+out and make his way in the wide world.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Mine the same,&rdquo; said Mitchell; &ldquo;by George, it worries me to
+see such restless, feverish manners in what I had supposed would be a quiet
+domestic companion. It presages a distracted existence. But come on.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+They all rose.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Where are we goin&rsquo; now?&rdquo; asked Aunt Mary.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;To a roof garden,&rdquo; said Jack, &ldquo;and we&rsquo;re going to take
+the whole menagerie, Aunt Mary. We&rsquo;re going to get put in the papers.
+That&rsquo;s the great stunt,&mdash;to get put in the papers.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But we&rsquo;ll leave the megaphones,&rdquo; said Mitchell. &ldquo;I
+won&rsquo;t go about with a mouse and a megaphone. People might think I looked
+silly. People are so queer.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Put the mouse in the megaphone,&rdquo; suggested Burnett.
+&ldquo;That&rsquo;s the way my mother taught me to pack when I was a kid. You
+put your tooth brush in a shoe, and the shoe in a sleeve and then turn the
+sleeve inside out. Oh, I tell you&mdash;what is home without a
+mother?&mdash;Put the mouse in the megaphone and stop up both ends. What are
+your hands and your mouth for?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Mitchell, &ldquo;I think I see myself so handling a
+megaphone that the mouse doesn&rsquo;t run out either end or into my mouth. My
+mouth is a good mouth and it&rsquo;s served me well and I won&rsquo;t turn it
+over to a mouse at this late day.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Let&rsquo;s keep the mice in their cages,&rdquo; said Clover, and as he
+spoke he dropped his.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Now see what you&rsquo;ve done!&rdquo; said the parrot.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t hurt it,&rdquo; said Clover. &ldquo;Come on now.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes, come on,&rdquo; said Burnett. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s long after ten
+o&rsquo;clock. You want to remember that even roof gardens are not eternally on
+tap.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Well, I&rsquo;m trying to hurry all I can,&rdquo; said Mitchell.
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m the picture of patience scurrying for dear life only unable to
+lay hands on her gloves.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t catch what&rsquo;s the trouble,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary to
+Jack.
+</p>
+
+<div class="fig" style="width:100%;">
+<a name="illus05"></a>
+<img src="images/image05.png" width="363" height="600" alt="[Illustration: ]" />
+<p class="caption">&ldquo;The carriage stopped three hundred feet below the
+level of a roof-garden.&rdquo;</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Nothing&rsquo;s the trouble,&rdquo; said Jack, &ldquo;everything&rsquo;s
+fine and dandy. We&rsquo;re going out now. Time of your life, Aunt Mary, time
+of your life!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+They telephoned for a carriage and all got in. Then Clover slammed the door.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Now see what you&rsquo;ve done!&rdquo; said the parrot.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Is he going to keep saying that?&rdquo; Burnett asked.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know,&rdquo; said Jack. &ldquo;It comes in pretty pat,
+don&rsquo;t it?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Makes me think of my mother,&rdquo; said Clover. &ldquo;I wish it
+wouldn&rsquo;t.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t catch who&rsquo;s sayin&rsquo; what,&rdquo; said Aunt
+Mary.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Nobody&rsquo;s saying anything, Miss Watkins,&rdquo; roared Mitchell;
+&ldquo;we are all talking airy nothings just to pass the time o&rsquo;
+day.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The carriage stopped three hundred feet below the level of a roof garden.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;We get out here,&rdquo; said Burnett.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+They all got out and went up in an elevator.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Seems to be a good many goin&rsquo; to the same place,&rdquo; said Aunt
+Mary.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Mitchell, &ldquo;a good many people generally go to
+places that are great places for a good many people to go to.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You ought not to end with a preposition,&rdquo; said Clover.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;There, I left my ear-trumpet in the carriage!&rdquo; said Aunt Mary.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+There was a pause of consternation. No one spoke except the parrot.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;We know what she&rsquo;s done without your telling us,&rdquo; said
+Clover, addressing the bird. &ldquo;The question is what to do next?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack went back downstairs and found the carriage waiting in hopes of picking up
+another load. He lost no time in personally picking up the ear-trumpet and
+returning to his friends.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then they all proceeded above and bought a table and turned their chairs to the
+stage, where the attraction just at that moment was a quartette of pretty
+girls.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll tell you what we&rsquo;ll do,&rdquo; said Burnett the instant
+the girls began to sing. &ldquo;Let&rsquo;s each tie a card to a mouse and
+present them to the girls!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The suggestion found favor and was followed out to the letter. But when the
+girls were through and the Chinaman who followed them on the programme was also
+over, the pleasures of life in that spot palled upon the party.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, come,&rdquo; said Burnett, &ldquo;let&rsquo;s go somewhere else.
+Let&rsquo;s go out in the air.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+His suggestion found favor. And they sallied forth and visited another roof
+garden, a theater where they saw the last quarter of the fourth act, a place
+where Aunt Mary was given a gondola ride, and a place where she was given
+something in the shape of light refreshments.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then, becoming thirsty, they ordered a few White Horses and Red Horses and the
+Necks of yet other horses, but Aunt Mary declined the horses of all colors and
+Mitchell upheld her.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;That&rsquo;s right,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m a great believer in
+knowing when you&rsquo;ve had enough, and I&rsquo;m sure you&rsquo;ve all had
+so much too much that I know that I must have had enough and that she&rsquo;s
+better off with none at all.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I reckon you&rsquo;re right,&rdquo; said Clover. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve had
+enough, surely. I can&rsquo;t see over my pile of little saucers, and when I
+can&rsquo;t see over my pile of little saucers I&rsquo;m always positive that
+I&rsquo;ve had enough.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack laughed and then ceased laughing and drew down the corners of his mouth.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Why do people sit on chairs?&rdquo; Clover asked just then. &ldquo;Why
+don&rsquo;t everyone sit on the floor? You never feel as if you might slip off
+the floor.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Ah,&rdquo; said Mitchell, &ldquo;if we were not always trying to rise
+above Nature we should all be sitting where Nature intended,&mdash;when we
+weren&rsquo;t swinging by our tails and picking cocoanuts.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Come on and let&rsquo;s go somewhere else,&rdquo; said Burnett.
+&ldquo;Every time I look at somebody it&rsquo;s someone else and that makes me
+nervous.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Now see what you&rsquo;ve done!&rdquo; said the parrot.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Did you know his long suit when you bought him?&rdquo; Clover asked
+Burnett.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;No,&rdquo; said Burnett; &ldquo;they told me that he didn&rsquo;t use
+slang and that was all.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+It was well along in the evening&mdash;or night&mdash;and a brisk discussion
+arose as to where to go next.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll tell you,&rdquo; said Clover, &ldquo;we&rsquo;ll take a ride.
+Let me see what time is it?&mdash;12.30. Just the time for a drive. We&rsquo;ll
+take three cabs and sally forth and drive up and down and back and forth in the
+cool night air.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;And jews-harps!&rdquo; cried Burnett. &ldquo;Oh, I say, there&rsquo;s a
+bully idea! We&rsquo;ll go to a drug store and buy some jews-harps and play on
+them as we drive along. We&rsquo;ll each sing our own tune, and the effect will
+be so novel. Let&rsquo;s do it.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Jews-harps&mdash;&rdquo; said Clover thoughtfully, &ldquo;jews-harps for
+three cabs&mdash;that&rsquo;ll make&mdash;let me see&mdash;that&rsquo;ll
+make&mdash;&rdquo; he hesitated.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, the driver will make the change,&rdquo; said Burnett impatiently.
+&ldquo;Come on. If we&rsquo;re going to have the cabs and jews-harps it&rsquo;s
+time to get out and take the stump in the good cause.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Where&rsquo;s my ear-trumpet?&rdquo; said Aunt Mary,
+blankly,&mdash;&ldquo;it&rsquo;s been left somewhere.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;No, it hasn&rsquo;t,&rdquo; said Mitchell. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s here!
+I&rsquo;m holding it for you. It&rsquo;s much easier holding it than picking it
+up. It seems so slippery to-night.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not going out to get the cabs,&rdquo; said Clover. &ldquo;I
+thought of the idea and someone else must work it out. I&rsquo;m opposed to
+working after time and I call time at midnight.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Mitchell rose with a depressed air.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll go,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I feel the need of a walk. When I
+feel the need of anything I always take it and I&rsquo;ve needed and taken so
+freely to-night that I need to take a walk to&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think it funny to talk that way,&rdquo; said Burnett a
+little heatedly. &ldquo;If you want to get the cabs why get the cabs. I&rsquo;m
+going to get them, too, and I reckon we can get them combined just as easy as
+alone.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I will go with you,&rdquo; said his friend solemnly. &ldquo;I will
+accompany you because I feel the need&mdash;&rdquo; He stopped and turned his
+hat over and over. &ldquo;I know there&rsquo;s a hole to put my head
+into,&rdquo; he declared, &ldquo;but I can&rsquo;t just put my hand&mdash;I
+mean my head&mdash;on to&mdash;I mean, into&mdash;it.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Do you expect to find a brass hand pointing to it?&rdquo; said Burnett
+testily. &ldquo;Come on!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Three cabs and five&mdash;or was it six?&mdash;jews-harps?&rdquo;
+continued Mitchell dreamily. &ldquo;It must have been six, five for we five,
+and one for Lord Chesterfield&mdash;but where is Lord Chesterfield?&rdquo; he
+asked suddenly with a disturbed glance around. &ldquo;I hope he hasn&rsquo;t
+deserted and gone home.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Come on, come on!&rdquo; said Burnett. &ldquo;There won&rsquo;t be a
+sober cab left if we don&rsquo;t hurry while everything is still able to stand
+up.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+This reasoning seemed to alarm Mitchell and he went out with him at once.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;My head feels awfully,&rdquo; said Clover to Jack. &ldquo;It sort of
+grinds and grates&mdash;does yours?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack stared straight ahead and made no reply.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m goin&rsquo; home no more to roam,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary slowly
+and sadly,&mdash;&ldquo;I&rsquo;m goin&rsquo; home no more to roam, no more to
+sin an&rsquo; sorrow. I&rsquo;m goin&rsquo; home no more to
+roam&mdash;I&rsquo;m goin&rsquo; home to-morrow. O hum!&rdquo; She heaved a
+heavy sigh.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Now see what you&rsquo;ve done!&rdquo; said the parrot with emphasis.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Never mind,&rdquo; said Clover bitterly. &ldquo;Better people than you
+have gone home before now; I used to do it myself before I was old enough to
+know worse. Will you excuse me if I say, &lsquo;Damn this buzzing in my
+head?&rsquo;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I know how you feel,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary sympathetically.
+&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t you want me to ring for the porter and have him make up your
+berth right away?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Clover didn&rsquo;t seem to hear. His eyes were roving moodily about the room;
+they looked almost as faded as his mustache.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Seems to me they&rsquo;re gone a long time,&rdquo; said Jack presently,
+twisting a little in his seat. &ldquo;It never takes me so long to get a cab. I
+hold up my hand&mdash;the man stops&mdash;and I get in&mdash;what&rsquo;s the
+matter, Aunt Mary?&rdquo; He asked the question in sudden alarm at seeing Aunt
+Mary bury her face hastily in her handkerchief.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What&rsquo;s the matter?&rdquo; he repeated loudly.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t mind me,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary sobbing. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s
+just that I happened to just think of Lu&mdash;Lu&mdash;Lucinda&mdash;and
+somehow I don&rsquo;t seem to have no strength to bear it.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Split the handkerchief between us,&rdquo; said Clover. &ldquo;I want to
+cry, too, and there&rsquo;s no time like the present for doing what you want to
+do.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Rot!&rdquo; said Jack, &ldquo;look here&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He was interrupted by the return of the embassy, Mitchell bearing the
+jews-harps.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What&rsquo;s the matter?&rdquo; Burnett asked.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Nothing,&rdquo; said Clover; &ldquo;we were so worried over you,
+that&rsquo;s all.&rdquo; Burnett called for the bill and found that he had run
+out of cash; &ldquo;Or maybe I&rsquo;ve had my pocket picked,&rdquo; he
+suggested. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m beginning to be in just the mood in which I always
+get my pocket picked.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack produced a roll of bills and settled for the refreshments. Then they all
+started down stairs as Aunt Mary wouldn&rsquo;t risk an elevator going down.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It&rsquo;s all right comin&rsquo; up,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;but if it
+broke when you were going down where&rsquo;d you be?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;In the elevator,&rdquo; said Clover. &ldquo;I&rsquo;d never jump, I know
+that.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, I&rsquo;ve left my ear-trumpet,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Let&rsquo;s draw lots to see who goes back?&rdquo; Burnett suggested.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+They drew and the lot fell to Clover.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not going back,&rdquo; he said coldly. &ldquo;I haven&rsquo;t
+got the energy. Let her apply the megaphone.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack went back.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then they all got into the street and into the cabs. Aunt Mary and Jack went
+first, Mitchell and Burnett second, and Clover brought up the rear alone.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+They set off and it must be admitted that the effect of the three cabs going
+single file one after another with their five occupants giving forth a most
+imperfect version of his or her favorite tune, was at once novel and
+awe-inspiring. But like all sweet things upon this earth the concert was not of
+long endurance. It was only a few minutes before the duos ceased utterly to duo
+and the soloist in the rear fell sound asleep. For several blocks there was a
+mournful and tell-tale lack of harmony upon the air and then the three young
+men seemed to have exhausted their mouths and all lapsed into a more or less
+conscious state of quietude.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Only Aunt Mary was indefatigable. Like Cleopatra, age seemed to have no power
+to stale her infinite variety, and leaning back in her own corner she continued
+to placidly and peacefully intone with disregard for time and tune which never
+ruffled a wrinkle. She hadn&rsquo;t played on a jews-harp in sixty years, and
+being deaf she was pleasantly astonished at how well she still did it. Jack
+leaned in his corner with folded arms; he was deeply conscious of wishing that
+it was the next day&mdash;any day&mdash;any other day&mdash;for the week had
+been a wearing one and he could not but be mortally glad that it was so nearly
+over. The task of fitting the plan of Aunt Mary&rsquo;s revelries to the
+measure of her personal capacity had been a very hard one and his soul panted
+for relief therefrom. It is one thing to undertake a task and another thing to
+persevere to its successful completion. Aunt Mary&rsquo;s nephew was
+tired&mdash;very tired.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+A little later he felt a weight against him; he looked; it was Aunt
+Mary&rsquo;s head,&mdash;she was oblivious there on his bosom.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He heard a voice; it was the parrot.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Now see what you&rsquo;ve done,&rdquo; it said in sepulchral tones.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+They reached the house, bore the honored guest within, and delivered her to
+Janice.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You can have that parrot,&rdquo; Jack called back to the cabman.
+&ldquo;He&rsquo;s guaranteed against slang.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The cabman drove away.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Janice received them with a look which might have been construed in many ways,
+but they were all far past construing and the look fell to the ground unheeded.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And again Aunt Mary was tucked carefully up to dream herself rested once more.
+</p>
+
+</div><!--end chapter-->
+
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<h2><a name="chap18"></a>Chapter Eighteen<br/>
+A Departure And A Return</h2>
+
+<p>
+The next day poor Aunt Mary had to undergo the ordeal of being obliged to turn
+her face away from all those joys which had so suddenly and brilliantly altered
+the hues of life for her. It pretty nearly used her up. She took her reviving
+decoction with tears standing in her eyes,&mdash;and sat down the glass with a
+bursting sigh. &ldquo;My, but I wish I knew when I&rsquo;d be taking any more
+of this?&rdquo; she said to Janice.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, you&rsquo;ll come back to the city some day,&rdquo; said the maid
+hopefully.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Come back!&rdquo; said Aunt Mary. &ldquo;Well, I should say that I would
+come back! Why&mdash;I&mdash;?&rdquo; she stopped suddenly, &ldquo;never
+mind,&rdquo; she said after a minute, &ldquo;only you&rsquo;ll see that
+I&rsquo;ll come back. Pretty surely&mdash;pretty positively.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Janice was folding her dresses into the small trunk. Aunt Mary contemplated the
+green plaid waist with an air of mournful reflection.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I believe I&rsquo;ll always keep that waist rolled away,&rdquo; she
+murmured. &ldquo;I shall like to shake it out once in a while to remind me of
+things.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Hand me my purse,&rdquo; she said to the maid five minutes afterwards.
+&ldquo;Here&rsquo;s twenty-five dollars an&rsquo; I want you to take it and get
+anythin&rsquo; you like with it.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But that&rsquo;s too much,&rdquo; Janice cried, putting her hands behind
+her and shaking her head.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Take it,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary imperiously; &ldquo;you&rsquo;re well
+worth it.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t like to&mdash;truly,&rdquo; said the girl.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Take it,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary sternly.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+So Janice took it and thanked her.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The train went about 4 p.m., and it seemed wise to give the traveller a quiet
+luncheon in her own room and rally her escort afterwards.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When she had eaten and drank she sighed again and thoughtfully folded her
+napkin.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve had a nice time,&rdquo; she said, gazing fixedly out of the
+window. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve had a nice time, and I guess those young men have
+enjoyed it, too. I rather think my bein&rsquo; here has given them a chance to
+go to a good many places where they&rsquo;d never have thought of goin&rsquo;
+alone. I&rsquo;m pretty sure of it.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Janice made no reply.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But it&rsquo;s all over now,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary with something that
+sounded suspiciously like a sob in her voice, &ldquo;an&rsquo; I haven&rsquo;t
+got only just one consolation left an&rsquo; that&rsquo;s&mdash;&rdquo; again
+she paused.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Janice carried the tray away and the next minute they all burst in bearing
+their parting gifts in their arms.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The gifts were an indiscriminate collection of flowers, candy, magazines,
+books, etc.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary opened her closet door and showed the four dressing-cases. Everyone
+but Jack was mightily surprised and everyone was mightily pleased. The room
+looked like Christmas, and the faces, too.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I shall die with my head on the hair brush,&rdquo; Clover declared, and
+Mitchell went down on his knees and kissed Aunt Mary&rsquo;s hand.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You must all come an&rsquo; see me if you ever go anywhere near,&rdquo;
+said the old lady. &ldquo;Now promise.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;We promise,&rdquo; they yelled in unison, and then they asked in
+beautiful rhythm &ldquo;What&rsquo;s the matter with Aunt Mary?&rdquo; and
+yelled the answer &ldquo;She&rsquo;s all right!&rdquo; with a fervor that
+nearly blew out the window.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I declare,&rdquo; Aunt Mary exclaimed, as the echoes settled back among
+the furniture, &ldquo;when I think of Lucinda seems as if&mdash;&rdquo; she
+paused; further speech was for the nonce impossible.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;The carriages are ready,&rdquo; Janice announced at the door, and from
+then until they reached the train all was confusion and bustle.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Only the train whistle could drown the farewells which they poured into her
+ear-trumpet, and when they could hover in her drawing-room no longer they stood
+outside the window as long as the window was there to stand outside of. And
+then they watched it until it was out of sight, and after that turned solemnly
+away.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;By grab!&rdquo; said Burnett, &ldquo;I think she ought to leave us <i>all</i>
+fortunes. I never was so completely done up in my life.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;My throat&rsquo;s blistered,&rdquo; said Clover feebly; &ldquo;I&rsquo;m
+going to stand on my head and gargle with salve until my throat&rsquo;s
+healed.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I shall never shine on the team again,&rdquo; said Mitchell. &ldquo;I
+shall hire out for bleacher work. He who has successfully conversed with Aunt
+Mary need not fear to attack a Wagner Opera single-handed.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack did not say anything. His heart was athirst for Mrs. Rosscott.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She was back in her own library the next night, and he rushed thither as soon
+as his first day&rsquo;s labor was over. She was prettier and her eyes were
+sweeter and brighter than ever as she rose to meet him and held out&mdash;first
+one hand, and then both. He took the one hand and then the two and the longing
+that possessed him was so overwhelming that only his acute consideration for
+all she was to him kept him from taking more yet.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;And the week&rsquo;s over,&rdquo; she said, when she had dragged her
+fingers out of his and gone and nestled down upon the divan, among the pillows
+that rivaled each other in their attempts to get closer to her, &ldquo;the
+week&rsquo;s all over and our aunt is gone.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; he said, rolling his favorite chair up near to her seat,
+&ldquo;all is over and well over.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She smiled and he smiled too.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;She must have enjoyed it,&rdquo; she said thoughtfully.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Enjoyed it!&rdquo; said Jack. &ldquo;She won&rsquo;t like Paradise in
+comparison.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;And you&rsquo;ve been a good boy,&rdquo; said Mrs. Rosscott, regarding
+him merrily. &ldquo;You&rsquo;ve played your part well.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He rose to his feet and put his hand to his temple.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I salute my general,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I was well trained in the
+maneuver.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It&rsquo;s odd,&rdquo; said Mrs. Rosscott thoughtfully. &ldquo;It was
+really so simple. We are only women after all, whether it is I&mdash;or Aunt
+Mary&mdash;or all the rest of the world. We do so crave the knowledge that
+someone cares for us&mdash;for our hours&mdash;for our pleasures. It
+isn&rsquo;t the bonbons&mdash;it&rsquo;s that someone troubled to buy the
+bonbons because he thought that they would please us.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Doesn&rsquo;t a man have the same feeling?&rdquo; Jack asked. &ldquo;It
+isn&rsquo;t the tea we come for&mdash;it&rsquo;s the knowledge that someone
+bothers to make it and sugar it and cream it.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I wasn&rsquo;t laughing,&rdquo; said she.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I wasn&rsquo;t laughing either,&rdquo; said he.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But it&rsquo;s true,&rdquo; she went on, &ldquo;and I think the solution
+of many unhappy puzzles lies there. Don&rsquo;t forget if you ever have a wife
+to pay lots of attention to her.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I always have paid lots of attention to her, haven&rsquo;t I?&rdquo; he
+demanded.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Mrs. Rosscott shook her head.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;We won&rsquo;t discuss that,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ll stick
+to Aunt Mary. Aunt Mary is a rock whose foundation is firm; when it comes to
+your relations toward other women&mdash;&rdquo; she stopped, shrugging her
+shoulders, and he understood.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But it&rsquo;s going to come out all right now, I&rsquo;m sure,&rdquo;
+she went on after a minute, &ldquo;and I&rsquo;m so glad&mdash;so very
+glad&mdash;that the chance was given to me to right the wrong that I was the
+cause of.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<div class="fig" style="width:100%;">
+<a name="illus06"></a>
+<img src="images/image06.png" width="480" height="374" alt="[Illustration: ]" />
+<p class="caption">&ldquo;&lsquo;And now the fun&rsquo;s all over and the work
+begins,&rsquo; she said, looking down.&rdquo;</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>
+He looked at her and his eyes almost burned, they were so strong in their
+leaping desire to fling himself at her feet and adore her goodness and
+sweetness and worldliness and wisdom from that vantage-ground of worship.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She choked a little at the glance and put her hands together in her lap with a
+quick catching at self-control.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;And now the fun&rsquo;s all over and the work begins,&rdquo; she said,
+looking down.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I know that,&rdquo; he asseverated.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She lifted up her eyes and looked at him so very kindly. And then&mdash;after a
+little pause to gain command of word and thought she spoke again, slowly.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Listen,&rdquo; she said, this time very softly, but very seriously.
+&ldquo;I want to tell you one thing and I want to tell it to you now. I had a
+good and sufficient reason for helping you out with Aunt Mary;
+but&mdash;&rdquo; She hesitated.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But?&rdquo; he asked.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But I&rsquo;ve no reason at all for helping your Aunt Mary out with you,
+unless you prove worthy of her, and&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;And?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She looked at him, and shook her head slightly.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I won&rsquo;t say &lsquo;and of me,&rsquo;&rdquo; she said finally.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Why not?&rdquo; he asked, a storm of tempestuous impatience raging
+behind his lips. &ldquo;Do say it,&rdquo; he pleaded.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;No, I can&rsquo;t say it. It wouldn&rsquo;t be right. I don&rsquo;t mean
+it, and so I won&rsquo;t say it. I&rsquo;ll only tell you that I can promise
+nothing as things are, and that unless you go at life from now on with a
+tremendous energy I never shall even dream of a possible promising.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He rose to his feet and towered above her, tall and straight and handsome, and
+very grave.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;All right,&rdquo; he said simply. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll remember.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Ever so much later that evening he rose to bid her good-night.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Whatever comes, you&rsquo;ve been an angel to me,&rdquo; he said in that
+hasty five seconds that her hand was his.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Shall I ever regret it?&rdquo; she asked, looking up to his eyes.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Never,&rdquo; he declared earnestly, &ldquo;never, never. I can swear
+that, and I shall be able to swear the same thing when I&rsquo;m as old as my
+Aunt Mary.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Mrs. Rosscott lowered her eyes.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Who could ask more?&rdquo; she said softly.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I could,&rdquo; said Jack&mdash;&ldquo;but I&rsquo;ll wait first.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+</div><!--end chapter-->
+
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<h2><a name="chap19"></a>Chapter Nineteen<br/>
+Aunt Mary&rsquo;s Return</h2>
+
+<p>
+Joshua was at the station to meet his mistress, and Lucinda, full to the brim
+with curiosity, sat on the back seat of the carryall.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary quitted the train with a dignity which was sufficiently overpowering
+to counteract the effect of her bonnet&rsquo;s being somewhat awry. She greeted
+Joshua with a chill perfunctoriness that was indescribable, and her glance
+glided completely over Lucinda and faded away in the open country on the
+further side of her.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lucinda did not care. Lucinda was of a hardy stock and stormy glances neither
+bent nor broke her spirit.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m glad to see you come back looking so well,&rdquo; she
+screamed, when Aunt Mary was in and they were off.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary raised her eyebrows in a manner that appeared a trifle indignant, and
+riveted her gaze on the hindquarters of the horse.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I thought it was more like heaven myself,&rdquo; she said coldly.
+&ldquo;Not that your opinion matters any to me, Lucinda.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then she leaned forward and poked the driver.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Joshua!&rdquo; she said.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Joshua jumped in his seat at the asperity of her poke and her tone.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What is it?&rdquo; he said hastily.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Jus&rsquo; &rsquo;s soon as we get home I want you to take the
+saw&mdash;that little, sharp one, you know&mdash;and dock Billy&rsquo;s tail.
+Cut it off as close as you can; do you hear?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I hear,&rdquo; was the startled answer.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Did you have a good time?&rdquo; Lucinda had the temerity to ask, after
+a minute.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I guess I could if I tried,&rdquo; the lady replied; &ldquo;but
+I&rsquo;m too tired to try now.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;How did you leave Mr. Jack?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I couldn&rsquo;t stay forever, could I?&rdquo; asked the traveler
+impatiently. &ldquo;I thought that a week was long enough for the first time,
+anyhow.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lucinda subsided and the rest of the drive was taken in silence. When they
+reached the house Aunt Mary enveloped everything in one glance of blended
+weariness, scorn and contempt, and then made short work of getting to bed,
+where she slept the luxurious and dreamless sleep of the unjust until late that
+afternoon.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;My, but she&rsquo;s come back a terror!&rdquo; Lucinda cried to Joshua
+in a high whisper when he brought in the trunk. &ldquo;She looks like
+nothin&rsquo; was goin&rsquo; to be good enough for her from now on.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Nothin&rsquo; ain&rsquo;t goin&rsquo; to be good enough for her,&rdquo;
+said Joshua calmly.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What are we goin&rsquo; to do, then?&rdquo; asked Lucinda.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;We&rsquo;ll have enough to do,&rdquo; said Joshua, in a tone that was
+portentous in the extreme, and then he placed the trunk in its proper position
+for unpacking and went away, leaving Lucinda to unpack it.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary awoke just as the faithful servant was unrolling the green plaid
+waist, and the instant that she spoke it was plain that her attitude toward
+life in general was become strangely and vigorously changed, and that for
+Lucinda the rack was to be newly oiled and freshly racking.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+This attitude was not in any degree altered by the unexpected arrival of
+Arethusa that evening. Strange tales had reached Arethusa&rsquo;s ears, and she
+had flown on the wings of steam and coal dust to see what under the sun it all
+meant. Aunt Mary was not one bit rejoiced to see her and the glare which she
+directed over the edge of the counterpane bore testimony to the truth of this
+statement.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Whatever did you come for?&rdquo; she demanded inhospitably.
+&ldquo;Lucinda didn&rsquo;t send for you, did she?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Arethusa screamed the best face that she could onto her visit, but Aunt Mary
+listened with an inattention that was anything but flattering.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t feel like talkin&rsquo; over my trip,&rdquo; she said,
+when she saw her niece&rsquo;s lips cease to move. &ldquo;Of course I enjoyed
+myself because I was with Jack, but as to what we did an&rsquo; said you
+couldn&rsquo;t understand it all if I did tell you, so what&rsquo;s the use of
+botherin&rsquo;.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Arethusa looked neutral, calm and curious. But Aunt Mary frowned and shook her
+head.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;S&rsquo;long as you&rsquo;re here, though, I suppose you may as well
+make yourself useful,&rdquo; she said a few minutes later. &ldquo;Come to think
+of it, there&rsquo;s an errand I want you to do for me. I want you to go to
+Boston the very first thing to-morrow morning an&rsquo; buy me some
+cotton.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Arethusa stared blankly.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said the aunt, &ldquo;if you can&rsquo;t hear, you&rsquo;d
+better take my ear-trumpet and I&rsquo;ll say it over again.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What kind of cotton?&rdquo; Arethusa yelled.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Not <i>stockin&rsquo;s!</i>&rdquo; said Aunt Mary; &ldquo;Cotton! Cotton!
+C-O-T-T-O-N! It beats the Dutch how deaf everyone is gettin&rsquo;, an&rsquo;
+if I had your ears in particular, Arethusa, I&rsquo;d certainly hire a
+carpenter to get at &rsquo;em with a bit-stalk. Jus&rsquo;s if you didn&rsquo;t
+know as well as I do how many stockin&rsquo;s I&rsquo;ve got already! I should
+think you&rsquo;d quit bein&rsquo; so heedless, an&rsquo; use your commonsense,
+anyhow. I&rsquo;ve found commonsense a very handy thing in talkin&rsquo;
+always. Always.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Arethusa launched herself full tilt into the ear-trumpet.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What&mdash;kind&mdash;of&mdash;cotton?&rdquo; she asked in that key of
+voice which makes the crowd pause in a panic.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary looked disgusted.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;The Boston kind,&rdquo; she said, nipping her lips.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Arethusa took a double hitch on her larynx, and tried again.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Do you mean thread?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary&rsquo;s disgust deepened visibly.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;If I meant silk I guess I wouldn&rsquo;t say cotton. I might just happen
+to say silk. I&rsquo;ve been in the habit of saying silk when I meant silk and
+cotton when I meant cotton, for quite a number of years, and I might not have
+changed to-day&mdash;I might just happen to not have. I might not
+have&mdash;maybe.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Arethusa withered under this bitter irony.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;How many spools do you want?&rdquo; she asked in a meek but piercing
+howl.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t care,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary loftily. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t
+care how many&mdash;or what color&mdash;or what number. I just want some Boston
+cotton, and I want to see you settin&rsquo; out to get it pretty promptly
+to-morrow morning.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But if you only want some cotton,&rdquo; Arethusa yelled, with a force
+which sent crimson waves all over her, &ldquo;why can&rsquo;t I get it in the
+village?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary shot one look at her niece and the latter felt the concussion.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Because&mdash;I&mdash;want&mdash;you&mdash;to&mdash;get&mdash;it&mdash;
+in&mdash;Boston,&rdquo; she said, filling the breaks between her words with a
+concentrated essence of acerbity such as even she had never displayed before.
+&ldquo;When I say a thing, I mean it pretty generally. Quite often&mdash;most
+always. I want that cotton and it&rsquo;s to be bought in Boston. There&rsquo;s
+a train that goes in at seven-forty-five, and if you don&rsquo;t favor the idea
+of ridin&rsquo; on it you can take the express that goes by at six-five.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Arethusa pressed her hands very tightly together and carried the discussion no
+further. She went to bed early and rose early the next morning and Joshua drove
+her in town to the seven-forty-five.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It doesn&rsquo;t seem to me that my aunt is very well,&rdquo; the niece
+said during the drive. &ldquo;What do you think?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think anything about her,&rdquo; said Joshua with great
+candor. &ldquo;If I was to give to thinkin&rsquo; I&rsquo;d o&rsquo; moved out
+to Chicago an&rsquo; been scalpin&rsquo; Indians to-day.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I wonder if that trip to New York was good for her?&rdquo; Arethusa
+wondered mildly.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Joshua flicked Billy with the whip and refused to voice any opinion as to New
+York&rsquo;s effect on his mistress.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Arethusa was well on her way to Boston when Aunt Mary&rsquo;s bell, rung with a
+sharp jangle, summoned Lucinda to open her bedroom blinds. While Lucinda was
+leaning far out and attempting to cause said blinds to catch on the hooks,
+which habitually held them back against the side of the house, her mistress
+addressed her with a suddeness which showed that she had awakened with her wits
+surprisingly well in hand.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Where&rsquo;s Joshua? Is he got back from Arethusa? Answer me,
+Lucinda.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lucinda drew herself in through the open window with an alacrity remarkable for
+one of her years.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes, he&rsquo;s back,&rdquo; she yelled.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary looked at her with a sort of incensed patience.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Well, what&rsquo;s he doin&rsquo;? If he&rsquo;s back, where is he?
+Lucinda, if you knew how hard it is for me to keep quiet you&rsquo;d answer
+when I asked things. Why in Heaven&rsquo;s name don&rsquo;t you say
+suthin&rsquo;? Anythin&rsquo;? Anythin&rsquo; but nothin&rsquo;, that
+is.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;He&rsquo;s mowin&rsquo;,&rdquo; Lucinda shrieked.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Sewin&rsquo;!&rdquo; exclaimed Aunt Mary. &ldquo;What&rsquo;s he
+sewin&rsquo;? Where&rsquo;s he sewin&rsquo;? Have you stopped doin&rsquo; his
+darnin&rsquo;?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lucinda gathered breath by compressing her sides with her hands, and then
+replied, directing her voice right into the ear-trumpet:
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;He&rsquo;s mowin&rsquo; the back lawn.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary winced and shivered.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;My heavens, Lucinda!&rdquo; she exclaimed, sharply. &ldquo;I
+wish&rsquo;t there was a school to teach outsiders the use of an ear-trumpet.
+They can&rsquo;t seem to hit the medium between either mumblin&rsquo; or
+splittin&rsquo; one&rsquo;s ear drums.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lucinda was too much out of breath from her effort to attempt any audible
+penitence. Her mistress continued:
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Well, you find him wherever he is, and tell him to harness up the buggy
+and go and get Mr. Stebbins as quick as ever he can. Hurry!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lucinda exited with a promptitude that fulfilled all that her lady&rsquo;s
+heart could wish. She found Joshua whetting his scythe.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;She wants Mr. Stebbins right off,&rdquo; said Lucinda.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Then she&rsquo;ll get Mr. Stebbins right off,&rdquo; said Joshua. And he
+headed immediately for the barn.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lucinda ran along beside him. It did seem to Lucinda as if in compensation for
+her slavery to Aunt Mary she might have had a sympathizer in Joshua.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I guess she wants to change her will,&rdquo; she panted, very much out
+of breath.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Then she&rsquo;ll change her will,&rdquo; said Joshua. And as his steady
+gait was much quicker than poor Lucinda&rsquo;s halting amble, and as he saw no
+occasion to alter it, the conversation between them dwindled into space then
+and there.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Half an hour later Billy went out of the drive at a swinging pace and an hour
+after that Mr. Stebbins was brought captive to Aunt Mary&rsquo;s throne.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She welcomed him cordially; Lucinda was promptly locked out, and then the old
+lady and her lawyer spent a momentous hour together. Mr. Stebbins was taken
+into his client&rsquo;s fullest confidence; he was regaled with enough of the
+week&rsquo;s history to guess the rest; and he foresaw the outcome as he had
+foreseen it from the moment of the rupture.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary was very sincere in owning up to her own past errors.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I made a big mistake about the life that boy was leadin&rsquo;,&rdquo;
+she said in the course of the conversation. &ldquo;He took me everywhere where
+he was in the habit of goin&rsquo;, an&rsquo; so far from its bein&rsquo;
+wicked, I never enjoyed myself so much in my life. There ain&rsquo;t no harm in
+havin&rsquo; fun, an&rsquo; it does cost a lot of money. I can understand it
+all now, an&rsquo; as I&rsquo;m a great believer in settin&rsquo; wrong right
+whenever you can, I want Jack put right in my will right off. I
+want&mdash;&rdquo; and then were unfolded the glorious possibilities of the
+future for her youngest, petted nephew. He was not only to be reinstated in the
+will, but he was to reign supreme. The other four children were to be
+rich&mdash;very rich,&mdash;but Jack was to be <i>the</i> heir.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Mr. Stebbins was well pleased. He was very fond of Jack and had always been
+particularly patient with him on that account. He felt that this was a personal
+reward of merit, for it cannot be denied that Jack had certainly cashed very
+large checks on the bank of his forbearance.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When all was finished, and Joshua and Lucinda had been called in and had duly
+affixed their signatures to the important document, the buggy was brought to
+the door again and Mr. Stebbins stepped in and allowed himself to be replaced
+where they had taken him from.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Joshua returned alone.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;There, what did I tell you!&rdquo; said Lucinda, who was waiting for him
+behind the wood-house,&mdash;&ldquo;she did want to change her will.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Well, she changed it, didn&rsquo;t she?&rdquo; said Joshua.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I guess she wants to give him all she&rsquo;s got, since that week in
+New York,&rdquo; said Lucinda.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Then she&rsquo;ll give him all she&rsquo;s got,&rdquo; said Joshua.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lucinda&rsquo;s eyes grew big.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;An&rsquo; she&rsquo;ll give it to you, too, if you don&rsquo;t look out
+and stay where you can hear her bell if she rings it,&rdquo; Joshua added, with
+his usual frankness, and then he whipped up Billy and drove on to the barn.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Arethusa returned late in the afternoon, very warm, very wilted. Aunt Mary
+looked over the cotton purchase, and deigned to approve.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But, my heavens, Arethusa,&rdquo; she exclaimed immediately afterwards,
+&ldquo;if you had any idea how dirty and dusty and altogether awful you do
+look, you wouldn&rsquo;t be able to get to soap and water fast enough.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+At that poor Arethusa sighed, and, gathering up her hat, and hat-pins, and
+veil, and gloves, and purse, and handkerchief, went away to wash.
+</p>
+
+</div><!--end chapter-->
+
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<h2><a name="chap20"></a>Chapter Twenty<br/>
+Jack&rsquo;s Joy</h2>
+
+<p>
+About the first of July many agreeable things happened.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+One was that Mr. Stebbins found it advisable to address a discreet letter to
+John Watkins, Jr., Denham, conveying the information that although he must not
+count unduly upon the future, still, if he behaved himself, he might with
+safety allow his expenditures to mount upward monthly to a certain limit. This
+was the way in which Aunt Mary salved her conscience and saved her pride all at
+once.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t want him to think that I don&rsquo;t mean things when I
+say &rsquo;em,&rdquo; she had carefully explained to Mr. Stebbins, &ldquo;but I
+can&rsquo;t bear to think that there&rsquo;s anybody in New York without money
+enough to have a good time there.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Mr. Stebbins had made a note of the sum which the allowance was to compass and
+had promised to write the letter at once.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What did you do the last time you were in the city?&rdquo; Aunt Mary
+asked.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I was much occupied with business,&rdquo; said the lawyer, &ldquo;but I
+found time to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art and&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Good gracious!&rdquo; exclaimed Aunt Mary, &ldquo;who was takin&rsquo;
+you &rsquo;round! I never had a second for any museums or arts;&mdash;you ought
+to have seen a vaudeville, or that gondola place! I was ferried around four
+times and the music lasted all through.&rdquo; She stopped and reflected.
+&ldquo;I guess you can make that money a hundred a month more,&rdquo; she said
+slowly. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t want the boy to ever feel stinted or have to run
+in debt.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Mr. Stebbins smiled, and the result was that Jack began to pay up the bills for
+his aunt&rsquo;s entertainment very much more rapidly than he had anticipated
+doing.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Another pleasant thing was that a week or so later&mdash;very soon after Mrs.
+Rosscott had given up her town house and returned to the protection of the
+parental slate-tiles&mdash;Burnett&rsquo;s father, a peppery but jovial old
+gentleman (we all know the kind), suddenly asked why Bob never came home any
+more. This action on the part of the head of the house being tantamount to the
+completest possible forgiveness and obliviousness of the past, Burnett&rsquo;s
+mother, of whom the inquiry had been made, wept tears of sincerest joy and
+wrote to the youngest of her flock to return to the ancestral fold just as soon
+as he possibly could. He came, and as a result, a fortnight later Jack came,
+and Mitchell came, and Clover came. Mrs. Rosscott, as we have previously
+stated, was already there, and so were Maude Lorne and a great many others.
+Some of the others were pretty girls and Burnett and two of his friends found
+plenty to amuse them, but Burnett&rsquo;s dearest friend, his bosom friend, his
+Fidus Achates, found no one to amuse him, because he was in earnest, and had
+eyes for no feminine prettiness, his sight being dazzled by the radiance of one
+surpassing loveliness. He had worked tremendously hard the first month of daily
+laboring, and felt he deserved a reward. Be it said for Jack that the reward of
+which Aunt Mary had the bestowing counted for very little with him except in
+its relation to the far future. The real goal which he was striving toward, the
+real laurels that he craved&mdash;Ah! they lay in another direction.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Middle July is a lovely time to get off among the trees and grass, and lie
+around in white flannels or white muslins, just as the case may be. It was too
+warm to do much else than that, and Heaven knows that Jack desired nothing
+better, as long as his goddess smiled upon him.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+It was curious about his goddess. She seemed to grow more beautiful every time
+that he saw her. Perhaps it was her native air that gave her that charming
+flush; perhaps it was the joy of being at home again; perhaps it was&mdash;no,
+he didn&rsquo;t dare to hope that. Not yet. Not even with all that she had done
+for him fresh in his memory. The humility of true love was so heavy on his
+heart that his very dreams were dulled with hopelessness, the majority of them
+seeming too vividly dyed in Paradise hues for their fulfillment in daily life
+to ever appear possible. But still he was very, very happy to be there with
+her&mdash;beside her&mdash;and to hear her voice and look into her eyes
+whenever the trouble some &ldquo;other people&rdquo; would leave them alone
+together. And she did seem happy, too. And so rejoiced that the tide of Aunt
+Mary&rsquo;s wrath had been successfully turned. And so rejoiced that he was at
+work, even in the face of her hopes as to his college career. And also so
+rejoiced to take up the gay, careless thread of their mutual pleasure again.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The morning after the gathering of the party was Saturday and an ideal
+day&mdash;that sort of ideal day when house parties naturally sift into pairs
+and then fade away altogether. The country surrounding our particular party was
+densely wooded and not at all settled, the woods were laid out in a fascinating
+system of walks and benches which in no case commanded views of one another,
+and the shade overhead was the shade of July and as propitious to rest as it
+was to motion. Mitchell took a girl in gray and two sets of golf clubs and
+started out in the opposite direction from the links, Clover took a girl in
+green and a camera and went another way, Burnett took a girl in a riding habit
+and two saddle horses and followed the horses&rsquo; noses whither they led,
+and Jack&mdash;Jack smoked cigarettes on the piazza and waited&mdash;waited.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Mrs. Rosscott came out after a while and asked him why he didn&rsquo;t go to
+walk also.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Just what I was thinking as to yourself,&rdquo; he said, very boldly as
+to voice, and very beseechingly as to eyes.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, I&rsquo;m so busy,&rdquo; she said, laughing up into his eyes and
+then laughing down at the ground&mdash;&ldquo;you see I&rsquo;m the only
+married daughter to help mamma.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But you&rsquo;ve been helping all the morning,&rdquo; he complained,
+&ldquo;and besides how can you help? One would think that your mother was
+beating eggs or turning mattresses.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I have to work harder than that,&rdquo; said Mrs. Rosscott; &ldquo;I
+have to make people know one another and like one another and not all want to
+make love to the same girl.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You can&rsquo;t help their all wanting to make love to the same
+girl,&rdquo; said Jack; &ldquo;the more you try to convince them of their folly
+the deeper in love they are bound to fall. I&rsquo;m an illustration of that
+myself.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Mrs. Rosscott looked at him then and curved her mouth sweetly.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You do say such pretty things,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t see
+how you&rsquo;ve learned so much in so little time. Why, General Jiggs in there
+is three times your age and he tangles himself awfully when he tries to be
+sweet.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Perhaps his physician has recommended gymnastics,&rdquo; said Jack.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Perhaps,&rdquo; said Mrs. Rosscott laughing, and then she turned as if
+to go in.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, don&rsquo;t,&rdquo; said her lover, barring the way with great
+suddenness; &ldquo;you really mustn&rsquo;t, you know. I&rsquo;ve been patient
+for so long and been good for so long and I must be rewarded&mdash;I really
+must. Do come out with me somewhere&mdash;anywhere&mdash;for only a
+half-hour,&mdash;please.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She looked at him.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Won&rsquo;t Maude do?&rdquo; she asked.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;No, she won&rsquo;t,&rdquo; he said beneath his breath; &ldquo;whatever
+do you suggest such a thing for? You make me ready to tell you to your face
+that you want to go as bad as I want you to go, but I shan&rsquo;t say so
+because I know too much.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You do know a lot, don&rsquo;t you?&rdquo; said she, with an expression
+of great respect; &ldquo;why, if you were to dare to hint to me that I wanted
+to go out with you instead of staying in and talking Rembrandt with Mr. Morley,
+I&rsquo;d never forgive you the longest day I live.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I know you wouldn&rsquo;t,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;and you may be quite
+sure that I shall not say it. On the contrary I shall merely implore you to
+forget your own pleasure in consideration of mine.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I really ought to devote the morning to Mr. Morley,&rdquo; she said
+meditatively; &ldquo;it&rsquo;s such an honor his coming here, you know.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;A little bit of a whiskered monkey,&rdquo; said Jack in great disgust;
+&ldquo;an honor, indeed!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;He&rsquo;s a very great man,&rdquo; said Mrs. Rosscott; &ldquo;every
+sort of institution has given him a few letters to put after his name, and some
+have given him whole syllables.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You must get a straw hat, you know, or a sun-shade; it will be hot in
+half an hour.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, I couldn&rsquo;t stay out half an hour; fifteen minutes would be the
+longest.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;All right, fifteen minutes, then, but do hurry.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t say that I would go,&rdquo; she said, opening her eyes;
+&ldquo;and yet I feel myself gone.&rdquo; She laughed lightly.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Do hurry,&rdquo; he pleaded freshly; &ldquo;oh, I am so hungry
+to&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She disappeared within doors and five minutes later came back with one of those
+charming floppy English garden hats, tied with a muslin bow beneath her dimpled
+chin.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;This is so good of me,&rdquo; she said, as they went down the steps.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Very good, heavenly good,&rdquo; said Jack; and then neither spoke again
+until they had crossed the Italian garden and entered the American wood. She
+looked into his eyes then and smiled half-shyly and half-provokingly.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You are such a baby,&rdquo; she said; &ldquo;such a baby! Do ask me why
+and I&rsquo;ll tell you half a dozen whys. I&rsquo;d love to.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The path was the smoothest and shadiest of forest paths, the hour was the
+sweetest and sunniest of summer hours, the moment was the brightest and
+happiest of all the moments which they had known together&mdash;up to now.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Do tell me,&rdquo; he said; &ldquo;I&rsquo;m wild to know.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He took her hand and laid it on his arm. For that little while she was
+certainly his and his alone, and no man had a better claim to her. &ldquo;Go on
+and tell me,&rdquo; he repeated.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;There is one big reason and there are lots of little ones. Which will
+you have first?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;The little ones, please.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Then, listen; you are like a baby because you are impatient, because you
+are spoilt, because when you want anything you think that you must have it, and
+because you like to be walked with.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Are those the little reasons,&rdquo; he said when she paused; &ldquo;and
+what&rsquo;s the big one?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;The big one,&rdquo; she said slowly; &ldquo;Oh, I&rsquo;m afraid that
+you won&rsquo;t like the big one!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Perhaps it will be all the better for me if I don&rsquo;t,&rdquo; he
+laughed; &ldquo;at any rate I beg and pray and plead to know it.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What a dear boy!&rdquo; she laughed. &ldquo;If you want to know as badly
+as that, I&rsquo;d have to tell you anyhow, whether I wanted to or not.
+It&rsquo;s because I&rsquo;m so much the oldest.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh!&rdquo; said Jack, much disappointed. &ldquo;Is that why?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;And then too,&rdquo; she continued, &ldquo;you seem even younger because
+of your being so unsophisticated.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;So I am unsophisticated, am I?&rdquo; he asked grimly.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; she said nodding; &ldquo;at least you impress me so.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m glad of that,&rdquo; he said after a little pause.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She looked up quickly.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Truly?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes, indeed.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh,&rdquo; she laughed, &ldquo;if you say that, then I shall know that
+you are less unsophisticated than I thought you were.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Why so?&rdquo; he asked surprised.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t you know that meek, mild men always try to insinuate that
+they are regular fire-eaters, and vice versa? Well, it&rsquo;s so&mdash;and
+it&rsquo;s so every time. There was once a man who was kissing me, and he drew
+my hands up around his neck in such a clever, gentle way that I was absolutely
+positive that he had had no end of practice drawing arms up in that way and I
+just couldn&rsquo;t help saying: &lsquo;Oh, how many women you must have
+kissed!&rsquo; What do you think he answered?&mdash;merely smiled and said:
+&lsquo;Not so many as you might imagine.&rsquo; He showed how much he knew by
+the way he answered, for oh! he had. I found that out afterwards.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What did you do then?&rdquo; he asked, frowning. &ldquo;Cut him?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;No; I married him. Why, of course I was going to marry him when he
+kissed me, or I wouldn&rsquo;t have let him kiss me. Do you suppose I let men
+kiss me as a general thing? What are you thinking of?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I was thinking of you,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a horrible
+habit I&rsquo;ve fallen into lately. But, never mind; keep on talking.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t remember what I was saying,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Oh,
+yes, I do too. About men, about good and bad men. Now, even if I didn&rsquo;t
+know how much trouble you&rsquo;d made in the world, I&rsquo;d divine it all
+the instant that you were willing to admit being unsophisticated. People always
+crave to be the opposite of what they are; the drug shops couldn&rsquo;t sell
+any peroxide of hydrogen if that wasn&rsquo;t so.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He laughed and forgot his previous vexation.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Now, look at me,&rdquo; she continued. &ldquo;Oh, I didn&rsquo;t mean
+really&mdash;I mean figuratively; but never mind. Now, I&rsquo;m nothing but a
+bubble and a toy, and I ache to be considered a philosopher. Don&rsquo;t you
+remember my telling you what a philosopher I was, the very first conversation
+that we ever had together? I do try so hard to delude myself into thinking I am
+one, that some days I&rsquo;m almost sure that I really am one. Last night, for
+instance, I was thinking how nice it would be for my Cousin Maude to marry
+you.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Ye gods!&rdquo; cried Jack.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;She&rsquo;s so very rich,&rdquo; Mrs. Rosscott pursued calmly;
+&ldquo;and you know the law of heredity is an established scientific fact now,
+so you could feel quite safe as to her nose skipping the next
+generation.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack was audibly amused.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not anything to laugh over,&rdquo; his companion continued
+gravely. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s something to ponder and pray over. If I were Maude I
+should be on my knees about it most of the time.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Nothing can help her now,&rdquo; said Jack. &ldquo;Her parents have been
+and gone and done it, as far as she&rsquo;s concerned, forever. Prayer
+won&rsquo;t change her nose, although age may broaden it still more.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t you believe that nothing can help her now. A good-looking
+husband could help her lots. I&rsquo;ve seen homelier girls than she go just
+everywhere&mdash;on account of their husbands, you know. That was where my
+philosophy came in.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;d quite forgotten your philosophy.&rdquo; He laughed again as he
+spoke. &ldquo;I must apologize. Please tell me more about it.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She laughed, too.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m going to. You see, I was lying there, looking out at the moon,
+and thinking how nice it would be for Maude to marry you.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Did you consider me at all?&rdquo; he interposed.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;How you interrupt!&rdquo; she declared, in exasperation. &ldquo;You
+never let me finish.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I am dumb.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Well, I thought how nice it would be for Maude to marry you. You&rsquo;d
+have a baron for a papa-in-law, and an heiress to balance Aunt Mary with. If
+you went into consumption and had to retreat to Arizona for a term of years,
+the climate could not ruin her complexion as it would m&mdash;most
+people&rsquo;s. And she&rsquo;s so ready to have you that it&rsquo;s almost
+pathetic. I can&rsquo;t imagine anything more awful than to be as ready to
+marry a man who is&rsquo;nt at all desirous of so doing, as Maude is of
+marrying you. But if you would only think about it. I thought and thought about
+it last night and the longer I thought the more it seemed like such a nice
+arrangement all around; and then&mdash;all of a sudden&mdash;do you know I
+began to wonder if I was philosopher enough to enjoy being matron-of-honor to
+Maude and really&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;At the wedding I could have kissed you!&rdquo; he exclaimed, and
+suddenly subsided at the look with which she withered his boldness.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;And really I wasn&rsquo;t altogether sure; and then, it occurred to me
+that nothing on the face of the earth would ever persuade you to marry Maude.
+And I saw my card castle go smashing down, and then I saw that I really am a
+philosopher, after all, for&mdash;for I didn&rsquo;t mind a bit!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack threw his head back and roared.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh,&rdquo; he said after a minute, &ldquo;you are so refreshing. You
+ruffle me up just to give me the joy of smoothing me down, don&rsquo;t
+you?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I do what I can to amuse you,&rdquo; she said, demurely. &ldquo;You are
+my father&rsquo;s guest and my brother&rsquo;s friend, and so I ought
+to&mdash;oughtn&rsquo;t I?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;I have a two-fold claim on you if you look
+at it that way and some day I mean to go to work and unfold still
+another.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+They had come to a delightful little nook where the trees sighed gently,
+&ldquo;Sit down,&rdquo; and there seemed to be no adequate reason for refusing
+the invitation.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Let&rsquo;s rest, I know you&rsquo;re tired,&rdquo; the young man said
+gently, and the next minute found his companion down upon the soft grass, her
+back against a twisted tree-root and her hands about her knees.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He threw himself down beside her and the hush and the song of mid-summer were
+all about them, filling the air, and their ears, and their hearts all at once.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Presently he took her hand up out of the grass where its fingers had wandered
+to hide themselves, and kissed it. She looked at him reprovingly when it was
+too late, and shook her head.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Such a little one!&rdquo; he said.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I call it a pretty big one,&rdquo; she answered.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I mean the hand&mdash;not the kiss,&rdquo; he said smiling.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You really are sophisticated,&rdquo; she told him. &ldquo;Only fancy if
+you had reversed those nouns!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I know,&rdquo; he said; &ldquo;but I&rsquo;ve kissed hands before. You
+see, I&rsquo;m more talented than you think.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t be silly,&rdquo; she said smiling. &ldquo;I really am
+beginning to think very well of you. You don&rsquo;t want me to cease to, do
+you?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Why do women always say &lsquo;Don&rsquo;t be silly&rsquo;?&rdquo; he
+queried. &ldquo;I wish I could find one who wanted to be very original, and so
+said, &lsquo;Do be silly&rsquo;, just for a change.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Dear me, if women were to beg men to be silly what would happen?&rdquo;
+Mrs. Rosscott exclaimed. &ldquo;The majority are so very foolish without any
+special egging on.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But it is so dreadfully time-worn&mdash;that one phrase.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, if it comes to originality,&rdquo; she answered, &ldquo;men are not
+original, either. Whenever they lie down in the shade, they always begin to
+talk nonsense. You reflect a bit and see if that isn&rsquo;t invariably
+so.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But nonsense is such fun to talk in the shade,&rdquo; he said, spreading
+her fingers out upon his own broad palm. &ldquo;So many things are so next to
+heavenly in the shade.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You ought not to hold my hand.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I know it.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I am astonished that you do not remember your Aunt Mary&rsquo;s teaching
+you better.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;She never forbade my holding your hand.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Suppose anyone should come suddenly down the path?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;They would see us and turn and go back.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;To tell everyone&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;A lie.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack laughed, folded her hand hard in his, and drew himself into a sitting
+posture beside her knee.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Now, don&rsquo;t be silly,&rdquo; she said with earnest anxiety.
+&ldquo;I won&rsquo;t have it. It&rsquo;s putting false ideas in your head,
+because I&rsquo;m really only playing, you know.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;The shadow of love,&rdquo; he suggested.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Quite so.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;And if&mdash;&rdquo; He leaned quite near.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Not by any means,&rdquo; she exclaimed, springing quickly to her feet.
+&ldquo;Come&mdash;come! It&rsquo;s quite time that we were going back to the
+house.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Why must we?&rdquo; he remonstrated.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You know why,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s time we were being
+sensible. When a man gets as near as you are, I prefer to be <i>en promenade</i>. And
+don&rsquo;t let us be foolish any longer, either. Let us be cool and worldly.
+How much money has your aunt, anyhow?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack had risen, too.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What impertinence!&rdquo; he ejaculated.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Not at all,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Maude has so much money of her own
+that I ask in a wholly disinterested spirit.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;She&rsquo;s very rich,&rdquo; said Jack. &ldquo;But if your spirit is so
+disinterested, what do you want to know for?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;This is a world of chance, and the main chance in a woman&rsquo;s case
+is alimony; so it&rsquo;s always nice to know how to figure it.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a slim chance for your cousin,&rdquo; said Jack. &ldquo;Do
+tell her that I said so.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;No, I shan&rsquo;t,&rdquo; said she perversely. &ldquo;I won&rsquo;t be
+a go-between for you and her. Besides, as to that alimony, there are more
+heiresses than Maude in our family.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said he; &ldquo;I know that. But I know, too, that there is
+one among them who need never figure on getting any alimony out of me. If I
+ever get the iron grasp of the law on that heiress, I can assure you that only
+her death or mine will ever loosen its fangs.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;How fierce you are!&rdquo; said Mrs. Rosscott. &ldquo;Why do you get so
+worked up?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh,&rdquo; he exclaimed, with something approaching a groan, &ldquo;I
+don&rsquo;t mean to be&mdash;but I do care so much! And sometimes&mdash;&rdquo;
+he caught her quickly in his arms, drew her within their strong embrace, and
+kissed her passionately upon the lips that had been tantalizing him for five
+interminable months.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He was almost frightened the next second by her stillness.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t be angry,&rdquo; he pleaded.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not,&rdquo; she murmured, resting very quietly with her cheek
+against his heart. &ldquo;But you&rsquo;ll have to marry me now. My other
+husband did, you know.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Marry you!&rdquo; he exclaimed. &ldquo;Next week? To-morrow? This
+afternoon? You need only say when&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, not for years and years,&rdquo; she said, interrupting him.
+&ldquo;You mustn&rsquo;t dream of such a thing for years and years!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;For years and years!&rdquo; he cried in astonishment.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;That&rsquo;s what I said,&rdquo; she told him.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He released her in his surprise and stared hard at her. And then he seized her
+again and kissed her soundly.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You don&rsquo;t mean it!&rdquo; he declared.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I do mean it!&rdquo; she declared.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And then she shook her head in a very sweet but painfully resolute manner.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I won&rsquo;t be called a cradle-robber,&rdquo; she said, firmly; and at
+that her companion swore mildly but fervently.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You&rsquo;re so young,&rdquo; she said further; &ldquo;and not a bit
+settled,&rdquo; she added.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But you&rsquo;re young, too,&rdquo; he reminded her.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m older than you are,&rdquo; she said.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I suppose that you aren&rsquo;t any more settled than I am, and
+that&rsquo;s why you hesitate,&rdquo; he said grimly.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Now that&rsquo;s unworthy of you,&rdquo; she cried; &ldquo;and I have a
+good mind&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+But the direful words were never spoken, for she was in his arms
+again&mdash;close in his arms; and, as he kissed her with a delicious sensation
+that it was all too good to be true, he whispered, laughing:
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I always meant to lord it over my wife, so I&rsquo;ll begin by saying:
+&lsquo;Have it your own way, as long as I have you.&rsquo;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Mrs. Rosscott laid her cheek back against his coat lapel, and looked up into
+his eyes with the sweetest smile that even he had ever seen upon even her face.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a bargain,&rdquo; she murmured.
+</p>
+
+</div><!--end chapter-->
+
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<h2><a name="chap21"></a>Chapter Twenty-One<br/>
+The Peace and Quiet of the Country</h2>
+
+<p>
+Along in the beginning of the fall Aunt Mary began suddenly to grow very feeble
+indeed. After the first week or two it became apparent that she would have to
+be quiet and very prudent for some time, and it was when this information was
+imparted to her that the family discovered that she had been intending to go to
+New York for the Horse-Show.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;She&rsquo;s awful mad,&rdquo; Lucinda said to Joshua. &ldquo;The doctor
+says she&rsquo;ll have to stay in bed.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;She won&rsquo;t stay in bed long,&rdquo; said Joshua.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;The doctor says if she don&rsquo;t stay in bed she&rsquo;ll die,&rdquo;
+said Lucinda.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;She won&rsquo;t die,&rdquo; said Joshua.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lucinda looked at Joshua and felt a keen desire to throw her flatiron at him.
+The world always thinks that the Lucindas have no feelings; the world never
+knows how near the flatirons come to the Joshuas often and often.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Arethusa came for two days and looked the situation well over.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I think I won&rsquo;t stay,&rdquo; she said to Lucinda, &ldquo;but you
+must write me twice a week and I&rsquo;ll write the others.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then Arethusa departed and Lucinda remained alone to superintend things and be
+superintended by Aunt Mary.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary&rsquo;s superintendence waxed extremely vigorous almost at once. She
+had out her writing desk, and wrote Jack a letter, as a consequence of which
+everything published in New York was mailed to his aunt as soon as it was off
+the presses. Lucinda was set reading aloud and, except when the mail came, was
+hardly allowed to halt for food and sleep.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;My heavens above,&rdquo; said the slave to Joshua, &ldquo;it don&rsquo;t
+seem like I can live with her!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You&rsquo;ll live with her,&rdquo; said Joshua.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It&rsquo;s more as flesh and blood can bear.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Flesh and blood can bear a good deal more&rsquo;n you think for,&rdquo;
+said Joshua, and then he delivered up two letters and drove off toward the
+barn.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;If those are letters,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary from her pillow the instant
+she heard the front door close, &ldquo;I&rsquo;d like &rsquo;em. I&rsquo;m a
+great believer in readin&rsquo; my own mail, an&rsquo; another time, Lucinda,
+I&rsquo;ll thank you to bring it as soon as you get it an&rsquo; not stand out
+on the porch hollyhockin&rsquo; with Joshua for half an hour while I
+wait.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lucinda delivered up the letters without demanding what species of
+conversational significance her mistress attached to the phrase,
+&ldquo;holly-hocking.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary turned the letters through eagerly.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;My lands alive!&rdquo; she said suddenly, &ldquo;if here isn&rsquo;t one
+from Mitchell,&mdash;the dear boy. Well, I never did!&mdash;Lucinda, open the
+blinds to the other window, too&mdash;so I&mdash;can&mdash;see to&mdash;&rdquo;
+her voice died away,&mdash;she was too deep in the letter to recollect what she
+was saying.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Mitchell wrote:
+</p>
+
+<p class="p2">
+M<small>Y</small> D<small>EAR</small> M<small>ISS</small> W<small>ATKINS</small>:&mdash;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+We are sitting in a row with ashes on the heads of our cigarettes mourning,
+mourning, mourning, because we have had the news that you are ill. As usual it
+is up to me to express our feelings, so I have decided to mail them and the
+others agree to pay for the ink.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+I wish to remark at once that we did not sleep any last night. Jack told us at
+dinner, and we spent the evening making a melancholy tour of places where we
+had been with you. If you had only been with us! The roof gardens are
+particularly desolate without you. The whole of the city seems to realize it.
+The watering carts weep from dawn to dark. All the lamp-posts are wearing
+black. It is sad at one extreme and sadder at the other.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+You must brace up. If you can&rsquo;t do that try a belt. Life is too short to
+spend in bed. My motto has always been &ldquo;Spend freely everywhere
+else.&rdquo; At present I recommend anything calculated to mend you. I may in
+all modesty mention that just before Christmas I shall be traveling north and
+shall then adore to stop and cheer you up a bit if you invite me. I have made
+it an invariable rule, however, not to stay over night anywhere when I am not
+invited, so I hope you will consider my feelings and send me an invitation.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+My eyes fill as I think what it will be to sit beside you and recall dear old
+New York. It will be the next best thing to being run over by an automobile,
+won&rsquo;t it?
+</p>
+
+<p class="right">
+Yours, with fondest recollections,<br/>
+H<small>ERBERT</small> K<small>ENDRICK</small> M<small>ITCHELL</small>.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary laid the letter down.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Lucinda,&rdquo; she said in a curiously veiled tone, &ldquo;give me a
+handkerchief&mdash;a big one. As big a one as I&rsquo;ve got.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lucinda did as requested.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Now, go away,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lucinda went away. She went straight to Joshua.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;She&rsquo;s had a letter an&rsquo; read it an&rsquo; it&rsquo;s made her
+cry,&rdquo; she said.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;That&rsquo;s better&rsquo;n if it made her mad,&rdquo; said Joshua, who
+was warming his hands at the stove.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I ain&rsquo;t sure that it won&rsquo;t make her mad later,&rdquo; said
+Lucinda. &ldquo;Say, but she is a Tartar since she came back. Seems some
+days&rsquo;s if I couldn&rsquo;t live.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You&rsquo;ll live,&rdquo; said Joshua, and, as his hands were now
+well-warmed, he went out again.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+After a while Aunt Mary&rsquo;s bell jangled violently and Lucinda had to hurry
+back.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Lucinda, did the doctor say anythin&rsquo; to you about how long he
+thought I might be sick?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes, he did.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What did he say? I want to know jus&rsquo; what he said. Speak
+up!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;He said he didn&rsquo;t have no idea how long you&rsquo;d be
+sick.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary threw a look at Lucinda that ought to have annihilated her.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I want to see Jack,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Bring my writin&rsquo; desk.
+Right off. Quick.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She wrote to Jack, and he came up and spent the next Sunday with her, cheering
+her mightily.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I wish the others could have come, too,&rdquo; she said once an hour all
+through his visit. Mitchell&rsquo;s letter seemed to have bred a tremendous
+longing within her.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;They&rsquo;ll come later,&rdquo; said Jack, with hearty good-will.
+&ldquo;They all want to come.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know how we could ever have any fun up here though,&rdquo;
+said his aunt sadly. &ldquo;My heavens alive, Jack,&mdash;but this is an awful
+place to live in. And to think that I lived to be seventy before I found it
+out.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack took her hand and kissed it. He did sympathize, even if he was only
+twenty-two and longing unutterably to be somewhere else and kissing someone
+else at that very minute.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Mitchell wrote me a letter,&rdquo; continued Aunt Mary. &ldquo;He said
+he was comin&rsquo;. Well, dear me, he can eat mince pie and drive with Joshua
+when he goes for the mail, but I don&rsquo;t know what else I can do with him.
+Oh, if I&rsquo;d only been born in the city!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack kissed her hand again. He didn&rsquo;t know what to say. Aunt Mary&rsquo;s
+lot seemed to border upon the tragic just then and there.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The next day he returned to town and Lucinda came on duty again. She soon found
+that the nephew&rsquo;s visit had rendered the aunt harder than ever to get
+along with.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m goin&rsquo; to town jus&rsquo;&rsquo;s soon as ever I feel
+well enough,&rdquo; she declared aggressively on more than one occasion.
+&ldquo;An&rsquo; nex&rsquo; time I go I&rsquo;m goin&rsquo; to stay
+jus&rsquo;&rsquo;s long as ever I&rsquo;m havin&rsquo; a good time. Now,
+don&rsquo;t contradict me, Lucinda, because it&rsquo;s your place to hold your
+tongue. I&rsquo;m a great believer in your holding your tongue, Lucinda.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lucinda, who certainly never felt the slightest inclination toward
+contradiction, held her tongue, and the poor, unhappy one twisted about in bed,
+and bemoaned the quietude of her environment by the hour at a time.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Did you say we had a calf?&rdquo; she asked suddenly one day.
+&ldquo;Well, why don&rsquo;t you answer? When I ask a question I expect an
+answer. Didn&rsquo;t you say we had a calf?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lucinda nodded.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Well, I want Joshua to take that calf to the blacksmith and have him
+shod behind an&rsquo; before right off. To-day&mdash;this minute.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You want the calf shod!&rdquo; cried Lucinda, suddenly alarmed by the
+fear lest her mistress had gone light-headed.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary glared in a way that showed that she was far from being out of her
+usual mind.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;If I said shod, I guess I meant shod,&rdquo; she said, icily. &ldquo;I
+do sometimes mean what I say. Pretty often&mdash;as a usual thing.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lucinda stood at the foot of the bed, petrified and paralyzed.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then the invalid sat up a little and showed some mercy on her servant&rsquo;s
+very evident fright.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I want the calf shod,&rdquo; she explained, &ldquo;so&rsquo;s Joshua can
+run up an&rsquo; down the porch with him.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+So far from ameliorating Lucinda&rsquo;s condition, this explanation rendered
+it visibly worse. Aunt Mary contemplated her in silence for a few seconds, and
+she suddenly cried out, in a tone that was full of pathos:
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I feel like maybe&mdash;maybe&mdash;the calf&rsquo;ll make me think
+it&rsquo;s horses&rsquo; feet on the pavement.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lucinda rushed from the room.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;She wants the calf shod!&rdquo; she cried, bursting in upon Joshua, who
+was piling wood.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+For once in his life Joshua was shaken out of his usual placidity.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;She wants the calf shod!&rdquo; he repeated blankly.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You can&rsquo;t shoe a calf.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But she wants it done.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Joshua regained his self-control.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, well,&rdquo; he said, turning to go on with his work, &ldquo;the
+calf&rsquo;s gone to the butcher, anyhow. Tell her so.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lucinda went back to Aunt Mary.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;The calf&rsquo;s gone to the butcher,&rdquo; she yelled.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary frowned heavily.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Then you go an&rsquo; get a lamp and turn it up too high an&rsquo; leave
+it,&rdquo; she said,&mdash;&ldquo;the smell&rsquo;ll make me think of
+automobiles.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lucinda was appalled. As a practical housekeeper she felt that here was a
+proposition which she could not face.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Well, ain&rsquo;t you goin&rsquo;?&rdquo; Aunt Mary asked tartly.
+&ldquo;Of course if you ain&rsquo;t intendin&rsquo; to go I&rsquo;d be glad to
+know it; &rsquo;n while you&rsquo;re gone, Lucinda, I wish you&rsquo;d get me
+the handle to the ice-cream freezer an&rsquo; lay it where I can see it;
+it&rsquo;ll help me believe in the smell.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lucinda went away and brought the handle, but she did not light the lamp. The
+Fates were good to her, though, for Aunt Mary forgot the lamp in her disgust
+over the appearance of the handle.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Take it away,&rdquo; she said sharply. &ldquo;Anybody&rsquo;d know it
+wasn&rsquo;t an automobile crank. I don&rsquo;t want to look like a fool! Well,
+why ain&rsquo;t you takin&rsquo; it away, Lucinda?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lucinda took the crank back to the freezer; but as the days passed on, the
+situation grew worse. Aunt Mary slept more and more, and awoke to an
+ever-increasing ratio of belligerency.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Before long Lucinda&rsquo;s third cousin demanded her assistance in
+&ldquo;moving,&rdquo; and there was nothing for poor Arethusa to do but to take
+up the burden, now become a fearfully heavy one.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary was getting to that period in life when the nearer the relative the
+greater the dislike, so that when her niece arrived the welcome which awaited
+her was even less cordial than ever.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Did you bring a trunk?&rdquo; she asked.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;A small one,&rdquo; replied the visitor.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;That&rsquo;s something to be grateful for,&rdquo; said the aunt.
+&ldquo;If I&rsquo;d invited you to visit me, of course I&rsquo;d feel
+differently about things.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Arethusa accepted this as she accepted all things, unpacked, saw Lucinda off,
+assumed charge of the house, and then dragged a rocking chair to her
+aunt&rsquo;s bedside and unfolded her sewing. Ere she had threaded her needle
+Aunt Mary was sound asleep, and so her niece sewed placidly for an hour or
+more, until, like lightning out of a clear sky:
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Arethusa!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The owner of the name started&mdash;but answered immediately:
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes, Aunt Mary.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;When I die I want to be buried from a roof garden! Don&rsquo;t you
+forget! You&rsquo;d better go an&rsquo; write it down. Go now&mdash;go this
+minute!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Arethusa shook as if with the discharge of a contiguous field battery. She had
+not had Lucinda&rsquo;s gradual breaking-in to her aunt&rsquo;s new trains of
+thought.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Aunt Mary,&rdquo; she said feebly at last.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary saw her lips moving; she sat up in bed and her eyes flashed cinders.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Well, ain&rsquo;t you goin&rsquo;?&rdquo; she asked wrathfully.
+&ldquo;When I say do a thing, can&rsquo;t it be done? I declare it&rsquo;s bad
+enough to live with a pack of idiots without havin&rsquo; &rsquo;em, one
+an&rsquo; all, act as if I was the idiot!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Arethusa laid aside her work and rose to quit the room. She returned five
+minutes later with pen and ink, but Aunt Mary was now off on another tack.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I want a bulldog!&rdquo; she cried imperatively.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;A bulldog!&rdquo; shrieked her niece, nearly dropping what she held in
+her hands. &ldquo;What do you want a bulldog for?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Not a bullfrog!&rdquo; the old lady corrected; &ldquo;a bulldog. Oh, I
+do get so sick of your stupidity, Arethusa,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;What should
+I or any one else want of a bullfrog?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Arethusa sighed, and the sigh was apparent.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;d sigh if I was you,&rdquo; said her aunt. &ldquo;I certainly
+would. If I was you, Arethusa, I&rsquo;d certainly feel that I had cause to
+sigh;&rdquo; and with that she sat up and gave her pillow a punch that was full
+of the direst sort of suggestion.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Arethusa did not gainsay the truth of the sighing proposition. It was too
+apparent.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The next day Aunt Mary slept until noon, and then opened her eyes and
+simultaneously declared:
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Next summer I&rsquo;m goin&rsquo; to have an automobile!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then she looked about and saw that she had addressed the air, which made her
+more mad than ever. She rang her bell violently, and Arethusa left the lunch
+table so hastily that she reached the bedroom half-choked.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Next summer I&rsquo;m goin&rsquo; to have an automobile,&rdquo; said the
+old lady angrily. &ldquo;Now, get me some breakfast.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Her niece went out quickly, and a maid was sent in with tea and toast and eggs
+at once. Their effect was to brace the invalid up and make the lot of those
+about her yet more wearing.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I shall run it myself,&rdquo; she vowed, when Arethusa returned;
+&ldquo;an&rsquo; I bet they clear out when they see me comin&rsquo;.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+It did seem highly probable.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know how I can live if I don&rsquo;t get away from here
+soon,&rdquo; she declared a few minutes later. &ldquo;You don&rsquo;t
+appreciate what life is, Arethusa. Seems like I&rsquo;ll go mad with
+wantin&rsquo; to be somewhere else. I can see Jack gets his disposition
+straight from me.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+There was a sigh and a pause.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I shall die,&rdquo; Aunt Mary then declared with violence, &ldquo;if I
+don&rsquo;t have a change. Arethusa, you&rsquo;ve got to write to Jack, and
+tell him to get me Granite.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Granite!&rdquo; screamed the niece in surprise.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes, Granite. She was a maid I had in New York. I want her to come here.
+She must come. Tell him to offer her anything, and send her C.O.D. If I can
+have Granite, maybe I&rsquo;ll feel some better. You write Jack.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll write to-night,&rdquo; shrieked Arethusa.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;No, you won&rsquo;t,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary; &ldquo;you&rsquo;ll get the
+ink and write right now. Because I&rsquo;ve been meeker&rsquo;n Moses all my
+life is no reason why I sh&rsquo;d be willin&rsquo; to be downtrodden clear to
+the end. Folks around me&rsquo;d better begin to look sharp an&rsquo; step
+lively from now on.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Arethusa went to the desk at once and wrote:
+</p>
+
+<p class="letter">
+D<small>EAR</small> J<small>ACK</small>:<br/>
+    Aunt Mary wants the maid that she had when she was in New York. For the love of
+Heaven, if the girl is procurable, do get her. Hire her if you can and kidnap
+her if you can&rsquo;t. Lucinda has played her usual trick on me and walked off
+just when she felt like it. I never saw Aunt Mary in anything like the state of
+mind that she is, but I know one thing&mdash;if you cannot send the maid,
+there&rsquo;ll be an end of me.
+</p>
+
+<p class="right">
+Your loving sister,<br/>
+A<small>RETHUSA</small>.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack was much perturbed upon receipt of this letter. He whistled a little and
+frowned a great deal. But at last he decided to be frank and tell the truth to
+Mrs. Rosscott. To that end he wrote her a lengthy note. After two preliminary
+pages so personal that it would not be right to print them for public reading,
+he continued thus:
+</p>
+
+<p>
+I&rsquo;ve had a letter from my sister, who is with Aunt Mary at present. She
+says that Aunt Mary is not at all well and declares that she must have Janice.
+What under the sun am I to answer? Shall I say that the girl has gone to
+France? I&rsquo;m willing to swear anything rather that put you to one
+second&rsquo;s inconvenience. You know that, don&rsquo;t you? etc., etc., etc.
+[just here the letter abruptly became personal again].
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack thought that he knew his fiancée well, but he was totally unprepared for
+such an exhibition of sweet ness as was testified to by the letter which he
+received in return.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+It&rsquo;s first six pages were even more personal than his own (being more
+feminine) and then came this paragraph:
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Janice is going to your aunt by to-night&rsquo;s train. Now, don&rsquo;t say a
+word! It is nothing&mdash;nothing&mdash;absolutely nothing. Don&rsquo;t you
+know that I am too utterly happy to be able to do anything for anyone that
+you&mdash;etc., etc., etc.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack seized his hat and hurried to where his lady-love was just then residing.
+But Janice had gone!
+</p>
+
+</div><!--end chapter-->
+
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<h2><a name="chap22"></a>Chapter Twenty-Two<br/>
+&ldquo;Granite&rdquo;</h2>
+
+<p>
+Joshua was despatched to drive through mud and rain to bring Aunt Mary&rsquo;s
+solace from the station.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary had herself propped up in bed to be ready for the return before
+Billy&rsquo;s feet had ceased to cry splash on the road outside of the gate.
+Her eagerness tinged her pallor pink. It was as if the prospect of seeing
+Janice gave her some of that flood of vitality which always seems to ebb and
+flow so richly in the life of a metropolis.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;My gracious heavens, Lucinda&rdquo; (for Lucinda was back now), she said
+joyfully, &ldquo;to think that I needn&rsquo;t look at you for a week if I
+don&rsquo;t want to! You haven&rsquo;t any idea how tired I am of looking at
+you, Lucinda. If you looked like anything it would be different. But you
+don&rsquo;t.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lucinda rocked placidly; hers was what is called an &ldquo;even
+disposition.&rdquo; If it hadn&rsquo;t been, she might have led an entirely
+different life&mdash;in fact, she would most certainly have lived somewhere
+else, for she couldn&rsquo;t possibly have lived with Aunt Mary.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The hour that ensued after Joshua&rsquo;s departure was so long that it
+resulted in a nap for the invalid, and Lucinda had to wake her by slamming the
+closet door when the arrival turned in at the gate.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Has he got her?&rdquo; Aunt Mary cried breathlessly. &ldquo;Has he got
+someone with him? Run, Lucinda, an&rsquo; bring her in. She needn&rsquo;t wipe
+her feet, tell her; you can brush the hall afterwards. Well, why ain&rsquo;t
+you hurryin&rsquo;?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lucinda was hurrying, her curiosity being as potent as the commands of her
+mistress, and five seconds later Janice appeared in the door with her
+predecessor just behind her&mdash;a striking contrast.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You dear blessed Granite!&rdquo; cried the old lady, stretching out her
+hands in a sort of ecstasy. &ldquo;Oh, my! but I&rsquo;m glad to see you! Come
+right straight here. No, shut the door first. Lucinda, you go and do
+&rsquo;most anything. An&rsquo; how is the city?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Janice came to the bedside and dropped on her knees there, taking Aunt
+Mary&rsquo;s withered hand close in both of her own.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You didn&rsquo;t shut the door,&rdquo; the old lady whispered hoarsely.
+&ldquo;I wish you would&mdash;an&rsquo; bolt it, too. An&rsquo; then come
+straight back to me.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Janice closed and bolted the door, and returned to the bedside. Aunt Mary drew
+her down close to her, and her voice and eyes were hungry, indeed. For a little
+she looked eagerly upon what she had so craved to possess again, and then she
+suddenly asked:
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Granite, have you got any cigarettes with you?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The maid started a little.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Do you smoke now?&rdquo; she asked, with interest.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;No,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary sadly, &ldquo;an&rsquo; that&rsquo;s one more
+of my awful troubles. You see I&rsquo;m jus&rsquo; achin&rsquo; to smell smoke,
+an&rsquo; Joshua promised his mother the night before he was twenty-one. You
+don&rsquo;t know nothin&rsquo; about how terrible I feel. I&rsquo;m empty
+somewhere jus&rsquo; all the time. Don&rsquo;t you believe&rsquo;t you could
+get some cigarettes an&rsquo; smoke &rsquo;em right close to me, an&rsquo; let
+me lay here, an&rsquo; be so happy while I smell. I&rsquo;ll have a good doctor
+for you, if you&rsquo;re sick from it.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The maid reflected; then she nodded.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll write to town,&rdquo; she cried, in her high, clear tones.
+&ldquo;What brand do you like best?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Mitchell&rsquo;s,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary. &ldquo;But you can&rsquo;t get
+those because he made &rsquo;em himself an&rsquo; sealed &rsquo;em with a lick.
+Oh!&rdquo; she sighed, with the accent of a starving Sybarite, &ldquo;I do wish
+I could see him do it again! Do you know,&rdquo; she added suddenly, &ldquo;he
+wrote me a letter and he&rsquo;s goin&rsquo; to come here.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;When?&rdquo; asked Janice.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;After a while. But you must take off your things. That&rsquo;s your room
+in there,&rdquo; pointing toward a half-open door at the side. &ldquo;I wanted
+you as close as I could get you. My, but I&rsquo;ve wanted you! I can&rsquo;t
+tell you how much. But a good deal&mdash;a lot&mdash;awfully.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Janice went into the room that was to be hers, and hung up her hat and cloak.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When she returned Aunt Mary was looking a hundred per cent, improved already.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Can you hum &lsquo;Hiawatha&rsquo;?&rdquo; she asked immediately.
+&ldquo;Granite, I must have suthin&rsquo; to amuse me an&rsquo; make me feel
+good. Can you hum &lsquo;Hiawatha&rsquo; an&rsquo; can you do that kind of
+&lsquo;sh&mdash;sh&mdash;sh&mdash;&rsquo;that everybody does all together at
+the end, you know?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Janice smiled pleasantly, and placing herself in the closest possible proximity
+with the ear trumpet, at once rendered the desired <i>morceau</i> in a style which
+would have done credit to a soloist in a <i>café chantant</i>.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary&rsquo;s lips wreathed in seraphic bliss.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;My!&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I feel just as if I was back eatin&rsquo;
+crabs&rsquo; legs and tails again. No one&rsquo;ll ever know how I&rsquo;ve
+missed city life this winter but&mdash;well, you saw Lucinda!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The glance that accompanied the speech was mysterious but significant. Janice
+nodded sympathetically.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I hope you brought a trunk. I ain&rsquo;t a bit sure when I&rsquo;ll be
+able to let you go,&rdquo; pursued the old lady. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t believe I
+can let you go until I go, too. I&rsquo;ve most died here alone.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I brought a trunk,&rdquo; Janice cried into the ear trumpet.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m glad,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary. She paused, and her eyes grew
+wistful.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Granite,&rdquo; she asked, &ldquo;do you think you could manage to do a
+skirt dance on the footboard? I&rsquo;m &rsquo;most wild to see some lace
+shake.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Janice looked doubtfully at the footboard. It was wide for a footboard, but
+narrow&mdash;too narrow&mdash;for a skirt dance.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But I can do one on the floor,&rdquo; she cried.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary&rsquo;s features became suffused with heavenly joy.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, Granite!&rdquo; she murmured, in accents of greatest anticipation.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The maid stood up, and, going off as far as the limits of the spacious bedroom
+would allow, executed a most fetching and dainty <i>pas seul</i> to a tune of her own
+humming.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Give me suthin&rsquo; to pound with!&rdquo; cried her enthusiastic
+audience. &ldquo;Oh, Granite, I ain&rsquo;t been so happy since I was home!
+Whatever you want you can have, only don&rsquo;t ever leave me alone with
+Lucinda again.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Janice was catching her tired breath, but she answered with a smile.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Can&rsquo;t you get my Sunday umbrella out of the closet now an&rsquo;
+do a parasol dance?&rdquo; the insatiate demanded; &ldquo;one of those where
+you shoot it open an&rsquo; shut when people ain&rsquo;t
+expectin&rsquo;.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The maid went to the closet and brought out the Sunday umbrella; but its shiny
+black silk did not appear to inspire any fluffy maneuvres, so she utilized it
+in the guise of a broadsword and did something that savored of the Highlands,
+and seemed to rebel bitterly at the length of her skirt. Aunt Mary writhed
+around in bliss&mdash;utter and intense.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I feel like I was livin&rsquo; again,&rdquo; she said, heaving a great
+sigh of content. &ldquo;I tell you I&rsquo;ve suffered enough, since I came
+back, to know what it is to have some fun again. Now, Granite, I&rsquo;ll tell
+you what we&rsquo;ll do,&rdquo; when the girl sat down to rest; &ldquo;you
+write for those cigarettes while I take a little nap and afterwards we&rsquo;ll
+get the Universal Knowledge book and learn how to play poker. You don&rsquo;t
+know how to play poker, do you?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;A little,&rdquo; cried the maid.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Well, I want to learn how,&rdquo; said the old lady, &ldquo;an&rsquo;
+we&rsquo;ll learn when&mdash;when I wake up.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Janice nodded assent.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Excuse me shuttin&rsquo; my eyes,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary&mdash;and she
+was asleep in two minutes.
+</p>
+
+</div><!--end chapter-->
+
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<h2><a name="chap23"></a>Chapter Twenty-Three<br/>
+&ldquo;Granite&rdquo;<br/>
+Continued.</h2>
+
+<p>
+Mary and Arethusa&mdash;Aunt Mary&rsquo;s two nieces&mdash;were not uncommonly
+mercenary; but about three weeks after the new arrival they became seriously
+troubled over the ascendancy that she appeared to be gaining over the mind of
+their aunt. Lucinda&rsquo;s duties had included for many years the writing of a
+weekly letter which contained formal advices of the general state of affairs,
+and after Janice&rsquo;s establishment, these letters became so provocative of
+gradually increasing alarm that first Mary, and then Arethusa thought it
+advisable to make the journey for the purpose of investigating the affair
+personally. They found the new maid apparently devoid of evil intent, but
+certainly fast becoming absolutely indispensable to the daily happiness of
+their influential relative. Mary feared that a codicil for five thousand
+dollars would be the result; but Arethusa felt, with a sinking heart, that
+there was another naught going on to the sum, and that, unless the tide turned,
+the end might not be even then.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary was so cool that neither niece stayed long, and Lucinda&rsquo;s
+letters had to be looked to for the progress of events. Lucinda&rsquo;s letters
+were frequent and not at all reassuring. After the sisters had talked them
+over, they sent them on to Jack.
+</p>
+
+<p class="letter">
+She [thus Lucinda invariably began] is the same as ever. It&rsquo;s cross the
+heart and bend the knee, an&rsquo; then you ain&rsquo;t down far enough to suit
+her. But she&rsquo;s gettin&rsquo; so afraid she&rsquo;ll go that she&rsquo;s
+wax in her hands. It would scare you. She won&rsquo;t let her out of her sight
+a minute. I must say that whatever she&rsquo;s giving her, she certainly is
+earning the money, for she works her harder every day. The poor thing is
+hopping about, or singing, or playing cards, from dawn to dark, and unless
+it&rsquo;s a provision in her will I can&rsquo;t see what would pay her enough
+for working so. Lord knows I considered I earned my wages without skipping
+around with my legs crossed like she does, and she has no end of patience too,
+even if she won&rsquo;t ever let her take a walk. She&rsquo;s getting as pale
+as she is herself. Seems like something should be done.
+</p>
+
+<p class="right">
+Respectfully,<br/>
+L. COOKE.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Three days later Lucinda wrote again:
+</p>
+
+<p class="letter">
+She does seem to be getting worse and worse. She makes her sleep on a sofa
+beside her, and she begins to look dreadfully worn out. I do believe
+she&rsquo;ll kill her, before she dies herself. I told her so to-day, but she
+only smiled. It&rsquo;s funny, but I like her even if I am bolted out all the
+time. I ain&rsquo;t jealous, and I&rsquo;m glad of the rest. I should think her
+throat would split with talking so much, but she certainly does hear her better
+than anyone else. I think something must be done, though. She&rsquo;s getting
+as crazy as she is herself. They play cards and call each other
+&ldquo;aunty&rdquo; for two hours at a stretch some days.
+</p>
+
+<p class="right">
+Respectfully,<br/>
+L. COOKE.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+At the end of the week Lucinda wrote again:
+</p>
+
+<p class="letter">
+I think if you don&rsquo;t come, she will surely die. She is very feeble
+herself, but that don&rsquo;t keep her from wearing her to skin and bone. She
+keeps her doing tricks from morning to night. Every minute that she is awake
+she keeps her jumping. It&rsquo;s a mercy she sleeps so much, or she
+wouldn&rsquo;t get any sleep at all. I can&rsquo;t do nothing, but I can see
+something has got to be done. She&rsquo;s killing her, and she&rsquo;s getting
+where she don&rsquo;t care for nobody but her, and if she&rsquo;s to be kept in
+trim to keep on amusing her she&rsquo;ll have to have some rest pretty quick.
+</p>
+
+<p class="right">
+Respectfully,<br/>
+L. COOKE.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+If the sisters were perturbed by the general trend of these epistles, Jack was
+half wild over the situation. He swore vigorously and he tramped up and down
+his room nights until the people underneath put it in their prayers that his
+woes might suggest suicide as speedily as possible. In vain he wrote to Mrs.
+Rosscott to restore Janice to her proper place in town; Mrs. Rosscott answered
+that as long as Aunt Mary desired Janice at her side, at her side Janice should
+stay. Jack knew his lady well enough to know that she would keep her word, and
+although he longed to assert his authority he was man enough to feel that he
+had better wait now and settle the debt after marriage.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Nevertheless the whole affair was unbearably vexatious and at last he felt that
+he could endure it no longer.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m a fool,&rdquo; he said, in a spirit of annoyance that came so
+close to anger that it led to an utter loss of patience. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll take
+the train for Aunt Mary&rsquo;s to-day, and straighten out that mess in short
+order.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+It was Saturday, and he arranged to leave by the noon train. He laid in a heavy
+supply of bribes for his aged relative and of reading matter for himself, and
+went to the station with a heart divided &rsquo;twixt many different emotions.
+It was an unconscionably long ride, but he did get there safely about ten
+o&rsquo;clock.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+It was a pleasant night&mdash;not too cold&mdash;even suggestive of some
+lingering Indian summer intentions on the part of Jack&rsquo;s namesake. The
+young man thought that he would walk out to his childhood&rsquo;s home, and his
+decision was aided by the discovery that there was no other way to get there.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+So he took his suit-case in his hand and set off with a stride that covered the
+intervening miles in short order and brought him, almost before he knew it, to
+where he could see Lucinda&rsquo;s light in the dining-room and her pug-nosed
+profile outlined upon the drawn shade. Everyone else was evidently abed, and as
+he looked, she, too, arose and took up the lamp. He hurried his steps so that
+she might let him in before she went upstairs, but in the same instant the
+light went out and with its withdrawal he perceived a little figure sitting
+alone upon the doorstep.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+His heart gave a tremendous leap&mdash;but not with fright&mdash;and he made
+three rapid steps and spoke a name.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She lifted up her head. Of course it was Janice, and although she had been
+weeping, her eyes were as beautiful as ever.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, Jack!&rdquo; she exclaimed, and happy the man who hears his name
+called in such a tone&mdash;even if it be only for once in the whole course of
+his existence.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He pitched his suit-case down upon the grass and took the maid in his arms.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+What did anything matter; they both were lonely and both needed comforting.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He kissed her not once but twenty times,&mdash;not twenty times but a hundred.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It&rsquo;s abominable you&rsquo;re being here,&rdquo; he said at last.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I am very, very tired,&rdquo; she confessed.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;And you&rsquo;ll go back to the city when I go?&rdquo; he asked.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know,&rdquo; she said, doubtfully. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t
+know whether she&rsquo;ll let me.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack laughed.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;To-morrow I will beard Aunt Mary in her den,&rdquo; he declared;
+&ldquo;now let&rsquo;s go in and&mdash;and&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The hundred and first!
+</p>
+
+</div><!--end chapter-->
+
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<h2><a name="chap24"></a>Chapter Twenty-Four<br/>
+Two Are Company</h2>
+
+<p>
+To the large square room where he had slept (on and off) during a goodly
+portion of his boyhood life, Jack went to repose from his journey, there to
+meditate the situation which he had come to comfort, and to try and devise a
+way to better its existing circumstances.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+It was a pleasant room, one window looking down the driveway, and the other
+leading forth to a square balcony that topped the little porch of the side
+entrance. There were lambrequins of dark blue with fringe that always caught in
+the shutters, and a bedroom suite of mahogany that had come down from the
+original John Watkins&rsquo;s aunt, and had been polished by her descendants so
+faithfully that its various surfaces shone like mirrors. Over the bed hung a
+tent drapery of chintz; over the washstand hung a crayon done by Arethusa in
+her infancy&mdash;the same representing a lady engaged in the pleasant and
+useful occupation of spinning wheat with a hand composed of five fingers, and
+no thumb. In the corner stood a cheval-glass which Jack had seen shrink
+steadily for years until now it could no longer reflect his shoulders unless he
+retired back for some two yards or more. There was a delectable closet to the
+room, all painted white inside, with shelves and cupboards and little bins for
+shoes and waste paper and soiled clothes.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Oh! it was really an altogether delightful place in which to abide, and the
+pity was that its owner had spent so little time therein of late years.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+To-night&mdash;returning to the scene of many childish and boyish
+meditations&mdash;Jack placed his lamp upon the nightstand at the head of the
+bed and sat himself down on a chair near by.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+It was late&mdash;quite midnight&mdash;for he and Aunt Mary&rsquo;s new maid
+had talked long and freely ere they separated at last. From his room he could
+hear the little faint sounds below stairs, that told of her final preparations
+for Lucinda&rsquo;s morning eye, and he rested quiet until all else was quiet
+and then leaned back upon the chair&rsquo;s hind legs and, tipping slowly to
+and fro in that position, tried to see just what he had better do the first
+thing on the following day.
+</p>
+
+<div class="fig" style="width:100%;">
+<a name="illus07"></a>
+<img src="images/image07.png" width="365" height="600" alt="[Illustration: ]" />
+<p class="caption">&ldquo;&lsquo;Yesterday I played poker until I didn&rsquo;t
+know a blue chip from a white one.&rsquo;&rdquo;</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>
+It was a riddle with a vengeance. It is so easy to say &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll cut
+that Gordian knot!&rdquo; and then pack one&rsquo;s tooth-brush and start off
+unknotting, but it is quite another matter when one comes face to face with the
+problem and is met by the &ldquo;buts&rdquo; of those who have previously been
+essaying to disentangle it.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;She won&rsquo;t let me go,&rdquo; Mrs. Rosscott had declared, &ldquo;she
+won&rsquo;t consider it for a minute.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But she must,&rdquo; Jack had declared on his side. &ldquo;My dearest,
+you can&rsquo;t stay and play maid to Aunt Mary indefinitely, and you know that
+as well as I do.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes, I know that,&rdquo; the whilom Janice then murmured.
+&ldquo;It&rsquo;s getting to be an awful question. They want me to come home
+for Thanksgiving. They think that I&rsquo;ve been at the rest-cure long
+enough.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack had laughed a bit just there, and then he suddenly ceased laughing and
+frowned a good deal instead.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You were crying when I came,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;The truth is you are
+working yourself to death and getting completely used up.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It is wearing, I must confess,&rdquo; she answered. &ldquo;Yesterday I
+played poker until I didn&rsquo;t know a blue chip from a white one, and she
+won the whole pot with two little bits of pairs while I was drawing to a king.
+I begin to fear that my mind will give way. And yet, I really don&rsquo;t see
+how to stop. She is so sick and tired of life here and she isn&rsquo;t strong
+enough to go to town.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I know a very short way to put an end to everything,&rdquo; said Jack.
+&ldquo;I see two ways in fact,&mdash;one is to tell her the truth.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, don&rsquo;t do that,&rdquo; cried his fiancée affrightedly.
+&ldquo;The shock would kill her outright.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;The other way,&mdash;&rdquo; said Jack slowly, &ldquo;would be for me to
+marry you and let her think that you are Janice in good earnest.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, that wouldn&rsquo;t do at all,&rdquo; said the pretty widow.
+&ldquo;In the first place she would go crazy at the idea of her darling
+nephew&rsquo;s marrying her maid,&mdash;and in the second place&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Well,&mdash;in the second place?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I wouldn&rsquo;t marry you,&mdash;I said I wouldn&rsquo;t and I
+won&rsquo;t. You&rsquo;re too young.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But you&rsquo;ve promised to marry me some day.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes, I know&mdash;but not till&mdash;not till&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Not till when?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I haven&rsquo;t just decided,&rdquo; said Mrs. Rosscott, airily.
+&ldquo;Not for a good while, not until you seem to require marrying at my
+hands.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I never shall require marrying at anyone else&rsquo;s hands,&rdquo; the
+lover vowed, &ldquo;but if you are so set about it as all that comes to, I
+shall not cut up rough for a while. Aunt Mary is the main question just
+now&mdash;not you.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I know,&rdquo; said his lady in anything but a jealous tone, &ldquo;and
+as she is the question, what are we to do?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You will go to bed,&rdquo; he said, kissing her, &ldquo;and I will go to
+think.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Can you see any way?&rdquo; she asked anxiously.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he put his hands on either side of her face and turned it up to his own.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You plotted once and overthrew my aunt,&rdquo; he said.
+&ldquo;It&rsquo;s my turn now.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Are you going to plot?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m going to try.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll pray for your success,&rdquo; she whispered.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Pray for me,&rdquo; he answered, and shortly after they had achieved the
+feat of saying good-night and parting once more, and the result of it all had
+been that Jack found himself tipping back and forth on the small chair, in the
+big room, at half-past midnight, puzzled, perturbed, and very much perplexed as
+to what to do first when the next morning should have become a settled fact. He
+was not used to conspiring, and being only a man, he had not those curious
+instinctive gifts of inspiration and luminous conception which fairly radiate
+around the brain of clever womankind.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+It was some time&mdash;a very long time indeed&mdash;before any light stole in
+upon his Stygian darkness, and then, when the light did come, it came in
+skyrocket guise, and had its share of cons attached to its very evident pros.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But I don&rsquo;t care,&rdquo; he declared viciously, as he rose and
+began to undress; &ldquo;something&rsquo;s got to be done,&mdash;some chances
+have got to be taken,&mdash;as well that as anything else. Perhaps
+better&mdash;very likely better.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then he laughed over his unconscious imitation of his aunt&rsquo;s phraseology,
+and made short work of finishing his disrobing and getting to bed.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+It was when Lucinda crept forth to begin to unlock the house at 6.30 upon the
+morning after, that the fact of the nephew&rsquo;s arrival was first known to
+anyone except Janice.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lucinda saw the coat and hat,&mdash;recognized the initial on the handkerchief
+in the inside pocket, threw out her arms and gave a faint squeak in utter
+bewilderment, and then tore off at once to the barn to tell Joshua.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She found Joshua milking the cow.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What do you think!&rdquo; she panted briefly, with wide-open eyes and
+uplifted hands; &ldquo;Joshua Whittlesey, <i>what</i> do you think?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think nothin&rsquo;,&rdquo; said Joshua. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m
+milkin&rsquo;.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What would you say if I told you as <i>he</i> was come.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;d say he was here.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Well, he is. He must &rsquo;a&rsquo; come last night, an&rsquo; Lord
+only knows how he ever got in, for nothing was left open an&rsquo; yet
+he&rsquo;s there.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Joshua made no comment.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I wonder what he came for?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Joshua made no comment.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I wonder how long he&rsquo;ll stay?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Still Joshua made no comment.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Joshua Whittlesey, before you get your breakfast, you&rsquo;re the
+meanest man I ever saw, and I&rsquo;ll swear to that anywhere.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Why don&rsquo;t you get me my breakfast then?&rdquo; said Joshua calmly;
+and the effect of his speech and his demeanor was to cause Lucinda to turn and
+leave him at once&mdash;too outraged to address another word to him.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary herself did not awake until ten o&rsquo;clock. She rang her bell
+vigorously then and Janice flew to its answering.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I dreamed of Jack,&rdquo; said the old lady, looking up with a smile.
+&ldquo;I dreamed we was each ridin&rsquo; on camels in a merry-go-round.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Janice smiled too, and then set briskly to work to put the room in order and
+arrange its occupant for the day.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Did there come any mail?&rdquo; Aunt Mary inquired, when her coiffure
+was made and her dressing-gown adjusted. &ldquo;I feel jus&rsquo; like I might
+hear from Jack. Seems as if I sort of can&rsquo;t think of anythin&rsquo; but
+him.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll go and see,&rdquo; said Janice pleasantly, and she went to
+the dining room where the Reformed Prodigal sat reading the newspaper with his
+feet on the table&mdash;an action which convinced Lucinda that he had not
+reformed so very much after all.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Suppose you go to her&mdash;instead of me,&rdquo; suggested the maid,
+pausing before the reader and usurping all the attention to which the paper
+should have laid claim.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Suppose I do,&rdquo; said Jack, jumping up, &ldquo;and suppose you stay
+away and let me try what I can accomplish single-handed.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Only&mdash;&rdquo; began Janice&mdash;and then she stopped and lifted a
+warning finger.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack listened and a stealthy creak betrayed Lucinda&rsquo;s proximity somewhere
+in the vicinity.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+It was plain to be seen that there were many issues to be kept in mind, and the
+young man grit his teeth because he didn&rsquo;t dare embrace his betrothed,
+and then walked away in the direction of Aunt Mary&rsquo;s room.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+If she was glad to see him! One would have supposed that ten years and two
+oceans had elapsed since their last meeting the month before.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She fairly screamed with joy.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Jack!&mdash;You dear, dear, <i>dear</i> boy! Well, if I ever did!&mdash;When
+did you come?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+He was by the bed hugging her. &ldquo;And how are they all? How <i>is</i> the city?
+Oh, Jack, if I could only go back with you this time!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Never mind, Aunt Mary; you&rsquo;ll be coming soon&mdash;in the spring,
+you know.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary sank back on the pillows.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Jack,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;if I have to wait for spring, I shall die.
+I ain&rsquo;t strong enough to be able to bear livin&rsquo; in the country much
+longer. I&rsquo;ve pretty much made up my mind to buy a house in town and just
+keep this place so&rsquo;s to have somewhere to put Lucinda.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Do you think you&rsquo;d be happy in town, Aunt Mary?&rdquo; Jack
+yelled; &ldquo;I mean if you lived there right along?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t see how I could be anythin&rsquo; else. I don&rsquo;t see
+how anyone could be anythin&rsquo; else. I want a nice house with a criss-cross
+iron gate in front of it an&rsquo; an automobile. An&rsquo;&mdash;I don&rsquo;t
+want you to say nothin&rsquo; about this to her jus&rsquo; yet&mdash;but
+I&rsquo;m goin&rsquo; to keep Granite to look after everythin&rsquo; for me. I
+don&rsquo;t ever mean to let Granite go again. Never. Not for one hour.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack smiled. He felt as if Fate was playing into his hands.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I want you to live with me,&rdquo; Aunt Mary continued, &ldquo;an&rsquo;
+I want the house big enough so&rsquo;s Clover an&rsquo; Mitchell an&rsquo;
+Burnett can come whenever they feel like it and stay as long as they like. I
+don&rsquo;t want any house except for us all together. Oh, my! Seems like I
+can&rsquo;t hardly wait!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She leaned back and shut her eyes in a sort of impatient ecstasy of joys been
+and to be.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack reached forward to get a cigarette from the box on the table at the
+bedside.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Do you smoke now, Aunt Mary?&rdquo; he inquired, as he took a match.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;No, Granite does.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Janice does!&rdquo; he repeated, quickly knitting his brows.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes, she does it for me&mdash;I&rsquo;m so happy smellin&rsquo; the
+smell. They made her a little sick at first but she took camphor and now she
+don&rsquo;t mind. Not much&mdash;not any.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack arose and walked about the room. The idea of his darling sickening herself
+to provide smoke for Aunt Mary braced him afresh to the conflict.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What do you do all day?&rdquo; he asked, presently.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Well, we do most everythin&rsquo;. When Lucinda&rsquo;s out she does
+Lucinda for me an&rsquo; when Lucinda&rsquo;s in she does Joshua. It&rsquo;s
+about as amusin&rsquo; as anythin&rsquo; you ever saw to see her do Lucinda. I
+never found Lucinda amusin&rsquo;, Lord knows, but I like to see Granite do
+her. An&rsquo; we play cards, an&rsquo; she dances, an&rsquo;&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Aunt Mary,&rdquo; said Jack abruptly, &ldquo;do you know the people who
+had Janice want her back again?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t quite catch that,&rdquo; said his aunt, &ldquo;but you
+needn&rsquo;t bother to repeat it because I ain&rsquo;t never goin&rsquo; to
+let her go. Not never.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack came back and sat down beside the bed, and took her hand.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Aunt Mary,&rdquo; he said in a pleading shriek, &ldquo;don&rsquo;t you
+see how pale and thin she&rsquo;s getting?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;No, I don&rsquo;t,&rdquo; said his aunt, turning her head away,
+&ldquo;an&rsquo; it&rsquo;s no use tellin&rsquo; me such things because
+it&rsquo;s about my nap-time and I&rsquo;ve always been a great believer in
+takin&rsquo; my nap when it&rsquo;s my nap-time. As a general thing.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack sighed and watched her close her eyes and go instantly to sleep. Janice
+came in a few minutes later.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;No&mdash;no,&rdquo; she whispered hastily, as he came toward
+her,&mdash;&ldquo;you mustn&rsquo;t&mdash;you mustn&rsquo;t. I don&rsquo;t
+believe that she really is asleep and even if she is, Lucinda is
+<i>everywhere</i>.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Where can we go?&rdquo; Jack asked in despair. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s out of
+all reason to expect me to behave all the time.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;We can&rsquo;t go anywhere,&rdquo; said Mrs. Rosscott; &ldquo;we must
+resign ourselves. I&rsquo;ve learned that it&rsquo;s the only way. Dear me,
+when I think how long I&rsquo;ve been resigned it certainly seems to me that
+you might do a little in the same line.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Well, but I haven&rsquo;t learned to resign myself,&rdquo; said her
+lover, &ldquo;and what is more, I positively decline to learn to resign myself.
+You should do the same, too. Where is the sense in humoring her so? I
+wouldn&rsquo;t if I were you.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Janice lifted up her lovely eyes.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, yes, you would,&rdquo; she said simply. &ldquo;If somebody&rsquo;s
+future happiness depended upon her you would humor her just as much as I
+do.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack was touched.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You are an angel of unselfishness,&rdquo; he exclaimed, warmly,
+&ldquo;and I don&rsquo;t deserve such devotion.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, don&rsquo;t be too grateful,&rdquo; she replied, dimpling.
+&ldquo;The person to whose future happiness I referred was myself.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+They both laughed softly at that&mdash;softly and mutually.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Nevertheless,&rdquo; Jack went on after a minute, &ldquo;if to all the
+other puzzles is to be added the torture of being unable to see you or speak
+freely to you, I think the hour for action has arrived.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;For action!&rdquo; she cried; &ldquo;what are you thinking of
+doing?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;This,&rdquo; he said, and straightway took her into his arms and kissed
+her as he had kissed her on the night before.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, if Lucinda has heard or your aunt has seen!&rdquo; poor Janice
+cried, extricating herself and setting her cap to rights with a species of
+fluttered haste that led Jack to wonder suddenly why men didn&rsquo;t fall in
+love with maids even oftener than they do. &ldquo;I do believe that you have
+gone and done it this time.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Nobody heard and nobody saw,&rdquo; he assured her, but he didn&rsquo;t
+at all mean what he said, for his prayers were fervent that his kiss had been
+public property.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And such was the fact.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lucinda bounced in on Joshua with a bounce that turned the can of harness
+polish upside down, for Joshua was oiling the harnesses.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;He kissed her!&rdquo; she cried in a state of tremendous excitement.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Well, she&rsquo;s his aunt, ain&rsquo;t she?&rdquo; Joshua demanded,
+picking up the can and privately wishing Lucinda in Halifax.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t mean her;&mdash;I mean Janice.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t see anythin&rsquo; surprisin&rsquo; in that,&rdquo; said
+Joshua,&mdash;&ldquo;not if he got a good chance.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What do you think of such goin&rsquo;s on?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I think they&rsquo;ll lead to goin&rsquo;s offs.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I never would &rsquo;a&rsquo; believed it,&rdquo; said Lucinda;
+&ldquo;Well, all I can say is I wish he&rsquo;d &rsquo;a&rsquo; tried it on
+me.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You&rsquo;ll wish a long time,&rdquo; said Joshua, placidly; and his
+tone, as usual, made Lucinda even more angry than his words; so she forthwith
+left him and tore back to the house.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary had also had her eyes open, and in this particular case it was
+impossible to have one&rsquo;s eyes open without having one&rsquo;s eyes
+opened. So Aunt Mary had both.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She shut them at once and reflected deeply, and when Janice went out of the
+room at last she immediately sat up in bed and addressed her nephew.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Jack, what did you kiss her for?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack was fairly wild with joy at the brilliant way in which he had begun. Mrs.
+Rosscott had laid one scheme for the overthrow of Aunt Mary and her plan of
+attack had been absolutely successful. Now it was his turn and he, too, was in
+it to win undying glory or else&mdash;well, no matter. There wouldn&rsquo;t be
+any &ldquo;also ran&rdquo; in this contest.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You don&rsquo;t deny that you kissed her, do you?&rdquo; said his aunt
+severely. &ldquo;Answer this minute. I&rsquo;m a great believer in
+answerin&rsquo; when you&rsquo;re spoken to.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes, I kissed her,&rdquo; he said easily.
+</p>
+
+<div class="fig" style="width:100%;">
+<a name="illus08"></a>
+<img src="images/image08.png" width="480" height="360" alt="[Illustration: ]" />
+<p class="caption">&ldquo;Aunt Mary had also had her eyes open.&rdquo;</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Well, what did you do it for?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m very fond of her;&rdquo; the words came forth with great
+apparent reluctance.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Fond of her!&rdquo; said Aunt Mary with great contempt.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack lifted his eyes quickly at the tone of her comment.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;<i>Fond</i> of her! Do you think a girl like that is the kind to be fond of!
+Why ain&rsquo;t you in <i>love</i> with her?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The young man felt his brains suddenly swimming. This surpassed his maddest
+hopes.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Shall I say that I am in love with her?&rdquo; he cried into the
+ear-trumpet.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary raised up in bed,&mdash;her eyes sparkling.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Jack,&rdquo; she said, almost quivering with excitement, &ldquo;<i>are</i> you
+in love with her?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes, I am,&rdquo; he owned, wondering what would come next, but feeling
+that the tide was all his way.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary collapsed with a joyful sigh.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;My heavens alive,&rdquo; she said rapturously, &ldquo;seems like
+it&rsquo;s too good to be true! Jack,&rdquo; she continued solemnly, &ldquo;if
+you&rsquo;re in love with her you shall marry her. If there&rsquo;s any way to
+keep a girl like that in the family I guess I ain&rsquo;t goin&rsquo; to let
+her slip through my fingers not while I&rsquo;ve got a live nephew. You shall
+marry her an&rsquo; I&rsquo;ll buy you a house in New York and come an&rsquo;
+live with you.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack sat silent, but smiling.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Do you think she will want to marry me?&rdquo; he asked presently.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You go and bring her to me,&rdquo; said the old lady vigorously.
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll soon find out. Just tell her I want to speak to
+her&mdash;don&rsquo;t tell her what about. That ain&rsquo;t none of your
+business an&rsquo; I&rsquo;m a great believer in people&rsquo;s not interfering
+in what&rsquo;s none of their business. You just get her and then leave her to
+me.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack went and found Janice. He was sufficiently mean not to tell her what had
+happened, and Janice&mdash;being built on a different plan from
+Lucinda&mdash;had not kept near enough to the keyhole to be posted anyway.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Mr. Denham says you want me,&rdquo; she said, coming to the bedside with
+her customary pleasant smile.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I do,&rdquo; said her mistress. &ldquo;I want to speak to you on a very
+serious subject and I want you to pay a lot of attention. It&rsquo;s this: I
+want you to marry Jack.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Poor Janice jumped violently,&mdash;there was no doubt as to the genuineness of
+her surprise.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Well, don&rsquo;t you want to?&rdquo; asked Aunt Mary.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t believe I do.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+At this it was the old lady&rsquo;s turn to be astonished.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Why don&rsquo;t you?&rdquo; she said; &ldquo;my heavens alive, what are
+you a-expectin&rsquo; to marry if you don&rsquo;t think my nephew&rsquo;s good
+enough for you?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But I don&rsquo;t want to marry!&rdquo; cried poor Janice, in most
+evident distress.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary looked at her severely.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Then what did you kiss him for?&rdquo; she asked, in the tone in which
+one plays the trump ace.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Janice started again.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Kiss&mdash;him&mdash;&rdquo; she faltered.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary regarded her sternly.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Granite,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;I ain&rsquo;t a-intendin&rsquo; to be
+unreasonable, but I must ask you jus&rsquo; one simple question. You kissed
+him, for I saw you; an&rsquo; will you kindly tell me why, in heaven&rsquo;s
+name, you ain&rsquo;t willin&rsquo; to marry any man that you&rsquo;re
+willin&rsquo; to kiss?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;There&rsquo;s such a difference,&rdquo; wailed the maid.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t see it,&rdquo; said her mistress, shaking her head.
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t see it at all. Of course I never for a minute thought of
+doin&rsquo; either myself, but if I had thought of doin&rsquo; either,
+I&rsquo;d had sense enough to have seen that I&rsquo;d have to make up my mind
+to do both. I&rsquo;m a great believer in never doin&rsquo; things by halves.
+It don&rsquo;t pay. Never&mdash;nohow.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Janice was biting her lips.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But I don&rsquo;t want to marry!&rdquo; she repeated obstinately.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Then you shouldn&rsquo;t have let him kiss you. You&rsquo;ve got him all
+started to lovin&rsquo; you and if he&rsquo;s stopped too quick no one can tell
+what may happen. I want him to settle down, but I want him to settle down
+because he&rsquo;s happy an&rsquo; not because he&rsquo;s shattered. He says
+he&rsquo;s willin&rsquo; to marry you an&rsquo; I don&rsquo;t see any good
+reason why not.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Janice&rsquo;s mouth continued to look rebellious.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Go and get him,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary. &ldquo;I can see that this thing
+has got to be settled pleasantly right off, or we shan&rsquo;t none of us have
+any appetite for dinner. You find Jack, or if you can&rsquo;t find him tell
+Lucinda that she&rsquo;s got to.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Janice went out and found Jack in the hall.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Is this a trap?&rdquo; she asked reproachfully.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack laughed.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;No,&rdquo; he said &ldquo;it&rsquo;s a counter-mine.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Your aunt wants you at once,&rdquo; said Janice, putting her hands into
+her pockets and looking out of the window.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I fly to obey,&rdquo; he said obediently, and went at once to his
+elderly relative.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Jack,&rdquo; she said, the instant he opened the door, &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve
+had a little talk with Granite. She don&rsquo; want to marry you, but she looks
+to me like she really didn&rsquo;t know her own mind. I&rsquo;ve said all I can
+say an&rsquo; I&rsquo;m too tired holdin&rsquo; the ear-trumpet to say any
+more. I think the best thing you can do is to take her out for a walk an&rsquo;
+explain things thoroughly. It&rsquo;s no good our talkin&rsquo; to her
+together; and, anyway, I&rsquo;ve always been a great believer in
+&lsquo;Two&rsquo;s company&mdash;three&rsquo;s none.&rsquo; That was really the
+big reason why I&rsquo;d never let Lucinda keep a cat. You take her and go to
+walk and I guess everything&rsquo;ll come out all right. It ought to. My
+heavens alive!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack took the maid and they went out to walk. When they were beyond earshot the
+first thing that they did was to laugh long and loud.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Of all my many and varied adventures!&rdquo; cried Mrs. Rosscott, and
+Jack took the opportunity to kiss her again&mdash;under no protest this time.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;We shall have to be married very soon, now, you know,&rdquo; he said
+gayly. &ldquo;Aunt Mary won&rsquo;t be able to wait.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, as to that&mdash;we&rsquo;ll see,&rdquo; said Mrs. Rosscott, and
+laughed afresh. &ldquo;But there is one thing that must be done at once.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What&rsquo;s that?&rdquo; Jack asked.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;We must tell Aunt Mary who I am.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, to be sure,&rdquo; said the young man.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I hope she won&rsquo;t take it in any way but the right way!&rdquo; the
+widow said thoughtfully.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;My dearest, in what other way could she take it? I think she has proved
+her opinion of you pretty sincerely.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Mrs. Rosscott, with a little smile, &ldquo;I certainly
+have cause to feel that she loves me for myself alone.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When they returned to the house they went straightway to Aunt Mary&rsquo;s
+room, and the first glance through the old lady&rsquo;s eye-glasses told her
+that her wishes had all been fulfilled. She sat up in bed, took a hand of each
+into her own, and surveyed them in an access of such utter joy as nearly caused
+all three to weep together.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Well, I am so glad,&rdquo; was all she said for the first few seconds,
+and nobody doubted her words forever after.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Then Mrs. Rosscott removed her hat and jacket, and when she returned to the
+bedside her future aunt made her sit down close to her and hold one of her
+hands while Jack held the other.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m so glad you&rsquo;re to have the runnin&rsquo; of Jack,&rdquo;
+the old lady declared sincerely. &ldquo;All I ask of you is to be patient with
+him. I always was. That is, most always.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Dear Aunt Mary,&rdquo; said Mrs. Rosscott, slipping down on her knees
+beside the bed, &ldquo;you are so good to me that you encourage me to tell you
+my secret. It isn&rsquo;t long, and it isn&rsquo;t bad, but I have a confession
+to make.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, I say,&rdquo; cried Jack, &ldquo;if you put it that way let me do
+the owning up!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Hush,&rdquo; said his love authoritatively, &ldquo;it&rsquo;s my
+confession. Leave it to me.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What is it?&rdquo; said Aunt Mary, looking anxiously from one to the
+other; &ldquo;you haven&rsquo;t broke your engagement already, I hope.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;No,&rdquo; said Mrs. Rosscott, &ldquo;it&rsquo;s nothing like that.
+It&rsquo;s only rather a surprise. But it&rsquo;s a nice surprise,&mdash;at
+least, I hope you&rsquo;ll think that it is.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Well, hurry and tell me then,&rdquo; said the old lady. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m
+a great believer in bein&rsquo; told good news as soon as possible. What is
+it?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It&rsquo;s that I&rsquo;m not a maid,&rdquo; said the pretty widow.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Not&mdash;a&mdash;&rdquo; cried Aunt Mary blankly.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m a widow!&rdquo; said Janice. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m Burnett&rsquo;s
+sister.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Wh&mdash;a&mdash;at!&rdquo; cried Aunt Mary. &ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t
+jus&rsquo; catch that.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You see,&rdquo; screamed Jack, &ldquo;she was afraid to have me
+entertain you in New York,&mdash;afraid you wouldn&rsquo;t be properly looked
+after, Aunt Mary, so she dressed up for your maid and looked after you
+herself.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;My heavens alive!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Wasn&rsquo;t she an angel?&rdquo; he asked.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But whatever made you take such an interest?&rdquo; Aunt Mary demanded
+of Janice.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Janice rose from her knees and, leaning over the bed, drew the old lady close
+in her arms.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll tell you,&rdquo; she screamed gently. &ldquo;I loved Jack,
+and so I loved his aunt even before I had ever seen her.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary&rsquo;s joy fairly overflowed at that view of things, and, putting
+her hands to either side of the lovely face so close to her own, she kissed it
+warmly again and again.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I always knew you were suthin&rsquo; out of the ordinary,&rdquo; she
+declared vigorously. &ldquo;You know I wouldn&rsquo;t have let him marry you if
+I hadn&rsquo;t been pretty sure as you were different from Lucinda an&rsquo;
+the common run.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+And then she beamed on them both and Jack beamed on them both and Mrs. Rosscott
+kissed each of them and dried her own happy eyes.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Now I want to know jus&rsquo; how an&rsquo; where you learned to love
+him?&rdquo; the aunt asked next.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I loved him almost directly I knew him,&rdquo; she answered, and at that
+Aunt Mary seemed on the point of applauding with the ear-trumpet against the
+headboard.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;It was jus&rsquo; the same with me,&rdquo; she said delightedly.
+&ldquo;He was only a baby then, but the first look I took I jus&rsquo; had a
+feelin&rsquo;&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Mrs. Rosscott sympathetically, &ldquo;so did I.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+They all laughed together.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;An&rsquo; now,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary, laying back and folding her arms
+upon her bosom, &ldquo;an&rsquo; now comes the main question,&mdash;when do you
+two want to be married?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh!&rdquo; said the widow starting,
+&ldquo;we&mdash;I&mdash;Jack&mdash;&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Well, go on,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary. &ldquo;Say whenever you like.
+An&rsquo; then Jack can do the same.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The two young people exchanged glances.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Speak right up,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m a great believer
+in not hangin&rsquo; back when anythin&rsquo; has got to be decided. Jack, what
+do you think?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I want to get married right off,&rdquo; said Jack decidedly.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I think he&rsquo;s too young,&rdquo; put in Mrs. Rosscott hastily.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary, looking at her nephew
+reflectively. &ldquo;Seems to me he&rsquo;s big enough, an&rsquo; I&rsquo;m a
+great believer in never dilly-dallyin&rsquo; over what&rsquo;s got to be done
+some time. Why not Thanksgiving?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Thanksgiving!&rdquo; shrieked Mrs. Rosscott.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary. &ldquo;I think it would be a good time,
+an&rsquo; then I can come and spend Christmas with you in the city.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Great idea!&rdquo; declared her nephew; &ldquo;me for
+Thanksgiving.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;What do you say?&rdquo; said Aunt Mary to the bride-to-be.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh, I don&rsquo;t see&mdash;&rdquo; began the latter, wrinkling her
+pretty forehead in a prettier perplexity and looking helplessly back and forth
+between their double eagerness.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Well, why not?&rdquo; said the aunt. &ldquo;It ain&rsquo;t as if there
+was any reason for waitin&rsquo;. If there was I&rsquo;d be the first to be
+willin&rsquo; to do all I could to be patient, but as it is&mdash;even if you
+an&rsquo; Jack ain&rsquo;t in any particular hurry, I am, an&rsquo; I was
+brought up to go right to work at gettin&rsquo; what you want as soon as you
+know what it is.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But this is so sudden,&rdquo; wailed Mrs. Rosscott.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary glanced at her sharply.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;That&rsquo;s what they all say, a&rsquo;cordin&rsquo; to the
+papers,&rdquo; she said calmly, &ldquo;an&rsquo; it never is counted as
+anythin&rsquo; but a joke.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;But I&rsquo;m not joking,&rdquo; Janice cried.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Then you jus&rsquo; take a little time an&rsquo; think it over,&rdquo;
+proposed the old lady,&mdash;&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll tell you what you can do. You
+can get me Lucinda because I want to tell her suthin&rsquo; and then you and
+Jack can sit down together an&rsquo; think it over anywhere an&rsquo; anyhow
+you like.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Do you really want Lucinda,&rdquo; said Janice, rising to her feet,
+&ldquo;or is it something that I can do? You know I&rsquo;m yours just the same
+as ever, Aunt Mary. Next to being good to Jack, I want to always be good to
+you.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary looked up with a light in her eyes that was fine to see.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Bless you, my child,&rdquo; she said heartily. &ldquo;I know that, but I
+really want Lucinda, an&rsquo; you an&rsquo; Jack can take care of yourselves
+for a while. Leastways, I hope you can. I guess you can. I presume so,
+anyway.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+It was late that afternoon that Lucinda, looking as if she had been
+accidentally overtaken by a road-roller, joined Joshua in the potato cellar.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Well, the sky c&rsquo;n fall whenever it likes now!&rdquo; she said,
+sitting down on an empty barrel with a resigned sigh.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;That&rsquo;s a comfort to know,&rdquo; said Joshua.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;She&rsquo;s got it all made up for &rsquo;em to marry each other.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;That ain&rsquo;t no great news to me,&rdquo; said Joshua.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Joshua Whittlesey, you make my blood boil. Things is goin&rsquo;
+rackin&rsquo; and ruinin&rsquo; at a great pace here an&rsquo; you as cold as a
+cauliflower over it all.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Joshua sorted potatoes phlegmatically and said nothing.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;S&rsquo;posin&rsquo; I&rsquo;d &rsquo;a&rsquo; wanted to marry
+him?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Joshua continued to sort potatoes.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Or, s&rsquo;posin&rsquo; you wanted to marry her?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Joshua looked up quickly.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Which one?&rdquo; he said.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Janice!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Oh,&rdquo; he said in a relieved tone.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Why did you say &lsquo;oh,&rsquo;&mdash;did you think I meant
+her?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t know who you meant.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Why, you wouldn&rsquo;t think o&rsquo; marryin&rsquo; her, would
+you?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;No,&rdquo; said Joshua emphatically. &ldquo;I&rsquo;d as soon think
+o&rsquo; marryin&rsquo; you yourself.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lucinda deliberated for a minute or so as to whether to accept this insult in
+silence or not, and finally decided to make just one more remark.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I wonder if she&rsquo;ll send any word to Arethusa &rsquo;n&rsquo;
+Mary.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;They&rsquo;ll know soon enough,&rdquo; said Joshua oracularly.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;How&rsquo;ll they know, I&rsquo;d like to know?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;You&rsquo;ll write &rsquo;em.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lucinda was dumb. The fact that the letter was already written only made the
+serpent-tooth of Joshua&rsquo;s intimate knowledge cut the deeper.
+</p>
+
+</div><!--end chapter-->
+
+<div class="chapter">
+
+<h2><a name="chap25"></a>Chapter Twenty-Five<br/>
+Grand Finale</h2>
+
+<p>
+She has it all made up for him to marry her, and she is certainly as happy as
+she is and he is themselves. She is making plans at a great rate and she has
+consented to have her wedding here because she wants to be there herself. The
+day is set for Thanksgiving and the Lord be with us for everything has got to
+be just so and she is no more good at helping now that he&rsquo;s come. They
+are all going back to New York as soon as possible after it&rsquo;s over and I
+hope to be forgiven for stating plainly that it will be the happiest day&rsquo;
+of my life.
+</p>
+
+<p class="right">
+Respectfully,<br/>
+L. C<small>OOKE</small>.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Upon receipt of this astounding news Arethusa took the train and flew to the
+scene where such momentous happenings were piling up on one another. Her
+arrival was unexpected and the changes which she found ensued and ensuing were
+of a nature bewildering in the extreme. Aunt Mary had quit her régime of soup
+and sleep and was not only more energetically vigorous as to mind than ever,
+but strengthening daily as to bodily force. It might have been the excitement,
+for Burnett was there, Clover was <i>en route</i>, and Mitchell was expected within
+twenty-four hours. Other great changes were visible everywhere. A corps of
+servants from town had fairly swamped Lucinda and twenty carpenters were
+putting up an extra addition to the house in which to give the wedding room to
+spread. Nor was this all, for Aunt Mary had turned a furniture man and an
+upholsterer loose with no other limit than that comprised by the two words
+&ldquo;<i>carte blanche</i>.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Mrs. Rosscott still continued to wait upon Aunt Mary, but another maid had
+arrived to await upon Mrs. Rosscott. The latter had shed her black uniform and
+bloomed forth in rose-hued robes. Mr. Stebbins was kept on tap from dawn to
+dark and the checks flowed like water. Emissaries had been despatched to New
+York to buy the young couple a suitable house and furnish that also from top to
+bottom.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Well, Arethusa,&rdquo; the aunt said to the niece when they met the
+morning after her arrival, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m feelin&rsquo; better &rsquo;n I was
+last time you were here.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m so glad,&rdquo; yelled Arethusa.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;They&rsquo;ll live in New York and I&rsquo;ll live with them. As far as
+I&rsquo;ve seen there ain&rsquo;t no other place on earth to live. I&rsquo;m
+goin&rsquo; to get me a coat lined with black-spotted white cat&rsquo;s fur and
+have my glasses put on a parasol handle, and I&rsquo;m going to have the
+collars and sleeves left out of most of my dresses an&rsquo; look like other
+people. I&rsquo;m a great believer in doin&rsquo; as others do, an&rsquo; Jack
+won&rsquo;t ever have no cause to complain that I didn&rsquo;t take easy to
+city life.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Arethusa felt herself dumb before these revelations.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Later she was conducted to see the wedding presents, which were gorgeous. Among
+them was the biggest and brightest of crimson automobiles; and Mitchell, who
+had presented it, had christened it beforehand &ldquo;The Midnight Sun.&rdquo;
+Aunt Mary&rsquo;s gift was the New York house and money enough for them to live
+on the income.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I know you&rsquo;re able to look out for yourself,&rdquo; she told the
+bride, &ldquo;but I don&rsquo;t want Jack to have to worry over things at all,
+and, although I know it&rsquo;s a good habit, still I shouldn&rsquo;t like to
+have him ever work so hard that he wouldn&rsquo;t feel like goin&rsquo; around
+with us nights. Not ever. Not even sometimes.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Mitchell was overjoyed at the way things had turned out.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;My dear Miss Watkins,&rdquo; he screamed, when he was ushered into Aunt
+Mary&rsquo;s presence, &ldquo;who could have guessed in the hour of that sad
+parting in New York that such a glad future was held in store for us
+all!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t quite catch that,&rdquo; Aunt Mary exclaimed,
+rapturously, &ldquo;but it doesn&rsquo;t matter&mdash;as long as you got here
+safe at last.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Safe!&rdquo; exclaimed the young man; &ldquo;it would have been the very
+refinement of cruelty if my train had smashed me on this journey.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Burnett was equally happy.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I suppose it will be up to me to give you away,&rdquo; he said to his
+sister; &ldquo;before all these people, too. What a mean trick!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Jack had thought that he would like to have Tweedwell marry him, as that young
+man had put in the summer vacation getting ordained. Tweedwell
+accepted&mdash;although he had just taken charge of a living in Seattle and
+came through on a flyer which arrived two hours before <i>the</i> hour. Some fifty or
+sixty of the guests came in on the same train, and Burnett and Clover met them
+all at the cars and made the majority comfortable in the different hotels and
+honored the minority with Aunt Mary&rsquo;s hospitality.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The day was gorgeous. The addition to the house was done and lined with white
+and decorated in gold. An orchestra was ensconced behind palms just as
+orchestras always covet to be and a magnificent breakfast had been sent up from
+the city in its own car with its own service and attendants to serve it.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+There was only one hitch in the entire programme. That was that when they got
+to the church Tweedwell did not show up. Jack was distressed even though Mrs.
+Rosscott laughed. Mitchell wanted to read the ceremony, but Aunt Mary was
+afraid it wouldn&rsquo;t be legal, and Mr. Stebbins agreed with her. In the end
+the regular clergyman married them; and just as they were all filing out they
+met Tweedwell and Lucinda tearing along, he in his surplice and she in the
+black silk dress which Aunt Mary had given her in celebration of the occasion.
+They were both too exhausted to be able to explain for several minutes; but it
+finally came out (of Lucinda) that Burnett, whose place it was to have overseen
+officiating Tweedwell, had forgotten all about him, and the poor fellow,
+exhausted by his long journey, had never awakened until Lucinda, going in to
+clear up his room, had let forth a piercing howl of surprise.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+So far from dampening anyone&rsquo;s spirits this little <i>contretemps</i> only
+seemed to set things off at a livelier pace. They had a brisk ride home, and
+the wedding feast and the wedding cake were all that could be desired. What
+went with it was the finest that any of the guests ever tasted before or since,
+and the champagne was all but served in beer steins.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+When it came to the healths they drank to Aunt Mary along with the bride and
+groom, and Mitchell made a speech, invoking Heaven&rsquo;s blessings on the
+triple compact and covering himself with glory.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Here&rsquo;s to Aunt Mary and her bride and her groom,&rdquo; he cried,
+when they told him to rise and proclaim. &ldquo;Here&rsquo;s to Aunt Mary and
+her bride and groom, and here&rsquo;s to their health and their wealth and
+their happiness. Here&rsquo;s to their brilliant past, their roseate present
+and their gorgeous future. And here&rsquo;s to hoping that Fate, who is ready
+and willing to deal any man a bride, may some time see fit to deal some one of
+us another such as Jack&rsquo;s Aunt Mary. So I propose her health before all
+else. Aunt Mary, long may she wave!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary looked as if words and actions were poor things in which to attempt
+to express her feelings, but no one who glanced at her could be in two minds as
+to her state of approval as to everything that was going on.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The bridal pair drove away somewhere after five o&rsquo;clock, and about seven
+the main body of the guests returned to the city.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Mrs. Rosscott&rsquo;s mother and Mitchell and Burnett remained a day or two to
+keep Aunt Mary from feeling blue, but Aunt Mary was not at all inclined that
+way.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;If those two young people are lookin&rsquo; forward to anythin&rsquo;
+like as much fun as I am,&rdquo; she said over and over again, &ldquo;well, all
+is they&rsquo;re lookin&rsquo; forward to a good deal.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Won&rsquo;t we whoop her up next summer!&rdquo; said Burnett;
+&ldquo;well, I don&rsquo;t know!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;My dear Robert,&rdquo; said his mother gently.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t stop him,&rdquo; said Aunt Mary. &ldquo;He knows just how I
+feel an&rsquo; I know jus&rsquo; how he feels. It isn&rsquo;t wrong, Mrs.
+Burnett, it&rsquo;s natural. We were born to be happy, only sometimes we
+don&rsquo;t know just how to set about it.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Miss Watkins has hit the nail on the head,&rdquo; said Mitchell, rolling
+a cigarette. &ldquo;She has not only hit the nail on its own head, but she has
+succeeded in driving its point well into all our heads. She taught us many
+things during her short visit. I, for one, am her debtor forever. Me for joy,
+from now on!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary smiled. &ldquo;My heavens!&rdquo; she murmured; &ldquo;to think how
+nice it all come out, and how really put out I was when Jack first began,
+too.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Burnett put his hand in his pocket and pulled out some gum.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Robert!&rdquo; cried his mother, &ldquo;you don&rsquo;t chew gum, do
+you?&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Of course he doesn&rsquo;t,&rdquo; said his friend quickly;
+&ldquo;that&rsquo;s why he had it in his pocket.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Mary looked thoughtfully at him.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Give me a little,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;maybe it&rsquo;s suthin&rsquo;
+I&rsquo;ve been missin&rsquo;.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Mrs. Burnett left the next day, and Mitchell went the day after.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The carpenters took down the addition, and the wedding presents were shipped to
+town.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;She says she&rsquo;ll be goin&rsquo; soon,&rdquo; said Lucinda to
+Joshua.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Then she&rsquo;ll be goin&rsquo; soon,&rdquo; said Joshua.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;I&rsquo;m sure I&rsquo;ll be glad,&rdquo; said Lucinda; &ldquo;such
+hifalutin sky-larkin&rsquo;!&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Joshua said nothing. Mr. Stebbins had apprised him of Aunt Mary&rsquo;s
+arrangements in his behalf and he felt no inclination to criticize any of her
+doings and sayings.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Toward the end of the next week this telegram was received.
+</p>
+
+<p class="letter">
+Dear Aunt Mary: We&rsquo;re home and ready when you are. Telegraph what train.
+</p>
+
+<p class="right">
+J. and J.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The telegram was handed to Aunt Mary at ten in the morning. Her fingers
+trembled as she opened it.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;My heavens alive, Lucinda,&rdquo; she cried, the next minute, &ldquo;I
+do believe, if you&rsquo;ll be quick, that I can make the twelve-twenty! Run!
+Tell Joshua to get my trunk down and harness Billy as quick as he can. He can
+telegraph that I&rsquo;m comin&rsquo; after I&rsquo;m gone.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Lucinda flew Joshua-wards.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;She wants to make the twelve-twenty train!&rdquo; she cried. Joshua
+looked up.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+&ldquo;Then she&rsquo;ll make it,&rdquo; he said.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+She made it!
+</p>
+
+<p>
+<i>Anne Warner&rsquo;s &ldquo;Susan Clegg&rdquo; Books</i>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+SUSAN CLEGG AND HER FRIEND MRS. LATHROP
+</p>
+
+<p>
+<i>By</i> ANNE WARNER<br/>
+With Frontispiece, $1.00
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Nothing better in the new homely philosophy style of fiction has been
+written.&mdash;<i>San Francisco Bulletin</i>.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+One of the most genuinely humorous books ever written.&mdash;<i>St. Louis
+Globe-Democrat</i>.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Anything more humorous than the Susan Clegg stories would be hard to
+find.&mdash;<i>The Critic</i>, New York.
+</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<p>
+<i>By the Same Author:</i>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+SUSAN CLEGG AND HER NEIGHBORS&rsquo; AFFAIRS
+</p>
+
+<p>
+With Frontispiece, $1.00
+</p>
+
+<p>
+All the stories brim over with quaint humor, caustic sarcasm, and concealed
+contempt for male and matrimonial chains.&mdash;<i>Philadelphia Ledger</i>.
+</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<p>
+SUSAN CLEGG AND A MAN IN THE HOUSE
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Illustrated by Alice Barber Stephens. $1.50
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Susan is a positive joy, and the reading world owes Anne Warner a vote of
+thanks for her contribution to the list of American humor.&mdash;<i>New York
+Times</i>.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+LITTLE, BROWN, &amp; CO., Publishers<br/>
+34 Beacon Street, Boston
+</p>
+
+<p>
+<i>An exceedingly clever volume of stories</i>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+AN ORIGINAL GENTLEMAN
+</p>
+
+<p>
+<i>By</i> ANNE WARNER
+</p>
+
+<p>
+With frontispiece by Alice Barber Stephens
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Cloth. $1.50
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Exhibits her cleverness and sense of humor.&mdash;<i>New York Times</i>.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Crisply told, quaintly humorous.&mdash;<i>Boston Transcript</i>.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+An &ldquo;Original Gentleman&rdquo; is truly also one of the most entertaining
+and witty gentlemen that it has been our fortune to run across in many a day,
+not to mention the more original lady that he has to do with.&mdash;<i>Louisville
+Evening Post</i>.
+</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<p>
+By the same author
+</p>
+
+<p>
+A WOMAN&rsquo;S WILL
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Illustrated. 360 pages. Cloth. $1.50
+</p>
+
+<p>
+A deliciously funny book.&mdash;<i>Chicago Tribune</i>.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+It is bright, charming, and intense as it describes the wooing of a young
+American widow on the European Continent by a German musical genius.&mdash;<i>San
+Francisco Chronicle</i>.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+As refreshing a bit of fiction as one often finds.&mdash;<i>Providence Journal</i>.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+LITTLE, BROWN, &amp; CO., PUBLISHERS<br/>
+34 BEACON STREET, BOSTON
+</p>
+
+<p>
+<i>Anne Warner&rsquo;s Latest Character Creation</i>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+IN A MYSTERIOUS WAY
+</p>
+
+<p>
+<i>By</i> ANNE WARNER
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Illustrated by J.V. McFall. Cloth. $1.50
+</p>
+
+<p>
+A story of love and sacrifice that teems with the author&rsquo;s original
+humor.&mdash;<i>Baltimore American</i>.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The humor peculiar to her pen is here in wonted strength, but in a new guise;
+and set against it, or interwoven with it, is a story of love and the strange
+sacrifice of which a few loving hearts are capable.&mdash;<i>New York American</i>.
+</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<p>
+<i>By the same author</i>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+YOUR CHILD AND MINE
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Illustrated. 12mo. Cloth. $1.50
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The child heart, strange and sweet and tender, lies open to this sympathetic
+writer, and other human hearts&mdash;and eyes&mdash;should be opened by her
+narratives.&mdash;<i>Chicago Record-Herald</i>.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The literary charm of the stories is not the least of their attractions. The
+interest is all the greater for the style in which the story is told, and the
+author&rsquo;s sympathy with her young friends lends a vital warmth to her
+narrative.&mdash;<i>Philadelphia Public Ledger</i>.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+LITTLE, BROWN, &amp; CO., PUBLISHERS<br/>
+34 BEACON STREET, BOSTON
+</p>
+
+<p>
+<i>By the Author of &ldquo;Aunt Jane of Kentucky&rdquo;</i>
+</p>
+
+<p>
+THE LAND OF LONG AGO
+</p>
+
+<p>
+<i>By</i> ELIZA CALVERT HALL
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Illustrated by G. Patrick Nelson and Beulah Strong 12mo. Cloth. $1.50
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The book is an inspiration.&mdash;<i>Boston Globe</i>.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Without qualification one of the worthiest publications of the
+year.&mdash;<i>Pittsburg Post</i>.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+Aunt Jane has become a real personage in American literature.&mdash;<i>Hartford
+Courant</i>.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+A philosophy sweet and wholesome flows from the lips of &ldquo;Aunt
+Jane.&rdquo;&mdash;<i>Chicago Evening Post</i>.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The sweetness and sincerity of Aunt Jane&rsquo;s recollections have the same
+unfailing charm found in &ldquo;Cranford.&rdquo;&mdash;<i>Philadelphia Press</i>.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+To a greater degree than her previous work it touches the heart by its
+wholesome, quaint human appeal.&mdash;<i>Boston Transcript</i>.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+The stories are prose idyls; the illuminations of a lovely spirit shine upon
+them, and their literary quality is as rare as beautiful.&mdash;<i>Baltimore Sun</i>.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+MARGARET E. SANGSTER says: &ldquo;It is not often that an author competes with
+herself, but Eliza Calvert Hall has done so successfully, for her second volume
+centred about Aunt Jane is more fascinating than her first.&rdquo;
+</p>
+
+<p>
+LITTLE, BROWN, &amp; CO., PUBLISHERS<br/>
+34 BEACON STREET, BOSTON
+</p>
+
+</div><!--end chapter-->
+
+<div style='display:block;margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE REJUVENATION OF AUNT MARY ***</div>
+<div style='display:block;margin:1em 0;'>This file should be named 15775-h.htm or 15775-h.zip</div>
+<div style='display:block;margin:1em 0;'>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in https://www.gutenberg.org/1/5/7/7/15775/</div>
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+Updated editions will replace the previous one&#8212;the old editions will
+be renamed.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright
+law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works,
+so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United
+States without permission and without paying copyright
+royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part
+of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project
+Gutenberg&#8482; electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG&#8482;
+concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark,
+and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following
+the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use
+of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for
+copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very
+easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation
+of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project
+Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away--you may
+do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected
+by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark
+license, especially commercial redistribution.
+</div>
+
+<div style='margin:0.83em 0; font-size:1.1em; text-align:center'>START: FULL LICENSE<br />
+<span style='font-size:smaller'>THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE<br />
+PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK</span>
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+To protect the Project Gutenberg&#8482; mission of promoting the free
+distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
+(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase &#8220;Project
+Gutenberg&#8221;), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full
+Project Gutenberg&#8482; License available with this file or online at
+www.gutenberg.org/license.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'>
+Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg&#8482; electronic works
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg&#8482;
+electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
+and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
+(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all
+the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or
+destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg&#8482; electronic works in your
+possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a
+Project Gutenberg&#8482; electronic work and you do not agree to be bound
+by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person
+or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+1.B. &#8220;Project Gutenberg&#8221; is a registered trademark. It may only be
+used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
+agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few
+things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg&#8482; electronic works
+even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See
+paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project
+Gutenberg&#8482; electronic works if you follow the terms of this
+agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg&#8482;
+electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (&#8220;the
+Foundation&#8221; or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection
+of Project Gutenberg&#8482; electronic works. Nearly all the individual
+works in the collection are in the public domain in the United
+States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the
+United States and you are located in the United States, we do not
+claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing,
+displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as
+all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope
+that you will support the Project Gutenberg&#8482; mission of promoting
+free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg&#8482;
+works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the
+Project Gutenberg&#8482; name associated with the work. You can easily
+comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the
+same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg&#8482; License when
+you share it without charge with others.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
+what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are
+in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States,
+check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this
+agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing,
+distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any
+other Project Gutenberg&#8482; work. The Foundation makes no
+representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any
+country other than the United States.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other
+immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg&#8482; License must appear
+prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg&#8482; work (any work
+on which the phrase &#8220;Project Gutenberg&#8221; appears, or with which the
+phrase &#8220;Project Gutenberg&#8221; is associated) is accessed, displayed,
+performed, viewed, copied or distributed:
+</div>
+
+<blockquote>
+  <div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+    This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most
+    other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions
+    whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms
+    of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online
+    at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you
+    are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws
+    of the country where you are located before using this eBook.
+  </div>
+</blockquote>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg&#8482; electronic work is
+derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not
+contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the
+copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in
+the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are
+redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase &#8220;Project
+Gutenberg&#8221; associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply
+either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or
+obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg&#8482;
+trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg&#8482; electronic work is posted
+with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
+must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any
+additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms
+will be linked to the Project Gutenberg&#8482; License for all works
+posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the
+beginning of this work.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg&#8482;
+License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
+work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg&#8482;.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
+electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
+prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
+active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
+Gutenberg&#8482; License.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
+compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including
+any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access
+to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg&#8482; work in a format
+other than &#8220;Plain Vanilla ASCII&#8221; or other format used in the official
+version posted on the official Project Gutenberg&#8482; website
+(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense
+to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means
+of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original &#8220;Plain
+Vanilla ASCII&#8221; or other form. Any alternate format must include the
+full Project Gutenberg&#8482; License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
+performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg&#8482; works
+unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
+access to or distributing Project Gutenberg&#8482; electronic works
+provided that:
+</div>
+
+<div style='margin-left:0.7em;'>
+    <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'>
+        &bull; You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
+        the use of Project Gutenberg&#8482; works calculated using the method
+        you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed
+        to the owner of the Project Gutenberg&#8482; trademark, but he has
+        agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project
+        Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid
+        within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are
+        legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty
+        payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project
+        Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in
+        Section 4, &#8220;Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg
+        Literary Archive Foundation.&#8221;
+    </div>
+
+    <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'>
+        &bull; You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
+        you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
+        does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg&#8482;
+        License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all
+        copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue
+        all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg&#8482;
+        works.
+    </div>
+
+    <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'>
+        &bull; You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of
+        any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
+        electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of
+        receipt of the work.
+    </div>
+
+    <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'>
+        &bull; You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
+        distribution of Project Gutenberg&#8482; works.
+    </div>
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project
+Gutenberg&#8482; electronic work or group of works on different terms than
+are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing
+from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of
+the Project Gutenberg&#8482; trademark. Contact the Foundation as set
+forth in Section 3 below.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+1.F.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
+effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
+works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project
+Gutenberg&#8482; collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg&#8482;
+electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may
+contain &#8220;Defects,&#8221; such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate
+or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other
+intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or
+other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or
+cannot be read by your equipment.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the &#8220;Right
+of Replacement or Refund&#8221; described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
+Gutenberg&#8482; trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
+Gutenberg&#8482; electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
+liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
+fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
+LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
+PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
+TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
+LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
+INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
+DAMAGE.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
+defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
+receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
+written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you
+received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium
+with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you
+with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in
+lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person
+or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second
+opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If
+the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing
+without further opportunities to fix the problem.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
+in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you &#8216;AS-IS&#8217;, WITH NO
+OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT
+LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
+warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of
+damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement
+violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the
+agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or
+limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or
+unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the
+remaining provisions.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
+trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
+providing copies of Project Gutenberg&#8482; electronic works in
+accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the
+production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg&#8482;
+electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses,
+including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of
+the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this
+or any Project Gutenberg&#8482; work, (b) alteration, modification, or
+additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg&#8482; work, and (c) any
+Defect you cause.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'>
+Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg&#8482;
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+Project Gutenberg&#8482; is synonymous with the free distribution of
+electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of
+computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It
+exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations
+from people in all walks of life.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
+assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg&#8482;&#8217;s
+goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg&#8482; collection will
+remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
+and permanent future for Project Gutenberg&#8482; and future
+generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see
+Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'>
+Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit
+501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
+state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
+Revenue Service. The Foundation&#8217;s EIN or federal tax identification
+number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by
+U.S. federal laws and your state&#8217;s laws.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+The Foundation&#8217;s business office is located at 809 North 1500 West,
+Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up
+to date contact information can be found at the Foundation&#8217;s website
+and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'>
+Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+Project Gutenberg&#8482; depends upon and cannot survive without widespread
+public support and donations to carry out its mission of
+increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
+freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest
+array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations
+($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
+status with the IRS.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
+charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
+States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
+considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
+with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations
+where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND
+DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state
+visit <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/donate/">www.gutenberg.org/donate</a>.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
+have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
+against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
+approach us with offers to donate.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
+any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
+outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation
+methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other
+ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To
+donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'>
+Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg&#8482; electronic works
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project
+Gutenberg&#8482; concept of a library of electronic works that could be
+freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and
+distributed Project Gutenberg&#8482; eBooks with only a loose network of
+volunteer support.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+Project Gutenberg&#8482; eBooks are often created from several printed
+editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in
+the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not
+necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper
+edition.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+Most people start at our website which has the main PG search
+facility: <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>.
+</div>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+This website includes information about Project Gutenberg&#8482;,
+including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
+subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
+</div>
+
+</body>
+
+</html>
+
+
diff --git a/15775-h/images/cover.jpg b/15775-h/images/cover.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4bf96c7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/15775-h/images/cover.jpg
diff --git a/15775-h/images/image01.png b/15775-h/images/image01.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6ffd960
--- /dev/null
+++ b/15775-h/images/image01.png
diff --git a/15775-h/images/image02.png b/15775-h/images/image02.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..177b8d2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/15775-h/images/image02.png
diff --git a/15775-h/images/image03.png b/15775-h/images/image03.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..87da369
--- /dev/null
+++ b/15775-h/images/image03.png
diff --git a/15775-h/images/image04.png b/15775-h/images/image04.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6ad9262
--- /dev/null
+++ b/15775-h/images/image04.png
diff --git a/15775-h/images/image05.png b/15775-h/images/image05.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dc4671c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/15775-h/images/image05.png
diff --git a/15775-h/images/image06.png b/15775-h/images/image06.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7bcc07a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/15775-h/images/image06.png
diff --git a/15775-h/images/image07.png b/15775-h/images/image07.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4b7e26a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/15775-h/images/image07.png
diff --git a/15775-h/images/image08.png b/15775-h/images/image08.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..56c5b34
--- /dev/null
+++ b/15775-h/images/image08.png
diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6312041
--- /dev/null
+++ b/LICENSE.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements,
+metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be
+in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES.
+
+Procedures for determining public domain status are described in
+the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org.
+
+No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in
+jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize
+this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright
+status under the laws that apply to them.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..854811f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for
+eBook #15775 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/15775)
diff --git a/old/15775-8.txt b/old/15775-8.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f731b54
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/15775-8.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,9691 @@
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary by Anne
+Warner
+
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no
+restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under
+the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or
+online at http://www.gutenberg.org/license
+
+
+
+Title: The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary
+
+Author: Anne Warner
+
+Release Date: May 2005 [Ebook #15775]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO 8859-1
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE REJUVENATION OF AUNT MARY***
+
+
+
+
+
+The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary
+By Anne Warner
+
+Author of "A Woman's Will," "Susan Clegg and Her Friend Mrs. Lathrop,"
+"Susan Clegg and a Man in the House," etc.
+_NEW EDITION_
+_With Additional Pictures from the Play_
+
+Boston
+Little, Brown, and Company
+1910
+
+
+
+
+
+                           _Copyright, 1904,_
+                       By Ainslee Magazine Company.
+
+                           _Copyright, 1905,_
+                      By Little, Brown, and Company.
+
+                           _Copyright, 1907,_
+                      By Little, Brown, and Company,
+
+                          _All rights reserved_
+
+                           Fourteenth Printing
+
+                                Printers
+                   S.J. Parkhill & Co., Boston, U.S.A.
+
+
+
+
+
+                             [_Frontispiece_]
+
+              Aunt Mary en F�te. May Robson as "Aunt Mary."
+
+
+
+
+
+       _Books by Anne Warner_
+A Woman's Will             1904
+Susan Clegg and Her        1904
+Friend Mrs. Lathrop
+The Rejuvenation of Aunt   1905
+Mary
+Susan Clegg and Her        1906
+Neighbor's Affairs
+Susan Clegg and a Man in   1907
+the House
+An Original Gentleman      1908
+In a Mysterious Way        1909
+Your Child and Mine        1909
+
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+Illustrations
+Chapter One - Introducing Aunt Mary
+Chapter Two - Jack
+Chapter Three - Introducing Jack
+Chapter Four - Married
+Chapter Five - The Day After Falling in Love
+Chapter Six - The Other Man
+Chapter Seven - Developments
+Chapter Eight - The Resolution He Took
+Chapter Nine - The Downfall of Hope
+Chapter Ten - The Woes of the Disinherited.
+Chapter Eleven - The Dove of Peace
+Chapter Twelve - A Trap For Aunt Mary
+Chapter Thirteen - Aunt Mary Entrapped
+Chapter Fourteen - Aunt Mary En F�te
+Chapter Fifteen - Aunt Mary Enthralled
+Chapter Sixteen - A Reposeful Interval
+Chapter Seventeen - Aunt Mary's Night About Town
+Chapter Eighteen - A Departure And A Return
+Chapter Nineteen - Aunt Mary's Return
+Chapter Twenty - Jack's Joy
+Chapter Twenty-One - The Peace and Quiet of the Country
+Chapter Twenty-Two - "Granite"
+Chapter Twenty-Three - "Granite" - Continued.
+Chapter Twenty-Four - Two Are Company
+Chapter Twenty-Five - Grand Finale
+
+
+
+
+
+ILLUSTRATIONS
+
+
+      "Aunt Mary en f�te" (May Robson as "Aunt Mary") _Frontispiece_
+      "'Do not let us play any longer,' she said. 'Let us be in earnest'"
+      "'She's goin' to the city all alone!' Lucinda's voice suddenly
+      proclaimed behind him"
+      Aunt Mary and Her Escorts
+      "The carriage stopped three hundred feet below the level of a
+      roof-garden"
+      "And now the fun's all over and the work begins"
+      "'Yesterday I played poker until I didn't know a blue chip from a
+      white one'"
+      "Aunt Mary had also had her eyes open"
+
+
+
+
+
+
+THE REJUVENATION OF AUNT MARY
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER ONE - INTRODUCING AUNT MARY
+
+
+The first time that Jack was threatened with expulsion from college his
+Aunt Mary was much surprised and decidedly vexed--mainly at the college.
+His family were less surprised, viewing the young man through a clearer
+atmosphere than his Aunt Mary ever had, and knowing that he had barely
+escaped similar experiences earlier in his career by invariably leaving
+school the day before the board of inquiry convened.
+
+Jack's preparatory days having been more or less tempestous, his family
+(Aunt Mary excepted) had expected some sort of after-clap when he entered
+college. Nevertheless, they had fervently hoped that it would not be quite
+as bad as this.
+
+Jack's sister Arethusa was visiting her aunt when the news came. Not
+because she wanted to, for the old lady was dreadfully deaf and fearfully
+arbitrary, but because Lucinda had said that she must go to her cousin's
+wedding, and the family always had to bow to Lucinda's mandates. Lucinda
+was Aunt Mary's maid, but she had become so indispensable as a sitter at
+the off-end of the latter's ear-trumpet that none of the grand-nephews or
+grand-nieces ever thought for an instant of crossing one of her wishes. So
+it was to Arethusa that the explanations due Aunt Mary's interest in her
+scapegrace fell, and she bowed her back to the burden with the resignation
+which the circumstances demanded.
+
+"Whatever is the difference between bein' expelled and bein' suspended?"
+Aunt Mary demanded, in her tone of imperious impatience. "Well, why don't
+you answer? I was brought up to speak when you're spoken to, an' I'm a
+great believer in livin' up to your bringin' up--if you had a good one.
+What's the difference, an' which costs most? That's what I want to know. I
+do wish you'd answer me, Arethusa; there's two things I've asked you now,
+an' you suckin' your finger an' puttin' on your thimble as if you were
+sittin' alone in China."
+
+"I don't know which costs most," Arethusa shrieked.
+
+"You needn't scream so," said Aunt Mary. "I ain't so hard to hear as you
+think. I ain't but seventy, and I'll beg you to remember _that_, Arethusa.
+Besides, I don't want to hear you talk. I just want to hear about Jack.
+I'm askin' about his bein' expelled and suspended, an' what's the
+difference, an' in particular if there's anything to pay for broken glass.
+It's always broken glass! That boy's bills for broken glass have been
+somethin' just awful these last two years. Well, why don't you answer?"
+
+"I don't know what to answer," Arethusa screamed.
+
+"What do you suppose he's done, anyhow?"
+
+"Something bad."
+
+Aunt Mary frowned.
+
+"I ain't mad," she said sharply. "What made you think I was mad? I ain't
+mad at all! I'm just askin' what's the difference between bein' expelled
+an' bein' suspended, an' it seems to me this is the third time I've asked
+it. Seems to me it is."
+
+Arethusa laid down her work, drew a mighty breath, very nearly got into
+the ear-trumpet, and explained that being suspended was infinitely less
+heinous than being expelled, and decidedly less final.
+
+Aunt Mary looked relieved.
+
+"Oh, then he's gettin' better, is he?" she said. "Well, I'm sure that's
+some comfort."
+
+And then there was a long pause, during which she appeared to be engaged
+in deep reflection, and her niece continued her embroidery in peace. The
+pause endured until a sudden sneeze on the part of the old lady set the
+wheels of conversation turning again.
+
+"Arethusa," she said, "I wish you'd go an' get the ink an' write to Mr.
+Stebbins. I want him to begin to look up another college with good
+references right away. I don't want to waste any of the boy's life, an' if
+bein' suspended means waitin' while the college takes its time to consider
+whether it wants him back again or not I ain't goin' to wait. I'm a great
+believer in a college education, but I don't know that it cuts much figure
+whether it's the same college right through or not. Anyway, you write Mr.
+Stebbins."
+
+Arethusa obeyed, and the authorities having seen fit to be uncommonly
+discreet as to the cause of the young man's withdrawal, no great
+difficulty was experienced in finding another campus whereon Aunt Mary's
+pride and joy might freely disport himself. Mr. Stebbins threw himself
+into the affair with all the tact and ardor of an experienced legal mind
+and soon after Lucinda's return to her home allowed Arethusa to follow
+suit, the hopeful younger brother of the latter became a candidate for his
+second outfit of new sweaters and hat bands that year.
+
+Aunt Mary wrote him a letter upon the occasion of his new start in life,
+Mr. Stebbins delivered him a lecture, and things went smoothly in
+consequence for three whole weeks. I say three whole weeks because three
+whole weeks was a long time for the course of Jack's life to flow
+smoothly. At the end of a fortnight affairs were always due to run more
+rapidly and three weeks produced, as a general thing, some species of
+climax.
+
+The climax in this case came to time as usual his evil genius inciting the
+young man to attempt, one very dark night, the shooting of a cat which he
+thought he saw upon the back fence. Whether he really had seen a cat or
+not mattered very little in the later development of the matter. He was
+certainly successful as far as the going off of the gun was concerned, but
+the damage that resulted, resulted not to any cat, but to the arm of a
+next-door's cook, who was peacefully engaged in taking in her week's wash
+on the other side of the fence. The cook ceased abruptly to take in the
+wash, the affair was at once what is technically termed looked into, and
+three days later Jack became the defendant in a suit for damages.
+
+Naturally Mr. Stebbins was at once notified and he had no choice except to
+write Aunt Mary.
+
+Aunt Mary was somewhat less patient over the third escapade than she had
+been with the first two.
+
+The letter found her alone with Lucinda and she read it to herself three
+times and then read it aloud to her companion. Lucinda, whose thorough
+knowledge of the imperious will and impervious eardrums of her mistress
+rendered her, as a rule, extremely monosyllabic, not to say silent,
+vouchsafed no comment upon the contents of the epistle, and after a few
+minutes Aunt Mary herself took the field:
+
+"Now, what do you suppose possessed that boy to shoot at a cook?" she
+asked, regarding the letter with a portentous frown. "Cooks are so awful
+hard to get nowadays. I don't see why he didn't shoot a tramp if he had to
+shoot somethin'."
+
+"He wa'n't tryin' to shoot a cook, 'pears like," then cried
+Lucinda--Lucinda's voice, be it said, _en passant_, was of that sibilant
+and penetrating timbre which is best illustrated in the accents of a
+steamfitter's file--"'pears like he was tryin' for a cat."
+
+"Not a bat," said her mistress correctively; "it was a cat. You look at
+this letter an' you'll see. And, anyway, how could a man shootin' at a cat
+hit a cook?--not 'nless she was up a tree birds'-nestin' after owls' eggs.
+You don't seem to pay much attention to what I read to you, Lucinda; only
+I should think your commonsense would help you out some when it comes to a
+boy you've known from the time he could walk, an' a strange cook. But,
+anyhow, that's neither here nor there. The question that bothers me is,
+what's to pay with this damage suit? I think myself five hundred dollars
+is too much for any cook's arm. A cook ain't in no such vital need of two
+arms. If she has to shut the door of the oven while she's stirrin'
+somethin' on the top of the stove, she can easy kick it to with her foot.
+It won't be for long, anyway, and I'm a great believer in making the best
+of things when you've got to."
+
+Lucinda screwed up her face and made no comment. Lucinda's face in repose
+was a cross between a monkey's and a peanut; screwed up, it was
+particularly awful, and always exasperated her mistress.
+
+"Well, why don't you say somethin', Lucinda? I ain't askin' your advice,
+but, all the same, you can say anything if you've got a mind to."
+
+"I ain't got a mind to say anythin'," the faithful maid rejoined.
+
+"I guess you hit the nail on the head that time," said Aunt Mary, without
+any unnecessary malevolence concealed behind her sarcasm; then she re-read
+the note and frowned afresh.
+
+"Five hundred dollars is too much," she said again. "I'm going to write to
+Mr. Stebbins an' tell him so to-night. He can compromise on two hundred
+and fifty, just as well as not. Get me some paper and my desk, Lucinda.
+Now get a spryness about you."
+
+Lucinda laid aside her work and forthwith got a spryness about her,
+bringing her mistress' writing-desk with commendable alacrity. Aunt Mary
+took the writing-desk and wrote fiercely for some time, to the end that
+she finally wrote most of the fierceness out of herself.
+
+"After all, boys will be boys," she said, as she sealed her letter, "and
+if this is the end I shan't feel it's money wasted. I'm a great believer
+in bein' patient. Most always, that is. Here, Lucinda you take this to
+Joshua and tell him to take it right to mail. Be prompt, now. I'm a great
+believer in doin' things prompt."
+
+Lucinda took the letter and was prompt. "She wants this letter took right
+to the mail," she said to Joshua, Aunt Mary's longest-tried servitor.
+
+"Then it'll be took right to mail," said Joshua.
+
+"She's pretty mad," said Lucinda.
+
+"Then she'll soon get over it," replied the other, taking up his hat and
+preparing to depart for the barn forthwith.
+
+Lucinda returned to Aunt Mary with a species of dried-up sigh. One is not
+the less a slave because one has been enslaved for twenty years, and
+Lucinda at moments did sort of peek out through her bars--possibly envying
+Joshua the daily drives to mail when he had full control of something that
+was alive.
+
+Lucinda had been, comparatively speaking, young when she had come to wait
+upon the pleasure of the Watkins millions, and her waiting had been so
+pertinent and so patient that it had endured over a quarter of a century.
+Aunt Mary had been under fifty in the hour of Lucinda's dawn; she was over
+seventy now. Jack hadn't been born then; he was in college now; and Jack's
+older brothers and sisters and his dead-and-gone father and mother had
+been living somewhere out West then, quite hopeful as to their own lives
+and quite hopeless as to the stern old great-aunt who never had paid any
+attention to her niece since she had chosen to elope with the doctor's
+reprobate son. Now the father and mother were dead and buried, the
+brothers and sisters reinstated in their rights and had all grown up and
+become great credits to the old lady, whose heart had suddenly melted at
+the arrival of five orphans all at once. And there was only Jack to
+continue to worry about.
+
+Jack was not anything particularly remarkable; he was just one of those
+lovable good-for-nothings that seem born to get better people into trouble
+all their lives long. He had been spoiled originally by being ten years
+younger than the next youngest in the family; and then, when the children
+had been shipped on to Aunt Mary's tender mercies, Jack had won her heart
+immediately because she accidentally discovered that he had never been
+baptized, and so felt fully justified in re-naming him after her own
+father and having the name branded into him for keeps by her own religious
+apparatus. It followed naturally that John Watkins, Jr., Denham, for so
+her father's daughter had insisted that her youngest nephew should be
+called, was the favorite nephew of his aunt.
+
+And it was lucky for him that he was the favorite, for Aunt Mary, who was
+highly spiced at fifty, became peppery at sixty, and almost biting at
+seventy. And yet for Jack she would sign checks almost without a murmur.
+Mr. Stebbins was much more censorious and impatient with the young man
+than she ever was; and to all the rest of the world Mr. Stebbins was an
+urbane and agreeable gentleman, whereas to all the rest of the world Aunt
+Mary was a problem or a terror. But Mr. Stebbins needed to be a man of
+tact and management, for he was the real manager of that fortune of which
+"Mary, only surviving child of John Watkins, merchant and ship owner," was
+the legal possessor; and so tactful was Mr. Stebbins that he and his
+powerful client had never yet clashed, and they had been in close business
+relations for almost as many years as Lucinda had been established on the
+hearthstone of the Watkins home. Perhaps one reason why Mr. Stebbins
+endured so well was that he had a real talent for compromising, and that
+he had skillfully transformed Aunt Mary's inherited taste for driving a
+bargain into an acquired pleasure in what is really a polite form of the
+same action.
+
+So, when it came to the matter of Jack's difficulties, Mr. Stebbins could
+always find a half-way measure that saved the situation; and when he
+received the letter as to the cook and her claim he hied himself to the
+city at once, and wrote back that the claim could be settled for three
+hundred dollars.
+
+"And enough, I must say," Aunt Mary remarked to Lucinda upon receipt of
+the statement; "three hundred dollars for one cat--for, after all, Jack
+blames the whole on the cat, an' he didn't hit it, even then."
+
+Lucinda did not answer.
+
+"But if the boy settles down now I shan't mind payin' the three--Where are
+you goin'?"
+
+For Lucinda was walking out of the room.
+
+"I'm goin' to the door," said she raspingly. "The bell's ringin'."
+
+After a minute or two she came back.
+
+"Telegram!" she announced, handing the yellow envelope over.
+
+Aunt Mary put on her glasses, opened it, and read:
+
+
+    Cook has blood poison. Sues for a thousand. Probable amputation.
+
+                                                             STEBBINS.
+
+
+Aunt Mary dropped the paper with a gasp.
+
+Lucinda looked at her with interest.
+
+"It's that same arm again," said Aunt Mary, "just as I thought it was
+settled for!" Her eyes seemed to fairly crackle with indignation. "Why
+don't she put it in a sling an' have a little patience?"
+
+Lucinda took the telegram and read it.
+
+"'Pears like she can't," she commented, in a tone like a buzz saw; "'pears
+like it's goin' to be took off."
+
+Aunt Mary reached forth her hand for the telegram and after a second
+reading shook her head in a way that, if her companion had been a
+globe-trotter, would have brought matadores and Seville to the front in
+her mind in that instant.
+
+"I declare," she said, "seems like I had enough on my mind without a cook,
+too. What's to be done now? I only know one thing! I ain't goin' to pay no
+thousand dollars this week for no arm that wasn't worth but three hundred
+last week. Stands to reason that there ain't no reason in that. I guess
+you'd better bring me my desk, Lucinda; I'm goin' to write to Mr.
+Stebbins, an' I'm goin' to write to Jack, and I'm goin' to tell 'em both
+just what I think. I'm goin' to write Jack that he'd better be lookin'
+out, and I'm goin' to write to Mr. Stebbins that next time he settles
+things I want him to take a receipt for that arm in full."
+
+The letters were duly written and Mr. Stebbins, upon the receipt of his,
+redoubled his efforts, and did succeed in permanently settling with the
+cook, the arm being eventually saved. Aunt Mary regarded the sum as much
+higher than necessary, but still pleasantly less than that demanded of
+her, and so life in general moved quietly on until Easter.
+
+But Easter is always a period of more or less commotion in the time of
+youth and leads to various hilarious outbreaks. Jack's Easter took him to
+town for a "little time," and the "little time" ended in the station-house
+at three o'clock on Sunday morning.
+
+Accusation: Producing concussion of the brain on a cab driver.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWO - JACK
+
+
+The news was conveyed to Aunt Mary through private advices from Mr.
+Stebbins (who had been hastily summoned to the city for purposes of bail);
+she was very angry indeed, this time--primarily at the indignity done her
+flesh and blood by arresting it. Then, as she re-read the lawyer's letter,
+other reflections crowded to the fore in her mind.
+
+"Funny! Whatever could have made the boy get up and go downtown at three
+in the morning, anyway?" she said. "Seems kind of queer, don't you think,
+Arethusa? Do you suppose he was ill and huntin' for a drug store?"
+
+Arethusa had been sent for the second day previous because Lucinda's
+youngest sister's youngest child had come down with scarlet fever, and the
+family wanted Lucinda to enliven the quarantine. Arethusa had sent
+invitations out for a dinner party, but she had recalled them and hastened
+to obey the summons. It was an evil hour for her, for she loved her
+brother and was mightily distressed at the bad news.
+
+"I don't believe he can have been ill," she said, at the top of her voice;
+"if he'd been ill he wouldn't have had the strength to hit the cab driver
+so hard."
+
+"I don't blame him for hittin' the cab driver," said Aunt Mary warmly. "As
+near as I can recollect, I've often wanted to do that myself. But I can't
+make out where he got the man to hit, or why he was there to hit him. I
+can't make rhyme or reason out of it. I wish we knew more. Well, I presume
+we will, later."
+
+Her surmise was correct. They knew much more later. They knew more from
+Mr. Stebbins, and they knew profusely more from the evening papers.
+
+"I think our boy'd better have come home for his Easter," Aunt Mary
+remarked, with a species of angry undertow threading the current of her
+speech. "There's no sayin' what this will cost before we're done with it."
+
+Arethusa choked; it was all so very terrible to her.
+
+"What is it that the cabman wants, anyhow?" her aunt demanded presently.
+
+"He doesn't want anything," yelled the unhappy sister. "He's going to
+die."
+
+"Well, who is going to sue me, then?"
+
+"It's his wife; she wants five thousand dollars damages."
+
+Aunt Mary's lips tightened.
+
+"Five thousand dollars!" she said, with a bitter patience. "I can see that
+this is goin' to be an awful business. Five thousand dollars! Dear, dear!
+I must say that that wife sets a pretty high price on her husband--at
+least, a'cordin' to my order of thinkin', she does. From what I've seen of
+cabmen, I'd undertake to get her another just as good for a tenth of the
+money, any day."
+
+Arethusa was silent, staring thoughtfully at the newspaper cuts of a great
+Tammany leader and a noted pugilist, which had been labeled as the
+principals in the family tragedy.
+
+Aunt Mary turned over another of the many papers received, and scanned its
+sensational columns afresh.
+
+"Arethusa," she exclaimed suddenly, "do you know, I bet anythin' I know
+what this editor means to insinuate? It just strikes me that he's tryin'
+to give the impression that our boy's been drinkin'."
+
+"Perhaps so," Arethusa screamed.
+
+"Well, I don't believe it," said Aunt Mary firmly, "and I ain't goin' to
+believe it. And I ain't goin' to pay no five thousand dollars for no
+cabman's brains, neither. You write to Mr. Stebbins to compromise on two
+or maybe three."
+
+She stopped and bit her lips and shook her head. "I don't see why Jack
+grows up so hard," she murmured, half in anger and half in sorrow. "Edward
+and Henry never had such times. Oh, well," she sighed, "boys will be boys,
+I suppose; an' if this all results in the boy's settlin' down it'll be
+money well spent in the end, after all. Maybe--probably--most likely."
+
+The days that followed were anxious days, but at last the cabman rallied
+and concluded not to die, and Jack went off yachting with a light heart
+and a choice collection of good advice from Mr. Stebbins and Aunt Mary.
+
+Nothing happened to mar his holiday. He ran a borrowed steam launch on to
+some rocks with rather heavy consequences to his aunt's exchequer, and
+returned from the West Indies so late that she never had a visit from him
+at all that summer; but, barring these slightly unwelcome incidents, he
+did remarkably well, and when he returned to college in the fall he was
+regarded as having become, at last, a stable proposition.
+
+"I wonder whether our boy's comin' home for Christmas?" Aunt Mary asked
+her niece, Mary, as that happy period of family reunions drew near. Mary
+had come up to stay with her aunt while Lucinda went away to bury a second
+cousin. Mary was very different from Arethusa, having a voice that, when
+raised, was something between an icicle and a steam whistle, and a
+temperament so much on the order of her aunt's that neither could abide
+the other an hour longer than was absolutely necessary. But Arethusa had a
+sprained ankle, so there was no help for existing circumstances.
+
+"No, he isn't," said Mary, who had no patience at all with her brother,
+and showed it. "He's going West with the glee club."
+
+"With the she club!" cried poor Aunt Mary, in affright.
+
+Mary explained.
+
+"I don't like the idea," said the old lady, shaking her head. "Somethin'
+will be sure to happen. I can feel it runnin' up and down my bones this
+minute."
+
+"Oh, if he can get into trouble, of course, Jack will," said Mary
+cheerfully.
+
+Aunt Mary didn't hear her, because she didn't raise her voice
+particularly. Besides, the old lady was absorbed for the nonce in the most
+dismal sort of prognostications.
+
+And they all came true, too. Something unfortunate beyond all expectations
+came to pass during the glee club's visit to Chicago, and the result was
+that, before the new year was well out of its incubator Jack had papers in
+a breach-of-promise suit served on him. He wrote Mr. Stebbins that it was
+all a joke, and had merely been a portion of that foam which a train of
+youthful spirits are apt to leave in their wake; but the girl stood solid
+for her rights, and, as she had never heard from her fianc� since the
+night of the dance, her family--who were rural, but sharp--thought it would
+take at least fifteen thousand dollars to patch the crack in her heart. If
+the news could have been kept from Aunt Mary until after Mr. Stebbins had
+looked into the matter, everything might have resulted differently. But
+the Chicago lawyer who had the case took good care that the wealthy aunt
+knew all as quickly as possible, and it seemed as if this was the final
+straw under which the camel must succumb.
+
+And Aunt Mary did appear to waver.
+
+"Fifteen thousand dollars!" she cried, aghast. "Heaven help us! What
+next?"
+
+It was Lucinda who was seated calmly opposite at this crisis.
+
+"Do you suppose he really did it?" the aunt continued, after a minute of
+appalled consideration.
+
+"It's about the only thing he ain't never done," the tried and true
+servant answered, her tone more gratingly penetrative than ever.
+
+Aunt Mary eyed her sharply, not to say furiously.
+
+"I wish you'd give a plain answer when I ask you a plain question,
+Lucinda," she said coldly. "If you'd ever got a breach-of-promise suit in
+the early mail you'd know how I feel. Perhaps--probably."
+
+"I ain't a doubt but what he done it," Lucinda screamed out; "an' if I was
+her an' he wouldn't marry me after sayin' he would I'd sue him for a
+hundred thousand, an' think I let him off cheap then."
+
+Aunt Mary deigned to smile faintly over the subtlety of this speech; but
+the next minute she was frowning blacker than ever.
+
+"A girl from Kalamazoo, too, just up in Chicago for a week--just up in
+Chicago long enough to come down on me for fifteen thousand dollars."
+
+"Maybe she'll take five thousand instead," Lucinda remarked.
+
+"Maybe!" ejaculated her mistress, in fine scorn. "Maybe! Well, if you
+don't talk as if money was sweet peas an' would dry up if it wasn't
+picked!"
+
+Lucinda screwed up her face.
+
+Aunt Mary gave her one awful look.
+
+"You get me some paper an' my desk, Lucinda," she said. "I think it's
+about time I was takin' a hand in it myself. I've been pretty patient, an'
+I don't see as it's helped matters any. Now I'm goin' to write that boy a
+letter that'll settle him an' his cats, an' his cooks, an' his cabmen, an'
+his Kalamazoo, just once for all. I guess I can do what I set out to do.
+Pretty generally--most always."
+
+Lucinda brought the desk, and Aunt Mary frowned fearfully and began to
+write the letter.
+
+It developed very strongly. As her pen sized up the situation in black and
+white, the old lady seemed to realize the iniquities of the case more and
+more plainly; and as the letter grew her wrath grew also. The whole came,
+in the end, to a threat--made in good earnest--to take a very serious step
+indeed if any more "foolishness" developed.
+
+Aunt Mary prided herself on her granite-like will. She had full faith in
+her ability to slay her nearest and dearest if it seemed right and best to
+do so.
+
+She sealed her letter tight, stuck the stamp on square and hard, and bid
+Lucinda convey it to Joshua and tell him never to quit it until he saw it
+safe on to the evening train.
+
+"She's awful mad at him for sure, this time," said Lucinda after she had
+delivered her message, and while Joshua was considering the front and back
+of the letter with a deliberateness born of long servitude.
+
+"I sh'd think she would be," he said.
+
+As nearly all of Jack's private difficulties were printed in every
+newspaper in America, Joshua naturally was on the inside of all their
+history.
+
+"She scrinched up her face just awful over that letter," Lucinda
+continued. "I'm sure I wish he'd 'a' been by to 'a' taken warnin'."
+
+"He ain't got nothin' to really fret over," said Joshua serenely; "he
+knows it, 'n' I know it, 'n' you know it, too."
+
+"You don't know nothin' of the sort," said Lucinda. "She's madder'n usual
+this time. She's good an' mad. You mark my words, if he goes off on a
+'nother spree this spring he'll get cut out o' her will."
+
+Joshua laughed.
+
+"You mark my words!" rasped Lucinda, shaking her finger in witchlike
+warning.
+
+Joshua laughed again.
+
+"Them laughs best what laughs last," said Aunt Mary's handmaiden. She
+turned away, and then returned to give Joshua a look that proved that the
+peppery mistress had inculcated some cayenne into the souls of those about
+her. "You mark my words--them laughs best what laughs last, an' there'll be
+little grinnin' for him if he ain't a chalk-walker for one while now."
+
+Joshua laughed.
+
+But, as a matter of fact, Jack's situation was suddenly become extremely
+precarious.
+
+"There ain't no sense in it," said Aunt Mary to herself, with an emphasis
+that screwed her face up until she looked quite like Lucinda; "that life
+those young men lead on their little vacations is to blame for everything.
+Cities are wells of iniquity; they're full of all kinds of doin's that
+respectable people wouldn't be seen at, and I'm proud to say that I
+haven't been in one myself for twenty-five years. I'm a great believer in
+keepin' out of trouble, an' if Jack'd just stuck to college an' let towns
+go, he'd never have met the cabman and the Kalamazoo girl, an' I'd have
+overlooked the cook an' the cat. As it is, my patience is done. If he goes
+into one more scrape he'll be done too. I mean what I say. So my young man
+had better take warnin'. Probably--most likely--pretty certainly."
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER THREE - INTRODUCING JACK
+
+
+It has been previously stated that Aunt Mary's nephew, Jack, was a
+scapegrace, and as delightful as scapegraces generally are. It goes
+without saying that he was good-looking; and of course he must have been
+jolly and pleasant or he wouldn't have been so popular. As a matter of
+fact, Jack was very good-looking, unusually jolly, and uncommonly popular.
+He was one of the best liked men in each of the colleges which he had
+attended. There was something so winning about his smile and his eternal
+good humor that no one ever tried to dislike him; and if anyone ever had
+tried he or she would not have succeeded for very long. It is probably
+very unfortunate that the world is so full of this type of young man, but
+that which should cause us all to have infinite patience with them is the
+reflection of how much more unfortunate it would be if they were suddenly
+eliminated from the general scheme of things.
+
+Like all college boys, Jack had a chum. The chum was Robert Burnett,
+another charming young fellow of one-and-twenty, whose education had been
+so cosmopolitan in design and so patriotic in practice that he always said
+"Sacre bleu" and "Donnerwetter" when he thought of it, and "Great Scott"
+when he didn't. He and Jack were as congenial a pair as ever existed, and
+they had just about as much in common as the aunt of the one and the
+father of the other had had to pay for.
+
+In the February of the year of which I write, Washington, celebrating his
+birthday as usual, gave all American students their usual chance to
+celebrate with him. Celebrations were temptations incarnate to Jack, and
+he was feeling frowningly what a clog Aunt Mary's latest epistle was upon
+his joys, when his friend came to the rescue with an invitation to spend
+the double holiday (it doubled that year--Sunday, you know) at the
+brand-new ancestral castle which Burnett _p�re_ had just finished building
+for his descendants. It may be imagined that Jack accepted the invitation
+with alacrity, and that his never-very-downcast heart bounded gleefully
+higher than usual over the prospect of two days of pleasure in the
+country.
+
+It is not necessary to state where the castle of the Burnetts was erected,
+but it was in a beautiful region, and the monthly magazines had written it
+up and called it an architectural triumph. The owner fully agreed with the
+monthly magazines, and his pride found vent in a house-warming which
+filled every guest chamber in the place.
+
+The festivities were in full swing before the youngest son and his friend
+arrived; and when the dog-cart, which brought them from the station, drew
+up under the mighty porte-coch�re with its four stone lions, rampant in
+four different directions, Jack felt one of those delicious thrills which
+run through one under particularly hopeful and buoyant circumstances.
+
+"It's like walking in a novel," his friend said; as they entered under
+some heavy draperies which the footman pushed aside and found a tiny
+spiral staircase, which wound its way aloft in a style that Jack liked
+immensely and the latter agreed with all his heart.
+
+The staircase led them to the third floor and when they emerged therefrom
+they found themselves in a big semi-circular billiard room, with a
+fireplace at each end large enough to put one of the tables in, and cues
+and counters and stools and divans and smoking utensils sufficient for a
+regiment.
+
+"I tell you, this is the way to do things," exclaimed Burnett; "isn't it
+jolly? Time of your life, old man, time of your life!--And, oh, by the
+way," he said, suddenly interrupting himself, "I wonder if my sister's got
+here yet!"
+
+"Which sister?" Jack inquired; for his friend was one of a very large
+family, and he had met several of them on their various visits to town.
+
+"Betty--the one who beats all the others hollow,"--but just there the
+conversation was broken off by the servants coming up with the luggage and
+setting two doors open that showed them two big rooms, both exquisitely
+furnished, and both with windows that looked out, first on to a stone
+balustrade, and secondly on to a superb view over the river and the
+mountains beyond.
+
+The men unstrapped the things and went away, leaving such a plenitude of
+comfort behind them as led Jack to fling himself into the most luxurious
+chair in the room and stretch his arms and legs far and wide in utter
+contentment.
+
+Burnett was fishing for his key ring.
+
+"It's a great old place, isn't it?" he remarked parenthetically. "Great
+Scott! but I'll bet we have fun these two days! And if my sister Betty is
+here--" He paused expressively.
+
+"Doesn't she live at home?" Jack asked.
+
+"She's just come home; she's been in England for three years. Oh, but I
+tell you she's a corker!"
+
+"I should think--"
+
+The sentence was never completed because a voice without the
+not-altogether-closed door cried:
+
+"No, don't think, please; let me come in instead." And in the same instant
+Burnett made one leap and flung the door open, crying as he did so:
+
+"Betty!"
+
+Then Jack, bunching somewhat his starfish attitude, looked across the room
+and realized instantly that it was all up with him forever after.
+
+Because--
+
+Because she who stood there in the door was quite the sweetest, the
+loveliest, the most interesting looking girl whom he had ever laid eyes
+on; and when she was seized in her brother's arms, and kissed by her
+brother's lips, and dragged by her brother's hands well into the room, she
+proved to be a thousand times more irresistible than at first.
+
+"I say, Betty, you're absolutely prettier than ever," her brother
+exclaimed, holding her a little off from him and surveying her critically;
+and then he seemed to remember his friend's existence, and, turning toward
+him, announced proudly:
+
+"My sister Bertha."
+
+Jack was standing up now and thinking how lovely her eyes were just at
+that instant when they were meeting his for the first time, thinking much
+else too. Thinking that Monday was only two days away (hang it!); thinking
+that such a smile was never known before; thinking that he had _years_
+ahead at college; thinking that the curl on her forehead was simply
+distracting (whereas all other like curls were horrid); thinking that he
+might cut college and--
+
+"My chum, Jack Denham," Burnett continued, proving in the same instant how
+rapidly the mind may work since his friend had compassed his encyclopedia
+of sentiment and probability between the two halves of a formal
+introduction.
+
+"Oh, I'm very glad to meet you, Mr. Denham," she said, putting out her
+hand--and he took and held it just long enough to realize that he really
+was holding it, before she took it away to keep for her own again. "I've
+often heard of you, and often wished I might know you."
+
+"I'm awfully glad to hear you say that," he said, "and if I should have
+the royal luck to be next to you at dinner, it doesn't seem to me that I
+shall have the strength to keep from telling you why."
+
+She clapped her hands at this, just as a very little girl might have done.
+
+"If that is so, I hope that they will put you next to me at dinner," she
+said gayly; "but if they don't, you'll tell me some other time, won't you?
+I'm always _so_ interested in what people have to tell me about myself."
+
+Burnett began to laugh.
+
+"Jack," he said, "I see that we'd better have a clear and above-board
+understanding right in the beginning and so I'll just tell you that this
+sister of mine, who appears so guileless, is the very worst flirt ever.
+She looks honest, but she can't tell the truth to save her neck. She means
+well, but she drives folks to suicide just for fun. She'd do anything for
+anybody in general, but when it's a case of you individually she won't do
+a thing to you, and you must heed my words and be forewarned and forearmed
+from now on. Mustn't he, Betty?"
+
+At this the sister laughed, nodding quite as gayly as if it were a
+laughing matter, instead of the opening move in a possibly
+serious--tremendously serious--game of life.
+
+"It's awful to have to subscribe to," she said, with dancing eyes; "but
+I'm afraid it's true. I'm really quite a reprobate, and I admit it
+frankly. And everyone is so good to me that I never get a chance to
+reform. And so--and so--"
+
+"But then, I suppose I ought to warn her about you, too," said Burnett,
+turning suddenly toward his friend. "It isn't fair to show her up and not
+show you up, you know. And really, Betty, he's almost as bad as you are
+yourself. I may tell you in confidence--in strict confidence (for it's only
+been in a few newspapers)--that he hasn't got his breach-of-promise suit
+all compromised yet. Ask him to deny it, if he can!"
+
+The sister looked suddenly startled and curious and Jack felt himself to
+be blushing desperately.
+
+"I don't look as if he was lying, do I?" he asked smiling; "be honest now,
+for you can see that Burnett and I both are."
+
+"No, you don't," she said. "You look as if it was a very true bill."
+
+"It is," he said; "and it's going to be an awfully big one, too, I'm
+afraid."
+
+"I wouldn't have thought you were such a bad man," said the sister ever so
+sweetly; "but I like bad men. They interest me. They--"
+
+"There!--I see your finish," said Burnett. "That's one of her favorite
+opening plays. It's all up with you, Jack, and your aunt will have to to
+go down for another damage suit when you begin to perceive that you have
+had enough of our family. But you'll have to get out now, Betty, and let
+him get dressed for dinner. You needn't cry about it either for he's even
+more attractive in his glad rags than he is in his railway dust--my word of
+honor on it."
+
+"I look nice myself when I'm dinner-dressed," said the sister, "so I
+sympathize with him and I'll go with pleasure. Good-bye."
+
+She sort of backed toward the door and Jack sprang to open it for her.
+
+"You can kiss her hand, if you like," Burnett said kindly. "They do in
+Germany, you know. I don't mind and mamma needn't know."
+
+"May I?" Jack asked her; and then he caught her eye over her brother's
+bent head and added, so quickly that there was hardly any break at all
+between the words: "Some other time?"
+
+"Some other time," she said, with a world of meaning in the promise; and
+then she flashed one wonderful look straight into his eyes and was gone.
+
+"Isn't she great?" Burnett asked, unlocking his suit-case in the most
+provokingly every-day style, as if this day was an every-day sort of day
+and not the beginning and end of all things. "Oh, I tell you, I'm almost
+dotty over that sister myself."
+
+"Do you suppose that I could manage to have her for dinner?" Jack asked,
+feeling desperately how dull any other place at the table would be now.
+
+"I don't know. When I go down to my mother I'll try to manage it; shall
+I?"
+
+"I wish you would."
+
+"I reckon I can; but, great loads of fire, fellow! don't think you can
+play tag with her, and feel funny at the finish. She'll do you up
+completely, and never turn a hair herself. She's always at it. She don't
+mean to be cruel, but she's naturally a carnivorous animal. It's her
+little way."
+
+Jack did not look as dismal as he should have done; he smiled, and looked
+out of the window instead.
+
+"She'll have to marry someone some day, you know," he said thoughtfully.
+
+"Have to marry someone some day!" Burnett cried. "Why, she is married.
+Didn't you know that?" and he unbuckled the shirt portfolio as he spoke
+just as if calamities and tragedies and shooting stars might not follow on
+the heels of such a simple statement as that last.
+
+It was an awful moment, but poor Jack did manage to continue looking out
+of the window. If any greater demand had been made upon him he might have
+sunk beneath the double weight.
+
+"No," he said at last, his voice painfully steady; "I didn't know it."
+
+Burnett laughed heartlessly, hauling forth his apparel with a refined
+cruelty which took careful heed of possible interfolded shoes or cravats.
+
+"She married an Englishman when she was nineteen years old," he said.
+"That was when they sent me to Eton that little while,--until I drove the
+horse through the drug shop. The time I told you about, don't you know?"
+
+"Yes, I remember," said Jack. He observed with sickening distinctness that
+the night had begun to fall, the river's silver ribbon had become a black
+snake, and that the mountain range beyond loomed chill and dark and
+cheerless. "I guess I ought to be getting into my things," he said, moving
+toward his own door.
+
+"There's a bath in here," his friend called after him. "We're to divide
+it."
+
+"Sure," was the reply. It sounded a trifle thick.
+
+"I don't think that she ought to," said the brother to himself, as he
+began to draw out his stick-pin before the mirror, "I don't care if she is
+my favorite sister--I don't think that she ought to."
+
+Then he went on to make ready for the securing of his half of the bath,
+and forthwith forgot his sister and his friend.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FOUR - MARRIED
+
+
+It was almost like a scene at a ball, the great white-and-gold music room
+before dinner that night. The Burnett family proper numbered fifteen among
+themselves, and there were nearly thirty guests added. It was entirely too
+large a house party to have handled successfully for very long, but it
+would be most awfully jolly for three or four days; and now, when the
+whole crowd were gathered waiting for dinner, the picture was one of such
+bubbling joy that Jack's very heavy heart seemed to himself to be terribly
+out of place there and he wondered whether he should be able to put up
+even a fairly presentable front during the endless hours that must ensue
+before the time for breaking up arrived.
+
+Burnett took him all around and introduced him to people in general, and
+people in general seemed to him to merely bring the fact of her
+pre-eminence more vividly than ever before his mind. He found himself
+looking everywhere but at them too, and listening with an acutely
+sensitive ear for sounds quite other than those of their various lips. But
+eternal disappointment rewarded his eyes and ears. She was nowhere.
+
+So he talked blindly about nothing to all the nobodies and laughed
+stupidly over all their stupidities until--suddenly and without any
+warning--a fearful jump in his throat sent the mercury in his constitution
+shooting up to 160, and he saw, heard, felt, gasped, and knew, that that
+radiant angel in silver tissue who had just entered the farther end of the
+room was indubitably Herself.
+
+(Married!)
+
+He quite forgot who, what and where he was. There was a somebody talking
+to him--a very awful and bony young lady, but she faded so completely out
+of the general scheme of his immediate present that all the use he made of
+her was to stare over her head at the distant apparition that was become,
+now and forever, his All in All. The distant apparition had not lied when
+she had told him up in her brother's room that she too, looked "nice" when
+dressed for dinner. Only the word "nice" was as watered milk to the
+champagne of her appearance. She was gowned superbly and her throat and
+arms were half bared by the folds of silvered lace; her hair fitted into
+the back of her neck in the smoothest mass of puffs and coils, and the
+curl on her forehead was more distracting than ever.
+
+(Married!)
+
+She seemed to be speaking to everyone, and everyone seemed to be crowding
+around her. He couldn't go up like everyone else, because the awful and
+bony young lady was talking hard at him and heightened her charms with a
+smile that took up two-fifths of her face, and wrinkled all the rest.
+
+Her name was Lome--Maude Lome. He knew that she must be a relative without
+being told, because otherwise she wouldn't have been invited at all.
+Anyone could divine that.
+
+"Oh, isn't dear Betty just lovely?" this fearful freak said. "I think
+she's just too lovely for anything! She's my cousin, you know; we're often
+mistaken for one another."
+
+"I can well believe it," said Jack, heavily, not ceasing to stare beyond
+as he said it.
+
+(Married!)
+
+"Oh, you're flattering me! Because she's ever so much prettier than I am,
+and I know it."
+
+He didn't reply. It had suddenly come over him to wonder whether there
+ever had been an authentic case of heartbreak. Because he had the most
+terrible ache right in his left side!
+
+(Married! Married!)
+
+"But, then," Miss Lome continued, "I'm younger than she is. Her being
+married makes her seem young, but she's really twenty-four. I'm only
+twenty."
+
+He shut his eyes, and then opened them. He wished he hadn't come here, and
+then grew shivery to think that he might have happened not to; and all the
+while that awful twisting and wrenching at his heart was getting worse and
+worse.
+
+(Married! Married! Married!)
+
+Burnett came up just then with a man wearing a monocle and presented him
+to Denham, and forthwith handed the bony cousin to his safe-keeping.
+
+"She's a great pill, isn't she?" he began, as the couple moved away; and
+then he stopped short. "What's the matter?" he asked. "Sick?"
+
+"I hope not," said Jack, trying to smile.
+
+"You look hipped," his friend said anxiously. "Better go get a bracer;
+you'll have time if you hurry. You can't be sick before dinner, because
+I've been moving all the cards around so as to get Betty next to you, and
+I could never get them back as they were before if you gave out at the
+last minute."
+
+"I don't believe I'm ill," said Jack, trying to realize whether the news
+that she was to be his (for dinner) made him feel any better or only just
+about the same. "I don't know what ails me. Do I look seedy?"
+
+"You look sort of knocked out, that's all," said Burnett. "Perhaps,
+though, it was just the having to talk to my cousin Maude so long. Isn't
+she the limit, though? But I'll tell you the one big thing about that
+girl: She's just the biggest kind of a catch. She was my uncle's eldest
+child; she's worth twelve times what any of us ever will be."
+
+"I'm sure she'll need it," said Jack heartily.
+
+"You're right there," laughed his friend; "but you've got to hurry and get
+your brandy now if you want it, because they'll be going out in a minute."
+
+"Oh, I'm all right," said the poor chap, straightening his shoulders back
+a little. "I can make out well enough, I'm sure. I think I'd better go
+over by your sister and let her know that I'm ready when the hour of need
+shall strike."
+
+Burnet nodded and then he went on and his friend walked down the room, no
+one but himself knowing that he was making his way into the lion's (or,
+rather, lioness's) den.
+
+And then he paused there beside her. Oh! she Was seven million times
+lovelier close to than far away. All the rot about Venus and statues and
+paintings and Helen of Troy was nowhere beside Her and he felt his
+strength come surging mightily upward and then--oh Heavens!
+
+She looked up--looked so sweetly up--right into his eyes and smiled.
+
+"I expect you are to take me into dinner," she said; and at her words the
+man who had been talking to her murmured something meaningless and got out
+of their way.
+
+"I believe so," he said.
+
+She rose and he noticed that the top of her head was just level with his
+coat lapel. He wondered, with a miserable pang, where she came to on her
+husband's coat and with the wonder his surging strength surged suddenly
+out to sea again and left him feeling like Samson when he awoke to the
+realization of his haircut.
+
+"Dinner's very late," she said, quite as if life presented no problem
+whatever; "you see, it's the first big company in the house. We were only
+seventeen last night, and to-night we're forty-five. It makes a
+difference."
+
+"I can imagine so," he said. He was suddenly acutely aware of feeling very
+awkward, and of finding her different--quite different from what she had
+seemed up in her brother's room.
+
+"What is it?" she asked after a minute, looking up at him; and then she
+showed that she was conscious of the change, for she added: "Something has
+happened; Bob has been saying mean things about me to you?"
+
+"Yes, he did tell me something," he admitted; and just then the butler
+announced dinner.
+
+"What did he tell you?" she asked, as they moved away. "How could he say
+anything worse than what he said before me?"
+
+"He told me something that was worse--much worse."
+
+She looked troubled and as if she did not understand.
+
+"But he said that I was a flirt, and that I couldn't speak the truth, and
+that I drove people--"
+
+"Yes, I remember all that; but this was infinitely worse."
+
+"Infinitely worse!"
+
+"Yes."
+
+She stopped in an angle where the big room dwindled into a narrow gallery,
+and stared astonished.
+
+"I can't at all understand," she said.
+
+"No, you can't," he said, "and I can't tell you--I mustn't tell you--how
+terrible it is to me to look at you and think of what he told me."
+
+After a second she went on again and presently they entered the
+dining-room. The confusion of rustling skirts and sliding chairs quite
+covered their speech for a moment and made them seem almost alone. Her
+hand had been resting on his arm and now she drew it out, looking up at
+him again as she did so. Her eyes had a premonitory mist over them.
+
+"For Heaven's sake," she said very earnestly, "tell me what he said?"
+
+He was silent.
+
+"Tell me," she pleaded.
+
+He was still silent.
+
+"Tell me," she said imperiously.
+
+He continued silent. They sat down.
+
+"Mr. Denham," she said, as she took up her napkin, and her voice grew very
+low, and yet he heard, "I don't think that we can pretend to be joking any
+longer. You are my brother's friend, and I am a married woman. Please
+treat me as you should."
+
+"That's just it," said Jack; "that's all there is to it. It wouldn't have
+amounted to anything except for that--or perhaps, if it hadn't been for
+that, it might have amounted to a great deal."
+
+"If it hadn't been for what?"
+
+"For your being married."
+
+She quite started in her seat.
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"You see I never knew it before."
+
+"You never knew what before?"
+
+"That you were married."
+
+"Until when?"
+
+"Until after you went out of the room to-night."
+
+The men were putting the clams around. She seemed to reflect. And then she
+peppered and salted them before she spoke.
+
+"Bob is very wrong to talk so," she said at last, picking up her fork,
+"when you're his friend, too."
+
+He poked his clams--he hated clams.
+
+"I suppose men think it's amusing to do such things," she continued, "but
+I think it's as ill-bred as practical joking."
+
+"But you are married," he said, trying fiercely to pepper some taste into
+the tasteless things before him.
+
+"Yes, I'm married," she admitted tranquilly, "but, then, my husband went
+to Africa so soon afterwards that he hardly seemed to count at all. And
+then he was killed there; so, after that, he seemed to count less than
+ever."
+
+The air danced exclamation points and the man on the other side spoke to
+her then so that her turning to answer him gave Jack time to rally his
+wits.
+
+(A widow!)
+
+Then she turned back and said:
+
+"I think Bob mystified you unnecessarily. Of course I don't flatter myself
+that you've suffered."
+
+"Oh, but I have," he hastened to assure her.
+
+(A widow! A widow!)
+
+"But it always makes a difference whether a woman is married or not."
+
+"I should say it did," he interrupted again. "It makes all the difference
+in the world."
+
+At that she laughed outright, and someone suddenly abstracted the
+distasteful clams and substituted for them a golden and glorious soup, and
+music sounded forth from some invisible quartet, and--and--
+
+(A widow! A widow! A widow!)
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FIVE - THE DAY AFTER FALLING IN LOVE
+
+
+The next day was a very memorable day for Jack. The day after a falling in
+love is always a red-letter day; but the day after the falling in love--ah!
+
+One looks back--far back--to the day before, and those hours of the day
+before, when her sun had not yet dawned, and struggles to recollect what
+ends life could have represented then. And one looks forward to the next
+day, the next week, the next year--but, particularly to the next morning
+with sensations as indescribable as they are delightful.
+
+Whichever way you tip it, the kaleidoscope of the future arranges itself
+in equally attractive shapes of rainbow hue, and the prospect over land or
+sea--even if it is raining--looks brilliant green, and brighter red, and
+brightest yellow.
+
+Upon that glorious "next day" of Jack's the weather was quite a thing
+apart for February--partaking of the warmth of May, and owing that fact to
+a sun which early June need not have scorned to own. Under the
+circumstances the house party overflowed the house and ravaged the
+surrounding country, and Jack and Mrs. Rosscott began it all by having the
+highest cart and the fastest cob in the stables and making for the forest
+just as the clock was tolling ten.
+
+"Do you want a groom?" asked Burnett, who was occasionally very cruel.
+
+"Well, I'm not going to wait for him to get ready now," replied his
+sister, who had sharp wits and did not disdain to give even her own family
+the benefit of them.
+
+Then she gathered up the reins and whip in a most scientific manner, and
+they were off. Jack folded his arms. He was simply flooded, drenched, and
+saturated with joy. The evening before had been Elysium when she had only
+been his now and again for a minute's conversation, but now she was to be
+his and his alone until--until they came back--and his mind seemed able to
+grasp no dearer outlines of the form which Bliss Incarnate may be supposed
+to take. He didn't care where they went or what they saw or what they
+talked of, just if only he and she might be going, seeing, and talking for
+the benefit of one another and of one another alone.
+
+They bowled away upon a firm, hard road that skirted the park, and then
+plunged deeply into the forest. Mrs. Rosscott handled the reins and the
+whip with the hands of an expert.
+
+"I like to drive," said she.
+
+"You appear to," he answered.
+
+"I like to do everything," she said. "I'm very athletic and energetic."
+
+"I'm glad of that," he told her warmly. "I like athletic girls."
+
+He really thought that he was speaking the truth, although upon that first
+day if she had declared herself lazy and languid he would have found her
+equally to his taste--because it was the first day.
+
+"That's kind of you, after my speech," she said smiling, "but let's wait a
+bit before we begin to talk about me. Let us talk about you first--you're
+the company, you know."
+
+"But there's nothing to tell about me," said Jack, "except that I'm always
+in difficulties--financial--or otherwise,--oftenest 'otherwise,' I must
+confess."
+
+"But you have a rich aunt, haven't you?" said Mrs. Rosscott. "I thought
+that I had heard about your aunt."
+
+"Oh, yes, I have a rich aunt," Jack said, laughing, "and I can assure you
+that if I am not much credit to my aunt, my aunt is the greatest possible
+credit to me."
+
+"Yes, I've heard that, too," said Mrs. Rosscott, joining in the laugh,
+"you see I'm well posted."
+
+"If you're so well posted as to me," Jack said, "do be kind and post me a
+little as to yourself. You don't need information and I do."
+
+She turned and looked at him.
+
+"What shall I tell you first?" she inquired.
+
+"Tell me what you like and what you don't like--and that will give me
+courage to do the same later," he added boldly.
+
+She laughed outright at that and then sobered quickly.
+
+"I told you that I liked to drive and to do everything," she said lightly;
+"what else do you want to know about?"
+
+"What you dislike."
+
+"But I don't know of anything that I dislike;" she said
+thoughtfully--"perhaps I don't like England; I am not sure, though. I had a
+pretty good time there after all--only you know, being in mourning was so
+stupid. And then, too, I didn't fit into their ideas. I really didn't seem
+to get the true inwardness of what was expected of me. Oh, I never dared
+let them know at home what a failure I was as an Englishwoman. I mortified
+my husband's sisters all the time. Just think--after a whole year I often
+forgot to say 'Fancy now!' and used to say 'Good gracious!' instead."
+
+Jack laughed.
+
+"My husband's sisters were very unhappy about it. They did want to love
+me, because I had so much money; but it was tough work for them. Did you
+ever know any middle-aged English young ladies?" she asked him suddenly.
+
+"No, I never did," he said.
+
+"Really, they seem to be a thing apart that can't grow anywhere but in
+England. Every married man has not less than two, nor more than three, and
+they always are a little gray and embroider very nicely. Someone told me
+that as long as there's any hope they wear stout boots and walk about and
+hunt, but as soon as it's hopeless they take to embroidering."
+
+"It must be rather a blue day for them when they decide definitely to make
+the change," said Jack.
+
+"I never thought of that," said Mrs. Rosscott soberly. "Of course it must!
+I was always very good to them. I gave them ever so many things that I
+could have used longer myself, and they used to set pieces of muslin in
+behind the open-work places and wear them."
+
+She sighed.
+
+"It's quite as bad as being a Girton girl," she said. "Do you know what a
+Girton girl is?"
+
+"No, I don't."
+
+"It's a girl from Girton College. It's the most awful freak you ever saw.
+They're really quite beyond everything. They're so homely, and their hands
+and feet are so enormous, and their pins never pin, and their belts never
+belt. And no one has ever married one of them yet!"
+
+She paused dramatically.
+
+"I won't either, then," he declared.
+
+She laughed at that, and touched up the cob a trifle.
+
+"Did you live long in England?" he asked.
+
+"Forever!" she answered with emphasis; "at least it seemed like forever.
+Mamma left me there when I was nineteen (she married me off before she
+left me, of course) and I stayed there until last winter--until I was out
+of my mourning, you know--and then I was on the Continent for a while, and
+then I returned to papa."
+
+"How do we strike you after your long absence?"
+
+"Oh, you suit me admirably," she said, turning and smiling squarely into
+his face; "only the terrible 'and' of the majority does get on my nerves
+somewhat."
+
+"What 'and'?"
+
+"Haven't you noticed? Why when an American runs out of talking material he
+just rests on one poor little 'and' until a fresh run of thought
+overwhelms him; you listen to the next person you're talking with, and
+you'll hear what I mean."
+
+Jack reflected.
+
+"I will," he said at last.
+
+The road went sweeping in and out among a thicket of bare tree trunks and
+brown copses, and the sunlight fell out of the blue sky above straight
+down upon their heads.
+
+"If it don't annoy you, my referring to England so often," said she
+presently, "I will state that this reminds me of Kaysmere, the country
+place of my father-in-law."
+
+"Is your father-in-law living yet?"
+
+"Dear me, yes--and still has hold of the title that I supposed I was
+getting when I was married to his eldest son. My father-in-law is a
+particularly healthy old gentleman of eighty. He was forty years old when
+he married. He didn't expect to marry, you know--he couldn't see his way to
+ever affording it. But he jumped into the title suddenly and then, of
+course, he married right away. He had to. You'd know what a hurry he must
+have been in to look at my mamma-in-law's portrait."
+
+"Was she so very beautiful?"
+
+"No; she was so very homely. Maude's very like her."
+
+Jack laughed.
+
+She laughed, too.
+
+"Aren't we happy together?" she asked.
+
+"My sky knows but one cloud," he rejoined, "and that is that Monday comes
+after Sunday."
+
+"But we shall meet again," said Mrs. Rosscott. "Because," she added
+mischievously, "I don't suppose that it's on account of my cousin Maude
+that you rebel at the approach of Monday."
+
+"No," said Jack. "It may not be polite to say so to you, but I wasn't in
+the least thinking of your cousin."
+
+"Poor girl!" said Mrs. Rosscott thoughtfully; "and she was so sweet to
+you, too. Mustn't it be terrible to have a face like that?"
+
+"It must indeed," said Jack; "I can think of but one thing worse."
+
+"What?"
+
+"To marry a face like that."
+
+She laughed again.
+
+"You're cruel," she declared; "after all her face isn't her fortune, so
+what does it matter?"
+
+"It doesn't matter at all to me," said Jack. "I know of very few things
+that can matter less to me than Miss Lorne's face."
+
+"Now, you're cruel again; and she was so nice to you too. Absolutely, I
+don't believe that the edges of her smile came together once while she was
+talking to you last night."
+
+"Did you spy on us to that extent?" said Jack. "I wouldn't have believed
+it of you."
+
+"Oh, I'm very awful," she said airily. "You'll be more surprised the
+farther you penetrate into the wilderness of my ways."
+
+"And when will I have a chance to plunge into the jungle, do you think?"
+
+"Any Saturday or Sunday that you happen to be in town."
+
+"Are you going to live in town?"
+
+"For a while. I've taken a house until the beginning of July. I expect
+some friends over, and I want to entertain them."
+
+Jack felt the sky above become refulgent. He was in the habit of spending
+every Saturday night in the city--he and Burnett together.
+
+"May I come as often as I like?" he asked.
+
+"Certainly," said she; "because you know if you should come too often I
+can tell the man at the door to say I'm 'not at home' to you."
+
+"But if he ever says: 'She's not at home to you,' I shall walk right in
+and fall upon the man that you are being at home to just then."
+
+"But he is a very large man," said Mrs. Rosscott seriously; "he's larger
+than you are, I think."
+
+Jack felt the blue heavens breaking up into thunderbolts for his head at
+_this_ speech.
+
+"But I'm 'way over six feet," he said, his heart going heavily faster,
+even while he told himself that he might have known it, anyhow.
+
+"He's all of six feet two," she said meditatively. "I do believe he's even
+taller. I remember liking him at the first glance, just because he struck
+me as so royal looking."
+
+He was miserably conscious of acute distress.
+
+"Do--do you mind my smoking?" he stammered.
+
+(Might have known that, of course, there was bound to be someone like
+that.)
+
+"Not at all," she rejoined amiably. "I like the odor of cigarettes. Shall
+I stop a little, while you set yourself afire?"
+
+"It isn't necessary," he said. "I can set myself afire under any
+circumstances."
+
+He lit a cigarette.
+
+"Is he English?" he couldn't help asking then.
+
+"Yes," she said; "I like the English."
+
+"You appear to like everything to-day." He did not intend to seem bitter,
+but he did it unintentionally.
+
+(Confounded luck some fellows have.)
+
+"I do. I'm very well content to-day."
+
+He was silent, thinking.
+
+"Well," she queried, after a while.
+
+He pulled himself together with an effort.
+
+"I think perhaps it's just as well," he said.
+
+"What is just as well?"
+
+"That I know."
+
+"Know what?"
+
+"About him. I shan't ever take the chances of calling on you now."
+
+She laughed.
+
+"He wouldn't put you out unless I told him to," she said. "You needn't be
+too afraid of him, you know."
+
+His face grew a trifle flushed.
+
+"I'm not afraid," he said, as coldly as it was in him to speak; "but I'll
+leave him the field."
+
+She turned and looked at him.
+
+"The field?" she asked, with puzzled eyebrows.
+
+"Yes."
+
+Then she frowned for an instant, and then a species of thought-ray
+suddenly flew across her face and she burst out laughing.
+
+"Why, I do believe," she cried merrily, "I do believe you're jealous of
+the man at the door."
+
+"Weren't you speaking of a man in the drawing-room?" he asked, all her
+phrases recurring to his mind together.
+
+"No," she said laughing; "I was speaking of my footman. Oh, you are so
+funny."
+
+The way the sun shone suddenly again! His horizon glowed so madly that he
+quite lost his head and leaning quickly downward seized her hand in its
+little tan driving glove of stitched dogskin, and kissed it--reins and all.
+
+"I'm not funny," he said, "it was the most natural thing in the world."
+
+She was laughing, but she curbed it.
+
+"You'd better not be foolish," she said warningly. "It don't mix well with
+college."
+
+"I'm thinking of cutting college," he declared boldly.
+
+"Don't let us decide on anything definite until we've known one another
+twenty-four hours," she said, looking at him with a gravity that was
+almost maternal; and then she turned the horse's head toward home.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER SIX - THE OTHER MAN
+
+
+That evening Burnett felt it necessary to give his friend a word of
+warning.
+
+"Holloway's going to take Betty in to-night," he said, as they descended
+the tower stairs together.
+
+"Who's Holloway?" Jack asked.
+
+"You can't expect to have her all the time, you know," Burnett continued:
+"She's really one of the biggest guns here, even if she is one of the
+family."
+
+"Who's Holloway?"
+
+"Last night the _mater_ had her all mapped out for General Jiggs, and I
+had an awful time getting her off his hook and on to yours, and then you
+drove her all this morning and walked her all the afternoon, and the old
+lady says she's got to play in Holloway's yard to-night--jus' lil' bit, you
+know."
+
+"Who's Holloway?" Jack demanded.
+
+"You know Horace Holloway; we were up at his place once for the night.
+Don't you remember?"
+
+"I remember his place well enough; but he hadn't got in when we came, and
+hadn't got up when we left, so his features aren't as distinctly imprinted
+on my memory as they might be."
+
+"That's so," said Burnett, pushing aside the curtains that concealed the
+foot of the wee stair; "I'd forgotten. Well, you'll meet him to-night,
+anyhow; he came on the five-five. Holly's a nice fellow, only he's so
+darned over-full of good advice that he keeps you feeling withersome."
+
+Jack laughed.
+
+"Did he ever give you any advice?" he asked.
+
+"Why?"
+
+"I don't recollect your taking it."
+
+"I never take anything," said Burnett; "I consider it more blessed to give
+than to receive--as regards good advice anyhow."
+
+"Who will I have for dinner?" Jack asked presently, glancing around to see
+if there were any silver tissues or distracting curls in sight.
+
+"Well," his friend replied, rather hesitatingly, "you must expect to
+balance up for last night, I reckon."
+
+"Your cousin, I suppose!"
+
+Burnett nodded.
+
+"She wanted you," he said. "She's taken a fancy to you; and she can afford
+to marry for love," he added.
+
+"I'm thankful that I can, too," the other answered fervently.
+
+His friend laughed at the fervor.
+
+"You make me think of her teacher," he said. "She sings, and when she was
+sixteen she meant to outrank Patti; she was lots homelier then."
+
+"Oh, I say!" Jack cried. "I can believe 'most anything, but--"
+
+Burnett laughed and then sobered.
+
+"She was," he said solemnly; "she really and truly _was_. And her mother
+said to her teacher,--there in Dresden: 'She will be the greatest soprano,
+won't she?' And he said: 'Madame, she has only that one chance--to be _the_
+greatest.'"
+
+Jack laughed.
+
+"But why 'Lorne'?" he asked suddenly. "Why not 'Burnett,' since she's your
+uncle's child?"
+
+"Oh, that's straight enough; there's a hyphen there. My uncle died and my
+aunt married a title. My aunt's Lady Chiheleywicks, but the family name is
+Lorne. And you pronounce my aunt's name Chix."
+
+"I'm glad I know," said Jack.
+
+"Oh, we're great on titles," said Burnett, modestly. "If the Boers hadn't
+killed Col. Rosscott, Betty would have been a Lady, too, some day. But as
+it is--" he added thoughtfully, "she's nothing but a widow."
+
+"'Nothing but'!" Jack cried indignantly.
+
+"Oh, well," said Burnett, "of course it's great, her being a widow--but
+then she'd have been great the other way too."
+
+"But if he was English and a colonel," Jack said suddenly, "he must have
+been all of--"
+
+"Fifty!" interposed Burnett; "oh, he was! Maybe more, but he dyed his
+hair. It was a splendid match for her. It isn't every girl who can get a--"
+
+Their conversation was suddenly cut short by voices, accompanied by a sort
+of sweet and silky storm of little rustles and the sound of feet--little
+feet--coming down the great hall. Aunt Mary's nephew felt himself suddenly
+wondering if any other fellow present had such a tempest within his bosom
+as he himself was conscious of attempting to regulate unperceived.
+
+And then, after all, she wasn't among the influx! Miss Maude, was, though,
+and he had to go up to her and talk to her; and terribly dull hard labor
+it was.
+
+While he was rolling the Sisyphus stone of conversation uphill for the
+sixth or seventh time, Jack noticed a gentleman pass by and throw a more
+than ordinarily interesting glance their way. He was a very well-built,
+fairly good-sized man of thirty-five or forty years, with a handsome,
+uninteresting face and heavy, sleepy dark eyes.
+
+"Who is that?" he asked of his companion, his curiosity supplementing his
+wish that she would begin to bear her share of the burden of her
+entertainment.
+
+"Don't you know?" she said in surprise. "That's Mr. Holloway. He's just
+come. Oh, he's so horrid! I think he's just too awfully horrid for any
+use."
+
+"Why?"
+
+"Because he does such mean things. I just know Bob must have told you how
+he treated me. Bob's always telling it. Surely he's told you. It's his
+favorite story."
+
+"No, never," said Jack (his eyes riveted on the staircase); "he never told
+me. But do tell me. I'll enjoy hearing your side of it."
+
+"But I haven't any side. It's just Horace Holloway's meanness. There's
+nothing funny."
+
+"But tell me anyway."
+
+"Do you really want to hear?"
+
+"Indeed, I do."
+
+"Well, it's just that we were up in the mountains, and I was rowing
+myself, and the boat didn't go well, and Mr. Holloway came down off the
+hotel piazza and called to me that she needed ballast, and--and I said: 'Is
+that the trouble?' And he said: 'Yes, row ashore, and I'll ballast you.'
+And so, of course I rowed ashore to get him, and (of course, I supposed he
+meant himself), and when I was up by the dock he picked up a great stone
+and dropped it in, and shoved me off, and called after me: 'She'll go
+better now,' and--everyone laughed!"
+
+Miss Lome stopped, breathless.
+
+"I never would have believed it of him," Jack exclaimed, turning to see
+where Holloway kept his sense of humor; but just as his eye fell upon the
+latter, the latter's eyes altered and suddenly became so bright and intent
+that his observer involuntarily turned his own gaze quickly in the same
+direction.
+
+It was Mrs. Rosscott who was approaching, all in cerise with lines of
+Chantilly lace sweeping about her. It seemed a cruelty to every woman
+present that she should be so beautiful. Jack wanted to fly and fall at
+her feet, but he couldn't, of course--he was tied to her hyphenated cousin.
+
+But Holloway went forward and greeted her with all possible
+_empressement,_ and the man who was so much his junior felt an awful
+weight of youth upon him as he saw her led out of his sight.
+
+"I think dear Betty will marry Mr. Holloway," her cousin chirped blandly,
+thus settling her fate forever. "He came over in her party, you know,
+and--she's always been fond of him."
+
+Jack suddenly recollected how Mrs. Rosscott had commented on the terrible
+tendency to land upon "and," and wondered why he had never noticed before
+how disagreeable said tendency was.
+
+(Going to marry Holloway!)
+
+"But, then, dear Cousin Betty's such a coquette that no one can ever tell
+whom she does like. She's very insincere."
+
+Jack twisted uneasily. If there was any comfort to be derived from Miss
+Lorne's last speech, it was certainly of a most chilly sort.
+
+(Probably going to marry Holloway!)
+
+"Now, I think it's too bad, when there are so many simple, sweet girls in
+the world, that men seem to adore those that flirt like dear Cousin Betty.
+I don't approve of flirting anyway. I wouldn't flirt for anything. I don't
+want to break men's hearts."
+
+"That's awfully good of you," Jack said, looking eagerly to where Holloway
+and Mrs. Rosscott stood together.
+
+"Oh, no it isn't," said Miss Lorne, "I don't take any credit for it--I was
+born so. Dear Betty was a regular flirt when she was ever so small, but I
+never was. I'm sincere and I can't take any credit for it. I was born so."
+
+Holloway was talking and Mrs. Rosscott's eyes were uplifted to his. Jack
+was sure there was adoration in them. He knew Holloway was in love with
+her. How could he be a man and help it. Oh, it was damnable--unbearable.
+
+He stood up suddenly. He couldn't help it. He was crazed, maddened,
+choked, stifled. The fates must intervene and rescue his reason or else--
+
+There was a blessed sound--the announcing of dinner.
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+Later there was music in the great white salon where the organ was. Maude
+Lome sang, and the man with the monocle accompanied her on the organ. Mrs.
+Rosscott sat on a divan between Holloway and General Jiggs. Jack was left
+out in the cold.
+
+(Surely in love with Holloway!)
+
+It was only twenty-six hours since he had first met her, and he hated to
+consider his life as unalterably blasted, or to even give up the fight.
+Nevertheless, whenever he looked across the room he saw fresh signs of the
+most awful kind. Even the way that she didn't trouble to trouble over the
+one man, but devoted herself to General Jiggs, was in itself a very bad
+portent. Well, such was life and one must bear it somehow and be a man.
+Probably he would suffer less after the first five or ten years--he hoped
+so at any rate. But, great heavens, what a fearful prospect until those
+first five or ten years were gone by!
+
+Finally he went up to his own room and put on another collar and sat down
+at the open window and thought about it for a good while all quiet and
+alone by himself. After that he went back downstairs.
+
+She was gone, and Holloway, too. He felt freshly unhappy. When you come to
+consider, it was so damned unjust for one man to be thirty-five while
+another--just as decent a fellow in every way--was in college. He--
+
+A hand touched his arm.
+
+He turned from where he was standing in the window recess, and looked into
+her eyes.
+
+"I'm very wicked, am I not?" she asked, looking up at him so straight and
+honest.
+
+"I can't admit that," he replied.
+
+"But I am. I know it myself. What Bob told you was all true. I'm a
+heartless wretch."
+
+She spoke so earnestly that his heart sank lower and lower.
+
+"I wanted to speak to you about to-morrow morning," she said, after a
+little pause. "You know we were going to drive at ten together, and--and I
+wondered if--you see, Mr. Holloway's an old friend, and he's had so much to
+tell me to-night, and he isn't half through--"
+
+She was drawing him with a chain, a hair chain, which she had woven out of
+her eyelashes in the twinkling of an eye (either eye).
+
+He felt himself helpless--and choked.
+
+"Of course I don't mind. You go with him. It's quite one to me."
+
+She gave a tiny little start.
+
+"Oh, I didn't mean that at all," she cried. "I meant--I meant--you see it's
+all been a little tiring--and to-morrow's Sunday anyway and I--I Wanted
+to--to ask you if we couldn't go out at eleven instead of ten?"
+
+She looked so sweetly questioning, and his relief was so great, and his
+joy--
+
+(Probably don't care a rap for Holloway!)
+
+--so intense, that he could hardly refrain from seizing her in his arms.
+
+But he only seized her little hand instead and pressed it fervently to his
+lips. When he raised his eyes she was smiling, and her smile filled him
+with happiness.
+
+"You're such a boy!" she said softly, and turned and left him there in the
+window recess alone again,--but this time he didn't care.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER SEVEN - DEVELOPMENTS
+
+
+It was during that drive the next morning that Jack buoyed up by memories
+of Saturday and hopes of coming Saturdays, poured out the history of his
+life at Mrs. Rosscott's knees. He told her the whole story of Aunt Mary,
+and _his_ side of the cat, the cabman, and Kalamazoo. It interested her,
+for she had arrived too recently to have had the full details in the
+newspapers beforehand, but when he spoke of Aunt Mary's last letter she
+grew large-eyed and shook her head gravely.
+
+"You will have to be very good now," she said seriously.
+
+"Why?" he asked. "Just to keep from being disinherited? That wouldn't be
+so awful."
+
+"Wouldn't it be awful to you?" she asked, turning her bright eyes upon
+him. "What could be worse?"
+
+"Things," he said very vaguely.
+
+Then she touched up the cob a little; and, after a minute or two, as she
+said nothing, he continued:
+
+"I almost fancy quitting college and going to work. I was thinking about
+it last night."
+
+She touched up the cob a little more, and remained silent.
+
+Finally he said:
+
+"What would you think of my doing that?"
+
+"I don't know," she said slowly. "You see, I'm a great philosopher. I
+never fret or worry, because I regard it as useless; similarly, I never
+rebel at the way fate shapes my life--I regard that as something past
+helping. I believe in predestination; do you?"
+
+She turned and looked at him so seriously--so unlike her _riante_ self--that
+he felt startled, and did not know what to say for a minute.
+
+Then:
+
+"I don't know," he said slowly; "I don't know that I dare to. It rather
+startles me to think that maybe all of our future is laid out now."
+
+"It doesn't startle me," she said. "It seems to me the natural plan of the
+universe. I believe that everything that crosses our path--down to the
+tiniest gnat--comes there in the fulfillment of a purpose."
+
+"I'm sure that all the mosquitoes that ever crossed my path came there in
+the fulfillment of a purpose," Jack interrupted. "I never doubted _that_."
+
+She smiled a little.
+
+"It's the same with people," she went on.
+
+                             [Illustration 2]
+
+   "Do not let us play any longer,' she said. 'Let us be in earnest.'"
+
+
+"Only less painful," he interrupted again.
+
+"Sometimes not," she said, with a look that silenced him. "Sometimes much
+more so--my Cousin Maude, for example."
+
+"Hip, hip, hurrah for the mosquito!" he murmured. They laughed softly
+together. Then she grew earnest, and looked so grave that he became
+serious too.
+
+"There is always a purpose," she said, with a touch of some feeling which
+he had never guessed at. "If you and I have met, it is because we are to
+have some influence over one another. I can't just see how; I can't form
+any idea--"
+
+"I can," he said eagerly.
+
+She looked up so suddenly and steadily that he was silent.
+
+"Do not let us play any longer," she said. "Let us be in earnest."
+
+"But I am in earnest," he asseverated.
+
+"You don't know what I mean," she went on very gently. "You're in college.
+Let's fight it out on those lines if it takes all summer."
+
+He looked up into her face and loved her better than ever for the frank
+kindliness that shone in her eyes.
+
+"All right, if you say so," he vowed.
+
+"I do say so," she said. "I like to see men stick it through in college if
+they begin. I like to see people finish up every one of life's jobs that
+they set out on."
+
+"But I'm coming to see you in town, you know," he went on with great
+apparent irrelevance.
+
+She laughed merrily.
+
+"Yes, surely. You must promise me that.--No," she stopped and looked
+thoughtful, "I'll tell you what I want you to promise me. Promise me that
+you'll come once a week or else write me why you can't come. Will you?"
+
+"You can't suppose that you'll ever see my handwriting under such
+circumstances--can you?" Jack asked.
+
+She laughed again.
+
+"Is it a promise?"
+
+"Yes, it's a promise."
+
+Oh, joy unmeasured in the time of spring! No other February like that had
+ever been for them--nor ever would be. The drive came to an end, the day
+came to an end, but the good-nights, which were good-bys, too, were not so
+fraught with hopelessness as he had dreaded, for the promise asked and
+given paved a broad road illuminated by the most hopeful kind of stars,--a
+broad road leading straight from college to town,--and his fancy showed him
+a figure treading it often. A figure that was his own.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER EIGHT - THE RESOLUTION HE TOOK
+
+
+That first meeting was in February, you know, and by the last of April it
+had been followed by so many others that Burnett remarked one day to his
+chum:
+
+"Say, aren't you going a little faster than auntie'll stand for?"
+
+Jack turned in surprise.
+
+"I never went so straight in my life before," he exclaimed, not in
+indignation but in astonishment.
+
+"I didn't mean that," said Burnett. "Perhaps instead of 'auntie' I should
+have said 'Betty.'"
+
+Jack hoisted the colors of Harvard, and was silent.
+
+"I warned you at first that that was Tangle town," his friend went on.
+"Don't suppose I'm saying anything against her--or against you; but she's
+just as much to ten other men as she is to you, and they all are old
+enough to carry lots of weight."
+
+"And I suppose I'm not," Jack answered, going over by the fireplace. "I
+know that as well as anyone, of course."
+
+"_Nat�rlich_," said Burnett, with conclusiveness that was not meant to be
+cruel, yet cut like a two edged knife.
+
+There was silence in the room. Jack stood by the chimney-piece, his hands
+upraised to rest upon its lofty shelf, his head dropped forward, and his
+eyes fixed on the empty blackness below.
+
+"I wonder," he said at last, "I wonder what will become of me if--if--"
+
+He stopped.
+
+Burnett didn't speak.
+
+"I wonder if she thinks of me as a boy," the young man continued. "I
+wonder if she's so good to me because I'm her youngest brother's friend."
+
+Burnett did not comment on this speech.
+
+"I don't know what to do," the other said. "When I first met her I wanted
+to cut college and get out in the world and go to work like a man. I told
+her so. But she wanted me to stay in college, and as it was the first
+thing she'd ever wanted of me, I did it. I'd do anything she asked me.
+I've quit drinking. I'm going at everything as hard as it's in me to go;
+but--I don't know--I feel--I feel as if it isn't me--it's just because she
+wants me to, and, do you know, old man, it frightens me to think how--if
+she--if she went out of my--my life--"
+
+He stopped and his broken phrases were not continued to any ending.
+
+Another long silence ensued.
+
+It was finally terminated by the brother's saying:
+
+"You must confess, old man, that you aren't fixed so as to be able to say
+one really serious word to any woman--unless it is, 'Wait.'"
+
+"I know that," Jack answered; "but I suppose--"
+
+"She'd be taking so many chances," the friend interrupted. "A man in
+college is never the real thing. You'd better give it up."
+
+Then the other whirled about and faced him.
+
+"Give it up, did you say?" he asked almost angrily.
+
+"Yes, that's what."
+
+For a minute they looked at one another. Then:
+
+"I shall never give it up," the lover said very slowly and
+steadily--"never, until she gives me up."
+
+Burnett sucked in his breath with a sudden compression of his lips.
+
+"All right," he said, not unkindly; "but I don't believe you'll ever get
+her, and that's flat. There are too many being entered for that race, and
+long before you and I get out of here she'll be Mrs. Somebody Else."
+
+Jack stared at him as if he hardly heard, and then suddenly he stepped
+nearer and spoke.
+
+"Did she ask you to have this talk with me?"
+
+"No," said the brother in surprise, "she never says anything about you to
+me."
+
+A look of relief fled across his friend's face, and then a look of
+resolution succeeded it.
+
+"I'm not going to be discouraged," he said; "not for a while, at any
+rate."
+
+"You'd better be."
+
+Jack laughed. The laugh sounded a trifle hollow, but still it was a laugh,
+and that in itself was a triumph of which none but himself might ever
+measure the extent.
+
+Because in that moment he decided to lay the whole case before her the
+next time that he went to town, and the coming to a resolution was a
+relief from the uncertainty that clouded his days and nights--even if a
+further black curtain of darkest doubt hung before the possibilities of
+what her answer might be.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER NINE - THE DOWNFALL OF HOPE
+
+
+It was on a Saturday about the middle of May that Jack came to town, his
+mind well braced with love and arguments, and his main thoughts being that
+when he returned something would be settled.
+
+It was a beautiful day, warm and sunny, and at five in the afternoon both
+of the drawing-room windows of Mrs. Rosscott's house were wide open, and
+the lace curtains were taking the breeze like little sails.
+
+Just as Jack mounted the steps, the door opened, and a plainly dressed,
+unattractive-looking man was let out. The servant who did the letting out
+saw Jack and let him in without closing the door between the egress of the
+one and the ingress of the other. So he entered without ringing, and, as
+he was very well known and intensely popular with all of Mrs. Rosscott's
+servants, the man invited him to walk up unannounced, since he himself was
+just "bringing in the tea."
+
+Jack went upstairs, and because the carpet was of thickly piled velvet and
+his boots were the boots of a well-shod gentleman, he made no noise
+whatever in the so doing.
+
+There were double parlors above stairs in the domicile which Burnett's
+sister had taken until July, and they were furnished in the most correct
+and trying mode of Louis XIV. The chairs were gilt and very uncomfortable.
+The ornaments were all straight up and down and made in such shapes that
+there was no place to flick off cigarette ashes anywhere. Nothing could be
+pulled up to anything else and there was not a single good place to rest
+one's elbows anywhere. The only saving grace in the situation was that
+after five minutes or so Mrs. Rosscott invariably suggested removal to the
+library which lay beyond--a very different species of apartment where no
+mode at all prevailed except the terrible _d�mod�_ thing known as comfort.
+To prevent her visitors, when seated (for the five minutes aforementioned)
+amid the correct carving of French art, from looking longingly through at
+the easy-chairs of American manufacture, Mrs. Rosscott had ordered that
+the blue velvet porti�res which hung between should never be pushed aside,
+and it was owing to this order that Jack, entering the drawing-room, heard
+voices, but could not see into the library beyond. Also it was owing to
+this order that those in the library could not see or hear Jack.
+
+The result was that the young man, finding the drawing-room unoccupied,
+was just crossing toward the blue velvet curtains, intending to wait in
+the library until the returning servant should advise him of the
+whereabouts of his mistress, when he was stopped by suddenly hearing a
+voice--her voice--crying (and laughing at the same time)--
+
+"Kisses barred! Kisses barred!"
+
+It may be understood that had Mrs. Rosscott known that anyone was within
+hearing she certainly would never have made any such speech, and it may be
+further understood that, had whoever was with her, also mistrusted the
+close propinquity of another man, he would never have replied (as he did
+reply):
+
+"Certainly," the same being spoken in a most calm and careless tone.
+
+Jack, the eavesdropper, stood transfixed at the voices and speeches, and
+forgot every other consideration in the overwhelming sickness of soul
+which overcame him that instant. All his other soul-sicknesses were
+trifles compared to this one, and the world--his world--their world--seemed
+to revolve and whirl and turn upside down, as he steadied himself against
+a spindle-legged cabinet and felt its spindle-legs trembling in sympathy
+with his own.
+
+"Darling," said Holloway, a second or two later (and this time his voice
+was not calm and careless, but deep and impassioned), "the letter was very
+sweet, and if you knew how I longed to take the tired little girl to my
+bosom and comfort her troubles, and replace them by joys!"
+
+"Will that day ever come, do you think?" Mrs. Rosscott answered, in low
+tones, which nevertheless were most painfully clear and distinct in the
+next room.
+
+"It must," Holloway replied, "just as surely as that I hold this dear
+little hand--"
+
+But Jack never knew more. He had heard enough--more than enough. Four
+thousand times too much. He turned and went out of the rooms, back down
+the stairs and out of the door, closed it noiselessly behind him, and
+found himself in a world which, although bright and sunny to all the rest
+of mankind, had turned dark, lonely, and cheerless to him.
+
+At first he hardly knew what to do with himself, he was so altogether used
+up by the discovery just made. He drifted up and down some unknown streets
+for an hour or two--or stood still on corners--he never was very sure which.
+And then at last he went downtown and took a drink in a half-dazed way;
+and because it was quite two months since his last indulgence, its
+suggestion was potent.
+
+The pity--or rather, the apparent pity--of what followed!
+
+Burnett was Sundaying at the ancestral castle; and Burnett wasn't the
+warning sort, anyhow. He was always tow and pitch for any species of
+flame. So his absence counted for nothing in the crisis.
+
+And what ensued was a crisis--a crisis with a vengeance.
+
+That tear upon which Aunt Mary's nephew went was something lurid and
+awful. It lasted until Monday, and then its owner returned to college, as
+ill of body and as embittered of spirit as it was in him to be. The
+lightsome devil who had ruled him up to his meeting with Mrs. Rosscott
+resumed its sway with terrible force. The authorities showed a tendency to
+patience because young Denham had appeared to reform lately and had been
+working hard; but young Denham felt no thankful sentiments for their
+leniency, and proved his position shortly.
+
+There was a man named Tweedwell whom circumstances threw directly in the
+path of destruction. Tweedwell was an inoffensive mortal who was studying
+for the ministry. He was progressive in his ideas, and believed that a
+clergyman, to hold a great influence, should know his world. He thought
+that knowledge of the world was to be gained by skirting the outside edge
+of every species of worldliness. The result of this course of action was
+not what it should have been, for Tweedwell was an easy mark for all who
+wanted fun, and the consciousness of his innocence so little accelerated
+the pace at which he got out of the way that he was always being called to
+account for what he hadn't done.
+
+The Saturday night after his Saturday in town, Jack concocted a piece of
+deviltry which was as dangerous as it was foolish. The result was that an
+explosion took place, and the author of the gun-powder plot had all the
+skin on both hands blistered. Burnett, in escaping, fell and broke his
+collarbone and two ribs. The house in which the affair took place caught
+fire, and was badly damaged. And Tweedwell was arrested on the strongest
+kind of circumstantial evidence, and had to answer for the whole.
+Naturally, in the investigation that followed, the two who were guilty had
+to confess or see the candidate for the ministry disgraced forever.
+
+The result of their confession was that Burnett's father, a jovial,
+peppery old gentleman--we all know the kind--lost his patience and wrote his
+son that he'd better not come home again that year. But Aunt Mary lost her
+temper much more completely and the result, as affecting Jack, was awful.
+
+She might not have acted as she did had the disastrous news arrived either
+a week later or a week earlier; but it came just in the middle of a
+discouraging ten days' downpour, which had caused a dam to break and a
+chain of valuable cranberry bogs to be drowned out for that year. The
+cranberry bogs were especially dear to their owner's heart.
+
+"Why can't they drain 'em?" she had asked Lucinda, who was particularly
+nutcracker-like in appearance since her quarantine episode.
+
+"'Pears like they're lower'n everywhere else," Lucinda answered, her words
+sounding as if she had sharpened them on a grindstone.
+
+Aunt Mary bit her lip and frowned at the rain. She felt mad all the way
+through, and longed to take it out on someone.
+
+Ten minutes after Joshua arrived with the mail and the mail bore one
+ominous letter. Joshua felt something was wrong before the fact was
+assured.
+
+"She wants the mail," Lucinda said, coming to the door with her hand out
+as usual.
+
+"She'll get the mail," said Joshua, and as he spoke he gave the seeker
+after tidings a blood-curdling wink.
+
+"There isn't a telegram in one o' the letters, is there?" Lucinda asked,
+much appalled by the wink.
+
+"No, there isn't no telegram in none o' the letters," said Joshua.
+
+"Joshua Whittlesey, I do believe you was born to drive saints mad. What
+_is_ the matter?"
+
+"Nothin' ain't the matter as I know of."
+
+"Then what in Kingdom Come did you wink for?"
+
+"I winked," said Joshua meaningly, "cause I expect it'll be a good while
+before we'll feel like winkin' again."
+
+Lucinda gave him a look in which curiosity and aggravation fought
+catch-as-catch-can. Then she turned and went in with the letters.
+
+Aunt Mary was sitting stonily staring at the rain.
+
+"I thought you'd gone to take a drive with Joshua," she said coldly.
+"Well, 's long 's you're back I'll be glad to have my mail. Most folks
+like to get their mail as soon as it comes an' I--Mercy on us!"
+
+It was the letter from the authorities enclosed in one from Mr. Stebbins.
+
+Lucinda stood bolt upright before her mistress.
+
+"What's happened?" she yelled breathlessly, after a few seconds of the
+direst kind of silence had loaded the atmosphere while the letter was
+being carefully read.
+
+Then:
+
+"Happened!--" said Aunt Mary, transfixing the terrible typewritten
+communication with a yet more terrible look of determination.
+"Happened!--Well, jus' what I expected 's happened an' jus' what nobody
+expects 'll happen now. Lucinda, you run like you was paid for it and tell
+Joshua not to unharness. Don't stop to open your mouth. You'll need your
+breath before you get to the barn. Scurry!"
+
+Lucinda scurried. She splashed and spattered down through the lane that
+led to Joshua's kingdom with a vigor that was commendable in one of her
+age.
+
+"She says 'don't unharness,'" she panted, bouncing in through the doorway
+just as Joshua was slowly and carefully folding the lap-robe in the crease
+to which it had become habituated.
+
+Joshua continued to fold.
+
+"Then I won't unharness," he said calmly. He hung the robe over the line
+that was stretched to hang robes over and Lucinda gasped for wind with
+which to inflate further conversation.
+
+"She says what nobody expects is goin' to happen," she panted as soon as
+she could.
+
+"What nobody expects is always happenin' where he's concerned," said
+Joshua.
+
+"I s'pose he's in some new row," said Lucinda.
+
+"I'm sure he is," said Joshua, "an' if you don't go back to her pretty
+quick you won't be no better off."
+
+Lucinda turned away and returned to the house. She found Aunt Mary still
+staring at the letters with the same concentrated fury as before.
+
+"Well, is Joshua a'comin' to the door?" she asked when she saw her maid
+before her.
+
+"You didn't say for him to come to the door," Lucinda howled, "you said
+for him to stay harnessed."
+
+Aunt Mary appeared on the verge of ignition.
+
+"Lucinda," she said, "every week I live under the same roof with you your
+brains strike me 's some shrunk from the week before. What in Heaven's
+name should I want Joshua to stay harnessed in the barn for? I want him to
+go for Mr. Stebbins an' I want him to understand 't if Mr. Stebbins can't
+come he's got to come just the same's if he could anyhow. I may seem quiet
+to you, Lucinda, but if I do, it only shows all over again how little you
+know. This is a awful day an' if you knew how awful you'd be half way back
+to the barn right now. I ain't triflin'--I'm meanin' every word. Every
+syllable. Every letter."
+
+Lucinda fled out into the open again. Her footprints of the time before
+were little oblong ponds now and she laid out a new course parallel to
+their splashes. She found Joshua sponging the dasher.
+
+"She wants you to go straight out again."
+
+Joshua flung the sponge into the pail.
+
+"Then I'll go straight out again," he said, moving toward the horse's
+head.
+
+"You're to bring Mr. Stebbins whether he can come or not."
+
+"He'll come," said Joshua; and then he backed the horse so suddenly that
+the buggy wheel nearly went over Lucinda.
+
+"She says this is an awful day--" began Lucinda.
+
+Joshua got into the buggy and tucked the rubber blanket around himself.
+
+"She says--"
+
+Joshua drove out of the barn and away.
+
+Lucinda went slowly back to the house. Aunt Mary had ceased to glare at
+the letter and was now glaring at the rain instead.
+
+"Lucinda," she said "I'll thank you not to ever mention my nephew to me
+again. I've took a vow to never speak his name again myself. By no
+means--not at all--never."
+
+"Which nephew?" shrieked Lucinda.
+
+Aunt Mary's eyes snapped.
+
+"Jack!" she said, with an accent that seemed to split the short word in
+two.
+
+After a little she spoke again.
+
+"Lucinda, it's all been owin' to the city an' this last is all city. 'F I
+cared a rap what happened to him after this I'd never let him go near a
+place over two thousand again as long as he lived. It's no use tryin' to
+explain things to you, Lucinda, because it never has been any use an'
+never will be--an' anyway, I'm done with it all. I sh'll want you for a
+witness when I'm through with Mr. Stebbins, and then you can get some
+marmalade out for tea an' we'll all live in peace hereafter."
+
+Joshua returned with Mr. Stebbins and the latter gentleman went to work
+with a will and willed Jack out of Aunt Mary's. Later Joshua took him home
+again. Lucinda got the marmalade out of the cellar and Aunt Mary had it
+with her tea. It was a bitter tea--unsugared indeed--and the days that
+followed matched.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TEN - THE WOES OF THE DISINHERITED.
+
+
+It was some days later on in the world's history that Holloway was calling
+on Bertha Rosscott.
+
+They were sitting in that comfortable library previously referred to and
+were sweetly unaware that any untoward series of incidents had ever led to
+an invasion of their privacy.
+
+Holloway lay well back in a sleepy-hollow chair and looked indolently,
+lazily handsome; his hostess was up on--well up on the divan, and he had
+the full benefit of her admirable bottines and their dainty heels and
+buckles.
+
+"Honestly," he said, looking her over with a gaze that was at once roving
+and well content, "honestly, I think that every time I see you, you appear
+more attractive than the time before."
+
+"It's very nice of you to say so," she replied. "And, of course, I believe
+you, for every time that I get a new gown I think that very same thing
+myself. Still, I do regard it as strange if I look nicely to-day, for I've
+been crying like a baby all the morning."
+
+"You crying! And why?"
+
+She raised her eyes to his.
+
+"Such bad news!" she said simply.
+
+"From where? Of whom?"
+
+"From mamma, about Bob."
+
+"Have his wounds proved serious?" Holloway looked slightly distressed as
+was proper.
+
+"It isn't that. It's papa. Papa has forbidden him the house. He's very,
+very angry."
+
+Holloway looked relieved.
+
+"Your father won't stay angry long, and you know it," he said. "Just think
+how often he has lost his temper over the boys and how often he's found it
+again."
+
+"It isn't just Bob," said Mrs. Rosscott. "I've someone else on my mind,
+too."
+
+"Who, pray?"
+
+"His friend."
+
+"Young Denham?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+With that she threw her head up and looked very straightly at her caller
+whose visage shaded ever so slightly in spite of himself.
+
+"Have _his_ wounds proved serious?" he asked, smiling, but unable to
+altogether do away with a species of parenthetical inflection in his
+voice.
+
+"It wasn't over his wounds that I cried."
+
+"Did you really cry at all for him?"
+
+"I cried more for him than I did for Bob," she admitted boldly.
+
+"He is a fortunate boy! But why the tears in his case?"
+
+"I felt so badly to be disappointed in him."
+
+"Did you expect to work a miracle there, my dear? Did you think to reform
+such an inveterate young reprobate with a glance?"
+
+"I'm not sure that I ever asked myself either of those questions," she
+replied, slowly; "but he promised me something, and I expected him to keep
+his word."
+
+"Men don't keep such promises, Bertha," the visitor said. "You shouldn't
+have expected it."
+
+"I don't know why not."
+
+"Because a man who drinks will drink again."
+
+"I didn't refer to drinking," she said quietly. "It was quite another
+thing."
+
+"Ah!"
+
+She looked down at her rings and seemed to consider how much of her
+confidence she should give him, and the consideration led her to look up
+presently and say:
+
+"He promised me that if he could not call any week he would write me a
+line instead. He came to town last week, and he neither called nor wrote.
+That wasn't like the man I saw in him. That was a direct breaking of his
+word. I can't understand, and I'm disappointed."
+
+Holloway took out his cigarette case and turned it over and over
+thoughtfully in his hands.
+
+"He's nothing but a boy," he said at last, with an effort.
+
+"He's no boy," she said. "He's almost twenty-two years old. He's a man."
+
+"Some are men at twenty-two, and some are boys," Holloway remarked. "I was
+a man before I was eighteen--a man out in the world of men. But Denham's a
+boy."
+
+He rose as he spoke, and she held out her hand for him to raise her, too.
+
+"It's early to go," she remarked parenthetically.
+
+"I know," he replied; "but I hear someone being shown into the
+drawing-room. I don't feel formal to-day, and if I can't lounge in here
+alone with you I'd rather go."
+
+"How egotistical!" she commented.
+
+"I am egotistical," he admitted.
+
+And went.
+
+The footman passed him in the hall; he had a card upon his silver salver,
+and was seeking his mistress in the library. But when he entered there the
+room was empty. Mrs. Rosscott had slipped through the blue velvet
+porti�res, expecting to see a friend, and had stopped short on the other
+side, amazed at finding herself face to face with an utter stranger.
+
+"I gave the man my card," said the stranger, in a tone as faded as his
+mustache. He was a long, thin man, but what the Germans style "_sehr
+korrect_."
+
+"I didn't wait to get it," the hostess said. "I supposed that, of course,
+it was somebody that I knew."
+
+"That was natural," he admitted.
+
+There was a slight pause of awkwardness.
+
+"Won't you sit down?" she asked.
+
+"Certainly," said the caller, and sat down.
+
+Then she sat down, too, and another awkward pause ensued.
+
+"You didn't expect to see me, did you?" said the stranger, smiling.
+
+"No, I didn't," said Mrs. Rosscott frankly. "I expected to see someone
+else--someone that I knew. Nearly all my visitors are people whom I know."
+
+Her eyes rather demanded an observance of the conventionalities while her
+words were putting the best face possible on the queer five minutes. The
+stranger smiled.
+
+"My name is Clover," he said then. "Of course, as you never saw me before,
+you want to know that first of all."
+
+"I'd choose to know," she said. And then the uncompromising neutrality of
+her expression deepened so plainly that he hastened to add:
+
+"I'm H. Wyncoop Clover."
+
+"Oh!" she said. And then smiled, too; having heard the name before.
+
+"Why don't you ask me my business?" went on H. Wyncoop Clover. "I must
+have come for some reason, you know."
+
+"I didn't know it," said Mrs. Rosscott--"I don't know anything about you
+yet."
+
+They both smiled--and then H. Wyncoop resumed his colorless sobriety at
+once.
+
+"It's about Jack," he said--"these terrible new developments--" he stopped
+short, seeing his _vis-�-vis_ turn deathly white, "it's nothing to be
+frightened over," he said reassuringly.
+
+Mrs. Rosscott was furious with herself for having paled. She became
+instantly haughty.
+
+"I was alarmed for my brother," she said. "I always think of them both as
+together."
+
+"Oh, in that case, I can reassure you instantly," said the caller.
+"Burnett is doing finely."
+
+Mrs. Rosscott was conscious of being suddenly and skillfully
+countercharged. She blushed with vexation, bit her lip in perturbation,
+and cast upon the trying individual opposite a look of most appealing
+interrogation.
+
+"You see," said Clover pleasantly, "I was coming to town, so I came in
+handy for the purpose of telling you."
+
+She gave him a glance that prayed him to be decent and go on with his
+errand.
+
+"Burnett is about recovered," he said.
+
+She clasped her hands hard.
+
+"I wouldn't be a man for anything!" she exclaimed with sudden fervor,
+"they are so awfully mean. Why _don't_ you go on and tell me _what_ you've
+come about?"
+
+He raised his eyebrows.
+
+"May I?" he asked.
+
+She choked down some of her exasperation.
+
+"Yes, you may."
+
+"Oh, thank you so much. I'll begin at once then. Only premising that as I
+go to school with your little brother, and as he is rather under a cloud
+just at present, we clubbed together to bring you a letter about him and
+Jack. He was going to dictate it, but in the end Mitchell wrote it all.
+Here it is."
+
+With that he put his hand into his pocket, drew out an envelope and handed
+it to her.
+
+"How awfully good of you," she said gratefully. "Do excuse my reading it
+at once, won't you? You see, I've been so anxious about--about my brother."
+
+He nodded understandingly, and she hastily tore open the envelope and ran
+her eyes over the written sheets.
+
+
+    MY DEAR MRS. ROSSCOTT:--
+
+    Being the prize writer of the class, I am chosen to take down the
+    ante mortem confessions of our shattered friends. It is in a sad
+    hour for them that I do so, because I am naturally so truthful
+    that I shall not force you to look for my meaning between the
+    lines. On the contrary, I shall set the cold facts out as neatly
+    as the pickets on the fence. And in evidence thereof, I open the
+    ball by telling you frankly that they both look fierce. If they
+    had looked less awful, and Burnett had had more lime in his bones,
+    we might have escaped the Powers That Be by simply admitting a
+    sprained ankle and carefully concealing everything else. But if
+    one man cracks where you can't finish the deal, even by the most
+    unlimited outlay of mucilage and persistence, and another blazes
+    his whole surface-area in a manner that seems to make the
+    underbrush dubious to count on forever henceforth; why, you then
+    have a logarithm the square of which is probably as far beyond
+    your depth as I am beyond my own just at this point of this
+    sentence.
+
+    The long and short of my fresh start is, that your brother wants
+    to write you, but he is so handicapped (forgive me, but you're the
+    only one who hasn't had that joke sprung on them!) with bandages,
+    that it's cruel to expect much of him. It is true that he has his
+    bosom friend to fall back upon, but if you could see that friend
+    as we see him these days you wouldn't be sure whether it was true
+    or not. The old woman, who had the peddler-and-petticoat episode,
+    was not in it the same day with your brother's friend! I do assure
+    you. And anyhow--even if he still has brains--his writing apparatus
+    is all done up in arnica, so there you are!
+
+    But do not allow me to alarm you unduly! When all's said and done,
+    they're not so badly off physically. Hair and ribs are mere
+    vanities, anyhow, and we're here to-day and gone to-morrow!
+
+    Something much worse than disfigurements and broken bones has
+    sprung forth from chaos, and has almost stared them out of
+    countenance since. It is the wolf that is at the door, and the
+    howling and prowling of their particular wolf is not to be sneezed
+    at, let me tell you. To put a modern political face upon an
+    ancient Greek fable, the wolf in their case symbolizes the bitter
+    question of whose roof is going to roof them when they get out of
+    the plaster casts that are bed and board to them just at present.
+    Where are they to go? All those which used to be open to them are
+    suddenly shut tight. They've both been expelled, and both been
+    disinherited. If I was inclined to look on the blue side of the
+    blanket, I should certainly feel that they were playing in very
+    tough luck. Burnett, of course, can come to you, and his soul is
+    full of the wish to bring his fellow-fright along with him. Which
+    wish of his is the gist of my epistle. _Can_ he bring him? He
+    wants to know before he broaches the proposition. I'm to be
+    skinned alive if Jack ever learns that such a plea was made, so I
+    beg you whatever other rash acts you see fit to commit during your
+    meteoric flight across my plane of existence, don't ever give me
+    away. Firstly, because if I ever get a chance to do so, I'm
+    positive that I should want to cling to you as the mistletoe does
+    to the oak, and could not bear to be given away; and secondly,
+    because I'm so attached to my own skin that I should really suffer
+    pain if it was taken from me by force. Bob wants you to think it
+    over, and let him know as to the whats and whens by return mail.
+
+    You are so inspiring that I could write you all day, but those
+    relics of what once was, but alas! will never be again, need to be
+    rolled up afresh in absorbent cotton, and so I must nail my Red
+    Cross on to my left arm, and get down to business. If you saw how
+    useful I am to your brother, you'd thank his lucky stars that I
+    came through myself with nothing worse than getting my ear stepped
+    on. I was hugging the ladder (being canny and careful), and the
+    man above me toed in. Isn't it curious to think that if he'd worn
+    braces in early youth _my_ ear would be all right now.
+
+    Behold me at your feet.
+
+                                                   Respectfully yours,
+
+                                            Herbert Kendrick Mitchell.
+
+
+When Mrs. Rosscott had finished the letter she looked across at her
+caller, and said:
+
+"You've read this, haven't you?"
+
+"No," said he. "I tried to unstick it two or three times coming on the
+train, but it was too much for me."
+
+"Don't you really know what it says?" she asked more earnestly.
+
+"Yes, I do," Clover answered, "but Denham must never know that I do."
+
+"I won't tell him," she said smiling faintly. "But surely he can't be as
+badly off as this says. Has he really lost all his hair?"
+
+"Not all--only in spots," Clover reassured her; but then his recollections
+overcame him, and he added, with a grin: "But he's a fearful looking
+specimen, all right, though."
+
+"About my brother," she went on, turning the letter thoughtfully in her
+fingers; "when can he get out, do they think?"
+
+"Any time next week."
+
+"I'll write him," she said. "I'll write him and tell him that everything
+will be arranged for--for--for them both."
+
+Clover sprang to his feet.
+
+"Oh, thank you," he exclaimed. "That's most awfully good in you!"
+
+"Not at all," she answered. "I'm very glad to be able to welcome them. You
+must impress that upon them--particularly--particularly on my brother."
+
+Clover smiled.
+
+"I will," he said, rising to go.
+
+"I'd ask you to stay longer," she said, holding out her hand, "but I'm due
+at a charity entertainment to-night, and I have to go very early."
+
+"I know," he said; "I've come up on purpose to go to it."
+
+"Then I shall see you there?" she asked him.
+
+"It will be what I shall be looking forward to most of all," he said.
+
+"It's been a great pleasure to meet you," she said, holding out her hand,
+"you're--well, you're 'unlike,' as they say in literary criticisms."
+
+"Thank you," he replied; "but may I ask if you intend that as a
+compliment?"
+
+"Dear me," she laughed, "let me think how I did intend it.--Yes, it was
+meant for a compliment."
+
+"Thank you," he said, shaking her hand warmly, "it's so nice to know, you
+know. Good-by."
+
+"Good-by."
+
+Then he went away.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER ELEVEN - THE DOVE OF PEACE
+
+
+The first result of Mrs. Rosscott's invitation was that Jack refused. He
+said that he had a sister of his own--two, if it came to that--and so he
+could easily manage for himself. He was very decided about it, and
+somewhat lofty and bitter--a stand which no one understood his taking.
+
+His flat refusal was communicated to his would be hostess and it goes
+without saying that she was as unable to understand as all the rest. It
+keyed well enough with his lately shown indifference, but the indifference
+keyed not at all with all that had gone before and still less with her
+very correct comprehension of Jack himself. She was quite positive as to
+the sincerity of those protestations which he had made so haltingly--so
+boyishly--and in such absolutely truthful accents. Why he had turned over a
+new--and bad--leaf so suddenly she did not at all know, but her woman's
+wit--backed up by the many good instincts which good women always get from
+Heaven knows just where--made her feel firmer than ever as to her
+hospitable intentions. Jack had told her many times that she was his good
+angel, and it did not seem to her that now, when he was so deeply involved
+in so much trouble, was the hour for a man's good angel to quietly turn
+away. Suppose he was haughty!--she knew men well enough to know that in his
+case haughtiness and shame would be two Dromios that even he himself would
+be unable to tell apart. Suppose he did rebel against her kindness!--she
+knew women well enough to know that under some circumstances they can put
+down rebellion single-handed--if they can only be left in the room alone
+with it for a few minutes. As regarded Jack, she knew that there was
+something to explain; and as to herself she was delightfully positive as
+to her own irresistibleness. Given two such statements and the conclusion
+is easy. Mrs. Rosscott wrote to Mitchell and here is what she wrote:
+
+
+    MY DEAR MR. MITCHELL:
+
+    I should have answered your letter before only that in the
+    excitement of corresponding with my brother I forgot all else. But
+    my manners have returned by slow degrees and in hunting through my
+    desk for a bill I found you and so take up my pen.
+
+    I am quite sure that--in spite of that beautiful opening play of
+    mine--you are wondering why I am really writing and so I will tell
+    you at once. When Bob comes here to stay with me I want Mr. Denham
+    to come too. I have various reasons for wanting him to come. One
+    is that he has nowhere else to go where he will have half as good
+    a time as he will here and another is that if he goes anywhere
+    else I won't have half as good a time as if he comes here. Pray
+    excuse my brutal candor, but I am only a woman; brutal candor and
+    womanly weakness always have gone about encouraging one another,
+    you know. I cannot see any good reason for Mr. Denham's not coming
+    except that he declines my invitation. It is very silly in him,
+    and I regard it as no reason at all. I am quite unused to being
+    declined and do not intend to acquire the habit until I am a good
+    deal older than I was my last birthday. Still, I can understand
+    that he is too big to force against his will, so I think the
+    kindest way to break the back of the opposition will be for me to
+    do it personally. As an over-ruler I nearly always succeed. All I
+    require is an opportunity.
+
+    Please lay the two halves of your brain evenly together and devise
+    a train and an interview for me. Of course you will meet me at the
+    train and leave me at the interview. These are the fundamental
+    rules of my game. I know that you are clever and before we have
+    left the station you will know that I am. As arch-conspirators we
+    shall surely win out together, won't we?
+
+                                                     Yours very truly,
+
+                                                      Bertha Rosscott.
+
+
+This missive posted, Jack's good angel made herself patient until the
+afternoon of the next day when she might and did expect an answer.
+
+She was not disappointed. The letter came and it was pleasantly bulky and
+appeared ample enough to have contained an indexed gun powder plot. She
+was so sure that Mitchell had been fully equal to the occasion that she
+tore the envelope open with a smile--and read:
+
+
+    MY DEAR MRS. ROSSCOTT:
+
+    To think of my having some of your handwriting for my own!--I was
+    nearly petrified with joy.
+
+    You see I know your writing from having read Burnett all those
+    "Burn this at once" epistles. And I know it still better from
+    having to catalogue them for his ready reference. You know how
+    impatient he is. (But I have run into an open switch and must
+    digress backwards.)
+
+    I shall preserve your letter till I die. In war I shall wear it
+    carefully spread all over wherever I may be killed, and in peace I
+    intend to keep my place in my Bible with it. Could words say more!
+    (Being backed up again, I will now begin.)
+
+    I was not at all surprised at your writing me. If you had known me
+    it would have been different. But where ignorance is bliss any
+    woman but yourself is always liable to pitch in with a pen, and
+    you see you are not yourself but only "any woman" to me as yet.
+    Besides, women have written to me before you. My mother does so
+    regularly. She encloses a postal card and all I have to do is to
+    mail it and there she is answered. It's a great scheme which I
+    proudly invented when I first went away to school and I recommend
+    it to you if you--if you ever have a mother.
+
+    How my ink does run away with me! Let me refer to your esteemed
+    favor again! Ah! we have worked down to the bed-rock, or--in Hugh
+    Miller's colloquial phrasing--to the "old red sandstone," of the
+    fact that you want Jack. You state the fact with what you
+    designate as brutal candor--and I reply with candied brutality,
+    that I have thought that all along. If you are averse to my view
+    of the matter, you must look out of the window the whole time that
+    I continue, for once entered I always fight to a finish and I
+    cannot retire to my corner on this auspicious occasion without
+    announcing through a trumpet that even if Jack is a most idiotic
+    fellow I never have caught the microbe from him, and, as a
+    sequence, have always seen clear through and out of the other side
+    of the whole situation. Of course I should not say this to any
+    woman but you because it would not have any meaning to her, but,
+    between you and me all things are printed in plain black and white
+    and, therefore, I respectfully submit a program consisting of the
+    two o'clock train Tuesday and myself, to be recognized by a
+    beaming look of burning joy, upon the platform. Beyond that you
+    may confide yourself to waxing waxy in my hands. They are not bad
+    hands to be in as your brother and whatever-you-call-Jack can
+    testify. I will lay my lines in the dark to the end that you may
+    bloom in the sun.
+
+    Trust me. You need do no more--except buy your ticket.
+
+    The two o'clock on Tuesday. You can easily remember it by the
+    T's--if you don't get mixed with three o'clock on Thursday. Try
+    remembering it by the 2's. A safe way would be to put it down.
+
+                                                        Yours to obey,
+
+                                            Herbert Kendrick Mitchell.
+
+    P.S. Please recollect that I am only handsome according to the
+    good old proverb, and do not mistake me for an enterprising
+    hackman.
+
+
+Mrs. Rosscott clapped her hands with delight when she finished the letter.
+She was overjoyed at the success of her "opening play," and she wrote her
+new correspondent two lines accepting his invitation, and went down on the
+appointed train on the appointed day. He met her at the depot and they
+divined one another at the first glance. It was impossible not to know so
+pretty a woman--or so homely a man. For the ancestors of Mitchell had worn
+kilts and red hair in centuries gone by, and although he proved the truth
+of the red-hair proposition, no one would ever believe that anything of
+his build could ever have been induced to have put itself into
+kilts--knowingly. Furthermore, his voice had a crick in it, and went by
+jerks, and his eyebrows sympathized with his voice, and the eyes below
+them were little and gray and twinkling, and altogether he was the sort of
+man who is termed--according to a certain style of phrasing--"above
+suspicion." But she liked him, oh! immensely, and he liked her. And when
+they were riding up in the carriage together she felt how thoroughly
+trustworthy his gray eyes and good smile declared him to be, and had no
+hesitation in telling him what she wanted to do, and in asking him what
+she wanted to know.
+
+Mitchell certainly had a talent for plotting, for when they reached the
+house where the culprits were temporarily domiciled, Burnett had gone out
+to give his mended ribs some exercise, and Jack was reading alone in the
+room where they shared one another's liniments with friendly generosity.
+
+The arch-conspirator went upstairs, came down, and then, seeking the lady
+whom he had left in the parlor, said to her:
+
+"Denham's up there and you can go up and say whatever you have to say. You
+know 'In union there is strength.' Well you've got him alone now, and
+he'll prove weakly as a consequence or I miss my guess."
+
+Then he walked straight over by the window and picked up a magazine as if
+it was all settled, and she only hesitated for half a second before she
+turned and went upstairs.
+
+There was a door half open in the hall above, and she knew that that must
+be the door. She tapped at it lightly, and a man's voice (a voice that she
+knew well), called out gruffly:
+
+"Come in!"
+
+She pushed the door open at that and entered, and saw Jack, and he saw
+her. He turned very pale at the sight, and then the color flooded his
+face, and he rose from his chair abruptly, and put his hand up to the
+strips that held the bandage on his head.
+
+"Burnett isn't here," he said quickly. "He went out just a few minutes
+ago."
+
+His tone was hard, and yet at the same time it shook slightly.
+
+She approached him, holding out her hand.
+
+"I'm glad of that," she said, "because it was to see you that I came."
+
+To her great surprise something mutinous and scornful flashed in his eyes
+as he rolled a chair forward for her.
+
+"You honor me," he said, and his tone and manner both hardened yet more.
+His general appearance was that of a man ten years older; he had changed
+terribly in the weeks since she had last seen him. She took the chair and
+sat down, still looking at him. He sat down too, and his eyes went
+restlessly around the room as if they sought a hold that should withhold
+them from her searching gaze. There was a short pause.
+
+"Don't speak like that," she said at last. "It isn't your way, and I know
+you too well--we know one another too well--to be anything but sincere. You
+owe me something, too, and if I forbear you should understand why."
+
+"I owe you something, do I?" he asked. "What do I owe you?"
+
+Mrs. Rosscott caught her under lip in her teeth.
+
+"You gave me a promise, Mr. Denham," she said, quite low, but most
+distinctly--"a promise which you broke."
+
+Jack flushed; his eyelids drooped for a minute.
+
+"I didn't break it," he said. "I gave it up."
+
+"Is there any difference?"
+
+"A great difference."
+
+He shrugged his shoulders.
+
+"Do you want to have the truth?" he said. "If you really do, I'll tell
+you. But I don't ask to tell you, recollect, and if I were you I'd drop
+the whole--I certainly would.--If I were you."
+
+She looked at him in astonishment.
+
+"I don't understand," she said. "Tell me what you mean."
+
+He raised his hand to his bandaged head again.
+
+"I think," he said, fighting hard to speak with utter indifference, "I
+think that it would have been better if you had told me about Holloway."
+
+At that her big eyes opened widely.
+
+"What should I tell you about Mr. Holloway?" she asked. "What could I tell
+you about him?"
+
+"It isn't any use speaking like that," he said; and with the words he
+suddenly leaped from his chair and began to plunge back and forth across
+the small room. "You see I'm not a boy any more. I've come to my senses. I
+know now! I understand now! It's all plain to me now. Now and always. I've
+been fooled once but only once and by All that Is, I never will be fooled
+again. Your're pretty and awfully fascinating, and it's always fun for the
+woman--especially if she knows all her bets are safely hedged. And I was so
+completely done up that I was even more sport than the common run, I
+suppose; but--" she was staring at him in unfeigned amazement, and he was
+lashing himself to fury with the feelings that underlaid his words--"but
+even if you made it all right with yourself by calling your share by the
+name of 'having a good influence' over me (I know that's how married women
+always pat themselves on the back while they're sending us to the devil),
+even then, I think that it would have been better to have been fair and
+square with me. It would have been better all round. I'd have been left
+with some belief in--in people. As it is, when I saw that you'd only been
+laughing at me, I--well, I went pretty far."
+
+He stopped short, and transfixed her paleness with his big, dark eyes.
+
+"Why weren't you honest?" he asked angrily. And then he said again, more
+bitterly, more scornfully, than before: "Why wasn't I told about
+Holloway?"
+
+She clasped her hands tightly together.
+
+"What has been told you about Mr. Holloway and myself?" she asked.
+
+"Nothing."
+
+"Then why do you speak as you do?"
+
+At that he thrust his hands into his pockets and again began to fling
+himself back and forth across the room.
+
+"Perhaps you'll think I'm a sneak," he said, "but I wasn't a sneak. I went
+in to see you that Saturday as usual, and when I went upstairs--you were
+with him in the library. I heard three words. God! they were enough! I
+didn't know that anything could knock the bottom out of life so quickly.
+My sun and stars all fell at once--I reckon my Heaven went too. At all
+events I went out of your house and down town and I drank and drank--and
+all to the truth and honor of women."
+
+He halted with his back to her, and there was silence in the room for many
+minutes.
+
+When he faced around after a little, she was weeping bitterly, having
+turned in her seat so that her face might be buried in the chair back. Her
+whole body was shaking with suppressed sobs. He stood still and stared
+down upon her and finally she lifted up her face and said with trembling
+lips:
+
+"And all the trouble came from that. Oh, what shall I do? What shall I
+say?"
+
+"I don't know what you can do, or what you can say," he said, remaining
+still and watching her sincere distress. "I'd feel pretty blamed mean if I
+were you, though. Understand, I don't question your good taste in choosing
+Holloway, nor your right to love him, nor his right to be there; but I
+fail to understand why you were to me just as you were, and I think it was
+unfair--out-and-out mean!"
+
+"Mr. Denham," she said almost painfully, "you've made a dreadful mistake."
+Then she stopped and moistened her lips. "I don't know just what words you
+overheard, but the dramatic instructor was there that afternoon drilling
+Mr. Holloway and myself for the parts which we took in the charity play
+that week; after he went out we went over one of the scenes alone. Perhaps
+you heard part of that." She stopped and almost choked. "Mr. Holloway has
+never really made any love to me--perhaps he never wanted to--perhaps I've
+never wanted him to."
+
+Jack stared. His misconception was so strongly intrenched in the forefront
+of his brain that he could not possibly dislodge it at once.
+
+Mrs. Rosscott continued to dry the tears that continued to rise; she
+seemed terribly affected at finding herself to have been the cause (no
+matter how innocently) of this latest tale of wrack and ruin.
+
+"Do you mean to say," the young man said, at last, "that there was no
+truth in what I heard? Don't you expect to marry Holloway?"
+
+"I never expect to marry anyone, but certainly not him," she replied,
+trying to regain her composure.
+
+"Honest?"
+
+"Assuredly."
+
+It was as if an unseen orchestra had suddenly burst forth just near enough
+and just far enough away. He came to the side of her chair and laid his
+hand upon its back.
+
+"Then what have you been thinking of me lately?" he asked.
+
+"Very sad thoughts," she confessed--hiding her face again.
+
+"Did you care?"
+
+"Yes, I cared."
+
+He stood beside her for a long time without speaking or moving. Then he
+suddenly pulled a chair forward, and sat down close in front of her.
+
+"Don't cry," he said, almost daring to be tender. "There's nothing to cry
+about _now_, you know."
+
+"I think there's plenty for me to cry about," she said, looking up through
+her long wet lashes. "It is so terrible for me to be the one that is to
+blame. Papa swears he'll never forgive Bob, and your aunt--"
+
+"Lord love you!" he exclaimed; "don't worry over me or my aunt. I don't. I
+don't mind anything, with Holloway staked in the ditch. I can get along
+well enough now."
+
+He smiled--actually smiled--as he spoke.
+
+"Oh, you mustn't speak so," she said, blushing; "indeed, you must not."
+And smiled, too, in spite of herself.
+
+"Who's going to stop me?" he said. "You know that you can't; I'm miles the
+biggest."
+
+She looked at him and tried to frown, but only blushed again instead. He
+put out his hand and took hers into its clasp.
+
+"I'm everlasting glad to shake college," he declared gayly; "it never was
+my favorite alley. I've made up my mind to go to work just as soon as I
+get these pastry strips off my head."
+
+"Where?"
+
+"I don't know. Anywhere. I don't care."
+
+"But you'll come to my house when Bob comes next week, won't you?" she
+asked suddenly. "I can see now why you wouldn't before, but--but it's
+different now. Isn't it?"
+
+"Is it?" he said, asking the question chiefly of her pretty eyes. "Is it
+honestly different now?"
+
+"I think it is," she answered.
+
+A door banged below.
+
+"That's Burr!" he exclaimed, remembering suddenly the proximity of their
+chairs, and making haste to place himself farther away.
+
+Burnett's step was heard on the stair.
+
+"You never said anything to him, did you?" she questioned quickly.
+
+"Certainly not."
+
+The next instant Burnett was in the room, and his sister was in his arms.
+(Astonishing how coolly he accepted the fact, too.)
+
+"Mr. Denham is coming to me with you, Bob," she said when he released her.
+"I've persuaded him."
+
+"How did you do it?" she was asked.
+
+"By undertaking to reconcile him with his aunt, dear," she replied,
+blandly. "It's a contract that we've drawn up between us. You know that I
+was always rather good in the part of the peacemaker."
+
+As she spoke, her eyes fell warningly on the manifest astonishment of Aunt
+Mary's nephew.
+
+"You don't know what you're undertaking, Betty," said her brother. "You
+never had a chance to take Aunt Mary for better, for worse--I have."
+
+"I'm not alarmed," said she, "I'm very courageous. I'm sure I'll succeed."
+
+"Can the mender of ways--other people's ways--come in?" asked a voice at the
+door.
+
+It was Mitchell's voice, and he came in without waiting for an invitation.
+
+"Is it time that I went?" Mrs. Rosscott asked him, anxiously.
+
+"Half an hour yet."
+
+"Oh, I say Jack," cried Burnett, "let's boil some water in the witch-hazel
+pan, and make a rarebit in the poultice pan, and have some tea here."
+
+"Sure," said Jack, suddenly become his blithe and buoyant self again. "You
+just take off your hat and look the other way, Mrs. Rosscott, and we'll
+have you a lunch in a jiffy."
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWELVE - A TRAP FOR AUNT MARY
+
+
+In Aunt Mary's part of the country the skies had been crying themselves
+sick for the last six weeks. The cranberry bog was a goner forever, it was
+feared, and a little house, very handy for sorting berries in, had had its
+foundations undermined, and disappeared beneath the face of the waters
+also.
+
+Under such propitious circumstances, Aunt Mary sat by her own particular
+window and looked sternly and severely out across the garden and down the
+road. Lucinda sat by the other window sewing. Lucinda hadn't changed
+materially, but her general appearance struck her mistress as more
+irritating than ever. Everything and everybody seemed to have become more
+and more irritating ever since Jack had been disinherited. Of course, it
+was right that he should have been disinherited, but Aunt Mary hadn't
+thought much beforehand as to what would happen afterward, and it was too
+aggravating to have him turn out so well just when she had lost all
+patience with him and so cast him off forever, and for him to develop such
+a beautiful character, all of a sudden too--just as if education and good
+advice had been his undoing and seclusion and illness were the guardian
+angels arrived just in time to save him from the evil effects thereof.
+
+It hadn't occurred to Aunt Mary that people keep on living just the same
+even after they have been cut out of a will. And she never had counted on
+Jack's taking his bitter medicine in the spirit he was manifesting. She
+had not calculated any of the possible effects of her hasty action very
+maturely, but she certainly had not anticipated a lamblike submission to
+even the harshest of her edicts, nor had she expected Jack to be one who
+would strictly observe the Bible regulations and so return good for
+evil--in other words, write her now when he had never written her in the
+bygone years (unless under sharpest financial stress of circumstances).
+
+Yet such was the case. Jack had become a "ready letter-writer" ever since
+his removal to the city, whither some kind friends had invited him
+directly he could leave his sick-room. Aunt Mary did not know who the
+friends were and had hesitated somewhat as to opening the first letter.
+But it had borne no sting--being instead most sweetly pathetic, and since
+then, others had followed with touching frequency. Their polished periods
+fell upon the old lady's stony hardness of heart with the persistent
+frequency of the proverbial drop of water. After the second she had ceased
+to regard the instructions given Lucinda as to mentioning her nephew's
+name, and after the third he became again her favorite topic of
+conversation.
+
+It seemed that the poor boy had had the misfortune to contract measles,
+and in his weakened state the disease had nearly proved fatal. You can
+perhaps divine the effect of this statement on the grand-aunt, and the
+further effect of the words: "But never mind, Aunt Mary," with which he
+concluded the brief narration.
+
+Aunt Mary had tried to snort and had sniffed instead; she had turned back
+to the first page, read, "All my head has been shaved, but I don't care
+about having any more fun, anyhow," and had let the letter fall in her
+lap. Every time that she had thought since of "our boy," her anger had
+fallen hotter upon whoever was handiest. Lucinda (who was used to it)
+lived under a figurative rain of cinders, and thrived salamander-like in
+their midst; but Arethusa--who had come up for a week--found herself totally
+unable to stand the endless lava and boiling ashes, and fled back to the
+bosom of Mr. Arethusa the third morning after her arrival.
+
+"I've got to go, I find," she had yelled the night before her departure.
+
+"I certainly wish you would," replied her aunt. "I'm a great believer in
+married women paying attention at home before they begin to pry into their
+neighbors' affairs. It's a good idea. Most generally--most always."
+
+This was bitterly unkind, since Arethusa was in the habit of taking the
+long journey purely out of a sense of duty and to keep Lucinda up to the
+mark; but grateful appreciation is rarely ever a salient point in the
+character of an autocrat.
+
+"I'm glad she's gone," Aunt Mary told Lucinda, when they were left
+together once more. "She puts me beyond all patience. She chatters
+gibberish that I can't make out a word of for an hour at a time, and then,
+all of a sudden, she screams, 'Dinner's ready,' or something equally
+silly, in a voice like a carvin' knife. It's enough to drive a sane person
+stark, raving mad. It is."
+
+Lucinda acquiesced with a nod. Lucinda herself was glad that Arethusa had
+gone. She resented the manner in which the latter always looked over the
+preserve closet and counted the silver. Nothing was ever missing, because
+Lucinda was as honest as a day twenty-five hours long, but the more honest
+those of Lucinda's caliber are, the more mad they get if they feel that
+they are being watched. So Lucinda acquiesced with a nod.
+
+The mistress and maid were sitting alone together, with the June rain
+falling without, and it was that pleasantly exciting hour which comes only
+in the country and is known as "about mail-time."
+
+"There's Joshua now," Aunt Mary exclaimed, presently, "I see him turnin'
+in the gate. He'll be at the door before you get there, Lucinda,--he will.
+There, he's twistin' his wheel off. He's tryin' to hold Billy an' hold the
+letters an' whistle, all at once. Why don't you go to him, Lucinda? Can't
+you hear a whistle that I can see? Or, if you can't hear the whistle,
+can't you hear me? Do you think whoever wrote those letters would be much
+pleased if they could see you so slow about gettin' them? Do--"
+
+Just here the old lady, turning toward Lucinda, perceived that she had
+been gone--Heaven knew how long. She felt decidedly vexed at finding
+herself to be in the wrong, rubbed her nose impatiently, and waited in a
+temper to match the rubbing.
+
+"My Lord! how slow she is!" she thought. "Well, if I don't die of old age
+first, I presume I'll get my letters some time. Maybe."
+
+As a matter of fact, the door had blown shut behind Lucinda, and the
+latter personage was making her way, with well-hoisted skirts, around the
+house to the back door. She didn't pass the window where the Argus-eyed
+was looking forth; because that lady had strong opinions of those who let
+doors bang behind them without their own volition.
+
+Five minutes later the maid did finally appear with one letter.
+
+"I thought you was waitin' to bring to-morrow's mail at the same time,"
+said Aunt Mary, icily.
+
+Then she found that the letter was from Jack, and Lucinda was completely
+forgotten in the pleasure of opening and reading it.
+
+
+    DEAR AUNT MARY:
+
+    It seems so strange how I'm just learning the pleasure of writing
+    letters. I enjoy it more every day. When I see a pen I can hardly
+    keep from feeling that I ought to write you directly. I think of
+    you, then, because I'm thinking of you most always. It seems as if
+    I never appreciated you before, Aunt Mary.
+
+    I want to tell you something that I know will make you happy. I've
+    never made you very happy Aunt Mary, but I'm going to begin now.
+    I've got a place where I can earn my own living, and I'm going to
+    work just as soon as I am strong enough. I'm as tickled as a baby
+    over it. I'll lay you any odds I get to be a richer man than the
+    other John Watkins. I reckon money was bad for me, Aunt Mary, and
+    I can see that you've done just the right thing to make a man of
+    me. That isn't surprising, because you always did do just the
+    right thing, Aunt Mary; it was I that always did just the wrong
+    thing, but I'm straightened out now and this time it's forever--you
+    just wait and see.
+
+    There's one thing bothers me some, and that is I don't get strong
+    very fast. They want me to take a tonic, but I don't think a tonic
+    would help me much. I feel so sort of blue and depressed, and
+    perhaps that's natural, for Bob's away most of the time and I'm
+    here all alone. It's a big house and sort of lonely and sometimes
+    I find myself imagining how it would seem to have someone from
+    home in it with me, and I find myself almost crying--I do, for a
+    fact, Aunt Mary.
+
+    Next week, Bob is going to be away more than usual, and I'm
+    dreading it awfully; but never mind, Aunt Mary, I don't want to
+    make you blue, because honestly I don't think I'm going into a
+    decline, even if the doctor does. And, after all, if I did sort of
+    dwindle away it wouldn't matter much, for I'm not worth anything,
+    and no one knows that as well as myself--except you, Aunt Mary. I
+    must stop because it's nine o'clock and time I was in bed. I've
+    got some socks to wash out first, too; you see, I'm learning how
+    to economize just as fast as I can. It's only two miles to my
+    work, and I'm going to walk back and forth always--that'll be
+    between fifty cents and a dollar saved each week. I'm figuring on
+    how to live on my salary and never have a debt, and you'll be
+    proud of me yet, Aunt Mary--if I don't die first.
+
+    Think of me all alone here next week. If I wasn't steadfast as a
+    rock I believe I'd do something foolish just to get out of myself.
+    But never mind, Aunt Mary, it's all right.
+
+                                                    Your afft. nephew,
+
+                                            John Watkins, Jr., Denham.
+
+
+When Lucinda returned from drying her feet, Aunt Mary had her handkerchief
+in one hand and spectacles in the other.
+
+"Saints and sinners!" cried the maid, in a voice that grated with
+sympathy. "He ain't writ to say he's dead, is he?"
+
+"No," said Aunt Mary; "but he isn't as well as he makes out. There's no
+deceivin' me, Lucinda!"
+
+"Dear! dear!" cried the Trusty and True; "is that so? What's to be done?
+Do you want Joshua to run anywhere?"
+
+Aunt Mary suddenly regained her composure.
+
+"Run anywhere?" she asked, with her usual bitter intonation. "If you ain't
+the greatest fool I ever was called upon to bed and board, Lucinda! Will
+you kindly explain to me how settin' Joshua trottin' is goin' to do any
+mortal good to my poor boy away off there in that dreadful city?"
+
+"He could telegraph to Miss Arethusa," Lucinda suggested. The suggestion
+bespoke the superior moral quality of Lucinda's make-up--her own feeling
+toward Arethusa being considered.
+
+"I don't want her," said Aunt Mary with a positiveness that was final. "I
+don't want her. My heavens, Lucinda, ain't we just had enough of her?
+Anyhow, if you ain't, I have. I don't want her, nor no livin' soul except
+my trunk; an' I want that just as quick as Joshua can haul it down out of
+the attic."
+
+"You ain't thinkin' of goin' travelin'!" the maid cried in consternation;
+"you can't never be thinkin' of _that?_"
+
+"No," said her mistress with fine irony; "I want the trunk to make a pie
+out of, probably."
+
+Lucinda was speechless.
+
+"Lucinda," her mistress said, after a few seconds had faded away
+unimproved, "seems to me I mentioned wantin' Joshua to get down a
+trunk--seems to me I did."
+
+The maid turned and left the room. She felt more or less dazed. Nothing so
+startling as Aunt Mary's wanting a trunk had happened in years.
+Disinheriting Jack was not in it by comparison. She went slowly away to
+find Joshua and found him in the farther end of the rear woodhouse--John
+Watkins, like several of his ilk, having marked each forward step in the
+world by a back extension of his house.
+
+Joshua was chopping wood; his ax was high in the air. He also was calm and
+unsuspecting.
+
+"She's goin' to the city all alone!" Lucinda's voice suddenly proclaimed
+behind him.
+
+The ax fell.
+
+"Who says so?" its handler demanded, facing about in surprise.
+
+"She says so."
+
+Joshua picked up the ax and poised it afresh. He was himself again.
+
+"She'll go then," he said calmly.
+
+Lucinda marched around in front of him, and planted herself firmly among
+the chips.
+
+"Joshua Whittlesey!"
+
+"We can't help it," said Joshua stolidly. "We're here to mind her. If she
+wants to go to New York, or to change her will, all we've got to do is to
+be simple witnesses."
+
+"She don't want Miss Arethusa telegraphed," said Lucinda.
+
+"I don't blame her," said Joshua; "if I was her and if I was goin' to New
+York I wouldn't want no one telegraphed."
+
+"She wants her trunk out of the attic."
+
+"Then she'll get her trunk out of the attic. When does she want it?"
+
+"She wants it now."
+
+                             [Illustration 3]
+
+ "She's goin' to the city all alone!' Lucinda's voice suddenly proclaimed
+                               behind him."
+
+
+"Then she'll get it now," said Joshua. From the general trend of this and
+other remarks of Joshua the reader will readily divine why he had been in
+Aunt Mary's employ for thirty years, and had always been characterized by
+her as "a most sensible man," and anyone who had seen the alacrity with
+which the trunk was brought and the respectful attention with which Aunt
+Mary's further commands were received would have been forced to coincide
+in her opinion.
+
+The packing of the trunk was a task which fell to Lucinda's lot and was
+performed under the eagle eye of her mistress. Aunt Mary's ideas of what
+she would require were delightfully unsophisticated and brought up short
+on the farther-side of her tooth brush and her rubbers. Nevertheless she
+agreed in Lucinda's suggestions as to more extensive supplies.
+
+Late that afternoon Joshua drove into town (amidst a wealth of mud
+spatters) and dispatched the answer to Jack's letter. Aunt Mary was urged
+to haste by several considerations, some well defined, and others not so
+much so. To Lucinda she imparted her terrible anxiety over the dear boy's
+health, but not even to herself did she admit her much more terrible
+anxiety lest Arethusa or Mary should suddenly appear and insist on
+accompanying her. She wanted to go, but she wanted to go alone.
+
+Jack telegraphed a response that night, and his aunt left by the Monday
+morning train. She had a six o'clock breakfast, and drove into town at a
+quarter of nine so as to be absolutely certain not to miss the train.
+Joshua drove, with the trunk perched beside him. It was a small and
+unassuming trunk, but Aunt Mary was not one who believed in putting on
+airs just because she was rich. Lucinda sat on the back seat with her
+mistress.
+
+"I'm sure I hope you'll enjoy yourself," she said.
+
+"Of course he's nothing but a boy," Aunt Mary replied,--"an' I've told you
+a hundred times that boys will be boys and we mustn't expect otherwise."
+
+They arrived on time, and only had an hour and three-quarters to wait in
+the station. Toward the last Aunt Mary grew very nervous for fear
+something had happened to the train; but it came to time according to the
+waiting-room clock. Joshua put her aboard, and she soon had nothing left
+to worry over except the wonder as to whether Jack would be on hand to
+meet her or not.
+
+Joshua drove back home, let Lucinda out at the door, and put the horse up
+before going in to where she sat in solitary glory.
+
+"I wonder what _he's_ up to?" she said with a pleasant sense of unlimited
+freedom as to the subject and duration of the conversation.
+
+"Suthin', of course," was the answer.
+
+"Do you s'pose he's really sick?"
+
+"No, I don't."
+
+"Do you s'pose she thinks he's really sick?"
+
+"Mebbe."
+
+"Ain't you goin' to sit down, Joshua?"
+
+"I don't see nothin' to make me sit down here for."
+
+"What do you think of her going?" she said, as he walked toward the door.
+
+"I think she'll have a good time."
+
+"At her age?"
+
+"Havin' a good time ain't a matter o' age," said Joshua. "It's a matter o'
+bein' willin' to have a good time."
+
+Lucinda screwed her face up mightily.
+
+"If I was sure she'd be gone for a week," she said, "I'd go a-visitin'
+myself."
+
+"She'll be gone a week," said Joshua; and the manner and matter of his
+speech were both those of a prophet.
+
+Then he went out and the door slammed to behind him.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER THIRTEEN - AUNT MARY ENTRAPPED
+
+
+Aunt Mary's arrival in the city just coincided with the arrival of that
+day's five o'clock. Five o'clock in early June is very bright daylight,
+therefore she was rather bewildered when the train pulled up in the
+darkness and electricity of the station's confusion. The change from
+sunlight to smoke blinded her somewhat and the view from the car window
+did not restore her equanimity. When the porter, to whom she had been
+discreetly recommended by Joshua, came for her bags, she felt woefully
+distressed and not at all like her usual self.
+
+"Oh, do I have to get out?" she said. "I ain't been in this place for
+twenty-five years, and I was to be met."
+
+The porter's grin hovered comfortingly over her head.
+
+"You can stay here jus' 's long as you like, ma'am," he yelled, in the
+voice of a train dispatcher. "I'll send your friends in when they
+inquiahs."
+
+Aunt Mary eyed him gratefully, and gave him the nickel which she had been
+carefully holding in her hand for the last hour.
+
+Then she looked up, and saw Jack!
+
+A perfectly splendid Jack, in resplendent attire, handsome, beaming, with
+a big bouquet of violets in his hand!
+
+"For you, Aunt Mary," he said, and dropped them into her lap, and hugged
+her fervently. She clung to him with a cling that forgot the immediate
+past, disinheriting and all. Oh! she was so glad to see him!
+
+The porter approached with a beneficent look.
+
+"Has he taken good care of you, Aunt Mary?" Jack asked, as the man
+gathered up the things and they started to leave the car.
+
+"Yes, indeed," Aunt Mary declared.
+
+So Jack gave the porter a dollar.
+
+Then they left the train.
+
+"I was so worried," Aunt Mary said, as she went along the platform hanging
+on her nephew's arm. "I thought you'd met with an accident."
+
+"I couldn't get on until the rest got off," he said, gazing down on her
+with a smile; "but I was on hand, all right. My, but it's good to think
+that you're here, Aunt Mary! Maybe you think that I don't appreciate your
+taking all this trouble for me, but I do, just the same."
+
+Aunt Mary smiled all over. Everyone who passed them was smiling, too, and
+that added to the general joy of the atmosphere. Aunt Mary felt proud of
+Jack, and rejoiced as to herself. Her content with life in general was,
+for the moment, limitless. She did not stop to dissect the sources of her
+delight. She was not in a critical mood just then.
+
+"Why don't you stick those flowers in your belt, Aunt Mary?" her nephew
+asked, as they penetrated the worst of the human jungle, and the
+preservation of the violets appeared to be the main question of the day.
+"That's what the girls do."
+
+His aunt looked vaguely down at herself. She had no belt to stick her
+violets in. She wore no belt. She wore a basque. A basque is a beltless
+something that you can't remember, but that females did, once upon a time,
+cover the upper half of their forms with. Basques buttoned down the front
+with ten to thirty buttons, and may be studied at leisure in any good
+collection of daguerreotypes. Ladies like Aunt Mary are apt to scorn such
+futilities as waning styles after they pass beyond a certain age, and for
+that reason there was no place for Jack's violets.
+
+"Never mind," he said cheerfully, having followed her dubiousness with his
+understanding. "Just hang on to them a minute longer, and we'll be out of
+all this."
+
+His words came true, and they finally did emerge from the seething mass
+and found a carriage, the door of which happened to be standing
+mysteriously open. Within, upon the small seat, some omniscient hands had
+already deposited Aunt Mary's bags. It did not take long to stow Aunt
+Mary, face to her luggage, and she was barely established there before her
+trunk came, too; and, although the coachman looked so gorgeous, he was
+nevertheless obliging enough to allow it to couch humbly at his feet.
+
+Then they rolled away.
+
+Jack sat sideways and looked at his aunt, holding her hand. His eyes were
+unfeignedly happy, and his companion matched his eyes. Neither seemed to
+recollect that one was bitterly angry, and that the other was on the verge
+of melancholia. Instead, Jack declared fervently:
+
+"Aunt Mary, I've made up my mind to give you the time of your life!"
+
+And Aunt Mary drew a sigh of relief in his words and anticipation of their
+fulfillment.
+
+"I'll be happy takin' care of you," she said, benevolently. "My!--but your
+letter scared me. An' yet you look well."
+
+He laughed.
+
+"It's the knowing you were coming that's done that, Aunt Mary. You ought
+to have seen me when I got your telegram. I almost turned a somersault."
+
+Aunt Mary smiled rapturously and patted his hand.
+
+And just then they drew up in front of the house. She looked out, and her
+face fell a trifle.
+
+"It's awful high and narrow," she said.
+
+"They all are," Jack replied, opening the carriage door and jumping out to
+receive her.
+
+The door at the top of the steps opened, and a man came down for the bags.
+In the hall above, a pretty maid waited with a welcoming smile.
+
+Jack piloted his aunt, first up the entrance steps, and then up the
+staircase within, and led her to the lovely room which had been vacated
+for her. The maid followed with tea and biscuits, and the man brought the
+luggage and ranged it unobtrusively in a corner. There was a lavish
+richness about everything which made Aunt Mary and her trunk appear as
+gray and insignificant as a pair of mice, by contrast; but she didn't feel
+it, and so she didn't mind it.
+
+Jack kissed her tenderly.
+
+"Welcome to town, Aunt Mary," he said heartily, "and may you never live to
+look upon this day as other than the luckiest of your life!" Then, turning
+to the servant, he said:
+
+"Janice, you see that you do all that money can buy for my aunt."
+
+The maid courtesied. She had arranged the tray upon a little table and the
+spout of the tea pot and the round hole in the middle of the toast-cover
+were each pouring forth a pleasant suggestion.
+
+Aunt Mary began at once to haul forth her keys.
+
+"Why, Aunt Mary," Jack cried, wondering if her nose was deaf, too, or
+whether she didn't feel hungry, "don't you see your tea? Or don't you want
+any?"
+
+Aunt Mary thumbed her trunk key.
+
+"I want a nightgown," she said; "maybe I'll want something else later.
+Maybe."
+
+"You're not going to _bed_!"
+
+She drew herself up.
+
+"I guess I can if I want to; I guess I can. There's the bed and here's
+me."
+
+"Whatever are you saying? It isn't half-past six o'clock."
+
+"I'm not _prayin_' about anything," said the old lady. "I don't pray about
+things. I do 'em when needful. And when I'm tired I go to bed."
+
+"All right, Aunt Mary," with sugary sweetness and lamb-like
+submissiveness. "I thought we'd dine out together, but if you don't want
+to, we needn't. And if you feel like it when you waken, we can."
+
+"Dine out," said Aunt Mary, blankly; "has the cook left? I never was a
+great approver of goin' and eatin' at boarding houses."
+
+"Well, never mind," Jack said in a key pitched to rhyme with high C. "I'll
+leave you now--and we can see about everything later."
+
+He kissed her, and retired from the room.
+
+"Did he say we're goin' out to dinner?" Aunt Mary asked, when she was left
+alone with the maid, who hurried to take her bonnet and shawl, and get her
+into juxtaposition with the tea-tray as rapidly as possible.
+
+"Yes, ma'am," the girl screamed, nodding.
+
+"I don't want to," said the old lady firmly. "Lots of trouble comes
+through gettin' out of house habits. I've come here to take care of a sick
+boy and not to go gallivantin' round myself. I've seen the evils of
+gallivantin' a good deal lately and I don't want to see no more. Not here
+and not nowhere."
+
+Then she began to eat and drink and reflect, all at the same time.
+
+"By the way, what's your name?" she asked, suddenly. "Jack didn't tell
+me."
+
+"Janice, ma'am."
+
+"Granite?" said Aunt Mary. "What a funny idea to name you that! Did they
+call you for the tinware or for the rocks?"
+
+"I don't know," shrieked Janice, who was busily occupied in unpacking the
+traveler's trunk.
+
+Her new mistress watched her with a critical eye at first, but it became a
+more or less sleepy eye as the warmth of the tea meandered slowly through
+its owner. There was a battle within Aunt Mary's brain; she wanted to
+please Jack, and she was almost dead with sleep.
+
+"Do you think that I ought to try and go out with my nephew to-night?" she
+asked Janice.
+
+"If it was me, I should go," cried the maid.
+
+"I never was called slow before," Aunt Mary said, bridling. "I'll thank
+you to remember your place, young woman."
+
+Janice explained.
+
+"Oh! I didn't hear plainly," said Aunt Mary. "I don't always. Well go or
+not go, I've got to sleep first. I'm dreadfully sleepy, and I've always
+been a great believer in sleepin' when you're sleepy."
+
+The fact of the sleepiness was so evident that no attempt was made to
+gainsay it. Janice brought down a quilt from the closet and tucked her
+charge up luxuriously on the great bed. Five minutes later she was in
+dreamland.
+
+Jack came in about seven and looked at her.
+
+"She mustn't be disturbed," he said thoughtfully. "If she wakes up before
+ten we'll go out then."
+
+She awoke about nine, and when she opened her eyes the first thing that
+she saw was Janice, sitting near by.
+
+"I feel real good," said Aunt Mary.
+
+"I'm so glad," yelled Janice, and smiled, too.
+
+The old lady sat up.
+
+"I believe I could have gone out, after all," she said. "Only I don't want
+to take dinner anywhere."
+
+Then she paused and reflected. It was surprising how good she felt and how
+she did want to make Jack happy. "After all boys will be boys," she
+thought, tenderly, "an' I ain't but seventy, so I don't see why I
+shouldn't go out with him if he wants to. I'm a great believer in doin'
+what you want to--I mean, in doin' what other folks want you to. At any
+rate I'm a great believer in it sometimes. To-day--this time."
+
+"Your nephew is waiting," the maid howled. "Shall I tell him you want to
+go after all?"
+
+"Is it late?" the old lady inquired.
+
+"Oh, dear, no!"
+
+"Wouldn't you go if you was me?" asked the old lady.
+
+Janice smiled.
+
+"Indeed I would."
+
+Aunt Mary rose. A flood of metropolitan fever suddenly surged up and
+around and over and through her.
+
+"Tell him I'll be down in five minutes," she said.
+
+"Can you change in that time?" Janice stopped to shriek.
+
+"What should I change for?" Aunt Mary demanded in astonishment. "Ain't I
+all dressed now?"
+
+Janice did not attempt to shriek any counter-advice, and while she was
+gone to find Jack, her mistress brushed herself in some places, soaped
+herself in others, and considered her toilet made. When Janice returned
+she caught up a loose lock of hair, and put the placket-hole of her skirt
+square in the middle of Aunt Mary's back, and dared go no further. There
+was an air even about the back of Jack's influential aunt which forbade
+too much liberty to those dealing with her.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FOURTEEN - AUNT MARY EN F�TE
+
+
+Aunt Mary descended the stairs about half-past nine; she thought it was
+about a quarter to eight, but the difference between the hour that it was
+and the hour that she thought that it was will be all the same a hundred
+years from now.
+
+Jack came out of the Louis XIV. drawing room when he heard her step in the
+hall. There was another young man with him.
+
+"This is my friend Burnett, Aunt Mary," her nephew roared. "You must
+excuse his not bowing lower, but you know he broke his collarbone
+recently."
+
+Aunt Mary shook hands warmly; she knew all about the ribs and the
+collarbone, because they had formed big items in the testimony which had
+momentarily and as momentously relegated Jack to the comradeship of the
+devil himself, in her eyes. However, she recalled them merely as facts
+now--not at all in a disagreeable way--and gave Burnett an extra squeeze of
+good-fellowship, as she said:
+
+"You had a narrow escape, young man."
+
+"I didn't have any escape at all," said Burnett. "The escape went down at
+the back, and I had to jump from a cornice."
+
+"Burnett is going out to dine with us, Aunt Mary," said Jack. "There's so
+little he can eat on account of his ribs that he's a good dinner guest for
+me."
+
+Jack's aunt felt vaguely uncomfortable over this allusion to her
+grand-nephew's circumstances, and coughed in slight embarrassment.
+
+Burnett opened the door, and the carriage lamp shone below. (Is there ever
+anything more delightfully suggestive than a carriage lamp shining down
+below?) They took her down and put her in, and the carriage rolled away.
+
+It was that June when "Bedelia" covered nearly the whole of the political
+horizon; it was the date of June when West Point, Vassar, the Blue, the
+Red, the Black and Yellow and every known device for getting rid of young
+and growing-up America are all cast loose at once on our fair land. The
+streets were a scene of glorious confusion, and but for Aunt Mary no
+considerations could have kept Burnett's collarbone and Jack's melancholia
+cooped up in a closed carriage. As it was, they were both fidgeting like
+two youthful Uncle Sams in a European railway coupe, when the latter
+suddenly exclaimed: "Here we are!" and threw open the door as he spoke.
+Then he got out and Burnett got out and between them they got Aunt Mary
+out.
+
+Aunt Mary regarded the awning and carpet and general glitter with a more
+or less appalled gaze.
+
+"Looks like--" she began; and was interrupted by a voice at her side:
+
+"Hello, Jack!"
+
+"Hello, Clover!"
+
+She turned and saw him of the pale mustache whom we once met in Mrs.
+Rosscott's drawing room. He was in no wise altered since that occasion
+except that his attire was slightly more resplendent and he had on a silk
+hat.
+
+Jack shook hands warmly and then he turned to his relative.
+
+"Aunt Mary, this is my friend Clover; he's often heard me speak of you."
+
+"Glad to meet you, Mr. Rover," said Aunt Mary, cordially, and she, too,
+shook hands with that cordiality that flourishes beyond city limits.
+
+Her nephew bent over her ear-trumpet.
+
+"Clover!" he howled, with all the strength he owned.
+
+"I heard before," said Aunt Mary, somewhat coldly.
+
+"Come on and dine with us, Clover," said Jack; "that'll make four." (By
+the way, isn't it odd how many people ask their friends to dinner for the
+simple reason that, arithmetically considered, each counts as one!)
+
+"All right, I will," said Clover, in his languid drawl.
+
+Aunt Mary saw his lips.
+
+"It's no use my deceivin' you as to my bein' a little hard of hearin',"
+she said to him, "because you can see my ear-trumpet; so I'll trouble you
+to say that over again."
+
+"All right, I will," Clover wailed, good-humoredly.
+
+"What?" asked Aunt Mary. "I didn't--"
+
+Jack cut her short by leading the party inside.
+
+The scene within was as gorgeous with golden stucco as the dining-room of
+a German liner. Aunt Mary was so overcome that she traversed half the room
+before she became aware of the mighty attention which she and her three
+escorts were attracting. In truth, it is not every day that three
+good-looking young men take a tiny old lady, a bunch of violets and an
+ear-trumpet out to dine at ten o'clock.
+
+"Everyone's lookin'," she said to Jack.
+
+"It's your back, Aunt Mary," he replied, in a voice that shook some loose
+golden flakes from the ceiling. "I tell you, not many women of your age
+have a back like yours, and don't you forget it."
+
+The compliment pleased Aunt Mary, because she had all her life been
+considered round-shouldered. It also pleased her because she never had
+received many compliments. The Aunt Marys of this world love flattery just
+as dearly as the Mrs. Rosscotts; the sad part of life is that they rarely
+get any. The women like Mrs. Rosscott know why the Aunt Marys go
+unflattered, but the Aunt Marys never understand. It's all sad--and
+true--and undeniable.
+
+They went to a table, and were barely seated when another man came up.
+
+"Hello, Jack!"
+
+"Hello, Mitchell!"
+
+It was he of Scotch ancestry. Jack sprang up and greeted him with warmth,
+then he turned to Aunt Mary.
+
+"Aunt Mary," he screamed, "this is my friend"--he paused, put on all steam
+and ploughed right through--"Herbert Kendrick Mitchell."
+
+"I didn't catch that at all," said Aunt Mary, calmly, "but I'm just as
+glad to meet the gentleman."
+
+Mitchell clasped her hand with an expression as burning as if it was real.
+
+"I declare," he yelled straight at her, "if this isn't what I've been
+dreaming towards ever since I first knew Jack."
+
+Aunt Mary fairly shone.
+
+"Dear me," she began, "if I'd known--"
+
+"You'd better dine with us, Mitchell," said Jack; "that'll make five."
+
+"It won't make but three for me," said Mitchell. "I haven't had but two
+dinners before to-night."
+
+Clover smiled because he heard, and Aunt Mary smiled because she didn't,
+but was happy anyway. She had altogether forgotten that she had demurred
+at dining out. They all sat down and shook out their napkins. Mitchell and
+Clover shook Aunt Mary's for her and gave it a beautiful cornerways spread
+across her lap.
+
+Then the waiter laid another plate for Mitchell, and brought oyster
+cocktails for everyone. Aunt Mary eyed hers with early curiosity and later
+suspicion; and she smelled of it very carefully.
+
+"I don't believe they're good oysters," she said.
+
+"Yes, they are," cried Mitchell reassuringly. His voice, when he turned it
+upon her, was pitched like a clarionet. The blind would surely have seen
+as well as the deaf have heard had there been any candidates for miracles
+in his immediate vicinity. "They're first-class," he added, "you just go
+at them and see."
+
+The reassured took another whiff.
+
+"You can have mine," she said directly afterwards; and there was an air of
+decision about her speech which brooked no opposition. Yet Mitchell
+persisted.
+
+"Oh, no," he yelled; "you must learn how. Just throw your head back and
+take 'em quick--after the fashion that they eat raw eggs, don't you know?"
+
+"But she can't," said Clover. "There's too much, particularly as she isn't
+used to them. I'll tell you, Miss Watkins," he cried, hoisting his own
+voice to the masthead, "you eat the oysters, and leave the cocktail.
+That's the way to get gradually trained into the wheel."
+
+Aunt Mary thought some of obeying; she fished out one oyster, wiped it
+carefully with a bit of bread, regarded it with more than dubious
+countenance, and then suddenly decided not to.
+
+"I'd rather be at home when I try experiments," she said, decidedly; and
+the waiter carried off her cocktail and gave her food that was good beyond
+question thereafter.
+
+The dinner went with zest. It was an enlivening party that consumed it,
+and what they consumed with it enlivened them still more. The gentlemen
+soon reached the point where they could laugh over jokes they could not
+understand, and the one lady member became equally merry over wit that she
+did not hear. She forgot for the nonce that there were any phases of life
+in which she was not a believer, and whether this was owing to the
+surrounding gayety or to the champagne which they persuaded her to taste
+it is not my province to explain.
+
+"Now we must lay our lines for events to come," Jack said, when they
+advanced upon the dessert and prepared to occupy an extensive territory of
+ices, fruit, and jellied something or other. "It would be a sin for Aunt
+Mary to leave this famous battlefield without a few honorable scars! We
+must take her out in a bubble for one thing and--"
+
+"In mine!" cried Clover. "To-morrow! Why can't she?--I held up my hand
+first?"
+
+"All right," said Jack; "to-morrow she's your's. At four o'clock."
+
+"She must have goggles," cried Mitchell. "She must have goggles and be all
+fixed up, and when you have got her the goggles and she has been all fixed
+up, I ask, as a last boon, that I may go along, just so as to see everyone
+who sees her."
+
+"We'll all go," Clover explained. "I'll 'chuff' her myself and then
+there'll be room for everyone."
+
+"To the auto and to to-morrow!" cried Burnett, hastily pouring out a fresh
+toast, which even Aunt Mary applauded, not at all knowing what she was
+applauding.
+
+"And now for the next day," said Jack. "I think I'll give her a box-party.
+Don't you want to go to the theater in a box, Aunt Mary?"
+
+"Go where in a box?" said Aunt Mary, starting a little. "I didn't quite
+catch that."
+
+"To the theater," Jack yelled.
+
+"To the theater," repeated his aunt a trifle blankly, "I--"
+
+"And the next day," said Mitchell suddenly (he had been reflecting
+maturely), "I'll take you all up the sound in my yacht."
+
+"Oh, hurrah," cried Burnett, "that'll be bully! And the day after I'll
+give her a picnic."
+
+"Time of your life, Aunt Mary," Jack shrieked in her ear-trumpet; "time of
+your life!"
+
+"Dear me!" said Aunt Mary, "I don't just--"
+
+"Aunt Mary! glasses down!" cried Clover; "may she live forever and
+forever."
+
+"To Aunt Mary, glasses up," said Mitchell. "Glasses up come before glasses
+down always. It's one of the laws of Nature--human nature--also of good
+nature. Here's to Aunt Mary, and if she isn't the Aunt Mary of all of us
+here's a hoping she may get there some day; I don't just see how, but I
+ask the indulgence of those present on the plea that I have indulged quite
+a little myself to-night. Honi soit qui mal y pense; ora pro nobis,
+Erin-go-Bragh. Present company being present, and impossible to except on
+that account, we will omit the three cheers and choke down the tiger."
+
+They all drank, and the dinner having by this time dwindled down to coffee
+grounds and cheese crumbs a vote was taken as to where they should go
+next.
+
+Aunt Mary suggested home, but she was over-ruled, and they all went
+elsewhere. She never could recollect where she went or what she saw; but,
+as everyone else has been and seen over and over again, I won't fuss with
+detailing it.
+
+The visitor from the country reached home in a carriage in the small hours
+in the morning, and Janice received her, looking somewhat nervous.
+
+"This is pretty late," she ventured to remind the bearers; but as they
+didn't seem to think so, and she was a maiden, wise beyond her years, she
+spoke no further word, but went to work and undressed the aged reveller,
+got her comfortably established in bed, and then left her to get a good
+sleep, an occupation which occupied the weary one fully until two that
+afternoon.
+
+When she did at last open her eyes it was several minutes before she knew
+where she was. Her brain seemed dazed, her intellect more than clouded. It
+is a state of mind to which those who habitually go about in hansoms at
+the hour of dawn are well accustomed, but to Aunt Mary it was painfully
+new. She struggled to remember, and felt helplessly inadequate to the
+task. Janice finally came in with a glass of something that foamed and
+fizzed, and the victim of late hours drank that and came to her senses
+again. Then she recollected.
+
+"My! but I had a good time last night!" she said, putting her hand to her
+head. "What time is it now, anyhow?"
+
+"Breakfast time," cried the handmaiden. "You'll have just long enough to
+eat and dress leisurely before you go out."
+
+"Oh!" said Aunt Mary blankly; "where 'm I goin'? Do you know?"
+
+"Mr. Denham told me that you had promised to attend an automobile party at
+four."
+
+"Oh, yes," said Aunt Mary hastily. "I guess I remember. I guess I do. I
+saw Jack wanted to go, so I said I'd go, too. I'm a great believer in
+lettin' the young enjoy themselves."
+
+She looked sharply at Janice as she spoke, but Janice was serene.
+
+"I didn't come to town to do anything but make Jack happy," continued Aunt
+Mary, "and I see that he won't take any fresh air without I go along--so I
+shall go too while I'm here. Mostly. As a general thing."
+
+"Mr. Mitchell called and left these flowers with his card," Janice said,
+opening a huge box of roses; "and a man brought a package. Shall I open
+it?"
+
+Aunt Mary's wrinkles fairly radiated.
+
+"Well, did I ever!" she exclaimed. "Yes; open it."
+
+Janice proceeded to obey, and the package was found to contain an
+automobile wrap, a pair of goggles and a note from Clover.
+
+"My gracious me!" cried Aunt Mary.
+
+"Mr. Denham sent the violets," Janice said, pointing to a great bowl of
+lilac and white blossoms.
+
+Just then the doorbell rang, and it was a ten-pound box of candy from
+Burnett.
+
+Aunt Mary collapsed among her pillows.
+
+"I _never_ did!" she murmured feebly, and then she suddenly exclaimed:
+"An' to think of me livin' up there all my life with plenty of money--" she
+stopped short. I tell you when you come to New York on a mission and stay
+for the Bacchanalia it is hard to hold consistently to either standard.
+
+But Janice had gone for her lady's breakfast, and after the lady had eaten
+it and had herself dressed for the day's joys, Jack knocked at the door.
+
+"Well, Aunt Mary," he roared, when he was let in, "if you don't look fine!
+You're the freshest of the bunch to-day, sure. You'll be ready for another
+night to-night, and you've only to say where, you know."
+
+"Granite did my hair," said his aunt; "you must praise her, not me."
+
+"And you've got your goggles all ready, too," he continued. "Who sent
+'em?"
+
+"Oh, I shan't wiggle," said Aunt Mary "although I can't see how it could
+hurt if I did."
+
+"Come on and let's dress her up," said Jack to the maid, "Glory! what
+fun!"
+
+Thereupon they went to work and rigged the old lady out. She was certainly
+a sight, for she stood by her own bonnet, and that failed to jibe with the
+goggles.
+
+Burnett was summoned in to view the proceedings, but just as he caught the
+first glimpse he was taken with a fearful cramp in his broken ribs and was
+forced to beat the hastiest sort of a retreat.
+
+"I hope he'll get over it and be able to go out with us," said Aunt Mary
+anxiously.
+
+"I guess he'll recover," Jack yelled cheerfully. "Oh, there's Clover!"
+
+A sort of dull, ponderous panting sounded in the street without, and let
+all the neighbors know that "The Threshing Machine" (as Clover had
+christened his elephantine toy) was waiting for someone.
+
+Its owner came in for a stirrup cup; Mitchell was with him. Both were
+togged out as if entered for the annual Paris-Bordeaux.
+
+Burnett brought out the cut-glass jugs.
+
+"Ye gods and little fishes! Sapristi! Sacre bleu!" he said to his friends.
+"Just you wait till you see our Aunt Mary!"
+
+"Has she got 'em all on?" Clover asked.
+
+"Has she got 'em all on!" said Burnett. "She has got 'em all on; and how
+Jack held his own in the room with her I cannot understand. I took one
+look, and if mine had been a surgical case of stitches the last thread
+would have bust that instant. I don't believe I dare go out with you. This
+is a life and death game to Jack, and I won't risk smashing his future by
+not being able to keep sober in the face of Aunt Mary."
+
+"Oh, come on," Clover urged in his wiry voice. "You needn't look at her;
+or, if you do look at her, you can look the other way right afterwards,
+you know."
+
+"I'll sit next to her," Mitchell explained. "As a sitter by Aunt Mary's
+side I shone last night; and where a man has sat once, the same man can
+surely sit again."
+
+Burnett hesitated, and just then voices were heard in the hall. Jack and
+Janice were convoying Aunt Mary below.
+
+Mitchell went out into the hall.
+
+"Well, Miss Watkins," he said, in a tone such as one would use to call
+down Santos-Dumont, "I'm mighty glad to see you looking so well."
+
+Aunt Mary turned the goggles full upon him.
+
+"A present from Mr. Clover," she said smiling.
+
+"I never knew him to take so much trouble for any lady before," said
+Mitchell; and as she arrived just then at the foot of the staircase he
+pressed her proffered hand warmly and forthwith led her in upon the two
+men in the library.
+
+She looked exactly like a living edition of one of the bug pictures, and
+Clover had to think and swallow fast and hard to keep from being overcome.
+But he was true blue, and came out right side up. Aunt Mary was acclaimed
+on all sides, and escorted to the "bubble."
+
+Burnett couldn't resist going, too, at the last moment; but, as his ribs
+were really tender yet, he sat in front with Clover. Jack and Mitchell sat
+behind, and deftly inserted the honored guest between them.
+
+"It's an even thing as to which is the ear-trumpet side," Mitchell said,
+as they all stood about preparatory to climbing in. "Of course, that side
+don't need to holler quite so loud; but then, to balance, he may get his
+one and only pair of front teeth knocked out any minute."
+
+"I'll take that side," said Jack. "I'm used to fighting under the
+inspiration of the trumpet."
+
+"And God be with you," said his friend piously. "May he watch over you and
+bring you out safe and whole--teeth, eyes, etc."
+
+"Come on," said Clover impatiently; "don't you know this thing's getting
+up power and you're wasting it talking."
+
+"Curious," laughed Burnett. "I never knew that it was gasolene that men
+were consuming when they kept an automobile waiting."
+
+And then they got in and were off--a merry load, indeed.
+
+"Dear me, but it's a-goin'!" Aunt Mary exclaimed, as the thing began to
+whiz and she felt suddenly impelled to clutch wildly at her flanking
+escorts. "Suppose we met a dog."
+
+"We'd leave a floor mat," shrieked Mitchell. "Oh, but isn't this
+great--greater--greatest?"
+
+"Time of your life, Aunt Mary!" Jack howled, as they went over a boarded
+spot in the pavement, and the old lady nearly went over the back in
+consequence. "You're in for the time of your life!"
+
+"How do you like it?" yelled Clover, throwing a glance over his shoulder.
+
+Aunt Mary started to answer, but they came to four car tracks one after
+another, and the successive shocks rendered her speechless.
+
+"Where are we going?" Burnett asked.
+
+"Nowhere," said Clover. "Just waking up the machine." And he turned on
+another million volts as he spoke.
+
+"Oh, my bonnet!" cried poor Aunt Mary, and that bit of her adornment was
+in the street and had been run over four times before they could slow up,
+turn around, and get back to the scene of its output.
+
+It speaks volumes for the permeating atmosphere of "having the time of
+your life" that its owner laughed when the wreck was shown to her.
+
+"I don't care a bit," she said. "I can go down to Delmonico's an' get me
+another to-morrow mornin', easy."
+
+"What a trump you are, Aunt Mary!" said Jack admiringly. "Here, Burnett,
+fish her out that extra cap from the cane rack; there's always one in the
+bottom. There--now you won't take cold, Aunt Mary."
+
+The cap, with its fore-piece, was the crowning glory of Aunt Mary's
+get-up. The brain measurements of him who had bought the cap being to its
+present wearer's as five is to three, the effect of its proportions, in
+addition to the goggles and the ear-trumpet, was such as to have overawed
+a survivor of Medusa's stare.
+
+"Oh, I say," said Mitchell, "it's a sin to keep as good a joke as this in
+the family! We must drive her around town until the night falls down or
+the battery burns out."
+
+"I say so too," said Burnett. "This is more sport than oiling railroad
+tracks and seeing old Tweedwell brought up for it. Say, set her a-buzzing
+again. It's a big game, isn't it?"
+
+Clover thought so, with the result that they speeded through tranquil
+neighborhoods and churned leisurely where the masses seethed until
+countless thousands were wondering what under the sun those four young
+fellows had in the back of their car.
+
+The sad part about all good fun is that it has to end sooner or later; and
+about six o'clock the whole party began to be aware that, if refreshments
+were not taken, their end was surely close at hand. They therefore called
+a brief halt somewhere to get what is technically known as a "sandwich,"
+and the results were thoroughly satisfactory to everyone but Aunt Mary.
+She took one bite of her sandwich, and then opened it with an abruptness
+which merged into disgust when it proved to be full of fish eggs.
+
+"Why didn't you tell me what it was made of?" she asked in annoyance. "I
+feel just as if I'd swallowed a marsh--a green one!"
+
+"That's a shame!" said Clover indignantly. "I'll get you something that
+will take that taste out of your mouth double quick. Here!" he called to a
+waiter, and then he gave the man certain careful directions.
+
+The latter nodded wisely, and a few minutes later brought in a tiny glass
+containing a pousse-caf� in three different colors.
+
+"It's a cocktail. Drink it quick," Clover directed.
+
+Aunt Mary demurred.
+
+"I never drank a cocktail," she began.
+
+"No time like the present to begin," said Clover, "you'll have to learn
+some day."
+
+"Cocktails," said Mitchell, "are the advance guard of a newer and brighter
+civilization. They--"
+
+"If she's going to take it at all she must take it now," said Clover
+authoritatively. "The green and the yellow are beginning to run together.
+Quick now!"
+
+His confiding guest drank quick and became the three different colors
+quicker yet.
+
+"What's the matter?" Jack asked anxiously.
+
+Aunt Mary was speechless.
+
+"He mixed it wrong," said Clover in a sad, discouraged tone. "What she
+ought to have got first she got last, that's all. The cocktail is upside
+down inside of her, and the effect of it is upside down on the outside of
+her."
+
+"Feel any better now, Aunt Mary?" Jack yelled.
+
+"I can't seem to keep the purple swallowed," said the poor old lady. "I
+want to go home. I've always been a great believer in going home when you
+feel like I do now. In general--as a rule."
+
+"I would strongly recommend your obeying her wishes," said Mitchell, with
+great earnestness. "There's a time for all things, and, in my opinion,
+she's had about all the queer tastes that she can absorb for to-day.
+Things being as they are and mainly as they shouldn't be, I cast my vote
+in with what looks as if it would soon become the losing side, and vote to
+bubble back for all we're worth."
+
+There was a general acquiescence in his view of the case, which led them
+all to pile into "The Threshing Machine" with unaffected haste and rush
+Aunt Mary bedward as rapidly as was possible considering the hour and the
+policemen.
+
+Janice received her mistress with the tender welcome that every prodigal
+may count on and was especially expeditious with tea and toast and a robe
+de nuit. Aunt Mary sighed luxuriously when she felt herself finally tucked
+up.
+
+"After all, Granite," she said dreamily, "there's nothin' like gettin'
+stretched out to think it over--is there?"
+
+But Janice was turning out the lights.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FIFTEEN - AUNT MARY ENTHRALLED
+
+
+Jack's aunt slept long and dreamlessly again. That thrice-blessed sleep
+which follows nights abroad in the metropolis.
+
+When, toward four o'clock, Aunt Mary opened her eyes, she was at first
+almost as hazy in her conceptions as she had found herself upon the
+previous day.
+
+"I feel as if the automobile was runnin' up my back and over my head," she
+said, thoughtfully passing her hand along the machine's imaginary course.
+Then she rang her bell and Janice appeared from the room beyond.
+
+"I guess you'd better give me some of that that you gave me yesterday,"
+the elderly lady suggested; "what do you think?"
+
+"Yes, indeed," said Janice--and went at once and brought it in separate
+glasses on a tray, and mixed it by pouring, while Aunt Mary looked on with
+an intuitive understanding that passed instinct and bordered on a complete
+comprehension of things to her hitherto unknown.
+
+"They'd ought to advertise that," she said, as she set down the empty
+glass a few seconds later. "There'd be a lot of folks who'd be glad to
+know there was such a thing when they first wake up mornin's
+after--after--well, mornin's after anythin'. It's jus' what you want right
+off; it sort of runs through your hair and makes you begin to remember."
+
+"Yes, ma'am," said Janice, turning to put down the tray, and then crossing
+the room to seek something on the chimney-piece.
+
+Aunt Mary gave a sudden twist,--as if the drink had infused an effervescing
+energy into her frame. "Well what am I goin' to do to-day?" she asked.
+
+"Mr. Denham has written out your engagements here," said Janice, handing
+her a jeweler's box as she spoke.
+
+Aunt Mary tore off the tissue paper with trembling haste--lifted the
+cover--and beheld a tiny ivory and gold memoranda card.
+
+"Well, that boy!" she ejaculated.
+
+"Shall I read the list aloud to you?" the maid inquired.
+
+"Yes, read it."
+
+So Janice read the dates proposed the night before and Aunt Mary sat up in
+bed, held her ear-trumpet, and beamed beatifically.
+
+"I don't believe I ever can do all that," she said when Janice paused; "I
+never was one to rush around pell-mell, but I've always been a great
+believer in lettin' other folks enjoy themselves an' I shall try not to
+interfere."
+
+Janice hung the tiny memoranda up beside its owner's watch and stood at
+attention for further orders.
+
+"But I d'n know I'm sure what I can wear to-night," continued the one in
+bed; "you know my bonnet was run over yesterday."
+
+"Was it?"
+
+"Yes,--it was the most sudden thing I ever saw. I thought it was the top of
+my head at first."
+
+"Was it spoiled?"
+
+"Well, it wouldn't do for me again and I don't really believe it would
+even do for Lucinda. We didn't bring it home with us anyhow an' so its no
+use talkin' of it any more. I'm sure I wish I'd brought my other with me.
+It wasn't quite as stylish, but it set so good on my head. As it is I
+ain't got any bonnet to wear an' we're goin' in a box, Jack says,--I should
+hate to look wrong in a box."
+
+"But ladies in boxes do not wear anything," cried Janice reasuringly.
+
+Aunt Mary jumped.
+
+"Not _anything?_"
+
+"On their heads."
+
+"Oh!--Well, then the bonnet half of me'll be all right, but what _shall_ I
+wear on the rest of me? I don't want to look out of fashion, you know. My,
+but I wish I'd brought my Paisley shawl. I've got a Paisley shawl that's a
+very rare pattern. There's cocoanuts in the border and a twisted design of
+monkeys and their tails done in the center. An' there ain't a moth hole in
+it--not one."
+
+Janice looked out of the window.
+
+"I've got a cameo pin, too," continued Aunt Mary reflectively. "My, but
+that's a handsome pin, as I remember it. It's got Jupiter on it holdin' a
+bunch of thunder and lightnin' an' receivin' the news of somebody's bein'
+born--I used to know the whole story. But, you see, I expected to just be
+sittin' by Jack's bed and I never thought to bring any of those dress-up
+kind of things," she sighed.
+
+Janice returned to the bed side.
+
+"Hadn't you better begin to dress?" she howled suggestively. "They are
+going to dine here before going to the theater and dinner is ordered in an
+hour."
+
+"Maybe I had," said Aunt Mary, "but--oh dear--I don't know what I _will_
+wear!" She began to emerge from the bedclothes as she spoke.
+
+"How would my green plaid waist do?" she asked earnestly.
+
+"I think it would be lovely," shrieked the maid.
+
+"Well, shake it out then," said Aunt Mary, "it ought to be in the
+fashion--all the silk they put in the sleeves. An' if you'll do my hair
+just as you did it yesterday--"
+
+"Yes, I will."
+
+Then the labor of the toilette began in good earnest, and three-quarters
+of an hour later Aunt Mary was done, and sitting by the window while
+Janice laced her boots.
+
+A rap sounded at the door.
+
+"Come in," cried the maid.
+
+It was Jack with a regular fagot of American Beauties.
+
+"Well, Aunt Mary," he cried with his customary hearty greeting. "How!"
+
+"How what?" asked Aunt Mary, whose knowledge of Sioux social customs had
+been limited by the border line of New England.
+
+Jack laughed. "How are you?" he asked in correction of his imperfect
+phrasing. And then he handed over the rose wood.
+
+"I'm pretty well," said his aunt; "but, my goodness you mustn't bring me
+so many presents--you--"
+
+Jack stopped her words with a kiss. "Now, Aunt Mary, don't you scold,
+because you're my company and I won't have it. This is my treat, and just
+don't you fret. What do you say to your roses?"
+
+Aunt Mary looked a bit uneasy.
+
+"They're pretty big," she hesitated.
+
+"That's the fashion," said Jack; "the longer you can buy 'em the better
+the girls like it. I tried to get you some eight feet long but they only
+had two of that number and I wanted the whole bunch to match--"
+
+He was interrupted by another rap on the door.
+
+"Hallo!" he cried. "Come in."
+
+It was Mitchell with several dozen carnations, the most brilliant yet
+prized--or priced.
+
+"Well, I declare!" exclaimed Aunt Mary.
+
+"For you, Miss Watkins," cried the newcomer, gracefully offering his
+homage, "with the assurance of my sincere regret that I came on the scene
+too late to have been making a scene with you fifty years ago."
+
+"I didn't quite catch that," said Aunt Mary, rapturously. But never
+mind,--Granite, get a tin basin or suthin' for these flowers."
+
+"Where's Burnett?" Jack asked the newcomer,--"isn't he dressed? It's
+getting late."
+
+"He's all right," said Mitchell; "he and Clover are--here they are!"
+
+The two came in together at that second. Clover's mustache just showed
+over the top of the largest bunch of violets ever constructed, and Burnett
+bore with assiduous care a bouquet of orchids tied with a Roman sash.
+
+Aunt Mary leaned back and shut her eyes. If it hadn't been for her smile,
+they might possibly have feared for her life.
+
+But she was only momentarily stunned by surpassing ecstasy.
+
+"You'd better put some water in the bath-tub, Granite," she said,
+recovering, "nothing else will be big enough."
+
+The four young men drew up chairs and rivalled her smiles with theirs.
+
+"I d'n know how I ever can thank you," said the old lady warmly. "I've
+always had such a poor opinion o' life in cities, too!"
+
+"Life in cities, my dear Miss Watkins," screamed Mitchell, "is always
+pictured as very black, but it's only owing to the soft coal--not to the
+people who burn it."
+
+Aunt Mary smiled again.
+
+"I guess the bath-tub will be big enough to keep 'em fresh," she said
+simply, and Mitchell gave up and dried his forehead with his handkerchief.
+
+They dined at home upon this occasion and afterwards took two carriages
+for the theater. Aunt Mary, Jack, Clover, the American Beauties and the
+violets went in the first, and what remained of the party and the floral
+decorations followed in the second.
+
+"I mean to smoke," said that part of the second load which habitually
+answered to the name of Mitchell. "There is nothing so soothing when you
+have thorns in your legs as a cigarette in your mouth."
+
+"Too--too;" laughed his companion. "Jimmy! but our aunt is game, isn't
+she?"
+
+"To my order of thinking," said Mitchell thoughtfully scratching a match,
+"Aunt Mary has been hung up in cold storage just long enough to have
+acquired the exactly proper gamey flavor. It cannot be denied that to
+worn, worldly, jaded mortals like you and me, the sight of fresh, ever
+bubbling, youthful enthusiasm like hers is as thrilling and trilling and
+rilling as--as--as--" he paused to light his cigarette.
+
+                             [Illustration 4]
+
+                        Aunt Mary and Her Escorts.
+
+
+"Yes, you'd better stutter," said Burnett. "I thought you were running
+ahead of your proper signals."
+
+"It isn't that," said Mitchell, puffing gently. "It is that I suddenly
+recollected that I was alone with you, and my brains tell me that it is a
+waste of brains to use them in the sense of a plural noun with you. The
+word in your company,--my dear boy--only comes to me as a verb--as an active
+verb--and dear knows how often I have itched to apply it forcibly."
+
+Then they drew up in front of the theater and saw Aunt Mary being unloaded
+just beyond.
+
+"Great Scott, I feel as if I was a part of a poster!" said Burnett, diving
+into the carriage depths for the last lot of flowers.
+
+"I feel as if I were a part of the Revelation," said Mitchell, "I mean--the
+Revel-eration."
+
+They rapidly formed on somewhat after the plan of the famous "Marriage
+under the Directoire." Aunt Mary commanded the center-rush, leaning on
+Jack's arm, and the rest acted as half-backs, left wings, or
+flower-bearers, just as the reader prefers.
+
+They made quite a sensation as they proceeded to their box and more yet
+when they entered it. They were late--very late--as is the privilege of all
+box parties and their seating problem absorbed the audience to a degree
+never seen before or since.
+
+Jack put Aunt Mary and her green plaid waist in the middle and flanked her
+with purple violets and red carnations. The ear-trumpet was laid upon the
+orchids just where she could reach it easily. Then her escorts took
+positions as a sort of half-moon guard behind and each held two or three
+American Beauties straight up and down as if they were the insignia of his
+rank and office.
+
+The effect was gorgeous. The very actors saw and were interested at once.
+They directed all their attention to that one box, and at the end of the
+act the stage manager got the writer of the topical song on the wire and
+had a brand new and very apropos verse added which brought down the house.
+
+Jack and his party caught on and clapped like mad, Aunt Mary beat the
+front of the box with her ear-trumpet, and when Clover suggested that she
+throw some flowers to the heroine she threw the orchids and came near
+maiming the bass viol for life. Burnett rushed out between acts and bought
+her a cane to pound with, Jack rushed out between more acts and bought her
+a pair of opera glasses, Mitchell rushed out between still further acts
+and procured her one of those Japanese fans which they use for
+fire-screens, and agitated it around her during the rest of the evening.
+
+"Time of your life, Aunt Mary," Jack vociferated under the cover of a
+general chorus; "Time of your life!"
+
+"Oh, my," said Aunt Mary, heaving a great sigh, "seems if I'd _die_ when I
+think of Lucinda."
+
+They got out of the theater somewhat after eleven and Clover took them all
+to a French caf� for supper, so that again it was pretty well along into
+the day after when Janice regained her charge.
+
+"Granite," said Aunt Mary very solemnly, as she collapsed upon her bed
+twenty minutes later yet, "put it down on that memoranda for me never to
+find no fault with nothing ever again. Never--not ever--not never again."
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+The second day after was that which had been set for Mitchell's yachting
+party. They allowed a day to lapse between because a yachting party has to
+begin early enough so that you can see to get on board. Mitchell wanted
+his to begin early enough so that they could see the yacht too.
+
+"A yacht, Miss Watkins," he said into the ear trumpet, "is a delight that
+it takes daylight to delight in. If my words sound somewhat mixed, believe
+me, it is the effect of what is to come casting its shadow before. I speak
+with understanding and sympathy--you will know all later."
+
+Aunt Mary smiled sweetly. Sometimes she thought that Mitchell was the
+nicest of the three--times when she wasn't talking to Clover or Burnett.
+
+Jack took his aunt out to drive on the afternoon of the intervening day
+and bought her a blue suit with a red tape around one arm, and some
+rubbersoled shoes, and a yachting cap and a mackintosh. There was
+something touching in Aunt Mary's joyful confidence and anticipation--she
+having never been cast loose from shore in all her life.
+
+"When do you s'pose we'll get home?" she asked Jack.
+
+"Oh, some time toward night," he replied.
+
+She smiled with a trust as colossal as Trusts usually are.
+
+"I'm sure I shall have a good time," she said. "I always liked to see
+pictures of waves."
+
+"You'll see the real things now, Aunt Mary," cried her nephew heartily. He
+was not a bit malicious, possessing a stomach whose equilibrium could not
+conceive any other anatomical condition.
+
+Janice, however, had doubts, and on the morning of the next day her doubts
+deepened. She looked from the window and shook her head.
+
+"Feel a fly?" inquired Aunt Mary.
+
+"No, I see some clouds," yelled her maid.
+
+"I didn't ask you to speak loud," said the old lady. "I always hear what
+you say. Always."
+
+Janice went out of the room and voiced her views of the weather to the
+proprietors of the expedition. The proprietors were having an uproarious
+breakfast on ham and eggs--all but Mitchell, who sat somewhat aloof and
+contented himself with an old and reliable breakfast food long known to
+his race.
+
+"Are you really going to take her up the Sound to-day?" the maid demanded
+of the merry mob.
+
+"I'm not," said Burnett; "it's the yacht that's going to take her. Pass
+the syrup, Jack, like the jack you are."
+
+"Doesn't she feel well?" Jack asked, passing the syrup as requested. "If
+she doesn't feel well, of course, we won't go."
+
+"I like that," said Mitchell, "when it's my day for my party and my cook
+all provisioned with provisions for provisioning us all. How long do you
+suppose ice cream stays together in this month of roses, anyhow?"
+
+"She is very well," said the maid quietly, "but it's blowing pretty fresh
+here in the city and I thought that out on the Sound--"
+
+"Blowing fresh, is it?" laughed Burnett; "well, it'll salt her fast enough
+when we get out. Don't you fuss over what's none of your business, my dear
+girl; just trot along upstairs and dress dolly, and when she's dressed
+we'll take her off your hands."
+
+Jack appeared unduly quiet.
+
+"Do you think it is going to storm?" he asked Mitchell. Mitchell was
+scraping his saucer with the thrift that thrives north of the Firth of
+Forth and hatches yachts on the west shores of the Atlantic.
+
+"I don't think at all during vacation," he said mildly. "I repose and reap
+'Oh's'--from other people."
+
+"If there was any chance of a storm----?" said the nephew, thoughtfully.
+
+"Fiddle-dee-dee," said Burnett impatiently, "what do you think yachts are
+for, anyhow? To let alone?" He looked at the maid as he spoke and pointed
+significantly to the door. She went out at once and returned upstairs to
+her mistress whom she found quite restless to "get-a-goin'" as she
+expressed it.
+
+The boxes filled with yesterday's purchases were brought out at once and
+Janice proceeded to rubber-sole and blue-serge Aunt Mary. The latter
+regarded every step of the performance in the huge three-fold cheval glass
+which had been wont to tell Mrs. Rosscott things that every woman longs to
+know.
+
+When her toilette was complete it must be admitted that as a yachtswoman
+Aunt Mary fairly outshone her automobile portrait. She surveyed herself
+long and carefully.
+
+"I expect it'll be quite an experience," she said with many new wrinkles
+of anticipation.
+
+"Yes," said Janice, with a glance at the fluttering window curtains, "I
+expect it will be."
+
+Aunt Mary went downstairs and was greeted with loud acclamations. The
+breakfast party broke up at once and, while Janice phoned for cabs, Aunt
+Mary's quartette of escorts sought hats, coats, etcetera. After that they
+all sallied forth and took their places as joyfully as ever.
+
+It was quite a long drive to where "Lady Belle" had been brought up, and
+they had to stop once to lay in two or three pounds of current literature.
+
+"Do you read mostly?" asked Aunt Mary.
+
+"It's best to be on the safe side," said Clover vaguely.
+
+Then they entered the tangle of docks and express wagons and obstacles in
+general and Mitchell had great difficulty in finding where his launch had
+been taken to meet them.
+
+But at last they got Aunt Mary down a flight of very slippery steps and
+into a boat whose everything was labeled "Lady Belle," and Mitchell said
+something and they cast loose and were off.
+
+"Seems rather a small yacht," said Aunt Mary, glancing cheerfully about.
+"I ain't surprised that you'd rather come in nights."
+
+"Bless your heart, Aunt Mary," shrieked Jack, "this isn't the yacht, this
+is the way we get to her."
+
+"Oh," said Aunt Mary blankly.
+
+"That's the yacht," yelled Burnett, "that white one with the black smoke
+coming out and the sail up."
+
+"What are they getting up steam for?" asked Clover. "The time to get up
+steam is when you get down sails generally."
+
+"They aren't getting up steam," said Mitchell, "they're getting up dinner.
+It looks like a lot of smoke because of the shadow on the sail. And,
+speaking of getting up dinner, reminds me that the topic before us now is,
+how in thunder are we to get up Aunt Mary?"
+
+"Put a rope around her and board her as if she was a cavalry horse,"
+suggested Burnett.
+
+"I scorn the suggestion," said their host; "if the worst comes to the
+worst I can give her a back up, but I trust that Aunt Mary will rise to
+the heights of the sail and the situation all at once and not make me do
+any vertebratical stunts so early in the day."
+
+They were running alongside of "Lady Belle" as he spoke, and the first
+thing Aunt Mary knew she and her party were attached to the former by some
+mysterious and not altogether solid connection.
+
+"What do we do now?" she asked uneasily.
+
+"I'll show you," laughed Burnett, and seizing two flapping ropes he went
+skipping up a sort of stepladder and sprang upon the deck above.
+
+Aunt Mary started to emulate his prowess and stood up at once. But the
+next second she sat down extremely hard without knowing why she had done
+so.
+
+"Hold on, Miss Watkins," Mitchell cried hastily; "just you hold on until I
+give you something to hold on to, and when you've got something to hold on
+to, please keep holding on to it, until I tell you that the hour has come
+in which to let go again."
+
+"I didn't quite catch that," said Aunt Mary, "but I'm ready to do anythin'
+you say if you only--" and again she sprang up and again was thrown down as
+hard as before.
+
+"Look out," cried Jack, springing to her side; and he got hold of his
+valuable relative and held her fast while Mitchell grasped the ladder and
+a sailor strove to keep the launch still.
+
+"Now, Aunt Mary," cried the nephew, "hang on to me and hang on to those
+ropes and remember I'm right back of you--"
+
+"My Lord alive," cried Aunt Mary, turning her gaze upwards, "am I expected
+to go alone all that way to the top?"
+
+"It'll pay you to keep on to the top," screamed Clover; "you'll have,
+comparatively speaking, very little fun if you hang on to the ladder all
+day--and you'll get so wet too."
+
+"There's more room at the top," cried Mitchell, "there's always room at
+the top, Miss Watkins. Put yourself in the place of any young man entering
+a profession and struggle bravely upwards, bearing ever in--"
+
+"Oh, I never can," said Aunt Mary, recoiling abruptly; "I never could
+climb trees when I was little--I never had no grip in my legs--and I just
+know I can't. It's too high. An' it looks slippery. An' I don't want to,
+anyhow."
+
+"What rot!" yelled Jack, "the very idea! Why, Aunt Mary, you know you can
+skin up there just like a cat if you only make up your mind to it. Here,
+Mitchell, give her a boost and I'll plant her feet firmly. Now--have you
+got hold of the ropes, Aunt Mary?"
+
+"Oh, mercy--on--me!" wailed Aunt Mary, "the yacht is turnin' a-round an' the
+harder I pull the faster it turns."
+
+"Catch her from above, Burr," Clover called excitedly; "hook her with
+anything if you can't reach her with your hand."
+
+"Oh, my cap!" shrieked poor Aunt Mary, and the cap went off and she went
+on up and was landed safe above.
+
+"How on the chart do you suppose we'll ever unload her?" Jack asked,
+wide-eyed, as he swung himself quickly after her.
+
+"What man hath done man can do," quoted Mitchell sententiously, following
+his lead.
+
+"But no man ever unloaded Aunt Mary," Clover reminded him, as they brought
+up the rear.
+
+Then they were all on deck, a chair was brought for the honored guest, and
+Mitchell introduced his sailing-master who had been drawn to gaze upon the
+rather novel manner in which she had been brought aboard.
+
+"I want Miss Watkins to have the sail of her life, Renfew," said Mitchell.
+"We aren't coming back until night."
+
+"We'll have sail enough sure, sir," said Renfew, touching his cap, and
+then he walked away and the work of starting off began. A tug had been
+engaged to tow them out into the breeze and Jack thought it would be nice
+to show Aunt Mary around while they were being meandered through coal
+barges, etc. They went below and Aunt Mary saw everything with a most
+flattering interest.
+
+"I d'n know but what I'd enjoy a little yacht of my own," she said to
+Mitchell. "I think it's so amusin' the way everythin' turns over into
+suthin' else. I suppose Joshua could learn to sail me--I wouldn't want to
+trust no new man, I know."
+
+"Why, of course," said Jack, "and we could all come and visit you, Aunt
+Mary."
+
+Aunt Mary smiled hospitably.
+
+"I'd be glad to see you all any day," she said cordially; "and I shall
+have a hole in the bottom of the boat for people to go in and out of, and
+a nice staircase down to it, so you needn't mind the notion of how you'll
+get on and off."
+
+They all laughed and continued the tour below and Aunt Mary grew more and
+more enthusiastic for quite a while. She liked the kitchen and she liked
+the dining-room. She thought the arrangement for keeping the table level
+most ingenious. Mitchell took her into the main cabin and told her that
+that was hers for the day. On the dresser was a photograph of the "Lady
+Belle" framed in silver, which the young host presented to his guest as a
+souvenir of the "voyage."
+
+Aunt Mary's pleasure was at its height. Oh, the pity of Fate which makes
+the apex of everything so very limited as to standing room! Three minutes
+after the presentation and acceptation of the photograph Aunt Mary's
+glance became suddenly vague, and then especially piercing.
+
+"What makes this up and down feeling?" she asked Mitchell.
+
+"What up and down feeling?" he asked, secure in the good conscience and
+pure living of an oatmeal breakfast. "I don't feel up and down."
+
+"I do," said Aunt Mary abruptly; "I want to be somewhere else."
+
+"You want to be on deck," said Burnett, suddenly emerging from somewhere;
+"I know the symptoms. I always have 'em. Come on. And when we get up
+there, I'll collar Jack for urging those six last griddle cakes on me this
+morning."
+
+"I ain't sure I want to be on deck," said Aunt Mary; "dear me--I feel as if
+I wasn't sure of anythin'."
+
+"What did I tell you?" said Burnett to Mitchell; "it's blowing fresh and
+neither she nor I ought to have come. You know me when it blows."
+
+"Shut up," said Mitchell, hurrying Aunt Mary up the companion-way and
+shoving her into one chair and her feet into another; "there, Miss
+Watkins, you're all right now, aren't you?"
+
+"What's the matter?" said Jack, coming from somewhere aloft or astern.
+"Heaven bless me, what ails you, Aunt Mary?"
+
+"I don't wonder I'm pale," said Aunt Mary faintly, "oh--oh--"
+
+"We must put our heads together," said Burnett, taking a drink from a
+flask that he took out of his pocket; "I must soon put my head on
+something, and your aunt looks to me to feel the same way. Mitchell, why
+did you let me forget that vow I made last time to never come again?"
+
+"Your vows to never do things again are about as stable as your present
+hold on an upright position," said Clover, laying a steadying hand upon
+his friend's waveringness. "Sit down, little boy, sit down."
+
+Burnett sat down, Mitchell smiled, Jack laughed, and Aunt Mary groaned.
+
+The boat was rising and falling rapidly now, and as she ran further and
+further out into the ever freshening wind she kept on rising and falling
+yet more rapidly. The more motion there was the more Aunt Mary seemed to
+sift down in her two chairs.
+
+"We'd better put back," said Jack; "this won't do, you know. How do you
+feel now, Aunt Mary?" he added, leaning over her.
+
+Aunt Mary opened her eyes and looked at him but made no reply.
+
+"Ask me how I feel, if you dare," said Burnett, from where his chair was
+drawn up not far away. "I couldn't kill you just now, but I will some day
+I promise you."
+
+He was very white and had a look about his mouth that showed that he meant
+what he said.
+
+Some bells rang somewhere.
+
+"That's dinner," exclaimed Clover.
+
+Aunt Mary gave a piercing cry.
+
+"Oh, take me somewhere else," she said, throwing her hands up to her face;
+"somewhere where there'll never be nothin' to eat again. I--I can't bear to
+hear about eatin'."
+
+"I'm going to take her down into one of the cabins," said Jack hastily,
+"she belongs in bed."
+
+"No, turn back the carpet and lay me in the bath-tub," almost sobbed the
+poor victim. "I don't feel like I could get flat enough anywhere else."
+
+"She has the proper spirit," said Burnett faintly, "only I don't feel as
+if I could get flat enough anywhere at all. What in the name of the Great
+Pyramid ever possessed me to come?"
+
+Mitchell rose quickly to his feet.
+
+"You put your aunt to bed, Jack," he said, "and I'll put my yacht to
+backing. This expedition is expeditiously heading on to what might be
+termed a failure. I can see that, even if we're only in a Sound."
+
+"When do you suppose we'll get back?" the nephew asked anxiously.
+
+"About four o'clock, if we don't lose time by having to tack."
+
+"I didn't quite catch all that," said Aunt Mary, "but I knew suthin' was
+loose all along. I felt it inside of me right off at first. And ever
+since, too."
+
+Jack gathered her up in his arms and bore her tenderly away to the
+beautiful main cabin.
+
+"I wanted to live to change my will," she said sadly, as he laid her down,
+"but somehow I don't seem to care for nothin' no more."
+
+He kissed her hand.
+
+"They say being seasick is awfully _good_ for people, Aunt Mary," he
+yelled contritely.
+
+Aunt Mary opened her eyes.
+
+"John Watkins, Jr., Denham," she said, "if you say 'food' to me again
+_ever_, I'll never leave you a penny--so there!"
+
+Jack went away and left her.
+
+"Come on to dinner, Burnett," Clover called hilariously, "there's liver
+with little bits of bacon--your favorite dish."
+
+Burnett snarled the weakest kind of a snarl.
+
+"I thought I'd suffered enough for one year last month," he murmured in a
+voice too low to be heard, and then he knew himself to be alone on deck.
+
+Down in the little dining-saloon the dishes were hopping merrily back and
+forth and an agreeable odor of agreeable viands filled the air. Clover and
+Jack sat down opposite their host and they all three ate and drank with a
+zest that knew no breaking waves nor sad effects.
+
+"Here's to our aunt," said Clover gayly, as the first course went around;
+"of course, we all love her for Jack's sake, but at the same time I offer
+two to odds that it is a pleasure to converse in under tones occasionally.
+Who takes?"
+
+"Aunt Mary being laid upon her bed," said Mitchell, "we will next proceed
+to lay the motion of our honorable friend upon the table. We regret Aunt
+Mary's ill-health while we drink to her good--quotation marks under the
+latter word. Aunt Mary!--and may she arise and prosper all the way down
+into the launch again."
+
+"I'm troubled about her, really," said Jack soberly; "we ought to have
+brought someone to look out for her."
+
+"The maid," cried Mitchell, "the dainty, adorable maid! Here's to Janice
+and--" his speech was brought to a sudden end by his two guests nearly
+disappearing under the table.
+
+Jack started up.
+
+"Ginger! Did you feel that?" he asked.
+
+"That's nothing," said Mitchell, calmly replacing the water-carafe which
+in the excitement of the moment he had clasped to his bosom; "it's the
+waves which are rising to the occasion--that's all." But Jack had hurried
+out.
+
+He found poor Aunt Mary writhing in an agony of misery. "Oh--oh--" she
+cried, "I want to be still--I'm too much tipped--and all the wrong way! I
+want to lay smooth--and I stand on my head--all the--"
+
+"We're going back," said Jack, striving to soothe her; "lie still, Aunt
+Mary, and we'll soon get there. Do you want some camphor to smell?"
+
+"I don't feel up to smellin'," wailed Aunt Mary, "I don't feel up to
+anythin'. Go 'way. Right off."
+
+Jack went on deck. He found Burnett stretched pale and green upon the
+chairs their lady guest had vacated.
+
+"If you speak to me again," he said, in halting accents, "I'll never speak
+to you again. Get out."
+
+Jack went back to his place at dinner.
+
+"How are they?" asked Clover.
+
+"I don't know," he said quietly, "but there's a big storm coming up. The
+sky's all dark blue and it looks bad."
+
+"I don't care," said Mitchell, sawing into the game with vigor; "if we go
+down we go down with Aunt Mary and if I were Uncle Mary I wouldn't feel
+happier and safer as to all concerned. The ship that bore C�sar and his
+fortune had nothing at all to bear compared to this which bears Jack and
+his. Here's to Jack and his fortune, and may we all survive the dark blue
+sky."
+
+"I tell you it's serious," said Jack. As he spoke another ominous heaving
+set the bottles tipping and nearly sent Clover backwards.
+
+"And I'm serious," exclaimed Mitchell. "I'm always serious only I never
+can get any girl to believe it. Here's to me, and may I grow more and more
+serious each--"
+
+A tremendous wave bore the yacht upright and then let her fall on her
+forelegs again. Clover went over backwards and the dish of peas to which
+he had just been helping himself followed after.
+
+"You didn't say 'excuse me' when you left the table," said Mitchell, whom
+the law of gravitation had suddenly raised to a pinnacle from which he
+viewed his friends with mirthful scorn; "and if you've hurt yourself it
+must be a judgment on you for leaving the table without saying 'excuse
+me.' Here's to Clover, who has a judgment and a dish of peas served on him
+at the same time for leaving the table without saying 'excuse me.'"
+
+The sailing-master appeared at the door, his cap in his hand.
+
+"I beg your pardon, sir," he said respectfully, "but I fear it's
+impossible to put back. We can't turn without getting into the trough of
+the sea."
+
+"All right, go ahead then," said Mitchell; "go where we must go, and do
+what you've got to do. My motto is veni, vidi, vici, which freely
+translated means I can sleep asea when I can't sleep ashore."
+
+"But Aunt Mary?" cried Jack blankly.
+
+"She's all right," said Mitchell; "she'll soon reach the cold burnt toast
+stage and when she reaches the stage we'll all welcome her into any
+chorus. Here's to choruses in general and one chorus girl in particular. I
+haven't met her yet, but I shall know her when I do, for she will look at
+me. Up to now they've all looked elsewhere and at other men. If my fortune
+was only in my face it might draw some interest, but--"
+
+"Lady Belle" careened violently and Clover went over backwards for the
+second time with much in his wake.
+
+"Oh, I say," said Mitchell, rising in disgust, "if you want everything on
+the table at once why take it. Only I'm going on deck. After you've bathed
+in the gravy you can have it. Ditto the other liquids. Jack and I are
+going up to dance a hornpipe and sing for Burnett. He looked rather
+ennuy�d to me when we came down."
+
+Along toward eight o'clock that night "Lady Belle" anchored somewhere in
+the Sound and tugged vigorously at her cables all night.
+
+With the dawn she headed back towards New York.
+
+"As a success my entertainment has been a failure," said Mitchell to Jack
+as they walked up and down the deck after breakfast; "but into each life
+some rain must fall, and I offer myself as a sacrificial background to
+Aunt Mary's glowing, living pictures of New York."
+
+"I wish you hadn't, though," said Jack; "she'll never want a yacht of her
+own now. And how under Scorpion are we ever going to land her?"
+
+"In a sheet, my able-bodied young friend, in a sheet," said Mitchell
+clapping him on the back. "Don't you know the 'Weigh the Baby' game? It
+may double her up a bit, but the redoubtable Janice will straighten her
+out again. Here's to the sheet, be it a wet sheet, a main sheet, or a
+sheet with your Aunt Mary tied up in it."
+
+Mitchell was as good as his word and they landed Aunt Mary in a sheet. The
+very harbor-tugs stopped puffing and stood open-mouthed to stare at the
+performance, but it was an unalloyed success, and Aunt Mary was gotten
+onto dry land at last.
+
+"I don't want to do nothin' for a day or two," she said, as they drove to
+the house.
+
+Janice had the bed open, and a hot-water bottle down where Aunt Mary's
+feet might be expected, and all sorts of comfort ready to hand.
+
+"I'm so glad to see you safe back," she said, almost weeping.
+
+"I don't believe it's broke," said Aunt Mary, "but you might look and see.
+Oh, Granite--I--" she stopped and looked an unutterable meaning.
+
+"It stormed, didn't it?" said the maid.
+
+"Stormed!" said Aunt Mary. "I guess it did storm. I guess it hurricaned. I
+know it did. I'm sure of it."
+
+"But you're safe now," said the girl, tucking her up as snugly as if she
+had been an infant in arms.
+
+"Yes, I'm safe now," said Aunt Mary, "but--" she looked very earnest--"but,
+oh, my Granite, how I did need that white fuzzy stuff to drink this
+morning. I never wanted nothin' so bad in all my life afore."
+
+Janice stood by the bed, her face full of regret that Aunt Mary had known
+any aching void.
+
+Aunt Mary grew yet more earnest.
+
+"Granite," she said, "you mind what I tell you. That ought to be
+advertised. I sh'd think you could patent it. Folks ought to know about
+it."
+
+Then she laid herself out in bed. "My heavens alive!" she sighed sweetly,
+"there's nothin' like home. Not anywhere--not nowhere!"
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER SIXTEEN - A REPOSEFUL INTERVAL
+
+
+The next date upon the little gold and ivory memorandum card which hung
+beside Aunt Mary's watch was that set for Burnett's picnic, but its
+dawning found both host and guest too much attached to their beds to
+desire any f�tes champ�tre just then.
+
+Burnett was in that very weak state which follows in the immediate wake of
+only too many yachts,--and Aunt Mary was sleeping one of her long drawn out
+and utterly restorative sleeps.
+
+Jack went in and looked at her.
+
+"It did storm awfully," he said to Janice, who was sitting by the window.
+The maid just smiled, nodded, and laid her finger on her lip. She never
+encouraged conversation when her charge was reposing.
+
+Jack went softly out and turned his steps toward the room of the other
+wreck.
+
+"Well, how are stocks to-day?" he asked cheerfully on entering.
+
+Burnett was stretched out pillowless and looked black under his hollow
+eyes. But he appeared to be on the road to recovery.
+
+"Jack," he said seriously, "what in thunder makes me always so ready to go
+on the water? I should think after a while I'd learn a thing or two."
+
+Jack leaned his elbows on the high carved footboard and returned his
+friend's look with one of equal seriousness.
+
+"What makes all of us do lots of things?" he asked. "Why don't we all
+learn?"
+
+Burnett sighed.
+
+"That's a fact; why don't we?" he said weakly. And then he shut his eyes
+again and turned his back to his caller.
+
+Jack went down to lunch. Clover and Mitchell were playing cards in the
+library.
+
+"Well, how is the hospital?" Clover asked, looking up while he shuffled
+the pack.
+
+"Never mind about Burnett," said Mitchell, "but do relieve my mind about
+Aunt Mary. Is the one sheet still taking effect, or has she begun to rally
+on a diet of two?"
+
+"She's asleep," said the nephew.
+
+"God bless her slumber," declared Clover piously. "I very much approve of
+Aunt Mary asleep. When our dearly beloved aunt sleeps we know we've got
+her and we don't have to yell. Shall I deal for three?"
+
+"They are bringing up lunch," said the latest arrival,--"no time to begin a
+hand. Better stack guns for the present."
+
+"So say I," said Mitchell, "with me everything goes down when lunch comes
+up. It's quite the reverse with Burnett, isn't it?" He laughed brutally at
+his own wit.
+
+"To think how enthusiastic Burr was," said Clover, evening the cards
+preparatory to slipping them into their holder on the side of the table.
+"He's always so enthusiastic and he's always so sick. In his place I
+should feel that, if a buoyant nature is a virtue, I didn't get much
+reward."
+
+The gong sounded just then, and they all went down to lunch, not at all
+saddened by the sight of their comrade's empty chair.
+
+"Now, what are we going to do next?" Clover demanded as they finished the
+bouillon.
+
+"Have a meat course, I suppose," said Mitchell.
+
+"I don't mean that; I mean, what are we going to do next with Aunt Mary?"
+
+"She hasn't but two days more," said Jack meditatively. "Of course--even if
+she was all chipper--this storm has knocked any picnic endways."
+
+"I am not an ardent upholder of picnics, anyhow," said Mitchell. "They
+require a constant sitting down on the ground and getting up from the
+ground to which I find our respected aunt very far from being equal.
+Burnett mentioned that we should go to the scene on a coach. That also did
+not meet my approval. Going anywhere on a coach requires a constant
+getting up on the coach and getting down from the coach to which I also
+consider the lady unequal. The events of yesterday have left a deep
+impression on my mind. I--"
+
+"Go on and carve," interrupted Clover, "or else shove me the platter. I'm
+hungry."
+
+"So'm I," said a voice at the door. A weak voice--but one that showed
+decision in its tone.
+
+They looked up and saw Burnett, dressed in a pink silk neglig�e with
+flowing sleeves.
+
+"I'm ravenous," he exclaimed explanatorily. "I haven't had anything since
+day before yesterday at breakfast. I didn't know I wanted anything till I
+smelt it,--then I dressed and came down."
+
+"How sweet you look," said Clover. "The effect of your pajama cuffs and
+collar where one greedily expects curves and contour is lovely. Where did
+you find that bath-robe?"
+
+"In the bureau drawer," said Burnett. "It appeared to have been hastily
+shoved in there some time. I would have thought that it was a woman's
+something-or-other, only I found one of Jack's cards in the pocket."
+
+They all began to laugh--Clover and Mitchell more heartily than the owner
+of the card.
+
+"Sit down," said Mitchell finally with great cordiality. "You may as well
+sit down while they mess you up some weak tea and wet toast."
+
+"Tea and toast?" cried the one in pink. "I'm good for dinner. _Um
+Gotteswillen_, what do you suppose I came down for?"
+
+"I wasn't sure," said his friend mildly; "you must admit yourself that
+your attire is misleading. My book on social etiquette says nothing as to
+when it is correct to wear a pink silk robe over blue and white striped
+pajamas. However, there's no denying your presence, and what can't be
+denied must be supplied, so what will you have?"
+
+"Everything."
+
+Mitchell dived into the edibles generally and Burnett's void was provided
+with fulfillment.
+
+"We were talking about Aunt Mary," Clover said presently. "We were saying
+that neither you nor she would be up to a coach or down to a picnic for
+one while."
+
+"Oh, I don't know," said Burnett. "I feel up to pretty nearly anything now
+that I can eat again. Pass over the horseradish, will you?"
+
+"You're one thing, my sweet pink friend," said Clover gently, "but Aunt
+Mary's another. I'm not saying that New York has not had a wonderfully
+Brown-Sequardesque effect on her, but I am saying that if she is to be
+raised and lowered frequently, I want to travel with a portable crane."
+
+"Hum, hum, hum!" cried Jack. "May I just ask who did most of the heavy
+labor of Aunt Mary yesterday?--As the man in the opera sings twenty times
+with the whole chorus to back him--''Twas I, 'twas I, 'twas I, 'twas I--'"
+
+"Hand over the toast, Clover," said Burnett. "I don't care who it was--it
+was a success anyhow, for she's upstairs and still alive, and I say she'd
+enjoy coaching out Riverside way, and--" he choked.
+
+"Slap him anywhere," said Mitchell. "On his mouth would be the proper
+place. Such poor manners,--coming down to a company lunch in another man's
+bath-robe and then trying to preach and eat dry toast at once."
+
+Burnett gasped and recovered.
+
+"There," said Clover, who had risen to administer the proposed slap, "he's
+off our minds and we may again pick up Aunt Mary and put her back on."
+
+"We want to send her home in a blaze of glory," said Jack thoughtfully. "I
+want her to feel that the fun ran straight through."
+
+"That's just what I mean," interposed his particular friend; "we want her
+to go home on the wings of a giant cracker, so to speak."
+
+"How would it do," said Clover suddenly, "to just make a night of it and
+take her along? Stock up, stack up, and ho! for it. You all know the kind
+of a time I mean."
+
+"Clover," said Jack gravely, "does it occur to you that Aunt Mary belongs
+to me and that I have a personal interest in keeping her alive?"
+
+"Nothing ever occurs to him," said Mitchell. "Occasionally an idea bangs
+up against him inadvertently, and as it splinters a sliver or two
+penetrate his head--that's all."
+
+"I don't see why the last sliver he felt wasn't to the point," said
+Burnett, turning the cream jug upside down as he spoke. "I think she'd
+enjoy it of all things. She enjoys everything so. I'll guarantee that when
+she gets back home she'll even enjoy the yachting trip. Lots of people are
+made like that. In the winter I always enjoy yachting, myself. Pass me the
+hot bread."
+
+"Burnett," said Mitchell warmly, "I wish that you would remember that a
+collapse invariably follows an inflated market."
+
+"Is it Aunt Mary who is on the market, or myself?"
+
+"You."
+
+"Oh, the rule is reversed in my case--the collapse went first. I'm only
+inflating up to the usual limit again. Is there any gravy left?"
+
+"No, there isn't," said Clover, looking in the dish, "there isn't much of
+anything left."
+
+"Let's go to the library," said Mitchell, rising abruptly. "It always
+makes me ill to see goose-stuffing before Thanksgiving. Come on."
+
+"I'm done," said Burnett, springing up and winding his lacey draperies
+about his manly form. "Come on yourself; and once settled and smoking, let
+us canvass the question and agree with Clover."
+
+"You know there are nights about town and nights about town," said Clover,
+as they climbed the staircase. "I do not anticipate that Aunt Mary will
+bring up with a round turn in the police station, as her young relative
+once did."
+
+"Well, that's some comfort," said Mitchell. "I did not feel sure as to
+just where you did mean her to bring up. You will perhaps allow me to
+remark that making a night of it with Aunt Mary in tow is a subject that
+really is provocative of mature reflection. Making a night of it is a
+frothy sort of a proposition in which our beloved aunty may not beat up to
+quite the buoyancy of you and me."
+
+As he finished this sage remark they all re-entered the library and
+grouped themselves around the table of smoking things.
+
+"That's what I say," said Jack. "I think she's much more likely to beat
+out than to beat up--I must say."
+
+"I'll bet you she doesn't," cried Burnett eagerly. "I'll bet five dollars
+that she doesn't."
+
+"I declare," said Clover, "what a thing a backer is to be sure. I feel
+positive that Aunt Mary will go through with it now. I had my doubts
+before, but never now. Six to five on Aunt Mary for the Three-year-old
+Stakes."
+
+"The best way is to hit a happy medium," said Mitchell thoughtfully,
+scratching a match for the lighting of his new-rolled cigarette. "I think
+the wisest thing would be for us just to take Aunt Mary and sally forth
+and then keep it up until she must be put to bed. What say?"
+
+"Well," said Jack, reflectively, "I don't suppose that taking it that way,
+it would really be any worse than the other nights--"
+
+"Worse!" cried Clover. "Hear him!--slandering those brilliant occasions,
+everyone of which is a jewel in the crown of Aunt Mary's bonnet."
+
+"We'll begin by dining out," said Burnett. "I'll give the dinner. One of
+the souvenir kind of affairs. A white mouse for every man and a canary
+bird for the lady. We'll have a private room and speeches and I'll get
+megaphones so we can make her hear without bustin'."
+
+"My dear boy," said Mitchell, "where is this private room to be in which
+the party can converse through megaphones? I had two deaf uncles once who
+played cribbage with megaphones, but they were influential and the rest of
+the family were poor. Circumstances alter cases. I ask again where you can
+get a private dining-room for the use of five people and four megaphones?"
+
+"I'll see," said Burnett; "I wish," he added irritably, "that you'd wait
+until I finished before beginning to smash in like that, you knock
+everything out of my head."
+
+"It'll do you good to have a little something knocked out of you," said
+Mitchell gently. "It may enlarge your premises, give you a spare room
+somewhere, so to speak. I should think that you'd need some spare room
+somewhere after such a breakfast."
+
+"I'll tell you what I think;" said Clover. "I think it's a great scheme.
+It's a sort of pull-in-and-out, field-glass species of idea. We can
+develop it or we can shut it off; in other words, we can parade Aunt Mary
+or bring her home just when we darn please."
+
+"That's what I said," said Burnett. "Begin with my dinner, white mice and
+all, and when all is going just let it slide until it seems about time to
+slide off."
+
+"Yes," said Mitchell dryly, "it's always a good plan to slide on until you
+slide off. It would be so easy to reverse the game."
+
+"And then, too,--" began Burnett.
+
+"Excuse me," said a voice at the door,--a woman's voice this time.
+
+It was Janice, very pretty in her black dress and white decorations, hands
+in pockets, smile on lips.
+
+"What's up now?" the last speaker interrupted himself to ask, "Aunt Mary?"
+
+"No, she's not up," said the maid; "but she's awake and wants to know
+about the picnic."
+
+"There, what did I say!" cried Burnett; "isn't she a hero? I tell you Aunt
+Mary'd fight in the last ditch--she'd never surrender! She's one of those
+dead-at-the-gun chaps. I'm proud to think we have known the companionship
+of joint yachting results."
+
+"She says she feels as well as ever," said Janice, opening her eyes a
+trifle as she noted Burnett's pink silk neglig�e, "and wishes to know when
+you want to start."
+
+"Bravo," said Mitchell; "I, too, am fired by this exposition of pluck. I
+like spirit. She reminds me of the horse who was turned out to grass and
+then suddenly broke the world's record."
+
+"What horse was that?" asked Burnett.
+
+"Pegasus," said Mitchell cruelly; "I didn't say what kind of a record he
+broke, did I?"
+
+"What shall I tell Miss Watkins?" asked the maid.
+
+Jack, who had risen at her entrance and gone to the window, faced around
+here and said:
+
+"Tell her that if she'll dress we'll go out bonnet-shooting and afterwards
+drive in the park."
+
+Janice hesitated.
+
+"She will surely ask where you are to dine," said she, half-smiling.
+
+Jack looked at the crowd.
+
+"Fellows," he said, "we must save up for to-morrow's blow-out; suppose you
+let Mitchell and me dine Aunt Mary somewhere very tranquilly to-night and
+we'll get her home by eleven."
+
+"Yes, do," said Janice, with sudden earnest entreaty. "Honestly, there is
+a limit."
+
+"Of course, there is a limit," said Mitchell. "Even cities have their
+limits. This one tried to be an exception, but San Francisco yelled 'Keep
+off' and she drew in her claws again. Aunt Mary, possessing many points in
+common with New York, also possesses that. She has limits. Her limits took
+in more than we bargained for,--for they have taken us into the bargain.
+Still they are there, and we bow to necessity. A cheerful drive, a quiet
+tea, early to bed. And _pax vobiscum_."
+
+"No wonder," said Burnett, "it's easy for you to agree when you're to be
+one of the dinner party." "I don't mind being left out," said Clover
+contentedly. "I shall sit on the sofa and whisper to 'the one behind.'
+Whispering is an art that I have almost forgotten, but inspired by that
+pink--"
+
+"Then I'll tell Miss Watkins to dress for the going out," said Janice,
+pointedly addressing herself to Jack.
+
+"Yes, please do."
+
+The maid left the room and went upstairs. Aunt Mary was tossing about on
+her pillow.
+
+"Well, what's it to be?" she asked instantly.
+
+"The storm has made it too wet to picnic," replied Janice. "Mr. Denham
+wants to take you to drive and afterwards you and Mr. Mitchell and he are
+to dine--"
+
+"And Burnett and Clover?" cried Aunt Mary in appalled interruption; "where
+are they goin'?"
+
+"Really, I don't know."
+
+"I don't like the idea," said Aunt Mary; "we'd ought to all be together. I
+never did approve of splittin' up in small parties. Did Jack say anythin'
+about my gettin' another bonnet?"
+
+"Yes, he thought that you would go to a milliner first."
+
+"I don't know about lookin' sillier," said Aunt Mary. "Strikes me a woman
+can't look more foolish than she does without a bonnet. However, I don't
+feel like makin' a fuss over anythin' to-day. I've had a good rest and I
+feel fine. I'll dress and go out with Jack, an' I know one thing, I'll
+enjoy every minute I can, for this week is goin' like lightnin' and when
+it's over--well, you never saw Lucinda, so it's no use tryin' to make you
+understand, but--" she drew a long breath and shook her head meaningly.
+
+Janice did not reply. She busied herself with the cares of the toilet of
+her mistress, and when that was complete the carriage was summoned for the
+shopping tour.
+
+Jack saw that the bonnet was attended to first of all and then they went
+to another store and purchased a scarf pin for Joshua and a workbox for
+Lucinda. After that Aunt Mary decided that she wanted her four friends
+each to have a souvenir of her visit, so she insisted upon being conducted
+to that gorgeous establishment which is lighted with diamonds instead of
+electricity and ordered four dressing-cases to be constructed, everything
+with gold tops, to be engraved with the proper initials and also the
+inscription, "from M.W. in memory of N.Y." Jack rather protested at this,
+asking her if she realized what the engraving would come to.
+
+"I don't know," said Aunt Mary recklessly and lavishly. "I don't care what
+it comes to either. It's comin' to me, anyhow, ain't it? I rather think
+so. Seems likely."
+
+The clerk took down the order, and then as he was ushering them door-wards
+he fell by the wayside and craved permission to show some tiaras of
+emeralds and some pearl dog-collars. Jack rebelled.
+
+"You don't want any of those," he exclaimed, trying to propel her by.
+
+"I ain't so sure," said Aunt Mary. "I might have a dog some day."
+
+But her nephew got her back into their conveyance, and they drove away. It
+was so late that they could not consider the park and so had to make a
+tour of Fifth Avenue to use up the time left before dinner. Then when they
+headed toward the caf� they were delighted to observe Mitchell awaiting
+them just where he was to have been.
+
+"I see him," said Aunt Mary. "My! I'd know him as far off as I'd know
+anybody." But then she sighed. "I wish the others were there, too," she
+said sadly; "seems awful--just three of us."
+
+The dinner which followed echoed her sentiment. It was a very nice dinner,
+but painfully quiet, and Aunt Mary grew very restless.
+
+"Seems like wastin' time, anyhow," she said uneasily. "I don't see why the
+others didn't come. Well, can't we go to Coney Island or the Statue of
+Liberty or somewhere when we're through?"
+
+Mitchell looked at Jack.
+
+"Why, you see, Aunt Mary," the latter promptly shrieked, "we thought we'd
+be good and go home early and sort of rest up to-night so as to have a
+high old time to-morrow."
+
+Aunt Mary's face, which had fallen during the first part of their speech,
+brightened up at the last words.
+
+"What are we goin' to do?" she inquired with unfeigned interest.
+
+"Burnett's going to give us a dinner," Jack answered, "and then afterwards
+we're going to help you see the town."
+
+"Oh!" said Aunt Mary. A pleasant gleam fled over her face.
+
+"I never was a great believer in bein' out nights," she said, "but I guess
+I'll make an exception to-morrow. I might as well be doin' that as
+anythin', I presume. Maybe better--very likely better."
+
+"Oh, very much better," said Mitchell. "It is the exceptions that furnish
+all the oil in life's machinery. The exceptions not only generally prove
+too much for the rule, but they also generally prevent the rule from
+proving too much for us. They--"
+
+"But I don't see why we couldn't go to two or three vaudevilles to-night,
+too," said the old lady, suddenly. "I feel so sort of ready-for-anythin'."
+
+"You always feel that way, Miss Watkins," screamed Mitchell. "It is we
+that are the blind and the halt. You are ever fresh, but we falter and
+faint. You see it's you that go out, but it's we that you get back. You--"
+
+"We could go to one vaudeville, anyway," said Aunt Mary abstractedly; "an'
+if we saw any places that looked lively we could stop a few minutes there
+on our way back. I've never been into lots of things here."
+
+Jack looked at Mitchell this time.
+
+"I'm sorry, Miss Watkins," he roared, "but _I'll_ have to go home, anyhow.
+You see, I'm not used to the lively life which has been enlivening us all
+this week and, being weakly in my knees, needs must look out."
+
+Aunt Mary looked very disappointed.
+
+"Then Jack and I'll go, too," she said, "but oh! dear, I do hate to waste
+my stay in the city sleepin' so much. I can sleep all I want after I get
+home, but--" she paused, and then said with deep feeling, "Well, you don't
+understand about Lucinda an' so you don't understand about anythin'."
+
+Both the young men felt truly regretful as they put her into the carriage
+for the return trip. Her deep enjoyment was so genuine and naive that they
+sympathized with her feelings when cut off from it.
+
+But it was best that this one night should pass unimproved, and so all
+five threw themselves into their respective beds with equal zest and
+slept--and slept--and slept.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER SEVENTEEN - AUNT MARY'S NIGHT ABOUT TOWN
+
+
+The next day came up out of the ocean fair and warm, and when it drew
+toward later afternoon no more propitious night for setting forth ever
+happened.
+
+It was undeniably a night to be remembered. And Aunt Mary's entertainers
+drew in deep breaths as they girded themselves for the conflict. They
+certainly intended to do themselves proud and on top of all the lesser
+"times of her life" to pile the one pre-eminent which should rest
+pre-eminent forever. Aunt Mary had been gay in the first part of the
+week,--gayer and gayer as the week progressed, but that final crowning
+night was indubitably the gayest of all. If you doubt this read on--read
+on--and be convinced.
+
+They began with Burnett's dinner in the private room. No matter where the
+private room was, for it really wasn't a private room at all--it was a
+suite of rooms borrowed and arranged especially for that one occasion.
+They gathered there at eight o'clock and began with oysters served on a
+large brass tray in a half-dim Turkish room where incense sticks burned
+about and queer daggers held up the curtains. The oysters were served on
+their arrival and the megaphones stood like extinguishers over each with
+the name cards tied to the small end. The effect was really unique. Aunt
+Mary had one, too, and they were all rejoiced at her delight in the
+scheme, and a few seconds after they were doubly rejoiced over its success
+for no one had to speak loud--the megaphones did it all, producing a lovely
+clamor which deafened all those who could hear and caused Aunt Mary to
+feel that she heard with the rest.
+
+Amidst the cheerful din they exchanged such very wild remarks as oysters
+always inspire and each and all were mutually content at the effect
+thereof. Then they finished, and Burnett rose at once, flung back the
+porti�res, and led them in upon their soup which stood smoking on a large
+card table in the next room. There were boutonni�res with the soup, and
+violets for Aunt Mary, and again they used the megaphones and again the
+conversation partook of the customary conversation which soup produces.
+
+The soup finished, Burnett jumped up again and threw back other porti�res
+and they all moved out into a dining-room, with its table spread with a
+substantial dinner. This time it was the real thing. Candelabra,
+ice-pails, etc.
+
+Aunt Mary had a parrot in a gilt tower, and all the men had white mice in
+houses shaped like hat-boxes. Mitchell's seat was flanked with wine
+coolers, and Burnett's, too. There was all that they could desire to eat
+and drink and more. The feast began, and it was grand and glorious.
+
+"I'll tell you what," said Aunt Mary, in the midst of the revel, "if this
+is what it means in papers when it speaks of high livin', I don't blame
+'em for bein' willin' to die of it young. One week like this is worth ten
+years with Lucinda. Twenty. A whole life."
+
+"Say, Jack," said Burnett in an undertone, "let's have Lucinda come to
+town next and see the effect on her."
+
+"Miss Watkins," said Clover through his megaphone, "as a mark of my
+affection I beg to offer you my white mouse. Do you accept?"
+
+"Oh, I don't want to go back to the house yet," said Aunt Mary, much
+disturbed. "It's too soon."
+
+"We won't go home till morning," said Burnett. "Not by a long shot. Here,
+Mitchell, give us a speech. Home! we don't want to drink _to_ it, but we
+do want to drink to it _here_."
+
+"Home!" said Mitchell, rising with his glass in his hand. "Home! here's to
+home, and I'll drink to it in anything but a cab. Home, Aunt Mary and
+gentlemen, is the place where one may go when every other place is closed.
+As long as any other place is open, however, I do not recommend going
+home. The contrast is always sharp and bitter and to be avoided until
+unavoidable circumstances, over which we possess but little control, force
+us to give our address to the man who drives and let him drive us to the
+last place on the map. And so I drink to that last place--home; and here's
+to it, not now, but a good deal later, and not then unless what must be
+has got to result."
+
+Mitchell paused and they all drank.
+
+"Me next now," exclaimed Burnett, jumping to his feet. "I'm going to make
+a speech at my own dinner, and as a good speech is best made off-hand,
+I've picked out an off-hand subject and arise to give you 'Lucinda.'
+Having never met her I feel able to say nothing good about her and I call
+the company present to witness that I shall say nothing bad either. I
+gather from what I have had a stray chance of picking up that Lucinda is
+all that she should be, and nothing frisqu�. The latter quality is too
+bad, but it's not my fault. Therefore, I say again 'Lucinda', and here's
+to her very good health. May she never regret that Fate has given her no
+chance to have anything to regret."
+
+Aunt Mary applauded this speech heartily even if she hadn't quite caught
+the whole of it and had no idea of whom it was about.
+
+"Who's goin' to speak now?" she asked anxiously.
+
+"I am," said Clover modestly. "I rise to propose the health of our honored
+guest, Miss Watkins. We all know what kin she is to one of us, and we all
+weep that she didn't do as well by the rest of us. Aunt Mary! Glasses
+down!"
+
+"You can't drink this, you know, Aunt Mary," said Jack,--"it's bad taste to
+drink to yourself."
+
+"I don't want to drink," said Aunt Mary, beaming,--"I like to watch you."
+
+"Here's to Aunt Mary's liking to watch us!" cried Clover.
+
+"No," said Burnett rising, "don't. It's time to go and get the salad now."
+
+"We'd ought to have the automobile for this party," said Aunt Mary, and
+everyone applauded her idea, as they rose and gathered up their
+belongings.
+
+It was a droll procession of men with mice and a lady with a parrot that
+got under way and moved in among the Japanese fans and swinging lanterns
+of the next room in the suite of Burnett's friend. Five little individual
+tables were laid there and on each table lay a Japanese creature of some
+sort which--being opened somewhere--revealed salad within.
+
+"Well, I never did!" exclaimed the guest; "this dinner ought to be put in
+a book!"
+
+"We'll put it in ourselves first," said Mitchell. "I never believe in
+booking any attraction until it has been tried on a select few. Burnett
+having selected me for one of this few, I vote we begin on the salad."
+
+They began forthwith.
+
+Aunt Mary suddenly stopped eating.
+
+"Some one called," she said.
+
+"It's the parrot," said Jack; "I heard him before."
+
+"What does he say?" said Mitchell.
+
+"Listen and you'll find out," said Jack.
+
+They all listened and presently the parrot said solemnly:
+
+"Now see what you've done!" and relapsed into silence.
+
+"What does he mean?" Aunt Mary asked.
+
+"He's referring to his own affairs," said Burnett; "come on--let's get
+coffee now!"
+
+They all adjourned to a tiny room lined with posters and decorated with
+pipe racks, and there had ice cream in the form of bulls and bears, and
+coffee of the strongest variety. And then cordials and cigarettes.
+
+"Now, where shall we go to first?" asked Burnett when all were well lit
+up. No one would have guessed that he had ever felt used up in all his
+life before.
+
+"To a roof garden," said Mitchell. "We'll go to a roof garden first, and
+then we'll go to more roof gardens, and after that if the spirit moves
+we'll go to yet a few roof gardens in addition. We'll show our dear aunt
+what wonders can be done with roofs, and to-morrow she'll wonder what was
+done with her."
+
+"That's the bill," said Clover, "and let's go now. I can see from the
+general manner of my mouse that he's dying to get out and make his way in
+the wide world."
+
+"Mine the same," said Mitchell; "by George, it worries me to see such
+restless, feverish manners in what I had supposed would be a quiet
+domestic companion. It presages a distracted existence. But come on."
+
+They all rose.
+
+"Where are we goin' now?" asked Aunt Mary.
+
+"To a roof garden," said Jack, "and we're going to take the whole
+menagerie, Aunt Mary. We're going to get put in the papers. That's the
+great stunt,--to get put in the papers."
+
+"But we'll leave the megaphones," said Mitchell. "I won't go about with a
+mouse and a megaphone. People might think I looked silly. People are so
+queer."
+
+"Put the mouse in the megaphone," suggested Burnett. "That's the way my
+mother taught me to pack when I was a kid. You put your tooth brush in a
+shoe, and the shoe in a sleeve and then turn the sleeve inside out. Oh, I
+tell you--what is home without a mother?--Put the mouse in the megaphone and
+stop up both ends. What are your hands and your mouth for?"
+
+"Yes," said Mitchell, "I think I see myself so handling a megaphone that
+the mouse doesn't run out either end or into my mouth. My mouth is a good
+mouth and it's served me well and I won't turn it over to a mouse at this
+late day."
+
+"Let's keep the mice in their cages," said Clover, and as he spoke he
+dropped his.
+
+"Now see what you've done!" said the parrot.
+
+"I didn't hurt it," said Clover. "Come on now."
+
+"Yes, come on," said Burnett. "It's long after ten o'clock. You want to
+remember that even roof gardens are not eternally on tap."
+
+"Well, I'm trying to hurry all I can," said Mitchell. "I'm the picture of
+patience scurrying for dear life only unable to lay hands on her gloves."
+
+"I don't catch what's the trouble," said Aunt Mary to Jack.
+
+                             [Illustration 5]
+
+      "The carriage stopped three hundred feet below the level of a
+                              roof-garden."
+
+
+"Nothing's the trouble," said Jack, "everything's fine and dandy. We're
+going out now. Time of your life, Aunt Mary, time of your life!"
+
+They telephoned for a carriage and all got in. Then Clover slammed the
+door.
+
+"Now see what you've done!" said the parrot.
+
+"Is he going to keep saying that?" Burnett asked.
+
+"I don't know," said Jack. "It comes in pretty pat, don't it?"
+
+"Makes me think of my mother," said Clover. "I wish it wouldn't."
+
+"I don't catch who's sayin' what," said Aunt Mary.
+
+"Nobody's saying anything, Miss Watkins," roared Mitchell; "we are all
+talking airy nothings just to pass the time o' day."
+
+The carriage stopped three hundred feet below the level of a roof garden.
+
+"We get out here," said Burnett.
+
+They all got out and went up in an elevator.
+
+"Seems to be a good many goin' to the same place," said Aunt Mary.
+
+"Yes," said Mitchell, "a good many people generally go to places that are
+great places for a good many people to go to."
+
+"You ought not to end with a preposition," said Clover.
+
+"There, I left my ear-trumpet in the carriage!" said Aunt Mary.
+
+There was a pause of consternation. No one spoke except the parrot.
+
+"We know what she's done without your telling us," said Clover, addressing
+the bird. "The question is what to do next?"
+
+Jack went back downstairs and found the carriage waiting in hopes of
+picking up another load. He lost no time in personally picking up the
+ear-trumpet and returning to his friends.
+
+Then they all proceeded above and bought a table and turned their chairs
+to the stage, where the attraction just at that moment was a quartette of
+pretty girls.
+
+"I'll tell you what we'll do," said Burnett the instant the girls began to
+sing. "Let's each tie a card to a mouse and present them to the girls!"
+
+The suggestion found favor and was followed out to the letter. But when
+the girls were through and the Chinaman who followed them on the programme
+was also over, the pleasures of life in that spot palled upon the party.
+
+"Oh, come," said Burnett, "let's go somewhere else. Let's go out in the
+air."
+
+His suggestion found favor. And they sallied forth and visited another
+roof garden, a theater where they saw the last quarter of the fourth act,
+a place where Aunt Mary was given a gondola ride, and a place where she
+was given something in the shape of light refreshments.
+
+Then, becoming thirsty, they ordered a few White Horses and Red Horses and
+the Necks of yet other horses, but Aunt Mary declined the horses of all
+colors and Mitchell upheld her.
+
+"That's right," he said, "I'm a great believer in knowing when you've had
+enough, and I'm sure you've all had so much too much that I know that I
+must have had enough and that she's better off with none at all."
+
+"I reckon you're right," said Clover. "I've had enough, surely. I can't
+see over my pile of little saucers, and when I can't see over my pile of
+little saucers I'm always positive that I've had enough."
+
+Jack laughed and then ceased laughing and drew down the corners of his
+mouth.
+
+"Why do people sit on chairs?" Clover asked just then. "Why don't everyone
+sit on the floor? You never feel as if you might slip off the floor."
+
+"Ah," said Mitchell, "if we were not always trying to rise above Nature we
+should all be sitting where Nature intended,--when we weren't swinging by
+our tails and picking cocoanuts."
+
+"Come on and let's go somewhere else," said Burnett. "Every time I look at
+somebody it's someone else and that makes me nervous."
+
+"Now see what you've done!" said the parrot.
+
+"Did you know his long suit when you bought him?" Clover asked Burnett.
+
+"No," said Burnett; "they told me that he didn't use slang and that was
+all."
+
+It was well along in the evening--or night--and a brisk discussion arose as
+to where to go next.
+
+"I'll tell you," said Clover, "we'll take a ride. Let me see what time is
+it?--12.30. Just the time for a drive. We'll take three cabs and sally
+forth and drive up and down and back and forth in the cool night air."
+
+"And jews-harps!" cried Burnett. "Oh, I say, there's a bully idea! We'll
+go to a drug store and buy some jews-harps and play on them as we drive
+along. We'll each sing our own tune, and the effect will be so novel.
+Let's do it."
+
+"Jews-harps--" said Clover thoughtfully, "jews-harps for three cabs--that'll
+make--let me see--that'll make--" he hesitated.
+
+"Oh, the driver will make the change," said Burnett impatiently. "Come on.
+If we're going to have the cabs and jews-harps it's time to get out and
+take the stump in the good cause."
+
+"Where's my ear-trumpet?" said Aunt Mary, blankly,--"it's been left
+somewhere."
+
+"No, it hasn't," said Mitchell. "It's here! I'm holding it for you. It's
+much easier holding it than picking it up. It seems so slippery to-night."
+
+"I'm not going out to get the cabs," said Clover. "I thought of the idea
+and someone else must work it out. I'm opposed to working after time and I
+call time at midnight."
+
+Mitchell rose with a depressed air.
+
+"I'll go," he said. "I feel the need of a walk. When I feel the need of
+anything I always take it and I've needed and taken so freely to-night
+that I need to take a walk to--"
+
+"I don't think it funny to talk that way," said Burnett a little heatedly.
+"If you want to get the cabs why get the cabs. I'm going to get them, too,
+and I reckon we can get them combined just as easy as alone."
+
+"I will go with you," said his friend solemnly. "I will accompany you
+because I feel the need--" He stopped and turned his hat over and over. "I
+know there's a hole to put my head into," he declared, "but I can't just
+put my hand--I mean my head--on to--I mean, into--it."
+
+"Do you expect to find a brass hand pointing to it?" said Burnett testily.
+"Come on!"
+
+"Three cabs and five--or was it six?--jews-harps?" continued Mitchell
+dreamily. "It must have been six, five for we five, and one for Lord
+Chesterfield--but where is Lord Chesterfield?" he asked suddenly with a
+disturbed glance around. "I hope he hasn't deserted and gone home."
+
+"Come on, come on!" said Burnett. "There won't be a sober cab left if we
+don't hurry while everything is still able to stand up."
+
+This reasoning seemed to alarm Mitchell and he went out with him at once.
+
+"My head feels awfully," said Clover to Jack. "It sort of grinds and
+grates--does yours?"
+
+Jack stared straight ahead and made no reply.
+
+"I'm goin' home no more to roam," said Aunt Mary slowly and sadly,--"I'm
+goin' home no more to roam, no more to sin an' sorrow. I'm goin' home no
+more to roam--I'm goin' home to-morrow. O hum!" She heaved a heavy sigh.
+
+"Now see what you've done!" said the parrot with emphasis.
+
+"Never mind," said Clover bitterly. "Better people than you have gone home
+before now; I used to do it myself before I was old enough to know worse.
+Will you excuse me if I say, 'Damn this buzzing in my head?'"
+
+"I know how you feel," said Aunt Mary sympathetically. "Don't you want me
+to ring for the porter and have him make up your berth right away?"
+
+Clover didn't seem to hear. His eyes were roving moodily about the room;
+they looked almost as faded as his mustache.
+
+"Seems to me they're gone a long time," said Jack presently, twisting a
+little in his seat. "It never takes me so long to get a cab. I hold up my
+hand--the man stops--and I get in--what's the matter, Aunt Mary?" He asked
+the question in sudden alarm at seeing Aunt Mary bury her face hastily in
+her handkerchief.
+
+"What's the matter?" he repeated loudly.
+
+"Don't mind me," said Aunt Mary sobbing. "It's just that I happened to
+just think of Lu--Lu--Lucinda--and somehow I don't seem to have no strength
+to bear it."
+
+"Split the handkerchief between us," said Clover. "I want to cry, too, and
+there's no time like the present for doing what you want to do."
+
+"Rot!" said Jack, "look here--"
+
+He was interrupted by the return of the embassy, Mitchell bearing the
+jews-harps.
+
+"What's the matter?" Burnett asked.
+
+"Nothing," said Clover; "we were so worried over you, that's all." Burnett
+called for the bill and found that he had run out of cash; "Or maybe I've
+had my pocket picked," he suggested. "I'm beginning to be in just the mood
+in which I always get my pocket picked."
+
+Jack produced a roll of bills and settled for the refreshments. Then they
+all started down stairs as Aunt Mary wouldn't risk an elevator going down.
+
+"It's all right comin' up," she said, "but if it broke when you were going
+down where'd you be?"
+
+"In the elevator," said Clover. "I'd never jump, I know that."
+
+"Oh, I've left my ear-trumpet," said Aunt Mary.
+
+"Let's draw lots to see who goes back?" Burnett suggested.
+
+They drew and the lot fell to Clover.
+
+"I'm not going back," he said coldly. "I haven't got the energy. Let her
+apply the megaphone."
+
+Jack went back.
+
+Then they all got into the street and into the cabs. Aunt Mary and Jack
+went first, Mitchell and Burnett second, and Clover brought up the rear
+alone.
+
+They set off and it must be admitted that the effect of the three cabs
+going single file one after another with their five occupants giving forth
+a most imperfect version of his or her favorite tune, was at once novel
+and awe-inspiring. But like all sweet things upon this earth the concert
+was not of long endurance. It was only a few minutes before the duos
+ceased utterly to duo and the soloist in the rear fell sound asleep. For
+several blocks there was a mournful and tell-tale lack of harmony upon the
+air and then the three young men seemed to have exhausted their mouths and
+all lapsed into a more or less conscious state of quietude.
+
+Only Aunt Mary was indefatigable. Like Cleopatra, age seemed to have no
+power to stale her infinite variety, and leaning back in her own corner
+she continued to placidly and peacefully intone with disregard for time
+and tune which never ruffled a wrinkle. She hadn't played on a jews-harp
+in sixty years, and being deaf she was pleasantly astonished at how well
+she still did it. Jack leaned in his corner with folded arms; he was
+deeply conscious of wishing that it was the next day--any day--any other
+day--for the week had been a wearing one and he could not but be mortally
+glad that it was so nearly over. The task of fitting the plan of Aunt
+Mary's revelries to the measure of her personal capacity had been a very
+hard one and his soul panted for relief therefrom. It is one thing to
+undertake a task and another thing to persevere to its successful
+completion. Aunt Mary's nephew was tired--very tired.
+
+A little later he felt a weight against him; he looked; it was Aunt Mary's
+head,--she was oblivious there on his bosom.
+
+He heard a voice; it was the parrot.
+
+"Now see what you've done," it said in sepulchral tones.
+
+They reached the house, bore the honored guest within, and delivered her
+to Janice.
+
+"You can have that parrot," Jack called back to the cabman. "He's
+guaranteed against slang."
+
+The cabman drove away.
+
+Janice received them with a look which might have been construed in many
+ways, but they were all far past construing and the look fell to the
+ground unheeded.
+
+And again Aunt Mary was tucked carefully up to dream herself rested once
+more.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER EIGHTEEN - A DEPARTURE AND A RETURN
+
+
+The next day poor Aunt Mary had to undergo the ordeal of being obliged to
+turn her face away from all those joys which had so suddenly and
+brilliantly altered the hues of life for her. It pretty nearly used her
+up. She took her reviving decoction with tears standing in her eyes,--and
+sat down the glass with a bursting sigh. "My, but I wish I knew when I'd
+be taking any more of this?" she said to Janice.
+
+"Oh, you'll come back to the city some day," said the maid hopefully.
+
+"Come back!" said Aunt Mary. "Well, I should say that I would come back!
+Why--I--?" she stopped suddenly, "never mind," she said after a minute,
+"only you'll see that I'll come back. Pretty surely--pretty positively."
+
+Janice was folding her dresses into the small trunk. Aunt Mary
+contemplated the green plaid waist with an air of mournful reflection.
+
+"I believe I'll always keep that waist rolled away," she murmured. "I
+shall like to shake it out once in a while to remind me of things."
+
+"Hand me my purse," she said to the maid five minutes afterwards. "Here's
+twenty-five dollars an' I want you to take it and get anythin' you like
+with it."
+
+"But that's too much," Janice cried, putting her hands behind her and
+shaking her head.
+
+"Take it," said Aunt Mary imperiously; "you're well worth it."
+
+"I don't like to--truly," said the girl.
+
+"Take it," said Aunt Mary sternly.
+
+So Janice took it and thanked her.
+
+The train went about 4 p.m., and it seemed wise to give the traveller a
+quiet luncheon in her own room and rally her escort afterwards.
+
+When she had eaten and drank she sighed again and thoughtfully folded her
+napkin.
+
+"I've had a nice time," she said, gazing fixedly out of the window. "I've
+had a nice time, and I guess those young men have enjoyed it, too. I
+rather think my bein' here has given them a chance to go to a good many
+places where they'd never have thought of goin' alone. I'm pretty sure of
+it."
+
+Janice made no reply.
+
+"But it's all over now," said Aunt Mary with something that sounded
+suspiciously like a sob in her voice, "an' I haven't got only just one
+consolation left an' that's--" again she paused.
+
+Janice carried the tray away and the next minute they all burst in bearing
+their parting gifts in their arms.
+
+The gifts were an indiscriminate collection of flowers, candy, magazines,
+books, etc.
+
+Aunt Mary opened her closet door and showed the four dressing-cases.
+Everyone but Jack was mightily surprised and everyone was mightily
+pleased. The room looked like Christmas, and the faces, too.
+
+"I shall die with my head on the hair brush," Clover declared, and
+Mitchell went down on his knees and kissed Aunt Mary's hand.
+
+"You must all come an' see me if you ever go anywhere near," said the old
+lady. "Now promise."
+
+"We promise," they yelled in unison, and then they asked in beautiful
+rhythm "What's the matter with Aunt Mary?" and yelled the answer "She's
+all right!" with a fervor that nearly blew out the window.
+
+"I declare," Aunt Mary exclaimed, as the echoes settled back among the
+furniture, "when I think of Lucinda seems as if--" she paused; further
+speech was for the nonce impossible.
+
+"The carriages are ready," Janice announced at the door, and from then
+until they reached the train all was confusion and bustle.
+
+Only the train whistle could drown the farewells which they poured into
+her ear-trumpet, and when they could hover in her drawing-room no longer
+they stood outside the window as long as the window was there to stand
+outside of. And then they watched it until it was out of sight, and after
+that turned solemnly away.
+
+"By grab!" said Burnett, "I think she ought to leave us all fortunes. I
+never was so completely done up in my life."
+
+"My throat's blistered," said Clover feebly; "I'm going to stand on my
+head and gargle with salve until my throat's healed."
+
+"I shall never shine on the team again," said Mitchell. "I shall hire out
+for bleacher work. He who has successfully conversed with Aunt Mary need
+not fear to attack a Wagner Opera single-handed."
+
+Jack did not say anything. His heart was athirst for Mrs. Rosscott.
+
+She was back in her own library the next night, and he rushed thither as
+soon as his first day's labor was over. She was prettier and her eyes were
+sweeter and brighter than ever as she rose to meet him and held out--first
+one hand, and then both. He took the one hand and then the two and the
+longing that possessed him was so overwhelming that only his acute
+consideration for all she was to him kept him from taking more yet.
+
+"And the week's over," she said, when she had dragged her fingers out of
+his and gone and nestled down upon the divan, among the pillows that
+rivaled each other in their attempts to get closer to her, "the week's all
+over and our aunt is gone."
+
+"Yes," he said, rolling his favorite chair up near to her seat, "all is
+over and well over."
+
+She smiled and he smiled too.
+
+"She must have enjoyed it," she said thoughtfully.
+
+"Enjoyed it!" said Jack. "She won't like Paradise in comparison."
+
+"And you've been a good boy," said Mrs. Rosscott, regarding him merrily.
+"You've played your part well."
+
+He rose to his feet and put his hand to his temple.
+
+"I salute my general," he said. "I was well trained in the maneuver."
+
+"It's odd," said Mrs. Rosscott thoughtfully. "It was really so simple. We
+are only women after all, whether it is I--or Aunt Mary--or all the rest of
+the world. We do so crave the knowledge that someone cares for us--for our
+hours--for our pleasures. It isn't the bonbons--it's that someone troubled
+to buy the bonbons because he thought that they would please _us_."
+
+"Doesn't a man have the same feeling?" Jack asked. "It isn't the tea we
+come for--it's the knowledge that someone bothers to make it and sugar it
+and cream it."
+
+"I wasn't laughing," said she.
+
+"I wasn't laughing either," said he.
+
+"But it's true," she went on, "and I think the solution of many unhappy
+puzzles lies there. Don't forget if you ever have a wife to pay lots of
+attention to her."
+
+"I always have paid lots of attention to her, haven't I?" he demanded.
+
+Mrs. Rosscott shook her head.
+
+"We won't discuss that," she said. "We'll stick to Aunt Mary. Aunt Mary is
+a rock whose foundation is firm; when it comes to your relations toward
+other women--" she stopped, shrugging her shoulders, and he understood.
+
+"But it's going to come out all right now, I'm sure," she went on after a
+minute, "and I'm so glad--so very glad--that the chance was given to me to
+right the wrong that I was the cause of."
+
+                             [Illustration 6]
+
+   "'And now the fun's all over and the work begins,' she said, looking
+                                  down."
+
+
+He looked at her and his eyes almost burned, they were so strong in their
+leaping desire to fling himself at her feet and adore her goodness and
+sweetness and worldliness and wisdom from that vantage-ground of worship.
+
+She choked a little at the glance and put her hands together in her lap
+with a quick catching at self-control.
+
+"And now the fun's all over and the work begins," she said, looking down.
+
+"I know that," he asseverated.
+
+She lifted up her eyes and looked at him so very kindly. And then--after a
+little pause to gain command of word and thought she spoke again, slowly.
+
+"Listen," she said, this time very softly, but very seriously. "I want to
+tell you one thing and I want to tell it to you now. I had a good and
+sufficient reason for helping you out with Aunt Mary; but--" She hesitated.
+
+"But?" he asked.
+
+"But I've no reason at all for helping your Aunt Mary out with you, unless
+you prove worthy of her, and--"
+
+"And?"
+
+She looked at him, and shook her head slightly.
+
+"I won't say 'and of me,'" she said finally.
+
+"Why not?" he asked, a storm of tempestuous impatience raging behind his
+lips. "Do say it," he pleaded.
+
+"No, I can't say it. It wouldn't be right. I don't mean it, and so I won't
+say it. I'll only tell you that I can promise nothing as things are, and
+that unless you go at life from now on with a tremendous energy I never
+shall even dream of a possible promising."
+
+He rose to his feet and towered above her, tall and straight and handsome,
+and very grave.
+
+"All right," he said simply. "I'll remember."
+
+Ever so much later that evening he rose to bid her good-night.
+
+"Whatever comes, you've been an angel to me," he said in that hasty five
+seconds that her hand was his.
+
+"Shall I ever regret it?" she asked, looking up to his eyes.
+
+"Never," he declared earnestly, "never, never. I can swear that, and I
+shall be able to swear the same thing when I'm as old as my Aunt Mary."
+
+Mrs. Rosscott lowered her eyes.
+
+"Who could ask more?" she said softly.
+
+"I could," said Jack--"but I'll wait first."
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER NINETEEN - AUNT MARY'S RETURN
+
+
+Joshua was at the station to meet his mistress, and Lucinda, full to the
+brim with curiosity, sat on the back seat of the carryall.
+
+Aunt Mary quitted the train with a dignity which was sufficiently
+overpowering to counteract the effect of her bonnet's being somewhat awry.
+She greeted Joshua with a chill perfunctoriness that was indescribable,
+and her glance glided completely over Lucinda and faded away in the open
+country on the further side of her.
+
+Lucinda did not care. Lucinda was of a hardy stock and stormy glances
+neither bent nor broke her spirit.
+
+"I'm glad to see you come back looking so well," she screamed, when Aunt
+Mary was in and they were off.
+
+Aunt Mary raised her eyebrows in a manner that appeared a trifle
+indignant, and riveted her gaze on the hindquarters of the horse.
+
+"I thought it was more like heaven myself," she said coldly. "Not that
+your opinion matters any to me, Lucinda."
+
+Then she leaned forward and poked the driver.
+
+"Joshua!" she said.
+
+Joshua jumped in his seat at the asperity of her poke and her tone.
+
+"What is it?" he said hastily.
+
+"Jus' 's soon as we get home I want you to take the saw--that little, sharp
+one, you know--and dock Billy's tail. Cut it off as close as you can; do
+you hear?"
+
+"I hear," was the startled answer.
+
+"Did you have a good time?" Lucinda had the temerity to ask, after a
+minute.
+
+"I guess I could if I tried," the lady replied; "but I'm too tired to try
+now."
+
+"How did you leave Mr. Jack?"
+
+"I couldn't stay forever, could I?" asked the traveler impatiently. "I
+thought that a week was long enough for the first time, anyhow."
+
+Lucinda subsided and the rest of the drive was taken in silence. When they
+reached the house Aunt Mary enveloped everything in one glance of blended
+weariness, scorn and contempt, and then made short work of getting to bed,
+where she slept the luxurious and dreamless sleep of the unjust until late
+that afternoon.
+
+"My, but she's come back a terror!" Lucinda cried to Joshua in a high
+whisper when he brought in the trunk. "She looks like nothin' was goin' to
+be good enough for her from now on."
+
+"Nothin' ain't goin' to be good enough for her," said Joshua calmly.
+
+"What are we goin' to do, then?" asked Lucinda.
+
+"We'll have enough to do," said Joshua, in a tone that was portentous in
+the extreme, and then he placed the trunk in its proper position for
+unpacking and went away, leaving Lucinda to unpack it.
+
+Aunt Mary awoke just as the faithful servant was unrolling the green plaid
+waist, and the instant that she spoke it was plain that her attitude
+toward life in general was become strangely and vigorously changed, and
+that for Lucinda the rack was to be newly oiled and freshly racking.
+
+This attitude was not in any degree altered by the unexpected arrival of
+Arethusa that evening. Strange tales had reached Arethusa's ears, and she
+had flown on the wings of steam and coal dust to see what under the sun it
+all meant. Aunt Mary was not one bit rejoiced to see her and the glare
+which she directed over the edge of the counterpane bore testimony to the
+truth of this statement.
+
+"Whatever did you come for?" she demanded inhospitably. "Lucinda didn't
+send for you, did she?"
+
+Arethusa screamed the best face that she could onto her visit, but Aunt
+Mary listened with an inattention that was anything but flattering.
+
+"I don't feel like talkin' over my trip," she said, when she saw her
+niece's lips cease to move. "Of course I enjoyed myself because I was with
+Jack, but as to what we did an' said you couldn't understand it all if I
+did tell you, so what's the use of botherin'."
+
+Arethusa looked neutral, calm and curious. But Aunt Mary frowned and shook
+her head.
+
+"S'long as you're here, though, I suppose you may as well make yourself
+useful," she said a few minutes later. "Come to think of it, there's an
+errand I want you to do for me. I want you to go to Boston the very first
+thing to-morrow morning an' buy me some cotton."
+
+Arethusa stared blankly.
+
+"Well," said the aunt, "if you can't hear, you'd better take my
+ear-trumpet and I'll say it over again."
+
+"What kind of cotton?" Arethusa yelled.
+
+"Not _stockin's!_" said Aunt Mary; "Cotton! Cotton! C-O-T-T-O-N! It beats
+the Dutch how deaf everyone is gettin', an' if I had your ears in
+particular, Arethusa, I'd certainly hire a carpenter to get at 'em with a
+bit-stalk. Jus's if you didn't know as well as I do how many stockin's
+I've got already! I should think you'd quit bein' so heedless, an' use
+your commonsense, anyhow. I've found commonsense a very handy thing in
+talkin' always. Always."
+
+Arethusa launched herself full tilt into the ear-trumpet.
+
+"What--kind--of--cotton?" she asked in that key of voice which makes the
+crowd pause in a panic.
+
+Aunt Mary looked disgusted.
+
+"The Boston kind," she said, nipping her lips.
+
+Arethusa took a double hitch on her larynx, and tried again.
+
+"Do you mean thread?"
+
+Aunt Mary's disgust deepened visibly.
+
+"If I meant silk I guess I wouldn't say cotton. I might just happen to say
+silk. I've been in the habit of saying silk when I meant silk and cotton
+when I meant cotton, for quite a number of years, and I might not have
+changed to-day--I might just happen to not have. I might not have--maybe."
+
+Arethusa withered under this bitter irony.
+
+"How many spools do you want?" she asked in a meek but piercing howl.
+
+"I don't care," said Aunt Mary loftily. "I don't care how many--or what
+color--or what number. I just want some Boston cotton, and I want to see
+you settin' out to get it pretty promptly to-morrow morning."
+
+"But if you only want some cotton," Arethusa yelled, with a force which
+sent crimson waves all over her, "why can't I get it in the village?"
+
+Aunt Mary shot one look at her niece and the latter felt the concussion.
+
+"Because--I--want--you--to--get--it--in--Boston," she said, filling the breaks
+between her words with a concentrated essence of acerbity such as even she
+had never displayed before. "When I say a thing, I mean it pretty
+generally. Quite often--most always. I want that cotton and it's to be
+bought in Boston. There's a train that goes in at seven-forty-five, and if
+you don't favor the idea of ridin' on it you can take the express that
+goes by at six-five."
+
+Arethusa pressed her hands very tightly together and carried the
+discussion no further. She went to bed early and rose early the next
+morning and Joshua drove her in town to the seven-forty-five.
+
+"It doesn't seem to me that my aunt is very well," the niece said during
+the drive. "What do you think?"
+
+"I don't think anything about her," said Joshua with great candor. "If I
+was to give to thinkin' I'd o' moved out to Chicago an' been scalpin'
+Indians to-day."
+
+"I wonder if that trip to New York was good for her?" Arethusa wondered
+mildly.
+
+Joshua flicked Billy with the whip and refused to voice any opinion as to
+New York's effect on his mistress.
+
+Arethusa was well on her way to Boston when Aunt Mary's bell, rung with a
+sharp jangle, summoned Lucinda to open her bedroom blinds. While Lucinda
+was leaning far out and attempting to cause said blinds to catch on the
+hooks, which habitually held them back against the side of the house, her
+mistress addressed her with a suddeness which showed that she had awakened
+with her wits surprisingly well in hand.
+
+"Where's Joshua? Is he got back from Arethusa? Answer me, Lucinda."
+
+Lucinda drew herself in through the open window with an alacrity
+remarkable for one of her years.
+
+"Yes, he's back," she yelled.
+
+Aunt Mary looked at her with a sort of incensed patience.
+
+"Well, what's he doin'? If he's back, where is he? Lucinda, if you knew
+how hard it is for me to keep quiet you'd answer when I asked things. Why
+in Heaven's name don't you say suthin'? Anythin'? Anythin' but nothin',
+that is."
+
+"He's mowin'," Lucinda shrieked.
+
+"Sewin'!" exclaimed Aunt Mary. "What's he sewin'? Where's he sewin'? Have
+you stopped doin' his darnin'?"
+
+Lucinda gathered breath by compressing her sides with her hands, and then
+replied, directing her voice right into the ear-trumpet:
+
+"He's mowin' the back lawn."
+
+Aunt Mary winced and shivered.
+
+"My heavens, Lucinda!" she exclaimed, sharply. "I wish't there was a
+school to teach outsiders the use of an ear-trumpet. They can't seem to
+hit the medium between either mumblin' or splittin' one's ear drums."
+
+Lucinda was too much out of breath from her effort to attempt any audible
+penitence. Her mistress continued:
+
+"Well, you find him wherever he is, and tell him to harness up the buggy
+and go and get Mr. Stebbins as quick as ever he can. Hurry!"
+
+Lucinda exited with a promptitude that fulfilled all that her lady's heart
+could wish. She found Joshua whetting his scythe.
+
+"She wants Mr. Stebbins right off," said Lucinda.
+
+"Then she'll get Mr. Stebbins right off," said Joshua. And he headed
+immediately for the barn.
+
+Lucinda ran along beside him. It did seem to Lucinda as if in compensation
+for her slavery to Aunt Mary she might have had a sympathizer in Joshua.
+
+"I guess she wants to change her will," she panted, very much out of
+breath.
+
+"Then she'll change her will," said Joshua. And as his steady gait was
+much quicker than poor Lucinda's halting amble, and as he saw no occasion
+to alter it, the conversation between them dwindled into space then and
+there.
+
+Half an hour later Billy went out of the drive at a swinging pace and an
+hour after that Mr. Stebbins was brought captive to Aunt Mary's throne.
+
+She welcomed him cordially; Lucinda was promptly locked out, and then the
+old lady and her lawyer spent a momentous hour together. Mr. Stebbins was
+taken into his client's fullest confidence; he was regaled with enough of
+the week's history to guess the rest; and he foresaw the outcome as he had
+foreseen it from the moment of the rupture.
+
+Aunt Mary was very sincere in owning up to her own past errors.
+
+"I made a big mistake about the life that boy was leadin'," she said in
+the course of the conversation. "He took me everywhere where he was in the
+habit of goin', an' so far from its bein' wicked, I never enjoyed myself
+so much in my life. There ain't no harm in havin' fun, an' it does cost a
+lot of money. I can understand it all now, an' as I'm a great believer in
+settin' wrong right whenever you can, I want Jack put right in my will
+right off. I want--" and then were unfolded the glorious possibilities of
+the future for her youngest, petted nephew. He was not only to be
+reinstated in the will, but he was to reign supreme. The other four
+children were to be rich--very rich,--but Jack was to be _the_ heir.
+
+Mr. Stebbins was well pleased. He was very fond of Jack and had always
+been particularly patient with him on that account. He felt that this was
+a personal reward of merit, for it cannot be denied that Jack had
+certainly cashed very large checks on the bank of his forbearance.
+
+When all was finished, and Joshua and Lucinda had been called in and had
+duly affixed their signatures to the important document, the buggy was
+brought to the door again and Mr. Stebbins stepped in and allowed himself
+to be replaced where they had taken him from.
+
+Joshua returned alone.
+
+"There, what did I tell you!" said Lucinda, who was waiting for him behind
+the wood-house,--"she did want to change her will."
+
+"Well, she changed it, didn't she?" said Joshua.
+
+"I guess she wants to give him all she's got, since that week in New
+York," said Lucinda.
+
+"Then she'll give him all she's got," said Joshua.
+
+Lucinda's eyes grew big.
+
+"An' she'll give it to you, too, if you don't look out and stay where you
+can hear her bell if she rings it," Joshua added, with his usual
+frankness, and then he whipped up Billy and drove on to the barn.
+
+Arethusa returned late in the afternoon, very warm, very wilted. Aunt Mary
+looked over the cotton purchase, and deigned to approve.
+
+"But, my heavens, Arethusa," she exclaimed immediately afterwards, "if you
+had any idea how dirty and dusty and altogether awful you do look, you
+wouldn't be able to get to soap and water fast enough."
+
+At that poor Arethusa sighed, and, gathering up her hat, and hat-pins, and
+veil, and gloves, and purse, and handkerchief, went away to wash.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY - JACK'S JOY
+
+
+About the first of July many agreeable things happened.
+
+One was that Mr. Stebbins found it advisable to address a discreet letter
+to John Watkins, Jr., Denham, conveying the information that although he
+must not count unduly upon the future, still, if he behaved himself, he
+might with safety allow his expenditures to mount upward monthly to a
+certain limit. This was the way in which Aunt Mary salved her conscience
+and saved her pride all at once.
+
+"I don't want him to think that I don't mean things when I say 'em," she
+had carefully explained to Mr. Stebbins, "but I can't bear to think that
+there's anybody in New York without money enough to have a good time
+there."
+
+Mr. Stebbins had made a note of the sum which the allowance was to compass
+and had promised to write the letter at once.
+
+"What did you do the last time you were in the city?" Aunt Mary asked.
+
+"I was much occupied with business," said the lawyer, "but I found time to
+visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art and--"
+
+"Good gracious!" exclaimed Aunt Mary, "who was takin' you 'round! I never
+had a second for any museums or arts;--you ought to have seen a vaudeville,
+or that gondola place! I was ferried around four times and the music
+lasted all through." She stopped and reflected. "I guess you can make that
+money a hundred a month more," she said slowly. "I don't want the boy to
+ever feel stinted or have to run in debt."
+
+Mr. Stebbins smiled, and the result was that Jack began to pay up the
+bills for his aunt's entertainment very much more rapidly than he had
+anticipated doing.
+
+Another pleasant thing was that a week or so later--very soon after Mrs.
+Rosscott had given up her town house and returned to the protection of the
+parental slate-tiles--Burnett's father, a peppery but jovial old gentleman
+(we all know the kind), suddenly asked why Bob never came home any more.
+This action on the part of the head of the house being tantamount to the
+completest possible forgiveness and obliviousness of the past, Burnett's
+mother, of whom the inquiry had been made, wept tears of sincerest joy and
+wrote to the youngest of her flock to return to the ancestral fold just as
+soon as he possibly could. He came, and as a result, a fortnight later
+Jack came, and Mitchell came, and Clover came. Mrs. Rosscott, as we have
+previously stated, was already there, and so were Maude Lorne and a great
+many others. Some of the others were pretty girls and Burnett and two of
+his friends found plenty to amuse them, but Burnett's dearest friend, his
+bosom friend, his Fidus Achates, found no one to amuse him, because he was
+in earnest, and had eyes for no feminine prettiness, his sight being
+dazzled by the radiance of one surpassing loveliness. He had worked
+tremendously hard the first month of daily laboring, and felt he deserved
+a reward. Be it said for Jack that the reward of which Aunt Mary had the
+bestowing counted for very little with him except in its relation to the
+far future. The real goal which he was striving toward, the real laurels
+that he craved--Ah! they lay in another direction.
+
+Middle July is a lovely time to get off among the trees and grass, and lie
+around in white flannels or white muslins, just as the case may be. It was
+too warm to do much else than that, and Heaven knows that Jack desired
+nothing better, as long as his goddess smiled upon him.
+
+It was curious about his goddess. She seemed to grow more beautiful every
+time that he saw her. Perhaps it was her native air that gave her that
+charming flush; perhaps it was the joy of being at home again; perhaps it
+was--no, he didn't dare to hope that. Not yet. Not even with all that she
+had done for him fresh in his memory. The humility of true love was so
+heavy on his heart that his very dreams were dulled with hopelessness, the
+majority of them seeming too vividly dyed in Paradise hues for their
+fulfillment in daily life to ever appear possible. But still he was very,
+very happy to be there with her--beside her--and to hear her voice and look
+into her eyes whenever the trouble some "other people" would leave them
+alone together. And she did seem happy, too. And so rejoiced that the tide
+of Aunt Mary's wrath had been successfully turned. And so rejoiced that he
+was at work, even in the face of her hopes as to his college career. And
+also so rejoiced to take up the gay, careless thread of their mutual
+pleasure again.
+
+The morning after the gathering of the party was Saturday and an ideal
+day--that sort of ideal day when house parties naturally sift into pairs
+and then fade away altogether. The country surrounding our particular
+party was densely wooded and not at all settled, the woods were laid out
+in a fascinating system of walks and benches which in no case commanded
+views of one another, and the shade overhead was the shade of July and as
+propitious to rest as it was to motion. Mitchell took a girl in gray and
+two sets of golf clubs and started out in the opposite direction from the
+links, Clover took a girl in green and a camera and went another way,
+Burnett took a girl in a riding habit and two saddle horses and followed
+the horses' noses whither they led, and Jack--Jack smoked cigarettes on the
+piazza and waited--waited.
+
+Mrs. Rosscott came out after a while and asked him why he didn't go to
+walk also.
+
+"Just what I was thinking as to yourself," he said, very boldly as to
+voice, and very beseechingly as to eyes.
+
+"Oh, I'm so busy," she said, laughing up into his eyes and then laughing
+down at the ground--"you see I'm the only married daughter to help mamma."
+
+"But you've been helping all the morning," he complained, "and besides how
+can you help? One would think that your mother was beating eggs or turning
+mattresses."
+
+"I have to work harder than that," said Mrs. Rosscott; "I have to make
+people know one another and like one another and not all want to make love
+to the same girl."
+
+"You can't help their all wanting to make love to the same girl," said
+Jack; "the more you try to convince them of their folly the deeper in love
+they are bound to fall. I'm an illustration of that myself."
+
+Mrs. Rosscott looked at him then and curved her mouth sweetly.
+
+"You do say such pretty things," she said. "I don't see how you've learned
+so much in so little time. Why, General Jiggs in there is three times your
+age and he tangles himself awfully when he tries to be sweet."
+
+"Perhaps his physician has recommended gymnastics," said Jack.
+
+"Perhaps," said Mrs. Rosscott laughing, and then she turned as if to go
+in.
+
+"Oh, don't," said her lover, barring the way with great suddenness; "you
+really mustn't, you know. I've been patient for so long and been good for
+so long and I must be rewarded--I really must. Do come out with me
+somewhere--anywhere--for only a half-hour,--please."
+
+She looked at him.
+
+"Won't Maude do?" she asked.
+
+"No, she won't," he said beneath his breath; "whatever do you suggest such
+a thing for? You make me ready to tell you to your face that you want to
+go as bad as I want you to go, but I shan't say so because I know too
+much."
+
+"You do know a lot, don't you?" said she, with an expression of great
+respect; "why, if you were to dare to hint to me that I wanted to go out
+with you instead of staying in and talking Rembrandt with Mr. Morley, I'd
+never forgive you the longest day I live."
+
+"I know you wouldn't," said he, "and you may be quite sure that I shall
+not say it. On the contrary I shall merely implore you to forget your own
+pleasure in consideration of mine."
+
+"I really ought to devote the morning to Mr. Morley," she said
+meditatively; "it's such an honor his coming here, you know."
+
+"A little bit of a whiskered monkey," said Jack in great disgust; "an
+honor, indeed!"
+
+"He's a very great man," said Mrs. Rosscott; "every sort of institution
+has given him a few letters to put after his name, and some have given him
+whole syllables."
+
+"You must get a straw hat, you know, or a sun-shade; it will be hot in
+half an hour."
+
+"Oh, I couldn't stay out half an hour; fifteen minutes would be the
+longest."
+
+"All right, fifteen minutes, then, but do hurry."
+
+"I didn't say that I would go," she said, opening her eyes; "and yet I
+feel myself gone." She laughed lightly.
+
+"Do hurry," he pleaded freshly; "oh, I am so hungry to--"
+
+She disappeared within doors and five minutes later came back with one of
+those charming floppy English garden hats, tied with a muslin bow beneath
+her dimpled chin.
+
+"This is so good of me," she said, as they went down the steps.
+
+"Very good, heavenly good," said Jack; and then neither spoke again until
+they had crossed the Italian garden and entered the American wood. She
+looked into his eyes then and smiled half-shyly and half-provokingly.
+
+"You are such a baby," she said; "such a baby! Do ask me why and I'll tell
+you half a dozen whys. I'd love to."
+
+The path was the smoothest and shadiest of forest paths, the hour was the
+sweetest and sunniest of summer hours, the moment was the brightest and
+happiest of all the moments which they had known together--up to now.
+
+"Do tell me," he said; "I'm wild to know."
+
+He took her hand and laid it on his arm. For that little while she was
+certainly his and his alone, and no man had a better claim to her. "Go on
+and tell me," he repeated.
+
+"There is one big reason and there are lots of little ones. Which will you
+have first?"
+
+"The little ones, please."
+
+"Then, listen; you are like a baby because you are impatient, because you
+are spoilt, because when you want anything you think that you must have
+it, and because you like to be walked with."
+
+"Are those the little reasons," he said when she paused; "and what's the
+big one?"
+
+"The big one," she said slowly; "Oh, I'm afraid that you won't like the
+big one!"
+
+"Perhaps it will be all the better for me if I don't," he laughed; "at any
+rate I beg and pray and plead to know it."
+
+"What a dear boy!" she laughed. "If you want to know as badly as that, I'd
+have to tell you anyhow, whether I wanted to or not. It's because I'm so
+much the oldest."
+
+"Oh!" said Jack, much disappointed. "Is that why?"
+
+"And then too," she continued, "you seem even younger because of your
+being so unsophisticated."
+
+"So I am unsophisticated, am I?" he asked grimly.
+
+"Yes," she said nodding; "at least you impress me so."
+
+"I'm glad of that," he said after a little pause.
+
+She looked up quickly.
+
+"Truly?"
+
+"Yes, indeed."
+
+"Oh," she laughed, "if you say that, then I shall know that you are less
+unsophisticated than I thought you were."
+
+"Why so?" he asked surprised.
+
+"Don't you know that meek, mild men always try to insinuate that they are
+regular fire-eaters, and vice versa? Well, it's so--and it's so every time.
+There was once a man who was kissing me, and he drew my hands up around
+his neck in such a clever, gentle way that I was absolutely positive that
+he had had no end of practice drawing arms up in that way and I just
+couldn't help saying: 'Oh, how many women you must have kissed!' What do
+you think he answered?--merely smiled and said: 'Not so many as you might
+imagine.' He showed how much he knew by the way he answered, for oh! he
+had. I found that out afterwards."
+
+"What did you do then?" he asked, frowning. "Cut him?"
+
+"No; I married him. Why, of course I was going to marry him when he kissed
+me, or I wouldn't have let him kiss me. Do you suppose I let men kiss me
+as a general thing? What are you thinking of?"
+
+"I was thinking of you," he said. "It's a horrible habit I've fallen into
+lately. But, never mind; keep on talking."
+
+"I don't remember what I was saying," she said. "Oh, yes, I do too. About
+men, about good and bad men. Now, even if I didn't know how much trouble
+you'd made in the world, I'd divine it all the instant that you were
+willing to admit being unsophisticated. People always crave to be the
+opposite of what they are; the drug shops couldn't sell any peroxide of
+hydrogen if that wasn't so."
+
+He laughed and forgot his previous vexation.
+
+"Now, look at me," she continued. "Oh, I didn't mean really--I mean
+figuratively; but never mind. Now, I'm nothing but a bubble and a toy, and
+I ache to be considered a philosopher. Don't you remember my telling you
+what a philosopher I was, the very first conversation that we ever had
+together? I do try so hard to delude myself into thinking I am one, that
+some days I'm almost sure that I really am one. Last night, for instance,
+I was thinking how nice it would be for my Cousin Maude to marry you."
+
+"Ye gods!" cried Jack.
+
+"She's so very rich," Mrs. Rosscott pursued calmly; "and you know the law
+of heredity is an established scientific fact now, so you could feel quite
+safe as to her nose skipping the next generation."
+
+Jack was audibly amused.
+
+"It's not anything to laugh over," his companion continued gravely. "It's
+something to ponder and pray over. If I were Maude I should be on my knees
+about it most of the time."
+
+"Nothing can help her now," said Jack. "Her parents have been and gone and
+done it, as far as she's concerned, forever. Prayer won't change her nose,
+although age may broaden it still more."
+
+"Don't you believe that nothing can help her now. A good-looking husband
+could help her lots. I've seen homelier girls than she go just
+everywhere--on account of their husbands, you know. That was where my
+philosophy came in."
+
+"I'd quite forgotten your philosophy." He laughed again as he spoke. "I
+must apologize. Please tell me more about it."
+
+She laughed, too.
+
+"I'm going to. You see, I was lying there, looking out at the moon, and
+thinking how nice it would be for Maude to marry you."
+
+"Did you consider me at all?" he interposed.
+
+"How you interrupt!" she declared, in exasperation. "You never let me
+finish."
+
+"I am dumb."
+
+"Well, I thought how nice it would be for Maude to marry you. You'd have a
+baron for a papa-in-law, and an heiress to balance Aunt Mary with. If you
+went into consumption and had to retreat to Arizona for a term of years,
+the climate could not ruin her complexion as it would m--most people's. And
+she's so ready to have you that it's almost pathetic. I can't imagine
+anything more awful than to be as ready to marry a man who is'nt at all
+desirous of so doing, as Maude is of marrying you. But if you would only
+think about it. I thought and thought about it last night and the longer I
+thought the more it seemed like such a nice arrangement all around; and
+then--all of a sudden--do you know I began to wonder if I was philosopher
+enough to enjoy being matron-of-honor to Maude and really--"
+
+"At the wedding I could have kissed you!" he exclaimed, and suddenly
+subsided at the look with which she withered his boldness.
+
+"And really I wasn't altogether sure; and then, it occurred to me that
+nothing on the face of the earth would ever persuade you to marry Maude.
+And I saw my card castle go smashing down, and then I saw that I really am
+a philosopher, after all, for--for I didn't mind a bit!"
+
+Jack threw his head back and roared.
+
+"Oh," he said after a minute, "you are so refreshing. You ruffle me up
+just to give me the joy of smoothing me down, don't you?"
+
+"I do what I can to amuse you," she said, demurely. "You are my father's
+guest and my brother's friend, and so I ought to--oughtn't I?"
+
+"Yes," he said, "I have a two-fold claim on you if you look at it that way
+and some day I mean to go to work and unfold still another."
+
+They had come to a delightful little nook where the trees sighed gently,
+"Sit down," and there seemed to be no adequate reason for refusing the
+invitation.
+
+"Let's rest, I know you're tired," the young man said gently, and the next
+minute found his companion down upon the soft grass, her back against a
+twisted tree-root and her hands about her knees.
+
+He threw himself down beside her and the hush and the song of mid-summer
+were all about them, filling the air, and their ears, and their hearts all
+at once.
+
+Presently he took her hand up out of the grass where its fingers had
+wandered to hide themselves, and kissed it. She looked at him reprovingly
+when it was too late, and shook her head.
+
+"Such a little one!" he said.
+
+"I call it a pretty big one," she answered.
+
+"I mean the hand--not the kiss," he said smiling.
+
+"You really are sophisticated," she told him. "Only fancy if you had
+reversed those nouns!"
+
+"I know," he said; "but I've kissed hands before. You see, I'm more
+talented than you think."
+
+"Don't be silly," she said smiling. "I really am beginning to think very
+well of you. You don't want me to cease to, do you?"
+
+"Why do women always say 'Don't be silly'?" he queried. "I wish I could
+find one who wanted to be very original, and so said, 'Do be silly', just
+for a change."
+
+"Dear me, if women were to beg men to be silly what would happen?" Mrs.
+Rosscott exclaimed. "The majority are so very foolish without any special
+egging on."
+
+"But it is so dreadfully time-worn--that one phrase."
+
+"Oh, if it comes to originality," she answered, "men are not original,
+either. Whenever they lie down in the shade, they always begin to talk
+nonsense. You reflect a bit and see if that isn't invariably so."
+
+"But nonsense is such fun to talk in the shade," he said, spreading her
+fingers out upon his own broad palm. "So many things are so next to
+heavenly in the shade."
+
+"You ought not to hold my hand."
+
+"I know it."
+
+"I am astonished that you do not remember your Aunt Mary's teaching you
+better."
+
+"She never forbade my holding your hand."
+
+"Suppose anyone should come suddenly down the path?"
+
+"They would see us and turn and go back."
+
+"To tell everyone--"
+
+"What?"
+
+"A lie."
+
+Jack laughed, folded her hand hard in his, and drew himself into a sitting
+posture beside her knee.
+
+"Now, don't be silly," she said with earnest anxiety. "I won't have it.
+It's putting false ideas in your head, because I'm really only playing,
+you know."
+
+"The shadow of love," he suggested.
+
+"Quite so."
+
+"And if--" He leaned quite near.
+
+"Not by any means," she exclaimed, springing quickly to her feet.
+"Come--come! It's quite time that we were going back to the house."
+
+"Why must we?" he remonstrated.
+
+"You know why," she said. "It's time we were being sensible. When a man
+gets as near as you are, I prefer to be _en promenade_. And don't let us
+be foolish any longer, either. Let us be cool and worldly. How much money
+has your aunt, anyhow?"
+
+Jack had risen, too.
+
+"What impertinence!" he ejaculated.
+
+"Not at all," she said. "Maude has so much money of her own that I ask in
+a wholly disinterested spirit."
+
+"She's very rich," said Jack. "But if your spirit is so disinterested,
+what do you want to know for?"
+
+"This is a world of chance, and the main chance in a woman's case is
+alimony; so it's always nice to know how to figure it."
+
+"It's a slim chance for your cousin," said Jack. "Do tell her that I said
+so."
+
+"No, I shan't," said she perversely. "I won't be a go-between for you and
+her. Besides, as to that alimony, there are more heiresses than Maude in
+our family."
+
+"Yes," said he; "I know that. But I know, too, that there is one among
+them who need never figure on getting any alimony out of me. If I ever get
+the iron grasp of the law on that heiress, I can assure you that only her
+death or mine will ever loosen its fangs."
+
+"How fierce you are!" said Mrs. Rosscott. "Why do you get so worked up?"
+
+"Oh," he exclaimed, with something approaching a groan, "I don't mean to
+be--but I do care so much! And sometimes--" he caught her quickly in his
+arms, drew her within their strong embrace, and kissed her passionately
+upon the lips that had been tantalizing him for five interminable months.
+
+He was almost frightened the next second by her stillness.
+
+"Don't be angry," he pleaded.
+
+"I'm not," she murmured, resting very quietly with her cheek against his
+heart. "But you'll have to marry me now. My other husband did, you know."
+
+"Marry you!" he exclaimed. "Next week? To-morrow? This afternoon? You need
+only say when--"
+
+"Oh, not for years and years," she said, interrupting him. "You mustn't
+dream of such a thing for years and years!"
+
+"For years and years!" he cried in astonishment.
+
+"That's what I said," she told him.
+
+He released her in his surprise and stared hard at her. And then he seized
+her again and kissed her soundly.
+
+"You don't mean it!" he declared.
+
+"I do mean it!" she declared.
+
+And then she shook her head in a very sweet but painfully resolute manner.
+
+"I won't be called a cradle-robber," she said, firmly; and at that her
+companion swore mildly but fervently.
+
+"You're so young," she said further; "and not a bit settled," she added.
+
+"But you're young, too," he reminded her.
+
+"I'm older than you are," she said.
+
+"I suppose that you aren't any more settled than I am, and that's why you
+hesitate," he said grimly.
+
+"Now that's unworthy of you," she cried; "and I have a good mind--"
+
+But the direful words were never spoken, for she was in his arms
+again--close in his arms; and, as he kissed her with a delicious sensation
+that it was all too good to be true, he whispered, laughing:
+
+"I always meant to lord it over my wife, so I'll begin by saying: 'Have it
+your own way, as long as I have you.'"
+
+Mrs. Rosscott laid her cheek back against his coat lapel, and looked up
+into his eyes with the sweetest smile that even he had ever seen upon even
+her face.
+
+"It's a bargain," she murmured.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE - THE PEACE AND QUIET OF THE COUNTRY
+
+
+Along in the beginning of the fall Aunt Mary began suddenly to grow very
+feeble indeed. After the first week or two it became apparent that she
+would have to be quiet and very prudent for some time, and it was when
+this information was imparted to her that the family discovered that she
+had been intending to go to New York for the Horse-Show.
+
+"She's awful mad," Lucinda said to Joshua. "The doctor says she'll have to
+stay in bed."
+
+"She won't stay in bed long," said Joshua.
+
+"The doctor says if she don't stay in bed she'll die," said Lucinda.
+
+"She won't die," said Joshua.
+
+Lucinda looked at Joshua and felt a keen desire to throw her flatiron at
+him. The world always thinks that the Lucindas have no feelings; the world
+never knows how near the flatirons come to the Joshuas often and often.
+
+Arethusa came for two days and looked the situation well over.
+
+"I think I won't stay," she said to Lucinda, "but you must write me twice
+a week and I'll write the others."
+
+Then Arethusa departed and Lucinda remained alone to superintend things
+and be superintended by Aunt Mary.
+
+Aunt Mary's superintendence waxed extremely vigorous almost at once. She
+had out her writing desk, and wrote Jack a letter, as a consequence of
+which everything published in New York was mailed to his aunt as soon as
+it was off the presses. Lucinda was set reading aloud and, except when the
+mail came, was hardly allowed to halt for food and sleep.
+
+"My heavens above," said the slave to Joshua, "it don't seem like I can
+live with her!"
+
+"You'll live with her," said Joshua.
+
+"It's more as flesh and blood can bear."
+
+"Flesh and blood can bear a good deal more'n you think for," said Joshua,
+and then he delivered up two letters and drove off toward the barn.
+
+"If those are letters," said Aunt Mary from her pillow the instant she
+heard the front door close, "I'd like 'em. I'm a great believer in readin'
+my own mail, an' another time, Lucinda, I'll thank you to bring it as soon
+as you get it an' not stand out on the porch hollyhockin' with Joshua for
+half an hour while I wait."
+
+Lucinda delivered up the letters without demanding what species of
+conversational significance her mistress attached to the phrase,
+"holly-hocking."
+
+Aunt Mary turned the letters through eagerly.
+
+"My lands alive!" she said suddenly, "if here isn't one from Mitchell,--the
+dear boy. Well, I never did!--Lucinda, open the blinds to the other window,
+too--so I--can--see to--" her voice died away,--she was too deep in the letter
+to recollect what she was saying.
+
+Mitchell wrote:
+
+
+    MY DEAR MISS WATKINS:--
+
+    We are sitting in a row with ashes on the heads of our cigarettes
+    mourning, mourning, mourning, because we have had the news that
+    you are ill. As usual it is up to me to express our feelings, so I
+    have decided to mail them and the others agree to pay for the ink.
+
+    I wish to remark at once that we did not sleep any last night.
+    Jack told us at dinner, and we spent the evening making a
+    melancholy tour of places where we had been with you. If you had
+    only been with us! The roof gardens are particularly desolate
+    without you. The whole of the city seems to realize it. The
+    watering carts weep from dawn to dark. All the lamp-posts are
+    wearing black. It is sad at one extreme and sadder at the other.
+
+    You must brace up. If you can't do that try a belt. Life is too
+    short to spend in bed. My motto has always been "Spend freely
+    everywhere else." At present I recommend anything calculated to
+    mend you. I may in all modesty mention that just before Christmas
+    I shall be traveling north and shall then adore to stop and cheer
+    you up a bit if you invite me. I have made it an invariable rule,
+    however, not to stay over night anywhere when I am not invited, so
+    I hope you will consider my feelings and send me an invitation.
+
+    My eyes fill as I think what it will be to sit beside you and
+    recall dear old New York. It will be the next best thing to being
+    run over by an automobile, won't it?
+
+                                    Yours, with fondest recollections,
+
+                                            HERBERT KENDRICK MITCHELL.
+
+
+Aunt Mary laid the letter down.
+
+"Lucinda," she said in a curiously veiled tone, "give me a handkerchief--a
+big one. As big a one as I've got."
+
+Lucinda did as requested.
+
+"Now, go away," said Aunt Mary.
+
+Lucinda went away. She went straight to Joshua.
+
+"She's had a letter an' read it an' it's made her cry," she said.
+
+"That's better'n if it made her mad," said Joshua, who was warming his
+hands at the stove.
+
+"I ain't sure that it won't make her mad later," said Lucinda. "Say, but
+she is a Tartar since she came back. Seems some days's if I couldn't
+live."
+
+"You'll live," said Joshua, and, as his hands were now well-warmed, he
+went out again.
+
+After a while Aunt Mary's bell jangled violently and Lucinda had to hurry
+back.
+
+"Lucinda, did the doctor say anythin' to you about how long he thought I
+might be sick?"
+
+"Yes, he did."
+
+"What did he say? I want to know jus' what he said. Speak up!"
+
+"He said he didn't have no idea how long you'd be sick."
+
+Aunt Mary threw a look at Lucinda that ought to have annihilated her.
+
+"I want to see Jack," she said. "Bring my writin' desk. Right off. Quick."
+
+She wrote to Jack, and he came up and spent the next Sunday with her,
+cheering her mightily.
+
+"I wish the others could have come, too," she said once an hour all
+through his visit. Mitchell's letter seemed to have bred a tremendous
+longing within her.
+
+"They'll come later," said Jack, with hearty good-will. "They all want to
+come."
+
+"I don't know how we could ever have any fun up here though," said his
+aunt sadly. "My heavens alive, Jack,--but this is an awful place to live
+in. And to think that I lived to be seventy before I found it out."
+
+Jack took her hand and kissed it. He did sympathize, even if he was only
+twenty-two and longing unutterably to be somewhere else and kissing
+someone else at that very minute.
+
+"Mitchell wrote me a letter," continued Aunt Mary. "He said he was comin'.
+Well, dear me, he can eat mince pie and drive with Joshua when he goes for
+the mail, but I don't know what else I can do with him. Oh, if I'd only
+been born in the city!"
+
+Jack kissed her hand again. He didn't know what to say. Aunt Mary's lot
+seemed to border upon the tragic just then and there.
+
+The next day he returned to town and Lucinda came on duty again. She soon
+found that the nephew's visit had rendered the aunt harder than ever to
+get along with.
+
+"I'm goin' to town jus''s soon as ever I feel well enough," she declared
+aggressively on more than one occasion. "An' nex' time I go I'm goin' to
+stay jus''s long as ever I'm havin' a good time. Now, don't contradict me,
+Lucinda, because it's your place to hold your tongue. I'm a great believer
+in your holding your tongue, Lucinda."
+
+Lucinda, who certainly never felt the slightest inclination toward
+contradiction, held her tongue, and the poor, unhappy one twisted about in
+bed, and bemoaned the quietude of her environment by the hour at a time.
+
+"Did you say we had a calf?" she asked suddenly one day. "Well, why don't
+you answer? When I ask a question I expect an answer. Didn't you say we
+had a calf?"
+
+Lucinda nodded.
+
+"Well, I want Joshua to take that calf to the blacksmith and have him shod
+behind an' before right off. To-day--this minute."
+
+"You want the calf shod!" cried Lucinda, suddenly alarmed by the fear lest
+her mistress had gone light-headed.
+
+Aunt Mary glared in a way that showed that she was far from being out of
+her usual mind.
+
+"If I said shod, I guess I meant shod," she said, icily. "I do sometimes
+mean what I say. Pretty often--as a usual thing."
+
+Lucinda stood at the foot of the bed, petrified and paralyzed.
+
+Then the invalid sat up a little and showed some mercy on her servant's
+very evident fright.
+
+"I want the calf shod," she explained, "so's Joshua can run up an' down
+the porch with him."
+
+So far from ameliorating Lucinda's condition, this explanation rendered it
+visibly worse. Aunt Mary contemplated her in silence for a few seconds,
+and she suddenly cried out, in a tone that was full of pathos:
+
+"I feel like maybe--maybe--the calf'll make me think it's horses' feet on
+the pavement."
+
+Lucinda rushed from the room.
+
+"She wants the calf shod!" she cried, bursting in upon Joshua, who was
+piling wood.
+
+For once in his life Joshua was shaken out of his usual placidity.
+
+"She wants the calf shod!" he repeated blankly.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"You can't shoe a calf."
+
+"But she wants it done."
+
+Joshua regained his self-control.
+
+"Oh, well," he said, turning to go on with his work, "the calf's gone to
+the butcher, anyhow. Tell her so."
+
+Lucinda went back to Aunt Mary.
+
+"The calf's gone to the butcher," she yelled.
+
+Aunt Mary frowned heavily.
+
+"Then you go an' get a lamp and turn it up too high an' leave it," she
+said,--"the smell'll make me think of automobiles."
+
+Lucinda was appalled. As a practical housekeeper she felt that here was a
+proposition which she could not face.
+
+"Well, ain't you goin'?" Aunt Mary asked tartly. "Of course if you ain't
+intendin' to go I'd be glad to know it; 'n while you're gone, Lucinda, I
+wish you'd get me the handle to the ice-cream freezer an' lay it where I
+can see it; it'll help me believe in the smell."
+
+Lucinda went away and brought the handle, but she did not light the lamp.
+The Fates were good to her, though, for Aunt Mary forgot the lamp in her
+disgust over the appearance of the handle.
+
+"Take it away," she said sharply. "Anybody'd know it wasn't an automobile
+crank. I don't want to look like a fool! Well, why ain't you takin' it
+away, Lucinda?"
+
+Lucinda took the crank back to the freezer; but as the days passed on, the
+situation grew worse. Aunt Mary slept more and more, and awoke to an
+ever-increasing ratio of belligerency.
+
+Before long Lucinda's third cousin demanded her assistance in "moving,"
+and there was nothing for poor Arethusa to do but to take up the burden,
+now become a fearfully heavy one.
+
+Aunt Mary was getting to that period in life when the nearer the relative
+the greater the dislike, so that when her niece arrived the welcome which
+awaited her was even less cordial than ever.
+
+"Did you bring a trunk?" she asked.
+
+"A small one," replied the visitor.
+
+"That's something to be grateful for," said the aunt. "If I'd invited you
+to visit me, of course I'd feel differently about things."
+
+Arethusa accepted this as she accepted all things, unpacked, saw Lucinda
+off, assumed charge of the house, and then dragged a rocking chair to her
+aunt's bedside and unfolded her sewing. Ere she had threaded her needle
+Aunt Mary was sound asleep, and so her niece sewed placidly for an hour or
+more, until, like lightning out of a clear sky:
+
+"Arethusa!"
+
+The owner of the name started--but answered immediately:
+
+"Yes, Aunt Mary."
+
+"When I die I want to be buried from a roof garden! Don't you forget!
+You'd better go an' write it down. Go now--go this minute!"
+
+Arethusa shook as if with the discharge of a contiguous field battery. She
+had not had Lucinda's gradual breaking-in to her aunt's new trains of
+thought.
+
+"Aunt Mary," she said feebly at last.
+
+Aunt Mary saw her lips moving; she sat up in bed and her eyes flashed
+cinders.
+
+"Well, ain't you goin'?" she asked wrathfully. "When I say do a thing,
+can't it be done? I declare it's bad enough to live with a pack of idiots
+without havin' 'em, one an' all, act as if I was the idiot!"
+
+Arethusa laid aside her work and rose to quit the room. She returned five
+minutes later with pen and ink, but Aunt Mary was now off on another tack.
+
+"I want a bulldog!" she cried imperatively.
+
+"A bulldog!" shrieked her niece, nearly dropping what she held in her
+hands. "What do you want a bulldog for?"
+
+"Not a bullfrog!" the old lady corrected; "a bulldog. Oh, I do get so sick
+of your stupidity, Arethusa," she said. "What should I or any one else
+want of a bullfrog?"
+
+Arethusa sighed, and the sigh was apparent.
+
+"I'd sigh if I was you," said her aunt. "I certainly would. If I was you,
+Arethusa, I'd certainly feel that I had cause to sigh;" and with that she
+sat up and gave her pillow a punch that was full of the direst sort of
+suggestion.
+
+Arethusa did not gainsay the truth of the sighing proposition. It was too
+apparent.
+
+The next day Aunt Mary slept until noon, and then opened her eyes and
+simultaneously declared:
+
+"Next summer I'm goin' to have an automobile!"
+
+Then she looked about and saw that she had addressed the air, which made
+her more mad than ever. She rang her bell violently, and Arethusa left the
+lunch table so hastily that she reached the bedroom half-choked.
+
+"Next summer I'm goin' to have an automobile," said the old lady angrily.
+"Now, get me some breakfast."
+
+Her niece went out quickly, and a maid was sent in with tea and toast and
+eggs at once. Their effect was to brace the invalid up and make the lot of
+those about her yet more wearing.
+
+"I shall run it myself," she vowed, when Arethusa returned; "an' I bet
+they clear out when they see me comin'."
+
+It did seem highly probable.
+
+"I don't know how I can live if I don't get away from here soon," she
+declared a few minutes later. "You don't appreciate what life is,
+Arethusa. Seems like I'll go mad with wantin' to be somewhere else. I can
+see Jack gets his disposition straight from me."
+
+There was a sigh and a pause.
+
+"I shall die," Aunt Mary then declared with violence, "if I don't have a
+change. Arethusa, you've got to write to Jack, and tell him to get me
+Granite."
+
+"Granite!" screamed the niece in surprise.
+
+"Yes, Granite. She was a maid I had in New York. I want her to come here.
+She must come. Tell him to offer her anything, and send her C.O.D. If I
+can have Granite, maybe I'll feel some better. You write Jack."
+
+"I'll write to-night," shrieked Arethusa.
+
+"No, you won't," said Aunt Mary; "you'll get the ink and write right now.
+Because I've been meeker'n Moses all my life is no reason why I sh'd be
+willin' to be downtrodden clear to the end. Folks around me'd better begin
+to look sharp an' step lively from now on."
+
+Arethusa went to the desk at once and wrote:
+
+
+    DEAR JACK:
+
+    Aunt Mary wants the maid that she had when she was in New York.
+    For the love of Heaven, if the girl is procurable, do get her.
+    Hire her if you can and kidnap her if you can't. Lucinda has
+    played her usual trick on me and walked off just when she felt
+    like it. I never saw Aunt Mary in anything like the state of mind
+    that she is, but I know one thing--if you cannot send the maid,
+    there'll be an end of me.
+
+                                                   Your loving sister,
+
+                                                             ARETHUSA.
+
+
+Jack was much perturbed upon receipt of this letter. He whistled a little
+and frowned a great deal. But at last he decided to be frank and tell the
+truth to Mrs. Rosscott. To that end he wrote her a lengthy note. After two
+preliminary pages so personal that it would not be right to print them for
+public reading, he continued thus:
+
+
+    I've had a letter from my sister, who is with Aunt Mary at
+    present. She says that Aunt Mary is not at all well and declares
+    that she must have Janice. What under the sun am I to answer?
+    Shall I say that the girl has gone to France? I'm willing to swear
+    anything rather that put you to one second's inconvenience. You
+    know that, don't you? etc., etc., etc. [just here the letter
+    abruptly became personal again].
+
+
+Jack thought that he knew his fianc�e well, but he was totally unprepared
+for such an exhibition of sweet ness as was testified to by the letter
+which he received in return.
+
+It's first six pages were even more personal than his own (being more
+feminine) and then came this paragraph:
+
+
+    Janice is going to your aunt by to-night's train. Now, don't say a
+    word! It is nothing--nothing--absolutely nothing. Don't you know
+    that I am too utterly happy to be able to do anything for anyone
+    that you--etc., etc., etc.
+
+
+Jack seized his hat and hurried to where his lady-love was just then
+residing. But Janice had gone!
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO - "GRANITE"
+
+
+Joshua was despatched to drive through mud and rain to bring Aunt Mary's
+solace from the station.
+
+Aunt Mary had herself propped up in bed to be ready for the return before
+Billy's feet had ceased to cry splash on the road outside of the gate. Her
+eagerness tinged her pallor pink. It was as if the prospect of seeing
+Janice gave her some of that flood of vitality which always seems to ebb
+and flow so richly in the life of a metropolis.
+
+"My gracious heavens, Lucinda" (for Lucinda was back now), she said
+joyfully, "to think that I needn't look at you for a week if I don't want
+to! You haven't any idea how tired I am of looking at you, Lucinda. If you
+looked like anything it would be different. But you don't."
+
+Lucinda rocked placidly; hers was what is called an "even disposition." If
+it hadn't been, she might have led an entirely different life--in fact, she
+would most certainly have lived somewhere else, for she couldn't possibly
+have lived with Aunt Mary.
+
+The hour that ensued after Joshua's departure was so long that it resulted
+in a nap for the invalid, and Lucinda had to wake her by slamming the
+closet door when the arrival turned in at the gate.
+
+"Has he got her?" Aunt Mary cried breathlessly. "Has he got someone with
+him? Run, Lucinda, an' bring her in. She needn't wipe her feet, tell her;
+you can brush the hall afterwards. Well, why ain't you hurryin'?"
+
+Lucinda was hurrying, her curiosity being as potent as the commands of her
+mistress, and five seconds later Janice appeared in the door with her
+predecessor just behind her--a striking contrast.
+
+"You dear blessed Granite!" cried the old lady, stretching out her hands
+in a sort of ecstasy. "Oh, my! but I'm glad to see you! Come right
+straight here. No, shut the door first. Lucinda, you go and do 'most
+anything. An' how is the city?"
+
+Janice came to the bedside and dropped on her knees there, taking Aunt
+Mary's withered hand close in both of her own.
+
+"You didn't shut the door," the old lady whispered hoarsely. "I wish you
+would--an' bolt it, too. An' then come straight back to me."
+
+Janice closed and bolted the door, and returned to the bedside. Aunt Mary
+drew her down close to her, and her voice and eyes were hungry, indeed.
+For a little she looked eagerly upon what she had so craved to possess
+again, and then she suddenly asked:
+
+"Granite, have you got any cigarettes with you?"
+
+The maid started a little.
+
+"Do you smoke now?" she asked, with interest.
+
+"No," said Aunt Mary sadly, "an' that's one more of my awful troubles. You
+see I'm jus' achin' to smell smoke, an' Joshua promised his mother the
+night before he was twenty-one. You don't know nothin' about how terrible
+I feel. I'm empty somewhere jus' all the time. Don't you believe't you
+could get some cigarettes an' smoke 'em right close to me, an' let me lay
+here, an' be so happy while I smell. I'll have a good doctor for you, if
+you're sick from it."
+
+The maid reflected; then she nodded.
+
+"I'll write to town," she cried, in her high, clear tones. "What brand do
+you like best?"
+
+"Mitchell's," said Aunt Mary. "But you can't get those because he made 'em
+himself an' sealed 'em with a lick. Oh!" she sighed, with the accent of a
+starving Sybarite, "I do wish I could see him do it again! Do you know,"
+she added suddenly, "he wrote me a letter and he's goin' to come here."
+
+"When?" asked Janice.
+
+"After a while. But you must take off your things. That's your room in
+there," pointing toward a half-open door at the side. "I wanted you as
+close as I could get you. My, but I've wanted you! I can't tell you how
+much. But a good deal--a lot--awfully."
+
+Janice went into the room that was to be hers, and hung up her hat and
+cloak.
+
+When she returned Aunt Mary was looking a hundred per cent, improved
+already.
+
+"Can you hum 'Hiawatha'?" she asked immediately. "Granite, I must have
+suthin' to amuse me an' make me feel good. Can you hum 'Hiawatha' an' can
+you do that kind of 'sh--sh--sh--'that everybody does all together at the
+end, you know?"
+
+Janice smiled pleasantly, and placing herself in the closest possible
+proximity with the ear trumpet, at once rendered the desired _morceau_ in
+a style which would have done credit to a soloist in a _caf� chantant_.
+
+Aunt Mary's lips wreathed in seraphic bliss.
+
+"My!" she said. "I feel just as if I was back eatin' crabs' legs and tails
+again. No one'll ever know how I've missed city life this winter but--well,
+you saw Lucinda!"
+
+The glance that accompanied the speech was mysterious but significant.
+Janice nodded sympathetically.
+
+"I hope you brought a trunk. I ain't a bit sure when I'll be able to let
+you go," pursued the old lady. "I don't believe I can let you go until I
+go, too. I've most died here alone."
+
+"I brought a trunk," Janice cried into the ear trumpet.
+
+"I'm glad," said Aunt Mary. She paused, and her eyes grew wistful.
+
+"Granite," she asked, "do you think you could manage to do a skirt dance
+on the footboard? I'm 'most wild to see some lace shake."
+
+Janice looked doubtfully at the footboard. It was wide for a footboard,
+but narrow--too narrow--for a skirt dance.
+
+"But I can do one on the floor," she cried.
+
+Aunt Mary's features became suffused with heavenly joy.
+
+"Oh, Granite!" she murmured, in accents of greatest anticipation.
+
+The maid stood up, and, going off as far as the limits of the spacious
+bedroom would allow, executed a most fetching and dainty _pas seul_ to a
+tune of her own humming.
+
+"Give me suthin' to pound with!" cried her enthusiastic audience. "Oh,
+Granite, I ain't been so happy since I was home! Whatever you want you can
+have, only don't ever leave me alone with Lucinda again."
+
+Janice was catching her tired breath, but she answered with a smile.
+
+"Can't you get my Sunday umbrella out of the closet now an' do a parasol
+dance?" the insatiate demanded; "one of those where you shoot it open an'
+shut when people ain't expectin'."
+
+The maid went to the closet and brought out the Sunday umbrella; but its
+shiny black silk did not appear to inspire any fluffy maneuvres, so she
+utilized it in the guise of a broadsword and did something that savored of
+the Highlands, and seemed to rebel bitterly at the length of her skirt.
+Aunt Mary writhed around in bliss--utter and intense.
+
+"I feel like I was livin' again," she said, heaving a great sigh of
+content. "I tell you I've suffered enough, since I came back, to know what
+it is to have some fun again. Now, Granite, I'll tell you what we'll do,"
+when the girl sat down to rest; "you write for those cigarettes while I
+take a little nap and afterwards we'll get the Universal Knowledge book
+and learn how to play poker. You don't know how to play poker, do you?"
+
+"A little," cried the maid.
+
+"Well, I want to learn how," said the old lady, "an' we'll learn when--when
+I wake up."
+
+Janice nodded assent.
+
+"Excuse me shuttin' my eyes," said Aunt Mary--and she was asleep in two
+minutes.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE - "GRANITE" - CONTINUED.
+
+
+Mary and Arethusa--Aunt Mary's two nieces--were not uncommonly mercenary;
+but about three weeks after the new arrival they became seriously troubled
+over the ascendancy that she appeared to be gaining over the mind of their
+aunt. Lucinda's duties had included for many years the writing of a weekly
+letter which contained formal advices of the general state of affairs, and
+after Janice's establishment, these letters became so provocative of
+gradually increasing alarm that first Mary, and then Arethusa thought it
+advisable to make the journey for the purpose of investigating the affair
+personally. They found the new maid apparently devoid of evil intent, but
+certainly fast becoming absolutely indispensable to the daily happiness of
+their influential relative. Mary feared that a codicil for five thousand
+dollars would be the result; but Arethusa felt, with a sinking heart, that
+there was another naught going on to the sum, and that, unless the tide
+turned, the end might not be even then.
+
+Aunt Mary was so cool that neither niece stayed long, and Lucinda's
+letters had to be looked to for the progress of events. Lucinda's letters
+were frequent and not at all reassuring. After the sisters had talked them
+over, they sent them on to Jack.
+
+
+    She [thus Lucinda invariably began] is the same as ever. It's
+    cross the heart and bend the knee, an' then you ain't down far
+    enough to suit her. But she's gettin' so afraid she'll go that
+    she's wax in her hands. It would scare you. She won't let her out
+    of her sight a minute. I must say that whatever she's giving her,
+    she certainly is earning the money, for she works her harder every
+    day. The poor thing is hopping about, or singing, or playing
+    cards, from dawn to dark, and unless it's a provision in her will
+    I can't see what would pay her enough for working so. Lord knows I
+    considered I earned my wages without skipping around with my legs
+    crossed like she does, and she has no end of patience too, even if
+    she won't ever let her take a walk. She's getting as pale as she
+    is herself. Seems like something should be done.
+
+                                                         Respectfully,
+
+                                                             L. COOKE.
+
+
+Three days later Lucinda wrote again:
+
+
+    She does seem to be getting worse and worse. She makes her sleep
+    on a sofa beside her, and she begins to look dreadfully worn out.
+    I do believe she'll kill her, before she dies herself. I told her
+    so to-day, but she only smiled. It's funny, but I like her even if
+    I am bolted out all the time. I ain't jealous, and I'm glad of the
+    rest. I should think her throat would split with talking so much,
+    but she certainly does hear her better than anyone else. I think
+    something must be done, though. She's getting as crazy as she is
+    herself. They play cards and call each other "aunty" for two hours
+    at a stretch some days.
+
+                                                         Respectfully,
+
+                                                             L. COOKE.
+
+
+At the end of the week Lucinda wrote again:
+
+
+    I think if you don't come, she will surely die. She is very feeble
+    herself, but that don't keep her from wearing her to skin and
+    bone. She keeps her doing tricks from morning to night. Every
+    minute that she is awake she keeps her jumping. It's a mercy she
+    sleeps so much, or she wouldn't get any sleep at all. I can't do
+    nothing, but I can see something has got to be done. She's killing
+    her, and she's getting where she don't care for nobody but her,
+    and if she's to be kept in trim to keep on amusing her she'll have
+    to have some rest pretty quick.
+
+                                                         Respectfully,
+
+                                                             L. COOKE.
+
+
+If the sisters were perturbed by the general trend of these epistles, Jack
+was half wild over the situation. He swore vigorously and he tramped up
+and down his room nights until the people underneath put it in their
+prayers that his woes might suggest suicide as speedily as possible. In
+vain he wrote to Mrs. Rosscott to restore Janice to her proper place in
+town; Mrs. Rosscott answered that as long as Aunt Mary desired Janice at
+her side, at her side Janice should stay. Jack knew his lady well enough
+to know that she would keep her word, and although he longed to assert his
+authority he was man enough to feel that he had better wait now and settle
+the debt after marriage.
+
+Nevertheless the whole affair was unbearably vexatious and at last he felt
+that he could endure it no longer.
+
+"I'm a fool," he said, in a spirit of annoyance that came so close to
+anger that it led to an utter loss of patience. "I'll take the train for
+Aunt Mary's to-day, and straighten out that mess in short order."
+
+It was Saturday, and he arranged to leave by the noon train. He laid in a
+heavy supply of bribes for his aged relative and of reading matter for
+himself, and went to the station with a heart divided 'twixt many
+different emotions. It was an unconscionably long ride, but he did get
+there safely about ten o'clock.
+
+It was a pleasant night--not too cold--even suggestive of some lingering
+Indian summer intentions on the part of Jack's namesake. The young man
+thought that he would walk out to his childhood's home, and his decision
+was aided by the discovery that there was no other way to get there.
+
+So he took his suit-case in his hand and set off with a stride that
+covered the intervening miles in short order and brought him, almost
+before he knew it, to where he could see Lucinda's light in the
+dining-room and her pug-nosed profile outlined upon the drawn shade.
+Everyone else was evidently abed, and as he looked, she, too, arose and
+took up the lamp. He hurried his steps so that she might let him in before
+she went upstairs, but in the same instant the light went out and with its
+withdrawal he perceived a little figure sitting alone upon the doorstep.
+
+His heart gave a tremendous leap--but not with fright--and he made three
+rapid steps and spoke a name.
+
+She lifted up her head. Of course it was Janice, and although she had been
+weeping, her eyes were as beautiful as ever.
+
+"Oh, Jack!" she exclaimed, and happy the man who hears his name called in
+such a tone--even if it be only for once in the whole course of his
+existence.
+
+He pitched his suit-case down upon the grass and took the maid in his
+arms.
+
+What did anything matter; they both were lonely and both needed
+comforting.
+
+He kissed her not once but twenty times,--not twenty times but a hundred.
+
+"It's abominable you're being here," he said at last.
+
+"I am very, very tired," she confessed.
+
+"And you'll go back to the city when I go?" he asked.
+
+"I don't know," she said, doubtfully. "I don't know whether she'll let
+me."
+
+Jack laughed.
+
+"To-morrow I will beard Aunt Mary in her den," he declared; "now let's go
+in and--and--"
+
+The hundred and first!
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR - TWO ARE COMPANY
+
+
+To the large square room where he had slept (on and off) during a goodly
+portion of his boyhood life, Jack went to repose from his journey, there
+to meditate the situation which he had come to comfort, and to try and
+devise a way to better its existing circumstances.
+
+It was a pleasant room, one window looking down the driveway, and the
+other leading forth to a square balcony that topped the little porch of
+the side entrance. There were lambrequins of dark blue with fringe that
+always caught in the shutters, and a bedroom suite of mahogany that had
+come down from the original John Watkins's aunt, and had been polished by
+her descendants so faithfully that its various surfaces shone like
+mirrors. Over the bed hung a tent drapery of chintz; over the washstand
+hung a crayon done by Arethusa in her infancy--the same representing a lady
+engaged in the pleasant and useful occupation of spinning wheat with a
+hand composed of five fingers, and no thumb. In the corner stood a
+cheval-glass which Jack had seen shrink steadily for years until now it
+could no longer reflect his shoulders unless he retired back for some two
+yards or more. There was a delectable closet to the room, all painted
+white inside, with shelves and cupboards and little bins for shoes and
+waste paper and soiled clothes.
+
+Oh! it was really an altogether delightful place in which to abide, and
+the pity was that its owner had spent so little time therein of late
+years.
+
+To-night--returning to the scene of many childish and boyish
+meditations--Jack placed his lamp upon the nightstand at the head of the
+bed and sat himself down on a chair near by.
+
+It was late--quite midnight--for he and Aunt Mary's new maid had talked long
+and freely ere they separated at last. From his room he could hear the
+little faint sounds below stairs, that told of her final preparations for
+Lucinda's morning eye, and he rested quiet until all else was quiet and
+then leaned back upon the chair's hind legs and, tipping slowly to and fro
+in that position, tried to see just what he had better do the first thing
+on the following day.
+
+                             [Illustration 7]
+
+ "'Yesterday I played poker until I didn't know a blue chip from a white
+                                  one.'"
+
+
+It was a riddle with a vengeance. It is so easy to say "I'll cut that
+Gordian knot!" and then pack one's tooth-brush and start off unknotting,
+but it is quite another matter when one comes face to face with the
+problem and is met by the "buts" of those who have previously been
+essaying to disentangle it.
+
+"She won't let me go," Mrs. Rosscott had declared, "she won't consider it
+for a minute."
+
+"But she must," Jack had declared on his side. "My dearest, you can't stay
+and play maid to Aunt Mary indefinitely, and you know that as well as I
+do."
+
+"Yes, I know that," the whilom Janice then murmured. "It's getting to be
+an awful question. They want me to come home for Thanksgiving. They think
+that I've been at the rest-cure long enough."
+
+Jack had laughed a bit just there, and then he suddenly ceased laughing
+and frowned a good deal instead.
+
+"You were crying when I came," he said. "The truth is you are working
+yourself to death and getting completely used up."
+
+"It is wearing, I must confess," she answered. "Yesterday I played poker
+until I didn't know a blue chip from a white one, and she won the whole
+pot with two little bits of pairs while I was drawing to a king. I begin
+to fear that my mind will give way. And yet, I really don't see how to
+stop. She is so sick and tired of life here and she isn't strong enough to
+go to town."
+
+"I know a very short way to put an end to everything," said Jack. "I see
+two ways in fact,--one is to tell her the truth."
+
+"Oh, don't do that," cried his fianc�e affrightedly. "The shock would kill
+her outright."
+
+"The other way,--" said Jack slowly, "would be for me to marry you and let
+her think that you _are_ Janice in good earnest."
+
+"Oh, that wouldn't do at all," said the pretty widow. "In the first place
+she would go crazy at the idea of her darling nephew's marrying her
+maid,--and in the second place--"
+
+"Well,--in the second place?"
+
+"I wouldn't marry you,--I said I wouldn't and I won't. You're too young."
+
+"But you've promised to marry me some day."
+
+"Yes, I know--but not till--not till--"
+
+"Not till when?"
+
+"I haven't just decided," said Mrs. Rosscott, airily. "Not for a good
+while, not until you seem to require marrying at my hands."
+
+"I never shall require marrying at anyone else's hands," the lover vowed,
+"but if you are so set about it as all that comes to, I shall not cut up
+rough for a while. Aunt Mary is the main question just now--not you."
+
+"I know," said his lady in anything but a jealous tone, "and as she is the
+question, what are we to do?"
+
+"You will go to bed," he said, kissing her, "and I will go to think."
+
+"Can you see any way?" she asked anxiously.
+
+Then he put his hands on either side of her face and turned it up to his
+own.
+
+"You plotted once and overthrew my aunt," he said. "It's my turn now."
+
+"Are you going to plot?"
+
+"I'm going to try."
+
+"I'll pray for your success," she whispered.
+
+"Pray for me," he answered, and shortly after they had achieved the feat
+of saying good-night and parting once more, and the result of it all had
+been that Jack found himself tipping back and forth on the small chair, in
+the big room, at half-past midnight, puzzled, perturbed, and very much
+perplexed as to what to do first when the next morning should have become
+a settled fact. He was not used to conspiring, and being only a man, he
+had not those curious instinctive gifts of inspiration and luminous
+conception which fairly radiate around the brain of clever womankind.
+
+It was some time--a very long time indeed--before any light stole in upon
+his Stygian darkness, and then, when the light did come, it came in
+skyrocket guise, and had its share of cons attached to its very evident
+pros.
+
+"But I don't care," he declared viciously, as he rose and began to
+undress; "something's got to be done,--some chances have got to be
+taken,--as well that as anything else. Perhaps better--very likely better."
+
+Then he laughed over his unconscious imitation of his aunt's phraseology,
+and made short work of finishing his disrobing and getting to bed.
+
+It was when Lucinda crept forth to begin to unlock the house at 6.30 upon
+the morning after, that the fact of the nephew's arrival was first known
+to anyone except Janice.
+
+Lucinda saw the coat and hat,--recognized the initial on the handkerchief
+in the inside pocket, threw out her arms and gave a faint squeak in utter
+bewilderment, and then tore off at once to the barn to tell Joshua.
+
+She found Joshua milking the cow.
+
+"What do you think!" she panted briefly, with wide-open eyes and uplifted
+hands; "Joshua Whittlesey, what do you think?"
+
+"I don't think nothin'," said Joshua. "I'm milkin'."
+
+"What would you say if I told you as he was come."
+
+"I'd say he was here."
+
+"Well, he is. He must 'a' come last night, an' Lord only knows how he ever
+got in, for nothing was left open an' yet he's there."
+
+Joshua made no comment.
+
+"I wonder what he came for?"
+
+Joshua made no comment.
+
+"I wonder how long he'll stay?"
+
+Still Joshua made no comment.
+
+"Joshua Whittlesey, before you get your breakfast, you're the meanest man
+I ever saw, and I'll swear to that anywhere."
+
+"Why don't you get me my breakfast then?" said Joshua calmly; and the
+effect of his speech and his demeanor was to cause Lucinda to turn and
+leave him at once--too outraged to address another word to him.
+
+Aunt Mary herself did not awake until ten o'clock. She rang her bell
+vigorously then and Janice flew to its answering.
+
+"I dreamed of Jack," said the old lady, looking up with a smile. "I
+dreamed we was each ridin' on camels in a merry-go-round."
+
+Janice smiled too, and then set briskly to work to put the room in order
+and arrange its occupant for the day.
+
+"Did there come any mail?" Aunt Mary inquired, when her coiffure was made
+and her dressing-gown adjusted. "I feel jus' like I might hear from Jack.
+Seems as if I sort of can't think of anythin' but him."
+
+"I'll go and see," said Janice pleasantly, and she went to the dining room
+where the Reformed Prodigal sat reading the newspaper with his feet on the
+table--an action which convinced Lucinda that he had not reformed so very
+much after all.
+
+"Suppose you go to her--instead of me," suggested the maid, pausing before
+the reader and usurping all the attention to which the paper should have
+laid claim.
+
+"Suppose I do," said Jack, jumping up, "and suppose you stay away and let
+me try what I can accomplish single-handed."
+
+"Only--" began Janice--and then she stopped and lifted a warning finger.
+
+Jack listened and a stealthy creak betrayed Lucinda's proximity somewhere
+in the vicinity.
+
+It was plain to be seen that there were many issues to be kept in mind,
+and the young man grit his teeth because he didn't dare embrace his
+betrothed, and then walked away in the direction of Aunt Mary's room.
+
+If she was glad to see him! One would have supposed that ten years and two
+oceans had elapsed since their last meeting the month before.
+
+She fairly screamed with joy.
+
+"Jack!--You dear, dear, dear boy! Well, if I ever did!--When did you come?"
+
+He was by the bed hugging her. "And how are they all? How is the city? Oh,
+Jack, if I could only go back with you this time!"
+
+"Never mind, Aunt Mary; you'll be coming soon--in the spring, you know."
+
+Aunt Mary sank back on the pillows.
+
+"Jack," she said, "if I have to wait for spring, I shall die. I ain't
+strong enough to be able to bear livin' in the country much longer. I've
+pretty much made up my mind to buy a house in town and just keep this
+place so's to have somewhere to put Lucinda."
+
+"Do you think you'd be happy in town, Aunt Mary?" Jack yelled; "I mean if
+you lived there right along?"
+
+"I don't see how I could be anythin' else. I don't see how anyone could be
+anythin' else. I want a nice house with a criss-cross iron gate in front
+of it an' an automobile. An'--I don't want you to say nothin' about this to
+her jus' yet--but I'm goin' to keep Granite to look after everythin' for
+me. I don't ever mean to let Granite go again. Never. Not for one hour."
+
+Jack smiled. He felt as if Fate was playing into his hands.
+
+"I want you to live with me," Aunt Mary continued, "an' I want the house
+big enough so's Clover an' Mitchell an' Burnett can come whenever they
+feel like it and stay as long as they like. I don't want any house except
+for us all together. Oh, my! Seems like I can't hardly wait!"
+
+She leaned back and shut her eyes in a sort of impatient ecstasy of joys
+been and to be.
+
+Jack reached forward to get a cigarette from the box on the table at the
+bedside.
+
+"Do you smoke now, Aunt Mary?" he inquired, as he took a match.
+
+"No, Granite does."
+
+"Janice does!" he repeated, quickly knitting his brows.
+
+"Yes, she does it for me--I'm so happy smellin' the smell. They made her a
+little sick at first but she took camphor and now she don't mind. Not
+much--not any."
+
+Jack arose and walked about the room. The idea of his darling sickening
+herself to provide smoke for Aunt Mary braced him afresh to the conflict.
+
+"What do you do all day?" he asked, presently.
+
+"Well, we do most everythin'. When Lucinda's out she does Lucinda for me
+an' when Lucinda's in she does Joshua. It's about as amusin' as anythin'
+you ever saw to see her do Lucinda. I never found Lucinda amusin', Lord
+knows, but I like to see Granite do her. An' we play cards, an' she
+dances, an'--"
+
+"Aunt Mary," said Jack abruptly, "do you know the people who had Janice
+want her back again?"
+
+"I didn't quite catch that," said his aunt, "but you needn't bother to
+repeat it because I ain't never goin' to let her go. Not never."
+
+Jack came back and sat down beside the bed, and took her hand.
+
+"Aunt Mary," he said in a pleading shriek, "don't you see how pale and
+thin she's getting?"
+
+"No, I don't," said his aunt, turning her head away, "an' it's no use
+tellin' me such things because it's about my nap-time and I've always been
+a great believer in takin' my nap when it's my nap-time. As a general
+thing."
+
+Jack sighed and watched her close her eyes and go instantly to sleep.
+Janice came in a few minutes later.
+
+"No--no," she whispered hastily, as he came toward her,--"you mustn't--you
+mustn't. I don't believe that she really is asleep and even if she is,
+Lucinda is _everywhere_."
+
+"Where can we go?" Jack asked in despair. "It's out of all reason to
+expect me to behave _all_ the time."
+
+"We can't go anywhere," said Mrs. Rosscott; "we must resign ourselves.
+I've learned that it's the only way. Dear me, when I think how long I've
+been resigned it certainly seems to me that you might do a little in the
+same line."
+
+"Well, but I haven't learned to resign myself," said her lover, "and what
+is more, I positively decline to learn to resign myself. You should do the
+same, too. Where is the sense in humoring her so? I wouldn't if I were
+you."
+
+Janice lifted up her lovely eyes.
+
+"Oh, yes, you would," she said simply. "If somebody's future happiness
+depended upon her you would humor her just as much as I do."
+
+Jack was touched.
+
+"You are an angel of unselfishness," he exclaimed, warmly, "and I don't
+deserve such devotion."
+
+"Oh, don't be too grateful," she replied, dimpling. "The person to whose
+future happiness I referred was myself."
+
+They both laughed softly at that--softly and mutually.
+
+"Nevertheless," Jack went on after a minute, "if to all the other puzzles
+is to be added the torture of being unable to see you or speak freely to
+you, I think the hour for action has arrived."
+
+"For action!" she cried; "what are you thinking of doing?"
+
+"This," he said, and straightway took her into his arms and kissed her as
+he had kissed her on the night before.
+
+"Oh, if Lucinda has heard or your aunt has seen!" poor Janice cried,
+extricating herself and setting her cap to rights with a species of
+fluttered haste that led Jack to wonder suddenly why men didn't fall in
+love with maids even oftener than they do. "I do believe that you have
+gone and done it this time."
+
+"Nobody heard and nobody saw," he assured her, but he didn't at all mean
+what he said, for his prayers were fervent that his kiss had been public
+property.
+
+And such was the fact.
+
+Lucinda bounced in on Joshua with a bounce that turned the can of harness
+polish upside down, for Joshua was oiling the harnesses.
+
+"He kissed her!" she cried in a state of tremendous excitement.
+
+"Well, she's his aunt, ain't she?" Joshua demanded, picking up the can and
+privately wishing Lucinda in Halifax.
+
+"I don't mean her;--I mean Janice."
+
+"I don't see anythin' surprisin' in that," said Joshua,--"not if he got a
+good chance."
+
+"What do you think of such goin's on?"
+
+"I think they'll lead to goin's offs."
+
+"I never would 'a' believed it," said Lucinda; "Well, all I can say is I
+wish he'd 'a' tried it on me."
+
+"You'll wish a long time," said Joshua, placidly; and his tone, as usual,
+made Lucinda even more angry than his words; so she forthwith left him and
+tore back to the house.
+
+Aunt Mary had also had her eyes open, and in this particular case it was
+impossible to have one's eyes open without having one's eyes opened. So
+Aunt Mary had both.
+
+She shut them at once and reflected deeply, and when Janice went out of
+the room at last she immediately sat up in bed and addressed her nephew.
+
+"Jack, what did you kiss her for?"
+
+Jack was fairly wild with joy at the brilliant way in which he had begun.
+Mrs. Rosscott had laid one scheme for the overthrow of Aunt Mary and her
+plan of attack had been absolutely successful. Now it was his turn and he,
+too, was in it to win undying glory or else--well, no matter. There
+wouldn't be any "also ran" in this contest.
+
+"You don't deny that you kissed her, do you?" said his aunt severely.
+"Answer this minute. I'm a great believer in answerin' when you're spoken
+to."
+
+"Yes, I kissed her," he said easily.
+
+                             [Illustration 8]
+
+                 "Aunt Mary had also had her eyes open."
+
+
+"Well, what did you do it for?"
+
+"I'm very fond of her;" the words came forth with great apparent
+reluctance.
+
+"Fond of her!" said Aunt Mary with great contempt.
+
+Jack lifted his eyes quickly at the tone of her comment.
+
+"_Fond_ of her! Do you think a girl like that is the kind to be fond of!
+Why ain't you in _love_ with her?"
+
+The young man felt his brains suddenly swimming. This surpassed his
+maddest hopes.
+
+"Shall I say that I am in love with her?" he cried into the ear-trumpet.
+
+Aunt Mary raised up in bed,--her eyes sparkling.
+
+"Jack," she said, almost quivering with excitement, "_are_ you in love
+with her?"
+
+"Yes, I am," he owned, wondering what would come next, but feeling that
+the tide was all his way.
+
+Aunt Mary collapsed with a joyful sigh.
+
+"My heavens alive," she said rapturously, "seems like it's too good to be
+true! Jack," she continued solemnly, "if you're in love with her you shall
+marry her. If there's any way to keep a girl like that in the family I
+guess I ain't goin' to let her slip through my fingers not while I've got
+a live nephew. You shall marry her an' I'll buy you a house in New York
+and come an' live with you."
+
+Jack sat silent, but smiling.
+
+"Do you think she will want to marry me?" he asked presently.
+
+"You go and bring her to me," said the old lady vigorously. "I'll soon
+find out. Just tell her I want to speak to her--don't tell her what about.
+That ain't none of your business an' I'm a great believer in people's not
+interfering in what's none of their business. You just get her and then
+leave her to me."
+
+Jack went and found Janice. He was sufficiently mean not to tell her what
+had happened, and Janice--being built on a different plan from Lucinda--had
+not kept near enough to the keyhole to be posted anyway.
+
+"Mr. Denham says you want me," she said, coming to the bedside with her
+customary pleasant smile.
+
+"I do," said her mistress. "I want to speak to you on a very serious
+subject and I want you to pay a lot of attention. It's this: I want you to
+marry Jack."
+
+Poor Janice jumped violently,--there was no doubt as to the genuineness of
+her surprise.
+
+"Well, don't you want to?" asked Aunt Mary.
+
+"I don't believe I do."
+
+At this it was the old lady's turn to be astonished.
+
+"Why don't you?" she said; "my heavens alive, what are you a-expectin' to
+marry if you don't think my nephew's good enough for you?"
+
+"But I don't want to marry!" cried poor Janice, in most evident distress.
+
+Aunt Mary looked at her severely.
+
+"Then what did you kiss him for?" she asked, in the tone in which one
+plays the trump ace.
+
+Janice started again.
+
+"Kiss--him--" she faltered.
+
+Aunt Mary regarded her sternly.
+
+"Granite," she said, "I ain't a-intendin' to be unreasonable, but I must
+ask you jus' one simple question. You kissed him, for I saw you; an' will
+you kindly tell me why, in heaven's name, you ain't willin' to marry any
+man that you're willin' to kiss?"
+
+"There's such a difference," wailed the maid.
+
+"I don't see it," said her mistress, shaking her head. "I don't see it at
+all. Of course I never for a minute thought of doin' either myself, but if
+I had thought of doin' either, I'd had sense enough to have seen that I'd
+have to make up my mind to do both. I'm a great believer in never doin'
+things by halves. It don't pay. Never--nohow."
+
+Janice was biting her lips.
+
+"But I don't want to marry!" she repeated obstinately.
+
+"Then you shouldn't have let him kiss you. You've got him all started to
+lovin' you and if he's stopped too quick no one can tell what may happen.
+I want him to settle down, but I want him to settle down because he's
+happy an' not because he's shattered. He says he's willin' to marry you
+an' I don't see any good reason why not."
+
+Janice's mouth continued to look rebellious.
+
+"Go and get him," said Aunt Mary. "I can see that this thing has got to be
+settled pleasantly right off, or we shan't none of us have any appetite
+for dinner. You find Jack, or if you can't find him tell Lucinda that
+she's got to."
+
+Janice went out and found Jack in the hall.
+
+"Is this a trap?" she asked reproachfully.
+
+Jack laughed.
+
+"No," he said "it's a counter-mine."
+
+"Your aunt wants you at once," said Janice, putting her hands into her
+pockets and looking out of the window.
+
+"I fly to obey," he said obediently, and went at once to his elderly
+relative.
+
+"Jack," she said, the instant he opened the door, "I've had a little talk
+with Granite. She don' want to marry you, but she looks to me like she
+really didn't know her own mind. I've said all I can say an' I'm too tired
+holdin' the ear-trumpet to say any more. I think the best thing you can do
+is to take her out for a walk an' explain things thoroughly. It's no good
+our talkin' to her together; and, anyway, I've always been a great
+believer in 'Two's company--three's none.' That was really the big reason
+why I'd never let Lucinda keep a cat. You take her and go to walk and I
+guess everything'll come out all right. It ought to. My heavens alive!"
+
+Jack took the maid and they went out to walk. When they were beyond
+earshot the first thing that they did was to laugh long and loud.
+
+"Of all my many and varied adventures!" cried Mrs. Rosscott, and Jack took
+the opportunity to kiss her again--under no protest this time.
+
+"We shall have to be married very soon, now, you know," he said gayly.
+"Aunt Mary won't be able to wait."
+
+"Oh, as to that--we'll see," said Mrs. Rosscott, and laughed afresh. "But
+there is one thing that must be done at once."
+
+"What's that?" Jack asked.
+
+"We must tell Aunt Mary who I am."
+
+"Oh, to be sure," said the young man.
+
+"I hope she won't take it in any way but the right way!" the widow said
+thoughtfully.
+
+"My dearest, in what other way could she take it? I think she has proved
+her opinion of you pretty sincerely."
+
+"Yes," said Mrs. Rosscott, with a little smile, "I certainly have cause to
+feel that she loves me for myself alone."
+
+When they returned to the house they went straightway to Aunt Mary's room,
+and the first glance through the old lady's eye-glasses told her that her
+wishes had all been fulfilled. She sat up in bed, took a hand of each into
+her own, and surveyed them in an access of such utter joy as nearly caused
+all three to weep together.
+
+"Well, I _am_ so glad," was all she said for the first few seconds, and
+nobody doubted her words forever after.
+
+Then Mrs. Rosscott removed her hat and jacket, and when she returned to
+the bedside her future aunt made her sit down close to her and hold one of
+her hands while Jack held the other.
+
+"I'm _so_ glad you're to have the runnin' of Jack," the old lady declared
+sincerely. "All I ask of you is to be patient with him. I always was. That
+is, _most_ always."
+
+"Dear Aunt Mary," said Mrs. Rosscott, slipping down on her knees beside
+the bed, "you are so good to me that you encourage me to tell you my
+secret. It isn't long, and it isn't bad, but I have a confession to make."
+
+"Oh, I say," cried Jack, "if you put it that way let me do the owning up!"
+
+"Hush," said his love authoritatively, "it's my confession. Leave it to
+me."
+
+"What is it?" said Aunt Mary, looking anxiously from one to the other;
+"you haven't broke your engagement already, I hope."
+
+"No," said Mrs. Rosscott, "it's nothing like that. It's only rather a
+surprise. But it's a nice surprise,--at least, I hope you'll think that it
+is."
+
+"Well, hurry and tell me then," said the old lady. "I'm a great believer
+in bein' told good news as soon as possible. What is it?"
+
+"It's that I'm not a maid," said the pretty widow.
+
+"Not--a--" cried Aunt Mary blankly.
+
+"I'm a widow!" said Janice. "I'm Burnett's sister."
+
+"Wh--a--at!" cried Aunt Mary. "I didn't jus' catch that."
+
+"You see," screamed Jack, "she was afraid to have me entertain you in New
+York,--afraid you wouldn't be properly looked after, Aunt Mary, so she
+dressed up for your maid and looked after you herself."
+
+"My heavens alive!"
+
+"Wasn't she an angel?" he asked.
+
+"But whatever made you take such an interest?" Aunt Mary demanded of
+Janice.
+
+Janice rose from her knees and, leaning over the bed, drew the old lady
+close in her arms.
+
+"I'll tell you," she screamed gently. "I loved Jack, and so I loved his
+aunt even before I had ever seen her."
+
+Aunt Mary's joy fairly overflowed at that view of things, and, putting her
+hands to either side of the lovely face so close to her own, she kissed it
+warmly again and again.
+
+"I always knew you were suthin' out of the ordinary," she declared
+vigorously. "You know I wouldn't have let him marry you if I hadn't been
+pretty sure as you were different from Lucinda an' the common run."
+
+And then she beamed on them both and Jack beamed on them both and Mrs.
+Rosscott kissed each of them and dried her own happy eyes.
+
+"Now I want to know jus' how an' where you learned to love him?" the aunt
+asked next.
+
+"I loved him almost directly I knew him," she answered, and at that Aunt
+Mary seemed on the point of applauding with the ear-trumpet against the
+headboard.
+
+"It was jus' the same with me," she said delightedly. "He was only a baby
+then, but the first look I took I jus' had a feelin'--"
+
+"Yes," said Mrs. Rosscott sympathetically, "so did I."
+
+They all laughed together.
+
+"An' now," said Aunt Mary, laying back and folding her arms upon her
+bosom, "an' now comes the main question,--when do you two want to be
+married?"
+
+"Oh!" said the widow starting, "we--I--Jack--"
+
+"Well, go on," said Aunt Mary. "Say whenever you like. An' then Jack can
+do the same."
+
+The two young people exchanged glances.
+
+"Speak right up," said Aunt Mary. "I'm a great believer in not hangin'
+back when anythin' has got to be decided. Jack, what do you think?"
+
+"I want to get married right off," said Jack decidedly.
+
+"I think he's too young," put in Mrs. Rosscott hastily.
+
+"I don't know," said Aunt Mary, looking at her nephew reflectively. "Seems
+to me he's big enough, an' I'm a great believer in never dilly-dallyin'
+over what's got to be done some time. Why not Thanksgiving?"
+
+"Thanksgiving!" shrieked Mrs. Rosscott.
+
+"Yes," said Aunt Mary. "I think it would be a good time, an' then I can
+come and spend Christmas with you in the city."
+
+"Great idea!" declared her nephew; "me for Thanksgiving."
+
+"What do you say?" said Aunt Mary to the bride-to-be.
+
+"Oh, I don't see--" began the latter, wrinkling her pretty forehead in a
+prettier perplexity and looking helplessly back and forth between their
+double eagerness.
+
+"Well, why not?" said the aunt. "It ain't as if there was any reason for
+waitin'. If there was I'd be the first to be willin' to do all I could to
+be patient, but as it is--even if you an' Jack ain't in any particular
+hurry, I am, an' I was brought up to go right to work at gettin' what you
+want as soon as you know what it is."
+
+"But this is so sudden," wailed Mrs. Rosscott.
+
+Aunt Mary glanced at her sharply.
+
+"That's what they all say, a'cordin' to the papers," she said calmly, "an'
+it never is counted as anythin' but a joke."
+
+"But I'm not joking," Janice cried.
+
+"Then you jus' take a little time an' think it over," proposed the old
+lady,--"I'll tell you what you can do. You can get me Lucinda because I
+want to tell her suthin' and then you and Jack can sit down together an'
+think it over anywhere an' anyhow you like."
+
+"Do you really want Lucinda," said Janice, rising to her feet, "or is it
+something that I can do? You know I'm yours just the same as ever, Aunt
+Mary. Next to being good to Jack, I want to always be good to you."
+
+Aunt Mary looked up with a light in her eyes that was fine to see.
+
+"Bless you, my child," she said heartily. "I know that, but I really want
+Lucinda, an' you an' Jack can take care of yourselves for a while.
+Leastways, I hope you can. I guess you can. I presume so, anyway."
+
+It was late that afternoon that Lucinda, looking as if she had been
+accidentally overtaken by a road-roller, joined Joshua in the potato
+cellar.
+
+"Well, the sky c'n fall whenever it likes now!" she said, sitting down on
+an empty barrel with a resigned sigh.
+
+"That's a comfort to know," said Joshua.
+
+"She's got it all made up for 'em to marry each other."
+
+"That ain't no great news to me," said Joshua.
+
+"Joshua Whittlesey, you make my blood boil. Things is goin' rackin' and
+ruinin' at a great pace here an' you as cold as a cauliflower over it
+all."
+
+Joshua sorted potatoes phlegmatically and said nothing.
+
+"S'posin' I'd 'a' wanted to marry him?"
+
+Joshua continued to sort potatoes.
+
+"Or, s'posin' you wanted to marry her?"
+
+Joshua looked up quickly.
+
+"Which one?" he said.
+
+"Janice!"
+
+"Oh," he said in a relieved tone.
+
+"Why did you say 'oh,'--did you think I meant her?"
+
+"I didn't know who you meant."
+
+"Why, you wouldn't think o' marryin' her, would you?"
+
+"No," said Joshua emphatically. "I'd as soon think o' marryin' you
+yourself."
+
+Lucinda deliberated for a minute or so as to whether to accept this insult
+in silence or not, and finally decided to make just one more remark.
+
+"I wonder if she'll send any word to Arethusa 'n' Mary."
+
+"They'll know soon enough," said Joshua oracularly.
+
+"How'll they know, I'd like to know?"
+
+"You'll write 'em."
+
+Lucinda was dumb. The fact that the letter was already written only made
+the serpent-tooth of Joshua's intimate knowledge cut the deeper.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE - GRAND FINALE
+
+
+    She has it all made up for him to marry her, and she is certainly
+    as happy as she is and he is themselves. She is making plans at a
+    great rate and she has consented to have her wedding here because
+    she wants to be there herself. The day is set for Thanksgiving and
+    the Lord be with us for everything has got to be just so and she
+    is no more good at helping now that he's come. They are all going
+    back to New York as soon as possible after it's over and I hope to
+    be forgiven for stating plainly that it will be the happiest day'
+    of my life.
+
+                                                         Respectfully,
+
+                                                             L. COOKE.
+
+
+Upon receipt of this astounding news Arethusa took the train and flew to
+the scene where such momentous happenings were piling up on one another.
+Her arrival was unexpected and the changes which she found ensued and
+ensuing were of a nature bewildering in the extreme. Aunt Mary had quit
+her regime of soup and sleep and was not only more energetically vigorous
+as to mind than ever, but strengthening daily as to bodily force. It might
+have been the excitement, for Burnett was there, Clover was _en route_,
+and Mitchell was expected within twenty-four hours. Other great changes
+were visible everywhere. A corps of servants from town had fairly swamped
+Lucinda and twenty carpenters were putting up an extra addition to the
+house in which to give the wedding room to spread. Nor was this all, for
+Aunt Mary had turned a furniture man and an upholsterer loose with no
+other limit than that comprised by the two words "_carte blanche_."
+
+Mrs. Rosscott still continued to wait upon Aunt Mary, but another maid had
+arrived to await upon Mrs. Rosscott. The latter had shed her black uniform
+and bloomed forth in rose-hued robes. Mr. Stebbins was kept on tap from
+dawn to dark and the checks flowed like water. Emissaries had been
+despatched to New York to buy the young couple a suitable house and
+furnish that also from top to bottom.
+
+"Well, Arethusa," the aunt said to the niece when they met the morning
+after her arrival, "I'm feelin' better 'n I was last time you were here."
+
+"I'm so glad," yelled Arethusa.
+
+"They'll live in New York and I'll live with them. As far as I've seen
+there ain't no other place on earth to live. I'm goin' to get me a coat
+lined with black-spotted white cat's fur and have my glasses put on a
+parasol handle, and I'm going to have the collars and sleeves left out of
+most of my dresses an' look like other people. I'm a great believer in
+doin' as others do, an' Jack won't ever have no cause to complain that I
+didn't take easy to city life."
+
+Arethusa felt herself dumb before these revelations.
+
+Later she was conducted to see the wedding presents, which were gorgeous.
+Among them was the biggest and brightest of crimson automobiles; and
+Mitchell, who had presented it, had christened it beforehand "The Midnight
+Sun." Aunt Mary's gift was the New York house and money enough for them to
+live on the income.
+
+"I know you're able to look out for yourself," she told the bride, "but I
+don't want Jack to have to worry over things at all, and, although I know
+it's a good habit, still I shouldn't like to have him ever work so hard
+that he wouldn't feel like goin' around with us nights. Not ever. Not even
+sometimes."
+
+Mitchell was overjoyed at the way things had turned out.
+
+"My dear Miss Watkins," he screamed, when he was ushered into Aunt Mary's
+presence, "who could have guessed in the hour of that sad parting in New
+York that such a glad future was held in store for us all!"
+
+"I didn't quite catch that," Aunt Mary exclaimed, rapturously, "but it
+doesn't matter--as long as you got here safe at last."
+
+"Safe!" exclaimed the young man; "it would have been the very refinement
+of cruelty if my train had smashed me on this journey."
+
+Burnett was equally happy.
+
+"I suppose it will be up to me to give you away," he said to his sister;
+"before all these people, too. What a mean trick!"
+
+Jack had thought that he would like to have Tweedwell marry him, as that
+young man had put in the summer vacation getting ordained. Tweedwell
+accepted--although he had just taken charge of a living in Seattle and came
+through on a flyer which arrived two hours before _the_ hour. Some fifty
+or sixty of the guests came in on the same train, and Burnett and Clover
+met them all at the cars and made the majority comfortable in the
+different hotels and honored the minority with Aunt Mary's hospitality.
+
+The day was gorgeous. The addition to the house was done and lined with
+white and decorated in gold. An orchestra was ensconced behind palms just
+as orchestras always covet to be and a magnificent breakfast had been sent
+up from the city in its own car with its own service and attendants to
+serve it.
+
+There was only one hitch in the entire programme. That was that when they
+got to the church Tweedwell did not show up. Jack was distressed even
+though Mrs. Rosscott laughed. Mitchell wanted to read the ceremony, but
+Aunt Mary was afraid it wouldn't be legal, and Mr. Stebbins agreed with
+her. In the end the regular clergyman married them; and just as they were
+all filing out they met Tweedwell and Lucinda tearing along, he in his
+surplice and she in the black silk dress which Aunt Mary had given her in
+celebration of the occasion. They were both too exhausted to be able to
+explain for several minutes; but it finally came out (of Lucinda) that
+Burnett, whose place it was to have overseen officiating Tweedwell, had
+forgotten all about him, and the poor fellow, exhausted by his long
+journey, had never awakened until Lucinda, going in to clear up his room,
+had let forth a piercing howl of surprise.
+
+So far from dampening anyone's spirits this little _contretemps_ only
+seemed to set things off at a livelier pace. They had a brisk ride home,
+and the wedding feast and the wedding cake were all that could be desired.
+What went with it was the finest that any of the guests ever tasted before
+or since, and the champagne was all but served in beer steins.
+
+When it came to the healths they drank to Aunt Mary along with the bride
+and groom, and Mitchell made a speech, invoking Heaven's blessings on the
+triple compact and covering himself with glory.
+
+"Here's to Aunt Mary and her bride and her groom," he cried, when they
+told him to rise and proclaim. "Here's to Aunt Mary and her bride and
+groom, and here's to their health and their wealth and their happiness.
+Here's to their brilliant past, their roseate present and their gorgeous
+future. And here's to hoping that Fate, who is ready and willing to deal
+any man a bride, may some time see fit to deal some one of us another such
+as Jack's Aunt Mary. So I propose her health before all else. Aunt Mary,
+long may she wave!"
+
+Aunt Mary looked as if words and actions were poor things in which to
+attempt to express her feelings, but no one who glanced at her could be in
+two minds as to her state of approval as to everything that was going on.
+
+The bridal pair drove away somewhere after five o'clock, and about seven
+the main body of the guests returned to the city.
+
+Mrs. Rosscott's mother and Mitchell and Burnett remained a day or two to
+keep Aunt Mary from feeling blue, but Aunt Mary was not at all inclined
+that way.
+
+"If those two young people are lookin' forward to anythin' like as much
+fun as I am," she said over and over again, "well, all is they're lookin'
+forward to a good deal."
+
+"Won't we whoop her up next summer!" said Burnett; "well, I don't know!"
+
+"My dear Robert," said his mother gently.
+
+"Don't stop him," said Aunt Mary. "He knows just how I feel an' I know
+jus' how he feels. It isn't wrong, Mrs. Burnett, it's natural. We were
+born to be happy, only sometimes we don't know just how to set about it."
+
+"Miss Watkins has hit the nail on the head," said Mitchell, rolling a
+cigarette. "She has not only hit the nail on its own head, but she has
+succeeded in driving its point well into all our heads. She taught us many
+things during her short visit. I, for one, am her debtor forever. Me for
+joy, from now on!"
+
+Aunt Mary smiled. "My heavens!" she murmured; "to think how nice it all
+come out, and how really put out I was when Jack first began, too."
+
+Burnett put his hand in his pocket and pulled out some gum.
+
+"Robert!" cried his mother, "you don't chew gum, do you?"
+
+"Of course he doesn't," said his friend quickly; "that's why he had it in
+his pocket."
+
+Aunt Mary looked thoughtfully at him.
+
+"Give me a little," she said, "maybe it's suthin' I've been missin'."
+
+Mrs. Burnett left the next day, and Mitchell went the day after.
+
+The carpenters took down the addition, and the wedding presents were
+shipped to town.
+
+"She says she'll be goin' soon," said Lucinda to Joshua.
+
+"Then she'll be goin' soon," said Joshua.
+
+"I'm sure I'll be glad," said Lucinda; "such hifalutin sky-larkin'!"
+
+Joshua said nothing. Mr. Stebbins had apprised him of Aunt Mary's
+arrangements in his behalf and he felt no inclination to criticize any of
+her doings and sayings.
+
+Toward the end of the next week this telegram was received.
+
+
+    Dear Aunt Mary: We're home and ready when you are. Telegraph what
+    train.
+
+                                                             J. and J.
+
+
+The telegram was handed to Aunt Mary at ten in the morning. Her fingers
+trembled as she opened it.
+
+"My heavens alive, Lucinda," she cried, the next minute, "I do believe, if
+you'll be quick, that I can make the twelve-twenty! Run! Tell Joshua to
+get my trunk down and harness Billy as quick as he can. He can telegraph
+that I'm comin' after I'm gone."
+
+Lucinda flew Joshua-wards.
+
+"She wants to make the twelve-twenty train!" she cried. Joshua looked up.
+
+"Then she'll make it," he said.
+
+She made it!
+
+
+
+
+
+_Anne Warner's "Susan Clegg" Books_
+
+SUSAN CLEGG AND HER FRIEND MRS. LATHROP
+
+_By_ ANNE WARNER
+With Frontispiece, $1.00
+
+Nothing better in the new homely philosophy style of fiction has been
+written.--_San Francisco Bulletin_.
+
+One of the most genuinely humorous books ever written.--_St. Louis
+Globe-Democrat_.
+
+Anything more humorous than the Susan Clegg stories would be hard to
+find.--_The Critic_, New York.
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+_By the Same Author_:
+
+SUSAN CLEGG AND HER NEIGHBORS' AFFAIRS
+
+With Frontispiece, $1.00
+
+All the stories brim over with quaint humor, caustic sarcasm, and
+concealed contempt for male and matrimonial chains.--_Philadelphia Ledger_.
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+SUSAN CLEGG AND A MAN IN THE HOUSE
+
+Illustrated by Alice Barber Stephens. $1.50
+
+Susan is a positive joy, and the reading world owes Anne Warner a vote of
+thanks for her contribution to the list of American humor.--_New York
+Times_.
+
+LITTLE, BROWN, & CO., Publishers
+34 Beacon Street, Boston
+
+
+
+
+
+_An exceedingly clever volume of stories_
+
+AN ORIGINAL GENTLEMAN
+
+_By_ ANNE WARNER
+
+With frontispiece by Alice Barber Stephens
+
+Cloth. $1.50
+
+Exhibits her cleverness and sense of humor.--_New York Times_.
+
+Crisply told, quaintly humorous.--_Boston Transcript_.
+
+An "Original Gentleman" is truly also one of the most entertaining and
+witty gentlemen that it has been our fortune to run across in many a day,
+not to mention the more original lady that he has to do with.--_Louisville
+Evening Post_.
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+_By the same author_
+
+A WOMAN'S WILL
+
+Illustrated. 360 pages. Cloth. $1.50
+
+A deliciously funny book.--_Chicago Tribune_.
+
+It is bright, charming, and intense as it describes the wooing of a young
+American widow on the European Continent by a German musical genius.--_San
+Francisco Chronicle_.
+
+As refreshing a bit of fiction as one often finds.--_Providence Journal_.
+
+LITTLE, BROWN, & CO., PUBLISHERS
+34 BEACON STREET, BOSTON
+
+
+
+
+
+_Anne Warner's Latest Character Creation_
+
+IN A MYSTERIOUS WAY
+
+_By_ ANNE WARNER
+
+Illustrated by J.V. McFall. Cloth. $1.50
+
+A story of love and sacrifice that teems with the author's original
+humor.--_Baltimore American_.
+
+The humor peculiar to her pen is here in wonted strength, but in a new
+guise; and set against it, or interwoven with it, is a story of love and
+the strange sacrifice of which a few loving hearts are capable.--_New York
+American_.
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+_By the same author_
+
+YOUR CHILD AND MINE
+
+Illustrated. 12mo. Cloth. $1.50
+
+The child heart, strange and sweet and tender, lies open to this
+sympathetic writer, and other human hearts--and eyes--should be opened by
+her narratives.--_Chicago Record-Herald_.
+
+The literary charm of the stories is not the least of their attractions.
+The interest is all the greater for the style in which the story is told,
+and the author's sympathy with her young friends lends a vital warmth to
+her narrative.--_Philadelphia Public Ledger_.
+
+LITTLE, BROWN, & CO., PUBLISHERS
+34 BEACON STREET, BOSTON
+
+
+
+
+
+_By the Author of "Aunt Jane of Kentucky"_
+
+THE LAND OF LONG AGO
+
+_By_ ELIZA CALVERT HALL
+
+Illustrated by G. Patrick Nelson and Beulah Strong 12mo. Cloth. $1.50
+
+The book is an inspiration.--_Boston Globe_.
+
+Without qualification one of the worthiest publications of the
+year.--_Pittsburg Post_.
+
+Aunt Jane has become a real personage in American literature.--_Hartford
+Courant_.
+
+A philosophy sweet and wholesome flows from the lips of "Aunt
+Jane."--_Chicago Evening Post_.
+
+The sweetness and sincerity of Aunt Jane's recollections have the same
+unfailing charm found in "Cranford."--_Philadelphia Press_.
+
+To a greater degree than her previous work it touches the heart by its
+wholesome, quaint human appeal.--_Boston Transcript_.
+
+The stories are prose idyls; the illuminations of a lovely spirit shine
+upon them, and their literary quality is as rare as beautiful.--_Baltimore
+Sun_.
+
+MARGARET E. SANGSTER says: "It is not often that an author competes with
+herself, but Eliza Calvert Hall has done so successfully, for her second
+volume centred about Aunt Jane is more fascinating than her first."
+
+LITTLE, BROWN, & CO., PUBLISHERS
+34 BEACON STREET, BOSTON
+
+
+
+
+
+
+***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE REJUVENATION OF AUNT MARY***
+
+
+
+CREDITS
+
+
+May 2005
+
+            Project Gutenberg Edition
+            Suzanne Shell Josephine Paolucci Joshua Hutchinson Online
+            Distributed Proofreading Team
+
+August 2005
+
+            Converted to PGTEI v0.3.
+            Joshua Hutchinson
+
+June 2006
+
+            Added PGHeader/PGFooter.
+            Joshua Hutchinson
+
+
+
+A WORD FROM PROJECT GUTENBERG
+
+
+This file should be named 15775-0.txt or 15775-0.zip.
+
+This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
+
+
+    http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/7/7/15775/
+
+
+Updated editions will replace the previous one -- the old editions will be
+renamed.
+
+Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no one
+owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and
+you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission
+and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth in the
+General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and
+distributing Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works to protect the Project
+Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered
+trademark, and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you
+receive specific permission. If you do not charge anything for copies of
+this eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook
+for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports,
+performances and research. They may be modified and printed and given away
+-- you may do practically _anything_ with public domain eBooks.
+Redistribution is subject to the trademark license, especially commercial
+redistribution.
+
+
+
+THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
+
+
+_Please read this before you distribute or use this work._
+
+To protect the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} mission of promoting the free
+distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work (or
+any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project Gutenberg"),
+you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~}
+License (available with this file or online at
+http://www.gutenberg.org/license).
+
+
+Section 1.
+
+
+General Terms of Use & Redistributing Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works
+
+
+1.A.
+
+
+By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic work,
+you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to and accept all the
+terms of this license and intellectual property (trademark/copyright)
+agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all the terms of this
+agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy all copies of
+Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works in your possession. If you paid a fee
+for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic work
+and you do not agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement, you may
+obtain a refund from the person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set
+forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
+
+
+1.B.
+
+
+"Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be used on or
+associated in any way with an electronic work by people who agree to be
+bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few things that you can
+do with most Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works even without complying
+with the full terms of this agreement. See paragraph 1.C below. There are
+a lot of things you can do with Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works if you
+follow the terms of this agreement and help preserve free future access to
+Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below.
+
+
+1.C.
+
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" or
+PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project
+Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the
+collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an individual
+work is in the public domain in the United States and you are located in
+the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from copying,
+distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative works based on
+the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of
+course, we hope that you will support the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} mission of
+promoting free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project
+Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for
+keeping the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} name associated with the work. You can
+easily comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the
+same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} License when you
+share it without charge with others.
+
+
+1.D.
+
+
+The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern what you
+can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in a constant
+state of change. If you are outside the United States, check the laws of
+your country in addition to the terms of this agreement before
+downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or creating
+derivative works based on this work or any other Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} work.
+The Foundation makes no representations concerning the copyright status of
+any work in any country outside the United States.
+
+
+1.E.
+
+
+Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
+
+
+1.E.1.
+
+
+The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate access
+to, the full Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} License must appear prominently whenever
+any copy of a Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} work (any work on which the phrase
+"Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project Gutenberg"
+is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, copied or
+distributed:
+
+
+    This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+    almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away
+    or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License
+    included with this eBook or online at http://www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+1.E.2.
+
+
+If an individual Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic work is derived from the
+public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is posted with
+permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied and
+distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees or
+charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work with the
+phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you
+must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7
+or obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~}
+trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+
+1.E.3.
+
+
+If an individual Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic work is posted with the
+permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution must comply
+with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional terms imposed
+by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked to the Project
+Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} License for all works posted with the permission of the
+copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.
+
+
+1.E.4.
+
+
+Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} License
+terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this work or any
+other work associated with Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~}.
+
+
+1.E.5.
+
+
+Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this electronic
+work, or any part of this electronic work, without prominently displaying
+the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with active links or immediate
+access to the full terms of the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} License.
+
+
+1.E.6.
+
+
+You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, compressed,
+marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any word
+processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or
+distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} work in a format other than
+"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version posted
+on the official Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} web site (http://www.gutenberg.org),
+you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a
+copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon
+request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other form.
+Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} License as
+specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
+
+
+1.E.7.
+
+
+Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, performing,
+copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} works unless you comply
+with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+
+1.E.8.
+
+
+You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing access to or
+distributing Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works provided that
+
+    - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
+      the use of Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} works calculated using the method you
+      already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed to
+      the owner of the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} trademark, but he has agreed to
+      donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project Gutenberg
+      Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid within 60
+      days following each date on which you prepare (or are legally
+      required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty payments
+      should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project Gutenberg
+      Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in Section 4,
+      "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
+      Archive Foundation."
+
+    - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
+      you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
+      does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} License.
+      You must require such a user to return or destroy all copies of the
+      works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue all use of and
+      all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} works.
+
+    - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of
+      any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
+      electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of
+      receipt of the work.
+
+    - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
+      distribution of Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} works.
+
+
+1.E.9.
+
+
+If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic
+work or group of works on different terms than are set forth in this
+agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from both the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael Hart, the owner of the
+Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in
+Section 3 below.
+
+
+1.F.
+
+
+1.F.1.
+
+
+Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable effort to
+identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread public domain
+works in creating the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} collection. Despite these
+efforts, Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works, and the medium on which they
+may be stored, may contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to,
+incomplete, inaccurate or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright
+or other intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk
+or other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot
+be read by your equipment.
+
+
+1.F.2.
+
+
+LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES -- Except for the "Right of
+Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~}
+trademark, and any other party distributing a Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~}
+electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all liability to you for
+damages, costs and expenses, including legal fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE
+NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH
+OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE
+FOUNDATION, THE TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT
+WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL,
+PUNITIVE OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY
+OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+
+
+1.F.3.
+
+
+LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND -- If you discover a defect in this
+electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can receive a refund
+of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a written explanation to
+the person you received the work from. If you received the work on a
+physical medium, you must return the medium with your written explanation.
+The person or entity that provided you with the defective work may elect
+to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a refund. If you received the
+work electronically, the person or entity providing it to you may choose
+to give you a second opportunity to receive the work electronically in
+lieu of a refund. If the second copy is also defective, you may demand a
+refund in writing without further opportunities to fix the problem.
+
+
+1.F.4.
+
+
+Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth in
+paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS,' WITH NO OTHER
+WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
+WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
+
+
+1.F.5.
+
+
+Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied warranties or the
+exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. If any disclaimer or
+limitation set forth in this agreement violates the law of the state
+applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be interpreted to make
+the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by the applicable state
+law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this agreement
+shall not void the remaining provisions.
+
+
+1.F.6.
+
+
+INDEMNITY -- You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the trademark
+owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone providing copies of
+Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works in accordance with this agreement, and
+any volunteers associated with the production, promotion and distribution
+of Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs
+and expenses, including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from
+any of the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of
+this or any Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} work, (b) alteration, modification, or
+additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} work, and (c) any Defect
+you cause.
+
+
+Section  2.
+
+
+           Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~}
+
+
+Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} is synonymous with the free distribution of electronic
+works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers including
+obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists because of the
+efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from people in all walks
+of life.
+
+Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the assistance
+they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~}'s goals and ensuring
+that the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} collection will remain freely available for
+generations to come. In 2001, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
+Foundation was created to provide a secure and permanent future for
+Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} and future generations. To learn more about the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations
+can help, see Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation web page at
+http://www.pglaf.org.
+
+
+Section 3.
+
+
+   Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
+
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit
+501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the state of
+Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service.
+The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification number is 64-6221541.
+Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at
+http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf. Contributions to the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full
+extent permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.
+
+The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr.
+S. Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered
+throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at 809 North
+1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email
+business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact information
+can be found at the Foundation's web site and official page at
+http://www.pglaf.org
+
+For additional contact information:
+
+
+    Dr. Gregory B. Newby
+    Chief Executive and Director
+    gbnewby@pglaf.org
+
+
+Section 4.
+
+
+  Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
+                                Foundation
+
+
+Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} depends upon and cannot survive without wide spread
+public support and donations to carry out its mission of increasing the
+number of public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed
+in machine readable form accessible by the widest array of equipment
+including outdated equipment. Many small donations ($1 to $5,000) are
+particularly important to maintaining tax exempt status with the IRS.
+
+The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
+charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United States.
+Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a considerable
+effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up with these
+requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations where we have not
+received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND DONATIONS or
+determine the status of compliance for any particular state visit
+http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate
+
+While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we have
+not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition against
+accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who approach us
+with offers to donate.
+
+International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make any
+statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from outside the
+United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
+
+Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation methods
+and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other ways including
+checks, online payments and credit card donations. To donate, please
+visit: http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate
+
+
+Section 5.
+
+
+      General Information About Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works.
+
+
+Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~}
+concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared with
+anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~}
+eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.
+
+Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} eBooks are often created from several printed editions,
+all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. unless a copyright
+notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily keep eBooks in compliance
+with any particular paper edition.
+
+Each eBook is in a subdirectory of the same number as the eBook's eBook
+number, often in several formats including plain vanilla ASCII, compressed
+(zipped), HTML and others.
+
+Corrected _editions_ of our eBooks replace the old file and take over the
+old filename and etext number. The replaced older file is renamed.
+_Versions_ based on separate sources are treated as new eBooks receiving
+new filenames and etext numbers.
+
+Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility:
+
+
+    http://www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~}, including how
+to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation,
+how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email
+newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+***FINIS***
+
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/old/15775-8.zip b/old/15775-8.zip
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..70ffbe9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/15775-8.zip
diff --git a/old/15775-h.zip b/old/15775-h.zip
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0feab00
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/15775-h.zip
diff --git a/old/15775-pdf.pdf b/old/15775-pdf.pdf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..becaff1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/15775-pdf.pdf
@@ -0,0 +1,12725 @@
+%PDF-1.4
+3 0 obj <<
+/Length 1331      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -280.63 -19.8 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -529.134 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 518.175 Td[(The)-180(Project)-179(Gute)-1(nberg)-179(EBook)-180(of)-180(The)-179(Rejuvenation)-180(of)-180(Aunt)-180(Mary)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(by)-250(Anne)-250(Warner)]TJ 0 -29.913 Td[(This)-546(eBook)-546(is)-546(for)-546(the)-546(use)-546(of)-546(anyone)-546(anywhere)-547(at)-546(no)-546(cost)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-470(with)-470(almost)-470(no)-470(restrictions)-470(whatsoever.)-910(You)-470(may)-470(copy)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(it,)-565(give)-503(it)-502(away)-502(or)-502(re-use)-502(it)-503(under)-502(the)-502(terms)-502(of)-502(the)-503(Project)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Gutenberg)-633(License)-632(included)-633(with)-632(this)-633(eBook)-632(or)-633(online)-633(at)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(http://www.gutenberg.org/license)]TJ 0 -29.913 Td[(Title:)-500(The)-500(Rejuvenation)-500(of)-500(Aunt)-500(Mary)]TJ 0 -27.098 Td[(Author:)-500(Anne)-500(Warner)]TJ 0 -27.098 Td[(Release)-500(Date:)-500(May)-500(2005)-500([Ebook)-500(15775])]TJ 0 -27.099 Td[(Language:)-500(English)]TJ 0 -40.647 Td[(***START)-500(OF)-500(THE)-500(PROJECT)-500(GUTENBERG)-500(EBOOK)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(THE)-500(REJUVENATION)-500(OF)-500(AUNT)-500(MARY***)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+2 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 3 0 R
+/Resources 1 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 9 0 R
+/Annots [ 7 0 R 8 0 R ]
+>> endobj
+7 0 obj <<
+/Type /Annot
+/BS << /Type /Border /S /U >> /H /I /C [0 1 1]
+/Rect [140.547 431.687 262.463 441.407]
+/Subtype /Link
+/A << /S /GoTo /D (pglicense) >>
+>> endobj
+8 0 obj <<
+/Type /Annot
+ /BS << /Type /Border /S /U >> /H /I /C [1 0.5 0.5] 
+/Rect [46.771 418.138 193.422 427.858]
+ /Subtype /Link /A << /Type /Action /S /URI /URI (http://www.gutenberg.org/license) >> 
+>> endobj
+4 0 obj <<
+/D [2 0 R /XYZ 46.771 529.134 null]
+>> endobj
+1 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+13 0 obj <<
+/Length 126       
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -280.63 -510.152 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+12 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 13 0 R
+/Resources 11 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 9 0 R
+>> endobj
+11 0 obj <<
+/ProcSet [ /PDF ]
+>> endobj
+16 0 obj <<
+/Length 799       
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 15.781 Tf 46.771 518.175 Td[(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 0 -13.549 Td[(By)-250(Anne)-250(Warner)]TJ 0 -27.098 Td[(Author)-446(of)-447("A)-446(Woman's)-447(Will,")-446("Susan)-446(Clegg)-447(and)-446(Her)-447(Friend)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(Mrs.)-250(Lathrop,")-250("Susan)-250(Clegg)-250(and)-250(a)-250(Man)-250(in)-250(the)-250(House,")-250(etc.)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 0 -13.549 Td[(NEW)-250(EDITION)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(With)-250(Additional)-250(Pictures)-250(from)-250(the)-250(Play)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 0 -27.098 Td[(Boston)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(Little,)-250(Brown,)-250(and)-250(Company)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(1910)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+15 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 16 0 R
+/Resources 14 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 9 0 R
+>> endobj
+14 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F18 18 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+21 0 obj <<
+/Length 840       
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F18 10.909 Tf 196.523 518.175 Td[(Copyright,)-289(1904,)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -34.207 -13.549 Td[(By)-271(Ainslee)-270(Magazine)-271(Company.)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 40.197 -13.549 Td[(Copyright,)-287(1905,)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -40.826 -13.549 Td[(By)-271(Little,)-275(Brown,)-276(and)-270(Company.)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 40.826 -13.55 Td[(Copyright,)-287(1907,)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -40.826 -13.549 Td[(By)-271(Little,)-275(Brown,)-276(and)-270(Company,)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 37.238 -13.549 Td[(All)-278(rights)-278(reserved)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -1.818 -13.549 Td[(Fourteenth)-278(Printing)]TJ 25.76 -13.549 Td[(Printers)]TJ -66.707 -13.55 Td[(S.J.)-269(Parkhill)-269(&)-269(Co.,)-273(Boston,)-274(U.S.A.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+20 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 21 0 R
+/Resources 19 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 9 0 R
+>> endobj
+19 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F18 18 0 R /F16 6 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+25 0 obj <<
+/Length 504       
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -280.63 -19.8 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 5.595 -195.222 cm
+ q 4.4208 0 0 4.4208 0 0 cm
+1 0 0 1 2.728 0 cm
+ q 1 0 0 1 0 0 cm
+q
+57.5998 0 0 44.1598 0 0 cm
+/Im1 Do
+Q
+ Q
+1 0 0 1 -2.728 0 cm
+ Q
+1 0 0 1 -52.366 -333.912 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 77.547 314.908 Td[(Aunt)-255(Mary)-254(en)-255(F\352te.)-264(May)-254(Robson)-255(as)-255("Aunt)-254(Mary.")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 307.075 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 0 -268.293 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+24 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 25 0 R
+/Resources 23 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 9 0 R
+>> endobj
+22 0 obj <<
+/Type /XObject
+/Subtype /Image
+/Width 480
+/Height 368
+/BitsPerComponent 4
+/ColorSpace [/Indexed /DeviceRGB 15 28 0 R]
+/Length 88320     
+>>
+stream
+�ff��n������������YY������U��UU[�[��;���UU[�[�����UU��Y��������������������UUY�������ff�fnfn�n��������������n��������U���[���UU:;�3;3����;333:��333�:��������w�www�wwwwww����w������������������b"��,,���"��lf���nn�����������U���[[�;�;��U���[U�����Y������������fa���������fn�n������������f�"�����D����MM����������--����-��-���"i�YY�����Y��Y[�Y��Y��U[3;�Y�������[�U��U[��Y�U����UY�Y�����Y�Y�YU�YUU�YYU[��"�",�,-���lf������n����Y��U����[�U�[U���;;��UY�����UY����n�����f���,���.��fnff�ff��ff�n�nf���DDDHD�DDHDDHDDDDDDD�DDM�M���DDDMMDMM�M�YUYU^��n�Q�U�UUU�UU��[3;UUU3[��U�[�U��U[;Y�U�n���ff���l�l�fb"l��"�"""��"�""�,""�������fn����������Y�����U�UUUU�3��UUUY�����UYY��������n������fn�"��l&b�������flfffffffff��-�DDD�H��HD�����H��DD�HHDD�D�MDDDDHDDD�D���i�YYU�fff[QY�UU[�Y[�Y[���YU����U��U[Y��U;��n��l�fll�&b,�,��,�,"$��"�m""-""���,��l���ff��������������U�[��;��[UUUY���Y�Y����f���������n����,��&�"���ffn�fl"�ff�f��,"-�DD���������H�HHH���D�DD�D�DDDDDD�DDDDDDM��Mə�YU�fƛ�YU�Y[��UU�[�;���[�[UUUUUUYU��镑�n���l����"�l��&��""""�MD"-��""��"&�"����fln���n��������Y���U����[����U�����Y����ff�f����n����������l���M�lf��ff��,�lfl��M�DHD��H�������HHD�H���DDDD�D�DD�DDDMMMDMDD�DMi���fff���YU�U��UUYU����[[�UYY�UU�YUU�a����f�fl��,���,�,�b""���D�"����"",�,-�,�l���ff�f��������Y����U[�[[U[[UY������n���f���fn���f�����fnn�D��f�lf������fl�DDHH����������������DDHHD��DDD�HDDDDD�DDDD�DDM�Ma��Q��lƛQYU�Y��QUUYU�U�UU�[YYY�Y��U�n������lfll����b,�����"-��M�������,"�,-�"f������ff���ᙙ����������������UU��[Y��YUY��������nfnnf����������������ff�ff��f�$D��D�H����H���������HD�DDD�H�D�DDDDDMDDDD�DDMM�����lfl��Q[YU��U�Y[[[Y�U�UUYYY��Y����a&�����fnf��n��,"��"����DM������"�,��-,"nl�f�fnn����Y�����Y�����������U[Un�YUUUU�YY���ff�����n�������b�f��ffff����f�D����H�����������������HD�DDDH�DDDDDDDDDDDDDD�DDi��Yllƛ��QUY���Y�QU�[QU�U[YYY��Y���Y������lff�nn�nll�&�,,"�"��DD����-B"�&��b�,nl�n�f��������UUY�����������n陙YUUUUQ���nnn���n���f�������ff������ԄH������HH������H�HH�DDDD���D�DDHDDDD�D�D��DMi���Y�lfl���QU�Y��QY�Q���QUUYUYYY���Y�����af��f�f�fl"�b��,���"��D��-��-��&&lf�,��l���ff�����������U������Y����YQ�YUUUQn����������n���������n�������ԄH�����HD������H��H��H�DDDDH������HDDD�DDDDDDHDDi���U�lff�Q�YU�����YU�U[�����U�Y�YY�UU���n��n�����bf��",l�����DM�����B",,l�b"�nlf����n����������Y���Y����������YY���U�����������n�������������$�HH�������������H�DDDHD�DDDDD��DHHDDDDDDDD�D�DD�i�Y�U�ffƛQ�����QU�YU����UYU�YUYU�Q���Y�Y�a�����f��f�,n�ll�&""����-��M��M�-�",,ln��"n�f�f��f�Y����������UUY����Q��YYYY�U�����n��n�������f��������$D�H�����������H���D���HD��D�DDD��D����D�؄��H�Dř�U��lfƛYYU�Y�QY������U�U��Y����Q�Y��an���n�fl�&�ll���"��"�"-��M���m"�",,bn�,"���f��f�f陑UU������[U����Y������Y��U�Y����������n������f����������������-D�����H����������HH���DDH���DH�H����DHD��H�H�De���Y�llf�Q���U�YYYY�������U�U[Y��Y����YY�a���nn����l"��b�b,���"�--�DMM������&,��l�������nf�nf�UYY������[[UY�YU�UUY�����YYYY�����������n�n�����������n�ᙑ�������-DH�DH������H�����������HD��MDD�H���������HDDDDi���U��ff�Y��YU�QY�YUYU���U�UU�UY��Q�U����afnnb",�-&"&�&b��"���BM-��"�b,&l�l,��lf��n��nf�����Y���������U��U�U����YQYY�����f��ff�f���������fa����������$DDD�D�����������������HH�D�MB؈��������HDH�����i�����fll�Y�YU�Y���Y�U[��U�YUYY�Y����UU��������n��-��,�&�&�b�""��M����"��,,�nm���l�����f�n�����������[�����Y������YY�����Q���fffn����f����f����n���������HDH�DH�H���������������H��DDD�D��������HHD����D�Y�YUQfff[YY��Y�Y��YUU���[��U�U�Y�����U^i�����,n�,"--�b.��,���-�DM$���"��,��n�-"��&��f����Y���UY���UY���U����Y��������n�ff����nfn����f���������D�H��HH��@��H�����������H��HDDH������������H��HD�YUQ�^fff[QYUUQU�QY�YU[[�U�UUYU��U��YUU�������,�""""�b��,,��-��H��-��"�"���nl,-����fff����fn��[U���UUU������U��YYYY����������nf��fn�����������������D����HD�H���H����H��������D�D��H��H�����H����D�YU�U�fln[Q����UQU��UUYU������Y[�Y�Y����UY������"����"""���&�,���""�HM-��b����,l�l&��l���lf�������f����Y�Y��U��������Y�Q��YYUY�Y�����f�fffffn������������fnn����D���HHH���������DHH������D��������H�����������YY��flfS���Y�UYU�U�Y�������U[�U�YU���UU������,"�fn�����������""-���-����"�,�b��,����n�ff��n�DDDM��f��������U[�Y���������YYYY�����fnff��fnnfn����f����������n��������DHH����������H���H������HHH�����������������YUYY�ffnSY���U�YU�YUQU�;�[��UUUUUU�YUUU�i��,,""�lf��"��"�b����""MD�����l,��,l��"b�l��f���n�D�H�D��""��U����U[UY�����ᑑ�陙YY�U��f��n��fff�ff��������������������D�H������������HH�D�H���D�DD�������H���H����YUY���nffSY��[�UU�YU�YU������UU���[[Y�Y[UQ�n��l�f�������,�"�f��,-M�B-���l"�,,l�b"��������bHHH��D��M�",f��������U���Y���ᙙ��������nfffflnnfn����n�����������HHHH����
+endobj
+28 0 obj <<
+/Length 48        
+>>
+stream
+
+
+
+���HHH���(((���hhh��������մ��XXX888wvw���endstream
+endobj
+26 0 obj <<
+/D [24 0 R /XYZ 46.771 529.134 null]
+>> endobj
+27 0 obj <<
+/D [24 0 R /XYZ 46.771 529.134 null]
+>> endobj
+23 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R >>
+/XObject << /Im1 22 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text /ImageC /ImageI ]
+>> endobj
+31 0 obj <<
+/Length 866       
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F18 10.909 Tf 183.415 518.175 Td[(Books)-250(by)-250(Anne)-250(Warner)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -58.401 -13.549 Td[(A)-250(Woman's)-250(Will)-11220(1904)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Susan)-250(Clegg)-250(and)-250(Her)-250(Friend)-250(Mrs.)-250(Lathrop)-1096(1904)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-5068(1905)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(Susan)-250(Clegg)-250(and)-250(Her)-250(Neighbor's)-250(Affairs)-1806(1906)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Susan)-250(Clegg)-250(and)-250(a)-250(Man)-250(in)-250(the)-250(House)-3151(1907)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(An)-250(Original)-250(Gentleman)-8512(1908)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(In)-250(a)-250(Mysterious)-250(Way)-9540(1909)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Your)-250(Child)-250(and)-250(Mine)-9372(1909)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+30 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 31 0 R
+/Resources 29 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 9 0 R
+>> endobj
+29 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F18 18 0 R /F16 6 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+34 0 obj <<
+/Length 9576      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 18.959 Tf 46.771 479.321 Td[(Contents)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 0 -32.422 Td[(Illustrations)-722(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 318.914 446.899 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -318.914 -446.899 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 318.914 446.899 Td[(ix)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 446.899 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -446.899 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 433.35 Td[(Chapter)-250(One)-250(-)-250(Introducing)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-753(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 321.947 433.35 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -321.947 -433.35 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 321.947 433.35 Td[(1)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 433.35 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -433.35 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 419.801 Td[(Chapter)-250(Two)-250(-)-250(Jack)-641(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 316.492 419.801 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -316.492 -419.801 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 316.492 419.801 Td[(10)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 419.801 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -419.801 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 406.251 Td[(Chapter)-250(Three)-250(-)-250(Introducing)-250(Jack)-476(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 316.492 406.251 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -316.492 -406.251 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 316.492 406.251 Td[(17)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 406.251 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -406.251 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 392.702 Td[(Chapter)-250(Four)-250(-)-250(Married)-641(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 316.492 392.702 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -316.492 -392.702 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 316.492 392.702 Td[(25)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 392.702 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -392.702 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 379.153 Td[(Chapter)-250(Five)-250(-)-250(The)-250(Day)-250(After)-250(Falling)-250(in)-250(Love)-725(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 316.492 379.153 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -316.492 -379.153 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 316.492 379.153 Td[(32)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 379.153 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -379.153 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 365.604 Td[(Chapter)-250(Six)-250(-)-250(The)-250(Other)-250(Man)-502(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 316.492 365.604 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -316.492 -365.604 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 316.492 365.604 Td[(40)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 365.604 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -365.604 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 352.055 Td[(Chapter)-250(Seven)-250(-)-250(Developments)-530(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 316.492 352.055 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -316.492 -352.055 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 316.492 352.055 Td[(47)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 352.055 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -352.055 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 338.505 Td[(Chapter)-250(Eight)-250(-)-250(The)-250(Resolution)-250(He)-250(Took)-418(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 316.492 338.505 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -316.492 -338.505 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 316.492 338.505 Td[(51)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 338.505 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -338.505 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 324.956 Td[(Chapter)-250(Nine)-250(-)-250(The)-250(Downfall)-250(of)-250(Hope)-726(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 316.492 324.956 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -316.492 -324.956 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 316.492 324.956 Td[(54)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 324.956 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -324.956 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 311.407 Td[(Chapter)-250(Ten)-250(-)-250(The)-250(Woes)-250(of)-250(the)-250(Disinherited.)-365(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 316.492 311.407 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -316.492 -311.407 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 316.492 311.407 Td[(62)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 311.407 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -311.407 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 297.858 Td[(Chapter)-250(Eleven)-250(-)-250(The)-250(Dove)-250(of)-250(Peace)-588(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 316.492 297.858 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -316.492 -297.858 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 316.492 297.858 Td[(71)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 297.858 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -297.858 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 284.309 Td[(Chapter)-250(Twelve)-250(-)-250(A)-250(Trap)-250(For)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-337(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 316.492 284.309 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -316.492 -284.309 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 316.492 284.309 Td[(82)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 284.309 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -284.309 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 270.759 Td[(Chapter)-250(Thirteen)-250(-)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(Entrapped)-337(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 316.492 270.759 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -316.492 -270.759 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 316.492 270.759 Td[(92)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 270.759 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -270.759 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 257.21 Td[(Chapter)-250(Fourteen)-250(-)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(En)-250(F\352te)-447(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 316.492 257.21 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -316.492 -257.21 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 316.492 257.21 Td[(99)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 257.21 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -257.21 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 243.661 Td[(Chapter)-250(Fifteen)-250(-)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(Enthralled)-836(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 311.038 243.661 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -311.038 -243.661 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 311.038 243.661 Td[(113)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 243.661 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -243.661 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 230.112 Td[(Chapter)-250(Sixteen)-250(-)-250(A)-250(Reposeful)-250(Interval)-364(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 311.038 230.112 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -311.038 -230.112 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 311.038 230.112 Td[(134)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 230.112 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -230.112 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 216.563 Td[(Chapter)-250(Seventeen)-250(-)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary's)-250(Night)-250(About)-250(Town)-795(.)-500(.)-500(.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 311.038 216.563 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -311.038 -216.563 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 311.038 216.563 Td[(146)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 216.563 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -216.563 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 203.013 Td[(Chapter)-250(Eighteen)-250(-)-250(A)-250(Departure)-250(And)-250(A)-250(Return)-310(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 311.038 203.013 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -311.038 -203.013 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 311.038 203.013 Td[(159)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 203.013 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -203.013 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 189.464 Td[(Chapter)-250(Nineteen)-250(-)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary's)-250(Return)-934(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 311.038 189.464 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -311.038 -189.464 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 311.038 189.464 Td[(165)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 189.464 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -189.464 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 175.915 Td[(Chapter)-250(Twenty)-250(-)-250(Jack's)-250(Joy)-961(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 311.038 175.915 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -311.038 -175.915 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 311.038 175.915 Td[(173)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 175.915 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -175.915 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 162.366 Td[(Chapter)-250(Twenty-One)-250(-)-250(The)-250(Peace)-250(and)-250(Quiet)-250(of)-250(the)-250(Country)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 311.038 162.366 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -311.038 -162.366 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 311.038 162.366 Td[(186)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 162.366 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -162.366 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 148.817 Td[(Chapter)-250(Twenty-Two)-250(-)-250("Granite")-465(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 311.038 148.817 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -311.038 -148.817 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 311.038 148.817 Td[(196)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 148.817 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -148.817 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 135.267 Td[(Chapter)-250(Twenty-Three)-250(-)-250("Granite")-250(-)-250(Continued.)-716(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 311.038 135.267 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -311.038 -135.267 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 311.038 135.267 Td[(201)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 135.267 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -135.267 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 121.718 Td[(Chapter)-250(Twenty-Four)-250(-)-250(Two)-250(Are)-250(Company)-253(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 311.038 121.718 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -311.038 -121.718 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 311.038 121.718 Td[(205)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 121.718 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -121.718 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 108.169 Td[(Chapter)-250(Twenty-Five)-250(-)-250(Grand)-250(Finale)-586(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)-500(.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 311.038 108.169 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -311.038 -108.169 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 311.038 108.169 Td[(225)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 108.169 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -280.63 -69.387 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+33 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 34 0 R
+/Resources 32 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 35 0 R
+>> endobj
+32 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+38 0 obj <<
+/Length 126       
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -280.63 -510.152 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+37 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 38 0 R
+/Resources 36 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 35 0 R
+>> endobj
+36 0 obj <<
+/ProcSet [ /PDF ]
+>> endobj
+39 0 obj
+<< /S /GoTo /D (index1) >>
+endobj
+42 0 obj
+(Illustrations)
+endobj
+45 0 obj <<
+/Length 1383      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 18.959 Tf 46.771 479.321 Td[(Illustrations)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 21.819 -37.877 Td[("Aunt)-288(Mary)-289(en)-288(f\352te")-289(\050May)-288(Robson)-289(as)-288("Au)-1(nt)-288(Mary"\051)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 233.36 0 Td[(Fron-)]TJ -233.36 -13.549 Td[(tispiece)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 0 -13.549 Td[("'Do)-410(not)-410(let)-410(us)-410(play)-409(any)-410(longer,')-450(she)-410(said.)-730('Let)-410(us)-410(be)-410(in)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(earnest'")]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[("'She's)-255(goin')-255(to)-256(the)-255(city)-255(all)-255(alone!')-266(Lucinda's)-255(voice)-255(su)-1(ddenly)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(proclaimed)-250(behind)-250(him")]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(and)-250(Her)-250(Escorts)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[("The)-246(carriage)-246(stopped)-245(three)-246(hundred)-246(feet)-246(below)-246(the)-246(level)-246(of)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(a)-250(roof-garden")]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[("And)-250(now)-250(the)-250(fun's)-250(all)-250(over)-250(and)-250(the)-250(work)-250(begins")]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[("'Yesterday)-329(I)-330(played)-329(poker)-329(until)-330(I)-329(didn't)-329(know)-330(a)-329(blue)-330(chip)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(from)-250(a)-250(white)-250(one'")]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[("Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(had)-250(also)-250(had)-250(her)-250(eyes)-250(open")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+44 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 45 0 R
+/Resources 43 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 35 0 R
+/Annots [ 46 0 R 47 0 R 48 0 R 49 0 R 50 0 R 51 0 R 52 0 R 53 0 R 54 0 R 55 0 R 56 0 R 57 0 R 58 0 R ]
+>> endobj
+46 0 obj <<
+/Type /Annot
+/BS << /Type /Border /S /U >> /H /I /C [0 1 1]
+/Rect [68.59 439.066 327.401 448.786]
+/Subtype /Link
+/A << /S /GoTo /D (frontispiece) >>
+>> endobj
+47 0 obj <<
+/Type /Annot
+/BS << /Type /Border /S /U >> /H /I /C [0 1 1]
+/Rect [46.771 425.637 101.917 435.106]
+/Subtype /Link
+/A << /S /GoTo /D (frontispiece) >>
+>> endobj
+48 0 obj <<
+/Type /Annot
+/BS << /Type /Border /S /U >> /H /I /C [0 1 1]
+/Rect [68.59 411.968 327.401 421.688]
+/Subtype /Link
+/A << /S /GoTo /D (image02) >>
+>> endobj
+49 0 obj <<
+/Type /Annot
+/BS << /Type /Border /S /U >> /H /I /C [0 1 1]
+/Rect [46.771 400.699 105.899 408.139]
+/Subtype /Link
+/A << /S /GoTo /D (image02) >>
+>> endobj
+50 0 obj <<
+/Type /Annot
+/BS << /Type /Border /S /U >> /H /I /C [0 1 1]
+/Rect [68.59 384.869 327.401 394.589]
+/Subtype /Link
+/A << /S /GoTo /D (image03) >>
+>> endobj
+51 0 obj <<
+/Type /Annot
+/BS << /Type /Border /S /U >> /H /I /C [0 1 1]
+/Rect [46.771 371.331 174.244 381.04]
+/Subtype /Link
+/A << /S /GoTo /D (image03) >>
+>> endobj
+52 0 obj <<
+/Type /Annot
+/BS << /Type /Border /S /U >> /H /I /C [0 1 1]
+/Rect [68.59 357.771 189.168 367.491]
+/Subtype /Link
+/A << /S /GoTo /D (image04) >>
+>> endobj
+53 0 obj <<
+/Type /Annot
+/BS << /Type /Border /S /U >> /H /I /C [0 1 1]
+/Rect [68.59 344.222 327.401 353.942]
+/Subtype /Link
+/A << /S /GoTo /D (image05) >>
+>> endobj
+54 0 obj <<
+/Type /Annot
+/BS << /Type /Border /S /U >> /H /I /C [0 1 1]
+/Rect [46.771 330.673 132.102 340.393]
+/Subtype /Link
+/A << /S /GoTo /D (image05) >>
+>> endobj
+55 0 obj <<
+/Type /Annot
+/BS << /Type /Border /S /U >> /H /I /C [0 1 1]
+/Rect [68.59 317.123 283.967 326.843]
+/Subtype /Link
+/A << /S /GoTo /D (image06) >>
+>> endobj
+56 0 obj <<
+/Type /Annot
+/BS << /Type /Border /S /U >> /H /I /C [0 1 1]
+/Rect [68.59 303.574 327.401 313.294]
+/Subtype /Link
+/A << /S /GoTo /D (image07) >>
+>> endobj
+57 0 obj <<
+/Type /Annot
+/BS << /Type /Border /S /U >> /H /I /C [0 1 1]
+/Rect [46.771 292.261 149.23 299.745]
+/Subtype /Link
+/A << /S /GoTo /D (image07) >>
+>> endobj
+58 0 obj <<
+/Type /Annot
+/BS << /Type /Border /S /U >> /H /I /C [0 1 1]
+/Rect [68.59 276.476 245.633 286.196]
+/Subtype /Link
+/A << /S /GoTo /D (image08) >>
+>> endobj
+40 0 obj <<
+/D [44 0 R /XYZ 46.771 529.134 null]
+>> endobj
+43 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F18 18 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+68 0 obj <<
+/Length 126       
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -280.63 -510.152 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+67 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 68 0 R
+/Resources 66 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 35 0 R
+>> endobj
+66 0 obj <<
+/ProcSet [ /PDF ]
+>> endobj
+69 0 obj
+<< /S /GoTo /D (index2) >>
+endobj
+72 0 obj
+(Chapter One - Introducing Aunt Mary)
+endobj
+75 0 obj <<
+/Length 2565      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -280.63 -19.8 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -529.134 cm
+BT
+/F16 7.97 Tf 337.795 512.811 Td[([001])]TJ/F16 18.959 Tf -291.024 -64.735 Td[(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ 0 -121.044 Td[(Chapter)-261(One)-261(-)-261(Introducing)-261(Aunt)]TJ 0 -24.647 Td[(Mary)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 0 -32.838 Td[(The)-464(first)-463(time)-464(that)-463(Ja)-1(ck)-463(was)-464(threatened)-463(with)-464(expulsion)-464(from)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(college)-591(his)-591(Aunt)-591(Mary)-591(was)-591(much)-591(surprised)-592(and)-591(decidedly)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(vexed)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 26.051 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(mainly)-362(at)-362(the)-361(college.)-586(His)-361(family)-362(were)-362(less)-362(surprised,)]TJ -36.96 -13.549 Td[(viewing)-365(the)-365(young)-365(man)-365(through)-365(a)-365(clearer)-365(atmosphere)-365(than)-365(his)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Aunt)-362(Mary)-362(ever)-362(had,)-390(and)-362(knowing)-362(that)-362(he)-362(had)-362(barely)-362(escaped)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(similar)-411(experiences)-411(earlier)-411(in)-410(his)-411(career)-411(by)-411(invariably)-411(leaving)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(school)-250(the)-250(day)-250(before)-250(the)-250(board)-250(of)-250(inquiry)-250(convened.)]TJ 11.956 -13.633 Td[(Jack's)-262(preparatory)-261(days)-262(having)-261(been)-262(more)-261(or)-262(less)-262(tempestous,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(his)-195(family)-196(\050Aunt)-195(Mary)-195(excepted\051)-196(had)-195(expected)-196(some)-195(sort)-195(of)-196(after-)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(clap)-316(when)-316(he)-316(entered)-316(college.)-448(Nevertheless,)-333(they)-316(had)-316(fervently)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(hoped)-250(that)-250(it)-250(would)-250(not)-250(be)-250(quite)-250(as)-250(bad)-250(as)-250(this.)]TJ 11.956 -13.632 Td[(Jack's)-396(sister)-396(Arethusa)-396(was)-396(visiting)-396(her)-396(aunt)-396(when)-396(the)-396(news)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(came.)-238(Not)-216(because)-215(she)-215(wanted)-215(to,)-222(f)-1(or)-215(the)-215(old)-215(lady)-215(was)-216(dreadfully)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(deaf)-347(and)-347(fearfully)-347(arbitrary,)-372(but)-347(because)-347(Lucinda)-347(had)-347(said)-348(that)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([002])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(she)-274(must)-274(go)-274(to)-274(her)-274(cousin's)-274(wedding,)-280(and)-274(the)-274(family)-274(always)-274(had)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-296(bow)-296(to)-296(Lucinda's)-296(mandates.)-388(Lucinda)-296(was)-296(Aunt)-297(Mary's)-296(maid,)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+74 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 75 0 R
+/Resources 73 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 35 0 R
+>> endobj
+76 0 obj <<
+/D [74 0 R /XYZ 46.771 518.175 null]
+>> endobj
+70 0 obj <<
+/D [74 0 R /XYZ 46.771 397.131 null]
+>> endobj
+79 0 obj <<
+/D [74 0 R /XYZ 130.219 93.24 null]
+>> endobj
+73 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+82 0 obj <<
+/Length 4669      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(2)-12338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 518.175 Td[(but)-269(she)-269(had)-269(become)-270(so)-269(indispensable)-269(as)-269(a)-269(sitter)-269(at)-269(the)-269(off-end)-270(of)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-240(latter's)-241(ear-trumpet)-240(that)-240(none)-240(of)-241(the)-240(grand-nephews)-240(or)-241(grand-)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(nieces)-271(ever)-271(thought)-271(for)-271(an)-270(instant)-271(of)-271(crossing)-271(one)-271(of)-271(her)-271(wishes.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(So)-421(it)-422(was)-421(to)-421(Arethusa)-422(that)-421(the)-422(explanations)-421(due)-421(Aunt)-422(Mary's)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(interest)-374(in)-375(her)-374(scapegrace)-374(fell,)-406(and)-374(she)-374(bowed)-375(her)-374(back)-374(to)-375(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(burden)-250(with)-250(the)-250(resignation)-250(which)-250(the)-250(circumstances)-250(demanded.)]TJ 11.956 -14.095 Td[("Whatever)-303(is)-303(the)-303(difference)-303(between)-303(bein')-303(expelled)-303(and)-303(bein')]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(suspended?")-440(Aunt)-441(Mary)-440(demanded,)-488(in)-440(her)-441(tone)-440(of)-441(imperious)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(impatience.)-408("Well,)-316(why)-303(don't)-303(you)-302(answer?)-409(I)-302(was)-303(brought)-303(up)-303(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(speak)-258(when)-257(you're)-258(spoken)-257(to,)-260(an')-257(I'm)-258(a)-257(great)-258(believer)-257(in)-258(livin')-258(up)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-186(your)-187(bringin')-186(up)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 78.969 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(if)-186(you)-187(had)-186(a)-186(good)-186(one.)-229(What's)-186(the)-187(difference,)]TJ -89.878 -13.55 Td[(an')-355(which)-354(costs)-355(most?)-563(That's)-355(what)-354(I)-355(want)-354(to)-355(know.)-564(I)-354(do)-355(wish)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(you'd)-389(answer)-389(me,)-424(Arethusa;)-458(there's)-389(two)-389(thin)-1(gs)-389(I've)-389(asked)-389(you)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(now,)-265(an')-262(you)-262(suckin')-262(your)-261(finger)-262(an')-262(puttin')-262(on)-262(your)-262(thimble)-262(as)-262(if)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(you)-250(were)-250(sittin')-250(alone)-250(in)-250(China.")]TJ 11.956 -14.095 Td[("I)-250(don't)-250(know)-250(which)-250(costs)-250(most,")-250(Arethusa)-250(shrieked.)]TJ 0 -14.095 Td[("You)-299(needn't)-298(scream)-299(so,")-298(said)-299(Aunt)-299(Mary.)-395("I)-299(ain't)-298(so)-299(hard)-299(to)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(hear)-187(as)-186(you)-187(think.)-228(I)-187(ain't)-186(but)-187(seventy,)-199(and)-187(I'll)-186(beg)-187(you)-186(to)-187(remember)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([003])]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(that)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 16.975 0 Td[(,)-426(Arethusa.)-673(Besides,)-427(I)-390(don't)-392(want)-391(to)-391(hear)-391(you)-391(talk.)-673(I)-391(just)]TJ -16.975 -13.549 Td[(want)-294(to)-295(hear)-294(about)-295(Jack.)-383(I'm)-294(askin')-295(about)-294(his)-295(bein')-294(expelled)-295(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(suspended,)-379(an')-354(what's)-354(the)-353(difference,)-379(an')-354(in)-354(particular)-353(if)-354(there's)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(anything)-279(to)-280(pay)-279(for)-279(broken)-279(glass.)-338(It's)-279(always)-280(broken)-279(glass!)-338(That)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(boy's)-259(bills)-259(for)-259(broken)-259(glass)-259(have)-259(been)-259(somethin')-259(just)-259(awful)-259(these)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(last)-250(two)-250(years.)-250(Well,)-250(why)-250(don't)-250(you)-250(answer?")]TJ 11.956 -14.095 Td[("I)-250(don't)-250(know)-250(what)-250(to)-250(answer,")-250(Arethusa)-250(screamed.)]TJ 0 -14.094 Td[("What)-250(do)-250(you)-250(suppose)-250(he's)-250(done,)-250(anyhow?")]TJ 0 -14.095 Td[("Something)-250(bad.")]TJ 0 -14.095 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(frowned.)]TJ 0 -14.095 Td[("I)-308(ain't)-308(mad,")-308(she)-308(said)-309(sharply.)-424("What)-308(made)-308(you)-308(think)-309(I)-308(was)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(mad?)-691(I)-397(ain't)-396(mad)-397(at)-397(all!)-691(I'm)-397(just)-397(askin')-397(what's)-397(the)-397(difference)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(between)-351(bein')-351(expelled)-351(an')-352(bein')-351(suspended,)-376(an')-351(it)-351(seems)-351(to)-352(me)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(this)-250(is)-250(the)-250(third)-250(time)-250(I've)-250(asked)-250(it.)-250(Seems)-250(to)-250(me)-250(it)-250(is.")]TJ 11.956 -14.095 Td[(Arethusa)-425(laid)-425(down)-425(her)-425(work,)-468(drew)-425(a)-425(mighty)-425(breath,)-469(very)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(nearly)-395(got)-395(into)-394(the)-395(ear-trumpet,)-431(and)-395(explained)-395(that)-395(being)-395(sus-)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+81 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 82 0 R
+/Resources 80 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 35 0 R
+>> endobj
+83 0 obj <<
+/D [81 0 R /XYZ 197.553 286.202 null]
+>> endobj
+80 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R /F18 18 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+86 0 obj <<
+/Length 4642      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(One)-250(-)-250(Introducing)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-9978(3)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 518.175 Td[(pended)-490(was)-489(infinitely)-490(less)-490(heinous)-490(than)-489(being)-490(expelled,)-550(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(decidedly)-250(less)-250(final.)]TJ 11.956 -14.368 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(looked)-250(relieved.)]TJ 0 -14.367 Td[("Oh,)-301(then)-291(he's)-291(gettin')-291(better,)-301(is)-291(he?")-291(she)-291(said.)-373("Well,)-301(I'm)-291(sure)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(that's)-250(some)-250(comfort.")]TJ 11.956 -14.368 Td[(And)-287(then)-288(there)-288(was)-287(a)-288(long)-287(pause,)-297(during)-288(which)-287(she)-288(appeared)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 279.068 0 Td[([004])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(to)-384(be)-383(engaged)-384(in)-384(deep)-384(reflection,)-417(and)-383(her)-384(niece)-384(continued)-384(her)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(embroidery)-317(in)-316(peace.)-450(The)-316(pause)-317(endured)-316(until)-317(a)-316(sudden)-317(sneeze)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(on)-246(the)-246(part)-246(of)-246(the)-245(old)-246(lady)-246(set)-246(the)-246(wheels)-246(of)-246(conversation)-246(turning)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(again.)]TJ 11.956 -14.368 Td[("Arethusa,")-244(she)-243(said,)-245("I)-243(wish)-244(you'd)-243(go)-244(an')-244(get)-243(the)-244(ink)-243(an')-244(write)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(to)-282(Mr.)-344(Stebbins.)-344(I)-282(want)-281(him)-282(to)-281(begin)-282(to)-281(look)-282(up)-281(another)-282(college)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(with)-232(good)-233(references)-232(right)-233(away.)-244(I)-232(don't)-233(want)-232(to)-232(waste)-233(any)-232(of)-233(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(boy's)-270(life,)-274(a)-1(n')-269(if)-270(bein')-270(suspended)-270(means)-269(waitin')-270(while)-270(the)-270(college)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(takes)-246(its)-246(time)-245(to)-246(consider)-246(whether)-246(it)-246(wants)-245(him)-246(back)-246(again)-246(or)-246(not)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(I)-307(ain't)-307(goin')-308(to)-307(wait.)-421(I'm)-307(a)-308(great)-307(believer)-307(in)-307(a)-307(college)-308(education,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(but)-336(I)-336(don't)-336(know)-336(th)-1(at)-336(it)-336(cuts)-336(much)-336(figure)-336(whether)-336(it's)-336(the)-337(same)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(college)-250(right)-250(through)-250(or)-250(not.)-250(Anyway,)-250(you)-250(write)-250(Mr.)-250(Stebbins.")]TJ 11.956 -14.368 Td[(Arethusa)-426(obeyed,)-471(and)-427(the)-426(authorities)-427(having)-426(seen)-427(fit)-426(to)-427(be)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(uncommonly)-333(discreet)-332(as)-333(to)-332(the)-333(cause)-332(of)-333(the)-332(young)-333(man's)-333(with-)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(drawal,)-399(no)-368(great)-369(difficulty)-369(was)-369(experienced)-369(in)-369(finding)-369(another)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(campus)-252(whereon)-253(Aunt)-252(Mary's)-252(pride)-252(and)-253(joy)-252(might)-252(freely)-253(disport)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(himself.)-783(Mr.)-783(Stebbins)-428(threw)-427(himself)-428(into)-428(the)-427(affair)-428(with)-428(all)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(the)-339(tact)-339(a)-1(nd)-339(ardor)-339(of)-339(an)-339(experienced)-340(legal)-339(mind)-339(and)-339(soon)-340(after)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Lucinda's)-212(return)-213(to)-212(her)-213(home)-212(allowed)-212(Arethusa)-213(to)-212(follow)-213(suit,)-220(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(hopeful)-273(younger)-273(brother)-274(of)-273(the)-273(latter)-273(became)-273(a)-273(candidate)-273(for)-274(his)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(second)-250(outfit)-250(of)-250(new)-250(sweaters)-250(and)-250(hat)-250(bands)-250(that)-250(year.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([005])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -14.368 Td[(Aunt)-340(Mary)-341(wrote)-340(him)-340(a)-341(letter)-340(upon)-340(the)-341(occasion)-340(of)-340(his)-341(new)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(start)-382(in)-381(life,)-414(Mr.)-645(Stebbins)-381(delivered)-382(him)-381(a)-382(lecture,)-414(and)-382(things)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(went)-212(smoothly)-213(in)-212(consequence)-212(for)-212(three)-212(wh)-1(ole)-212(weeks.)-237(I)-212(say)-213(three)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(whole)-248(weeks)-249(because)-248(three)-248(whole)-249(weeks)-248(was)-248(a)-249(long)-248(time)-248(for)-249(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(course)-291(of)-291(Jack's)-291(life)-291(to)-292(flow)-291(smoothly.)-373(At)-291(the)-291(end)-291(of)-291(a)-292(fortnight)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(affairs)-407(were)-406(always)-407(due)-406(to)-407(run)-406(more)-407(rapidly)-406(and)-407(three)-407(weeks)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(produced,)-250(as)-250(a)-250(general)-250(thing,)-250(some)-250(species)-250(of)-250(climax.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+85 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 86 0 R
+/Resources 84 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 89 0 R
+>> endobj
+87 0 obj <<
+/D [85 0 R /XYZ 270.352 447.974 null]
+>> endobj
+88 0 obj <<
+/D [85 0 R /XYZ 285.2 161.805 null]
+>> endobj
+84 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+92 0 obj <<
+/Length 4792      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(4)-12338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[(The)-293(climax)-294(in)-293(this)-293(case)-293(came)-294(to)-293(time)-293(as)-294(usual)-293(his)-293(evil)-294(genius)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(inciting)-457(the)-456(young)-457(man)-457(to)-457(attempt,)-508(one)-457(very)-456(dark)-457(night,)-509(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(shooting)-281(of)-280(a)-281(cat)-281(which)-281(he)-280(thought)-281(he)-281(saw)-280(upon)-281(the)-281(back)-281(fence.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Whether)-231(he)-232(really)-231(had)-232(seen)-231(a)-232(cat)-231(or)-231(not)-232(mattered)-231(very)-232(little)-231(in)-232(the)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(later)-296(development)-297(of)-296(the)-296(matter.)-389(He)-296(was)-296(certainly)-296(successful)-297(as)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(far)-194(as)-195(the)-194(going)-194(off)-194(of)-195(the)-194(gun)-194(was)-194(concerned,)-206(but)-194(the)-194(damage)-195(that)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(resulted,)-316(resulted)-303(not)-303(to)-302(any)-303(cat,)-316(but)-303(to)-303(the)-302(arm)-303(of)-303(a)-303(next-door's)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(cook,)-273(who)-269(was)-268(peacefully)-269(engaged)-268(in)-269(taking)-268(in)-269(her)-268(week's)-269(wash)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(on)-280(the)-281(other)-280(side)-281(of)-280(the)-280(fence.)-342(The)-280(cook)-280(ceased)-281(abruptly)-280(to)-281(take)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(in)-369(the)-370(wash,)-399(the)-369(affair)-369(was)-369(at)-370(once)-369(what)-369(is)-369(technically)-370(termed)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(looked)-266(into,)-269(and)-266(three)-265(days)-266(later)-266(Jack)-265(became)-266(the)-265(defendant)-266(in)-266(a)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(suit)-250(for)-250(damages.)]TJ 11.956 -14.367 Td[(Naturally)-361(Mr.)-581(Stebbins)-361(was)-360(at)-361(once)-360(notified)-361(and)-361(he)-360(had)-361(no)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(choice)-250(except)-250(to)-250(write)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary.)]TJ 11.956 -14.367 Td[(Aunt)-237(Mary)-237(was)-237(somewhat)-237(less)-237(patient)-237(over)-237(the)-238(third)-237(escapade)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -84.711 0 Td[([006])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(than)-250(she)-250(had)-250(been)-250(with)-250(the)-250(first)-250(two.)]TJ 11.956 -14.368 Td[(The)-396(letter)-396(found)-396(her)-396(alone)-396(with)-396(Lucinda)-396(and)-396(she)-396(read)-396(it)-396(to)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(herself)-442(three)-443(times)-442(and)-442(then)-443(read)-442(it)-443(aloud)-442(to)-442(her)-443(companion.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Lucinda,)-339(whose)-322(thorough)-321(knowledge)-321(of)-322(the)-321(imperious)-321(will)-322(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(impervious)-272(eardrums)-272(of)-272(her)-272(mistress)-272(rendered)-272(her,)-278(as)-272(a)-272(rule,)-278(ex-)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(tremely)-243(monosyllabic,)-245(not)-243(to)-243(say)-244(silent,)-244(vouchsafed)-243(no)-244(comment)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(upon)-349(the)-350(contents)-349(of)-349(the)-350(epistle,)-374(and)-349(after)-350(a)-349(few)-349(minutes)-350(Aunt)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Mary)-250(herself)-250(took)-250(the)-250(field:)]TJ 11.956 -14.367 Td[("Now,)-312(what)-299(do)-299(you)-300(suppose)-299(possessed)-300(that)-299(boy)-299(to)-300(shoot)-299(at)-300(a)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(cook?")-318(she)-318(asked,)-335(regarding)-317(the)-318(letter)-318(with)-318(a)-318(portentous)-318(frown.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[("Cooks)-330(are)-329(so)-330(awful)-329(hard)-330(to)-329(get)-330(nowadays.)-488(I)-330(don't)-329(se)-1(e)-329(why)-330(he)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(didn't)-250(shoot)-250(a)-250(tramp)-250(if)-250(he)-250(had)-250(to)-250(shoot)-250(somethin'.")]TJ 11.956 -14.367 Td[("He)-487(wa'n't)-487(tryin')-487(to)-487(shoot)-487(a)-487(cook,)-546('pears)-488(like,")-487(then)-487(cried)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(Lucinda)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 35.749 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.91 0 Td[(Lucinda's)-397(voice,)-434(be)-398(it)-397(said,)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 127.453 0 Td[(en)-397(passant)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 47.971 0 Td[(,)-434(was)-398(of)-397(that)]TJ -222.083 -13.549 Td[(sibilant)-389(and)-390(penetrating)-389(timbre)-389(which)-389(is)-390(best)-389(illustrated)-389(in)-390(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(accents)-395(of)-395(a)-395(steamfitter's)-395(file)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 130.678 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[("'pears)-395(like)-395(he)-395(was)-395(tryin')-395(for)-395(a)]TJ -141.587 -13.549 Td[(cat.")]TJ 11.956 -14.368 Td[("Not)-274(a)-274(bat,")-274(said)-274(her)-275(mistress)-274(correctively;)-286("it)-274(was)-274(a)-274(cat.)-323(You)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(look)-425(at)-426(this)-425(letter)-426(an')-425(you'll)-425(see.)-776(And,)-470(anyway,)-469(how)-425(could)-426(a)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+91 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 92 0 R
+/Resources 90 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 89 0 R
+>> endobj
+93 0 obj <<
+/D [91 0 R /XYZ 311.609 326.85 null]
+>> endobj
+90 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R /F18 18 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+96 0 obj <<
+/Length 4630      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(One)-250(-)-250(Introducing)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-9978(5)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 518.175 Td[(man)-336(shootin')-336(at)-336(a)-336(cat)-336(hit)-336(a)-336(cook?)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 146.392 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(not)-336('nless)-336(she)-336(was)-336(up)-336(a)-336(tree)]TJ -157.301 -13.549 Td[(birds'-nestin')-453(after)-452(owls')-453(eggs.)-858(You)-453(don't)-453(seem)-452(to)-453(pay)-453(much)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([007])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(attention)-224(to)-223(what)-224(I)-224(read)-224(to)-223(you,)-229(Lucinda;)-233(only)-223(I)-224(should)-224(think)-224(your)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(commonsense)-268(would)-268(help)-268(you)-268(out)-268(some)-268(when)-268(it)-268(comes)-269(to)-268(a)-268(boy)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(you've)-310(known)-310(from)-310(the)-310(time)-310(he)-310(could)-310(walk,)-325(an')-310(a)-310(strange)-310(cook.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(But,)-442(anyh)-1(ow,)-442(that's)-404(neither)-404(here)-404(nor)-404(there.)-712(The)-404(question)-404(that)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(bothers)-212(me)-211(is,)-220(what's)-212(to)-211(pay)-212(with)-212(this)-211(damage)-212(suit?)-237(I)-212(think)-212(myself)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(five)-226(hundred)-226(dollars)-226(is)-227(too)-226(much)-226(for)-226(any)-226(cook's)-226(arm.)-242(A)-226(cook)-227(ain't)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(in)-280(no)-280(such)-279(vital)-280(need)-280(of)-279(two)-280(arms.)-339(If)-280(she)-280(has)-280(to)-279(shut)-280(the)-280(door)-280(of)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(the)-231(oven)-230(while)-230(she's)-231(stirrin')-230(somethin')-231(on)-230(the)-231(top)-230(of)-231(the)-230(stove,)-235(she)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(can)-319(easy)-319(kick)-318(it)-319(to)-319(with)-319(her)-318(foot.)-457(It)-318(won't)-319(be)-319(for)-319(long,)-336(anyway,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-221(I'm)-220(a)-221(great)-220(believer)-221(in)-220(making)-221(the)-220(best)-221(of)-220(thin)-1(gs)-220(when)-221(you've)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(got)-250(to.")]TJ 11.956 -14.368 Td[(Lucinda)-185(screwed)-184(up)-185(her)-185(face)-184(and)-185(made)-185(no)-184(comment.)-229(Lucinda's)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(face)-384(in)-383(repose)-384(was)-383(a)-384(cross)-383(between)-384(a)-383(monkey's)-384(and)-383(a)-384(peanut;)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(screwed)-369(up,)-398(it)-369(was)-369(particularly)-369(awful,)-398(and)-369(always)-369(exasperated)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(her)-250(mistress.)]TJ 11.956 -14.368 Td[("Well,)-374(why)-349(don't)-350(you)-349(say)-349(somethin',)-374(Lucinda?)-548(I)-349(ain't)-350(askin')]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(your)-227(advice,)-232(but,)-232(all)-228(the)-227(same,)-232(you)-228(can)-227(say)-227(anything)-228(if)-227(you've)-228(got)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(a)-250(mind)-250(to.")]TJ 11.956 -14.368 Td[("I)-250(ain't)-250(got)-250(a)-250(mind)-250(to)-250(say)-250(anythin',")-250(the)-250(faithful)-250(maid)-250(rejoined.)]TJ 0 -14.367 Td[("I)-394(guess)-394(you)-395(hit)-394(the)-394(nail)-394(on)-394(the)-395(head)-394(that)-394(time,")-394(said)-395(Aunt)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Mary,)-380(without)-353(any)-354(unnecessary)-353(malevolence)-354(concealed)-354(behind)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(her)-250(sarcasm;)-250(then)-250(she)-250(re-read)-250(the)-250(note)-250(and)-250(frowned)-250(afresh.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([008])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -14.368 Td[("Five)-460(hundred)-460(dollars)-460(is)-460(too)-460(much,")-460(she)-460(said)-460(again.)-880("I'm)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(going)-319(to)-319(write)-318(to)-319(Mr.)-457(Stebbins)-318(an')-319(tell)-319(him)-319(so)-318(to-night.)-457(He)-319(can)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(compromise)-328(on)-328(two)-328(hundred)-328(and)-328(fifty,)-347(just)-328(as)-328(well)-328(as)-328(not.)-484(Get)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(me)-232(some)-231(paper)-232(and)-231(my)-232(desk,)-235(Lucinda.)-244(Now)-231(get)-232(a)-231(spryness)-232(about)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(you.")]TJ 11.956 -14.367 Td[(Lucinda)-459(laid)-459(aside)-460(her)-459(work)-459(and)-459(forthwith)-459(got)-459(a)-460(spryness)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(about)-200(her,)-210(bringing)-199(her)-200(mistress')-200(writing-desk)-200(with)-200(commendable)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(alacrity.)-267(Aunt)-256(Mary)-256(took)-256(the)-255(writing-desk)-256(and)-256(wrote)-256(fiercely)-256(for)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(some)-201(time,)-211(to)-201(the)-201(end)-201(that)-201(she)-201(finally)-201(wrote)-201(most)-201(of)-202(the)-201(fierceness)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(out)-250(of)-250(herself.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+95 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 96 0 R
+/Resources 94 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 89 0 R
+>> endobj
+97 0 obj <<
+/D [95 0 R /XYZ 269.045 504.626 null]
+>> endobj
+98 0 obj <<
+/D [95 0 R /XYZ 303.953 203.271 null]
+>> endobj
+94 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+101 0 obj <<
+/Length 4761      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(6)-12338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[("After)-205(all,)-215(boys)-205(will)-206(be)-205(boys,")-206(she)-205(said,)-215(as)-205(she)-206(sealed)-205(her)-206(letter,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[("and)-266(if)-266(this)-265(is)-266(the)-266(end)-266(I)-266(shan't)-265(feel)-266(it's)-266(money)-266(wasted.)-297(I'm)-266(a)-266(great)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(believer)-371(in)-371(bein')-371(patient.)-612(Most)-371(always,)-401(that)-371(is.)-613(Here,)-401(Lucinda)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(you)-314(take)-315(this)-314(to)-314(Joshua)-315(and)-314(tell)-314(him)-315(to)-314(take)-315(it)-314(right)-314(to)-315(mail.)-443(Be)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(prompt,)-250(now.)-250(I'm)-250(a)-250(great)-250(believer)-250(in)-250(doin')-250(things)-250(prompt.")]TJ 11.956 -14.25 Td[(Lucinda)-452(took)-452(the)-452(letter)-452(and)-452(was)-452(prompt.)-856("She)-453(wants)-452(this)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(letter)-373(took)-374(right)-373(to)-373(the)-374(mail,")-373(she)-373(said)-374(to)-373(Joshua,)-404(Aunt)-374(Mary's)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(longest-tried)-250(servitor.)]TJ 11.956 -14.25 Td[("Then)-250(it'll)-250(be)-250(took)-250(right)-250(to)-250(mail,")-250(said)-250(Joshua.)]TJ 0 -14.251 Td[("She's)-250(pretty)-250(mad,")-250(said)-250(Lucinda.)]TJ 0 -14.25 Td[("Then)-274(she'll)-275(soon)-274(get)-274(over)-275(it,")-274(replied)-274(the)-275(other,)-280(taking)-274(up)-275(his)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(hat)-250(and)-250(preparing)-250(to)-250(depart)-250(for)-250(the)-250(barn)-250(forthwith.)]TJ 11.956 -14.251 Td[(Lucinda)-416(returned)-416(to)-416(Aunt)-416(Mary)-416(with)-416(a)-416(species)-417(of)-416(dried-up)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -84.711 0 Td[([009])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(sigh.)-389(One)-296(is)-296(not)-296(the)-296(less)-296(a)-297(slave)-296(because)-296(one)-296(has)-296(been)-297(enslaved)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(for)-325(twenty)-324(years,)-344(and)-324(Lucinda)-325(at)-324(moments)-325(did)-325(sort)-324(of)-325(peek)-325(out)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(through)-369(her)-368(bars)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 74.085 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(possibly)-369(envying)-368(Joshua)-369(the)-368(daily)-369(drives)-368(to)]TJ -84.994 -13.549 Td[(mail)-250(when)-250(he)-250(had)-250(full)-250(control)-250(of)-250(something)-250(that)-250(was)-250(alive.)]TJ 11.956 -14.25 Td[(Lucinda)-316(had)-316(been,)-332(comparatively)-316(speaking,)-333(young)-316(when)-316(she)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(had)-414(come)-415(to)-414(wait)-414(upon)-415(the)-414(pleasure)-415(of)-414(the)-414(Watkins)-415(millions,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-465(her)-465(waiting)-465(had)-466(been)-465(so)-465(pertinent)-465(and)-465(so)-465(patient)-465(that)-466(it)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(had)-345(endured)-345(over)-344(a)-345(quarter)-345(of)-345(a)-345(century.)-534(Aunt)-345(Mary)-345(had)-345(been)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(under)-276(fifty)-276(in)-276(the)-276(hour)-276(of)-276(Lucinda's)-276(dawn;)-289(she)-276(was)-277(over)-276(seventy)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(now.)-570(Jack)-357(hadn't)-356(been)-357(born)-357(then;)-410(he)-357(was)-356(in)-357(college)-357(now;)-410(and)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(Jack's)-402(older)-402(brothers)-403(and)-402(sisters)-402(and)-402(his)-402(dead-and-gone)-403(father)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-431(mother)-431(had)-430(been)-431(living)-431(somewhere)-431(out)-431(West)-431(then,)-476(quite)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(hopeful)-206(as)-205(to)-206(their)-205(own)-206(lives)-205(and)-206(quite)-205(hopeless)-206(as)-205(to)-206(the)-205(stern)-206(old)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(great-aunt)-340(who)-340(never)-339(had)-340(paid)-340(any)-340(attention)-339(to)-340(her)-340(niece)-340(since)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(she)-228(had)-228(chosen)-228(to)-228(elope)-227(with)-228(the)-228(doctor's)-228(reprobate)-228(son.)-243(Now)-228(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(father)-259(and)-259(mother)-259(were)-259(dead)-259(and)-259(buried,)-261(the)-260(brothers)-259(and)-259(sisters)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(reinstated)-268(in)-269(their)-268(rights)-268(and)-269(had)-268(all)-268(grown)-269(up)-268(and)-268(become)-269(great)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(credits)-320(to)-319(the)-320(old)-320(lady,)-337(whose)-319(heart)-320(had)-320(suddenly)-319(melted)-320(at)-320(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(arrival)-328(of)-328(five)-328(orphans)-328(all)-328(at)-328(once.)-484(And)-328(there)-328(was)-328(only)-328(Jack)-328(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(continue)-250(to)-250(worry)-250(about.)]TJ 11.956 -14.251 Td[(Jack)-390(was)-390(not)-389(anything)-390(particularly)-390(remarkable;)-460(he)-390(was)-390(just)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -84.711 0 Td[([010])]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+100 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 101 0 R
+/Resources 99 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 89 0 R
+>> endobj
+102 0 obj <<
+/D [100 0 R /XYZ 323.587 352.078 null]
+>> endobj
+103 0 obj <<
+/D [100 0 R /XYZ 322.642 66.142 null]
+>> endobj
+99 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+106 0 obj <<
+/Length 4762      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(One)-250(-)-250(Introducing)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-9978(7)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 518.175 Td[(one)-414(of)-414(those)-415(lovable)-414(good-for-nothings)-414(that)-414(seem)-414(born)-414(to)-415(get)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(better)-470(people)-471(into)-470(trouble)-471(all)-470(their)-470(lives)-471(long.)-911(He)-470(had)-471(been)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(spoiled)-494(originally)-495(by)-494(being)-495(ten)-494(years)-494(younger)-495(than)-494(the)-495(next)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(youngest)-372(in)-372(the)-372(family;)-433(and)-372(then,)-403(when)-372(the)-372(children)-372(had)-372(been)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(shipped)-398(on)-399(to)-398(Aunt)-399(Mary's)-398(tender)-399(mercies,)-435(Jack)-399(had)-398(won)-399(her)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(heart)-374(immediately)-374(becau)-1(se)-374(she)-374(accidentally)-374(discovered)-374(that)-375(he)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(had)-281(never)-280(been)-281(baptized,)-288(and)-280(so)-281(felt)-280(fully)-281(justified)-280(in)-281(re-naming)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(him)-284(after)-283(her)-284(own)-283(father)-284(and)-283(having)-284(the)-283(name)-284(branded)-283(into)-284(him)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(for)-316(keeps)-317(by)-316(her)-316(own)-317(religious)-316(apparatus.)-449(It)-316(followed)-317(naturally)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(that)-446(John)-446(Watkins,)-495(Jr.,)-495(Denham,)-495(for)-446(so)-446(her)-446(father's)-446(daughter)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(had)-270(insisted)-269(that)-270(her)-269(youngest)-270(nephew)-269(should)-270(be)-270(called,)-274(was)-270(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(favorite)-250(nephew)-250(of)-250(his)-250(aunt.)]TJ 11.956 -16.004 Td[(And)-340(it)-340(was)-340(luck)-1(y)-340(for)-340(him)-340(that)-340(he)-340(was)-341(the)-340(favorite,)-362(for)-341(Aunt)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Mary,)-314(who)-301(was)-301(highly)-300(spiced)-301(at)-301(fifty,)-314(became)-301(peppery)-301(at)-301(sixty,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-336(almost)-336(biting)-335(at)-336(seventy.)-508(And)-336(yet)-335(for)-336(Jack)-336(she)-336(would)-336(sign)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(checks)-278(almost)-278(without)-278(a)-279(murmur.)-334(Mr.)-334(Stebbins)-278(was)-278(much)-279(more)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(censorious)-240(and)-239(impatient)-239(with)-240(the)-239(young)-240(man)-239(than)-240(she)-239(ever)-240(was;)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-291(to)-291(all)-292(the)-291(rest)-291(of)-291(the)-291(world)-291(Mr.)-374(Stebbins)-291(was)-291(an)-291(urbane)-292(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(agreeable)-335(gentleman,)-356(whereas)-335(to)-335(all)-334(the)-335(rest)-335(of)-335(the)-335(world)-335(Aunt)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Mary)-239(was)-239(a)-238(problem)-239(or)-239(a)-238(terror.)-247(But)-238(Mr.)-247(Stebbins)-238(needed)-239(to)-239(be)-239(a)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(man)-230(of)-229(tact)-230(and)-230(management,)-233(for)-230(he)-229(was)-230(the)-230(real)-229(manager)-230(of)-230(that)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(fortune)-318(of)-317(which)-318("Mary,)-334(only)-318(surviving)-317(child)-318(of)-317(John)-318(Watkins,)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([011])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(merchant)-200(and)-200(ship)-200(owner,")-200(was)-199(the)-200(legal)-200(possessor;)-217(and)-200(so)-200(tactful)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(was)-306(Mr.)-418(Stebbins)-306(that)-306(he)-306(and)-306(his)-306(powerful)-306(client)-307(had)-306(never)-306(yet)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(clashed,)-248(and)-248(they)-248(had)-248(been)-248(in)-247(close)-248(business)-248(relations)-248(for)-248(almost)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(as)-184(many)-184(years)-185(as)-184(Lucinda)-184(had)-184(been)-184(established)-184(on)-184(the)-185(hearthstone)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(of)-385(the)-385(Watkins)-385(home.)-655(Perhaps)-385(one)-385(reason)-385(why)-385(Mr.)-656(Stebbins)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(endured)-281(so)-281(well)-281(was)-281(that)-281(he)-281(had)-281(a)-281(real)-281(talent)-281(for)-281(compromising,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-203(that)-203(he)-203(had)-202(skillfully)-203(transformed)-203(Aunt)-203(Mary's)-203(inherited)-203(taste)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(for)-237(driving)-237(a)-236(bargain)-237(into)-237(an)-237(acquired)-237(pleasure)-236(in)-237(what)-237(is)-237(really)-237(a)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(polite)-250(form)-250(of)-250(the)-250(same)-250(action.)]TJ 11.956 -16.004 Td[(So,)-512(when)-460(it)-459(came)-460(to)-460(the)-459(matter)-460(of)-460(Jack's)-460(difficulties,)-512(Mr.)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(Stebbins)-371(could)-371(always)-372(find)-371(a)-371(half-way)-371(measure)-371(that)-371(saved)-372(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(situation;)-284(and)-273(when)-273(he)-273(received)-273(the)-273(letter)-272(as)-273(to)-273(the)-273(cook)-273(and)-273(her)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+105 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 106 0 R
+/Resources 104 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 89 0 R
+>> endobj
+107 0 obj <<
+/D [105 0 R /XYZ 81.741 231.187 null]
+>> endobj
+104 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+110 0 obj <<
+/Length 4051      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(8)-12338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 518.175 Td[(claim)-242(he)-242(hied)-242(himself)-241(to)-242(the)-242(city)-242(at)-242(once,)-243(and)-242(wrote)-242(back)-242(that)-242(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(claim)-250(could)-250(be)-250(settled)-250(for)-250(three)-250(hundred)-250(dollars.)]TJ 11.956 -13.589 Td[("And)-335(enough,)-357(I)-335(must)-335(say,")-336(Aunt)-335(Mary)-335(remarked)-335(to)-336(Lucinda)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(upon)-415(receipt)-416(of)-415(the)-416(statement;)-498("three)-415(hundred)-416(dollars)-415(for)-416(one)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(cat)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 12.72 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(for,)-239(after)-236(all,)-239(Jack)-236(blames)-237(the)-236(whole)-236(on)-236(the)-236(cat,)-239(an')-236(he)-237(didn't)]TJ -23.629 -13.549 Td[(hit)-250(it,)-250(even)-250(then.")]TJ 11.956 -13.589 Td[(Lucinda)-250(did)-250(not)-250(answer.)]TJ 0 -13.59 Td[("But)-427(if)-427(the)-426(boy)-427(settles)-427(down)-427(now)-427(I)-426(shan't)-427(mind)-427(payin')-427(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(three)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 21.808 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(Where)-250(are)-250(you)-250(goin'?")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -105.472 0 Td[([012])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -13.589 Td[(For)-250(Lucinda)-250(was)-250(walking)-250(out)-250(of)-250(the)-250(room.)]TJ 0 -13.59 Td[("I'm)-229(goin')-229(to)-229(the)-230(door,")-229(said)-229(she)-229(raspingly.)-243("The)-229(bell's)-230(ringin'.")]TJ 0 -13.589 Td[(After)-250(a)-250(minute)-250(or)-250(two)-250(she)-250(came)-250(back.)]TJ 0 -13.59 Td[("Telegram!")-483(she)-483(announced,)-541(handing)-483(the)-484(yellow)-483(envelope)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(over.)]TJ 11.956 -13.589 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(put)-250(on)-250(her)-250(glasses,)-250(opened)-250(it,)-250(and)-250(read:)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 7.681 -22.841 Td[(Cook)-488(has)-489(blood)-488(poison.)-965(Sues)-489(for)-488(a)-489(thousand.)-965(Probable)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(amputation.)]TJ 192.308 -12.862 Td[(STEBBINS.)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -199.989 -23.568 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(dropped)-250(the)-250(paper)-250(with)-250(a)-250(gasp.)]TJ 0 -13.589 Td[(Lucinda)-250(looked)-250(at)-250(her)-250(with)-250(interest.)]TJ 0 -13.59 Td[("It's)-273(that)-272(same)-273(arm)-273(again,")-272(said)-273(Aunt)-272(Mary,)-279("just)-272(as)-273(I)-273(thought)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(it)-521(was)-521(settled)-521(for!)-1(")-521(Her)-521(eyes)-521(seemed)-521(to)-521(fairly)-521(crackle)-522(with)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(indignation.)-675("Why)-392(don't)-392(she)-392(put)-391(it)-392(in)-392(a)-392(sling)-391(an')-392(have)-392(a)-392(little)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(patience?")]TJ 11.956 -13.59 Td[(Lucinda)-250(took)-250(the)-250(telegram)-250(and)-250(read)-250(it.)]TJ 0 -13.589 Td[("'Pears)-318(like)-318(she)-317(can't,")-318(she)-318(commented,)-335(in)-317(a)-318(tone)-318(like)-318(a)-318(buzz)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(saw;)-250("'pears)-250(like)-250(it's)-250(goin')-250(to)-250(be)-250(took)-250(off.")]TJ 11.956 -13.59 Td[(Aunt)-235(Mary)-234(reached)-235(forth)-235(her)-234(hand)-235(for)-235(the)-235(telegram)-234(and)-235(after)-235(a)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(second)-310(reading)-310(shook)-310(her)-310(head)-310(in)-310(a)-310(way)-310(that,)-325(if)-310(her)-310(companion)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(had)-450(been)-449(a)-450(globe-trotter,)-499(would)-450(have)-449(brought)-450(matadores)-450(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Seville)-250(to)-250(the)-250(front)-250(in)-250(her)-250(mind)-250(in)-250(that)-250(instant.)]TJ 11.956 -13.59 Td[("I)-338(declare,")-338(she)-338(said,)-361("seems)-338(like)-338(I)-338(had)-338(enough)-338(on)-338(my)-339(mind)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -84.711 0 Td[([013])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(without)-321(a)-322(cook,)-339(too.)-464(What's)-321(to)-321(be)-322(done)-321(now?)-464(I)-321(only)-321(know)-322(one)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+109 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 110 0 R
+/Resources 108 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 89 0 R
+>> endobj
+111 0 obj <<
+/D [109 0 R /XYZ 226.58 409.661 null]
+>> endobj
+112 0 obj <<
+/D [109 0 R /XYZ 319.515 79.691 null]
+>> endobj
+108 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+115 0 obj <<
+/Length 2923      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(One)-250(-)-250(Introducing)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-9978(9)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 518.175 Td[(thing!)-483(I)-328(ain't)-328(goin')-328(to)-327(pay)-328(no)-328(thousand)-328(dollars)-327(this)-328(week)-328(for)-328(no)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(arm)-381(that)-382(wasn't)-381(worth)-381(but)-382(three)-381(hundred)-381(last)-381(week.)-644(Stands)-382(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(reason)-221(that)-222(there)-221(ain't)-221(no)-221(reason)-222(in)-221(that.)-240(I)-222(guess)-221(you'd)-221(better)-222(bring)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(me)-260(my)-259(desk,)-262(Lucinda;)-265(I'm)-259(goin')-260(to)-260(write)-259(to)-260(Mr.)-279(Stebbins,)-262(an')-260(I'm)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(goin')-319(to)-318(write)-319(to)-318(Jack,)-336(and)-319(I'm)-318(goin')-319(to)-319(tell)-318('em)-319(both)-318(just)-319(what)-319(I)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(think.)-357(I'm)-285(goin')-286(to)-285(write)-286(Jack)-285(that)-286(he'd)-286(better)-285(be)-286(lookin')-285(out,)-295(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(I'm)-254(goin')-254(to)-255(write)-254(to)-254(Mr.)-262(Stebbins)-255(that)-254(next)-254(time)-254(he)-254(settles)-255(things)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(I)-250(want)-250(him)-250(to)-250(take)-250(a)-250(receipt)-250(for)-250(that)-250(arm)-250(in)-250(full.")]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[(The)-427(letters)-427(were)-427(duly)-427(written)-428(and)-427(Mr.)-781(Stebbins,)-471(upon)-428(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(receipt)-320(of)-319(his,)-337(redoubled)-320(his)-319(efforts,)-337(and)-320(did)-319(succeed)-320(in)-320(perma-)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(nently)-374(settling)-373(with)-374(the)-374(cook,)-404(the)-374(arm)-373(being)-374(eventually)-374(saved.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Aunt)-242(Mary)-243(regarded)-242(the)-242(sum)-243(as)-242(much)-242(higher)-242(than)-243(necessary,)-244(but)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(still)-408(pleasan)-1(tly)-408(less)-408(than)-409(that)-408(demanded)-409(of)-408(her,)-448(and)-409(so)-408(life)-409(in)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(general)-250(moved)-250(quietly)-250(on)-250(until)-250(Easter.)]TJ 11.956 -13.55 Td[(But)-335(Easter)-335(is)-335(always)-336(a)-335(period)-335(of)-335(more)-335(or)-335(less)-335(commotion)-336(in)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(the)-240(time)-240(of)-241(youth)-240(and)-240(leads)-240(to)-240(various)-241(hilarious)-240(outbreaks.)-247(Jack's)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Easter)-311(took)-311(him)-311(to)-311(town)-311(for)-311(a)-311("little)-311(time,")-311(and)-311(the)-311("little)-311(time")]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(ended)-250(in)-250(the)-250(station-house)-250(at)-250(three)-250(o'clock)-250(on)-250(Sunday)-250(morning.)]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[(Accusation:)-219(Producing)-187(concussion)-187(of)-187(the)-188(brain)-187(on)-187(a)-187(cab)-188(driver.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 279.068 -29.651 Td[([014])]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+114 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 115 0 R
+/Resources 113 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 117 0 R
+>> endobj
+116 0 obj <<
+/D [114 0 R /XYZ 46.771 244.639 null]
+>> endobj
+113 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+118 0 obj
+<< /S /GoTo /D (index3) >>
+endobj
+121 0 obj
+(Chapter Two - Jack)
+endobj
+124 0 obj <<
+/Length 3840      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 18.959 Tf 93.543 479.321 Td[(Chapter)-250(Two)-250(-)-250(Jack)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 0 -39.886 Td[(The)-322(news)-322(was)-322(conveyed)-321(to)-322(Aunt)-322(Mary)-322(through)-322(private)-322(advices)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(from)-447(Mr.)-842(Stebbins)-448(\050who)-447(had)-447(been)-448(hastily)-447(summoned)-447(to)-448(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(city)-506(for)-507(purposes)-506(of)-507(bail\051;)-634(she)-507(was)-506(very)-507(angry)-506(indeed,)-571(this)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(time)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 19.397 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(primarily)-420(at)-420(the)-420(indign)-1(ity)-420(done)-420(her)-420(flesh)-420(and)-420(blood)-421(by)]TJ -30.306 -13.549 Td[(arresting)-511(it.)-1031(Then,)-576(as)-510(she)-511(re-read)-510(the)-510(lawyer)-1('s)-510(letter,)-576(other)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(reflections)-250(crowded)-250(to)-250(the)-250(fore)-250(in)-250(her)-250(mind.)]TJ 11.956 -15.042 Td[("Funny!)-570(Whatever)-357(could)-357(have)-356(made)-357(the)-357(boy)-356(get)-357(up)-357(and)-357(go)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(downtown)-314(at)-314(three)-313(in)-314(the)-314(morning,)-330(anyway?")-313(she)-314(said.)-442("Seems)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(kind)-213(of)-213(queer,)-220(don't)-213(you)-213(think,)-220(Arethusa?)-238(Do)-213(you)-213(suppose)-213(he)-213(was)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(ill)-250(and)-250(huntin')-250(for)-250(a)-250(drug)-250(store?")]TJ 11.956 -15.042 Td[(Arethusa)-317(had)-318(been)-318(sent)-317(for)-318(the)-317(second)-318(day)-317(previous)-318(because)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Lucinda's)-296(youngest)-296(sister's)-296(youngest)-295(child)-296(had)-296(come)-296(down)-296(with)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(scarlet)-485(fever,)-544(and)-485(the)-485(family)-485(wanted)-485(Lucinda)-485(to)-485(e)-1(nliven)-485(the)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(quarantine.)-350(Arethusa)-284(had)-283(sent)-284(invitations)-283(out)-283(for)-284(a)-283(dinner)-284(party,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(but)-353(she)-354(had)-353(recalled)-353(them)-354(and)-353(hastened)-354(to)-353(obey)-353(the)-354(summons.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(It)-360(was)-359(an)-360(evil)-360(hour)-360(for)-359(her,)-387(for)-360(she)-360(loved)-359(her)-360(brother)-360(and)-360(was)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([015])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(mightily)-250(distressed)-250(at)-250(the)-250(bad)-250(news.)]TJ 11.956 -15.042 Td[("I)-321(don't)-321(believe)-321(he)-321(can)-322(have)-321(been)-321(ill,")-321(she)-321(said,)-339(at)-321(the)-321(top)-322(of)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(her)-305(voice;)-332("if)-304(he'd)-305(been)-304(ill)-305(he)-305(wouldn't)-304(have)-305(had)-304(the)-305(strength)-305(to)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(hit)-250(the)-250(cab)-250(driver)-250(so)-250(hard.")]TJ 11.956 -15.042 Td[("I)-276(don't)-276(blame)-277(him)-276(for)-276(hittin')-276(the)-277(cab)-276(driver,")-276(said)-276(Aunt)-277(Mary)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(warmly.)-304("As)-267(near)-268(as)-268(I)-268(can)-268(recollect,)-272(I've)-268(often)-268(wanted)-268(to)-268(do)-268(that)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(myself.)-248(But)-246(I)-245(can't)-245(make)-245(out)-245(where)-245(he)-246(got)-245(the)-245(man)-245(to)-245(hit,)-246(or)-246(why)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(he)-263(was)-263(there)-263(to)-262(hit)-263(him.)-289(I)-262(can't)-263(make)-263(rhyme)-263(or)-263(reason)-263(out)-262(of)-263(it.)-289(I)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(wish)-250(we)-250(knew)-250(more.)-250(Well,)-250(I)-250(presume)-250(we)-250(will,)-250(later.")]TJ 11.956 -15.042 Td[(Her)-297(surmise)-296(was)-297(correct.)-390(They)-297(knew)-297(much)-297(more)-296(later.)-391(They)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(knew)-337(more)-337(from)-337(Mr.)-511(Stebbins,)-359(and)-337(they)-337(knew)-337(profusely)-337(more)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(from)-250(the)-250(evening)-250(papers.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+123 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 124 0 R
+/Resources 122 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 117 0 R
+>> endobj
+119 0 obj <<
+/D [123 0 R /XYZ 93.543 529.134 null]
+>> endobj
+125 0 obj <<
+/D [123 0 R /XYZ 237.619 233.211 null]
+>> endobj
+122 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+128 0 obj <<
+/Length 4396      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Two)-250(-)-250(Jack)-16866(11)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[("I)-207(think)-207(our)-207(boy'd)-206(better)-207(have)-207(come)-207(home)-207(for)-207(his)-207(Easter,")-207(Aunt)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Mary)-281(remarked,)-289(with)-281(a)-281(species)-281(of)-281(angry)-281(undertow)-281(threading)-281(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(current)-430(of)-429(her)-430(speech.)-789("There's)-429(no)-430(sayin')-430(what)-429(this)-430(will)-430(cost)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(before)-250(we're)-250(done)-250(with)-250(it.")]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[(Arethusa)-250(choked;)-250(it)-250(was)-250(all)-250(so)-250(very)-250(terrible)-250(to)-250(her.)]TJ 0 -13.927 Td[("What)-408(is)-409(it)-408(that)-408(the)-408(cabma)-1(n)-408(wants,)-448(anyhow?")-408(her)-408(aunt)-409(de-)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(manded)-250(presently.)]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("He)-305(doesn't)-305(want)-304(anything,")-305(yelled)-305(the)-305(unhappy)-304(sister.)-415("He's)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(going)-250(to)-250(die.")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([016])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -13.927 Td[("Well,)-250(who)-250(is)-250(going)-250(to)-250(sue)-250(me,)-250(then?")]TJ 0 -13.927 Td[("It's)-250(his)-250(wife;)-250(she)-250(wants)-250(five)-250(thousand)-250(dollars)-250(damages.")]TJ 0 -13.927 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary's)-250(lips)-250(tightened.)]TJ 0 -13.927 Td[("Five)-363(thousand)-363(dollars!")-362(she)-363(said,)-391(with)-363(a)-363(bitter)-362(patience.)-589("I)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(can)-287(see)-287(that)-287(this)-287(is)-287(goin')-287(to)-287(be)-287(an)-287(awful)-287(business.)-362(Five)-287(thousand)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(dollars!)-431(Dear,)-325(dear!)-431(I)-310(must)-311(say)-310(that)-310(that)-310(wife)-311(sets)-310(a)-310(pretty)-311(high)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(price)-268(on)-269(her)-268(husband)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 91.791 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(at)-268(least,)-273(a'cordin')-269(to)-268(my)-269(order)-268(of)-268(thinkin',)]TJ -102.7 -13.55 Td[(she)-330(does.)-491(From)-331(what)-330(I've)-330(seen)-331(of)-330(cabmen,)-351(I'd)-330(undertake)-330(to)-331(get)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(her)-250(another)-250(just)-250(as)-250(good)-250(for)-250(a)-250(tenth)-250(of)-250(the)-250(money,)-250(any)-250(day.")]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[(Arethusa)-192(was)-192(silent,)-204(staring)-192(thoughtfully)-192(at)-192(the)-192(newspaper)-193(cuts)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(of)-256(a)-255(great)-256(Tammany)-256(leader)-255(and)-256(a)-256(noted)-255(pugilist,)-257(which)-256(had)-256(been)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(labeled)-250(as)-250(the)-250(principals)-250(in)-250(the)-250(family)-250(tragedy.)]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[(Aunt)-290(Mary)-289(turned)-290(over)-290(another)-290(of)-289(the)-290(many)-290(papers)-290(received,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(and)-250(scanned)-250(its)-250(sensational)-250(columns)-250(afresh.)]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("Arethusa,")-452(she)-451(exclaimed)-452(suddenly,)-502("do)-452(you)-451(know,)-502(I)-452(bet)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(anythin')-444(I)-443(know)-444(what)-443(this)-444(editor)-444(means)-443(to)-444(insinuate?)-831(It)-444(just)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(strikes)-345(me)-345(that)-345(he's)-346(tryin')-345(to)-345(give)-345(the)-345(impression)-345(that)-345(our)-346(boy's)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(been)-250(drinkin'.")]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("Perhaps)-250(so,")-250(Arethusa)-250(screamed.)]TJ 0 -13.927 Td[("Well,)-303(I)-293(don't)-293(believe)-293(it,")-292(said)-293(Aunt)-293(Mary)-293(firmly,)-303("and)-293(I)-293(ain't)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(goin')-189(to)-188(believe)-189(it.)-229(And)-189(I)-188(ain't)-189(goin')-188(to)-189(pay)-188(no)-189(five)-188(thousand)-189(dollars)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(for)-349(no)-349(cabman's)-349(brains,)-373(neither.)-547(You)-349(write)-348(to)-349(Mr.)-547(Stebbins)-349(to)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([017])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(compromise)-250(on)-250(two)-250(or)-250(maybe)-250(three.")]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[(She)-291(stopped)-291(and)-290(bit)-291(her)-291(lips)-291(and)-291(shook)-291(her)-291(head.)-372("I)-291(don't)-291(see)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(why)-335(Jack)-336(grows)-335(up)-336(so)-335(hard,")-335(she)-336(murmured,)-356(half)-336(in)-335(anger)-336(and)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+127 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 128 0 R
+/Resources 126 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 117 0 R
+>> endobj
+129 0 obj <<
+/D [127 0 R /XYZ 108.8 408.649 null]
+>> endobj
+130 0 obj <<
+/D [127 0 R /XYZ 78.012 107.167 null]
+>> endobj
+126 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+133 0 obj <<
+/Length 4577      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(12)-11838(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 518.175 Td[(half)-323(in)-322(sorrow.)-468("Edward)-323(and)-322(Henry)-323(never)-323(had)-322(such)-323(times.)-468(Oh,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(well,")-342(she)-343(sighed,)-365("boys)-343(will)-342(be)-343(boys,)-365(I)-343(suppose;)-388(an')-343(if)-342(this)-343(all)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(results)-284(in)-284(the)-284(boy's)-284(settlin')-283(down)-284(it'll)-284(be)-284(money)-284(well)-284(spent)-284(in)-284(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(end,)-250(after)-250(all.)-250(Maybe)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 90.578 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(probably)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 38.782 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(most)-250(likely.")]TJ -139.222 -14.163 Td[(The)-439(days)-439(that)-439(followed)-439(were)-439(anxious)-439(days,)-487(but)-439(at)-439(last)-439(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(cabman)-459(rallied)-460(and)-459(concluded)-460(not)-459(to)-460(die,)-511(and)-460(Jack)-459(went)-460(off)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(yachting)-213(with)-213(a)-212(light)-213(heart)-213(and)-213(a)-212(choice)-213(collection)-213(of)-213(good)-213(advice)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(from)-250(Mr.)-250(Stebbins)-250(and)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary.)]TJ 11.956 -14.163 Td[(Nothing)-414(happened)-413(to)-414(mar)-413(his)-414(holiday.)-741(He)-413(ran)-414(a)-414(borrowed)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(steam)-297(launch)-297(on)-298(to)-297(some)-297(rocks)-297(with)-297(rather)-297(heavy)-298(consequences)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-377(his)-377(aunt's)-376(exchequer,)-409(and)-377(returned)-376(from)-377(the)-377(West)-377(Indies)-377(so)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(late)-296(that)-295(she)-296(never)-295(had)-296(a)-296(visit)-295(from)-296(him)-295(at)-296(all)-296(that)-295(summer;)-319(but,)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(barring)-358(these)-358(slightly)-358(unwelcome)-358(incidents,)-385(he)-359(did)-358(remarkably)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(well,)-241(and)-239(when)-239(he)-239(returned)-239(to)-239(college)-239(in)-239(the)-239(fall)-240(he)-239(was)-239(regarded)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(as)-250(having)-250(become,)-250(at)-250(last,)-250(a)-250(stable)-250(proposition.)]TJ 11.956 -14.163 Td[("I)-411(wonder)-411(whether)-411(our)-412(boy's)-411(comin')-411(home)-411(for)-412(Christmas?")]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Aunt)-494(Mary)-494(asked)-494(her)-495(niece,)-555(Mary,)-555(as)-494(that)-494(happy)-494(period)-495(of)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(family)-306(reunions)-306(drew)-306(near.)-419(Mary)-306(had)-306(come)-306(up)-306(to)-306(stay)-306(with)-307(her)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(aunt)-341(while)-341(Lucinda)-341(went)-341(away)-340(to)-341(bury)-341(a)-341(second)-341(cousin.)-523(Mary)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.756 0 Td[([018])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.756 -13.55 Td[(was)-423(very)-424(different)-423(from)-424(Arethusa,)-467(having)-423(a)-423(voice)-424(that,)-467(when)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(raised,)-427(was)-392(something)-392(between)-392(an)-392(icicle)-392(and)-392(a)-392(steam)-392(whistle,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-479(a)-479(temper)-1(ament)-479(so)-479(much)-479(on)-479(the)-480(order)-479(of)-479(her)-479(aunt's)-480(that)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(neither)-256(could)-257(abide)-256(the)-256(other)-256(an)-257(hour)-256(longer)-256(than)-256(was)-257(absolutely)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(necessary.)-470(But)-323(Arethusa)-323(had)-324(a)-323(sprained)-323(ankle,)-342(so)-323(there)-323(was)-324(no)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(help)-250(for)-250(existing)-250(circumstances.)]TJ 11.955 -14.162 Td[("No,)-272(he)-268(isn't,")-267(said)-268(Mary,)-272(who)-267(had)-268(no)-267(patience)-268(at)-268(all)-267(with)-268(her)]TJ -11.955 -13.55 Td[(brother,)-250(and)-250(showed)-250(it.)-250("He's)-250(going)-250(West)-250(with)-250(the)-250(glee)-250(club.")]TJ 11.955 -14.163 Td[("With)-250(the)-250(she)-250(club!")-250(cried)-250(poor)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary,)-250(in)-250(affright.)]TJ 0 -14.162 Td[(Mary)-250(explained.)]TJ 0 -14.163 Td[("I)-385(don't)-386(like)-386(the)-385(idea,")-386(said)-385(the)-386(old)-385(lady,)-420(shaking)-385(her)-386(head.)]TJ -11.955 -13.55 Td[("Somethin')-336(will)-337(be)-336(sure)-337(to)-336(happen.)-509(I)-337(can)-336(feel)-336(it)-337(runnin')-336(up)-337(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(down)-250(my)-250(bones)-250(this)-250(minute.")]TJ 11.955 -14.163 Td[("Oh,)-214(if)-205(he)-204(can)-205(get)-205(into)-204(trouble,)-214(of)-205(course,)-214(Jack)-204(will,")-205(said)-205(Mary)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(cheerfully.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+132 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 133 0 R
+/Resources 131 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 117 0 R
+>> endobj
+134 0 obj <<
+/D [132 0 R /XYZ 144.006 272.448 null]
+>> endobj
+131 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+137 0 obj <<
+/Length 4569      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Two)-250(-)-250(Jack)-16866(13)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[(Aunt)-290(Mary)-291(didn't)-290(hear)-290(her,)-301(because)-290(she)-291(didn't)-290(raise)-290(her)-291(voice)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(particularly.)-265(Besides,)-257(the)-255(old)-255(lady)-255(was)-255(absorbed)-255(for)-255(the)-255(nonce)-256(in)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-250(most)-250(dismal)-250(sort)-250(of)-250(prognostications.)]TJ 11.956 -15.857 Td[(And)-201(they)-201(a)-1(ll)-201(came)-201(true,)-211(too.)-234(Something)-201(unfortunate)-201(beyond)-202(all)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(expectations)-224(came)-224(to)-225(pass)-224(during)-224(the)-224(glee)-224(club's)-224(visit)-224(to)-225(Chicago,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-309(the)-310(result)-309(was)-309(that,)-324(before)-310(the)-309(new)-309(year)-309(was)-310(well)-309(out)-309(of)-310(its)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(incubator)-273(Jack)-272(had)-273(papers)-273(in)-272(a)-273(breach-of-promise)-272(suit)-273(served)-273(on)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([019])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.55 Td[(him.)-239(He)-216(wrote)-217(Mr.)-239(Stebbins)-216(that)-217(it)-217(was)-216(all)-217(a)-216(joke,)-223(and)-217(had)-217(merely)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(been)-292(a)-292(portion)-293(of)-292(that)-292(foam)-292(which)-293(a)-292(train)-292(of)-292(youthful)-292(spirits)-293(are)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(apt)-279(to)-279(leave)-279(in)-280(their)-279(wake;)-294(but)-279(the)-279(girl)-279(stood)-279(solid)-279(for)-279(her)-280(rights,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and,)-230(as)-225(she)-224(had)-225(never)-225(heard)-224(from)-225(her)-225(fianc\351)-225(since)-224(the)-225(night)-225(of)-225(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(dance,)-239(her)-236(family)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 75.767 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(who)-236(were)-236(rural,)-239(but)-237(sharp)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 111.215 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(thought)-236(it)-236(would)]TJ -208.8 -13.55 Td[(take)-380(at)-379(least)-380(fifteen)-379(thousand)-380(dollars)-379(to)-380(patch)-379(the)-380(crack)-379(in)-380(her)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(heart.)-508(If)-336(the)-336(news)-336(could)-336(have)-336(been)-336(kept)-336(from)-336(A)-1(unt)-336(Mary)-336(until)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(after)-283(Mr.)-347(Stebbins)-282(h)-1(ad)-282(looked)-282(into)-283(the)-282(matter,)-291(everything)-283(might)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(have)-326(resulted)-327(differently.)-479(But)-327(the)-326(Chicago)-326(lawyer)-327(who)-326(had)-327(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(case)-260(took)-260(good)-260(care)-260(that)-259(the)-260(wealthy)-260(aunt)-260(knew)-260(all)-260(as)-260(quickly)-260(as)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(possible,)-237(and)-234(it)-234(seemed)-234(as)-234(if)-234(this)-234(was)-234(the)-234(final)-235(straw)-234(under)-234(which)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-250(camel)-250(must)-250(succumb.)]TJ 11.956 -15.856 Td[(And)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(did)-250(appear)-250(to)-250(waver.)]TJ 0 -15.857 Td[("Fifteen)-357(thousand)-358(dollars!")-357(she)-357(cried,)-384(aghast.)-572("Heaven)-358(help)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(us!)-250(What)-250(next?")]TJ 11.956 -15.857 Td[(It)-250(was)-250(Lucinda)-250(who)-250(was)-250(seated)-250(calmly)-250(opposite)-250(at)-250(this)-250(crisis.)]TJ 0 -15.856 Td[("Do)-268(you)-269(suppose)-268(he)-268(really)-268(did)-269(it?")-268(the)-268(aunt)-268(con)-1(tinued,)-272(after)-269(a)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(minute)-250(of)-250(appalled)-250(consideration.)]TJ 11.956 -15.857 Td[("It's)-347(about)-347(the)-347(only)-347(thing)-347(he)-347(ain't)-347(never)-347(done,")-347(the)-347(tried)-347(and)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(true)-302(servant)-301(answered,)-315(her)-301(tone)-302(more)-301(gratingly)-302(penetrative)-302(than)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(ever.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([020])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -15.857 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(eyed)-250(her)-250(sharply,)-250(not)-250(to)-250(say)-250(furiously.)]TJ 0 -15.856 Td[("I)-420(wish)-421(you'd)-420(give)-420(a)-421(plain)-420(answer)-421(when)-420(I)-420(ask)-421(you)-420(a)-421(plain)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(question,)-277(Lucinda,")-271(she)-271(said)-272(coldly.)-314("If)-271(you'd)-271(ever)-272(got)-271(a)-271(b)-1(reach-)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(of-promise)-365(suit)-365(in)-364(the)-365(early)-365(mail)-365(you'd)-365(know)-365(how)-364(I)-365(feel.)-594(P)-1(er-)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(haps)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 19.996 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(probably.")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+136 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 137 0 R
+/Resources 135 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 117 0 R
+>> endobj
+138 0 obj <<
+/D [136 0 R /XYZ 90.949 434.573 null]
+>> endobj
+139 0 obj <<
+/D [136 0 R /XYZ 71.001 138.503 null]
+>> endobj
+135 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+142 0 obj <<
+/Length 4503      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(14)-11838(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[("I)-323(ain't)-323(a)-323(doubt)-323(but)-323(what)-323(he)-323(done)-323(it,")-323(Lucinda)-323(screamed)-323(out;)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[("an')-286(if)-285(I)-286(was)-286(her)-285(an')-286(he)-286(wouldn't)-285(marry)-286(me)-286(after)-285(sayin')-286(he)-286(would)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(I'd)-269(sue)-270(him)-269(for)-270(a)-269(hundred)-270(thousand,)-274(an')-269(think)-270(I)-269(let)-270(him)-269(off)-270(cheap)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(then.")]TJ 11.956 -15.396 Td[(Aunt)-330(Mary)-329(deigned)-330(to)-330(smile)-329(faintly)-330(over)-330(the)-329(subtlety)-330(of)-330(this)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(speech;)-250(but)-250(the)-250(next)-250(minute)-250(she)-250(was)-250(frowning)-250(blacker)-250(than)-250(ever.)]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[("A)-551(girl)-552(from)-552(Kalamazoo,)-627(too,)-627(just)-552(up)-551(in)-552(Chicago)-552(for)-552(a)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(week)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 23.019 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(just)-253(up)-253(in)-253(Chicago)-253(long)-253(enough)-253(to)-253(come)-253(down)-253(on)-253(me)-253(for)]TJ -33.928 -13.549 Td[(fifteen)-250(thousand)-250(dollars.")]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[("Maybe)-250(she'll)-250(take)-249(five)-250(thousand)-250(instead,")-250(Lucinda)-250(remarked.)]TJ 0 -15.395 Td[("Maybe!")-447(ejaculated)-448(her)-447(mistress,)-497(in)-448(fine)-447(scorn.)-843("Maybe!)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(Well,)-249(if)-248(you)-249(don't)-248(talk)-248(as)-249(if)-248(money)-249(was)-248(sweet)-248(peas)-249(an')-248(would)-249(dry)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(up)-250(if)-250(it)-250(wasn't)-250(picked!")]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[(Lucinda)-250(screwed)-250(up)-250(her)-250(face.)]TJ 0 -15.395 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(gave)-250(her)-250(one)-250(awful)-250(look.)]TJ 0 -15.395 Td[("You)-297(get)-296(me)-297(some)-296(paper)-297(an')-297(my)-296(desk,)-309(Lucinda,")-296(she)-297(said.)-390("I)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -84.711 0 Td[([021])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(think)-329(it's)-329(about)-329(time)-329(I)-329(w)-1(as)-329(takin')-329(a)-329(hand)-329(in)-329(it)-329(myself.)-487(I've)-330(been)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(pretty)-266(patient,)-270(an')-267(I)-266(don't)-266(see)-266(as)-266(it's)-267(helped)-266(matters)-266(any.)-298(Now)-267(I'm)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(goin')-330(to)-330(write)-330(that)-331(boy)-330(a)-330(letter)-330(that'll)-330(settle)-330(him)-330(an')-330(his)-330(cats,)-351(an')]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(his)-312(cooks,)-328(an')-312(his)-312(cabmen,)-328(an')-312(his)-312(Kalamazoo,)-327(just)-312(once)-313(for)-312(all.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(I)-371(guess)-372(I)-371(can)-371(do)-372(what)-371(I)-372(set)-371(out)-371(to)-372(do.)-614(Pretty)-372(generally)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 248.503 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(most)]TJ -259.412 -13.549 Td[(always.")]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[(Lucinda)-317(brought)-316(the)-317(desk,)-334(and)-316(Aunt)-317(Mary)-317(frowned)-317(fearfully)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(and)-250(began)-250(to)-250(write)-250(the)-250(letter.)]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[(It)-296(developed)-295(very)-296(strongly.)-387(As)-296(her)-296(pen)-295(sized)-296(up)-296(the)-296(situation)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(in)-295(black)-295(and)-295(white,)-306(the)-295(old)-295(lady)-295(seemed)-295(to)-295(realize)-295(the)-295(iniquities)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(of)-371(the)-370(case)-371(more)-371(and)-370(more)-371(plainly;)-431(and)-371(as)-371(the)-370(letter)-371(grew)-371(her)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(wrath)-259(grew)-259(also.)-276(The)-259(whole)-259(came,)-261(in)-259(the)-259(end,)-261(to)-259(a)-259(threat)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 246.092 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(made)]TJ -257.001 -13.549 Td[(in)-294(good)-293(earnest)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 67.606 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(to)-294(take)-293(a)-294(very)-293(serious)-294(step)-294(indeed)-293(if)-294(any)-293(more)]TJ -78.515 -13.549 Td[("foolishness")-250(developed.)]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[(Aunt)-368(Mary)-368(prided)-368(herself)-369(on)-368(her)-368(granite-like)-368(will.)-604(She)-369(had)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(full)-227(faith)-227(in)-227(her)-227(ability)-227(to)-227(slay)-227(her)-227(nearest)-227(and)-227(dearest)-228(if)-227(it)-227(seemed)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(right)-250(and)-250(best)-250(to)-250(do)-250(so.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+141 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 142 0 R
+/Resources 140 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 117 0 R
+>> endobj
+143 0 obj <<
+/D [141 0 R /XYZ 277.595 302.016 null]
+>> endobj
+140 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+146 0 obj <<
+/Length 4317      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Two)-250(-)-250(Jack)-16866(15)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[(She)-219(sealed)-218(her)-219(letter)-218(tight,)-225(stuck)-219(the)-218(stamp)-219(on)-218(square)-219(and)-219(hard,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(and)-261(bid)-261(Lucinda)-261(convey)-261(it)-261(to)-261(Joshua)-261(and)-261(tell)-261(him)-261(never)-261(to)-261(quit)-261(it)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(until)-250(he)-250(saw)-250(it)-250(safe)-250(on)-250(to)-250(the)-250(evening)-250(train.)]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("She's)-198(awful)-199(mad)-198(at)-198(him)-198(for)-199(sure,)-208(this)-199(time,")-198(said)-198(Lucinda)-199(after)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(she)-188(had)-188(delivered)-187(her)-188(message,)-200(and)-188(while)-188(Joshua)-188(was)-188(considering)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([022])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.55 Td[(the)-232(front)-232(and)-232(back)-233(of)-232(the)-232(letter)-232(with)-232(a)-232(deliberateness)-232(born)-232(of)-233(long)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(servitude.)]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("I)-250(sh'd)-250(think)-250(she)-250(would)-250(be,")-250(he)-250(said.)]TJ 0 -13.926 Td[(As)-195(nearly)-196(all)-195(of)-196(Jack's)-195(private)-196(difficulties)-195(were)-196(printed)-195(in)-196(every)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(newspaper)-270(in)-269(America,)-275(Joshua)-270(naturally)-269(was)-270(on)-270(the)-269(inside)-270(of)-270(all)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(their)-250(history.)]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("She)-196(scrinched)-196(up)-195(her)-196(face)-196(just)-196(awful)-195(over)-196(that)-196(letter,")-196(Lucinda)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(continued.)-250("I'm)-250(sure)-250(I)-250(wish)-250(he'd)-250('a')-250(been)-250(by)-250(to)-250('a')-250(taken)-250(warnin'.")]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("He)-254(ain't)-254(got)-254(nothin')-254(to)-254(really)-254(fret)-254(over,")-254(said)-254(Joshua)-254(serenely;)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[("he)-250(knows)-250(it,)-250('n')-250(I)-250(know)-250(it,)-250('n')-250(you)-250(know)-250(it,)-250(too.")]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("You)-387(don't)-387(know)-386(nothin')-387(of)-387(the)-387(sort,")-386(said)-387(Lucinda.)-661("She's)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(madder'n)-374(usual)-375(this)-374(time.)-623(She's)-375(good)-374(an')-375(mad.)-623(You)-374(mark)-375(my)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(words,)-332(if)-316(he)-315(goes)-316(off)-315(on)-316(a)-315('nother)-316(spree)-315(this)-316(spring)-315(he)-1('ll)-315(get)-316(cut)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(out)-250(o')-250(her)-250(will.")]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[(Joshua)-250(laughed.)]TJ 0 -13.927 Td[("You)-254(mark)-255(my)-254(words!")-254(rasped)-254(Lucinda,)-256(shaking)-254(her)-254(finger)-255(in)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(witchlike)-250(warning.)]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[(Joshua)-250(laughed)-250(again.)]TJ 0 -13.927 Td[("Them)-271(laughs)-271(best)-272(what)-271(laughs)-271(last,")-271(said)-271(Aunt)-271(Mary's)-272(hand-)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(maiden.)-606(She)-368(turned)-369(away,)-398(and)-368(then)-369(returned)-368(to)-369(give)-368(Joshua)-369(a)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(look)-309(that)-310(proved)-309(that)-309(the)-309(peppery)-310(mistress)-309(had)-309(inculcated)-310(some)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(cayenne)-497(into)-496(the)-497(souls)-496(of)-497(those)-496(about)-497(her.)-989("Y)-1(ou)-496(mark)-497(my)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(words)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 26.662 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(them)-356(laughs)-355(best)-356(what)-356(laughs)-355(last,)-383(an')-355(there'll)-356(be)-356(little)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 253.453 0 Td[([023])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(grinnin')-250(for)-250(him)-250(if)-250(he)-250(ain't)-250(a)-250(chalk-walker)-250(for)-250(one)-250(while)-250(now.")]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[(Joshua)-250(laughed.)]TJ 0 -13.927 Td[(But,)-246(as)-245(a)-245(matter)-245(of)-245(fact,)-246(Jack's)-245(situation)-245(was)-246(suddenly)-245(become)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(extremely)-250(precarious.)]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("There)-339(ain't)-338(no)-339(sense)-338(in)-339(it,")-339(said)-338(Aunt)-339(Mary)-338(to)-339(herself,)-361(with)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(an)-268(emphasis)-269(that)-268(screwed)-268(her)-269(face)-268(up)-268(until)-269(she)-268(looked)-268(quite)-269(like)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+145 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 146 0 R
+/Resources 144 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 149 0 R
+>> endobj
+147 0 obj <<
+/D [145 0 R /XYZ 181.655 463.601 null]
+>> endobj
+148 0 obj <<
+/D [145 0 R /XYZ 259.5 148.57 null]
+>> endobj
+144 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+152 0 obj <<
+/Length 1931      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(16)-11838(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 518.175 Td[(Lucinda;)-249("that)-249(life)-248(those)-249(young)-248(men)-249(lead)-248(on)-249(their)-248(little)-249(vacations)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(is)-336(to)-336(blame)-336(for)-336(everything.)-508(Cities)-336(are)-336(wells)-336(of)-336(iniquity;)-379(they're)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(full)-409(of)-409(all)-409(kinds)-409(of)-409(doin's)-409(that)-409(respectable)-409(people)-409(wouldn't)-409(be)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(seen)-328(at,)-348(and)-328(I'm)-328(proud)-328(to)-329(say)-328(that)-328(I)-328(haven't)-328(been)-328(in)-328(one)-329(myself)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(for)-450(twenty-five)-450(years.)-849(I'm)-450(a)-450(great)-450(believer)-450(in)-450(keepin')-450(out)-450(of)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(trouble,)-334(an')-317(if)-318(Jack'd)-317(just)-317(stuck)-317(to)-318(college)-317(an')-317(let)-317(towns)-318(go,)-334(he'd)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(never)-263(have)-264(met)-263(the)-263(cabman)-264(and)-263(the)-263(Kalamazoo)-263(girl,)-267(an')-263(I'd)-264(have)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(overlooked)-269(the)-269(cook)-269(an')-269(the)-269(cat.)-306(A)-1(s)-268(it)-269(is,)-274(my)-269(patience)-269(is)-269(done.)-307(If)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(he)-331(goes)-331(into)-331(one)-331(more)-332(scrape)-331(he'll)-331(be)-331(done)-331(too.)-493(I)-331(mean)-331(what)-332(I)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(say.)-293(So)-264(my)-264(young)-265(man)-264(had)-264(better)-264(take)-265(warnin'.)-293(Probably)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 248.503 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(most)]TJ -259.412 -13.549 Td[(likely)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 24.851 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(pretty)-250(certainly.")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -108.516 -29.651 Td[([024])]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+151 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 152 0 R
+/Resources 150 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 149 0 R
+>> endobj
+153 0 obj <<
+/D [151 0 R /XYZ 93.543 353.032 null]
+>> endobj
+150 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+154 0 obj
+<< /S /GoTo /D (index4) >>
+endobj
+157 0 obj
+(Chapter Three - Introducing Jack)
+endobj
+160 0 obj <<
+/Length 4055      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 18.959 Tf 46.771 479.321 Td[(Chapter)-250(Three)-250(-)-250(Introducing)-250(Jack)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 0 -33.407 Td[(It)-408(has)-409(been)-408(previously)-409(stated)-408(that)-409(Aunt)-408(Mary's)-409(nephew,)-448(Jack,)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(was)-236(a)-235(scapegrace,)-239(and)-235(as)-236(delightful)-236(as)-235(scapegraces)-236(generally)-236(are.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(It)-303(goes)-304(without)-303(saying)-304(that)-303(he)-303(was)-304(good-looking;)-330(and)-303(of)-304(course)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(he)-318(must)-317(have)-318(been)-317(jolly)-318(and)-318(pleasant)-317(or)-318(he)-317(wouldn't)-318(have)-318(been)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(so)-380(popular.)-639(As)-380(a)-380(matter)-380(of)-380(fact,)-412(Jack)-380(was)-380(very)-380(good-looking,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(unusually)-362(jolly,)-389(and)-361(uncommon)-1(ly)-361(popular.)-585(He)-361(was)-362(one)-361(of)-362(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(best)-362(liked)-362(men)-361(in)-362(each)-362(of)-362(the)-361(colleges)-362(which)-362(he)-362(had)-362(attended.)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(There)-262(was)-261(something)-262(so)-261(winning)-262(about)-261(his)-262(smile)-261(an)-1(d)-261(his)-262(eternal)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(good)-282(humor)-281(that)-282(no)-281(one)-281(ever)-282(tried)-281(to)-282(dislike)-281(him;)-298(and)-281(if)-282(anyone)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(ever)-239(had)-239(tried)-240(he)-239(or)-239(she)-239(would)-240(not)-239(have)-239(succeeded)-239(for)-239(very)-240(long.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(It)-352(is)-352(probably)-353(very)-352(unfortunate)-352(that)-352(the)-353(world)-352(is)-352(so)-352(full)-352(of)-353(this)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(type)-334(of)-335(young)-334(man,)-355(but)-335(that)-334(which)-334(should)-334(cause)-335(us)-334(all)-334(to)-335(have)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(infinite)-317(patience)-318(with)-317(them)-317(is)-317(the)-318(reflection)-317(of)-317(how)-317(much)-318(more)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(unfortunate)-340(it)-340(would)-341(be)-340(if)-340(they)-340(were)-340(suddenly)-340(eliminated)-341(from)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-250(general)-250(scheme)-250(of)-250(things.)]TJ 11.956 -13.746 Td[(Like)-479(all)-478(college)-479(boys,)-535(Jack)-479(had)-478(a)-479(chum.)-936(The)-478(chum)-479(was)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Robert)-496(Burnett,)-558(another)-496(charming)-496(young)-496(fellow)-496(of)-497(one-and-)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([025])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.55 Td[(twenty,)-449(whose)-408(education)-409(had)-409(been)-409(so)-409(cosmopolitan)-409(in)-409(design)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-280(so)-280(patriotic)-280(in)-280(practice)-280(that)-280(he)-280(always)-280(said)-280("Sacre)-281(bleu")-280(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[("Donnerwetter")-321(when)-320(he)-321(thought)-320(of)-321(it,)-338(and)-320("Gre)-1(at)-320(Scott")-321(when)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(he)-293(didn't.)-381(He)-293(and)-293(Jack)-294(were)-293(as)-294(congenial)-293(a)-293(pair)-294(as)-293(ever)-294(existed,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-329(they)-330(had)-329(just)-330(about)-329(as)-330(much)-329(in)-329(common)-330(as)-329(the)-330(aunt)-329(of)-330(the)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(one)-250(and)-250(the)-250(father)-250(of)-250(the)-250(other)-250(had)-250(had)-250(to)-250(pay)-250(for.)]TJ 11.956 -13.746 Td[(In)-415(the)-415(February)-415(of)-414(the)-415(year)-415(of)-415(which)-415(I)-415(write,)-456(Washington,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(celebrating)-429(his)-429(birthday)-430(as)-429(usual,)-474(gave)-429(all)-429(American)-430(students)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(their)-454(usual)-453(chance)-454(to)-453(celebrate)-454(with)-453(him.)-861(Celebrations)-454(were)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(temptations)-423(incarnate)-422(to)-423(Jack,)-465(and)-423(he)-422(was)-423(feeling)-423(frowningly)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(what)-304(a)-303(clog)-304(Aunt)-303(Mary's)-304(latest)-303(epistle)-304(was)-304(upon)-303(his)-304(joys,)-317(when)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(his)-420(friend)-419(came)-420(to)-420(the)-419(rescue)-420(with)-420(an)-420(invitation)-419(to)-420(spend)-420(the)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+159 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 160 0 R
+/Resources 158 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 149 0 R
+>> endobj
+155 0 obj <<
+/D [159 0 R /XYZ 46.771 529.134 null]
+>> endobj
+161 0 obj <<
+/D [159 0 R /XYZ 240.846 228.929 null]
+>> endobj
+158 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+164 0 obj <<
+/Length 4833      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(18)-11838(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 518.175 Td[(double)-269(holiday)-268(\050it)-269(doubled)-268(that)-269(year)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 157.055 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(Sunday,)-273(you)-269(know\051)-268(at)-269(the)]TJ -167.964 -13.549 Td[(brand-new)-286(ancestral)-285(castle)-286(which)-286(Burnett)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 185.23 0 Td[(p\350re)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 22.502 0 Td[(had)-286(just)-285(finished)]TJ -207.732 -13.549 Td[(building)-473(for)-472(his)-473(descendants.)-918(It)-473(may)-473(be)-472(imagined)-473(that)-473(Jack)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(accepted)-416(the)-416(invitation)-416(with)-416(alacrity,)-457(and)-416(that)-416(his)-416(never-very-)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(downcast)-445(heart)-446(bounded)-445(gleefully)-445(higher)-446(than)-445(usual)-445(over)-446(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(prospect)-250(of)-250(two)-250(days)-250(of)-250(pleasure)-250(in)-250(the)-250(country.)]TJ 11.956 -14.367 Td[(It)-381(is)-381(not)-380(necessary)-381(to)-381(state)-381(where)-380(the)-381(castle)-381(of)-381(the)-381(Burnetts)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(was)-364(erected,)-393(but)-364(it)-364(was)-364(in)-364(a)-364(beautiful)-364(region,)-392(and)-365(the)-364(monthly)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(magazines)-192(had)-193(written)-192(it)-192(up)-193(and)-192(called)-193(it)-192(an)-192(architectural)-193(triumph.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(The)-163(owner)-163(fully)-162(agreed)-163(with)-163(the)-163(monthly)-163(magazines,)-180(and)-163(his)-163(pride)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([026])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(found)-211(vent)-210(in)-211(a)-211(house-warming)-211(which)-210(filled)-211(every)-211(guest)-211(chamber)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(in)-250(the)-250(place.)]TJ 11.956 -14.368 Td[(The)-247(festivities)-246(were)-247(in)-246(full)-247(swing)-246(before)-247(the)-246(youngest)-247(son)-247(and)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(his)-336(friend)-336(arrived;)-380(and)-336(when)-336(the)-336(dog-cart,)-358(which)-336(brought)-337(them)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(from)-335(the)-335(station,)-356(drew)-334(up)-335(under)-335(the)-335(mighty)-335(porte-coch\350re)-335(with)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(its)-400(four)-400(stone)-399(lions,)-437(rampant)-400(in)-400(four)-400(different)-399(directions,)-438(Jack)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(felt)-345(one)-345(of)-345(those)-345(delicious)-345(thrills)-345(which)-345(run)-345(through)-345(one)-345(under)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(particularly)-250(hopeful)-250(and)-250(buoyant)-250(circumstances.)]TJ 11.956 -14.367 Td[("It's)-296(like)-295(walking)-296(in)-295(a)-296(novel,")-296(his)-295(friend)-296(said;)-318(as)-296(they)-296(entered)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(under)-217(some)-217(heavy)-217(draperies)-217(which)-217(the)-217(footman)-217(pushed)-217(aside)-217(and)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(found)-229(a)-230(tiny)-229(spiral)-229(staircase,)-234(which)-229(wound)-229(its)-229(way)-230(aloft)-229(in)-229(a)-230(style)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(that)-225(Jack)-226(liked)-225(immensely)-225(and)-226(the)-225(latter)-225(agreed)-226(with)-225(all)-225(his)-226(heart.)]TJ 11.956 -14.367 Td[(The)-164(staircase)-163(led)-164(them)-164(to)-163(the)-164(third)-164(floor)-164(and)-163(when)-164(they)-164(emerged)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(therefrom)-327(they)-327(found)-328(themselves)-327(in)-327(a)-327(big)-327(semi-circular)-328(billiard)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(room,)-390(with)-362(a)-361(fireplace)-362(at)-362(each)-362(end)-362(large)-361(enough)-362(to)-362(put)-362(one)-362(of)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-344(tables)-345(in,)-368(and)-344(cues)-344(and)-345(counters)-344(and)-345(stools)-344(and)-344(divans)-345(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(smoking)-250(utensils)-250(sufficient)-250(for)-250(a)-250(regiment.)]TJ 11.956 -14.367 Td[("I)-325(tell)-324(you,)-344(this)-324(is)-325(the)-325(way)-325(to)-324(do)-325(things,")-325(exclaimed)-325(Burnett;)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[("isn't)-174(it)-173(jolly?)-225(Time)-174(of)-173(your)-174(life,)-189(old)-174(man,)-189(time)-173(of)-174(your)-174(life!)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 248.208 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(And,)]TJ -259.117 -13.549 Td[(oh,)-191(by)-175(the)-176(way,")-175(he)-176(said,)-190(suddenly)-176(interrupting)-176(himself,)-190("I)-176(wonder)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(if)-250(my)-250(sister's)-250(got)-250(here)-250(yet!")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.756 0 Td[([027])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.712 -14.368 Td[("Which)-220(sister?")-220(Jack)-220(inquired;)-230(for)-220(his)-220(friend)-220(was)-220(one)-220(of)-220(a)-220(very)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(large)-369(family,)-399(and)-369(he)-369(had)-370(met)-369(several)-369(of)-369(them)-369(on)-369(their)-370(various)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(visits)-250(to)-250(town.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+163 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 164 0 R
+/Resources 162 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 149 0 R
+>> endobj
+165 0 obj <<
+/D [163 0 R /XYZ 319.719 395.414 null]
+>> endobj
+166 0 obj <<
+/D [163 0 R /XYZ 213.881 107.608 null]
+>> endobj
+162 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R /F18 18 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+169 0 obj <<
+/Length 4272      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Three)-250(-)-250(Introducing)-250(Jack)-11451(19)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[("Betty)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 28.09 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.91 0 Td[(the)-348(one)-348(who)-349(beats)-348(all)-348(the)-348(others)-348(hollow,")]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 185.261 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(but)-348(just)]TJ -247.126 -13.549 Td[(there)-377(the)-378(conversation)-377(was)-378(broken)-377(off)-377(by)-378(the)-377(servants)-378(coming)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(up)-423(with)-422(the)-423(luggage)-423(and)-422(setting)-423(two)-423(doors)-422(open)-423(that)-423(showed)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(them)-329(two)-329(big)-330(rooms,)-349(both)-329(exquisitely)-329(furnished,)-349(and)-329(both)-330(with)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(windows)-452(that)-451(looked)-451(o)-1(ut,)-501(first)-452(on)-451(to)-452(a)-451(stone)-452(balustrade,)-502(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(secondly)-329(on)-329(to)-329(a)-329(superb)-328(view)-329(over)-329(the)-329(river)-329(and)-329(the)-329(mountains)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(beyond.)]TJ 11.956 -15.087 Td[(The)-306(men)-307(unstrapped)-306(the)-307(things)-306(and)-306(went)-307(away,)-320(leaving)-307(such)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(a)-304(plenitude)-303(of)-304(comfort)-303(behind)-304(them)-303(as)-304(led)-303(Jack)-304(to)-303(fling)-304(himself)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(into)-354(the)-354(most)-354(luxurious)-354(chair)-353(in)-354(the)-354(room)-354(and)-354(stretch)-354(his)-354(arms)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-250(legs)-250(far)-250(and)-250(wide)-250(in)-250(utter)-250(contentment.)]TJ 11.956 -15.087 Td[(Burnett)-250(was)-250(fishing)-250(for)-250(his)-250(key)-250(ring.)]TJ 0 -15.088 Td[("It's)-333(a)-332(great)-333(old)-332(place,)-353(isn't)-333(it?")-332(he)-333(remarked)-333(parenthetically.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[("Great)-260(Scott!)-280(but)-260(I'll)-260(bet)-259(we)-260(have)-260(fun)-260(these)-260(two)-260(days!)-280(And)-260(if)-260(my)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(sister)-250(Betty)-250(is)-250(here)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 80.902 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")-250(He)-250(paused)-250(expressively.)]TJ -79.855 -15.088 Td[("Doesn't)-250(she)-250(live)-250(at)-250(home?")-250(Jack)-250(asked.)]TJ 0 -15.087 Td[("She's)-261(just)-261(come)-261(home;)-266(she's)-261(been)-261(in)-261(England)-261(for)-261(three)-261(years.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Oh,)-250(but)-250(I)-250(tell)-250(you)-250(she's)-250(a)-250(corker!")]TJ 11.956 -15.088 Td[("I)-250(should)-250(think)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 65.061 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ -75.97 -15.087 Td[(The)-357(sentence)-357(was)-358(never)-357(completed)-357(because)-357(a)-357(voice)-358(without)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(the)-250(not-altogether-closed)-250(door)-250(cried:)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([028])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -15.088 Td[("No,)-310(don't)-298(think,)-311(please;)-322(let)-298(me)-299(come)-298(in)-298(instead.")-298(And)-298(in)-299(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(same)-392(instant)-393(Burnett)-392(made)-392(one)-392(leap)-393(and)-392(flung)-392(the)-392(door)-393(open,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(crying)-250(as)-250(he)-250(did)-250(so:)]TJ 11.956 -15.088 Td[("Betty!")]TJ 0 -15.087 Td[(Then)-375(Jack,)-406(bunching)-375(somewhat)-375(his)-375(starfish)-375(attitude,)-406(looked)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(across)-241(the)-241(room)-241(and)-242(realized)-241(instantly)-241(that)-241(it)-241(was)-241(all)-241(up)-241(with)-242(him)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(forever)-250(after.)]TJ 11.956 -15.088 Td[(Because)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 36.349 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -36.349 -15.087 Td[(Because)-166(she)-166(who)-166(stood)-167(there)-166(in)-166(the)-166(door)-166(was)-166(quite)-166(the)-167(sweetest,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(the)-242(loveliest,)-243(the)-242(most)-242(interesting)-242(looking)-242(girl)-242(whom)-242(he)-242(had)-242(ever)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(laid)-252(eyes)-252(on;)-252(and)-252(when)-252(she)-252(was)-251(seized)-252(in)-252(her)-252(brother's)-251(arms,)-253(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(kissed)-305(by)-305(her)-305(brother's)-305(lips,)-319(and)-305(dragged)-305(by)-305(her)-305(brother's)-305(hands)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+168 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 169 0 R
+/Resources 167 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 149 0 R
+>> endobj
+170 0 obj <<
+/D [168 0 R /XYZ 208.553 236.424 null]
+>> endobj
+167 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+173 0 obj <<
+/Length 4609      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(20)-11838(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 518.175 Td[(well)-428(into)-428(the)-429(room,)-472(she)-428(proved)-429(to)-428(be)-428(a)-428(thousand)-428(times)-429(more)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(irresistible)-250(than)-250(at)-250(first.)]TJ 11.956 -14.163 Td[("I)-240(say,)-242(Betty,)-242(you're)-241(absolutely)-240(prettier)-240(than)-240(ever,")-240(her)-241(brother)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(exclaimed,)-363(holding)-340(her)-340(a)-340(little)-340(off)-340(from)-340(him)-340(and)-340(surveying)-340(her)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(critically;)-220(and)-204(then)-205(he)-204(seemed)-205(to)-204(remember)-205(his)-204(friend's)-205(existence,)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(and,)-250(turning)-250(toward)-250(him,)-250(announced)-250(proudly:)]TJ 11.956 -14.162 Td[("My)-250(sister)-250(Bertha.")]TJ 0 -14.163 Td[(Jack)-313(was)-313(standing)-313(up)-314(now)-313(and)-313(thinking)-313(how)-313(lovely)-313(her)-314(eyes)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(were)-440(just)-440(at)-440(that)-440(instant)-440(when)-440(they)-440(were)-440(meeting)-440(his)-440(for)-440(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(first)-352(time,)-376(thinking)-352(much)-351(else)-352(too.)-554(Thinking)-352(that)-351(Monday)-352(was)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(only)-349(two)-350(days)-349(away)-350(\050hang)-349(it!\051;)-399(thinking)-350(that)-349(such)-350(a)-349(smile)-350(was)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([029])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(never)-234(known)-233(before;)-239(thinking)-234(that)-234(he)-233(had)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 181.502 0 Td[(years)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 26.177 0 Td[(ahead)-234(at)-233(college;)]TJ -207.679 -13.549 Td[(thinking)-427(that)-426(the)-427(curl)-426(on)-427(her)-426(forehead)-427(was)-426(simply)-427(distracting)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(\050whereas)-251(all)-250(other)-251(like)-251(curls)-250(were)-251(horrid\051;)-251(thinking)-250(that)-251(he)-251(might)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(cut)-250(college)-250(and)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 66.044 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -54.088 -14.163 Td[("My)-277(chum,)-284(Jack)-278(Denham,")-277(Burnett)-277(continued,)-284(proving)-277(in)-278(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(same)-378(instant)-379(how)-378(rapidly)-378(the)-378(mind)-379(may)-378(work)-378(since)-378(his)-379(friend)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(had)-414(compassed)-413(his)-414(encyclopedia)-413(of)-414(sentiment)-413(and)-414(probability)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(between)-250(the)-250(two)-250(halves)-250(of)-250(a)-250(formal)-250(introduction.)]TJ 11.956 -14.163 Td[("Oh,)-477(I'm)-432(very)-432(glad)-432(to)-432(meet)-432(you,)-478(Mr.)-796(Denham,")-432(she)-432(said,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(putting)-303(out)-304(her)-303(hand)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 89.923 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(and)-303(he)-304(took)-303(and)-303(held)-304(it)-303(just)-303(long)-304(enough)]TJ -100.832 -13.549 Td[(to)-316(realize)-317(that)-316(he)-316(really)-317(was)-316(holding)-316(it,)-333(before)-317(she)-316(took)-316(it)-317(away)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(to)-338(keep)-338(for)-338(her)-338(own)-338(again.)-514("I've)-338(often)-338(heard)-338(of)-338(you,)-361(and)-338(often)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(wished)-250(I)-250(might)-250(know)-250(you.")]TJ 11.956 -14.163 Td[("I'm)-418(awfully)-419(glad)-418(to)-418(hear)-418(you)-419(say)-418(that,")-418(he)-419(said,)-460("and)-418(if)-419(I)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(should)-275(have)-274(the)-275(royal)-274(luck)-275(to)-274(be)-274(n)-1(ext)-274(to)-274(you)-275(at)-274(dinner,)-281(it)-275(doesn't)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(seem)-227(to)-227(me)-227(that)-227(I)-226(shall)-227(have)-227(the)-227(strength)-227(to)-227(keep)-227(from)-227(telling)-227(you)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(why.")]TJ 11.956 -14.163 Td[(She)-326(clapped)-327(her)-326(hands)-326(at)-327(this,)-345(just)-327(as)-326(a)-326(very)-327(little)-326(girl)-327(might)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(have)-250(done.)]TJ 11.956 -14.163 Td[("If)-423(that)-424(is)-423(so,)-467(I)-423(hope)-424(that)-423(they)-424(will)-423(put)-424(you)-423(next)-424(to)-423(me)-424(at)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(dinner,")-356(she)-356(said)-356(gayly;)-408("but)-356(if)-356(they)-356(don't,)-382(you'll)-356(tell)-356(me)-356(some)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(other)-314(time,)-330(won't)-314(you?)-442(I'm)-314(always)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 156.036 0 Td[(so)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 13.124 0 Td[(interested)-314(in)-314(what)-314(people)]TJ -169.16 -13.549 Td[(have)-250(to)-250(tell)-250(me)-250(about)-250(myself.")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.756 0 Td[([030])]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+172 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 173 0 R
+/Resources 171 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 149 0 R
+>> endobj
+174 0 obj <<
+/D [172 0 R /XYZ 329.758 380.842 null]
+>> endobj
+175 0 obj <<
+/D [172 0 R /XYZ 227.376 66.142 null]
+>> endobj
+171 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F18 18 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+178 0 obj <<
+/Length 4980      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Three)-250(-)-250(Introducing)-250(Jack)-11451(21)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[(Burnett)-250(began)-250(to)-250(laugh.)]TJ 0 -14.095 Td[("Jack,")-241(he)-242(said,)-243("I)-242(see)-241(that)-242(we'd)-241(better)-242(have)-241(a)-242(clear)-241(and)-242(above-)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(board)-377(understanding)-377(right)-376(in)-377(the)-377(beginning)-377(and)-376(so)-377(I'll)-377(just)-377(tell)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(you)-250(that)-251(this)-250(sister)-250(of)-251(mine,)-250(who)-251(appears)-250(so)-250(guileless,)-251(is)-250(the)-251(very)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(worst)-312(flirt)-311(eve)-1(r.)-435(She)-311(looks)-312(honest,)-327(but)-312(she)-312(can't)-311(tell)-312(the)-312(truth)-312(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(save)-332(her)-333(neck.)-496(She)-332(means)-333(well,)-352(but)-333(she)-332(drives)-332(folks)-332(to)-333(suicide)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(just)-256(for)-255(fun.)-268(She'd)-255(do)-256(anything)-256(for)-255(anybody)-256(in)-256(general,)-257(but)-256(when)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(it's)-328(a)-328(case)-328(of)-328(you)-328(individually)-328(she)-328(won't)-327(do)-328(a)-328(thing)-328(to)-328(you,)-348(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(you)-223(must)-223(heed)-224(my)-223(words)-223(and)-223(be)-223(forewarned)-223(and)-223(forearmed)-224(from)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(now)-250(on.)-250(Mustn't)-250(he,)-250(Betty?")]TJ 11.956 -14.095 Td[(At)-263(this)-263(the)-263(sister)-263(laughed,)-266(nodding)-263(quite)-263(as)-263(gayly)-263(as)-263(if)-263(it)-263(were)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(a)-405(laughing)-405(matter,)-443(instead)-405(of)-405(the)-405(opening)-405(move)-405(in)-405(a)-405(possibly)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(serious)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 30.906 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(tremendously)-250(serious)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 93.022 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(game)-250(of)-250(life.)]TJ -133.79 -14.095 Td[("It's)-393(awful)-394(to)-393(have)-393(to)-393(subscribe)-394(to,")-393(she)-393(said,)-429(with)-394(dancing)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(eyes;)-313("but)-291(I'm)-292(afraid)-292(it's)-292(true.)-375(I'm)-291(really)-292(quite)-292(a)-292(reprobate,)-302(and)-292(I)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(admit)-269(it)-269(frankly.)-307(And)-268(everyone)-269(is)-269(so)-269(good)-269(to)-269(me)-269(that)-269(I)-269(never)-269(get)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(a)-250(chance)-250(to)-250(reform.)-250(And)-250(so)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 118.146 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(and)-250(so)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 28.178 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ -156.186 -14.094 Td[("But)-417(then,)-460(I)-417(suppose)-418(I)-417(ought)-417(to)-418(warn)-417(her)-418(about)-417(you,)-460(too,")]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(said)-383(Burnett,)-417(turning)-383(suddenly)-384(toward)-383(his)-383(friend.)-650("It)-383(isn't)-384(fair)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(to)-373(show)-373(her)-373(up)-374(and)-373(not)-373(show)-373(you)-373(up,)-404(you)-373(know.)-619(And)-374(really,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Betty,)-420(he's)-386(almost)-386(as)-386(bad)-386(as)-385(you)-386(are)-386(yourself.)-658(I)-386(may)-386(tell)-386(you)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(in)-338(confidence)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 60.037 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(in)-338(strict)-339(confidence)-338(\050for)-338(it's)-339(only)-338(been)-338(in)-339(a)-338(few)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 220.078 0 Td[([031])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.023 -13.549 Td[(newspapers\051)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 54.523 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(that)-388(he)-388(hasn't)-388(got)-388(his)-388(breach-of-promise)-388(suit)-388(all)]TJ -65.432 -13.549 Td[(compromised)-250(yet.)-250(Ask)-250(him)-250(to)-250(deny)-250(it,)-250(if)-250(he)-250(can!")]TJ 11.955 -14.095 Td[(The)-305(sister)-305(looked)-305(suddenly)-304(startled)-305(and)-305(curious)-305(and)-305(Jack)-305(felt)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(himself)-250(to)-250(be)-250(blushing)-250(desperately.)]TJ 11.955 -14.095 Td[("I)-295(don't)-294(look)-295(as)-295(if)-295(he)-295(was)-294(lying,)-306(do)-295(I?")-295(he)-295(asked)-294(smiling;)-318("be)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(honest)-250(now,)-250(for)-250(you)-250(can)-250(see)-250(that)-250(Burnett)-250(and)-250(I)-250(both)-250(are.")]TJ 11.955 -14.095 Td[("No,)-328(you)-312(don't,")-312(she)-313(said.)-436("You)-313(look)-312(as)-312(if)-313(it)-312(was)-312(a)-312(very)-313(true)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(bill.")]TJ 11.955 -14.095 Td[("It)-303(is,")-303(he)-302(said;)-329("and)-303(it's)-303(going)-303(to)-303(be)-302(an)-303(awfully)-303(big)-303(one,)-316(too,)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(I'm)-250(afraid.")]TJ 11.955 -14.095 Td[("I)-283(wouldn't)-282(have)-283(thought)-282(you)-283(were)-283(such)-282(a)-283(bad)-282(man,")-283(said)-283(the)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(sister)-362(ever)-362(so)-363(sweetly;)-418("but)-362(I)-362(like)-362(bad)-363(men.)-586(They)-362(interest)-363(me.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+177 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 178 0 R
+/Resources 176 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 180 0 R
+>> endobj
+179 0 obj <<
+/D [177 0 R /XYZ 266.048 231.46 null]
+>> endobj
+176 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+183 0 obj <<
+/Length 4497      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(22)-11838(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 518.175 Td[(They)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 22.419 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ -21.372 -13.995 Td[("There!)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 33.523 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(I)-314(see)-314(your)-313(finish,")-314(said)-314(Burnett.)-441("That's)-314(one)-314(of)-314(her)]TJ -56.388 -13.55 Td[(favorite)-291(opening)-290(plays.)-372(It's)-290(all)-291(up)-291(with)-290(you,)-301(Jack,)-300(and)-291(your)-291(aunt)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(will)-241(have)-241(to)-242(to)-241(go)-241(down)-241(for)-242(another)-241(damage)-241(suit)-241(when)-241(you)-242(begin)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-314(perceive)-313(that)-314(you)-313(have)-314(had)-313(enough)-314(of)-313(our)-314(family.)-440(But)-314(you'll)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(have)-328(to)-328(get)-329(out)-328(now,)-348(Betty,)-347(and)-329(let)-328(him)-328(get)-328(dressed)-328(for)-329(dinner.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(You)-337(needn't)-336(cry)-337(about)-337(it)-336(either)-337(for)-337(he's)-337(even)-336(more)-337(attractive)-337(in)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(his)-311(glad)-310(rags)-311(than)-310(he)-311(is)-310(in)-311(his)-310(railway)-311(dust)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 188.66 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(my)-311(word)-310(of)-311(honor)]TJ -199.569 -13.549 Td[(on)-250(it.")]TJ 11.956 -13.995 Td[("I)-281(look)-280(nice)-281(myself)-280(when)-281(I'm)-281(dinner-dressed,")-280(said)-281(the)-281(sister,)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[("so)-243(I)-243(sympathize)-242(with)-243(him)-243(and)-243(I'll)-243(go)-242(with)-243(pleasure.)-248(Good-bye.")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([032])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -13.995 Td[(She)-247(sort)-247(of)-248(backed)-247(toward)-247(the)-247(door)-248(and)-247(Jack)-247(sprang)-247(to)-247(open)-248(it)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(for)-250(her.)]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[("You)-435(can)-435(kiss)-435(her)-436(hand,)-481(if)-435(you)-435(like,")-435(Burnett)-435(said)-436(kindly.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[("They)-416(do)-415(in)-416(Germany,)-457(you)-415(know.)-747(I)-415(don't)-416(mind)-415(and)-416(mamma)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(needn't)-250(know.")]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[("May)-258(I?")-258(Jack)-258(asked)-258(her;)-261(and)-258(then)-258(he)-258(caught)-258(her)-258(eye)-258(over)-258(her)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(brother's)-306(bent)-307(head)-306(and)-306(added,)-321(so)-306(quickly)-307(that)-306(there)-306(was)-307(hardly)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(any)-250(break)-250(at)-250(all)-250(between)-250(the)-250(words:)-250("Some)-250(other)-250(time?")]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[("Some)-310(other)-310(time,")-310(she)-310(said,)-325(with)-310(a)-310(world)-310(of)-310(meaning)-311(in)-310(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(promise;)-360(and)-324(then)-324(she)-323(flashed)-324(one)-324(wonderful)-323(look)-324(straight)-324(into)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(his)-250(eyes)-250(and)-250(was)-250(gone.)]TJ 11.956 -13.995 Td[("Isn't)-240(she)-240(great?")-241(Burnett)-240(asked,)-242(unlocking)-240(his)-240(suit-case)-240(in)-241(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(most)-191(provokingly)-191(every-day)-192(style,)-203(as)-191(if)-191(this)-191(day)-191(was)-191(an)-192(every-day)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(sort)-324(of)-324(day)-323(and)-324(not)-324(the)-323(beginnin)-1(g)-323(and)-324(end)-324(of)-323(all)-324(things.)-471("Oh,)-343(I)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(tell)-250(you,)-250(I'm)-250(almost)-250(dotty)-250(over)-250(that)-250(sister)-250(myself.")]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[("Do)-236(you)-236(suppose)-236(that)-236(I)-236(could)-236(manage)-236(to)-236(have)-236(her)-236(for)-236(dinner?")]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Jack)-324(asked,)-343(feeling)-324(desperately)-324(how)-324(dull)-324(any)-324(other)-324(place)-324(at)-324(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(table)-250(would)-250(be)-250(now.)]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[("I)-194(don't)-194(know.)-231(When)-194(I)-194(go)-194(down)-193(to)-194(my)-194(mother)-194(I'll)-194(try)-194(to)-194(manage)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(it;)-250(shall)-250(I?")]TJ 11.956 -13.995 Td[("I)-250(wish)-250(you)-250(would.")]TJ 0 -13.996 Td[("I)-350(reckon)-351(I)-350(can;)-401(but,)-376(great)-350(loads)-351(of)-350(fire,)-376(fellow!)-551(don't)-351(think)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(you)-273(can)-273(play)-274(tag)-273(with)-273(her,)-279(and)-273(feel)-273(funny)-273(a)-1(t)-273(the)-273(finish.)-319(She'll)-274(do)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+182 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 183 0 R
+/Resources 181 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 180 0 R
+>> endobj
+184 0 obj <<
+/D [182 0 R /XYZ 374.173 381.79 null]
+>> endobj
+181 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+187 0 obj <<
+/Length 4149      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Three)-250(-)-250(Introducing)-250(Jack)-11451(23)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 518.175 Td[(you)-247(up)-246(completely,)-248(and)-247(never)-246(turn)-247(a)-247(hair)-246(herself.)-249(She's)-247(always)-247(at)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(it.)-403(She)-300(don't)-301(mean)-301(to)-301(be)-301(cruel,)-313(but)-301(she's)-301(naturally)-301(a)-301(carnivorous)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([033])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(animal.)-250(It's)-250(her)-250(little)-250(way.")]TJ 11.956 -16.75 Td[(Jack)-216(did)-216(not)-216(look)-216(as)-216(dismal)-216(as)-216(he)-215(sh)-1(ould)-215(have)-216(done;)-228(he)-216(smiled,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(and)-250(looked)-250(out)-250(of)-250(the)-250(window)-250(instead.)]TJ 11.956 -16.75 Td[("She'll)-263(have)-263(to)-264(marry)-263(someone)-263(some)-263(day,)-267(you)-263(know,")-263(he)-264(said)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(thoughtfully.)]TJ 11.956 -16.75 Td[("Have)-374(to)-374(ma)-1(rry)-374(someone)-374(some)-374(day!")-375(Burnett)-374(cried.)-623("Why,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(she)-380(is)-379(married.)-640(Didn't)-379(you)-380(know)-380(that?")-379(and)-380(he)-380(unbuckled)-380(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(shirt)-263(portfolio)-263(as)-263(he)-264(spoke)-263(just)-263(as)-263(if)-263(calamities)-263(and)-263(tragedies)-264(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(shooting)-379(stars)-379(might)-379(not)-379(follow)-379(on)-379(the)-379(heels)-379(of)-379(suc)-1(h)-379(a)-379(simple)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(statement)-250(as)-250(that)-250(last.)]TJ 11.956 -16.75 Td[(It)-200(was)-201(an)-201(awful)-200(moment,)-210(but)-201(poor)-201(Jack)-200(did)-201(manage)-200(to)-201(continue)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(looking)-208(out)-208(of)-207(the)-208(window.)-236(If)-208(any)-208(greater)-207(demand)-208(had)-208(been)-208(made)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(upon)-250(him)-250(he)-250(might)-250(have)-250(sunk)-250(beneath)-250(the)-250(double)-250(weight.)]TJ 11.956 -16.75 Td[("No,")-221(he)-221(said)-222(at)-221(last,)-227(his)-221(voice)-221(painfully)-221(steady;)-231("I)-221(didn't)-222(know)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(it.")]TJ 11.956 -16.75 Td[(Burnett)-330(laughed)-330(heartlessly,)-350(hauling)-330(forth)-330(his)-330(apparel)-330(with)-330(a)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(refined)-341(cruelty)-342(which)-341(took)-341(careful)-342(heed)-341(of)-341(possible)-342(interfolded)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(shoes)-250(or)-250(cravats.)]TJ 11.956 -16.75 Td[("She)-417(married)-417(an)-417(Englishman)-417(when)-417(she)-417(was)-418(nineteen)-417(years)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(old,")-355(he)-354(said.)-564("That)-355(was)-355(when)-355(they)-354(sent)-355(me)-355(to)-354(Eton)-355(that)-355(little)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(while,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 26.968 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(until)-274(I)-273(drove)-274(the)-273(horse)-274(through)-273(the)-274(drug)-273(shop.)-321(The)-274(time)]TJ -37.877 -13.549 Td[(I)-250(told)-250(you)-250(about,)-250(don't)-250(you)-250(know?")]TJ 11.956 -16.75 Td[("Yes,)-414(I)-381(remember,")-382(said)-381(Jack.)-644(He)-381(observed)-381(with)-382(sickening)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 279.068 0 Td[([034])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(distinctness)-409(that)-409(the)-409(night)-409(had)-409(begun)-409(to)-409(fall,)-449(the)-409(river's)-409(silver)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(ribbon)-324(had)-324(become)-324(a)-324(black)-324(snake,)-342(and)-324(that)-324(the)-324(mountain)-324(range)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(beyond)-275(loomed)-274(chill)-275(and)-275(dark)-274(and)-275(cheerless.)-324("I)-275(guess)-274(I)-275(ought)-275(to)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(be)-223(getting)-223(into)-222(my)-223(things,")-223(he)-222(said,)-229(moving)-222(toward)-223(his)-223(own)-223(door.)]TJ 11.956 -16.75 Td[("There's)-260(a)-261(bath)-260(in)-260(here,")-261(his)-260(friend)-260(called)-261(after)-260(him.)-281("We're)-261(to)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(divide)-250(it.")]TJ 11.956 -16.75 Td[("Sure,")-250(was)-250(the)-250(reply.)-250(It)-250(sounded)-250(a)-250(trifle)-250(thick.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+186 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 187 0 R
+/Resources 185 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 180 0 R
+>> endobj
+188 0 obj <<
+/D [186 0 R /XYZ 59.955 504.626 null]
+>> endobj
+189 0 obj <<
+/D [186 0 R /XYZ 262.031 167.388 null]
+>> endobj
+185 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+192 0 obj <<
+/Length 1139      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(24)-11838(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[("I)-228(don't)-229(think)-228(that)-228(she)-229(ought)-228(to,")-228(said)-229(the)-228(brother)-229(to)-228(himself,)-233(as)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(he)-227(began)-227(to)-226(draw)-227(out)-227(his)-226(stick-pin)-227(before)-227(the)-227(mirror,)-231("I)-227(don't)-227(care)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(if)-250(she)-250(is)-250(my)-250(favorite)-250(sister)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 113.018 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(I)-250(don't)-250(think)-250(that)-250(she)-250(ought)-250(to.")]TJ -111.971 -13.549 Td[(Then)-258(he)-258(went)-259(on)-258(to)-258(make)-258(ready)-258(for)-259(the)-258(securing)-258(of)-258(his)-258(half)-259(of)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(the)-250(bath,)-250(and)-250(forthwith)-250(forgot)-250(his)-250(sister)-250(and)-250(his)-250(friend.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 -29.651 Td[([035])]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+191 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 192 0 R
+/Resources 190 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 180 0 R
+>> endobj
+193 0 obj <<
+/D [191 0 R /XYZ 93.543 434.327 null]
+>> endobj
+190 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+194 0 obj
+<< /S /GoTo /D (index5) >>
+endobj
+197 0 obj
+(Chapter Four - Married)
+endobj
+200 0 obj <<
+/Length 4108      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 18.959 Tf 46.771 479.321 Td[(Chapter)-250(Four)-250(-)-250(Married)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 0 -33.188 Td[(It)-404(was)-404(almost)-403(like)-404(a)-404(scene)-403(at)-404(a)-404(ball,)-442(the)-404(great)-404(white-and-gold)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(music)-276(room)-276(before)-275(dinner)-276(that)-276(night.)-327(The)-276(Burnett)-276(family)-276(proper)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(numbered)-205(fifteen)-205(among)-204(them)-1(selves,)-213(and)-205(there)-205(were)-205(nearly)-205(thirty)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(guests)-392(added.)-674(It)-392(was)-392(entirely)-391(too)-392(large)-391(a)-392(house)-391(party)-392(to)-392(have)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(handled)-242(successfully)-242(for)-242(very)-242(long,)-244(but)-242(it)-242(would)-242(be)-242(most)-242(awfully)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(jolly)-388(for)-388(three)-387(or)-388(four)-388(days;)-456(and)-388(now,)-422(when)-388(the)-388(whole)-388(crowd)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(were)-367(gathered)-368(waiting)-367(for)-368(dinner,)-397(the)-367(picture)-367(was)-368(one)-367(of)-368(such)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(bubbling)-217(joy)-216(that)-217(Jack's)-216(very)-217(heavy)-216(heart)-217(seemed)-216(to)-217(himself)-216(to)-217(be)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(terribly)-223(out)-223(of)-223(place)-223(there)-223(and)-223(he)-223(wondered)-223(whether)-224(he)-223(should)-223(be)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(able)-294(to)-293(put)-294(up)-293(even)-294(a)-294(fairly)-293(presentable)-294(front)-293(during)-294(the)-294(endless)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(hours)-250(that)-250(must)-250(ensue)-250(before)-250(the)-250(time)-250(for)-250(breaking)-250(up)-250(arrived.)]TJ 11.956 -13.703 Td[(Burnett)-302(took)-302(him)-302(all)-301(around)-302(and)-302(introduced)-302(him)-302(to)-302(people)-302(in)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(general,)-397(and)-367(people)-367(in)-367(general)-367(seemed)-368(to)-367(him)-367(to)-367(merely)-368(bring)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-340(fact)-340(of)-340(her)-339(pre-eminence)-340(more)-340(vividly)-340(than)-340(ever)-340(before)-340(his)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(mind.)-240(He)-220(found)-220(himself)-221(looking)-220(everywhere)-220(but)-220(at)-220(them)-220(too,)-227(and)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([036])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.55 Td[(listening)-223(with)-223(an)-222(acutely)-223(sensitive)-223(ear)-223(for)-222(sounds)-223(quite)-223(other)-223(than)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(those)-276(of)-275(their)-276(various)-275(lips.)-327(But)-275(eternal)-276(disappointment)-276(rewarded)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(his)-250(eyes)-250(and)-250(ears.)-250(She)-250(was)-250(nowhere.)]TJ 11.956 -13.702 Td[(So)-402(he)-401(talke)-1(d)-401(blindly)-402(about)-402(nothing)-402(to)-401(all)-402(the)-402(nobodies)-402(and)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(laughed)-389(stupidly)-389(over)-390(all)-389(their)-389(stupidities)-389(until)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 210.33 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(suddenly)-389(and)]TJ -221.239 -13.549 Td[(without)-519(any)-519(warning)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 96.165 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(a)-519(fearful)-519(jump)-519(in)-519(his)-519(throat)-519(sent)-519(the)]TJ -107.074 -13.549 Td[(mercury)-451(in)-451(his)-451(constitution)-450(shooting)-451(up)-451(to)-451(160,)-501(and)-451(he)-451(saw,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(heard,)-402(felt,)-403(gasped,)-402(and)-372(knew,)-402(that)-372(that)-372(radiant)-372(angel)-372(in)-372(silver)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(tissue)-440(who)-440(had)-440(just)-440(entered)-440(the)-440(farther)-440(end)-440(of)-440(the)-441(room)-440(was)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(indubitably)-250(Herself.)]TJ 11.956 -13.702 Td[(\050Married!\051)]TJ 0 -13.702 Td[(He)-355(quite)-354(forgot)-355(who,)-380(what)-355(and)-355(where)-354(he)-355(was.)-563(There)-355(was)-355(a)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(somebody)-343(talking)-343(to)-343(him)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 111.842 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(a)-343(very)-343(awful)-343(and)-343(bony)-343(young)-343(lady,)]TJ -122.751 -13.549 Td[(but)-390(she)-389(faded)-390(so)-389(completely)-390(out)-389(of)-390(the)-389(general)-390(scheme)-389(of)-390(his)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+199 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 200 0 R
+/Resources 198 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 180 0 R
+>> endobj
+195 0 obj <<
+/D [199 0 R /XYZ 46.771 529.134 null]
+>> endobj
+201 0 obj <<
+/D [199 0 R /XYZ 311.649 256.291 null]
+>> endobj
+198 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+204 0 obj <<
+/Length 4405      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(26)-11838(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 518.175 Td[(immediate)-343(present)-343(that)-344(all)-343(the)-343(use)-343(he)-344(made)-343(of)-343(her)-343(was)-343(to)-344(stare)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(over)-394(her)-395(head)-394(at)-394(the)-395(distant)-394(apparition)-394(that)-395(was)-394(become,)-431(now)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-336(forever,)-358(his)-337(All)-336(in)-336(All.)-509(The)-336(distant)-337(apparition)-336(had)-336(not)-337(lied)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(when)-391(she)-390(had)-390(told)-391(him)-390(up)-391(in)-390(her)-391(brother's)-390(room)-391(that)-390(she)-391(too,)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(looked)-375("nice")-375(when)-375(dressed)-375(for)-375(dinner.)-625(Only)-375(the)-376(word)-375("nice")]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(was)-327(as)-327(watered)-328(milk)-327(to)-327(the)-327(champagne)-328(of)-327(her)-327(appearance.)-482(She)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(was)-340(gowned)-340(superbly)-340(and)-339(her)-340(throat)-340(and)-340(arms)-340(were)-340(half)-340(bared)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(by)-298(the)-298(folds)-298(of)-298(silvered)-298(lace;)-321(her)-298(hair)-298(fitted)-298(into)-298(the)-298(back)-298(of)-298(her)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(neck)-339(in)-339(the)-339(smoothest)-338(mass)-339(of)-339(puffs)-339(and)-339(coils,)-361(and)-339(the)-339(curl)-339(on)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([037])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.55 Td[(her)-250(forehead)-250(was)-250(more)-250(distracting)-250(than)-250(ever.)]TJ 11.956 -14.04 Td[(\050Married!\051)]TJ 0 -14.04 Td[(She)-227(seemed)-228(to)-227(be)-228(speaking)-227(to)-228(everyone,)-232(and)-227(everyone)-228(seemed)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(to)-236(be)-236(crowding)-236(around)-236(her.)-245(He)-236(couldn't)-237(go)-236(up)-236(like)-236(everyone)-236(else,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(because)-273(the)-274(awful)-273(and)-273(bony)-274(young)-273(lady)-273(was)-274(talking)-273(hard)-273(at)-274(him)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(and)-312(heightened)-311(her)-312(charms)-312(with)-311(a)-312(smile)-312(that)-311(took)-312(up)-312(two-fifths)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(of)-250(her)-250(face,)-250(and)-250(wrinkled)-250(all)-250(the)-250(rest.)]TJ 11.956 -14.04 Td[(Her)-282(name)-283(was)-282(Lome)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 91.635 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(Maude)-282(Lome.)-347(He)-283(knew)-282(that)-282(she)-283(must)]TJ -114.5 -13.549 Td[(be)-267(a)-268(relative)-267(without)-267(being)-267(told,)-272(because)-267(otherwise)-267(she)-268(wouldn't)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(have)-250(been)-250(invited)-250(at)-250(all.)-250(Anyone)-250(could)-250(divine)-250(that.)]TJ 11.956 -14.04 Td[("Oh,)-370(isn't)-345(dear)-346(Betty)-346(just)-346(lovely?")-345(this)-346(fearful)-346(freak)-345(said.)-538("I)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(think)-359(she's)-359(just)-359(too)-359(lovely)-360(for)-359(anything!)-577(She's)-359(my)-359(cousin,)-387(you)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(know;)-250(we're)-250(often)-250(mistaken)-250(for)-250(one)-250(another.")]TJ 11.956 -14.04 Td[("I)-263(can)-263(well)-263(believe)-263(it,")-263(said)-264(Jack,)-266(heavily,)-266(not)-263(ceasing)-264(to)-263(stare)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(beyond)-250(as)-250(he)-250(said)-250(it.)]TJ 11.956 -14.04 Td[(\050Married!\051)]TJ 0 -14.04 Td[("Oh,)-237(you're)-233(flattering)-234(me!)-245(Because)-233(she's)-234(ever)-233(so)-234(much)-234(prettier)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(than)-250(I)-250(am,)-250(and)-250(I)-250(know)-250(it.")]TJ 11.956 -14.04 Td[(He)-373(didn't)-374(reply.)-619(It)-374(had)-373(suddenly)-373(come)-374(over)-373(him)-373(to)-374(wonder)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(whether)-424(there)-424(ever)-425(had)-424(been)-424(an)-424(authentic)-424(case)-424(of)-425(heartbreak.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Because)-250(he)-250(had)-250(the)-250(most)-250(terrible)-250(ache)-250(right)-250(in)-250(his)-250(left)-250(side!)]TJ 11.956 -14.04 Td[(\050Married!)-250(Married!\051)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -84.711 0 Td[([038])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -14.041 Td[("But,)-492(then,")-443(Miss)-443(Lome)-443(continued,)-492("I'm)-443(younger)-443(than)-444(she)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(is.)-589(Her)-362(being)-363(married)-363(makes)-363(her)-363(seem)-363(young,)-391(but)-363(she's)-363(really)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(twenty-four.)-250(I'm)-250(only)-250(twenty.")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+203 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 204 0 R
+/Resources 202 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 180 0 R
+>> endobj
+205 0 obj <<
+/D [203 0 R /XYZ 306.127 409.782 null]
+>> endobj
+206 0 obj <<
+/D [203 0 R /XYZ 195.76 107.281 null]
+>> endobj
+202 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+209 0 obj <<
+/Length 4295      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Four)-250(-)-250(Married)-15366(27)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[(He)-483(shut)-483(his)-483(eyes,)-541(and)-483(then)-483(opened)-483(them.)-950(He)-483(wished)-483(he)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(hadn't)-314(come)-313(here,)-329(and)-314(then)-314(grew)-313(shivery)-314(to)-313(think)-314(that)-313(he)-314(might)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(have)-301(happened)-301(not)-302(to;)-326(and)-302(all)-301(the)-301(while)-301(that)-301(awful)-301(twisting)-302(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(wrenching)-250(at)-250(his)-250(heart)-250(was)-250(getting)-250(worse)-250(and)-250(worse.)]TJ 11.956 -15.396 Td[(\050Married!)-250(Married!)-250(Married!\051)]TJ 0 -15.395 Td[(Burnett)-259(came)-260(up)-260(just)-259(then)-260(with)-259(a)-260(man)-259(wearing)-260(a)-259(monocle)-260(and)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(presented)-225(him)-226(to)-225(Denham,)-231(and)-225(forthwith)-225(handed)-226(the)-225(bony)-226(cousin)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-250(his)-250(safe-keeping.)]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[("She's)-297(a)-297(great)-297(pill,)-308(isn't)-297(she?")-297(he)-297(began,)-309(as)-297(the)-297(couple)-297(moved)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(away;)-265(and)-260(then)-259(he)-260(stopped)-260(short.)-279("What's)-260(the)-260(matter?")-260(he)-260(asked.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[("Sick?")]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[("I)-250(hope)-250(not,")-250(said)-250(Jack,)-250(trying)-250(to)-250(smile.)]TJ 0 -15.396 Td[("You)-315(look)-314(hipped,")-315(his)-315(friend)-314(said)-315(anxiously.)-444("Better)-315(go)-315(get)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(a)-278(bracer;)-291(you'll)-277(have)-278(time)-277(if)-278(you)-277(hurry.)-333(You)-277(can't)-278(be)-277(sick)-278(before)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(dinner,)-361(because)-338(I've)-338(been)-339(moving)-338(all)-339(the)-338(cards)-338(around)-339(so)-338(as)-339(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(get)-322(Betty)-322(next)-321(to)-322(you,)-340(and)-321(I)-322(could)-322(never)-322(get)-321(them)-322(back)-322(as)-322(they)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(were)-250(before)-250(if)-250(you)-250(gave)-250(out)-250(at)-250(the)-250(last)-250(minute.")]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[("I)-354(don't)-354(believe)-354(I'm)-355(ill,")-354(said)-354(Jack,)-380(trying)-354(to)-354(realize)-355(whether)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(the)-317(news)-317(that)-316(she)-317(was)-317(to)-317(be)-317(his)-317(\050for)-316(dinner\051)-317(made)-317(him)-317(feel)-317(any)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(better)-316(or)-315(only)-315(just)-316(about)-315(the)-316(same.)-446("I)-316(don't)-315(know)-316(what)-315(ails)-316(me.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([039])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(Do)-250(I)-250(look)-250(seedy?")]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[("You)-535(look)-534(sort)-535(of)-535(knocked)-535(out,)-605(that's)-535(all,")-535(said)-535(Burnett.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[("Perhaps,)-432(though,)-433(it)-396(was)-395(just)-396(the)-396(having)-396(to)-396(talk)-396(to)-396(my)-396(cousin)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Maude)-307(so)-306(long.)-420(Isn't)-307(she)-306(the)-307(limit,)-320(though)-1(?)-419(But)-307(I'll)-306(tell)-307(you)-307(the)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(one)-394(big)-395(thing)-394(about)-395(that)-394(girl:)-539(She's)-394(just)-395(the)-394(biggest)-395(kind)-394(of)-395(a)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(catch.)-278(She)-260(was)-259(my)-259(uncle's)-260(eldest)-259(child;)-264(she's)-260(worth)-259(twelve)-260(times)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(what)-250(any)-250(of)-250(us)-250(ever)-250(will)-250(be.")]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[("I'm)-250(sure)-250(she'll)-250(need)-250(it,")-250(said)-250(Jack)-250(heartily.)]TJ 0 -15.395 Td[("You're)-395(right)-396(there,")-395(laughed)-395(his)-396(friend;)-468("but)-395(you've)-395(got)-396(to)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(hurry)-261(and)-261(get)-261(your)-260(brandy)-261(now)-261(if)-261(you)-261(want)-260(it,)-264(because)-261(they'll)-261(be)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(going)-250(out)-250(in)-250(a)-250(minute.")]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[("Oh,)-575(I'm)-509(all)-510(right,")-510(said)-510(the)-509(poor)-510(chap,)-575(straightening)-510(his)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(shoulders)-278(back)-277(a)-278(little.)-332("I)-277(can)-278(make)-277(out)-278(well)-277(enough,)-285(I'm)-277(sure.)-333(I)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+208 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 209 0 R
+/Resources 207 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 211 0 R
+>> endobj
+210 0 obj <<
+/D [208 0 R /XYZ 157.306 249.665 null]
+>> endobj
+207 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+214 0 obj <<
+/Length 4516      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(28)-11838(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 518.175 Td[(think)-302(I'd)-302(better)-301(go)-302(over)-302(by)-302(your)-302(sister)-302(and)-301(let)-302(her)-302(know)-302(that)-302(I'm)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(ready)-250(when)-250(the)-250(hour)-250(of)-250(need)-250(shall)-250(strike.")]TJ 11.956 -15.6 Td[(Burnet)-402(nodded)-402(and)-402(then)-403(he)-402(went)-402(on)-402(and)-402(his)-402(friend)-403(walked)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(down)-245(the)-246(room,)-246(no)-245(one)-245(but)-245(himself)-246(knowing)-245(that)-245(he)-245(was)-246(making)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(his)-250(way)-250(into)-250(the)-250(lion's)-250(\050or,)-250(rather,)-250(lioness's\051)-250(den.)]TJ 11.956 -15.6 Td[(And)-389(then)-388(he)-389(paused)-388(there)-389(beside)-389(her.)-666(Oh!)-665(she)-389(Was)-389(seven)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(million)-327(times)-328(lovelier)-327(close)-327(to)-327(than)-328(far)-327(away.)-482(All)-327(the)-327(rot)-328(about)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Venus)-229(and)-228(statues)-229(and)-228(paintings)-229(and)-228(Helen)-229(of)-228(Troy)-229(was)-229(nowhere)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(beside)-201(Her)-200(and)-201(he)-200(felt)-201(his)-200(strength)-201(come)-200(surging)-201(mightily)-201(upward)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([040])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.55 Td[(and)-250(then)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 37.266 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(oh)-250(Heavens!)]TJ -36.219 -15.6 Td[(She)-212(looked)-212(up)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 61.591 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(looked)-212(so)-212(sweetly)-212(up)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 90.566 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(right)-212(into)-212(his)-212(eyes)-212(and)]TJ -185.931 -13.549 Td[(smiled.)]TJ 11.956 -15.6 Td[("I)-265(expect)-266(you)-265(are)-265(to)-265(take)-266(me)-265(into)-265(dinner,")-266(she)-265(said;)-273(and)-265(at)-266(her)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(words)-212(the)-211(man)-212(who)-212(had)-211(been)-212(talking)-212(to)-211(her)-212(murmured)-212(something)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(meaningless)-250(and)-250(got)-250(out)-250(of)-250(their)-250(way.)]TJ 11.956 -15.6 Td[("I)-250(believe)-250(so,")-250(he)-250(said.)]TJ 0 -15.6 Td[(She)-428(rose)-427(and)-428(he)-428(noticed)-428(that)-427(the)-428(top)-428(of)-427(her)-428(head)-428(was)-428(just)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(level)-316(with)-317(his)-316(coat)-316(lapel.)-449(He)-317(wondered,)-333(with)-316(a)-316(miserable)-317(pang,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(where)-343(she)-343(came)-343(to)-343(on)-343(her)-343(husband's)-343(coat)-343(and)-343(with)-343(the)-343(wonder)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(his)-378(surging)-379(strength)-378(surged)-378(suddenly)-378(out)-379(to)-378(sea)-378(again)-378(and)-379(left)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(him)-253(feeling)-253(like)-253(Samson)-253(when)-253(he)-253(awoke)-253(to)-253(the)-253(realization)-254(of)-253(his)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(haircut.)]TJ 11.956 -15.6 Td[("Dinner's)-415(very)-415(late,")-415(she)-416(said,)-456(quite)-415(as)-415(if)-415(life)-415(presented)-416(no)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(problem)-400(whatever;)-475("you)-400(see,)-437(it's)-400(the)-400(first)-400(big)-400(company)-400(in)-400(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(house.)-626(We)-376(were)-375(only)-375(seventeen)-376(last)-375(night,)-407(and)-375(to-night)-376(we're)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(forty-five.)-250(It)-250(makes)-250(a)-250(difference.")]TJ 11.956 -15.6 Td[("I)-318(can)-318(imagine)-319(so,")-318(he)-318(said.)-455(He)-318(was)-318(suddenly)-318(acutely)-319(aware)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(of)-436(feeling)-437(very)-436(awkward,)-483(and)-436(of)-436(finding)-436(her)-437(different)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 247.903 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(quite)]TJ -258.812 -13.549 Td[(different)-250(from)-250(what)-250(she)-250(had)-250(seemed)-250(up)-250(in)-250(her)-250(brother's)-250(room.)]TJ 11.956 -15.6 Td[("What)-251(is)-250(it?")-251(she)-251(asked)-251(after)-251(a)-250(minute,)-251(looking)-251(up)-251(at)-250(him;)-252(and)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(then)-330(she)-329(showed)-330(that)-330(she)-330(was)-329(conscious)-330(of)-330(the)-329(change,)-350(for)-330(she)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(added:)-504("Something)-378(has)-377(happened;)-441(Bob)-377(has)-377(been)-377(saying)-378(mean)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([041])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(things)-250(about)-250(me)-250(to)-250(you?")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+213 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 214 0 R
+/Resources 212 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 211 0 R
+>> endobj
+215 0 obj <<
+/D [213 0 R /XYZ 123.604 405.68 null]
+>> endobj
+216 0 obj <<
+/D [213 0 R /XYZ 183.975 79.691 null]
+>> endobj
+212 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+219 0 obj <<
+/Length 4180      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Four)-250(-)-250(Married)-15366(29)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[("Yes,)-370(he)-347(did)-346(tell)-346(me)-347(something,")-346(he)-346(admitted;)-395(and)-346(just)-347(then)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(the)-250(butler)-250(announced)-250(dinner.)]TJ 11.956 -13.822 Td[("What)-211(did)-211(he)-211(tell)-211(you?")-210(she)-211(asked,)-219(as)-211(they)-211(moved)-211(away.)-237("How)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(could)-250(he)-250(say)-250(anything)-250(worse)-250(than)-250(what)-250(he)-250(said)-250(before)-250(me?")]TJ 11.956 -13.822 Td[("He)-250(told)-250(me)-250(something)-250(that)-250(was)-250(worse)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 168.676 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(much)-250(worse.")]TJ -179.585 -13.822 Td[(She)-250(looked)-250(troubled)-250(and)-250(as)-250(if)-250(she)-250(did)-250(not)-250(understand.)]TJ 0 -13.822 Td[("But)-358(he)-358(said)-358(that)-359(I)-358(was)-358(a)-358(flirt,)-385(and)-358(that)-358(I)-358(couldn't)-358(speak)-359(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(truth,)-250(and)-250(that)-250(I)-250(drove)-250(people)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 126.644 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ -125.597 -13.822 Td[("Yes,)-250(I)-250(remember)-250(all)-250(that;)-250(but)-250(this)-250(was)-250(infinitely)-250(worse.")]TJ 0 -13.822 Td[("Infinitely)-250(worse!")]TJ 0 -13.822 Td[("Yes.")]TJ 0 -13.822 Td[(She)-305(stopped)-305(in)-305(an)-304(angle)-305(where)-305(the)-305(big)-305(room)-305(dwindled)-305(into)-305(a)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(narrow)-250(gallery,)-250(and)-250(stared)-250(astonished.)]TJ 11.956 -13.822 Td[("I)-250(can't)-250(at)-250(all)-250(understand,")-250(she)-250(said.)]TJ 0 -13.822 Td[("No,)-344(you)-326(can't,")-325(he)-325(said,)-345("and)-325(I)-325(can't)-326(tell)-325(you)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 201.424 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(I)-325(mustn't)-326(tell)]TJ -224.288 -13.549 Td[(you)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 16.363 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(how)-242(terrible)-243(it)-242(is)-242(to)-243(me)-242(to)-242(look)-243(at)-242(you)-242(and)-243(think)-242(of)-242(what)-243(he)]TJ -27.272 -13.549 Td[(told)-250(me.")]TJ 11.955 -13.822 Td[(After)-308(a)-308(second)-308(she)-308(went)-308(on)-308(again)-308(and)-308(presently)-308(they)-308(entered)]TJ -11.955 -13.55 Td[(the)-403(dining-room.)-709(The)-403(confusion)-403(of)-403(rustling)-403(skirts)-403(and)-404(sliding)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(chairs)-312(quite)-312(covered)-312(their)-312(speech)-312(for)-312(a)-312(moment)-312(and)-312(made)-312(them)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.023 0 Td[([042])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.023 -13.549 Td[(seem)-340(almost)-341(alone.)-520(Her)-341(hand)-340(had)-340(been)-340(resting)-341(on)-340(his)-340(arm)-341(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(now)-281(she)-281(drew)-281(it)-281(out,)-289(looking)-281(up)-281(at)-281(him)-281(again)-281(as)-281(she)-281(did)-281(so.)-344(Her)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(eyes)-250(had)-250(a)-250(premonitory)-250(mist)-250(over)-250(them.)]TJ 11.955 -13.822 Td[("For)-239(Heaven's)-240(sake,")-239(she)-240(said)-239(very)-240(earnestly,)-241("tell)-240(me)-239(what)-240(he)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(said?")]TJ 11.955 -13.822 Td[(He)-250(was)-250(silent.)]TJ 0 -13.822 Td[("Tell)-250(me,")-250(she)-250(pleaded.)]TJ 0 -13.822 Td[(He)-250(was)-250(still)-250(silent.)]TJ 0 -13.822 Td[("Tell)-250(me,")-250(she)-250(said)-250(imperiously.)]TJ 0 -13.822 Td[(He)-250(continued)-250(silent.)-250(They)-250(sat)-250(down.)]TJ 0 -13.822 Td[("Mr.)-438(Denham,")-312(she)-313(said,)-328(as)-313(she)-312(took)-313(up)-312(her)-313(napkin,)-328(and)-313(her)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(voice)-241(grew)-242(very)-241(low,)-244(and)-241(yet)-242(he)-241(heard,)-243("I)-242(don't)-241(think)-242(that)-241(we)-242(can)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(pretend)-219(to)-219(be)-220(joking)-219(any)-219(longer.)-240(You)-219(are)-220(my)-219(brother's)-219(friend,)-226(and)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(I)-250(am)-250(a)-250(married)-250(woman.)-250(Please)-250(treat)-250(me)-250(as)-250(you)-250(should.")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+218 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 219 0 R
+/Resources 217 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 211 0 R
+>> endobj
+220 0 obj <<
+/D [218 0 R /XYZ 139.377 257.74 null]
+>> endobj
+217 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+223 0 obj <<
+/Length 3993      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(30)-11838(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[("That's)-298(just)-298(it,")-298(said)-298(Jack;)-323("that's)-298(all)-298(there)-298(is)-298(to)-298(it.)-394(It)-299(wouldn't)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(have)-437(amounted)-437(to)-437(anything)-437(except)-436(for)-437(that)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 196.442 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(or)-437(perhaps,)-483(if)-437(it)]TJ -207.351 -13.549 Td[(hadn't)-250(been)-250(for)-250(that,)-250(it)-250(might)-250(have)-250(amounted)-250(to)-250(a)-250(great)-250(deal.")]TJ 11.956 -13.783 Td[("If)-250(it)-250(hadn't)-250(been)-250(for)-250(what?")]TJ 0 -13.783 Td[("For)-250(your)-250(being)-250(married.")]TJ 0 -13.783 Td[(She)-250(quite)-250(started)-250(in)-250(her)-250(seat.)]TJ 0 -13.783 Td[("What)-250(do)-250(you)-250(mean?")]TJ 0 -13.783 Td[("You)-250(see)-250(I)-250(never)-250(knew)-250(it)-250(before.")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -84.711 0 Td[([043])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -13.783 Td[("You)-250(never)-250(knew)-250(what)-250(before?")]TJ 0 -13.783 Td[("That)-250(you)-250(were)-250(married.")]TJ 0 -13.783 Td[("Until)-250(when?")]TJ 0 -13.783 Td[("Until)-250(after)-250(you)-250(went)-250(out)-250(of)-250(the)-250(room)-250(to-night.")]TJ 0 -13.783 Td[(The)-187(men)-187(were)-187(putting)-187(the)-187(clams)-187(around.)-229(She)-187(seemed)-187(to)-187(reflect.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(And)-250(then)-250(she)-250(peppered)-250(and)-250(salted)-250(them)-250(before)-250(she)-250(spoke.)]TJ 11.956 -13.783 Td[("Bob)-242(is)-242(very)-242(wrong)-242(to)-242(talk)-242(so,")-242(she)-242(said)-242(at)-242(last,)-244(picking)-242(up)-242(her)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(fork,)-250("when)-250(you're)-250(his)-250(friend,)-250(too.")]TJ 11.956 -13.783 Td[(He)-250(poked)-250(his)-250(clams)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 85.745 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(he)-250(hated)-250(clams.)]TJ -96.654 -13.783 Td[("I)-432(suppose)-433(men)-433(think)-433(it's)-432(amusing)-433(to)-433(do)-432(such)-433(things,")-433(she)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(continued,)-250("but)-250(I)-250(think)-250(it's)-250(as)-250(ill-bred)-250(as)-250(practical)-250(joking.")]TJ 11.956 -13.783 Td[("But)-243(you)-242(are)-243(married,")-243(he)-243(said,)-244(trying)-242(fiercely)-243(to)-243(pepper)-243(some)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(taste)-250(into)-250(the)-250(tasteless)-250(things)-250(before)-250(him.)]TJ 11.956 -13.783 Td[("Yes,)-416(I'm)-384(married,")-383(she)-383(admitted)-383(tranquilly,)-417("but,)-416(then,)-417(my)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(husband)-212(went)-212(to)-212(Africa)-212(so)-212(soon)-212(afterwards)-212(that)-212(he)-212(hardly)-212(seemed)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-334(count)-333(at)-334(all.)-501(And)-334(then)-334(he)-334(was)-333(killed)-334(there;)-376(so,)-354(after)-334(that,)-355(he)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(seemed)-250(to)-250(count)-250(less)-250(than)-250(ever.")]TJ 11.956 -13.783 Td[(The)-319(air)-319(danced)-319(exclamation)-318(points)-319(and)-319(the)-319(man)-319(on)-319(the)-319(other)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(side)-366(spoke)-366(to)-367(her)-366(then)-366(so)-366(that)-367(her)-366(turning)-366(to)-366(answer)-366(him)-367(gave)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Jack)-250(time)-250(to)-250(rally)-250(his)-250(wits.)]TJ 11.956 -13.783 Td[(\050A)-250(widow!\051)]TJ 0 -13.783 Td[(Then)-250(she)-250(turned)-250(back)-250(and)-250(said:)]TJ 0 -13.783 Td[("I)-340(think)-339(Bob)-340(mystified)-340(you)-340(unnecessarily.)-519(Of)-340(course)-340(I)-340(don't)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(flatter)-250(myself)-250(that)-250(you've)-250(suffered.")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([044])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -13.783 Td[("Oh,)-250(but)-250(I)-250(have,")-250(he)-250(hastened)-250(to)-250(assure)-250(her.)]TJ 0 -13.783 Td[(\050A)-250(widow!)-250(A)-250(widow!\051)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+222 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 223 0 R
+/Resources 221 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 211 0 R
+>> endobj
+224 0 obj <<
+/D [222 0 R /XYZ 254.353 422.162 null]
+>> endobj
+225 0 obj <<
+/D [222 0 R /XYZ 250.83 93.708 null]
+>> endobj
+221 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+228 0 obj <<
+/Length 1335      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Four)-250(-)-250(Married)-15366(31)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[("But)-200(it)-201(always)-200(makes)-201(a)-200(difference)-201(whether)-200(a)-201(woman)-200(is)-201(married)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(or)-250(not.")]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[("I)-335(should)-334(say)-335(it)-335(did,")-335(he)-334(interrupted)-335(again.)-504("It)-335(makes)-335(all)-335(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(difference)-250(in)-250(the)-250(world.")]TJ 11.956 -13.55 Td[(At)-192(that)-192(she)-192(laughed)-192(outrig)-1(ht,)-203(and)-192(someone)-192(suddenly)-193(abstracted)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(the)-501(distasteful)-500(clams)-501(and)-500(substituted)-501(for)-500(them)-501(a)-500(golden)-501(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(glorious)-456(soup,)-507(and)-456(music)-456(sounded)-455(forth)-456(from)-456(some)-456(invisible)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(quartet,)-250(and)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 51.502 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(and)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 15.753 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -66.208 -13.549 Td[(\050A)-250(widow!)-250(A)-250(widow!)-250(A)-250(widow!\051)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 279.068 -29.204 Td[([045])]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+227 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 228 0 R
+/Resources 226 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 211 0 R
+>> endobj
+229 0 obj <<
+/D [227 0 R /XYZ 46.771 380.578 null]
+>> endobj
+226 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+230 0 obj
+<< /S /GoTo /D (index6) >>
+endobj
+233 0 obj
+(Chapter Five - The Day After Falling in Love)
+endobj
+236 0 obj <<
+/Length 3950      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 18.959 Tf 93.543 479.321 Td[(Chapter)-266(Five)-267(-)-266(The)-266(Day)-267(After)]TJ 0 -24.647 Td[(Falling)-250(in)-250(Love)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 0 -41.112 Td[(The)-269(next)-268(day)-269(was)-268(a)-269(very)-269(memorable)-268(day)-269(for)-269(Jack.)-305(The)-269(day)-269(after)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(a)-298(falling)-298(in)-298(love)-298(is)-297(alwa)-1(ys)-297(a)-298(red-letter)-298(day;)-322(but)-298(the)-298(day)-298(after)-298(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(falling)-250(in)-250(love)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 61.211 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(ah!)]TJ -60.164 -15.287 Td[(One)-208(looks)-209(back)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 66.959 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(far)-208(back)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 34.98 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(to)-208(the)-209(day)-208(before,)-217(and)-209(those)-208(hours)]TJ -135.713 -13.55 Td[(of)-184(the)-183(day)-184(before,)-197(when)-184(her)-183(sun)-184(had)-184(not)-183(yet)-184(dawned,)-197(and)-184(struggles)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-253(recollect)-253(what)-253(ends)-253(life)-253(could)-253(have)-253(represented)-253(then.)-260(And)-253(one)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(looks)-225(forward)-224(to)-224(the)-225(next)-224(day,)-230(the)-225(next)-224(week,)-230(the)-224(next)-225(year)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 253.052 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(but,)]TJ -263.961 -13.549 Td[(particularly)-244(to)-243(the)-244(next)-244(morning)-243(with)-244(sensations)-244(as)-244(indescribable)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(as)-250(they)-250(are)-250(delightful.)]TJ 11.956 -15.288 Td[(Whichever)-475(way)-474(you)-475(tip)-474(it,)-531(the)-475(kaleidoscope)-474(of)-475(the)-475(future)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(arranges)-329(itself)-329(in)-329(equally)-329(attractive)-329(shapes)-329(of)-329(rainbow)-329(hue,)-349(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-162(prospect)-161(over)-162(land)-162(or)-161(sea)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 120.297 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(even)-162(if)-161(it)-162(is)-162(raining)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 78.563 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(looks)-162(brilliant)]TJ -220.678 -13.549 Td[(green,)-250(and)-250(brighter)-250(red,)-250(and)-250(brightest)-250(yellow.)]TJ 11.956 -15.287 Td[(Upon)-253(that)-252(glorious)-253("next)-252(day")-253(of)-252(Jack's)-253(the)-252(weather)-253(was)-253(quite)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(a)-220(thing)-219(apart)-220(for)-220(February)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 110.766 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(partaking)-220(of)-219(the)-220(warmth)-220(of)-219(May,)-226(and)]TJ -121.675 -13.549 Td[(owing)-265(that)-264(fact)-265(to)-264(a)-265(sun)-264(which)-265(early)-264(June)-265(need)-264(not)-265(have)-265(scorned)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.756 0 Td[([046])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.756 -13.549 Td[(to)-244(own.)-248(Under)-245(the)-244(circumstances)-244(the)-245(house)-244(party)-244(overflowed)-245(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(house)-320(and)-320(ravaged)-320(the)-320(surrounding)-320(country,)-337(and)-320(Jack)-320(and)-320(Mrs.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Rosscott)-344(began)-344(it)-344(all)-344(by)-343(having)-344(the)-344(highest)-344(cart)-344(and)-344(the)-344(fastest)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(cob)-248(in)-249(the)-248(stables)-248(and)-249(making)-248(for)-248(the)-249(forest)-248(just)-249(as)-248(the)-248(clock)-249(was)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(tolling)-250(ten.)]TJ 11.955 -15.287 Td[("Do)-204(you)-204(want)-204(a)-204(groom?")-204(asked)-204(Burnett,)-213(who)-204(was)-204(occasionally)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(very)-250(cruel.)]TJ 11.955 -15.287 Td[("Well,)-222(I'm)-214(not)-214(going)-215(to)-214(wait)-214(for)-215(him)-214(to)-215(get)-214(ready)-214(now,")-215(replied)]TJ -11.955 -13.55 Td[(his)-325(sister,)-344(who)-325(had)-325(sharp)-326(wits)-325(and)-325(did)-325(not)-325(disdain)-325(to)-325(give)-326(even)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(her)-250(own)-250(family)-250(the)-250(benefit)-250(of)-250(them.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+235 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 236 0 R
+/Resources 234 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 211 0 R
+>> endobj
+231 0 obj <<
+/D [235 0 R /XYZ 93.543 529.134 null]
+>> endobj
+237 0 obj <<
+/D [235 0 R /XYZ 340.246 205.11 null]
+>> endobj
+234 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+240 0 obj <<
+/Length 4916      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Five)-250(-)-250(The)-250(Day)-250(After)-250(Falling)-250(in)-250(Love)-6450(33)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[(Then)-305(she)-305(gathered)-305(up)-305(the)-305(reins)-305(and)-305(whip)-305(in)-305(a)-305(most)-305(scientific)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(manner,)-255(and)-254(they)-255(were)-254(off.)-262(Jack)-254(folded)-255(his)-254(arms.)-262(He)-254(was)-255(simply)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(flooded,)-354(drenched,)-353(and)-333(saturated)-333(with)-333(joy.)-498(The)-333(evening)-333(before)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(had)-359(been)-359(Elysium)-359(when)-360(she)-359(had)-359(only)-359(been)-359(his)-359(now)-359(and)-360(again)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(for)-333(a)-333(minu)-1(te's)-333(conversation,)-354(but)-333(now)-333(she)-333(was)-334(to)-333(be)-333(his)-333(and)-334(his)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(alone)-229(until)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 46.134 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(until)-229(they)-229(came)-229(back)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 89.9 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(and)-229(his)-229(mind)-229(seemed)-229(able)-229(to)]TJ -157.852 -13.549 Td[(grasp)-301(no)-301(dearer)-300(outlines)-301(of)-301(the)-301(form)-300(which)-301(Bliss)-301(Incarnate)-301(may)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(be)-378(supposed)-378(to)-377(take.)-634(He)-378(didn't)-378(care)-377(where)-378(they)-378(went)-378(or)-378(what)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(they)-256(saw)-256(or)-257(what)-256(they)-256(talked)-256(of,)-258(just)-256(if)-257(only)-256(he)-256(and)-256(she)-256(might)-257(be)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(going,)-326(seeing,)-327(and)-311(talking)-311(for)-311(the)-311(benefit)-311(of)-311(one)-311(another)-311(and)-311(of)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(one)-250(another)-250(alone.)]TJ 11.956 -14.04 Td[(They)-407(bowled)-406(away)-407(upon)-407(a)-406(firm,)-446(hard)-407(road)-406(that)-407(skirted)-407(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(park,)-418(and)-385(then)-384(plunged)-385(deeply)-384(into)-385(the)-384(forest.)-654(Mrs.)-654(Rosscott)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([047])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(handled)-250(the)-250(reins)-250(and)-250(the)-250(whip)-250(with)-250(the)-250(hands)-250(of)-250(an)-250(expert.)]TJ 11.956 -14.041 Td[("I)-250(like)-250(to)-250(drive,")-250(said)-250(she.)]TJ 0 -14.04 Td[("You)-250(appear)-250(to,")-250(he)-250(answered.)]TJ 0 -14.04 Td[("I)-426(like)-427(to)-426(do)-426(everything,")-427(she)-426(said.)-779("I'm)-427(very)-426(athletic)-427(and)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(energetic.")]TJ 11.956 -14.04 Td[("I'm)-250(glad)-250(of)-250(that,")-250(he)-250(told)-250(her)-250(warmly.)-250("I)-250(like)-250(athletic)-250(girls.")]TJ 0 -14.04 Td[(He)-408(really)-409(thought)-408(that)-408(he)-409(was)-408(speaking)-408(the)-409(truth,)-448(although)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(upon)-324(that)-324(first)-324(day)-324(if)-324(she)-324(had)-324(declared)-324(herself)-324(lazy)-324(and)-324(languid)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(he)-233(would)-233(have)-233(found)-233(her)-233(equally)-233(to)-233(his)-233(taste)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 191.21 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(because)-233(it)-233(was)-233(the)]TJ -202.119 -13.549 Td[(first)-250(day.)]TJ 11.956 -14.04 Td[("That's)-306(kind)-306(of)-306(you,)-320(after)-306(my)-306(speech,")-306(she)-306(said)-306(smiling,)-320("but)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(let's)-218(wait)-218(a)-219(bit)-218(before)-218(we)-218(begin)-218(to)-218(talk)-219(about)-218(me.)-239(Let)-218(us)-218(talk)-219(about)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(you)-250(first)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 36.666 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(you're)-250(the)-250(company,)-250(you)-250(know.")]TJ -35.619 -14.041 Td[("But)-283(there's)-283(nothing)-283(to)-283(tell)-283(about)-283(me,")-283(said)-283(Jack,)-291("except)-283(that)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(I'm)-477(always)-478(in)-477(difficulties)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 115.757 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(financial)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 38.171 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(or)-477(otherwise,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 59.437 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(oftenest)]TJ -246.092 -13.549 Td[('otherwise,')-250(I)-250(must)-250(confess.")]TJ 11.956 -14.04 Td[("But)-295(you)-295(have)-295(a)-295(rich)-295(aunt,)-306(haven't)-295(you?")-295(said)-296(Mrs.)-385(Rosscott.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[("I)-250(thought)-250(that)-250(I)-250(had)-250(heard)-250(about)-250(your)-250(aunt.")]TJ 11.956 -14.04 Td[("Oh,)-308(yes,)-308(I)-297(have)-296(a)-297(rich)-296(aunt,")-297(Jack)-296(said,)-308(laughing,)-309("and)-296(I)-297(can)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(assure)-224(you)-224(that)-224(if)-224(I)-224(am)-224(not)-224(much)-224(credit)-224(to)-224(my)-224(aunt,)-230(my)-224(aunt)-224(is)-224(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(greatest)-250(possible)-250(credit)-250(to)-250(me.")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([048])]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+239 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 240 0 R
+/Resources 238 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 243 0 R
+>> endobj
+241 0 obj <<
+/D [239 0 R /XYZ 227.691 355.094 null]
+>> endobj
+242 0 obj <<
+/D [239 0 R /XYZ 183.931 66.142 null]
+>> endobj
+238 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+246 0 obj <<
+/Length 4670      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(34)-11838(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[("Yes,)-304(I've)-293(heard)-293(that,)-304(too,")-294(said)-293(Mrs.)-379(Rosscott,)-304(joining)-293(in)-294(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(laugh,)-250("you)-250(see)-250(I'm)-250(well)-250(posted.")]TJ 11.956 -13.958 Td[("If)-244(you're)-244(so)-244(well)-244(posted)-244(as)-244(to)-244(me,")-244(Jack)-244(said,)-245("do)-244(be)-244(kind)-244(and)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(post)-275(me)-275(a)-276(little)-275(as)-275(to)-275(yourself.)-326(You)-275(don't)-275(need)-275(information)-275(and)-276(I)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(do.")]TJ 11.956 -13.958 Td[(She)-250(turned)-250(and)-250(looked)-250(at)-250(him.)]TJ 0 -13.958 Td[("What)-250(shall)-250(I)-250(tell)-250(you)-250(first?")-250(she)-250(inquired.)]TJ 0 -13.959 Td[("Tell)-236(me)-236(what)-236(you)-237(like)-236(and)-236(what)-236(you)-236(don't)-236(like)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 203.522 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(and)-236(that)-236(will)]TJ -226.387 -13.549 Td[(give)-250(me)-250(courage)-250(to)-250(do)-250(the)-250(same)-250(later,")-250(he)-250(added)-250(boldly.)]TJ 11.956 -13.958 Td[(She)-250(laughed)-250(outright)-250(at)-250(that)-250(and)-250(then)-250(sobered)-250(quickly.)]TJ 0 -13.959 Td[("I)-236(told)-235(you)-236(that)-236(I)-236(liked)-235(to)-236(drive)-236(and)-236(to)-235(do)-236(everything,")-236(she)-236(said)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(lightly;)-250("what)-250(else)-250(do)-250(you)-250(want)-250(to)-250(know)-250(about?")]TJ 11.956 -13.958 Td[("What)-250(you)-250(dislike.")]TJ 0 -13.958 Td[("But)-219(I)-219(don't)-219(know)-220(of)-219(anything)-219(that)-219(I)-219(dislike;")-219(she)-219(said)-220(thought-)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(fully)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 20.608 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[("perhaps)-352(I)-353(don't)-352(like)-353(England;)-403(I)-352(am)-353(not)-352(sure,)-378(though.)-558(I)]TJ -31.517 -13.549 Td[(had)-285(a)-285(pretty)-285(good)-285(time)-285(there)-285(after)-286(all)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 161.732 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(only)-285(you)-285(know,)-294(being)-285(in)]TJ -172.641 -13.549 Td[(mourning)-389(was)-389(so)-389(stupid.)-668(And)-389(then,)-424(too,)-423(I)-389(didn't)-389(fit)-389(in)-1(to)-389(their)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(ideas.)-247(I)-243(really)-242(didn't)-242(seem)-242(to)-242(get)-242(the)-242(true)-242(inwardness)-242(of)-242(what)-243(was)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(expected)-286(of)-285(me.)-357(Oh,)-295(I)-286(never)-285(dared)-286(let)-286(them)-286(know)-285(at)-286(home)-286(what)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(a)-335(failure)-335(I)-335(was)-335(as)-335(an)-335(Englishwoman.)-505(I)-335(mortified)-336(my)-335(husband's)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(sisters)-276(all)-276(the)-276(time.)-329(Just)-276(think)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 128.67 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(after)-276(a)-276(whole)-276(year)-277(I)-276(often)-276(forgot)]TJ -139.579 -13.549 Td[(to)-250(say)-250('Fancy)-250(now!')-250(and)-250(used)-250(to)-250(say)-250('Good)-250(gracious!')-250(instead.")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.756 0 Td[([049])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -13.958 Td[(Jack)-250(laughed.)]TJ 0 -13.959 Td[("My)-310(husband's)-309(sisters)-310(were)-309(very)-310(unhappy)-309(about)-310(it.)-428(They)-310(did)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(want)-237(to)-237(love)-237(me,)-240(because)-237(I)-237(had)-237(so)-237(much)-237(money;)-241(but)-237(it)-238(was)-237(tough)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(work)-392(for)-392(them.)-676(Did)-392(you)-392(ever)-392(know)-392(any)-392(middle-aged)-392(English)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(young)-250(ladies?")-250(she)-250(asked)-250(him)-250(suddenly.)]TJ 11.955 -13.959 Td[("No,)-250(I)-250(never)-250(did,")-250(he)-250(said.)]TJ 0 -13.958 Td[("Really,)-200(they)-187(seem)-188(to)-187(be)-187(a)-188(thing)-187(apart)-188(that)-187(can't)-187(grow)-188(anywhere)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(but)-341(in)-340(England.)-522(Every)-340(married)-341(man)-340(has)-341(not)-340(less)-341(than)-340(two,)-364(nor)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(more)-266(than)-265(three,)-270(and)-265(they)-266(always)-266(are)-265(a)-266(little)-265(gray)-266(and)-266(embroider)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(very)-335(nicely.)-505(Someone)-334(told)-335(me)-335(that)-335(as)-335(long)-335(as)-335(there's)-335(any)-335(hope)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(they)-223(wear)-224(stout)-223(boots)-223(and)-223(walk)-224(about)-223(and)-223(hunt,)-229(but)-223(as)-223(soon)-223(as)-224(it's)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(hopeless)-250(they)-250(take)-250(to)-250(embroidering.")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+245 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 246 0 R
+/Resources 244 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 243 0 R
+>> endobj
+247 0 obj <<
+/D [245 0 R /XYZ 365.201 230.369 null]
+>> endobj
+244 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+250 0 obj <<
+/Length 4227      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Five)-250(-)-250(The)-250(Day)-250(After)-250(Falling)-250(in)-250(Love)-6450(35)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[("It)-465(must)-465(be)-465(rather)-465(a)-465(blue)-465(day)-465(for)-465(them)-465(when)-465(they)-465(decide)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(definitely)-250(to)-250(make)-250(the)-250(change,")-250(said)-250(Jack.)]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[("I)-388(never)-388(thought)-388(of)-388(that,")-389(said)-388(Mrs.)-664(Rosscott)-388(soberly.)-665("Of)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(course)-217(it)-218(must!)-239(I)-217(was)-217(always)-218(very)-217(good)-217(to)-218(them.)-239(I)-217(gave)-217(them)-218(ever)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(so)-334(many)-335(things)-334(that)-335(I)-334(could)-334(have)-335(used)-334(longer)-335(myself,)-355(and)-335(they)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(used)-268(to)-269(set)-268(pieces)-268(of)-268(muslin)-268(in)-269(behind)-268(the)-268(open-work)-268(places)-269(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(wear)-250(them.")]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[(She)-250(sighed.)]TJ 0 -13.9 Td[("It's)-342(quite)-341(as)-342(bad)-341(as)-342(being)-342(a)-341(Girton)-342(girl,")-342(she)-341(said.)-525("Do)-342(you)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(know)-250(what)-250(a)-250(Girton)-250(girl)-250(is?")]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[("No,)-250(I)-250(don't.")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 279.068 0 Td[([050])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -13.9 Td[("It's)-278(a)-278(girl)-278(from)-278(Girton)-278(College.)-334(It's)-278(the)-278(most)-278(awful)-278(freak)-278(you)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(ever)-378(saw.)-635(They're)-378(really)-378(quite)-378(beyond)-378(everything.)-634(They're)-379(so)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(homely,)-244(and)-243(their)-243(hands)-243(and)-242(feet)-243(are)-243(so)-243(enormous,)-244(and)-243(their)-243(pins)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(never)-206(pin,)-215(and)-205(their)-206(belts)-206(never)-206(belt.)-235(And)-206(no)-206(one)-206(has)-206(ever)-206(married)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(one)-250(of)-250(them)-250(yet!")]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[(She)-250(paused)-250(dramatically.)]TJ 0 -13.9 Td[("I)-250(won't)-250(either,)-250(then,")-250(he)-250(declared.)]TJ 0 -13.9 Td[(She)-250(laughed)-250(at)-250(that,)-250(and)-250(touched)-250(up)-250(the)-250(cob)-250(a)-250(trifle.)]TJ 0 -13.9 Td[("Did)-250(you)-250(live)-250(long)-250(in)-250(England?")-250(he)-250(asked.)]TJ 0 -13.9 Td[("Forever!")-363(she)-364(answered)-363(with)-364(emphasis;)-420("at)-364(least)-363(it)-364(seemed)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(like)-383(forever.)-648(Mamma)-383(left)-382(me)-383(there)-383(when)-383(I)-382(was)-383(nineteen)-383(\050she)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(married)-488(me)-488(off)-488(before)-488(she)-488(left)-488(me,)-547(of)-488(course\051)-488(and)-488(I)-488(stayed)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(there)-416(until)-415(last)-416(winter)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 98.442 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(until)-416(I)-415(was)-416(out)-415(of)-416(my)-416(mourning,)-457(you)]TJ -109.351 -13.549 Td[(know)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 24.24 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.91 0 Td[(and)-307(then)-307(I)-307(was)-308(on)-307(the)-307(Continent)-307(for)-307(a)-308(while,)-321(and)-307(then)-307(I)]TJ -35.15 -13.55 Td[(returned)-250(to)-250(papa.")]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[("How)-250(do)-250(we)-250(strike)-250(you)-250(after)-250(your)-250(long)-250(absence?")]TJ 0 -13.899 Td[("Oh,)-393(you)-365(suit)-365(me)-365(admirably,")-365(she)-364(said)-1(,)-393(turning)-365(and)-365(smiling)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(squarely)-207(into)-207(his)-208(face;)-221("only)-207(the)-208(terrible)-207('and')-207(of)-207(the)-207(majority)-208(does)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(get)-250(on)-250(my)-250(nerves)-250(somewhat.")]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[("What)-250('and'?")]TJ 0 -13.9 Td[("Haven't)-358(you)-357(noticed?)-573(Why)-358(when)-358(an)-358(American)-357(runs)-358(out)-358(of)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(talking)-271(material)-272(he)-271(just)-271(rests)-272(on)-271(one)-271(poor)-271(little)-272('and')-271(until)-271(a)-272(fresh)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(run)-367(of)-366(thought)-367(overwhelms)-367(him;)-425(you)-367(listen)-366(to)-367(the)-367(next)-367(person)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([051])]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+249 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 250 0 R
+/Resources 248 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 243 0 R
+>> endobj
+251 0 obj <<
+/D [249 0 R /XYZ 119.588 381.28 null]
+>> endobj
+252 0 obj <<
+/D [249 0 R /XYZ 173.064 66.142 null]
+>> endobj
+248 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+255 0 obj <<
+/Length 4257      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(36)-11838(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 518.175 Td[(you're)-250(talking)-250(with,)-250(and)-250(you'll)-250(hear)-250(what)-250(I)-250(mean.")]TJ 11.956 -13.856 Td[(Jack)-250(reflected.)]TJ 0 -13.856 Td[("I)-250(will,")-250(he)-250(said)-250(at)-250(last.)]TJ 0 -13.856 Td[(The)-330(road)-331(went)-330(sweeping)-330(in)-331(and)-330(out)-330(among)-331(a)-330(thicket)-330(of)-331(bare)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(tree)-211(trunks)-210(and)-210(brown)-211(copses,)-218(and)-211(the)-210(sunlight)-211(fell)-210(out)-211(of)-210(the)-211(blue)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(sky)-250(above)-250(straight)-250(down)-250(upon)-250(their)-250(heads.)]TJ 11.956 -13.856 Td[("If)-250(it)-249(don't)-250(annoy)-250(you,)-249(my)-250(referring)-250(to)-250(England)-249(so)-250(often,")-250(said)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(she)-236(presently,)-238("I)-236(will)-235(state)-236(that)-236(this)-235(reminds)-236(me)-235(of)-236(Kaysmere,)-239(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(country)-250(place)-250(of)-250(my)-250(father-in-law.")]TJ 11.956 -13.856 Td[("Is)-250(your)-250(father-in-law)-250(living)-250(yet?")]TJ 0 -13.856 Td[("Dear)-294(me,)-306(yes)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 62.794 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(and)-294(still)-295(has)-294(hold)-295(of)-294(the)-295(title)-294(that)-295(I)-294(supposed)]TJ -85.659 -13.549 Td[(I)-316(was)-316(getting)-316(when)-316(I)-316(was)-316(married)-316(to)-316(his)-316(eldest)-316(son.)-448(My)-316(father-)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(in-law)-271(is)-272(a)-271(particularly)-272(healthy)-271(old)-271(gentleman)-272(of)-271(eighty.)-314(He)-272(was)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(forty)-416(years)-416(old)-417(when)-416(he)-416(married.)-749(He)-416(didn't)-416(expect)-416(to)-417(marry,)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(you)-296(know)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 43.838 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(he)-296(couldn't)-297(see)-296(his)-297(way)-296(to)-297(ever)-296(affording)-296(it.)-390(But)-296(he)]TJ -54.747 -13.549 Td[(jumped)-356(into)-357(the)-356(title)-356(suddenly)-357(and)-356(then,)-383(of)-356(course,)-383(he)-357(married)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(right)-305(away.)-416(He)-305(had)-305(to.)-415(You'd)-306(know)-305(what)-305(a)-305(hurry)-305(he)-305(must)-306(have)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(been)-250(in)-250(to)-250(look)-250(at)-250(my)-250(mamma-in-law's)-250(portrait.")]TJ 11.956 -13.856 Td[("Was)-250(she)-250(so)-250(very)-250(beautiful?")]TJ 0 -13.856 Td[("No;)-250(she)-250(was)-250(so)-250(very)-250(homely.)-250(Maude's)-250(very)-250(like)-250(her.")]TJ 0 -13.856 Td[(Jack)-250(laughed.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -84.711 0 Td[([052])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -13.856 Td[(She)-250(laughed,)-250(too.)]TJ 0 -13.856 Td[("Aren't)-250(we)-250(happy)-250(together?")-250(she)-250(asked.)]TJ 0 -13.856 Td[("My)-293(sky)-294(knows)-294(but)-293(one)-294(cloud,")-293(he)-294(rejoined,)-304("and)-294(that)-293(is)-294(that)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(Monday)-250(comes)-250(after)-250(Sunday.")]TJ 11.956 -13.856 Td[("But)-224(we)-225(shall)-225(meet)-224(again,")-225(said)-224(Mrs.)-242(Rosscott.)-241("Because,")-225(she)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(added)-254(mischievously,)-255("I)-254(don't)-254(suppose)-254(that)-254(it's)-254(on)-254(accoun)-1(t)-254(of)-254(my)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(cousin)-250(Maude)-250(that)-250(you)-250(rebel)-250(at)-250(the)-250(approach)-250(of)-250(Monday.")]TJ 11.956 -13.856 Td[("No,")-301(said)-300(Jack.)-402("It)-301(may)-300(not)-301(be)-301(polite)-300(to)-301(say)-300(so)-301(to)-301(you,)-313(but)-301(I)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(wasn't)-250(in)-250(the)-250(least)-250(thinking)-250(of)-250(your)-250(cousin.")]TJ 11.956 -13.856 Td[("Poor)-266(girl!")-266(said)-266(Mrs.)-297(Rosscott)-266(thoughtfully;)-274("and)-266(she)-266(was)-266(so)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(sweet)-250(to)-250(you,)-250(too.)-250(Mustn't)-250(it)-250(be)-250(terrible)-250(to)-250(have)-250(a)-250(face)-250(like)-250(that?")]TJ 11.956 -13.856 Td[("It)-435(must)-435(indeed,")-435(said)-435(Jack;)-528("I)-435(can)-435(think)-435(of)-435(but)-435(one)-436(thing)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(worse.")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+254 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 255 0 R
+/Resources 253 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 243 0 R
+>> endobj
+256 0 obj <<
+/D [254 0 R /XYZ 167.604 244.43 null]
+>> endobj
+253 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+259 0 obj <<
+/Length 4176      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Five)-250(-)-250(The)-250(Day)-250(After)-250(Falling)-250(in)-250(Love)-6450(37)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[("What?")]TJ 0 -13.838 Td[("To)-250(marry)-250(a)-250(face)-250(like)-250(that.")]TJ 0 -13.838 Td[(She)-250(laughed)-250(again.)]TJ 0 -13.838 Td[("You're)-164(cruel,")-163(she)-164(declared;)-192("after)-164(all)-163(her)-164(face)-163(isn't)-164(her)-164(fortune,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(so)-250(what)-250(does)-250(it)-250(matter?")]TJ 11.956 -13.838 Td[("It)-244(doesn't)-244(matter)-243(at)-244(all)-244(to)-244(me,")-244(said)-243(Jack.)-248("I)-244(know)-244(of)-244(very)-244(few)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(things)-250(that)-250(can)-250(matter)-250(less)-250(to)-250(me)-250(than)-250(Miss)-250(Lorne's)-250(face.")]TJ 11.956 -13.838 Td[("Now,)-429(you're)-393(cruel)-394(again;)-465(and)-393(she)-393(was)-393(so)-394(nice)-393(to)-393(you)-394(too.)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(Absolutely,)-496(I)-447(don't)-448(believe)-447(that)-447(the)-447(edges)-447(of)-447(her)-447(smile)-448(came)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(together)-250(once)-250(while)-250(she)-250(was)-250(talking)-250(to)-250(you)-250(last)-250(night.")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([053])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -13.838 Td[("Did)-219(you)-218(spy)-219(on)-218(us)-219(to)-218(that)-219(extent?")-218(said)-219(Jack.)-240("I)-218(wouldn't)-219(have)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(believed)-250(it)-250(of)-250(you.")]TJ 11.956 -13.838 Td[("Oh,)-198(I'm)-186(very)-185(awful,")-185(she)-186(said)-185(airily.)-229("You'll)-185(be)-185(more)-186(surprised)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(the)-250(farther)-250(you)-250(penetrate)-250(into)-250(the)-250(wilderness)-250(of)-250(my)-250(ways.")]TJ 11.956 -13.838 Td[("And)-275(when)-275(will)-275(I)-275(have)-276(a)-275(chance)-275(to)-275(plunge)-275(into)-275(the)-275(jungle,)-282(do)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(you)-250(think?")]TJ 11.956 -13.838 Td[("Any)-250(Saturday)-250(or)-250(Sunday)-250(that)-250(you)-250(happen)-250(to)-250(be)-250(in)-250(town.")]TJ 0 -13.838 Td[("Are)-250(you)-250(going)-250(to)-250(live)-250(in)-250(town?")]TJ 0 -13.838 Td[("For)-274(a)-273(while.)-321(I've)-273(taken)-274(a)-273(house)-274(until)-273(the)-274(beginning)-273(of)-274(July.)-321(I)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(expect)-250(some)-250(friends)-250(over,)-250(and)-250(I)-250(want)-250(to)-250(entertain)-250(them.")]TJ 11.956 -13.838 Td[(Jack)-256(felt)-256(the)-256(sky)-256(above)-256(become)-256(refulgent.)-268(He)-256(was)-257(in)-256(the)-256(habit)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(of)-396(spending)-395(every)-396(Saturday)-396(night)-395(in)-396(the)-395(city)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 202.312 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(he)-396(and)-395(Burnett)]TJ -213.221 -13.549 Td[(together.)]TJ 11.956 -13.838 Td[("May)-250(I)-250(come)-250(as)-250(often)-250(as)-250(I)-250(like?")-250(he)-250(asked.)]TJ 0 -13.838 Td[("Certainly,")-264(said)-263(she;)-271("because)-263(you)-264(know)-264(if)-263(you)-264(should)-264(come)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(too)-244(often)-245(I)-244(can)-244(tell)-245(the)-244(man)-244(at)-245(the)-244(door)-245(to)-244(say)-244(I'm)-245('not)-244(at)-244(home')-245(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(you.")]TJ 11.956 -13.838 Td[("But)-313(if)-314(he)-313(ever)-314(says:)-377('She's)-313(not)-314(at)-313(home)-314(to)-313(you,')-330(I)-313(shall)-314(walk)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(right)-266(in)-266(and)-267(fall)-266(upon)-266(the)-266(man)-266(that)-267(you)-266(are)-266(being)-266(at)-266(home)-266(to)-267(just)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(then.")]TJ 11.956 -13.838 Td[("But)-355(he)-355(is)-355(a)-355(very)-354(large)-355(man,")-355(said)-355(Mrs.)-565(Rosscott)-355(seriously;)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[("he's)-250(larger)-250(than)-250(you)-250(are,)-250(I)-250(think.")]TJ 11.956 -13.838 Td[(Jack)-348(felt)-348(the)-348(blue)-348(heavens)-348(breaking)-348(up)-348(into)-349(thunderbolts)-348(for)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(his)-250(head)-250(at)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 49.386 0 Td[(this)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 18.491 0 Td[(speech.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+258 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 259 0 R
+/Resources 257 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 243 0 R
+>> endobj
+260 0 obj <<
+/D [258 0 R /XYZ 286.051 394.788 null]
+>> endobj
+257 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R /F18 18 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+263 0 obj <<
+/Length 3661      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(38)-11838(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[("But)-303(I'm)-303('way)-303(over)-302(six)-303(feet,")-303(he)-303(said,)-316(his)-303(heart)-303(going)-303(heavily)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -84.711 0 Td[([054])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(faster,)-328(even)-312(while)-312(he)-312(told)-312(him)-1(self)-312(that)-312(he)-312(might)-312(have)-312(known)-313(it,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(anyhow.)]TJ 11.956 -13.763 Td[("He's)-270(all)-269(of)-270(six)-270(feet)-269(two,")-270(she)-270(said)-269(meditatively.)-309("I)-270(do)-270(believe)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(he's)-335(even)-336(taller.)-506(I)-335(remember)-336(liking)-335(him)-336(at)-335(the)-335(first)-336(glance,)-357(just)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(because)-250(he)-250(struck)-250(me)-250(as)-250(so)-250(royal)-250(looking.")]TJ 11.956 -13.763 Td[(He)-250(was)-250(miserably)-250(conscious)-250(of)-250(acute)-250(distress.)]TJ 0 -13.763 Td[("Do)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 17.781 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(do)-250(you)-250(mind)-250(my)-250(smoking?")-250(he)-250(stammered.)]TJ -28.69 -13.762 Td[(\050Might)-395(have)-395(known)-395(that,)-431(of)-395(course,)-431(there)-395(was)-395(bound)-395(to)-395(be)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(someone)-250(like)-250(that.\051)]TJ 11.956 -13.763 Td[("Not)-182(at)-182(all,")-182(she)-182(rejoined)-182(amiably.)-227("I)-182(like)-182(the)-183(odor)-182(of)-182(cigarettes.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Shall)-250(I)-250(stop)-250(a)-250(little,)-250(while)-250(you)-250(set)-250(yourself)-250(afire?")]TJ 11.956 -13.763 Td[("It)-278(isn't)-279(necessary,")-278(he)-279(said.)-335("I)-278(can)-279(set)-278(myself)-279(afire)-278(under)-279(any)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(circumstances.")]TJ 11.956 -13.763 Td[(He)-250(lit)-250(a)-250(cigarette.)]TJ 0 -13.762 Td[("Is)-250(he)-250(English?")-250(he)-250(couldn't)-250(help)-250(asking)-250(then.)]TJ 0 -13.763 Td[("Yes,")-250(she)-250(said;)-250("I)-250(like)-250(the)-250(English.")]TJ 0 -13.763 Td[("You)-307(appear)-306(to)-307(like)-306(everything)-307(to-day.")-306(He)-307(did)-306(no)-1(t)-306(intend)-307(to)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(seem)-250(bitter,)-250(but)-250(he)-250(did)-250(it)-250(unintentionally.)]TJ 11.956 -13.763 Td[(\050Confounded)-250(luck)-250(some)-250(fellows)-250(have.\051)]TJ 0 -13.762 Td[("I)-250(do.)-250(I'm)-250(very)-250(well)-250(content)-250(to-day.")]TJ 0 -13.763 Td[(He)-250(was)-250(silent,)-250(thinking.)]TJ 0 -13.763 Td[("Well,")-250(she)-250(queried,)-250(after)-250(a)-250(while.)]TJ 0 -13.762 Td[(He)-250(pulled)-250(himself)-250(together)-250(with)-250(an)-250(effort.)]TJ 0 -13.763 Td[("I)-250(think)-250(perhaps)-250(it's)-250(just)-250(as)-250(well,")-250(he)-250(said.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -84.711 0 Td[([055])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -13.763 Td[("What)-250(is)-250(just)-250(as)-250(well?")]TJ 0 -13.762 Td[("That)-250(I)-250(know.")]TJ 0 -13.763 Td[("Know)-250(what?")]TJ 0 -13.763 Td[("About)-305(him.)-414(I)-305(shan't)-304(ever)-305(take)-305(the)-305(chances)-304(of)-305(calling)-305(on)-305(you)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(now.")]TJ 11.956 -13.762 Td[(She)-250(laughed.)]TJ 0 -13.763 Td[("He)-235(wouldn't)-236(put)-235(you)-236(out)-235(unless)-236(I)-235(told)-236(him)-235(to,")-236(she)-235(said.)-246("You)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(needn't)-250(be)-250(too)-250(afraid)-250(of)-250(him,)-250(you)-250(know.")]TJ 11.956 -13.763 Td[(His)-250(face)-250(grew)-250(a)-250(trifle)-250(flushed.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+262 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 263 0 R
+/Resources 261 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 243 0 R
+>> endobj
+264 0 obj <<
+/D [262 0 R /XYZ 313.902 518.175 null]
+>> endobj
+265 0 obj <<
+/D [262 0 R /XYZ 288.171 189.579 null]
+>> endobj
+261 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+268 0 obj <<
+/Length 3356      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Five)-250(-)-250(The)-250(Day)-250(After)-250(Falling)-250(in)-250(Love)-6450(39)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[("I'm)-300(not)-300(afraid,")-300(he)-300(said,)-313(as)-300(coldly)-300(as)-300(it)-300(was)-300(in)-300(him)-300(to)-300(speak;)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[("but)-250(I'll)-250(leave)-250(him)-250(the)-250(field.")]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[(She)-250(turned)-250(and)-250(looked)-250(at)-250(him.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[("The)-250(field?")-250(she)-250(asked,)-250(with)-250(puzzled)-250(eyebrows.)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[("Yes.")]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Then)-195(she)-196(frowned)-196(for)-195(an)-196(instant,)-206(and)-196(then)-195(a)-196(species)-195(of)-196(thought-)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(ray)-250(suddenly)-250(flew)-250(across)-250(her)-250(face)-250(and)-250(she)-250(burst)-250(out)-250(laughing.)]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[("Why,)-373(I)-349(do)-348(believe,")-349(she)-349(cried)-348(merrily,)-374("I)-348(do)-349(believe)-349(you're)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(jealous)-250(of)-250(the)-250(man)-250(at)-250(the)-250(door.")]TJ 11.956 -13.55 Td[("Weren't)-392(you)-392(speaking)-392(of)-391(a)-392(man)-392(in)-392(the)-392(drawing-room?")-392(he)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(asked,)-250(all)-250(her)-250(phrases)-250(recurring)-250(to)-250(his)-250(mind)-250(together.)]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[("No,")-258(she)-258(said)-258(laughing;)-263("I)-258(was)-258(speaking)-258(of)-258(my)-258(footman.)-275(Oh,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(you)-250(are)-250(so)-250(funny.")]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[(The)-205(way)-204(the)-205(sun)-205(shone)-204(suddenly)-205(again!)-235(His)-204(horizon)-205(glowed)-205(so)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(madly)-267(that)-267(he)-268(quite)-267(lost)-267(his)-267(head)-267(and)-267(leaning)-267(quickly)-268(downward)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([056])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(seized)-250(her)-251(hand)-250(in)-250(its)-251(little)-250(tan)-250(driving)-251(glove)-250(of)-250(stitched)-251(dogskin,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-250(kissed)-250(it)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 54.546 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(reins)-250(and)-250(all.)]TJ -53.499 -13.549 Td[("I'm)-277(not)-278(funny,")-277(he)-278(said,)-284("it)-278(was)-277(the)-278(most)-277(natural)-278(thing)-277(in)-278(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(world.")]TJ 11.956 -13.55 Td[(She)-250(was)-250(laughing,)-250(but)-250(she)-250(curbed)-250(it.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[("You'd)-207(better)-208(not)-207(be)-207(foolish,")-208(she)-207(said)-207(warningly.)-236("It)-207(don't)-208(mix)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(well)-250(with)-250(college.")]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[("I'm)-250(thinking)-250(of)-250(cutting)-250(college,")-250(he)-250(declared)-250(boldly.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[("Don't)-349(let)-349(us)-349(decide)-349(on)-349(anything)-349(definite)-349(until)-349(we've)-349(known)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(one)-292(another)-292(twenty-four)-292(hours,")-292(she)-292(said,)-303(looking)-292(at)-292(him)-292(with)-292(a)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(gravity)-238(that)-238(was)-237(almost)-238(maternal;)-242(and)-238(then)-237(she)-238(turned)-238(the)-238(horse's)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(head)-250(toward)-250(home.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 -27.414 Td[([057])]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+267 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 268 0 R
+/Resources 266 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 271 0 R
+>> endobj
+269 0 obj <<
+/D [267 0 R /XYZ 192.015 328.486 null]
+>> endobj
+270 0 obj <<
+/D [267 0 R /XYZ 46.771 138.481 null]
+>> endobj
+266 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+272 0 obj
+<< /S /GoTo /D (index7) >>
+endobj
+275 0 obj
+(Chapter Six - The Other Man)
+endobj
+278 0 obj <<
+/Length 3468      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 18.959 Tf 93.543 479.321 Td[(Chapter)-250(Six)-250(-)-250(The)-250(Other)-250(Man)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 0 -32.805 Td[(That)-309(evening)-308(Burnett)-309(felt)-309(it)-308(necessary)-309(to)-309(give)-309(his)-308(friend)-309(a)-309(word)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(of)-250(warning.)]TJ 11.956 -13.626 Td[("Holloway's)-285(going)-284(to)-285(take)-285(Betty)-284(in)-285(to-night,")-285(he)-285(said,)-293(as)-285(they)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(descended)-250(the)-250(tower)-250(stairs)-250(together.)]TJ 11.956 -13.626 Td[("Who's)-250(Holloway?")-250(Jack)-250(asked.)]TJ 0 -13.626 Td[("You)-224(can't)-224(expect)-224(to)-224(have)-224(her)-224(all)-224(the)-224(time,)-230(you)-224(know,")-224(Burnett)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(continued:)-246("She's)-242(really)-242(one)-242(of)-242(the)-243(biggest)-242(guns)-242(here,)-243(even)-243(if)-242(she)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(is)-250(one)-250(of)-250(the)-250(family.")]TJ 11.956 -13.626 Td[("Who's)-250(Holloway?")]TJ 0 -13.626 Td[("Last)-190(night)-189(the)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 65.201 0 Td[(mater)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 27.519 0 Td[(had)-190(her)-189(all)-190(mapped)-189(out)-190(for)-190(General)-189(Jiggs,)]TJ -104.676 -13.549 Td[(and)-245(I)-244(had)-244(an)-245(awful)-244(time)-245(getting)-244(her)-245(off)-244(his)-245(hook)-244(and)-245(on)-244(to)-245(yours,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-320(then)-320(you)-320(drove)-320(her)-320(all)-320(this)-320(morning)-320(and)-320(walked)-320(her)-320(all)-320(the)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(afternoon,)-309(and)-298(the)-297(old)-298(lady)-297(says)-297(she's)-298(got)-297(to)-298(play)-297(in)-298(Holloway's)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(yard)-250(to-night)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 56.662 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(jus')-250(lil')-250(bit,)-250(you)-250(know.")]TJ -55.615 -13.626 Td[("Who's)-250(Holloway?")-250(Jack)-250(demanded.)]TJ 0 -13.625 Td[("You)-314(know)-314(Horace)-314(Holloway;)-346(we)-314(were)-314(up)-314(at)-314(his)-314(place)-314(once)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(for)-250(the)-250(night.)-250(Don't)-250(you)-250(remember?")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.756 0 Td[([058])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.712 -13.625 Td[("I)-251(remember)-252(his)-251(place)-252(well)-251(enough;)-252(but)-252(he)-251(hadn't)-252(got)-251(in)-252(when)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(we)-311(came,)-326(and)-311(hadn't)-310(got)-311(up)-311(when)-311(we)-310(left,)-326(so)-311(his)-311(features)-311(aren't)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(as)-250(distinctly)-250(imprinted)-250(on)-250(my)-250(memory)-250(as)-250(they)-250(might)-250(be.")]TJ 11.956 -13.626 Td[("That's)-529(so,")-529(said)-529(Burnett,)-598(pushing)-529(aside)-529(the)-529(curtains)-529(that)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(concealed)-325(the)-326(foot)-325(of)-326(the)-325(wee)-326(stair;)-363("I'd)-325(forgotten.)-476(Well,)-345(you'll)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(meet)-297(him)-298(to-night,)-309(anyhow;)-321(he)-297(came)-298(on)-297(the)-297(five-five.)-392(Holly's)-298(a)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(nice)-269(fellow,)-274(only)-270(he's)-269(so)-269(darned)-269(over-full)-270(of)-269(good)-269(advice)-269(that)-270(he)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(keeps)-250(you)-250(feeling)-250(withersome.")]TJ 11.956 -13.626 Td[(Jack)-250(laughed.)]TJ 0 -13.626 Td[("Did)-250(he)-250(ever)-250(give)-250(you)-250(any)-250(advice?")-250(he)-250(asked.)]TJ 0 -13.626 Td[("Why?")]TJ 0 -13.626 Td[("I)-250(don't)-250(recollect)-250(your)-250(taking)-250(it.")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+277 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 278 0 R
+/Resources 276 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 271 0 R
+>> endobj
+273 0 obj <<
+/D [277 0 R /XYZ 93.543 529.134 null]
+>> endobj
+279 0 obj <<
+/D [277 0 R /XYZ 254.779 229.192 null]
+>> endobj
+276 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F18 18 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+282 0 obj <<
+/Length 4445      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Six)-250(-)-250(The)-250(Other)-250(Man)-12977(41)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[("I)-456(n)-1(ever)-456(take)-457(anything,")-457(said)-456(Burn)-1(ett;)-560("I)-456(consider)-457(it)-457(more)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(blessed)-187(to)-187(give)-187(than)-187(to)-187(receive)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 128.359 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(as)-187(regards)-187(good)-187(advice)-187(anyhow.")]TJ -127.312 -13.856 Td[("Who)-278(will)-279(I)-278(have)-279(for)-278(dinner?")-278(Jack)-279(asked)-278(presently,)-286(glancing)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(around)-273(to)-274(see)-273(if)-274(there)-273(were)-274(any)-273(silver)-273(tissues)-274(or)-273(distracting)-274(curls)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(in)-250(sight.)]TJ 11.956 -13.856 Td[("Well,")-161(his)-161(friend)-161(replied,)-179(rather)-161(hesitatingly,)-179("you)-161(must)-162(expect)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(to)-250(balance)-250(up)-250(for)-250(last)-250(night,)-250(I)-250(reckon.")]TJ 11.956 -13.856 Td[("Your)-250(cousin,)-250(I)-250(suppose!")]TJ 0 -13.856 Td[(Burnett)-250(nodded.)]TJ 0 -13.856 Td[("She)-310(wanted)-310(you,")-310(he)-310(said.)-431("She's)-310(taken)-310(a)-310(fancy)-310(to)-310(you;)-341(and)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(she)-250(can)-250(afford)-250(to)-250(marry)-250(for)-250(love,")-250(he)-250(added.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([059])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -13.856 Td[("I'm)-250(thankful)-250(that)-250(I)-250(can,)-250(too,")-250(the)-250(other)-250(answered)-250(fervently.)]TJ 0 -13.856 Td[(His)-250(friend)-250(laughed)-250(at)-250(the)-250(fervor.)]TJ 0 -13.856 Td[("You)-264(make)-264(me)-264(think)-264(of)-264(her)-264(teache)-1(r,")-264(he)-264(said.)-292("She)-264(sings,)-268(and)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(when)-340(she)-340(was)-339(sixteen)-340(she)-340(meant)-340(to)-340(outrank)-339(Patti;)-385(she)-340(was)-340(lots)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(homelier)-250(then.")]TJ 11.956 -13.856 Td[("Oh,)-250(I)-250(say!")-250(Jack)-250(cried.)-250("I)-250(can)-250(believe)-250('most)-250(anything,)-250(but)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 250.723 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ -261.632 -13.856 Td[(Burnett)-250(laughed)-250(and)-250(then)-250(sobered.)]TJ 0 -13.856 Td[("She)-300(was,")-301(he)-300(said)-300(solemnly;)-326("she)-300(really)-300(and)-300(truly)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 225.814 0 Td[(was)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 16.975 0 Td[(.)-401(And)]TJ -254.745 -13.549 Td[(her)-318(mother)-317(said)-318(to)-318(her)-317(teacher,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 136.379 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(there)-318(in)-317(Dresden:)-386('She)-317(will)-318(be)]TJ -147.288 -13.549 Td[(the)-264(greatest)-264(soprano,)-268(won't)-264(she?')-292(And)-264(he)-264(said:)-278('Madame,)-268(she)-264(has)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(only)-250(that)-250(one)-250(chance)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 89.978 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.91 0 Td[(to)-250(be)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 24.24 0 Td[(the)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 16.058 0 Td[(greatest.'")]TJ -129.23 -13.856 Td[(Jack)-250(laughed.)]TJ 0 -13.856 Td[("But)-363(why)-363('Lorne'?")-363(he)-364(asked)-363(suddenly.)-589("Why)-363(not)-364('Burnett,')]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(since)-250(she's)-250(your)-250(uncle's)-250(child?")]TJ 11.956 -13.856 Td[("Oh,)-298(that's)-288(straight)-288(enough;)-307(there's)-288(a)-288(hyphen)-288(there.)-365(My)-288(uncle)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(died)-225(and)-226(my)-225(aunt)-225(married)-226(a)-225(title.)-242(My)-225(aunt's)-225(Lady)-226(Chiheleywicks,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(but)-386(the)-386(family)-386(name)-386(is)-385(Lorne.)-658(And)-386(you)-386(pronounce)-386(my)-386(aunt's)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(name)-250(Chix.")]TJ 11.956 -13.856 Td[("I'm)-250(glad)-250(I)-250(know,")-250(said)-250(Jack.)]TJ 0 -13.856 Td[("Oh,)-435(we're)-398(great)-397(on)-398(titles,")-398(said)-398(Burnett,)-434(modestly.)-694("If)-398(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Boers)-209(hadn't)-210(killed)-209(Col.)-237(Rosscott,)-217(Betty)-210(would)-209(have)-210(been)-209(a)-210(Lady,)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(too,)-465(some)-421(day.)-765(But)-422(as)-421(it)-422(is)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 128.182 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")-422(he)-421(added)-422(thoughtfully,)-465("she's)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 151.933 0 Td[([060])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(nothing)-250(but)-250(a)-250(widow.")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+281 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 282 0 R
+/Resources 280 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 271 0 R
+>> endobj
+283 0 obj <<
+/D [281 0 R /XYZ 239.949 381.149 null]
+>> endobj
+284 0 obj <<
+/D [281 0 R /XYZ 143.325 79.691 null]
+>> endobj
+280 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R /F18 18 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+287 0 obj <<
+/Length 4475      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(42)-11838(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[("'Nothing)-250(but'!")-250(Jack)-250(cried)-250(indignantly.)]TJ 0 -15.395 Td[("Oh,)-464(well,")-421(said)-421(Burnett,)-464("of)-421(course)-421(it's)-421(great,)-464(her)-421(being)-422(a)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(widow)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 29.695 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(but)-250(then)-250(she'd)-250(have)-250(been)-250(great)-250(the)-250(other)-250(way)-250(too.")]TJ -28.648 -15.395 Td[("But)-229(if)-228(he)-229(was)-228(English)-229(and)-228(a)-229(colonel,")-229(Jack)-228(said)-229(suddenly,)-233("he)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(must)-250(have)-250(been)-250(all)-250(of)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 93.317 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ -92.27 -15.395 Td[("Fifty!")-254(interposed)-254(Burnett;)-256("oh,)-254(he)-254(was!)-262(Maybe)-254(more,)-255(but)-254(he)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(dyed)-284(his)-284(hair.)-352(It)-284(was)-283(a)-284(splendid)-284(match)-284(for)-284(her.)-352(It)-284(isn't)-284(every)-284(girl)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(who)-250(can)-250(get)-250(a)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 60.284 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ -59.237 -15.395 Td[(Their)-276(conversation)-276(was)-277(suddenly)-276(cut)-276(short)-277(by)-276(voices,)-283(accom-)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(panied)-385(by)-384(a)-385(sort)-385(of)-384(sweet)-385(and)-384(silky)-385(storm)-385(of)-384(little)-385(rustles)-385(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-251(sound)-250(of)-251(feet)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 73.031 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(little)-251(feet)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 39.093 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(coming)-250(down)-251(the)-250(gre)-1(at)-250(hall.)-251(Aunt)]TJ -133.942 -13.55 Td[(Mary's)-444(nephew)-443(felt)-444(himself)-443(suddenly)-444(wondering)-443(if)-444(any)-444(other)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(fellow)-208(present)-207(had)-208(such)-207(a)-208(tempest)-207(within)-208(his)-207(bosom)-208(as)-207(he)-208(himself)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(was)-250(conscious)-250(of)-250(attempting)-250(to)-250(regulate)-250(unperceived.)]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[(And)-235(then,)-238(afte)-1(r)-235(all,)-238(she)-235(wasn't)-236(among)-235(the)-235(influx!)-245(Miss)-236(Maude,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(was,)-417(though,)-417(and)-384(he)-384(had)-383(to)-384(go)-384(up)-384(to)-383(her)-384(and)-384(talk)-383(to)-384(her;)-451(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(terribly)-250(dull)-250(hard)-250(labor)-250(it)-250(was.)]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[(While)-200(he)-199(was)-200(rolling)-199(the)-200(Sisyphus)-200(stone)-199(of)-200(conversation)-200(uphill)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(for)-310(the)-310(sixth)-309(or)-310(seventh)-310(time,)-325(Jack)-309(noticed)-310(a)-310(gentleman)-310(pass)-310(by)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-356(throw)-355(a)-356(more)-356(than)-356(ordinarily)-355(interesting)-356(glance)-356(their)-356(way.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(He)-383(was)-383(a)-383(very)-383(well-built,)-416(fairly)-383(good-sized)-383(man)-383(of)-383(thirty-five)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([061])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(or)-339(forty)-338(years,)-361(with)-339(a)-338(handsome,)-361(uninteresting)-338(face)-339(and)-339(heavy,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(sleepy)-250(dark)-250(eyes.)]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[("Who)-512(is)-512(that?")-513(he)-512(asked)-512(of)-512(his)-513(companion,)-577(his)-513(curiosity)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(supplementing)-228(his)-228(wish)-227(that)-228(she)-228(would)-228(begin)-227(to)-228(bear)-228(her)-228(share)-228(of)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-250(burden)-250(of)-250(her)-250(entertainment.)]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[("Don't)-198(you)-198(know?")-198(she)-199(said)-198(in)-198(surprise.)-233("That's)-198(Mr.)-233(Holloway.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(He's)-299(just)-299(come.)-397(Oh,)-312(he's)-299(so)-299(horrid!)-397(I)-299(think)-299(he's)-299(just)-299(too)-300(awfully)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(horrid)-250(for)-250(any)-250(use.")]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[("Why?")]TJ 0 -15.395 Td[("Because)-359(he)-359(does)-358(such)-359(mean)-359(things.)-576(I)-359(just)-359(know)-359(Bob)-359(must)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(have)-262(told)-263(you)-262(how)-263(he)-262(treated)-262(me.)-287(Bob's)-263(always)-262(telling)-262(it.)-288(Surely)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(he's)-250(told)-250(you.)-250(It's)-250(his)-250(favorite)-250(story.")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+286 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 287 0 R
+/Resources 285 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 271 0 R
+>> endobj
+288 0 obj <<
+/D [286 0 R /XYZ 131.581 236.116 null]
+>> endobj
+285 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+291 0 obj <<
+/Length 4760      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Six)-250(-)-250(The)-250(Other)-250(Man)-12977(43)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[("No,)-285(never,")-278(said)-278(Jack)-277(\050his)-278(eyes)-278(riveted)-278(on)-278(the)-278(staircase\051;)-292("he)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(never)-250(told)-250(me.)-250(But)-250(do)-250(tell)-250(me.)-250(I'll)-250(enjoy)-250(hearing)-250(your)-250(side)-250(of)-250(it.")]TJ 11.956 -14.04 Td[("But)-235(I)-236(haven't)-235(any)-236(side.)-245(It's)-235(just)-236(Horace)-235(Holloway's)-236(meanness.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(There's)-250(nothing)-250(funny.")]TJ 11.956 -14.041 Td[("But)-250(tell)-250(me)-250(anyway.")]TJ 0 -14.04 Td[("Do)-250(you)-250(really)-250(want)-250(to)-250(hear?")]TJ 0 -14.04 Td[("Indeed,)-250(I)-250(do.")]TJ 0 -14.04 Td[("Well,)-360(it's)-338(just)-338(that)-338(we)-337(were)-338(up)-338(in)-338(the)-338(mountains,)-360(and)-338(I)-338(was)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(rowing)-327(myself,)-346(and)-328(the)-327(boat)-327(didn't)-327(go)-327(well,)-346(and)-327(Mr.)-482(Holloway)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(came)-246(down)-246(off)-246(the)-247(hotel)-246(piazza)-246(and)-246(called)-246(to)-246(me)-246(that)-246(she)-247(needed)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(ballast,)-281(and)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 50.033 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(and)-275(I)-275(said:)-300('Is)-275(that)-276(the)-275(trouble?')-325(And)-275(he)-275(said:)-300('Yes,)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 230.082 0 Td[([062])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(row)-426(ashore,)-469(and)-426(I'll)-425(ballast)-426(you.')-776(And)-426(so,)-469(of)-426(course)-425(I)-426(rowed)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(ashore)-255(to)-256(get)-255(him,)-257(and)-256(\050of)-255(course,)-257(I)-255(supposed)-256(he)-255(meant)-256(himself\051,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-318(when)-318(I)-318(was)-318(up)-318(by)-318(the)-318(dock)-318(he)-318(picked)-318(up)-318(a)-318(gre)-1(at)-318(stone)-318(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(dropped)-277(it)-278(in,)-284(and)-277(shoved)-277(me)-278(off,)-284(and)-277(called)-277(after)-278(me:)-304('She'll)-278(go)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(better)-250(now,')-250(and)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 69.524 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(everyone)-250(laughed!")]TJ -68.477 -14.04 Td[(Miss)-250(Lome)-250(stopped,)-250(breathless.)]TJ 0 -14.04 Td[("I)-461(never)-461(would)-461(have)-462(believed)-461(it)-461(of)-461(him,")-461(Jack)-462(exclaimed,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(turning)-263(to)-262(see)-262(where)-263(Holloway)-262(kept)-263(his)-262(sense)-263(of)-262(humor;)-269(but)-263(just)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(as)-172(his)-172(eye)-172(fell)-171(upon)-172(the)-172(latter,)-187(the)-172(latter's)-172(eyes)-172(altered)-172(and)-172(suddenly)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(became)-204(so)-205(bright)-204(and)-204(intent)-204(that)-205(his)-204(observer)-204(involuntarily)-205(turned)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(his)-250(own)-250(gaze)-250(quickly)-250(in)-250(the)-250(same)-250(direction.)]TJ 11.956 -14.04 Td[(It)-274(was)-275(Mrs.)-323(Rosscott)-274(who)-275(was)-274(approaching,)-280(all)-275(in)-274(cerise)-275(with)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(lines)-318(of)-317(Chantilly)-318(lace)-318(sweeping)-318(about)-317(her.)-453(It)-318(seemed)-318(a)-318(cruelty)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-373(every)-373(woman)-374(present)-373(that)-373(she)-373(should)-374(be)-373(so)-373(beautiful.)-620(Jack)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(wanted)-281(to)-280(fly)-281(and)-281(fall)-280(at)-281(her)-281(feet,)-288(but)-281(he)-281(couldn't,)-288(of)-281(course)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 259.423 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(he)]TJ -270.332 -13.55 Td[(was)-250(tied)-250(to)-250(her)-250(hyphenated)-250(cousin.)]TJ 11.956 -14.04 Td[(But)-268(Holloway)-268(went)-268(forward)-267(and)-268(greeted)-268(her)-268(with)-268(all)-268(possible)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf -11.956 -13.549 Td[(empressement,)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 67.801 0 Td[(and)-290(the)-290(man)-290(who)-290(was)-290(so)-290(much)-290(his)-290(junior)-290(felt)-290(an)]TJ -67.801 -13.549 Td[(awful)-381(weight)-381(of)-380(youth)-381(upon)-381(him)-380(as)-381(he)-381(saw)-381(her)-380(led)-381(out)-381(of)-381(his)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(sight.)]TJ 11.956 -14.041 Td[("I)-412(think)-413(dear)-412(Betty)-413(will)-412(marry)-413(Mr.)-738(Holloway,")-412(her)-413(cousin)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(chirped)-267(blandly,)-272(thus)-267(settling)-267(her)-268(fate)-267(forever.)-302("He)-267(came)-267(over)-268(in)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([063])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(her)-250(party,)-250(you)-250(know,)-250(and)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 109.069 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(she's)-250(always)-250(been)-250(fond)-250(of)-250(him.")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+290 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 291 0 R
+/Resources 289 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 271 0 R
+>> endobj
+292 0 obj <<
+/D [290 0 R /XYZ 81.052 380.228 null]
+>> endobj
+293 0 obj <<
+/D [290 0 R /XYZ 213.079 79.691 null]
+>> endobj
+289 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R /F18 18 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+296 0 obj <<
+/Length 4509      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(44)-11838(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[(Jack)-245(suddenly)-244(recollected)-245(how)-244(Mrs.)-248(Rosscott)-245(had)-245(commented)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(on)-289(the)-288(terrible)-289(tendency)-288(to)-289(land)-288(upon)-289("and,")-288(and)-289(wondered)-289(why)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(he)-208(had)-208(never)-208(noticed)-208(before)-208(how)-208(disagreeable)-208(said)-208(tendency)-208(was.)]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[(\050Going)-250(to)-250(marry)-250(Holloway!\051)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[("But,)-387(then,)-388(dear)-360(Cousin)-359(Betty's)-360(such)-360(a)-360(coquette)-360(that)-360(no)-360(one)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(can)-250(ever)-250(tell)-250(whom)-250(she)-250(does)-250(like.)-250(She's)-250(very)-250(insincere.")]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[(Jack)-277(twisted)-278(uneasily.)-332(If)-277(there)-278(was)-277(any)-277(comfort)-278(to)-277(be)-278(derived)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(from)-309(Miss)-308(Lorne's)-309(last)-308(speech,)-323(it)-309(was)-308(certainly)-309(of)-309(a)-308(most)-309(chilly)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(sort.)]TJ 11.956 -13.55 Td[(\050Probably)-250(going)-250(to)-250(marry)-250(Holloway!\051)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[("Now,)-400(I)-369(think)-370(it's)-370(too)-369(bad,)-400(when)-370(there)-369(are)-370(so)-370(many)-370(simple,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(sweet)-307(girls)-307(in)-307(the)-307(world,)-322(that)-307(men)-307(seem)-307(to)-307(adore)-307(those)-307(that)-308(flirt)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(like)-388(dear)-389(Cousin)-388(Betty.)-665(I)-388(don't)-389(approve)-388(of)-388(flirting)-389(anyway.)-665(I)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(wouldn't)-250(flirt)-250(for)-250(anything.)-250(I)-250(don't)-250(want)-250(to)-250(break)-250(men's)-250(hearts.")]TJ 11.956 -13.55 Td[("That's)-370(awfully)-369(good)-370(of)-370(you,")-370(Jack)-369(said,)-400(looking)-370(eagerly)-370(to)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(where)-250(Holloway)-250(and)-250(Mrs.)-250(Rosscott)-250(stood)-250(together.)]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[("Oh,)-296(no)-287(it)-288(isn't,")-287(said)-287(Miss)-287(Lorne,)-296("I)-287(don't)-287(take)-287(any)-288(credit)-287(for)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(it)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 6.066 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(I)-308(was)-308(born)-308(so.)-425(Dear)-308(Betty)-308(was)-308(a)-308(regular)-308(flirt)-308(when)-308(she)-309(was)]TJ -16.975 -13.549 Td[(ever)-313(so)-312(small,)-328(but)-313(I)-313(never)-312(was.)-438(I'm)-313(sincere)-312(and)-313(I)-312(can't)-313(take)-313(any)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(credit)-250(for)-250(it.)-250(I)-250(was)-250(born)-250(so.")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([064])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -13.549 Td[(Holloway)-270(was)-270(talking)-270(and)-271(Mrs.)-310(Rosscott's)-270(eyes)-270(were)-271(uplifted)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(to)-389(his.)-668(Ja)-1(ck)-389(was)-389(sure)-390(there)-389(was)-389(adoration)-390(in)-389(them.)-668(He)-390(knew)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Holloway)-233(was)-232(in)-233(love)-232(with)-233(her.)-244(How)-232(could)-233(he)-232(be)-233(a)-233(man)-232(and)-233(help)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(it.)-250(Oh,)-250(it)-250(was)-250(damnable)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 101.204 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(unbearable.)]TJ -100.157 -13.55 Td[(He)-356(stood)-355(up)-356(suddenly.)-568(He)-355(couldn't)-356(help)-356(it.)-567(He)-356(was)-356(crazed,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(maddened,)-294(choked,)-294(stifled.)-356(The)-285(fates)-285(must)-285(intervene)-285(and)-286(rescue)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(his)-250(reason)-250(or)-250(else)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 75.437 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -63.481 -13.549 Td[(There)-250(was)-250(a)-250(blessed)-250(sound)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 116.334 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(the)-250(announcing)-250(of)-250(dinner.)]TJ -18.766 -16.004 Td[(*)-286(*)-287(*)-286(*)-286(*)]TJ -108.477 -16.004 Td[(Later)-458(there)-458(was)-458(music)-457(in)-458(the)-458(great)-458(white)-458(salon)-458(where)-458(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(organ)-341(was.)-524(Maude)-341(Lome)-341(sang,)-364(and)-342(the)-341(man)-341(with)-341(the)-342(monocle)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(accompanied)-381(her)-382(on)-381(the)-382(organ.)-644(Mrs.)-644(Rosscott)-381(sat)-382(on)-381(a)-382(divan)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(between)-341(Holloway)-341(and)-341(General)-341(Jiggs.)-522(Jack)-341(was)-341(left)-341(out)-341(in)-341(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(cold.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+295 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 296 0 R
+/Resources 294 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 271 0 R
+>> endobj
+297 0 obj <<
+/D [295 0 R /XYZ 216.456 260.74 null]
+>> endobj
+294 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+300 0 obj <<
+/Length 4727      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Six)-250(-)-250(The)-250(Other)-250(Man)-12977(45)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[(\050Surely)-250(in)-250(love)-250(with)-250(Holloway!\051)]TJ 0 -15.395 Td[(It)-231(was)-230(only)-231(twenty-six)-231(hours)-230(since)-231(he)-231(had)-230(first)-231(met)-230(her,)-235(and)-231(he)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(hated)-295(to)-295(consider)-295(his)-295(life)-295(as)-295(unalterably)-295(blasted,)-307(or)-295(to)-295(even)-295(give)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(up)-278(the)-278(fight.)-333(Nevertheless,)-285(whenever)-278(he)-278(looked)-278(across)-278(the)-278(room)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(he)-237(saw)-237(fresh)-237(signs)-237(of)-237(the)-237(most)-237(awful)-237(kind.)-246(Even)-237(the)-237(way)-237(that)-237(she)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(didn't)-244(trouble)-244(to)-244(trouble)-245(over)-244(the)-244(one)-244(man,)-245(but)-244(devoted)-244(herself)-245(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(General)-312(Jiggs,)-328(was)-312(in)-313(itself)-312(a)-312(very)-312(bad)-313(portent.)-436(We)-1(ll,)-327(such)-313(was)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(life)-328(and)-328(one)-328(must)-327(bear)-328(it)-328(somehow)-328(and)-328(be)-327(a)-328(man.)-484(Probably)-328(he)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([065])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(would)-251(suffer)-250(less)-251(after)-251(the)-251(first)-250(five)-251(or)-251(ten)-250(years)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 206.982 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(he)-251(hoped)-250(so)-251(at)]TJ -217.891 -13.55 Td[(any)-288(rate.)-366(But,)-298(great)-288(heavens,)-298(what)-289(a)-288(fearful)-289(prospect)-288(until)-289(those)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(first)-250(five)-250(or)-250(ten)-250(years)-250(were)-250(gone)-250(by!)]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[(Finally)-261(he)-261(went)-261(up)-261(to)-260(his)-261(own)-261(room)-261(and)-261(put)-261(on)-261(another)-261(collar)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(and)-227(sat)-227(down)-227(at)-227(the)-226(open)-227(window)-227(and)-227(thought)-227(about)-227(it)-227(for)-227(a)-227(good)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(while)-366(all)-366(quiet)-366(and)-366(alone)-365(by)-366(himself.)-598(After)-366(that)-366(he)-366(went)-366(back)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(downstairs.)]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[(She)-336(was)-337(gone,)-358(and)-336(Holloway,)-358(too.)-509(He)-337(felt)-336(freshly)-337(unhappy.)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(When)-364(you)-364(come)-364(to)-364(consider,)-393(it)-364(was)-364(so)-364(damned)-364(unjust)-365(for)-364(one)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(man)-334(to)-334(be)-334(thirty-five)-334(while)-334(another)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 156.979 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(just)-334(as)-334(decent)-334(a)-334(fellow)-334(in)]TJ -167.888 -13.549 Td[(every)-250(way)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 45.131 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(was)-250(in)-250(college.)-250(He)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 80.586 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -124.67 -15.395 Td[(A)-250(hand)-250(touched)-250(his)-250(arm.)]TJ 0 -15.395 Td[(He)-272(turned)-271(fro)-1(m)-271(where)-272(he)-272(was)-272(standing)-271(in)-272(the)-272(window)-272(recess,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(and)-250(looked)-250(into)-250(her)-250(eyes.)]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[("I'm)-270(very)-269(wicked,)-275(am)-270(I)-270(not?")-269(she)-270(asked,)-275(looking)-269(up)-270(at)-270(him)-270(so)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(straight)-250(and)-250(honest.)]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[("I)-250(can't)-250(admit)-250(that,")-250(he)-250(replied.)]TJ 0 -15.395 Td[("But)-273(I)-273(am.)-318(I)-273(know)-273(it)-273(myself.)-318(What)-273(Bob)-273(told)-273(you)-273(was)-273(all)-273(true.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(I'm)-250(a)-250(heartless)-250(wretch.")]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[(She)-250(spoke)-250(so)-250(earnestly)-250(that)-250(his)-250(heart)-250(sank)-250(lower)-250(and)-250(lower.)]TJ 0 -15.395 Td[("I)-421(wanted)-421(to)-420(speak)-421(to)-421(you)-421(about)-421(to-morrow)-421(morning,")-421(she)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(said,)-332(after)-315(a)-316(little)-315(pause.)-446("You)-316(know)-315(we)-316(were)-315(going)-316(to)-315(drive)-316(at)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(ten)-268(together,)-272(and)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 73.455 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(and)-268(I)-268(wondered)-268(if)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 77.835 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(you)-268(see,)-272(Mr.)-304(Holloway's)]TJ -173.108 -13.55 Td[(an)-326(old)-325(friend,)-344(and)-326(he's)-326(had)-325(so)-326(much)-325(to)-326(tell)-325(me)-326(to-night,)-344(and)-326(he)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([066])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(isn't)-250(half)-250(through)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 74.084 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+299 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 300 0 R
+/Resources 298 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 303 0 R
+>> endobj
+301 0 obj <<
+/D [299 0 R /XYZ 274.134 421.485 null]
+>> endobj
+302 0 obj <<
+/D [299 0 R /XYZ 46.771 79.691 null]
+>> endobj
+298 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+306 0 obj <<
+/Length 3165      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(46)-11838(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[(She)-351(was)-351(drawing)-351(him)-351(with)-351(a)-351(chain,)-376(a)-351(hair)-351(chain,)-376(which)-351(she)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(had)-232(woven)-232(out)-232(of)-233(her)-232(eyelashes)-232(in)-232(the)-232(twinkling)-232(of)-232(an)-232(eye)-233(\050either)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(eye\051.)]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[(He)-250(felt)-250(himself)-250(helpless)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 103.319 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(and)-250(choked.)]TJ -114.228 -13.55 Td[("Of)-328(course)-328(I)-328(don't)-329(mind.)-484(You)-328(go)-328(with)-329(him.)-484(It's)-328(quite)-328(one)-329(to)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(me.")]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[(She)-250(gave)-250(a)-250(tiny)-250(little)-250(start.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[("Oh,)-611(I)-538(didn't)-538(mean)-539(that)-538(at)-539(all,")-538(she)-539(cried.)-1115("I)-539(meant)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 254.132 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(I)]TJ -276.997 -13.549 Td[(meant)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 26.662 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(you)-469(see)-470(it's)-469(all)-470(been)-469(a)-470(little)-469(tiring)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 158.411 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(and)-469(to-morrow's)]TJ -206.891 -13.55 Td[(Sunday)-305(anyway)-305(and)-305(I)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 96.017 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(I)-305(Wanted)-305(to)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 52.698 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(to)-305(ask)-305(you)-305(if)-304(we)-305(couldn't)]TJ -170.533 -13.549 Td[(go)-250(out)-250(at)-250(eleven)-250(instead)-250(of)-250(ten?")]TJ 11.955 -13.549 Td[(She)-212(looked)-213(so)-212(sweetly)-213(questioning,)-220(and)-212(his)-212(relief)-213(was)-212(so)-213(great,)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(and)-250(his)-250(joy)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 47.88 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -35.925 -13.549 Td[(\050Probably)-250(don't)-250(care)-250(a)-250(rap)-250(for)-250(Holloway!\051)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 0 -13.55 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.91 0 Td[(so)-293(intense,)-303(that)-293(he)-293(could)-293(hardly)-292(refrain)-293(from)-293(seizing)-293(her)-293(in)]TJ -22.865 -13.549 Td[(his)-250(arms.)]TJ 11.955 -13.549 Td[(But)-508(he)-507(only)-508(seized)-507(her)-508(little)-507(hand)-508(instead)-508(and)-507(pressed)-508(it)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(fervently)-321(to)-321(his)-321(lips.)-462(When)-321(he)-321(raised)-321(his)-321(eyes)-321(she)-321(was)-321(smiling,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-250(her)-250(smile)-250(filled)-250(him)-250(with)-250(happiness.)]TJ 11.955 -13.55 Td[("You're)-292(such)-292(a)-291(boy!")-292(she)-292(said)-292(softly,)-302(and)-291(turned)-292(and)-292(left)-292(him)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(there)-280(in)-280(the)-279(window)-280(recess)-280(alone)-280(again,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 173.721 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(but)-280(this)-280(time)-279(he)-280(didn't)]TJ -184.63 -13.549 Td[(care.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.756 -27.371 Td[([067])]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+305 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 306 0 R
+/Resources 304 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 303 0 R
+>> endobj
+307 0 obj <<
+/D [305 0 R /XYZ 93.543 206.271 null]
+>> endobj
+304 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+308 0 obj
+<< /S /GoTo /D (index8) >>
+endobj
+311 0 obj
+(Chapter Seven - Developments)
+endobj
+314 0 obj <<
+/Length 3832      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 18.959 Tf 46.771 479.321 Td[(Chapter)-250(Seven)-250(-)-250(Developments)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 0 -32.853 Td[(It)-237(was)-236(during)-237(that)-236(drive)-237(the)-236(next)-237(morning)-236(that)-237(Jack)-237(buoyed)-236(up)-237(by)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(memories)-348(of)-349(Saturday)-348(and)-349(hopes)-348(of)-348(coming)-349(Saturdays,)-373(poured)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(out)-209(the)-209(history)-208(of)-209(his)-209(life)-208(at)-209(Mrs.)-236(Rosscott's)-209(knees.)-236(He)-209(told)-209(her)-209(the)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(whole)-311(story)-310(of)-311(Aunt)-310(Mary,)-326(and)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 141.984 0 Td[(his)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 16.119 0 Td[(side)-310(o)-1(f)-310(the)-311(cat,)-325(the)-311(cabman,)]TJ -158.103 -13.549 Td[(and)-215(Kalamazoo.)-238(It)-214(interested)-215(her,)-222(for)-214(she)-215(had)-214(arrived)-215(too)-215(recently)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-367(have)-367(had)-368(the)-367(full)-367(details)-367(in)-368(the)-367(newspapers)-367(beforehand,)-397(but)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(when)-372(he)-372(spoke)-371(of)-372(Aunt)-372(Mary's)-372(last)-371(letter)-372(she)-372(grew)-372(large-eyed)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-250(shook)-250(her)-250(head)-250(gravely.)]TJ 11.956 -13.636 Td[("You)-250(will)-250(have)-250(to)-250(be)-250(very)-250(good)-250(now,")-250(she)-250(said)-250(seriously.)]TJ 0 -13.635 Td[("Why?")-238(he)-238(asked.)-246("Just)-238(to)-238(keep)-238(from)-238(being)-239(disinherited?)-246(That)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(wouldn't)-250(be)-250(so)-250(awful.")]TJ 11.956 -13.636 Td[("Wouldn't)-320(it)-320(be)-320(awful)-320(to)-321(you?")-320(she)-320(asked,)-337(turning)-321(her)-320(bright)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(eyes)-250(upon)-250(him.)-250("What)-250(could)-250(be)-250(worse?")]TJ 11.956 -13.635 Td[("Things,")-250(he)-250(said)-250(very)-250(vaguely.)]TJ 0 -13.636 Td[(Then)-350(she)-349(touched)-350(up)-350(the)-350(cob)-349(a)-350(little;)-400(and,)-374(after)-350(a)-350(minute)-350(or)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(two,)-250(as)-250(she)-250(said)-250(nothing,)-250(he)-250(continued:)]TJ 11.956 -13.635 Td[("I)-400(almost)-401(fancy)-401(quitting)-400(college)-401(and)-400(going)-401(to)-400(work.)-702(I)-401(was)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(thinking)-250(about)-250(it)-250(last)-250(night.")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([068])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -13.635 Td[(She)-250(touched)-250(up)-250(the)-250(cob)-250(a)-250(little)-250(more,)-250(and)-250(remained)-250(silent.)]TJ 0 -13.635 Td[(Finally)-250(he)-250(said:)]TJ 0 -13.636 Td[("What)-250(would)-250(you)-250(think)-250(of)-250(my)-250(doing)-250(that?")]TJ 0 -13.635 Td[("I)-519(don't)-519(know,")-519(she)-520(said)-519(slowly.)-1057("You)-520(see,)-586(I'm)-519(a)-520(great)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(philosopher.)-259(I)-252(never)-253(fret)-253(or)-253(worry,)-253(because)-253(I)-253(regard)-253(it)-253(as)-253(useless;)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(similarly,)-288(I)-281(never)-280(rebel)-280(at)-281(the)-280(way)-281(fate)-280(shapes)-281(my)-280(life)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 235.167 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.91 0 Td[(I)-280(regard)]TJ -246.077 -13.549 Td[(that)-352(as)-352(something)-351(past)-352(helping.)-556(I)-351(believe)-352(in)-352(predestination;)-403(do)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(you?")]TJ 11.956 -13.635 Td[(She)-440(turned)-441(and)-440(looked)-441(at)-440(him)-440(so)-441(seriously)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 197.255 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(so)-440(unlike)-441(her)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf -220.12 -13.55 Td[(riante)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 29.656 0 Td[(self)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 15.753 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(that)-329(he)-330(felt)-329(startled,)-350(and)-329(did)-329(not)-330(know)-329(what)-330(to)-329(say)]TJ -56.318 -13.549 Td[(for)-250(a)-250(minute.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+313 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 314 0 R
+/Resources 312 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 303 0 R
+>> endobj
+309 0 obj <<
+/D [313 0 R /XYZ 46.771 529.134 null]
+>> endobj
+315 0 obj <<
+/D [313 0 R /XYZ 171.844 215.614 null]
+>> endobj
+312 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F18 18 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+319 0 obj <<
+/Length 3905      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(48)-11838(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[(Then:)]TJ 0 -14.703 Td[("I)-262(don't)-262(know,")-262(he)-262(said)-262(slowly;)-268("I)-262(don't)-262(know)-262(that)-262(I)-262(dare)-262(to.)-286(It)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(rather)-257(startles)-257(me)-256(to)-257(think)-257(that)-257(maybe)-257(all)-257(of)-256(our)-257(future)-257(is)-257(laid)-257(out)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(now.")]TJ 11.956 -14.703 Td[("It)-334(doesn't)-333(startle)-334(me,")-334(she)-334(said.)-501("It)-334(seems)-333(to)-334(me)-334(the)-334(natural)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(plan)-341(of)-341(the)-341(universe.)-522(I)-341(believe)-341(that)-341(everything)-341(that)-341(crosses)-341(our)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(path)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 18.786 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(down)-348(to)-347(the)-348(tiniest)-348(gnat)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 106.688 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(comes)-348(there)-347(in)-348(the)-348(fulfillment)]TJ -147.292 -13.55 Td[(of)-250(a)-250(purpose.")]TJ 11.956 -14.702 Td[("I'm)-377(sure)-376(that)-377(all)-376(the)-377(mosquitoes)-376(that)-377(ever)-376(crossed)-377(my)-377(path)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(came)-298(there)-299(in)-298(the)-299(fulfillment)-298(of)-298(a)-299(purpose,")-298(Jack)-298(interrupted.)-396("I)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(never)-250(doubted)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 64.833 0 Td[(that)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 16.975 0 Td[(.")]TJ -69.852 -14.703 Td[(She)-250(smiled)-250(a)-250(little.)]TJ 0 -14.703 Td[("It's)-250(the)-250(same)-250(with)-250(people,")-250(she)-250(went)-250(on.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -84.711 -42.955 Td[([069])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -14.702 Td[("Only)-250(less)-250(painful,")-250(he)-250(interrupted)-250(again.)]TJ 0 -14.703 Td[("Sometimes)-446(not,")-446(she)-446(said,)-495(with)-446(a)-446(look)-446(that)-446(silenced)-446(him.)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[("Sometimes)-250(much)-250(more)-250(so)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 117.48 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(my)-250(Cousin)-250(Maude,)-250(for)-250(example.")]TJ -116.433 -14.702 Td[("Hip,)-496(hip,)-496(hurrah)-447(for)-446(the)-447(mosquito!")-447(he)-446(murmured.)-841(They)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(laughed)-337(softly)-337(together.)-511(Then)-337(she)-338(grew)-337(earnest,)-358(and)-338(looked)-337(so)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(grave)-250(that)-250(he)-250(became)-250(serious)-250(too.)]TJ 11.956 -14.703 Td[("There)-325(is)-325(always)-325(a)-325(purpose,")-325(she)-325(said,)-344(with)-325(a)-325(touch)-326(of)-325(some)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(feeling)-305(which)-305(he)-305(had)-304(never)-305(guessed)-305(at.)-414("If)-305(you)-305(and)-305(I)-305(have)-305(met,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(it)-296(is)-297(because)-296(we)-296(are)-297(to)-296(have)-296(some)-297(influence)-296(over)-296(one)-297(another.)-389(I)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(can't)-250(just)-250(see)-250(how;)-250(I)-250(can't)-250(form)-250(any)-250(idea)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 172.375 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ -171.328 -14.703 Td[("I)-250(can,")-250(he)-250(said)-250(eagerly.)]TJ 0 -14.703 Td[(She)-250(looked)-250(up)-250(so)-250(suddenly)-250(and)-250(steadily)-250(that)-250(he)-250(was)-250(silent.)]TJ 0 -14.703 Td[("Do)-182(not)-183(let)-182(us)-183(play)-182(any)-183(longer,")-182(she)-182(said.)-228("Let)-182(us)-183(be)-182(in)-183(earnest.")]TJ 0 -14.703 Td[("But)-250(I)-250(am)-250(in)-250(earnest,")-250(he)-250(asseverated.)]TJ 0 -14.703 Td[("You)-441(don't)-442(know)-441(what)-442(I)-441(mean,")-441(she)-441(went)-442(on)-441(very)-442(gently.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[("You're)-292(in)-291(college.)-375(Let's)-292(fight)-292(it)-291(out)-292(on)-291(those)-292(lines)-292(if)-291(it)-292(takes)-292(all)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(summer.")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+318 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 319 0 R
+/Resources 317 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 303 0 R
+>> endobj
+59 0 obj <<
+/D [318 0 R /XYZ 238.254 335.113 null]
+>> endobj
+320 0 obj <<
+/D [318 0 R /XYZ 93.543 306.861 null]
+>> endobj
+317 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R /F18 18 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+323 0 obj <<
+/Length 3675      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Seven)-250(-)-250(Developments)-12255(49)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[(He)-284(looked)-285(up)-284(into)-285(her)-284(face)-285(and)-284(loved)-285(her)-284(better)-285(than)-284(ever)-285(for)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(the)-250(frank)-250(kindliness)-250(that)-250(shone)-250(in)-250(her)-250(eyes.)]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[("All)-250(right,)-250(if)-250(you)-250(say)-250(so,")-250(he)-250(vowed.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[("I)-310(do)-310(say)-310(so,")-310(she)-310(said.)-431("I)-310(like)-310(to)-310(see)-310(men)-310(stick)-310(it)-311(through)-310(in)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(college)-280(if)-280(they)-280(begin.)-341(I)-280(like)-280(to)-280(see)-280(people)-280(finish)-280(up)-280(every)-280(on)-1(e)-280(of)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([070])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(life's)-250(jobs)-250(that)-250(they)-250(set)-250(out)-250(on.")]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[("But)-302(I'm)-301(coming)-302(to)-302(see)-302(you)-301(in)-302(town,)-315(you)-301(know,")-302(he)-302(went)-302(on)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(with)-250(great)-250(apparent)-250(irrelevance.)]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[(She)-250(laughed)-250(merrily.)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[("Yes,)-315(surely.)-407(You)-303(must)-302(promise)-303(me)-302(that.)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 182.18 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(No,")-302(she)-303(stopped)]TJ -205.045 -13.549 Td[(and)-287(looked)-287(thoughtful,)-296("I'll)-287(tell)-287(you)-287(what)-287(I)-287(want)-287(you)-287(to)-287(promise)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(me.)-409(Promise)-303(me)-304(that)-303(you'll)-303(come)-303(once)-303(a)-303(week)-303(or)-303(else)-303(write)-304(me)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(why)-250(you)-250(can't)-250(come.)-250(Will)-250(you?")]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[("You)-256(can't)-257(suppose)-257(that)-256(you'll)-257(ever)-256(see)-257(my)-256(handwriting)-257(under)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(such)-250(circumstances)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 84.524 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(can)-250(you?")-250(Jack)-250(asked.)]TJ -83.477 -13.549 Td[(She)-250(laughed)-250(again.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[("Is)-250(it)-250(a)-250(promise?")]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[("Yes,)-250(it's)-250(a)-250(promise.")]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Oh,)-272(joy)-268(unmeasured)-267(in)-268(the)-267(time)-268(of)-268(spring!)-302(No)-268(other)-268(February)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(like)-281(that)-280(had)-281(ever)-280(been)-281(for)-281(them)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 140.754 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(nor)-281(ever)-280(would)-281(be.)-341(The)-281(drive)]TJ -151.663 -13.549 Td[(came)-368(to)-369(an)-368(end,)-398(the)-368(day)-368(came)-369(to)-368(an)-368(end,)-398(but)-368(the)-369(good-nights,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(which)-209(were)-209(good-bys,)-217(too,)-217(were)-208(not)-209(so)-209(fraught)-209(with)-209(hopelessness)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(as)-201(he)-202(had)-201(dreaded,)-211(for)-202(the)-201(promise)-202(asked)-201(and)-201(given)-202(paved)-201(a)-202(broad)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(road)-198(illuminated)-198(by)-197(the)-198(most)-198(hopeful)-198(kind)-197(of)-198(stars,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 216.338 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(a)-198(broad)-197(road)]TJ -227.247 -13.55 Td[(leading)-379(straight)-379(from)-380(college)-379(to)-379(town,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 171.272 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(and)-379(his)-379(fancy)-380(showed)]TJ -182.181 -13.549 Td[(him)-250(a)-250(figure)-250(treading)-250(it)-250(often.)-250(A)-250(figure)-250(that)-250(was)-250(his)-250(own.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 -29.651 Td[([071])]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+322 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 323 0 R
+/Resources 321 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 303 0 R
+>> endobj
+324 0 obj <<
+/D [322 0 R /XYZ 181.224 463.978 null]
+>> endobj
+325 0 obj <<
+/D [322 0 R /XYZ 46.771 149.794 null]
+>> endobj
+321 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+328 0 obj <<
+/Length 683       
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(50)-11838(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -280.63 -29.128 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 5.595 -417.5 cm
+ q 4.4208 0 0 4.4208 0 0 cm
+1 0 0 1 2.727 0 cm
+ q 1 0 0 1 0 0 cm
+q
+57.5998 0 0 94.4396 0 0 cm
+/Im2 Do
+Q
+ Q
+1 0 0 1 -2.727 0 cm
+ Q
+1 0 0 1 -99.138 -102.306 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 96.444 83.303 Td[("Do)-250(not)-251(let)-250(us)-251(play)-250(any)-251(longer,')-250(she)-251(said.)-251('Let)-250(us)-251(be)-250(in)-251(earnest.'")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 75.47 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 0 -36.688 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+327 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 328 0 R
+/Resources 326 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 303 0 R
+>> endobj
+316 0 obj <<
+/Type /XObject
+/Subtype /Image
+/Width 480
+/Height 787
+/BitsPerComponent 4
+/ColorSpace [/Indexed /DeviceRGB 15 329 0 R]
+/Length 188880    
+>>
+stream
+������������������������������wwwww��w�w�ww{�����7�w�;�3ww�www�����33���Օ]�=���=�Y���Y�Y���]�Y���n��Y�������������3333��;33�3��3����U�j��**""����L���DL��",��L�ĄD����D���D���DL���DD�DD��HL","¬HHH�������������
+endobj
+329 0 obj <<
+/Length 48        
+>>
+stream
+���HHH���(((���hhh������XXX���888���xxx���endstream
+endobj
+326 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R >>
+/XObject << /Im2 316 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text /ImageC /ImageI ]
+>> endobj
+330 0 obj
+<< /S /GoTo /D (index9) >>
+endobj
+333 0 obj
+(Chapter Eight - The Resolution He Took)
+endobj
+336 0 obj <<
+/Length 3422      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 18.959 Tf 46.771 479.321 Td[(Chapter)-255(Eight)-254(-)-255(The)-254(Resolution)-255(He)]TJ 0 -24.647 Td[(Took)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 0 -37.533 Td[(That)-345(first)-344(meeting)-345(was)-345(in)-344(February,)-369(you)-344(know,)-369(and)-344(by)-345(the)-345(last)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(of)-389(April)-390(it)-389(had)-389(been)-390(followed)-389(by)-389(so)-390(many)-389(others)-389(that)-390(Burnett)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(remarked)-250(one)-250(day)-250(to)-250(his)-250(chum:)]TJ 11.956 -14.571 Td[("Say,)-250(aren't)-250(you)-250(going)-250(a)-250(little)-250(faster)-250(than)-250(auntie'll)-250(stand)-250(for?")]TJ 0 -14.572 Td[(Jack)-250(turned)-250(in)-250(surprise.)]TJ 0 -14.572 Td[("I)-241(never)-241(went)-240(so)-241(straight)-241(in)-241(my)-241(life)-240(before,")-241(he)-241(exclaimed,)-243(not)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(in)-250(indignation)-250(but)-250(in)-250(astonishment.)]TJ 11.956 -14.571 Td[("I)-266(didn't)-265(mean)-266(that,")-266(said)-265(Burnett.)-298("Perhaps)-265(instead)-266(of)-266('auntie')]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(I)-250(should)-250(have)-250(said)-250('Betty.'")]TJ 11.956 -14.571 Td[(Jack)-250(hoisted)-250(the)-250(colors)-250(of)-250(Harvard,)-250(and)-250(was)-250(silent.)]TJ 0 -14.572 Td[("I)-324(warned)-324(you)-325(at)-324(first)-324(that)-324(that)-325(was)-324(Tangle)-324(town,")-324(his)-325(friend)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(went)-388(on.)-662("Don't)-388(suppose)-387(I'm)-388(saying)-387(anything)-388(against)-388(her)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 260.634 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(or)]TJ -271.543 -13.549 Td[(against)-288(you;)-306(but)-288(she's)-287(just)-288(as)-288(much)-287(to)-288(ten)-287(other)-288(men)-288(as)-287(she)-288(is)-288(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(you,)-250(and)-250(they)-250(all)-250(are)-250(old)-250(enough)-250(to)-250(carry)-250(lots)-250(of)-250(weight.")]TJ 11.956 -14.572 Td[("And)-361(I)-361(suppose)-361(I'm)-360(not,")-361(Jack)-361(answered,)-389(going)-361(over)-361(by)-361(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(fireplace.)-250("I)-250(know)-250(that)-250(as)-250(well)-250(as)-250(anyone,)-250(of)-250(course.")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([072])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -14.572 Td[(")]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 4.451 0 Td[(Nat\374rlich)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 41.825 0 Td[(,")-389(said)-389(Burnett,)-424(with)-389(conclusiveness)-389(that)-389(was)-389(not)]TJ -58.231 -13.549 Td[(meant)-250(to)-250(be)-250(cruel,)-250(yet)-250(cut)-250(like)-250(a)-250(two)-250(edged)-250(knife.)]TJ 11.955 -14.571 Td[(There)-347(was)-346(silence)-347(in)-347(the)-347(room.)-540(Jack)-346(stood)-347(by)-347(the)-347(chimney-)]TJ -11.955 -13.55 Td[(piece,)-404(his)-374(hands)-374(upraised)-373(to)-374(rest)-374(upon)-373(its)-374(lofty)-373(shelf,)-405(his)-374(head)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(dropped)-437(forward,)-484(and)-437(his)-437(eyes)-437(fixed)-437(on)-437(the)-437(empty)-437(blackness)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(below.)]TJ 11.955 -14.572 Td[("I)-242(wonder,")-243(he)-242(said)-242(at)-243(last,)-244("I)-242(wonder)-242(what)-243(will)-242(become)-242(of)-243(me)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(if)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 6.665 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(if)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 6.665 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.91 0 Td[(")]TJ -23.194 -14.571 Td[(He)-250(stopped.)]TJ 0 -14.572 Td[(Burnett)-250(didn't)-250(speak.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+335 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 336 0 R
+/Resources 334 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 338 0 R
+>> endobj
+331 0 obj <<
+/D [335 0 R /XYZ 46.771 529.134 null]
+>> endobj
+337 0 obj <<
+/D [335 0 R /XYZ 279.549 206.746 null]
+>> endobj
+334 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R /F18 18 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+341 0 obj <<
+/Length 4868      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(52)-11838(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[("I)-464(wonder)-463(if)-464(she)-464(thinks)-464(of)-464(me)-464(as)-463(a)-464(boy,")-464(the)-464(young)-464(man)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(continued.)-690("I)-396(wonder)-397(if)-396(she's)-397(so)-397(good)-396(to)-397(me)-396(because)-397(I'm)-397(her)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(youngest)-250(brother's)-250(friend.")]TJ 11.956 -14.78 Td[(Burnett)-250(did)-250(not)-250(comment)-250(on)-250(this)-250(speech.)]TJ 0 -14.78 Td[("I)-318(don't)-318(know)-317(what)-318(to)-318(do,")-318(the)-318(other)-318(said.)-453("When)-318(I)-318(first)-318(met)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(her)-346(I)-345(wanted)-346(to)-346(cut)-345(college)-346(and)-346(get)-345(out)-346(in)-346(the)-346(world)-345(and)-346(go)-346(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(work)-355(like)-355(a)-356(man.)-565(I)-355(told)-356(her)-355(so.)-565(But)-356(she)-355(wanted)-355(me)-355(to)-355(stay)-356(in)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(college,)-324(and)-309(as)-310(it)-309(was)-309(the)-309(first)-309(thing)-310(she'd)-309(ever)-309(wanted)-309(of)-310(me,)-324(I)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(did)-232(it.)-245(I'd)-232(do)-233(anything)-232(she)-232(asked)-233(me.)-244(I've)-233(quit)-232(drinking.)-244(I'm)-233(going)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(at)-328(everything)-328(as)-329(hard)-328(as)-328(it's)-328(in)-328(m)-1(e)-328(to)-328(go;)-367(but)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 198.787 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(I)-328(don't)-328(know)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 56.392 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(I)]TJ -276.997 -13.549 Td[(feel)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 16.353 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(I)-325(feel)-324(as)-325(if)-324(it)-325(isn't)-325(me)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 94.109 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(it's)-325(just)-324(because)-325(she)-325(wants)-324(me)-325(to,)]TJ -132.28 -13.549 Td[(and,)-416(do)-382(you)-383(know,)-416(old)-383(man,)-415(it)-383(frightens)-383(me)-382(to)-383(think)-383(how)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 263.055 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.91 0 Td[(if)]TJ -273.965 -13.549 Td[(she)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 14.542 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(if)-250(she)-250(went)-250(out)-250(of)-250(my)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 93.022 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(my)-250(life)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 31.211 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -244.258 0 Td[([073])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -14.78 Td[(He)-258(stopped)-258(and)-257(his)-258(broken)-258(phrases)-258(were)-257(not)-258(continued)-258(to)-258(any)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(ending.)]TJ 11.955 -14.78 Td[(Another)-250(long)-250(silence)-250(ensued.)]TJ 0 -14.78 Td[(It)-250(was)-250(finally)-250(terminated)-250(by)-250(the)-250(brother's)-250(saying:)]TJ 0 -14.78 Td[("You)-280(must)-280(confess,)-288(old)-280(man,)-288(that)-280(you)-280(aren't)-280(fixed)-280(so)-280(as)-281(to)-280(be)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(able)-291(to)-291(say)-291(one)-290(rea)-1(lly)-290(serious)-291(word)-291(to)-291(any)-291(woman)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 220.033 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(unless)-291(it)-291(is,)]TJ -230.942 -13.549 Td[('Wait.'")]TJ 11.955 -14.78 Td[("I)-250(know)-250(that,")-250(Jack)-250(answered;)-250("but)-250(I)-250(suppose)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 195.742 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ -206.651 -14.78 Td[("She'd)-253(be)-253(taking)-253(so)-254(many)-253(chances,")-253(the)-253(friend)-253(interrupted.)-260("A)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(man)-250(in)-250(college)-250(is)-250(never)-250(the)-250(real)-250(thing.)-250(You'd)-250(better)-250(give)-250(it)-250(up.")]TJ 11.955 -14.78 Td[(Then)-250(the)-250(other)-250(whirled)-250(about)-250(and)-250(faced)-250(him.)]TJ 0 -14.779 Td[("Give)-250(it)-250(up,)-250(did)-250(you)-250(say?")-250(he)-250(asked)-250(almost)-250(angrily.)]TJ 0 -14.78 Td[("Yes,)-250(that's)-250(what.")]TJ 0 -14.78 Td[(For)-250(a)-250(minute)-250(they)-250(looked)-250(at)-250(one)-250(another.)-250(Then:)]TJ 0 -14.78 Td[("I)-460(shall)-461(never)-460(give)-461(it)-460(up,")-461(the)-461(lover)-460(said)-461(very)-460(slowly)-461(and)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(steadily)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 33.938 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[("never,)-250(until)-250(she)-250(gives)-250(me)-250(up.")]TJ -32.892 -14.78 Td[(Burnett)-230(sucked)-230(in)-229(his)-230(breath)-230(with)-230(a)-229(sudden)-230(compression)-230(of)-230(his)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(lips.)]TJ 11.955 -14.78 Td[("All)-332(right,")-331(he)-332(said,)-352(not)-332(unkindly;)-372("but)-332(I)-331(don't)-332(believe)-332(you'll)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(ever)-230(get)-230(her,)-233(and)-230(that's)-230(flat.)-243(There)-230(are)-230(too)-229(many)-230(being)-230(entered)-230(for)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+340 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 341 0 R
+/Resources 339 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 338 0 R
+>> endobj
+342 0 obj <<
+/D [340 0 R /XYZ 272.223 353.124 null]
+>> endobj
+339 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+345 0 obj <<
+/Length 2694      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Eight)-250(-)-250(The)-250(Resolution)-250(He)-250(Took)-8393(53)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 518.175 Td[(that)-238(race,)-240(and)-237(long)-238(before)-237(you)-238(and)-238(I)-237(get)-238(out)-237(of)-238(here)-237(she'll)-238(be)-238(Mrs.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Somebody)-250(Else.")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([074])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -13.549 Td[(Jack)-254(stared)-254(at)-254(him)-255(as)-254(if)-254(he)-254(hardly)-254(heard,)-255(and)-254(then)-254(sudden)-1(ly)-254(he)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(stepped)-250(nearer)-250(and)-250(spoke.)]TJ 11.956 -13.55 Td[("Did)-250(she)-250(ask)-250(you)-250(to)-250(have)-250(this)-250(talk)-250(with)-250(me?")]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[("No,")-357(said)-357(the)-358(brother)-357(in)-357(surprise,)-384("she)-357(never)-357(says)-358(anything)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(about)-250(you)-250(to)-250(me.")]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[(A)-307(look)-308(of)-307(relief)-308(fled)-308(across)-307(his)-308(friend's)-307(face,)-322(and)-308(then)-307(a)-308(look)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(of)-250(resolution)-250(succeeded)-250(it.)]TJ 11.956 -13.55 Td[("I'm)-236(not)-236(going)-236(to)-236(be)-236(discouraged,")-236(he)-235(said;)-241("not)-236(for)-236(a)-236(while,)-239(at)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(any)-250(rate.")]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[("You'd)-250(better)-250(be.")]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Jack)-338(laughed.)-513(The)-338(laugh)-337(sounded)-338(a)-338(trifle)-338(hollow,)-359(but)-338(still)-338(it)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(was)-297(a)-296(laugh,)-308(and)-297(that)-296(in)-297(itself)-296(was)-297(a)-296(triumph)-297(of)-297(which)-296(none)-297(but)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(himself)-250(might)-250(ever)-250(measure)-250(the)-250(extent.)]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[(Because)-430(in)-430(that)-430(moment)-430(he)-430(decided)-430(to)-430(lay)-430(the)-430(whole)-430(case)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(before)-339(her)-339(the)-339(next)-339(time)-339(that)-339(he)-339(went)-339(to)-339(town,)-361(and)-339(the)-339(coming)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-263(a)-263(re)-1(solution)-263(was)-263(a)-263(relief)-263(from)-264(the)-263(uncertainty)-263(that)-263(clouded)-264(his)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(days)-240(and)-239(nights)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 67.651 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(even)-240(if)-239(a)-240(further)-240(black)-239(curtain)-240(of)-240(darkest)-239(doubt)]TJ -78.559 -13.55 Td[(hung)-250(before)-250(the)-250(possibilities)-250(of)-250(what)-250(her)-250(answer)-250(might)-250(be.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.023 -29.65 Td[([075])]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+344 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 345 0 R
+/Resources 343 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 338 0 R
+>> endobj
+346 0 obj <<
+/D [344 0 R /XYZ 124.859 504.626 null]
+>> endobj
+347 0 obj <<
+/D [344 0 R /XYZ 46.771 231.089 null]
+>> endobj
+343 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+348 0 obj
+<< /S /GoTo /D (index10) >>
+endobj
+351 0 obj
+(Chapter Nine - The Downfall of Hope)
+endobj
+354 0 obj <<
+/Length 3677      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 18.959 Tf 93.543 479.321 Td[(Chapter)-261(Nine)-261(-)-260(The)-261(Downfall)-261(of)]TJ 0 -24.647 Td[(Hope)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 0 -34.55 Td[(It)-357(was)-357(on)-357(a)-357(Saturday)-357(about)-357(the)-357(middle)-357(of)-357(May)-357(that)-358(Jack)-357(came)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-282(town,)-290(his)-281(mind)-282(well)-282(braced)-282(with)-281(love)-282(and)-282(arguments,)-290(and)-282(his)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(main)-278(thoughts)-279(being)-278(that)-278(when)-278(he)-279(returned)-278(something)-278(would)-279(be)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(settled.)]TJ 11.956 -13.975 Td[(It)-385(was)-385(a)-385(beautiful)-385(day,)-419(warm)-385(and)-385(sunny,)-419(and)-385(at)-385(five)-386(in)-385(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(afternoon)-252(both)-252(of)-252(the)-252(drawing-room)-252(windows)-252(of)-252(Mrs.)-256(Rosscott's)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(house)-416(were)-416(wide)-417(open,)-457(and)-417(the)-416(lace)-416(curtains)-416(were)-416(taking)-417(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(breeze)-250(like)-250(little)-250(sails.)]TJ 11.956 -13.975 Td[(Just)-239(as)-239(Jack)-238(mounted)-239(the)-239(steps,)-241(the)-239(door)-239(opened,)-241(and)-239(a)-239(plainly)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(dressed,)-298(unattractive-looking)-289(man)-288(was)-289(let)-289(out.)-365(The)-289(servant)-289(who)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(did)-343(the)-343(letting)-342(out)-343(saw)-343(Jack)-343(and)-343(let)-342(him)-343(in)-343(without)-343(closing)-343(the)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(door)-290(between)-290(the)-290(egress)-290(of)-290(the)-290(one)-290(and)-290(the)-290(ingress)-290(of)-291(the)-290(other.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(So)-301(he)-302(entered)-301(without)-301(ringing,)-314(and,)-314(as)-302(he)-301(was)-301(very)-301(well)-302(known)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-350(intensely)-351(popular)-350(with)-351(all)-350(of)-350(Mrs.)-552(Rosscott's)-350(servants,)-376(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(man)-280(invited)-281(him)-280(to)-280(walk)-281(up)-280(unannounced,)-288(since)-280(he)-280(himself)-281(was)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(just)-250("bringing)-250(in)-250(the)-250(tea.")]TJ 11.956 -13.975 Td[(Jack)-210(went)-210(upstairs,)-218(and)-209(because)-210(the)-210(carpet)-210(was)-210(of)-210(thickly)-210(piled)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(velvet)-235(and)-235(his)-235(boots)-236(were)-235(the)-235(boots)-235(of)-235(a)-235(well-shod)-235(gentleman,)-239(he)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([076])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.55 Td[(made)-250(no)-250(noise)-250(whatever)-250(in)-250(the)-250(so)-250(doing.)]TJ 11.956 -13.974 Td[(There)-268(were)-268(double)-268(parlors)-268(above)-268(stairs)-268(in)-268(the)-268(domicile)-268(which)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(Burnett's)-301(sister)-300(had)-301(taken)-301(until)-300(July,)-314(and)-301(they)-300(were)-301(furnished)-301(in)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-246(most)-245(correct)-246(and)-246(trying)-245(mode)-246(of)-246(Louis)-246(XIV.)-245(The)-246(chairs)-246(were)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(gilt)-266(and)-266(very)-265(uncomfortable.)-298(The)-265(ornaments)-266(were)-266(all)-266(straight)-266(up)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-352(do)-1(wn)-352(and)-352(made)-353(in)-352(such)-353(shapes)-352(that)-353(there)-352(was)-353(no)-352(place)-353(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(flick)-224(off)-224(cigarette)-224(ashes)-224(anywhere.)-241(Nothing)-225(could)-224(be)-224(pulled)-224(up)-224(to)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(anything)-268(else)-268(and)-268(there)-268(was)-268(not)-268(a)-268(single)-268(good)-268(place)-268(to)-268(rest)-268(one's)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(elbows)-377(anywhere.)-631(The)-376(only)-377(saving)-377(grace)-377(in)-377(the)-377(situation)-377(was)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+353 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 354 0 R
+/Resources 352 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 338 0 R
+>> endobj
+349 0 obj <<
+/D [353 0 R /XYZ 93.543 529.134 null]
+>> endobj
+355 0 obj <<
+/D [353 0 R /XYZ 248.451 188.511 null]
+>> endobj
+352 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+358 0 obj <<
+/Length 4901      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Nine)-250(-)-250(The)-250(Downfall)-250(of)-250(Hope)-9451(55)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 518.175 Td[(that)-286(after)-286(five)-285(minutes)-286(or)-286(so)-286(Mrs.)-357(Rosscott)-286(invariably)-286(suggested)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(removal)-180(to)-180(the)-180(library)-180(which)-180(lay)-180(beyond)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 170.538 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(a)-180(very)-180(different)-180(species)]TJ -181.447 -13.549 Td[(of)-306(apa)-1(rtment)-306(where)-306(no)-307(mode)-306(at)-307(all)-306(prevailed)-307(except)-306(the)-307(terrible)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 0 -13.549 Td[(d\351mod\351)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 37.227 0 Td[(thing)-302(known)-303(as)-302(comfort.)-407(To)-303(prevent)-302(her)-303(visitors,)-315(when)]TJ -37.227 -13.55 Td[(seated)-397(\050for)-397(the)-397(five)-397(minutes)-397(aforementioned\051)-397(amid)-397(the)-397(correct)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(carving)-180(of)-180(French)-179(art,)-194(from)-180(looking)-180(longingly)-179(through)-180(at)-180(the)-180(easy-)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(chairs)-251(of)-251(American)-251(manufacture,)-251(Mrs.)-252(Rosscott)-251(had)-251(ordered)-251(that)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-359(blue)-359(velvet)-359(porti\350res)-358(which)-359(hung)-359(between)-359(should)-359(never)-359(be)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(pushed)-306(aside,)-320(and)-306(it)-306(was)-306(owing)-306(to)-306(this)-306(order)-306(that)-307(Jack,)-320(entering)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(the)-199(drawing-room,)-209(heard)-198(voices,)-209(but)-199(could)-198(not)-199(see)-198(into)-199(the)-199(library)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(beyond.)-340(Also)-280(it)-280(was)-280(owing)-280(to)-280(this)-280(order)-280(that)-280(those)-281(in)-280(the)-280(library)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(could)-250(not)-250(see)-250(or)-250(hear)-250(Jack.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([077])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -14.531 Td[(The)-252(result)-252(was)-253(that)-252(the)-252(young)-252(man,)-253(finding)-252(the)-253(drawing-room)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(unoccupied,)-394(was)-365(just)-365(crossing)-366(toward)-365(the)-365(blue)-365(velvet)-365(cu)-1(rtains,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(intending)-250(to)-251(wait)-250(in)-250(the)-251(library)-250(until)-250(the)-251(returning)-250(servant)-251(should)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(advise)-427(him)-426(of)-427(the)-427(whereabouts)-427(of)-426(his)-427(mistress,)-471(when)-427(he)-427(was)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(stopped)-374(by)-374(suddenly)-374(hearing)-374(a)-374(voice)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 165.832 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(her)-374(voice)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 41.64 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(crying)-374(\050and)]TJ -229.29 -13.549 Td[(laughing)-250(at)-250(the)-250(same)-250(time\051)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 115.745 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -103.79 -14.531 Td[("Kisses)-250(barred!)-250(Kisses)-250(barred!")]TJ 0 -14.531 Td[(It)-449(may)-448(be)-449(understood)-449(that)-448(had)-449(Mrs.)-846(Rosscott)-449(known)-449(that)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(anyone)-235(was)-236(within)-235(hearing)-236(she)-235(certainly)-236(would)-235(nev)-1(er)-235(have)-236(made)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(any)-436(such)-436(speech,)-482(and)-436(it)-436(may)-436(be)-435(further)-436(understood)-436(that,)-483(had)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(whoever)-317(was)-316(with)-317(her,)-333(also)-317(mistrusted)-317(the)-316(close)-317(propinquity)-317(of)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(another)-250(man,)-250(he)-250(would)-250(never)-250(have)-250(replied)-250(\050as)-250(he)-250(did)-250(reply\051:)]TJ 11.955 -14.531 Td[("Certainly,")-179(the)-179(same)-179(being)-178(spoken)-179(in)-179(a)-179(most)-179(calm)-179(and)-179(careless)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(tone.)]TJ 11.955 -14.531 Td[(Jack,)-498(the)-449(eavesdropper,)-499(stood)-449(transfixed)-448(at)-449(the)-449(voices)-449(and)]TJ -11.955 -13.55 Td[(speeches,)-592(and)-524(forgot)-524(every)-523(other)-524(consideration)-524(in)-524(the)-524(over-)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(whelming)-448(sickness)-449(of)-448(soul)-449(which)-448(overcame)-449(him)-448(that)-449(instant.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(All)-325(his)-324(other)-325(soul-sicknesses)-325(were)-325(trifles)-324(compared)-325(to)-325(this)-325(one,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-263(the)-263(world)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 60.267 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(his)-263(world)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 41.049 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(their)-263(world)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 48.314 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(seemed)-263(to)-263(revolve)-262(and)]TJ -182.357 -13.549 Td[(whirl)-503(and)-503(turn)-502(upside)-503(down,)-566(as)-503(he)-503(steadied)-503(himself)-503(against)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(a)-410(spindle-legged)-411(cabinet)-410(and)-410(felt)-411(its)-410(spindle-legs)-410(trembling)-411(in)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(sympathy)-250(with)-250(his)-250(own.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+357 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 358 0 R
+/Resources 356 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 338 0 R
+>> endobj
+359 0 obj <<
+/D [357 0 R /XYZ 165.222 369.134 null]
+>> endobj
+356 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R /F18 18 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+362 0 obj <<
+/Length 5048      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(56)-11838(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[("Darling,")-237(said)-237(Holloway,)-239(a)-237(second)-237(or)-237(two)-237(later)-237(\050and)-237(this)-237(time)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -84.711 0 Td[([078])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(his)-256(voice)-256(was)-256(not)-256(calm)-257(and)-256(careless,)-257(but)-256(deep)-256(and)-257(impassioned\051,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[("the)-249(letter)-249(was)-249(very)-249(sweet,)-250(and)-249(if)-249(you)-249(knew)-249(how)-249(I)-249(longed)-249(to)-250(take)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-354(tired)-354(little)-354(girl)-354(to)-354(my)-354(bosom)-354(and)-354(comfort)-354(her)-355(troubles,)-380(and)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(replace)-250(them)-250(by)-250(joys!")]TJ 11.956 -14.163 Td[("Will)-463(that)-463(day)-463(ever)-463(come,)-517(do)-463(you)-463(think?")-463(Mrs.)-890(Rosscott)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(answered,)-276(in)-270(low)-270(tones,)-276(which)-270(nevertheless)-271(were)-270(most)-271(painfully)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(clear)-250(and)-250(distinct)-250(in)-250(the)-250(next)-250(room.)]TJ 11.956 -14.163 Td[("It)-274(must,")-273(Holloway)-274(replied,)-280("just)-273(as)-274(surely)-274(as)-274(that)-273(I)-274(hold)-274(this)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(dear)-250(little)-250(hand)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 65.444 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ -64.397 -14.163 Td[(But)-239(Jack)-240(never)-240(knew)-239(more.)-247(He)-239(had)-240(heard)-239(enough)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 213.949 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(more)-239(th)-1(an)]TJ -236.814 -13.549 Td[(enough.)-299(Four)-266(thousand)-266(times)-266(too)-266(much.)-299(He)-266(turned)-266(and)-266(went)-267(out)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(of)-335(the)-335(rooms,)-356(back)-335(down)-335(the)-335(stairs)-335(and)-335(out)-335(of)-335(the)-334(door,)-357(closed)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(it)-321(noiselessly)-321(behind)-320(him,)-339(and)-321(found)-320(himself)-321(in)-321(a)-321(world)-321(which,)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(although)-270(bright)-270(and)-270(sunny)-271(to)-270(all)-270(the)-270(rest)-270(of)-270(mankind,)-275(had)-271(turned)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(dark,)-250(lonely,)-250(and)-250(cheerless)-250(to)-250(him.)]TJ 11.956 -14.163 Td[(At)-349(first)-349(he)-349(hardly)-350(knew)-349(what)-349(to)-349(do)-349(with)-349(himself,)-374(he)-349(was)-350(so)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(altogether)-240(used)-240(up)-240(by)-240(the)-239(d)-1(iscovery)-239(just)-240(made.)-247(He)-240(drifted)-240(up)-240(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(down)-213(some)-212(unknown)-213(streets)-212(for)-213(an)-212(hour)-213(or)-212(two)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 202.756 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(or)-213(stood)-212(still)-213(on)]TJ -213.665 -13.549 Td[(corners)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 32.106 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(he)-224(never)-224(was)-224(very)-224(sure)-224(which.)-241(And)-224(then)-224(at)-224(last)-224(h)-1(e)-224(went)]TJ -43.015 -13.55 Td[(downtown)-287(and)-287(took)-287(a)-287(drink)-287(in)-287(a)-286(half-dazed)-287(way;)-306(and)-287(because)-287(it)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(was)-358(quite)-359(two)-358(months)-359(since)-358(his)-358(last)-359(indulgence,)-385(its)-359(suggestion)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(was)-250(potent.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([079])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -14.163 Td[(The)-250(pity)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 36.665 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(or)-250(rather,)-250(the)-250(apparent)-250(pity)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 116.029 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(of)-250(what)-250(followed!)]TJ -174.512 -14.163 Td[(Burnett)-403(was)-403(Sundaying)-402(at)-403(the)-403(ancestral)-403(castle;)-479(and)-403(Burnett)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(wasn't)-299(the)-300(warning)-299(sort,)-312(anyhow.)-398(He)-299(was)-300(always)-299(tow)-299(and)-300(pitch)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(for)-293(any)-294(species)-293(of)-293(flame.)-380(So)-293(his)-293(absenc)-1(e)-293(counted)-293(for)-293(nothing)-294(in)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-250(crisis.)]TJ 11.956 -14.163 Td[(And)-250(what)-250(ensued)-250(was)-250(a)-250(crisis)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 128.759 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(a)-250(crisis)-250(with)-250(a)-250(vengeance.)]TJ -139.668 -14.163 Td[(That)-340(tear)-341(upon)-341(which)-340(Aunt)-341(Mary's)-340(nephew)-341(went)-340(was)-341(some-)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(thing)-257(lurid)-256(and)-257(awful.)-270(It)-256(lasted)-257(until)-256(Mo)-1(nday,)-258(and)-256(then)-257(its)-257(owner)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(returned)-242(to)-242(college,)-243(as)-242(ill)-242(of)-241(body)-242(and)-242(as)-242(embittered)-241(of)-242(spirit)-242(as)-242(it)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(was)-186(in)-185(him)-186(to)-185(be)-1(.)-228(The)-186(lightsome)-185(devil)-186(who)-186(had)-185(ruled)-186(him)-185(up)-186(to)-186(his)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(meeting)-227(with)-228(Mrs.)-242(Rosscott)-227(resumed)-228(its)-227(sway)-227(with)-227(terrible)-228(force.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+361 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 362 0 R
+/Resources 360 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 338 0 R
+>> endobj
+363 0 obj <<
+/D [361 0 R /XYZ 292.49 518.175 null]
+>> endobj
+364 0 obj <<
+/D [361 0 R /XYZ 145.961 217.638 null]
+>> endobj
+360 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+367 0 obj <<
+/Length 4770      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Nine)-250(-)-250(The)-250(Downfall)-250(of)-250(Hope)-9451(57)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 518.175 Td[(The)-383(authorities)-383(showed)-383(a)-383(tendency)-383(to)-383(patience)-383(because)-383(young)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Denham)-384(had)-384(appeared)-383(to)-384(reform)-384(lately)-383(and)-384(had)-384(been)-384(working)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(hard;)-457(but)-388(young)-388(Denham)-388(felt)-388(no)-388(thankful)-388(sentiments)-388(for)-388(their)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(leniency,)-250(and)-250(proved)-250(his)-250(position)-250(shortly.)]TJ 11.956 -14.777 Td[(There)-472(was)-471(a)-472(man)-472(named)-471(Tweedwell)-472(whom)-472(circumstances)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(threw)-427(directly)-428(in)-427(the)-428(path)-427(of)-428(destruction.)-782(Tweedwell)-427(was)-428(an)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(inoffensive)-336(mortal)-337(who)-336(was)-336(studying)-337(for)-336(the)-336(ministry.)-509(He)-337(was)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(progressive)-304(in)-303(his)-303(ideas,)-317(and)-304(believed)-303(that)-304(a)-303(clergyman,)-317(to)-304(hold)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(a)-490(great)-490(influence,)-550(should)-490(know)-490(his)-490(world.)-970(He)-490(thought)-490(that)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(knowledge)-258(of)-258(the)-258(world)-258(was)-258(to)-258(be)-258(gained)-258(by)-258(skirting)-259(the)-258(outside)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(edge)-336(of)-337(every)-336(species)-336(of)-337(worldliness.)-508(The)-337(result)-336(of)-336(this)-337(course)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([080])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(of)-295(action)-295(was)-295(not)-295(w)-1(hat)-295(it)-295(should)-295(have)-295(been,)-306(for)-295(Tweedwell)-296(was)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(an)-310(easy)-310(mark)-310(for)-310(all)-310(who)-310(wanted)-310(fun,)-325(and)-310(the)-310(consciousness)-310(of)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(his)-228(innocence)-227(so)-228(little)-227(accelerated)-228(the)-227(pace)-228(at)-227(which)-228(he)-228(got)-227(out)-228(of)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-292(way)-293(that)-292(he)-293(was)-292(always)-292(being)-293(called)-292(to)-292(account)-293(for)-292(what)-293(he)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(hadn't)-250(done.)]TJ 11.956 -14.777 Td[(The)-227(Saturday)-227(night)-228(after)-227(his)-227(Saturday)-227(in)-228(town,)-231(Jack)-228(concocted)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(a)-392(piece)-392(of)-392(deviltry)-392(which)-392(was)-392(as)-392(dangerous)-392(as)-393(it)-392(was)-392(foolish.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(The)-349(result)-350(was)-349(that)-349(an)-350(explosion)-349(took)-349(place,)-375(and)-349(the)-349(author)-350(of)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-398(gun-powder)-397(plot)-398(had)-398(all)-397(the)-398(skin)-398(on)-397(both)-398(hands)-398(blistered.)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(Burnett,)-287(in)-280(escaping,)-287(fell)-280(and)-279(broke)-280(his)-280(collarbone)-279(and)-280(two)-280(ribs.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(The)-364(house)-365(in)-364(which)-364(the)-365(affair)-364(took)-365(place)-364(caught)-364(fire,)-393(and)-365(was)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(badly)-342(d)-1(amaged.)-527(And)-342(Tweedwell)-343(was)-342(arrested)-343(on)-342(the)-343(strongest)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(kind)-521(of)-521(circumstantial)-521(evidence,)-589(and)-521(had)-521(to)-521(answer)-522(for)-521(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(whole.)-243(Naturally,)-234(in)-229(the)-230(investigation)-229(that)-230(followed,)-234(the)-229(two)-230(who)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(were)-304(guilty)-303(had)-304(to)-304(confess)-303(or)-304(see)-304(the)-304(candidate)-303(for)-304(the)-304(ministry)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(disgraced)-250(forever.)]TJ 11.956 -14.776 Td[(The)-467(result)-467(of)-467(their)-468(confession)-467(was)-467(that)-467(Burnett's)-467(father,)-522(a)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(jovial,)-331(peppery)-314(old)-314(gentleman)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 132.571 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(we)-314(all)-315(know)-314(the)-315(kind)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 94.317 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(lost)-314(his)]TJ -248.706 -13.55 Td[(patience)-262(and)-262(wrote)-262(his)-262(son)-262(that)-262(he'd)-262(better)-262(not)-262(come)-263(home)-262(again)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(that)-242(year.)-247(But)-242(Aunt)-241(Mary)-242(lost)-242(her)-241(temper)-242(much)-242(more)-242(completely)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-250(the)-250(result,)-250(as)-250(affecting)-250(Jack,)-250(was)-250(awful.)]TJ 11.956 -14.777 Td[(She)-305(might)-305(not)-305(have)-304(acted)-305(as)-305(she)-305(did)-305(had)-305(the)-305(disastrous)-305(news)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 279.068 0 Td[([081])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(arrived)-384(either)-384(a)-384(week)-385(later)-384(or)-384(a)-384(week)-384(earlier;)-451(but)-384(it)-384(came)-385(just)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+366 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 367 0 R
+/Resources 365 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 370 0 R
+>> endobj
+368 0 obj <<
+/D [366 0 R /XYZ 111.69 381.456 null]
+>> endobj
+369 0 obj <<
+/D [366 0 R /XYZ 304.983 79.691 null]
+>> endobj
+365 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+373 0 obj <<
+/Length 3922      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(58)-11838(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 518.175 Td[(in)-306(the)-306(middle)-306(of)-307(a)-306(discouraging)-306(ten)-306(days')-306(downpour,)-320(which)-307(had)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(caused)-256(a)-255(dam)-255(to)-256(break)-255(and)-256(a)-255(chain)-256(of)-255(valuable)-256(cranberry)-255(bogs)-256(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(be)-212(drowned)-213(out)-212(for)-213(that)-212(year.)-238(The)-212(cranberry)-213(bogs)-212(were)-213(especially)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(dear)-250(to)-250(their)-250(owner's)-250(heart.)]TJ 11.956 -14.868 Td[("Why)-254(can't)-254(they)-254(drain)-254('em?")-254(she)-254(had)-254(asked)-254(Lucinda,)-256(who)-254(was)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(particularly)-372(nutcracker-like)-373(in)-372(appearance)-372(since)-372(her)-373(quarantine)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(episode.)]TJ 11.956 -14.867 Td[("'Pears)-472(like)-473(they're)-473(lower'n)-472(everywhere)-473(else,")-472(Lucinda)-473(an-)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(swered,)-337(her)-320(words)-320(sounding)-320(as)-320(if)-319(she)-320(had)-320(sharpened)-320(them)-320(on)-320(a)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(grindstone.)]TJ 11.956 -14.867 Td[(Aunt)-229(Mary)-229(bit)-230(her)-229(lip)-229(and)-229(frowned)-229(at)-230(the)-229(rain.)-243(She)-229(felt)-229(mad)-230(all)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(the)-250(way)-250(through,)-250(and)-250(longed)-250(to)-250(take)-250(it)-250(out)-250(on)-250(someone.)]TJ 11.956 -14.868 Td[(Ten)-330(minutes)-330(after)-330(Joshua)-329(arrived)-330(with)-330(the)-330(mail)-330(and)-330(the)-330(mail)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(bore)-204(one)-204(ominous)-204(letter.)-235(Joshua)-204(felt)-204(something)-204(was)-204(wrong)-205(before)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-250(fact)-250(was)-250(assured.)]TJ 11.956 -14.868 Td[("She)-297(wants)-297(the)-297(mail,")-297(Lucinda)-296(said,)-309(coming)-297(to)-297(the)-297(door)-297(with)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(her)-250(hand)-250(out)-250(as)-250(usual.)]TJ 11.956 -14.868 Td[("She'll)-243(get)-242(the)-243(mail,")-243(said)-242(Joshua,)-245(and)-242(as)-243(he)-243(spoke)-242(he)-243(gave)-243(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(seeker)-250(after)-250(tidings)-250(a)-250(blood-curdling)-250(wink.)]TJ 11.956 -14.868 Td[("There)-246(isn't)-246(a)-246(telegram)-246(in)-246(one)-246(o')-247(the)-246(letters,)-246(is)-247(there?")-246(Lucinda)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(asked,)-250(much)-250(appalled)-250(by)-250(the)-250(wink.)]TJ 11.956 -14.868 Td[("No,)-218(there)-210(isn't)-210(no)-209(telegram)-210(in)-210(none)-210(o')-210(the)-210(letters,")-210(said)-210(Joshua.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -84.711 -13.549 Td[([082])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -14.868 Td[("Joshua)-269(Whittlesey,)-274(I)-269(do)-269(believe)-269(you)-269(was)-269(born)-269(to)-270(drive)-269(saints)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(mad.)-250(What)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 50.597 0 Td[(is)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.003 0 Td[(the)-250(matter?")]TJ -48.644 -14.867 Td[("Nothin')-250(ain't)-250(the)-250(matter)-250(as)-250(I)-250(know)-250(of.")]TJ 0 -14.868 Td[("Then)-250(what)-250(in)-250(Kingdom)-250(Come)-250(did)-250(you)-250(wink)-250(for?")]TJ 0 -14.868 Td[("I)-321(winked,")-321(said)-321(Joshua)-321(meaningly,)-339("cause)-321(I)-321(expect)-321(it'll)-322(be)-321(a)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(good)-250(while)-250(before)-250(we'll)-250(feel)-250(like)-250(winkin')-250(again.")]TJ 11.956 -14.868 Td[(Lucinda)-311(gave)-311(him)-311(a)-311(look)-311(in)-311(which)-311(curiosity)-311(and)-311(aggravation)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(fought)-256(catch-as-catch-can.)-268(Then)-255(she)-256(turned)-256(and)-256(went)-256(in)-256(with)-256(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(letters.)]TJ 11.956 -14.868 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(was)-250(sitting)-250(stonily)-250(staring)-250(at)-250(the)-250(rain.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+372 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 373 0 R
+/Resources 371 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 370 0 R
+>> endobj
+374 0 obj <<
+/D [372 0 R /XYZ 93.543 209.545 null]
+>> endobj
+371 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F18 18 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+377 0 obj <<
+/Length 4207      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Nine)-250(-)-250(The)-250(Downfall)-250(of)-250(Hope)-9451(59)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[("I)-333(thought)-333(you'd)-333(gone)-333(to)-333(take)-333(a)-333(drive)-333(with)-333(Joshua,")-333(she)-333(said)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(coldly.)-280("Well,)-263('s)-260(long)-260('s)-261(you're)-260(back)-260(I'll)-260(be)-260(glad)-260(to)-260(have)-260(my)-261(mail.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Most)-217(folks)-218(like)-217(to)-217(get)-217(their)-218(mail)-217(as)-217(soon)-217(as)-218(it)-217(comes)-217(an')-218(I)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 241.248 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(Mercy)]TJ -252.157 -13.549 Td[(on)-250(us!")]TJ 11.956 -15.088 Td[(It)-242(was)-242(the)-242(letter)-241(from)-242(the)-242(authorities)-242(enclosed)-242(in)-242(one)-242(from)-242(Mr.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Stebbins.)]TJ 11.956 -15.088 Td[(Lucinda)-250(stood)-250(bolt)-250(upright)-250(before)-250(her)-250(mistress.)]TJ 0 -15.087 Td[("What's)-324(happened?")-325(she)-324(yelled)-324(breathlessly,)-343(after)-324(a)-324(few)-325(sec-)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(onds)-423(of)-423(the)-423(direst)-422(kind)-423(of)-423(silence)-423(had)-423(loaded)-423(the)-423(atmosphere)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(while)-250(the)-250(letter)-250(was)-250(being)-250(carefully)-250(read.)]TJ 11.956 -15.088 Td[(Then:)]TJ 0 -15.087 Td[("Happened!)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 52.309 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")-271(said)-271(Aunt)-270(Mary,)-276(transfixing)-271(the)-271(terrible)-271(type-)]TJ -75.174 -13.549 Td[(written)-254(communication)-254(with)-253(a)-254(yet)-254(more)-253(terrible)-254(look)-254(of)-254(determi-)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([083])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.55 Td[(nation.)-333("Happened!)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 85.939 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(Well,)-284(jus')-278(what)-278(I)-277(expected)-278('s)-277(happened)-278(an')]TJ -96.848 -13.549 Td[(jus')-289(what)-289(nobody)-289(expects)-289('ll)-289(happen)-289(now.)-368(Lucinda,)-298(you)-290(run)-289(like)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(you)-295(was)-295(paid)-295(for)-295(it)-295(and)-295(tell)-295(Joshua)-295(not)-295(to)-295(unharness.)-385(Don't)-295(stop)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-318(open)-318(your)-317(mouth.)-454(You'll)-318(need)-318(your)-317(breath)-318(before)-318(you)-318(get)-318(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-250(barn.)-250(Scurry!")]TJ 11.956 -15.088 Td[(Lucinda)-339(scurried.)-516(She)-339(splashed)-339(and)-339(spattered)-339(down)-339(through)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(the)-464(lane)-464(that)-463(led)-464(to)-464(Joshua's)-464(kingdom)-463(w)-1(ith)-463(a)-464(vigor)-464(that)-464(was)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(commendable)-250(in)-250(one)-250(of)-250(her)-250(age.)]TJ 11.956 -15.088 Td[("She)-270(says)-270('don't)-269(unharness,'")-270(she)-270(panted,)-275(bouncing)-270(in)-270(through)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(the)-267(doorway)-268(just)-267(as)-267(Joshua)-267(was)-268(slowly)-267(and)-267(carefully)-267(folding)-268(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(lap-robe)-250(in)-250(the)-250(crease)-250(to)-250(which)-250(it)-250(had)-250(become)-250(habituated.)]TJ 11.956 -15.087 Td[(Joshua)-250(continued)-250(to)-250(fold.)]TJ 0 -15.088 Td[("Then)-317(I)-317(won't)-317(unharness,")-317(he)-317(said)-317(calmly.)-451(He)-317(hung)-317(the)-317(robe)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(over)-289(the)-288(line)-289(that)-288(was)-289(stretched)-289(to)-288(hang)-289(robes)-288(over)-289(and)-289(Lucinda)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(gasped)-250(for)-250(wind)-250(with)-250(which)-250(to)-250(inflate)-250(further)-250(conversation.)]TJ 11.956 -15.088 Td[("She)-211(says)-210(wh)-1(at)-210(nobody)-211(expects)-211(is)-211(goin')-210(to)-211(happen,")-211(she)-211(panted)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(as)-250(soon)-250(as)-250(she)-250(could.)]TJ 11.956 -15.087 Td[("What)-379(nobody)-379(expects)-379(is)-379(always)-379(happenin')-379(where)-380(he's)-379(con-)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(cerned,")-250(said)-250(Joshua.)]TJ 11.956 -15.088 Td[("I)-250(s'pose)-250(he's)-250(in)-250(some)-250(new)-250(row,")-250(said)-250(Lucinda.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+376 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 377 0 R
+/Resources 375 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 370 0 R
+>> endobj
+378 0 obj <<
+/D [376 0 R /XYZ 196.963 347.894 null]
+>> endobj
+375 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+381 0 obj <<
+/Length 4471      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(60)-11838(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[("I'm)-297(sure)-296(he)-297(is,")-296(said)-297(Joshua,)-308("an')-297(if)-297(you)-296(don't)-297(go)-296(back)-297(to)-297(her)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(pretty)-250(quick)-250(you)-250(won't)-250(be)-250(no)-250(better)-250(off.")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([084])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -13.927 Td[(Lucinda)-363(turned)-363(away)-363(and)-364(returned)-363(to)-363(the)-363(house.)-589(She)-364(found)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Aunt)-278(Mary)-279(still)-278(staring)-278(at)-279(the)-278(letters)-279(with)-278(the)-278(same)-279(concentrated)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(fury)-250(as)-250(before.)]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("Well,)-377(is)-351(Joshua)-352(a'comin')-351(to)-351(the)-352(door?")-351(she)-352(asked)-351(when)-352(she)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(saw)-250(her)-250(maid)-250(before)-250(her.)]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("You)-209(didn't)-209(say)-210(for)-209(him)-209(to)-209(come)-210(to)-209(the)-209(door,")-209(Lucinda)-210(howled,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[("you)-250(said)-250(for)-250(him)-250(to)-250(stay)-250(harnessed.")]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(appeared)-250(on)-250(the)-250(verge)-250(of)-250(ignition.)]TJ 0 -13.927 Td[("Lucinda,")-328(she)-328(said,)-348("every)-328(week)-328(I)-328(live)-328(under)-328(the)-328(same)-328(roof)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(with)-368(you)-368(your)-368(brains)-368(strike)-368(me)-368('s)-368(some)-368(shrunk)-368(from)-368(the)-368(week)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(before.)-658(What)-386(in)-386(Heaven's)-386(name)-386(should)-386(I)-386(want)-386(Joshua)-387(to)-386(stay)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(harnessed)-269(in)-269(the)-270(barn)-269(for?)-308(I)-269(want)-269(him)-269(to)-269(go)-270(for)-269(Mr.)-307(Stebbins)-270(an')]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(I)-317(want)-317(him)-317(to)-317(understand)-316('t)-317(if)-317(Mr.)-451(Stebbins)-317(can't)-317(come)-317(he's)-317(got)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-335(come)-335(just)-334(the)-335(same's)-335(if)-335(he)-334(could)-335(anyhow.)-504(I)-335(may)-335(seem)-335(quiet)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-355(you,)-382(Lucinda,)-382(but)-355(if)-356(I)-355(do,)-381(it)-356(only)-355(shows)-356(all)-355(over)-355(again)-356(how)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(little)-294(you)-294(know.)-382(This)-293(is)-294(a)-294(awful)-294(day)-294(an')-294(if)-294(you)-294(knew)-294(how)-294(awful)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(you'd)-257(be)-256(half)-257(way)-256(back)-257(to)-256(the)-257(barn)-256(right)-257(now.)-270(I)-256(ain't)-257(triflin')]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 255.637 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.91 0 Td[(I'm)]TJ -266.547 -13.549 Td[(meanin')-250(every)-250(word.)-250(Every)-250(syllable.)-250(Every)-250(letter.")]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[(Lucinda)-370(fled)-370(out)-369(into)-370(the)-370(open)-370(again.)-609(Her)-370(footprints)-370(of)-370(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(time)-255(before)-255(were)-255(little)-256(oblong)-255(ponds)-255(now)-255(and)-255(she)-255(laid)-255(out)-255(a)-256(new)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(course)-271(parallel)-270(to)-271(their)-271(splashes.)-312(She)-271(found)-270(Joshua)-271(sponging)-271(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(dasher.)]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("She)-250(wants)-250(you)-250(to)-250(go)-250(straight)-250(out)-250(again.")]TJ 0 -13.927 Td[(Joshua)-250(flung)-250(the)-250(sponge)-250(into)-250(the)-250(pail.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -84.711 0 Td[([085])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -13.927 Td[("Then)-312(I'll)-312(go)-312(straight)-312(out)-312(again,")-311(he)-312(said,)-328(moving)-312(toward)-312(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(horse's)-250(head.)]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("You're)-250(to)-250(bring)-250(Mr.)-250(Stebbins)-250(whether)-250(he)-250(can)-250(come)-250(or)-250(not.")]TJ 0 -13.927 Td[("He'll)-361(come,")-361(said)-361(Joshua;)-416(and)-361(then)-361(he)-361(backed)-361(the)-361(horse)-361(so)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(suddenly)-250(that)-250(the)-250(buggy)-250(wheel)-250(nearly)-250(went)-250(over)-250(Lucinda.)]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("She)-250(says)-250(this)-250(is)-250(an)-250(awful)-250(day)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 129.894 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")-250(began)-250(Lucinda.)]TJ -140.803 -13.927 Td[(Joshua)-169(got)-168(into)-169(the)-169(buggy)-169(and)-169(tucked)-168(the)-169(rubber)-169(blanket)-169(around)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(himself.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+380 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 381 0 R
+/Resources 379 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 370 0 R
+>> endobj
+382 0 obj <<
+/D [380 0 R /XYZ 271.143 504.626 null]
+>> endobj
+383 0 obj <<
+/D [380 0 R /XYZ 270.945 176.424 null]
+>> endobj
+379 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+386 0 obj <<
+/Length 3767      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Nine)-250(-)-250(The)-250(Downfall)-250(of)-250(Hope)-9451(61)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[("She)-250(says)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 42.327 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ -53.236 -13.549 Td[(Joshua)-250(drove)-250(out)-250(of)-250(the)-250(barn)-250(and)-250(away.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Lucinda)-196(went)-196(slowly)-196(back)-195(to)-196(the)-196(house.)-232(Aunt)-196(Mary)-196(had)-196(ceased)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(to)-250(glare)-250(at)-250(the)-250(letter)-250(and)-250(was)-250(now)-250(glaring)-250(at)-250(the)-250(rain)-250(instead.)]TJ 11.956 -13.55 Td[("Lucinda,")-381(she)-381(said)-381("I'll)-381(thank)-381(you)-381(not)-381(to)-381(ever)-381(mention)-381(my)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(nephew)-335(to)-335(me)-335(again.)-504(I've)-335(took)-335(a)-335(vow)-335(to)-335(never)-335(speak)-335(his)-335(name)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(again)-250(myself.)-250(By)-250(no)-250(means)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 118.473 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(not)-250(at)-250(all)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 38.182 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(never.")]TJ -166.517 -13.549 Td[("Which)-250(nephew?")-250(shrieked)-250(Lucinda.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary's)-250(eyes)-250(snapped.)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[("Jack!")-273(she)-273(said,)-279(with)-273(an)-274(accent)-273(that)-273(seemed)-273(to)-273(split)-273(the)-274(short)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(word)-250(in)-250(two.)]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[(After)-250(a)-250(little)-250(she)-250(spoke)-250(again.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[("Lucinda,)-285(it's)-279(all)-278(been)-278(owin')-279(to)-278(the)-279(city)-278(an')-278(this)-279(last)-278(is)-278(all)-279(city.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[('F)-257(I)-256(cared)-257(a)-256(rap)-257(what)-257(happened)-256(to)-257(him)-257(after)-256(this)-257(I'd)-256(never)-257(let)-257(him)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(go)-272(near)-272(a)-272(place)-271(over)-272(two)-272(thousand)-272(again)-272(as)-272(long)-271(as)-272(he)-272(lived.)-316(It's)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([086])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.023 -13.549 Td[(no)-285(use)-286(tryin')-286(to)-285(explain)-286(things)-285(to)-286(you,)-294(Lucinda,)-294(because)-286(it)-286(never)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(has)-306(been)-307(any)-306(use)-307(an')-306(never)-306(will)-307(be)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 152.593 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(an')-306(anyway,)-321(I'm)-306(done)-307(with)]TJ -163.503 -13.549 Td[(it)-306(all.)-418(I)-305(s)-1(h'll)-305(want)-306(you)-306(for)-306(a)-306(witness)-306(when)-306(I'm)-306(through)-306(with)-306(Mr.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Stebbins,)-330(and)-313(then)-314(you)-313(can)-314(get)-314(some)-313(marmalade)-314(out)-313(for)-314(tea)-314(an')]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(we'll)-250(all)-250(live)-250(in)-250(peace)-250(hereafter.")]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[(Joshua)-349(returned)-350(with)-349(Mr.)-548(Stebbins)-349(and)-349(the)-349(latter)-350(gentleman)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(went)-363(to)-362(work)-363(with)-363(a)-363(will)-362(and)-363(willed)-363(Jack)-362(out)-363(of)-363(Aunt)-363(Mary's.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Later)-291(Joshua)-291(took)-291(him)-291(home)-291(again.)-373(Lucinda)-291(got)-291(the)-291(marmalade)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(out)-223(of)-224(the)-223(cellar)-224(and)-223(Aunt)-223(Mary)-224(had)-223(it)-224(with)-223(her)-223(tea.)-241(It)-224(was)-223(a)-224(bitter)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(tea)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 12.72 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.91 0 Td[(unsugared)-250(indeed)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 76.647 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(and)-250(the)-250(days)-250(that)-250(followed)-250(matched.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 179.838 -29.65 Td[([087])]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+385 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 386 0 R
+/Resources 384 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 370 0 R
+>> endobj
+387 0 obj <<
+/D [385 0 R /XYZ 116.178 328.486 null]
+>> endobj
+388 0 obj <<
+/D [385 0 R /XYZ 46.771 163.343 null]
+>> endobj
+384 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+389 0 obj
+<< /S /GoTo /D (index11) >>
+endobj
+392 0 obj
+(Chapter Ten - The Woes of the Disinherited.)
+endobj
+395 0 obj <<
+/Length 3246      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 18.959 Tf 93.543 479.321 Td[(Chapter)-263(Ten)-263(-)-263(The)-263(Woes)-263(of)-263(the)]TJ 0 -24.647 Td[(Disinherited.)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 0 -37.533 Td[(It)-338(was)-337(some)-338(days)-337(later)-338(on)-338(in)-337(the)-338(world's)-337(history)-338(that)-338(Holloway)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(was)-250(calling)-250(on)-250(Bertha)-250(Rosscott.)]TJ 11.956 -14.571 Td[(They)-378(were)-377(sitting)-378(in)-378(that)-377(comfortable)-378(library)-378(previously)-378(re-)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(ferred)-290(to)-290(and)-290(were)-290(sweetly)-290(unaware)-290(that)-290(any)-290(untoward)-290(series)-290(of)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(incidents)-250(had)-250(ever)-250(led)-250(to)-250(an)-250(invasion)-250(of)-250(their)-250(privacy.)]TJ 11.956 -14.571 Td[(Holloway)-311(lay)-311(well)-311(back)-311(in)-311(a)-311(sleepy-hollow)-311(chair)-312(and)-311(looked)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(indolently,)-286(lazily)-279(handsome;)-293(his)-279(hostess)-278(w)-1(as)-278(up)-279(on)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 223.035 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(well)-279(up)-279(on)]TJ -233.944 -13.55 Td[(the)-320(divan,)-337(and)-320(he)-319(had)-320(the)-320(full)-320(benefit)-319(of)-320(her)-320(admirable)-320(bottines)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-250(their)-250(dainty)-250(heels)-250(and)-250(buckles.)]TJ 11.956 -14.571 Td[("Honestly,")-290(he)-291(said,)-301(looking)-290(her)-291(over)-290(with)-291(a)-290(gaze)-291(that)-290(was)-291(at)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(once)-236(roving)-235(and)-236(well)-236(content,)-238("honestly,)-239(I)-235(think)-236(that)-235(every)-236(time)-236(I)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(see)-250(you,)-250(you)-250(appear)-250(more)-250(attractive)-250(than)-250(the)-250(time)-250(before.")]TJ 11.956 -14.571 Td[("It's)-262(very)-262(nice)-263(of)-262(you)-262(to)-262(say)-262(so,")-262(she)-263(replied.)-286("And,)-265(of)-263(course,)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(I)-307(believe)-307(you,)-321(for)-307(every)-307(time)-307(that)-307(I)-307(get)-307(a)-308(new)-307(gown)-307(I)-307(think)-307(that)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(very)-303(same)-303(thing)-304(myself.)-409(Still,)-316(I)-304(do)-303(regard)-303(it)-303(as)-303(strange)-303(if)-303(I)-304(look)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(nicely)-250(to-day,)-250(for)-250(I've)-250(been)-250(crying)-250(like)-250(a)-250(baby)-250(all)-250(the)-250(morning.")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.756 0 Td[([088])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.712 -14.571 Td[("You)-250(crying!)-250(And)-250(why?")]TJ 0 -14.572 Td[(She)-250(raised)-250(her)-250(eyes)-250(to)-250(his.)]TJ 0 -14.572 Td[("Such)-250(bad)-250(news!")-250(she)-250(said)-250(simply.)]TJ 0 -14.571 Td[("From)-250(where?)-250(Of)-250(whom?")]TJ 0 -14.572 Td[("From)-250(mamma,)-250(about)-250(Bob.")]TJ 0 -14.571 Td[("Have)-243(his)-244(wounds)-243(proved)-243(serious?")-244(Holloway)-243(looked)-244(slightly)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(distressed)-250(as)-250(was)-250(proper.)]TJ 11.956 -14.571 Td[("It)-239(isn't)-240(that.)-246(It's)-240(papa.)-247(Papa)-239(has)-240(forbidden)-239(him)-240(the)-239(house.)-247(He's)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(very,)-250(very)-250(angry.")]TJ 11.956 -14.572 Td[(Holloway)-250(looked)-250(relieved.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+394 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 395 0 R
+/Resources 393 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 370 0 R
+>> endobj
+390 0 obj <<
+/D [394 0 R /XYZ 93.543 529.134 null]
+>> endobj
+396 0 obj <<
+/D [394 0 R /XYZ 93.543 209.813 null]
+>> endobj
+393 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+399 0 obj <<
+/Length 3507      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Ten)-250(-)-250(The)-250(Woes)-250(of)-250(the)-250(Disinherited.)-6840(63)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[("Your)-232(father)-231(won't)-232(stay)-232(angry)-232(long,)-235(and)-232(you)-231(know)-232(it,")-232(he)-232(said.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[("Just)-328(think)-327(how)-327(often)-328(he)-327(has)-328(lost)-327(his)-328(temper)-327(over)-328(the)-327(boys)-328(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(how)-250(often)-250(he's)-250(found)-250(it)-250(again.")]TJ 11.956 -14.521 Td[("It)-291(isn't)-291(just)-291(Bob,")-291(said)-290(Mrs)-1(.)-372(Rosscott.)-373("I've)-291(someone)-291(else)-291(on)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(my)-250(mind,)-250(too.")]TJ 11.956 -14.521 Td[("Who,)-250(pray?")]TJ 0 -14.521 Td[("His)-250(friend.")]TJ 0 -14.52 Td[("Young)-250(Denham?")]TJ 0 -14.521 Td[("Yes.")]TJ 0 -14.521 Td[(With)-363(that)-363(she)-364(threw)-363(her)-363(head)-364(up)-363(and)-363(looked)-363(very)-364(straightly)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(at)-410(her)-409(caller)-410(whose)-410(visage)-409(shaded)-410(ever)-410(so)-410(slightly)-409(in)-410(spite)-410(of)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(himself.)]TJ 11.956 -14.521 Td[("Have)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 31.955 0 Td[(his)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 17.217 0 Td[(wounds)-411(proved)-412(serious?")-411(he)-411(asked,)-452(smiling,)-451(but)]TJ -61.128 -13.549 Td[(unable)-452(to)-451(altogether)-452(do)-451(away)-452(with)-451(a)-452(species)-451(of)-452(parenthetical)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(inflection)-250(in)-250(his)-250(voice.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([089])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -14.521 Td[("It)-250(wasn't)-250(over)-250(his)-250(wounds)-250(that)-250(I)-250(cried.")]TJ 0 -14.521 Td[("Did)-250(you)-250(really)-250(cry)-250(at)-250(all)-250(for)-250(him?")]TJ 0 -14.52 Td[("I)-221(cried)-220(more)-221(for)-221(him)-221(than)-220(I)-221(did)-221(for)-220(Bob,")-221(she)-221(admitted)-221(boldly.)]TJ 0 -14.521 Td[("He)-250(is)-250(a)-250(fortunate)-250(boy!)-250(But)-250(why)-250(the)-250(tears)-250(in)-250(his)-250(case?")]TJ 0 -14.521 Td[("I)-250(felt)-250(so)-250(badly)-250(to)-250(be)-250(disappointed)-250(in)-250(him.")]TJ 0 -14.521 Td[("Did)-466(you)-465(expect)-466(to)-466(work)-466(a)-465(miracle)-466(there,)-520(my)-465(dear?)-898(Did)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(you)-345(think)-345(to)-345(r)-1(eform)-345(such)-345(an)-345(inveterate)-345(young)-345(reprobate)-345(with)-346(a)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(glance?")]TJ 11.956 -14.521 Td[("I'm)-161(not)-162(sure)-161(that)-162(I)-161(ever)-161(asked)-162(myself)-161(either)-162(of)-161(those)-162(questions,")]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(she)-490(replied,)-550(slowly;)-611("but)-490(he)-490(promised)-490(me)-490(something,)-550(and)-491(I)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(expected)-250(him)-250(to)-250(keep)-250(his)-250(word.")]TJ 11.956 -14.521 Td[("Men)-189(don't)-189(keep)-189(such)-189(promises,)-202(Bertha,")-189(the)-189(visitor)-189(said.)-230("You)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(shouldn't)-250(have)-250(expected)-250(it.")]TJ 11.956 -14.521 Td[("I)-250(don't)-250(know)-250(why)-250(not.")]TJ 0 -14.52 Td[("Because)-250(a)-250(man)-250(who)-250(drinks)-250(will)-250(drink)-250(again.")]TJ 0 -14.521 Td[("I)-408(didn't)-407(refer)-408(to)-408(drinking,")-408(she)-408(said)-408(quietly.)-723("It)-408(was)-408(quite)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(another)-250(thing.")]TJ 11.956 -14.521 Td[("Ah!")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+398 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 399 0 R
+/Resources 397 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 401 0 R
+>> endobj
+400 0 obj <<
+/D [398 0 R /XYZ 147.069 321.686 null]
+>> endobj
+397 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F18 18 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+404 0 obj <<
+/Length 4377      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(64)-11838(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[(She)-385(looked)-386(down)-385(at)-386(her)-385(rings)-386(and)-385(seemed)-386(to)-385(consider)-386(how)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(much)-264(of)-265(her)-264(confidence)-264(she)-265(should)-264(give)-264(him,)-268(and)-264(the)-265(considera-)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(tion)-250(led)-250(her)-250(to)-250(look)-250(up)-250(presently)-250(and)-250(say:)]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("He)-259(promised)-260(me)-259(that)-260(if)-259(he)-260(could)-259(not)-260(call)-259(any)-260(week)-259(he)-260(would)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(write)-406(m)-1(e)-406(a)-406(line)-407(instead.)-719(He)-407(came)-406(to)-407(town)-406(last)-407(week,)-445(and)-407(he)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(neither)-281(called)-282(nor)-281(wrote.)-344(That)-281(wasn't)-281(like)-281(the)-282(man)-281(I)-281(saw)-281(in)-282(him.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([090])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(That)-310(was)-311(a)-310(direct)-311(breaking)-310(of)-311(his)-310(word.)-431(I)-311(can't)-310(understand,)-326(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(I'm)-250(disappointed.")]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[(Holloway)-352(took)-352(out)-352(his)-353(cigarette)-352(case)-352(and)-352(turned)-352(it)-352(over)-353(and)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(over)-250(thoughtfully)-250(in)-250(his)-250(hands.)]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("He's)-250(nothing)-250(but)-250(a)-250(boy,")-250(he)-250(said)-250(at)-250(last,)-250(with)-250(an)-250(effort.)]TJ 0 -13.927 Td[("He's)-330(no)-330(boy,")-330(she)-330(said.)-490("He's)-330(almost)-330(twenty-two)-331(years)-330(old.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(He's)-250(a)-250(man.")]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("Some)-245(are)-245(men)-245(at)-245(twenty-two,)-246(and)-245(some)-245(are)-245(boys,")-245(Holloway)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(remarked.)-249("I)-247(was)-246(a)-247(man)-247(before)-246(I)-247(was)-247(eighteen)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 199.568 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(a)-247(man)-246(out)-247(in)-247(the)]TJ -210.477 -13.549 Td[(world)-250(of)-250(men.)-250(But)-250(Denham's)-250(a)-250(boy.")]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[(He)-217(rose)-218(as)-217(he)-218(spoke,)-224(and)-217(she)-218(held)-217(out)-217(her)-218(hand)-217(for)-218(him)-217(to)-218(raise)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(her,)-250(too.)]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("It's)-250(early)-250(to)-250(go,")-250(she)-250(remarked)-250(parenthetically.)]TJ 0 -13.927 Td[("I)-328(know,")-329(he)-329(replied;)-367("but)-329(I)-328(hear)-329(someone)-329(being)-328(shown)-329(into)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(the)-207(drawing-room.)-236(I)-207(don't)-207(feel)-207(formal)-207(to-day,)-216(and)-207(if)-207(I)-207(can't)-207(lounge)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(in)-250(here)-250(alone)-250(with)-250(you)-250(I'd)-250(rather)-250(go.")]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("How)-250(egotistical!")-250(she)-250(commented.)]TJ 0 -13.927 Td[("I)-250(am)-250(egotistical,")-250(he)-250(admitted.)]TJ 0 -13.927 Td[(And)-250(went.)]TJ 0 -13.927 Td[(The)-332(footman)-331(passed)-332(him)-332(in)-331(the)-332(hall;)-372(he)-332(had)-332(a)-331(card)-332(upon)-332(his)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(silver)-373(salver,)-403(and)-373(was)-373(seeking)-373(his)-373(mistress)-372(in)-373(the)-373(library.)-619(But)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(when)-441(he)-440(entered)-441(there)-441(the)-440(room)-441(was)-441(empty.)-822(Mrs.)-822(Rosscott)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(had)-275(slipped)-275(through)-275(the)-275(blue)-275(velvet)-275(porti\350res,)-282(expecting)-275(to)-275(see)-275(a)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([091])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(friend,)-215(and)-206(had)-206(stopped)-206(short)-206(on)-206(the)-206(other)-207(side,)-214(amazed)-206(a)-1(t)-206(finding)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(herself)-250(face)-250(to)-250(face)-250(with)-250(an)-250(utter)-250(stranger.)]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("I)-238(gave)-238(the)-238(man)-238(my)-238(card,")-238(said)-238(the)-238(stranger,)-241(in)-238(a)-238(tone)-238(as)-238(faded)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(as)-243(his)-243(mustache.)-248(He)-242(was)-243(a)-243(long,)-245(thin)-242(ma)-1(n,)-244(but)-243(what)-243(the)-243(Germans)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(style)-250(")]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 27.786 0 Td[(sehr)-250(korrect)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 53.018 0 Td[(.")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+403 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 404 0 R
+/Resources 402 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 401 0 R
+>> endobj
+405 0 obj <<
+/D [403 0 R /XYZ 204.952 450.051 null]
+>> endobj
+406 0 obj <<
+/D [403 0 R /XYZ 146.813 134.266 null]
+>> endobj
+402 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R /F18 18 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+409 0 obj <<
+/Length 4280      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Ten)-250(-)-250(The)-250(Woes)-250(of)-250(the)-250(Disinherited.)-6840(65)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[("I)-299(didn't)-299(wait)-299(to)-299(get)-299(it,")-299(the)-299(hostess)-299(said.)-397("I)-298(supposed)-299(that,)-312(of)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(course,)-250(it)-250(was)-250(somebody)-250(that)-250(I)-250(knew.")]TJ 11.956 -13.838 Td[("That)-250(was)-250(natural,")-250(he)-250(admitted.)]TJ 0 -13.838 Td[(There)-250(was)-250(a)-250(slight)-250(pause)-250(of)-250(awkwardness.)]TJ 0 -13.838 Td[("Won't)-250(you)-250(sit)-250(down?")-250(she)-250(asked.)]TJ 0 -13.838 Td[("Certainly,")-250(said)-250(the)-250(caller,)-250(and)-250(sat)-250(down.)]TJ 0 -13.838 Td[(Then)-250(she)-250(sat)-250(down,)-250(too,)-250(and)-250(another)-250(awkward)-250(pause)-250(ensued.)]TJ 0 -13.838 Td[("You)-415(didn't)-415(expect)-415(to)-415(see)-415(me,)-456(did)-415(yo)-1(u?")-415(said)-415(the)-415(stranger,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(smiling.)]TJ 11.956 -13.838 Td[("No,)-304(I)-293(didn't,")-294(said)-293(Mrs.)-380(Rosscott)-293(frankly.)-380("I)-293(expected)-293(to)-294(see)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(someone)-286(else)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 58.865 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(someone)-286(that)-286(I)-286(knew.)-358(Nearly)-286(all)-286(my)-286(visitors)-286(are)]TJ -69.774 -13.55 Td[(people)-250(whom)-250(I)-250(know.")]TJ 11.956 -13.838 Td[(Her)-239(eyes)-240(rather)-239(demanded)-239(an)-240(observance)-239(of)-239(the)-240(conventional-)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(ities)-304(while)-303(her)-304(words)-303(were)-304(putting)-304(the)-303(best)-304(face)-303(possible)-304(on)-304(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(queer)-250(five)-250(minutes.)-250(The)-250(stranger)-250(smiled.)]TJ 11.956 -13.838 Td[("My)-285(name)-285(is)-285(Clover,")-285(he)-285(said)-285(then.)-356("Of)-285(course,)-293(as)-286(you)-285(never)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 279.068 0 Td[([092])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(saw)-250(me)-250(before,)-250(you)-250(want)-250(to)-250(know)-250(that)-250(first)-250(of)-250(all.")]TJ 11.956 -13.838 Td[("I'd)-236(choose)-236(to)-236(know,")-237(she)-236(said.)-245(And)-236(then)-236(the)-237(uncompromising)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(neutrality)-235(of)-236(her)-235(expression)-236(deepened)-235(so)-235(plainly)-236(that)-235(he)-236(hastened)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(to)-250(add:)]TJ 11.956 -13.838 Td[("I'm)-250(H.)-250(Wyncoop)-250(Clover.")]TJ 0 -13.838 Td[("Oh!")-275(she)-274(said.)-325(And)-274(the)-1(n)-274(smiled,)-281(too;)-287(having)-275(heard)-275(the)-275(name)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(before.)]TJ 11.956 -13.838 Td[("Why)-294(don't)-294(you)-294(ask)-294(me)-294(my)-294(business?")-294(went)-294(on)-295(H.)-294(Wyncoop)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Clover.)-250("I)-250(must)-250(have)-250(come)-250(for)-250(some)-250(reason,)-250(you)-250(know.")]TJ 11.956 -13.838 Td[("I)-205(didn't)-206(know)-205(it,")-205(said)-206(Mrs.)-235(Rosscott)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 159.181 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[("I)-205(don't)-206(know)-205(anything)]TJ -182.046 -13.549 Td[(about)-250(you)-250(yet.")]TJ 11.956 -13.838 Td[(They)-270(both)-270(smiled)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 76.798 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(and)-270(then)-270(H.)-270(Wyncoop)-270(resumed)-270(his)-270(color-)]TJ -99.663 -13.549 Td[(less)-250(sobriety)-250(at)-250(once.)]TJ 11.956 -13.838 Td[("It's)-616(about)-616(Jack,")-616(he)-616(said)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 122.883 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[("these)-616(terrible)-616(new)-616(develop-)]TJ -145.748 -13.55 Td[(ments)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 26.062 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")-487(he)-488(stopped)-487(short,)-546(seeing)-488(his)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 146.377 0 Td[(vis-\340-vis)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 42.276 0 Td[(turn)-487(deathly)]TJ -225.624 -13.549 Td[(white,)-250("it's)-250(nothing)-250(to)-250(be)-250(frightened)-250(over,")-250(he)-250(said)-250(reassuringly.)]TJ 11.956 -13.838 Td[(Mrs.)-338(Rosscott)-279(was)-280(furious)-279(with)-279(herself)-280(for)-279(having)-280(paled.)-338(She)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(became)-250(instantly)-250(haughty.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+408 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 409 0 R
+/Resources 407 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 401 0 R
+>> endobj
+410 0 obj <<
+/D [408 0 R /XYZ 237.097 312.338 null]
+>> endobj
+407 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R /F18 18 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+413 0 obj <<
+/Length 4102      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(66)-11838(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[("I)-309(was)-309(alarmed)-310(for)-309(my)-309(brother,")-310(she)-309(said.)-428("I)-309(always)-309(think)-310(of)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(them)-250(both)-250(as)-250(together.")]TJ 11.956 -14.78 Td[("Oh,)-238(in)-236(that)-235(case,)-239(I)-235(can)-235(reassure)-236(you)-235(instantly,")-236(said)-235(the)-236(caller.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[("Burnett)-250(is)-250(doing)-250(finely.")]TJ 11.956 -14.78 Td[(Mrs.)-280(Rosscott)-261(was)-260(conscious)-260(of)-260(being)-260(suddenly)-260(and)-261(skillfully)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(countercharged.)-1146(She)-548(blushed)-549(with)-549(vexation,)-623(bit)-548(her)-549(lip)-549(in)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(perturbation,)-258(and)-257(cast)-256(upon)-256(the)-257(trying)-256(individual)-257(opposite)-256(a)-257(look)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([093])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(of)-250(most)-250(appealing)-250(interrogation.)]TJ 11.956 -14.78 Td[("You)-270(see,")-270(said)-271(Clover)-270(pleasantly,)-275("I)-271(was)-270(coming)-270(to)-270(town,)-276(so)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(I)-250(came)-250(in)-250(handy)-250(for)-250(the)-250(purpose)-250(of)-250(telling)-250(you.")]TJ 11.956 -14.78 Td[(She)-237(gave)-236(him)-237(a)-237(glance)-237(that)-236(prayed)-237(him)-237(to)-237(be)-236(decent)-237(and)-237(go)-237(on)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(with)-250(his)-250(errand.)]TJ 11.956 -14.78 Td[("Burnett)-250(is)-250(about)-250(recovered,")-250(he)-250(said.)]TJ 0 -14.78 Td[(She)-250(clasped)-250(her)-250(hands)-250(hard.)]TJ 0 -14.78 Td[("I)-186(wouldn't)-186(be)-186(a)-185(man)-186(for)-186(anything!")-186(she)-186(exclaimed)-186(with)-186(sudden)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(fervor,)-264("they)-262(are)-261(so)-262(awfully)-261(mean.)-284(Why)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 176.765 0 Td[(don't)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 24.582 0 Td[(you)-261(go)-262(on)-261(and)-262(tell)]TJ -201.347 -13.549 Td[(me)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 16.059 0 Td[(what)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 23.945 0 Td[(you've)-250(come)-250(about?")]TJ -28.048 -14.78 Td[(He)-250(raised)-250(his)-250(eyebrows.)]TJ 0 -14.78 Td[("May)-250(I?")-250(he)-250(asked.)]TJ 0 -14.779 Td[(She)-250(choked)-250(down)-250(some)-250(of)-250(her)-250(exasperation.)]TJ 0 -14.78 Td[("Yes,)-250(you)-250(may.")]TJ 0 -14.78 Td[("Oh,)-539(thank)-481(you)-481(so)-481(much.)-943(I'll)-481(begin)-481(at)-481(once)-481(then.)-944(Only)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(premising)-316(that)-316(as)-316(I)-316(go)-316(to)-317(school)-316(with)-316(your)-316(little)-316(brother,)-333(and)-316(as)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(he)-262(is)-262(rather)-262(under)-262(a)-262(cloud)-262(just)-262(at)-262(present,)-265(we)-262(clubbed)-262(together)-262(to)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(bring)-239(you)-239(a)-240(letter)-239(about)-239(him)-239(and)-239(Jack.)-247(He)-239(was)-239(going)-239(to)-239(dictate)-240(it,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(but)-250(in)-250(the)-250(end)-250(Mitchell)-250(wrote)-250(it)-250(all.)-250(Here)-250(it)-250(is.")]TJ 11.956 -14.779 Td[(With)-193(that)-193(he)-193(put)-192(his)-193(hand)-193(into)-193(his)-193(pocket,)-204(drew)-193(out)-193(an)-193(envelope)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(and)-250(handed)-250(it)-250(to)-250(her.)]TJ 11.956 -14.779 Td[("How)-300(awfully)-300(good)-299(of)-300(you,")-300(she)-300(said)-299(gratefully.)-400("Do)-300(excuse)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(my)-272(reading)-271(it)-272(at)-272(once,)-277(won't)-271(you?)-315(You)-272(see,)-277(I've)-271(been)-272(so)-272(anxious)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([094])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(about)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 24.24 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(about)-250(my)-250(brother.")]TJ -23.193 -14.78 Td[(He)-451(nodded)-451(understandingly,)-502(and)-451(she)-451(hastily)-451(tore)-451(open)-452(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(envelope)-250(and)-250(ran)-250(her)-250(eyes)-250(over)-250(the)-250(written)-250(sheets.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+412 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 413 0 R
+/Resources 411 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 401 0 R
+>> endobj
+414 0 obj <<
+/D [412 0 R /XYZ 215.336 434.419 null]
+>> endobj
+415 0 obj <<
+/D [412 0 R /XYZ 219.086 108.02 null]
+>> endobj
+411 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F18 18 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+418 0 obj <<
+/Length 5196      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Ten)-250(-)-250(The)-250(Woes)-250(of)-250(the)-250(Disinherited.)-6840(67)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 9.863 Tf 66.408 518.175 Td[(M)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 8.768 0 Td[(Y)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 8.22 0 Td[(D)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 7.121 0 Td[(EAR)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 18.406 0 Td[(M)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 8.768 0 Td[(RS)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 9.748 0 Td[(.)-250(R)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 11.51 0 Td[(OSSCOTT)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 35.427 0 Td[(:)]TJ/F29 9.863 Tf 2.742 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf -98.755 -13.639 Td[(Being)-382(the)-382(prize)-382(writer)-382(of)-382(the)-383(class,)-415(I)-382(am)-382(chosen)-382(to)-382(take)]TJ -11.955 -12.822 Td[(down)-240(the)-241(ante)-240(mortem)-241(confessions)-240(of)-240(our)-241(shattered)-240(friends.)-247(It)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(is)-285(in)-286(a)-285(sad)-285(hour)-286(for)-285(them)-285(that)-285(I)-286(do)-285(so,)-294(because)-285(I)-286(am)-285(naturally)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(so)-299(truthful)-298(that)-299(I)-299(shall)-298(not)-299(force)-299(you)-298(to)-299(look)-299(for)-298(my)-299(meaning)]TJ 0 -12.821 Td[(between)-313(the)-313(lines.)-440(On)-313(the)-313(contrary,)-329(I)-313(shall)-313(set)-314(the)-313(cold)-313(facts)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(out)-372(as)-372(neatly)-372(as)-372(the)-372(pickets)-372(on)-373(the)-372(fence.)-616(And)-372(in)-372(evidence)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(thereof,)-327(I)-312(open)-312(the)-312(ball)-312(by)-312(telling)-312(y)1(ou)-312(frankly)-312(that)-312(they)-312(both)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(look)-201(fierce.)-234(If)-201(they)-201(had)-201(looked)-201(less)-201(awful,)-211(and)-201(Burnett)-201(had)-201(had)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(more)-337(lime)-337(in)-337(his)-337(bones,)-358(we)-337(might)-337(have)-337(escaped)-337(the)-337(Powers)]TJ 0 -12.821 Td[(That)-330(Be)-331(by)-330(simply)-331(admitting)-330(a)-331(sprained)-330(ankle)-331(and)-330(carefully)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(concealing)-434(everything)-434(else.)-801(But)-434(if)-434(one)-433(man)-434(cracks)-434(where)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(you)-330(can't)-330(finish)-330(the)-330(deal,)-350(even)-330(by)-330(the)-330(most)-330(unlimited)-330(outlay)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(of)-405(mucilage)-406(and)-405(persistence,)-444(and)-406(another)-405(blazes)-406(his)-405(whole)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(surface-area)-306(in)-306(a)-307(manner)-306(that)-306(seems)-306(to)-307(make)-306(the)-306(underbrush)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(dubious)-304(to)-305(count)-304(on)-305(forever)-304(henceforth;)-332(why,)-318(you)-305(then)-304(have)]TJ 0 -12.821 Td[(a)-392(logarithm)-392(the)-392(square)-392(of)-392(which)-392(is)-392(probably)-392(as)-392(far)-392(beyond)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(your)-318(depth)-319(as)-318(I)-318(am)-318(beyond)-319(my)-318(own)-318(just)-319(at)-318(this)-318(point)-319(of)-318(this)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(sentence.)]TJ 11.955 -13.639 Td[(The)-318(long)-317(and)-318(short)-318(of)-318(my)-317(fresh)-318(start)-318(is,)-334(that)-318(your)-318(brother)]TJ -11.955 -12.822 Td[(wants)-250(to)-250(write)-251(yo)1(u,)-251(but)-250(he)-250(is)-250(so)-250(handicapped)-251(\050forgive)-250(me,)-250(but)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(you're)-228(the)-227(only)-228(one)-227(who)-228(hasn't)-227(had)-228(that)-227(joke)-228(sprung)-227(on)-228(them!\051)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(with)-387(bandages,)-422(that)-388(it's)-387(cruel)-388(t)1(o)-388(expect)-387(much)-388(of)-387(him.)-663(It)-387(is)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 271.387 0 Td[([095])]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf -271.387 -12.822 Td[(true)-252(that)-252(he)-253(has)-252(his)-252(bosom)-252(friend)-252(to)-253(fal)1(l)-253(back)-252(upon,)-253(but)-252(if)-252(you)]TJ 0 -12.821 Td[(could)-205(see)-205(that)-205(friend)-206(as)-205(we)-205(see)-205(him)-205(these)-205(days)-206(you)-205(wouldn't)-205(be)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(sure)-260(whether)-260(it)-260(was)-260(true)-260(or)-260(not.)-280(The)-260(old)-260(woman,)-262(who)-260(had)-260(the)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(peddler-and-petticoat)-216(episode,)-222(was)-216(not)-215(in)-216(it)-215(the)-216(same)-215(day)-216(with)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(your)-342(brother's)-342(friend!)-525(I)-342(do)-342(assure)-342(you.)-525(And)-342(anyhow)]TJ/F29 9.863 Tf 212.873 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 9.863 0 Td[(even)]TJ -222.736 -12.822 Td[(if)-306(he)-305(still)-306(has)-305(brains)]TJ/F29 9.863 Tf 79.448 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 9.863 0 Td[(his)-306(writing)-305(apparatus)-306(is)-305(all)-306(done)-305(up)-306(in)]TJ -89.311 -12.821 Td[(arnica,)-250(so)-250(there)-250(you)-250(are!)]TJ 11.955 -13.64 Td[(But)-258(do)-259(not)-258(allow)-258(me)-258(to)-259(alarm)-258(you)-258(unduly!)-275(When)-259(all's)-258(said)]TJ -11.955 -12.821 Td[(and)-333(done,)-354(they're)-333(not)-333(so)-333(badly)-333(off)-333(physically.)-499(Hair)-333(and)-333(ribs)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(are)-355(mere)-354(vanities,)-381(anyhow,)-380(and)-355(we're)-354(here)-355(to-day)-354(and)-355(gone)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(to-morrow!)]TJ 11.955 -13.639 Td[(Something)-405(much)-404(worse)-405(than)-405(disfigurements)-404(and)-405(broken)]TJ -11.955 -12.822 Td[(bones)-421(has)-422(sprung)-421(forth)-422(from)-421(chaos,)-465(and)-421(has)-422(almost)-421(stared)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+417 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 418 0 R
+/Resources 416 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 401 0 R
+>> endobj
+419 0 obj <<
+/D [417 0 R /XYZ 301.186 234.46 null]
+>> endobj
+416 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+422 0 obj <<
+/Length 5151      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(68)-11838(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 9.863 Tf 113.18 518.175 Td[(them)-365(out)-365(of)-366(countenance)-365(since.)-595(It)-366(is)-365(the)-365(wolf)-365(that)-366(is)-365(at)-365(the)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(door,)-359(and)-338(the)-337(howling)-337(and)-338(prowling)-337(of)-337(their)-338(particular)-337(wolf)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(is)-399(not)-400(to)-399(be)-400(sneezed)-399(at,)-437(let)-399(me)-400(tell)-399(you.)-699(To)-399(put)-400(a)-399(modern)]TJ 0 -12.821 Td[(political)-332(face)-331(upon)-332(an)-332(ancient)-332(Greek)-332(fable,)-352(the)-331(wolf)-332(in)-332(their)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(case)-392(symbolizes)-392(the)-392(bitter)-392(question)-393(of)-392(whose)-392(roof)-392(is)-392(going)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(to)-354(roof)-355(them)-354(when)-355(they)-354(get)-354(out)-355(of)-354(the)-355(plaster)-354(casts)-355(that)-354(are)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(bed)-278(and)-278(board)-278(to)-278(them)-278(just)-278(at)-278(present.)-335(Where)-278(are)-278(they)-278(to)-278(go?)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(All)-351(those)-351(which)-351(used)-351(to)-351(be)-352(open)-351(to)-351(them)-351(are)-351(suddenly)-351(shut)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(tight.)-242(They've)-225(both)-225(been)-225(expelled,)-230(and)-225(both)-225(been)-225(disinherited.)]TJ 0 -12.821 Td[(If)-382(I)-382(was)-383(inclined)-382(to)-382(look)-382(on)-383(the)-382(blue)-382(side)-382(of)-382(the)-383(blanket,)-415(I)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(should)-423(certainly)-423(feel)-423(that)-423(they)-424(were)-423(playing)-423(in)-423(very)-423(tough)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(luck.)-638(Burnett,)-412(of)-379(course,)-412(can)-379(come)-380(to)-379(you,)-412(and)-379(his)-380(soul)-379(is)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(full)-417(of)-416(the)-417(wish)-416(to)-417(bring)-417(his)-416(fellow-fright)-417(along)-416(with)-417(him.)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(Which)-385(wish)-385(of)-385(his)-384(is)-385(the)-385(gist)-385(of)-385(my)-385(epistle.)]TJ/F18 9.863 Tf 187.192 0 Td[(Can)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 20.238 0 Td[(he)-385(bring)]TJ -207.43 -12.821 Td[(him?)-425(He)-308(wants)-309(to)-308(know)-309(before)-308(he)-308(broaches)-309(the)-308(proposition.)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(I'm)-372(to)-372(be)-372(skinned)-372(alive)-372(if)-371(Jack)-372(ever)-372(learns)-372(that)-372(such)-372(a)-372(plea)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(was)-416(made,)-457(so)-416(I)-416(beg)-416(you)-416(whatever)-415(other)-416(rash)-416(acts)-416(you)-416(see)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -92.392 0 Td[([096])]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 92.392 -12.822 Td[(fit)-286(to)-286(commit)-287(during)-286(your)-286(meteoric)-286(flight)-286(across)-287(my)-286(plane)-286(of)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(existence,)-282(don't)-276(ever)-276(give)-276(me)-276(away.)-329(F)1(irstly,)-283(because)-276(if)-276(I)-276(ever)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(get)-264(a)-263(chance)-264(to)-264(do)-264(so,)-267(I'm)-264(positive)-263(that)-264(I)-264(should)-264(want)-263(to)-264(cling)]TJ 0 -12.821 Td[(to)-269(you)-269(as)-269(the)-269(mistletoe)-269(does)-269(to)-269(the)-269(oak,)-273(and)-269(could)-269(not)-269(bear)-269(to)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(be)-290(given)-291(away;)-311(and)-290(secondly,)-301(because)-290(I'm)-291(so)-290(attached)-291(to)-290(my)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(own)-285(skin)-285(that)-285(I)-285(should)-285(really)-284(suffer)-285(pain)-285(if)-285(it)-285(was)-285(taken)-285(from)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(me)-213(by)-214(force.)-238(Bob)-213(wants)-213(you)-214(to)-213(think)-214(it)-213(over,)-221(and)-213(let)-214(him)-213(know)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(as)-250(to)-250(the)-250(whats)-250(and)-250(whens)-250(by)-250(return)-250(mail.)]TJ 11.955 -14.456 Td[(You)-387(are)-387(so)-386(inspiring)-387(that)-387(I)-387(could)-386(write)-387(you)-387(all)-387(day,)-421(but)]TJ -11.955 -12.822 Td[(those)-301(relics)-300(of)-301(what)-301(once)-300(was,)-313(but)-301(alas!)-402(will)-301(never)-300(be)-301(again,)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(need)-450(to)-451(be)-450(rolled)-450(up)-450(afresh)-451(in)-450(absorbent)-450(cotton,)-500(and)-451(so)-450(I)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(must)-307(nail)-306(my)-307(Red)-306(Cross)-307(on)-306(to)-307(my)-306(left)-307(arm,)-320(and)-307(get)-306(down)-307(to)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(business.)-411(If)-304(you)-303(saw)-304(how)-304(useful)-303(I)-304(am)-304(to)-303(your)-304(brother,)-317(you'd)]TJ 0 -12.821 Td[(thank)-242(his)-241(lucky)-242(stars)-242(that)-241(I)-242(came)-242(through)-242(myself)-241(with)-242(nothing)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(worse)-408(than)-407(getting)-408(my)-407(ear)-408(stepped)-408(on.)-722(I)-408(was)-407(hugging)-408(the)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(ladder)-251(\050being)-250(canny)-251(and)-250(careful\051,)-251(and)-251(the)-250(man)-251(above)-250(me)-251(toed)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(in.)-530(Isn't)-344(it)-343(curious)-344(to)-343(think)-343(that)-344(if)-343(he'd)-344(worn)-343(braces)-344(in)-343(early)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(youth)]TJ/F18 9.863 Tf 24.933 0 Td[(my)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 13.966 0 Td[(ear)-250(would)-250(be)-250(all)-250(right)-250(now.)]TJ -26.944 -14.456 Td[(Behold)-250(me)-250(at)-250(your)-250(feet.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+421 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 422 0 R
+/Resources 420 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 401 0 R
+>> endobj
+423 0 obj <<
+/D [421 0 R /XYZ 181.213 313.026 null]
+>> endobj
+420 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F18 18 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+426 0 obj <<
+/Length 4118      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Ten)-250(-)-250(The)-250(Woes)-250(of)-250(the)-250(Disinherited.)-6840(69)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 9.863 Tf 230.609 518.175 Td[(Respectfully)-296(yours,)]TJ -31.207 -13.248 Td[(Herbert)-286(Kendrick)-287(Mitchell.)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -140.675 -25.496 Td[(When)-267(Mrs.)-301(Rosscott)-267(had)-267(finished)-267(the)-267(letter)-268(she)-267(looked)-267(across)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(at)-250(her)-250(caller,)-250(and)-250(said:)]TJ 11.955 -13.975 Td[("You've)-250(read)-250(this,)-250(haven't)-250(you?")]TJ 0 -13.975 Td[("No,")-267(said)-267(he.)-302("I)-267(tried)-267(to)-267(unstick)-267(it)-267(two)-267(or)-267(three)-267(tim)-1(es)-267(coming)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(on)-250(the)-250(train,)-250(but)-250(it)-250(was)-250(too)-250(much)-250(for)-250(me.")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.023 0 Td[([097])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -13.975 Td[("Don't)-589(you)-589(really)-590(know)-589(what)-589(it)-589(says?")-589(she)-589(asked)-590(more)]TJ -11.955 -13.55 Td[(earnestly.)]TJ 11.955 -13.975 Td[("Yes,)-247(I)-246(do,")-245(Clover)-246(answered,)-247("but)-246(Denham)-246(must)-246(never)-246(know)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(that)-250(I)-250(do.")]TJ 11.955 -13.975 Td[("I)-209(won't)-208(tell)-209(him,")-209(she)-208(said)-209(smiling)-208(faintly.)-237("But)-208(surely)-209(he)-209(can't)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(be)-250(as)-250(badly)-250(off)-250(as)-250(this)-250(says.)-250(Has)-250(he)-250(really)-250(lost)-250(all)-250(his)-250(hair?")]TJ 11.955 -13.975 Td[("Not)-353(all)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 35.577 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(only)-353(in)-353(spots,")-354(Clover)-353(reassured)-353(her;)-405(but)-353(then)-353(his)]TJ -58.441 -13.549 Td[(recollections)-241(overcame)-241(him,)-243(and)-241(he)-241(added,)-243(with)-241(a)-241(grin:)-245("But)-242(he's)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(a)-250(fearful)-250(looking)-250(specimen,)-250(all)-250(right,)-250(though.")]TJ 11.955 -13.975 Td[("About)-311(my)-311(brother,")-311(she)-311(went)-311(on,)-326(tur)-1(ning)-311(the)-311(letter)-311(thought-)]TJ -11.955 -13.55 Td[(fully)-250(in)-250(her)-250(fingers;)-250("when)-250(can)-250(he)-250(get)-250(out,)-250(do)-250(they)-250(think?")]TJ 11.955 -13.975 Td[("Any)-250(time)-250(next)-250(week.")]TJ 0 -13.975 Td[("I'll)-409(write)-410(him,")-409(she)-410(said.)-728("I'll)-409(write)-410(him)-409(and)-410(tell)-409(him)-410(that)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(everything)-250(will)-250(be)-250(arranged)-250(for)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 135.719 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(for)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 12.72 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.91 0 Td[(for)-250(them)-250(both.")]TJ -158.303 -13.975 Td[(Clover)-250(sprang)-250(to)-250(his)-250(feet.)]TJ 0 -13.975 Td[("Oh,)-275(thank)-270(you,")-270(he)-271(exclaimed.)-310("That's)-270(most)-270(awfully)-270(good)-271(in)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(you!")]TJ 11.955 -13.975 Td[("Not)-778(at)-779(all,")-778(she)-778(answered.)-1835("I'm)-779(very)-778(glad)-778(to)-779(be)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(able)-764(to)-764(welcome)-765(them.)-1792(You)-765(must)-764(impress)-764(that)-765(upon)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(them)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 21.818 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(particularly)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 50.291 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(particularly)-250(on)-250(my)-250(brother.")]TJ -81.972 -13.975 Td[(Clover)-250(smiled.)]TJ 0 -13.975 Td[("I)-250(will,")-250(he)-250(said,)-250(rising)-250(to)-250(go.)]TJ 0 -13.975 Td[("I'd)-341(ask)-341(you)-341(to)-341(stay)-341(longer,")-341(she)-341(said,)-364(holding)-341(out)-341(her)-341(hand,)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 279.068 0 Td[([098])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.023 -13.55 Td[("but)-250(I'm)-250(due)-250(at)-250(a)-251(charity)-250(entertainment)-250(to-night,)-250(and)-250(I)-250(have)-250(to)-251(go)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(very)-250(early.")]TJ 11.955 -13.975 Td[("I)-250(know,")-250(he)-250(said;)-250("I've)-250(come)-250(up)-250(on)-250(purpose)-250(to)-250(go)-250(to)-250(it.")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+425 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 426 0 R
+/Resources 424 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 429 0 R
+>> endobj
+427 0 obj <<
+/D [425 0 R /XYZ 229.389 424.383 null]
+>> endobj
+428 0 obj <<
+/D [425 0 R /XYZ 268.154 107.215 null]
+>> endobj
+424 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+432 0 obj <<
+/Length 1797      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(70)-11838(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[("Then)-250(I)-250(shall)-250(see)-250(you)-250(there?")-250(she)-250(asked)-250(him.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[("It)-278(will)-279(be)-278(w)-1(hat)-278(I)-278(sha)-1(ll)-278(be)-279(looking)-278(forward)-279(to)-278(most)-279(of)-278(all,")-279(he)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(said.)]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[("It's)-269(been)-270(a)-270(great)-269(pleasure)-270(to)-269(meet)-270(you,")-269(she)-270(said,)-274(holding)-270(out)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(her)-357(hand,)-384("you're)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 77.207 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(well,)-384(you're)-357('unlike,')-384(as)-358(they)-357(say)-357(in)-357(literary)]TJ -88.116 -13.549 Td[(criticisms.")]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[("Thank)-234(you,")-234(he)-234(replied;)-239("but)-234(may)-234(I)-234(ask)-234(if)-234(you)-234(intend)-234(that)-234(as)-234(a)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(compliment?")]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[("Dear)-507(me,")-506(she)-507(laughed,)-570("let)-507(me)-507(think)-506(how)-507(I)-506(did)-507(intend)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(it.)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 8.793 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(Yes,)-250(it)-250(was)-250(meant)-250(for)-250(a)-250(compliment.")]TJ -7.746 -13.549 Td[("Thank)-295(you,")-296(he)-295(said,)-307(shaking)-296(her)-295(hand)-296(warmly,)-307("it's)-295(so)-296(nice)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(to)-250(know,)-250(you)-250(know.)-250(Good-by.")]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[("Good-by.")]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Then)-250(he)-250(went)-250(away.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -84.711 -29.651 Td[([099])]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+431 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 432 0 R
+/Resources 430 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 429 0 R
+>> endobj
+433 0 obj <<
+/D [431 0 R /XYZ 93.543 312.385 null]
+>> endobj
+430 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+434 0 obj
+<< /S /GoTo /D (index12) >>
+endobj
+437 0 obj
+(Chapter Eleven - The Dove of Peace)
+endobj
+440 0 obj <<
+/Length 4935      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 18.959 Tf 46.771 479.321 Td[(Chapter)-250(Eleven)-250(-)-250(The)-250(Dove)-250(of)-250(Peace)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 0 -33.572 Td[(The)-497(first)-496(result)-497(of)-496(Mrs.)-990(Rosscott's)-497(invitation)-496(was)-497(that)-497(Jack)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(refused.)-312(He)-270(said)-271(that)-270(he)-271(had)-270(a)-270(sis)-1(ter)-270(of)-270(his)-271(own)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 205.973 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(two,)-276(if)-270(it)-271(came)]TJ -216.882 -13.549 Td[(to)-235(that)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 27.41 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(and)-235(so)-234(he)-235(could)-234(easily)-235(manage)-234(for)-235(himself.)-245(He)-234(was)-235(very)]TJ -38.319 -13.549 Td[(decided)-293(about)-292(it,)-304(and)-292(somewhat)-293(lofty)-293(and)-292(bitter)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 208.802 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(a)-293(stand)-292(which)]TJ -219.711 -13.549 Td[(no)-250(one)-250(understood)-250(his)-250(taking.)]TJ 11.956 -13.779 Td[(His)-202(flat)-202(refusal)-202(was)-202(communicated)-202(to)-202(his)-202(would)-202(be)-203(hostess)-202(and)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(it)-232(goes)-232(without)-232(saying)-232(that)-231(she)-232(was)-232(as)-232(unable)-232(to)-232(understand)-232(as)-232(all)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-227(rest.)-242(It)-227(keyed)-227(well)-227(enough)-227(with)-227(his)-227(lately)-227(shown)-227(indifference,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(but)-485(the)-486(indifference)-485(keyed)-486(not)-485(at)-486(all)-485(with)-485(all)-486(that)-485(had)-486(gone)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(before)-464(and)-464(still)-464(less)-463(with)-464(her)-464(very)-464(correct)-464(comprehension)-464(of)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Jack)-289(himself.)-366(She)-289(was)-289(quite)-289(positive)-289(as)-288(to)-289(the)-289(sincerity)-289(of)-289(those)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(protestations)-199(which)-199(he)-199(had)-199(made)-199(so)-199(haltingly)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 193.609 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(so)-199(boyishly)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 49.45 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(and)]TJ -264.877 -13.549 Td[(in)-350(such)-350(absolutely)-350(truthful)-351(accents.)-550(Why)-350(he)-350(had)-350(turned)-350(over)-351(a)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(new)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 18.175 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(and)-378(bad)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 35.627 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(leaf)-378(so)-378(suddenly)-378(she)-377(did)-378(not)-378(at)-378(all)-378(know,)-410(but)]TJ -75.62 -13.549 Td[(her)-289(woman's)-289(wit)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 72.506 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(backed)-289(up)-289(by)-289(the)-290(many)-289(good)-289(instincts)-289(which)]TJ -83.415 -13.549 Td[(good)-265(women)-265(always)-264(get)-265(from)-265(Heaven)-265(knows)-265(just)-265(where)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 246.092 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(made)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 34.023 0 Td[([100])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.55 Td[(her)-378(feel)-378(firmer)-378(than)-378(ever)-378(as)-378(to)-378(her)-378(hospitable)-378(intentions.)-634(Jack)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(had)-292(told)-292(her)-293(many)-292(times)-292(that)-292(she)-293(was)-292(his)-292(good)-292(angel,)-303(and)-292(it)-293(did)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(not)-267(seem)-267(to)-268(her)-267(that)-267(now,)-271(when)-268(he)-267(was)-267(so)-267(deeply)-267(involved)-267(in)-268(so)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(much)-214(trouble,)-221(was)-214(the)-214(hour)-214(for)-214(a)-214(man's)-214(good)-214(a)-1(ngel)-214(to)-214(quietly)-214(turn)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(away.)-560(Suppose)-354(he)-353(was)-354(haughty!)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 146.44 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(she)-353(knew)-354(men)-353(well)-354(enough)]TJ -157.349 -13.55 Td[(to)-354(know)-354(that)-354(in)-354(his)-354(case)-354(haughtiness)-354(and)-354(shame)-354(would)-354(be)-354(two)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Dromios)-448(that)-448(even)-447(he)-448(himself)-448(would)-448(be)-447(unable)-448(to)-448(tell)-448(apart.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Suppose)-341(he)-341(did)-341(rebel)-341(against)-341(her)-341(kindness!)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 191.993 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(she)-341(knew)-341(women)]TJ -202.902 -13.549 Td[(well)-377(enough)-378(to)-377(know)-377(that)-377(under)-378(some)-377(circumstances)-377(they)-378(can)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(put)-390(down)-389(rebellion)-390(single-handed)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 150.911 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(if)-389(they)-390(can)-389(only)-390(be)-389(left)-390(in)]TJ -161.82 -13.549 Td[(the)-278(room)-278(alone)-278(with)-277(it)-278(for)-278(a)-278(few)-278(minutes.)-333(As)-278(regarded)-278(Jack,)-285(she)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(knew)-292(that)-291(there)-292(was)-291(some)-1(thing)-291(to)-292(explain;)-312(and)-292(as)-291(to)-292(herself)-292(she)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(was)-359(delightfully)-359(positive)-358(as)-359(to)-359(her)-359(own)-358(irresistibleness.)-577(Given)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+439 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 440 0 R
+/Resources 438 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 429 0 R
+>> endobj
+435 0 obj <<
+/D [439 0 R /XYZ 46.771 529.134 null]
+>> endobj
+441 0 obj <<
+/D [439 0 R /XYZ 71.478 242.282 null]
+>> endobj
+438 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+444 0 obj <<
+/Length 4990      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(72)-11838(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 518.175 Td[(two)-321(such)-321(statements)-320(and)-321(the)-321(conclusion)-321(is)-321(easy.)-462(Mrs.)-463(Rosscott)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(wrote)-250(to)-250(Mitchell)-250(and)-250(here)-250(is)-250(what)-250(she)-250(wrote:)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 19.637 -25.721 Td[(M)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 8.768 0 Td[(Y)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 8.22 0 Td[(D)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 7.121 0 Td[(EAR)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 18.406 0 Td[(M)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 8.768 0 Td[(R)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 5.316 0 Td[(.)-250(M)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 13.7 0 Td[(ITCHELL)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 33.203 0 Td[(:)]TJ -91.547 -13.438 Td[(I)-287(should)-288(have)-287(answered)-288(your)-287(letter)-288(before)-287(only)-288(that)-287(in)-288(the)]TJ -11.955 -12.822 Td[(excitement)-223(of)-222(corresponding)-223(with)-222(my)-223(brother)-222(I)-223(forgot)-222(all)-223(else.)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(But)-192(my)-192(manners)-192(have)-192(returned)-191(by)-192(slow)-192(degrees)-192(and)-192(in)-192(hunting)]TJ 0 -12.821 Td[(through)-226(my)-227(desk)-226(for)-226(a)-226(bill)-227(I)-226(found)-226(you)-227(and)-226(so)-226(take)-226(up)-227(my)-226(pen.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -92.392 -12.822 Td[([101])]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 104.347 -13.438 Td[(I)-204(am)-204(quite)-204(sure)-204(that)]TJ/F29 9.863 Tf 74.333 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 9.863 0 Td[(in)-204(spite)-204(of)-204(that)-204(beautiful)-203(opening)-204(play)]TJ -96.151 -12.822 Td[(of)-286(mine)]TJ/F29 9.863 Tf 30.766 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 9.863 0 Td[(you)-286(are)-287(wondering)-286(why)-287(I)-286(am)-286(really)-287(writing)-286(and)-287(so)]TJ -40.629 -12.822 Td[(I)-353(will)-353(tell)-354(you)-353(at)-353(once.)-560(When)-354(Bob)-353(comes)-353(here)-353(to)-354(stay)-353(with)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(me)-298(I)-299(want)-298(Mr.)-395(Denham)-299(to)-298(come)-299(too.)-395(I)-298(have)-299(various)-298(reasons)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(for)-363(wanting)-364(him)-363(to)-364(come.)-590(One)-364(is)-363(that)-364(he)-363(has)-364(nowhere)-363(else)]TJ 0 -12.821 Td[(to)-300(go)-300(where)-300(he)-299(will)-300(have)-300(half)-300(as)-300(good)-300(a)-300(time)-299(as)-300(he)-300(will)-300(here)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(and)-256(another)-256(is)-257(that)-256(if)-256(he)-256(goes)-257(anywhere)-256(else)-256(I)-256(won't)-257(have)-256(half)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(as)-345(good)-346(a)-345(time)-346(as)-345(if)-346(he)-345(comes)-346(here.)-536(Pray)-346(excuse)-345(my)-346(brutal)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(candor,)-308(but)-297(I)-297(am)-297(only)-297(a)-296(woman;)-321(brutal)-296(candor)-297(and)-297(womanly)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(weakness)-310(always)-311(have)-310(gone)-310(about)-310(encouraging)-311(one)-310(another,)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(you)-203(know.)-234(I)-203(cannot)-203(see)-203(any)-203(good)-204(reason)-203(for)-203(Mr.)-234(Denham's)-203(not)]TJ 0 -12.821 Td[(coming)-292(except)-291(that)-292(he)-292(declines)-291(my)-292(invitation.)-375(It)-292(is)-291(very)-292(silly)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(in)-293(him,)-303(and)-293(I)-293(regard)-293(it)-293(as)-293(no)-293(reason)-293(at)-293(all.)-378(I)-293(am)-293(quite)-293(unused)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(to)-280(being)-281(declined)-280(and)-280(do)-281(not)-280(intend)-281(to)-280(acquire)-280(the)-281(habit)-280(until)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(I)-341(am)-341(a)-341(good)-342(deal)-341(older)-341(than)-341(I)-341(was)-341(my)-341(last)-342(birthday.)-523(Still,)-364(I)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(can)-244(understand)-243(that)-244(he)-243(is)-244(too)-244(big)-243(to)-244(force)-243(against)-244(his)-244(will,)-244(so)-244(I)]TJ 0 -12.821 Td[(think)-245(the)-245(kindest)-245(way)-245(to)-245(break)-245(the)-245(back)-245(of)-245(the)-245(opposition)-245(will)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(be)-226(for)-226(me)-226(to)-226(do)-226(it)-225(personally.)-242(As)-226(an)-226(over-ruler)-226(I)-226(nearly)-226(always)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(succeed.)-250(All)-250(I)-250(require)-250(is)-250(an)-250(opportunity.)]TJ 11.955 -13.438 Td[(Please)-210(lay)-209(the)-210(two)-210(halves)-209(of)-210(your)-210(brain)-210(evenl)1(y)-210(together)-210(and)]TJ -11.955 -12.822 Td[(devise)-355(a)-355(train)-355(and)-355(an)-355(interview)-355(for)-355(me.)-565(Of)-355(course)-355(you)-355(will)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(meet)-262(me)-263(at)-262(the)-262(train)-262(and)-263(leave)-262(me)-262(at)-263(the)-262(interview.)-287(These)-262(are)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(the)-232(fundamental)-231(rules)-232(of)-231(my)-232(game.)-244(I)-232(know)-231(that)-232(you)-231(are)-232(clever)]TJ 0 -12.821 Td[(and)-301(before)-301(we)-301(have)-302(left)-301(the)-301(station)-301(you)-301(will)-302(know)-301(that)-301(I)-301(am.)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(As)-303(arch-conspirators)-302(we)-303(shall)-302(surely)-303(win)-303(out)-302(together,)-316(won't)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(we?)]TJ 172.742 -13.438 Td[(Yours)-298(very)-299(truly,)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+443 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 444 0 R
+/Resources 442 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 429 0 R
+>> endobj
+445 0 obj <<
+/D [443 0 R /XYZ 113.18 414.18 null]
+>> endobj
+442 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+448 0 obj <<
+/Length 4994      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Eleven)-250(-)-250(The)-250(Dove)-250(of)-250(Peace)-10063(73)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 9.863 Tf 242.075 518.175 Td[(Bertha)-299(Rosscott.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 95.72 -10.771 Td[([102])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -13.677 Td[(This)-348(missive)-349(posted,)-373(Jack's)-349(good)-348(angel)-349(made)-348(herself)-349(patient)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(until)-204(the)-204(afternoon)-205(of)-204(the)-204(next)-204(day)-205(when)-204(she)-204(might)-204(and)-204(did)-205(expect)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(an)-250(answer.)]TJ 11.956 -13.765 Td[(She)-154(was)-154(not)-154(disappointed.)-218(The)-154(letter)-154(came)-154(and)-154(it)-155(was)-154(pleasantly)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(bulky)-260(and)-260(appeared)-261(ample)-260(enough)-260(to)-260(have)-260(contained)-260(an)-261(indexed)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(gun)-323(powder)-323(plot.)-469(She)-323(was)-323(so)-323(sure)-323(that)-323(Mitchell)-324(had)-323(been)-323(fully)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(equal)-425(to)-425(the)-425(occasion)-425(that)-424(she)-425(tore)-425(the)-425(envelope)-425(open)-425(with)-425(a)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(smile)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 23.64 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.91 0 Td[(and)-250(read:)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf -14.913 -23.721 Td[(M)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 8.768 0 Td[(Y)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 8.22 0 Td[(D)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 7.121 0 Td[(EAR)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 18.406 0 Td[(M)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 8.768 0 Td[(RS)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 9.748 0 Td[(.)-250(R)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 11.51 0 Td[(OSSCOTT)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 35.427 0 Td[(:)]TJ -96.013 -13.038 Td[(To)-320(think)-321(of)-320(my)-321(having)-320(some)-321(of)-320(your)-321(handwriting)-320(for)-321(my)]TJ -11.955 -12.821 Td[(own!)]TJ/F29 9.863 Tf 20.268 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 9.863 0 Td[(I)-250(was)-250(nearly)-250(petrified)-250(with)-250(joy.)]TJ -18.176 -13.038 Td[(You)-260(see)-259(I)-260(know)-259(your)-260(writing)-260(from)-259(having)-260(read)-259(Burnett)-260(all)]TJ -11.955 -12.822 Td[(those)-318("Burn)-317(this)-318(at)-317(once")-318(epistles.)-452(And)-318(I)-317(know)-318(it)-317(still)-318(better)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(from)-314(having)-313(to)-314(catalogue)-314(them)-313(for)-314(his)-313(ready)-314(reference.)-441(You)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(know)-206(how)-206(impatient)-206(he)-206(is.)-235(\050But)-206(I)-206(have)-206(run)-206(into)-206(an)-206(open)-206(switch)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(and)-250(must)-250(digress)-250(backwards.\051)]TJ 11.955 -13.038 Td[(I)-346(shall)-346(preserve)-347(your)-346(letter)-346(till)-347(I)-346(die.)-539(In)-346(war)-346(I)-347(shall)-346(wear)]TJ -11.955 -12.821 Td[(it)-317(carefully)-317(spread)-317(all)-317(over)-318(wherever)-317(I)-317(may)-317(be)-317(killed,)-334(and)-317(in)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(peace)-325(I)-326(intend)-325(to)-326(keep)-325(my)-326(place)-325(in)-325(my)-326(Bible)-325(with)-326(it.)-476(Could)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(words)-250(say)-250(more!)-250(\050Being)-250(backed)-250(up)-250(again,)-250(I)-250(will)-250(now)-250(begin.\051)]TJ 11.955 -13.038 Td[(I)-334(was)-334(not)-335(at)-334(all)-334(surprised)-334(at)-334(your)-335(writing)-334(me.)-502(If)-335(you)-334(had)]TJ -11.955 -12.822 Td[(known)-241(m)1(e)-241(it)-241(would)-240(have)-241(been)-240(different.)-247(But)-240(where)-241(ignorance)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(is)-346(bliss)-346(any)-346(woman)-346(but)-346(yourself)-345(is)-346(always)-346(liable)-346(to)-346(pitch)-346(in)]TJ 0 -12.821 Td[(with)-344(a)-344(pen,)-367(and)-344(you)-344(see)-344(you)-344(are)-343(not)-344(yourself)-344(but)-344(only)-344("any)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(woman")-355(to)-355(me)-355(as)-356(yet.)-565(Besides,)-381(women)-356(have)-355(written)-355(to)-355(me)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(before)-387(you.)-661(My)-387(mother)-387(does)-387(so)-387(regularly.)-661(She)-387(encloses)-387(a)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(postal)-383(card)-383(and)-383(all)-383(I)-383(have)-383(to)-383(do)-384(i)1(s)-384(to)-383(mail)-383(it)-383(and)-383(there)-383(she)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 271.387 0 Td[([103])]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf -271.387 -12.822 Td[(is)-393(answered.)-679(It's)-394(a)-393(great)-393(scheme)-393(which)-393(I)-393(proudly)-393(invented)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(when)-299(I)-299(first)-298(went)-299(away)-299(to)-299(school)-299(and)-299(I)-298(recommend)-299(it)-299(to)-299(you)]TJ 0 -12.821 Td[(if)-250(you)]TJ/F29 9.863 Tf 23.286 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 9.863 0 Td[(if)-250(you)-250(ever)-250(have)-250(a)-250(mother.)]TJ -21.194 -13.038 Td[(How)-418(my)-417(ink)-418(does)-418(run)-417(away)-418(with)-418(me!)-753(Let)-418(me)-417(refer)-418(to)]TJ -11.955 -12.822 Td[(your)-362(esteemed)-361(favor)-362(again!)-584(Ah!)-585(we)-361(have)-362(worked)-361(down)-362(to)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(the)-381(bed-rock,)-415(or)]TJ/F29 9.863 Tf 65.634 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 9.863 0 Td[(in)-381(Hugh)-382(Miller's)-381(colloquial)-381(phrasing)]TJ/F29 9.863 Tf 148.324 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 9.862 0 Td[(to)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+447 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 448 0 R
+/Resources 446 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 429 0 R
+>> endobj
+449 0 obj <<
+/D [447 0 R /XYZ 46.771 507.404 null]
+>> endobj
+450 0 obj <<
+/D [447 0 R /XYZ 243.841 143.289 null]
+>> endobj
+446 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+453 0 obj <<
+/Length 4809      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(74)-11838(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 9.863 Tf 113.18 518.175 Td[(the)-303("old)-303(red)-303(sandstone,")-302(of)-303(the)-303(fact)-303(that)-303(you)-303(want)-302(Jack.)-409(You)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(state)-287(the)-288(fact)-287(with)-288(what)-287(you)-288(designate)-287(as)-288(brutal)-287(candor)]TJ/F29 9.863 Tf 217.252 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 9.863 0 Td[(and)]TJ -227.115 -12.822 Td[(I)-423(reply)-424(with)-424(candied)-423(brutality,)-467(that)-424(I)-423(have)-424(thought)-423(that)-424(all)]TJ 0 -12.821 Td[(along.)-409(If)-302(you)-303(are)-303(averse)-303(to)-303(my)-303(view)-302(of)-303(the)-303(matter,)-316(you)-303(must)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(look)-361(out)-361(of)-362(the)-361(window)-361(the)-361(whole)-361(time)-362(that)-361(I)-361(continue,)-389(for)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(once)-317(entered)-318(I)-317(always)-318(fight)-317(to)-318(a)-317(finish)-318(and)-318(I)-317(cannot)-317(retire)-318(to)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(my)-393(corner)-393(on)-393(this)-393(auspicious)-393(occasion)-393(without)-393(announcing)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(through)-294(a)-294(trumpet)-294(that)-294(even)-294(if)-294(Jack)-295(is)-294(a)-294(most)-294(idiotic)-294(fellow)-294(I)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(never)-256(have)-256(caught)-255(the)-256(microbe)-256(from)-256(him,)-257(and,)-257(as)-256(a)-256(sequence,)]TJ 0 -12.821 Td[(have)-336(always)-337(seen)-336(clear)-336(through)-336(and)-337(out)-336(of)-336(the)-336(other)-337(side)-336(of)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(the)-359(whole)-359(situation.)-577(Of)-359(course)-359(I)-359(should)-359(not)-359(say)-359(this)-359(to)-359(any)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(woman)-197(but)-197(you)-198(because)-197(it)-197(would)-197(not)-197(have)-197(any)-198(meaning)-197(to)-197(her,)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(but,)-278(between)-272(you)-273(and)-272(me)-273(all)-272(things)-272(are)-273(printed)-272(in)-273(plain)-272(black)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(and)-443(white)-444(and,)-491(therefore,)-492(I)-443(respectfully)-443(submit)-444(a)-443(program)]TJ 0 -12.821 Td[(consisting)-396(of)-396(the)-396(tw)1(o)-396(o'clock)-396(train)-396(Tuesday)-396(and)-396(myself,)-432(to)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(be)-375(recognized)-375(by)-375(a)-375(beam)1(ing)-375(look)-375(of)-375(burning)-375(joy,)-406(upon)-375(the)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(platform.)-534(Beyond)-344(that)-345(you)-345(may)-344(confide)-345(yourself)-344(to)-345(waxing)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(waxy)-311(in)-312(my)-311(hands.)-434(They)-311(are)-311(not)-311(bad)-312(hands)-311(to)-311(be)-311(in)-312(as)-311(your)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(brother)-273(and)-272(whatever-you-call-Jack)-273(can)-273(testify.)-318(I)-273(will)-272(lay)-273(my)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(lines)-250(in)-250(the)-250(dark)-250(to)-250(the)-250(end)-250(that)-250(you)-250(may)-250(bloom)-250(in)-250(the)-250(sun.)]TJ 11.955 -13.085 Td[(Trust)-250(me.)-250(You)-250(need)-250(do)-250(no)-250(more)]TJ/F29 9.863 Tf 125.733 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 9.863 0 Td[(except)-250(buy)-250(your)-250(ticket.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -239.943 0 Td[([104])]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 104.347 -13.085 Td[(The)-372(two)-373(o'clock)-372(on)-372(Tuesday.)-617(You)-372(can)-373(easily)-372(remember)]TJ -11.955 -12.822 Td[(it)-373(by)-372(the)-373(T's)]TJ/F29 9.863 Tf 50.063 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 9.863 0 Td[(if)-373(you)-372(don't)-373(get)-373(mixed)-372(with)-373(three)-372(o'clock)-373(on)]TJ -59.926 -12.822 Td[(Thursday.)-373(Try)-291(remembering)-291(it)-291(by)-290(the)-291(2's.)-373(A)-291(safe)-291(way)-291(would)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(be)-250(to)-250(put)-250(it)-250(down.)]TJ 181.998 -13.085 Td[(Yours)-301(to)-301(obey,)]TJ -49.004 -13.086 Td[(Herbert)-286(Kendrick)-287(Mitchell.)]TJ -121.039 -13.085 Td[(P.S.)-352(Please)-352(recollect)-353(that)-352(I)-352(am)-352(only)-353(handsome)-352(according)]TJ -11.955 -12.822 Td[(to)-509(the)-510(good)-509(old)-510(pr)1(overb,)-575(and)-509(do)-509(not)-510(mistake)-509(me)-510(for)-509(an)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(enterprising)-250(hackman.)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -7.681 -24.685 Td[(Mrs.)-1014(Rosscott)-505(clapped)-505(her)-505(hands)-504(with)-505(delight)-505(when)-505(she)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(finished)-447(the)-448(letter.)-842(She)-447(was)-448(overjoyed)-447(at)-447(the)-448(success)-447(of)-448(her)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[("opening)-296(play,")-296(and)-296(she)-296(wrote)-296(her)-296(new)-296(correspondent)-296(two)-296(lines)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(accepting)-202(his)-203(invitation,)-211(and)-203(went)-202(down)-202(on)-203(the)-202(appointed)-202(train)-203(on)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-260(appointed)-261(day.)-281(He)-260(met)-261(her)-260(at)-261(the)-260(depot)-260(and)-261(they)-260(divined)-261(one)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+452 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 453 0 R
+/Resources 451 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 429 0 R
+>> endobj
+454 0 obj <<
+/D [452 0 R /XYZ 353.59 261.475 null]
+>> endobj
+451 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+457 0 obj <<
+/Length 4879      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Eleven)-250(-)-250(The)-250(Dove)-250(of)-250(Peace)-10063(75)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 518.175 Td[(another)-189(at)-189(the)-190(first)-189(glance.)-229(It)-190(was)-189(impossible)-189(not)-189(to)-189(know)-189(so)-190(pretty)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(a)-345(woman)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 40.728 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(or)-345(so)-346(homely)-345(a)-346(man.)-536(For)-345(the)-345(ancestors)-346(of)-345(Mitchell)]TJ -51.637 -13.549 Td[(had)-335(worn)-334(kilts)-335(and)-334(red)-335(hair)-334(in)-334(centuries)-335(gone)-334(by,)-356(and)-335(although)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(he)-389(proved)-389(the)-388(truth)-389(of)-389(the)-389(red-hair)-389(proposition,)-423(no)-389(one)-389(would)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(ever)-434(believe)-434(that)-434(anything)-434(of)-434(his)-434(build)-434(could)-434(ever)-435(have)-434(been)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(induced)-340(to)-340(have)-340(put)-339(itself)-340(into)-340(kilts)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 157.396 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(knowingly.)-520(Furthermore,)]TJ -168.305 -13.549 Td[(his)-298(voice)-298(had)-298(a)-297(crick)-298(in)-298(it,)-310(and)-298(went)-297(by)-298(jerks,)-310(and)-298(his)-298(eyebrows)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(sympathized)-264(with)-264(his)-264(voice,)-268(and)-264(the)-264(eyes)-264(below)-264(them)-264(were)-265(little)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-340(gray)-339(and)-339(twinkling,)-362(and)-340(altogether)-339(he)-340(was)-339(the)-340(sort)-339(of)-340(man)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(who)-214(is)-214(termed)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 61.022 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(according)-214(to)-214(a)-213(certain)-214(style)-214(of)-214(phrasing)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 167.288 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[("above)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 40.896 0 Td[([105])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(suspicion.")-432(But)-432(she)-432(liked)-433(him,)-477(oh!)-797(immensely,)-477(and)-432(he)-433(liked)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(her.)-406(And)-302(when)-302(they)-302(were)-302(riding)-302(up)-302(in)-302(the)-302(carriage)-302(together)-302(she)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(felt)-371(how)-371(thoroughly)-371(trustworthy)-370(his)-371(gray)-371(eyes)-371(and)-371(good)-371(smile)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(declared)-239(him)-238(to)-239(be,)-241(and)-238(had)-239(no)-239(hesitation)-238(in)-239(telling)-238(him)-239(what)-239(she)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(wanted)-250(to)-250(do,)-250(and)-250(in)-250(asking)-250(him)-250(what)-250(she)-250(wanted)-250(to)-250(know.)]TJ 11.956 -16.625 Td[(Mitchell)-444(certainly)-445(had)-444(a)-445(talent)-444(for)-445(plotting,)-493(for)-444(when)-445(they)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(reached)-192(the)-192(house)-192(where)-192(the)-192(culprits)-192(were)-192(tem)-1(porarily)-192(domiciled,)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(Burnett)-240(had)-241(gone)-240(out)-240(to)-240(give)-240(his)-241(mended)-240(ribs)-240(some)-240(exercise,)-243(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Jack)-490(was)-490(reading)-489(alone)-490(in)-490(the)-490(room)-489(where)-490(they)-490(shared)-490(one)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(another's)-250(liniments)-250(with)-250(friendly)-250(generosity.)]TJ 11.956 -16.626 Td[(The)-446(arch-conspirator)-445(went)-446(upstairs,)-495(came)-445(down,)-495(and)-446(then,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(seeking)-250(the)-250(lady)-250(whom)-250(he)-250(had)-250(left)-250(in)-250(the)-250(parlor,)-250(said)-250(to)-250(her:)]TJ 11.956 -16.626 Td[("Denham's)-272(up)-272(there)-272(and)-271(you)-272(can)-272(go)-272(up)-272(and)-272(say)-272(whatever)-272(you)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(have)-290(to)-291(say.)-371(You)-290(know)-290('In)-290(union)-291(there)-290(is)-290(strength.')-371(Well)-291(you've)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(got)-243(him)-242(alone)-243(now,)-244(and)-242(he'll)-243(prove)-242(weakly)-243(as)-242(a)-243(consequence)-242(or)-243(I)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(miss)-250(my)-250(guess.")]TJ 11.956 -16.626 Td[(Then)-270(he)-269(walked)-270(straight)-270(over)-269(by)-270(the)-270(window)-270(and)-269(picked)-270(up)-270(a)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(magazine)-246(as)-246(if)-247(it)-246(was)-246(all)-246(settled,)-247(and)-247(she)-246(only)-246(hesitated)-246(for)-246(half)-247(a)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(second)-250(before)-250(she)-250(turned)-250(and)-250(went)-250(upstairs.)]TJ 11.956 -16.626 Td[(There)-322(was)-322(a)-323(door)-322(half)-322(open)-322(in)-322(the)-323(hall)-322(above,)-340(and)-322(she)-323(knew)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(that)-302(that)-302(must)-303(be)-302(the)-302(door.)-406(She)-303(tapped)-302(at)-302(it)-302(lightly,)-315(and)-302(a)-303(man's)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([106])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(voice)-250(\050a)-250(voice)-250(that)-250(she)-250(knew)-250(well\051,)-250(called)-250(out)-250(gruffly:)]TJ 11.956 -16.626 Td[("Come)-250(in!")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+456 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 457 0 R
+/Resources 455 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 460 0 R
+>> endobj
+458 0 obj <<
+/D [456 0 R /XYZ 67.889 396.232 null]
+>> endobj
+459 0 obj <<
+/D [456 0 R /XYZ 187.645 96.317 null]
+>> endobj
+455 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+463 0 obj <<
+/Length 4254      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(76)-11838(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[(She)-309(pushed)-309(the)-308(door)-309(open)-309(at)-309(that)-309(and)-308(entered,)-324(and)-309(saw)-309(Jack,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(and)-336(he)-336(saw)-336(her.)-509(He)-336(turned)-336(very)-336(pale)-336(at)-337(the)-336(sight,)-357(and)-336(then)-337(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(color)-301(flooded)-302(his)-301(face,)-315(and)-301(he)-302(rose)-301(from)-301(his)-302(chair)-301(abruptly,)-315(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(put)-250(his)-250(hand)-250(up)-250(to)-250(the)-250(strips)-250(that)-250(held)-250(the)-250(bandage)-250(on)-250(his)-250(head.)]TJ 11.956 -15.684 Td[("Burnett)-287(isn't)-286(here,")-287(he)-287(said)-287(quickly.)-360("He)-287(went)-286(out)-287(just)-287(a)-287(few)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(minutes)-250(ago.")]TJ 11.956 -15.683 Td[(His)-250(tone)-250(was)-250(hard,)-250(and)-250(yet)-250(at)-250(the)-250(same)-250(time)-250(it)-250(shook)-250(slightly.)]TJ 0 -15.683 Td[(She)-250(approached)-250(him,)-250(holding)-250(out)-250(her)-250(hand.)]TJ 0 -15.683 Td[("I'm)-303(glad)-303(of)-303(that,")-302(she)-303(said,)-316("because)-303(it)-303(was)-303(to)-303(see)-303(you)-303(that)-303(I)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(came.")]TJ 11.956 -15.683 Td[(To)-197(her)-197(great)-197(surprise)-197(something)-197(mutinous)-197(and)-198(scornful)-197(flashed)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(in)-250(his)-250(eyes)-250(as)-250(he)-250(rolled)-250(a)-250(chair)-250(forward)-250(for)-250(her.)]TJ 11.956 -15.683 Td[("You)-487(honor)-486(me,")-487(he)-487(said,)-546(and)-487(his)-486(tone)-487(and)-487(manner)-487(both)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(hardened)-346(yet)-346(more.)-537(His)-346(general)-346(appearance)-345(was)-346(that)-346(of)-346(a)-346(man)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(ten)-316(years)-316(older;)-349(he)-316(had)-316(changed)-316(terribly)-316(in)-316(the)-316(weeks)-316(since)-316(she)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(had)-266(last)-266(seen)-266(him.)-297(She)-266(took)-266(the)-265(chair)-266(and)-266(sat)-266(down,)-270(still)-266(looking)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(at)-258(him.)-275(He)-258(sat)-258(down)-258(too,)-260(and)-259(his)-258(eyes)-258(went)-258(restlessly)-258(around)-259(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(room)-218(as)-218(if)-218(they)-218(sought)-217(a)-218(hold)-218(that)-218(should)-218(withhold)-218(them)-218(from)-218(her)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(searching)-250(gaze.)-250(There)-250(was)-250(a)-250(short)-250(pause.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([107])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -15.683 Td[("Don't)-377(speak)-378(like)-378(that,")-377(she)-378(said)-377(at)-378(last.)-632("It)-378(isn't)-377(your)-378(way,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(and)-362(I)-361(know)-362(you)-362(too)-361(well)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 112.442 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(we)-362(know)-361(one)-362(another)-362(too)-361(well)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 137.883 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(to)]TJ -272.143 -13.549 Td[(be)-341(anything)-341(but)-341(sincere.)-523(You)-341(owe)-340(me)-341(something,)-364(too,)-364(and)-341(if)-341(I)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(forbear)-250(you)-250(should)-250(understand)-250(why.")]TJ 11.956 -15.683 Td[("I)-225(owe)-225(you)-225(something,)-231(do)-225(I?")-225(he)-225(asked.)-242("What)-225(do)-225(I)-225(owe)-226(you?")]TJ 0 -15.683 Td[(Mrs.)-250(Rosscott)-250(caught)-250(her)-250(under)-250(lip)-250(in)-250(her)-250(teeth.)]TJ 0 -15.683 Td[("You)-291(gave)-291(me)-291(a)-290(promise,)-301(Mr.)-373(Denham,")-291(she)-291(said,)-301(quite)-291(low,)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(but)-250(most)-250(distinctly)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 81.229 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[("a)-250(promise)-250(which)-250(you)-250(broke.")]TJ -80.182 -15.683 Td[(Jack)-250(flushed;)-250(his)-250(eyelids)-250(drooped)-250(for)-250(a)-250(minute.)]TJ 0 -15.683 Td[("I)-250(didn't)-250(break)-250(it,")-250(he)-250(said.)-250("I)-250(gave)-250(it)-250(up.")]TJ 0 -15.683 Td[("Is)-250(there)-250(any)-250(difference?")]TJ 0 -15.683 Td[("A)-250(great)-250(difference.")]TJ 0 -15.683 Td[(He)-250(shrugged)-250(his)-250(shoulders.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+462 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 463 0 R
+/Resources 461 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 460 0 R
+>> endobj
+464 0 obj <<
+/D [462 0 R /XYZ 273.783 261.486 null]
+>> endobj
+461 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+467 0 obj <<
+/Length 5120      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Eleven)-250(-)-250(The)-250(Dove)-250(of)-250(Peace)-10063(77)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[("Do)-225(you)-226(want)-225(to)-225(have)-226(the)-225(truth?")-225(he)-226(said.)-241("If)-226(you)-225(really)-225(do,)-231(I'll)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(tell)-298(you.)-395(But)-299(I)-298(don't)-298(ask)-299(to)-298(tell)-298(you,)-311(recollect,)-310(and)-299(if)-298(I)-298(were)-299(you)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(I'd)-250(drop)-250(the)-250(whole)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 79.222 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(I)-250(certainly)-250(would.)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 77.258 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(If)-250(I)-250(were)-250(you.")]TJ -166.342 -14.163 Td[(She)-250(looked)-250(at)-250(him)-250(in)-250(astonishment.)]TJ 0 -14.163 Td[("I)-250(don't)-250(understand,")-250(she)-250(said.)-250("Tell)-250(me)-250(what)-250(you)-250(mean.")]TJ 0 -14.163 Td[(He)-250(raised)-250(his)-250(hand)-250(to)-250(his)-250(bandaged)-250(head)-250(again.)]TJ 0 -14.163 Td[("I)-166(think,")-166(he)-166(said,)-183(fighting)-166(hard)-166(to)-166(speak)-166(with)-167(utter)-166(indifference,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[("I)-290(think)-289(that)-290(it)-289(would)-290(have)-289(been)-290(better)-289(if)-290(you)-289(had)-290(told)-289(me)-290(about)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Holloway.")]TJ 11.956 -14.163 Td[(At)-250(that)-250(her)-250(big)-250(eyes)-250(opened)-250(widely.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 279.068 0 Td[([108])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -14.163 Td[("What)-402(should)-403(I)-402(tell)-403(you)-402(about)-402(Mr.)-708(Holloway?")-402(she)-403(asked.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[("What)-250(could)-250(I)-250(tell)-250(you)-250(about)-250(him?")]TJ 11.956 -14.163 Td[("It)-421(isn't)-421(any)-421(use)-421(speaking)-421(like)-422(that,")-421(he)-421(said;)-506(and)-422(with)-421(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(words)-367(he)-368(suddenly)-367(leaped)-367(from)-368(his)-367(chair)-368(and)-367(began)-367(to)-368(plunge)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(back)-341(and)-342(forth)-341(across)-342(the)-341(small)-341(room.)-525("You)-341(see)-341(I'm)-342(not)-341(a)-342(boy)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(any)-333(more.)-499(I've)-333(come)-333(to)-333(my)-333(senses.)-499(I)-333(know)-333(now!)-499(I)-333(understand)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(now!)-284(It's)-261(all)-261(plain)-262(to)-261(me)-261(now.)-284(Now)-261(and)-261(always.)-284(I've)-261(been)-262(fooled)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(once)-389(but)-389(only)-389(once)-388(and)-389(by)-389(All)-389(that)-389(Is,)-423(I)-389(never)-389(will)-389(be)-389(fooled)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(again.)-246(Your're)-237(pretty)-238(and)-237(awfully)-237(fascinating,)-240(and)-238(it's)-237(always)-238(fun)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(for)-334(the)-334(woman)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 65.458 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(especially)-334(if)-334(she)-334(knows)-335(all)-334(her)-334(bets)-334(are)-334(safely)]TJ -76.367 -13.55 Td[(hedged.)-329(And)-276(I)-277(was)-276(so)-276(completely)-277(done)-276(up)-276(that)-277(I)-276(was)-276(even)-277(more)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(sport)-349(than)-350(the)-349(common)-350(run,)-374(I)-349(suppose;)-399(but)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 192.635 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")-349(she)-350(was)-349(staring)]TJ -203.544 -13.549 Td[(at)-324(him)-323(in)-324(unfeigned)-324(amazement,)-342(and)-324(he)-323(was)-324(lashing)-324(himself)-324(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(fury)-232(with)-232(the)-232(feelings)-232(that)-232(underlaid)-232(his)-232(words)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 200.112 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[("but)-232(even)-232(if)-232(you)]TJ -211.021 -13.549 Td[(made)-250(it)-251(all)-250(right)-251(with)-250(yourself)-251(by)-250(calling)-251(your)-250(share)-251(by)-250(the)-251(name)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(of)-260('having)-259(a)-260(good)-260(influence')-259(over)-260(me)-260(\050I)-260(know)-259(that's)-260(how)-260(married)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(women)-246(always)-246(pat)-247(themselves)-246(on)-246(the)-246(back)-246(while)-246(they're)-247(sending)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(us)-261(to)-260(the)-261(devil\051,)-264(even)-260(then,)-264(I)-260(think)-261(that)-261(it)-260(would)-261(have)-261(been)-261(better)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-272(ha)-1(ve)-272(been)-272(fair)-273(and)-272(square)-273(with)-272(me.)-318(It)-272(would)-273(have)-272(been)-273(better)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(all)-285(round.)-354(I'd)-285(have)-284(been)-285(left)-285(with)-284(some)-285(belief)-285(in)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 210.334 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(in)-285(people.)-354(As)]TJ -221.243 -13.549 Td[(it)-270(is,)-274(when)-270(I)-269(saw)-270(that)-270(you'd)-269(only)-270(been)-269(laughing)-270(at)-270(me,)-274(I)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 241.581 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(well,)-275(I)]TJ -252.49 -13.55 Td[(went)-250(pretty)-250(far.")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([109])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.069 -14.163 Td[(He)-387(stopped)-388(short,)-421(and)-388(transfixed)-387(her)-388(paleness)-387(with)-387(his)-388(big,)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(dark)-250(eyes.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+466 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 467 0 R
+/Resources 465 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 460 0 R
+>> endobj
+468 0 obj <<
+/D [466 0 R /XYZ 216.275 393.164 null]
+>> endobj
+469 0 obj <<
+/D [466 0 R /XYZ 120.899 93.854 null]
+>> endobj
+465 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+472 0 obj <<
+/Length 4562      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(78)-11838(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[("Why)-208(weren't)-208(you)-208(hon)-1(est?")-208(he)-208(asked)-208(angrily.)-236(And)-208(then)-208(he)-209(said)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(again,)-293(more)-284(bitterly,)-293(more)-285(scornfully,)-293(than)-284(before:)-319("Why)-285(wasn't)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(I)-250(told)-250(about)-250(Holloway?")]TJ 11.956 -14.04 Td[(She)-250(clasped)-250(her)-250(hands)-250(tightly)-250(together.)]TJ 0 -14.041 Td[("What)-329(has)-329(been)-330(told)-329(you)-329(about)-329(Mr.)-488(Holloway)-329(and)-330(myself?")]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(she)-250(asked.)]TJ 11.956 -14.04 Td[("Nothing.")]TJ 0 -14.04 Td[("Then)-250(why)-250(do)-250(you)-250(speak)-250(as)-250(you)-250(do?")]TJ 0 -14.04 Td[(At)-238(that)-237(he)-238(thrust)-238(his)-238(hands)-237(into)-238(his)-238(pockets)-237(and)-238(again)-238(began)-238(to)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(fling)-250(himself)-250(back)-250(and)-250(forth)-250(across)-250(the)-250(room.)]TJ 11.956 -14.041 Td[("Perhaps)-389(you'll)-389(think)-388(I'm)-389(a)-389(sneak,")-389(he)-389(said,)-423("but)-389(I)-389(wasn't)-389(a)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(sneak.)-475(I)-325(went)-326(in)-325(to)-325(see)-325(you)-325(that)-325(Saturday)-325(as)-325(usual,)-344(and)-325(when)-326(I)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(went)-327(upstairs)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 58.713 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(you)-327(were)-327(with)-327(him)-327(in)-327(the)-327(library.)-481(I)-327(heard)-327(three)]TJ -69.622 -13.549 Td[(words.)-230(God!)-230(they)-190(were)-190(enough!)-230(I)-190(didn't)-190(know)-190(that)-191(anything)-190(could)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(knock)-250(the)-251(bottom)-250(out)-250(of)-250(life)-250(so)-251(quickly.)-250(My)-251(sun)-250(and)-250(stars)-250(all)-251(fell)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(at)-261(once)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 31.314 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.91 0 Td[(I)-260(reckon)-261(my)-260(Heaven)-261(went)-260(too.)-282(At)-260(all)-261(events)-260(I)-261(went)-260(out)]TJ -42.224 -13.549 Td[(of)-255(your)-255(house)-256(and)-255(down)-255(town)-255(and)-256(I)-255(drank)-255(and)-255(drank)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 229.004 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(and)-255(all)-255(to)]TJ -239.913 -13.549 Td[(the)-250(truth)-250(and)-250(honor)-250(of)-250(women.")]TJ 11.956 -14.04 Td[(He)-340(halted)-340(with)-341(his)-340(back)-340(to)-341(her,)-362(and)-341(there)-340(was)-340(silence)-340(in)-341(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(room)-250(for)-250(many)-250(minutes.)]TJ 11.956 -14.04 Td[(When)-258(he)-258(faced)-257(around)-258(after)-258(a)-258(little,)-259(she)-258(was)-258(weeping)-258(bitterly,)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(having)-283(turned)-282(in)-283(her)-282(seat)-283(so)-283(that)-282(her)-283(face)-282(might)-283(be)-282(buried)-283(in)-283(the)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([110])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(chair)-299(back.)-395(Her)-299(whole)-299(body)-298(was)-299(shaking)-298(with)-299(suppressed)-299(sobs.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(He)-255(stood)-255(still)-255(and)-255(stared)-255(down)-255(upon)-255(her)-255(and)-255(finally)-255(sh)-1(e)-255(lifted)-255(up)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(her)-250(face)-250(and)-250(said)-250(with)-250(trembling)-250(lips:)]TJ 11.956 -14.04 Td[("And)-386(all)-387(the)-386(trouble)-387(came)-386(from)-387(that.)-659(Oh,)-420(what)-387(shall)-386(I)-387(do?)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(What)-250(shall)-250(I)-250(say?")]TJ 11.956 -14.04 Td[("I)-243(don't)-244(know)-243(what)-243(you)-244(can)-243(do,)-245(or)-243(what)-243(you)-244(can)-243(say,")-243(he)-244(said,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(remaining)-268(still)-268(and)-268(watching)-268(her)-267(sincere)-268(distress.)-304("I'd)-268(feel)-268(pretty)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(blamed)-240(mean)-240(if)-240(I)-240(were)-239(you,)-242(though.)-247(Understand,)-242(I)-240(don't)-240(question)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(your)-191(good)-191(taste)-192(in)-191(choosing)-191(Holloway,)-203(nor)-191(your)-191(right)-191(to)-191(love)-192(him,)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(nor)-310(his)-310(right)-310(to)-311(be)-310(there;)-340(but)-310(I)-310(fail)-310(to)-310(understand)-310(why)-310(you)-311(were)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-339(me)-340(just)-339(as)-340(you)-339(were,)-362(and)-339(I)-339(think)-340(it)-339(was)-340(unfair)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 218.819 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(out-and-out)]TJ -229.728 -13.549 Td[(mean!")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+471 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 472 0 R
+/Resources 470 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 460 0 R
+>> endobj
+473 0 obj <<
+/D [471 0 R /XYZ 238.132 229.714 null]
+>> endobj
+470 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+476 0 obj <<
+/Length 4139      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Eleven)-250(-)-250(The)-250(Dove)-250(of)-250(Peace)-10063(79)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[("Mr.)-715(Denham,")-405(she)-405(said)-405(almost)-405(painfully,)-444("you've)-405(made)-405(a)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(dreadful)-305(mistake.")-305(Then)-305(she)-306(stopped)-305(and)-305(moistened)-305(her)-305(lips.)-416("I)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(don't)-435(know)-436(just)-435(what)-435(words)-436(you)-435(overheard,)-482(but)-435(the)-436(dramatic)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(instructor)-370(was)-370(there)-370(that)-370(afternoon)-370(drilling)-370(Mr.)-611(Holloway)-370(and)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(myself)-241(for)-242(the)-241(parts)-241(which)-242(we)-241(took)-241(in)-241(the)-242(charity)-241(play)-241(that)-242(week;)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(after)-261(he)-260(went)-261(out)-260(we)-261(went)-261(over)-260(one)-261(of)-261(the)-260(scenes)-261(alone.)-282(Perhaps)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(you)-352(heard)-351(part)-351(of)-352(that.")-351(She)-352(stopped)-351(and)-352(almost)-351(choked.)-555("Mr.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Holloway)-396(has)-396(never)-396(really)-396(made)-396(any)-396(love)-396(to)-396(me)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 221.176 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(perhaps)-396(he)]TJ -232.085 -13.549 Td[(never)-250(wanted)-250(to)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 69.677 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(perhaps)-250(I've)-250(never)-250(wanted)-250(him)-250(to.")]TJ -68.63 -15.088 Td[(Jack)-277(stared.)-331(His)-277(misconception)-277(was)-277(so)-277(strongly)-278(intrenched)-277(in)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 279.068 0 Td[([111])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(the)-246(forefront)-245(of)-246(his)-246(brain)-246(that)-245(he)-246(could)-246(not)-245(possibly)-246(dislodge)-246(it)-246(at)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(once.)]TJ 11.956 -15.088 Td[(Mrs.)-240(Rosscott)-219(continued)-219(to)-220(dry)-219(the)-219(tears)-220(that)-219(continued)-219(to)-220(rise;)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(she)-312(seemed)-312(terribly)-312(affected)-312(at)-312(finding)-312(herself)-312(to)-312(have)-313(been)-312(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(cause)-253(\050no)-254(matter)-253(how)-253(innocently\051)-253(of)-253(this)-254(latest)-253(tale)-253(of)-253(wrack)-254(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(ruin.)]TJ 11.956 -15.088 Td[("Do)-445(you)-444(mean)-445(to)-445(say,")-445(the)-444(young)-445(man)-445(said,)-493(at)-445(last,)-494("that)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(there)-329(was)-329(no)-329(truth)-329(in)-329(what)-329(I)-329(heard?)-487(Don't)-329(you)-329(expect)-329(to)-329(marry)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Holloway?")]TJ 11.956 -15.087 Td[("I)-313(never)-314(expect)-313(to)-314(marry)-313(anyone,)-330(but)-313(certainly)-314(not)-313(him,")-314(she)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(replied,)-250(trying)-250(to)-250(regain)-250(her)-250(composure.)]TJ 11.956 -15.087 Td[("Honest?")]TJ 0 -15.088 Td[("Assuredly.")]TJ 0 -15.087 Td[(It)-290(was)-290(as)-290(if)-289(an)-290(unseen)-290(orchestra)-290(had)-290(suddenly)-290(burst)-290(forth)-290(just)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(near)-324(enough)-324(and)-324(just)-324(far)-324(enough)-324(away.)-472(He)-324(came)-324(to)-325(the)-324(side)-324(of)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(her)-250(chair)-250(and)-250(laid)-250(his)-250(hand)-250(upon)-250(its)-250(back.)]TJ 11.956 -15.088 Td[("Then)-250(what)-250(have)-250(you)-250(been)-250(thinking)-250(of)-250(me)-250(lately?")-250(he)-250(asked.)]TJ 0 -15.087 Td[("Very)-250(sad)-250(thoughts,")-250(she)-250(confessed)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 154.025 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(hiding)-250(her)-250(face)-250(again.)]TJ -164.934 -15.088 Td[("Did)-250(you)-250(care?")]TJ 0 -15.087 Td[("Yes,)-250(I)-250(cared.")]TJ 0 -15.087 Td[(He)-485(stood)-486(beside)-485(her)-485(for)-486(a)-485(long)-486(time)-485(without)-485(speaking)-486(or)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(moving.)-293(Then)-264(he)-264(suddenly)-264(pulled)-264(a)-264(chair)-265(forward,)-267(and)-264(sat)-265(down)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(close)-250(in)-250(front)-250(of)-250(her.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([112])]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+475 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 476 0 R
+/Resources 474 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 460 0 R
+>> endobj
+477 0 obj <<
+/D [475 0 R /XYZ 269.844 394.694 null]
+>> endobj
+478 0 obj <<
+/D [475 0 R /XYZ 138.266 66.142 null]
+>> endobj
+474 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+481 0 obj <<
+/Length 4329      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(80)-11838(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[("Don't)-432(cry,")-432(he)-432(said,)-478(almost)-432(daring)-432(to)-432(be)-432(tender.)-797("There's)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(nothing)-250(to)-250(cry)-250(about)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 90.906 0 Td[(now)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 18.185 0 Td[(,)-250(you)-250(know.")]TJ -97.135 -13.856 Td[("I)-289(think)-289(there's)-289(plenty)-290(for)-289(me)-289(to)-289(cry)-289(about,")-289(she)-290(said,)-299(looking)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(up)-258(through)-258(her)-258(long)-257(wet)-258(lashes.)-274("It)-258(is)-258(so)-257(terrible)-258(for)-258(me)-258(to)-258(be)-258(the)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(one)-331(that)-332(is)-331(to)-331(blame.)-494(Papa)-331(swears)-331(he'll)-332(never)-331(forgive)-331(Bob,)-352(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(your)-250(aunt)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 41.509 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ -40.462 -13.856 Td[("Lord)-309(love)-309(you!")-308(he)-309(exclaimed;)-338("d)-1(on't)-308(worry)-309(over)-309(me)-309(or)-309(my)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(aunt.)-267(I)-256(don't.)-267(I)-256(don't)-256(mind)-255(anything,)-258(with)-255(Holloway)-256(staked)-256(in)-256(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(ditch.)-250(I)-250(can)-250(get)-250(along)-250(well)-250(enough)-250(now.")]TJ 11.956 -13.856 Td[(He)-250(smiled)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 44.541 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(actually)-250(smiled)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 66.36 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(as)-250(he)-250(spoke.)]TJ -132.719 -13.856 Td[("Oh,)-315(you)-301(mustn't)-302(speak)-302(so,")-302(she)-302(said,)-314(blushing;)-328("indeed,)-315(you)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(must)-250(not.")-250(And)-250(smiled,)-250(too,)-250(in)-250(spite)-250(of)-250(herself.)]TJ 11.956 -13.856 Td[("Who's)-238(going)-239(to)-238(stop)-238(me?")-239(he)-238(said.)-246("You)-239(know)-238(that)-238(you)-239(can't;)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(I'm)-250(miles)-250(the)-250(biggest.")]TJ 11.956 -13.856 Td[(She)-281(looked)-282(at)-281(him)-281(and)-282(tried)-281(to)-281(frown,)-290(but)-281(only)-281(blushed)-282(again)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(instead.)-250(He)-250(put)-250(out)-250(his)-250(hand)-250(and)-250(took)-250(hers)-250(into)-250(its)-250(clasp.)]TJ 11.956 -13.856 Td[("I'm)-268(everlasting)-269(glad)-268(to)-268(shake)-268(college,")-269(he)-268(declared)-268(gayly;)-278("it)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(never)-213(was)-214(my)-213(favorite)-214(alley.)-237(I've)-214(made)-213(up)-214(my)-213(mind)-213(to)-214(go)-213(to)-214(work)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(just)-250(as)-250(soon)-250(as)-250(I)-250(get)-250(these)-250(pastry)-250(strips)-250(off)-250(my)-250(head.")]TJ 11.956 -13.856 Td[("Where?")]TJ 0 -13.856 Td[("I)-250(don't)-250(know.)-250(Anywhere.)-250(I)-250(don't)-250(care.")]TJ 0 -13.856 Td[("But)-351(you'll)-352(come)-351(to)-352(my)-351(house)-352(when)-351(Bob)-352(comes)-351(next)-352(week,)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -84.712 0 Td[([113])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.756 -13.55 Td[(won't)-489(you?")-490(she)-489(asked)-489(suddenly.)-968("I)-489(can)-490(see)-489(now)-489(why)-490(you)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(wouldn't)-250(before,)-250(but)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 87.709 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(but)-250(it's)-250(different)-250(now.)-250(Isn't)-250(it?")]TJ -86.663 -13.856 Td[("Is)-256(it?")-256(he)-256(said,)-257(asking)-256(the)-256(question)-256(chiefly)-256(of)-256(her)-256(pretty)-256(eyes.)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[("Is)-250(it)-250(honestly)-250(different)-250(now?")]TJ 11.955 -13.856 Td[("I)-250(think)-250(it)-250(is,")-250(she)-250(answered.)]TJ 0 -13.856 Td[(A)-250(door)-250(banged)-250(below.)]TJ 0 -13.856 Td[("That's)-229(Burr!")-230(he)-229(exclaimed,)-234(remembering)-229(suddenly)-229(the)-230(prox-)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(imity)-324(of)-324(their)-323(chairs,)-343(and)-324(making)-323(haste)-324(to)-324(place)-324(himself)-324(farther)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(away.)]TJ 11.955 -13.857 Td[(Burnett's)-250(step)-250(was)-250(heard)-250(on)-250(the)-250(stair.)]TJ 0 -13.856 Td[("You)-362(never)-362(said)-362(anything)-362(to)-362(him,)-390(did)-363(you?")-362(she)-362(questioned)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(quickly.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+480 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 481 0 R
+/Resources 479 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 460 0 R
+>> endobj
+482 0 obj <<
+/D [480 0 R /XYZ 325.808 230.573 null]
+>> endobj
+479 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F18 18 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+485 0 obj <<
+/Length 3651      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Eleven)-250(-)-250(The)-250(Dove)-250(of)-250(Peace)-10063(81)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[("Certainly)-250(not.")]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(The)-226(next)-225(instant)-226(Burnett)-226(was)-226(in)-225(the)-226(room,)-231(and)-225(his)-226(sister)-226(was)-226(in)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(his)-250(arms.)-250(\050Astonishing)-250(how)-250(coolly)-250(he)-250(accepted)-250(the)-250(fact,)-250(too.\051)]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[("Mr.)-249(Denham)-248(is)-249(coming)-248(to)-248(me)-248(with)-248(you,)-248(Bob,")-248(she)-249(said)-248(when)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(he)-250(released)-250(her.)-250("I've)-250(persuaded)-250(him.")]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[("How)-250(did)-250(you)-250(do)-250(it?")-250(she)-250(was)-250(asked.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[("By)-401(undertaking)-401(to)-402(reconcile)-401(him)-401(with)-401(his)-401(aunt,)-439(dear,")-402(she)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(replied,)-397(blandly.)-603("It's)-368(a)-367(contract)-368(that)-368(we've)-367(drawn)-368(up)-368(between)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(us.)-507(You)-336(know)-335(that)-336(I)-335(was)-336(always)-336(rather)-335(good)-336(in)-336(the)-335(part)-336(of)-336(the)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(peacemaker.")]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[(As)-304(she)-303(spoke,)-317(her)-304(eyes)-303(fell)-304(warningly)-304(on)-303(the)-304(manifest)-304(aston-)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(ishment)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary's)-250(nephew.)]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[("You)-393(don't)-392(know)-393(what)-393(you're)-393(undertaking,)-428(Betty,")-393(said)-393(her)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 279.068 0 Td[([114])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(brother.)-370("You)-290(never)-289(had)-290(a)-290(chance)-290(to)-290(take)-290(Aunt)-290(Mary)-290(for)-290(better,)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(for)-250(worse)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 41.499 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(I)-250(have.")]TJ -40.452 -13.549 Td[("I'm)-225(not)-225(alarmed,")-225(said)-225(she,)-230("I'm)-226(very)-225(courageous.)-241(I'm)-226(sure)-225(I'll)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(succeed.")]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[("Can)-337(the)-337(mender)-337(of)-337(ways)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 114.286 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.91 0 Td[(other)-337(people's)-337(ways)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 87.481 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(come)-337(in?")]TJ -235.542 -13.549 Td[(asked)-250(a)-250(voice)-250(at)-250(the)-250(door.)]TJ 11.956 -13.55 Td[(It)-240(was)-241(Mitchell's)-240(voice,)-243(and)-240(he)-240(came)-241(in)-240(without)-241(waiting)-240(for)-241(an)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(invitation.)]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[("Is)-250(it)-250(time)-250(that)-250(I)-250(went?")-250(Mrs.)-250(Rosscott)-250(asked)-250(him,)-250(anxiously.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[("Half)-250(an)-250(hour)-250(yet.")]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[("Oh,)-335(I)-318(say)-318(Jack,")-319(cried)-318(Burnett,)-335("let's)-318(boil)-318(some)-318(water)-318(in)-319(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(witch-hazel)-222(pan,)-228(and)-222(make)-222(a)-222(rarebit)-222(in)-222(the)-222(poultice)-222(pan,)-228(and)-222(have)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(some)-250(tea)-250(here.")]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[("Sure,")-201(said)-200(Jack,)-211(suddenly)-200(become)-201(his)-201(blithe)-200(and)-201(buoyant)-201(self)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(again.)-370("You)-290(just)-290(take)-290(off)-290(your)-290(hat)-290(and)-290(look)-290(the)-290(other)-291(way,)-300(Mrs.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Rosscott,)-250(and)-250(we'll)-250(have)-250(you)-250(a)-250(lunch)-250(in)-250(a)-250(jiffy.")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 -29.651 Td[([115])]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+484 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 485 0 R
+/Resources 483 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 488 0 R
+>> endobj
+486 0 obj <<
+/D [484 0 R /XYZ 256.509 355.585 null]
+>> endobj
+487 0 obj <<
+/D [484 0 R /XYZ 46.771 109.147 null]
+>> endobj
+483 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+489 0 obj
+<< /S /GoTo /D (index13) >>
+endobj
+492 0 obj
+(Chapter Twelve - A Trap For Aunt Mary)
+endobj
+495 0 obj <<
+/Length 3820      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 18.959 Tf 93.543 479.321 Td[(Chapter)-254(Twelve)-255(-)-254(A)-255(Trap)-254(For)-255(Aunt)]TJ 0 -24.647 Td[(Mary)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 0 -35.158 Td[(In)-398(Aunt)-399(Mary's)-398(part)-399(of)-398(the)-399(country)-398(the)-398(skies)-399(had)-398(been)-399(crying)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(themselves)-336(sick)-337(for)-336(the)-336(last)-337(six)-336(weeks.)-509(The)-336(cranberry)-336(bog)-337(was)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(a)-397(goner)-398(forever,)-434(it)-397(was)-398(feared,)-434(and)-397(a)-398(little)-397(house,)-434(very)-398(handy)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(for)-330(sorting)-329(berries)-330(in,)-349(had)-330(had)-329(its)-330(foundations)-329(undermined,)-350(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(disappeared)-250(beneath)-250(the)-250(face)-250(of)-250(the)-250(waters)-250(also.)]TJ 11.956 -14.096 Td[(Under)-343(suc)-1(h)-343(propitious)-344(circumstances,)-366(Au)-1(nt)-343(Mary)-344(sat)-343(by)-344(her)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(own)-501(particular)-501(window)-500(a)-1(nd)-500(looked)-501(sternly)-501(and)-501(severely)-501(out)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(across)-323(the)-324(garden)-323(and)-323(down)-323(the)-324(road.)-469(Luc)-1(inda)-323(sat)-323(by)-323(the)-324(other)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(window)-444(sewing.)-834(Lucinda)-444(hadn't)-445(changed)-444(materially,)-493(but)-445(her)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(general)-397(appearance)-397(struck)-397(her)-397(mistress)-397(as)-397(more)-397(irritating)-397(than)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(ever.)-494(Everything)-332(and)-331(everybody)-332(seemed)-331(to)-332(have)-331(become)-332(more)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(and)-392(more)-392(irritating)-392(ever)-393(since)-392(Jack)-392(had)-392(been)-392(disinherited.)-677(Of)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(course,)-396(it)-367(was)-367(right)-367(that)-367(he)-367(should)-367(have)-367(been)-366(disinherited,)-397(but)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Aunt)-370(Mary)-369(hadn't)-370(thought)-369(much)-370(beforehand)-369(as)-370(to)-369(what)-370(would)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(happen)-335(afterward,)-356(and)-334(it)-335(was)-335(too)-335(aggravating)-334(to)-335(have)-335(him)-335(turn)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(out)-308(so)-308(well)-308(just)-308(when)-308(she)-308(had)-308(lost)-308(all)-308(patience)-308(with)-308(him)-308(and)-308(so)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(cast)-394(him)-394(off)-394(forever,)-429(and)-394(for)-394(him)-394(to)-394(develop)-394(such)-394(a)-394(beautiful)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([116])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(character,)-458(all)-416(of)-416(a)-416(sudden)-416(too)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 135.529 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(just)-416(as)-416(if)-416(education)-416(and)-416(good)]TJ -146.438 -13.549 Td[(advice)-301(had)-300(been)-301(his)-301(undoing)-300(and)-301(seclusion)-301(and)-300(illness)-301(were)-301(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(guardian)-369(angels)-369(arrived)-369(just)-370(in)-369(time)-369(to)-369(save)-369(him)-369(from)-369(the)-370(evil)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(effects)-250(thereof.)]TJ 11.956 -14.097 Td[(It)-379(hadn't)-378(occurred)-379(to)-378(Aunt)-379(Mary)-378(that)-379(people)-378(keep)-379(on)-379(living)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(just)-332(the)-332(same)-332(even)-332(after)-332(they)-332(have)-332(been)-332(cut)-332(out)-332(of)-332(a)-332(will.)-496(And)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(she)-399(never)-400(had)-399(counted)-399(on)-399(Jack's)-400(taking)-399(his)-399(bitter)-399(medicine)-400(in)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-410(spirit)-410(he)-411(was)-410(manifesting.)-731(She)-410(had)-410(not)-410(calculated)-410(any)-411(of)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(the)-367(possible)-367(effects)-368(of)-367(her)-367(hasty)-367(action)-368(very)-367(maturely,)-396(but)-368(she)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(certainly)-309(had)-309(not)-310(anticipated)-309(a)-309(lamblike)-309(submission)-309(to)-309(even)-310(the)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+494 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 495 0 R
+/Resources 493 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 488 0 R
+>> endobj
+490 0 obj <<
+/D [494 0 R /XYZ 93.543 529.134 null]
+>> endobj
+496 0 obj <<
+/D [494 0 R /XYZ 136.075 202.181 null]
+>> endobj
+493 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+499 0 obj <<
+/Length 5029      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Twelve)-250(-)-250(A)-250(Trap)-250(For)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-8312(83)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 518.175 Td[(harshest)-463(of)-463(her)-463(edicts,)-517(nor)-463(had)-463(she)-463(expected)-463(Jack)-463(to)-463(be)-464(one)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(who)-340(would)-340(strictly)-340(observe)-340(the)-340(Bible)-340(regulations)-340(and)-341(so)-340(return)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(good)-246(for)-245(evil)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 56.261 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(in)-246(other)-245(words,)-247(write)-245(her)-246(now)-245(when)-246(he)-246(had)-245(never)]TJ -67.17 -13.549 Td[(written)-297(her)-297(in)-298(the)-297(bygone)-297(years)-297(\050unless)-297(under)-297(sharpest)-298(financial)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(stress)-250(of)-250(circumstances\051.)]TJ 11.956 -14.776 Td[(Yet)-198(such)-198(was)-198(the)-198(case.)-233(Jack)-198(had)-198(become)-198(a)-198("rea)-1(dy)-198(letter-writer")]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(ever)-235(since)-235(his)-235(removal)-236(to)-235(the)-235(city,)-238(whither)-235(some)-235(kind)-235(friends)-236(had)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(invited)-212(him)-212(directly)-211(he)-212(could)-212(leave)-212(his)-212(sick-room.)-237(Aunt)-212(Mary)-212(did)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(not)-223(know)-223(who)-223(the)-223(friends)-222(were)-223(and)-223(had)-223(hesitated)-223(somewhat)-223(as)-223(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(opening)-262(the)-262(first)-262(letter.)-285(But)-262(it)-262(had)-262(borne)-262(no)-262(sting)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 211.719 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(being)-262(instead)]TJ -222.628 -13.549 Td[(most)-289(sweetly)-288(pathetic,)-298(and)-289(since)-289(then,)-298(others)-288(had)-289(followed)-289(with)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(touching)-415(frequency.)-743(Their)-414(polished)-415(periods)-414(fell)-415(upon)-414(the)-415(old)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([117])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.55 Td[(lady's)-364(stony)-363(hardness)-364(of)-363(heart)-364(with)-363(the)-364(persistent)-363(frequency)-364(of)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-350(proverbial)-351(drop)-350(of)-351(water.)-551(After)-350(the)-350(second)-351(she)-350(had)-351(ceased)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-396(regard)-395(the)-396(instructions)-396(given)-395(Lucinda)-396(as)-395(to)-396(mentioning)-396(her)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(nephew's)-269(name,)-273(and)-269(after)-268(the)-269(third)-269(he)-269(became)-268(again)-269(her)-269(favorite)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(topic)-250(of)-250(conversation.)]TJ 11.956 -14.777 Td[(It)-229(seemed)-229(that)-230(the)-229(poor)-229(boy)-229(had)-230(had)-229(the)-229(misfortune)-229(to)-230(contract)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(measles,)-230(and)-226(in)-225(his)-225(weakened)-226(state)-225(the)-225(disea)-1(se)-225(had)-225(nearly)-226(proved)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(fatal.)-342(You)-280(can)-281(perhaps)-280(divine)-281(the)-280(effect)-281(of)-280(this)-281(statement)-280(on)-281(the)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(grand-aunt,)-235(and)-231(the)-231(further)-231(effect)-230(of)-231(the)-231(words:)-241("But)-231(never)-231(mind,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary,")-250(with)-250(which)-250(he)-250(concluded)-250(the)-250(brief)-250(narration.)]TJ 11.956 -14.776 Td[(Aunt)-259(Mary)-259(had)-259(tried)-259(to)-259(snort)-260(and)-259(had)-259(sniffed)-259(instead;)-264(she)-259(had)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(turned)-204(back)-203(to)-204(the)-203(first)-204(page,)-213(read,)-213("All)-203(my)-204(head)-203(has)-204(been)-204(shaved,)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(but)-339(I)-339(don't)-339(care)-339(about)-340(having)-339(any)-339(more)-339(fun,)-361(anyhow,")-339(and)-340(had)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(let)-399(the)-399(letter)-400(fall)-399(in)-399(her)-399(lap.)-698(Every)-399(time)-399(that)-399(she)-399(had)-400(thought)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(since)-217(of)-217("our)-217(boy,")-217(her)-217(anger)-217(had)-217(fallen)-217(hotter)-217(upon)-218(whoever)-217(was)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(handiest.)-411(Lucinda)-304(\050who)-304(was)-304(used)-304(to)-303(it\051)-304(lived)-304(under)-304(a)-304(figurative)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(rain)-342(of)-342(cinders,)-364(and)-342(thrived)-342(salamander-like)-341(in)-342(their)-342(midst;)-388(but)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(Arethusa)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 39.382 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(who)-307(had)-306(come)-307(up)-306(for)-307(a)-306(week)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 129.724 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(found)-307(herself)-306(totally)]TJ -190.924 -13.549 Td[(unable)-251(to)-250(stand)-251(the)-250(endless)-251(lava)-251(and)-250(boiling)-251(ashes,)-250(and)-251(fled)-251(back)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-219(the)-220(bosom)-219(of)-220(Mr.)-239(Arethusa)-220(the)-219(third)-220(morning)-219(after)-219(her)-220(arrival.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([118])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -14.777 Td[("I've)-375(got)-374(to)-375(go,)-405(I)-375(find,")-374(she)-375(had)-374(yelled)-375(the)-375(night)-374(before)-375(her)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(departure.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+498 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 499 0 R
+/Resources 497 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 488 0 R
+>> endobj
+500 0 obj <<
+/D [498 0 R /XYZ 46.771 367.907 null]
+>> endobj
+501 0 obj <<
+/D [498 0 R /XYZ 327.401 94.468 null]
+>> endobj
+497 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+504 0 obj <<
+/Length 4939      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(84)-11838(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[("I)-348(certainly)-347(wish)-348(you)-348(would,")-348(replied)-348(her)-348(aunt.)-543("I'm)-348(a)-348(great)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(believer)-248(in)-247(marrie)-1(d)-247(women)-248(paying)-248(attention)-247(at)-248(home)-248(before)-248(they)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(begin)-299(to)-298(pry)-299(into)-298(their)-299(neighbors')-298(affairs.)-396(It's)-299(a)-298(good)-299(idea.)-396(Most)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(generally)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 40.593 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(most)-250(always.")]TJ -39.546 -14.368 Td[(This)-331(was)-330(bitterly)-331(unkind,)-350(since)-331(Arethusa)-330(was)-331(in)-331(the)-330(habit)-331(of)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(taking)-244(the)-244(long)-244(journey)-244(purely)-244(out)-244(of)-244(a)-244(sense)-244(of)-244(duty)-245(and)-244(to)-244(keep)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Lucinda)-238(up)-238(to)-237(the)-238(mark;)-242(but)-238(grateful)-237(ap)-1(preciation)-237(is)-238(rarely)-238(ever)-238(a)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(salient)-250(point)-250(in)-250(the)-250(character)-250(of)-250(an)-250(autocrat.)]TJ 11.956 -14.368 Td[("I'm)-392(glad)-393(she's)-392(gone,")-392(Aunt)-393(Mary)-392(told)-392(Lucinda,)-428(when)-393(they)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(were)-263(left)-263(together)-263(once)-263(more.)-289("She)-263(puts)-263(me)-263(beyond)-263(all)-263(patience.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(She)-230(chatters)-231(gibberish)-230(that)-230(I)-231(can't)-230(make)-230(out)-231(a)-230(word)-231(of)-230(for)-230(an)-231(hour)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(at)-230(a)-230(time,)-233(and)-230(then,)-234(all)-230(of)-230(a)-229(sudden,)-234(she)-230(screams,)-234('Dinner's)-230(ready,')]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(or)-368(something)-368(equally)-368(silly,)-397(in)-368(a)-368(voice)-367(like)-368(a)-368(carvin')-368(knife.)-604(It's)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(enough)-250(to)-250(drive)-250(a)-250(sane)-250(person)-250(stark,)-250(raving)-250(mad.)-250(It)-250(is.")]TJ 11.956 -14.367 Td[(Lucinda)-422(acquiesced)-422(with)-421(a)-422(nod.)-765(Lucinda)-422(herself)-422(was)-422(glad)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(that)-332(Arethusa)-331(had)-332(gone.)-495(She)-331(resented)-332(the)-332(manner)-331(in)-332(which)-332(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(latter)-402(always)-402(looked)-403(over)-402(the)-402(preserve)-402(closet)-402(and)-402(counted)-403(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(silver.)-236(Nothing)-206(was)-206(ever)-207(missing,)-215(because)-206(Lucinda)-207(was)-206(as)-207(honest)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(as)-364(a)-364(day)-364(twenty-five)-364(hours)-365(long,)-392(but)-364(the)-364(more)-364(honest)-364(th)-1(ose)-364(of)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Lucinda's)-224(caliber)-223(are,)-229(the)-224(more)-224(mad)-223(they)-224(get)-224(if)-224(they)-223(feel)-224(that)-224(they)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([119])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.55 Td[(are)-250(being)-250(watched.)-250(So)-250(Lucinda)-250(acquiesced)-250(with)-250(a)-250(nod.)]TJ 11.956 -14.367 Td[(The)-354(mistress)-355(and)-354(maid)-354(were)-354(sitting)-355(alone)-354(together,)-380(with)-355(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(June)-449(rain)-448(falling)-449(without,)-498(and)-449(it)-449(was)-448(that)-449(pleasantly)-449(exciting)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(hour)-342(which)-342(comes)-342(only)-343(in)-342(the)-342(country)-342(and)-342(is)-342(known)-342(as)-343("about)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(mail-time.")]TJ 11.956 -14.367 Td[("There's)-218(Joshua)-218(now,")-218(Aunt)-218(Mary)-219(exclaimed,)-224(presently,)-225("I)-218(see)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(him)-269(turnin')-269(in)-269(the)-269(gate.)-307(He'll)-269(be)-269(at)-269(the)-269(door)-269(before)-269(yo)-1(u)-269(get)-269(there,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Lucinda,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 38.477 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(he)-282(will.)-346(There,)-290(he's)-282(twistin')-282(his)-282(wheel)-282(off.)-346(He's)-282(tryin)-1(')]TJ -49.386 -13.55 Td[(to)-358(hold)-357(Billy)-358(an')-357(hold)-358(the)-357(letters)-358(an')-357(whistle,)-385(all)-357(at)-358(once.)-573(Why)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(don't)-239(you)-239(go)-239(to)-239(him,)-242(Lucinda?)-246(Can't)-239(you)-239(hear)-239(a)-239(whistle)-239(that)-240(I)-239(can)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(see?)-249(Or,)-246(if)-246(you)-246(can't)-246(hear)-246(the)-246(whistle,)-247(can't)-246(you)-246(hear)-246(me?)-249(Do)-246(you)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(think)-240(whoever)-239(wrote)-240(those)-239(letters)-240(would)-239(be)-240(much)-239(pleased)-240(if)-240(they)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(could)-250(see)-250(you)-250(so)-250(slow)-250(about)-250(gettin')-250(them?)-250(Do)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 197.705 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.91 0 Td[(")]TJ -196.659 -14.368 Td[(Just)-255(here)-255(the)-256(old)-255(lady,)-256(turning)-256(toward)-255(Lucinda,)-256(perceived)-256(that)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+503 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 504 0 R
+/Resources 502 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 488 0 R
+>> endobj
+505 0 obj <<
+/D [503 0 R /XYZ 229.238 258.286 null]
+>> endobj
+502 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+508 0 obj <<
+/Length 5066      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Twelve)-250(-)-250(A)-250(Trap)-250(For)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-8312(85)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 518.175 Td[(she)-266(had)-266(been)-266(gone)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 80.799 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(Heaven)-266(knew)-266(how)-266(long.)-297(She)-266(felt)-266(decidedly)]TJ -91.708 -13.549 Td[(vexed)-414(at)-413(finding)-414(herself)-413(to)-414(be)-414(in)-413(the)-414(wrong,)-454(rubbed)-414(her)-414(nose)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(impatiently,)-250(and)-250(waited)-250(in)-250(a)-250(temper)-250(to)-250(match)-250(the)-250(rubbing.)]TJ 11.956 -14.231 Td[("My)-234(Lord!)-245(how)-235(slow)-234(she)-235(is!")-234(she)-235(thought.)-245("Well,)-237(if)-235(I)-234(don't)-235(die)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(of)-250(old)-250(age)-250(first,)-250(I)-250(presume)-250(I'll)-250(get)-250(my)-250(letters)-250(some)-250(time.)-250(Maybe.")]TJ 11.956 -14.231 Td[(As)-274(a)-274(matter)-274(of)-275(fact,)-280(the)-274(door)-274(had)-274(blown)-274(shut)-274(behind)-275(Lucinda,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(and)-275(the)-275(latter)-274(personage)-275(was)-275(making)-275(her)-275(way,)-281(with)-275(well-hoisted)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([120])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(skirts,)-399(around)-368(the)-369(house)-369(to)-369(the)-369(back)-369(door.)-606(She)-369(didn't)-369(pass)-369(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(window)-329(where)-330(the)-329(Argus-eyed)-329(was)-330(looking)-329(forth;)-369(because)-330(that)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(lady)-406(had)-406(strong)-406(opinions)-406(of)-406(those)-406(who)-406(let)-406(doors)-406(bang)-406(behind)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(them)-250(without)-250(their)-250(own)-250(volition.)]TJ 11.956 -14.231 Td[(Five)-250(minutes)-250(later)-250(the)-250(maid)-250(did)-250(finally)-250(appear)-250(with)-250(one)-250(letter.)]TJ 0 -14.231 Td[("I)-364(thought)-364(you)-364(was)-364(waitin')-364(to)-364(bring)-364(to-morrow's)-364(mail)-364(at)-364(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(same)-250(time,")-250(said)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary,)-250(icily.)]TJ 11.956 -14.232 Td[(Then)-211(she)-211(found)-211(that)-211(the)-211(letter)-211(was)-211(from)-211(Jack,)-219(and)-211(Lucinda)-211(was)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(completely)-250(forgotten)-250(in)-250(the)-250(pleasure)-250(of)-250(opening)-250(and)-250(reading)-250(it.)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 19.637 -26.05 Td[(D)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 7.121 0 Td[(EAR)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 18.406 0 Td[(A)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 7.121 0 Td[(UNT)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 18.844 0 Td[(M)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 8.768 0 Td[(ARY)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 16.825 0 Td[(:)]TJ -65.13 -13.504 Td[(It)-330(seems)-331(so)-330(strange)-331(how)-330(I'm)-331(just)-330(learning)-331(the)-330(pleasure)-331(of)]TJ -11.955 -12.822 Td[(writing)-270(letters.)-310(I)-269(enjoy)-270(it)-270(more)-270(every)-270(day.)-310(When)-269(I)-270(see)-270(a)-270(pen)-270(I)]TJ 0 -12.821 Td[(can)-197(hardly)-198(keep)-197(from)-197(feeling)-197(that)-198(I)-197(ought)-197(to)-197(write)-198(you)-197(directly.)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(I)-220(think)-220(of)-220(you,)-226(then,)-226(because)-220(I'm)-220(thinking)-220(of)-220(you)-220(most)-220(always.)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(It)-250(seems)-250(as)-250(if)-250(I)-250(never)-250(appreciated)-250(you)-250(before,)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary.)]TJ 11.955 -13.504 Td[(I)-362(want)-362(to)-362(tell)-362(you)-362(something)-362(that)-362(I)-362(know)-362(will)-362(make)-362(you)]TJ -11.955 -12.822 Td[(happy.)-428(I've)-309(never)-310(made)-309(you)-309(very)-310(happy)-309(Aunt)-309(Mary,)-325(but)-309(I'm)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(going)-376(to)-377(begin)-376(now.)-629(I've)-377(got)-376(a)-376(place)-377(where)-376(I)-376(can)-377(earn)-376(my)]TJ 0 -12.821 Td[(own)-251(living,)-251(and)-251(I'm)-251(going)-252(to)-251(work)-251(just)-251(as)-251(soon)-251(as)-251(I)-251(am)-251(strong)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(enough.)-295(I'm)-265(as)-264(tickled)-265(as)-265(a)-265(baby)-265(over)-265(it.)-294(I'll)-265(lay)-265(you)-265(any)-265(odds)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(I)-244(get)-243(to)-244(be)-243(a)-244(richer)-244(man)-243(than)-244(the)-243(other)-244(John)-244(Watkins.)-247(I)-244(reckon)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(money)-260(was)-261(bad)-260(for)-261(me,)-263(Aunt)-260(Mary,)-263(and)-260(I)-261(can)-260(see)-261(that)-260(you've)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 271.387 0 Td[([121])]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf -271.387 -12.822 Td[(done)-396(just)-396(the)-396(right)-395(thing)-396(to)-396(make)-396(a)-396(man)-396(of)-396(me.)-687(That)-396(isn't)]TJ 0 -12.821 Td[(surprising,)-438(because)-400(you)-400(always)-400(did)-400(do)-401(just)-400(the)-400(right)-400(thing,)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(Aunt)-267(Mary;)-277(it)-267(was)-267(I)-268(that)-267(always)-268(did)-267(just)-267(the)-268(wrong)-267(thing,)-272(but)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(I'm)-296(straightened)-297(out)-296(now)-297(and)-296(this)-297(time)-296(it's)-297(forever)]TJ/F29 9.863 Tf 199.524 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 9.863 0 Td[(you)-296(just)]TJ -209.387 -12.822 Td[(wait)-250(and)-250(see.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+507 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 508 0 R
+/Resources 506 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 488 0 R
+>> endobj
+509 0 obj <<
+/D [507 0 R /XYZ 210.177 435.516 null]
+>> endobj
+510 0 obj <<
+/D [507 0 R /XYZ 184.014 130.251 null]
+>> endobj
+506 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+513 0 obj <<
+/Length 5041      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(86)-11838(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 9.863 Tf 125.135 518.175 Td[(There's)-291(one)-290(thing)-291(bothers)-290(me)-291(some,)-301(and)-290(that)-291(is)-291(I)-290(don't)-291(get)]TJ -11.955 -12.822 Td[(strong)-360(very)-361(fast.)-581(They)-360(want)-360(me)-361(to)-360(take)-360(a)-361(tonic,)-387(but)-361(I)-360(don't)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(think)-289(a)-289(tonic)-289(would)-289(help)-289(me)-289(much.)-367(I)-289(feel)-289(so)-289(sort)-289(of)-289(blue)-289(and)]TJ 0 -12.821 Td[(depressed,)-262(and)-259(perhaps)-259(that's)-259(natural,)-262(for)-259(Bob's)-259(away)-260(most)-259(of)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(the)-339(time)-339(and)-339(I'm)-340(here)-339(all)-339(alone.)-517(It's)-339(a)-339(big)-340(house)-339(and)-339(sort)-339(of)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(lonely)-305(and)-306(sometimes)-305(I)-306(find)-305(myself)-306(imagining)-305(how)-306(it)-305(would)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(seem)-336(to)-337(have)-336(someone)-336(from)-336(home)-337(in)-336(it)-336(with)-337(me,)-357(and)-337(I)-336(find)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(myself)-250(almost)-250(crying)]TJ/F29 9.863 Tf 83.282 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 9.863 0 Td[(I)-250(do,)-250(for)-250(a)-250(fact,)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary.)]TJ -81.19 -12.859 Td[(Next)-266(week,)-269(Bob)-266(is)-265(going)-266(to)-265(be)-266(away)-265(more)-266(than)-265(usual,)-270(and)]TJ -11.955 -12.822 Td[(I'm)-321(dreading)-321(it)-321(awfully;)-356(but)-321(never)-321(mind,)-339(Aunt)-320(Mary,)-339(I)-321(don't)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(want)-388(to)-389(make)-388(you)-389(blue,)-423(because)-388(honestly)-389(I)-388(don't)-389(think)-388(I'm)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(going)-316(into)-316(a)-316(decline,)-333(even)-316(if)-316(the)-316(doctor)-316(does.)-448(And,)-333(after)-316(all,)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(if)-395(I)-394(did)-395(sort)-394(of)-395(dwindle)-395(away)-394(it)-395(wouldn't)-395(matter)-394(much,)-431(for)]TJ 0 -12.821 Td[(I'm)-399(not)-400(worth)-400(anythin)1(g,)-437(and)-400(no)-399(one)-400(knows)-399(that)-400(as)-399(well)-400(as)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(myself)]TJ/F29 9.863 Tf 26.847 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 9.863 0 Td[(except)-221(you,)-227(Aunt)-221(Mary.)-241(I)-221(must)-221(stop)-222(because)-221(it's)-221(nine)]TJ -36.71 -12.822 Td[(o'clock)-332(and)-331(time)-332(I)-331(was)-332(in)-331(bed.)-495(I've)-332(got)-331(some)-332(socks)-331(to)-332(wash)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(out)-277(first,)-283(too;)-290(you)-277(see,)-283(I'm)-277(learning)-277(how)-277(to)-277(econ)1(omize)-277(just)-277(as)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(fast)-314(as)-314(I)-314(can.)-441(It's)-314(only)-314(two)-314(miles)-314(to)-314(my)-313(work,)-330(and)-314(I'm)-314(going)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(to)-267(walk)-268(back)-267(and)-268(forth)-267(always)]TJ/F29 9.863 Tf 119.463 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 9.862 0 Td[(that'll)-267(be)-268(between)-267(fifty)-268(cents)]TJ -129.325 -12.821 Td[(and)-269(a)-269(dollar)-269(saved)-270(each)-269(week.)-307(I'm)-269(figuring)-269(on)-270(how)-269(to)-269(live)-269(on)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(my)-317(salary)-318(and)-317(never)-317(have)-317(a)-318(debt,)-334(and)-317(you'll)-317(be)-317(proud)-318(of)-317(me)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(yet,)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ/F29 9.863 Tf 60.539 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 9.862 0 Td[(if)-250(I)-250(don't)-250(die)-250(first.)]TJ -58.446 -12.86 Td[(Think)-257(of)-256(me)-257(all)-256(alone)-257(here)-256(next)-257(week.)-269(If)-257(I)-256(wasn't)-257(steadfast)]TJ -11.955 -12.822 Td[(as)-283(a)-283(rock)-284(I)-283(believe)-283(I'd)-283(do)-284(something)-283(foolish)-283(just)-283(to)-284(get)-283(out)-283(of)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -92.392 0 Td[([122])]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 92.392 -12.821 Td[(myself.)-250(But)-250(never)-250(mind,)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary,)-250(it's)-250(all)-250(right.)]TJ 165.043 -12.86 Td[(Your)-296(afft.)-388(nephew,)]TJ -34.223 -12.86 Td[(John)-286(Watkins,)-295(Jr.,)-294(Denham.)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -138.501 -23.556 Td[(When)-271(Lucinda)-270(returned)-271(from)-270(drying)-271(her)-271(feet,)-275(Aunt)-271(Mary)-271(had)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(her)-250(handkerchief)-250(in)-250(one)-250(hand)-250(and)-250(spectacles)-250(in)-250(the)-250(other.)]TJ 11.956 -13.587 Td[("Saints)-387(and)-386(sinners!")-387(cried)-386(the)-387(maid,)-420(in)-387(a)-387(voice)-386(that)-387(grated)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(with)-250(sympathy.)-250("He)-250(ain't)-250(writ)-250(to)-250(say)-250(he's)-250(dead,)-250(is)-250(he?")]TJ 11.956 -13.587 Td[("No,")-299(said)-299(Aunt)-300(Mary;)-324("but)-299(he)-299(isn't)-299(as)-300(well)-299(as)-299(he)-299(makes)-300(out.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(There's)-250(no)-250(deceivin')-250(me,)-250(Lucinda!")]TJ 11.956 -13.587 Td[("Dear!)-245(dear!")-236(cried)-236(the)-236(Trusty)-236(and)-236(True;)-241("is)-236(that)-236(so?)-246(What's)-236(to)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(be)-250(done?)-250(Do)-250(you)-250(want)-250(Joshua)-250(to)-250(run)-250(anywhere?")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+512 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 513 0 R
+/Resources 511 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 488 0 R
+>> endobj
+514 0 obj <<
+/D [512 0 R /XYZ 258.371 223.198 null]
+>> endobj
+511 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+517 0 obj <<
+/Length 4633      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Twelve)-250(-)-250(A)-250(Trap)-250(For)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-8312(87)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(suddenly)-250(regained)-250(her)-250(composure.)]TJ 0 -13.995 Td[("Run)-295(anywhere?")-295(she)-295(asked,)-306(with)-295(her)-296(usual)-295(bitter)-295(intonation.)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[("If)-297(you)-298(ain't)-297(the)-297(greatest)-297(fool)-298(I)-297(ever)-297(was)-297(called)-298(upon)-297(to)-297(bed)-298(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(board,)-208(Lucinda!)-232(Will)-198(you)-197(kindly)-197(explain)-197(to)-198(me)-197(how)-197(settin')-198(Joshua)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(trottin')-306(is)-306(goin')-306(to)-306(do)-305(any)-306(mortal)-306(good)-306(to)-306(my)-306(poor)-306(boy)-306(away)-306(off)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(there)-250(in)-250(that)-250(dreadful)-250(city?")]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[("He)-378(could)-379(telegraph)-379(to)-378(Miss)-379(Arethusa,")-378(Lucinda)-379(suggested.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(The)-291(suggestion)-290(bespoke)-291(the)-291(superior)-291(moral)-290(quality)-291(of)-291(Lucinda's)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(make-up)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 38.171 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(her)-250(own)-250(feeling)-250(toward)-250(Arethusa)-250(being)-250(considered.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 241.944 0 Td[([123])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -13.996 Td[("I)-366(don't)-366(want)-367(her,")-366(said)-366(Aunt)-367(Mary)-366(with)-366(a)-366(positiveness)-367(that)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(was)-282(final.)-344("I)-282(don't)-281(want)-282(her.)-344(My)-282(heavens,)-289(Lucinda,)-290(ain't)-281(we)-282(just)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(had)-331(enough)-332(of)-331(her?)-494(Anyhow,)-352(if)-331(you)-331(ain't,)-352(I)-331(have.)-494(I)-331(don't)-332(want)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(her,)-384(nor)-358(no)-357(livin')-358(soul)-357(except)-358(my)-357(trunk;)-411(an')-358(I)-357(want)-358(that)-357(just)-358(as)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(quick)-250(as)-250(Joshua)-250(can)-250(haul)-250(it)-250(down)-250(out)-250(of)-250(the)-250(attic.")]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[("You)-326(ain't)-326(thinkin')-326(of)-327(goin')-326(travelin'!")-326(the)-326(maid)-326(cried)-326(in)-327(con-)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(sternation;)-250("you)-250(can't)-250(never)-250(be)-250(thinkin')-250(of)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 182.596 0 Td[(that?)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 22.429 0 Td[(")]TJ -193.069 -13.996 Td[("No,")-329(said)-329(her)-329(mistress)-328(with)-329(fine)-329(irony;)-368("I)-329(want)-329(the)-329(trunk)-329(to)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(make)-250(a)-250(pie)-250(out)-250(of,)-250(probably.")]TJ 11.956 -13.995 Td[(Lucinda)-250(was)-250(speechless.)]TJ 0 -13.996 Td[("Lucinda,")-360(her)-359(mistress)-360(said,)-387(after)-359(a)-360(few)-359(seconds)-360(had)-360(faded)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(away)-301(unimproved,)-314("seems)-301(to)-301(me)-301(I)-301(mentioned)-301(wantin')-302(Joshua)-301(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(get)-250(down)-250(a)-250(trunk)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 73.626 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(seems)-250(to)-250(me)-250(I)-250(did.")]TJ -72.579 -13.996 Td[(The)-418(maid)-419(turned)-418(and)-418(left)-418(the)-419(room.)-754(S)-1(he)-418(felt)-418(more)-418(or)-419(less)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(dazed.)-823(Nothing)-442(so)-441(startling)-441(as)-441(Aunt)-441(Mary's)-441(wanting)-441(a)-442(trunk)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(had)-466(happened)-465(in)-466(years.)-897(Disinheriting)-466(Jack)-466(was)-465(not)-466(in)-466(it)-466(by)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(comparison.)-237(She)-212(went)-212(slowly)-212(away)-212(to)-211(find)-212(Joshua)-212(and)-212(found)-212(him)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(in)-383(the)-383(farther)-383(end)-383(of)-383(the)-383(rear)-382(woodho)-1(use)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 184.946 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(John)-383(Watkins,)-416(like)]TJ -195.855 -13.549 Td[(several)-266(of)-265(his)-266(ilk,)-269(having)-265(marked)-266(each)-266(forward)-265(step)-266(in)-265(the)-266(world)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(by)-250(a)-250(back)-250(extension)-250(of)-250(his)-250(house.)]TJ 11.956 -13.995 Td[(Joshua)-214(was)-214(chopping)-214(wood;)-226(his)-214(ax)-214(was)-214(high)-214(in)-214(the)-214(air.)-238(He)-214(also)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(was)-250(calm)-250(and)-250(unsuspecting.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([124])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -13.995 Td[("She's)-351(goin')-352(to)-352(the)-351(city)-352(all)-351(alone!")-352(Lucinda's)-351(voice)-352(suddenly)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(proclaimed)-250(behind)-250(him.)]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[(The)-250(ax)-250(fell.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+516 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 517 0 R
+/Resources 515 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 520 0 R
+>> endobj
+518 0 obj <<
+/D [516 0 R /XYZ 321.855 408.889 null]
+>> endobj
+519 0 obj <<
+/D [516 0 R /XYZ 171.299 107.682 null]
+>> endobj
+515 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R /F18 18 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+524 0 obj <<
+/Length 3605      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(88)-11838(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[("Who)-175(says)-176(so?")-176(its)-175(handler)-176(demanded,)-190(facing)-176(about)-175(in)-176(surprise.)]TJ 0 -14.78 Td[("She)-250(says)-250(so.")]TJ 0 -14.779 Td[(Joshua)-273(picked)-273(up)-273(the)-273(ax)-273(and)-273(poised)-273(it)-273(afresh.)-320(He)-273(was)-273(himself)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(again.)]TJ 11.956 -14.779 Td[("She'll)-250(go)-250(then,")-250(he)-250(said)-250(calmly.)]TJ 0 -14.78 Td[(Lucinda)-294(marched)-295(around)-294(in)-295(front)-294(of)-295(him,)-306(and)-294(planted)-295(herself)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(firmly)-250(among)-250(the)-250(chips.)]TJ 11.956 -14.78 Td[("Joshua)-250(Whittlesey!")]TJ 0 -14.78 Td[("We)-305(can't)-305(help)-305(it,")-305(said)-304(Joshua)-305(stolidly.)-415("We're)-305(here)-305(to)-305(mind)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(her.)-448(If)-316(she)-316(wan)-1(ts)-316(to)-316(go)-316(to)-316(New)-316(York,)-333(or)-316(to)-316(change)-316(her)-316(will,)-333(all)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(we've)-250(got)-250(to)-250(do)-250(is)-250(to)-250(be)-250(simple)-250(witnesses.")]TJ 11.956 -14.78 Td[("She)-250(don't)-250(want)-250(Miss)-250(Arethusa)-250(telegraphed,")-250(said)-250(Lucinda.)]TJ 0 -14.78 Td[("I)-366(don't)-365(blame)-366(her,")-366(said)-366(Joshua;)-423("if)-366(I)-366(was)-366(her)-365(and)-366(if)-366(I)-366(was)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(goin')-250(to)-250(New)-250(York)-250(I)-250(wouldn't)-250(want)-250(no)-250(one)-250(telegraphed.")]TJ 11.956 -14.78 Td[("She)-250(wants)-250(her)-250(trunk)-250(out)-250(of)-250(the)-250(attic.")]TJ 0 -14.78 Td[("Then)-222(she'll)-222(get)-222(her)-222(trunk)-222(out)-222(of)-223(the)-222(attic.)-240(When)-222(does)-223(she)-222(want)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(it?")]TJ 11.956 -14.78 Td[("She)-250(wants)-250(it)-250(now.")]TJ 0 -57.888 Td[("Then)-289(she'll)-289(get)-289(it)-289(now,")-289(said)-289(Joshua.)-367(From)-289(the)-290(general)-289(trend)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(of)-238(this)-238(and)-238(other)-238(remarks)-238(of)-238(Joshua)-238(the)-238(reader)-238(will)-239(readily)-238(divine)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(why)-368(he)-368(had)-368(been)-368(in)-368(Aunt)-368(Mary's)-367(employ)-368(for)-368(thirty)-368(years,)-398(and)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([125])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(had)-278(always)-277(been)-278(characterized)-278(by)-277(her)-278(as)-278("a)-277(most)-278(sensible)-278(man,")]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-284(anyone)-283(who)-284(had)-283(seen)-284(the)-283(alacrity)-284(with)-283(which)-284(the)-283(trunk)-284(was)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(brought)-443(and)-444(the)-443(respectful)-444(attention)-443(with)-444(which)-443(Aunt)-444(Mary's)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(further)-467(commands)-466(were)-467(received)-466(would)-467(have)-466(been)-467(forced)-467(to)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(coincide)-250(in)-250(her)-250(opinion.)]TJ 11.956 -14.779 Td[(The)-339(packing)-339(of)-339(the)-340(trunk)-339(was)-339(a)-339(task)-339(which)-339(fell)-339(to)-340(Lucinda's)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(lot)-487(and)-487(was)-487(performed)-487(under)-487(the)-487(eagle)-487(eye)-487(of)-487(her)-487(mistress.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Aunt)-320(Mary's)-321(ideas)-320(of)-320(what)-320(she)-321(would)-320(require)-320(were)-321(delightfully)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(unsophisticated)-334(and)-334(brought)-334(up)-334(short)-334(on)-334(the)-334(farther-side)-335(of)-334(her)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+523 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 524 0 R
+/Resources 522 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 520 0 R
+>> endobj
+60 0 obj <<
+/D [523 0 R /XYZ 238.254 259.523 null]
+>> endobj
+525 0 obj <<
+/D [523 0 R /XYZ 150.42 189.315 null]
+>> endobj
+522 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+528 0 obj <<
+/Length 4778      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Twelve)-250(-)-250(A)-250(Trap)-250(For)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-8312(89)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 518.175 Td[(tooth)-183(brush)-183(and)-182(her)-183(rubbers.)-228(Nevertheless)-182(she)-183(agreed)-183(in)-183(Lucinda's)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(suggestions)-250(as)-250(to)-250(more)-250(extensive)-250(supplies.)]TJ 11.956 -14.095 Td[(Late)-317(that)-317(afternoon)-318(Joshua)-317(drove)-317(into)-317(town)-317(\050amidst)-317(a)-318(wealth)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(of)-252(mud)-252(spatters\051)-251(and)-252(dispatched)-252(the)-252(answer)-252(to)-251(Jack's)-252(letter.)-256(Aunt)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Mary)-353(was)-353(urged)-353(to)-353(haste)-352(by)-353(several)-353(considerations,)-379(some)-353(well)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(defined,)-231(and)-226(others)-226(not)-226(so)-226(much)-226(so.)-242(To)-226(Lucinda)-226(she)-226(imparted)-226(her)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(terrible)-224(anxiety)-224(over)-223(the)-224(dear)-224(boy's)-224(health,)-229(but)-223(not)-224(even)-224(to)-224(herself)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(did)-362(she)-362(admit)-361(her)-362(much)-362(more)-362(terrible)-361(anxiety)-362(lest)-362(Arethusa)-362(or)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Mary)-338(should)-337(suddenly)-338(appear)-337(and)-338(insist)-337(on)-338(accompanying)-338(her.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(She)-250(wanted)-250(to)-250(go,)-250(but)-250(she)-250(wanted)-250(to)-250(go)-250(alone.)]TJ 11.956 -14.095 Td[(Jack)-374(telegraphed)-374(a)-374(response)-374(that)-374(night,)-405(and)-374(his)-374(a)-1(unt)-374(left)-374(by)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(the)-286(Monday)-285(morn)-1(ing)-285(train.)-357(She)-286(had)-286(a)-286(six)-285(o'clock)-286(breakfast,)-295(and)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([126])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(drove)-236(into)-235(town)-236(at)-235(a)-236(quarter)-236(of)-235(nine)-236(so)-235(as)-236(to)-235(be)-236(absolutely)-236(certain)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(not)-220(to)-221(miss)-220(the)-220(train.)-241(Joshua)-220(drove,)-226(with)-221(the)-220(trunk)-220(perched)-221(beside)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(him.)-433(It)-311(was)-312(a)-311(small)-311(and)-311(unassuming)-311(trunk,)-326(but)-311(Aunt)-311(Ma)-1(ry)-311(was)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(not)-211(one)-211(who)-211(believed)-212(in)-211(putting)-211(on)-211(airs)-211(just)-211(because)-211(she)-211(was)-212(rich.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Lucinda)-250(sat)-250(on)-250(the)-250(back)-250(seat)-250(with)-250(her)-250(mistress.)]TJ 11.956 -14.095 Td[("I'm)-250(sure)-250(I)-250(hope)-250(you'll)-250(enjoy)-250(yourself,")-250(she)-250(said.)]TJ 0 -14.094 Td[("Of)-265(course)-264(he's)-265(nothing)-264(but)-265(a)-265(boy,")-264(Aunt)-265(Mary)-265(replied,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 241.052 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.91 0 Td[("an')]TJ -263.918 -13.55 Td[(I've)-411(told)-412(you)-411(a)-411(hundred)-412(times)-411(that)-411(boys)-411(will)-412(be)-411(boys)-411(and)-412(we)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(mustn't)-250(expect)-250(otherwise.")]TJ 11.956 -14.095 Td[(They)-227(arrived)-227(on)-227(time,)-231(and)-227(only)-227(had)-227(an)-227(hour)-227(and)-227(three-quarters)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(to)-396(wait)-396(in)-395(the)-396(station.)-687(Toward)-396(the)-396(last)-395(Aunt)-396(Mary)-396(grew)-396(very)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(nervous)-212(for)-211(fear)-212(something)-212(had)-211(happened)-212(to)-211(the)-212(train;)-224(but)-212(it)-212(came)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-417(time)-417(according)-417(to)-418(the)-417(waiting-room)-417(clock.)-751(Joshua)-417(put)-418(her)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(aboard,)-331(and)-315(she)-315(soon)-315(had)-315(nothing)-314(left)-315(to)-315(worry)-315(over)-315(except)-315(the)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(wonder)-250(as)-250(to)-250(whether)-250(Jack)-250(would)-250(be)-250(on)-250(hand)-250(to)-250(meet)-250(her)-250(or)-250(not.)]TJ 11.956 -14.094 Td[(Joshua)-269(drove)-268(back)-269(home,)-274(let)-268(Lucinda)-269(out)-269(at)-269(the)-268(door,)-274(and)-269(put)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(the)-250(horse)-250(up)-250(before)-250(going)-250(in)-250(to)-250(where)-250(she)-250(sat)-250(in)-250(solitary)-250(glory.)]TJ 11.956 -14.095 Td[("I)-378(wonder)-378(what)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 74.378 0 Td[(he's)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 21.001 0 Td[(up)-378(to?")-378(she)-378(said)-378(with)-378(a)-378(pleasant)-378(sense)]TJ -107.335 -13.549 Td[(of)-523(unlimited)-523(freedom)-522(as)-523(to)-523(the)-523(subject)-522(and)-523(duration)-523(of)-523(the)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(conversation.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([127])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -14.094 Td[("Suthin',)-250(of)-250(course,")-250(was)-250(the)-250(answer.)]TJ 0 -14.095 Td[("Do)-250(you)-250(s'pose)-250(he's)-250(really)-250(sick?")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+527 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 528 0 R
+/Resources 526 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 520 0 R
+>> endobj
+529 0 obj <<
+/D [527 0 R /XYZ 207.753 368.043 null]
+>> endobj
+530 0 obj <<
+/D [527 0 R /XYZ 107.971 94.331 null]
+>> endobj
+526 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R /F18 18 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+533 0 obj <<
+/Length 1954      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(90)-11838(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[("No,)-250(I)-250(don't.")]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[("Do)-250(you)-250(s'pose)-250(she)-250(thinks)-250(he's)-250(really)-250(sick?")]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[("Mebbe.")]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[("Ain't)-250(you)-250(goin')-250(to)-250(sit)-250(down,)-250(Joshua?")]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[("I)-250(don't)-250(see)-250(nothin')-250(to)-250(make)-250(me)-250(sit)-250(down)-250(here)-250(for.")]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[("What)-397(do)-396(you)-397(think)-397(of)-396(her)-397(going?")-396(she)-397(said,)-433(as)-397(he)-397(walked)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(toward)-250(the)-250(door.)]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[("I)-250(think)-250(she'll)-250(have)-250(a)-250(good)-250(time.")]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[("At)-250(her)-250(age?")]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[("Havin')-275(a)-276(good)-275(time)-275(ain't)-276(a)-275(matter)-275(o')-276(age,")-275(said)-275(Joshua.)-326("It's)-276(a)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(matter)-250(o')-250(bein')-250(willin')-250(to)-250(have)-250(a)-250(good)-250(time.")]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[(Lucinda)-250(screwed)-250(her)-250(face)-250(up)-250(mightily.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[("If)-390(I)-390(was)-390(sure)-390(she'd)-390(be)-391(gone)-390(for)-390(a)-390(week,")-390(she)-390(said,)-425("I'd)-391(go)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(a-visitin')-250(myself.")]TJ 11.956 -13.55 Td[("She'll)-408(b)-1(e)-408(gone)-409(a)-408(week,")-409(said)-408(Joshua;)-488(and)-409(the)-408(manner)-409(and)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(matter)-250(of)-250(his)-250(speech)-250(were)-250(both)-250(those)-250(of)-250(a)-250(prophet.)]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[(Then)-250(he)-250(went)-250(out)-250(and)-250(the)-250(door)-250(slammed)-250(to)-250(behind)-250(him.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -84.711 -27.414 Td[([128])]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+532 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 533 0 R
+/Resources 531 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 520 0 R
+>> endobj
+534 0 obj <<
+/D [532 0 R /XYZ 93.543 273.973 null]
+>> endobj
+531 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+537 0 obj <<
+/Length 736       
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Twelve)-250(-)-250(A)-250(Trap)-250(For)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-8312(91)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -280.63 -23.42 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 5.595 -415.378 cm
+ q 4.4208 0 0 4.4208 0 0 cm
+1 0 0 1 2.728 0 cm
+ q 1 0 0 1 0 0 cm
+q
+57.5998 0 0 93.9597 0 0 cm
+/Im3 Do
+Q
+ Q
+1 0 0 1 -2.728 0 cm
+ Q
+1 0 0 1 -52.366 -110.136 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.866 91.133 Td[("She's)-252(goin')-252(to)-252(the)-251(city)-252(all)-252(alone!')-255(Lucinda's)-252(voice)-252(suddenly)]TJ 73.888 -13.55 Td[(proclaimed)-263(behind)-263(him.")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 69.762 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 0 -30.98 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+536 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 537 0 R
+/Resources 535 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 520 0 R
+>> endobj
+521 0 obj <<
+/Type /XObject
+/Subtype /Image
+/Width 480
+/Height 783
+/BitsPerComponent 4
+/ColorSpace [/Indexed /DeviceRGB 15 538 0 R]
+/Length 187920    
+>>
+stream
+���DDD�H���D�������������HDDDMDMDDMMDD�M��DDDHH����DDHHDDDDDD�MMDDDDD��DDD���DDDDDH��HD�D��H�������������������������������
+endobj
+538 0 obj <<
+/Length 48        
+>>
+stream
+���HHH���)))���hhh���������XWX898wvw���endstream
+endobj
+535 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R >>
+/XObject << /Im3 521 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text /ImageC /ImageI ]
+>> endobj
+539 0 obj
+<< /S /GoTo /D (index14) >>
+endobj
+542 0 obj
+(Chapter Thirteen - Aunt Mary Entrapped)
+endobj
+545 0 obj <<
+/Length 3616      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 18.959 Tf 93.543 479.321 Td[(Chapter)-265(Thirteen)-266(-)-265(Aunt)-265(Mary)]TJ 0 -24.647 Td[(Entrapped)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 0 -33.79 Td[(Aunt)-394(Mary's)-393(arrival)-394(in)-394(the)-393(city)-394(just)-394(coincided)-393(with)-394(the)-394(arrival)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(of)-427(that)-427(day's)-427(five)-427(o'clock.)-780(Five)-427(o'clock)-427(in)-427(early)-427(June)-427(is)-427(very)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(bright)-389(daylight,)-424(therefore)-389(she)-389(was)-389(rather)-389(bewildered)-389(whe)-1(n)-389(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(train)-416(pulled)-416(up)-416(in)-415(the)-416(darkness)-416(and)-416(electricity)-416(of)-416(the)-416(station's)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(confusion.)-943(The)-481(change)-481(from)-481(sunlight)-481(to)-481(smoke)-482(blinded)-481(her)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(somewhat)-263(and)-264(the)-263(view)-263(from)-264(the)-263(car)-263(window)-264(did)-263(not)-263(restore)-264(her)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(equanimity.)-422(When)-308(the)-307(porter,)-322(to)-307(whom)-307(she)-308(had)-307(been)-308(discreetly)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(recommended)-353(by)-353(Joshua,)-380(came)-353(for)-353(her)-353(bags,)-379(she)-353(felt)-354(woefully)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(distressed)-250(and)-250(not)-250(at)-250(all)-250(like)-250(her)-250(usual)-250(self.)]TJ 11.956 -13.823 Td[("Oh,)-255(do)-253(I)-254(have)-254(to)-254(get)-254(out?")-253(she)-254(said.)-262("I)-253(ain't)-254(been)-254(in)-254(this)-254(place)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(for)-250(twenty-five)-250(years,)-250(and)-250(I)-250(was)-250(to)-250(be)-250(met.")]TJ 11.956 -13.823 Td[(The)-250(porter's)-250(grin)-250(hovered)-250(comfortingly)-250(over)-250(her)-250(head.)]TJ 0 -13.823 Td[("You)-257(can)-256(stay)-257(here)-257(jus')-256('s)-257(long)-257(as)-256(you)-257(like,)-258(ma'am,")-257(he)-257(yelled,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(in)-266(the)-266(voice)-266(of)-266(a)-266(train)-266(dispatcher.)-298("I'll)-266(send)-266(your)-266(frien)-1(ds)-266(in)-266(when)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(they)-250(inquiahs.")]TJ 11.956 -13.823 Td[(Aunt)-187(Mary)-187(eyed)-187(him)-187(gratefully,)-200(and)-187(gave)-187(him)-187(the)-187(nickel)-187(which)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -84.711 0 Td[([129])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.55 Td[(she)-250(had)-250(been)-250(carefully)-250(holding)-250(in)-250(her)-250(hand)-250(for)-250(the)-250(last)-250(hour.)]TJ 11.956 -13.822 Td[(Then)-250(she)-250(looked)-250(up,)-250(and)-250(saw)-250(Jack!)]TJ 0 -13.823 Td[(A)-408(perfectly)-409(splendid)-408(Jack,)-448(in)-409(resplendent)-408(attire,)-449(handsome,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(beaming,)-250(with)-250(a)-250(big)-250(bouquet)-250(of)-250(violets)-250(in)-250(his)-250(hand!)]TJ 11.956 -13.823 Td[("For)-383(you,)-417(Aunt)-383(Mary,")-383(he)-383(said,)-417(and)-383(dropped)-383(them)-383(into)-384(her)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(lap,)-246(and)-246(hugged)-245(her)-246(fervently.)-248(She)-246(clung)-245(to)-246(him)-245(with)-246(a)-245(cling)-246(that)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(forgot)-278(the)-277(immediate)-278(past,)-284(disinheriting)-278(and)-278(all.)-333(Oh!)-332(she)-278(was)-278(so)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(glad)-250(to)-250(see)-250(him!)]TJ 11.956 -13.823 Td[(The)-250(porter)-250(approached)-250(with)-250(a)-250(beneficent)-250(look.)]TJ 0 -13.823 Td[("Has)-285(he)-285(taken)-285(good)-285(care)-285(of)-285(you,)-294(Aunt)-285(Mary?")-285(Jack)-285(asked,)-294(as)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(the)-250(man)-250(gathered)-250(up)-250(the)-250(things)-250(and)-250(they)-250(started)-250(to)-250(leave)-250(the)-250(car.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+544 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 545 0 R
+/Resources 543 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 520 0 R
+>> endobj
+540 0 obj <<
+/D [544 0 R /XYZ 93.543 529.134 null]
+>> endobj
+546 0 obj <<
+/D [544 0 R /XYZ 303.439 216.552 null]
+>> endobj
+543 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+549 0 obj <<
+/Length 4393      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Thirteen)-250(-)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(Entrapped)-8312(93)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[("Yes,)-250(indeed,")-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(declared.)]TJ 0 -15.856 Td[(So)-250(Jack)-250(gave)-250(the)-250(porter)-250(a)-250(dollar.)]TJ 0 -15.857 Td[(Then)-250(they)-250(left)-250(the)-250(train.)]TJ 0 -15.857 Td[("I)-369(was)-370(so)-369(worried,")-370(Aunt)-370(Mary)-369(said,)-399(as)-370(she)-370(went)-369(along)-370(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(platform)-393(hanging)-393(on)-392(her)-393(nephew's)-393(arm.)-678("I)-393(thought)-393(you'd)-393(met)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(with)-250(an)-250(accident.")]TJ 11.956 -15.856 Td[("I)-266(couldn't)-265(get)-266(on)-265(until)-266(the)-265(rest)-266(got)-265(off,")-266(he)-266(said,)-269(gazing)-266(down)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(on)-328(her)-329(with)-328(a)-328(smile;)-368("but)-328(I)-328(was)-329(on)-328(hand,)-348(all)-328(right.)-485(My,)-348(but)-329(it's)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(good)-238(to)-238(think)-239(that)-238(you're)-238(here,)-241(Aunt)-238(Mary!)-246(Maybe)-238(you)-238(think)-239(that)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(I)-349(don't)-349(appreciate)-349(your)-350(taking)-349(all)-349(this)-349(trouble)-349(for)-349(me,)-374(but)-350(I)-349(do,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(just)-250(the)-250(same.")]TJ 11.956 -15.857 Td[(Aunt)-318(Mary)-317(smiled)-318(all)-317(over.)-453(Everyone)-318(who)-317(passed)-318(them)-318(was)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 279.068 0 Td[([130])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(smiling,)-229(too,)-230(and)-224(that)-225(added)-224(to)-224(the)-224(general)-225(joy)-224(of)-224(the)-225(atmosphere.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Aunt)-366(Mary)-366(felt)-366(proud)-366(of)-366(Jack,)-395(and)-366(rejoiced)-366(as)-366(to)-366(herself.)-598(Her)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(content)-297(with)-297(life)-297(in)-297(general)-297(was,)-309(for)-297(the)-297(moment,)-309(limitless.)-391(She)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(did)-269(not)-269(stop)-268(to)-269(dissect)-269(the)-269(sources)-268(of)-269(her)-269(delight.)-306(She)-269(was)-269(not)-269(in)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(a)-250(critical)-250(mood)-250(just)-250(then.)]TJ 11.956 -15.856 Td[("Why)-244(don't)-244(you)-244(stick)-244(those)-244(flowers)-244(in)-244(your)-244(belt,)-245(Aunt)-244(Mary?")]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(her)-384(nephew)-383(asked,)-417(as)-384(they)-384(penetrated)-383(the)-384(worst)-383(of)-384(the)-384(human)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(jungle,)-444(and)-405(the)-405(preservation)-406(of)-405(the)-405(violets)-405(appeared)-405(to)-405(be)-406(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(main)-250(question)-250(of)-250(the)-250(day.)-250("That's)-250(what)-250(the)-250(girls)-250(do.")]TJ 11.956 -15.856 Td[(His)-398(aunt)-397(looked)-398(vaguely)-397(down)-398(at)-397(herself.)-693(She)-398(had)-397(no)-398(belt)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(to)-367(stick)-366(her)-367(violets)-367(in.)-600(She)-366(wore)-367(no)-367(belt.)-600(She)-366(wore)-367(a)-367(basque.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(A)-349(basque)-350(is)-349(a)-350(beltless)-349(something)-350(that)-349(you)-350(can't)-349(remember,)-375(but)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(that)-273(females)-273(did,)-278(once)-273(upon)-273(a)-273(time,)-278(cover)-273(the)-273(upper)-273(half)-273(of)-273(their)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(forms)-308(with.)-425(Basques)-308(buttoned)-308(down)-308(the)-308(front)-308(with)-308(ten)-308(to)-309(thirty)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(buttons,)-294(and)-285(may)-285(be)-285(studied)-285(at)-285(leisure)-285(in)-285(any)-285(good)-285(collection)-285(of)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(daguerreotypes.)-676(Ladies)-393(like)-392(Aunt)-392(Mary)-392(are)-392(apt)-392(to)-392(scorn)-393(such)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(futilities)-331(as)-332(waning)-331(styles)-331(after)-331(they)-332(pass)-331(beyond)-331(a)-331(certain)-332(age,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-250(for)-250(that)-250(reason)-250(there)-250(was)-250(no)-250(place)-250(for)-250(Jack's)-250(violets.)]TJ 11.956 -15.857 Td[("Never)-315(mind,")-316(he)-315(said)-316(cheerfully,)-331(having)-316(followed)-315(her)-316(dubi-)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(ousness)-279(with)-278(his)-279(understanding.)-336("Just)-279(hang)-279(on)-278(to)-279(them)-279(a)-279(minute)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(longer,)-250(and)-250(we'll)-250(be)-250(out)-250(of)-250(all)-250(this.")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([131])]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+548 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 549 0 R
+/Resources 547 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 552 0 R
+>> endobj
+550 0 obj <<
+/D [548 0 R /XYZ 252.606 357.597 null]
+>> endobj
+551 0 obj <<
+/D [548 0 R /XYZ 202.869 66.142 null]
+>> endobj
+547 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+555 0 obj <<
+/Length 4064      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(94)-11838(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[(His)-369(words)-368(came)-369(true,)-398(and)-369(they)-369(finally)-369(did)-368(emerge)-369(from)-369(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(seething)-254(mass)-253(and)-254(found)-253(a)-254(carriage,)-254(the)-254(door)-253(of)-254(which)-254(happened)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-319(be)-320(standing)-319(mysteriously)-320(open.)-458(Within,)-336(upon)-320(the)-319(small)-320(seat,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(some)-232(omniscient)-231(hands)-232(had)-232(already)-232(deposited)-231(Aunt)-232(Mary's)-232(bags.)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(It)-265(did)-265(not)-265(take)-264(long)-265(to)-265(stow)-265(Aunt)-265(Mary,)-268(face)-265(to)-265(her)-265(luggage,)-269(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(she)-233(was)-234(barely)-233(established)-234(there)-233(before)-233(her)-234(trunk)-233(came,)-237(too;)-239(and,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(although)-247(the)-248(coachman)-247(looked)-248(so)-247(gorgeous,)-248(he)-247(was)-248(nevertheless)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(obliging)-250(enough)-250(to)-250(allow)-250(it)-250(to)-250(couch)-250(humbly)-250(at)-250(his)-250(feet.)]TJ 11.956 -15.088 Td[(Then)-250(they)-250(rolled)-250(away.)]TJ 0 -15.087 Td[(Jack)-350(sat)-349(sideways)-350(and)-349(looked)-350(at)-349(his)-350(aunt,)-374(holding)-350(her)-350(hand.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(His)-335(eyes)-335(were)-335(unfeignedly)-335(happy,)-356(and)-336(his)-335(companion)-335(matched)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(his)-239(eyes.)-246(Neither)-239(seemed)-239(to)-239(recollect)-239(that)-239(one)-239(was)-239(bitterly)-239(angry,)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(and)-237(that)-237(the)-237(other)-238(was)-237(on)-237(the)-237(verge)-237(of)-237(melancholia.)-246(Instead,)-240(Jack)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(declared)-250(fervently:)]TJ 11.956 -15.087 Td[("Aunt)-333(Mary,)-353(I've)-333(made)-333(up)-333(my)-333(mind)-332(to)-333(give)-333(you)-333(the)-333(time)-333(of)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(your)-250(life!")]TJ 11.956 -15.088 Td[(And)-532(Aunt)-532(Mary)-533(drew)-532(a)-532(sigh)-532(of)-533(relief)-532(in)-532(his)-532(words)-533(and)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(anticipation)-250(of)-250(their)-250(fulfillment.)]TJ 11.956 -15.088 Td[("I'll)-473(be)-474(happy)-474(takin')-473(care)-474(of)-473(you,")-474(she)-473(said,)-530(benevolently.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[("My!)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 23.237 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(but)-250(your)-250(letter)-250(scared)-250(me.)-250(An')-250(yet)-250(you)-250(look)-250(well.")]TJ -22.19 -15.087 Td[(He)-250(laughed.)]TJ 0 -15.088 Td[("It's)-451(the)-452(knowing)-451(you)-451(were)-452(coming)-451(that's)-452(done)-451(that,)-502(Aunt)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Mary.)-428(You)-310(ought)-309(to)-310(have)-309(seen)-310(me)-309(when)-310(I)-309(got)-310(your)-309(telegram.)-429(I)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([132])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(almost)-250(turned)-250(a)-250(somersault.")]TJ 11.956 -15.087 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(smiled)-250(rapturously)-250(and)-250(patted)-250(his)-250(hand.)]TJ 0 -15.088 Td[(And)-281(just)-281(then)-282(they)-281(drew)-281(up)-281(in)-281(front)-281(of)-282(the)-281(house.)-343(She)-282(looked)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(out,)-250(and)-250(her)-250(face)-250(fell)-250(a)-250(trifle.)]TJ 11.956 -15.087 Td[("It's)-250(awful)-250(high)-250(and)-250(narrow,")-250(she)-250(said.)]TJ 0 -15.088 Td[("They)-390(all)-389(are,")-390(Jack)-390(replied,)-424(opening)-390(the)-389(carriage)-390(door)-390(and)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(jumping)-250(out)-250(to)-250(receive)-250(her.)]TJ 11.956 -15.088 Td[(The)-221(door)-222(at)-221(the)-221(top)-222(of)-221(the)-222(steps)-221(opened,)-227(and)-221(a)-222(man)-221(came)-222(down)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(for)-418(the)-418(bags.)-755(In)-418(the)-418(hall)-418(above,)-460(a)-418(pretty)-418(maid)-418(waited)-418(with)-419(a)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(welcoming)-250(smile.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+554 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 555 0 R
+/Resources 553 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 552 0 R
+>> endobj
+556 0 obj <<
+/D [554 0 R /XYZ 250.266 209.325 null]
+>> endobj
+553 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+559 0 obj <<
+/Length 4240      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Thirteen)-250(-)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(Entrapped)-8312(95)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[(Jack)-298(piloted)-297(his)-298(aunt,)-310(first)-297(up)-298(the)-298(entrance)-298(steps,)-309(and)-298(then)-298(up)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(the)-344(staircase)-345(within,)-368(and)-344(led)-344(her)-345(to)-344(the)-345(lovely)-344(room)-344(which)-345(had)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(been)-316(vacated)-315(for)-315(her.)-447(The)-315(maid)-316(followed)-315(with)-316(tea)-315(and)-316(biscuits,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-284(the)-284(man)-284(brought)-283(the)-284(luggage)-284(and)-284(ranged)-284(it)-284(unobtrusively)-284(in)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(a)-367(corner.)-601(There)-367(was)-367(a)-367(lavish)-367(richness)-367(about)-367(everything)-367(which)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(made)-284(Aunt)-284(Mary)-285(and)-284(her)-284(trunk)-284(appear)-284(as)-284(gray)-284(and)-285(insignificant)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(as)-324(a)-323(pair)-324(of)-323(mice,)-342(by)-324(contrast;)-360(but)-324(she)-323(didn't)-324(feel)-323(it,)-342(and)-324(so)-324(she)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(didn't)-250(mind)-250(it.)]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[(Jack)-250(kissed)-250(her)-250(tenderly.)]TJ 0 -13.9 Td[("Welcome)-340(to)-339(town,)-363(Aunt)-339(Mary,")-340(he)-340(said)-340(heartily,)-362("and)-340(may)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(you)-253(never)-252(live)-253(to)-252(look)-253(upon)-252(this)-253(day)-252(as)-253(other)-252(than)-253(the)-252(luckiest)-253(of)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(your)-250(life!")-250(Then,)-250(turning)-250(to)-250(the)-250(servant,)-250(he)-250(said:)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([133])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -13.9 Td[("Janice,)-366(you)-343(see)-344(that)-343(you)-343(do)-343(all)-343(that)-343(money)-343(can)-343(buy)-344(for)-343(my)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(aunt.")]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[(The)-310(maid)-309(courtesied.)-430(She)-309(had)-310(arranged)-310(the)-309(tray)-310(upon)-310(a)-310(little)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(table)-211(and)-210(the)-211(spout)-211(of)-210(the)-211(tea)-211(pot)-211(and)-210(the)-211(round)-211(hole)-210(in)-211(the)-211(middle)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(of)-239(the)-238(toast-cover)-239(were)-239(each)-238(pouring)-239(forth)-238(a)-239(pleasant)-239(suggestion.)]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(began)-250(at)-250(once)-250(to)-250(haul)-250(forth)-250(her)-250(keys.)]TJ 0 -13.899 Td[("Why,)-431(Aunt)-394(Mary,")-395(Jack)-395(cried,)-430(wondering)-395(if)-394(her)-395(nose)-395(was)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(deaf,)-281(too,)-282(or)-275(whether)-275(she)-275(didn't)-275(feel)-275(hungry,)-281("don't)-275(you)-276(see)-275(your)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(tea?)-250(Or)-250(don't)-250(you)-250(want)-250(any?")]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(thumbed)-250(her)-250(trunk)-250(key.)]TJ 0 -13.9 Td[("I)-338(want)-338(a)-338(nightgown,")-339(she)-338(said;)-382("maybe)-338(I'll)-338(want)-339(something)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(else)-250(later.)-250(Maybe.")]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[("You're)-250(not)-250(going)-250(to)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 91.865 0 Td[(bed)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 15.753 0 Td[(!")]TJ -107.618 -13.9 Td[(She)-250(drew)-250(herself)-250(up.)]TJ 0 -13.9 Td[("I)-291(guess)-291(I)-290(can)-291(if)-291(I)-291(want)-290(to;)-312(I)-290(guess)-291(I)-291(can.)-372(There's)-291(the)-291(bed)-291(and)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(here's)-250(me.")]TJ 11.955 -13.9 Td[("Whatever)-250(are)-250(you)-250(saying?)-250(It)-250(isn't)-250(half-past)-250(six)-250(o'clock.")]TJ 0 -13.9 Td[("I'm)-350(not)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 40.11 0 Td[(prayin)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 28.483 0 Td[(')-350(about)-350(anything,")-350(said)-350(the)-350(old)-349(lady.)-550("I)-350(don't)]TJ -80.548 -13.549 Td[(pray)-283(about)-284(things.)-350(I)-284(do)-283('em)-284(when)-283(needful.)-351(And)-283(when)-284(I'm)-283(tired)-284(I)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(go)-250(to)-250(bed.")]TJ 11.955 -13.9 Td[("All)-281(right,)-290(Aunt)-281(Mary,")-282(with)-281(sugary)-282(sweetness)-281(and)-282(lamb-like)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(submissiveness.)-650("I)-383(thought)-383(we'd)-383(dine)-383(out)-384(together,)-416(but)-383(if)-384(you)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+558 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 559 0 R
+/Resources 557 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 552 0 R
+>> endobj
+560 0 obj <<
+/D [558 0 R /XYZ 257.556 368.433 null]
+>> endobj
+557 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F18 18 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+563 0 obj <<
+/Length 4259      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(96)-11838(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 518.175 Td[(don't)-198(want)-198(to,)-208(we)-198(needn't.)-233(And)-198(if)-198(you)-198(feel)-198(like)-198(it)-198(when)-198(you)-198(waken,)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([134])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(we)-250(can.")]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("Dine)-369(out,")-369(said)-369(Aunt)-369(Mary,)-399(blankly;)-429("has)-369(the)-369(cook)-369(left?)-608(I)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(never)-176(was)-176(a)-176(great)-176(approver)-176(of)-176(goin')-176(and)-176(eatin')-176(at)-176(boarding)-176(houses.")]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("Well,)-276(never)-270(min)-1(d,")-270(Jack)-271(said)-271(in)-270(a)-271(key)-271(pitched)-270(to)-271(rhyme)-271(with)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(high)-345(C.)-344("I'll)-345(leave)-345(you)-344(now)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 122.479 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(and)-345(we)-344(can)-345(see)-345(about)-344(everything)]TJ -133.388 -13.549 Td[(later.")]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[(He)-250(kissed)-250(her,)-250(and)-250(retired)-250(from)-250(the)-250(room.)]TJ 0 -13.927 Td[("Did)-421(he)-420(say)-421(we're)-421(goin')-420(out)-421(to)-421(dinner?")-420(Aunt)-421(Mary)-421(asked,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(when)-298(she)-298(was)-299(left)-298(alone)-298(with)-298(the)-298(m)-1(aid,)-310(who)-298(hurried)-298(to)-298(take)-299(her)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(bonnet)-219(and)-220(shawl,)-225(and)-220(get)-219(her)-219(into)-220(juxtaposition)-219(with)-219(the)-220(tea-tray)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(as)-250(rapidly)-250(as)-250(possible.)]TJ 11.956 -13.926 Td[("Yes,)-250(ma'am,")-250(the)-250(girl)-250(screamed,)-250(nodding.)]TJ 0 -13.927 Td[("I)-355(don't)-355(want)-355(to,")-355(said)-355(the)-355(old)-355(lady)-355(firmly.)-565("Lots)-355(of)-355(trouble)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(comes)-248(through)-248(gettin')-248(out)-248(of)-248(house)-248(habits.)-250(I've)-248(come)-248(here)-248(to)-248(take)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(care)-318(of)-318(a)-318(sick)-318(boy)-318(and)-318(not)-318(to)-318(go)-318(gallivantin')-318(round)-318(myself.)-454(I've)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(seen)-295(the)-294(evils)-295(of)-294(gallivantin')-295(a)-294(good)-295(deal)-294(lately)-295(and)-295(I)-294(don't)-295(want)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-250(see)-250(no)-250(more.)-250(Not)-250(here)-250(and)-250(not)-250(nowhere.")]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[(Then)-340(she)-341(began)-340(to)-340(eat)-341(and)-340(drink)-340(and)-341(reflect,)-363(all)-340(at)-340(the)-341(same)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(time.)]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("By)-284(the)-285(way,)-293(what's)-284(your)-285(name?")-284(she)-284(asked,)-293(suddenly.)-354("Jack)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(didn't)-250(tell)-250(me.")]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("Janice,)-250(ma'am.")]TJ 0 -13.927 Td[("Granite?")-282(said)-282(Aunt)-281(Mary.)-346("What)-282(a)-281(funny)-282(idea)-282(to)-282(name)-282(you)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -84.711 0 Td[([135])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(that!)-250(Did)-250(they)-250(call)-250(you)-250(for)-250(the)-250(tinware)-250(or)-250(for)-250(the)-250(rocks?")]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("I)-310(don't)-309(know,")-310(shrieked)-310(Janice,)-325(who)-309(was)-310(busily)-310(occupied)-310(in)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(unpacking)-250(the)-250(traveler's)-250(trunk.)]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[(Her)-301(new)-302(mistress)-301(watched)-302(her)-301(with)-302(a)-301(critical)-301(eye)-302(at)-301(first,)-315(but)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(it)-385(became)-386(a)-385(more)-385(or)-385(less)-386(sleepy)-385(eye)-385(as)-385(the)-386(warmth)-385(of)-385(the)-386(tea)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(meandered)-296(slowly)-296(through)-296(its)-296(owner.)-388(There)-296(was)-296(a)-297(battle)-296(within)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(Aunt)-191(Mary's)-191(brain;)-211(she)-191(wanted)-191(to)-191(please)-191(Jack,)-203(and)-191(she)-191(was)-191(almost)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(dead)-250(with)-250(sleep.)]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("Do)-273(you)-274(think)-273(that)-274(I)-273(ought)-274(to)-273(try)-273(and)-274(go)-273(out)-274(with)-273(my)-274(nephew)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(to-night?")-250(she)-250(asked)-250(Janice.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+562 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 563 0 R
+/Resources 561 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 552 0 R
+>> endobj
+564 0 obj <<
+/D [562 0 R /XYZ 168.796 518.175 null]
+>> endobj
+565 0 obj <<
+/D [562 0 R /XYZ 298.296 202.767 null]
+>> endobj
+561 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+568 0 obj <<
+/Length 4292      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Thirteen)-250(-)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(Entrapped)-8312(97)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[("If)-250(it)-250(was)-250(me,)-250(I)-250(should)-250(go,")-250(cried)-250(the)-250(maid.)]TJ 0 -13.856 Td[("I)-350(never)-351(was)-350(called)-350(slow)-351(before,")-350(Aunt)-351(Mary)-350(said,)-376(bridling.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[("I'll)-250(thank)-250(you)-250(to)-250(remember)-250(your)-250(place,)-250(young)-250(woman.")]TJ 11.956 -13.856 Td[(Janice)-250(explained.)]TJ 0 -13.856 Td[("Oh!)-397(I)-299(didn't)-299(hear)-299(plainly,")-299(said)-299(Aunt)-299(Mary.)-398("I)-299(don't)-299(always.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Well)-305(go)-305(or)-305(not)-305(go,)-319(I've)-305(got)-305(to)-305(sleep)-305(first.)-415(I'm)-306(dreadfully)-305(sleepy,)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(and)-408(I've)-408(always)-408(been)-408(a)-408(great)-408(believer)-408(in)-408(sleepin')-409(when)-408(you're)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(sleepy.")]TJ 11.956 -13.856 Td[(The)-275(fact)-274(of)-275(the)-275(sleepiness)-274(was)-275(so)-275(evident)-275(that)-274(no)-275(attempt)-275(was)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(made)-293(to)-293(gainsay)-293(it.)-380(Janice)-293(brought)-293(down)-293(a)-293(quilt)-293(from)-293(the)-294(closet)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-410(tucked)-411(her)-410(charge)-410(up)-411(luxuriously)-410(on)-410(the)-410(great)-411(bed.)-731(Five)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(minutes)-250(later)-250(she)-250(was)-250(in)-250(dreamland.)]TJ 11.956 -13.856 Td[(Jack)-250(came)-250(in)-250(about)-250(seven)-250(and)-250(looked)-250(at)-250(her.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 279.068 0 Td[([136])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -13.856 Td[("She)-200(mustn't)-201(be)-201(disturbed,")-200(he)-201(said)-200(thoughtfully.)-234("If)-200(she)-201(wakes)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(up)-250(before)-250(ten)-250(we'll)-250(go)-250(out)-250(then.")]TJ 11.956 -13.856 Td[(She)-237(awoke)-236(about)-237(nine,)-240(and)-236(when)-237(she)-237(opened)-236(her)-237(eyes)-237(the)-237(first)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(thing)-250(that)-250(she)-250(saw)-250(was)-250(Janice,)-250(sitting)-250(near)-250(by.)]TJ 11.956 -13.856 Td[("I)-250(feel)-250(real)-250(good,")-250(said)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary.)]TJ 0 -13.856 Td[("I'm)-250(so)-250(glad,")-250(yelled)-250(Janice,)-250(and)-250(smiled,)-250(too.)]TJ 0 -13.856 Td[(The)-250(old)-250(lady)-250(sat)-250(up.)]TJ 0 -13.856 Td[("I)-296(believe)-297(I)-296(could)-296(have)-296(gone)-297(out,)-308(after)-296(all,")-296(she)-296(said.)-389("Only)-297(I)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(don't)-250(want)-250(to)-250(take)-250(dinner)-250(anywhere.")]TJ 11.956 -13.856 Td[(Then)-353(she)-353(paused)-353(and)-353(reflected.)-559(It)-353(was)-353(surpris)-1(ing)-353(how)-353(good)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(she)-350(felt)-351(and)-350(how)-350(she)-351(did)-350(want)-350(to)-351(make)-350(Jack)-350(happy.)-551("After)-351(all)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(boys)-226(will)-226(be)-226(boys,")-226(she)-226(thought,)-230(tenderly,)-231("an')-226(I)-226(ain't)-226(but)-226(seventy,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(so)-361(I)-362(don't)-361(see)-362(why)-361(I)-361(shouldn't)-362(go)-361(out)-362(with)-361(him)-361(if)-362(he)-361(wants)-362(to.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(I'm)-281(a)-281(g)-1(reat)-281(believer)-281(in)-281(doin')-281(what)-282(you)-281(want)-281(to)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 200.597 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(I)-281(mean,)-289(in)-281(doin')]TJ -211.505 -13.549 Td[(what)-272(other)-272(folks)-271(want)-272(you)-272(to.)-316(At)-271(any)-272(rate)-272(I'm)-272(a)-272(great)-272(believer)-271(in)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(it)-250(sometimes.)-250(To-day)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 92.421 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(this)-250(time.")]TJ -91.375 -13.856 Td[("Your)-265(nephew)-266(is)-265(waiting,")-265(the)-266(maid)-265(howled.)-296("Shall)-265(I)-265(tell)-266(him)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(you)-250(want)-250(to)-250(go)-250(after)-250(all?")]TJ 11.956 -13.856 Td[("Is)-250(it)-250(late?")-250(the)-250(old)-250(lady)-250(inquired.)]TJ 0 -13.856 Td[("Oh,)-250(dear,)-250(no!")]TJ 0 -13.856 Td[("Wouldn't)-250(you)-250(go)-250(if)-250(you)-250(was)-250(me?")-250(asked)-250(the)-250(old)-250(lady.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+567 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 568 0 R
+/Resources 566 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 552 0 R
+>> endobj
+569 0 obj <<
+/D [567 0 R /XYZ 253.224 354.05 null]
+>> endobj
+566 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+572 0 obj <<
+/Length 2181      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(98)-11838(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[(Janice)-250(smiled.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -84.711 0 Td[([137])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -13.549 Td[("Indeed)-250(I)-250(would.")]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Aunt)-460(Mary)-461(rose.)-881(A)-461(flood)-460(of)-461(metropolitan)-460(fever)-461(suddenly)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(surged)-250(up)-250(and)-250(around)-250(and)-250(over)-250(and)-250(through)-250(her.)]TJ 11.956 -13.55 Td[("Tell)-250(him)-250(I'll)-250(be)-250(down)-250(in)-250(five)-250(minutes,")-250(she)-250(said.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[("Can)-250(you)-250(change)-250(in)-250(that)-250(time?")-250(Janice)-250(stopped)-250(to)-250(shriek.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[("What)-301(should)-300(I)-301(change)-301(for?")-301(Aunt)-300(Mary)-301(demanded)-301(in)-301(aston-)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(ishment.)-250("Ain't)-250(I)-250(all)-250(dressed)-250(now?")]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[(Janice)-227(did)-227(not)-228(attempt)-227(to)-227(shriek)-227(any)-228(counter-advice,)-231(and)-228(while)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(she)-285(was)-285(gone)-286(to)-285(find)-285(Jack,)-294(her)-285(mistress)-285(brushed)-285(herself)-285(in)-286(some)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(places,)-280(soaped)-275(herself)-274(in)-274(others,)-281(and)-274(considered)-274(her)-274(toilet)-275(made.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(When)-239(Janice)-239(returned)-239(she)-239(caught)-239(up)-239(a)-239(loose)-239(lock)-239(of)-239(hair,)-241(and)-239(put)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-247(placket-hole)-247(of)-247(her)-247(skirt)-246(square)-247(in)-247(the)-247(middle)-247(of)-247(Aunt)-247(Mary's)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(back,)-314(and)-302(dared)-301(go)-302(no)-301(further.)-404(There)-302(was)-301(an)-301(air)-302(even)-301(about)-302(the)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(back)-244(of)-244(Jack's)-243(influential)-244(aunt)-244(which)-244(forbade)-243(too)-244(much)-244(liberty)-244(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(those)-250(dealing)-250(with)-250(her.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 -29.651 Td[([138])]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+571 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 572 0 R
+/Resources 570 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 552 0 R
+>> endobj
+573 0 obj <<
+/D [571 0 R /XYZ 170.037 518.175 null]
+>> endobj
+574 0 obj <<
+/D [571 0 R /XYZ 93.543 285.286 null]
+>> endobj
+570 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+575 0 obj
+<< /S /GoTo /D (index15) >>
+endobj
+578 0 obj
+(Chapter Fourteen - Aunt Mary En Fête)
+endobj
+581 0 obj <<
+/Length 3662      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 18.959 Tf 46.771 479.321 Td[(Chapter)-257(Fourteen)-257(-)-256(Aunt)-257(Mary)-257(En)]TJ 0 -24.647 Td[(F\352te)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 0 -33.895 Td[(Aunt)-215(Mary)-216(descended)-215(the)-216(stairs)-215(about)-216(half-past)-215(nine;)-227(she)-216(thought)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(it)-359(was)-360(about)-359(a)-360(quarter)-359(to)-359(eight,)-387(but)-359(the)-360(difference)-359(between)-360(the)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(hour)-270(that)-270(it)-270(was)-270(and)-271(the)-270(hour)-270(that)-270(she)-270(thought)-270(that)-270(it)-270(was)-270(will)-271(be)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(all)-250(the)-250(same)-250(a)-250(hundred)-250(years)-250(from)-250(now.)]TJ 11.956 -13.844 Td[(Jack)-217(came)-217(out)-216(of)-217(the)-217(Louis)-217(XIV.)-216(drawing)-217(room)-217(when)-217(he)-217(heard)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(her)-250(step)-250(in)-250(the)-250(hall.)-250(There)-250(was)-250(another)-250(young)-250(man)-250(with)-250(him.)]TJ 11.956 -13.844 Td[("This)-314(is)-315(my)-314(friend)-314(Burnett,)-330(Aunt)-315(Mary,")-314(her)-314(nephew)-315(roared.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[("You)-249(must)-248(excuse)-249(his)-249(not)-248(bowing)-249(lower,)-249(but)-249(you)-248(know)-249(he)-249(broke)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(his)-250(collarbone)-250(recently.")]TJ 11.956 -13.844 Td[(Aunt)-483(Mary)-483(shook)-483(hands)-483(warmly;)-600(she)-483(knew)-483(all)-484(about)-483(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(ribs)-485(and)-485(the)-485(collarbone,)-544(because)-485(they)-485(had)-485(formed)-485(big)-485(items)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(in)-382(the)-383(testimony)-382(which)-382(had)-383(momentarily)-382(and)-382(as)-383(momentously)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(relegated)-378(Jack)-378(to)-378(the)-378(comradeship)-378(of)-378(the)-378(devil)-378(himself,)-411(in)-378(her)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(eyes.)-467(However,)-341(she)-322(recalled)-323(them)-322(merely)-322(as)-323(facts)-322(now)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 244.386 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(not)-322(at)]TJ -255.295 -13.549 Td[(all)-257(in)-256(a)-257(disagreeable)-256(way)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 108.133 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(and)-257(gave)-256(Burnett)-257(an)-256(extra)-257(squeeze)-256(of)]TJ -119.042 -13.549 Td[(good-fellowship,)-250(as)-250(she)-250(said:)]TJ 11.956 -13.844 Td[("You)-250(had)-250(a)-250(narrow)-250(escape,)-250(young)-250(man.")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 279.068 0 Td[([139])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -13.844 Td[("I)-357(didn't)-357(have)-357(any)-357(escape)-358(at)-357(all,")-357(said)-357(Burnett.)-571("The)-358(escape)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(went)-250(down)-250(at)-250(the)-250(back,)-250(and)-250(I)-250(had)-250(to)-250(jump)-250(from)-250(a)-250(cornice.")]TJ 11.956 -13.844 Td[("Burnett)-283(is)-283(going)-282(out)-283(to)-283(dine)-283(with)-282(us,)-291(Aunt)-283(Mary,")-283(said)-283(Jack.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[("There's)-223(so)-224(little)-223(he)-224(can)-223(eat)-223(on)-224(account)-223(of)-224(his)-223(ribs)-223(that)-224(he's)-223(a)-224(good)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(dinner)-250(guest)-250(for)-250(me.")]TJ 11.956 -13.844 Td[(Jack's)-549(aunt)-548(felt)-549(vaguely)-549(uncomfortable)-548(over)-549(this)-549(allusion)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(to)-510(her)-509(grand-nephew's)-510(circumstances,)-575(and)-509(coughed)-510(in)-510(slight)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(embarrassment.)]TJ 11.956 -13.844 Td[(Burnett)-279(opened)-280(the)-279(door,)-287(and)-280(the)-279(carriage)-280(lamp)-279(shone)-280(below.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(\050Is)-542(there)-543(ever)-542(anything)-543(more)-542(delightfully)-543(suggestive)-542(than)-543(a)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+580 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 581 0 R
+/Resources 579 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 583 0 R
+>> endobj
+576 0 obj <<
+/D [580 0 R /XYZ 46.771 529.134 null]
+>> endobj
+582 0 obj <<
+/D [580 0 R /XYZ 237.581 202.813 null]
+>> endobj
+579 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+586 0 obj <<
+/Length 4083      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(100)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 518.175 Td[(carriage)-349(lamp)-349(shining)-349(down)-350(below?\051)-547(They)-349(took)-349(her)-349(down)-350(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(put)-250(her)-250(in,)-250(and)-250(the)-250(carriage)-250(rolled)-250(away.)]TJ 11.956 -15.088 Td[(It)-418(was)-418(that)-418(June)-418(when)-418("Bedelia")-418(covered)-418(nearly)-419(the)-418(whole)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(of)-461(the)-460(political)-461(horizon;)-566(it)-461(was)-460(the)-461(date)-461(of)-460(June)-461(when)-461(West)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Point,)-484(Vassar,)-484(the)-438(Blue,)-484(the)-437(Red,)-484(the)-438(Black)-437(and)-437(Yellow)-438(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(every)-408(known)-408(device)-409(for)-408(getting)-408(rid)-408(of)-408(young)-408(and)-409(growing-up)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(America)-320(are)-320(all)-320(cast)-320(loose)-321(at)-320(once)-320(on)-320(our)-320(fair)-320(land.)-460(The)-321(streets)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(were)-340(a)-339(scene)-340(of)-339(glorious)-340(confusion,)-362(and)-339(but)-340(for)-339(Aunt)-340(Mary)-340(no)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(considerations)-362(could)-362(have)-363(kept)-362(Burnett's)-362(collarbone)-362(and)-363(Jack's)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(melancholia)-414(cooped)-414(up)-414(in)-414(a)-413(closed)-414(carriage.)-742(As)-414(it)-414(was,)-455(they)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(were)-239(both)-240(fidgeting)-239(like)-240(two)-239(youthful)-240(Uncle)-239(Sams)-240(in)-239(a)-240(European)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(railway)-372(coupe,)-403(when)-372(the)-372(latter)-372(suddenly)-372(exclaimed:)-494("Here)-372(we)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(are!")-279(and)-279(threw)-279(open)-279(the)-279(door)-278(as)-279(he)-279(spoke.)-337(Then)-279(he)-279(got)-279(out)-279(and)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([140])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.55 Td[(Burnett)-250(got)-250(out)-250(and)-250(between)-250(them)-250(they)-250(got)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(out.)]TJ 11.956 -15.087 Td[(Aunt)-237(Mary)-238(regarded)-237(the)-237(awning)-237(and)-238(carpet)-237(and)-237(general)-238(glitter)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(with)-250(a)-250(more)-250(or)-250(less)-250(appalled)-250(gaze.)]TJ 11.956 -15.088 Td[("Looks)-307(like)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 51.432 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")-307(she)-306(began;)-335(and)-307(was)-306(interrupted)-307(by)-307(a)-306(voice)-307(at)]TJ -74.297 -13.549 Td[(her)-250(side:)]TJ 11.956 -15.087 Td[("Hello,)-250(Jack!")]TJ 0 -15.088 Td[("Hello,)-250(Clover!")]TJ 0 -15.087 Td[(She)-270(turned)-269(and)-270(saw)-270(him)-269(of)-270(the)-270(pale)-270(mustache)-269(whom)-270(we)-270(once)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(met)-472(in)-471(Mrs.)-915(Rosscott's)-471(drawing)-472(room.)-914(He)-472(was)-472(in)-471(no)-472(wise)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(altered)-201(since)-200(that)-201(occasion)-201(except)-200(that)-201(his)-201(attire)-200(was)-201(slightly)-201(more)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(resplendent)-250(and)-250(he)-250(had)-250(on)-250(a)-250(silk)-250(hat.)]TJ 11.956 -15.087 Td[(Jack)-250(shook)-250(hands)-250(warmly)-250(and)-250(then)-250(he)-250(turned)-250(to)-250(his)-250(relative.)]TJ 0 -15.088 Td[("Aunt)-391(Mary,)-426(this)-391(is)-391(my)-391(friend)-391(Clover;)-462(he's)-391(often)-391(heard)-391(me)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(speak)-250(of)-250(you.")]TJ 11.956 -15.087 Td[("Glad)-350(to)-350(meet)-350(you,)-374(Mr.)-550(Rover,")-350(said)-350(Aunt)-350(Mary,)-375(cordially,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(and)-423(she,)-466(too,)-466(shook)-423(hands)-423(with)-423(that)-423(cordiality)-423(that)-423(flourishes)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(beyond)-250(city)-250(limits.)]TJ 11.956 -15.087 Td[(Her)-250(nephew)-250(bent)-250(over)-250(her)-250(ear-trumpet.)]TJ 0 -15.087 Td[("Clover!")-250(he)-250(howled,)-250(with)-250(all)-250(the)-250(strength)-250(he)-250(owned.)]TJ 0 -15.088 Td[("I)-250(heard)-250(before,")-250(said)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary,)-250(somewhat)-250(coldly.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+585 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 586 0 R
+/Resources 584 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 583 0 R
+>> endobj
+587 0 obj <<
+/D [585 0 R /XYZ 205.29 354.047 null]
+>> endobj
+584 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+590 0 obj <<
+/Length 4502      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Fourteen)-250(-)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(En)-250(F\352te)-8672(101)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[("Come)-286(o)-1(n)-286(and)-287(dine)-286(with)-287(us,)-295(Clover,")-287(said)-286(Jack;)-305("that'll)-287(make)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(four.")-210(\050By)-210(the)-210(way,)-218(isn't)-210(it)-210(odd)-210(how)-210(many)-210(people)-210(ask)-211(their)-210(friends)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-352(dinner)-352(for)-351(the)-352(simple)-352(reason)-352(that,)-377(arithmetically)-352(considered,)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([141])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(each)-250(counts)-250(as)-250(one!\051)]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[("All)-250(right,)-250(I)-250(will,")-250(said)-250(Clover,)-250(in)-250(his)-250(languid)-250(drawl.)]TJ 0 -13.996 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(saw)-250(his)-250(lips.)]TJ 0 -13.995 Td[("It's)-360(no)-360(use)-361(my)-360(deceivin')-360(you)-360(as)-360(to)-361(my)-360(bein')-360(a)-360(little)-360(hard)-361(of)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(hearin',")-289(she)-289(said)-289(to)-289(him,)-299("because)-289(you)-289(can)-289(see)-289(my)-290(ear-trumpet;)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(so)-250(I'll)-250(trouble)-250(you)-250(to)-250(say)-250(that)-250(over)-250(again.")]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[("All)-250(right,)-250(I)-250(will,")-250(Clover)-250(wailed,)-250(good-humoredly.)]TJ 0 -13.995 Td[("What?")-250(asked)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary.)-250("I)-250(didn't)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 156.501 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ -167.41 -13.996 Td[(Jack)-250(cut)-250(her)-250(short)-250(by)-250(leading)-250(the)-250(party)-250(inside.)]TJ 0 -13.995 Td[(The)-313(scene)-313(w)-1(ithin)-313(was)-313(as)-313(gorgeous)-314(with)-313(golden)-313(stucco)-313(as)-314(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(dining-room)-372(of)-372(a)-372(German)-372(liner.)-615(Aunt)-372(Mary)-372(was)-372(so)-372(overcome)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(that)-269(she)-268(traversed)-269(half)-269(the)-268(room)-269(before)-269(she)-269(became)-268(aware)-269(of)-269(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(mighty)-239(attention)-238(which)-239(she)-238(and)-239(her)-238(three)-239(escorts)-238(were)-239(attracting.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(In)-315(truth,)-330(it)-315(is)-314(no)-1(t)-314(every)-315(day)-314(that)-315(three)-314(good-looking)-315(young)-315(men)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(take)-255(a)-254(tiny)-255(old)-255(lady,)-255(a)-255(bunch)-255(of)-254(violets)-255(and)-255(an)-254(ear-trumpet)-255(out)-255(to)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(dine)-250(at)-250(ten)-250(o'clock.)]TJ 11.956 -13.995 Td[("Everyone's)-250(lookin',")-250(she)-250(said)-250(to)-250(Jack.)]TJ 0 -13.996 Td[("It's)-271(y)-1(our)-271(back,)-277(Aunt)-271(Ma)-1(ry,")-271(he)-272(replied,)-276(in)-272(a)-272(voice)-271(that)-272(shook)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(some)-268(loose)-268(golden)-267(flakes)-268(from)-268(the)-268(ceiling.)-303("I)-268(tell)-268(you,)-272(not)-268(many)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(women)-270(of)-270(your)-270(age)-270(have)-270(a)-270(back)-270(like)-270(yours,)-275(and)-270(don't)-270(you)-270(forget)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(it.")]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[(The)-485(compliment)-485(pleased)-485(Aunt)-485(Mary,)-544(because)-485(she)-485(had)-485(all)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 279.068 0 Td[([142])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(her)-541(life)-541(been)-541(considered)-541(round-shouldered.)-1123(It)-542(also)-541(pleased)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(her)-420(because)-421(she)-420(never)-420(had)-421(received)-420(many)-421(compliments.)-761(The)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Aunt)-465(Marys)-465(of)-465(this)-466(world)-465(love)-465(flattery)-465(just)-465(as)-465(dearly)-465(as)-466(the)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(Mrs.)-527(Rosscotts;)-388(the)-343(sad)-342(part)-342(of)-343(life)-342(is)-342(that)-343(they)-342(rarely)-342(get)-343(any.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(The)-473(women)-472(like)-473(Mrs.)-918(Rosscott)-472(know)-473(why)-472(the)-473(Aunt)-473(Marys)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(go)-410(unflattered,)-450(but)-410(the)-410(Aunt)-409(Marys)-410(never)-410(understand.)-730(It's)-410(all)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(sad)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 14.542 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(and)-250(true)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 35.444 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(and)-250(undeniable.)]TJ -59.848 -13.996 Td[(They)-363(we)-1(nt)-363(to)-364(a)-363(table,)-392(and)-363(we)-1(re)-363(barely)-364(seated)-363(when)-364(another)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(man)-250(came)-250(up.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+589 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 590 0 R
+/Resources 588 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 583 0 R
+>> endobj
+591 0 obj <<
+/D [589 0 R /XYZ 107.363 491.077 null]
+>> endobj
+592 0 obj <<
+/D [589 0 R /XYZ 275.616 188.531 null]
+>> endobj
+588 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+595 0 obj <<
+/Length 4185      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(102)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[("Hello,)-250(Jack!")]TJ 0 -13.9 Td[("Hello,)-250(Mitchell!")]TJ 0 -13.9 Td[(It)-269(was)-269(he)-269(of)-269(Scotch)-268(ancestry.)-307(Jack)-269(sprang)-269(up)-269(and)-269(greeted)-269(him)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(with)-250(warmth,)-250(then)-250(he)-250(turned)-250(to)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary.)]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[("Aunt)-354(Mary,")-355(he)-354(screamed,)-381("this)-354(is)-355(my)-354(friend")]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 210.579 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(he)-354(paused,)]TJ -233.444 -13.549 Td[(put)-221(on)-220(all)-221(steam)-220(and)-221(ploughed)-220(right)-221(through)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 188.955 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[("Herbert)-221(Kendrick)]TJ -199.864 -13.549 Td[(Mitchell.")]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[("I)-331(didn't)-332(catch)-331(that)-331(at)-332(all,")-331(said)-331(Aunt)-332(Mary,)-352(calmly,)-351("but)-332(I'm)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(just)-250(as)-250(glad)-250(to)-250(meet)-250(the)-250(gentleman.")]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[(Mitchell)-263(clasped)-263(h)-1(er)-263(hand)-263(with)-263(an)-264(expression)-263(as)-263(burning)-263(as)-264(if)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(it)-250(was)-250(real.)]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[("I)-380(declare,")-380(he)-381(yelled)-380(straight)-380(at)-381(her,)-412("if)-381(this)-380(isn't)-380(what)-381(I've)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(been)-250(dreaming)-250(towards)-250(ever)-250(since)-250(I)-250(first)-250(knew)-250(Jack.")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([143])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -13.9 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(fairly)-250(shone.)]TJ 0 -13.9 Td[("Dear)-250(me,")-250(she)-250(began,)-250("if)-250(I'd)-250(known)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 157.701 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ -168.61 -13.9 Td[("You'd)-263(better)-264(dine)-263(with)-263(us,)-267(Mitchell,")-263(said)-263(Jack;)-270("that'll)-264(make)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(five.")]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[("It)-241(won't)-241(make)-242(but)-241(three)-241(for)-241(me)-1(,")-241(said)-241(Mitchell.)-247("I)-241(haven't)-242(had)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(but)-250(two)-250(dinners)-250(before)-250(to-night.")]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[(Clover)-539(smiled)-539(because)-538(he)-539(heard,)-611(and)-539(Aunt)-539(Mary)-539(smiled)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(because)-331(she)-331(didn't,)-351(but)-331(was)-331(happy)-331(anyway.)-493(She)-331(had)-331(altogether)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(forgotten)-250(that)-251(she)-250(had)-251(demurred)-250(at)-251(dining)-250(out.)-251(They)-251(all)-250(sat)-251(down)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-361(shook)-362(out)-361(their)-362(napkins.)-584(Mitchell)-361(and)-362(Clover)-361(shook)-362(Aunt)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Mary's)-294(for)-294(her)-294(and)-295(gave)-294(it)-294(a)-294(beautiful)-294(cornerways)-294(spread)-295(across)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(her)-250(lap.)]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[(Then)-336(the)-337(waiter)-336(laid)-337(another)-336(plate)-337(for)-336(Mitchell,)-358(and)-337(brought)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(oyster)-332(cocktails)-331(for)-332(everyone.)-495(Aunt)-331(Mary)-332(eyed)-331(hers)-332(with)-332(early)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(curiosity)-208(and)-207(later)-208(suspicion;)-221(and)-208(she)-207(smelled)-208(of)-208(it)-207(very)-208(carefully.)]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[("I)-250(don't)-250(believe)-250(they're)-250(good)-250(oysters,")-250(she)-250(said.)]TJ 0 -13.9 Td[("Yes,)-288(they)-280(are,")-280(cried)-281(Mitchell)-280(reassuringly.)-341(His)-280(voice,)-288(when)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(he)-370(turned)-370(it)-370(upon)-370(her,)-400(was)-370(pitched)-370(like)-370(a)-370(clarionet.)-610(The)-370(blind)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(would)-476(surely)-475(have)-476(seen)-475(as)-476(well)-476(as)-475(the)-476(deaf)-475(have)-476(heard)-476(had)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(there)-238(been)-239(any)-238(candidates)-239(for)-238(miracles)-238(in)-239(his)-238(immediate)-239(vicinity.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[("They're)-250(first-class,")-250(he)-250(added,)-250("you)-250(just)-250(go)-250(at)-250(them)-250(and)-250(see.")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+594 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 595 0 R
+/Resources 593 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 583 0 R
+>> endobj
+596 0 obj <<
+/D [594 0 R /XYZ 327.019 353.481 null]
+>> endobj
+593 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+599 0 obj <<
+/Length 4570      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Fourteen)-250(-)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(En)-250(F\352te)-8672(103)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[(The)-250(reassured)-250(took)-250(another)-250(whiff.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 279.068 0 Td[([144])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -16.186 Td[("You)-289(can)-290(have)-289(mine,")-290(she)-289(said)-290(directly)-289(afterwards;)-309(and)-290(there)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(was)-506(an)-507(air)-506(of)-506(decision)-507(about)-506(her)-507(speech)-506(which)-506(brooked)-507(no)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(opposition.)-250(Yet)-250(Mitchell)-250(persisted.)]TJ 11.956 -16.187 Td[("Oh,)-385(no,")-358(he)-358(yelled;)-413("you)-358(must)-358(learn)-358(how.)-574(Just)-358(throw)-359(your)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(head)-212(back)-212(and)-211(take)-212('em)-212(quick)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 126.206 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(after)-212(the)-212(fashion)-211(that)-212(they)-212(eat)-212(raw)]TJ -137.114 -13.549 Td[(eggs,)-250(don't)-250(you)-250(know?")]TJ 11.955 -16.186 Td[("But)-317(she)-317(can't,")-317(said)-317(Clover.)-451("There's)-317(too)-317(much,)-334(particularly)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(as)-309(she)-310(isn't)-309(used)-310(to)-309(them.)-428(I'll)-310(tell)-309(you,)-324(Miss)-310(Watkins,")-309(he)-310(cried,)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(hoisting)-235(his)-236(own)-236(voice)-235(to)-236(the)-235(masthead,)-239("you)-235(eat)-236(the)-235(oysters,)-239(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(leave)-340(the)-339(cocktail.)-520(That's)-339(the)-340(way)-340(to)-339(get)-340(gradually)-340(trained)-340(into)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-250(wheel.")]TJ 11.955 -16.186 Td[(Aunt)-174(Mary)-175(thought)-174(some)-175(of)-174(obeying;)-200(she)-174(fished)-175(out)-174(one)-175(oyster,)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(wiped)-248(it)-248(carefu)-1(lly)-248(with)-248(a)-248(bit)-249(of)-248(bread,)-248(regarded)-249(it)-248(with)-248(more)-249(than)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(dubious)-250(countenance,)-250(and)-250(then)-250(suddenly)-250(decided)-250(not)-250(to.)]TJ 11.955 -16.187 Td[("I'd)-464(rather)-464(be)-463(at)-464(home)-464(when)-464(I)-463(try)-464(experiments,")-464(she)-464(said,)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(decidedly;)-378(and)-336(the)-336(waiter)-335(carried)-336(off)-336(her)-335(coc)-1(ktail)-335(and)-336(gave)-336(her)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(food)-250(that)-250(was)-250(good)-250(beyond)-250(question)-250(thereafter.)]TJ 11.955 -16.186 Td[(The)-384(dinner)-383(went)-384(with)-384(zest.)-651(It)-384(was)-383(an)-384(enlivening)-384(party)-384(that)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(consumed)-196(it,)-208(and)-196(what)-197(they)-196(consumed)-197(with)-196(it)-197(enlivened)-196(them)-197(still)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(more.)-464(The)-322(gentlemen)-321(soon)-321(reached)-322(the)-321(point)-322(where)-321(they)-322(could)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(laugh)-389(over)-389(jokes)-388(they)-389(could)-389(not)-389(understand,)-423(and)-389(the)-389(one)-389(lady)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(member)-365(became)-364(equally)-365(merry)-365(over)-364(wit)-365(that)-365(she)-364(did)-365(not)-365(hear.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.023 0 Td[([145])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.023 -13.549 Td[(She)-376(forgot)-375(for)-376(the)-376(nonce)-376(that)-375(there)-376(were)-376(any)-375(phases)-376(of)-376(life)-376(in)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(which)-253(she)-253(was)-252(not)-253(a)-253(believer,)-254(and)-252(whether)-253(this)-253(was)-253(owing)-253(to)-253(the)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(surrounding)-327(gayety)-328(or)-327(to)-327(the)-328(champagne)-327(which)-327(they)-328(persuaded)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(her)-250(to)-250(taste)-250(it)-250(is)-250(not)-250(my)-250(province)-250(to)-250(explain.)]TJ 11.955 -16.186 Td[("Now)-342(we)-342(must)-342(lay)-341(our)-342(lines)-342(for)-342(events)-342(to)-342(come,")-342(Jack)-342(said,)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(when)-251(they)-251(advanced)-251(upon)-251(the)-251(dessert)-251(and)-251(prepared)-251(to)-251(occupy)-251(an)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(extensive)-309(territory)-309(of)-309(ices,)-324(fruit,)-324(and)-309(jellied)-309(something)-309(or)-310(other.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[("It)-249(would)-249(be)-249(a)-248(sin)-249(for)-249(Aunt)-249(Mary)-249(to)-249(leave)-249(this)-249(famous)-249(battlefield)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(without)-241(a)-241(few)-241(honorable)-240(scars!)-247(We)-241(must)-241(take)-241(her)-241(out)-241(in)-241(a)-241(bubble)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(for)-250(one)-250(thing)-250(and)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 74.836 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+598 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 599 0 R
+/Resources 597 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 583 0 R
+>> endobj
+600 0 obj <<
+/D [598 0 R /XYZ 208.988 518.175 null]
+>> endobj
+601 0 obj <<
+/D [598 0 R /XYZ 213.279 204.271 null]
+>> endobj
+597 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+604 0 obj <<
+/Length 4500      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(104)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[("In)-205(mine!")-206(cried)-205(Clover.)-235("To-morrow!)-235(Why)-206(can't)-205(she?)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 233.107 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(I)-205(held)]TJ -255.972 -13.549 Td[(up)-250(my)-250(hand)-250(first?")]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[("All)-519(right,")-519(said)-519(Jack;)-654("to-morrow)-519(she's)-519(your's.)-1057(At)-519(four)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(o'clock.")]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[("She)-424(must)-424(have)-424(goggles,")-424(cried)-424(Mitchell.)-772("She)-424(must)-424(have)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(goggles)-425(and)-425(be)-425(all)-426(fixed)-425(up,)-469(and)-425(when)-425(you)-425(have)-425(got)-425(her)-426(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(goggles)-243(and)-243(she)-242(has)-243(been)-243(all)-243(fixed)-242(up,)-244(I)-243(ask,)-244(as)-243(a)-243(last)-243(boon,)-244(that)-243(I)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(may)-250(go)-250(along,)-250(just)-250(so)-250(as)-250(to)-250(see)-250(everyone)-250(who)-250(sees)-250(her.")]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[("We'll)-335(all)-336(go,")-335(Clover)-335(explained.)-506("I'll)-336('chuff')-335(her)-335(myself)-336(and)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(then)-250(there'll)-250(be)-250(room)-250(for)-250(everyone.")]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[("To)-210(the)-210(auto)-210(and)-210(to)-210(to-morrow!")-210(cried)-210(Burnett,)-219(hastily)-210(pouring)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(out)-359(a)-360(fresh)-359(toast,)-386(which)-360(even)-359(Aunt)-359(Mary)-359(applauded)-1(,)-386(not)-359(at)-360(all)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([146])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(knowing)-250(what)-250(she)-250(was)-250(applauding.)]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[("And)-326(now)-326(for)-325(the)-326(next)-326(day,")-326(said)-326(Jack.)-477("I)-326(think)-326(I'll)-326(give)-326(her)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(a)-302(box-party.)-407(Don't)-303(you)-302(want)-302(to)-302(go)-303(to)-302(the)-302(theater)-303(in)-302(a)-302(box,)-316(Aunt)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Mary?")]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[("Go)-396(where)-396(in)-396(a)-396(box?")-396(said)-396(Aunt)-397(Mary,)-432(starting)-396(a)-396(little.)-689("I)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(didn't)-250(quite)-250(catch)-250(that.")]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[("To)-250(the)-250(theater,")-250(Jack)-250(yelled.)]TJ 0 -13.9 Td[("To)-250(the)-250(theater,")-250(repeated)-250(his)-250(aunt)-250(a)-250(trifle)-250(blankly,)-250("I)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 229.363 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ -240.272 -13.9 Td[("And)-470(the)-471(next)-470(day,")-470(said)-470(Mitchell)-471(suddenly)-470(\050he)-470(had)-471(been)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(reflecting)-238(maturely\051,)-240("I'll)-238(take)-239(you)-238(all)-238(up)-238(the)-238(sound)-238(in)-238(my)-238(yacht.")]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[("Oh,)-426(hurrah,")-390(cried)-391(Burnett,)-426("that'll)-390(be)-391(bully!)-671(And)-391(the)-391(day)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(after)-250(I'll)-250(give)-250(her)-250(a)-250(picnic.")]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[("Time)-422(of)-422(your)-422(life,)-465(Aunt)-422(Mary,")-422(Jack)-422(shrieked)-422(in)-422(her)-422(ear-)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(trumpet;)-250("time)-250(of)-250(your)-250(life!")]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[("Dear)-250(me!")-250(said)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary,)-250("I)-250(don't)-250(just)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 177.108 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ -188.017 -13.9 Td[("Aunt)-437(Mary!)-811(glasses)-437(down!")-437(cried)-437(Clover;)-531("may)-437(she)-437(live)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(forever)-250(and)-250(forever.")]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[("To)-493(Aunt)-493(Mary,)-553(glasses)-493(up,")-493(said)-493(Mitchell.)-979("Glasses)-493(up)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(come)-507(before)-506(glasses)-506(down)-507(always.)-1019(It's)-507(one)-506(of)-507(the)-506(laws)-507(of)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Nature)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 29.684 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(human)-422(nature)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 61.562 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(also)-422(of)-422(good)-422(natu)-1(re.)-766(Here's)-422(to)-422(Aunt)]TJ -113.064 -13.55 Td[(Mary,)-280(and)-274(if)-274(she)-274(isn't)-274(the)-273(Aunt)-274(Mary)-274(of)-274(all)-274(of)-274(us)-274(here's)-274(a)-274(hoping)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(she)-315(may)-316(get)-315(there)-316(some)-315(day;)-348(I)-315(do)-1(n't)-315(just)-315(see)-316(how,)-331(but)-316(I)-315(ask)-316(the)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+603 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 604 0 R
+/Resources 602 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 583 0 R
+>> endobj
+605 0 obj <<
+/D [603 0 R /XYZ 228.541 367.731 null]
+>> endobj
+602 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+608 0 obj <<
+/Length 4661      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Fourteen)-250(-)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(En)-250(F\352te)-8672(105)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 518.175 Td[(indulgence)-218(of)-218(those)-217(present)-218(on)-218(the)-218(plea)-218(that)-217(I)-218(have)-218(indulged)-218(quite)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([147])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(a)-250(little)-250(myself)-251(to-night.)-250(Honi)-250(soit)-250(qui)-251(mal)-250(y)-250(pense;)-250(ora)-250(pro)-251(nobis,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Erin-go-Bragh.)-394(Present)-297(company)-298(being)-298(present,)-310(and)-298(impossible)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-192(except)-192(on)-192(that)-191(account,)-204(we)-192(will)-191(omit)-192(the)-192(three)-192(cheers)-192(and)-192(choke)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(down)-250(the)-250(tiger.")]TJ 11.956 -14.25 Td[(They)-314(all)-314(drank,)-331(and)-314(the)-314(dinner)-315(having)-314(by)-314(this)-314(time)-315(dwindled)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(down)-294(to)-294(coffee)-293(grounds)-294(and)-294(cheese)-294(crumbs)-294(a)-293(vote)-294(was)-294(taken)-294(as)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(to)-250(where)-250(they)-250(should)-250(go)-250(next.)]TJ 11.956 -14.25 Td[(Aunt)-255(Mary)-255(suggested)-256(home,)-256(but)-255(she)-256(was)-255(over-ruled,)-256(and)-256(they)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(all)-258(went)-258(elsewhere.)-273(She)-258(never)-258(could)-257(recollect)-258(where)-258(she)-258(went)-258(or)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(what)-279(she)-279(saw;)-294(but,)-286(as)-279(everyone)-279(else)-279(has)-279(been)-279(and)-279(seen)-280(over)-279(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(over)-250(again,)-250(I)-250(won't)-250(fuss)-250(with)-250(detailing)-250(it.)]TJ 11.956 -14.25 Td[(The)-375(visitor)-374(from)-375(the)-374(country)-375(reached)-374(home)-375(in)-375(a)-374(carriage)-375(in)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(the)-256(small)-256(hours)-256(in)-255(the)-256(morning,)-258(and)-256(Janice)-255(received)-256(her,)-258(looking)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(somewhat)-250(nervous.)]TJ 11.956 -14.25 Td[("This)-320(is)-320(pretty)-319(late,")-320(she)-320(ventured)-320(to)-319(remind)-320(the)-320(bearers;)-355(but)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(as)-418(they)-418(didn't)-419(seem)-418(to)-418(think)-418(so,)-461(and)-418(she)-418(was)-418(a)-418(maiden,)-461(wise)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(beyond)-306(her)-306(yea)-1(rs,)-320(she)-306(spoke)-306(no)-306(further)-307(word,)-320(but)-306(went)-306(to)-307(work)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-248(undressed)-247(the)-248(aged)-247(reveller,)-248(got)-248(her)-247(comfortably)-248(established)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(in)-226(bed,)-231(and)-227(then)-226(left)-226(her)-227(to)-226(get)-226(a)-227(good)-226(sleep,)-231(an)-226(occupation)-227(which)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(occupied)-250(the)-250(weary)-250(one)-250(fully)-250(until)-250(two)-250(that)-250(afternoon.)]TJ 11.956 -14.251 Td[(When)-401(she)-401(did)-401(at)-401(last)-401(open)-401(her)-401(eyes)-401(it)-401(was)-401(several)-401(minutes)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(before)-346(she)-346(knew)-347(where)-346(she)-346(was.)-539(Her)-346(brain)-346(seemed)-346(dazed,)-371(her)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([148])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(intellect)-288(more)-288(than)-288(clouded.)-364(It)-288(is)-288(a)-288(state)-288(of)-288(mind)-289(to)-288(which)-288(those)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(who)-410(habitually)-409(go)-410(about)-409(in)-410(hansoms)-410(at)-409(the)-410(hour)-409(of)-410(dawn)-410(are)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(well)-346(accustomed,)-369(but)-346(to)-346(Aunt)-345(Mary)-346(it)-345(was)-346(painfully)-346(new.)-537(She)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(struggled)-216(to)-216(remember,)-223(and)-216(felt)-216(helplessly)-216(inadequate)-216(to)-216(the)-216(task.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Janice)-233(finally)-233(came)-233(in)-233(with)-232(a)-233(glass)-233(of)-233(something)-233(that)-233(foamed)-233(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(fizzed,)-344(and)-326(the)-325(victim)-326(of)-325(late)-326(hours)-325(drank)-326(that)-325(and)-326(came)-325(to)-326(her)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(senses)-250(again.)-250(Then)-250(she)-250(recollected.)]TJ 11.956 -14.251 Td[("My!)-404(but)-301(I)-301(had)-302(a)-301(good)-301(time)-301(last)-302(night!")-301(she)-301(said,)-314(putting)-302(her)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(hand)-250(to)-250(her)-250(head.)-250("What)-250(time)-250(is)-250(it)-250(now,)-250(anyhow?")]TJ 11.956 -14.251 Td[("Breakfast)-198(time,")-197(cried)-198(the)-198(handmaiden.)-232("You'll)-198(have)-198(just)-198(long)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(enough)-250(to)-250(eat)-250(and)-250(dress)-250(leisurely)-250(before)-250(you)-250(go)-250(out.")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+607 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 608 0 R
+/Resources 606 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 611 0 R
+>> endobj
+609 0 obj <<
+/D [607 0 R /XYZ 196.756 518.175 null]
+>> endobj
+610 0 obj <<
+/D [607 0 R /XYZ 218.576 216.586 null]
+>> endobj
+606 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+614 0 obj <<
+/Length 3985      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(106)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[("Oh!")-365(said)-365(Aunt)-365(Mary)-365(blankly;)-422("where)-365('m)-365(I)-365(goin'?)-595(Do)-365(you)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(know?")]TJ 11.956 -16.011 Td[("Mr.)-688(Denham)-396(told)-395(me)-396(that)-396(you)-396(had)-396(promised)-396(to)-396(attend)-396(an)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(automobile)-250(party)-250(at)-250(four.")]TJ 11.956 -16.011 Td[("Oh,)-393(yes,")-364(said)-365(Aunt)-364(Mary)-365(hastily.)-593("I)-364(guess)-365(I)-364(remember.)-594(I)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(guess)-298(I)-298(do.)-393(I)-298(saw)-297(Jack)-298(wanted)-298(to)-298(go,)-310(so)-297(I)-298(said)-298(I'd)-298(go,)-309(too.)-394(I'm)-298(a)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(great)-250(believer)-250(in)-250(lettin')-250(the)-250(young)-250(enjoy)-250(themselves.")]TJ 11.956 -16.012 Td[(She)-412(looked)-412(sharply)-412(at)-412(Janice)-412(as)-412(she)-412(spoke,)-453(but)-412(Janice)-412(was)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(serene.)]TJ 11.956 -16.011 Td[("I)-282(didn't)-283(come)-282(to)-283(town)-282(to)-282(do)-283(anything)-282(but)-283(make)-282(Jack)-283(happy,")]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(continued)-259(Aunt)-260(Mary,)-261("and)-260(I)-259(see)-259(that)-260(he)-259(won't)-260(take)-259(any)-259(fresh)-260(air)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(without)-253(I)-253(go)-253(along)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 80.395 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(so)-253(I)-253(shall)-253(go)-252(too)-253(while)-253(I'm)-253(here.)-258(Mostly.)-259(As)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -164.059 0 Td[([149])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(a)-250(general)-250(thing.")]TJ 11.956 -16.011 Td[("Mr.)-677(Mitchell)-393(called)-392(and)-392(left)-393(these)-392(flowers)-393(with)-392(his)-393(card,")]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Janice)-290(said,)-301(opening)-290(a)-291(huge)-290(box)-291(of)-290(roses;)-311("and)-290(a)-291(man)-290(brought)-291(a)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(package.)-250(Shall)-250(I)-250(open)-250(it?")]TJ 11.956 -16.011 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary's)-250(wrinkles)-250(fairly)-250(radiated.)]TJ 0 -16.011 Td[("Well,)-250(did)-250(I)-250(ever!")-250(she)-250(exclaimed.)-250("Yes;)-250(open)-250(it.")]TJ 0 -16.012 Td[(Janice)-487(proceeded)-487(to)-486(obey,)-546(and)-487(the)-487(package)-487(was)-487(found)-487(to)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(contain)-325(an)-324(automobile)-325(wrap,)-344(a)-324(pair)-325(of)-325(goggles)-324(and)-325(a)-325(note)-325(from)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Clover.)]TJ 11.956 -16.011 Td[("My)-250(gracious)-250(me!")-250(cried)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary.)]TJ 0 -16.012 Td[("Mr.)-242(Denham)-227(sent)-227(the)-226(violets,")-227(Janice)-227(said,)-231(pointing)-227(to)-227(a)-227(great)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(bowl)-250(of)-250(lilac)-250(and)-250(white)-250(blossoms.)]TJ 11.956 -16.011 Td[(Just)-395(then)-395(the)-395(doorbell)-395(rang,)-431(and)-395(it)-395(was)-396(a)-395(ten-pound)-395(box)-395(of)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(candy)-250(from)-250(Burnett.)]TJ 11.956 -16.011 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(collapsed)-250(among)-250(her)-250(pillows.)]TJ 0 -16.011 Td[("I)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 12.035 0 Td[(never)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 28.183 0 Td[(did!")-362(she)-363(murmured)-362(feebly,)-391(and)-362(then)-363(she)-362(suddenly)]TJ -52.174 -13.549 Td[(exclaimed:)-440("An')-345(to)-345(think)-345(of)-345(me)-345(livin')-345(up)-345(there)-345(all)-346(my)-345(life)-345(with)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(plenty)-238(of)-238(money)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 71.244 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")-238(she)-238(stopped)-238(short.)-246(I)-237(tell)-238(you)-238(when)-238(you)-238(come)]TJ -82.153 -13.549 Td[(to)-240(New)-240(York)-239(on)-240(a)-240(mission)-240(and)-240(stay)-240(for)-239(the)-240(Bacchanalia)-240(it)-240(is)-240(hard)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-250(hold)-250(consistently)-250(to)-250(either)-250(standard.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+613 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 614 0 R
+/Resources 612 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 611 0 R
+>> endobj
+615 0 obj <<
+/D [613 0 R /XYZ 197.303 359.285 null]
+>> endobj
+612 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R /F18 18 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+618 0 obj <<
+/Length 3974      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Fourteen)-250(-)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(En)-250(F\352te)-8672(107)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[(But)-411(Janice)-411(had)-411(gone)-411(for)-411(her)-411(lady's)-411(breakfast,)-451(and)-411(after)-411(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(lady)-266(had)-265(eaten)-265(it)-266(and)-265(had)-266(herself)-265(dressed)-266(for)-265(the)-266(day's)-265(joys,)-270(Jack)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(knocked)-250(at)-250(the)-250(door.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([150])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -15.088 Td[("Well,)-409(Aunt)-377(Mary,")-377(he)-377(roared,)-409(when)-377(he)-377(was)-377(let)-377(in,)-409("if)-377(you)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(don't)-362(look)-362(fine!)-585(You're)-362(the)-362(freshest)-361(of)-362(the)-362(bunch)-362(to-day,)-390(sure.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(You'll)-228(be)-227(ready)-227(for)-228(another)-227(night)-228(to-night,)-232(and)-227(you've)-228(only)-227(to)-228(say)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(where,)-250(you)-250(know.")]TJ 11.956 -15.088 Td[("Granite)-238(did)-239(my)-238(hair,")-239(said)-238(his)-238(aunt;)-243("you)-238(must)-238(praise)-239(her,)-241(not)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(me.")]TJ 11.956 -15.087 Td[("And)-343(you've)-342(got)-343(your)-343(goggles)-343(all)-342(ready,)-366(too,")-343(he)-343(continued.)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[("Who)-250(sent)-250('em?")]TJ 11.956 -15.087 Td[("Oh,)-385(I)-357(shan't)-358(wiggle,")-358(said)-357(Aunt)-358(Mary)-358("although)-357(I)-358(can't)-358(see)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(how)-250(it)-250(could)-250(hurt)-250(if)-250(I)-250(did.")]TJ 11.956 -15.088 Td[("Come)-472(on)-472(and)-472(let's)-471(dress)-472(her)-472(up,")-472(said)-472(Jack)-472(to)-472(the)-472(maid,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[("Glory!)-250(what)-250(fun!")]TJ 11.956 -15.087 Td[(Thereupon)-230(th)-1(ey)-230(went)-231(to)-230(work)-231(and)-230(rigged)-231(the)-230(old)-231(lady)-230(out.)-244(She)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(was)-286(certainly)-286(a)-286(sight,)-295(for)-286(she)-286(stood)-286(by)-286(her)-286(own)-286(bon)-1(net,)-295(and)-286(that)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(failed)-250(to)-250(jibe)-250(with)-250(the)-250(goggles.)]TJ 11.956 -15.087 Td[(Burnett)-348(was)-348(summoned)-348(in)-348(to)-349(view)-348(the)-348(proceedings,)-373(but)-348(just)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(as)-269(he)-269(caught)-270(the)-269(first)-269(glimpse)-269(he)-270(was)-269(taken)-269(with)-269(a)-269(fearful)-270(cramp)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(in)-347(his)-346(broken)-347(ribs)-347(and)-346(was)-347(forced)-347(to)-346(beat)-347(the)-347(hastiest)-346(sort)-347(of)-347(a)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(retreat.)]TJ 11.956 -15.087 Td[("I)-333(hope)-333(he'll)-333(get)-333(over)-333(it)-333(and)-333(be)-333(able)-333(to)-333(go)-333(out)-334(with)-333(us,")-333(said)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(anxiously.)]TJ 11.956 -15.088 Td[("I)-382(guess)-383(he'll)-382(recover,")-382(Jack)-383(yelled)-382(cheerfully.)-647("Oh,)-416(there's)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Clover!")]TJ 11.956 -15.087 Td[(A)-178(sort)-178(of)-179(dull,)-192(ponderous)-178(panting)-179(sounded)-178(in)-178(the)-178(street)-179(without,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(and)-385(let)-386(all)-385(the)-385(neighbors)-385(know)-386(that)-385("The)-385(Threshing)-386(Machine")]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(\050as)-353(Clover)-352(had)-353(christened)-353(his)-352(elephantine)-353(toy\051)-352(was)-353(waiting)-353(for)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([151])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.023 -13.549 Td[(someone.)]TJ 11.955 -15.087 Td[(Its)-339(owner)-338(came)-339(in)-339(for)-339(a)-338(stirrup)-339(cup;)-383(Mitchell)-339(was)-339(with)-339(him.)]TJ -11.955 -13.55 Td[(Both)-192(were)-193(togged)-192(out)-193(as)-192(if)-193(entered)-192(for)-193(the)-192(annual)-192(Paris-B)-1(ordeaux.)]TJ 11.955 -15.087 Td[(Burnett)-250(brought)-250(out)-250(the)-250(cut-glass)-250(jugs.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+617 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 618 0 R
+/Resources 616 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 611 0 R
+>> endobj
+619 0 obj <<
+/D [617 0 R /XYZ 138.571 491.077 null]
+>> endobj
+620 0 obj <<
+/D [617 0 R /XYZ 165.161 123.415 null]
+>> endobj
+616 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+623 0 obj <<
+/Length 4369      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(108)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[("Ye)-239(gods)-240(and)-240(little)-239(fishes!)-247(Sapristi!)-246(Sacre)-240(bleu!")-239(he)-240(said)-239(to)-240(his)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(friends.)-250("Just)-250(you)-250(wait)-250(till)-250(you)-250(see)-250(our)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary!")]TJ 11.956 -15.227 Td[("Has)-250(she)-250(got)-250('em)-250(all)-250(on?")-250(Clover)-250(asked.)]TJ 0 -15.228 Td[("Has)-331(she)-330(got)-331('em)-331(all)-330(on!")-331(said)-331(Burnett.)-492("She)-331(has)-330(got)-331('em)-331(all)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(on;)-414(and)-360(how)-359(Jack)-360(held)-359(his)-360(own)-359(in)-359(the)-360(room)-359(with)-360(her)-359(I)-360(cannot)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(understand.)-244(I)-230(took)-231(one)-231(look,)-234(and)-231(if)-231(mine)-231(had)-230(been)-231(a)-231(surgical)-231(case)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(of)-348(stitches)-347(the)-348(last)-347(thread)-348(would)-348(have)-347(bust)-348(that)-347(instant.)-543(I)-348(don't)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(believe)-294(I)-294(dare)-293(go)-294(out)-294(with)-294(you.)-381(This)-294(is)-294(a)-293(life)-294(and)-294(death)-294(game)-294(to)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(Jack,)-348(and)-329(I)-329(won't)-328(risk)-329(smashing)-329(his)-328(future)-329(by)-329(not)-328(being)-329(able)-329(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(keep)-250(sober)-250(in)-250(the)-250(face)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary.")]TJ 11.956 -15.227 Td[("Oh,)-276(come)-271(on,")-271(Clover)-271(urged)-271(in)-270(his)-271(wiry)-271(voice.)-313("You)-271(needn't)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(look)-256(at)-255(her;)-259(or,)-257(if)-255(you)-256(do)-255(look)-256(at)-256(her,)-257(you)-255(can)-256(look)-255(the)-256(other)-256(way)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(right)-250(afterwards,)-250(you)-250(know.")]TJ 11.956 -15.228 Td[("I'll)-291(sit)-291(next)-291(to)-291(her,")-290(Mitchell)-291(explained.)-373("As)-291(a)-291(sitter)-291(by)-291(Aunt)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Mary's)-241(side)-240(I)-241(shone)-240(last)-241(night;)-244(and)-240(where)-241(a)-240(man)-241(has)-241(sat)-240(once,)-243(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(same)-250(man)-250(can)-250(surely)-250(sit)-250(again.")]TJ 11.956 -15.227 Td[(Burnett)-274(hesitated,)-279(and)-274(just)-274(then)-274(voices)-274(were)-273(heard)-274(in)-274(the)-274(hall.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -84.711 0 Td[([152])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.55 Td[(Jack)-250(and)-250(Janice)-250(were)-250(convoying)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(below.)]TJ 11.956 -15.227 Td[(Mitchell)-250(went)-250(out)-250(into)-250(the)-250(hall.)]TJ 0 -15.227 Td[("Well,)-357(Miss)-335(Watkins,")-335(he)-336(said,)-356(in)-336(a)-335(tone)-336(such)-335(as)-335(one)-336(would)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(use)-358(to)-359(call)-358(down)-358(Santos-Dumont,)-385("I'm)-359(mighty)-358(glad)-358(to)-358(see)-359(you)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(looking)-250(so)-250(well.")]TJ 11.956 -15.228 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(turned)-250(the)-250(goggles)-250(full)-250(upon)-250(him.)]TJ 0 -15.227 Td[("A)-250(present)-250(from)-250(Mr.)-250(Clover,")-250(she)-250(said)-250(smiling.)]TJ 0 -15.227 Td[("I)-475(never)-475(knew)-475(him)-475(to)-475(take)-475(so)-475(much)-475(trouble)-475(for)-475(any)-475(lady)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(before,")-269(said)-269(Mitchell;)-279(and)-269(as)-269(she)-269(arrived)-269(just)-269(then)-269(at)-269(the)-269(foot)-269(of)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(the)-217(staircase)-217(he)-218(pressed)-217(her)-217(proffered)-217(hand)-217(warmly)-217(and)-218(forthwith)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(led)-250(her)-250(in)-250(upon)-250(the)-250(two)-250(men)-250(in)-250(the)-250(library.)]TJ 11.956 -15.227 Td[(She)-421(looked)-421(exactly)-421(like)-421(a)-421(living)-421(edition)-421(of)-421(one)-421(of)-421(the)-421(bug)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(pictures,)-349(and)-330(Clover)-329(had)-330(to)-329(thin)-1(k)-329(and)-330(swallow)-329(fast)-330(and)-329(hard)-330(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(keep)-409(from)-410(being)-409(overcome.)-728(But)-410(he)-409(was)-410(true)-409(blue,)-449(and)-410(came)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(out)-362(right)-361(side)-362(up.)-584(Aunt)-362(Mary)-361(was)-362(acclaimed)-361(on)-362(all)-361(sides,)-390(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(escorted)-250(to)-250(the)-250("bubble.")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+622 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 623 0 R
+/Resources 621 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 611 0 R
+>> endobj
+624 0 obj <<
+/D [622 0 R /XYZ 327.291 292.998 null]
+>> endobj
+621 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+627 0 obj <<
+/Length 4478      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Fourteen)-250(-)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(En)-250(F\352te)-8672(109)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[(Burnett)-297(couldn't)-297(re)-1(sist)-297(going,)-309(too,)-309(at)-297(the)-297(last)-298(moment;)-321(but,)-309(as)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(his)-290(ribs)-289(were)-289(really)-290(tender)-289(yet,)-300(he)-289(sat)-290(in)-289(front)-290(with)-289(Clover.)-369(Jack)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-359(Mitchell)-358(sat)-359(behind,)-386(and)-359(deftly)-358(inserted)-359(the)-359(honored)-359(guest)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(between)-250(them.)]TJ 11.956 -13.959 Td[("It's)-527(an)-528(even)-527(thing)-528(as)-527(to)-528(which)-527(is)-528(the)-527(ear-trumpet)-528(side,")]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Mitchell)-395(said,)-430(as)-395(they)-395(all)-394(stood)-395(about)-394(preparatory)-395(to)-395(climbing)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(in.)-470("Of)-324(course,)-341(that)-324(side)-323(don't)-324(need)-323(to)-323(holler)-324(quite)-323(so)-324(loud;)-360(but)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(then,)-289(to)-282(balance,)-289(he)-281(may)-282(get)-281(his)-281(one)-282(and)-281(only)-281(pair)-282(of)-281(front)-282(teeth)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([153])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.55 Td[(knocked)-250(out)-250(any)-250(minute.")]TJ 11.956 -13.958 Td[("I'll)-277(take)-277(that)-277(side,")-277(said)-278(Jack.)-331("I'm)-277(used)-277(to)-277(fighting)-277(under)-278(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(inspiration)-250(of)-250(the)-250(trumpet.")]TJ 11.956 -13.958 Td[("And)-404(God)-404(be)-405(with)-404(you,")-404(said)-404(his)-405(friend)-404(piously.)-712("May)-405(he)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(watch)-300(over)-299(you)-300(and)-299(bring)-300(you)-299(out)-300(safe)-299(and)-300(whole)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 220.272 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(teeth,)-312(eyes,)]TJ -231.181 -13.549 Td[(etc.")]TJ 11.956 -13.958 Td[("Come)-423(on,")-424(said)-423(Clover)-423(impatiently;)-511("don't)-423(you)-423(know)-424(this)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(thing's)-250(getting)-250(up)-250(power)-250(and)-250(you're)-250(wasting)-250(it)-250(talking.")]TJ 11.956 -13.959 Td[("Curious,")-189(laughed)-189(Burnett.)-230("I)-189(never)-189(knew)-189(that)-189(it)-189(was)-189(gasolene)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(that)-162(men)-162(were)-162(consuming)-162(when)-162(they)-162(kept)-162(an)-163(automobile)-162(waiting.")]TJ 11.956 -13.958 Td[(And)-250(then)-250(they)-250(got)-250(in)-250(and)-250(were)-250(off)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 147.545 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(a)-250(merry)-250(load,)-250(indeed.)]TJ -158.454 -13.958 Td[("Dear)-228(me,)-233(but)-228(it's)-228(a-goin'!")-228(Aunt)-228(Mary)-228(exclaimed,)-232(as)-229(the)-228(thing)]TJ -11.955 -13.55 Td[(began)-263(to)-263(whiz)-263(and)-263(she)-263(felt)-263(suddenly)-263(impelled)-263(to)-263(clutch)-263(wildly)-264(at)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(her)-250(flanking)-250(escorts.)-250("Suppose)-250(we)-250(met)-250(a)-250(dog.")]TJ 11.955 -13.958 Td[("We'd)-222(leave)-221(a)-222(floor)-222(mat,")-222(shrieked)-221(Mitchell.)-241("Oh,)-227(but)-222(isn't)-222(this)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(great)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 21.807 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(greater)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 30.283 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.91 0 Td[(greatest?")]TJ -61.954 -13.959 Td[("Time)-344(of)-343(your)-344(life,)-367(Aunt)-344(Mary!")-343(Jack)-344(howled,)-367(as)-344(they)-344(went)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(over)-389(a)-389(boarded)-389(spot)-389(in)-388(the)-389(pavement,)-424(and)-389(the)-389(old)-389(lady)-389(nearly)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(went)-338(over)-338(the)-338(back)-338(in)-337(consequence.)-514("You're)-338(in)-338(for)-338(the)-338(time)-338(of)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(your)-250(life!")]TJ 11.955 -13.959 Td[("How)-300(do)-300(you)-299(like)-300(it?")-300(yelled)-300(Clover,)-312(throwing)-300(a)-300(glance)-300(over)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(his)-250(shoulder.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.023 0 Td[([154])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -13.958 Td[(Aunt)-510(Mary)-509(started)-510(to)-510(answer,)-574(but)-510(they)-510(came)-509(to)-510(four)-510(car)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(tracks)-269(one)-269(after)-270(another,)-274(and)-269(the)-269(successive)-269(shocks)-269(rendered)-270(her)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(speechless.)]TJ 11.955 -13.958 Td[("Where)-250(are)-250(we)-250(going?")-250(Burnett)-250(asked.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+626 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 627 0 R
+/Resources 625 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 611 0 R
+>> endobj
+628 0 obj <<
+/D [626 0 R /XYZ 46.771 422.922 null]
+>> endobj
+629 0 obj <<
+/D [626 0 R /XYZ 105.255 121.157 null]
+>> endobj
+625 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+632 0 obj <<
+/Length 4664      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(110)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[("Nowhere,")-292(said)-291(Clover.)-375("Just)-292(waking)-292(up)-291(the)-292(machine.")-292(And)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(he)-250(turned)-250(on)-250(another)-250(million)-250(volts)-250(as)-250(he)-250(spoke.)]TJ 11.956 -14.095 Td[("Oh,)-348(my)-328(bonnet!")-328(cried)-328(poor)-329(Aunt)-328(Mary,)-348(and)-328(that)-328(bit)-328(of)-329(her)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(adornment)-364(was)-365(in)-364(the)-364(street)-365(and)-364(had)-364(been)-365(run)-364(over)-364(four)-365(times)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(before)-222(they)-222(could)-222(slow)-222(up,)-227(turn)-222(around,)-228(and)-222(get)-222(back)-222(to)-222(the)-222(scene)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(of)-250(its)-250(output.)]TJ 11.956 -14.095 Td[(It)-313(speaks)-313(volumes)-312(for)-313(the)-313(permeating)-313(atmosphere)-313(of)-313("having)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(the)-235(time)-235(of)-235(your)-236(life")-235(that)-235(its)-235(owner)-235(laughed)-235(when)-235(the)-235(wreck)-236(was)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(shown)-250(to)-250(her.)]TJ 11.956 -14.095 Td[("I)-305(don't)-305(care)-305(a)-305(bit,")-305(she)-305(said.)-415("I)-305(can)-305(go)-305(down)-306(to)-305(Delmonico's)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(an')-250(get)-250(me)-250(another)-250(to-morrow)-250(mornin',)-250(easy.")]TJ 11.956 -14.095 Td[("What)-365(a)-366(trump)-365(you)-365(are,)-394(Aunt)-366(Mary!")-365(said)-365(Jack)-366(admiringly.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[("Here,)-379(Burnett,)-379(fish)-353(her)-353(out)-353(that)-353(extra)-353(cap)-353(from)-353(the)-353(cane)-353(rack;)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(there's)-359(always)-360(one)-359(in)-359(the)-359(bottom.)-578(There)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 180.859 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(now)-359(you)-360(won't)-359(take)]TJ -191.768 -13.55 Td[(cold,)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary.")]TJ 11.956 -14.094 Td[(The)-289(cap,)-299(with)-289(its)-290(fore-piece,)-299(was)-289(the)-289(crowning)-289(glory)-289(of)-290(Aunt)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(Mary's)-275(get-up.)-323(The)-275(brain)-275(measurements)-274(of)-275(him)-274(who)-275(had)-275(bought)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-262(cap)-263(being)-262(to)-262(its)-262(present)-263(wearer's)-262(as)-262(five)-262(is)-263(to)-262(three,)-265(the)-263(effect)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(of)-233(its)-234(proportions,)-237(in)-233(addition)-233(to)-234(the)-233(goggles)-234(and)-233(the)-234(ear-trumpet,)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([155])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(was)-250(such)-250(as)-250(to)-250(have)-250(overawed)-250(a)-250(survivor)-250(of)-250(Medusa's)-250(stare.)]TJ 11.956 -14.095 Td[("Oh,)-253(I)-252(say,")-252(said)-253(Mitchell,)-252("it's)-253(a)-252(sin)-252(to)-252(keep)-253(as)-252(good)-252(a)-252(joke)-253(as)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(this)-231(in)-230(the)-231(family!)-244(We)-231(must)-230(drive)-231(her)-231(around)-230(town)-231(until)-231(the)-231(night)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(falls)-250(down)-250(or)-250(the)-250(battery)-250(burns)-250(out.")]TJ 11.956 -14.095 Td[("I)-339(say)-339(so)-338(too,")-339(said)-339(Burnett.)-516("This)-339(is)-339(more)-339(sport)-339(than)-339(oiling)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(railroad)-265(tracks)-264(and)-264(seeing)-265(old)-264(Tweedwell)-265(brought)-264(up)-265(for)-264(it.)-294(Say,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(set)-250(her)-250(a-buzzing)-250(again.)-250(It's)-250(a)-250(big)-250(game,)-250(isn't)-250(it?")]TJ 11.956 -14.095 Td[(Clover)-324(thought)-324(so,)-343(with)-324(the)-324(result)-324(that)-324(they)-324(speeded)-325(through)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(tranquil)-295(neighborhoods)-294(and)-295(churned)-295(leisurely)-294(where)-295(the)-295(masses)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(seethed)-390(until)-390(countless)-389(thousands)-390(were)-390(wondering)-390(what)-390(under)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(the)-250(sun)-250(those)-250(four)-250(young)-250(fellows)-250(had)-250(in)-250(the)-250(back)-250(of)-250(their)-250(car.)]TJ 11.956 -14.094 Td[(The)-275(sad)-275(part)-276(about)-275(all)-275(good)-276(fun)-275(is)-275(that)-275(it)-276(has)-275(to)-275(end)-275(sooner)-276(or)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(later;)-383(and)-339(about)-339(six)-339(o'clock)-339(the)-339(whole)-339(party)-339(began)-339(to)-339(be)-339(aware)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(that,)-337(if)-320(refreshments)-319(were)-320(not)-319(taken,)-337(their)-320(end)-319(was)-320(surely)-320(close)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(at)-406(hand.)-718(They)-405(therefore)-406(called)-406(a)-406(brief)-406(halt)-406(somewhere)-406(to)-406(get)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+631 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 632 0 R
+/Resources 630 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 611 0 R
+>> endobj
+633 0 obj <<
+/D [631 0 R /XYZ 320.555 271.562 null]
+>> endobj
+630 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+636 0 obj <<
+/Length 4066      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Fourteen)-250(-)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(En)-250(F\352te)-8672(111)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 518.175 Td[(what)-266(is)-267(technically)-266(known)-266(as)-267(a)-266("sandwich,")-267(and)-266(the)-266(results)-267(were)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(thoroughly)-381(satisfactory)-381(to)-381(everyone)-381(but)-381(Aunt)-381(Mary.)-644(She)-381(took)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(one)-275(bite)-276(of)-275(her)-275(sandwich,)-282(and)-275(then)-275(opened)-276(it)-275(with)-275(an)-276(abruptness)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(which)-239(merged)-239(into)-238(disgust)-239(when)-239(it)-239(proved)-239(to)-238(be)-239(full)-239(of)-239(fish)-239(eggs.)]TJ 11.956 -15.836 Td[("Why)-312(didn't)-312(you)-313(tell)-312(me)-312(what)-312(it)-313(was)-312(made)-312(of?")-312(she)-312(asked)-313(in)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 279.068 0 Td[([156])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(annoyance.)-682("I)-393(feel)-394(just)-394(as)-394(if)-394(I'd)-394(swallowed)-394(a)-394(marsh)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 236.352 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(a)-394(green)]TJ -247.261 -13.549 Td[(one!")]TJ 11.956 -15.836 Td[("That's)-524(a)-524(shame!")-524(said)-524(Clover)-524(indignantly.)-1072("I'll)-525(get)-524(you)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(something)-428(that)-428(will)-428(take)-428(that)-428(taste)-428(out)-428(of)-428(your)-429(mouth)-428(double)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(quick.)-529(Here!")-343(he)-342(called)-343(to)-343(a)-343(waiter,)-366(and)-343(then)-343(he)-343(gave)-343(the)-343(man)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(certain)-250(careful)-250(directions.)]TJ 11.956 -15.836 Td[(The)-298(latter)-298(nodded)-298(wisely,)-311(and)-298(a)-298(few)-298(minutes)-298(later)-298(brought)-299(in)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(a)-250(tiny)-250(glass)-250(containing)-250(a)-250(pousse-caf\351)-250(in)-250(three)-250(different)-250(colors.)]TJ 11.956 -15.836 Td[("It's)-250(a)-250(cocktail.)-250(Drink)-250(it)-250(quick,")-250(Clover)-250(directed.)]TJ 0 -15.835 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(demurred.)]TJ 0 -15.835 Td[("I)-250(never)-250(drank)-250(a)-250(cocktail,")-250(she)-250(began.)]TJ 0 -15.836 Td[("No)-283(time)-283(like)-283(the)-283(present)-283(to)-283(begin,")-283(said)-283(Clover,)-291("you'll)-283(have)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(to)-250(learn)-250(some)-250(day.")]TJ 11.956 -15.836 Td[("Cocktails,")-267(said)-268(Mitchell,)-271("are)-268(the)-267(advance)-268(guard)-267(of)-267(a)-268(newer)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(and)-250(brighter)-250(civilization.)-250(They)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 132.709 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ -131.662 -15.835 Td[("If)-397(she's)-397(going)-397(to)-397(take)-397(it)-397(at)-397(all)-397(she)-397(must)-397(take)-398(it)-397(now,")-397(said)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(Clover)-263(authoritatively.)-288("The)-262(green)-263(and)-263(the)-262(yellow)-263(are)-263(beginning)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-250(run)-250(together.)-250(Quick)-250(now!")]TJ 11.956 -15.835 Td[(His)-182(confiding)-181(guest)-182(drank)-181(quick)-182(and)-182(became)-181(the)-182(three)-182(different)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(colors)-250(quicker)-250(yet.)]TJ 11.956 -15.836 Td[("What's)-250(the)-250(matter?")-250(Jack)-250(asked)-250(anxiously.)]TJ 0 -15.835 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(was)-250(speechless.)]TJ 0 -15.836 Td[("He)-283(mix)-1(ed)-283(it)-284(wrong,")-283(said)-284(Clover)-283(in)-284(a)-283(sad,)-292(discouraged)-284(tone.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 279.068 0 Td[([157])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[("What)-381(she)-380(ought)-381(to)-380(have)-381(got)-380(first)-381(she)-381(got)-380(last,)-413(that's)-381(all.)-642(The)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(cocktail)-207(is)-207(upside)-207(down)-207(inside)-207(of)-207(her,)-216(and)-207(the)-207(effect)-207(of)-207(it)-208(is)-207(upside)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(down)-250(on)-250(the)-250(outside)-250(of)-250(her.")]TJ 11.956 -15.836 Td[("Feel)-250(any)-250(better)-250(now,)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary?")-250(Jack)-250(yelled.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+635 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 636 0 R
+/Resources 634 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 639 0 R
+>> endobj
+637 0 obj <<
+/D [635 0 R /XYZ 272.72 461.692 null]
+>> endobj
+638 0 obj <<
+/D [635 0 R /XYZ 250.083 122.625 null]
+>> endobj
+634 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+642 0 obj <<
+/Length 3142      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(112)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[("I)-242(can't)-242(seem)-243(to)-242(keep)-242(the)-242(purple)-243(swallowed,")-242(said)-242(the)-242(poor)-243(old)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(lady.)-485("I)-328(want)-329(to)-328(go)-328(home.)-485(I've)-329(always)-328(been)-329(a)-328(great)-328(believer)-329(in)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(going)-249(home)-249(when)-249(you)-249(feel)-249(like)-249(I)-249(do)-249(now.)-250(In)-249(general)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 226.216 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(as)-249(a)-249(rule.")]TJ -225.169 -13.549 Td[("I)-258(would)-258(strongly)-259(recommend)-258(your)-258(obeying)-258(her)-258(wishes,")-259(said)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(Mitchell,)-346(with)-327(great)-326(earnestness.)-480("There's)-327(a)-327(time)-326(for)-327(all)-327(things,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and,)-310(in)-298(my)-299(opinion,)-310(she's)-298(had)-298(about)-299(all)-298(the)-298(queer)-298(tastes)-298(that)-299(she)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(can)-336(absorb)-336(for)-336(to-day.)-508(Things)-336(being)-336(as)-336(they)-336(are)-336(and)-337(mainly)-336(as)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(they)-223(shouldn't)-223(be,)-229(I)-223(cast)-223(my)-223(vote)-223(in)-223(with)-223(what)-223(looks)-223(as)-223(if)-224(it)-223(would)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(soon)-404(become)-403(the)-404(losing)-403(side,)-442(and)-404(vote)-403(to)-404(bubble)-403(back)-404(for)-404(all)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(we're)-250(worth.")]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[(There)-416(was)-417(a)-416(general)-417(acquiescence)-416(in)-417(his)-416(view)-417(of)-416(the)-417(case,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(which)-352(led)-352(them)-352(a)-1(ll)-352(to)-352(pile)-352(into)-352("The)-352(Threshing)-352(Machine")-353(with)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(unaffected)-262(haste)-262(and)-262(rush)-262(Aunt)-262(Mary)-262(bedward)-262(as)-262(rapidly)-263(as)-262(was)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(possible)-250(considering)-250(the)-250(hour)-250(and)-250(the)-250(policemen.)]TJ 11.956 -13.55 Td[(Janice)-447(received)-448(her)-447(mistress)-447(with)-448(the)-447(tender)-447(welcome)-448(that)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(every)-204(prodigal)-205(may)-204(count)-205(on)-204(and)-204(was)-205(especially)-204(expeditious)-205(with)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(tea)-306(and)-306(toast)-306(and)-306(a)-306(robe)-306(de)-306(nuit.)-418(Aunt)-306(Mary)-306(sighed)-306(luxuriously)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([158])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(when)-250(she)-250(felt)-250(herself)-250(finally)-250(tucked)-250(up.)]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[("After)-396(all,)-433(Granite,")-396(she)-396(said)-396(dreamily,)-433("there's)-396(nothin')-397(like)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(gettin')-250(stretched)-250(out)-250(to)-250(think)-250(it)-250(over)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 152.869 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(is)-250(there?")]TJ -151.822 -13.549 Td[(But)-250(Janice)-250(was)-250(turning)-250(out)-250(the)-250(lights.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -84.711 -29.651 Td[([159])]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+641 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 642 0 R
+/Resources 640 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 639 0 R
+>> endobj
+643 0 obj <<
+/D [641 0 R /XYZ 179.908 301.388 null]
+>> endobj
+644 0 obj <<
+/D [641 0 R /XYZ 93.543 217.54 null]
+>> endobj
+640 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+645 0 obj
+<< /S /GoTo /D (index16) >>
+endobj
+648 0 obj
+(Chapter Fifteen - Aunt Mary Enthralled)
+endobj
+651 0 obj <<
+/Length 3850      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 18.959 Tf 46.771 479.321 Td[(Chapter)-268(Fifteen)-269(-)-268(Aunt)-269(Mary)]TJ 0 -24.647 Td[(Enthralled)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 0 -34.018 Td[(Jack's)-245(aunt)-246(slept)-245(long)-245(and)-246(dreamlessly)-245(again.)-248(That)-246(thrice-blessed)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(sleep)-250(which)-250(follows)-250(nights)-250(abroad)-250(in)-250(the)-250(metropolis.)]TJ 11.956 -13.869 Td[(When,)-315(toward)-303(four)-302(o'clock,)-316(Aunt)-302(Mary)-302(opened)-303(her)-302(eyes,)-316(she)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(was)-306(at)-306(first)-306(almost)-307(as)-306(hazy)-306(in)-306(her)-306(conceptions)-306(as)-306(she)-306(had)-307(found)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(herself)-250(upon)-250(the)-250(previous)-250(day.)]TJ 11.956 -13.868 Td[("I)-291(feel)-291(as)-290(if)-291(the)-291(automobile)-291(was)-291(runnin')-290(up)-291(my)-291(back)-291(and)-291(over)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(my)-450(head,")-449(she)-450(said,)-499(thoughtfully)-450(passing)-450(her)-449(hand)-450(along)-450(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(machine's)-315(imaginary)-316(course.)-445(Then)-315(she)-316(rang)-315(her)-315(bell)-315(and)-316(Janice)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(appeared)-250(from)-250(the)-250(room)-250(beyond.)]TJ 11.956 -13.868 Td[("I)-309(guess)-309(you'd)-310(better)-309(give)-309(me)-309(some)-310(of)-309(that)-309(that)-309(you)-309(gave)-310(me)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(yesterday,")-250(the)-250(elderly)-250(lady)-250(suggested;)-250("what)-250(do)-250(you)-250(think?")]TJ 11.956 -13.868 Td[("Yes,)-334(indeed,")-317(said)-318(Janice)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 115.807 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(and)-317(went)-318(at)-317(once)-317(and)-318(brought)-317(it)]TJ -138.672 -13.549 Td[(in)-403(separate)-402(glasses)-403(on)-403(a)-402(tray,)-441(and)-403(mixed)-402(it)-403(by)-403(pouring,)-441(while)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(Aunt)-217(Mary)-216(looked)-217(on)-216(with)-217(an)-216(intuitive)-217(understanding)-216(that)-217(passed)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(instinct)-278(and)-279(bordered)-278(on)-279(a)-278(complete)-278(comprehension)-279(of)-278(things)-279(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(her)-250(hitherto)-250(unknown.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([160])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -13.868 Td[("They'd)-250(ought)-249(to)-250(advertise)-250(that,")-249(she)-250(said,)-250(as)-250(she)-249(set)-250(down)-250(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(empty)-249(glass)-249(a)-249(few)-249(seconds)-249(later.)-250("There'd)-249(be)-249(a)-249(lot)-249(of)-250(folks)-249(who'd)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(be)-380(glad)-380(to)-381(know)-380(there)-380(was)-380(such)-381(a)-380(thing)-380(when)-380(they)-380(first)-381(wake)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(up)-319(mornin's)-318(after)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 75.567 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(after)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 19.986 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(well,)-336(mornin's)-318(after)-319(anythin'.)-455(It's)-319(jus')]TJ -117.371 -13.549 Td[(what)-366(you)-366(want)-366(right)-366(off;)-424(it)-366(sort)-366(of)-366(runs)-366(through)-366(your)-366(hair)-366(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(makes)-250(you)-250(begin)-250(to)-250(remember.")]TJ 11.956 -13.869 Td[("Yes,)-324(ma'am,")-309(said)-309(Janice,)-324(turning)-309(to)-309(put)-309(down)-310(the)-309(tray,)-324(and)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(then)-250(crossing)-250(the)-250(room)-250(to)-250(seek)-250(something)-250(on)-250(the)-250(chimney-piece.)]TJ 11.956 -13.868 Td[(Aunt)-294(Mary)-293(g)-1(ave)-293(a)-294(sudden)-294(twist,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 141.761 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(as)-294(if)-293(the)-294(drink)-294(had)-294(infused)]TJ -164.626 -13.55 Td[(an)-278(effervescing)-278(energy)-278(into)-279(her)-278(frame.)-334("Well)-278(what)-278(am)-278(I)-278(goin')-279(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(do)-250(to-day?")-250(she)-250(asked.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+650 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 651 0 R
+/Resources 649 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 639 0 R
+>> endobj
+646 0 obj <<
+/D [650 0 R /XYZ 46.771 529.134 null]
+>> endobj
+652 0 obj <<
+/D [650 0 R /XYZ 146.153 216.141 null]
+>> endobj
+649 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+655 0 obj <<
+/Length 4287      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(114)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[("Mr.)-512(Denham)-337(has)-337(written)-338(out)-337(your)-337(engagements)-337(here,")-338(said)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Janice,)-250(handing)-250(her)-250(a)-250(jeweler's)-250(box)-250(as)-250(she)-250(spoke.)]TJ 11.956 -14.703 Td[(Aunt)-794(Mary)-794(tore)-795(off)-794(the)-794(tissue)-794(paper)-794(with)-795(trembling)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(haste)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 22.419 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(lifted)-260(the)-260(cover)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 66.26 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(and)-260(beheld)-260(a)-260(tiny)-260(ivory)-260(and)-260(gold)-260(mem-)]TJ -110.497 -13.549 Td[(oranda)-250(card.)]TJ 11.956 -14.703 Td[("Well,)-250(that)-250(boy!")-250(she)-250(ejaculated.)]TJ 0 -14.703 Td[("Shall)-250(I)-250(read)-250(the)-250(list)-250(aloud)-250(to)-250(you?")-250(the)-250(maid)-250(inquired.)]TJ 0 -14.703 Td[("Yes,)-250(read)-250(it.")]TJ 0 -14.703 Td[(So)-313(Janice)-314(read)-313(the)-313(dates)-314(proposed)-313(the)-314(night)-313(before)-313(and)-314(Aunt)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Mary)-173(sat)-173(up)-172(in)-173(bed,)-188(held)-173(her)-173(ear-trumpet,)-188(and)-173(beamed)-173(beatifically.)]TJ 11.956 -14.703 Td[("I)-319(don't)-320(believe)-319(I)-319(ever)-320(can)-319(do)-320(all)-319(that,")-319(she)-320(said)-319(when)-320(Janice)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -84.711 0 Td[([161])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(paused;)-206("I)-184(never)-184(was)-184(one)-184(to)-184(rush)-184(around)-184(pell-mell,)-197(but)-184(I've)-184(always)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(been)-271(a)-271(great)-271(believer)-271(in)-271(lettin')-271(other)-271(folks)-271(enjoy)-271(themselves)-271(an')-271(I)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(shall)-250(try)-250(not)-250(to)-250(interfere.")]TJ 11.956 -14.703 Td[(Janice)-297(hung)-297(the)-298(tiny)-297(memoranda)-297(up)-297(beside)-297(its)-297(owner's)-298(watch)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(and)-250(stood)-250(at)-250(attention)-250(for)-250(further)-250(orders.)]TJ 11.956 -14.703 Td[("But)-246(I)-246(d'n)-246(know)-246(I'm)-246(sure)-246(what)-246(I)-246(can)-246(wear)-247(to-night,")-246(continued)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(the)-250(one)-250(in)-250(bed;)-250("you)-250(know)-250(my)-250(bonnet)-250(was)-250(run)-250(over)-250(yesterday.")]TJ 11.956 -14.702 Td[("Was)-250(it?")]TJ 0 -14.703 Td[("Yes,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 24.141 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(it)-303(was)-304(the)-303(most)-304(sudden)-303(thing)-304(I)-303(ever)-304(saw.)-410(I)-303(thought)-304(it)]TJ -47.006 -13.549 Td[(was)-250(the)-250(top)-250(of)-250(my)-250(head)-250(at)-250(first.")]TJ 11.956 -14.703 Td[("Was)-250(it)-250(spoiled?")]TJ 0 -14.703 Td[("Well,)-340(it)-322(wouldn't)-322(do)-321(for)-322(me)-322(again)-322(and)-322(I)-322(don't)-322(really)-322(believe)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(it)-315(would)-315(even)-315(do)-314(for)-315(Lucinda.)-445(We)-314(didn't)-315(bring)-315(it)-315(home)-315(with)-315(us)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(anyhow)-231(an')-231(so)-231(its)-232(no)-231(use)-231(talkin')-231(of)-231(it)-231(any)-231(more.)-244(I'm)-231(sure)-231(I)-231(wish)-232(I'd)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(brought)-258(my)-259(other)-258(with)-259(me.)-275(It)-258(wasn't)-258(quite)-259(as)-258(stylish,)-261(but)-258(it)-258(set)-259(so)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(good)-236(on)-236(my)-236(head.)-245(As)-236(it)-236(is)-236(I)-236(ain't)-236(got)-237(any)-236(bonnet)-236(to)-236(wear)-236(an')-236(we're)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(goin')-222(in)-222(a)-221(box,)-228(Jack)-222(says,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 106.838 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(I)-222(should)-221(hate)-222(to)-222(look)-222(wrong)-222(in)-221(a)-222(box.")]TJ -105.791 -14.703 Td[("But)-495(ladies)-495(in)-495(boxes)-495(do)-495(not)-495(wear)-495(anything,")-495(cried)-495(Janice)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(reasuringly.)]TJ 11.956 -14.703 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(jumped.)]TJ 0 -14.703 Td[("Not)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 23.541 0 Td[(anything?)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 43.637 0 Td[(")]TJ -67.178 -14.703 Td[("On)-250(their)-250(heads.")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -84.711 0 Td[([162])]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+654 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 655 0 R
+/Resources 653 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 639 0 R
+>> endobj
+656 0 obj <<
+/D [654 0 R /XYZ 319.798 375.761 null]
+>> endobj
+657 0 obj <<
+/D [654 0 R /XYZ 183.477 66.142 null]
+>> endobj
+653 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R /F18 18 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+660 0 obj <<
+/Length 4759      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Fifteen)-250(-)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(Enthralled)-8311(115)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[("Oh!)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 21.414 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(Well,)-205(then)-194(the)-194(bonnet)-194(half)-193(of)-194(me'll)-194(be)-194(all)-194(right,)-205(but)-194(what)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf -44.279 -13.549 Td[(shall)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 23.56 0 Td[(I)-215(wear)-214(on)-215(the)-214(rest)-215(of)-215(me?)-238(I)-214(don't)-215(want)-215(to)-214(look)-215(out)-214(of)-215(fashion,)]TJ -23.56 -13.549 Td[(you)-250(know.)-251(My,)-251(but)-250(I)-250(wish)-250(I'd)-251(brought)-250(my)-250(Paisley)-250(shawl.)-251(I've)-251(got)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(a)-334(Paisley)-334(shawl)-334(that's)-335(a)-334(very)-334(rare)-334(pattern.)-502(There's)-334(cocoanuts)-335(in)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(the)-288(border)-289(and)-288(a)-289(twisted)-288(design)-289(of)-288(monkeys)-288(and)-289(their)-288(tails)-289(done)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(in)-250(the)-250(center.)-250(An')-250(there)-250(ain't)-250(a)-250(moth)-250(hole)-250(in)-250(it)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 194.509 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(not)-250(one.")]TJ -193.462 -14.969 Td[(Janice)-250(looked)-250(out)-250(of)-250(the)-250(window.)]TJ 0 -14.969 Td[("I've)-228(got)-227(a)-228(cameo)-228(pin,)-232(too,")-228(continued)-227(Aunt)-228(Mary)-228(reflectively.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[("My,)-258(but)-257(that's)-257(a)-257(handsome)-256(pin,)-259(as)-257(I)-256(remember)-257(it.)-270(It's)-257(got)-257(Jupiter)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(on)-379(it)-380(holdin')-379(a)-380(bunch)-379(of)-380(thunder)-379(and)-379(lightnin')-380(an')-379(receivin')-380(the)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(news)-234(of)-234(somebody's)-234(bein')-234(born)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 133.514 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(I)-234(used)-234(to)-234(know)-234(the)-234(whole)-234(story.)]TJ -144.423 -13.549 Td[(But,)-431(you)-394(see,)-431(I)-394(expected)-395(to)-394(just)-395(be)-394(sittin')-395(by)-394(Jack's)-395(bed)-394(and)-395(I)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(never)-249(thought)-248(to)-249(bring)-249(any)-248(of)-249(those)-249(dress-up)-249(kind)-248(of)-249(things,")-249(she)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(sighed.)]TJ 11.956 -14.969 Td[(Janice)-250(returned)-250(to)-250(the)-250(bed)-250(side.)]TJ 0 -14.969 Td[("Hadn't)-298(you)-298(better)-299(begin)-298(to)-298(dress?")-298(she)-298(howled)-299(suggestively.)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[("They)-413(are)-413(going)-413(to)-414(dine)-413(here)-413(before)-413(going)-413(to)-413(the)-413(theater)-414(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(dinner)-250(is)-250(ordered)-250(in)-250(an)-250(hour.")]TJ 11.956 -14.969 Td[("Maybe)-229(I)-228(had,")-229(said)-228(Aunt)-229(Mary,)-233("but)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 160.459 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(oh)-229(dear)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 32.177 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(I)-229(don't)-228(know)]TJ -226.41 -13.549 Td[(what)-307(I)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 31.539 0 Td[(will)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 19.724 0 Td[(wear!")-307(She)-307(began)-307(to)-307(emerge)-307(from)-307(the)-307(bedclothes)-307(as)]TJ -51.263 -13.549 Td[(she)-250(spoke.)]TJ 11.956 -14.969 Td[("How)-250(would)-250(my)-250(green)-250(plaid)-250(waist)-250(do?")-250(she)-250(asked)-250(earnestly.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 279.068 0 Td[([163])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -14.969 Td[("I)-250(think)-250(it)-250(would)-250(be)-250(lovely,")-250(shrieked)-250(the)-250(maid.)]TJ 0 -14.97 Td[("Well,)-327(shake)-311(it)-311(out)-312(then,")-311(said)-311(Aunt)-312(Mary,)-326("it)-312(ought)-311(to)-311(be)-312(in)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(the)-286(fashion)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 48.568 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(all)-286(the)-286(silk)-286(they)-286(put)-286(in)-286(the)-286(sleeves.)-358(An')-286(if)-286(you'll)-287(do)]TJ -59.477 -13.549 Td[(my)-250(hair)-250(just)-250(as)-250(you)-250(did)-250(it)-250(yesterday)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 153.022 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ -151.975 -14.969 Td[("Yes,)-250(I)-250(will.")]TJ 0 -14.969 Td[(Then)-472(the)-471(labor)-472(of)-471(the)-472(toilette)-472(began)-471(in)-472(good)-472(earnest,)-527(and)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(three-quarters)-291(of)-292(an)-291(hour)-292(later)-291(Aunt)-292(Mary)-291(was)-291(done,)-302(and)-292(sitting)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(by)-250(the)-250(window)-250(while)-250(Janice)-250(laced)-250(her)-250(boots.)]TJ 11.956 -14.969 Td[(A)-250(rap)-250(sounded)-250(at)-250(the)-250(door.)]TJ 0 -14.969 Td[("Come)-250(in,")-250(cried)-250(the)-250(maid.)]TJ 0 -14.969 Td[(It)-250(was)-250(Jack)-250(with)-250(a)-250(regular)-250(fagot)-250(of)-250(American)-250(Beauties.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+659 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 660 0 R
+/Resources 658 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 639 0 R
+>> endobj
+661 0 obj <<
+/D [659 0 R /XYZ 323.643 225.123 null]
+>> endobj
+658 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R /F18 18 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+664 0 obj <<
+/Length 4353      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(116)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[("Well,)-259(Aunt)-257(Mary,")-258(he)-257(cried)-257(with)-258(his)-257(customary)-257(hearty)-258(greet-)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(ing.)-250("How!")]TJ 11.956 -13.877 Td[("How)-332(what?")-332(asked)-332(Aunt)-333(Mary,)-352(whose)-332(knowledge)-332(of)-333(Sioux)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(social)-489(custo)-1(ms)-489(had)-489(been)-490(limited)-489(by)-490(the)-489(border)-490(line)-489(of)-490(New)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(England.)]TJ 11.956 -13.877 Td[(Jack)-330(laughed.)-489("How)-330(are)-330(you?")-330(he)-329(asked)-330(in)-330(correction)-330(of)-330(his)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(imperfect)-250(phrasing.)-250(And)-250(then)-250(he)-250(handed)-250(over)-250(the)-250(rose)-250(wood.)]TJ 11.956 -13.876 Td[("I'm)-208(pretty)-207(well,")-208(said)-208(his)-208(aunt;)-221("but,)-216(my)-208(goodness)-208(you)-208(mustn't)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(bring)-250(me)-250(so)-250(many)-250(presents)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 116.957 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(you)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 16.363 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ -143.182 -13.877 Td[(Jack)-291(stopped)-291(her)-292(words)-291(with)-291(a)-291(kiss.)-374("Now,)-302(Aunt)-291(Mary,)-302(don't)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(you)-259(scold,)-261(because)-259(you're)-259(my)-259(company)-259(and)-259(I)-259(won't)-259(have)-259(it.)-277(This)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(is)-375(my)-375(treat,)-407(and)-375(just)-375(don't)-375(you)-375(fret.)-625(What)-375(do)-375(you)-375(say)-376(to)-375(your)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([164])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(roses?")]TJ 11.956 -13.877 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(looked)-250(a)-250(bit)-250(uneasy.)]TJ 0 -13.876 Td[("They're)-250(pretty)-250(big,")-250(she)-250(hesitated.)]TJ 0 -13.877 Td[("That's)-331(the)-332(fashion,")-331(said)-331(Jack;)-372("the)-331(longer)-332(you)-331(can)-331(buy)-332('em)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(the)-273(better)-273(the)-273(girls)-272(like)-273(it.)-319(I)-273(tried)-272(to)-273(get)-273(you)-273(some)-273(eight)-273(feet)-273(long)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(but)-357(they)-357(only)-357(had)-357(two)-357(of)-357(that)-357(number)-357(and)-357(I)-357(wanted)-357(the)-357(whole)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(bunch)-250(to)-250(match)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 67.266 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ -66.219 -13.876 Td[(He)-250(was)-250(interrupted)-250(by)-250(another)-250(rap)-250(on)-250(the)-250(door.)]TJ 0 -13.877 Td[("Hallo!")-250(he)-250(cried.)-250("Come)-250(in.")]TJ 0 -13.876 Td[(It)-151(was)-152(Mitchell)-151(with)-151(several)-152(dozen)-151(carnations,)-171(the)-151(most)-152(brilliant)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(yet)-250(prized)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 43.32 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(or)-250(priced.)]TJ -42.273 -13.877 Td[("Well,)-250(I)-250(declare!")-250(exclaimed)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary.)]TJ 0 -13.876 Td[("For)-477(you,)-535(Miss)-477(Watkins,")-477(cried)-478(the)-477(newcomer,)-535(gracefully)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(offering)-369(his)-369(homage,)-399("with)-369(the)-369(assurance)-369(of)-369(my)-369(sincere)-369(regret)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(that)-338(I)-338(ca)-1(me)-338(on)-338(the)-338(scene)-339(too)-338(late)-338(to)-338(have)-339(been)-338(making)-338(a)-339(scene)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(with)-250(you)-250(fifty)-250(years)-250(ago.")]TJ 11.956 -13.876 Td[("I)-326(didn't)-326(quite)-326(catch)-326(that,")-327(said)-326(Aunt)-326(Mary,)-345(rapturously.)-479(But)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(never)-177(mind,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 51.311 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(Granite,)-191(get)-177(a)-176(tin)-177(basin)-176(or)-177(suthin')-176(for)-177(these)-176(flowers.")]TJ -50.264 -13.876 Td[("Where's)-578(Burnett?")-578(Jack)-577(asked)-578(the)-578(newcomer,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 218.986 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[("isn't)-578(he)]TJ -241.851 -13.549 Td[(dressed?)-250(It's)-250(getting)-250(late.")]TJ 11.956 -13.877 Td[("He's)-274(all)-274(right,")-274(said)-274(Mitchell;)-286("he)-274(and)-274(Clover)-275(are)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 217.215 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(here)-274(they)]TJ -240.08 -13.549 Td[(are!")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+663 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 664 0 R
+/Resources 662 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 639 0 R
+>> endobj
+665 0 obj <<
+/D [663 0 R /XYZ 149.491 367.825 null]
+>> endobj
+662 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+668 0 obj <<
+/Length 4325      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Fifteen)-250(-)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(Enthralled)-8311(117)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[(The)-326(two)-327(came)-327(in)-326(together)-327(at)-326(that)-327(second.)-479(Clover's)-327(mustache)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(just)-415(showed)-414(over)-415(the)-415(top)-414(of)-415(the)-415(largest)-415(bunch)-414(of)-415(violets)-415(ever)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([165])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(constructed,)-326(and)-311(Burnett)-311(bore)-311(with)-310(assiduous)-311(care)-311(a)-311(bouquet)-311(of)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(orchids)-250(tied)-250(with)-250(a)-250(Roman)-250(sash.)]TJ 11.956 -13.959 Td[(Aunt)-239(Mary)-238(leaned)-239(back)-239(and)-238(shut)-239(her)-239(eyes.)-246(If)-239(it)-238(hadn't)-239(been)-239(for)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(her)-250(smile,)-250(they)-250(might)-250(possibly)-250(have)-250(feared)-250(for)-250(her)-250(life.)]TJ 11.956 -13.958 Td[(But)-242(she)-242(was)-242(only)-242(momentarily)-242(stunned)-242(by)-242(surpassing)-242(ecstasy.)]TJ 0 -13.959 Td[("You'd)-370(better)-370(put)-370(some)-369(water)-370(in)-370(the)-370(bath-tub,)-400(Granite,")-370(she)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(said,)-250(recovering,)-250("nothing)-250(else)-250(will)-250(be)-250(big)-250(enough.")]TJ 11.956 -13.958 Td[(The)-347(four)-346(young)-347(men)-347(drew)-346(up)-347(chairs)-347(and)-346(rivalled)-347(her)-347(smiles)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(with)-250(theirs.)]TJ 11.956 -13.959 Td[("I)-426(d'n)-425(know)-426(how)-426(I)-425(ever)-426(can)-426(thank)-426(you,")-425(said)-426(the)-426(old)-426(lady)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(warmly.)-542("I've)-347(always)-348(had)-347(such)-347(a)-348(poor)-347(opinion)-348(o')-347(life)-347(in)-348(cities,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(too!")]TJ 11.956 -13.958 Td[("Life)-379(in)-379(cities,)-412(my)-379(dear)-379(Miss)-379(Watkins,")-379(screamed)-380(Mitchell,)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[("is)-282(always)-281(pictured)-282(as)-282(very)-282(black,)-289(but)-282(it's)-282(only)-281(owing)-282(to)-282(the)-282(soft)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(coal)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 18.175 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(not)-250(to)-250(the)-250(people)-250(who)-250(burn)-250(it.")]TJ -17.128 -13.958 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(smiled)-250(again.)]TJ 0 -13.958 Td[("I)-333(guess)-333(the)-333(bath-tub)-333(will)-333(be)-333(big)-333(enough)-333(to)-333(keep)-334('em)-333(fresh,")]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(she)-389(said)-389(simply,)-423(and)-389(Mitchell)-389(gave)-388(up)-389(and)-389(dried)-389(his)-389(forehead)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(with)-250(his)-250(handkerchief.)]TJ 11.956 -13.958 Td[(They)-336(dined)-335(at)-336(home)-336(upon)-336(this)-335(occasion)-336(and)-336(afterwards)-336(took)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(two)-452(carriages)-451(for)-452(the)-452(theater.)-855(Aunt)-451(Mary,)-502(Jack,)-503(Clover,)-502(the)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(American)-378(Beauties)-378(and)-378(the)-378(violets)-378(went)-378(in)-378(the)-378(first,)-410(and)-378(what)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([166])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(remained)-290(of)-289(the)-290(party)-290(and)-289(the)-290(floral)-290(decorations)-289(followed)-290(in)-290(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(second.)]TJ 11.956 -13.958 Td[("I)-364(mean)-365(to)-365(smoke,")-364(said)-365(that)-365(part)-364(of)-365(the)-364(second)-365(load)-365(which)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(habitually)-304(answered)-305(to)-304(the)-304(name)-305(of)-304(Mitchell.)-413("There)-304(is)-305(nothing)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(so)-301(soothing)-302(when)-301(you)-302(have)-301(thorns)-301(in)-302(your)-301(legs)-301(as)-302(a)-301(cigarette)-302(in)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(your)-250(mouth.")]TJ 11.956 -13.958 Td[("Too)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 22.025 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(too;")-263(laughed)-263(his)-263(companion.)-288("Jimmy!)-289(but)-263(our)-263(aunt)-263(is)]TJ -44.89 -13.549 Td[(game,)-250(isn't)-250(she?")]TJ 11.956 -13.959 Td[("To)-223(my)-224(order)-223(of)-223(thinking,")-224(said)-223(Mitchell)-223(thoughtfully)-224(scratch-)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(ing)-306(a)-305(match,)-320("Aunt)-305(Mary)-306(has)-305(been)-306(hung)-305(up)-306(in)-305(cold)-306(storage)-306(just)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+667 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 668 0 R
+/Resources 666 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 671 0 R
+>> endobj
+669 0 obj <<
+/D [667 0 R /XYZ 196.605 504.626 null]
+>> endobj
+670 0 obj <<
+/D [667 0 R /XYZ 155.479 202.861 null]
+>> endobj
+666 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+675 0 obj <<
+/Length 2856      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(118)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 518.175 Td[(long)-319(enough)-319(to)-319(have)-318(acquired)-319(the)-319(exactly)-319(proper)-319(gamey)-319(flavor.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(It)-248(cannot)-248(be)-248(denied)-248(that)-247(to)-248(worn,)-249(worldly,)-248(jaded)-248(mortals)-248(like)-248(you)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-342(me,)-364(the)-342(sight)-342(of)-341(fresh,)-365(ever)-341(bubbling,)-365(youthful)-342(enthusiasm)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(like)-293(hers)-293(is)-293(as)-292(thrilling)-293(and)-293(trilling)-293(and)-293(rilling)-293(as)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 211.785 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(as)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 9.087 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(as)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 9.087 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")-293(he)]TJ -262.686 -13.55 Td[(paused)-250(to)-250(light)-250(his)-250(cigarette.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 437.202 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 5.595 -195.222 cm
+ q 4.4208 0 0 4.4208 0 0 cm
+1 0 0 1 2.727 0 cm
+ q 1 0 0 1 0 0 cm
+q
+57.5998 0 0 44.1598 0 0 cm
+/Im4 Do
+Q
+ Q
+1 0 0 1 -2.727 0 cm
+ Q
+1 0 0 1 -99.138 -241.98 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 171.948 222.976 Td[(Aunt)-262(Mary)-262(and)-261(Her)-262(Escorts.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 215.143 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -215.143 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 161.128 Td[("Yes,)-300(you'd)-290(better)-290(stutter,")-290(said)-290(Burnett.)-370("I)-290(thought)-290(you)-290(were)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(running)-250(ahead)-250(of)-250(your)-250(proper)-250(signals.")]TJ 11.956 -13.691 Td[("It)-484(isn't)-483(that,")-484(said)-484(Mitchell,)-542(puffing)-484(gently.)-951("It)-484(is)-484(that)-484(I)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(suddenly)-346(recollected)-345(that)-345(I)-346(was)-345(alone)-346(with)-345(you,)-370(and)-345(my)-346(brains)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(tell)-360(me)-359(that)-360(it)-359(is)-360(a)-359(waste)-360(of)-360(brains)-359(to)-360(use)-359(them)-360(in)-359(the)-360(sense)-360(of)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(a)-315(plural)-316(noun)-315(with)-315(you.)-446(The)-315(word)-316(in)-315(your)-315(company,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 233.565 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(my)-315(dear)]TJ -244.474 -13.549 Td[(boy)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 16.364 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(only)-273(comes)-273(to)-273(me)-273(as)-273(a)-273(verb)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 120.275 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(as)-273(an)-273(active)-273(verb)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 73.758 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(and)-273(dear)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -315.88 0 Td[([167])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.756 -13.549 Td[(knows)-250(how)-250(often)-250(I)-250(have)-250(itched)-250(to)-250(apply)-250(it)-250(forcibly.")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+674 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 675 0 R
+/Resources 673 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 671 0 R
+>> endobj
+672 0 obj <<
+/Type /XObject
+/Subtype /Image
+/Width 480
+/Height 368
+/BitsPerComponent 4
+/ColorSpace [/Indexed /DeviceRGB 15 677 0 R]
+/Length 88320     
+>>
+stream
+�fff�n���n��n�����U������������]�UU��U���U�U����]U]]U������U��YUYU����U]��Օ�Y�������**���*"""�"",""",���"",,�,",�����,��,�,�������,���"���ff��ݞ��YUUY��UU�UY]�]U]U]U]�՝��]�U]]��Q�Y�U�]���鞕����f�nf�nn�����n������������Y����]��������U�U�UU]UUUUU��������YYY������]]UU�Y�������""""""�","""""�*"�""�,���,"������L���������������,,�ffnfnS�n�ٕYU�YU�Q���]]��UY]�U��]U]�ݙ�S�=Q]Q]�����U^�Y�����fffnnf����n������陙�����������UY�������Y�Y]��]UU���Y���������Y��Y��U�U�ٕ�Y����j�""���,�,���"�"","�,,,,��������������������LL�L���®����jfffn]�iY��U�Y��Y��]UUU��Y]�U�Y��]U�Y]���Qݑ�U�Ց�]��U�����ffffff�a���f����������ᙕ���U���������Y�U������������������YY����UUUY��U�������""�,,,�","",���,���,��,�����L�������L�L���LL����B�̮��ffffn]���Y�U�Y��Y���]U]�Y��U�Օ�]�ՙ��=�Y]Q�U����Q��*jfj�ff�n������������nn������U���������UYUUU�U���������YY�Y���U�UY�UY�����j,�,���,,,�,",�""�������������L�L�LL��L��LLD�L��L�LL�����ff�jn]f�Y��UY�Y���UUY��YU�U�Y�U]Y�Q]���Q�]���]U��QՑni�*j�j�nfnn������n����nfn����������UY����������U�������������������U����UUUUU�UYY�������,,,,����,������"����,��������������LLDD��L�LLLLLL��.��fffff]�fiYQY�Y�Y���UUU���UU�Y�Y]YՑU]��Q�U����ݙ���]^f��"*f�fff�nn���������fff��ffn���������Y��Y�Qᙙ�U�U���U�n����������YY����UUUU��������b,"",",,�����L��L�����LD�D���LLL���L��LD��D��LLDLLD�.���jf�f�]�iY����Y���Y]Y��QU�U�Y�Y�YՑU]]�V�]�����ّ鑕�Y�Q���"��f�ff�n����n���n���ff��ffffff��n����������ᑙ�UU��U�Y�n���������Y����U]UUU�YUY���b�,�,�������������D��D����L���D�LD��D��DD�LLLD�L�LLL.����j����]fa����������U�n�YU�UYY�YUYU�]^镞]��]�UY�Y����"��j�ff�nn����������ffnf�nf��nnfffnnn���������YYU]UU��Y������������������UU�UY�YU�����j���������������D�LLL�DD��D��LLD��LLL�DDDDDLDDDLDDLL�����j�j���fi��U��Q���UU��n�QUYU�YY�QUUU]��i��]�]�Q��UU��ª��fff�nf���n�n���fff�ff�ffffnfff�n����������U���Y������n�����������������U�U����Y���b�,�,�����L��D�LD��DL�D�����L�D��D�DDDDDDDDDDDDD�DL�.����f�j�������鑙Q�Q���]U��YU�U�YYYU�UU]�^i���U���]���UU�^a��"��f�fff����n��n����f����ffnfff�ff�nnf������U������Y�������n����������������UUYU��Y��������,�L���D��DL���������LLB��L�DD�DDLDDDDDDDDDHDHDDLDDL.�n��j�����fa��Y����U����Q��U�YY��U��U]^�U�]�]Ց�U�YQf��*���fff�n����n�nn��jfffnf�f�fffff�n��fn�n��]����Uᙙ��������������n�����������UUUY�UY��Y����j",�"������"����,����L����LD��D�L�HDDDDD��D�DD�DD�DD&nn���j�������������U]Un�Q��U������UU]^eU��]�UՑ�nf�U��Yn��"���ffffff�n�n��������fnffffnfnffffn�nf���nf��U�����ᙙ���U������n��������������UUY��U���Y���"""�*""""�"",�",,�,����L��DD�LDLDDDDDDDDDDDDDHDD�DD�nn���f��j�����YQ��UU���Q��UYY��]]^i]��U�U�U�a��Ya�n?�"��jffjfff�n�a���n���fffffnfnfnffff����n�����陙����ᙙU�����������������������陕UY��U������檪""""","""",�������L�����HDD�D�HH�H�DDD�DH�HDHDD�D&f���������������UUff�Y��ݕY�ٕ����U�^iU^��]U���Q�UٕYf?�ª��j�j�nj�����n�������fffffnnn�ff�fff�nf�����n���U�������UU�����n�����������������UU����������**�"""�""""",���,�,�����LDDDDDDDDDD�D��DH���HD��HHD�n����j��*�j�����陑��U�Yf�Q��U�Q�Q���UU^�]��ՙ]��U��U�Yf?�"*&�j��f�f����n����f�fjff�ffff�ff�ffnn�n����Y���U������UU���������n���n�������UUU���������ꪪ��"*","","��"��,�L�L�LLDDDHDDLD�DD�DHD���HHH���DD&ffnf�j�j�"����������YYff�Y��ՙY�U�����UU�i]��U�]�ݙU���Yf?�̢�����f�f�����n�������ff�fff�f�fnfjj��nff�nnnn]U��Y�����UU����������a����������YUU����������***"�""�,�"�",,���LDLDDHD��HDDHDHDD�DDD�DD������D�fn�f�j���"�j��������YY�fY��U�YYQ���UU^�U��U��ᕑ�������¢�*j�ffff�����nn�������fff��f�jf�fffff��fnfff����U]Q陕�Y�����Y������n������������YYYQ������*"""�""",��,���,����L��DLD�DLDHDDDDDHDD��H�DH�DHD�H�f��f�j*�""嚪�Q���鑑���Y�fY��U�UUQ���U^�U����YU�����?ª*��*�nff�n����Y���fffffff��ffffnfnff���ffn���Ց���a��U��Y�����f���n���������UUUY����ꢪ*"*"L""""������LLD�����DD�DDHH�DD��DHDD����H�H��D�fn���""喪��i�������Yf��YUYU�YY�Q����U^�U�]�Y��Y�Y���"������fff����n����Y���fffjffffffffffn��fffffnf�U��UQ����������n�������n��n����UUU�������*"�""�","*"���,���DLLLDD�LĄDHDH�DHHD�DH�H���H����D�nf��檢��"�j��閙n�����YjfY�YUY�YY���UU��U�UY��n�������"���j�jff�������n����fjff�jfjjfffff���ffff�fn�]UUQ���������n����n��n�����������UUY��Y���*���*""""",,�������DLDD�DHDDD�HDH�DDDDDD�HD��������n����"��*�faQ鞙�����QffYUYU�YU�����UUV!U�UQ��ᙑ��n��"j�j�nf�nf���������fff�f�����fffnff�fff��]]UQ�������Q��������������������U�U����������*�""""*""""��,�����L�D���DD�DLHD�D�D�D�DDD�HH�HHD��nn���"��"�fn��������Y�f���U�UUY���U�U^�]]�U�����n��j�f�ff�����������ffjnjffffff���nn�fff�����Q�����������������nn���n�����UUY�����檢*�¢���"*,"�����,����L�DDLD�DDDDDDDD�D�HDHHH��HDD&n����j��*"�fnQ�����YjfY�YU�Y�U�QY��Y���UU��YY���jn��*�f�fn��a�����a���fnfnf�nfn�f����f���n�]��UY���������n�������������UUU���"""**��*"��"�,��,B�,�L��DLDDDDHDH�HDH�DDDDDD������H&����n����"�桙������f�Y����U��U�YYU^����呙Ց�U���fn��ffjfn������������ffff�fffffnnf�fff�nfn��]]�����Y���������f������������U�U����梢�����*"��",,",,B�,,�����DDDDDDHDDHDDDDDDDH��HHHD��n����""��a������YY�f�Y�QY�Y�U�Y���UU^�U�]i��Y�ffn7�ªfjf�f������a����fnffffffn���njnnn�n���UY��������Y�n������n���������]UU������"�*�����**��""""����������DDH�DLD�DDDDDDDLDD����HDH������j*�**�f�����ᙕUfjY����UY�YU��U�Q���]fY�Y���fnf���̪�f�njf������a����fffff�ff������fn�n�n]��U����������Y�n����������������U�UY������"���"�""�"*""""�"�����,��LHDD�DD��D�DDDDDD�D�DH���&�����""**�faQ�镕YffY��YY��Y��U]�^!U��UnUUY��nff����f���nj�n�ᙙ�n������nfffffff�Y����nnn�����]�UUQ���������UY��������������������U�UY�������b�**"�*""""*"""�,�����L��,DDDHDD�H��D�DDDDHD�HDHD��&���""*"�f�Y��鑑����ffY��UYY�Q���U�^��]i��������nnW�*�fj�n��n�������f�ffjfff������f�n�ff�U������ᙙ�Y��YY�n������n������������UUU������********�""�*�""����������D�DDDDD�D���DDDDH��HDDDHH.��j*�""�fnY��������Yjf�Y�Y��Y����UU^�U��U���U]��YY�W�*f��fn��n������fjfffffn��Y��ffnf����������U�YY���������������������UUUY��������""�""**�"�������L�L�DDD�DH�HHHH��DD��HHDD�H��&���b��""�Vf�Y������UYj��Y��U�Y�Q��U�YQ�U^���UU��fW��f�f�f����n������ffffff�f��Y��f�ff���n����������nn��n��n�������UU�Y�������檢������"�*��,""���D������DDD���H�H���DDHH�DH�DH���.�����*�""垦������Y�Yj��Y��YYY�Q���UY^���UU������nYfWB�fjnff������������f�f�ffff���U���fnf��nf�Q��Y�YUU������n�����������YU�Y���������""*��**��"�""�,,���H���D�DDLDDD�H�DHD���H��H�DHHDH�&�����^f�Y�����Y�U�jY���YYY���U����^�]UU������fWw¦���n����ᕕ����������ffffnjf���YY��f��������^���U��Y��n���a���������Y��UUUY�Y�����"�����"��,,,,,,����DL���DD�DD�DDD�D����D���DD��HHH.���j��"�垪n����������j�U�Y�Y�YQ���UUU^���UU��a��n�fW�ª���ff�n�ᙙ�n������ffnf��fn���U��fnnnn���Q������Y������������������YUUUU����b*���*�"""�","�,"�������,D�H�H�DD���H�H�DDH�D�D���H&��j**""e^f������UUY��YY�YYYY����UU^!���]UY���UY��f��̪f��f�nn�ᙕ����������fnfnfnff���Y��ff�fff����Qᙙ��Y�YU�n����������������Y��UU�U������*����*"",""�,�,��,�������DDHHDHD��DH����DDDD�HH�H����f���"e�f�U��Q������Uf�Y�QYUY�Q��UUU��UV]YU�aUYa�YY�n��j�fnnn���ᙙ��������ffnffffn���fnnf���陑�Q����YY��n���n����������Y��U]UYYY�梢���*"""�"",��������,����DDDHDD��D�HH����H���H��������j*��"e�fnU�Q����UU��f�Y��Y�U�Y�Q����UY^�U�]�Q�aY�f�Y�jn�w�ff��f�����U��������ffffff�n�����fffnnf�UY�Y�Q�����YY����n����������ᙑ�����U��]]UY�������*����"�"�"�"�����"",����LDD�D�D����H��D���HDH�H��D����n��"""����Y��^�����UUU�fY��YUYQ����Y����]镑��fn�f�n��"n������a���Y���������f�fff�n������fn�����]YUY�Qᕙ�����Y�n����n������������YY�U]UY���梢���""�"""",,��",,��,��LD��DH��HH�D���D����������H�f�"""�e�f�Y鞙^����]U�Y�YUUY�^����^���Ua��ff��f��"�f�����ᕙ���������ffjnfffn�����fff��f�UY�Q�Q�����������n�ff���������������]]U�����"�**j""�""",�""�"�"�������DDD������H����D��H�H�������榪�*,"�faU�Y�鑙QUUUjf��U�UYYQ���YY�����U�����n�f�j�f�w"f������Y��������f�fjf�n����������nff��U��Q��ᙕ���YYY���nnffn���������Y��U�UY����"�*��"���""�""�"��,���,�D�D�HH���HH���D�D�����DDH�.����*�"i^nnY���Q鑙Q�UUY�n�U�YU��U�Q��U����U��]n��f���ff�n�"nfn���ᕙ���������fff�ffff�������n�fffn�UU�QQ����Y���fn��f�����������U��UUU�����"�*�"""�""""",,���,��L�DLDH�D�HH���H�D����H�DHDD�����*"�e^fnU���Q�����UYjf�ٝ�UYYQ���U��^�U��U����nfjf��w�na��陙���ᙙ��nfj�ff�ff��������fffff��U��Q�Q���U���Y�fff�ff����������������UUU���梢"���***�""",�"�""¢��,DLDH���H�HHHD����DDHHDDH�HH�nj*��"e^f�U鞙Q��Q�UUYj�Y��YYY�^�U�UQ���]���f�Y���f��"nn�����ᙙ�������nf�ffffffnf������fnfn�n�UY��QYYYY�Qn���nf�n���������������Y���UUY�����梢"�������*","""""",,��,�D�H�DD���HH�����DD�H�DD��H�����"eQfnU�������UUYjjeY��UYU���YYU^!U��Un��n�Q����fnW�̦nf�a����^���������fffff�ff�n���f�nfffnᕕ��QQ��Y�YQ�fn�nnnn������U�������U��UUU������"""��"����*""�"�""��������DD�DDH���H��H��DD����HHD�&����j��*"�^fnY�^��^����UUYjj�Y��U�YYQ�U�U�����U�f��^n�n�fWw¦������������������fff�ffnn��������f�f�fn�U�UY��Q������Yn��n���f��������Y������UUU������"*��**�"*"*"",,"�,,���,,,��DHDH�D�DH���HHDDHHH�H��D&���j*�*�e^fnU^U�����]Yj��Y��UY�YQU���^!�a������^�UYfw"�n�����陙�������n�f�ffffff�����fjffffn�YYU���Q�������Q�nnn�fn�����Y�����U��UUY��Y���""*�j��"��**��,"",,�L�����DHHHDH��DH�����HHD�D��DD����j*�*"e^fnU�Y������UYb��ٕ��YY����UUU��U���՞�����Yn�"f���陙Q���������j���nffn����fjfjffffᙕUUQ��Q���Y�YY����n�f��������Y����������UUUYY���������""*�j�����*""",,",�,��"�$DD�DH���DH�D���HD��HHHH�DD&���j*�"�eQnaUQ�Q����UUYj�eY��]UU����YUU�!U���UY�^���n��"�a�������������jfff�ffn���f�fj�ffff�YYUY�Q���������f���n������Q���Y�U���]UY����""*��*"����*""�"�,���L"��DHDDH��H���������H�HH��H�H���*��je^fnU^U��QQ�]UYb�eY��UUUQ���YUU^!��a�f]Q�U��^��fjjnW�n���������������ff�ffjfn�����n�fff�jfᕙ���Q�����Y�Y�f��n�fn�������Q����������UUUUY�����"*����"""""""""��"���,�DDD�DHD���������HHDDH�D�DHD����j*�*"e�faU��Q�Y���UUY��Y��UY�Q���YU��U��f��nU^�Uf�n��n����Q������n���ff�f�ff��U���n��fjffffᙙ��Q��Y�UY�f�n��n�����������Y�Y�����U�Y�������"����"�*"*,"�"�"""",����DDDHHHH��������HH�Ą��H��DH��aj*�*"e�faUQU�YYQ��UYj��Q��UUY�Q�YYU�!�V��ni]Q�j�nWw"a������������n����ffffff�n�Y���n��ffffff���Q�����YYY�n�n���n����Qᙑ�Y�������UUUY������**���"���""",""",,"�����DLDH�H��������HHHDHDHHHD�HD.����j*���i^faUQ�Q�Q�UUUj�eQYYY�Q��Y�Y�.��a�f��Q�n�f��[�*na������Y������fn��jffjfffn���f�fffffn���Qn�����U�Y���nn�����������������UUUY梢"*"",�"�"""""","",̈L̄LDH�D���������H�HD�D�HDDHD�����j*���i�f�UQU�Y�QQUUYb��Q�UY�Y�Q��U��^�U^�fn���a�ꢦWw*nn���f����nn���fjf�f�n�����n�fn��ffa��������UYUU�����n����f����Q�����������UUU�����"""�"",*,"""�"""�,�̈�DDDDH�H�H����������DH�H�DD����f�b"*��i^�nU������Q�YYUb*eQYYU�Q��Y����UQ����Y�鑑�U�&�*������Q����nn���nffj��f�����n��fnffjf���������YYU��������������YY��U�����Y��UY�������""�*�"""*""�"*,��,������DL���HH����D������DD���D�����"**�i���UQU�Q�Y^UUYb*iY�YY�U�Q��UYYV.U��j��Ui�Y��&�w"n����ᙕ������n��f�f�ff���n�ffffffn�Q��n�Y��Y�Y����nn����f����Q��������Y��UUU������*""�"""�""",",�"�,�����LDĄDH�DH�D��H������DLH�DH�����j"�"�i��n]�Q�Q�Y�UUYb�iQ�YY�YQ���YU��.U��jn�Qᑞ��b&�w*n�ᑑ�ᙙQ���nfn��fff�f�����n�f�fff������������YY�������������������������UUUY������ꢢ""**,"�"�,,,",�,��L��DDDH�H�D�H�����������DD�D��H&��᪢����V�f�^�����UUYb�iQ����Q��U�Y�!���jn�����a�&��"n���ᑙQ�n��������fj�j��j�n������fn�f�n����n����UU��������������U������������U�U����Y檢"**�""�,L""��,�,�����L�DD�H���HH����������DDH��������*�*i��&�����UYUj�iQ����YQ��Y��^!���ja���n�����*������Q����f������j�f�f�����f�fnn�ffa��Qn���UU���n���n�����������������Y�UU�����""""","�,��,��,������DDH������������H���HHDHH����.����j"�"�i^���Q��Y���UUY�iQ��Y�YQ�U�U�.����a�a��f��a��*w*�a����������f���檪f�����������f��fff��n�����������U������������U�n����������UUY������"�""�""�"��",",�",��L���D��HDH����������HDDHD�HH�H����"*i^j��^��Q��iQUUUꪩY���Y�YQ�����Ε��b������f���,fa��������ff�f��f��������f���fffnf��fjfa�������UU��f�n�����������Y��������UUU��������"$""""��"",�,�",,,,�L���H��H����������H������H���HD&��j�j*����Q����QY��ផUUUꪥQ��Y�YQ��YUUV���f�Qn�n�f��fn����n�����fnnf�����f��nn���ff�fj��f���n����������U���fnnn��n�f�����Y����������UUY�������,�""�,�"""�",�������D�DLDDHD���D�H��D������HH������.����j""�*aQf���Q����UUU�j�Q�Y�Y�Q��YUU�.���f��ᑝQ梪f����������ffnn�jj������f�����fjj��f��fjn����f�����fnnf�fn��f����������YU������f�,""�"�""""�""�,,DHD"Ā�DDH�H����H���������HH�HD�������j""���Qf���^����UUY�jiQ���^YYU�.��ffj�������"f���������n�ff�f��j����jjf��n���f�j�ffj�jn����陙���Y��fnf��f��fa����鑙����YYY�������f,,,"",,,��"",,",H���Ȉ���ĄDD��H�����������HH�H���.���fn���"�iQj���n��Q�UYU�j鑙�����YUUV!������UQ�fn��*nn��������fnffffj�������n�f��f����jjffn�����������Y��f��nfnn��a���������U���������,�""��""�"""��"D�B,H��DL��H��DHH�������HH����H.�jfj"""*aQj����Q鞙a�UYU�fiQ����Q�^�Y���!U��^n�]�n�f������fn����af��ff�nj�j��j���nnf����jjj�jjfa�����Y���Y���nn��fn��n�ᙑ������UU�������"""""*�"""""""̈��*�H��LL��H��H����
+U�@
+endobj
+677 0 obj <<
+/Length 48        
+>>
+stream
+			���HHH���'''���hhh������XXX���888���xxx���endstream
+endobj
+61 0 obj <<
+/D [674 0 R /XYZ 238.254 450.288 null]
+>> endobj
+676 0 obj <<
+/D [674 0 R /XYZ 306.373 79.691 null]
+>> endobj
+673 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/XObject << /Im4 672 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text /ImageC /ImageI ]
+>> endobj
+680 0 obj <<
+/Length 4892      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Fifteen)-250(-)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(Enthralled)-8311(119)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[(Then)-266(they)-266(drew)-265(up)-266(in)-266(front)-266(of)-266(the)-265(theater)-266(and)-266(saw)-266(Aunt)-266(Mary)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(being)-250(unloaded)-250(just)-250(beyond.)]TJ 11.956 -14.251 Td[("Great)-229(Scott,)-233(I)-229(feel)-228(as)-229(if)-229(I)-229(was)-229(a)-229(part)-228(of)-229(a)-229(poster!")-229(said)-229(Burnett,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(diving)-250(into)-250(the)-250(carriage)-250(depths)-250(for)-250(the)-250(last)-250(lot)-250(of)-250(flowers.)]TJ 11.956 -14.25 Td[("I)-279(feel)-279(as)-279(if)-278(I)-279(were)-279(a)-279(part)-279(of)-279(the)-279(Revelation,")-279(said)-279(Mitchell,)-286("I)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(mean)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 23.63 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(the)-250(Revel-eration.")]TJ -22.583 -14.25 Td[(They)-202(rapidly)-203(formed)-202(on)-202(somewhat)-202(after)-203(the)-202(plan)-202(of)-202(the)-203(famous)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[("Marriage)-452(under)-452(the)-452(Directoire.")-452(Aunt)-452(Mary)-453(commanded)-452(the)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(center-rush,)-422(leaning)-387(on)-387(Jack's)-387(arm,)-422(and)-387(the)-387(rest)-387(acted)-387(as)-388(half-)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(backs,)-250(left)-250(wings,)-250(or)-250(flower-bearers,)-250(just)-250(as)-250(the)-250(reader)-250(prefers.)]TJ 11.956 -14.25 Td[(They)-184(made)-184(quite)-184(a)-183(sensation)-184(as)-184(they)-184(proceeded)-184(to)-184(their)-184(box)-184(and)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(more)-262(yet)-263(when)-262(they)-262(entered)-263(it.)-286(They)-263(were)-262(late)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 201.588 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(very)-262(late)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 37.999 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(as)-262(is)]TJ -261.405 -13.549 Td[(the)-190(privilege)-189(of)-190(all)-189(box)-190(parties)-189(and)-190(their)-189(seating)-190(problem)-190(absorbed)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-250(audience)-250(to)-250(a)-250(degree)-250(never)-250(seen)-250(before)-250(or)-250(since.)]TJ 11.956 -14.25 Td[(Jack)-325(put)-325(Aunt)-325(Mary)-326(and)-325(her)-325(green)-325(plaid)-325(waist)-325(in)-325(the)-326(middle)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(and)-443(flanked)-442(her)-443(with)-442(purple)-443(violets)-443(and)-442(red)-443(carnations.)-828(The)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(ear-trumpet)-223(was)-223(laid)-223(upon)-223(the)-223(orchids)-223(just)-223(where)-223(she)-224(could)-223(reach)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(it)-293(easily.)-380(Then)-293(her)-293(escorts)-293(took)-293(positions)-293(as)-293(a)-293(sort)-293(of)-294(half-moon)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(guard)-445(behind)-446(and)-445(each)-446(held)-445(two)-445(or)-446(three)-445(American)-446(Beauties)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(straight)-257(up)-257(and)-257(down)-257(as)-256(if)-257(they)-257(were)-257(the)-257(insignia)-257(of)-257(his)-257(rank)-257(and)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(office.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([168])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -14.25 Td[(The)-469(effect)-470(was)-470(gorgeous.)-908(The)-470(very)-469(actors)-470(saw)-469(and)-470(were)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(interested)-346(at)-345(once.)-536(They)-346(directed)-345(all)-346(their)-345(attention)-346(to)-345(that)-346(one)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(box,)-350(and)-331(at)-330(the)-330(end)-330(of)-331(the)-330(act)-330(the)-331(stage)-330(manager)-330(got)-330(the)-331(writer)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(of)-351(the)-351(topical)-351(song)-351(on)-351(the)-351(wire)-351(and)-351(had)-351(a)-351(brand)-352(new)-351(and)-351(very)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(apropos)-250(verse)-250(added)-250(which)-250(brought)-250(down)-250(the)-250(house.)]TJ 11.956 -14.251 Td[(Jack)-444(and)-445(his)-444(party)-445(caught)-444(on)-445(and)-444(clapped)-445(like)-444(ma)-1(d,)-493(Aunt)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Mary)-325(beat)-325(the)-324(front)-325(of)-325(the)-325(box)-325(with)-324(her)-325(ear-trumpet,)-344(and)-325(when)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Clover)-420(suggested)-421(that)-420(she)-421(throw)-420(some)-420(flowers)-421(to)-420(the)-421(heroine)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(she)-314(threw)-314(the)-313(orchids)-314(and)-314(came)-314(near)-313(m)-1(aiming)-313(the)-314(bass)-314(viol)-314(for)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(life.)-483(Burnett)-327(rushed)-328(out)-327(between)-328(acts)-327(and)-328(bought)-327(her)-328(a)-327(cane)-328(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(pound)-302(with,)-315(Jack)-303(rushed)-302(out)-302(between)-302(more)-302(acts)-302(and)-302(bought)-303(her)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(a)-270(pair)-269(of)-270(opera)-270(glasses,)-274(Mitchell)-270(rushed)-270(out)-269(between)-270(still)-270(further)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(acts)-253(and)-254(procured)-253(her)-254(one)-253(of)-254(those)-253(Japanese)-253(fans)-254(which)-253(they)-254(use)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+679 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 680 0 R
+/Resources 678 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 671 0 R
+>> endobj
+681 0 obj <<
+/D [679 0 R /XYZ 77.666 243.684 null]
+>> endobj
+678 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+684 0 obj <<
+/Length 4660      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(120)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 518.175 Td[(for)-280(fire-screen)-1(s,)-288(and)-280(agitated)-280(it)-281(around)-280(her)-281(during)-280(the)-281(rest)-280(of)-281(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(evening.)]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[("Time)-359(of)-360(your)-359(life,)-387(Aunt)-360(Mary,")-359(Jack)-360(vociferated)-359(under)-360(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(cover)-250(of)-250(a)-250(general)-250(chorus;)-250("Time)-250(of)-250(your)-250(life!")]TJ 11.956 -13.55 Td[("Oh,)-254(my,")-252(said)-253(Aunt)-253(Mary,)-254(heaving)-253(a)-252(great)-253(sigh,)-254("seems)-253(if)-253(I'd)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf -11.956 -13.549 Td[(die)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 16.059 0 Td[(when)-250(I)-250(think)-250(of)-250(Lucinda.")]TJ -4.103 -13.549 Td[(They)-258(got)-258(out)-258(of)-257(the)-258(theater)-258(somewhat)-258(after)-258(eleven)-258(and)-258(Clover)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(took)-347(them)-347(all)-347(to)-347(a)-347(French)-347(caf\351)-347(for)-347(supper,)-371(so)-347(that)-347(again)-347(it)-347(was)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(pretty)-401(well)-401(along)-401(into)-400(the)-401(day)-401(after)-401(when)-401(Janice)-401(regained)-401(her)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(charge.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([169])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -13.549 Td[("Granite,")-389(said)-390(Aunt)-389(Mary)-389(very)-390(solemnly,)-424(as)-389(she)-390(collapsed)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(upon)-441(her)-442(bed)-441(twenty)-441(minutes)-441(later)-442(yet,)-489("put)-441(it)-441(down)-441(on)-442(that)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(memoranda)-200(for)-200(me)-200(never)-201(to)-200(find)-200(no)-200(fault)-200(with)-200(nothing)-200(ever)-201(again.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Never)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 26.651 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(not)-250(ever)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 35.444 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(not)-250(never)-250(again.")]TJ 36.52 -16.004 Td[(*)-286(*)-287(*)-286(*)-286(*)]TJ -108.477 -16.004 Td[(The)-178(second)-177(day)-178(after)-178(was)-177(that)-178(which)-178(had)-178(been)-177(set)-178(for)-178(Mitchell's)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(yachting)-299(party.)-399(They)-299(allowed)-299(a)-300(day)-299(to)-299(lapse)-300(between)-299(because)-300(a)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(yachting)-302(party)-301(has)-301(to)-302(begin)-301(early)-302(enough)-301(so)-302(that)-301(you)-302(can)-301(see)-302(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(get)-285(on)-284(board.)-354(Mitchell)-285(wanted)-284(his)-285(to)-284(begin)-285(early)-284(enough)-285(so)-285(that)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(they)-250(could)-250(see)-250(the)-250(yacht)-250(too.)]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[("A)-334(yacht,)-354(Miss)-334(Watkins,")-334(he)-333(said)-334(into)-334(the)-334(ear)-333(trumpet,)-355("is)-334(a)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(delight)-361(that)-362(it)-361(takes)-361(daylight)-361(to)-362(delight)-361(in.)-584(If)-361(my)-361(words)-362(sound)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(somewhat)-499(mixed,)-562(believe)-499(me,)-562(it)-499(is)-499(the)-500(effect)-499(of)-499(what)-499(is)-500(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(come)-266(casting)-266(its)-265(shadow)-266(before.)-297(I)-266(speak)-266(with)-266(understanding)-266(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(sympathy)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 42.426 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(you)-250(will)-250(know)-250(all)-250(later.")]TJ -41.379 -13.549 Td[(Aunt)-517(Mary)-518(smiled)-517(sweetly.)-1052(Sometimes)-518(she)-517(thought)-518(that)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Mitchell)-444(was)-443(the)-444(nicest)-443(of)-444(the)-444(three)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 165.978 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(times)-444(when)-443(she)-444(wasn't)]TJ -176.887 -13.55 Td[(talking)-250(to)-250(Clover)-250(or)-250(Burnett.)]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[(Jack)-542(took)-542(his)-543(aunt)-542(out)-542(to)-542(drive)-543(on)-542(the)-542(afternoon)-542(of)-543(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(intervening)-223(day)-223(and)-222(bought)-223(her)-223(a)-223(blue)-223(suit)-222(with)-223(a)-223(red)-223(tape)-223(around)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(one)-351(arm,)-377(and)-351(some)-352(rubbersoled)-351(shoes,)-376(and)-352(a)-351(yachting)-351(cap)-352(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(a)-385(mackintosh.)-656(There)-385(was)-386(something)-385(touching)-385(in)-385(Aunt)-386(Mary's)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(joyful)-295(confidence)-295(and)-294(anticipation)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 150.833 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(she)-295(having)-295(never)-294(been)-295(cast)]TJ -161.742 -13.549 Td[(loose)-250(from)-250(shore)-250(in)-250(all)-250(her)-250(life.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([170])]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+683 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 684 0 R
+/Resources 682 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 671 0 R
+>> endobj
+685 0 obj <<
+/D [683 0 R /XYZ 128.071 396.232 null]
+>> endobj
+686 0 obj <<
+/D [683 0 R /XYZ 231.096 66.142 null]
+>> endobj
+682 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F18 18 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+689 0 obj <<
+/Length 4545      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Fifteen)-250(-)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(Enthralled)-8311(121)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[("When)-250(do)-250(you)-250(s'pose)-250(we'll)-250(get)-250(home?")-250(she)-250(asked)-250(Jack.)]TJ 0 -13.876 Td[("Oh,)-250(some)-250(time)-250(toward)-250(night,")-250(he)-250(replied.)]TJ 0 -13.877 Td[(She)-250(smiled)-250(with)-250(a)-250(trust)-250(as)-250(colossal)-250(as)-250(Trusts)-250(usually)-250(are.)]TJ 0 -13.876 Td[("I'm)-290(sure)-290(I)-290(shall)-290(have)-291(a)-290(good)-290(time,")-290(she)-290(said.)-370("I)-290(always)-291(liked)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(to)-250(see)-250(pictures)-250(of)-250(waves.")]TJ 11.956 -13.876 Td[("You'll)-213(see)-213(the)-213(real)-213(things)-213(now,)-221(Aunt)-213(Mary,")-213(cried)-213(her)-213(nephew)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(heartily.)-238(He)-214(was)-214(not)-214(a)-214(bit)-214(malicious,)-221(possessing)-215(a)-214(stomach)-214(whose)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(equilibrium)-250(could)-250(not)-250(conceive)-250(any)-250(other)-250(anatomical)-250(condition.)]TJ 11.956 -13.876 Td[(Janice,)-307(however,)-308(had)-296(doubts,)-307(and)-296(on)-296(the)-296(morning)-296(of)-296(the)-296(next)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(day)-432(her)-433(doubts)-432(deepened.)-798(She)-432(looked)-432(from)-433(the)-432(window)-433(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(shook)-250(her)-250(head.)]TJ 11.956 -13.877 Td[("Feel)-250(a)-250(fly?")-250(inquired)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary.)]TJ 0 -13.876 Td[("No,)-250(I)-250(see)-250(some)-250(clouds,")-250(yelled)-250(her)-250(maid.)]TJ 0 -13.877 Td[("I)-302(didn't)-302(ask)-302(you)-302(to)-301(speak)-302(loud,")-302(said)-302(the)-302(old)-302(lady.)-406("I)-302(always)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(hear)-250(what)-250(you)-250(say.)-250(Always.")]TJ 11.956 -13.877 Td[(Janice)-451(went)-452(out)-452(of)-451(the)-452(room)-451(and)-452(voiced)-451(her)-452(views)-451(of)-452(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(weather)-420(to)-420(the)-421(proprietors)-420(of)-420(the)-420(expedition.)-760(The)-421(proprietors)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(were)-322(having)-322(an)-322(uproarious)-321(breakfast)-322(on)-322(ham)-322(and)-322(eggs)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 241.359 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.91 0 Td[(all)-322(but)]TJ -252.269 -13.549 Td[(Mitchell,)-235(who)-232(sat)-232(somewhat)-231(aloof)-232(and)-232(contented)-231(himself)-232(with)-232(an)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(old)-250(and)-250(reliable)-250(breakfast)-250(food)-250(long)-250(known)-250(to)-250(his)-250(race.)]TJ 11.956 -13.877 Td[("Are)-322(you)-321(really)-322(going)-322(to)-321(take)-322(her)-322(up)-322(the)-321(Sound)-322(to-day?")-322(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(maid)-250(demanded)-250(of)-250(the)-250(merry)-250(mob.)]TJ 11.956 -13.877 Td[("I'm)-260(not,")-260(said)-260(Burnett;)-265("it's)-260(the)-260(yacht)-260(that's)-260(going)-261(to)-260(take)-260(her.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 279.068 0 Td[([171])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(Pass)-250(the)-250(syrup,)-250(Jack,)-250(like)-250(the)-250(jack)-250(you)-250(are.")]TJ 11.956 -13.876 Td[("Doesn't)-463(she)-463(feel)-463(well?")-463(Jack)-463(asked,)-516(passin)-1(g)-463(the)-463(syrup)-463(as)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(requested.)-250("If)-250(she)-250(doesn't)-250(feel)-250(well,)-250(of)-250(course,)-250(we)-250(won't)-250(go.")]TJ 11.956 -13.877 Td[("I)-217(like)-218(that,")-217(said)-218(Mitchell,)-224("when)-217(it's)-217(my)-218(day)-217(for)-218(my)-217(party)-218(and)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(my)-275(cook)-275(all)-275(provisioned)-275(with)-275(provisions)-275(for)-275(provisioning)-275(us)-275(all.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(How)-238(long)-238(do)-237(you)-238(suppose)-238(ice)-238(cream)-237(stays)-238(together)-238(in)-238(this)-238(month)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(of)-250(roses,)-250(anyhow?")]TJ 11.956 -13.876 Td[("She)-391(is)-391(very)-391(well,")-392(said)-391(the)-391(maid)-391(quietly,)-426("but)-391(it's)-392(blowing)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(pretty)-183(fresh)-182(here)-183(in)-183(the)-182(city)-183(and)-183(I)-182(thought)-183(that)-183(out)-182(on)-183(the)-183(Sound)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 265.27 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ -264.223 -13.877 Td[("Blowing)-392(fresh,)-427(is)-392(it?")-392(laughed)-392(Burnett;)-463("well,)-428(it'll)-392(salt)-392(her)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(fast)-325(enough)-326(when)-325(we)-325(get)-326(out.)-476(Don't)-325(you)-326(fuss)-325(over)-325(what's)-326(none)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+688 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 689 0 R
+/Resources 687 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 671 0 R
+>> endobj
+690 0 obj <<
+/D [688 0 R /XYZ 250.72 216.492 null]
+>> endobj
+687 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+693 0 obj <<
+/Length 4349      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(122)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 518.175 Td[(of)-279(your)-278(busin)-1(ess,)-285(my)-279(dear)-279(girl;)-293(just)-279(trot)-278(along)-279(upstairs)-279(and)-279(dress)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(dolly,)-250(and)-250(when)-250(she's)-250(dressed)-250(we'll)-250(take)-250(her)-250(off)-250(your)-250(hands.")]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[(Jack)-250(appeared)-250(unduly)-250(quiet.)]TJ 0 -15.395 Td[("Do)-517(you)-518(think)-517(it)-517(is)-518(going)-517(to)-517(s)-1(torm?")-517(he)-517(asked)-518(Mitchell.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Mitchell)-234(was)-234(scraping)-234(his)-233(saucer)-234(with)-234(the)-234(thrift)-234(that)-234(thrives)-234(north)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(of)-236(the)-235(Firth)-236(of)-235(Forth)-236(and)-235(hatches)-236(yachts)-235(on)-236(the)-235(west)-236(shores)-235(of)-236(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Atlantic.)]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[("I)-248(don't)-247(think)-248(at)-248(all)-248(during)-247(vacation,")-248(he)-248(said)-248(mildly.)-249("I)-248(repose)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(and)-250(reap)-250('Oh's')]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 63.448 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(from)-250(other)-250(people.")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -147.112 0 Td[([172])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -15.395 Td[("If)-318(there)-318(was)-318(any)-318(chance)-318(of)-318(a)-318(storm)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 159.593 0 Td[(\024\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 21.818 0 Td[(?")-318(said)-318(the)-318(nephew,)]TJ -193.367 -13.549 Td[(thoughtfully.)]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[("Fiddle-dee-dee,")-175(said)-175(Burnett)-175(impatiently,)-190("what)-175(do)-175(you)-175(think)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(yachts)-259(are)-259(for,)-261(anyhow?)-277(To)-259(let)-259(alone?")-259(He)-259(loo)-1(ked)-259(at)-259(the)-259(maid)-259(as)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(he)-306(spoke)-306(and)-306(pointed)-306(significantly)-306(to)-305(the)-306(door.)-418(She)-306(went)-306(out)-306(at)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(once)-245(and)-245(returned)-245(upstairs)-245(to)-245(her)-245(mistress)-245(whom)-245(she)-246(found)-245(quite)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(restless)-250(to)-250("get-a-goin'")-250(as)-250(she)-250(expressed)-250(it.)]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[(The)-272(boxes)-272(filled)-272(with)-272(yesterday's)-272(purchases)-272(were)-272(brought)-272(out)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(at)-236(once)-235(and)-236(Janice)-236(proceeded)-236(to)-235(rubber-sole)-236(and)-236(blue-serge)-236(Aunt)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(Mary.)-440(The)-314(latter)-313(regarded)-313(every)-314(step)-313(of)-313(the)-314(performance)-313(in)-314(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(huge)-353(thre)-1(e-fold)-353(cheval)-353(glass)-354(which)-353(had)-354(been)-353(wont)-354(to)-353(tell)-354(Mrs.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Rosscott)-250(things)-250(that)-250(every)-250(woman)-250(longs)-250(to)-250(know.)]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[(When)-295(her)-295(toilette)-294(was)-295(complete)-295(it)-295(must)-294(be)-295(admitted)-295(that)-295(as)-295(a)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(yachtswoman)-187(Aunt)-188(Mary)-187(fairly)-187(outsh)-1(one)-187(her)-187(automobile)-188(portrait.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(She)-250(surveyed)-250(herself)-250(long)-250(and)-250(carefully.)]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[("I)-227(expect)-227(it'll)-227(be)-228(quite)-227(an)-227(experience,")-227(she)-227(said)-227(with)-227(many)-228(new)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(wrinkles)-250(of)-250(anticipation.)]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[("Yes,")-431(said)-432(Janice,)-476(with)-432(a)-431(glance)-432(at)-431(the)-431(fluttering)-432(window)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(curtains,)-250("I)-250(expect)-250(it)-250(will)-250(be.")]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[(Aunt)-256(Mary)-255(went)-256(downstairs)-255(and)-256(was)-256(greeted)-255(with)-256(loud)-256(accla-)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(mations.)-306(The)-269(breakfast)-269(party)-269(broke)-269(up)-269(at)-268(once)-269(and,)-274(while)-269(Janice)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(phoned)-354(for)-355(cabs,)-380(Aunt)-355(Mary's)-354(quartette)-354(of)-355(escorts)-354(sought)-355(hats,)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(coats,)-415(etcetera.)-647(After)-382(that)-382(they)-382(all)-382(sallied)-382(forth)-382(and)-382(took)-383(their)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([173])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(places)-250(as)-250(joyfully)-250(as)-250(ever.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+692 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 693 0 R
+/Resources 691 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 671 0 R
+>> endobj
+694 0 obj <<
+/D [692 0 R /XYZ 255.969 404.244 null]
+>> endobj
+695 0 obj <<
+/D [692 0 R /XYZ 123.218 79.691 null]
+>> endobj
+691 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+698 0 obj <<
+/Length 4457      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Fifteen)-250(-)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(Enthralled)-8311(123)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[(It)-423(was)-423(quite)-422(a)-423(long)-423(drive)-423(to)-422(where)-423("Lady)-423(Belle")-423(had)-423(been)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(brought)-406(up,)-444(and)-405(they)-406(had)-406(to)-405(stop)-406(once)-405(to)-406(lay)-405(in)-406(two)-405(or)-406(three)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(pounds)-250(of)-250(current)-250(literature.)]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("Do)-250(you)-250(read)-250(mostly?")-250(asked)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary.)]TJ 0 -13.927 Td[("It's)-250(best)-250(to)-250(be)-250(on)-250(the)-250(safe)-250(side,")-250(said)-250(Clover)-250(vaguely.)]TJ 0 -13.927 Td[(Then)-213(they)-214(entered)-213(the)-214(tangle)-213(of)-214(docks)-213(and)-214(express)-213(wagons)-214(and)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(obstacles)-297(in)-297(general)-297(and)-297(Mitchell)-297(had)-297(great)-297(difficulty)-297(in)-297(finding)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(where)-250(his)-250(launch)-250(had)-250(been)-250(taken)-250(to)-250(meet)-250(them.)]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[(But)-270(at)-270(last)-270(they)-271(got)-270(Aunt)-270(Mary)-270(down)-270(a)-270(flight)-270(of)-270(very)-271(slippery)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(steps)-205(and)-205(into)-206(a)-205(boat)-205(whose)-205(everything)-205(was)-205(labeled)-205("Lady)-206(Belle,")]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-250(Mitchell)-250(said)-250(something)-250(and)-250(they)-250(cast)-250(loose)-250(and)-250(were)-250(off.)]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("Seems)-537(rather)-538(a)-537(small)-538(yacht,")-537(said)-538(Aunt)-537(Mary,)-610(glancing)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(cheerfully)-423(about.)-770("I)-423(ain't)-423(surprised)-424(that)-423(you'd)-423(rather)-423(come)-424(in)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(nights.")]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("Bless)-332(your)-333(heart,)-353(Aunt)-332(Mary,")-332(shrie)-1(ked)-332(Jack,)-353("this)-332(isn't)-333(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(yacht,)-250(this)-250(is)-250(the)-250(way)-250(we)-250(get)-250(to)-250(her.")]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("Oh,")-250(said)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(blankly.)]TJ 0 -13.926 Td[("That's)-386(the)-385(yacht,")-386(yelled)-386(Burnett,)-419("that)-386(white)-385(one)-386(with)-386(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(black)-250(smoke)-250(coming)-250(out)-250(and)-250(the)-250(sail)-250(up.")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([174])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -13.927 Td[("What)-388(are)-388(they)-389(getting)-388(up)-388(steam)-388(for?")-389(asked)-388(Clover.)-665("The)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(time)-250(to)-250(get)-250(up)-250(steam)-250(is)-250(when)-250(you)-250(get)-250(down)-250(sails)-250(generally.")]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("They)-262(aren't)-263(getting)-262(up)-263(steam,")-262(said)-263(Mitchell,)-265("they're)-263(getting)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(up)-352(dinner.)-554(It)-352(looks)-352(like)-351(a)-352(lot)-352(of)-351(smoke)-352(because)-351(of)-352(the)-352(shadow)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(on)-267(the)-267(sail.)-300(And,)-271(speaking)-267(of)-266(getting)-267(up)-267(dinner,)-271(reminds)-267(me)-267(that)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-248(topic)-249(before)-248(us)-249(now)-248(is,)-249(how)-248(in)-249(thunder)-248(are)-249(we)-248(to)-249(get)-248(up)-249(Aunt)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Mary?")]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("Put)-300(a)-299(rope)-300(around)-299(her)-300(and)-300(board)-299(her)-300(as)-299(if)-300(she)-299(was)-300(a)-300(cavalry)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(horse,")-250(suggested)-250(Burnett.)]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("I)-312(scorn)-313(the)-313(suggestion,")-312(said)-313(their)-312(host;)-344("if)-313(the)-312(worst)-313(comes)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(to)-276(the)-276(worst)-276(I)-276(can)-276(give)-276(her)-276(a)-276(back)-275(u)-1(p,)-282(but)-276(I)-276(trust)-276(that)-276(Aunt)-276(Mary)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(will)-231(rise)-230(to)-230(the)-231(heights)-230(of)-231(the)-230(sail)-231(and)-230(the)-231(situation)-230(all)-231(at)-230(once)-231(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(not)-250(make)-250(me)-250(do)-250(any)-250(vertebratical)-250(stunts)-250(so)-250(early)-250(in)-250(the)-250(day.")]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[(They)-390(were)-390(running)-391(alongside)-390(of)-390("Lady)-390(Belle")-390(as)-390(he)-391(spoke,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(and)-455(the)-456(first)-455(thing)-455(Aunt)-455(Mary)-455(knew)-456(she)-455(and)-455(her)-455(party)-456(were)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+697 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 698 0 R
+/Resources 696 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 700 0 R
+>> endobj
+699 0 obj <<
+/D [697 0 R /XYZ 229.695 271.268 null]
+>> endobj
+696 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+703 0 obj <<
+/Length 4967      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(124)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 518.175 Td[(attached)-383(to)-384(the)-383(former)-384(by)-383(some)-383(mysterious)-384(and)-383(not)-384(altogether)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(solid)-250(connection.)]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[("What)-250(do)-250(we)-250(do)-250(now?")-250(she)-250(asked)-250(uneasily.)]TJ 0 -13.995 Td[("I'll)-414(show)-415(you,")-414(laughed)-415(Burnett,)-455(and)-415(seizing)-414(two)-415(flapping)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(ropes)-294(he)-293(went)-294(skipping)-293(up)-294(a)-293(sort)-294(of)-293(stepladder)-294(and)-293(sprang)-294(upon)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(the)-250(deck)-250(above.)]TJ 11.956 -13.995 Td[(Aunt)-408(Mary)-407(started)-408(to)-407(emulate)-408(his)-407(prowess)-408(and)-407(stood)-408(up)-408(at)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(once.)-356(But)-285(the)-285(next)-285(second)-286(she)-285(sat)-285(down)-285(extremely)-285(hard)-286(without)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([175])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(knowing)-250(why)-250(she)-250(had)-250(done)-250(so.)]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[("Hold)-404(on,)-443(Miss)-404(Watkins,")-404(Mitchell)-404(cried)-404(hastily;)-481("just)-405(you)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(hold)-429(on)-430(until)-429(I)-429(give)-429(you)-430(something)-429(to)-429(hold)-430(on)-429(to,)-474(and)-430(when)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(you've)-254(got)-253(something)-254(to)-254(hold)-253(on)-254(to,)-254(please)-254(keep)-254(holding)-253(on)-254(to)-254(it,)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(until)-250(I)-250(tell)-250(you)-250(that)-250(the)-250(hour)-250(has)-250(come)-250(in)-250(which)-250(to)-250(let)-250(go)-250(again.")]TJ 11.956 -13.995 Td[("I)-306(didn't)-306(quite)-306(catch)-306(that,")-306(said)-306(Aunt)-306(Mary,)-320("but)-306(I'm)-307(ready)-306(to)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(do)-280(anythin')-280(you)-280(say)-281(if)-280(you)-280(only)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 137.266 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")-280(and)-280(again)-280(she)-281(sprang)-280(up)-280(and)]TJ -148.175 -13.549 Td[(again)-250(was)-250(thrown)-250(down)-250(as)-250(hard)-250(as)-250(before.)]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[("Look)-270(out,")-269(cried)-270(Jack,)-275(springing)-269(to)-270(her)-270(side;)-279(and)-270(he)-270(got)-270(hold)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(of)-273(his)-273(valuable)-273(relative)-273(and)-273(held)-273(her)-273(fast)-273(while)-273(Mitchell)-273(grasped)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-250(ladder)-250(and)-250(a)-250(sailor)-250(strove)-250(to)-250(keep)-250(the)-250(launch)-250(still.)]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[("Now,)-408(Aunt)-376(Mary,")-376(cried)-377(the)-376(nephew,)-408("hang)-376(on)-376(to)-376(me)-377(and)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(hang)-250(on)-250(to)-250(those)-250(ropes)-250(and)-250(remember)-250(I'm)-250(right)-250(back)-250(of)-250(you)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 257.978 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ -256.931 -13.996 Td[("My)-248(Lord)-248(alive,")-249(cried)-248(Aunt)-248(Mary,)-249(turning)-248(her)-248(gaze)-249(upwards,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[("am)-250(I)-250(expected)-250(to)-250(go)-250(alone)-250(all)-250(that)-250(way)-250(to)-250(the)-250(top?")]TJ 11.956 -13.995 Td[("It'll)-264(pay)-263(you)-264(to)-264(keep)-263(on)-264(to)-264(the)-264(top,")-263(screamed)-264(Clover;)-271("you'll)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(have,)-343(comparatively)-325(speaking,)-343(very)-325(little)-324(fun)-325(if)-325(you)-324(hang)-325(on)-325(to)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(the)-250(ladder)-250(all)-250(day)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 75.437 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(and)-250(you'll)-250(get)-250(so)-250(wet)-250(too.")]TJ -74.39 -13.995 Td[("There's)-208(more)-208(room)-209(at)-208(the)-208(top,")-208(cried)-209(Mitchell,)-216("there's)-209(always)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(room)-293(at)-293(the)-294(top,)-304(Miss)-293(Watkins.)-379(Put)-294(yourself)-293(in)-293(the)-293(place)-293(of)-294(any)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.756 0 Td[([176])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.756 -13.55 Td[(young)-289(man)-289(entering)-289(a)-289(profession)-289(and)-289(struggle)-290(bravely)-289(upwards,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(bearing)-250(ever)-250(in)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 65.433 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ -64.386 -13.995 Td[("Oh,)-206(I)-196(never)-195(can,")-195(said)-196(Aunt)-195(Mary,)-206(recoiling)-196(abruptly;)-213("I)-196(never)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(could)-315(climb)-316(trees)-315(when)-315(I)-316(was)-315(little)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 154.557 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(I)-315(never)-316(had)-315(no)-315(grip)-315(in)-316(my)]TJ -165.466 -13.55 Td[(legs)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 17.575 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(and)-260(I)-260(just)-260(know)-259(I)-260(can't.)-280(It's)-260(too)-259(high.)-280(An')-260(it)-260(looks)-260(slippery.)]TJ -28.484 -13.549 Td[(An')-250(I)-250(don't)-250(want)-250(to,)-250(anyhow.")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+702 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 703 0 R
+/Resources 701 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 700 0 R
+>> endobj
+704 0 obj <<
+/D [702 0 R /XYZ 244.25 421.992 null]
+>> endobj
+705 0 obj <<
+/D [702 0 R /XYZ 235.005 147.884 null]
+>> endobj
+701 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+708 0 obj <<
+/Length 4704      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Fifteen)-250(-)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(Enthralled)-8311(125)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[("What)-217(rot!")-218(yelled)-217(Jack,)-224("the)-218(very)-217(idea!)-239(Why,)-224(Aunt)-218(Mary,)-224(you)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(know)-310(you)-310(can)-310(skin)-310(up)-310(there)-309(just)-310(like)-310(a)-310(cat)-310(if)-310(you)-310(only)-310(make)-310(up)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(your)-231(mind)-230(to)-231(it.)-244(Here,)-234(Mitchell,)-235(give)-230(her)-231(a)-231(boost)-231(and)-230(I'll)-231(plant)-231(her)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(feet)-250(firmly.)-250(Now)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 73.015 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(have)-250(you)-250(got)-250(hold)-250(of)-250(the)-250(ropes,)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary?")]TJ -71.968 -15.396 Td[("Oh,)-582(mercy)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 54.119 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(on)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(me!")-516(wailed)-515(Aunt)-516(Mary,)-582("the)-515(yacht)-516(is)]TJ -98.802 -13.549 Td[(turnin')-250(a-round)-250(an')-250(the)-250(harder)-250(I)-250(pull)-250(the)-250(faster)-250(it)-250(turns.")]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[("Catch)-259(her)-258(from)-259(above,)-261(Burr,")-258(Clover)-259(called)-259(excitedly;)-263("hook)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(her)-250(with)-250(anything)-250(if)-250(you)-250(can't)-250(reach)-250(her)-250(with)-250(your)-250(hand.")]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[("Oh,)-234(my)-230(cap!")-231(shrieked)-230(poor)-230(Aunt)-230(Mary,)-235(and)-230(the)-230(cap)-230(went)-231(off)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(and)-250(she)-250(went)-250(on)-250(up)-250(and)-250(was)-250(landed)-250(safe)-250(above.)]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[("How)-386(on)-386(the)-386(chart)-386(do)-386(you)-386(suppose)-386(we'll)-386(ever)-386(unload)-386(her?")]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(Jack)-250(asked,)-250(wide-eyed,)-250(as)-250(he)-250(swung)-250(himself)-250(quickly)-250(after)-250(her.)]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[("What)-322(man)-322(hath)-323(done)-322(man)-322(can)-322(do,")-322(quoted)-322(Mitchell)-323(senten-)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(tiously,)-250(following)-250(his)-250(lead.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([177])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -15.395 Td[("But)-418(no)-418(man)-418(ever)-418(unloaded)-418(Aunt)-418(Mary,")-418(Clover)-418(reminded)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(him,)-250(as)-250(they)-250(brought)-250(up)-250(the)-250(rear.)]TJ 11.955 -15.395 Td[(Then)-474(they)-475(were)-474(all)-474(on)-475(deck,)-530(a)-474(chair)-475(was)-474(brought)-474(for)-475(the)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(honored)-343(guest,)-365(and)-343(Mitchell)-343(introduced)-342(his)-343(sailing-master)-343(who)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(had)-299(been)-299(drawn)-298(to)-299(gaze)-299(upon)-299(the)-298(rather)-299(novel)-299(manner)-299(in)-299(which)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(she)-250(had)-250(been)-250(brought)-250(aboard.)]TJ 11.955 -15.395 Td[("I)-355(want)-354(Miss)-355(Watkins)-355(to)-354(have)-355(the)-355(sail)-354(of)-355(her)-355(life,)-381(Renfew,")]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(said)-250(Mitchell.)-250("We)-250(aren't)-250(coming)-250(back)-250(until)-250(night.")]TJ 11.955 -15.395 Td[("We'll)-294(have)-293(sail)-294(enough)-293(sure,)-305(sir,")-293(said)-294(Renfew,)-304(touching)-294(his)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(cap,)-224(and)-218(then)-218(he)-218(walked)-218(away)-217(and)-218(the)-218(work)-218(of)-218(starting)-218(off)-218(began.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(A)-389(tug)-390(had)-389(been)-390(engaged)-389(to)-390(tow)-389(them)-390(out)-389(into)-390(the)-389(breeze)-390(and)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(Jack)-288(thought)-289(it)-288(would)-288(be)-289(nice)-288(to)-288(show)-289(Aunt)-288(Mary)-288(around)-289(while)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(they)-263(were)-263(being)-264(meandered)-263(through)-263(coal)-263(barges,)-267(etc.)-289(They)-264(went)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(below)-445(and)-445(Aunt)-445(Mary)-445(saw)-445(everything)-445(with)-445(a)-445(most)-446(flattering)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(interest.)]TJ 11.955 -15.395 Td[("I)-289(d'n)-289(k)-1(now)-289(but)-289(what)-289(I'd)-290(enjoy)-289(a)-289(little)-289(yacht)-290(of)-289(my)-289(own,")-290(she)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(said)-267(to)-267(Mitchell.)-301("I)-267(think)-267(it's)-267(so)-267(amusin')-267(the)-267(way)-267(everythin')-268(turns)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(over)-249(into)-249(suthin')-250(else.)-249(I)-249(suppose)-250(Joshua)-249(could)-249(learn)-249(to)-249(sail)-250(me)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 266.087 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.91 0 Td[(I)]TJ -276.997 -13.549 Td[(wouldn't)-250(want)-250(to)-250(trust)-250(no)-250(new)-250(man,)-250(I)-250(know.")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+707 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 708 0 R
+/Resources 706 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 700 0 R
+>> endobj
+709 0 obj <<
+/D [707 0 R /XYZ 166.171 332.806 null]
+>> endobj
+706 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+712 0 obj <<
+/Length 4495      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(126)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[("Why,)-247(of)-247(course,")-247(said)-246(Jack,)-248("and)-246(we)-247(could)-247(all)-246(come)-247(and)-247(visit)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(you,)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary.")]TJ 11.956 -14.04 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(smiled)-250(hospitably.)]TJ 0 -14.04 Td[("I'd)-315(be)-315(glad)-315(to)-315(see)-315(you)-315(all)-314(any)-315(day,")-315(she)-315(said)-315(cordially;)-348("and)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -84.711 0 Td[([178])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.55 Td[(I)-297(shall)-296(have)-297(a)-297(hole)-296(in)-297(the)-296(bottom)-297(of)-297(the)-296(boat)-297(for)-297(people)-296(to)-297(go)-297(in)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-293(out)-292(of,)-304(and)-292(a)-293(nice)-292(stairc)-1(ase)-292(down)-293(to)-292(it,)-304(so)-292(you)-293(needn't)-293(mind)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-250(notion)-250(of)-250(how)-250(you'll)-250(get)-250(on)-250(and)-250(off.")]TJ 11.956 -14.04 Td[(They)-213(all)-213(laughe)-1(d)-213(and)-213(continued)-213(the)-214(tour)-213(below)-213(and)-213(Aunt)-214(Mary)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(grew)-364(more)-364(and)-364(more)-364(enthusiastic)-364(for)-364(quite)-364(a)-364(while.)-592(She)-364(liked)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(the)-457(kitchen)-458(and)-457(she)-458(liked)-457(the)-458(dining-room.)-872(She)-457(thought)-458(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(arrangement)-224(for)-225(keeping)-224(the)-224(table)-225(level)-224(most)-224(ingenious.)-242(Mitchell)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(took)-312(her)-313(into)-312(the)-313(main)-312(cabin)-313(and)-312(told)-312(her)-313(that)-312(that)-313(was)-312(hers)-313(for)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-342(day.)-525(On)-341(the)-342(dresser)-342(was)-341(a)-342(photograph)-342(of)-341(the)-342("Lady)-342(Belle")]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(framed)-280(in)-280(silver,)-288(which)-280(the)-280(young)-280(host)-280(presented)-280(to)-280(his)-281(guest)-280(as)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(a)-250(souvenir)-250(of)-250(the)-250("voyage.")]TJ 11.956 -14.04 Td[(Aunt)-328(Mary's)-328(pleasure)-328(was)-328(at)-328(its)-328(heig)-1(ht.)-484(Oh,)-347(the)-328(pity)-329(of)-328(Fate)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(which)-182(makes)-183(the)-182(apex)-182(of)-183(everything)-182(so)-182(very)-183(limited)-182(as)-182(to)-183(standing)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(room!)-553(Three)-350(minutes)-351(after)-351(the)-351(presentation)-351(and)-351(acceptation)-351(of)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-232(photograph)-231(Aunt)-231(Mary's)-232(glance)-231(became)-232(suddenly)-231(vague,)-236(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(then)-250(especially)-250(piercing.)]TJ 11.956 -14.041 Td[("What)-250(makes)-250(this)-250(up)-250(and)-250(down)-250(feeling?")-250(she)-250(asked)-250(Mitchell.)]TJ 0 -14.04 Td[("What)-370(up)-371(and)-370(down)-371(feeling?")-370(he)-371(asked,)-400(secure)-371(in)-370(the)-371(good)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(conscience)-269(and)-269(pure)-269(living)-269(of)-268(an)-269(oatmeal)-269(breakfast.)-307("I)-269(don't)-269(feel)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(up)-250(and)-250(down.")]TJ 11.956 -14.04 Td[("I)-381(do,")-382(said)-381(Aunt)-382(Mary)-381(abruptly;)-448("I)-381(want)-382(to)-381(be)-382(somewhere)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(else.")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([179])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -14.041 Td[("You)-335(want)-335(to)-335(be)-336(on)-335(deck,")-335(said)-335(Burnett,)-356(suddenly)-336(emerging)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(from)-381(somewhere;)-446("I)-380(know)-381(the)-380(symptoms.)-642(I)-380(always)-381(have)-381('em.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Come)-296(on.)-389(And)-297(when)-296(we)-297(get)-296(up)-296(there,)-308(I'll)-297(collar)-296(Jack)-296(for)-297(urging)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(those)-250(six)-250(last)-250(griddle)-250(cakes)-250(on)-250(me)-250(this)-250(morning.")]TJ 11.956 -14.04 Td[("I)-395(ain't)-395(sure)-395(I)-395(want)-395(to)-395(be)-395(on)-395(deck,")-395(said)-395(Aunt)-395(Mary;)-468("dear)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(me)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 13.331 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(I)-250(feel)-250(as)-250(if)-250(I)-250(wasn't)-250(sure)-250(of)-250(anythin'.")]TJ -12.284 -14.04 Td[("What)-293(did)-292(I)-293(tell)-292(you?")-293(said)-292(Burnett)-293(to)-292(Mitchell;)-314("it's)-293(blowing)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(fresh)-320(and)-320(neither)-320(she)-320(nor)-320(I)-320(ought)-320(to)-320(have)-320(come.)-460(You)-320(know)-320(me)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+711 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 712 0 R
+/Resources 710 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 700 0 R
+>> endobj
+713 0 obj <<
+/D [711 0 R /XYZ 308.365 476.546 null]
+>> endobj
+714 0 obj <<
+/D [711 0 R /XYZ 120.412 176.008 null]
+>> endobj
+710 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+717 0 obj <<
+/Length 4299      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Fifteen)-250(-)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(Enthralled)-8311(127)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 518.175 Td[(when)-250(it)-250(blows.")]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("Shut)-692(up,")-692(said)-692(Mitchell,)-803(hurrying)-692(Aunt)-692(Mary)-692(up)-692(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(companion-way)-464(and)-464(shoving)-464(her)-463(into)-464(one)-464(chair)-464(and)-464(her)-464(feet)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(into)-344(another;)-390("there,)-367(Miss)-344(Watkins,)-367(you're)-343(all)-344(right)-344(now,)-367(aren't)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(you?")]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("What's)-236(the)-235(matter?")-236(said)-235(Jack,)-239(coming)-235(from)-236(somewhere)-236(aloft)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(or)-250(astern.)-250("Heaven)-250(bless)-250(me,)-250(what)-250(ails)-250(you,)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary?")]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("I)-206(don't)-206(wonder)-206(I'm)-205(pale,")-206(said)-206(Aunt)-206(Mary)-206(faintly,)-215("oh)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 231.496 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(oh)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ -264.223 -13.927 Td[("We)-214(must)-214(put)-214(our)-215(heads)-214(together,")-214(said)-214(Burnett,)-221(taking)-214(a)-215(drink)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(from)-272(a)-272(flask)-272(that)-272(he)-272(took)-271(out)-272(of)-272(his)-272(pocket;)-283("I)-272(must)-272(soon)-272(put)-272(my)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(head)-307(on)-307(something,)-322(and)-307(your)-307(aunt)-307(looks)-307(to)-307(me)-307(to)-307(feel)-307(the)-308(same)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(way.)-450(Mitchell,)-333(why)-317(did)-317(you)-316(let)-317(me)-316(forget)-317(that)-317(vow)-316(I)-317(made)-317(last)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(time)-250(to)-250(never)-250(come)-250(again?")]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("Your)-364(vows)-364(to)-364(never)-363(do)-364(things)-364(again)-364(are)-364(about)-364(as)-364(stable)-364(as)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 279.068 0 Td[([180])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(your)-297(present)-298(hold)-297(on)-297(an)-297(upright)-298(position,")-297(said)-297(Clover,)-309(laying)-298(a)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(steadying)-280(hand)-279(upon)-280(his)-280(friend's)-280(waveringness.)-339("Sit)-279(down,)-288(little)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(boy,)-250(sit)-250(down.")]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[(Burnett)-376(sat)-376(down,)-408(Mitchell)-376(smiled,)-407(Jack)-376(laughed,)-408(and)-376(Aunt)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Mary)-250(groaned.)]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[(The)-341(boat)-341(was)-340(rising)-341(and)-341(falling)-341(rapidly)-341(now,)-363(and)-341(as)-341(she)-341(ran)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(further)-253(and)-254(further)-253(out)-253(into)-253(the)-253(ever)-254(freshening)-253(wind)-253(she)-253(kept)-254(on)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(rising)-295(and)-294(falling)-294(yet)-295(more)-294(rapidly.)-384(The)-294(more)-295(motion)-294(there)-295(was)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-250(more)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(seemed)-250(to)-250(sift)-250(down)-250(in)-250(her)-250(two)-250(chairs.)]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("We'd)-309(better)-308(put)-309(back,")-309(said)-308(Jack;)-338("this)-309(won't)-309(do,)-323(you)-309(know.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(How)-250(do)-250(you)-250(feel)-250(now,)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary?")-250(he)-250(added,)-250(leaning)-250(over)-250(her.)]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[(Aunt)-330(Mary)-330(opened)-331(her)-330(eyes)-330(and)-330(looked)-331(at)-330(him)-330(but)-330(made)-331(no)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(reply.)]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("Ask)-222(me)-223(how)-222(I)-222(feel,)-228(if)-222(you)-223(dare,")-222(said)-222(Burnett,)-228(from)-222(where)-223(his)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(chair)-304(was)-303(drawn)-304(up)-304(not)-303(far)-304(away.)-411("I)-304(couldn't)-304(kill)-303(you)-304(just)-304(now,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(but)-250(I)-250(will)-250(some)-250(day)-250(I)-250(promise)-250(you.")]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[(He)-192(was)-191(very)-192(white)-191(and)-192(had)-191(a)-192(look)-191(about)-192(his)-192(mouth)-191(that)-192(showed)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(that)-250(he)-250(meant)-250(what)-250(he)-250(said.)]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[(Some)-250(bells)-250(rang)-250(somewhere.)]TJ 0 -13.927 Td[("That's)-250(dinner,")-250(exclaimed)-250(Clover.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+716 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 717 0 R
+/Resources 715 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 700 0 R
+>> endobj
+718 0 obj <<
+/D [716 0 R /XYZ 275.837 340.147 null]
+>> endobj
+715 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+721 0 obj <<
+/Length 4363      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(128)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(gave)-250(a)-250(piercing)-250(cry.)]TJ 0 -13.876 Td[("Oh,)-306(take)-295(me)-296(somewhere)-295(else,")-295(she)-295(said,)-306(throwing)-295(her)-296(hands)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(up)-249(to)-249(her)-250(face;)-249("somewhere)-249(where)-250(there'll)-249(never)-249(be)-249(nothin')-249(to)-250(eat)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([181])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(again.)-250(I)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 32.717 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(I)-250(can't)-250(bear)-250(to)-250(hear)-250(about)-250(eatin'.")]TJ -31.67 -13.876 Td[("I'm)-254(going)-255(to)-254(take)-255(her)-254(down)-254(into)-255(one)-254(of)-254(the)-255(cabins,")-254(said)-255(Jack)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(hastily,)-250("she)-250(belongs)-250(in)-250(bed.")]TJ 11.956 -13.876 Td[("No,)-282(turn)-276(back)-275(the)-276(carpet)-276(and)-275(lay)-276(me)-276(in)-275(the)-276(bath-tub,")-276(almost)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(sobbed)-270(the)-270(poor)-270(victim.)-309("I)-270(don't)-270(feel)-270(like)-270(I)-270(could)-270(get)-270(flat)-270(enough)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(anywhere)-250(else.")]TJ 11.956 -13.877 Td[("She)-288(has)-289(the)-288(proper)-288(spirit,")-289(said)-288(Burnett)-288(faintly,)-298("only)-288(I)-289(don't)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(feel)-347(as)-347(if)-347(I)-346(could)-347(get)-347(flat)-347(enough)-347(anywhere)-347(at)-346(all.)-541(What)-347(in)-347(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(name)-250(of)-250(the)-250(Great)-250(Pyramid)-250(ever)-250(possessed)-250(me)-250(to)-250(come?")]TJ 11.956 -13.877 Td[(Mitchell)-250(rose)-250(quickly)-250(to)-250(his)-250(feet.)]TJ 0 -13.876 Td[("You)-368(put)-368(your)-368(aunt)-368(to)-369(bed,)-397(Jack,")-368(he)-369(said,)-397("and)-368(I'll)-368(put)-369(my)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(yacht)-260(to)-261(backing.)-281(This)-261(expedition)-260(is)-260(expeditiously)-261(heading)-260(on)-261(to)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(what)-252(might)-251(be)-252(termed)-251(a)-252(failure.)-254(I)-252(can)-251(see)-252(that,)-252(even)-251(if)-252(we're)-252(only)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(in)-250(a)-250(Sound.")]TJ 11.956 -13.876 Td[("When)-404(do)-404(you)-405(suppose)-404(we'll)-404(get)-404(back?")-404(the)-404(nephew)-405(asked)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(anxiously.)]TJ 11.956 -13.876 Td[("About)-250(four)-250(o'clock,)-250(if)-250(we)-250(don't)-250(lose)-250(time)-250(by)-250(having)-250(to)-250(tack.")]TJ 0 -13.877 Td[("I)-376(didn't)-377(quite)-376(catch)-376(all)-377(that,")-376(said)-377(Aunt)-376(Mary,)-408("but)-376(I)-377(knew)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(suthin')-260(was)-260(loose)-260(all)-259(along.)-280(I)-260(felt)-260(it)-260(inside)-259(of)-260(me)-260(right)-260(off)-260(at)-260(first.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(And)-250(ever)-250(since,)-250(too.")]TJ 11.956 -13.877 Td[(Jack)-305(gathered)-305(her)-306(up)-305(in)-305(his)-305(arms)-306(and)-305(bore)-305(her)-305(tenderly)-306(away)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(to)-250(the)-250(beautiful)-250(main)-250(cabin.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([182])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -13.876 Td[("I)-375(wanted)-376(to)-375(live)-376(to)-375(c)-1(hange)-375(my)-376(will,")-375(she)-376(said)-375(sadly,)-407(as)-376(he)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(laid)-272(her)-271(down,)-277("but)-272(somehow)-272(I)-272(don't)-271(seem)-272(to)-272(care)-271(for)-272(nothin')-272(no)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(more.")]TJ 11.956 -13.876 Td[(He)-250(kissed)-250(her)-250(hand.)]TJ 0 -13.877 Td[("They)-430(say)-431(being)-430(seasick)-431(is)-430(awfully)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 165.93 0 Td[(good)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 26.513 0 Td[(for)-430(people,)-476(Aunt)]TJ -204.399 -13.549 Td[(Mary,")-250(he)-250(yelled)-250(contritely.)]TJ 11.956 -13.876 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(opened)-250(her)-250(eyes.)]TJ 0 -13.877 Td[("John)-340(Watkins,)-362(Jr.,)-362(Denham,")-339(she)-340(said,)-362("if)-340(you)-339(say)-340('food')-340(to)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(me)-250(again)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 42.415 0 Td[(ever)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 18.774 0 Td[(,)-250(I'll)-250(never)-250(leave)-250(you)-250(a)-250(penny)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 125.869 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(so)-250(there!")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+720 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 721 0 R
+/Resources 719 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 700 0 R
+>> endobj
+722 0 obj <<
+/D [720 0 R /XYZ 245.163 490.749 null]
+>> endobj
+723 0 obj <<
+/D [720 0 R /XYZ 215.954 189.721 null]
+>> endobj
+719 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R /F18 18 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+726 0 obj <<
+/Length 4511      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Fifteen)-250(-)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(Enthralled)-8311(129)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[(Jack)-250(went)-250(away)-250(and)-250(left)-250(her.)]TJ 0 -15.227 Td[("Come)-554(on)-554(to)-553(dinner,)-630(Burnett,")-554(Clover)-554(called)-554(hilariously,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[("there's)-250(liver)-250(with)-250(little)-250(bits)-250(of)-250(bacon)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 159.131 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(your)-250(favorite)-250(dish.")]TJ -158.084 -15.228 Td[(Burnett)-250(snarled)-250(the)-250(weakest)-250(kind)-250(of)-250(a)-250(snarl.)]TJ 0 -15.227 Td[("I)-372(thought)-372(I'd)-372(suffered)-372(enough)-372(for)-372(one)-372(year)-372(last)-373(month,")-372(he)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(murmured)-407(in)-407(a)-407(voice)-407(too)-407(low)-407(to)-407(be)-407(heard,)-447(and)-407(then)-407(he)-407(knew)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(himself)-250(to)-250(be)-250(alone)-250(on)-250(deck.)]TJ 11.956 -15.228 Td[(Down)-488(in)-489(the)-488(little)-489(dining-saloon)-488(the)-489(dishes)-488(were)-489(hopping)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(merrily)-218(back)-218(and)-217(forth)-218(and)-218(an)-218(agreeable)-217(odor)-218(of)-218(agreeable)-218(viands)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(filled)-306(the)-306(air.)-418(Clover)-306(and)-306(Jack)-306(sat)-306(down)-306(opposite)-306(their)-306(host)-306(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(they)-348(all)-348(three)-348(ate)-348(and)-347(drank)-348(with)-348(a)-348(zest)-348(that)-348(knew)-348(no)-348(breaking)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(waves)-250(nor)-250(sad)-250(effects.)]TJ 11.956 -15.228 Td[("Here's)-410(to)-409(our)-410(aunt,")-410(said)-409(Clover)-410(gayly,)-450(as)-409(the)-410(first)-410(course)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(went)-321(around;)-356("of)-321(course,)-338(we)-321(all)-321(love)-321(her)-321(for)-320(Jack's)-321(sake,)-339(but)-321(at)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-243(same)-242(time)-243(I)-242(offer)-243(two)-242(to)-243(odds)-242(that)-243(it)-242(is)-243(a)-242(plea)-1(sure)-242(to)-243(converse)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([183])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(in)-250(under)-250(tones)-250(occasionally.)-250(Who)-250(takes?")]TJ 11.956 -15.227 Td[("Aunt)-257(Mary)-257(being)-258(laid)-257(upon)-257(her)-257(bed,")-257(said)-257(Mitchell,)-259("we)-258(will)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(next)-273(proceed)-274(to)-273(lay)-273(the)-274(motion)-273(of)-273(our)-274(honorable)-273(friend)-273(upon)-274(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(table.)-603(We)-367(regret)-368(Aunt)-367(Mary's)-368(ill-health)-367(while)-368(we)-368(drink)-367(to)-368(her)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(good)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 21.819 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(quotation)-242(marks)-242(under)-243(the)-242(latter)-242(word.)-247(Aunt)-242(Mary)-1(!)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 221.24 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(and)]TJ -264.877 -13.549 Td[(may)-435(she)-435(arise)-435(and)-435(prosper)-435(all)-435(the)-435(way)-435(down)-435(into)-435(the)-435(launch)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(again.")]TJ 11.956 -15.228 Td[("I'm)-271(troubled)-270(about)-271(her,)-275(really,")-271(said)-271(Jack)-270(soberly;)-281("we)-271(ought)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(to)-250(have)-250(brought)-250(someone)-250(to)-250(look)-250(out)-250(for)-250(her.")]TJ 11.956 -15.227 Td[("The)-207(maid,")-207(cried)-207(Mitchell,)-215("the)-207(dainty,)-216(adorable)-207(maid!)-236(Here's)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(to)-281(Janice)-282(and)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 57.639 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")-281(his)-282(speech)-281(was)-281(brought)-282(to)-281(a)-281(sudden)-281(end)-282(by)-281(his)]TJ -68.548 -13.549 Td[(two)-250(guests)-250(nearly)-250(disappearing)-250(under)-250(the)-250(table.)]TJ 11.956 -15.228 Td[(Jack)-250(started)-250(up.)]TJ 0 -15.227 Td[("Ginger!)-250(Did)-250(you)-250(feel)-250(that?")-250(he)-250(asked.)]TJ 0 -15.227 Td[("That's)-372(nothing,")-372(said)-372(Mitchell,)-403(calmly)-372(replacing)-372(the)-373(water-)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(carafe)-268(which)-269(in)-268(the)-269(excitement)-268(of)-269(the)-268(moment)-268(he)-269(had)-268(clasped)-269(to)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(his)-183(bosom;)-205("it's)-182(the)-183(waves)-182(which)-183(are)-182(rising)-183(to)-182(the)-183(occasion)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 247.15 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(that's)]TJ -258.059 -13.549 Td[(all.")-250(But)-250(Jack)-250(had)-250(hurried)-250(out.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+725 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 726 0 R
+/Resources 724 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 728 0 R
+>> endobj
+727 0 obj <<
+/D [725 0 R /XYZ 139.975 320.096 null]
+>> endobj
+724 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+731 0 obj <<
+/Length 5028      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(130)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[(He)-496(found)-497(poor)-496(Aunt)-497(Mary)-496(writhing)-497(in)-496(an)-497(agony)-496(of)-497(mis-)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(ery.)-588("Oh)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 40.851 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(oh)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")-363(she)-362(cried,)-391("I)-362(want)-363(to)-362(be)-363(still)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 135.968 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(I'm)-363(too)-362(much)]TJ -220.455 -13.549 Td[(tipped)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 27.273 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(and)-375(all)-376(the)-375(wrong)-376(way!)-626(I)-376(want)-375(to)-376(lay)-375(smooth)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 208.058 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(and)-375(I)]TJ -257.149 -13.549 Td[(stand)-250(on)-250(my)-250(head)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 76.658 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.91 0 Td[(all)-250(the)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 26.967 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -198.199 0 Td[([184])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -13.959 Td[("We're)-224(going)-224(back,")-224(said)-224(Jack,)-230(striving)-224(to)-224(soothe)-224(her;)-233("lie)-224(still,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Aunt)-208(Mary,)-217(and)-208(we'll)-208(soon)-208(get)-209(there.)-236(Do)-208(you)-208(want)-208(some)-209(camphor)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-250(smell?")]TJ 11.956 -13.958 Td[("I)-325(don't)-324(feel)-325(up)-324(to)-325(smellin',")-325(wailed)-324(Aunt)-325(Mary,)-343("I)-325(don't)-325(feel)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(up)-250(to)-250(anythin'.)-250(Go)-250('way.)-250(Right)-250(off.")]TJ 11.956 -13.958 Td[(Jack)-232(went)-231(on)-232(deck.)-244(He)-232(found)-232(Burnett)-231(stretched)-232(pale)-232(and)-232(green)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(upon)-250(the)-250(chairs)-250(their)-250(lady)-250(guest)-250(had)-250(vacated.)]TJ 11.956 -13.959 Td[("If)-352(you)-352(speak)-352(to)-352(me)-352(again,")-352(he)-352(said,)-377(in)-352(halting)-352(accents,)-378("I'll)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(never)-250(speak)-250(to)-250(you)-250(again.)-250(Get)-250(out.")]TJ 11.956 -13.958 Td[(Jack)-250(went)-250(back)-250(to)-250(his)-250(place)-250(at)-250(dinner.)]TJ 0 -13.958 Td[("How)-250(are)-250(they?")-250(asked)-250(Clover.)]TJ 0 -13.959 Td[("I)-200(don't)-200(know,")-201(he)-200(said)-200(quietly,)-210("but)-201(there's)-200(a)-200(big)-200(storm)-201(coming)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(up.)-250(The)-250(sky's)-250(all)-250(dark)-250(blue)-250(and)-250(it)-250(looks)-250(bad.")]TJ 11.956 -13.958 Td[("I)-241(don't)-241(care,")-241(said)-241(Mitchell,)-243(sawing)-241(into)-241(the)-241(game)-242(with)-241(vigor;)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[("if)-233(we)-234(go)-233(down)-233(we)-234(go)-233(down)-233(with)-234(Aunt)-233(Mary)-233(and)-234(if)-233(I)-233(were)-234(Uncle)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(Mary)-297(I)-296(wouldn't)-297(feel)-297(happier)-297(and)-296(safer)-297(as)-297(to)-297(all)-296(concerned.)-391(The)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(ship)-338(that)-339(bore)-338(C\346sar)-339(and)-338(his)-338(fortune)-339(had)-338(nothing)-338(at)-339(all)-338(to)-339(bear)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(compared)-223(to)-222(this)-223(which)-222(bears)-223(Jack)-222(and)-223(his.)-241(Here's)-222(to)-223(Jack)-222(and)-223(his)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(fortune,)-250(and)-250(may)-250(we)-250(all)-250(survive)-250(the)-250(dark)-250(blue)-250(sky.")]TJ 11.956 -13.959 Td[("I)-180(tell)-179(you)-180(it's)-180(serious,")-179(said)-180(Jack.)-227(As)-179(he)-180(spoke)-180(another)-180(ominous)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(heaving)-214(set)-213(the)-214(bottles)-213(tipp)-1(ing)-213(and)-214(nearly)-213(sent)-214(Clover)-214(backwards.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 -13.549 Td[([185])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -13.958 Td[("And)-351(I'm)-351(serious,")-351(exclaimed)-351(Mitchell.)-553("I'm)-351(always)-351(serious)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(only)-253(I)-253(never)-253(can)-253(get)-253(any)-253(girl)-253(to)-253(believe)-253(it.)-260(Here's)-253(to)-253(me,)-254(and)-253(may)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(I)-250(grow)-250(more)-250(and)-250(more)-250(serious)-250(each)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 153.895 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ -152.848 -13.958 Td[(A)-209(tremendous)-209(wave)-209(bore)-210(the)-209(yacht)-209(upright)-209(and)-209(then)-209(let)-209(her)-210(fall)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(on)-272(her)-271(forelegs)-272(again.)-314(Clover)-272(went)-271(over)-272(backwards)-272(and)-271(the)-272(dish)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(of)-230(peas)-231(to)-230(which)-231(he)-230(had)-231(just)-230(been)-230(helping)-231(himself)-230(followed)-231(after.)]TJ 11.956 -13.959 Td[("You)-419(didn't)-419(sa)-1(y)-419('excuse)-419(me')-419(when)-420(you)-419(left)-419(the)-419(table,")-420(said)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Mitchell,)-322(whom)-307(the)-308(law)-307(of)-307(gravitatio)-1(n)-307(had)-307(suddenly)-308(raised)-307(to)-308(a)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+730 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 731 0 R
+/Resources 729 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 728 0 R
+>> endobj
+732 0 obj <<
+/D [730 0 R /XYZ 226.165 477.528 null]
+>> endobj
+733 0 obj <<
+/D [730 0 R /XYZ 93.543 175.763 null]
+>> endobj
+729 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+736 0 obj <<
+/Length 4388      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Fifteen)-250(-)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(Enthralled)-8311(131)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 518.175 Td[(pinnacle)-297(from)-297(which)-297(he)-297(viewed)-297(his)-297(friends)-297(with)-297(mirthful)-297(scorn;)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[("and)-368(if)-368(you've)-368(hurt)-368(yourself)-368(it)-368(must)-368(be)-368(a)-368(judgment)-369(on)-368(you)-368(for)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(leaving)-330(the)-331(table)-330(without)-330(saying)-330('excuse)-330(me.')-491(Here's)-330(to)-331(Clover,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(who)-223(has)-222(a)-223(judgment)-223(and)-222(a)-223(dish)-223(of)-223(peas)-222(served)-223(on)-223(him)-222(at)-223(the)-223(same)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(time)-250(for)-250(leaving)-250(the)-250(table)-250(without)-250(saying)-250('excuse)-250(me.'")]TJ 11.956 -15.6 Td[(The)-250(sailing-master)-250(appeared)-250(at)-250(the)-250(door,)-250(his)-250(cap)-250(in)-250(his)-250(hand.)]TJ 0 -15.6 Td[("I)-333(beg)-332(your)-333(pardon,)-354(sir,")-332(he)-333(said)-333(respectfully,)-353("but)-333(I)-333(fear)-333(it's)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(impossible)-353(to)-354(put)-353(back.)-560(We)-353(can't)-353(turn)-354(without)-353(getting)-353(into)-354(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(trough)-250(of)-250(the)-250(sea.")]TJ 11.956 -15.601 Td[("All)-283(right,)-291(go)-282(ahead)-283(then,")-283(said)-282(Mitchell;)-299("go)-283(where)-283(we)-283(must)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(go,)-328(a)-1(nd)-312(do)-313(what)-313(you've)-313(got)-312(to)-313(do.)-438(My)-313(motto)-313(is)-313(veni,)-328(vidi,)-329(vici,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(which)-237(freely)-237(translated)-237(means)-238(I)-237(can)-237(sleep)-237(asea)-237(when)-237(I)-237(can't)-238(sleep)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(ashore.")]TJ 11.956 -15.6 Td[("But)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary?")-250(cried)-250(Jack)-250(blankly.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 279.068 0 Td[([186])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -15.6 Td[("She's)-171(all)-172(right,")-171(said)-172(Mitchell;)-197("she'll)-172(soon)-171(reach)-172(the)-171(cold)-172(burnt)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(toast)-252(stage)-252(and)-252(when)-253(she)-252(reaches)-252(the)-252(stage)-252(we'll)-252(all)-252(welcome)-253(her)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(into)-354(any)-353(chorus.)-562(Here's)-353(to)-354(choruses)-354(in)-353(general)-354(and)-354(one)-354(chorus)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(girl)-394(in)-394(particular.)-681(I)-394(haven't)-393(met)-394(her)-394(yet,)-430(but)-393(I)-394(shall)-394(know)-394(her)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(when)-260(I)-260(do,)-262(for)-260(she)-259(will)-260(look)-260(at)-260(me.)-279(Up)-260(to)-259(now)-260(they've)-260(all)-260(looked)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(elsewhere)-237(and)-237(at)-238(other)-237(men.)-245(If)-238(my)-237(fortune)-237(was)-237(only)-237(in)-237(my)-237(face)-238(it)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(might)-250(draw)-250(some)-250(interest,)-250(but)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 129.993 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ -128.946 -15.6 Td[("Lady)-304(Belle")-303(careened)-304(violently)-304(and)-304(Clover)-303(went)-304(over)-304(back-)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(wards)-250(for)-250(the)-250(second)-250(time)-250(with)-250(much)-250(in)-250(his)-250(wake.)]TJ 11.956 -15.6 Td[("Oh,)-491(I)-442(say,")-443(said)-443(Mitchell,)-491(rising)-443(in)-442(disgust,)-491("if)-443(you)-443(want)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(everything)-315(on)-315(the)-315(table)-315(at)-315(once)-314(why)-315(take)-315(it.)-445(Only)-315(I'm)-315(going)-315(on)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(deck.)-259(After)-253(you've)-254(bathed)-253(in)-253(the)-253(gravy)-253(you)-253(can)-253(have)-253(it.)-260(Ditto)-253(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(other)-328(liquids.)-484(Jack)-328(and)-327(I)-328(are)-328(going)-328(up)-328(to)-328(dance)-328(a)-328(hornpipe)-328(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(sing)-235(for)-234(Burnett.)-245(He)-235(looked)-235(rather)-234(ennuy\351d)-235(to)-235(me)-234(when)-235(we)-235(came)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(down.")]TJ 11.956 -15.6 Td[(Along)-288(toward)-288(eight)-287(o'clock)-288(that)-288(night)-288("Lady)-288(Belle")-288(anchored)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(somewhere)-267(in)-268(the)-267(Sound)-267(and)-267(tugged)-268(vigorously)-267(at)-267(her)-267(cables)-268(all)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(night.)]TJ 11.956 -15.6 Td[(With)-250(the)-250(dawn)-250(she)-250(headed)-250(back)-250(towards)-250(New)-250(York.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+735 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 736 0 R
+/Resources 734 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 728 0 R
+>> endobj
+737 0 obj <<
+/D [735 0 R /XYZ 226.694 333.832 null]
+>> endobj
+734 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+740 0 obj <<
+/Length 4683      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(132)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[("As)-483(a)-483(success)-483(my)-482(entertainment)-483(has)-483(been)-483(a)-483(failure,")-483(said)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Mitchell)-430(to)-430(Jack)-430(as)-430(they)-430(walked)-430(up)-430(and)-430(down)-430(the)-430(deck)-430(after)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(breakfast;)-468("but)-396(into)-396(each)-395(life)-396(some)-395(rain)-396(must)-396(fall,)-432(and)-395(I)-396(offer)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(myself)-186(as)-186(a)-186(sacrificial)-186(background)-186(to)-186(Aunt)-186(Mary's)-186(glowing,)-199(living)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([187])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.55 Td[(pictures)-250(of)-250(New)-250(York.")]TJ 11.956 -13.995 Td[("I)-358(wish)-357(you)-358(hadn't,)-385(though,")-358(said)-358(Jack;)-411("she'll)-358(never)-358(want)-358(a)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(yacht)-370(of)-371(her)-370(own)-370(now.)-611(And)-371(how)-370(under)-371(Scorpion)-370(are)-370(we)-371(ever)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(going)-250(to)-250(land)-250(her?")]TJ 11.956 -13.995 Td[("In)-389(a)-388(sheet,)-424(my)-388(able-bodied)-389(young)-388(friend,)-424(in)-388(a)-389(sheet,")-389(said)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Mitchell)-258(clapping)-258(him)-258(on)-259(the)-258(back.)-274("Don't)-258(you)-258(know)-258(the)-259('Weigh)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-271(Baby')-271(game?)-313(It)-271(may)-271(double)-271(her)-271(up)-271(a)-270(bit,)-277(but)-271(the)-271(redoubtable)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(Janice)-320(will)-319(straighte)-1(n)-319(her)-320(out)-320(again.)-459(Here's)-320(to)-319(the)-320(sheet,)-337(be)-320(it)-320(a)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(wet)-277(sheet,)-284(a)-278(main)-277(sheet,)-284(or)-277(a)-277(sheet)-277(with)-278(your)-277(Aunt)-277(Mary)-277(tied)-278(up)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(in)-250(it.")]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[(Mitchell)-254(was)-255(as)-254(good)-255(as)-254(his)-254(wor)-1(d)-254(and)-254(they)-255(landed)-254(Aunt)-255(Mary)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(in)-230(a)-230(sheet.)-243(The)-230(very)-230(harbor-tugs)-230(stopped)-230(puffing)-230(and)-230(stood)-230(open-)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(mouthed)-400(to)-399(stare)-400(at)-400(the)-400(performance,)-437(but)-399(it)-400(was)-400(an)-400(unalloyed)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(success,)-250(and)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(was)-250(gotten)-250(onto)-250(dry)-250(land)-250(at)-250(last.)]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[("I)-262(don't)-263(want)-262(to)-263(do)-262(nothin')-263(for)-262(a)-263(day)-262(or)-263(two,")-262(she)-263(said,)-265(as)-263(they)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(drove)-250(to)-250(the)-250(house.)]TJ 11.956 -13.995 Td[(Janice)-315(had)-314(the)-315(bed)-315(open,)-330(and)-315(a)-315(hot-water)-314(bottle)-315(down)-315(where)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(Aunt)-404(Mary's)-404(feet)-403(might)-404(be)-404(expected,)-442(and)-404(all)-404(sorts)-404(of)-404(comfort)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(ready)-250(to)-250(hand.)]TJ 11.956 -13.995 Td[("I'm)-250(so)-250(glad)-250(to)-250(see)-250(you)-250(safe)-250(back,")-250(she)-250(said,)-250(almost)-250(weeping.)]TJ 0 -13.996 Td[("I)-341(don't)-341(believe)-341(it's)-342(broke,")-341(said)-341(Aunt)-341(Mary,)-364("but)-341(you)-342(might)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(look)-424(and)-424(see.)-773(Oh,)-468(Granite)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 123.366 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.91 0 Td[(I)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 3.632 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")-424(she)-424(stopped)-425(and)-424(looked)-424(an)]TJ -148.817 -13.549 Td[(unutterable)-250(meaning.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([188])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -13.996 Td[("It)-250(stormed,)-250(didn't)-250(it?")-250(said)-250(the)-250(maid.)]TJ 0 -13.995 Td[("Stormed!")-308(said)-309(Aunt)-309(Mary.)-425("I)-309(guess)-308(it)-309(did)-308(storm.)-426(I)-308(guess)-309(it)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(hurricaned.)-250(I)-250(know)-250(it)-250(did.)-250(I'm)-250(sure)-250(of)-250(it.")]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[("But)-279(you're)-280(safe)-279(now,")-279(said)-279(the)-280(girl,)-286(tucking)-280(her)-279(up)-279(as)-280(snugly)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(as)-250(if)-250(she)-250(had)-250(been)-250(an)-250(infant)-250(in)-250(arms.)]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[("Yes,)-223(I'm)-217(safe)-217(now,")-217(said)-217(Aunt)-217(Mary,)-223("but)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 182.596 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")-217(she)-217(looked)-217(very)]TJ -205.461 -13.549 Td[(earnest)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 30.895 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[("but,)-310(oh,)-310(my)-298(Granite,)-310(how)-298(I)-298(did)-298(need)-298(that)-298(white)-298(fuzzy)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+739 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 740 0 R
+/Resources 738 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 728 0 R
+>> endobj
+741 0 obj <<
+/D [739 0 R /XYZ 188.298 477.528 null]
+>> endobj
+742 0 obj <<
+/D [739 0 R /XYZ 188.376 162.772 null]
+>> endobj
+738 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+745 0 obj <<
+/Length 1546      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Fifteen)-250(-)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(Enthralled)-8311(133)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 518.175 Td[(stuff)-295(to)-295(drink)-295(this)-295(morning.)-385(I)-295(never)-295(wanted)-295(nothin')-295(so)-295(bad)-295(in)-295(all)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(my)-250(life)-250(afore.")]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[(Janice)-240(stood)-240(by)-241(the)-240(bed,)-242(her)-240(face)-240(f)-1(ull)-240(of)-240(regret)-240(that)-240(Aunt)-241(Mary)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(had)-250(known)-250(any)-250(aching)-250(void.)]TJ 11.956 -13.55 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(grew)-250(yet)-250(more)-250(earnest.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[("Granite,")-285(she)-285(said,)-293("you)-285(mind)-285(what)-285(I)-285(tell)-284(you.)-355(That)-285(ought)-285(to)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(be)-347(advertise)-1(d.)-542(I)-347(sh'd)-348(think)-347(you)-347(cou)-1(ld)-347(patent)-347(it.)-543(Folks)-347(ought)-348(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(know)-250(about)-250(it.")]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[(Then)-394(she)-395(laid)-394(herself)-395(out)-394(in)-395(bed.)-683("My)-395(heavens)-394(alive!")-395(she)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(sighed)-327(sweetly,)-346("there's)-326(nothin')-327(like)-327(home.)-480(Not)-327(anywhere)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 255.779 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(not)]TJ -266.688 -13.549 Td[(nowhere!")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 -27.414 Td[([189])]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+744 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 745 0 R
+/Resources 743 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 728 0 R
+>> endobj
+746 0 obj <<
+/D [744 0 R /XYZ 46.771 355.269 null]
+>> endobj
+743 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+747 0 obj
+<< /S /GoTo /D (index17) >>
+endobj
+750 0 obj
+(Chapter Sixteen - A Reposeful Interval)
+endobj
+753 0 obj <<
+/Length 3518      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 18.959 Tf 93.543 479.321 Td[(Chapter)-264(Sixteen)-264(-)-264(A)-264(Reposeful)]TJ 0 -24.647 Td[(Interval)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 0 -33.619 Td[(The)-312(next)-311(date)-312(upon)-312(the)-311(little)-312(gold)-312(and)-311(ivory)-312(memorandum)-312(card)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(which)-270(hung)-270(beside)-271(Aunt)-270(Mary's)-270(watch)-270(was)-270(that)-270(set)-270(for)-271(Burnett's)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(picnic,)-498(but)-448(its)-448(dawning)-448(found)-448(both)-448(host)-448(and)-448(guest)-448(too)-449(much)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(attached)-250(to)-250(their)-250(beds)-250(to)-250(desire)-250(any)-250(f\352tes)-250(champ\352tre)-250(just)-250(then.)]TJ 11.956 -13.789 Td[(Burnett)-463(was)-463(in)-463(that)-464(very)-463(weak)-463(state)-463(which)-463(follows)-463(in)-464(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(immediate)-257(wake)-257(of)-257(only)-256(too)-257(many)-257(yachts,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 183.152 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(and)-257(Aunt)-257(Mary)-257(was)]TJ -194.061 -13.549 Td[(sleeping)-231(one)-232(of)-231(her)-231(long)-231(drawn)-232(out)-231(and)-231(utterly)-231(restorative)-232(sleeps.)]TJ 11.956 -13.789 Td[(Jack)-250(went)-250(in)-250(and)-250(looked)-250(at)-250(her.)]TJ 0 -13.789 Td[("It)-315(did)-315(storm)-315(awfully,")-315(he)-315(said)-315(to)-315(Janice,)-331(who)-315(was)-315(sitting)-315(by)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(the)-315(window.)-444(The)-315(maid)-315(just)-315(smiled,)-331(nodded,)-331(and)-315(laid)-315(her)-315(finger)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(on)-281(her)-281(lip.)-344(She)-281(never)-282(encouraged)-281(conversation)-281(when)-281(her)-282(charge)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(was)-250(reposing.)]TJ 11.956 -13.789 Td[(Jack)-295(went)-295(softly)-294(out)-295(and)-295(turned)-295(his)-294(steps)-295(toward)-295(the)-295(room)-295(of)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(the)-250(other)-250(wreck.)]TJ 11.956 -13.789 Td[("Well,)-170(how)-151(are)-150(stocks)-151(to-day?")-150(he)-151(asked)-151(cheerfully)-150(on)-151(entering.)]TJ 0 -13.788 Td[(Burnett)-315(was)-315(stretched)-315(out)-315(pillowless)-315(and)-315(looked)-316(black)-315(under)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(his)-250(hollow)-250(eyes.)-250(But)-250(he)-250(appeared)-250(to)-250(be)-250(on)-250(the)-250(road)-250(to)-250(recovery.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.756 0 Td[([190])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.712 -13.788 Td[("Jack,")-291(he)-291(said)-291(seriously,)-302("what)-291(in)-291(thunder)-291(makes)-291(me)-292(always)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(so)-241(ready)-242(to)-241(go)-241(on)-241(the)-242(water?)-247(I)-241(should)-241(think)-242(after)-241(a)-241(while)-241(I'd)-242(learn)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(a)-250(thing)-250(or)-250(two.")]TJ 11.956 -13.788 Td[(Jack)-472(leaned)-471(his)-472(elbows)-471(on)-472(the)-472(high)-471(carved)-472(footboard)-472(and)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(returned)-250(his)-250(friend's)-250(look)-250(with)-250(one)-250(of)-250(equal)-250(seriousness.)]TJ 11.956 -13.788 Td[("What)-375(makes)-376(all)-375(of)-375(us)-376(do)-375(lots)-375(of)-376(things?")-375(he)-376(asked.)-626("Why)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(don't)-250(we)-250(all)-250(learn?")]TJ 11.956 -13.789 Td[(Burnett)-250(sighed.)]TJ 0 -13.789 Td[("That's)-329(a)-329(fact;)-369(why)-329(don't)-329(we?")-329(he)-330(said)-329(weakly.)-487(And)-329(then)-330(he)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(shut)-250(his)-250(eyes)-250(again)-250(and)-250(turned)-250(his)-250(back)-250(to)-250(his)-250(caller.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+752 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 753 0 R
+/Resources 751 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 728 0 R
+>> endobj
+748 0 obj <<
+/D [752 0 R /XYZ 93.543 529.134 null]
+>> endobj
+754 0 obj <<
+/D [752 0 R /XYZ 371.365 202.831 null]
+>> endobj
+751 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+757 0 obj <<
+/Length 4429      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Sixteen)-250(-)-250(A)-250(Reposeful)-250(Interval)-8589(135)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[(Jack)-312(went)-313(down)-313(to)-312(lunch.)-438(Clover)-312(and)-313(Mitchell)-312(were)-313(playing)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(cards)-250(in)-250(the)-250(library.)]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("Well,)-331(h)-1(ow)-315(is)-315(the)-315(hospital?")-315(Clover)-316(asked,)-331(looking)-315(up)-316(while)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(he)-250(shuffled)-250(the)-250(pack.)]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("Never)-211(mind)-211(about)-211(Burnett,")-211(said)-211(Mitchell,)-219("but)-211(do)-211(relieve)-211(my)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(mind)-241(about)-240(Aunt)-241(Mary.)-246(Is)-241(the)-241(one)-240(sheet)-241(still)-240(taking)-241(effect,)-242(or)-241(has)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(she)-250(begun)-250(to)-250(rally)-250(on)-250(a)-250(diet)-250(of)-250(two?")]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("She's)-250(asleep,")-250(said)-250(the)-250(nephew.)]TJ 0 -13.927 Td[("God)-402(bless)-402(her)-402(slumber,")-402(declared)-402(Clover)-402(piously.)-706("I)-402(very)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(much)-332(approve)-331(of)-332(Aunt)-331(Mary)-332(asleep.)-495(When)-331(our)-332(dearly)-332(beloved)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(aunt)-362(sleeps)-362(we)-361(know)-362(we've)-362(got)-362(her)-362(and)-361(we)-362(don't)-362(have)-362(to)-362(yell.)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(Shall)-250(I)-250(deal)-250(for)-250(three?")]TJ 11.956 -13.926 Td[("They)-433(are)-433(bringing)-433(up)-433(lunch,")-433(said)-433(the)-433(latest)-433(arrival,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 242.405 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[("no)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 25.754 0 Td[([191])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.55 Td[(time)-250(to)-250(begin)-250(a)-250(hand.)-250(Better)-250(stack)-250(guns)-250(for)-250(the)-250(present.")]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("So)-423(say)-423(I,")-423(said)-423(Mitchell,)-466("with)-423(me)-424(everything)-423(goes)-423(down)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(when)-339(lunch)-339(comes)-339(up.)-517(It's)-339(quite)-339(the)-339(reverse)-338(with)-339(Burnett,)-362(isn't)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(it?")-250(He)-250(laughed)-250(brutally)-250(at)-250(his)-250(own)-250(wit.)]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("To)-349(think)-348(how)-349(enthusiastic)-349(Burr)-349(was,")-348(said)-349(Clover,)-374(evening)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(the)-362(cards)-361(preparatory)-362(to)-362(slipping)-361(them)-362(into)-362(their)-361(holder)-362(on)-362(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(side)-246(of)-246(the)-247(table.)-248("He's)-246(alway)-1(s)-246(so)-246(enthusiastic)-246(and)-246(he's)-246(always)-247(so)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(sick.)-238(In)-215(his)-214(place)-215(I)-214(should)-215(feel)-215(that,)-221(if)-215(a)-214(buoyant)-215(nature)-214(is)-215(a)-215(virtue,)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(I)-250(didn't)-250(get)-250(much)-250(reward.")]TJ 11.956 -13.926 Td[(The)-249(gong)-249(sounded)-250(just)-249(then,)-249(and)-249(the)-1(y)-249(all)-249(went)-249(down)-249(to)-250(lunch,)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(not)-250(at)-250(all)-250(saddened)-250(by)-250(the)-250(sight)-250(of)-250(their)-250(comrade's)-250(empty)-250(chair.)]TJ 11.956 -13.926 Td[("Now,)-360(what)-338(are)-338(we)-337(going)-338(to)-338(do)-338(next?")-338(Clover)-338(demanded)-338(as)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(they)-250(finished)-250(the)-250(bouillon.)]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("Have)-250(a)-250(meat)-250(course,)-250(I)-250(suppose,")-250(said)-250(Mitchell.)]TJ 0 -13.926 Td[("I)-257(don't)-257(mean)-258(that;)-261(I)-257(mean,)-259(what)-257(are)-257(we)-258(going)-257(to)-257(do)-257(next)-258(with)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary?")]TJ 11.956 -13.926 Td[("She)-319(hasn't)-318(but)-319(two)-318(days)-319(more,")-319(said)-318(Jack)-319(meditatively.)-456("Of)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(course)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 28.473 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(even)-205(if)-204(she)-205(was)-204(all)-205(chipper)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 113.547 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(this)-204(storm)-205(has)-204(kn)-1(ocked)-204(any)]TJ -163.838 -13.549 Td[(picnic)-250(endways.")]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("I)-551(am)-552(not)-551(an)-552(ardent)-551(upholder)-552(of)-551(picnics,)-627(anyhow,")-552(said)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Mitchell.)-519("They)-339(require)-340(a)-340(constant)-339(sitting)-340(down)-339(on)-340(the)-340(ground)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+756 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 757 0 R
+/Resources 755 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 759 0 R
+>> endobj
+758 0 obj <<
+/D [756 0 R /XYZ 269.932 353.696 null]
+>> endobj
+755 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+762 0 obj <<
+/Length 4766      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(136)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 518.175 Td[(and)-209(getting)-209(up)-209(from)-209(the)-208(ground)-209(to)-209(which)-209(I)-209(find)-209(our)-209(respected)-209(aunt)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(very)-267(far)-266(from)-267(being)-267(equal.)-300(Burnett)-267(mentioned)-266(that)-267(we)-267(should)-267(go)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([192])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(to)-358(the)-357(scene)-358(on)-357(a)-358(coach.)-573(That)-358(also)-357(did)-358(not)-357(meet)-358(my)-358(approval.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Going)-233(anywhere)-233(on)-233(a)-233(coach)-233(requires)-233(a)-233(constant)-233(getting)-233(up)-234(on)-233(the)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(coach)-263(and)-264(getting)-263(down)-263(from)-264(the)-263(coach)-263(to)-264(which)-263(I)-263(also)-264(consider)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-461(lady)-462(unequal.)-884(The)-461(events)-462(of)-461(yesterday)-461(have)-462(left)-461(a)-462(deep)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(impression)-250(on)-250(my)-250(mind.)-250(I)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 112.429 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ -111.382 -14.04 Td[("Go)-279(on)-279(and)-279(carve,")-280(interrupted)-279(Clover,)-286("or)-279(else)-279(shove)-279(me)-280(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(platter.)-250(I'm)-250(hungry.")]TJ 11.956 -14.041 Td[("So'm)-228(I,")-227(said)-228(a)-228(voice)-228(at)-227(the)-228(door.)-243(A)-227(weak)-228(voice)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 206.738 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(but)-228(one)-228(that)]TJ -229.603 -13.549 Td[(showed)-250(decision)-250(in)-250(its)-250(tone.)]TJ 11.956 -14.04 Td[(They)-509(looked)-510(up)-509(and)-509(saw)-510(Burnett,)-574(dressed)-509(in)-510(a)-509(pink)-510(silk)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(neglig\351e)-250(with)-250(flowing)-250(sleeves.)]TJ 11.956 -14.04 Td[("I'm)-394(ravenous,")-395(he)-394(exclaimed)-395(explanatorily.)-683("I)-394(haven't)-395(had)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(anything)-257(since)-256(day)-257(before)-256(yesterday)-257(at)-256(breakfast.)-270(I)-256(didn)-1('t)-256(know)-257(I)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(wanted)-243(anything)-243(till)-243(I)-243(smelt)-243(it,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 131.141 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(then)-243(I)-243(dressed)-243(and)-243(came)-243(down.")]TJ -130.094 -14.04 Td[("How)-461(sweet)-462(you)-461(look,")-462(said)-461(Clover.)-884("The)-462(effect)-461(of)-462(your)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(pajama)-322(cuffs)-322(and)-323(collar)-322(where)-322(one)-322(greedily)-322(expects)-322(curves)-323(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(contour)-250(is)-250(lovely.)-250(Where)-250(did)-250(you)-250(find)-250(that)-250(bath-robe?")]TJ 11.956 -14.04 Td[("In)-396(the)-396(bureau)-396(drawer,")-396(said)-396(Burnett.)-688("It)-396(appeared)-396(to)-396(have)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(been)-345(hastily)-346(shoved)-345(in)-345(there)-346(some)-345(time.)-536(I)-345(would)-345(have)-346(thought)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(that)-344(it)-344(was)-344(a)-344(woman's)-345(something-or-other,)-367(only)-344(I)-344(found)-344(one)-345(of)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Jack's)-250(cards)-250(in)-250(the)-250(pocket.")]TJ 11.956 -14.04 Td[(They)-315(all)-315(began)-315(to)-315(laugh)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 105.853 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(Clover)-315(and)-315(Mitchell)-315(more)-315(heartily)]TJ -128.718 -13.549 Td[(than)-250(the)-250(owner)-250(of)-250(the)-250(card.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.756 0 Td[([193])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -14.04 Td[("Sit)-313(down,")-313(said)-312(Mitchell)-313(finally)-313(with)-313(great)-312(cordiality.)-439("You)]TJ -11.955 -13.55 Td[(may)-231(as)-231(well)-232(sit)-231(down)-231(while)-231(they)-231(mess)-232(you)-231(up)-231(some)-231(weak)-231(tea)-232(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(wet)-250(toast.")]TJ 11.955 -14.04 Td[("Tea)-300(and)-299(toast?")-300(cried)-300(the)-299(one)-300(in)-300(pink.)-399("I'm)-299(good)-300(for)-300(dinner.)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf -11.955 -13.549 Td[(Um)-250(Gotteswillen)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 73.637 0 Td[(,)-250(what)-250(do)-250(you)-250(suppose)-250(I)-250(came)-250(down)-250(for?")]TJ -61.682 -14.04 Td[("I)-155(wasn't)-156(sure,")-156(said)-155(his)-156(friend)-155(mildly;)-187("you)-156(must)-155(admit)-156(yourself)]TJ -11.955 -13.55 Td[(that)-304(your)-303(attire)-304(is)-303(misleading.)-411(My)-303(book)-304(on)-303(social)-304(etiquette)-304(says)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(nothing)-231(as)-230(to)-231(when)-230(it)-231(is)-231(correct)-230(to)-231(wear)-231(a)-230(pink)-231(silk)-230(robe)-231(over)-231(blue)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-374(white)-374(striped)-374(pajamas.)-622(However,)-405(there's)-374(no)-375(denying)-374(your)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+761 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 762 0 R
+/Resources 760 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 759 0 R
+>> endobj
+763 0 obj <<
+/D [761 0 R /XYZ 331.26 504.626 null]
+>> endobj
+764 0 obj <<
+/D [761 0 R /XYZ 213.205 189.558 null]
+>> endobj
+760 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R /F18 18 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+767 0 obj <<
+/Length 4587      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Sixteen)-250(-)-250(A)-250(Reposeful)-250(Interval)-8589(137)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 518.175 Td[(presence,)-401(and)-372(what)-371(can't)-371(be)-371(denied)-371(must)-371(be)-371(supplied,)-402(so)-371(what)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(will)-250(you)-250(have?")]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[("Everything.")]TJ 0 -13.995 Td[(Mitchell)-362(dived)-362(into)-361(the)-362(edibles)-362(generally)-362(and)-362(Burnett's)-362(void)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(was)-250(provided)-250(with)-250(fulfillment.)]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[("We)-352(were)-352(talking)-352(about)-352(Aunt)-352(Mary,")-352(Clover)-353(said)-352(presently.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[("We)-226(were)-225(saying)-226(that)-226(neither)-225(you)-226(nor)-226(she)-225(would)-226(be)-226(up)-225(to)-226(a)-226(coach)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(or)-250(down)-250(to)-250(a)-250(picnic)-250(for)-250(one)-250(while.")]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[("Oh,)-355(I)-335(don't)-334(know,")-334(said)-334(Burnett.)-503("I)-334(feel)-335(up)-334(to)-334(pretty)-335(nearly)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(anything)-226(now)-226(that)-226(I)-226(can)-226(eat)-226(again.)-242(Pass)-226(over)-226(the)-226(horseradish,)-231(will)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(you?")]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[("You're)-259(one)-258(thing,)-261(my)-259(sweet)-258(pink)-259(friend,")-258(said)-259(Clover)-259(gently,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[("but)-255(Aunt)-256(Mary's)-255(another.)-267(I'm)-255(not)-255(saying)-256(that)-255(New)-256(York)-255(has)-256(not)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(had)-299(a)-299(wonderfully)-299(Brown-Sequardesque)-299(effect)-299(on)-299(her,)-312(but)-299(I)-299(am)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(saying)-298(that)-298(if)-299(she)-298(is)-298(to)-298(be)-299(raised)-298(and)-298(lowered)-298(frequently,)-310(I)-299(want)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([194])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(to)-250(travel)-250(with)-250(a)-250(portable)-250(crane.")]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[("Hum,)-505(hum,)-504(hum!")-454(cried)-453(Jack)-1(.)-860("May)-454(I)-454(just)-453(ask)-454(who)-454(did)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(most)-295(of)-295(the)-295(hea)-1(vy)-295(labor)-295(of)-295(Aunt)-295(Mary)-295(yesterday?)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 219.045 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(As)-295(the)-295(man)]TJ -229.954 -13.549 Td[(in)-344(the)-344(opera)-344(sings)-344(twenty)-343(times)-344(with)-344(the)-344(whole)-344(chorus)-344(to)-344(back)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(him)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 16.975 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(''Twas)-250(I,)-250('twas)-250(I,)-250('twas)-250(I,)-250('twas)-250(I)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 135.24 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[('")]TJ -162.077 -13.996 Td[("Hand)-257(over)-258(the)-257(toast,)-259(Clover,")-257(said)-258(Burnett.)-272("I)-257(don't)-257(care)-258(who)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(it)-211(was)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 25.328 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(it)-211(was)-210(a)-211(success)-211(anyhow,)-218(for)-211(she's)-211(upstairs)-210(and)-211(still)-211(alive,)]TJ -36.237 -13.549 Td[(and)-391(I)-391(say)-391(she'd)-391(enjoy)-392(coaching)-391(out)-391(Riverside)-391(way,)-426(and)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 250.705 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")-391(he)]TJ -261.614 -13.55 Td[(choked.)]TJ 11.956 -13.995 Td[("Slap)-374(him)-374(anywhere,")-374(said)-373(Mitchell.)-622("On)-374(his)-374(mouth)-374(would)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(be)-379(the)-380(proper)-379(place.)-638(S)-1(uch)-379(poor)-379(manners,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 187.006 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(coming)-379(down)-380(to)-379(a)]TJ -197.915 -13.549 Td[(company)-400(lunch)-401(in)-400(another)-401(man's)-400(bath-robe)-400(and)-401(then)-400(trying)-401(to)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(preach)-250(and)-250(eat)-250(dry)-250(toast)-250(at)-250(once.")]TJ 11.956 -13.995 Td[(Burnett)-250(gasped)-250(and)-250(recovered.)]TJ 0 -13.996 Td[("There,")-182(said)-182(Clover,)-195(who)-182(had)-182(risen)-181(to)-182(administer)-182(the)-182(proposed)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(slap,)-313("he's)-300(off)-300(our)-300(minds)-300(and)-300(we)-300(may)-300(again)-300(pick)-300(up)-300(Aunt)-300(Mary)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-250(put)-250(her)-250(back)-250(on.")]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[("We)-371(want)-372(to)-371(send)-372(her)-371(home)-371(in)-372(a)-371(blaze)-371(of)-372(glory,")-371(said)-372(Jack)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(thoughtfully.)-232("I)-196(want)-195(her)-196(to)-196(feel)-196(that)-196(the)-195(fun)-196(ran)-196(straight)-196(through.")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+766 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 767 0 R
+/Resources 765 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 759 0 R
+>> endobj
+768 0 obj <<
+/D [766 0 R /XYZ 248.361 326.255 null]
+>> endobj
+765 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+771 0 obj <<
+/Length 4359      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(138)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[("That's)-206(just)-206(what)-206(I)-205(mean,")-206(interposed)-206(his)-206(particular)-206(friend;)-221("we)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(want)-201(her)-201(to)-201(go)-200(home)-201(on)-201(the)-201(wings)-201(of)-201(a)-200(giant)-201(cracker,)-211(so)-201(to)-201(speak.")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 -13.549 Td[([195])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -13.996 Td[("How)-409(would)-409(it)-408(do,")-409(said)-409(Clover)-409(suddenly,)-448("to)-409(just)-409(make)-409(a)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(night)-258(of)-258(it)-257(and)-258(take)-258(her)-258(along?)-273(Stock)-258(up,)-260(stack)-258(up,)-260(and)-257(ho!)-274(for)-258(it.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(You)-250(all)-250(know)-250(the)-250(kind)-250(of)-250(a)-250(time)-250(I)-250(mean.")]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[("Clover,")-339(said)-338(Jack)-339(gravely,)-360("does)-339(it)-338(occur)-339(to)-339(you)-338(that)-339(Aunt)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Mary)-214(belongs)-213(to)-214(me)-213(and)-214(that)-213(I)-214(have)-213(a)-214(personal)-213(inte)-1(rest)-213(in)-214(keeping)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(her)-250(alive?")]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[("Nothing)-360(ever)-360(occurs)-360(to)-360(him,")-360(said)-360(Mitchell.)-581("Occasionally)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(an)-290(idea)-290(bangs)-290(up)-290(against)-290(him)-290(inadvertently,)-300(and)-290(as)-290(it)-290(splinters)-290(a)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(sliver)-250(or)-250(two)-250(penetrate)-250(his)-250(head)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 136.636 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.91 0 Td[(that's)-250(all.")]TJ -135.59 -13.996 Td[("I)-383(don't)-382(see)-383(why)-383(the)-383(last)-383(sliver)-383(he)-382(felt)-383(wasn't)-383(to)-383(the)-383(point,")]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(said)-276(Burnett,)-283(turning)-276(the)-277(cream)-276(jug)-276(upside)-276(down)-276(as)-277(he)-276(spoke.)-329("I)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(think)-317(she'd)-317(enjoy)-317(it)-317(of)-317(all)-316(things.)-451(She)-317(enjoys)-317(everything)-317(so.)-451(I'll)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(guarantee)-372(that)-371(when)-372(she)-372(gets)-371(back)-372(home)-372(she'll)-371(even)-372(enjoy)-372(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(yachting)-299(trip.)-397(Lots)-299(of)-299(people)-299(are)-299(made)-299(like)-299(that.)-397(In)-300(the)-299(winter)-299(I)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(always)-250(enjoy)-250(yachting,)-250(myself.)-250(Pass)-250(me)-250(the)-250(hot)-250(bread.")]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[("Burnett,")-508(said)-508(Mitchell)-508(warmly,)-572("I)-508(wish)-508(that)-508(you)-508(would)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(remember)-245(that)-245(a)-245(collapse)-245(invariably)-245(follows)-245(an)-245(in)-1(flated)-245(market.")]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[("Is)-250(it)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(who)-250(is)-250(on)-250(the)-250(market,)-250(or)-250(myself?")]TJ 0 -13.995 Td[("You.")]TJ 0 -13.996 Td[("Oh,)-291(the)-283(rule)-283(is)-283(reversed)-282(in)-283(my)-283(case)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 157.92 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(the)-283(collapse)-283(went)-283(first.)]TJ -180.785 -13.549 Td[(I'm)-279(only)-279(inflating)-279(up)-279(to)-280(the)-279(usual)-279(limit)-279(again.)-337(Is)-279(there)-279(any)-280(gravy)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(left?")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([196])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -13.996 Td[("No,)-294(there)-285(isn't,")-285(said)-286(Clover,)-294(looking)-285(in)-285(the)-285(dish,)-294("there)-286(isn't)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(much)-250(of)-250(anything)-250(left.")]TJ 11.956 -13.995 Td[("Let's)-393(go)-394(to)-394(the)-393(library,")-394(said)-393(Mitchell,)-430(rising)-393(abruptly.)-681("It)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(always)-275(makes)-275(me)-275(ill)-275(to)-275(see)-275(goose-stuffing)-275(b)-1(efore)-275(Thanksgiving.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Come)-250(on.")]TJ 11.956 -13.995 Td[("I'm)-297(done,")-298(said)-298(Burnett,)-309(springing)-298(up)-297(and)-298(winding)-297(his)-298(lacey)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(draperies)-341(about)-340(his)-341(manly)-341(form.)-522("Come)-340(on)-341(yourself;)-386(and)-341(once)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(settled)-297(and)-296(smoking,)-308(let)-297(us)-297(canvass)-296(the)-297(question)-296(and)-297(agree)-297(with)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Clover.")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+770 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 771 0 R
+/Resources 769 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 759 0 R
+>> endobj
+772 0 obj <<
+/D [770 0 R /XYZ 93.543 491.077 null]
+>> endobj
+773 0 obj <<
+/D [770 0 R /XYZ 120.107 189.424 null]
+>> endobj
+769 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+776 0 obj <<
+/Length 4797      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Sixteen)-250(-)-250(A)-250(Reposeful)-250(Interval)-8589(139)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[("You)-475(know)-476(there)-475(are)-476(nights)-475(about)-475(town)-476(and)-475(nights)-476(about)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(town,")-436(said)-435(Clover,)-482(as)-436(they)-435(climbed)-436(the)-435(staircase.)-807("I)-435(do)-436(not)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(anticipate)-278(that)-278(Aunt)-278(Mary)-279(will)-278(bring)-278(up)-278(with)-278(a)-278(round)-278(turn)-278(in)-279(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(police)-250(station,)-250(as)-250(her)-250(young)-250(relative)-250(once)-250(did.")]TJ 11.956 -14.095 Td[("Well,)-233(that's)-230(some)-229(comfort,")-229(said)-229(Mitchell.)-244("I)-229(did)-229(not)-229(feel)-230(sure)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(as)-265(to)-265(just)-266(where)-265(you)-265(did)-265(mean)-265(her)-265(to)-266(bring)-265(up.)-295(You)-265(will)-266(perhaps)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(allow)-274(me)-274(to)-273(remark)-274(that)-274(making)-274(a)-274(night)-274(of)-273(it)-274(with)-274(Aunt)-274(Mary)-274(in)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(tow)-342(is)-343(a)-342(subject)-342(that)-343(really)-342(is)-343(provocative)-342(of)-342(mature)-343(reflection.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Making)-234(a)-235(night)-234(of)-235(it)-234(is)-234(a)-235(frothy)-234(sort)-235(of)-234(a)-234(proposition)-235(in)-234(which)-235(our)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(beloved)-251(aunty)-250(may)-250(not)-251(beat)-250(up)-251(to)-250(quite)-251(the)-250(buoyancy)-251(of)-250(you)-251(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(me.")]TJ 11.956 -14.095 Td[(As)-263(he)-264(finished)-263(this)-264(sage)-263(remark)-264(they)-263(all)-264(re-entered)-263(the)-264(library)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(and)-250(grouped)-250(themselves)-250(around)-250(the)-250(table)-250(of)-250(smoking)-250(things.)]TJ 11.956 -14.095 Td[("That's)-241(what)-241(I)-241(say,")-242(said)-241(Jack.)-247("I)-241(think)-241(she's)-241(much)-241(more)-242(likely)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 279.068 0 Td[([197])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(to)-250(beat)-250(out)-250(than)-250(to)-250(beat)-250(up)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 113.324 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(I)-250(must)-250(say.")]TJ -112.277 -14.095 Td[("I'll)-308(bet)-309(you)-308(she)-309(doesn't,")-308(cried)-309(Burnett)-308(eagerly.)-426("I'll)-308(bet)-309(five)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(dollars)-250(that)-250(she)-250(doesn't.")]TJ 11.956 -14.095 Td[("I)-243(declare,")-242(said)-243(Clover,)-244("what)-243(a)-242(thing)-243(a)-243(backer)-242(is)-243(to)-242(be)-243(sure.)-248(I)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(feel)-296(positive)-296(that)-296(Aunt)-296(Mary)-296(will)-295(go)-296(through)-296(with)-296(it)-296(now.)-388(I)-296(had)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(my)-286(doubts)-285(before,)-294(but)-286(never)-285(now.)-357(Six)-285(to)-286(five)-285(on)-286(Aunt)-285(Mary)-286(for)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-250(Three-year-old)-250(Stakes.")]TJ 11.956 -14.095 Td[("The)-506(best)-507(way)-506(is)-506(to)-507(hit)-506(a)-507(happy)-506(medium,")-506(said)-507(Mitchell)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(thoughtfully,)-491(scratching)-443(a)-442(match)-443(for)-443(the)-442(lighting)-443(of)-443(his)-443(new-)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(rolled)-279(cigarette.)-336("I)-278(think)-279(the)-279(wisest)-278(thing)-279(would)-279(be)-279(for)-278(us)-279(just)-279(to)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(take)-223(Aunt)-222(Mary)-223(and)-222(sally)-223(forth)-223(and)-222(then)-223(keep)-222(it)-223(up)-222(until)-223(she)-223(must)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(be)-250(put)-250(to)-250(bed.)-250(What)-250(say?")]TJ 11.956 -14.095 Td[("Well,")-297(said)-298(Jack,)-309(reflectively,)-309("I)-297(don't)-298(suppose)-297(that)-297(taking)-298(it)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(that)-250(way,)-250(it)-250(would)-250(really)-250(be)-250(any)-250(worse)-250(than)-250(the)-250(other)-250(nights)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 258.753 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ -257.706 -14.094 Td[("Worse!")-196(cried)-197(Clover.)-232("Hear)-197(him!)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 150.453 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(slandering)-197(those)-196(brilliant)]TJ -173.318 -13.55 Td[(occasions,)-393(everyone)-364(of)-364(which)-365(is)-364(a)-364(jewel)-365(in)-364(the)-364(crown)-364(of)-365(Aunt)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Mary's)-250(bonnet.")]TJ 11.956 -14.095 Td[("We'll)-228(begin)-228(by)-228(dining)-228(out,")-228(said)-229(Burnett.)-242("I'll)-228(give)-229(the)-228(dinner.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(One)-362(of)-362(the)-361(souvenir)-362(kind)-362(of)-362(affairs.)-585(A)-361(white)-362(mouse)-362(for)-362(every)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(man)-331(and)-331(a)-331(canary)-331(bird)-331(for)-331(the)-331(lady.)-493(We'll)-331(have)-332(a)-331(private)-331(room)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+775 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 776 0 R
+/Resources 774 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 759 0 R
+>> endobj
+777 0 obj <<
+/D [775 0 R /XYZ 250.631 340.399 null]
+>> endobj
+774 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+780 0 obj <<
+/Length 4491      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(140)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 518.175 Td[(and)-308(speeches)-308(and)-307(I'll)-308(get)-308(megaphones)-308(so)-307(we)-308(can)-308(make)-308(her)-308(hear)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(without)-250(bustin'.")]TJ 11.956 -15.227 Td[("My)-306(dear)-306(boy,")-306(said)-306(Mitchell,)-320("where)-306(is)-306(this)-306(private)-306(room)-306(to)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -84.711 0 Td[([198])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.55 Td[(be)-292(in)-293(which)-292(the)-293(party)-292(can)-292(converse)-293(through)-292(megaphones?)-377(I)-293(had)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(two)-400(deaf)-401(uncles)-400(once)-400(who)-401(played)-400(cribbage)-400(with)-401(megaphones,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(but)-352(they)-351(were)-352(influential)-352(and)-351(the)-352(rest)-352(of)-352(the)-351(family)-352(were)-352(poor.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Circumstances)-187(alter)-186(cases.)-229(I)-186(ask)-187(again)-186(where)-187(you)-186(can)-187(get)-186(a)-187(private)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(dining-room)-250(for)-250(the)-250(use)-250(of)-250(five)-250(people)-250(and)-250(four)-250(megaphones?")]TJ 11.956 -15.228 Td[("I'll)-213(see,")-213(said)-212(Burnett;)-226("I)-212(wish,")-213(he)-213(added)-213(irritably,)-220("that)-213(you'd)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(wait)-295(until)-295(I)-294(finished)-295(before)-295(beginning)-295(to)-294(smash)-295(in)-295(like)-295(that,)-306(you)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(knock)-250(everything)-250(out)-250(of)-250(my)-250(head.")]TJ 11.956 -15.227 Td[("It'll)-342(do)-342(you)-342(good)-343(to)-342(have)-342(a)-342(little)-342(something)-342(knocked)-342(out)-343(of)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(you,")-296(said)-297(Mitchell)-296(gently.)-390("It)-296(may)-297(enlarge)-296(your)-297(premises,)-308(give)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(you)-345(a)-345(spare)-344(room)-345(somewhere,)-369(so)-344(to)-345(speak.)-534(I)-345(should)-345(think)-345(that)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(you'd)-250(need)-250(some)-250(spare)-250(room)-250(somewhere)-250(after)-250(such)-250(a)-250(breakfast.")]TJ 11.956 -15.227 Td[("I'll)-350(tell)-351(you)-350(what)-351(I)-350(think;")-351(said)-350(Clover.)-552("I)-350(think)-351(it's)-350(a)-351(great)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(scheme.)-293(It's)-264(a)-264(sort)-265(of)-264(pull-in-and-out,)-268(field-glass)-264(species)-264(of)-265(idea.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(We)-290(can)-290(develop)-290(it)-290(or)-291(we)-290(can)-290(shut)-290(it)-290(off;)-310(in)-290(other)-290(words,)-300(we)-291(can)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(parade)-249(Aunt)-249(Mary)-249(or)-249(bring)-249(her)-249(home)-249(just)-249(when)-249(we)-250(darn)-249(please.")]TJ 11.956 -15.227 Td[("That's)-387(what)-386(I)-387(said,")-387(said)-386(Burnett.)-660("Begin)-387(with)-387(my)-387(dinner,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(white)-287(mice)-287(and)-288(all,)-296(and)-287(when)-287(all)-287(is)-288(going)-287(just)-287(let)-287(it)-287(slide)-287(until)-288(it)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(seems)-250(about)-250(time)-250(to)-250(slide)-250(off.")]TJ 11.956 -15.228 Td[("Yes,")-227(said)-227(Mitchell)-228(dryly,)-231("it's)-227(always)-228(a)-227(good)-227(plan)-227(to)-227(slide)-228(on)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -84.711 0 Td[([199])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(until)-250(you)-250(slide)-250(off.)-250(It)-250(would)-250(be)-250(so)-250(easy)-250(to)-250(reverse)-250(the)-250(game.")]TJ 11.956 -15.227 Td[("And)-250(then,)-250(too,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 66.872 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")-250(began)-250(Burnett.)]TJ -77.781 -15.227 Td[("Excuse)-264(me,")-263(said)-264(a)-264(voice)-263(at)-264(the)-264(door,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 166.577 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(a)-264(woman's)-263(voice)-264(this)]TJ -189.442 -13.549 Td[(time.)]TJ 11.956 -15.228 Td[(It)-242(was)-242(Janice,)-244(very)-242(pretty)-242(in)-242(her)-242(black)-242(dress)-242(and)-242(white)-242(decora-)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(tions,)-250(hands)-250(in)-250(pockets,)-250(smile)-250(on)-250(lips.)]TJ 11.956 -15.227 Td[("What's)-277(up)-278(now?")-278(the)-277(last)-278(speaker)-277(interrupted)-278(himself)-277(to)-278(ask,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[("Aunt)-250(Mary?")]TJ 11.956 -15.228 Td[("No,)-264(she's)-261(not)-261(up,")-261(said)-261(the)-261(maid;)-267("but)-261(she's)-261(awake)-261(and)-262(wants)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(to)-250(know)-250(about)-250(the)-250(picnic.")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+779 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 780 0 R
+/Resources 778 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 759 0 R
+>> endobj
+781 0 obj <<
+/D [779 0 R /XYZ 305.687 489.399 null]
+>> endobj
+782 0 obj <<
+/D [779 0 R /XYZ 307.949 210.024 null]
+>> endobj
+778 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+785 0 obj <<
+/Length 4291      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Sixteen)-250(-)-250(A)-250(Reposeful)-250(Interval)-8589(141)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[("There,)-258(what)-256(did)-256(I)-256(say!")-256(cried)-256(Burnett;)-260("isn't)-256(she)-256(a)-256(hero?)-268(I)-257(tell)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(you)-306(Aunt)-307(Mary'd)-306(fight)-307(in)-306(the)-306(last)-307(ditch)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 172.022 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(she'd)-306(never)-307(surrender!)]TJ -182.931 -13.549 Td[(She's)-274(one)-274(of)-273(those)-274(dead-at-the-gun)-274(chaps.)-321(I'm)-274(proud)-274(to)-274(think)-274(we)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(have)-250(known)-250(the)-250(companionship)-250(of)-250(joint)-250(yachting)-250(results.")]TJ 11.956 -14.97 Td[("She)-286(says)-285(she)-286(feels)-286(as)-285(well)-286(as)-286(ever,")-286(said)-285(Janice,)-295(opening)-286(her)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(eyes)-196(a)-196(trifle)-196(as)-196(she)-196(noted)-196(Burnett's)-197(pink)-196(silk)-196(neglig\351e,)-207("and)-196(wishes)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-250(know)-250(when)-250(you)-250(want)-250(to)-250(start.")]TJ 11.956 -14.969 Td[("Bravo,")-275(said)-275(Mitchell;)-287("I,)-275(too,)-281(am)-274(fired)-275(by)-275(this)-275(exposition)-275(of)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(pluck.)-272(I)-257(like)-257(spirit.)-272(She)-258(reminds)-257(me)-257(of)-257(the)-258(horse)-257(who)-257(was)-258(turned)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(out)-250(to)-250(grass)-250(and)-250(then)-250(suddenly)-250(broke)-250(the)-250(world's)-250(record.")]TJ 11.956 -14.97 Td[("What)-250(horse)-250(was)-250(that?")-250(asked)-250(Burnett.)]TJ 0 -14.969 Td[("Pegasus,")-295(said)-296(Mitchell)-295(cruelly;)-318("I)-296(didn't)-295(say)-295(what)-296(kind)-295(of)-296(a)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(record)-250(he)-250(broke,)-250(did)-250(I?")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([200])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -14.969 Td[("What)-250(shall)-250(I)-250(tell)-250(Miss)-250(Watkins?")-250(asked)-250(the)-250(maid.)]TJ 0 -14.969 Td[(Jack,)-305(who)-294(had)-294(risen)-294(at)-294(her)-294(entrance)-294(and)-294(gone)-295(to)-294(the)-294(window,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(faced)-250(around)-250(here)-250(and)-250(said:)]TJ 11.956 -14.969 Td[("Tell)-297(her)-298(that)-297(if)-297(she'll)-298(dress)-297(we'll)-298(go)-297(out)-297(bonnet-shooting)-298(and)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(afterwards)-250(drive)-250(in)-250(the)-250(park.")]TJ 11.956 -14.969 Td[(Janice)-250(hesitated.)]TJ 0 -14.969 Td[("She)-360(will)-359(surely)-360(ask)-360(where)-359(you)-360(are)-360(to)-359(dine,")-360(said)-360(she,)-387(half-)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(smiling.)]TJ 11.956 -14.969 Td[(Jack)-250(looked)-250(at)-250(the)-250(crowd.)]TJ 0 -14.969 Td[("Fellows,")-326(he)-325(said,)-345("we)-325(must)-326(save)-326(up)-325(for)-326(to-morrow's)-326(blow-)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(out;)-212(suppose)-193(you)-193(let)-193(Mitchell)-193(and)-193(me)-193(dine)-193(Aunt)-194(Mary)-193(somewhere)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(very)-250(tranquilly)-250(to-night)-250(and)-250(we'll)-250(get)-250(her)-250(home)-250(by)-250(eleven.")]TJ 11.956 -14.969 Td[("Yes,)-371(do,")-348(said)-347(Janice,)-371(with)-348(sudden)-347(earnest)-347(entreaty.)-542("Hon-)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(estly,)-250(there)-250(is)-250(a)-250(limit.")]TJ 11.956 -14.969 Td[("Of)-479(course,)-536(there)-478(is)-479(a)-479(limit,")-479(said)-479(Mitchell.)-936("Even)-479(cities)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(have)-408(their)-407(limits.)-723(This)-407(one)-408(tried)-407(to)-408(be)-408(an)-407(exception,)-447(but)-408(San)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Francisco)-200(yelled)-200('Keep)-200(off')-200(and)-200(she)-200(drew)-200(in)-199(her)-200(claws)-200(again.)-234(Aunt)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Mary,)-283(possessing)-277(many)-277(points)-276(in)-277(common)-277(with)-277(New)-276(York,)-284(also)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(possesses)-300(that.)-401(She)-300(has)-300(limits.)-401(Her)-300(limits)-300(took)-300(in)-300(more)-300(than)-301(we)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(bargained)-209(for,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 60.742 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(for)-209(they)-209(have)-209(taken)-209(us)-209(into)-209(the)-209(bargain.)-237(Still)-209(they)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+784 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 785 0 R
+/Resources 783 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 787 0 R
+>> endobj
+786 0 obj <<
+/D [784 0 R /XYZ 153.004 349.905 null]
+>> endobj
+783 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+790 0 obj <<
+/Length 4797      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(142)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 518.175 Td[(are)-255(there,)-255(and)-255(we)-254(bow)-255(to)-254(necessity.)-264(A)-254(cheerful)-255(drive,)-256(a)-254(quiet)-255(tea,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(early)-250(to)-250(bed.)-250(And)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 78.469 0 Td[(pax)-250(vobiscum)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 59.684 0 Td[(.")]TJ -126.197 -13.958 Td[("No)-337(wonder,")-338(said)-337(Burnett,)-359("it's)-338(easy)-337(for)-337(you)-338(to)-337(agree)-338(when)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -84.711 0 Td[([201])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.55 Td[(you're)-372(to)-373(be)-372(one)-373(of)-372(the)-372(dinner)-373(party.")-372("I)-372(don't)-373(mind)-372(being)-373(left)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(out,")-223(said)-222(Clover)-223(contentedly.)-241("I)-222(shall)-223(sit)-222(on)-223(the)-222(sofa)-223(and)-223(whisper)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-441('the)-440(one)-441(behind.')-822(Whispering)-441(is)-440(an)-441(art)-441(that)-440(I)-441(have)-441(almost)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(forgotten,)-250(but)-250(inspired)-250(by)-250(that)-250(pink)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 152.116 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ -151.069 -13.959 Td[("Then)-318(I'll)-317(tell)-318(Miss)-318(Watkins)-317(to)-318(dress)-318(for)-318(the)-317(going)-318(out,")-318(said)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Janice,)-250(pointedly)-250(addressing)-250(herself)-250(to)-250(Jack.)]TJ 11.956 -13.958 Td[("Yes,)-250(please)-250(do.")]TJ 0 -13.958 Td[(The)-370(maid)-370(left)-369(the)-370(room)-370(and)-370(went)-370(upstairs.)-609(Aunt)-370(Mary)-370(was)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(tossing)-250(about)-250(on)-250(her)-250(pillow.)]TJ 11.956 -13.958 Td[("Well,)-250(what's)-250(it)-250(to)-250(be?")-250(she)-250(asked)-250(instantly.)]TJ 0 -13.958 Td[("The)-209(storm)-209(has)-208(made)-209(it)-209(too)-209(wet)-209(to)-209(picnic,")-208(replied)-209(Janice.)-237("Mr.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Denham)-286(wants)-286(to)-286(take)-286(you)-286(to)-286(drive)-286(and)-286(afterwards)-286(you)-287(and)-286(Mr.)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(Mitchell)-250(and)-250(he)-250(are)-250(to)-250(dine)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 117.251 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ -116.204 -13.958 Td[("And)-519(Burnett)-518(and)-519(Clover?")-519(cried)-518(Aunt)-519(Mary)-519(in)-519(appalled)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(interruption;)-250("where)-250(are)-250(they)-250(goin'?")]TJ 11.956 -13.958 Td[("Really,)-250(I)-250(don't)-250(know.")]TJ 0 -13.959 Td[("I)-296(don't)-296(like)-296(the)-296(idea,")-296(said)-296(Aunt)-296(Mary;)-319("we'd)-296(ought)-296(to)-296(all)-296(be)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(together.)-298(I)-266(never)-267(did)-266(approve)-266(of)-266(splittin')-266(up)-266(in)-266(small)-266(parties.)-299(Did)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Jack)-250(say)-250(anythin')-250(about)-250(my)-250(gettin')-250(another)-250(bonnet?")]TJ 11.956 -13.958 Td[("Yes,)-250(he)-250(thought)-250(that)-250(you)-250(would)-250(go)-250(to)-250(a)-250(milliner)-250(first.")]TJ 0 -13.959 Td[("I)-282(don't)-282(know)-282(about)-281(lookin')-282(sillier,")-282(said)-282(Aunt)-282(Mary.)-346("Strikes)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(me)-388(a)-388(woman)-388(can't)-389(look)-388(more)-388(foolish)-388(than)-388(she)-388(does)-388(without)-389(a)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(bonnet.)-582(However,)-388(I)-361(don't)-361(feel)-360(like)-361(makin')-361(a)-360(fuss)-361(over)-361(anythin')]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.756 0 Td[([202])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.756 -13.549 Td[(to-day.)-367(I've)-289(had)-289(a)-290(good)-289(rest)-289(and)-289(I)-289(feel)-289(fine.)-367(I'll)-289(dress)-289(and)-289(go)-290(out)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(with)-348(Jack,)-373(an')-349(I)-348(know)-348(one)-349(thing,)-373(I'll)-348(enjoy)-349(every)-348(minute)-348(I)-349(can,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(for)-236(this)-237(week)-236(is)-236(goin')-237(like)-236(lightnin')-236(and)-237(when)-236(it's)-236(over)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 229.237 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(well,)-239(you)]TJ -240.146 -13.549 Td[(never)-265(saw)-266(Lucinda,)-269(so)-266(it's)-265(no)-265(use)-266(tryin')-265(to)-266(make)-265(you)-266(understand,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(but)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 13.942 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")-250(she)-250(drew)-250(a)-250(long)-250(breath)-250(and)-250(shook)-250(her)-250(head)-250(meaningly.)]TJ -12.896 -13.958 Td[(Janice)-294(did)-295(not)-294(reply.)-384(She)-294(busied)-295(herself)-294(with)-294(the)-295(cares)-294(of)-295(the)]TJ -11.955 -13.55 Td[(toilet)-324(of)-324(her)-324(mistress,)-342(and)-324(when)-324(that)-324(was)-324(complete)-324(the)-324(carriage)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(was)-250(summoned)-250(for)-250(the)-250(shopping)-250(tour.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+789 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 790 0 R
+/Resources 788 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 787 0 R
+>> endobj
+791 0 obj <<
+/D [789 0 R /XYZ 311.078 490.668 null]
+>> endobj
+792 0 obj <<
+/D [789 0 R /XYZ 179.259 174.945 null]
+>> endobj
+788 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F18 18 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+795 0 obj <<
+/Length 4380      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Sixteen)-250(-)-250(A)-250(Reposeful)-250(Interval)-8589(143)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[(Jack)-293(saw)-294(that)-293(the)-294(bonnet)-293(was)-294(attended)-293(to)-294(first)-293(of)-294(all)-293(and)-294(then)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(they)-299(went)-299(to)-298(another)-299(store)-299(and)-299(purchased)-298(a)-299(scarf)-299(pin)-299(for)-299(Joshua)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-309(a)-308(workbox)-309(for)-308(Lucinda.)-426(After)-308(that)-309(Aunt)-308(M)-1(ary)-308(decided)-309(that)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(she)-186(wanted)-185(her)-186(four)-185(friends)-186(each)-186(to)-185(have)-186(a)-185(souvenir)-186(of)-186(her)-185(visit,)-199(so)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(she)-195(insisted)-195(upon)-195(being)-195(conducted)-195(to)-195(that)-195(gorgeous)-195(establishment)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(which)-223(is)-223(lighted)-223(with)-222(diamonds)-223(instead)-223(of)-223(electricity)-223(and)-223(ordered)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(four)-244(dressing-cases)-243(to)-244(be)-244(constructed,)-245(everything)-243(with)-244(gold)-244(tops,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-320(be)-320(engraved)-320(with)-320(the)-320(proper)-320(initials)-320(and)-320(also)-320(the)-320(inscription,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[("from)-355(M.W.)-355(in)-356(memory)-355(of)-355(N.Y.")-355(Jack)-355(rather)-355(protested)-355(at)-356(this,)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(asking)-250(her)-250(if)-250(she)-250(realized)-250(what)-250(the)-250(engraving)-250(would)-250(come)-250(to.)]TJ 11.956 -16.186 Td[("I)-379(don't)-379(know,")-380(said)-379(Aunt)-379(Mary)-379(recklessly)-380(and)-379(lavishly.)-638("I)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(don't)-361(care)-360(what)-361(it)-360(comes)-361(to)-361(either.)-582(It's)-360(comin')-361(to)-360(me,)-389(anyhow,)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([203])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(ain't)-250(it?)-250(I)-250(rather)-250(think)-250(so.)-250(Seems)-250(likely.")]TJ 11.956 -16.186 Td[(The)-321(clerk)-321(took)-321(down)-322(the)-321(order,)-339(and)-321(then)-321(as)-321(he)-321(was)-322(ushering)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(them)-212(door-wards)-212(he)-212(fell)-211(by)-212(the)-212(wayside)-212(and)-212(craved)-212(permission)-212(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(show)-301(some)-302(tiaras)-301(of)-301(emeralds)-301(and)-301(some)-302(pearl)-301(dog-collars.)-404(Jack)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(rebelled.)]TJ 11.956 -16.186 Td[("You)-252(don't)-253(want)-252(any)-253(of)-252(those,")-252(he)-253(exclaimed,)-253(trying)-252(to)-253(propel)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(her)-250(by.)]TJ 11.956 -16.186 Td[("I)-318(ain't)-318(so)-317(sure,")-318(said)-318(Aunt)-318(Mary.)-453("I)-318(might)-318(have)-318(a)-318(dog)-318(some)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(day.")]TJ 11.956 -16.186 Td[(But)-282(her)-282(nephew)-282(got)-282(her)-282(back)-282(into)-282(their)-282(conveyance,)-291(and)-282(they)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(drove)-284(away.)-353(It)-284(was)-285(so)-284(late)-284(that)-284(they)-285(could)-284(not)-284(consider)-284(the)-285(park)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-241(so)-241(had)-241(to)-241(make)-242(a)-241(tour)-241(of)-241(Fifth)-241(Avenue)-241(to)-241(use)-241(up)-241(the)-242(time)-241(left)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(before)-224(din)-1(ner.)-241(Then)-224(when)-225(they)-224(headed)-225(toward)-224(the)-225(caf\351)-224(they)-225(were)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(delighted)-322(to)-321(observe)-322(Mitchell)-322(awaiting)-321(them)-322(just)-321(where)-322(he)-322(was)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-250(have)-250(been.)]TJ 11.956 -16.186 Td[("I)-265(see)-265(him,")-265(said)-265(Aunt)-265(Mary.)-296("My!)-295(I'd)-265(know)-265(him)-265(as)-265(far)-266(off)-265(as)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(I'd)-253(know)-253(anybody.")-253(But)-253(then)-253(she)-252(sighed.)-259("I)-253(wish)-253(the)-253(others)-253(were)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(there,)-250(too,")-250(she)-250(said)-250(sadly;)-250("seems)-250(awful)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 176.149 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(just)-250(three)-250(of)-250(us.")]TJ -175.102 -16.186 Td[(The)-378(dinner)-379(which)-378(followed)-378(echoed)-379(her)-378(sentiment.)-635(It)-378(was)-379(a)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(very)-293(nice)-293(dinner,)-304(but)-293(painfully)-293(quiet,)-304(and)-293(Aunt)-293(Mary)-293(grew)-293(very)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(restless.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+794 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 795 0 R
+/Resources 793 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 787 0 R
+>> endobj
+796 0 obj <<
+/D [794 0 R /XYZ 207.445 366.497 null]
+>> endobj
+793 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+799 0 obj <<
+/Length 4585      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(144)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[("Seems)-249(like)-249(wastin')-249(time,)-249(anyhow,")-248(she)-249(said)-249(uneasily.)-250("I)-249(don't)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(see)-193(why)-194(the)-193(others)-193(didn't)-193(come.)-232(Well,)-204(can't)-193(we)-194(go)-193(to)-193(Coney)-194(Island)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([204])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(or)-250(the)-250(Statue)-250(of)-250(Liberty)-250(or)-250(somewhere)-250(when)-250(we're)-250(through?")]TJ 11.956 -13.959 Td[(Mitchell)-250(looked)-250(at)-250(Jack.)]TJ 0 -13.958 Td[("Why,)-228(you)-223(see,)-228(Aunt)-222(Mary,")-223(the)-222(latter)-223(promptly)-223(shrieked,)-228("we)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(thought)-416(we'd)-416(be)-416(good)-416(and)-416(go)-416(home)-416(early)-416(and)-416(sort)-417(of)-416(rest)-416(up)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to-night)-250(so)-250(as)-250(to)-250(have)-250(a)-250(high)-250(old)-250(time)-250(to-morrow.")]TJ 11.956 -13.959 Td[(Aunt)-395(Mary's)-394(face,)-431(which)-394(had)-395(fallen)-394(during)-395(the)-395(first)-394(part)-395(of)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(their)-250(speech,)-250(brightened)-250(up)-250(at)-250(the)-250(last)-250(words.)]TJ 11.956 -13.958 Td[("What)-515(are)-515(we)-516(goin')-515(to)-515(do?")-515(she)-515(inquired)-515(with)-516(unfeigned)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(interest.)]TJ 11.956 -13.959 Td[("Burnett's)-404(going)-404(to)-403(give)-404(us)-404(a)-404(dinner,")-404(Jack)-403(answered,)-443("and)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(then)-250(afterwards)-250(we're)-250(going)-250(to)-250(help)-250(you)-250(see)-250(the)-250(town.")]TJ 11.956 -13.958 Td[("Oh!")-250(said)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary.)-250(A)-250(pleasant)-250(gleam)-250(fled)-250(over)-250(her)-250(face.)]TJ 0 -13.959 Td[("I)-381(never)-381(was)-381(a)-381(great)-382(believer)-381(in)-381(bein')-381(out)-381(nights,")-381(she)-382(said,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[("but)-321(I)-320(guess)-321(I'll)-320(make)-321(an)-321(exception)-320(to-morrow.)-462(I)-320(might)-321(as)-321(well)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(be)-315(doin')-315(that)-315(as)-314(anythin',)-332(I)-314(presume.)-445(Maybe)-315(better)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 222.05 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(very)-315(likely)]TJ -232.959 -13.549 Td[(better.")]TJ 11.956 -13.958 Td[("Oh,)-375(very)-351(much)-350(better,")-351(said)-350(Mitchell.)-551("It)-351(is)-350(the)-351(exceptions)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(that)-185(furnish)-184(all)-185(the)-185(oil)-184(in)-185(life's)-184(machinery.)-229(The)-184(exceptions)-185(not)-185(only)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(generally)-367(prove)-367(too)-368(much)-367(for)-367(the)-367(rule,)-397(but)-367(they)-367(also)-368(generally)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(prevent)-250(the)-250(rule)-250(from)-250(proving)-250(too)-250(much)-250(for)-250(us.)-250(They)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 228.447 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -312.111 0 Td[([205])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -13.958 Td[("But)-206(I)-206(don't)-207(see)-206(why)-206(we)-206(couldn't)-206(go)-207(to)-206(two)-206(or)-206(three)-207(vaudevilles)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(to-night,)-455(too,")-414(said)-414(the)-415(old)-414(lady,)-455(suddenly.)-742("I)-414(feel)-414(so)-414(sort)-415(of)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(ready-for-anythin'.")]TJ 11.956 -13.958 Td[("You)-180(always)-180(feel)-181(that)-180(way,)-194(Miss)-180(Watkins,")-180(screamed)-181(Mitchell.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[("It)-297(is)-297(we)-298(that)-297(are)-297(the)-297(blind)-297(and)-297(the)-298(halt.)-391(You)-297(are)-297(ever)-298(fresh,)-309(but)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(we)-293(falter)-293(and)-293(faint.)-380(You)-293(see)-293(it's)-293(you)-293(that)-293(go)-293(out,)-304(but)-293(it's)-293(we)-294(that)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(you)-250(get)-250(back.)-250(You)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 79.986 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ -78.939 -13.958 Td[("We)-377(could)-378(go)-377(to)-377(one)-378(vaudeville,)-409(anyway,")-377(said)-377(Aunt)-378(Mary)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(abstractedly;)-485("an')-406(if)-406(we)-407(saw)-406(any)-406(places)-407(that)-406(looked)-406(lively)-407(we)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(could)-252(stop)-251(a)-252(few)-252(minutes)-251(there)-252(on)-252(our)-251(wa)-1(y)-251(back.)-255(I've)-252(never)-252(been)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(into)-250(lots)-250(of)-250(things)-250(here.")]TJ 11.956 -13.958 Td[(Jack)-250(looked)-250(at)-250(Mitchell)-250(this)-250(time.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+798 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 799 0 R
+/Resources 797 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 787 0 R
+>> endobj
+800 0 obj <<
+/D [798 0 R /XYZ 230.064 504.626 null]
+>> endobj
+801 0 obj <<
+/D [798 0 R /XYZ 340.077 230.369 null]
+>> endobj
+797 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+804 0 obj <<
+/Length 2682      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Sixteen)-250(-)-250(A)-250(Reposeful)-250(Interval)-8589(145)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[("I'm)-439(sorry,)-486(Miss)-440(Watkins,")-439(he)-439(roared,)-486("but)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 202.278 0 Td[(I'll)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 16.823 0 Td[(have)-439(to)-439(go)]TJ -231.057 -13.549 Td[(home,)-235(anyhow.)-244(You)-232(see,)-235(I'm)-231(not)-232(used)-231(to)-232(the)-231(lively)-232(life)-231(which)-232(has)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(been)-253(enlivening)-253(us)-253(all)-253(this)-253(week)-253(and,)-254(being)-253(weakly)-253(in)-253(my)-253(knees,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(needs)-250(must)-250(look)-250(out.")]TJ 11.956 -13.55 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(looked)-250(very)-250(disappointed.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[("Then)-266(Jack)-267(and)-266(I'll)-266(go,)-271(too,")-266(she)-266(said,)-270(")-1(but)-266(oh!)-299(dear,)-270(I)-266(do)-267(hate)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(to)-375(waste)-376(my)-375(stay)-376(in)-375(the)-375(city)-376(sleepin')-375(so)-375(much.)-627(I)-375(can)-375(sleep)-376(all)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(I)-329(want)-329(after)-329(I)-329(get)-329(home,)-349(but)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 124.447 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")-329(she)-329(paused,)-349(and)-329(then)-329(said)-329(with)]TJ -135.356 -13.549 Td[(deep)-313(feeling,)-329("Well,)-329(you)-313(don't)-313(understand)-313(about)-313(Lucinda)-313(an')-314(so)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(you)-250(don't)-250(understand)-250(about)-250(anythin'.")]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[(Both)-224(the)-224(young)-224(men)-224(felt)-223(truly)-224(regretful)-224(as)-224(they)-224(put)-224(her)-224(into)-224(the)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 279.068 0 Td[([206])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(carriage)-281(for)-281(the)-281(return)-281(trip.)-342(Her)-281(deep)-281(enjoyment)-281(was)-281(so)-281(genuine)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-306(naive)-307(that)-306(they)-306(sympathized)-306(with)-307(her)-306(feelings)-306(when)-306(cut)-307(off)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(from)-250(it.)]TJ 11.956 -13.55 Td[(But)-354(it)-355(was)-354(best)-355(that)-354(this)-355(one)-354(night)-355(should)-354(pass)-355(unimproved,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(and)-306(so)-306(all)-306(five)-307(threw)-306(themselves)-306(into)-306(their)-306(respective)-306(beds)-307(with)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(equal)-250(zest)-250(and)-250(slept)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 85.135 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(and)-250(slept)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 39.087 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(and)-250(slept.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 144.984 -29.64 Td[([207])]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+803 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 804 0 R
+/Resources 802 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 787 0 R
+>> endobj
+805 0 obj <<
+/D [803 0 R /XYZ 261.896 382.683 null]
+>> endobj
+806 0 obj <<
+/D [803 0 R /XYZ 46.771 271.748 null]
+>> endobj
+802 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F18 18 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+807 0 obj
+<< /S /GoTo /D (index18) >>
+endobj
+810 0 obj
+(Chapter Seventeen - Aunt Mary's Night About Town)
+endobj
+813 0 obj <<
+/Length 4053      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 18.959 Tf 93.543 479.321 Td[(Chapter)-258(Seventeen)-258(-)-258(Aunt)-258(Mary's)]TJ 0 -24.647 Td[(Night)-250(About)-250(Town)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 0 -35.158 Td[(The)-192(next)-193(day)-192(came)-192(up)-192(out)-193(of)-192(the)-192(ocean)-193(fair)-192(and)-192(warm,)-204(and)-192(when)-193(it)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(drew)-260(toward)-260(later)-260(afternoon)-260(no)-260(more)-260(propitious)-260(night)-260(for)-260(setting)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(forth)-250(ever)-250(happened.)]TJ 11.956 -14.096 Td[(It)-206(was)-206(undeniably)-207(a)-206(night)-206(to)-206(be)-207(remembered.)-235(And)-206(Aunt)-207(Mary's)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(entertainers)-310(drew)-309(in)-310(deep)-310(breaths)-309(as)-310(they)-309(girded)-310(themselves)-310(for)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-414(conflict.)-744(They)-414(certainly)-415(intended)-414(to)-415(do)-414(themselves)-415(proud)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(and)-379(on)-378(top)-379(of)-378(all)-379(the)-379(lesser)-378("times)-379(of)-379(her)-378(life")-379(to)-378(pile)-379(the)-379(one)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(pre-eminent)-300(which)-301(should)-300(rest)-300(pre-eminent)-300(forever.)-401(Aunt)-301(Mary)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(had)-187(been)-186(gay)-187(in)-187(the)-186(first)-187(part)-187(of)-186(the)-187(week,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 174.947 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(gayer)-187(and)-186(gayer)-187(as)-187(the)]TJ -185.856 -13.549 Td[(week)-308(progressed,)-322(but)-308(that)-308(final)-308(crowning)-308(night)-308(was)-308(indubitably)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-357(gayest)-358(of)-357(all.)-572(If)-357(you)-358(doubt)-357(this)-358(read)-357(on)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 195.281 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(read)-357(on)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 33.582 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(and)-357(be)]TJ -250.681 -13.55 Td[(convinced.)]TJ 11.956 -14.096 Td[(They)-402(began)-402(with)-402(Burnett's)-403(dinner)-402(in)-402(the)-402(private)-402(room.)-707(No)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(matter)-279(where)-279(the)-280(private)-279(room)-279(was,)-287(for)-279(it)-279(really)-279(wasn't)-279(a)-280(private)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(room)-434(at)-434(all)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 51.285 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(it)-434(was)-434(a)-434(suite)-434(of)-434(rooms)-434(borrowed)-434(and)-434(arranged)]TJ -62.194 -13.549 Td[(especially)-377(for)-377(that)-377(one)-377(occasion.)-631(They)-377(gathered)-377(there)-378(at)-377(eight)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(o'clock)-296(and)-296(began)-296(with)-296(oysters)-295(served)-296(on)-296(a)-296(large)-296(brass)-296(tray)-296(in)-296(a)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(half-dim)-362(Turkish)-362(room)-362(where)-362(incense)-362(sticks)-362(burned)-362(about)-362(and)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.756 0 Td[([208])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.756 -13.549 Td[(queer)-299(daggers)-300(held)-299(up)-300(the)-299(curtains.)-398(The)-299(oysters)-300(were)-299(served)-300(on)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(their)-355(arrival)-355(and)-355(the)-355(megaphones)-355(stood)-355(like)-355(extinguishers)-355(over)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(each)-312(with)-312(the)-312(name)-312(cards)-313(tied)-312(to)-312(the)-312(small)-312(end.)-436(The)-312(effect)-313(was)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(really)-206(unique.)-235(Aunt)-207(Mary)-206(had)-206(one,)-214(too,)-215(and)-206(they)-206(were)-207(all)-206(rejoiced)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(at)-303(her)-303(delight)-303(in)-303(the)-303(scheme,)-316(and)-303(a)-303(few)-303(seconds)-303(after)-303(they)-303(were)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(doubly)-172(rejoiced)-173(over)-172(its)-172(success)-173(for)-172(no)-172(one)-173(had)-172(to)-172(speak)-173(loud)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 256.39 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(the)]TJ -267.299 -13.549 Td[(megaphones)-200(did)-201(it)-200(all,)-210(producing)-200(a)-201(lovely)-200(clamor)-200(which)-201(deafened)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(all)-292(those)-293(who)-292(could)-292(hear)-293(and)-292(caused)-292(Aunt)-292(Mary)-293(to)-292(feel)-292(that)-293(she)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(heard)-250(with)-250(the)-250(rest.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+812 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 813 0 R
+/Resources 811 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 787 0 R
+>> endobj
+808 0 obj <<
+/D [812 0 R /XYZ 93.543 529.134 null]
+>> endobj
+814 0 obj <<
+/D [812 0 R /XYZ 230.526 188.085 null]
+>> endobj
+811 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+817 0 obj <<
+/Length 4736      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Seventeen)-250(-)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary's)-250(Night)-250(About)-250(Town)-3020(147)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[(Amidst)-379(the)-379(cheerful)-379(din)-379(they)-379(exchanged)-379(such)-379(very)-380(wild)-379(re-)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(marks)-290(as)-289(oysters)-290(always)-290(inspire)-289(and)-290(each)-290(and)-289(all)-290(were)-290(mutually)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(content)-387(at)-386(the)-387(effect)-386(thereof.)-659(Then)-387(they)-386(finished,)-421(and)-387(Burnett)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(rose)-427(at)-427(once,)-471(flung)-427(back)-427(the)-427(porti\350res,)-471(and)-427(led)-427(them)-427(in)-427(upon)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(their)-260(soup)-259(which)-260(stood)-260(smoking)-260(on)-259(a)-260(large)-260(card)-259(table)-260(in)-260(the)-260(next)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(room.)-585(There)-362(were)-362(boutonni\350res)-361(with)-362(the)-362(soup,)-389(and)-362(violets)-362(for)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Aunt)-308(Mary,)-322(and)-307(again)-308(they)-308(used)-307(the)-308(megaphones)-307(and)-308(again)-308(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(conversation)-271(partook)-271(of)-270(the)-271(customary)-271(conversation)-271(which)-271(soup)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(produces.)]TJ 11.956 -14.163 Td[(The)-324(soup)-325(finished,)-343(Burnett)-324(jumped)-324(up)-325(again)-324(and)-324(threw)-325(back)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(other)-297(porti\350res)-296(and)-297(they)-296(all)-297(moved)-296(out)-296(into)-297(a)-296(dining-room,)-309(with)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(its)-349(table)-348(spread)-349(with)-348(a)-349(substantial)-349(dinner.)-545(This)-349(time)-348(it)-349(was)-349(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(real)-250(thing.)-250(Candelabra,)-250(ice-pails,)-250(etc.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([209])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -14.163 Td[(Aunt)-327(Mary)-327(had)-327(a)-327(parrot)-328(in)-327(a)-327(gilt)-327(tower,)-346(and)-327(all)-327(the)-328(men)-327(had)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(white)-280(mice)-279(in)-280(houses)-279(shaped)-280(like)-280(hat-boxes.)-338(Mitchell's)-280(seat)-280(was)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(flanked)-265(with)-265(wine)-265(coolers,)-269(and)-265(Burnett's,)-269(too.)-295(There)-265(was)-265(all)-265(that)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(they)-216(could)-216(desire)-216(to)-215(eat)-216(and)-216(drink)-216(and)-216(more.)-238(The)-216(feast)-216(began,)-223(and)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(it)-250(was)-250(grand)-250(and)-250(glorious.)]TJ 11.956 -14.162 Td[("I'll)-268(tell)-267(y)-1(ou)-267(what,")-268(said)-268(Aunt)-268(Mary,)-272(in)-268(the)-267(midst)-268(of)-268(the)-268(revel,)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[("if)-299(this)-299(is)-299(what)-299(it)-299(means)-299(in)-299(papers)-299(when)-299(it)-299(speaks)-300(of)-299(high)-299(livin',)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(I)-306(don't)-306(blame)-306('em)-306(for)-306(bein')-306(willin')-306(to)-306(die)-306(of)-306(it)-306(young.)-419(One)-306(week)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(like)-243(this)-243(is)-242(worth)-243(ten)-243(years)-243(with)-243(Lucinda.)-247(Twenty.)-248(A)-243(whole)-243(life.")]TJ 11.956 -14.163 Td[("Say,)-258(Jack,")-257(said)-256(Burnett)-257(in)-256(an)-257(undertone,)-258("let's)-256(have)-257(Lucinda)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(come)-250(to)-250(town)-250(next)-250(and)-250(see)-250(the)-250(effect)-250(on)-250(her.")]TJ 11.956 -14.163 Td[("Miss)-387(Watkins,")-387(said)-386(Clover)-387(through)-387(his)-387(megaphone,)-421("as)-387(a)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(mark)-224(of)-223(my)-224(affection)-223(I)-224(beg)-223(to)-224(offer)-223(you)-224(my)-223(white)-224(mouse.)-241(Do)-224(you)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(accept?")]TJ 11.956 -14.163 Td[("Oh,)-210(I)-200(don't)-199(want)-200(to)-200(go)-200(back)-200(to)-200(the)-199(house)-200(yet,")-200(said)-200(Aunt)-200(Mary,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(much)-250(disturbed.)-250("It's)-250(too)-250(soon.")]TJ 11.956 -14.163 Td[("We)-205(won't)-204(go)-205(home)-204(till)-205(morning,")-204(said)-205(Burnett.)-235("Not)-204(by)-205(a)-205(long)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(shot.)-349(Here,)-291(Mitchell,)-291(give)-283(us)-283(a)-283(speech.)-349(Home!)-349(we)-283(don't)-283(want)-283(to)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(drink)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 25.757 0 Td[(to)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 11.214 0 Td[(it,)-250(but)-250(we)-250(do)-250(want)-250(to)-250(drink)-250(to)-250(it)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 138.185 0 Td[(here)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 19.386 0 Td[(.")]TJ -182.586 -14.163 Td[("Home!")-485(said)-485(Mitchell,)-544(rising)-485(with)-485(his)-485(glass)-485(in)-485(his)-485(hand.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[("Home!)-280(here's)-260(to)-260(home,)-263(and)-260(I'll)-260(drink)-260(to)-260(it)-260(in)-260(anything)-260(but)-261(a)-260(cab.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+816 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 817 0 R
+/Resources 815 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 819 0 R
+>> endobj
+818 0 obj <<
+/D [816 0 R /XYZ 209.458 354.971 null]
+>> endobj
+815 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F18 18 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+822 0 obj <<
+/Length 4863      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(148)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 518.175 Td[(Home,)-357(Aunt)-335(Mary)-336(and)-335(gentlemen,)-357(is)-335(the)-335(place)-336(where)-335(one)-336(may)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(go)-276(when)-277(every)-276(other)-277(place)-276(is)-276(closed.)-330(As)-276(long)-276(as)-277(any)-276(other)-277(place)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([210])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(is)-235(open,)-238(however,)-238(I)-236(do)-235(not)-235(recommend)-235(going)-235(home.)-245(The)-236(contrast)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(is)-351(always)-350(sharp)-351(and)-350(bitter)-351(and)-350(to)-351(be)-350(avoided)-351(until)-351(unavoidable)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(circumstances,)-423(over)-388(which)-388(we)-388(possess)-388(but)-388(little)-388(control,)-423(force)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(us)-312(to)-313(give)-312(our)-312(address)-313(to)-312(the)-312(man)-313(who)-312(drives)-313(and)-312(let)-312(him)-313(drive)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(us)-433(to)-432(the)-433(last)-432(place)-433(on)-432(the)-433(map.)-797(A)-1(nd)-432(so)-433(I)-432(drink)-433(to)-432(that)-433(last)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(place)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 23.019 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(home;)-231(and)-222(here's)-222(to)-221(it,)-228(not)-222(now,)-227(but)-222(a)-222(good)-221(deal)-222(later,)-227(a)-1(nd)]TJ -33.928 -13.549 Td[(not)-250(then)-250(unless)-250(what)-250(must)-250(be)-250(has)-250(got)-250(to)-250(result.")]TJ 11.956 -14.163 Td[(Mitchell)-250(paused)-250(and)-250(they)-250(all)-250(drank.)]TJ 0 -14.163 Td[("Me)-290(next)-290(now,")-290(exclaimed)-289(Bu)-1(rnett,)-299(jumping)-290(to)-290(his)-290(feet.)-370("I'm)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(going)-259(to)-259(make)-259(a)-259(speech)-259(at)-259(my)-259(own)-259(dinner,)-261(and)-259(as)-259(a)-259(good)-259(speech)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(is)-350(best)-350(made)-349(off-hand,)-375(I've)-350(picked)-350(out)-349(an)-350(off-hand)-350(subject)-350(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(arise)-302(to)-303(give)-302(you)-302('Lucinda.')-407(Having)-302(never)-302(met)-303(her)-302(I)-302(feel)-302(able)-303(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(say)-369(nothing)-370(good)-369(about)-369(her)-369(and)-370(I)-369(call)-369(the)-369(company)-369(present)-370(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(witness)-292(that)-292(I)-292(shall)-292(say)-293(nothing)-292(bad)-292(either.)-376(I)-292(gather)-292(from)-292(what)-293(I)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(have)-240(had)-240(a)-240(stray)-240(chance)-239(of)-240(picking)-240(up)-240(that)-240(Lucinda)-240(is)-240(all)-240(that)-240(she)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(should)-271(be,)-276(and)-271(nothing)-271(frisqu\351.)-312(The)-271(latter)-271(quality)-271(is)-271(too)-271(bad,)-276(but)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(it's)-308(not)-309(my)-308(fault.)-425(Therefore,)-323(I)-308(say)-309(again)-308('Lucinda',)-323(and)-308(here's)-309(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(her)-306(very)-306(good)-307(health.)-418(May)-306(she)-307(never)-306(regret)-306(that)-306(Fate)-306(has)-307(given)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(her)-250(no)-250(chance)-250(to)-250(have)-250(anything)-250(to)-250(regret.")]TJ 11.956 -14.163 Td[(Aunt)-322(Mary)-322(applauded)-322(this)-322(speech)-322(heartily)-322(even)-322(if)-322(she)-322(hadn't)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(quite)-385(caught)-385(the)-385(whole)-385(of)-385(it)-385(and)-385(had)-385(no)-385(idea)-385(of)-385(w)-1(hom)-385(it)-385(was)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(about.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([211])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -14.163 Td[("Who's)-250(goin')-250(to)-250(speak)-250(now?")-250(she)-250(asked)-250(anxiously.)]TJ 0 -14.163 Td[("I)-279(am,")-279(said)-280(Clover)-279(modestly.)-337("I)-280(rise)-279(to)-279(propose)-279(the)-279(health)-280(of)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(our)-299(honored)-298(guest,)-311(Miss)-298(Watkins.)-396(We)-299(all)-298(know)-299(what)-298(kin)-299(she)-299(is)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(to)-330(one)-329(of)-330(us,)-350(and)-329(we)-330(all)-329(weep)-330(that)-330(she)-329(didn't)-330(do)-330(as)-329(well)-330(by)-330(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(rest)-250(of)-250(us.)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary!)-250(Glasses)-250(down!")]TJ 11.956 -14.163 Td[("You)-207(can't)-207(drink)-207(this,)-215(you)-207(know,)-216(Aunt)-207(Mary,")-207(said)-207(Jack,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 241.041 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[("it's)]TJ -263.906 -13.549 Td[(bad)-250(taste)-250(to)-250(drink)-250(to)-250(yourself.")]TJ 11.956 -14.163 Td[("I)-269(don't)-270(want)-269(to)-269(drink,")-270(said)-269(Aunt)-270(Mary,)-274(beaming,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 218.954 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[("I)-269(like)-270(to)]TJ -241.819 -13.549 Td[(watch)-250(you.")]TJ 11.956 -14.163 Td[("Here's)-250(to)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary's)-250(liking)-250(to)-250(watch)-250(us!")-250(cried)-250(Clover.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+821 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 822 0 R
+/Resources 820 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 819 0 R
+>> endobj
+823 0 obj <<
+/D [821 0 R /XYZ 107.468 504.626 null]
+>> endobj
+824 0 obj <<
+/D [821 0 R /XYZ 123.238 204.702 null]
+>> endobj
+820 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+827 0 obj <<
+/Length 4283      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Seventeen)-250(-)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary's)-250(Night)-250(About)-250(Town)-3020(149)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[("No,")-341(said)-342(Burnett)-341(rising,)-365("don't.)-524(It's)-341(time)-342(to)-341(go)-342(and)-341(get)-342(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(salad)-250(now.")]TJ 11.956 -13.856 Td[("We'd)-255(ought)-255(to)-255(have)-256(the)-255(automobile)-255(for)-255(this)-255(party,")-255(said)-256(Aunt)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Mary,)-191(and)-176(everyone)-176(applauded)-175(her)-176(idea,)-191(as)-176(they)-176(rose)-176(and)-176(gathered)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(up)-250(their)-250(belongings.)]TJ 11.956 -13.856 Td[(It)-288(was)-288(a)-288(droll)-288(procession)-288(of)-288(men)-288(with)-288(mice)-288(and)-288(a)-288(lady)-288(with)-288(a)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(parrot)-228(that)-228(got)-228(under)-228(way)-228(and)-228(moved)-228(in)-228(among)-228(the)-228(Japanese)-228(fans)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-297(swinging)-297(lanterns)-297(of)-298(the)-297(next)-297(room)-297(in)-297(the)-297(suite)-297(of)-298(Burnett's)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(friend.)-467(Five)-322(little)-323(individual)-322(tables)-322(were)-322(laid)-323(there)-322(and)-322(on)-323(each)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(table)-260(lay)-261(a)-260(Japanese)-260(creature)-260(of)-261(some)-260(sort)-260(which)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 211.136 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(being)-260(opened)]TJ -222.045 -13.55 Td[(somewhere)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 49.68 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(revealed)-250(salad)-250(within.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 230.435 0 Td[([212])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -13.856 Td[("Well,)-230(I)-226(never)-226(did!")-225(exclaimed)-226(the)-225(guest;)-234("this)-225(dinne)-1(r)-225(ought)-226(to)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(be)-250(put)-250(in)-250(a)-250(book!")]TJ 11.956 -13.856 Td[("We'll)-233(put)-232(it)-233(in)-233(ourselves)-233(first,")-232(said)-233(Mitchell.)-244("I)-233(never)-233(believe)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(in)-294(b)-1(ooking)-294(any)-294(attraction)-295(until)-294(it)-295(has)-294(been)-295(tried)-294(on)-295(a)-294(select)-295(few.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Burnett)-289(having)-289(selected)-290(me)-289(for)-289(one)-289(of)-289(this)-289(few,)-299(I)-289(vote)-289(we)-290(begin)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(on)-250(the)-250(salad.")]TJ 11.956 -13.856 Td[(They)-250(began)-250(forthwith.)]TJ 0 -13.856 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(suddenly)-250(stopped)-250(eating.)]TJ 0 -13.856 Td[("Some)-250(one)-250(called,")-250(she)-250(said.)]TJ 0 -13.857 Td[("It's)-250(the)-250(parrot,")-250(said)-250(Jack;)-250("I)-250(heard)-250(him)-250(before.")]TJ 0 -13.856 Td[("What)-250(does)-250(he)-250(say?")-250(said)-250(Mitchell.)]TJ 0 -13.856 Td[("Listen)-250(and)-250(you'll)-250(find)-250(out,")-250(said)-250(Jack.)]TJ 0 -13.856 Td[(They)-250(all)-250(listened)-250(and)-250(presently)-250(the)-250(parrot)-250(said)-250(solemnly:)]TJ 0 -13.856 Td[("Now)-250(see)-250(what)-250(you've)-250(done!")-250(and)-250(relapsed)-250(into)-250(silence.)]TJ 0 -13.856 Td[("What)-250(does)-250(he)-250(mean?")-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(asked.)]TJ 0 -13.856 Td[("He's)-561(referring)-561(to)-562(his)-561(own)-561(affairs,")-561(said)-562(Burnett;)-717("come)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(on)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 10.91 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(let's)-250(get)-250(coffee)-250(now!")]TJ -9.863 -13.856 Td[(They)-463(all)-463(adjourned)-463(to)-463(a)-463(tiny)-463(room)-463(lined)-463(with)-464(posters)-463(and)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(decorated)-320(with)-320(pipe)-320(racks,)-338(and)-320(there)-320(had)-320(ice)-320(cream)-320(in)-320(the)-320(form)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(of)-274(bulls)-273(and)-274(bears,)-280(and)-273(coffee)-274(of)-274(the)-273(strongest)-274(variety.)-321(And)-274(then)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(cordials)-250(and)-250(cigarettes.)]TJ 11.956 -13.856 Td[("Now,)-414(where)-381(shall)-381(we)-382(go)-381(to)-381(first?")-381(asked)-381(Burnett)-381(when)-382(all)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(were)-332(well)-332(lit)-332(up.)-495(No)-332(one)-332(would)-332(have)-332(guessed)-332(that)-332(he)-332(had)-332(ever)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([213])]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+826 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 827 0 R
+/Resources 825 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 819 0 R
+>> endobj
+828 0 obj <<
+/D [826 0 R /XYZ 205.52 382.069 null]
+>> endobj
+829 0 obj <<
+/D [826 0 R /XYZ 192.975 66.142 null]
+>> endobj
+825 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+832 0 obj <<
+/Length 4679      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(150)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 518.175 Td[(felt)-250(used)-250(up)-250(in)-250(all)-250(his)-250(life)-250(before.)]TJ 11.956 -13.995 Td[("To)-287(a)-287(roof)-287(garden,")-287(said)-286(Mitchell.)-361("We'll)-287(go)-287(to)-287(a)-287(roof)-287(garden)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(first,)-257(and)-256(then)-256(we'll)-255(go)-256(to)-256(more)-256(roof)-255(gardens,)-258(and)-255(after)-256(that)-256(if)-256(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(spirit)-251(moves)-250(we'll)-250(go)-251(to)-250(yet)-251(a)-250(few)-251(roof)-250(gardens)-251(in)-250(addition.)-252(We'll)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(show)-335(our)-334(dear)-335(aunt)-335(what)-334(wonders)-335(can)-335(be)-334(done)-335(with)-335(roofs,)-356(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to-morrow)-250(she'll)-250(wonder)-250(what)-250(was)-250(done)-250(with)-250(her.")]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[("That's)-222(the)-222(bill,")-222(said)-221(Clover,)-228("and)-222(let's)-222(go)-221(now.)-241(I)-222(can)-222(see)-222(from)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(the)-319(general)-319(manner)-318(of)-319(my)-319(mouse)-319(that)-319(he's)-318(dying)-319(to)-319(get)-319(out)-319(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(make)-250(his)-250(way)-250(in)-250(the)-250(wide)-250(world.")]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[("Mine)-380(the)-380(same,")-380(said)-380(Mitchell;)-446("by)-380(George,)-412(it)-380(worrie)-1(s)-380(me)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(to)-378(see)-378(such)-378(restless,)-410(feverish)-378(manners)-378(in)-379(what)-378(I)-378(had)-378(supposed)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(would)-331(be)-332(a)-331(quiet)-332(domestic)-331(companion.)-494(It)-332(presages)-331(a)-332(distracted)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(existence.)-250(But)-250(come)-250(on.")]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[(They)-250(all)-250(rose.)]TJ 0 -13.995 Td[("Where)-250(are)-250(we)-250(goin')-250(now?")-250(asked)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary.)]TJ 0 -13.996 Td[("To)-367(a)-366(roof)-367(garden,")-367(said)-367(Jack,)-396("and)-367(we're)-366(going)-367(to)-367(take)-367(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(whole)-417(menagerie,)-459(Aunt)-418(Mary.)-751(We're)-417(going)-418(to)-417(get)-417(put)-417(in)-418(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(papers.)-250(That's)-250(the)-250(great)-250(stunt,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 127.396 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.91 0 Td[(to)-250(get)-250(put)-250(in)-250(the)-250(papers.")]TJ -126.35 -13.996 Td[("But)-292(we'll)-292(leave)-292(the)-293(megaphones,")-292(said)-292(Mitchell.)-376("I)-292(won't)-293(go)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(about)-415(with)-414(a)-415(mouse)-415(and)-415(a)-414(megaphone.)-744(People)-415(might)-415(think)-415(I)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(looked)-250(silly.)-250(People)-250(are)-250(so)-250(queer.")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([214])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -13.996 Td[("Put)-220(the)-220(mouse)-221(in)-220(the)-220(megaphone,")-220(suggested)-221(Burnett.)-240("That's)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(the)-339(way)-340(my)-339(mother)-339(taught)-340(me)-339(to)-339(pack)-340(when)-339(I)-339(was)-339(a)-340(kid.)-518(You)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(put)-260(your)-260(tooth)-260(brush)-261(in)-260(a)-260(shoe,)-263(and)-260(the)-260(shoe)-260(in)-260(a)-260(sleeve)-260(and)-261(then)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(turn)-269(the)-269(sleeve)-269(inside)-270(out.)-307(Oh,)-274(I)-269(tell)-269(you)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 174.852 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(what)-269(is)-269(home)-269(without)]TJ -185.761 -13.549 Td[(a)-334(mother?)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 44.234 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(Put)-334(the)-333(m)-1(ouse)-333(in)-334(the)-334(megaphone)-334(and)-333(stop)-334(up)-334(both)]TJ -55.143 -13.55 Td[(ends.)-250(What)-250(are)-250(your)-250(hands)-250(and)-250(your)-250(mouth)-250(for?")]TJ 11.956 -13.995 Td[("Yes,")-474(said)-474(Mitchell,)-530("I)-474(think)-474(I)-474(see)-474(myself)-474(so)-474(handling)-474(a)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(megaphone)-272(that)-272(the)-272(mouse)-272(doesn't)-272(run)-272(out)-272(either)-272(end)-272(or)-272(into)-272(my)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(mouth.)-281(My)-261(mouth)-260(is)-261(a)-260(good)-261(mouth)-260(and)-260(it's)-261(served)-260(me)-261(well)-260(and)-261(I)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(won't)-250(turn)-250(it)-250(over)-250(to)-250(a)-250(mouse)-250(at)-250(this)-250(late)-250(day.")]TJ 11.956 -13.995 Td[("Let's)-358(keep)-359(the)-358(mice)-359(in)-358(their)-359(cages,")-358(said)-359(Clover,)-386(and)-358(as)-359(he)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(spoke)-250(he)-250(dropped)-250(his.)]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[("Now)-250(see)-250(what)-250(you've)-250(done!")-250(said)-250(the)-250(parrot.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+831 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 832 0 R
+/Resources 830 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 819 0 R
+>> endobj
+833 0 obj <<
+/D [831 0 R /XYZ 245.245 244.067 null]
+>> endobj
+830 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+837 0 obj <<
+/Length 3742      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Seventeen)-250(-)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary's)-250(Night)-250(About)-250(Town)-3020(151)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[("I)-250(didn't)-250(hurt)-250(it,")-250(said)-250(Clover.)-250("Come)-250(on)-250(now.")]TJ 0 -13.795 Td[("Yes,)-249(come)-249(on,")-250(said)-249(Burnett.)-249("It's)-250(long)-249(after)-249(ten)-249(o'clock.)-250(You)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(want)-379(to)-378(remember)-379(that)-379(even)-378(roof)-379(gardens)-379(are)-378(not)-379(eternally)-379(on)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(tap.")]TJ 11.956 -13.795 Td[("Well,)-354(I'm)-333(trying)-333(to)-334(hurry)-333(all)-333(I)-333(can,")-333(said)-334(Mitchell.)-499("I'm)-334(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(picture)-434(of)-434(patience)-435(scurrying)-434(for)-434(dear)-434(life)-434(only)-434(unable)-434(to)-435(lay)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(hands)-250(on)-250(her)-250(gloves.")]TJ 11.956 -13.795 Td[("I)-250(don't)-250(catch)-250(what's)-250(the)-250(trouble,")-250(said)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(to)-250(Jack.)]TJ 0 -54.933 Td[("Nothing's)-529(the)-528(trouble,")-529(said)-528(Jack,)-598("everything's)-529(fine)-529(and)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 279.068 0 Td[([215])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(dandy.)-245(We're)-234(going)-234(out)-234(now.)-245(Time)-234(of)-234(your)-235(life,)-237(Aunt)-234(Mary,)-238(time)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(of)-250(your)-250(life!")]TJ 11.956 -13.795 Td[(They)-361(telephoned)-360(for)-361(a)-361(carriage)-361(and)-360(all)-361(got)-361(in.)-582(Then)-361(Clover)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(slammed)-250(the)-250(door.)]TJ 11.956 -13.795 Td[("Now)-250(see)-250(what)-250(you've)-250(done!")-250(said)-250(the)-250(parrot.)]TJ 0 -13.795 Td[("Is)-250(he)-250(going)-250(to)-250(keep)-250(saying)-250(that?")-250(Burnett)-250(asked.)]TJ 0 -13.794 Td[("I)-250(don't)-250(know,")-250(said)-250(Jack.)-250("It)-250(comes)-250(in)-250(pretty)-250(pat,)-250(don't)-250(it?")]TJ 0 -13.795 Td[("Makes)-450(me)-451(think)-450(of)-451(my)-450(mother,")-451(said)-450(Clover.)-852("I)-450(wish)-451(it)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(wouldn't.")]TJ 11.956 -13.795 Td[("I)-250(don't)-250(catch)-250(who's)-250(sayin')-250(what,")-250(said)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary.)]TJ 0 -13.794 Td[("Nobody's)-316(saying)-316(anything,)-332(Miss)-316(Watkins,")-316(roared)-316(Mitchell;)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[("we)-250(are)-250(all)-250(talking)-250(airy)-250(nothings)-250(just)-250(to)-250(pass)-250(the)-250(time)-250(o')-250(day.")]TJ 11.956 -13.794 Td[(The)-308(carriage)-308(stopped)-308(three)-308(hundred)-308(feet)-308(below)-308(the)-308(lev)-1(el)-308(of)-308(a)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(roof)-250(garden.)]TJ 11.956 -13.794 Td[("We)-250(get)-250(out)-250(here,")-250(said)-250(Burnett.)]TJ 0 -13.795 Td[(They)-250(all)-250(got)-250(out)-250(and)-250(went)-250(up)-250(in)-250(an)-250(elevator.)]TJ 0 -13.795 Td[("Seems)-236(to)-236(be)-235(a)-236(good)-236(many)-236(goin')-236(to)-235(the)-236(same)-236(place,")-236(said)-236(Aunt)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Mary.)]TJ 11.956 -13.794 Td[("Yes,")-387(said)-387(Mitchell,)-422("a)-387(good)-387(many)-387(people)-387(generally)-387(go)-388(to)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(places)-250(that)-250(are)-250(great)-250(places)-250(for)-250(a)-250(good)-250(many)-250(people)-250(to)-250(go)-250(to.")]TJ 11.956 -13.794 Td[("You)-250(ought)-250(not)-250(to)-250(end)-250(with)-250(a)-250(preposition,")-250(said)-250(Clover.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 279.068 0 Td[([216])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -13.795 Td[("There,)-213(I)-203(left)-203(my)-203(ear-trumpet)-203(in)-204(the)-203(carriage!")-203(said)-203(Aunt)-204(Mary.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+836 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 837 0 R
+/Resources 835 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 819 0 R
+>> endobj
+62 0 obj <<
+/D [836 0 R /XYZ 191.482 408.8 null]
+>> endobj
+838 0 obj <<
+/D [836 0 R /XYZ 288.919 367.661 null]
+>> endobj
+839 0 obj <<
+/D [836 0 R /XYZ 302.773 79.937 null]
+>> endobj
+835 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+842 0 obj <<
+/Length 4302      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(152)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[(There)-268(was)-268(a)-269(pause)-268(of)-268(consternation.)-305(No)-268(one)-268(spoke)-268(except)-269(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(parrot.)]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[("We)-469(know)-468(what)-469(she's)-468(done)-469(without)-469(your)-468(telling)-469(us,")-469(said)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Clover,)-250(addressing)-250(the)-250(bird.)-250("The)-250(question)-250(is)-250(what)-250(to)-250(do)-250(next?")]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[(Jack)-299(went)-299(back)-299(downstairs)-298(and)-299(found)-299(the)-299(carriage)-299(waiting)-299(in)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(hopes)-289(of)-289(picking)-288(up)-289(another)-289(load.)-367(He)-288(lost)-289(no)-289(time)-289(in)-289(personally)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(picking)-250(up)-250(the)-250(ear-trumpet)-250(and)-250(returning)-250(to)-250(his)-250(friends.)]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[(Then)-275(they)-274(all)-275(proceeded)-274(above)-275(and)-274(bought)-275(a)-274(table)-275(and)-275(turned)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(their)-256(chairs)-255(to)-255(the)-256(stage,)-257(where)-255(the)-256(attraction)-255(just)-256(at)-255(that)-256(moment)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(was)-250(a)-250(quartette)-250(of)-250(pretty)-250(girls.)]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[("I'll)-306(tell)-307(you)-306(what)-306(we'll)-307(do,")-306(said)-306(Burnett)-307(the)-306(instant)-306(the)-307(girls)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(began)-244(to)-243(sing.)-248("Let's)-243(each)-244(tie)-243(a)-244(card)-243(to)-244(a)-243(mouse)-244(and)-243(present)-244(them)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-250(the)-250(girls!")]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[(The)-222(suggestion)-221(found)-222(favor)-221(and)-222(was)-221(followed)-222(out)-221(to)-222(the)-222(letter.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(But)-201(when)-200(the)-201(girls)-200(were)-201(through)-200(and)-201(the)-200(Chinaman)-201(who)-201(followed)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(them)-344(on)-345(the)-344(programme)-345(was)-344(also)-345(over,)-368(the)-344(pleasures)-345(of)-344(life)-345(in)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(that)-250(spot)-250(palled)-250(upon)-250(the)-250(party.)]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[("Oh,)-313(come,")-300(said)-300(Burnett,)-312("let's)-300(go)-300(somewhere)-300(else.)-401(Let's)-300(go)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(out)-250(in)-250(the)-250(air.")]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[(His)-239(suggestion)-239(found)-239(favor.)-246(And)-239(they)-240(sallied)-239(forth)-239(and)-239(visited)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(another)-266(roof)-266(garden,)-269(a)-266(theater)-266(where)-266(they)-265(saw)-266(the)-266(last)-266(quarter)-266(of)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-364(fourth)-365(act,)-393(a)-364(place)-364(where)-365(Aunt)-364(Mary)-364(w)-1(as)-364(given)-364(a)-365(gondola)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([217])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(ride,)-259(and)-258(a)-257(place)-258(where)-257(she)-258(was)-257(given)-258(something)-257(in)-258(the)-257(shape)-258(of)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(light)-250(refreshments.)]TJ 11.956 -15.396 Td[(Then,)-244(becoming)-243(thirsty,)-245(they)-243(ordered)-243(a)-243(few)-243(White)-243(Horses)-243(and)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Red)-344(Horses)-345(and)-344(the)-345(Necks)-344(of)-345(yet)-344(other)-345(horses,)-368(but)-344(Aunt)-345(Mary)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(declined)-250(the)-250(horses)-250(of)-250(all)-250(colors)-250(and)-250(Mitchell)-250(upheld)-250(her.)]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[("That's)-266(right,")-265(he)-266(said,)-269("I'm)-266(a)-265(great)-266(believer)-265(in)-266(knowing)-266(when)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(you've)-198(had)-197(enough,)-209(and)-197(I'm)-198(sure)-198(you've)-197(all)-198(had)-198(so)-197(much)-198(too)-198(much)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(that)-256(I)-256(know)-256(that)-256(I)-255(must)-256(have)-256(had)-256(enough)-256(and)-256(that)-256(she's)-256(better)-256(off)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(with)-250(none)-250(at)-250(all.")]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[("I)-262(reckon)-262(you're)-261(right,")-262(said)-262(Clover.)-285("I've)-262(had)-262(enough,)-265(surely.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(I)-366(can't)-366(see)-366(over)-366(my)-366(pile)-366(of)-366(little)-366(saucers,)-395(and)-367(when)-366(I)-366(can't)-366(see)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+841 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 842 0 R
+/Resources 840 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 819 0 R
+>> endobj
+843 0 obj <<
+/D [841 0 R /XYZ 161.219 220.721 null]
+>> endobj
+840 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+846 0 obj <<
+/Length 4717      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Seventeen)-250(-)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary's)-250(Night)-250(About)-250(Town)-3020(153)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 518.175 Td[(over)-357(my)-356(pile)-357(of)-357(little)-356(saucers)-357(I'm)-357(always)-357(positive)-356(that)-357(I've)-357(had)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(enough.")]TJ 11.956 -15.088 Td[(Jack)-385(laughed)-386(and)-385(then)-385(ceased)-385(laughing)-386(and)-385(drew)-385(down)-386(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(corners)-250(of)-250(his)-250(mouth.)]TJ 11.956 -15.087 Td[("Why)-263(do)-263(people)-263(sit)-264(on)-263(chairs?")-263(Clover)-263(asked)-263(just)-263(then.)-290("Why)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(don't)-309(everyone)-309(sit)-309(on)-309(the)-309(floor?)-427(You)-309(never)-309(feel)-309(as)-310(if)-309(you)-309(might)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(slip)-250(off)-250(the)-250(floor.")]TJ 11.956 -15.087 Td[("Ah,")-172(said)-172(Mitchell,)-188("if)-172(we)-172(were)-172(not)-172(always)-172(trying)-172(to)-173(rise)-172(above)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Nature)-338(we)-337(should)-338(all)-338(be)-337(sitting)-338(where)-338(Nature)-338(intended,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 246.092 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(when)]TJ -257.001 -13.549 Td[(we)-250(weren't)-250(swinging)-250(by)-250(our)-250(tails)-250(and)-250(picking)-250(cocoanuts.")]TJ 11.956 -15.088 Td[("Come)-263(on)-263(and)-263(let's)-264(go)-263(somewhere)-263(else,")-263(said)-263(Burnett.)-290("Every)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 279.068 0 Td[([218])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(time)-368(I)-368(look)-368(at)-367(somebody)-368(it's)-368(someone)-368(else)-368(and)-368(that)-368(makes)-368(me)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(nervous.")]TJ 11.956 -15.088 Td[("Now)-250(see)-250(what)-250(you've)-250(done!")-250(said)-250(the)-250(parrot.)]TJ 0 -15.087 Td[("Did)-303(you)-304(know)-303(his)-304(long)-303(suit)-304(when)-303(you)-304(bought)-303(him?")-304(Clover)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(asked)-250(Burnett.)]TJ 11.956 -15.088 Td[("No,")-270(said)-269(Burnett;)-280("they)-269(told)-270(me)-270(that)-269(he)-270(didn't)-269(use)-270(slang)-270(and)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(that)-250(was)-250(all.")]TJ 11.956 -15.087 Td[(It)-508(was)-509(well)-508(along)-509(in)-508(the)-508(evening)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 156.287 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(or)-508(night)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 37.062 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(and)-508(a)-509(brisk)]TJ -227.123 -13.549 Td[(discussion)-250(arose)-250(as)-250(to)-250(where)-250(to)-250(go)-250(next.)]TJ 11.956 -15.088 Td[("I'll)-259(tell)-259(you,")-260(said)-259(Clover,)-261("we'll)-260(take)-259(a)-259(ride.)-278(Let)-259(me)-259(see)-260(what)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(time)-226(is)-226(it?)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 42.51 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(12.30.)-242(Just)-226(the)-226(time)-226(for)-225(a)-226(drive.)-242(We'll)-226(take)-226(three)-226(cabs)]TJ -53.419 -13.549 Td[(and)-274(sally)-274(forth)-274(and)-274(drive)-274(up)-274(and)-274(down)-274(and)-274(back)-274(and)-275(forth)-274(in)-274(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(cool)-250(night)-250(air.")]TJ 11.956 -15.088 Td[("And)-342(jews-harps!")-343(cried)-342(Burnett.)-527("Oh,)-366(I)-342(say,)-366(there's)-342(a)-343(bully)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(idea!)-261(We'll)-253(go)-254(to)-253(a)-254(drug)-253(store)-254(and)-253(buy)-254(some)-253(je)-1(ws-harps)-253(and)-254(play)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(on)-328(them)-327(as)-328(we)-327(drive)-328(along.)-482(We'll)-328(each)-327(sing)-328(our)-327(own)-328(tune,)-347(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-250(effect)-250(will)-250(be)-250(so)-250(novel.)-250(Let's)-250(do)-250(it.")]TJ 11.956 -15.088 Td[("Jews-harps)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 52.92 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")-153(said)-153(Clover)-153(thoughtfully,)-172("jews-harps)-153(for)-153(three)]TJ -75.785 -13.549 Td[(cabs)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 19.386 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(that'll)-250(make)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 50.749 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(let)-250(me)-250(see)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 43.625 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(that'll)-250(make)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 50.749 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.91 0 Td[(")-250(he)-250(hesitated.)]TJ -196.19 -15.087 Td[("Oh,)-454(the)-413(driver)-414(will)-413(make)-413(the)-414(change,")-413(said)-413(Burnett)-414(impa-)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(tiently.)-237("Come)-210(on.)-236(If)-210(we're)-210(going)-210(to)-210(ha)-1(ve)-210(the)-210(cabs)-210(and)-210(jews-harps)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(it's)-250(time)-250(to)-250(get)-250(out)-250(and)-250(take)-250(the)-250(stump)-250(in)-250(the)-250(good)-250(cause.")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+845 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 846 0 R
+/Resources 844 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 848 0 R
+>> endobj
+847 0 obj <<
+/D [845 0 R /XYZ 258.288 376.53 null]
+>> endobj
+844 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+851 0 obj <<
+/Length 4855      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(154)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[("Where's)-391(my)-391(ear-trumpet?")-391(said)-391(Aunt)-391(Mary,)-427(blankly,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 241.041 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.91 0 Td[("it's)]TJ -263.907 -13.549 Td[(been)-250(left)-250(somewhere.")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([219])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -15.395 Td[("No,)-232(it)-227(hasn't,")-227(said)-227(Mitchell.)-242("It's)-227(here!)-242(I'm)-227(hold)-1(ing)-227(it)-227(for)-227(you.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(It's)-222(much)-222(easier)-223(holding)-222(it)-222(than)-222(picking)-222(it)-222(up.)-241(It)-222(seems)-222(so)-223(slippery)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(to-night.")]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[("I'm)-351(not)-350(going)-351(out)-351(to)-350(get)-351(the)-351(cabs,")-350(said)-351(Clover.)-552("I)-351(thought)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(of)-319(the)-319(idea)-319(and)-318(someone)-319(else)-319(must)-319(work)-319(it)-318(out.)-457(I'm)-319(opposed)-319(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(working)-250(after)-250(time)-250(and)-250(I)-250(call)-250(time)-250(at)-250(midnight.")]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[(Mitchell)-250(rose)-250(with)-250(a)-250(depressed)-250(air.)]TJ 0 -15.395 Td[("I'll)-301(go,")-302(he)-301(said.)-405("I)-301(feel)-301(the)-302(need)-301(of)-302(a)-301(walk.)-404(When)-302(I)-301(feel)-302(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(need)-328(of)-329(anything)-328(I)-328(always)-328(take)-329(it)-328(and)-328(I've)-329(needed)-328(and)-328(taken)-329(so)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(freely)-250(to-night)-250(that)-250(I)-250(need)-250(to)-250(take)-250(a)-250(walk)-250(to)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 186.327 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ -185.28 -15.395 Td[("I)-333(don't)-332(th)-1(ink)-332(it)-333(funny)-333(to)-333(talk)-333(that)-332(way,")-333(said)-333(Burnett)-333(a)-333(little)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(heatedly.)-237("If)-212(you)-213(want)-212(to)-212(get)-212(the)-212(cabs)-212(why)-212(get)-212(the)-212(cabs.)-238(I'm)-212(going)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-265(get)-265(them,)-268(too,)-269(and)-265(I)-265(reckon)-264(we)-265(can)-265(get)-265(them)-265(combined)-265(just)-265(as)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(easy)-250(as)-250(alone.")]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[("I)-543(will)-543(go)-543(with)-543(you,")-543(said)-543(his)-543(friend)-543(solemnly.)-1129("I)-543(will)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(accompany)-493(you)-493(because)-492(I)-493(feel)-493(the)-492(need)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 186.733 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")-493(He)-493(stopped)-492(and)]TJ -197.642 -13.55 Td[(turned)-333(his)-334(hat)-333(over)-334(and)-333(over.)-501("I)-333(know)-333(there's)-334(a)-333(hole)-334(to)-333(put)-334(my)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(head)-337(into,")-338(he)-337(declared,)-359("but)-338(I)-337(can't)-337(just)-338(put)-337(my)-337(hand)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 238.78 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(I)-337(mean)]TJ -249.689 -13.549 Td[(my)-250(head)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 37.266 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(on)-250(to)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 22.123 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(I)-250(mean,)-250(into)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 52.419 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(it.")]TJ -132.58 -15.395 Td[("Do)-448(you)-448(expect)-447(to)-448(find)-448(a)-448(brass)-448(hand)-447(pointing)-448(to)-448(it?")-448(said)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(Burnett)-250(testily.)-250("Come)-250(on!")]TJ 11.955 -15.395 Td[("Three)-204(cabs)-205(and)-204(five)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 88.677 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(or)-204(was)-204(it)-205(six?)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 56.374 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(jews-harps?")-204(continued)]TJ -178.824 -13.55 Td[(Mitchell)-286(dreamily.)-358("It)-287(must)-286(have)-286(been)-286(six,)-295(five)-286(for)-286(we)-286(five,)-296(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(one)-283(for)-284(Lord)-283(Chesterfield)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 112.276 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(but)-283(where)-284(is)-283(Lord)-283(Chesterfield?")-284(he)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -195.941 0 Td[([220])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.756 -13.549 Td[(asked)-232(suddenly)-233(with)-232(a)-233(disturbed)-232(glance)-232(around.)-244("I)-233(hope)-232(he)-233(hasn't)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(deserted)-250(and)-250(gone)-250(home.")]TJ 11.955 -15.395 Td[("Come)-319(on,)-335(come)-319(on!")-318(said)-319(Burnett.)-456("There)-318(won't)-319(be)-318(a)-319(sober)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(cab)-323(left)-324(if)-323(we)-324(don't)-323(hurry)-323(while)-324(everything)-323(is)-323(still)-324(able)-323(to)-324(stand)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(up.")]TJ 11.955 -15.395 Td[(This)-213(reasoning)-213(seemed)-214(to)-213(alarm)-213(Mitchell)-213(and)-213(he)-213(went)-214(out)-213(with)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(him)-250(at)-250(once.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+850 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 851 0 R
+/Resources 849 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 848 0 R
+>> endobj
+852 0 obj <<
+/D [850 0 R /XYZ 193.721 504.626 null]
+>> endobj
+853 0 obj <<
+/D [850 0 R /XYZ 152.495 164.678 null]
+>> endobj
+849 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+856 0 obj <<
+/Length 4841      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Seventeen)-250(-)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary's)-250(Night)-250(About)-250(Town)-3020(155)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[("My)-212(head)-211(feels)-212(awfully,")-211(said)-212(Clover)-211(to)-212(Jack.)-237("It)-212(sort)-211(of)-212(grinds)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(and)-250(grates)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 44.531 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(does)-250(yours?")]TJ -43.484 -14.969 Td[(Jack)-250(stared)-250(straight)-250(ahead)-250(and)-250(made)-250(no)-250(reply.)]TJ 0 -14.969 Td[("I'm)-376(goin')-376(home)-376(no)-376(more)-376(to)-376(roam,")-376(said)-376(Aunt)-376(Mary)-376(slowly)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(and)-352(sadly,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 45.354 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[("I'm)-352(goin')-353(home)-352(no)-353(more)-352(to)-353(roam,)-378(no)-352(more)-353(to)-352(sin)]TJ -56.263 -13.55 Td[(an')-354(sorrow.)-561(I'm)-353(goin')-354(home)-353(no)-354(more)-354(to)-353(roam)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 202.322 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(I'm)-354(goin')-353(home)]TJ -213.231 -13.549 Td[(to-morrow.)-250(O)-250(hum!")-250(She)-250(heaved)-250(a)-250(heavy)-250(sigh.)]TJ 11.956 -14.969 Td[("Now)-250(see)-250(what)-250(you've)-250(done!")-250(said)-250(the)-250(parrot)-250(with)-250(emphasis.)]TJ 0 -14.969 Td[("Never)-335(mind,")-335(said)-335(Clover)-336(bitterly.)-505("Better)-335(people)-335(than)-336(you)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(have)-265(gone)-265(home)-265(before)-265(now;)-273(I)-265(used)-265(to)-265(do)-265(it)-265(myself)-265(before)-265(I)-265(was)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(old)-285(enough)-284(to)-285(know)-284(worse.)-354(Will)-285(you)-284(excuse)-285(me)-284(if)-285(I)-284(say,)-294('Damn)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(this)-250(buzzing)-250(in)-250(my)-250(head?'")]TJ 11.956 -14.969 Td[("I)-491(know)-490(how)-491(you)-491(feel,")-491(said)-491(Aunt)-491(Mary)-491(sympathetically.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[("Don't)-250(you)-250(want)-250(me)-251(to)-250(ring)-250(for)-250(the)-250(porter)-250(and)-250(have)-250(him)-250(make)-251(up)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(your)-250(berth)-250(right)-250(away?")]TJ 11.956 -14.969 Td[(Clover)-392(didn't)-392(seem)-392(to)-392(hear.)-676(His)-392(eyes)-392(were)-393(roving)-392(moodily)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 279.068 0 Td[([221])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(about)-250(the)-250(room;)-250(they)-250(looked)-250(almost)-250(as)-250(faded)-250(as)-250(his)-250(mustache.)]TJ 11.956 -14.969 Td[("Seems)-302(to)-303(me)-302(they're)-303(gone)-302(a)-303(long)-302(time,")-303(said)-302(Jack)-303(presently,)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(twisting)-334(a)-334(little)-334(in)-334(his)-335(seat.)-502("It)-334(never)-334(takes)-334(me)-334(so)-334(long)-334(to)-334(get)-335(a)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(cab.)-491(I)-330(hold)-330(up)-331(my)-330(hand)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 106.724 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(the)-330(man)-331(stops)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 61.752 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(and)-330(I)-331(get)-330(in)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 52.013 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(what's)]TJ -253.216 -13.549 Td[(the)-273(matter,)-279(Aunt)-273(Mary?")-274(He)-273(asked)-273(the)-273(question)-273(in)-273(sudden)-274(alarm)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(at)-250(seeing)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(bury)-250(her)-250(face)-250(hastily)-250(in)-250(her)-250(handkerchief.)]TJ 11.956 -14.969 Td[("What's)-250(the)-250(matter?")-250(he)-250(repeated)-250(loudly.)]TJ 0 -14.969 Td[("Don't)-379(mind)-378(me,")-379(said)-379(Aunt)-379(Mary)-378(sobbing.)-636("It's)-379(just)-379(that)-379(I)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(happened)-382(to)-381(just)-382(think)-382(of)-381(Lu)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 130.507 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(Lu)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 12.12 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.91 0 Td[(Lucinda)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 35.749 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(and)-382(somehow)-381(I)]TJ -211.104 -13.549 Td[(don't)-250(seem)-250(to)-250(have)-250(no)-250(strength)-250(to)-250(bear)-250(it.")]TJ 11.956 -14.969 Td[("Split)-315(the)-315(handkerchief)-315(between)-315(us,")-314(said)-315(Clover.)-445("I)-315(want)-315(to)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(cry,)-288(too,)-288(and)-281(there's)-280(no)-281(time)-280(like)-281(the)-280(present)-281(for)-281(doing)-280(what)-281(you)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(want)-250(to)-250(do.")]TJ 11.956 -14.969 Td[("Rot!")-250(said)-250(Jack,)-250("look)-250(here)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 121.516 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ -132.425 -14.97 Td[(He)-414(was)-415(interrupted)-414(by)-415(the)-414(return)-415(of)-414(the)-415(embassy,)-456(Mitchell)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(bearing)-250(the)-250(jews-harps.)]TJ 11.956 -14.969 Td[("What's)-250(the)-250(matter?")-250(Burnett)-250(asked.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+855 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 856 0 R
+/Resources 854 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 848 0 R
+>> endobj
+857 0 obj <<
+/D [855 0 R /XYZ 258.27 306.418 null]
+>> endobj
+854 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+860 0 obj <<
+/Length 4508      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(156)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[("Nothing,")-282(said)-282(Clover;)-298("we)-282(were)-282(so)-282(worried)-282(over)-282(you,)-290(that's)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(all.")-296(Burnett)-296(called)-296(for)-296(the)-296(bill)-296(and)-296(found)-296(that)-296(he)-296(had)-296(run)-296(out)-296(of)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(cash;)-254("Or)-253(maybe)-253(I've)-252(had)-253(my)-253(pocket)-253(picked,")-253(he)-252(suggested.)-259("I'm)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(beginning)-214(to)-214(be)-214(in)-214(just)-214(the)-214(mood)-214(in)-214(which)-214(I)-214(always)-214(get)-214(my)-214(pocket)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(picked.")]TJ 11.956 -13.995 Td[(Jack)-288(produced)-289(a)-288(roll)-288(of)-289(bills)-288(and)-289(settled)-288(for)-288(the)-289(refreshments.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -84.711 0 Td[([222])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(Then)-277(they)-277(all)-277(started)-277(down)-277(stairs)-277(as)-277(Aunt)-277(Mary)-277(wouldn't)-278(risk)-277(an)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(elevator)-250(going)-250(down.)]TJ 11.956 -13.995 Td[("It's)-317(all)-317(right)-318(comin')-317(up,")-317(she)-317(said,)-334("but)-318(if)-317(it)-317(broke)-317(when)-318(you)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(were)-250(going)-250(down)-250(where'd)-250(you)-250(be?")]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[("In)-250(the)-250(elevator,")-250(said)-250(Clover.)-250("I'd)-250(never)-250(jump,)-250(I)-250(know)-250(that.")]TJ 0 -13.995 Td[("Oh,)-250(I've)-250(left)-250(my)-250(ear-trumpet,")-250(said)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary.)]TJ 0 -13.996 Td[("Let's)-250(draw)-250(lots)-250(to)-250(see)-250(who)-250(goes)-250(back?")-250(Burnett)-250(suggested.)]TJ 0 -13.995 Td[(They)-250(drew)-250(and)-250(the)-250(lot)-250(fell)-250(to)-250(Clover.)]TJ 0 -13.996 Td[("I'm)-222(not)-223(going)-222(back,")-223(he)-222(said)-222(coldly.)-241("I)-222(haven't)-223(got)-222(the)-223(energy.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Let)-250(her)-250(apply)-250(the)-250(megaphone.")]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[(Jack)-250(went)-250(back.)]TJ 0 -13.995 Td[(Then)-265(they)-266(all)-265(got)-265(into)-266(the)-265(street)-265(and)-266(into)-265(the)-265(cabs.)-296(Aunt)-266(Mary)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(and)-400(Jack)-400(went)-399(first,)-437(Mitchell)-400(and)-400(Burnett)-400(second,)-437(and)-400(Clover)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(brought)-250(up)-250(the)-250(rear)-250(alone.)]TJ 11.956 -13.995 Td[(They)-220(set)-219(off)-220(and)-220(it)-219(must)-220(be)-220(admitted)-219(that)-220(the)-220(effect)-219(of)-220(the)-220(three)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(cabs)-251(going)-251(single)-250(file)-251(one)-251(after)-251(another)-250(with)-251(their)-251(five)-251(occupants)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(giving)-261(forth)-260(a)-261(most)-261(imperfect)-260(version)-261(of)-261(his)-261(or)-260(her)-261(favorite)-261(tune,)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(was)-332(at)-331(once)-331(novel)-332(and)-331(awe-inspiring.)-495(But)-331(like)-332(all)-331(sweet)-332(things)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(upon)-357(this)-358(earth)-357(the)-358(concert)-357(was)-358(not)-357(of)-357(long)-358(endurance.)-572(It)-358(was)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(only)-246(a)-246(few)-246(minutes)-246(before)-246(the)-246(duos)-246(ceased)-246(utterly)-246(to)-246(duo)-246(and)-246(the)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([223])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(soloist)-245(in)-246(the)-245(rear)-245(fell)-246(sound)-245(asleep.)-248(For)-246(several)-245(blocks)-245(there)-246(was)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(a)-324(mournful)-324(and)-324(tell-tale)-324(lack)-323(of)-324(harmony)-324(upon)-324(the)-324(air)-324(and)-324(then)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(the)-240(three)-239(young)-240(men)-239(seemed)-240(to)-239(have)-240(exhausted)-239(their)-240(mouths)-240(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(all)-250(lapsed)-250(into)-250(a)-250(more)-250(or)-250(less)-250(conscious)-250(state)-250(of)-250(quietude.)]TJ 11.956 -13.995 Td[(Only)-502(Aunt)-501(Mary)-502(was)-502(indefatigable.)-1004(Like)-502(Cleopatra,)-565(age)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(seemed)-215(to)-214(have)-215(no)-215(power)-214(to)-215(stale)-215(her)-214(infinite)-215(variety,)-222(and)-215(leaning)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(back)-262(in)-262(her)-262(own)-262(corner)-262(she)-262(continued)-262(to)-262(placidly)-262(and)-262(peacefully)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(intone)-379(with)-378(disregard)-379(for)-378(time)-379(and)-378(tune)-379(which)-378(never)-379(ruffled)-379(a)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+859 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 860 0 R
+/Resources 858 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 848 0 R
+>> endobj
+861 0 obj <<
+/D [859 0 R /XYZ 315.1 449.983 null]
+>> endobj
+862 0 obj <<
+/D [859 0 R /XYZ 209.962 174.982 null]
+>> endobj
+858 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+865 0 obj <<
+/Length 3668      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Seventeen)-250(-)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary's)-250(Night)-250(About)-250(Town)-3020(157)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 518.175 Td[(wrinkle.)-602(She)-367(hadn't)-368(played)-367(on)-367(a)-368(jews-harp)-367(in)-368(sixty)-367(years,)-397(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(being)-362(deaf)-361(she)-362(was)-362(pleasantly)-361(astonished)-362(at)-362(how)-361(well)-362(she)-362(still)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(did)-252(it.)-258(Jack)-252(leaned)-252(in)-253(his)-252(corner)-252(with)-253(folded)-252(arms;)-254(he)-252(was)-253(deeply)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(conscious)-383(of)-384(wishing)-383(that)-383(it)-383(was)-384(the)-383(next)-383(day)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 207.373 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(any)-383(day)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 35.686 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.91 0 Td[(any)]TJ -264.878 -13.55 Td[(other)-200(day)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 40.352 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(for)-200(the)-200(week)-200(had)-199(be)-1(en)-199(a)-200(wearing)-200(one)-200(and)-200(he)-200(could)-200(not)]TJ -51.261 -13.549 Td[(but)-223(be)-224(mortally)-223(glad)-224(that)-223(it)-223(was)-224(so)-223(nearly)-223(over.)-241(The)-224(task)-223(of)-224(fitting)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-267(plan)-268(of)-267(Aunt)-267(Mary's)-267(revelries)-267(to)-268(the)-267(measure)-267(of)-267(her)-268(personal)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(capacity)-283(had)-283(been)-284(a)-283(very)-283(hard)-283(one)-284(and)-283(his)-283(soul)-283(panted)-283(for)-284(relief)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(therefrom.)-418(It)-306(is)-306(one)-306(thing)-306(to)-306(undertake)-306(a)-306(task)-307(and)-306(another)-306(thing)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(to)-319(persevere)-319(to)-318(its)-319(successful)-319(completion.)-456(Aunt)-319(Mary's)-319(nephew)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(was)-250(tired)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 39.688 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(very)-250(tired.)]TJ -38.641 -13.549 Td[(A)-337(little)-337(later)-337(he)-337(felt)-337(a)-337(weight)-337(against)-337(him;)-380(he)-337(looked;)-381(it)-337(was)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary's)-250(head,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 80.433 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(she)-250(was)-250(oblivious)-250(there)-250(on)-250(his)-250(bosom.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 199.682 0 Td[([224])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -13.549 Td[(He)-250(heard)-250(a)-250(voice;)-250(it)-250(was)-250(the)-250(parrot.)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[("Now)-250(see)-250(what)-250(you've)-250(done,")-250(it)-250(said)-250(in)-250(sepulchral)-250(tones.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(They)-331(reached)-332(the)-331(house,)-352(bore)-331(the)-331(honored)-332(guest)-331(within,)-352(and)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(delivered)-250(her)-250(to)-250(Janice.)]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[("You)-326(can)-327(have)-326(that)-326(parrot,")-327(Jack)-326(called)-327(back)-326(to)-326(the)-327(cabman.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[("He's)-250(guaranteed)-250(against)-250(slang.")]TJ 11.956 -13.55 Td[(The)-250(cabman)-250(drove)-250(away.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Janice)-465(received)-466(them)-465(with)-466(a)-465(look)-465(which)-466(might)-465(have)-466(been)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(construed)-362(in)-362(many)-361(ways,)-390(but)-362(they)-362(were)-361(all)-362(far)-362(past)-362(construing)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-250(the)-250(look)-250(fell)-250(to)-250(the)-250(ground)-250(unheeded.)]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[(And)-180(again)-180(Aunt)-180(Mary)-181(was)-180(tucked)-180(carefully)-180(up)-180(to)-180(dream)-181(herself)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(rested)-250(once)-250(more.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 -27.37 Td[([225])]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+864 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 865 0 R
+/Resources 863 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 848 0 R
+>> endobj
+866 0 obj <<
+/D [864 0 R /XYZ 306.593 355.585 null]
+>> endobj
+867 0 obj <<
+/D [864 0 R /XYZ 46.771 165.623 null]
+>> endobj
+863 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+870 0 obj <<
+/Length 704       
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(158)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -280.63 -20.762 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 5.595 -420.683 cm
+ q 4.4208 0 0 4.4208 0 0 cm
+1 0 0 1 2.727 0 cm
+ q 1 0 0 1 0 0 cm
+q
+57.5998 0 0 95.1596 0 0 cm
+/Im5 Do
+Q
+ Q
+1 0 0 1 -2.727 0 cm
+ Q
+1 0 0 1 -99.138 -107.489 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 100.406 88.486 Td[("The)-251(carriage)-251(stopped)-251(three)-251(hundred)-251(feet)-251(below)-251(the)-251(level)-251(of)-251(a)]TJ 104.118 -13.55 Td[(roof-garden.")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 67.104 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 0 -28.322 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+869 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 870 0 R
+/Resources 868 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 848 0 R
+>> endobj
+834 0 obj <<
+/Type /XObject
+/Subtype /Image
+/Width 480
+/Height 793
+/BitsPerComponent 4
+/ColorSpace [/Indexed /DeviceRGB 15 871 0 R]
+/Length 190320    
+>>
+stream
+������DDHHH����DD���������������HD�DMDD�DD��"-����DDD����
+endobj
+871 0 obj <<
+/Length 48        
+>>
+stream
+���HHH���(((���hhh��������ѳ��XWX888wvw���endstream
+endobj
+868 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R >>
+/XObject << /Im5 834 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text /ImageC /ImageI ]
+>> endobj
+872 0 obj
+<< /S /GoTo /D (index19) >>
+endobj
+875 0 obj
+(Chapter Eighteen - A Departure And A Return)
+endobj
+878 0 obj <<
+/Length 3704      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 18.959 Tf 46.771 479.321 Td[(Chapter)-250(Eighteen)-251(-)-250(A)-250(Departure)-250(And)]TJ 0 -24.647 Td[(A)-250(Return)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 0 -33.79 Td[(The)-228(next)-227(day)-227(poor)-228(Aunt)-227(Mary)-228(had)-227(to)-228(undergo)-227(the)-228(ordeal)-227(of)-228(being)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(obliged)-315(to)-316(turn)-315(her)-316(face)-315(away)-315(from)-316(all)-315(those)-315(joys)-316(which)-315(had)-316(so)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(suddenly)-280(and)-281(brilliantly)-280(altered)-281(the)-280(hues)-281(of)-280(life)-280(for)-281(her.)-341(It)-281(pretty)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(nearly)-327(used)-327(her)-327(up.)-481(She)-327(took)-327(her)-327(reviving)-327(decoction)-327(with)-327(tears)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(standing)-376(in)-375(her)-375(eyes,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 93.789 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(and)-375(sat)-376(down)-375(the)-376(glass)-375(with)-376(a)-375(bursting)]TJ -104.698 -13.549 Td[(sigh.)-556("My,)-378(but)-352(I)-352(wish)-352(I)-352(knew)-352(when)-352(I'd)-352(be)-352(taking)-352(any)-353(more)-352(of)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(this?")-250(she)-250(said)-250(to)-250(Janice.)]TJ 11.956 -13.823 Td[("Oh,)-379(you'll)-353(com)-1(e)-353(back)-353(to)-354(the)-353(city)-353(some)-354(day,")-353(said)-353(the)-354(maid)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(hopefully.)]TJ 11.956 -13.823 Td[("Come)-406(back!")-405(said)-406(Aunt)-406(Mary.)-717("Well,)-445(I)-405(should)-406(say)-406(that)-406(I)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(would)-361(come)-361(back!)-582(Why)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 110.561 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(I)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 3.633 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(?")-361(she)-361(stopped)-360(suddenly,)-389("never)]TJ -136.012 -13.549 Td[(mind,")-390(she)-391(said)-390(after)-390(a)-391(minute,)-425("only)-390(you'll)-391(see)-390(that)-390(I'll)-391(come)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(back.)-250(Pretty)-250(surely)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 81.502 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(pretty)-250(positively.")]TJ -80.455 -13.823 Td[(Janice)-429(was)-428(folding)-429(her)-428(dresses)-429(into)-429(the)-428(small)-429(trunk.)-786(Aunt)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(Mary)-228(conte)-1(mplated)-228(the)-228(green)-229(plaid)-228(waist)-229(with)-228(an)-229(air)-228(of)-229(mournful)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(reflection.)]TJ 11.956 -13.823 Td[("I)-328(believe)-327(I'll)-328(always)-328(keep)-327(that)-328(waist)-328(rolled)-327(away,")-328(she)-328(mur-)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(mured.)-294("I)-265(shall)-265(like)-264(to)-265(shake)-265(it)-265(out)-264(once)-265(in)-265(a)-264(while)-265(to)-265(remind)-265(me)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(of)-250(things.")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([226])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -13.823 Td[("Hand)-506(me)-507(my)-506(purse,")-507(she)-506(said)-507(to)-506(the)-507(maid)-506(five)-507(minutes)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(afterwards.)-400("Here's)-301(twenty-five)-300(dollars)-300(an')-300(I)-300(want)-300(you)-300(to)-300(take)-301(it)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-250(get)-250(anythin')-250(you)-250(like)-250(with)-250(it.")]TJ 11.956 -13.823 Td[("But)-292(that's)-291(too)-292(much,")-291(Janice)-292(cried,)-302(putting)-291(her)-292(hands)-292(behind)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(her)-250(and)-250(shaking)-250(her)-250(head.)]TJ 11.956 -13.823 Td[("Take)-226(it,")-226(said)-225(Aunt)-226(Mary)-226(imperiously;)-234("you're)-226(well)-226(worth)-226(it.")]TJ 0 -13.823 Td[("I)-250(don't)-250(like)-250(to)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 62.476 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(truly,")-250(said)-250(the)-250(girl.)]TJ -73.385 -13.823 Td[("Take)-250(it,")-250(said)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(sternly.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+877 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 878 0 R
+/Resources 876 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 880 0 R
+>> endobj
+873 0 obj <<
+/D [877 0 R /XYZ 46.771 529.134 null]
+>> endobj
+879 0 obj <<
+/D [877 0 R /XYZ 95.164 175.904 null]
+>> endobj
+876 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+883 0 obj <<
+/Length 3955      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(160)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[(So)-250(Janice)-250(took)-250(it)-250(and)-250(thanked)-250(her.)]TJ 0 -16.459 Td[(The)-331(train)-331(went)-331(about)-331(4)-331(p.m.,)-351(and)-331(it)-331(seemed)-332(wise)-331(to)-331(give)-331(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(traveller)-314(a)-314(quiet)-314(luncheon)-314(in)-313(her)-314(own)-314(room)-314(and)-314(rally)-314(her)-314(escort)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(afterwards.)]TJ 11.956 -16.459 Td[(When)-269(she)-269(had)-269(eaten)-269(and)-269(drank)-269(she)-269(sighed)-269(again)-269(and)-269(thought-)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(fully)-250(folded)-250(her)-250(napkin.)]TJ 11.956 -16.459 Td[("I've)-428(had)-427(a)-428(nice)-427(time,")-428(she)-427(said,)-472(gazing)-428(fixedly)-427(out)-428(of)-428(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(window.)-640("I've)-380(had)-380(a)-381(nice)-380(time,)-412(and)-380(I)-380(guess)-380(those)-380(young)-381(men)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(have)-261(enjoyed)-261(it,)-264(too.)-284(I)-261(rather)-261(think)-262(my)-261(bein')-261(here)-261(has)-261(given)-262(them)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(a)-319(chance)-319(to)-319(go)-320(to)-319(a)-319(good)-319(many)-319(places)-319(where)-319(they'd)-319(never)-320(have)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(thought)-250(of)-250(goin')-250(alone.)-250(I'm)-250(pretty)-250(sure)-250(of)-250(it.")]TJ 11.956 -16.459 Td[(Janice)-250(made)-250(no)-250(reply.)]TJ 0 -16.459 Td[("But)-327(it's)-327(all)-327(over)-328(now,")-327(said)-327(Aunt)-327(Mary)-327(with)-327(something)-328(that)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(sounded)-330(suspiciously)-331(like)-330(a)-330(sob)-331(in)-330(her)-330(voice,)-351("an')-330(I)-330(haven't)-331(got)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(only)-250(just)-250(one)-250(consolation)-250(left)-250(an')-250(that's)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 166.953 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")-250(again)-250(she)-250(paused.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -250.617 0 Td[([227])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -16.459 Td[(Janice)-234(carried)-235(the)-234(tray)-235(away)-234(and)-235(the)-234(next)-234(minute)-235(they)-234(all)-235(burst)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(in)-250(bearing)-250(their)-250(parting)-250(gifts)-250(in)-250(their)-250(arms.)]TJ 11.956 -16.459 Td[(The)-253(gifts)-252(were)-253(an)-253(indiscriminate)-253(collection)-252(of)-253(flowers,)-254(candy,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(magazines,)-250(books,)-250(etc.)]TJ 11.956 -16.459 Td[(Aunt)-527(Mary)-527(opened)-528(her)-527(closet)-527(door)-527(and)-527(showed)-527(the)-528(four)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(dressing-cases.)-586(Everyone)-361(but)-362(Jack)-362(was)-362(mightily)-362(surprised)-362(and)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(everyone)-205(was)-205(mightily)-206(pleased.)-235(The)-205(room)-205(looked)-205(like)-206(Christmas,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-250(the)-250(faces,)-250(too.)]TJ 11.956 -16.459 Td[("I)-256(shall)-256(die)-256(with)-256(my)-256(head)-256(on)-256(the)-256(hair)-256(brush,")-257(Clover)-256(declared,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(and)-360(Mitchell)-361(went)-360(down)-360(on)-360(his)-361(knees)-360(and)-360(kissed)-360(Aunt)-361(Mary's)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(hand.)]TJ 11.956 -16.459 Td[("You)-222(must)-222(all)-223(come)-222(an')-222(see)-222(me)-223(if)-222(you)-222(ever)-222(go)-222(anywhere)-223(near,")]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(said)-250(the)-250(old)-250(lady.)-250("Now)-250(promise.")]TJ 11.956 -16.459 Td[("We)-431(promise,")-431(they)-432(yelled)-431(in)-431(unison,)-477(and)-431(then)-431(they)-432(asked)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(in)-371(beautiful)-372(rhythm)-371("What's)-372(the)-371(matter)-371(with)-372(Aunt)-371(Mary?")-372(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(yelled)-228(the)-229(answer)-228("She's)-228(all)-229(right!")-228(with)-228(a)-229(fervor)-228(that)-228(nearly)-229(blew)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(out)-250(the)-250(window.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+882 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 883 0 R
+/Resources 881 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 880 0 R
+>> endobj
+884 0 obj <<
+/D [882 0 R /XYZ 357.957 313.937 null]
+>> endobj
+881 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+887 0 obj <<
+/Length 4578      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Eighteen)-250(-)-250(A)-250(Departure)-250(And)-250(A)-250(Return)-5535(161)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[("I)-281(declare,")-282(Aunt)-282(Mary)-281(exclaimed,)-289(as)-282(the)-282(echoes)-281(settled)-282(back)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(among)-363(the)-364(furniture,)-392("when)-363(I)-363(think)-364(of)-363(Lucinda)-364(seems)-363(as)-364(if)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 265.27 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ -276.179 -13.549 Td[(she)-250(paused;)-250(further)-250(speech)-250(was)-250(for)-250(the)-250(nonce)-250(impossible.)]TJ 11.956 -15.857 Td[("The)-294(carriages)-293(are)-294(ready,")-294(Janice)-294(announced)-293(at)-294(the)-294(door,)-305(and)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(from)-440(then)-439(until)-440(they)-439(reached)-440(the)-439(train)-440(all)-439(was)-440(confusion)-440(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(bustle.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([228])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -15.857 Td[(Only)-317(the)-317(train)-318(whistle)-317(could)-317(drown)-317(the)-317(farewells)-317(which)-318(they)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(poured)-329(into)-330(her)-329(ear-trumpet,)-349(and)-330(when)-329(they)-329(could)-330(hover)-329(in)-330(her)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(drawing-room)-291(no)-290(longer)-291(they)-291(stood)-290(outside)-291(the)-290(window)-291(as)-291(long)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(as)-413(the)-413(window)-412(was)-413(there)-413(to)-413(stand)-413(outside)-413(of.)-738(And)-413(then)-413(they)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(watched)-215(it)-215(until)-215(it)-215(was)-215(out)-215(of)-215(sight,)-222(and)-215(after)-215(that)-216(turned)-215(solemnly)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(away.)]TJ 11.956 -15.856 Td[("By)-405(grab!")-404(said)-405(Burnett,)-443("I)-405(think)-404(she)-405(ought)-405(to)-404(leave)-405(us)-405(all)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(fortunes.)-250(I)-250(never)-250(was)-250(so)-250(completely)-250(done)-250(up)-250(in)-250(my)-250(life.")]TJ 11.956 -15.857 Td[("My)-204(throat's)-204(blistered,")-204(said)-204(Clover)-204(feebly;)-220("I'm)-204(going)-204(to)-204(stand)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(on)-250(my)-250(head)-250(and)-250(gargle)-250(with)-250(salve)-250(until)-250(my)-250(throat's)-250(healed.")]TJ 11.956 -15.857 Td[("I)-432(shall)-432(never)-432(shine)-432(on)-433(the)-432(team)-432(again,")-432(said)-432(Mitchell.)-797("I)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(shall)-503(hire)-504(out)-503(for)-503(bleacher)-503(work.)-1010(He)-503(who)-503(has)-504(successfully)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(conversed)-423(with)-423(Aunt)-424(Mary)-423(need)-423(not)-423(fear)-423(to)-423(attack)-423(a)-424(Wagner)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Opera)-250(single-handed.")]TJ 11.956 -15.857 Td[(Jack)-437(did)-437(not)-437(say)-437(anything.)-810(His)-437(heart)-437(was)-437(athirst)-437(for)-437(Mrs.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Rosscott.)]TJ 11.956 -15.857 Td[(She)-245(was)-245(back)-244(in)-245(her)-245(own)-245(library)-245(the)-244(next)-245(night,)-246(and)-245(he)-245(rushed)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(thither)-263(as)-264(soon)-263(as)-264(his)-263(first)-263(day's)-264(labor)-263(was)-264(over.)-290(She)-263(was)-264(prettier)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-297(her)-297(eyes)-298(were)-297(sweeter)-297(and)-297(brighter)-298(than)-297(ever)-297(as)-297(she)-297(rose)-298(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(meet)-299(him)-298(and)-299(held)-298(out)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 99.69 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(first)-299(one)-298(hand,)-311(and)-298(then)-299(both.)-396(He)-298(took)]TJ -110.599 -13.549 Td[(the)-369(one)-369(hand)-369(and)-370(then)-369(the)-369(two)-369(and)-369(the)-369(longing)-369(that)-370(possessed)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(him)-315(was)-316(so)-315(overwhelming)-316(that)-315(only)-315(his)-316(acute)-315(consideration)-316(for)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([229])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.55 Td[(all)-250(she)-250(was)-250(to)-250(him)-250(kept)-250(him)-250(from)-250(taking)-250(more)-250(yet.)]TJ 11.956 -15.856 Td[("And)-350(the)-350(week's)-351(over,")-350(she)-350(said,)-376(when)-350(she)-350(had)-350(dragged)-351(her)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(fingers)-372(out)-371(of)-372(his)-372(and)-371(gone)-372(and)-372(nestled)-372(down)-371(upon)-372(the)-372(divan,)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(among)-243(the)-243(pillows)-243(that)-243(rivaled)-242(each)-243(other)-243(in)-243(their)-243(attempts)-243(to)-243(get)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(closer)-250(to)-250(her,)-250("the)-250(week's)-250(all)-250(over)-250(and)-250(our)-250(aunt)-250(is)-250(gone.")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+886 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 887 0 R
+/Resources 885 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 880 0 R
+>> endobj
+888 0 obj <<
+/D [886 0 R /XYZ 78.288 448.122 null]
+>> endobj
+889 0 obj <<
+/D [886 0 R /XYZ 314.681 136.195 null]
+>> endobj
+885 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+892 0 obj <<
+/Length 4366      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(162)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[("Yes,")-333(he)-332(said,)-353(rolling)-333(his)-332(favorite)-333(chair)-332(up)-333(near)-333(to)-332(her)-333(seat,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[("all)-250(is)-250(over)-250(and)-250(well)-250(over.")]TJ 11.956 -15.836 Td[(She)-250(smiled)-250(and)-250(he)-250(smiled)-250(too.)]TJ 0 -15.835 Td[("She)-250(must)-250(have)-250(enjoyed)-250(it,")-250(she)-250(said)-250(thoughtfully.)]TJ 0 -15.836 Td[("Enjoyed)-281(it!")-281(said)-280(Jack.)-343("She)-280(won't)-281(like)-281(Paradise)-281(in)-281(compari-)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(son.")]TJ 11.956 -15.835 Td[("And)-262(you've)-262(been)-262(a)-262(good)-262(boy,")-262(said)-262(Mrs.)-287(Rosscott,)-265(regarding)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(him)-250(merrily.)-250("You've)-250(played)-250(your)-250(part)-250(well.")]TJ 11.956 -15.836 Td[(He)-250(rose)-250(to)-250(his)-250(feet)-250(and)-250(put)-250(his)-250(hand)-250(to)-250(his)-250(temple.)]TJ 0 -15.835 Td[("I)-429(salute)-429(my)-429(general,")-428(he)-429(said.)-787("I)-429(was)-429(well)-429(trained)-429(in)-429(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(maneuver.")]TJ 11.956 -15.835 Td[("It's)-310(odd,")-310(said)-310(Mrs.)-430(Rosscott)-310(thoughtfully.)-430("It)-311(was)-310(really)-310(so)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(simple.)-484(We)-328(are)-328(only)-328(w)-1(omen)-328(after)-328(all,)-347(whether)-328(it)-328(is)-328(I)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 235.237 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(or)-328(Aunt)]TJ -246.146 -13.549 Td[(Mary)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 23.629 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.91 0 Td[(or)-194(all)-195(the)-194(rest)-194(of)-195(the)-194(world.)-232(We)-194(do)-194(so)-195(crave)-194(the)-194(knowledge)]TJ -34.539 -13.55 Td[(that)-296(someone)-297(cares)-296(for)-296(us)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 112.897 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(for)-296(our)-296(hours)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 57.965 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(for)-296(our)-296(pleasures.)-389(It)]TJ -192.68 -13.549 Td[(isn't)-232(the)-232(bonbons)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 73.087 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(it's)-232(that)-232(someone)-232(troubled)-231(to)-232(buy)-232(the)-232(bonbons)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -156.751 0 Td[([230])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(because)-250(he)-250(thought)-250(that)-250(they)-250(would)-250(please)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 186.938 0 Td[(us)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 9.698 0 Td[(.")]TJ -184.68 -15.835 Td[("Doesn't)-317(a)-316(man)-317(have)-317(the)-316(same)-317(feeling?")-316(Jack)-317(asked.)-450("It)-317(isn't)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(the)-233(tea)-232(we)-233(come)-233(for)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 85.272 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(it's)-233(the)-232(knowledge)-233(that)-233(someone)-232(bothers)-233(to)]TJ -96.181 -13.549 Td[(make)-250(it)-250(and)-250(sugar)-250(it)-250(and)-250(cream)-250(it.")]TJ 11.956 -15.835 Td[("I)-250(wasn't)-250(laughing,")-250(said)-250(she.)]TJ 0 -15.836 Td[("I)-250(wasn't)-250(laughing)-250(either,")-250(said)-250(he.)]TJ 0 -15.835 Td[("But)-264(it's)-264(true,")-264(she)-263(went)-264(on,)-268("and)-263(I)-264(think)-264(the)-264(solution)-264(of)-264(many)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(unhappy)-280(puzzles)-279(lies)-280(there.)-339(Don't)-279(forget)-280(if)-279(you)-280(ever)-279(have)-280(a)-280(wife)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-250(pay)-250(lots)-250(of)-250(attention)-250(to)-250(her.")]TJ 11.956 -15.835 Td[("I)-400(always)-401(have)-400(paid)-401(lots)-400(of)-401(attention)-400(to)-401(her,)-438(haven't)-400(I?")-401(he)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(demanded.)]TJ 11.956 -15.836 Td[(Mrs.)-250(Rosscott)-250(shook)-250(her)-250(head.)]TJ 0 -15.835 Td[("We)-275(won't)-274(discuss)-275(that,")-275(she)-275(said.)-324("We'll)-274(stick)-275(to)-275(Aunt)-275(Mary.)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(Aunt)-345(Mary)-344(is)-345(a)-345(rock)-344(whose)-345(foundation)-345(is)-344(firm;)-392(when)-345(it)-345(comes)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-223(your)-224(relations)-223(toward)-223(other)-223(women)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 163.062 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")-223(she)-224(stopped,)-228(shrugging)]TJ -173.971 -13.549 Td[(her)-250(shoulders,)-250(and)-250(he)-250(understood.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+891 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 892 0 R
+/Resources 890 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 880 0 R
+>> endobj
+893 0 obj <<
+/D [891 0 R /XYZ 211.234 298.933 null]
+>> endobj
+890 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R /F18 18 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+897 0 obj <<
+/Length 2454      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Eighteen)-250(-)-250(A)-250(Departure)-250(And)-250(A)-250(Return)-5535(163)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[("But)-183(it's)-184(going)-183(to)-184(come)-183(out)-183(all)-184(right)-183(now,)-197(I'm)-183(sure,")-184(she)-183(went)-184(on)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(after)-277(a)-278(minute,)-284("and)-277(I'm)-278(so)-277(glad)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 138.862 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(so)-277(very)-278(glad)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 53.921 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(that)-277(the)-278(chance)]TJ -214.601 -13.549 Td[(was)-250(given)-250(to)-250(me)-250(to)-250(right)-250(the)-250(wrong)-250(that)-250(I)-250(was)-250(the)-250(cause)-250(of.")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 465.751 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 5.595 -198.405 cm
+ q 4.4208 0 0 4.4208 0 0 cm
+1 0 0 1 2.728 0 cm
+ q 1 0 0 1 0 0 cm
+q
+57.5998 0 0 44.8798 0 0 cm
+/Im6 Do
+Q
+ Q
+1 0 0 1 -2.728 0 cm
+ Q
+1 0 0 1 -52.366 -267.346 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.042 248.342 Td[("'And)-252(now)-251(the)-252(fun's)-252(all)-252(over)-251(and)-252(the)-252(work)-251(begins,')-253(she)-251(said,)]TJ 95.215 -13.549 Td[(looking)-266(down.")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 226.96 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -226.96 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 174.536 Td[(He)-370(looked)-371(at)-370(her)-371(and)-370(his)-371(eyes)-370(almost)-371(burned,)-401(they)-370(were)-371(so)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(strong)-204(in)-205(their)-204(leaping)-204(desire)-205(to)-204(fling)-204(himself)-204(at)-205(her)-204(feet)-204(and)-205(adore)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(her)-334(goodness)-334(and)-334(sweetness)-334(and)-334(worldliness)-334(and)-335(wisdom)-334(from)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([231])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(that)-250(vantage-ground)-250(of)-250(worship.)]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[(She)-252(choked)-252(a)-251(little)-252(at)-252(the)-252(glance)-252(and)-251(put)-252(her)-252(hands)-252(together)-252(in)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(her)-250(lap)-250(with)-250(a)-250(quick)-250(catching)-250(at)-250(self-control.)]TJ 11.956 -13.55 Td[("And)-336(now)-335(the)-336(fun's)-335(all)-336(over)-336(and)-335(the)-336(work)-335(begins,")-336(she)-336(said,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(looking)-250(down.)]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[("I)-250(know)-250(that,")-250(he)-250(asseverated.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+896 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 897 0 R
+/Resources 895 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 880 0 R
+>> endobj
+894 0 obj <<
+/Type /XObject
+/Subtype /Image
+/Width 480
+/Height 374
+/BitsPerComponent 4
+/ColorSpace [/Indexed /DeviceRGB 15 899 0 R]
+/Length 89760     
+>>
+stream
+"*�f���nQQQ����YUS^����U�Y�ffffnnnnfnf������fffn���Y��]n��]]��=^�f�n������������Y����]UՕY���Y���UUU�U����ՙ�ՙ���Y�����������Y�]ݕUYY������������YUY�U�U�Y���U���YU�U�YU��]��3=�333;;3;3�����{wwwwww����������ffn����YUݞUU՝��^�YU��Ցff���f���n�fff����ffnn�f=Ց��]�U]U�U��3Q������������YUU�U����U]]��]�U�����]�]�]�Օ��]]]��U�UU]Q�Y]U����UQU�U��=UU��U�]Y�Y��UUUUU��]U�������fn��Q������UUn����������f��f�n�n��Q�]���Y��Q�YYYU��ff�fn�ffj���ffff��ffnn�Օ���U��U�]]]��3��������������Y�YUUU]YY��YU]��UݕU�]������UUU��]�����UUYU]QU]UUYU�������]�]3�]U]��UY�U�U]ՕՙUY�Y�]Y�Qfa3��ٕ�Y�Y��U]�S3=3Q��ՙQQ����f����a�fa��jf�n�fj�U�QYUQՕ������Y�Y�f�f�nfnjj�jj��n�f��fjffّ��ᙝ��]]]U]]�=Q�ᑞ���陙��]Q�UYU]]Y����UU�U�U�U�]]�]��UUU���]�U��Y���Y�Q�U���Y��U��]]�Օ��UUUUՙYYU�]YU�����U�Y�Q�n���ٕ�Y�Y��Y��S�=�Q��ՕY�Y����n�U��i��a���"jn���j���QQ�U���Q��n���U]Y��ff�jff���jff�ffff�jf�f��a����]�]UUUU�Q���������������U�YUUU��Y�U��ٙ��UUUU���]��U�YU�U�UY���Q�QYUY����YY]�]U]Q��]Q�UY����]UU���U���YUQj�ݞ�Y��YY����YU���^��Q�Q����a��nf��ffn�j�����������������Yfffjf�n�j�fj���nfff�jj����Y�n��n�UUՕUU�^��������������Y��UU�����U]Y�Y�YU]YUUY�U��U����]U��Y����U��������U�U]���Y�Q�UY����]UUY��Y�Y]Q������Y����Y�Q]��ݖni���Q��Y�����i�a���j��n�fnj��*�Y����Y�������Q�ffffffjj�*jjjjn�jfjfjj�����Q^n�]]]��Uݞn������������������Uٙ���UUUY���YUY��]UYY�����]Uّ���YY����Y��UUU�YaU�������]U���UUQQj.��Y��Y�Y�QY�]�ՖfaU�Q�������Y���a���j�f�ff"�"����a����Ֆ�n�UUY���ff��ff��������nfj�jjff�iS=�]�f��n�]]]�U�U�f������n��Q�鑙���Ց�����]Q�YUUY���YU��U��YU�ٕ���Y����Y��UU�UUQa�Q�Y�U�鑕UU�����U���j�]���Y�U��YQ�]�ݚfaUYQ���n�Ua���jn�fn��"������a�i��U��a��Uݙ�檦njf�f��������nj�����]��՚f��n�]]U�UUU�ff���n��fa�����Q�����UY����YUY���UYU]��QYYYY����UY��YY������]UUٞ�Q����Y��UU�UU]Q����j�]��љ�U�Y�Q�]�Ֆ����Y^��n��i�jn��*fnfj�,*��i�n�aយ�Y���fᙙ��Y���j��������fjnn檪���j�a���U�f��U]]�UYU�nf����jn����jn�������UU��YUUQ�UU�ՙU�]]�ݕQ���Y����U]�UU�U���U�UUQ�UU�YUU�Y����b!���Q�U��YQ�]�ݚ��U�Y���a�����j��&�j�j�fnn�,*�*a��n�aa��陙��n��Y閪��j�����**�j�����ffj�"�U�UY�j�U�UU]U���Uff�������a����Qjn��Y���UUYᙙU�Q�UUY�YYYUUUU�Y��������Y�]UU]UYY���Y����������n镑�������^Y���Q]�U��aU����a��⡙�n�*�"j�nnfj�"���a�nj�យi��a���f�n����������j������������*��U�U����UUU��Y��n���fn�jn��j��������U�������������Օ�Y������UYYj�U�UU�Uٙ��ᙑ���������b.�f�Q��Y�^�Y���]U��U������������bn�"���ffnfj"*������nj�a������n����f�j�j�������ݞ����j�"n��YU�*��f��U���U՞�a����f�����Yj��������UY�������Y���U]�U��UQ�UU����Y�UUՙ����U��Y���Y�������Y��^�����Y���QY��U�U��YQ鑙�f����b��bn���j�"fn��"&����������a��a���ꪪ��j��������n��*����*��UUU��f�U���UU�f�����������Qj�n������n�����UY�������UUYY��Y���UY�����Y��UY�U�U��UY����UY����镑�^�����ٕ�YQ����UU�"!Y��n�f�졙��a"f���fnj�**f�ᖑ�����Ֆnn�Q�������jj�jff�j�a�Q�*�����"a�UU��f��f�UU�YYY��n�aQ����j������j&f����UU��������Y��Y���U���aY������YY�UUUUY�Q���Y���YU�������U��Q��]��Y��Y�Q����U�ݚ�aU�������ᙙQ졑�n�Ħ�jff��j�"����a���i��]�Vn�n���ᖦ���f����Y���b**����"a��YU�����U���UU�n��n�nja���Yffn�����U��n�������Y��Y��Y��U����Y�U]UYQ��ᙙ]�����UY����Y���.��ٕ�Y�Q��YQ�U]UjiU���������*��Ħ�f�jnj�"*�"�a��i��3V�n�f����*�j��������]^�檪�����"��]UY�����U���YY�f�����f�ja�Y�������U����Y陑���ᙕ����Y����U�j���]�Q����UY����������陕������ٕ�YQ��Y���UU]�jiY�Q�������a����!�"n�$�j*"jaf�"���n���]��n�������檪j�����i��]�Y��������*a�YYU���^���YU�YU�����ffn������Y��������Y����������ᙕY������ᙙ��j�Y�]U���������ᙕU�U������!��ѕYY�Y���]U���Y����Y������*n��¦j����f���������U��n�n�f����jjj����Օ�ݞj����j�����Q�����^*�U���YU����f�nf����Q�n������U��n��������ᙙY��YQ�陕U�f�YY]U������������������Y�����nѕY�Q�Y��U��]�iU�����a����i"n��&�f�aY�j"��*�n��j�i]�֮�n�Ya�檪jj�j���UU]�梪�����"a�bn��V������U՚��a�nfj���Y�����Qn�YU�n����呑���f�Y���UU���]�j�Y�U՞������Y��Y�ᙙ�UY��Y�Y����!�f�QՕ^���Q�Y]]�iUQ���a���li,n��*"����j�"�j�a���j��a]�ޮ����Q�*�ff����n��]����*��"�*�a�jfn��^*����U�j*����fnnf����Y������Y�������������ᙙ���YU���Y��U������Y�������!�f�Q�Y�����Y�����iYQ�����鑙��졑�jn�"�""f��,*���i���b��a��ޮiY�Y��n*��j��j�nf�]��n������"��f�f�ު������U�����jf�fj����Yj�����������n�������ᙙ�������Yf�Y�UUY��UY����YYU����������f�Q��Y�Q��Y�Y�UU՚��Y�����������l.�"j��b*�"��b,*����^���aYa���na��UY���*�ff�j���n]���*���*���f��n�^*������������f�n�j���j��������ᙕ���n����������n��a��i��������Y�YU��YY���Y�Y�����.�f�љ�Y�Q�Y���]]��iY����YY�i�Y^�.������,fa��"j����n�i]3^n������nꢦjj��j�����f�"��"��a�fn��^��Y��U��n�ff����ffn��Qjn�����������������nn��ᙙ�jY���Q镑��UUUY������U��Q��U��V�����Q��YY���������eQ�����Y�i����*f�D�fbf��ª����V�n�i���n�f�U�]�n��jff�**�nU�f�***"��ajfff�Q"���Y�Y��&n���fnj��f���ᙑjn��Ua������������������n���a�Y��Y�U�����UUUY��ᙙ�陕UUY�����Q���&�fљ�Q����Y��U���eU���Y�陙��l&�nDa�jn��*"����^�����]�Ѯ�n�����"��fj��������n�"��*��a��n�^��Y����YU����nn�ff�jn�������n���U�n��Y��n�����Q����a����a��Yf����Q�Y��UUUUU������UU����]�U��.�f�љ����Y�Y��]UjiY�Y��ᕙ�����l��"nLfaf���j�"����^�n��aU�Y��n��������jj�*������*""�*��Qf����Q����YUU����n���n��aff���fn�a�n����n�����������n�����������Yᕑ�UU]U���Qn�Y�����U��Q�.��j�ѕ�Q��Q��U��U*�U�Q�UUQ�������*�Laf*jn�j��*�*��^af�a�a]�Ѧnf镑����jj�����Y��UY��"�*�**�ՑUV��^����UU������n�n��j��ff����j�������n��f��f陕����n�f�Qa�n������Y�UU�UU��Y�ᙑ������]�U�����fQU�Q��Y�QU�]]���QYU�U�Y�ᙙY������B��¬�jf����a��n��]]Q��f���U���fffjj*�Y����j�*j��*�UY�^��^��U�UUՖ�fff�fjn�f��n���n�������n��n���a��������a�a������U��UU]��a������ᙙ�U�ՙ]��.��f�U�Q����U��]����jeٕQ�UY��i������*a�L"���n��f�jj�V���a�]]ѮnᙕUU�*f���jj������j�����"�U���jn�^��U�Y�����������f��n��jn���������ᑮ�����Y��ᙙ����a������UY�n��Ynff���a��Y�U]�U^�!=�jQ�QQ�Y�Y]��U��ٕQU�Y�Y��陙���ឪ���",$���jf������^a��aa]�Q�n�]�U��*�f�jj��fn����j����""�U����aު�U����U�jj�njj��fa�n���n�����Y�Y���n�����ᙑ�n�������a��f���U�Y��Y������������U]Y]^���f�ѝٕQ��U�Y]����f�ٕ��Y�Q�����a��n�����a���jjj�^a�aU�Q�n�UY�]Y��*����f��f�����n�jf���",�U����^���U�������f�fj�n�a�����jnf���Y����n���������f���a�����UUY��Y��������U����U�UQ����QUY�^��U�YU�]U�fٕYU��U�Y�ᙙ����*a��""��ꦦ�f���^�a��nn�]�nn�UY��Y��f��ff��fn���nꪦ���"�����n^��U�Y��Y��f�fffn�������Y�fn���UY�����n�nn�������n�j��YUU������������������U�Y]Ѣ�=�ѕѕQ��U��U�]�f��Օ��YU��������.���"�,���j��fb��^a�n��nU��n�n��Y���j�fj��nnn��jfb*����"����f�Qj�����YY�f�����ff�����UY�nf���U������n�����n�f������a�������]Y����^���������������]�]Q�)�f��]Y�Q��YU��U���jٝ�U�U��Va�����&����"����f�jf�i�^�ᖙnUU�nnn�����j�f�����f���f��j�j���"�Y��f�Ѫ��Y��Q����ff�f����Y�n�����Q�Y���n��陙���fᑑ�jja�����UY�������jf��ᙕ�UU�Y�ՙUQ��=n�UQ���Y�Y�����jUUU��UY�陙��,�"����""f���f���Q�a�n�UQ��n���n���jj������Ynfnj���f�,��U�^j�^������Q����f������Yn��ᕙUQᙙ���f�ᙑ���������nfn����fYUY��Y���fff�����UUY��ݑU^���f�Y��Q��Y]�]����j�Y��U��UQ�Y��"ឦ���***fnnj����������UѮ���n����ff�*j���Y�nfnꢦ���".������Ѫ���Y�f��fnf�����Y�n��U�YY������ᙙ��a�f�n����������U��U���������nff���Y�YUQ�U]�U^"��f��UQ������]�U��fQ��U�YU�Y������^*�"&j�aa����fi�Q���^n�]Y����f���j�fjj�j��U��f�nj����""��Y������Q�����Y�jn�ff���n����U�������Y��ff������n�f�n�j������*Y�Y����Y����n�n��YUUQ��ՑU^,�����UQ����UQ��]Uf�YU�U�YYQ���Y���"^*ʪa�*�a�j�fi����i��UU�f��Y�n�����榦�*�]��fjfj��j��"*陑���Q������Q�����f����f���Y������Y�����n�f��f�fn��f�jᙖᙙ����Y���U�UY�������Y��]U�^�!5��YUY��UYUQ�U�Y�jٕ�UٙY��陑�����&�fnf�f���Q����f�U�f�f�Qf�����jj��"*�]�^fjnj�����"����j��Q�陙��YY�������n����n��U�n�陑����Y���n���������ffn�f����fn�Yᕙ���UY�����YY�������U���UU�^����YYٝ�UY]Y�UUY�YU�UYYQ�Y��*�^*��殑fn��njf��e^���n��nn��nf�*���j��&�Uݑ^j�nꪪ�*"*�ff�f�Y�i���Y����������n�����Y�a����������f���n��n��n�nf�f��j�Y�i�����U��UYY�Y��������aUU��"�5n�QY�Q�����]Y]UUY�jYUUY�����"^*���"��fn��j���ji�Qi���nUU�n��fffn���f������U�j��j��*�**�榮�f�٢����Q������fn�ff��n����U������U����n���nn�n���ja��U����������YYY��������a��U����5��^�Y��U�Y]�U]�٪�YU�YYU���Y���"�^�*��a�j�jf��jj�Q�n�YYf��fn�����jj���YU�f���*��**�n��j�nf��Q�陙Y���&�fff�j�������Y�������������������f����n�f��Y���晕��Y��U�QaU�f���������UY��"���f�QYY�Y�ٝ��U]�jjYU�YY�YQ�����"^���"*n��j��fj�QQ���n��Y�n���n�n������"*�QYYj��b���**���f��f�呪����Y�����fa��������U��n����Y�Y�a����n��nn�f��fn��Y������QaY�陙Y��&������UU�V��5�f]YUQ���Y]�U�]�j�Q�U�YYQ����"������,��n��f�j����i�����U٦���j���*����*n^�Qj�b"*���*���n�f�Ѫ������&�ja�����a����Y���陙����Y���������jff�f��&n��U������a��i�Y��������UYᕖ��5�f�YY��U�U�UU]�j��QUY�Y�U���Y����V�n�,"�a�ff�j�����i�YQ�n�U�n��f��*�j�j�"a��Qj��**���*��n�f�鑢���YY�&��a����������UU�n�����YY�����n��f���nn���*�na���榑����Y����a��f������an�Y����5f�YUQ����Q���]�٦��Q�Y��Y^�Y���"閦fl�*a�f��j���j�i�����f�U�nn�������������*n�]����*���*n�nf���j��Y���an��a���n�UU���陙�����������f������n���f��j&��ᑙ��f���������������ja�U*�����UQ����UU��j��QY�Y��Y�����*Z��l�&�jfn�ff����i��Y�f��Yfnj����������**f��U��n��n�b*n�����f��Yji�ᑙ��fn�n�����a���UYj���Y����ᙕ����fᙙ����jnn��f���a����������YU�����������Yᙖ������U����Q��Y��j��YY�Y�Q������ʙ���"���*jfnn�f�f�a�YY��Y�Y�n��a��������fn����&���n�fn�n��Qj����Y��ff�n�fa���UYf�ᑙ������������n������a�j�����ᑑ�榑�Q��U���U����������������5��QU��Y���U�]�j��Y��Y�Q�Y�����ʕZ�l�&f����j��nQ�Q��a�YUQf��f�n��檪������fn��j��fj�j�j�aU��n�a�j�����f������a����n�Y��ᙙ�YY�Y������af�����f����j����a�������f��U��������Y����^����fQ��Y��UU��f��QUQ�Q���U��ƕVa�b"j�"�f��fff�f����Y��af�U�nnf��n�����f���n�j�����**��nQ�jn��a�ji�Y��ff�����a������ji����Y�������n�a�n����j�f������a��������������ᕙ���������ᕞ"��jQY��Y���UU]�f��QU��Q������ƙ�a�b"�b��n�nfjffj�Q呙�af�Q��n��n���*j��������ᙑꢪ�j�����n�nff���Qji��Y����f�njf��a����Qf�f������U���n�n�����Y�f�n��fn��Y�a���j���������ᙙa����Y����QYU������U��Y��]U��jf��Y���^���V��b.���j��f�jj���Q�a�fn��nnn�榪�����*�����*��������n������Qji��nU�f����ff���a����ᙑf�����Y���nQ�f�n���a���f���a��n�&������Y������镙�Y������QY�����檝����Y��U]��j*�QY�Q��Y�����*隮�.����j��nnj�jji�Q���aa����n���n��f�jjjf��*n��鑙"*�������n���ffᑪa��U�����fff����a��j������nY�f�����������f�fn��&������������陑���Y�UU�Y���Q�Y�U���5�Qi�Y���]UU�f��YU�Y��Q�ᙖ&��b��""�jn�nfj�j��������f�UY��n���f�n�*���jj*"f���U����*�����ff��n�i��a�U�j���fn���nfnj�����������陞���a���n�����n�������Y�YY������Y�UYUQ�Y�Y᝖��5��Qi��喕UU]Qj���YQ���������b�f���fn�ffj�jfa�Y������Q�n�Yfnj���*������"n�����������������n��ᑢ����jj�ja�f������j���������������jn����a���n���U����U�ᕙ�YYU���QY�Yᕞ"���Q��Q��UU�Q���YY���Y�ᙙ��n�b��*"���ff�檡����Qa���U���f��fj�檪��**�"�n��Y��*���"��n�j��鑪a�ᑙj"f�f�n���a������������n�ff����fna��nf����UU�����Y��Y�UYU��UQ�Y�a��"�5��Q���呕�UU]Q�f��U��Y��ᙑ��F��,��"��nnf�fj�fj�������YYf�f��ja�j�*���nn��U���"*����*���fnfn�aQ�������f�jnff��j������Q��������n���n����ᑙ�殑������U������Y��ᕕU�]U�UYQY������j�喕^��U��^���QU��Y��������f᢮�"�"fnjj����j����Q�a�YYffnfff��檪�f*�"&�f�������"�*�j���fnf�n�a�ja������ff�f����n������Qj���������������a��a�����n��n���UY�Y���UU��Y��UUUUU��Y�Y�Yᕖ�)�j����^��]U]^*����QQY����U����b&��*"*��jnf�f��榡����i�UQj�fn�jf�����j�"��&n��Y��*��*�*��n��f���a�j���������jjb����a����Yj�����ff�����n�f������ᙙ�Y����YY���U�U]]U�陕QYU��Yꪝ��Q���U]^����YQYY�����.b�ᢪ�&"��fff����j�U��i�a��Y��j��jj�jf����***��������*�"������a�fna��a����"*�j������n����j������������n����������na����榙�Y���U�ᕑ��UU�QYU�UUY��Y���U�"�QffQ���Q��U]UQj���Y�Q������ba�j*n��j�jn�ff��YU����^i��Qj�fj��j�*�*�����n��ꪪ***�������fn���aQfa������*�j�*��i�a����Qf�陙�������n����������i�ᑙ������YUU���U�YY���UUUUQ�ᑑ�YY�"�Qjj���Q��UU^�n��Y��QQ����N��,��fj"�ffn�f�QU�^�a��Y��jj�]j�"""��"��������**�*�"j�f�n�fn�jn������fj����an�����������Q���n�a���fjᑑ��i��������Y�ᕙ�����U�Yᙙ���YY�U�����Q���Y,�U�jYU�^��ݕ]^����Y�����U��������ʦ��f�f�n�nj�QY�����UY�f�f陙UUn���"��"*�n��������*"���f�n�nfiQjn��������jj��jnj�����j��������n�f����f�������a��������YYY���U�Y��U�UY�����YU"�Yj��U�f���UU������Q^Q��Y���.�n�,�n��ffj�jfj�ff�YՑ��^��晙��f���YY�f����*�"*�n��Yb�����*"�n�������Yj������fnff�f��ajn�����j������n��f����Y��j�鞙鑙��f������YYQ��ᙙY�����YUU�ᙙQ���Y],���j�ѕ���j��U]�f���QQ�Q��Y���.��,¦nnjff�ff��f�iQ���Qa�����j�Y�j"*�"��"�ff���j*��*��**���nffa�����������j�fn����f����nj���������.f�����Y��f������n����YY^��U�Y����UU��ᙞ�Q�YU��Qf��ٝ�U�^���]��^fn�����Q�����YY��&b���¢�,�n�jf��fj�Q��Q�n��Qjf�fiU���f������"*�jᙑj*������������fa�j������f�ff��jfa�����j��������n�&���YU^ni����������U��Yᕙ�U�Q��YYY�����Q�Y���Qff�ٝ�U���UU]^�nU�Y��Q�Y����!bf,�,��"�f�ff�jnj�Q��^�a����n��陙�f����*""�nf�YY�j�*���***�����f��Qj�����ꦪ�f�j"��i�n��fn�����������n����fa����UUY�f����a������U���U�Q�Y�U�UYY������YU,�Qjf]ѝU^�i�UU^�n���Q������!�n��n"��*jfjfj�nj�Q����aᙙ��"f����n�����*"�jn������"*""*�j�����f��fa�����fjf"�na�n�n���ja��ᙙ����n�jfn����U���������n��Q���Y�YU�Y���U��U�Y�Q��Y,�Q�f�Q���^��U՞�nU�Y������j��"a��jjn�ffj�fj�����naᙙb�*fa����f�*j���"��n�YY��""""��*�����n�f��Y殪�f�f�ffajn��nn��j���������n���nយ����Y���i�桑��������Y��U�Y���U�YUU�U�Q�YU���jf]�Q����Q�ՕU�����QY�������&�bf��!�j�fn��b��f������na���n��n��jf**�����&f�n��j"""������������ja�Yfj�f�f���a���f�f����������n��f���������fn�����������Q��U�UQ���������������]"iQjn]Q����nQU����aU�Q^����Y����!�&��*��"¦��f�j�ffn���^�a�Ybn��a��b��""���"��f�jfn檪"*����������ja�YU�"jnn�j*���n�f��n��j��������n���a����������a��陙�nYn��������UUU����UU�Q����UY]"��jn]�Y�����YU�����Q��鑙�n���������j���ꪢ��nf����f�Q��Qnn�Y�jn��a���f*"��*�"�fn�jf��jj�&j������f��Qfn����j*��j��*��bn��f���fa�����f��fn������f����a���a��n��n�����Y��U����U�UUUU��UQ���Y�"�Yj�]Q����n�UU�^����������Uᕙ�����"�ff�jf�n�����f�����陑ja���]��*����*ff��n�fjj����������^j���j*��j��f����������������f����n����a���a�a����n��Yᙙ������Q������YYYYYYY�UQ�Y]QU,�Yff����f��YUU�^f�UY�������Y�Y��ja"*���&f�f�������Qf�j�j���n]Vaj�����*�j�Y�f�檪����j**������Y����������f�������ff������������n陙���n��ᙙ��aa��ᑙ�ᙕ�����YY���Q��a��Y��Y����U��]Y�U"�Yjf�n�n���Uݞ��]���Q�U��a��YU���f�¢��b�nnfff��nf�����Q�n���f�f���n�*&��"��f���ffj��*�&��*��陑jn������fjjf�fn��n���f�j����������Y�����������n��ᙕ�������UYY��YY��a�UUYY��U���]ٙU��Y�nU��a��Q�UU]�������Q����Y�UYY�aY��"ʮf"�jfn榪�nf������Q�����fj����j����*�������fjjb�*����������Yfa��������jnf��a�����j��n��������n����a�����n�Y�����陙�f��������UU��UU��a�Y�U����]��]�U"���n]�^����^����V��U�YQ����YUU�i��i�"�"�",ff�榪�n榙�����n�ᑪf�nf�j�*��*��fn�ff檪*""*���nj����Qja�������n�n���a�����a�f��������n����n�������Y���������Y�n������YU���Y�������UYU���UQ�U�՚��������i��Q��]U��nU������Y陙�U�iYj^,��""�����jj�f����n��j�����n��ꢪj***nf�f����"��"�a��ff���鑪����fff��f����fn�nf���n����n����n����U���������n���ᑙ��Y�����Y�������UYUY�]����U"i��nU��Yi���U�V��UYY�����ᕕ���Y�^��""""a�ffjj��f��an��f�a�n����ꪦ����ffn�ff�����*����&a�f����n����n���nn�j����f��njf��f�������nᙑ������U����Y���YY�n�YY������UU����n���������Y��U"����Y��Yi��QU�]�fnU�Y��aY���a���,�,""��f�j��ff�����n�j�n���fj����jfffff�fn�*j�����"�n�nf�a��ja����nfn�f�ff�n����n��j檮��af��n����n�������f�Y�UY�Y�Y�����nU�U��������Y���f����Y�YY���"��fn���Q��UU]���UY�鑕��镕��ꡑ������*���j��nn�����n陙j�ff�n��ff�fnf�jjjffj���*��*"�n�f����Qj������nff�jn�a���n���jn��fn������fᑙ���*f�U�UYUYYY��YY��U�Y�������Y������U�Y�Y�"a�榙��Ye����]U�j�U����f�ᙕ�U�*���L,,*fnff��fnf������j�f����"��f�ffj���j���*�����"�fj����j�����jnff�jn�n���f��jn��n�f�f����f�n�����l*�&a�UUUYY��������ᙕY��YY��Y������YY��Y]Y]Y]���f�ᖙ�Q閙n�U�U����������a����⡑�n"�L,,&�jn�fj��n������n����ff���,��jjfb�f����"�"����"��j����f����n�fffn�ja�������j�j�f��aa�fn���n���j,�D�����UU��U�Y����YY�����Y���������]ٕ՚�i��n����閑n�U]]��nY������a���Yl������,"�*fff�jj�f�j�n��nᑙf�������ff����jfffffff�*����j���f�����j�������������n�a�����n�j�f�fnf�f����nf���j"���L"��Y�������Y��ᕕ����������Y�����U���ٕ՞�i�j�Y�Q��n�YUU�j�����������li����ª�j�,�n�nfj�nff����f������������fffff�ffff����j�*��fj����n���a���������fff���a���f�榪fff����af����DDD��*��YYUUYY�����Y���U��������UY���������U]]�]YՖ�a�ffU�aQ喙ᑕՕ]�����ឡ�����陮�����,����ff�ffn���n�a�������n�n�fff�jj��fnf�����jfff��fn��a��������fjf�b�������j��ffjn�fa����n�U^��L̈L�*j�n�����Y��Y��Y����Y�YY��U���YY����UU�����Ֆ��j������Q��ᑕU]U���U�Q����Qa����i���*���"fnjj��ffn�n�nfa�j���"�����j��fj�ffnnf�������f�f�����n�fn���jf���ff�j��������j��fj�f�fj�������$B,ĈL�&f�����Y�����Y�Y�������������U���U���UUU]U��YU�i�b�����Y�UU]�j�U����a��l�Q*�&��&�"���ff�fj����f�f��������jj��n��nf�ffn�����fffa�bf���jn�����f�f�ff���j�n���nj��ff�fnaffn����Qf,�DDDD�Bj���Y�����Y�Y��UY�UYY������Y���Y��Y��U����������]����j�U�Qn�Y�Q�UU�����������lឪ�**"��"nn�f�j�njf�f�n��j�������ꦪ����ffffn��ff�f�nffa�b&�����n����nff�j�f�������������ffafn��a��HH���$�̢ª�ᕕ��UUUYQ��Y��YU���Y�����������������]��"�fnY��n^��ᑕUUU�������aa�,�*n�"�*�f�����jj�nff��an�nf�a�����j���j������fn�n��ffffffffn���n��ja������j�fj�����j������ja����f��fa�����$HHL,,"��L��f����������ᕕY�U�����������U�U����UUUU�UQ����f�Y垙�^Y�Q�UUU��������n����,f*��"*��bn�fj�ff�f���nf��f�����n��nf��nfffjj����jnf�f�fn�f�ff�jf�n���j�����nj�������j���n�n��j���ff�f�������DDD¢�,*�D*�*�����Y�Y����UY�UYY����UUUUUU��UU�U�UUYUU�U�U�Uٕݖ���f��Y�Y��U]���Y���n����n�&n�""��*j�f�jfjjf����f�ff����fn�f��ffff檪�"�j�fffn��j�f��ffj�nf���fn�j�����j��j**����nnnn�f������ff�j�ᑙ�a����L¢�*,�*j��"*�����UY��Y�YUUY����UYUUUUUY��U����U�UQݖ���f��Y�Q��UU���aY��n�a���a���,�*jnfnf��jj�ff������f���a�ff�a��nfn�ffj��fj�jj��ff��fjjf���n�����j�������j��������j��nffn�鑦n���jna�nᙙj���,�B�$B�,ªf"D�̡����U�����YYU��U���������U�UQ�]��ff�����Y�QUUU�aY���f��&jfn���^n��"̦��j��fj�j��f��ia�nf�njann���f�f�jj���fjff�n�fjfff�����f�nnnfn����fj������f�jf�nf�n�ff���nnn��Y��nnbD��Ĉ¢,�¢�D�®����YY��UYU��Y��������UU�UUY]YUU�YUU���UQ�j^f�����Y�U�U�a��f���f�"�Qn��"*n*��ff�jff�fjj���a��aj�n�nfnnj�ꦦjfj�����ff���nꦮ��j����n��f�������f�nj��jjn�b�fnn�n�n������f�ᙕ��nj,H�ĈH�"�LL$DL,�&��YU���U���YU�UYUYUY�UUU��]UUU�UUUU�]�U��Y�]��fn���a^�YQUUU��Y���n�aᑢ�fn�"*b��bjf�f�n��jj���������f���n�ffff�j*f��j�nffffn�fj�����ff��nnf����ffff����������ff������nfnU����̈���$D�,H�̄L��"����������a�YY���UUYUUU�Y�UQ�U]��Y]Y�UUUUUQU�]Q��*�nn���a��Q�Y�U��Y���n������i^��"�""�����jj���jj���a������檦��f�jjj����**�fff�j��fjj��n�ffnffnj�������jfnjf����b�n���ff�����jn�n�����ȄH�����,H�DDBf�*�����U���Y�YU]U�YU�UYU��]Y�YU]U�ՕUUQU��Y�U��f�����VQ鞙Y�YꪮQ�n�ni���^&�"�j�*,�nf�j�fj��ទ��a�����f�f��jffj����*���jj�ffjj��fj��*��fj�a�f��j��n���ff�njf��nb�n�njff��jn���n�������HD��D,D��D���¦�,*�f����Y��a��Y���U�YUY�]�UY��Y�]U��Y�UU���UQU�e�f����a���Q���Uꪮ���faaiQ*ឪn���b�j*ff�ffj*�������nfa�fnf����jajj�j�f��fff��ff���jjj��f�j���n���j������fjff�j�ff���n��fjf��n��f��f�����HLDL�̄���D�D*"*,�̦������U���UUUUYYUUU����U��]YY�U�UUQ������i��QaY�Yꢦ����aaa��"ឮf&��ª���fn�j��f�a���nf�n���n�f�*�f�榦j��f�����j�fj���j�j���nfjfaff�j������nj�ff����b�n��fff�j��f�n�a����L�L"Ā�Ȍ�LD����.��n����Qn��U�����Y�U�U�Y�����UU���UU���U�U�"�f������ᖕY�Y�&����a�aa�"�Vn�*b��&��nfjfj�jj�a���n���ffꪢ�faffff�jf���f��fnjj��j�jjjf�j�f�nnn�������jjf���f�梦a��檦���ff�f�����ᑢDLHD�H
+�S3ٝ3=�=S3=33�3�����;�;���;3�3>,"����,"""��DHDDDHH��
+endobj
+899 0 obj <<
+/Length 48        
+>>
+stream
+			���HHH���(((���hhh������XXX���888���wvw���endstream
+endobj
+63 0 obj <<
+/D [896 0 R /XYZ 191.482 477.528 null]
+>> endobj
+898 0 obj <<
+/D [896 0 R /XYZ 127.991 147.437 null]
+>> endobj
+895 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/XObject << /Im6 894 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text /ImageC /ImageI ]
+>> endobj
+902 0 obj <<
+/Length 4272      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(164)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[(She)-273(lifted)-273(up)-274(her)-273(eyes)-273(and)-274(looked)-273(at)-273(him)-273(so)-274(very)-273(kindly.)-320(And)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(then)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 18.786 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(after)-278(a)-279(little)-278(pause)-278(to)-279(gain)-278(command)-278(of)-279(word)-278(and)-279(thought)]TJ -29.695 -13.549 Td[(she)-250(spoke)-250(again,)-250(slowly.)]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[("Listen,")-265(she)-264(said,)-269(this)-264(time)-265(very)-265(softly,)-268(but)-265(very)-265(seriously.)-294("I)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(want)-230(to)-230(tell)-230(you)-229(one)-230(thing)-230(and)-230(I)-230(want)-230(to)-229(tell)-230(it)-230(to)-230(you)-230(now.)-243(I)-230(had)-230(a)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(good)-273(and)-273(sufficient)-272(reason)-273(for)-273(helping)-273(you)-272(out)-273(with)-273(Aunt)-273(Mary;)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(but)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 13.942 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")-250(She)-250(hesitated.)]TJ -12.895 -13.549 Td[("But?")-250(he)-250(asked.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[("But)-230(I've)-231(no)-230(reason)-231(at)-230(all)-231(for)-230(helping)-231(your)-230(Aunt)-231(Mary)-230(out)-231(with)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(you,)-250(unless)-250(you)-250(prove)-250(worthy)-250(of)-250(her,)-250(and)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 179.062 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ -178.015 -13.549 Td[("And?")]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(She)-250(looked)-250(at)-250(him,)-250(and)-250(shook)-250(her)-250(head)-250(slightly.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[("I)-250(won't)-250(say)-250('and)-250(of)-250(me,'")-250(she)-250(said)-250(finally.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[("Why)-460(not?")-460(he)-460(asked,)-513(a)-460(storm)-460(of)-460(tempestuous)-460(impatience)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(raging)-250(behind)-250(his)-250(lips.)-250("Do)-250(say)-250(it,")-250(he)-250(pleaded.)]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[("No,)-226(I)-220(can't)-219(say)-220(it.)-240(It)-220(wouldn't)-220(be)-220(right.)-240(I)-219(don't)-220(mean)-220(it,)-226(and)-220(so)-220(I)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -84.711 0 Td[([232])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(won't)-230(say)-230(it.)-243(I'll)-230(only)-230(tell)-230(you)-230(that)-230(I)-230(can)-231(promise)-230(nothing)-230(as)-230(things)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(are,)-216(and)-207(that)-207(unless)-207(you)-207(go)-207(at)-207(life)-207(from)-207(now)-207(on)-207(with)-208(a)-207(tremendous)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(energy)-250(I)-250(never)-250(shall)-250(even)-250(dream)-250(of)-250(a)-250(possible)-250(promising.")]TJ 11.956 -13.55 Td[(He)-217(rose)-216(to)-217(his)-217(feet)-216(and)-217(towered)-217(above)-216(her,)-224(tall)-216(and)-217(straight)-217(and)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(handsome,)-250(and)-250(very)-250(grave.)]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[("All)-250(right,")-250(he)-250(said)-250(simply.)-250("I'll)-250(remember.")]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Ever)-237(so)-237(much)-236(later)-237(that)-237(evening)-237(he)-236(rose)-237(to)-237(bid)-237(her)-237(good-night.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[("Whatever)-219(comes,)-225(you've)-219(been)-219(an)-219(angel)-219(to)-219(me,")-220(he)-219(said)-219(in)-219(that)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(hasty)-250(five)-250(seconds)-250(that)-250(her)-250(hand)-250(was)-250(his.)]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[("Shall)-250(I)-250(ever)-250(regret)-250(it?")-250(she)-250(asked,)-250(looking)-250(up)-250(to)-250(his)-250(eyes.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[("Never,")-395(he)-396(declared)-395(earnestly,)-432("never,)-431(never.)-686(I)-395(can)-396(swear)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(that,)-266(and)-264(I)-263(shall)-263(be)-263(able)-263(to)-263(swear)-264(the)-263(same)-263(thing)-263(when)-263(I'm)-263(as)-264(old)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(as)-250(my)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary.")]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[(Mrs.)-250(Rosscott)-250(lowered)-250(her)-250(eyes.)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[("Who)-250(could)-250(ask)-250(more?")-250(she)-250(said)-250(softly.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[("I)-250(could,")-250(said)-250(Jack)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 84.643 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[("but)-250(I'll)-250(wait)-250(first.")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -180.263 -28.789 Td[([233])]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+901 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 902 0 R
+/Resources 900 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 880 0 R
+>> endobj
+903 0 obj <<
+/D [901 0 R /XYZ 273.221 314.937 null]
+>> endobj
+904 0 obj <<
+/D [901 0 R /XYZ 93.543 69.361 null]
+>> endobj
+900 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+905 0 obj
+<< /S /GoTo /D (index20) >>
+endobj
+908 0 obj
+(Chapter Nineteen - Aunt Mary's Return)
+endobj
+911 0 obj <<
+/Length 3337      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 18.959 Tf 46.771 479.321 Td[(Chapter)-261(Nineteen)-261(-)-261(Aunt)-261(Mary's)]TJ 0 -24.647 Td[(Return)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 0 -37.853 Td[(Joshua)-277(was)-277(at)-277(the)-277(station)-277(to)-277(meet)-276(his)-277(mistress,)-284(and)-277(Lucinda,)-284(full)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-250(the)-250(brim)-250(with)-250(curiosity,)-250(sat)-250(on)-250(the)-250(back)-250(seat)-250(of)-250(the)-250(carryall.)]TJ 11.956 -14.636 Td[(Aunt)-402(Mary)-402(quitted)-402(the)-402(train)-402(with)-402(a)-402(dignity)-402(which)-402(was)-402(suf-)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(ficiently)-374(overpo)-1(wering)-374(to)-374(counteract)-375(the)-374(effect)-375(of)-374(her)-375(bonnet's)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(being)-286(somewhat)-286(awry.)-358(She)-286(greeted)-286(Joshua)-286(with)-286(a)-287(chill)-286(perfunc-)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(toriness)-212(that)-212(was)-211(indescribable,)-220(and)-211(her)-212(glance)-212(glided)-212(completely)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(over)-269(Lucinda)-268(and)-269(faded)-268(away)-269(in)-268(the)-269(open)-268(country)-269(on)-268(the)-269(further)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(side)-250(of)-250(her.)]TJ 11.956 -14.635 Td[(Lucinda)-193(did)-193(not)-193(care.)-231(Lucinda)-193(was)-193(of)-193(a)-193(hardy)-193(stock)-194(and)-193(stormy)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(glances)-250(neither)-250(bent)-250(nor)-250(broke)-250(her)-250(spirit.)]TJ 11.956 -14.636 Td[("I'm)-174(glad)-174(to)-174(see)-174(you)-174(come)-174(back)-174(looking)-174(so)-174(we)-1(ll,")-174(she)-174(screamed,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(when)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(was)-250(in)-250(and)-250(they)-250(were)-250(off.)]TJ 11.956 -14.635 Td[(Aunt)-319(Mary)-319(raised)-319(her)-320(eyebrows)-319(in)-319(a)-319(manner)-319(that)-319(appeared)-320(a)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(trifle)-313(indignant,)-329(and)-313(riveted)-313(her)-313(gaze)-313(on)-313(the)-313(hindquarters)-314(of)-313(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(horse.)]TJ 11.956 -14.635 Td[("I)-326(thought)-326(it)-326(was)-326(more)-326(like)-326(heaven)-326(myself,")-326(she)-326(said)-326(coldly.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[("Not)-250(that)-250(your)-250(opinion)-250(matters)-250(any)-250(to)-250(me,)-250(Lucinda.")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([234])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -14.636 Td[(Then)-250(she)-250(leaned)-250(forward)-250(and)-250(poked)-250(the)-250(driver.)]TJ 0 -14.635 Td[("Joshua!")-250(she)-250(said.)]TJ 0 -14.636 Td[(Joshua)-293(jumped)-294(in)-293(his)-294(seat)-293(at)-294(the)-293(asperity)-294(of)-293(her)-294(poke)-293(and)-294(her)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(tone.)]TJ 11.956 -14.635 Td[("What)-250(is)-250(it?")-250(he)-250(said)-250(hastily.)]TJ 0 -14.636 Td[("Jus')-259('s)-258(soon)-259(as)-259(we)-259(get)-258(home)-259(I)-259(want)-259(you)-258(to)-259(take)-259(the)-259(saw)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 241.402 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(that)]TJ -264.266 -13.549 Td[(little,)-326(sharp)-311(one,)-326(you)-311(know)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 119.346 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(and)-311(dock)-311(Billy's)-311(tail.)-433(Cut)-311(it)-310(off)-311(as)]TJ -130.255 -13.549 Td[(close)-250(as)-250(you)-250(can;)-250(do)-250(you)-250(hear?")]TJ 11.955 -14.636 Td[("I)-250(hear,")-250(was)-250(the)-250(startled)-250(answer.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+910 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 911 0 R
+/Resources 909 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 913 0 R
+>> endobj
+906 0 obj <<
+/D [910 0 R /XYZ 46.771 529.134 null]
+>> endobj
+912 0 obj <<
+/D [910 0 R /XYZ 277.171 194.603 null]
+>> endobj
+909 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+916 0 obj <<
+/Length 4224      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(166)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[("Did)-238(you)-239(have)-238(a)-238(good)-239(time?")-238(Lucinda)-238(had)-239(the)-238(temerity)-238(to)-239(ask,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(after)-250(a)-250(minute.)]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[("I)-275(guess)-275(I)-275(could)-275(if)-275(I)-275(tried,")-276(the)-275(lady)-275(replied;)-287("but)-275(I'm)-276(too)-275(tired)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(to)-250(try)-250(now.")]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[("How)-250(did)-250(you)-250(leave)-250(Mr.)-250(Jack?")]TJ 0 -15.395 Td[("I)-403(couldn't)-403(stay)-403(forever,)-442(could)-403(I?")-403(asked)-403(the)-403(traveler)-404(impa-)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(tiently.)-243("I)-229(thought)-229(that)-229(a)-230(week)-229(was)-229(long)-229(enough)-229(for)-229(the)-229(first)-230(time,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(anyhow.")]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[(Lucinda)-191(subsided)-192(and)-191(the)-192(rest)-191(of)-191(th)-1(e)-191(drive)-191(was)-192(taken)-191(in)-192(silence.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(When)-300(they)-299(reached)-300(the)-300(house)-299(A)-1(unt)-299(Mary)-300(enveloped)-300(everything)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(in)-193(one)-193(glance)-193(of)-193(blended)-193(weariness,)-204(scorn)-193(and)-193(contempt,)-205(and)-193(then)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(made)-251(short)-250(work)-251(of)-250(getting)-251(to)-250(bed,)-251(where)-250(she)-251(slept)-250(the)-251(luxurious)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-250(dreamless)-250(sleep)-250(of)-250(the)-250(unjust)-250(until)-250(late)-250(that)-250(afternoon.)]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[("My,)-331(but)-315(she's)-315(come)-315(back)-315(a)-315(terror!")-315(Lucinda)-315(cried)-315(to)-315(Joshua)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(in)-279(a)-278(high)-279(whisper)-279(when)-278(he)-279(brought)-279(in)-279(the)-278(trunk.)-336("She)-279(looks)-279(like)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([235])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(nothin')-250(was)-250(goin')-250(to)-250(be)-250(good)-250(enough)-250(for)-250(her)-250(from)-250(now)-250(on.")]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[("Nothin')-352(ain't)-353(goin')-352(to)-353(be)-352(good)-353(enough)-352(for)-353(her,")-352(said)-353(Joshua)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(calmly.)]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[("What)-250(are)-250(we)-250(goin')-250(to)-250(do,)-250(then?")-250(asked)-250(Lucinda.)]TJ 0 -15.396 Td[("We'll)-383(have)-383(enough)-383(to)-383(do,")-383(said)-383(Joshua,)-416(in)-384(a)-383(tone)-383(that)-383(was)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(portentous)-384(in)-384(the)-384(extreme,)-417(and)-384(then)-383(he)-384(placed)-384(the)-384(trunk)-384(in)-384(its)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(proper)-322(position)-321(for)-322(unpacking)-321(and)-322(went)-322(away,)-339(leaving)-322(Lucinda)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-250(unpack)-250(it.)]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[(Aunt)-366(Mary)-367(awoke)-367(just)-366(as)-367(the)-366(faithful)-367(servant)-366(was)-367(unrolling)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(the)-275(green)-276(plaid)-275(waist,)-282(and)-275(the)-275(instant)-276(that)-275(she)-276(spoke)-275(it)-275(was)-276(plain)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(that)-421(her)-420(attitude)-421(toward)-421(life)-420(in)-421(general)-420(was)-421(become)-421(strangely)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-256(vigorously)-255(changed,)-257(and)-256(that)-256(for)-255(Lucinda)-256(the)-256(rack)-255(was)-256(to)-256(be)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(newly)-250(oiled)-250(and)-250(freshly)-250(racking.)]TJ 11.956 -15.395 Td[(This)-263(attitude)-264(was)-263(not)-263(in)-264(any)-263(degree)-264(altered)-263(by)-263(the)-264(unexpected)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(arrival)-481(of)-482(Arethusa)-481(that)-482(evening.)-944(Strange)-482(tales)-481(had)-482(reached)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Arethusa's)-353(ears,)-379(and)-353(she)-353(had)-354(flown)-353(on)-353(the)-353(wings)-353(of)-353(steam)-354(and)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(coal)-269(dust)-269(to)-269(see)-269(what)-269(under)-268(the)-269(sun)-269(it)-269(all)-269(meant.)-307(Aunt)-269(Mary)-269(was)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(not)-311(one)-311(bit)-311(rejoiced)-311(to)-310(see)-311(her)-311(and)-311(the)-311(glare)-311(which)-311(she)-311(directed)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+915 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 916 0 R
+/Resources 914 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 913 0 R
+>> endobj
+917 0 obj <<
+/D [915 0 R /XYZ 249.955 319.257 null]
+>> endobj
+914 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+920 0 obj <<
+/Length 4504      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Nineteen)-250(-)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary's)-250(Return)-8409(167)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 518.175 Td[(over)-314(the)-314(edge)-313(of)-314(the)-314(counterpane)-314(bore)-314(testimony)-313(to)-314(the)-314(truth)-314(of)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(this)-250(statement.)]TJ 11.956 -13.958 Td[("Whatever)-390(d)-1(id)-390(you)-391(come)-390(for?")-391(she)-390(demanded)-391(inhospitably.)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[("Lucinda)-250(didn't)-250(send)-250(for)-250(you,)-250(did)-250(she?")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([236])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -13.958 Td[(Arethusa)-266(screamed)-266(the)-266(best)-267(face)-266(that)-266(she)-266(could)-266(onto)-266(her)-267(visit,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(but)-234(Aunt)-233(Mary)-234(listened)-234(with)-233(an)-234(inattention)-234(that)-233(was)-234(anything)-234(but)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(flattering.)]TJ 11.956 -13.959 Td[("I)-421(don't)-422(feel)-421(like)-421(talkin')-422(over)-421(my)-421(trip,")-422(she)-421(said,)-464(when)-422(she)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(saw)-274(her)-274(niece's)-273(lips)-274(cease)-274(to)-274(move.)-321("Of)-274(course)-274(I)-274(enjoyed)-274(myself)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(because)-409(I)-409(was)-408(with)-409(Jack,)-449(but)-409(as)-409(to)-408(what)-409(we)-409(did)-409(an')-409(said)-409(you)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(couldn't)-349(understand)-349(it)-349(all)-349(if)-349(I)-348(did)-349(tell)-349(you,)-374(so)-349(what's)-349(the)-349(use)-349(of)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(botherin'.")]TJ 11.956 -13.959 Td[(Arethusa)-355(looked)-355(neutral,)-381(calm)-355(and)-355(curious.)-566(But)-355(Aunt)-355(Mary)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(frowned)-250(and)-250(shook)-250(her)-250(head.)]TJ 11.956 -13.958 Td[("S'long)-401(as)-401(you're)-401(here,)-439(though,)-439(I)-401(suppose)-401(you)-401(may)-401(as)-401(well)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(make)-335(yourself)-336(useful,")-335(she)-335(said)-336(a)-335(few)-335(minutes)-335(later.)-506("Come)-336(to)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(think)-264(of)-264(it,)-268(there's)-264(an)-264(errand)-264(I)-264(want)-265(you)-264(to)-264(do)-264(for)-264(me.)-292(I)-264(want)-265(you)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-307(go)-307(to)-307(Boston)-308(the)-307(very)-307(first)-307(thing)-307(to-morrow)-307(morning)-307(an')-308(buy)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(me)-250(some)-250(cotton.")]TJ 11.956 -13.958 Td[(Arethusa)-250(stared)-250(blankly.)]TJ 0 -13.959 Td[("Well,")-278(said)-279(the)-278(aunt,)-286("if)-278(you)-278(can't)-279(hear,)-285(you'd)-279(better)-278(take)-279(my)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(ear-trumpet)-250(and)-250(I'll)-250(say)-250(it)-250(over)-250(again.")]TJ 11.956 -13.958 Td[("What)-250(kind)-250(of)-250(cotton?")-250(Arethusa)-250(yelled.)]TJ 0 -13.959 Td[("Not)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 23.803 0 Td[(stockin's!)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 41.116 0 Td[(")-274(said)-274(Aunt)-274(Mary;)-286("Cotton!)-322(Cotton!)-322(C-O-T-T-)]TJ -76.875 -13.549 Td[(O-N!)-253(It)-253(beats)-253(the)-252(Dutch)-253(how)-253(deaf)-253(everyone)-253(is)-253(gettin',)-253(an')-253(if)-253(I)-253(had)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(your)-255(ears)-255(in)-255(particular,)-256(Arethusa,)-257(I'd)-255(certainly)-255(hire)-255(a)-255(carpenter)-255(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(get)-312(at)-312('em)-312(with)-312(a)-312(bit-stalk.)-436(Jus's)-312(if)-312(you)-312(didn't)-312(know)-312(as)-312(well)-312(as)-312(I)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(do)-228(how)-227(many)-228(stockin's)-228(I've)-228(got)-227(already!)-243(I)-227(sh)-1(ould)-227(think)-228(you'd)-228(quit)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([237])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.023 -13.549 Td[(bein')-204(so)-204(heedless,)-213(an')-203(use)-204(your)-204(commonsense,)-213(anyhow.)-235(I've)-204(found)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(commonsense)-250(a)-250(very)-250(handy)-250(thing)-250(in)-250(talkin')-250(always.)-250(Always.")]TJ 11.955 -13.958 Td[(Arethusa)-250(launched)-250(herself)-250(full)-250(tilt)-250(into)-250(the)-250(ear-trumpet.)]TJ 0 -13.958 Td[("What)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 28.08 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(kind)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 19.396 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(of)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 9.087 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(cotton?")-394(she)-395(asked)-394(in)-395(that)-394(key)-394(of)-395(voice)]TJ -101.245 -13.55 Td[(which)-250(makes)-250(the)-250(crowd)-250(pause)-250(in)-250(a)-250(panic.)]TJ 11.955 -13.958 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(looked)-250(disgusted.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+919 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 920 0 R
+/Resources 918 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 913 0 R
+>> endobj
+921 0 obj <<
+/D [919 0 R /XYZ 220.04 477.118 null]
+>> endobj
+922 0 obj <<
+/D [919 0 R /XYZ 183.169 148.665 null]
+>> endobj
+918 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F18 18 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+925 0 obj <<
+/Length 4876      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(168)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[("The)-250(Boston)-250(kind,")-250(she)-250(said,)-250(nipping)-250(her)-250(lips.)]TJ 0 -15.227 Td[(Arethusa)-250(took)-250(a)-250(double)-250(hitch)-250(on)-250(her)-250(larynx,)-250(and)-250(tried)-250(again.)]TJ 0 -15.227 Td[("Do)-250(you)-250(mean)-250(thread?")]TJ 0 -15.228 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary's)-250(disgust)-250(deepened)-250(visibly.)]TJ 0 -15.227 Td[("If)-378(I)-378(meant)-378(silk)-378(I)-378(guess)-378(I)-378(wouldn't)-378(say)-378(cotton.)-634(I)-378(might)-378(just)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(happen)-320(to)-320(say)-320(silk.)-459(I've)-320(been)-320(in)-320(the)-319(habit)-320(of)-320(saying)-320(silk)-320(when)-320(I)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(meant)-225(silk)-224(and)-225(cotton)-225(when)-224(I)-225(meant)-224(cotton,)-230(for)-225(quite)-224(a)-225(number)-225(of)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(years,)-226(and)-219(I)-219(might)-220(not)-219(have)-220(changed)-219(to-day)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 186.176 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(I)-219(might)-220(just)-219(happen)]TJ -197.085 -13.549 Td[(to)-250(not)-250(have.)-250(I)-250(might)-250(not)-250(have)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 125.749 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(maybe.")]TJ -124.702 -15.227 Td[(Arethusa)-250(withered)-250(under)-250(this)-250(bitter)-250(irony.)]TJ 0 -15.227 Td[("How)-357(many)-357(spools)-357(do)-357(you)-357(want?")-357(she)-357(asked)-357(in)-357(a)-357(meek)-357(but)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(piercing)-250(howl.)]TJ 11.956 -15.228 Td[("I)-462(don't)-463(care,")-462(said)-462(Aunt)-463(Mary)-462(loftily.)-888("I)-462(don't)-462(care)-463(how)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(many)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 24.24 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(or)-211(what)-210(color)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 57.307 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.91 0 Td[(or)-211(what)-210(number.)-237(I)-211(just)-210(want)-211(some)-210(Boston)]TJ -103.366 -13.549 Td[(cotton,)-275(and)-270(I)-271(want)-270(to)-270(see)-270(you)-270(settin')-271(out)-270(to)-270(get)-270(it)-270(pretty)-271(promptly)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.756 0 Td[([238])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.756 -13.549 Td[(to-morrow)-250(morning.")]TJ 11.955 -15.228 Td[("But)-313(if)-313(you)-314(only)-313(want)-313(some)-313(cotton,")-313(Arethusa)-314(yelled,)-329(with)-313(a)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(force)-291(which)-291(sent)-291(crimson)-291(waves)-292(all)-291(over)-291(her,)-301("why)-291(can't)-291(I)-291(get)-292(it)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(in)-250(the)-250(village?")]TJ 11.955 -15.227 Td[(Aunt)-349(Mary)-349(shot)-349(one)-349(look)-349(at)-349(her)-349(niece)-349(and)-350(the)-349(latter)-349(felt)-349(the)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(concussion.)]TJ 11.955 -15.228 Td[("Because)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 40.8 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(I)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 3.633 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(want)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 21.208 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(you)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 16.363 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(to)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 8.488 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(get)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 13.331 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(it)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 6.065 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(in)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 8.487 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(Boston,")-953(she)]TJ -217.602 -13.549 Td[(said,)-379(filling)-353(the)-353(breaks)-353(between)-353(her)-353(words)-353(with)-353(a)-353(concentrated)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(essence)-395(of)-396(acerbity)-395(such)-396(as)-395(even)-396(she)-395(had)-396(never)-395(displayed)-396(be-)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(fore.)-707("When)-402(I)-402(say)-402(a)-403(thing,)-440(I)-402(mean)-402(it)-403(pretty)-402(generally.)-707(Quite)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(often)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 22.418 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(most)-313(always.)-440(I)-314(want)-313(that)-313(cotton)-314(and)-313(it's)-314(to)-313(be)-313(bought)-314(in)]TJ -33.327 -13.55 Td[(Boston.)-238(There's)-214(a)-213(train)-214(that)-214(goes)-214(in)-213(at)-214(seven-forty-five,)-221(and)-214(if)-214(you)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(don't)-310(favor)-311(the)-310(idea)-311(of)-310(ridin')-311(on)-310(it)-310(you)-311(can)-310(take)-311(the)-310(express)-311(that)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(goes)-250(by)-250(at)-250(six-five.")]TJ 11.955 -15.227 Td[(Arethusa)-315(pre)-1(ssed)-315(her)-315(hands)-316(very)-315(tightly)-316(together)-315(and)-316(carried)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(the)-507(discussion)-508(no)-507(further.)-1023(She)-507(went)-508(to)-507(bed)-508(early)-507(and)-508(rose)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(early)-445(the)-445(next)-445(morning)-445(and)-445(Joshua)-445(drove)-445(her)-445(in)-445(town)-445(to)-445(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(seven-forty-five.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+924 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 925 0 R
+/Resources 923 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 913 0 R
+>> endobj
+926 0 obj <<
+/D [924 0 R /XYZ 151.826 316.74 null]
+>> endobj
+923 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+929 0 obj <<
+/Length 4114      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Nineteen)-250(-)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary's)-250(Return)-8409(169)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[("It)-342(doesn't)-343(seem)-342(to)-342(me)-342(that)-343(my)-342(aunt)-342(is)-343(very)-342(well,")-342(the)-343(niece)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(said)-250(during)-250(the)-250(drive.)-250("What)-250(do)-250(you)-250(think?")]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[("I)-456(don't)-456(think)-457(anything)-456(about)-456(her,")-457(said)-456(Joshua)-456(with)-457(great)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(candor.)-339("If)-280(I)-280(was)-279(to)-280(give)-280(to)-279(thinkin')-280(I'd)-280(o')-279(moved)-280(out)-280(to)-280(Chicago)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(an')-250(been)-250(scalpin')-250(Indians)-250(to-day.")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([239])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -13.9 Td[("I)-184(wonder)-184(if)-184(that)-184(trip)-184(to)-184(New)-184(York)-184(was)-184(good)-184(for)-184(her?")-184(Arethusa)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(wondered)-250(mildly.)]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[(Joshua)-335(flicked)-336(Billy)-335(with)-335(the)-336(whip)-335(and)-336(refused)-335(to)-335(voice)-336(any)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(opinion)-250(as)-250(to)-250(New)-250(York's)-250(effect)-250(on)-250(his)-250(mistress.)]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[(Arethusa)-329(was)-328(well)-329(on)-328(her)-329(way)-328(to)-329(Boston)-328(when)-329(Aunt)-329(Mary's)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(bell,)-569(rung)-505(with)-504(a)-505(sharp)-505(jangle,)-569(summoned)-505(Lucinda)-505(to)-505(open)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(her)-422(bedroom)-423(blinds.)-767(While)-422(Lucinda)-422(was)-423(leaning)-422(far)-422(out)-423(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(attempting)-416(to)-415(cause)-416(said)-416(blinds)-416(to)-415(catch)-416(on)-416(the)-415(hooks,)-458(which)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(habitually)-448(held)-449(them)-448(back)-449(against)-448(the)-448(side)-449(of)-448(the)-449(house,)-498(her)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(mistress)-291(addressed)-291(her)-291(with)-290(a)-291(suddeness)-291(which)-291(showed)-291(that)-291(she)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(had)-250(awakened)-250(with)-250(her)-250(wits)-250(surprisingly)-250(well)-250(in)-250(hand.)]TJ 11.956 -13.899 Td[("Where's)-262(Joshua?)-287(Is)-262(he)-262(got)-262(back)-263(from)-262(Arethusa?)-286(Answer)-263(me,)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(Lucinda.")]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[(Lucinda)-404(drew)-403(herself)-404(in)-403(through)-404(the)-404(open)-403(window)-404(with)-404(an)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(alacrity)-250(remarkable)-250(for)-250(one)-250(of)-250(her)-250(years.)]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[("Yes,)-250(he's)-250(back,")-250(she)-250(yelled.)]TJ 0 -13.899 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(looked)-250(at)-250(her)-250(with)-250(a)-250(sort)-250(of)-250(incensed)-250(patience.)]TJ 0 -13.9 Td[("Well,)-287(what's)-279(he)-280(doin'?)-338(If)-280(he's)-279(back,)-287(where)-280(is)-279(he?)-339(Lucinda,)-287(if)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(you)-239(knew)-239(how)-238(hard)-239(it)-239(is)-239(for)-239(me)-239(to)-238(keep)-239(quiet)-239(you'd)-239(answer)-239(when)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(I)-379(asked)-379(things.)-637(Why)-379(in)-379(Heaven's)-379(name)-379(don't)-379(you)-380(say)-379(suthin'?)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Anythin'?)-250(Anythin')-250(but)-250(nothin',)-250(that)-250(is.")]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[("He's)-250(mowin',")-250(Lucinda)-250(shrieked.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 279.068 0 Td[([240])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -13.9 Td[("Sewin'!")-272(exclaimed)-273(Aunt)-272(Mary.)-317("What's)-272(he)-273(sewin'?)-317(Where's)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(he)-250(sewin'?)-250(Have)-250(you)-250(stopped)-250(doin')-250(his)-250(darnin'?")]TJ 11.955 -13.9 Td[(Lucinda)-378(gathered)-378(breath)-377(by)-378(compressing)-378(her)-378(sides)-378(with)-378(her)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(hands,)-396(and)-367(then)-368(replied,)-396(directing)-367(her)-367(voice)-367(right)-367(into)-367(the)-368(ear-)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(trumpet:)]TJ 11.955 -13.9 Td[("He's)-250(mowin')-250(the)-250(back)-250(lawn.")]TJ 0 -13.9 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(winced)-250(and)-250(shivered.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+928 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 929 0 R
+/Resources 927 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 913 0 R
+>> endobj
+930 0 obj <<
+/D [928 0 R /XYZ 193.302 463.628 null]
+>> endobj
+931 0 obj <<
+/D [928 0 R /XYZ 207.897 162.389 null]
+>> endobj
+927 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+934 0 obj <<
+/Length 4195      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(170)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[("My)-420(heavens,)-463(Lucinda!")-420(she)-421(exclaimed,)-463(sharply.)-760("I)-421(wish't)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(there)-306(was)-307(a)-306(school)-306(to)-307(teach)-306(outsiders)-306(the)-307(use)-306(of)-306(an)-307(ear-trumpet.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(They)-320(can't)-320(seem)-320(to)-320(hit)-320(the)-320(medium)-320(between)-320(either)-321(mumblin')-320(or)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(splittin')-250(one's)-250(ear)-250(drums.")]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[(Lucinda)-224(was)-224(too)-225(much)-224(out)-224(of)-224(breath)-225(from)-224(her)-224(effort)-224(to)-225(attempt)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(any)-250(audible)-250(penitence.)-250(Her)-250(mistress)-250(continued:)]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[("Well,)-231(you)-226(find)-226(him)-226(wherever)-227(he)-226(is,)-231(and)-226(tell)-226(him)-226(to)-226(harness)-227(up)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(the)-286(buggy)-285(and)-286(go)-286(and)-285(get)-286(Mr.)-357(Stebbins)-285(as)-286(quick)-286(as)-285(ever)-286(he)-286(can.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Hurry!")]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[(Lucinda)-366(exited)-367(with)-366(a)-367(promptitude)-366(that)-366(fulfilled)-367(all)-366(that)-367(her)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(lady's)-250(heart)-250(could)-250(wish.)-250(She)-250(found)-250(Joshua)-250(whetting)-250(his)-250(scythe.)]TJ 11.956 -13.995 Td[("She)-250(wants)-250(Mr.)-250(Stebbins)-250(right)-250(off,")-250(said)-250(Lucinda.)]TJ 0 -13.996 Td[("Then)-285(she'll)-286(get)-285(Mr.)-356(Stebbins)-286(right)-285(off,")-286(said)-285(Joshua.)-356(And)-286(he)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(headed)-250(immediately)-250(for)-250(the)-250(barn.)]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[(Lucinda)-269(ran)-270(along)-269(beside)-269(him.)-308(It)-270(did)-269(seem)-269(to)-270(Lucinda)-269(as)-269(if)-270(in)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(compensation)-290(for)-289(her)-290(slavery)-289(to)-290(Aunt)-289(Mary)-290(she)-289(might)-290(have)-290(had)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([241])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(a)-250(sympathizer)-250(in)-250(Joshua.)]TJ 11.956 -13.995 Td[("I)-241(guess)-241(she)-240(wants)-241(to)-241(change)-241(her)-241(will,")-240(she)-241(panted,)-243(very)-241(much)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(out)-250(of)-250(breath.)]TJ 11.956 -13.995 Td[("Then)-284(she'll)-285(change)-284(her)-285(will,")-284(said)-285(Joshua.)-353(And)-285(as)-284(his)-285(steady)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(gait)-345(was)-346(much)-345(quicker)-345(than)-346(poor)-345(Lucinda's)-345(halting)-345(amble,)-370(and)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(as)-261(he)-260(saw)-261(no)-260(occasion)-261(to)-260(alter)-261(it,)-263(the)-260(convers)-1(ation)-260(between)-261(them)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(dwindled)-250(into)-250(space)-250(then)-250(and)-250(there.)]TJ 11.956 -13.995 Td[(Half)-344(an)-345(hour)-344(later)-344(Billy)-344(went)-345(out)-344(of)-344(the)-345(drive)-344(at)-344(a)-345(swinging)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(pace)-276(and)-276(an)-277(hour)-276(after)-276(that)-276(Mr.)-329(Stebbins)-276(was)-276(brought)-276(captive)-277(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary's)-250(throne.)]TJ 11.956 -13.995 Td[(She)-345(welcomed)-346(him)-345(cordially;)-393(Lucinda)-345(was)-345(promptly)-346(locked)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(out,)-405(and)-374(then)-374(the)-374(old)-374(lady)-374(and)-374(her)-374(lawyer)-374(spent)-374(a)-374(momentous)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(hour)-363(together.)-587(Mr.)-588(Stebbins)-362(was)-363(taken)-362(into)-363(his)-362(client's)-363(fullest)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(confidence;)-265(he)-260(was)-260(regaled)-260(with)-260(enough)-260(of)-260(the)-260(week's)-261(history)-260(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(guess)-264(the)-264(rest;)-271(and)-264(he)-264(foresaw)-264(the)-264(outcome)-264(as)-264(he)-264(had)-265(foreseen)-264(it)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(from)-250(the)-250(moment)-250(of)-250(the)-250(rupture.)]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[(Aunt)-376(Mary)-375(was)-376(very)-376(sincere)-375(in)-376(owning)-376(up)-376(to)-375(her)-376(own)-376(past)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(errors.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+933 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 934 0 R
+/Resources 932 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 913 0 R
+>> endobj
+935 0 obj <<
+/D [933 0 R /XYZ 236.58 312.259 null]
+>> endobj
+932 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+938 0 obj <<
+/Length 4820      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Nineteen)-250(-)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary's)-250(Return)-8409(171)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[("I)-245(made)-245(a)-245(big)-246(mistake)-245(about)-245(the)-245(life)-245(that)-245(boy)-245(was)-245(leadin',")-246(she)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(said)-279(in)-279(the)-280(course)-279(of)-279(the)-279(conversation.)-338("He)-279(took)-279(me)-280(everywhere)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(where)-191(he)-192(was)-191(in)-191(the)-191(habit)-192(of)-191(goin',)-203(an')-191(so)-192(far)-191(from)-191(its)-191(bein')-192(wicked,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(I)-204(never)-205(enjoyed)-204(myself)-205(so)-204(much)-204(in)-205(my)-204(life.)-235(There)-204(ain't)-205(no)-204(harm)-205(in)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([242])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.55 Td[(havin')-259(fun,)-261(an')-259(it)-259(does)-259(cost)-259(a)-259(lot)-259(of)-259(money.)-277(I)-259(can)-259(understand)-259(it)-259(all)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(now,)-321(an')-306(as)-306(I'm)-307(a)-306(great)-307(believer)-306(in)-306(settin')-307(wrong)-306(right)-307(whenever)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(you)-236(can,)-239(I)-237(want)-236(Jack)-236(put)-236(right)-237(in)-236(my)-236(will)-236(right)-237(off.)-245(I)-236(want)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 246.94 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")-236(and)]TJ -257.849 -13.549 Td[(then)-234(were)-234(unfolded)-234(the)-234(glorious)-234(possibilities)-234(of)-234(the)-234(future)-234(for)-234(her)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(youngest,)-244(petted)-242(nephew.)-248(He)-242(was)-242(not)-243(only)-242(to)-243(be)-242(reinstated)-242(in)-243(the)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(will,)-290(but)-282(he)-282(was)-282(to)-282(reign)-282(supreme.)-346(The)-282(other)-282(four)-283(children)-282(were)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-250(be)-250(rich)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 41.204 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(very)-250(rich,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 41.804 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(but)-250(Jack)-250(was)-250(to)-250(be)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 82.712 0 Td[(the)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 16.058 0 Td[(heir.)]TJ -191.64 -14.095 Td[(Mr.)-260(Stebbins)-253(was)-254(well)-253(pleased.)-260(He)-254(was)-253(very)-253(fond)-254(of)-253(Jack)-254(and)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(had)-343(always)-344(been)-343(particularly)-343(patient)-343(with)-344(him)-343(on)-343(that)-344(account.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(He)-276(felt)-276(that)-275(this)-276(was)-276(a)-276(personal)-275(reward)-276(of)-276(merit,)-282(for)-276(it)-276(cannot)-276(be)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(denied)-340(that)-340(Jack)-340(had)-339(certainly)-340(cashed)-340(very)-340(large)-340(checks)-340(on)-340(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(bank)-250(of)-250(his)-250(forbearance.)]TJ 11.956 -14.095 Td[(When)-439(all)-438(was)-439(finished,)-486(and)-438(Joshua)-439(and)-438(Lucinda)-439(had)-439(been)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(called)-328(in)-329(and)-328(had)-328(duly)-329(affixed)-328(their)-329(signatures)-328(to)-328(the)-329(important)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(document,)-461(the)-418(buggy)-419(was)-418(brought)-419(to)-418(the)-419(door)-419(again)-418(and)-419(Mr.)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(Stebbins)-365(stepped)-365(in)-365(and)-365(allowed)-365(himself)-365(to)-365(be)-365(replaced)-365(where)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(they)-250(had)-250(taken)-250(him)-250(from.)]TJ 11.956 -14.094 Td[(Joshua)-250(returned)-250(alone.)]TJ 0 -14.095 Td[("There,)-327(what)-312(did)-312(I)-312(tell)-312(you!")-312(said)-312(Lucinda,)-327(who)-312(was)-312(waiting)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(for)-341(him)-341(behind)-342(the)-341(wood-house,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 143.658 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[("she)-341(did)-341(want)-342(to)-341(change)-341(her)]TJ -154.567 -13.55 Td[(will.")]TJ 11.956 -14.094 Td[("Well,)-250(she)-250(changed)-250(it,)-250(didn't)-250(she?")-250(said)-250(Joshua.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 279.068 0 Td[([243])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -14.095 Td[("I)-236(guess)-236(she)-236(wants)-236(to)-236(give)-236(him)-236(all)-236(she's)-236(got,)-239(since)-236(that)-236(week)-236(in)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(New)-250(York,")-250(said)-250(Lucinda.)]TJ 11.956 -14.095 Td[("Then)-250(she'll)-250(give)-250(him)-250(all)-250(she's)-250(got,")-250(said)-250(Joshua.)]TJ 0 -14.095 Td[(Lucinda's)-250(eyes)-250(grew)-250(big.)]TJ 0 -14.094 Td[("An')-323(she'll)-323(give)-323(it)-323(to)-323(you,)-341(too,)-342(if)-323(you)-323(don't)-323(look)-323(out)-323(and)-323(stay)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(where)-299(you)-299(can)-299(hear)-299(her)-299(bell)-299(if)-299(she)-299(rings)-299(it,")-298(Joshua)-299(added,)-312(with)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(his)-280(usual)-280(frankness,)-288(and)-280(then)-280(he)-280(whipped)-280(up)-280(Billy)-280(and)-281(drove)-280(on)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-250(the)-250(barn.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+937 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 938 0 R
+/Resources 936 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 941 0 R
+>> endobj
+939 0 obj <<
+/D [937 0 R /XYZ 260.57 477.528 null]
+>> endobj
+940 0 obj <<
+/D [937 0 R /XYZ 266.839 176.718 null]
+>> endobj
+936 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R /F18 18 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+944 0 obj <<
+/Length 1396      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(172)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[(Arethusa)-495(returned)-494(late)-495(in)-495(the)-494(afternoon,)-556(very)-495(warm,)-556(very)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(wilted.)-247(Aunt)-241(Mary)-240(looked)-241(over)-240(the)-241(cotton)-240(p)-1(urchase,)-242(and)-241(deigned)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-250(approve.)]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[("But,)-551(my)-491(heavens,)-551(Arethusa,")-491(she)-491(exclaimed)-491(immediately)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(afterwards,)-618("if)-544(you)-544(had)-544(any)-545(idea)-544(how)-544(dirty)-544(and)-544(dusty)-545(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(altogether)-228(awful)-228(you)-228(do)-228(look,)-233(you)-228(wouldn't)-228(be)-228(able)-228(to)-228(get)-228(to)-229(soap)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-250(water)-250(fast)-250(enough.")]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[(At)-311(that)-312(poor)-311(Arethusa)-312(sighed,)-327(and,)-326(gathering)-312(up)-311(her)-312(hat,)-327(and)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(hat-pins,)-229(and)-223(veil,)-228(and)-224(gloves,)-228(and)-223(purse,)-229(and)-223(handkerchief,)-229(went)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(away)-250(to)-250(wash.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 -29.651 Td[([244])]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+943 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 944 0 R
+/Resources 942 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 941 0 R
+>> endobj
+945 0 obj <<
+/D [943 0 R /XYZ 93.543 366.581 null]
+>> endobj
+942 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+946 0 obj
+<< /S /GoTo /D (index21) >>
+endobj
+949 0 obj
+(Chapter Twenty - Jack's Joy)
+endobj
+952 0 obj <<
+/Length 3884      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 18.959 Tf 46.771 479.321 Td[(Chapter)-250(Twenty)-250(-)-250(Jack's)-250(Joy)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 0 -38.642 Td[(About)-250(the)-250(first)-250(of)-250(July)-250(many)-250(agreeable)-250(things)-250(happened.)]TJ 11.956 -14.794 Td[(One)-459(was)-459(that)-459(Mr.)-876(Stebbins)-459(found)-459(it)-459(advisable)-459(to)-459(address)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(a)-390(discreet)-391(letter)-390(to)-390(John)-390(Watkins,)-426(Jr.,)-425(Denham,)-425(conveying)-391(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(information)-402(that)-401(although)-402(he)-401(must)-402(not)-401(count)-402(unduly)-401(upon)-402(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(future,)-370(still,)-370(if)-346(he)-346(behaved)-346(himself,)-370(he)-346(might)-346(with)-347(safety)-346(allow)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(his)-411(expenditures)-411(to)-411(mount)-410(upward)-411(monthly)-411(to)-411(a)-411(certain)-411(limit.)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(This)-223(was)-223(the)-223(way)-223(in)-223(which)-223(Aunt)-223(Mary)-223(salved)-223(her)-223(conscience)-223(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(saved)-250(her)-250(pride)-250(all)-250(at)-250(once.)]TJ 11.956 -14.793 Td[("I)-259(don't)-258(want)-259(him)-258(to)-259(think)-259(that)-258(I)-259(don't)-258(mean)-259(things)-258(when)-259(I)-259(say)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[('em,")-343(she)-342(had)-343(carefully)-343(explained)-343(to)-342(Mr.)-528(Stebbins,)-366("but)-343(I)-343(can't)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(bear)-316(to)-316(think)-316(that)-315(there's)-316(anybody)-316(in)-316(New)-316(York)-316(without)-316(money)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(enough)-250(to)-250(have)-250(a)-250(good)-250(time)-250(there.")]TJ 11.956 -14.793 Td[(Mr.)-242(Stebbins)-225(had)-225(made)-225(a)-225(note)-226(of)-225(the)-225(sum)-225(which)-225(the)-226(allowance)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(was)-250(to)-250(compass)-250(and)-250(had)-250(promised)-250(to)-250(write)-250(the)-250(letter)-250(at)-250(once.)]TJ 11.956 -14.793 Td[("What)-341(did)-341(you)-341(do)-341(the)-341(last)-341(time)-341(you)-341(were)-341(in)-341(th)-1(e)-341(city?")-341(Aunt)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Mary)-250(asked.)]TJ 11.956 -14.794 Td[("I)-284(was)-285(much)-284(occupied)-285(with)-284(business,")-284(said)-285(the)-284(lawyer,)-293("but)-285(I)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 279.068 0 Td[([245])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(found)-250(time)-250(to)-250(visit)-250(the)-250(Metropolitan)-250(Museum)-250(of)-250(Art)-250(and)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 244.538 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ -243.491 -14.793 Td[("Good)-247(gracious!")-247(e)-1(xclaimed)-247(Aunt)-247(Mary,)-248("who)-247(was)-247(takin')-248(you)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[('round!)-679(I)-393(never)-393(had)-393(a)-393(second)-393(for)-393(any)-393(museums)-394(or)-393(arts;)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 253.357 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.91 0 Td[(you)]TJ -264.267 -13.55 Td[(ought)-364(to)-364(have)-363(seen)-364(a)-364(vaudeville,)-392(or)-364(that)-364(gondola)-364(place!)-591(I)-364(was)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(ferried)-279(around)-280(four)-279(times)-279(and)-279(the)-280(music)-279(lasted)-279(all)-279(through.")-280(She)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(stopped)-437(and)-436(reflected.)-810("I)-436(guess)-437(you)-436(can)-437(make)-436(that)-437(money)-437(a)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(hundred)-226(a)-226(m)-1(onth)-226(more,")-226(she)-226(said)-226(slowly.)-242(")-1(I)-226(don't)-226(want)-226(the)-226(boy)-227(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(ever)-250(feel)-250(stinted)-250(or)-250(have)-250(to)-250(run)-250(in)-250(debt.")]TJ 11.956 -14.794 Td[(Mr.)-241(Stebbins)-221(smiled,)-228(and)-222(the)-222(result)-221(was)-222(that)-222(Jack)-222(began)-222(to)-222(pay)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(up)-277(the)-277(bills)-277(for)-277(his)-277(aunt's)-277(entertainment)-277(very)-277(much)-277(more)-277(rapidly)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(than)-250(he)-250(had)-250(anticipated)-250(doing.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+951 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 952 0 R
+/Resources 950 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 941 0 R
+>> endobj
+947 0 obj <<
+/D [951 0 R /XYZ 46.771 529.134 null]
+>> endobj
+953 0 obj <<
+/D [951 0 R /XYZ 266.666 217.671 null]
+>> endobj
+950 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+956 0 obj <<
+/Length 5216      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(174)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[(Another)-459(pleasant)-460(thing)-459(was)-459(that)-459(a)-460(week)-459(or)-459(so)-460(later)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 238.38 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(very)]TJ -261.245 -13.549 Td[(soon)-457(after)-456(Mrs.)-869(Rosscott)-457(had)-456(given)-457(up)-456(her)-457(town)-456(house)-457(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(returned)-380(to)-380(the)-380(protection)-380(of)-380(the)-380(parental)-380(slate-tiles)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 230.787 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(Burnett's)]TJ -241.696 -13.549 Td[(father,)-498(a)-449(peppery)-448(but)-449(jovial)-448(old)-449(gentleman)-448(\050we)-449(all)-448(know)-449(the)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(kind\051,)-457(suddenly)-416(asked)-416(why)-416(Bob)-416(never)-416(came)-416(home)-416(any)-416(more.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(This)-223(action)-222(on)-223(the)-223(part)-223(of)-222(the)-223(head)-223(of)-222(the)-223(house)-223(being)-223(tantamount)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-320(the)-320(completest)-320(possible)-320(forgiveness)-320(and)-320(obliviousness)-320(of)-320(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(past,)-214(Burnett's)-205(mother,)-214(of)-204(whom)-205(the)-205(inquiry)-205(had)-205(been)-205(made,)-214(wept)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(tears)-329(of)-330(sincerest)-329(joy)-329(and)-330(wrote)-329(to)-329(the)-329(youngest)-330(of)-329(her)-329(flock)-330(to)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(return)-268(to)-269(the)-268(ancestral)-268(fold)-268(just)-269(as)-268(soon)-268(as)-268(he)-269(possibly)-268(could.)-305(He)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(came,)-328(and)-312(as)-312(a)-312(result,)-328(a)-312(fortnight)-312(later)-313(Jack)-312(came,)-327(and)-313(Mitchell)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([246])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(came,)-336(and)-318(Clover)-318(came.)-456(Mrs.)-455(Rosscott,)-335(as)-319(we)-318(have)-319(previously)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(stated,)-284(was)-278(already)-278(there,)-284(and)-277(so)-278(were)-277(Maude)-278(Lorne)-278(and)-277(a)-278(great)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(many)-336(others.)-509(Some)-336(of)-336(the)-336(others)-336(were)-336(pretty)-336(girls)-336(and)-337(Burnett)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(and)-249(two)-249(of)-249(his)-250(friends)-249(found)-249(plenty)-249(to)-249(amuse)-249(them,)-249(but)-250(Burnett's)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(dearest)-387(friend,)-422(his)-387(bosom)-388(friend,)-421(his)-387(Fidus)-388(Achates,)-421(found)-388(no)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(one)-313(to)-313(amuse)-313(him,)-328(because)-313(he)-313(was)-313(in)-313(earnest,)-329(and)-313(had)-313(eyes)-313(for)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(no)-341(feminine)-341(prettiness,)-363(his)-341(sight)-341(being)-340(dazzled)-341(by)-341(the)-341(radiance)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(of)-265(one)-264(surpassing)-265(loveliness.)-293(He)-265(had)-264(worked)-265(tremendously)-265(hard)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(the)-288(first)-288(month)-287(of)-288(daily)-288(laboring,)-297(and)-288(felt)-287(he)-288(deserved)-288(a)-288(reward.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Be)-300(it)-299(sa)-1(id)-299(for)-300(Jack)-300(that)-299(the)-300(reward)-300(of)-300(which)-299(Aunt)-300(Mary)-300(had)-300(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(bestowing)-295(counted)-295(for)-295(very)-294(little)-295(with)-295(him)-295(except)-295(in)-295(its)-295(relation)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-246(the)-246(far)-245(future.)-249(The)-246(real)-245(goal)-246(which)-246(he)-246(was)-245(striving)-246(toward,)-247(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(real)-250(laurels)-250(that)-250(he)-250(craved)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 112.08 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(Ah!)-250(they)-250(lay)-250(in)-250(another)-250(direction.)]TJ -111.033 -16.004 Td[(Middle)-353(July)-354(is)-353(a)-354(lovely)-353(time)-354(to)-353(get)-354(off)-353(among)-354(the)-353(trees)-354(and)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(grass,)-314(and)-301(lie)-301(around)-301(in)-301(white)-301(flannels)-301(or)-302(white)-301(muslins,)-314(just)-301(as)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(the)-261(case)-260(may)-261(be.)-282(It)-261(was)-260(too)-261(warm)-261(to)-261(do)-260(much)-261(else)-261(than)-260(that,)-264(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Heaven)-367(knows)-367(that)-367(Jack)-368(desired)-367(nothing)-367(better,)-396(as)-367(long)-367(as)-368(his)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(goddess)-250(smiled)-250(upon)-250(him.)]TJ 11.956 -16.004 Td[(It)-314(was)-314(curious)-315(about)-314(his)-314(goddess.)-443(She)-314(seemed)-314(to)-314(grow)-315(more)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(beautiful)-319(every)-319(time)-319(that)-319(he)-319(saw)-319(her.)-457(Perhaps)-319(it)-319(was)-319(her)-319(native)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(air)-322(that)-321(gave)-322(her)-322(that)-321(charming)-322(flush;)-357(perhaps)-322(it)-322(was)-321(the)-322(joy)-322(of)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([247])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.55 Td[(being)-273(at)-273(home)-273(again;)-285(perhaps)-273(it)-273(was)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 157.97 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(no,)-279(he)-273(didn't)-273(dare)-273(to)-273(hope)]TJ -168.879 -13.549 Td[(that.)-364(Not)-288(yet.)-363(Not)-288(even)-288(with)-288(all)-288(that)-288(she)-288(had)-288(done)-288(for)-288(him)-288(fresh)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+955 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 956 0 R
+/Resources 954 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 941 0 R
+>> endobj
+957 0 obj <<
+/D [955 0 R /XYZ 93.543 382.683 null]
+>> endobj
+958 0 obj <<
+/D [955 0 R /XYZ 189.851 93.24 null]
+>> endobj
+954 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+961 0 obj <<
+/Length 5011      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Twenty)-250(-)-250(Jack's)-250(Joy)-12936(175)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 518.175 Td[(in)-332(his)-331(memory.)-495(The)-332(humility)-331(of)-332(true)-332(love)-331(was)-332(so)-331(heavy)-332(on)-332(his)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(heart)-389(that)-389(his)-389(very)-389(dreams)-388(were)-389(dulled)-389(with)-389(hopelessness,)-424(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(majority)-295(of)-295(them)-295(seeming)-294(too)-295(vividly)-295(dyed)-295(in)-295(Paradise)-295(hues)-295(for)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(their)-263(fulfillment)-263(in)-263(daily)-264(life)-263(to)-263(ever)-263(appear)-263(possible.)-289(But)-263(still)-264(he)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(was)-308(very,)-322(very)-308(happy)-307(to)-308(be)-308(there)-307(with)-308(her)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 186.055 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(beside)-308(her)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 45.16 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(and)-308(to)]TJ -253.033 -13.549 Td[(hear)-243(her)-243(v)-1(oice)-243(and)-243(look)-243(into)-243(her)-244(eyes)-243(whenever)-243(the)-243(trouble)-244(some)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[("other)-368(people")-369(would)-368(leave)-368(them)-369(alone)-368(together.)-605(And)-368(she)-369(did)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(seem)-331(happy,)-352(too.)-493(And)-331(so)-332(rejoiced)-331(that)-331(the)-331(tide)-331(of)-331(Aunt)-332(Mary's)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(wrath)-258(had)-257(been)-258(successfully)-258(turned.)-272(And)-258(so)-258(rejoiced)-257(that)-258(he)-258(was)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(at)-333(work,)-353(even)-332(in)-333(the)-332(face)-333(of)-332(her)-333(hopes)-332(as)-333(to)-333(his)-332(college)-333(career.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(And)-298(also)-299(so)-298(rejoiced)-298(to)-298(take)-299(up)-298(the)-298(gay,)-311(careless)-298(thread)-298(of)-299(their)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(mutual)-250(pleasure)-250(again.)]TJ 11.956 -14.531 Td[(The)-404(morning)-403(after)-404(the)-404(gathering)-404(of)-403(the)-404(party)-404(was)-404(Saturday)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(and)-456(an)-457(ideal)-456(day)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 77.943 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(that)-456(sort)-456(of)-457(ideal)-456(day)-456(when)-457(house)-456(parties)]TJ -88.852 -13.549 Td[(naturally)-463(sift)-463(into)-462(pairs)-463(and)-463(then)-463(fade)-462(away)-463(altogether.)-889(The)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(country)-406(surrounding)-406(our)-405(particular)-406(party)-406(was)-406(densely)-406(wooded)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-353(not)-352(at)-353(all)-352(settled,)-378(the)-353(woods)-352(were)-353(laid)-352(out)-353(in)-352(a)-353(fascinating)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(system)-195(of)-195(walks)-195(a)-1(nd)-195(benches)-195(which)-195(in)-195(no)-195(case)-195(commanded)-196(views)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(of)-364(one)-365(another,)-393(and)-364(the)-364(shade)-365(overhead)-364(was)-365(the)-364(shade)-364(of)-365(July)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-375(as)-375(propitious)-376(to)-375(rest)-375(as)-375(it)-375(was)-375(to)-376(motion.)-625(Mitchell)-375(took)-376(a)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([248])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.55 Td[(girl)-415(in)-415(gray)-415(and)-415(two)-414(sets)-415(of)-415(golf)-415(clubs)-415(and)-415(started)-415(out)-415(in)-415(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(opposite)-405(direction)-405(from)-405(the)-405(links,)-443(Clover)-405(took)-405(a)-405(girl)-405(in)-405(green)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-398(a)-398(camera)-398(and)-398(went)-398(another)-398(way,)-435(Burnett)-398(took)-398(a)-399(girl)-398(in)-398(a)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(riding)-210(habit)-211(and)-210(two)-210(saddle)-211(horses)-210(and)-211(followed)-210(the)-210(horses')-211(noses)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(whither)-194(they)-194(led,)-206(and)-194(Jack)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 111.903 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(Jack)-194(smoked)-194(cigarettes)-194(on)-195(the)-194(piazza)]TJ -122.812 -13.55 Td[(and)-250(waited)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 47.564 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(waited.)]TJ -46.517 -14.531 Td[(Mrs.)-422(Rosscott)-307(came)-307(out)-307(after)-307(a)-308(while)-307(and)-307(asked)-307(him)-307(why)-308(he)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(didn't)-250(go)-250(to)-250(walk)-250(also.)]TJ 11.956 -14.531 Td[("Just)-256(what)-255(I)-256(was)-256(thinking)-256(as)-255(to)-256(yourself,")-256(he)-256(said,)-257(very)-256(boldly)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(as)-250(to)-250(voice,)-250(and)-250(very)-250(beseechingly)-250(as)-250(to)-250(eyes.)]TJ 11.956 -14.531 Td[("Oh,)-227(I'm)-220(so)-221(busy,")-221(she)-221(said,)-227(laughing)-220(up)-221(into)-221(his)-221(eyes)-221(and)-221(then)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(laughing)-404(down)-405(at)-404(the)-405(ground)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 132.18 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.91 0 Td[("you)-404(see)-405(I'm)-404(the)-405(only)-404(married)]TJ -143.09 -13.549 Td[(daughter)-250(to)-250(help)-250(mamma.")]TJ 11.956 -14.531 Td[("But)-392(you've)-392(been)-391(helping)-392(all)-392(the)-392(morning,")-392(he)-392(complained,)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+960 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 961 0 R
+/Resources 959 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 941 0 R
+>> endobj
+962 0 obj <<
+/D [960 0 R /XYZ 128.137 259.758 null]
+>> endobj
+959 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+965 0 obj <<
+/Length 4393      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(176)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 518.175 Td[("and)-425(besides)-425(how)-424(can)-425(you)-425(help?)-774(One)-425(would)-425(think)-425(that)-425(your)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(mother)-250(was)-250(beating)-250(eggs)-250(or)-250(turning)-250(mattresses.")]TJ 11.956 -15.227 Td[("I)-262(have)-261(to)-262(work)-262(harder)-262(than)-261(that,")-262(said)-262(Mrs.)-285(Rosscott;)-268("I)-262(have)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(to)-304(make)-303(people)-304(know)-304(one)-303(another)-304(and)-304(like)-304(one)-303(another)-304(and)-304(not)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(all)-250(want)-250(to)-250(make)-250(love)-250(to)-250(the)-250(same)-250(girl.")]TJ 11.956 -15.227 Td[("You)-378(can't)-377(help)-378(their)-378(all)-377(wanting)-378(to)-378(make)-378(love)-377(to)-378(the)-378(same)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(girl,")-231(said)-230(Jack;)-237("the)-231(more)-230(you)-231(try)-230(to)-231(convince)-230(them)-231(of)-230(their)-231(folly)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-331(deeper)-331(in)-331(love)-330(they)-331(are)-331(bound)-331(to)-331(fall.)-492(I'm)-331(an)-331(illustration)-331(of)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([249])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.55 Td[(that)-250(myself.")]TJ 11.956 -15.227 Td[(Mrs.)-892(Rosscott)-463(looked)-464(at)-464(him)-464(then)-464(and)-464(curved)-464(her)-464(mouth)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(sweetly.)]TJ 11.956 -15.227 Td[("You)-346(do)-347(say)-347(such)-346(pretty)-347(things,")-346(she)-347(said.)-539("I)-347(don't)-346(see)-347(how)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(you've)-381(learned)-381(so)-381(much)-380(in)-381(so)-381(little)-381(time.)-642(Why,)-414(General)-381(Jiggs)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(in)-329(there)-329(is)-329(three)-328(time)-1(s)-328(your)-329(age)-329(and)-329(he)-329(tangles)-329(himself)-329(awfully)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(when)-250(he)-250(tries)-250(to)-250(be)-250(sweet.")]TJ 11.956 -15.227 Td[("Perhaps)-381(his)-381(p)-1(hysician)-381(has)-381(recommended)-381(gymnastics,")-382(said)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Jack.)]TJ 11.956 -15.228 Td[("Perhaps,")-316(said)-316(Mrs.)-448(Rosscott)-315(laughing,)-333(and)-316(then)-316(she)-316(turned)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(as)-250(if)-250(to)-250(go)-250(in.)]TJ 11.956 -15.227 Td[("Oh,)-389(don't,")-361(said)-360(her)-361(lover,)-389(barring)-361(the)-361(way)-361(with)-361(great)-361(sud-)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(denness;)-291("you)-277(really)-278(mustn't,)-284(you)-277(know.)-332(I've)-278(been)-277(patient)-277(for)-278(so)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(long)-232(and)-232(been)-232(good)-233(for)-232(so)-232(long)-232(and)-232(I)-232(must)-232(be)-232(rewarded)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 238.716 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(I)-232(really)]TJ -249.625 -13.55 Td[(must.)-260(Do)-254(come)-253(out)-254(with)-253(me)-254(somewhere)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 173.919 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(anywhere)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 42.403 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.91 0 Td[(for)-253(only)-254(a)]TJ -238.141 -13.549 Td[(half-hour,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 43.32 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(please.")]TJ -42.273 -15.227 Td[(She)-250(looked)-250(at)-250(him.)]TJ 0 -15.227 Td[("Won't)-250(Maude)-250(do?")-250(she)-250(asked.)]TJ 0 -15.228 Td[("No,)-241(she)-239(won't,")-239(he)-239(said)-239(beneath)-239(his)-239(breath;)-243("whatever)-239(do)-239(you)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(suggest)-252(such)-253(a)-252(thing)-252(for?)-257(You)-252(make)-252(me)-252(ready)-253(to)-252(tell)-252(you)-252(to)-253(your)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(face)-282(that)-282(you)-282(want)-282(to)-282(go)-282(as)-282(bad)-282(as)-282(I)-282(want)-282(you)-282(to)-282(go,)-291(but)-282(I)-282(shan't)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(say)-250(so)-250(because)-250(I)-250(know)-250(too)-250(much.")]TJ 11.956 -15.227 Td[("You)-274(do)-274(know)-273(a)-274(lot,)-280(don't)-274(you?")-273(said)-274(she,)-280(with)-274(an)-274(expression)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(of)-378(great)-379(respect;)-442("why,)-411(if)-378(you)-379(were)-378(to)-379(dare)-378(to)-378(hint)-379(to)-378(me)-379(that)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.756 0 Td[([250])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.756 -13.549 Td[(I)-384(wanted)-385(to)-385(go)-384(out)-385(with)-384(you)-385(instead)-384(of)-385(staying)-384(in)-385(and)-385(talking)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+964 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 965 0 R
+/Resources 963 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 941 0 R
+>> endobj
+966 0 obj <<
+/D [964 0 R /XYZ 177.655 419.975 null]
+>> endobj
+967 0 obj <<
+/D [964 0 R /XYZ 258.5 79.691 null]
+>> endobj
+963 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+970 0 obj <<
+/Length 4463      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Twenty)-250(-)-250(Jack's)-250(Joy)-12936(177)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 518.175 Td[(Rembrandt)-326(with)-326(Mr.)-477(Morley,)-345(I'd)-326(never)-326(forgive)-326(you)-326(the)-326(longest)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(day)-250(I)-250(live.")]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[("I)-322(know)-322(you)-322(wouldn't,")-322(said)-322(he,)-340("and)-322(you)-322(may)-322(be)-323(quite)-322(sure)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(that)-246(I)-246(shall)-246(not)-246(say)-246(it.)-248(On)-246(the)-246(contrary)-246(I)-246(shall)-246(merely)-246(implore)-246(you)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-250(forget)-250(your)-250(own)-250(pleasure)-250(in)-250(consideration)-250(of)-250(mine.")]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[("I)-224(really)-224(ought)-224(to)-224(devote)-224(the)-224(morning)-224(to)-224(Mr.)-242(Morley,")-224(she)-224(said)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(meditatively;)-250("it's)-250(such)-250(an)-250(honor)-250(his)-250(coming)-250(here,)-250(you)-250(know.")]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[("A)-188(little)-187(bit)-188(of)-188(a)-187(whiskered)-188(monkey,")-188(said)-188(Jack)-187(in)-188(great)-188(disgust;)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[("an)-250(honor,)-250(indeed!")]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[("He's)-348(a)-349(very)-348(great)-348(man,")-348(said)-349(Mrs.)-545(Rosscott;)-397("every)-348(sort)-349(of)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(institution)-271(has)-271(given)-270(him)-271(a)-271(few)-271(letters)-271(to)-270(put)-271(after)-271(his)-271(name,)-276(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(some)-250(have)-250(given)-250(him)-250(whole)-250(syllables.")]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[("You)-297(must)-297(get)-297(a)-297(straw)-297(hat,)-309(you)-297(know,)-309(or)-297(a)-297(sun-shade;)-321(it)-297(will)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(be)-250(hot)-250(in)-250(half)-250(an)-250(hour.")]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[("Oh,)-232(I)-228(couldn't)-227(stay)-228(out)-227(half)-228(an)-228(hour;)-235(fifteen)-227(minutes)-228(would)-228(be)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(the)-250(longest.")]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[("All)-250(right,)-250(fifteen)-250(minutes,)-250(then,)-250(but)-250(do)-250(hurry.")]TJ 0 -13.9 Td[("I)-226(didn't)-226(say)-227(that)-226(I)-226(would)-226(go,")-227(she)-226(said,)-231(opening)-226(her)-226(eyes;)-235("and)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(yet)-250(I)-250(feel)-250(myself)-250(gone.")-250(She)-250(laughed)-250(lightly.)]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[("Do)-250(hurry,")-250(he)-250(pleaded)-250(freshly;)-250("oh,)-250(I)-250(am)-250(so)-250(hungry)-250(to)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 237.556 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ -248.465 -13.9 Td[(She)-440(disappeared)-440(within)-441(doors)-440(and)-440(five)-440(minutes)-440(later)-441(came)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 279.068 0 Td[([251])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.023 -13.549 Td[(back)-214(with)-213(one)-214(of)-214(those)-214(charming)-213(floppy)-214(English)-214(garden)-214(hats,)-221(tied)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(with)-250(a)-250(muslin)-250(bow)-250(beneath)-250(her)-250(dimpled)-250(chin.)]TJ 11.955 -13.9 Td[("This)-214(is)-214(so)-213(good)-214(of)-214(me,")-214(she)-214(said,)-221(as)-213(they)-214(went)-214(down)-214(the)-214(steps.)]TJ 0 -13.9 Td[("Very)-192(good,)-204(heavenly)-192(good,")-193(said)-192(Jack;)-212(and)-192(then)-192(neither)-193(spoke)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(again)-345(until)-345(they)-346(had)-345(crossed)-345(the)-345(Italian)-346(garden)-345(and)-345(entered)-346(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(American)-478(wood.)-933(She)-477(looked)-478(into)-478(his)-477(eyes)-478(then)-478(and)-478(smiled)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(half-shyly)-250(and)-250(half-provokingly.)]TJ 11.955 -13.9 Td[("You)-349(are)-349(such)-349(a)-350(baby,")-349(she)-349(said;)-399("such)-349(a)-349(baby!)-547(Do)-349(ask)-350(me)]TJ -11.955 -13.55 Td[(why)-250(and)-250(I'll)-250(tell)-250(you)-250(half)-250(a)-250(dozen)-250(whys.)-250(I'd)-250(love)-250(to.")]TJ 11.955 -13.899 Td[(The)-314(path)-315(was)-314(the)-314(smoothest)-315(and)-314(shadiest)-314(of)-315(forest)-314(paths,)-331(the)]TJ -11.955 -13.55 Td[(hour)-197(was)-196(the)-197(sweetest)-197(and)-196(sunniest)-197(of)-197(summer)-196(hours,)-208(the)-197(moment)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(was)-213(the)-212(brightest)-213(and)-212(happiest)-213(of)-213(all)-212(the)-213(moments)-212(which)-213(they)-213(had)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(known)-250(together)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 68.17 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(up)-250(to)-250(now.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+969 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 970 0 R
+/Resources 968 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 972 0 R
+>> endobj
+971 0 obj <<
+/D [969 0 R /XYZ 280.195 243.684 null]
+>> endobj
+968 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+975 0 obj <<
+/Length 4131      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(178)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[("Do)-250(tell)-250(me,")-250(he)-250(said;)-250("I'm)-250(wild)-250(to)-250(know.")]TJ 0 -13.808 Td[(He)-303(took)-303(her)-303(hand)-303(and)-304(laid)-303(it)-303(on)-303(his)-303(arm.)-409(For)-303(that)-303(little)-304(while)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(she)-398(was)-398(certainly)-398(his)-398(and)-398(his)-398(alone,)-435(and)-398(no)-398(man)-398(had)-398(a)-398(better)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(claim)-250(to)-250(her.)-250("Go)-250(on)-250(and)-250(tell)-250(me,")-250(he)-250(repeated.)]TJ 11.956 -13.808 Td[("There)-194(is)-194(one)-194(big)-194(reason)-194(and)-194(there)-194(are)-193(lots)-194(of)-194(little)-194(ones.)-232(Which)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(will)-250(you)-250(have)-250(first?")]TJ 11.956 -13.807 Td[("The)-250(little)-250(ones,)-250(please.")]TJ 0 -13.808 Td[("Then,)-302(listen;)-312(you)-292(are)-292(like)-291(a)-292(baby)-292(because)-291(you)-292(are)-292(impatient,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(because)-395(you)-395(are)-395(spoilt,)-431(because)-395(when)-395(you)-395(want)-395(anything)-395(you)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([252])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(think)-316(that)-316(you)-317(must)-316(have)-316(it,)-333(and)-316(because)-316(you)-316(like)-316(to)-316(be)-317(walked)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(with.")]TJ 11.956 -13.808 Td[("Are)-292(those)-291(the)-292(little)-291(reasons,")-292(he)-291(said)-292(when)-292(she)-291(paused;)-313("and)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(what's)-250(the)-250(big)-250(one?")]TJ 11.956 -13.808 Td[("The)-246(big)-247(one,")-247(she)-246(said)-247(slowly;)-247("Oh,)-248(I'm)-246(afraid)-247(that)-246(you)-247(won't)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(like)-250(the)-250(big)-250(one!")]TJ 11.956 -13.808 Td[("Perhaps)-243(it)-244(will)-243(be)-243(all)-244(the)-243(better)-243(for)-244(me)-243(if)-244(I)-243(don't,")-243(he)-244(laughed;)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[("at)-250(any)-250(rate)-250(I)-250(beg)-250(and)-250(pray)-250(and)-250(plead)-250(to)-250(know)-250(it.")]TJ 11.956 -13.807 Td[("What)-388(a)-389(dear)-388(boy!")-388(she)-389(laughed.)-665("If)-388(you)-389(want)-388(to)-388(know)-389(as)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(badly)-230(as)-229(that,)-234(I'd)-230(have)-229(to)-230(tell)-230(you)-229(anyhow,)-234(whether)-230(I)-229(wanted)-230(to)-230(or)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(not.)-250(It's)-250(because)-250(I'm)-250(so)-250(much)-250(the)-250(oldest.")]TJ 11.956 -13.807 Td[("Oh!")-250(said)-250(Jack,)-250(much)-250(disappointed.)-250("Is)-250(that)-250(why?")]TJ 0 -13.808 Td[("And)-515(then)-515(too,")-515(she)-515(continued,)-581("you)-515(seem)-515(even)-515(younger)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(because)-250(of)-250(your)-250(being)-250(so)-250(unsophisticated.")]TJ 11.956 -13.808 Td[("So)-250(I)-250(am)-250(unsophisticated,)-250(am)-250(I?")-250(he)-250(asked)-250(grimly.)]TJ 0 -13.807 Td[("Yes,")-250(she)-250(said)-250(nodding;)-250("at)-250(least)-250(you)-250(impress)-250(me)-250(so.")]TJ 0 -13.808 Td[("I'm)-250(glad)-250(of)-250(that,")-250(he)-250(said)-250(after)-250(a)-250(little)-250(pause.)]TJ 0 -13.808 Td[(She)-250(looked)-250(up)-250(quickly.)]TJ 0 -13.807 Td[("Truly?")]TJ 0 -13.808 Td[("Yes,)-250(indeed.")]TJ 0 -13.807 Td[("Oh,")-235(she)-235(laughed,)-237("if)-235(you)-235(say)-235(that,)-238(then)-234(I)-235(shall)-235(know)-235(that)-235(you)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(are)-250(less)-250(unsophisticated)-250(than)-250(I)-250(thought)-250(you)-250(were.")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([253])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -13.807 Td[("Why)-250(so?")-250(he)-250(asked)-250(surprised.)]TJ 0 -13.808 Td[("Don't)-257(you)-257(know)-256(that)-257(meek,)-259(mild)-256(men)-257(always)-257(try)-257(to)-257(insinuate)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(that)-175(they)-175(are)-175(regular)-175(fire-eaters,)-190(and)-175(vice)-175(versa?)-225(Well,)-191(it's)-175(so)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 253.968 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(and)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+974 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 975 0 R
+/Resources 973 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 972 0 R
+>> endobj
+976 0 obj <<
+/D [974 0 R /XYZ 269.133 408.748 null]
+>> endobj
+977 0 obj <<
+/D [974 0 R /XYZ 313.416 107.306 null]
+>> endobj
+973 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+980 0 obj <<
+/Length 4788      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Twenty)-250(-)-250(Jack's)-250(Joy)-12936(179)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 518.175 Td[(it's)-317(so)-317(every)-317(time.)-451(There)-317(was)-317(once)-317(a)-317(man)-317(who)-317(was)-317(kissing)-317(me,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-429(he)-429(drew)-429(my)-429(hands)-428(up)-429(around)-429(his)-429(neck)-429(in)-429(such)-429(a)-429(clever,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(gentle)-264(way)-265(that)-264(I)-265(was)-264(absolutely)-264(positive)-265(that)-264(he)-264(had)-265(had)-264(no)-265(end)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(of)-287(practice)-286(drawing)-286(arms)-287(up)-286(in)-287(that)-286(way)-287(and)-286(I)-287(just)-286(couldn't)-287(help)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(saying:)-293('Oh,)-277(how)-271(many)-271(women)-272(you)-271(must)-272(have)-271(kissed!')-314(What)-272(do)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(you)-269(think)-268(he)-269(answered?)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 103.92 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(merely)-269(smiled)-268(and)-269(said:)-287('Not)-269(so)-269(many)]TJ -114.829 -13.549 Td[(as)-339(you)-339(might)-339(imagine.')-518(He)-339(showed)-339(how)-339(much)-339(he)-339(knew)-339(by)-340(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(way)-250(he)-250(answered,)-250(for)-250(oh!)-250(he)-250(had.)-250(I)-250(found)-250(that)-250(out)-250(afterwards.")]TJ 11.956 -15.857 Td[("What)-250(did)-250(you)-250(do)-250(then?")-250(he)-250(asked,)-250(frowning.)-250("Cut)-250(him?")]TJ 0 -15.856 Td[("No;)-441(I)-378(married)-377(him.)-632(Why,)-410(of)-377(course)-378(I)-377(was)-378(going)-377(to)-378(marry)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(him)-284(when)-284(he)-284(kissed)-284(me,)-293(or)-284(I)-284(wouldn't)-284(have)-284(let)-284(him)-284(kiss)-284(me.)-352(Do)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(you)-271(suppose)-271(I)-271(let)-270(men)-271(kiss)-271(me)-271(as)-271(a)-271(general)-270(thing?)-313(What)-271(are)-271(you)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(thinking)-250(of?")]TJ 11.956 -15.856 Td[("I)-388(was)-388(thinking)-389(of)-388(you,")-388(he)-389(said.)-664("It's)-389(a)-388(horrible)-388(habit)-389(I've)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(fallen)-250(into)-250(lately.)-250(But,)-250(never)-250(mind;)-250(keep)-250(on)-250(talking.")]TJ 11.956 -15.856 Td[("I)-230(don't)-231(remember)-230(what)-230(I)-230(was)-231(saying,")-230(she)-230(said.)-244("Oh,)-234(yes,)-234(I)-231(do)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(too.)-319(About)-273(men,)-279(about)-273(good)-273(and)-273(bad)-273(men.)-320(Now,)-278(even)-273(if)-274(I)-273(didn't)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(know)-227(how)-227(much)-227(trouble)-227(you'd)-227(made)-227(in)-226(the)-227(world,)-232(I'd)-227(divine)-227(it)-227(all)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([254])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(the)-257(instant)-256(that)-257(you)-256(were)-257(willing)-256(to)-257(admit)-256(being)-257(unsophisticated.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(People)-222(always)-222(crave)-222(to)-222(be)-223(the)-222(opposite)-222(of)-222(what)-222(they)-222(are;)-231(the)-223(drug)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(shops)-250(couldn't)-250(sell)-250(any)-250(peroxide)-250(of)-250(hydrogen)-250(if)-250(that)-250(wasn't)-250(so.")]TJ 11.956 -15.857 Td[(He)-250(laughed)-250(and)-250(forgot)-250(his)-250(previous)-250(vexation.)]TJ 0 -15.856 Td[("Now,)-196(look)-182(at)-182(me,")-182(she)-183(continued.)-227("Oh,)-196(I)-182(didn't)-182(mean)-183(really)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 254.132 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(I)]TJ -276.997 -13.549 Td[(mean)-173(figuratively;)-199(but)-173(never)-174(mind.)-224(Now,)-189(I'm)-173(nothing)-173(but)-173(a)-174(bubble)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(and)-289(a)-288(toy,)-298(and)-289(I)-288(ache)-289(to)-289(be)-288(considered)-289(a)-288(philosopher.)-366(Don't)-289(you)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(remember)-225(my)-225(telling)-225(you)-225(what)-224(a)-225(philosopher)-225(I)-225(was,)-230(the)-225(very)-225(first)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(conversation)-207(that)-206(we)-207(ever)-207(had)-206(together?)-236(I)-206(do)-207(try)-207(so)-206(hard)-207(to)-207(delude)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(myself)-343(into)-343(thinking)-343(I)-343(am)-343(one,)-366(that)-343(some)-343(days)-343(I'm)-343(almost)-343(sure)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(that)-252(I)-253(really)-252(am)-252(one.)-257(Last)-253(night,)-252(for)-253(instance,)-253(I)-252(was)-252(thinking)-253(how)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(nice)-250(it)-250(would)-250(be)-250(for)-250(my)-250(Cousin)-250(Maude)-250(to)-250(marry)-250(you.")]TJ 11.956 -15.856 Td[("Ye)-250(gods!")-250(cried)-250(Jack.)]TJ 0 -15.857 Td[("She's)-267(so)-268(very)-267(rich,")-267(Mrs.)-302(Rosscott)-267(pursued)-267(calmly;)-276("and)-268(you)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(know)-354(the)-353(law)-353(of)-354(heredity)-353(is)-354(an)-353(established)-354(scientific)-353(fact)-354(now,)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+979 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 980 0 R
+/Resources 978 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 972 0 R
+>> endobj
+981 0 obj <<
+/D [979 0 R /XYZ 121.463 278.609 null]
+>> endobj
+978 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+984 0 obj <<
+/Length 4408      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(180)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 518.175 Td[(so)-408(you)-408(could)-408(feel)-408(quite)-407(safe)-408(as)-408(to)-408(her)-408(nose)-408(skipping)-408(the)-408(next)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(generation.")]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[(Jack)-250(was)-250(audibly)-250(amused.)]TJ 0 -13.995 Td[("It's)-409(not)-409(anything)-409(to)-409(laugh)-409(over,")-409(his)-410(companion)-409(continued)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(gravely.)-781("It's)-426(something)-427(to)-427(ponder)-427(and)-427(pray)-427(over.)-780(If)-427(I)-427(were)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(Maude)-250(I)-250(should)-250(be)-250(on)-250(my)-250(knees)-250(about)-250(it)-250(most)-250(of)-250(the)-250(time.")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([255])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -13.995 Td[("Nothing)-396(can)-396(help)-396(her)-395(now,")-396(said)-396(Jack.)-688("Her)-396(parents)-396(have)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(been)-366(and)-365(gone)-366(and)-366(done)-366(it,)-394(as)-366(far)-366(as)-365(she's)-366(concerned,)-395(forever.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Prayer)-285(won't)-284(change)-285(her)-284(nose,)-294(although)-284(age)-285(may)-284(broaden)-285(it)-285(still)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(more.")]TJ 11.956 -13.995 Td[("Don't)-349(you)-348(believe)-349(that)-348(nothing)-349(can)-348(help)-349(her)-348(now.)-546(A)-349(good-)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(looking)-396(husband)-395(could)-396(help)-396(her)-395(lots.)-688(I've)-395(seen)-396(homelier)-396(girls)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(than)-257(she)-257(go)-256(just)-257(everywhere)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 122.084 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(on)-257(account)-257(of)-256(their)-257(husbands,)-258(you)]TJ -132.993 -13.549 Td[(know.)-250(That)-250(was)-250(where)-250(my)-250(philosophy)-250(came)-250(in.")]TJ 11.956 -13.995 Td[("I'd)-259(quite)-259(forgotten)-259(your)-259(philosophy.")-259(He)-259(laughed)-259(again)-259(as)-259(he)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(spoke.)-250("I)-250(must)-250(apologize.)-250(Please)-250(tell)-250(me)-250(more)-250(about)-250(it.")]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[(She)-250(laughed,)-250(too.)]TJ 0 -13.995 Td[("I'm)-312(going)-313(to.)-437(You)-312(see,)-328(I)-312(was)-312(lying)-313(there,)-328(looking)-312(out)-312(at)-313(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(moon,)-380(and)-354(thinking)-354(how)-355(nice)-354(it)-354(would)-354(be)-354(for)-354(Maude)-354(to)-355(marry)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(you.")]TJ 11.956 -13.995 Td[("Did)-250(you)-250(consider)-250(me)-250(at)-250(all?")-250(he)-250(interposed.)]TJ 0 -13.996 Td[("How)-429(you)-430(interrupt!")-429(she)-430(declared,)-474(in)-429(exasperation.)-789("You)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(never)-250(let)-250(me)-250(finish.")]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[("I)-250(am)-250(dumb.")]TJ 0 -13.995 Td[("Well,)-404(I)-374(thought)-374(how)-373(nice)-374(it)-373(would)-374(be)-374(for)-373(Maude)-374(to)-374(marry)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(you.)-620(You'd)-373(have)-374(a)-373(baron)-374(for)-373(a)-373(papa-in-law,)-405(and)-373(an)-373(heiress)-374(to)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(balance)-271(Aunt)-272(Mary)-271(with.)-314(If)-271(you)-271(went)-272(into)-271(consumption)-271(and)-272(had)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-339(retreat)-339(to)-339(Arizona)-339(for)-340(a)-339(term)-339(of)-339(years,)-361(the)-339(climate)-339(could)-340(not)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(ruin)-354(her)-354(complexion)-354(as)-354(it)-354(would)-354(m)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 157.099 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(most)-354(people's.)-562(And)-354(she's)]TJ -168.008 -13.549 Td[(so)-372(ready)-373(to)-372(have)-372(you)-372(that)-373(it's)-372(almost)-372(pathetic.)-617(I)-372(can't)-373(imagine)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(anything)-362(more)-361(awful)-362(than)-362(to)-362(be)-361(as)-362(ready)-362(to)-361(marry)-362(a)-362(man)-362(who)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([256])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.55 Td[(is'nt)-215(at)-215(all)-215(desirous)-214(of)-215(so)-215(doing,)-222(as)-215(Maude)-215(is)-215(of)-214(marrying)-215(you.)-239(But)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(if)-292(you)-292(would)-291(only)-292(think)-292(about)-292(it.)-375(I)-292(thought)-291(and)-292(thought)-292(about)-292(it)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(last)-235(night)-236(and)-235(the)-236(longer)-235(I)-236(thought)-235(the)-235(more)-236(it)-235(seemed)-236(like)-235(such)-236(a)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+983 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 984 0 R
+/Resources 982 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 972 0 R
+>> endobj
+985 0 obj <<
+/D [983 0 R /XYZ 352.525 449.536 null]
+>> endobj
+986 0 obj <<
+/D [983 0 R /XYZ 162.035 106.79 null]
+>> endobj
+982 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+989 0 obj <<
+/Length 4633      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Twenty)-250(-)-250(Jack's)-250(Joy)-12936(181)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 518.175 Td[(nice)-248(arrangement)-247(all)-248(around;)-248(and)-248(then)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 164.988 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.91 0 Td[(all)-248(of)-247(a)-248(sudden)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 63.849 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(do)-248(you)]TJ -250.656 -13.549 Td[(know)-349(I)-349(began)-349(to)-349(wonder)-349(if)-349(I)-349(was)-349(philosopher)-349(enough)-350(to)-349(enjoy)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(being)-250(matron-of-honor)-250(to)-250(Maude)-250(and)-250(really)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 189.96 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ -188.913 -13.996 Td[("At)-452(the)-452(wedding)-452(I)-451(could)-452(have)-452(kissed)-452(you!")-452(he)-452(exclaimed,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(and)-323(suddenly)-322(subsided)-323(at)-323(the)-322(look)-323(with)-323(which)-322(she)-323(withered)-323(his)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(boldness.)]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[("And)-314(really)-313(I)-314(wasn't)-314(altogether)-313(sure;)-346(and)-314(then,)-329(it)-314(occurred)-314(to)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(me)-228(that)-227(nothing)-228(on)-227(the)-228(face)-227(of)-228(the)-227(earth)-228(would)-227(eve)-1(r)-227(persuade)-228(you)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-300(marry)-299(Maude.)-399(And)-300(I)-300(saw)-299(my)-300(card)-300(castle)-299(go)-300(smashing)-300(down,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-244(then)-244(I)-244(saw)-244(that)-244(I)-245(really)-244(am)-244(a)-244(philosopher,)-245(after)-244(all,)-245(for)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 250.706 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(for)-244(I)]TJ -261.615 -13.549 Td[(didn't)-250(mind)-250(a)-250(bit!")]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[(Jack)-250(threw)-250(his)-250(head)-250(back)-250(and)-250(roared.)]TJ 0 -13.996 Td[("Oh,")-197(he)-198(said)-197(after)-197(a)-198(minute,)-208("you)-197(are)-197(so)-198(refreshing.)-232(You)-198(ruffle)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(me)-213(up)-213(just)-213(to)-213(give)-213(me)-213(the)-213(joy)-213(of)-212(smoothing)-213(me)-213(down,)-221(don't)-213(you?")]TJ 11.956 -13.995 Td[("I)-373(do)-373(what)-373(I)-373(can)-373(to)-373(amuse)-373(you,")-373(she)-373(said,)-404(demurely.)-620("You)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(are)-401(my)-402(father's)-401(guest)-401(and)-402(my)-401(brother's)-402(friend,)-439(and)-401(so)-401(I)-402(ought)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(to)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 8.488 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(oughtn't)-250(I?")]TJ -7.441 -13.995 Td[("Yes,")-258(he)-257(said,)-260("I)-258(have)-258(a)-257(two-fold)-258(claim)-258(on)-258(you)-257(if)-258(you)-258(look)-258(at)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(it)-310(that)-310(way)-310(and)-309(some)-310(day)-310(I)-310(mean)-310(to)-309(go)-310(to)-310(work)-310(and)-310(unfold)-310(still)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(another.")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([257])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -13.995 Td[(They)-447(had)-446(come)-447(to)-446(a)-447(delightful)-446(little)-447(nook)-446(wh)-1(ere)-446(the)-447(trees)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(sighed)-323(gently,)-341("Sit)-322(down,")-323(and)-323(there)-323(seemed)-322(to)-323(be)-323(no)-323(adequate)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(reason)-250(for)-250(refusing)-250(the)-250(invitation.)]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[("Let's)-330(rest,)-349(I)-330(know)-330(you're)-329(tired,")-330(the)-330(young)-329(man)-330(said)-330(gently,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(and)-367(the)-367(next)-367(minute)-367(found)-367(his)-367(companion)-367(down)-367(upon)-368(the)-367(soft)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(grass,)-356(her)-335(back)-335(against)-335(a)-334(twisted)-335(tree-root)-335(and)-335(her)-335(hands)-335(about)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(her)-250(knees.)]TJ 11.956 -13.995 Td[(He)-275(threw)-274(himself)-275(down)-275(beside)-274(her)-275(and)-275(the)-275(hush)-274(and)-275(the)-275(song)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(of)-203(mid-summ)-1(er)-203(were)-203(all)-204(about)-203(them,)-213(filling)-203(the)-204(air,)-213(and)-203(their)-204(ears,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-250(their)-250(hearts)-250(all)-250(at)-250(once.)]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[(Presently)-201(he)-201(took)-201(her)-201(hand)-200(up)-201(out)-201(of)-201(the)-201(grass)-201(where)-201(its)-201(fingers)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(had)-332(wandered)-332(to)-332(hide)-332(themselves,)-353(and)-332(kissed)-332(it.)-496(She)-333(looked)-332(at)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(him)-250(reprovingly)-250(when)-250(it)-250(was)-250(too)-250(late,)-250(and)-250(shook)-250(her)-250(head.)]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[("Such)-250(a)-250(little)-250(one!")-250(he)-250(said.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+988 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 989 0 R
+/Resources 987 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 972 0 R
+>> endobj
+990 0 obj <<
+/D [988 0 R /XYZ 89.393 258.062 null]
+>> endobj
+987 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+993 0 obj <<
+/Length 4149      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(182)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[("I)-250(call)-250(it)-250(a)-250(pretty)-250(big)-250(one,")-250(she)-250(answered.)]TJ 0 -13.808 Td[("I)-250(mean)-250(the)-250(hand)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 74.432 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(not)-250(the)-250(kiss,")-250(he)-250(said)-250(smiling.)]TJ -85.341 -13.807 Td[("You)-335(really)-335(are)-335(sophisticated,")-335(she)-335(told)-335(him.)-505("On)-1(ly)-335(fancy)-335(if)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(you)-250(had)-250(reversed)-250(those)-250(nouns!")]TJ 11.956 -13.808 Td[("I)-258(know,")-257(he)-258(said;)-261("but)-258(I've)-257(kissed)-258(hands)-258(before.)-272(You)-258(see,)-260(I'm)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(more)-250(talented)-250(than)-250(you)-250(think.")]TJ 11.956 -13.808 Td[("Don't)-334(be)-333(silly,")-334(she)-333(said)-334(smiling.)-500("I)-334(really)-333(am)-334(beginning)-334(to)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(think)-244(very)-243(well)-244(of)-244(you.)-248(You)-244(don't)-243(want)-244(me)-244(to)-243(cease)-244(to,)-245(do)-244(you?")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([258])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -13.807 Td[("Why)-311(do)-311(women)-310(always)-311(say)-311('Don't)-311(be)-311(silly'?")-310(he)-311(queried.)-433("I)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(wish)-366(I)-366(could)-366(find)-366(one)-367(who)-366(wanted)-366(to)-366(be)-366(very)-366(original,)-395(and)-367(so)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(said,)-250('Do)-250(be)-250(silly',)-250(just)-250(for)-250(a)-250(change.")]TJ 11.956 -13.807 Td[("Dear)-289(me,)-298(if)-289(women)-289(were)-288(to)-289(beg)-289(men)-289(to)-288(be)-289(silly)-289(what)-289(would)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(happen?")-340(Mrs.)-520(Rosscott)-340(exclaimed.)-520("The)-340(majority)-340(are)-340(so)-340(very)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(foolish)-250(without)-250(any)-250(special)-250(egging)-250(on.")]TJ 11.956 -13.807 Td[("But)-250(it)-250(is)-250(so)-250(dreadfully)-250(time-worn)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 147.174 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(that)-250(one)-250(phrase.")]TJ -158.083 -13.808 Td[("Oh,)-361(if)-339(it)-340(comes)-339(to)-339(originality,")-339(she)-339(answered,)-361("men)-340(are)-339(not)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(original,)-498(either.)-846(Whenever)-449(they)-449(lie)-448(down)-449(in)-449(the)-448(shade,)-499(they)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(always)-316(begin)-316(to)-316(talk)-316(nonsense.)-448(You)-316(reflect)-316(a)-316(bit)-316(and)-316(see)-316(if)-316(that)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(isn't)-250(invariably)-250(so.")]TJ 11.956 -13.807 Td[("But)-478(nonsense)-478(is)-478(such)-478(fun)-478(to)-478(talk)-478(in)-478(the)-478(shade)-1(,")-478(he)-478(said,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(spreading)-325(her)-325(fingers)-326(out)-325(upon)-325(his)-325(own)-326(broad)-325(palm.)-475("So)-326(many)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(things)-250(are)-250(so)-250(next)-250(to)-250(heavenly)-250(in)-250(the)-250(shade.")]TJ 11.956 -13.807 Td[("You)-250(ought)-250(not)-250(to)-250(hold)-250(my)-250(hand.")]TJ 0 -13.808 Td[("I)-250(know)-250(it.")]TJ 0 -13.807 Td[("I)-254(am)-255(astonished)-254(that)-254(you)-255(do)-254(not)-255(remember)-254(your)-254(Aunt)-255(Mary's)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(teaching)-250(you)-250(better.")]TJ 11.956 -13.807 Td[("She)-250(never)-250(forbade)-250(my)-250(holding)-250(your)-250(hand.")]TJ 0 -13.808 Td[("Suppose)-250(anyone)-250(should)-250(come)-250(suddenly)-250(down)-250(the)-250(path?")]TJ 0 -13.807 Td[("They)-250(would)-250(see)-250(us)-250(and)-250(turn)-250(and)-250(go)-250(back.")]TJ 0 -13.808 Td[("To)-250(tell)-250(everyone)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 75.949 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -171.569 0 Td[([259])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -13.808 Td[("What?")]TJ 0 -13.807 Td[("A)-250(lie.")]TJ 0 -13.808 Td[(Jack)-321(laughed,)-339(folded)-320(her)-321(hand)-321(hard)-321(in)-321(his,)-339(and)-321(drew)-321(himself)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(into)-250(a)-250(sitting)-250(posture)-250(beside)-250(her)-250(knee.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+992 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 993 0 R
+/Resources 991 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 972 0 R
+>> endobj
+994 0 obj <<
+/D [992 0 R /XYZ 374.173 422.297 null]
+>> endobj
+995 0 obj <<
+/D [992 0 R /XYZ 199.535 121.114 null]
+>> endobj
+991 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+998 0 obj <<
+/Length 4262      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Twenty)-250(-)-250(Jack's)-250(Joy)-12936(183)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[("Now,)-309(don't)-297(be)-296(silly,")-297(she)-297(said)-297(with)-297(earnest)-297(anxiety.)-391("I)-297(won't)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(have)-314(it.)-440(It's)-314(putting)-313(false)-314(ideas)-313(in)-314(your)-313(head,)-330(because)-313(I'm)-314(really)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(only)-250(playing,)-250(you)-250(know.")]TJ 11.956 -13.877 Td[("The)-250(shadow)-250(of)-250(love,")-250(he)-250(suggested.)]TJ 0 -13.876 Td[("Quite)-250(so.")]TJ 0 -13.877 Td[("And)-250(if)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 32.629 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")-250(He)-250(leaned)-250(quite)-250(near.)]TJ -43.538 -13.876 Td[("Not)-281(by)-281(any)-281(means,")-281(she)-281(exclaimed,)-289(springing)-281(quickly)-282(to)-281(her)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(feet.)-393("Come)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 53.883 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(come!)-393(It's)-298(quite)-298(time)-298(that)-297(we)-298(were)-298(going)-298(back)-297(to)]TJ -64.792 -13.549 Td[(the)-250(house.")]TJ 11.956 -13.876 Td[("Why)-250(must)-250(we?")-250(he)-250(remonstrated.)]TJ 0 -13.877 Td[("You)-253(know)-253(why,")-252(she)-253(said.)-259("It's)-252(time)-253(we)-253(were)-253(being)-253(sensible.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(When)-219(a)-218(man)-219(gets)-218(as)-219(near)-219(as)-218(you)-219(are,)-225(I)-218(prefer)-219(to)-218(be)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 216.14 0 Td[(en)-219(promenade)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 61.763 0 Td[(.)]TJ -277.903 -13.549 Td[(And)-255(don't)-255(let)-255(us)-255(be)-255(foolish)-255(any)-255(longer,)-256(either.)-265(Let)-255(us)-255(be)-255(cool)-255(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(worldly.)-250(How)-250(much)-250(money)-250(has)-250(your)-250(aunt,)-250(anyhow?")]TJ 11.956 -13.877 Td[(Jack)-250(had)-250(risen,)-250(too.)]TJ 0 -13.876 Td[("What)-250(impertinence!")-250(he)-250(ejaculated.)]TJ 0 -13.877 Td[("Not)-247(at)-247(all,")-246(she)-247(said.)-249("Maude)-247(has)-247(so)-246(much)-247(money)-247(of)-247(her)-247(own)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(that)-250(I)-250(ask)-250(in)-250(a)-250(wholly)-250(disinterested)-250(spirit.")]TJ 11.956 -13.877 Td[("She's)-291(very)-291(rich,")-291(said)-291(Jack.)-372("But)-291(if)-291(your)-291(spirit)-291(is)-291(so)-291(disinter-)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 279.068 0 Td[([260])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(ested,)-250(what)-250(do)-250(you)-250(want)-250(to)-250(know)-250(for?")]TJ 11.956 -13.876 Td[("This)-247(is)-247(a)-246(world)-247(of)-247(chance,)-248(and)-246(the)-247(main)-247(chance)-247(in)-247(a)-247(woman's)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(case)-250(is)-250(alimony;)-250(so)-250(it's)-250(always)-250(nice)-250(to)-250(know)-250(how)-250(to)-250(figure)-250(it.")]TJ 11.956 -13.877 Td[("It's)-347(a)-346(slim)-347(chance)-347(for)-346(your)-347(cousin,")-347(said)-346(Jack.)-540("Do)-347(tell)-347(her)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(that)-250(I)-250(said)-250(so.")]TJ 11.956 -13.877 Td[("No,)-315(I)-301(shan't,")-302(said)-302(she)-302(perversely.)-405("I)-301(won't)-302(be)-302(a)-302(go-between)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(for)-403(you)-403(and)-402(her.)-709(Besides,)-441(as)-402(to)-403(that)-403(alimony,)-441(there)-403(are)-403(more)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(heiresses)-250(than)-250(Maude)-250(in)-250(our)-250(family.")]TJ 11.956 -13.877 Td[("Yes,")-235(said)-235(he;)-239("I)-235(know)-235(that.)-245(But)-235(I)-235(know,)-237(too,)-238(that)-235(there)-235(is)-235(one)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(among)-301(them)-300(who)-301(need)-300(never)-301(figure)-300(on)-301(getting)-300(any)-301(alimony)-301(out)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(of)-329(me.)-489(If)-329(I)-329(ever)-330(get)-329(the)-330(iron)-329(grasp)-329(of)-330(the)-329(law)-330(on)-329(that)-329(heiress,)-350(I)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(can)-329(assure)-329(you)-330(that)-329(only)-329(her)-329(death)-330(or)-329(mine)-329(will)-329(ever)-329(loosen)-330(its)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(fangs.")]TJ 11.956 -13.877 Td[("How)-307(fierce)-307(you)-307(are!")-307(said)-307(Mrs.)-421(Rosscott.)-421("Why)-307(do)-307(you)-307(get)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(so)-250(worked)-250(up?")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+997 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 998 0 R
+/Resources 996 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1000 0 R
+>> endobj
+999 0 obj <<
+/D [997 0 R /XYZ 242.118 271.016 null]
+>> endobj
+996 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R /F18 18 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1003 0 obj <<
+/Length 4381      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(184)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[("Oh,")-301(he)-302(exclaimed,)-314(with)-301(something)-302(approaching)-301(a)-301(groan,)-315("I)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(don't)-354(mean)-354(to)-355(be)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 75.367 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(but)-354(I)-354(do)-355(care)-354(so)-354(much!)-563(And)-354(sometimes)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 178.994 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ -276.179 -13.549 Td[(he)-320(caught)-319(her)-320(quickly)-320(in)-319(his)-320(arms,)-337(drew)-320(her)-319(within)-320(their)-320(strong)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(embrace,)-244(and)-242(kissed)-242(her)-242(passionately)-243(upon)-242(the)-242(lips)-242(that)-242(had)-243(been)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(tantalizing)-250(him)-250(for)-250(five)-250(interminable)-250(months.)]TJ 11.956 -13.822 Td[(He)-250(was)-250(almost)-250(frightened)-250(the)-250(next)-250(second)-250(by)-250(her)-250(stillness.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -84.711 0 Td[([261])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -13.822 Td[("Don't)-250(be)-250(angry,")-250(he)-250(pleaded.)]TJ 0 -13.822 Td[("I'm)-286(not,")-285(she)-286(murmured,)-295(resting)-286(very)-285(quietly)-286(with)-286(her)-286(cheek)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(against)-313(his)-313(heart.)-439("But)-313(you'll)-313(have)-313(to)-313(marry)-313(me)-313(now.)-439(My)-313(other)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(husband)-250(did,)-250(you)-250(know.")]TJ 11.956 -13.822 Td[("Marry)-303(you!")-303(he)-303(exclaimed.)-409("Next)-303(week?)-409(To-morrow?)-409(This)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(afternoon?)-250(You)-250(need)-250(only)-250(say)-250(when)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 157.233 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ -156.186 -13.822 Td[("Oh,)-217(not)-209(for)-208(years)-209(and)-208(year)-1(s,")-208(she)-209(said,)-217(interrupting)-208(him.)-237("You)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(mustn't)-250(dream)-250(of)-250(such)-250(a)-250(thing)-250(for)-250(years)-250(and)-250(years!")]TJ 11.956 -13.822 Td[("For)-250(years)-250(and)-250(years!")-250(he)-250(cried)-250(in)-250(astonishment.)]TJ 0 -13.822 Td[("That's)-250(what)-250(I)-250(said,")-250(she)-250(told)-250(him.)]TJ 0 -13.822 Td[(He)-363(released)-363(her)-363(in)-363(his)-363(surprise)-363(and)-363(stared)-363(hard)-363(at)-363(her.)-589(And)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(then)-250(he)-250(seized)-250(her)-250(again)-250(and)-250(kissed)-250(her)-250(soundly.)]TJ 11.956 -13.822 Td[("You)-250(don't)-250(mean)-250(it!")-250(he)-250(declared.)]TJ 0 -13.822 Td[("I)-250(do)-250(mean)-250(it!")-250(she)-250(declared.)]TJ 0 -13.822 Td[(And)-376(then)-375(she)-376(shook)-376(her)-375(head)-376(in)-376(a)-376(very)-375(sweet)-376(but)-376(painfully)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(resolute)-250(manner.)]TJ 11.956 -13.822 Td[("I)-366(won't)-366(be)-367(called)-366(a)-366(cradle-robber,")-366(she)-367(said,)-395(firmly;)-424(and)-367(at)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(that)-250(her)-250(companion)-250(swore)-250(mildly)-250(but)-250(fervently.)]TJ 11.956 -13.822 Td[("You're)-360(so)-360(young,")-359(she)-360(said)-360(further;)-415("and)-359(not)-360(a)-360(bit)-360(settled,")]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(she)-250(added.)]TJ 11.956 -13.822 Td[("But)-250(you're)-250(young,)-250(too,")-250(he)-250(reminded)-250(her.)]TJ 0 -13.822 Td[("I'm)-250(older)-250(than)-250(you)-250(are,")-250(she)-250(said.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -84.711 0 Td[([262])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -13.822 Td[("I)-397(suppose)-397(that)-397(you)-398(aren't)-397(any)-397(more)-397(settled)-397(than)-398(I)-397(am,)-434(and)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(that's)-250(why)-250(you)-250(hesitate,")-250(he)-250(said)-250(grimly.)]TJ 11.956 -13.822 Td[("Now)-294(that's)-294(unworthy)-294(of)-294(you,")-294(she)-294(cried;)-316("and)-294(I)-294(have)-295(a)-294(good)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(mind)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 22.429 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ -21.382 -13.822 Td[(But)-472(the)-471(direful)-472(words)-472(were)-472(never)-471(spoken,)-527(for)-472(she)-472(was)-472(in)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(his)-373(arms)-374(again)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 65.713 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.91 0 Td[(close)-373(in)-374(his)-373(arms;)-435(and,)-404(as)-374(he)-373(kissed)-373(her)-374(with)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1002 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1003 0 R
+/Resources 1001 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1000 0 R
+>> endobj
+1004 0 obj <<
+/D [1002 0 R /XYZ 361.523 450.156 null]
+>> endobj
+1005 0 obj <<
+/D [1002 0 R /XYZ 256.033 148.256 null]
+>> endobj
+1001 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1008 0 obj <<
+/Length 1249      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Twenty)-250(-)-250(Jack's)-250(Joy)-12936(185)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 518.175 Td[(a)-461(delicious)-462(sensation)-461(that)-461(it)-461(was)-461(all)-462(too)-461(good)-461(to)-461(be)-462(true,)-514(he)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(whispered,)-250(laughing:)]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[("I)-197(always)-197(meant)-197(to)-197(lord)-197(it)-197(over)-196(my)-197(wife,)-208(so)-197(I'll)-197(begin)-197(by)-197(saying:)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[('Have)-250(it)-250(your)-250(own)-250(way,)-250(as)-250(long)-250(as)-250(I)-250(have)-250(you.'")]TJ 11.956 -13.55 Td[(Mrs.)-378(Rosscott)-292(laid)-293(her)-292(cheek)-293(back)-293(against)-292(his)-293(coat)-292(lapel,)-304(and)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(looked)-264(up)-265(into)-264(his)-264(eyes)-265(with)-264(the)-264(sweetest)-264(smile)-265(that)-264(even)-264(he)-265(had)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(ever)-250(seen)-250(upon)-250(even)-250(her)-250(face.)]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[("It's)-250(a)-250(bargain,")-250(she)-250(murmured.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 279.068 -29.651 Td[([263])]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1007 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1008 0 R
+/Resources 1006 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1000 0 R
+>> endobj
+1009 0 obj <<
+/D [1007 0 R /XYZ 46.771 393.68 null]
+>> endobj
+1006 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1010 0 obj
+<< /S /GoTo /D (index22) >>
+endobj
+1013 0 obj
+(Chapter Twenty-One - The Peace and Quiet of the Country)
+endobj
+1016 0 obj <<
+/Length 3307      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 18.959 Tf 93.543 479.321 Td[(Chapter)-258(Twenty-One)-257(-)-258(The)-257(Peace)]TJ 0 -24.647 Td[(and)-250(Quiet)-250(of)-250(the)-250(Country)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 0 -38.629 Td[(Along)-263(in)-263(the)-263(beginning)-263(of)-263(the)-263(fall)-263(Aunt)-263(Mary)-263(began)-264(suddenly)-263(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(grow)-311(very)-310(feeble)-311(indeed.)-432(After)-310(the)-311(first)-310(week)-311(or)-310(two)-311(it)-311(became)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(apparent)-354(that)-355(she)-354(would)-354(have)-354(to)-354(be)-355(quiet)-354(and)-354(very)-354(prudent)-355(for)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(some)-230(time,)-234(and)-230(it)-230(was)-229(when)-230(this)-230(information)-230(was)-230(imparted)-230(to)-230(her)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(that)-324(the)-323(family)-324(discovered)-324(that)-323(she)-324(had)-324(been)-324(intending)-323(to)-324(go)-324(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(New)-250(York)-250(for)-250(the)-250(Horse-Show.)]TJ 11.956 -14.791 Td[("She's)-283(awful)-284(mad,")-283(Lucinda)-283(said)-284(to)-283(Joshua.)-350("The)-283(doctor)-284(says)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(she'll)-250(have)-250(to)-250(stay)-250(in)-250(bed.")]TJ 11.956 -14.79 Td[("She)-250(won't)-250(stay)-250(in)-250(bed)-250(long,")-250(said)-250(Joshua.)]TJ 0 -14.791 Td[("The)-463(doctor)-463(says)-463(if)-463(she)-463(don't)-463(stay)-463(in)-463(bed)-463(she'll)-464(die,")-463(said)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Lucinda.)]TJ 11.956 -14.791 Td[("She)-250(won't)-250(die,")-250(said)-250(Joshua.)]TJ 0 -14.791 Td[(Lucinda)-300(looked)-300(at)-300(Joshua)-300(and)-300(felt)-300(a)-300(keen)-300(desire)-300(to)-301(throw)-300(her)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(flatiron)-281(at)-280(him.)-342(The)-280(world)-281(always)-280(thinks)-281(that)-280(the)-281(Lucindas)-281(have)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(no)-272(feelings;)-283(the)-272(world)-271(never)-272(knows)-272(how)-272(near)-272(the)-272(flatirons)-272(come)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-250(the)-250(Joshuas)-250(often)-250(and)-250(often.)]TJ 11.956 -14.791 Td[(Arethusa)-428(came)-429(for)-428(two)-428(days)-428(and)-429(looked)-428(the)-428(situation)-429(well)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(over.)]TJ 11.956 -14.791 Td[("I)-217(think)-218(I)-217(won't)-217(stay,")-218(she)-217(said)-217(to)-218(Lucinda,)-224("but)-217(you)-217(must)-218(write)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -84.711 0 Td[([264])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(me)-250(twice)-250(a)-250(week)-250(and)-250(I'll)-250(write)-250(the)-250(others.")]TJ 11.956 -14.79 Td[(Then)-364(Arethusa)-364(departed)-364(and)-364(Lucinda)-364(remained)-364(alone)-365(to)-364(su-)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(perintend)-250(things)-250(and)-250(be)-250(superintended)-250(by)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary.)]TJ 11.956 -14.79 Td[(Aunt)-372(Mary's)-372(superintendence)-372(waxed)-372(extremely)-372(vigorous)-372(al-)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(most)-356(at)-355(once.)-568(She)-355(had)-356(out)-356(her)-356(writing)-355(desk,)-382(and)-356(wrote)-356(Jack)-356(a)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(letter,)-341(as)-323(a)-323(consequence)-323(of)-323(which)-323(everything)-323(published)-323(in)-323(New)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(York)-349(was)-349(mailed)-348(to)-349(his)-349(aunt)-348(as)-349(soon)-349(as)-349(it)-348(was)-349(off)-349(the)-349(presses.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1015 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1016 0 R
+/Resources 1014 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1000 0 R
+>> endobj
+1011 0 obj <<
+/D [1015 0 R /XYZ 93.543 529.134 null]
+>> endobj
+1017 0 obj <<
+/D [1015 0 R /XYZ 288.668 163.469 null]
+>> endobj
+1014 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1020 0 obj <<
+/Length 4941      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 311.038 548.934 Td[(187)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 518.175 Td[(Lucinda)-273(was)-272(set)-273(reading)-272(aloud)-273(and,)-278(except)-272(when)-273(the)-272(mail)-273(came,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(was)-250(hardly)-250(allowed)-250(to)-250(halt)-250(for)-250(food)-250(and)-250(sleep.)]TJ 11.956 -13.697 Td[("My)-294(heavens)-294(above,")-294(said)-293(the)-294(slave)-294(to)-294(Joshua,)-305("it)-294(don't)-294(seem)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(like)-250(I)-250(can)-250(live)-250(with)-250(her!")]TJ 11.956 -13.697 Td[("You'll)-250(live)-250(with)-250(her,")-250(said)-250(Joshua.)]TJ 0 -13.697 Td[("It's)-250(more)-250(as)-250(flesh)-250(and)-250(blood)-250(can)-250(bear.")]TJ 0 -13.697 Td[("Flesh)-272(and)-273(blood)-273(can)-272(bear)-273(a)-272(good)-273(deal)-272(more'n)-273(you)-272(think)-273(for,")]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(said)-315(Joshua,)-331(and)-315(then)-315(he)-315(delivered)-314(up)-315(two)-315(letters)-315(and)-315(drove)-315(off)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(toward)-250(the)-250(barn.)]TJ 11.956 -13.697 Td[("If)-434(those)-435(are)-434(letters,")-435(said)-434(Aunt)-435(Mary)-434(from)-435(her)-434(pillow)-435(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(instant)-313(she)-312(heard)-313(the)-313(front)-312(door)-313(close,)-328("I'd)-313(like)-312('em.)-438(I'm)-313(a)-313(great)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(believer)-322(in)-322(readin')-321(my)-322(own)-322(mail,)-340(an')-321(another)-322(time,)-340(Lucinda,)-340(I'll)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(thank)-232(you)-232(to)-232(bring)-232(it)-232(as)-232(soon)-232(as)-232(you)-232(get)-232(it)-232(an')-232(not)-232(stand)-232(out)-232(on)-232(the)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(porch)-250(hollyhockin')-250(with)-250(Joshua)-250(for)-250(half)-250(an)-250(hour)-250(while)-250(I)-250(wait.")]TJ 11.956 -13.697 Td[(Lucinda)-503(delivered)-503(up)-503(the)-503(letters)-503(without)-503(demanding)-503(what)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 279.068 0 Td[([265])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(species)-382(of)-382(conversational)-382(significance)-382(her)-382(mistress)-383(attached)-382(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-250(phrase,)-250("holly-hocking.")]TJ 11.956 -13.697 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(turned)-250(the)-250(letters)-250(through)-250(eagerly.)]TJ 0 -13.697 Td[("My)-345(lands)-346(alive!")-345(she)-345(said)-346(suddenly,)-369("if)-345(here)-346(isn't)-345(one)-346(from)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Mitchell,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 39.699 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(the)-282(dear)-283(boy.)-347(Well,)-291(I)-282(never)-282(did)-1(!)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 139.848 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(Lucinda,)-291(open)-282(the)]TJ -201.365 -13.549 Td[(blinds)-217(to)-217(the)-217(other)-217(window,)-223(too)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 134.629 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(so)-217(I)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 15.697 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(can)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 15.142 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(see)-217(to)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 24.784 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")-217(her)-217(voice)]TJ -233.888 -13.55 Td[(died)-276(away,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 47.542 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(she)-276(was)-276(too)-276(deep)-276(in)-276(the)-276(letter)-276(to)-276(recollect)-276(what)-276(she)]TJ -58.451 -13.549 Td[(was)-250(saying.)]TJ 11.956 -13.697 Td[(Mitchell)-250(wrote:)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 7.681 -23.379 Td[(M)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 8.768 0 Td[(Y)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 8.22 0 Td[(D)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 7.121 0 Td[(EAR)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 18.406 0 Td[(M)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 8.768 0 Td[(ISS)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 13.983 0 Td[(W)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 9.31 0 Td[(ATKINS)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 29.219 0 Td[(:)]TJ/F29 9.863 Tf 2.742 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf -94.582 -12.97 Td[(We)-397(are)-397(sitting)-397(in)-397(a)-397(row)-396(with)-397(ashes)-397(on)-397(the)-397(heads)-397(of)-397(our)]TJ -11.955 -12.821 Td[(cigarettes)-324(mourning,)-344(mourning,)-343(mourning,)-343(because)-324(we)-325(have)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(had)-213(the)-213(news)-214(that)-213(you)-213(are)-213(ill.)-238(As)-213(usual)-214(it)-213(is)-213(up)-213(to)-214(me)-213(to)-213(express)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(our)-347(feelings,)-370(so)-347(I)-346(have)-347(decided)-346(to)-347(mail)-346(them)-347(and)-346(the)-347(others)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(agree)-250(to)-250(pay)-250(for)-250(the)-250(ink.)]TJ 11.955 -12.969 Td[(I)-392(wish)-392(to)-393(remark)-392(at)-392(once)-392(that)-393(we)-392(did)-392(not)-392(sleep)-393(any)-392(last)]TJ -11.955 -12.822 Td[(night.)-235(Jack)-207(told)-206(us)-206(at)-207(dinner,)-215(and)-206(we)-206(spent)-206(the)-207(evening)-206(making)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(a)-291(melancholy)-291(tour)-291(of)-291(places)-291(where)-291(we)-291(had)-291(been)-291(with)-291(you.)-373(If)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(you)-267(had)-266(only)-267(been)-266(with)-267(us!)-300(The)-266(roof)-267(gardens)-266(are)-267(particularly)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1019 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1020 0 R
+/Resources 1018 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1000 0 R
+>> endobj
+1021 0 obj <<
+/D [1019 0 R /XYZ 306.194 327.599 null]
+>> endobj
+1018 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1024 0 obj <<
+/Length 4281      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(188)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 9.863 Tf 113.18 518.175 Td[(desolate)-287(without)-287(you.)-362(The)-287(whole)-288(of)-287(the)-287(city)-287(seems)-288(to)-287(realize)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(it.)-828(The)-443(watering)-443(carts)-442(weep)-443(from)-443(dawn)-442(to)-443(dark.)-828(All)-443(the)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(lamp-posts)-357(are)-357(wearing)-356(black.)-571(It)-357(is)-357(sad)-356(at)-357(one)-357(extreme)-357(and)]TJ 0 -12.821 Td[(sadder)-250(at)-250(the)-250(other.)]TJ 11.955 -13.236 Td[(You)-296(must)-295(brace)-296(up.)-387(If)-296(you)-296(can't)-295(do)-296(that)-296(try)-295(a)-296(belt.)-387(Life)-296(is)]TJ -11.955 -12.822 Td[(too)-268(short)-268(to)-267(spend)-268(in)-268(bed.)-303(My)-268(motto)-268(has)-267(always)-268(been)-268("Spend)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(freely)-403(everywhere)-403(else.")-403(At)-403(pres)1(ent)-403(I)-403(recommend)-403(anything)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(calculated)-347(to)-347(mend)-348(you.)-542(I)-347(may)-347(in)-347(all)-347(modesty)-348(mention)-347(that)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -92.392 0 Td[([266])]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 92.392 -12.822 Td[(just)-253(before)-253(Christmas)-253(I)-253(shall)-252(be)-253(traveling)-253(north)-253(and)-253(shall)-253(then)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(adore)-288(to)-289(stop)-288(and)-288(cheer)-289(you)-288(up)-289(a)-288(bit)-288(if)-289(you)-288(invite)-289(me.)-365(I)-288(have)]TJ 0 -12.821 Td[(made)-375(it)-374(an)-375(invariable)-374(rule,)-406(however,)-406(not)-374(to)-375(stay)-374(over)-375(night)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(anywhere)-267(when)-268(I)-268(am)-267(not)-268(invited,)-271(so)-268(I)-267(hope)-268(you)-267(will)-268(consider)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(my)-250(feelings)-250(and)-250(send)-250(me)-250(an)-250(invitation.)]TJ 11.955 -13.236 Td[(My)-249(eyes)-248(fill)-249(as)-249(I)-249(think)-248(what)-249(it)-249(will)-248(be)-249(to)-249(sit)-248(beside)-249(you)-249(and)]TJ -11.955 -12.822 Td[(recall)-361(dear)-362(old)-361(New)-361(York.)-584(It)-361(will)-362(be)-361(the)-361(next)-361(best)-362(thing)-361(to)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(being)-250(run)-250(over)-250(by)-250(an)-250(automobile,)-250(won't)-250(it?)]TJ 107.033 -13.236 Td[(Yours,)-286(with)-278(fondest)-279(recollections,)]TJ -19.268 -13.236 Td[(HERBERT)-273(KENDRICK)-273(MITCHELL.)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -95.446 -25.439 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(laid)-250(the)-250(letter)-250(down.)]TJ 0 -13.963 Td[("Lucinda,")-414(she)-415(said)-414(in)-415(a)-414(curiously)-415(veiled)-414(tone,)-456("give)-414(me)-415(a)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(handkerchief)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 56.946 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(a)-250(big)-250(one.)-250(As)-250(big)-250(a)-250(one)-250(as)-250(I've)-250(got.")]TJ -55.899 -13.964 Td[(Lucinda)-250(did)-250(as)-250(requested.)]TJ 0 -13.963 Td[("Now,)-250(go)-250(away,")-250(said)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary.)]TJ 0 -13.964 Td[(Lucinda)-250(went)-250(away.)-250(She)-250(went)-250(straight)-250(to)-250(Joshua.)]TJ 0 -13.963 Td[("She's)-250(had)-250(a)-250(letter)-250(an')-250(read)-250(it)-250(an')-250(it's)-250(made)-250(her)-250(cry,")-250(she)-250(said.)]TJ 0 -13.964 Td[("That's)-397(better'n)-398(if)-397(it)-398(made)-397(her)-398(mad,")-397(said)-398(Joshua,)-434(who)-398(was)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(warming)-250(his)-250(hands)-250(at)-250(the)-250(stove.)]TJ 11.956 -13.963 Td[("I)-324(ain't)-325(sure)-324(that)-324(it)-325(won't)-324(make)-324(her)-325(mad)-324(later,")-324(said)-325(Lucinda.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[("Say,)-224(but)-218(she)-218(is)-218(a)-217(Tartar)-218(since)-218(she)-218(came)-218(back.)-239(Seems)-218(some)-218(days's)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(if)-250(I)-250(couldn't)-250(live.")]TJ 11.956 -13.963 Td[("You'll)-324(live,")-324(said)-323(Joshua,)-343(and,)-342(as)-324(his)-323(hands)-324(were)-324(now)-324(well-)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(warmed,)-250(he)-250(went)-250(out)-250(again.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([267])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -13.964 Td[(After)-266(a)-267(while)-266(Aunt)-266(Mary's)-266(bell)-267(jangled)-266(violently)-266(and)-267(Lucinda)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(had)-250(to)-250(hurry)-250(back.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1023 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1024 0 R
+/Resources 1022 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1000 0 R
+>> endobj
+1025 0 obj <<
+/D [1023 0 R /XYZ 339.742 428.008 null]
+>> endobj
+1026 0 obj <<
+/D [1023 0 R /XYZ 216.849 93.655 null]
+>> endobj
+1022 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1029 0 obj <<
+/Length 4141      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 311.038 548.934 Td[(189)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[("Lucinda,)-326(did)-311(the)-311(doctor)-311(say)-311(anythin')-311(to)-312(you)-311(about)-311(how)-311(long)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(he)-250(thought)-250(I)-250(might)-250(be)-250(sick?")]TJ 11.956 -14.969 Td[("Yes,)-250(he)-250(did.")]TJ 0 -14.969 Td[("What)-327(did)-328(he)-327(say?)-482(I)-328(want)-327(to)-328(know)-327(jus')-328(what)-327(he)-327(said.)-483(Speak)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(up!")]TJ 11.956 -14.97 Td[("He)-250(said)-250(he)-250(didn't)-250(have)-250(no)-250(idea)-250(how)-250(long)-250(you'd)-250(be)-250(sick.")]TJ 0 -14.969 Td[(Aunt)-244(Mary)-245(threw)-244(a)-244(look)-245(at)-244(Lucinda)-244(that)-245(ought)-244(to)-244(have)-245(annihi-)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(lated)-250(her.)]TJ 11.956 -14.969 Td[("I)-295(want)-294(to)-295(see)-295(Jack,")-294(she)-295(said.)-384("Bring)-295(my)-295(writin')-294(desk.)-385(Right)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(off.)-250(Quick.")]TJ 11.956 -14.969 Td[(She)-254(wrote)-254(to)-254(Jack,)-255(and)-254(he)-254(came)-254(up)-254(and)-254(spent)-255(the)-254(next)-254(Sunday)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(with)-250(her,)-250(cheering)-250(her)-250(mightily.)]TJ 11.956 -14.97 Td[("I)-369(wish)-370(the)-369(others)-370(could)-370(have)-369(come,)-399(too,")-370(she)-370(said)-369(once)-370(an)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(hour)-249(all)-249(through)-250(his)-249(visit.)-249(M)-1(itchell's)-249(letter)-249(seemed)-249(to)-249(have)-249(bred)-250(a)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(tremendous)-250(longing)-250(within)-250(her.)]TJ 11.956 -14.969 Td[("They'll)-280(come)-281(later,")-280(said)-281(Jack,)-288(with)-280(hearty)-280(good-will.)-342("They)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(all)-250(want)-250(to)-250(come.")]TJ 11.956 -14.969 Td[("I)-171(don't)-171(know)-172(how)-171(we)-171(could)-171(ever)-171(have)-172(any)-171(fun)-171(up)-171(here)-172(though,")]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(said)-396(his)-396(aunt)-397(sadly.)-688("My)-396(heavens)-396(alive,)-433(Jack,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 209.476 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(but)-396(this)-396(is)-397(an)]TJ -220.385 -13.549 Td[(awful)-358(place)-357(to)-358(live)-358(in.)-573(And)-358(to)-357(think)-358(that)-358(I)-357(lived)-358(to)-358(be)-358(seventy)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(before)-250(I)-250(found)-250(it)-250(out.")]TJ 11.956 -14.969 Td[(Jack)-197(took)-197(her)-197(hand)-197(and)-197(kissed)-197(it.)-233(He)-197(did)-197(sympathize,)-208(even)-197(if)-197(he)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(was)-313(only)-313(twenty-two)-314(and)-313(longing)-313(unutterably)-313(to)-313(be)-314(somewhere)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([268])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(else)-250(and)-250(kissing)-250(someone)-250(else)-250(at)-250(that)-250(very)-250(minute.)]TJ 11.956 -14.969 Td[("Mitchell)-285(wrote)-284(me)-285(a)-284(letter,")-285(continued)-285(Aunt)-284(Mary.)-354("He)-285(said)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(he)-336(was)-336(comin'.)-508(Well,)-357(dear)-336(me,)-357(he)-336(can)-336(eat)-336(mince)-336(pie)-336(and)-336(drive)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(with)-342(Joshua)-343(when)-342(he)-342(goes)-343(for)-342(the)-342(mail,)-366(but)-342(I)-342(don't)-342(know)-343(what)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(else)-250(I)-250(can)-250(do)-250(with)-250(him.)-250(Oh,)-250(if)-250(I'd)-250(only)-250(been)-250(born)-250(in)-250(the)-250(city!")]TJ 11.956 -14.969 Td[(Jack)-252(kissed)-253(her)-252(hand)-252(again)-1(.)-257(He)-252(didn't)-252(know)-253(what)-252(to)-253(say.)-257(Aunt)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Mary's)-250(lot)-250(seemed)-250(to)-250(border)-250(upon)-250(the)-250(tragic)-250(just)-250(then)-250(and)-250(there.)]TJ 11.956 -14.969 Td[(The)-295(next)-295(day)-295(he)-295(returned)-295(to)-295(town)-295(and)-295(Lucinda)-295(came)-295(on)-295(duty)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(again.)-450(She)-316(soon)-317(found)-316(that)-317(the)-316(nephew's)-317(visit)-316(had)-317(rendered)-317(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(aunt)-250(harder)-250(than)-250(ever)-250(to)-250(get)-250(along)-250(with.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1028 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1029 0 R
+/Resources 1027 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1031 0 R
+>> endobj
+1030 0 obj <<
+/D [1028 0 R /XYZ 198.996 205.894 null]
+>> endobj
+1027 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1034 0 obj <<
+/Length 4574      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(190)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[("I'm)-425(goin')-426(to)-425(town)-425(jus''s)-426(soon)-425(as)-425(ever)-426(I)-425(feel)-425(well)-426(enough,")]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(she)-282(declared)-282(aggressively)-282(on)-282(more)-282(than)-282(one)-282(occasion.)-346("An')-282(nex')]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(time)-328(I)-328(go)-328(I'm)-328(goin')-327(to)-328(stay)-328(jus''s)-328(long)-328(as)-328(ever)-328(I'm)-328(havin')-328(a)-328(good)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(time.)-266(Now,)-257(don't)-255(contradict)-256(me,)-257(Lucinda,)-256(because)-256(it's)-255(your)-256(place)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(to)-339(hold)-339(your)-339(tongue.)-518(I'm)-339(a)-339(great)-339(believer)-339(in)-339(your)-339(holding)-340(your)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(tongue,)-250(Lucinda.")]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[(Lucinda,)-550(who)-491(certainly)-490(never)-491(felt)-490(the)-490(slightest)-491(inclination)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(toward)-394(contradiction,)-429(held)-394(her)-393(tongue,)-430(and)-393(the)-394(poor,)-430(unhappy)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(one)-432(twisted)-432(about)-433(in)-432(bed,)-478(and)-432(bemoaned)-432(the)-432(quietude)-432(of)-433(her)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(environment)-250(by)-250(the)-250(hour)-250(at)-250(a)-250(time.)]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("Did)-375(you)-375(say)-375(we)-374(had)-375(a)-375(calf?")-375(she)-375(asked)-375(suddenly)-375(one)-375(day.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -84.711 0 Td[([269])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[("Well,)-242(why)-241(don't)-240(you)-240(answer?)-247(When)-241(I)-240(ask)-240(a)-241(question)-240(I)-240(expect)-241(an)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(answer.)-250(Didn't)-250(you)-250(say)-250(we)-250(had)-250(a)-250(calf?")]TJ 11.956 -13.926 Td[(Lucinda)-250(nodded.)]TJ 0 -13.927 Td[("Well,)-361(I)-339(want)-339(Joshua)-339(to)-339(take)-339(that)-339(calf)-339(to)-340(the)-339(blacksmith)-339(and)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(have)-210(him)-210(shod)-210(behind)-210(an')-211(before)-210(right)-210(off.)-236(To-day)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 214.182 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(this)-210(minute.")]TJ -213.135 -13.927 Td[("You)-352(want)-353(the)-352(calf)-353(shod!")-352(cried)-353(Lucinda,)-378(suddenly)-353(alarmed)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(by)-250(the)-250(fear)-250(lest)-250(her)-250(mistress)-250(had)-250(gone)-250(light-headed.)]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[(Aunt)-257(Mary)-256(glared)-257(in)-256(a)-257(way)-256(that)-257(showed)-256(that)-257(she)-257(was)-256(far)-257(from)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(being)-250(out)-250(of)-250(her)-250(usual)-250(mind.)]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("If)-339(I)-339(said)-339(shod,)-361(I)-339(guess)-339(I)-339(meant)-339(shod,")-339(she)-339(said,)-362(icily.)-517("I)-339(do)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(sometimes)-250(mean)-250(what)-250(I)-250(say.)-250(Pretty)-250(often)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 177.251 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(as)-250(a)-250(usual)-250(thing.")]TJ -176.204 -13.926 Td[(Lucinda)-250(stood)-250(at)-250(the)-250(foot)-250(of)-250(the)-250(bed,)-250(petrified)-250(and)-250(paralyzed.)]TJ 0 -13.927 Td[(Then)-233(the)-233(invalid)-234(sat)-233(up)-233(a)-233(little)-233(and)-234(showed)-233(some)-233(mercy)-233(on)-234(her)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(servant's)-250(very)-250(evident)-250(fright.)]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("I)-263(want)-263(the)-263(calf)-263(shod,")-263(she)-263(explained,)-266("so's)-263(Joshua)-263(can)-263(run)-263(up)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(an')-250(down)-250(the)-250(porch)-250(with)-250(him.")]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[(So)-210(far)-210(from)-210(ameliorating)-210(Lucinda's)-210(condition,)-219(this)-210(explanation)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(rendered)-211(it)-211(visibly)-211(worse.)-236(Aunt)-211(Mary)-211(contemplated)-211(her)-211(in)-211(silence)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(for)-253(a)-252(few)-253(seconds,)-253(and)-253(she)-252(su)-1(ddenly)-252(cried)-253(out,)-253(in)-253(a)-252(tone)-253(that)-253(was)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(full)-250(of)-250(pathos:)]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("I)-441(feel)-441(like)-442(maybe)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 84.325 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(maybe)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 29.084 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(the)-441(calf'll)-442(make)-441(me)-441(think)-442(it's)]TJ -147.183 -13.549 Td[(horses')-250(feet)-250(on)-250(the)-250(pavement.")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([270])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -13.927 Td[(Lucinda)-250(rushed)-250(from)-250(the)-250(room.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1033 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1034 0 R
+/Resources 1032 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1031 0 R
+>> endobj
+1035 0 obj <<
+/D [1033 0 R /XYZ 335.851 381.928 null]
+>> endobj
+1036 0 obj <<
+/D [1033 0 R /XYZ 227.201 80.069 null]
+>> endobj
+1032 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1039 0 obj <<
+/Length 3859      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 311.038 548.934 Td[(191)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[("She)-242(wants)-243(the)-243(calf)-242(shod!")-243(she)-242(cried,)-244(bursting)-243(in)-242(upon)-243(Joshua,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(who)-250(was)-250(piling)-250(wood.)]TJ 11.956 -14.703 Td[(For)-512(once)-512(in)-512(his)-511(life)-512(Joshua)-512(was)-512(shaken)-512(out)-512(of)-512(his)-512(usual)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(placidity.)]TJ 11.956 -14.703 Td[("She)-250(wants)-250(the)-250(calf)-250(shod!")-250(he)-250(repeated)-250(blankly.)]TJ 0 -14.703 Td[("Yes.")]TJ 0 -14.703 Td[("You)-250(can't)-250(shoe)-250(a)-250(calf.")]TJ 0 -14.703 Td[("But)-250(she)-250(wants)-250(it)-250(done.")]TJ 0 -14.703 Td[(Joshua)-250(regained)-250(his)-250(self-control.)]TJ 0 -14.702 Td[("Oh,)-246(well,")-246(he)-245(said,)-247(turning)-245(to)-246(go)-245(on)-246(with)-245(his)-246(work,)-246("the)-246(calf's)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(gone)-250(to)-250(the)-250(butcher,)-250(anyhow.)-250(Tell)-250(her)-250(so.")]TJ 11.956 -14.702 Td[(Lucinda)-250(went)-250(back)-250(to)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary.)]TJ 0 -14.703 Td[("The)-250(calf's)-250(gone)-250(to)-250(the)-250(butcher,")-250(she)-250(yelled.)]TJ 0 -14.703 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(frowned)-250(heavily.)]TJ 0 -14.703 Td[("Then)-284(you)-284(go)-284(an')-284(get)-283(a)-284(lamp)-284(and)-284(turn)-284(it)-284(up)-284(too)-284(high)-284(an')-284(leave)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(it,")-250(she)-250(said,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 53.542 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[("the)-250(smell'll)-250(make)-250(me)-250(think)-250(of)-250(automobiles.")]TJ -52.495 -14.703 Td[(Lucinda)-220(was)-219(appalled.)-240(As)-220(a)-219(practical)-220(housekeeper)-219(she)-220(felt)-220(that)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(here)-250(was)-250(a)-250(proposition)-250(which)-250(she)-250(could)-250(not)-250(face.)]TJ 11.956 -14.703 Td[("Well,)-351(ain't)-331(you)-331(goin'?")-331(Aunt)-330(Mary)-331(asked)-331(tartly.)-493("Of)-331(course)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(if)-272(you)-273(ain't)-272(intendin')-273(to)-272(go)-273(I'd)-272(be)-273(glad)-272(to)-273(know)-272(it;)-284('n)-272(while)-273(you're)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(gone,)-313(Lucinda,)-313(I)-300(wish)-300(you'd)-300(get)-300(me)-301(the)-300(handle)-300(to)-300(the)-301(ice-cream)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(freezer)-329(an')-329(lay)-330(it)-329(where)-329(I)-329(can)-329(see)-330(it;)-369(it'll)-329(help)-329(me)-329(believe)-329(in)-330(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(smell.")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([271])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -14.703 Td[(Lucinda)-341(went)-342(away)-341(and)-342(brought)-341(the)-342(handle,)-364(but)-342(she)-341(did)-342(not)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(light)-366(the)-365(lamp.)-597(The)-366(Fates)-365(were)-366(good)-365(to)-366(her,)-394(thou)-1(gh,)-394(for)-366(Aunt)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Mary)-314(forgot)-314(the)-314(lamp)-314(in)-313(her)-314(disgust)-314(over)-314(the)-314(appearance)-314(of)-314(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(handle.)]TJ 11.956 -14.703 Td[("Take)-287(it)-287(away,")-287(she)-288(said)-287(sharply.)-361("Anybody'd)-287(know)-287(it)-288(wasn't)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(an)-263(automobile)-263(crank.)-290(I)-263(don't)-263(want)-264(to)-263(look)-263(like)-263(a)-263(fool!)-290(Well,)-267(why)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(ain't)-250(you)-250(takin')-250(it)-250(away,)-250(Lucinda?")]TJ 11.956 -14.702 Td[(Lucinda)-361(took)-360(the)-361(crank)-361(back)-361(to)-360(the)-361(freezer;)-416(but)-361(as)-361(the)-361(days)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(passed)-287(on,)-296(the)-287(situation)-286(grew)-287(worse.)-360(Aunt)-287(Mary)-287(slept)-287(more)-287(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(more,)-250(and)-250(awoke)-250(to)-250(an)-250(ever-increasing)-250(ratio)-250(of)-250(belligerency.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1038 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1039 0 R
+/Resources 1037 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1031 0 R
+>> endobj
+1040 0 obj <<
+/D [1038 0 R /XYZ 80.317 205.095 null]
+>> endobj
+1037 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1043 0 obj <<
+/Length 4096      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(192)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[(Before)-342(long)-343(Lucinda's)-343(third)-342(cousin)-343(demanded)-342(her)-343(assistance)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(in)-282("moving,")-283(and)-282(there)-282(was)-283(nothing)-282(for)-282(poor)-283(Arethusa)-282(to)-282(do)-283(but)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-250(take)-250(up)-250(the)-250(burden,)-250(now)-250(become)-250(a)-250(fearfully)-250(heavy)-250(one.)]TJ 11.956 -16.012 Td[(Aunt)-300(Mary)-300(was)-300(getting)-300(to)-300(that)-300(period)-300(in)-300(life)-300(when)-300(the)-300(nearer)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(the)-235(relative)-236(the)-235(greater)-236(the)-235(dislike,)-238(so)-236(that)-235(when)-236(her)-235(niece)-236(arrived)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-250(welcome)-250(which)-250(awaited)-250(her)-250(was)-250(even)-250(less)-250(cordial)-250(than)-250(ever.)]TJ 11.956 -16.011 Td[("Did)-250(you)-250(bring)-250(a)-250(trunk?")-250(she)-250(asked.)]TJ 0 -16.012 Td[("A)-250(small)-250(one,")-250(replied)-250(the)-250(visitor.)]TJ 0 -16.011 Td[("That's)-384(something)-383(to)-384(be)-384(grateful)-383(for,")-384(said)-383(the)-384(aunt.)-651("If)-384(I'd)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(invited)-178(you)-178(to)-178(visit)-178(me,)-192(of)-178(c)-1(ourse)-178(I'd)-178(feel)-178(differently)-178(about)-178(things.")]TJ 11.956 -16.012 Td[(Arethusa)-327(accepted)-327(this)-327(as)-327(she)-327(accepted)-327(all)-326(things,)-347(unpacked,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(saw)-234(Lucinda)-233(off,)-237(assumed)-234(charge)-233(of)-234(the)-234(house,)-236(and)-234(then)-234(dragged)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(a)-347(rocking)-346(chair)-347(to)-347(her)-346(aunt's)-347(bedside)-347(and)-346(unfolded)-347(her)-347(sewing.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([272])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(Ere)-337(she)-337(had)-337(threaded)-337(her)-337(needle)-337(Aunt)-337(Mary)-337(was)-338(sound)-337(asleep,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-300(so)-299(her)-299(niece)-300(sewed)-299(placidly)-300(for)-299(an)-300(hour)-299(or)-300(more,)-312(until,)-312(like)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(lightning)-250(out)-250(of)-250(a)-250(clear)-250(sky:)]TJ 11.956 -16.011 Td[("Arethusa!")]TJ 0 -16.011 Td[(The)-250(owner)-250(of)-250(the)-250(name)-250(started)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 132.992 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(but)-250(answered)-250(immediately:)]TJ -143.901 -16.012 Td[("Yes,)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary.")]TJ 0 -16.011 Td[("When)-353(I)-352(die)-353(I)-352(want)-353(to)-352(be)-353(buried)-352(from)-353(a)-352(roof)-353(garden!)-558(Don't)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(you)-282(forget!)-346(You'd)-282(better)-281(go)-282(an')-282(write)-282(it)-282(down.)-346(Go)-282(now)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 239.973 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(go)-282(this)]TJ -250.882 -13.549 Td[(minute!")]TJ 11.956 -16.012 Td[(Arethusa)-285(shook)-286(as)-285(if)-286(with)-285(the)-286(discharge)-285(of)-286(a)-285(contiguous)-286(field)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(battery.)-597(She)-365(had)-366(not)-366(had)-365(Lucinda's)-366(gradual)-365(breaking-in)-366(to)-366(her)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(aunt's)-250(new)-250(trains)-250(of)-250(thought.)]TJ 11.956 -16.011 Td[("Aunt)-250(Mary,")-250(she)-250(said)-250(feebly)-250(at)-250(last.)]TJ 0 -16.012 Td[(Aunt)-367(Mary)-367(saw)-367(her)-368(lips)-367(moving;)-426(she)-367(sat)-367(up)-367(in)-367(bed)-367(and)-368(her)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(eyes)-250(flashed)-250(cinders.)]TJ 11.956 -16.011 Td[("Well,)-255(ain't)-254(you)-254(goin'?")-254(she)-254(asked)-254(wrathfully.)-262("When)-254(I)-254(say)-254(do)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(a)-281(thing,)-289(can't)-282(it)-281(be)-281(done?)-344(I)-281(declare)-281(it's)-281(bad)-282(enough)-281(to)-281(live)-281(with)-282(a)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(pack)-294(of)-293(idiots)-294(without)-294(havin')-293('em,)-305(one)-293(an')-294(all,)-305(act)-293(as)-294(if)-293(I)-294(was)-294(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(idiot!")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1042 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1043 0 R
+/Resources 1041 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1031 0 R
+>> endobj
+1044 0 obj <<
+/D [1042 0 R /XYZ 177.135 343.274 null]
+>> endobj
+1041 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1047 0 obj <<
+/Length 4392      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 311.038 548.934 Td[(193)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[(Arethusa)-316(laid)-315(aside)-316(her)-316(work)-316(and)-315(rose)-316(to)-316(quit)-316(the)-315(room.)-448(She)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(returned)-245(five)-246(minutes)-245(later)-246(with)-245(pen)-246(and)-245(ink,)-246(but)-246(Aunt)-245(Mary)-246(was)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(now)-250(off)-250(on)-250(another)-250(tack.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([273])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -13.9 Td[("I)-250(want)-250(a)-250(bulldog!")-250(she)-250(cried)-250(imperatively.)]TJ 0 -13.9 Td[("A)-406(bulldog!")-406(shrie)-1(ked)-406(her)-406(niece,)-446(nearly)-406(dropping)-406(what)-407(she)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(held)-250(in)-250(her)-250(hands.)-250("What)-250(do)-250(you)-250(want)-250(a)-250(bulldog)-250(for?")]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[("Not)-278(a)-277(bullfrog!")-278(the)-278(old)-277(lady)-278(corrected;)-292("a)-277(bulldog.)-333(Oh,)-285(I)-278(do)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(get)-281(so)-281(sick)-282(of)-281(your)-281(stupidity,)-289(Arethusa,")-281(she)-282(said.)-343("What)-282(should)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(I)-250(or)-250(any)-250(one)-250(else)-250(want)-250(of)-250(a)-250(bullfrog?")]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[(Arethusa)-250(sighed,)-250(and)-250(the)-250(sigh)-250(was)-250(apparent.)]TJ 0 -13.9 Td[("I'd)-335(sigh)-336(if)-335(I)-336(was)-335(you,")-336(said)-335(her)-336(aunt.)-506("I)-336(certainly)-335(would.)-507(If)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(I)-297(was)-297(you,)-309(Arethusa,)-308(I'd)-297(certainly)-297(feel)-297(that)-297(I)-297(had)-297(cause)-297(to)-297(sigh;")]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(and)-219(with)-218(that)-219(she)-219(sat)-218(up)-219(and)-219(gave)-218(h)-1(er)-218(pillow)-219(a)-219(punch)-218(that)-219(was)-219(full)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(of)-250(the)-250(direst)-250(sort)-250(of)-250(suggestion.)]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[(Arethusa)-277(did)-276(not)-277(gainsay)-277(the)-277(truth)-276(of)-277(the)-277(sighing)-277(proposition.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(It)-250(was)-250(too)-250(apparent.)]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[(The)-221(next)-221(day)-221(Aunt)-221(Mary)-221(slept)-221(until)-222(noon,)-226(and)-221(then)-222(opened)-221(her)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(eyes)-250(and)-250(simultaneously)-250(declared:)]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[("Next)-250(summer)-250(I'm)-250(goin')-250(to)-250(have)-250(an)-250(automobile!")]TJ 0 -13.9 Td[(Then)-232(she)-232(looked)-232(about)-231(and)-232(saw)-232(that)-232(she)-232(had)-232(addressed)-232(the)-232(air,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(which)-227(made)-226(her)-227(more)-226(mad)-227(than)-226(ever.)-242(She)-227(rang)-227(her)-226(bell)-227(violently,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-294(Arethusa)-293(left)-294(the)-293(lunch)-294(table)-294(so)-293(hastily)-294(that)-293(she)-294(reached)-294(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(bedroom)-250(half-choked.)]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[("Next)-293(summer)-292(I'm)-293(goin')-293(to)-292(have)-293(an)-293(automobile,")-292(said)-293(the)-293(old)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(lady)-250(angrily.)-250("Now,)-250(get)-250(me)-250(some)-250(breakfast.")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([274])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -13.9 Td[(Her)-313(niece)-313(went)-313(out)-313(quickly,)-329(and)-313(a)-313(maid)-313(was)-313(sent)-313(in)-313(with)-313(tea)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(and)-272(toast)-273(and)-272(eggs)-273(at)-272(once.)-318(Their)-272(effect)-273(was)-272(to)-273(brace)-272(the)-273(invalid)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(up)-250(and)-250(make)-250(the)-250(lot)-250(of)-250(those)-250(about)-250(her)-250(yet)-250(more)-250(wearing.)]TJ 11.955 -13.9 Td[("I)-341(shall)-342(run)-341(it)-341(myself,")-341(she)-342(vowed,)-364(when)-341(Arethusa)-342(returned;)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[("an')-250(I)-250(bet)-250(they)-250(clear)-250(out)-250(when)-250(they)-250(see)-250(me)-250(comin'.")]TJ 11.955 -13.9 Td[(It)-250(did)-250(seem)-250(highly)-250(probable.)]TJ 0 -13.9 Td[("I)-374(don't)-374(know)-375(how)-374(I)-374(can)-375(live)-374(if)-374(I)-374(don't)-375(get)-374(away)-374(from)-375(here)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(soon,")-329(she)-330(declared)-329(a)-330(few)-329(minutes)-329(later.)-489("You)-329(don't)-329(apprec)-1(iate)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(what)-276(life)-275(is,)-283(Arethusa.)-327(Seems)-275(like)-276(I'll)-276(go)-276(mad)-275(with)-276(wantin')-276(to)-276(be)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1046 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1047 0 R
+/Resources 1045 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1031 0 R
+>> endobj
+1048 0 obj <<
+/D [1046 0 R /XYZ 156.44 491.077 null]
+>> endobj
+1049 0 obj <<
+/D [1046 0 R /XYZ 243.517 189.487 null]
+>> endobj
+1045 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1052 0 obj <<
+/Length 4152      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(194)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 518.175 Td[(somewhere)-248(else.)-249(I)-248(can)-247(see)-248(Jack)-248(gets)-247(his)-248(disposition)-248(straight)-248(from)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(me.")]TJ 11.956 -14.532 Td[(There)-250(was)-250(a)-250(sigh)-250(and)-250(a)-250(pause.)]TJ 0 -14.531 Td[("I)-404(shall)-403(die,")-404(Aunt)-404(Mary)-403(then)-404(declared)-404(with)-404(violence,)-442("if)-404(I)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(don't)-306(have)-306(a)-307(change.)-418(Arethusa,)-320(you've)-307(got)-306(to)-306(write)-306(to)-306(Jack,)-321(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(tell)-250(him)-250(to)-250(get)-250(me)-250(Granite.")]TJ 11.956 -14.532 Td[("Granite!")-250(screamed)-250(the)-250(niece)-250(in)-250(surprise.)]TJ 0 -14.531 Td[("Yes,)-258(Granite.)-270(She)-257(was)-257(a)-257(maid)-256(I)-257(had)-257(in)-256(New)-257(York.)-270(I)-257(want)-257(her)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(to)-336(come)-335(here.)-507(She)-335(must)-336(come.)-507(Tell)-335(him)-336(to)-335(offer)-336(her)-336(anything,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-286(send)-286(her)-286(C.O.D.)-286(If)-286(I)-286(can)-286(have)-286(Granite,)-295(maybe)-286(I'll)-286(feel)-286(some)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(better.)-250(You)-250(write)-250(Jack.")]TJ 11.956 -14.531 Td[("I'll)-250(write)-250(to-night,")-250(shrieked)-250(Arethusa.)]TJ 0 -14.532 Td[("No,)-230(you)-225(won't,")-226(said)-225(Aunt)-225(Mary;)-234("you'll)-225(get)-225(the)-225(ink)-225(and)-226(write)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(right)-321(now.)-463(Be)-1(cause)-321(I've)-321(been)-321(meeker'n)-321(Moses)-321(all)-321(my)-321(life)-321(is)-322(no)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([275])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(reason)-283(why)-283(I)-283(sh'd)-283(be)-283(willin')-283(to)-283(be)-283(downtrodden)-283(clear)-283(to)-284(the)-283(end.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Folks)-240(around)-241(me'd)-240(better)-241(begin)-240(to)-241(look)-240(sharp)-240(an')-241(step)-240(lively)-241(from)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(now)-250(on.")]TJ 11.956 -14.531 Td[(Arethusa)-250(went)-250(to)-250(the)-250(desk)-250(at)-250(once)-250(and)-250(wrote:)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 7.681 -27.551 Td[(D)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 7.121 0 Td[(EAR)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 18.406 0 Td[(J)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 3.836 0 Td[(ACK)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 16.825 0 Td[(:)]TJ -34.233 -13.805 Td[(Aunt)-312(Mary)-311(wants)-312(the)-312(maid)-312(that)-311(she)-312(had)-312(when)-311(she)-312(was)-312(in)]TJ -11.955 -12.821 Td[(New)-299(York)1(.)-396(For)-299(the)-298(love)-299(of)-298(Heaven,)-311(if)-298(the)-299(girl)-298(is)-299(procurable,)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(do)-335(get)-334(her.)-504(Hire)-335(her)-334(if)-335(you)-334(can)-335(and)-335(kidnap)-334(her)-335(if)-334(you)-335(can't.)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(Lucinda)-255(has)-256(played)-255(her)-255(usual)-256(trick)-255(on)-256(me)-255(and)-255(walked)-256(off)-255(just)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(when)-270(she)-270(felt)-270(like)-270(it.)-310(I)-270(never)-270(saw)-270(Aunt)-270(Mary)-270(in)-270(anything)-270(like)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(the)-359(state)-359(of)-358(mind)-359(that)-359(she)-359(is,)-386(but)-359(I)-359(know)-358(one)-359(thing)]TJ/F29 9.863 Tf 207.134 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 9.863 0 Td[(if)-359(you)]TJ -216.997 -12.821 Td[(cannot)-250(send)-250(the)-250(maid,)-250(there'll)-250(be)-250(an)-250(end)-250(of)-250(me.)]TJ 166.742 -13.805 Td[(Your)-297(loving)-296(sister,)]TJ 19.55 -13.804 Td[(ARETHUSA.)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -193.973 -28.278 Td[(Jack)-479(was)-480(much)-479(perturbed)-479(upon)-480(receipt)-479(of)-479(this)-480(letter.)-938(He)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(whistled)-272(a)-273(little)-272(and)-272(frowned)-273(a)-272(great)-272(deal.)-317(But)-273(at)-272(last)-272(he)-273(decided)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-337(be)-337(frank)-337(and)-336(tell)-337(the)-337(truth)-337(to)-337(Mrs.)-510(Rosscott.)-511(To)-337(that)-337(end)-337(he)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(wrote)-188(her)-189(a)-188(lengthy)-188(note.)-230(After)-188(two)-189(preliminary)-188(pages)-188(so)-189(personal)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1051 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1052 0 R
+/Resources 1050 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1031 0 R
+>> endobj
+1053 0 obj <<
+/D [1051 0 R /XYZ 203.47 336.142 null]
+>> endobj
+1050 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1056 0 obj <<
+/Length 3026      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 311.038 548.934 Td[(195)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 518.175 Td[(that)-375(it)-375(would)-375(not)-375(be)-375(right)-375(to)-375(print)-375(them)-375(for)-375(public)-375(reading,)-407(he)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(continued)-250(thus:)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 19.637 -22.64 Td[(I've)-464(had)-464(a)-463(letter)-464(from)-464(my)-464(sister,)-517(who)-464(is)-463(with)-464(Aunt)-464(Mary)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(at)-385(present.)-655(She)-385(says)-385(that)-385(Aunt)-385(Mary)-385(is)-385(not)-385(at)-385(all)-385(well)-385(and)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(declares)-282(that)-283(she)-282(must)-283(have)-282(Janice.)-347(What)-282(under)-283(the)-282(sun)-283(am)-282(I)]TJ 0 -12.821 Td[(to)-317(answer?)-451(Shall)-317(I)-317(say)-317(that)-317(the)-318(girl)-317(has)-317(gone)-317(to)-317(France?)-451(I'm)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(willing)-285(to)-285(swear)-285(anything)-285(rather)-284(that)-285(put)-285(you)-285(to)-285(one)-285(second's)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 271.387 0 Td[([276])]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf -271.387 -12.822 Td[(inconvenience.)-264(You)-255(know)-254(that,)-256(don't)-255(you?)-264(etc)1(.,)-256(etc.,)-256(etc.)-264([just)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(here)-250(the)-250(letter)-250(abruptly)-250(became)-250(personal)-250(again].)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -7.681 -23.367 Td[(Jack)-257(thought)-257(that)-256(he)-257(knew)-257(his)-257(fianc\351e)-257(well,)-258(but)-257(he)-257(was)-257(totally)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(unprepared)-279(for)-278(such)-279(an)-278(exhibition)-279(of)-278(sweet)-279(ness)-278(as)-279(was)-279(testified)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(to)-250(by)-250(the)-250(letter)-250(which)-250(he)-250(received)-250(in)-250(return.)]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[(It's)-451(first)-451(six)-451(pages)-450(were)-451(even)-451(more)-451(personal)-451(than)-451(his)-451(own)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(\050being)-250(more)-250(feminine\051)-250(and)-250(then)-250(came)-250(this)-250(paragraph:)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 19.637 -22.64 Td[(Janice)-214(is)-215(going)-214(to)-215(your)-214(aunt)-215(by)-214(to-night's)-215(train.)-238(Now,)-222(don't)-214(say)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(a)-365(word!)-596(It)-365(is)-365(nothing)]TJ/F29 9.863 Tf 87.359 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 9.862 0 Td[(nothing)]TJ/F29 9.863 Tf 30.142 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 9.863 0 Td[(absolutely)-365(nothing.)-596(Don't)]TJ -137.226 -12.822 Td[(you)-207(know)-208(that)-207(I)-207(am)-208(too)-207(utterly)-207(happy)-207(to)-208(be)-207(able)-207(to)-208(do)-207(anything)]TJ 0 -12.821 Td[(for)-250(anyone)-250(that)-250(you)]TJ/F29 9.863 Tf 76.97 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 9.863 0 Td[(etc.,)-250(etc.,)-250(etc.)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -94.514 -23.368 Td[(Jack)-224(seized)-224(his)-225(hat)-224(and)-224(hurried)-224(to)-225(where)-224(his)-224(lady-love)-224(was)-225(just)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(then)-250(residing.)-250(But)-250(Janice)-250(had)-250(gone!)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.023 -29.651 Td[([277])]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1055 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1056 0 R
+/Resources 1054 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1059 0 R
+>> endobj
+1057 0 obj <<
+/D [1055 0 R /XYZ 257.711 430.699 null]
+>> endobj
+1058 0 obj <<
+/D [1055 0 R /XYZ 46.771 199.818 null]
+>> endobj
+1054 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1060 0 obj
+<< /S /GoTo /D (index23) >>
+endobj
+1063 0 obj
+(Chapter Twenty-Two - "Granite")
+endobj
+1066 0 obj <<
+/Length 3688      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 18.959 Tf 93.543 479.321 Td[(Chapter)-250(Twenty-Two)-250(-)-250("Granite")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 0 -39.208 Td[(Joshua)-339(was)-340(despatched)-339(to)-340(drive)-339(through)-340(mud)-339(and)-340(rain)-339(to)-340(bring)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary's)-250(solace)-250(from)-250(the)-250(station.)]TJ 11.956 -14.906 Td[(Aunt)-289(Mary)-289(had)-289(herself)-289(propped)-289(up)-289(in)-289(bed)-289(to)-289(be)-289(ready)-289(for)-289(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(return)-368(before)-369(Billy's)-368(feet)-368(had)-368(ceased)-368(to)-369(cry)-368(splash)-368(on)-368(the)-369(road)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(outside)-278(of)-279(the)-278(gate.)-335(Her)-278(eagerness)-278(tinged)-279(her)-278(pallor)-278(pink.)-335(It)-279(was)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(as)-249(if)-248(the)-249(prospect)-248(of)-249(seeing)-248(Janice)-249(gave)-248(her)-249(some)-248(of)-249(that)-248(flood)-249(of)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(vitality)-264(which)-265(always)-264(seems)-264(to)-265(ebb)-264(and)-264(flow)-264(so)-265(richly)-264(in)-264(the)-265(life)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(of)-250(a)-250(metropolis.)]TJ 11.956 -14.907 Td[("My)-220(gracious)-219(heavens,)-226(Lucinda")-220(\050for)-220(Lucinda)-219(was)-220(back)-220(now\051,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(she)-222(said)-222(joyfully,)-227("to)-222(think)-222(that)-222(I)-222(needn't)-221(look)-222(at)-222(you)-222(for)-222(a)-222(week)-222(if)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(I)-211(don't)-211(want)-211(to!)-237(You)-211(haven't)-211(any)-211(idea)-211(how)-211(tired)-211(I)-211(am)-211(of)-211(looking)-211(at)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(you,)-287(Lucinda.)-340(If)-280(you)-280(looked)-280(like)-280(anything)-280(it)-280(would)-280(be)-280(different.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(But)-250(you)-250(don't.")]TJ 11.956 -14.907 Td[(Lucinda)-400(rocked)-399(placidly;)-474(hers)-400(was)-399(what)-400(is)-400(called)-399(an)-400("even)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(disposition.")-410(If)-410(it)-410(hadn't)-409(been,)-450(she)-410(might)-410(have)-410(led)-410(an)-410(entirely)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(different)-524(life)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 57.813 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(in)-524(fact,)-591(she)-524(would)-523(most)-524(certainly)-524(have)-523(lived)]TJ -68.722 -13.549 Td[(somewhere)-297(else,)-309(for)-297(she)-298(couldn't)-297(possibly)-297(have)-297(lived)-297(with)-298(Aunt)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Mary.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.756 0 Td[([278])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.712 -14.907 Td[(The)-234(hour)-234(that)-235(ensued)-234(after)-234(Joshua's)-235(departure)-234(was)-234(so)-234(long)-235(that)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(it)-276(resulted)-275(in)-276(a)-276(nap)-276(for)-275(the)-276(invalid,)-282(and)-276(Lucinda)-275(had)-276(to)-276(wake)-276(her)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(by)-374(slamming)-375(the)-374(closet)-374(door)-374(when)-374(the)-375(arrival)-374(turned)-374(in)-374(at)-375(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(gate.)]TJ 11.956 -14.907 Td[("Has)-286(he)-287(got)-286(her?")-287(Aunt)-286(Mary)-287(cried)-286(breathlessly.)-360("Has)-286(he)-287(got)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(someone)-289(with)-288(h)-1(im?)-366(Run,)-298(Lucinda,)-299(an')-288(bring)-289(her)-289(in.)-366(She)-289(needn't)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(wipe)-299(her)-299(feet,)-312(tell)-299(her;)-324(you)-299(can)-299(brush)-299(the)-299(hall)-299(afterwards.)-398(Well,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(why)-250(ain't)-250(you)-250(hurryin'?")]TJ 11.956 -14.907 Td[(Lucinda)-408(was)-409(hurrying,)-448(her)-408(curiosity)-409(being)-408(as)-409(potent)-408(as)-409(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(commands)-188(of)-188(her)-188(mistress,)-200(and)-188(five)-188(seconds)-188(later)-188(Janice)-188(appeared)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1065 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1066 0 R
+/Resources 1064 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1059 0 R
+>> endobj
+1061 0 obj <<
+/D [1065 0 R /XYZ 93.543 529.134 null]
+>> endobj
+1067 0 obj <<
+/D [1065 0 R /XYZ 122.627 205.705 null]
+>> endobj
+1064 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1070 0 obj <<
+/Length 4545      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Twenty-Two)-250(-)-250("Granite")-10940(197)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 518.175 Td[(in)-464(the)-463(door)-464(with)-463(h)-1(er)-463(predecessor)-464(just)-463(behind)-464(her)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 226.482 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(a)-464(striking)]TJ -237.391 -13.549 Td[(contrast.)]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[("You)-266(dear)-267(blessed)-266(Granite!")-266(cried)-266(the)-267(old)-266(lady,)-270(stretching)-267(out)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(her)-264(hands)-264(in)-263(a)-264(sort)-264(of)-264(ecstasy.)-291("Oh,)-267(my!)-292(but)-263(I'm)-264(glad)-264(to)-264(see)-264(you!)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Come)-312(right)-311(straight)-312(here.)-435(No,)-327(shut)-311(the)-312(door)-312(first.)-435(Lucinda,)-327(you)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(go)-250(and)-250(do)-250('most)-250(anything.)-250(An')-250(how)-250(is)-250(the)-250(city?")]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[(Janice)-344(came)-344(to)-344(the)-344(bedside)-344(and)-344(dropped)-344(on)-344(her)-345(knees)-344(there,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(taking)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary's)-250(withered)-250(hand)-250(close)-250(in)-250(both)-250(of)-250(her)-250(own.)]TJ 11.956 -13.995 Td[("You)-324(didn't)-323(shut)-324(the)-323(door,")-324(the)-324(old)-323(lady)-324(whispered)-324(hoarsely.)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[("I)-262(wish)-261(you)-262(would)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 80.886 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(an')-262(bolt)-261(it,)-264(too.)-285(An')-261(then)-262(come)-261(straight)-262(back)]TJ -91.795 -13.549 Td[(to)-250(me.")]TJ 11.956 -13.995 Td[(Janice)-224(closed)-224(and)-224(bolted)-224(the)-224(door,)-229(and)-224(returned)-224(to)-224(the)-224(bedside.)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(Aunt)-298(Mary)-299(drew)-298(her)-299(down)-298(close)-298(to)-299(her,)-310(and)-298(her)-299(voice)-298(and)-299(eyes)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(were)-305(hungry,)-319(indeed.)-415(For)-305(a)-305(little)-305(she)-305(looked)-305(eagerly)-305(upon)-305(what)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([279])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(she)-230(had)-230(so)-230(craved)-230(to)-230(possess)-230(again,)-234(and)-230(then)-230(she)-231(suddenly)-230(asked:)]TJ 11.956 -13.995 Td[("Granite,)-250(have)-250(you)-250(got)-250(any)-250(cigarettes)-250(with)-250(you?")]TJ 0 -13.996 Td[(The)-250(maid)-250(started)-250(a)-250(little.)]TJ 0 -13.996 Td[("Do)-250(you)-250(smoke)-250(now?")-250(she)-250(asked,)-250(with)-250(interest.)]TJ 0 -13.995 Td[("No,")-493(said)-493(Aunt)-493(Mary)-493(sadly,)-554("an')-493(that's)-493(one)-493(more)-494(of)-493(my)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(awful)-459(troubles.)-878(You)-459(see)-459(I'm)-459(jus')-460(achin')-459(to)-459(smell)-459(smoke,)-512(an')]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Joshua)-245(promised)-244(his)-245(mother)-244(the)-245(night)-244(before)-245(he)-244(was)-245(twenty-one.)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(You)-407(don't)-407(know)-406(nothin')-407(about)-407(how)-407(terrible)-407(I)-406(feel.)-721(I'm)-407(empty)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(somewhere)-342(jus')-342(all)-342(the)-342(time.)-526(Don't)-342(you)-342(believe't)-342(you)-342(could)-342(get)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(some)-322(cigarettes)-322(an')-322(smoke)-322('em)-322(right)-322(close)-322(to)-322(me,)-340(an')-323(let)-322(me)-322(lay)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(here,)-333(an')-316(be)-316(so)-316(happy)-316(while)-316(I)-316(smell.)-449(I'll)-316(have)-316(a)-316(good)-316(doctor)-317(for)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(you,)-250(if)-250(you're)-250(sick)-250(from)-250(it.")]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[(The)-250(maid)-250(reflected;)-250(then)-250(she)-250(nodded.)]TJ 0 -13.995 Td[("I'll)-277(write)-277(to)-278(town,")-277(she)-277(cried,)-284(in)-277(her)-278(high,)-284(clear)-277(tones.)-332("What)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(brand)-250(do)-250(you)-250(like)-250(best?")]TJ 11.956 -13.995 Td[("Mitchell's,")-206(said)-205(Aunt)-206(Mary.)-235("But)-206(you)-206(can't)-205(get)-206(those)-206(because)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(he)-254(made)-254('em)-255(himself)-254(an')-254(sealed)-254('em)-254(with)-255(a)-254(lick.)-262(Oh!")-254(she)-255(sighed,)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(with)-236(the)-236(accent)-236(of)-236(a)-236(starving)-236(Sybarite,)-239("I)-236(do)-236(wish)-236(I)-236(could)-236(see)-236(him)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(do)-263(it)-264(again!)-290(Do)-263(you)-264(know,")-263(she)-263(added)-264(suddenly,)-266("he)-264(wrote)-263(me)-264(a)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(letter)-250(and)-250(he's)-250(goin')-250(to)-250(come)-250(here.")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1069 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1070 0 R
+/Resources 1068 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1059 0 R
+>> endobj
+1071 0 obj <<
+/D [1069 0 R /XYZ 144.742 340.25 null]
+>> endobj
+1068 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1074 0 obj <<
+/Length 4957      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(198)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[("When?")-250(asked)-250(Janice.)]TJ 0 -13.927 Td[("After)-246(a)-246(while.)-248(But)-246(you)-246(must)-246(take)-246(off)-245(your)-246(things.)-249(That's)-246(your)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -84.711 0 Td[([280])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(room)-301(in)-301(there,")-301(pointing)-301(toward)-301(a)-301(half-open)-301(door)-301(at)-301(the)-301(side.)-403("I)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(wanted)-229(you)-229(as)-229(close)-229(as)-228(I)-229(could)-229(get)-229(you.)-243(My,)-233(but)-229(I've)-229(wanted)-229(you!)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(I)-250(can't)-250(tell)-250(you)-250(how)-250(much.)-250(But)-250(a)-250(good)-250(deal)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 184.975 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(a)-250(lot)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 19.091 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(awfully.")]TJ -213.928 -13.927 Td[(Janice)-221(went)-222(into)-221(the)-221(room)-221(that)-222(was)-221(to)-221(be)-222(hers,)-227(and)-221(hung)-221(up)-222(her)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(hat)-250(and)-250(cloak.)]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[(When)-422(she)-423(returned)-422(Aunt)-422(Mary)-422(was)-423(looking)-422(a)-422(hundred)-423(per)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(cent,)-250(improved)-250(already.)]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("Can)-252(you)-253(hum)-252('Hiawatha'?")-252(she)-252(asked)-253(immediately.)-257("Granite,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(I)-230(must)-231(have)-230(suthin')-230(to)-230(amuse)-231(me)-230(an')-230(make)-230(me)-231(feel)-230(good.)-243(Can)-231(you)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(hum)-345('Hiawatha')-345(an')-345(can)-345(you)-345(do)-345(that)-345(kind)-345(of)-345('sh)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 210.179 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(sh)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 9.699 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(sh)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 9.698 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[('that)]TJ -262.303 -13.549 Td[(everybody)-250(does)-250(all)-250(together)-250(at)-250(the)-250(end,)-250(you)-250(know?")]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[(Janice)-411(smiled)-411(pleasantly,)-451(and)-410(placing)-411(herself)-411(in)-411(the)-411(closest)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(possible)-395(proximity)-395(with)-394(the)-395(ear)-395(trumpet,)-431(at)-395(once)-395(rendered)-395(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(desired)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 35.425 0 Td[(morceau)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 42.089 0 Td[(in)-359(a)-359(style)-360(which)-359(would)-359(have)-359(done)-360(credit)-359(to)-359(a)]TJ -77.514 -13.549 Td[(soloist)-250(in)-250(a)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 50.008 0 Td[(caf\351)-250(chantant)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 59.083 0 Td[(.)]TJ -97.135 -13.927 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary's)-250(lips)-250(wreathed)-250(in)-250(seraphic)-250(bliss.)]TJ 0 -13.927 Td[("My!")-298(she)-298(said.)-393("I)-298(feel)-297(just)-298(as)-298(if)-298(I)-297(was)-298(back)-298(eatin')-298(crabs')-298(legs)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(and)-216(tails)-217(again.)-238(No)-217(one'll)-216(ever)-216(know)-216(how)-217(I've)-216(missed)-216(city)-216(life)-217(this)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(winter)-250(but)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 44.542 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(well,)-250(you)-250(saw)-250(Lucinda!")]TJ -43.495 -13.927 Td[(The)-315(glance)-316(that)-315(accompanied)-315(the)-316(speech)-315(was)-315(mysterious)-316(but)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(significant.)-250(Janice)-250(nodded)-250(sympathetically.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([281])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -13.927 Td[("I)-250(hope)-250(you)-251(brought)-250(a)-250(trunk.)-251(I)-250(ain't)-250(a)-250(bit)-251(sure)-250(when)-250(I'll)-250(be)-251(able)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(to)-238(let)-238(you)-239(go,")-238(pursued)-238(the)-238(old)-238(lady.)-246("I)-239(don't)-238(believe)-238(I)-238(can)-238(let)-239(you)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(go)-250(until)-250(I)-250(go,)-250(too.)-250(I've)-250(most)-250(died)-250(here)-250(alone.")]TJ 11.956 -13.926 Td[("I)-250(brought)-250(a)-250(trunk,")-250(Janice)-250(cried)-250(into)-250(the)-250(ear)-250(trumpet.)]TJ 0 -13.927 Td[("I'm)-331(glad,")-332(said)-332(Aunt)-331(Mary.)-495(She)-331(paused,)-352(and)-332(her)-331(eyes)-332(grew)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(wistful.)]TJ 11.956 -13.926 Td[("Granite,")-311(she)-312(asked,)-327("do)-311(you)-311(think)-312(you)-311(could)-312(manage)-311(to)-312(do)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(a)-296(skirt)-296(dance)-297(on)-296(the)-296(footboard?)-388(I'm)-297('most)-296(wild)-296(to)-296(see)-296(some)-297(lace)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(shake.")]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[(Janice)-328(looked)-328(doubtfully)-329(at)-328(the)-328(footboard.)-485(It)-328(was)-328(wide)-328(for)-329(a)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(footboard,)-250(but)-250(narrow)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 95.433 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(too)-250(narrow)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 47.564 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(for)-250(a)-250(skirt)-250(dance.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1073 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1074 0 R
+/Resources 1072 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1059 0 R
+>> endobj
+1075 0 obj <<
+/D [1073 0 R /XYZ 293.18 504.248 null]
+>> endobj
+1076 0 obj <<
+/D [1073 0 R /XYZ 284.43 217.072 null]
+>> endobj
+1072 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R /F18 18 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1079 0 obj <<
+/Length 4347      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Twenty-Two)-250(-)-250("Granite")-10940(199)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[("But)-250(I)-250(can)-250(do)-250(one)-250(on)-250(the)-250(floor,")-250(she)-250(cried.)]TJ 0 -15.227 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary's)-250(features)-250(became)-250(suffused)-250(with)-250(heavenly)-250(joy.)]TJ 0 -15.227 Td[("Oh,)-264(Granite!")-262(she)-261(murmured,)-264(in)-261(a)-1(ccents)-261(of)-261(greatest)-262(anticipa-)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(tion.)]TJ 11.956 -15.227 Td[(The)-319(maid)-320(stood)-319(up,)-337(and,)-337(going)-319(off)-319(as)-320(far)-319(as)-319(the)-320(limits)-319(of)-320(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(spacious)-382(bedroom)-382(would)-382(allow,)-415(executed)-382(a)-382(most)-383(fetching)-382(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(dainty)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 30 0 Td[(pas)-250(seul)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 38.182 0 Td[(to)-250(a)-250(tune)-250(of)-250(her)-250(own)-250(humming.)]TJ -56.226 -15.228 Td[("Give)-373(me)-373(suthin')-373(to)-373(pound)-373(with!")-373(cried)-373(her)-374(enthusiastic)-373(au-)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(dience.)-529("Oh,)-366(Granite,)-366(I)-343(ain't)-342(been)-343(so)-343(happy)-343(since)-343(I)-343(was)-343(home!)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Whatever)-219(you)-219(want)-218(you)-219(can)-219(have,)-225(only)-219(don't)-218(ever)-219(leave)-219(me)-219(alone)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(with)-250(Lucinda)-250(again.")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([282])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -15.227 Td[(Janice)-271(was)-272(catching)-271(her)-271(tired)-272(breath,)-276(but)-272(she)-271(answered)-271(with)-272(a)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(smile.)]TJ 11.956 -15.227 Td[("Can't)-280(you)-281(get)-280(my)-281(Sunday)-280(umbrella)-281(out)-280(of)-280(the)-281(closet)-280(now)-281(an')]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(do)-201(a)-201(parasol)-201(dance?")-201(the)-201(insatiate)-201(demanded;)-218("one)-201(of)-201(those)-201(where)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(you)-250(shoot)-250(it)-250(open)-250(an')-250(shut)-250(when)-250(people)-250(ain't)-250(expectin'.")]TJ 11.956 -15.227 Td[(The)-474(maid)-474(went)-474(to)-475(the)-474(closet)-474(and)-474(brought)-474(out)-474(the)-475(Sunday)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(umbrella;)-377(but)-335(its)-335(shiny)-335(black)-335(silk)-334(did)-335(not)-335(appear)-335(to)-335(inspire)-335(any)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(fluffy)-270(maneuvres,)-276(so)-270(she)-270(utilized)-271(it)-270(in)-270(the)-271(guise)-270(of)-270(a)-271(broadsword)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-371(did)-370(something)-371(that)-371(savored)-371(of)-370(the)-371(Highlands,)-401(and)-371(seemed)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-366(rebel)-366(bitterly)-365(at)-366(the)-366(length)-366(of)-366(her)-366(skirt.)-597(Aunt)-366(Mary)-366(writhed)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(around)-250(in)-250(bliss)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 64.244 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(utter)-250(and)-250(intense.)]TJ -63.197 -15.228 Td[("I)-306(feel)-307(like)-307(I)-306(was)-307(livin')-306(again,")-307(she)-306(said,)-321(heaving)-307(a)-306(great)-307(sigh)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(of)-235(content.)-245("I)-235(tell)-235(y)-1(ou)-235(I've)-235(suffered)-235(enough,)-238(since)-235(I)-235(came)-235(back,)-239(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(know)-320(what)-321(it)-320(is)-320(to)-321(have)-320(some)-320(fun)-321(again.)-460(Now,)-338(Granite,)-338(I'll)-321(tell)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(you)-342(what)-342(we'll)-341(do,")-342(when)-342(the)-342(girl)-342(sat)-341(down)-342(to)-342(rest;)-388("you)-342(write)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(for)-282(those)-283(cigarettes)-282(while)-283(I)-282(take)-283(a)-282(little)-282(nap)-283(and)-282(afterwards)-283(we'll)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(get)-259(the)-259(Universal)-259(Knowledge)-259(book)-259(and)-259(learn)-259(how)-259(to)-260(play)-259(poker.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(You)-250(don't)-250(know)-250(how)-250(to)-250(play)-250(poker,)-250(do)-250(you?")]TJ 11.956 -15.227 Td[("A)-250(little,")-250(cried)-250(the)-250(maid.)]TJ 0 -15.227 Td[("Well,)-258(I)-256(want)-256(to)-256(learn)-256(how,")-256(said)-256(the)-257(old)-256(lady,)-257("an')-256(we'll)-257(learn)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(when)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 23.63 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(when)-250(I)-250(wake)-250(up.")]TJ -22.583 -15.227 Td[(Janice)-250(nodded)-250(assent.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1078 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1079 0 R
+/Resources 1077 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1059 0 R
+>> endobj
+1080 0 obj <<
+/D [1078 0 R /XYZ 140.906 375.971 null]
+>> endobj
+1077 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F18 18 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1083 0 obj <<
+/Length 611       
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(200)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[("Excuse)-265(me)-265(shuttin')-265(my)-265(eyes,")-265(said)-265(Aunt)-265(Mary)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 204.724 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(and)-265(she)-265(was)]TJ -227.589 -13.549 Td[(asleep)-250(in)-250(two)-250(minutes.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 -29.64 Td[([283])]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1082 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1083 0 R
+/Resources 1081 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1059 0 R
+>> endobj
+1084 0 obj <<
+/D [1082 0 R /XYZ 93.543 474.986 null]
+>> endobj
+1081 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1085 0 obj
+<< /S /GoTo /D (index24) >>
+endobj
+1088 0 obj
+(Chapter Twenty-Three - "Granite" - Continued.)
+endobj
+1091 0 obj <<
+/Length 3994      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 18.959 Tf 46.771 479.321 Td[(Chapter)-252(Twenty-Three)-253(-)-252("Granite")-253(-)]TJ 0 -24.647 Td[(Continued.)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 0 -31.974 Td[(Mary)-214(and)-213(Arethusa)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 83.422 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(Aunt)-214(Mary's)-213(two)-214(nieces)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 102.267 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(were)-213(no)-1(t)-213(uncom-)]TJ -207.507 -13.549 Td[(monly)-365(mercenary;)-423(but)-365(about)-365(three)-365(weeks)-365(after)-365(the)-365(new)-365(arrival)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(they)-445(became)-446(seriously)-445(troubled)-446(over)-445(the)-446(ascendancy)-445(that)-446(she)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(appeared)-363(to)-363(be)-363(gaining)-363(over)-362(the)-363(mind)-363(of)-363(their)-363(aunt.)-589(Lucinda's)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(duties)-467(had)-468(included)-467(for)-467(many)-468(years)-467(the)-468(writing)-467(of)-467(a)-468(weekly)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(letter)-445(which)-446(contained)-445(formal)-446(advices)-445(of)-445(the)-446(general)-445(state)-446(of)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(affairs,)-307(and)-295(after)-295(Janice's)-295(establishment,)-307(these)-295(letters)-295(became)-296(so)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(provocative)-376(of)-375(gradually)-376(increasing)-375(alarm)-376(that)-375(first)-376(Mary,)-407(and)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(then)-339(A)-1(rethusa)-339(thought)-339(it)-340(advisable)-339(to)-340(make)-339(the)-340(journey)-339(for)-340(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(purpose)-365(of)-364(investigating)-365(the)-364(affair)-365(personally.)-593(They)-365(found)-365(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(new)-443(maid)-443(apparently)-443(devoid)-442(of)-443(evil)-443(intent,)-491(but)-443(certainly)-443(fast)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(becoming)-202(absolutely)-202(indispensable)-202(to)-202(the)-202(daily)-202(happiness)-202(of)-202(their)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(influential)-291(relative.)-374(Mary)-291(feared)-291(that)-291(a)-291(codicil)-291(for)-291(five)-292(thousand)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(dollars)-408(would)-408(be)-408(the)-408(result;)-487(but)-408(Arethusa)-408(felt,)-448(with)-408(a)-408(sinking)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(heart,)-393(that)-364(there)-364(was)-364(another)-364(naught)-364(going)-364(on)-364(to)-364(the)-364(sum,)-393(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(that,)-250(unless)-250(the)-250(tide)-250(turned,)-250(the)-250(end)-250(might)-250(not)-250(be)-250(even)-250(then.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([284])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -13.549 Td[(Aunt)-385(Mary)-385(was)-385(so)-385(cool)-384(that)-385(neither)-385(niece)-385(stayed)-385(long,)-419(and)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Lucinda's)-305(letters)-305(had)-305(to)-305(be)-305(looked)-305(to)-305(for)-305(the)-305(progress)-305(of)-305(events.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Lucinda's)-341(letters)-340(were)-341(frequent)-340(and)-341(not)-340(at)-341(all)-340(reassuring.)-522(After)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(the)-250(sisters)-250(had)-250(talked)-250(them)-250(over,)-250(they)-250(sent)-250(them)-250(on)-250(to)-250(Jack.)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 19.637 -22.192 Td[(She)-291([thus)-291(Lucinda)-290(invariably)-291(began])-291(is)-291(the)-291(same)-291(as)-290(ever.)-373(It's)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(cross)-257(the)-258(heart)-257(and)-257(bend)-257(the)-258(knee,)-259(an')-257(then)-257(you)-257(ain't)-258(down)-257(far)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(enough)-360(to)-360(suit)-360(her.)-581(But)-360(she's)-360(gettin')-360(so)-361(afraid)-360(she'll)-360(go)-360(that)]TJ 0 -12.821 Td[(she's)-378(wax)-378(in)-378(her)-378(hands.)-634(It)-378(would)-378(scare)-378(you.)-634(She)-378(won't)-378(let)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(her)-301(out)-301(of)-300(her)-301(sight)-301(a)-301(minute.)-402(I)-301(must)-301(say)-300(that)-301(whatever)-301(she's)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(giving)-274(her,)-280(she)-274(certainly)-274(is)-274(earning)-275(the)-274(money,)-280(for)-274(she)-274(works)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(her)-375(harder)-375(every)-375(day.)-625(The)-375(poor)-375(thing)-375(is)-375(hopping)-375(about,)-406(or)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1090 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1091 0 R
+/Resources 1089 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1093 0 R
+>> endobj
+1086 0 obj <<
+/D [1090 0 R /XYZ 46.771 529.134 null]
+>> endobj
+1092 0 obj <<
+/D [1090 0 R /XYZ 307.051 219.462 null]
+>> endobj
+1089 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1096 0 obj <<
+/Length 4265      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(202)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 9.863 Tf 113.18 518.175 Td[(singing,)-243(or)-241(playing)-240(cards,)-243(from)-241(dawn)-241(to)-241(dark,)-242(and)-241(unless)-241(it's)-241(a)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(provision)-320(in)-319(her)-320(will)-320(I)-320(can't)-319(see)-320(what)-320(would)-320(pay)-319(her)-320(enough)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(for)-278(working)-278(so.)-335(Lord)-278(knows)-278(I)-278(considered)-278(I)-279(earned)-278(my)-278(wages)]TJ 0 -12.821 Td[(without)-290(skipping)-290(around)-290(with)-290(my)-291(legs)-290(crossed)-290(like)-290(she)-290(does,)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(and)-268(she)-268(has)-269(no)-268(end)-268(of)-268(patience)-268(too,)-273(even)-268(if)-268(she)-269(won't)-268(ever)-268(let)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(her)-258(take)-258(a)-258(walk.)-274(She's)-258(getting)-258(as)-259(pale)-258(as)-258(she)-258(is)-258(herself.)-274(Seems)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(like)-250(something)-250(should)-250(be)-250(done.)]TJ 189.034 -12.862 Td[(Respectfully,)]TJ 4.392 -12.862 Td[(L.)-305(COOKE.)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -201.107 -23.569 Td[(Three)-250(days)-250(later)-250(Lucinda)-250(wrote)-250(again:)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 7.681 -22.841 Td[(She)-252(does)-253(seem)-252(to)-253(be)-252(getting)-252(worse)-253(and)-252(worse.)-257(She)-253(makes)-252(her)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(sleep)-287(on)-288(a)-287(sofa)-287(beside)-288(her,)-296(and)-288(she)-287(begins)-287(to)-288(look)-287(dreadfully)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(worn)-289(out.)-367(I)-289(do)-290(believe)-289(she'll)-289(kill)-289(her,)-299(before)-289(she)-289(dies)-289(herself.)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(I)-262(told)-261(her)-262(so)-262(to-day,)-264(but)-262(she)-262(only)-261(smiled.)-285(It's)-262(funny,)-265(but)-261(I)-262(like)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -92.392 0 Td[([285])]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 92.392 -12.822 Td[(her)-337(even)-336(if)-337(I)-337(am)-336(bolted)-337(out)-337(all)-336(the)-337(time.)-510(I)-337(ain't)-337(jealous,)-358(and)]TJ 0 -12.821 Td[(I'm)-253(glad)-253(of)-253(the)-253(rest.)-259(I)-253(should)-253(think)-253(her)-253(throat)-253(would)-253(split)-253(with)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(talking)-337(so)-337(much,)-359(but)-337(she)-337(certainly)-337(does)-337(hear)-337(her)-337(better)-337(than)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(anyone)-310(else.)-429(I)-310(think)-310(something)-309(must)-310(be)-310(done,)-325(though.)-429(She's)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(getting)-355(as)-355(crazy)-355(as)-355(she)-355(is)-355(herself.)-566(They)-355(play)-355(cards)-355(and)-355(call)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(each)-250(other)-250("aunty")-250(for)-250(two)-250(hours)-250(at)-250(a)-250(stretch)-250(some)-250(days.)]TJ 189.034 -12.862 Td[(Respectfully,)]TJ 4.392 -12.862 Td[(L.)-305(COOKE.)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -201.107 -23.569 Td[(At)-250(the)-250(end)-250(of)-250(the)-250(week)-250(Lucinda)-250(wrote)-250(again:)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 7.681 -22.841 Td[(I)-380(think)-379(if)-380(you)-380(don't)-379(come,)-412(she)-380(will)-380(surely)-380(die.)-639(She)-379(is)-380(very)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(feeble)-205(herself,)-215(but)-205(that)-206(don't)-205(keep)-206(her)-205(from)-206(wearing)-205(her)-206(to)-205(skin)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(and)-280(bone.)-341(She)-280(keeps)-280(her)-280(doing)-280(tricks)-280(from)-281(morning)-280(to)-280(night.)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(Every)-281(minute)-281(that)-282(she)-281(is)-281(awake)-281(she)-282(keeps)-281(her)-281(jumping.)-344(It's)-281(a)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(mercy)-340(she)-341(sleeps)-340(so)-341(much,)-363(or)-340(she)-340(wouldn't)-341(get)-340(any)-341(sleep)-340(at)]TJ 0 -12.821 Td[(all.)-390(I)-296(can't)-297(do)-296(nothing,)-309(but)-296(I)-297(can)-296(see)-297(something)-296(has)-297(got)-296(to)-297(be)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(done.)-261(She's)-254(killing)-254(her,)-254(and)-254(she's)-254(getting)-254(where)-253(she)-254(don't)-254(care)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(for)-284(nobody)-284(but)-285(her,)-293(and)-284(if)-284(she's)-284(to)-285(be)-284(kept)-284(in)-284(trim)-285(to)-284(keep)-284(on)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(amusing)-250(her)-250(she'll)-250(have)-250(to)-250(have)-250(some)-250(rest)-250(pretty)-250(quick.)]TJ 189.034 -12.862 Td[(Respectfully,)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1095 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1096 0 R
+/Resources 1094 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1093 0 R
+>> endobj
+1097 0 obj <<
+/D [1095 0 R /XYZ 318.691 330.644 null]
+>> endobj
+1094 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1100 0 obj <<
+/Length 4797      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Twenty-Three)-250(-)-250("Granite")-250(-)-250(Continued.)-5191(203)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 9.863 Tf 259.834 518.175 Td[(L.)-305(COOKE.)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -201.107 -27.688 Td[(If)-436(the)-435(sisters)-436(were)-436(perturbed)-436(by)-436(the)-435(general)-436(trend)-436(of)-436(these)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(epistles,)-618(Jack)-544(was)-545(half)-544(wild)-544(over)-545(the)-544(situation.)-1133(He)-545(swore)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(vigorously)-356(and)-356(he)-356(tramped)-355(up)-356(and)-356(down)-356(his)-356(room)-356(nights)-356(until)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-268(people)-268(underneath)-268(put)-269(it)-268(in)-268(their)-268(prayers)-268(that)-268(his)-268(woes)-269(might)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(suggest)-443(suicide)-442(as)-443(speedily)-442(as)-443(possible.)-827(In)-443(vain)-443(he)-442(wrote)-443(to)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(Mrs.)-249(Rosscott)-248(to)-248(restore)-248(Janice)-248(to)-248(her)-247(proper)-248(place)-248(in)-248(town;)-249(Mrs.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Rosscott)-329(answered)-328(that)-328(as)-329(long)-328(as)-329(Aunt)-328(Mary)-329(desired)-328(Janice)-329(at)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([286])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(her)-278(side,)-284(a)-1(t)-277(her)-278(side)-278(Janice)-278(should)-277(stay.)-334(Jack)-277(knew)-278(his)-278(lady)-278(well)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(enough)-280(to)-280(know)-281(that)-280(she)-280(would)-280(keep)-280(her)-281(word,)-287(and)-280(although)-281(he)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(longed)-274(to)-273(assert)-274(his)-274(authority)-273(he)-274(was)-273(man)-274(enough)-274(to)-273(feel)-274(that)-274(he)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(had)-250(better)-250(wait)-250(now)-250(and)-250(settle)-250(the)-250(debt)-250(after)-250(marriage.)]TJ 11.956 -14.414 Td[(Nevertheless)-337(the)-337(whole)-336(affair)-337(was)-337(unbearably)-337(vexatious)-337(and)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(at)-250(last)-250(he)-250(felt)-250(that)-250(he)-250(could)-250(endure)-250(it)-250(no)-250(longer.)]TJ 11.956 -14.413 Td[("I'm)-375(a)-374(fool,")-375(he)-374(said,)-406(in)-374(a)-375(spirit)-374(of)-375(annoyance)-375(that)-374(came)-375(so)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(close)-348(to)-349(anger)-348(that)-348(it)-348(led)-348(to)-349(an)-348(utter)-348(loss)-348(of)-349(patience.)-544("I'll)-349(take)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(the)-274(train)-274(for)-274(Aunt)-274(Mary's)-274(to-day,)-280(and)-274(straighten)-274(out)-274(that)-274(mess)-274(in)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(short)-250(order.")]TJ 11.956 -14.413 Td[(It)-324(was)-323(Saturday,)-342(and)-324(he)-324(arranged)-323(to)-324(leave)-324(by)-323(the)-324(noon)-324(train.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(He)-308(laid)-309(in)-308(a)-308(heavy)-308(supply)-309(of)-308(bribes)-308(for)-309(his)-308(aged)-308(relative)-308(and)-309(of)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(reading)-315(matter)-315(for)-314(himself,)-331(and)-315(went)-315(to)-315(the)-314(station)-315(with)-315(a)-315(heart)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(divided)-185('twixt)-184(many)-184(differen)-1(t)-184(emotions.)-228(It)-185(was)-184(an)-185(unconscionably)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(long)-250(ride,)-250(but)-250(he)-250(did)-250(get)-250(there)-250(safely)-250(about)-250(ten)-250(o'clock.)]TJ 11.956 -14.413 Td[(It)-433(was)-433(a)-433(pleasant)-433(night)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 105.548 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(not)-433(too)-433(cold)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 56.118 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(even)-433(suggestive)-433(of)]TJ -195.439 -13.549 Td[(some)-369(lingering)-370(Indian)-369(summer)-370(intentions)-369(on)-369(the)-370(part)-369(of)-370(Jack's)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(namesake.)-245(The)-234(young)-234(man)-235(thought)-234(that)-234(he)-234(would)-235(walk)-234(out)-234(to)-235(his)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(childhood's)-321(home,)-339(and)-321(his)-322(decision)-321(was)-321(aided)-321(by)-321(the)-321(disco)-1(very)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(that)-250(there)-250(was)-250(no)-250(other)-250(way)-250(to)-250(get)-250(there.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.023 0 Td[([287])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -14.413 Td[(So)-318(he)-317(took)-318(his)-318(suit-case)-318(in)-317(his)-318(hand)-318(and)-318(set)-317(off)-318(with)-318(a)-318(stride)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(that)-408(covered)-408(the)-408(intervening)-408(miles)-408(in)-408(short)-408(order)-408(and)-408(b)-1(rought)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(him,)-307(almost)-295(before)-295(he)-296(knew)-295(it,)-307(to)-295(where)-295(he)-296(could)-295(see)-295(L)-1(ucinda's)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(light)-229(in)-229(the)-228(dining-room)-229(and)-229(her)-229(pug-nosed)-229(profile)-229(outlined)-229(upon)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-328(drawn)-328(shade.)-483(Everyone)-328(else)-328(was)-328(evidently)-328(abed,)-347(and)-328(as)-328(he)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1099 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1100 0 R
+/Resources 1098 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1093 0 R
+>> endobj
+1101 0 obj <<
+/D [1099 0 R /XYZ 152.659 409.192 null]
+>> endobj
+1102 0 obj <<
+/D [1099 0 R /XYZ 224.306 134.752 null]
+>> endobj
+1098 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1105 0 obj <<
+/Length 3557      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(204)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 518.175 Td[(looked,)-420(she,)-419(too,)-420(arose)-386(and)-386(took)-385(up)-386(the)-386(lamp.)-657(He)-386(hurried)-386(his)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(steps)-321(so)-320(that)-321(she)-320(might)-321(let)-320(him)-321(in)-321(before)-320(she)-321(went)-320(upstairs,)-339(but)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(in)-260(the)-259(same)-260(instant)-259(the)-260(light)-259(went)-260(out)-259(and)-260(with)-259(its)-260(withdrawal)-260(he)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(perceived)-250(a)-250(little)-250(figure)-250(sitting)-250(alone)-250(upon)-250(the)-250(doorstep.)]TJ 11.956 -13.55 Td[(His)-322(heart)-322(gave)-322(a)-322(tremendous)-322(leap)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 149.043 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(but)-322(not)-322(with)-322(fright)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 82.06 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(and)]TJ -264.877 -13.549 Td[(he)-250(made)-250(three)-250(rapid)-250(steps)-250(and)-250(spoke)-250(a)-250(name.)]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[(She)-279(lifted)-279(up)-279(her)-279(head.)-337(Of)-279(course)-279(it)-278(w)-1(as)-278(Janice,)-287(and)-279(although)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(she)-250(had)-250(been)-250(weeping,)-250(her)-250(eyes)-250(were)-250(as)-250(beautiful)-250(as)-250(ever.)]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[("Oh,)-275(Jack!")-269(she)-270(exclaimed,)-275(and)-269(happy)-270(the)-270(man)-269(who)-270(hears)-270(his)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(name)-351(called)-351(in)-351(such)-351(a)-351(tone)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 120.936 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(even)-351(if)-351(it)-351(be)-351(only)-351(for)-351(once)-351(in)-351(the)]TJ -131.845 -13.549 Td[(whole)-250(course)-250(of)-250(his)-250(existence.)]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[(He)-391(pitched)-391(his)-391(suit-case)-391(down)-391(upon)-391(the)-391(grass)-391(and)-391(took)-391(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(maid)-250(in)-250(his)-250(arms.)]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[(What)-401(did)-401(anything)-402(matter;)-476(they)-402(both)-401(were)-401(lonely)-401(and)-402(both)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(needed)-250(comforting.)]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[(He)-326(kissed)-326(her)-327(not)-326(once)-326(but)-326(twenty)-326(times,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 183.372 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(not)-326(twenty)-326(times)]TJ -206.237 -13.549 Td[(but)-250(a)-250(hundred.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.756 0 Td[([288])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -13.549 Td[("It's)-250(abominable)-250(you're)-250(being)-250(here,")-250(he)-250(said)-250(at)-250(last.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[("I)-250(am)-250(very,)-250(very)-250(tired,")-250(she)-250(confessed.)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[("And)-250(you'll)-250(go)-250(back)-250(to)-250(the)-250(city)-250(when)-250(I)-250(go?")-250(he)-250(asked.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[("I)-343(don't)-343(know,")-343(she)-343(said,)-366(doubtfully.)-530("I)-343(don't)-343(know)-343(whether)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(she'll)-250(let)-250(me.")]TJ 11.955 -13.549 Td[(Jack)-250(laughed.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[("To-morrow)-257(I)-257(will)-257(beard)-257(Aunt)-256(Mary)-257(in)-257(her)-257(den,")-257(he)-257(declared;)]TJ -11.955 -13.55 Td[("now)-250(let's)-250(go)-250(in)-250(and)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 86.411 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(and)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 15.753 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ -112.027 -13.549 Td[(The)-250(hundred)-250(and)-250(first!)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -84.711 -27.371 Td[([289])]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1104 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1105 0 R
+/Resources 1103 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1093 0 R
+>> endobj
+1106 0 obj <<
+/D [1104 0 R /XYZ 158.987 301.388 null]
+>> endobj
+1107 0 obj <<
+/D [1104 0 R /XYZ 93.543 152.074 null]
+>> endobj
+1103 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1108 0 obj
+<< /S /GoTo /D (index25) >>
+endobj
+1111 0 obj
+(Chapter Twenty-Four - Two Are Company)
+endobj
+1114 0 obj <<
+/Length 3913      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 18.959 Tf 46.771 479.321 Td[(Chapter)-259(Twenty-Four)-260(-)-259(Two)-260(Are)]TJ 0 -24.647 Td[(Company)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 0 -34.816 Td[(To)-255(the)-256(large)-255(square)-256(room)-255(where)-255(he)-256(had)-255(slept)-255(\050on)-256(and)-255(off\051)-256(during)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(a)-315(goodly)-314(portion)-315(of)-315(his)-314(boyhood)-315(life,)-331(Jack)-315(went)-314(to)-315(repose)-315(from)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(his)-335(journey,)-355(there)-335(to)-334(meditate)-335(the)-334(situation)-335(which)-335(he)-334(had)-335(come)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-407(comfort,)-446(and)-407(to)-407(try)-407(and)-406(devise)-407(a)-407(way)-407(to)-407(better)-407(its)-407(existing)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(circumstances.)]TJ 11.956 -14.028 Td[(It)-282(was)-282(a)-282(pleasant)-281(room,)-290(one)-282(window)-282(looking)-282(down)-282(the)-282(drive-)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(way,)-276(and)-270(the)-270(other)-271(leading)-270(forth)-271(to)-270(a)-270(square)-271(balcony)-270(that)-271(topped)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-295(little)-294(porch)-295(of)-295(the)-295(side)-294(entrance.)-384(There)-295(were)-295(lambrequins)-295(of)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(dark)-349(blue)-350(with)-349(fringe)-349(that)-350(always)-349(caught)-349(in)-350(the)-349(shutters,)-374(and)-350(a)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(bedroom)-167(suite)-168(of)-167(mahogany)-167(that)-167(had)-168(come)-167(down)-167(from)-167(the)-168(original)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(John)-297(Watkins's)-298(aunt,)-309(and)-297(had)-297(been)-298(polished)-297(by)-297(her)-298(descendants)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(so)-357(faithfully)-356(that)-357(its)-356(various)-357(surfaces)-357(shone)-356(like)-357(mirrors.)-570(Over)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-241(bed)-241(hung)-241(a)-242(tent)-241(drapery)-241(of)-241(chintz;)-244(over)-241(the)-241(washstand)-241(hung)-242(a)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(crayon)-272(done)-272(by)-272(Arethusa)-272(in)-272(her)-272(infancy)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 174.116 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(the)-272(same)-272(representing)]TJ -185.025 -13.549 Td[(a)-240(lady)-239(engaged)-240(in)-239(the)-240(pleasant)-239(and)-240(useful)-239(occupatio)-1(n)-239(of)-240(spinning)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(wheat)-440(with)-441(a)-440(hand)-440(composed)-441(of)-440(five)-440(fingers,)-488(and)-440(no)-441(thumb.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(In)-362(the)-362(corner)-362(stood)-362(a)-362(cheval-glass)-362(which)-362(Jack)-362(had)-362(seen)-362(shrink)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([290])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.023 -13.549 Td[(steadily)-293(for)-294(years)-293(until)-294(now)-293(it)-293(could)-294(no)-293(longer)-294(reflect)-293(his)-294(shoul-)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(ders)-323(unless)-324(he)-323(retired)-323(back)-324(for)-323(some)-323(two)-324(yards)-323(or)-323(more.)-470(T)-1(here)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(was)-216(a)-217(delectable)-216(closet)-217(to)-216(the)-217(room,)-223(all)-216(painted)-217(white)-216(inside,)-224(with)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(shelves)-295(and)-295(cupboards)-295(and)-296(little)-295(bins)-295(for)-295(shoes)-295(and)-295(waste)-295(pa)-1(per)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-250(soiled)-250(clothes.)]TJ 11.955 -14.028 Td[(Oh!)-561(it)-354(was)-353(really)-354(an)-353(altogether)-354(delightful)-354(place)-353(in)-354(which)-354(to)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(abide,)-406(and)-375(the)-375(pity)-375(was)-375(that)-375(its)-375(owner)-375(had)-375(spent)-375(so)-375(little)-375(tim)-1(e)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(therein)-250(of)-250(late)-250(years.)]TJ 11.955 -14.028 Td[(To-night)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 38.181 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.91 0 Td[(returning)-239(to)-238(the)-239(scene)-238(of)-239(many)-238(childish)-239(and)-239(boyish)]TJ -61.046 -13.549 Td[(meditations)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 50.912 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(Jack)-396(placed)-397(his)-396(lamp)-396(upon)-397(the)-396(nightstand)-396(at)-397(the)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1113 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1114 0 R
+/Resources 1112 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1093 0 R
+>> endobj
+1109 0 obj <<
+/D [1113 0 R /XYZ 46.771 529.134 null]
+>> endobj
+1115 0 obj <<
+/D [1113 0 R /XYZ 233.76 202.592 null]
+>> endobj
+1112 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1119 0 obj <<
+/Length 4367      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(206)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 518.175 Td[(head)-250(of)-250(the)-250(bed)-250(and)-250(sat)-250(himself)-250(down)-250(on)-250(a)-250(chair)-250(near)-250(by.)]TJ 11.956 -14.04 Td[(It)-431(was)-432(late)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 48.795 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(quite)-431(midnight)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 65.928 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(for)-431(he)-432(and)-431(Aunt)-432(Mary's)-431(new)]TJ -148.497 -13.549 Td[(maid)-272(had)-272(talked)-272(long)-272(and)-272(freely)-272(ere)-272(they)-272(separated)-272(at)-272(last.)-316(From)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(his)-324(room)-325(he)-324(could)-325(hear)-324(the)-325(little)-324(faint)-325(sounds)-324(below)-325(stairs,)-343(that)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(told)-285(of)-284(her)-285(final)-285(preparations)-284(for)-285(Lucinda's)-285(morning)-285(eye,)-293(and)-285(he)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(rested)-209(quiet)-209(until)-209(all)-209(else)-208(was)-209(quiet)-209(and)-209(then)-209(leaned)-209(back)-209(upon)-209(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(chair's)-311(hind)-311(legs)-310(and,)-326(tipping)-311(slowly)-311(to)-311(and)-310(fro)-311(in)-311(that)-311(position,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(tried)-436(to)-437(see)-436(just)-436(what)-436(he)-437(had)-436(better)-436(do)-436(the)-437(first)-436(thing)-436(on)-437(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(following)-250(day.)]TJ 11.956 -55.67 Td[(It)-296(was)-296(a)-297(riddle)-296(with)-296(a)-296(vengeance.)-389(It)-296(is)-296(so)-297(easy)-296(to)-296(say)-296("I'll)-297(cut)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(that)-242(Gordian)-242(knot!")-242(and)-241(then)-242(pack)-242(one's)-242(tooth-brush)-242(and)-242(start)-242(off)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(unknotting,)-342(but)-324(it)-324(is)-323(quite)-324(another)-324(matter)-323(when)-324(one)-324(comes)-324(face)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(to)-305(face)-305(with)-305(the)-306(problem)-305(and)-305(is)-305(met)-305(by)-305(the)-305("buts")-305(of)-305(those)-306(who)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([291])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(have)-250(previously)-250(been)-250(essaying)-250(to)-250(disentangle)-250(it.)]TJ 11.956 -14.04 Td[("She)-234(won't)-234(let)-234(me)-233(go,")-234(Mrs.)-245(Rosscott)-234(had)-234(declared,)-237("she)-234(won't)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(consider)-250(it)-250(for)-250(a)-250(minute.")]TJ 11.956 -14.04 Td[("But)-319(she)-318(must,")-319(Jack)-319(had)-319(declared)-318(on)-319(his)-319(side.)-456("My)-319(dearest,)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(you)-259(can't)-259(stay)-259(and)-259(play)-260(maid)-259(to)-259(Aunt)-259(Mary)-259(indefinitely,)-261(and)-260(you)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(know)-250(that)-250(as)-250(well)-250(as)-250(I)-250(do.")]TJ 11.956 -14.04 Td[("Yes,)-355(I)-335(know)-334(that,")-335(the)-334(whilom)-335(Janice)-334(then)-334(murmured.)-504("It's)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(getting)-344(to)-345(be)-344(an)-345(awful)-344(question.)-533(They)-345(want)-344(me)-345(to)-344(come)-345(home)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(for)-261(Thanksgiving.)-283(They)-261(think)-261(that)-261(I've)-261(been)-261(at)-261(the)-262(rest-cure)-261(long)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(enough.")]TJ 11.956 -14.041 Td[(Jack)-242(had)-242(laughed)-241(a)-242(bit)-242(just)-242(there,)-243(and)-242(then)-242(he)-242(suddenly)-242(ceased)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(laughing)-250(and)-250(frowned)-250(a)-250(good)-250(deal)-250(instead.)]TJ 11.956 -14.04 Td[("You)-222(we)-1(re)-222(crying)-223(when)-222(I)-223(came,")-222(he)-223(said.)-241("The)-222(truth)-223(is)-222(you)-223(are)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(working)-250(yourself)-250(to)-250(death)-250(and)-250(getting)-250(completely)-250(used)-250(up.")]TJ 11.956 -14.04 Td[("It)-351(is)-350(wearing,)-376(I)-351(must)-350(confess,")-351(she)-351(answered.)-552("Yesterday)-351(I)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(played)-330(poker)-331(until)-330(I)-331(didn't)-330(know)-330(a)-331(blue)-330(chip)-330(from)-331(a)-330(white)-331(one,)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(and)-338(she)-338(won)-338(the)-338(whole)-337(pot)-338(with)-338(two)-338(little)-338(bits)-338(of)-338(pairs)-338(while)-338(I)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(was)-343(drawing)-343(to)-343(a)-343(king.)-528(I)-343(begin)-343(to)-343(fear)-343(that)-343(my)-343(mind)-343(will)-343(give)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1118 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1119 0 R
+/Resources 1117 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1093 0 R
+>> endobj
+64 0 obj <<
+/D [1118 0 R /XYZ 238.254 395.25 null]
+>> endobj
+1120 0 obj <<
+/D [1118 0 R /XYZ 316.614 312.973 null]
+>> endobj
+1117 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1123 0 obj <<
+/Length 4892      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Twenty-Four)-250(-)-250(Two)-250(Are)-250(Company)-6978(207)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 518.175 Td[(way.)-372(And)-291(yet,)-300(I)-291(really)-291(don't)-290(see)-291(how)-291(to)-290(stop.)-372(She)-291(is)-290(so)-291(sick)-291(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(tired)-250(of)-250(life)-250(here)-250(and)-250(she)-250(isn't)-250(strong)-250(enough)-250(to)-250(go)-250(to)-250(town.")]TJ 11.956 -13.822 Td[("I)-334(know)-334(a)-335(very)-334(short)-334(way)-334(to)-334(put)-335(an)-334(end)-334(to)-334(everything,")-335(said)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 279.068 0 Td[([292])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(Jack.)-250("I)-250(see)-250(two)-250(ways)-250(in)-250(fact,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 126.84 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(one)-250(is)-250(to)-250(tell)-250(her)-250(the)-250(truth.")]TJ -125.793 -13.822 Td[("Oh,)-257(don't)-255(do)-256(that,")-256(cried)-255(his)-256(fianc\351e)-255(affrightedly.)-267("The)-256(shock)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(would)-250(kill)-250(her)-250(outright.")]TJ 11.956 -13.822 Td[("The)-393(other)-393(way,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 73.304 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")-393(said)-393(Jack)-392(slowly,)-429("would)-393(be)-392(for)-393(me)-393(to)]TJ -96.169 -13.549 Td[(marry)-247(you)-246(and)-247(let)-247(her)-246(think)-247(that)-246(you)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 159.687 0 Td[(are)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 17.232 0 Td[(Janice)-247(in)-246(good)-247(earnest.")]TJ -164.963 -13.822 Td[("Oh,)-350(that)-330(wouldn't)-330(do)-330(at)-330(all,")-330(said)-330(the)-330(pretty)-330(widow.)-490("In)-330(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(first)-231(place)-231(she)-231(would)-232(go)-231(crazy)-231(at)-231(the)-231(idea)-231(of)-231(her)-231(darling)-232(nephew's)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(marrying)-250(her)-250(maid,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 83.924 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(and)-250(in)-250(the)-250(second)-250(place)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 101.793 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ -195.579 -13.822 Td[("Well,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 28.385 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(in)-250(the)-250(second)-250(place?")]TJ -39.294 -13.822 Td[("I)-264(wouldn't)-264(marry)-265(you,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 99.595 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.91 0 Td[(I)-264(said)-264(I)-265(wouldn't)-264(and)-264(I)-264(won't.)-293(You're)]TJ -122.461 -13.549 Td[(too)-250(young.")]TJ 11.956 -13.822 Td[("But)-250(you've)-250(promised)-250(to)-250(marry)-250(me)-250(some)-250(day.")]TJ 0 -13.822 Td[("Yes,)-250(I)-250(know)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 57.469 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(but)-250(not)-250(till)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 45.469 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(not)-250(till)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 28.8 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ -164.465 -13.822 Td[("Not)-250(till)-250(when?")]TJ 0 -13.822 Td[("I)-270(haven't)-270(just)-269(decided,")-270(said)-270(Mrs.)-310(Rosscott,)-274(airily.)-310("Not)-270(for)-270(a)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(good)-210(while,)-218(not)-210(until)-210(you)-210(seem)-210(to)-210(require)-210(marrying)-210(a)-1(t)-210(my)-210(hands.")]TJ 11.956 -13.822 Td[("I)-370(never)-370(shall)-371(require)-370(marrying)-370(at)-371(anyone)-370(else's)-370(hands,")-371(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(lover)-387(vowed,)-422("but)-387(if)-388(you)-387(are)-387(so)-388(set)-387(about)-387(it)-388(as)-387(all)-387(that)-388(comes)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to,)-327(I)-312(shall)-312(not)-312(cut)-312(up)-311(rough)-312(for)-312(a)-312(while.)-435(Aunt)-312(Mary)-312(is)-312(the)-312(main)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(question)-250(just)-250(now)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 76.975 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(not)-250(you.")]TJ -75.928 -13.822 Td[("I)-251(know,")-252(said)-251(his)-252(lady)-251(in)-252(anything)-251(but)-252(a)-251(jealous)-251(tone,)-252("and)-252(as)]TJ -11.955 -13.55 Td[(she)-250(is)-250(the)-250(question,)-250(what)-250(are)-250(we)-250(to)-250(do?")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.023 0 Td[([293])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -13.822 Td[("You)-334(will)-333(go)-334(to)-333(bed,")-334(he)-333(said,)-355(kissing)-333(her,)-355("and)-333(I)-334(will)-333(go)-334(to)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(think.")]TJ 11.955 -13.822 Td[("Can)-250(you)-250(see)-250(any)-250(way?")-250(she)-250(asked)-250(anxiously.)]TJ 0 -13.822 Td[(Then)-279(he)-280(put)-280(his)-279(hands)-280(on)-279(either)-280(side)-279(of)-280(her)-279(face)-280(and)-279(turned)-280(it)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(up)-250(to)-250(his)-250(own.)]TJ 11.955 -13.822 Td[("You)-292(plotted)-292(once)-292(and)-293(overthrew)-292(my)-292(aunt,")-292(he)-292(said.)-376(")-1(It's)-292(my)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(turn)-250(now.")]TJ 11.955 -13.822 Td[("Are)-250(you)-250(going)-250(to)-250(plot?")]TJ 0 -13.822 Td[("I'm)-250(going)-250(to)-250(try.")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1122 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1123 0 R
+/Resources 1121 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1126 0 R
+>> endobj
+1124 0 obj <<
+/D [1122 0 R /XYZ 252.344 490.804 null]
+>> endobj
+1125 0 obj <<
+/D [1122 0 R /XYZ 222.102 189.721 null]
+>> endobj
+1121 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R /F18 18 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1129 0 obj <<
+/Length 4795      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(208)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[("I'll)-250(pray)-250(for)-250(your)-250(success,")-250(she)-250(whispered.)]TJ 0 -13.995 Td[("Pray)-158(for)-158(me,")-158(he)-158(answered,)-176(and)-158(shortly)-158(after)-158(they)-158(had)-158(achieved)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(the)-400(feat)-399(of)-400(saying)-400(good-night)-400(and)-399(parting)-400(once)-400(more,)-437(and)-400(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(result)-250(o)-1(f)-250(it)-250(all)-251(had)-250(been)-251(that)-250(Jack)-251(found)-250(himself)-251(tipping)-250(back)-251(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(forth)-308(on)-309(the)-308(small)-308(chair,)-323(in)-308(the)-309(big)-308(room,)-323(at)-308(half-past)-309(midnight,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(puzzled,)-190(perturbed,)-190(and)-174(very)-175(much)-175(perplexed)-175(as)-175(to)-174(what)-175(to)-175(do)-175(first)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(when)-181(the)-181(next)-181(morning)-180(should)-181(have)-181(become)-181(a)-181(settled)-181(fact.)-227(He)-181(was)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(not)-308(used)-308(to)-308(conspiring,)-323(and)-308(being)-308(only)-308(a)-309(man,)-322(he)-308(had)-308(not)-309(those)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(curious)-310(instinctive)-310(gifts)-310(of)-310(inspiration)-310(and)-310(luminous)-310(conception)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(which)-250(fairly)-250(radiate)-250(around)-250(the)-250(brain)-250(of)-250(clever)-250(womankind.)]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[(It)-255(was)-256(some)-255(time)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 74.412 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(a)-255(very)-256(long)-255(time)-256(indeed)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 103.25 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(before)-255(any)-256(light)]TJ -211.436 -13.549 Td[(stole)-436(in)-435(upon)-435(his)-436(Stygian)-435(darkness,)-482(and)-436(then,)-482(when)-435(the)-436(light)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(did)-308(come,)-323(it)-308(came)-309(in)-308(skyrocket)-308(guise,)-323(and)-308(had)-309(its)-308(share)-308(of)-309(cons)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(attached)-250(to)-250(its)-250(very)-250(evident)-250(pros.)]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[("But)-240(I)-239(don't)-240(care,")-240(he)-239(declared)-240(viciously,)-242(as)-240(he)-239(rose)-240(and)-240(began)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -84.711 0 Td[([294])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(to)-202(undress;)-218("something's)-202(got)-202(to)-202(be)-202(done,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 171.018 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(some)-202(chances)-202(have)-202(got)]TJ -181.927 -13.549 Td[(to)-241(be)-241(taken,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 50.396 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(as)-241(well)-241(that)-240(as)-241(anything)-241(else.)-247(Perhaps)-241(better)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 189.031 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(very)]TJ -261.245 -13.549 Td[(likely)-250(better.")]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[(Then)-297(he)-297(laughed)-297(over)-297(his)-297(unconscious)-297(imitation)-297(of)-297(his)-297(aunt's)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(phraseology,)-240(and)-238(made)-238(short)-238(work)-238(of)-238(finishing)-238(his)-238(disrobing)-238(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(getting)-250(to)-250(bed.)]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[(It)-275(was)-274(when)-275(Lucinda)-275(crept)-274(forth)-275(to)-275(begin)-275(to)-274(unlock)-275(the)-275(house)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(at)-415(6.30)-415(upon)-415(the)-414(morning)-415(after,)-456(that)-415(the)-415(fact)-415(of)-415(the)-415(nephew's)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(arrival)-250(was)-250(first)-250(known)-250(to)-250(anyone)-250(except)-250(Janice.)]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[(Lucinda)-314(saw)-314(the)-315(coat)-314(and)-314(hat,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 133.165 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(recognized)-314(the)-314(initial)-315(on)-314(the)]TJ -156.03 -13.549 Td[(handkerchief)-241(in)-240(the)-241(inside)-240(pocket,)-243(threw)-240(out)-241(her)-240(arms)-241(and)-240(gave)-241(a)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(faint)-315(squeak)-315(in)-315(utter)-314(bewilderment,)-332(and)-314(then)-315(tore)-315(off)-315(at)-315(once)-315(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-250(barn)-250(to)-250(tell)-250(Joshua.)]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[(She)-250(found)-250(Joshua)-250(milking)-250(the)-250(cow.)]TJ 0 -13.995 Td[("What)-229(do)-229(you)-229(think!")-230(she)-229(panted)-229(briefly,)-233(with)-229(wide-open)-230(eyes)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(and)-250(uplifted)-250(hands;)-250("Joshua)-250(Whittlesey,)-250(what)-250(do)-250(you)-250(think?")]TJ 11.956 -13.996 Td[("I)-250(don't)-250(think)-250(nothin',")-250(said)-250(Joshua.)-250("I'm)-250(milkin'.")]TJ 0 -13.995 Td[("What)-250(would)-250(you)-250(say)-250(if)-250(I)-250(told)-250(you)-250(as)-250(he)-250(was)-250(come.")]TJ 0 -13.996 Td[("I'd)-250(say)-250(he)-250(was)-250(here.")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1128 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1129 0 R
+/Resources 1127 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1126 0 R
+>> endobj
+1130 0 obj <<
+/D [1128 0 R /XYZ 296.053 327.147 null]
+>> endobj
+1127 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1133 0 obj <<
+/Length 4663      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Twenty-Four)-250(-)-250(Two)-250(Are)-250(Company)-6978(209)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[("Well,)-245(he)-244(is.)-248(He)-244(must)-244('a')-243(come)-244(last)-244(night,)-245(an')-244(Lord)-244(only)-244(knows)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(how)-247(he)-247(ever)-248(got)-247(in,)-248(for)-247(nothing)-247(was)-247(left)-248(open)-247(an')-247(yet)-247(he's)-247(there.")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([295])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -13.877 Td[(Joshua)-250(made)-250(no)-250(comment.)]TJ 0 -13.876 Td[("I)-250(wonder)-250(what)-250(he)-250(came)-250(for?")]TJ 0 -13.877 Td[(Joshua)-250(made)-250(no)-250(comment.)]TJ 0 -13.876 Td[("I)-250(wonder)-250(how)-250(long)-250(he'll)-250(stay?")]TJ 0 -13.877 Td[(Still)-250(Joshua)-250(made)-250(no)-250(comment.)]TJ 0 -13.876 Td[("Joshua)-275(Whittlesey,)-281(before)-275(you)-275(get)-275(your)-275(breakfast,)-282(you're)-275(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(meanest)-250(man)-250(I)-250(ever)-250(saw,)-250(and)-250(I'll)-250(swear)-250(to)-250(that)-250(anywhere.")]TJ 11.956 -13.877 Td[("Why)-503(don't)-502(you)-503(get)-503(me)-503(my)-502(breakfast)-503(then?")-503(said)-503(Joshua)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(calmly;)-436(and)-374(the)-374(effect)-373(of)-374(his)-374(speech)-374(and)-374(his)-374(demeanor)-374(was)-374(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(cause)-356(Lucinda)-357(to)-356(turn)-356(and)-356(leave)-357(him)-356(at)-356(once)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 201.349 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(too)-356(outraged)-357(to)]TJ -212.258 -13.549 Td[(address)-250(another)-250(word)-250(to)-250(him.)]TJ 11.956 -13.877 Td[(Aunt)-309(Mary)-308(herself)-309(did)-308(not)-309(awake)-308(until)-309(ten)-308(o'clock.)-426(She)-309(rang)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(her)-250(bell)-250(vigorously)-250(then)-250(and)-250(Janice)-250(flew)-250(to)-250(its)-250(answering.)]TJ 11.956 -13.877 Td[("I)-199(dreamed)-199(of)-199(Jack,")-199(said)-199(the)-199(old)-199(lady,)-209(looking)-199(up)-200(with)-199(a)-199(smile.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[("I)-250(dreamed)-250(we)-250(was)-250(each)-250(ridin')-250(on)-250(camels)-250(in)-250(a)-250(merry-go-round.")]TJ 11.956 -13.876 Td[(Janice)-221(smiled)-221(too,)-227(and)-221(then)-221(set)-221(briskly)-221(to)-221(work)-221(to)-221(put)-221(the)-221(room)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(in)-250(order)-250(and)-250(arrange)-250(its)-250(occupant)-250(for)-250(the)-250(day.)]TJ 11.956 -13.877 Td[("Did)-362(there)-363(come)-362(any)-363(mail?")-362(Aunt)-362(Mary)-363(inquired,)-390(when)-363(her)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(coiffure)-324(was)-323(made)-324(and)-323(her)-324(dressing-gown)-324(adjusted.)-470("I)-324(feel)-324(jus')]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(like)-307(I)-307(might)-307(hear)-306(from)-307(Jack.)-421(Seems)-307(as)-307(if)-306(I)-307(sort)-307(of)-307(can't)-307(think)-307(of)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(anythin')-250(but)-250(him.")]TJ 11.956 -13.876 Td[("I'll)-480(go)-480(and)-480(see,")-480(said)-481(Janice)-480(pleasantly,)-537(and)-480(she)-481(went)-480(to)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 279.068 0 Td[([296])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.023 -13.549 Td[(the)-383(dining)-384(room)-383(where)-384(the)-383(Reformed)-383(Prodigal)-384(sat)-383(reading)-384(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(newspaper)-211(with)-210(his)-211(feet)-211(on)-211(the)-210(table)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 154.366 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(an)-211(action)-210(which)-211(convinced)]TJ -165.276 -13.55 Td[(Lucinda)-250(that)-250(he)-250(had)-250(not)-250(reformed)-250(so)-250(very)-250(much)-250(after)-250(all.)]TJ 11.956 -13.876 Td[("Suppose)-257(you)-257(go)-258(to)-257(her)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 102.334 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(instead)-257(of)-257(me,")-258(suggested)-257(the)-257(maid,)]TJ -125.199 -13.549 Td[(pausing)-245(before)-245(the)-246(reader)-245(and)-245(usurping)-245(all)-245(the)-245(attention)-245(to)-246(which)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(the)-250(paper)-250(should)-250(have)-250(laid)-250(claim.)]TJ 11.956 -13.876 Td[("Suppose)-243(I)-243(do,")-243(said)-243(Jack,)-245(jumping)-243(up,)-244("and)-243(suppose)-244(you)-243(stay)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(away)-250(and)-250(let)-250(me)-250(try)-250(what)-250(I)-250(can)-250(accomplish)-250(single-handed.")]TJ 11.956 -13.877 Td[("Only)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 26.269 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")-415(began)-414(Janice)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 66.808 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.91 0 Td[(and)-415(then)-414(she)-415(stopped)-414(and)-415(lifted)-414(a)]TJ -126.852 -13.549 Td[(warning)-250(finger.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1132 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1133 0 R
+/Resources 1131 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1126 0 R
+>> endobj
+1134 0 obj <<
+/D [1132 0 R /XYZ 327.401 504.626 null]
+>> endobj
+1135 0 obj <<
+/D [1132 0 R /XYZ 272.69 202.616 null]
+>> endobj
+1131 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1138 0 obj <<
+/Length 4892      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(210)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[(Jack)-168(listened)-168(and)-167(a)-168(stealthy)-168(creak)-168(betrayed)-168(Lucinda's)-168(proximity)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(somewhere)-250(in)-250(the)-250(vicinity.)]TJ 11.956 -13.958 Td[(It)-267(was)-266(plain)-267(to)-267(be)-266(seen)-267(that)-267(there)-266(were)-267(many)-267(issues)-266(to)-267(be)-267(kept)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(in)-265(mind,)-269(and)-266(the)-265(young)-265(man)-265(grit)-265(his)-266(teeth)-265(because)-265(he)-265(didn't)-266(dare)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(embrace)-259(his)-259(betrothed,)-261(and)-259(then)-259(walked)-259(away)-259(in)-259(the)-259(direction)-259(of)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary's)-250(room.)]TJ 11.956 -13.958 Td[(If)-356(she)-357(was)-356(glad)-356(to)-357(see)-356(him!)-569(One)-357(would)-356(have)-356(supposed)-357(that)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(ten)-233(years)-233(and)-233(two)-233(oceans)-233(had)-233(elapsed)-233(since)-233(their)-233(last)-234(meeting)-233(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(month)-250(before.)]TJ 11.956 -13.958 Td[(She)-250(fairly)-250(screamed)-250(with)-250(joy.)]TJ 0 -13.958 Td[("Jack!)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 27.469 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(You)-222(dear,)-228(dear,)-228(dear)-222(boy!)-240(Well,)-228(if)-222(I)-222(ever)-223(did!)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 193.336 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(When)]TJ -254.579 -13.55 Td[(did)-250(you)-250(come?")]TJ 11.956 -13.958 Td[(He)-266(was)-266(by)-266(the)-265(bed)-266(hugging)-266(her.)-298("And)-266(how)-265(are)-266(they)-266(all?)-298(How)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -84.711 0 Td[([297])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(is)-236(the)-236(city?)-245(Oh,)-239(Jack,)-239(if)-236(I)-236(could)-236(only)-236(go)-236(back)-236(with)-236(you)-236(this)-236(time!")]TJ 11.956 -13.958 Td[("Never)-474(mind,)-530(Aunt)-473(Mary;)-586(you'll)-474(be)-474(coming)-474(soon)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 230.778 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(in)-474(the)]TJ -253.643 -13.55 Td[(spring,)-250(you)-250(know.")]TJ 11.956 -13.958 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(sank)-250(back)-250(on)-250(the)-250(pillows.)]TJ 0 -13.958 Td[("Jack,")-357(she)-357(said,)-384("if)-357(I)-357(have)-357(to)-357(wait)-357(for)-357(spring,)-384(I)-357(shall)-357(die.)-571(I)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(ain't)-285(strong)-285(enough)-286(to)-285(be)-285(able)-285(to)-286(bear)-285(livin')-285(in)-285(the)-285(country)-286(much)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(longer.)-232(I've)-195(pretty)-195(much)-195(m)-1(ade)-195(up)-195(my)-195(mind)-195(to)-196(buy)-195(a)-195(house)-195(in)-196(town)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-248(just)-247(keep)-248(this)-247(place)-248(so's)-248(to)-247(have)-248(somewhere)-247(to)-248(put)-248(Lucinda.")]TJ 11.956 -13.958 Td[("Do)-401(you)-402(think)-401(you'd)-401(be)-402(happy)-401(in)-402(town,)-439(Aunt)-401(Mary?")-402(Jack)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(yelled;)-250("I)-250(mean)-250(if)-250(you)-250(lived)-250(there)-250(right)-250(along?")]TJ 11.956 -13.959 Td[("I)-404(don't)-404(see)-404(how)-404(I)-404(could)-404(be)-404(anythin')-404(else.)-713(I)-403(don't)-405(see)-404(how)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(anyone)-291(could)-292(be)-291(anythin')-291(else.)-374(I)-291(want)-291(a)-292(nice)-291(house)-291(with)-291(a)-292(criss-)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(cross)-235(iron)-234(gate)-235(in)-235(front)-235(of)-234(it)-235(an')-235(an)-234(automobile.)-245(An')]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 218.401 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(I)-235(don't)-234(want)]TJ -229.31 -13.549 Td[(you)-223(to)-222(say)-223(nothin')-222(about)-223(this)-223(to)-222(her)-223(jus')-222(yet)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 181.54 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(but)-223(I'm)-222(goin')-223(to)-222(keep)]TJ -192.449 -13.549 Td[(Granite)-306(to)-306(look)-307(after)-306(everythin')-306(for)-306(me.)-419(I)-306(don't)-306(ever)-306(mean)-306(to)-307(let)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(Granite)-250(go)-250(again.)-250(Never.)-250(Not)-250(for)-250(one)-250(hour.")]TJ 11.956 -13.958 Td[(Jack)-250(smiled.)-250(He)-250(felt)-250(as)-250(if)-250(Fate)-250(was)-250(playing)-250(into)-250(his)-250(hands.)]TJ 0 -13.958 Td[("I)-386(want)-386(you)-387(to)-386(live)-386(with)-386(me,")-387(Aunt)-386(Mary)-386(continued,)-420("an')-387(I)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(want)-319(the)-318(house)-319(big)-319(enough)-318(so's)-319(Clover)-319(an')-318(Mitchell)-319(an')-319(Burnett)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(can)-234(come)-233(whenever)-234(they)-233(feel)-234(like)-233(it)-234(and)-233(stay)-234(as)-233(long)-234(as)-233(they)-234(like.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(I)-233(don't)-234(want)-233(any)-234(house)-233(except)-234(for)-233(us)-233(all)-234(together.)-244(Oh,)-237(my!)-245(Seems)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([298])]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1137 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1138 0 R
+/Resources 1136 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1126 0 R
+>> endobj
+1139 0 obj <<
+/D [1137 0 R /XYZ 248.24 353.539 null]
+>> endobj
+1140 0 obj <<
+/D [1137 0 R /XYZ 99.722 66.142 null]
+>> endobj
+1136 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1143 0 obj <<
+/Length 4241      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Twenty-Four)-250(-)-250(Two)-250(Are)-250(Company)-6978(211)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 518.175 Td[(like)-250(I)-250(can't)-250(hardly)-250(wait!")]TJ 11.956 -14.868 Td[(She)-187(leaned)-187(back)-187(and)-187(shut)-187(her)-187(eyes)-187(in)-187(a)-187(sort)-188(of)-187(impatient)-187(ecstasy)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(of)-250(joys)-250(been)-250(and)-250(to)-250(be.)]TJ 11.956 -14.867 Td[(Jack)-346(reached)-345(forward)-346(to)-346(get)-345(a)-346(cigarette)-346(from)-346(the)-345(box)-346(on)-346(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(table)-250(at)-250(the)-250(bedside.)]TJ 11.956 -14.867 Td[("Do)-304(you)-304(smoke)-304(now,)-318(Aunt)-304(Mary?")-304(he)-304(inquired,)-317(as)-305(he)-304(took)-304(a)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(match.)]TJ 11.956 -14.867 Td[("No,)-250(Granite)-250(does.")]TJ 0 -14.868 Td[("Janice)-250(does!")-250(he)-250(repeated,)-250(quickly)-250(knitting)-250(his)-250(brows.)]TJ 0 -14.868 Td[("Yes,)-423(she)-388(does)-388(it)-389(for)-388(me)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 112.353 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(I'm)-388(so)-389(happy)-388(smellin')-388(the)-389(smell.)]TJ -135.218 -13.549 Td[(They)-227(made)-227(her)-227(a)-227(little)-227(sick)-227(at)-227(first)-227(but)-227(she)-227(took)-227(camphor)-227(and)-227(now)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(she)-250(don't)-250(mind.)-250(Not)-250(much)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 112.571 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(not)-250(any.")]TJ -111.524 -14.868 Td[(Jack)-231(arose)-230(and)-231(walked)-231(about)-231(the)-230(room.)-244(The)-231(idea)-230(of)-231(his)-231(darling)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(sickening)-353(herself)-352(to)-353(provide)-353(smoke)-352(for)-353(Aunt)-352(Mary)-353(braced)-353(him)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(afresh)-250(to)-250(the)-250(conflict.)]TJ 11.956 -14.868 Td[("What)-250(do)-250(you)-250(do)-250(all)-250(day?")-250(he)-250(asked,)-250(presently.)]TJ 0 -14.867 Td[("Well,)-337(we)-319(do)-319(most)-320(everythin'.)-458(When)-319(Lucinda's)-320(out)-319(she)-320(does)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(Lucinda)-236(for)-236(me)-236(an')-236(when)-236(Lucinda's)-236(in)-236(she)-236(does)-236(Joshua.)-246(It's)-236(about)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(as)-199(amusin')-199(as)-199(anythin')-199(you)-199(ever)-199(saw)-199(to)-199(see)-199(her)-199(do)-199(Lucinda.)-233(I)-199(never)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(found)-257(Lucinda)-256(amusin',)-258(Lord)-257(knows,)-258(but)-257(I)-256(like)-257(to)-256(see)-257(Granite)-257(do)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(her.)-250(An')-250(we)-250(play)-250(cards,)-250(an')-250(she)-250(dances,)-250(an')]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 182.498 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 97.617 0 Td[([299])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -14.868 Td[("Aunt)-375(Mary,")-375(said)-375(Jack)-376(abruptly,)-406("do)-375(you)-375(know)-375(the)-376(people)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(who)-250(had)-250(Janice)-250(want)-250(her)-250(back)-250(again?")]TJ 11.956 -14.868 Td[("I)-185(didn't)-185(quite)-185(catch)-184(that,")-185(said)-185(his)-185(aunt,)-198("but)-185(you)-185(needn't)-185(bother)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(to)-250(repeat)-250(it)-250(because)-250(I)-250(ain't)-250(never)-250(goin')-250(to)-250(let)-250(her)-250(go.)-250(Not)-250(never.")]TJ 11.956 -14.868 Td[(Jack)-371(came)-370(back)-371(and)-370(sat)-371(down)-371(beside)-370(the)-371(bed,)-400(and)-371(took)-371(her)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(hand.)]TJ 11.956 -14.867 Td[("Aunt)-238(Mary,")-237(he)-238(said)-238(in)-237(a)-238(pleading)-238(shriek,)-240("don't)-237(you)-238(see)-238(how)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(pale)-250(and)-250(thin)-250(she's)-250(getting?")]TJ 11.956 -14.867 Td[("No,)-381(I)-354(don't,")-355(said)-354(his)-355(aunt,)-381(turning)-354(her)-355(head)-354(away,)-381("an')-355(it's)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(no)-261(use)-260(tellin')-261(me)-260(such)-261(things)-261(because)-260(it's)-261(about)-260(my)-261(nap-time)-261(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(I've)-308(always)-307(been)-307(a)-308(great)-307(believer)-308(in)-307(takin')-308(my)-307(nap)-308(when)-307(it's)-308(my)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(nap-time.)-250(As)-250(a)-250(general)-250(thing.")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1142 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1143 0 R
+/Resources 1141 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1126 0 R
+>> endobj
+1144 0 obj <<
+/D [1142 0 R /XYZ 247.357 235.325 null]
+>> endobj
+1141 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1147 0 obj <<
+/Length 4860      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(212)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[(Jack)-319(sighed)-319(and)-319(watched)-319(her)-319(close)-319(her)-319(eyes)-319(and)-319(go)-319(instantly)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(to)-250(sleep.)-250(Janice)-250(came)-250(in)-250(a)-250(few)-250(minutes)-250(later.)]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[("No)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 17.781 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(no,")-742(she)-742(whispered)-742(hastily,)-865(as)-742(he)-742(came)-742(toward)]TJ -40.646 -13.549 Td[(her,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 16.659 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[("you)-411(mustn't)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 56.969 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(you)-411(mustn't.)-734(I)-411(don't)-411(believe)-411(that)-411(she)-411(re-)]TJ -95.446 -13.549 Td[(ally)-250(is)-250(asleep)-250(and)-250(even)-250(if)-250(she)-250(is,)-250(Lucinda)-250(is)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 188.76 0 Td[(everywhere)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 50.28 0 Td[(.")]TJ -227.084 -13.9 Td[("Where)-383(can)-383(we)-383(go?")-383(Jack)-384(asked)-383(in)-383(despair.)-649("It's)-383(out)-383(of)-384(all)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(reason)-250(to)-250(expect)-250(me)-250(to)-250(behave)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 134.509 0 Td[(all)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 14.247 0 Td[(the)-250(time.")]TJ -136.8 -13.9 Td[("We)-253(can't)-253(go)-253(anywhere,")-253(said)-253(Mrs.)-258(Rosscott;)-255("we)-253(must)-253(resign)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(ourselves.)-465(I've)-322(learned)-321(that)-322(it's)-322(the)-321(only)-322(way.)-465(Dear)-321(me,)-340(when)-322(I)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([300])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.55 Td[(think)-312(how)-313(long)-312(I've)-313(been)-312(resigned)-313(it)-312(certainly)-312(seems)-313(to)-312(me)-313(that)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(you)-250(might)-250(do)-250(a)-250(little)-250(in)-250(the)-250(same)-250(line.")]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[("Well,)-290(but)-283(I)-282(haven't)-282(learned)-283(to)-282(resign)-283(myself,")-282(said)-282(her)-283(lover,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[("and)-256(what)-256(is)-257(more,)-257(I)-256(positively)-257(decline)-256(to)-256(learn)-256(to)-256(resign)-257(myself.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(You)-336(should)-337(do)-336(the)-336(same,)-358(too.)-509(Where)-336(is)-337(the)-336(sense)-336(in)-337(humoring)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(her)-250(so?)-250(I)-250(wouldn't)-250(if)-250(I)-250(were)-250(you.")]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[(Janice)-250(lifted)-250(up)-250(her)-250(lovely)-250(eyes.)]TJ 0 -13.9 Td[("Oh,)-272(yes,)-271(you)-267(would,")-268(she)-267(said)-267(simply.)-302("If)-267(somebody's)-268(future)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(happiness)-228(depended)-229(upon)-228(her)-228(you)-229(would)-228(humor)-229(her)-228(just)-228(as)-229(much)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(as)-250(I)-250(do.")]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[(Jack)-250(was)-250(touched.)]TJ 0 -13.9 Td[("You)-339(are)-339(an)-339(angel)-339(of)-339(unselfishness,")-339(he)-339(exclaimed,)-362(warmly,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[("and)-250(I)-250(don't)-250(deserve)-250(such)-250(devotion.")]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[("Oh,)-220(don't)-212(be)-212(too)-212(grateful,")-212(she)-212(replied,)-220(dimpling.)-237("The)-213(person)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(to)-250(whose)-250(future)-250(happiness)-250(I)-250(referred)-250(was)-250(myself.")]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[(They)-250(both)-250(laughed)-250(softly)-250(at)-250(that)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 139.079 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(softly)-250(and)-250(mutually.)]TJ -149.988 -13.9 Td[("Nevertheless,")-208(Jack)-208(went)-209(on)-208(after)-208(a)-208(minute,)-217("if)-208(to)-208(all)-208(the)-209(other)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(puzzles)-304(is)-304(to)-304(be)-304(added)-304(the)-304(torture)-304(of)-304(being)-304(unable)-304(to)-304(see)-304(you)-304(or)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(speak)-250(freely)-250(to)-250(you,)-250(I)-250(think)-250(the)-250(hour)-250(for)-250(action)-250(has)-250(arrived.")]TJ 11.956 -13.899 Td[("For)-250(action!")-250(she)-250(cried;)-250("what)-250(are)-250(you)-250(thinking)-250(of)-250(doing?")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -84.711 0 Td[([301])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -13.9 Td[("This,")-367(he)-368(said,)-397(and)-367(straightway)-367(took)-368(her)-367(into)-368(his)-367(arms)-368(and)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(kissed)-250(her)-250(as)-250(he)-250(had)-250(kissed)-250(her)-250(on)-250(the)-250(night)-250(before.)]TJ 11.956 -13.899 Td[("Oh,)-249(if)-249(Lucinda)-248(has)-249(heard)-249(or)-248(your)-249(aunt)-249(has)-248(seen!")-249(poor)-249(Janice)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(cried,)-485(extricating)-437(herself)-438(and)-438(setting)-437(her)-438(cap)-438(to)-437(rights)-438(with)-438(a)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(species)-295(of)-295(fluttered)-295(h)-1(aste)-295(that)-295(led)-295(Jack)-295(to)-295(wonder)-295(suddenly)-296(why)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1146 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1147 0 R
+/Resources 1145 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1126 0 R
+>> endobj
+1148 0 obj <<
+/D [1146 0 R /XYZ 233.217 408.729 null]
+>> endobj
+1149 0 obj <<
+/D [1146 0 R /XYZ 361.447 134.589 null]
+>> endobj
+1145 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R /F18 18 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1152 0 obj <<
+/Length 4325      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Twenty-Four)-250(-)-250(Two)-250(Are)-250(Company)-6978(213)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 518.175 Td[(men)-294(didn't)-293(fall)-294(in)-294(love)-293(with)-294(maids)-294(even)-294(oftener)-293(than)-294(they)-294(do.)-381("I)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(do)-250(believe)-250(that)-250(you)-250(have)-250(gone)-250(and)-250(done)-250(it)-250(this)-250(time.")]TJ 11.956 -14.78 Td[("Nobody)-219(heard)-218(and)-219(nobody)-219(saw,")-218(he)-219(assured)-218(her,)-225(but)-219(he)-219(didn't)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(at)-216(all)-216(mean)-216(what)-216(he)-216(said,)-222(for)-216(his)-216(prayers)-216(were)-216(fervent)-216(that)-216(his)-216(kiss)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(had)-250(been)-250(public)-250(property.)]TJ 11.956 -14.78 Td[(And)-250(such)-250(was)-250(the)-250(fact.)]TJ 0 -14.78 Td[(Lucinda)-308(bounced)-307(in)-308(on)-308(Joshua)-307(with)-308(a)-308(bounce)-307(that)-308(turned)-308(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(can)-394(of)-394(harness)-394(p)-1(olish)-394(upside)-394(down,)-430(for)-394(Joshua)-394(was)-394(oiling)-395(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(harnesses.)]TJ 11.956 -14.78 Td[("He)-201(kissed)-201(h)-1(er!")-201(she)-201(cried)-201(in)-202(a)-201(state)-201(of)-201(tremendous)-202(excitement.)]TJ 0 -14.78 Td[("Well,)-230(she's)-225(his)-225(aunt,)-229(ain't)-225(she?")-225(Joshua)-225(demanded,)-230(picking)-225(up)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(the)-250(can)-250(and)-250(privately)-250(wishing)-250(Lucinda)-250(in)-250(Halifax.)]TJ 11.956 -14.78 Td[("I)-250(don't)-250(mean)-250(her;)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 78.218 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(I)-250(mean)-250(Janice.")]TJ -89.127 -14.78 Td[("I)-331(don't)-330(see)-331(anythin')-331(surprisin')-331(in)-330(that,")-331(said)-331(Joshua,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 229.099 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[("not)-331(if)]TJ -251.964 -13.549 Td[(he)-250(got)-250(a)-250(good)-250(chance.")]TJ 11.956 -14.78 Td[("What)-250(do)-250(you)-250(think)-250(of)-250(such)-250(goin's)-250(on?")]TJ 0 -14.779 Td[("I)-250(think)-250(they'll)-250(lead)-250(to)-250(goin's)-250(offs.")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 279.068 0 Td[([302])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -14.78 Td[("I)-294(never)-295(would)-294('a')-295(believed)-294(it,")-294(said)-295(Lucinda;)-316("Well,)-306(all)-294(I)-295(can)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(say)-250(is)-250(I)-250(wish)-250(he'd)-250('a')-250(tried)-250(it)-250(on)-250(me.")]TJ 11.955 -14.78 Td[("You'll)-255(wish)-254(a)-255(long)-254(time,")-255(said)-255(Joshua,)-255(placidly;)-257(and)-255(his)-255(tone,)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(as)-274(usual,)-280(made)-275(Lucinda)-274(even)-274(more)-274(angry)-275(than)-274(his)-274(words;)-286(so)-275(she)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(forthwith)-250(left)-250(him)-250(and)-250(tore)-250(back)-250(to)-250(the)-250(house.)]TJ 11.955 -14.78 Td[(Aunt)-291(Mary)-292(had)-291(also)-292(had)-291(her)-292(eyes)-291(open,)-302(and)-292(in)-291(this)-292(particular)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(case)-338(it)-338(was)-338(impossible)-338(to)-338(have)-338(one's)-338(eyes)-338(open)-338(without)-338(h)-1(aving)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(one's)-250(eyes)-250(opened.)-250(So)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(had)-250(both.)]TJ 11.955 -14.779 Td[(She)-287(s)-1(hut)-287(them)-288(at)-287(once)-288(and)-287(reflected)-288(deeply,)-297(and)-287(when)-288(Janice)]TJ -11.955 -13.55 Td[(went)-317(out)-316(of)-317(the)-316(room)-317(at)-316(last)-317(she)-317(immediately)-316(sat)-317(up)-316(in)-317(bed)-317(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(addressed)-250(her)-250(nephew.)]TJ 11.955 -14.78 Td[("Jack,)-250(what)-250(did)-250(you)-250(kiss)-250(her)-250(for?")]TJ 0 -14.779 Td[(Jack)-279(was)-280(fairly)-279(wild)-280(with)-279(joy)-280(at)-279(the)-280(brilliant)-279(way)-280(in)-279(which)-280(he)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(had)-238(begun.)-246(Mrs.)-246(Rosscott)-238(had)-238(laid)-238(one)-238(scheme)-238(for)-238(the)-238(overthrow)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(of)-359(Aunt)-360(Mary)-359(and)-359(her)-360(plan)-359(of)-359(attack)-360(had)-359(been)-359(absolutely)-360(suc-)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(cessful.)-244(Now)-231(it)-231(was)-230(his)-231(turn)-231(and)-231(he,)-235(too,)-235(was)-231(in)-231(it)-231(to)-231(win)-231(undying)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1151 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1152 0 R
+/Resources 1150 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1154 0 R
+>> endobj
+1153 0 obj <<
+/D [1151 0 R /XYZ 211.552 290.313 null]
+>> endobj
+1150 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1158 0 obj <<
+/Length 4148      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(214)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 518.175 Td[(glory)-255(or)-256(else)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 54.653 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(well,)-257(no)-255(matter.)-267(There)-255(wouldn't)-255(be)-256(any)-255("also)-256(ran")]TJ -65.562 -13.549 Td[(in)-250(this)-250(contest.)]TJ 11.956 -13.822 Td[("You)-336(don't)-336(deny)-336(that)-336(you)-336(kissed)-336(her,)-358(do)-336(you?")-336(said)-336(his)-336(aunt)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(severely.)-337("Answer)-280(this)-279(minute.)-337(I'm)-279(a)-279(great)-279(believer)-279(in)-280(answerin')]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(when)-250(you're)-250(spoken)-250(to.")]TJ 11.956 -13.822 Td[("Yes,)-250(I)-250(kissed)-250(her,")-250(he)-250(said)-250(easily.)]TJ 0 -55.015 Td[("Well,)-250(what)-250(did)-250(you)-250(do)-250(it)-250(for?")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -84.711 0 Td[([303])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -13.822 Td[("I'm)-503(very)-502(fond)-503(of)-503(her;")-502(the)-503(words)-503(came)-502(forth)-503(with)-503(great)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(apparent)-250(reluctance.)]TJ 11.956 -13.821 Td[("Fond)-250(of)-250(her!")-250(said)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(with)-250(great)-250(contempt.)]TJ 0 -13.822 Td[(Jack)-250(lifted)-250(his)-250(eyes)-250(quickly)-250(at)-250(the)-250(tone)-250(of)-250(her)-250(comment.)]TJ 0 -13.822 Td[(")]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 4.45 0 Td[(Fond)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 26.552 0 Td[(of)-323(her!)-469(Do)-323(you)-323(think)-322(a)-323(girl)-323(like)-323(that)-323(is)-323(the)-323(kind)-323(to)-323(be)]TJ -42.958 -13.55 Td[(fond)-250(of!)-250(Why)-250(ain't)-250(you)-250(in)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 113.466 0 Td[(love)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 20.901 0 Td[(with)-250(her?")]TJ -122.411 -13.821 Td[(The)-455(young)-454(man)-455(felt)-454(his)-455(brains)-454(suddenly)-455(swimming.)-864(This)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(surpassed)-250(his)-250(maddest)-250(hopes.)]TJ 11.956 -13.822 Td[("Shall)-409(I)-409(say)-409(that)-408(I)-409(am)-409(in)-409(love)-409(with)-409(her?")-409(he)-409(cried)-409(into)-409(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(ear-trumpet.)]TJ 11.956 -13.822 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(raised)-250(up)-250(in)-250(bed,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 123.01 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(her)-250(eyes)-250(sparkling.)]TJ -133.919 -13.822 Td[("Jack,")-301(she)-301(said,)-314(almost)-301(quivering)-301(with)-302(excitement,)-313(")]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 234.484 0 Td[(are)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 17.827 0 Td[(you)]TJ -264.267 -13.549 Td[(in)-250(love)-250(with)-250(her?")]TJ 11.956 -13.822 Td[("Yes,)-225(I)-219(am,")-218(he)-219(owned,)-225(wondering)-219(what)-218(would)-219(come)-219(next,)-225(but)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(feeling)-250(that)-250(the)-250(tide)-250(was)-250(all)-250(his)-250(way.)]TJ 11.956 -13.822 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(collapsed)-250(with)-250(a)-250(joyful)-250(sigh.)]TJ 0 -13.822 Td[("My)-277(heave)-1(ns)-277(alive,")-278(she)-277(said)-278(rapturously,)-284("seems)-278(like)-277(it's)-278(too)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(good)-226(to)-227(be)-226(true!)-242(Jack,")-226(she)-226(continued)-227(solemnly,)-231("if)-226(you're)-226(in)-227(love)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(with)-214(her)-214(you)-215(shall)-214(marry)-214(her.)-238(If)-214(there's)-214(any)-215(way)-214(to)-214(keep)-214(a)-214(girl)-215(like)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(that)-300(in)-300(the)-300(family)-300(I)-299(g)-1(uess)-299(I)-300(ain't)-300(goin')-300(to)-300(let)-300(her)-300(slip)-300(through)-300(my)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(fingers)-251(not)-250(while)-251(I've)-250(got)-251(a)-251(live)-250(nephew.)-252(You)-251(shall)-250(marry)-251(her)-251(an')]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(I'll)-250(buy)-250(you)-250(a)-250(house)-250(in)-250(New)-250(York)-250(and)-250(come)-250(an')-250(live)-250(with)-250(you.")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.756 0 Td[([304])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.712 -13.822 Td[(Jack)-250(sat)-250(silent,)-250(but)-250(smiling.)]TJ 0 -13.822 Td[("Do)-203(you)-203(think)-203(she)-203(will)-203(want)-203(to)-203(marry)-203(me?")-203(he)-203(asked)-203(presently.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1157 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1158 0 R
+/Resources 1156 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1154 0 R
+>> endobj
+65 0 obj <<
+/D [1157 0 R /XYZ 238.254 436.062 null]
+>> endobj
+1159 0 obj <<
+/D [1157 0 R /XYZ 243.476 394.869 null]
+>> endobj
+1160 0 obj <<
+/D [1157 0 R /XYZ 368.856 93.786 null]
+>> endobj
+1156 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R /F18 18 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1163 0 obj <<
+/Length 4527      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Twenty-Four)-250(-)-250(Two)-250(Are)-250(Company)-6978(215)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[("You)-332(go)-331(and)-332(bring)-331(her)-332(to)-332(me,")-331(said)-332(the)-331(old)-332(lady)-332(vigorously.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[("I'll)-376(soon)-376(find)-376(out.)-628(Just)-376(tell)-376(her)-376(I)-376(want)-376(to)-376(speak)-376(to)-376(her)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 248.361 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(don't)]TJ -259.27 -13.549 Td[(tell)-349(her)-349(what)-348(about.)-547(That)-348(ain't)-349(none)-349(of)-349(your)-348(business)-349(an')-349(I'm)-349(a)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(great)-309(believer)-309(in)-310(people's)-309(not)-309(interfering)-309(in)-309(what's)-309(none)-309(of)-310(their)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(business.)-250(You)-250(just)-250(get)-250(her)-250(and)-250(then)-250(leave)-250(her)-250(to)-250(me.")]TJ 11.956 -13.876 Td[(Jack)-378(went)-379(and)-378(found)-378(Janice.)-635(He)-379(was)-378(sufficiently)-378(mean)-379(not)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(to)-443(tell)-443(her)-443(what)-443(had)-443(happened,)-491(and)-443(Jan)-1(ice)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 195.223 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(being)-443(built)-443(on)-443(a)]TJ -206.132 -13.55 Td[(different)-359(plan)-359(from)-359(Lucinda)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 125.045 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.91 0 Td[(had)-359(not)-359(kept)-358(near)-359(enough)-359(to)-359(the)]TJ -135.955 -13.549 Td[(keyhole)-250(to)-250(be)-250(posted)-250(anyway.)]TJ 11.956 -13.876 Td[("Mr.)-647(Denham)-382(says)-382(you)-383(want)-382(me,")-382(she)-383(said,)-415(coming)-382(to)-383(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(bedside)-250(with)-250(her)-250(customary)-250(pleasant)-250(smile.)]TJ 11.956 -13.877 Td[("I)-338(do,")-339(said)-338(her)-338(mistress.)-515("I)-338(want)-339(to)-338(speak)-338(to)-339(you)-338(on)-338(a)-339(very)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(serious)-234(subject)-234(and)-234(I)-235(want)-234(you)-234(to)-234(pay)-234(a)-234(lot)-235(of)-234(attention.)-244(It's)-235(this:)-242(I)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(want)-250(you)-250(to)-250(marry)-250(Jack.")]TJ 11.956 -13.877 Td[(Poor)-308(Janice)-307(jumped)-308(violently,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 132.187 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(there)-308(was)-307(no)-308(doubt)-308(as)-308(to)-307(the)]TJ -155.052 -13.549 Td[(genuineness)-250(of)-250(her)-250(surprise.)]TJ 11.956 -13.877 Td[("Well,)-250(don't)-250(you)-250(want)-250(to?")-250(asked)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary.)]TJ 0 -13.876 Td[("I)-250(don't)-250(believe)-250(I)-250(do.")]TJ 0 -13.877 Td[(At)-250(this)-250(it)-250(was)-250(the)-250(old)-250(lady's)-250(turn)-250(to)-250(be)-250(astonished.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 279.068 0 Td[([305])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -13.876 Td[("Why)-294(do)-1(n't)-294(you?")-295(she)-294(said;)-317("my)-294(heavens)-295(alive,)-306(what)-294(are)-295(you)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(a-expectin')-219(to)-219(marry)-218(if)-219(you)-219(don't)-219(think)-218(my)-219(nephew's)-219(good)-219(enough)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(for)-250(you?")]TJ 11.956 -13.877 Td[("But)-216(I)-216(don't)-217(want)-216(to)-216(marry!")-217(cried)-216(poor)-216(Janice,)-223(in)-216(most)-217(evident)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(distress.)]TJ 11.956 -13.877 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(looked)-250(at)-250(her)-250(severely.)]TJ 0 -13.876 Td[("Then)-328(what)-328(did)-328(you)-327(kiss)-328(him)-328(for?")-328(she)-328(asked,)-347(in)-328(the)-328(tone)-328(in)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(which)-250(one)-250(plays)-250(the)-250(trump)-250(ace.)]TJ 11.956 -13.877 Td[(Janice)-250(started)-250(again.)]TJ 0 -13.876 Td[("Kiss)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 23.847 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(him)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 16.974 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.91 0 Td[(")-250(she)-250(faltered.)]TJ -62.64 -13.877 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(regarded)-250(her)-250(sternly.)]TJ 0 -13.876 Td[("Granite,")-243(she)-242(said,)-245("I)-242(ain't)-243(a-intendin')-243(to)-243(be)-242(unreasonable,)-245(but)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(I)-319(must)-320(ask)-319(you)-320(jus')-319(one)-320(simple)-319(question.)-458(You)-320(kissed)-319(him,)-337(for)-320(I)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(saw)-257(you;)-260(an')-257(will)-257(you)-257(kindly)-256(tell)-257(me)-257(why,)-258(in)-257(heaven's)-257(name,)-259(you)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(ain't)-250(willin')-250(to)-250(marry)-250(any)-250(man)-250(that)-250(you're)-250(willin')-250(to)-250(kiss?")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1162 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1163 0 R
+/Resources 1161 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1154 0 R
+>> endobj
+1164 0 obj <<
+/D [1162 0 R /XYZ 275.839 271.998 null]
+>> endobj
+1161 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1167 0 obj <<
+/Length 4518      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(216)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[("There's)-250(such)-250(a)-250(difference,")-250(wailed)-250(the)-250(maid.)]TJ 0 -13.927 Td[("I)-329(don't)-329(see)-329(it,")-329(said)-329(her)-329(mistress,)-349(shaking)-329(her)-329(head.)-488("I)-329(don't)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(see)-227(it)-226(at)-227(all.)-242(Of)-227(course)-226(I)-227(never)-227(for)-226(a)-227(minute)-227(thought)-226(of)-227(doin')-227(either)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(myself,)-265(but)-261(if)-262(I)-262(had)-261(thought)-262(of)-261(doin')-262(either,)-265(I'd)-261(had)-262(sense)-262(enough)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-313(have)-313(seen)-313(that)-312(I'd)-313(have)-313(to)-313(make)-313(up)-313(my)-313(mind)-312(to)-313(do)-313(both.)-439(I'm)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(a)-392(great)-391(believer)-392(in)-391(never)-392(doin')-392(things)-391(by)-392(halves.)-674(It)-392(don't)-392(pay.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Never)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 26.651 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(nohow.")]TJ -25.604 -13.927 Td[(Janice)-250(was)-250(biting)-250(her)-250(lips.)]TJ 0 -13.926 Td[("But)-250(I)-250(don't)-250(want)-250(to)-250(marry!")-250(she)-250(repeated)-250(obstinately.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -84.711 0 Td[([306])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -13.927 Td[("Then)-343(you)-342(shouldn't)-343(have)-342(let)-343(him)-342(kiss)-343(you.)-528(You've)-342(got)-343(him)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(all)-272(started)-272(to)-271(lovin')-272(you)-272(and)-272(if)-272(he's)-272(stopped)-271(too)-272(quick)-272(no)-272(one)-272(can)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(tell)-256(what)-256(may)-255(happen.)-267(I)-256(want)-256(him)-256(to)-255(settle)-256(down,)-257(but)-256(I)-256(want)-256(him)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-255(settle)-255(down)-255(beca)-1(use)-255(he's)-255(happy)-255(an')-255(not)-255(because)-255(he's)-256(shattered.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(He)-261(says)-262(he's)-261(willin')-261(to)-262(marry)-261(you)-261(an')-262(I)-261(don't)-262(see)-261(any)-261(good)-262(reason)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(why)-250(not.")]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[(Janice's)-250(mouth)-250(continued)-250(to)-250(look)-250(rebellious.)]TJ 0 -13.927 Td[("Go)-299(and)-299(get)-299(him,")-299(said)-299(Aunt)-298(Mary.)-397("I)-299(can)-299(see)-299(that)-299(this)-299(thing)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(has)-266(got)-266(to)-267(be)-266(settled)-266(pleasantly)-266(right)-266(off,)-271(or)-266(we)-266(shan't)-266(none)-266(of)-267(us)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(have)-285(any)-284(appetite)-285(for)-285(dinner.)-354(You)-285(find)-284(Jack,)-294(or)-284(if)-285(you)-285(can't)-285(find)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(him)-250(tell)-250(Lucinda)-250(that)-250(she's)-250(got)-250(to.")]TJ 11.956 -13.926 Td[(Janice)-250(went)-250(out)-250(and)-250(found)-250(Jack)-250(in)-250(the)-250(hall.)]TJ 0 -13.927 Td[("Is)-250(this)-250(a)-250(trap?")-250(she)-250(asked)-250(reproachfully.)]TJ 0 -13.927 Td[(Jack)-250(laughed.)]TJ 0 -13.927 Td[("No,")-250(he)-250(said)-250("it's)-250(a)-250(counter-mine.")]TJ 0 -13.927 Td[("Your)-254(aunt)-254(wants)-253(you)-254(at)-254(once,")-254(said)-253(Janice,)-255(putting)-254(her)-254(hands)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(into)-250(her)-250(pockets)-250(and)-250(looking)-250(out)-250(of)-250(the)-250(window.)]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("I)-366(fly)-367(to)-366(obey,")-367(he)-366(said)-367(obediently,)-395(and)-367(went)-366(at)-367(once)-366(to)-367(his)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(elderly)-250(relative.)]TJ 11.956 -13.927 Td[("Jack,")-342(she)-343(said,)-365(the)-343(instant)-342(he)-342(open)-1(ed)-342(the)-342(door,)-366("I've)-342(had)-343(a)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(little)-398(talk)-398(with)-398(Granite.)-695(She)-398(don')-398(want)-398(to)-398(marry)-398(you,)-435(but)-399(she)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(looks)-294(to)-294(me)-294(like)-294(she)-294(really)-294(didn't)-294(know)-294(her)-294(own)-294(mind.)-383(I've)-294(said)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(all)-305(I)-305(can)-305(say)-305(an')-306(I'm)-305(too)-305(tired)-305(holdin')-305(the)-305(ear-trumpet)-305(to)-305(say)-306(any)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(more.)-467(I)-322(think)-322(the)-322(best)-322(thing)-323(you)-322(can)-322(do)-322(is)-323(to)-322(take)-322(her)-322(out)-322(for)-323(a)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([307])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(walk)-365(an')-365(explain)-365(things)-365(thoroughly.)-595(It's)-365(no)-365(good)-365(our)-365(talkin')-365(to)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1166 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1167 0 R
+/Resources 1165 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1154 0 R
+>> endobj
+1168 0 obj <<
+/D [1166 0 R /XYZ 341.178 408.649 null]
+>> endobj
+1169 0 obj <<
+/D [1166 0 R /XYZ 284.5 79.691 null]
+>> endobj
+1165 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1172 0 obj <<
+/Length 4298      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Twenty-Four)-250(-)-250(Two)-250(Are)-250(Company)-6978(217)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 518.175 Td[(her)-320(together;)-356(and,)-338(anyway,)-338(I've)-321(always)-320(been)-320(a)-321(great)-320(believer)-321(in)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[('Two's)-326(company)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 71.716 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(three's)-326(none.')-478(That)-326(was)-326(really)-326(the)-326(big)-326(reason)]TJ -82.625 -13.549 Td[(why)-357(I'd)-357(never)-357(let)-357(Lucinda)-358(keep)-357(a)-357(cat.)-571(You)-357(take)-357(her)-357(and)-357(go)-358(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(walk)-239(and)-238(I)-239(guess)-239(everything'll)-239(come)-238(out)-239(all)-239(right.)-246(It)-239(ought)-238(to.)-247(My)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(heavens)-250(alive!")]TJ 11.956 -16.216 Td[(Jack)-375(took)-376(the)-376(maid)-375(and)-376(they)-375(went)-376(out)-375(to)-376(walk.)-626(When)-376(they)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(were)-364(beyond)-364(earshot)-364(the)-365(first)-364(thing)-364(that)-364(they)-364(did)-364(was)-364(to)-365(laugh)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(long)-250(and)-250(loud.)]TJ 11.956 -16.216 Td[("Of)-231(all)-232(my)-231(many)-231(and)-232(varied)-231(adventures!")-231(cried)-232(Mrs.)-244(Rosscott,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(and)-206(Jack)-206(took)-206(the)-206(opportunity)-206(to)-206(kiss)-206(her)-206(again)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 199.782 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(under)-206(no)-206(protest)]TJ -210.691 -13.549 Td[(this)-250(time.)]TJ 11.956 -16.217 Td[("We)-273(shall)-272(have)-273(to)-273(be)-273(married)-272(very)-273(soon,)-279(now,)-278(you)-273(know,")-273(he)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(said)-250(gayly.)-250("Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(won't)-250(be)-250(able)-250(to)-250(wait.")]TJ 11.956 -16.217 Td[("Oh,)-334(as)-317(to)-318(that)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 65.013 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(we'll)-317(see,")-318(said)-317(Mrs.)-452(Rosscott,)-334(and)-317(laughed)]TJ -87.878 -13.549 Td[(afresh.)-250("But)-250(there)-250(is)-250(one)-250(thing)-250(that)-250(must)-250(be)-250(done)-250(at)-250(once.")]TJ 11.956 -16.216 Td[("What's)-250(that?")-250(Jack)-250(asked.)]TJ 0 -16.217 Td[("We)-250(must)-250(tell)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(who)-250(I)-250(am.")]TJ 0 -16.217 Td[("Oh,)-250(to)-250(be)-250(sure,")-250(said)-250(the)-250(young)-250(man.)]TJ 0 -16.216 Td[("I)-331(hope)-331(she)-331(won't)-331(take)-331(it)-331(in)-331(any)-331(way)-331(but)-331(the)-331(right)-331(way!")-331(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(widow)-250(said)-250(thoughtfully.)]TJ 11.956 -16.217 Td[("My)-275(dearest,)-282(in)-276(what)-275(other)-276(way)-275(could)-276(she)-276(take)-275(it?)-327(I)-275(think)-276(she)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(has)-250(proved)-250(her)-250(opinion)-250(of)-250(you)-250(pretty)-250(sincerely.")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([308])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -16.217 Td[("Yes,")-221(said)-221(Mrs.)-240(Rosscott,)-227(with)-221(a)-220(little)-221(smile,)-227("I)-221(certainly)-221(have)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(cause)-250(to)-250(feel)-250(that)-250(she)-250(loves)-250(me)-250(for)-250(myself)-250(alone.")]TJ 11.956 -16.216 Td[(When)-416(they)-416(returned)-416(to)-416(the)-416(house)-416(they)-416(went)-416(straightway)-416(to)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Aunt)-381(Mary's)-380(room,)-414(and)-380(the)-381(first)-381(glance)-381(through)-380(the)-381(old)-381(lady's)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(eye-glasses)-218(told)-219(her)-218(that)-219(her)-218(wishes)-218(had)-219(all)-218(been)-219(fulfilled.)-239(She)-219(sat)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(up)-273(in)-273(bed,)-279(took)-273(a)-274(hand)-273(of)-273(each)-273(into)-273(her)-273(own,)-279(and)-273(surveyed)-274(them)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(in)-287(an)-287(access)-287(of)-287(such)-287(utter)-287(joy)-287(as)-287(nearly)-287(caused)-287(all)-287(three)-288(to)-287(weep)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(together.)]TJ 11.956 -16.217 Td[("Well,)-221(I)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 36.766 0 Td[(am)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 15.665 0 Td[(so)-214(glad,")-214(was)-214(all)-214(she)-214(said)-214(for)-214(the)-214(first)-214(few)-214(seconds,)]TJ -64.387 -13.549 Td[(and)-250(nobody)-250(doubted)-250(her)-250(words)-250(forever)-250(after.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1171 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1172 0 R
+/Resources 1170 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1154 0 R
+>> endobj
+1173 0 obj <<
+/D [1171 0 R /XYZ 258.157 209.636 null]
+>> endobj
+1170 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R /F18 18 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1176 0 obj <<
+/Length 4615      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(218)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[(Then)-222(Mrs.)-241(Rosscott)-222(removed)-222(her)-222(hat)-222(and)-222(jacket,)-228(and)-222(when)-222(she)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(returned)-299(to)-298(the)-299(bedside)-299(her)-298(future)-299(aunt)-299(made)-299(her)-298(sit)-299(down)-299(close)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-250(her)-250(and)-250(hold)-250(one)-250(of)-250(her)-250(hands)-250(while)-250(Jack)-250(held)-250(the)-250(other.)]TJ 11.956 -14.78 Td[("I'm)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 21.891 0 Td[(so)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 13.055 0 Td[(glad)-308(you're)-307(to)-308(have)-308(the)-308(runnin')-307(of)-308(Jack,")-308(the)-307(old)-308(lady)]TJ -46.902 -13.549 Td[(declared)-280(sincerely.)-341("All)-280(I)-281(ask)-280(of)-280(you)-280(is)-281(to)-280(be)-280(patient)-281(with)-280(him.)-341(I)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(always)-250(was.)-250(That)-250(is,)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 90.895 0 Td[(most)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 23.334 0 Td[(always.")]TJ -102.273 -14.78 Td[("Dear)-278(Aunt)-278(Mary,")-278(said)-278(Mrs.)-334(Rosscott,)-285(slipping)-278(down)-278(on)-278(her)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(knees)-237(beside)-238(the)-237(bed,)-240("you)-237(are)-237(so)-237(good)-238(to)-237(me)-237(that)-237(you)-238(encourage)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(me)-265(to)-264(tell)-265(you)-264(my)-265(secret.)-293(It)-265(isn't)-265(long,)-268(and)-264(it)-265(isn't)-264(bad,)-269(but)-264(I)-265(have)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(a)-250(confession)-250(to)-250(make.")]TJ 11.956 -14.78 Td[("Oh,)-331(I)-314(say,")-315(cried)-314(Jack,)-331("if)-314(you)-315(put)-314(it)-315(that)-314(way)-315(let)-315(me)-314(do)-315(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(owning)-250(up!")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([309])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -14.78 Td[("Hush,")-496(said)-495(his)-496(love)-495(authoritatively,)-557("it's)-496(my)-496(confession.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Leave)-250(it)-250(to)-250(me.")]TJ 11.956 -14.78 Td[("What)-283(is)-284(it?")-283(said)-283(Aunt)-284(Mary,)-291(looking)-284(anxiously)-283(from)-283(one)-284(to)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(the)-250(other;)-250("you)-250(haven't)-250(broke)-250(your)-250(engagement)-250(already,)-250(I)-250(hope.")]TJ 11.956 -14.78 Td[("No,")-196(said)-196(Mrs.)-232(Rosscott,)-207("it's)-197(nothing)-196(like)-196(that.)-232(It's)-196(only)-197(rather)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(a)-299(surprise.)-396(But)-298(it's)-299(a)-299(nice)-298(surprise,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 151.038 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(at)-299(least,)-310(I)-299(hope)-299(you'll)-298(think)]TJ -161.947 -13.549 Td[(that)-250(it)-250(is.")]TJ 11.956 -14.78 Td[("Well,)-277(hurry)-272(and)-272(tell)-272(me)-272(then,")-272(said)-272(the)-271(old)-272(lady.)-316("I'm)-272(a)-272(great)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(believer)-240(in)-240(bein')-241(told)-240(good)-240(news)-240(as)-240(soon)-240(as)-241(possible.)-246(What)-240(is)-241(it?")]TJ 11.956 -14.78 Td[("It's)-250(that)-250(I'm)-250(not)-250(a)-250(maid,")-250(said)-250(the)-250(pretty)-250(widow.)]TJ 0 -14.779 Td[("Not)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 20.814 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(a)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 4.844 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")-250(cried)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(blankly.)]TJ -47.476 -14.78 Td[("I'm)-250(a)-250(widow!")-250(said)-250(Janice.)-250("I'm)-250(Burnett's)-250(sister.")]TJ 0 -14.78 Td[("Wh)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 20.203 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(a)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 4.844 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(at!")-250(cried)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary.)-250("I)-250(didn't)-250(jus')-250(catch)-250(that.")]TJ -46.865 -14.78 Td[("You)-173(see,")-173(screamed)-173(Jack,)-188("she)-173(was)-174(afraid)-173(to)-173(have)-173(me)-173(entertain)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(you)-203(in)-203(New)-203(York,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 77.238 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(afraid)-203(you)-203(wouldn't)-203(be)-203(properly)-203(looked)-203(after,)]TJ -88.147 -13.549 Td[(Aunt)-215(Mary,)-223(so)-215(she)-215(dressed)-215(up)-216(for)-215(your)-215(maid)-216(and)-215(looked)-215(after)-216(you)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(herself.")]TJ 11.956 -14.78 Td[("My)-250(heavens)-250(alive!")]TJ 0 -14.78 Td[("Wasn't)-250(she)-250(an)-250(angel?")-250(he)-250(asked.)]TJ 0 -14.78 Td[("But)-338(whatever)-337(made)-338(you)-338(take)-338(such)-337(an)-338(interest?")-338(Aunt)-338(Mary)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(demanded)-250(of)-250(Janice.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([310])]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1175 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1176 0 R
+/Resources 1174 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1154 0 R
+>> endobj
+1177 0 obj <<
+/D [1175 0 R /XYZ 150.718 365.442 null]
+>> endobj
+1178 0 obj <<
+/D [1175 0 R /XYZ 185.638 66.142 null]
+>> endobj
+1174 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F18 18 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1181 0 obj <<
+/Length 4551      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Twenty-Four)-250(-)-250(Two)-250(Are)-250(Company)-6978(219)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[(Janice)-218(rose)-219(from)-218(her)-218(knees)-218(and,)-225(leaning)-218(over)-218(the)-219(bed,)-224(drew)-219(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(old)-250(lady)-250(close)-250(in)-250(her)-250(arms.)]TJ 11.956 -13.877 Td[("I'll)-359(tell)-360(you,")-359(she)-360(screamed)-359(gently.)-579("I)-359(loved)-360(Jack,)-387(and)-359(so)-360(I)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(loved)-250(his)-250(aunt)-250(even)-250(before)-250(I)-250(had)-250(ever)-250(seen)-250(her.")]TJ 11.956 -13.876 Td[(Aunt)-251(Mary's)-250(joy)-251(fairly)-251(overflowed)-251(at)-250(that)-251(view)-251(of)-251(things,)-251(and,)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(putting)-261(her)-261(hands)-262(to)-261(either)-261(side)-261(of)-261(the)-262(lovely)-261(face)-261(so)-261(close)-261(to)-262(her)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(own,)-250(she)-250(kissed)-250(it)-250(warmly)-250(again)-250(and)-250(again.)]TJ 11.956 -13.876 Td[("I)-416(always)-417(knew)-416(you)-417(were)-416(suthin')-417(out)-416(of)-417(the)-416(ordinary,")-417(she)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(declared)-303(vigorously.)-410("You)-303(know)-303(I)-303(wouldn't)-303(have)-303(let)-303(him)-304(marry)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(you)-484(if)-485(I)-484(hadn't)-485(been)-484(pretty)-484(sure)-485(as)-484(you)-485(were)-484(different)-485(from)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Lucinda)-250(an')-250(the)-250(common)-250(run.")]TJ 11.956 -13.876 Td[(And)-239(then)-240(she)-239(beamed)-239(on)-240(them)-239(both)-239(and)-240(Jack)-239(beamed)-239(on)-240(them)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(both)-310(and)-311(Mrs.)-430(Rosscott)-311(kissed)-310(each)-310(of)-310(th)-1(em)-310(and)-310(dried)-310(her)-311(own)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(happy)-250(eyes.)]TJ 11.956 -13.876 Td[("Now)-285(I)-285(want)-285(to)-285(know)-285(jus')-285(how)-285(an')-285(where)-285(you)-286(learned)-285(to)-285(love)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(him?")-250(the)-250(aunt)-250(asked)-250(next.)]TJ 11.956 -13.877 Td[("I)-286(loved)-286(him)-287(almost)-286(directly)-286(I)-286(knew)-287(him,")-286(she)-286(answered,)-296(and)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(at)-344(that)-344(Aunt)-344(Mary)-344(seemed)-343(on)-344(the)-344(point)-344(of)-344(applauding)-344(with)-344(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(ear-trumpet)-250(against)-250(the)-250(headboard.)]TJ 11.956 -13.877 Td[("It)-265(was)-266(jus')-265(the)-265(same)-266(with)-265(me,")-265(she)-266(said)-265(delightedly.)-296("He)-266(was)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(only)-250(a)-250(baby)-250(then,)-250(but)-250(the)-250(first)-250(look)-250(I)-250(took)-250(I)-250(jus')-250(had)-250(a)-250(feelin')]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 258.142 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ -257.095 -13.876 Td[("Yes,")-250(said)-250(Mrs.)-250(Rosscott)-250(sympathetically,)-250("so)-250(did)-250(I.")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 279.068 0 Td[([311])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -13.877 Td[(They)-250(all)-250(laughed)-250(together.)]TJ 0 -13.877 Td[("An')-247(now,")-247(said)-247(Aunt)-247(Mary,)-247(laying)-247(back)-247(and)-247(folding)-247(her)-247(arms)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(upon)-298(her)-298(bosom,)-310("an')-298(now)-298(comes)-298(the)-298(main)-299(question,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 231.932 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(when)-298(do)]TJ -242.841 -13.549 Td[(you)-250(two)-250(want)-250(to)-250(be)-250(married?")]TJ 11.956 -13.876 Td[("Oh!")-250(said)-250(the)-250(widow)-250(starting,)-250("we)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 152.727 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(I)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 3.632 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.91 0 Td[(Jack)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 19.385 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")]TJ -208.472 -13.877 Td[("Well,)-285(go)-277(on,")-278(said)-278(Aunt)-277(Mary.)-333("Say)-278(whenever)-278(you)-278(like.)-333(An')]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(then)-250(Jack)-250(can)-250(do)-250(the)-250(same.")]TJ 11.955 -13.877 Td[(The)-250(two)-250(young)-250(people)-250(exchanged)-250(glances.)]TJ 0 -13.876 Td[("Speak)-253(right)-252(up,")-253(said)-252(Aunt)-253(Mary.)-258("I'm)-252(a)-253(great)-252(believer)-253(in)-253(not)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(hangin')-263(back)-263(when)-263(any)-1(thin')-263(has)-263(got)-263(to)-263(be)-263(decided.)-290(Jack,)-266(what)-264(do)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(you)-250(think?")]TJ 11.955 -13.876 Td[("I)-250(want)-250(to)-250(get)-250(married)-250(right)-250(off,")-250(said)-250(Jack)-250(decidedly.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1180 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1181 0 R
+/Resources 1179 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1183 0 R
+>> endobj
+1182 0 obj <<
+/D [1180 0 R /XYZ 295.312 231.023 null]
+>> endobj
+1179 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1186 0 obj <<
+/Length 4665      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(220)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[("I)-250(think)-250(he's)-250(too)-250(young,")-250(put)-250(in)-250(Mrs.)-250(Rosscott)-250(hastily.)]TJ 0 -13.9 Td[("I)-532(don't)-532(know,")-531(said)-532(Aunt)-532(Mary,)-603(looking)-532(at)-532(her)-532(nephew)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(reflectively.)-877("Seems)-458(to)-459(me)-459(he's)-459(big)-459(enough,)-511(an')-459(I'm)-459(a)-459(great)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(believer)-303(in)-304(never)-303(dilly-dallyin')-304(over)-303(what's)-304(got)-303(to)-304(be)-303(done)-304(some)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(time.)-250(Why)-250(not)-250(Thanksgiving?")]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[("Thanksgiving!")-250(shrieked)-250(Mrs.)-250(Rosscott.)]TJ 0 -13.9 Td[("Yes,")-291(said)-291(Aunt)-292(Mary.)-373("I)-292(think)-291(it)-291(would)-291(be)-292(a)-291(good)-291(time,)-302(an')]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(then)-250(I)-250(can)-250(come)-250(and)-250(spend)-250(Christmas)-250(with)-250(you)-250(in)-250(the)-250(city.")]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[("Great)-250(idea!")-250(declared)-250(her)-250(nephew;)-250("me)-250(for)-250(Thanksgiving.")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -84.711 0 Td[([312])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -13.9 Td[("What)-250(do)-250(you)-250(say?")-250(said)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(to)-250(the)-250(bride-to-be.)]TJ 0 -13.9 Td[("Oh,)-527(I)-472(don't)-472(see)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 75.482 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(")-472(began)-472(the)-472(latter,)-527(wrinkling)-472(her)-472(pretty)]TJ -98.347 -13.549 Td[(forehead)-248(in)-247(a)-248(prettier)-248(perplexity)-248(and)-247(looking)-248(helplessly)-248(back)-248(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(forth)-250(between)-250(their)-250(double)-250(eagerness.)]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[("Well,)-358(why)-336(not?")-336(said)-336(the)-337(aunt.)-508("It)-337(ain't)-336(as)-336(if)-336(there)-336(was)-337(any)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(reason)-281(for)-281(waitin'.)-343(If)-280(th)-1(ere)-280(was)-281(I'd)-281(be)-281(the)-281(first)-281(to)-281(be)-281(willin')-281(to)-281(do)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(all)-325(I)-324(could)-324(to)-325(be)-324(patient,)-344(but)-324(as)-325(it)-324(is)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 158.422 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(even)-324(if)-325(you)-324(an')-325(Jack)-324(ain)-1('t)]TJ -169.331 -13.549 Td[(in)-276(any)-277(particular)-276(hurry,)-283(I)-276(am,)-283(an')-276(I)-277(was)-276(brought)-276(up)-277(to)-276(go)-276(right)-277(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(work)-250(at)-250(gettin')-250(what)-250(you)-250(want)-250(as)-250(soon)-250(as)-250(you)-250(know)-250(what)-250(it)-250(is.")]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[("But)-250(this)-250(is)-250(so)-250(sudden,")-250(wailed)-250(Mrs.)-250(Rosscott.)]TJ 0 -13.9 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(glanced)-250(at)-250(her)-250(sharply.)]TJ 0 -13.9 Td[("That's)-396(what)-396(they)-397(all)-396(say,)-433(a'cordin')-396(to)-396(the)-396(papers,")-396(she)-397(said)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(calmly,)-250("an')-250(it)-250(never)-250(is)-250(counted)-250(as)-250(anythin')-250(but)-250(a)-250(joke.")]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[("But)-250(I'm)-250(not)-250(joking,")-250(Janice)-250(cried.)]TJ 0 -13.9 Td[("Then)-342(you)-342(jus')-341(take)-342(a)-342(little)-342(time)-341(an')-342(think)-342(it)-342(over,")-342(proposed)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(the)-347(old)-348(lady,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 56.362 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[("I'll)-347(tell)-348(you)-347(what)-347(you)-347(can)-348(do.)-541(You)-348(can)-347(get)-347(me)]TJ -67.271 -13.549 Td[(Lucinda)-263(because)-264(I)-263(want)-264(to)-263(tell)-263(her)-264(suthin')-263(and)-263(then)-264(you)-263(and)-264(Jack)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(can)-246(sit)-245(down)-246(together)-246(an')-245(think)-246(it)-246(over)-246(anywhere)-245(an')-246(anyhow)-246(you)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(like.")]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[("Do)-289(you)-289(really)-289(want)-289(Lucinda,")-289(said)-289(Janic)-1(e,)-298(rising)-289(to)-290(her)-289(feet,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[("or)-320(is)-321(it)-320(something)-320(that)-321(I)-320(can)-320(do?)-461(You)-320(know)-321(I'm)-320(yours)-320(just)-321(the)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(same)-276(as)-275(ever,)-282(Aunt)-276(Mary.)-326(Next)-276(to)-275(being)-276(good)-275(to)-276(Jack,)-282(I)-275(want)-276(to)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([313])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(always)-250(be)-250(good)-250(to)-250(you.")]TJ 11.956 -13.9 Td[(Aunt)-266(Mary)-267(looked)-267(up)-266(with)-267(a)-266(light)-267(in)-266(her)-267(eyes)-266(that)-267(was)-266(fine)-267(to)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(see.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1185 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1186 0 R
+/Resources 1184 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1183 0 R
+>> endobj
+1187 0 obj <<
+/D [1185 0 R /XYZ 367.775 408.379 null]
+>> endobj
+1188 0 obj <<
+/D [1185 0 R /XYZ 155.637 107.14 null]
+>> endobj
+1184 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1191 0 obj <<
+/Length 3860      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Twenty-Four)-250(-)-250(Two)-250(Are)-250(Company)-6978(221)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[("Bless)-327(you,)-347(my)-327(child,")-328(she)-327(said)-328(heartily.)-482("I)-327(know)-328(that,)-346(but)-328(I)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(really)-238(want)-238(Lucinda,)-241(an')-238(you)-238(an')-239(Jack)-238(can)-238(take)-238(care)-238(of)-239(yourselves)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(for)-400(a)-399(while.)-699(Leastways,)-437(I)-400(hope)-399(you)-400(can.)-699(I)-399(guess)-400(you)-400(can.)-699(I)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(presume)-250(so,)-250(anyway.")]TJ 11.956 -13.773 Td[(It)-306(was)-306(late)-307(that)-306(afternoon)-306(that)-306(Lucinda,)-321(looking)-306(as)-306(if)-306(she)-307(had)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(been)-207(accidentally)-207(overtaken)-206(by)-207(a)-207(road-roller,)-215(joined)-207(Joshua)-207(in)-207(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(potato)-250(cellar.)]TJ 11.956 -13.773 Td[("Well,)-229(the)-223(sky)-224(c'n)-223(fall)-224(whenever)-223(it)-223(likes)-224(now!")-223(she)-224(said,)-229(sitting)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(down)-250(on)-250(an)-250(empty)-250(barrel)-250(with)-250(a)-250(resigned)-250(sigh.)]TJ 11.956 -13.772 Td[("That's)-250(a)-250(comfort)-250(to)-250(know,")-250(said)-250(Joshua.)]TJ 0 -13.772 Td[("She's)-250(got)-250(it)-250(all)-250(made)-250(up)-250(for)-250('em)-250(to)-250(marry)-250(each)-250(other.")]TJ 0 -13.773 Td[("That)-250(ain't)-250(no)-250(great)-250(news)-250(to)-250(me,")-250(said)-250(Joshua.)]TJ 0 -13.772 Td[("Joshua)-271(Whittlesey,)-276(you)-271(make)-271(my)-270(blo)-1(od)-270(boil.)-313(Things)-271(is)-271(goin')]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(rackin')-451(and)-450(ruinin')-451(at)-451(a)-450(great)-451(pace)-451(here)-450(an')-451(you)-451(as)-450(cold)-451(as)-451(a)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(cauliflower)-250(over)-250(it)-250(all.")]TJ 11.956 -13.772 Td[(Joshua)-250(sorted)-250(potatoes)-250(phlegmatically)-250(and)-250(said)-250(nothing.)]TJ 0 -13.772 Td[("S'posin')-250(I'd)-250('a')-250(wanted)-250(to)-250(marry)-250(him?")]TJ 0 -13.773 Td[(Joshua)-250(continued)-250(to)-250(sort)-250(potatoes.)]TJ 0 -13.772 Td[("Or,)-250(s'posin')-250(you)-250(wanted)-250(to)-250(marry)-250(her?")]TJ 0 -13.772 Td[(Joshua)-250(looked)-250(up)-250(quickly.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 279.068 0 Td[([314])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -13.773 Td[("Which)-250(one?")-250(he)-250(said.)]TJ 0 -13.772 Td[("Janice!")]TJ 0 -13.772 Td[("Oh,")-250(he)-250(said)-250(in)-250(a)-250(relieved)-250(tone.)]TJ 0 -13.773 Td[("Why)-250(did)-250(you)-250(say)-250('oh,')]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 98.978 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(did)-250(you)-250(think)-250(I)-250(meant)-250(her?")]TJ -109.887 -13.772 Td[("I)-250(didn't)-250(know)-250(who)-250(you)-250(meant.")]TJ 0 -13.772 Td[("Why,)-250(you)-250(wouldn't)-250(think)-250(o')-250(marryin')-250(her,)-250(would)-250(you?")]TJ 0 -13.773 Td[("No,")-261(said)-260(Joshua)-261(emphatically.)-282("I'd)-260(as)-261(soon)-260(think)-261(o')-261(marryin')]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(you)-250(yourself.")]TJ 11.955 -13.772 Td[(Lucinda)-239(delib)-1(erated)-239(for)-240(a)-239(minute)-240(or)-239(so)-240(as)-239(to)-240(whether)-239(to)-240(accept)]TJ -11.955 -13.55 Td[(this)-262(insult)-261(in)-262(silence)-262(or)-261(not,)-265(and)-261(finally)-262(decided)-262(to)-261(make)-262(just)-262(one)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(more)-250(remark.)]TJ 11.955 -13.772 Td[("I)-250(wonder)-250(if)-250(she'll)-250(send)-250(any)-250(word)-250(to)-250(Arethusa)-250('n')-250(Mary.")]TJ 0 -13.772 Td[("They'll)-250(know)-250(soon)-250(enough,")-250(said)-250(Joshua)-250(oracularly.)]TJ 0 -13.773 Td[("How'll)-250(they)-250(know,)-250(I'd)-250(like)-250(to)-250(know?")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1190 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1191 0 R
+/Resources 1189 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1183 0 R
+>> endobj
+1192 0 obj <<
+/D [1190 0 R /XYZ 175.388 258.286 null]
+>> endobj
+1189 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1195 0 obj <<
+/Length 705       
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(222)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[("You'll)-250(write)-250('em.")]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Lucinda)-208(was)-208(dumb.)-236(The)-207(fact)-208(that)-208(the)-208(letter)-208(was)-208(already)-208(written)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(only)-284(made)-283(the)-284(serpent-tooth)-284(of)-283(J)-1(oshua's)-283(intimate)-284(knowledge)-284(cut)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-250(deeper.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 -29.64 Td[([315])]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1194 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1195 0 R
+/Resources 1193 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1183 0 R
+>> endobj
+1196 0 obj <<
+/D [1194 0 R /XYZ 93.543 447.888 null]
+>> endobj
+1193 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1199 0 obj <<
+/Length 734       
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Twenty-Four)-250(-)-250(Two)-250(Are)-250(Company)-6978(223)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -280.63 -23.206 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 5.595 -418.031 cm
+ q 4.4208 0 0 4.4208 0 0 cm
+1 0 0 1 2.728 0 cm
+ q 1 0 0 1 0 0 cm
+q
+57.5998 0 0 94.5597 0 0 cm
+/Im7 Do
+Q
+ Q
+1 0 0 1 -2.728 0 cm
+ Q
+1 0 0 1 -52.366 -107.697 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 88.694 Td[("'Yesterday)-242(I)-242(played)-242(poker)-243(until)-242(I)-242(didn't)-242(know)-242(a)-242(blue)-242(chip)-242(from)-243(a)]TJ 114.291 -13.549 Td[(white)-267(one.'")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 69.548 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 0 -30.766 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1198 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1199 0 R
+/Resources 1197 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1183 0 R
+>> endobj
+1116 0 obj <<
+/Type /XObject
+/Subtype /Image
+/Width 480
+/Height 788
+/BitsPerComponent 4
+/ColorSpace [/Indexed /DeviceRGB 15 1200 0 R]
+/Length 189120    
+>>
+stream
+������
+endobj
+1200 0 obj <<
+/Length 48        
+>>
+stream
+���DDD���)))���ddd���TTT��̐��767���qrq���endstream
+endobj
+1197 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R >>
+/XObject << /Im7 1116 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text /ImageC /ImageI ]
+>> endobj
+1203 0 obj <<
+/Length 634       
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(224)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -280.63 -142.389 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 5.595 -190.978 cm
+ q 4.4208 0 0 4.4208 0 0 cm
+1 0 0 1 2.727 0 cm
+ q 1 0 0 1 0 0 cm
+q
+57.5998 0 0 43.1998 0 0 cm
+/Im8 Do
+Q
+ Q
+1 0 0 1 -2.727 0 cm
+ Q
+1 0 0 1 -99.138 -215.567 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 143.685 196.563 Td[("Aunt)-258(Mary)-257(had)-258(also)-257(had)-258(her)-257(eyes)-258(open.")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 188.731 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 0 -149.949 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1202 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1203 0 R
+/Resources 1201 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1183 0 R
+>> endobj
+1155 0 obj <<
+/Type /XObject
+/Subtype /Image
+/Width 480
+/Height 360
+/BitsPerComponent 4
+/ColorSpace [/Indexed /DeviceRGB 15 1204 0 R]
+/Length 86400     
+>>
+stream
+,,�"����&j�f���"�nj���f������*����fn�U��UU��Q�����UUU���3�3==333�33�3�;3333�3�33����=;3;;;3;;�;;;�333�33=��������]�YU��U������]U��]]���U���3�]�35�����"e��UQ�]�Y�n���Qfj�""*b&�f*"�&*��""��DD�""�L���DDDLLD�L���"�̢*����*��"�&�jfnn�"n�f�f������*�n"*������njnU�Y�U�]�������U�����=33���=3���333;35�333;;;33��33333333;3�3=��3=]�UUY�����������������UU�UUUUU]�ݙY�����aӽ]]����a�j®�^Q�U��U�i����j��&,Ƣ�fj*�,"*",*"�DH�D,"������DDDL�LDL���,�"*���¢��,�&jf�f���fj�nn��n�&f�������f��ff��YUU]YU]������U�����������]�=���3==��Փ3=�����UUUU���������������nn�nnfn�������U]����S=�����Y^"�S9��U�����鞢"a���^�]���f��U]]Y��j&�&j�f�*���¢�*"���D����D������HLDLD�����L�"��L�*����*fj�f��n�jn���fnbn��f��n�*ff��f�]U�]�U]UUU�UUYU���UUUU]]U����]]���3������a����������������������n�����������e=5�ݝ3=�^*�������Y����UQ�����ݖ��]��Q�f�"�j�j,ƪ,���ʪ"�D��L�$�DLL�̄DD�DLD��,,����g�D"*�,L"�fj*nn�������fffn���n�b,�fffn�f���UUU]U��Y�U]�U]UU]��]]]�UU�YY���a��������������������梡YY�U���*��5S�U�3�Y�Q���ѝ5��3������^����]���Q�]Q�f�j����"�j�,�,**��D��L�,D�L��L�ĄD�LLL��"�D�"��L*"�,Dʪfj*�����f�����a�"��j�ja�f�"*"�nnn�n�Q��YY�UU�UU�U�UYUY��fnnfffnjn�����n�f���UQ�n����Y��Y������&�Y�������!3�]ݕ33;=�ՙS3ѝ=]�3�i���^��Y�Y��Yݞ��f��f���ª������*��L�H���LLL�LH�DDD�LL��""��L*���"**$Dª�f�fn���fj��fn����f�jn���j��n�ffn�nᙙ�������ffnn�n������na�ff�fj��a������f�"&������j�f��L&��U���UQ�j�ݑ�5�;�3��]3�=QS�Y]3VY��U���ݕQ�Y�f��]���*�ffj���̪���"�"���DĈ�B�LDLLDȌ����LD��,""�,�gB"""�$�,�fff�n���j&����njn����n�f��n��f����n������f�f�f��ffjff��f��f��n�������ff�""��j���"&Q�Y���"&�n����,���U�a�UU�UU����5�333U��3=Օ���Q�VU�Uՙ�=��Y���ݖ��]�Yj���f�f��&*����*�"�LD����DDD��DLH�L�DL�����""*�L""��L"��f�fbn��n���n���f�nn�,̮������fffffffff�fn�fn���n��n�n�����fna�,"���a��n��.�^��a���Q�a�a��na��Yᕞ�UUUf�]����=���=��U�3=�S��=���Y��a�U��]��ّ��=��n]�fn��fj��b���j"�ʪ"L���H���L�DDDL��H�Ą��,"�"*�"�""**��,�*�ffjn�������bnfn���n�n�&f�j�n�n���ffjff�fffj��ffj�������fjf�b*����a����,�aa��Y��UQ�aU�Y��f��^n�a�Y�j�n�YY�陑a�]QaY�����3=3]�5���3=���=�Y���^������U��=ѕ���f�jfb��b*,�j��*���D�������,�D����D��D���"L*""�k""*",�����ffjn�ffn���*�fn��n�jn���f�f���jn����j���fnnfjj*�������j�f��&���陑���n���Qa��]U���ᕕ���U՞�YQ^�n�U�陕�����U��Y�3�3��]�n33����ݞ�����f]��]���]YU����5��n�*fb�f"���*��*��"�L¢",�"��D�L��D��D���,L",��k"""*��L�,*nf����n��jn��n���fj����fn��fnf�⢬���fn��j�&��,&������j�".�啑��Yaᙙ���UU�����UYn��U]Y]Y��Va�U��YU���ݙ�S33=ݝ=�ݖ�3�U]==�Y�U]����5���ѝ�ё����=��f�f*f*f�"�"�*��"*��,L�""��"��DH��DL�,��""D��"�L�"��¬L�*�*��b�����n���n��ffn���������ff��j�&��ffn��f�fb"��nnf�jf����U��UU��Y���UU���Q�Y��U]�Q��UY�Q�Y�U�]U��]UY���Q���3=��3��^5YS�=�=ٕ�=�]=�]��Q]��S������f�f&f����""����¢�$�B"�,",��Ȅ��D�,�L�"�D�,""�k,*��,Lf��"*���fn�®���n����f��n��n���*���a��b"&�f�ffn��fff�n���anfY���fi��UU���Qf�U����Q�Y���]���YY�U�V�i��UU]Y�����YS33=SY��=����S3��=��==��Y�]�Y�Ց]�����^nf�&f�ff,�",��""�*"$"ª�"*���D�LD��ĄB,Č�"�"�k�*�,,�*��j*n��nj��j���f�n��������"a�fn��f��f�fff���fn��n�a����U���a���Y�������ffYYU�Y���Y�aU��Y�UYYbi���UUU��U��Q]ݙ�3�9�3UY����ٕ�3=���ݑ]���ّ]�Q���Y]]���U^f�檪�f���"D�b�"*�"̢""�,",,�DDD�L��DDL̀��*"�k,*fj,��"�*��nn��na�ff������f����n�����f��ffnjn��jfj��i�n���Q��aYY������Y��Y�UU��U�Ֆi՞UU���U�U�U��ՑU��]�ݕ]�Ց=ٙS�����33=����]��ݑ�]]��U���U�����]^&f�&�j�$�,�J�,*"""���"���",D�DDLL�LDDLĀL���*k,���b,���L����*���f����f����jf�j��n�f����nf��ff��fn�j�f������U�陙iUY�aUY�UQ��UQnY��U��UUU��Y��YUݕ�Y��YU��U��U�����Ց]��f3Ց]������3��]�ݞ��ݞ���Q�����Y�՞�nfj**f"�"ĄB��j�̢�$D�"�""�L�$����D�LLĀ��D""k���j��"*��L����f�*����j�"f��f���n���n����fn���f���n��f�n��jaYQ���UY�����YUY�U����U��Y��U�U�U�]�U�UYU�]U�UՕ�U�����=Y��n�]�ՙ����՝�=�e���Y�U]�^*a]��Ua�U��"ff�"�n,,",Lʦ�j�ª*�D&��"���"$L���DD,�Ā�DDD�"�"*�����",��a������ª*�ff���"nf������������f����f�����nf��iQ�����U��Y�YU�Y�UUUY�����UUUY�U��]՞�YU�����Uf]YY��ٙ��.U��Y����]Q��=�]���Q�Q�]Ֆ��U���Y�UU��"��njff���*��*ff�"�f�̪"¢��B"�L��,�B,,ĈDLHL"*��"��j,�,,DDa�f��b�.f���ja�,a�����n������n����f��.����n����Y��UU�Y��Y��UUU��YUU��U�UYU�]]������UՕUY���U�Q�]�ٕ���������]]�5=��ٝ�U]Q���UYQUUQ"""f�ff��j��nf�fnf"���"�"�",L��DL��,D¢,ĄHD��¢c�""�b�"*���aa�a�n���n�a�j�����ja��a���a��f�������ᑑ�����U�Y��Y��Y�U]UU]�Q�UY�]UQ�]Q���U����ՙ�Ub&�]�U���Y�U�^����Ցݙ���QaUU���Q�]��Q�n]�ٙ�U�V��*n�f���*���f�f����j���"",�"��D��,L,�,DHHHLH��cj�"���j�&nfaa�jj�nn�n�ff������n�a��f����f����Q����Y������Y�U����U��U]]UU]��a�U���UQ]U����ݑ�Q��YUY�*�]UUU�ٙ����������=5�����Q��]����QQ��Q,*&��njf�bf����ffb������,�",���,�D�,�L��D�HDHDD�kf"�b�f�n����n�Y�fnf�j�f���n�����f��n���n����n�����Y��������UQ�U���Ց�]UY��Ѣ��UU�]UYU���U���Y��U��nU]U���]]����f��3ٝU��=�U��]�ՑY�����ّ��]Q���Q�j̮f�jn�jfn���ff�"�ffjj"*"�L�",�����¢�,��D�DL*k�f�n�nb��a��f�����nb¡f��f����n����f��������nf�����Y����Q�Y����]UQUY^�]Y��ݕ��]Y�U��U]�Y�^�UUa��Y�������UU��]�3ݖ��]=��S�UѢe���]UY�U��nf��&f��f�ff�nf�f�f,ª�f�"�",�"""�,���*�j$�DL�ʪ��jn��j*����f�ᙙ����̪������f��������a������j�����Y��.�YU���]�Ց�U�n��UU�U�U]՞e���]U��^]���jnf�Uѝ���^*a]�YS�=�V.�]Y���U��ݑ��Qf�YU�]���̦jff��nb"f�*fjnb"�ff�""�Ą*�,���"¢��̀�D�
+�33��R����]��5����;3;5U]U��3��=�S=�=U��Q��^�*�"""��Ą�DDDHHB�Ξ��&�"��n�.���*jj�
+3=;��R�UY�33Qa]�;3�=��Y�3���]�3335�j!YY����a�j�"�DD�����Bjƞf��n���n��a���l"".
+==;��Z��YY�]9���S3;�3^�UUS3Y�]3333�j*�Q]�,��Y��nj��DHH����bƑ������*�������̡
+]3���R��"]YU�5U3��3=��3�ӳ�5S3�=]�b&�Q��ġ�����D�D�H��j&����*��&��
+=33�Ւ��ᙑ,�S=��33�=�U]>�aݝ3�];3�Q�*��]�ĩ�U�UY�j�H��D�L�ʞff�fnn��n
+�33�]�&���"=]�U3�3�Y�3�&n�U�=]3�3��jY����i�UY��bD��HD�Bj&�j��nf������
+�=�=ݜ���,�m�]�Y;;�;=��V�a;5�=�333�����Y(i�YU�l�HD����fʑf��n�&��"�c
+�=;=Ӝ�ݙY�=]5U3���=���;՝3Y3�;5�U�Y���$iU���j�D�H�H��*�ff��b&�n�,D�C
+==3=ݜ��U��Y]5]=U3;;�U���33S53����3ٝ������b�UUY�j$DHDHHLf*�a���"n��
+�=��՚m�5��3533�;3;�;�=��33�ӻ3���33�Ue���$��]U����j�LDHD��n*j��Y�����@H
+]=���Z�3�=33��;�3=�3�;3Y۵�;;3=3��ݻ=Qj�Y�]Y���UU��$DDDD��n*j���aꡙ���jH�
+endobj
+1204 0 obj <<
+/Length 48        
+>>
+stream
+
+
+
+|||DDD���(((���```������RRR���767���ono���endstream
+endobj
+1201 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R >>
+/XObject << /Im8 1155 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text /ImageC /ImageI ]
+>> endobj
+1205 0 obj
+<< /S /GoTo /D (index26) >>
+endobj
+1208 0 obj
+(Chapter Twenty-Five - Grand Finale)
+endobj
+1211 0 obj <<
+/Length 3979      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 18.959 Tf 46.771 479.321 Td[(Chapter)-250(Twenty-Five)-250(-)-250(Grand)-250(Finale)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 19.637 -43.256 Td[(She)-182(has)-181(it)-182(all)-182(made)-182(up)-181(for)-182(him)-182(to)-182(marry)-181(her,)-196(and)-182(she)-181(is)-182(certainly)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(as)-274(happy)-274(as)-274(she)-273(is)-274(and)-274(he)-274(is)-274(themselves.)-321(She)-274(is)-274(making)-274(plans)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(at)-392(a)-392(great)-392(rate)-392(and)-392(she)-391(has)-392(consented)-392(to)-392(have)-392(her)-392(wedding)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(here)-381(because)-381(she)-380(wants)-381(to)-381(be)-381(there)-380(herself.)-643(The)-380(day)-381(is)-381(set)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(for)-281(Thanksgiving)-281(and)-280(the)-281(Lord)-281(be)-281(with)-281(us)-280(for)-281(everything)-281(has)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(got)-264(to)-264(be)-264(just)-263(so)-264(and)-264(she)-264(is)-264(no)-264(more)-264(good)-263(at)-264(helping)-264(now)-264(that)]TJ 0 -12.821 Td[(he's)-309(come.)-426(They)-309(are)-309(all)-309(going)-309(back)-309(to)-309(New)-308(York)-309(as)-309(soon)-309(as)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(possible)-345(after)-345(it's)-345(over)-345(and)-345(I)-345(hope)-345(to)-345(be)-345(forgiven)-345(for)-345(stating)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(plainly)-250(that)-250(it)-250(will)-250(be)-250(the)-250(happiest)-250(day')-250(of)-250(my)-250(life.)]TJ 189.034 -13.016 Td[(Respectfully,)]TJ 4.392 -13.015 Td[(L.)-305(COOKE.)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -213.063 -24.336 Td[(Upon)-217(receipt)-218(of)-217(this)-217(astounding)-217(news)-218(Arethusa)-217(took)-217(the)-217(train)-218(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(flew)-217(to)-217(the)-217(scene)-216(where)-217(such)-217(momentous)-217(happenings)-217(were)-217(piling)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(up)-286(on)-285(one)-286(another.)-356(Her)-286(arrival)-285(was)-286(unexpected)-285(a)-1(nd)-285(the)-286(changes)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(which)-179(she)-178(found)-179(ensued)-179(and)-178(ensuing)-179(were)-179(of)-178(a)-179(nature)-179(bewildering)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(in)-233(the)-234(extreme.)-244(Aunt)-234(Mary)-233(had)-234(quit)-233(her)-234(regime)-233(of)-234(soup)-233(and)-234(sleep)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-356(was)-356(not)-356(only)-356(more)-356(energetically)-356(vigorous)-356(as)-356(to)-357(mind)-356(than)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(ever,)-375(but)-351(strengthening)-350(daily)-350(as)-350(to)-350(bodily)-351(force.)-550(It)-350(might)-351(have)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(been)-242(the)-242(excitement,)-244(for)-242(Burnett)-242(was)-242(there,)-244(Clover)-242(was)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 241.934 0 Td[(en)-242(route)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 35.969 0 Td[(,)]TJ -277.903 -13.55 Td[(and)-217(Mitchell)-217(was)-217(expected)-217(within)-217(twenty-four)-217(hours.)-239(Other)-217(great)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 0 Td[([316])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(changes)-225(were)-224(visible)-225(everywhere.)-241(A)-225(corps)-224(of)-225(servants)-224(from)-225(town)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(had)-251(fairly)-251(swamped)-251(Lucinda)-251(and)-251(twenty)-251(carpenters)-252(were)-251(putting)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(up)-315(an)-315(extra)-316(addition)-315(to)-315(the)-315(house)-316(in)-315(which)-315(to)-315(give)-315(the)-316(wedding)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(room)-348(to)-348(spread.)-544(Nor)-348(was)-348(this)-348(all,)-372(for)-348(Aunt)-348(Mary)-348(had)-348(turned)-348(a)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(furniture)-306(man)-306(and)-306(an)-306(upholsterer)-306(loose)-306(with)-306(no)-306(othe)-1(r)-306(limit)-306(than)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(that)-250(comprised)-250(by)-250(the)-250(two)-250(words)-250(")]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 149.891 0 Td[(carte)-250(blanche)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 59.684 0 Td[(.")]TJ -197.619 -13.743 Td[(Mrs.)-632(Rosscott)-378(still)-377(continued)-378(to)-377(wait)-377(upon)-378(Aunt)-377(Mary,)-410(but)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(another)-415(maid)-415(had)-415(arrived)-415(to)-415(await)-415(upon)-415(Mrs.)-745(Rosscott.)-745(The)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1210 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1211 0 R
+/Resources 1209 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1213 0 R
+>> endobj
+1206 0 obj <<
+/D [1210 0 R /XYZ 46.771 529.134 null]
+>> endobj
+1212 0 obj <<
+/D [1210 0 R /XYZ 104.228 174.729 null]
+>> endobj
+1209 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F18 18 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1216 0 obj <<
+/Length 4456      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(226)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 518.175 Td[(latter)-212(had)-212(shed)-212(her)-211(black)-212(uniform)-212(and)-212(bloomed)-212(forth)-212(in)-212(rose-hued)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(robes.)-355(Mr.)-356(Stebbins)-285(was)-285(kept)-285(on)-285(tap)-285(from)-285(dawn)-285(to)-285(dark)-285(and)-286(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(checks)-387(flowed)-387(like)-387(water.)-661(Emissaries)-387(had)-387(been)-387(despatched)-387(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(New)-268(York)-269(to)-268(buy)-268(the)-268(young)-268(couple)-269(a)-268(suitable)-268(house)-268(and)-269(furnish)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(that)-250(also)-250(from)-250(top)-250(to)-250(bottom.)]TJ 11.956 -14.163 Td[("Well,)-230(Arethusa,")-226(the)-225(aunt)-225(said)-226(to)-225(the)-225(niece)-226(when)-225(they)-225(met)-226(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(morning)-224(a)-1(fter)-224(her)-224(arrival,)-230("I'm)-224(feelin')-225(better)-224('n)-225(I)-224(was)-225(last)-224(time)-225(you)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(were)-250(here.")]TJ 11.956 -14.163 Td[("I'm)-250(so)-250(glad,")-250(yelled)-250(Arethusa.)]TJ 0 -14.163 Td[("They'll)-330(live)-329(in)-330(New)-329(York)-330(and)-329(I'll)-330(live)-329(with)-330(them.)-489(As)-329(far)-330(as)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(I've)-306(seen)-306(there)-307(ain't)-306(no)-306(other)-306(place)-306(on)-306(earth)-307(to)-306(live.)-418(I'm)-306(goin')-307(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(get)-323(me)-322(a)-323(coat)-323(lined)-322(with)-323(black-spotted)-323(white)-323(cat's)-322(fur)-323(and)-323(have)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(my)-347(glasses)-347(put)-347(on)-346(a)-347(parasol)-347(handle,)-371(and)-347(I'm)-347(going)-347(to)-347(have)-347(the)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(collars)-328(and)-328(sleeves)-328(left)-328(out)-328(of)-328(most)-328(of)-328(my)-328(dresses)-328(an')-329(look)-328(like)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([317])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(other)-295(people.)-383(I'm)-295(a)-294(great)-295(believer)-294(in)-295(doin')-294(as)-295(others)-294(do,)-306(an')-295(Jack)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(won't)-327(ever)-327(have)-327(no)-327(cause)-327(to)-327(complain)-327(that)-327(I)-327(didn't)-327(take)-328(easy)-327(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(city)-250(life.")]TJ 11.956 -14.163 Td[(Arethusa)-250(felt)-250(herself)-250(dumb)-250(before)-250(these)-250(revelations.)]TJ 0 -14.163 Td[(Later)-313(she)-312(was)-313(conducted)-312(to)-313(see)-312(the)-313(wedding)-312(presents,)-329(which)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(were)-357(gorgeous.)-569(Among)-357(them)-357(was)-356(the)-357(biggest)-356(and)-357(brightest)-357(of)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(crimson)-362(automobiles;)-417(and)-362(Mitchell,)-389(who)-362(had)-361(presented)-362(it,)-390(had)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(christened)-317(it)-317(beforehand)-317("The)-317(Midnight)-317(Sun.")-317(Aunt)-318(Mary's)-317(gift)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(was)-260(the)-260(New)-259(York)-260(house)-260(and)-260(money)-260(enough)-259(for)-260(them)-260(to)-260(live)-260(on)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-250(income.)]TJ 11.956 -14.163 Td[("I)-409(know)-408(you're)-409(able)-409(to)-409(look)-409(out)-408(for)-409(yourself,")-409(she)-409(told)-409(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(bride,)-449("but)-408(I)-409(don't)-409(want)-409(Jack)-409(to)-408(have)-409(to)-409(worry)-409(over)-409(things)-409(at)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(all,)-343(and,)-343(although)-324(I)-324(know)-325(it's)-324(a)-324(good)-325(habit,)-343(still)-324(I)-324(shouldn't)-325(like)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-350(have)-350(him)-350(ever)-351(work)-350(so)-350(hard)-350(that)-350(he)-350(wouldn't)-350(feel)-350(like)-351(goin')]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(around)-250(with)-250(us)-250(nights.)-250(Not)-250(ever.)-250(Not)-250(even)-250(sometimes.")]TJ 11.956 -14.163 Td[(Mitchell)-250(was)-250(overjoyed)-250(at)-250(the)-250(way)-250(things)-250(had)-250(turned)-250(out.)]TJ 0 -14.163 Td[("My)-269(dear)-270(Miss)-269(Watkins,")-270(he)-269(screamed,)-274(when)-270(he)-269(was)-270(ushered)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(into)-245(Aunt)-244(Mary's)-245(presence,)-245("who)-245(could)-244(have)-245(guessed)-245(in)-244(the)-245(hour)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(of)-257(that)-257(sad)-257(parting)-257(in)-257(New)-257(York)-257(that)-257(such)-257(a)-257(glad)-257(future)-257(was)-257(held)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(in)-250(store)-250(for)-250(us)-250(all!")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1215 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1216 0 R
+/Resources 1214 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1213 0 R
+>> endobj
+1217 0 obj <<
+/D [1215 0 R /XYZ 266.39 340.194 null]
+>> endobj
+1214 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1220 0 obj <<
+/Length 4834      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Twenty-Five)-250(-)-250(Grand)-250(Finale)-9561(227)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[("I)-256(didn't)-257(quite)-256(catch)-256(that,")-257(Aunt)-256(Mary)-257(exclaimed,)-258(rapturously,)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 279.068 0 Td[([318])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[("but)-250(it)-250(doesn't)-250(matter)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 90.96 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(as)-250(long)-250(as)-250(you)-250(got)-250(here)-250(safe)-250(at)-250(last.")]TJ -89.913 -14.368 Td[("Safe!")-372(exclaimed)-372(the)-372(young)-372(man;)-433("it)-372(would)-372(have)-372(been)-372(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(very)-339(refinement)-339(of)-339(cruelty)-339(if)-339(my)-339(train)-339(had)-339(smashed)-339(me)-339(on)-339(this)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(journey.")]TJ 11.956 -14.367 Td[(Burnett)-250(was)-250(equally)-250(happy.)]TJ 0 -14.368 Td[("I)-322(suppose)-322(it)-322(will)-322(be)-322(up)-322(to)-322(me)-322(to)-322(give)-322(you)-322(away,")-323(he)-322(said)-322(to)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(his)-250(sister;)-250("before)-250(all)-250(these)-250(people,)-250(too.)-250(What)-250(a)-250(mean)-250(trick!")]TJ 11.956 -14.368 Td[(Jack)-241(had)-241(thought)-241(that)-241(he)-241(would)-241(like)-241(to)-241(have)-242(Tweedwell)-241(marry)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(him,)-306(as)-295(that)-295(young)-294(man)-295(had)-295(put)-295(in)-294(the)-295(summer)-295(vacation)-295(getting)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(ordained.)-1013(Tweedwell)-505(accepted)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 144.084 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.91 0 Td[(although)-504(he)-505(had)-504(just)-505(taken)]TJ -154.994 -13.549 Td[(charge)-292(of)-293(a)-292(living)-292(in)-293(Seattle)-292(and)-292(came)-292(through)-293(on)-292(a)-292(flyer)-293(which)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(arrived)-383(two)-383(hours)-383(before)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 116.071 0 Td[(the)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 17.509 0 Td[(hour.)-649(Some)-383(fifty)-383(or)-383(sixty)-383(of)-383(the)]TJ -133.58 -13.549 Td[(guests)-349(came)-350(in)-349(on)-349(the)-349(same)-350(train,)-374(and)-349(Burnett)-349(and)-349(Clover)-350(met)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(them)-374(all)-375(at)-374(the)-374(cars)-375(and)-374(made)-374(the)-375(majority)-374(comfortable)-374(in)-375(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(different)-499(hotels)-499(and)-499(honored)-499(the)-499(minority)-499(with)-499(Aunt)-499(Mary's)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(hospitality.)]TJ 11.956 -14.368 Td[(The)-333(day)-333(was)-332(gorgeous.)-499(The)-333(addition)-332(to)-333(the)-333(house)-333(was)-333(done)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(and)-350(lined)-350(with)-350(white)-351(and)-350(decorated)-350(in)-350(gold.)-550(An)-350(orchestra)-351(was)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(ensconced)-384(behind)-383(palms)-384(just)-383(as)-384(orchestras)-383(always)-384(covet)-383(to)-384(be)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-255(a)-255(magnificent)-256(breakfast)-255(had)-255(been)-255(sent)-256(up)-255(from)-255(the)-255(city)-255(in)-256(its)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(own)-250(car)-250(with)-250(its)-250(own)-250(service)-250(and)-250(attendants)-250(to)-250(serve)-250(it.)]TJ 11.956 -14.368 Td[(There)-459(was)-459(only)-459(one)-459(hitch)-459(in)-459(the)-459(entire)-459(programme.)-878(That)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 279.068 0 Td[([319])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -291.024 -13.549 Td[(was)-334(that)-334(when)-334(they)-334(got)-333(to)-334(the)-334(church)-334(Tweedwell)-334(did)-334(not)-334(show)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(up.)-703(Jack)-401(was)-400(distressed)-401(even)-401(though)-401(Mrs.)-703(Rosscott)-401(laughed.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Mitchell)-220(wanted)-219(to)-220(read)-220(the)-219(ceremony,)-226(but)-220(Aunt)-219(Mary)-220(was)-220(afraid)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(it)-344(wouldn't)-344(be)-345(legal,)-367(and)-345(Mr.)-532(Stebbins)-344(agreed)-345(with)-344(her.)-532(In)-345(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(end)-320(the)-319(regular)-320(clergyman)-319(married)-320(them;)-354(and)-320(just)-319(as)-320(they)-320(were)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(all)-270(filing)-269(out)-270(they)-269(met)-270(Tweedwell)-269(and)-270(Lucinda)-270(tearing)-269(along,)-275(he)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(in)-297(his)-296(surplice)-297(and)-297(she)-297(in)-296(the)-297(black)-297(silk)-296(dress)-297(which)-297(Aunt)-297(Mary)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(had)-373(given)-374(her)-373(in)-374(celebration)-373(of)-373(the)-374(occasion.)-620(They)-373(were)-374(both)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(too)-364(exhausted)-364(to)-364(be)-364(able)-364(to)-364(explain)-364(for)-364(several)-364(minutes;)-421(but)-364(it)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(finally)-340(came)-340(out)-340(\050of)-340(Lucinda\051)-341(that)-340(Burnett,)-362(whose)-340(place)-340(it)-341(was)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-288(have)-288(overseen)-288(officiating)-288(Tweedwell,)-298(had)-288(forgotten)-288(all)-288(about)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1219 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1220 0 R
+/Resources 1218 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1213 0 R
+>> endobj
+1221 0 obj <<
+/D [1219 0 R /XYZ 274.983 518.175 null]
+>> endobj
+1222 0 obj <<
+/D [1219 0 R /XYZ 307.405 215.183 null]
+>> endobj
+1218 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R /F18 18 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1225 0 obj <<
+/Length 4696      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(228)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 518.175 Td[(him,)-415(and)-383(the)-382(poor)-382(fellow,)-415(exhausted)-383(by)-382(his)-382(long)-382(journey,)-416(had)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(never)-217(awakened)-216(until)-217(Lucinda,)-223(going)-217(in)-216(to)-217(clear)-216(up)-217(his)-216(room,)-224(had)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(let)-250(forth)-250(a)-250(piercing)-250(howl)-250(of)-250(surprise.)]TJ 11.956 -14.251 Td[(So)-251(far)-250(from)-251(dampening)-251(anyone's)-250(s)-1(pirits)-250(this)-251(little)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 215.351 0 Td[(contretemps)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -227.307 -13.549 Td[(only)-262(seemed)-261(to)-262(set)-261(things)-262(off)-261(at)-262(a)-262(livelier)-261(pace.)-285(They)-261(had)-262(a)-262(brisk)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(ride)-256(home,)-257(and)-256(the)-255(wedding)-256(feast)-256(and)-256(the)-255(wedding)-256(cake)-256(were)-256(all)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(that)-288(could)-288(be)-288(desired.)-365(What)-288(went)-288(with)-288(it)-288(was)-288(the)-288(finest)-288(that)-289(any)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(of)-241(the)-240(guests)-241(ever)-240(tasted)-241(before)-241(or)-240(since,)-243(and)-240(the)-241(champagne)-241(was)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(all)-250(but)-250(served)-250(in)-250(beer)-250(steins.)]TJ 11.956 -14.25 Td[(When)-325(it)-325(came)-325(to)-326(the)-325(healths)-325(they)-325(drank)-325(to)-325(Aunt)-325(Mary)-326(along)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(with)-239(the)-239(bride)-239(and)-239(groom,)-241(and)-239(Mitchell)-239(made)-239(a)-239(speech,)-242(invoking)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([320])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(Heaven's)-346(blessings)-347(on)-346(the)-346(triple)-347(compact)-346(and)-346(covering)-347(himself)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(with)-250(glory.)]TJ 11.956 -14.251 Td[("Here's)-255(to)-255(Aunt)-255(Mary)-255(and)-255(her)-255(bride)-255(and)-255(her)-255(groo)-1(m,")-255(he)-255(cried,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(when)-299(they)-299(told)-300(him)-299(to)-299(rise)-299(and)-299(proclaim.)-398("Here's)-299(to)-299(Aunt)-300(Mary)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-412(her)-413(bride)-412(and)-413(groom,)-453(and)-412(here's)-413(to)-412(their)-413(health)-412(and)-413(their)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(wealth)-370(and)-371(their)-370(happiness.)-611(Here's)-370(to)-371(their)-370(brilliant)-370(past,)-401(their)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(roseate)-305(present)-305(and)-305(their)-305(gorgeous)-305(future.)-415(And)-305(here's)-306(to)-305(hoping)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(that)-253(Fate,)-253(who)-252(is)-253(ready)-252(and)-253(willing)-252(to)-253(deal)-252(any)-253(man)-252(a)-252(bride,)-254(may)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(some)-303(time)-303(see)-303(fit)-303(to)-302(deal)-303(some)-303(one)-303(of)-303(us)-303(another)-303(such)-303(as)-303(Jack's)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Aunt)-284(Mary.)-351(So)-284(I)-284(propose)-284(her)-284(health)-284(before)-283(all)-284(else.)-352(Aunt)-284(Mary,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(long)-250(may)-250(she)-250(wave!")]TJ 11.956 -14.251 Td[(Aunt)-234(Mary)-234(looked)-235(as)-234(if)-234(words)-234(and)-235(actions)-234(were)-234(poor)-234(things)-235(in)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(which)-225(to)-225(attempt)-225(to)-224(exp)-1(ress)-224(her)-225(feelings,)-230(but)-225(no)-225(one)-225(who)-225(glanced)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(at)-370(her)-369(could)-369(be)-370(in)-369(two)-370(minds)-369(as)-370(to)-369(her)-370(state)-369(of)-370(approval)-369(as)-370(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(everything)-250(that)-250(was)-250(going)-250(on.)]TJ 11.956 -14.251 Td[(The)-257(bridal)-258(pair)-257(drove)-257(away)-258(somewhere)-257(after)-257(five)-257(o'clock,)-260(and)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(about)-250(seven)-250(the)-250(main)-250(body)-250(of)-250(the)-250(guests)-250(returned)-250(to)-250(the)-250(city.)]TJ 11.956 -14.251 Td[(Mrs.)-394(Rosscott's)-297(mother)-298(and)-298(Mitchell)-298(and)-298(Burnett)-298(remained)-298(a)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(day)-248(or)-248(two)-249(to)-248(keep)-248(Aunt)-248(Mary)-248(from)-248(feeling)-249(blue,)-248(but)-248(Aunt)-249(Mary)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(was)-250(not)-250(at)-250(all)-250(inclined)-250(that)-250(way.)]TJ 11.956 -14.251 Td[("If)-220(those)-219(two)-220(young)-220(people)-220(are)-220(lookin')-219(forward)-220(to)-220(anythin')-220(like)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(as)-277(much)-276(fun)-277(as)-276(I)-277(am,")-277(she)-276(said)-277(over)-276(and)-277(over)-277(again,)-283("well,)-283(all)-277(is)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([321])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 72.755 -13.549 Td[(they're)-250(lookin')-250(forward)-250(to)-250(a)-250(good)-250(deal.")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1224 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1225 0 R
+/Resources 1223 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1213 0 R
+>> endobj
+1226 0 obj <<
+/D [1224 0 R /XYZ 266.651 381.28 null]
+>> endobj
+1227 0 obj <<
+/D [1224 0 R /XYZ 253.298 79.691 null]
+>> endobj
+1223 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F18 18 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1230 0 obj <<
+/Length 4037      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(Chapter)-250(Twenty-Five)-250(-)-250(Grand)-250(Finale)-9561(229)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 58.727 518.175 Td[("Won't)-236(we)-236(whoop)-236(her)-236(up)-236(next)-235(summer!")-236(said)-236(Burnett;)-241("well,)-239(I)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(don't)-250(know!")]TJ 11.956 -14.703 Td[("My)-250(dear)-250(Robert,")-250(said)-250(his)-250(mother)-250(gently.)]TJ 0 -14.703 Td[("Don't)-265(stop)-266(him,")-265(said)-265(Aunt)-265(Mary.)-296("He)-266(knows)-265(just)-265(how)-265(I)-266(feel)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(an')-348(I)-348(know)-348(jus')-348(how)-348(he)-348(feels.)-544(It)-348(isn't)-348(wrong,)-373(Mrs.)-544(Burnett,)-373(it's)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(natural.)-602(We)-367(were)-368(born)-367(to)-367(be)-368(happy,)-397(only)-367(sometimes)-367(we)-368(don't)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(know)-250(just)-250(how)-250(to)-250(set)-250(about)-250(it.")]TJ 11.956 -14.703 Td[("Miss)-381(Watkins)-382(has)-381(hit)-381(the)-382(nail)-381(on)-382(the)-381(head,")-381(said)-382(Mitchell,)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(rolling)-233(a)-233(cigarette.)-244("She)-233(has)-233(not)-233(only)-233(hit)-234(the)-233(nail)-233(on)-233(its)-233(own)-233(head,)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(but)-239(she)-239(has)-238(succeeded)-239(in)-239(driving)-239(its)-239(point)-238(well)-239(into)-239(all)-239(our)-239(heads.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(She)-295(taught)-295(us)-295(many)-295(things)-296(during)-295(her)-295(short)-295(visit.)-385(I,)-295(for)-295(one,)-307(am)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(her)-250(debtor)-250(forever.)-250(Me)-250(for)-250(joy,)-250(from)-250(now)-250(on!")]TJ 11.956 -14.703 Td[(Aunt)-323(Mary)-323(smiled.)-470("My)-323(heavens!")-323(she)-323(murmured;)-360("to)-323(think)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(how)-232(nice)-233(it)-232(all)-232(come)-233(out,)-236(and)-232(how)-232(really)-233(put)-232(out)-233(I)-232(was)-232(when)-233(Jack)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(first)-250(began,)-250(too.")]TJ 11.956 -14.703 Td[(Burnett)-250(put)-250(his)-250(hand)-250(in)-250(his)-250(pocket)-250(and)-250(pulled)-250(out)-250(some)-250(gum.)]TJ 0 -14.703 Td[("Robert!")-250(cried)-250(his)-250(mother,)-250("you)-250(don't)-250(chew)-250(gum,)-250(do)-250(you?")]TJ 0 -14.703 Td[("Of)-257(course)-257(he)-258(doesn't,")-257(said)-257(his)-257(friend)-257(quickly;)-261("that's)-257(why)-258(he)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(had)-250(it)-250(in)-250(his)-250(pocket.")]TJ 11.956 -14.703 Td[(Aunt)-250(Mary)-250(looked)-250(thoughtfully)-250(at)-250(him.)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 279.068 0 Td[([322])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -279.068 -14.703 Td[("Give)-470(me)-470(a)-470(little,")-470(she)-470(said,)-525("maybe)-470(it's)-470(suthin')-471(I've)-470(been)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(missin'.")]TJ 11.956 -14.703 Td[(Mrs.)-234(Burnett)-203(left)-203(the)-203(next)-202(day,)-213(and)-202(Mitchell)-203(went)-203(the)-203(day)-203(after.)]TJ 0 -14.703 Td[(The)-505(carpenters)-505(took)-505(down)-505(the)-506(addition,)-568(and)-506(the)-505(wedding)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(presents)-250(were)-250(shipped)-250(to)-250(town.)]TJ 11.956 -14.703 Td[("She)-250(says)-250(she'll)-250(be)-250(goin')-250(soon,")-250(said)-250(Lucinda)-250(to)-250(Joshua.)]TJ 0 -14.703 Td[("Then)-250(she'll)-250(be)-250(goin')-250(soon,")-250(said)-250(Joshua.)]TJ 0 -14.703 Td[("I'm)-471(sure)-472(I'll)-471(be)-471(glad,")-472(said)-471(Lucinda;)-582("such)-471(hifalutin)-472(sky-)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(larkin'!")]TJ 11.956 -14.703 Td[(Joshua)-296(said)-297(nothing.)-388(Mr.)-389(Stebbins)-296(had)-297(apprised)-296(him)-296(of)-297(Aunt)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Mary's)-338(arrangements)-338(in)-339(his)-338(behalf)-338(and)-338(he)-338(felt)-338(no)-338(inclination)-339(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(criticize)-250(any)-250(of)-250(her)-250(doings)-250(and)-250(sayings.)]TJ 11.956 -14.703 Td[(Toward)-250(the)-250(end)-250(of)-250(the)-250(next)-250(week)-250(this)-250(telegram)-250(was)-250(received.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1229 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1230 0 R
+/Resources 1228 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1213 0 R
+>> endobj
+1231 0 obj <<
+/D [1229 0 R /XYZ 231.755 251.511 null]
+>> endobj
+1228 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1234 0 obj <<
+/Length 1760      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(230)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 9.863 Tf 113.18 518.175 Td[(Dear)-496(Aunt)-497(Mary:)-743(We're)-496(home)-497(and)-496(ready)-497(when)-496(you)-497(are.)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(Telegraph)-250(what)-250(train.)]TJ 208.411 -12.822 Td[(J.)-309(and)-309(J.)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -216.092 -23.367 Td[(The)-237(telegram)-237(was)-236(handed)-237(to)-237(Aunt)-237(Mary)-236(at)-237(ten)-237(in)-237(the)-237(morning.)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Her)-250(fingers)-250(trembled)-250(as)-250(she)-250(opened)-250(it.)]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[("My)-346(heavens)-346(alive,)-370(Lucinda,")-346(she)-346(cried,)-370(the)-346(next)-347(minute,)-370("I)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(do)-242(believe,)-243(if)-241(you'll)-242(be)-242(quick,)-243(that)-241(I)-242(can)-241(make)-242(the)-242(twelve-twenty!)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(Run!)-655(Tell)-385(Joshua)-384(to)-385(get)-385(my)-385(trunk)-385(down)-385(and)-385(harness)-385(Billy)-385(as)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(quick)-216(as)-216(he)-217(can.)-238(He)-216(can)-217(telegraph)-216(that)-216(I'm)-216(comin')-216(after)-216(I'm)-217(gone.")]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.755 0 Td[([323])]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 84.711 -13.549 Td[(Lucinda)-250(flew)-250(Joshua-wards.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[("She)-175(wants)-174(to)-175(make)-175(the)-175(twelve-twenty)-174(train!")-175(she)-175(cried.)-225(Joshua)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(looked)-250(up.)]TJ 11.956 -13.55 Td[("Then)-250(she'll)-250(make)-250(it,")-250(he)-250(said.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(She)-250(made)-250(it!)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -84.711 -27.414 Td[([325])]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1233 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1234 0 R
+/Resources 1232 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1213 0 R
+>> endobj
+1235 0 obj <<
+/D [1233 0 R /XYZ 120.141 401.418 null]
+>> endobj
+1236 0 obj <<
+/D [1233 0 R /XYZ 93.543 306.258 null]
+>> endobj
+1232 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1239 0 obj <<
+/Length 2944      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F18 13.151 Tf 46.771 518.175 Td[(Anne)-250(Warner's)-250("Susan)-250(Clegg")-250(Books)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 11.956 -13.549 Td[(SUSAN)-250(CLEGG)-250(AND)-250(HER)-250(FRIEND)-250(MRS.)-250(LATHROP)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 0 -13.549 Td[(By)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 14.236 0 Td[(ANNE)-250(WARNER)]TJ -26.192 -13.549 Td[(With)-250(Frontispiece,)-250($1.00)]TJ 11.956 -13.55 Td[(Nothing)-292(better)-292(in)-293(the)-292(new)-292(homely)-292(philosophy)-292(style)-292(of)-293(fiction)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(has)-250(been)-250(written.)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 74.226 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(San)-250(Francisco)-250(Bulletin)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 100.603 0 Td[(.)]TJ -173.782 -13.549 Td[(One)-225(of)-224(the)-225(most)-225(genuinely)-224(humor)-1(ous)-224(books)-225(ever)-225(written.)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 246.551 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(St.)]TJ -269.416 -13.549 Td[(Louis)-250(Globe-Democrat)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 100.899 0 Td[(.)]TJ -88.943 -13.549 Td[(Anything)-245(more)-246(humorous)-245(than)-245(the)-246(Susan)-245(Clegg)-245(stories)-246(would)]TJ -11.955 -13.55 Td[(be)-250(hard)-250(to)-250(find.)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 66.654 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(The)-250(Critic)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 44.553 0 Td[(,)-250(New)-250(York.)]TJ -1.684 -16.538 Td[(*)-286(*)-287(*)-286(*)-286(*)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf -108.477 -16.538 Td[(By)-250(the)-250(Same)-250(Author)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 86.956 0 Td[(:)]TJ -86.956 -13.549 Td[(SUSAN)-250(CLEGG)-250(AND)-250(HER)-250(NEIGHBORS')-250(AFFAIRS)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(With)-250(Frontispiece,)-250($1.00)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(All)-486(the)-487(stories)-486(brim)-487(over)-486(with)-486(quaint)-487(humor,)-545(caustic)-487(sar-)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(casm,)-778(and)-672(concealed)-673(contempt)-672(for)-673(male)-672(and)-672(ma)-1(trimonial)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(chains.)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 30.599 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 10.91 0 Td[(Philadelphia)-250(Ledger)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 89.999 0 Td[(.)]TJ -11.076 -16.538 Td[(*)-286(*)-287(*)-286(*)-286(*)]TJ -108.477 -16.538 Td[(SUSAN)-250(CLEGG)-250(AND)-250(A)-250(MAN)-250(IN)-250(THE)-250(HOUSE)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Illustrated)-250(by)-250(Alice)-250(Barber)-250(Stephens.)-250($1.50)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Susan)-417(is)-418(a)-417(positive)-417(joy,)-459(and)-417(the)-418(reading)-417(world)-417(owes)-418(Anne)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(Warner)-521(a)-521(vote)-520(of)-521(thanks)-521(for)-521(her)-520(co)-1(ntribution)-520(to)-521(the)-521(list)-521(of)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(American)-250(humor.)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 76.953 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(New)-250(York)-250(Times)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 71.52 0 Td[(.)]TJ -147.426 -13.55 Td[(LITTLE,)-250(BROWN,)-250(&)-250(CO.,)-250(Publishers)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(34)-250(Beacon)-250(Street,)-250(Boston)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.024 -28.789 Td[([326])]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1238 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1239 0 R
+/Resources 1237 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1241 0 R
+>> endobj
+1240 0 obj <<
+/D [1238 0 R /XYZ 46.771 152.25 null]
+>> endobj
+1237 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F18 18 0 R /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1244 0 obj <<
+/Length 2909      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F18 13.151 Tf 93.543 518.175 Td[(An)-250(exceedingly)-250(clever)-250(volume)-250(of)-250(stories)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 11.956 -13.549 Td[(AN)-250(ORIGINAL)-250(GENTLEMAN)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 0 -13.549 Td[(By)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 14.236 0 Td[(ANNE)-250(WARNER)]TJ -14.236 -13.549 Td[(With)-250(frontispiece)-250(by)-250(Alice)-250(Barber)-250(Stephens)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(Cloth.)-250($1.50)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Exhibits)-155(her)-156(cleverness)-155(and)-155(sense)-156(of)-155(humor.)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 185.584 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(New)-155(York)-156(Times)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 69.454 0 Td[(.)]TJ -265.947 -13.549 Td[(Crisply)-250(told,)-250(quaintly)-250(humorous.)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 142.134 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(Boston)-250(Transcript)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 79.101 0 Td[(.)]TJ -232.144 -13.549 Td[(An)-293("Original)-292(Gentleman")-293(is)-293(truly)-292(also)-293(one)-293(of)-292(the)-293(most)-293(enter-)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(taining)-334(and)-334(witty)-333(gentlemen)-334(that)-334(it)-334(has)-333(been)-334(our)-334(fortune)-334(to)-334(run)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(across)-262(in)-261(many)-262(a)-262(day,)-265(not)-261(to)-262(mention)-262(the)-261(more)-262(original)-262(lady)-262(that)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(he)-250(has)-250(to)-250(do)-250(with.)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 77.269 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(Louisville)-250(Evening)-250(Post)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 103.637 0 Td[(.)]TJ -71.382 -16.538 Td[(*)-286(*)-287(*)-286(*)-286(*)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf -108.477 -16.538 Td[(By)-250(the)-250(same)-250(author)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 0 -13.549 Td[(A)-250(WOMAN'S)-250(WILL)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Illustrated.)-250(360)-250(pages.)-250(Cloth.)-250($1.50)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(A)-250(deliciously)-250(funny)-250(book.)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 113.934 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(Chicago)-250(Tribune)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 74.247 0 Td[(.)]TJ -199.09 -13.55 Td[(It)-305(is)-305(bright,)-318(charming,)-319(and)-304(intense)-305(as)-305(it)-305(describes)-305(the)-305(wooing)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(of)-384(a)-384(young)-384(American)-384(widow)-384(on)-384(the)-384(European)-384(Continent)-384(by)-384(a)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(German)-250(musical)-250(genius.)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 105.742 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(San)-250(Francisco)-250(Chronicle)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 109.691 0 Td[(.)]TJ -214.386 -13.549 Td[(As)-265(refreshing)-265(a)-265(bit)-264(of)-265(fiction)-265(as)-265(one)-265(often)-265(finds.)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 208.085 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(Providence)]TJ -230.95 -13.549 Td[(Journal)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 33.938 0 Td[(.)]TJ -21.982 -13.55 Td[(LITTLE,)-250(BROWN,)-250(&)-250(CO.,)-250(PUBLISHERS)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(34)-250(BEACON)-250(STREET,)-250(BOSTON)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf -72.756 -28.789 Td[([327])]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1243 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1244 0 R
+/Resources 1242 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1241 0 R
+>> endobj
+1245 0 obj <<
+/D [1243 0 R /XYZ 93.543 185.326 null]
+>> endobj
+1242 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F18 18 0 R /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1248 0 obj <<
+/Length 3106      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F18 13.151 Tf 46.771 518.175 Td[(Anne)-250(Warner's)-250(Latest)-250(Character)-250(Creation)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 11.956 -13.549 Td[(IN)-250(A)-250(MYSTERIOUS)-250(WAY)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 0 -13.549 Td[(By)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 14.236 0 Td[(ANNE)-250(WARNER)]TJ -14.236 -13.549 Td[(Illustrated)-250(by)-250(J.V.)-250(McFall.)-250(Cloth.)-250($1.50)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(A)-456(story)-457(of)-456(love)-456(and)-457(sacrifice)-456(that)-456(teems)-457(with)-456(the)-457(author's)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(original)-250(humor.)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 67.877 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(Baltimore)-250(American)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 88.778 0 Td[(.)]TJ -155.608 -13.549 Td[(The)-262(humor)-262(peculiar)-261(to)-262(her)-262(pen)-262(is)-262(here)-261(in)-262(wonted)-262(strength,)-265(but)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(in)-229(a)-230(new)-229(guise;)-236(and)-230(set)-229(against)-230(it,)-233(or)-229(interwoven)-230(with)-229(it,)-234(is)-229(a)-229(sto)-1(ry)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(of)-237(love)-237(and)-237(the)-237(strange)-237(sacrifice)-237(of)-237(which)-237(a)-237(few)-237(loving)-237(hearts)-237(are)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(capable.)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 36.043 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(New)-250(York)-250(American)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 87.873 0 Td[(.)]TJ -14.393 -16.538 Td[(*)-286(*)-287(*)-286(*)-286(*)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf -108.477 -16.538 Td[(By)-250(the)-250(same)-250(author)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 0 -13.549 Td[(YOUR)-250(CHILD)-250(AND)-250(MINE)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Illustrated.)-250(12mo.)-250(Cloth.)-250($1.50)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(The)-223(child)-224(heart,)-228(strange)-223(and)-224(sweet)-223(and)-223(tender,)-229(lies)-223(open)-223(to)-224(this)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(sympathetic)-291(writer,)-301(and)-291(other)-291(human)-292(hearts)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 191.405 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(and)-291(eyes)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 38.313 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(should)]TJ -251.535 -13.55 Td[(be)-250(opened)-250(by)-250(her)-250(narratives.)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 123.294 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(Chicago)-250(Record-Herald)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 105.742 0 Td[(.)]TJ -227.99 -13.549 Td[(The)-487(literary)-487(charm)-486(of)-487(the)-487(stories)-487(is)-486(not)-487(the)-487(least)-487(of)-487(their)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(attractions.)-457(The)-319(interest)-318(is)-319(all)-319(the)-319(greater)-319(for)-319(the)-319(style)-319(in)-319(which)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-474(story)-474(is)-474(told,)-530(and)-474(the)-474(author's)-474(sympathy)-474(with)-474(her)-474(young)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(friends)-505(lends)-505(a)-504(vital)-505(warmth)-505(to)-505(her)-504(narrative.)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 213.353 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(Philadelphia)]TJ -224.262 -13.55 Td[(Public)-250(Ledger)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 62.116 0 Td[(.)]TJ -50.161 -13.549 Td[(LITTLE,)-250(BROWN,)-250(&)-250(CO.,)-250(PUBLISHERS)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(34)-250(BEACON)-250(STREET,)-250(BOSTON)]TJ/F16 7.97 Tf 291.023 -28.789 Td[([328])]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1247 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1248 0 R
+/Resources 1246 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1241 0 R
+>> endobj
+1249 0 obj <<
+/D [1247 0 R /XYZ 46.771 171.777 null]
+>> endobj
+1246 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F18 18 0 R /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1252 0 obj <<
+/Length 3391      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F18 13.151 Tf 93.543 518.175 Td[(By)-250(the)-250(Author)-250(of)-250("Aunt)-250(Jane)-250(of)-250(Kentucky")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 11.956 -13.549 Td[(THE)-250(LAND)-250(OF)-250(LONG)-250(AGO)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 0 -13.549 Td[(By)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 14.236 0 Td[(ELIZA)-250(CALVERT)-250(HALL)]TJ -14.236 -13.549 Td[(Illustrated)-433(by)-433(G.)-433(Patrick)-433(Nelson)-433(and)-433(Beulah)-433(Strong)-433(12mo.)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(Cloth.)-250($1.50)]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[(The)-250(book)-250(is)-250(an)-250(inspiration.)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 116.661 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(Boston)-250(Globe)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 59.695 0 Td[(.)]TJ -187.265 -13.549 Td[(Without)-266(qualification)-267(one)-266(of)-266(the)-267(worthiest)-266(publications)-266(of)-267(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(year.)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 21.502 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(Pittsburg)-250(Post)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 62.738 0 Td[(.)]TJ -83.193 -13.549 Td[(Aunt)-367(Jane)-367(has)-367(become)-367(a)-367(real)-367(personage)-367(in)-367(American)-367(litera-)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(ture.)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 19.691 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(Hartford)-250(Courant)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 77.891 0 Td[(.)]TJ -96.536 -13.549 Td[(A)-391(philosophy)-391(sweet)-391(and)-391(wholesome)-391(flows)-391(from)-392(the)-391(lips)-391(of)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[("Aunt)-250(Jane.")]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 55.56 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(Chicago)-250(Evening)-250(Post)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 97.571 0 Td[(.)]TJ -152.085 -13.549 Td[(The)-251(sweetness)-251(and)-252(sincerity)-251(of)-251(Aunt)-251(Jane's)-251(recollections)-252(have)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(the)-397(same)-398(unfailing)-397(charm)-397(found)-397(in)-398("Cranford.")]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 213.354 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(Philadelphia)]TJ -224.263 -13.55 Td[(Press)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 24.24 0 Td[(.)]TJ -12.285 -13.549 Td[(To)-209(a)-210(greater)-209(degree)-209(than)-210(her)-209(previous)-209(work)-210(it)-209(touches)-209(the)-210(heart)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(by)-250(its)-250(wholesome,)-250(quaint)-250(human)-250(appeal.)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 175.44 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(Boston)-250(Transcript)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 79.102 0 Td[(.)]TJ -253.496 -13.549 Td[(The)-495(stories)-494(are)-495(prose)-495(idyls;)-617(the)-495(illuminations)-494(of)-495(a)-495(lovely)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(spirit)-404(shine)-403(upon)-404(them,)-442(and)-403(their)-404(literary)-403(quality)-404(is)-403(as)-404(rare)-404(as)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(beautiful.)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 41.509 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 10.909 0 Td[(Baltimore)-250(Sun)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 62.727 0 Td[(.)]TJ -103.19 -13.549 Td[(MARGARET)-378(E.)-377(SANGSTER)-378(says:)-505("It)-378(is)-378(not)-377(often)-378(that)-378(an)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(author)-248(competes)-248(with)-247(herself,)-249(but)-248(Eliza)-247(Calvert)-248(Hall)-248(has)-248(done)-248(so)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(successfully,)-319(for)-304(her)-305(second)-305(volume)-305(centred)-305(about)-305(Aunt)-305(Jane)-305(is)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(more)-250(fascinating)-250(than)-250(her)-250(first.")]TJ 11.955 -13.55 Td[(LITTLE,)-250(BROWN,)-250(&)-250(CO.,)-250(PUBLISHERS)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(34)-250(BEACON)-250(STREET,)-250(BOSTON)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1251 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1252 0 R
+/Resources 1250 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1241 0 R
+>> endobj
+1250 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F18 18 0 R /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1255 0 obj <<
+/Length 362       
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -280.63 -19.8 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -529.134 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 518.175 Td[(***END)-500(OF)-500(THE)-500(PROJECT)-500(GUTENBERG)-500(EBOOK)-500(THE)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(REJUVENATION)-500(OF)-500(AUNT)-500(MARY***)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1254 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1255 0 R
+/Resources 1253 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1241 0 R
+>> endobj
+1256 0 obj <<
+/D [1254 0 R /XYZ 46.771 529.134 null]
+>> endobj
+1253 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1259 0 obj <<
+/Length 126       
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -280.63 -510.152 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1258 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1259 0 R
+/Resources 1257 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1241 0 R
+>> endobj
+1257 0 obj <<
+/ProcSet [ /PDF ]
+>> endobj
+1260 0 obj
+<< /S /GoTo /D (index27) >>
+endobj
+1263 0 obj
+(Credits)
+endobj
+1266 0 obj <<
+/Length 750       
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 18.959 Tf 46.771 479.321 Td[(Credits)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 0 -37.877 Td[(May)-250(2005)]TJ 43.637 -19.003 Td[(Project)-250(Gutenberg)-250(Edition)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(Suzanne)-312(Shell)-312(Josephine)-312(Paolucci)-312(Joshua)-312(Hutchinson)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Online)-250(Distributed)-250(Proofreading)-250(Team)]TJ -43.637 -19.003 Td[(August)-250(2005)]TJ 43.637 -19.004 Td[(Converted)-250(to)-250(PGTEI)-250(v0.3.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Joshua)-250(Hutchinson)]TJ -43.637 -19.004 Td[(June)-250(2006)]TJ 43.637 -19.004 Td[(Added)-250(PGHeader/PGFooter.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Joshua)-250(Hutchinson)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1265 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1266 0 R
+/Resources 1264 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1267 0 R
+>> endobj
+1261 0 obj <<
+/D [1265 0 R /XYZ 46.771 529.134 null]
+>> endobj
+1264 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1270 0 obj <<
+/Length 126       
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -280.63 -510.152 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1269 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1270 0 R
+/Resources 1268 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1267 0 R
+>> endobj
+1268 0 obj <<
+/ProcSet [ /PDF ]
+>> endobj
+1271 0 obj
+<< /S /GoTo /D (index28) >>
+endobj
+1274 0 obj
+(A Word from Project Gutenberg)
+endobj
+1277 0 obj <<
+/Length 3131      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 18.959 Tf 46.771 479.321 Td[(A)-250(Word)-250(from)-250(Project)-250(Gutenberg)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 0 -32.422 Td[(This)-250(file)-250(should)-250(be)-250(named)-250(15775-pdf.pdf)-250(or)-250(15775-pdf.zip.)]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[(This)-291(and)-291(all)-291(associated)-291(files)-291(of)-291(various)-291(formats)-291(will)-291(be)-291(found)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(in:)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 19.637 -22.64 Td[(http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/7/7/15775/)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -7.681 -23.368 Td[(Updated)-447(editions)-446(will)-447(replace)-447(the)-447(previous)-446(one)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 220.746 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 15.782 0 Td[(the)-447(old)]TJ -248.484 -13.549 Td[(editions)-250(will)-250(be)-250(renamed.)]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[(Creating)-308(the)-308(works)-308(from)-308(public)-308(domain)-308(print)-308(editions)-308(means)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(that)-220(no)-220(one)-219(owns)-220(a)-220(United)-220(States)-220(copyright)-219(in)-220(these)-220(works,)-226(so)-220(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Foundation)-325(\050and)-324(you!\051)-473(can)-325(copy)-324(and)-325(distribute)-324(it)-325(in)-324(the)-325(United)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(States)-163(without)-163(permission)-163(and)-163(without)-163(paying)-164(copyright)-163(royalties.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Special)-298(rules,)-311(set)-298(forth)-298(in)-298(the)-298(General)-299(Terms)-298(of)-298(Use)-298(part)-298(of)-299(this)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(license,)-360(apply)-337(to)-338(copying)-338(and)-337(distributing)-338(Project)-338(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 269.939 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -269.939 -13.549 Td[(electronic)-247(works)-246(to)-247(protect)-246(the)-247(Project)-246(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 214.88 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 13.381 0 Td[(concept)-247(and)]TJ -228.261 -13.549 Td[(trademark.)-243(Project)-228(Gutenberg)-228(is)-227(a)-228(registered)-228(trademark,)-233(and)-228(may)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(not)-394(be)-394(used)-394(if)-394(you)-393(charge)-394(for)-394(the)-394(eBooks,)-430(unless)-394(you)-394(receive)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(specific)-377(permission.)-631(If)-376(you)-377(do)-377(not)-377(charge)-377(anything)-377(for)-377(copies)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(of)-468(this)-468(eBook,)-523(complying)-468(with)-468(the)-468(rules)-468(is)-468(very)-468(easy.)-904(You)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(may)-329(use)-329(this)-329(eBook)-329(for)-329(nearly)-329(any)-329(purpose)-329(such)-329(as)-329(creation)-329(of)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(derivative)-251(works,)-252(reports,)-251(performances)-251(and)-251(research.)-253(They)-252(may)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(be)-152(modified)-152(and)-152(printed)-153(and)-152(given)-152(away)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 170.977 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 12.569 0 Td[(you)-152(may)-152(do)-152(practically)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf -183.546 -13.549 Td[(anything)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 41.786 0 Td[(with)-330(public)-331(domain)-330(eBooks.)-491(Redistribution)-331(is)-330(subject)]TJ -41.786 -13.549 Td[(to)-250(the)-250(trademark)-250(license,)-250(especially)-250(commercial)-250(redistribution.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1276 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1277 0 R
+/Resources 1275 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1267 0 R
+/Annots [ 1278 0 R ]
+>> endobj
+1278 0 obj <<
+/Type /Annot
+ /BS << /Type /Border /S /U >> /H /I /C [1 0.5 0.5] 
+/Rect [66.408 395.011 247.235 403.936]
+ /Subtype /Link /A << /Type /Action /S /URI /URI (http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/7/7/15775/) >> 
+>> endobj
+1272 0 obj <<
+/D [1276 0 R /XYZ 46.771 529.134 null]
+>> endobj
+10 0 obj <<
+/D [1276 0 R /XYZ 46.771 124.715 null]
+>> endobj
+1275 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R /F35 1280 0 R /F18 18 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1281 0 obj
+<< /S /GoTo /D (index29) >>
+endobj
+1284 0 obj
+(The Full Project Gutenberg License)
+endobj
+1287 0 obj <<
+/Length 3331      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 18.959 Tf 93.543 479.321 Td[(The)-250(Full)-250(Project)-250(Gutenberg)-250(License)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 0 -31.684 Td[(Please)-250(read)-250(this)-250(before)-250(you)-250(distribute)-250(or)-250(use)-250(this)-250(work.)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 11.956 -13.55 Td[(To)-269(protect)-269(the)-268(Project)-269(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 144.428 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 13.623 0 Td[(mission)-269(of)-269(promoting)-269(the)]TJ -170.007 -13.549 Td[(free)-225(distribution)-225(of)-226(electronic)-225(works,)-230(by)-225(using)-225(or)-225(distributing)-226(this)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(work)-304(\050or)-304(any)-303(other)-304(work)-304(associated)-304(in)-303(any)-304(way)-304(with)-304(the)-304(phrase)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 0 -13.549 Td[(\034)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 4.844 0 Td[(Project)-270(Gutenberg)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 79.894 0 Td[(\035)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 4.844 0 Td[(\051,)-275(you)-269(agree)-270(to)-270(comply)-269(with)-270(all)-270(the)-269(terms)-270(of)]TJ -89.582 -13.549 Td[(the)-268(Full)-269(Project)-268(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 116.649 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 13.617 0 Td[(License)-268(\050available)-269(with)-268(this)-268(file)-268(or)]TJ -130.266 -13.55 Td[(online)-250(at)-250(http://www.gutenberg.org/license\051.)]TJ/F16 15.781 Tf 0 -35.486 Td[(Section)-250(1.)]TJ/F16 13.151 Tf 15.58 -44.421 Td[(General)-255(Terms)-254(of)-255(Use)-255(&)-254(Redistributing)-255(Project)]TJ 45.013 -17.095 Td[(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 13.151 Tf 55.509 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 13.151 Tf 16.415 0 Td[(electronic)-268(works)]TJ -132.517 -41.803 Td[(1.A.)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 0 -25.902 Td[(By)-330(reading)-331(or)-330(using)-331(any)-330(part)-331(of)-330(this)-331(Project)-330(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 245.138 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 14.296 0 Td[(elec-)]TJ -259.434 -13.549 Td[(tronic)-302(work,)-315(you)-303(indicate)-302(that)-302(you)-302(have)-302(read,)-315(understand,)-316(agree)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-198(and)-197(accept)-198(all)-197(the)-198(terms)-198(of)-197(this)-198(license)-197(and)-198(intellectual)-198(property)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(\050trademark/copyright\051)-211(agreement.)-237(If)-211(you)-211(do)-211(not)-211(agree)-211(to)-212(abide)-211(by)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(all)-270(the)-271(terms)-270(of)-270(this)-271(agreement,)-275(you)-270(must)-271(cease)-270(using)-270(and)-271(return)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(or)-262(destroy)-263(all)-262(copies)-262(of)-262(Project)-263(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 183.192 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 13.552 0 Td[(electronic)-262(works)-263(in)]TJ -196.744 -13.549 Td[(your)-380(possession.)-638(If)-379(you)-380(paid)-379(a)-380(fee)-379(for)-380(obtaining)-379(a)-380(copy)-379(of)-380(or)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(access)-269(to)-270(a)-269(Project)-270(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 129.903 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 13.63 0 Td[(electronic)-269(wo)-1(rk)-269(and)-269(you)-270(do)-269(not)]TJ -143.533 -13.549 Td[(agree)-206(to)-206(be)-205(bound)-206(by)-206(the)-206(terms)-206(of)-205(this)-206(agreement,)-215(you)-206(may)-206(obtain)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(a)-304(refund)-304(from)-304(the)-304(person)-304(or)-304(entity)-304(to)-304(whom)-304(you)-304(paid)-304(the)-304(fee)-304(as)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(set)-250(forth)-250(in)-250(paragraph)-250(1.E.8.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1286 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1287 0 R
+/Resources 1285 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1267 0 R
+/Annots [ 1288 0 R 1289 0 R 1292 0 R ]
+>> endobj
+1288 0 obj <<
+/Type /Annot
+/BS << /Type /Border /S /U >> /H /I /C [0 1 1]
+/Rect [264.296 377.512 362.159 387.232]
+/Subtype /Link
+/A << /S /GoTo /D (pglicense) >>
+>> endobj
+1289 0 obj <<
+/Type /Annot
+ /BS << /Type /Border /S /U >> /H /I /C [1 0.5 0.5] 
+/Rect [134.147 363.963 280.798 373.683]
+ /Subtype /Link /A << /Type /Action /S /URI /URI (http://www.gutenberg.org/license) >> 
+>> endobj
+1292 0 obj <<
+/Type /Annot
+/BS << /Type /Border /S /U >> /H /I /C [0 1 1]
+/Rect [189.881 63.764 215.638 73.484]
+/Subtype /Link
+/A << /S /GoTo /D (pglicense1E8) >>
+>> endobj
+1282 0 obj <<
+/D [1286 0 R /XYZ 93.543 529.134 null]
+>> endobj
+1290 0 obj <<
+/D [1286 0 R /XYZ 93.543 363.963 null]
+>> endobj
+1291 0 obj <<
+/D [1286 0 R /XYZ 93.543 254.119 null]
+>> endobj
+1285 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F18 18 0 R /F35 1280 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1296 0 obj <<
+/Length 4477      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(The)-250(Full)-250(Project)-250(Gutenberg)-250(License)-9894(241)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 13.151 Tf 46.771 518.175 Td[(1.B.)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 0 -27.866 Td[(\034)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 4.844 0 Td[(Project)-352(Gutenberg)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 80.79 0 Td[(\035)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 8.681 0 Td[(is)-352(a)-352(registered)-351(trademark.)-556(It)-351(may)-352(only)-352(be)]TJ -94.315 -13.549 Td[(used)-395(on)-394(or)-395(associated)-394(in)-395(any)-395(way)-394(with)-395(an)-394(electronic)-395(work)-395(by)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(people)-347(who)-346(agree)-347(to)-346(be)-347(bound)-347(by)-346(the)-347(terms)-346(of)-347(this)-347(agreement.)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(There)-531(are)-531(a)-531(few)-531(things)-530(that)-531(you)-531(can)-531(do)-531(with)-531(most)-531(Project)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 46.048 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 13.674 0 Td[(electronic)-274(works)-273(even)-274(without)-273(complying)-274(with)-273(the)]TJ -59.722 -13.549 Td[(full)-229(terms)-228(of)-229(this)-228(agreement.)-243(See)-229(paragraph)-229(1.C)-228(below.)-243(There)-229(are)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(a)-330(lot)-331(of)-330(things)-330(you)-331(can)-330(do)-331(with)-330(Project)-330(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 223.321 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 14.295 0 Td[(electronic)]TJ -237.616 -13.549 Td[(works)-193(if)-192(you)-193(follow)-192(the)-193(terms)-193(of)-192(this)-193(agreement)-192(and)-193(help)-193(preserve)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(free)-284(future)-283(access)-284(to)-283(Project)-284(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 171.772 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 13.784 0 Td[(electronic)-284(works.)-350(See)]TJ -185.556 -13.549 Td[(paragraph)-250(1.E)-250(below.)]TJ/F16 13.151 Tf 0 -43.303 Td[(1.C.)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 0 -27.866 Td[(The)-247(Project)-247(Gutenberg)-247(Literary)-247(Archive)-247(Foundation)-248(\050)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 233.699 0 Td[(\034)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 4.843 0 Td[(the)-247(Foun-)]TJ -238.542 -13.549 Td[(dation)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 27.273 0 Td[(\035)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 9.058 0 Td[(or)-386(PGLAF\051,)-387(owns)-386(a)-386(compilation)-386(copyright)-387(in)-386(the)-386(col-)]TJ -36.331 -13.549 Td[(lection)-306(of)-305(Project)-306(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 125.734 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 14.024 0 Td[(electronic)-306(works.)-416(Nearly)-306(all)-305(the)]TJ -139.758 -13.549 Td[(individual)-233(works)-232(in)-233(the)-233(collection)-232(are)-233(in)-233(the)-233(public)-232(domain)-233(in)-233(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(United)-323(States.)-469(If)-322(an)-323(individual)-323(work)-323(is)-323(in)-323(the)-323(public)-323(domain)-323(in)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(the)-344(United)-345(States)-344(and)-344(you)-345(are)-344(located)-345(in)-344(the)-344(United)-345(States,)-368(we)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(do)-332(not)-331(claim)-332(a)-331(right)-332(to)-332(prevent)-331(you)-332(from)-332(copying,)-352(distributing,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(performing,)-231(displaying)-226(or)-226(creating)-226(derivative)-226(works)-226(based)-226(on)-226(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(work)-232(as)-231(long)-232(as)-231(all)-232(references)-231(to)-232(Project)-231(Gutenberg)-232(are)-232(removed.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Of)-188(course,)-200(we)-187(hope)-188(that)-187(you)-188(will)-187(support)-188(the)-187(Project)-188(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 269.939 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -269.939 -13.55 Td[(mission)-334(of)-334(promoting)-335(free)-334(access)-334(to)-334(electronic)-334(works)-334(by)-335(freely)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(sharing)-212(Project)-211(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 113.685 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 12.999 0 Td[(works)-212(in)-211(compliance)-212(with)-211(the)-212(terms)]TJ -126.684 -13.549 Td[(of)-441(this)-441(agreement)-441(for)-441(keeping)-441(the)-441(Project)-441(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 241.5 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 15.501 0 Td[(name)]TJ -257.001 -13.549 Td[(associated)-262(with)-262(the)-262(work.)-286(You)-262(can)-262(easily)-262(comply)-262(with)-263(the)-262(terms)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(of)-283(this)-284(agreement)-283(by)-283(keeping)-284(this)-283(work)-283(in)-284(the)-283(same)-283(format)-284(with)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(its)-287(attached)-287(full)-287(Project)-287(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 151.285 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 13.821 0 Td[(License)-287(when)-287(you)-287(share)-287(it)]TJ -165.106 -13.549 Td[(without)-250(charge)-250(with)-250(others.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1295 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1296 0 R
+/Resources 1294 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1267 0 R
+/Annots [ 1298 0 R 1299 0 R ]
+>> endobj
+1298 0 obj <<
+/Type /Annot
+/BS << /Type /Border /S /U >> /H /I /C [0 1 1]
+/Rect [236.157 420.185 251.616 429.905]
+/Subtype /Link
+/A << /S /GoTo /D (pglicense1C) >>
+>> endobj
+1299 0 obj <<
+/Type /Annot
+/BS << /Type /Border /S /U >> /H /I /C [0 1 1]
+/Rect [93.113 365.988 107.96 375.708]
+/Subtype /Link
+/A << /S /GoTo /D (pglicense1E) >>
+>> endobj
+1297 0 obj <<
+/D [1295 0 R /XYZ 46.771 529.134 null]
+>> endobj
+1300 0 obj <<
+/D [1295 0 R /XYZ 46.771 354.098 null]
+>> endobj
+1301 0 obj <<
+/D [1295 0 R /XYZ 46.771 66.142 null]
+>> endobj
+1294 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R /F35 1280 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1305 0 obj <<
+/Length 3456      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(242)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 13.151 Tf 93.543 518.175 Td[(1.D.)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 0 -29.35 Td[(The)-468(copyright)-467(laws)-468(of)-467(the)-468(place)-467(where)-468(you)-467(are)-468(located)-468(also)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(govern)-267(what)-268(you)-267(can)-267(do)-268(with)-267(this)-267(wo)-1(rk.)-302(Copyright)-267(laws)-267(in)-268(most)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(countries)-366(are)-366(in)-366(a)-366(constant)-366(state)-366(of)-366(change.)-598(If)-366(you)-367(are)-366(outside)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(the)-394(United)-394(States,)-431(check)-394(the)-394(laws)-394(of)-394(your)-394(country)-394(in)-395(addition)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-439(the)-440(terms)-439(of)-439(this)-439(agreement)-440(before)-439(downloading,)-487(copying,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(displaying,)-243(performing,)-243(distributing)-241(or)-241(creating)-241(derivative)-241(works)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(based)-269(on)-268(this)-268(work)-269(or)-268(any)-269(other)-268(Project)-269(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 221.57 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 13.62 0 Td[(work.)-305(The)]TJ -235.19 -13.549 Td[(Foundation)-344(makes)-343(no)-344(representations)-343(concerning)-344(the)-344(copyright)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(status)-250(of)-250(any)-250(work)-250(in)-250(any)-250(country)-250(outside)-250(the)-250(United)-250(States.)]TJ/F16 13.151 Tf 0 -45.973 Td[(1.E.)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 0 -29.351 Td[(Unless)-250(you)-250(have)-250(removed)-250(all)-250(references)-250(to)-250(Project)-250(Gutenberg:)]TJ 0 -27.168 Td[(1.E.1.)]TJ 0 -27.168 Td[(The)-259(following)-260(sentence,)-261(with)-260(active)-259(links)-259(to,)-262(or)-259(other)-260(immediate)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(access)-465(to)-1(,)-519(the)-465(full)-466(Project)-465(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 170.488 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 15.769 0 Td[(License)-465(must)-466(appear)]TJ -186.257 -13.55 Td[(prominently)-274(whenever)-275(any)-274(copy)-274(of)-275(a)-274(Project)-274(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 244.529 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 13.683 0 Td[(work)]TJ -258.212 -13.549 Td[(\050any)-421(work)-422(on)-421(which)-421(the)-422(phrase)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 148.755 0 Td[(\034)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 4.843 0 Td[(Project)-421(Gutenberg)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 81.549 0 Td[(\035)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 9.44 0 Td[(appears,)]TJ -244.587 -13.549 Td[(or)-347(with)-346(which)-347(the)-346(phrase)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 115.849 0 Td[(\034)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 4.844 0 Td[(Project)-346(Gutenberg)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 80.732 0 Td[(\035)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 8.624 0 Td[(is)-346(associated\051)-347(is)]TJ -210.049 -13.549 Td[(accessed,)-250(displayed,)-250(performed,)-250(viewed,)-250(copied)-250(or)-250(distributed:)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 19.637 -25.35 Td[(This)-432(eBook)-432(is)-432(for)-432(the)-432(use)-433(of)-432(anyone)-432(anywhere)-432(at)-432(no)-432(cost)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(and)-345(with)-344(almost)-345(no)-344(restrictions)-345(whatsoever.)-534(You)-344(may)-345(copy)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(it,)-437(give)-400(it)-400(away)-400(or)-400(re-use)-400(it)-400(under)-399(the)-400(terms)-400(of)-400(the)-400(Project)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(Gutenberg)-476(License)-476(included)-476(with)-475(this)-476(eBook)-476(or)-476(online)-476(at)]TJ 0 -12.821 Td[(http://www.gutenberg.org)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -19.637 -40.246 Td[(1.E.2.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1304 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1305 0 R
+/Resources 1303 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1267 0 R
+/Annots [ 1307 0 R ]
+>> endobj
+1307 0 obj <<
+/Type /Annot
+ /BS << /Type /Border /S /U >> /H /I /C [1 0.5 0.5] 
+/Rect [113.18 104.237 215.636 113.025]
+ /Subtype /Link /A << /Type /Action /S /URI /URI (http://www.gutenberg.org) >> 
+>> endobj
+1302 0 obj <<
+/D [1304 0 R /XYZ 93.543 364.976 null]
+>> endobj
+1306 0 obj <<
+/D [1304 0 R /XYZ 93.543 302.729 null]
+>> endobj
+1308 0 obj <<
+/D [1304 0 R /XYZ 93.543 91.16 null]
+>> endobj
+1303 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F35 1280 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1311 0 obj <<
+/Length 3769      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(The)-250(Full)-250(Project)-250(Gutenberg)-250(License)-9894(243)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 518.175 Td[(If)-295(an)-295(individual)-295(Project)-295(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 151.639 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 13.91 0 Td[(electronic)-295(work)-295(is)-295(derived)]TJ -165.549 -13.549 Td[(from)-228(the)-229(public)-228(domain)-228(\050does)-228(not)-229(contain)-228(a)-228(notice)-228(indicating)-229(that)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(it)-184(is)-183(posted)-184(with)-183(permission)-184(of)-183(the)-184(copyright)-184(holder\051,)-196(the)-184(work)-184(can)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(be)-256(copied)-256(and)-256(distributed)-256(to)-256(anyone)-256(in)-256(the)-256(United)-256(States)-256(without)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(paying)-230(any)-230(fees)-230(or)-230(charges.)-243(If)-230(you)-231(are)-230(redistributing)-230(or)-230(providing)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(access)-248(to)-248(a)-248(work)-248(with)-248(the)-248(phrase)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 143.745 0 Td[(\034)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 4.843 0 Td[(Project)-248(Gutenberg)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 79.658 0 Td[(\035)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 7.548 0 Td[(associated)]TJ -235.794 -13.549 Td[(with)-410(or)-411(appearing)-410(on)-410(the)-411(work,)-450(you)-411(must)-410(comply)-410(either)-411(with)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-424(requireme)-1(nts)-424(of)-424(paragraphs)-425(1.E.1)-424(through)-425(1.E.7)-424(or)-425(obtain)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(permission)-281(for)-280(the)-280(use)-281(of)-280(the)-281(work)-280(and)-281(the)-280(Project)-281(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 269.939 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -269.939 -13.55 Td[(trademark)-250(as)-250(set)-250(forth)-250(in)-250(paragraphs)-250(1.E.8)-250(or)-250(1.E.9.)]TJ 0 -38.607 Td[(1.E.3.)]TJ 0 -26.259 Td[(If)-344(an)-343(individual)-344(Project)-343(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 153.755 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 14.439 0 Td[(electronic)-344(work)-343(is)-344(posted)]TJ -168.194 -13.549 Td[(with)-551(the)-551(permission)-550(of)-551(the)-551(copyright)-551(holder,)-626(your)-551(use)-551(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(distribution)-429(must)-429(comply)-429(with)-429(both)-429(paragraphs)-429(1.E.1)-429(through)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(1.E.7)-251(and)-250(any)-251(additional)-250(terms)-251(imposed)-250(by)-251(the)-250(copyright)-251(holder.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Additional)-524(terms)-524(will)-523(b)-1(e)-523(linked)-524(to)-524(the)-524(Project)-524(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 269.939 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -269.939 -13.55 Td[(License)-212(for)-211(all)-212(works)-212(posted)-211(with)-212(the)-212(permission)-211(of)-212(the)-212(copyright)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(holder)-250(found)-250(at)-250(the)-250(beginning)-250(of)-250(this)-250(work.)]TJ 0 -38.608 Td[(1.E.4.)]TJ 0 -26.258 Td[(Do)-275(not)-275(unlink)-275(or)-274(detach)-275(or)-275(remove)-275(the)-275(full)-275(Project)-275(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 269.939 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -269.939 -13.549 Td[(License)-330(terms)-329(from)-330(this)-329(work,)-350(or)-330(any)-329(files)-330(containing)-329(a)-330(part)-330(of)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(this)-185(work)-185(or)-185(any)-185(other)-185(work)-185(associated)-185(with)-186(Project)-185(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 267.212 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.691 0 Td[(.)]TJ -277.903 -38.608 Td[(1.E.5.)]TJ 0 -26.258 Td[(Do)-457(not)-457(copy,)-508(display,)-509(perform,)-508(distribute)-457(or)-457(redistribute)-457(this)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(electronic)-441(work,)-488(or)-441(any)-441(part)-441(of)-441(this)-440(electronic)-441(work,)-489(without)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(prominently)-258(displaying)-257(the)-258(sentence)-258(set)-258(forth)-257(in)-258(paragraph)-258(1.E.1)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1310 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1311 0 R
+/Resources 1309 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1319 0 R
+/Annots [ 1312 0 R 1313 0 R 1315 0 R 1318 0 R ]
+>> endobj
+1312 0 obj <<
+/Type /Annot
+/BS << /Type /Border /S /U >> /H /I /C [0 1 1]
+/Rect [192.525 420.953 215.554 430.673]
+/Subtype /Link
+/A << /S /GoTo /D (pglicense1E1) >>
+>> endobj
+1313 0 obj <<
+/Type /Annot
+/BS << /Type /Border /S /U >> /H /I /C [0 1 1]
+/Rect [206.12 393.854 229.149 403.574]
+/Subtype /Link
+/A << /S /GoTo /D (pglicense1E8) >>
+>> endobj
+1315 0 obj <<
+/Type /Annot
+/BS << /Type /Border /S /U >> /H /I /C [0 1 1]
+/Rect [265.755 301.89 288.784 311.61]
+/Subtype /Link
+/A << /S /GoTo /D (pglicense1E1) >>
+>> endobj
+1318 0 obj <<
+/Type /Annot
+/BS << /Type /Border /S /U >> /H /I /C [0 1 1]
+/Rect [304.372 63.764 327.401 73.484]
+/Subtype /Link
+/A << /S /GoTo /D (pglicense1E1) >>
+>> endobj
+1314 0 obj <<
+/D [1310 0 R /XYZ 46.771 381.505 null]
+>> endobj
+1316 0 obj <<
+/D [1310 0 R /XYZ 46.771 235.344 null]
+>> endobj
+1317 0 obj <<
+/D [1310 0 R /XYZ 46.771 143.379 null]
+>> endobj
+1309 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F35 1280 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1322 0 obj <<
+/Length 3958      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(244)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 518.175 Td[(with)-394(active)-395(links)-394(or)-395(immediate)-394(access)-395(to)-394(the)-394(full)-395(terms)-394(of)-395(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Project)-250(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 79.68 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 13.418 0 Td[(License.)]TJ -93.098 -34.591 Td[(1.E.6.)]TJ 0 -24.07 Td[(You)-475(may)-476(convert)-475(to)-476(and)-475(distribute)-476(this)-475(work)-476(in)-475(any)-476(binary,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(compressed,)-287(marked)-280(up,)-287(nonproprietary)-280(or)-280(proprietary)-279(form,)-288(in-)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(cluding)-234(any)-234(word)-234(processing)-233(or)-234(hypertext)-234(form.)-245(However,)-237(if)-234(you)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(provide)-318(access)-318(to)-318(or)-317(distribute)-318(copies)-318(of)-318(a)-318(Project)-318(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 269.939 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -269.939 -13.549 Td[(work)-462(in)-462(a)-461(format)-462(other)-462(than)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 136.26 0 Td[(\034)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 4.843 0 Td[(Plain)-462(Vanilla)-462(ASCII)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 93.104 0 Td[(\035)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 9.88 0 Td[(or)-462(other)]TJ -244.087 -13.549 Td[(format)-284(used)-284(in)-284(the)-284(official)-284(version)-284(posted)-284(on)-284(the)-284(official)-284(Project)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 46.048 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 13.833 0 Td[(web)-288(site)-288(\050http://www.gutenberg.org\051,)-298(you)-288(must,)-297(at)]TJ -59.881 -13.549 Td[(no)-357(additional)-357(cost,)-384(fee)-356(or)-357(expense)-357(to)-357(the)-357(user,)-384(provide)-357(a)-357(copy,)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(a)-380(means)-380(of)-380(exporting)-379(a)-380(copy,)-413(or)-379(a)-380(means)-380(of)-380(obtaining)-380(a)-380(copy)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(upon)-313(request,)-328(of)-313(the)-313(work)-313(in)-312(its)-313(original)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 181.09 0 Td[(\034)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 4.843 0 Td[(Plain)-313(Vanilla)-313(ASCII)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 89.853 0 Td[(\035)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -275.786 -13.549 Td[(or)-248(other)-247(form.)-250(Any)-247(alternate)-248(format)-248(must)-247(include)-248(the)-248(full)-248(Project)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 46.048 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 13.418 0 Td[(License)-250(as)-250(specified)-250(in)-250(paragraph)-250(1.E.1.)]TJ -59.466 -34.591 Td[(1.E.7.)]TJ 0 -24.07 Td[(Do)-450(not)-450(charge)-449(a)-450(fee)-450(for)-450(access)-449(to,)-500(viewing,)-500(displaying,)-500(per-)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(forming,)-240(copying)-237(or)-237(distributing)-238(any)-237(Project)-237(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 240.689 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 13.279 0 Td[(works)]TJ -253.968 -13.549 Td[(unless)-250(you)-250(comply)-250(with)-250(paragraph)-250(1.E.8)-250(or)-250(1.E.9.)]TJ 0 -34.591 Td[(1.E.8.)]TJ 0 -24.07 Td[(You)-440(may)-440(charge)-440(a)-439(reasonable)-440(fee)-440(for)-440(copies)-440(of)-440(or)-440(providing)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(access)-361(to)-361(or)-361(distributing)-361(Project)-361(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 192.388 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 14.628 0 Td[(electronic)-361(works)]TJ -207.016 -13.549 Td[(provided)-250(that)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 12.546 -18.615 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 9.272 0 Td[(You)-320(pay)-320(a)-320(royalty)-320(fee)-320(of)-320(20%)-320(of)-320(the)-320(gross)-320(pro)-1(fits)-320(you)-320(de-)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(rive)-288(from)-288(the)-289(use)-288(of)-288(Project)-288(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 170.946 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 13.835 0 Td[(works)-288(calculated)]TJ -184.781 -13.55 Td[(using)-340(the)-340(method)-341(you)-340(already)-340(use)-340(to)-340(calculate)-340(your)-341(appli-)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(cable)-370(taxes.)-611(The)-370(fee)-371(is)-370(owed)-370(to)-370(the)-371(owner)-370(of)-370(the)-371(Project)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1321 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1322 0 R
+/Resources 1320 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1319 0 R
+/Annots [ 1324 0 R 1326 0 R ]
+>> endobj
+1324 0 obj <<
+/Type /Annot
+/BS << /Type /Border /S /U >> /H /I /C [0 1 1]
+/Rect [301.143 294.546 326.899 304.266]
+/Subtype /Link
+/A << /S /GoTo /D (pglicense1E1) >>
+>> endobj
+1326 0 obj <<
+/Type /Annot
+/BS << /Type /Border /S /U >> /H /I /C [0 1 1]
+/Rect [246.554 208.786 269.583 218.506]
+/Subtype /Link
+/A << /S /GoTo /D (pglicense1E8) >>
+>> endobj
+1323 0 obj <<
+/D [1321 0 R /XYZ 93.543 491.727 null]
+>> endobj
+1325 0 obj <<
+/D [1321 0 R /XYZ 93.543 284.025 null]
+>> endobj
+1293 0 obj <<
+/D [1321 0 R /XYZ 93.543 198.265 null]
+>> endobj
+1320 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F35 1280 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1329 0 obj <<
+/Length 4375      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(The)-250(Full)-250(Project)-250(Gutenberg)-250(License)-9894(245)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 68.59 518.175 Td[(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 46.047 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 13.639 0 Td[(trademark,)-275(but)-271(he)-270(has)-270(agreed)-271(to)-270(donate)-270(royal-)]TJ -59.686 -13.549 Td[(ties)-293(under)-292(this)-293(paragraph)-292(to)-293(the)-292(Project)-293(Gutenberg)-293(Literary)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Archive)-215(Foundation.)-239(Royalty)-215(payments)-215(must)-216(be)-215(paid)-216(within)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(60)-318(days)-317(following)-318(each)-317(date)-318(on)-317(which)-318(you)-317(prepare)-318(\050or)-318(are)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(legally)-270(required)-270(to)-271(prepare\051)-270(your)-270(periodic)-271(tax)-270(returns.)-311(Roy-)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(alty)-256(payments)-256(should)-256(be)-257(clearly)-256(marked)-256(as)-256(such)-256(and)-256(sent)-257(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-358(Project)-358(Gutenberg)-358(Literary)-358(Archive)-358(Foundation)-358(at)-359(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(address)-177(specified)-178(in)-177(Section)-177(4,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 131.322 0 Td[(\034)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 4.844 0 Td[(Information)-177(about)-178(donations)]TJ -136.166 -13.549 Td[(to)-250(the)-250(Project)-250(Gutenberg)-250(Literary)-250(Archive)-250(Foundation.)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 237.839 0 Td[(\035)]TJ -247.112 -13.55 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 9.273 0 Td[(You)-425(provide)-425(a)-425(full)-424(refund)-425(of)-425(any)-425(money)-425(paid)-425(by)-425(a)-425(user)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(who)-339(notifies)-339(you)-340(in)-339(writing)-339(\050or)-339(b)-1(y)-339(e-mail\051)-339(within)-339(30)-340(days)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(of)-343(receipt)-343(that)-343(s/he)-343(does)-344(not)-343(agree)-343(to)-343(the)-343(terms)-343(of)-343(the)-344(full)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Project)-235(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 79.514 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 13.252 0 Td[(License.)-245(You)-235(must)-235(require)-234(such)-235(a)-235(user)]TJ -92.766 -13.549 Td[(to)-324(return)-324(or)-323(destroy)-324(all)-324(copies)-324(of)-323(the)-324(works)-324(possessed)-324(in)-324(a)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(physical)-322(medium)-321(and)-322(discontinue)-321(all)-322(use)-322(of)-321(and)-322(all)-322(access)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-250(other)-250(copies)-250(of)-250(Project)-250(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 158.454 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 13.418 0 Td[(works.)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf -181.145 -13.549 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 9.273 0 Td[(You)-427(provide,)-472(in)-427(accordance)-428(with)-427(paragraph)-427(1.F.3,)-472(a)-428(full)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(refund)-215(of)-216(any)-215(money)-216(paid)-215(fo)-1(r)-215(a)-215(wo)-1(rk)-215(or)-215(a)-216(replacement)-216(copy,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(if)-245(a)-246(defect)-245(in)-245(the)-246(electronic)-245(work)-245(is)-246(discovered)-245(and)-245(rep)-1(orted)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(to)-250(you)-250(within)-250(90)-250(days)-250(of)-250(receipt)-250(of)-250(the)-250(work.)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf -9.273 -13.549 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 9.273 0 Td[(You)-278(comply)-279(with)-278(all)-279(other)-278(terms)-279(of)-278(this)-279(agreement)-278(for)-279(free)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(distribution)-250(of)-250(Project)-250(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 144.534 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 13.418 0 Td[(works.)]TJ -179.77 -34.9 Td[(1.E.9.)]TJ 0 -24.225 Td[(If)-316(you)-315(wish)-316(to)-316(charge)-315(a)-316(fee)-316(or)-315(distribute)-316(a)-316(Project)-315(Gute)-1(nberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 269.938 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -269.938 -13.549 Td[(electronic)-233(work)-233(or)-233(group)-234(of)-233(works)-233(on)-233(different)-233(terms)-233(than)-233(are)-234(set)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(forth)-346(in)-347(this)-346(agreement,)-371(you)-346(must)-346(obtain)-347(permission)-346(in)-347(writing)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(from)-161(both)-160(the)-161(Project)-160(Gutenberg)-161(Literary)-160(Archive)-161(Foundation)-161(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Michael)-287(Hart,)-297(the)-287(owner)-287(of)-287(the)-287(Project)-287(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 219.853 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 13.824 0 Td[(trademark.)]TJ -233.677 -13.549 Td[(Contact)-250(the)-250(Foundation)-250(as)-250(set)-250(forth)-250(in)-250(Section)-250(3)-250(below.)]TJ/F16 13.151 Tf 0 -40.629 Td[(1.F.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1328 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1329 0 R
+/Resources 1327 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1319 0 R
+/Annots [ 1330 0 R 1331 0 R 1332 0 R 1334 0 R ]
+>> endobj
+1330 0 obj <<
+/Type /Annot
+/BS << /Type /Border /S /U >> /H /I /C [0 1 1]
+/Rect [154.977 420.963 327.401 430.705]
+/Subtype /Link
+/A << /S /GoTo /D (pglicense4) >>
+>> endobj
+1331 0 obj <<
+/Type /Annot
+/BS << /Type /Border /S /U >> /H /I /C [0 1 1]
+/Rect [46.771 407.403 311.273 417.156]
+/Subtype /Link
+/A << /S /GoTo /D (pglicense4) >>
+>> endobj
+1332 0 obj <<
+/Type /Annot
+/BS << /Type /Border /S /U >> /H /I /C [0 1 1]
+/Rect [272.441 299.01 294.87 308.73]
+/Subtype /Link
+/A << /S /GoTo /D (pglicense1F3) >>
+>> endobj
+1334 0 obj <<
+/Type /Annot
+/BS << /Type /Border /S /U >> /H /I /C [0 1 1]
+/Rect [213.735 106.629 254.644 114.113]
+/Subtype /Link
+/A << /S /GoTo /D (pglicense3) >>
+>> endobj
+1333 0 obj <<
+/D [1328 0 R /XYZ 46.771 220.588 null]
+>> endobj
+1335 0 obj <<
+/D [1328 0 R /XYZ 46.771 95.953 null]
+>> endobj
+1327 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F35 1280 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1341 0 obj <<
+/Length 3759      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(246)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 518.175 Td[(1.F.1.)]TJ 0 -25.744 Td[(Project)-362(Gutenberg)-363(volunteers)-362(and)-363(employees)-362(expend)-363(consider-)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(able)-318(effort)-318(to)-319(identify,)-335(do)-318(copyright)-318(research)-318(on,)-335(transcribe)-319(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(proofread)-383(public)-383(domain)-383(works)-382(in)-383(creating)-383(the)-383(Project)-383(Guten-)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(berg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 19.386 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 15.097 0 Td[(collection.)-712(Despite)-403(these)-404(efforts,)-443(Project)-404(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 235.456 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -269.939 -13.549 Td[(electronic)-262(works,)-264(and)-261(the)-262(medium)-261(on)-262(which)-261(they)-262(may)-261(be)-262(stored,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(may)-312(contain)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 57.708 0 Td[(\034)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 4.844 0 Td[(Defects,)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 36.043 0 Td[(\035)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 8.247 0 Td[(such)-312(as,)-327(but)-312(not)-312(limited)-312(to,)-328(incomplete,)]TJ -106.842 -13.549 Td[(inaccurate)-395(or)-395(corrupt)-395(data,)-431(transcription)-395(errors,)-431(a)-395(copyright)-395(or)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(other)-267(intellectual)-266(property)-267(infringement,)-270(a)-267(defective)-266(or)-267(damaged)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(disk)-277(or)-277(other)-277(medium,)-284(a)-277(computer)-277(virus,)-284(or)-277(computer)-277(codes)-277(that)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(damage)-250(or)-250(cannot)-250(be)-250(read)-250(by)-250(your)-250(equipment.)]TJ 0 -37.682 Td[(1.F.2.)]TJ 0 -25.744 Td[(LIMITED)-451(WARRANTY,)-451(DISCLAIMER)-451(OF)-451(DAMAGES)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 269.721 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -269.721 -13.549 Td[(Except)-334(for)-334(the)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 67.282 0 Td[(\034)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 4.843 0 Td[(Right)-334(of)-334(Replacement)-335(or)-334(Refund)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 146.08 0 Td[(\035)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 8.489 0 Td[(described)-334(in)]TJ -226.694 -13.549 Td[(paragraph)-328(1.F.3,)-347(the)-328(Project)-327(Gutenberg)-328(Literary)-328(Archive)-328(Foun-)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(dation,)-224(the)-218(owner)-218(of)-217(the)-218(Project)-218(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 184.285 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 13.066 0 Td[(trademark,)-224(and)-218(any)]TJ -197.351 -13.549 Td[(other)-361(party)-361(distributing)-361(a)-361(Project)-361(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 196.632 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 14.628 0 Td[(electronic)-361(work)]TJ -211.26 -13.549 Td[(under)-320(this)-319(agreement,)-337(disclaim)-320(all)-319(liability)-320(to)-319(you)-320(for)-320(damages,)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(costs)-316(and)-315(expenses,)-333(including)-315(legal)-316(fees.)-447(YOU)-316(AGREE)-316(THAT)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(YOU)-394(HAVE)-394(NO)-395(REMEDIES)-394(FOR)-394(NEGLIGENCE,)-395(STRICT)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(LIABILITY,)-450(BREACH)-449(OF)-450(WARRANTY)-449(OR)-450(BREACH)-450(OF)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(CONTRACT)-234(EXCEPT)-234(THOSE)-234(PROVIDED)-234(IN)-234(PARAGRAPH)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(F3.)-299(YOU)-266(AGREE)-266(THAT)-266(THE)-266(FOUNDATION,)-266(THE)-267(TRADE-)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(MARK)-367(OWNER,)-366(AND)-367(ANY)-366(DISTRIBUTOR)-367(UNDER)-367(THIS)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(AGREEMENT)-376(WILL)-375(NOT)-376(BE)-376(LIABLE)-376(TO)-375(YOU)-376(FOR)-376(AC-)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(TUAL,)-210(DIRECT,)-210(INDIRECT,)-210(CONSEQUENTIAL,)-210(PUNITIVE)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(OR)-223(INCIDENTAL)-223(DAMAGES)-224(EVEN)-223(IF)-223(YOU)-223(GIVE)-224(NOTICE)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(OF)-250(THE)-250(POSSIBILITY)-250(OF)-250(SUCH)-250(DAMAGE.)]TJ 0 -37.682 Td[(1.F.3.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1340 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1341 0 R
+/Resources 1339 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1319 0 R
+/Annots [ 1344 0 R ]
+>> endobj
+1344 0 obj <<
+/Type /Annot
+/BS << /Type /Border /S /U >> /H /I /C [0 1 1]
+/Rect [93.543 277.585 163.162 287.305]
+/Subtype /Link
+/A << /S /GoTo /D (pglicense1F3) >>
+>> endobj
+1342 0 obj <<
+/D [1340 0 R /XYZ 93.543 529.134 null]
+>> endobj
+1343 0 obj <<
+/D [1340 0 R /XYZ 93.543 356.172 null]
+>> endobj
+1337 0 obj <<
+/D [1340 0 R /XYZ 93.543 91.744 null]
+>> endobj
+1339 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F35 1280 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1347 0 obj <<
+/Length 3646      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(The)-250(Full)-250(Project)-250(Gutenberg)-250(License)-9894(247)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 518.175 Td[(LIMITED)-421(RIGHT)-421(OF)-422(REPLACEMENT)-421(OR)-421(REFUND)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 257.859 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 15.506 0 Td[(If)]TJ -273.365 -13.549 Td[(you)-434(discover)-434(a)-434(defect)-434(in)-434(this)-434(electronic)-434(work)-434(within)-434(90)-434(days)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(of)-335(receiving)-334(it,)-356(you)-335(can)-335(receive)-334(a)-335(refund)-335(of)-334(the)-335(money)-335(\050if)-335(any\051)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(you)-369(paid)-369(for)-369(it)-370(by)-369(sending)-369(a)-369(written)-369(explanation)-369(to)-369(the)-370(person)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(you)-430(received)-430(the)-431(work)-430(from.)-790(If)-431(you)-430(received)-430(the)-430(work)-430(on)-431(a)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(physical)-231(medium,)-236(you)-231(must)-231(return)-232(the)-231(medium)-232(with)-231(your)-232(written)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(explanation.)-706(The)-402(person)-402(or)-402(entity)-402(that)-402(provided)-402(you)-402(with)-402(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(defective)-301(work)-301(may)-301(elect)-300(to)-301(provide)-301(a)-301(replacement)-301(copy)-301(in)-301(lieu)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(of)-305(a)-305(refund)-1(.)-415(If)-305(you)-306(received)-305(the)-305(work)-305(electronically,)-319(the)-306(person)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(or)-348(entity)-347(providing)-348(it)-347(to)-348(you)-347(may)-348(choose)-347(to)-348(give)-348(you)-347(a)-348(second)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(opportunity)-226(to)-226(receive)-225(the)-226(work)-226(electronically)-226(in)-225(lieu)-226(of)-226(a)-226(refund.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(If)-315(the)-315(second)-315(copy)-315(is)-315(also)-315(defective,)-331(you)-315(may)-315(demand)-315(a)-315(refund)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(in)-250(writing)-250(without)-250(further)-250(opportunities)-250(to)-250(fix)-250(the)-250(problem.)]TJ 0 -37.467 Td[(1.F.4.)]TJ 0 -25.624 Td[(Except)-258(for)-259(the)-258(limited)-258(right)-258(of)-258(replacement)-259(or)-258(refund)-258(set)-258(forth)-259(in)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(paragraph)-225(1.F.3,)-230(this)-225(wo)-1(rk)-225(is)-225(provided)-225(to)-225(you)-225('AS-IS,')-225(WITH)-226(NO)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(OTHER)-346(WARRANTIES)-346(OF)-345(ANY)-346(KIND,)-346(EXPRESS)-346(OR)-346(IM-)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(PLIED,)-173(INCLUDING)-172(BUT)-172(NOT)-173(LIMITED)-172(TO)-173(WARRANTIES)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(OF)-190(MERCHANTIBILITY)-190(OR)-190(FITNESS)-190(FOR)-190(ANY)-191(PURPOSE.)]TJ 0 -37.466 Td[(1.F.5.)]TJ 0 -25.624 Td[(Some)-414(states)-414(do)-415(not)-414(allow)-414(disclaimers)-414(of)-414(certain)-414(implied)-415(war-)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(ranties)-220(or)-220(the)-220(exclusion)-220(or)-220(limitation)-220(of)-220(certain)-220(types)-221(of)-220(damages.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(If)-217(any)-217(disclaimer)-218(or)-217(limitation)-217(set)-217(forth)-217(in)-217(this)-217(agreement)-218(violates)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-302(law)-303(of)-302(the)-302(state)-302(applicable)-303(to)-302(this)-302(agreement,)-315(the)-303(agreement)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(shall)-377(be)-377(interpreted)-377(to)-377(make)-377(the)-377(maximum)-377(disclaimer)-378(or)-377(limi-)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(tation)-367(permitted)-366(by)-367(the)-366(applicable)-367(state)-367(law.)-599(The)-367(invalidity)-367(or)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(unenforceability)-192(of)-192(any)-192(provision)-192(of)-192(this)-192(agreement)-192(shall)-192(not)-192(void)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-250(remaining)-250(provisions.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1346 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1347 0 R
+/Resources 1345 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1319 0 R
+/Annots [ 1349 0 R ]
+>> endobj
+1349 0 obj <<
+/Type /Annot
+/BS << /Type /Border /S /U >> /H /I /C [0 1 1]
+/Rect [46.771 276.567 115.271 286.287]
+/Subtype /Link
+/A << /S /GoTo /D (pglicense1F3) >>
+>> endobj
+1348 0 obj <<
+/D [1346 0 R /XYZ 46.771 341.365 null]
+>> endobj
+1350 0 obj <<
+/D [1346 0 R /XYZ 46.771 226.313 null]
+>> endobj
+1351 0 obj <<
+/D [1346 0 R /XYZ 46.771 66.142 null]
+>> endobj
+1345 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1354 0 obj <<
+/Length 3807      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(248)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 518.175 Td[(1.F.6.)]TJ 0 -27.876 Td[(INDEMNITY)]TJ/F29 10.909 Tf 65.981 0 Td[(\024)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 15.092 0 Td[(You)-383(agree)-384(to)-383(indemnify)-384(and)-383(hold)-383(the)-384(Foun-)]TJ -81.073 -13.55 Td[(dation,)-554(the)-494(trademark)-494(owner,)-554(any)-493(agent)-494(or)-494(employee)-493(of)-494(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Foundation,)-494(anyone)-445(providing)-445(copies)-445(of)-445(Project)-446(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 269.939 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -269.939 -13.549 Td[(electronic)-436(works)-437(in)-436(accordance)-436(with)-436(this)-437(agreement,)-482(and)-437(any)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(volunteers)-266(associated)-266(with)-266(the)-266(production,)-270(promotion)-266(and)-266(distri-)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(bution)-307(of)-308(Project)-307(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 123.981 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 14.043 0 Td[(electronic)-307(works,)-322(harmless)-307(from)]TJ -138.024 -13.55 Td[(all)-336(liability,)-358(costs)-336(and)-336(expenses,)-357(including)-336(legal)-336(fees,)-358(that)-336(arise)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(directly)-263(or)-263(indirectly)-263(from)-264(any)-263(of)-263(the)-263(following)-263(which)-263(you)-263(do)-264(or)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(cause)-189(to)-188(occur:)-219(\050a\051)-189(distribution)-188(of)-189(this)-188(or)-189(any)-188(Project)-189(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 269.939 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -269.939 -13.549 Td[(work,)-413(\050b\051)-381(alteration,)-413(modification,)-414(or)-381(additions)-380(or)-381(deletions)-381(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(any)-250(Project)-250(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 98.16 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 13.418 0 Td[(work,)-250(and)-250(\050c\051)-250(any)-250(Defect)-250(you)-250(cause.)]TJ/F16 15.781 Tf -111.578 -53.287 Td[(Section)-250(2.)]TJ/F16 13.151 Tf 32.422 -52.048 Td[(Information)-260(about)-259(the)-260(Mission)-260(of)-259(Project)]TJ 73.695 -17.096 Td[(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 13.151 Tf 55.509 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -161.626 -30.058 Td[(Project)-400(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 81.319 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 15.057 0 Td[(is)-400(synonymous)-400(with)-401(the)-400(free)-400(distribution)]TJ -96.376 -13.55 Td[(of)-408(electronic)-409(works)-408(in)-408(formats)-408(readable)-409(by)-408(the)-408(widest)-409(variety)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(of)-514(computers)-513(including)-514(obsolete,)-580(old,)-579(middle-aged)-514(and)-514(new)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(computers.)-1070(It)-524(exists)-523(because)-524(of)-523(the)-523(efforts)-524(of)-523(hundreds)-524(of)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(volunteers)-250(and)-250(donations)-250(from)-250(people)-250(in)-250(all)-250(walks)-250(of)-250(life.)]TJ 11.956 -14.233 Td[(Volunteers)-162(and)-163(financial)-162(support)-162(to)-163(provide)-162(volunteers)-162(with)-163(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(assistance)-198(they)-199(need,)-209(is)-198(critical)-198(to)-199(reaching)-198(Project)-199(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 263.732 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.691 0 Td[('s)]TJ -274.423 -13.549 Td[(goals)-309(and)-308(ensuring)-309(that)-309(the)-308(Project)-309(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 203.204 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 14.059 0 Td[(collection)-309(will)]TJ -217.263 -13.55 Td[(remain)-382(freely)-381(available)-382(for)-381(generations)-382(to)-382(come.)-644(In)-382(2001,)-415(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Project)-350(Gutenberg)-351(Literary)-350(Archive)-350(Fou)-1(ndation)-350(was)-350(created)-351(to)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(provide)-302(a)-303(secure)-302(and)-302(permanent)-303(future)-302(for)-302(Project)-303(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 269.939 0 Td[(")]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1353 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1354 0 R
+/Resources 1352 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1319 0 R
+>> endobj
+1355 0 obj <<
+/D [1353 0 R /XYZ 93.543 338.785 null]
+>> endobj
+1352 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F29 78 0 R /F35 1280 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1358 0 obj <<
+/Length 3124      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(The)-250(Full)-250(Project)-250(Gutenberg)-250(License)-9894(249)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 518.175 Td[(and)-301(future)-302(generations.)-403(To)-301(learn)-302(more)-301(about)-301(the)-301(Project)-302(Guten-)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(berg)-487(Literary)-487(Archive)-487(Foundation)-487(and)-487(how)-487(your)-488(efforts)-487(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(donations)-225(can)-225(help,)-229(see)-225(Sections)-225(3)-225(and)-225(4)-224(and)-225(the)-225(Foundation)-225(web)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(page)-250(at)-250(http://www.pglaf.org.)]TJ/F16 15.781 Tf 0 -46.043 Td[(Section)-250(3.)]TJ/F16 13.151 Tf 10.376 -44.805 Td[(Information)-253(about)-253(the)-253(Project)-253(Gutenberg)-253(Literary)]TJ 76.986 -17.096 Td[(Archive)-276(Foundation)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -87.362 -26.095 Td[(The)-438(Project)-439(Gutenberg)-438(Literary)-438(Archive)-439(Foundation)-438(is)-438(a)-439(non)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(profit)-176(501\050c\051\0503\051)-176(educational)-176(corporation)-176(organized)-176(under)-176(the)-176(laws)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(of)-303(the)-304(state)-303(of)-304(Mississippi)-303(and)-304(granted)-303(tax)-303(exempt)-304(status)-303(by)-304(the)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Internal)-319(Revenue)-319(Service.)-457(The)-319(Foundation's)-319(EIN)-319(or)-319(federal)-319(tax)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(identification)-179(number)-179(is)-178(64-6221541.)-227(Its)-178(501\050c\051\0503\051)-179(letter)-179(is)-179(posted)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(at)-549(http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf.)-1149(Contributions)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-404(the)-403(Project)-404(Gutenberg)-404(Literary)-403(A)-1(rchive)-403(Foundation)-404(are)-404(tax)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(deductible)-306(to)-306(the)-307(full)-306(extent)-306(permitted)-306(by)-306(U.S.)-306(federal)-306(laws)-307(and)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(your)-250(state's)-250(laws.)]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[(The)-214(Foundation's)-214(principal)-214(office)-213(is)-214(located)-214(at)-214(4557)-214(Melan)-214(Dr.)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(S.)-297(Fairbanks,)-310(AK,)-297(99712.,)-309(but)-297(its)-298(volunteers)-297(and)-297(employees)-298(are)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(scattered)-343(throughout)-343(numerous)-344(locations.)-529(Its)-343(business)-343(office)-344(is)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(located)-197(at)-197(809)-197(North)-197(1500)-197(West,)-208(Salt)-197(Lake)-197(City,)-208(UT)-197(84116,)-208(\050801\051)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(596-1887,)-225(email)-218(business@pglaf.org.)-239(Email)-219(contact)-218(links)-218(and)-219(up)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(to)-227(date)-227(contact)-227(information)-227(can)-227(be)-227(found)-227(at)-227(the)-228(Foundation's)-227(web)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(site)-250(and)-250(official)-250(page)-250(at)-250(http://www.pglaf.org)]TJ 11.956 -13.549 Td[(For)-250(additional)-250(contact)-250(information:)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 7.681 -22.094 Td[(Dr.)-250(Gregory)-250(B.)-250(Newby)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(Chief)-250(Executive)-250(and)-250(Director)]TJ 0 -12.822 Td[(gbnewby@pglaf.org)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1357 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1358 0 R
+/Resources 1356 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1364 0 R
+/Annots [ 1359 0 R 1360 0 R 1361 0 R 1362 0 R 1363 0 R ]
+>> endobj
+1359 0 obj <<
+/Type /Annot
+/BS << /Type /Border /S /U >> /H /I /C [0 1 1]
+/Rect [189.068 488.709 194.522 498.419]
+/Subtype /Link
+/A << /S /GoTo /D (pglicense3) >>
+>> endobj
+1360 0 obj <<
+/Type /Annot
+/BS << /Type /Border /S /U >> /H /I /C [0 1 1]
+/Rect [215.179 488.709 220.634 498.419]
+/Subtype /Link
+/A << /S /GoTo /D (pglicense4) >>
+>> endobj
+1361 0 obj <<
+/Type /Annot
+ /BS << /Type /Border /S /U >> /H /I /C [1 0.5 0.5] 
+/Rect [80.699 475.149 172.815 484.869]
+ /Subtype /Link /A << /Type /Action /S /URI /URI (http://www.pglaf.org) >> 
+>> endobj
+1362 0 obj <<
+/Type /Annot
+ /BS << /Type /Border /S /U >> /H /I /C [1 0.5 0.5] 
+/Rect [60.641 273.365 252.139 283.085]
+ /Subtype /Link /A << /Type /Action /S /URI /URI (http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf) >> 
+>> endobj
+1363 0 obj <<
+/Type /Annot
+ /BS << /Type /Border /S /U >> /H /I /C [1 0.5 0.5] 
+/Rect [151.291 137.873 243.407 147.593]
+ /Subtype /Link /A << /Type /Action /S /URI /URI (http://www.pglaf.org) >> 
+>> endobj
+1338 0 obj <<
+/D [1357 0 R /XYZ 46.771 464.786 null]
+>> endobj
+1356 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1367 0 obj <<
+/Length 3773      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(250)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 15.781 Tf 93.543 518.175 Td[(Section)-250(4.)]TJ/F16 13.151 Tf 26.999 -50.957 Td[(Information)-258(about)-258(Donations)-258(to)-258(the)-258(Project)]TJ 8.106 -17.096 Td[(Gutenberg)-260(Literary)-261(Archive)-260(Foundation)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -35.105 -29.451 Td[(Project)-329(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 80.543 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 14.28 0 Td[(depends)-329(upon)-329(and)-329(cannot)-329(survive)-329(without)]TJ -94.823 -13.55 Td[(wide)-217(spread)-217(public)-217(support)-217(and)-217(donations)-217(to)-217(carry)-217(out)-218(its)-217(mission)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(of)-334(increasing)-334(the)-334(number)-334(of)-334(public)-334(domain)-334(and)-335(licensed)-334(works)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(that)-192(can)-193(be)-192(freely)-193(distributed)-192(in)-192(machine)-193(readable)-192(form)-193(accessible)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(by)-261(the)-261(widest)-261(array)-261(of)-261(equipment)-261(including)-261(o)-1(utdated)-261(equipment.)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(Many)-303(small)-302(donations)-303(\050$1)-303(to)-302($5,0)-1(00\051)-302(are)-303(particularly)-303(important)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(to)-250(maintaining)-250(tax)-250(exempt)-250(status)-250(with)-250(the)-250(IRS.)]TJ 11.956 -14.111 Td[(The)-460(Foundation)-461(is)-460(committed)-461(to)-460(complying)-461(with)-460(the)-461(laws)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(regulating)-353(charities)-352(and)-353(charitable)-352(donations)-353(in)-352(all)-353(50)-352(states)-353(of)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(the)-430(United)-429(States.)-789(Compliance)-430(requirements)-429(are)-430(not)-430(uniform)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(and)-389(it)-389(takes)-389(a)-389(considerable)-389(effort,)-424(much)-389(paperwork)-389(an)-1(d)-389(many)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(fees)-489(to)-489(meet)-489(and)-489(keep)-489(up)-489(with)-489(these)-489(requirements.)-968(We)-489(do)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(not)-396(solicit)-395(donations)-396(in)-396(locations)-396(where)-395(we)-396(have)-396(not)-396(received)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(written)-234(confirmation)-233(of)-234(compliance.)-244(To)-234(SEND)-233(DONATIONS)-234(or)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(determine)-309(the)-310(status)-309(of)-310(compliance)-309(for)-309(any)-310(particular)-309(state)-310(visit)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate)]TJ 11.956 -14.111 Td[(While)-305(we)-304(cannot)-305(and)-304(do)-305(not)-305(solicit)-304(contributions)-305(from)-305(states)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(where)-323(we)-323(have)-322(not)-323(met)-323(the)-323(solicitation)-323(requirements,)-341(we)-323(know)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(of)-366(no)-365(prohibition)-366(against)-366(accepting)-365(unsolicited)-366(donations)-366(from)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(donors)-250(in)-250(such)-250(states)-250(who)-250(approach)-250(us)-250(with)-250(offers)-250(to)-250(donate.)]TJ 11.956 -14.111 Td[(International)-237(donations)-237(are)-237(gratefully)-238(accepted,)-239(but)-237(we)-238(cannot)]TJ -11.956 -13.55 Td[(make)-533(any)-532(statements)-533(concerning)-533(tax)-532(treatment)-533(of)-533(donations)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(received)-256(from)-255(outside)-256(the)-255(United)-256(States.)-267(U.S.)-255(laws)-256(alone)-256(swamp)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(our)-250(small)-250(staff.)]TJ 11.956 -14.112 Td[(Please)-566(check)-565(the)-566(Project)-565(Gutenberg)-566(Web)-565(pages)-566(for)-566(cur-)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(rent)-634(donation)-633(methods)-634(and)-633(addresses.)-1401(Donations)-633(are)-634(ac-)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(cepted)-509(in)-509(a)-509(number)-509(of)-509(other)-509(ways)-509(including)-509(checks,)-574(online)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1366 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1367 0 R
+/Resources 1365 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1364 0 R
+/Annots [ 1368 0 R ]
+>> endobj
+1368 0 obj <<
+/Type /Annot
+ /BS << /Type /Border /S /U >> /H /I /C [1 0.5 0.5] 
+/Rect [93.543 214.492 291.707 224.212]
+ /Subtype /Link /A << /Type /Action /S /URI /URI (http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate) >> 
+>> endobj
+1336 0 obj <<
+/D [1366 0 R /XYZ 93.543 529.134 null]
+>> endobj
+1365 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F35 1280 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1371 0 obj <<
+/Length 3291      
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 46.771 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -46.771 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 548.934 Td[(The)-250(Full)-250(Project)-250(Gutenberg)-250(License)-9894(251)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 327.401 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -327.401 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 46.771 518.175 Td[(payments)-424(and)-424(credit)-424(card)-424(donations.)-772(To)-424(donate,)-468(please)-424(visit:)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate)]TJ/F16 15.781 Tf 0 -57.032 Td[(Section)-250(5.)]TJ/F16 13.151 Tf 12.158 -55.793 Td[(General)-254(Informat)1(ion)-254(About)-254(Project)-253(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 13.151 Tf 243.427 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 13.151 Tf -160.742 -17.096 Td[(electronic)-278(works.)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf -94.843 -32.139 Td[(Professor)-259(Michael)-259(S.)-259(Hart)-259(is)-259(the)-259(originator)-259(of)-259(the)-259(Project)-259(Guten-)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(berg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 19.386 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 15.085 0 Td[(concept)-403(of)-403(a)-403(library)-402(of)-403(electronic)-403(works)-403(that)-403(could)-403(be)]TJ -34.471 -13.549 Td[(freely)-233(shared)-232(with)-233(anyone.)-244(For)-233(thirty)-233(years,)-236(he)-232(produced)-233(and)-233(dis-)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(tributed)-274(Project)-274(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 116.868 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 13.679 0 Td[(eBooks)-274(with)-274(only)-274(a)-274(loose)-274(network)]TJ -130.547 -13.549 Td[(of)-250(volunteer)-250(support.)]TJ 11.956 -14.649 Td[(Project)-379(Gutenberg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 81.091 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 14.829 0 Td[(eBooks)-379(are)-380(often)-379(created)-380(from)-379(several)]TJ -107.876 -13.549 Td[(printed)-248(editions,)-248(all)-248(of)-247(which)-248(are)-248(confirmed)-247(as)-248(Public)-248(Domain)-248(in)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(the)-303(U.S.)-302(unless)-303(a)-303(copyright)-303(notice)-302(is)-303(included.)-408(Thus,)-316(we)-303(do)-303(not)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(necessarily)-216(keep)-217(eBooks)-216(in)-216(compliance)-217(with)-216(any)-216(particular)-217(paper)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(edition.)]TJ 11.956 -14.649 Td[(Each)-355(eBook)-356(is)-356(in)-355(a)-356(subdirectory)-355(of)-356(the)-355(same)-356(number)-355(as)-356(the)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(eBook's)-266(eBook)-266(number,)-269(often)-266(in)-266(several)-266(formats)-266(including)-266(plain)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(vanilla)-250(ASCII,)-250(compressed)-250(\050zipped\051,)-250(HTML)-250(and)-250(others.)]TJ 11.956 -14.649 Td[(Corrected)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 45.766 0 Td[(editions)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 37.301 0 Td[(of)-252(our)-253(eBooks)-252(replace)-252(the)-252(old)-253(file)-252(and)-252(take)]TJ -95.023 -13.549 Td[(over)-286(the)-285(old)-285(filename)-286(and)-285(etext)-286(number.)-356(The)-286(replaced)-285(older)-286(file)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(is)-367(renamed.)]TJ/F18 10.909 Tf 58.126 0 Td[(Versions)]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 42.186 0 Td[(based)-367(on)-367(separate)-367(sources)-367(are)-367(treated)-367(as)]TJ -100.311 -13.549 Td[(new)-250(eBooks)-250(receiving)-250(new)-250(filenames)-250(and)-250(etext)-250(numbers.)]TJ 11.955 -14.649 Td[(Most)-416(people)-416(start)-416(at)-416(our)-416(Web)-416(site)-416(which)-416(has)-416(the)-416(main)-416(PG)]TJ -11.955 -13.549 Td[(search)-250(facility:)]TJ/F16 9.863 Tf 19.636 -28.139 Td[(http://www.gutenberg.org)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 46.771 38.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1370 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1371 0 R
+/Resources 1369 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1364 0 R
+/Annots [ 1372 0 R 1374 0 R ]
+>> endobj
+1372 0 obj <<
+/Type /Annot
+ /BS << /Type /Border /S /U >> /H /I /C [1 0.5 0.5] 
+/Rect [46.771 502.248 244.935 511.968]
+ /Subtype /Link /A << /Type /Action /S /URI /URI (http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate) >> 
+>> endobj
+1374 0 obj <<
+/Type /Annot
+ /BS << /Type /Border /S /U >> /H /I /C [1 0.5 0.5] 
+/Rect [66.408 63.992 168.864 72.78]
+ /Subtype /Link /A << /Type /Action /S /URI /URI (http://www.gutenberg.org) >> 
+>> endobj
+1373 0 obj <<
+/D [1370 0 R /XYZ 46.771 486.939 null]
+>> endobj
+1369 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F35 1280 0 R /F18 18 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1377 0 obj <<
+/Length 978       
+>>
+stream
+1 0 0 1 93.543 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -93.543 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 93.543 548.934 Td[(252)-11338(The)-250(Rejuvenation)-250(of)-250(Aunt)-250(Mary)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 374.173 548.934 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 -374.173 -548.934 cm
+BT
+/F16 10.909 Tf 105.499 518.175 Td[(This)-527(Web)-526(site)-527(includes)-527(information)-526(about)-527(Project)-527(Guten-)]TJ -11.956 -13.549 Td[(berg)]TJ/F35 10.909 Tf 19.386 0 Td[(")]TJ/F16 10.909 Tf 10.691 0 Td[(,)-321(including)-307(how)-306(to)-307(make)-307(donations)-306(to)-307(the)-307(Project)-307(Guten-)]TJ -30.077 -13.549 Td[(berg)-251(Literary)-251(Archive)-250(Foun)-1(dation,)-251(how)-250(to)-251(help)-251(produce)-251(our)-251(new)]TJ 0 -13.549 Td[(eBooks,)-410(and)-378(how)-378(to)-378(subscribe)-378(to)-378(our)-378(email)-378(newsletter)-378(to)-378(hear)]TJ 0 -13.55 Td[(about)-250(new)-250(eBooks.)]TJ
+ET
+1 0 0 1 93.543 436.564 cm
+0 g 0 G
+0 g 0 G
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 0 -397.782 cm
+0 g 0 G
+1 0 0 1 280.63 0 cm
+0 g 0 G
+endstream
+endobj
+1376 0 obj <<
+/Type /Page
+/Contents 1377 0 R
+/Resources 1375 0 R
+/MediaBox [0 0 419.528 595.276]
+/Parent 1364 0 R
+>> endobj
+1375 0 obj <<
+/Font << /F16 6 0 R /F35 1280 0 R >>
+/ProcSet [ /PDF /Text ]
+>> endobj
+1378 0 obj <<
+/Type /Encoding
+/Differences [ 0 /uni2100/uni2101/uni2102/centigrade/uni2104/careof/uni2106/uni2107/uni2108/fahrenheit/uni210a/uni210b/uni210c/uni210d/uni210e/uni210f/uni2110/Ifraktur/uni2112/lsquare/uni2114/uni2115/numero/uni2117/weierstrass/uni2119/uni211a/uni211b/Rfraktur/uni211d/prescription/uni211f/uni2120/telephone/trademark/uni2123/uni2124/uni2125/Omega/uni2127/uni2128/uni2129/uni212a/angstrom/uni212c/uni212d/estimated/uni212f/uni2130/uni2131/uni2132/uni2133/uni2134/aleph/uni2136/uni2137/uni2138/uni2139/uni213a/uni213b/uni213c/uni213d/uni213e/uni213f/uni2140/uni2141/uni2142/uni2143/uni2144/uni2145/uni2146/uni2147/uni2148/uni2149/uni214a/uni214b/uni214c/uni214d/uni214e/uni214f/uni2150/uni2151/uni2152/onethird/twothirds/uni2155/uni2156/uni2157/uni2158/uni2159/uni215a/oneeighth/threeeighths/fiveeighths/seveneighths/uni215f/Oneroman/Tworoman/Threeroman/Fourroman/Fiveroman/Sixroman/Sevenroman/Eightroman/Nineroman/Tenroman/Elevenroman/Twelveroman/uni216c/uni216d/uni216e/uni216f/oneroman/tworoman/threeroman/fourroman/fiveroman/sixroman/sevenroman/eightroman/nineroman/tenroman/elevenroman/twelveroman/uni217c/uni217d/uni217e/uni217f/uni2180/uni2181/uni2182/uni2183/uni2184/uni2185/uni2186/uni2187/uni2188/uni2189/uni218a/uni218b/uni218c/uni218d/uni218e/uni218f/arrowleft/arrowup/arrowright/arrowdown/arrowboth/arrowupdn/arrowupleft/arrowupright/arrowdownright/arrowdownleft/uni219a/uni219b/uni219c/uni219d/uni219e/uni219f/uni21a0/uni21a1/uni21a2/uni21a3/uni21a4/uni21a5/uni21a6/uni21a7/arrowupdownbase/uni21a9/uni21aa/uni21ab/uni21ac/uni21ad/uni21ae/uni21af/uni21b0/uni21b1/uni21b2/uni21b3/uni21b4/carriagereturn/uni21b6/uni21b7/uni21b8/uni21b9/uni21ba/uni21bb/harpoonleftbarbup/uni21bd/uni21be/uni21bf/harpoonrightbarbup/uni21c1/uni21c2/uni21c3/arrowrightoverleft/arrowupleftofdown/arrowleftoverright/uni21c7/uni21c8/uni21c9/uni21ca/uni21cb/uni21cc/arrowleftdblstroke/uni21ce/arrowrightdblstroke/arrowleftdbl/arrowdblup/dblarrowright/arrowdbldown/dblarrowleft/uni21d5/uni21d6/uni21d7/uni21d8/uni21d9/uni21da/uni21db/uni21dc/uni21dd/pageup/pagedown/arrowdashleft/arrowdashup/arrowdashright/arrowdashdown/arrowtableft/arrowtabright/arrowleftwhite/arrowupwhite/arrowrightwhite/arrowdownwhite/capslock/uni21eb/uni21ec/uni21ed/uni21ee/uni21ef/uni21f0/uni21f1/uni21f2/uni21f3/uni21f4/uni21f5/uni21f6/uni21f7/uni21f8/uni21f9/uni21fa/uni21fb/uni21fc/uni21fd/uni21fe/uni21ff]
+>> endobj
+1280 0 obj <<
+/Type /Font
+/Subtype /Type1
+/Encoding 1378 0 R
+/BaseFont /Times-Roman
+>> endobj
+1379 0 obj <<
+/Type /Encoding
+/Differences [ 0 /uni2000/uni2001/enspace/uni2003/uni2004/uni2005/uni2006/uni2007/uni2008/uni2009/uni200a/zerowidthspace/zerowidthnonjoiner/afii301/afii299/afii300/hyphentwo/uni2011/figuredash/endash/emdash/horizontalbar/dblverticalbar/underscoredbl/quoteleft/quoteright/quotesinglbase/quotereversed/quotedblleft/quotedblright/quotedblbase/uni201f/dagger/daggerdbl/bullet/uni2023/onedotenleader/twodotleader/ellipsis/uni2027/uni2028/uni2029/uni202a/uni202b/afii61573/afii61574/afii61575/uni202f/perthousand/uni2031/minute/second/uni2034/primereversed/uni2036/uni2037/uni2038/guilsinglleft/guilsinglright/referencemark/exclamdbl/uni203d/overline/uni203f/uni2040/uni2041/asterism/uni2043/fraction/uni2045/uni2046/uni2047/uni2048/uni2049/uni204a/uni204b/uni204c/uni204d/uni204e/uni204f/uni2050/uni2051/uni2052/uni2053/uni2054/uni2055/uni2056/uni2057/uni2058/uni2059/uni205a/uni205b/uni205c/uni205d/uni205e/uni205f/uni2060/uni2061/uni2062/uni2063/uni2064/uni2065/uni2066/uni2067/uni2068/uni2069/uni206a/uni206b/uni206c/uni206d/uni206e/uni206f/zerosuperior/uni2071/uni2072/uni2073/foursuperior/fivesuperior/sixsuperior/sevensuperior/eightsuperior/ninesuperior/plussuperior/uni207b/equalsuperior/parenleftsuperior/parenrightsuperior/nsuperior/zeroinferior/oneinferior/twoinferior/threeinferior/fourinferior/fiveinferior/sixinferior/seveninferior/eightinferior/nineinferior/uni208a/uni208b/uni208c/parenleftinferior/parenrightinferior/uni208f/uni2090/uni2091/uni2092/uni2093/uni2094/uni2095/uni2096/uni2097/uni2098/uni2099/uni209a/uni209b/uni209c/uni209d/uni209e/uni209f/uni20a0/colonsign/cruzeiro/franc/lira/uni20a5/uni20a6/peseta/uni20a8/won/sheqelhebrew/dong/euro/uni20ad/uni20ae/uni20af/uni20b0/uni20b1/uni20b2/uni20b3/uni20b4/uni20b5/uni20b6/uni20b7/uni20b8/uni20b9/uni20ba/uni20bb/uni20bc/uni20bd/uni20be/uni20bf/uni20c0/uni20c1/uni20c2/uni20c3/uni20c4/uni20c5/uni20c6/uni20c7/uni20c8/uni20c9/uni20ca/uni20cb/uni20cc/uni20cd/uni20ce/uni20cf/uni20d0/uni20d1/uni20d2/uni20d3/uni20d4/uni20d5/uni20d6/uni20d7/uni20d8/uni20d9/uni20da/uni20db/uni20dc/uni20dd/uni20de/uni20df/uni20e0/uni20e1/uni20e2/uni20e3/uni20e4/uni20e5/uni20e6/uni20e7/uni20e8/uni20e9/uni20ea/uni20eb/uni20ec/uni20ed/uni20ee/uni20ef/uni20f0/uni20f1/uni20f2/uni20f3/uni20f4/uni20f5/uni20f6/uni20f7/uni20f8/uni20f9/uni20fa/uni20fb/uni20fc/uni20fd/uni20fe/uni20ff]
+>> endobj
+78 0 obj <<
+/Type /Font
+/Subtype /Type1
+/Encoding 1379 0 R
+/BaseFont /Times-Roman
+>> endobj
+1380 0 obj <<
+/Type /Encoding
+/Differences [ 0 /uni0000/controlSTX/controlSOT/controlETX/controlEOT/controlENQ/controlACK/controlBEL/controlBS/controlHT/controlLF/controlVT/controlFF/controlCR/controlSO/controlSI/controlDLE/controlDC1/controlDC2/controlDC3/controlDC4/controlNAK/controlSYN/controlETB/controlCAN/controlEM/controlSUB/controlESC/controlFS/controlGS/controlRS/controlUS/spacehackarabic/exclam/quotedbl/numbersign/dollar/percent/ampersand/quotesingle/parenleft/parenright/asterisk/plus/comma/hyphen/period/slash/zero/one/two/three/four/five/six/seven/eight/nine/colon/semicolon/less/equal/greater/question/at/A/B/C/D/E/F/G/H/I/J/K/L/M/N/O/P/Q/R/S/T/U/V/W/X/Y/Z/bracketleft/backslash/bracketright/asciicircum/underscore/grave/a/b/c/d/e/f/g/h/i/j/k/l/m/n/o/p/q/r/s/t/u/v/w/x/y/z/braceleft/verticalbar/braceright/asciitilde/controlDEL/uni0080/uni0081/uni0082/uni0083/uni0084/uni0085/uni0086/uni0087/uni0088/uni0089/uni008a/uni008b/uni008c/uni008d/uni008e/uni008f/uni0090/uni0091/uni0092/uni0093/uni0094/uni0095/uni0096/uni0097/uni0098/uni0099/uni009a/uni009b/uni009c/uni009d/uni009e/uni009f/nonbreakingspace/exclamdown/cent/sterling/currency/yen/brokenbar/section/dieresis/copyright/ordfeminine/guillemotleft/logicalnot/softhyphen/registered/overscore/degree/plusminus/twosuperior/threesuperior/acute/mu1/paragraph/periodcentered/cedilla/onesuperior/ordmasculine/guillemotright/onequarter/onehalf/threequarters/questiondown/Agrave/Aacute/Acircumflex/Atilde/Adieresis/Aring/AE/Ccedilla/Egrave/Eacute/Ecircumflex/Edieresis/Igrave/Iacute/Icircumflex/Idieresis/Eth/Ntilde/Ograve/Oacute/Ocircumflex/Otilde/Odieresis/multiply/Oslash/Ugrave/Uacute/Ucircumflex/Udieresis/Yacute/Thorn/germandbls/agrave/aacute/acircumflex/atilde/adieresis/aring/ae/ccedilla/egrave/eacute/ecircumflex/edieresis/igrave/iacute/icircumflex/idieresis/eth/ntilde/ograve/oacute/ocircumflex/otilde/odieresis/divide/oslash/ugrave/uacute/ucircumflex/udieresis/yacute/thorn/ydieresis]
+>> endobj
+18 0 obj <<
+/Type /Font
+/Subtype /Type1
+/Encoding 1380 0 R
+/BaseFont /Times-Italic
+>> endobj
+6 0 obj <<
+/Type /Font
+/Subtype /Type1
+/Encoding 1380 0 R
+/BaseFont /Times-Roman
+>> endobj
+9 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 6
+/Parent 1381 0 R
+/Kids [2 0 R 12 0 R 15 0 R 20 0 R 24 0 R 30 0 R]
+>> endobj
+35 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 6
+/Parent 1381 0 R
+/Kids [33 0 R 37 0 R 44 0 R 67 0 R 74 0 R 81 0 R]
+>> endobj
+89 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 6
+/Parent 1381 0 R
+/Kids [85 0 R 91 0 R 95 0 R 100 0 R 105 0 R 109 0 R]
+>> endobj
+117 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 6
+/Parent 1381 0 R
+/Kids [114 0 R 123 0 R 127 0 R 132 0 R 136 0 R 141 0 R]
+>> endobj
+149 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 6
+/Parent 1381 0 R
+/Kids [145 0 R 151 0 R 159 0 R 163 0 R 168 0 R 172 0 R]
+>> endobj
+180 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 6
+/Parent 1381 0 R
+/Kids [177 0 R 182 0 R 186 0 R 191 0 R 199 0 R 203 0 R]
+>> endobj
+211 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 6
+/Parent 1382 0 R
+/Kids [208 0 R 213 0 R 218 0 R 222 0 R 227 0 R 235 0 R]
+>> endobj
+243 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 6
+/Parent 1382 0 R
+/Kids [239 0 R 245 0 R 249 0 R 254 0 R 258 0 R 262 0 R]
+>> endobj
+271 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 6
+/Parent 1382 0 R
+/Kids [267 0 R 277 0 R 281 0 R 286 0 R 290 0 R 295 0 R]
+>> endobj
+303 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 6
+/Parent 1382 0 R
+/Kids [299 0 R 305 0 R 313 0 R 318 0 R 322 0 R 327 0 R]
+>> endobj
+338 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 6
+/Parent 1382 0 R
+/Kids [335 0 R 340 0 R 344 0 R 353 0 R 357 0 R 361 0 R]
+>> endobj
+370 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 6
+/Parent 1382 0 R
+/Kids [366 0 R 372 0 R 376 0 R 380 0 R 385 0 R 394 0 R]
+>> endobj
+401 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 6
+/Parent 1383 0 R
+/Kids [398 0 R 403 0 R 408 0 R 412 0 R 417 0 R 421 0 R]
+>> endobj
+429 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 6
+/Parent 1383 0 R
+/Kids [425 0 R 431 0 R 439 0 R 443 0 R 447 0 R 452 0 R]
+>> endobj
+460 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 6
+/Parent 1383 0 R
+/Kids [456 0 R 462 0 R 466 0 R 471 0 R 475 0 R 480 0 R]
+>> endobj
+488 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 6
+/Parent 1383 0 R
+/Kids [484 0 R 494 0 R 498 0 R 503 0 R 507 0 R 512 0 R]
+>> endobj
+520 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 6
+/Parent 1383 0 R
+/Kids [516 0 R 523 0 R 527 0 R 532 0 R 536 0 R 544 0 R]
+>> endobj
+552 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 6
+/Parent 1383 0 R
+/Kids [548 0 R 554 0 R 558 0 R 562 0 R 567 0 R 571 0 R]
+>> endobj
+583 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 6
+/Parent 1384 0 R
+/Kids [580 0 R 585 0 R 589 0 R 594 0 R 598 0 R 603 0 R]
+>> endobj
+611 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 6
+/Parent 1384 0 R
+/Kids [607 0 R 613 0 R 617 0 R 622 0 R 626 0 R 631 0 R]
+>> endobj
+639 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 6
+/Parent 1384 0 R
+/Kids [635 0 R 641 0 R 650 0 R 654 0 R 659 0 R 663 0 R]
+>> endobj
+671 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 6
+/Parent 1384 0 R
+/Kids [667 0 R 674 0 R 679 0 R 683 0 R 688 0 R 692 0 R]
+>> endobj
+700 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 6
+/Parent 1384 0 R
+/Kids [697 0 R 702 0 R 707 0 R 711 0 R 716 0 R 720 0 R]
+>> endobj
+728 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 6
+/Parent 1384 0 R
+/Kids [725 0 R 730 0 R 735 0 R 739 0 R 744 0 R 752 0 R]
+>> endobj
+759 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 6
+/Parent 1385 0 R
+/Kids [756 0 R 761 0 R 766 0 R 770 0 R 775 0 R 779 0 R]
+>> endobj
+787 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 6
+/Parent 1385 0 R
+/Kids [784 0 R 789 0 R 794 0 R 798 0 R 803 0 R 812 0 R]
+>> endobj
+819 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 6
+/Parent 1385 0 R
+/Kids [816 0 R 821 0 R 826 0 R 831 0 R 836 0 R 841 0 R]
+>> endobj
+848 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 6
+/Parent 1385 0 R
+/Kids [845 0 R 850 0 R 855 0 R 859 0 R 864 0 R 869 0 R]
+>> endobj
+880 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 6
+/Parent 1385 0 R
+/Kids [877 0 R 882 0 R 886 0 R 891 0 R 896 0 R 901 0 R]
+>> endobj
+913 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 6
+/Parent 1385 0 R
+/Kids [910 0 R 915 0 R 919 0 R 924 0 R 928 0 R 933 0 R]
+>> endobj
+941 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 6
+/Parent 1386 0 R
+/Kids [937 0 R 943 0 R 951 0 R 955 0 R 960 0 R 964 0 R]
+>> endobj
+972 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 6
+/Parent 1386 0 R
+/Kids [969 0 R 974 0 R 979 0 R 983 0 R 988 0 R 992 0 R]
+>> endobj
+1000 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 6
+/Parent 1386 0 R
+/Kids [997 0 R 1002 0 R 1007 0 R 1015 0 R 1019 0 R 1023 0 R]
+>> endobj
+1031 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 6
+/Parent 1386 0 R
+/Kids [1028 0 R 1033 0 R 1038 0 R 1042 0 R 1046 0 R 1051 0 R]
+>> endobj
+1059 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 6
+/Parent 1386 0 R
+/Kids [1055 0 R 1065 0 R 1069 0 R 1073 0 R 1078 0 R 1082 0 R]
+>> endobj
+1093 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 6
+/Parent 1386 0 R
+/Kids [1090 0 R 1095 0 R 1099 0 R 1104 0 R 1113 0 R 1118 0 R]
+>> endobj
+1126 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 6
+/Parent 1387 0 R
+/Kids [1122 0 R 1128 0 R 1132 0 R 1137 0 R 1142 0 R 1146 0 R]
+>> endobj
+1154 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 6
+/Parent 1387 0 R
+/Kids [1151 0 R 1157 0 R 1162 0 R 1166 0 R 1171 0 R 1175 0 R]
+>> endobj
+1183 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 6
+/Parent 1387 0 R
+/Kids [1180 0 R 1185 0 R 1190 0 R 1194 0 R 1198 0 R 1202 0 R]
+>> endobj
+1213 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 6
+/Parent 1387 0 R
+/Kids [1210 0 R 1215 0 R 1219 0 R 1224 0 R 1229 0 R 1233 0 R]
+>> endobj
+1241 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 6
+/Parent 1387 0 R
+/Kids [1238 0 R 1243 0 R 1247 0 R 1251 0 R 1254 0 R 1258 0 R]
+>> endobj
+1267 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 6
+/Parent 1387 0 R
+/Kids [1265 0 R 1269 0 R 1276 0 R 1286 0 R 1295 0 R 1304 0 R]
+>> endobj
+1319 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 6
+/Parent 1388 0 R
+/Kids [1310 0 R 1321 0 R 1328 0 R 1340 0 R 1346 0 R 1353 0 R]
+>> endobj
+1364 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 4
+/Parent 1388 0 R
+/Kids [1357 0 R 1366 0 R 1370 0 R 1376 0 R]
+>> endobj
+1381 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 36
+/Parent 1389 0 R
+/Kids [9 0 R 35 0 R 89 0 R 117 0 R 149 0 R 180 0 R]
+>> endobj
+1382 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 36
+/Parent 1389 0 R
+/Kids [211 0 R 243 0 R 271 0 R 303 0 R 338 0 R 370 0 R]
+>> endobj
+1383 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 36
+/Parent 1389 0 R
+/Kids [401 0 R 429 0 R 460 0 R 488 0 R 520 0 R 552 0 R]
+>> endobj
+1384 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 36
+/Parent 1389 0 R
+/Kids [583 0 R 611 0 R 639 0 R 671 0 R 700 0 R 728 0 R]
+>> endobj
+1385 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 36
+/Parent 1389 0 R
+/Kids [759 0 R 787 0 R 819 0 R 848 0 R 880 0 R 913 0 R]
+>> endobj
+1386 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 36
+/Parent 1389 0 R
+/Kids [941 0 R 972 0 R 1000 0 R 1031 0 R 1059 0 R 1093 0 R]
+>> endobj
+1387 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 36
+/Parent 1390 0 R
+/Kids [1126 0 R 1154 0 R 1183 0 R 1213 0 R 1241 0 R 1267 0 R]
+>> endobj
+1388 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 10
+/Parent 1390 0 R
+/Kids [1319 0 R 1364 0 R]
+>> endobj
+1389 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 216
+/Parent 1391 0 R
+/Kids [1381 0 R 1382 0 R 1383 0 R 1384 0 R 1385 0 R 1386 0 R]
+>> endobj
+1390 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 46
+/Parent 1391 0 R
+/Kids [1387 0 R 1388 0 R]
+>> endobj
+1391 0 obj <<
+/Type /Pages
+/Count 262
+/Kids [1389 0 R 1390 0 R]
+>> endobj
+1392 0 obj <<
+/Type /Outlines
+/First 41 0 R
+/Last 1283 0 R
+/Count 29
+>> endobj
+1283 0 obj <<
+/Title 1284 0 R
+/A 1281 0 R
+/Parent 1392 0 R
+/Prev 1273 0 R
+>> endobj
+1273 0 obj <<
+/Title 1274 0 R
+/A 1271 0 R
+/Parent 1392 0 R
+/Prev 1262 0 R
+/Next 1283 0 R
+>> endobj
+1262 0 obj <<
+/Title 1263 0 R
+/A 1260 0 R
+/Parent 1392 0 R
+/Prev 1207 0 R
+/Next 1273 0 R
+>> endobj
+1207 0 obj <<
+/Title 1208 0 R
+/A 1205 0 R
+/Parent 1392 0 R
+/Prev 1110 0 R
+/Next 1262 0 R
+>> endobj
+1110 0 obj <<
+/Title 1111 0 R
+/A 1108 0 R
+/Parent 1392 0 R
+/Prev 1087 0 R
+/Next 1207 0 R
+>> endobj
+1087 0 obj <<
+/Title 1088 0 R
+/A 1085 0 R
+/Parent 1392 0 R
+/Prev 1062 0 R
+/Next 1110 0 R
+>> endobj
+1062 0 obj <<
+/Title 1063 0 R
+/A 1060 0 R
+/Parent 1392 0 R
+/Prev 1012 0 R
+/Next 1087 0 R
+>> endobj
+1012 0 obj <<
+/Title 1013 0 R
+/A 1010 0 R
+/Parent 1392 0 R
+/Prev 948 0 R
+/Next 1062 0 R
+>> endobj
+948 0 obj <<
+/Title 949 0 R
+/A 946 0 R
+/Parent 1392 0 R
+/Prev 907 0 R
+/Next 1012 0 R
+>> endobj
+907 0 obj <<
+/Title 908 0 R
+/A 905 0 R
+/Parent 1392 0 R
+/Prev 874 0 R
+/Next 948 0 R
+>> endobj
+874 0 obj <<
+/Title 875 0 R
+/A 872 0 R
+/Parent 1392 0 R
+/Prev 809 0 R
+/Next 907 0 R
+>> endobj
+809 0 obj <<
+/Title 810 0 R
+/A 807 0 R
+/Parent 1392 0 R
+/Prev 749 0 R
+/Next 874 0 R
+>> endobj
+749 0 obj <<
+/Title 750 0 R
+/A 747 0 R
+/Parent 1392 0 R
+/Prev 647 0 R
+/Next 809 0 R
+>> endobj
+647 0 obj <<
+/Title 648 0 R
+/A 645 0 R
+/Parent 1392 0 R
+/Prev 577 0 R
+/Next 749 0 R
+>> endobj
+577 0 obj <<
+/Title 578 0 R
+/A 575 0 R
+/Parent 1392 0 R
+/Prev 541 0 R
+/Next 647 0 R
+>> endobj
+541 0 obj <<
+/Title 542 0 R
+/A 539 0 R
+/Parent 1392 0 R
+/Prev 491 0 R
+/Next 577 0 R
+>> endobj
+491 0 obj <<
+/Title 492 0 R
+/A 489 0 R
+/Parent 1392 0 R
+/Prev 436 0 R
+/Next 541 0 R
+>> endobj
+436 0 obj <<
+/Title 437 0 R
+/A 434 0 R
+/Parent 1392 0 R
+/Prev 391 0 R
+/Next 491 0 R
+>> endobj
+391 0 obj <<
+/Title 392 0 R
+/A 389 0 R
+/Parent 1392 0 R
+/Prev 350 0 R
+/Next 436 0 R
+>> endobj
+350 0 obj <<
+/Title 351 0 R
+/A 348 0 R
+/Parent 1392 0 R
+/Prev 332 0 R
+/Next 391 0 R
+>> endobj
+332 0 obj <<
+/Title 333 0 R
+/A 330 0 R
+/Parent 1392 0 R
+/Prev 310 0 R
+/Next 350 0 R
+>> endobj
+310 0 obj <<
+/Title 311 0 R
+/A 308 0 R
+/Parent 1392 0 R
+/Prev 274 0 R
+/Next 332 0 R
+>> endobj
+274 0 obj <<
+/Title 275 0 R
+/A 272 0 R
+/Parent 1392 0 R
+/Prev 232 0 R
+/Next 310 0 R
+>> endobj
+232 0 obj <<
+/Title 233 0 R
+/A 230 0 R
+/Parent 1392 0 R
+/Prev 196 0 R
+/Next 274 0 R
+>> endobj
+196 0 obj <<
+/Title 197 0 R
+/A 194 0 R
+/Parent 1392 0 R
+/Prev 156 0 R
+/Next 232 0 R
+>> endobj
+156 0 obj <<
+/Title 157 0 R
+/A 154 0 R
+/Parent 1392 0 R
+/Prev 120 0 R
+/Next 196 0 R
+>> endobj
+120 0 obj <<
+/Title 121 0 R
+/A 118 0 R
+/Parent 1392 0 R
+/Prev 71 0 R
+/Next 156 0 R
+>> endobj
+71 0 obj <<
+/Title 72 0 R
+/A 69 0 R
+/Parent 1392 0 R
+/Prev 41 0 R
+/Next 120 0 R
+>> endobj
+41 0 obj <<
+/Title 42 0 R
+/A 39 0 R
+/Parent 1392 0 R
+/Next 71 0 R
+>> endobj
+1393 0 obj <<
+/Names [(Pg001) 76 0 R (Pg002) 79 0 R (Pg003) 83 0 R (Pg004) 87 0 R (Pg005) 88 0 R (Pg006) 93 0 R (Pg007) 97 0 R (Pg008) 98 0 R (Pg009) 102 0 R (Pg010) 103 0 R (Pg011) 107 0 R (Pg012) 111 0 R (Pg013) 112 0 R (Pg014) 116 0 R (Pg015) 125 0 R (Pg016) 129 0 R (Pg017) 130 0 R (Pg018) 134 0 R (Pg019) 138 0 R (Pg020) 139 0 R (Pg021) 143 0 R (Pg022) 147 0 R (Pg023) 148 0 R (Pg024) 153 0 R (Pg025) 161 0 R (Pg026) 165 0 R (Pg027) 166 0 R (Pg028) 170 0 R (Pg029) 174 0 R (Pg030) 175 0 R (Pg031) 179 0 R (Pg032) 184 0 R (Pg033) 188 0 R (Pg034) 189 0 R (Pg035) 193 0 R (Pg036) 201 0 R (Pg037) 205 0 R (Pg038) 206 0 R (Pg039) 210 0 R (Pg040) 215 0 R (Pg041) 216 0 R (Pg042) 220 0 R (Pg043) 224 0 R (Pg044) 225 0 R (Pg045) 229 0 R (Pg046) 237 0 R (Pg047) 241 0 R (Pg048) 242 0 R (Pg049) 247 0 R (Pg050) 251 0 R (Pg051) 252 0 R (Pg052) 256 0 R (Pg053) 260 0 R (Pg054) 264 0 R (Pg055) 265 0 R (Pg056) 269 0 R (Pg057) 270 0 R (Pg058) 279 0 R (Pg059) 283 0 R (Pg060) 284 0 R (Pg061) 288 0 R (Pg062) 292 0 R (Pg063) 293 0 R (Pg064) 297 0 R (Pg065) 301 0 R (Pg066) 302 0 R (Pg067) 307 0 R (Pg068) 315 0 R (Pg069) 320 0 R (Pg070) 324 0 R (Pg071) 325 0 R (Pg072) 337 0 R (Pg073) 342 0 R (Pg074) 346 0 R (Pg075) 347 0 R (Pg076) 355 0 R (Pg077) 359 0 R (Pg078) 363 0 R (Pg079) 364 0 R (Pg080) 368 0 R (Pg081) 369 0 R (Pg082) 374 0 R (Pg083) 378 0 R (Pg084) 382 0 R (Pg085) 383 0 R (Pg086) 387 0 R (Pg087) 388 0 R (Pg088) 396 0 R (Pg089) 400 0 R (Pg090) 405 0 R (Pg091) 406 0 R (Pg092) 410 0 R (Pg093) 414 0 R (Pg094) 415 0 R (Pg095) 419 0 R (Pg096) 423 0 R (Pg097) 427 0 R (Pg098) 428 0 R (Pg099) 433 0 R (Pg100) 441 0 R (Pg101) 445 0 R (Pg102) 449 0 R (Pg103) 450 0 R (Pg104) 454 0 R (Pg105) 458 0 R (Pg106) 459 0 R (Pg107) 464 0 R (Pg108) 468 0 R (Pg109) 469 0 R (Pg110) 473 0 R (Pg111) 477 0 R (Pg112) 478 0 R (Pg113) 482 0 R (Pg114) 486 0 R (Pg115) 487 0 R (Pg116) 496 0 R (Pg117) 500 0 R (Pg118) 501 0 R (Pg119) 505 0 R (Pg120) 509 0 R (Pg121) 510 0 R (Pg122) 514 0 R (Pg123) 518 0 R (Pg124) 519 0 R (Pg125) 525 0 R (Pg126) 529 0 R (Pg127) 530 0 R (Pg128) 534 0 R (Pg129) 546 0 R (Pg130) 550 0 R (Pg131) 551 0 R (Pg132) 556 0 R (Pg133) 560 0 R (Pg134) 564 0 R (Pg135) 565 0 R (Pg136) 569 0 R (Pg137) 573 0 R (Pg138) 574 0 R (Pg139) 582 0 R (Pg140) 587 0 R (Pg141) 591 0 R (Pg142) 592 0 R (Pg143) 596 0 R (Pg144) 600 0 R (Pg145) 601 0 R (Pg146) 605 0 R (Pg147) 609 0 R (Pg148) 610 0 R (Pg149) 615 0 R (Pg150) 619 0 R (Pg151) 620 0 R (Pg152) 624 0 R (Pg153) 628 0 R (Pg154) 629 0 R (Pg155) 633 0 R (Pg156) 637 0 R (Pg157) 638 0 R (Pg158) 643 0 R (Pg159) 644 0 R (Pg160) 652 0 R (Pg161) 656 0 R (Pg162) 657 0 R (Pg163) 661 0 R (Pg164) 665 0 R (Pg165) 669 0 R (Pg166) 670 0 R (Pg167) 676 0 R (Pg168) 681 0 R (Pg169) 685 0 R (Pg170) 686 0 R (Pg171) 690 0 R (Pg172) 694 0 R (Pg173) 695 0 R (Pg174) 699 0 R (Pg175) 704 0 R (Pg176) 705 0 R (Pg177) 709 0 R (Pg178) 713 0 R (Pg179) 714 0 R (Pg180) 718 0 R (Pg181) 722 0 R (Pg182) 723 0 R (Pg183) 727 0 R (Pg184) 732 0 R (Pg185) 733 0 R (Pg186) 737 0 R (Pg187) 741 0 R (Pg188) 742 0 R (Pg189) 746 0 R (Pg190) 754 0 R (Pg191) 758 0 R (Pg192) 763 0 R (Pg193) 764 0 R (Pg194) 768 0 R (Pg195) 772 0 R (Pg196) 773 0 R (Pg197) 777 0 R (Pg198) 781 0 R (Pg199) 782 0 R (Pg200) 786 0 R (Pg201) 791 0 R (Pg202) 792 0 R (Pg203) 796 0 R (Pg204) 800 0 R (Pg205) 801 0 R (Pg206) 805 0 R (Pg207) 806 0 R (Pg208) 814 0 R (Pg209) 818 0 R (Pg210) 823 0 R (Pg211) 824 0 R (Pg212) 828 0 R (Pg213) 829 0 R (Pg214) 833 0 R (Pg215) 838 0 R (Pg216) 839 0 R (Pg217) 843 0 R (Pg218) 847 0 R (Pg219) 852 0 R (Pg220) 853 0 R (Pg221) 857 0 R (Pg222) 861 0 R (Pg223) 862 0 R (Pg224) 866 0 R (Pg225) 867 0 R (Pg226) 879 0 R (Pg227) 884 0 R (Pg228) 888 0 R (Pg229) 889 0 R (Pg230) 893 0 R (Pg231) 898 0 R (Pg232) 903 0 R (Pg233) 904 0 R (Pg234) 912 0 R (Pg235) 917 0 R (Pg236) 921 0 R (Pg237) 922 0 R (Pg238) 926 0 R (Pg239) 930 0 R (Pg240) 931 0 R (Pg241) 935 0 R (Pg242) 939 0 R (Pg243) 940 0 R (Pg244) 945 0 R (Pg245) 953 0 R (Pg246) 957 0 R (Pg247) 958 0 R (Pg248) 962 0 R (Pg249) 966 0 R (Pg250) 967 0 R (Pg251) 971 0 R (Pg252) 976 0 R (Pg253) 977 0 R (Pg254) 981 0 R (Pg255) 985 0 R (Pg256) 986 0 R (Pg257) 990 0 R (Pg258) 994 0 R (Pg259) 995 0 R (Pg260) 999 0 R (Pg261) 1004 0 R (Pg262) 1005 0 R (Pg263) 1009 0 R (Pg264) 1017 0 R (Pg265) 1021 0 R (Pg266) 1025 0 R (Pg267) 1026 0 R (Pg268) 1030 0 R (Pg269) 1035 0 R (Pg270) 1036 0 R (Pg271) 1040 0 R (Pg272) 1044 0 R (Pg273) 1048 0 R (Pg274) 1049 0 R (Pg275) 1053 0 R (Pg276) 1057 0 R (Pg277) 1058 0 R (Pg278) 1067 0 R (Pg279) 1071 0 R (Pg280) 1075 0 R (Pg281) 1076 0 R (Pg282) 1080 0 R (Pg283) 1084 0 R (Pg284) 1092 0 R (Pg285) 1097 0 R (Pg286) 1101 0 R (Pg287) 1102 0 R (Pg288) 1106 0 R (Pg289) 1107 0 R (Pg290) 1115 0 R (Pg291) 1120 0 R (Pg292) 1124 0 R (Pg293) 1125 0 R (Pg294) 1130 0 R (Pg295) 1134 0 R (Pg296) 1135 0 R (Pg297) 1139 0 R (Pg298) 1140 0 R (Pg299) 1144 0 R (Pg300) 1148 0 R (Pg301) 1149 0 R (Pg302) 1153 0 R (Pg303) 1159 0 R (Pg304) 1160 0 R (Pg305) 1164 0 R (Pg306) 1168 0 R (Pg307) 1169 0 R (Pg308) 1173 0 R (Pg309) 1177 0 R (Pg310) 1178 0 R (Pg311) 1182 0 R (Pg312) 1187 0 R (Pg313) 1188 0 R (Pg314) 1192 0 R (Pg315) 1196 0 R (Pg316) 1212 0 R (Pg317) 1217 0 R (Pg318) 1221 0 R (Pg319) 1222 0 R (Pg320) 1226 0 R (Pg321) 1227 0 R (Pg322) 1231 0 R (Pg323) 1235 0 R (Pg325) 1236 0 R (Pg326) 1240 0 R (Pg327) 1245 0 R (Pg328) 1249 0 R (frontispiece) 26 0 R (image01) 27 0 R (image02) 59 0 R (image03) 60 0 R (image04) 61 0 R (image05) 62 0 R (image06) 63 0 R (image07) 64 0 R (image08) 65 0 R (index1) 40 0 R (index10) 349 0 R (index11) 390 0 R (index12) 435 0 R (index13) 490 0 R (index14) 540 0 R (index15) 576 0 R (index16) 646 0 R (index17) 748 0 R (index18) 808 0 R (index19) 873 0 R (index2) 70 0 R (index20) 906 0 R (index21) 947 0 R (index22) 1011 0 R (index23) 1061 0 R (index24) 1086 0 R (index25) 1109 0 R (index26) 1206 0 R (index27) 1261 0 R (index28) 1272 0 R (index29) 1282 0 R (index3) 119 0 R (index4) 155 0 R (index5) 195 0 R (index6) 231 0 R (index7) 273 0 R (index8) 309 0 R (index9) 331 0 R (pgfooter) 1256 0 R (pgheader) 4 0 R (pglicense) 10 0 R (pglicense1) 1290 0 R (pglicense1A) 1291 0 R (pglicense1B) 1297 0 R (pglicense1C) 1300 0 R (pglicense1D) 1301 0 R (pglicense1E) 1302 0 R (pglicense1E1) 1306 0 R (pglicense1E2) 1308 0 R (pglicense1E3) 1314 0 R (pglicense1E4) 1316 0 R (pglicense1E5) 1317 0 R (pglicense1E6) 1323 0 R (pglicense1E7) 1325 0 R (pglicense1E8) 1293 0 R (pglicense1E9) 1333 0 R (pglicense1F) 1335 0 R (pglicense1F1) 1342 0 R (pglicense1F2) 1343 0 R (pglicense1F3) 1337 0 R (pglicense1F4) 1348 0 R (pglicense1F5) 1350 0 R (pglicense1F6) 1351 0 R (pglicense2) 1355 0 R (pglicense3) 1338 0 R (pglicense4) 1336 0 R (pglicense5) 1373 0 R]
+/Limits [(Pg001) (pglicense5)]
+>> endobj
+1394 0 obj <<
+/Kids [1393 0 R]
+>> endobj
+1395 0 obj <<
+/Dests 1394 0 R
+>> endobj
+1396 0 obj <<
+/Type /Catalog
+/Pages 1391 0 R
+/Outlines 1392 0 R
+/Names 1395 0 R
+/PTEX.Fullbanner (This is pdfTeX, Version 3.14159-1.10b)
+>> endobj
+1397 0 obj <<
+/Producer (pdfTeX-1.10b)
+ /Author (Anne Warner) /Title (The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary) 
+/Creator (TeX)
+/CreationDate (D:20060706160900)
+>> endobj
+xref
+0 1398
+0000000005 65535 f 
+0000001973 00000 n 
+0000001397 00000 n 
+0000000009 00000 n 
+0000001916 00000 n 
+0000000017 00000 f 
+0002242061 00000 n 
+0000001533 00000 n 
+0000001702 00000 n 
+0002242152 00000 n 
+0002178517 00000 n 
+0000002340 00000 n 
+0000002225 00000 n 
+0000002041 00000 n 
+0000003352 00000 n 
+0000003237 00000 n 
+0000002380 00000 n 
+0000000077 00000 f 
+0002241968 00000 n 
+0000004446 00000 n 
+0000004331 00000 n 
+0000003433 00000 n 
+0000005204 00000 n 
+0000093924 00000 n 
+0000005089 00000 n 
+0000004527 00000 n 
+0000093806 00000 n 
+0000093865 00000 n 
+0000093700 00000 n 
+0000095075 00000 n 
+0000094960 00000 n 
+0000094036 00000 n 
+0000104906 00000 n 
+0000104790 00000 n 
+0000095156 00000 n 
+0002242261 00000 n 
+0000105275 00000 n 
+0000105159 00000 n 
+0000104975 00000 n 
+0000105315 00000 n 
+0000109221 00000 n 
+0002251347 00000 n 
+0000105358 00000 n 
+0000109280 00000 n 
+0000106831 00000 n 
+0000105390 00000 n 
+0000107050 00000 n 
+0000107221 00000 n 
+0000107393 00000 n 
+0000107559 00000 n 
+0000107726 00000 n 
+0000107892 00000 n 
+0000108058 00000 n 
+0000108224 00000 n 
+0000108390 00000 n 
+0000108557 00000 n 
+0000108723 00000 n 
+0000108889 00000 n 
+0000109055 00000 n 
+0000323185 00000 n 
+0000695905 00000 n 
+0001101457 00000 n 
+0001257449 00000 n 
+0001589103 00000 n 
+0001779803 00000 n 
+0001819604 00000 n 
+0000109661 00000 n 
+0000109545 00000 n 
+0000109361 00000 n 
+0000109701 00000 n 
+0000112596 00000 n 
+0002251257 00000 n 
+0000109744 00000 n 
+0000112713 00000 n 
+0000112421 00000 n 
+0000109798 00000 n 
+0000112537 00000 n 
+0000001279 00000 f 
+0002239908 00000 n 
+0000112655 00000 n 
+0000117697 00000 n 
+0000117521 00000 n 
+0000112794 00000 n 
+0000117637 00000 n 
+0000122724 00000 n 
+0000122490 00000 n 
+0000117790 00000 n 
+0000122606 00000 n 
+0000122666 00000 n 
+0002242372 00000 n 
+0000127818 00000 n 
+0000127643 00000 n 
+0000122793 00000 n 
+0000127759 00000 n 
+0000132835 00000 n 
+0000132599 00000 n 
+0000127911 00000 n 
+0000132715 00000 n 
+0000132775 00000 n 
+0000137977 00000 n 
+0000137736 00000 n 
+0000132916 00000 n 
+0000137854 00000 n 
+0000137916 00000 n 
+0000143059 00000 n 
+0000142879 00000 n 
+0000138058 00000 n 
+0000142998 00000 n 
+0000147480 00000 n 
+0000147239 00000 n 
+0000143129 00000 n 
+0000147358 00000 n 
+0000147419 00000 n 
+0000150725 00000 n 
+0000150544 00000 n 
+0000147562 00000 n 
+0000150664 00000 n 
+0002242486 00000 n 
+0000150795 00000 n 
+0000154896 00000 n 
+0002251164 00000 n 
+0000150839 00000 n 
+0000155019 00000 n 
+0000154776 00000 n 
+0000150877 00000 n 
+0000154957 00000 n 
+0000159797 00000 n 
+0000159556 00000 n 
+0000155101 00000 n 
+0000159676 00000 n 
+0000159736 00000 n 
+0000164697 00000 n 
+0000164515 00000 n 
+0000159879 00000 n 
+0000164635 00000 n 
+0000169649 00000 n 
+0000169407 00000 n 
+0000164779 00000 n 
+0000169527 00000 n 
+0000169588 00000 n 
+0000174475 00000 n 
+0000174293 00000 n 
+0000169731 00000 n 
+0000174413 00000 n 
+0000179174 00000 n 
+0000178933 00000 n 
+0000174557 00000 n 
+0000179053 00000 n 
+0000179115 00000 n 
+0002242604 00000 n 
+0000181427 00000 n 
+0000181246 00000 n 
+0000179256 00000 n 
+0000181366 00000 n 
+0000181509 00000 n 
+0000185839 00000 n 
+0002251070 00000 n 
+0000181553 00000 n 
+0000185962 00000 n 
+0000185719 00000 n 
+0000181605 00000 n 
+0000185900 00000 n 
+0000191168 00000 n 
+0000190924 00000 n 
+0000186032 00000 n 
+0000191044 00000 n 
+0000191106 00000 n 
+0000195775 00000 n 
+0000195593 00000 n 
+0000191262 00000 n 
+0000195713 00000 n 
+0000200768 00000 n 
+0000200525 00000 n 
+0000195857 00000 n 
+0000200645 00000 n 
+0000200707 00000 n 
+0000206082 00000 n 
+0000205901 00000 n 
+0000200862 00000 n 
+0000206021 00000 n 
+0002242722 00000 n 
+0000210901 00000 n 
+0000210720 00000 n 
+0000206164 00000 n 
+0000210840 00000 n 
+0000215434 00000 n 
+0000215191 00000 n 
+0000210983 00000 n 
+0000215311 00000 n 
+0000215372 00000 n 
+0000216895 00000 n 
+0000216714 00000 n 
+0000215516 00000 n 
+0000216834 00000 n 
+0000216977 00000 n 
+0000221350 00000 n 
+0002250976 00000 n 
+0000217021 00000 n 
+0000221473 00000 n 
+0000221230 00000 n 
+0000217063 00000 n 
+0000221411 00000 n 
+0000226262 00000 n 
+0000226019 00000 n 
+0000221555 00000 n 
+0000226139 00000 n 
+0000226201 00000 n 
+0000230880 00000 n 
+0000230698 00000 n 
+0000226344 00000 n 
+0000230818 00000 n 
+0002242840 00000 n 
+0000235767 00000 n 
+0000235525 00000 n 
+0000230950 00000 n 
+0000235645 00000 n 
+0000235706 00000 n 
+0000240269 00000 n 
+0000240088 00000 n 
+0000235849 00000 n 
+0000240208 00000 n 
+0000244645 00000 n 
+0000244403 00000 n 
+0000240351 00000 n 
+0000244523 00000 n 
+0000244585 00000 n 
+0000246302 00000 n 
+0000246121 00000 n 
+0000244727 00000 n 
+0000246241 00000 n 
+0000246384 00000 n 
+0000250621 00000 n 
+0002250882 00000 n 
+0000246428 00000 n 
+0000250743 00000 n 
+0000250501 00000 n 
+0000246492 00000 n 
+0000250682 00000 n 
+0000256043 00000 n 
+0000255800 00000 n 
+0000250825 00000 n 
+0000255920 00000 n 
+0000255982 00000 n 
+0002242958 00000 n 
+0000261036 00000 n 
+0000260854 00000 n 
+0000256125 00000 n 
+0000260974 00000 n 
+0000265646 00000 n 
+0000265404 00000 n 
+0000261118 00000 n 
+0000265524 00000 n 
+0000265585 00000 n 
+0000270225 00000 n 
+0000270044 00000 n 
+0000265728 00000 n 
+0000270164 00000 n 
+0000274724 00000 n 
+0000274542 00000 n 
+0000270307 00000 n 
+0000274662 00000 n 
+0000278782 00000 n 
+0000278538 00000 n 
+0000274818 00000 n 
+0000278658 00000 n 
+0000278720 00000 n 
+0000282522 00000 n 
+0000282279 00000 n 
+0000278864 00000 n 
+0000282399 00000 n 
+0000282461 00000 n 
+0002243076 00000 n 
+0000282604 00000 n 
+0000286342 00000 n 
+0002250788 00000 n 
+0000282648 00000 n 
+0000286465 00000 n 
+0000286222 00000 n 
+0000282695 00000 n 
+0000286403 00000 n 
+0000291306 00000 n 
+0000291063 00000 n 
+0000286559 00000 n 
+0000291183 00000 n 
+0000291245 00000 n 
+0000296116 00000 n 
+0000295934 00000 n 
+0000291400 00000 n 
+0000296054 00000 n 
+0000301259 00000 n 
+0000301017 00000 n 
+0000296198 00000 n 
+0000301137 00000 n 
+0000301198 00000 n 
+0000306102 00000 n 
+0000305921 00000 n 
+0000301353 00000 n 
+0000306041 00000 n 
+0000311212 00000 n 
+0000310970 00000 n 
+0000306184 00000 n 
+0000311090 00000 n 
+0000311152 00000 n 
+0002243194 00000 n 
+0000314699 00000 n 
+0000314518 00000 n 
+0000311294 00000 n 
+0000314638 00000 n 
+0000314781 00000 n 
+0000318884 00000 n 
+0002250694 00000 n 
+0000314825 00000 n 
+0000319007 00000 n 
+0000318764 00000 n 
+0000314873 00000 n 
+0000318945 00000 n 
+0000328322 00000 n 
+0000323307 00000 n 
+0000323065 00000 n 
+0000319101 00000 n 
+0000323246 00000 n 
+0000327378 00000 n 
+0000327135 00000 n 
+0000323401 00000 n 
+0000327255 00000 n 
+0000327317 00000 n 
+0000517487 00000 n 
+0000328202 00000 n 
+0000327460 00000 n 
+0000517380 00000 n 
+0000517601 00000 n 
+0000521304 00000 n 
+0002250600 00000 n 
+0000517645 00000 n 
+0000521427 00000 n 
+0000521184 00000 n 
+0000517703 00000 n 
+0000521365 00000 n 
+0002243312 00000 n 
+0000526630 00000 n 
+0000526448 00000 n 
+0000521521 00000 n 
+0000526568 00000 n 
+0000529708 00000 n 
+0000529465 00000 n 
+0000526712 00000 n 
+0000529585 00000 n 
+0000529647 00000 n 
+0000529790 00000 n 
+0000533746 00000 n 
+0002250506 00000 n 
+0000529835 00000 n 
+0000533869 00000 n 
+0000533626 00000 n 
+0000529890 00000 n 
+0000533807 00000 n 
+0000539081 00000 n 
+0000538899 00000 n 
+0000533939 00000 n 
+0000539019 00000 n 
+0000544525 00000 n 
+0000544282 00000 n 
+0000539175 00000 n 
+0000544402 00000 n 
+0000544463 00000 n 
+0000549678 00000 n 
+0000549436 00000 n 
+0000544607 00000 n 
+0000549556 00000 n 
+0000549617 00000 n 
+0002243430 00000 n 
+0000553922 00000 n 
+0000553741 00000 n 
+0000549760 00000 n 
+0000553861 00000 n 
+0000558452 00000 n 
+0000558270 00000 n 
+0000554004 00000 n 
+0000558390 00000 n 
+0000563308 00000 n 
+0000563064 00000 n 
+0000558534 00000 n 
+0000563184 00000 n 
+0000563246 00000 n 
+0000567459 00000 n 
+0000567216 00000 n 
+0000563390 00000 n 
+0000567336 00000 n 
+0000567398 00000 n 
+0000567541 00000 n 
+0000571074 00000 n 
+0002250412 00000 n 
+0000567586 00000 n 
+0000571196 00000 n 
+0000570954 00000 n 
+0000567649 00000 n 
+0000571135 00000 n 
+0000575026 00000 n 
+0000574844 00000 n 
+0000571278 00000 n 
+0000574964 00000 n 
+0002243548 00000 n 
+0000579788 00000 n 
+0000579544 00000 n 
+0000575108 00000 n 
+0000579664 00000 n 
+0000579726 00000 n 
+0000584403 00000 n 
+0000584221 00000 n 
+0000579882 00000 n 
+0000584341 00000 n 
+0000588901 00000 n 
+0000588658 00000 n 
+0000584497 00000 n 
+0000588778 00000 n 
+0000588840 00000 n 
+0000594431 00000 n 
+0000594250 00000 n 
+0000588995 00000 n 
+0000594370 00000 n 
+0000599905 00000 n 
+0000599723 00000 n 
+0000594513 00000 n 
+0000599843 00000 n 
+0000604408 00000 n 
+0000604164 00000 n 
+0000599987 00000 n 
+0000604284 00000 n 
+0000604346 00000 n 
+0002243666 00000 n 
+0000606527 00000 n 
+0000606346 00000 n 
+0000604490 00000 n 
+0000606466 00000 n 
+0000606609 00000 n 
+0000611822 00000 n 
+0002250318 00000 n 
+0000606654 00000 n 
+0000611944 00000 n 
+0000611702 00000 n 
+0000606708 00000 n 
+0000611883 00000 n 
+0000617255 00000 n 
+0000617075 00000 n 
+0000612026 00000 n 
+0000617195 00000 n 
+0000622633 00000 n 
+0000622390 00000 n 
+0000617337 00000 n 
+0000622510 00000 n 
+0000622571 00000 n 
+0000627764 00000 n 
+0000627583 00000 n 
+0000622715 00000 n 
+0000627703 00000 n 
+0000633026 00000 n 
+0000632784 00000 n 
+0000627846 00000 n 
+0000632904 00000 n 
+0000632965 00000 n 
+0002243784 00000 n 
+0000637603 00000 n 
+0000637421 00000 n 
+0000633108 00000 n 
+0000637541 00000 n 
+0000643107 00000 n 
+0000642864 00000 n 
+0000637685 00000 n 
+0000642984 00000 n 
+0000643046 00000 n 
+0000647992 00000 n 
+0000647810 00000 n 
+0000643189 00000 n 
+0000647930 00000 n 
+0000652515 00000 n 
+0000652272 00000 n 
+0000648074 00000 n 
+0000652392 00000 n 
+0000652454 00000 n 
+0000657167 00000 n 
+0000656985 00000 n 
+0000652597 00000 n 
+0000657105 00000 n 
+0000661214 00000 n 
+0000660971 00000 n 
+0000657261 00000 n 
+0000661091 00000 n 
+0000661153 00000 n 
+0002243902 00000 n 
+0000661296 00000 n 
+0000665397 00000 n 
+0002250224 00000 n 
+0000661341 00000 n 
+0000665520 00000 n 
+0000665277 00000 n 
+0000661398 00000 n 
+0000665458 00000 n 
+0000670932 00000 n 
+0000670690 00000 n 
+0000665602 00000 n 
+0000670810 00000 n 
+0000670871 00000 n 
+0000676194 00000 n 
+0000676012 00000 n 
+0000671014 00000 n 
+0000676132 00000 n 
+0000681645 00000 n 
+0000681401 00000 n 
+0000676276 00000 n 
+0000681521 00000 n 
+0000681583 00000 n 
+0000687009 00000 n 
+0000686827 00000 n 
+0000681727 00000 n 
+0000686947 00000 n 
+0000692027 00000 n 
+0000691783 00000 n 
+0000687091 00000 n 
+0000691903 00000 n 
+0000691965 00000 n 
+0002244020 00000 n 
+0000704450 00000 n 
+0000696027 00000 n 
+0000695785 00000 n 
+0000692121 00000 n 
+0000695966 00000 n 
+0000701177 00000 n 
+0000700934 00000 n 
+0000696097 00000 n 
+0000701054 00000 n 
+0000701116 00000 n 
+0000703465 00000 n 
+0000703284 00000 n 
+0000701271 00000 n 
+0000703404 00000 n 
+0000892655 00000 n 
+0000704330 00000 n 
+0000703535 00000 n 
+0000892548 00000 n 
+0000892769 00000 n 
+0000896667 00000 n 
+0002250130 00000 n 
+0000892814 00000 n 
+0000896790 00000 n 
+0000896547 00000 n 
+0000892872 00000 n 
+0000896728 00000 n 
+0000901555 00000 n 
+0000901312 00000 n 
+0000896860 00000 n 
+0000901432 00000 n 
+0000901494 00000 n 
+0002244138 00000 n 
+0000905930 00000 n 
+0000905748 00000 n 
+0000901625 00000 n 
+0000905868 00000 n 
+0000910493 00000 n 
+0000910311 00000 n 
+0000906012 00000 n 
+0000910431 00000 n 
+0000915137 00000 n 
+0000914893 00000 n 
+0000910575 00000 n 
+0000915013 00000 n 
+0000915075 00000 n 
+0000919751 00000 n 
+0000919570 00000 n 
+0000915219 00000 n 
+0000919690 00000 n 
+0000922316 00000 n 
+0000922073 00000 n 
+0000919833 00000 n 
+0000922193 00000 n 
+0000922255 00000 n 
+0000922386 00000 n 
+0000926329 00000 n 
+0002250036 00000 n 
+0000922431 00000 n 
+0000926452 00000 n 
+0000926209 00000 n 
+0000922488 00000 n 
+0000926390 00000 n 
+0002244256 00000 n 
+0000930857 00000 n 
+0000930676 00000 n 
+0000926534 00000 n 
+0000930796 00000 n 
+0000935744 00000 n 
+0000935500 00000 n 
+0000930939 00000 n 
+0000935620 00000 n 
+0000935682 00000 n 
+0000940252 00000 n 
+0000940070 00000 n 
+0000935826 00000 n 
+0000940190 00000 n 
+0000945207 00000 n 
+0000944963 00000 n 
+0000940334 00000 n 
+0000945083 00000 n 
+0000945145 00000 n 
+0000950030 00000 n 
+0000949848 00000 n 
+0000945289 00000 n 
+0000949968 00000 n 
+0000955076 00000 n 
+0000954832 00000 n 
+0000950112 00000 n 
+0000954952 00000 n 
+0000955014 00000 n 
+0002244374 00000 n 
+0000959372 00000 n 
+0000959190 00000 n 
+0000955146 00000 n 
+0000959310 00000 n 
+0000963743 00000 n 
+0000963499 00000 n 
+0000959466 00000 n 
+0000963619 00000 n 
+0000963681 00000 n 
+0000968423 00000 n 
+0000968241 00000 n 
+0000963813 00000 n 
+0000968361 00000 n 
+0000973273 00000 n 
+0000973030 00000 n 
+0000968493 00000 n 
+0000973150 00000 n 
+0000973211 00000 n 
+0000978260 00000 n 
+0000978078 00000 n 
+0000973355 00000 n 
+0000978198 00000 n 
+0000982710 00000 n 
+0000982467 00000 n 
+0000978342 00000 n 
+0000982587 00000 n 
+0000982648 00000 n 
+0002244492 00000 n 
+0000986235 00000 n 
+0000985993 00000 n 
+0000982792 00000 n 
+0000986113 00000 n 
+0000986175 00000 n 
+0000986317 00000 n 
+0000990449 00000 n 
+0002249942 00000 n 
+0000986362 00000 n 
+0000990572 00000 n 
+0000990329 00000 n 
+0000986420 00000 n 
+0000990510 00000 n 
+0000995243 00000 n 
+0000995000 00000 n 
+0000990654 00000 n 
+0000995120 00000 n 
+0000995182 00000 n 
+0001000337 00000 n 
+0001000155 00000 n 
+0000995337 00000 n 
+0001000275 00000 n 
+0001005025 00000 n 
+0001004843 00000 n 
+0001000431 00000 n 
+0001004963 00000 n 
+0001009735 00000 n 
+0001009491 00000 n 
+0001005107 00000 n 
+0001009611 00000 n 
+0001009673 00000 n 
+0002244610 00000 n 
+0001012852 00000 n 
+0001101579 00000 n 
+0001012732 00000 n 
+0001009817 00000 n 
+0001101518 00000 n 
+0001101350 00000 n 
+0001106837 00000 n 
+0001106656 00000 n 
+0001101705 00000 n 
+0001106776 00000 n 
+0001111881 00000 n 
+0001111638 00000 n 
+0001106919 00000 n 
+0001111758 00000 n 
+0001111820 00000 n 
+0001116760 00000 n 
+0001116579 00000 n 
+0001111975 00000 n 
+0001116699 00000 n 
+0001121493 00000 n 
+0001121250 00000 n 
+0001116842 00000 n 
+0001121370 00000 n 
+0001121432 00000 n 
+0001126273 00000 n 
+0001126091 00000 n 
+0001121575 00000 n 
+0001126211 00000 n 
+0002244728 00000 n 
+0001131612 00000 n 
+0001131369 00000 n 
+0001126343 00000 n 
+0001131489 00000 n 
+0001131550 00000 n 
+0001136639 00000 n 
+0001136457 00000 n 
+0001131694 00000 n 
+0001136577 00000 n 
+0001141519 00000 n 
+0001141275 00000 n 
+0001136721 00000 n 
+0001141395 00000 n 
+0001141457 00000 n 
+0001146141 00000 n 
+0001145959 00000 n 
+0001141601 00000 n 
+0001146079 00000 n 
+0001150889 00000 n 
+0001150645 00000 n 
+0001146223 00000 n 
+0001150765 00000 n 
+0001150827 00000 n 
+0001155735 00000 n 
+0001155553 00000 n 
+0001150983 00000 n 
+0001155673 00000 n 
+0002244846 00000 n 
+0001161147 00000 n 
+0001160904 00000 n 
+0001155817 00000 n 
+0001161024 00000 n 
+0001161086 00000 n 
+0001165858 00000 n 
+0001165676 00000 n 
+0001161229 00000 n 
+0001165796 00000 n 
+0001170926 00000 n 
+0001170682 00000 n 
+0001165940 00000 n 
+0001170802 00000 n 
+0001170864 00000 n 
+0001172794 00000 n 
+0001172613 00000 n 
+0001171008 00000 n 
+0001172733 00000 n 
+0001172876 00000 n 
+0001176676 00000 n 
+0002249848 00000 n 
+0001172921 00000 n 
+0001176799 00000 n 
+0001176556 00000 n 
+0001172979 00000 n 
+0001176737 00000 n 
+0001181551 00000 n 
+0001181369 00000 n 
+0001176881 00000 n 
+0001181489 00000 n 
+0002244964 00000 n 
+0001186701 00000 n 
+0001186458 00000 n 
+0001181633 00000 n 
+0001186578 00000 n 
+0001186639 00000 n 
+0001191623 00000 n 
+0001191441 00000 n 
+0001186795 00000 n 
+0001191561 00000 n 
+0001196366 00000 n 
+0001196123 00000 n 
+0001191705 00000 n 
+0001196243 00000 n 
+0001196304 00000 n 
+0001201486 00000 n 
+0001201304 00000 n 
+0001196448 00000 n 
+0001201424 00000 n 
+0001206362 00000 n 
+0001206118 00000 n 
+0001201568 00000 n 
+0001206238 00000 n 
+0001206300 00000 n 
+0001210976 00000 n 
+0001210794 00000 n 
+0001206444 00000 n 
+0001210914 00000 n 
+0002245082 00000 n 
+0001216158 00000 n 
+0001215914 00000 n 
+0001211058 00000 n 
+0001216034 00000 n 
+0001216096 00000 n 
+0001220873 00000 n 
+0001220691 00000 n 
+0001216252 00000 n 
+0001220811 00000 n 
+0001225843 00000 n 
+0001225599 00000 n 
+0001220955 00000 n 
+0001225719 00000 n 
+0001225781 00000 n 
+0001228909 00000 n 
+0001228666 00000 n 
+0001225925 00000 n 
+0001228786 00000 n 
+0001228848 00000 n 
+0001229003 00000 n 
+0001233348 00000 n 
+0002249754 00000 n 
+0001229048 00000 n 
+0001233471 00000 n 
+0001233228 00000 n 
+0001229116 00000 n 
+0001233409 00000 n 
+0001238530 00000 n 
+0001238348 00000 n 
+0001233553 00000 n 
+0001238468 00000 n 
+0002245200 00000 n 
+0001243778 00000 n 
+0001243534 00000 n 
+0001238612 00000 n 
+0001243654 00000 n 
+0001243716 00000 n 
+0001248444 00000 n 
+0001248202 00000 n 
+0001243860 00000 n 
+0001248322 00000 n 
+0001248383 00000 n 
+0001253446 00000 n 
+0001253264 00000 n 
+0001248526 00000 n 
+0001253384 00000 n 
+0001287570 00000 n 
+0001257631 00000 n 
+0001257329 00000 n 
+0001253528 00000 n 
+0001257508 00000 n 
+0001257570 00000 n 
+0001262244 00000 n 
+0001262062 00000 n 
+0001257701 00000 n 
+0001262182 00000 n 
+0001267271 00000 n 
+0001267090 00000 n 
+0001262314 00000 n 
+0001267210 00000 n 
+0002245318 00000 n 
+0001272511 00000 n 
+0001272267 00000 n 
+0001267353 00000 n 
+0001272387 00000 n 
+0001272449 00000 n 
+0001277674 00000 n 
+0001277493 00000 n 
+0001272593 00000 n 
+0001277613 00000 n 
+0001282565 00000 n 
+0001282323 00000 n 
+0001277756 00000 n 
+0001282443 00000 n 
+0001282503 00000 n 
+0001286605 00000 n 
+0001286362 00000 n 
+0001282635 00000 n 
+0001286482 00000 n 
+0001286544 00000 n 
+0001478175 00000 n 
+0001287450 00000 n 
+0001286687 00000 n 
+0001478068 00000 n 
+0001478289 00000 n 
+0001482280 00000 n 
+0002249660 00000 n 
+0001478334 00000 n 
+0001482402 00000 n 
+0001482160 00000 n 
+0001478397 00000 n 
+0001482341 00000 n 
+0002245436 00000 n 
+0001486680 00000 n 
+0001486498 00000 n 
+0001482484 00000 n 
+0001486618 00000 n 
+0001491642 00000 n 
+0001491399 00000 n 
+0001486762 00000 n 
+0001491519 00000 n 
+0001491580 00000 n 
+0001496331 00000 n 
+0001496149 00000 n 
+0001491724 00000 n 
+0001496269 00000 n 
+0001499058 00000 n 
+0001589226 00000 n 
+0001498938 00000 n 
+0001496425 00000 n 
+0001589164 00000 n 
+0001588996 00000 n 
+0001593925 00000 n 
+0001593683 00000 n 
+0001589352 00000 n 
+0001593803 00000 n 
+0001593865 00000 n 
+0001594007 00000 n 
+0001597625 00000 n 
+0002249566 00000 n 
+0001594052 00000 n 
+0001597748 00000 n 
+0001597505 00000 n 
+0001594109 00000 n 
+0001597686 00000 n 
+0002245554 00000 n 
+0001602295 00000 n 
+0001602113 00000 n 
+0001597830 00000 n 
+0001602233 00000 n 
+0001607171 00000 n 
+0001606928 00000 n 
+0001602365 00000 n 
+0001607048 00000 n 
+0001607109 00000 n 
+0001612381 00000 n 
+0001612200 00000 n 
+0001607265 00000 n 
+0001612320 00000 n 
+0001616880 00000 n 
+0001616636 00000 n 
+0001612463 00000 n 
+0001616756 00000 n 
+0001616818 00000 n 
+0001621385 00000 n 
+0001621204 00000 n 
+0001616950 00000 n 
+0001621324 00000 n 
+0001626577 00000 n 
+0001626334 00000 n 
+0001621455 00000 n 
+0001626454 00000 n 
+0001626515 00000 n 
+0002245672 00000 n 
+0001628307 00000 n 
+0001628126 00000 n 
+0001626671 00000 n 
+0001628246 00000 n 
+0001628377 00000 n 
+0001632532 00000 n 
+0002249471 00000 n 
+0001628422 00000 n 
+0001632655 00000 n 
+0001632412 00000 n 
+0001628469 00000 n 
+0001632593 00000 n 
+0001638253 00000 n 
+0001638012 00000 n 
+0001632737 00000 n 
+0001638132 00000 n 
+0001638193 00000 n 
+0001643587 00000 n 
+0001643405 00000 n 
+0001638335 00000 n 
+0001643525 00000 n 
+0001648362 00000 n 
+0001648121 00000 n 
+0001643669 00000 n 
+0001648241 00000 n 
+0001648303 00000 n 
+0001653148 00000 n 
+0001652966 00000 n 
+0001648444 00000 n 
+0001653086 00000 n 
+0002245790 00000 n 
+0001657664 00000 n 
+0001657420 00000 n 
+0001653230 00000 n 
+0001657540 00000 n 
+0001657602 00000 n 
+0001662775 00000 n 
+0001662593 00000 n 
+0001657746 00000 n 
+0001662713 00000 n 
+0001667567 00000 n 
+0001667324 00000 n 
+0001662857 00000 n 
+0001667444 00000 n 
+0001667506 00000 n 
+0001672522 00000 n 
+0001672341 00000 n 
+0001667649 00000 n 
+0001672461 00000 n 
+0001677056 00000 n 
+0001676812 00000 n 
+0001672604 00000 n 
+0001676932 00000 n 
+0001676994 00000 n 
+0001681642 00000 n 
+0001681459 00000 n 
+0001677138 00000 n 
+0001681580 00000 n 
+0002245908 00000 n 
+0001686429 00000 n 
+0001686177 00000 n 
+0001681736 00000 n 
+0001686301 00000 n 
+0001686365 00000 n 
+0001688007 00000 n 
+0001687821 00000 n 
+0001686512 00000 n 
+0001687945 00000 n 
+0001688078 00000 n 
+0001691691 00000 n 
+0002249373 00000 n 
+0001688124 00000 n 
+0001691818 00000 n 
+0001691567 00000 n 
+0001688200 00000 n 
+0001691754 00000 n 
+0001697078 00000 n 
+0001696890 00000 n 
+0001691889 00000 n 
+0001697014 00000 n 
+0001701753 00000 n 
+0001701502 00000 n 
+0001697161 00000 n 
+0001701626 00000 n 
+0001701690 00000 n 
+0001706225 00000 n 
+0001706037 00000 n 
+0001701836 00000 n 
+0001706161 00000 n 
+0002246032 00000 n 
+0001711193 00000 n 
+0001710942 00000 n 
+0001706308 00000 n 
+0001711066 00000 n 
+0001711130 00000 n 
+0001715382 00000 n 
+0001715195 00000 n 
+0001711276 00000 n 
+0001715319 00000 n 
+0001719809 00000 n 
+0001719621 00000 n 
+0001715465 00000 n 
+0001719745 00000 n 
+0001724595 00000 n 
+0001724344 00000 n 
+0001719892 00000 n 
+0001724468 00000 n 
+0001724531 00000 n 
+0001729065 00000 n 
+0001728878 00000 n 
+0001724666 00000 n 
+0001729002 00000 n 
+0001732485 00000 n 
+0001732234 00000 n 
+0001729148 00000 n 
+0001732358 00000 n 
+0001732422 00000 n 
+0002246157 00000 n 
+0001732568 00000 n 
+0001736537 00000 n 
+0002249274 00000 n 
+0001732614 00000 n 
+0001736664 00000 n 
+0001736413 00000 n 
+0001732665 00000 n 
+0001736600 00000 n 
+0001741539 00000 n 
+0001741352 00000 n 
+0001736747 00000 n 
+0001741476 00000 n 
+0001746889 00000 n 
+0001746639 00000 n 
+0001741622 00000 n 
+0001746763 00000 n 
+0001746826 00000 n 
+0001751579 00000 n 
+0001751391 00000 n 
+0001746984 00000 n 
+0001751515 00000 n 
+0001752532 00000 n 
+0001752345 00000 n 
+0001751674 00000 n 
+0001752469 00000 n 
+0001752615 00000 n 
+0001756905 00000 n 
+0002249175 00000 n 
+0001752661 00000 n 
+0001757032 00000 n 
+0001756781 00000 n 
+0001752727 00000 n 
+0001756968 00000 n 
+0002246282 00000 n 
+0001761628 00000 n 
+0001761440 00000 n 
+0001757115 00000 n 
+0001761564 00000 n 
+0001766808 00000 n 
+0001766556 00000 n 
+0001761699 00000 n 
+0001766680 00000 n 
+0001766744 00000 n 
+0001770759 00000 n 
+0001770508 00000 n 
+0001766891 00000 n 
+0001770632 00000 n 
+0001770696 00000 n 
+0001770842 00000 n 
+0001775043 00000 n 
+0002249076 00000 n 
+0001770888 00000 n 
+0001775169 00000 n 
+0001774919 00000 n 
+0001770946 00000 n 
+0001775106 00000 n 
+0001855391 00000 n 
+0001779928 00000 n 
+0001779679 00000 n 
+0001775252 00000 n 
+0001779864 00000 n 
+0001785215 00000 n 
+0001784963 00000 n 
+0001780011 00000 n 
+0001785087 00000 n 
+0001785151 00000 n 
+0002246407 00000 n 
+0001790353 00000 n 
+0001790165 00000 n 
+0001785310 00000 n 
+0001790289 00000 n 
+0001795410 00000 n 
+0001795159 00000 n 
+0001790436 00000 n 
+0001795283 00000 n 
+0001795347 00000 n 
+0001800694 00000 n 
+0001800445 00000 n 
+0001795493 00000 n 
+0001800569 00000 n 
+0001800632 00000 n 
+0001805266 00000 n 
+0001805078 00000 n 
+0001800777 00000 n 
+0001805202 00000 n 
+0001810521 00000 n 
+0001810269 00000 n 
+0001805349 00000 n 
+0001810393 00000 n 
+0001810457 00000 n 
+0001815189 00000 n 
+0001815001 00000 n 
+0001810616 00000 n 
+0001815125 00000 n 
+0002246532 00000 n 
+0002045733 00000 n 
+0001819793 00000 n 
+0001819480 00000 n 
+0001815272 00000 n 
+0001819666 00000 n 
+0001819730 00000 n 
+0001824663 00000 n 
+0001824475 00000 n 
+0001819888 00000 n 
+0001824599 00000 n 
+0001829573 00000 n 
+0001829324 00000 n 
+0001824746 00000 n 
+0001829448 00000 n 
+0001829512 00000 n 
+0001834202 00000 n 
+0001834014 00000 n 
+0001829656 00000 n 
+0001834138 00000 n 
+0001839223 00000 n 
+0001838972 00000 n 
+0001834297 00000 n 
+0001839096 00000 n 
+0001839160 00000 n 
+0001844117 00000 n 
+0001843929 00000 n 
+0001839318 00000 n 
+0001844053 00000 n 
+0002246657 00000 n 
+0001849176 00000 n 
+0001848925 00000 n 
+0001844200 00000 n 
+0001849049 00000 n 
+0001849113 00000 n 
+0001853367 00000 n 
+0001853179 00000 n 
+0001849259 00000 n 
+0001853303 00000 n 
+0001854402 00000 n 
+0001854215 00000 n 
+0001853450 00000 n 
+0001854339 00000 n 
+0002044799 00000 n 
+0001855267 00000 n 
+0001854473 00000 n 
+0002044691 00000 n 
+0002132421 00000 n 
+0002045609 00000 n 
+0002044915 00000 n 
+0002132313 00000 n 
+0002132537 00000 n 
+0002136801 00000 n 
+0002248977 00000 n 
+0002132583 00000 n 
+0002136928 00000 n 
+0002136677 00000 n 
+0002132638 00000 n 
+0002136864 00000 n 
+0002246782 00000 n 
+0002141714 00000 n 
+0002141527 00000 n 
+0002137011 00000 n 
+0002141651 00000 n 
+0002146931 00000 n 
+0002146679 00000 n 
+0002141785 00000 n 
+0002146803 00000 n 
+0002146867 00000 n 
+0002152032 00000 n 
+0002151782 00000 n 
+0002147026 00000 n 
+0002151906 00000 n 
+0002151969 00000 n 
+0002156400 00000 n 
+0002156212 00000 n 
+0002152115 00000 n 
+0002156336 00000 n 
+0002158542 00000 n 
+0002158291 00000 n 
+0002156471 00000 n 
+0002158415 00000 n 
+0002158479 00000 n 
+0002161803 00000 n 
+0002161617 00000 n 
+0002158613 00000 n 
+0002161741 00000 n 
+0002246907 00000 n 
+0002165054 00000 n 
+0002164867 00000 n 
+0002161898 00000 n 
+0002164991 00000 n 
+0002168502 00000 n 
+0002168315 00000 n 
+0002165149 00000 n 
+0002168439 00000 n 
+0002172172 00000 n 
+0002172048 00000 n 
+0002168597 00000 n 
+0002172876 00000 n 
+0002172689 00000 n 
+0002172267 00000 n 
+0002172813 00000 n 
+0002173257 00000 n 
+0002173133 00000 n 
+0002172947 00000 n 
+0002173299 00000 n 
+0002174307 00000 n 
+0002248878 00000 n 
+0002173345 00000 n 
+0002174370 00000 n 
+0002174183 00000 n 
+0002173373 00000 n 
+0002247032 00000 n 
+0002174751 00000 n 
+0002174627 00000 n 
+0002174441 00000 n 
+0002174793 00000 n 
+0002178454 00000 n 
+0002248779 00000 n 
+0002174839 00000 n 
+0002178578 00000 n 
+0002178080 00000 n 
+0002174889 00000 n 
+0002178225 00000 n 
+0000000000 00000 f 
+0002237449 00000 n 
+0002178687 00000 n 
+0002182905 00000 n 
+0002248695 00000 n 
+0002178733 00000 n 
+0002183094 00000 n 
+0002182179 00000 n 
+0002178788 00000 n 
+0002182342 00000 n 
+0002182514 00000 n 
+0002182968 00000 n 
+0002183031 00000 n 
+0002182732 00000 n 
+0002202309 00000 n 
+0002188428 00000 n 
+0002187740 00000 n 
+0002183203 00000 n 
+0002188240 00000 n 
+0002187894 00000 n 
+0002188068 00000 n 
+0002188303 00000 n 
+0002188366 00000 n 
+0002192395 00000 n 
+0002192582 00000 n 
+0002192041 00000 n 
+0002188525 00000 n 
+0002192458 00000 n 
+0002192186 00000 n 
+0002192521 00000 n 
+0002197564 00000 n 
+0002196508 00000 n 
+0002192679 00000 n 
+0002196680 00000 n 
+0002196855 00000 n 
+0002197375 00000 n 
+0002197029 00000 n 
+0002197438 00000 n 
+0002197501 00000 n 
+0002197202 00000 n 
+0002247157 00000 n 
+0002202372 00000 n 
+0002201679 00000 n 
+0002197661 00000 n 
+0002202183 00000 n 
+0002201833 00000 n 
+0002202246 00000 n 
+0002202008 00000 n 
+0002207891 00000 n 
+0002206904 00000 n 
+0002202469 00000 n 
+0002207076 00000 n 
+0002207249 00000 n 
+0002207421 00000 n 
+0002207766 00000 n 
+0002207593 00000 n 
+0002207829 00000 n 
+0002229547 00000 n 
+0002212252 00000 n 
+0002225207 00000 n 
+0002212314 00000 n 
+0002211807 00000 n 
+0002207988 00000 n 
+0002212126 00000 n 
+0002212189 00000 n 
+0002211952 00000 n 
+0002216624 00000 n 
+0002216117 00000 n 
+0002212411 00000 n 
+0002216436 00000 n 
+0002216262 00000 n 
+0002216499 00000 n 
+0002216562 00000 n 
+0002220761 00000 n 
+0002220574 00000 n 
+0002216707 00000 n 
+0002220698 00000 n 
+0002225270 00000 n 
+0002224042 00000 n 
+0002220858 00000 n 
+0002224223 00000 n 
+0002224396 00000 n 
+0002224569 00000 n 
+0002224774 00000 n 
+0002225001 00000 n 
+0002247282 00000 n 
+0002229610 00000 n 
+0002229174 00000 n 
+0002225341 00000 n 
+0002229319 00000 n 
+0002233697 00000 n 
+0002233046 00000 n 
+0002229695 00000 n 
+0002233200 00000 n 
+0002233634 00000 n 
+0002233428 00000 n 
+0002234956 00000 n 
+0002234832 00000 n 
+0002233794 00000 n 
+0002235041 00000 n 
+0002237543 00000 n 
+0002240000 00000 n 
+0002247389 00000 n 
+0002247505 00000 n 
+0002247625 00000 n 
+0002247745 00000 n 
+0002247865 00000 n 
+0002247985 00000 n 
+0002248109 00000 n 
+0002248235 00000 n 
+0002248325 00000 n 
+0002248452 00000 n 
+0002248542 00000 n 
+0002248616 00000 n 
+0002251423 00000 n 
+0002258119 00000 n 
+0002258160 00000 n 
+0002258200 00000 n 
+0002258347 00000 n 
+trailer
+<<
+/Size 1398
+/Root 1396 0 R
+/Info 1397 0 R
+>>
+startxref
+2258507
+%%EOF
diff --git a/old/15775-pdf.zip b/old/15775-pdf.zip
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..52c1c01
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/15775-pdf.zip
diff --git a/old/15775-tei.tei b/old/15775-tei.tei
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..43e3f2a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/15775-tei.tei
@@ -0,0 +1,12446 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
+
+<!--
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary by Anne
+Warner
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no
+restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under
+the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or
+online at http://www.gutenberg.org/license
+
+
+
+
+Title: The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary
+
+Author: Anne Warner
+
+Release Date: May 2005 [EBook #15775]
+
+Language: American English
+
+Character set encoding: UTF-8
+-->
+
+<!DOCTYPE TEI.2 SYSTEM "http://www.gutenberg.org/tei/marcello/0.4/dtd/pgtei.dtd">
+
+<TEI.2 lang="en-us">
+<teiHeader>
+  <fileDesc>
+    <titleStmt>
+      <title>The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary</title>
+      <author>Anne Warner</author>
+    </titleStmt>
+    <editionStmt>
+      <edition n="1">
+	Edition 1
+      </edition>
+    </editionStmt>
+    <publicationStmt>
+      <publisher>Project Gutenberg</publisher>
+      <date value="2005-5">May 2005</date>
+      <idno type="etext-no">15775</idno>
+      <availability>
+        <p>This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+	almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
+	re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+	online at <xref url="www.gutenberg.org/license">www.gutenberg.org/license</xref></p>
+      </availability>
+    </publicationStmt>
+    <sourceDesc>
+      <bibl>
+        <title>The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary</title>
+        <author>Anne Warner</author>
+        <imprint>
+          <pubPlace>Boston</pubPlace>
+          <publisher>Little, Brown, and Company</publisher>
+          <date>1910</date>
+        </imprint>
+      </bibl>
+    </sourceDesc>
+  </fileDesc>
+
+  <encodingDesc>
+    <classDecl>
+      <taxonomy id="lc">
+        <bibl>
+	  <title>Library of Congress Classification</title>
+	</bibl>
+      </taxonomy>
+    </classDecl>
+  </encodingDesc>
+
+  <profileDesc>
+    <langUsage>
+      <language id="en-us">United States English</language>
+    </langUsage>
+    <textClass>
+      <classCode scheme="lc">
+        *** <!-- LoC Class (PR, PQ, ...) -->
+      </classCode>
+      <keywords>
+        <list>
+	  <!-- <item></item> any keywords for PG search engine -->
+	</list>
+      </keywords>
+    </textClass>
+  </profileDesc>
+
+  <revisionDesc>
+    <change>
+      <date value="2005-5">May 2005</date>
+      <respStmt>
+        <name>Suzanne Shell</name>
+        <name>Josephine Paolucci</name>
+        <name>Joshua Hutchinson</name>
+        <name>Online Distributed Proofreading Team</name>
+      </respStmt>
+      <item>Project Gutenberg Edition</item>
+    </change>
+    <change>
+      <date value="2005-8">August 2005</date>
+      <respStmt>
+        <name>Joshua Hutchinson</name>
+      </respStmt>
+      <item>Converted to PGTEI v0.3.</item>
+     </change>
+    <change>
+      <date value="2006-6">June 2006</date>
+      <respStmt>
+        <name>Joshua Hutchinson</name>
+      </respStmt>
+      <item>Added PGHeader/PGFooter.</item>
+    </change>
+  </revisionDesc>
+
+</teiHeader>
+
+<pgExtensions>
+  <pgStyleSheet>
+    figure           { text-align: center; page-float: 'htb' }
+    .w95             { }
+    @media pdf {
+      .w95             { width: 95% }
+      }
+  </pgStyleSheet>
+</pgExtensions>
+
+<text>
+<front>
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<divGen type="pgheader" />
+</div>
+
+<titlePage rend="page-break-before: right">
+<docTitle><titlePart type="main" rend="font-size: x-large">The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary</titlePart></docTitle>
+
+<lb /><byline>By <docAuthor>Anne Warner</docAuthor><lb /><lb />
+Author of "A Woman's Will," "Susan Clegg
+and Her Friend Mrs. Lathrop," "Susan
+Clegg and a Man in the House," etc.
+</byline>
+
+<docEdition><hi rend="font-style: italic">NEW EDITION</hi><lb />
+<hi rend="font-style: italic">With Additional Pictures from the Play</hi><lb /><lb /></docEdition>
+
+<docImprint>Boston<lb />
+Little, Brown, and Company<lb />
+1910</docImprint>
+</titlePage>
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<p rend="text-align: center"><hi rend="font-style: italic">Copyright, 1904,</hi><lb />
+By Ainslee Magazine Company.</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: center"><hi rend="font-style: italic">Copyright, 1905,</hi><lb />
+By Little, Brown, and Company.</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: center"><hi rend="font-style: italic">Copyright, 1907,</hi><lb />
+By Little, Brown, and Company,</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: center"><hi rend="font-style: italic">All rights reserved</hi></p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: center">Fourteenth Printing</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: center">Printers<lb />
+S.J. Parkhill &amp; Co., Boston, U.S.A.</p>
+
+</div>
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<anchor id="frontispiece" />
+<p rend="text-align: center"><anchor id="image01" />
+<figure rend="w95" url="images/image01.png">
+<head>Aunt Mary en Fête.
+May Robson as "Aunt Mary."</head>
+<figDesc><hi rend="font-style: italic">Frontispiece</hi></figDesc>
+</figure></p><p></p>
+</div>
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+
+<p><table cols="2">
+<head><hi rend="font-style: italic">Books by Anne Warner</hi></head>
+<row>
+<cell>A Woman's Will</cell><cell>1904</cell>
+</row>
+<row>
+<cell>Susan Clegg and Her Friend Mrs. Lathrop</cell><cell>1904</cell>
+</row>
+<row>
+<cell>The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary</cell><cell>1905</cell>
+</row>
+<row>
+<cell>Susan Clegg and Her Neighbor's Affairs</cell><cell>1906</cell>
+</row>
+<row>
+<cell>Susan Clegg and a Man in the House</cell><cell>1907</cell>
+</row>
+<row>
+<cell>An Original Gentleman</cell><cell>1908</cell>
+</row>
+<row>
+<cell>In a Mysterious Way</cell><cell>1909</cell>
+</row>
+<row>
+<cell>Your Child and Mine</cell><cell>1909</cell>
+</row>
+</table></p>
+</div>
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: right">
+<head>Contents</head>
+<divGen type="toc" />
+</div>
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: right">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+<head>Illustrations</head>
+
+<list type="simple">
+<item><ref target="frontispiece">"Aunt Mary en fête" (May Robson as "Aunt
+Mary") <hi rend="font-style: italic">Frontispiece</hi></ref></item>
+
+<item><ref target="image02">"'Do not let us play any longer,' she said.
+'Let us be in earnest'"</ref></item>
+
+<item><ref target="image03">"'She's goin' to the city all alone!' Lucinda's
+voice suddenly proclaimed behind him"</ref></item>
+
+<item><ref target="image04">Aunt Mary and Her Escorts</ref></item>
+
+<item><ref target="image05">"The carriage stopped three hundred feet below
+the level of a roof-garden"</ref></item>
+
+<item><ref target="image06">"And now the fun's all over and the work
+begins"</ref></item>
+
+<item><ref target="image07">"'Yesterday I played poker until I didn't know
+a blue chip from a white one'"</ref></item>
+
+<item><ref target="image08">"Aunt Mary had also had her eyes
+open"</ref></item>
+</list>
+
+</div>
+</front>
+
+<body>
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<pb n="001" /><anchor id="Pg001" />
+<head>The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary</head>
+<p></p>
+</div>
+
+<div>
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+<head>Chapter One - Introducing Aunt Mary</head>
+
+<p>The first time that Jack was threatened
+with expulsion from college his Aunt
+Mary was much surprised and decidedly
+vexed&mdash;mainly at the college. His family were
+less surprised, viewing the young man through a
+clearer atmosphere than his Aunt Mary ever had,
+and knowing that he had barely escaped similar
+experiences earlier in his career by invariably leaving
+school the day before the board of inquiry
+convened.</p>
+
+<p>Jack's preparatory days having been more or
+less tempestous, his family (Aunt Mary excepted)
+had expected some sort of after-clap when
+he entered college. Nevertheless, they had fervently
+hoped that it would not be quite as bad as
+this.</p>
+
+<p>Jack's sister Arethusa was visiting her aunt
+when the news came. Not because she wanted to,
+for the old lady was dreadfully deaf and fearfully
+<pb n="002" /><anchor id="Pg002" />arbitrary, but because Lucinda had said that she
+must go to her cousin's wedding, and the family
+always had to bow to Lucinda's mandates. Lucinda
+was Aunt Mary's maid, but she had become
+so indispensable as a sitter at the off-end of the
+latter's ear-trumpet that none of the grand-nephews
+or grand-nieces ever thought for an instant of crossing
+one of her wishes. So it was to Arethusa that
+the explanations due Aunt Mary's interest in her
+scapegrace fell, and she bowed her back to the
+burden with the resignation which the circumstances
+demanded.</p>
+
+<p>"Whatever is the difference between bein' expelled
+and bein' suspended?" Aunt Mary demanded,
+in her tone of imperious impatience.
+"Well, why don't you answer? I was brought
+up to speak when you're spoken to, an' I'm a
+great believer in livin' up to your bringin' up&mdash;if
+you had a good one. What's the difference,
+an' which costs most? That's what I want to
+know. I do wish you'd answer me, Arethusa;
+there's two things I've asked you now, an' you
+suckin' your finger an' puttin' on your thimble as
+if you were sittin' alone in China."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know which costs most," Arethusa
+shrieked.</p>
+
+<p>"You needn't scream so," said Aunt Mary.
+"I ain't so hard to hear as you think. I ain't
+<pb n="003" /><anchor id="Pg003" />but seventy, and I'll beg you to remember <hi rend="font-style: italic">that</hi>,
+Arethusa. Besides, I don't want to hear you talk.
+I just want to hear about Jack. I'm askin' about
+his bein' expelled and suspended, an' what's the
+difference, an' in particular if there's anything
+to pay for broken glass. It's always broken glass!
+That boy's bills for broken glass have been somethin'
+just awful these last two years. Well, why
+don't you answer?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know what to answer," Arethusa
+screamed.</p>
+
+<p>"What do you suppose he's done, anyhow?"</p>
+
+<p>"Something bad."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary frowned.</p>
+
+<p>"I ain't mad," she said sharply. "What made
+you think I was mad? I ain't mad at all! I'm
+just askin' what's the difference between bein' expelled
+an' bein' suspended, an' it seems to me this
+is the third time I've asked it. Seems to me it is."</p>
+
+<p>Arethusa laid down her work, drew a mighty
+breath, very nearly got into the ear-trumpet, and
+explained that being suspended was infinitely less
+heinous than being expelled, and decidedly less
+final.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary looked relieved.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, then he's gettin' better, is he?" she said.
+"Well, I'm sure that's some comfort."</p>
+
+<p>And then there was a long pause, during which
+<pb n="004" /><anchor id="Pg004" />she appeared to be engaged in deep reflection,
+and her niece continued her embroidery in peace.
+The pause endured until a sudden sneeze on the
+part of the old lady set the wheels of conversation
+turning again.</p>
+
+<p>"Arethusa," she said, "I wish you'd go an'
+get the ink an' write to Mr. Stebbins. I want
+him to begin to look up another college with good
+references right away. I don't want to waste any
+of the boy's life, an' if bein' suspended means
+waitin' while the college takes its time to consider
+whether it wants him back again or not I ain't goin'
+to wait. I'm a great believer in a college education,
+but I don't know that it cuts much figure whether
+it's the same college right through or not. Anyway,
+you write Mr. Stebbins."</p>
+
+<p>Arethusa obeyed, and the authorities having
+seen fit to be uncommonly discreet as to the cause
+of the young man's withdrawal, no great difficulty
+was experienced in finding another campus
+whereon Aunt Mary's pride and joy might freely
+disport himself. Mr. Stebbins threw himself into
+the affair with all the tact and ardor of an experienced
+legal mind and soon after Lucinda's return
+to her home allowed Arethusa to follow suit,
+the hopeful younger brother of the latter became
+a candidate for his second outfit of new sweaters
+and hat bands that year.
+<pb n="005" /><anchor id="Pg005" /></p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary wrote him a letter upon the occasion
+of his new start in life, Mr. Stebbins delivered
+him a lecture, and things went smoothly in consequence
+for three whole weeks. I say three
+whole weeks because three whole weeks was a
+long time for the course of Jack's life to flow
+smoothly. At the end of a fortnight affairs were
+always due to run more rapidly and three weeks
+produced, as a general thing, some species of
+climax.</p>
+
+<p>The climax in this case came to time as usual
+his evil genius inciting the young man to attempt,
+one very dark night, the shooting of a cat which
+he thought he saw upon the back fence. Whether
+he really had seen a cat or not mattered very little
+in the later development of the matter. He was
+certainly successful as far as the going off of the
+gun was concerned, but the damage that resulted,
+resulted not to any cat, but to the arm of a next-door's
+cook, who was peacefully engaged in taking
+in her week's wash on the other side of the
+fence. The cook ceased abruptly to take in the
+wash, the affair was at once what is technically
+termed looked into, and three days later Jack
+became the defendant in a suit for damages.</p>
+
+<p>Naturally Mr. Stebbins was at once notified
+and he had no choice except to write Aunt Mary.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary was somewhat less patient over the
+<pb n="006" /><anchor id="Pg006" />third escapade than she had been with the first
+two.</p>
+
+<p>The letter found her alone with Lucinda and
+she read it to herself three times and then read it
+aloud to her companion. Lucinda, whose thorough
+knowledge of the imperious will and impervious
+eardrums of her mistress rendered her, as a
+rule, extremely monosyllabic, not to say silent,
+vouchsafed no comment upon the contents of the
+epistle, and after a few minutes Aunt Mary herself
+took the field:</p>
+
+<p>"Now, what do you suppose possessed that boy
+to shoot at a cook?" she asked, regarding the
+letter with a portentous frown. "Cooks are so
+awful hard to get nowadays. I don't see why
+he didn't shoot a tramp if he had to shoot somethin'."</p>
+
+<p>"He wa'n't tryin' to shoot a cook, 'pears like,"
+then cried Lucinda&mdash;Lucinda's voice, be it said,
+<hi rend="font-style: italic">en passant</hi>, was of that sibilant and penetrating
+timbre which is best illustrated in the accents of a
+steamfitter's file&mdash;"'pears like he was tryin' for
+a cat."</p>
+
+<p>"Not a bat," said her mistress correctively;
+"it was a cat. You look at this letter an' you'll
+see. And, anyway, how could a man shootin' at
+a cat hit a cook?&mdash;not 'nless she was up a tree
+birds'-nestin' after owls' eggs. You don't seem
+<pb n="007" /><anchor id="Pg007" />to pay much attention to what I read to you,
+Lucinda; only I should think your commonsense
+would help you out some when it comes to a boy
+you've known from the time he could walk, an'
+a strange cook. But, anyhow, that's neither here
+nor there. The question that bothers me is, what's
+to pay with this damage suit? I think myself
+five hundred dollars is too much for any cook's
+arm. A cook ain't in no such vital need of two
+arms. If she has to shut the door of the oven
+while she's stirrin' somethin' on the top of the
+stove, she can easy kick it to with her foot. It won't
+be for long, anyway, and I'm a great believer in
+making the best of things when you've got to."</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda screwed up her face and made no comment.
+Lucinda's face in repose was a cross
+between a monkey's and a peanut; screwed up, it
+was particularly awful, and always exasperated
+her mistress.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, why don't you say somethin', Lucinda?
+I ain't askin' your advice, but, all the same, you
+can say anything if you've got a mind to."</p>
+
+<p>"I ain't got a mind to say anythin'," the faithful
+maid rejoined.</p>
+
+<p>"I guess you hit the nail on the head that
+time," said Aunt Mary, without any unnecessary
+malevolence concealed behind her sarcasm; then
+she re-read the note and frowned afresh.
+<pb n="008" /><anchor id="Pg008" /></p>
+
+<p>"Five hundred dollars is too much," she said
+again. "I'm going to write to Mr. Stebbins an'
+tell him so to-night. He can compromise on two
+hundred and fifty, just as well as not. Get me
+some paper and my desk, Lucinda. Now get a
+spryness about you."</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda laid aside her work and forthwith got
+a spryness about her, bringing her mistress' writing-desk
+with commendable alacrity. Aunt Mary
+took the writing-desk and wrote fiercely for some
+time, to the end that she finally wrote most of the
+fierceness out of herself.</p>
+
+<p>"After all, boys will be boys," she said, as she
+sealed her letter, "and if this is the end I shan't
+feel it's money wasted. I'm a great believer in
+bein' patient. Most always, that is. Here, Lucinda
+you take this to Joshua and tell him to
+take it right to mail. Be prompt, now. I'm a
+great believer in doin' things prompt."</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda took the letter and was prompt. "She
+wants this letter took right to the mail," she said
+to Joshua, Aunt Mary's longest-tried servitor.</p>
+
+<p>"Then it'll be took right to mail," said Joshua.</p>
+
+<p>"She's pretty mad," said Lucinda.</p>
+
+<p>"Then she'll soon get over it," replied the
+other, taking up his hat and preparing to depart
+for the barn forthwith.</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda returned to Aunt Mary with a species
+<pb n="009" /><anchor id="Pg009" />of dried-up sigh. One is not the less a slave
+because one has been enslaved for twenty years,
+and Lucinda at moments did sort of peek out
+through her bars&mdash;possibly envying Joshua the
+daily drives to mail when he had full control of
+something that was alive.</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda had been, comparatively speaking,
+young when she had come to wait upon the pleasure
+of the Watkins millions, and her waiting had
+been so pertinent and so patient that it had endured
+over a quarter of a century. Aunt Mary
+had been under fifty in the hour of Lucinda's
+dawn; she was over seventy now. Jack hadn't
+been born then; he was in college now; and Jack's
+older brothers and sisters and his dead-and-gone
+father and mother had been living somewhere out
+West then, quite hopeful as to their own lives and
+quite hopeless as to the stern old great-aunt who
+never had paid any attention to her niece since
+she had chosen to elope with the doctor's reprobate
+son. Now the father and mother were dead
+and buried, the brothers and sisters reinstated in
+their rights and had all grown up and become
+great credits to the old lady, whose heart had
+suddenly melted at the arrival of five orphans all
+at once. And there was only Jack to continue to
+worry about.</p>
+
+<p>Jack was not anything particularly remarkable;
+<pb n="010" /><anchor id="Pg010" />he was just one of those lovable good-for-nothings
+that seem born to get better people into trouble
+all their lives long. He had been spoiled originally
+by being ten years younger than the next
+youngest in the family; and then, when the
+children had been shipped on to Aunt Mary's
+tender mercies, Jack had won her heart immediately
+because she accidentally discovered that he
+had never been baptized, and so felt fully justified
+in re-naming him after her own father and
+having the name branded into him for keeps by
+her own religious apparatus. It followed naturally
+that John Watkins, Jr., Denham, for so
+her father's daughter had insisted that her youngest
+nephew should be called, was the favorite
+nephew of his aunt.</p>
+
+<p>And it was lucky for him that he was the favorite,
+for Aunt Mary, who was highly spiced at
+fifty, became peppery at sixty, and almost biting
+at seventy. And yet for Jack she would sign
+checks almost without a murmur. Mr. Stebbins
+was much more censorious and impatient with the
+young man than she ever was; and to all the rest of
+the world Mr. Stebbins was an urbane and agreeable
+gentleman, whereas to all the rest of the world
+Aunt Mary was a problem or a terror. But Mr.
+Stebbins needed to be a man of tact and management,
+for he was the real manager of that fortune
+<pb n="011" /><anchor id="Pg011" />of which "Mary, only surviving child of
+John Watkins, merchant and ship owner," was the
+legal possessor; and so tactful was Mr. Stebbins
+that he and his powerful client had never yet
+clashed, and they had been in close business relations
+for almost as many years as Lucinda had
+been established on the hearthstone of the Watkins
+home. Perhaps one reason why Mr. Stebbins
+endured so well was that he had a real talent
+for compromising, and that he had skillfully
+transformed Aunt Mary's inherited taste for driving
+a bargain into an acquired pleasure in what is
+really a polite form of the same action.</p>
+
+<p>So, when it came to the matter of Jack's difficulties,
+Mr. Stebbins could always find a half-way
+measure that saved the situation; and when he
+received the letter as to the cook and her claim
+he hied himself to the city at once, and wrote back
+that the claim could be settled for three hundred
+dollars.</p>
+
+<p>"And enough, I must say," Aunt Mary remarked
+to Lucinda upon receipt of the statement;
+"three hundred dollars for one cat&mdash;for, after
+all, Jack blames the whole on the cat, an' he didn't
+hit it, even then."</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda did not answer.</p>
+
+<p>"But if the boy settles down now I shan't mind
+payin' the three&mdash;Where are you goin'?"
+<pb n="012" /><anchor id="Pg012" /></p>
+
+<p>For Lucinda was walking out of the room.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm goin' to the door," said she raspingly.
+"The bell's ringin'."</p>
+
+<p>After a minute or two she came back.</p>
+
+<p>"Telegram!" she announced, handing the yellow
+envelope over.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary put on her glasses, opened it, and
+read:</p>
+
+<quote rend="display">
+<p>Cook has blood poison. Sues for a thousand.
+Probable amputation.</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: right">STEBBINS.</p>
+</quote>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary dropped the paper with a gasp.</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda looked at her with interest.</p>
+
+<p>"It's that same arm again," said Aunt Mary,
+"just as I thought it was settled for!" Her
+eyes seemed to fairly crackle with indignation.
+"Why don't she put it in a sling an' have a little
+patience?"</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda took the telegram and read it.</p>
+
+<p>"'Pears like she can't," she commented, in a
+tone like a buzz saw; "'pears like it's goin' to
+be took off."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary reached forth her hand for the
+telegram and after a second reading shook her
+head in a way that, if her companion had been a
+globe-trotter, would have brought matadores and
+Seville to the front in her mind in that instant.</p>
+
+<p>"I declare," she said, "seems like I had enough
+<pb n="013" /><anchor id="Pg013" />on my mind without a cook, too. What's to be
+done now? I only know one thing! I ain't goin'
+to pay no thousand dollars this week for no arm
+that wasn't worth but three hundred last week.
+Stands to reason that there ain't no reason in that.
+I guess you'd better bring me my desk, Lucinda;
+I'm goin' to write to Mr. Stebbins, an' I'm goin'
+to write to Jack, and I'm goin' to tell 'em both
+just what I think. I'm goin' to write Jack that
+he'd better be lookin' out, and I'm goin' to write
+to Mr. Stebbins that next time he settles things
+I want him to take a receipt for that arm in full."</p>
+
+<p>The letters were duly written and Mr. Stebbins,
+upon the receipt of his, redoubled his efforts,
+and did succeed in permanently settling with the
+cook, the arm being eventually saved. Aunt
+Mary regarded the sum as much higher than
+necessary, but still pleasantly less than that demanded
+of her, and so life in general moved quietly
+on until Easter.</p>
+
+<p>But Easter is always a period of more or less
+commotion in the time of youth and leads to
+various hilarious outbreaks. Jack's Easter took
+him to town for a "little time," and the "little
+time" ended in the station-house at three o'clock
+on Sunday morning.</p>
+
+<p>Accusation: Producing concussion of the brain
+on a cab driver.</p>
+</div>
+<pb n="014" /><anchor id="Pg014" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+<head>Chapter Two - Jack</head>
+
+
+<p>The news was conveyed to Aunt Mary
+through private advices from Mr. Stebbins
+(who had been hastily summoned
+to the city for purposes of bail); she was very
+angry indeed, this time&mdash;primarily at the indignity
+done her flesh and blood by arresting it.
+Then, as she re-read the lawyer's letter, other
+reflections crowded to the fore in her mind.</p>
+
+<p>"Funny! Whatever could have made the boy
+get up and go downtown at three in the morning,
+anyway?" she said. "Seems kind of queer, don't
+you think, Arethusa? Do you suppose he was
+ill and huntin' for a drug store?"</p>
+
+<p>Arethusa had been sent for the second day
+previous because Lucinda's youngest sister's youngest
+child had come down with scarlet fever, and the
+family wanted Lucinda to enliven the quarantine.
+Arethusa had sent invitations out for a dinner
+party, but she had recalled them and hastened to
+obey the summons. It was an evil hour for her, for
+<pb n="015" /><anchor id="Pg015" />she loved her brother and was mightily distressed
+at the bad news.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't believe he can have been ill," she said,
+at the top of her voice; "if he'd been ill he
+wouldn't have had the strength to hit the cab
+driver so hard."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't blame him for hittin' the cab driver,"
+said Aunt Mary warmly. "As near as I can
+recollect, I've often wanted to do that myself.
+But I can't make out where he got the man to hit,
+or why he was there to hit him. I can't make
+rhyme or reason out of it. I wish we knew more.
+Well, I presume we will, later."</p>
+
+<p>Her surmise was correct. They knew much
+more later. They knew more from Mr. Stebbins,
+and they knew profusely more from the
+evening papers.</p>
+
+<p>"I think our boy'd better have come home for
+his Easter," Aunt Mary remarked, with a species of
+angry undertow threading the current of her
+speech. "There's no sayin' what this will cost
+before we're done with it."</p>
+
+<p>Arethusa choked; it was all so very terrible
+to her.</p>
+
+<p>"What is it that the cabman wants, anyhow?"
+her aunt demanded presently.</p>
+
+<p>"He doesn't want anything," yelled the unhappy
+sister. "He's going to die."
+<pb n="016" /><anchor id="Pg016" /></p>
+
+<p>"Well, who is going to sue me, then?"</p>
+
+<p>"It's his wife; she wants five thousand dollars
+damages."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary's lips tightened.</p>
+
+<p>"Five thousand dollars!" she said, with a bitter
+patience. "I can see that this is goin' to be an
+awful business. Five thousand dollars! Dear,
+dear! I must say that that wife sets a pretty
+high price on her husband&mdash;at least, a'cordin' to
+my order of thinkin', she does. From what I've
+seen of cabmen, I'd undertake to get her another
+just as good for a tenth of the money, any day."</p>
+
+<p>Arethusa was silent, staring thoughtfully at the
+newspaper cuts of a great Tammany leader and
+a noted pugilist, which had been labeled as the
+principals in the family tragedy.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary turned over another of the many
+papers received, and scanned its sensational columns
+afresh.</p>
+
+<p>"Arethusa," she exclaimed suddenly, "do you
+know, I bet anythin' I know what this editor
+means to insinuate? It just strikes me that he's
+tryin' to give the impression that our boy's been
+drinkin'."</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps so," Arethusa screamed.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I don't believe it," said Aunt Mary
+firmly, "and I ain't goin' to believe it. And I
+ain't goin' to pay no five thousand dollars for no
+<pb n="017" /><anchor id="Pg017" />cabman's brains, neither. You write to Mr. Stebbins
+to compromise on two or maybe three."</p>
+
+<p>She stopped and bit her lips and shook her
+head. "I don't see why Jack grows up so hard,"
+she murmured, half in anger and half in sorrow.
+"Edward and Henry never had such times. Oh,
+well," she sighed, "boys will be boys, I suppose;
+an' if this all results in the boy's settlin' down
+it'll be money well spent in the end, after all.
+Maybe&mdash;probably&mdash;most likely."</p>
+
+<p>The days that followed were anxious days, but
+at last the cabman rallied and concluded not to
+die, and Jack went off yachting with a light heart
+and a choice collection of good advice from Mr.
+Stebbins and Aunt Mary.</p>
+
+<p>Nothing happened to mar his holiday. He ran
+a borrowed steam launch on to some rocks with
+rather heavy consequences to his aunt's exchequer,
+and returned from the West Indies so late that
+she never had a visit from him at all that summer;
+but, barring these slightly unwelcome incidents,
+he did remarkably well, and when he returned to
+college in the fall he was regarded as having
+become, at last, a stable proposition.</p>
+
+<p>"I wonder whether our boy's comin' home for
+Christmas?" Aunt Mary asked her niece, Mary,
+as that happy period of family reunions drew near.
+Mary had come up to stay with her aunt while
+<pb n="018" /><anchor id="Pg018" />Lucinda went away to bury a second cousin. Mary
+was very different from Arethusa, having a voice
+that, when raised, was something between an icicle
+and a steam whistle, and a temperament so much
+on the order of her aunt's that neither could abide
+the other an hour longer than was absolutely necessary.
+But Arethusa had a sprained ankle, so there
+was no help for existing circumstances.</p>
+
+<p>"No, he isn't," said Mary, who had no patience
+at all with her brother, and showed it. "He's
+going West with the glee club."</p>
+
+<p>"With the she club!" cried poor Aunt Mary,
+in affright.</p>
+
+<p>Mary explained.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't like the idea," said the old lady, shaking
+her head. "Somethin' will be sure to happen.
+I can feel it runnin' up and down my bones this
+minute."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, if he can get into trouble, of course, Jack
+will," said Mary cheerfully.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary didn't hear her, because she didn't
+raise her voice particularly. Besides, the old lady
+was absorbed for the nonce in the most dismal sort
+of prognostications.</p>
+
+<p>And they all came true, too. Something unfortunate
+beyond all expectations came to pass during
+the glee club's visit to Chicago, and the result was
+that, before the new year was well out of its incubator
+<pb n="019" /><anchor id="Pg019" />Jack had papers in a breach-of-promise suit
+served on him. He wrote Mr. Stebbins that it was
+all a joke, and had merely been a portion of that
+foam which a train of youthful spirits are apt to
+leave in their wake; but the girl stood solid for her
+rights, and, as she had never heard from her
+fiancé since the night of the dance, her family&mdash;who
+were rural, but sharp&mdash;thought it would take
+at least fifteen thousand dollars to patch the crack
+in her heart. If the news could have been kept
+from Aunt Mary until after Mr. Stebbins had
+looked into the matter, everything might have resulted
+differently. But the Chicago lawyer who
+had the case took good care that the wealthy aunt
+knew all as quickly as possible, and it seemed as if
+this was the final straw under which the camel
+must succumb.</p>
+
+<p>And Aunt Mary did appear to waver.</p>
+
+<p>"Fifteen thousand dollars!" she cried, aghast.
+"Heaven help us! What next?"</p>
+
+<p>It was Lucinda who was seated calmly opposite
+at this crisis.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you suppose he really did it?" the aunt
+continued, after a minute of appalled consideration.</p>
+
+<p>"It's about the only thing he ain't never done,"
+the tried and true servant answered, her tone more
+gratingly penetrative than ever.
+<pb n="020" /><anchor id="Pg020" /></p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary eyed her sharply, not to say
+furiously.</p>
+
+<p>"I wish you'd give a plain answer when I ask
+you a plain question, Lucinda," she said coldly.
+"If you'd ever got a breach-of-promise suit in the
+early mail you'd know how I feel. Perhaps&mdash;probably."</p>
+
+<p>"I ain't a doubt but what he done it," Lucinda
+screamed out; "an' if I was her an' he wouldn't
+marry me after sayin' he would I'd sue him for a
+hundred thousand, an' think I let him off cheap
+then."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary deigned to smile faintly over the
+subtlety of this speech; but the next minute she was
+frowning blacker than ever.</p>
+
+<p>"A girl from Kalamazoo, too, just up in
+Chicago for a week&mdash;just up in Chicago long
+enough to come down on me for fifteen thousand
+dollars."</p>
+
+<p>"Maybe she'll take five thousand instead," Lucinda
+remarked.</p>
+
+<p>"Maybe!" ejaculated her mistress, in fine
+scorn. "Maybe! Well, if you don't talk as if
+money was sweet peas an' would dry up if it wasn't
+picked!"</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda screwed up her face.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary gave her one awful look.</p>
+
+<p>"You get me some paper an' my desk,
+<pb n="021" /><anchor id="Pg021" />Lucinda," she said. "I think it's about time I was
+takin' a hand in it myself. I've been pretty
+patient, an' I don't see as it's helped matters any.
+Now I'm goin' to write that boy a letter that'll
+settle him an' his cats, an' his cooks, an' his cabmen,
+an' his Kalamazoo, just once for all. I guess I can
+do what I set out to do. Pretty generally&mdash;most
+always."</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda brought the desk, and Aunt Mary
+frowned fearfully and began to write the
+letter.</p>
+
+<p>It developed very strongly. As her pen sized
+up the situation in black and white, the old lady
+seemed to realize the iniquities of the case more
+and more plainly; and as the letter grew her wrath
+grew also. The whole came, in the end, to a threat&mdash;made
+in good earnest&mdash;to take a very serious
+step indeed if any more "foolishness" developed.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary prided herself on her granite-like
+will. She had full faith in her ability to slay her
+nearest and dearest if it seemed right and best to
+do so.</p>
+
+<p>She sealed her letter tight, stuck the stamp
+on square and hard, and bid Lucinda convey it to
+Joshua and tell him never to quit it until he saw it
+safe on to the evening train.</p>
+
+<p>"She's awful mad at him for sure, this time,"
+said Lucinda after she had delivered her message,
+<pb n="022" /><anchor id="Pg022" />and while Joshua was considering the front and
+back of the letter with a deliberateness born of long
+servitude.</p>
+
+<p>"I sh'd think she would be," he said.</p>
+
+<p>As nearly all of Jack's private difficulties were
+printed in every newspaper in America, Joshua
+naturally was on the inside of all their history.</p>
+
+<p>"She scrinched up her face just awful over that
+letter," Lucinda continued. "I'm sure I wish
+he'd 'a' been by to 'a' taken warnin'."</p>
+
+<p>"He ain't got nothin' to really fret over,"
+said Joshua serenely; "he knows it, 'n' I know it,
+'n' you know it, too."</p>
+
+<p>"You don't know nothin' of the sort," said Lucinda.
+"She's madder'n usual this time. She's
+good an' mad. You mark my words, if he goes
+off on a 'nother spree this spring he'll get cut out o'
+her will."</p>
+
+<p>Joshua laughed.</p>
+
+<p>"You mark my words!" rasped Lucinda, shaking
+her finger in witchlike warning.</p>
+
+<p>Joshua laughed again.</p>
+
+<p>"Them laughs best what laughs last," said Aunt
+Mary's handmaiden. She turned away, and then
+returned to give Joshua a look that proved that the
+peppery mistress had inculcated some cayenne into
+the souls of those about her. "You mark my
+words&mdash;them laughs best what laughs last, an'
+<pb n="023" /><anchor id="Pg023" />there'll be little grinnin' for him if he ain't a chalk-walker
+for one while now."</p>
+
+<p>Joshua laughed.</p>
+
+<p>But, as a matter of fact, Jack's situation was suddenly
+become extremely precarious.</p>
+
+<p>"There ain't no sense in it," said Aunt Mary to
+herself, with an emphasis that screwed her face up
+until she looked quite like Lucinda; "that life
+those young men lead on their little vacations is
+to blame for everything. Cities are wells of
+iniquity; they're full of all kinds of doin's that
+respectable people wouldn't be seen at, and I'm
+proud to say that I haven't been in one myself for
+twenty-five years. I'm a great believer in keepin'
+out of trouble, an' if Jack'd just stuck to college
+an' let towns go, he'd never have met the cabman
+and the Kalamazoo girl, an' I'd have overlooked
+the cook an' the cat. As it is, my patience is done.
+If he goes into one more scrape he'll be done too.
+I mean what I say. So my young man had better
+take warnin'. Probably&mdash;most likely&mdash;pretty
+certainly."</p>
+</div>
+
+<pb n="024" /><anchor id="Pg024" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+<head>Chapter Three - Introducing Jack</head>
+
+
+<p>It has been previously stated that Aunt Mary's
+nephew, Jack, was a scapegrace, and as delightful
+as scapegraces generally are. It goes without
+saying that he was good-looking; and of course
+he must have been jolly and pleasant or he wouldn't
+have been so popular. As a matter of fact, Jack
+was very good-looking, unusually jolly, and uncommonly
+popular. He was one of the best liked
+men in each of the colleges which he had attended.
+There was something so winning about his smile
+and his eternal good humor that no one ever tried
+to dislike him; and if anyone ever had tried he or
+she would not have succeeded for very long. It
+is probably very unfortunate that the world is so
+full of this type of young man, but that which
+should cause us all to have infinite patience with
+them is the reflection of how much more unfortunate
+it would be if they were suddenly eliminated
+from the general scheme of things.</p>
+
+<p>Like all college boys, Jack had a chum. The
+chum was Robert Burnett, another charming young
+<pb n="025" /><anchor id="Pg025" />fellow of one-and-twenty, whose education had
+been so cosmopolitan in design and so patriotic in
+practice that he always said "Sacre bleu" and
+"Donnerwetter" when he thought of it, and
+"Great Scott" when he didn't. He and Jack were
+as congenial a pair as ever existed, and they had
+just about as much in common as the aunt of the
+one and the father of the other had had to pay for.</p>
+
+<p>In the February of the year of which I write,
+Washington, celebrating his birthday as usual, gave
+all American students their usual chance to celebrate
+with him. Celebrations were temptations
+incarnate to Jack, and he was feeling frowningly
+what a clog Aunt Mary's latest epistle was upon
+his joys, when his friend came to the rescue with an
+invitation to spend the double holiday (it doubled
+that year&mdash;Sunday, you know) at the brand-new
+ancestral castle which Burnett <hi rend="font-style: italic">père</hi> had just finished
+building for his descendants. It may be imagined
+that Jack accepted the invitation with alacrity, and
+that his never-very-downcast heart bounded gleefully
+higher than usual over the prospect of two
+days of pleasure in the country.</p>
+
+<p>It is not necessary to state where the castle of
+the Burnetts was erected, but it was in a beautiful
+region, and the monthly magazines had written it
+up and called it an architectural triumph. The
+owner fully agreed with the monthly magazines,
+<pb n="026" /><anchor id="Pg026" />and his pride found vent in a house-warming which
+filled every guest chamber in the place.</p>
+
+<p>The festivities were in full swing before the
+youngest son and his friend arrived; and when
+the dog-cart, which brought them from the station,
+drew up under the mighty porte-cochère with its
+four stone lions, rampant in four different directions,
+Jack felt one of those delicious thrills which
+run through one under particularly hopeful and
+buoyant circumstances.</p>
+
+<p>"It's like walking in a novel," his friend said;
+as they entered under some heavy draperies which
+the footman pushed aside and found a tiny spiral
+staircase, which wound its way aloft in a style that
+Jack liked immensely and the latter agreed with all
+his heart.</p>
+
+<p>The staircase led them to the third floor and
+when they emerged therefrom they found themselves
+in a big semi-circular billiard room, with a
+fireplace at each end large enough to put one of the
+tables in, and cues and counters and stools and
+divans and smoking utensils sufficient for a regiment.</p>
+
+<p>"I tell you, this is the way to do things,"
+exclaimed Burnett; "isn't it jolly? Time of your
+life, old man, time of your life!&mdash;And, oh, by the
+way," he said, suddenly interrupting himself, "I
+wonder if my sister's got here yet!"
+<pb n="027" /><anchor id="Pg027" /></p>
+
+<p>"Which sister?" Jack inquired; for his friend
+was one of a very large family, and he had met
+several of them on their various visits to town.</p>
+
+<p>"Betty&mdash;the one who beats all the others hollow,"&mdash;but
+just there the conversation was broken
+off by the servants coming up with the luggage
+and setting two doors open that showed them two
+big rooms, both exquisitely furnished, and both
+with windows that looked out, first on to a stone
+balustrade, and secondly on to a superb view over
+the river and the mountains beyond.</p>
+
+<p>The men unstrapped the things and went away,
+leaving such a plenitude of comfort behind them
+as led Jack to fling himself into the most luxurious
+chair in the room and stretch his arms and
+legs far and wide in utter contentment.</p>
+
+<p>Burnett was fishing for his key ring.</p>
+
+<p>"It's a great old place, isn't it?" he remarked
+parenthetically. "Great Scott! but I'll bet we have
+fun these two days! And if my sister Betty is
+here&mdash;" He paused expressively.</p>
+
+<p>"Doesn't she live at home?" Jack asked.</p>
+
+<p>"She's just come home; she's been in England
+for three years. Oh, but I tell you she's a
+corker!"</p>
+
+<p>"I should think&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>The sentence was never completed because a
+voice without the not-altogether-closed door cried:
+<pb n="028" /><anchor id="Pg028" /></p>
+
+<p>"No, don't think, please; let me come in instead."
+And in the same instant Burnett made
+one leap and flung the door open, crying as he did
+so:</p>
+
+<p>"Betty!"</p>
+
+<p>Then Jack, bunching somewhat his starfish attitude,
+looked across the room and realized instantly
+that it was all up with him forever after.</p>
+
+<p>Because&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>Because she who stood there in the door was
+quite the sweetest, the loveliest, the most interesting
+looking girl whom he had ever laid eyes on;
+and when she was seized in her brother's arms, and
+kissed by her brother's lips, and dragged by her
+brother's hands well into the room, she proved to
+be a thousand times more irresistible than at
+first.</p>
+
+<p>"I say, Betty, you're absolutely prettier than
+ever," her brother exclaimed, holding her a little
+off from him and surveying her critically; and then
+he seemed to remember his friend's existence, and,
+turning toward him, announced proudly:</p>
+
+<p>"My sister Bertha."</p>
+
+<p>Jack was standing up now and thinking how
+lovely her eyes were just at that instant when they
+were meeting his for the first time, thinking much
+else too. Thinking that Monday was only two
+days away (hang it!); thinking that such a
+<pb n="029" /><anchor id="Pg029" />smile was never known before; thinking that he
+had <hi rend="font-style: italic">years</hi> ahead at college; thinking that the curl
+on her forehead was simply distracting (whereas
+all other like curls were horrid); thinking that he
+might cut college and&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"My chum, Jack Denham," Burnett continued,
+proving in the same instant how rapidly the mind
+may work since his friend had compassed his
+encyclopedia of sentiment and probability between
+the two halves of a formal introduction.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I'm very glad to meet you, Mr. Denham,"
+she said, putting out her hand&mdash;and he took and
+held it just long enough to realize that he really was
+holding it, before she took it away to keep for her
+own again. "I've often heard of you, and often
+wished I might know you."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm awfully glad to hear you say that," he
+said, "and if I should have the royal luck to be
+next to you at dinner, it doesn't seem to me that I
+shall have the strength to keep from telling
+you why."</p>
+
+<p>She clapped her hands at this, just as a very little
+girl might have done.</p>
+
+<p>"If that is so, I hope that they will put you
+next to me at dinner," she said gayly; "but if they
+don't, you'll tell me some other time, won't you?
+I'm always <hi rend="font-style: italic">so</hi> interested in what people have to
+tell me about myself."
+<pb n="030" /><anchor id="Pg030" /></p>
+
+<p>Burnett began to laugh.</p>
+
+<p>"Jack," he said, "I see that we'd better have a
+clear and above-board understanding right in the
+beginning and so I'll just tell you that this sister
+of mine, who appears so guileless, is the very worst
+flirt ever. She looks honest, but she can't tell the
+truth to save her neck. She means well, but she
+drives folks to suicide just for fun. She'd do anything
+for anybody in general, but when it's a case
+of you individually she won't do a thing to you,
+and you must heed my words and be forewarned
+and forearmed from now on. Mustn't he,
+Betty?"</p>
+
+<p>At this the sister laughed, nodding quite as
+gayly as if it were a laughing matter, instead
+of the opening move in a possibly serious&mdash;tremendously
+serious&mdash;game of life.</p>
+
+<p>"It's awful to have to subscribe to," she said,
+with dancing eyes; "but I'm afraid it's true. I'm
+really quite a reprobate, and I admit it frankly.
+And everyone is so good to me that I never get a
+chance to reform. And so&mdash;and so&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"But then, I suppose I ought to warn her about
+you, too," said Burnett, turning suddenly toward
+his friend. "It isn't fair to show her up and not
+show you up, you know. And really, Betty, he's
+almost as bad as you are yourself. I may tell you
+in confidence&mdash;in strict confidence (for it's only
+<pb n="031" /><anchor id="Pg031" />been in a few newspapers)&mdash;that he hasn't got his
+breach-of-promise suit all compromised yet. Ask
+him to deny it, if he can!"</p>
+
+<p>The sister looked suddenly startled and curious
+and Jack felt himself to be blushing desperately.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't look as if he was lying, do I?" he
+asked smiling; "be honest now, for you can see
+that Burnett and I both are."</p>
+
+<p>"No, you don't," she said. "You look as if it
+was a very true bill."</p>
+
+<p>"It is," he said; "and it's going to be an awfully
+big one, too, I'm afraid."</p>
+
+<p>"I wouldn't have thought you were such a bad
+man," said the sister ever so sweetly; "but I like
+bad men. They interest me. They&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"There!&mdash;I see your finish," said Burnett.
+"That's one of her favorite opening plays. It's
+all up with you, Jack, and your aunt will have to
+to go down for another damage suit when you
+begin to perceive that you have had enough of our
+family. But you'll have to get out now, Betty,
+and let him get dressed for dinner. You needn't
+cry about it either for he's even more attractive in
+his glad rags than he is in his railway dust&mdash;my
+word of honor on it."</p>
+
+<p>"I look nice myself when I'm dinner-dressed,"
+said the sister, "so I sympathize with him and I'll
+go with pleasure. Good-bye."
+<pb n="032" /><anchor id="Pg032" /></p>
+
+<p>She sort of backed toward the door and Jack
+sprang to open it for her.</p>
+
+<p>"You can kiss her hand, if you like," Burnett
+said kindly. "They do in Germany, you know.
+I don't mind and mamma needn't know."</p>
+
+<p>"May I?" Jack asked her; and then he caught
+her eye over her brother's bent head and added,
+so quickly that there was hardly any break at all
+between the words: "Some other time?"</p>
+
+<p>"Some other time," she said, with a world of
+meaning in the promise; and then she flashed one
+wonderful look straight into his eyes and was gone.</p>
+
+<p>"Isn't she great?" Burnett asked, unlocking his
+suit-case in the most provokingly every-day style, as
+if this day was an every-day sort of day and not the
+beginning and end of all things. "Oh, I tell you,
+I'm almost dotty over that sister myself."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you suppose that I could manage to have
+her for dinner?" Jack asked, feeling desperately
+how dull any other place at the table would be
+now.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know. When I go down to my
+mother I'll try to manage it; shall I?"</p>
+
+<p>"I wish you would."</p>
+
+<p>"I reckon I can; but, great loads of fire, fellow!
+don't think you can play tag with her, and feel
+funny at the finish. She'll do you up completely,
+and never turn a hair herself. She's always at it.
+<pb n="033" /><anchor id="Pg033" />She don't mean to be cruel, but she's naturally a
+carnivorous animal. It's her little way."</p>
+
+<p>Jack did not look as dismal as he should have
+done; he smiled, and looked out of the window
+instead.</p>
+
+<p>"She'll have to marry someone some day, you
+know," he said thoughtfully.</p>
+
+<p>"Have to marry someone some day!" Burnett
+cried. "Why, she is married. Didn't you know
+that?" and he unbuckled the shirt portfolio as he
+spoke just as if calamities and tragedies and shooting
+stars might not follow on the heels of
+such a simple statement as that last.</p>
+
+<p>It was an awful moment, but poor Jack did manage
+to continue looking out of the window. If any greater
+demand had been made upon him he might have
+sunk beneath the double weight.</p>
+
+<p>"No," he said at last, his voice painfully steady;
+"I didn't know it."</p>
+
+<p>Burnett laughed heartlessly, hauling forth his
+apparel with a refined cruelty which took careful
+heed of possible interfolded shoes or cravats.</p>
+
+<p>"She married an Englishman when she was
+nineteen years old," he said. "That was when
+they sent me to Eton that little while,&mdash;until I
+drove the horse through the drug shop. The time
+I told you about, don't you know?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I remember," said Jack. He observed
+<pb n="034" /><anchor id="Pg034" />with sickening distinctness that the night had begun
+to fall, the river's silver ribbon had become a
+black snake, and that the mountain range beyond
+loomed chill and dark and cheerless. "I guess I
+ought to be getting into my things," he said, moving
+toward his own door.</p>
+
+<p>"There's a bath in here," his friend called after
+him. "We're to divide it."</p>
+
+<p>"Sure," was the reply. It sounded a trifle
+thick.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't think that she ought to," said the
+brother to himself, as he began to draw out his
+stick-pin before the mirror, "I don't care if she is
+my favorite sister&mdash;I don't think that she ought
+to."</p>
+
+<p>Then he went on to make ready for the securing
+of his half of the bath, and forthwith forgot his
+sister and his friend.</p>
+</div>
+
+<pb n="035" /><anchor id="Pg035" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+<head>Chapter Four - Married</head>
+
+
+<p>It was almost like a scene at a ball, the great
+white-and-gold music room before dinner that
+night. The Burnett family proper numbered
+fifteen among themselves, and there were nearly
+thirty guests added. It was entirely too large a
+house party to have handled successfully for very
+long, but it would be most awfully jolly for three
+or four days; and now, when the whole crowd
+were gathered waiting for dinner, the picture was
+one of such bubbling joy that Jack's very heavy
+heart seemed to himself to be terribly out of place
+there and he wondered whether he should be able
+to put up even a fairly presentable front during the
+endless hours that must ensue before the time for
+breaking up arrived.</p>
+
+<p>Burnett took him all around and introduced him
+to people in general, and people in general seemed
+to him to merely bring the fact of her pre-eminence
+more vividly than ever before his mind. He
+found himself looking everywhere but at them too,
+<pb n="036" /><anchor id="Pg036" />and listening with an acutely sensitive ear for
+sounds quite other than those of their various lips.
+But eternal disappointment rewarded his eyes and
+ears. She was nowhere.</p>
+
+<p>So he talked blindly about nothing to all the
+nobodies and laughed stupidly over all their stupidities
+until&mdash;suddenly and without any warning&mdash;a
+fearful jump in his throat sent the mercury in
+his constitution shooting up to 160, and he saw,
+heard, felt, gasped, and knew, that that radiant
+angel in silver tissue who had just entered the
+farther end of the room was indubitably Herself.</p>
+
+<p>(Married!)</p>
+
+<p>He quite forgot who, what and where he was.
+There was a somebody talking to him&mdash;a very
+awful and bony young lady, but she faded so completely
+out of the general scheme of his immediate
+present that all the use he made of her was to stare
+over her head at the distant apparition that was
+become, now and forever, his All in All. The distant
+apparition had not lied when she had told him
+up in her brother's room that she too, looked
+"nice" when dressed for dinner. Only the word
+"nice" was as watered milk to the champagne of
+her appearance. She was gowned superbly and
+her throat and arms were half bared by the folds
+of silvered lace; her hair fitted into the back of
+her neck in the smoothest mass of puffs and coils,
+<pb n="037" /><anchor id="Pg037" />and the curl on her forehead was more distracting
+than ever.</p>
+
+<p>(Married!)</p>
+
+<p>She seemed to be speaking to everyone, and
+everyone seemed to be crowding around her. He
+couldn't go up like everyone else, because the
+awful and bony young lady was talking hard at
+him and heightened her charms with a smile that
+took up two-fifths of her face, and wrinkled all the
+rest.</p>
+
+<p>Her name was Lome&mdash;Maude Lome. He
+knew that she must be a relative without being told,
+because otherwise she wouldn't have been invited
+at all. Anyone could divine that.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, isn't dear Betty just lovely?" this fearful
+freak said. "I think she's just too lovely for
+anything! She's my cousin, you know; we're often
+mistaken for one another."</p>
+
+<p>"I can well believe it," said Jack, heavily, not
+ceasing to stare beyond as he said it.</p>
+
+<p>(Married!)</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, you're flattering me! Because she's ever
+so much prettier than I am, and I know it."</p>
+
+<p>He didn't reply. It had suddenly come over
+him to wonder whether there ever had been an
+authentic case of heartbreak. Because he had the
+most terrible ache right in his left side!</p>
+
+<p>(Married! Married!)
+<pb n="038" /><anchor id="Pg038" /></p>
+
+<p>"But, then," Miss Lome continued, "I'm
+younger than she is. Her being married makes
+her seem young, but she's really twenty-four. I'm
+only twenty."</p>
+
+<p>He shut his eyes, and then opened them. He
+wished he hadn't come here, and then grew shivery
+to think that he might have happened not to; and
+all the while that awful twisting and wrenching
+at his heart was getting worse and worse.</p>
+
+<p>(Married! Married! Married!)</p>
+
+<p>Burnett came up just then with a man wearing
+a monocle and presented him to Denham, and
+forthwith handed the bony cousin to his safe-keeping.</p>
+
+<p>"She's a great pill, isn't she?" he began, as
+the couple moved away; and then he stopped short.
+"What's the matter?" he asked. "Sick?"</p>
+
+<p>"I hope not," said Jack, trying to smile.</p>
+
+<p>"You look hipped," his friend said anxiously.
+"Better go get a bracer; you'll have time if you
+hurry. You can't be sick before dinner, because
+I've been moving all the cards around so as to get
+Betty next to you, and I could never get them back
+as they were before if you gave out at the last minute."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't believe I'm ill," said Jack, trying to
+realize whether the news that she was to be his (for
+dinner) made him feel any better or only just about
+<pb n="039" /><anchor id="Pg039" />the same. "I don't know what ails me. Do I
+look seedy?"</p>
+
+<p>"You look sort of knocked out, that's all," said
+Burnett. "Perhaps, though, it was just the having
+to talk to my cousin Maude so long. Isn't
+she the limit, though? But I'll tell you the one
+big thing about that girl: She's just the biggest
+kind of a catch. She was my uncle's eldest child;
+she's worth twelve times what any of us ever will
+be."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm sure she'll need it," said Jack heartily.</p>
+
+<p>"You're right there," laughed his friend;
+"but you've got to hurry and get your brandy now
+if you want it, because they'll be going out in a
+minute."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I'm all right," said the poor chap, straightening
+his shoulders back a little. "I can make
+out well enough, I'm sure. I think I'd better go
+over by your sister and let her know that I'm ready
+when the hour of need shall strike."</p>
+
+<p>Burnet nodded and then he went on and his
+friend walked down the room, no one but himself
+knowing that he was making his way into the lion's
+(or, rather, lioness's) den.</p>
+
+<p>And then he paused there beside her. Oh! she
+Was seven million times lovelier close to than far
+away. All the rot about Venus and statues and
+paintings and Helen of Troy was nowhere beside
+<pb n="040" /><anchor id="Pg040" />Her and he felt his strength come surging mightily
+upward and then&mdash;oh Heavens!</p>
+
+<p>She looked up&mdash;looked so sweetly up&mdash;right
+into his eyes and smiled.</p>
+
+<p>"I expect you are to take me into dinner," she
+said; and at her words the man who had been
+talking to her murmured something meaningless
+and got out of their way.</p>
+
+<p>"I believe so," he said.</p>
+
+<p>She rose and he noticed that the top of her head
+was just level with his coat lapel. He wondered,
+with a miserable pang, where she came to on her
+husband's coat and with the wonder his surging
+strength surged suddenly out to sea again and left
+him feeling like Samson when he awoke to the
+realization of his haircut.</p>
+
+<p>"Dinner's very late," she said, quite as if life
+presented no problem whatever; "you see, it's the
+first big company in the house. We were only
+seventeen last night, and to-night we're forty-five.
+It makes a difference."</p>
+
+<p>"I can imagine so," he said. He was suddenly
+acutely aware of feeling very awkward, and of
+finding her different&mdash;quite different from what
+she had seemed up in her brother's room.</p>
+
+<p>"What is it?" she asked after a minute, looking
+up at him; and then she showed that she was
+conscious of the change, for she added: "Something
+<pb n="041" /><anchor id="Pg041" />has happened; Bob has been saying mean
+things about me to you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, he did tell me something," he admitted;
+and just then the butler announced dinner.</p>
+
+<p>"What did he tell you?" she asked, as they
+moved away. "How could he say anything worse
+than what he said before me?"</p>
+
+<p>"He told me something that was worse&mdash;much
+worse."</p>
+
+<p>She looked troubled and as if she did not understand.</p>
+
+<p>"But he said that I was a flirt, and that I
+couldn't speak the truth, and that I drove people&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I remember all that; but this was infinitely worse."</p>
+
+<p>"Infinitely worse!"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes."</p>
+
+<p>She stopped in an angle where the big room
+dwindled into a narrow gallery, and stared astonished.</p>
+
+<p>"I can't at all understand," she said.</p>
+
+<p>"No, you can't," he said, "and I can't tell you&mdash;I
+mustn't tell you&mdash;how terrible it is to me to
+look at you and think of what he told me."</p>
+
+<p>After a second she went on again and presently
+they entered the dining-room. The confusion of
+rustling skirts and sliding chairs quite covered
+<pb n="042" /><anchor id="Pg042" />their speech for a moment and made them seem
+almost alone. Her hand had been resting on his
+arm and now she drew it out, looking up at him
+again as she did so. Her eyes had a premonitory
+mist over them.</p>
+
+<p>"For Heaven's sake," she said very earnestly,
+"tell me what he said?"</p>
+
+<p>He was silent.</p>
+
+<p>"Tell me," she pleaded.</p>
+
+<p>He was still silent.</p>
+
+<p>"Tell me," she said imperiously.</p>
+
+<p>He continued silent. They sat down.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Denham," she said, as she took up her
+napkin, and her voice grew very low, and yet he
+heard, "I don't think that we can pretend to be
+joking any longer. You are my brother's friend,
+and I am a married woman. Please treat me as
+you should."</p>
+
+<p>"That's just it," said Jack; "that's all there is
+to it. It wouldn't have amounted to anything
+except for that&mdash;or perhaps, if it hadn't been
+for that, it might have amounted to a great
+deal."</p>
+
+<p>"If it hadn't been for what?"</p>
+
+<p>"For your being married."</p>
+
+<p>She quite started in her seat.</p>
+
+<p>"What do you mean?"</p>
+
+<p>"You see I never knew it before."
+<pb n="043" /><anchor id="Pg043" /></p>
+
+<p>"You never knew what before?"</p>
+
+<p>"That you were married."</p>
+
+<p>"Until when?"</p>
+
+<p>"Until after you went out of the room to-night."</p>
+
+<p>The men were putting the clams around. She
+seemed to reflect. And then she peppered and
+salted them before she spoke.</p>
+
+<p>"Bob is very wrong to talk so," she said at last,
+picking up her fork, "when you're his friend, too."</p>
+
+<p>He poked his clams&mdash;he hated clams.</p>
+
+<p>"I suppose men think it's amusing to do such
+things," she continued, "but I think it's as ill-bred
+as practical joking."</p>
+
+<p>"But you are married," he said, trying fiercely
+to pepper some taste into the tasteless things before
+him.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I'm married," she admitted tranquilly,
+"but, then, my husband went to Africa so soon
+afterwards that he hardly seemed to count at all.
+And then he was killed there; so, after that, he
+seemed to count less than ever."</p>
+
+<p>The air danced exclamation points and the man
+on the other side spoke to her then so that her turning
+to answer him gave Jack time to rally his wits.</p>
+
+<p>(A widow!)</p>
+
+<p>Then she turned back and said:</p>
+
+<p>"I think Bob mystified you unnecessarily. Of
+course I don't flatter myself that you've suffered."
+<pb n="044" /><anchor id="Pg044" /></p>
+
+<p>"Oh, but I have," he hastened to assure her.</p>
+
+<p>(A widow! A widow!)</p>
+
+<p>"But it always makes a difference whether a
+woman is married or not."</p>
+
+<p>"I should say it did," he interrupted again.
+"It makes all the difference in the world."</p>
+
+<p>At that she laughed outright, and someone suddenly
+abstracted the distasteful clams and substituted
+for them a golden and glorious soup, and
+music sounded forth from some invisible quartet,
+and&mdash;and&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>(A widow! A widow! A widow!)</p>
+</div>
+<pb n="045" /><anchor id="Pg045" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+
+<head>Chapter Five - The Day After Falling in Love</head>
+
+
+<p>The next day was a very memorable day
+for Jack. The day after a falling in love
+is always a red-letter day; but the day after
+the falling in love&mdash;ah!</p>
+
+<p>One looks back&mdash;far back&mdash;to the day before,
+and those hours of the day before, when her sun
+had not yet dawned, and struggles to recollect
+what ends life could have represented then.
+And one looks forward to the next day, the next
+week, the next year&mdash;but, particularly to the next
+morning with sensations as indescribable as they
+are delightful.</p>
+
+<p>Whichever way you tip it, the kaleidoscope of
+the future arranges itself in equally attractive
+shapes of rainbow hue, and the prospect over land
+or sea&mdash;even if it is raining&mdash;looks brilliant green,
+and brighter red, and brightest yellow.</p>
+
+<p>Upon that glorious "next day" of Jack's the
+weather was quite a thing apart for February&mdash;partaking
+of the warmth of May, and owing that
+fact to a sun which early June need not have
+<pb n="046" /><anchor id="Pg046" />scorned to own. Under the circumstances the
+house party overflowed the house and ravaged the
+surrounding country, and Jack and Mrs. Rosscott
+began it all by having the highest cart and the
+fastest cob in the stables and making for the forest
+just as the clock was tolling ten.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you want a groom?" asked Burnett, who
+was occasionally very cruel.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I'm not going to wait for him to get
+ready now," replied his sister, who had sharp wits
+and did not disdain to give even her own family the
+benefit of them.</p>
+
+<p>Then she gathered up the reins and whip in a
+most scientific manner, and they were off. Jack
+folded his arms. He was simply flooded, drenched,
+and saturated with joy. The evening before
+had been Elysium when she had only been his
+now and again for a minute's conversation, but
+now she was to be his and his alone until&mdash;until they
+came back&mdash;and his mind seemed able to grasp no
+dearer outlines of the form which Bliss Incarnate
+may be supposed to take. He didn't care where
+they went or what they saw or what they talked of,
+just if only he and she might be going, seeing, and
+talking for the benefit of one another and of one
+another alone.</p>
+
+<p>They bowled away upon a firm, hard road that
+skirted the park, and then plunged deeply into the
+<pb n="047" /><anchor id="Pg047" />forest. Mrs. Rosscott handled the reins and the
+whip with the hands of an expert.</p>
+
+<p>"I like to drive," said she.</p>
+
+<p>"You appear to," he answered.</p>
+
+<p>"I like to do everything," she said. "I'm very
+athletic and energetic."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm glad of that," he told her warmly. "I
+like athletic girls."</p>
+
+<p>He really thought that he was speaking the
+truth, although upon that first day if she had declared
+herself lazy and languid he would have
+found her equally to his taste&mdash;because it was the
+first day.</p>
+
+<p>"That's kind of you, after my speech," she said
+smiling, "but let's wait a bit before we begin to
+talk about me. Let us talk about you first&mdash;you're
+the company, you know."</p>
+
+<p>"But there's nothing to tell about me," said
+Jack, "except that I'm always in difficulties&mdash;financial&mdash;or
+otherwise,&mdash;oftenest 'otherwise,' I
+must confess."</p>
+
+<p>"But you have a rich aunt, haven't you?" said
+Mrs. Rosscott. "I thought that I had heard about
+your aunt."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes, I have a rich aunt," Jack said, laughing,
+"and I can assure you that if I am not much
+credit to my aunt, my aunt is the greatest possible
+credit to me."
+<pb n="048" /><anchor id="Pg048" /></p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I've heard that, too," said Mrs. Rosscott,
+joining in the laugh, "you see I'm well posted."</p>
+
+<p>"If you're so well posted as to me," Jack said,
+"do be kind and post me a little as to yourself.
+You don't need information and I do."</p>
+
+<p>She turned and looked at him.</p>
+
+<p>"What shall I tell you first?" she inquired.</p>
+
+<p>"Tell me what you like and what you don't like&mdash;and
+that will give me courage to do the same
+later," he added boldly.</p>
+
+<p>She laughed outright at that and then sobered
+quickly.</p>
+
+<p>"I told you that I liked to drive and to do everything,"
+she said lightly; "what else do you want to
+know about?"</p>
+
+<p>"What you dislike."</p>
+
+<p>"But I don't know of anything that I dislike;"
+she said thoughtfully&mdash;"perhaps I don't like
+England; I am not sure, though. I had a pretty
+good time there after all&mdash;only you know, being
+in mourning was so stupid. And then, too, I didn't
+fit into their ideas. I really didn't seem to get the
+true inwardness of what was expected of me. Oh,
+I never dared let them know at home what a
+failure I was as an Englishwoman. I mortified
+my husband's sisters all the time. Just think&mdash;after
+a whole year I often forgot to say 'Fancy
+now!' and used to say 'Good gracious!' instead."
+<pb n="049" /><anchor id="Pg049" /></p>
+
+<p>Jack laughed.</p>
+
+<p>"My husband's sisters were very unhappy about
+it. They did want to love me, because I had so
+much money; but it was tough work for them.
+Did you ever know any middle-aged English young
+ladies?" she asked him suddenly.</p>
+
+<p>"No, I never did," he said.</p>
+
+<p>"Really, they seem to be a thing apart that can't
+grow anywhere but in England. Every married
+man has not less than two, nor more than three, and
+they always are a little gray and embroider very
+nicely. Someone told me that as long as there's
+any hope they wear stout boots and walk about and
+hunt, but as soon as it's hopeless they take to embroidering."</p>
+
+<p>"It must be rather a blue day for them when
+they decide definitely to make the change," said
+Jack.</p>
+
+<p>"I never thought of that," said Mrs. Rosscott
+soberly. "Of course it must! I was always very
+good to them. I gave them ever so many things
+that I could have used longer myself, and they used
+to set pieces of muslin in behind the open-work
+places and wear them."</p>
+
+<p>She sighed.</p>
+
+<p>"It's quite as bad as being a Girton girl," she
+said. "Do you know what a Girton girl is?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, I don't."
+<pb n="050" /><anchor id="Pg050" /></p>
+
+<p>"It's a girl from Girton College. It's the most
+awful freak you ever saw. They're really quite
+beyond everything. They're so homely, and their
+hands and feet are so enormous, and their pins
+never pin, and their belts never belt. And no one
+has ever married one of them yet!"</p>
+
+<p>She paused dramatically.</p>
+
+<p>"I won't either, then," he declared.</p>
+
+<p>She laughed at that, and touched up the cob a
+trifle.</p>
+
+<p>"Did you live long in England?" he asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Forever!" she answered with emphasis; "at
+least it seemed like forever. Mamma left me
+there when I was nineteen (she married me off
+before she left me, of course) and I stayed there
+until last winter&mdash;until I was out of my mourning,
+you know&mdash;and then I was on the Continent for a
+while, and then I returned to papa."</p>
+
+<p>"How do we strike you after your long
+absence?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, you suit me admirably," she said, turning
+and smiling squarely into his face; "only the terrible 'and'
+of the majority does get on my nerves
+somewhat."</p>
+
+<p>"What 'and'?"</p>
+
+<p>"Haven't you noticed? Why when an American
+runs out of talking material he just rests on one
+poor little 'and' until a fresh run of thought overwhelms
+<pb n="051" /><anchor id="Pg051" />him; you listen to the next person you're
+talking with, and you'll hear what I mean."</p>
+
+<p>Jack reflected.</p>
+
+<p>"I will," he said at last.</p>
+
+<p>The road went sweeping in and out among a
+thicket of bare tree trunks and brown copses, and
+the sunlight fell out of the blue sky above straight
+down upon their heads.</p>
+
+<p>"If it don't annoy you, my referring to England
+so often," said she presently, "I will state that
+this reminds me of Kaysmere, the country place of
+my father-in-law."</p>
+
+<p>"Is your father-in-law living yet?"</p>
+
+<p>"Dear me, yes&mdash;and still has hold of the title
+that I supposed I was getting when I was married
+to his eldest son. My father-in-law is a particularly
+healthy old gentleman of eighty. He was
+forty years old when he married. He didn't
+expect to marry, you know&mdash;he couldn't see his
+way to ever affording it. But he jumped into the
+title suddenly and then, of course, he married right
+away. He had to. You'd know what a hurry
+he must have been in to look at my mamma-in-law's
+portrait."</p>
+
+<p>"Was she so very beautiful?"</p>
+
+<p>"No; she was so very homely. Maude's very
+like her."</p>
+
+<p>Jack laughed.
+<pb n="052" /><anchor id="Pg052" /></p>
+
+<p>She laughed, too.</p>
+
+<p>"Aren't we happy together?" she asked.</p>
+
+<p>"My sky knows but one cloud," he rejoined,
+"and that is that Monday comes after Sunday."</p>
+
+<p>"But we shall meet again," said Mrs. Rosscott.
+"Because," she added mischievously, "I don't suppose
+that it's on account of my cousin Maude that
+you rebel at the approach of Monday."</p>
+
+<p>"No," said Jack. "It may not be polite to say
+so to you, but I wasn't in the least thinking of your
+cousin."</p>
+
+<p>"Poor girl!" said Mrs. Rosscott thoughtfully;
+"and she was so sweet to you, too. Mustn't it be
+terrible to have a face like that?"</p>
+
+<p>"It must indeed," said Jack; "I can think of
+but one thing worse."</p>
+
+<p>"What?"</p>
+
+<p>"To marry a face like that."</p>
+
+<p>She laughed again.</p>
+
+<p>"You're cruel," she declared; "after all her
+face isn't her fortune, so what does it matter?"</p>
+
+<p>"It doesn't matter at all to me," said Jack. "I
+know of very few things that can matter less to me
+than Miss Lorne's face."</p>
+
+<p>"Now, you're cruel again; and she was so nice to
+you too. Absolutely, I don't believe that the edges
+of her smile came together once while she was
+talking to you last night."
+<pb n="053" /><anchor id="Pg053" /></p>
+
+<p>"Did you spy on us to that extent?" said Jack.
+"I wouldn't have believed it of you."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I'm very awful," she said airily. "You'll
+be more surprised the farther you penetrate into
+the wilderness of my ways."</p>
+
+<p>"And when will I have a chance to plunge into
+the jungle, do you think?"</p>
+
+<p>"Any Saturday or Sunday that you happen to
+be in town."</p>
+
+<p>"Are you going to live in town?"</p>
+
+<p>"For a while. I've taken a house until the
+beginning of July. I expect some friends over,
+and I want to entertain them."</p>
+
+<p>Jack felt the sky above become refulgent. He
+was in the habit of spending every Saturday night
+in the city&mdash;he and Burnett together.</p>
+
+<p>"May I come as often as I like?" he asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Certainly," said she; "because you know if
+you should come too often I can tell the man at the
+door to say I'm 'not at home' to you."</p>
+
+<p>"But if he ever says: 'She's not at home to you,'
+I shall walk right in and fall upon the man that you
+are being at home to just then."</p>
+
+<p>"But he is a very large man," said Mrs. Rosscott
+seriously; "he's larger than you are, I think."</p>
+
+<p>Jack felt the blue heavens breaking up into thunderbolts
+for his head at <hi rend="font-style: italic">this</hi> speech.</p>
+
+<p>"But I'm 'way over six feet," he said, his heart
+<pb n="054" /><anchor id="Pg054" />going heavily faster, even while he told himself
+that he might have known it, anyhow.</p>
+
+<p>"He's all of six feet two," she said meditatively.
+"I do believe he's even taller. I remember
+liking him at the first glance, just because he
+struck me as so royal looking."</p>
+
+<p>He was miserably conscious of acute distress.</p>
+
+<p>"Do&mdash;do you mind my smoking?" he
+stammered.</p>
+
+<p>(Might have known that, of course, there was
+bound to be someone like that.)</p>
+
+<p>"Not at all," she rejoined amiably. "I like
+the odor of cigarettes. Shall I stop a little, while
+you set yourself afire?"</p>
+
+<p>"It isn't necessary," he said. "I can set myself
+afire under any circumstances."</p>
+
+<p>He lit a cigarette.</p>
+
+<p>"Is he English?" he couldn't help asking then.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," she said; "I like the English."</p>
+
+<p>"You appear to like everything to-day." He
+did not intend to seem bitter, but he did it unintentionally.</p>
+
+<p>(Confounded luck some fellows have.)</p>
+
+<p>"I do. I'm very well content to-day."</p>
+
+<p>He was silent, thinking.</p>
+
+<p>"Well," she queried, after a while.</p>
+
+<p>He pulled himself together with an effort.</p>
+
+<p>"I think perhaps it's just as well," he said.
+<pb n="055" /><anchor id="Pg055" /></p>
+
+<p>"What is just as well?"</p>
+
+<p>"That I know."</p>
+
+<p>"Know what?"</p>
+
+<p>"About him. I shan't ever take the chances of
+calling on you now."</p>
+
+<p>She laughed.</p>
+
+<p>"He wouldn't put you out unless I told him
+to," she said. "You needn't be too afraid of him,
+you know."</p>
+
+<p>His face grew a trifle flushed.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm not afraid," he said, as coldly as it was in
+him to speak; "but I'll leave him the field."</p>
+
+<p>She turned and looked at him.</p>
+
+<p>"The field?" she asked, with puzzled eyebrows.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes."</p>
+
+<p>Then she frowned for an instant, and then a
+species of thought-ray suddenly flew across her
+face and she burst out laughing.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, I do believe," she cried merrily, "I do
+believe you're jealous of the man at the door."</p>
+
+<p>"Weren't you speaking of a man in the drawing-room?"
+he asked, all her phrases recurring to his
+mind together.</p>
+
+<p>"No," she said laughing; "I was speaking of
+my footman. Oh, you are so funny."</p>
+
+<p>The way the sun shone suddenly again! His
+horizon glowed so madly that he quite lost his head
+<pb n="056" /><anchor id="Pg056" />and leaning quickly downward seized her hand in
+its little tan driving glove of stitched dogskin, and
+kissed it&mdash;reins and all.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm not funny," he said, "it was the most
+natural thing in the world."</p>
+
+<p>She was laughing, but she curbed it.</p>
+
+<p>"You'd better not be foolish," she said warningly.
+"It don't mix well with college."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm thinking of cutting college," he declared
+boldly.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't let us decide on anything definite until
+we've known one another twenty-four hours," she
+said, looking at him with a gravity that was almost
+maternal; and then she turned the horse's head
+toward home.</p>
+</div>
+<pb n="057" /><anchor id="Pg057" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+<head>Chapter Six - The Other Man</head>
+
+<p>That evening Burnett felt it necessary to
+give his friend a word of warning.</p>
+
+<p>"Holloway's going to take Betty in to-night,"
+he said, as they descended the tower stairs
+together.</p>
+
+<p>"Who's Holloway?" Jack asked.</p>
+
+<p>"You can't expect to have her all the time, you
+know," Burnett continued: "She's really one of
+the biggest guns here, even if she is one of the
+family."</p>
+
+<p>"Who's Holloway?"</p>
+
+<p>"Last night the <hi rend="font-style: italic">mater</hi> had her all mapped out
+for General Jiggs, and I had an awful time getting
+her off his hook and on to yours, and then you
+drove her all this morning and walked her all the
+afternoon, and the old lady says she's got to play
+in Holloway's yard to-night&mdash;jus' lil' bit, you know."</p>
+
+<p>"Who's Holloway?" Jack demanded.</p>
+
+<p>"You know Horace Holloway; we were up
+at his place once for the night. Don't you remember?"
+<pb n="058" /><anchor id="Pg058" /></p>
+
+<p>"I remember his place well enough; but he
+hadn't got in when we came, and hadn't got up
+when we left, so his features aren't as distinctly
+imprinted on my memory as they might be."</p>
+
+<p>"That's so," said Burnett, pushing aside the
+curtains that concealed the foot of the wee stair;
+"I'd forgotten. Well, you'll meet him to-night,
+anyhow; he came on the five-five. Holly's a nice
+fellow, only he's so darned over-full of good advice
+that he keeps you feeling withersome."</p>
+
+<p>Jack laughed.</p>
+
+<p>"Did he ever give you any advice?" he asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Why?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't recollect your taking it."</p>
+
+<p>"I never take anything," said Burnett; "I consider
+it more blessed to give than to receive&mdash;as
+regards good advice anyhow."</p>
+
+<p>"Who will I have for dinner?" Jack asked
+presently, glancing around to see if there were any
+silver tissues or distracting curls in sight.</p>
+
+<p>"Well," his friend replied, rather hesitatingly,
+"you must expect to balance up for last night, I
+reckon."</p>
+
+<p>"Your cousin, I suppose!"</p>
+
+<p>Burnett nodded.</p>
+
+<p>"She wanted you," he said. "She's taken a
+fancy to you; and she can afford to marry for
+love," he added.
+<pb n="059" /><anchor id="Pg059" /></p>
+
+<p>"I'm thankful that I can, too," the other answered
+fervently.</p>
+
+<p>His friend laughed at the fervor.</p>
+
+<p>"You make me think of her teacher," he said.
+"She sings, and when she was sixteen she meant
+to outrank Patti; she was lots homelier then."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I say!" Jack cried. "I can believe 'most
+anything, but&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>Burnett laughed and then sobered.</p>
+
+<p>"She was," he said solemnly; "she really and
+truly <hi rend="font-style: italic">was</hi>. And her mother said to her teacher,&mdash;there
+in Dresden: 'She will be the greatest soprano,
+won't she?' And he said: 'Madame,
+she has only that one chance&mdash;to be <hi rend="font-style: italic">the</hi>
+greatest.'"</p>
+
+<p>Jack laughed.</p>
+
+<p>"But why 'Lorne'?" he asked suddenly.
+"Why not 'Burnett,' since she's your uncle's
+child?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, that's straight enough; there's a hyphen
+there. My uncle died and my aunt married a title.
+My aunt's Lady Chiheleywicks, but the family
+name is Lorne. And you pronounce my aunt's
+name Chix."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm glad I know," said Jack.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, we're great on titles," said Burnett, modestly.
+"If the Boers hadn't killed Col. Rosscott,
+Betty would have been a Lady, too, some day. But
+<pb n="060" /><anchor id="Pg060" />as it is&mdash;" he added thoughtfully, "she's nothing
+but a widow."</p>
+
+<p>"'Nothing but'!" Jack cried indignantly.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, well," said Burnett, "of course it's great,
+her being a widow&mdash;but then she'd have been great
+the other way too."</p>
+
+<p>"But if he was English and a colonel," Jack
+said suddenly, "he must have been all of&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Fifty!" interposed Burnett; "oh, he was!
+Maybe more, but he dyed his hair. It was a
+splendid match for her. It isn't every girl who
+can get a&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>Their conversation was suddenly cut short by
+voices, accompanied by a sort of sweet and silky
+storm of little rustles and the sound of feet&mdash;little
+feet&mdash;coming down the great hall. Aunt Mary's
+nephew felt himself suddenly wondering if any
+other fellow present had such a tempest within his
+bosom as he himself was conscious of attempting
+to regulate unperceived.</p>
+
+<p>And then, after all, she wasn't among the influx!
+Miss Maude, was, though, and he had to
+go up to her and talk to her; and terribly dull hard
+labor it was.</p>
+
+<p>While he was rolling the Sisyphus stone of conversation
+uphill for the sixth or seventh time, Jack
+noticed a gentleman pass by and throw a more than
+ordinarily interesting glance their way. He was
+<pb n="061" /><anchor id="Pg061" />a very well-built, fairly good-sized man of thirty-five
+or forty years, with a handsome, uninteresting
+face and heavy, sleepy dark eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"Who is that?" he asked of his companion, his
+curiosity supplementing his wish that she would begin
+to bear her share of the burden of her entertainment.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't you know?" she said in surprise.
+"That's Mr. Holloway. He's just come. Oh,
+he's so horrid! I think he's just too awfully
+horrid for any use."</p>
+
+<p>"Why?"</p>
+
+<p>"Because he does such mean things. I just
+know Bob must have told you how he treated me.
+Bob's always telling it. Surely he's told you. It's
+his favorite story."</p>
+
+<p>"No, never," said Jack (his eyes riveted on
+the staircase); "he never told me. But do tell me.
+I'll enjoy hearing your side of it."</p>
+
+<p>"But I haven't any side. It's just Horace Holloway's
+meanness. There's nothing funny."</p>
+
+<p>"But tell me anyway."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you really want to hear?"</p>
+
+<p>"Indeed, I do."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, it's just that we were up in the mountains,
+and I was rowing myself, and the boat didn't
+go well, and Mr. Holloway came down off the
+hotel piazza and called to me that she needed ballast,
+<pb n="062" /><anchor id="Pg062" />and&mdash;and I said: 'Is that the trouble?' And
+he said: 'Yes, row ashore, and I'll ballast you.'
+And so, of course I rowed ashore to get him, and
+(of course, I supposed he meant himself), and
+when I was up by the dock he picked up a great
+stone and dropped it in, and shoved me off, and
+called after me: 'She'll go better now,' and&mdash;everyone laughed!"</p>
+
+<p>Miss Lome stopped, breathless.</p>
+
+<p>"I never would have believed it of him," Jack
+exclaimed, turning to see where Holloway kept his
+sense of humor; but just as his eye fell upon the
+latter, the latter's eyes altered and suddenly became
+so bright and intent that his observer involuntarily
+turned his own gaze quickly in the same
+direction.</p>
+
+<p>It was Mrs. Rosscott who was approaching, all
+in cerise with lines of Chantilly lace sweeping
+about her. It seemed a cruelty to every woman
+present that she should be so beautiful. Jack
+wanted to fly and fall at her feet, but he couldn't,
+of course&mdash;he was tied to her hyphenated cousin.</p>
+
+<p>But Holloway went forward and greeted her
+with all possible <hi rend="font-style: italic">empressement,</hi> and the man who
+was so much his junior felt an awful weight of
+youth upon him as he saw her led out of his sight.</p>
+
+<p>"I think dear Betty will marry Mr. Holloway,"
+her cousin chirped blandly, thus settling her fate
+<pb n="063" /><anchor id="Pg063" />forever. "He came over in her party, you know,
+and&mdash;she's always been fond of him."</p>
+
+<p>Jack suddenly recollected how Mrs. Rosscott
+had commented on the terrible tendency to land
+upon "and," and wondered why he had never
+noticed before how disagreeable said tendency was.</p>
+
+<p>(Going to marry Holloway!)</p>
+
+<p>"But, then, dear Cousin Betty's such a coquette
+that no one can ever tell whom she does like.
+She's very insincere."</p>
+
+<p>Jack twisted uneasily. If there was any comfort
+to be derived from Miss Lorne's last speech,
+it was certainly of a most chilly sort.</p>
+
+<p>(Probably going to marry Holloway!)</p>
+
+<p>"Now, I think it's too bad, when there are so
+many simple, sweet girls in the world, that men
+seem to adore those that flirt like dear Cousin
+Betty. I don't approve of flirting anyway. I
+wouldn't flirt for anything. I don't want to break
+men's hearts."</p>
+
+<p>"That's awfully good of you," Jack said, looking
+eagerly to where Holloway and Mrs. Rosscott
+stood together.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, no it isn't," said Miss Lorne, "I don't
+take any credit for it&mdash;I was born so. Dear
+Betty was a regular flirt when she was ever so
+small, but I never was. I'm sincere and I can't
+take any credit for it. I was born so."
+<pb n="064" /><anchor id="Pg064" /></p>
+
+<p>Holloway was talking and Mrs. Rosscott's eyes
+were uplifted to his. Jack was sure there was
+adoration in them. He knew Holloway was in
+love with her. How could he be a man and help
+it. Oh, it was damnable&mdash;unbearable.</p>
+
+<p>He stood up suddenly. He couldn't help it.
+He was crazed, maddened, choked, stifled. The
+fates must intervene and rescue his reason or
+else&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>There was a blessed sound&mdash;the announcing of
+dinner.</p>
+
+<milestone unit="tb" rend="stars: 5" />
+
+<p>Later there was music in the great white salon
+where the organ was. Maude Lome sang, and
+the man with the monocle accompanied her on the
+organ. Mrs. Rosscott sat on a divan between
+Holloway and General Jiggs. Jack was left out
+in the cold.</p>
+
+<p>(Surely in love with Holloway!)</p>
+
+<p>It was only twenty-six hours since he had first
+met her, and he hated to consider his life as unalterably
+blasted, or to even give up the fight.
+Nevertheless, whenever he looked across the room
+he saw fresh signs of the most awful kind. Even
+the way that she didn't trouble to trouble over the
+one man, but devoted herself to General Jiggs, was
+in itself a very bad portent. Well, such was life
+and one must bear it somehow and be a man.
+<pb n="065" /><anchor id="Pg065" />Probably he would suffer less after the first five or
+ten years&mdash;he hoped so at any rate. But, great
+heavens, what a fearful prospect until those first
+five or ten years were gone by!</p>
+
+<p>Finally he went up to his own room and put on
+another collar and sat down at the open window
+and thought about it for a good while all quiet and
+alone by himself. After that he went back downstairs.</p>
+
+<p>She was gone, and Holloway, too. He felt
+freshly unhappy. When you come to consider,
+it was so damned unjust for one man to be
+thirty-five while another&mdash;just as decent a fellow
+in every way&mdash;was in college. He&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>A hand touched his arm.</p>
+
+<p>He turned from where he was standing in the
+window recess, and looked into her eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm very wicked, am I not?" she asked, looking
+up at him so straight and honest.</p>
+
+<p>"I can't admit that," he replied.</p>
+
+<p>"But I am. I know it myself. What Bob
+told you was all true. I'm a heartless wretch."</p>
+
+<p>She spoke so earnestly that his heart sank lower
+and lower.</p>
+
+<p>"I wanted to speak to you about to-morrow
+morning," she said, after a little pause. "You
+know we were going to drive at ten together, and&mdash;and
+I wondered if&mdash;you see, Mr. Holloway's
+<pb n="066" /><anchor id="Pg066" />an old friend, and he's had so much to tell me to-night,
+and he isn't half through&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>She was drawing him with a chain, a hair chain,
+which she had woven out of her eyelashes in the
+twinkling of an eye (either eye).</p>
+
+<p>He felt himself helpless&mdash;and choked.</p>
+
+<p>"Of course I don't mind. You go with him.
+It's quite one to me."</p>
+
+<p>She gave a tiny little start.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I didn't mean that at all," she cried. "I
+meant&mdash;I meant&mdash;you see it's all been a little tiring&mdash;and
+to-morrow's Sunday anyway and I&mdash;I
+Wanted to&mdash;to ask you if we couldn't go out at
+eleven instead of ten?"</p>
+
+<p>She looked so sweetly questioning, and his relief
+was so great, and his joy&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>(Probably don't care a rap for Holloway!)</p>
+
+<p>&mdash;so intense, that he could hardly refrain from
+seizing her in his arms.</p>
+
+<p>But he only seized her little hand instead and
+pressed it fervently to his lips. When he raised
+his eyes she was smiling, and her smile filled him
+with happiness.</p>
+
+<p>"You're such a boy!" she said softly, and
+turned and left him there in the window recess
+alone again,&mdash;but this time he didn't care.</p>
+</div>
+<pb n="067" /><anchor id="Pg067" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+
+<head>Chapter Seven - Developments</head>
+
+
+<p>It was during that drive the next morning that
+Jack buoyed up by memories of Saturday and
+hopes of coming Saturdays, poured out the
+history of his life at Mrs. Rosscott's knees. He
+told her the whole story of Aunt Mary, and <hi rend="font-style: italic">his</hi> side
+of the cat, the cabman, and Kalamazoo. It interested
+her, for she had arrived too recently to have
+had the full details in the newspapers beforehand,
+but when he spoke of Aunt Mary's last letter she
+grew large-eyed and shook her head gravely.</p>
+
+<p>"You will have to be very good now," she said
+seriously.</p>
+
+<p>"Why?" he asked. "Just to keep from being
+disinherited? That wouldn't be so awful."</p>
+
+<p>"Wouldn't it be awful to you?" she asked,
+turning her bright eyes upon him. "What could
+be worse?"</p>
+
+<p>"Things," he said very vaguely.</p>
+
+<p>Then she touched up the cob a little; and, after
+a minute or two, as she said nothing, he continued:</p>
+
+<p>"I almost fancy quitting college and going to
+work. I was thinking about it last night."
+<pb n="068" /><anchor id="Pg068" /></p>
+
+<p>She touched up the cob a little more, and
+remained silent.</p>
+
+<p>Finally he said:</p>
+
+<p>"What would you think of my doing that?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know," she said slowly. "You see,
+I'm a great philosopher. I never fret or worry,
+because I regard it as useless; similarly, I never
+rebel at the way fate shapes my life&mdash;I regard that
+as something past helping. I believe in predestination;
+do you?"</p>
+
+<p>She turned and looked at him so seriously&mdash;so
+unlike her <hi rend="font-style: italic">riante</hi> self&mdash;that he felt startled, and did
+not know what to say for a minute.</p>
+
+<p>Then:</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know," he said slowly; "I don't know
+that I dare to. It rather startles me to think that
+maybe all of our future is laid out now."</p>
+
+<p>"It doesn't startle me," she said. "It seems
+to me the natural plan of the universe. I believe
+that everything that crosses our path&mdash;down to
+the tiniest gnat&mdash;comes there in the fulfillment of
+a purpose."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm sure that all the mosquitoes that ever
+crossed my path came there in the fulfillment of a
+purpose," Jack interrupted. "I never doubted
+<hi rend="font-style: italic">that</hi>."</p>
+
+<p>She smiled a little.</p>
+
+<p>"It's the same with people," she went on.</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: center"><anchor id="image02" />
+<figure rend="w95" url="images/image02.png">
+<head rend="text-align: center">"Do not let us play any longer,' she said. 'Let us be in earnest.'"</head>
+<figDesc>Illustration 2</figDesc></figure></p><p></p>
+
+<pb n="069" /><anchor id="Pg069" />
+
+<p>"Only less painful," he interrupted again.</p>
+
+<p>"Sometimes not," she said, with a look that
+silenced him. "Sometimes much more so&mdash;my
+Cousin Maude, for example."</p>
+
+<p>"Hip, hip, hurrah for the mosquito!" he murmured.
+They laughed softly together. Then
+she grew earnest, and looked so grave that he became
+serious too.</p>
+
+<p>"There is always a purpose," she said, with a
+touch of some feeling which he had never guessed
+at. "If you and I have met, it is because we are
+to have some influence over one another. I can't
+just see how; I can't form any idea&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"I can," he said eagerly.</p>
+
+<p>She looked up so suddenly and steadily that he
+was silent.</p>
+
+<p>"Do not let us play any longer," she said.
+"Let us be in earnest."</p>
+
+<p>"But I am in earnest," he asseverated.</p>
+
+<p>"You don't know what I mean," she went on
+very gently. "You're in college. Let's fight it
+out on those lines if it takes all summer."</p>
+
+<p>He looked up into her face and loved her better
+than ever for the frank kindliness that shone in
+her eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"All right, if you say so," he vowed.</p>
+
+<p>"I do say so," she said. "I like to see men
+stick it through in college if they begin. I like to
+<pb n="070" /><anchor id="Pg070" />see people finish up every one of life's jobs that they
+set out on."</p>
+
+<p>"But I'm coming to see you in town, you know,"
+he went on with great apparent irrelevance.</p>
+
+<p>She laughed merrily.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, surely. You must promise me that.&mdash;No,"
+she stopped and looked thoughtful, "I'll tell
+you what I want you to promise me. Promise me
+that you'll come once a week or else write me why
+you can't come. Will you?"</p>
+
+<p>"You can't suppose that you'll ever see my handwriting
+under such circumstances&mdash;can you?" Jack
+asked.</p>
+
+<p>She laughed again.</p>
+
+<p>"Is it a promise?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, it's a promise."</p>
+
+<p>Oh, joy unmeasured in the time of spring! No
+other February like that had ever been for them&mdash;nor
+ever would be. The drive came to an end, the
+day came to an end, but the good-nights, which
+were good-bys, too, were not so fraught with hopelessness
+as he had dreaded, for the promise asked
+and given paved a broad road illuminated by the
+most hopeful kind of stars,&mdash;a broad road leading
+straight from college to town,&mdash;and his fancy
+showed him a figure treading it often. A figure
+that was his own.</p>
+</div>
+<pb n="071" /><anchor id="Pg071" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+<head>Chapter Eight - The Resolution He Took</head>
+
+
+<p>That first meeting was in February, you
+know, and by the last of April it had been
+followed by so many others that Burnett
+remarked one day to his chum:</p>
+
+<p>"Say, aren't you going a little faster than
+auntie'll stand for?"</p>
+
+<p>Jack turned in surprise.</p>
+
+<p>"I never went so straight in my life before," he
+exclaimed, not in indignation but in astonishment.</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't mean that," said Burnett. "Perhaps
+instead of 'auntie' I should have said 'Betty.'"</p>
+
+<p>Jack hoisted the colors of Harvard, and was
+silent.</p>
+
+<p>"I warned you at first that that was Tangle
+town," his friend went on. "Don't suppose I'm
+saying anything against her&mdash;or against you; but
+she's just as much to ten other men as she is to you,
+and they all are old enough to carry lots of
+weight."</p>
+
+<p>"And I suppose I'm not," Jack answered, going
+over by the fireplace. "I know that as well as
+anyone, of course."
+<pb n="072" /><anchor id="Pg072" /></p>
+
+<p>"<hi rend="font-style: italic">Natürlich</hi>," said Burnett, with conclusiveness
+that was not meant to be cruel, yet cut like a two
+edged knife.</p>
+
+<p>There was silence in the room. Jack stood by
+the chimney-piece, his hands upraised to rest upon
+its lofty shelf, his head dropped forward, and his
+eyes fixed on the empty blackness below.</p>
+
+<p>"I wonder," he said at last, "I wonder what
+will become of me if&mdash;if&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>He stopped.</p>
+
+<p>Burnett didn't speak.</p>
+
+<p>"I wonder if she thinks of me as a boy," the
+young man continued. "I wonder if she's so
+good to me because I'm her youngest brother's
+friend."</p>
+
+<p>Burnett did not comment on this speech.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know what to do," the other said.
+"When I first met her I wanted to cut college and
+get out in the world and go to work like a man. I
+told her so. But she wanted me to stay in college,
+and as it was the first thing she'd ever wanted of
+me, I did it. I'd do anything she asked me. I've
+quit drinking. I'm going at everything as hard as
+it's in me to go; but&mdash;I don't know&mdash;I feel&mdash;I feel
+as if it isn't me&mdash;it's just because she wants me to,
+and, do you know, old man, it frightens me to
+think how&mdash;if she&mdash;if she went out of my&mdash;my
+life&mdash;"
+<pb n="073" /><anchor id="Pg073" /></p>
+
+<p>He stopped and his broken phrases were not
+continued to any ending.</p>
+
+<p>Another long silence ensued.</p>
+
+<p>It was finally terminated by the brother's saying:</p>
+
+<p>"You must confess, old man, that you aren't
+fixed so as to be able to say one really serious word
+to any woman&mdash;unless it is, 'Wait.'"</p>
+
+<p>"I know that," Jack answered; "but I suppose&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"She'd be taking so many chances," the friend
+interrupted. "A man in college is never the real
+thing. You'd better give it up."</p>
+
+<p>Then the other whirled about and faced
+him.</p>
+
+<p>"Give it up, did you say?" he asked almost
+angrily.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, that's what."</p>
+
+<p>For a minute they looked at one another. Then:</p>
+
+<p>"I shall never give it up," the lover said very
+slowly and steadily&mdash;"never, until she gives me
+up."</p>
+
+<p>Burnett sucked in his breath with a sudden compression
+of his lips.</p>
+
+<p>"All right," he said, not unkindly; "but I don't
+believe you'll ever get her, and that's flat. There
+are too many being entered for that race, and long
+before you and I get out of here she'll be Mrs.
+Somebody Else."
+<pb n="074" /><anchor id="Pg074" /></p>
+
+<p>Jack stared at him as if he hardly heard, and
+then suddenly he stepped nearer and spoke.</p>
+
+<p>"Did she ask you to have this talk with me?"</p>
+
+<p>"No," said the brother in surprise, "she never
+says anything about you to me."</p>
+
+<p>A look of relief fled across his friend's face, and
+then a look of resolution succeeded it.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm not going to be discouraged," he said;
+"not for a while, at any rate."</p>
+
+<p>"You'd better be."</p>
+
+<p>Jack laughed. The laugh sounded a trifle hollow,
+but still it was a laugh, and that in itself was
+a triumph of which none but himself might ever
+measure the extent.</p>
+
+<p>Because in that moment he decided to lay the
+whole case before her the next time that he went to
+town, and the coming to a resolution was a relief
+from the uncertainty that clouded his days and
+nights&mdash;even if a further black curtain of darkest
+doubt hung before the possibilities of what her
+answer might be.</p>
+</div>
+<pb n="075" /><anchor id="Pg075" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+
+<head>Chapter Nine - The Downfall of Hope</head>
+
+
+<p>It was on a Saturday about the middle of May
+that Jack came to town, his mind well braced
+with love and arguments, and his main
+thoughts being that when he returned something
+would be settled.</p>
+
+<p>It was a beautiful day, warm and sunny, and at
+five in the afternoon both of the drawing-room
+windows of Mrs. Rosscott's house were wide open,
+and the lace curtains were taking the breeze like
+little sails.</p>
+
+<p>Just as Jack mounted the steps, the door opened,
+and a plainly dressed, unattractive-looking man
+was let out. The servant who did the letting out
+saw Jack and let him in without closing the door
+between the egress of the one and the ingress of
+the other. So he entered without ringing, and, as
+he was very well known and intensely popular with
+all of Mrs. Rosscott's servants, the man invited
+him to walk up unannounced, since he himself was
+just "bringing in the tea."</p>
+
+<p>Jack went upstairs, and because the carpet was
+of thickly piled velvet and his boots were the boots
+<pb n="076" /><anchor id="Pg076" />of a well-shod gentleman, he made no noise whatever
+in the so doing.</p>
+
+<p>There were double parlors above stairs in the
+domicile which Burnett's sister had taken until
+July, and they were furnished in the most correct
+and trying mode of Louis XIV. The chairs were
+gilt and very uncomfortable. The ornaments
+were all straight up and down and made in such
+shapes that there was no place to flick off cigarette
+ashes anywhere. Nothing could be pulled up
+to anything else and there was not a single good
+place to rest one's elbows anywhere. The only
+saving grace in the situation was that after five
+minutes or so Mrs. Rosscott invariably suggested
+removal to the library which lay beyond&mdash;a very
+different species of apartment where no mode at all
+prevailed except the terrible <hi rend="font-style: italic">démodé</hi> thing known
+as comfort. To prevent her visitors, when seated
+(for the five minutes aforementioned) amid the
+correct carving of French art, from looking longingly
+through at the easy-chairs of American manufacture,
+Mrs. Rosscott had ordered that the blue
+velvet portières which hung between should never
+be pushed aside, and it was owing to this order that
+Jack, entering the drawing-room, heard voices, but
+could not see into the library beyond. Also it
+was owing to this order that those in the library
+could not see or hear Jack.
+<pb n="077" /><anchor id="Pg077" /></p>
+
+<p>The result was that the young man, finding the
+drawing-room unoccupied, was just crossing
+toward the blue velvet curtains, intending to wait
+in the library until the returning servant should
+advise him of the whereabouts of his mistress, when
+he was stopped by suddenly hearing a voice&mdash;her
+voice&mdash;crying (and laughing at the same time)&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Kisses barred! Kisses barred!"</p>
+
+<p>It may be understood that had Mrs. Rosscott
+known that anyone was within hearing she certainly
+would never have made any such speech, and it
+may be further understood that, had whoever was
+with her, also mistrusted the close propinquity of
+another man, he would never have replied (as he
+did reply):</p>
+
+<p>"Certainly," the same being spoken in a most
+calm and careless tone.</p>
+
+<p>Jack, the eavesdropper, stood transfixed at the
+voices and speeches, and forgot every other consideration
+in the overwhelming sickness of soul
+which overcame him that instant. All his other
+soul-sicknesses were trifles compared to this one,
+and the world&mdash;his world&mdash;their world&mdash;seemed
+to revolve and whirl and turn upside down, as he
+steadied himself against a spindle-legged cabinet
+and felt its spindle-legs trembling in sympathy with
+his own.</p>
+
+<p>"Darling," said Holloway, a second or two
+<pb n="078" /><anchor id="Pg078" />later (and this time his voice was not calm and
+careless, but deep and impassioned), "the letter
+was very sweet, and if you knew how I longed to
+take the tired little girl to my bosom and comfort
+her troubles, and replace them by joys!"</p>
+
+<p>"Will that day ever come, do you think?"
+Mrs. Rosscott answered, in low tones, which nevertheless
+were most painfully clear and distinct in
+the next room.</p>
+
+<p>"It must," Holloway replied, "just as surely
+as that I hold this dear little hand&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>But Jack never knew more. He had heard
+enough&mdash;more than enough. Four thousand times
+too much. He turned and went out of the rooms,
+back down the stairs and out of the door, closed it
+noiselessly behind him, and found himself in a
+world which, although bright and sunny to all the
+rest of mankind, had turned dark, lonely, and
+cheerless to him.</p>
+
+<p>At first he hardly knew what to do with himself,
+he was so altogether used up by the discovery just
+made. He drifted up and down some unknown
+streets for an hour or two&mdash;or stood still on corners&mdash;he
+never was very sure which. And then
+at last he went downtown and took a drink in a
+half-dazed way; and because it was quite two
+months since his last indulgence, its suggestion was
+potent.
+<pb n="079" /><anchor id="Pg079" /></p>
+
+<p>The pity&mdash;or rather, the apparent pity&mdash;of
+what followed!</p>
+
+<p>Burnett was Sundaying at the ancestral castle;
+and Burnett wasn't the warning sort, anyhow. He
+was always tow and pitch for any species of flame.
+So his absence counted for nothing in the crisis.</p>
+
+<p>And what ensued was a crisis&mdash;a crisis with a
+vengeance.</p>
+
+<p>That tear upon which Aunt Mary's nephew went
+was something lurid and awful. It lasted until
+Monday, and then its owner returned to college,
+as ill of body and as embittered of spirit as it was
+in him to be. The lightsome devil who had ruled
+him up to his meeting with Mrs. Rosscott resumed
+its sway with terrible force. The authorities
+showed a tendency to patience because young Denham
+had appeared to reform lately and had been
+working hard; but young Denham felt no thankful
+sentiments for their leniency, and proved his position
+shortly.</p>
+
+<p>There was a man named Tweedwell whom circumstances
+threw directly in the path of destruction.
+Tweedwell was an inoffensive mortal who
+was studying for the ministry. He was progressive
+in his ideas, and believed that a clergyman, to
+hold a great influence, should know his world.
+He thought that knowledge of the world was to be
+gained by skirting the outside edge of every
+<pb n="080" /><anchor id="Pg080" />species of worldliness. The result of this course
+of action was not what it should have been, for
+Tweedwell was an easy mark for all who wanted
+fun, and the consciousness of his innocence so little
+accelerated the pace at which he got out of the way
+that he was always being called to account for what
+he hadn't done.</p>
+
+<p>The Saturday night after his Saturday in town,
+Jack concocted a piece of deviltry which was as
+dangerous as it was foolish. The result was that
+an explosion took place, and the author of the gun-powder
+plot had all the skin on both hands blistered.
+Burnett, in escaping, fell and broke his
+collarbone and two ribs. The house in which the
+affair took place caught fire, and was badly damaged.
+And Tweedwell was arrested on the
+strongest kind of circumstantial evidence, and had
+to answer for the whole. Naturally, in the investigation
+that followed, the two who were guilty
+had to confess or see the candidate for the ministry
+disgraced forever.</p>
+
+<p>The result of their confession was that Burnett's
+father, a jovial, peppery old gentleman&mdash;we all
+know the kind&mdash;lost his patience and wrote his son
+that he'd better not come home again that year.
+But Aunt Mary lost her temper much more completely
+and the result, as affecting Jack, was awful.</p>
+
+<p>She might not have acted as she did had the disastrous
+<pb n="081" /><anchor id="Pg081" />news arrived either a week later or a week
+earlier; but it came just in the middle of a discouraging
+ten days' downpour, which had caused a dam
+to break and a chain of valuable cranberry bogs to
+be drowned out for that year. The cranberry bogs
+were especially dear to their owner's heart.</p>
+
+<p>"Why can't they drain 'em?" she had asked
+Lucinda, who was particularly nutcracker-like in
+appearance since her quarantine episode.</p>
+
+<p>"'Pears like they're lower'n everywhere else,"
+Lucinda answered, her words sounding as if she
+had sharpened them on a grindstone.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary bit her lip and frowned at the rain.
+She felt mad all the way through, and longed to
+take it out on someone.</p>
+
+<p>Ten minutes after Joshua arrived with the mail
+and the mail bore one ominous letter. Joshua felt
+something was wrong before the fact was assured.</p>
+
+<p>"She wants the mail," Lucinda said, coming to
+the door with her hand out as usual.</p>
+
+<p>"She'll get the mail," said Joshua, and as he
+spoke he gave the seeker after tidings a blood-curdling
+wink.</p>
+
+<p>"There isn't a telegram in one o' the letters, is
+there?" Lucinda asked, much appalled by the
+wink.</p>
+
+<p>"No, there isn't no telegram in none o' the letters,"
+said Joshua.
+<pb n="082" /><anchor id="Pg082" /></p>
+
+<p>"Joshua Whittlesey, I do believe you was born
+to drive saints mad. What <hi rend="font-style: italic">is</hi> the matter?"</p>
+
+<p>"Nothin' ain't the matter as I know of."</p>
+
+<p>"Then what in Kingdom Come did you wink
+for?"</p>
+
+<p>"I winked," said Joshua meaningly, "cause I
+expect it'll be a good while before we'll feel like
+winkin' again."</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda gave him a look in which curiosity and
+aggravation fought catch-as-catch-can. Then she
+turned and went in with the letters.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary was sitting stonily staring at the
+rain.</p>
+
+<p>"I thought you'd gone to take a drive with
+Joshua," she said coldly. "Well, 's long 's you're
+back I'll be glad to have my mail. Most folks like
+to get their mail as soon as it comes an' I&mdash;Mercy
+on us!"</p>
+
+<p>It was the letter from the authorities enclosed
+in one from Mr. Stebbins.</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda stood bolt upright before her mistress.</p>
+
+<p>"What's happened?" she yelled breathlessly,
+after a few seconds of the direst kind of silence
+had loaded the atmosphere while the letter was
+being carefully read.</p>
+
+<p>Then:</p>
+
+<p>"Happened!&mdash;" said Aunt Mary, transfixing
+the terrible typewritten communication with a yet
+<pb n="083" /><anchor id="Pg083" />more terrible look of determination. "Happened!&mdash;Well,
+jus' what I expected 's happened
+an' jus' what nobody expects 'll happen now. Lucinda,
+you run like you was paid for it and tell
+Joshua not to unharness. Don't stop to open your
+mouth. You'll need your breath before you get to
+the barn. Scurry!"</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda scurried. She splashed and spattered
+down through the lane that led to Joshua's kingdom
+with a vigor that was commendable in one of
+her age.</p>
+
+<p>"She says 'don't unharness,'" she panted,
+bouncing in through the doorway just as Joshua
+was slowly and carefully folding the lap-robe in the
+crease to which it had become habituated.</p>
+
+<p>Joshua continued to fold.</p>
+
+<p>"Then I won't unharness," he said calmly. He
+hung the robe over the line that was stretched to
+hang robes over and Lucinda gasped for wind with
+which to inflate further conversation.</p>
+
+<p>"She says what nobody expects is goin' to happen,"
+she panted as soon as she could.</p>
+
+<p>"What nobody expects is always happenin'
+where he's concerned," said Joshua.</p>
+
+<p>"I s'pose he's in some new row," said Lucinda.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm sure he is," said Joshua, "an' if you don't
+go back to her pretty quick you won't be no better
+off."
+<pb n="084" /><anchor id="Pg084" /></p>
+
+<p>Lucinda turned away and returned to the house.
+She found Aunt Mary still staring at the letters
+with the same concentrated fury as before.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, is Joshua a'comin' to the door?" she
+asked when she saw her maid before her.</p>
+
+<p>"You didn't say for him to come to the door,"
+Lucinda howled, "you said for him to stay harnessed."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary appeared on the verge of ignition.</p>
+
+<p>"Lucinda," she said, "every week I live under
+the same roof with you your brains strike me 's
+some shrunk from the week before. What in
+Heaven's name should I want Joshua to stay harnessed
+in the barn for? I want him to go for Mr.
+Stebbins an' I want him to understand 't if Mr.
+Stebbins can't come he's got to come just the same's
+if he could anyhow. I may seem quiet to you,
+Lucinda, but if I do, it only shows all over again
+how little you know. This is a awful day an' if
+you knew how awful you'd be half way back to
+the barn right now. I ain't triflin'&mdash;I'm meanin'
+every word. Every syllable. Every letter."</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda fled out into the open again. Her footprints
+of the time before were little oblong ponds
+now and she laid out a new course parallel to their
+splashes. She found Joshua sponging the dasher.</p>
+
+<p>"She wants you to go straight out again."</p>
+
+<p>Joshua flung the sponge into the pail.
+<pb n="085" /><anchor id="Pg085" /></p>
+
+<p>"Then I'll go straight out again," he said, moving
+toward the horse's head.</p>
+
+<p>"You're to bring Mr. Stebbins whether he can
+come or not."</p>
+
+<p>"He'll come," said Joshua; and then he backed
+the horse so suddenly that the buggy wheel nearly
+went over Lucinda.</p>
+
+<p>"She says this is an awful day&mdash;" began
+Lucinda.</p>
+
+<p>Joshua got into the buggy and tucked the rubber
+blanket around himself.</p>
+
+<p>"She says&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>Joshua drove out of the barn and away.</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda went slowly back to the house. Aunt
+Mary had ceased to glare at the letter and was now
+glaring at the rain instead.</p>
+
+<p>"Lucinda," she said "I'll thank you not to ever
+mention my nephew to me again. I've took a
+vow to never speak his name again myself. By no
+means&mdash;not at all&mdash;never."</p>
+
+<p>"Which nephew?" shrieked Lucinda.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary's eyes snapped.</p>
+
+<p>"Jack!" she said, with an accent that seemed
+to split the short word in two.</p>
+
+<p>After a little she spoke again.</p>
+
+<p>"Lucinda, it's all been owin' to the city an' this
+last is all city. 'F I cared a rap what happened to
+him after this I'd never let him go near a place
+<pb n="086" /><anchor id="Pg086" />over two thousand again as long as he lived. It's
+no use tryin' to explain things to you, Lucinda,
+because it never has been any use an' never will be&mdash;an'
+anyway, I'm done with it all. I sh'll want
+you for a witness when I'm through with Mr.
+Stebbins, and then you can get some marmalade out
+for tea an' we'll all live in peace hereafter."</p>
+
+<p>Joshua returned with Mr. Stebbins and the latter
+gentleman went to work with a will and willed
+Jack out of Aunt Mary's. Later Joshua took him
+home again. Lucinda got the marmalade out of
+the cellar and Aunt Mary had it with her tea. It
+was a bitter tea&mdash;unsugared indeed&mdash;and the days
+that followed matched.</p>
+</div>
+<pb n="087" /><anchor id="Pg087" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+
+<head>Chapter Ten - The Woes of the Disinherited.</head>
+
+
+<p>It was some days later on in the world's history
+that Holloway was calling on Bertha
+Rosscott.</p>
+
+<p>They were sitting in that comfortable library
+previously referred to and were sweetly unaware
+that any untoward series of incidents had ever led
+to an invasion of their privacy.</p>
+
+<p>Holloway lay well back in a sleepy-hollow chair
+and looked indolently, lazily handsome; his hostess
+was up on&mdash;well up on the divan, and he had the
+full benefit of her admirable bottines and their
+dainty heels and buckles.</p>
+
+<p>"Honestly," he said, looking her over with a
+gaze that was at once roving and well content,
+"honestly, I think that every time I see
+you, you appear more attractive than the time
+before."</p>
+
+<p>"It's very nice of you to say so," she replied.
+"And, of course, I believe you, for every time that
+I get a new gown I think that very same thing myself.
+Still, I do regard it as strange if I look
+<pb n="088" /><anchor id="Pg088" />nicely to-day, for I've been crying like a baby all
+the morning."</p>
+
+<p>"You crying! And why?"</p>
+
+<p>She raised her eyes to his.</p>
+
+<p>"Such bad news!" she said simply.</p>
+
+<p>"From where? Of whom?"</p>
+
+<p>"From mamma, about Bob."</p>
+
+<p>"Have his wounds proved serious?" Holloway
+looked slightly distressed as was proper.</p>
+
+<p>"It isn't that. It's papa. Papa has forbidden
+him the house. He's very, very angry."</p>
+
+<p>Holloway looked relieved.</p>
+
+<p>"Your father won't stay angry long, and you
+know it," he said. "Just think how often he has
+lost his temper over the boys and how often he's
+found it again."</p>
+
+<p>"It isn't just Bob," said Mrs. Rosscott. "I've
+someone else on my mind, too."</p>
+
+<p>"Who, pray?"</p>
+
+<p>"His friend."</p>
+
+<p>"Young Denham?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes."</p>
+
+<p>With that she threw her head up and looked
+very straightly at her caller whose visage shaded
+ever so slightly in spite of himself.</p>
+
+<p>"Have <hi rend="font-style: italic">his</hi> wounds proved serious?" he asked,
+smiling, but unable to altogether do away with a
+species of parenthetical inflection in his voice.
+<pb n="089" /><anchor id="Pg089" /></p>
+
+<p>"It wasn't over his wounds that I cried."</p>
+
+<p>"Did you really cry at all for him?"</p>
+
+<p>"I cried more for him than I did for Bob,"
+she admitted boldly.</p>
+
+<p>"He is a fortunate boy! But why the tears in
+his case?"</p>
+
+<p>"I felt so badly to be disappointed in him."</p>
+
+<p>"Did you expect to work a miracle there, my
+dear? Did you think to reform such an inveterate
+young reprobate with a glance?"</p>
+
+<p>"I'm not sure that I ever asked myself either of
+those questions," she replied, slowly; "but he
+promised me something, and I expected him to
+keep his word."</p>
+
+<p>"Men don't keep such promises, Bertha," the
+visitor said. "You shouldn't have expected it."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know why not."</p>
+
+<p>"Because a man who drinks will drink again."</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't refer to drinking," she said quietly.
+"It was quite another thing."</p>
+
+<p>"Ah!"</p>
+
+<p>She looked down at her rings and seemed to consider
+how much of her confidence she should give
+him, and the consideration led her to look up presently
+and say:</p>
+
+<p>"He promised me that if he could not call any
+week he would write me a line instead. He came
+to town last week, and he neither called nor wrote.
+<pb n="090" /><anchor id="Pg090" />That wasn't like the man I saw in him. That was
+a direct breaking of his word. I can't understand,
+and I'm disappointed."</p>
+
+<p>Holloway took out his cigarette case and turned
+it over and over thoughtfully in his hands.</p>
+
+<p>"He's nothing but a boy," he said at last, with
+an effort.</p>
+
+<p>"He's no boy," she said. "He's almost twenty-two
+years old. He's a man."</p>
+
+<p>"Some are men at twenty-two, and some are
+boys," Holloway remarked. "I was a man before
+I was eighteen&mdash;a man out in the world of men.
+But Denham's a boy."</p>
+
+<p>He rose as he spoke, and she held out her hand
+for him to raise her, too.</p>
+
+<p>"It's early to go," she remarked parenthetically.</p>
+
+<p>"I know," he replied; "but I hear someone
+being shown into the drawing-room. I don't feel
+formal to-day, and if I can't lounge in here alone
+with you I'd rather go."</p>
+
+<p>"How egotistical!" she commented.</p>
+
+<p>"I am egotistical," he admitted.</p>
+
+<p>And went.</p>
+
+<p>The footman passed him in the hall; he had a
+card upon his silver salver, and was seeking his
+mistress in the library. But when he entered there
+the room was empty. Mrs. Rosscott had slipped
+<pb n="091" /><anchor id="Pg091" />through the blue velvet portières, expecting to see
+a friend, and had stopped short on the other side,
+amazed at finding herself face to face with an utter
+stranger.</p>
+
+<p>"I gave the man my card," said the stranger, in
+a tone as faded as his mustache. He was a long,
+thin man, but what the Germans style "<hi rend="font-style: italic">sehr korrect</hi>."</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't wait to get it," the hostess said. "I
+supposed that, of course, it was somebody that I
+knew."</p>
+
+<p>"That was natural," he admitted.</p>
+
+<p>There was a slight pause of awkwardness.</p>
+
+<p>"Won't you sit down?" she asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Certainly," said the caller, and sat down.</p>
+
+<p>Then she sat down, too, and another awkward
+pause ensued.</p>
+
+<p>"You didn't expect to see me, did you?" said
+the stranger, smiling.</p>
+
+<p>"No, I didn't," said Mrs. Rosscott frankly.
+"I expected to see someone else&mdash;someone that I
+knew. Nearly all my visitors are people whom I
+know."</p>
+
+<p>Her eyes rather demanded an observance of the
+conventionalities while her words were putting the
+best face possible on the queer five minutes. The
+stranger smiled.</p>
+
+<p>"My name is Clover," he said then. "Of
+<pb n="092" /><anchor id="Pg092" />course, as you never saw me before, you want to
+know that first of all."</p>
+
+<p>"I'd choose to know," she said. And then the
+uncompromising neutrality of her expression deepened
+so plainly that he hastened to add:</p>
+
+<p>"I'm H. Wyncoop Clover."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh!" she said. And then smiled, too; having
+heard the name before.</p>
+
+<p>"Why don't you ask me my business?" went on
+H. Wyncoop Clover. "I must have come for
+some reason, you know."</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't know it," said Mrs. Rosscott&mdash;"I
+don't know anything about you yet."</p>
+
+<p>They both smiled&mdash;and then H. Wyncoop
+resumed his colorless sobriety at once.</p>
+
+<p>"It's about Jack," he said&mdash;"these terrible new
+developments&mdash;" he stopped short, seeing his <hi rend="font-style: italic">vis-à-vis</hi>
+turn deathly white, "it's nothing to be frightened
+over," he said reassuringly.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Rosscott was furious with herself for
+having paled. She became instantly haughty.</p>
+
+<p>"I was alarmed for my brother," she said. "I
+always think of them both as together."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, in that case, I can reassure you instantly,"
+said the caller. "Burnett is doing finely."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Rosscott was conscious of being suddenly
+and skillfully countercharged. She blushed with
+vexation, bit her lip in perturbation, and cast upon
+<pb n="093" /><anchor id="Pg093" />the trying individual opposite a look of most
+appealing interrogation.</p>
+
+<p>"You see," said Clover pleasantly, "I was
+coming to town, so I came in handy for the purpose
+of telling you."</p>
+
+<p>She gave him a glance that prayed him to be
+decent and go on with his errand.</p>
+
+<p>"Burnett is about recovered," he said.</p>
+
+<p>She clasped her hands hard.</p>
+
+<p>"I wouldn't be a man for anything!" she
+exclaimed with sudden fervor, "they are so
+awfully mean. Why <hi rend="font-style: italic">don't</hi> you go on and tell me
+<hi rend="font-style: italic">what</hi> you've come about?"</p>
+
+<p>He raised his eyebrows.</p>
+
+<p>"May I?" he asked.</p>
+
+<p>She choked down some of her exasperation.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, you may."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, thank you so much. I'll begin at once
+then. Only premising that as I go to school with
+your little brother, and as he is rather under a cloud
+just at present, we clubbed together to bring you a
+letter about him and Jack. He was going to dictate
+it, but in the end Mitchell wrote it all. Here
+it is."</p>
+
+<p>With that he put his hand into his pocket, drew
+out an envelope and handed it to her.</p>
+
+<p>"How awfully good of you," she said gratefully.
+"Do excuse my reading it at once, won't
+<pb n="094" /><anchor id="Pg094" />you? You see, I've been so anxious about&mdash;about
+my brother."</p>
+
+<p>He nodded understandingly, and she hastily tore
+open the envelope and ran her eyes over the written
+sheets.</p>
+
+<quote rend="display">
+<p><hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">My Dear Mrs. Rosscott:</hi>&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>Being the prize writer of the class, I am chosen
+to take down the ante mortem confessions of our
+shattered friends. It is in a sad hour for them that
+I do so, because I am naturally so truthful that I
+shall not force you to look for my meaning
+between the lines. On the contrary, I shall set
+the cold facts out as neatly as the pickets on the
+fence. And in evidence thereof, I open the ball by
+telling you frankly that they both look fierce. If
+they had looked less awful, and Burnett had had
+more lime in his bones, we might have escaped the
+Powers That Be by simply admitting a sprained
+ankle and carefully concealing everything else.
+But if one man cracks where you can't finish
+the deal, even by the most unlimited outlay
+of mucilage and persistence, and another blazes
+his whole surface-area in a manner that seems
+to make the underbrush dubious to count on
+forever henceforth; why, you then have a logarithm
+the square of which is probably as far beyond your
+depth as I am beyond my own just at this point of
+this sentence.</p>
+
+<p>The long and short of my fresh start is, that
+your brother wants to write you, but he is so
+handicapped (forgive me, but you're the only one
+who hasn't had that joke sprung on them!) with
+bandages, that it's cruel to expect much of him. It
+<pb n="095" /><anchor id="Pg095" />is true that he has his bosom friend to fall back
+upon, but if you could see that friend as we see him
+these days you wouldn't be sure whether it was true
+or not. The old woman, who had the peddler-and-petticoat
+episode, was not in it the same day
+with your brother's friend! I do assure you. And
+anyhow&mdash;even if he still has brains&mdash;his writing
+apparatus is all done up in arnica, so there you
+are!</p>
+
+<p>But do not allow me to alarm you unduly!
+When all's said and done, they're not so badly off
+physically. Hair and ribs are mere vanities, anyhow,
+and we're here to-day and gone to-morrow!</p>
+
+<p>Something much worse than disfigurements and
+broken bones has sprung forth from chaos, and has
+almost stared them out of countenance since. It is
+the wolf that is at the door, and the howling and
+prowling of their particular wolf is not to be
+sneezed at, let me tell you. To put a modern political
+face upon an ancient Greek fable, the wolf in
+their case symbolizes the bitter question of whose
+roof is going to roof them when they get out of the
+plaster casts that are bed and board to them just at
+present. Where are they to go? All those which
+used to be open to them are suddenly shut tight.
+They've both been expelled, and both been disinherited.
+If I was inclined to look on the blue side
+of the blanket, I should certainly feel that they
+were playing in very tough luck. Burnett, of
+course, can come to you, and his soul is full of the
+wish to bring his fellow-fright along with him.
+Which wish of his is the gist of my epistle. <hi rend="font-style: italic">Can</hi>
+he bring him? He wants to know before he
+broaches the proposition. I'm to be skinned alive
+if Jack ever learns that such a plea was made, so I
+<pb n="096" /><anchor id="Pg096" />beg you whatever other rash acts you see fit
+to commit during your meteoric flight across my
+plane of existence, don't ever give me away.
+Firstly, because if I ever get a chance to do so, I'm
+positive that I should want to cling to you as the
+mistletoe does to the oak, and could not bear to be
+given away; and secondly, because I'm so attached
+to my own skin that I should really suffer pain if
+it was taken from me by force. Bob wants you to
+think it over, and let him know as to the whats and
+whens by return mail.</p>
+
+<p>You are so inspiring that I could write you all
+day, but those relics of what once was, but alas!
+will never be again, need to be rolled up afresh in
+absorbent cotton, and so I must nail my Red Cross
+on to my left arm, and get down to business. If
+you saw how useful I am to your brother, you'd
+thank his lucky stars that I came through myself
+with nothing worse than getting my ear stepped
+on. I was hugging the ladder (being canny and
+careful), and the man above me toed in. Isn't it
+curious to think that if he'd worn braces in early
+youth <hi rend="font-style: italic">my</hi> ear would be all right now.</p>
+
+<p>Behold me at your feet.</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: right">Respectfully yours,</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: right">Herbert Kendrick Mitchell.</p>
+</quote>
+
+
+<p>When Mrs. Rosscott had finished the letter she
+looked across at her caller, and said:</p>
+
+<p>"You've read this, haven't you?"</p>
+
+<p>"No," said he. "I tried to unstick it two or
+three times coming on the train, but it was too
+much for me."
+<pb n="097" /><anchor id="Pg097" /></p>
+
+<p>"Don't you really know what it says?" she
+asked more earnestly.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I do," Clover answered, "but Denham
+must never know that I do."</p>
+
+<p>"I won't tell him," she said smiling faintly.
+"But surely he can't be as badly off as this says.
+Has he really lost all his hair?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not all&mdash;only in spots," Clover reassured
+her; but then his recollections overcame him, and
+he added, with a grin: "But he's a fearful looking
+specimen, all right, though."</p>
+
+<p>"About my brother," she went on, turning the
+letter thoughtfully in her fingers; "when can he
+get out, do they think?"</p>
+
+<p>"Any time next week."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll write him," she said. "I'll write him and
+tell him that everything will be arranged for&mdash;for&mdash;for
+them both."</p>
+
+<p>Clover sprang to his feet.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, thank you," he exclaimed. "That's
+most awfully good in you!"</p>
+
+<p>"Not at all," she answered. "I'm very glad
+to be able to welcome them. You must impress
+that upon them&mdash;particularly&mdash;particularly on my
+brother."</p>
+
+<p>Clover smiled.</p>
+
+<p>"I will," he said, rising to go.</p>
+
+<p>"I'd ask you to stay longer," she said, holding
+<pb n="098" /><anchor id="Pg098" />out her hand, "but I'm due at a charity entertainment
+to-night, and I have to go very early."</p>
+
+<p>"I know," he said; "I've come up on purpose
+to go to it."</p>
+
+<p>"Then I shall see you there?" she asked him.</p>
+
+<p>"It will be what I shall be looking forward to
+most of all," he said.</p>
+
+<p>"It's been a great pleasure to meet you," she
+said, holding out her hand, "you're&mdash;well, you're
+'unlike,' as they say in literary criticisms."</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you," he replied; "but may I ask if
+you intend that as a compliment?"</p>
+
+<p>"Dear me," she laughed, "let me think how
+I did intend it.&mdash;Yes, it was meant for a compliment."</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you," he said, shaking her hand
+warmly, "it's so nice to know, you know. Good-by."</p>
+
+<p>"Good-by."</p>
+
+<p>Then he went away.</p>
+</div>
+<pb n="099" /><anchor id="Pg099" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+<head>Chapter Eleven - The Dove of Peace</head>
+
+
+<p>The first result of Mrs. Rosscott's invitation
+was that Jack refused. He said
+that he had a sister of his own&mdash;two, if
+it came to that&mdash;and so he could easily manage for
+himself. He was very decided about it, and somewhat
+lofty and bitter&mdash;a stand which no one understood
+his taking.</p>
+
+<p>His flat refusal was communicated to his would be
+hostess and it goes without saying that she was
+as unable to understand as all the rest. It keyed
+well enough with his lately shown indifference, but
+the indifference keyed not at all with all that had
+gone before and still less with her very correct
+comprehension of Jack himself. She was quite
+positive as to the sincerity of those protestations
+which he had made so haltingly&mdash;so boyishly&mdash;and
+in such absolutely truthful accents. Why he
+had turned over a new&mdash;and bad&mdash;leaf so suddenly
+she did not at all know, but her woman's wit&mdash;backed
+up by the many good instincts which good
+<pb n="100" /><anchor id="Pg100" />women always get from Heaven knows just where&mdash;made
+her feel firmer than ever as to her hospitable
+intentions. Jack had told her many times
+that she was his good angel, and it did not seem to
+her that now, when he was so deeply involved in
+so much trouble, was the hour for a man's good
+angel to quietly turn away. Suppose he was
+haughty!&mdash;she knew men well enough to know that
+in his case haughtiness and shame would be two
+Dromios that even he himself would be unable to
+tell apart. Suppose he did rebel against her kindness!&mdash;she
+knew women well enough to know that
+under some circumstances they can put down rebellion
+single-handed&mdash;if they can only be left in
+the room alone with it for a few minutes. As regarded
+Jack, she knew that there was something
+to explain; and as to herself she was delightfully
+positive as to her own irresistibleness. Given two
+such statements and the conclusion is easy. Mrs.
+Rosscott wrote to Mitchell and here is what she
+wrote:</p>
+
+<quote rend="display">
+<p><hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">My Dear Mr. Mitchell</hi>:</p>
+
+<p>I should have answered your letter before only
+that in the excitement of corresponding with my
+brother I forgot all else. But my manners have
+returned by slow degrees and in hunting through
+my desk for a bill I found you and so take up my
+pen.
+<pb n="101" /><anchor id="Pg101" /></p>
+
+<p>I am quite sure that&mdash;in spite of that beautiful
+opening play of mine&mdash;you are wondering why I
+am really writing and so I will tell you at once.
+When Bob comes here to stay with me I want Mr.
+Denham to come too. I have various reasons for
+wanting him to come. One is that he has nowhere
+else to go where he will have half as good a time
+as he will here and another is that if he goes anywhere
+else I won't have half as good a time as if
+he comes here. Pray excuse my brutal candor, but
+I am only a woman; brutal candor and womanly
+weakness always have gone about encouraging one
+another, you know. I cannot see any good reason
+for Mr. Denham's not coming except that he declines
+my invitation. It is very silly in him, and
+I regard it as no reason at all. I am quite unused
+to being declined and do not intend to acquire the
+habit until I am a good deal older than I was my
+last birthday. Still, I can understand that he is too
+big to force against his will, so I think the kindest
+way to break the back of the opposition will be for
+me to do it personally. As an over-ruler I nearly
+always succeed. All I require is an opportunity.</p>
+
+<p>Please lay the two halves of your brain evenly
+together and devise a train and an interview for
+me. Of course you will meet me at the train and
+leave me at the interview. These are the fundamental
+rules of my game. I know that you are
+clever and before we have left the station you will
+know that I am. As arch-conspirators we shall
+surely win out together, won't we?</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: right">Yours very truly,</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: right">Bertha Rosscott.</p>
+</quote>
+<pb n="102" /><anchor id="Pg102" />
+
+<p>This missive posted, Jack's good angel made herself
+patient until the afternoon of the next day
+when she might and did expect an answer.</p>
+
+<p>She was not disappointed. The letter came and
+it was pleasantly bulky and appeared ample enough
+to have contained an indexed gun powder plot.
+She was so sure that Mitchell had been fully equal
+to the occasion that she tore the envelope open with
+a smile&mdash;and read:</p>
+
+<quote rend="display">
+<p><hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">My Dear Mrs. Rosscott</hi>:</p>
+
+<p>To think of my having some of your handwriting
+for my own!&mdash;I was nearly petrified with joy.</p>
+
+<p>You see I know your writing from having read
+Burnett all those "Burn this at once" epistles.
+And I know it still better from having to catalogue
+them for his ready reference. You know how
+impatient he is. (But I have run into an open
+switch and must digress backwards.)</p>
+
+<p>I shall preserve your letter till I die. In war
+I shall wear it carefully spread all over wherever
+I may be killed, and in peace I intend to keep my
+place in my Bible with it. Could words say more!
+(Being backed up again, I will now begin.)</p>
+
+<p>I was not at all surprised at your writing me.
+If you had known me it would have been different.
+But where ignorance is bliss any woman but yourself
+is always liable to pitch in with a pen, and you
+see you are not yourself but only "any woman"
+to me as yet. Besides, women have written to me
+before you. My mother does so regularly. She
+encloses a postal card and all I have to do is to mail
+<pb n="103" /><anchor id="Pg103" />it and there she is answered. It's a great scheme
+which I proudly invented when I first went away
+to school and I recommend it to you if you&mdash;if you
+ever have a mother.</p>
+
+<p>How my ink does run away with me! Let me
+refer to your esteemed favor again! Ah! we
+have worked down to the bed-rock, or&mdash;in Hugh
+Miller's colloquial phrasing&mdash;to the "old red sandstone,"
+of the fact that you want Jack. You state
+the fact with what you designate as brutal candor&mdash;and
+I reply with candied brutality, that I
+have thought that all along. If you are averse
+to my view of the matter, you must look out of the
+window the whole time that I continue, for once
+entered I always fight to a finish and I cannot retire
+to my corner on this auspicious occasion without
+announcing through a trumpet that even if Jack is
+a most idiotic fellow I never have caught the
+microbe from him, and, as a sequence, have always
+seen clear through and out of the other side of the
+whole situation. Of course I should not say this
+to any woman but you because it would not have
+any meaning to her, but, between you and me all
+things are printed in plain black and white and,
+therefore, I respectfully submit a program consisting
+of the two o'clock train Tuesday and myself,
+to be recognized by a beaming look of burning
+joy, upon the platform. Beyond that you may
+confide yourself to waxing waxy in my hands.
+They are not bad hands to be in as your brother
+and whatever-you-call-Jack can testify. I will lay
+my lines in the dark to the end that you may bloom
+in the sun.</p>
+
+<p>Trust me. You need do no more&mdash;except buy
+your ticket.
+<pb n="104" /><anchor id="Pg104" /></p>
+
+<p>The two o'clock on Tuesday. You can easily
+remember it by the T's&mdash;if you don't get mixed
+with three o'clock on Thursday. Try remembering
+it by the 2's. A safe way would be to put it
+down.</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: right">Yours to obey,</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: right">Herbert Kendrick Mitchell.</p>
+
+<p>P.S. Please recollect that I am only handsome
+according to the good old proverb, and do not mistake
+me for an enterprising hackman.</p>
+</quote>
+
+<p>Mrs. Rosscott clapped her hands with delight
+when she finished the letter. She was overjoyed at
+the success of her "opening play," and she wrote
+her new correspondent two lines accepting his
+invitation, and went down on the appointed train
+on the appointed day. He met her at the depot
+and they divined one another at the first glance.
+It was impossible not to know so pretty a woman&mdash;or
+so homely a man. For the ancestors of Mitchell
+had worn kilts and red hair in centuries gone by,
+and although he proved the truth of the red-hair
+proposition, no one would ever believe that anything
+of his build could ever have been induced to
+have put itself into kilts&mdash;knowingly. Furthermore,
+his voice had a crick in it, and went by jerks,
+and his eyebrows sympathized with his voice, and
+the eyes below them were little and gray and twinkling,
+and altogether he was the sort of man who
+<pb n="105" /><anchor id="Pg105" />is termed&mdash;according to a certain style of phrasing&mdash;"above
+suspicion." But she liked him, oh!
+immensely, and he liked her. And when they were
+riding up in the carriage together she felt how
+thoroughly trustworthy his gray eyes and good
+smile declared him to be, and had no hesitation in
+telling him what she wanted to do, and in asking
+him what she wanted to know.</p>
+
+<p>Mitchell certainly had a talent for plotting, for
+when they reached the house where the culprits
+were temporarily domiciled, Burnett had gone out
+to give his mended ribs some exercise, and Jack
+was reading alone in the room where they shared
+one another's liniments with friendly generosity.</p>
+
+<p>The arch-conspirator went upstairs, came down,
+and then, seeking the lady whom he had left in the
+parlor, said to her:</p>
+
+<p>"Denham's up there and you can go up and say
+whatever you have to say. You know 'In union
+there is strength.' Well you've got him alone now,
+and he'll prove weakly as a consequence or I miss
+my guess."</p>
+
+<p>Then he walked straight over by the window
+and picked up a magazine as if it was all settled,
+and she only hesitated for half a second before she
+turned and went upstairs.</p>
+
+<p>There was a door half open in the hall above,
+and she knew that that must be the door. She
+<pb n="106" /><anchor id="Pg106" />tapped at it lightly, and a man's voice (a voice that
+she knew well), called out gruffly:</p>
+
+<p>"Come in!"</p>
+
+<p>She pushed the door open at that and entered,
+and saw Jack, and he saw her. He turned very
+pale at the sight, and then the color flooded his
+face, and he rose from his chair abruptly, and put
+his hand up to the strips that held the bandage on
+his head.</p>
+
+<p>"Burnett isn't here," he said quickly. "He
+went out just a few minutes ago."</p>
+
+<p>His tone was hard, and yet at the same time it
+shook slightly.</p>
+
+<p>She approached him, holding out her hand.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm glad of that," she said, "because it was
+to see you that I came."</p>
+
+<p>To her great surprise something mutinous and
+scornful flashed in his eyes as he rolled a chair forward
+for her.</p>
+
+<p>"You honor me," he said, and his tone and
+manner both hardened yet more. His general
+appearance was that of a man ten years older;
+he had changed terribly in the weeks since she had
+last seen him. She took the chair and sat down,
+still looking at him. He sat down too, and his
+eyes went restlessly around the room as if they
+sought a hold that should withhold them from her
+searching gaze. There was a short pause.
+<pb n="107" /><anchor id="Pg107" /></p>
+
+<p>"Don't speak like that," she said at last. "It
+isn't your way, and I know you too well&mdash;we know
+one another too well&mdash;to be anything but sincere.
+You owe me something, too, and if I forbear you
+should understand why."</p>
+
+<p>"I owe you something, do I?" he asked.
+"What do I owe you?"</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Rosscott caught her under lip in her teeth.</p>
+
+<p>"You gave me a promise, Mr. Denham," she
+said, quite low, but most distinctly&mdash;"a promise
+which you broke."</p>
+
+<p>Jack flushed; his eyelids drooped for a minute.</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't break it," he said. "I gave it up."</p>
+
+<p>"Is there any difference?"</p>
+
+<p>"A great difference."</p>
+
+<p>He shrugged his shoulders.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you want to have the truth?" he said.
+"If you really do, I'll tell you. But I don't ask
+to tell you, recollect, and if I were you I'd drop the
+whole&mdash;I certainly would.&mdash;If I were you."</p>
+
+<p>She looked at him in astonishment.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't understand," she said. "Tell me what
+you mean."</p>
+
+<p>He raised his hand to his bandaged head again.</p>
+
+<p>"I think," he said, fighting hard to speak with
+utter indifference, "I think that it would have been
+better if you had told me about Holloway."</p>
+
+<p>At that her big eyes opened widely.
+<pb n="108" /><anchor id="Pg108" /></p>
+
+<p>"What should I tell you about Mr. Holloway?"
+she asked. "What could I tell you about
+him?"</p>
+
+<p>"It isn't any use speaking like that," he said;
+and with the words he suddenly leaped from his
+chair and began to plunge back and forth across the
+small room. "You see I'm not a boy any more.
+I've come to my senses. I know now! I understand
+now! It's all plain to me now. Now and
+always. I've been fooled once but only once and
+by All that Is, I never will be fooled again.
+Your're pretty and awfully fascinating, and it's
+always fun for the woman&mdash;especially if she knows
+all her bets are safely hedged. And I was so completely
+done up that I was even more sport than the
+common run, I suppose; but&mdash;" she was staring
+at him in unfeigned amazement, and he was lashing
+himself to fury with the feelings that underlaid his
+words&mdash;"but even if you made it all right with
+yourself by calling your share by the name of 'having
+a good influence' over me (I know that's how
+married women always pat themselves on the back
+while they're sending us to the devil), even then,
+I think that it would have been better to have been
+fair and square with me. It would have been better
+all round. I'd have been left with some belief in&mdash;in
+people. As it is, when I saw that you'd only
+been laughing at me, I&mdash;well, I went pretty far."
+<pb n="109" /><anchor id="Pg109" /></p>
+
+<p>He stopped short, and transfixed her paleness
+with his big, dark eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"Why weren't you honest?" he asked angrily.
+And then he said again, more bitterly, more scornfully,
+than before: "Why wasn't I told about
+Holloway?"</p>
+
+<p>She clasped her hands tightly together.</p>
+
+<p>"What has been told you about Mr. Holloway
+and myself?" she asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Nothing."</p>
+
+<p>"Then why do you speak as you do?"</p>
+
+<p>At that he thrust his hands into his pockets and
+again began to fling himself back and forth across
+the room.</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps you'll think I'm a sneak," he said,
+"but I wasn't a sneak. I went in to see you that
+Saturday as usual, and when I went upstairs&mdash;you
+were with him in the library. I heard three words.
+God! they were enough! I didn't know that anything
+could knock the bottom out of life so quickly.
+My sun and stars all fell at once&mdash;I reckon my
+Heaven went too. At all events I went out of your
+house and down town and I drank and drank&mdash;and
+all to the truth and honor of women."</p>
+
+<p>He halted with his back to her, and there was
+silence in the room for many minutes.</p>
+
+<p>When he faced around after a little, she was
+weeping bitterly, having turned in her seat so that
+<pb n="110" /><anchor id="Pg110" />her face might be buried in the chair back. Her
+whole body was shaking with suppressed sobs.
+He stood still and stared down upon her and finally
+she lifted up her face and said with trembling lips:</p>
+
+<p>"And all the trouble came from that. Oh,
+what shall I do? What shall I say?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know what you can do, or what you
+can say," he said, remaining still and watching her
+sincere distress. "I'd feel pretty blamed mean if
+I were you, though. Understand, I don't question
+your good taste in choosing Holloway, nor your
+right to love him, nor his right to be there; but
+I fail to understand why you were to me just as you
+were, and I think it was unfair&mdash;out-and-out
+mean!"</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Denham," she said almost painfully,
+"you've made a dreadful mistake." Then she
+stopped and moistened her lips. "I don't know
+just what words you overheard, but the dramatic
+instructor was there that afternoon drilling Mr.
+Holloway and myself for the parts which we took
+in the charity play that week; after he went out we
+went over one of the scenes alone. Perhaps you
+heard part of that." She stopped and almost
+choked. "Mr. Holloway has never really made
+any love to me&mdash;perhaps he never wanted to&mdash;perhaps
+I've never wanted him to."</p>
+
+<p>Jack stared. His misconception was so strongly
+<pb n="111" /><anchor id="Pg111" />intrenched in the forefront of his brain that he
+could not possibly dislodge it at once.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Rosscott continued to dry the tears that
+continued to rise; she seemed terribly affected at
+finding herself to have been the cause (no matter
+how innocently) of this latest tale of wrack and
+ruin.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you mean to say," the young man said, at
+last, "that there was no truth in what I heard?
+Don't you expect to marry Holloway?"</p>
+
+<p>"I never expect to marry anyone, but certainly
+not him," she replied, trying to regain her composure.</p>
+
+<p>"Honest?"</p>
+
+<p>"Assuredly."</p>
+
+<p>It was as if an unseen orchestra had suddenly
+burst forth just near enough and just far enough
+away. He came to the side of her chair and laid
+his hand upon its back.</p>
+
+<p>"Then what have you been thinking of me
+lately?" he asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Very sad thoughts," she confessed&mdash;hiding
+her face again.</p>
+
+<p>"Did you care?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I cared."</p>
+
+<p>He stood beside her for a long time without
+speaking or moving. Then he suddenly pulled a
+chair forward, and sat down close in front of her.
+<pb n="112" /><anchor id="Pg112" /></p>
+
+<p>"Don't cry," he said, almost daring to be
+tender. "There's nothing to cry about <hi rend="font-style: italic">now</hi>, you
+know."</p>
+
+<p>"I think there's plenty for me to cry about," she
+said, looking up through her long wet lashes. "It
+is so terrible for me to be the one that is to blame.
+Papa swears he'll never forgive Bob, and your
+aunt&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Lord love you!" he exclaimed; "don't worry
+over me or my aunt. I don't. I don't mind anything,
+with Holloway staked in the ditch. I can
+get along well enough now."</p>
+
+<p>He smiled&mdash;actually smiled&mdash;as he spoke.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, you mustn't speak so," she said, blushing;
+"indeed, you must not." And smiled, too, in spite
+of herself.</p>
+
+<p>"Who's going to stop me?" he said. "You
+know that you can't; I'm miles the biggest."</p>
+
+<p>She looked at him and tried to frown, but only
+blushed again instead. He put out his hand and
+took hers into its clasp.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm everlasting glad to shake college," he
+declared gayly; "it never was my favorite alley.
+I've made up my mind to go to work just as soon
+as I get these pastry strips off my head."</p>
+
+<p>"Where?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know. Anywhere. I don't care."</p>
+
+<p>"But you'll come to my house when Bob comes
+<pb n="113" /><anchor id="Pg113" />next week, won't you?" she asked suddenly.
+"I can see now why you wouldn't before, but&mdash;but
+it's different now. Isn't it?"</p>
+
+<p>"Is it?" he said, asking the question chiefly of
+her pretty eyes. "Is it honestly different now?"</p>
+
+<p>"I think it is," she answered.</p>
+
+<p>A door banged below.</p>
+
+<p>"That's Burr!" he exclaimed, remembering
+suddenly the proximity of their chairs, and making
+haste to place himself farther away.</p>
+
+<p>Burnett's step was heard on the stair.</p>
+
+<p>"You never said anything to him, did you?"
+she questioned quickly.</p>
+
+<p>"Certainly not."</p>
+
+<p>The next instant Burnett was in the room, and
+his sister was in his arms. (Astonishing how coolly
+he accepted the fact, too.)</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Denham is coming to me with you,
+Bob," she said when he released her. "I've persuaded
+him."</p>
+
+<p>"How did you do it?" she was asked.</p>
+
+<p>"By undertaking to reconcile him with his aunt,
+dear," she replied, blandly. "It's a contract that
+we've drawn up between us. You know that I was
+always rather good in the part of the peacemaker."</p>
+
+<p>As she spoke, her eyes fell warningly on the
+manifest astonishment of Aunt Mary's nephew.</p>
+
+<p>"You don't know what you're undertaking,
+<pb n="114" /><anchor id="Pg114" />Betty," said her brother. "You never had a
+chance to take Aunt Mary for better, for worse&mdash;I
+have."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm not alarmed," said she, "I'm very
+courageous. I'm sure I'll succeed."</p>
+
+<p>"Can the mender of ways&mdash;other people's
+ways&mdash;come in?" asked a voice at the door.</p>
+
+<p>It was Mitchell's voice, and he came in without
+waiting for an invitation.</p>
+
+<p>"Is it time that I went?" Mrs. Rosscott asked
+him, anxiously.</p>
+
+<p>"Half an hour yet."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I say Jack," cried Burnett, "let's boil
+some water in the witch-hazel pan, and make a
+rarebit in the poultice pan, and have some tea
+here."</p>
+
+<p>"Sure," said Jack, suddenly become his blithe
+and buoyant self again. "You just take off your
+hat and look the other way, Mrs. Rosscott, and
+we'll have you a lunch in a jiffy."</p>
+</div>
+<pb n="115" /><anchor id="Pg115" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+<head>Chapter Twelve - A Trap For Aunt Mary</head>
+
+
+<p>In Aunt Mary's part of the country the skies
+had been crying themselves sick for the last six
+weeks. The cranberry bog was a goner forever,
+it was feared, and a little house, very handy
+for sorting berries in, had had its foundations
+undermined, and disappeared beneath the face of
+the waters also.</p>
+
+<p>Under such propitious circumstances, Aunt
+Mary sat by her own particular window and looked
+sternly and severely out across the garden and
+down the road. Lucinda sat by the other window
+sewing. Lucinda hadn't changed materially, but
+her general appearance struck her mistress as more
+irritating than ever. Everything and everybody
+seemed to have become more and more irritating
+ever since Jack had been disinherited. Of course,
+it was right that he should have been disinherited,
+but Aunt Mary hadn't thought much beforehand
+as to what would happen afterward, and it was too
+aggravating to have him turn out so well just when
+she had lost all patience with him and so cast him
+<pb n="116" /><anchor id="Pg116" />off forever, and for him to develop such a beautiful
+character, all of a sudden too&mdash;just as if education
+and good advice had been his undoing and
+seclusion and illness were the guardian angels
+arrived just in time to save him from the evil
+effects thereof.</p>
+
+<p>It hadn't occurred to Aunt Mary that people
+keep on living just the same even after they have
+been cut out of a will. And she never had counted
+on Jack's taking his bitter medicine in the spirit he
+was manifesting. She had not calculated any
+of the possible effects of her hasty action very
+maturely, but she certainly had not anticipated a
+lamblike submission to even the harshest of her
+edicts, nor had she expected Jack to be one who
+would strictly observe the Bible regulations and
+so return good for evil&mdash;in other words, write her
+now when he had never written her in the bygone
+years (unless under sharpest financial stress of
+circumstances).</p>
+
+<p>Yet such was the case. Jack had become a
+"ready letter-writer" ever since his removal to the
+city, whither some kind friends had invited him
+directly he could leave his sick-room. Aunt Mary
+did not know who the friends were and had hesitated
+somewhat as to opening the first letter. But
+it had borne no sting&mdash;being instead most sweetly
+pathetic, and since then, others had followed with
+<pb n="117" /><anchor id="Pg117" />touching frequency. Their polished periods fell
+upon the old lady's stony hardness of heart with
+the persistent frequency of the proverbial drop of
+water. After the second she had ceased to regard
+the instructions given Lucinda as to mentioning her
+nephew's name, and after the third he became
+again her favorite topic of conversation.</p>
+
+<p>It seemed that the poor boy had had the misfortune
+to contract measles, and in his weakened
+state the disease had nearly proved fatal. You can
+perhaps divine the effect of this statement on the
+grand-aunt, and the further effect of the words:
+"But never mind, Aunt Mary," with which he concluded
+the brief narration.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary had tried to snort and had sniffed
+instead; she had turned back to the first page, read,
+"All my head has been shaved, but I don't care
+about having any more fun, anyhow," and had
+let the letter fall in her lap. Every time that she
+had thought since of "our boy," her anger had
+fallen hotter upon whoever was handiest. Lucinda
+(who was used to it) lived under a figurative rain
+of cinders, and thrived salamander-like in their
+midst; but Arethusa&mdash;who had come up for a
+week&mdash;found herself totally unable to stand the
+endless lava and boiling ashes, and fled back to the
+bosom of Mr. Arethusa the third morning after
+her arrival.
+<pb n="118" /><anchor id="Pg118" /></p>
+
+<p>"I've got to go, I find," she had yelled the night
+before her departure.</p>
+
+<p>"I certainly wish you would," replied her aunt.
+"I'm a great believer in married women paying
+attention at home before they begin to pry into
+their neighbors' affairs. It's a good idea. Most
+generally&mdash;most always."</p>
+
+<p>This was bitterly unkind, since Arethusa was in
+the habit of taking the long journey purely out of a
+sense of duty and to keep Lucinda up to the mark;
+but grateful appreciation is rarely ever a salient
+point in the character of an autocrat.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm glad she's gone," Aunt Mary told
+Lucinda, when they were left together once more.
+"She puts me beyond all patience. She chatters
+gibberish that I can't make out a word of for
+an hour at a time, and then, all of a sudden,
+she screams, 'Dinner's ready,' or something
+equally silly, in a voice like a carvin' knife.
+It's enough to drive a sane person stark, raving
+mad. It is."</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda acquiesced with a nod. Lucinda herself
+was glad that Arethusa had gone. She resented
+the manner in which the latter always looked over
+the preserve closet and counted the silver. Nothing
+was ever missing, because Lucinda was as honest
+as a day twenty-five hours long, but the more
+honest those of Lucinda's caliber are, the more
+<pb n="119" /><anchor id="Pg119" />mad they get if they feel that they are being
+watched. So Lucinda acquiesced with a nod.</p>
+
+<p>The mistress and maid were sitting alone together,
+with the June rain falling without, and it
+was that pleasantly exciting hour which comes only
+in the country and is known as "about mail-time."</p>
+
+<p>"There's Joshua now," Aunt Mary exclaimed,
+presently, "I see him turnin' in the gate. He'll be
+at the door before you get there, Lucinda,&mdash;he
+will. There, he's twistin' his wheel off. He's
+tryin' to hold Billy an' hold the letters an' whistle,
+all at once. Why don't you go to him, Lucinda?
+Can't you hear a whistle that I can see? Or, if
+you can't hear the whistle, can't you hear me? Do
+you think whoever wrote those letters would be
+much pleased if they could see you so slow about
+gettin' them? Do&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>Just here the old lady, turning toward Lucinda,
+perceived that she had been gone&mdash;Heaven knew
+how long. She felt decidedly vexed at finding herself
+to be in the wrong, rubbed her nose impatiently,
+and waited in a temper to match the
+rubbing.</p>
+
+<p>"My Lord! how slow she is!" she thought.
+"Well, if I don't die of old age first, I presume
+I'll get my letters some time. Maybe."</p>
+
+<p>As a matter of fact, the door had blown shut
+behind Lucinda, and the latter personage was making
+<pb n="120" /><anchor id="Pg120" />her way, with well-hoisted skirts, around the
+house to the back door. She didn't pass the window
+where the Argus-eyed was looking forth;
+because that lady had strong opinions of those who
+let doors bang behind them without their own
+volition.</p>
+
+<p>Five minutes later the maid did finally appear
+with one letter.</p>
+
+<p>"I thought you was waitin' to bring to-morrow's
+mail at the same time," said Aunt Mary,
+icily.</p>
+
+<p>Then she found that the letter was from Jack,
+and Lucinda was completely forgotten in the
+pleasure of opening and reading it.</p>
+
+<quote rend="display">
+<p><hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">Dear Aunt Mary</hi>:</p>
+
+<p>It seems so strange how I'm just learning the
+pleasure of writing letters. I enjoy it more every
+day. When I see a pen I can hardly keep from
+feeling that I ought to write you directly. I think
+of you, then, because I'm thinking of you most
+always. It seems as if I never appreciated you
+before, Aunt Mary.</p>
+
+<p>I want to tell you something that I know will
+make you happy. I've never made you very happy
+Aunt Mary, but I'm going to begin now. I've got
+a place where I can earn my own living, and I'm
+going to work just as soon as I am strong enough.
+I'm as tickled as a baby over it. I'll lay you any
+odds I get to be a richer man than the other John
+Watkins. I reckon money was bad for me, Aunt
+<pb n="121" /><anchor id="Pg121" />Mary, and I can see that you've done just the right
+thing to make a man of me. That isn't surprising,
+because you always did do just the right thing,
+Aunt Mary; it was I that always did just the wrong
+thing, but I'm straightened out now and this time
+it's forever&mdash;you just wait and see.</p>
+
+<p>There's one thing bothers me some, and that is
+I don't get strong very fast. They want me to
+take a tonic, but I don't think a tonic would help
+me much. I feel so sort of blue and depressed, and
+perhaps that's natural, for Bob's away most of the
+time and I'm here all alone. It's a big house and
+sort of lonely and sometimes I find myself imagining
+how it would seem to have someone from
+home in it with me, and I find myself almost crying&mdash;I
+do, for a fact, Aunt Mary.</p>
+
+<p>Next week, Bob is going to be away more than
+usual, and I'm dreading it awfully; but never mind,
+Aunt Mary, I don't want to make you blue, because
+honestly I don't think I'm going into a decline,
+even if the doctor does. And, after all, if I did
+sort of dwindle away it wouldn't matter much, for
+I'm not worth anything, and no one knows that as
+well as myself&mdash;except you, Aunt Mary.
+I must stop because it's nine o'clock and time I
+was in bed. I've got some socks to wash out first,
+too; you see, I'm learning how to economize just
+as fast as I can. It's only two miles to my work,
+and I'm going to walk back and forth always&mdash;that'll
+be between fifty cents and a dollar saved
+each week. I'm figuring on how to live on my
+salary and never have a debt, and you'll be proud
+of me yet, Aunt Mary&mdash;if I don't die first.</p>
+
+<p>Think of me all alone here next week. If I
+wasn't steadfast as a rock I believe I'd do something
+<pb n="122" /><anchor id="Pg122" />foolish just to get out of myself.   But never
+mind, Aunt Mary, it's all right.</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: right">Your afft. nephew,</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: right">John Watkins, Jr., Denham.</p>
+</quote>
+
+<p>When Lucinda returned from drying her feet,
+Aunt Mary had her handkerchief in one hand and
+spectacles in the other.</p>
+
+<p>"Saints and sinners!" cried the maid, in a
+voice that grated with sympathy. "He ain't writ
+to say he's dead, is he?"</p>
+
+<p>"No," said Aunt Mary; "but he isn't as well
+as he makes out. There's no deceivin' me,
+Lucinda!"</p>
+
+<p>"Dear! dear!" cried the Trusty and True; "is
+that so? What's to be done? Do you want
+Joshua to run anywhere?"</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary suddenly regained her composure.</p>
+
+<p>"Run anywhere?" she asked, with her usual
+bitter intonation. "If you ain't the greatest fool
+I ever was called upon to bed and board, Lucinda!
+Will you kindly explain to me how settin' Joshua
+trottin' is goin' to do any mortal good to my poor
+boy away off there in that dreadful city?"</p>
+
+<p>"He could telegraph to Miss Arethusa,"
+Lucinda suggested. The suggestion bespoke the
+superior moral quality of Lucinda's make-up&mdash;her
+own feeling toward Arethusa being considered.
+<pb n="123" /><anchor id="Pg123" /></p>
+
+<p>"I don't want her," said Aunt Mary with a
+positiveness that was final. "I don't want her.
+My heavens, Lucinda, ain't we just had enough
+of her? Anyhow, if you ain't, I have. I don't
+want her, nor no livin' soul except my trunk; an'
+I want that just as quick as Joshua can haul it down
+out of the attic."</p>
+
+<p>"You ain't thinkin' of goin' travelin'!" the
+maid cried in consternation; "you can't never be
+thinkin' of <hi rend="font-style: italic">that?</hi>"</p>
+
+<p>"No," said her mistress with fine irony; "I
+want the trunk to make a pie out of, probably."</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda was speechless.</p>
+
+<p>"Lucinda," her mistress said, after a few
+seconds had faded away unimproved, "seems to
+me I mentioned wantin' Joshua to get down a
+trunk&mdash;seems to me I did."</p>
+
+<p>The maid turned and left the room. She felt
+more or less dazed. Nothing so startling as Aunt
+Mary's wanting a trunk had happened in years.
+Disinheriting Jack was not in it by comparison.
+She went slowly away to find Joshua and found
+him in the farther end of the rear woodhouse&mdash;John
+Watkins, like several of his ilk, having
+marked each forward step in the world by a back
+extension of his house.</p>
+
+<p>Joshua was chopping wood; his ax was high in
+the air. He also was calm and unsuspecting.
+<pb n="124" /><anchor id="Pg124" /></p>
+
+<p>"She's goin' to the city all alone!" Lucinda's
+voice suddenly proclaimed behind him.</p>
+
+<p>The ax fell.</p>
+
+<p>"Who says so?" its handler demanded, facing
+about in surprise.</p>
+
+<p>"She says so."</p>
+
+<p>Joshua picked up the ax and poised it afresh.
+He was himself again.</p>
+
+<p>"She'll go then," he said calmly.</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda marched around in front of him, and
+planted herself firmly among the chips.</p>
+
+<p>"Joshua Whittlesey!"</p>
+
+<p>"We can't help it," said Joshua stolidly.
+"We're here to mind her. If she wants to go to
+New York, or to change her will, all we've got
+to do is to be simple witnesses."</p>
+
+<p>"She don't want Miss Arethusa telegraphed,"
+said Lucinda.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't blame her," said Joshua; "if I was
+her and if I was goin' to New York I wouldn't
+want no one telegraphed."</p>
+
+<p>"She wants her trunk out of the attic."</p>
+
+<p>"Then she'll get her trunk out of the attic.
+When does she want it?"</p>
+
+<p>"She wants it now."</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: center"><anchor id="image03" />
+<figure rend="w95" url="images/image03.png">
+<head rend="text-align: center">"She's goin' to the city all alone!' Lucinda's voice
+suddenly proclaimed behind him."</head>
+<figDesc>Illustration 3</figDesc></figure></p><p></p>
+
+<p>"Then she'll get it now," said Joshua. From
+the general trend of this and other remarks of
+Joshua the reader will readily divine why he had
+<pb n="125" /><anchor id="Pg125" />been in Aunt Mary's employ for thirty years, and
+had always been characterized by her as "a most
+sensible man," and anyone who had seen the
+alacrity with which the trunk was brought and the
+respectful attention with which Aunt Mary's further
+commands were received would have been
+forced to coincide in her opinion.</p>
+
+<p>The packing of the trunk was a task which fell
+to Lucinda's lot and was performed under the
+eagle eye of her mistress. Aunt Mary's ideas of
+what she would require were delightfully unsophisticated
+and brought up short on the farther-side
+of her tooth brush and her rubbers. Nevertheless
+she agreed in Lucinda's suggestions as to
+more extensive supplies.</p>
+
+<p>Late that afternoon Joshua drove into town
+(amidst a wealth of mud spatters) and dispatched
+the answer to Jack's letter. Aunt Mary was urged
+to haste by several considerations, some well
+defined, and others not so much so. To Lucinda
+she imparted her terrible anxiety over the dear
+boy's health, but not even to herself did she admit
+her much more terrible anxiety lest Arethusa or
+Mary should suddenly appear and insist on accompanying
+her. She wanted to go, but she wanted
+to go alone.</p>
+
+<p>Jack telegraphed a response that night, and his
+aunt left by the Monday morning train. She had
+<pb n="126" /><anchor id="Pg126" />a six o'clock breakfast, and drove into town at a
+quarter of nine so as to be absolutely certain not
+to miss the train. Joshua drove, with the trunk
+perched beside him. It was a small and unassuming
+trunk, but Aunt Mary was not one who
+believed in putting on airs just because she was
+rich. Lucinda sat on the back seat with her
+mistress.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm sure I hope you'll enjoy yourself," she
+said.</p>
+
+<p>"Of course he's nothing but a boy," Aunt Mary
+replied,&mdash;"an' I've told you a hundred times that
+boys will be boys and we mustn't expect otherwise."</p>
+
+<p>They arrived on time, and only had an hour
+and three-quarters to wait in the station. Toward
+the last Aunt Mary grew very nervous for fear
+something had happened to the train; but it came
+to time according to the waiting-room clock.
+Joshua put her aboard, and she soon had nothing
+left to worry over except the wonder as to whether
+Jack would be on hand to meet her or not.</p>
+
+<p>Joshua drove back home, let Lucinda out at the
+door, and put the horse up before going in to where
+she sat in solitary glory.</p>
+
+<p>"I wonder what <hi rend="font-style: italic">he's</hi> up to?" she said with a
+pleasant sense of unlimited freedom as to the subject
+and duration of the conversation.
+<pb n="127" /><anchor id="Pg127" /></p>
+
+<p>"Suthin', of course," was the answer.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you s'pose he's really sick?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, I don't."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you s'pose she thinks he's really sick?"</p>
+
+<p>"Mebbe."</p>
+
+<p>"Ain't you goin' to sit down, Joshua?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't see nothin' to make me sit down here
+for."</p>
+
+<p>"What do you think of her going?" she said,
+as he walked toward the door.</p>
+
+<p>"I think she'll have a good time."</p>
+
+<p>"At her age?"</p>
+
+<p>"Havin' a good time ain't a matter o' age," said
+Joshua. "It's a matter o' bein' willin' to have a
+good time."</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda screwed her face up mightily.</p>
+
+<p>"If I was sure she'd be gone for a week," she
+said, "I'd go a-visitin' myself."</p>
+
+<p>"She'll be gone a week," said Joshua; and the
+manner and matter of his speech were both those
+of a prophet.</p>
+
+<p>Then he went out and the door slammed to
+behind him.</p>
+</div>
+<pb n="128" /><anchor id="Pg128" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+<head>Chapter Thirteen - Aunt Mary Entrapped</head>
+
+
+<p>Aunt Mary's arrival in the city just coincided
+with the arrival of that day's five
+o'clock. Five o'clock in early June is very
+bright daylight, therefore she was rather bewildered
+when the train pulled up in the darkness and
+electricity of the station's confusion. The change
+from sunlight to smoke blinded her somewhat and
+the view from the car window did not restore her
+equanimity. When the porter, to whom she had
+been discreetly recommended by Joshua, came for
+her bags, she felt woefully distressed and not at
+all like her usual self.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, do I have to get out?" she said. "I ain't
+been in this place for twenty-five years, and I was
+to be met."</p>
+
+<p>The porter's grin hovered comfortingly over
+her head.</p>
+
+<p>"You can stay here jus' 's long as you like,
+ma'am," he yelled, in the voice of a train dispatcher.
+"I'll send your friends in when they
+inquiahs."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary eyed him gratefully, and gave him
+<pb n="129" /><anchor id="Pg129" />the nickel which she had been carefully holding in
+her hand for the last hour.</p>
+
+<p>Then she looked up, and saw Jack!</p>
+
+<p>A perfectly splendid Jack, in resplendent attire,
+handsome, beaming, with a big bouquet of violets
+in his hand!</p>
+
+<p>"For you, Aunt Mary," he said, and dropped
+them into her lap, and hugged her fervently. She
+clung to him with a cling that forgot the immediate
+past, disinheriting and all. Oh! she was so
+glad to see him!</p>
+
+<p>The porter approached with a beneficent look.</p>
+
+<p>"Has he taken good care of you, Aunt Mary?"
+Jack asked, as the man gathered up the things and
+they started to leave the car.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, indeed," Aunt Mary declared.</p>
+
+<p>So Jack gave the porter a dollar.</p>
+
+<p>Then they left the train.</p>
+
+<p>"I was so worried," Aunt Mary said, as she
+went along the platform hanging on her nephew's
+arm. "I thought you'd met with an accident."</p>
+
+<p>"I couldn't get on until the rest got off," he
+said, gazing down on her with a smile; "but I was
+on hand, all right. My, but it's good to think that
+you're here, Aunt Mary! Maybe you think that
+I don't appreciate your taking all this trouble for
+me, but I do, just the same."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary smiled all over. Everyone who
+<pb n="130" /><anchor id="Pg130" />passed them was smiling, too, and that added to
+the general joy of the atmosphere. Aunt Mary
+felt proud of Jack, and rejoiced as to herself. Her
+content with life in general was, for the moment,
+limitless. She did not stop to dissect the sources
+of her delight. She was not in a critical mood just
+then.</p>
+
+<p>"Why don't you stick those flowers in your
+belt, Aunt Mary?" her nephew asked, as they
+penetrated the worst of the human jungle, and the
+preservation of the violets appeared to be the main
+question of the day. "That's what the girls do."</p>
+
+<p>His aunt looked vaguely down at herself. She
+had no belt to stick her violets in. She wore no
+belt. She wore a basque. A basque is a beltless
+something that you can't remember, but that
+females did, once upon a time, cover the upper half
+of their forms with. Basques buttoned down the
+front with ten to thirty buttons, and may be studied
+at leisure in any good collection of daguerreotypes.
+Ladies like Aunt Mary are apt to scorn
+such futilities as waning styles after they pass
+beyond a certain age, and for that reason there
+was no place for Jack's violets.</p>
+
+<p>"Never mind," he said cheerfully, having
+followed her dubiousness with his understanding.
+"Just hang on to them a minute longer, and we'll
+be out of all this."
+<pb n="131" /><anchor id="Pg131" /></p>
+
+<p>His words came true, and they finally did
+emerge from the seething mass and found a carriage,
+the door of which happened to be standing
+mysteriously open. Within, upon the small seat,
+some omniscient hands had already deposited Aunt
+Mary's bags. It did not take long to stow Aunt
+Mary, face to her luggage, and she was barely
+established there before her trunk came, too; and,
+although the coachman looked so gorgeous, he
+was nevertheless obliging enough to allow it to
+couch humbly at his feet.</p>
+
+<p>Then they rolled away.</p>
+
+<p>Jack sat sideways and looked at his aunt, holding
+her hand. His eyes were unfeignedly happy,
+and his companion matched his eyes. Neither
+seemed to recollect that one was bitterly angry,
+and that the other was on the verge of melancholia.
+Instead, Jack declared fervently:</p>
+
+<p>"Aunt Mary, I've made up my mind to give
+you the time of your life!"</p>
+
+<p>And Aunt Mary drew a sigh of relief in his
+words and anticipation of their fulfillment.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll be happy takin' care of you," she said,
+benevolently. "My!&mdash;but your letter scared me.
+An' yet you look well."</p>
+
+<p>He laughed.</p>
+
+<p>"It's the knowing you were coming that's done
+that, Aunt Mary. You ought to have seen me
+<pb n="132" /><anchor id="Pg132" />when I got your telegram. I almost turned a
+somersault."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary smiled rapturously and patted his
+hand.</p>
+
+<p>And just then they drew up in front of the
+house. She looked out, and her face fell a
+trifle.</p>
+
+<p>"It's awful high and narrow," she said.</p>
+
+<p>"They all are," Jack replied, opening the carriage
+door and jumping out to receive her.</p>
+
+<p>The door at the top of the steps opened, and a
+man came down for the bags. In the hall above,
+a pretty maid waited with a welcoming smile.</p>
+
+<p>Jack piloted his aunt, first up the entrance steps,
+and then up the staircase within, and led her to the
+lovely room which had been vacated for her. The
+maid followed with tea and biscuits, and the man
+brought the luggage and ranged it unobtrusively
+in a corner. There was a lavish richness about
+everything which made Aunt Mary and her trunk
+appear as gray and insignificant as a pair of mice,
+by contrast; but she didn't feel it, and so she didn't
+mind it.</p>
+
+<p>Jack kissed her tenderly.</p>
+
+<p>"Welcome to town, Aunt Mary," he said heartily,
+"and may you never live to look upon this day
+as other than the luckiest of your life!" Then,
+turning to the servant, he said:
+<pb n="133" /><anchor id="Pg133" /></p>
+
+<p>"Janice, you see that you do all that money can
+buy for my aunt."</p>
+
+<p>The maid courtesied. She had arranged the tray
+upon a little table and the spout of the tea pot and
+the round hole in the middle of the toast-cover were
+each pouring forth a pleasant suggestion.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary began at once to haul forth her
+keys.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, Aunt Mary," Jack cried, wondering if
+her nose was deaf, too, or whether she didn't feel
+hungry, "don't you see your tea? Or don't you
+want any?"</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary thumbed her trunk key.</p>
+
+<p>"I want a nightgown," she said; "maybe I'll
+want something else later. Maybe."</p>
+
+<p>"You're not going to <hi rend="font-style: italic">bed</hi>!"</p>
+
+<p>She drew herself up.</p>
+
+<p>"I guess I can if I want to; I guess I can.
+There's the bed and here's me."</p>
+
+<p>"Whatever are you saying? It isn't half-past
+six o'clock."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm not <hi rend="font-style: italic">prayin</hi>' about anything," said the
+old lady. "I don't pray about things. I do
+'em when needful. And when I'm tired I go
+to bed."</p>
+
+<p>"All right, Aunt Mary," with sugary sweetness
+and lamb-like submissiveness. "I thought we'd
+dine out together, but if you don't want to, we
+<pb n="134" /><anchor id="Pg134" />needn't. And if you feel like it when you waken,
+we can."</p>
+
+<p>"Dine out," said Aunt Mary, blankly; "has the
+cook left? I never was a great approver of goin'
+and eatin' at boarding houses."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, never mind," Jack said in a key pitched
+to rhyme with high C. "I'll leave you now&mdash;and
+we can see about everything later."</p>
+
+<p>He kissed her, and retired from the room.</p>
+
+<p>"Did he say we're goin' out to dinner?" Aunt
+Mary asked, when she was left alone with the maid,
+who hurried to take her bonnet and shawl, and get
+her into juxtaposition with the tea-tray as rapidly
+as possible.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, ma'am," the girl screamed, nodding.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't want to," said the old lady firmly.
+"Lots of trouble comes through gettin' out of
+house habits. I've come here to take care of a
+sick boy and not to go gallivantin' round myself.
+I've seen the evils of gallivantin' a good deal
+lately and I don't want to see no more. Not here
+and not nowhere."</p>
+
+<p>Then she began to eat and drink and reflect, all
+at the same time.</p>
+
+<p>"By the way, what's your name?" she asked,
+suddenly. "Jack didn't tell me."</p>
+
+<p>"Janice, ma'am."</p>
+
+<p>"Granite?" said Aunt Mary. "What a funny
+<pb n="135" /><anchor id="Pg135" />idea to name you that! Did they call you for the
+tinware or for the rocks?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know," shrieked Janice, who was busily
+occupied in unpacking the traveler's trunk.</p>
+
+<p>Her new mistress watched her with a critical eye
+at first, but it became a more or less sleepy eye as
+the warmth of the tea meandered slowly through
+its owner. There was a battle within Aunt Mary's
+brain; she wanted to please Jack, and she was
+almost dead with sleep.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you think that I ought to try and go out
+with my nephew to-night?" she asked Janice.</p>
+
+<p>"If it was me, I should go," cried the maid.</p>
+
+<p>"I never was called slow before," Aunt Mary
+said, bridling. "I'll thank you to remember your
+place, young woman."</p>
+
+<p>Janice explained.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! I didn't hear plainly," said Aunt Mary.
+"I don't always. Well go or not go, I've got to
+sleep first. I'm dreadfully sleepy, and I've always
+been a great believer in sleepin' when you're
+sleepy."</p>
+
+<p>The fact of the sleepiness was so evident that no
+attempt was made to gainsay it. Janice brought
+down a quilt from the closet and tucked her charge
+up luxuriously on the great bed. Five minutes
+later she was in dreamland.</p>
+
+<p>Jack came in about seven and looked at her.
+<pb n="136" /><anchor id="Pg136" /></p>
+
+<p>"She mustn't be disturbed," he said thoughtfully.
+"If she wakes up before ten we'll go out
+then."</p>
+
+<p>She awoke about nine, and when she opened her
+eyes the first thing that she saw was Janice, sitting
+near by.</p>
+
+<p>"I feel real good," said Aunt Mary.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm so glad," yelled Janice, and smiled, too.</p>
+
+<p>The old lady sat up.</p>
+
+<p>"I believe I could have gone out, after all,"
+she said. "Only I don't want to take dinner
+anywhere."</p>
+
+<p>Then she paused and reflected. It was surprising
+how good she felt and how she did want to
+make Jack happy. "After all boys will be boys,"
+she thought, tenderly, "an' I ain't but seventy, so I
+don't see why I shouldn't go out with him if he
+wants to. I'm a great believer in doin' what you
+want to&mdash;I mean, in doin' what other folks want
+you to. At any rate I'm a great believer in it
+sometimes. To-day&mdash;this time."</p>
+
+<p>"Your nephew is waiting," the maid howled.
+"Shall I tell him you want to go after all?"</p>
+
+<p>"Is it late?" the old lady inquired.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, dear, no!"</p>
+
+<p>"Wouldn't you go if you was me?" asked the
+old lady.</p>
+
+<p>Janice smiled.
+<pb n="137" /><anchor id="Pg137" /></p>
+
+<p>"Indeed I would."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary rose. A flood of metropolitan fever
+suddenly surged up and around and over and
+through her.</p>
+
+<p>"Tell him I'll be down in five minutes," she said.</p>
+
+<p>"Can you change in that time?" Janice stopped
+to shriek.</p>
+
+<p>"What should I change for?" Aunt Mary demanded
+in astonishment. "Ain't I all dressed
+now?"</p>
+
+<p>Janice did not attempt to shriek any counter-advice,
+and while she was gone to find Jack, her
+mistress brushed herself in some places, soaped herself
+in others, and considered her toilet made.
+When Janice returned she caught up a loose lock
+of hair, and put the placket-hole of her skirt square
+in the middle of Aunt Mary's back, and dared go
+no further. There was an air even about the back
+of Jack's influential aunt which forbade too much
+liberty to those dealing with her.</p>
+</div>
+<pb n="138" /><anchor id="Pg138" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+
+<head>Chapter Fourteen - Aunt Mary En Fête</head>
+
+
+<p>Aunt Mary descended the stairs about
+half-past nine; she thought it was about a
+quarter to eight, but the difference between
+the hour that it was and the hour that she thought
+that it was will be all the same a hundred years
+from now.</p>
+
+<p>Jack came out of the Louis XIV. drawing room
+when he heard her step in the hall. There was
+another young man with him.</p>
+
+<p>"This is my friend Burnett, Aunt Mary," her
+nephew roared. "You must excuse his not bowing lower,
+but you know he broke his collarbone
+recently."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary shook hands warmly; she knew all
+about the ribs and the collarbone, because they had
+formed big items in the testimony which had momentarily
+and as momentously relegated Jack to
+the comradeship of the devil himself, in her eyes.
+However, she recalled them merely as facts now&mdash;not
+at all in a disagreeable way&mdash;and gave Burnett
+an extra squeeze of good-fellowship, as she said:</p>
+
+<p>"You had a narrow escape, young man."
+<pb n="139" /><anchor id="Pg139" /></p>
+
+<p>"I didn't have any escape at all," said Burnett.
+"The escape went down at the back, and I had to
+jump from a cornice."</p>
+
+<p>"Burnett is going out to dine with us, Aunt
+Mary," said Jack. "There's so little he can eat
+on account of his ribs that he's a good dinner guest
+for me."</p>
+
+<p>Jack's aunt felt vaguely uncomfortable over this
+allusion to her grand-nephew's circumstances, and
+coughed in slight embarrassment.</p>
+
+<p>Burnett opened the door, and the carriage lamp
+shone below. (Is there ever anything more
+delightfully suggestive than a carriage lamp shining
+down below?) They took her down and
+put her in, and the carriage rolled away.</p>
+
+<p>It was that June when "Bedelia" covered nearly
+the whole of the political horizon; it was the date of
+June when West Point, Vassar, the Blue, the Red,
+the Black and Yellow and every known device for
+getting rid of young and growing-up America are
+all cast loose at once on our fair land. The streets
+were a scene of glorious confusion, and but for
+Aunt Mary no considerations could have kept Burnett's
+collarbone and Jack's melancholia cooped
+up in a closed carriage. As it was, they were both
+fidgeting like two youthful Uncle Sams in a European
+railway coupe, when the latter suddenly exclaimed:
+"Here we are!" and threw open the
+<pb n="140" /><anchor id="Pg140" />door as he spoke. Then he got out and Burnett
+got out and between them they got Aunt Mary out.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary regarded the awning and carpet and
+general glitter with a more or less appalled gaze.</p>
+
+<p>"Looks like&mdash;" she began; and was interrupted
+by a voice at her side:</p>
+
+<p>"Hello, Jack!"</p>
+
+<p>"Hello, Clover!"</p>
+
+<p>She turned and saw him of the pale mustache
+whom we once met in Mrs. Rosscott's drawing
+room. He was in no wise altered since that occasion
+except that his attire was slightly more resplendent
+and he had on a silk hat.</p>
+
+<p>Jack shook hands warmly and then he turned
+to his relative.</p>
+
+<p>"Aunt Mary, this is my friend Clover; he's
+often heard me speak of you."</p>
+
+<p>"Glad to meet you, Mr. Rover," said Aunt
+Mary, cordially, and she, too, shook hands with
+that cordiality that flourishes beyond city limits.</p>
+
+<p>Her nephew bent over her ear-trumpet.</p>
+
+<p>"Clover!" he howled, with all the strength he
+owned.</p>
+
+<p>"I heard before," said Aunt Mary, somewhat
+coldly.</p>
+
+<p>"Come on and dine with us, Clover," said Jack;
+"that'll make four." (By the way, isn't it odd
+how many people ask their friends to dinner for
+<pb n="141" /><anchor id="Pg141" />the simple reason that, arithmetically considered,
+each counts as one!)</p>
+
+<p>"All right, I will," said Clover, in his languid
+drawl.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary saw his lips.</p>
+
+<p>"It's no use my deceivin' you as to my bein' a
+little hard of hearin'," she said to him, "because
+you can see my ear-trumpet; so I'll trouble you to
+say that over again."</p>
+
+<p>"All right, I will," Clover wailed, good-humoredly.</p>
+
+<p>"What?" asked Aunt Mary. "I didn't&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>Jack cut her short by leading the party inside.</p>
+
+<p>The scene within was as gorgeous with golden
+stucco as the dining-room of a German liner. Aunt
+Mary was so overcome that she traversed half the
+room before she became aware of the mighty attention
+which she and her three escorts were attracting.
+In truth, it is not every day that three
+good-looking young men take a tiny old lady, a
+bunch of violets and an ear-trumpet out to dine
+at ten o'clock.</p>
+
+<p>"Everyone's lookin'," she said to Jack.</p>
+
+<p>"It's your back, Aunt Mary," he replied, in a
+voice that shook some loose golden flakes from the
+ceiling. "I tell you, not many women of your age
+have a back like yours, and don't you forget it."</p>
+
+<p>The compliment pleased Aunt Mary, because
+<pb n="142" /><anchor id="Pg142" />she had all her life been considered round-shouldered.
+It also pleased her because she never had
+received many compliments. The Aunt Marys of
+this world love flattery just as dearly as the Mrs.
+Rosscotts; the sad part of life is that they rarely
+get any. The women like Mrs. Rosscott know
+why the Aunt Marys go unflattered, but the Aunt
+Marys never understand. It's all sad&mdash;and
+true&mdash;and undeniable.</p>
+
+<p>They went to a table, and were barely seated
+when another man came up.</p>
+
+<p>"Hello, Jack!"</p>
+
+<p>"Hello, Mitchell!"</p>
+
+<p>It was he of Scotch ancestry. Jack sprang up
+and greeted him with warmth, then he turned to
+Aunt Mary.</p>
+
+<p>"Aunt Mary," he screamed, "this is my
+friend"&mdash;he paused, put on all steam and
+ploughed right through&mdash;"Herbert Kendrick
+Mitchell."</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't catch that at all," said Aunt Mary,
+calmly, "but I'm just as glad to meet the gentleman."</p>
+
+<p>Mitchell clasped her hand with an expression
+as burning as if it was real.</p>
+
+<p>"I declare," he yelled straight at her, "if this
+isn't what I've been dreaming towards ever since
+I first knew Jack."
+<pb n="143" /><anchor id="Pg143" /></p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary fairly shone.</p>
+
+<p>"Dear me," she began, "if I'd known&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"You'd better dine with us, Mitchell," said
+Jack; "that'll make five."</p>
+
+<p>"It won't make but three for me," said Mitchell.
+"I haven't had but two dinners before
+to-night."</p>
+
+<p>Clover smiled because he heard, and Aunt Mary
+smiled because she didn't, but was happy anyway.
+She had altogether forgotten that she had
+demurred at dining out. They all sat down and
+shook out their napkins. Mitchell and Clover
+shook Aunt Mary's for her and gave it a beautiful
+cornerways spread across her lap.</p>
+
+<p>Then the waiter laid another plate for Mitchell,
+and brought oyster cocktails for everyone. Aunt
+Mary eyed hers with early curiosity and later suspicion;
+and she smelled of it very carefully.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't believe they're good oysters," she
+said.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, they are," cried Mitchell reassuringly.
+His voice, when he turned it upon her, was pitched
+like a clarionet. The blind would surely have seen
+as well as the deaf have heard had there been any
+candidates for miracles in his immediate vicinity.
+"They're first-class," he added, "you just go at
+them and see."</p>
+
+<p>The reassured took another whiff.
+<pb n="144" /><anchor id="Pg144" /></p>
+
+<p>"You can have mine," she said directly afterwards;
+and there was an air of decision about her
+speech which brooked no opposition. Yet Mitchell
+persisted.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, no," he yelled; "you must learn how.
+Just throw your head back and take 'em quick&mdash;after
+the fashion that they eat raw eggs, don't
+you know?"</p>
+
+<p>"But she can't," said Clover. "There's too
+much, particularly as she isn't used to them. I'll
+tell you, Miss Watkins," he cried, hoisting his own
+voice to the masthead, "you eat the oysters, and
+leave the cocktail. That's the way to get gradually
+trained into the wheel."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary thought some of obeying; she fished
+out one oyster, wiped it carefully with a bit of
+bread, regarded it with more than dubious countenance,
+and then suddenly decided not to.</p>
+
+<p>"I'd rather be at home when I try experiments,"
+she said, decidedly; and the waiter carried off her
+cocktail and gave her food that was good beyond
+question thereafter.</p>
+
+<p>The dinner went with zest. It was an enlivening
+party that consumed it, and what they consumed
+with it enlivened them still more. The
+gentlemen soon reached the point where they could
+laugh over jokes they could not understand, and
+the one lady member became equally merry over
+<pb n="145" /><anchor id="Pg145" />wit that she did not hear. She forgot for the
+nonce that there were any phases of life in which
+she was not a believer, and whether this was owing
+to the surrounding gayety or to the champagne
+which they persuaded her to taste it is not my
+province to explain.</p>
+
+<p>"Now we must lay our lines for events to come,"
+Jack said, when they advanced upon the dessert
+and prepared to occupy an extensive territory of
+ices, fruit, and jellied something or other. "It
+would be a sin for Aunt Mary to leave this famous
+battlefield without a few honorable scars! We
+must take her out in a bubble for one thing
+and&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"In mine!" cried Clover. "To-morrow!
+Why can't she?&mdash;I held up my hand first?"</p>
+
+<p>"All right," said Jack; "to-morrow she's
+your's. At four o'clock."</p>
+
+<p>"She must have goggles," cried Mitchell.
+"She must have goggles and be all fixed up, and
+when you have got her the goggles and she has
+been all fixed up, I ask, as a last boon, that I may
+go along, just so as to see everyone who sees her."</p>
+
+<p>"We'll all go," Clover explained. "I'll 'chuff'
+her myself and then there'll be room for everyone."</p>
+
+<p>"To the auto and to to-morrow!" cried Burnett,
+hastily pouring out a fresh toast, which even
+<pb n="146" /><anchor id="Pg146" />Aunt Mary applauded, not at all knowing what
+she was applauding.</p>
+
+<p>"And now for the next day," said Jack. "I
+think I'll give her a box-party. Don't you want
+to go to the theater in a box, Aunt Mary?"</p>
+
+<p>"Go where in a box?" said Aunt Mary, starting
+a little. "I didn't quite catch that."</p>
+
+<p>"To the theater," Jack yelled.</p>
+
+<p>"To the theater," repeated his aunt a trifle
+blankly, "I&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"And the next day," said Mitchell suddenly (he
+had been reflecting maturely), "I'll take you all
+up the sound in my yacht."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, hurrah," cried Burnett, "that'll be bully!
+And the day after I'll give her a picnic."</p>
+
+<p>"Time of your life, Aunt Mary," Jack shrieked
+in her ear-trumpet; "time of your life!"</p>
+
+<p>"Dear me!" said Aunt Mary, "I don't
+just&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Aunt Mary! glasses down!" cried Clover;
+"may she live forever and forever."</p>
+
+<p>"To Aunt Mary, glasses up," said Mitchell.
+"Glasses up come before glasses down always.
+It's one of the laws of Nature&mdash;human nature&mdash;also
+of good nature. Here's to Aunt Mary, and if
+she isn't the Aunt Mary of all of us here's a hoping
+she may get there some day; I don't just see how,
+but I ask the indulgence of those present on the
+<pb n="147" /><anchor id="Pg147" />plea that I have indulged quite a little myself to-night.
+Honi soit qui mal y pense; ora pro nobis,
+Erin-go-Bragh. Present company being present,
+and impossible to except on that account, we will
+omit the three cheers and choke down the tiger."</p>
+
+<p>They all drank, and the dinner having by this
+time dwindled down to coffee grounds and cheese
+crumbs a vote was taken as to where they should
+go next.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary suggested home, but she was over-ruled,
+and they all went elsewhere. She never
+could recollect where she went or what she saw;
+but, as everyone else has been and seen over and
+over again, I won't fuss with detailing it.</p>
+
+<p>The visitor from the country reached home in
+a carriage in the small hours in the morning,
+and Janice received her, looking somewhat
+nervous.</p>
+
+<p>"This is pretty late," she ventured to remind the
+bearers; but as they didn't seem to think so, and she
+was a maiden, wise beyond her years, she spoke no
+further word, but went to work and undressed the
+aged reveller, got her comfortably established in
+bed, and then left her to get a good sleep, an occupation
+which occupied the weary one fully until
+two that afternoon.</p>
+
+<p>When she did at last open her eyes it was several
+minutes before she knew where she was. Her
+<pb n="148" /><anchor id="Pg148" />brain seemed dazed, her intellect more than
+clouded. It is a state of mind to which those who
+habitually go about in hansoms at the hour of dawn
+are well accustomed, but to Aunt Mary it was painfully
+new. She struggled to remember, and felt
+helplessly inadequate to the task. Janice finally
+came in with a glass of something that foamed and
+fizzed, and the victim of late hours drank that and
+came to her senses again. Then she recollected.</p>
+
+<p>"My! but I had a good time last night!" she
+said, putting her hand to her head. "What time
+is it now, anyhow?"</p>
+
+<p>"Breakfast time," cried the handmaiden.
+"You'll have just long enough to eat and dress
+leisurely before you go out."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh!" said Aunt Mary blankly; "where 'm
+I goin'? Do you know?"</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Denham told me that you had promised
+to attend an automobile party at four."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes," said Aunt Mary hastily. "I
+guess I remember. I guess I do. I saw Jack
+wanted to go, so I said I'd go, too. I'm a great
+believer in lettin' the young enjoy themselves."</p>
+
+<p>She looked sharply at Janice as she spoke, but
+Janice was serene.</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't come to town to do anything but make
+Jack happy," continued Aunt Mary, "and I see
+that he won't take any fresh air without I go along&mdash;so
+<pb n="149" /><anchor id="Pg149" />I shall go too while I'm here. Mostly. As
+a general thing."</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Mitchell called and left these flowers with
+his card," Janice said, opening a huge box of roses;
+"and a man brought a package. Shall I open it?"</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary's wrinkles fairly radiated.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, did I ever!" she exclaimed. "Yes;
+open it."</p>
+
+<p>Janice proceeded to obey, and the package was
+found to contain an automobile wrap, a pair of
+goggles and a note from Clover.</p>
+
+<p>"My gracious me!" cried Aunt Mary.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Denham sent the violets," Janice said,
+pointing to a great bowl of lilac and white
+blossoms.</p>
+
+<p>Just then the doorbell rang, and it was a ten-pound
+box of candy from Burnett.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary collapsed among her pillows.</p>
+
+<p>"I <hi rend="font-style: italic">never</hi> did!" she murmured feebly, and then
+she suddenly exclaimed: "An' to think of me livin'
+up there all my life with plenty of money&mdash;"
+she stopped short. I tell you when you come to
+New York on a mission and stay for the Bacchanalia
+it is hard to hold consistently to either
+standard.</p>
+
+<p>But Janice had gone for her lady's breakfast, and
+after the lady had eaten it and had herself dressed
+for the day's joys, Jack knocked at the door.
+<pb n="150" /><anchor id="Pg150" /></p>
+
+<p>"Well, Aunt Mary," he roared, when he was
+let in, "if you don't look fine! You're the freshest
+of the bunch to-day, sure. You'll be ready for
+another night to-night, and you've only to say
+where, you know."</p>
+
+<p>"Granite did my hair," said his aunt; "you
+must praise her, not me."</p>
+
+<p>"And you've got your goggles all ready, too,"
+he continued. "Who sent 'em?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I shan't wiggle," said Aunt Mary
+"although I can't see how it could hurt if I did."</p>
+
+<p>"Come on and let's dress her up," said Jack to
+the maid, "Glory! what fun!"</p>
+
+<p>Thereupon they went to work and rigged the old
+lady out. She was certainly a sight, for she stood
+by her own bonnet, and that failed to jibe with the
+goggles.</p>
+
+<p>Burnett was summoned in to view the proceedings,
+but just as he caught the first glimpse he was
+taken with a fearful cramp in his broken ribs and
+was forced to beat the hastiest sort of a retreat.</p>
+
+<p>"I hope he'll get over it and be able to go out
+with us," said Aunt Mary anxiously.</p>
+
+<p>"I guess he'll recover," Jack yelled cheerfully.
+"Oh, there's Clover!"</p>
+
+<p>A sort of dull, ponderous panting sounded in the
+street without, and let all the neighbors know that
+"The Threshing Machine" (as Clover had christened
+<pb n="151" /><anchor id="Pg151" />his elephantine toy) was waiting for someone.</p>
+
+<p>Its owner came in for a stirrup cup; Mitchell
+was with him. Both were togged out as if entered
+for the annual Paris-Bordeaux.</p>
+
+<p>Burnett brought out the cut-glass jugs.</p>
+
+<p>"Ye gods and little fishes! Sapristi! Sacre
+bleu!" he said to his friends. "Just you wait
+till you see our Aunt Mary!"</p>
+
+<p>"Has she got 'em all on?" Clover asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Has she got 'em all on!" said Burnett. "She
+has got 'em all on; and how Jack held his own in
+the room with her I cannot understand. I took
+one look, and if mine had been a surgical case of
+stitches the last thread would have bust that instant.
+I don't believe I dare go out with you. This is a
+life and death game to Jack, and I won't risk
+smashing his future by not being able to keep sober
+in the face of Aunt Mary."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, come on," Clover urged in his wiry voice.
+"You needn't look at her; or, if you do look at her,
+you can look the other way right afterwards, you
+know."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll sit next to her," Mitchell explained. "As
+a sitter by Aunt Mary's side I shone last night; and
+where a man has sat once, the same man can surely
+sit again."</p>
+
+<p>Burnett hesitated, and just then voices were heard
+<pb n="152" /><anchor id="Pg152" />in the hall. Jack and Janice were convoying Aunt
+Mary below.</p>
+
+<p>Mitchell went out into the hall.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Miss Watkins," he said, in a tone such
+as one would use to call down Santos-Dumont,
+"I'm mighty glad to see you looking so well."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary turned the goggles full upon him.</p>
+
+<p>"A present from Mr. Clover," she said smiling.</p>
+
+<p>"I never knew him to take so much trouble for
+any lady before," said Mitchell; and as she arrived
+just then at the foot of the staircase he pressed her
+proffered hand warmly and forthwith led her in
+upon the two men in the library.</p>
+
+<p>She looked exactly like a living edition of one of
+the bug pictures, and Clover had to think and swallow
+fast and hard to keep from being overcome.
+But he was true blue, and came out right side up.
+Aunt Mary was acclaimed on all sides, and escorted
+to the "bubble."</p>
+
+<p>Burnett couldn't resist going, too, at the last
+moment; but, as his ribs were really tender yet, he
+sat in front with Clover. Jack and Mitchell sat
+behind, and deftly inserted the honored guest between
+them.</p>
+
+<p>"It's an even thing as to which is the ear-trumpet
+side," Mitchell said, as they all stood
+about preparatory to climbing in. "Of course,
+that side don't need to holler quite so loud; but
+<pb n="153" /><anchor id="Pg153" />then, to balance, he may get his one and only pair
+of front teeth knocked out any minute."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll take that side," said Jack. "I'm used to
+fighting under the inspiration of the trumpet."</p>
+
+<p>"And God be with you," said his friend piously.
+"May he watch over you and bring you out safe
+and whole&mdash;teeth, eyes, etc."</p>
+
+<p>"Come on," said Clover impatiently; "don't
+you know this thing's getting up power and you're
+wasting it talking."</p>
+
+<p>"Curious," laughed Burnett. "I never knew
+that it was gasolene that men were consuming when
+they kept an automobile waiting."</p>
+
+<p>And then they got in and were off&mdash;a merry
+load, indeed.</p>
+
+<p>"Dear me, but it's a-goin'!" Aunt Mary exclaimed,
+as the thing began to whiz and she felt
+suddenly impelled to clutch wildly at her flanking
+escorts. "Suppose we met a dog."</p>
+
+<p>"We'd leave a floor mat," shrieked Mitchell.
+"Oh, but isn't this great&mdash;greater&mdash;greatest?"</p>
+
+<p>"Time of your life, Aunt Mary!" Jack howled,
+as they went over a boarded spot in the pavement,
+and the old lady nearly went over the back in
+consequence. "You're in for the time of your
+life!"</p>
+
+<p>"How do you like it?" yelled Clover, throwing
+a glance over his shoulder.
+<pb n="154" /><anchor id="Pg154" /></p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary started to answer, but they came to
+four car tracks one after another, and the successive
+shocks rendered her speechless.</p>
+
+<p>"Where are we going?" Burnett asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Nowhere," said Clover. "Just waking up
+the machine." And he turned on another million
+volts as he spoke.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, my bonnet!" cried poor Aunt Mary, and
+that bit of her adornment was in the street and had
+been run over four times before they could slow
+up, turn around, and get back to the scene of its
+output.</p>
+
+<p>It speaks volumes for the permeating atmosphere
+of "having the time of your life" that its
+owner laughed when the wreck was shown to her.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't care a bit," she said. "I can go down
+to Delmonico's an' get me another to-morrow
+mornin', easy."</p>
+
+<p>"What a trump you are, Aunt Mary!" said
+Jack admiringly. "Here, Burnett, fish her out
+that extra cap from the cane rack; there's always
+one in the bottom. There&mdash;now you won't take
+cold, Aunt Mary."</p>
+
+<p>The cap, with its fore-piece, was the crowning
+glory of Aunt Mary's get-up. The brain measurements
+of him who had bought the cap being to its
+present wearer's as five is to three, the effect of its
+proportions, in addition to the goggles and the
+<pb n="155" /><anchor id="Pg155" />ear-trumpet, was such as to have overawed a survivor
+of Medusa's stare.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I say," said Mitchell, "it's a sin to keep as
+good a joke as this in the family! We must drive
+her around town until the night falls down or the
+battery burns out."</p>
+
+<p>"I say so too," said Burnett. "This is more
+sport than oiling railroad tracks and seeing old
+Tweedwell brought up for it. Say, set her a-buzzing
+again. It's a big game, isn't it?"</p>
+
+<p>Clover thought so, with the result that they
+speeded through tranquil neighborhoods and
+churned leisurely where the masses seethed until
+countless thousands were wondering what under
+the sun those four young fellows had in the back
+of their car.</p>
+
+<p>The sad part about all good fun is that it has to
+end sooner or later; and about six o'clock the whole
+party began to be aware that, if refreshments were
+not taken, their end was surely close at hand.
+They therefore called a brief halt somewhere to
+get what is technically known as a "sandwich,"
+and the results were thoroughly satisfactory to
+everyone but Aunt Mary. She took one bite of
+her sandwich, and then opened it with an abruptness
+which merged into disgust when it proved to
+be full of fish eggs.</p>
+
+<p>"Why didn't you tell me what it was made of?"
+<pb n="156" /><anchor id="Pg156" />she asked in annoyance. "I feel just as if I'd
+swallowed a marsh&mdash;a green one!"</p>
+
+<p>"That's a shame!" said Clover indignantly.
+"I'll get you something that will take that taste
+out of your mouth double quick. Here!" he
+called to a waiter, and then he gave the man certain
+careful directions.</p>
+
+<p>The latter nodded wisely, and a few minutes
+later brought in a tiny glass containing a pousse-café
+in three different colors.</p>
+
+<p>"It's a cocktail. Drink it quick," Clover
+directed.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary demurred.</p>
+
+<p>"I never drank a cocktail," she began.</p>
+
+<p>"No time like the present to begin," said Clover,
+"you'll have to learn some day."</p>
+
+<p>"Cocktails," said Mitchell, "are the advance
+guard of a newer and brighter civilization.
+They&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"If she's going to take it at all she must take it
+now," said Clover authoritatively. "The green
+and the yellow are beginning to run together.
+Quick now!"</p>
+
+<p>His confiding guest drank quick and became the
+three different colors quicker yet.</p>
+
+<p>"What's the matter?" Jack asked anxiously.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary was speechless.</p>
+
+<p>"He mixed it wrong," said Clover in a sad,
+<pb n="157" /><anchor id="Pg157" />discouraged tone. "What she ought to have got
+first she got last, that's all. The cocktail is upside
+down inside of her, and the effect of it is upside
+down on the outside of her."</p>
+
+<p>"Feel any better now, Aunt Mary?" Jack
+yelled.</p>
+
+<p>"I can't seem to keep the purple swallowed,"
+said the poor old lady. "I want to go home.
+I've always been a great believer in going home
+when you feel like I do now. In general&mdash;as a
+rule."</p>
+
+<p>"I would strongly recommend your obeying her
+wishes," said Mitchell, with great earnestness.
+"There's a time for all things, and, in my opinion,
+she's had about all the queer tastes that she can
+absorb for to-day. Things being as they are and
+mainly as they shouldn't be, I cast my vote in with
+what looks as if it would soon become the losing
+side, and vote to bubble back for all we're
+worth."</p>
+
+<p>There was a general acquiescence in his view of
+the case, which led them all to pile into "The
+Threshing Machine" with unaffected haste and
+rush Aunt Mary bedward as rapidly as was possible
+considering the hour and the policemen.</p>
+
+<p>Janice received her mistress with the tender welcome
+that every prodigal may count on and was
+especially expeditious with tea and toast and a
+<pb n="158" /><anchor id="Pg158" />robe de nuit. Aunt Mary sighed luxuriously when
+she felt herself finally tucked up.</p>
+
+<p>"After all, Granite," she said dreamily, "there's
+nothin' like gettin' stretched out to think it over&mdash;is
+there?"</p>
+
+<p>But Janice was turning out the lights.</p>
+</div>
+<pb n="159" /><anchor id="Pg159" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+
+<head>Chapter Fifteen - Aunt Mary Enthralled</head>
+
+
+<p>Jack's aunt slept long and dreamlessly again.
+That thrice-blessed sleep which follows
+nights abroad in the metropolis.</p>
+
+<p>When, toward four o'clock, Aunt Mary opened
+her eyes, she was at first almost as hazy in her
+conceptions as she had found herself upon the previous
+day.</p>
+
+<p>"I feel as if the automobile was runnin' up my
+back and over my head," she said, thoughtfully
+passing her hand along the machine's imaginary
+course. Then she rang her bell and Janice appeared
+from the room beyond.</p>
+
+<p>"I guess you'd better give me some of that
+that you gave me yesterday," the elderly lady suggested;
+"what do you think?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, indeed," said Janice&mdash;and went at once
+and brought it in separate glasses on a tray, and
+mixed it by pouring, while Aunt Mary looked on
+with an intuitive understanding that passed instinct
+and bordered on a complete comprehension of
+things to her hitherto unknown.
+<pb n="160" /><anchor id="Pg160" /></p>
+
+<p>"They'd ought to advertise that," she said, as
+she set down the empty glass a few seconds later.
+"There'd be a lot of folks who'd be glad to know
+there was such a thing when they first wake up
+mornin's after&mdash;after&mdash;well, mornin's after anythin'.
+It's jus' what you want right off; it sort of
+runs through your hair and makes you begin to
+remember."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, ma'am," said Janice, turning to put down
+the tray, and then crossing the room to seek something
+on the chimney-piece.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary gave a sudden twist,&mdash;as if the drink
+had infused an effervescing energy into her frame.
+"Well what am I goin' to do to-day?" she asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Denham has written out your engagements
+here," said Janice, handing her a jeweler's
+box as she spoke.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary tore off the tissue paper with trembling
+haste&mdash;lifted the cover&mdash;and beheld a tiny
+ivory and gold memoranda card.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, that boy!" she ejaculated.</p>
+
+<p>"Shall I read the list aloud to you?" the maid
+inquired.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, read it."</p>
+
+<p>So Janice read the dates proposed the night before
+and Aunt Mary sat up in bed, held her ear-trumpet,
+and beamed beatifically.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't believe I ever can do all that," she said
+<pb n="161" /><anchor id="Pg161" />when Janice paused; "I never was one to rush
+around pell-mell, but I've always been a great
+believer in lettin' other folks enjoy themselves an'
+I shall try not to interfere."</p>
+
+<p>Janice hung the tiny memoranda up beside its
+owner's watch and stood at attention for further
+orders.</p>
+
+<p>"But I d'n know I'm sure what I can wear to-night,"
+continued the one in bed; "you know my
+bonnet was run over yesterday."</p>
+
+<p>"Was it?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes,&mdash;it was the most sudden thing I ever saw.
+I thought it was the top of my head at first."</p>
+
+<p>"Was it spoiled?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, it wouldn't do for me again and I don't
+really believe it would even do for Lucinda. We
+didn't bring it home with us anyhow an' so its no
+use talkin' of it any more. I'm sure I wish I'd
+brought my other with me. It wasn't quite as
+stylish, but it set so good on my head. As it is I
+ain't got any bonnet to wear an' we're goin' in a
+box, Jack says,&mdash;I should hate to look wrong in a
+box."</p>
+
+<p>"But ladies in boxes do not wear anything,"
+cried Janice reasuringly.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary jumped.</p>
+
+<p>"Not <hi rend="font-style: italic">anything?</hi>"</p>
+
+<p>"On their heads."
+<pb n="162" /><anchor id="Pg162" /></p>
+
+<p>"Oh!&mdash;Well, then the bonnet half of me'll
+be all right, but what <hi rend="font-style: italic">shall</hi> I wear on the rest of
+me? I don't want to look out of fashion, you
+know. My, but I wish I'd brought my Paisley
+shawl. I've got a Paisley shawl that's a very rare
+pattern. There's cocoanuts in the border and a
+twisted design of monkeys and their tails done in
+the center. An' there ain't a moth hole in it&mdash;not
+one."</p>
+
+<p>Janice looked out of the window.</p>
+
+<p>"I've got a cameo pin, too," continued Aunt
+Mary reflectively. "My, but that's a handsome
+pin, as I remember it. It's got Jupiter on it holdin'
+a bunch of thunder and lightnin' an' receivin' the
+news of somebody's bein' born&mdash;I used to know the
+whole story. But, you see, I expected to just be
+sittin' by Jack's bed and I never thought to bring
+any of those dress-up kind of things," she sighed.</p>
+
+<p>Janice returned to the bed side.</p>
+
+<p>"Hadn't you better begin to dress?" she howled
+suggestively. "They are going to dine here before
+going to the theater and dinner is ordered in an
+hour."</p>
+
+<p>"Maybe I had," said Aunt Mary, "but&mdash;oh
+dear&mdash;I don't know what I <hi rend="font-style: italic">will</hi> wear!" She
+began to emerge from the bedclothes as she spoke.</p>
+
+<p>"How would my green plaid waist do?" she
+asked earnestly.
+<pb n="163" /><anchor id="Pg163" /></p>
+
+<p>"I think it would be lovely," shrieked the maid.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, shake it out then," said Aunt Mary, "it
+ought to be in the fashion&mdash;all the silk they put in
+the sleeves. An' if you'll do my hair just as you
+did it yesterday&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I will."</p>
+
+<p>Then the labor of the toilette began in good
+earnest, and three-quarters of an hour later Aunt
+Mary was done, and sitting by the window while
+Janice laced her boots.</p>
+
+<p>A rap sounded at the door.</p>
+
+<p>"Come in," cried the maid.</p>
+
+<p>It was Jack with a regular fagot of American
+Beauties.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Aunt Mary," he cried with his customary
+hearty greeting. "How!"</p>
+
+<p>"How what?" asked Aunt Mary, whose knowledge
+ of Sioux social customs had been limited by
+the border line of New England.</p>
+
+<p>Jack laughed. "How are you?" he asked in
+correction of his imperfect phrasing. And then he
+handed over the rose wood.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm pretty well," said his aunt; "but, my goodness
+ you mustn't bring me so many presents&mdash;you&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>Jack stopped her words with a kiss. "Now,
+Aunt Mary, don't you scold, because you're my
+company and I won't have it. This is my treat,
+<pb n="164" /><anchor id="Pg164" />and just don't you fret. What do you say to your
+roses?"</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary looked a bit uneasy.</p>
+
+<p>"They're pretty big," she hesitated.</p>
+
+<p>"That's the fashion," said Jack; "the longer
+you can buy 'em the better the girls like it. I tried
+to get you some eight feet long but they only had
+two of that number and I wanted the whole bunch
+to match&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>He was interrupted by another rap on the door.</p>
+
+<p>"Hallo!" he cried. "Come in."</p>
+
+<p>It was Mitchell with several dozen carnations,
+the most brilliant yet prized&mdash;or priced.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I declare!" exclaimed Aunt Mary.</p>
+
+<p>"For you, Miss Watkins," cried the newcomer,
+gracefully offering his homage, "with the assurance
+of my sincere regret that I came on the scene
+too late to have been making a scene with you fifty
+years ago."</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't quite catch that," said Aunt Mary,
+rapturously. But never mind,&mdash;Granite, get a tin
+basin or suthin' for these flowers."</p>
+
+<p>"Where's Burnett?" Jack asked the newcomer,&mdash;"isn't
+he dressed? It's getting late."</p>
+
+<p>"He's all right," said Mitchell; "he and Clover
+are&mdash;here they are!"</p>
+
+<p>The two came in together at that second.
+Clover's mustache just showed over the top of the
+<pb n="165" /><anchor id="Pg165" />largest bunch of violets ever constructed, and Burnett
+bore with assiduous care a bouquet of orchids
+tied with a Roman sash.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary leaned back and shut her eyes. If
+it hadn't been for her smile, they might possibly
+have feared for her life.</p>
+
+<p>But she was only momentarily stunned by surpassing
+ecstasy.</p>
+
+<p>"You'd better put some water in the bath-tub,
+Granite," she said, recovering, "nothing else will
+be big enough."</p>
+
+<p>The four young men drew up chairs and rivalled
+her smiles with theirs.</p>
+
+<p>"I d'n know how I ever can thank you," said
+the old lady warmly. "I've always had such a
+poor opinion o' life in cities, too!"</p>
+
+<p>"Life in cities, my dear Miss Watkins,"
+screamed Mitchell, "is always pictured as very
+black, but it's only owing to the soft coal&mdash;not to
+the people who burn it."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary smiled again.</p>
+
+<p>"I guess the bath-tub will be big enough to keep
+'em fresh," she said simply, and Mitchell gave
+up and dried his forehead with his handkerchief.</p>
+
+<p>They dined at home upon this occasion and afterwards
+took two carriages for the theater. Aunt
+Mary, Jack, Clover, the American Beauties and
+<pb n="166" /><anchor id="Pg166" />the violets went in the first, and what remained of
+the party and the floral decorations followed in
+the second.</p>
+
+<p>"I mean to smoke," said that part of the second
+load which habitually answered to the name of
+Mitchell. "There is nothing so soothing when you
+have thorns in your legs as a cigarette in your
+mouth."</p>
+
+<p>"Too&mdash;too;" laughed his companion. "Jimmy!
+but our aunt is game, isn't she?"</p>
+
+<p>"To my order of thinking," said Mitchell
+thoughtfully scratching a match, "Aunt Mary
+has been hung up in cold storage just long enough
+to have acquired the exactly proper gamey flavor.
+It cannot be denied that to worn, worldly, jaded
+mortals like you and me, the sight of fresh, ever
+bubbling, youthful enthusiasm like hers is as thrilling
+and trilling and rilling as&mdash;as&mdash;as&mdash;" he
+paused to light his cigarette.</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: center"><anchor id="image04" />
+<figure rend="w95" url="images/image04.png">
+<head rend="text-align: center">Aunt Mary and Her Escorts.</head>
+<figDesc>Illustration 4</figDesc></figure></p><p></p>
+
+<p>"Yes, you'd better stutter," said Burnett. "I
+thought you were running ahead of your proper
+signals."</p>
+
+<p>"It isn't that," said Mitchell, puffing gently.
+"It is that I suddenly recollected that I was alone
+with you, and my brains tell me that it is a waste
+of brains to use them in the sense of a plural noun
+with you. The word in your company,&mdash;my dear
+boy&mdash;only comes to me as a verb&mdash;as an active
+<pb n="167" /><anchor id="Pg167" />verb&mdash;and dear knows how often I have itched to
+apply it forcibly."</p>
+
+<p>Then they drew up in front of the theater and
+saw Aunt Mary being unloaded just beyond.</p>
+
+<p>"Great Scott, I feel as if I was a part of a
+poster!" said Burnett, diving into the carriage
+depths for the last lot of flowers.</p>
+
+<p>"I feel as if I were a part of the Revelation,"
+said Mitchell, "I mean&mdash;the Revel-eration."</p>
+
+<p>They rapidly formed on somewhat after the
+plan of the famous "Marriage under the Directoire."
+Aunt Mary commanded the center-rush,
+leaning on Jack's arm, and the rest acted as
+half-backs, left wings, or flower-bearers, just as the
+reader prefers.</p>
+
+<p>They made quite a sensation as they proceeded
+to their box and more yet when they entered it.
+They were late&mdash;very late&mdash;as is the privilege of
+all box parties and their seating problem absorbed
+the audience to a degree never seen before or since.</p>
+
+<p>Jack put Aunt Mary and her green plaid waist
+in the middle and flanked her with purple violets
+and red carnations. The ear-trumpet was laid upon
+the orchids just where she could reach it easily.
+Then her escorts took positions as a sort of half-moon
+guard behind and each held two or three
+American Beauties straight up and down as if they
+were the insignia of his rank and office.
+<pb n="168" /><anchor id="Pg168" /></p>
+
+<p>The effect was gorgeous. The very actors saw
+and were interested at once. They directed all
+their attention to that one box, and at the end of
+the act the stage manager got the writer of the
+topical song on the wire and had a brand new and
+very apropos verse added which brought down the
+house.</p>
+
+<p>Jack and his party caught on and clapped like
+mad, Aunt Mary beat the front of the box with her
+ear-trumpet, and when Clover suggested that she
+throw some flowers to the heroine she threw the
+orchids and came near maiming the bass viol for
+life. Burnett rushed out between acts and bought
+her a cane to pound with, Jack rushed out between
+more acts and bought her a pair of opera glasses,
+Mitchell rushed out between still further acts and
+procured her one of those Japanese fans which they
+use for fire-screens, and agitated it around her during
+the rest of the evening.</p>
+
+<p>"Time of your life, Aunt Mary," Jack vociferated
+under the cover of a general chorus; "Time
+of your life!"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, my," said Aunt Mary, heaving a great
+sigh, "seems if I'd <hi rend="font-style: italic">die</hi> when I think of Lucinda."</p>
+
+<p>They got out of the theater somewhat after
+eleven and Clover took them all to a French café
+for supper, so that again it was pretty well along
+into the day after when Janice regained her charge.
+<pb n="169" /><anchor id="Pg169" /></p>
+
+<p>"Granite," said Aunt Mary very solemnly,
+as she collapsed upon her bed twenty minutes later
+yet, "put it down on that memoranda for me never
+to find no fault with nothing ever again. Never&mdash;not
+ever&mdash;not never again."</p>
+
+<milestone unit="tb" rend="stars: 5" />
+
+<p>The second day after was that which had been
+set for Mitchell's yachting party. They allowed
+a day to lapse between because a yachting party has
+to begin early enough so that you can see to get on
+board. Mitchell wanted his to begin early enough
+so that they could see the yacht too.</p>
+
+<p>"A yacht, Miss Watkins," he said into the ear trumpet,
+"is a delight that it takes daylight to
+delight in. If my words sound somewhat mixed,
+believe me, it is the effect of what is to come
+casting its shadow before. I speak with understanding
+and sympathy&mdash;you will know all later."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary smiled sweetly. Sometimes she
+thought that Mitchell was the nicest of the three&mdash;times
+when she wasn't talking to Clover or Burnett.</p>
+
+<p>Jack took his aunt out to drive on the afternoon
+of the intervening day and bought her a blue suit
+with a red tape around one arm, and some rubbersoled
+shoes, and a yachting cap and a mackintosh.
+There was something touching in Aunt Mary's
+joyful confidence and anticipation&mdash;she having
+never been cast loose from shore in all her life.
+<pb n="170" /><anchor id="Pg170" /></p>
+
+<p>"When do you s'pose we'll get home?" she
+asked Jack.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, some time toward night," he replied.</p>
+
+<p>She smiled with a trust as colossal as Trusts
+usually are.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm sure I shall have a good time," she said.
+"I always liked to see pictures of waves."</p>
+
+<p>"You'll see the real things now, Aunt Mary,"
+cried her nephew heartily. He was not a bit malicious,
+possessing a stomach whose equilibrium could
+not conceive any other anatomical condition.</p>
+
+<p>Janice, however, had doubts, and on the morning
+of the next day her doubts deepened. She
+looked from the window and shook her head.</p>
+
+<p>"Feel a fly?" inquired Aunt Mary.</p>
+
+<p>"No, I see some clouds," yelled her maid.</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't ask you to speak loud," said the old
+lady. "I always hear what you say. Always."</p>
+
+<p>Janice went out of the room and voiced her views
+of the weather to the proprietors of the expedition.
+The proprietors were having an uproarious breakfast
+on ham and eggs&mdash;all but Mitchell, who sat
+somewhat aloof and contented himself with an old
+and reliable breakfast food long known to his
+race.</p>
+
+<p>"Are you really going to take her up the Sound
+to-day?" the maid demanded of the merry mob.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm not," said Burnett; "it's the yacht that's
+<pb n="171" /><anchor id="Pg171" />going to take her. Pass the syrup, Jack, like the
+jack you are."</p>
+
+<p>"Doesn't she feel well?" Jack asked, passing
+the syrup as requested. "If she doesn't feel well,
+of course, we won't go."</p>
+
+<p>"I like that," said Mitchell, "when it's my
+day for my party and my cook all provisioned with
+provisions for provisioning us all. How long do
+you suppose ice cream stays together in this month
+of roses, anyhow?"</p>
+
+<p>"She is very well," said the maid quietly, "but
+it's blowing pretty fresh here in the city and I
+thought that out on the Sound&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Blowing fresh, is it?" laughed Burnett; "well,
+it'll salt her fast enough when we get out. Don't
+you fuss over what's none of your business, my
+dear girl; just trot along upstairs and dress dolly,
+and when she's dressed we'll take her off your
+hands."</p>
+
+<p>Jack appeared unduly quiet.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you think it is going to storm?" he asked
+Mitchell. Mitchell was scraping his saucer with
+the thrift that thrives north of the Firth of Forth
+and hatches yachts on the west shores of the
+Atlantic.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't think at all during vacation," he said
+mildly. "I repose and reap 'Oh's'&mdash;from other
+people."
+<pb n="172" /><anchor id="Pg172" /></p>
+
+<p>"If there was any chance of a storm&mdash;&mdash;?"
+said the nephew, thoughtfully.</p>
+
+<p>"Fiddle-dee-dee," said Burnett impatiently,
+"what do you think yachts are for, anyhow? To
+let alone?" He looked at the maid as he spoke
+and pointed significantly to the door. She went out
+at once and returned upstairs to her mistress whom
+she found quite restless to "get-a-goin'" as she
+expressed it.</p>
+
+<p>The boxes filled with yesterday's purchases were
+brought out at once and Janice proceeded to rubber-sole
+and blue-serge Aunt Mary. The latter regarded
+every step of the performance in the huge
+three-fold cheval glass which had been wont to tell
+Mrs. Rosscott things that every woman longs to
+know.</p>
+
+<p>When her toilette was complete it must be admitted
+that as a yachtswoman Aunt Mary fairly
+outshone her automobile portrait. She surveyed
+herself long and carefully.</p>
+
+<p>"I expect it'll be quite an experience," she said
+with many new wrinkles of anticipation.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," said Janice, with a glance at the fluttering
+window curtains, "I expect it will be."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary went downstairs and was greeted
+with loud acclamations. The breakfast party
+broke up at once and, while Janice phoned for cabs,
+Aunt Mary's quartette of escorts sought hats, coats,
+<pb n="173" /><anchor id="Pg173" />etcetera. After that they all sallied forth and
+took their places as joyfully as ever.</p>
+
+<p>It was quite a long drive to where "Lady
+Belle" had been brought up, and they had to stop
+once to lay in two or three pounds of current
+literature.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you read mostly?" asked Aunt Mary.</p>
+
+<p>"It's best to be on the safe side," said Clover
+vaguely.</p>
+
+<p>Then they entered the tangle of docks and
+express wagons and obstacles in general and Mitchell
+had great difficulty in finding where his launch
+had been taken to meet them.</p>
+
+<p>But at last they got Aunt Mary down a flight of
+very slippery steps and into a boat whose everything
+was labeled "Lady Belle," and Mitchell
+said something and they cast loose and
+were off.</p>
+
+<p>"Seems rather a small yacht," said Aunt Mary,
+glancing cheerfully about. "I ain't surprised that
+you'd rather come in nights."</p>
+
+<p>"Bless your heart, Aunt Mary," shrieked Jack,
+"this isn't the yacht, this is the way we get to
+her."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh," said Aunt Mary blankly.</p>
+
+<p>"That's the yacht," yelled Burnett, "that white
+one with the black smoke coming out and the
+sail up."
+<pb n="174" /><anchor id="Pg174" /></p>
+
+<p>"What are they getting up steam for?" asked
+Clover. "The time to get up steam is when you
+get down sails generally."</p>
+
+<p>"They aren't getting up steam," said Mitchell,
+"they're getting up dinner. It looks like a lot of
+smoke because of the shadow on the sail. And,
+speaking of getting up dinner, reminds me that the
+topic before us now is, how in thunder are we to get
+up Aunt Mary?"</p>
+
+<p>"Put a rope around her and board her as if she
+was a cavalry horse," suggested Burnett.</p>
+
+<p>"I scorn the suggestion," said their host; "if
+the worst comes to the worst I can give her a back
+up, but I trust that Aunt Mary will rise to the
+heights of the sail and the situation all at once and
+not make me do any vertebratical stunts so early in
+the day."</p>
+
+<p>They were running alongside of "Lady Belle"
+as he spoke, and the first thing Aunt Mary knew
+she and her party were attached to the former by
+some mysterious and not altogether solid connection.</p>
+
+<p>"What do we do now?" she asked uneasily.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll show you," laughed Burnett, and seizing
+two flapping ropes he went skipping up a sort of
+stepladder and sprang upon the deck above.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary started to emulate his prowess and
+stood up at once. But the next second she sat
+<pb n="175" /><anchor id="Pg175" />down extremely hard without knowing why she
+had done so.</p>
+
+<p>"Hold on, Miss Watkins," Mitchell cried hastily;
+"just you hold on until I give you something
+to hold on to, and when you've got something to
+hold on to, please keep holding on to it, until I tell
+you that the hour has come in which to let go
+again."</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't quite catch that," said Aunt Mary,
+"but I'm ready to do anythin' you say if you
+only&mdash;" and again she sprang up and again was
+thrown down as hard as before.</p>
+
+<p>"Look out," cried Jack, springing to her side;
+and he got hold of his valuable relative and held
+her fast while Mitchell grasped the ladder and a
+sailor strove to keep the launch still.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, Aunt Mary," cried the nephew, "hang
+on to me and hang on to those ropes and remember
+I'm right back of you&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"My Lord alive," cried Aunt Mary, turning her
+gaze upwards, "am I expected to go alone all that
+way to the top?"</p>
+
+<p>"It'll pay you to keep on to the top," screamed
+Clover; "you'll have, comparatively speaking, very
+little fun if you hang on to the ladder all day&mdash;and
+you'll get so wet too."</p>
+
+<p>"There's more room at the top," cried Mitchell,
+"there's always room at the top, Miss Watkins.
+<pb n="176" /><anchor id="Pg176" />Put yourself in the place of any young man entering
+a profession and struggle bravely upwards,
+bearing ever in&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I never can," said Aunt Mary, recoiling
+abruptly; "I never could climb trees when I was
+little&mdash;I never had no grip in my legs&mdash;and I just
+know I can't. It's too high. An' it looks slippery.
+An' I don't want to, anyhow."</p>
+
+<p>"What rot!" yelled Jack, "the very idea!
+Why, Aunt Mary, you know you can skin up there
+just like a cat if you only make up your mind to it.
+Here, Mitchell, give her a boost and I'll plant
+her feet firmly. Now&mdash;have you got hold of
+the ropes, Aunt Mary?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, mercy&mdash;on&mdash;me!" wailed Aunt Mary,
+"the yacht is turnin' a-round an' the harder I pull
+the faster it turns."</p>
+
+<p>"Catch her from above, Burr," Clover called
+excitedly; "hook her with anything if you can't
+reach her with your hand."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, my cap!" shrieked poor Aunt Mary, and
+the cap went off and she went on up and was landed
+safe above.</p>
+
+<p>"How on the chart do you suppose we'll ever
+unload her?" Jack asked, wide-eyed, as he swung
+himself quickly after her.</p>
+
+<p>"What man hath done man can do," quoted
+Mitchell sententiously, following his lead.
+<pb n="177" /><anchor id="Pg177" /></p>
+
+<p>"But no man ever unloaded Aunt Mary,"
+Clover reminded him, as they brought up the rear.</p>
+
+<p>Then they were all on deck, a chair was brought
+for the honored guest, and Mitchell introduced his
+sailing-master who had been drawn to gaze upon
+the rather novel manner in which she had been
+brought aboard.</p>
+
+<p>"I want Miss Watkins to have the sail of her
+life, Renfew," said Mitchell. "We aren't coming
+back until night."</p>
+
+<p>"We'll have sail enough sure, sir," said Renfew,
+touching his cap, and then he walked away and the
+work of starting off began. A tug had been
+engaged to tow them out into the breeze and Jack
+thought it would be nice to show Aunt Mary
+around while they were being meandered through
+coal barges, etc. They went below and Aunt Mary
+saw everything with a most flattering interest.</p>
+
+<p>"I d'n know but what I'd enjoy a little yacht
+of my own," she said to Mitchell. "I think it's
+so amusin' the way everythin' turns over into
+suthin' else. I suppose Joshua could learn to sail
+me&mdash;I wouldn't want to trust no new man, I
+know."</p>
+
+<p>"Why, of course," said Jack, "and we could
+all come and visit you, Aunt Mary."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary smiled hospitably.</p>
+
+<p>"I'd be glad to see you all any day," she said
+<pb n="178" /><anchor id="Pg178" />cordially; "and I shall have a hole in the bottom
+of the boat for people to go in and out of, and a
+nice staircase down to it, so you needn't mind the
+notion of how you'll get on and off."</p>
+
+<p>They all laughed and continued the tour below
+and Aunt Mary grew more and more enthusiastic
+for quite a while. She liked the kitchen and she
+liked the dining-room. She thought the arrangement
+for keeping the table level most ingenious.
+Mitchell took her into the main cabin and told her
+that that was hers for the day. On the dresser
+was a photograph of the "Lady Belle" framed in
+silver, which the young host presented to his guest
+as a souvenir of the "voyage."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary's pleasure was at its height. Oh,
+the pity of Fate which makes the apex of everything
+so very limited as to standing room!
+Three minutes after the presentation and acceptation
+of the photograph Aunt Mary's glance
+became suddenly vague, and then especially
+piercing.</p>
+
+<p>"What makes this up and down feeling?" she
+asked Mitchell.</p>
+
+<p>"What up and down feeling?" he asked, secure
+in the good conscience and pure living of an oatmeal
+breakfast. "I don't feel up and down."</p>
+
+<p>"I do," said Aunt Mary abruptly; "I want to
+be somewhere else."
+<pb n="179" /><anchor id="Pg179" /></p>
+
+<p>"You want to be on deck," said Burnett, suddenly
+emerging from somewhere; "I know the
+symptoms. I always have 'em. Come on. And
+when we get up there, I'll collar Jack for urging
+those six last griddle cakes on me this morning."</p>
+
+<p>"I ain't sure I want to be on deck," said Aunt
+Mary; "dear me&mdash;I feel as if I wasn't sure of
+anythin'."</p>
+
+<p>"What did I tell you?" said Burnett to
+Mitchell; "it's blowing fresh and neither she nor
+I ought to have come. You know me when it
+blows."</p>
+
+<p>"Shut up," said Mitchell, hurrying Aunt Mary
+up the companion-way and shoving her into one
+chair and her feet into another; "there, Miss
+Watkins, you're all right now, aren't you?"</p>
+
+<p>"What's the matter?" said Jack, coming from
+somewhere aloft or astern. "Heaven bless me,
+what ails you, Aunt Mary?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't wonder I'm pale," said Aunt Mary
+faintly, "oh&mdash;oh&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"We must put our heads together," said Burnett,
+taking a drink from a flask that he took out
+of his pocket; "I must soon put my head on something,
+and your aunt looks to me to feel the same
+way. Mitchell, why did you let me forget that
+vow I made last time to never come again?"</p>
+
+<p>"Your vows to never do things again are about
+<pb n="180" /><anchor id="Pg180" />as stable as your present hold on an upright position,"
+said Clover, laying a steadying hand upon
+his friend's waveringness. "Sit down, little boy,
+sit down."</p>
+
+<p>Burnett sat down, Mitchell smiled, Jack
+laughed, and Aunt Mary groaned.</p>
+
+<p>The boat was rising and falling rapidly now,
+and as she ran further and further out into the
+ever freshening wind she kept on rising and falling
+yet more rapidly. The more motion there was
+the more Aunt Mary seemed to sift down in her
+two chairs.</p>
+
+<p>"We'd better put back," said Jack; "this won't
+do, you know. How do you feel now, Aunt
+Mary?" he added, leaning over her.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary opened her eyes and looked at him
+but made no reply.</p>
+
+<p>"Ask me how I feel, if you dare," said Burnett,
+from where his chair was drawn up not far away.
+"I couldn't kill you just now, but I will some day
+I promise you."</p>
+
+<p>He was very white and had a look about his
+mouth that showed that he meant what he said.</p>
+
+<p>Some bells rang somewhere.</p>
+
+<p>"That's dinner," exclaimed Clover.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary gave a piercing cry.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, take me somewhere else," she said, throwing
+her hands up to her face; "somewhere where
+<pb n="181" /><anchor id="Pg181" />there'll never be nothin' to eat again. I&mdash;I can't
+bear to hear about eatin'."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm going to take her down into one of the
+cabins," said Jack hastily, "she belongs in bed."</p>
+
+<p>"No, turn back the carpet and lay me in the
+bath-tub," almost sobbed the poor victim. "I
+don't feel like I could get flat enough anywhere
+else."</p>
+
+<p>"She has the proper spirit," said Burnett
+faintly, "only I don't feel as if I could get flat
+enough anywhere at all. What in the name of
+the Great Pyramid ever possessed me to come?"</p>
+
+<p>Mitchell rose quickly to his feet.</p>
+
+<p>"You put your aunt to bed, Jack," he said,
+"and I'll put my yacht to backing. This expedition
+is expeditiously heading on to what might be
+termed a failure. I can see that, even if we're only
+in a Sound."</p>
+
+<p>"When do you suppose we'll get back?" the
+nephew asked anxiously.</p>
+
+<p>"About four o'clock, if we don't lose time by
+having to tack."</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't quite catch all that," said Aunt Mary,
+"but I knew suthin' was loose all along. I felt it
+inside of me right off at first. And ever since,
+too."</p>
+
+<p>Jack gathered her up in his arms and bore her
+tenderly away to the beautiful main cabin.
+<pb n="182" /><anchor id="Pg182" /></p>
+
+<p>"I wanted to live to change my will," she said
+sadly, as he laid her down, "but somehow I don't
+seem to care for nothin' no more."</p>
+
+<p>He kissed her hand.</p>
+
+<p>"They say being seasick is awfully <hi rend="font-style: italic">good</hi> for
+people, Aunt Mary," he yelled contritely.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary opened her eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"John Watkins, Jr., Denham," she said, "if
+you say 'food' to me again <hi rend="font-style: italic">ever</hi>, I'll never leave
+you a penny&mdash;so there!"</p>
+
+<p>Jack went away and left her.</p>
+
+<p>"Come on to dinner, Burnett," Clover called
+hilariously, "there's liver with little bits of bacon&mdash;your
+favorite dish."</p>
+
+<p>Burnett snarled the weakest kind of a snarl.</p>
+
+<p>"I thought I'd suffered enough for one year
+last month," he murmured in a voice too low to be
+heard, and then he knew himself to be alone on
+deck.</p>
+
+<p>Down in the little dining-saloon the dishes were
+hopping merrily back and forth and an agreeable
+odor of agreeable viands filled the air. Clover
+and Jack sat down opposite their host and they all
+three ate and drank with a zest that knew no breaking
+waves nor sad effects.</p>
+
+<p>"Here's to our aunt," said Clover gayly, as the
+first course went around; "of course, we all love
+her for Jack's sake, but at the same time I offer
+<pb n="183" /><anchor id="Pg183" />two to odds that it is a pleasure to converse in
+under tones occasionally. Who takes?"</p>
+
+<p>"Aunt Mary being laid upon her bed," said
+Mitchell, "we will next proceed to lay the motion
+of our honorable friend upon the table. We
+regret Aunt Mary's ill-health while we drink to
+her good&mdash;quotation marks under the latter word.
+Aunt Mary!&mdash;and may she arise and prosper all
+the way down into the launch again."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm troubled about her, really," said Jack
+soberly; "we ought to have brought someone to
+look out for her."</p>
+
+<p>"The maid," cried Mitchell, "the dainty, adorable
+maid! Here's to Janice and&mdash;" his speech
+was brought to a sudden end by his two guests
+nearly disappearing under the table.</p>
+
+<p>Jack started up.</p>
+
+<p>"Ginger! Did you feel that?" he asked.</p>
+
+<p>"That's nothing," said Mitchell, calmly
+replacing the water-carafe which in the excitement
+of the moment he had clasped to his bosom; "it's
+the waves which are rising to the occasion&mdash;that's
+all." But Jack had hurried out.</p>
+
+<p>He found poor Aunt Mary writhing in an
+agony of misery. "Oh&mdash;oh&mdash;" she cried, "I want
+to be still&mdash;I'm too much tipped&mdash;and all the
+wrong way! I want to lay smooth&mdash;and I stand
+on my head&mdash;all the&mdash;"
+<pb n="184" /><anchor id="Pg184" /></p>
+
+<p>"We're going back," said Jack, striving to
+soothe her; "lie still, Aunt Mary, and we'll soon
+get there. Do you want some camphor to smell?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't feel up to smellin'," wailed Aunt
+Mary, "I don't feel up to anythin'. Go 'way.
+Right off."</p>
+
+<p>Jack went on deck. He found Burnett
+stretched pale and green upon the chairs their
+lady guest had vacated.</p>
+
+<p>"If you speak to me again," he said, in halting
+accents, "I'll never speak to you again. Get
+out."</p>
+
+<p>Jack went back to his place at dinner.</p>
+
+<p>"How are they?" asked Clover.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know," he said quietly, "but there's
+a big storm coming up. The sky's all dark blue
+and it looks bad."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't care," said Mitchell, sawing into the
+game with vigor; "if we go down we go down
+with Aunt Mary and if I were Uncle Mary I
+wouldn't feel happier and safer as to all concerned.
+The ship that bore Cæsar and his fortune had
+nothing at all to bear compared to this which bears
+Jack and his. Here's to Jack and his fortune,
+and may we all survive the dark blue sky."</p>
+
+<p>"I tell you it's serious," said Jack. As he spoke
+another ominous heaving set the bottles tipping
+and nearly sent Clover backwards.
+<pb n="185" /><anchor id="Pg185" /></p>
+
+<p>"And I'm serious," exclaimed Mitchell. "I'm
+always serious only I never can get any girl to
+believe it. Here's to me, and may I grow more
+and more serious each&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>A tremendous wave bore the yacht upright and
+then let her fall on her forelegs again. Clover
+went over backwards and the dish of peas to which
+he had just been helping himself followed after.</p>
+
+<p>"You didn't say 'excuse me' when you left the
+table," said Mitchell, whom the law of gravitation
+had suddenly raised to a pinnacle from which he
+viewed his friends with mirthful scorn; "and if
+you've hurt yourself it must be a judgment on you
+for leaving the table without saying 'excuse me.'
+Here's to Clover, who has a judgment and a dish
+of peas served on him at the same time for leaving
+the table without saying 'excuse me.'"</p>
+
+<p>The sailing-master appeared at the door, his
+cap in his hand.</p>
+
+<p>"I beg your pardon, sir," he said respectfully,
+"but I fear it's impossible to put back. We can't
+turn without getting into the trough of the sea."</p>
+
+<p>"All right, go ahead then," said Mitchell; "go
+where we must go, and do what you've got to do.
+My motto is veni, vidi, vici, which freely translated
+means I can sleep asea when I can't sleep
+ashore."</p>
+
+<p>"But Aunt Mary?" cried Jack blankly.
+<pb n="186" /><anchor id="Pg186" /></p>
+
+<p>"She's all right," said Mitchell; "she'll soon
+reach the cold burnt toast stage and when she
+reaches the stage we'll all welcome her into any
+chorus. Here's to choruses in general and one
+chorus girl in particular. I haven't met her yet,
+but I shall know her when I do, for she will look
+at me. Up to now they've all looked elsewhere
+and at other men. If my fortune was only in my
+face it might draw some interest, but&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Lady Belle" careened violently and Clover
+went over backwards for the second time with
+much in his wake.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I say," said Mitchell, rising in disgust,
+"if you want everything on the table at once why
+take it. Only I'm going on deck. After you've
+bathed in the gravy you can have it. Ditto the
+other liquids. Jack and I are going up to dance
+a hornpipe and sing for Burnett. He looked
+rather ennuyéd to me when we came down."</p>
+
+<p>Along toward eight o'clock that night "Lady
+Belle" anchored somewhere in the Sound and
+tugged vigorously at her cables all night.</p>
+
+<p>With the dawn she headed back towards New
+York.</p>
+
+<p>"As a success my entertainment has been a failure,"
+said Mitchell to Jack as they walked up and
+down the deck after breakfast; "but into each life
+some rain must fall, and I offer myself as a sacrificial
+<pb n="187" /><anchor id="Pg187" />background to Aunt Mary's glowing, living
+pictures of New York."</p>
+
+<p>"I wish you hadn't, though," said Jack; "she'll
+never want a yacht of her own now. And how
+under Scorpion are we ever going to land her?"</p>
+
+<p>"In a sheet, my able-bodied young friend, in a
+sheet," said Mitchell clapping him on the back.
+"Don't you know the 'Weigh the Baby' game?
+It may double her up a bit, but the redoubtable
+Janice will straighten her out again. Here's to
+the sheet, be it a wet sheet, a main sheet, or a sheet
+with your Aunt Mary tied up in it."</p>
+
+<p>Mitchell was as good as his word and they
+landed Aunt Mary in a sheet. The very harbor-tugs
+stopped puffing and stood open-mouthed to
+stare at the performance, but it was an unalloyed
+success, and Aunt Mary was gotten onto dry land
+at last.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't want to do nothin' for a day or two,"
+she said, as they drove to the house.</p>
+
+<p>Janice had the bed open, and a hot-water bottle
+down where Aunt Mary's feet might be expected,
+and all sorts of comfort ready to hand.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm so glad to see you safe back," she said,
+almost weeping.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't believe it's broke," said Aunt Mary,
+"but you might look and see. Oh, Granite&mdash;I&mdash;"
+she stopped and looked an unutterable meaning.
+<pb n="188" /><anchor id="Pg188" /></p>
+
+<p>"It stormed, didn't it?" said the maid.</p>
+
+<p>"Stormed!" said Aunt Mary. "I guess it did
+storm. I guess it hurricaned. I know it did.
+I'm sure of it."</p>
+
+<p>"But you're safe now," said the girl, tucking
+her up as snugly as if she had been an infant in
+arms.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I'm safe now," said Aunt Mary,
+"but&mdash;" she looked very earnest&mdash;"but, oh, my
+Granite, how I did need that white fuzzy stuff to
+drink this morning. I never wanted nothin' so
+bad in all my life afore."</p>
+
+<p>Janice stood by the bed, her face full of regret
+that Aunt Mary had known any aching void.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary grew yet more earnest.</p>
+
+<p>"Granite," she said, "you mind what I tell
+you. That ought to be advertised. I sh'd think
+you could patent it. Folks ought to know about
+it."</p>
+
+<p>Then she laid herself out in bed. "My
+heavens alive!" she sighed sweetly, "there's
+nothin' like home. Not anywhere&mdash;not nowhere!"</p>
+</div>
+<pb n="189" /><anchor id="Pg189" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+
+<head>Chapter Sixteen - A Reposeful Interval</head>
+
+
+<p>The next date upon the little gold and ivory
+memorandum card which hung beside Aunt Mary's
+watch was that set for Burnett's picnic, but its
+dawning found both host and guest too much
+attached to their beds to desire any fêtes champêtre
+just then.</p>
+
+<p>Burnett was in that very weak state which follows in
+the immediate wake of only too many yachts,&mdash;and
+Aunt Mary was sleeping one of her
+long drawn out and utterly restorative sleeps.</p>
+
+<p>Jack went in and looked at her.</p>
+
+<p>"It did storm awfully," he said to Janice, who
+was sitting by the window. The maid just smiled,
+nodded, and laid her finger on her lip. She never
+encouraged conversation when her charge was
+reposing.</p>
+
+<p>Jack went softly out and turned his steps toward
+the room of the other wreck.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, how are stocks to-day?" he asked
+cheerfully on entering.</p>
+
+<p>Burnett was stretched out pillowless and looked
+black under his hollow eyes. But he appeared to
+be on the road to recovery.
+<pb n="190" /><anchor id="Pg190" /></p>
+
+<p>"Jack," he said seriously, "what in thunder
+makes me always so ready to go on the water?
+I should think after a while I'd learn a thing or
+two."</p>
+
+<p>Jack leaned his elbows on the high carved footboard
+and returned his friend's look with one of
+equal seriousness.</p>
+
+<p>"What makes all of us do lots of things?" he
+asked. "Why don't we all learn?"</p>
+
+<p>Burnett sighed.</p>
+
+<p>"That's a fact; why don't we?" he said weakly.
+And then he shut his eyes again and turned his
+back to his caller.</p>
+
+<p>Jack went down to lunch. Clover and Mitchell
+were playing cards in the library.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, how is the hospital?" Clover asked,
+looking up while he shuffled the pack.</p>
+
+<p>"Never mind about Burnett," said Mitchell,
+"but do relieve my mind about Aunt Mary. Is
+the one sheet still taking effect, or has she begun to
+rally on a diet of two?"</p>
+
+<p>"She's asleep," said the nephew.</p>
+
+<p>"God bless her slumber," declared Clover
+piously. "I very much approve of Aunt Mary
+asleep. When our dearly beloved aunt sleeps we
+know we've got her and we don't have to yell.
+Shall I deal for three?"</p>
+
+<p>"They are bringing up lunch," said the latest
+<pb n="191" /><anchor id="Pg191" />arrival,&mdash;"no time to begin a hand. Better
+stack guns for the present."</p>
+
+<p>"So say I," said Mitchell, "with me everything
+goes down when lunch comes up. It's quite the
+reverse with Burnett, isn't it?" He laughed
+brutally at his own wit.</p>
+
+<p>"To think how enthusiastic Burr was," said
+Clover, evening the cards preparatory to slipping
+them into their holder on the side of the table.
+"He's always so enthusiastic and he's always so
+sick. In his place I should feel that, if a buoyant
+nature is a virtue, I didn't get much reward."</p>
+
+<p>The gong sounded just then, and they all went
+down to lunch, not at all saddened by the sight
+of their comrade's empty chair.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, what are we going to do next?" Clover
+demanded as they finished the bouillon.</p>
+
+<p>"Have a meat course, I suppose," said Mitchell.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't mean that; I mean, what are we going
+to do next with Aunt Mary?"</p>
+
+<p>"She hasn't but two days more," said Jack meditatively.
+"Of course&mdash;even if she was all chipper&mdash;this
+storm has knocked any picnic endways."</p>
+
+<p>"I am not an ardent upholder of picnics,
+anyhow," said Mitchell. "They require a constant
+sitting down on the ground and getting up from
+the ground to which I find our respected aunt very
+far from being equal. Burnett mentioned that we
+<pb n="192" /><anchor id="Pg192" />should go to the scene on a coach. That also did
+not meet my approval. Going anywhere on a coach
+requires a constant getting up on the coach and
+getting down from the coach to which I also consider
+the lady unequal. The events of yesterday
+have left a deep impression on my mind. I&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Go on and carve," interrupted Clover, "or
+else shove me the platter. I'm hungry."</p>
+
+<p>"So'm I," said a voice at the door. A weak
+voice&mdash;but one that showed decision in its tone.</p>
+
+<p>They looked up and saw Burnett, dressed in a
+pink silk negligée with flowing sleeves.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm ravenous," he exclaimed explanatorily.
+"I haven't had anything since day before yesterday
+at breakfast. I didn't know I wanted anything
+till I smelt it,&mdash;then I dressed and came
+down."</p>
+
+<p>"How sweet you look," said Clover. "The
+effect of your pajama cuffs and collar where one
+greedily expects curves and contour is lovely.
+Where did you find that bath-robe?"</p>
+
+<p>"In the bureau drawer," said Burnett. "It
+appeared to have been hastily shoved in there
+some time. I would have thought that it was a
+woman's something-or-other, only I found one of
+Jack's cards in the pocket."</p>
+
+<p>They all began to laugh&mdash;Clover and Mitchell
+more heartily than the owner of the card.
+<pb n="193" /><anchor id="Pg193" /></p>
+
+<p>"Sit down," said Mitchell finally with great
+cordiality. "You may as well sit down while they
+mess you up some weak tea and wet toast."</p>
+
+<p>"Tea and toast?" cried the one in pink. "I'm
+good for dinner. <hi rend="font-style: italic">Um Gotteswillen</hi>, what do you
+suppose I came down for?"</p>
+
+<p>"I wasn't sure," said his friend mildly; "you
+must admit yourself that your attire is misleading.
+My book on social etiquette says nothing as to
+when it is correct to wear a pink silk robe over blue
+and white striped pajamas. However, there's no
+denying your presence, and what can't be denied
+must be supplied, so what will you have?"</p>
+
+<p>"Everything."</p>
+
+<p>Mitchell dived into the edibles generally and
+Burnett's void was provided with fulfillment.</p>
+
+<p>"We were talking about Aunt Mary," Clover
+said presently. "We were saying that neither you
+nor she would be up to a coach or down to a picnic
+for one while."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I don't know," said Burnett. "I feel up
+to pretty nearly anything now that I can eat again.
+Pass over the horseradish, will you?"</p>
+
+<p>"You're one thing, my sweet pink friend," said
+Clover gently, "but Aunt Mary's another. I'm
+not saying that New York has not had a wonderfully
+Brown-Sequardesque effect on her, but I am
+saying that if she is to be raised and lowered
+<pb n="194" /><anchor id="Pg194" />frequently, I want to travel with a portable
+crane."</p>
+
+<p>"Hum, hum, hum!" cried Jack. "May I just
+ask who did most of the heavy labor of Aunt Mary
+yesterday?&mdash;As the man in the opera sings twenty
+times with the whole chorus to back him&mdash;''Twas
+I, 'twas I, 'twas I, 'twas I&mdash;'"</p>
+
+<p>"Hand over the toast, Clover," said Burnett.
+"I don't care who it was&mdash;it was a success anyhow,
+for she's upstairs and still alive, and I say
+she'd enjoy coaching out Riverside way, and&mdash;"
+he choked.</p>
+
+<p>"Slap him anywhere," said Mitchell. "On his
+mouth would be the proper place. Such poor
+manners,&mdash;coming down to a company lunch in
+another man's bath-robe and then trying to preach
+and eat dry toast at once."</p>
+
+<p>Burnett gasped and recovered.</p>
+
+<p>"There," said Clover, who had risen to administer
+the proposed slap, "he's off our minds and
+we may again pick up Aunt Mary and put her
+back on."</p>
+
+<p>"We want to send her home in a blaze of
+glory," said Jack thoughtfully. "I want her to
+feel that the fun ran straight through."</p>
+
+<p>"That's just what I mean," interposed his particular
+friend; "we want her to go home on the
+wings of a giant cracker, so to speak."
+<pb n="195" /><anchor id="Pg195" /></p>
+
+<p>"How would it do," said Clover suddenly, "to
+just make a night of it and take her along? Stock
+up, stack up, and ho! for it. You all know the
+kind of a time I mean."</p>
+
+<p>"Clover," said Jack gravely, "does it occur to
+you that Aunt Mary belongs to me and that I
+have a personal interest in keeping her alive?"</p>
+
+<p>"Nothing ever occurs to him," said Mitchell.
+"Occasionally an idea bangs up against him inadvertently,
+and as it splinters a sliver or two penetrate
+his head&mdash;that's all."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't see why the last sliver he felt wasn't
+to the point," said Burnett, turning the cream jug
+upside down as he spoke. "I think she'd enjoy it
+of all things. She enjoys everything so. I'll guarantee
+that when she gets back home she'll even
+enjoy the yachting trip. Lots of people are made
+like that. In the winter I always enjoy yachting,
+myself. Pass me the hot bread."</p>
+
+<p>"Burnett," said Mitchell warmly, "I wish that
+you would remember that a collapse invariably
+follows an inflated market."</p>
+
+<p>"Is it Aunt Mary who is on the market, or
+myself?"</p>
+
+<p>"You."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, the rule is reversed in my case&mdash;the collapse
+went first. I'm only inflating up to the usual
+limit again. Is there any gravy left?"
+<pb n="196" /><anchor id="Pg196" /></p>
+
+<p>"No, there isn't," said Clover, looking in the
+dish, "there isn't much of anything left."</p>
+
+<p>"Let's go to the library," said Mitchell, rising
+abruptly. "It always makes me ill to see goose-stuffing
+before Thanksgiving. Come on."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm done," said Burnett, springing up and
+winding his lacey draperies about his manly form.
+"Come on yourself; and once settled and smoking,
+let us canvass the question and agree with
+Clover."</p>
+
+<p>"You know there are nights about town and
+nights about town," said Clover, as they climbed
+the staircase. "I do not anticipate that Aunt
+Mary will bring up with a round turn in the police
+station, as her young relative once did."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, that's some comfort," said Mitchell.
+"I did not feel sure as to just where you did mean
+her to bring up. You will perhaps allow me to
+remark that making a night of it with Aunt Mary
+in tow is a subject that really is provocative of
+mature reflection. Making a night of it is a frothy
+sort of a proposition in which our beloved aunty
+may not beat up to quite the buoyancy of you
+and me."</p>
+
+<p>As he finished this sage remark they all re-entered
+the library and grouped themselves around
+the table of smoking things.</p>
+
+<p>"That's what I say," said Jack. "I think she's
+<pb n="197" /><anchor id="Pg197" />much more likely to beat out than to beat up&mdash;I
+must say."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll bet you she doesn't," cried Burnett
+eagerly. "I'll bet five dollars that she doesn't."</p>
+
+<p>"I declare," said Clover, "what a thing a
+backer is to be sure. I feel positive that Aunt
+Mary will go through with it now. I had my
+doubts before, but never now. Six to five on Aunt
+Mary for the Three-year-old Stakes."</p>
+
+<p>"The best way is to hit a happy medium," said
+Mitchell thoughtfully, scratching a match for the
+lighting of his new-rolled cigarette. "I think the
+wisest thing would be for us just to take Aunt
+Mary and sally forth and then keep it up until she
+must be put to bed. What say?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well," said Jack, reflectively, "I don't suppose
+that taking it that way, it would really be any
+worse than the other nights&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Worse!" cried Clover. "Hear him!&mdash;slandering
+those brilliant occasions, everyone of which
+is a jewel in the crown of Aunt Mary's bonnet."</p>
+
+<p>"We'll begin by dining out," said Burnett.
+"I'll give the dinner. One of the souvenir kind of
+affairs. A white mouse for every man and a canary
+bird for the lady. We'll have a private room and
+speeches and I'll get megaphones so we can make
+her hear without bustin'."</p>
+
+<p>"My dear boy," said Mitchell, "where is this
+<pb n="198" /><anchor id="Pg198" />private room to be in which the party can converse
+through megaphones? I had two deaf uncles once
+who played cribbage with megaphones, but they
+were influential and the rest of the family were
+poor. Circumstances alter cases. I ask again
+where you can get a private dining-room for the
+use of five people and four megaphones?"</p>
+
+<p>"I'll see," said Burnett; "I wish," he added
+irritably, "that you'd wait until I finished before
+beginning to smash in like that, you knock everything
+out of my head."</p>
+
+<p>"It'll do you good to have a little something
+knocked out of you," said Mitchell gently. "It
+may enlarge your premises, give you a spare room
+somewhere, so to speak. I should think that you'd
+need some spare room somewhere after such a
+breakfast."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll tell you what I think;" said Clover. "I
+think it's a great scheme. It's a sort of pull-in-and-out,
+field-glass species of idea. We can develop
+it or we can shut it off; in other words, we
+can parade Aunt Mary or bring her home just
+when we darn please."</p>
+
+<p>"That's what I said," said Burnett. "Begin
+with my dinner, white mice and all, and when all
+is going just let it slide until it seems about time
+to slide off."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," said Mitchell dryly, "it's always a good
+<pb n="199" /><anchor id="Pg199" />plan to slide on until you slide off. It would be so
+easy to reverse the game."</p>
+
+<p>"And then, too,&mdash;" began Burnett.</p>
+
+<p>"Excuse me," said a voice at the door,&mdash;a
+woman's voice this time.</p>
+
+<p>It was Janice, very pretty in her black dress and
+white decorations, hands in pockets, smile on lips.</p>
+
+<p>"What's up now?" the last speaker interrupted
+himself to ask, "Aunt Mary?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, she's not up," said the maid; "but she's
+awake and wants to know about the picnic."</p>
+
+<p>"There, what did I say!" cried Burnett;
+"isn't she a hero? I tell you Aunt Mary'd fight
+in the last ditch&mdash;she'd never surrender! She's
+one of those dead-at-the-gun chaps. I'm proud to
+think we have known the companionship of joint
+yachting results."</p>
+
+<p>"She says she feels as well as ever," said Janice,
+opening her eyes a trifle as she noted Burnett's pink
+silk negligée, "and wishes to know when you want
+to start."</p>
+
+<p>"Bravo," said Mitchell; "I, too, am fired by
+this exposition of pluck. I like spirit. She reminds
+me of the horse who was turned out to grass and
+then suddenly broke the world's record."</p>
+
+<p>"What horse was that?" asked Burnett.</p>
+
+<p>"Pegasus," said Mitchell cruelly; "I didn't
+say what kind of a record he broke, did I?"
+<pb n="200" /><anchor id="Pg200" /></p>
+
+<p>"What shall I tell Miss Watkins?" asked the
+maid.</p>
+
+<p>Jack, who had risen at her entrance and gone to
+the window, faced around here and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Tell her that if she'll dress we'll go out
+bonnet-shooting and afterwards drive in the
+park."</p>
+
+<p>Janice hesitated.</p>
+
+<p>"She will surely ask where you are to dine,"
+said she, half-smiling.</p>
+
+<p>Jack looked at the crowd.</p>
+
+<p>"Fellows," he said, "we must save up for to-morrow's
+blow-out; suppose you let Mitchell and
+me dine Aunt Mary somewhere very tranquilly to-night
+and we'll get her home by eleven."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, do," said Janice, with sudden earnest
+entreaty. "Honestly, there is a limit."</p>
+
+<p>"Of course, there is a limit," said Mitchell.
+"Even cities have their limits. This one tried to
+be an exception, but San Francisco yelled 'Keep
+off' and she drew in her claws again. Aunt Mary,
+possessing many points in common with New York,
+also possesses that. She has limits. Her limits
+took in more than we bargained for,&mdash;for they
+have taken us into the bargain. Still they are there,
+and we bow to necessity. A cheerful drive, a
+quiet tea, early to bed. And <hi rend="font-style: italic">pax vobiscum</hi>."</p>
+
+<p>"No wonder," said Burnett, "it's easy for you
+<pb n="201" /><anchor id="Pg201" />to agree when you're to be one of the dinner party."
+"I don't mind being left out," said Clover contentedly.
+"I shall sit on the sofa and whisper to
+'the one behind.' Whispering is an art that I have
+almost forgotten, but inspired by that pink&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Then I'll tell Miss Watkins to dress for the
+going out," said Janice, pointedly addressing herself
+to Jack.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, please do."</p>
+
+<p>The maid left the room and went upstairs.
+Aunt Mary was tossing about on her pillow.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, what's it to be?" she asked instantly.</p>
+
+<p>"The storm has made it too wet to picnic," replied
+Janice. "Mr. Denham wants to take you to
+drive and afterwards you and Mr. Mitchell and he
+are to dine&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"And Burnett and Clover?" cried Aunt Mary
+in appalled interruption; "where are they goin'?"</p>
+
+<p>"Really, I don't know."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't like the idea," said Aunt Mary;
+"we'd ought to all be together. I never did approve
+of splittin' up in small parties. Did Jack
+say anythin' about my gettin' another bonnet?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, he thought that you would go to a milliner
+first."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know about lookin' sillier," said Aunt
+Mary. "Strikes me a woman can't look more
+foolish than she does without a bonnet. However,
+<pb n="202" /><anchor id="Pg202" />I don't feel like makin' a fuss over anythin'
+to-day. I've had a good rest and I feel fine. I'll
+dress and go out with Jack, an' I know one thing,
+I'll enjoy every minute I can, for this week is goin'
+like lightnin' and when it's over&mdash;well, you never
+saw Lucinda, so it's no use tryin' to make you
+understand, but&mdash;" she drew a long breath and
+shook her head meaningly.</p>
+
+<p>Janice did not reply. She busied herself with
+the cares of the toilet of her mistress, and when that
+was complete the carriage was summoned for the
+shopping tour.</p>
+
+<p>Jack saw that the bonnet was attended to first
+of all and then they went to another store and
+purchased a scarf pin for Joshua and a workbox
+for Lucinda. After that Aunt Mary decided that
+she wanted her four friends each to have a souvenir
+of her visit, so she insisted upon being conducted to
+that gorgeous establishment which is lighted with
+diamonds instead of electricity and ordered four
+dressing-cases to be constructed, everything with
+gold tops, to be engraved with the proper initials
+and also the inscription, "from M.W. in memory
+of N.Y." Jack rather protested at this, asking
+her if she realized what the engraving would
+come to.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know," said Aunt Mary recklessly
+and lavishly. "I don't care what it comes to either.
+<pb n="203" /><anchor id="Pg203" />It's comin' to me, anyhow, ain't it? I rather think
+so. Seems likely."</p>
+
+<p>The clerk took down the order, and then as he
+was ushering them door-wards he fell by the wayside
+and craved permission to show some tiaras of
+emeralds and some pearl dog-collars. Jack
+rebelled.</p>
+
+<p>"You don't want any of those," he exclaimed,
+trying to propel her by.</p>
+
+<p>"I ain't so sure," said Aunt Mary. "I might
+have a dog some day."</p>
+
+<p>But her nephew got her back into their conveyance,
+and they drove away. It was so late that
+they could not consider the park and so had to
+make a tour of Fifth Avenue to use up the time
+left before dinner. Then when they headed
+toward the café they were delighted to observe
+Mitchell awaiting them just where he was to have
+been.</p>
+
+<p>"I see him," said Aunt Mary. "My! I'd know
+him as far off as I'd know anybody." But then she
+sighed. "I wish the others were there, too," she
+said sadly; "seems awful&mdash;just three of us."</p>
+
+<p>The dinner which followed echoed her sentiment.
+It was a very nice dinner, but painfully
+quiet, and Aunt Mary grew very restless.</p>
+
+<p>"Seems like wastin' time, anyhow," she said
+uneasily. "I don't see why the others didn't come.
+<pb n="204" /><anchor id="Pg204" />Well, can't we go to Coney Island or the Statue
+of Liberty or somewhere when we're through?"</p>
+
+<p>Mitchell looked at Jack.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, you see, Aunt Mary," the latter promptly
+shrieked, "we thought we'd be good and go home
+early and sort of rest up to-night so as to have
+a high old time to-morrow."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary's face, which had fallen during the
+first part of their speech, brightened up at the last
+words.</p>
+
+<p>"What are we goin' to do?" she inquired with
+unfeigned interest.</p>
+
+<p>"Burnett's going to give us a dinner," Jack
+answered, "and then afterwards we're going to
+help you see the town."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh!" said Aunt Mary. A pleasant gleam
+fled over her face.</p>
+
+<p>"I never was a great believer in bein' out
+nights," she said, "but I guess I'll make an exception
+to-morrow. I might as well be doin' that as
+anythin', I presume. Maybe better&mdash;very likely
+better."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, very much better," said Mitchell. "It is
+the exceptions that furnish all the oil in life's
+machinery. The exceptions not only generally
+prove too much for the rule, but they also generally
+prevent the rule from proving too much for us.
+They&mdash;"
+<pb n="205" /><anchor id="Pg205" /></p>
+
+<p>"But I don't see why we couldn't go to two or
+three vaudevilles to-night, too," said the old lady,
+suddenly. "I feel so sort of ready-for-anythin'."</p>
+
+<p>"You always feel that way, Miss Watkins,"
+screamed Mitchell. "It is we that are the blind
+and the halt. You are ever fresh, but we falter and
+faint. You see it's you that go out, but it's we
+that you get back. You&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"We could go to one vaudeville, anyway," said
+Aunt Mary abstractedly; "an' if we saw any places
+that looked lively we could stop a few minutes there
+on our way back. I've never been into lots of
+things here."</p>
+
+<p>Jack looked at Mitchell this time.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm sorry, Miss Watkins," he roared, "but
+<hi rend="font-style: italic">I'll</hi> have to go home, anyhow. You see, I'm not
+used to the lively life which has been enlivening
+us all this week and, being weakly in my knees,
+needs must look out."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary looked very disappointed.</p>
+
+<p>"Then Jack and I'll go, too," she said, "but
+oh! dear, I do hate to waste my stay in the city
+sleepin' so much. I can sleep all I want after I
+get home, but&mdash;" she paused, and then said
+with deep feeling, "Well, you don't understand
+about Lucinda an' so you don't understand about
+anythin'."</p>
+
+<p>Both the young men felt truly regretful as they
+<pb n="206" /><anchor id="Pg206" />put her into the carriage for the return trip. Her
+deep enjoyment was so genuine and naive that they
+sympathized with her feelings when cut off from it.</p>
+
+<p>But it was best that this one night should pass
+unimproved, and so all five threw themselves into
+their respective beds with equal zest and slept&mdash;and
+slept&mdash;and slept.</p>
+</div>
+<pb n="207" /><anchor id="Pg207" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+
+<head>Chapter Seventeen - Aunt Mary's Night About Town</head>
+
+<p>The next day came up out of the ocean
+fair and warm, and when it drew toward
+later afternoon no more propitious night
+for setting forth ever happened.</p>
+
+<p>It was undeniably a night to be remembered.
+And Aunt Mary's entertainers drew in deep
+breaths as they girded themselves for the conflict.
+They certainly intended to do themselves proud
+and on top of all the lesser "times of her life"
+to pile the one pre-eminent which should rest pre-eminent
+forever. Aunt Mary had been gay in the
+first part of the week,&mdash;gayer and gayer as the
+week progressed, but that final crowning night was
+indubitably the gayest of all. If you doubt this
+read on&mdash;read on&mdash;and be convinced.</p>
+
+<p>They began with Burnett's dinner in the private
+room. No matter where the private room was,
+for it really wasn't a private room at all&mdash;it was a
+suite of rooms borrowed and arranged especially
+for that one occasion. They gathered there at
+eight o'clock and began with oysters served on a
+large brass tray in a half-dim Turkish room where
+<pb n="208" /><anchor id="Pg208" />incense sticks burned about and queer daggers held
+up the curtains. The oysters were served on their
+arrival and the megaphones stood like extinguishers
+over each with the name cards tied to the small
+end. The effect was really unique. Aunt Mary
+had one, too, and they were all rejoiced at her delight
+in the scheme, and a few seconds after they
+were doubly rejoiced over its success for no one
+had to speak loud&mdash;the megaphones did it all,
+producing a lovely clamor which deafened all those
+who could hear and caused Aunt Mary to feel that
+she heard with the rest.</p>
+
+<p>Amidst the cheerful din they exchanged such
+very wild remarks as oysters always inspire and
+each and all were mutually content at the effect
+thereof. Then they finished, and Burnett rose at
+once, flung back the portières, and led them in
+upon their soup which stood smoking on a large
+card table in the next room. There were boutonnières
+with the soup, and violets for Aunt Mary,
+and again they used the megaphones and again the
+conversation partook of the customary conversation
+which soup produces.</p>
+
+<p>The soup finished, Burnett jumped up again and
+threw back other portières and they all moved out
+into a dining-room, with its table spread with a
+substantial dinner. This time it was the real thing.
+Candelabra, ice-pails, etc.
+<pb n="209" /><anchor id="Pg209" /></p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary had a parrot in a gilt tower, and all
+the men had white mice in houses shaped like hat-boxes.
+Mitchell's seat was flanked with wine coolers,
+and Burnett's, too. There was all that they
+could desire to eat and drink and more. The
+feast began, and it was grand and glorious.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll tell you what," said Aunt Mary, in the
+midst of the revel, "if this is what it means in
+papers when it speaks of high livin', I don't blame
+'em for bein' willin' to die of it young. One week
+like this is worth ten years with Lucinda. Twenty.
+A whole life."</p>
+
+<p>"Say, Jack," said Burnett in an undertone,
+"let's have Lucinda come to town next and see the
+effect on her."</p>
+
+<p>"Miss Watkins," said Clover through his
+megaphone, "as a mark of my affection I beg to
+offer you my white mouse. Do you accept?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I don't want to go back to the house yet,"
+said Aunt Mary, much disturbed. "It's too soon."</p>
+
+<p>"We won't go home till morning," said Burnett.
+"Not by a long shot. Here, Mitchell, give us a
+speech. Home! we don't want to drink <hi rend="font-style: italic">to</hi> it, but
+we do want to drink to it <hi rend="font-style: italic">here</hi>."</p>
+
+<p>"Home!" said Mitchell, rising with his glass in
+his hand. "Home! here's to home, and I'll drink
+to it in anything but a cab. Home, Aunt Mary
+and gentlemen, is the place where one may go
+<pb n="210" /><anchor id="Pg210" />when every other place is closed. As long as any
+other place is open, however, I do not recommend
+going home. The contrast is always sharp and
+bitter and to be avoided until unavoidable circumstances,
+over which we possess but little control,
+force us to give our address to the man who drives
+and let him drive us to the last place on the map.
+And so I drink to that last place&mdash;home; and here's
+to it, not now, but a good deal later, and not then
+unless what must be has got to result."</p>
+
+<p>Mitchell paused and they all drank.</p>
+
+<p>"Me next now," exclaimed Burnett, jumping to
+his feet. "I'm going to make a speech at my own
+dinner, and as a good speech is best made off-hand,
+I've picked out an off-hand subject and arise to give
+you 'Lucinda.' Having never met her I feel able
+to say nothing good about her and I call the company
+present to witness that I shall say nothing
+bad either. I gather from what I have had a stray
+chance of picking up that Lucinda is all that she
+should be, and nothing frisqué. The latter quality
+is too bad, but it's not my fault. Therefore,
+I say again 'Lucinda', and here's to her very good
+health. May she never regret that Fate has given
+her no chance to have anything to regret."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary applauded this speech heartily even
+if she hadn't quite caught the whole of it and had
+no idea of whom it was about.
+<pb n="211" /><anchor id="Pg211" /></p>
+
+<p>"Who's goin' to speak now?" she asked
+anxiously.</p>
+
+<p>"I am," said Clover modestly. "I rise to
+propose the health of our honored guest, Miss
+Watkins. We all know what kin she is to one of
+us, and we all weep that she didn't do as well by the
+rest of us. Aunt Mary! Glasses down!"</p>
+
+<p>"You can't drink this, you know, Aunt Mary,"
+said Jack,&mdash;"it's bad taste to drink to yourself."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't want to drink," said Aunt Mary,
+beaming,&mdash;"I like to watch you."</p>
+
+<p>"Here's to Aunt Mary's liking to watch us!"
+cried Clover.</p>
+
+<p>"No," said Burnett rising, "don't. It's time
+to go and get the salad now."</p>
+
+<p>"We'd ought to have the automobile for this
+party," said Aunt Mary, and everyone applauded
+her idea, as they rose and gathered up their belongings.</p>
+
+<p>It was a droll procession of men with mice and
+a lady with a parrot that got under way and moved
+in among the Japanese fans and swinging lanterns
+of the next room in the suite of Burnett's friend.
+Five little individual tables were laid there and on
+each table lay a Japanese creature of some sort
+which&mdash;being opened somewhere&mdash;revealed salad
+within.
+<pb n="212" /><anchor id="Pg212" /></p>
+
+<p>"Well, I never did!" exclaimed the guest;
+"this dinner ought to be put in a book!"</p>
+
+<p>"We'll put it in ourselves first," said Mitchell.
+"I never believe in booking any attraction until it
+has been tried on a select few. Burnett having
+selected me for one of this few, I vote we begin on
+the salad."</p>
+
+<p>They began forthwith.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary suddenly stopped eating.</p>
+
+<p>"Some one called," she said.</p>
+
+<p>"It's the parrot," said Jack; "I heard him
+before."</p>
+
+<p>"What does he say?" said Mitchell.</p>
+
+<p>"Listen and you'll find out," said Jack.</p>
+
+<p>They all listened and presently the parrot said
+solemnly:</p>
+
+<p>"Now see what you've done!" and relapsed
+into silence.</p>
+
+<p>"What does he mean?" Aunt Mary asked.</p>
+
+<p>"He's referring to his own affairs," said Burnett;
+"come on&mdash;let's get coffee now!"</p>
+
+<p>They all adjourned to a tiny room lined with
+posters and decorated with pipe racks, and there
+had ice cream in the form of bulls and bears,
+and coffee of the strongest variety. And then cordials
+and cigarettes.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, where shall we go to first?" asked Burnett
+when all were well lit up. No one would
+<pb n="213" /><anchor id="Pg213" />have guessed that he had ever felt used up in
+all his life before.</p>
+
+<p>"To a roof garden," said Mitchell. "We'll
+go to a roof garden first, and then we'll go to more
+roof gardens, and after that if the spirit moves
+we'll go to yet a few roof gardens in addition.
+We'll show our dear aunt what wonders can be
+done with roofs, and to-morrow she'll wonder what
+was done with her."</p>
+
+<p>"That's the bill," said Clover, "and let's go
+now. I can see from the general manner of my
+mouse that he's dying to get out and make his way
+in the wide world."</p>
+
+<p>"Mine the same," said Mitchell; "by George,
+it worries me to see such restless, feverish manners
+in what I had supposed would be a quiet
+domestic companion. It presages a distracted existence.
+But come on."</p>
+
+<p>They all rose.</p>
+
+<p>"Where are we goin' now?" asked Aunt Mary.</p>
+
+<p>"To a roof garden," said Jack, "and we're
+going to take the whole menagerie, Aunt Mary.
+We're going to get put in the papers. That's the
+great stunt,&mdash;to get put in the papers."</p>
+
+<p>"But we'll leave the megaphones," said Mitchell.
+"I won't go about with a mouse and a
+megaphone. People might think I looked silly.
+People are so queer."
+<pb n="214" /><anchor id="Pg214" /></p>
+
+<p>"Put the mouse in the megaphone," suggested
+Burnett. "That's the way my mother taught me
+to pack when I was a kid. You put your tooth
+brush in a shoe, and the shoe in a sleeve and then
+turn the sleeve inside out. Oh, I tell you&mdash;what is
+home without a mother?&mdash;Put the mouse in the
+megaphone and stop up both ends. What are your
+hands and your mouth for?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," said Mitchell, "I think I see myself so
+handling a megaphone that the mouse doesn't run
+out either end or into my mouth. My mouth is a
+good mouth and it's served me well and I won't
+turn it over to a mouse at this late day."</p>
+
+<p>"Let's keep the mice in their cages," said
+Clover, and as he spoke he dropped his.</p>
+
+<p>"Now see what you've done!" said the parrot.</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't hurt it," said Clover. "Come on
+now."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, come on," said Burnett. "It's long after
+ten o'clock. You want to remember that even roof
+gardens are not eternally on tap."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I'm trying to hurry all I can," said
+Mitchell. "I'm the picture of patience scurrying
+for dear life only unable to lay hands on her
+gloves."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't catch what's the trouble," said Aunt
+Mary to Jack.</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: center"><anchor id="image05" />
+<figure rend="w95" url="images/image05.png">
+<head rend="text-align: center">"The carriage stopped three hundred feet below the level of a roof-garden."</head>
+<figDesc>Illustration 5</figDesc></figure></p><p></p>
+
+<p>"Nothing's the trouble," said Jack, "everything's
+<pb n="215" /><anchor id="Pg215" />fine and dandy. We're going out now.
+Time of your life, Aunt Mary, time of your
+life!"</p>
+
+<p>They telephoned for a carriage and all got in.
+Then Clover slammed the door.</p>
+
+<p>"Now see what you've done!" said the parrot.</p>
+
+<p>"Is he going to keep saying that?" Burnett
+asked.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know," said Jack. "It comes in pretty
+pat, don't it?"</p>
+
+<p>"Makes me think of my mother," said Clover.
+"I wish it wouldn't."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't catch who's sayin' what," said Aunt
+Mary.</p>
+
+<p>"Nobody's saying anything, Miss Watkins,"
+roared Mitchell; "we are all talking airy nothings
+just to pass the time o' day."</p>
+
+<p>The carriage stopped three hundred feet below
+the level of a roof garden.</p>
+
+<p>"We get out here," said Burnett.</p>
+
+<p>They all got out and went up in an elevator.</p>
+
+<p>"Seems to be a good many goin' to the same
+place," said Aunt Mary.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," said Mitchell, "a good many people
+generally go to places that are great places for a
+good many people to go to."</p>
+
+<p>"You ought not to end with a preposition,"
+said Clover.
+<pb n="216" /><anchor id="Pg216" /></p>
+
+<p>"There, I left my ear-trumpet in the carriage!"
+said Aunt Mary.</p>
+
+<p>There was a pause of consternation. No one
+spoke except the parrot.</p>
+
+<p>"We know what she's done without your telling
+us," said Clover, addressing the bird. "The
+question is what to do next?"</p>
+
+<p>Jack went back downstairs and found the carriage
+waiting in hopes of picking up another
+load. He lost no time in personally picking up the
+ear-trumpet and returning to his friends.</p>
+
+<p>Then they all proceeded above and bought a
+table and turned their chairs to the stage, where
+the attraction just at that moment was a quartette
+of pretty girls.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll tell you what we'll do," said Burnett the
+instant the girls began to sing. "Let's each tie
+a card to a mouse and present them to the girls!"</p>
+
+<p>The suggestion found favor and was followed
+out to the letter. But when the girls were through
+and the Chinaman who followed them on the programme
+was also over, the pleasures of life in that
+spot palled upon the party.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, come," said Burnett, "let's go somewhere
+else. Let's go out in the air."</p>
+
+<p>His suggestion found favor. And they sallied
+forth and visited another roof garden, a theater
+where they saw the last quarter of the fourth act,
+<pb n="217" /><anchor id="Pg217" />a place where Aunt Mary was given a gondola
+ride, and a place where she was given something
+in the shape of light refreshments.</p>
+
+<p>Then, becoming thirsty, they ordered a few
+White Horses and Red Horses and the Necks of
+yet other horses, but Aunt Mary declined the horses
+of all colors and Mitchell upheld her.</p>
+
+<p>"That's right," he said, "I'm a great believer
+in knowing when you've had enough, and I'm sure
+you've all had so much too much that I know that
+I must have had enough and that she's better
+off with none at all."</p>
+
+<p>"I reckon you're right," said Clover. "I've
+had enough, surely. I can't see over my pile of
+little saucers, and when I can't see over my pile of
+little saucers I'm always positive that I've had
+enough."</p>
+
+<p>Jack laughed and then ceased laughing and drew
+down the corners of his mouth.</p>
+
+<p>"Why do people sit on chairs?" Clover asked
+just then. "Why don't everyone sit on the
+floor? You never feel as if you might slip off
+the floor."</p>
+
+<p>"Ah," said Mitchell, "if we were not always
+trying to rise above Nature we should all be sitting
+where Nature intended,&mdash;when we weren't swinging
+by our tails and picking cocoanuts."</p>
+
+<p>"Come on and let's go somewhere else," said
+<pb n="218" /><anchor id="Pg218" />Burnett. "Every time I look at somebody it's
+someone else and that makes me nervous."</p>
+
+<p>"Now see what you've done!" said the parrot.</p>
+
+<p>"Did you know his long suit when you bought
+him?" Clover asked Burnett.</p>
+
+<p>"No," said Burnett; "they told me that he
+didn't use slang and that was all."</p>
+
+<p>It was well along in the evening&mdash;or night&mdash;and
+a brisk discussion arose as to where to go next.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll tell you," said Clover, "we'll take a ride.
+Let me see what time is it?&mdash;12.30. Just the
+time for a drive. We'll take three cabs and sally
+forth and drive up and down and back and forth
+in the cool night air."</p>
+
+<p>"And jews-harps!" cried Burnett. "Oh, I
+say, there's a bully idea! We'll go to a drug
+store and buy some jews-harps and play on them
+as we drive along. We'll each sing our own tune,
+and the effect will be so novel. Let's do it."</p>
+
+<p>"Jews-harps&mdash;" said Clover thoughtfully,
+"jews-harps for three cabs&mdash;that'll make&mdash;let me
+see&mdash;that'll make&mdash;" he hesitated.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, the driver will make the change," said
+Burnett impatiently. "Come on. If we're going
+to have the cabs and jews-harps it's time to
+get out and take the stump in the good cause."</p>
+
+<p>"Where's my ear-trumpet?" said Aunt Mary,
+blankly,&mdash;"it's been left somewhere."
+<pb n="219" /><anchor id="Pg219" /></p>
+
+<p>"No, it hasn't," said Mitchell. "It's here!
+I'm holding it for you. It's much easier holding it
+than picking it up. It seems so slippery to-night."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm not going out to get the cabs," said Clover.
+"I thought of the idea and someone else must
+work it out. I'm opposed to working after time
+and I call time at midnight."</p>
+
+<p>Mitchell rose with a depressed air.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll go," he said. "I feel the need of a walk.
+When I feel the need of anything I always take it
+and I've needed and taken so freely to-night that
+I need to take a walk to&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't think it funny to talk that way," said
+Burnett a little heatedly. "If you want to get the
+cabs why get the cabs. I'm going to get them, too,
+and I reckon we can get them combined just as easy
+as alone."</p>
+
+<p>"I will go with you," said his friend solemnly.
+"I will accompany you because I feel the need&mdash;"
+He stopped and turned his hat over and
+over. "I know there's a hole to put my head
+into," he declared, "but I can't just put my hand&mdash;I
+mean my head&mdash;on to&mdash;I mean, into&mdash;it."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you expect to find a brass hand pointing to
+it?" said Burnett testily. "Come on!"</p>
+
+<p>"Three cabs and five&mdash;or was it six?&mdash;jews-harps?"
+continued Mitchell dreamily. "It must
+have been six, five for we five, and one for Lord
+<pb n="220" /><anchor id="Pg220" />Chesterfield&mdash;but where is Lord Chesterfield?"
+he asked suddenly with a disturbed glance around.
+"I hope he hasn't deserted and gone home."</p>
+
+<p>"Come on, come on!" said Burnett. "There
+won't be a sober cab left if we don't hurry while
+everything is still able to stand up."</p>
+
+<p>This reasoning seemed to alarm Mitchell and
+he went out with him at once.</p>
+
+<p>"My head feels awfully," said Clover to Jack.
+"It sort of grinds and grates&mdash;does yours?"</p>
+
+<p>Jack stared straight ahead and made no reply.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm goin' home no more to roam," said Aunt
+Mary slowly and sadly,&mdash;"I'm goin' home no
+more to roam, no more to sin an' sorrow. I'm
+goin' home no more to roam&mdash;I'm goin' home
+to-morrow. O hum!" She heaved a heavy sigh.</p>
+
+<p>"Now see what you've done!" said the parrot
+with emphasis.</p>
+
+<p>"Never mind," said Clover bitterly. "Better
+people than you have gone home before now; I
+used to do it myself before I was old enough to
+know worse. Will you excuse me if I say, 'Damn
+this buzzing in my head?'"</p>
+
+<p>"I know how you feel," said Aunt Mary sympathetically.
+"Don't you want me to ring for the
+porter and have him make up your berth right
+away?"</p>
+
+<p>Clover didn't seem to hear. His eyes were
+<pb n="221" /><anchor id="Pg221" />roving moodily about the room; they looked
+almost as faded as his mustache.</p>
+
+<p>"Seems to me they're gone a long time," said
+Jack presently, twisting a little in his seat. "It
+never takes me so long to get a cab. I hold up my
+hand&mdash;the man stops&mdash;and I get in&mdash;what's the
+matter, Aunt Mary?" He asked the question in
+sudden alarm at seeing Aunt Mary bury her face
+hastily in her handkerchief.</p>
+
+<p>"What's the matter?" he repeated loudly.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't mind me," said Aunt Mary sobbing.
+"It's just that I happened to just think of Lu&mdash;Lu&mdash;Lucinda&mdash;and
+somehow I don't seem to have
+no strength to bear it."</p>
+
+<p>"Split the handkerchief between us," said
+Clover. "I want to cry, too, and there's no time
+like the present for doing what you want to do."</p>
+
+<p>"Rot!" said Jack, "look here&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>He was interrupted by the return of the embassy,
+Mitchell bearing the jews-harps.</p>
+
+<p>"What's the matter?" Burnett asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Nothing," said Clover; "we were so worried
+over you, that's all." Burnett called for the bill
+and found that he had run out of cash; "Or maybe
+I've had my pocket picked," he suggested. "I'm
+beginning to be in just the mood in which I always
+get my pocket picked."</p>
+
+<p>Jack produced a roll of bills and settled for the
+<pb n="222" /><anchor id="Pg222" />refreshments. Then they all started down stairs
+as Aunt Mary wouldn't risk an elevator going
+down.</p>
+
+<p>"It's all right comin' up," she said, "but if it
+broke when you were going down where'd
+you be?"</p>
+
+<p>"In the elevator," said Clover. "I'd never
+jump, I know that."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I've left my ear-trumpet," said Aunt
+Mary.</p>
+
+<p>"Let's draw lots to see who goes back?" Burnett
+suggested.</p>
+
+<p>They drew and the lot fell to Clover.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm not going back," he said coldly. "I
+haven't got the energy. Let her apply the megaphone."</p>
+
+<p>Jack went back.</p>
+
+<p>Then they all got into the street and into the
+cabs. Aunt Mary and Jack went first, Mitchell
+and Burnett second, and Clover brought up the
+rear alone.</p>
+
+<p>They set off and it must be admitted that the
+effect of the three cabs going single file one after
+another with their five occupants giving forth a
+most imperfect version of his or her favorite tune,
+was at once novel and awe-inspiring. But like all
+sweet things upon this earth the concert was not of
+long endurance. It was only a few minutes before
+<pb n="223" /><anchor id="Pg223" />the duos ceased utterly to duo and the soloist in the
+rear fell sound asleep. For several blocks there
+was a mournful and tell-tale lack of harmony upon
+the air and then the three young men seemed to
+have exhausted their mouths and all lapsed into a
+more or less conscious state of quietude.</p>
+
+<p>Only Aunt Mary was indefatigable. Like Cleopatra,
+age seemed to have no power to stale her
+infinite variety, and leaning back in her own corner
+she continued to placidly and peacefully intone with
+disregard for time and tune which never ruffled
+a wrinkle. She hadn't played on a jews-harp in
+sixty years, and being deaf she was pleasantly astonished
+at how well she still did it. Jack leaned in
+his corner with folded arms; he was deeply conscious
+of wishing that it was the next day&mdash;any
+day&mdash;any other day&mdash;for the week had been a
+wearing one and he could not but be mortally glad
+that it was so nearly over. The task of fitting
+the plan of Aunt Mary's revelries to the measure
+of her personal capacity had been a very hard one
+and his soul panted for relief therefrom. It is
+one thing to undertake a task and another thing
+to persevere to its successful completion. Aunt
+Mary's nephew was tired&mdash;very tired.</p>
+
+<p>A little later he felt a weight against him; he
+looked; it was Aunt Mary's head,&mdash;she was oblivious
+there on his bosom.
+<pb n="224" /><anchor id="Pg224" /></p>
+
+<p>He heard a voice; it was the parrot.</p>
+
+<p>"Now see what you've done," it said in sepulchral
+tones.</p>
+
+<p>They reached the house, bore the honored guest
+within, and delivered her to Janice.</p>
+
+<p>"You can have that parrot," Jack called back
+to the cabman. "He's guaranteed against slang."</p>
+
+<p>The cabman drove away.</p>
+
+<p>Janice received them with a look which might
+have been construed in many ways, but they were
+all far past construing and the look fell to the
+ground unheeded.</p>
+
+<p>And again Aunt Mary was tucked carefully up
+to dream herself rested once more.</p>
+</div>
+<pb n="225" /><anchor id="Pg225" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+
+<head>Chapter Eighteen - A Departure And A Return</head>
+
+
+<p>The next day poor Aunt Mary had to
+undergo the ordeal of being obliged to
+turn her face away from all those joys
+which had so suddenly and brilliantly altered the
+hues of life for her. It pretty nearly used her up.
+She took her reviving decoction with tears standing
+in her eyes,&mdash;and sat down the glass with a bursting
+sigh. "My, but I wish I knew when I'd be
+taking any more of this?" she said to Janice.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, you'll come back to the city some day,"
+said the maid hopefully.</p>
+
+<p>"Come back!" said Aunt Mary. "Well, I
+should say that I would come back! Why&mdash;I&mdash;?"
+she stopped suddenly, "never mind," she said
+after a minute, "only you'll see that I'll come
+back. Pretty surely&mdash;pretty positively."</p>
+
+<p>Janice was folding her dresses into the small
+trunk. Aunt Mary contemplated the green plaid
+waist with an air of mournful reflection.</p>
+
+<p>"I believe I'll always keep that waist rolled
+away," she murmured. "I shall like to shake it
+out once in a while to remind me of things."
+<pb n="226" /><anchor id="Pg226" /></p>
+
+<p>"Hand me my purse," she said to the maid five
+minutes afterwards. "Here's twenty-five dollars
+an' I want you to take it and get anythin' you
+like with it."</p>
+
+<p>"But that's too much," Janice cried, putting her
+hands behind her and shaking her head.</p>
+
+<p>"Take it," said Aunt Mary imperiously;
+"you're well worth it."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't like to&mdash;truly," said the girl.</p>
+
+<p>"Take it," said Aunt Mary sternly.</p>
+
+<p>So Janice took it and thanked her.</p>
+
+<p>The train went about 4 p.m., and it seemed
+wise to give the traveller a quiet luncheon in her
+own room and rally her escort afterwards.</p>
+
+<p>When she had eaten and drank she sighed again
+and thoughtfully folded her napkin.</p>
+
+<p>"I've had a nice time," she said, gazing fixedly
+out of the window. "I've had a nice time, and I
+guess those young men have enjoyed it, too. I
+rather think my bein' here has given them a chance
+to go to a good many places where they'd never
+have thought of goin' alone. I'm pretty sure
+of it."</p>
+
+<p>Janice made no reply.</p>
+
+<p>"But it's all over now," said Aunt Mary with
+something that sounded suspiciously like a sob in
+her voice, "an' I haven't got only just one consolation
+left an' that's&mdash;" again she paused.
+<pb n="227" /><anchor id="Pg227" /></p>
+
+<p>Janice carried the tray away and the next minute
+they all burst in bearing their parting gifts in
+their arms.</p>
+
+<p>The gifts were an indiscriminate collection of
+flowers, candy, magazines, books, etc.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary opened her closet door and showed
+the four dressing-cases. Everyone but Jack was
+mightily surprised and everyone was mightily
+pleased. The room looked like Christmas, and the
+faces, too.</p>
+
+<p>"I shall die with my head on the hair brush,"
+Clover declared, and Mitchell went down on his
+knees and kissed Aunt Mary's hand.</p>
+
+<p>"You must all come an' see me if you ever go
+anywhere near," said the old lady. "Now
+promise."</p>
+
+<p>"We promise," they yelled in unison, and then
+they asked in beautiful rhythm "What's the matter
+with Aunt Mary?" and yelled the answer
+"She's all right!" with a fervor that nearly blew
+out the window.</p>
+
+<p>"I declare," Aunt Mary exclaimed, as the
+echoes settled back among the furniture, "when
+I think of Lucinda seems as if&mdash;" she paused;
+further speech was for the nonce impossible.</p>
+
+<p>"The carriages are ready," Janice announced
+at the door, and from then until they reached the
+train all was confusion and bustle.
+<pb n="228" /><anchor id="Pg228" /></p>
+
+<p>Only the train whistle could drown the farewells
+which they poured into her ear-trumpet, and
+when they could hover in her drawing-room no
+longer they stood outside the window as long as
+the window was there to stand outside of. And
+then they watched it until it was out of sight, and
+after that turned solemnly away.</p>
+
+<p>"By grab!" said Burnett, "I think she ought
+to leave us all fortunes. I never was so completely
+done up in my life."</p>
+
+<p>"My throat's blistered," said Clover feebly;
+"I'm going to stand on my head and gargle with
+salve until my throat's healed."</p>
+
+<p>"I shall never shine on the team again," said
+Mitchell. "I shall hire out for bleacher work.
+He who has successfully conversed with Aunt
+Mary need not fear to attack a Wagner Opera
+single-handed."</p>
+
+<p>Jack did not say anything. His heart was
+athirst for Mrs. Rosscott.</p>
+
+<p>She was back in her own library the next night,
+and he rushed thither as soon as his first day's
+labor was over. She was prettier and her eyes
+were sweeter and brighter than ever as she rose
+to meet him and held out&mdash;first one hand, and
+then both. He took the one hand and then the
+two and the longing that possessed him was so
+overwhelming that only his acute consideration
+<pb n="229" /><anchor id="Pg229" />for all she was to him kept him from taking more
+yet.</p>
+
+<p>"And the week's over," she said, when she had
+dragged her fingers out of his and gone and nestled
+down upon the divan, among the pillows that
+rivaled each other in their attempts to get closer
+to her, "the week's all over and our aunt is
+gone."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," he said, rolling his favorite chair up
+near to her seat, "all is over and well over."</p>
+
+<p>She smiled and he smiled too.</p>
+
+<p>"She must have enjoyed it," she said thoughtfully.</p>
+
+<p>"Enjoyed it!" said Jack. "She won't like Paradise
+in comparison."</p>
+
+<p>"And you've been a good boy," said Mrs. Rosscott,
+regarding him merrily. "You've played
+your part well."</p>
+
+<p>He rose to his feet and put his hand to his
+temple.</p>
+
+<p>"I salute my general," he said. "I was well
+trained in the maneuver."</p>
+
+<p>"It's odd," said Mrs. Rosscott thoughtfully.
+"It was really so simple. We are only women
+after all, whether it is I&mdash;or Aunt Mary&mdash;or all
+the rest of the world. We do so crave the knowledge
+that someone cares for us&mdash;for our hours&mdash;for
+our pleasures. It isn't the bonbons&mdash;it's that
+<pb n="230" /><anchor id="Pg230" />someone troubled to buy the bonbons because he
+thought that they would please <hi rend="font-style: italic">us</hi>."</p>
+
+<p>"Doesn't a man have the same feeling?" Jack
+asked. "It isn't the tea we come for&mdash;it's the
+knowledge that someone bothers to make it and
+sugar it and cream it."</p>
+
+<p>"I wasn't laughing," said she.</p>
+
+<p>"I wasn't laughing either," said he.</p>
+
+<p>"But it's true," she went on, "and I think the
+solution of many unhappy puzzles lies there. Don't
+forget if you ever have a wife to pay lots of attention
+to her."</p>
+
+<p>"I always have paid lots of attention to her,
+haven't I?" he demanded.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Rosscott shook her head.</p>
+
+<p>"We won't discuss that," she said. "We'll
+stick to Aunt Mary. Aunt Mary is a rock whose
+foundation is firm; when it comes to your relations
+toward other women&mdash;" she stopped,
+shrugging her shoulders, and he understood.</p>
+
+<p>"But it's going to come out all right now, I'm
+sure," she went on after a minute, "and I'm so
+glad&mdash;so very glad&mdash;that the chance was given
+to me to right the wrong that I was the
+cause of."</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: center"><anchor id="image06" />
+<figure rend="w95" url="images/image06.png">
+<head rend="text-align: center">"'And now the fun's all over and the work begins,' she said, looking down."</head>
+<figDesc>Illustration 6</figDesc></figure></p><p></p>
+
+<p>He looked at her and his eyes almost burned,
+they were so strong in their leaping desire to fling
+himself at her feet and adore her goodness and
+<pb n="231" /><anchor id="Pg231" />sweetness and worldliness and wisdom from that
+vantage-ground of worship.</p>
+
+<p>She choked a little at the glance and put her
+hands together in her lap with a quick catching at
+self-control.</p>
+
+<p>"And now the fun's all over and the work
+begins," she said, looking down.</p>
+
+<p>"I know that," he asseverated.</p>
+
+<p>She lifted up her eyes and looked at him so very
+kindly. And then&mdash;after a little pause to gain
+command of word and thought she spoke again,
+slowly.</p>
+
+<p>"Listen," she said, this time very softly, but
+very seriously. "I want to tell you one thing and I
+want to tell it to you now. I had a good and sufficient
+reason for helping you out with Aunt Mary;
+but&mdash;" She hesitated.</p>
+
+<p>"But?" he asked.</p>
+
+<p>"But I've no reason at all for helping your Aunt
+Mary out with you, unless you prove worthy of
+her, and&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"And?"</p>
+
+<p>She looked at him, and shook her head slightly.</p>
+
+<p>"I won't say 'and of me,'" she said finally.</p>
+
+<p>"Why not?" he asked, a storm of tempestuous
+impatience raging behind his lips. "Do say it,"
+he pleaded.</p>
+
+<p>"No, I can't say it. It wouldn't be right.
+<pb n="232" /><anchor id="Pg232" />I don't mean it, and so I won't say it. I'll only
+tell you that I can promise nothing as things
+are, and that unless you go at life from now on
+with a tremendous energy I never shall even dream
+of a possible promising."</p>
+
+<p>He rose to his feet and towered above her, tall
+and straight and handsome, and very grave.</p>
+
+<p>"All right," he said simply. "I'll remember."</p>
+
+<p>Ever so much later that evening he rose to bid
+her good-night.</p>
+
+<p>"Whatever comes, you've been an angel to me,"
+he said in that hasty five seconds that her hand was
+his.</p>
+
+<p>"Shall I ever regret it?" she asked, looking up
+to his eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"Never," he declared earnestly, "never,
+never. I can swear that, and I shall be able to
+swear the same thing when I'm as old as my Aunt
+Mary."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Rosscott lowered her eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"Who could ask more?" she said softly.</p>
+
+<p>"I could," said Jack&mdash;"but I'll wait first."</p>
+</div>
+<pb n="233" /><anchor id="Pg233" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+
+<head>Chapter Nineteen - Aunt Mary's Return</head>
+
+
+<p>Joshua was at the station to meet his
+mistress, and Lucinda, full to the brim with
+curiosity, sat on the back seat of the carryall.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary quitted the train with a dignity
+which was sufficiently overpowering to counteract
+the effect of her bonnet's being somewhat awry.
+She greeted Joshua with a chill perfunctoriness
+that was indescribable, and her glance glided completely
+over Lucinda and faded away in the open
+country on the further side of her.</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda did not care. Lucinda was of a hardy
+stock and stormy glances neither bent nor broke
+her spirit.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm glad to see you come back looking so
+well," she screamed, when Aunt Mary was in and
+they were off.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary raised her eyebrows in a manner
+that appeared a trifle indignant, and riveted her
+gaze on the hindquarters of the horse.</p>
+
+<p>"I thought it was more like heaven myself,"
+she said coldly. "Not that your opinion matters
+any to me, Lucinda."
+<pb n="234" /><anchor id="Pg234" /></p>
+
+<p>Then she leaned forward and poked the
+driver.</p>
+
+<p>"Joshua!" she said.</p>
+
+<p>Joshua jumped in his seat at the asperity of her
+poke and her tone.</p>
+
+<p>"What is it?" he said hastily.</p>
+
+<p>"Jus' 's soon as we get home I want you to take
+the saw&mdash;that little, sharp one, you know&mdash;and
+dock Billy's tail. Cut it off as close as you can;
+do you hear?"</p>
+
+<p>"I hear," was the startled answer.</p>
+
+<p>"Did you have a good time?" Lucinda had the
+temerity to ask, after a minute.</p>
+
+<p>"I guess I could if I tried," the lady replied;
+"but I'm too tired to try now."</p>
+
+<p>"How did you leave Mr. Jack?"</p>
+
+<p>"I couldn't stay forever, could I?" asked the
+traveler impatiently. "I thought that a week was
+long enough for the first time, anyhow."</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda subsided and the rest of the drive was
+taken in silence. When they reached the house
+Aunt Mary enveloped everything in one glance of
+blended weariness, scorn and contempt, and then
+made short work of getting to bed, where she slept
+the luxurious and dreamless sleep of the unjust until
+late that afternoon.</p>
+
+<p>"My, but she's come back a terror!" Lucinda
+cried to Joshua in a high whisper when he brought
+<pb n="235" /><anchor id="Pg235" />in the trunk. "She looks like nothin' was goin'
+to be good enough for her from now on."</p>
+
+<p>"Nothin' ain't goin' to be good enough for
+her," said Joshua calmly.</p>
+
+<p>"What are we goin' to do, then?" asked
+Lucinda.</p>
+
+<p>"We'll have enough to do," said Joshua, in a
+tone that was portentous in the extreme, and then
+he placed the trunk in its proper position for
+unpacking and went away, leaving Lucinda to
+unpack it.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary awoke just as the faithful servant
+was unrolling the green plaid waist, and the instant
+that she spoke it was plain that her attitude
+toward life in general was become strangely and
+vigorously changed, and that for Lucinda the rack
+was to be newly oiled and freshly racking.</p>
+
+<p>This attitude was not in any degree altered by
+the unexpected arrival of Arethusa that evening.
+Strange tales had reached Arethusa's ears, and she
+had flown on the wings of steam and coal dust to
+see what under the sun it all meant. Aunt Mary
+was not one bit rejoiced to see her and the glare
+which she directed over the edge of the counterpane
+bore testimony to the truth of this statement.</p>
+
+<p>"Whatever did you come for?" she demanded
+inhospitably. "Lucinda didn't send for you, did
+she?"
+<pb n="236" /><anchor id="Pg236" /></p>
+
+<p>Arethusa screamed the best face that she could
+onto her visit, but Aunt Mary listened with an
+inattention that was anything but flattering.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't feel like talkin' over my trip," she said,
+when she saw her niece's lips cease to move. "Of
+course I enjoyed myself because I was with Jack,
+but as to what we did an' said you couldn't understand
+it all if I did tell you, so what's the use of
+botherin'."</p>
+
+<p>Arethusa looked neutral, calm and curious. But
+Aunt Mary frowned and shook her head.</p>
+
+<p>"S'long as you're here, though, I suppose you
+may as well make yourself useful," she said a few
+minutes later. "Come to think of it, there's an
+errand I want you to do for me. I want you to go
+to Boston the very first thing to-morrow morning
+an' buy me some cotton."</p>
+
+<p>Arethusa stared blankly.</p>
+
+<p>"Well," said the aunt, "if you can't hear, you'd
+better take my ear-trumpet and I'll say it over
+again."</p>
+
+<p>"What kind of cotton?" Arethusa yelled.</p>
+
+<p>"Not <hi rend="font-style: italic">stockin's!</hi>" said Aunt Mary; "Cotton!
+Cotton! C-O-T-T-O-N! It beats the Dutch
+how deaf everyone is gettin', an' if I had your ears
+in particular, Arethusa, I'd certainly hire a carpenter
+to get at 'em with a bit-stalk. Jus's if you didn't
+know as well as I do how many stockin's I've got
+<pb n="237" /><anchor id="Pg237" />already! I should think you'd quit bein' so heedless,
+an' use your commonsense, anyhow. I've
+found commonsense a very handy thing in talkin'
+always. Always."</p>
+
+<p>Arethusa launched herself full tilt into the ear-trumpet.</p>
+
+<p>"What&mdash;kind&mdash;of&mdash;cotton?" she asked in that
+key of voice which makes the crowd pause in a
+panic.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary looked disgusted.</p>
+
+<p>"The Boston kind," she said, nipping her lips.</p>
+
+<p>Arethusa took a double hitch on her larynx, and
+tried again.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you mean thread?"</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary's disgust deepened visibly.</p>
+
+<p>"If I meant silk I guess I wouldn't say cotton.
+I might just happen to say silk. I've been in the
+habit of saying silk when I meant silk and cotton
+when I meant cotton, for quite a number of
+years, and I might not have changed to-day&mdash;I
+might just happen to not have. I might not have&mdash;maybe."</p>
+
+<p>Arethusa withered under this bitter irony.</p>
+
+<p>"How many spools do you want?" she asked
+in a meek but piercing howl.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't care," said Aunt Mary loftily. "I
+don't care how many&mdash;or what color&mdash;or what
+number. I just want some Boston cotton, and I
+<pb n="238" /><anchor id="Pg238" />want to see you settin' out to get it pretty promptly
+to-morrow morning."</p>
+
+<p>"But if you only want some cotton," Arethusa
+yelled, with a force which sent crimson waves all
+over her, "why can't I get it in the village?"</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary shot one look at her niece and the
+latter felt the concussion.</p>
+
+<p>"Because&mdash;I&mdash;want&mdash;you&mdash;to&mdash;get&mdash;it&mdash;in&mdash;Boston,"
+she said, filling the breaks between her
+words with a concentrated essence of acerbity such
+as even she had never displayed before. "When
+I say a thing, I mean it pretty generally. Quite
+often&mdash;most always. I want that cotton and it's
+to be bought in Boston. There's a train that goes
+in at seven-forty-five, and if you don't favor the
+idea of ridin' on it you can take the express that
+goes by at six-five."</p>
+
+<p>Arethusa pressed her hands very tightly together
+and carried the discussion no further. She went to
+bed early and rose early the next morning and
+Joshua drove her in town to the seven-forty-five.</p>
+
+<p>"It doesn't seem to me that my aunt is very
+well," the niece said during the drive. "What do
+you think?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't think anything about her," said Joshua
+with great candor. "If I was to give to thinkin'
+I'd o' moved out to Chicago an' been scalpin'
+Indians to-day."
+<pb n="239" /><anchor id="Pg239" /></p>
+
+<p>"I wonder if that trip to New York was good
+for her?" Arethusa wondered mildly.</p>
+
+<p>Joshua flicked Billy with the whip and refused to
+voice any opinion as to New York's effect on his
+mistress.</p>
+
+<p>Arethusa was well on her way to Boston when
+Aunt Mary's bell, rung with a sharp jangle, summoned
+Lucinda to open her bedroom blinds. While
+Lucinda was leaning far out and attempting to
+cause said blinds to catch on the hooks, which
+habitually held them back against the side of the
+house, her mistress addressed her with a suddeness
+which showed that she had awakened with her wits
+surprisingly well in hand.</p>
+
+<p>"Where's Joshua? Is he got back from Arethusa?
+Answer me, Lucinda."</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda drew herself in through the open window
+with an alacrity remarkable for one of her
+years.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, he's back," she yelled.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary looked at her with a sort of incensed
+patience.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, what's he doin'? If he's back, where is
+he? Lucinda, if you knew how hard it is for me to
+keep quiet you'd answer when I asked things. Why
+in Heaven's name don't you say suthin'? Anythin'?
+Anythin' but nothin', that is."</p>
+
+<p>"He's mowin'," Lucinda shrieked.
+<pb n="240" /><anchor id="Pg240" /></p>
+
+<p>"Sewin'!" exclaimed Aunt Mary. "What's he
+sewin'? Where's he sewin'? Have you stopped
+doin' his darnin'?"</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda gathered breath by compressing her
+sides with her hands, and then replied, directing her
+voice right into the ear-trumpet:</p>
+
+<p>"He's mowin' the back lawn."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary winced and shivered.</p>
+
+<p>"My heavens, Lucinda!" she exclaimed,
+sharply. "I wish't there was a school to teach outsiders
+the use of an ear-trumpet. They can't seem
+to hit the medium between either mumblin' or
+splittin' one's ear drums."</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda was too much out of breath from her
+effort to attempt any audible penitence. Her mistress
+continued:</p>
+
+<p>"Well, you find him wherever he is, and tell
+him to harness up the buggy and go and get Mr.
+Stebbins as quick as ever he can. Hurry!"</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda exited with a promptitude that fulfilled
+all that her lady's heart could wish. She found
+Joshua whetting his scythe.</p>
+
+<p>"She wants Mr. Stebbins right off," said
+Lucinda.</p>
+
+<p>"Then she'll get Mr. Stebbins right off," said
+Joshua. And he headed immediately for the barn.</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda ran along beside him. It did seem to
+Lucinda as if in compensation for her slavery to
+<pb n="241" /><anchor id="Pg241" />Aunt Mary she might have had a sympathizer in
+Joshua.</p>
+
+<p>"I guess she wants to change her will," she
+panted, very much out of breath.</p>
+
+<p>"Then she'll change her will," said Joshua.
+And as his steady gait was much quicker than poor
+Lucinda's halting amble, and as he saw no occasion
+to alter it, the conversation between them dwindled
+into space then and there.</p>
+
+<p>Half an hour later Billy went out of the drive
+at a swinging pace and an hour after that Mr.
+Stebbins was brought captive to Aunt Mary's
+throne.</p>
+
+<p>She welcomed him cordially; Lucinda was
+promptly locked out, and then the old lady and her
+lawyer spent a momentous hour together. Mr.
+Stebbins was taken into his client's fullest confidence;
+he was regaled with enough of the week's
+history to guess the rest; and he foresaw the outcome
+as he had foreseen it from the moment of the
+rupture.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary was very sincere in owning up to her
+own past errors.</p>
+
+<p>"I made a big mistake about the life that boy
+was leadin'," she said in the course of the conversation.
+"He took me everywhere where he was in
+the habit of goin', an' so far from its bein' wicked,
+I never enjoyed myself so much in my life. There
+<pb n="242" /><anchor id="Pg242" />ain't no harm in havin' fun, an' it does cost a lot of
+money. I can understand it all now, an' as I'm a
+great believer in settin' wrong right whenever you
+can, I want Jack put right in my will right off. I
+want&mdash;" and then were unfolded the glorious
+possibilities of the future for her youngest, petted
+nephew. He was not only to be reinstated in the
+will, but he was to reign supreme. The other four
+children were to be rich&mdash;very rich,&mdash;but Jack was
+to be <hi rend="font-style: italic">the</hi> heir.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Stebbins was well pleased. He was very
+fond of Jack and had always been particularly
+patient with him on that account. He felt that this
+was a personal reward of merit, for it cannot be
+denied that Jack had certainly cashed very large
+checks on the bank of his forbearance.</p>
+
+<p>When all was finished, and Joshua and Lucinda
+had been called in and had duly affixed their signatures
+to the important document, the buggy was
+brought to the door again and Mr. Stebbins stepped
+in and allowed himself to be replaced where they
+had taken him from.</p>
+
+<p>Joshua returned alone.</p>
+
+<p>"There, what did I tell you!" said Lucinda,
+who was waiting for him behind the wood-house,&mdash;"she
+did want to change her will."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, she changed it, didn't she?" said
+Joshua.
+<pb n="243" /><anchor id="Pg243" /></p>
+
+<p>"I guess she wants to give him all she's got,
+since that week in New York," said Lucinda.</p>
+
+<p>"Then she'll give him all she's got," said
+Joshua.</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda's eyes grew big.</p>
+
+<p>"An' she'll give it to you, too, if you don't look
+out and stay where you can hear her bell if she
+rings it," Joshua added, with his usual frankness,
+and then he whipped up Billy and drove on to the
+barn.</p>
+
+<p>Arethusa returned late in the afternoon, very
+warm, very wilted. Aunt Mary looked over the
+cotton purchase, and deigned to approve.</p>
+
+<p>"But, my heavens, Arethusa," she exclaimed
+immediately afterwards, "if you had any idea how
+dirty and dusty and altogether awful you do look,
+you wouldn't be able to get to soap and water fast
+enough."</p>
+
+<p>At that poor Arethusa sighed, and, gathering up
+her hat, and hat-pins, and veil, and gloves, and
+purse, and handkerchief, went away to wash.</p>
+</div>
+<pb n="244" /><anchor id="Pg244" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+
+<head>Chapter Twenty - Jack's Joy</head>
+
+
+<p>About the first of July many agreeable things
+happened.</p>
+
+<p>One was that Mr. Stebbins found it advisable
+to address a discreet letter to John Watkins,
+Jr., Denham, conveying the information that although
+he must not count unduly upon the future,
+still, if he behaved himself, he might with safety
+allow his expenditures to mount upward monthly to
+a certain limit. This was the way in which Aunt
+Mary salved her conscience and saved her pride all
+at once.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't want him to think that I don't mean
+things when I say 'em," she had carefully explained
+to Mr. Stebbins, "but I can't bear to think that
+there's anybody in New York without money
+enough to have a good time there."</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Stebbins had made a note of the sum which
+the allowance was to compass and had promised to
+write the letter at once.</p>
+
+<p>"What did you do the last time you were in the
+city?" Aunt Mary asked.</p>
+
+<p>"I was much occupied with business," said the
+<pb n="245" /><anchor id="Pg245" />lawyer, "but I found time to visit the Metropolitan
+Museum of Art and&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Good gracious!" exclaimed Aunt Mary,
+"who was takin' you 'round! I never had a second
+for any museums or arts;&mdash;you ought to have seen
+a vaudeville, or that gondola place! I was ferried
+around four times and the music lasted all
+through." She stopped and reflected. "I guess
+you can make that money a hundred a month
+more," she said slowly. "I don't want the boy
+to ever feel stinted or have to run in debt."</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Stebbins smiled, and the result was that Jack
+began to pay up the bills for his aunt's entertainment
+very much more rapidly than he had anticipated
+doing.</p>
+
+<p>Another pleasant thing was that a week or so
+later&mdash;very soon after Mrs. Rosscott had given
+up her town house and returned to the protection
+of the parental slate-tiles&mdash;Burnett's father, a
+peppery but jovial old gentleman (we all know
+the kind), suddenly asked why Bob never came
+home any more. This action on the part of the
+head of the house being tantamount to the completest
+possible forgiveness and obliviousness of the
+past, Burnett's mother, of whom the inquiry had
+been made, wept tears of sincerest joy and wrote
+to the youngest of her flock to return to the ancestral
+fold just as soon as he possibly could. He
+<pb n="246" /><anchor id="Pg246" />came, and as a result, a fortnight later Jack came,
+and Mitchell came, and Clover came. Mrs. Rosscott,
+as we have previously stated, was already
+there, and so were Maude Lorne and a great many
+others. Some of the others were pretty girls and
+Burnett and two of his friends found plenty to
+amuse them, but Burnett's dearest friend, his
+bosom friend, his Fidus Achates, found no one to
+amuse him, because he was in earnest, and had eyes
+for no feminine prettiness, his sight being dazzled
+by the radiance of one surpassing loveliness. He
+had worked tremendously hard the first month of
+daily laboring, and felt he deserved a reward. Be
+it said for Jack that the reward of which Aunt
+Mary had the bestowing counted for very little
+with him except in its relation to the far future.
+The real goal which he was striving toward, the
+real laurels that he craved&mdash;Ah! they lay in
+another direction.</p>
+
+<p>Middle July is a lovely time to get off among the
+trees and grass, and lie around in white flannels or
+white muslins, just as the case may be. It was too
+warm to do much else than that, and Heaven knows
+that Jack desired nothing better, as long as his goddess
+smiled upon him.</p>
+
+<p>It was curious about his goddess. She seemed to
+grow more beautiful every time that he saw her.
+Perhaps it was her native air that gave her that
+<pb n="247" /><anchor id="Pg247" />charming flush; perhaps it was the joy of being at
+home again; perhaps it was&mdash;no, he didn't dare
+to hope that. Not yet. Not even with all that she
+had done for him fresh in his memory. The
+humility of true love was so heavy on his heart that
+his very dreams were dulled with hopelessness, the
+majority of them seeming too vividly dyed in Paradise
+hues for their fulfillment in daily life to ever
+appear possible. But still he was very, very happy
+to be there with her&mdash;beside her&mdash;and to hear her
+voice and look into her eyes whenever the trouble
+some "other people" would leave them alone together.
+And she did seem happy, too. And so
+rejoiced that the tide of Aunt Mary's wrath had
+been successfully turned. And so rejoiced that he
+was at work, even in the face of her hopes as to his
+college career. And also so rejoiced to take up
+the gay, careless thread of their mutual pleasure
+again.</p>
+
+<p>The morning after the gathering of the party
+was Saturday and an ideal day&mdash;that sort of ideal
+day when house parties naturally sift into pairs and
+then fade away altogether. The country surrounding
+our particular party was densely wooded and
+not at all settled, the woods were laid out in a
+fascinating system of walks and benches which in
+no case commanded views of one another, and the
+shade overhead was the shade of July and as propitious
+<pb n="248" /><anchor id="Pg248" />to rest as it was to motion. Mitchell took a
+girl in gray and two sets of golf clubs and started
+out in the opposite direction from the links, Clover
+took a girl in green and a camera and went another
+way, Burnett took a girl in a riding habit and two
+saddle horses and followed the horses' noses
+whither they led, and Jack&mdash;Jack smoked cigarettes
+on the piazza and waited&mdash;waited.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Rosscott came out after a while and asked
+him why he didn't go to walk also.</p>
+
+<p>"Just what I was thinking as to yourself," he
+said, very boldly as to voice, and very beseechingly
+as to eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I'm so busy," she said, laughing up into
+his eyes and then laughing down at the ground&mdash;"you
+see I'm the only married daughter to help
+mamma."</p>
+
+<p>"But you've been helping all the morning," he
+complained, "and besides how can you help? One
+would think that your mother was beating eggs or
+turning mattresses."</p>
+
+<p>"I have to work harder than that," said Mrs.
+Rosscott; "I have to make people know one another
+and like one another and not all want to
+make love to the same girl."</p>
+
+<p>"You can't help their all wanting to make love
+to the same girl," said Jack; "the more you try
+to convince them of their folly the deeper in love
+<pb n="249" /><anchor id="Pg249" />they are bound to fall. I'm an illustration of
+that myself."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Rosscott looked at him then and curved her
+mouth sweetly.</p>
+
+<p>"You do say such pretty things," she said. "I
+don't see how you've learned so much in so little
+time. Why, General Jiggs in there is three times
+your age and he tangles himself awfully when he
+tries to be sweet."</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps his physician has recommended gymnastics,"
+said Jack.</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps," said Mrs. Rosscott laughing, and
+then she turned as if to go in.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, don't," said her lover, barring the way
+with great suddenness; "you really mustn't, you
+know. I've been patient for so long and been good
+for so long and I must be rewarded&mdash;I really
+must. Do come out with me somewhere&mdash;anywhere&mdash;for
+only a half-hour,&mdash;please."</p>
+
+<p>She looked at him.</p>
+
+<p>"Won't Maude do?" she asked.</p>
+
+<p>"No, she won't," he said beneath his breath;
+"whatever do you suggest such a thing for? You
+make me ready to tell you to your face that you
+want to go as bad as I want you to go, but I shan't
+say so because I know too much."</p>
+
+<p>"You do know a lot, don't you?" said she, with
+an expression of great respect; "why, if you were
+<pb n="250" /><anchor id="Pg250" />to dare to hint to me that I wanted to go out with
+you instead of staying in and talking Rembrandt
+with Mr. Morley, I'd never forgive you the longest
+day I live."</p>
+
+<p>"I know you wouldn't," said he, "and you may
+be quite sure that I shall not say it. On the contrary
+I shall merely implore you to forget your own
+pleasure in consideration of mine."</p>
+
+<p>"I really ought to devote the morning to Mr.
+Morley," she said meditatively; "it's such an
+honor his coming here, you know."</p>
+
+<p>"A little bit of a whiskered monkey," said Jack
+in great disgust; "an honor, indeed!"</p>
+
+<p>"He's a very great man," said Mrs. Rosscott;
+"every sort of institution has given him a few
+letters to put after his name, and some have given
+him whole syllables."</p>
+
+<p>"You must get a straw hat, you know, or a sun-shade;
+it will be hot in half an hour."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I couldn't stay out half an hour; fifteen
+minutes would be the longest."</p>
+
+<p>"All right, fifteen minutes, then, but do hurry."</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't say that I would go," she said, opening
+her eyes; "and yet I feel myself gone." She
+laughed lightly.</p>
+
+<p>"Do hurry," he pleaded freshly; "oh, I am so
+hungry to&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>She disappeared within doors and five minutes
+<pb n="251" /><anchor id="Pg251" />later came back with one of those charming floppy
+English garden hats, tied with a muslin bow beneath
+her dimpled chin.</p>
+
+<p>"This is so good of me," she said, as they went
+down the steps.</p>
+
+<p>"Very good, heavenly good," said Jack; and
+then neither spoke again until they had crossed the
+Italian garden and entered the American wood.
+She looked into his eyes then and smiled half-shyly
+and half-provokingly.</p>
+
+<p>"You are such a baby," she said; "such a baby!
+Do ask me why and I'll tell you half a dozen whys.
+I'd love to."</p>
+
+<p>The path was the smoothest and shadiest of
+forest paths, the hour was the sweetest and sunniest
+of summer hours, the moment was the brightest and
+happiest of all the moments which they had known
+together&mdash;up to now.</p>
+
+<p>"Do tell me," he said; "I'm wild to know."</p>
+
+<p>He took her hand and laid it on his arm. For
+that little while she was certainly his and his alone,
+and no man had a better claim to her. "Go on
+and tell me," he repeated.</p>
+
+<p>"There is one big reason and there are lots of
+little ones. Which will you have first?"</p>
+
+<p>"The little ones, please."</p>
+
+<p>"Then, listen; you are like a baby because you
+are impatient, because you are spoilt, because when
+<pb n="252" /><anchor id="Pg252" />you want anything you think that you must have
+it, and because you like to be walked with."</p>
+
+<p>"Are those the little reasons," he said when she
+paused; "and what's the big one?"</p>
+
+<p>"The big one," she said slowly; "Oh, I'm
+afraid that you won't like the big one!"</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps it will be all the better for me if I
+don't," he laughed; "at any rate I beg and pray
+and plead to know it."</p>
+
+<p>"What a dear boy!" she laughed. "If you
+want to know as badly as that, I'd have to tell
+you anyhow, whether I wanted to or not. It's
+because I'm so much the oldest."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh!" said Jack, much disappointed. "Is
+that why?"</p>
+
+<p>"And then too," she continued, "you seem even
+younger because of your being so unsophisticated."</p>
+
+<p>"So I am unsophisticated, am I?" he asked
+grimly.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," she said nodding; "at least you impress
+me so."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm glad of that," he said after a little pause.</p>
+
+<p>She looked up quickly.</p>
+
+<p>"Truly?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, indeed."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh," she laughed, "if you say that, then I
+shall know that you are less unsophisticated than
+I thought you were."
+<pb n="253" /><anchor id="Pg253" /></p>
+
+<p>"Why so?" he asked surprised.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't you know that meek, mild men always
+try to insinuate that they are regular fire-eaters,
+and vice versa? Well, it's so&mdash;and it's so every
+time. There was once a man who was kissing me,
+and he drew my hands up around his neck in such
+a clever, gentle way that I was absolutely positive
+that he had had no end of practice drawing arms
+up in that way and I just couldn't help saying:
+'Oh, how many women you must have kissed!'
+What do you think he answered?&mdash;merely smiled
+and said: 'Not so many as you might imagine.'
+He showed how much he knew by the way he
+answered, for oh! he had. I found that out
+afterwards."</p>
+
+<p>"What did you do then?" he asked, frowning.
+"Cut him?"</p>
+
+<p>"No; I married him. Why, of course I was
+going to marry him when he kissed me, or I
+wouldn't have let him kiss me. Do you suppose
+I let men kiss me as a general thing? What are
+you thinking of?"</p>
+
+<p>"I was thinking of you," he said. "It's a
+horrible habit I've fallen into lately. But, never
+mind; keep on talking."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't remember what I was saying," she said.
+"Oh, yes, I do too. About men, about good and
+bad men. Now, even if I didn't know how much
+<pb n="254" /><anchor id="Pg254" />trouble you'd made in the world, I'd divine it all
+the instant that you were willing to admit being
+unsophisticated. People always crave to be the
+opposite of what they are; the drug shops couldn't
+sell any peroxide of hydrogen if that wasn't so."</p>
+
+<p>He laughed and forgot his previous vexation.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, look at me," she continued. "Oh, I
+didn't mean really&mdash;I mean figuratively; but
+never mind. Now, I'm nothing but a bubble and a
+toy, and I ache to be considered a philosopher.
+Don't you remember my telling you what a philosopher
+I was, the very first conversation that we
+ever had together? I do try so hard to delude
+myself into thinking I am one, that some days I'm
+almost sure that I really am one. Last night, for
+instance, I was thinking how nice it would be for
+my Cousin Maude to marry you."</p>
+
+<p>"Ye gods!" cried Jack.</p>
+
+<p>"She's so very rich," Mrs. Rosscott pursued
+calmly; "and you know the law of heredity is an
+established scientific fact now, so you could feel
+quite safe as to her nose skipping the next
+generation."</p>
+
+<p>Jack was audibly amused.</p>
+
+<p>"It's not anything to laugh over," his companion
+continued gravely. "It's something to ponder
+and pray over. If I were Maude I should
+be on my knees about it most of the time."
+<pb n="255" /><anchor id="Pg255" /></p>
+
+<p>"Nothing can help her now," said Jack. "Her
+parents have been and gone and done it, as far as
+she's concerned, forever. Prayer won't change her
+nose, although age may broaden it still more."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't you believe that nothing can help her
+now. A good-looking husband could help her lots.
+I've seen homelier girls than she go just everywhere&mdash;on
+account of their husbands, you know.
+That was where my philosophy came in."</p>
+
+<p>"I'd quite forgotten your philosophy." He
+laughed again as he spoke. "I must apologize.
+Please tell me more about it."</p>
+
+<p>She laughed, too.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm going to. You see, I was lying there,
+looking out at the moon, and thinking how nice it
+would be for Maude to marry you."</p>
+
+<p>"Did you consider me at all?" he interposed.</p>
+
+<p>"How you interrupt!" she declared, in exasperation.
+"You never let me finish."</p>
+
+<p>"I am dumb."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I thought how nice it would be for
+Maude to marry you. You'd have a baron for a
+papa-in-law, and an heiress to balance Aunt Mary
+with. If you went into consumption and had to
+retreat to Arizona for a term of years, the climate
+could not ruin her complexion as it would m&mdash;most
+people's. And she's so ready to have you that it's
+almost pathetic. I can't imagine anything more
+<pb n="256" /><anchor id="Pg256" />awful than to be as ready to marry a man who is'nt
+at all desirous of so doing, as Maude is of marrying
+you. But if you would only think about it. I
+thought and thought about it last night and the
+longer I thought the more it seemed like such a nice
+arrangement all around; and then&mdash;all of a sudden&mdash;do
+you know I began to wonder if I was
+philosopher enough to enjoy being matron-of-honor
+to Maude and really&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"At the wedding I could have kissed you!" he
+exclaimed, and suddenly subsided at the look with
+which she withered his boldness.</p>
+
+<p>"And really I wasn't altogether sure; and then,
+it occurred to me that nothing on the face of the
+earth would ever persuade you to marry Maude.
+And I saw my card castle go smashing down, and
+then I saw that I really am a philosopher, after all,
+for&mdash;for I didn't mind a bit!"</p>
+
+<p>Jack threw his head back and roared.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh," he said after a minute, "you are so
+refreshing. You ruffle me up just to give me the
+joy of smoothing me down, don't you?"</p>
+
+<p>"I do what I can to amuse you," she said,
+demurely. "You are my father's guest and my
+brother's friend, and so I ought to&mdash;oughtn't I?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," he said, "I have a two-fold claim on
+you if you look at it that way and some day I mean
+to go to work and unfold still another."
+<pb n="257" /><anchor id="Pg257" /></p>
+
+<p>They had come to a delightful little nook where
+the trees sighed gently, "Sit down," and there
+seemed to be no adequate reason for refusing the
+invitation.</p>
+
+<p>"Let's rest, I know you're tired," the young
+man said gently, and the next minute found his
+companion down upon the soft grass, her back
+against a twisted tree-root and her hands about her
+knees.</p>
+
+<p>He threw himself down beside her and the hush
+and the song of mid-summer were all about them,
+filling the air, and their ears, and their hearts all at
+once.</p>
+
+<p>Presently he took her hand up out of the grass
+where its fingers had wandered to hide themselves,
+and kissed it. She looked at him reprovingly when
+it was too late, and shook her head.</p>
+
+<p>"Such a little one!" he said.</p>
+
+<p>"I call it a pretty big one," she answered.</p>
+
+<p>"I mean the hand&mdash;not the kiss," he said
+smiling.</p>
+
+<p>"You really are sophisticated," she told him.
+"Only fancy if you had reversed those nouns!"</p>
+
+<p>"I know," he said; "but I've kissed hands before.
+You see, I'm more talented than you think."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't be silly," she said smiling. "I really
+am beginning to think very well of you. You don't
+want me to cease to, do you?"
+<pb n="258" /><anchor id="Pg258" /></p>
+
+<p>"Why do women always say 'Don't be
+silly'?" he queried. "I wish I could find one
+who wanted to be very original, and so said, 'Do
+be silly', just for a change."</p>
+
+<p>"Dear me, if women were to beg men to be silly
+what would happen?" Mrs. Rosscott exclaimed.
+"The majority are so very foolish without any
+special egging on."</p>
+
+<p>"But it is so dreadfully time-worn&mdash;that one
+phrase."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, if it comes to originality," she answered,
+"men are not original, either. Whenever they lie
+down in the shade, they always begin to talk
+nonsense. You reflect a bit and see if that isn't
+invariably so."</p>
+
+<p>"But nonsense is such fun to talk in the shade,"
+he said, spreading her fingers out upon his own
+broad palm. "So many things are so next to
+heavenly in the shade."</p>
+
+<p>"You ought not to hold my hand."</p>
+
+<p>"I know it."</p>
+
+<p>"I am astonished that you do not remember
+your Aunt Mary's teaching you better."</p>
+
+<p>"She never forbade my holding your hand."</p>
+
+<p>"Suppose anyone should come suddenly down
+the path?"</p>
+
+<p>"They would see us and turn and go back."</p>
+
+<p>"To tell everyone&mdash;"
+<pb n="259" /><anchor id="Pg259" /></p>
+
+<p>"What?"</p>
+
+<p>"A lie."</p>
+
+<p>Jack laughed, folded her hand hard in his, and
+drew himself into a sitting posture beside her
+knee.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, don't be silly," she said with earnest
+anxiety. "I won't have it. It's putting false ideas
+in your head, because I'm really only playing, you
+know."</p>
+
+<p>"The shadow of love," he suggested.</p>
+
+<p>"Quite so."</p>
+
+<p>"And if&mdash;" He leaned quite near.</p>
+
+<p>"Not by any means," she exclaimed, springing
+quickly to her feet. "Come&mdash;come! It's quite
+time that we were going back to the house."</p>
+
+<p>"Why must we?" he remonstrated.</p>
+
+<p>"You know why," she said. "It's time we were
+being sensible. When a man gets as near as you
+are, I prefer to be <hi rend="font-style: italic">en promenade</hi>. And don't let us
+be foolish any longer, either. Let us be cool and
+worldly. How much money has your aunt, anyhow?"</p>
+
+<p>Jack had risen, too.</p>
+
+<p>"What impertinence!" he ejaculated.</p>
+
+<p>"Not at all," she said. "Maude has so much
+money of her own that I ask in a wholly disinterested
+spirit."</p>
+
+<p>"She's very rich," said Jack. "But if your
+<pb n="260" /><anchor id="Pg260" />spirit is so disinterested, what do you want to know
+for?"</p>
+
+<p>"This is a world of chance, and the main chance
+in a woman's case is alimony; so it's always nice to
+know how to figure it."</p>
+
+<p>"It's a slim chance for your cousin," said Jack.
+"Do tell her that I said so."</p>
+
+<p>"No, I shan't," said she perversely. "I won't
+be a go-between for you and her. Besides, as to
+that alimony, there are more heiresses than Maude
+in our family."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," said he; "I know that. But I know,
+too, that there is one among them who need never
+figure on getting any alimony out of me. If I ever
+get the iron grasp of the law on that heiress, I can
+assure you that only her death or mine will ever
+loosen its fangs."</p>
+
+<p>"How fierce you are!" said Mrs. Rosscott.
+"Why do you get so worked up?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh," he exclaimed, with something approaching
+a groan, "I don't mean to be&mdash;but I do care
+so much! And sometimes&mdash;" he caught her
+quickly in his arms, drew her within their strong
+embrace, and kissed her passionately upon the lips
+that had been tantalizing him for five interminable
+months.</p>
+
+<p>He was almost frightened the next second by her
+stillness.
+<pb n="261" /><anchor id="Pg261" /></p>
+
+<p>"Don't be angry," he pleaded.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm not," she murmured, resting very quietly
+with her cheek against his heart. "But you'll have
+to marry me now. My other husband did, you
+know."</p>
+
+<p>"Marry you!" he exclaimed. "Next week?
+To-morrow? This afternoon? You need only
+say when&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, not for years and years," she said, interrupting
+him. "You mustn't dream of such a thing
+for years and years!"</p>
+
+<p>"For years and years!" he cried in astonishment.</p>
+
+<p>"That's what I said," she told him.</p>
+
+<p>He released her in his surprise and stared hard at
+her. And then he seized her again and kissed her
+soundly.</p>
+
+<p>"You don't mean it!" he declared.</p>
+
+<p>"I do mean it!" she declared.</p>
+
+<p>And then she shook her head in a very sweet but
+painfully resolute manner.</p>
+
+<p>"I won't be called a cradle-robber," she said,
+firmly; and at that her companion swore mildly but
+fervently.</p>
+
+<p>"You're so young," she said further; "and not
+a bit settled," she added.</p>
+
+<p>"But you're young, too," he reminded her.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm older than you are," she said.
+<pb n="262" /><anchor id="Pg262" /></p>
+
+<p>"I suppose that you aren't any more settled than
+I am, and that's why you hesitate," he said grimly.</p>
+
+<p>"Now that's unworthy of you," she cried; "and
+I have a good mind&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>But the direful words were never spoken, for she
+was in his arms again&mdash;close in his arms; and, as
+he kissed her with a delicious sensation that it was
+all too good to be true, he whispered, laughing:</p>
+
+<p>"I always meant to lord it over my wife, so I'll
+begin by saying: 'Have it your own way, as long
+as I have you.'"</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Rosscott laid her cheek back against his
+coat lapel, and looked up into his eyes with the
+sweetest smile that even he had ever seen upon even
+her face.</p>
+
+<p>"It's a bargain," she murmured.</p>
+</div>
+<pb n="263" /><anchor id="Pg263" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+
+<head>Chapter Twenty-One - The Peace and Quiet of the Country</head>
+
+
+<p>Along in the beginning of the fall Aunt
+Mary began suddenly to grow very feeble
+indeed. After the first week or two it became
+apparent that she would have to be quiet and
+very prudent for some time, and it was when this
+information was imparted to her that the family
+discovered that she had been intending to go to
+New York for the Horse-Show.</p>
+
+<p>"She's awful mad," Lucinda said to Joshua.
+"The doctor says she'll have to stay in bed."</p>
+
+<p>"She won't stay in bed long," said Joshua.</p>
+
+<p>"The doctor says if she don't stay in bed she'll
+die," said Lucinda.</p>
+
+<p>"She won't die," said Joshua.</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda looked at Joshua and felt a keen desire
+to throw her flatiron at him. The world always
+thinks that the Lucindas have no feelings; the
+world never knows how near the flatirons come to
+the Joshuas often and often.</p>
+
+<p>Arethusa came for two days and looked the
+situation well over.</p>
+
+<p>"I think I won't stay," she said to Lucinda,
+<pb n="264" /><anchor id="Pg264" />"but you must write me twice a week and I'll write
+the others."</p>
+
+<p>Then Arethusa departed and Lucinda remained
+alone to superintend things and be superintended
+by Aunt Mary.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary's superintendence waxed extremely
+vigorous almost at once. She had out her writing
+desk, and wrote Jack a letter, as a consequence of
+which everything published in New York was
+mailed to his aunt as soon as it was off the presses.
+Lucinda was set reading aloud and, except when
+the mail came, was hardly allowed to halt for food
+and sleep.</p>
+
+<p>"My heavens above," said the slave to
+Joshua, "it don't seem like I can live with her!"</p>
+
+<p>"You'll live with her," said Joshua.</p>
+
+<p>"It's more as flesh and blood can bear."</p>
+
+<p>"Flesh and blood can bear a good deal more'n
+you think for," said Joshua, and then he delivered
+up two letters and drove off toward the barn.</p>
+
+<p>"If those are letters," said Aunt Mary from her
+pillow the instant she heard the front door close,
+"I'd like 'em. I'm a great believer in readin' my
+own mail, an' another time, Lucinda, I'll thank you
+to bring it as soon as you get it an' not stand out on
+the porch hollyhockin' with Joshua for half an
+hour while I wait."</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda delivered up the letters without demanding
+<pb n="265" /><anchor id="Pg265" />what species of conversational significance
+her mistress attached to the phrase, "holly-hocking."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary turned the letters through eagerly.</p>
+
+<p>"My lands alive!" she said suddenly, "if
+here isn't one from Mitchell,&mdash;the dear boy.
+Well, I never did!&mdash;Lucinda, open the blinds to
+the other window, too&mdash;so I&mdash;can&mdash;see to&mdash;" her
+voice died away,&mdash;she was too deep in the letter to
+recollect what she was saying.</p>
+
+<p>Mitchell wrote:</p>
+
+<quote rend="display">
+<p><hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">My Dear Miss Watkins</hi>:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>We are sitting in a row with ashes on the heads
+of our cigarettes mourning, mourning, mourning,
+because we have had the news that you are ill. As
+usual it is up to me to express our feelings, so I have
+decided to mail them and the others agree to pay
+for the ink.</p>
+
+<p>I wish to remark at once that we did not sleep any
+last night. Jack told us at dinner, and we spent the
+evening making a melancholy tour of places where
+we had been with you. If you had only been with
+us! The roof gardens are particularly desolate
+without you. The whole of the city seems to realize
+it. The watering carts weep from dawn to
+dark. All the lamp-posts are wearing black. It
+is sad at one extreme and sadder at the other.</p>
+
+<p>You must brace up. If you can't do that try a
+belt. Life is too short to spend in bed. My
+motto has always been "Spend freely everywhere
+else." At present I recommend anything calculated
+to mend you. I may in all modesty mention
+<pb n="266" /><anchor id="Pg266" />that just before Christmas I shall be traveling
+north and shall then adore to stop and cheer you
+up a bit if you invite me. I have made it an
+invariable rule, however, not to stay over night
+anywhere when I am not invited, so I hope you will
+consider my feelings and send me an invitation.</p>
+
+<p>My eyes fill as I think what it will be to sit
+beside you and recall dear old New York. It will
+be the next best thing to being run over by an automobile,
+won't it?</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: right">Yours, with fondest recollections,</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: right">HERBERT KENDRICK MITCHELL.</p>
+</quote>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary laid the letter down.</p>
+
+<p>"Lucinda," she said in a curiously veiled tone,
+"give me a handkerchief&mdash;a big one. As big a
+one as I've got."</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda did as requested.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, go away," said Aunt Mary.</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda went away. She went straight to
+Joshua.</p>
+
+<p>"She's had a letter an' read it an' it's made her
+cry," she said.</p>
+
+<p>"That's better'n if it made her mad," said
+Joshua, who was warming his hands at the stove.</p>
+
+<p>"I ain't sure that it won't make her mad later,"
+said Lucinda. "Say, but she is a Tartar since she
+came back. Seems some days's if I couldn't
+live."</p>
+
+<p>"You'll live," said Joshua, and, as his hands
+were now well-warmed, he went out again.
+<pb n="267" /><anchor id="Pg267" /></p>
+
+<p>After a while Aunt Mary's bell jangled violently
+and Lucinda had to hurry back.</p>
+
+<p>"Lucinda, did the doctor say anythin' to you
+about how long he thought I might be sick?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, he did."</p>
+
+<p>"What did he say? I want to know jus' what
+he said. Speak up!"</p>
+
+<p>"He said he didn't have no idea how long you'd
+be sick."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary threw a look at Lucinda that ought
+to have annihilated her.</p>
+
+<p>"I want to see Jack," she said. "Bring my
+writin' desk. Right off. Quick."</p>
+
+<p>She wrote to Jack, and he came up and spent the
+next Sunday with her, cheering her mightily.</p>
+
+<p>"I wish the others could have come, too," she
+said once an hour all through his visit. Mitchell's
+letter seemed to have bred a tremendous longing
+within her.</p>
+
+<p>"They'll come later," said Jack, with hearty
+good-will. "They all want to come."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know how we could ever have any fun
+up here though," said his aunt sadly. "My
+heavens alive, Jack,&mdash;but this is an awful place to
+live in. And to think that I lived to be seventy
+before I found it out."</p>
+
+<p>Jack took her hand and kissed it. He did sympathize,
+even if he was only twenty-two and longing
+<pb n="268" /><anchor id="Pg268" />unutterably to be somewhere else and kissing someone
+else at that very minute.</p>
+
+<p>"Mitchell wrote me a letter," continued Aunt
+Mary. "He said he was comin'. Well, dear me,
+he can eat mince pie and drive with Joshua when
+he goes for the mail, but I don't know what else I
+can do with him. Oh, if I'd only been born in the
+city!"</p>
+
+<p>Jack kissed her hand again. He didn't know
+what to say. Aunt Mary's lot seemed to border
+upon the tragic just then and there.</p>
+
+<p>The next day he returned to town and Lucinda
+came on duty again. She soon found that the
+nephew's visit had rendered the aunt harder than
+ever to get along with.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm goin' to town jus''s soon as ever I feel well
+enough," she declared aggressively on more than
+one occasion. "An' nex' time I go I'm goin' to
+stay jus''s long as ever I'm havin' a good time.
+Now, don't contradict me, Lucinda, because it's
+your place to hold your tongue. I'm a great believer
+in your holding your tongue, Lucinda."</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda, who certainly never felt the slightest
+inclination toward contradiction, held her tongue,
+and the poor, unhappy one twisted about in bed,
+and bemoaned the quietude of her environment by
+the hour at a time.</p>
+
+<p>"Did you say we had a calf?" she asked suddenly
+<pb n="269" /><anchor id="Pg269" />one day. "Well, why don't you answer?
+When I ask a question I expect an answer. Didn't
+you say we had a calf?"</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda nodded.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I want Joshua to take that calf to the
+blacksmith and have him shod behind an' before
+right off. To-day&mdash;this minute."</p>
+
+<p>"You want the calf shod!" cried Lucinda, suddenly
+alarmed by the fear lest her mistress had gone
+light-headed.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary glared in a way that showed that
+she was far from being out of her usual mind.</p>
+
+<p>"If I said shod, I guess I meant shod," she said,
+icily. "I do sometimes mean what I say. Pretty
+often&mdash;as a usual thing."</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda stood at the foot of the bed, petrified
+and paralyzed.</p>
+
+<p>Then the invalid sat up a little and showed some
+mercy on her servant's very evident fright.</p>
+
+<p>"I want the calf shod," she explained, "so's
+Joshua can run up an' down the porch with him."</p>
+
+<p>So far from ameliorating Lucinda's condition,
+this explanation rendered it visibly worse. Aunt
+Mary contemplated her in silence for a few seconds,
+and she suddenly cried out, in a tone that was full
+of pathos:</p>
+
+<p>"I feel like maybe&mdash;maybe&mdash;the calf'll make
+me think it's horses' feet on the pavement."
+<pb n="270" /><anchor id="Pg270" /></p>
+
+<p>Lucinda rushed from the room.</p>
+
+<p>"She wants the calf shod!" she cried, bursting
+in upon Joshua, who was piling wood.</p>
+
+<p>For once in his life Joshua was shaken out of
+his usual placidity.</p>
+
+<p>"She wants the calf shod!" he repeated blankly.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes."</p>
+
+<p>"You can't shoe a calf."</p>
+
+<p>"But she wants it done."</p>
+
+<p>Joshua regained his self-control.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, well," he said, turning to go on with his
+work, "the calf's gone to the butcher, anyhow.
+Tell her so."</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda went back to Aunt Mary.</p>
+
+<p>"The calf's gone to the butcher," she yelled.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary frowned heavily.</p>
+
+<p>"Then you go an' get a lamp and turn it up too
+high an' leave it," she said,&mdash;"the smell'll make
+me think of automobiles."</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda was appalled. As a practical housekeeper
+she felt that here was a proposition which
+she could not face.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, ain't you goin'?" Aunt Mary asked
+tartly. "Of course if you ain't intendin' to go I'd
+be glad to know it; 'n while you're gone,
+Lucinda, I wish you'd get me the handle to the ice-cream
+freezer an' lay it where I can see it; it'll help
+me believe in the smell."
+<pb n="271" /><anchor id="Pg271" /></p>
+
+<p>Lucinda went away and brought the handle, but
+she did not light the lamp. The Fates were good
+to her, though, for Aunt Mary forgot the lamp in
+her disgust over the appearance of the handle.</p>
+
+<p>"Take it away," she said sharply. "Anybody'd
+know it wasn't an automobile crank. I don't want
+to look like a fool! Well, why ain't you takin' it
+away, Lucinda?"</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda took the crank back to the freezer;
+but as the days passed on, the situation grew
+worse. Aunt Mary slept more and more, and
+awoke to an ever-increasing ratio of belligerency.</p>
+
+<p>Before long Lucinda's third cousin demanded
+her assistance in "moving," and there was nothing
+for poor Arethusa to do but to take up the burden,
+now become a fearfully heavy one.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary was getting to that period in life
+when the nearer the relative the greater the dislike,
+so that when her niece arrived the welcome
+which awaited her was even less cordial than ever.</p>
+
+<p>"Did you bring a trunk?" she asked.</p>
+
+<p>"A small one," replied the visitor.</p>
+
+<p>"That's something to be grateful for," said
+the aunt. "If I'd invited you to visit me, of
+course I'd feel differently about things."</p>
+
+<p>Arethusa accepted this as she accepted all
+things, unpacked, saw Lucinda off, assumed charge
+of the house, and then dragged a rocking chair to
+<pb n="272" /><anchor id="Pg272" />her aunt's bedside and unfolded her sewing. Ere
+she had threaded her needle Aunt Mary was
+sound asleep, and so her niece sewed placidly for an
+hour or more, until, like lightning out of a clear
+sky:</p>
+
+<p>"Arethusa!"</p>
+
+<p>The owner of the name started&mdash;but answered
+immediately:</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, Aunt Mary."</p>
+
+<p>"When I die I want to be buried from a roof
+garden! Don't you forget! You'd better go
+an' write it down. Go now&mdash;go this minute!"</p>
+
+<p>Arethusa shook as if with the discharge of a
+contiguous field battery. She had not had Lucinda's
+gradual breaking-in to her aunt's new trains
+of thought.</p>
+
+<p>"Aunt Mary," she said feebly at last.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary saw her lips moving; she sat up in
+bed and her eyes flashed cinders.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, ain't you goin'?" she asked wrathfully.
+"When I say do a thing, can't it be done? I
+declare it's bad enough to live with a pack of
+idiots without havin' 'em, one an' all, act as if I
+was the idiot!"</p>
+
+<p>Arethusa laid aside her work and rose to quit
+the room. She returned five minutes later with
+pen and ink, but Aunt Mary was now off on
+another tack.
+<pb n="273" /><anchor id="Pg273" /></p>
+
+<p>"I want a bulldog!" she cried imperatively.</p>
+
+<p>"A bulldog!" shrieked her niece, nearly dropping
+what she held in her hands. "What do you
+want a bulldog for?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not a bullfrog!" the old lady corrected; "a
+bulldog. Oh, I do get so sick of your stupidity,
+Arethusa," she said. "What should I or any
+one else want of a bullfrog?"</p>
+
+<p>Arethusa sighed, and the sigh was apparent.</p>
+
+<p>"I'd sigh if I was you," said her aunt. "I certainly
+would. If I was you, Arethusa, I'd certainly
+feel that I had cause to sigh;" and with that
+she sat up and gave her pillow a punch that was
+full of the direst sort of suggestion.</p>
+
+<p>Arethusa did not gainsay the truth of the sighing
+proposition. It was too apparent.</p>
+
+<p>The next day Aunt Mary slept until noon, and
+then opened her eyes and simultaneously declared:</p>
+
+<p>"Next summer I'm goin' to have an automobile!"</p>
+
+<p>Then she looked about and saw that she had
+addressed the air, which made her more mad than
+ever. She rang her bell violently, and Arethusa
+left the lunch table so hastily that she reached the
+bedroom half-choked.</p>
+
+<p>"Next summer I'm goin' to have an automobile,"
+said the old lady angrily. "Now, get me
+some breakfast."
+<pb n="274" /><anchor id="Pg274" /></p>
+
+<p>Her niece went out quickly, and a maid was
+sent in with tea and toast and eggs at once. Their
+effect was to brace the invalid up and make the lot
+of those about her yet more wearing.</p>
+
+<p>"I shall run it myself," she vowed, when Arethusa
+returned; "an' I bet they clear out when
+they see me comin'."</p>
+
+<p>It did seem highly probable.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know how I can live if I don't get
+away from here soon," she declared a few minutes
+later. "You don't appreciate what life is, Arethusa.
+Seems like I'll go mad with wantin' to be
+somewhere else. I can see Jack gets his disposition
+straight from me."</p>
+
+<p>There was a sigh and a pause.</p>
+
+<p>"I shall die," Aunt Mary then declared with
+violence, "if I don't have a change. Arethusa,
+you've got to write to Jack, and tell him to get
+me Granite."</p>
+
+<p>"Granite!" screamed the niece in surprise.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, Granite. She was a maid I had in
+New York. I want her to come here. She must
+come. Tell him to offer her anything, and send
+her C.O.D. If I can have Granite, maybe I'll
+feel some better. You write Jack."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll write to-night," shrieked Arethusa.</p>
+
+<p>"No, you won't," said Aunt Mary; "you'll
+get the ink and write right now. Because I've
+<pb n="275" /><anchor id="Pg275" />been meeker'n Moses all my life is no reason why
+I sh'd be willin' to be downtrodden clear to the
+end. Folks around me'd better begin to look
+sharp an' step lively from now on."</p>
+
+<p>Arethusa went to the desk at once and wrote:</p>
+
+<quote rend="display">
+<p><hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">Dear Jack</hi>:</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary wants the maid that she had when
+she was in New York. For the love of Heaven,
+if the girl is procurable, do get her. Hire her if
+you can and kidnap her if you can't. Lucinda has
+played her usual trick on me and walked off just
+when she felt like it. I never saw Aunt Mary in
+anything like the state of mind that she is, but I
+know one thing&mdash;if you cannot send the maid,
+there'll be an end of me.</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: right">Your loving sister,</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: right">ARETHUSA.</p>
+</quote>
+
+<p>Jack was much perturbed upon receipt of this
+letter. He whistled a little and frowned a great
+deal. But at last he decided to be frank and tell
+the truth to Mrs. Rosscott. To that end he wrote
+her a lengthy note. After two preliminary pages
+so personal that it would not be right to print them
+for public reading, he continued thus:</p>
+
+<quote rend="display">
+<p>I've had a letter from my sister, who is with
+Aunt Mary at present. She says that Aunt Mary
+is not at all well and declares that she must have
+Janice. What under the sun am I to answer?
+Shall I say that the girl has gone to France? I'm
+willing to swear anything rather that put you to
+<pb n="276" /><anchor id="Pg276" />one second's inconvenience. You know that, don't
+you? etc., etc., etc. [just here the letter abruptly
+became personal again].</p>
+</quote>
+
+<p>Jack thought that he knew his fiancée well, but
+he was totally unprepared for such an exhibition
+of sweet
+ness as was testified to by the letter which
+he received in return.</p>
+
+<p>It's first six pages were even more personal than
+his own (being more feminine) and then came this
+paragraph:</p>
+
+<quote rend="display">
+<p>Janice is going to your aunt by to-night's train.
+Now, don't say a word! It is nothing&mdash;nothing&mdash;absolutely
+nothing. Don't you know that I am
+too utterly happy to be able to do anything for anyone
+that you&mdash;etc., etc., etc.</p>
+</quote>
+
+<p>Jack seized his hat and hurried to where his
+lady-love was just then residing. But Janice had
+gone!</p>
+</div>
+<pb n="277" /><anchor id="Pg277" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+
+<head>Chapter Twenty-Two - "Granite"</head>
+
+
+<p>Joshua was despatched to drive through
+mud and rain to bring Aunt Mary's solace
+from the station.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary had herself propped up in bed to be
+ready for the return before Billy's feet had ceased
+to cry splash on the road outside of the gate. Her
+eagerness tinged her pallor pink. It was as if the
+prospect of seeing Janice gave her some of that
+flood of vitality which always seems to ebb and
+flow so richly in the life of a metropolis.</p>
+
+<p>"My gracious heavens, Lucinda" (for Lucinda
+was back now), she said joyfully, "to think that I
+needn't look at you for a week if I don't want to!
+You haven't any idea how tired I am of looking at
+you, Lucinda. If you looked like anything it would
+be different. But you don't."</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda rocked placidly; hers was what is called
+an "even disposition." If it hadn't been, she
+might have led an entirely different life&mdash;in fact,
+she would most certainly have lived somewhere
+else, for she couldn't possibly have lived with Aunt
+Mary.
+<pb n="278" /><anchor id="Pg278" /></p>
+
+<p>The hour that ensued after Joshua's departure
+was so long that it resulted in a nap for the invalid,
+and Lucinda had to wake her by slamming the
+closet door when the arrival turned in at the
+gate.</p>
+
+<p>"Has he got her?" Aunt Mary cried breathlessly.
+"Has he got someone with him? Run,
+Lucinda, an' bring her in. She needn't wipe her
+feet, tell her; you can brush the hall afterwards.
+Well, why ain't you hurryin'?"</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda was hurrying, her curiosity being as
+potent as the commands of her mistress, and five
+seconds later Janice appeared in the door with her
+predecessor just behind her&mdash;a striking contrast.</p>
+
+<p>"You dear blessed Granite!" cried the old lady,
+stretching out her hands in a sort of ecstasy. "Oh,
+my! but I'm glad to see you! Come right straight
+here. No, shut the door first. Lucinda, you go
+and do 'most anything. An' how is the city?"</p>
+
+<p>Janice came to the bedside and dropped on her
+knees there, taking Aunt Mary's withered hand
+close in both of her own.</p>
+
+<p>"You didn't shut the door," the old lady whispered
+hoarsely. "I wish you would&mdash;an' bolt it,
+too. An' then come straight back to me."</p>
+
+<p>Janice closed and bolted the door, and returned
+to the bedside. Aunt Mary drew her down close
+to her, and her voice and eyes were hungry, indeed.
+<pb n="279" /><anchor id="Pg279" />For a little she looked eagerly upon what she had
+so craved to possess again, and then she suddenly
+asked:</p>
+
+<p>"Granite, have you got any cigarettes with
+you?"</p>
+
+<p>The maid started a little.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you smoke now?" she asked, with interest.</p>
+
+<p>"No," said Aunt Mary sadly, "an' that's one
+more of my awful troubles. You see I'm jus' achin'
+to smell smoke, an' Joshua promised his mother
+the night before he was twenty-one. You don't
+know nothin' about how terrible I feel. I'm empty
+somewhere jus' all the time. Don't you believe't
+you could get some cigarettes an' smoke 'em right
+close to me, an' let me lay here, an' be so happy
+while I smell. I'll have a good doctor for you,
+if you're sick from it."</p>
+
+<p>The maid reflected; then she nodded.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll write to town," she cried, in her high, clear
+tones. "What brand do you like best?"</p>
+
+<p>"Mitchell's," said Aunt Mary. "But you can't
+get those because he made 'em himself an' sealed
+'em with a lick. Oh!" she sighed, with the accent
+of a starving Sybarite, "I do wish I could see him
+do it again! Do you know," she added suddenly,
+"he wrote me a letter and he's goin' to come here."</p>
+
+<p>"When?" asked Janice.</p>
+
+<p>"After a while. But you must take off your
+<pb n="280" /><anchor id="Pg280" />things. That's your room in there," pointing
+toward a half-open door at the side. "I wanted
+you as close as I could get you. My, but I've
+wanted you! I can't tell you how much. But a
+good deal&mdash;a lot&mdash;awfully."</p>
+
+<p>Janice went into the room that was to be hers,
+and hung up her hat and cloak.</p>
+
+<p>When she returned Aunt Mary was looking a
+hundred per cent, improved already.</p>
+
+<p>"Can you hum 'Hiawatha'?" she asked immediately.
+"Granite, I must have suthin' to amuse
+me an' make me feel good. Can you hum 'Hiawatha'
+an' can you do that kind of 'sh&mdash;sh&mdash;sh&mdash;'that
+everybody does all together at the end, you
+know?"</p>
+
+<p>Janice smiled pleasantly, and placing herself in
+the closest possible proximity with the ear trumpet,
+at once rendered the desired <hi rend="font-style: italic">morceau</hi> in a style
+which would have done credit to a soloist in a <hi rend="font-style: italic">café
+chantant</hi>.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary's lips wreathed in seraphic bliss.</p>
+
+<p>"My!" she said. "I feel just as if I was back
+eatin' crabs' legs and tails again. No one'll ever
+know how I've missed city life this winter but&mdash;well,
+you saw Lucinda!"</p>
+
+<p>The glance that accompanied the speech was
+mysterious but significant. Janice nodded sympathetically.
+<pb n="281" /><anchor id="Pg281" /></p>
+
+<p>"I hope you brought a trunk. I ain't a bit sure
+when I'll be able to let you go," pursued the old
+lady. "I don't believe I can let you go until I go,
+too. I've most died here alone."</p>
+
+<p>"I brought a trunk," Janice cried into the ear
+trumpet.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm glad," said Aunt Mary. She paused, and
+her eyes grew wistful.</p>
+
+<p>"Granite," she asked, "do you think you could
+manage to do a skirt dance on the footboard? I'm
+'most wild to see some lace shake."</p>
+
+<p>Janice looked doubtfully at the footboard. It
+was wide for a footboard, but narrow&mdash;too narrow&mdash;for
+a skirt dance.</p>
+
+<p>"But I can do one on the floor," she cried.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary's features became suffused with
+heavenly joy.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Granite!" she murmured, in accents of
+greatest anticipation.</p>
+
+<p>The maid stood up, and, going off as far as the
+limits of the spacious bedroom would allow, executed
+a most fetching and dainty <hi rend="font-style: italic">pas seul</hi> to a tune
+of her own humming.</p>
+
+<p>"Give me suthin' to pound with!" cried her
+enthusiastic audience. "Oh, Granite, I ain't
+been so happy since I was home! Whatever you
+want you can have, only don't ever leave me alone
+with Lucinda again."
+<pb n="282" /><anchor id="Pg282" /></p>
+
+<p>Janice was catching her tired breath, but she
+answered with a smile.</p>
+
+<p>"Can't you get my Sunday umbrella out of the
+closet now an' do a parasol dance?" the insatiate
+demanded; "one of those where you shoot it open
+an' shut when people ain't expectin'."</p>
+
+<p>The maid went to the closet and brought out the
+Sunday umbrella; but its shiny black silk did not
+appear to inspire any fluffy maneuvres, so she utilized
+it in the guise of a broadsword and did something
+that savored of the Highlands, and seemed
+to rebel bitterly at the length of her skirt. Aunt
+Mary writhed around in bliss&mdash;utter and intense.</p>
+
+<p>"I feel like I was livin' again," she said, heaving
+a great sigh of content. "I tell you I've suffered
+enough, since I came back, to know what it
+is to have some fun again. Now, Granite, I'll tell
+you what we'll do," when the girl sat down to rest;
+"you write for those cigarettes while I take a little
+nap and afterwards we'll get the Universal Knowledge
+book and learn how to play poker. You don't
+know how to play poker, do you?"</p>
+
+<p>"A little," cried the maid.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I want to learn how," said the old lady,
+"an' we'll learn when&mdash;when I wake up."</p>
+
+<p>Janice nodded assent.</p>
+
+<p>"Excuse me shuttin' my eyes," said Aunt
+Mary&mdash;and she was asleep in two minutes.</p>
+</div>
+<pb n="283" /><anchor id="Pg283" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+
+<head>Chapter Twenty-Three - "Granite" - Continued.</head>
+
+
+<p>Mary and Arethusa&mdash;Aunt Mary's two
+nieces&mdash;were not uncommonly mercenary;
+but about three weeks after the new
+arrival they became seriously troubled over the
+ascendancy that she appeared to be gaining over
+the mind of their aunt. Lucinda's duties had included
+for many years the writing of a weekly letter
+which contained formal advices of the general
+state of affairs, and after Janice's establishment,
+these letters became so provocative of gradually increasing
+alarm that first Mary, and then Arethusa
+thought it advisable to make the journey for the
+purpose of investigating the affair personally.
+They found the new maid apparently devoid
+of evil intent, but certainly fast becoming absolutely
+indispensable to the daily happiness of
+their influential relative. Mary feared that a
+codicil for five thousand dollars would be the
+result; but Arethusa felt, with a sinking heart,
+that there was another naught going on to the sum,
+and that, unless the tide turned, the end might not
+be even then.
+<pb n="284" /><anchor id="Pg284" /></p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary was so cool that neither niece stayed
+long, and Lucinda's letters had to be looked to
+for the progress of events. Lucinda's letters were
+frequent and not at all reassuring. After the sisters
+had talked them over, they sent them on to
+Jack.</p>
+
+<quote rend="display">
+<p>She [thus Lucinda invariably began] is the same
+as ever. It's cross the heart and bend the knee,
+an' then you ain't down far enough to suit her.
+But she's gettin' so afraid she'll go that she's wax
+in her hands. It would scare you. She won't
+let her out of her sight a minute. I must say that
+whatever she's giving her, she certainly is earning
+the money, for she works her harder every day.
+The poor thing is hopping about, or singing, or
+playing cards, from dawn to dark, and unless it's
+a provision in her will I can't see what would pay
+her enough for working so. Lord knows I considered
+I earned my wages without skipping around
+with my legs crossed like she does, and she has no
+end of patience too, even if she won't ever let her
+take a walk. She's getting as pale as she is herself.
+Seems like something should be done.</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: right">Respectfully,</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: right">L. COOKE.</p>
+</quote>
+
+<p>Three days later Lucinda wrote again:</p>
+
+<quote rend="display">
+<p>She does seem to be getting worse and worse.
+She makes her sleep on a sofa beside her, and
+she begins to look dreadfully worn out. I do
+believe she'll kill her, before she dies herself. I
+told her so to-day, but she only smiled. It's funny,
+<pb n="285" /><anchor id="Pg285" />but I like her even if I am bolted out all the time.
+I ain't jealous, and I'm glad of the rest. I should
+think her throat would split with talking so much,
+but she certainly does hear her better than anyone
+else. I think something must be done, though.
+She's getting as crazy as she is herself. They
+play cards and call each other "aunty" for two
+hours at a stretch some days.</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: right">Respectfully,</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: right">L. COOKE.</p>
+</quote>
+
+<p>At the end of the week Lucinda wrote again:</p>
+
+<quote rend="display">
+<p>I think if you don't come, she will surely die.
+She is very feeble herself, but that don't keep her
+from wearing her to skin and bone. She keeps
+her doing tricks from morning to night. Every
+minute that she is awake she keeps her jumping.
+It's a mercy she sleeps so much, or she
+wouldn't get any sleep at all. I can't do nothing,
+but I can see something has got to be done.
+She's killing her, and she's getting where she don't
+care for nobody but her, and if she's to be kept in
+trim to keep on amusing her she'll have to have
+some rest pretty quick.</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: right">Respectfully,</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: right">L. COOKE.</p>
+</quote>
+
+<p>If the sisters were perturbed by the general
+trend of these epistles, Jack was half wild over the
+situation. He swore vigorously and he tramped
+up and down his room nights until the people underneath
+put it in their prayers that his woes might
+suggest suicide as speedily as possible. In vain he
+wrote to Mrs. Rosscott to restore Janice to her
+proper place in town; Mrs. Rosscott answered that
+<pb n="286" /><anchor id="Pg286" />as long as Aunt Mary desired Janice at her side,
+at her side Janice should stay. Jack knew his lady
+well enough to know that she would keep her word,
+and although he longed to assert his authority he
+was man enough to feel that he had better wait
+now and settle the debt after marriage.</p>
+
+<p>Nevertheless the whole affair was unbearably
+vexatious and at last he felt that he could endure
+it no longer.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm a fool," he said, in a spirit of annoyance
+that came so close to anger that it led to an utter
+loss of patience. "I'll take the train for Aunt
+Mary's to-day, and straighten out that mess in
+short order."</p>
+
+<p>It was Saturday, and he arranged to leave by
+the noon train. He laid in a heavy supply of bribes
+for his aged relative and of reading matter for
+himself, and went to the station with a heart
+divided 'twixt many different emotions. It was
+an unconscionably long ride, but he did get there
+safely about ten o'clock.</p>
+
+<p>It was a pleasant night&mdash;not too cold&mdash;even suggestive
+of some lingering Indian summer intentions
+on the part of Jack's namesake. The young man
+thought that he would walk out to his childhood's
+home, and his decision was aided by the
+discovery that there was no other way to get
+there.
+<pb n="287" /><anchor id="Pg287" /></p>
+
+<p>So he took his suit-case in his hand and set off
+with a stride that covered the intervening miles in
+short order and brought him, almost before he
+knew it, to where he could see Lucinda's light in the
+dining-room and her pug-nosed profile outlined
+upon the drawn shade. Everyone else was evidently
+abed, and as he looked, she, too, arose and
+took up the lamp. He hurried his steps so that she
+might let him in before she went upstairs, but in
+the same instant the light went out and with its
+withdrawal he perceived a little figure sitting alone
+upon the doorstep.</p>
+
+<p>His heart gave a tremendous leap&mdash;but not with
+fright&mdash;and he made three rapid steps and spoke
+a name.</p>
+
+<p>She lifted up her head. Of course it was Janice,
+and although she had been weeping, her eyes were
+as beautiful as ever.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Jack!" she exclaimed, and happy the man
+who hears his name called in such a tone&mdash;even if
+it be only for once in the whole course of his
+existence.</p>
+
+<p>He pitched his suit-case down upon the grass
+and took the maid in his arms.</p>
+
+<p>What did anything matter; they both were
+lonely and both needed comforting.</p>
+
+<p>He kissed her not once but twenty times,&mdash;not
+twenty times but a hundred.
+<pb n="288" /><anchor id="Pg288" /></p>
+
+<p>"It's abominable you're being here," he said
+at last.</p>
+
+<p>"I am very, very tired," she confessed.</p>
+
+<p>"And you'll go back to the city when I go?"
+he asked.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know," she said, doubtfully. "I don't
+know whether she'll let me."</p>
+
+<p>Jack laughed.</p>
+
+<p>"To-morrow I will beard Aunt Mary in her
+den," he declared; "now let's go in and&mdash;and&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>The hundred and first!</p>
+</div>
+<pb n="289" /><anchor id="Pg289" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+
+<head>Chapter Twenty-Four - Two Are Company</head>
+
+
+<p>To the large square room where he had
+slept (on and off) during a goodly portion
+of his boyhood life, Jack went to repose
+from his journey, there to meditate the situation
+which he had come to comfort, and to try and devise
+a way to better its existing circumstances.</p>
+
+<p>It was a pleasant room, one window looking
+down the driveway, and the other leading forth
+to a square balcony that topped the little porch of
+the side entrance. There were lambrequins of dark
+blue with fringe that always caught in the shutters,
+and a bedroom suite of mahogany that had come
+down from the original John Watkins's aunt, and
+had been polished by her descendants so faithfully
+that its various surfaces shone like mirrors. Over
+the bed hung a tent drapery of chintz; over the
+washstand hung a crayon done by Arethusa in her
+infancy&mdash;the same representing a lady engaged in
+the pleasant and useful occupation of spinning
+wheat with a hand composed of five fingers, and no
+thumb. In the corner stood a cheval-glass which
+<pb n="290" /><anchor id="Pg290" />Jack had seen shrink steadily for years until now it
+could no longer reflect his shoulders unless he
+retired back for some two yards or more. There
+was a delectable closet to the room, all painted
+white inside, with shelves and cupboards and little
+bins for shoes and waste paper and soiled clothes.</p>
+
+<p>Oh! it was really an altogether delightful place
+in which to abide, and the pity was that its owner
+had spent so little time therein of late years.</p>
+
+<p>To-night&mdash;returning to the scene of many childish
+and boyish meditations&mdash;Jack placed his lamp
+upon the nightstand at the head of the bed and
+sat himself down on a chair near by.</p>
+
+<p>It was late&mdash;quite midnight&mdash;for he and Aunt
+Mary's new maid had talked long and freely ere
+they separated at last. From his room he could
+hear the little faint sounds below stairs, that told
+of her final preparations for Lucinda's morning
+eye, and he rested quiet until all else was quiet and
+then leaned back upon the chair's hind legs and,
+tipping slowly to and fro in that position, tried
+to see just what he had better do the first thing on
+the following day.</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: center"><anchor id="image07" />
+<figure rend="w95" url="images/image07.png">
+<head rend="text-align: center">"'Yesterday I played poker until I didn't know a blue chip from a white one.'"</head>
+<figDesc>Illustration 7</figDesc></figure></p><p></p>
+
+<p>It was a riddle with a vengeance. It is so easy
+to say "I'll cut that Gordian knot!" and then
+pack one's tooth-brush and start off unknotting,
+but it is quite another matter when one comes face
+to face with the problem and is met by the "buts"
+<pb n="291" /><anchor id="Pg291" />of those who have previously been essaying to disentangle
+it.</p>
+
+<p>"She won't let me go," Mrs. Rosscott had declared,
+"she won't consider it for a minute."</p>
+
+<p>"But she must," Jack had declared on his side.
+"My dearest, you can't stay and play maid to Aunt
+Mary indefinitely, and you know that as well as
+I do."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I know that," the whilom Janice then
+murmured. "It's getting to be an awful question.
+They want me to come home for Thanksgiving.
+They think that I've been at the rest-cure long
+enough."</p>
+
+<p>Jack had laughed a bit just there, and then he
+suddenly ceased laughing and frowned a good deal
+instead.</p>
+
+<p>"You were crying when I came," he said.
+"The truth is you are working yourself to death
+and getting completely used up."</p>
+
+<p>"It is wearing, I must confess," she answered.
+"Yesterday I played poker until I didn't know
+a blue chip from a white one, and she won the
+whole pot with two little bits of pairs while I was
+drawing to a king. I begin to fear that my mind
+will give way. And yet, I really don't see how to
+stop. She is so sick and tired of life here and she
+isn't strong enough to go to town."</p>
+
+<p>"I know a very short way to put an end to
+<pb n="292" /><anchor id="Pg292" />everything," said Jack. "I see two ways in fact,&mdash;one
+is to tell her the truth."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, don't do that," cried his fiancée affrightedly.
+"The shock would kill her outright."</p>
+
+<p>"The other way,&mdash;" said Jack slowly, "would
+be for me to marry you and let her think that you
+<hi rend="font-style: italic">are</hi> Janice in good earnest."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, that wouldn't do at all," said the pretty
+widow. "In the first place she would go crazy at
+the idea of her darling nephew's marrying her
+maid,&mdash;and in the second place&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Well,&mdash;in the second place?"</p>
+
+<p>"I wouldn't marry you,&mdash;I said I wouldn't and
+I won't. You're too young."</p>
+
+<p>"But you've promised to marry me some day."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I know&mdash;but not till&mdash;not till&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Not till when?"</p>
+
+<p>"I haven't just decided," said Mrs. Rosscott,
+airily. "Not for a good while, not until you
+seem to require marrying at my hands."</p>
+
+<p>"I never shall require marrying at anyone else's
+hands," the lover vowed, "but if you are so set
+about it as all that comes to, I shall not cut up
+rough for a while. Aunt Mary is the main question
+just now&mdash;not you."</p>
+
+<p>"I know," said his lady in anything but a jealous
+tone, "and as she is the question, what are
+we to do?"
+<pb n="293" /><anchor id="Pg293" /></p>
+
+<p>"You will go to bed," he said, kissing her, "and
+I will go to think."</p>
+
+<p>"Can you see any way?" she asked anxiously.</p>
+
+<p>Then he put his hands on either side of her face
+and turned it up to his own.</p>
+
+<p>"You plotted once and overthrew my aunt," he
+said. "It's my turn now."</p>
+
+<p>"Are you going to plot?"</p>
+
+<p>"I'm going to try."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll pray for your success," she whispered.</p>
+
+<p>"Pray for me," he answered, and shortly after
+they had achieved the feat of saying good-night
+and parting once more, and the result of it all had
+been that Jack found himself tipping back and
+forth on the small chair, in the big room, at half-past
+midnight, puzzled, perturbed, and very much
+perplexed as to what to do first when the next
+morning should have become a settled fact. He
+was not used to conspiring, and being only a man,
+he had not those curious instinctive gifts of inspiration
+and luminous conception which fairly radiate
+around the brain of clever womankind.</p>
+
+<p>It was some time&mdash;a very long time indeed&mdash;before
+any light stole in upon his Stygian darkness,
+and then, when the light did come, it came in skyrocket
+guise, and had its share of cons attached to
+its very evident pros.</p>
+
+<p>"But I don't care," he declared viciously, as
+<pb n="294" /><anchor id="Pg294" />he rose and began to undress; "something's got to
+be done,&mdash;some chances have got to be taken,&mdash;as
+well that as anything else. Perhaps better&mdash;very
+likely better."</p>
+
+<p>Then he laughed over his unconscious imitation
+of his aunt's phraseology, and made short work of
+finishing his disrobing and getting to bed.</p>
+
+<p>It was when Lucinda crept forth to begin to unlock
+the house at 6.30 upon the morning after,
+that the fact of the nephew's arrival was first
+known to anyone except Janice.</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda saw the coat and hat,&mdash;recognized the
+initial on the handkerchief in the inside pocket,
+threw out her arms and gave a faint squeak in utter
+bewilderment, and then tore off at once to the barn
+to tell Joshua.</p>
+
+<p>She found Joshua milking the cow.</p>
+
+<p>"What do you think!" she panted briefly, with
+wide-open eyes and uplifted hands; "Joshua Whittlesey,
+what do you think?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't think nothin'," said Joshua. "I'm
+milkin'."</p>
+
+<p>"What would you say if I told you as he was
+come."</p>
+
+<p>"I'd say he was here."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, he is. He must 'a' come last night, an'
+Lord only knows how he ever got in, for nothing
+was left open an' yet he's there."
+<pb n="295" /><anchor id="Pg295" /></p>
+
+<p>Joshua made no comment.</p>
+
+<p>"I wonder what he came for?"</p>
+
+<p>Joshua made no comment.</p>
+
+<p>"I wonder how long he'll stay?"</p>
+
+<p>Still Joshua made no comment.</p>
+
+<p>"Joshua Whittlesey, before you get your breakfast,
+you're the meanest man I ever saw, and I'll
+swear to that anywhere."</p>
+
+<p>"Why don't you get me my breakfast then?"
+said Joshua calmly; and the effect of his speech
+and his demeanor was to cause Lucinda to turn
+and leave him at once&mdash;too outraged to address
+another word to him.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary herself did not awake until ten
+o'clock. She rang her bell vigorously then and
+Janice flew to its answering.</p>
+
+<p>"I dreamed of Jack," said the old lady, looking
+up with a smile. "I dreamed we was each ridin'
+on camels in a merry-go-round."</p>
+
+<p>Janice smiled too, and then set briskly to work
+to put the room in order and arrange its occupant
+for the day.</p>
+
+<p>"Did there come any mail?" Aunt Mary inquired,
+when her coiffure was made and her dressing-gown
+adjusted. "I feel jus' like I might hear
+from Jack. Seems as if I sort of can't think of
+anythin' but him."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll go and see," said Janice pleasantly, and
+<pb n="296" /><anchor id="Pg296" />she went to the dining room where the Reformed
+Prodigal sat reading the newspaper with his feet
+on the table&mdash;an action which convinced Lucinda
+that he had not reformed so very much after
+all.</p>
+
+<p>"Suppose you go to her&mdash;instead of me,"
+suggested the maid, pausing before the reader and
+usurping all the attention to which the paper should
+have laid claim.</p>
+
+<p>"Suppose I do," said Jack, jumping up, "and
+suppose you stay away and let me try what I can
+accomplish single-handed."</p>
+
+<p>"Only&mdash;" began Janice&mdash;and then she
+stopped and lifted a warning finger.</p>
+
+<p>Jack listened and a stealthy creak betrayed
+Lucinda's proximity somewhere in the vicinity.</p>
+
+<p>It was plain to be seen that there were many
+issues to be kept in mind, and the young man grit
+his teeth because he didn't dare embrace his
+betrothed, and then walked away in the direction
+of Aunt Mary's room.</p>
+
+<p>If she was glad to see him! One would have
+supposed that ten years and two oceans had elapsed
+since their last meeting the month before.</p>
+
+<p>She fairly screamed with joy.</p>
+
+<p>"Jack!&mdash;You dear, dear, dear boy! Well, if I
+ever did!&mdash;When did you come?"</p>
+
+<p>He was by the bed hugging her.
+<pb n="297" /><anchor id="Pg297" />"And how are they all? How is the city? Oh,
+Jack, if I could only go back with you this time!"</p>
+
+<p>"Never mind, Aunt Mary; you'll be coming
+soon&mdash;in the spring, you know."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary sank back on the pillows.</p>
+
+<p>"Jack," she said, "if I have to wait for spring,
+I shall die. I ain't strong enough to be able to
+bear livin' in the country much longer. I've pretty
+much made up my mind to buy a house in town and
+just keep this place so's to have somewhere to put
+Lucinda."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you think you'd be happy in town, Aunt
+Mary?" Jack yelled; "I mean if you lived there
+right along?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't see how I could be anythin' else. I
+don't see how anyone could be anythin' else.
+I want a nice house with a criss-cross iron gate in
+front of it an' an automobile. An'&mdash;I don't want
+you to say nothin' about this to her jus' yet&mdash;but
+I'm goin' to keep Granite to look after everythin'
+for me. I don't ever mean to let Granite go again.
+Never. Not for one hour."</p>
+
+<p>Jack smiled. He felt as if Fate was playing into
+his hands.</p>
+
+<p>"I want you to live with me," Aunt Mary continued,
+"an' I want the house big enough so's Clover
+an' Mitchell an' Burnett can come whenever
+they feel like it and stay as long as they like. I
+<pb n="298" /><anchor id="Pg298" />don't want any house except for us all together.
+Oh, my! Seems like I can't hardly wait!"</p>
+
+<p>She leaned back and shut her eyes in a sort of
+impatient ecstasy of joys been and to be.</p>
+
+<p>Jack reached forward to get a cigarette from
+the box on the table at the bedside.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you smoke now, Aunt Mary?" he
+inquired, as he took a match.</p>
+
+<p>"No, Granite does."</p>
+
+<p>"Janice does!" he repeated, quickly knitting
+his brows.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, she does it for me&mdash;I'm so happy smellin'
+the smell. They made her a little sick at first but
+she took camphor and now she don't mind. Not
+much&mdash;not any."</p>
+
+<p>Jack arose and walked about the room. The
+idea of his darling sickening herself to provide
+smoke for Aunt Mary braced him afresh to the
+conflict.</p>
+
+<p>"What do you do all day?" he asked,
+presently.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, we do most everythin'. When Lucinda's
+out she does Lucinda for me an' when Lucinda's in
+she does Joshua. It's about as amusin' as anythin'
+you ever saw to see her do Lucinda. I never found
+Lucinda amusin', Lord knows, but I like to see
+Granite do her. An' we play cards, an' she dances,
+an'&mdash;"
+<pb n="299" /><anchor id="Pg299" /></p>
+
+<p>"Aunt Mary," said Jack abruptly, "do you
+know the people who had Janice want her back
+again?"</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't quite catch that," said his aunt, "but
+you needn't bother to repeat it because I ain't never
+goin' to let her go. Not never."</p>
+
+<p>Jack came back and sat down beside the bed, and
+took her hand.</p>
+
+<p>"Aunt Mary," he said in a pleading shriek,
+"don't you see how pale and thin she's
+getting?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, I don't," said his aunt, turning her head
+away, "an' it's no use tellin' me such things because
+it's about my nap-time and I've always been
+a great believer in takin' my nap when it's my
+nap-time. As a general thing."</p>
+
+<p>Jack sighed and watched her close her eyes and
+go instantly to sleep. Janice came in a few minutes
+later.</p>
+
+<p>"No&mdash;no," she whispered hastily, as he came
+toward her,&mdash;"you mustn't&mdash;you mustn't. I don't
+believe that she really is asleep and even if she is,
+Lucinda is <hi rend="font-style: italic">everywhere</hi>."</p>
+
+<p>"Where can we go?" Jack asked in despair.
+"It's out of all reason to expect me to behave <hi rend="font-style: italic">all</hi>
+the time."</p>
+
+<p>"We can't go anywhere," said Mrs. Rosscott;
+"we must resign ourselves. I've learned that it's
+<pb n="300" /><anchor id="Pg300" />the only way. Dear me, when I think how long
+I've been resigned it certainly seems to me that
+you might do a little in the same line."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, but I haven't learned to resign myself,"
+said her lover, "and what is more, I positively decline
+to learn to resign myself. You should do the
+same, too. Where is the sense in humoring her so?
+I wouldn't if I were you."</p>
+
+<p>Janice lifted up her lovely eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes, you would," she said simply. "If
+somebody's future happiness depended upon her
+you would humor her just as much as I do."</p>
+
+<p>Jack was touched.</p>
+
+<p>"You are an angel of unselfishness," he exclaimed,
+warmly, "and I don't deserve such
+devotion."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, don't be too grateful," she replied, dimpling.
+"The person to whose future happiness I
+referred was myself."</p>
+
+<p>They both laughed softly at that&mdash;softly and
+mutually.</p>
+
+<p>"Nevertheless," Jack went on after a minute,
+"if to all the other puzzles is to be added the
+torture of being unable to see you or speak
+freely to you, I think the hour for action has
+arrived."</p>
+
+<p>"For action!" she cried; "what are you thinking
+of doing?"
+<pb n="301" /><anchor id="Pg301" /></p>
+
+<p>"This," he said, and straightway took her
+into his arms and kissed her as he had kissed her
+on the night before.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, if Lucinda has heard or your aunt has
+seen!" poor Janice cried, extricating herself and
+setting her cap to rights with a species of fluttered
+haste that led Jack to wonder suddenly why men
+didn't fall in love with maids even oftener than
+they do. "I do believe that you have gone and
+done it this time."</p>
+
+<p>"Nobody heard and nobody saw," he assured
+her, but he didn't at all mean what he said, for his
+prayers were fervent that his kiss had been public
+property.</p>
+
+<p>And such was the fact.</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda bounced in on Joshua with a bounce that
+turned the can of harness polish upside down, for
+Joshua was oiling the harnesses.</p>
+
+<p>"He kissed her!" she cried in a state of tremendous
+excitement.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, she's his aunt, ain't she?" Joshua demanded,
+picking up the can and privately wishing
+Lucinda in Halifax.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't mean her;&mdash;I mean Janice."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't see anythin' surprisin' in that," said
+Joshua,&mdash;"not if he got a good chance."</p>
+
+<p>"What do you think of such goin's on?"</p>
+
+<p>"I think they'll lead to goin's offs."
+<pb n="302" /><anchor id="Pg302" /></p>
+
+<p>"I never would 'a' believed it," said Lucinda;
+"Well, all I can say is I wish he'd 'a' tried it
+on me."</p>
+
+<p>"You'll wish a long time," said Joshua,
+placidly; and his tone, as usual, made Lucinda
+even more angry than his words; so she forthwith left him and tore back to
+the house.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary had also had her eyes open, and in
+this particular case it was impossible to have one's
+eyes open without having one's eyes opened. So
+Aunt Mary had both.</p>
+
+<p>She shut them at once and reflected deeply, and
+when Janice went out of the room at last she immediately
+sat up in bed and addressed her nephew.</p>
+
+<p>"Jack, what did you kiss her for?"</p>
+
+<p>Jack was fairly wild with joy at the brilliant way
+in which he had begun. Mrs. Rosscott had laid
+one scheme for the overthrow of Aunt Mary and
+her plan of attack had been absolutely successful.
+Now it was his turn and he, too, was in it to win
+undying glory or else&mdash;well, no matter. There
+wouldn't be any "also ran" in this contest.</p>
+
+<p>"You don't deny that you kissed her, do you?"
+said his aunt severely. "Answer this minute.
+I'm a great believer in answerin' when you're
+spoken to."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I kissed her," he said easily.</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: center"><anchor id="image08" />
+<figure rend="w95" url="images/image08.png">
+<head rend="text-align: center">"Aunt Mary had also had her eyes open."</head>
+<figDesc>Illustration 8</figDesc></figure></p><p></p>
+
+<p>"Well, what did you do it for?"
+<pb n="303" /><anchor id="Pg303" /></p>
+
+<p>"I'm very fond of her;" the words came forth
+with great apparent reluctance.</p>
+
+<p>"Fond of her!" said Aunt Mary with great
+contempt.</p>
+
+<p>Jack lifted his eyes quickly at the tone of her
+comment.</p>
+
+<p>"<hi rend="font-style: italic">Fond</hi> of her! Do you think a girl like that
+is the kind to be fond of! Why ain't you in <hi rend="font-style: italic">love</hi>
+with her?"</p>
+
+<p>The young man felt his brains suddenly swimming.
+This surpassed his maddest hopes.</p>
+
+<p>"Shall I say that I am in love with her?" he
+cried into the ear-trumpet.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary raised up in bed,&mdash;her eyes
+sparkling.</p>
+
+<p>"Jack," she said, almost quivering with excitement,
+"<hi rend="font-style: italic">are</hi> you in love with her?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I am," he owned, wondering what would
+come next, but feeling that the tide was all his way.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary collapsed with a joyful sigh.</p>
+
+<p>"My heavens alive," she said rapturously,
+"seems like it's too good to be true! Jack," she
+continued solemnly, "if you're in love with her you
+shall marry her. If there's any way to keep a girl
+like that in the family I guess I ain't goin' to let
+her slip through my fingers not while I've got a
+live nephew. You shall marry her an' I'll buy you
+a house in New York and come an' live with you."
+<pb n="304" /><anchor id="Pg304" /></p>
+
+<p>Jack sat silent, but smiling.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you think she will want to marry me?"
+he asked presently.</p>
+
+<p>"You go and bring her to me," said the old
+lady vigorously. "I'll soon find out. Just tell
+her I want to speak to her&mdash;don't tell her what
+about. That ain't none of your business an' I'm
+a great believer in people's not interfering in what's
+none of their business. You just get her and then
+leave her to me."</p>
+
+<p>Jack went and found Janice. He was sufficiently
+mean not to tell her what had happened,
+and Janice&mdash;being built on a different plan from
+Lucinda&mdash;had not kept near enough to the keyhole
+to be posted anyway.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Denham says you want me," she said,
+coming to the bedside with her customary pleasant
+smile.</p>
+
+<p>"I do," said her mistress. "I want to speak
+to you on a very serious subject and I want you to
+pay a lot of attention. It's this: I want you to
+marry Jack."</p>
+
+<p>Poor Janice jumped violently,&mdash;there was no
+doubt as to the genuineness of her surprise.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, don't you want to?" asked Aunt Mary.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't believe I do."</p>
+
+<p>At this it was the old lady's turn to be astonished.
+<pb n="305" /><anchor id="Pg305" /></p>
+
+<p>"Why don't you?" she said; "my heavens
+alive, what are you a-expectin' to marry if you don't
+think my nephew's good enough for you?"</p>
+
+<p>"But I don't want to marry!" cried poor Janice,
+in most evident distress.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary looked at her severely.</p>
+
+<p>"Then what did you kiss him for?" she asked,
+in the tone in which one plays the trump ace.</p>
+
+<p>Janice started again.</p>
+
+<p>"Kiss&mdash;him&mdash;" she faltered.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary regarded her sternly.</p>
+
+<p>"Granite," she said, "I ain't a-intendin' to be
+unreasonable, but I must ask you jus' one simple
+question. You kissed him, for I saw you; an' will
+you kindly tell me why, in heaven's name, you ain't
+willin' to marry any man that you're willin' to
+kiss?"</p>
+
+<p>"There's such a difference," wailed the maid.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't see it," said her mistress, shaking her
+head. "I don't see it at all. Of course I never
+for a minute thought of doin' either myself, but if
+I had thought of doin' either, I'd had sense enough
+to have seen that I'd have to make up my mind to
+do both. I'm a great believer in never doin' things
+by halves. It don't pay. Never&mdash;nohow."</p>
+
+<p>Janice was biting her lips.</p>
+
+<p>"But I don't want to marry!" she repeated
+obstinately.
+<pb n="306" /><anchor id="Pg306" /></p>
+
+<p>"Then you shouldn't have let him kiss you.
+You've got him all started to lovin' you and if he's
+stopped too quick no one can tell what may happen.
+I want him to settle down, but I want him to settle
+down because he's happy an' not because he's
+shattered. He says he's willin' to marry you an'
+I don't see any good reason why not."</p>
+
+<p>Janice's mouth continued to look rebellious.</p>
+
+<p>"Go and get him," said Aunt Mary. "I can see
+that this thing has got to be settled pleasantly right
+off, or we shan't none of us have any appetite for
+dinner. You find Jack, or if you can't find him tell
+Lucinda that she's got to."</p>
+
+<p>Janice went out and found Jack in the hall.</p>
+
+<p>"Is this a trap?" she asked reproachfully.</p>
+
+<p>Jack laughed.</p>
+
+<p>"No," he said "it's a counter-mine."</p>
+
+<p>"Your aunt wants you at once," said Janice, putting
+her hands into her pockets and looking out
+of the window.</p>
+
+<p>"I fly to obey," he said obediently, and went
+at once to his elderly relative.</p>
+
+<p>"Jack," she said, the instant he opened the door,
+"I've had a little talk with Granite. She don'
+want to marry you, but she looks to me like she
+really didn't know her own mind. I've said all I
+can say an' I'm too tired holdin' the ear-trumpet to
+say any more. I think the best thing you can do is
+<pb n="307" /><anchor id="Pg307" />to take her out for a walk an' explain things
+thoroughly. It's no good our talkin' to her together;
+and, anyway, I've always been a great
+believer in 'Two's company&mdash;three's none.' That
+was really the big reason why I'd never let Lucinda
+keep a cat. You take her and go to walk and I
+guess everything'll come out all right. It ought
+to. My heavens alive!"</p>
+
+<p>Jack took the maid and they went out to walk.
+When they were beyond earshot the first thing
+that they did was to laugh long and loud.</p>
+
+<p>"Of all my many and varied adventures!"
+cried Mrs. Rosscott, and Jack took the opportunity
+to kiss her again&mdash;under no protest this time.</p>
+
+<p>"We shall have to be married very soon, now,
+you know," he said gayly. "Aunt Mary won't be
+able to wait."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, as to that&mdash;we'll see," said Mrs. Rosscott,
+and laughed afresh. "But there is one thing
+that must be done at once."</p>
+
+<p>"What's that?" Jack asked.</p>
+
+<p>"We must tell Aunt Mary who I am."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, to be sure," said the young man.</p>
+
+<p>"I hope she won't take it in any way but the
+right way!" the widow said thoughtfully.</p>
+
+<p>"My dearest, in what other way could she take
+it? I think she has proved her opinion of you
+pretty sincerely."
+<pb n="308" /><anchor id="Pg308" /></p>
+
+<p>"Yes," said Mrs. Rosscott, with a little smile,
+"I certainly have cause to feel that she loves me
+for myself alone."</p>
+
+<p>When they returned to the house they went
+straightway to Aunt Mary's room, and the first
+glance through the old lady's eye-glasses told her
+that her wishes had all been fulfilled. She sat up
+in bed, took a hand of each into her own, and surveyed
+them in an access of such utter joy as nearly
+caused all three to weep together.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I <hi rend="font-style: italic">am</hi> so glad," was all she said for the
+first few seconds, and nobody doubted her words
+forever after.</p>
+
+<p>Then Mrs. Rosscott removed her hat and jacket,
+and when she returned to the bedside her future
+aunt made her sit down close to her and hold one
+of her hands while Jack held the other.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm <hi rend="font-style: italic">so</hi> glad you're to have the runnin' of Jack,"
+the old lady declared sincerely. "All I ask of you
+is to be patient with him. I always was. That is,
+<hi rend="font-style: italic">most</hi> always."</p>
+
+<p>"Dear Aunt Mary," said Mrs. Rosscott, slipping
+down on her knees beside the bed, "you are
+so good to me that you encourage me to tell you
+my secret. It isn't long, and it isn't bad, but I have
+a confession to make."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I say," cried Jack, "if you put it that way
+let me do the owning up!"
+<pb n="309" /><anchor id="Pg309" /></p>
+
+<p>"Hush," said his love authoritatively, "it's my
+confession. Leave it to me."</p>
+
+<p>"What is it?" said Aunt Mary, looking
+anxiously from one to the other; "you haven't
+broke your engagement already, I hope."</p>
+
+<p>"No," said Mrs. Rosscott, "it's nothing
+like that. It's only rather a surprise. But it's
+a nice surprise,&mdash;at least, I hope you'll think that
+it is."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, hurry and tell me then," said the old
+lady. "I'm a great believer in bein' told good
+news as soon as possible. What is it?"</p>
+
+<p>"It's that I'm not a maid," said the pretty
+widow.</p>
+
+<p>"Not&mdash;a&mdash;" cried Aunt Mary blankly.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm a widow!" said Janice. "I'm Burnett's
+sister."</p>
+
+<p>"Wh&mdash;a&mdash;at!" cried Aunt Mary. "I didn't
+jus' catch that."</p>
+
+<p>"You see," screamed Jack, "she was afraid
+to have me entertain you in New York,&mdash;afraid
+you wouldn't be properly looked after, Aunt Mary,
+so she dressed up for your maid and looked after
+you herself."</p>
+
+<p>"My heavens alive!"</p>
+
+<p>"Wasn't she an angel?" he asked.</p>
+
+<p>"But whatever made you take such an interest?"
+Aunt Mary demanded of Janice.
+<pb n="310" /><anchor id="Pg310" /></p>
+
+<p>Janice rose from her knees and, leaning over
+the bed, drew the old lady close in her arms.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll tell you," she screamed gently. "I loved
+Jack, and so I loved his aunt even before I had ever
+seen her."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary's joy fairly overflowed at that view
+of things, and, putting her hands to either side of
+the lovely face so close to her own, she kissed it
+warmly again and again.</p>
+
+<p>"I always knew you were suthin' out of the ordinary,"
+she declared vigorously. "You know I
+wouldn't have let him marry you if I hadn't been
+pretty sure as you were different from Lucinda an'
+the common run."</p>
+
+<p>And then she beamed on them both and Jack
+beamed on them both and Mrs. Rosscott kissed
+each of them and dried her own happy eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"Now I want to know jus' how an' where you
+learned to love him?" the aunt asked next.</p>
+
+<p>"I loved him almost directly I knew him," she
+answered, and at that Aunt Mary seemed on the
+point of applauding with the ear-trumpet against
+the headboard.</p>
+
+<p>"It was jus' the same with me," she said delightedly.
+"He was only a baby then, but the first
+look I took I jus' had a feelin'&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," said Mrs. Rosscott sympathetically,
+"so did I."
+<pb n="311" /><anchor id="Pg311" /></p>
+
+<p>They all laughed together.</p>
+
+<p>"An' now," said Aunt Mary, laying back and
+folding her arms upon her bosom, "an' now comes
+the main question,&mdash;when do you two want to be
+married?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh!" said the widow starting, "we&mdash;I&mdash;Jack&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, go on," said Aunt Mary. "Say whenever
+you like. An' then Jack can do the same."</p>
+
+<p>The two young people exchanged glances.</p>
+
+<p>"Speak right up," said Aunt Mary. "I'm a
+great believer in not hangin' back when anythin'
+has got to be decided. Jack, what do you think?"</p>
+
+<p>"I want to get married right off," said Jack
+decidedly.</p>
+
+<p>"I think he's too young," put in Mrs. Rosscott
+hastily.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know," said Aunt Mary, looking at
+her nephew reflectively. "Seems to me he's big
+enough, an' I'm a great believer in never dilly-dallyin'
+over what's got to be done some time.
+Why not Thanksgiving?"</p>
+
+<p>"Thanksgiving!" shrieked Mrs. Rosscott.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," said Aunt Mary. "I think it would be
+a good time, an' then I can come and spend Christmas
+with you in the city."</p>
+
+<p>"Great idea!" declared her nephew; "me for
+Thanksgiving."
+<pb n="312" /><anchor id="Pg312" /></p>
+
+<p>"What do you say?" said Aunt Mary to the
+bride-to-be.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I don't see&mdash;" began the latter, wrinkling
+her pretty forehead in a prettier perplexity and
+looking helplessly back and forth between their
+double eagerness.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, why not?" said the aunt. "It ain't as
+if there was any reason for waitin'. If there was
+I'd be the first to be willin' to do all I could to be
+patient, but as it is&mdash;even if you an' Jack ain't in
+any particular hurry, I am, an' I was brought up
+to go right to work at gettin' what you want as
+soon as you know what it is."</p>
+
+<p>"But this is so sudden," wailed Mrs. Rosscott.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary glanced at her sharply.</p>
+
+<p>"That's what they all say, a'cordin' to the
+papers," she said calmly, "an' it never is counted
+as anythin' but a joke."</p>
+
+<p>"But I'm not joking," Janice cried.</p>
+
+<p>"Then you jus' take a little time an' think it
+over," proposed the old lady,&mdash;"I'll tell you what
+you can do. You can get me Lucinda because I
+want to tell her suthin' and then you and Jack can
+sit down together an' think it over anywhere an'
+anyhow you like."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you really want Lucinda," said Janice,
+rising to her feet, "or is it something that I can
+do? You know I'm yours just the same as ever,
+<pb n="313" /><anchor id="Pg313" />Aunt Mary. Next to being good to Jack, I want
+to always be good to you."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary looked up with a light in her eyes
+that was fine to see.</p>
+
+<p>"Bless you, my child," she said heartily. "I
+know that, but I really want Lucinda, an' you an'
+Jack can take care of yourselves for a while. Leastways,
+I hope you can. I guess you can. I presume
+so, anyway."</p>
+
+<p>It was late that afternoon that Lucinda, looking
+as if she had been accidentally overtaken by a road-roller,
+joined Joshua in the potato cellar.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, the sky c'n fall whenever it likes now!"
+she said, sitting down on an empty barrel with a
+resigned sigh.</p>
+
+<p>"That's a comfort to know," said Joshua.</p>
+
+<p>"She's got it all made up for 'em to marry each
+other."</p>
+
+<p>"That ain't no great news to me," said Joshua.</p>
+
+<p>"Joshua Whittlesey, you make my blood boil.
+Things is goin' rackin' and ruinin' at a great pace
+here an' you as cold as a cauliflower over it all."</p>
+
+<p>Joshua sorted potatoes phlegmatically and said
+nothing.</p>
+
+<p>"S'posin' I'd 'a' wanted to marry him?"</p>
+
+<p>Joshua continued to sort potatoes.</p>
+
+<p>"Or, s'posin' you wanted to marry her?"</p>
+
+<p>Joshua looked up quickly.
+<pb n="314" /><anchor id="Pg314" /></p>
+
+<p>"Which one?" he said.</p>
+
+<p>"Janice!"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh," he said in a relieved tone.</p>
+
+<p>"Why did you say 'oh,'&mdash;did you think I meant
+her?"</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't know who you meant."</p>
+
+<p>"Why, you wouldn't think o' marryin' her,
+would you?"</p>
+
+<p>"No," said Joshua emphatically. "I'd as
+soon think o' marryin' you yourself."</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda deliberated for a minute or so as to
+whether to accept this insult in silence or not, and
+finally decided to make just one more remark.</p>
+
+<p>"I wonder if she'll send any word to Arethusa
+'n' Mary."</p>
+
+<p>"They'll know soon enough," said Joshua
+oracularly.</p>
+
+<p>"How'll they know, I'd like to know?"</p>
+
+<p>"You'll write 'em."</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda was dumb. The fact that the letter
+was already written only made the serpent-tooth of
+Joshua's intimate knowledge cut the deeper.</p>
+</div>
+<pb n="315" /><anchor id="Pg315" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+
+<head>Chapter Twenty-Five - Grand Finale</head>
+
+
+<quote rend="display">
+<p>She has it all made up for him to marry her, and
+she is certainly as happy as she is and he is themselves.
+She is making plans at a great rate and
+she has consented to have her wedding here because
+she wants to be there herself. The day is set for
+Thanksgiving and the Lord be with us for everything
+has got to be just so and she is no more good
+at helping now that he's come. They are all
+going back to New York as soon as possible after
+it's over and I hope to be forgiven for stating
+plainly that it will be the happiest day' of my life.</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: right">Respectfully,</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: right">L. COOKE.</p>
+</quote>
+
+<p>Upon receipt of this astounding news Arethusa
+took the train and flew to the scene where such
+momentous happenings were piling up on one
+another. Her arrival was unexpected and the
+changes which she found ensued and ensuing were
+of a nature bewildering in the extreme. Aunt
+Mary had quit her regime of soup and sleep and
+was not only more energetically vigorous as to
+mind than ever, but strengthening daily as to bodily
+force. It might have been the excitement, for Burnett
+was there, Clover was <hi rend="font-style: italic">en route</hi>, and Mitchell
+<pb n="316" /><anchor id="Pg316" />was expected within twenty-four hours. Other great
+changes were visible everywhere. A corps of
+servants from town had fairly swamped Lucinda
+and twenty carpenters were putting up an extra
+addition to the house in which to give the wedding
+room to spread. Nor was this all, for Aunt Mary
+had turned a furniture man and an upholsterer
+loose with no other limit than that comprised by
+the two words "<hi rend="font-style: italic">carte blanche</hi>."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Rosscott still continued to wait upon Aunt
+Mary, but another maid had arrived to await upon
+Mrs. Rosscott. The latter had shed her black uniform
+and bloomed forth in rose-hued robes. Mr.
+Stebbins was kept on tap from dawn to dark and
+the checks flowed like water. Emissaries had been
+despatched to New York to buy the young couple
+a suitable house and furnish that also from top to
+bottom.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Arethusa," the aunt said to the niece
+when they met the morning after her arrival, "I'm
+feelin' better 'n I was last time you were here."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm so glad," yelled Arethusa.</p>
+
+<p>"They'll live in New York and I'll live with
+them. As far as I've seen there ain't no other
+place on earth to live. I'm goin' to get me a coat
+lined with black-spotted white cat's fur and have
+my glasses put on a parasol handle, and I'm going
+to have the collars and sleeves left out of most of
+<pb n="317" /><anchor id="Pg317" />my dresses an' look like other people. I'm a great
+believer in doin' as others do, an' Jack won't ever
+have no cause to complain that I didn't take easy
+to city life."</p>
+
+<p>Arethusa felt herself dumb before these revelations.</p>
+
+<p>Later she was conducted to see the wedding
+presents, which were gorgeous. Among them was
+the biggest and brightest of crimson automobiles;
+and Mitchell, who had presented it, had christened
+it beforehand "The Midnight Sun." Aunt
+Mary's gift was the New York house and money
+enough for them to live on the income.</p>
+
+<p>"I know you're able to look out for yourself,"
+she told the bride, "but I don't want Jack to have
+to worry over things at all, and, although I know
+it's a good habit, still I shouldn't like to have him
+ever work so hard that he wouldn't feel like goin'
+around with us nights. Not ever. Not even
+sometimes."</p>
+
+<p>Mitchell was overjoyed at the way things had
+turned out.</p>
+
+<p>"My dear Miss Watkins," he screamed, when
+he was ushered into Aunt Mary's presence, "who
+could have guessed in the hour of that sad parting
+in New York that such a glad future was held in
+store for us all!"</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't quite catch that," Aunt Mary exclaimed,
+<pb n="318" /><anchor id="Pg318" />rapturously, "but it doesn't matter&mdash;as
+long as you got here safe at last."</p>
+
+<p>"Safe!" exclaimed the young man; "it would
+have been the very refinement of cruelty if my train
+had smashed me on this journey."</p>
+
+<p>Burnett was equally happy.</p>
+
+<p>"I suppose it will be up to me to give you away,"
+he said to his sister; "before all these people, too.
+What a mean trick!"</p>
+
+<p>Jack had thought that he would like to have
+Tweedwell marry him, as that young man had put
+in the summer vacation getting ordained. Tweedwell
+accepted&mdash;although he had just taken charge
+of a living in Seattle and came through on a flyer
+which arrived two hours before <hi rend="font-style: italic">the</hi> hour. Some
+fifty or sixty of the guests came in on the same
+train, and Burnett and Clover met them all at the
+cars and made the majority comfortable in the different
+hotels and honored the minority with Aunt
+Mary's hospitality.</p>
+
+<p>The day was gorgeous. The addition to the
+house was done and lined with white and decorated
+in gold. An orchestra was ensconced behind palms
+just as orchestras always covet to be and a magnificent
+breakfast had been sent up from the city
+in its own car with its own service and attendants
+to serve it.</p>
+
+<p>There was only one hitch in the entire programme.
+<pb n="319" /><anchor id="Pg319" />That was that when they got to the
+church Tweedwell did not show up. Jack was distressed
+even though Mrs. Rosscott laughed.
+Mitchell wanted to read the ceremony, but Aunt
+Mary was afraid it wouldn't be legal, and Mr.
+Stebbins agreed with her. In the end the regular
+clergyman married them; and just as they were all
+filing out they met Tweedwell and Lucinda tearing
+along, he in his surplice and she in the black silk
+dress which Aunt Mary had given her in celebration
+of the occasion. They were both too exhausted
+to be able to explain for several minutes;
+but it finally came out (of Lucinda) that Burnett,
+whose place it was to have overseen officiating
+Tweedwell, had forgotten all about him, and the
+poor fellow, exhausted by his long journey, had
+never awakened until Lucinda, going in to clear up
+his room, had let forth a piercing howl of surprise.</p>
+
+<p>So far from dampening anyone's spirits this little
+<hi rend="font-style: italic">contretemps</hi> only seemed to set things off at a
+livelier pace. They had a brisk ride home, and
+the wedding feast and the wedding cake were all
+that could be desired. What went with it was the
+finest that any of the guests ever tasted before or
+since, and the champagne was all but served in
+beer steins.</p>
+
+<p>When it came to the healths they drank to Aunt
+Mary along with the bride and groom, and Mitchell
+<pb n="320" /><anchor id="Pg320" />made a speech, invoking Heaven's blessings on the
+triple compact and covering himself with glory.</p>
+
+<p>"Here's to Aunt Mary and her bride and her
+groom," he cried, when they told him to rise and
+proclaim. "Here's to Aunt Mary and her bride
+and groom, and here's to their health and their
+wealth and their happiness. Here's to their brilliant
+past, their roseate present and their gorgeous
+future. And here's to hoping that Fate, who is
+ready and willing to deal any man a bride, may
+some time see fit to deal some one of us another
+such as Jack's Aunt Mary. So I propose her
+health before all else. Aunt Mary, long may she
+wave!"</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary looked as if words and actions were
+poor things in which to attempt to express her
+feelings, but no one who glanced at her could be in
+two minds as to her state of approval as to everything
+that was going on.</p>
+
+<p>The bridal pair drove away somewhere after
+five o'clock, and about seven the main body of the
+guests returned to the city.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Rosscott's mother and Mitchell and Burnett
+remained a day or two to keep Aunt Mary
+from feeling blue, but Aunt Mary was not at all
+inclined that way.</p>
+
+<p>"If those two young people are lookin' forward
+to anythin' like as much fun as I am," she said over
+<pb n="321" /><anchor id="Pg321" />and over again, "well, all is they're lookin' forward
+to a good deal."</p>
+
+<p>"Won't we whoop her up next summer!" said
+Burnett; "well, I don't know!"</p>
+
+<p>"My dear Robert," said his mother gently.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't stop him," said Aunt Mary. "He
+knows just how I feel an' I know jus' how he feels.
+It isn't wrong, Mrs. Burnett, it's natural. We were
+born to be happy, only sometimes we don't know
+just how to set about it."</p>
+
+<p>"Miss Watkins has hit the nail on the head,"
+said Mitchell, rolling a cigarette. "She has not
+only hit the nail on its own head, but she has succeeded
+in driving its point well into all our heads.
+She taught us many things during her short visit.
+I, for one, am her debtor forever. Me for joy,
+from now on!"</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary smiled. "My heavens!" she murmured;
+"to think how nice it all come out, and
+how really put out I was when Jack first began,
+too."</p>
+
+<p>Burnett put his hand in his pocket and pulled out
+some gum.</p>
+
+<p>"Robert!" cried his mother, "you don't chew
+gum, do you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Of course he doesn't," said his friend quickly;
+"that's why he had it in his pocket."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary looked thoughtfully at him.
+<pb n="322" /><anchor id="Pg322" /></p>
+
+<p>"Give me a little," she said, "maybe it's suthin'
+I've been missin'."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Burnett left the next day, and Mitchell
+went the day after.</p>
+
+<p>The carpenters took down the addition, and the
+wedding presents were shipped to town.</p>
+
+<p>"She says she'll be goin' soon," said Lucinda to
+Joshua.</p>
+
+<p>"Then she'll be goin' soon," said Joshua.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm sure I'll be glad," said Lucinda; "such
+hifalutin sky-larkin'!"</p>
+
+<p>Joshua said nothing. Mr. Stebbins had apprised
+him of Aunt Mary's arrangements in his behalf and
+he felt no inclination to criticize any of her doings
+and sayings.</p>
+
+<p>Toward the end of the next week this telegram
+was received.</p>
+
+<quote rend="display">
+<p>Dear Aunt Mary: We're home and ready when
+you are. Telegraph what train.</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: right">J. and J.</p>
+</quote>
+
+<p>The telegram was handed to Aunt Mary at ten
+in the morning. Her fingers trembled as she
+opened it.</p>
+
+<p>"My heavens alive, Lucinda," she cried, the
+next minute, "I do believe, if you'll be quick, that
+I can make the twelve-twenty! Run! Tell Joshua
+to get my trunk down and harness Billy as quick
+<pb n="323" /><anchor id="Pg323" />as he can. He can telegraph that I'm comin' after
+I'm gone."</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda flew Joshua-wards.</p>
+
+<p>"She wants to make the twelve-twenty train!"
+she cried. Joshua looked up.</p>
+
+<p>"Then she'll make it," he said.</p>
+
+<p>She made it!</p>
+</div>
+<pb n="325" /><anchor id="Pg325" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: right">
+
+<p><hi rend="font-style: italic; font-size: large">Anne Warner's "Susan Clegg" Books</hi></p>
+
+<p>SUSAN CLEGG AND HER FRIEND MRS. LATHROP</p>
+
+<p><hi rend="font-style: italic">By</hi> ANNE WARNER<lb />
+With Frontispiece, $1.00</p>
+
+<p>Nothing better in the new homely philosophy style
+of fiction has been written.&mdash;<hi rend="font-style: italic">San Francisco Bulletin</hi>.</p>
+
+<p>One of the most genuinely humorous books ever written.&mdash;<hi rend="font-style: italic">St.
+Louis Globe-Democrat</hi>.</p>
+
+<p>Anything more humorous than the Susan Clegg stories
+would be hard to find.&mdash;<hi rend="font-style: italic">The Critic</hi>, New York.</p>
+
+<milestone unit="tb" rend="stars: 5" />
+
+<p><hi rend="font-style: italic">By the Same Author</hi>:</p>
+
+<p>SUSAN CLEGG AND HER NEIGHBORS' AFFAIRS</p>
+
+<p>With Frontispiece, $1.00</p>
+
+<p>All the stories brim over with quaint humor, caustic
+sarcasm, and concealed contempt for male and matrimonial
+chains.&mdash;<hi rend="font-style: italic">Philadelphia Ledger</hi>.</p>
+
+<milestone unit="tb" rend="stars: 5" />
+
+<p>SUSAN CLEGG AND A MAN IN THE HOUSE</p>
+
+<p>Illustrated by Alice Barber Stephens. $1.50</p>
+
+<p>Susan is a positive joy, and the reading world owes
+Anne Warner a vote of thanks for her contribution to
+the list of American humor.&mdash;<hi rend="font-style: italic">New York Times</hi>.</p>
+
+<p>LITTLE, BROWN, &amp; CO., Publishers<lb />
+34 Beacon Street, Boston</p>
+</div>
+
+<pb n="326" /><anchor id="Pg326" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<p><hi rend="font-style: italic; font-size: large">An exceedingly clever volume of stories</hi></p>
+
+<p>AN ORIGINAL GENTLEMAN</p>
+
+<p><hi rend="font-style: italic">By</hi> ANNE WARNER</p>
+
+<p>With frontispiece by Alice Barber Stephens</p>
+
+<p>Cloth. $1.50</p>
+
+<p>Exhibits her cleverness and sense of humor.&mdash;<hi rend="font-style: italic">New York
+Times</hi>.</p>
+
+<p>Crisply told, quaintly humorous.&mdash;<hi rend="font-style: italic">Boston Transcript</hi>.</p>
+
+<p>An "Original Gentleman" is truly also one of the most
+entertaining and witty gentlemen that it has been our
+fortune to run across in many a day, not to mention the
+more original lady that he has to do with.&mdash;<hi rend="font-style: italic">Louisville
+Evening Post</hi>.</p>
+
+<milestone unit="tb" rend="stars: 5" />
+
+<p><hi rend="font-style: italic">By the same author</hi></p>
+
+<p>A WOMAN'S WILL</p>
+
+<p>Illustrated. 360 pages. Cloth. $1.50</p>
+
+<p>A deliciously funny book.&mdash;<hi rend="font-style: italic">Chicago Tribune</hi>.</p>
+
+<p>It is bright, charming, and intense as it describes the
+wooing of a young American widow on the European
+Continent by a German musical genius.&mdash;<hi rend="font-style: italic">San Francisco
+Chronicle</hi>.</p>
+
+<p>As refreshing a bit of fiction as one often finds.&mdash;<hi rend="font-style: italic">Providence
+Journal</hi>.</p>
+
+<p>LITTLE, BROWN, &amp; CO., PUBLISHERS<lb />
+34 BEACON STREET, BOSTON</p>
+</div>
+
+<pb n="327" /><anchor id="Pg327" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<p><hi rend="font-style: italic; font-size: large">Anne Warner's Latest Character Creation</hi></p>
+
+<p>IN A MYSTERIOUS WAY</p>
+
+<p><hi rend="font-style: italic">By</hi> ANNE WARNER</p>
+
+<p>Illustrated by J.V. McFall. Cloth. $1.50</p>
+
+<p>A story of love and sacrifice that teems with the
+author's original humor.&mdash;<hi rend="font-style: italic">Baltimore American</hi>.</p>
+
+<p>The humor peculiar to her pen is here in wonted
+strength, but in a new guise; and set against it, or interwoven
+with it, is a story of love and the strange sacrifice
+of which a few loving hearts are capable.&mdash;<hi rend="font-style: italic">New York
+American</hi>.</p>
+
+<milestone unit="tb" rend="stars: 5" />
+
+<p><hi rend="font-style: italic">By the same author</hi></p>
+
+<p>YOUR CHILD AND MINE</p>
+
+<p>Illustrated. 12mo. Cloth. $1.50</p>
+
+<p>The child heart, strange and sweet and tender, lies open
+to this sympathetic writer, and other human hearts&mdash;and
+eyes&mdash;should be opened by her narratives.&mdash;<hi rend="font-style: italic">Chicago
+Record-Herald</hi>.</p>
+
+<p>The literary charm of the stories is not the least of their
+attractions. The interest is all the greater for the style
+in which the story is told, and the author's sympathy with
+her young friends lends a vital warmth to her narrative.&mdash;<hi rend="font-style: italic">Philadelphia
+Public Ledger</hi>.</p>
+
+<p>LITTLE, BROWN, &amp; CO., PUBLISHERS<lb />
+34 BEACON STREET, BOSTON</p>
+</div>
+
+<pb n="328" /><anchor id="Pg328" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<p><hi rend="font-style: italic; font-size: large">By the Author of "Aunt Jane of Kentucky"</hi></p>
+
+<p>THE LAND OF LONG AGO</p>
+
+<p><hi rend="font-style: italic">By</hi> ELIZA CALVERT HALL</p>
+
+<p>Illustrated by G. Patrick Nelson and Beulah Strong
+12mo. Cloth. $1.50</p>
+
+<p>The book is an inspiration.&mdash;<hi rend="font-style: italic">Boston Globe</hi>.</p>
+
+<p>Without qualification one of the worthiest publications
+of the year.&mdash;<hi rend="font-style: italic">Pittsburg Post</hi>.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Jane has become a real personage in American
+literature.&mdash;<hi rend="font-style: italic">Hartford Courant</hi>.</p>
+
+<p>A philosophy sweet and wholesome flows from the lips
+of "Aunt Jane."&mdash;<hi rend="font-style: italic">Chicago Evening Post</hi>.</p>
+
+<p>The sweetness and sincerity of Aunt Jane's recollections
+have the same unfailing charm found in "Cranford."&mdash;<hi rend="font-style: italic">Philadelphia
+Press</hi>.</p>
+
+<p>To a greater degree than her previous work it touches
+the heart by its wholesome, quaint human appeal.&mdash;<hi rend="font-style: italic">Boston
+Transcript</hi>.</p>
+
+<p>The stories are prose idyls; the illuminations of a lovely
+spirit shine upon them, and their literary quality is as
+rare as beautiful.&mdash;<hi rend="font-style: italic">Baltimore Sun</hi>.</p>
+
+<p>MARGARET E. SANGSTER says: "It is not often that an
+author competes with herself, but Eliza Calvert Hall has
+done so successfully, for her second volume centred about
+Aunt Jane is more fascinating than her first."</p>
+
+<p>LITTLE, BROWN, &amp; CO., PUBLISHERS<lb />
+34 BEACON STREET, BOSTON</p>
+</div>
+
+</body>
+  <back>
+<div rend="page-break-before: right">
+  <divGen type="pgfooter" />
+</div>
+  </back>
+</text>
+</TEI.2>
+
+<!--
+A Word from Project Gutenberg
+
+
+This file should be named 15775-0.txt or 15775-0.zip.
+
+This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
+
+
+      http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/7/7/15775/
+
+
+Updated editions will replace the previous one — the old editions will be
+renamed.
+
+Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no one
+owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and
+you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission
+and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth in the
+General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and
+distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the Project
+Gutenberg-tm concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered
+trademark, and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you
+receive specific permission. If you do not charge anything for copies of
+this eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook
+for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports,
+performances and research. They may be modified and printed and given away
+— you may do practically _anything_ with public domain eBooks.
+Redistribution is subject to the trademark license, especially commercial
+redistribution.
+
+
+
+
+The Full Project Gutenberg License
+
+
+_Please read this before you distribute or use this work._
+
+To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free
+distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work (or
+any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project Gutenberg”),
+you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License (available with this file or online
+(http://www.gutenberg.org/license)).
+
+
+
+Section 1.
+
+
+  General Terms of Use & Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+                                  works
+
+
+1.A.
+
+
+By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work,
+you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to and accept all the
+terms of this license and intellectual property (trademark/copyright)
+agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all the terms of this
+agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy all copies of
+Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. If you paid a
+fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+work and you do not agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement, you
+may obtain a refund from the person or entity to whom you paid the fee as
+set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
+
+
+1.B.
+
+
+“Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark. It may only be used on or
+associated in any way with an electronic work by people who agree to be
+bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few things that you can
+do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works even without complying
+with the full terms of this agreement. See paragraph 1.C below. There are
+a lot of things you can do with Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works if
+you follow the terms of this agreement and help preserve free future
+access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below.
+
+
+1.C.
+
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the Foundation” or
+PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the
+collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an individual
+work is in the public domain in the United States and you are located in
+the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from copying,
+distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative works based on
+the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of
+course, we hope that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of
+promoting free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project
+Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for
+keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can
+easily comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the
+same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when you
+share it without charge with others.
+
+
+1.D.
+
+
+The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern what you
+can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in a constant
+state of change. If you are outside the United States, check the laws of
+your country in addition to the terms of this agreement before
+downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or creating
+derivative works based on this work or any other Project Gutenberg-tm
+work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning the copyright
+status of any work in any country outside the United States.
+
+
+1.E.
+
+
+Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
+
+
+1.E.1.
+
+
+The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate access
+to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently whenever
+any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the phrase
+“Project Gutenberg” appears, or with which the phrase “Project Gutenberg”
+is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, copied or
+distributed:
+
+
+      This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and
+      with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give
+      it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg
+      License included with this eBook or online at
+      http://www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+1.E.2.
+
+
+If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived from the
+public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is posted with
+permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied and
+distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees or
+charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work with the
+phrase “Project Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the work, you
+must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7
+or obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm
+trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+
+1.E.3.
+
+
+If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted with the
+permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution must comply
+with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional terms imposed
+by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked to the Project
+Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the permission of the
+copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.
+
+
+1.E.4.
+
+
+Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm License
+terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this work or any
+other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
+
+
+1.E.5.
+
+
+Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this electronic
+work, or any part of this electronic work, without prominently displaying
+the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with active links or immediate
+access to the full terms of the Project Gutenberg-tm License.
+
+
+1.E.6.
+
+
+You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, compressed,
+marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any word
+processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or
+distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than
+“Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official version posted
+on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (http://www.gutenberg.org),
+you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a
+copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon
+request, of the work in its original “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other form.
+Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm License as
+specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
+
+
+1.E.7.
+
+
+Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, performing,
+copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works unless you comply
+with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+
+1.E.8.
+
+
+You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing access to or
+distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided that
+
+    - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
+      the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method
+      you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed
+      to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has
+      agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project
+      Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid
+      within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are
+      legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty
+      payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project
+      Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in
+      Section 4, “Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg
+      Literary Archive Foundation.”
+
+    - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
+      you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
+      does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+      License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all
+      copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue
+      all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm
+      works.
+
+    - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of
+      any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
+      electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of
+      receipt of the work.
+
+    - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
+      distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+
+1.E.9.
+
+
+If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set forth in
+this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from both the
+Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael Hart, the owner
+of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth
+in Section 3 below.
+
+
+1.F.
+
+
+1.F.1.
+
+
+Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable effort to
+identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread public domain
+works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these
+efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, and the medium on which
+they may be stored, may contain “Defects,” such as, but not limited to,
+incomplete, inaccurate or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright
+or other intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk
+or other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot
+be read by your equipment.
+
+
+1.F.2.
+
+
+LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES — Except for the “Right of
+Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm
+trademark, and any other party distributing a Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all liability to you for
+damages, costs and expenses, including legal fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE
+NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH
+OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE
+FOUNDATION, THE TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT
+WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL,
+PUNITIVE OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY
+OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+
+
+1.F.3.
+
+
+LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND — If you discover a defect in this
+electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can receive a refund
+of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a written explanation to
+the person you received the work from. If you received the work on a
+physical medium, you must return the medium with your written explanation.
+The person or entity that provided you with the defective work may elect
+to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a refund. If you received the
+work electronically, the person or entity providing it to you may choose
+to give you a second opportunity to receive the work electronically in
+lieu of a refund. If the second copy is also defective, you may demand a
+refund in writing without further opportunities to fix the problem.
+
+
+1.F.4.
+
+
+Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth in
+paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ’AS-IS,’ WITH NO OTHER
+WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
+WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
+
+
+1.F.5.
+
+
+Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied warranties or the
+exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. If any disclaimer or
+limitation set forth in this agreement violates the law of the state
+applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be interpreted to make
+the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by the applicable state
+law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this agreement
+shall not void the remaining provisions.
+
+
+1.F.6.
+
+
+INDEMNITY — You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the trademark
+owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone providing copies of
+Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance with this agreement,
+and any volunteers associated with the production, promotion and
+distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, harmless from all
+liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, that arise directly
+or indirectly from any of the following which you do or cause to occur:
+(a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration,
+modification, or additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work,
+and (c) any Defect you cause.
+
+
+
+Section  2.
+
+
+          Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm
+
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of
+electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers
+including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists because
+of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from people in all
+walks of life.
+
+Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the assistance
+they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm’s goals and
+ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will remain freely
+available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure and permanent future
+for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. To learn more about the
+Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and how your efforts and
+donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation web page at
+http://www.pglaf.org.
+
+
+
+Section 3.
+
+
+   Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
+
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit
+501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the state of
+Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service.
+The Foundation’s EIN or federal tax identification number is 64-6221541.
+Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at http://www.pglaf.org/fundraising.
+Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation are tax
+deductible to the full extent permitted by U.S. federal laws and your
+state’s laws.
+
+The Foundation’s principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr.
+S. Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered
+throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at 809 North
+1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email
+business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact information
+can be found at the Foundation’s web site and official page at
+http://www.pglaf.org
+
+For additional contact information:
+
+
+      Dr. Gregory B. Newby
+      Chief Executive and Director
+      gbnewby@pglaf.org
+
+
+
+Section 4.
+
+
+  Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
+                                Foundation
+
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide spread
+public support and donations to carry out its mission of increasing the
+number of public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed
+in machine readable form accessible by the widest array of equipment
+including outdated equipment. Many small donations ($1 to $5,000) are
+particularly important to maintaining tax exempt status with the IRS.
+
+The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
+charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United States.
+Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a considerable
+effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up with these
+requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations where we have not
+received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND DONATIONS or
+determine the status of compliance for any particular state visit
+http://www.pglaf.org
+
+While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we have
+not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition against
+accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who approach us
+with offers to donate.
+
+International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make any
+statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from outside the
+United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
+
+Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation methods
+and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other ways including
+checks, online payments and credit card donations. To donate, please
+visit: http://www.pglaf.org/donate
+
+
+
+Section 5.
+
+
+     General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works.
+
+
+Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm
+concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared with
+anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project Gutenberg-tm
+eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed
+editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. unless a
+copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily keep eBooks in
+compliance with any particular paper edition.
+
+Each eBook is in a subdirectory of the same number as the eBook’s eBook
+number, often in several formats including plain vanilla ASCII, compressed
+(zipped), HTML and others.
+
+Corrected _editions_ of our eBooks replace the old file and take over the
+old filename and etext number. The replaced older file is renamed.
+_Versions_ based on separate sources are treated as new eBooks receiving
+new filenames and etext numbers.
+
+Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility:
+
+
+      http://www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, including
+how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
+Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to subscribe to
+our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
+-->
diff --git a/old/15775-tei.zip b/old/15775-tei.zip
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..96317fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/15775-tei.zip
diff --git a/old/15775-tei/15775-tei.tei b/old/15775-tei/15775-tei.tei
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..43e3f2a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/15775-tei/15775-tei.tei
@@ -0,0 +1,12446 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
+
+<!--
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary by Anne
+Warner
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no
+restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under
+the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or
+online at http://www.gutenberg.org/license
+
+
+
+
+Title: The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary
+
+Author: Anne Warner
+
+Release Date: May 2005 [EBook #15775]
+
+Language: American English
+
+Character set encoding: UTF-8
+-->
+
+<!DOCTYPE TEI.2 SYSTEM "http://www.gutenberg.org/tei/marcello/0.4/dtd/pgtei.dtd">
+
+<TEI.2 lang="en-us">
+<teiHeader>
+  <fileDesc>
+    <titleStmt>
+      <title>The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary</title>
+      <author>Anne Warner</author>
+    </titleStmt>
+    <editionStmt>
+      <edition n="1">
+	Edition 1
+      </edition>
+    </editionStmt>
+    <publicationStmt>
+      <publisher>Project Gutenberg</publisher>
+      <date value="2005-5">May 2005</date>
+      <idno type="etext-no">15775</idno>
+      <availability>
+        <p>This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+	almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
+	re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+	online at <xref url="www.gutenberg.org/license">www.gutenberg.org/license</xref></p>
+      </availability>
+    </publicationStmt>
+    <sourceDesc>
+      <bibl>
+        <title>The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary</title>
+        <author>Anne Warner</author>
+        <imprint>
+          <pubPlace>Boston</pubPlace>
+          <publisher>Little, Brown, and Company</publisher>
+          <date>1910</date>
+        </imprint>
+      </bibl>
+    </sourceDesc>
+  </fileDesc>
+
+  <encodingDesc>
+    <classDecl>
+      <taxonomy id="lc">
+        <bibl>
+	  <title>Library of Congress Classification</title>
+	</bibl>
+      </taxonomy>
+    </classDecl>
+  </encodingDesc>
+
+  <profileDesc>
+    <langUsage>
+      <language id="en-us">United States English</language>
+    </langUsage>
+    <textClass>
+      <classCode scheme="lc">
+        *** <!-- LoC Class (PR, PQ, ...) -->
+      </classCode>
+      <keywords>
+        <list>
+	  <!-- <item></item> any keywords for PG search engine -->
+	</list>
+      </keywords>
+    </textClass>
+  </profileDesc>
+
+  <revisionDesc>
+    <change>
+      <date value="2005-5">May 2005</date>
+      <respStmt>
+        <name>Suzanne Shell</name>
+        <name>Josephine Paolucci</name>
+        <name>Joshua Hutchinson</name>
+        <name>Online Distributed Proofreading Team</name>
+      </respStmt>
+      <item>Project Gutenberg Edition</item>
+    </change>
+    <change>
+      <date value="2005-8">August 2005</date>
+      <respStmt>
+        <name>Joshua Hutchinson</name>
+      </respStmt>
+      <item>Converted to PGTEI v0.3.</item>
+     </change>
+    <change>
+      <date value="2006-6">June 2006</date>
+      <respStmt>
+        <name>Joshua Hutchinson</name>
+      </respStmt>
+      <item>Added PGHeader/PGFooter.</item>
+    </change>
+  </revisionDesc>
+
+</teiHeader>
+
+<pgExtensions>
+  <pgStyleSheet>
+    figure           { text-align: center; page-float: 'htb' }
+    .w95             { }
+    @media pdf {
+      .w95             { width: 95% }
+      }
+  </pgStyleSheet>
+</pgExtensions>
+
+<text>
+<front>
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<divGen type="pgheader" />
+</div>
+
+<titlePage rend="page-break-before: right">
+<docTitle><titlePart type="main" rend="font-size: x-large">The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary</titlePart></docTitle>
+
+<lb /><byline>By <docAuthor>Anne Warner</docAuthor><lb /><lb />
+Author of "A Woman's Will," "Susan Clegg
+and Her Friend Mrs. Lathrop," "Susan
+Clegg and a Man in the House," etc.
+</byline>
+
+<docEdition><hi rend="font-style: italic">NEW EDITION</hi><lb />
+<hi rend="font-style: italic">With Additional Pictures from the Play</hi><lb /><lb /></docEdition>
+
+<docImprint>Boston<lb />
+Little, Brown, and Company<lb />
+1910</docImprint>
+</titlePage>
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<p rend="text-align: center"><hi rend="font-style: italic">Copyright, 1904,</hi><lb />
+By Ainslee Magazine Company.</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: center"><hi rend="font-style: italic">Copyright, 1905,</hi><lb />
+By Little, Brown, and Company.</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: center"><hi rend="font-style: italic">Copyright, 1907,</hi><lb />
+By Little, Brown, and Company,</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: center"><hi rend="font-style: italic">All rights reserved</hi></p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: center">Fourteenth Printing</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: center">Printers<lb />
+S.J. Parkhill &amp; Co., Boston, U.S.A.</p>
+
+</div>
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<anchor id="frontispiece" />
+<p rend="text-align: center"><anchor id="image01" />
+<figure rend="w95" url="images/image01.png">
+<head>Aunt Mary en Fête.
+May Robson as "Aunt Mary."</head>
+<figDesc><hi rend="font-style: italic">Frontispiece</hi></figDesc>
+</figure></p><p></p>
+</div>
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+
+<p><table cols="2">
+<head><hi rend="font-style: italic">Books by Anne Warner</hi></head>
+<row>
+<cell>A Woman's Will</cell><cell>1904</cell>
+</row>
+<row>
+<cell>Susan Clegg and Her Friend Mrs. Lathrop</cell><cell>1904</cell>
+</row>
+<row>
+<cell>The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary</cell><cell>1905</cell>
+</row>
+<row>
+<cell>Susan Clegg and Her Neighbor's Affairs</cell><cell>1906</cell>
+</row>
+<row>
+<cell>Susan Clegg and a Man in the House</cell><cell>1907</cell>
+</row>
+<row>
+<cell>An Original Gentleman</cell><cell>1908</cell>
+</row>
+<row>
+<cell>In a Mysterious Way</cell><cell>1909</cell>
+</row>
+<row>
+<cell>Your Child and Mine</cell><cell>1909</cell>
+</row>
+</table></p>
+</div>
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: right">
+<head>Contents</head>
+<divGen type="toc" />
+</div>
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: right">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+<head>Illustrations</head>
+
+<list type="simple">
+<item><ref target="frontispiece">"Aunt Mary en fête" (May Robson as "Aunt
+Mary") <hi rend="font-style: italic">Frontispiece</hi></ref></item>
+
+<item><ref target="image02">"'Do not let us play any longer,' she said.
+'Let us be in earnest'"</ref></item>
+
+<item><ref target="image03">"'She's goin' to the city all alone!' Lucinda's
+voice suddenly proclaimed behind him"</ref></item>
+
+<item><ref target="image04">Aunt Mary and Her Escorts</ref></item>
+
+<item><ref target="image05">"The carriage stopped three hundred feet below
+the level of a roof-garden"</ref></item>
+
+<item><ref target="image06">"And now the fun's all over and the work
+begins"</ref></item>
+
+<item><ref target="image07">"'Yesterday I played poker until I didn't know
+a blue chip from a white one'"</ref></item>
+
+<item><ref target="image08">"Aunt Mary had also had her eyes
+open"</ref></item>
+</list>
+
+</div>
+</front>
+
+<body>
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<pb n="001" /><anchor id="Pg001" />
+<head>The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary</head>
+<p></p>
+</div>
+
+<div>
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+<head>Chapter One - Introducing Aunt Mary</head>
+
+<p>The first time that Jack was threatened
+with expulsion from college his Aunt
+Mary was much surprised and decidedly
+vexed&mdash;mainly at the college. His family were
+less surprised, viewing the young man through a
+clearer atmosphere than his Aunt Mary ever had,
+and knowing that he had barely escaped similar
+experiences earlier in his career by invariably leaving
+school the day before the board of inquiry
+convened.</p>
+
+<p>Jack's preparatory days having been more or
+less tempestous, his family (Aunt Mary excepted)
+had expected some sort of after-clap when
+he entered college. Nevertheless, they had fervently
+hoped that it would not be quite as bad as
+this.</p>
+
+<p>Jack's sister Arethusa was visiting her aunt
+when the news came. Not because she wanted to,
+for the old lady was dreadfully deaf and fearfully
+<pb n="002" /><anchor id="Pg002" />arbitrary, but because Lucinda had said that she
+must go to her cousin's wedding, and the family
+always had to bow to Lucinda's mandates. Lucinda
+was Aunt Mary's maid, but she had become
+so indispensable as a sitter at the off-end of the
+latter's ear-trumpet that none of the grand-nephews
+or grand-nieces ever thought for an instant of crossing
+one of her wishes. So it was to Arethusa that
+the explanations due Aunt Mary's interest in her
+scapegrace fell, and she bowed her back to the
+burden with the resignation which the circumstances
+demanded.</p>
+
+<p>"Whatever is the difference between bein' expelled
+and bein' suspended?" Aunt Mary demanded,
+in her tone of imperious impatience.
+"Well, why don't you answer? I was brought
+up to speak when you're spoken to, an' I'm a
+great believer in livin' up to your bringin' up&mdash;if
+you had a good one. What's the difference,
+an' which costs most? That's what I want to
+know. I do wish you'd answer me, Arethusa;
+there's two things I've asked you now, an' you
+suckin' your finger an' puttin' on your thimble as
+if you were sittin' alone in China."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know which costs most," Arethusa
+shrieked.</p>
+
+<p>"You needn't scream so," said Aunt Mary.
+"I ain't so hard to hear as you think. I ain't
+<pb n="003" /><anchor id="Pg003" />but seventy, and I'll beg you to remember <hi rend="font-style: italic">that</hi>,
+Arethusa. Besides, I don't want to hear you talk.
+I just want to hear about Jack. I'm askin' about
+his bein' expelled and suspended, an' what's the
+difference, an' in particular if there's anything
+to pay for broken glass. It's always broken glass!
+That boy's bills for broken glass have been somethin'
+just awful these last two years. Well, why
+don't you answer?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know what to answer," Arethusa
+screamed.</p>
+
+<p>"What do you suppose he's done, anyhow?"</p>
+
+<p>"Something bad."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary frowned.</p>
+
+<p>"I ain't mad," she said sharply. "What made
+you think I was mad? I ain't mad at all! I'm
+just askin' what's the difference between bein' expelled
+an' bein' suspended, an' it seems to me this
+is the third time I've asked it. Seems to me it is."</p>
+
+<p>Arethusa laid down her work, drew a mighty
+breath, very nearly got into the ear-trumpet, and
+explained that being suspended was infinitely less
+heinous than being expelled, and decidedly less
+final.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary looked relieved.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, then he's gettin' better, is he?" she said.
+"Well, I'm sure that's some comfort."</p>
+
+<p>And then there was a long pause, during which
+<pb n="004" /><anchor id="Pg004" />she appeared to be engaged in deep reflection,
+and her niece continued her embroidery in peace.
+The pause endured until a sudden sneeze on the
+part of the old lady set the wheels of conversation
+turning again.</p>
+
+<p>"Arethusa," she said, "I wish you'd go an'
+get the ink an' write to Mr. Stebbins. I want
+him to begin to look up another college with good
+references right away. I don't want to waste any
+of the boy's life, an' if bein' suspended means
+waitin' while the college takes its time to consider
+whether it wants him back again or not I ain't goin'
+to wait. I'm a great believer in a college education,
+but I don't know that it cuts much figure whether
+it's the same college right through or not. Anyway,
+you write Mr. Stebbins."</p>
+
+<p>Arethusa obeyed, and the authorities having
+seen fit to be uncommonly discreet as to the cause
+of the young man's withdrawal, no great difficulty
+was experienced in finding another campus
+whereon Aunt Mary's pride and joy might freely
+disport himself. Mr. Stebbins threw himself into
+the affair with all the tact and ardor of an experienced
+legal mind and soon after Lucinda's return
+to her home allowed Arethusa to follow suit,
+the hopeful younger brother of the latter became
+a candidate for his second outfit of new sweaters
+and hat bands that year.
+<pb n="005" /><anchor id="Pg005" /></p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary wrote him a letter upon the occasion
+of his new start in life, Mr. Stebbins delivered
+him a lecture, and things went smoothly in consequence
+for three whole weeks. I say three
+whole weeks because three whole weeks was a
+long time for the course of Jack's life to flow
+smoothly. At the end of a fortnight affairs were
+always due to run more rapidly and three weeks
+produced, as a general thing, some species of
+climax.</p>
+
+<p>The climax in this case came to time as usual
+his evil genius inciting the young man to attempt,
+one very dark night, the shooting of a cat which
+he thought he saw upon the back fence. Whether
+he really had seen a cat or not mattered very little
+in the later development of the matter. He was
+certainly successful as far as the going off of the
+gun was concerned, but the damage that resulted,
+resulted not to any cat, but to the arm of a next-door's
+cook, who was peacefully engaged in taking
+in her week's wash on the other side of the
+fence. The cook ceased abruptly to take in the
+wash, the affair was at once what is technically
+termed looked into, and three days later Jack
+became the defendant in a suit for damages.</p>
+
+<p>Naturally Mr. Stebbins was at once notified
+and he had no choice except to write Aunt Mary.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary was somewhat less patient over the
+<pb n="006" /><anchor id="Pg006" />third escapade than she had been with the first
+two.</p>
+
+<p>The letter found her alone with Lucinda and
+she read it to herself three times and then read it
+aloud to her companion. Lucinda, whose thorough
+knowledge of the imperious will and impervious
+eardrums of her mistress rendered her, as a
+rule, extremely monosyllabic, not to say silent,
+vouchsafed no comment upon the contents of the
+epistle, and after a few minutes Aunt Mary herself
+took the field:</p>
+
+<p>"Now, what do you suppose possessed that boy
+to shoot at a cook?" she asked, regarding the
+letter with a portentous frown. "Cooks are so
+awful hard to get nowadays. I don't see why
+he didn't shoot a tramp if he had to shoot somethin'."</p>
+
+<p>"He wa'n't tryin' to shoot a cook, 'pears like,"
+then cried Lucinda&mdash;Lucinda's voice, be it said,
+<hi rend="font-style: italic">en passant</hi>, was of that sibilant and penetrating
+timbre which is best illustrated in the accents of a
+steamfitter's file&mdash;"'pears like he was tryin' for
+a cat."</p>
+
+<p>"Not a bat," said her mistress correctively;
+"it was a cat. You look at this letter an' you'll
+see. And, anyway, how could a man shootin' at
+a cat hit a cook?&mdash;not 'nless she was up a tree
+birds'-nestin' after owls' eggs. You don't seem
+<pb n="007" /><anchor id="Pg007" />to pay much attention to what I read to you,
+Lucinda; only I should think your commonsense
+would help you out some when it comes to a boy
+you've known from the time he could walk, an'
+a strange cook. But, anyhow, that's neither here
+nor there. The question that bothers me is, what's
+to pay with this damage suit? I think myself
+five hundred dollars is too much for any cook's
+arm. A cook ain't in no such vital need of two
+arms. If she has to shut the door of the oven
+while she's stirrin' somethin' on the top of the
+stove, she can easy kick it to with her foot. It won't
+be for long, anyway, and I'm a great believer in
+making the best of things when you've got to."</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda screwed up her face and made no comment.
+Lucinda's face in repose was a cross
+between a monkey's and a peanut; screwed up, it
+was particularly awful, and always exasperated
+her mistress.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, why don't you say somethin', Lucinda?
+I ain't askin' your advice, but, all the same, you
+can say anything if you've got a mind to."</p>
+
+<p>"I ain't got a mind to say anythin'," the faithful
+maid rejoined.</p>
+
+<p>"I guess you hit the nail on the head that
+time," said Aunt Mary, without any unnecessary
+malevolence concealed behind her sarcasm; then
+she re-read the note and frowned afresh.
+<pb n="008" /><anchor id="Pg008" /></p>
+
+<p>"Five hundred dollars is too much," she said
+again. "I'm going to write to Mr. Stebbins an'
+tell him so to-night. He can compromise on two
+hundred and fifty, just as well as not. Get me
+some paper and my desk, Lucinda. Now get a
+spryness about you."</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda laid aside her work and forthwith got
+a spryness about her, bringing her mistress' writing-desk
+with commendable alacrity. Aunt Mary
+took the writing-desk and wrote fiercely for some
+time, to the end that she finally wrote most of the
+fierceness out of herself.</p>
+
+<p>"After all, boys will be boys," she said, as she
+sealed her letter, "and if this is the end I shan't
+feel it's money wasted. I'm a great believer in
+bein' patient. Most always, that is. Here, Lucinda
+you take this to Joshua and tell him to
+take it right to mail. Be prompt, now. I'm a
+great believer in doin' things prompt."</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda took the letter and was prompt. "She
+wants this letter took right to the mail," she said
+to Joshua, Aunt Mary's longest-tried servitor.</p>
+
+<p>"Then it'll be took right to mail," said Joshua.</p>
+
+<p>"She's pretty mad," said Lucinda.</p>
+
+<p>"Then she'll soon get over it," replied the
+other, taking up his hat and preparing to depart
+for the barn forthwith.</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda returned to Aunt Mary with a species
+<pb n="009" /><anchor id="Pg009" />of dried-up sigh. One is not the less a slave
+because one has been enslaved for twenty years,
+and Lucinda at moments did sort of peek out
+through her bars&mdash;possibly envying Joshua the
+daily drives to mail when he had full control of
+something that was alive.</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda had been, comparatively speaking,
+young when she had come to wait upon the pleasure
+of the Watkins millions, and her waiting had
+been so pertinent and so patient that it had endured
+over a quarter of a century. Aunt Mary
+had been under fifty in the hour of Lucinda's
+dawn; she was over seventy now. Jack hadn't
+been born then; he was in college now; and Jack's
+older brothers and sisters and his dead-and-gone
+father and mother had been living somewhere out
+West then, quite hopeful as to their own lives and
+quite hopeless as to the stern old great-aunt who
+never had paid any attention to her niece since
+she had chosen to elope with the doctor's reprobate
+son. Now the father and mother were dead
+and buried, the brothers and sisters reinstated in
+their rights and had all grown up and become
+great credits to the old lady, whose heart had
+suddenly melted at the arrival of five orphans all
+at once. And there was only Jack to continue to
+worry about.</p>
+
+<p>Jack was not anything particularly remarkable;
+<pb n="010" /><anchor id="Pg010" />he was just one of those lovable good-for-nothings
+that seem born to get better people into trouble
+all their lives long. He had been spoiled originally
+by being ten years younger than the next
+youngest in the family; and then, when the
+children had been shipped on to Aunt Mary's
+tender mercies, Jack had won her heart immediately
+because she accidentally discovered that he
+had never been baptized, and so felt fully justified
+in re-naming him after her own father and
+having the name branded into him for keeps by
+her own religious apparatus. It followed naturally
+that John Watkins, Jr., Denham, for so
+her father's daughter had insisted that her youngest
+nephew should be called, was the favorite
+nephew of his aunt.</p>
+
+<p>And it was lucky for him that he was the favorite,
+for Aunt Mary, who was highly spiced at
+fifty, became peppery at sixty, and almost biting
+at seventy. And yet for Jack she would sign
+checks almost without a murmur. Mr. Stebbins
+was much more censorious and impatient with the
+young man than she ever was; and to all the rest of
+the world Mr. Stebbins was an urbane and agreeable
+gentleman, whereas to all the rest of the world
+Aunt Mary was a problem or a terror. But Mr.
+Stebbins needed to be a man of tact and management,
+for he was the real manager of that fortune
+<pb n="011" /><anchor id="Pg011" />of which "Mary, only surviving child of
+John Watkins, merchant and ship owner," was the
+legal possessor; and so tactful was Mr. Stebbins
+that he and his powerful client had never yet
+clashed, and they had been in close business relations
+for almost as many years as Lucinda had
+been established on the hearthstone of the Watkins
+home. Perhaps one reason why Mr. Stebbins
+endured so well was that he had a real talent
+for compromising, and that he had skillfully
+transformed Aunt Mary's inherited taste for driving
+a bargain into an acquired pleasure in what is
+really a polite form of the same action.</p>
+
+<p>So, when it came to the matter of Jack's difficulties,
+Mr. Stebbins could always find a half-way
+measure that saved the situation; and when he
+received the letter as to the cook and her claim
+he hied himself to the city at once, and wrote back
+that the claim could be settled for three hundred
+dollars.</p>
+
+<p>"And enough, I must say," Aunt Mary remarked
+to Lucinda upon receipt of the statement;
+"three hundred dollars for one cat&mdash;for, after
+all, Jack blames the whole on the cat, an' he didn't
+hit it, even then."</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda did not answer.</p>
+
+<p>"But if the boy settles down now I shan't mind
+payin' the three&mdash;Where are you goin'?"
+<pb n="012" /><anchor id="Pg012" /></p>
+
+<p>For Lucinda was walking out of the room.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm goin' to the door," said she raspingly.
+"The bell's ringin'."</p>
+
+<p>After a minute or two she came back.</p>
+
+<p>"Telegram!" she announced, handing the yellow
+envelope over.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary put on her glasses, opened it, and
+read:</p>
+
+<quote rend="display">
+<p>Cook has blood poison. Sues for a thousand.
+Probable amputation.</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: right">STEBBINS.</p>
+</quote>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary dropped the paper with a gasp.</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda looked at her with interest.</p>
+
+<p>"It's that same arm again," said Aunt Mary,
+"just as I thought it was settled for!" Her
+eyes seemed to fairly crackle with indignation.
+"Why don't she put it in a sling an' have a little
+patience?"</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda took the telegram and read it.</p>
+
+<p>"'Pears like she can't," she commented, in a
+tone like a buzz saw; "'pears like it's goin' to
+be took off."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary reached forth her hand for the
+telegram and after a second reading shook her
+head in a way that, if her companion had been a
+globe-trotter, would have brought matadores and
+Seville to the front in her mind in that instant.</p>
+
+<p>"I declare," she said, "seems like I had enough
+<pb n="013" /><anchor id="Pg013" />on my mind without a cook, too. What's to be
+done now? I only know one thing! I ain't goin'
+to pay no thousand dollars this week for no arm
+that wasn't worth but three hundred last week.
+Stands to reason that there ain't no reason in that.
+I guess you'd better bring me my desk, Lucinda;
+I'm goin' to write to Mr. Stebbins, an' I'm goin'
+to write to Jack, and I'm goin' to tell 'em both
+just what I think. I'm goin' to write Jack that
+he'd better be lookin' out, and I'm goin' to write
+to Mr. Stebbins that next time he settles things
+I want him to take a receipt for that arm in full."</p>
+
+<p>The letters were duly written and Mr. Stebbins,
+upon the receipt of his, redoubled his efforts,
+and did succeed in permanently settling with the
+cook, the arm being eventually saved. Aunt
+Mary regarded the sum as much higher than
+necessary, but still pleasantly less than that demanded
+of her, and so life in general moved quietly
+on until Easter.</p>
+
+<p>But Easter is always a period of more or less
+commotion in the time of youth and leads to
+various hilarious outbreaks. Jack's Easter took
+him to town for a "little time," and the "little
+time" ended in the station-house at three o'clock
+on Sunday morning.</p>
+
+<p>Accusation: Producing concussion of the brain
+on a cab driver.</p>
+</div>
+<pb n="014" /><anchor id="Pg014" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+<head>Chapter Two - Jack</head>
+
+
+<p>The news was conveyed to Aunt Mary
+through private advices from Mr. Stebbins
+(who had been hastily summoned
+to the city for purposes of bail); she was very
+angry indeed, this time&mdash;primarily at the indignity
+done her flesh and blood by arresting it.
+Then, as she re-read the lawyer's letter, other
+reflections crowded to the fore in her mind.</p>
+
+<p>"Funny! Whatever could have made the boy
+get up and go downtown at three in the morning,
+anyway?" she said. "Seems kind of queer, don't
+you think, Arethusa? Do you suppose he was
+ill and huntin' for a drug store?"</p>
+
+<p>Arethusa had been sent for the second day
+previous because Lucinda's youngest sister's youngest
+child had come down with scarlet fever, and the
+family wanted Lucinda to enliven the quarantine.
+Arethusa had sent invitations out for a dinner
+party, but she had recalled them and hastened to
+obey the summons. It was an evil hour for her, for
+<pb n="015" /><anchor id="Pg015" />she loved her brother and was mightily distressed
+at the bad news.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't believe he can have been ill," she said,
+at the top of her voice; "if he'd been ill he
+wouldn't have had the strength to hit the cab
+driver so hard."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't blame him for hittin' the cab driver,"
+said Aunt Mary warmly. "As near as I can
+recollect, I've often wanted to do that myself.
+But I can't make out where he got the man to hit,
+or why he was there to hit him. I can't make
+rhyme or reason out of it. I wish we knew more.
+Well, I presume we will, later."</p>
+
+<p>Her surmise was correct. They knew much
+more later. They knew more from Mr. Stebbins,
+and they knew profusely more from the
+evening papers.</p>
+
+<p>"I think our boy'd better have come home for
+his Easter," Aunt Mary remarked, with a species of
+angry undertow threading the current of her
+speech. "There's no sayin' what this will cost
+before we're done with it."</p>
+
+<p>Arethusa choked; it was all so very terrible
+to her.</p>
+
+<p>"What is it that the cabman wants, anyhow?"
+her aunt demanded presently.</p>
+
+<p>"He doesn't want anything," yelled the unhappy
+sister. "He's going to die."
+<pb n="016" /><anchor id="Pg016" /></p>
+
+<p>"Well, who is going to sue me, then?"</p>
+
+<p>"It's his wife; she wants five thousand dollars
+damages."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary's lips tightened.</p>
+
+<p>"Five thousand dollars!" she said, with a bitter
+patience. "I can see that this is goin' to be an
+awful business. Five thousand dollars! Dear,
+dear! I must say that that wife sets a pretty
+high price on her husband&mdash;at least, a'cordin' to
+my order of thinkin', she does. From what I've
+seen of cabmen, I'd undertake to get her another
+just as good for a tenth of the money, any day."</p>
+
+<p>Arethusa was silent, staring thoughtfully at the
+newspaper cuts of a great Tammany leader and
+a noted pugilist, which had been labeled as the
+principals in the family tragedy.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary turned over another of the many
+papers received, and scanned its sensational columns
+afresh.</p>
+
+<p>"Arethusa," she exclaimed suddenly, "do you
+know, I bet anythin' I know what this editor
+means to insinuate? It just strikes me that he's
+tryin' to give the impression that our boy's been
+drinkin'."</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps so," Arethusa screamed.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I don't believe it," said Aunt Mary
+firmly, "and I ain't goin' to believe it. And I
+ain't goin' to pay no five thousand dollars for no
+<pb n="017" /><anchor id="Pg017" />cabman's brains, neither. You write to Mr. Stebbins
+to compromise on two or maybe three."</p>
+
+<p>She stopped and bit her lips and shook her
+head. "I don't see why Jack grows up so hard,"
+she murmured, half in anger and half in sorrow.
+"Edward and Henry never had such times. Oh,
+well," she sighed, "boys will be boys, I suppose;
+an' if this all results in the boy's settlin' down
+it'll be money well spent in the end, after all.
+Maybe&mdash;probably&mdash;most likely."</p>
+
+<p>The days that followed were anxious days, but
+at last the cabman rallied and concluded not to
+die, and Jack went off yachting with a light heart
+and a choice collection of good advice from Mr.
+Stebbins and Aunt Mary.</p>
+
+<p>Nothing happened to mar his holiday. He ran
+a borrowed steam launch on to some rocks with
+rather heavy consequences to his aunt's exchequer,
+and returned from the West Indies so late that
+she never had a visit from him at all that summer;
+but, barring these slightly unwelcome incidents,
+he did remarkably well, and when he returned to
+college in the fall he was regarded as having
+become, at last, a stable proposition.</p>
+
+<p>"I wonder whether our boy's comin' home for
+Christmas?" Aunt Mary asked her niece, Mary,
+as that happy period of family reunions drew near.
+Mary had come up to stay with her aunt while
+<pb n="018" /><anchor id="Pg018" />Lucinda went away to bury a second cousin. Mary
+was very different from Arethusa, having a voice
+that, when raised, was something between an icicle
+and a steam whistle, and a temperament so much
+on the order of her aunt's that neither could abide
+the other an hour longer than was absolutely necessary.
+But Arethusa had a sprained ankle, so there
+was no help for existing circumstances.</p>
+
+<p>"No, he isn't," said Mary, who had no patience
+at all with her brother, and showed it. "He's
+going West with the glee club."</p>
+
+<p>"With the she club!" cried poor Aunt Mary,
+in affright.</p>
+
+<p>Mary explained.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't like the idea," said the old lady, shaking
+her head. "Somethin' will be sure to happen.
+I can feel it runnin' up and down my bones this
+minute."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, if he can get into trouble, of course, Jack
+will," said Mary cheerfully.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary didn't hear her, because she didn't
+raise her voice particularly. Besides, the old lady
+was absorbed for the nonce in the most dismal sort
+of prognostications.</p>
+
+<p>And they all came true, too. Something unfortunate
+beyond all expectations came to pass during
+the glee club's visit to Chicago, and the result was
+that, before the new year was well out of its incubator
+<pb n="019" /><anchor id="Pg019" />Jack had papers in a breach-of-promise suit
+served on him. He wrote Mr. Stebbins that it was
+all a joke, and had merely been a portion of that
+foam which a train of youthful spirits are apt to
+leave in their wake; but the girl stood solid for her
+rights, and, as she had never heard from her
+fiancé since the night of the dance, her family&mdash;who
+were rural, but sharp&mdash;thought it would take
+at least fifteen thousand dollars to patch the crack
+in her heart. If the news could have been kept
+from Aunt Mary until after Mr. Stebbins had
+looked into the matter, everything might have resulted
+differently. But the Chicago lawyer who
+had the case took good care that the wealthy aunt
+knew all as quickly as possible, and it seemed as if
+this was the final straw under which the camel
+must succumb.</p>
+
+<p>And Aunt Mary did appear to waver.</p>
+
+<p>"Fifteen thousand dollars!" she cried, aghast.
+"Heaven help us! What next?"</p>
+
+<p>It was Lucinda who was seated calmly opposite
+at this crisis.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you suppose he really did it?" the aunt
+continued, after a minute of appalled consideration.</p>
+
+<p>"It's about the only thing he ain't never done,"
+the tried and true servant answered, her tone more
+gratingly penetrative than ever.
+<pb n="020" /><anchor id="Pg020" /></p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary eyed her sharply, not to say
+furiously.</p>
+
+<p>"I wish you'd give a plain answer when I ask
+you a plain question, Lucinda," she said coldly.
+"If you'd ever got a breach-of-promise suit in the
+early mail you'd know how I feel. Perhaps&mdash;probably."</p>
+
+<p>"I ain't a doubt but what he done it," Lucinda
+screamed out; "an' if I was her an' he wouldn't
+marry me after sayin' he would I'd sue him for a
+hundred thousand, an' think I let him off cheap
+then."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary deigned to smile faintly over the
+subtlety of this speech; but the next minute she was
+frowning blacker than ever.</p>
+
+<p>"A girl from Kalamazoo, too, just up in
+Chicago for a week&mdash;just up in Chicago long
+enough to come down on me for fifteen thousand
+dollars."</p>
+
+<p>"Maybe she'll take five thousand instead," Lucinda
+remarked.</p>
+
+<p>"Maybe!" ejaculated her mistress, in fine
+scorn. "Maybe! Well, if you don't talk as if
+money was sweet peas an' would dry up if it wasn't
+picked!"</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda screwed up her face.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary gave her one awful look.</p>
+
+<p>"You get me some paper an' my desk,
+<pb n="021" /><anchor id="Pg021" />Lucinda," she said. "I think it's about time I was
+takin' a hand in it myself. I've been pretty
+patient, an' I don't see as it's helped matters any.
+Now I'm goin' to write that boy a letter that'll
+settle him an' his cats, an' his cooks, an' his cabmen,
+an' his Kalamazoo, just once for all. I guess I can
+do what I set out to do. Pretty generally&mdash;most
+always."</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda brought the desk, and Aunt Mary
+frowned fearfully and began to write the
+letter.</p>
+
+<p>It developed very strongly. As her pen sized
+up the situation in black and white, the old lady
+seemed to realize the iniquities of the case more
+and more plainly; and as the letter grew her wrath
+grew also. The whole came, in the end, to a threat&mdash;made
+in good earnest&mdash;to take a very serious
+step indeed if any more "foolishness" developed.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary prided herself on her granite-like
+will. She had full faith in her ability to slay her
+nearest and dearest if it seemed right and best to
+do so.</p>
+
+<p>She sealed her letter tight, stuck the stamp
+on square and hard, and bid Lucinda convey it to
+Joshua and tell him never to quit it until he saw it
+safe on to the evening train.</p>
+
+<p>"She's awful mad at him for sure, this time,"
+said Lucinda after she had delivered her message,
+<pb n="022" /><anchor id="Pg022" />and while Joshua was considering the front and
+back of the letter with a deliberateness born of long
+servitude.</p>
+
+<p>"I sh'd think she would be," he said.</p>
+
+<p>As nearly all of Jack's private difficulties were
+printed in every newspaper in America, Joshua
+naturally was on the inside of all their history.</p>
+
+<p>"She scrinched up her face just awful over that
+letter," Lucinda continued. "I'm sure I wish
+he'd 'a' been by to 'a' taken warnin'."</p>
+
+<p>"He ain't got nothin' to really fret over,"
+said Joshua serenely; "he knows it, 'n' I know it,
+'n' you know it, too."</p>
+
+<p>"You don't know nothin' of the sort," said Lucinda.
+"She's madder'n usual this time. She's
+good an' mad. You mark my words, if he goes
+off on a 'nother spree this spring he'll get cut out o'
+her will."</p>
+
+<p>Joshua laughed.</p>
+
+<p>"You mark my words!" rasped Lucinda, shaking
+her finger in witchlike warning.</p>
+
+<p>Joshua laughed again.</p>
+
+<p>"Them laughs best what laughs last," said Aunt
+Mary's handmaiden. She turned away, and then
+returned to give Joshua a look that proved that the
+peppery mistress had inculcated some cayenne into
+the souls of those about her. "You mark my
+words&mdash;them laughs best what laughs last, an'
+<pb n="023" /><anchor id="Pg023" />there'll be little grinnin' for him if he ain't a chalk-walker
+for one while now."</p>
+
+<p>Joshua laughed.</p>
+
+<p>But, as a matter of fact, Jack's situation was suddenly
+become extremely precarious.</p>
+
+<p>"There ain't no sense in it," said Aunt Mary to
+herself, with an emphasis that screwed her face up
+until she looked quite like Lucinda; "that life
+those young men lead on their little vacations is
+to blame for everything. Cities are wells of
+iniquity; they're full of all kinds of doin's that
+respectable people wouldn't be seen at, and I'm
+proud to say that I haven't been in one myself for
+twenty-five years. I'm a great believer in keepin'
+out of trouble, an' if Jack'd just stuck to college
+an' let towns go, he'd never have met the cabman
+and the Kalamazoo girl, an' I'd have overlooked
+the cook an' the cat. As it is, my patience is done.
+If he goes into one more scrape he'll be done too.
+I mean what I say. So my young man had better
+take warnin'. Probably&mdash;most likely&mdash;pretty
+certainly."</p>
+</div>
+
+<pb n="024" /><anchor id="Pg024" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+<head>Chapter Three - Introducing Jack</head>
+
+
+<p>It has been previously stated that Aunt Mary's
+nephew, Jack, was a scapegrace, and as delightful
+as scapegraces generally are. It goes without
+saying that he was good-looking; and of course
+he must have been jolly and pleasant or he wouldn't
+have been so popular. As a matter of fact, Jack
+was very good-looking, unusually jolly, and uncommonly
+popular. He was one of the best liked
+men in each of the colleges which he had attended.
+There was something so winning about his smile
+and his eternal good humor that no one ever tried
+to dislike him; and if anyone ever had tried he or
+she would not have succeeded for very long. It
+is probably very unfortunate that the world is so
+full of this type of young man, but that which
+should cause us all to have infinite patience with
+them is the reflection of how much more unfortunate
+it would be if they were suddenly eliminated
+from the general scheme of things.</p>
+
+<p>Like all college boys, Jack had a chum. The
+chum was Robert Burnett, another charming young
+<pb n="025" /><anchor id="Pg025" />fellow of one-and-twenty, whose education had
+been so cosmopolitan in design and so patriotic in
+practice that he always said "Sacre bleu" and
+"Donnerwetter" when he thought of it, and
+"Great Scott" when he didn't. He and Jack were
+as congenial a pair as ever existed, and they had
+just about as much in common as the aunt of the
+one and the father of the other had had to pay for.</p>
+
+<p>In the February of the year of which I write,
+Washington, celebrating his birthday as usual, gave
+all American students their usual chance to celebrate
+with him. Celebrations were temptations
+incarnate to Jack, and he was feeling frowningly
+what a clog Aunt Mary's latest epistle was upon
+his joys, when his friend came to the rescue with an
+invitation to spend the double holiday (it doubled
+that year&mdash;Sunday, you know) at the brand-new
+ancestral castle which Burnett <hi rend="font-style: italic">père</hi> had just finished
+building for his descendants. It may be imagined
+that Jack accepted the invitation with alacrity, and
+that his never-very-downcast heart bounded gleefully
+higher than usual over the prospect of two
+days of pleasure in the country.</p>
+
+<p>It is not necessary to state where the castle of
+the Burnetts was erected, but it was in a beautiful
+region, and the monthly magazines had written it
+up and called it an architectural triumph. The
+owner fully agreed with the monthly magazines,
+<pb n="026" /><anchor id="Pg026" />and his pride found vent in a house-warming which
+filled every guest chamber in the place.</p>
+
+<p>The festivities were in full swing before the
+youngest son and his friend arrived; and when
+the dog-cart, which brought them from the station,
+drew up under the mighty porte-cochère with its
+four stone lions, rampant in four different directions,
+Jack felt one of those delicious thrills which
+run through one under particularly hopeful and
+buoyant circumstances.</p>
+
+<p>"It's like walking in a novel," his friend said;
+as they entered under some heavy draperies which
+the footman pushed aside and found a tiny spiral
+staircase, which wound its way aloft in a style that
+Jack liked immensely and the latter agreed with all
+his heart.</p>
+
+<p>The staircase led them to the third floor and
+when they emerged therefrom they found themselves
+in a big semi-circular billiard room, with a
+fireplace at each end large enough to put one of the
+tables in, and cues and counters and stools and
+divans and smoking utensils sufficient for a regiment.</p>
+
+<p>"I tell you, this is the way to do things,"
+exclaimed Burnett; "isn't it jolly? Time of your
+life, old man, time of your life!&mdash;And, oh, by the
+way," he said, suddenly interrupting himself, "I
+wonder if my sister's got here yet!"
+<pb n="027" /><anchor id="Pg027" /></p>
+
+<p>"Which sister?" Jack inquired; for his friend
+was one of a very large family, and he had met
+several of them on their various visits to town.</p>
+
+<p>"Betty&mdash;the one who beats all the others hollow,"&mdash;but
+just there the conversation was broken
+off by the servants coming up with the luggage
+and setting two doors open that showed them two
+big rooms, both exquisitely furnished, and both
+with windows that looked out, first on to a stone
+balustrade, and secondly on to a superb view over
+the river and the mountains beyond.</p>
+
+<p>The men unstrapped the things and went away,
+leaving such a plenitude of comfort behind them
+as led Jack to fling himself into the most luxurious
+chair in the room and stretch his arms and
+legs far and wide in utter contentment.</p>
+
+<p>Burnett was fishing for his key ring.</p>
+
+<p>"It's a great old place, isn't it?" he remarked
+parenthetically. "Great Scott! but I'll bet we have
+fun these two days! And if my sister Betty is
+here&mdash;" He paused expressively.</p>
+
+<p>"Doesn't she live at home?" Jack asked.</p>
+
+<p>"She's just come home; she's been in England
+for three years. Oh, but I tell you she's a
+corker!"</p>
+
+<p>"I should think&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>The sentence was never completed because a
+voice without the not-altogether-closed door cried:
+<pb n="028" /><anchor id="Pg028" /></p>
+
+<p>"No, don't think, please; let me come in instead."
+And in the same instant Burnett made
+one leap and flung the door open, crying as he did
+so:</p>
+
+<p>"Betty!"</p>
+
+<p>Then Jack, bunching somewhat his starfish attitude,
+looked across the room and realized instantly
+that it was all up with him forever after.</p>
+
+<p>Because&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>Because she who stood there in the door was
+quite the sweetest, the loveliest, the most interesting
+looking girl whom he had ever laid eyes on;
+and when she was seized in her brother's arms, and
+kissed by her brother's lips, and dragged by her
+brother's hands well into the room, she proved to
+be a thousand times more irresistible than at
+first.</p>
+
+<p>"I say, Betty, you're absolutely prettier than
+ever," her brother exclaimed, holding her a little
+off from him and surveying her critically; and then
+he seemed to remember his friend's existence, and,
+turning toward him, announced proudly:</p>
+
+<p>"My sister Bertha."</p>
+
+<p>Jack was standing up now and thinking how
+lovely her eyes were just at that instant when they
+were meeting his for the first time, thinking much
+else too. Thinking that Monday was only two
+days away (hang it!); thinking that such a
+<pb n="029" /><anchor id="Pg029" />smile was never known before; thinking that he
+had <hi rend="font-style: italic">years</hi> ahead at college; thinking that the curl
+on her forehead was simply distracting (whereas
+all other like curls were horrid); thinking that he
+might cut college and&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"My chum, Jack Denham," Burnett continued,
+proving in the same instant how rapidly the mind
+may work since his friend had compassed his
+encyclopedia of sentiment and probability between
+the two halves of a formal introduction.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I'm very glad to meet you, Mr. Denham,"
+she said, putting out her hand&mdash;and he took and
+held it just long enough to realize that he really was
+holding it, before she took it away to keep for her
+own again. "I've often heard of you, and often
+wished I might know you."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm awfully glad to hear you say that," he
+said, "and if I should have the royal luck to be
+next to you at dinner, it doesn't seem to me that I
+shall have the strength to keep from telling
+you why."</p>
+
+<p>She clapped her hands at this, just as a very little
+girl might have done.</p>
+
+<p>"If that is so, I hope that they will put you
+next to me at dinner," she said gayly; "but if they
+don't, you'll tell me some other time, won't you?
+I'm always <hi rend="font-style: italic">so</hi> interested in what people have to
+tell me about myself."
+<pb n="030" /><anchor id="Pg030" /></p>
+
+<p>Burnett began to laugh.</p>
+
+<p>"Jack," he said, "I see that we'd better have a
+clear and above-board understanding right in the
+beginning and so I'll just tell you that this sister
+of mine, who appears so guileless, is the very worst
+flirt ever. She looks honest, but she can't tell the
+truth to save her neck. She means well, but she
+drives folks to suicide just for fun. She'd do anything
+for anybody in general, but when it's a case
+of you individually she won't do a thing to you,
+and you must heed my words and be forewarned
+and forearmed from now on. Mustn't he,
+Betty?"</p>
+
+<p>At this the sister laughed, nodding quite as
+gayly as if it were a laughing matter, instead
+of the opening move in a possibly serious&mdash;tremendously
+serious&mdash;game of life.</p>
+
+<p>"It's awful to have to subscribe to," she said,
+with dancing eyes; "but I'm afraid it's true. I'm
+really quite a reprobate, and I admit it frankly.
+And everyone is so good to me that I never get a
+chance to reform. And so&mdash;and so&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"But then, I suppose I ought to warn her about
+you, too," said Burnett, turning suddenly toward
+his friend. "It isn't fair to show her up and not
+show you up, you know. And really, Betty, he's
+almost as bad as you are yourself. I may tell you
+in confidence&mdash;in strict confidence (for it's only
+<pb n="031" /><anchor id="Pg031" />been in a few newspapers)&mdash;that he hasn't got his
+breach-of-promise suit all compromised yet. Ask
+him to deny it, if he can!"</p>
+
+<p>The sister looked suddenly startled and curious
+and Jack felt himself to be blushing desperately.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't look as if he was lying, do I?" he
+asked smiling; "be honest now, for you can see
+that Burnett and I both are."</p>
+
+<p>"No, you don't," she said. "You look as if it
+was a very true bill."</p>
+
+<p>"It is," he said; "and it's going to be an awfully
+big one, too, I'm afraid."</p>
+
+<p>"I wouldn't have thought you were such a bad
+man," said the sister ever so sweetly; "but I like
+bad men. They interest me. They&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"There!&mdash;I see your finish," said Burnett.
+"That's one of her favorite opening plays. It's
+all up with you, Jack, and your aunt will have to
+to go down for another damage suit when you
+begin to perceive that you have had enough of our
+family. But you'll have to get out now, Betty,
+and let him get dressed for dinner. You needn't
+cry about it either for he's even more attractive in
+his glad rags than he is in his railway dust&mdash;my
+word of honor on it."</p>
+
+<p>"I look nice myself when I'm dinner-dressed,"
+said the sister, "so I sympathize with him and I'll
+go with pleasure. Good-bye."
+<pb n="032" /><anchor id="Pg032" /></p>
+
+<p>She sort of backed toward the door and Jack
+sprang to open it for her.</p>
+
+<p>"You can kiss her hand, if you like," Burnett
+said kindly. "They do in Germany, you know.
+I don't mind and mamma needn't know."</p>
+
+<p>"May I?" Jack asked her; and then he caught
+her eye over her brother's bent head and added,
+so quickly that there was hardly any break at all
+between the words: "Some other time?"</p>
+
+<p>"Some other time," she said, with a world of
+meaning in the promise; and then she flashed one
+wonderful look straight into his eyes and was gone.</p>
+
+<p>"Isn't she great?" Burnett asked, unlocking his
+suit-case in the most provokingly every-day style, as
+if this day was an every-day sort of day and not the
+beginning and end of all things. "Oh, I tell you,
+I'm almost dotty over that sister myself."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you suppose that I could manage to have
+her for dinner?" Jack asked, feeling desperately
+how dull any other place at the table would be
+now.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know. When I go down to my
+mother I'll try to manage it; shall I?"</p>
+
+<p>"I wish you would."</p>
+
+<p>"I reckon I can; but, great loads of fire, fellow!
+don't think you can play tag with her, and feel
+funny at the finish. She'll do you up completely,
+and never turn a hair herself. She's always at it.
+<pb n="033" /><anchor id="Pg033" />She don't mean to be cruel, but she's naturally a
+carnivorous animal. It's her little way."</p>
+
+<p>Jack did not look as dismal as he should have
+done; he smiled, and looked out of the window
+instead.</p>
+
+<p>"She'll have to marry someone some day, you
+know," he said thoughtfully.</p>
+
+<p>"Have to marry someone some day!" Burnett
+cried. "Why, she is married. Didn't you know
+that?" and he unbuckled the shirt portfolio as he
+spoke just as if calamities and tragedies and shooting
+stars might not follow on the heels of
+such a simple statement as that last.</p>
+
+<p>It was an awful moment, but poor Jack did manage
+to continue looking out of the window. If any greater
+demand had been made upon him he might have
+sunk beneath the double weight.</p>
+
+<p>"No," he said at last, his voice painfully steady;
+"I didn't know it."</p>
+
+<p>Burnett laughed heartlessly, hauling forth his
+apparel with a refined cruelty which took careful
+heed of possible interfolded shoes or cravats.</p>
+
+<p>"She married an Englishman when she was
+nineteen years old," he said. "That was when
+they sent me to Eton that little while,&mdash;until I
+drove the horse through the drug shop. The time
+I told you about, don't you know?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I remember," said Jack. He observed
+<pb n="034" /><anchor id="Pg034" />with sickening distinctness that the night had begun
+to fall, the river's silver ribbon had become a
+black snake, and that the mountain range beyond
+loomed chill and dark and cheerless. "I guess I
+ought to be getting into my things," he said, moving
+toward his own door.</p>
+
+<p>"There's a bath in here," his friend called after
+him. "We're to divide it."</p>
+
+<p>"Sure," was the reply. It sounded a trifle
+thick.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't think that she ought to," said the
+brother to himself, as he began to draw out his
+stick-pin before the mirror, "I don't care if she is
+my favorite sister&mdash;I don't think that she ought
+to."</p>
+
+<p>Then he went on to make ready for the securing
+of his half of the bath, and forthwith forgot his
+sister and his friend.</p>
+</div>
+
+<pb n="035" /><anchor id="Pg035" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+<head>Chapter Four - Married</head>
+
+
+<p>It was almost like a scene at a ball, the great
+white-and-gold music room before dinner that
+night. The Burnett family proper numbered
+fifteen among themselves, and there were nearly
+thirty guests added. It was entirely too large a
+house party to have handled successfully for very
+long, but it would be most awfully jolly for three
+or four days; and now, when the whole crowd
+were gathered waiting for dinner, the picture was
+one of such bubbling joy that Jack's very heavy
+heart seemed to himself to be terribly out of place
+there and he wondered whether he should be able
+to put up even a fairly presentable front during the
+endless hours that must ensue before the time for
+breaking up arrived.</p>
+
+<p>Burnett took him all around and introduced him
+to people in general, and people in general seemed
+to him to merely bring the fact of her pre-eminence
+more vividly than ever before his mind. He
+found himself looking everywhere but at them too,
+<pb n="036" /><anchor id="Pg036" />and listening with an acutely sensitive ear for
+sounds quite other than those of their various lips.
+But eternal disappointment rewarded his eyes and
+ears. She was nowhere.</p>
+
+<p>So he talked blindly about nothing to all the
+nobodies and laughed stupidly over all their stupidities
+until&mdash;suddenly and without any warning&mdash;a
+fearful jump in his throat sent the mercury in
+his constitution shooting up to 160, and he saw,
+heard, felt, gasped, and knew, that that radiant
+angel in silver tissue who had just entered the
+farther end of the room was indubitably Herself.</p>
+
+<p>(Married!)</p>
+
+<p>He quite forgot who, what and where he was.
+There was a somebody talking to him&mdash;a very
+awful and bony young lady, but she faded so completely
+out of the general scheme of his immediate
+present that all the use he made of her was to stare
+over her head at the distant apparition that was
+become, now and forever, his All in All. The distant
+apparition had not lied when she had told him
+up in her brother's room that she too, looked
+"nice" when dressed for dinner. Only the word
+"nice" was as watered milk to the champagne of
+her appearance. She was gowned superbly and
+her throat and arms were half bared by the folds
+of silvered lace; her hair fitted into the back of
+her neck in the smoothest mass of puffs and coils,
+<pb n="037" /><anchor id="Pg037" />and the curl on her forehead was more distracting
+than ever.</p>
+
+<p>(Married!)</p>
+
+<p>She seemed to be speaking to everyone, and
+everyone seemed to be crowding around her. He
+couldn't go up like everyone else, because the
+awful and bony young lady was talking hard at
+him and heightened her charms with a smile that
+took up two-fifths of her face, and wrinkled all the
+rest.</p>
+
+<p>Her name was Lome&mdash;Maude Lome. He
+knew that she must be a relative without being told,
+because otherwise she wouldn't have been invited
+at all. Anyone could divine that.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, isn't dear Betty just lovely?" this fearful
+freak said. "I think she's just too lovely for
+anything! She's my cousin, you know; we're often
+mistaken for one another."</p>
+
+<p>"I can well believe it," said Jack, heavily, not
+ceasing to stare beyond as he said it.</p>
+
+<p>(Married!)</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, you're flattering me! Because she's ever
+so much prettier than I am, and I know it."</p>
+
+<p>He didn't reply. It had suddenly come over
+him to wonder whether there ever had been an
+authentic case of heartbreak. Because he had the
+most terrible ache right in his left side!</p>
+
+<p>(Married! Married!)
+<pb n="038" /><anchor id="Pg038" /></p>
+
+<p>"But, then," Miss Lome continued, "I'm
+younger than she is. Her being married makes
+her seem young, but she's really twenty-four. I'm
+only twenty."</p>
+
+<p>He shut his eyes, and then opened them. He
+wished he hadn't come here, and then grew shivery
+to think that he might have happened not to; and
+all the while that awful twisting and wrenching
+at his heart was getting worse and worse.</p>
+
+<p>(Married! Married! Married!)</p>
+
+<p>Burnett came up just then with a man wearing
+a monocle and presented him to Denham, and
+forthwith handed the bony cousin to his safe-keeping.</p>
+
+<p>"She's a great pill, isn't she?" he began, as
+the couple moved away; and then he stopped short.
+"What's the matter?" he asked. "Sick?"</p>
+
+<p>"I hope not," said Jack, trying to smile.</p>
+
+<p>"You look hipped," his friend said anxiously.
+"Better go get a bracer; you'll have time if you
+hurry. You can't be sick before dinner, because
+I've been moving all the cards around so as to get
+Betty next to you, and I could never get them back
+as they were before if you gave out at the last minute."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't believe I'm ill," said Jack, trying to
+realize whether the news that she was to be his (for
+dinner) made him feel any better or only just about
+<pb n="039" /><anchor id="Pg039" />the same. "I don't know what ails me. Do I
+look seedy?"</p>
+
+<p>"You look sort of knocked out, that's all," said
+Burnett. "Perhaps, though, it was just the having
+to talk to my cousin Maude so long. Isn't
+she the limit, though? But I'll tell you the one
+big thing about that girl: She's just the biggest
+kind of a catch. She was my uncle's eldest child;
+she's worth twelve times what any of us ever will
+be."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm sure she'll need it," said Jack heartily.</p>
+
+<p>"You're right there," laughed his friend;
+"but you've got to hurry and get your brandy now
+if you want it, because they'll be going out in a
+minute."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I'm all right," said the poor chap, straightening
+his shoulders back a little. "I can make
+out well enough, I'm sure. I think I'd better go
+over by your sister and let her know that I'm ready
+when the hour of need shall strike."</p>
+
+<p>Burnet nodded and then he went on and his
+friend walked down the room, no one but himself
+knowing that he was making his way into the lion's
+(or, rather, lioness's) den.</p>
+
+<p>And then he paused there beside her. Oh! she
+Was seven million times lovelier close to than far
+away. All the rot about Venus and statues and
+paintings and Helen of Troy was nowhere beside
+<pb n="040" /><anchor id="Pg040" />Her and he felt his strength come surging mightily
+upward and then&mdash;oh Heavens!</p>
+
+<p>She looked up&mdash;looked so sweetly up&mdash;right
+into his eyes and smiled.</p>
+
+<p>"I expect you are to take me into dinner," she
+said; and at her words the man who had been
+talking to her murmured something meaningless
+and got out of their way.</p>
+
+<p>"I believe so," he said.</p>
+
+<p>She rose and he noticed that the top of her head
+was just level with his coat lapel. He wondered,
+with a miserable pang, where she came to on her
+husband's coat and with the wonder his surging
+strength surged suddenly out to sea again and left
+him feeling like Samson when he awoke to the
+realization of his haircut.</p>
+
+<p>"Dinner's very late," she said, quite as if life
+presented no problem whatever; "you see, it's the
+first big company in the house. We were only
+seventeen last night, and to-night we're forty-five.
+It makes a difference."</p>
+
+<p>"I can imagine so," he said. He was suddenly
+acutely aware of feeling very awkward, and of
+finding her different&mdash;quite different from what
+she had seemed up in her brother's room.</p>
+
+<p>"What is it?" she asked after a minute, looking
+up at him; and then she showed that she was
+conscious of the change, for she added: "Something
+<pb n="041" /><anchor id="Pg041" />has happened; Bob has been saying mean
+things about me to you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, he did tell me something," he admitted;
+and just then the butler announced dinner.</p>
+
+<p>"What did he tell you?" she asked, as they
+moved away. "How could he say anything worse
+than what he said before me?"</p>
+
+<p>"He told me something that was worse&mdash;much
+worse."</p>
+
+<p>She looked troubled and as if she did not understand.</p>
+
+<p>"But he said that I was a flirt, and that I
+couldn't speak the truth, and that I drove people&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I remember all that; but this was infinitely worse."</p>
+
+<p>"Infinitely worse!"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes."</p>
+
+<p>She stopped in an angle where the big room
+dwindled into a narrow gallery, and stared astonished.</p>
+
+<p>"I can't at all understand," she said.</p>
+
+<p>"No, you can't," he said, "and I can't tell you&mdash;I
+mustn't tell you&mdash;how terrible it is to me to
+look at you and think of what he told me."</p>
+
+<p>After a second she went on again and presently
+they entered the dining-room. The confusion of
+rustling skirts and sliding chairs quite covered
+<pb n="042" /><anchor id="Pg042" />their speech for a moment and made them seem
+almost alone. Her hand had been resting on his
+arm and now she drew it out, looking up at him
+again as she did so. Her eyes had a premonitory
+mist over them.</p>
+
+<p>"For Heaven's sake," she said very earnestly,
+"tell me what he said?"</p>
+
+<p>He was silent.</p>
+
+<p>"Tell me," she pleaded.</p>
+
+<p>He was still silent.</p>
+
+<p>"Tell me," she said imperiously.</p>
+
+<p>He continued silent. They sat down.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Denham," she said, as she took up her
+napkin, and her voice grew very low, and yet he
+heard, "I don't think that we can pretend to be
+joking any longer. You are my brother's friend,
+and I am a married woman. Please treat me as
+you should."</p>
+
+<p>"That's just it," said Jack; "that's all there is
+to it. It wouldn't have amounted to anything
+except for that&mdash;or perhaps, if it hadn't been
+for that, it might have amounted to a great
+deal."</p>
+
+<p>"If it hadn't been for what?"</p>
+
+<p>"For your being married."</p>
+
+<p>She quite started in her seat.</p>
+
+<p>"What do you mean?"</p>
+
+<p>"You see I never knew it before."
+<pb n="043" /><anchor id="Pg043" /></p>
+
+<p>"You never knew what before?"</p>
+
+<p>"That you were married."</p>
+
+<p>"Until when?"</p>
+
+<p>"Until after you went out of the room to-night."</p>
+
+<p>The men were putting the clams around. She
+seemed to reflect. And then she peppered and
+salted them before she spoke.</p>
+
+<p>"Bob is very wrong to talk so," she said at last,
+picking up her fork, "when you're his friend, too."</p>
+
+<p>He poked his clams&mdash;he hated clams.</p>
+
+<p>"I suppose men think it's amusing to do such
+things," she continued, "but I think it's as ill-bred
+as practical joking."</p>
+
+<p>"But you are married," he said, trying fiercely
+to pepper some taste into the tasteless things before
+him.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I'm married," she admitted tranquilly,
+"but, then, my husband went to Africa so soon
+afterwards that he hardly seemed to count at all.
+And then he was killed there; so, after that, he
+seemed to count less than ever."</p>
+
+<p>The air danced exclamation points and the man
+on the other side spoke to her then so that her turning
+to answer him gave Jack time to rally his wits.</p>
+
+<p>(A widow!)</p>
+
+<p>Then she turned back and said:</p>
+
+<p>"I think Bob mystified you unnecessarily. Of
+course I don't flatter myself that you've suffered."
+<pb n="044" /><anchor id="Pg044" /></p>
+
+<p>"Oh, but I have," he hastened to assure her.</p>
+
+<p>(A widow! A widow!)</p>
+
+<p>"But it always makes a difference whether a
+woman is married or not."</p>
+
+<p>"I should say it did," he interrupted again.
+"It makes all the difference in the world."</p>
+
+<p>At that she laughed outright, and someone suddenly
+abstracted the distasteful clams and substituted
+for them a golden and glorious soup, and
+music sounded forth from some invisible quartet,
+and&mdash;and&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>(A widow! A widow! A widow!)</p>
+</div>
+<pb n="045" /><anchor id="Pg045" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+
+<head>Chapter Five - The Day After Falling in Love</head>
+
+
+<p>The next day was a very memorable day
+for Jack. The day after a falling in love
+is always a red-letter day; but the day after
+the falling in love&mdash;ah!</p>
+
+<p>One looks back&mdash;far back&mdash;to the day before,
+and those hours of the day before, when her sun
+had not yet dawned, and struggles to recollect
+what ends life could have represented then.
+And one looks forward to the next day, the next
+week, the next year&mdash;but, particularly to the next
+morning with sensations as indescribable as they
+are delightful.</p>
+
+<p>Whichever way you tip it, the kaleidoscope of
+the future arranges itself in equally attractive
+shapes of rainbow hue, and the prospect over land
+or sea&mdash;even if it is raining&mdash;looks brilliant green,
+and brighter red, and brightest yellow.</p>
+
+<p>Upon that glorious "next day" of Jack's the
+weather was quite a thing apart for February&mdash;partaking
+of the warmth of May, and owing that
+fact to a sun which early June need not have
+<pb n="046" /><anchor id="Pg046" />scorned to own. Under the circumstances the
+house party overflowed the house and ravaged the
+surrounding country, and Jack and Mrs. Rosscott
+began it all by having the highest cart and the
+fastest cob in the stables and making for the forest
+just as the clock was tolling ten.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you want a groom?" asked Burnett, who
+was occasionally very cruel.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I'm not going to wait for him to get
+ready now," replied his sister, who had sharp wits
+and did not disdain to give even her own family the
+benefit of them.</p>
+
+<p>Then she gathered up the reins and whip in a
+most scientific manner, and they were off. Jack
+folded his arms. He was simply flooded, drenched,
+and saturated with joy. The evening before
+had been Elysium when she had only been his
+now and again for a minute's conversation, but
+now she was to be his and his alone until&mdash;until they
+came back&mdash;and his mind seemed able to grasp no
+dearer outlines of the form which Bliss Incarnate
+may be supposed to take. He didn't care where
+they went or what they saw or what they talked of,
+just if only he and she might be going, seeing, and
+talking for the benefit of one another and of one
+another alone.</p>
+
+<p>They bowled away upon a firm, hard road that
+skirted the park, and then plunged deeply into the
+<pb n="047" /><anchor id="Pg047" />forest. Mrs. Rosscott handled the reins and the
+whip with the hands of an expert.</p>
+
+<p>"I like to drive," said she.</p>
+
+<p>"You appear to," he answered.</p>
+
+<p>"I like to do everything," she said. "I'm very
+athletic and energetic."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm glad of that," he told her warmly. "I
+like athletic girls."</p>
+
+<p>He really thought that he was speaking the
+truth, although upon that first day if she had declared
+herself lazy and languid he would have
+found her equally to his taste&mdash;because it was the
+first day.</p>
+
+<p>"That's kind of you, after my speech," she said
+smiling, "but let's wait a bit before we begin to
+talk about me. Let us talk about you first&mdash;you're
+the company, you know."</p>
+
+<p>"But there's nothing to tell about me," said
+Jack, "except that I'm always in difficulties&mdash;financial&mdash;or
+otherwise,&mdash;oftenest 'otherwise,' I
+must confess."</p>
+
+<p>"But you have a rich aunt, haven't you?" said
+Mrs. Rosscott. "I thought that I had heard about
+your aunt."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes, I have a rich aunt," Jack said, laughing,
+"and I can assure you that if I am not much
+credit to my aunt, my aunt is the greatest possible
+credit to me."
+<pb n="048" /><anchor id="Pg048" /></p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I've heard that, too," said Mrs. Rosscott,
+joining in the laugh, "you see I'm well posted."</p>
+
+<p>"If you're so well posted as to me," Jack said,
+"do be kind and post me a little as to yourself.
+You don't need information and I do."</p>
+
+<p>She turned and looked at him.</p>
+
+<p>"What shall I tell you first?" she inquired.</p>
+
+<p>"Tell me what you like and what you don't like&mdash;and
+that will give me courage to do the same
+later," he added boldly.</p>
+
+<p>She laughed outright at that and then sobered
+quickly.</p>
+
+<p>"I told you that I liked to drive and to do everything,"
+she said lightly; "what else do you want to
+know about?"</p>
+
+<p>"What you dislike."</p>
+
+<p>"But I don't know of anything that I dislike;"
+she said thoughtfully&mdash;"perhaps I don't like
+England; I am not sure, though. I had a pretty
+good time there after all&mdash;only you know, being
+in mourning was so stupid. And then, too, I didn't
+fit into their ideas. I really didn't seem to get the
+true inwardness of what was expected of me. Oh,
+I never dared let them know at home what a
+failure I was as an Englishwoman. I mortified
+my husband's sisters all the time. Just think&mdash;after
+a whole year I often forgot to say 'Fancy
+now!' and used to say 'Good gracious!' instead."
+<pb n="049" /><anchor id="Pg049" /></p>
+
+<p>Jack laughed.</p>
+
+<p>"My husband's sisters were very unhappy about
+it. They did want to love me, because I had so
+much money; but it was tough work for them.
+Did you ever know any middle-aged English young
+ladies?" she asked him suddenly.</p>
+
+<p>"No, I never did," he said.</p>
+
+<p>"Really, they seem to be a thing apart that can't
+grow anywhere but in England. Every married
+man has not less than two, nor more than three, and
+they always are a little gray and embroider very
+nicely. Someone told me that as long as there's
+any hope they wear stout boots and walk about and
+hunt, but as soon as it's hopeless they take to embroidering."</p>
+
+<p>"It must be rather a blue day for them when
+they decide definitely to make the change," said
+Jack.</p>
+
+<p>"I never thought of that," said Mrs. Rosscott
+soberly. "Of course it must! I was always very
+good to them. I gave them ever so many things
+that I could have used longer myself, and they used
+to set pieces of muslin in behind the open-work
+places and wear them."</p>
+
+<p>She sighed.</p>
+
+<p>"It's quite as bad as being a Girton girl," she
+said. "Do you know what a Girton girl is?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, I don't."
+<pb n="050" /><anchor id="Pg050" /></p>
+
+<p>"It's a girl from Girton College. It's the most
+awful freak you ever saw. They're really quite
+beyond everything. They're so homely, and their
+hands and feet are so enormous, and their pins
+never pin, and their belts never belt. And no one
+has ever married one of them yet!"</p>
+
+<p>She paused dramatically.</p>
+
+<p>"I won't either, then," he declared.</p>
+
+<p>She laughed at that, and touched up the cob a
+trifle.</p>
+
+<p>"Did you live long in England?" he asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Forever!" she answered with emphasis; "at
+least it seemed like forever. Mamma left me
+there when I was nineteen (she married me off
+before she left me, of course) and I stayed there
+until last winter&mdash;until I was out of my mourning,
+you know&mdash;and then I was on the Continent for a
+while, and then I returned to papa."</p>
+
+<p>"How do we strike you after your long
+absence?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, you suit me admirably," she said, turning
+and smiling squarely into his face; "only the terrible 'and'
+of the majority does get on my nerves
+somewhat."</p>
+
+<p>"What 'and'?"</p>
+
+<p>"Haven't you noticed? Why when an American
+runs out of talking material he just rests on one
+poor little 'and' until a fresh run of thought overwhelms
+<pb n="051" /><anchor id="Pg051" />him; you listen to the next person you're
+talking with, and you'll hear what I mean."</p>
+
+<p>Jack reflected.</p>
+
+<p>"I will," he said at last.</p>
+
+<p>The road went sweeping in and out among a
+thicket of bare tree trunks and brown copses, and
+the sunlight fell out of the blue sky above straight
+down upon their heads.</p>
+
+<p>"If it don't annoy you, my referring to England
+so often," said she presently, "I will state that
+this reminds me of Kaysmere, the country place of
+my father-in-law."</p>
+
+<p>"Is your father-in-law living yet?"</p>
+
+<p>"Dear me, yes&mdash;and still has hold of the title
+that I supposed I was getting when I was married
+to his eldest son. My father-in-law is a particularly
+healthy old gentleman of eighty. He was
+forty years old when he married. He didn't
+expect to marry, you know&mdash;he couldn't see his
+way to ever affording it. But he jumped into the
+title suddenly and then, of course, he married right
+away. He had to. You'd know what a hurry
+he must have been in to look at my mamma-in-law's
+portrait."</p>
+
+<p>"Was she so very beautiful?"</p>
+
+<p>"No; she was so very homely. Maude's very
+like her."</p>
+
+<p>Jack laughed.
+<pb n="052" /><anchor id="Pg052" /></p>
+
+<p>She laughed, too.</p>
+
+<p>"Aren't we happy together?" she asked.</p>
+
+<p>"My sky knows but one cloud," he rejoined,
+"and that is that Monday comes after Sunday."</p>
+
+<p>"But we shall meet again," said Mrs. Rosscott.
+"Because," she added mischievously, "I don't suppose
+that it's on account of my cousin Maude that
+you rebel at the approach of Monday."</p>
+
+<p>"No," said Jack. "It may not be polite to say
+so to you, but I wasn't in the least thinking of your
+cousin."</p>
+
+<p>"Poor girl!" said Mrs. Rosscott thoughtfully;
+"and she was so sweet to you, too. Mustn't it be
+terrible to have a face like that?"</p>
+
+<p>"It must indeed," said Jack; "I can think of
+but one thing worse."</p>
+
+<p>"What?"</p>
+
+<p>"To marry a face like that."</p>
+
+<p>She laughed again.</p>
+
+<p>"You're cruel," she declared; "after all her
+face isn't her fortune, so what does it matter?"</p>
+
+<p>"It doesn't matter at all to me," said Jack. "I
+know of very few things that can matter less to me
+than Miss Lorne's face."</p>
+
+<p>"Now, you're cruel again; and she was so nice to
+you too. Absolutely, I don't believe that the edges
+of her smile came together once while she was
+talking to you last night."
+<pb n="053" /><anchor id="Pg053" /></p>
+
+<p>"Did you spy on us to that extent?" said Jack.
+"I wouldn't have believed it of you."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I'm very awful," she said airily. "You'll
+be more surprised the farther you penetrate into
+the wilderness of my ways."</p>
+
+<p>"And when will I have a chance to plunge into
+the jungle, do you think?"</p>
+
+<p>"Any Saturday or Sunday that you happen to
+be in town."</p>
+
+<p>"Are you going to live in town?"</p>
+
+<p>"For a while. I've taken a house until the
+beginning of July. I expect some friends over,
+and I want to entertain them."</p>
+
+<p>Jack felt the sky above become refulgent. He
+was in the habit of spending every Saturday night
+in the city&mdash;he and Burnett together.</p>
+
+<p>"May I come as often as I like?" he asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Certainly," said she; "because you know if
+you should come too often I can tell the man at the
+door to say I'm 'not at home' to you."</p>
+
+<p>"But if he ever says: 'She's not at home to you,'
+I shall walk right in and fall upon the man that you
+are being at home to just then."</p>
+
+<p>"But he is a very large man," said Mrs. Rosscott
+seriously; "he's larger than you are, I think."</p>
+
+<p>Jack felt the blue heavens breaking up into thunderbolts
+for his head at <hi rend="font-style: italic">this</hi> speech.</p>
+
+<p>"But I'm 'way over six feet," he said, his heart
+<pb n="054" /><anchor id="Pg054" />going heavily faster, even while he told himself
+that he might have known it, anyhow.</p>
+
+<p>"He's all of six feet two," she said meditatively.
+"I do believe he's even taller. I remember
+liking him at the first glance, just because he
+struck me as so royal looking."</p>
+
+<p>He was miserably conscious of acute distress.</p>
+
+<p>"Do&mdash;do you mind my smoking?" he
+stammered.</p>
+
+<p>(Might have known that, of course, there was
+bound to be someone like that.)</p>
+
+<p>"Not at all," she rejoined amiably. "I like
+the odor of cigarettes. Shall I stop a little, while
+you set yourself afire?"</p>
+
+<p>"It isn't necessary," he said. "I can set myself
+afire under any circumstances."</p>
+
+<p>He lit a cigarette.</p>
+
+<p>"Is he English?" he couldn't help asking then.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," she said; "I like the English."</p>
+
+<p>"You appear to like everything to-day." He
+did not intend to seem bitter, but he did it unintentionally.</p>
+
+<p>(Confounded luck some fellows have.)</p>
+
+<p>"I do. I'm very well content to-day."</p>
+
+<p>He was silent, thinking.</p>
+
+<p>"Well," she queried, after a while.</p>
+
+<p>He pulled himself together with an effort.</p>
+
+<p>"I think perhaps it's just as well," he said.
+<pb n="055" /><anchor id="Pg055" /></p>
+
+<p>"What is just as well?"</p>
+
+<p>"That I know."</p>
+
+<p>"Know what?"</p>
+
+<p>"About him. I shan't ever take the chances of
+calling on you now."</p>
+
+<p>She laughed.</p>
+
+<p>"He wouldn't put you out unless I told him
+to," she said. "You needn't be too afraid of him,
+you know."</p>
+
+<p>His face grew a trifle flushed.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm not afraid," he said, as coldly as it was in
+him to speak; "but I'll leave him the field."</p>
+
+<p>She turned and looked at him.</p>
+
+<p>"The field?" she asked, with puzzled eyebrows.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes."</p>
+
+<p>Then she frowned for an instant, and then a
+species of thought-ray suddenly flew across her
+face and she burst out laughing.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, I do believe," she cried merrily, "I do
+believe you're jealous of the man at the door."</p>
+
+<p>"Weren't you speaking of a man in the drawing-room?"
+he asked, all her phrases recurring to his
+mind together.</p>
+
+<p>"No," she said laughing; "I was speaking of
+my footman. Oh, you are so funny."</p>
+
+<p>The way the sun shone suddenly again! His
+horizon glowed so madly that he quite lost his head
+<pb n="056" /><anchor id="Pg056" />and leaning quickly downward seized her hand in
+its little tan driving glove of stitched dogskin, and
+kissed it&mdash;reins and all.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm not funny," he said, "it was the most
+natural thing in the world."</p>
+
+<p>She was laughing, but she curbed it.</p>
+
+<p>"You'd better not be foolish," she said warningly.
+"It don't mix well with college."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm thinking of cutting college," he declared
+boldly.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't let us decide on anything definite until
+we've known one another twenty-four hours," she
+said, looking at him with a gravity that was almost
+maternal; and then she turned the horse's head
+toward home.</p>
+</div>
+<pb n="057" /><anchor id="Pg057" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+<head>Chapter Six - The Other Man</head>
+
+<p>That evening Burnett felt it necessary to
+give his friend a word of warning.</p>
+
+<p>"Holloway's going to take Betty in to-night,"
+he said, as they descended the tower stairs
+together.</p>
+
+<p>"Who's Holloway?" Jack asked.</p>
+
+<p>"You can't expect to have her all the time, you
+know," Burnett continued: "She's really one of
+the biggest guns here, even if she is one of the
+family."</p>
+
+<p>"Who's Holloway?"</p>
+
+<p>"Last night the <hi rend="font-style: italic">mater</hi> had her all mapped out
+for General Jiggs, and I had an awful time getting
+her off his hook and on to yours, and then you
+drove her all this morning and walked her all the
+afternoon, and the old lady says she's got to play
+in Holloway's yard to-night&mdash;jus' lil' bit, you know."</p>
+
+<p>"Who's Holloway?" Jack demanded.</p>
+
+<p>"You know Horace Holloway; we were up
+at his place once for the night. Don't you remember?"
+<pb n="058" /><anchor id="Pg058" /></p>
+
+<p>"I remember his place well enough; but he
+hadn't got in when we came, and hadn't got up
+when we left, so his features aren't as distinctly
+imprinted on my memory as they might be."</p>
+
+<p>"That's so," said Burnett, pushing aside the
+curtains that concealed the foot of the wee stair;
+"I'd forgotten. Well, you'll meet him to-night,
+anyhow; he came on the five-five. Holly's a nice
+fellow, only he's so darned over-full of good advice
+that he keeps you feeling withersome."</p>
+
+<p>Jack laughed.</p>
+
+<p>"Did he ever give you any advice?" he asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Why?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't recollect your taking it."</p>
+
+<p>"I never take anything," said Burnett; "I consider
+it more blessed to give than to receive&mdash;as
+regards good advice anyhow."</p>
+
+<p>"Who will I have for dinner?" Jack asked
+presently, glancing around to see if there were any
+silver tissues or distracting curls in sight.</p>
+
+<p>"Well," his friend replied, rather hesitatingly,
+"you must expect to balance up for last night, I
+reckon."</p>
+
+<p>"Your cousin, I suppose!"</p>
+
+<p>Burnett nodded.</p>
+
+<p>"She wanted you," he said. "She's taken a
+fancy to you; and she can afford to marry for
+love," he added.
+<pb n="059" /><anchor id="Pg059" /></p>
+
+<p>"I'm thankful that I can, too," the other answered
+fervently.</p>
+
+<p>His friend laughed at the fervor.</p>
+
+<p>"You make me think of her teacher," he said.
+"She sings, and when she was sixteen she meant
+to outrank Patti; she was lots homelier then."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I say!" Jack cried. "I can believe 'most
+anything, but&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>Burnett laughed and then sobered.</p>
+
+<p>"She was," he said solemnly; "she really and
+truly <hi rend="font-style: italic">was</hi>. And her mother said to her teacher,&mdash;there
+in Dresden: 'She will be the greatest soprano,
+won't she?' And he said: 'Madame,
+she has only that one chance&mdash;to be <hi rend="font-style: italic">the</hi>
+greatest.'"</p>
+
+<p>Jack laughed.</p>
+
+<p>"But why 'Lorne'?" he asked suddenly.
+"Why not 'Burnett,' since she's your uncle's
+child?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, that's straight enough; there's a hyphen
+there. My uncle died and my aunt married a title.
+My aunt's Lady Chiheleywicks, but the family
+name is Lorne. And you pronounce my aunt's
+name Chix."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm glad I know," said Jack.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, we're great on titles," said Burnett, modestly.
+"If the Boers hadn't killed Col. Rosscott,
+Betty would have been a Lady, too, some day. But
+<pb n="060" /><anchor id="Pg060" />as it is&mdash;" he added thoughtfully, "she's nothing
+but a widow."</p>
+
+<p>"'Nothing but'!" Jack cried indignantly.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, well," said Burnett, "of course it's great,
+her being a widow&mdash;but then she'd have been great
+the other way too."</p>
+
+<p>"But if he was English and a colonel," Jack
+said suddenly, "he must have been all of&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Fifty!" interposed Burnett; "oh, he was!
+Maybe more, but he dyed his hair. It was a
+splendid match for her. It isn't every girl who
+can get a&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>Their conversation was suddenly cut short by
+voices, accompanied by a sort of sweet and silky
+storm of little rustles and the sound of feet&mdash;little
+feet&mdash;coming down the great hall. Aunt Mary's
+nephew felt himself suddenly wondering if any
+other fellow present had such a tempest within his
+bosom as he himself was conscious of attempting
+to regulate unperceived.</p>
+
+<p>And then, after all, she wasn't among the influx!
+Miss Maude, was, though, and he had to
+go up to her and talk to her; and terribly dull hard
+labor it was.</p>
+
+<p>While he was rolling the Sisyphus stone of conversation
+uphill for the sixth or seventh time, Jack
+noticed a gentleman pass by and throw a more than
+ordinarily interesting glance their way. He was
+<pb n="061" /><anchor id="Pg061" />a very well-built, fairly good-sized man of thirty-five
+or forty years, with a handsome, uninteresting
+face and heavy, sleepy dark eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"Who is that?" he asked of his companion, his
+curiosity supplementing his wish that she would begin
+to bear her share of the burden of her entertainment.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't you know?" she said in surprise.
+"That's Mr. Holloway. He's just come. Oh,
+he's so horrid! I think he's just too awfully
+horrid for any use."</p>
+
+<p>"Why?"</p>
+
+<p>"Because he does such mean things. I just
+know Bob must have told you how he treated me.
+Bob's always telling it. Surely he's told you. It's
+his favorite story."</p>
+
+<p>"No, never," said Jack (his eyes riveted on
+the staircase); "he never told me. But do tell me.
+I'll enjoy hearing your side of it."</p>
+
+<p>"But I haven't any side. It's just Horace Holloway's
+meanness. There's nothing funny."</p>
+
+<p>"But tell me anyway."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you really want to hear?"</p>
+
+<p>"Indeed, I do."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, it's just that we were up in the mountains,
+and I was rowing myself, and the boat didn't
+go well, and Mr. Holloway came down off the
+hotel piazza and called to me that she needed ballast,
+<pb n="062" /><anchor id="Pg062" />and&mdash;and I said: 'Is that the trouble?' And
+he said: 'Yes, row ashore, and I'll ballast you.'
+And so, of course I rowed ashore to get him, and
+(of course, I supposed he meant himself), and
+when I was up by the dock he picked up a great
+stone and dropped it in, and shoved me off, and
+called after me: 'She'll go better now,' and&mdash;everyone laughed!"</p>
+
+<p>Miss Lome stopped, breathless.</p>
+
+<p>"I never would have believed it of him," Jack
+exclaimed, turning to see where Holloway kept his
+sense of humor; but just as his eye fell upon the
+latter, the latter's eyes altered and suddenly became
+so bright and intent that his observer involuntarily
+turned his own gaze quickly in the same
+direction.</p>
+
+<p>It was Mrs. Rosscott who was approaching, all
+in cerise with lines of Chantilly lace sweeping
+about her. It seemed a cruelty to every woman
+present that she should be so beautiful. Jack
+wanted to fly and fall at her feet, but he couldn't,
+of course&mdash;he was tied to her hyphenated cousin.</p>
+
+<p>But Holloway went forward and greeted her
+with all possible <hi rend="font-style: italic">empressement,</hi> and the man who
+was so much his junior felt an awful weight of
+youth upon him as he saw her led out of his sight.</p>
+
+<p>"I think dear Betty will marry Mr. Holloway,"
+her cousin chirped blandly, thus settling her fate
+<pb n="063" /><anchor id="Pg063" />forever. "He came over in her party, you know,
+and&mdash;she's always been fond of him."</p>
+
+<p>Jack suddenly recollected how Mrs. Rosscott
+had commented on the terrible tendency to land
+upon "and," and wondered why he had never
+noticed before how disagreeable said tendency was.</p>
+
+<p>(Going to marry Holloway!)</p>
+
+<p>"But, then, dear Cousin Betty's such a coquette
+that no one can ever tell whom she does like.
+She's very insincere."</p>
+
+<p>Jack twisted uneasily. If there was any comfort
+to be derived from Miss Lorne's last speech,
+it was certainly of a most chilly sort.</p>
+
+<p>(Probably going to marry Holloway!)</p>
+
+<p>"Now, I think it's too bad, when there are so
+many simple, sweet girls in the world, that men
+seem to adore those that flirt like dear Cousin
+Betty. I don't approve of flirting anyway. I
+wouldn't flirt for anything. I don't want to break
+men's hearts."</p>
+
+<p>"That's awfully good of you," Jack said, looking
+eagerly to where Holloway and Mrs. Rosscott
+stood together.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, no it isn't," said Miss Lorne, "I don't
+take any credit for it&mdash;I was born so. Dear
+Betty was a regular flirt when she was ever so
+small, but I never was. I'm sincere and I can't
+take any credit for it. I was born so."
+<pb n="064" /><anchor id="Pg064" /></p>
+
+<p>Holloway was talking and Mrs. Rosscott's eyes
+were uplifted to his. Jack was sure there was
+adoration in them. He knew Holloway was in
+love with her. How could he be a man and help
+it. Oh, it was damnable&mdash;unbearable.</p>
+
+<p>He stood up suddenly. He couldn't help it.
+He was crazed, maddened, choked, stifled. The
+fates must intervene and rescue his reason or
+else&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>There was a blessed sound&mdash;the announcing of
+dinner.</p>
+
+<milestone unit="tb" rend="stars: 5" />
+
+<p>Later there was music in the great white salon
+where the organ was. Maude Lome sang, and
+the man with the monocle accompanied her on the
+organ. Mrs. Rosscott sat on a divan between
+Holloway and General Jiggs. Jack was left out
+in the cold.</p>
+
+<p>(Surely in love with Holloway!)</p>
+
+<p>It was only twenty-six hours since he had first
+met her, and he hated to consider his life as unalterably
+blasted, or to even give up the fight.
+Nevertheless, whenever he looked across the room
+he saw fresh signs of the most awful kind. Even
+the way that she didn't trouble to trouble over the
+one man, but devoted herself to General Jiggs, was
+in itself a very bad portent. Well, such was life
+and one must bear it somehow and be a man.
+<pb n="065" /><anchor id="Pg065" />Probably he would suffer less after the first five or
+ten years&mdash;he hoped so at any rate. But, great
+heavens, what a fearful prospect until those first
+five or ten years were gone by!</p>
+
+<p>Finally he went up to his own room and put on
+another collar and sat down at the open window
+and thought about it for a good while all quiet and
+alone by himself. After that he went back downstairs.</p>
+
+<p>She was gone, and Holloway, too. He felt
+freshly unhappy. When you come to consider,
+it was so damned unjust for one man to be
+thirty-five while another&mdash;just as decent a fellow
+in every way&mdash;was in college. He&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>A hand touched his arm.</p>
+
+<p>He turned from where he was standing in the
+window recess, and looked into her eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm very wicked, am I not?" she asked, looking
+up at him so straight and honest.</p>
+
+<p>"I can't admit that," he replied.</p>
+
+<p>"But I am. I know it myself. What Bob
+told you was all true. I'm a heartless wretch."</p>
+
+<p>She spoke so earnestly that his heart sank lower
+and lower.</p>
+
+<p>"I wanted to speak to you about to-morrow
+morning," she said, after a little pause. "You
+know we were going to drive at ten together, and&mdash;and
+I wondered if&mdash;you see, Mr. Holloway's
+<pb n="066" /><anchor id="Pg066" />an old friend, and he's had so much to tell me to-night,
+and he isn't half through&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>She was drawing him with a chain, a hair chain,
+which she had woven out of her eyelashes in the
+twinkling of an eye (either eye).</p>
+
+<p>He felt himself helpless&mdash;and choked.</p>
+
+<p>"Of course I don't mind. You go with him.
+It's quite one to me."</p>
+
+<p>She gave a tiny little start.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I didn't mean that at all," she cried. "I
+meant&mdash;I meant&mdash;you see it's all been a little tiring&mdash;and
+to-morrow's Sunday anyway and I&mdash;I
+Wanted to&mdash;to ask you if we couldn't go out at
+eleven instead of ten?"</p>
+
+<p>She looked so sweetly questioning, and his relief
+was so great, and his joy&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>(Probably don't care a rap for Holloway!)</p>
+
+<p>&mdash;so intense, that he could hardly refrain from
+seizing her in his arms.</p>
+
+<p>But he only seized her little hand instead and
+pressed it fervently to his lips. When he raised
+his eyes she was smiling, and her smile filled him
+with happiness.</p>
+
+<p>"You're such a boy!" she said softly, and
+turned and left him there in the window recess
+alone again,&mdash;but this time he didn't care.</p>
+</div>
+<pb n="067" /><anchor id="Pg067" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+
+<head>Chapter Seven - Developments</head>
+
+
+<p>It was during that drive the next morning that
+Jack buoyed up by memories of Saturday and
+hopes of coming Saturdays, poured out the
+history of his life at Mrs. Rosscott's knees. He
+told her the whole story of Aunt Mary, and <hi rend="font-style: italic">his</hi> side
+of the cat, the cabman, and Kalamazoo. It interested
+her, for she had arrived too recently to have
+had the full details in the newspapers beforehand,
+but when he spoke of Aunt Mary's last letter she
+grew large-eyed and shook her head gravely.</p>
+
+<p>"You will have to be very good now," she said
+seriously.</p>
+
+<p>"Why?" he asked. "Just to keep from being
+disinherited? That wouldn't be so awful."</p>
+
+<p>"Wouldn't it be awful to you?" she asked,
+turning her bright eyes upon him. "What could
+be worse?"</p>
+
+<p>"Things," he said very vaguely.</p>
+
+<p>Then she touched up the cob a little; and, after
+a minute or two, as she said nothing, he continued:</p>
+
+<p>"I almost fancy quitting college and going to
+work. I was thinking about it last night."
+<pb n="068" /><anchor id="Pg068" /></p>
+
+<p>She touched up the cob a little more, and
+remained silent.</p>
+
+<p>Finally he said:</p>
+
+<p>"What would you think of my doing that?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know," she said slowly. "You see,
+I'm a great philosopher. I never fret or worry,
+because I regard it as useless; similarly, I never
+rebel at the way fate shapes my life&mdash;I regard that
+as something past helping. I believe in predestination;
+do you?"</p>
+
+<p>She turned and looked at him so seriously&mdash;so
+unlike her <hi rend="font-style: italic">riante</hi> self&mdash;that he felt startled, and did
+not know what to say for a minute.</p>
+
+<p>Then:</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know," he said slowly; "I don't know
+that I dare to. It rather startles me to think that
+maybe all of our future is laid out now."</p>
+
+<p>"It doesn't startle me," she said. "It seems
+to me the natural plan of the universe. I believe
+that everything that crosses our path&mdash;down to
+the tiniest gnat&mdash;comes there in the fulfillment of
+a purpose."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm sure that all the mosquitoes that ever
+crossed my path came there in the fulfillment of a
+purpose," Jack interrupted. "I never doubted
+<hi rend="font-style: italic">that</hi>."</p>
+
+<p>She smiled a little.</p>
+
+<p>"It's the same with people," she went on.</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: center"><anchor id="image02" />
+<figure rend="w95" url="images/image02.png">
+<head rend="text-align: center">"Do not let us play any longer,' she said. 'Let us be in earnest.'"</head>
+<figDesc>Illustration 2</figDesc></figure></p><p></p>
+
+<pb n="069" /><anchor id="Pg069" />
+
+<p>"Only less painful," he interrupted again.</p>
+
+<p>"Sometimes not," she said, with a look that
+silenced him. "Sometimes much more so&mdash;my
+Cousin Maude, for example."</p>
+
+<p>"Hip, hip, hurrah for the mosquito!" he murmured.
+They laughed softly together. Then
+she grew earnest, and looked so grave that he became
+serious too.</p>
+
+<p>"There is always a purpose," she said, with a
+touch of some feeling which he had never guessed
+at. "If you and I have met, it is because we are
+to have some influence over one another. I can't
+just see how; I can't form any idea&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"I can," he said eagerly.</p>
+
+<p>She looked up so suddenly and steadily that he
+was silent.</p>
+
+<p>"Do not let us play any longer," she said.
+"Let us be in earnest."</p>
+
+<p>"But I am in earnest," he asseverated.</p>
+
+<p>"You don't know what I mean," she went on
+very gently. "You're in college. Let's fight it
+out on those lines if it takes all summer."</p>
+
+<p>He looked up into her face and loved her better
+than ever for the frank kindliness that shone in
+her eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"All right, if you say so," he vowed.</p>
+
+<p>"I do say so," she said. "I like to see men
+stick it through in college if they begin. I like to
+<pb n="070" /><anchor id="Pg070" />see people finish up every one of life's jobs that they
+set out on."</p>
+
+<p>"But I'm coming to see you in town, you know,"
+he went on with great apparent irrelevance.</p>
+
+<p>She laughed merrily.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, surely. You must promise me that.&mdash;No,"
+she stopped and looked thoughtful, "I'll tell
+you what I want you to promise me. Promise me
+that you'll come once a week or else write me why
+you can't come. Will you?"</p>
+
+<p>"You can't suppose that you'll ever see my handwriting
+under such circumstances&mdash;can you?" Jack
+asked.</p>
+
+<p>She laughed again.</p>
+
+<p>"Is it a promise?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, it's a promise."</p>
+
+<p>Oh, joy unmeasured in the time of spring! No
+other February like that had ever been for them&mdash;nor
+ever would be. The drive came to an end, the
+day came to an end, but the good-nights, which
+were good-bys, too, were not so fraught with hopelessness
+as he had dreaded, for the promise asked
+and given paved a broad road illuminated by the
+most hopeful kind of stars,&mdash;a broad road leading
+straight from college to town,&mdash;and his fancy
+showed him a figure treading it often. A figure
+that was his own.</p>
+</div>
+<pb n="071" /><anchor id="Pg071" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+<head>Chapter Eight - The Resolution He Took</head>
+
+
+<p>That first meeting was in February, you
+know, and by the last of April it had been
+followed by so many others that Burnett
+remarked one day to his chum:</p>
+
+<p>"Say, aren't you going a little faster than
+auntie'll stand for?"</p>
+
+<p>Jack turned in surprise.</p>
+
+<p>"I never went so straight in my life before," he
+exclaimed, not in indignation but in astonishment.</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't mean that," said Burnett. "Perhaps
+instead of 'auntie' I should have said 'Betty.'"</p>
+
+<p>Jack hoisted the colors of Harvard, and was
+silent.</p>
+
+<p>"I warned you at first that that was Tangle
+town," his friend went on. "Don't suppose I'm
+saying anything against her&mdash;or against you; but
+she's just as much to ten other men as she is to you,
+and they all are old enough to carry lots of
+weight."</p>
+
+<p>"And I suppose I'm not," Jack answered, going
+over by the fireplace. "I know that as well as
+anyone, of course."
+<pb n="072" /><anchor id="Pg072" /></p>
+
+<p>"<hi rend="font-style: italic">Natürlich</hi>," said Burnett, with conclusiveness
+that was not meant to be cruel, yet cut like a two
+edged knife.</p>
+
+<p>There was silence in the room. Jack stood by
+the chimney-piece, his hands upraised to rest upon
+its lofty shelf, his head dropped forward, and his
+eyes fixed on the empty blackness below.</p>
+
+<p>"I wonder," he said at last, "I wonder what
+will become of me if&mdash;if&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>He stopped.</p>
+
+<p>Burnett didn't speak.</p>
+
+<p>"I wonder if she thinks of me as a boy," the
+young man continued. "I wonder if she's so
+good to me because I'm her youngest brother's
+friend."</p>
+
+<p>Burnett did not comment on this speech.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know what to do," the other said.
+"When I first met her I wanted to cut college and
+get out in the world and go to work like a man. I
+told her so. But she wanted me to stay in college,
+and as it was the first thing she'd ever wanted of
+me, I did it. I'd do anything she asked me. I've
+quit drinking. I'm going at everything as hard as
+it's in me to go; but&mdash;I don't know&mdash;I feel&mdash;I feel
+as if it isn't me&mdash;it's just because she wants me to,
+and, do you know, old man, it frightens me to
+think how&mdash;if she&mdash;if she went out of my&mdash;my
+life&mdash;"
+<pb n="073" /><anchor id="Pg073" /></p>
+
+<p>He stopped and his broken phrases were not
+continued to any ending.</p>
+
+<p>Another long silence ensued.</p>
+
+<p>It was finally terminated by the brother's saying:</p>
+
+<p>"You must confess, old man, that you aren't
+fixed so as to be able to say one really serious word
+to any woman&mdash;unless it is, 'Wait.'"</p>
+
+<p>"I know that," Jack answered; "but I suppose&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"She'd be taking so many chances," the friend
+interrupted. "A man in college is never the real
+thing. You'd better give it up."</p>
+
+<p>Then the other whirled about and faced
+him.</p>
+
+<p>"Give it up, did you say?" he asked almost
+angrily.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, that's what."</p>
+
+<p>For a minute they looked at one another. Then:</p>
+
+<p>"I shall never give it up," the lover said very
+slowly and steadily&mdash;"never, until she gives me
+up."</p>
+
+<p>Burnett sucked in his breath with a sudden compression
+of his lips.</p>
+
+<p>"All right," he said, not unkindly; "but I don't
+believe you'll ever get her, and that's flat. There
+are too many being entered for that race, and long
+before you and I get out of here she'll be Mrs.
+Somebody Else."
+<pb n="074" /><anchor id="Pg074" /></p>
+
+<p>Jack stared at him as if he hardly heard, and
+then suddenly he stepped nearer and spoke.</p>
+
+<p>"Did she ask you to have this talk with me?"</p>
+
+<p>"No," said the brother in surprise, "she never
+says anything about you to me."</p>
+
+<p>A look of relief fled across his friend's face, and
+then a look of resolution succeeded it.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm not going to be discouraged," he said;
+"not for a while, at any rate."</p>
+
+<p>"You'd better be."</p>
+
+<p>Jack laughed. The laugh sounded a trifle hollow,
+but still it was a laugh, and that in itself was
+a triumph of which none but himself might ever
+measure the extent.</p>
+
+<p>Because in that moment he decided to lay the
+whole case before her the next time that he went to
+town, and the coming to a resolution was a relief
+from the uncertainty that clouded his days and
+nights&mdash;even if a further black curtain of darkest
+doubt hung before the possibilities of what her
+answer might be.</p>
+</div>
+<pb n="075" /><anchor id="Pg075" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+
+<head>Chapter Nine - The Downfall of Hope</head>
+
+
+<p>It was on a Saturday about the middle of May
+that Jack came to town, his mind well braced
+with love and arguments, and his main
+thoughts being that when he returned something
+would be settled.</p>
+
+<p>It was a beautiful day, warm and sunny, and at
+five in the afternoon both of the drawing-room
+windows of Mrs. Rosscott's house were wide open,
+and the lace curtains were taking the breeze like
+little sails.</p>
+
+<p>Just as Jack mounted the steps, the door opened,
+and a plainly dressed, unattractive-looking man
+was let out. The servant who did the letting out
+saw Jack and let him in without closing the door
+between the egress of the one and the ingress of
+the other. So he entered without ringing, and, as
+he was very well known and intensely popular with
+all of Mrs. Rosscott's servants, the man invited
+him to walk up unannounced, since he himself was
+just "bringing in the tea."</p>
+
+<p>Jack went upstairs, and because the carpet was
+of thickly piled velvet and his boots were the boots
+<pb n="076" /><anchor id="Pg076" />of a well-shod gentleman, he made no noise whatever
+in the so doing.</p>
+
+<p>There were double parlors above stairs in the
+domicile which Burnett's sister had taken until
+July, and they were furnished in the most correct
+and trying mode of Louis XIV. The chairs were
+gilt and very uncomfortable. The ornaments
+were all straight up and down and made in such
+shapes that there was no place to flick off cigarette
+ashes anywhere. Nothing could be pulled up
+to anything else and there was not a single good
+place to rest one's elbows anywhere. The only
+saving grace in the situation was that after five
+minutes or so Mrs. Rosscott invariably suggested
+removal to the library which lay beyond&mdash;a very
+different species of apartment where no mode at all
+prevailed except the terrible <hi rend="font-style: italic">démodé</hi> thing known
+as comfort. To prevent her visitors, when seated
+(for the five minutes aforementioned) amid the
+correct carving of French art, from looking longingly
+through at the easy-chairs of American manufacture,
+Mrs. Rosscott had ordered that the blue
+velvet portières which hung between should never
+be pushed aside, and it was owing to this order that
+Jack, entering the drawing-room, heard voices, but
+could not see into the library beyond. Also it
+was owing to this order that those in the library
+could not see or hear Jack.
+<pb n="077" /><anchor id="Pg077" /></p>
+
+<p>The result was that the young man, finding the
+drawing-room unoccupied, was just crossing
+toward the blue velvet curtains, intending to wait
+in the library until the returning servant should
+advise him of the whereabouts of his mistress, when
+he was stopped by suddenly hearing a voice&mdash;her
+voice&mdash;crying (and laughing at the same time)&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Kisses barred! Kisses barred!"</p>
+
+<p>It may be understood that had Mrs. Rosscott
+known that anyone was within hearing she certainly
+would never have made any such speech, and it
+may be further understood that, had whoever was
+with her, also mistrusted the close propinquity of
+another man, he would never have replied (as he
+did reply):</p>
+
+<p>"Certainly," the same being spoken in a most
+calm and careless tone.</p>
+
+<p>Jack, the eavesdropper, stood transfixed at the
+voices and speeches, and forgot every other consideration
+in the overwhelming sickness of soul
+which overcame him that instant. All his other
+soul-sicknesses were trifles compared to this one,
+and the world&mdash;his world&mdash;their world&mdash;seemed
+to revolve and whirl and turn upside down, as he
+steadied himself against a spindle-legged cabinet
+and felt its spindle-legs trembling in sympathy with
+his own.</p>
+
+<p>"Darling," said Holloway, a second or two
+<pb n="078" /><anchor id="Pg078" />later (and this time his voice was not calm and
+careless, but deep and impassioned), "the letter
+was very sweet, and if you knew how I longed to
+take the tired little girl to my bosom and comfort
+her troubles, and replace them by joys!"</p>
+
+<p>"Will that day ever come, do you think?"
+Mrs. Rosscott answered, in low tones, which nevertheless
+were most painfully clear and distinct in
+the next room.</p>
+
+<p>"It must," Holloway replied, "just as surely
+as that I hold this dear little hand&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>But Jack never knew more. He had heard
+enough&mdash;more than enough. Four thousand times
+too much. He turned and went out of the rooms,
+back down the stairs and out of the door, closed it
+noiselessly behind him, and found himself in a
+world which, although bright and sunny to all the
+rest of mankind, had turned dark, lonely, and
+cheerless to him.</p>
+
+<p>At first he hardly knew what to do with himself,
+he was so altogether used up by the discovery just
+made. He drifted up and down some unknown
+streets for an hour or two&mdash;or stood still on corners&mdash;he
+never was very sure which. And then
+at last he went downtown and took a drink in a
+half-dazed way; and because it was quite two
+months since his last indulgence, its suggestion was
+potent.
+<pb n="079" /><anchor id="Pg079" /></p>
+
+<p>The pity&mdash;or rather, the apparent pity&mdash;of
+what followed!</p>
+
+<p>Burnett was Sundaying at the ancestral castle;
+and Burnett wasn't the warning sort, anyhow. He
+was always tow and pitch for any species of flame.
+So his absence counted for nothing in the crisis.</p>
+
+<p>And what ensued was a crisis&mdash;a crisis with a
+vengeance.</p>
+
+<p>That tear upon which Aunt Mary's nephew went
+was something lurid and awful. It lasted until
+Monday, and then its owner returned to college,
+as ill of body and as embittered of spirit as it was
+in him to be. The lightsome devil who had ruled
+him up to his meeting with Mrs. Rosscott resumed
+its sway with terrible force. The authorities
+showed a tendency to patience because young Denham
+had appeared to reform lately and had been
+working hard; but young Denham felt no thankful
+sentiments for their leniency, and proved his position
+shortly.</p>
+
+<p>There was a man named Tweedwell whom circumstances
+threw directly in the path of destruction.
+Tweedwell was an inoffensive mortal who
+was studying for the ministry. He was progressive
+in his ideas, and believed that a clergyman, to
+hold a great influence, should know his world.
+He thought that knowledge of the world was to be
+gained by skirting the outside edge of every
+<pb n="080" /><anchor id="Pg080" />species of worldliness. The result of this course
+of action was not what it should have been, for
+Tweedwell was an easy mark for all who wanted
+fun, and the consciousness of his innocence so little
+accelerated the pace at which he got out of the way
+that he was always being called to account for what
+he hadn't done.</p>
+
+<p>The Saturday night after his Saturday in town,
+Jack concocted a piece of deviltry which was as
+dangerous as it was foolish. The result was that
+an explosion took place, and the author of the gun-powder
+plot had all the skin on both hands blistered.
+Burnett, in escaping, fell and broke his
+collarbone and two ribs. The house in which the
+affair took place caught fire, and was badly damaged.
+And Tweedwell was arrested on the
+strongest kind of circumstantial evidence, and had
+to answer for the whole. Naturally, in the investigation
+that followed, the two who were guilty
+had to confess or see the candidate for the ministry
+disgraced forever.</p>
+
+<p>The result of their confession was that Burnett's
+father, a jovial, peppery old gentleman&mdash;we all
+know the kind&mdash;lost his patience and wrote his son
+that he'd better not come home again that year.
+But Aunt Mary lost her temper much more completely
+and the result, as affecting Jack, was awful.</p>
+
+<p>She might not have acted as she did had the disastrous
+<pb n="081" /><anchor id="Pg081" />news arrived either a week later or a week
+earlier; but it came just in the middle of a discouraging
+ten days' downpour, which had caused a dam
+to break and a chain of valuable cranberry bogs to
+be drowned out for that year. The cranberry bogs
+were especially dear to their owner's heart.</p>
+
+<p>"Why can't they drain 'em?" she had asked
+Lucinda, who was particularly nutcracker-like in
+appearance since her quarantine episode.</p>
+
+<p>"'Pears like they're lower'n everywhere else,"
+Lucinda answered, her words sounding as if she
+had sharpened them on a grindstone.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary bit her lip and frowned at the rain.
+She felt mad all the way through, and longed to
+take it out on someone.</p>
+
+<p>Ten minutes after Joshua arrived with the mail
+and the mail bore one ominous letter. Joshua felt
+something was wrong before the fact was assured.</p>
+
+<p>"She wants the mail," Lucinda said, coming to
+the door with her hand out as usual.</p>
+
+<p>"She'll get the mail," said Joshua, and as he
+spoke he gave the seeker after tidings a blood-curdling
+wink.</p>
+
+<p>"There isn't a telegram in one o' the letters, is
+there?" Lucinda asked, much appalled by the
+wink.</p>
+
+<p>"No, there isn't no telegram in none o' the letters,"
+said Joshua.
+<pb n="082" /><anchor id="Pg082" /></p>
+
+<p>"Joshua Whittlesey, I do believe you was born
+to drive saints mad. What <hi rend="font-style: italic">is</hi> the matter?"</p>
+
+<p>"Nothin' ain't the matter as I know of."</p>
+
+<p>"Then what in Kingdom Come did you wink
+for?"</p>
+
+<p>"I winked," said Joshua meaningly, "cause I
+expect it'll be a good while before we'll feel like
+winkin' again."</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda gave him a look in which curiosity and
+aggravation fought catch-as-catch-can. Then she
+turned and went in with the letters.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary was sitting stonily staring at the
+rain.</p>
+
+<p>"I thought you'd gone to take a drive with
+Joshua," she said coldly. "Well, 's long 's you're
+back I'll be glad to have my mail. Most folks like
+to get their mail as soon as it comes an' I&mdash;Mercy
+on us!"</p>
+
+<p>It was the letter from the authorities enclosed
+in one from Mr. Stebbins.</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda stood bolt upright before her mistress.</p>
+
+<p>"What's happened?" she yelled breathlessly,
+after a few seconds of the direst kind of silence
+had loaded the atmosphere while the letter was
+being carefully read.</p>
+
+<p>Then:</p>
+
+<p>"Happened!&mdash;" said Aunt Mary, transfixing
+the terrible typewritten communication with a yet
+<pb n="083" /><anchor id="Pg083" />more terrible look of determination. "Happened!&mdash;Well,
+jus' what I expected 's happened
+an' jus' what nobody expects 'll happen now. Lucinda,
+you run like you was paid for it and tell
+Joshua not to unharness. Don't stop to open your
+mouth. You'll need your breath before you get to
+the barn. Scurry!"</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda scurried. She splashed and spattered
+down through the lane that led to Joshua's kingdom
+with a vigor that was commendable in one of
+her age.</p>
+
+<p>"She says 'don't unharness,'" she panted,
+bouncing in through the doorway just as Joshua
+was slowly and carefully folding the lap-robe in the
+crease to which it had become habituated.</p>
+
+<p>Joshua continued to fold.</p>
+
+<p>"Then I won't unharness," he said calmly. He
+hung the robe over the line that was stretched to
+hang robes over and Lucinda gasped for wind with
+which to inflate further conversation.</p>
+
+<p>"She says what nobody expects is goin' to happen,"
+she panted as soon as she could.</p>
+
+<p>"What nobody expects is always happenin'
+where he's concerned," said Joshua.</p>
+
+<p>"I s'pose he's in some new row," said Lucinda.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm sure he is," said Joshua, "an' if you don't
+go back to her pretty quick you won't be no better
+off."
+<pb n="084" /><anchor id="Pg084" /></p>
+
+<p>Lucinda turned away and returned to the house.
+She found Aunt Mary still staring at the letters
+with the same concentrated fury as before.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, is Joshua a'comin' to the door?" she
+asked when she saw her maid before her.</p>
+
+<p>"You didn't say for him to come to the door,"
+Lucinda howled, "you said for him to stay harnessed."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary appeared on the verge of ignition.</p>
+
+<p>"Lucinda," she said, "every week I live under
+the same roof with you your brains strike me 's
+some shrunk from the week before. What in
+Heaven's name should I want Joshua to stay harnessed
+in the barn for? I want him to go for Mr.
+Stebbins an' I want him to understand 't if Mr.
+Stebbins can't come he's got to come just the same's
+if he could anyhow. I may seem quiet to you,
+Lucinda, but if I do, it only shows all over again
+how little you know. This is a awful day an' if
+you knew how awful you'd be half way back to
+the barn right now. I ain't triflin'&mdash;I'm meanin'
+every word. Every syllable. Every letter."</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda fled out into the open again. Her footprints
+of the time before were little oblong ponds
+now and she laid out a new course parallel to their
+splashes. She found Joshua sponging the dasher.</p>
+
+<p>"She wants you to go straight out again."</p>
+
+<p>Joshua flung the sponge into the pail.
+<pb n="085" /><anchor id="Pg085" /></p>
+
+<p>"Then I'll go straight out again," he said, moving
+toward the horse's head.</p>
+
+<p>"You're to bring Mr. Stebbins whether he can
+come or not."</p>
+
+<p>"He'll come," said Joshua; and then he backed
+the horse so suddenly that the buggy wheel nearly
+went over Lucinda.</p>
+
+<p>"She says this is an awful day&mdash;" began
+Lucinda.</p>
+
+<p>Joshua got into the buggy and tucked the rubber
+blanket around himself.</p>
+
+<p>"She says&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>Joshua drove out of the barn and away.</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda went slowly back to the house. Aunt
+Mary had ceased to glare at the letter and was now
+glaring at the rain instead.</p>
+
+<p>"Lucinda," she said "I'll thank you not to ever
+mention my nephew to me again. I've took a
+vow to never speak his name again myself. By no
+means&mdash;not at all&mdash;never."</p>
+
+<p>"Which nephew?" shrieked Lucinda.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary's eyes snapped.</p>
+
+<p>"Jack!" she said, with an accent that seemed
+to split the short word in two.</p>
+
+<p>After a little she spoke again.</p>
+
+<p>"Lucinda, it's all been owin' to the city an' this
+last is all city. 'F I cared a rap what happened to
+him after this I'd never let him go near a place
+<pb n="086" /><anchor id="Pg086" />over two thousand again as long as he lived. It's
+no use tryin' to explain things to you, Lucinda,
+because it never has been any use an' never will be&mdash;an'
+anyway, I'm done with it all. I sh'll want
+you for a witness when I'm through with Mr.
+Stebbins, and then you can get some marmalade out
+for tea an' we'll all live in peace hereafter."</p>
+
+<p>Joshua returned with Mr. Stebbins and the latter
+gentleman went to work with a will and willed
+Jack out of Aunt Mary's. Later Joshua took him
+home again. Lucinda got the marmalade out of
+the cellar and Aunt Mary had it with her tea. It
+was a bitter tea&mdash;unsugared indeed&mdash;and the days
+that followed matched.</p>
+</div>
+<pb n="087" /><anchor id="Pg087" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+
+<head>Chapter Ten - The Woes of the Disinherited.</head>
+
+
+<p>It was some days later on in the world's history
+that Holloway was calling on Bertha
+Rosscott.</p>
+
+<p>They were sitting in that comfortable library
+previously referred to and were sweetly unaware
+that any untoward series of incidents had ever led
+to an invasion of their privacy.</p>
+
+<p>Holloway lay well back in a sleepy-hollow chair
+and looked indolently, lazily handsome; his hostess
+was up on&mdash;well up on the divan, and he had the
+full benefit of her admirable bottines and their
+dainty heels and buckles.</p>
+
+<p>"Honestly," he said, looking her over with a
+gaze that was at once roving and well content,
+"honestly, I think that every time I see
+you, you appear more attractive than the time
+before."</p>
+
+<p>"It's very nice of you to say so," she replied.
+"And, of course, I believe you, for every time that
+I get a new gown I think that very same thing myself.
+Still, I do regard it as strange if I look
+<pb n="088" /><anchor id="Pg088" />nicely to-day, for I've been crying like a baby all
+the morning."</p>
+
+<p>"You crying! And why?"</p>
+
+<p>She raised her eyes to his.</p>
+
+<p>"Such bad news!" she said simply.</p>
+
+<p>"From where? Of whom?"</p>
+
+<p>"From mamma, about Bob."</p>
+
+<p>"Have his wounds proved serious?" Holloway
+looked slightly distressed as was proper.</p>
+
+<p>"It isn't that. It's papa. Papa has forbidden
+him the house. He's very, very angry."</p>
+
+<p>Holloway looked relieved.</p>
+
+<p>"Your father won't stay angry long, and you
+know it," he said. "Just think how often he has
+lost his temper over the boys and how often he's
+found it again."</p>
+
+<p>"It isn't just Bob," said Mrs. Rosscott. "I've
+someone else on my mind, too."</p>
+
+<p>"Who, pray?"</p>
+
+<p>"His friend."</p>
+
+<p>"Young Denham?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes."</p>
+
+<p>With that she threw her head up and looked
+very straightly at her caller whose visage shaded
+ever so slightly in spite of himself.</p>
+
+<p>"Have <hi rend="font-style: italic">his</hi> wounds proved serious?" he asked,
+smiling, but unable to altogether do away with a
+species of parenthetical inflection in his voice.
+<pb n="089" /><anchor id="Pg089" /></p>
+
+<p>"It wasn't over his wounds that I cried."</p>
+
+<p>"Did you really cry at all for him?"</p>
+
+<p>"I cried more for him than I did for Bob,"
+she admitted boldly.</p>
+
+<p>"He is a fortunate boy! But why the tears in
+his case?"</p>
+
+<p>"I felt so badly to be disappointed in him."</p>
+
+<p>"Did you expect to work a miracle there, my
+dear? Did you think to reform such an inveterate
+young reprobate with a glance?"</p>
+
+<p>"I'm not sure that I ever asked myself either of
+those questions," she replied, slowly; "but he
+promised me something, and I expected him to
+keep his word."</p>
+
+<p>"Men don't keep such promises, Bertha," the
+visitor said. "You shouldn't have expected it."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know why not."</p>
+
+<p>"Because a man who drinks will drink again."</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't refer to drinking," she said quietly.
+"It was quite another thing."</p>
+
+<p>"Ah!"</p>
+
+<p>She looked down at her rings and seemed to consider
+how much of her confidence she should give
+him, and the consideration led her to look up presently
+and say:</p>
+
+<p>"He promised me that if he could not call any
+week he would write me a line instead. He came
+to town last week, and he neither called nor wrote.
+<pb n="090" /><anchor id="Pg090" />That wasn't like the man I saw in him. That was
+a direct breaking of his word. I can't understand,
+and I'm disappointed."</p>
+
+<p>Holloway took out his cigarette case and turned
+it over and over thoughtfully in his hands.</p>
+
+<p>"He's nothing but a boy," he said at last, with
+an effort.</p>
+
+<p>"He's no boy," she said. "He's almost twenty-two
+years old. He's a man."</p>
+
+<p>"Some are men at twenty-two, and some are
+boys," Holloway remarked. "I was a man before
+I was eighteen&mdash;a man out in the world of men.
+But Denham's a boy."</p>
+
+<p>He rose as he spoke, and she held out her hand
+for him to raise her, too.</p>
+
+<p>"It's early to go," she remarked parenthetically.</p>
+
+<p>"I know," he replied; "but I hear someone
+being shown into the drawing-room. I don't feel
+formal to-day, and if I can't lounge in here alone
+with you I'd rather go."</p>
+
+<p>"How egotistical!" she commented.</p>
+
+<p>"I am egotistical," he admitted.</p>
+
+<p>And went.</p>
+
+<p>The footman passed him in the hall; he had a
+card upon his silver salver, and was seeking his
+mistress in the library. But when he entered there
+the room was empty. Mrs. Rosscott had slipped
+<pb n="091" /><anchor id="Pg091" />through the blue velvet portières, expecting to see
+a friend, and had stopped short on the other side,
+amazed at finding herself face to face with an utter
+stranger.</p>
+
+<p>"I gave the man my card," said the stranger, in
+a tone as faded as his mustache. He was a long,
+thin man, but what the Germans style "<hi rend="font-style: italic">sehr korrect</hi>."</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't wait to get it," the hostess said. "I
+supposed that, of course, it was somebody that I
+knew."</p>
+
+<p>"That was natural," he admitted.</p>
+
+<p>There was a slight pause of awkwardness.</p>
+
+<p>"Won't you sit down?" she asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Certainly," said the caller, and sat down.</p>
+
+<p>Then she sat down, too, and another awkward
+pause ensued.</p>
+
+<p>"You didn't expect to see me, did you?" said
+the stranger, smiling.</p>
+
+<p>"No, I didn't," said Mrs. Rosscott frankly.
+"I expected to see someone else&mdash;someone that I
+knew. Nearly all my visitors are people whom I
+know."</p>
+
+<p>Her eyes rather demanded an observance of the
+conventionalities while her words were putting the
+best face possible on the queer five minutes. The
+stranger smiled.</p>
+
+<p>"My name is Clover," he said then. "Of
+<pb n="092" /><anchor id="Pg092" />course, as you never saw me before, you want to
+know that first of all."</p>
+
+<p>"I'd choose to know," she said. And then the
+uncompromising neutrality of her expression deepened
+so plainly that he hastened to add:</p>
+
+<p>"I'm H. Wyncoop Clover."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh!" she said. And then smiled, too; having
+heard the name before.</p>
+
+<p>"Why don't you ask me my business?" went on
+H. Wyncoop Clover. "I must have come for
+some reason, you know."</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't know it," said Mrs. Rosscott&mdash;"I
+don't know anything about you yet."</p>
+
+<p>They both smiled&mdash;and then H. Wyncoop
+resumed his colorless sobriety at once.</p>
+
+<p>"It's about Jack," he said&mdash;"these terrible new
+developments&mdash;" he stopped short, seeing his <hi rend="font-style: italic">vis-à-vis</hi>
+turn deathly white, "it's nothing to be frightened
+over," he said reassuringly.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Rosscott was furious with herself for
+having paled. She became instantly haughty.</p>
+
+<p>"I was alarmed for my brother," she said. "I
+always think of them both as together."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, in that case, I can reassure you instantly,"
+said the caller. "Burnett is doing finely."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Rosscott was conscious of being suddenly
+and skillfully countercharged. She blushed with
+vexation, bit her lip in perturbation, and cast upon
+<pb n="093" /><anchor id="Pg093" />the trying individual opposite a look of most
+appealing interrogation.</p>
+
+<p>"You see," said Clover pleasantly, "I was
+coming to town, so I came in handy for the purpose
+of telling you."</p>
+
+<p>She gave him a glance that prayed him to be
+decent and go on with his errand.</p>
+
+<p>"Burnett is about recovered," he said.</p>
+
+<p>She clasped her hands hard.</p>
+
+<p>"I wouldn't be a man for anything!" she
+exclaimed with sudden fervor, "they are so
+awfully mean. Why <hi rend="font-style: italic">don't</hi> you go on and tell me
+<hi rend="font-style: italic">what</hi> you've come about?"</p>
+
+<p>He raised his eyebrows.</p>
+
+<p>"May I?" he asked.</p>
+
+<p>She choked down some of her exasperation.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, you may."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, thank you so much. I'll begin at once
+then. Only premising that as I go to school with
+your little brother, and as he is rather under a cloud
+just at present, we clubbed together to bring you a
+letter about him and Jack. He was going to dictate
+it, but in the end Mitchell wrote it all. Here
+it is."</p>
+
+<p>With that he put his hand into his pocket, drew
+out an envelope and handed it to her.</p>
+
+<p>"How awfully good of you," she said gratefully.
+"Do excuse my reading it at once, won't
+<pb n="094" /><anchor id="Pg094" />you? You see, I've been so anxious about&mdash;about
+my brother."</p>
+
+<p>He nodded understandingly, and she hastily tore
+open the envelope and ran her eyes over the written
+sheets.</p>
+
+<quote rend="display">
+<p><hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">My Dear Mrs. Rosscott:</hi>&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>Being the prize writer of the class, I am chosen
+to take down the ante mortem confessions of our
+shattered friends. It is in a sad hour for them that
+I do so, because I am naturally so truthful that I
+shall not force you to look for my meaning
+between the lines. On the contrary, I shall set
+the cold facts out as neatly as the pickets on the
+fence. And in evidence thereof, I open the ball by
+telling you frankly that they both look fierce. If
+they had looked less awful, and Burnett had had
+more lime in his bones, we might have escaped the
+Powers That Be by simply admitting a sprained
+ankle and carefully concealing everything else.
+But if one man cracks where you can't finish
+the deal, even by the most unlimited outlay
+of mucilage and persistence, and another blazes
+his whole surface-area in a manner that seems
+to make the underbrush dubious to count on
+forever henceforth; why, you then have a logarithm
+the square of which is probably as far beyond your
+depth as I am beyond my own just at this point of
+this sentence.</p>
+
+<p>The long and short of my fresh start is, that
+your brother wants to write you, but he is so
+handicapped (forgive me, but you're the only one
+who hasn't had that joke sprung on them!) with
+bandages, that it's cruel to expect much of him. It
+<pb n="095" /><anchor id="Pg095" />is true that he has his bosom friend to fall back
+upon, but if you could see that friend as we see him
+these days you wouldn't be sure whether it was true
+or not. The old woman, who had the peddler-and-petticoat
+episode, was not in it the same day
+with your brother's friend! I do assure you. And
+anyhow&mdash;even if he still has brains&mdash;his writing
+apparatus is all done up in arnica, so there you
+are!</p>
+
+<p>But do not allow me to alarm you unduly!
+When all's said and done, they're not so badly off
+physically. Hair and ribs are mere vanities, anyhow,
+and we're here to-day and gone to-morrow!</p>
+
+<p>Something much worse than disfigurements and
+broken bones has sprung forth from chaos, and has
+almost stared them out of countenance since. It is
+the wolf that is at the door, and the howling and
+prowling of their particular wolf is not to be
+sneezed at, let me tell you. To put a modern political
+face upon an ancient Greek fable, the wolf in
+their case symbolizes the bitter question of whose
+roof is going to roof them when they get out of the
+plaster casts that are bed and board to them just at
+present. Where are they to go? All those which
+used to be open to them are suddenly shut tight.
+They've both been expelled, and both been disinherited.
+If I was inclined to look on the blue side
+of the blanket, I should certainly feel that they
+were playing in very tough luck. Burnett, of
+course, can come to you, and his soul is full of the
+wish to bring his fellow-fright along with him.
+Which wish of his is the gist of my epistle. <hi rend="font-style: italic">Can</hi>
+he bring him? He wants to know before he
+broaches the proposition. I'm to be skinned alive
+if Jack ever learns that such a plea was made, so I
+<pb n="096" /><anchor id="Pg096" />beg you whatever other rash acts you see fit
+to commit during your meteoric flight across my
+plane of existence, don't ever give me away.
+Firstly, because if I ever get a chance to do so, I'm
+positive that I should want to cling to you as the
+mistletoe does to the oak, and could not bear to be
+given away; and secondly, because I'm so attached
+to my own skin that I should really suffer pain if
+it was taken from me by force. Bob wants you to
+think it over, and let him know as to the whats and
+whens by return mail.</p>
+
+<p>You are so inspiring that I could write you all
+day, but those relics of what once was, but alas!
+will never be again, need to be rolled up afresh in
+absorbent cotton, and so I must nail my Red Cross
+on to my left arm, and get down to business. If
+you saw how useful I am to your brother, you'd
+thank his lucky stars that I came through myself
+with nothing worse than getting my ear stepped
+on. I was hugging the ladder (being canny and
+careful), and the man above me toed in. Isn't it
+curious to think that if he'd worn braces in early
+youth <hi rend="font-style: italic">my</hi> ear would be all right now.</p>
+
+<p>Behold me at your feet.</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: right">Respectfully yours,</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: right">Herbert Kendrick Mitchell.</p>
+</quote>
+
+
+<p>When Mrs. Rosscott had finished the letter she
+looked across at her caller, and said:</p>
+
+<p>"You've read this, haven't you?"</p>
+
+<p>"No," said he. "I tried to unstick it two or
+three times coming on the train, but it was too
+much for me."
+<pb n="097" /><anchor id="Pg097" /></p>
+
+<p>"Don't you really know what it says?" she
+asked more earnestly.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I do," Clover answered, "but Denham
+must never know that I do."</p>
+
+<p>"I won't tell him," she said smiling faintly.
+"But surely he can't be as badly off as this says.
+Has he really lost all his hair?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not all&mdash;only in spots," Clover reassured
+her; but then his recollections overcame him, and
+he added, with a grin: "But he's a fearful looking
+specimen, all right, though."</p>
+
+<p>"About my brother," she went on, turning the
+letter thoughtfully in her fingers; "when can he
+get out, do they think?"</p>
+
+<p>"Any time next week."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll write him," she said. "I'll write him and
+tell him that everything will be arranged for&mdash;for&mdash;for
+them both."</p>
+
+<p>Clover sprang to his feet.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, thank you," he exclaimed. "That's
+most awfully good in you!"</p>
+
+<p>"Not at all," she answered. "I'm very glad
+to be able to welcome them. You must impress
+that upon them&mdash;particularly&mdash;particularly on my
+brother."</p>
+
+<p>Clover smiled.</p>
+
+<p>"I will," he said, rising to go.</p>
+
+<p>"I'd ask you to stay longer," she said, holding
+<pb n="098" /><anchor id="Pg098" />out her hand, "but I'm due at a charity entertainment
+to-night, and I have to go very early."</p>
+
+<p>"I know," he said; "I've come up on purpose
+to go to it."</p>
+
+<p>"Then I shall see you there?" she asked him.</p>
+
+<p>"It will be what I shall be looking forward to
+most of all," he said.</p>
+
+<p>"It's been a great pleasure to meet you," she
+said, holding out her hand, "you're&mdash;well, you're
+'unlike,' as they say in literary criticisms."</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you," he replied; "but may I ask if
+you intend that as a compliment?"</p>
+
+<p>"Dear me," she laughed, "let me think how
+I did intend it.&mdash;Yes, it was meant for a compliment."</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you," he said, shaking her hand
+warmly, "it's so nice to know, you know. Good-by."</p>
+
+<p>"Good-by."</p>
+
+<p>Then he went away.</p>
+</div>
+<pb n="099" /><anchor id="Pg099" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+<head>Chapter Eleven - The Dove of Peace</head>
+
+
+<p>The first result of Mrs. Rosscott's invitation
+was that Jack refused. He said
+that he had a sister of his own&mdash;two, if
+it came to that&mdash;and so he could easily manage for
+himself. He was very decided about it, and somewhat
+lofty and bitter&mdash;a stand which no one understood
+his taking.</p>
+
+<p>His flat refusal was communicated to his would be
+hostess and it goes without saying that she was
+as unable to understand as all the rest. It keyed
+well enough with his lately shown indifference, but
+the indifference keyed not at all with all that had
+gone before and still less with her very correct
+comprehension of Jack himself. She was quite
+positive as to the sincerity of those protestations
+which he had made so haltingly&mdash;so boyishly&mdash;and
+in such absolutely truthful accents. Why he
+had turned over a new&mdash;and bad&mdash;leaf so suddenly
+she did not at all know, but her woman's wit&mdash;backed
+up by the many good instincts which good
+<pb n="100" /><anchor id="Pg100" />women always get from Heaven knows just where&mdash;made
+her feel firmer than ever as to her hospitable
+intentions. Jack had told her many times
+that she was his good angel, and it did not seem to
+her that now, when he was so deeply involved in
+so much trouble, was the hour for a man's good
+angel to quietly turn away. Suppose he was
+haughty!&mdash;she knew men well enough to know that
+in his case haughtiness and shame would be two
+Dromios that even he himself would be unable to
+tell apart. Suppose he did rebel against her kindness!&mdash;she
+knew women well enough to know that
+under some circumstances they can put down rebellion
+single-handed&mdash;if they can only be left in
+the room alone with it for a few minutes. As regarded
+Jack, she knew that there was something
+to explain; and as to herself she was delightfully
+positive as to her own irresistibleness. Given two
+such statements and the conclusion is easy. Mrs.
+Rosscott wrote to Mitchell and here is what she
+wrote:</p>
+
+<quote rend="display">
+<p><hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">My Dear Mr. Mitchell</hi>:</p>
+
+<p>I should have answered your letter before only
+that in the excitement of corresponding with my
+brother I forgot all else. But my manners have
+returned by slow degrees and in hunting through
+my desk for a bill I found you and so take up my
+pen.
+<pb n="101" /><anchor id="Pg101" /></p>
+
+<p>I am quite sure that&mdash;in spite of that beautiful
+opening play of mine&mdash;you are wondering why I
+am really writing and so I will tell you at once.
+When Bob comes here to stay with me I want Mr.
+Denham to come too. I have various reasons for
+wanting him to come. One is that he has nowhere
+else to go where he will have half as good a time
+as he will here and another is that if he goes anywhere
+else I won't have half as good a time as if
+he comes here. Pray excuse my brutal candor, but
+I am only a woman; brutal candor and womanly
+weakness always have gone about encouraging one
+another, you know. I cannot see any good reason
+for Mr. Denham's not coming except that he declines
+my invitation. It is very silly in him, and
+I regard it as no reason at all. I am quite unused
+to being declined and do not intend to acquire the
+habit until I am a good deal older than I was my
+last birthday. Still, I can understand that he is too
+big to force against his will, so I think the kindest
+way to break the back of the opposition will be for
+me to do it personally. As an over-ruler I nearly
+always succeed. All I require is an opportunity.</p>
+
+<p>Please lay the two halves of your brain evenly
+together and devise a train and an interview for
+me. Of course you will meet me at the train and
+leave me at the interview. These are the fundamental
+rules of my game. I know that you are
+clever and before we have left the station you will
+know that I am. As arch-conspirators we shall
+surely win out together, won't we?</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: right">Yours very truly,</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: right">Bertha Rosscott.</p>
+</quote>
+<pb n="102" /><anchor id="Pg102" />
+
+<p>This missive posted, Jack's good angel made herself
+patient until the afternoon of the next day
+when she might and did expect an answer.</p>
+
+<p>She was not disappointed. The letter came and
+it was pleasantly bulky and appeared ample enough
+to have contained an indexed gun powder plot.
+She was so sure that Mitchell had been fully equal
+to the occasion that she tore the envelope open with
+a smile&mdash;and read:</p>
+
+<quote rend="display">
+<p><hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">My Dear Mrs. Rosscott</hi>:</p>
+
+<p>To think of my having some of your handwriting
+for my own!&mdash;I was nearly petrified with joy.</p>
+
+<p>You see I know your writing from having read
+Burnett all those "Burn this at once" epistles.
+And I know it still better from having to catalogue
+them for his ready reference. You know how
+impatient he is. (But I have run into an open
+switch and must digress backwards.)</p>
+
+<p>I shall preserve your letter till I die. In war
+I shall wear it carefully spread all over wherever
+I may be killed, and in peace I intend to keep my
+place in my Bible with it. Could words say more!
+(Being backed up again, I will now begin.)</p>
+
+<p>I was not at all surprised at your writing me.
+If you had known me it would have been different.
+But where ignorance is bliss any woman but yourself
+is always liable to pitch in with a pen, and you
+see you are not yourself but only "any woman"
+to me as yet. Besides, women have written to me
+before you. My mother does so regularly. She
+encloses a postal card and all I have to do is to mail
+<pb n="103" /><anchor id="Pg103" />it and there she is answered. It's a great scheme
+which I proudly invented when I first went away
+to school and I recommend it to you if you&mdash;if you
+ever have a mother.</p>
+
+<p>How my ink does run away with me! Let me
+refer to your esteemed favor again! Ah! we
+have worked down to the bed-rock, or&mdash;in Hugh
+Miller's colloquial phrasing&mdash;to the "old red sandstone,"
+of the fact that you want Jack. You state
+the fact with what you designate as brutal candor&mdash;and
+I reply with candied brutality, that I
+have thought that all along. If you are averse
+to my view of the matter, you must look out of the
+window the whole time that I continue, for once
+entered I always fight to a finish and I cannot retire
+to my corner on this auspicious occasion without
+announcing through a trumpet that even if Jack is
+a most idiotic fellow I never have caught the
+microbe from him, and, as a sequence, have always
+seen clear through and out of the other side of the
+whole situation. Of course I should not say this
+to any woman but you because it would not have
+any meaning to her, but, between you and me all
+things are printed in plain black and white and,
+therefore, I respectfully submit a program consisting
+of the two o'clock train Tuesday and myself,
+to be recognized by a beaming look of burning
+joy, upon the platform. Beyond that you may
+confide yourself to waxing waxy in my hands.
+They are not bad hands to be in as your brother
+and whatever-you-call-Jack can testify. I will lay
+my lines in the dark to the end that you may bloom
+in the sun.</p>
+
+<p>Trust me. You need do no more&mdash;except buy
+your ticket.
+<pb n="104" /><anchor id="Pg104" /></p>
+
+<p>The two o'clock on Tuesday. You can easily
+remember it by the T's&mdash;if you don't get mixed
+with three o'clock on Thursday. Try remembering
+it by the 2's. A safe way would be to put it
+down.</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: right">Yours to obey,</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: right">Herbert Kendrick Mitchell.</p>
+
+<p>P.S. Please recollect that I am only handsome
+according to the good old proverb, and do not mistake
+me for an enterprising hackman.</p>
+</quote>
+
+<p>Mrs. Rosscott clapped her hands with delight
+when she finished the letter. She was overjoyed at
+the success of her "opening play," and she wrote
+her new correspondent two lines accepting his
+invitation, and went down on the appointed train
+on the appointed day. He met her at the depot
+and they divined one another at the first glance.
+It was impossible not to know so pretty a woman&mdash;or
+so homely a man. For the ancestors of Mitchell
+had worn kilts and red hair in centuries gone by,
+and although he proved the truth of the red-hair
+proposition, no one would ever believe that anything
+of his build could ever have been induced to
+have put itself into kilts&mdash;knowingly. Furthermore,
+his voice had a crick in it, and went by jerks,
+and his eyebrows sympathized with his voice, and
+the eyes below them were little and gray and twinkling,
+and altogether he was the sort of man who
+<pb n="105" /><anchor id="Pg105" />is termed&mdash;according to a certain style of phrasing&mdash;"above
+suspicion." But she liked him, oh!
+immensely, and he liked her. And when they were
+riding up in the carriage together she felt how
+thoroughly trustworthy his gray eyes and good
+smile declared him to be, and had no hesitation in
+telling him what she wanted to do, and in asking
+him what she wanted to know.</p>
+
+<p>Mitchell certainly had a talent for plotting, for
+when they reached the house where the culprits
+were temporarily domiciled, Burnett had gone out
+to give his mended ribs some exercise, and Jack
+was reading alone in the room where they shared
+one another's liniments with friendly generosity.</p>
+
+<p>The arch-conspirator went upstairs, came down,
+and then, seeking the lady whom he had left in the
+parlor, said to her:</p>
+
+<p>"Denham's up there and you can go up and say
+whatever you have to say. You know 'In union
+there is strength.' Well you've got him alone now,
+and he'll prove weakly as a consequence or I miss
+my guess."</p>
+
+<p>Then he walked straight over by the window
+and picked up a magazine as if it was all settled,
+and she only hesitated for half a second before she
+turned and went upstairs.</p>
+
+<p>There was a door half open in the hall above,
+and she knew that that must be the door. She
+<pb n="106" /><anchor id="Pg106" />tapped at it lightly, and a man's voice (a voice that
+she knew well), called out gruffly:</p>
+
+<p>"Come in!"</p>
+
+<p>She pushed the door open at that and entered,
+and saw Jack, and he saw her. He turned very
+pale at the sight, and then the color flooded his
+face, and he rose from his chair abruptly, and put
+his hand up to the strips that held the bandage on
+his head.</p>
+
+<p>"Burnett isn't here," he said quickly. "He
+went out just a few minutes ago."</p>
+
+<p>His tone was hard, and yet at the same time it
+shook slightly.</p>
+
+<p>She approached him, holding out her hand.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm glad of that," she said, "because it was
+to see you that I came."</p>
+
+<p>To her great surprise something mutinous and
+scornful flashed in his eyes as he rolled a chair forward
+for her.</p>
+
+<p>"You honor me," he said, and his tone and
+manner both hardened yet more. His general
+appearance was that of a man ten years older;
+he had changed terribly in the weeks since she had
+last seen him. She took the chair and sat down,
+still looking at him. He sat down too, and his
+eyes went restlessly around the room as if they
+sought a hold that should withhold them from her
+searching gaze. There was a short pause.
+<pb n="107" /><anchor id="Pg107" /></p>
+
+<p>"Don't speak like that," she said at last. "It
+isn't your way, and I know you too well&mdash;we know
+one another too well&mdash;to be anything but sincere.
+You owe me something, too, and if I forbear you
+should understand why."</p>
+
+<p>"I owe you something, do I?" he asked.
+"What do I owe you?"</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Rosscott caught her under lip in her teeth.</p>
+
+<p>"You gave me a promise, Mr. Denham," she
+said, quite low, but most distinctly&mdash;"a promise
+which you broke."</p>
+
+<p>Jack flushed; his eyelids drooped for a minute.</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't break it," he said. "I gave it up."</p>
+
+<p>"Is there any difference?"</p>
+
+<p>"A great difference."</p>
+
+<p>He shrugged his shoulders.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you want to have the truth?" he said.
+"If you really do, I'll tell you. But I don't ask
+to tell you, recollect, and if I were you I'd drop the
+whole&mdash;I certainly would.&mdash;If I were you."</p>
+
+<p>She looked at him in astonishment.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't understand," she said. "Tell me what
+you mean."</p>
+
+<p>He raised his hand to his bandaged head again.</p>
+
+<p>"I think," he said, fighting hard to speak with
+utter indifference, "I think that it would have been
+better if you had told me about Holloway."</p>
+
+<p>At that her big eyes opened widely.
+<pb n="108" /><anchor id="Pg108" /></p>
+
+<p>"What should I tell you about Mr. Holloway?"
+she asked. "What could I tell you about
+him?"</p>
+
+<p>"It isn't any use speaking like that," he said;
+and with the words he suddenly leaped from his
+chair and began to plunge back and forth across the
+small room. "You see I'm not a boy any more.
+I've come to my senses. I know now! I understand
+now! It's all plain to me now. Now and
+always. I've been fooled once but only once and
+by All that Is, I never will be fooled again.
+Your're pretty and awfully fascinating, and it's
+always fun for the woman&mdash;especially if she knows
+all her bets are safely hedged. And I was so completely
+done up that I was even more sport than the
+common run, I suppose; but&mdash;" she was staring
+at him in unfeigned amazement, and he was lashing
+himself to fury with the feelings that underlaid his
+words&mdash;"but even if you made it all right with
+yourself by calling your share by the name of 'having
+a good influence' over me (I know that's how
+married women always pat themselves on the back
+while they're sending us to the devil), even then,
+I think that it would have been better to have been
+fair and square with me. It would have been better
+all round. I'd have been left with some belief in&mdash;in
+people. As it is, when I saw that you'd only
+been laughing at me, I&mdash;well, I went pretty far."
+<pb n="109" /><anchor id="Pg109" /></p>
+
+<p>He stopped short, and transfixed her paleness
+with his big, dark eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"Why weren't you honest?" he asked angrily.
+And then he said again, more bitterly, more scornfully,
+than before: "Why wasn't I told about
+Holloway?"</p>
+
+<p>She clasped her hands tightly together.</p>
+
+<p>"What has been told you about Mr. Holloway
+and myself?" she asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Nothing."</p>
+
+<p>"Then why do you speak as you do?"</p>
+
+<p>At that he thrust his hands into his pockets and
+again began to fling himself back and forth across
+the room.</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps you'll think I'm a sneak," he said,
+"but I wasn't a sneak. I went in to see you that
+Saturday as usual, and when I went upstairs&mdash;you
+were with him in the library. I heard three words.
+God! they were enough! I didn't know that anything
+could knock the bottom out of life so quickly.
+My sun and stars all fell at once&mdash;I reckon my
+Heaven went too. At all events I went out of your
+house and down town and I drank and drank&mdash;and
+all to the truth and honor of women."</p>
+
+<p>He halted with his back to her, and there was
+silence in the room for many minutes.</p>
+
+<p>When he faced around after a little, she was
+weeping bitterly, having turned in her seat so that
+<pb n="110" /><anchor id="Pg110" />her face might be buried in the chair back. Her
+whole body was shaking with suppressed sobs.
+He stood still and stared down upon her and finally
+she lifted up her face and said with trembling lips:</p>
+
+<p>"And all the trouble came from that. Oh,
+what shall I do? What shall I say?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know what you can do, or what you
+can say," he said, remaining still and watching her
+sincere distress. "I'd feel pretty blamed mean if
+I were you, though. Understand, I don't question
+your good taste in choosing Holloway, nor your
+right to love him, nor his right to be there; but
+I fail to understand why you were to me just as you
+were, and I think it was unfair&mdash;out-and-out
+mean!"</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Denham," she said almost painfully,
+"you've made a dreadful mistake." Then she
+stopped and moistened her lips. "I don't know
+just what words you overheard, but the dramatic
+instructor was there that afternoon drilling Mr.
+Holloway and myself for the parts which we took
+in the charity play that week; after he went out we
+went over one of the scenes alone. Perhaps you
+heard part of that." She stopped and almost
+choked. "Mr. Holloway has never really made
+any love to me&mdash;perhaps he never wanted to&mdash;perhaps
+I've never wanted him to."</p>
+
+<p>Jack stared. His misconception was so strongly
+<pb n="111" /><anchor id="Pg111" />intrenched in the forefront of his brain that he
+could not possibly dislodge it at once.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Rosscott continued to dry the tears that
+continued to rise; she seemed terribly affected at
+finding herself to have been the cause (no matter
+how innocently) of this latest tale of wrack and
+ruin.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you mean to say," the young man said, at
+last, "that there was no truth in what I heard?
+Don't you expect to marry Holloway?"</p>
+
+<p>"I never expect to marry anyone, but certainly
+not him," she replied, trying to regain her composure.</p>
+
+<p>"Honest?"</p>
+
+<p>"Assuredly."</p>
+
+<p>It was as if an unseen orchestra had suddenly
+burst forth just near enough and just far enough
+away. He came to the side of her chair and laid
+his hand upon its back.</p>
+
+<p>"Then what have you been thinking of me
+lately?" he asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Very sad thoughts," she confessed&mdash;hiding
+her face again.</p>
+
+<p>"Did you care?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I cared."</p>
+
+<p>He stood beside her for a long time without
+speaking or moving. Then he suddenly pulled a
+chair forward, and sat down close in front of her.
+<pb n="112" /><anchor id="Pg112" /></p>
+
+<p>"Don't cry," he said, almost daring to be
+tender. "There's nothing to cry about <hi rend="font-style: italic">now</hi>, you
+know."</p>
+
+<p>"I think there's plenty for me to cry about," she
+said, looking up through her long wet lashes. "It
+is so terrible for me to be the one that is to blame.
+Papa swears he'll never forgive Bob, and your
+aunt&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Lord love you!" he exclaimed; "don't worry
+over me or my aunt. I don't. I don't mind anything,
+with Holloway staked in the ditch. I can
+get along well enough now."</p>
+
+<p>He smiled&mdash;actually smiled&mdash;as he spoke.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, you mustn't speak so," she said, blushing;
+"indeed, you must not." And smiled, too, in spite
+of herself.</p>
+
+<p>"Who's going to stop me?" he said. "You
+know that you can't; I'm miles the biggest."</p>
+
+<p>She looked at him and tried to frown, but only
+blushed again instead. He put out his hand and
+took hers into its clasp.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm everlasting glad to shake college," he
+declared gayly; "it never was my favorite alley.
+I've made up my mind to go to work just as soon
+as I get these pastry strips off my head."</p>
+
+<p>"Where?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know. Anywhere. I don't care."</p>
+
+<p>"But you'll come to my house when Bob comes
+<pb n="113" /><anchor id="Pg113" />next week, won't you?" she asked suddenly.
+"I can see now why you wouldn't before, but&mdash;but
+it's different now. Isn't it?"</p>
+
+<p>"Is it?" he said, asking the question chiefly of
+her pretty eyes. "Is it honestly different now?"</p>
+
+<p>"I think it is," she answered.</p>
+
+<p>A door banged below.</p>
+
+<p>"That's Burr!" he exclaimed, remembering
+suddenly the proximity of their chairs, and making
+haste to place himself farther away.</p>
+
+<p>Burnett's step was heard on the stair.</p>
+
+<p>"You never said anything to him, did you?"
+she questioned quickly.</p>
+
+<p>"Certainly not."</p>
+
+<p>The next instant Burnett was in the room, and
+his sister was in his arms. (Astonishing how coolly
+he accepted the fact, too.)</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Denham is coming to me with you,
+Bob," she said when he released her. "I've persuaded
+him."</p>
+
+<p>"How did you do it?" she was asked.</p>
+
+<p>"By undertaking to reconcile him with his aunt,
+dear," she replied, blandly. "It's a contract that
+we've drawn up between us. You know that I was
+always rather good in the part of the peacemaker."</p>
+
+<p>As she spoke, her eyes fell warningly on the
+manifest astonishment of Aunt Mary's nephew.</p>
+
+<p>"You don't know what you're undertaking,
+<pb n="114" /><anchor id="Pg114" />Betty," said her brother. "You never had a
+chance to take Aunt Mary for better, for worse&mdash;I
+have."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm not alarmed," said she, "I'm very
+courageous. I'm sure I'll succeed."</p>
+
+<p>"Can the mender of ways&mdash;other people's
+ways&mdash;come in?" asked a voice at the door.</p>
+
+<p>It was Mitchell's voice, and he came in without
+waiting for an invitation.</p>
+
+<p>"Is it time that I went?" Mrs. Rosscott asked
+him, anxiously.</p>
+
+<p>"Half an hour yet."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I say Jack," cried Burnett, "let's boil
+some water in the witch-hazel pan, and make a
+rarebit in the poultice pan, and have some tea
+here."</p>
+
+<p>"Sure," said Jack, suddenly become his blithe
+and buoyant self again. "You just take off your
+hat and look the other way, Mrs. Rosscott, and
+we'll have you a lunch in a jiffy."</p>
+</div>
+<pb n="115" /><anchor id="Pg115" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+<head>Chapter Twelve - A Trap For Aunt Mary</head>
+
+
+<p>In Aunt Mary's part of the country the skies
+had been crying themselves sick for the last six
+weeks. The cranberry bog was a goner forever,
+it was feared, and a little house, very handy
+for sorting berries in, had had its foundations
+undermined, and disappeared beneath the face of
+the waters also.</p>
+
+<p>Under such propitious circumstances, Aunt
+Mary sat by her own particular window and looked
+sternly and severely out across the garden and
+down the road. Lucinda sat by the other window
+sewing. Lucinda hadn't changed materially, but
+her general appearance struck her mistress as more
+irritating than ever. Everything and everybody
+seemed to have become more and more irritating
+ever since Jack had been disinherited. Of course,
+it was right that he should have been disinherited,
+but Aunt Mary hadn't thought much beforehand
+as to what would happen afterward, and it was too
+aggravating to have him turn out so well just when
+she had lost all patience with him and so cast him
+<pb n="116" /><anchor id="Pg116" />off forever, and for him to develop such a beautiful
+character, all of a sudden too&mdash;just as if education
+and good advice had been his undoing and
+seclusion and illness were the guardian angels
+arrived just in time to save him from the evil
+effects thereof.</p>
+
+<p>It hadn't occurred to Aunt Mary that people
+keep on living just the same even after they have
+been cut out of a will. And she never had counted
+on Jack's taking his bitter medicine in the spirit he
+was manifesting. She had not calculated any
+of the possible effects of her hasty action very
+maturely, but she certainly had not anticipated a
+lamblike submission to even the harshest of her
+edicts, nor had she expected Jack to be one who
+would strictly observe the Bible regulations and
+so return good for evil&mdash;in other words, write her
+now when he had never written her in the bygone
+years (unless under sharpest financial stress of
+circumstances).</p>
+
+<p>Yet such was the case. Jack had become a
+"ready letter-writer" ever since his removal to the
+city, whither some kind friends had invited him
+directly he could leave his sick-room. Aunt Mary
+did not know who the friends were and had hesitated
+somewhat as to opening the first letter. But
+it had borne no sting&mdash;being instead most sweetly
+pathetic, and since then, others had followed with
+<pb n="117" /><anchor id="Pg117" />touching frequency. Their polished periods fell
+upon the old lady's stony hardness of heart with
+the persistent frequency of the proverbial drop of
+water. After the second she had ceased to regard
+the instructions given Lucinda as to mentioning her
+nephew's name, and after the third he became
+again her favorite topic of conversation.</p>
+
+<p>It seemed that the poor boy had had the misfortune
+to contract measles, and in his weakened
+state the disease had nearly proved fatal. You can
+perhaps divine the effect of this statement on the
+grand-aunt, and the further effect of the words:
+"But never mind, Aunt Mary," with which he concluded
+the brief narration.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary had tried to snort and had sniffed
+instead; she had turned back to the first page, read,
+"All my head has been shaved, but I don't care
+about having any more fun, anyhow," and had
+let the letter fall in her lap. Every time that she
+had thought since of "our boy," her anger had
+fallen hotter upon whoever was handiest. Lucinda
+(who was used to it) lived under a figurative rain
+of cinders, and thrived salamander-like in their
+midst; but Arethusa&mdash;who had come up for a
+week&mdash;found herself totally unable to stand the
+endless lava and boiling ashes, and fled back to the
+bosom of Mr. Arethusa the third morning after
+her arrival.
+<pb n="118" /><anchor id="Pg118" /></p>
+
+<p>"I've got to go, I find," she had yelled the night
+before her departure.</p>
+
+<p>"I certainly wish you would," replied her aunt.
+"I'm a great believer in married women paying
+attention at home before they begin to pry into
+their neighbors' affairs. It's a good idea. Most
+generally&mdash;most always."</p>
+
+<p>This was bitterly unkind, since Arethusa was in
+the habit of taking the long journey purely out of a
+sense of duty and to keep Lucinda up to the mark;
+but grateful appreciation is rarely ever a salient
+point in the character of an autocrat.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm glad she's gone," Aunt Mary told
+Lucinda, when they were left together once more.
+"She puts me beyond all patience. She chatters
+gibberish that I can't make out a word of for
+an hour at a time, and then, all of a sudden,
+she screams, 'Dinner's ready,' or something
+equally silly, in a voice like a carvin' knife.
+It's enough to drive a sane person stark, raving
+mad. It is."</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda acquiesced with a nod. Lucinda herself
+was glad that Arethusa had gone. She resented
+the manner in which the latter always looked over
+the preserve closet and counted the silver. Nothing
+was ever missing, because Lucinda was as honest
+as a day twenty-five hours long, but the more
+honest those of Lucinda's caliber are, the more
+<pb n="119" /><anchor id="Pg119" />mad they get if they feel that they are being
+watched. So Lucinda acquiesced with a nod.</p>
+
+<p>The mistress and maid were sitting alone together,
+with the June rain falling without, and it
+was that pleasantly exciting hour which comes only
+in the country and is known as "about mail-time."</p>
+
+<p>"There's Joshua now," Aunt Mary exclaimed,
+presently, "I see him turnin' in the gate. He'll be
+at the door before you get there, Lucinda,&mdash;he
+will. There, he's twistin' his wheel off. He's
+tryin' to hold Billy an' hold the letters an' whistle,
+all at once. Why don't you go to him, Lucinda?
+Can't you hear a whistle that I can see? Or, if
+you can't hear the whistle, can't you hear me? Do
+you think whoever wrote those letters would be
+much pleased if they could see you so slow about
+gettin' them? Do&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>Just here the old lady, turning toward Lucinda,
+perceived that she had been gone&mdash;Heaven knew
+how long. She felt decidedly vexed at finding herself
+to be in the wrong, rubbed her nose impatiently,
+and waited in a temper to match the
+rubbing.</p>
+
+<p>"My Lord! how slow she is!" she thought.
+"Well, if I don't die of old age first, I presume
+I'll get my letters some time. Maybe."</p>
+
+<p>As a matter of fact, the door had blown shut
+behind Lucinda, and the latter personage was making
+<pb n="120" /><anchor id="Pg120" />her way, with well-hoisted skirts, around the
+house to the back door. She didn't pass the window
+where the Argus-eyed was looking forth;
+because that lady had strong opinions of those who
+let doors bang behind them without their own
+volition.</p>
+
+<p>Five minutes later the maid did finally appear
+with one letter.</p>
+
+<p>"I thought you was waitin' to bring to-morrow's
+mail at the same time," said Aunt Mary,
+icily.</p>
+
+<p>Then she found that the letter was from Jack,
+and Lucinda was completely forgotten in the
+pleasure of opening and reading it.</p>
+
+<quote rend="display">
+<p><hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">Dear Aunt Mary</hi>:</p>
+
+<p>It seems so strange how I'm just learning the
+pleasure of writing letters. I enjoy it more every
+day. When I see a pen I can hardly keep from
+feeling that I ought to write you directly. I think
+of you, then, because I'm thinking of you most
+always. It seems as if I never appreciated you
+before, Aunt Mary.</p>
+
+<p>I want to tell you something that I know will
+make you happy. I've never made you very happy
+Aunt Mary, but I'm going to begin now. I've got
+a place where I can earn my own living, and I'm
+going to work just as soon as I am strong enough.
+I'm as tickled as a baby over it. I'll lay you any
+odds I get to be a richer man than the other John
+Watkins. I reckon money was bad for me, Aunt
+<pb n="121" /><anchor id="Pg121" />Mary, and I can see that you've done just the right
+thing to make a man of me. That isn't surprising,
+because you always did do just the right thing,
+Aunt Mary; it was I that always did just the wrong
+thing, but I'm straightened out now and this time
+it's forever&mdash;you just wait and see.</p>
+
+<p>There's one thing bothers me some, and that is
+I don't get strong very fast. They want me to
+take a tonic, but I don't think a tonic would help
+me much. I feel so sort of blue and depressed, and
+perhaps that's natural, for Bob's away most of the
+time and I'm here all alone. It's a big house and
+sort of lonely and sometimes I find myself imagining
+how it would seem to have someone from
+home in it with me, and I find myself almost crying&mdash;I
+do, for a fact, Aunt Mary.</p>
+
+<p>Next week, Bob is going to be away more than
+usual, and I'm dreading it awfully; but never mind,
+Aunt Mary, I don't want to make you blue, because
+honestly I don't think I'm going into a decline,
+even if the doctor does. And, after all, if I did
+sort of dwindle away it wouldn't matter much, for
+I'm not worth anything, and no one knows that as
+well as myself&mdash;except you, Aunt Mary.
+I must stop because it's nine o'clock and time I
+was in bed. I've got some socks to wash out first,
+too; you see, I'm learning how to economize just
+as fast as I can. It's only two miles to my work,
+and I'm going to walk back and forth always&mdash;that'll
+be between fifty cents and a dollar saved
+each week. I'm figuring on how to live on my
+salary and never have a debt, and you'll be proud
+of me yet, Aunt Mary&mdash;if I don't die first.</p>
+
+<p>Think of me all alone here next week. If I
+wasn't steadfast as a rock I believe I'd do something
+<pb n="122" /><anchor id="Pg122" />foolish just to get out of myself.   But never
+mind, Aunt Mary, it's all right.</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: right">Your afft. nephew,</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: right">John Watkins, Jr., Denham.</p>
+</quote>
+
+<p>When Lucinda returned from drying her feet,
+Aunt Mary had her handkerchief in one hand and
+spectacles in the other.</p>
+
+<p>"Saints and sinners!" cried the maid, in a
+voice that grated with sympathy. "He ain't writ
+to say he's dead, is he?"</p>
+
+<p>"No," said Aunt Mary; "but he isn't as well
+as he makes out. There's no deceivin' me,
+Lucinda!"</p>
+
+<p>"Dear! dear!" cried the Trusty and True; "is
+that so? What's to be done? Do you want
+Joshua to run anywhere?"</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary suddenly regained her composure.</p>
+
+<p>"Run anywhere?" she asked, with her usual
+bitter intonation. "If you ain't the greatest fool
+I ever was called upon to bed and board, Lucinda!
+Will you kindly explain to me how settin' Joshua
+trottin' is goin' to do any mortal good to my poor
+boy away off there in that dreadful city?"</p>
+
+<p>"He could telegraph to Miss Arethusa,"
+Lucinda suggested. The suggestion bespoke the
+superior moral quality of Lucinda's make-up&mdash;her
+own feeling toward Arethusa being considered.
+<pb n="123" /><anchor id="Pg123" /></p>
+
+<p>"I don't want her," said Aunt Mary with a
+positiveness that was final. "I don't want her.
+My heavens, Lucinda, ain't we just had enough
+of her? Anyhow, if you ain't, I have. I don't
+want her, nor no livin' soul except my trunk; an'
+I want that just as quick as Joshua can haul it down
+out of the attic."</p>
+
+<p>"You ain't thinkin' of goin' travelin'!" the
+maid cried in consternation; "you can't never be
+thinkin' of <hi rend="font-style: italic">that?</hi>"</p>
+
+<p>"No," said her mistress with fine irony; "I
+want the trunk to make a pie out of, probably."</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda was speechless.</p>
+
+<p>"Lucinda," her mistress said, after a few
+seconds had faded away unimproved, "seems to
+me I mentioned wantin' Joshua to get down a
+trunk&mdash;seems to me I did."</p>
+
+<p>The maid turned and left the room. She felt
+more or less dazed. Nothing so startling as Aunt
+Mary's wanting a trunk had happened in years.
+Disinheriting Jack was not in it by comparison.
+She went slowly away to find Joshua and found
+him in the farther end of the rear woodhouse&mdash;John
+Watkins, like several of his ilk, having
+marked each forward step in the world by a back
+extension of his house.</p>
+
+<p>Joshua was chopping wood; his ax was high in
+the air. He also was calm and unsuspecting.
+<pb n="124" /><anchor id="Pg124" /></p>
+
+<p>"She's goin' to the city all alone!" Lucinda's
+voice suddenly proclaimed behind him.</p>
+
+<p>The ax fell.</p>
+
+<p>"Who says so?" its handler demanded, facing
+about in surprise.</p>
+
+<p>"She says so."</p>
+
+<p>Joshua picked up the ax and poised it afresh.
+He was himself again.</p>
+
+<p>"She'll go then," he said calmly.</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda marched around in front of him, and
+planted herself firmly among the chips.</p>
+
+<p>"Joshua Whittlesey!"</p>
+
+<p>"We can't help it," said Joshua stolidly.
+"We're here to mind her. If she wants to go to
+New York, or to change her will, all we've got
+to do is to be simple witnesses."</p>
+
+<p>"She don't want Miss Arethusa telegraphed,"
+said Lucinda.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't blame her," said Joshua; "if I was
+her and if I was goin' to New York I wouldn't
+want no one telegraphed."</p>
+
+<p>"She wants her trunk out of the attic."</p>
+
+<p>"Then she'll get her trunk out of the attic.
+When does she want it?"</p>
+
+<p>"She wants it now."</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: center"><anchor id="image03" />
+<figure rend="w95" url="images/image03.png">
+<head rend="text-align: center">"She's goin' to the city all alone!' Lucinda's voice
+suddenly proclaimed behind him."</head>
+<figDesc>Illustration 3</figDesc></figure></p><p></p>
+
+<p>"Then she'll get it now," said Joshua. From
+the general trend of this and other remarks of
+Joshua the reader will readily divine why he had
+<pb n="125" /><anchor id="Pg125" />been in Aunt Mary's employ for thirty years, and
+had always been characterized by her as "a most
+sensible man," and anyone who had seen the
+alacrity with which the trunk was brought and the
+respectful attention with which Aunt Mary's further
+commands were received would have been
+forced to coincide in her opinion.</p>
+
+<p>The packing of the trunk was a task which fell
+to Lucinda's lot and was performed under the
+eagle eye of her mistress. Aunt Mary's ideas of
+what she would require were delightfully unsophisticated
+and brought up short on the farther-side
+of her tooth brush and her rubbers. Nevertheless
+she agreed in Lucinda's suggestions as to
+more extensive supplies.</p>
+
+<p>Late that afternoon Joshua drove into town
+(amidst a wealth of mud spatters) and dispatched
+the answer to Jack's letter. Aunt Mary was urged
+to haste by several considerations, some well
+defined, and others not so much so. To Lucinda
+she imparted her terrible anxiety over the dear
+boy's health, but not even to herself did she admit
+her much more terrible anxiety lest Arethusa or
+Mary should suddenly appear and insist on accompanying
+her. She wanted to go, but she wanted
+to go alone.</p>
+
+<p>Jack telegraphed a response that night, and his
+aunt left by the Monday morning train. She had
+<pb n="126" /><anchor id="Pg126" />a six o'clock breakfast, and drove into town at a
+quarter of nine so as to be absolutely certain not
+to miss the train. Joshua drove, with the trunk
+perched beside him. It was a small and unassuming
+trunk, but Aunt Mary was not one who
+believed in putting on airs just because she was
+rich. Lucinda sat on the back seat with her
+mistress.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm sure I hope you'll enjoy yourself," she
+said.</p>
+
+<p>"Of course he's nothing but a boy," Aunt Mary
+replied,&mdash;"an' I've told you a hundred times that
+boys will be boys and we mustn't expect otherwise."</p>
+
+<p>They arrived on time, and only had an hour
+and three-quarters to wait in the station. Toward
+the last Aunt Mary grew very nervous for fear
+something had happened to the train; but it came
+to time according to the waiting-room clock.
+Joshua put her aboard, and she soon had nothing
+left to worry over except the wonder as to whether
+Jack would be on hand to meet her or not.</p>
+
+<p>Joshua drove back home, let Lucinda out at the
+door, and put the horse up before going in to where
+she sat in solitary glory.</p>
+
+<p>"I wonder what <hi rend="font-style: italic">he's</hi> up to?" she said with a
+pleasant sense of unlimited freedom as to the subject
+and duration of the conversation.
+<pb n="127" /><anchor id="Pg127" /></p>
+
+<p>"Suthin', of course," was the answer.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you s'pose he's really sick?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, I don't."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you s'pose she thinks he's really sick?"</p>
+
+<p>"Mebbe."</p>
+
+<p>"Ain't you goin' to sit down, Joshua?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't see nothin' to make me sit down here
+for."</p>
+
+<p>"What do you think of her going?" she said,
+as he walked toward the door.</p>
+
+<p>"I think she'll have a good time."</p>
+
+<p>"At her age?"</p>
+
+<p>"Havin' a good time ain't a matter o' age," said
+Joshua. "It's a matter o' bein' willin' to have a
+good time."</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda screwed her face up mightily.</p>
+
+<p>"If I was sure she'd be gone for a week," she
+said, "I'd go a-visitin' myself."</p>
+
+<p>"She'll be gone a week," said Joshua; and the
+manner and matter of his speech were both those
+of a prophet.</p>
+
+<p>Then he went out and the door slammed to
+behind him.</p>
+</div>
+<pb n="128" /><anchor id="Pg128" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+<head>Chapter Thirteen - Aunt Mary Entrapped</head>
+
+
+<p>Aunt Mary's arrival in the city just coincided
+with the arrival of that day's five
+o'clock. Five o'clock in early June is very
+bright daylight, therefore she was rather bewildered
+when the train pulled up in the darkness and
+electricity of the station's confusion. The change
+from sunlight to smoke blinded her somewhat and
+the view from the car window did not restore her
+equanimity. When the porter, to whom she had
+been discreetly recommended by Joshua, came for
+her bags, she felt woefully distressed and not at
+all like her usual self.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, do I have to get out?" she said. "I ain't
+been in this place for twenty-five years, and I was
+to be met."</p>
+
+<p>The porter's grin hovered comfortingly over
+her head.</p>
+
+<p>"You can stay here jus' 's long as you like,
+ma'am," he yelled, in the voice of a train dispatcher.
+"I'll send your friends in when they
+inquiahs."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary eyed him gratefully, and gave him
+<pb n="129" /><anchor id="Pg129" />the nickel which she had been carefully holding in
+her hand for the last hour.</p>
+
+<p>Then she looked up, and saw Jack!</p>
+
+<p>A perfectly splendid Jack, in resplendent attire,
+handsome, beaming, with a big bouquet of violets
+in his hand!</p>
+
+<p>"For you, Aunt Mary," he said, and dropped
+them into her lap, and hugged her fervently. She
+clung to him with a cling that forgot the immediate
+past, disinheriting and all. Oh! she was so
+glad to see him!</p>
+
+<p>The porter approached with a beneficent look.</p>
+
+<p>"Has he taken good care of you, Aunt Mary?"
+Jack asked, as the man gathered up the things and
+they started to leave the car.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, indeed," Aunt Mary declared.</p>
+
+<p>So Jack gave the porter a dollar.</p>
+
+<p>Then they left the train.</p>
+
+<p>"I was so worried," Aunt Mary said, as she
+went along the platform hanging on her nephew's
+arm. "I thought you'd met with an accident."</p>
+
+<p>"I couldn't get on until the rest got off," he
+said, gazing down on her with a smile; "but I was
+on hand, all right. My, but it's good to think that
+you're here, Aunt Mary! Maybe you think that
+I don't appreciate your taking all this trouble for
+me, but I do, just the same."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary smiled all over. Everyone who
+<pb n="130" /><anchor id="Pg130" />passed them was smiling, too, and that added to
+the general joy of the atmosphere. Aunt Mary
+felt proud of Jack, and rejoiced as to herself. Her
+content with life in general was, for the moment,
+limitless. She did not stop to dissect the sources
+of her delight. She was not in a critical mood just
+then.</p>
+
+<p>"Why don't you stick those flowers in your
+belt, Aunt Mary?" her nephew asked, as they
+penetrated the worst of the human jungle, and the
+preservation of the violets appeared to be the main
+question of the day. "That's what the girls do."</p>
+
+<p>His aunt looked vaguely down at herself. She
+had no belt to stick her violets in. She wore no
+belt. She wore a basque. A basque is a beltless
+something that you can't remember, but that
+females did, once upon a time, cover the upper half
+of their forms with. Basques buttoned down the
+front with ten to thirty buttons, and may be studied
+at leisure in any good collection of daguerreotypes.
+Ladies like Aunt Mary are apt to scorn
+such futilities as waning styles after they pass
+beyond a certain age, and for that reason there
+was no place for Jack's violets.</p>
+
+<p>"Never mind," he said cheerfully, having
+followed her dubiousness with his understanding.
+"Just hang on to them a minute longer, and we'll
+be out of all this."
+<pb n="131" /><anchor id="Pg131" /></p>
+
+<p>His words came true, and they finally did
+emerge from the seething mass and found a carriage,
+the door of which happened to be standing
+mysteriously open. Within, upon the small seat,
+some omniscient hands had already deposited Aunt
+Mary's bags. It did not take long to stow Aunt
+Mary, face to her luggage, and she was barely
+established there before her trunk came, too; and,
+although the coachman looked so gorgeous, he
+was nevertheless obliging enough to allow it to
+couch humbly at his feet.</p>
+
+<p>Then they rolled away.</p>
+
+<p>Jack sat sideways and looked at his aunt, holding
+her hand. His eyes were unfeignedly happy,
+and his companion matched his eyes. Neither
+seemed to recollect that one was bitterly angry,
+and that the other was on the verge of melancholia.
+Instead, Jack declared fervently:</p>
+
+<p>"Aunt Mary, I've made up my mind to give
+you the time of your life!"</p>
+
+<p>And Aunt Mary drew a sigh of relief in his
+words and anticipation of their fulfillment.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll be happy takin' care of you," she said,
+benevolently. "My!&mdash;but your letter scared me.
+An' yet you look well."</p>
+
+<p>He laughed.</p>
+
+<p>"It's the knowing you were coming that's done
+that, Aunt Mary. You ought to have seen me
+<pb n="132" /><anchor id="Pg132" />when I got your telegram. I almost turned a
+somersault."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary smiled rapturously and patted his
+hand.</p>
+
+<p>And just then they drew up in front of the
+house. She looked out, and her face fell a
+trifle.</p>
+
+<p>"It's awful high and narrow," she said.</p>
+
+<p>"They all are," Jack replied, opening the carriage
+door and jumping out to receive her.</p>
+
+<p>The door at the top of the steps opened, and a
+man came down for the bags. In the hall above,
+a pretty maid waited with a welcoming smile.</p>
+
+<p>Jack piloted his aunt, first up the entrance steps,
+and then up the staircase within, and led her to the
+lovely room which had been vacated for her. The
+maid followed with tea and biscuits, and the man
+brought the luggage and ranged it unobtrusively
+in a corner. There was a lavish richness about
+everything which made Aunt Mary and her trunk
+appear as gray and insignificant as a pair of mice,
+by contrast; but she didn't feel it, and so she didn't
+mind it.</p>
+
+<p>Jack kissed her tenderly.</p>
+
+<p>"Welcome to town, Aunt Mary," he said heartily,
+"and may you never live to look upon this day
+as other than the luckiest of your life!" Then,
+turning to the servant, he said:
+<pb n="133" /><anchor id="Pg133" /></p>
+
+<p>"Janice, you see that you do all that money can
+buy for my aunt."</p>
+
+<p>The maid courtesied. She had arranged the tray
+upon a little table and the spout of the tea pot and
+the round hole in the middle of the toast-cover were
+each pouring forth a pleasant suggestion.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary began at once to haul forth her
+keys.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, Aunt Mary," Jack cried, wondering if
+her nose was deaf, too, or whether she didn't feel
+hungry, "don't you see your tea? Or don't you
+want any?"</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary thumbed her trunk key.</p>
+
+<p>"I want a nightgown," she said; "maybe I'll
+want something else later. Maybe."</p>
+
+<p>"You're not going to <hi rend="font-style: italic">bed</hi>!"</p>
+
+<p>She drew herself up.</p>
+
+<p>"I guess I can if I want to; I guess I can.
+There's the bed and here's me."</p>
+
+<p>"Whatever are you saying? It isn't half-past
+six o'clock."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm not <hi rend="font-style: italic">prayin</hi>' about anything," said the
+old lady. "I don't pray about things. I do
+'em when needful. And when I'm tired I go
+to bed."</p>
+
+<p>"All right, Aunt Mary," with sugary sweetness
+and lamb-like submissiveness. "I thought we'd
+dine out together, but if you don't want to, we
+<pb n="134" /><anchor id="Pg134" />needn't. And if you feel like it when you waken,
+we can."</p>
+
+<p>"Dine out," said Aunt Mary, blankly; "has the
+cook left? I never was a great approver of goin'
+and eatin' at boarding houses."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, never mind," Jack said in a key pitched
+to rhyme with high C. "I'll leave you now&mdash;and
+we can see about everything later."</p>
+
+<p>He kissed her, and retired from the room.</p>
+
+<p>"Did he say we're goin' out to dinner?" Aunt
+Mary asked, when she was left alone with the maid,
+who hurried to take her bonnet and shawl, and get
+her into juxtaposition with the tea-tray as rapidly
+as possible.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, ma'am," the girl screamed, nodding.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't want to," said the old lady firmly.
+"Lots of trouble comes through gettin' out of
+house habits. I've come here to take care of a
+sick boy and not to go gallivantin' round myself.
+I've seen the evils of gallivantin' a good deal
+lately and I don't want to see no more. Not here
+and not nowhere."</p>
+
+<p>Then she began to eat and drink and reflect, all
+at the same time.</p>
+
+<p>"By the way, what's your name?" she asked,
+suddenly. "Jack didn't tell me."</p>
+
+<p>"Janice, ma'am."</p>
+
+<p>"Granite?" said Aunt Mary. "What a funny
+<pb n="135" /><anchor id="Pg135" />idea to name you that! Did they call you for the
+tinware or for the rocks?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know," shrieked Janice, who was busily
+occupied in unpacking the traveler's trunk.</p>
+
+<p>Her new mistress watched her with a critical eye
+at first, but it became a more or less sleepy eye as
+the warmth of the tea meandered slowly through
+its owner. There was a battle within Aunt Mary's
+brain; she wanted to please Jack, and she was
+almost dead with sleep.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you think that I ought to try and go out
+with my nephew to-night?" she asked Janice.</p>
+
+<p>"If it was me, I should go," cried the maid.</p>
+
+<p>"I never was called slow before," Aunt Mary
+said, bridling. "I'll thank you to remember your
+place, young woman."</p>
+
+<p>Janice explained.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! I didn't hear plainly," said Aunt Mary.
+"I don't always. Well go or not go, I've got to
+sleep first. I'm dreadfully sleepy, and I've always
+been a great believer in sleepin' when you're
+sleepy."</p>
+
+<p>The fact of the sleepiness was so evident that no
+attempt was made to gainsay it. Janice brought
+down a quilt from the closet and tucked her charge
+up luxuriously on the great bed. Five minutes
+later she was in dreamland.</p>
+
+<p>Jack came in about seven and looked at her.
+<pb n="136" /><anchor id="Pg136" /></p>
+
+<p>"She mustn't be disturbed," he said thoughtfully.
+"If she wakes up before ten we'll go out
+then."</p>
+
+<p>She awoke about nine, and when she opened her
+eyes the first thing that she saw was Janice, sitting
+near by.</p>
+
+<p>"I feel real good," said Aunt Mary.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm so glad," yelled Janice, and smiled, too.</p>
+
+<p>The old lady sat up.</p>
+
+<p>"I believe I could have gone out, after all,"
+she said. "Only I don't want to take dinner
+anywhere."</p>
+
+<p>Then she paused and reflected. It was surprising
+how good she felt and how she did want to
+make Jack happy. "After all boys will be boys,"
+she thought, tenderly, "an' I ain't but seventy, so I
+don't see why I shouldn't go out with him if he
+wants to. I'm a great believer in doin' what you
+want to&mdash;I mean, in doin' what other folks want
+you to. At any rate I'm a great believer in it
+sometimes. To-day&mdash;this time."</p>
+
+<p>"Your nephew is waiting," the maid howled.
+"Shall I tell him you want to go after all?"</p>
+
+<p>"Is it late?" the old lady inquired.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, dear, no!"</p>
+
+<p>"Wouldn't you go if you was me?" asked the
+old lady.</p>
+
+<p>Janice smiled.
+<pb n="137" /><anchor id="Pg137" /></p>
+
+<p>"Indeed I would."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary rose. A flood of metropolitan fever
+suddenly surged up and around and over and
+through her.</p>
+
+<p>"Tell him I'll be down in five minutes," she said.</p>
+
+<p>"Can you change in that time?" Janice stopped
+to shriek.</p>
+
+<p>"What should I change for?" Aunt Mary demanded
+in astonishment. "Ain't I all dressed
+now?"</p>
+
+<p>Janice did not attempt to shriek any counter-advice,
+and while she was gone to find Jack, her
+mistress brushed herself in some places, soaped herself
+in others, and considered her toilet made.
+When Janice returned she caught up a loose lock
+of hair, and put the placket-hole of her skirt square
+in the middle of Aunt Mary's back, and dared go
+no further. There was an air even about the back
+of Jack's influential aunt which forbade too much
+liberty to those dealing with her.</p>
+</div>
+<pb n="138" /><anchor id="Pg138" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+
+<head>Chapter Fourteen - Aunt Mary En Fête</head>
+
+
+<p>Aunt Mary descended the stairs about
+half-past nine; she thought it was about a
+quarter to eight, but the difference between
+the hour that it was and the hour that she thought
+that it was will be all the same a hundred years
+from now.</p>
+
+<p>Jack came out of the Louis XIV. drawing room
+when he heard her step in the hall. There was
+another young man with him.</p>
+
+<p>"This is my friend Burnett, Aunt Mary," her
+nephew roared. "You must excuse his not bowing lower,
+but you know he broke his collarbone
+recently."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary shook hands warmly; she knew all
+about the ribs and the collarbone, because they had
+formed big items in the testimony which had momentarily
+and as momentously relegated Jack to
+the comradeship of the devil himself, in her eyes.
+However, she recalled them merely as facts now&mdash;not
+at all in a disagreeable way&mdash;and gave Burnett
+an extra squeeze of good-fellowship, as she said:</p>
+
+<p>"You had a narrow escape, young man."
+<pb n="139" /><anchor id="Pg139" /></p>
+
+<p>"I didn't have any escape at all," said Burnett.
+"The escape went down at the back, and I had to
+jump from a cornice."</p>
+
+<p>"Burnett is going out to dine with us, Aunt
+Mary," said Jack. "There's so little he can eat
+on account of his ribs that he's a good dinner guest
+for me."</p>
+
+<p>Jack's aunt felt vaguely uncomfortable over this
+allusion to her grand-nephew's circumstances, and
+coughed in slight embarrassment.</p>
+
+<p>Burnett opened the door, and the carriage lamp
+shone below. (Is there ever anything more
+delightfully suggestive than a carriage lamp shining
+down below?) They took her down and
+put her in, and the carriage rolled away.</p>
+
+<p>It was that June when "Bedelia" covered nearly
+the whole of the political horizon; it was the date of
+June when West Point, Vassar, the Blue, the Red,
+the Black and Yellow and every known device for
+getting rid of young and growing-up America are
+all cast loose at once on our fair land. The streets
+were a scene of glorious confusion, and but for
+Aunt Mary no considerations could have kept Burnett's
+collarbone and Jack's melancholia cooped
+up in a closed carriage. As it was, they were both
+fidgeting like two youthful Uncle Sams in a European
+railway coupe, when the latter suddenly exclaimed:
+"Here we are!" and threw open the
+<pb n="140" /><anchor id="Pg140" />door as he spoke. Then he got out and Burnett
+got out and between them they got Aunt Mary out.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary regarded the awning and carpet and
+general glitter with a more or less appalled gaze.</p>
+
+<p>"Looks like&mdash;" she began; and was interrupted
+by a voice at her side:</p>
+
+<p>"Hello, Jack!"</p>
+
+<p>"Hello, Clover!"</p>
+
+<p>She turned and saw him of the pale mustache
+whom we once met in Mrs. Rosscott's drawing
+room. He was in no wise altered since that occasion
+except that his attire was slightly more resplendent
+and he had on a silk hat.</p>
+
+<p>Jack shook hands warmly and then he turned
+to his relative.</p>
+
+<p>"Aunt Mary, this is my friend Clover; he's
+often heard me speak of you."</p>
+
+<p>"Glad to meet you, Mr. Rover," said Aunt
+Mary, cordially, and she, too, shook hands with
+that cordiality that flourishes beyond city limits.</p>
+
+<p>Her nephew bent over her ear-trumpet.</p>
+
+<p>"Clover!" he howled, with all the strength he
+owned.</p>
+
+<p>"I heard before," said Aunt Mary, somewhat
+coldly.</p>
+
+<p>"Come on and dine with us, Clover," said Jack;
+"that'll make four." (By the way, isn't it odd
+how many people ask their friends to dinner for
+<pb n="141" /><anchor id="Pg141" />the simple reason that, arithmetically considered,
+each counts as one!)</p>
+
+<p>"All right, I will," said Clover, in his languid
+drawl.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary saw his lips.</p>
+
+<p>"It's no use my deceivin' you as to my bein' a
+little hard of hearin'," she said to him, "because
+you can see my ear-trumpet; so I'll trouble you to
+say that over again."</p>
+
+<p>"All right, I will," Clover wailed, good-humoredly.</p>
+
+<p>"What?" asked Aunt Mary. "I didn't&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>Jack cut her short by leading the party inside.</p>
+
+<p>The scene within was as gorgeous with golden
+stucco as the dining-room of a German liner. Aunt
+Mary was so overcome that she traversed half the
+room before she became aware of the mighty attention
+which she and her three escorts were attracting.
+In truth, it is not every day that three
+good-looking young men take a tiny old lady, a
+bunch of violets and an ear-trumpet out to dine
+at ten o'clock.</p>
+
+<p>"Everyone's lookin'," she said to Jack.</p>
+
+<p>"It's your back, Aunt Mary," he replied, in a
+voice that shook some loose golden flakes from the
+ceiling. "I tell you, not many women of your age
+have a back like yours, and don't you forget it."</p>
+
+<p>The compliment pleased Aunt Mary, because
+<pb n="142" /><anchor id="Pg142" />she had all her life been considered round-shouldered.
+It also pleased her because she never had
+received many compliments. The Aunt Marys of
+this world love flattery just as dearly as the Mrs.
+Rosscotts; the sad part of life is that they rarely
+get any. The women like Mrs. Rosscott know
+why the Aunt Marys go unflattered, but the Aunt
+Marys never understand. It's all sad&mdash;and
+true&mdash;and undeniable.</p>
+
+<p>They went to a table, and were barely seated
+when another man came up.</p>
+
+<p>"Hello, Jack!"</p>
+
+<p>"Hello, Mitchell!"</p>
+
+<p>It was he of Scotch ancestry. Jack sprang up
+and greeted him with warmth, then he turned to
+Aunt Mary.</p>
+
+<p>"Aunt Mary," he screamed, "this is my
+friend"&mdash;he paused, put on all steam and
+ploughed right through&mdash;"Herbert Kendrick
+Mitchell."</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't catch that at all," said Aunt Mary,
+calmly, "but I'm just as glad to meet the gentleman."</p>
+
+<p>Mitchell clasped her hand with an expression
+as burning as if it was real.</p>
+
+<p>"I declare," he yelled straight at her, "if this
+isn't what I've been dreaming towards ever since
+I first knew Jack."
+<pb n="143" /><anchor id="Pg143" /></p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary fairly shone.</p>
+
+<p>"Dear me," she began, "if I'd known&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"You'd better dine with us, Mitchell," said
+Jack; "that'll make five."</p>
+
+<p>"It won't make but three for me," said Mitchell.
+"I haven't had but two dinners before
+to-night."</p>
+
+<p>Clover smiled because he heard, and Aunt Mary
+smiled because she didn't, but was happy anyway.
+She had altogether forgotten that she had
+demurred at dining out. They all sat down and
+shook out their napkins. Mitchell and Clover
+shook Aunt Mary's for her and gave it a beautiful
+cornerways spread across her lap.</p>
+
+<p>Then the waiter laid another plate for Mitchell,
+and brought oyster cocktails for everyone. Aunt
+Mary eyed hers with early curiosity and later suspicion;
+and she smelled of it very carefully.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't believe they're good oysters," she
+said.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, they are," cried Mitchell reassuringly.
+His voice, when he turned it upon her, was pitched
+like a clarionet. The blind would surely have seen
+as well as the deaf have heard had there been any
+candidates for miracles in his immediate vicinity.
+"They're first-class," he added, "you just go at
+them and see."</p>
+
+<p>The reassured took another whiff.
+<pb n="144" /><anchor id="Pg144" /></p>
+
+<p>"You can have mine," she said directly afterwards;
+and there was an air of decision about her
+speech which brooked no opposition. Yet Mitchell
+persisted.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, no," he yelled; "you must learn how.
+Just throw your head back and take 'em quick&mdash;after
+the fashion that they eat raw eggs, don't
+you know?"</p>
+
+<p>"But she can't," said Clover. "There's too
+much, particularly as she isn't used to them. I'll
+tell you, Miss Watkins," he cried, hoisting his own
+voice to the masthead, "you eat the oysters, and
+leave the cocktail. That's the way to get gradually
+trained into the wheel."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary thought some of obeying; she fished
+out one oyster, wiped it carefully with a bit of
+bread, regarded it with more than dubious countenance,
+and then suddenly decided not to.</p>
+
+<p>"I'd rather be at home when I try experiments,"
+she said, decidedly; and the waiter carried off her
+cocktail and gave her food that was good beyond
+question thereafter.</p>
+
+<p>The dinner went with zest. It was an enlivening
+party that consumed it, and what they consumed
+with it enlivened them still more. The
+gentlemen soon reached the point where they could
+laugh over jokes they could not understand, and
+the one lady member became equally merry over
+<pb n="145" /><anchor id="Pg145" />wit that she did not hear. She forgot for the
+nonce that there were any phases of life in which
+she was not a believer, and whether this was owing
+to the surrounding gayety or to the champagne
+which they persuaded her to taste it is not my
+province to explain.</p>
+
+<p>"Now we must lay our lines for events to come,"
+Jack said, when they advanced upon the dessert
+and prepared to occupy an extensive territory of
+ices, fruit, and jellied something or other. "It
+would be a sin for Aunt Mary to leave this famous
+battlefield without a few honorable scars! We
+must take her out in a bubble for one thing
+and&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"In mine!" cried Clover. "To-morrow!
+Why can't she?&mdash;I held up my hand first?"</p>
+
+<p>"All right," said Jack; "to-morrow she's
+your's. At four o'clock."</p>
+
+<p>"She must have goggles," cried Mitchell.
+"She must have goggles and be all fixed up, and
+when you have got her the goggles and she has
+been all fixed up, I ask, as a last boon, that I may
+go along, just so as to see everyone who sees her."</p>
+
+<p>"We'll all go," Clover explained. "I'll 'chuff'
+her myself and then there'll be room for everyone."</p>
+
+<p>"To the auto and to to-morrow!" cried Burnett,
+hastily pouring out a fresh toast, which even
+<pb n="146" /><anchor id="Pg146" />Aunt Mary applauded, not at all knowing what
+she was applauding.</p>
+
+<p>"And now for the next day," said Jack. "I
+think I'll give her a box-party. Don't you want
+to go to the theater in a box, Aunt Mary?"</p>
+
+<p>"Go where in a box?" said Aunt Mary, starting
+a little. "I didn't quite catch that."</p>
+
+<p>"To the theater," Jack yelled.</p>
+
+<p>"To the theater," repeated his aunt a trifle
+blankly, "I&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"And the next day," said Mitchell suddenly (he
+had been reflecting maturely), "I'll take you all
+up the sound in my yacht."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, hurrah," cried Burnett, "that'll be bully!
+And the day after I'll give her a picnic."</p>
+
+<p>"Time of your life, Aunt Mary," Jack shrieked
+in her ear-trumpet; "time of your life!"</p>
+
+<p>"Dear me!" said Aunt Mary, "I don't
+just&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Aunt Mary! glasses down!" cried Clover;
+"may she live forever and forever."</p>
+
+<p>"To Aunt Mary, glasses up," said Mitchell.
+"Glasses up come before glasses down always.
+It's one of the laws of Nature&mdash;human nature&mdash;also
+of good nature. Here's to Aunt Mary, and if
+she isn't the Aunt Mary of all of us here's a hoping
+she may get there some day; I don't just see how,
+but I ask the indulgence of those present on the
+<pb n="147" /><anchor id="Pg147" />plea that I have indulged quite a little myself to-night.
+Honi soit qui mal y pense; ora pro nobis,
+Erin-go-Bragh. Present company being present,
+and impossible to except on that account, we will
+omit the three cheers and choke down the tiger."</p>
+
+<p>They all drank, and the dinner having by this
+time dwindled down to coffee grounds and cheese
+crumbs a vote was taken as to where they should
+go next.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary suggested home, but she was over-ruled,
+and they all went elsewhere. She never
+could recollect where she went or what she saw;
+but, as everyone else has been and seen over and
+over again, I won't fuss with detailing it.</p>
+
+<p>The visitor from the country reached home in
+a carriage in the small hours in the morning,
+and Janice received her, looking somewhat
+nervous.</p>
+
+<p>"This is pretty late," she ventured to remind the
+bearers; but as they didn't seem to think so, and she
+was a maiden, wise beyond her years, she spoke no
+further word, but went to work and undressed the
+aged reveller, got her comfortably established in
+bed, and then left her to get a good sleep, an occupation
+which occupied the weary one fully until
+two that afternoon.</p>
+
+<p>When she did at last open her eyes it was several
+minutes before she knew where she was. Her
+<pb n="148" /><anchor id="Pg148" />brain seemed dazed, her intellect more than
+clouded. It is a state of mind to which those who
+habitually go about in hansoms at the hour of dawn
+are well accustomed, but to Aunt Mary it was painfully
+new. She struggled to remember, and felt
+helplessly inadequate to the task. Janice finally
+came in with a glass of something that foamed and
+fizzed, and the victim of late hours drank that and
+came to her senses again. Then she recollected.</p>
+
+<p>"My! but I had a good time last night!" she
+said, putting her hand to her head. "What time
+is it now, anyhow?"</p>
+
+<p>"Breakfast time," cried the handmaiden.
+"You'll have just long enough to eat and dress
+leisurely before you go out."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh!" said Aunt Mary blankly; "where 'm
+I goin'? Do you know?"</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Denham told me that you had promised
+to attend an automobile party at four."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes," said Aunt Mary hastily. "I
+guess I remember. I guess I do. I saw Jack
+wanted to go, so I said I'd go, too. I'm a great
+believer in lettin' the young enjoy themselves."</p>
+
+<p>She looked sharply at Janice as she spoke, but
+Janice was serene.</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't come to town to do anything but make
+Jack happy," continued Aunt Mary, "and I see
+that he won't take any fresh air without I go along&mdash;so
+<pb n="149" /><anchor id="Pg149" />I shall go too while I'm here. Mostly. As
+a general thing."</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Mitchell called and left these flowers with
+his card," Janice said, opening a huge box of roses;
+"and a man brought a package. Shall I open it?"</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary's wrinkles fairly radiated.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, did I ever!" she exclaimed. "Yes;
+open it."</p>
+
+<p>Janice proceeded to obey, and the package was
+found to contain an automobile wrap, a pair of
+goggles and a note from Clover.</p>
+
+<p>"My gracious me!" cried Aunt Mary.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Denham sent the violets," Janice said,
+pointing to a great bowl of lilac and white
+blossoms.</p>
+
+<p>Just then the doorbell rang, and it was a ten-pound
+box of candy from Burnett.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary collapsed among her pillows.</p>
+
+<p>"I <hi rend="font-style: italic">never</hi> did!" she murmured feebly, and then
+she suddenly exclaimed: "An' to think of me livin'
+up there all my life with plenty of money&mdash;"
+she stopped short. I tell you when you come to
+New York on a mission and stay for the Bacchanalia
+it is hard to hold consistently to either
+standard.</p>
+
+<p>But Janice had gone for her lady's breakfast, and
+after the lady had eaten it and had herself dressed
+for the day's joys, Jack knocked at the door.
+<pb n="150" /><anchor id="Pg150" /></p>
+
+<p>"Well, Aunt Mary," he roared, when he was
+let in, "if you don't look fine! You're the freshest
+of the bunch to-day, sure. You'll be ready for
+another night to-night, and you've only to say
+where, you know."</p>
+
+<p>"Granite did my hair," said his aunt; "you
+must praise her, not me."</p>
+
+<p>"And you've got your goggles all ready, too,"
+he continued. "Who sent 'em?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I shan't wiggle," said Aunt Mary
+"although I can't see how it could hurt if I did."</p>
+
+<p>"Come on and let's dress her up," said Jack to
+the maid, "Glory! what fun!"</p>
+
+<p>Thereupon they went to work and rigged the old
+lady out. She was certainly a sight, for she stood
+by her own bonnet, and that failed to jibe with the
+goggles.</p>
+
+<p>Burnett was summoned in to view the proceedings,
+but just as he caught the first glimpse he was
+taken with a fearful cramp in his broken ribs and
+was forced to beat the hastiest sort of a retreat.</p>
+
+<p>"I hope he'll get over it and be able to go out
+with us," said Aunt Mary anxiously.</p>
+
+<p>"I guess he'll recover," Jack yelled cheerfully.
+"Oh, there's Clover!"</p>
+
+<p>A sort of dull, ponderous panting sounded in the
+street without, and let all the neighbors know that
+"The Threshing Machine" (as Clover had christened
+<pb n="151" /><anchor id="Pg151" />his elephantine toy) was waiting for someone.</p>
+
+<p>Its owner came in for a stirrup cup; Mitchell
+was with him. Both were togged out as if entered
+for the annual Paris-Bordeaux.</p>
+
+<p>Burnett brought out the cut-glass jugs.</p>
+
+<p>"Ye gods and little fishes! Sapristi! Sacre
+bleu!" he said to his friends. "Just you wait
+till you see our Aunt Mary!"</p>
+
+<p>"Has she got 'em all on?" Clover asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Has she got 'em all on!" said Burnett. "She
+has got 'em all on; and how Jack held his own in
+the room with her I cannot understand. I took
+one look, and if mine had been a surgical case of
+stitches the last thread would have bust that instant.
+I don't believe I dare go out with you. This is a
+life and death game to Jack, and I won't risk
+smashing his future by not being able to keep sober
+in the face of Aunt Mary."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, come on," Clover urged in his wiry voice.
+"You needn't look at her; or, if you do look at her,
+you can look the other way right afterwards, you
+know."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll sit next to her," Mitchell explained. "As
+a sitter by Aunt Mary's side I shone last night; and
+where a man has sat once, the same man can surely
+sit again."</p>
+
+<p>Burnett hesitated, and just then voices were heard
+<pb n="152" /><anchor id="Pg152" />in the hall. Jack and Janice were convoying Aunt
+Mary below.</p>
+
+<p>Mitchell went out into the hall.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Miss Watkins," he said, in a tone such
+as one would use to call down Santos-Dumont,
+"I'm mighty glad to see you looking so well."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary turned the goggles full upon him.</p>
+
+<p>"A present from Mr. Clover," she said smiling.</p>
+
+<p>"I never knew him to take so much trouble for
+any lady before," said Mitchell; and as she arrived
+just then at the foot of the staircase he pressed her
+proffered hand warmly and forthwith led her in
+upon the two men in the library.</p>
+
+<p>She looked exactly like a living edition of one of
+the bug pictures, and Clover had to think and swallow
+fast and hard to keep from being overcome.
+But he was true blue, and came out right side up.
+Aunt Mary was acclaimed on all sides, and escorted
+to the "bubble."</p>
+
+<p>Burnett couldn't resist going, too, at the last
+moment; but, as his ribs were really tender yet, he
+sat in front with Clover. Jack and Mitchell sat
+behind, and deftly inserted the honored guest between
+them.</p>
+
+<p>"It's an even thing as to which is the ear-trumpet
+side," Mitchell said, as they all stood
+about preparatory to climbing in. "Of course,
+that side don't need to holler quite so loud; but
+<pb n="153" /><anchor id="Pg153" />then, to balance, he may get his one and only pair
+of front teeth knocked out any minute."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll take that side," said Jack. "I'm used to
+fighting under the inspiration of the trumpet."</p>
+
+<p>"And God be with you," said his friend piously.
+"May he watch over you and bring you out safe
+and whole&mdash;teeth, eyes, etc."</p>
+
+<p>"Come on," said Clover impatiently; "don't
+you know this thing's getting up power and you're
+wasting it talking."</p>
+
+<p>"Curious," laughed Burnett. "I never knew
+that it was gasolene that men were consuming when
+they kept an automobile waiting."</p>
+
+<p>And then they got in and were off&mdash;a merry
+load, indeed.</p>
+
+<p>"Dear me, but it's a-goin'!" Aunt Mary exclaimed,
+as the thing began to whiz and she felt
+suddenly impelled to clutch wildly at her flanking
+escorts. "Suppose we met a dog."</p>
+
+<p>"We'd leave a floor mat," shrieked Mitchell.
+"Oh, but isn't this great&mdash;greater&mdash;greatest?"</p>
+
+<p>"Time of your life, Aunt Mary!" Jack howled,
+as they went over a boarded spot in the pavement,
+and the old lady nearly went over the back in
+consequence. "You're in for the time of your
+life!"</p>
+
+<p>"How do you like it?" yelled Clover, throwing
+a glance over his shoulder.
+<pb n="154" /><anchor id="Pg154" /></p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary started to answer, but they came to
+four car tracks one after another, and the successive
+shocks rendered her speechless.</p>
+
+<p>"Where are we going?" Burnett asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Nowhere," said Clover. "Just waking up
+the machine." And he turned on another million
+volts as he spoke.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, my bonnet!" cried poor Aunt Mary, and
+that bit of her adornment was in the street and had
+been run over four times before they could slow
+up, turn around, and get back to the scene of its
+output.</p>
+
+<p>It speaks volumes for the permeating atmosphere
+of "having the time of your life" that its
+owner laughed when the wreck was shown to her.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't care a bit," she said. "I can go down
+to Delmonico's an' get me another to-morrow
+mornin', easy."</p>
+
+<p>"What a trump you are, Aunt Mary!" said
+Jack admiringly. "Here, Burnett, fish her out
+that extra cap from the cane rack; there's always
+one in the bottom. There&mdash;now you won't take
+cold, Aunt Mary."</p>
+
+<p>The cap, with its fore-piece, was the crowning
+glory of Aunt Mary's get-up. The brain measurements
+of him who had bought the cap being to its
+present wearer's as five is to three, the effect of its
+proportions, in addition to the goggles and the
+<pb n="155" /><anchor id="Pg155" />ear-trumpet, was such as to have overawed a survivor
+of Medusa's stare.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I say," said Mitchell, "it's a sin to keep as
+good a joke as this in the family! We must drive
+her around town until the night falls down or the
+battery burns out."</p>
+
+<p>"I say so too," said Burnett. "This is more
+sport than oiling railroad tracks and seeing old
+Tweedwell brought up for it. Say, set her a-buzzing
+again. It's a big game, isn't it?"</p>
+
+<p>Clover thought so, with the result that they
+speeded through tranquil neighborhoods and
+churned leisurely where the masses seethed until
+countless thousands were wondering what under
+the sun those four young fellows had in the back
+of their car.</p>
+
+<p>The sad part about all good fun is that it has to
+end sooner or later; and about six o'clock the whole
+party began to be aware that, if refreshments were
+not taken, their end was surely close at hand.
+They therefore called a brief halt somewhere to
+get what is technically known as a "sandwich,"
+and the results were thoroughly satisfactory to
+everyone but Aunt Mary. She took one bite of
+her sandwich, and then opened it with an abruptness
+which merged into disgust when it proved to
+be full of fish eggs.</p>
+
+<p>"Why didn't you tell me what it was made of?"
+<pb n="156" /><anchor id="Pg156" />she asked in annoyance. "I feel just as if I'd
+swallowed a marsh&mdash;a green one!"</p>
+
+<p>"That's a shame!" said Clover indignantly.
+"I'll get you something that will take that taste
+out of your mouth double quick. Here!" he
+called to a waiter, and then he gave the man certain
+careful directions.</p>
+
+<p>The latter nodded wisely, and a few minutes
+later brought in a tiny glass containing a pousse-café
+in three different colors.</p>
+
+<p>"It's a cocktail. Drink it quick," Clover
+directed.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary demurred.</p>
+
+<p>"I never drank a cocktail," she began.</p>
+
+<p>"No time like the present to begin," said Clover,
+"you'll have to learn some day."</p>
+
+<p>"Cocktails," said Mitchell, "are the advance
+guard of a newer and brighter civilization.
+They&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"If she's going to take it at all she must take it
+now," said Clover authoritatively. "The green
+and the yellow are beginning to run together.
+Quick now!"</p>
+
+<p>His confiding guest drank quick and became the
+three different colors quicker yet.</p>
+
+<p>"What's the matter?" Jack asked anxiously.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary was speechless.</p>
+
+<p>"He mixed it wrong," said Clover in a sad,
+<pb n="157" /><anchor id="Pg157" />discouraged tone. "What she ought to have got
+first she got last, that's all. The cocktail is upside
+down inside of her, and the effect of it is upside
+down on the outside of her."</p>
+
+<p>"Feel any better now, Aunt Mary?" Jack
+yelled.</p>
+
+<p>"I can't seem to keep the purple swallowed,"
+said the poor old lady. "I want to go home.
+I've always been a great believer in going home
+when you feel like I do now. In general&mdash;as a
+rule."</p>
+
+<p>"I would strongly recommend your obeying her
+wishes," said Mitchell, with great earnestness.
+"There's a time for all things, and, in my opinion,
+she's had about all the queer tastes that she can
+absorb for to-day. Things being as they are and
+mainly as they shouldn't be, I cast my vote in with
+what looks as if it would soon become the losing
+side, and vote to bubble back for all we're
+worth."</p>
+
+<p>There was a general acquiescence in his view of
+the case, which led them all to pile into "The
+Threshing Machine" with unaffected haste and
+rush Aunt Mary bedward as rapidly as was possible
+considering the hour and the policemen.</p>
+
+<p>Janice received her mistress with the tender welcome
+that every prodigal may count on and was
+especially expeditious with tea and toast and a
+<pb n="158" /><anchor id="Pg158" />robe de nuit. Aunt Mary sighed luxuriously when
+she felt herself finally tucked up.</p>
+
+<p>"After all, Granite," she said dreamily, "there's
+nothin' like gettin' stretched out to think it over&mdash;is
+there?"</p>
+
+<p>But Janice was turning out the lights.</p>
+</div>
+<pb n="159" /><anchor id="Pg159" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+
+<head>Chapter Fifteen - Aunt Mary Enthralled</head>
+
+
+<p>Jack's aunt slept long and dreamlessly again.
+That thrice-blessed sleep which follows
+nights abroad in the metropolis.</p>
+
+<p>When, toward four o'clock, Aunt Mary opened
+her eyes, she was at first almost as hazy in her
+conceptions as she had found herself upon the previous
+day.</p>
+
+<p>"I feel as if the automobile was runnin' up my
+back and over my head," she said, thoughtfully
+passing her hand along the machine's imaginary
+course. Then she rang her bell and Janice appeared
+from the room beyond.</p>
+
+<p>"I guess you'd better give me some of that
+that you gave me yesterday," the elderly lady suggested;
+"what do you think?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, indeed," said Janice&mdash;and went at once
+and brought it in separate glasses on a tray, and
+mixed it by pouring, while Aunt Mary looked on
+with an intuitive understanding that passed instinct
+and bordered on a complete comprehension of
+things to her hitherto unknown.
+<pb n="160" /><anchor id="Pg160" /></p>
+
+<p>"They'd ought to advertise that," she said, as
+she set down the empty glass a few seconds later.
+"There'd be a lot of folks who'd be glad to know
+there was such a thing when they first wake up
+mornin's after&mdash;after&mdash;well, mornin's after anythin'.
+It's jus' what you want right off; it sort of
+runs through your hair and makes you begin to
+remember."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, ma'am," said Janice, turning to put down
+the tray, and then crossing the room to seek something
+on the chimney-piece.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary gave a sudden twist,&mdash;as if the drink
+had infused an effervescing energy into her frame.
+"Well what am I goin' to do to-day?" she asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Denham has written out your engagements
+here," said Janice, handing her a jeweler's
+box as she spoke.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary tore off the tissue paper with trembling
+haste&mdash;lifted the cover&mdash;and beheld a tiny
+ivory and gold memoranda card.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, that boy!" she ejaculated.</p>
+
+<p>"Shall I read the list aloud to you?" the maid
+inquired.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, read it."</p>
+
+<p>So Janice read the dates proposed the night before
+and Aunt Mary sat up in bed, held her ear-trumpet,
+and beamed beatifically.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't believe I ever can do all that," she said
+<pb n="161" /><anchor id="Pg161" />when Janice paused; "I never was one to rush
+around pell-mell, but I've always been a great
+believer in lettin' other folks enjoy themselves an'
+I shall try not to interfere."</p>
+
+<p>Janice hung the tiny memoranda up beside its
+owner's watch and stood at attention for further
+orders.</p>
+
+<p>"But I d'n know I'm sure what I can wear to-night,"
+continued the one in bed; "you know my
+bonnet was run over yesterday."</p>
+
+<p>"Was it?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes,&mdash;it was the most sudden thing I ever saw.
+I thought it was the top of my head at first."</p>
+
+<p>"Was it spoiled?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, it wouldn't do for me again and I don't
+really believe it would even do for Lucinda. We
+didn't bring it home with us anyhow an' so its no
+use talkin' of it any more. I'm sure I wish I'd
+brought my other with me. It wasn't quite as
+stylish, but it set so good on my head. As it is I
+ain't got any bonnet to wear an' we're goin' in a
+box, Jack says,&mdash;I should hate to look wrong in a
+box."</p>
+
+<p>"But ladies in boxes do not wear anything,"
+cried Janice reasuringly.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary jumped.</p>
+
+<p>"Not <hi rend="font-style: italic">anything?</hi>"</p>
+
+<p>"On their heads."
+<pb n="162" /><anchor id="Pg162" /></p>
+
+<p>"Oh!&mdash;Well, then the bonnet half of me'll
+be all right, but what <hi rend="font-style: italic">shall</hi> I wear on the rest of
+me? I don't want to look out of fashion, you
+know. My, but I wish I'd brought my Paisley
+shawl. I've got a Paisley shawl that's a very rare
+pattern. There's cocoanuts in the border and a
+twisted design of monkeys and their tails done in
+the center. An' there ain't a moth hole in it&mdash;not
+one."</p>
+
+<p>Janice looked out of the window.</p>
+
+<p>"I've got a cameo pin, too," continued Aunt
+Mary reflectively. "My, but that's a handsome
+pin, as I remember it. It's got Jupiter on it holdin'
+a bunch of thunder and lightnin' an' receivin' the
+news of somebody's bein' born&mdash;I used to know the
+whole story. But, you see, I expected to just be
+sittin' by Jack's bed and I never thought to bring
+any of those dress-up kind of things," she sighed.</p>
+
+<p>Janice returned to the bed side.</p>
+
+<p>"Hadn't you better begin to dress?" she howled
+suggestively. "They are going to dine here before
+going to the theater and dinner is ordered in an
+hour."</p>
+
+<p>"Maybe I had," said Aunt Mary, "but&mdash;oh
+dear&mdash;I don't know what I <hi rend="font-style: italic">will</hi> wear!" She
+began to emerge from the bedclothes as she spoke.</p>
+
+<p>"How would my green plaid waist do?" she
+asked earnestly.
+<pb n="163" /><anchor id="Pg163" /></p>
+
+<p>"I think it would be lovely," shrieked the maid.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, shake it out then," said Aunt Mary, "it
+ought to be in the fashion&mdash;all the silk they put in
+the sleeves. An' if you'll do my hair just as you
+did it yesterday&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I will."</p>
+
+<p>Then the labor of the toilette began in good
+earnest, and three-quarters of an hour later Aunt
+Mary was done, and sitting by the window while
+Janice laced her boots.</p>
+
+<p>A rap sounded at the door.</p>
+
+<p>"Come in," cried the maid.</p>
+
+<p>It was Jack with a regular fagot of American
+Beauties.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Aunt Mary," he cried with his customary
+hearty greeting. "How!"</p>
+
+<p>"How what?" asked Aunt Mary, whose knowledge
+ of Sioux social customs had been limited by
+the border line of New England.</p>
+
+<p>Jack laughed. "How are you?" he asked in
+correction of his imperfect phrasing. And then he
+handed over the rose wood.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm pretty well," said his aunt; "but, my goodness
+ you mustn't bring me so many presents&mdash;you&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>Jack stopped her words with a kiss. "Now,
+Aunt Mary, don't you scold, because you're my
+company and I won't have it. This is my treat,
+<pb n="164" /><anchor id="Pg164" />and just don't you fret. What do you say to your
+roses?"</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary looked a bit uneasy.</p>
+
+<p>"They're pretty big," she hesitated.</p>
+
+<p>"That's the fashion," said Jack; "the longer
+you can buy 'em the better the girls like it. I tried
+to get you some eight feet long but they only had
+two of that number and I wanted the whole bunch
+to match&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>He was interrupted by another rap on the door.</p>
+
+<p>"Hallo!" he cried. "Come in."</p>
+
+<p>It was Mitchell with several dozen carnations,
+the most brilliant yet prized&mdash;or priced.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I declare!" exclaimed Aunt Mary.</p>
+
+<p>"For you, Miss Watkins," cried the newcomer,
+gracefully offering his homage, "with the assurance
+of my sincere regret that I came on the scene
+too late to have been making a scene with you fifty
+years ago."</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't quite catch that," said Aunt Mary,
+rapturously. But never mind,&mdash;Granite, get a tin
+basin or suthin' for these flowers."</p>
+
+<p>"Where's Burnett?" Jack asked the newcomer,&mdash;"isn't
+he dressed? It's getting late."</p>
+
+<p>"He's all right," said Mitchell; "he and Clover
+are&mdash;here they are!"</p>
+
+<p>The two came in together at that second.
+Clover's mustache just showed over the top of the
+<pb n="165" /><anchor id="Pg165" />largest bunch of violets ever constructed, and Burnett
+bore with assiduous care a bouquet of orchids
+tied with a Roman sash.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary leaned back and shut her eyes. If
+it hadn't been for her smile, they might possibly
+have feared for her life.</p>
+
+<p>But she was only momentarily stunned by surpassing
+ecstasy.</p>
+
+<p>"You'd better put some water in the bath-tub,
+Granite," she said, recovering, "nothing else will
+be big enough."</p>
+
+<p>The four young men drew up chairs and rivalled
+her smiles with theirs.</p>
+
+<p>"I d'n know how I ever can thank you," said
+the old lady warmly. "I've always had such a
+poor opinion o' life in cities, too!"</p>
+
+<p>"Life in cities, my dear Miss Watkins,"
+screamed Mitchell, "is always pictured as very
+black, but it's only owing to the soft coal&mdash;not to
+the people who burn it."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary smiled again.</p>
+
+<p>"I guess the bath-tub will be big enough to keep
+'em fresh," she said simply, and Mitchell gave
+up and dried his forehead with his handkerchief.</p>
+
+<p>They dined at home upon this occasion and afterwards
+took two carriages for the theater. Aunt
+Mary, Jack, Clover, the American Beauties and
+<pb n="166" /><anchor id="Pg166" />the violets went in the first, and what remained of
+the party and the floral decorations followed in
+the second.</p>
+
+<p>"I mean to smoke," said that part of the second
+load which habitually answered to the name of
+Mitchell. "There is nothing so soothing when you
+have thorns in your legs as a cigarette in your
+mouth."</p>
+
+<p>"Too&mdash;too;" laughed his companion. "Jimmy!
+but our aunt is game, isn't she?"</p>
+
+<p>"To my order of thinking," said Mitchell
+thoughtfully scratching a match, "Aunt Mary
+has been hung up in cold storage just long enough
+to have acquired the exactly proper gamey flavor.
+It cannot be denied that to worn, worldly, jaded
+mortals like you and me, the sight of fresh, ever
+bubbling, youthful enthusiasm like hers is as thrilling
+and trilling and rilling as&mdash;as&mdash;as&mdash;" he
+paused to light his cigarette.</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: center"><anchor id="image04" />
+<figure rend="w95" url="images/image04.png">
+<head rend="text-align: center">Aunt Mary and Her Escorts.</head>
+<figDesc>Illustration 4</figDesc></figure></p><p></p>
+
+<p>"Yes, you'd better stutter," said Burnett. "I
+thought you were running ahead of your proper
+signals."</p>
+
+<p>"It isn't that," said Mitchell, puffing gently.
+"It is that I suddenly recollected that I was alone
+with you, and my brains tell me that it is a waste
+of brains to use them in the sense of a plural noun
+with you. The word in your company,&mdash;my dear
+boy&mdash;only comes to me as a verb&mdash;as an active
+<pb n="167" /><anchor id="Pg167" />verb&mdash;and dear knows how often I have itched to
+apply it forcibly."</p>
+
+<p>Then they drew up in front of the theater and
+saw Aunt Mary being unloaded just beyond.</p>
+
+<p>"Great Scott, I feel as if I was a part of a
+poster!" said Burnett, diving into the carriage
+depths for the last lot of flowers.</p>
+
+<p>"I feel as if I were a part of the Revelation,"
+said Mitchell, "I mean&mdash;the Revel-eration."</p>
+
+<p>They rapidly formed on somewhat after the
+plan of the famous "Marriage under the Directoire."
+Aunt Mary commanded the center-rush,
+leaning on Jack's arm, and the rest acted as
+half-backs, left wings, or flower-bearers, just as the
+reader prefers.</p>
+
+<p>They made quite a sensation as they proceeded
+to their box and more yet when they entered it.
+They were late&mdash;very late&mdash;as is the privilege of
+all box parties and their seating problem absorbed
+the audience to a degree never seen before or since.</p>
+
+<p>Jack put Aunt Mary and her green plaid waist
+in the middle and flanked her with purple violets
+and red carnations. The ear-trumpet was laid upon
+the orchids just where she could reach it easily.
+Then her escorts took positions as a sort of half-moon
+guard behind and each held two or three
+American Beauties straight up and down as if they
+were the insignia of his rank and office.
+<pb n="168" /><anchor id="Pg168" /></p>
+
+<p>The effect was gorgeous. The very actors saw
+and were interested at once. They directed all
+their attention to that one box, and at the end of
+the act the stage manager got the writer of the
+topical song on the wire and had a brand new and
+very apropos verse added which brought down the
+house.</p>
+
+<p>Jack and his party caught on and clapped like
+mad, Aunt Mary beat the front of the box with her
+ear-trumpet, and when Clover suggested that she
+throw some flowers to the heroine she threw the
+orchids and came near maiming the bass viol for
+life. Burnett rushed out between acts and bought
+her a cane to pound with, Jack rushed out between
+more acts and bought her a pair of opera glasses,
+Mitchell rushed out between still further acts and
+procured her one of those Japanese fans which they
+use for fire-screens, and agitated it around her during
+the rest of the evening.</p>
+
+<p>"Time of your life, Aunt Mary," Jack vociferated
+under the cover of a general chorus; "Time
+of your life!"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, my," said Aunt Mary, heaving a great
+sigh, "seems if I'd <hi rend="font-style: italic">die</hi> when I think of Lucinda."</p>
+
+<p>They got out of the theater somewhat after
+eleven and Clover took them all to a French café
+for supper, so that again it was pretty well along
+into the day after when Janice regained her charge.
+<pb n="169" /><anchor id="Pg169" /></p>
+
+<p>"Granite," said Aunt Mary very solemnly,
+as she collapsed upon her bed twenty minutes later
+yet, "put it down on that memoranda for me never
+to find no fault with nothing ever again. Never&mdash;not
+ever&mdash;not never again."</p>
+
+<milestone unit="tb" rend="stars: 5" />
+
+<p>The second day after was that which had been
+set for Mitchell's yachting party. They allowed
+a day to lapse between because a yachting party has
+to begin early enough so that you can see to get on
+board. Mitchell wanted his to begin early enough
+so that they could see the yacht too.</p>
+
+<p>"A yacht, Miss Watkins," he said into the ear trumpet,
+"is a delight that it takes daylight to
+delight in. If my words sound somewhat mixed,
+believe me, it is the effect of what is to come
+casting its shadow before. I speak with understanding
+and sympathy&mdash;you will know all later."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary smiled sweetly. Sometimes she
+thought that Mitchell was the nicest of the three&mdash;times
+when she wasn't talking to Clover or Burnett.</p>
+
+<p>Jack took his aunt out to drive on the afternoon
+of the intervening day and bought her a blue suit
+with a red tape around one arm, and some rubbersoled
+shoes, and a yachting cap and a mackintosh.
+There was something touching in Aunt Mary's
+joyful confidence and anticipation&mdash;she having
+never been cast loose from shore in all her life.
+<pb n="170" /><anchor id="Pg170" /></p>
+
+<p>"When do you s'pose we'll get home?" she
+asked Jack.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, some time toward night," he replied.</p>
+
+<p>She smiled with a trust as colossal as Trusts
+usually are.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm sure I shall have a good time," she said.
+"I always liked to see pictures of waves."</p>
+
+<p>"You'll see the real things now, Aunt Mary,"
+cried her nephew heartily. He was not a bit malicious,
+possessing a stomach whose equilibrium could
+not conceive any other anatomical condition.</p>
+
+<p>Janice, however, had doubts, and on the morning
+of the next day her doubts deepened. She
+looked from the window and shook her head.</p>
+
+<p>"Feel a fly?" inquired Aunt Mary.</p>
+
+<p>"No, I see some clouds," yelled her maid.</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't ask you to speak loud," said the old
+lady. "I always hear what you say. Always."</p>
+
+<p>Janice went out of the room and voiced her views
+of the weather to the proprietors of the expedition.
+The proprietors were having an uproarious breakfast
+on ham and eggs&mdash;all but Mitchell, who sat
+somewhat aloof and contented himself with an old
+and reliable breakfast food long known to his
+race.</p>
+
+<p>"Are you really going to take her up the Sound
+to-day?" the maid demanded of the merry mob.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm not," said Burnett; "it's the yacht that's
+<pb n="171" /><anchor id="Pg171" />going to take her. Pass the syrup, Jack, like the
+jack you are."</p>
+
+<p>"Doesn't she feel well?" Jack asked, passing
+the syrup as requested. "If she doesn't feel well,
+of course, we won't go."</p>
+
+<p>"I like that," said Mitchell, "when it's my
+day for my party and my cook all provisioned with
+provisions for provisioning us all. How long do
+you suppose ice cream stays together in this month
+of roses, anyhow?"</p>
+
+<p>"She is very well," said the maid quietly, "but
+it's blowing pretty fresh here in the city and I
+thought that out on the Sound&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Blowing fresh, is it?" laughed Burnett; "well,
+it'll salt her fast enough when we get out. Don't
+you fuss over what's none of your business, my
+dear girl; just trot along upstairs and dress dolly,
+and when she's dressed we'll take her off your
+hands."</p>
+
+<p>Jack appeared unduly quiet.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you think it is going to storm?" he asked
+Mitchell. Mitchell was scraping his saucer with
+the thrift that thrives north of the Firth of Forth
+and hatches yachts on the west shores of the
+Atlantic.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't think at all during vacation," he said
+mildly. "I repose and reap 'Oh's'&mdash;from other
+people."
+<pb n="172" /><anchor id="Pg172" /></p>
+
+<p>"If there was any chance of a storm&mdash;&mdash;?"
+said the nephew, thoughtfully.</p>
+
+<p>"Fiddle-dee-dee," said Burnett impatiently,
+"what do you think yachts are for, anyhow? To
+let alone?" He looked at the maid as he spoke
+and pointed significantly to the door. She went out
+at once and returned upstairs to her mistress whom
+she found quite restless to "get-a-goin'" as she
+expressed it.</p>
+
+<p>The boxes filled with yesterday's purchases were
+brought out at once and Janice proceeded to rubber-sole
+and blue-serge Aunt Mary. The latter regarded
+every step of the performance in the huge
+three-fold cheval glass which had been wont to tell
+Mrs. Rosscott things that every woman longs to
+know.</p>
+
+<p>When her toilette was complete it must be admitted
+that as a yachtswoman Aunt Mary fairly
+outshone her automobile portrait. She surveyed
+herself long and carefully.</p>
+
+<p>"I expect it'll be quite an experience," she said
+with many new wrinkles of anticipation.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," said Janice, with a glance at the fluttering
+window curtains, "I expect it will be."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary went downstairs and was greeted
+with loud acclamations. The breakfast party
+broke up at once and, while Janice phoned for cabs,
+Aunt Mary's quartette of escorts sought hats, coats,
+<pb n="173" /><anchor id="Pg173" />etcetera. After that they all sallied forth and
+took their places as joyfully as ever.</p>
+
+<p>It was quite a long drive to where "Lady
+Belle" had been brought up, and they had to stop
+once to lay in two or three pounds of current
+literature.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you read mostly?" asked Aunt Mary.</p>
+
+<p>"It's best to be on the safe side," said Clover
+vaguely.</p>
+
+<p>Then they entered the tangle of docks and
+express wagons and obstacles in general and Mitchell
+had great difficulty in finding where his launch
+had been taken to meet them.</p>
+
+<p>But at last they got Aunt Mary down a flight of
+very slippery steps and into a boat whose everything
+was labeled "Lady Belle," and Mitchell
+said something and they cast loose and
+were off.</p>
+
+<p>"Seems rather a small yacht," said Aunt Mary,
+glancing cheerfully about. "I ain't surprised that
+you'd rather come in nights."</p>
+
+<p>"Bless your heart, Aunt Mary," shrieked Jack,
+"this isn't the yacht, this is the way we get to
+her."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh," said Aunt Mary blankly.</p>
+
+<p>"That's the yacht," yelled Burnett, "that white
+one with the black smoke coming out and the
+sail up."
+<pb n="174" /><anchor id="Pg174" /></p>
+
+<p>"What are they getting up steam for?" asked
+Clover. "The time to get up steam is when you
+get down sails generally."</p>
+
+<p>"They aren't getting up steam," said Mitchell,
+"they're getting up dinner. It looks like a lot of
+smoke because of the shadow on the sail. And,
+speaking of getting up dinner, reminds me that the
+topic before us now is, how in thunder are we to get
+up Aunt Mary?"</p>
+
+<p>"Put a rope around her and board her as if she
+was a cavalry horse," suggested Burnett.</p>
+
+<p>"I scorn the suggestion," said their host; "if
+the worst comes to the worst I can give her a back
+up, but I trust that Aunt Mary will rise to the
+heights of the sail and the situation all at once and
+not make me do any vertebratical stunts so early in
+the day."</p>
+
+<p>They were running alongside of "Lady Belle"
+as he spoke, and the first thing Aunt Mary knew
+she and her party were attached to the former by
+some mysterious and not altogether solid connection.</p>
+
+<p>"What do we do now?" she asked uneasily.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll show you," laughed Burnett, and seizing
+two flapping ropes he went skipping up a sort of
+stepladder and sprang upon the deck above.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary started to emulate his prowess and
+stood up at once. But the next second she sat
+<pb n="175" /><anchor id="Pg175" />down extremely hard without knowing why she
+had done so.</p>
+
+<p>"Hold on, Miss Watkins," Mitchell cried hastily;
+"just you hold on until I give you something
+to hold on to, and when you've got something to
+hold on to, please keep holding on to it, until I tell
+you that the hour has come in which to let go
+again."</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't quite catch that," said Aunt Mary,
+"but I'm ready to do anythin' you say if you
+only&mdash;" and again she sprang up and again was
+thrown down as hard as before.</p>
+
+<p>"Look out," cried Jack, springing to her side;
+and he got hold of his valuable relative and held
+her fast while Mitchell grasped the ladder and a
+sailor strove to keep the launch still.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, Aunt Mary," cried the nephew, "hang
+on to me and hang on to those ropes and remember
+I'm right back of you&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"My Lord alive," cried Aunt Mary, turning her
+gaze upwards, "am I expected to go alone all that
+way to the top?"</p>
+
+<p>"It'll pay you to keep on to the top," screamed
+Clover; "you'll have, comparatively speaking, very
+little fun if you hang on to the ladder all day&mdash;and
+you'll get so wet too."</p>
+
+<p>"There's more room at the top," cried Mitchell,
+"there's always room at the top, Miss Watkins.
+<pb n="176" /><anchor id="Pg176" />Put yourself in the place of any young man entering
+a profession and struggle bravely upwards,
+bearing ever in&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I never can," said Aunt Mary, recoiling
+abruptly; "I never could climb trees when I was
+little&mdash;I never had no grip in my legs&mdash;and I just
+know I can't. It's too high. An' it looks slippery.
+An' I don't want to, anyhow."</p>
+
+<p>"What rot!" yelled Jack, "the very idea!
+Why, Aunt Mary, you know you can skin up there
+just like a cat if you only make up your mind to it.
+Here, Mitchell, give her a boost and I'll plant
+her feet firmly. Now&mdash;have you got hold of
+the ropes, Aunt Mary?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, mercy&mdash;on&mdash;me!" wailed Aunt Mary,
+"the yacht is turnin' a-round an' the harder I pull
+the faster it turns."</p>
+
+<p>"Catch her from above, Burr," Clover called
+excitedly; "hook her with anything if you can't
+reach her with your hand."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, my cap!" shrieked poor Aunt Mary, and
+the cap went off and she went on up and was landed
+safe above.</p>
+
+<p>"How on the chart do you suppose we'll ever
+unload her?" Jack asked, wide-eyed, as he swung
+himself quickly after her.</p>
+
+<p>"What man hath done man can do," quoted
+Mitchell sententiously, following his lead.
+<pb n="177" /><anchor id="Pg177" /></p>
+
+<p>"But no man ever unloaded Aunt Mary,"
+Clover reminded him, as they brought up the rear.</p>
+
+<p>Then they were all on deck, a chair was brought
+for the honored guest, and Mitchell introduced his
+sailing-master who had been drawn to gaze upon
+the rather novel manner in which she had been
+brought aboard.</p>
+
+<p>"I want Miss Watkins to have the sail of her
+life, Renfew," said Mitchell. "We aren't coming
+back until night."</p>
+
+<p>"We'll have sail enough sure, sir," said Renfew,
+touching his cap, and then he walked away and the
+work of starting off began. A tug had been
+engaged to tow them out into the breeze and Jack
+thought it would be nice to show Aunt Mary
+around while they were being meandered through
+coal barges, etc. They went below and Aunt Mary
+saw everything with a most flattering interest.</p>
+
+<p>"I d'n know but what I'd enjoy a little yacht
+of my own," she said to Mitchell. "I think it's
+so amusin' the way everythin' turns over into
+suthin' else. I suppose Joshua could learn to sail
+me&mdash;I wouldn't want to trust no new man, I
+know."</p>
+
+<p>"Why, of course," said Jack, "and we could
+all come and visit you, Aunt Mary."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary smiled hospitably.</p>
+
+<p>"I'd be glad to see you all any day," she said
+<pb n="178" /><anchor id="Pg178" />cordially; "and I shall have a hole in the bottom
+of the boat for people to go in and out of, and a
+nice staircase down to it, so you needn't mind the
+notion of how you'll get on and off."</p>
+
+<p>They all laughed and continued the tour below
+and Aunt Mary grew more and more enthusiastic
+for quite a while. She liked the kitchen and she
+liked the dining-room. She thought the arrangement
+for keeping the table level most ingenious.
+Mitchell took her into the main cabin and told her
+that that was hers for the day. On the dresser
+was a photograph of the "Lady Belle" framed in
+silver, which the young host presented to his guest
+as a souvenir of the "voyage."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary's pleasure was at its height. Oh,
+the pity of Fate which makes the apex of everything
+so very limited as to standing room!
+Three minutes after the presentation and acceptation
+of the photograph Aunt Mary's glance
+became suddenly vague, and then especially
+piercing.</p>
+
+<p>"What makes this up and down feeling?" she
+asked Mitchell.</p>
+
+<p>"What up and down feeling?" he asked, secure
+in the good conscience and pure living of an oatmeal
+breakfast. "I don't feel up and down."</p>
+
+<p>"I do," said Aunt Mary abruptly; "I want to
+be somewhere else."
+<pb n="179" /><anchor id="Pg179" /></p>
+
+<p>"You want to be on deck," said Burnett, suddenly
+emerging from somewhere; "I know the
+symptoms. I always have 'em. Come on. And
+when we get up there, I'll collar Jack for urging
+those six last griddle cakes on me this morning."</p>
+
+<p>"I ain't sure I want to be on deck," said Aunt
+Mary; "dear me&mdash;I feel as if I wasn't sure of
+anythin'."</p>
+
+<p>"What did I tell you?" said Burnett to
+Mitchell; "it's blowing fresh and neither she nor
+I ought to have come. You know me when it
+blows."</p>
+
+<p>"Shut up," said Mitchell, hurrying Aunt Mary
+up the companion-way and shoving her into one
+chair and her feet into another; "there, Miss
+Watkins, you're all right now, aren't you?"</p>
+
+<p>"What's the matter?" said Jack, coming from
+somewhere aloft or astern. "Heaven bless me,
+what ails you, Aunt Mary?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't wonder I'm pale," said Aunt Mary
+faintly, "oh&mdash;oh&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"We must put our heads together," said Burnett,
+taking a drink from a flask that he took out
+of his pocket; "I must soon put my head on something,
+and your aunt looks to me to feel the same
+way. Mitchell, why did you let me forget that
+vow I made last time to never come again?"</p>
+
+<p>"Your vows to never do things again are about
+<pb n="180" /><anchor id="Pg180" />as stable as your present hold on an upright position,"
+said Clover, laying a steadying hand upon
+his friend's waveringness. "Sit down, little boy,
+sit down."</p>
+
+<p>Burnett sat down, Mitchell smiled, Jack
+laughed, and Aunt Mary groaned.</p>
+
+<p>The boat was rising and falling rapidly now,
+and as she ran further and further out into the
+ever freshening wind she kept on rising and falling
+yet more rapidly. The more motion there was
+the more Aunt Mary seemed to sift down in her
+two chairs.</p>
+
+<p>"We'd better put back," said Jack; "this won't
+do, you know. How do you feel now, Aunt
+Mary?" he added, leaning over her.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary opened her eyes and looked at him
+but made no reply.</p>
+
+<p>"Ask me how I feel, if you dare," said Burnett,
+from where his chair was drawn up not far away.
+"I couldn't kill you just now, but I will some day
+I promise you."</p>
+
+<p>He was very white and had a look about his
+mouth that showed that he meant what he said.</p>
+
+<p>Some bells rang somewhere.</p>
+
+<p>"That's dinner," exclaimed Clover.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary gave a piercing cry.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, take me somewhere else," she said, throwing
+her hands up to her face; "somewhere where
+<pb n="181" /><anchor id="Pg181" />there'll never be nothin' to eat again. I&mdash;I can't
+bear to hear about eatin'."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm going to take her down into one of the
+cabins," said Jack hastily, "she belongs in bed."</p>
+
+<p>"No, turn back the carpet and lay me in the
+bath-tub," almost sobbed the poor victim. "I
+don't feel like I could get flat enough anywhere
+else."</p>
+
+<p>"She has the proper spirit," said Burnett
+faintly, "only I don't feel as if I could get flat
+enough anywhere at all. What in the name of
+the Great Pyramid ever possessed me to come?"</p>
+
+<p>Mitchell rose quickly to his feet.</p>
+
+<p>"You put your aunt to bed, Jack," he said,
+"and I'll put my yacht to backing. This expedition
+is expeditiously heading on to what might be
+termed a failure. I can see that, even if we're only
+in a Sound."</p>
+
+<p>"When do you suppose we'll get back?" the
+nephew asked anxiously.</p>
+
+<p>"About four o'clock, if we don't lose time by
+having to tack."</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't quite catch all that," said Aunt Mary,
+"but I knew suthin' was loose all along. I felt it
+inside of me right off at first. And ever since,
+too."</p>
+
+<p>Jack gathered her up in his arms and bore her
+tenderly away to the beautiful main cabin.
+<pb n="182" /><anchor id="Pg182" /></p>
+
+<p>"I wanted to live to change my will," she said
+sadly, as he laid her down, "but somehow I don't
+seem to care for nothin' no more."</p>
+
+<p>He kissed her hand.</p>
+
+<p>"They say being seasick is awfully <hi rend="font-style: italic">good</hi> for
+people, Aunt Mary," he yelled contritely.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary opened her eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"John Watkins, Jr., Denham," she said, "if
+you say 'food' to me again <hi rend="font-style: italic">ever</hi>, I'll never leave
+you a penny&mdash;so there!"</p>
+
+<p>Jack went away and left her.</p>
+
+<p>"Come on to dinner, Burnett," Clover called
+hilariously, "there's liver with little bits of bacon&mdash;your
+favorite dish."</p>
+
+<p>Burnett snarled the weakest kind of a snarl.</p>
+
+<p>"I thought I'd suffered enough for one year
+last month," he murmured in a voice too low to be
+heard, and then he knew himself to be alone on
+deck.</p>
+
+<p>Down in the little dining-saloon the dishes were
+hopping merrily back and forth and an agreeable
+odor of agreeable viands filled the air. Clover
+and Jack sat down opposite their host and they all
+three ate and drank with a zest that knew no breaking
+waves nor sad effects.</p>
+
+<p>"Here's to our aunt," said Clover gayly, as the
+first course went around; "of course, we all love
+her for Jack's sake, but at the same time I offer
+<pb n="183" /><anchor id="Pg183" />two to odds that it is a pleasure to converse in
+under tones occasionally. Who takes?"</p>
+
+<p>"Aunt Mary being laid upon her bed," said
+Mitchell, "we will next proceed to lay the motion
+of our honorable friend upon the table. We
+regret Aunt Mary's ill-health while we drink to
+her good&mdash;quotation marks under the latter word.
+Aunt Mary!&mdash;and may she arise and prosper all
+the way down into the launch again."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm troubled about her, really," said Jack
+soberly; "we ought to have brought someone to
+look out for her."</p>
+
+<p>"The maid," cried Mitchell, "the dainty, adorable
+maid! Here's to Janice and&mdash;" his speech
+was brought to a sudden end by his two guests
+nearly disappearing under the table.</p>
+
+<p>Jack started up.</p>
+
+<p>"Ginger! Did you feel that?" he asked.</p>
+
+<p>"That's nothing," said Mitchell, calmly
+replacing the water-carafe which in the excitement
+of the moment he had clasped to his bosom; "it's
+the waves which are rising to the occasion&mdash;that's
+all." But Jack had hurried out.</p>
+
+<p>He found poor Aunt Mary writhing in an
+agony of misery. "Oh&mdash;oh&mdash;" she cried, "I want
+to be still&mdash;I'm too much tipped&mdash;and all the
+wrong way! I want to lay smooth&mdash;and I stand
+on my head&mdash;all the&mdash;"
+<pb n="184" /><anchor id="Pg184" /></p>
+
+<p>"We're going back," said Jack, striving to
+soothe her; "lie still, Aunt Mary, and we'll soon
+get there. Do you want some camphor to smell?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't feel up to smellin'," wailed Aunt
+Mary, "I don't feel up to anythin'. Go 'way.
+Right off."</p>
+
+<p>Jack went on deck. He found Burnett
+stretched pale and green upon the chairs their
+lady guest had vacated.</p>
+
+<p>"If you speak to me again," he said, in halting
+accents, "I'll never speak to you again. Get
+out."</p>
+
+<p>Jack went back to his place at dinner.</p>
+
+<p>"How are they?" asked Clover.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know," he said quietly, "but there's
+a big storm coming up. The sky's all dark blue
+and it looks bad."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't care," said Mitchell, sawing into the
+game with vigor; "if we go down we go down
+with Aunt Mary and if I were Uncle Mary I
+wouldn't feel happier and safer as to all concerned.
+The ship that bore Cæsar and his fortune had
+nothing at all to bear compared to this which bears
+Jack and his. Here's to Jack and his fortune,
+and may we all survive the dark blue sky."</p>
+
+<p>"I tell you it's serious," said Jack. As he spoke
+another ominous heaving set the bottles tipping
+and nearly sent Clover backwards.
+<pb n="185" /><anchor id="Pg185" /></p>
+
+<p>"And I'm serious," exclaimed Mitchell. "I'm
+always serious only I never can get any girl to
+believe it. Here's to me, and may I grow more
+and more serious each&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>A tremendous wave bore the yacht upright and
+then let her fall on her forelegs again. Clover
+went over backwards and the dish of peas to which
+he had just been helping himself followed after.</p>
+
+<p>"You didn't say 'excuse me' when you left the
+table," said Mitchell, whom the law of gravitation
+had suddenly raised to a pinnacle from which he
+viewed his friends with mirthful scorn; "and if
+you've hurt yourself it must be a judgment on you
+for leaving the table without saying 'excuse me.'
+Here's to Clover, who has a judgment and a dish
+of peas served on him at the same time for leaving
+the table without saying 'excuse me.'"</p>
+
+<p>The sailing-master appeared at the door, his
+cap in his hand.</p>
+
+<p>"I beg your pardon, sir," he said respectfully,
+"but I fear it's impossible to put back. We can't
+turn without getting into the trough of the sea."</p>
+
+<p>"All right, go ahead then," said Mitchell; "go
+where we must go, and do what you've got to do.
+My motto is veni, vidi, vici, which freely translated
+means I can sleep asea when I can't sleep
+ashore."</p>
+
+<p>"But Aunt Mary?" cried Jack blankly.
+<pb n="186" /><anchor id="Pg186" /></p>
+
+<p>"She's all right," said Mitchell; "she'll soon
+reach the cold burnt toast stage and when she
+reaches the stage we'll all welcome her into any
+chorus. Here's to choruses in general and one
+chorus girl in particular. I haven't met her yet,
+but I shall know her when I do, for she will look
+at me. Up to now they've all looked elsewhere
+and at other men. If my fortune was only in my
+face it might draw some interest, but&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Lady Belle" careened violently and Clover
+went over backwards for the second time with
+much in his wake.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I say," said Mitchell, rising in disgust,
+"if you want everything on the table at once why
+take it. Only I'm going on deck. After you've
+bathed in the gravy you can have it. Ditto the
+other liquids. Jack and I are going up to dance
+a hornpipe and sing for Burnett. He looked
+rather ennuyéd to me when we came down."</p>
+
+<p>Along toward eight o'clock that night "Lady
+Belle" anchored somewhere in the Sound and
+tugged vigorously at her cables all night.</p>
+
+<p>With the dawn she headed back towards New
+York.</p>
+
+<p>"As a success my entertainment has been a failure,"
+said Mitchell to Jack as they walked up and
+down the deck after breakfast; "but into each life
+some rain must fall, and I offer myself as a sacrificial
+<pb n="187" /><anchor id="Pg187" />background to Aunt Mary's glowing, living
+pictures of New York."</p>
+
+<p>"I wish you hadn't, though," said Jack; "she'll
+never want a yacht of her own now. And how
+under Scorpion are we ever going to land her?"</p>
+
+<p>"In a sheet, my able-bodied young friend, in a
+sheet," said Mitchell clapping him on the back.
+"Don't you know the 'Weigh the Baby' game?
+It may double her up a bit, but the redoubtable
+Janice will straighten her out again. Here's to
+the sheet, be it a wet sheet, a main sheet, or a sheet
+with your Aunt Mary tied up in it."</p>
+
+<p>Mitchell was as good as his word and they
+landed Aunt Mary in a sheet. The very harbor-tugs
+stopped puffing and stood open-mouthed to
+stare at the performance, but it was an unalloyed
+success, and Aunt Mary was gotten onto dry land
+at last.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't want to do nothin' for a day or two,"
+she said, as they drove to the house.</p>
+
+<p>Janice had the bed open, and a hot-water bottle
+down where Aunt Mary's feet might be expected,
+and all sorts of comfort ready to hand.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm so glad to see you safe back," she said,
+almost weeping.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't believe it's broke," said Aunt Mary,
+"but you might look and see. Oh, Granite&mdash;I&mdash;"
+she stopped and looked an unutterable meaning.
+<pb n="188" /><anchor id="Pg188" /></p>
+
+<p>"It stormed, didn't it?" said the maid.</p>
+
+<p>"Stormed!" said Aunt Mary. "I guess it did
+storm. I guess it hurricaned. I know it did.
+I'm sure of it."</p>
+
+<p>"But you're safe now," said the girl, tucking
+her up as snugly as if she had been an infant in
+arms.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I'm safe now," said Aunt Mary,
+"but&mdash;" she looked very earnest&mdash;"but, oh, my
+Granite, how I did need that white fuzzy stuff to
+drink this morning. I never wanted nothin' so
+bad in all my life afore."</p>
+
+<p>Janice stood by the bed, her face full of regret
+that Aunt Mary had known any aching void.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary grew yet more earnest.</p>
+
+<p>"Granite," she said, "you mind what I tell
+you. That ought to be advertised. I sh'd think
+you could patent it. Folks ought to know about
+it."</p>
+
+<p>Then she laid herself out in bed. "My
+heavens alive!" she sighed sweetly, "there's
+nothin' like home. Not anywhere&mdash;not nowhere!"</p>
+</div>
+<pb n="189" /><anchor id="Pg189" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+
+<head>Chapter Sixteen - A Reposeful Interval</head>
+
+
+<p>The next date upon the little gold and ivory
+memorandum card which hung beside Aunt Mary's
+watch was that set for Burnett's picnic, but its
+dawning found both host and guest too much
+attached to their beds to desire any fêtes champêtre
+just then.</p>
+
+<p>Burnett was in that very weak state which follows in
+the immediate wake of only too many yachts,&mdash;and
+Aunt Mary was sleeping one of her
+long drawn out and utterly restorative sleeps.</p>
+
+<p>Jack went in and looked at her.</p>
+
+<p>"It did storm awfully," he said to Janice, who
+was sitting by the window. The maid just smiled,
+nodded, and laid her finger on her lip. She never
+encouraged conversation when her charge was
+reposing.</p>
+
+<p>Jack went softly out and turned his steps toward
+the room of the other wreck.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, how are stocks to-day?" he asked
+cheerfully on entering.</p>
+
+<p>Burnett was stretched out pillowless and looked
+black under his hollow eyes. But he appeared to
+be on the road to recovery.
+<pb n="190" /><anchor id="Pg190" /></p>
+
+<p>"Jack," he said seriously, "what in thunder
+makes me always so ready to go on the water?
+I should think after a while I'd learn a thing or
+two."</p>
+
+<p>Jack leaned his elbows on the high carved footboard
+and returned his friend's look with one of
+equal seriousness.</p>
+
+<p>"What makes all of us do lots of things?" he
+asked. "Why don't we all learn?"</p>
+
+<p>Burnett sighed.</p>
+
+<p>"That's a fact; why don't we?" he said weakly.
+And then he shut his eyes again and turned his
+back to his caller.</p>
+
+<p>Jack went down to lunch. Clover and Mitchell
+were playing cards in the library.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, how is the hospital?" Clover asked,
+looking up while he shuffled the pack.</p>
+
+<p>"Never mind about Burnett," said Mitchell,
+"but do relieve my mind about Aunt Mary. Is
+the one sheet still taking effect, or has she begun to
+rally on a diet of two?"</p>
+
+<p>"She's asleep," said the nephew.</p>
+
+<p>"God bless her slumber," declared Clover
+piously. "I very much approve of Aunt Mary
+asleep. When our dearly beloved aunt sleeps we
+know we've got her and we don't have to yell.
+Shall I deal for three?"</p>
+
+<p>"They are bringing up lunch," said the latest
+<pb n="191" /><anchor id="Pg191" />arrival,&mdash;"no time to begin a hand. Better
+stack guns for the present."</p>
+
+<p>"So say I," said Mitchell, "with me everything
+goes down when lunch comes up. It's quite the
+reverse with Burnett, isn't it?" He laughed
+brutally at his own wit.</p>
+
+<p>"To think how enthusiastic Burr was," said
+Clover, evening the cards preparatory to slipping
+them into their holder on the side of the table.
+"He's always so enthusiastic and he's always so
+sick. In his place I should feel that, if a buoyant
+nature is a virtue, I didn't get much reward."</p>
+
+<p>The gong sounded just then, and they all went
+down to lunch, not at all saddened by the sight
+of their comrade's empty chair.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, what are we going to do next?" Clover
+demanded as they finished the bouillon.</p>
+
+<p>"Have a meat course, I suppose," said Mitchell.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't mean that; I mean, what are we going
+to do next with Aunt Mary?"</p>
+
+<p>"She hasn't but two days more," said Jack meditatively.
+"Of course&mdash;even if she was all chipper&mdash;this
+storm has knocked any picnic endways."</p>
+
+<p>"I am not an ardent upholder of picnics,
+anyhow," said Mitchell. "They require a constant
+sitting down on the ground and getting up from
+the ground to which I find our respected aunt very
+far from being equal. Burnett mentioned that we
+<pb n="192" /><anchor id="Pg192" />should go to the scene on a coach. That also did
+not meet my approval. Going anywhere on a coach
+requires a constant getting up on the coach and
+getting down from the coach to which I also consider
+the lady unequal. The events of yesterday
+have left a deep impression on my mind. I&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Go on and carve," interrupted Clover, "or
+else shove me the platter. I'm hungry."</p>
+
+<p>"So'm I," said a voice at the door. A weak
+voice&mdash;but one that showed decision in its tone.</p>
+
+<p>They looked up and saw Burnett, dressed in a
+pink silk negligée with flowing sleeves.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm ravenous," he exclaimed explanatorily.
+"I haven't had anything since day before yesterday
+at breakfast. I didn't know I wanted anything
+till I smelt it,&mdash;then I dressed and came
+down."</p>
+
+<p>"How sweet you look," said Clover. "The
+effect of your pajama cuffs and collar where one
+greedily expects curves and contour is lovely.
+Where did you find that bath-robe?"</p>
+
+<p>"In the bureau drawer," said Burnett. "It
+appeared to have been hastily shoved in there
+some time. I would have thought that it was a
+woman's something-or-other, only I found one of
+Jack's cards in the pocket."</p>
+
+<p>They all began to laugh&mdash;Clover and Mitchell
+more heartily than the owner of the card.
+<pb n="193" /><anchor id="Pg193" /></p>
+
+<p>"Sit down," said Mitchell finally with great
+cordiality. "You may as well sit down while they
+mess you up some weak tea and wet toast."</p>
+
+<p>"Tea and toast?" cried the one in pink. "I'm
+good for dinner. <hi rend="font-style: italic">Um Gotteswillen</hi>, what do you
+suppose I came down for?"</p>
+
+<p>"I wasn't sure," said his friend mildly; "you
+must admit yourself that your attire is misleading.
+My book on social etiquette says nothing as to
+when it is correct to wear a pink silk robe over blue
+and white striped pajamas. However, there's no
+denying your presence, and what can't be denied
+must be supplied, so what will you have?"</p>
+
+<p>"Everything."</p>
+
+<p>Mitchell dived into the edibles generally and
+Burnett's void was provided with fulfillment.</p>
+
+<p>"We were talking about Aunt Mary," Clover
+said presently. "We were saying that neither you
+nor she would be up to a coach or down to a picnic
+for one while."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I don't know," said Burnett. "I feel up
+to pretty nearly anything now that I can eat again.
+Pass over the horseradish, will you?"</p>
+
+<p>"You're one thing, my sweet pink friend," said
+Clover gently, "but Aunt Mary's another. I'm
+not saying that New York has not had a wonderfully
+Brown-Sequardesque effect on her, but I am
+saying that if she is to be raised and lowered
+<pb n="194" /><anchor id="Pg194" />frequently, I want to travel with a portable
+crane."</p>
+
+<p>"Hum, hum, hum!" cried Jack. "May I just
+ask who did most of the heavy labor of Aunt Mary
+yesterday?&mdash;As the man in the opera sings twenty
+times with the whole chorus to back him&mdash;''Twas
+I, 'twas I, 'twas I, 'twas I&mdash;'"</p>
+
+<p>"Hand over the toast, Clover," said Burnett.
+"I don't care who it was&mdash;it was a success anyhow,
+for she's upstairs and still alive, and I say
+she'd enjoy coaching out Riverside way, and&mdash;"
+he choked.</p>
+
+<p>"Slap him anywhere," said Mitchell. "On his
+mouth would be the proper place. Such poor
+manners,&mdash;coming down to a company lunch in
+another man's bath-robe and then trying to preach
+and eat dry toast at once."</p>
+
+<p>Burnett gasped and recovered.</p>
+
+<p>"There," said Clover, who had risen to administer
+the proposed slap, "he's off our minds and
+we may again pick up Aunt Mary and put her
+back on."</p>
+
+<p>"We want to send her home in a blaze of
+glory," said Jack thoughtfully. "I want her to
+feel that the fun ran straight through."</p>
+
+<p>"That's just what I mean," interposed his particular
+friend; "we want her to go home on the
+wings of a giant cracker, so to speak."
+<pb n="195" /><anchor id="Pg195" /></p>
+
+<p>"How would it do," said Clover suddenly, "to
+just make a night of it and take her along? Stock
+up, stack up, and ho! for it. You all know the
+kind of a time I mean."</p>
+
+<p>"Clover," said Jack gravely, "does it occur to
+you that Aunt Mary belongs to me and that I
+have a personal interest in keeping her alive?"</p>
+
+<p>"Nothing ever occurs to him," said Mitchell.
+"Occasionally an idea bangs up against him inadvertently,
+and as it splinters a sliver or two penetrate
+his head&mdash;that's all."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't see why the last sliver he felt wasn't
+to the point," said Burnett, turning the cream jug
+upside down as he spoke. "I think she'd enjoy it
+of all things. She enjoys everything so. I'll guarantee
+that when she gets back home she'll even
+enjoy the yachting trip. Lots of people are made
+like that. In the winter I always enjoy yachting,
+myself. Pass me the hot bread."</p>
+
+<p>"Burnett," said Mitchell warmly, "I wish that
+you would remember that a collapse invariably
+follows an inflated market."</p>
+
+<p>"Is it Aunt Mary who is on the market, or
+myself?"</p>
+
+<p>"You."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, the rule is reversed in my case&mdash;the collapse
+went first. I'm only inflating up to the usual
+limit again. Is there any gravy left?"
+<pb n="196" /><anchor id="Pg196" /></p>
+
+<p>"No, there isn't," said Clover, looking in the
+dish, "there isn't much of anything left."</p>
+
+<p>"Let's go to the library," said Mitchell, rising
+abruptly. "It always makes me ill to see goose-stuffing
+before Thanksgiving. Come on."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm done," said Burnett, springing up and
+winding his lacey draperies about his manly form.
+"Come on yourself; and once settled and smoking,
+let us canvass the question and agree with
+Clover."</p>
+
+<p>"You know there are nights about town and
+nights about town," said Clover, as they climbed
+the staircase. "I do not anticipate that Aunt
+Mary will bring up with a round turn in the police
+station, as her young relative once did."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, that's some comfort," said Mitchell.
+"I did not feel sure as to just where you did mean
+her to bring up. You will perhaps allow me to
+remark that making a night of it with Aunt Mary
+in tow is a subject that really is provocative of
+mature reflection. Making a night of it is a frothy
+sort of a proposition in which our beloved aunty
+may not beat up to quite the buoyancy of you
+and me."</p>
+
+<p>As he finished this sage remark they all re-entered
+the library and grouped themselves around
+the table of smoking things.</p>
+
+<p>"That's what I say," said Jack. "I think she's
+<pb n="197" /><anchor id="Pg197" />much more likely to beat out than to beat up&mdash;I
+must say."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll bet you she doesn't," cried Burnett
+eagerly. "I'll bet five dollars that she doesn't."</p>
+
+<p>"I declare," said Clover, "what a thing a
+backer is to be sure. I feel positive that Aunt
+Mary will go through with it now. I had my
+doubts before, but never now. Six to five on Aunt
+Mary for the Three-year-old Stakes."</p>
+
+<p>"The best way is to hit a happy medium," said
+Mitchell thoughtfully, scratching a match for the
+lighting of his new-rolled cigarette. "I think the
+wisest thing would be for us just to take Aunt
+Mary and sally forth and then keep it up until she
+must be put to bed. What say?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well," said Jack, reflectively, "I don't suppose
+that taking it that way, it would really be any
+worse than the other nights&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Worse!" cried Clover. "Hear him!&mdash;slandering
+those brilliant occasions, everyone of which
+is a jewel in the crown of Aunt Mary's bonnet."</p>
+
+<p>"We'll begin by dining out," said Burnett.
+"I'll give the dinner. One of the souvenir kind of
+affairs. A white mouse for every man and a canary
+bird for the lady. We'll have a private room and
+speeches and I'll get megaphones so we can make
+her hear without bustin'."</p>
+
+<p>"My dear boy," said Mitchell, "where is this
+<pb n="198" /><anchor id="Pg198" />private room to be in which the party can converse
+through megaphones? I had two deaf uncles once
+who played cribbage with megaphones, but they
+were influential and the rest of the family were
+poor. Circumstances alter cases. I ask again
+where you can get a private dining-room for the
+use of five people and four megaphones?"</p>
+
+<p>"I'll see," said Burnett; "I wish," he added
+irritably, "that you'd wait until I finished before
+beginning to smash in like that, you knock everything
+out of my head."</p>
+
+<p>"It'll do you good to have a little something
+knocked out of you," said Mitchell gently. "It
+may enlarge your premises, give you a spare room
+somewhere, so to speak. I should think that you'd
+need some spare room somewhere after such a
+breakfast."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll tell you what I think;" said Clover. "I
+think it's a great scheme. It's a sort of pull-in-and-out,
+field-glass species of idea. We can develop
+it or we can shut it off; in other words, we
+can parade Aunt Mary or bring her home just
+when we darn please."</p>
+
+<p>"That's what I said," said Burnett. "Begin
+with my dinner, white mice and all, and when all
+is going just let it slide until it seems about time
+to slide off."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," said Mitchell dryly, "it's always a good
+<pb n="199" /><anchor id="Pg199" />plan to slide on until you slide off. It would be so
+easy to reverse the game."</p>
+
+<p>"And then, too,&mdash;" began Burnett.</p>
+
+<p>"Excuse me," said a voice at the door,&mdash;a
+woman's voice this time.</p>
+
+<p>It was Janice, very pretty in her black dress and
+white decorations, hands in pockets, smile on lips.</p>
+
+<p>"What's up now?" the last speaker interrupted
+himself to ask, "Aunt Mary?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, she's not up," said the maid; "but she's
+awake and wants to know about the picnic."</p>
+
+<p>"There, what did I say!" cried Burnett;
+"isn't she a hero? I tell you Aunt Mary'd fight
+in the last ditch&mdash;she'd never surrender! She's
+one of those dead-at-the-gun chaps. I'm proud to
+think we have known the companionship of joint
+yachting results."</p>
+
+<p>"She says she feels as well as ever," said Janice,
+opening her eyes a trifle as she noted Burnett's pink
+silk negligée, "and wishes to know when you want
+to start."</p>
+
+<p>"Bravo," said Mitchell; "I, too, am fired by
+this exposition of pluck. I like spirit. She reminds
+me of the horse who was turned out to grass and
+then suddenly broke the world's record."</p>
+
+<p>"What horse was that?" asked Burnett.</p>
+
+<p>"Pegasus," said Mitchell cruelly; "I didn't
+say what kind of a record he broke, did I?"
+<pb n="200" /><anchor id="Pg200" /></p>
+
+<p>"What shall I tell Miss Watkins?" asked the
+maid.</p>
+
+<p>Jack, who had risen at her entrance and gone to
+the window, faced around here and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Tell her that if she'll dress we'll go out
+bonnet-shooting and afterwards drive in the
+park."</p>
+
+<p>Janice hesitated.</p>
+
+<p>"She will surely ask where you are to dine,"
+said she, half-smiling.</p>
+
+<p>Jack looked at the crowd.</p>
+
+<p>"Fellows," he said, "we must save up for to-morrow's
+blow-out; suppose you let Mitchell and
+me dine Aunt Mary somewhere very tranquilly to-night
+and we'll get her home by eleven."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, do," said Janice, with sudden earnest
+entreaty. "Honestly, there is a limit."</p>
+
+<p>"Of course, there is a limit," said Mitchell.
+"Even cities have their limits. This one tried to
+be an exception, but San Francisco yelled 'Keep
+off' and she drew in her claws again. Aunt Mary,
+possessing many points in common with New York,
+also possesses that. She has limits. Her limits
+took in more than we bargained for,&mdash;for they
+have taken us into the bargain. Still they are there,
+and we bow to necessity. A cheerful drive, a
+quiet tea, early to bed. And <hi rend="font-style: italic">pax vobiscum</hi>."</p>
+
+<p>"No wonder," said Burnett, "it's easy for you
+<pb n="201" /><anchor id="Pg201" />to agree when you're to be one of the dinner party."
+"I don't mind being left out," said Clover contentedly.
+"I shall sit on the sofa and whisper to
+'the one behind.' Whispering is an art that I have
+almost forgotten, but inspired by that pink&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Then I'll tell Miss Watkins to dress for the
+going out," said Janice, pointedly addressing herself
+to Jack.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, please do."</p>
+
+<p>The maid left the room and went upstairs.
+Aunt Mary was tossing about on her pillow.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, what's it to be?" she asked instantly.</p>
+
+<p>"The storm has made it too wet to picnic," replied
+Janice. "Mr. Denham wants to take you to
+drive and afterwards you and Mr. Mitchell and he
+are to dine&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"And Burnett and Clover?" cried Aunt Mary
+in appalled interruption; "where are they goin'?"</p>
+
+<p>"Really, I don't know."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't like the idea," said Aunt Mary;
+"we'd ought to all be together. I never did approve
+of splittin' up in small parties. Did Jack
+say anythin' about my gettin' another bonnet?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, he thought that you would go to a milliner
+first."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know about lookin' sillier," said Aunt
+Mary. "Strikes me a woman can't look more
+foolish than she does without a bonnet. However,
+<pb n="202" /><anchor id="Pg202" />I don't feel like makin' a fuss over anythin'
+to-day. I've had a good rest and I feel fine. I'll
+dress and go out with Jack, an' I know one thing,
+I'll enjoy every minute I can, for this week is goin'
+like lightnin' and when it's over&mdash;well, you never
+saw Lucinda, so it's no use tryin' to make you
+understand, but&mdash;" she drew a long breath and
+shook her head meaningly.</p>
+
+<p>Janice did not reply. She busied herself with
+the cares of the toilet of her mistress, and when that
+was complete the carriage was summoned for the
+shopping tour.</p>
+
+<p>Jack saw that the bonnet was attended to first
+of all and then they went to another store and
+purchased a scarf pin for Joshua and a workbox
+for Lucinda. After that Aunt Mary decided that
+she wanted her four friends each to have a souvenir
+of her visit, so she insisted upon being conducted to
+that gorgeous establishment which is lighted with
+diamonds instead of electricity and ordered four
+dressing-cases to be constructed, everything with
+gold tops, to be engraved with the proper initials
+and also the inscription, "from M.W. in memory
+of N.Y." Jack rather protested at this, asking
+her if she realized what the engraving would
+come to.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know," said Aunt Mary recklessly
+and lavishly. "I don't care what it comes to either.
+<pb n="203" /><anchor id="Pg203" />It's comin' to me, anyhow, ain't it? I rather think
+so. Seems likely."</p>
+
+<p>The clerk took down the order, and then as he
+was ushering them door-wards he fell by the wayside
+and craved permission to show some tiaras of
+emeralds and some pearl dog-collars. Jack
+rebelled.</p>
+
+<p>"You don't want any of those," he exclaimed,
+trying to propel her by.</p>
+
+<p>"I ain't so sure," said Aunt Mary. "I might
+have a dog some day."</p>
+
+<p>But her nephew got her back into their conveyance,
+and they drove away. It was so late that
+they could not consider the park and so had to
+make a tour of Fifth Avenue to use up the time
+left before dinner. Then when they headed
+toward the café they were delighted to observe
+Mitchell awaiting them just where he was to have
+been.</p>
+
+<p>"I see him," said Aunt Mary. "My! I'd know
+him as far off as I'd know anybody." But then she
+sighed. "I wish the others were there, too," she
+said sadly; "seems awful&mdash;just three of us."</p>
+
+<p>The dinner which followed echoed her sentiment.
+It was a very nice dinner, but painfully
+quiet, and Aunt Mary grew very restless.</p>
+
+<p>"Seems like wastin' time, anyhow," she said
+uneasily. "I don't see why the others didn't come.
+<pb n="204" /><anchor id="Pg204" />Well, can't we go to Coney Island or the Statue
+of Liberty or somewhere when we're through?"</p>
+
+<p>Mitchell looked at Jack.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, you see, Aunt Mary," the latter promptly
+shrieked, "we thought we'd be good and go home
+early and sort of rest up to-night so as to have
+a high old time to-morrow."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary's face, which had fallen during the
+first part of their speech, brightened up at the last
+words.</p>
+
+<p>"What are we goin' to do?" she inquired with
+unfeigned interest.</p>
+
+<p>"Burnett's going to give us a dinner," Jack
+answered, "and then afterwards we're going to
+help you see the town."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh!" said Aunt Mary. A pleasant gleam
+fled over her face.</p>
+
+<p>"I never was a great believer in bein' out
+nights," she said, "but I guess I'll make an exception
+to-morrow. I might as well be doin' that as
+anythin', I presume. Maybe better&mdash;very likely
+better."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, very much better," said Mitchell. "It is
+the exceptions that furnish all the oil in life's
+machinery. The exceptions not only generally
+prove too much for the rule, but they also generally
+prevent the rule from proving too much for us.
+They&mdash;"
+<pb n="205" /><anchor id="Pg205" /></p>
+
+<p>"But I don't see why we couldn't go to two or
+three vaudevilles to-night, too," said the old lady,
+suddenly. "I feel so sort of ready-for-anythin'."</p>
+
+<p>"You always feel that way, Miss Watkins,"
+screamed Mitchell. "It is we that are the blind
+and the halt. You are ever fresh, but we falter and
+faint. You see it's you that go out, but it's we
+that you get back. You&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"We could go to one vaudeville, anyway," said
+Aunt Mary abstractedly; "an' if we saw any places
+that looked lively we could stop a few minutes there
+on our way back. I've never been into lots of
+things here."</p>
+
+<p>Jack looked at Mitchell this time.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm sorry, Miss Watkins," he roared, "but
+<hi rend="font-style: italic">I'll</hi> have to go home, anyhow. You see, I'm not
+used to the lively life which has been enlivening
+us all this week and, being weakly in my knees,
+needs must look out."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary looked very disappointed.</p>
+
+<p>"Then Jack and I'll go, too," she said, "but
+oh! dear, I do hate to waste my stay in the city
+sleepin' so much. I can sleep all I want after I
+get home, but&mdash;" she paused, and then said
+with deep feeling, "Well, you don't understand
+about Lucinda an' so you don't understand about
+anythin'."</p>
+
+<p>Both the young men felt truly regretful as they
+<pb n="206" /><anchor id="Pg206" />put her into the carriage for the return trip. Her
+deep enjoyment was so genuine and naive that they
+sympathized with her feelings when cut off from it.</p>
+
+<p>But it was best that this one night should pass
+unimproved, and so all five threw themselves into
+their respective beds with equal zest and slept&mdash;and
+slept&mdash;and slept.</p>
+</div>
+<pb n="207" /><anchor id="Pg207" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+
+<head>Chapter Seventeen - Aunt Mary's Night About Town</head>
+
+<p>The next day came up out of the ocean
+fair and warm, and when it drew toward
+later afternoon no more propitious night
+for setting forth ever happened.</p>
+
+<p>It was undeniably a night to be remembered.
+And Aunt Mary's entertainers drew in deep
+breaths as they girded themselves for the conflict.
+They certainly intended to do themselves proud
+and on top of all the lesser "times of her life"
+to pile the one pre-eminent which should rest pre-eminent
+forever. Aunt Mary had been gay in the
+first part of the week,&mdash;gayer and gayer as the
+week progressed, but that final crowning night was
+indubitably the gayest of all. If you doubt this
+read on&mdash;read on&mdash;and be convinced.</p>
+
+<p>They began with Burnett's dinner in the private
+room. No matter where the private room was,
+for it really wasn't a private room at all&mdash;it was a
+suite of rooms borrowed and arranged especially
+for that one occasion. They gathered there at
+eight o'clock and began with oysters served on a
+large brass tray in a half-dim Turkish room where
+<pb n="208" /><anchor id="Pg208" />incense sticks burned about and queer daggers held
+up the curtains. The oysters were served on their
+arrival and the megaphones stood like extinguishers
+over each with the name cards tied to the small
+end. The effect was really unique. Aunt Mary
+had one, too, and they were all rejoiced at her delight
+in the scheme, and a few seconds after they
+were doubly rejoiced over its success for no one
+had to speak loud&mdash;the megaphones did it all,
+producing a lovely clamor which deafened all those
+who could hear and caused Aunt Mary to feel that
+she heard with the rest.</p>
+
+<p>Amidst the cheerful din they exchanged such
+very wild remarks as oysters always inspire and
+each and all were mutually content at the effect
+thereof. Then they finished, and Burnett rose at
+once, flung back the portières, and led them in
+upon their soup which stood smoking on a large
+card table in the next room. There were boutonnières
+with the soup, and violets for Aunt Mary,
+and again they used the megaphones and again the
+conversation partook of the customary conversation
+which soup produces.</p>
+
+<p>The soup finished, Burnett jumped up again and
+threw back other portières and they all moved out
+into a dining-room, with its table spread with a
+substantial dinner. This time it was the real thing.
+Candelabra, ice-pails, etc.
+<pb n="209" /><anchor id="Pg209" /></p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary had a parrot in a gilt tower, and all
+the men had white mice in houses shaped like hat-boxes.
+Mitchell's seat was flanked with wine coolers,
+and Burnett's, too. There was all that they
+could desire to eat and drink and more. The
+feast began, and it was grand and glorious.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll tell you what," said Aunt Mary, in the
+midst of the revel, "if this is what it means in
+papers when it speaks of high livin', I don't blame
+'em for bein' willin' to die of it young. One week
+like this is worth ten years with Lucinda. Twenty.
+A whole life."</p>
+
+<p>"Say, Jack," said Burnett in an undertone,
+"let's have Lucinda come to town next and see the
+effect on her."</p>
+
+<p>"Miss Watkins," said Clover through his
+megaphone, "as a mark of my affection I beg to
+offer you my white mouse. Do you accept?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I don't want to go back to the house yet,"
+said Aunt Mary, much disturbed. "It's too soon."</p>
+
+<p>"We won't go home till morning," said Burnett.
+"Not by a long shot. Here, Mitchell, give us a
+speech. Home! we don't want to drink <hi rend="font-style: italic">to</hi> it, but
+we do want to drink to it <hi rend="font-style: italic">here</hi>."</p>
+
+<p>"Home!" said Mitchell, rising with his glass in
+his hand. "Home! here's to home, and I'll drink
+to it in anything but a cab. Home, Aunt Mary
+and gentlemen, is the place where one may go
+<pb n="210" /><anchor id="Pg210" />when every other place is closed. As long as any
+other place is open, however, I do not recommend
+going home. The contrast is always sharp and
+bitter and to be avoided until unavoidable circumstances,
+over which we possess but little control,
+force us to give our address to the man who drives
+and let him drive us to the last place on the map.
+And so I drink to that last place&mdash;home; and here's
+to it, not now, but a good deal later, and not then
+unless what must be has got to result."</p>
+
+<p>Mitchell paused and they all drank.</p>
+
+<p>"Me next now," exclaimed Burnett, jumping to
+his feet. "I'm going to make a speech at my own
+dinner, and as a good speech is best made off-hand,
+I've picked out an off-hand subject and arise to give
+you 'Lucinda.' Having never met her I feel able
+to say nothing good about her and I call the company
+present to witness that I shall say nothing
+bad either. I gather from what I have had a stray
+chance of picking up that Lucinda is all that she
+should be, and nothing frisqué. The latter quality
+is too bad, but it's not my fault. Therefore,
+I say again 'Lucinda', and here's to her very good
+health. May she never regret that Fate has given
+her no chance to have anything to regret."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary applauded this speech heartily even
+if she hadn't quite caught the whole of it and had
+no idea of whom it was about.
+<pb n="211" /><anchor id="Pg211" /></p>
+
+<p>"Who's goin' to speak now?" she asked
+anxiously.</p>
+
+<p>"I am," said Clover modestly. "I rise to
+propose the health of our honored guest, Miss
+Watkins. We all know what kin she is to one of
+us, and we all weep that she didn't do as well by the
+rest of us. Aunt Mary! Glasses down!"</p>
+
+<p>"You can't drink this, you know, Aunt Mary,"
+said Jack,&mdash;"it's bad taste to drink to yourself."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't want to drink," said Aunt Mary,
+beaming,&mdash;"I like to watch you."</p>
+
+<p>"Here's to Aunt Mary's liking to watch us!"
+cried Clover.</p>
+
+<p>"No," said Burnett rising, "don't. It's time
+to go and get the salad now."</p>
+
+<p>"We'd ought to have the automobile for this
+party," said Aunt Mary, and everyone applauded
+her idea, as they rose and gathered up their belongings.</p>
+
+<p>It was a droll procession of men with mice and
+a lady with a parrot that got under way and moved
+in among the Japanese fans and swinging lanterns
+of the next room in the suite of Burnett's friend.
+Five little individual tables were laid there and on
+each table lay a Japanese creature of some sort
+which&mdash;being opened somewhere&mdash;revealed salad
+within.
+<pb n="212" /><anchor id="Pg212" /></p>
+
+<p>"Well, I never did!" exclaimed the guest;
+"this dinner ought to be put in a book!"</p>
+
+<p>"We'll put it in ourselves first," said Mitchell.
+"I never believe in booking any attraction until it
+has been tried on a select few. Burnett having
+selected me for one of this few, I vote we begin on
+the salad."</p>
+
+<p>They began forthwith.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary suddenly stopped eating.</p>
+
+<p>"Some one called," she said.</p>
+
+<p>"It's the parrot," said Jack; "I heard him
+before."</p>
+
+<p>"What does he say?" said Mitchell.</p>
+
+<p>"Listen and you'll find out," said Jack.</p>
+
+<p>They all listened and presently the parrot said
+solemnly:</p>
+
+<p>"Now see what you've done!" and relapsed
+into silence.</p>
+
+<p>"What does he mean?" Aunt Mary asked.</p>
+
+<p>"He's referring to his own affairs," said Burnett;
+"come on&mdash;let's get coffee now!"</p>
+
+<p>They all adjourned to a tiny room lined with
+posters and decorated with pipe racks, and there
+had ice cream in the form of bulls and bears,
+and coffee of the strongest variety. And then cordials
+and cigarettes.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, where shall we go to first?" asked Burnett
+when all were well lit up. No one would
+<pb n="213" /><anchor id="Pg213" />have guessed that he had ever felt used up in
+all his life before.</p>
+
+<p>"To a roof garden," said Mitchell. "We'll
+go to a roof garden first, and then we'll go to more
+roof gardens, and after that if the spirit moves
+we'll go to yet a few roof gardens in addition.
+We'll show our dear aunt what wonders can be
+done with roofs, and to-morrow she'll wonder what
+was done with her."</p>
+
+<p>"That's the bill," said Clover, "and let's go
+now. I can see from the general manner of my
+mouse that he's dying to get out and make his way
+in the wide world."</p>
+
+<p>"Mine the same," said Mitchell; "by George,
+it worries me to see such restless, feverish manners
+in what I had supposed would be a quiet
+domestic companion. It presages a distracted existence.
+But come on."</p>
+
+<p>They all rose.</p>
+
+<p>"Where are we goin' now?" asked Aunt Mary.</p>
+
+<p>"To a roof garden," said Jack, "and we're
+going to take the whole menagerie, Aunt Mary.
+We're going to get put in the papers. That's the
+great stunt,&mdash;to get put in the papers."</p>
+
+<p>"But we'll leave the megaphones," said Mitchell.
+"I won't go about with a mouse and a
+megaphone. People might think I looked silly.
+People are so queer."
+<pb n="214" /><anchor id="Pg214" /></p>
+
+<p>"Put the mouse in the megaphone," suggested
+Burnett. "That's the way my mother taught me
+to pack when I was a kid. You put your tooth
+brush in a shoe, and the shoe in a sleeve and then
+turn the sleeve inside out. Oh, I tell you&mdash;what is
+home without a mother?&mdash;Put the mouse in the
+megaphone and stop up both ends. What are your
+hands and your mouth for?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," said Mitchell, "I think I see myself so
+handling a megaphone that the mouse doesn't run
+out either end or into my mouth. My mouth is a
+good mouth and it's served me well and I won't
+turn it over to a mouse at this late day."</p>
+
+<p>"Let's keep the mice in their cages," said
+Clover, and as he spoke he dropped his.</p>
+
+<p>"Now see what you've done!" said the parrot.</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't hurt it," said Clover. "Come on
+now."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, come on," said Burnett. "It's long after
+ten o'clock. You want to remember that even roof
+gardens are not eternally on tap."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I'm trying to hurry all I can," said
+Mitchell. "I'm the picture of patience scurrying
+for dear life only unable to lay hands on her
+gloves."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't catch what's the trouble," said Aunt
+Mary to Jack.</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: center"><anchor id="image05" />
+<figure rend="w95" url="images/image05.png">
+<head rend="text-align: center">"The carriage stopped three hundred feet below the level of a roof-garden."</head>
+<figDesc>Illustration 5</figDesc></figure></p><p></p>
+
+<p>"Nothing's the trouble," said Jack, "everything's
+<pb n="215" /><anchor id="Pg215" />fine and dandy. We're going out now.
+Time of your life, Aunt Mary, time of your
+life!"</p>
+
+<p>They telephoned for a carriage and all got in.
+Then Clover slammed the door.</p>
+
+<p>"Now see what you've done!" said the parrot.</p>
+
+<p>"Is he going to keep saying that?" Burnett
+asked.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know," said Jack. "It comes in pretty
+pat, don't it?"</p>
+
+<p>"Makes me think of my mother," said Clover.
+"I wish it wouldn't."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't catch who's sayin' what," said Aunt
+Mary.</p>
+
+<p>"Nobody's saying anything, Miss Watkins,"
+roared Mitchell; "we are all talking airy nothings
+just to pass the time o' day."</p>
+
+<p>The carriage stopped three hundred feet below
+the level of a roof garden.</p>
+
+<p>"We get out here," said Burnett.</p>
+
+<p>They all got out and went up in an elevator.</p>
+
+<p>"Seems to be a good many goin' to the same
+place," said Aunt Mary.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," said Mitchell, "a good many people
+generally go to places that are great places for a
+good many people to go to."</p>
+
+<p>"You ought not to end with a preposition,"
+said Clover.
+<pb n="216" /><anchor id="Pg216" /></p>
+
+<p>"There, I left my ear-trumpet in the carriage!"
+said Aunt Mary.</p>
+
+<p>There was a pause of consternation. No one
+spoke except the parrot.</p>
+
+<p>"We know what she's done without your telling
+us," said Clover, addressing the bird. "The
+question is what to do next?"</p>
+
+<p>Jack went back downstairs and found the carriage
+waiting in hopes of picking up another
+load. He lost no time in personally picking up the
+ear-trumpet and returning to his friends.</p>
+
+<p>Then they all proceeded above and bought a
+table and turned their chairs to the stage, where
+the attraction just at that moment was a quartette
+of pretty girls.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll tell you what we'll do," said Burnett the
+instant the girls began to sing. "Let's each tie
+a card to a mouse and present them to the girls!"</p>
+
+<p>The suggestion found favor and was followed
+out to the letter. But when the girls were through
+and the Chinaman who followed them on the programme
+was also over, the pleasures of life in that
+spot palled upon the party.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, come," said Burnett, "let's go somewhere
+else. Let's go out in the air."</p>
+
+<p>His suggestion found favor. And they sallied
+forth and visited another roof garden, a theater
+where they saw the last quarter of the fourth act,
+<pb n="217" /><anchor id="Pg217" />a place where Aunt Mary was given a gondola
+ride, and a place where she was given something
+in the shape of light refreshments.</p>
+
+<p>Then, becoming thirsty, they ordered a few
+White Horses and Red Horses and the Necks of
+yet other horses, but Aunt Mary declined the horses
+of all colors and Mitchell upheld her.</p>
+
+<p>"That's right," he said, "I'm a great believer
+in knowing when you've had enough, and I'm sure
+you've all had so much too much that I know that
+I must have had enough and that she's better
+off with none at all."</p>
+
+<p>"I reckon you're right," said Clover. "I've
+had enough, surely. I can't see over my pile of
+little saucers, and when I can't see over my pile of
+little saucers I'm always positive that I've had
+enough."</p>
+
+<p>Jack laughed and then ceased laughing and drew
+down the corners of his mouth.</p>
+
+<p>"Why do people sit on chairs?" Clover asked
+just then. "Why don't everyone sit on the
+floor? You never feel as if you might slip off
+the floor."</p>
+
+<p>"Ah," said Mitchell, "if we were not always
+trying to rise above Nature we should all be sitting
+where Nature intended,&mdash;when we weren't swinging
+by our tails and picking cocoanuts."</p>
+
+<p>"Come on and let's go somewhere else," said
+<pb n="218" /><anchor id="Pg218" />Burnett. "Every time I look at somebody it's
+someone else and that makes me nervous."</p>
+
+<p>"Now see what you've done!" said the parrot.</p>
+
+<p>"Did you know his long suit when you bought
+him?" Clover asked Burnett.</p>
+
+<p>"No," said Burnett; "they told me that he
+didn't use slang and that was all."</p>
+
+<p>It was well along in the evening&mdash;or night&mdash;and
+a brisk discussion arose as to where to go next.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll tell you," said Clover, "we'll take a ride.
+Let me see what time is it?&mdash;12.30. Just the
+time for a drive. We'll take three cabs and sally
+forth and drive up and down and back and forth
+in the cool night air."</p>
+
+<p>"And jews-harps!" cried Burnett. "Oh, I
+say, there's a bully idea! We'll go to a drug
+store and buy some jews-harps and play on them
+as we drive along. We'll each sing our own tune,
+and the effect will be so novel. Let's do it."</p>
+
+<p>"Jews-harps&mdash;" said Clover thoughtfully,
+"jews-harps for three cabs&mdash;that'll make&mdash;let me
+see&mdash;that'll make&mdash;" he hesitated.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, the driver will make the change," said
+Burnett impatiently. "Come on. If we're going
+to have the cabs and jews-harps it's time to
+get out and take the stump in the good cause."</p>
+
+<p>"Where's my ear-trumpet?" said Aunt Mary,
+blankly,&mdash;"it's been left somewhere."
+<pb n="219" /><anchor id="Pg219" /></p>
+
+<p>"No, it hasn't," said Mitchell. "It's here!
+I'm holding it for you. It's much easier holding it
+than picking it up. It seems so slippery to-night."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm not going out to get the cabs," said Clover.
+"I thought of the idea and someone else must
+work it out. I'm opposed to working after time
+and I call time at midnight."</p>
+
+<p>Mitchell rose with a depressed air.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll go," he said. "I feel the need of a walk.
+When I feel the need of anything I always take it
+and I've needed and taken so freely to-night that
+I need to take a walk to&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't think it funny to talk that way," said
+Burnett a little heatedly. "If you want to get the
+cabs why get the cabs. I'm going to get them, too,
+and I reckon we can get them combined just as easy
+as alone."</p>
+
+<p>"I will go with you," said his friend solemnly.
+"I will accompany you because I feel the need&mdash;"
+He stopped and turned his hat over and
+over. "I know there's a hole to put my head
+into," he declared, "but I can't just put my hand&mdash;I
+mean my head&mdash;on to&mdash;I mean, into&mdash;it."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you expect to find a brass hand pointing to
+it?" said Burnett testily. "Come on!"</p>
+
+<p>"Three cabs and five&mdash;or was it six?&mdash;jews-harps?"
+continued Mitchell dreamily. "It must
+have been six, five for we five, and one for Lord
+<pb n="220" /><anchor id="Pg220" />Chesterfield&mdash;but where is Lord Chesterfield?"
+he asked suddenly with a disturbed glance around.
+"I hope he hasn't deserted and gone home."</p>
+
+<p>"Come on, come on!" said Burnett. "There
+won't be a sober cab left if we don't hurry while
+everything is still able to stand up."</p>
+
+<p>This reasoning seemed to alarm Mitchell and
+he went out with him at once.</p>
+
+<p>"My head feels awfully," said Clover to Jack.
+"It sort of grinds and grates&mdash;does yours?"</p>
+
+<p>Jack stared straight ahead and made no reply.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm goin' home no more to roam," said Aunt
+Mary slowly and sadly,&mdash;"I'm goin' home no
+more to roam, no more to sin an' sorrow. I'm
+goin' home no more to roam&mdash;I'm goin' home
+to-morrow. O hum!" She heaved a heavy sigh.</p>
+
+<p>"Now see what you've done!" said the parrot
+with emphasis.</p>
+
+<p>"Never mind," said Clover bitterly. "Better
+people than you have gone home before now; I
+used to do it myself before I was old enough to
+know worse. Will you excuse me if I say, 'Damn
+this buzzing in my head?'"</p>
+
+<p>"I know how you feel," said Aunt Mary sympathetically.
+"Don't you want me to ring for the
+porter and have him make up your berth right
+away?"</p>
+
+<p>Clover didn't seem to hear. His eyes were
+<pb n="221" /><anchor id="Pg221" />roving moodily about the room; they looked
+almost as faded as his mustache.</p>
+
+<p>"Seems to me they're gone a long time," said
+Jack presently, twisting a little in his seat. "It
+never takes me so long to get a cab. I hold up my
+hand&mdash;the man stops&mdash;and I get in&mdash;what's the
+matter, Aunt Mary?" He asked the question in
+sudden alarm at seeing Aunt Mary bury her face
+hastily in her handkerchief.</p>
+
+<p>"What's the matter?" he repeated loudly.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't mind me," said Aunt Mary sobbing.
+"It's just that I happened to just think of Lu&mdash;Lu&mdash;Lucinda&mdash;and
+somehow I don't seem to have
+no strength to bear it."</p>
+
+<p>"Split the handkerchief between us," said
+Clover. "I want to cry, too, and there's no time
+like the present for doing what you want to do."</p>
+
+<p>"Rot!" said Jack, "look here&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>He was interrupted by the return of the embassy,
+Mitchell bearing the jews-harps.</p>
+
+<p>"What's the matter?" Burnett asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Nothing," said Clover; "we were so worried
+over you, that's all." Burnett called for the bill
+and found that he had run out of cash; "Or maybe
+I've had my pocket picked," he suggested. "I'm
+beginning to be in just the mood in which I always
+get my pocket picked."</p>
+
+<p>Jack produced a roll of bills and settled for the
+<pb n="222" /><anchor id="Pg222" />refreshments. Then they all started down stairs
+as Aunt Mary wouldn't risk an elevator going
+down.</p>
+
+<p>"It's all right comin' up," she said, "but if it
+broke when you were going down where'd
+you be?"</p>
+
+<p>"In the elevator," said Clover. "I'd never
+jump, I know that."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I've left my ear-trumpet," said Aunt
+Mary.</p>
+
+<p>"Let's draw lots to see who goes back?" Burnett
+suggested.</p>
+
+<p>They drew and the lot fell to Clover.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm not going back," he said coldly. "I
+haven't got the energy. Let her apply the megaphone."</p>
+
+<p>Jack went back.</p>
+
+<p>Then they all got into the street and into the
+cabs. Aunt Mary and Jack went first, Mitchell
+and Burnett second, and Clover brought up the
+rear alone.</p>
+
+<p>They set off and it must be admitted that the
+effect of the three cabs going single file one after
+another with their five occupants giving forth a
+most imperfect version of his or her favorite tune,
+was at once novel and awe-inspiring. But like all
+sweet things upon this earth the concert was not of
+long endurance. It was only a few minutes before
+<pb n="223" /><anchor id="Pg223" />the duos ceased utterly to duo and the soloist in the
+rear fell sound asleep. For several blocks there
+was a mournful and tell-tale lack of harmony upon
+the air and then the three young men seemed to
+have exhausted their mouths and all lapsed into a
+more or less conscious state of quietude.</p>
+
+<p>Only Aunt Mary was indefatigable. Like Cleopatra,
+age seemed to have no power to stale her
+infinite variety, and leaning back in her own corner
+she continued to placidly and peacefully intone with
+disregard for time and tune which never ruffled
+a wrinkle. She hadn't played on a jews-harp in
+sixty years, and being deaf she was pleasantly astonished
+at how well she still did it. Jack leaned in
+his corner with folded arms; he was deeply conscious
+of wishing that it was the next day&mdash;any
+day&mdash;any other day&mdash;for the week had been a
+wearing one and he could not but be mortally glad
+that it was so nearly over. The task of fitting
+the plan of Aunt Mary's revelries to the measure
+of her personal capacity had been a very hard one
+and his soul panted for relief therefrom. It is
+one thing to undertake a task and another thing
+to persevere to its successful completion. Aunt
+Mary's nephew was tired&mdash;very tired.</p>
+
+<p>A little later he felt a weight against him; he
+looked; it was Aunt Mary's head,&mdash;she was oblivious
+there on his bosom.
+<pb n="224" /><anchor id="Pg224" /></p>
+
+<p>He heard a voice; it was the parrot.</p>
+
+<p>"Now see what you've done," it said in sepulchral
+tones.</p>
+
+<p>They reached the house, bore the honored guest
+within, and delivered her to Janice.</p>
+
+<p>"You can have that parrot," Jack called back
+to the cabman. "He's guaranteed against slang."</p>
+
+<p>The cabman drove away.</p>
+
+<p>Janice received them with a look which might
+have been construed in many ways, but they were
+all far past construing and the look fell to the
+ground unheeded.</p>
+
+<p>And again Aunt Mary was tucked carefully up
+to dream herself rested once more.</p>
+</div>
+<pb n="225" /><anchor id="Pg225" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+
+<head>Chapter Eighteen - A Departure And A Return</head>
+
+
+<p>The next day poor Aunt Mary had to
+undergo the ordeal of being obliged to
+turn her face away from all those joys
+which had so suddenly and brilliantly altered the
+hues of life for her. It pretty nearly used her up.
+She took her reviving decoction with tears standing
+in her eyes,&mdash;and sat down the glass with a bursting
+sigh. "My, but I wish I knew when I'd be
+taking any more of this?" she said to Janice.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, you'll come back to the city some day,"
+said the maid hopefully.</p>
+
+<p>"Come back!" said Aunt Mary. "Well, I
+should say that I would come back! Why&mdash;I&mdash;?"
+she stopped suddenly, "never mind," she said
+after a minute, "only you'll see that I'll come
+back. Pretty surely&mdash;pretty positively."</p>
+
+<p>Janice was folding her dresses into the small
+trunk. Aunt Mary contemplated the green plaid
+waist with an air of mournful reflection.</p>
+
+<p>"I believe I'll always keep that waist rolled
+away," she murmured. "I shall like to shake it
+out once in a while to remind me of things."
+<pb n="226" /><anchor id="Pg226" /></p>
+
+<p>"Hand me my purse," she said to the maid five
+minutes afterwards. "Here's twenty-five dollars
+an' I want you to take it and get anythin' you
+like with it."</p>
+
+<p>"But that's too much," Janice cried, putting her
+hands behind her and shaking her head.</p>
+
+<p>"Take it," said Aunt Mary imperiously;
+"you're well worth it."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't like to&mdash;truly," said the girl.</p>
+
+<p>"Take it," said Aunt Mary sternly.</p>
+
+<p>So Janice took it and thanked her.</p>
+
+<p>The train went about 4 p.m., and it seemed
+wise to give the traveller a quiet luncheon in her
+own room and rally her escort afterwards.</p>
+
+<p>When she had eaten and drank she sighed again
+and thoughtfully folded her napkin.</p>
+
+<p>"I've had a nice time," she said, gazing fixedly
+out of the window. "I've had a nice time, and I
+guess those young men have enjoyed it, too. I
+rather think my bein' here has given them a chance
+to go to a good many places where they'd never
+have thought of goin' alone. I'm pretty sure
+of it."</p>
+
+<p>Janice made no reply.</p>
+
+<p>"But it's all over now," said Aunt Mary with
+something that sounded suspiciously like a sob in
+her voice, "an' I haven't got only just one consolation
+left an' that's&mdash;" again she paused.
+<pb n="227" /><anchor id="Pg227" /></p>
+
+<p>Janice carried the tray away and the next minute
+they all burst in bearing their parting gifts in
+their arms.</p>
+
+<p>The gifts were an indiscriminate collection of
+flowers, candy, magazines, books, etc.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary opened her closet door and showed
+the four dressing-cases. Everyone but Jack was
+mightily surprised and everyone was mightily
+pleased. The room looked like Christmas, and the
+faces, too.</p>
+
+<p>"I shall die with my head on the hair brush,"
+Clover declared, and Mitchell went down on his
+knees and kissed Aunt Mary's hand.</p>
+
+<p>"You must all come an' see me if you ever go
+anywhere near," said the old lady. "Now
+promise."</p>
+
+<p>"We promise," they yelled in unison, and then
+they asked in beautiful rhythm "What's the matter
+with Aunt Mary?" and yelled the answer
+"She's all right!" with a fervor that nearly blew
+out the window.</p>
+
+<p>"I declare," Aunt Mary exclaimed, as the
+echoes settled back among the furniture, "when
+I think of Lucinda seems as if&mdash;" she paused;
+further speech was for the nonce impossible.</p>
+
+<p>"The carriages are ready," Janice announced
+at the door, and from then until they reached the
+train all was confusion and bustle.
+<pb n="228" /><anchor id="Pg228" /></p>
+
+<p>Only the train whistle could drown the farewells
+which they poured into her ear-trumpet, and
+when they could hover in her drawing-room no
+longer they stood outside the window as long as
+the window was there to stand outside of. And
+then they watched it until it was out of sight, and
+after that turned solemnly away.</p>
+
+<p>"By grab!" said Burnett, "I think she ought
+to leave us all fortunes. I never was so completely
+done up in my life."</p>
+
+<p>"My throat's blistered," said Clover feebly;
+"I'm going to stand on my head and gargle with
+salve until my throat's healed."</p>
+
+<p>"I shall never shine on the team again," said
+Mitchell. "I shall hire out for bleacher work.
+He who has successfully conversed with Aunt
+Mary need not fear to attack a Wagner Opera
+single-handed."</p>
+
+<p>Jack did not say anything. His heart was
+athirst for Mrs. Rosscott.</p>
+
+<p>She was back in her own library the next night,
+and he rushed thither as soon as his first day's
+labor was over. She was prettier and her eyes
+were sweeter and brighter than ever as she rose
+to meet him and held out&mdash;first one hand, and
+then both. He took the one hand and then the
+two and the longing that possessed him was so
+overwhelming that only his acute consideration
+<pb n="229" /><anchor id="Pg229" />for all she was to him kept him from taking more
+yet.</p>
+
+<p>"And the week's over," she said, when she had
+dragged her fingers out of his and gone and nestled
+down upon the divan, among the pillows that
+rivaled each other in their attempts to get closer
+to her, "the week's all over and our aunt is
+gone."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," he said, rolling his favorite chair up
+near to her seat, "all is over and well over."</p>
+
+<p>She smiled and he smiled too.</p>
+
+<p>"She must have enjoyed it," she said thoughtfully.</p>
+
+<p>"Enjoyed it!" said Jack. "She won't like Paradise
+in comparison."</p>
+
+<p>"And you've been a good boy," said Mrs. Rosscott,
+regarding him merrily. "You've played
+your part well."</p>
+
+<p>He rose to his feet and put his hand to his
+temple.</p>
+
+<p>"I salute my general," he said. "I was well
+trained in the maneuver."</p>
+
+<p>"It's odd," said Mrs. Rosscott thoughtfully.
+"It was really so simple. We are only women
+after all, whether it is I&mdash;or Aunt Mary&mdash;or all
+the rest of the world. We do so crave the knowledge
+that someone cares for us&mdash;for our hours&mdash;for
+our pleasures. It isn't the bonbons&mdash;it's that
+<pb n="230" /><anchor id="Pg230" />someone troubled to buy the bonbons because he
+thought that they would please <hi rend="font-style: italic">us</hi>."</p>
+
+<p>"Doesn't a man have the same feeling?" Jack
+asked. "It isn't the tea we come for&mdash;it's the
+knowledge that someone bothers to make it and
+sugar it and cream it."</p>
+
+<p>"I wasn't laughing," said she.</p>
+
+<p>"I wasn't laughing either," said he.</p>
+
+<p>"But it's true," she went on, "and I think the
+solution of many unhappy puzzles lies there. Don't
+forget if you ever have a wife to pay lots of attention
+to her."</p>
+
+<p>"I always have paid lots of attention to her,
+haven't I?" he demanded.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Rosscott shook her head.</p>
+
+<p>"We won't discuss that," she said. "We'll
+stick to Aunt Mary. Aunt Mary is a rock whose
+foundation is firm; when it comes to your relations
+toward other women&mdash;" she stopped,
+shrugging her shoulders, and he understood.</p>
+
+<p>"But it's going to come out all right now, I'm
+sure," she went on after a minute, "and I'm so
+glad&mdash;so very glad&mdash;that the chance was given
+to me to right the wrong that I was the
+cause of."</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: center"><anchor id="image06" />
+<figure rend="w95" url="images/image06.png">
+<head rend="text-align: center">"'And now the fun's all over and the work begins,' she said, looking down."</head>
+<figDesc>Illustration 6</figDesc></figure></p><p></p>
+
+<p>He looked at her and his eyes almost burned,
+they were so strong in their leaping desire to fling
+himself at her feet and adore her goodness and
+<pb n="231" /><anchor id="Pg231" />sweetness and worldliness and wisdom from that
+vantage-ground of worship.</p>
+
+<p>She choked a little at the glance and put her
+hands together in her lap with a quick catching at
+self-control.</p>
+
+<p>"And now the fun's all over and the work
+begins," she said, looking down.</p>
+
+<p>"I know that," he asseverated.</p>
+
+<p>She lifted up her eyes and looked at him so very
+kindly. And then&mdash;after a little pause to gain
+command of word and thought she spoke again,
+slowly.</p>
+
+<p>"Listen," she said, this time very softly, but
+very seriously. "I want to tell you one thing and I
+want to tell it to you now. I had a good and sufficient
+reason for helping you out with Aunt Mary;
+but&mdash;" She hesitated.</p>
+
+<p>"But?" he asked.</p>
+
+<p>"But I've no reason at all for helping your Aunt
+Mary out with you, unless you prove worthy of
+her, and&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"And?"</p>
+
+<p>She looked at him, and shook her head slightly.</p>
+
+<p>"I won't say 'and of me,'" she said finally.</p>
+
+<p>"Why not?" he asked, a storm of tempestuous
+impatience raging behind his lips. "Do say it,"
+he pleaded.</p>
+
+<p>"No, I can't say it. It wouldn't be right.
+<pb n="232" /><anchor id="Pg232" />I don't mean it, and so I won't say it. I'll only
+tell you that I can promise nothing as things
+are, and that unless you go at life from now on
+with a tremendous energy I never shall even dream
+of a possible promising."</p>
+
+<p>He rose to his feet and towered above her, tall
+and straight and handsome, and very grave.</p>
+
+<p>"All right," he said simply. "I'll remember."</p>
+
+<p>Ever so much later that evening he rose to bid
+her good-night.</p>
+
+<p>"Whatever comes, you've been an angel to me,"
+he said in that hasty five seconds that her hand was
+his.</p>
+
+<p>"Shall I ever regret it?" she asked, looking up
+to his eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"Never," he declared earnestly, "never,
+never. I can swear that, and I shall be able to
+swear the same thing when I'm as old as my Aunt
+Mary."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Rosscott lowered her eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"Who could ask more?" she said softly.</p>
+
+<p>"I could," said Jack&mdash;"but I'll wait first."</p>
+</div>
+<pb n="233" /><anchor id="Pg233" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+
+<head>Chapter Nineteen - Aunt Mary's Return</head>
+
+
+<p>Joshua was at the station to meet his
+mistress, and Lucinda, full to the brim with
+curiosity, sat on the back seat of the carryall.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary quitted the train with a dignity
+which was sufficiently overpowering to counteract
+the effect of her bonnet's being somewhat awry.
+She greeted Joshua with a chill perfunctoriness
+that was indescribable, and her glance glided completely
+over Lucinda and faded away in the open
+country on the further side of her.</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda did not care. Lucinda was of a hardy
+stock and stormy glances neither bent nor broke
+her spirit.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm glad to see you come back looking so
+well," she screamed, when Aunt Mary was in and
+they were off.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary raised her eyebrows in a manner
+that appeared a trifle indignant, and riveted her
+gaze on the hindquarters of the horse.</p>
+
+<p>"I thought it was more like heaven myself,"
+she said coldly. "Not that your opinion matters
+any to me, Lucinda."
+<pb n="234" /><anchor id="Pg234" /></p>
+
+<p>Then she leaned forward and poked the
+driver.</p>
+
+<p>"Joshua!" she said.</p>
+
+<p>Joshua jumped in his seat at the asperity of her
+poke and her tone.</p>
+
+<p>"What is it?" he said hastily.</p>
+
+<p>"Jus' 's soon as we get home I want you to take
+the saw&mdash;that little, sharp one, you know&mdash;and
+dock Billy's tail. Cut it off as close as you can;
+do you hear?"</p>
+
+<p>"I hear," was the startled answer.</p>
+
+<p>"Did you have a good time?" Lucinda had the
+temerity to ask, after a minute.</p>
+
+<p>"I guess I could if I tried," the lady replied;
+"but I'm too tired to try now."</p>
+
+<p>"How did you leave Mr. Jack?"</p>
+
+<p>"I couldn't stay forever, could I?" asked the
+traveler impatiently. "I thought that a week was
+long enough for the first time, anyhow."</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda subsided and the rest of the drive was
+taken in silence. When they reached the house
+Aunt Mary enveloped everything in one glance of
+blended weariness, scorn and contempt, and then
+made short work of getting to bed, where she slept
+the luxurious and dreamless sleep of the unjust until
+late that afternoon.</p>
+
+<p>"My, but she's come back a terror!" Lucinda
+cried to Joshua in a high whisper when he brought
+<pb n="235" /><anchor id="Pg235" />in the trunk. "She looks like nothin' was goin'
+to be good enough for her from now on."</p>
+
+<p>"Nothin' ain't goin' to be good enough for
+her," said Joshua calmly.</p>
+
+<p>"What are we goin' to do, then?" asked
+Lucinda.</p>
+
+<p>"We'll have enough to do," said Joshua, in a
+tone that was portentous in the extreme, and then
+he placed the trunk in its proper position for
+unpacking and went away, leaving Lucinda to
+unpack it.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary awoke just as the faithful servant
+was unrolling the green plaid waist, and the instant
+that she spoke it was plain that her attitude
+toward life in general was become strangely and
+vigorously changed, and that for Lucinda the rack
+was to be newly oiled and freshly racking.</p>
+
+<p>This attitude was not in any degree altered by
+the unexpected arrival of Arethusa that evening.
+Strange tales had reached Arethusa's ears, and she
+had flown on the wings of steam and coal dust to
+see what under the sun it all meant. Aunt Mary
+was not one bit rejoiced to see her and the glare
+which she directed over the edge of the counterpane
+bore testimony to the truth of this statement.</p>
+
+<p>"Whatever did you come for?" she demanded
+inhospitably. "Lucinda didn't send for you, did
+she?"
+<pb n="236" /><anchor id="Pg236" /></p>
+
+<p>Arethusa screamed the best face that she could
+onto her visit, but Aunt Mary listened with an
+inattention that was anything but flattering.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't feel like talkin' over my trip," she said,
+when she saw her niece's lips cease to move. "Of
+course I enjoyed myself because I was with Jack,
+but as to what we did an' said you couldn't understand
+it all if I did tell you, so what's the use of
+botherin'."</p>
+
+<p>Arethusa looked neutral, calm and curious. But
+Aunt Mary frowned and shook her head.</p>
+
+<p>"S'long as you're here, though, I suppose you
+may as well make yourself useful," she said a few
+minutes later. "Come to think of it, there's an
+errand I want you to do for me. I want you to go
+to Boston the very first thing to-morrow morning
+an' buy me some cotton."</p>
+
+<p>Arethusa stared blankly.</p>
+
+<p>"Well," said the aunt, "if you can't hear, you'd
+better take my ear-trumpet and I'll say it over
+again."</p>
+
+<p>"What kind of cotton?" Arethusa yelled.</p>
+
+<p>"Not <hi rend="font-style: italic">stockin's!</hi>" said Aunt Mary; "Cotton!
+Cotton! C-O-T-T-O-N! It beats the Dutch
+how deaf everyone is gettin', an' if I had your ears
+in particular, Arethusa, I'd certainly hire a carpenter
+to get at 'em with a bit-stalk. Jus's if you didn't
+know as well as I do how many stockin's I've got
+<pb n="237" /><anchor id="Pg237" />already! I should think you'd quit bein' so heedless,
+an' use your commonsense, anyhow. I've
+found commonsense a very handy thing in talkin'
+always. Always."</p>
+
+<p>Arethusa launched herself full tilt into the ear-trumpet.</p>
+
+<p>"What&mdash;kind&mdash;of&mdash;cotton?" she asked in that
+key of voice which makes the crowd pause in a
+panic.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary looked disgusted.</p>
+
+<p>"The Boston kind," she said, nipping her lips.</p>
+
+<p>Arethusa took a double hitch on her larynx, and
+tried again.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you mean thread?"</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary's disgust deepened visibly.</p>
+
+<p>"If I meant silk I guess I wouldn't say cotton.
+I might just happen to say silk. I've been in the
+habit of saying silk when I meant silk and cotton
+when I meant cotton, for quite a number of
+years, and I might not have changed to-day&mdash;I
+might just happen to not have. I might not have&mdash;maybe."</p>
+
+<p>Arethusa withered under this bitter irony.</p>
+
+<p>"How many spools do you want?" she asked
+in a meek but piercing howl.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't care," said Aunt Mary loftily. "I
+don't care how many&mdash;or what color&mdash;or what
+number. I just want some Boston cotton, and I
+<pb n="238" /><anchor id="Pg238" />want to see you settin' out to get it pretty promptly
+to-morrow morning."</p>
+
+<p>"But if you only want some cotton," Arethusa
+yelled, with a force which sent crimson waves all
+over her, "why can't I get it in the village?"</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary shot one look at her niece and the
+latter felt the concussion.</p>
+
+<p>"Because&mdash;I&mdash;want&mdash;you&mdash;to&mdash;get&mdash;it&mdash;in&mdash;Boston,"
+she said, filling the breaks between her
+words with a concentrated essence of acerbity such
+as even she had never displayed before. "When
+I say a thing, I mean it pretty generally. Quite
+often&mdash;most always. I want that cotton and it's
+to be bought in Boston. There's a train that goes
+in at seven-forty-five, and if you don't favor the
+idea of ridin' on it you can take the express that
+goes by at six-five."</p>
+
+<p>Arethusa pressed her hands very tightly together
+and carried the discussion no further. She went to
+bed early and rose early the next morning and
+Joshua drove her in town to the seven-forty-five.</p>
+
+<p>"It doesn't seem to me that my aunt is very
+well," the niece said during the drive. "What do
+you think?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't think anything about her," said Joshua
+with great candor. "If I was to give to thinkin'
+I'd o' moved out to Chicago an' been scalpin'
+Indians to-day."
+<pb n="239" /><anchor id="Pg239" /></p>
+
+<p>"I wonder if that trip to New York was good
+for her?" Arethusa wondered mildly.</p>
+
+<p>Joshua flicked Billy with the whip and refused to
+voice any opinion as to New York's effect on his
+mistress.</p>
+
+<p>Arethusa was well on her way to Boston when
+Aunt Mary's bell, rung with a sharp jangle, summoned
+Lucinda to open her bedroom blinds. While
+Lucinda was leaning far out and attempting to
+cause said blinds to catch on the hooks, which
+habitually held them back against the side of the
+house, her mistress addressed her with a suddeness
+which showed that she had awakened with her wits
+surprisingly well in hand.</p>
+
+<p>"Where's Joshua? Is he got back from Arethusa?
+Answer me, Lucinda."</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda drew herself in through the open window
+with an alacrity remarkable for one of her
+years.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, he's back," she yelled.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary looked at her with a sort of incensed
+patience.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, what's he doin'? If he's back, where is
+he? Lucinda, if you knew how hard it is for me to
+keep quiet you'd answer when I asked things. Why
+in Heaven's name don't you say suthin'? Anythin'?
+Anythin' but nothin', that is."</p>
+
+<p>"He's mowin'," Lucinda shrieked.
+<pb n="240" /><anchor id="Pg240" /></p>
+
+<p>"Sewin'!" exclaimed Aunt Mary. "What's he
+sewin'? Where's he sewin'? Have you stopped
+doin' his darnin'?"</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda gathered breath by compressing her
+sides with her hands, and then replied, directing her
+voice right into the ear-trumpet:</p>
+
+<p>"He's mowin' the back lawn."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary winced and shivered.</p>
+
+<p>"My heavens, Lucinda!" she exclaimed,
+sharply. "I wish't there was a school to teach outsiders
+the use of an ear-trumpet. They can't seem
+to hit the medium between either mumblin' or
+splittin' one's ear drums."</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda was too much out of breath from her
+effort to attempt any audible penitence. Her mistress
+continued:</p>
+
+<p>"Well, you find him wherever he is, and tell
+him to harness up the buggy and go and get Mr.
+Stebbins as quick as ever he can. Hurry!"</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda exited with a promptitude that fulfilled
+all that her lady's heart could wish. She found
+Joshua whetting his scythe.</p>
+
+<p>"She wants Mr. Stebbins right off," said
+Lucinda.</p>
+
+<p>"Then she'll get Mr. Stebbins right off," said
+Joshua. And he headed immediately for the barn.</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda ran along beside him. It did seem to
+Lucinda as if in compensation for her slavery to
+<pb n="241" /><anchor id="Pg241" />Aunt Mary she might have had a sympathizer in
+Joshua.</p>
+
+<p>"I guess she wants to change her will," she
+panted, very much out of breath.</p>
+
+<p>"Then she'll change her will," said Joshua.
+And as his steady gait was much quicker than poor
+Lucinda's halting amble, and as he saw no occasion
+to alter it, the conversation between them dwindled
+into space then and there.</p>
+
+<p>Half an hour later Billy went out of the drive
+at a swinging pace and an hour after that Mr.
+Stebbins was brought captive to Aunt Mary's
+throne.</p>
+
+<p>She welcomed him cordially; Lucinda was
+promptly locked out, and then the old lady and her
+lawyer spent a momentous hour together. Mr.
+Stebbins was taken into his client's fullest confidence;
+he was regaled with enough of the week's
+history to guess the rest; and he foresaw the outcome
+as he had foreseen it from the moment of the
+rupture.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary was very sincere in owning up to her
+own past errors.</p>
+
+<p>"I made a big mistake about the life that boy
+was leadin'," she said in the course of the conversation.
+"He took me everywhere where he was in
+the habit of goin', an' so far from its bein' wicked,
+I never enjoyed myself so much in my life. There
+<pb n="242" /><anchor id="Pg242" />ain't no harm in havin' fun, an' it does cost a lot of
+money. I can understand it all now, an' as I'm a
+great believer in settin' wrong right whenever you
+can, I want Jack put right in my will right off. I
+want&mdash;" and then were unfolded the glorious
+possibilities of the future for her youngest, petted
+nephew. He was not only to be reinstated in the
+will, but he was to reign supreme. The other four
+children were to be rich&mdash;very rich,&mdash;but Jack was
+to be <hi rend="font-style: italic">the</hi> heir.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Stebbins was well pleased. He was very
+fond of Jack and had always been particularly
+patient with him on that account. He felt that this
+was a personal reward of merit, for it cannot be
+denied that Jack had certainly cashed very large
+checks on the bank of his forbearance.</p>
+
+<p>When all was finished, and Joshua and Lucinda
+had been called in and had duly affixed their signatures
+to the important document, the buggy was
+brought to the door again and Mr. Stebbins stepped
+in and allowed himself to be replaced where they
+had taken him from.</p>
+
+<p>Joshua returned alone.</p>
+
+<p>"There, what did I tell you!" said Lucinda,
+who was waiting for him behind the wood-house,&mdash;"she
+did want to change her will."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, she changed it, didn't she?" said
+Joshua.
+<pb n="243" /><anchor id="Pg243" /></p>
+
+<p>"I guess she wants to give him all she's got,
+since that week in New York," said Lucinda.</p>
+
+<p>"Then she'll give him all she's got," said
+Joshua.</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda's eyes grew big.</p>
+
+<p>"An' she'll give it to you, too, if you don't look
+out and stay where you can hear her bell if she
+rings it," Joshua added, with his usual frankness,
+and then he whipped up Billy and drove on to the
+barn.</p>
+
+<p>Arethusa returned late in the afternoon, very
+warm, very wilted. Aunt Mary looked over the
+cotton purchase, and deigned to approve.</p>
+
+<p>"But, my heavens, Arethusa," she exclaimed
+immediately afterwards, "if you had any idea how
+dirty and dusty and altogether awful you do look,
+you wouldn't be able to get to soap and water fast
+enough."</p>
+
+<p>At that poor Arethusa sighed, and, gathering up
+her hat, and hat-pins, and veil, and gloves, and
+purse, and handkerchief, went away to wash.</p>
+</div>
+<pb n="244" /><anchor id="Pg244" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+
+<head>Chapter Twenty - Jack's Joy</head>
+
+
+<p>About the first of July many agreeable things
+happened.</p>
+
+<p>One was that Mr. Stebbins found it advisable
+to address a discreet letter to John Watkins,
+Jr., Denham, conveying the information that although
+he must not count unduly upon the future,
+still, if he behaved himself, he might with safety
+allow his expenditures to mount upward monthly to
+a certain limit. This was the way in which Aunt
+Mary salved her conscience and saved her pride all
+at once.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't want him to think that I don't mean
+things when I say 'em," she had carefully explained
+to Mr. Stebbins, "but I can't bear to think that
+there's anybody in New York without money
+enough to have a good time there."</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Stebbins had made a note of the sum which
+the allowance was to compass and had promised to
+write the letter at once.</p>
+
+<p>"What did you do the last time you were in the
+city?" Aunt Mary asked.</p>
+
+<p>"I was much occupied with business," said the
+<pb n="245" /><anchor id="Pg245" />lawyer, "but I found time to visit the Metropolitan
+Museum of Art and&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Good gracious!" exclaimed Aunt Mary,
+"who was takin' you 'round! I never had a second
+for any museums or arts;&mdash;you ought to have seen
+a vaudeville, or that gondola place! I was ferried
+around four times and the music lasted all
+through." She stopped and reflected. "I guess
+you can make that money a hundred a month
+more," she said slowly. "I don't want the boy
+to ever feel stinted or have to run in debt."</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Stebbins smiled, and the result was that Jack
+began to pay up the bills for his aunt's entertainment
+very much more rapidly than he had anticipated
+doing.</p>
+
+<p>Another pleasant thing was that a week or so
+later&mdash;very soon after Mrs. Rosscott had given
+up her town house and returned to the protection
+of the parental slate-tiles&mdash;Burnett's father, a
+peppery but jovial old gentleman (we all know
+the kind), suddenly asked why Bob never came
+home any more. This action on the part of the
+head of the house being tantamount to the completest
+possible forgiveness and obliviousness of the
+past, Burnett's mother, of whom the inquiry had
+been made, wept tears of sincerest joy and wrote
+to the youngest of her flock to return to the ancestral
+fold just as soon as he possibly could. He
+<pb n="246" /><anchor id="Pg246" />came, and as a result, a fortnight later Jack came,
+and Mitchell came, and Clover came. Mrs. Rosscott,
+as we have previously stated, was already
+there, and so were Maude Lorne and a great many
+others. Some of the others were pretty girls and
+Burnett and two of his friends found plenty to
+amuse them, but Burnett's dearest friend, his
+bosom friend, his Fidus Achates, found no one to
+amuse him, because he was in earnest, and had eyes
+for no feminine prettiness, his sight being dazzled
+by the radiance of one surpassing loveliness. He
+had worked tremendously hard the first month of
+daily laboring, and felt he deserved a reward. Be
+it said for Jack that the reward of which Aunt
+Mary had the bestowing counted for very little
+with him except in its relation to the far future.
+The real goal which he was striving toward, the
+real laurels that he craved&mdash;Ah! they lay in
+another direction.</p>
+
+<p>Middle July is a lovely time to get off among the
+trees and grass, and lie around in white flannels or
+white muslins, just as the case may be. It was too
+warm to do much else than that, and Heaven knows
+that Jack desired nothing better, as long as his goddess
+smiled upon him.</p>
+
+<p>It was curious about his goddess. She seemed to
+grow more beautiful every time that he saw her.
+Perhaps it was her native air that gave her that
+<pb n="247" /><anchor id="Pg247" />charming flush; perhaps it was the joy of being at
+home again; perhaps it was&mdash;no, he didn't dare
+to hope that. Not yet. Not even with all that she
+had done for him fresh in his memory. The
+humility of true love was so heavy on his heart that
+his very dreams were dulled with hopelessness, the
+majority of them seeming too vividly dyed in Paradise
+hues for their fulfillment in daily life to ever
+appear possible. But still he was very, very happy
+to be there with her&mdash;beside her&mdash;and to hear her
+voice and look into her eyes whenever the trouble
+some "other people" would leave them alone together.
+And she did seem happy, too. And so
+rejoiced that the tide of Aunt Mary's wrath had
+been successfully turned. And so rejoiced that he
+was at work, even in the face of her hopes as to his
+college career. And also so rejoiced to take up
+the gay, careless thread of their mutual pleasure
+again.</p>
+
+<p>The morning after the gathering of the party
+was Saturday and an ideal day&mdash;that sort of ideal
+day when house parties naturally sift into pairs and
+then fade away altogether. The country surrounding
+our particular party was densely wooded and
+not at all settled, the woods were laid out in a
+fascinating system of walks and benches which in
+no case commanded views of one another, and the
+shade overhead was the shade of July and as propitious
+<pb n="248" /><anchor id="Pg248" />to rest as it was to motion. Mitchell took a
+girl in gray and two sets of golf clubs and started
+out in the opposite direction from the links, Clover
+took a girl in green and a camera and went another
+way, Burnett took a girl in a riding habit and two
+saddle horses and followed the horses' noses
+whither they led, and Jack&mdash;Jack smoked cigarettes
+on the piazza and waited&mdash;waited.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Rosscott came out after a while and asked
+him why he didn't go to walk also.</p>
+
+<p>"Just what I was thinking as to yourself," he
+said, very boldly as to voice, and very beseechingly
+as to eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I'm so busy," she said, laughing up into
+his eyes and then laughing down at the ground&mdash;"you
+see I'm the only married daughter to help
+mamma."</p>
+
+<p>"But you've been helping all the morning," he
+complained, "and besides how can you help? One
+would think that your mother was beating eggs or
+turning mattresses."</p>
+
+<p>"I have to work harder than that," said Mrs.
+Rosscott; "I have to make people know one another
+and like one another and not all want to
+make love to the same girl."</p>
+
+<p>"You can't help their all wanting to make love
+to the same girl," said Jack; "the more you try
+to convince them of their folly the deeper in love
+<pb n="249" /><anchor id="Pg249" />they are bound to fall. I'm an illustration of
+that myself."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Rosscott looked at him then and curved her
+mouth sweetly.</p>
+
+<p>"You do say such pretty things," she said. "I
+don't see how you've learned so much in so little
+time. Why, General Jiggs in there is three times
+your age and he tangles himself awfully when he
+tries to be sweet."</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps his physician has recommended gymnastics,"
+said Jack.</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps," said Mrs. Rosscott laughing, and
+then she turned as if to go in.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, don't," said her lover, barring the way
+with great suddenness; "you really mustn't, you
+know. I've been patient for so long and been good
+for so long and I must be rewarded&mdash;I really
+must. Do come out with me somewhere&mdash;anywhere&mdash;for
+only a half-hour,&mdash;please."</p>
+
+<p>She looked at him.</p>
+
+<p>"Won't Maude do?" she asked.</p>
+
+<p>"No, she won't," he said beneath his breath;
+"whatever do you suggest such a thing for? You
+make me ready to tell you to your face that you
+want to go as bad as I want you to go, but I shan't
+say so because I know too much."</p>
+
+<p>"You do know a lot, don't you?" said she, with
+an expression of great respect; "why, if you were
+<pb n="250" /><anchor id="Pg250" />to dare to hint to me that I wanted to go out with
+you instead of staying in and talking Rembrandt
+with Mr. Morley, I'd never forgive you the longest
+day I live."</p>
+
+<p>"I know you wouldn't," said he, "and you may
+be quite sure that I shall not say it. On the contrary
+I shall merely implore you to forget your own
+pleasure in consideration of mine."</p>
+
+<p>"I really ought to devote the morning to Mr.
+Morley," she said meditatively; "it's such an
+honor his coming here, you know."</p>
+
+<p>"A little bit of a whiskered monkey," said Jack
+in great disgust; "an honor, indeed!"</p>
+
+<p>"He's a very great man," said Mrs. Rosscott;
+"every sort of institution has given him a few
+letters to put after his name, and some have given
+him whole syllables."</p>
+
+<p>"You must get a straw hat, you know, or a sun-shade;
+it will be hot in half an hour."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I couldn't stay out half an hour; fifteen
+minutes would be the longest."</p>
+
+<p>"All right, fifteen minutes, then, but do hurry."</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't say that I would go," she said, opening
+her eyes; "and yet I feel myself gone." She
+laughed lightly.</p>
+
+<p>"Do hurry," he pleaded freshly; "oh, I am so
+hungry to&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>She disappeared within doors and five minutes
+<pb n="251" /><anchor id="Pg251" />later came back with one of those charming floppy
+English garden hats, tied with a muslin bow beneath
+her dimpled chin.</p>
+
+<p>"This is so good of me," she said, as they went
+down the steps.</p>
+
+<p>"Very good, heavenly good," said Jack; and
+then neither spoke again until they had crossed the
+Italian garden and entered the American wood.
+She looked into his eyes then and smiled half-shyly
+and half-provokingly.</p>
+
+<p>"You are such a baby," she said; "such a baby!
+Do ask me why and I'll tell you half a dozen whys.
+I'd love to."</p>
+
+<p>The path was the smoothest and shadiest of
+forest paths, the hour was the sweetest and sunniest
+of summer hours, the moment was the brightest and
+happiest of all the moments which they had known
+together&mdash;up to now.</p>
+
+<p>"Do tell me," he said; "I'm wild to know."</p>
+
+<p>He took her hand and laid it on his arm. For
+that little while she was certainly his and his alone,
+and no man had a better claim to her. "Go on
+and tell me," he repeated.</p>
+
+<p>"There is one big reason and there are lots of
+little ones. Which will you have first?"</p>
+
+<p>"The little ones, please."</p>
+
+<p>"Then, listen; you are like a baby because you
+are impatient, because you are spoilt, because when
+<pb n="252" /><anchor id="Pg252" />you want anything you think that you must have
+it, and because you like to be walked with."</p>
+
+<p>"Are those the little reasons," he said when she
+paused; "and what's the big one?"</p>
+
+<p>"The big one," she said slowly; "Oh, I'm
+afraid that you won't like the big one!"</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps it will be all the better for me if I
+don't," he laughed; "at any rate I beg and pray
+and plead to know it."</p>
+
+<p>"What a dear boy!" she laughed. "If you
+want to know as badly as that, I'd have to tell
+you anyhow, whether I wanted to or not. It's
+because I'm so much the oldest."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh!" said Jack, much disappointed. "Is
+that why?"</p>
+
+<p>"And then too," she continued, "you seem even
+younger because of your being so unsophisticated."</p>
+
+<p>"So I am unsophisticated, am I?" he asked
+grimly.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," she said nodding; "at least you impress
+me so."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm glad of that," he said after a little pause.</p>
+
+<p>She looked up quickly.</p>
+
+<p>"Truly?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, indeed."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh," she laughed, "if you say that, then I
+shall know that you are less unsophisticated than
+I thought you were."
+<pb n="253" /><anchor id="Pg253" /></p>
+
+<p>"Why so?" he asked surprised.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't you know that meek, mild men always
+try to insinuate that they are regular fire-eaters,
+and vice versa? Well, it's so&mdash;and it's so every
+time. There was once a man who was kissing me,
+and he drew my hands up around his neck in such
+a clever, gentle way that I was absolutely positive
+that he had had no end of practice drawing arms
+up in that way and I just couldn't help saying:
+'Oh, how many women you must have kissed!'
+What do you think he answered?&mdash;merely smiled
+and said: 'Not so many as you might imagine.'
+He showed how much he knew by the way he
+answered, for oh! he had. I found that out
+afterwards."</p>
+
+<p>"What did you do then?" he asked, frowning.
+"Cut him?"</p>
+
+<p>"No; I married him. Why, of course I was
+going to marry him when he kissed me, or I
+wouldn't have let him kiss me. Do you suppose
+I let men kiss me as a general thing? What are
+you thinking of?"</p>
+
+<p>"I was thinking of you," he said. "It's a
+horrible habit I've fallen into lately. But, never
+mind; keep on talking."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't remember what I was saying," she said.
+"Oh, yes, I do too. About men, about good and
+bad men. Now, even if I didn't know how much
+<pb n="254" /><anchor id="Pg254" />trouble you'd made in the world, I'd divine it all
+the instant that you were willing to admit being
+unsophisticated. People always crave to be the
+opposite of what they are; the drug shops couldn't
+sell any peroxide of hydrogen if that wasn't so."</p>
+
+<p>He laughed and forgot his previous vexation.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, look at me," she continued. "Oh, I
+didn't mean really&mdash;I mean figuratively; but
+never mind. Now, I'm nothing but a bubble and a
+toy, and I ache to be considered a philosopher.
+Don't you remember my telling you what a philosopher
+I was, the very first conversation that we
+ever had together? I do try so hard to delude
+myself into thinking I am one, that some days I'm
+almost sure that I really am one. Last night, for
+instance, I was thinking how nice it would be for
+my Cousin Maude to marry you."</p>
+
+<p>"Ye gods!" cried Jack.</p>
+
+<p>"She's so very rich," Mrs. Rosscott pursued
+calmly; "and you know the law of heredity is an
+established scientific fact now, so you could feel
+quite safe as to her nose skipping the next
+generation."</p>
+
+<p>Jack was audibly amused.</p>
+
+<p>"It's not anything to laugh over," his companion
+continued gravely. "It's something to ponder
+and pray over. If I were Maude I should
+be on my knees about it most of the time."
+<pb n="255" /><anchor id="Pg255" /></p>
+
+<p>"Nothing can help her now," said Jack. "Her
+parents have been and gone and done it, as far as
+she's concerned, forever. Prayer won't change her
+nose, although age may broaden it still more."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't you believe that nothing can help her
+now. A good-looking husband could help her lots.
+I've seen homelier girls than she go just everywhere&mdash;on
+account of their husbands, you know.
+That was where my philosophy came in."</p>
+
+<p>"I'd quite forgotten your philosophy." He
+laughed again as he spoke. "I must apologize.
+Please tell me more about it."</p>
+
+<p>She laughed, too.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm going to. You see, I was lying there,
+looking out at the moon, and thinking how nice it
+would be for Maude to marry you."</p>
+
+<p>"Did you consider me at all?" he interposed.</p>
+
+<p>"How you interrupt!" she declared, in exasperation.
+"You never let me finish."</p>
+
+<p>"I am dumb."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I thought how nice it would be for
+Maude to marry you. You'd have a baron for a
+papa-in-law, and an heiress to balance Aunt Mary
+with. If you went into consumption and had to
+retreat to Arizona for a term of years, the climate
+could not ruin her complexion as it would m&mdash;most
+people's. And she's so ready to have you that it's
+almost pathetic. I can't imagine anything more
+<pb n="256" /><anchor id="Pg256" />awful than to be as ready to marry a man who is'nt
+at all desirous of so doing, as Maude is of marrying
+you. But if you would only think about it. I
+thought and thought about it last night and the
+longer I thought the more it seemed like such a nice
+arrangement all around; and then&mdash;all of a sudden&mdash;do
+you know I began to wonder if I was
+philosopher enough to enjoy being matron-of-honor
+to Maude and really&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"At the wedding I could have kissed you!" he
+exclaimed, and suddenly subsided at the look with
+which she withered his boldness.</p>
+
+<p>"And really I wasn't altogether sure; and then,
+it occurred to me that nothing on the face of the
+earth would ever persuade you to marry Maude.
+And I saw my card castle go smashing down, and
+then I saw that I really am a philosopher, after all,
+for&mdash;for I didn't mind a bit!"</p>
+
+<p>Jack threw his head back and roared.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh," he said after a minute, "you are so
+refreshing. You ruffle me up just to give me the
+joy of smoothing me down, don't you?"</p>
+
+<p>"I do what I can to amuse you," she said,
+demurely. "You are my father's guest and my
+brother's friend, and so I ought to&mdash;oughtn't I?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," he said, "I have a two-fold claim on
+you if you look at it that way and some day I mean
+to go to work and unfold still another."
+<pb n="257" /><anchor id="Pg257" /></p>
+
+<p>They had come to a delightful little nook where
+the trees sighed gently, "Sit down," and there
+seemed to be no adequate reason for refusing the
+invitation.</p>
+
+<p>"Let's rest, I know you're tired," the young
+man said gently, and the next minute found his
+companion down upon the soft grass, her back
+against a twisted tree-root and her hands about her
+knees.</p>
+
+<p>He threw himself down beside her and the hush
+and the song of mid-summer were all about them,
+filling the air, and their ears, and their hearts all at
+once.</p>
+
+<p>Presently he took her hand up out of the grass
+where its fingers had wandered to hide themselves,
+and kissed it. She looked at him reprovingly when
+it was too late, and shook her head.</p>
+
+<p>"Such a little one!" he said.</p>
+
+<p>"I call it a pretty big one," she answered.</p>
+
+<p>"I mean the hand&mdash;not the kiss," he said
+smiling.</p>
+
+<p>"You really are sophisticated," she told him.
+"Only fancy if you had reversed those nouns!"</p>
+
+<p>"I know," he said; "but I've kissed hands before.
+You see, I'm more talented than you think."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't be silly," she said smiling. "I really
+am beginning to think very well of you. You don't
+want me to cease to, do you?"
+<pb n="258" /><anchor id="Pg258" /></p>
+
+<p>"Why do women always say 'Don't be
+silly'?" he queried. "I wish I could find one
+who wanted to be very original, and so said, 'Do
+be silly', just for a change."</p>
+
+<p>"Dear me, if women were to beg men to be silly
+what would happen?" Mrs. Rosscott exclaimed.
+"The majority are so very foolish without any
+special egging on."</p>
+
+<p>"But it is so dreadfully time-worn&mdash;that one
+phrase."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, if it comes to originality," she answered,
+"men are not original, either. Whenever they lie
+down in the shade, they always begin to talk
+nonsense. You reflect a bit and see if that isn't
+invariably so."</p>
+
+<p>"But nonsense is such fun to talk in the shade,"
+he said, spreading her fingers out upon his own
+broad palm. "So many things are so next to
+heavenly in the shade."</p>
+
+<p>"You ought not to hold my hand."</p>
+
+<p>"I know it."</p>
+
+<p>"I am astonished that you do not remember
+your Aunt Mary's teaching you better."</p>
+
+<p>"She never forbade my holding your hand."</p>
+
+<p>"Suppose anyone should come suddenly down
+the path?"</p>
+
+<p>"They would see us and turn and go back."</p>
+
+<p>"To tell everyone&mdash;"
+<pb n="259" /><anchor id="Pg259" /></p>
+
+<p>"What?"</p>
+
+<p>"A lie."</p>
+
+<p>Jack laughed, folded her hand hard in his, and
+drew himself into a sitting posture beside her
+knee.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, don't be silly," she said with earnest
+anxiety. "I won't have it. It's putting false ideas
+in your head, because I'm really only playing, you
+know."</p>
+
+<p>"The shadow of love," he suggested.</p>
+
+<p>"Quite so."</p>
+
+<p>"And if&mdash;" He leaned quite near.</p>
+
+<p>"Not by any means," she exclaimed, springing
+quickly to her feet. "Come&mdash;come! It's quite
+time that we were going back to the house."</p>
+
+<p>"Why must we?" he remonstrated.</p>
+
+<p>"You know why," she said. "It's time we were
+being sensible. When a man gets as near as you
+are, I prefer to be <hi rend="font-style: italic">en promenade</hi>. And don't let us
+be foolish any longer, either. Let us be cool and
+worldly. How much money has your aunt, anyhow?"</p>
+
+<p>Jack had risen, too.</p>
+
+<p>"What impertinence!" he ejaculated.</p>
+
+<p>"Not at all," she said. "Maude has so much
+money of her own that I ask in a wholly disinterested
+spirit."</p>
+
+<p>"She's very rich," said Jack. "But if your
+<pb n="260" /><anchor id="Pg260" />spirit is so disinterested, what do you want to know
+for?"</p>
+
+<p>"This is a world of chance, and the main chance
+in a woman's case is alimony; so it's always nice to
+know how to figure it."</p>
+
+<p>"It's a slim chance for your cousin," said Jack.
+"Do tell her that I said so."</p>
+
+<p>"No, I shan't," said she perversely. "I won't
+be a go-between for you and her. Besides, as to
+that alimony, there are more heiresses than Maude
+in our family."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," said he; "I know that. But I know,
+too, that there is one among them who need never
+figure on getting any alimony out of me. If I ever
+get the iron grasp of the law on that heiress, I can
+assure you that only her death or mine will ever
+loosen its fangs."</p>
+
+<p>"How fierce you are!" said Mrs. Rosscott.
+"Why do you get so worked up?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh," he exclaimed, with something approaching
+a groan, "I don't mean to be&mdash;but I do care
+so much! And sometimes&mdash;" he caught her
+quickly in his arms, drew her within their strong
+embrace, and kissed her passionately upon the lips
+that had been tantalizing him for five interminable
+months.</p>
+
+<p>He was almost frightened the next second by her
+stillness.
+<pb n="261" /><anchor id="Pg261" /></p>
+
+<p>"Don't be angry," he pleaded.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm not," she murmured, resting very quietly
+with her cheek against his heart. "But you'll have
+to marry me now. My other husband did, you
+know."</p>
+
+<p>"Marry you!" he exclaimed. "Next week?
+To-morrow? This afternoon? You need only
+say when&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, not for years and years," she said, interrupting
+him. "You mustn't dream of such a thing
+for years and years!"</p>
+
+<p>"For years and years!" he cried in astonishment.</p>
+
+<p>"That's what I said," she told him.</p>
+
+<p>He released her in his surprise and stared hard at
+her. And then he seized her again and kissed her
+soundly.</p>
+
+<p>"You don't mean it!" he declared.</p>
+
+<p>"I do mean it!" she declared.</p>
+
+<p>And then she shook her head in a very sweet but
+painfully resolute manner.</p>
+
+<p>"I won't be called a cradle-robber," she said,
+firmly; and at that her companion swore mildly but
+fervently.</p>
+
+<p>"You're so young," she said further; "and not
+a bit settled," she added.</p>
+
+<p>"But you're young, too," he reminded her.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm older than you are," she said.
+<pb n="262" /><anchor id="Pg262" /></p>
+
+<p>"I suppose that you aren't any more settled than
+I am, and that's why you hesitate," he said grimly.</p>
+
+<p>"Now that's unworthy of you," she cried; "and
+I have a good mind&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>But the direful words were never spoken, for she
+was in his arms again&mdash;close in his arms; and, as
+he kissed her with a delicious sensation that it was
+all too good to be true, he whispered, laughing:</p>
+
+<p>"I always meant to lord it over my wife, so I'll
+begin by saying: 'Have it your own way, as long
+as I have you.'"</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Rosscott laid her cheek back against his
+coat lapel, and looked up into his eyes with the
+sweetest smile that even he had ever seen upon even
+her face.</p>
+
+<p>"It's a bargain," she murmured.</p>
+</div>
+<pb n="263" /><anchor id="Pg263" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+
+<head>Chapter Twenty-One - The Peace and Quiet of the Country</head>
+
+
+<p>Along in the beginning of the fall Aunt
+Mary began suddenly to grow very feeble
+indeed. After the first week or two it became
+apparent that she would have to be quiet and
+very prudent for some time, and it was when this
+information was imparted to her that the family
+discovered that she had been intending to go to
+New York for the Horse-Show.</p>
+
+<p>"She's awful mad," Lucinda said to Joshua.
+"The doctor says she'll have to stay in bed."</p>
+
+<p>"She won't stay in bed long," said Joshua.</p>
+
+<p>"The doctor says if she don't stay in bed she'll
+die," said Lucinda.</p>
+
+<p>"She won't die," said Joshua.</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda looked at Joshua and felt a keen desire
+to throw her flatiron at him. The world always
+thinks that the Lucindas have no feelings; the
+world never knows how near the flatirons come to
+the Joshuas often and often.</p>
+
+<p>Arethusa came for two days and looked the
+situation well over.</p>
+
+<p>"I think I won't stay," she said to Lucinda,
+<pb n="264" /><anchor id="Pg264" />"but you must write me twice a week and I'll write
+the others."</p>
+
+<p>Then Arethusa departed and Lucinda remained
+alone to superintend things and be superintended
+by Aunt Mary.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary's superintendence waxed extremely
+vigorous almost at once. She had out her writing
+desk, and wrote Jack a letter, as a consequence of
+which everything published in New York was
+mailed to his aunt as soon as it was off the presses.
+Lucinda was set reading aloud and, except when
+the mail came, was hardly allowed to halt for food
+and sleep.</p>
+
+<p>"My heavens above," said the slave to
+Joshua, "it don't seem like I can live with her!"</p>
+
+<p>"You'll live with her," said Joshua.</p>
+
+<p>"It's more as flesh and blood can bear."</p>
+
+<p>"Flesh and blood can bear a good deal more'n
+you think for," said Joshua, and then he delivered
+up two letters and drove off toward the barn.</p>
+
+<p>"If those are letters," said Aunt Mary from her
+pillow the instant she heard the front door close,
+"I'd like 'em. I'm a great believer in readin' my
+own mail, an' another time, Lucinda, I'll thank you
+to bring it as soon as you get it an' not stand out on
+the porch hollyhockin' with Joshua for half an
+hour while I wait."</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda delivered up the letters without demanding
+<pb n="265" /><anchor id="Pg265" />what species of conversational significance
+her mistress attached to the phrase, "holly-hocking."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary turned the letters through eagerly.</p>
+
+<p>"My lands alive!" she said suddenly, "if
+here isn't one from Mitchell,&mdash;the dear boy.
+Well, I never did!&mdash;Lucinda, open the blinds to
+the other window, too&mdash;so I&mdash;can&mdash;see to&mdash;" her
+voice died away,&mdash;she was too deep in the letter to
+recollect what she was saying.</p>
+
+<p>Mitchell wrote:</p>
+
+<quote rend="display">
+<p><hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">My Dear Miss Watkins</hi>:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>We are sitting in a row with ashes on the heads
+of our cigarettes mourning, mourning, mourning,
+because we have had the news that you are ill. As
+usual it is up to me to express our feelings, so I have
+decided to mail them and the others agree to pay
+for the ink.</p>
+
+<p>I wish to remark at once that we did not sleep any
+last night. Jack told us at dinner, and we spent the
+evening making a melancholy tour of places where
+we had been with you. If you had only been with
+us! The roof gardens are particularly desolate
+without you. The whole of the city seems to realize
+it. The watering carts weep from dawn to
+dark. All the lamp-posts are wearing black. It
+is sad at one extreme and sadder at the other.</p>
+
+<p>You must brace up. If you can't do that try a
+belt. Life is too short to spend in bed. My
+motto has always been "Spend freely everywhere
+else." At present I recommend anything calculated
+to mend you. I may in all modesty mention
+<pb n="266" /><anchor id="Pg266" />that just before Christmas I shall be traveling
+north and shall then adore to stop and cheer you
+up a bit if you invite me. I have made it an
+invariable rule, however, not to stay over night
+anywhere when I am not invited, so I hope you will
+consider my feelings and send me an invitation.</p>
+
+<p>My eyes fill as I think what it will be to sit
+beside you and recall dear old New York. It will
+be the next best thing to being run over by an automobile,
+won't it?</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: right">Yours, with fondest recollections,</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: right">HERBERT KENDRICK MITCHELL.</p>
+</quote>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary laid the letter down.</p>
+
+<p>"Lucinda," she said in a curiously veiled tone,
+"give me a handkerchief&mdash;a big one. As big a
+one as I've got."</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda did as requested.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, go away," said Aunt Mary.</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda went away. She went straight to
+Joshua.</p>
+
+<p>"She's had a letter an' read it an' it's made her
+cry," she said.</p>
+
+<p>"That's better'n if it made her mad," said
+Joshua, who was warming his hands at the stove.</p>
+
+<p>"I ain't sure that it won't make her mad later,"
+said Lucinda. "Say, but she is a Tartar since she
+came back. Seems some days's if I couldn't
+live."</p>
+
+<p>"You'll live," said Joshua, and, as his hands
+were now well-warmed, he went out again.
+<pb n="267" /><anchor id="Pg267" /></p>
+
+<p>After a while Aunt Mary's bell jangled violently
+and Lucinda had to hurry back.</p>
+
+<p>"Lucinda, did the doctor say anythin' to you
+about how long he thought I might be sick?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, he did."</p>
+
+<p>"What did he say? I want to know jus' what
+he said. Speak up!"</p>
+
+<p>"He said he didn't have no idea how long you'd
+be sick."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary threw a look at Lucinda that ought
+to have annihilated her.</p>
+
+<p>"I want to see Jack," she said. "Bring my
+writin' desk. Right off. Quick."</p>
+
+<p>She wrote to Jack, and he came up and spent the
+next Sunday with her, cheering her mightily.</p>
+
+<p>"I wish the others could have come, too," she
+said once an hour all through his visit. Mitchell's
+letter seemed to have bred a tremendous longing
+within her.</p>
+
+<p>"They'll come later," said Jack, with hearty
+good-will. "They all want to come."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know how we could ever have any fun
+up here though," said his aunt sadly. "My
+heavens alive, Jack,&mdash;but this is an awful place to
+live in. And to think that I lived to be seventy
+before I found it out."</p>
+
+<p>Jack took her hand and kissed it. He did sympathize,
+even if he was only twenty-two and longing
+<pb n="268" /><anchor id="Pg268" />unutterably to be somewhere else and kissing someone
+else at that very minute.</p>
+
+<p>"Mitchell wrote me a letter," continued Aunt
+Mary. "He said he was comin'. Well, dear me,
+he can eat mince pie and drive with Joshua when
+he goes for the mail, but I don't know what else I
+can do with him. Oh, if I'd only been born in the
+city!"</p>
+
+<p>Jack kissed her hand again. He didn't know
+what to say. Aunt Mary's lot seemed to border
+upon the tragic just then and there.</p>
+
+<p>The next day he returned to town and Lucinda
+came on duty again. She soon found that the
+nephew's visit had rendered the aunt harder than
+ever to get along with.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm goin' to town jus''s soon as ever I feel well
+enough," she declared aggressively on more than
+one occasion. "An' nex' time I go I'm goin' to
+stay jus''s long as ever I'm havin' a good time.
+Now, don't contradict me, Lucinda, because it's
+your place to hold your tongue. I'm a great believer
+in your holding your tongue, Lucinda."</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda, who certainly never felt the slightest
+inclination toward contradiction, held her tongue,
+and the poor, unhappy one twisted about in bed,
+and bemoaned the quietude of her environment by
+the hour at a time.</p>
+
+<p>"Did you say we had a calf?" she asked suddenly
+<pb n="269" /><anchor id="Pg269" />one day. "Well, why don't you answer?
+When I ask a question I expect an answer. Didn't
+you say we had a calf?"</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda nodded.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I want Joshua to take that calf to the
+blacksmith and have him shod behind an' before
+right off. To-day&mdash;this minute."</p>
+
+<p>"You want the calf shod!" cried Lucinda, suddenly
+alarmed by the fear lest her mistress had gone
+light-headed.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary glared in a way that showed that
+she was far from being out of her usual mind.</p>
+
+<p>"If I said shod, I guess I meant shod," she said,
+icily. "I do sometimes mean what I say. Pretty
+often&mdash;as a usual thing."</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda stood at the foot of the bed, petrified
+and paralyzed.</p>
+
+<p>Then the invalid sat up a little and showed some
+mercy on her servant's very evident fright.</p>
+
+<p>"I want the calf shod," she explained, "so's
+Joshua can run up an' down the porch with him."</p>
+
+<p>So far from ameliorating Lucinda's condition,
+this explanation rendered it visibly worse. Aunt
+Mary contemplated her in silence for a few seconds,
+and she suddenly cried out, in a tone that was full
+of pathos:</p>
+
+<p>"I feel like maybe&mdash;maybe&mdash;the calf'll make
+me think it's horses' feet on the pavement."
+<pb n="270" /><anchor id="Pg270" /></p>
+
+<p>Lucinda rushed from the room.</p>
+
+<p>"She wants the calf shod!" she cried, bursting
+in upon Joshua, who was piling wood.</p>
+
+<p>For once in his life Joshua was shaken out of
+his usual placidity.</p>
+
+<p>"She wants the calf shod!" he repeated blankly.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes."</p>
+
+<p>"You can't shoe a calf."</p>
+
+<p>"But she wants it done."</p>
+
+<p>Joshua regained his self-control.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, well," he said, turning to go on with his
+work, "the calf's gone to the butcher, anyhow.
+Tell her so."</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda went back to Aunt Mary.</p>
+
+<p>"The calf's gone to the butcher," she yelled.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary frowned heavily.</p>
+
+<p>"Then you go an' get a lamp and turn it up too
+high an' leave it," she said,&mdash;"the smell'll make
+me think of automobiles."</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda was appalled. As a practical housekeeper
+she felt that here was a proposition which
+she could not face.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, ain't you goin'?" Aunt Mary asked
+tartly. "Of course if you ain't intendin' to go I'd
+be glad to know it; 'n while you're gone,
+Lucinda, I wish you'd get me the handle to the ice-cream
+freezer an' lay it where I can see it; it'll help
+me believe in the smell."
+<pb n="271" /><anchor id="Pg271" /></p>
+
+<p>Lucinda went away and brought the handle, but
+she did not light the lamp. The Fates were good
+to her, though, for Aunt Mary forgot the lamp in
+her disgust over the appearance of the handle.</p>
+
+<p>"Take it away," she said sharply. "Anybody'd
+know it wasn't an automobile crank. I don't want
+to look like a fool! Well, why ain't you takin' it
+away, Lucinda?"</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda took the crank back to the freezer;
+but as the days passed on, the situation grew
+worse. Aunt Mary slept more and more, and
+awoke to an ever-increasing ratio of belligerency.</p>
+
+<p>Before long Lucinda's third cousin demanded
+her assistance in "moving," and there was nothing
+for poor Arethusa to do but to take up the burden,
+now become a fearfully heavy one.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary was getting to that period in life
+when the nearer the relative the greater the dislike,
+so that when her niece arrived the welcome
+which awaited her was even less cordial than ever.</p>
+
+<p>"Did you bring a trunk?" she asked.</p>
+
+<p>"A small one," replied the visitor.</p>
+
+<p>"That's something to be grateful for," said
+the aunt. "If I'd invited you to visit me, of
+course I'd feel differently about things."</p>
+
+<p>Arethusa accepted this as she accepted all
+things, unpacked, saw Lucinda off, assumed charge
+of the house, and then dragged a rocking chair to
+<pb n="272" /><anchor id="Pg272" />her aunt's bedside and unfolded her sewing. Ere
+she had threaded her needle Aunt Mary was
+sound asleep, and so her niece sewed placidly for an
+hour or more, until, like lightning out of a clear
+sky:</p>
+
+<p>"Arethusa!"</p>
+
+<p>The owner of the name started&mdash;but answered
+immediately:</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, Aunt Mary."</p>
+
+<p>"When I die I want to be buried from a roof
+garden! Don't you forget! You'd better go
+an' write it down. Go now&mdash;go this minute!"</p>
+
+<p>Arethusa shook as if with the discharge of a
+contiguous field battery. She had not had Lucinda's
+gradual breaking-in to her aunt's new trains
+of thought.</p>
+
+<p>"Aunt Mary," she said feebly at last.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary saw her lips moving; she sat up in
+bed and her eyes flashed cinders.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, ain't you goin'?" she asked wrathfully.
+"When I say do a thing, can't it be done? I
+declare it's bad enough to live with a pack of
+idiots without havin' 'em, one an' all, act as if I
+was the idiot!"</p>
+
+<p>Arethusa laid aside her work and rose to quit
+the room. She returned five minutes later with
+pen and ink, but Aunt Mary was now off on
+another tack.
+<pb n="273" /><anchor id="Pg273" /></p>
+
+<p>"I want a bulldog!" she cried imperatively.</p>
+
+<p>"A bulldog!" shrieked her niece, nearly dropping
+what she held in her hands. "What do you
+want a bulldog for?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not a bullfrog!" the old lady corrected; "a
+bulldog. Oh, I do get so sick of your stupidity,
+Arethusa," she said. "What should I or any
+one else want of a bullfrog?"</p>
+
+<p>Arethusa sighed, and the sigh was apparent.</p>
+
+<p>"I'd sigh if I was you," said her aunt. "I certainly
+would. If I was you, Arethusa, I'd certainly
+feel that I had cause to sigh;" and with that
+she sat up and gave her pillow a punch that was
+full of the direst sort of suggestion.</p>
+
+<p>Arethusa did not gainsay the truth of the sighing
+proposition. It was too apparent.</p>
+
+<p>The next day Aunt Mary slept until noon, and
+then opened her eyes and simultaneously declared:</p>
+
+<p>"Next summer I'm goin' to have an automobile!"</p>
+
+<p>Then she looked about and saw that she had
+addressed the air, which made her more mad than
+ever. She rang her bell violently, and Arethusa
+left the lunch table so hastily that she reached the
+bedroom half-choked.</p>
+
+<p>"Next summer I'm goin' to have an automobile,"
+said the old lady angrily. "Now, get me
+some breakfast."
+<pb n="274" /><anchor id="Pg274" /></p>
+
+<p>Her niece went out quickly, and a maid was
+sent in with tea and toast and eggs at once. Their
+effect was to brace the invalid up and make the lot
+of those about her yet more wearing.</p>
+
+<p>"I shall run it myself," she vowed, when Arethusa
+returned; "an' I bet they clear out when
+they see me comin'."</p>
+
+<p>It did seem highly probable.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know how I can live if I don't get
+away from here soon," she declared a few minutes
+later. "You don't appreciate what life is, Arethusa.
+Seems like I'll go mad with wantin' to be
+somewhere else. I can see Jack gets his disposition
+straight from me."</p>
+
+<p>There was a sigh and a pause.</p>
+
+<p>"I shall die," Aunt Mary then declared with
+violence, "if I don't have a change. Arethusa,
+you've got to write to Jack, and tell him to get
+me Granite."</p>
+
+<p>"Granite!" screamed the niece in surprise.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, Granite. She was a maid I had in
+New York. I want her to come here. She must
+come. Tell him to offer her anything, and send
+her C.O.D. If I can have Granite, maybe I'll
+feel some better. You write Jack."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll write to-night," shrieked Arethusa.</p>
+
+<p>"No, you won't," said Aunt Mary; "you'll
+get the ink and write right now. Because I've
+<pb n="275" /><anchor id="Pg275" />been meeker'n Moses all my life is no reason why
+I sh'd be willin' to be downtrodden clear to the
+end. Folks around me'd better begin to look
+sharp an' step lively from now on."</p>
+
+<p>Arethusa went to the desk at once and wrote:</p>
+
+<quote rend="display">
+<p><hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">Dear Jack</hi>:</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary wants the maid that she had when
+she was in New York. For the love of Heaven,
+if the girl is procurable, do get her. Hire her if
+you can and kidnap her if you can't. Lucinda has
+played her usual trick on me and walked off just
+when she felt like it. I never saw Aunt Mary in
+anything like the state of mind that she is, but I
+know one thing&mdash;if you cannot send the maid,
+there'll be an end of me.</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: right">Your loving sister,</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: right">ARETHUSA.</p>
+</quote>
+
+<p>Jack was much perturbed upon receipt of this
+letter. He whistled a little and frowned a great
+deal. But at last he decided to be frank and tell
+the truth to Mrs. Rosscott. To that end he wrote
+her a lengthy note. After two preliminary pages
+so personal that it would not be right to print them
+for public reading, he continued thus:</p>
+
+<quote rend="display">
+<p>I've had a letter from my sister, who is with
+Aunt Mary at present. She says that Aunt Mary
+is not at all well and declares that she must have
+Janice. What under the sun am I to answer?
+Shall I say that the girl has gone to France? I'm
+willing to swear anything rather that put you to
+<pb n="276" /><anchor id="Pg276" />one second's inconvenience. You know that, don't
+you? etc., etc., etc. [just here the letter abruptly
+became personal again].</p>
+</quote>
+
+<p>Jack thought that he knew his fiancée well, but
+he was totally unprepared for such an exhibition
+of sweet
+ness as was testified to by the letter which
+he received in return.</p>
+
+<p>It's first six pages were even more personal than
+his own (being more feminine) and then came this
+paragraph:</p>
+
+<quote rend="display">
+<p>Janice is going to your aunt by to-night's train.
+Now, don't say a word! It is nothing&mdash;nothing&mdash;absolutely
+nothing. Don't you know that I am
+too utterly happy to be able to do anything for anyone
+that you&mdash;etc., etc., etc.</p>
+</quote>
+
+<p>Jack seized his hat and hurried to where his
+lady-love was just then residing. But Janice had
+gone!</p>
+</div>
+<pb n="277" /><anchor id="Pg277" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+
+<head>Chapter Twenty-Two - "Granite"</head>
+
+
+<p>Joshua was despatched to drive through
+mud and rain to bring Aunt Mary's solace
+from the station.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary had herself propped up in bed to be
+ready for the return before Billy's feet had ceased
+to cry splash on the road outside of the gate. Her
+eagerness tinged her pallor pink. It was as if the
+prospect of seeing Janice gave her some of that
+flood of vitality which always seems to ebb and
+flow so richly in the life of a metropolis.</p>
+
+<p>"My gracious heavens, Lucinda" (for Lucinda
+was back now), she said joyfully, "to think that I
+needn't look at you for a week if I don't want to!
+You haven't any idea how tired I am of looking at
+you, Lucinda. If you looked like anything it would
+be different. But you don't."</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda rocked placidly; hers was what is called
+an "even disposition." If it hadn't been, she
+might have led an entirely different life&mdash;in fact,
+she would most certainly have lived somewhere
+else, for she couldn't possibly have lived with Aunt
+Mary.
+<pb n="278" /><anchor id="Pg278" /></p>
+
+<p>The hour that ensued after Joshua's departure
+was so long that it resulted in a nap for the invalid,
+and Lucinda had to wake her by slamming the
+closet door when the arrival turned in at the
+gate.</p>
+
+<p>"Has he got her?" Aunt Mary cried breathlessly.
+"Has he got someone with him? Run,
+Lucinda, an' bring her in. She needn't wipe her
+feet, tell her; you can brush the hall afterwards.
+Well, why ain't you hurryin'?"</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda was hurrying, her curiosity being as
+potent as the commands of her mistress, and five
+seconds later Janice appeared in the door with her
+predecessor just behind her&mdash;a striking contrast.</p>
+
+<p>"You dear blessed Granite!" cried the old lady,
+stretching out her hands in a sort of ecstasy. "Oh,
+my! but I'm glad to see you! Come right straight
+here. No, shut the door first. Lucinda, you go
+and do 'most anything. An' how is the city?"</p>
+
+<p>Janice came to the bedside and dropped on her
+knees there, taking Aunt Mary's withered hand
+close in both of her own.</p>
+
+<p>"You didn't shut the door," the old lady whispered
+hoarsely. "I wish you would&mdash;an' bolt it,
+too. An' then come straight back to me."</p>
+
+<p>Janice closed and bolted the door, and returned
+to the bedside. Aunt Mary drew her down close
+to her, and her voice and eyes were hungry, indeed.
+<pb n="279" /><anchor id="Pg279" />For a little she looked eagerly upon what she had
+so craved to possess again, and then she suddenly
+asked:</p>
+
+<p>"Granite, have you got any cigarettes with
+you?"</p>
+
+<p>The maid started a little.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you smoke now?" she asked, with interest.</p>
+
+<p>"No," said Aunt Mary sadly, "an' that's one
+more of my awful troubles. You see I'm jus' achin'
+to smell smoke, an' Joshua promised his mother
+the night before he was twenty-one. You don't
+know nothin' about how terrible I feel. I'm empty
+somewhere jus' all the time. Don't you believe't
+you could get some cigarettes an' smoke 'em right
+close to me, an' let me lay here, an' be so happy
+while I smell. I'll have a good doctor for you,
+if you're sick from it."</p>
+
+<p>The maid reflected; then she nodded.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll write to town," she cried, in her high, clear
+tones. "What brand do you like best?"</p>
+
+<p>"Mitchell's," said Aunt Mary. "But you can't
+get those because he made 'em himself an' sealed
+'em with a lick. Oh!" she sighed, with the accent
+of a starving Sybarite, "I do wish I could see him
+do it again! Do you know," she added suddenly,
+"he wrote me a letter and he's goin' to come here."</p>
+
+<p>"When?" asked Janice.</p>
+
+<p>"After a while. But you must take off your
+<pb n="280" /><anchor id="Pg280" />things. That's your room in there," pointing
+toward a half-open door at the side. "I wanted
+you as close as I could get you. My, but I've
+wanted you! I can't tell you how much. But a
+good deal&mdash;a lot&mdash;awfully."</p>
+
+<p>Janice went into the room that was to be hers,
+and hung up her hat and cloak.</p>
+
+<p>When she returned Aunt Mary was looking a
+hundred per cent, improved already.</p>
+
+<p>"Can you hum 'Hiawatha'?" she asked immediately.
+"Granite, I must have suthin' to amuse
+me an' make me feel good. Can you hum 'Hiawatha'
+an' can you do that kind of 'sh&mdash;sh&mdash;sh&mdash;'that
+everybody does all together at the end, you
+know?"</p>
+
+<p>Janice smiled pleasantly, and placing herself in
+the closest possible proximity with the ear trumpet,
+at once rendered the desired <hi rend="font-style: italic">morceau</hi> in a style
+which would have done credit to a soloist in a <hi rend="font-style: italic">café
+chantant</hi>.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary's lips wreathed in seraphic bliss.</p>
+
+<p>"My!" she said. "I feel just as if I was back
+eatin' crabs' legs and tails again. No one'll ever
+know how I've missed city life this winter but&mdash;well,
+you saw Lucinda!"</p>
+
+<p>The glance that accompanied the speech was
+mysterious but significant. Janice nodded sympathetically.
+<pb n="281" /><anchor id="Pg281" /></p>
+
+<p>"I hope you brought a trunk. I ain't a bit sure
+when I'll be able to let you go," pursued the old
+lady. "I don't believe I can let you go until I go,
+too. I've most died here alone."</p>
+
+<p>"I brought a trunk," Janice cried into the ear
+trumpet.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm glad," said Aunt Mary. She paused, and
+her eyes grew wistful.</p>
+
+<p>"Granite," she asked, "do you think you could
+manage to do a skirt dance on the footboard? I'm
+'most wild to see some lace shake."</p>
+
+<p>Janice looked doubtfully at the footboard. It
+was wide for a footboard, but narrow&mdash;too narrow&mdash;for
+a skirt dance.</p>
+
+<p>"But I can do one on the floor," she cried.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary's features became suffused with
+heavenly joy.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Granite!" she murmured, in accents of
+greatest anticipation.</p>
+
+<p>The maid stood up, and, going off as far as the
+limits of the spacious bedroom would allow, executed
+a most fetching and dainty <hi rend="font-style: italic">pas seul</hi> to a tune
+of her own humming.</p>
+
+<p>"Give me suthin' to pound with!" cried her
+enthusiastic audience. "Oh, Granite, I ain't
+been so happy since I was home! Whatever you
+want you can have, only don't ever leave me alone
+with Lucinda again."
+<pb n="282" /><anchor id="Pg282" /></p>
+
+<p>Janice was catching her tired breath, but she
+answered with a smile.</p>
+
+<p>"Can't you get my Sunday umbrella out of the
+closet now an' do a parasol dance?" the insatiate
+demanded; "one of those where you shoot it open
+an' shut when people ain't expectin'."</p>
+
+<p>The maid went to the closet and brought out the
+Sunday umbrella; but its shiny black silk did not
+appear to inspire any fluffy maneuvres, so she utilized
+it in the guise of a broadsword and did something
+that savored of the Highlands, and seemed
+to rebel bitterly at the length of her skirt. Aunt
+Mary writhed around in bliss&mdash;utter and intense.</p>
+
+<p>"I feel like I was livin' again," she said, heaving
+a great sigh of content. "I tell you I've suffered
+enough, since I came back, to know what it
+is to have some fun again. Now, Granite, I'll tell
+you what we'll do," when the girl sat down to rest;
+"you write for those cigarettes while I take a little
+nap and afterwards we'll get the Universal Knowledge
+book and learn how to play poker. You don't
+know how to play poker, do you?"</p>
+
+<p>"A little," cried the maid.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I want to learn how," said the old lady,
+"an' we'll learn when&mdash;when I wake up."</p>
+
+<p>Janice nodded assent.</p>
+
+<p>"Excuse me shuttin' my eyes," said Aunt
+Mary&mdash;and she was asleep in two minutes.</p>
+</div>
+<pb n="283" /><anchor id="Pg283" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+
+<head>Chapter Twenty-Three - "Granite" - Continued.</head>
+
+
+<p>Mary and Arethusa&mdash;Aunt Mary's two
+nieces&mdash;were not uncommonly mercenary;
+but about three weeks after the new
+arrival they became seriously troubled over the
+ascendancy that she appeared to be gaining over
+the mind of their aunt. Lucinda's duties had included
+for many years the writing of a weekly letter
+which contained formal advices of the general
+state of affairs, and after Janice's establishment,
+these letters became so provocative of gradually increasing
+alarm that first Mary, and then Arethusa
+thought it advisable to make the journey for the
+purpose of investigating the affair personally.
+They found the new maid apparently devoid
+of evil intent, but certainly fast becoming absolutely
+indispensable to the daily happiness of
+their influential relative. Mary feared that a
+codicil for five thousand dollars would be the
+result; but Arethusa felt, with a sinking heart,
+that there was another naught going on to the sum,
+and that, unless the tide turned, the end might not
+be even then.
+<pb n="284" /><anchor id="Pg284" /></p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary was so cool that neither niece stayed
+long, and Lucinda's letters had to be looked to
+for the progress of events. Lucinda's letters were
+frequent and not at all reassuring. After the sisters
+had talked them over, they sent them on to
+Jack.</p>
+
+<quote rend="display">
+<p>She [thus Lucinda invariably began] is the same
+as ever. It's cross the heart and bend the knee,
+an' then you ain't down far enough to suit her.
+But she's gettin' so afraid she'll go that she's wax
+in her hands. It would scare you. She won't
+let her out of her sight a minute. I must say that
+whatever she's giving her, she certainly is earning
+the money, for she works her harder every day.
+The poor thing is hopping about, or singing, or
+playing cards, from dawn to dark, and unless it's
+a provision in her will I can't see what would pay
+her enough for working so. Lord knows I considered
+I earned my wages without skipping around
+with my legs crossed like she does, and she has no
+end of patience too, even if she won't ever let her
+take a walk. She's getting as pale as she is herself.
+Seems like something should be done.</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: right">Respectfully,</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: right">L. COOKE.</p>
+</quote>
+
+<p>Three days later Lucinda wrote again:</p>
+
+<quote rend="display">
+<p>She does seem to be getting worse and worse.
+She makes her sleep on a sofa beside her, and
+she begins to look dreadfully worn out. I do
+believe she'll kill her, before she dies herself. I
+told her so to-day, but she only smiled. It's funny,
+<pb n="285" /><anchor id="Pg285" />but I like her even if I am bolted out all the time.
+I ain't jealous, and I'm glad of the rest. I should
+think her throat would split with talking so much,
+but she certainly does hear her better than anyone
+else. I think something must be done, though.
+She's getting as crazy as she is herself. They
+play cards and call each other "aunty" for two
+hours at a stretch some days.</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: right">Respectfully,</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: right">L. COOKE.</p>
+</quote>
+
+<p>At the end of the week Lucinda wrote again:</p>
+
+<quote rend="display">
+<p>I think if you don't come, she will surely die.
+She is very feeble herself, but that don't keep her
+from wearing her to skin and bone. She keeps
+her doing tricks from morning to night. Every
+minute that she is awake she keeps her jumping.
+It's a mercy she sleeps so much, or she
+wouldn't get any sleep at all. I can't do nothing,
+but I can see something has got to be done.
+She's killing her, and she's getting where she don't
+care for nobody but her, and if she's to be kept in
+trim to keep on amusing her she'll have to have
+some rest pretty quick.</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: right">Respectfully,</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: right">L. COOKE.</p>
+</quote>
+
+<p>If the sisters were perturbed by the general
+trend of these epistles, Jack was half wild over the
+situation. He swore vigorously and he tramped
+up and down his room nights until the people underneath
+put it in their prayers that his woes might
+suggest suicide as speedily as possible. In vain he
+wrote to Mrs. Rosscott to restore Janice to her
+proper place in town; Mrs. Rosscott answered that
+<pb n="286" /><anchor id="Pg286" />as long as Aunt Mary desired Janice at her side,
+at her side Janice should stay. Jack knew his lady
+well enough to know that she would keep her word,
+and although he longed to assert his authority he
+was man enough to feel that he had better wait
+now and settle the debt after marriage.</p>
+
+<p>Nevertheless the whole affair was unbearably
+vexatious and at last he felt that he could endure
+it no longer.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm a fool," he said, in a spirit of annoyance
+that came so close to anger that it led to an utter
+loss of patience. "I'll take the train for Aunt
+Mary's to-day, and straighten out that mess in
+short order."</p>
+
+<p>It was Saturday, and he arranged to leave by
+the noon train. He laid in a heavy supply of bribes
+for his aged relative and of reading matter for
+himself, and went to the station with a heart
+divided 'twixt many different emotions. It was
+an unconscionably long ride, but he did get there
+safely about ten o'clock.</p>
+
+<p>It was a pleasant night&mdash;not too cold&mdash;even suggestive
+of some lingering Indian summer intentions
+on the part of Jack's namesake. The young man
+thought that he would walk out to his childhood's
+home, and his decision was aided by the
+discovery that there was no other way to get
+there.
+<pb n="287" /><anchor id="Pg287" /></p>
+
+<p>So he took his suit-case in his hand and set off
+with a stride that covered the intervening miles in
+short order and brought him, almost before he
+knew it, to where he could see Lucinda's light in the
+dining-room and her pug-nosed profile outlined
+upon the drawn shade. Everyone else was evidently
+abed, and as he looked, she, too, arose and
+took up the lamp. He hurried his steps so that she
+might let him in before she went upstairs, but in
+the same instant the light went out and with its
+withdrawal he perceived a little figure sitting alone
+upon the doorstep.</p>
+
+<p>His heart gave a tremendous leap&mdash;but not with
+fright&mdash;and he made three rapid steps and spoke
+a name.</p>
+
+<p>She lifted up her head. Of course it was Janice,
+and although she had been weeping, her eyes were
+as beautiful as ever.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Jack!" she exclaimed, and happy the man
+who hears his name called in such a tone&mdash;even if
+it be only for once in the whole course of his
+existence.</p>
+
+<p>He pitched his suit-case down upon the grass
+and took the maid in his arms.</p>
+
+<p>What did anything matter; they both were
+lonely and both needed comforting.</p>
+
+<p>He kissed her not once but twenty times,&mdash;not
+twenty times but a hundred.
+<pb n="288" /><anchor id="Pg288" /></p>
+
+<p>"It's abominable you're being here," he said
+at last.</p>
+
+<p>"I am very, very tired," she confessed.</p>
+
+<p>"And you'll go back to the city when I go?"
+he asked.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know," she said, doubtfully. "I don't
+know whether she'll let me."</p>
+
+<p>Jack laughed.</p>
+
+<p>"To-morrow I will beard Aunt Mary in her
+den," he declared; "now let's go in and&mdash;and&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>The hundred and first!</p>
+</div>
+<pb n="289" /><anchor id="Pg289" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+
+<head>Chapter Twenty-Four - Two Are Company</head>
+
+
+<p>To the large square room where he had
+slept (on and off) during a goodly portion
+of his boyhood life, Jack went to repose
+from his journey, there to meditate the situation
+which he had come to comfort, and to try and devise
+a way to better its existing circumstances.</p>
+
+<p>It was a pleasant room, one window looking
+down the driveway, and the other leading forth
+to a square balcony that topped the little porch of
+the side entrance. There were lambrequins of dark
+blue with fringe that always caught in the shutters,
+and a bedroom suite of mahogany that had come
+down from the original John Watkins's aunt, and
+had been polished by her descendants so faithfully
+that its various surfaces shone like mirrors. Over
+the bed hung a tent drapery of chintz; over the
+washstand hung a crayon done by Arethusa in her
+infancy&mdash;the same representing a lady engaged in
+the pleasant and useful occupation of spinning
+wheat with a hand composed of five fingers, and no
+thumb. In the corner stood a cheval-glass which
+<pb n="290" /><anchor id="Pg290" />Jack had seen shrink steadily for years until now it
+could no longer reflect his shoulders unless he
+retired back for some two yards or more. There
+was a delectable closet to the room, all painted
+white inside, with shelves and cupboards and little
+bins for shoes and waste paper and soiled clothes.</p>
+
+<p>Oh! it was really an altogether delightful place
+in which to abide, and the pity was that its owner
+had spent so little time therein of late years.</p>
+
+<p>To-night&mdash;returning to the scene of many childish
+and boyish meditations&mdash;Jack placed his lamp
+upon the nightstand at the head of the bed and
+sat himself down on a chair near by.</p>
+
+<p>It was late&mdash;quite midnight&mdash;for he and Aunt
+Mary's new maid had talked long and freely ere
+they separated at last. From his room he could
+hear the little faint sounds below stairs, that told
+of her final preparations for Lucinda's morning
+eye, and he rested quiet until all else was quiet and
+then leaned back upon the chair's hind legs and,
+tipping slowly to and fro in that position, tried
+to see just what he had better do the first thing on
+the following day.</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: center"><anchor id="image07" />
+<figure rend="w95" url="images/image07.png">
+<head rend="text-align: center">"'Yesterday I played poker until I didn't know a blue chip from a white one.'"</head>
+<figDesc>Illustration 7</figDesc></figure></p><p></p>
+
+<p>It was a riddle with a vengeance. It is so easy
+to say "I'll cut that Gordian knot!" and then
+pack one's tooth-brush and start off unknotting,
+but it is quite another matter when one comes face
+to face with the problem and is met by the "buts"
+<pb n="291" /><anchor id="Pg291" />of those who have previously been essaying to disentangle
+it.</p>
+
+<p>"She won't let me go," Mrs. Rosscott had declared,
+"she won't consider it for a minute."</p>
+
+<p>"But she must," Jack had declared on his side.
+"My dearest, you can't stay and play maid to Aunt
+Mary indefinitely, and you know that as well as
+I do."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I know that," the whilom Janice then
+murmured. "It's getting to be an awful question.
+They want me to come home for Thanksgiving.
+They think that I've been at the rest-cure long
+enough."</p>
+
+<p>Jack had laughed a bit just there, and then he
+suddenly ceased laughing and frowned a good deal
+instead.</p>
+
+<p>"You were crying when I came," he said.
+"The truth is you are working yourself to death
+and getting completely used up."</p>
+
+<p>"It is wearing, I must confess," she answered.
+"Yesterday I played poker until I didn't know
+a blue chip from a white one, and she won the
+whole pot with two little bits of pairs while I was
+drawing to a king. I begin to fear that my mind
+will give way. And yet, I really don't see how to
+stop. She is so sick and tired of life here and she
+isn't strong enough to go to town."</p>
+
+<p>"I know a very short way to put an end to
+<pb n="292" /><anchor id="Pg292" />everything," said Jack. "I see two ways in fact,&mdash;one
+is to tell her the truth."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, don't do that," cried his fiancée affrightedly.
+"The shock would kill her outright."</p>
+
+<p>"The other way,&mdash;" said Jack slowly, "would
+be for me to marry you and let her think that you
+<hi rend="font-style: italic">are</hi> Janice in good earnest."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, that wouldn't do at all," said the pretty
+widow. "In the first place she would go crazy at
+the idea of her darling nephew's marrying her
+maid,&mdash;and in the second place&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Well,&mdash;in the second place?"</p>
+
+<p>"I wouldn't marry you,&mdash;I said I wouldn't and
+I won't. You're too young."</p>
+
+<p>"But you've promised to marry me some day."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I know&mdash;but not till&mdash;not till&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Not till when?"</p>
+
+<p>"I haven't just decided," said Mrs. Rosscott,
+airily. "Not for a good while, not until you
+seem to require marrying at my hands."</p>
+
+<p>"I never shall require marrying at anyone else's
+hands," the lover vowed, "but if you are so set
+about it as all that comes to, I shall not cut up
+rough for a while. Aunt Mary is the main question
+just now&mdash;not you."</p>
+
+<p>"I know," said his lady in anything but a jealous
+tone, "and as she is the question, what are
+we to do?"
+<pb n="293" /><anchor id="Pg293" /></p>
+
+<p>"You will go to bed," he said, kissing her, "and
+I will go to think."</p>
+
+<p>"Can you see any way?" she asked anxiously.</p>
+
+<p>Then he put his hands on either side of her face
+and turned it up to his own.</p>
+
+<p>"You plotted once and overthrew my aunt," he
+said. "It's my turn now."</p>
+
+<p>"Are you going to plot?"</p>
+
+<p>"I'm going to try."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll pray for your success," she whispered.</p>
+
+<p>"Pray for me," he answered, and shortly after
+they had achieved the feat of saying good-night
+and parting once more, and the result of it all had
+been that Jack found himself tipping back and
+forth on the small chair, in the big room, at half-past
+midnight, puzzled, perturbed, and very much
+perplexed as to what to do first when the next
+morning should have become a settled fact. He
+was not used to conspiring, and being only a man,
+he had not those curious instinctive gifts of inspiration
+and luminous conception which fairly radiate
+around the brain of clever womankind.</p>
+
+<p>It was some time&mdash;a very long time indeed&mdash;before
+any light stole in upon his Stygian darkness,
+and then, when the light did come, it came in skyrocket
+guise, and had its share of cons attached to
+its very evident pros.</p>
+
+<p>"But I don't care," he declared viciously, as
+<pb n="294" /><anchor id="Pg294" />he rose and began to undress; "something's got to
+be done,&mdash;some chances have got to be taken,&mdash;as
+well that as anything else. Perhaps better&mdash;very
+likely better."</p>
+
+<p>Then he laughed over his unconscious imitation
+of his aunt's phraseology, and made short work of
+finishing his disrobing and getting to bed.</p>
+
+<p>It was when Lucinda crept forth to begin to unlock
+the house at 6.30 upon the morning after,
+that the fact of the nephew's arrival was first
+known to anyone except Janice.</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda saw the coat and hat,&mdash;recognized the
+initial on the handkerchief in the inside pocket,
+threw out her arms and gave a faint squeak in utter
+bewilderment, and then tore off at once to the barn
+to tell Joshua.</p>
+
+<p>She found Joshua milking the cow.</p>
+
+<p>"What do you think!" she panted briefly, with
+wide-open eyes and uplifted hands; "Joshua Whittlesey,
+what do you think?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't think nothin'," said Joshua. "I'm
+milkin'."</p>
+
+<p>"What would you say if I told you as he was
+come."</p>
+
+<p>"I'd say he was here."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, he is. He must 'a' come last night, an'
+Lord only knows how he ever got in, for nothing
+was left open an' yet he's there."
+<pb n="295" /><anchor id="Pg295" /></p>
+
+<p>Joshua made no comment.</p>
+
+<p>"I wonder what he came for?"</p>
+
+<p>Joshua made no comment.</p>
+
+<p>"I wonder how long he'll stay?"</p>
+
+<p>Still Joshua made no comment.</p>
+
+<p>"Joshua Whittlesey, before you get your breakfast,
+you're the meanest man I ever saw, and I'll
+swear to that anywhere."</p>
+
+<p>"Why don't you get me my breakfast then?"
+said Joshua calmly; and the effect of his speech
+and his demeanor was to cause Lucinda to turn
+and leave him at once&mdash;too outraged to address
+another word to him.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary herself did not awake until ten
+o'clock. She rang her bell vigorously then and
+Janice flew to its answering.</p>
+
+<p>"I dreamed of Jack," said the old lady, looking
+up with a smile. "I dreamed we was each ridin'
+on camels in a merry-go-round."</p>
+
+<p>Janice smiled too, and then set briskly to work
+to put the room in order and arrange its occupant
+for the day.</p>
+
+<p>"Did there come any mail?" Aunt Mary inquired,
+when her coiffure was made and her dressing-gown
+adjusted. "I feel jus' like I might hear
+from Jack. Seems as if I sort of can't think of
+anythin' but him."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll go and see," said Janice pleasantly, and
+<pb n="296" /><anchor id="Pg296" />she went to the dining room where the Reformed
+Prodigal sat reading the newspaper with his feet
+on the table&mdash;an action which convinced Lucinda
+that he had not reformed so very much after
+all.</p>
+
+<p>"Suppose you go to her&mdash;instead of me,"
+suggested the maid, pausing before the reader and
+usurping all the attention to which the paper should
+have laid claim.</p>
+
+<p>"Suppose I do," said Jack, jumping up, "and
+suppose you stay away and let me try what I can
+accomplish single-handed."</p>
+
+<p>"Only&mdash;" began Janice&mdash;and then she
+stopped and lifted a warning finger.</p>
+
+<p>Jack listened and a stealthy creak betrayed
+Lucinda's proximity somewhere in the vicinity.</p>
+
+<p>It was plain to be seen that there were many
+issues to be kept in mind, and the young man grit
+his teeth because he didn't dare embrace his
+betrothed, and then walked away in the direction
+of Aunt Mary's room.</p>
+
+<p>If she was glad to see him! One would have
+supposed that ten years and two oceans had elapsed
+since their last meeting the month before.</p>
+
+<p>She fairly screamed with joy.</p>
+
+<p>"Jack!&mdash;You dear, dear, dear boy! Well, if I
+ever did!&mdash;When did you come?"</p>
+
+<p>He was by the bed hugging her.
+<pb n="297" /><anchor id="Pg297" />"And how are they all? How is the city? Oh,
+Jack, if I could only go back with you this time!"</p>
+
+<p>"Never mind, Aunt Mary; you'll be coming
+soon&mdash;in the spring, you know."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary sank back on the pillows.</p>
+
+<p>"Jack," she said, "if I have to wait for spring,
+I shall die. I ain't strong enough to be able to
+bear livin' in the country much longer. I've pretty
+much made up my mind to buy a house in town and
+just keep this place so's to have somewhere to put
+Lucinda."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you think you'd be happy in town, Aunt
+Mary?" Jack yelled; "I mean if you lived there
+right along?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't see how I could be anythin' else. I
+don't see how anyone could be anythin' else.
+I want a nice house with a criss-cross iron gate in
+front of it an' an automobile. An'&mdash;I don't want
+you to say nothin' about this to her jus' yet&mdash;but
+I'm goin' to keep Granite to look after everythin'
+for me. I don't ever mean to let Granite go again.
+Never. Not for one hour."</p>
+
+<p>Jack smiled. He felt as if Fate was playing into
+his hands.</p>
+
+<p>"I want you to live with me," Aunt Mary continued,
+"an' I want the house big enough so's Clover
+an' Mitchell an' Burnett can come whenever
+they feel like it and stay as long as they like. I
+<pb n="298" /><anchor id="Pg298" />don't want any house except for us all together.
+Oh, my! Seems like I can't hardly wait!"</p>
+
+<p>She leaned back and shut her eyes in a sort of
+impatient ecstasy of joys been and to be.</p>
+
+<p>Jack reached forward to get a cigarette from
+the box on the table at the bedside.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you smoke now, Aunt Mary?" he
+inquired, as he took a match.</p>
+
+<p>"No, Granite does."</p>
+
+<p>"Janice does!" he repeated, quickly knitting
+his brows.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, she does it for me&mdash;I'm so happy smellin'
+the smell. They made her a little sick at first but
+she took camphor and now she don't mind. Not
+much&mdash;not any."</p>
+
+<p>Jack arose and walked about the room. The
+idea of his darling sickening herself to provide
+smoke for Aunt Mary braced him afresh to the
+conflict.</p>
+
+<p>"What do you do all day?" he asked,
+presently.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, we do most everythin'. When Lucinda's
+out she does Lucinda for me an' when Lucinda's in
+she does Joshua. It's about as amusin' as anythin'
+you ever saw to see her do Lucinda. I never found
+Lucinda amusin', Lord knows, but I like to see
+Granite do her. An' we play cards, an' she dances,
+an'&mdash;"
+<pb n="299" /><anchor id="Pg299" /></p>
+
+<p>"Aunt Mary," said Jack abruptly, "do you
+know the people who had Janice want her back
+again?"</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't quite catch that," said his aunt, "but
+you needn't bother to repeat it because I ain't never
+goin' to let her go. Not never."</p>
+
+<p>Jack came back and sat down beside the bed, and
+took her hand.</p>
+
+<p>"Aunt Mary," he said in a pleading shriek,
+"don't you see how pale and thin she's
+getting?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, I don't," said his aunt, turning her head
+away, "an' it's no use tellin' me such things because
+it's about my nap-time and I've always been
+a great believer in takin' my nap when it's my
+nap-time. As a general thing."</p>
+
+<p>Jack sighed and watched her close her eyes and
+go instantly to sleep. Janice came in a few minutes
+later.</p>
+
+<p>"No&mdash;no," she whispered hastily, as he came
+toward her,&mdash;"you mustn't&mdash;you mustn't. I don't
+believe that she really is asleep and even if she is,
+Lucinda is <hi rend="font-style: italic">everywhere</hi>."</p>
+
+<p>"Where can we go?" Jack asked in despair.
+"It's out of all reason to expect me to behave <hi rend="font-style: italic">all</hi>
+the time."</p>
+
+<p>"We can't go anywhere," said Mrs. Rosscott;
+"we must resign ourselves. I've learned that it's
+<pb n="300" /><anchor id="Pg300" />the only way. Dear me, when I think how long
+I've been resigned it certainly seems to me that
+you might do a little in the same line."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, but I haven't learned to resign myself,"
+said her lover, "and what is more, I positively decline
+to learn to resign myself. You should do the
+same, too. Where is the sense in humoring her so?
+I wouldn't if I were you."</p>
+
+<p>Janice lifted up her lovely eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes, you would," she said simply. "If
+somebody's future happiness depended upon her
+you would humor her just as much as I do."</p>
+
+<p>Jack was touched.</p>
+
+<p>"You are an angel of unselfishness," he exclaimed,
+warmly, "and I don't deserve such
+devotion."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, don't be too grateful," she replied, dimpling.
+"The person to whose future happiness I
+referred was myself."</p>
+
+<p>They both laughed softly at that&mdash;softly and
+mutually.</p>
+
+<p>"Nevertheless," Jack went on after a minute,
+"if to all the other puzzles is to be added the
+torture of being unable to see you or speak
+freely to you, I think the hour for action has
+arrived."</p>
+
+<p>"For action!" she cried; "what are you thinking
+of doing?"
+<pb n="301" /><anchor id="Pg301" /></p>
+
+<p>"This," he said, and straightway took her
+into his arms and kissed her as he had kissed her
+on the night before.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, if Lucinda has heard or your aunt has
+seen!" poor Janice cried, extricating herself and
+setting her cap to rights with a species of fluttered
+haste that led Jack to wonder suddenly why men
+didn't fall in love with maids even oftener than
+they do. "I do believe that you have gone and
+done it this time."</p>
+
+<p>"Nobody heard and nobody saw," he assured
+her, but he didn't at all mean what he said, for his
+prayers were fervent that his kiss had been public
+property.</p>
+
+<p>And such was the fact.</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda bounced in on Joshua with a bounce that
+turned the can of harness polish upside down, for
+Joshua was oiling the harnesses.</p>
+
+<p>"He kissed her!" she cried in a state of tremendous
+excitement.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, she's his aunt, ain't she?" Joshua demanded,
+picking up the can and privately wishing
+Lucinda in Halifax.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't mean her;&mdash;I mean Janice."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't see anythin' surprisin' in that," said
+Joshua,&mdash;"not if he got a good chance."</p>
+
+<p>"What do you think of such goin's on?"</p>
+
+<p>"I think they'll lead to goin's offs."
+<pb n="302" /><anchor id="Pg302" /></p>
+
+<p>"I never would 'a' believed it," said Lucinda;
+"Well, all I can say is I wish he'd 'a' tried it
+on me."</p>
+
+<p>"You'll wish a long time," said Joshua,
+placidly; and his tone, as usual, made Lucinda
+even more angry than his words; so she forthwith left him and tore back to
+the house.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary had also had her eyes open, and in
+this particular case it was impossible to have one's
+eyes open without having one's eyes opened. So
+Aunt Mary had both.</p>
+
+<p>She shut them at once and reflected deeply, and
+when Janice went out of the room at last she immediately
+sat up in bed and addressed her nephew.</p>
+
+<p>"Jack, what did you kiss her for?"</p>
+
+<p>Jack was fairly wild with joy at the brilliant way
+in which he had begun. Mrs. Rosscott had laid
+one scheme for the overthrow of Aunt Mary and
+her plan of attack had been absolutely successful.
+Now it was his turn and he, too, was in it to win
+undying glory or else&mdash;well, no matter. There
+wouldn't be any "also ran" in this contest.</p>
+
+<p>"You don't deny that you kissed her, do you?"
+said his aunt severely. "Answer this minute.
+I'm a great believer in answerin' when you're
+spoken to."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I kissed her," he said easily.</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: center"><anchor id="image08" />
+<figure rend="w95" url="images/image08.png">
+<head rend="text-align: center">"Aunt Mary had also had her eyes open."</head>
+<figDesc>Illustration 8</figDesc></figure></p><p></p>
+
+<p>"Well, what did you do it for?"
+<pb n="303" /><anchor id="Pg303" /></p>
+
+<p>"I'm very fond of her;" the words came forth
+with great apparent reluctance.</p>
+
+<p>"Fond of her!" said Aunt Mary with great
+contempt.</p>
+
+<p>Jack lifted his eyes quickly at the tone of her
+comment.</p>
+
+<p>"<hi rend="font-style: italic">Fond</hi> of her! Do you think a girl like that
+is the kind to be fond of! Why ain't you in <hi rend="font-style: italic">love</hi>
+with her?"</p>
+
+<p>The young man felt his brains suddenly swimming.
+This surpassed his maddest hopes.</p>
+
+<p>"Shall I say that I am in love with her?" he
+cried into the ear-trumpet.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary raised up in bed,&mdash;her eyes
+sparkling.</p>
+
+<p>"Jack," she said, almost quivering with excitement,
+"<hi rend="font-style: italic">are</hi> you in love with her?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I am," he owned, wondering what would
+come next, but feeling that the tide was all his way.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary collapsed with a joyful sigh.</p>
+
+<p>"My heavens alive," she said rapturously,
+"seems like it's too good to be true! Jack," she
+continued solemnly, "if you're in love with her you
+shall marry her. If there's any way to keep a girl
+like that in the family I guess I ain't goin' to let
+her slip through my fingers not while I've got a
+live nephew. You shall marry her an' I'll buy you
+a house in New York and come an' live with you."
+<pb n="304" /><anchor id="Pg304" /></p>
+
+<p>Jack sat silent, but smiling.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you think she will want to marry me?"
+he asked presently.</p>
+
+<p>"You go and bring her to me," said the old
+lady vigorously. "I'll soon find out. Just tell
+her I want to speak to her&mdash;don't tell her what
+about. That ain't none of your business an' I'm
+a great believer in people's not interfering in what's
+none of their business. You just get her and then
+leave her to me."</p>
+
+<p>Jack went and found Janice. He was sufficiently
+mean not to tell her what had happened,
+and Janice&mdash;being built on a different plan from
+Lucinda&mdash;had not kept near enough to the keyhole
+to be posted anyway.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Denham says you want me," she said,
+coming to the bedside with her customary pleasant
+smile.</p>
+
+<p>"I do," said her mistress. "I want to speak
+to you on a very serious subject and I want you to
+pay a lot of attention. It's this: I want you to
+marry Jack."</p>
+
+<p>Poor Janice jumped violently,&mdash;there was no
+doubt as to the genuineness of her surprise.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, don't you want to?" asked Aunt Mary.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't believe I do."</p>
+
+<p>At this it was the old lady's turn to be astonished.
+<pb n="305" /><anchor id="Pg305" /></p>
+
+<p>"Why don't you?" she said; "my heavens
+alive, what are you a-expectin' to marry if you don't
+think my nephew's good enough for you?"</p>
+
+<p>"But I don't want to marry!" cried poor Janice,
+in most evident distress.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary looked at her severely.</p>
+
+<p>"Then what did you kiss him for?" she asked,
+in the tone in which one plays the trump ace.</p>
+
+<p>Janice started again.</p>
+
+<p>"Kiss&mdash;him&mdash;" she faltered.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary regarded her sternly.</p>
+
+<p>"Granite," she said, "I ain't a-intendin' to be
+unreasonable, but I must ask you jus' one simple
+question. You kissed him, for I saw you; an' will
+you kindly tell me why, in heaven's name, you ain't
+willin' to marry any man that you're willin' to
+kiss?"</p>
+
+<p>"There's such a difference," wailed the maid.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't see it," said her mistress, shaking her
+head. "I don't see it at all. Of course I never
+for a minute thought of doin' either myself, but if
+I had thought of doin' either, I'd had sense enough
+to have seen that I'd have to make up my mind to
+do both. I'm a great believer in never doin' things
+by halves. It don't pay. Never&mdash;nohow."</p>
+
+<p>Janice was biting her lips.</p>
+
+<p>"But I don't want to marry!" she repeated
+obstinately.
+<pb n="306" /><anchor id="Pg306" /></p>
+
+<p>"Then you shouldn't have let him kiss you.
+You've got him all started to lovin' you and if he's
+stopped too quick no one can tell what may happen.
+I want him to settle down, but I want him to settle
+down because he's happy an' not because he's
+shattered. He says he's willin' to marry you an'
+I don't see any good reason why not."</p>
+
+<p>Janice's mouth continued to look rebellious.</p>
+
+<p>"Go and get him," said Aunt Mary. "I can see
+that this thing has got to be settled pleasantly right
+off, or we shan't none of us have any appetite for
+dinner. You find Jack, or if you can't find him tell
+Lucinda that she's got to."</p>
+
+<p>Janice went out and found Jack in the hall.</p>
+
+<p>"Is this a trap?" she asked reproachfully.</p>
+
+<p>Jack laughed.</p>
+
+<p>"No," he said "it's a counter-mine."</p>
+
+<p>"Your aunt wants you at once," said Janice, putting
+her hands into her pockets and looking out
+of the window.</p>
+
+<p>"I fly to obey," he said obediently, and went
+at once to his elderly relative.</p>
+
+<p>"Jack," she said, the instant he opened the door,
+"I've had a little talk with Granite. She don'
+want to marry you, but she looks to me like she
+really didn't know her own mind. I've said all I
+can say an' I'm too tired holdin' the ear-trumpet to
+say any more. I think the best thing you can do is
+<pb n="307" /><anchor id="Pg307" />to take her out for a walk an' explain things
+thoroughly. It's no good our talkin' to her together;
+and, anyway, I've always been a great
+believer in 'Two's company&mdash;three's none.' That
+was really the big reason why I'd never let Lucinda
+keep a cat. You take her and go to walk and I
+guess everything'll come out all right. It ought
+to. My heavens alive!"</p>
+
+<p>Jack took the maid and they went out to walk.
+When they were beyond earshot the first thing
+that they did was to laugh long and loud.</p>
+
+<p>"Of all my many and varied adventures!"
+cried Mrs. Rosscott, and Jack took the opportunity
+to kiss her again&mdash;under no protest this time.</p>
+
+<p>"We shall have to be married very soon, now,
+you know," he said gayly. "Aunt Mary won't be
+able to wait."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, as to that&mdash;we'll see," said Mrs. Rosscott,
+and laughed afresh. "But there is one thing
+that must be done at once."</p>
+
+<p>"What's that?" Jack asked.</p>
+
+<p>"We must tell Aunt Mary who I am."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, to be sure," said the young man.</p>
+
+<p>"I hope she won't take it in any way but the
+right way!" the widow said thoughtfully.</p>
+
+<p>"My dearest, in what other way could she take
+it? I think she has proved her opinion of you
+pretty sincerely."
+<pb n="308" /><anchor id="Pg308" /></p>
+
+<p>"Yes," said Mrs. Rosscott, with a little smile,
+"I certainly have cause to feel that she loves me
+for myself alone."</p>
+
+<p>When they returned to the house they went
+straightway to Aunt Mary's room, and the first
+glance through the old lady's eye-glasses told her
+that her wishes had all been fulfilled. She sat up
+in bed, took a hand of each into her own, and surveyed
+them in an access of such utter joy as nearly
+caused all three to weep together.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I <hi rend="font-style: italic">am</hi> so glad," was all she said for the
+first few seconds, and nobody doubted her words
+forever after.</p>
+
+<p>Then Mrs. Rosscott removed her hat and jacket,
+and when she returned to the bedside her future
+aunt made her sit down close to her and hold one
+of her hands while Jack held the other.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm <hi rend="font-style: italic">so</hi> glad you're to have the runnin' of Jack,"
+the old lady declared sincerely. "All I ask of you
+is to be patient with him. I always was. That is,
+<hi rend="font-style: italic">most</hi> always."</p>
+
+<p>"Dear Aunt Mary," said Mrs. Rosscott, slipping
+down on her knees beside the bed, "you are
+so good to me that you encourage me to tell you
+my secret. It isn't long, and it isn't bad, but I have
+a confession to make."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I say," cried Jack, "if you put it that way
+let me do the owning up!"
+<pb n="309" /><anchor id="Pg309" /></p>
+
+<p>"Hush," said his love authoritatively, "it's my
+confession. Leave it to me."</p>
+
+<p>"What is it?" said Aunt Mary, looking
+anxiously from one to the other; "you haven't
+broke your engagement already, I hope."</p>
+
+<p>"No," said Mrs. Rosscott, "it's nothing
+like that. It's only rather a surprise. But it's
+a nice surprise,&mdash;at least, I hope you'll think that
+it is."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, hurry and tell me then," said the old
+lady. "I'm a great believer in bein' told good
+news as soon as possible. What is it?"</p>
+
+<p>"It's that I'm not a maid," said the pretty
+widow.</p>
+
+<p>"Not&mdash;a&mdash;" cried Aunt Mary blankly.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm a widow!" said Janice. "I'm Burnett's
+sister."</p>
+
+<p>"Wh&mdash;a&mdash;at!" cried Aunt Mary. "I didn't
+jus' catch that."</p>
+
+<p>"You see," screamed Jack, "she was afraid
+to have me entertain you in New York,&mdash;afraid
+you wouldn't be properly looked after, Aunt Mary,
+so she dressed up for your maid and looked after
+you herself."</p>
+
+<p>"My heavens alive!"</p>
+
+<p>"Wasn't she an angel?" he asked.</p>
+
+<p>"But whatever made you take such an interest?"
+Aunt Mary demanded of Janice.
+<pb n="310" /><anchor id="Pg310" /></p>
+
+<p>Janice rose from her knees and, leaning over
+the bed, drew the old lady close in her arms.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll tell you," she screamed gently. "I loved
+Jack, and so I loved his aunt even before I had ever
+seen her."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary's joy fairly overflowed at that view
+of things, and, putting her hands to either side of
+the lovely face so close to her own, she kissed it
+warmly again and again.</p>
+
+<p>"I always knew you were suthin' out of the ordinary,"
+she declared vigorously. "You know I
+wouldn't have let him marry you if I hadn't been
+pretty sure as you were different from Lucinda an'
+the common run."</p>
+
+<p>And then she beamed on them both and Jack
+beamed on them both and Mrs. Rosscott kissed
+each of them and dried her own happy eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"Now I want to know jus' how an' where you
+learned to love him?" the aunt asked next.</p>
+
+<p>"I loved him almost directly I knew him," she
+answered, and at that Aunt Mary seemed on the
+point of applauding with the ear-trumpet against
+the headboard.</p>
+
+<p>"It was jus' the same with me," she said delightedly.
+"He was only a baby then, but the first
+look I took I jus' had a feelin'&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," said Mrs. Rosscott sympathetically,
+"so did I."
+<pb n="311" /><anchor id="Pg311" /></p>
+
+<p>They all laughed together.</p>
+
+<p>"An' now," said Aunt Mary, laying back and
+folding her arms upon her bosom, "an' now comes
+the main question,&mdash;when do you two want to be
+married?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh!" said the widow starting, "we&mdash;I&mdash;Jack&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, go on," said Aunt Mary. "Say whenever
+you like. An' then Jack can do the same."</p>
+
+<p>The two young people exchanged glances.</p>
+
+<p>"Speak right up," said Aunt Mary. "I'm a
+great believer in not hangin' back when anythin'
+has got to be decided. Jack, what do you think?"</p>
+
+<p>"I want to get married right off," said Jack
+decidedly.</p>
+
+<p>"I think he's too young," put in Mrs. Rosscott
+hastily.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know," said Aunt Mary, looking at
+her nephew reflectively. "Seems to me he's big
+enough, an' I'm a great believer in never dilly-dallyin'
+over what's got to be done some time.
+Why not Thanksgiving?"</p>
+
+<p>"Thanksgiving!" shrieked Mrs. Rosscott.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," said Aunt Mary. "I think it would be
+a good time, an' then I can come and spend Christmas
+with you in the city."</p>
+
+<p>"Great idea!" declared her nephew; "me for
+Thanksgiving."
+<pb n="312" /><anchor id="Pg312" /></p>
+
+<p>"What do you say?" said Aunt Mary to the
+bride-to-be.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I don't see&mdash;" began the latter, wrinkling
+her pretty forehead in a prettier perplexity and
+looking helplessly back and forth between their
+double eagerness.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, why not?" said the aunt. "It ain't as
+if there was any reason for waitin'. If there was
+I'd be the first to be willin' to do all I could to be
+patient, but as it is&mdash;even if you an' Jack ain't in
+any particular hurry, I am, an' I was brought up
+to go right to work at gettin' what you want as
+soon as you know what it is."</p>
+
+<p>"But this is so sudden," wailed Mrs. Rosscott.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary glanced at her sharply.</p>
+
+<p>"That's what they all say, a'cordin' to the
+papers," she said calmly, "an' it never is counted
+as anythin' but a joke."</p>
+
+<p>"But I'm not joking," Janice cried.</p>
+
+<p>"Then you jus' take a little time an' think it
+over," proposed the old lady,&mdash;"I'll tell you what
+you can do. You can get me Lucinda because I
+want to tell her suthin' and then you and Jack can
+sit down together an' think it over anywhere an'
+anyhow you like."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you really want Lucinda," said Janice,
+rising to her feet, "or is it something that I can
+do? You know I'm yours just the same as ever,
+<pb n="313" /><anchor id="Pg313" />Aunt Mary. Next to being good to Jack, I want
+to always be good to you."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary looked up with a light in her eyes
+that was fine to see.</p>
+
+<p>"Bless you, my child," she said heartily. "I
+know that, but I really want Lucinda, an' you an'
+Jack can take care of yourselves for a while. Leastways,
+I hope you can. I guess you can. I presume
+so, anyway."</p>
+
+<p>It was late that afternoon that Lucinda, looking
+as if she had been accidentally overtaken by a road-roller,
+joined Joshua in the potato cellar.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, the sky c'n fall whenever it likes now!"
+she said, sitting down on an empty barrel with a
+resigned sigh.</p>
+
+<p>"That's a comfort to know," said Joshua.</p>
+
+<p>"She's got it all made up for 'em to marry each
+other."</p>
+
+<p>"That ain't no great news to me," said Joshua.</p>
+
+<p>"Joshua Whittlesey, you make my blood boil.
+Things is goin' rackin' and ruinin' at a great pace
+here an' you as cold as a cauliflower over it all."</p>
+
+<p>Joshua sorted potatoes phlegmatically and said
+nothing.</p>
+
+<p>"S'posin' I'd 'a' wanted to marry him?"</p>
+
+<p>Joshua continued to sort potatoes.</p>
+
+<p>"Or, s'posin' you wanted to marry her?"</p>
+
+<p>Joshua looked up quickly.
+<pb n="314" /><anchor id="Pg314" /></p>
+
+<p>"Which one?" he said.</p>
+
+<p>"Janice!"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh," he said in a relieved tone.</p>
+
+<p>"Why did you say 'oh,'&mdash;did you think I meant
+her?"</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't know who you meant."</p>
+
+<p>"Why, you wouldn't think o' marryin' her,
+would you?"</p>
+
+<p>"No," said Joshua emphatically. "I'd as
+soon think o' marryin' you yourself."</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda deliberated for a minute or so as to
+whether to accept this insult in silence or not, and
+finally decided to make just one more remark.</p>
+
+<p>"I wonder if she'll send any word to Arethusa
+'n' Mary."</p>
+
+<p>"They'll know soon enough," said Joshua
+oracularly.</p>
+
+<p>"How'll they know, I'd like to know?"</p>
+
+<p>"You'll write 'em."</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda was dumb. The fact that the letter
+was already written only made the serpent-tooth of
+Joshua's intimate knowledge cut the deeper.</p>
+</div>
+<pb n="315" /><anchor id="Pg315" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<index index="toc" />
+<index index="pdf" />
+
+<head>Chapter Twenty-Five - Grand Finale</head>
+
+
+<quote rend="display">
+<p>She has it all made up for him to marry her, and
+she is certainly as happy as she is and he is themselves.
+She is making plans at a great rate and
+she has consented to have her wedding here because
+she wants to be there herself. The day is set for
+Thanksgiving and the Lord be with us for everything
+has got to be just so and she is no more good
+at helping now that he's come. They are all
+going back to New York as soon as possible after
+it's over and I hope to be forgiven for stating
+plainly that it will be the happiest day' of my life.</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: right">Respectfully,</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: right">L. COOKE.</p>
+</quote>
+
+<p>Upon receipt of this astounding news Arethusa
+took the train and flew to the scene where such
+momentous happenings were piling up on one
+another. Her arrival was unexpected and the
+changes which she found ensued and ensuing were
+of a nature bewildering in the extreme. Aunt
+Mary had quit her regime of soup and sleep and
+was not only more energetically vigorous as to
+mind than ever, but strengthening daily as to bodily
+force. It might have been the excitement, for Burnett
+was there, Clover was <hi rend="font-style: italic">en route</hi>, and Mitchell
+<pb n="316" /><anchor id="Pg316" />was expected within twenty-four hours. Other great
+changes were visible everywhere. A corps of
+servants from town had fairly swamped Lucinda
+and twenty carpenters were putting up an extra
+addition to the house in which to give the wedding
+room to spread. Nor was this all, for Aunt Mary
+had turned a furniture man and an upholsterer
+loose with no other limit than that comprised by
+the two words "<hi rend="font-style: italic">carte blanche</hi>."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Rosscott still continued to wait upon Aunt
+Mary, but another maid had arrived to await upon
+Mrs. Rosscott. The latter had shed her black uniform
+and bloomed forth in rose-hued robes. Mr.
+Stebbins was kept on tap from dawn to dark and
+the checks flowed like water. Emissaries had been
+despatched to New York to buy the young couple
+a suitable house and furnish that also from top to
+bottom.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Arethusa," the aunt said to the niece
+when they met the morning after her arrival, "I'm
+feelin' better 'n I was last time you were here."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm so glad," yelled Arethusa.</p>
+
+<p>"They'll live in New York and I'll live with
+them. As far as I've seen there ain't no other
+place on earth to live. I'm goin' to get me a coat
+lined with black-spotted white cat's fur and have
+my glasses put on a parasol handle, and I'm going
+to have the collars and sleeves left out of most of
+<pb n="317" /><anchor id="Pg317" />my dresses an' look like other people. I'm a great
+believer in doin' as others do, an' Jack won't ever
+have no cause to complain that I didn't take easy
+to city life."</p>
+
+<p>Arethusa felt herself dumb before these revelations.</p>
+
+<p>Later she was conducted to see the wedding
+presents, which were gorgeous. Among them was
+the biggest and brightest of crimson automobiles;
+and Mitchell, who had presented it, had christened
+it beforehand "The Midnight Sun." Aunt
+Mary's gift was the New York house and money
+enough for them to live on the income.</p>
+
+<p>"I know you're able to look out for yourself,"
+she told the bride, "but I don't want Jack to have
+to worry over things at all, and, although I know
+it's a good habit, still I shouldn't like to have him
+ever work so hard that he wouldn't feel like goin'
+around with us nights. Not ever. Not even
+sometimes."</p>
+
+<p>Mitchell was overjoyed at the way things had
+turned out.</p>
+
+<p>"My dear Miss Watkins," he screamed, when
+he was ushered into Aunt Mary's presence, "who
+could have guessed in the hour of that sad parting
+in New York that such a glad future was held in
+store for us all!"</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't quite catch that," Aunt Mary exclaimed,
+<pb n="318" /><anchor id="Pg318" />rapturously, "but it doesn't matter&mdash;as
+long as you got here safe at last."</p>
+
+<p>"Safe!" exclaimed the young man; "it would
+have been the very refinement of cruelty if my train
+had smashed me on this journey."</p>
+
+<p>Burnett was equally happy.</p>
+
+<p>"I suppose it will be up to me to give you away,"
+he said to his sister; "before all these people, too.
+What a mean trick!"</p>
+
+<p>Jack had thought that he would like to have
+Tweedwell marry him, as that young man had put
+in the summer vacation getting ordained. Tweedwell
+accepted&mdash;although he had just taken charge
+of a living in Seattle and came through on a flyer
+which arrived two hours before <hi rend="font-style: italic">the</hi> hour. Some
+fifty or sixty of the guests came in on the same
+train, and Burnett and Clover met them all at the
+cars and made the majority comfortable in the different
+hotels and honored the minority with Aunt
+Mary's hospitality.</p>
+
+<p>The day was gorgeous. The addition to the
+house was done and lined with white and decorated
+in gold. An orchestra was ensconced behind palms
+just as orchestras always covet to be and a magnificent
+breakfast had been sent up from the city
+in its own car with its own service and attendants
+to serve it.</p>
+
+<p>There was only one hitch in the entire programme.
+<pb n="319" /><anchor id="Pg319" />That was that when they got to the
+church Tweedwell did not show up. Jack was distressed
+even though Mrs. Rosscott laughed.
+Mitchell wanted to read the ceremony, but Aunt
+Mary was afraid it wouldn't be legal, and Mr.
+Stebbins agreed with her. In the end the regular
+clergyman married them; and just as they were all
+filing out they met Tweedwell and Lucinda tearing
+along, he in his surplice and she in the black silk
+dress which Aunt Mary had given her in celebration
+of the occasion. They were both too exhausted
+to be able to explain for several minutes;
+but it finally came out (of Lucinda) that Burnett,
+whose place it was to have overseen officiating
+Tweedwell, had forgotten all about him, and the
+poor fellow, exhausted by his long journey, had
+never awakened until Lucinda, going in to clear up
+his room, had let forth a piercing howl of surprise.</p>
+
+<p>So far from dampening anyone's spirits this little
+<hi rend="font-style: italic">contretemps</hi> only seemed to set things off at a
+livelier pace. They had a brisk ride home, and
+the wedding feast and the wedding cake were all
+that could be desired. What went with it was the
+finest that any of the guests ever tasted before or
+since, and the champagne was all but served in
+beer steins.</p>
+
+<p>When it came to the healths they drank to Aunt
+Mary along with the bride and groom, and Mitchell
+<pb n="320" /><anchor id="Pg320" />made a speech, invoking Heaven's blessings on the
+triple compact and covering himself with glory.</p>
+
+<p>"Here's to Aunt Mary and her bride and her
+groom," he cried, when they told him to rise and
+proclaim. "Here's to Aunt Mary and her bride
+and groom, and here's to their health and their
+wealth and their happiness. Here's to their brilliant
+past, their roseate present and their gorgeous
+future. And here's to hoping that Fate, who is
+ready and willing to deal any man a bride, may
+some time see fit to deal some one of us another
+such as Jack's Aunt Mary. So I propose her
+health before all else. Aunt Mary, long may she
+wave!"</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary looked as if words and actions were
+poor things in which to attempt to express her
+feelings, but no one who glanced at her could be in
+two minds as to her state of approval as to everything
+that was going on.</p>
+
+<p>The bridal pair drove away somewhere after
+five o'clock, and about seven the main body of the
+guests returned to the city.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Rosscott's mother and Mitchell and Burnett
+remained a day or two to keep Aunt Mary
+from feeling blue, but Aunt Mary was not at all
+inclined that way.</p>
+
+<p>"If those two young people are lookin' forward
+to anythin' like as much fun as I am," she said over
+<pb n="321" /><anchor id="Pg321" />and over again, "well, all is they're lookin' forward
+to a good deal."</p>
+
+<p>"Won't we whoop her up next summer!" said
+Burnett; "well, I don't know!"</p>
+
+<p>"My dear Robert," said his mother gently.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't stop him," said Aunt Mary. "He
+knows just how I feel an' I know jus' how he feels.
+It isn't wrong, Mrs. Burnett, it's natural. We were
+born to be happy, only sometimes we don't know
+just how to set about it."</p>
+
+<p>"Miss Watkins has hit the nail on the head,"
+said Mitchell, rolling a cigarette. "She has not
+only hit the nail on its own head, but she has succeeded
+in driving its point well into all our heads.
+She taught us many things during her short visit.
+I, for one, am her debtor forever. Me for joy,
+from now on!"</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary smiled. "My heavens!" she murmured;
+"to think how nice it all come out, and
+how really put out I was when Jack first began,
+too."</p>
+
+<p>Burnett put his hand in his pocket and pulled out
+some gum.</p>
+
+<p>"Robert!" cried his mother, "you don't chew
+gum, do you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Of course he doesn't," said his friend quickly;
+"that's why he had it in his pocket."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Mary looked thoughtfully at him.
+<pb n="322" /><anchor id="Pg322" /></p>
+
+<p>"Give me a little," she said, "maybe it's suthin'
+I've been missin'."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Burnett left the next day, and Mitchell
+went the day after.</p>
+
+<p>The carpenters took down the addition, and the
+wedding presents were shipped to town.</p>
+
+<p>"She says she'll be goin' soon," said Lucinda to
+Joshua.</p>
+
+<p>"Then she'll be goin' soon," said Joshua.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm sure I'll be glad," said Lucinda; "such
+hifalutin sky-larkin'!"</p>
+
+<p>Joshua said nothing. Mr. Stebbins had apprised
+him of Aunt Mary's arrangements in his behalf and
+he felt no inclination to criticize any of her doings
+and sayings.</p>
+
+<p>Toward the end of the next week this telegram
+was received.</p>
+
+<quote rend="display">
+<p>Dear Aunt Mary: We're home and ready when
+you are. Telegraph what train.</p>
+
+<p rend="text-align: right">J. and J.</p>
+</quote>
+
+<p>The telegram was handed to Aunt Mary at ten
+in the morning. Her fingers trembled as she
+opened it.</p>
+
+<p>"My heavens alive, Lucinda," she cried, the
+next minute, "I do believe, if you'll be quick, that
+I can make the twelve-twenty! Run! Tell Joshua
+to get my trunk down and harness Billy as quick
+<pb n="323" /><anchor id="Pg323" />as he can. He can telegraph that I'm comin' after
+I'm gone."</p>
+
+<p>Lucinda flew Joshua-wards.</p>
+
+<p>"She wants to make the twelve-twenty train!"
+she cried. Joshua looked up.</p>
+
+<p>"Then she'll make it," he said.</p>
+
+<p>She made it!</p>
+</div>
+<pb n="325" /><anchor id="Pg325" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: right">
+
+<p><hi rend="font-style: italic; font-size: large">Anne Warner's "Susan Clegg" Books</hi></p>
+
+<p>SUSAN CLEGG AND HER FRIEND MRS. LATHROP</p>
+
+<p><hi rend="font-style: italic">By</hi> ANNE WARNER<lb />
+With Frontispiece, $1.00</p>
+
+<p>Nothing better in the new homely philosophy style
+of fiction has been written.&mdash;<hi rend="font-style: italic">San Francisco Bulletin</hi>.</p>
+
+<p>One of the most genuinely humorous books ever written.&mdash;<hi rend="font-style: italic">St.
+Louis Globe-Democrat</hi>.</p>
+
+<p>Anything more humorous than the Susan Clegg stories
+would be hard to find.&mdash;<hi rend="font-style: italic">The Critic</hi>, New York.</p>
+
+<milestone unit="tb" rend="stars: 5" />
+
+<p><hi rend="font-style: italic">By the Same Author</hi>:</p>
+
+<p>SUSAN CLEGG AND HER NEIGHBORS' AFFAIRS</p>
+
+<p>With Frontispiece, $1.00</p>
+
+<p>All the stories brim over with quaint humor, caustic
+sarcasm, and concealed contempt for male and matrimonial
+chains.&mdash;<hi rend="font-style: italic">Philadelphia Ledger</hi>.</p>
+
+<milestone unit="tb" rend="stars: 5" />
+
+<p>SUSAN CLEGG AND A MAN IN THE HOUSE</p>
+
+<p>Illustrated by Alice Barber Stephens. $1.50</p>
+
+<p>Susan is a positive joy, and the reading world owes
+Anne Warner a vote of thanks for her contribution to
+the list of American humor.&mdash;<hi rend="font-style: italic">New York Times</hi>.</p>
+
+<p>LITTLE, BROWN, &amp; CO., Publishers<lb />
+34 Beacon Street, Boston</p>
+</div>
+
+<pb n="326" /><anchor id="Pg326" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<p><hi rend="font-style: italic; font-size: large">An exceedingly clever volume of stories</hi></p>
+
+<p>AN ORIGINAL GENTLEMAN</p>
+
+<p><hi rend="font-style: italic">By</hi> ANNE WARNER</p>
+
+<p>With frontispiece by Alice Barber Stephens</p>
+
+<p>Cloth. $1.50</p>
+
+<p>Exhibits her cleverness and sense of humor.&mdash;<hi rend="font-style: italic">New York
+Times</hi>.</p>
+
+<p>Crisply told, quaintly humorous.&mdash;<hi rend="font-style: italic">Boston Transcript</hi>.</p>
+
+<p>An "Original Gentleman" is truly also one of the most
+entertaining and witty gentlemen that it has been our
+fortune to run across in many a day, not to mention the
+more original lady that he has to do with.&mdash;<hi rend="font-style: italic">Louisville
+Evening Post</hi>.</p>
+
+<milestone unit="tb" rend="stars: 5" />
+
+<p><hi rend="font-style: italic">By the same author</hi></p>
+
+<p>A WOMAN'S WILL</p>
+
+<p>Illustrated. 360 pages. Cloth. $1.50</p>
+
+<p>A deliciously funny book.&mdash;<hi rend="font-style: italic">Chicago Tribune</hi>.</p>
+
+<p>It is bright, charming, and intense as it describes the
+wooing of a young American widow on the European
+Continent by a German musical genius.&mdash;<hi rend="font-style: italic">San Francisco
+Chronicle</hi>.</p>
+
+<p>As refreshing a bit of fiction as one often finds.&mdash;<hi rend="font-style: italic">Providence
+Journal</hi>.</p>
+
+<p>LITTLE, BROWN, &amp; CO., PUBLISHERS<lb />
+34 BEACON STREET, BOSTON</p>
+</div>
+
+<pb n="327" /><anchor id="Pg327" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<p><hi rend="font-style: italic; font-size: large">Anne Warner's Latest Character Creation</hi></p>
+
+<p>IN A MYSTERIOUS WAY</p>
+
+<p><hi rend="font-style: italic">By</hi> ANNE WARNER</p>
+
+<p>Illustrated by J.V. McFall. Cloth. $1.50</p>
+
+<p>A story of love and sacrifice that teems with the
+author's original humor.&mdash;<hi rend="font-style: italic">Baltimore American</hi>.</p>
+
+<p>The humor peculiar to her pen is here in wonted
+strength, but in a new guise; and set against it, or interwoven
+with it, is a story of love and the strange sacrifice
+of which a few loving hearts are capable.&mdash;<hi rend="font-style: italic">New York
+American</hi>.</p>
+
+<milestone unit="tb" rend="stars: 5" />
+
+<p><hi rend="font-style: italic">By the same author</hi></p>
+
+<p>YOUR CHILD AND MINE</p>
+
+<p>Illustrated. 12mo. Cloth. $1.50</p>
+
+<p>The child heart, strange and sweet and tender, lies open
+to this sympathetic writer, and other human hearts&mdash;and
+eyes&mdash;should be opened by her narratives.&mdash;<hi rend="font-style: italic">Chicago
+Record-Herald</hi>.</p>
+
+<p>The literary charm of the stories is not the least of their
+attractions. The interest is all the greater for the style
+in which the story is told, and the author's sympathy with
+her young friends lends a vital warmth to her narrative.&mdash;<hi rend="font-style: italic">Philadelphia
+Public Ledger</hi>.</p>
+
+<p>LITTLE, BROWN, &amp; CO., PUBLISHERS<lb />
+34 BEACON STREET, BOSTON</p>
+</div>
+
+<pb n="328" /><anchor id="Pg328" />
+
+<div rend="page-break-before: always">
+<p><hi rend="font-style: italic; font-size: large">By the Author of "Aunt Jane of Kentucky"</hi></p>
+
+<p>THE LAND OF LONG AGO</p>
+
+<p><hi rend="font-style: italic">By</hi> ELIZA CALVERT HALL</p>
+
+<p>Illustrated by G. Patrick Nelson and Beulah Strong
+12mo. Cloth. $1.50</p>
+
+<p>The book is an inspiration.&mdash;<hi rend="font-style: italic">Boston Globe</hi>.</p>
+
+<p>Without qualification one of the worthiest publications
+of the year.&mdash;<hi rend="font-style: italic">Pittsburg Post</hi>.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Jane has become a real personage in American
+literature.&mdash;<hi rend="font-style: italic">Hartford Courant</hi>.</p>
+
+<p>A philosophy sweet and wholesome flows from the lips
+of "Aunt Jane."&mdash;<hi rend="font-style: italic">Chicago Evening Post</hi>.</p>
+
+<p>The sweetness and sincerity of Aunt Jane's recollections
+have the same unfailing charm found in "Cranford."&mdash;<hi rend="font-style: italic">Philadelphia
+Press</hi>.</p>
+
+<p>To a greater degree than her previous work it touches
+the heart by its wholesome, quaint human appeal.&mdash;<hi rend="font-style: italic">Boston
+Transcript</hi>.</p>
+
+<p>The stories are prose idyls; the illuminations of a lovely
+spirit shine upon them, and their literary quality is as
+rare as beautiful.&mdash;<hi rend="font-style: italic">Baltimore Sun</hi>.</p>
+
+<p>MARGARET E. SANGSTER says: "It is not often that an
+author competes with herself, but Eliza Calvert Hall has
+done so successfully, for her second volume centred about
+Aunt Jane is more fascinating than her first."</p>
+
+<p>LITTLE, BROWN, &amp; CO., PUBLISHERS<lb />
+34 BEACON STREET, BOSTON</p>
+</div>
+
+</body>
+  <back>
+<div rend="page-break-before: right">
+  <divGen type="pgfooter" />
+</div>
+  </back>
+</text>
+</TEI.2>
+
+<!--
+A Word from Project Gutenberg
+
+
+This file should be named 15775-0.txt or 15775-0.zip.
+
+This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
+
+
+      http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/7/7/15775/
+
+
+Updated editions will replace the previous one — the old editions will be
+renamed.
+
+Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no one
+owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and
+you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission
+and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth in the
+General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and
+distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the Project
+Gutenberg-tm concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered
+trademark, and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you
+receive specific permission. If you do not charge anything for copies of
+this eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook
+for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports,
+performances and research. They may be modified and printed and given away
+— you may do practically _anything_ with public domain eBooks.
+Redistribution is subject to the trademark license, especially commercial
+redistribution.
+
+
+
+
+The Full Project Gutenberg License
+
+
+_Please read this before you distribute or use this work._
+
+To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free
+distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work (or
+any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project Gutenberg”),
+you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License (available with this file or online
+(http://www.gutenberg.org/license)).
+
+
+
+Section 1.
+
+
+  General Terms of Use & Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+                                  works
+
+
+1.A.
+
+
+By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work,
+you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to and accept all the
+terms of this license and intellectual property (trademark/copyright)
+agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all the terms of this
+agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy all copies of
+Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. If you paid a
+fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+work and you do not agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement, you
+may obtain a refund from the person or entity to whom you paid the fee as
+set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
+
+
+1.B.
+
+
+“Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark. It may only be used on or
+associated in any way with an electronic work by people who agree to be
+bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few things that you can
+do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works even without complying
+with the full terms of this agreement. See paragraph 1.C below. There are
+a lot of things you can do with Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works if
+you follow the terms of this agreement and help preserve free future
+access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below.
+
+
+1.C.
+
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the Foundation” or
+PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the
+collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an individual
+work is in the public domain in the United States and you are located in
+the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from copying,
+distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative works based on
+the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of
+course, we hope that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of
+promoting free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project
+Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for
+keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can
+easily comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the
+same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when you
+share it without charge with others.
+
+
+1.D.
+
+
+The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern what you
+can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in a constant
+state of change. If you are outside the United States, check the laws of
+your country in addition to the terms of this agreement before
+downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or creating
+derivative works based on this work or any other Project Gutenberg-tm
+work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning the copyright
+status of any work in any country outside the United States.
+
+
+1.E.
+
+
+Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
+
+
+1.E.1.
+
+
+The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate access
+to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently whenever
+any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the phrase
+“Project Gutenberg” appears, or with which the phrase “Project Gutenberg”
+is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, copied or
+distributed:
+
+
+      This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and
+      with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give
+      it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg
+      License included with this eBook or online at
+      http://www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+1.E.2.
+
+
+If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived from the
+public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is posted with
+permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied and
+distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees or
+charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work with the
+phrase “Project Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the work, you
+must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7
+or obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm
+trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+
+1.E.3.
+
+
+If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted with the
+permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution must comply
+with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional terms imposed
+by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked to the Project
+Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the permission of the
+copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.
+
+
+1.E.4.
+
+
+Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm License
+terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this work or any
+other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
+
+
+1.E.5.
+
+
+Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this electronic
+work, or any part of this electronic work, without prominently displaying
+the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with active links or immediate
+access to the full terms of the Project Gutenberg-tm License.
+
+
+1.E.6.
+
+
+You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, compressed,
+marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any word
+processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or
+distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than
+“Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official version posted
+on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (http://www.gutenberg.org),
+you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a
+copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon
+request, of the work in its original “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other form.
+Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm License as
+specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
+
+
+1.E.7.
+
+
+Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, performing,
+copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works unless you comply
+with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+
+1.E.8.
+
+
+You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing access to or
+distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided that
+
+    - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
+      the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method
+      you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed
+      to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has
+      agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project
+      Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid
+      within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are
+      legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty
+      payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project
+      Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in
+      Section 4, “Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg
+      Literary Archive Foundation.”
+
+    - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
+      you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
+      does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+      License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all
+      copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue
+      all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm
+      works.
+
+    - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of
+      any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
+      electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of
+      receipt of the work.
+
+    - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
+      distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+
+1.E.9.
+
+
+If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set forth in
+this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from both the
+Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael Hart, the owner
+of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth
+in Section 3 below.
+
+
+1.F.
+
+
+1.F.1.
+
+
+Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable effort to
+identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread public domain
+works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these
+efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, and the medium on which
+they may be stored, may contain “Defects,” such as, but not limited to,
+incomplete, inaccurate or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright
+or other intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk
+or other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot
+be read by your equipment.
+
+
+1.F.2.
+
+
+LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES — Except for the “Right of
+Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm
+trademark, and any other party distributing a Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all liability to you for
+damages, costs and expenses, including legal fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE
+NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH
+OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE
+FOUNDATION, THE TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT
+WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL,
+PUNITIVE OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY
+OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+
+
+1.F.3.
+
+
+LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND — If you discover a defect in this
+electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can receive a refund
+of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a written explanation to
+the person you received the work from. If you received the work on a
+physical medium, you must return the medium with your written explanation.
+The person or entity that provided you with the defective work may elect
+to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a refund. If you received the
+work electronically, the person or entity providing it to you may choose
+to give you a second opportunity to receive the work electronically in
+lieu of a refund. If the second copy is also defective, you may demand a
+refund in writing without further opportunities to fix the problem.
+
+
+1.F.4.
+
+
+Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth in
+paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ’AS-IS,’ WITH NO OTHER
+WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
+WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
+
+
+1.F.5.
+
+
+Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied warranties or the
+exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. If any disclaimer or
+limitation set forth in this agreement violates the law of the state
+applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be interpreted to make
+the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by the applicable state
+law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this agreement
+shall not void the remaining provisions.
+
+
+1.F.6.
+
+
+INDEMNITY — You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the trademark
+owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone providing copies of
+Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance with this agreement,
+and any volunteers associated with the production, promotion and
+distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, harmless from all
+liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, that arise directly
+or indirectly from any of the following which you do or cause to occur:
+(a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration,
+modification, or additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work,
+and (c) any Defect you cause.
+
+
+
+Section  2.
+
+
+          Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm
+
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of
+electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers
+including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists because
+of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from people in all
+walks of life.
+
+Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the assistance
+they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm’s goals and
+ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will remain freely
+available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure and permanent future
+for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. To learn more about the
+Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and how your efforts and
+donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation web page at
+http://www.pglaf.org.
+
+
+
+Section 3.
+
+
+   Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
+
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit
+501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the state of
+Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service.
+The Foundation’s EIN or federal tax identification number is 64-6221541.
+Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at http://www.pglaf.org/fundraising.
+Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation are tax
+deductible to the full extent permitted by U.S. federal laws and your
+state’s laws.
+
+The Foundation’s principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr.
+S. Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered
+throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at 809 North
+1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email
+business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact information
+can be found at the Foundation’s web site and official page at
+http://www.pglaf.org
+
+For additional contact information:
+
+
+      Dr. Gregory B. Newby
+      Chief Executive and Director
+      gbnewby@pglaf.org
+
+
+
+Section 4.
+
+
+  Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
+                                Foundation
+
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide spread
+public support and donations to carry out its mission of increasing the
+number of public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed
+in machine readable form accessible by the widest array of equipment
+including outdated equipment. Many small donations ($1 to $5,000) are
+particularly important to maintaining tax exempt status with the IRS.
+
+The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
+charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United States.
+Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a considerable
+effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up with these
+requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations where we have not
+received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND DONATIONS or
+determine the status of compliance for any particular state visit
+http://www.pglaf.org
+
+While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we have
+not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition against
+accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who approach us
+with offers to donate.
+
+International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make any
+statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from outside the
+United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
+
+Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation methods
+and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other ways including
+checks, online payments and credit card donations. To donate, please
+visit: http://www.pglaf.org/donate
+
+
+
+Section 5.
+
+
+     General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works.
+
+
+Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm
+concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared with
+anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project Gutenberg-tm
+eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed
+editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. unless a
+copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily keep eBooks in
+compliance with any particular paper edition.
+
+Each eBook is in a subdirectory of the same number as the eBook’s eBook
+number, often in several formats including plain vanilla ASCII, compressed
+(zipped), HTML and others.
+
+Corrected _editions_ of our eBooks replace the old file and take over the
+old filename and etext number. The replaced older file is renamed.
+_Versions_ based on separate sources are treated as new eBooks receiving
+new filenames and etext numbers.
+
+Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility:
+
+
+      http://www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, including
+how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
+Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to subscribe to
+our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
+-->
diff --git a/old/15775-tei/images/image01.png b/old/15775-tei/images/image01.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6ffd960
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/15775-tei/images/image01.png
diff --git a/old/15775-tei/images/image02.png b/old/15775-tei/images/image02.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..177b8d2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/15775-tei/images/image02.png
diff --git a/old/15775-tei/images/image03.png b/old/15775-tei/images/image03.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..87da369
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/15775-tei/images/image03.png
diff --git a/old/15775-tei/images/image04.png b/old/15775-tei/images/image04.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6ad9262
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/15775-tei/images/image04.png
diff --git a/old/15775-tei/images/image05.png b/old/15775-tei/images/image05.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dc4671c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/15775-tei/images/image05.png
diff --git a/old/15775-tei/images/image06.png b/old/15775-tei/images/image06.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7bcc07a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/15775-tei/images/image06.png
diff --git a/old/15775-tei/images/image07.png b/old/15775-tei/images/image07.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4b7e26a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/15775-tei/images/image07.png
diff --git a/old/15775-tei/images/image08.png b/old/15775-tei/images/image08.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..56c5b34
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/15775-tei/images/image08.png
diff --git a/old/15775.txt b/old/15775.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e70a27d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/15775.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,9691 @@
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary by Anne
+Warner
+
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no
+restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under
+the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or
+online at http://www.gutenberg.org/license
+
+
+
+Title: The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary
+
+Author: Anne Warner
+
+Release Date: May 2005 [Ebook #15775]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: US-ASCII
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE REJUVENATION OF AUNT MARY***
+
+
+
+
+
+The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary
+By Anne Warner
+
+Author of "A Woman's Will," "Susan Clegg and Her Friend Mrs. Lathrop,"
+"Susan Clegg and a Man in the House," etc.
+_NEW EDITION_
+_With Additional Pictures from the Play_
+
+Boston
+Little, Brown, and Company
+1910
+
+
+
+
+
+                           _Copyright, 1904,_
+                       By Ainslee Magazine Company.
+
+                           _Copyright, 1905,_
+                      By Little, Brown, and Company.
+
+                           _Copyright, 1907,_
+                      By Little, Brown, and Company,
+
+                          _All rights reserved_
+
+                           Fourteenth Printing
+
+                                Printers
+                   S.J. Parkhill & Co., Boston, U.S.A.
+
+
+
+
+
+                             [_Frontispiece_]
+
+              Aunt Mary en Fete. May Robson as "Aunt Mary."
+
+
+
+
+
+       _Books by Anne Warner_
+A Woman's Will             1904
+Susan Clegg and Her        1904
+Friend Mrs. Lathrop
+The Rejuvenation of Aunt   1905
+Mary
+Susan Clegg and Her        1906
+Neighbor's Affairs
+Susan Clegg and a Man in   1907
+the House
+An Original Gentleman      1908
+In a Mysterious Way        1909
+Your Child and Mine        1909
+
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+Illustrations
+Chapter One - Introducing Aunt Mary
+Chapter Two - Jack
+Chapter Three - Introducing Jack
+Chapter Four - Married
+Chapter Five - The Day After Falling in Love
+Chapter Six - The Other Man
+Chapter Seven - Developments
+Chapter Eight - The Resolution He Took
+Chapter Nine - The Downfall of Hope
+Chapter Ten - The Woes of the Disinherited.
+Chapter Eleven - The Dove of Peace
+Chapter Twelve - A Trap For Aunt Mary
+Chapter Thirteen - Aunt Mary Entrapped
+Chapter Fourteen - Aunt Mary En Fete
+Chapter Fifteen - Aunt Mary Enthralled
+Chapter Sixteen - A Reposeful Interval
+Chapter Seventeen - Aunt Mary's Night About Town
+Chapter Eighteen - A Departure And A Return
+Chapter Nineteen - Aunt Mary's Return
+Chapter Twenty - Jack's Joy
+Chapter Twenty-One - The Peace and Quiet of the Country
+Chapter Twenty-Two - "Granite"
+Chapter Twenty-Three - "Granite" - Continued.
+Chapter Twenty-Four - Two Are Company
+Chapter Twenty-Five - Grand Finale
+
+
+
+
+
+ILLUSTRATIONS
+
+
+      "Aunt Mary en fete" (May Robson as "Aunt Mary") _Frontispiece_
+      "'Do not let us play any longer,' she said. 'Let us be in earnest'"
+      "'She's goin' to the city all alone!' Lucinda's voice suddenly
+      proclaimed behind him"
+      Aunt Mary and Her Escorts
+      "The carriage stopped three hundred feet below the level of a
+      roof-garden"
+      "And now the fun's all over and the work begins"
+      "'Yesterday I played poker until I didn't know a blue chip from a
+      white one'"
+      "Aunt Mary had also had her eyes open"
+
+
+
+
+
+
+THE REJUVENATION OF AUNT MARY
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER ONE - INTRODUCING AUNT MARY
+
+
+The first time that Jack was threatened with expulsion from college his
+Aunt Mary was much surprised and decidedly vexed--mainly at the college.
+His family were less surprised, viewing the young man through a clearer
+atmosphere than his Aunt Mary ever had, and knowing that he had barely
+escaped similar experiences earlier in his career by invariably leaving
+school the day before the board of inquiry convened.
+
+Jack's preparatory days having been more or less tempestous, his family
+(Aunt Mary excepted) had expected some sort of after-clap when he entered
+college. Nevertheless, they had fervently hoped that it would not be quite
+as bad as this.
+
+Jack's sister Arethusa was visiting her aunt when the news came. Not
+because she wanted to, for the old lady was dreadfully deaf and fearfully
+arbitrary, but because Lucinda had said that she must go to her cousin's
+wedding, and the family always had to bow to Lucinda's mandates. Lucinda
+was Aunt Mary's maid, but she had become so indispensable as a sitter at
+the off-end of the latter's ear-trumpet that none of the grand-nephews or
+grand-nieces ever thought for an instant of crossing one of her wishes. So
+it was to Arethusa that the explanations due Aunt Mary's interest in her
+scapegrace fell, and she bowed her back to the burden with the resignation
+which the circumstances demanded.
+
+"Whatever is the difference between bein' expelled and bein' suspended?"
+Aunt Mary demanded, in her tone of imperious impatience. "Well, why don't
+you answer? I was brought up to speak when you're spoken to, an' I'm a
+great believer in livin' up to your bringin' up--if you had a good one.
+What's the difference, an' which costs most? That's what I want to know. I
+do wish you'd answer me, Arethusa; there's two things I've asked you now,
+an' you suckin' your finger an' puttin' on your thimble as if you were
+sittin' alone in China."
+
+"I don't know which costs most," Arethusa shrieked.
+
+"You needn't scream so," said Aunt Mary. "I ain't so hard to hear as you
+think. I ain't but seventy, and I'll beg you to remember _that_, Arethusa.
+Besides, I don't want to hear you talk. I just want to hear about Jack.
+I'm askin' about his bein' expelled and suspended, an' what's the
+difference, an' in particular if there's anything to pay for broken glass.
+It's always broken glass! That boy's bills for broken glass have been
+somethin' just awful these last two years. Well, why don't you answer?"
+
+"I don't know what to answer," Arethusa screamed.
+
+"What do you suppose he's done, anyhow?"
+
+"Something bad."
+
+Aunt Mary frowned.
+
+"I ain't mad," she said sharply. "What made you think I was mad? I ain't
+mad at all! I'm just askin' what's the difference between bein' expelled
+an' bein' suspended, an' it seems to me this is the third time I've asked
+it. Seems to me it is."
+
+Arethusa laid down her work, drew a mighty breath, very nearly got into
+the ear-trumpet, and explained that being suspended was infinitely less
+heinous than being expelled, and decidedly less final.
+
+Aunt Mary looked relieved.
+
+"Oh, then he's gettin' better, is he?" she said. "Well, I'm sure that's
+some comfort."
+
+And then there was a long pause, during which she appeared to be engaged
+in deep reflection, and her niece continued her embroidery in peace. The
+pause endured until a sudden sneeze on the part of the old lady set the
+wheels of conversation turning again.
+
+"Arethusa," she said, "I wish you'd go an' get the ink an' write to Mr.
+Stebbins. I want him to begin to look up another college with good
+references right away. I don't want to waste any of the boy's life, an' if
+bein' suspended means waitin' while the college takes its time to consider
+whether it wants him back again or not I ain't goin' to wait. I'm a great
+believer in a college education, but I don't know that it cuts much figure
+whether it's the same college right through or not. Anyway, you write Mr.
+Stebbins."
+
+Arethusa obeyed, and the authorities having seen fit to be uncommonly
+discreet as to the cause of the young man's withdrawal, no great
+difficulty was experienced in finding another campus whereon Aunt Mary's
+pride and joy might freely disport himself. Mr. Stebbins threw himself
+into the affair with all the tact and ardor of an experienced legal mind
+and soon after Lucinda's return to her home allowed Arethusa to follow
+suit, the hopeful younger brother of the latter became a candidate for his
+second outfit of new sweaters and hat bands that year.
+
+Aunt Mary wrote him a letter upon the occasion of his new start in life,
+Mr. Stebbins delivered him a lecture, and things went smoothly in
+consequence for three whole weeks. I say three whole weeks because three
+whole weeks was a long time for the course of Jack's life to flow
+smoothly. At the end of a fortnight affairs were always due to run more
+rapidly and three weeks produced, as a general thing, some species of
+climax.
+
+The climax in this case came to time as usual his evil genius inciting the
+young man to attempt, one very dark night, the shooting of a cat which he
+thought he saw upon the back fence. Whether he really had seen a cat or
+not mattered very little in the later development of the matter. He was
+certainly successful as far as the going off of the gun was concerned, but
+the damage that resulted, resulted not to any cat, but to the arm of a
+next-door's cook, who was peacefully engaged in taking in her week's wash
+on the other side of the fence. The cook ceased abruptly to take in the
+wash, the affair was at once what is technically termed looked into, and
+three days later Jack became the defendant in a suit for damages.
+
+Naturally Mr. Stebbins was at once notified and he had no choice except to
+write Aunt Mary.
+
+Aunt Mary was somewhat less patient over the third escapade than she had
+been with the first two.
+
+The letter found her alone with Lucinda and she read it to herself three
+times and then read it aloud to her companion. Lucinda, whose thorough
+knowledge of the imperious will and impervious eardrums of her mistress
+rendered her, as a rule, extremely monosyllabic, not to say silent,
+vouchsafed no comment upon the contents of the epistle, and after a few
+minutes Aunt Mary herself took the field:
+
+"Now, what do you suppose possessed that boy to shoot at a cook?" she
+asked, regarding the letter with a portentous frown. "Cooks are so awful
+hard to get nowadays. I don't see why he didn't shoot a tramp if he had to
+shoot somethin'."
+
+"He wa'n't tryin' to shoot a cook, 'pears like," then cried
+Lucinda--Lucinda's voice, be it said, _en passant_, was of that sibilant
+and penetrating timbre which is best illustrated in the accents of a
+steamfitter's file--"'pears like he was tryin' for a cat."
+
+"Not a bat," said her mistress correctively; "it was a cat. You look at
+this letter an' you'll see. And, anyway, how could a man shootin' at a cat
+hit a cook?--not 'nless she was up a tree birds'-nestin' after owls' eggs.
+You don't seem to pay much attention to what I read to you, Lucinda; only
+I should think your commonsense would help you out some when it comes to a
+boy you've known from the time he could walk, an' a strange cook. But,
+anyhow, that's neither here nor there. The question that bothers me is,
+what's to pay with this damage suit? I think myself five hundred dollars
+is too much for any cook's arm. A cook ain't in no such vital need of two
+arms. If she has to shut the door of the oven while she's stirrin'
+somethin' on the top of the stove, she can easy kick it to with her foot.
+It won't be for long, anyway, and I'm a great believer in making the best
+of things when you've got to."
+
+Lucinda screwed up her face and made no comment. Lucinda's face in repose
+was a cross between a monkey's and a peanut; screwed up, it was
+particularly awful, and always exasperated her mistress.
+
+"Well, why don't you say somethin', Lucinda? I ain't askin' your advice,
+but, all the same, you can say anything if you've got a mind to."
+
+"I ain't got a mind to say anythin'," the faithful maid rejoined.
+
+"I guess you hit the nail on the head that time," said Aunt Mary, without
+any unnecessary malevolence concealed behind her sarcasm; then she re-read
+the note and frowned afresh.
+
+"Five hundred dollars is too much," she said again. "I'm going to write to
+Mr. Stebbins an' tell him so to-night. He can compromise on two hundred
+and fifty, just as well as not. Get me some paper and my desk, Lucinda.
+Now get a spryness about you."
+
+Lucinda laid aside her work and forthwith got a spryness about her,
+bringing her mistress' writing-desk with commendable alacrity. Aunt Mary
+took the writing-desk and wrote fiercely for some time, to the end that
+she finally wrote most of the fierceness out of herself.
+
+"After all, boys will be boys," she said, as she sealed her letter, "and
+if this is the end I shan't feel it's money wasted. I'm a great believer
+in bein' patient. Most always, that is. Here, Lucinda you take this to
+Joshua and tell him to take it right to mail. Be prompt, now. I'm a great
+believer in doin' things prompt."
+
+Lucinda took the letter and was prompt. "She wants this letter took right
+to the mail," she said to Joshua, Aunt Mary's longest-tried servitor.
+
+"Then it'll be took right to mail," said Joshua.
+
+"She's pretty mad," said Lucinda.
+
+"Then she'll soon get over it," replied the other, taking up his hat and
+preparing to depart for the barn forthwith.
+
+Lucinda returned to Aunt Mary with a species of dried-up sigh. One is not
+the less a slave because one has been enslaved for twenty years, and
+Lucinda at moments did sort of peek out through her bars--possibly envying
+Joshua the daily drives to mail when he had full control of something that
+was alive.
+
+Lucinda had been, comparatively speaking, young when she had come to wait
+upon the pleasure of the Watkins millions, and her waiting had been so
+pertinent and so patient that it had endured over a quarter of a century.
+Aunt Mary had been under fifty in the hour of Lucinda's dawn; she was over
+seventy now. Jack hadn't been born then; he was in college now; and Jack's
+older brothers and sisters and his dead-and-gone father and mother had
+been living somewhere out West then, quite hopeful as to their own lives
+and quite hopeless as to the stern old great-aunt who never had paid any
+attention to her niece since she had chosen to elope with the doctor's
+reprobate son. Now the father and mother were dead and buried, the
+brothers and sisters reinstated in their rights and had all grown up and
+become great credits to the old lady, whose heart had suddenly melted at
+the arrival of five orphans all at once. And there was only Jack to
+continue to worry about.
+
+Jack was not anything particularly remarkable; he was just one of those
+lovable good-for-nothings that seem born to get better people into trouble
+all their lives long. He had been spoiled originally by being ten years
+younger than the next youngest in the family; and then, when the children
+had been shipped on to Aunt Mary's tender mercies, Jack had won her heart
+immediately because she accidentally discovered that he had never been
+baptized, and so felt fully justified in re-naming him after her own
+father and having the name branded into him for keeps by her own religious
+apparatus. It followed naturally that John Watkins, Jr., Denham, for so
+her father's daughter had insisted that her youngest nephew should be
+called, was the favorite nephew of his aunt.
+
+And it was lucky for him that he was the favorite, for Aunt Mary, who was
+highly spiced at fifty, became peppery at sixty, and almost biting at
+seventy. And yet for Jack she would sign checks almost without a murmur.
+Mr. Stebbins was much more censorious and impatient with the young man
+than she ever was; and to all the rest of the world Mr. Stebbins was an
+urbane and agreeable gentleman, whereas to all the rest of the world Aunt
+Mary was a problem or a terror. But Mr. Stebbins needed to be a man of
+tact and management, for he was the real manager of that fortune of which
+"Mary, only surviving child of John Watkins, merchant and ship owner," was
+the legal possessor; and so tactful was Mr. Stebbins that he and his
+powerful client had never yet clashed, and they had been in close business
+relations for almost as many years as Lucinda had been established on the
+hearthstone of the Watkins home. Perhaps one reason why Mr. Stebbins
+endured so well was that he had a real talent for compromising, and that
+he had skillfully transformed Aunt Mary's inherited taste for driving a
+bargain into an acquired pleasure in what is really a polite form of the
+same action.
+
+So, when it came to the matter of Jack's difficulties, Mr. Stebbins could
+always find a half-way measure that saved the situation; and when he
+received the letter as to the cook and her claim he hied himself to the
+city at once, and wrote back that the claim could be settled for three
+hundred dollars.
+
+"And enough, I must say," Aunt Mary remarked to Lucinda upon receipt of
+the statement; "three hundred dollars for one cat--for, after all, Jack
+blames the whole on the cat, an' he didn't hit it, even then."
+
+Lucinda did not answer.
+
+"But if the boy settles down now I shan't mind payin' the three--Where are
+you goin'?"
+
+For Lucinda was walking out of the room.
+
+"I'm goin' to the door," said she raspingly. "The bell's ringin'."
+
+After a minute or two she came back.
+
+"Telegram!" she announced, handing the yellow envelope over.
+
+Aunt Mary put on her glasses, opened it, and read:
+
+
+    Cook has blood poison. Sues for a thousand. Probable amputation.
+
+                                                             STEBBINS.
+
+
+Aunt Mary dropped the paper with a gasp.
+
+Lucinda looked at her with interest.
+
+"It's that same arm again," said Aunt Mary, "just as I thought it was
+settled for!" Her eyes seemed to fairly crackle with indignation. "Why
+don't she put it in a sling an' have a little patience?"
+
+Lucinda took the telegram and read it.
+
+"'Pears like she can't," she commented, in a tone like a buzz saw; "'pears
+like it's goin' to be took off."
+
+Aunt Mary reached forth her hand for the telegram and after a second
+reading shook her head in a way that, if her companion had been a
+globe-trotter, would have brought matadores and Seville to the front in
+her mind in that instant.
+
+"I declare," she said, "seems like I had enough on my mind without a cook,
+too. What's to be done now? I only know one thing! I ain't goin' to pay no
+thousand dollars this week for no arm that wasn't worth but three hundred
+last week. Stands to reason that there ain't no reason in that. I guess
+you'd better bring me my desk, Lucinda; I'm goin' to write to Mr.
+Stebbins, an' I'm goin' to write to Jack, and I'm goin' to tell 'em both
+just what I think. I'm goin' to write Jack that he'd better be lookin'
+out, and I'm goin' to write to Mr. Stebbins that next time he settles
+things I want him to take a receipt for that arm in full."
+
+The letters were duly written and Mr. Stebbins, upon the receipt of his,
+redoubled his efforts, and did succeed in permanently settling with the
+cook, the arm being eventually saved. Aunt Mary regarded the sum as much
+higher than necessary, but still pleasantly less than that demanded of
+her, and so life in general moved quietly on until Easter.
+
+But Easter is always a period of more or less commotion in the time of
+youth and leads to various hilarious outbreaks. Jack's Easter took him to
+town for a "little time," and the "little time" ended in the station-house
+at three o'clock on Sunday morning.
+
+Accusation: Producing concussion of the brain on a cab driver.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWO - JACK
+
+
+The news was conveyed to Aunt Mary through private advices from Mr.
+Stebbins (who had been hastily summoned to the city for purposes of bail);
+she was very angry indeed, this time--primarily at the indignity done her
+flesh and blood by arresting it. Then, as she re-read the lawyer's letter,
+other reflections crowded to the fore in her mind.
+
+"Funny! Whatever could have made the boy get up and go downtown at three
+in the morning, anyway?" she said. "Seems kind of queer, don't you think,
+Arethusa? Do you suppose he was ill and huntin' for a drug store?"
+
+Arethusa had been sent for the second day previous because Lucinda's
+youngest sister's youngest child had come down with scarlet fever, and the
+family wanted Lucinda to enliven the quarantine. Arethusa had sent
+invitations out for a dinner party, but she had recalled them and hastened
+to obey the summons. It was an evil hour for her, for she loved her
+brother and was mightily distressed at the bad news.
+
+"I don't believe he can have been ill," she said, at the top of her voice;
+"if he'd been ill he wouldn't have had the strength to hit the cab driver
+so hard."
+
+"I don't blame him for hittin' the cab driver," said Aunt Mary warmly. "As
+near as I can recollect, I've often wanted to do that myself. But I can't
+make out where he got the man to hit, or why he was there to hit him. I
+can't make rhyme or reason out of it. I wish we knew more. Well, I presume
+we will, later."
+
+Her surmise was correct. They knew much more later. They knew more from
+Mr. Stebbins, and they knew profusely more from the evening papers.
+
+"I think our boy'd better have come home for his Easter," Aunt Mary
+remarked, with a species of angry undertow threading the current of her
+speech. "There's no sayin' what this will cost before we're done with it."
+
+Arethusa choked; it was all so very terrible to her.
+
+"What is it that the cabman wants, anyhow?" her aunt demanded presently.
+
+"He doesn't want anything," yelled the unhappy sister. "He's going to
+die."
+
+"Well, who is going to sue me, then?"
+
+"It's his wife; she wants five thousand dollars damages."
+
+Aunt Mary's lips tightened.
+
+"Five thousand dollars!" she said, with a bitter patience. "I can see that
+this is goin' to be an awful business. Five thousand dollars! Dear, dear!
+I must say that that wife sets a pretty high price on her husband--at
+least, a'cordin' to my order of thinkin', she does. From what I've seen of
+cabmen, I'd undertake to get her another just as good for a tenth of the
+money, any day."
+
+Arethusa was silent, staring thoughtfully at the newspaper cuts of a great
+Tammany leader and a noted pugilist, which had been labeled as the
+principals in the family tragedy.
+
+Aunt Mary turned over another of the many papers received, and scanned its
+sensational columns afresh.
+
+"Arethusa," she exclaimed suddenly, "do you know, I bet anythin' I know
+what this editor means to insinuate? It just strikes me that he's tryin'
+to give the impression that our boy's been drinkin'."
+
+"Perhaps so," Arethusa screamed.
+
+"Well, I don't believe it," said Aunt Mary firmly, "and I ain't goin' to
+believe it. And I ain't goin' to pay no five thousand dollars for no
+cabman's brains, neither. You write to Mr. Stebbins to compromise on two
+or maybe three."
+
+She stopped and bit her lips and shook her head. "I don't see why Jack
+grows up so hard," she murmured, half in anger and half in sorrow. "Edward
+and Henry never had such times. Oh, well," she sighed, "boys will be boys,
+I suppose; an' if this all results in the boy's settlin' down it'll be
+money well spent in the end, after all. Maybe--probably--most likely."
+
+The days that followed were anxious days, but at last the cabman rallied
+and concluded not to die, and Jack went off yachting with a light heart
+and a choice collection of good advice from Mr. Stebbins and Aunt Mary.
+
+Nothing happened to mar his holiday. He ran a borrowed steam launch on to
+some rocks with rather heavy consequences to his aunt's exchequer, and
+returned from the West Indies so late that she never had a visit from him
+at all that summer; but, barring these slightly unwelcome incidents, he
+did remarkably well, and when he returned to college in the fall he was
+regarded as having become, at last, a stable proposition.
+
+"I wonder whether our boy's comin' home for Christmas?" Aunt Mary asked
+her niece, Mary, as that happy period of family reunions drew near. Mary
+had come up to stay with her aunt while Lucinda went away to bury a second
+cousin. Mary was very different from Arethusa, having a voice that, when
+raised, was something between an icicle and a steam whistle, and a
+temperament so much on the order of her aunt's that neither could abide
+the other an hour longer than was absolutely necessary. But Arethusa had a
+sprained ankle, so there was no help for existing circumstances.
+
+"No, he isn't," said Mary, who had no patience at all with her brother,
+and showed it. "He's going West with the glee club."
+
+"With the she club!" cried poor Aunt Mary, in affright.
+
+Mary explained.
+
+"I don't like the idea," said the old lady, shaking her head. "Somethin'
+will be sure to happen. I can feel it runnin' up and down my bones this
+minute."
+
+"Oh, if he can get into trouble, of course, Jack will," said Mary
+cheerfully.
+
+Aunt Mary didn't hear her, because she didn't raise her voice
+particularly. Besides, the old lady was absorbed for the nonce in the most
+dismal sort of prognostications.
+
+And they all came true, too. Something unfortunate beyond all expectations
+came to pass during the glee club's visit to Chicago, and the result was
+that, before the new year was well out of its incubator Jack had papers in
+a breach-of-promise suit served on him. He wrote Mr. Stebbins that it was
+all a joke, and had merely been a portion of that foam which a train of
+youthful spirits are apt to leave in their wake; but the girl stood solid
+for her rights, and, as she had never heard from her fiance since the
+night of the dance, her family--who were rural, but sharp--thought it would
+take at least fifteen thousand dollars to patch the crack in her heart. If
+the news could have been kept from Aunt Mary until after Mr. Stebbins had
+looked into the matter, everything might have resulted differently. But
+the Chicago lawyer who had the case took good care that the wealthy aunt
+knew all as quickly as possible, and it seemed as if this was the final
+straw under which the camel must succumb.
+
+And Aunt Mary did appear to waver.
+
+"Fifteen thousand dollars!" she cried, aghast. "Heaven help us! What
+next?"
+
+It was Lucinda who was seated calmly opposite at this crisis.
+
+"Do you suppose he really did it?" the aunt continued, after a minute of
+appalled consideration.
+
+"It's about the only thing he ain't never done," the tried and true
+servant answered, her tone more gratingly penetrative than ever.
+
+Aunt Mary eyed her sharply, not to say furiously.
+
+"I wish you'd give a plain answer when I ask you a plain question,
+Lucinda," she said coldly. "If you'd ever got a breach-of-promise suit in
+the early mail you'd know how I feel. Perhaps--probably."
+
+"I ain't a doubt but what he done it," Lucinda screamed out; "an' if I was
+her an' he wouldn't marry me after sayin' he would I'd sue him for a
+hundred thousand, an' think I let him off cheap then."
+
+Aunt Mary deigned to smile faintly over the subtlety of this speech; but
+the next minute she was frowning blacker than ever.
+
+"A girl from Kalamazoo, too, just up in Chicago for a week--just up in
+Chicago long enough to come down on me for fifteen thousand dollars."
+
+"Maybe she'll take five thousand instead," Lucinda remarked.
+
+"Maybe!" ejaculated her mistress, in fine scorn. "Maybe! Well, if you
+don't talk as if money was sweet peas an' would dry up if it wasn't
+picked!"
+
+Lucinda screwed up her face.
+
+Aunt Mary gave her one awful look.
+
+"You get me some paper an' my desk, Lucinda," she said. "I think it's
+about time I was takin' a hand in it myself. I've been pretty patient, an'
+I don't see as it's helped matters any. Now I'm goin' to write that boy a
+letter that'll settle him an' his cats, an' his cooks, an' his cabmen, an'
+his Kalamazoo, just once for all. I guess I can do what I set out to do.
+Pretty generally--most always."
+
+Lucinda brought the desk, and Aunt Mary frowned fearfully and began to
+write the letter.
+
+It developed very strongly. As her pen sized up the situation in black and
+white, the old lady seemed to realize the iniquities of the case more and
+more plainly; and as the letter grew her wrath grew also. The whole came,
+in the end, to a threat--made in good earnest--to take a very serious step
+indeed if any more "foolishness" developed.
+
+Aunt Mary prided herself on her granite-like will. She had full faith in
+her ability to slay her nearest and dearest if it seemed right and best to
+do so.
+
+She sealed her letter tight, stuck the stamp on square and hard, and bid
+Lucinda convey it to Joshua and tell him never to quit it until he saw it
+safe on to the evening train.
+
+"She's awful mad at him for sure, this time," said Lucinda after she had
+delivered her message, and while Joshua was considering the front and back
+of the letter with a deliberateness born of long servitude.
+
+"I sh'd think she would be," he said.
+
+As nearly all of Jack's private difficulties were printed in every
+newspaper in America, Joshua naturally was on the inside of all their
+history.
+
+"She scrinched up her face just awful over that letter," Lucinda
+continued. "I'm sure I wish he'd 'a' been by to 'a' taken warnin'."
+
+"He ain't got nothin' to really fret over," said Joshua serenely; "he
+knows it, 'n' I know it, 'n' you know it, too."
+
+"You don't know nothin' of the sort," said Lucinda. "She's madder'n usual
+this time. She's good an' mad. You mark my words, if he goes off on a
+'nother spree this spring he'll get cut out o' her will."
+
+Joshua laughed.
+
+"You mark my words!" rasped Lucinda, shaking her finger in witchlike
+warning.
+
+Joshua laughed again.
+
+"Them laughs best what laughs last," said Aunt Mary's handmaiden. She
+turned away, and then returned to give Joshua a look that proved that the
+peppery mistress had inculcated some cayenne into the souls of those about
+her. "You mark my words--them laughs best what laughs last, an' there'll be
+little grinnin' for him if he ain't a chalk-walker for one while now."
+
+Joshua laughed.
+
+But, as a matter of fact, Jack's situation was suddenly become extremely
+precarious.
+
+"There ain't no sense in it," said Aunt Mary to herself, with an emphasis
+that screwed her face up until she looked quite like Lucinda; "that life
+those young men lead on their little vacations is to blame for everything.
+Cities are wells of iniquity; they're full of all kinds of doin's that
+respectable people wouldn't be seen at, and I'm proud to say that I
+haven't been in one myself for twenty-five years. I'm a great believer in
+keepin' out of trouble, an' if Jack'd just stuck to college an' let towns
+go, he'd never have met the cabman and the Kalamazoo girl, an' I'd have
+overlooked the cook an' the cat. As it is, my patience is done. If he goes
+into one more scrape he'll be done too. I mean what I say. So my young man
+had better take warnin'. Probably--most likely--pretty certainly."
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER THREE - INTRODUCING JACK
+
+
+It has been previously stated that Aunt Mary's nephew, Jack, was a
+scapegrace, and as delightful as scapegraces generally are. It goes
+without saying that he was good-looking; and of course he must have been
+jolly and pleasant or he wouldn't have been so popular. As a matter of
+fact, Jack was very good-looking, unusually jolly, and uncommonly popular.
+He was one of the best liked men in each of the colleges which he had
+attended. There was something so winning about his smile and his eternal
+good humor that no one ever tried to dislike him; and if anyone ever had
+tried he or she would not have succeeded for very long. It is probably
+very unfortunate that the world is so full of this type of young man, but
+that which should cause us all to have infinite patience with them is the
+reflection of how much more unfortunate it would be if they were suddenly
+eliminated from the general scheme of things.
+
+Like all college boys, Jack had a chum. The chum was Robert Burnett,
+another charming young fellow of one-and-twenty, whose education had been
+so cosmopolitan in design and so patriotic in practice that he always said
+"Sacre bleu" and "Donnerwetter" when he thought of it, and "Great Scott"
+when he didn't. He and Jack were as congenial a pair as ever existed, and
+they had just about as much in common as the aunt of the one and the
+father of the other had had to pay for.
+
+In the February of the year of which I write, Washington, celebrating his
+birthday as usual, gave all American students their usual chance to
+celebrate with him. Celebrations were temptations incarnate to Jack, and
+he was feeling frowningly what a clog Aunt Mary's latest epistle was upon
+his joys, when his friend came to the rescue with an invitation to spend
+the double holiday (it doubled that year--Sunday, you know) at the
+brand-new ancestral castle which Burnett _pere_ had just finished building
+for his descendants. It may be imagined that Jack accepted the invitation
+with alacrity, and that his never-very-downcast heart bounded gleefully
+higher than usual over the prospect of two days of pleasure in the
+country.
+
+It is not necessary to state where the castle of the Burnetts was erected,
+but it was in a beautiful region, and the monthly magazines had written it
+up and called it an architectural triumph. The owner fully agreed with the
+monthly magazines, and his pride found vent in a house-warming which
+filled every guest chamber in the place.
+
+The festivities were in full swing before the youngest son and his friend
+arrived; and when the dog-cart, which brought them from the station, drew
+up under the mighty porte-cochere with its four stone lions, rampant in
+four different directions, Jack felt one of those delicious thrills which
+run through one under particularly hopeful and buoyant circumstances.
+
+"It's like walking in a novel," his friend said; as they entered under
+some heavy draperies which the footman pushed aside and found a tiny
+spiral staircase, which wound its way aloft in a style that Jack liked
+immensely and the latter agreed with all his heart.
+
+The staircase led them to the third floor and when they emerged therefrom
+they found themselves in a big semi-circular billiard room, with a
+fireplace at each end large enough to put one of the tables in, and cues
+and counters and stools and divans and smoking utensils sufficient for a
+regiment.
+
+"I tell you, this is the way to do things," exclaimed Burnett; "isn't it
+jolly? Time of your life, old man, time of your life!--And, oh, by the
+way," he said, suddenly interrupting himself, "I wonder if my sister's got
+here yet!"
+
+"Which sister?" Jack inquired; for his friend was one of a very large
+family, and he had met several of them on their various visits to town.
+
+"Betty--the one who beats all the others hollow,"--but just there the
+conversation was broken off by the servants coming up with the luggage and
+setting two doors open that showed them two big rooms, both exquisitely
+furnished, and both with windows that looked out, first on to a stone
+balustrade, and secondly on to a superb view over the river and the
+mountains beyond.
+
+The men unstrapped the things and went away, leaving such a plenitude of
+comfort behind them as led Jack to fling himself into the most luxurious
+chair in the room and stretch his arms and legs far and wide in utter
+contentment.
+
+Burnett was fishing for his key ring.
+
+"It's a great old place, isn't it?" he remarked parenthetically. "Great
+Scott! but I'll bet we have fun these two days! And if my sister Betty is
+here--" He paused expressively.
+
+"Doesn't she live at home?" Jack asked.
+
+"She's just come home; she's been in England for three years. Oh, but I
+tell you she's a corker!"
+
+"I should think--"
+
+The sentence was never completed because a voice without the
+not-altogether-closed door cried:
+
+"No, don't think, please; let me come in instead." And in the same instant
+Burnett made one leap and flung the door open, crying as he did so:
+
+"Betty!"
+
+Then Jack, bunching somewhat his starfish attitude, looked across the room
+and realized instantly that it was all up with him forever after.
+
+Because--
+
+Because she who stood there in the door was quite the sweetest, the
+loveliest, the most interesting looking girl whom he had ever laid eyes
+on; and when she was seized in her brother's arms, and kissed by her
+brother's lips, and dragged by her brother's hands well into the room, she
+proved to be a thousand times more irresistible than at first.
+
+"I say, Betty, you're absolutely prettier than ever," her brother
+exclaimed, holding her a little off from him and surveying her critically;
+and then he seemed to remember his friend's existence, and, turning toward
+him, announced proudly:
+
+"My sister Bertha."
+
+Jack was standing up now and thinking how lovely her eyes were just at
+that instant when they were meeting his for the first time, thinking much
+else too. Thinking that Monday was only two days away (hang it!); thinking
+that such a smile was never known before; thinking that he had _years_
+ahead at college; thinking that the curl on her forehead was simply
+distracting (whereas all other like curls were horrid); thinking that he
+might cut college and--
+
+"My chum, Jack Denham," Burnett continued, proving in the same instant how
+rapidly the mind may work since his friend had compassed his encyclopedia
+of sentiment and probability between the two halves of a formal
+introduction.
+
+"Oh, I'm very glad to meet you, Mr. Denham," she said, putting out her
+hand--and he took and held it just long enough to realize that he really
+was holding it, before she took it away to keep for her own again. "I've
+often heard of you, and often wished I might know you."
+
+"I'm awfully glad to hear you say that," he said, "and if I should have
+the royal luck to be next to you at dinner, it doesn't seem to me that I
+shall have the strength to keep from telling you why."
+
+She clapped her hands at this, just as a very little girl might have done.
+
+"If that is so, I hope that they will put you next to me at dinner," she
+said gayly; "but if they don't, you'll tell me some other time, won't you?
+I'm always _so_ interested in what people have to tell me about myself."
+
+Burnett began to laugh.
+
+"Jack," he said, "I see that we'd better have a clear and above-board
+understanding right in the beginning and so I'll just tell you that this
+sister of mine, who appears so guileless, is the very worst flirt ever.
+She looks honest, but she can't tell the truth to save her neck. She means
+well, but she drives folks to suicide just for fun. She'd do anything for
+anybody in general, but when it's a case of you individually she won't do
+a thing to you, and you must heed my words and be forewarned and forearmed
+from now on. Mustn't he, Betty?"
+
+At this the sister laughed, nodding quite as gayly as if it were a
+laughing matter, instead of the opening move in a possibly
+serious--tremendously serious--game of life.
+
+"It's awful to have to subscribe to," she said, with dancing eyes; "but
+I'm afraid it's true. I'm really quite a reprobate, and I admit it
+frankly. And everyone is so good to me that I never get a chance to
+reform. And so--and so--"
+
+"But then, I suppose I ought to warn her about you, too," said Burnett,
+turning suddenly toward his friend. "It isn't fair to show her up and not
+show you up, you know. And really, Betty, he's almost as bad as you are
+yourself. I may tell you in confidence--in strict confidence (for it's only
+been in a few newspapers)--that he hasn't got his breach-of-promise suit
+all compromised yet. Ask him to deny it, if he can!"
+
+The sister looked suddenly startled and curious and Jack felt himself to
+be blushing desperately.
+
+"I don't look as if he was lying, do I?" he asked smiling; "be honest now,
+for you can see that Burnett and I both are."
+
+"No, you don't," she said. "You look as if it was a very true bill."
+
+"It is," he said; "and it's going to be an awfully big one, too, I'm
+afraid."
+
+"I wouldn't have thought you were such a bad man," said the sister ever so
+sweetly; "but I like bad men. They interest me. They--"
+
+"There!--I see your finish," said Burnett. "That's one of her favorite
+opening plays. It's all up with you, Jack, and your aunt will have to to
+go down for another damage suit when you begin to perceive that you have
+had enough of our family. But you'll have to get out now, Betty, and let
+him get dressed for dinner. You needn't cry about it either for he's even
+more attractive in his glad rags than he is in his railway dust--my word of
+honor on it."
+
+"I look nice myself when I'm dinner-dressed," said the sister, "so I
+sympathize with him and I'll go with pleasure. Good-bye."
+
+She sort of backed toward the door and Jack sprang to open it for her.
+
+"You can kiss her hand, if you like," Burnett said kindly. "They do in
+Germany, you know. I don't mind and mamma needn't know."
+
+"May I?" Jack asked her; and then he caught her eye over her brother's
+bent head and added, so quickly that there was hardly any break at all
+between the words: "Some other time?"
+
+"Some other time," she said, with a world of meaning in the promise; and
+then she flashed one wonderful look straight into his eyes and was gone.
+
+"Isn't she great?" Burnett asked, unlocking his suit-case in the most
+provokingly every-day style, as if this day was an every-day sort of day
+and not the beginning and end of all things. "Oh, I tell you, I'm almost
+dotty over that sister myself."
+
+"Do you suppose that I could manage to have her for dinner?" Jack asked,
+feeling desperately how dull any other place at the table would be now.
+
+"I don't know. When I go down to my mother I'll try to manage it; shall
+I?"
+
+"I wish you would."
+
+"I reckon I can; but, great loads of fire, fellow! don't think you can
+play tag with her, and feel funny at the finish. She'll do you up
+completely, and never turn a hair herself. She's always at it. She don't
+mean to be cruel, but she's naturally a carnivorous animal. It's her
+little way."
+
+Jack did not look as dismal as he should have done; he smiled, and looked
+out of the window instead.
+
+"She'll have to marry someone some day, you know," he said thoughtfully.
+
+"Have to marry someone some day!" Burnett cried. "Why, she is married.
+Didn't you know that?" and he unbuckled the shirt portfolio as he spoke
+just as if calamities and tragedies and shooting stars might not follow on
+the heels of such a simple statement as that last.
+
+It was an awful moment, but poor Jack did manage to continue looking out
+of the window. If any greater demand had been made upon him he might have
+sunk beneath the double weight.
+
+"No," he said at last, his voice painfully steady; "I didn't know it."
+
+Burnett laughed heartlessly, hauling forth his apparel with a refined
+cruelty which took careful heed of possible interfolded shoes or cravats.
+
+"She married an Englishman when she was nineteen years old," he said.
+"That was when they sent me to Eton that little while,--until I drove the
+horse through the drug shop. The time I told you about, don't you know?"
+
+"Yes, I remember," said Jack. He observed with sickening distinctness that
+the night had begun to fall, the river's silver ribbon had become a black
+snake, and that the mountain range beyond loomed chill and dark and
+cheerless. "I guess I ought to be getting into my things," he said, moving
+toward his own door.
+
+"There's a bath in here," his friend called after him. "We're to divide
+it."
+
+"Sure," was the reply. It sounded a trifle thick.
+
+"I don't think that she ought to," said the brother to himself, as he
+began to draw out his stick-pin before the mirror, "I don't care if she is
+my favorite sister--I don't think that she ought to."
+
+Then he went on to make ready for the securing of his half of the bath,
+and forthwith forgot his sister and his friend.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FOUR - MARRIED
+
+
+It was almost like a scene at a ball, the great white-and-gold music room
+before dinner that night. The Burnett family proper numbered fifteen among
+themselves, and there were nearly thirty guests added. It was entirely too
+large a house party to have handled successfully for very long, but it
+would be most awfully jolly for three or four days; and now, when the
+whole crowd were gathered waiting for dinner, the picture was one of such
+bubbling joy that Jack's very heavy heart seemed to himself to be terribly
+out of place there and he wondered whether he should be able to put up
+even a fairly presentable front during the endless hours that must ensue
+before the time for breaking up arrived.
+
+Burnett took him all around and introduced him to people in general, and
+people in general seemed to him to merely bring the fact of her
+pre-eminence more vividly than ever before his mind. He found himself
+looking everywhere but at them too, and listening with an acutely
+sensitive ear for sounds quite other than those of their various lips. But
+eternal disappointment rewarded his eyes and ears. She was nowhere.
+
+So he talked blindly about nothing to all the nobodies and laughed
+stupidly over all their stupidities until--suddenly and without any
+warning--a fearful jump in his throat sent the mercury in his constitution
+shooting up to 160, and he saw, heard, felt, gasped, and knew, that that
+radiant angel in silver tissue who had just entered the farther end of the
+room was indubitably Herself.
+
+(Married!)
+
+He quite forgot who, what and where he was. There was a somebody talking
+to him--a very awful and bony young lady, but she faded so completely out
+of the general scheme of his immediate present that all the use he made of
+her was to stare over her head at the distant apparition that was become,
+now and forever, his All in All. The distant apparition had not lied when
+she had told him up in her brother's room that she too, looked "nice" when
+dressed for dinner. Only the word "nice" was as watered milk to the
+champagne of her appearance. She was gowned superbly and her throat and
+arms were half bared by the folds of silvered lace; her hair fitted into
+the back of her neck in the smoothest mass of puffs and coils, and the
+curl on her forehead was more distracting than ever.
+
+(Married!)
+
+She seemed to be speaking to everyone, and everyone seemed to be crowding
+around her. He couldn't go up like everyone else, because the awful and
+bony young lady was talking hard at him and heightened her charms with a
+smile that took up two-fifths of her face, and wrinkled all the rest.
+
+Her name was Lome--Maude Lome. He knew that she must be a relative without
+being told, because otherwise she wouldn't have been invited at all.
+Anyone could divine that.
+
+"Oh, isn't dear Betty just lovely?" this fearful freak said. "I think
+she's just too lovely for anything! She's my cousin, you know; we're often
+mistaken for one another."
+
+"I can well believe it," said Jack, heavily, not ceasing to stare beyond
+as he said it.
+
+(Married!)
+
+"Oh, you're flattering me! Because she's ever so much prettier than I am,
+and I know it."
+
+He didn't reply. It had suddenly come over him to wonder whether there
+ever had been an authentic case of heartbreak. Because he had the most
+terrible ache right in his left side!
+
+(Married! Married!)
+
+"But, then," Miss Lome continued, "I'm younger than she is. Her being
+married makes her seem young, but she's really twenty-four. I'm only
+twenty."
+
+He shut his eyes, and then opened them. He wished he hadn't come here, and
+then grew shivery to think that he might have happened not to; and all the
+while that awful twisting and wrenching at his heart was getting worse and
+worse.
+
+(Married! Married! Married!)
+
+Burnett came up just then with a man wearing a monocle and presented him
+to Denham, and forthwith handed the bony cousin to his safe-keeping.
+
+"She's a great pill, isn't she?" he began, as the couple moved away; and
+then he stopped short. "What's the matter?" he asked. "Sick?"
+
+"I hope not," said Jack, trying to smile.
+
+"You look hipped," his friend said anxiously. "Better go get a bracer;
+you'll have time if you hurry. You can't be sick before dinner, because
+I've been moving all the cards around so as to get Betty next to you, and
+I could never get them back as they were before if you gave out at the
+last minute."
+
+"I don't believe I'm ill," said Jack, trying to realize whether the news
+that she was to be his (for dinner) made him feel any better or only just
+about the same. "I don't know what ails me. Do I look seedy?"
+
+"You look sort of knocked out, that's all," said Burnett. "Perhaps,
+though, it was just the having to talk to my cousin Maude so long. Isn't
+she the limit, though? But I'll tell you the one big thing about that
+girl: She's just the biggest kind of a catch. She was my uncle's eldest
+child; she's worth twelve times what any of us ever will be."
+
+"I'm sure she'll need it," said Jack heartily.
+
+"You're right there," laughed his friend; "but you've got to hurry and get
+your brandy now if you want it, because they'll be going out in a minute."
+
+"Oh, I'm all right," said the poor chap, straightening his shoulders back
+a little. "I can make out well enough, I'm sure. I think I'd better go
+over by your sister and let her know that I'm ready when the hour of need
+shall strike."
+
+Burnet nodded and then he went on and his friend walked down the room, no
+one but himself knowing that he was making his way into the lion's (or,
+rather, lioness's) den.
+
+And then he paused there beside her. Oh! she Was seven million times
+lovelier close to than far away. All the rot about Venus and statues and
+paintings and Helen of Troy was nowhere beside Her and he felt his
+strength come surging mightily upward and then--oh Heavens!
+
+She looked up--looked so sweetly up--right into his eyes and smiled.
+
+"I expect you are to take me into dinner," she said; and at her words the
+man who had been talking to her murmured something meaningless and got out
+of their way.
+
+"I believe so," he said.
+
+She rose and he noticed that the top of her head was just level with his
+coat lapel. He wondered, with a miserable pang, where she came to on her
+husband's coat and with the wonder his surging strength surged suddenly
+out to sea again and left him feeling like Samson when he awoke to the
+realization of his haircut.
+
+"Dinner's very late," she said, quite as if life presented no problem
+whatever; "you see, it's the first big company in the house. We were only
+seventeen last night, and to-night we're forty-five. It makes a
+difference."
+
+"I can imagine so," he said. He was suddenly acutely aware of feeling very
+awkward, and of finding her different--quite different from what she had
+seemed up in her brother's room.
+
+"What is it?" she asked after a minute, looking up at him; and then she
+showed that she was conscious of the change, for she added: "Something has
+happened; Bob has been saying mean things about me to you?"
+
+"Yes, he did tell me something," he admitted; and just then the butler
+announced dinner.
+
+"What did he tell you?" she asked, as they moved away. "How could he say
+anything worse than what he said before me?"
+
+"He told me something that was worse--much worse."
+
+She looked troubled and as if she did not understand.
+
+"But he said that I was a flirt, and that I couldn't speak the truth, and
+that I drove people--"
+
+"Yes, I remember all that; but this was infinitely worse."
+
+"Infinitely worse!"
+
+"Yes."
+
+She stopped in an angle where the big room dwindled into a narrow gallery,
+and stared astonished.
+
+"I can't at all understand," she said.
+
+"No, you can't," he said, "and I can't tell you--I mustn't tell you--how
+terrible it is to me to look at you and think of what he told me."
+
+After a second she went on again and presently they entered the
+dining-room. The confusion of rustling skirts and sliding chairs quite
+covered their speech for a moment and made them seem almost alone. Her
+hand had been resting on his arm and now she drew it out, looking up at
+him again as she did so. Her eyes had a premonitory mist over them.
+
+"For Heaven's sake," she said very earnestly, "tell me what he said?"
+
+He was silent.
+
+"Tell me," she pleaded.
+
+He was still silent.
+
+"Tell me," she said imperiously.
+
+He continued silent. They sat down.
+
+"Mr. Denham," she said, as she took up her napkin, and her voice grew very
+low, and yet he heard, "I don't think that we can pretend to be joking any
+longer. You are my brother's friend, and I am a married woman. Please
+treat me as you should."
+
+"That's just it," said Jack; "that's all there is to it. It wouldn't have
+amounted to anything except for that--or perhaps, if it hadn't been for
+that, it might have amounted to a great deal."
+
+"If it hadn't been for what?"
+
+"For your being married."
+
+She quite started in her seat.
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"You see I never knew it before."
+
+"You never knew what before?"
+
+"That you were married."
+
+"Until when?"
+
+"Until after you went out of the room to-night."
+
+The men were putting the clams around. She seemed to reflect. And then she
+peppered and salted them before she spoke.
+
+"Bob is very wrong to talk so," she said at last, picking up her fork,
+"when you're his friend, too."
+
+He poked his clams--he hated clams.
+
+"I suppose men think it's amusing to do such things," she continued, "but
+I think it's as ill-bred as practical joking."
+
+"But you are married," he said, trying fiercely to pepper some taste into
+the tasteless things before him.
+
+"Yes, I'm married," she admitted tranquilly, "but, then, my husband went
+to Africa so soon afterwards that he hardly seemed to count at all. And
+then he was killed there; so, after that, he seemed to count less than
+ever."
+
+The air danced exclamation points and the man on the other side spoke to
+her then so that her turning to answer him gave Jack time to rally his
+wits.
+
+(A widow!)
+
+Then she turned back and said:
+
+"I think Bob mystified you unnecessarily. Of course I don't flatter myself
+that you've suffered."
+
+"Oh, but I have," he hastened to assure her.
+
+(A widow! A widow!)
+
+"But it always makes a difference whether a woman is married or not."
+
+"I should say it did," he interrupted again. "It makes all the difference
+in the world."
+
+At that she laughed outright, and someone suddenly abstracted the
+distasteful clams and substituted for them a golden and glorious soup, and
+music sounded forth from some invisible quartet, and--and--
+
+(A widow! A widow! A widow!)
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FIVE - THE DAY AFTER FALLING IN LOVE
+
+
+The next day was a very memorable day for Jack. The day after a falling in
+love is always a red-letter day; but the day after the falling in love--ah!
+
+One looks back--far back--to the day before, and those hours of the day
+before, when her sun had not yet dawned, and struggles to recollect what
+ends life could have represented then. And one looks forward to the next
+day, the next week, the next year--but, particularly to the next morning
+with sensations as indescribable as they are delightful.
+
+Whichever way you tip it, the kaleidoscope of the future arranges itself
+in equally attractive shapes of rainbow hue, and the prospect over land or
+sea--even if it is raining--looks brilliant green, and brighter red, and
+brightest yellow.
+
+Upon that glorious "next day" of Jack's the weather was quite a thing
+apart for February--partaking of the warmth of May, and owing that fact to
+a sun which early June need not have scorned to own. Under the
+circumstances the house party overflowed the house and ravaged the
+surrounding country, and Jack and Mrs. Rosscott began it all by having the
+highest cart and the fastest cob in the stables and making for the forest
+just as the clock was tolling ten.
+
+"Do you want a groom?" asked Burnett, who was occasionally very cruel.
+
+"Well, I'm not going to wait for him to get ready now," replied his
+sister, who had sharp wits and did not disdain to give even her own family
+the benefit of them.
+
+Then she gathered up the reins and whip in a most scientific manner, and
+they were off. Jack folded his arms. He was simply flooded, drenched, and
+saturated with joy. The evening before had been Elysium when she had only
+been his now and again for a minute's conversation, but now she was to be
+his and his alone until--until they came back--and his mind seemed able to
+grasp no dearer outlines of the form which Bliss Incarnate may be supposed
+to take. He didn't care where they went or what they saw or what they
+talked of, just if only he and she might be going, seeing, and talking for
+the benefit of one another and of one another alone.
+
+They bowled away upon a firm, hard road that skirted the park, and then
+plunged deeply into the forest. Mrs. Rosscott handled the reins and the
+whip with the hands of an expert.
+
+"I like to drive," said she.
+
+"You appear to," he answered.
+
+"I like to do everything," she said. "I'm very athletic and energetic."
+
+"I'm glad of that," he told her warmly. "I like athletic girls."
+
+He really thought that he was speaking the truth, although upon that first
+day if she had declared herself lazy and languid he would have found her
+equally to his taste--because it was the first day.
+
+"That's kind of you, after my speech," she said smiling, "but let's wait a
+bit before we begin to talk about me. Let us talk about you first--you're
+the company, you know."
+
+"But there's nothing to tell about me," said Jack, "except that I'm always
+in difficulties--financial--or otherwise,--oftenest 'otherwise,' I must
+confess."
+
+"But you have a rich aunt, haven't you?" said Mrs. Rosscott. "I thought
+that I had heard about your aunt."
+
+"Oh, yes, I have a rich aunt," Jack said, laughing, "and I can assure you
+that if I am not much credit to my aunt, my aunt is the greatest possible
+credit to me."
+
+"Yes, I've heard that, too," said Mrs. Rosscott, joining in the laugh,
+"you see I'm well posted."
+
+"If you're so well posted as to me," Jack said, "do be kind and post me a
+little as to yourself. You don't need information and I do."
+
+She turned and looked at him.
+
+"What shall I tell you first?" she inquired.
+
+"Tell me what you like and what you don't like--and that will give me
+courage to do the same later," he added boldly.
+
+She laughed outright at that and then sobered quickly.
+
+"I told you that I liked to drive and to do everything," she said lightly;
+"what else do you want to know about?"
+
+"What you dislike."
+
+"But I don't know of anything that I dislike;" she said
+thoughtfully--"perhaps I don't like England; I am not sure, though. I had a
+pretty good time there after all--only you know, being in mourning was so
+stupid. And then, too, I didn't fit into their ideas. I really didn't seem
+to get the true inwardness of what was expected of me. Oh, I never dared
+let them know at home what a failure I was as an Englishwoman. I mortified
+my husband's sisters all the time. Just think--after a whole year I often
+forgot to say 'Fancy now!' and used to say 'Good gracious!' instead."
+
+Jack laughed.
+
+"My husband's sisters were very unhappy about it. They did want to love
+me, because I had so much money; but it was tough work for them. Did you
+ever know any middle-aged English young ladies?" she asked him suddenly.
+
+"No, I never did," he said.
+
+"Really, they seem to be a thing apart that can't grow anywhere but in
+England. Every married man has not less than two, nor more than three, and
+they always are a little gray and embroider very nicely. Someone told me
+that as long as there's any hope they wear stout boots and walk about and
+hunt, but as soon as it's hopeless they take to embroidering."
+
+"It must be rather a blue day for them when they decide definitely to make
+the change," said Jack.
+
+"I never thought of that," said Mrs. Rosscott soberly. "Of course it must!
+I was always very good to them. I gave them ever so many things that I
+could have used longer myself, and they used to set pieces of muslin in
+behind the open-work places and wear them."
+
+She sighed.
+
+"It's quite as bad as being a Girton girl," she said. "Do you know what a
+Girton girl is?"
+
+"No, I don't."
+
+"It's a girl from Girton College. It's the most awful freak you ever saw.
+They're really quite beyond everything. They're so homely, and their hands
+and feet are so enormous, and their pins never pin, and their belts never
+belt. And no one has ever married one of them yet!"
+
+She paused dramatically.
+
+"I won't either, then," he declared.
+
+She laughed at that, and touched up the cob a trifle.
+
+"Did you live long in England?" he asked.
+
+"Forever!" she answered with emphasis; "at least it seemed like forever.
+Mamma left me there when I was nineteen (she married me off before she
+left me, of course) and I stayed there until last winter--until I was out
+of my mourning, you know--and then I was on the Continent for a while, and
+then I returned to papa."
+
+"How do we strike you after your long absence?"
+
+"Oh, you suit me admirably," she said, turning and smiling squarely into
+his face; "only the terrible 'and' of the majority does get on my nerves
+somewhat."
+
+"What 'and'?"
+
+"Haven't you noticed? Why when an American runs out of talking material he
+just rests on one poor little 'and' until a fresh run of thought
+overwhelms him; you listen to the next person you're talking with, and
+you'll hear what I mean."
+
+Jack reflected.
+
+"I will," he said at last.
+
+The road went sweeping in and out among a thicket of bare tree trunks and
+brown copses, and the sunlight fell out of the blue sky above straight
+down upon their heads.
+
+"If it don't annoy you, my referring to England so often," said she
+presently, "I will state that this reminds me of Kaysmere, the country
+place of my father-in-law."
+
+"Is your father-in-law living yet?"
+
+"Dear me, yes--and still has hold of the title that I supposed I was
+getting when I was married to his eldest son. My father-in-law is a
+particularly healthy old gentleman of eighty. He was forty years old when
+he married. He didn't expect to marry, you know--he couldn't see his way to
+ever affording it. But he jumped into the title suddenly and then, of
+course, he married right away. He had to. You'd know what a hurry he must
+have been in to look at my mamma-in-law's portrait."
+
+"Was she so very beautiful?"
+
+"No; she was so very homely. Maude's very like her."
+
+Jack laughed.
+
+She laughed, too.
+
+"Aren't we happy together?" she asked.
+
+"My sky knows but one cloud," he rejoined, "and that is that Monday comes
+after Sunday."
+
+"But we shall meet again," said Mrs. Rosscott. "Because," she added
+mischievously, "I don't suppose that it's on account of my cousin Maude
+that you rebel at the approach of Monday."
+
+"No," said Jack. "It may not be polite to say so to you, but I wasn't in
+the least thinking of your cousin."
+
+"Poor girl!" said Mrs. Rosscott thoughtfully; "and she was so sweet to
+you, too. Mustn't it be terrible to have a face like that?"
+
+"It must indeed," said Jack; "I can think of but one thing worse."
+
+"What?"
+
+"To marry a face like that."
+
+She laughed again.
+
+"You're cruel," she declared; "after all her face isn't her fortune, so
+what does it matter?"
+
+"It doesn't matter at all to me," said Jack. "I know of very few things
+that can matter less to me than Miss Lorne's face."
+
+"Now, you're cruel again; and she was so nice to you too. Absolutely, I
+don't believe that the edges of her smile came together once while she was
+talking to you last night."
+
+"Did you spy on us to that extent?" said Jack. "I wouldn't have believed
+it of you."
+
+"Oh, I'm very awful," she said airily. "You'll be more surprised the
+farther you penetrate into the wilderness of my ways."
+
+"And when will I have a chance to plunge into the jungle, do you think?"
+
+"Any Saturday or Sunday that you happen to be in town."
+
+"Are you going to live in town?"
+
+"For a while. I've taken a house until the beginning of July. I expect
+some friends over, and I want to entertain them."
+
+Jack felt the sky above become refulgent. He was in the habit of spending
+every Saturday night in the city--he and Burnett together.
+
+"May I come as often as I like?" he asked.
+
+"Certainly," said she; "because you know if you should come too often I
+can tell the man at the door to say I'm 'not at home' to you."
+
+"But if he ever says: 'She's not at home to you,' I shall walk right in
+and fall upon the man that you are being at home to just then."
+
+"But he is a very large man," said Mrs. Rosscott seriously; "he's larger
+than you are, I think."
+
+Jack felt the blue heavens breaking up into thunderbolts for his head at
+_this_ speech.
+
+"But I'm 'way over six feet," he said, his heart going heavily faster,
+even while he told himself that he might have known it, anyhow.
+
+"He's all of six feet two," she said meditatively. "I do believe he's even
+taller. I remember liking him at the first glance, just because he struck
+me as so royal looking."
+
+He was miserably conscious of acute distress.
+
+"Do--do you mind my smoking?" he stammered.
+
+(Might have known that, of course, there was bound to be someone like
+that.)
+
+"Not at all," she rejoined amiably. "I like the odor of cigarettes. Shall
+I stop a little, while you set yourself afire?"
+
+"It isn't necessary," he said. "I can set myself afire under any
+circumstances."
+
+He lit a cigarette.
+
+"Is he English?" he couldn't help asking then.
+
+"Yes," she said; "I like the English."
+
+"You appear to like everything to-day." He did not intend to seem bitter,
+but he did it unintentionally.
+
+(Confounded luck some fellows have.)
+
+"I do. I'm very well content to-day."
+
+He was silent, thinking.
+
+"Well," she queried, after a while.
+
+He pulled himself together with an effort.
+
+"I think perhaps it's just as well," he said.
+
+"What is just as well?"
+
+"That I know."
+
+"Know what?"
+
+"About him. I shan't ever take the chances of calling on you now."
+
+She laughed.
+
+"He wouldn't put you out unless I told him to," she said. "You needn't be
+too afraid of him, you know."
+
+His face grew a trifle flushed.
+
+"I'm not afraid," he said, as coldly as it was in him to speak; "but I'll
+leave him the field."
+
+She turned and looked at him.
+
+"The field?" she asked, with puzzled eyebrows.
+
+"Yes."
+
+Then she frowned for an instant, and then a species of thought-ray
+suddenly flew across her face and she burst out laughing.
+
+"Why, I do believe," she cried merrily, "I do believe you're jealous of
+the man at the door."
+
+"Weren't you speaking of a man in the drawing-room?" he asked, all her
+phrases recurring to his mind together.
+
+"No," she said laughing; "I was speaking of my footman. Oh, you are so
+funny."
+
+The way the sun shone suddenly again! His horizon glowed so madly that he
+quite lost his head and leaning quickly downward seized her hand in its
+little tan driving glove of stitched dogskin, and kissed it--reins and all.
+
+"I'm not funny," he said, "it was the most natural thing in the world."
+
+She was laughing, but she curbed it.
+
+"You'd better not be foolish," she said warningly. "It don't mix well with
+college."
+
+"I'm thinking of cutting college," he declared boldly.
+
+"Don't let us decide on anything definite until we've known one another
+twenty-four hours," she said, looking at him with a gravity that was
+almost maternal; and then she turned the horse's head toward home.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER SIX - THE OTHER MAN
+
+
+That evening Burnett felt it necessary to give his friend a word of
+warning.
+
+"Holloway's going to take Betty in to-night," he said, as they descended
+the tower stairs together.
+
+"Who's Holloway?" Jack asked.
+
+"You can't expect to have her all the time, you know," Burnett continued:
+"She's really one of the biggest guns here, even if she is one of the
+family."
+
+"Who's Holloway?"
+
+"Last night the _mater_ had her all mapped out for General Jiggs, and I
+had an awful time getting her off his hook and on to yours, and then you
+drove her all this morning and walked her all the afternoon, and the old
+lady says she's got to play in Holloway's yard to-night--jus' lil' bit, you
+know."
+
+"Who's Holloway?" Jack demanded.
+
+"You know Horace Holloway; we were up at his place once for the night.
+Don't you remember?"
+
+"I remember his place well enough; but he hadn't got in when we came, and
+hadn't got up when we left, so his features aren't as distinctly imprinted
+on my memory as they might be."
+
+"That's so," said Burnett, pushing aside the curtains that concealed the
+foot of the wee stair; "I'd forgotten. Well, you'll meet him to-night,
+anyhow; he came on the five-five. Holly's a nice fellow, only he's so
+darned over-full of good advice that he keeps you feeling withersome."
+
+Jack laughed.
+
+"Did he ever give you any advice?" he asked.
+
+"Why?"
+
+"I don't recollect your taking it."
+
+"I never take anything," said Burnett; "I consider it more blessed to give
+than to receive--as regards good advice anyhow."
+
+"Who will I have for dinner?" Jack asked presently, glancing around to see
+if there were any silver tissues or distracting curls in sight.
+
+"Well," his friend replied, rather hesitatingly, "you must expect to
+balance up for last night, I reckon."
+
+"Your cousin, I suppose!"
+
+Burnett nodded.
+
+"She wanted you," he said. "She's taken a fancy to you; and she can afford
+to marry for love," he added.
+
+"I'm thankful that I can, too," the other answered fervently.
+
+His friend laughed at the fervor.
+
+"You make me think of her teacher," he said. "She sings, and when she was
+sixteen she meant to outrank Patti; she was lots homelier then."
+
+"Oh, I say!" Jack cried. "I can believe 'most anything, but--"
+
+Burnett laughed and then sobered.
+
+"She was," he said solemnly; "she really and truly _was_. And her mother
+said to her teacher,--there in Dresden: 'She will be the greatest soprano,
+won't she?' And he said: 'Madame, she has only that one chance--to be _the_
+greatest.'"
+
+Jack laughed.
+
+"But why 'Lorne'?" he asked suddenly. "Why not 'Burnett,' since she's your
+uncle's child?"
+
+"Oh, that's straight enough; there's a hyphen there. My uncle died and my
+aunt married a title. My aunt's Lady Chiheleywicks, but the family name is
+Lorne. And you pronounce my aunt's name Chix."
+
+"I'm glad I know," said Jack.
+
+"Oh, we're great on titles," said Burnett, modestly. "If the Boers hadn't
+killed Col. Rosscott, Betty would have been a Lady, too, some day. But as
+it is--" he added thoughtfully, "she's nothing but a widow."
+
+"'Nothing but'!" Jack cried indignantly.
+
+"Oh, well," said Burnett, "of course it's great, her being a widow--but
+then she'd have been great the other way too."
+
+"But if he was English and a colonel," Jack said suddenly, "he must have
+been all of--"
+
+"Fifty!" interposed Burnett; "oh, he was! Maybe more, but he dyed his
+hair. It was a splendid match for her. It isn't every girl who can get a--"
+
+Their conversation was suddenly cut short by voices, accompanied by a sort
+of sweet and silky storm of little rustles and the sound of feet--little
+feet--coming down the great hall. Aunt Mary's nephew felt himself suddenly
+wondering if any other fellow present had such a tempest within his bosom
+as he himself was conscious of attempting to regulate unperceived.
+
+And then, after all, she wasn't among the influx! Miss Maude, was, though,
+and he had to go up to her and talk to her; and terribly dull hard labor
+it was.
+
+While he was rolling the Sisyphus stone of conversation uphill for the
+sixth or seventh time, Jack noticed a gentleman pass by and throw a more
+than ordinarily interesting glance their way. He was a very well-built,
+fairly good-sized man of thirty-five or forty years, with a handsome,
+uninteresting face and heavy, sleepy dark eyes.
+
+"Who is that?" he asked of his companion, his curiosity supplementing his
+wish that she would begin to bear her share of the burden of her
+entertainment.
+
+"Don't you know?" she said in surprise. "That's Mr. Holloway. He's just
+come. Oh, he's so horrid! I think he's just too awfully horrid for any
+use."
+
+"Why?"
+
+"Because he does such mean things. I just know Bob must have told you how
+he treated me. Bob's always telling it. Surely he's told you. It's his
+favorite story."
+
+"No, never," said Jack (his eyes riveted on the staircase); "he never told
+me. But do tell me. I'll enjoy hearing your side of it."
+
+"But I haven't any side. It's just Horace Holloway's meanness. There's
+nothing funny."
+
+"But tell me anyway."
+
+"Do you really want to hear?"
+
+"Indeed, I do."
+
+"Well, it's just that we were up in the mountains, and I was rowing
+myself, and the boat didn't go well, and Mr. Holloway came down off the
+hotel piazza and called to me that she needed ballast, and--and I said: 'Is
+that the trouble?' And he said: 'Yes, row ashore, and I'll ballast you.'
+And so, of course I rowed ashore to get him, and (of course, I supposed he
+meant himself), and when I was up by the dock he picked up a great stone
+and dropped it in, and shoved me off, and called after me: 'She'll go
+better now,' and--everyone laughed!"
+
+Miss Lome stopped, breathless.
+
+"I never would have believed it of him," Jack exclaimed, turning to see
+where Holloway kept his sense of humor; but just as his eye fell upon the
+latter, the latter's eyes altered and suddenly became so bright and intent
+that his observer involuntarily turned his own gaze quickly in the same
+direction.
+
+It was Mrs. Rosscott who was approaching, all in cerise with lines of
+Chantilly lace sweeping about her. It seemed a cruelty to every woman
+present that she should be so beautiful. Jack wanted to fly and fall at
+her feet, but he couldn't, of course--he was tied to her hyphenated cousin.
+
+But Holloway went forward and greeted her with all possible
+_empressement,_ and the man who was so much his junior felt an awful
+weight of youth upon him as he saw her led out of his sight.
+
+"I think dear Betty will marry Mr. Holloway," her cousin chirped blandly,
+thus settling her fate forever. "He came over in her party, you know,
+and--she's always been fond of him."
+
+Jack suddenly recollected how Mrs. Rosscott had commented on the terrible
+tendency to land upon "and," and wondered why he had never noticed before
+how disagreeable said tendency was.
+
+(Going to marry Holloway!)
+
+"But, then, dear Cousin Betty's such a coquette that no one can ever tell
+whom she does like. She's very insincere."
+
+Jack twisted uneasily. If there was any comfort to be derived from Miss
+Lorne's last speech, it was certainly of a most chilly sort.
+
+(Probably going to marry Holloway!)
+
+"Now, I think it's too bad, when there are so many simple, sweet girls in
+the world, that men seem to adore those that flirt like dear Cousin Betty.
+I don't approve of flirting anyway. I wouldn't flirt for anything. I don't
+want to break men's hearts."
+
+"That's awfully good of you," Jack said, looking eagerly to where Holloway
+and Mrs. Rosscott stood together.
+
+"Oh, no it isn't," said Miss Lorne, "I don't take any credit for it--I was
+born so. Dear Betty was a regular flirt when she was ever so small, but I
+never was. I'm sincere and I can't take any credit for it. I was born so."
+
+Holloway was talking and Mrs. Rosscott's eyes were uplifted to his. Jack
+was sure there was adoration in them. He knew Holloway was in love with
+her. How could he be a man and help it. Oh, it was damnable--unbearable.
+
+He stood up suddenly. He couldn't help it. He was crazed, maddened,
+choked, stifled. The fates must intervene and rescue his reason or else--
+
+There was a blessed sound--the announcing of dinner.
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+Later there was music in the great white salon where the organ was. Maude
+Lome sang, and the man with the monocle accompanied her on the organ. Mrs.
+Rosscott sat on a divan between Holloway and General Jiggs. Jack was left
+out in the cold.
+
+(Surely in love with Holloway!)
+
+It was only twenty-six hours since he had first met her, and he hated to
+consider his life as unalterably blasted, or to even give up the fight.
+Nevertheless, whenever he looked across the room he saw fresh signs of the
+most awful kind. Even the way that she didn't trouble to trouble over the
+one man, but devoted herself to General Jiggs, was in itself a very bad
+portent. Well, such was life and one must bear it somehow and be a man.
+Probably he would suffer less after the first five or ten years--he hoped
+so at any rate. But, great heavens, what a fearful prospect until those
+first five or ten years were gone by!
+
+Finally he went up to his own room and put on another collar and sat down
+at the open window and thought about it for a good while all quiet and
+alone by himself. After that he went back downstairs.
+
+She was gone, and Holloway, too. He felt freshly unhappy. When you come to
+consider, it was so damned unjust for one man to be thirty-five while
+another--just as decent a fellow in every way--was in college. He--
+
+A hand touched his arm.
+
+He turned from where he was standing in the window recess, and looked into
+her eyes.
+
+"I'm very wicked, am I not?" she asked, looking up at him so straight and
+honest.
+
+"I can't admit that," he replied.
+
+"But I am. I know it myself. What Bob told you was all true. I'm a
+heartless wretch."
+
+She spoke so earnestly that his heart sank lower and lower.
+
+"I wanted to speak to you about to-morrow morning," she said, after a
+little pause. "You know we were going to drive at ten together, and--and I
+wondered if--you see, Mr. Holloway's an old friend, and he's had so much to
+tell me to-night, and he isn't half through--"
+
+She was drawing him with a chain, a hair chain, which she had woven out of
+her eyelashes in the twinkling of an eye (either eye).
+
+He felt himself helpless--and choked.
+
+"Of course I don't mind. You go with him. It's quite one to me."
+
+She gave a tiny little start.
+
+"Oh, I didn't mean that at all," she cried. "I meant--I meant--you see it's
+all been a little tiring--and to-morrow's Sunday anyway and I--I Wanted
+to--to ask you if we couldn't go out at eleven instead of ten?"
+
+She looked so sweetly questioning, and his relief was so great, and his
+joy--
+
+(Probably don't care a rap for Holloway!)
+
+--so intense, that he could hardly refrain from seizing her in his arms.
+
+But he only seized her little hand instead and pressed it fervently to his
+lips. When he raised his eyes she was smiling, and her smile filled him
+with happiness.
+
+"You're such a boy!" she said softly, and turned and left him there in the
+window recess alone again,--but this time he didn't care.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER SEVEN - DEVELOPMENTS
+
+
+It was during that drive the next morning that Jack buoyed up by memories
+of Saturday and hopes of coming Saturdays, poured out the history of his
+life at Mrs. Rosscott's knees. He told her the whole story of Aunt Mary,
+and _his_ side of the cat, the cabman, and Kalamazoo. It interested her,
+for she had arrived too recently to have had the full details in the
+newspapers beforehand, but when he spoke of Aunt Mary's last letter she
+grew large-eyed and shook her head gravely.
+
+"You will have to be very good now," she said seriously.
+
+"Why?" he asked. "Just to keep from being disinherited? That wouldn't be
+so awful."
+
+"Wouldn't it be awful to you?" she asked, turning her bright eyes upon
+him. "What could be worse?"
+
+"Things," he said very vaguely.
+
+Then she touched up the cob a little; and, after a minute or two, as she
+said nothing, he continued:
+
+"I almost fancy quitting college and going to work. I was thinking about
+it last night."
+
+She touched up the cob a little more, and remained silent.
+
+Finally he said:
+
+"What would you think of my doing that?"
+
+"I don't know," she said slowly. "You see, I'm a great philosopher. I
+never fret or worry, because I regard it as useless; similarly, I never
+rebel at the way fate shapes my life--I regard that as something past
+helping. I believe in predestination; do you?"
+
+She turned and looked at him so seriously--so unlike her _riante_ self--that
+he felt startled, and did not know what to say for a minute.
+
+Then:
+
+"I don't know," he said slowly; "I don't know that I dare to. It rather
+startles me to think that maybe all of our future is laid out now."
+
+"It doesn't startle me," she said. "It seems to me the natural plan of the
+universe. I believe that everything that crosses our path--down to the
+tiniest gnat--comes there in the fulfillment of a purpose."
+
+"I'm sure that all the mosquitoes that ever crossed my path came there in
+the fulfillment of a purpose," Jack interrupted. "I never doubted _that_."
+
+She smiled a little.
+
+"It's the same with people," she went on.
+
+                             [Illustration 2]
+
+   "Do not let us play any longer,' she said. 'Let us be in earnest.'"
+
+
+"Only less painful," he interrupted again.
+
+"Sometimes not," she said, with a look that silenced him. "Sometimes much
+more so--my Cousin Maude, for example."
+
+"Hip, hip, hurrah for the mosquito!" he murmured. They laughed softly
+together. Then she grew earnest, and looked so grave that he became
+serious too.
+
+"There is always a purpose," she said, with a touch of some feeling which
+he had never guessed at. "If you and I have met, it is because we are to
+have some influence over one another. I can't just see how; I can't form
+any idea--"
+
+"I can," he said eagerly.
+
+She looked up so suddenly and steadily that he was silent.
+
+"Do not let us play any longer," she said. "Let us be in earnest."
+
+"But I am in earnest," he asseverated.
+
+"You don't know what I mean," she went on very gently. "You're in college.
+Let's fight it out on those lines if it takes all summer."
+
+He looked up into her face and loved her better than ever for the frank
+kindliness that shone in her eyes.
+
+"All right, if you say so," he vowed.
+
+"I do say so," she said. "I like to see men stick it through in college if
+they begin. I like to see people finish up every one of life's jobs that
+they set out on."
+
+"But I'm coming to see you in town, you know," he went on with great
+apparent irrelevance.
+
+She laughed merrily.
+
+"Yes, surely. You must promise me that.--No," she stopped and looked
+thoughtful, "I'll tell you what I want you to promise me. Promise me that
+you'll come once a week or else write me why you can't come. Will you?"
+
+"You can't suppose that you'll ever see my handwriting under such
+circumstances--can you?" Jack asked.
+
+She laughed again.
+
+"Is it a promise?"
+
+"Yes, it's a promise."
+
+Oh, joy unmeasured in the time of spring! No other February like that had
+ever been for them--nor ever would be. The drive came to an end, the day
+came to an end, but the good-nights, which were good-bys, too, were not so
+fraught with hopelessness as he had dreaded, for the promise asked and
+given paved a broad road illuminated by the most hopeful kind of stars,--a
+broad road leading straight from college to town,--and his fancy showed him
+a figure treading it often. A figure that was his own.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER EIGHT - THE RESOLUTION HE TOOK
+
+
+That first meeting was in February, you know, and by the last of April it
+had been followed by so many others that Burnett remarked one day to his
+chum:
+
+"Say, aren't you going a little faster than auntie'll stand for?"
+
+Jack turned in surprise.
+
+"I never went so straight in my life before," he exclaimed, not in
+indignation but in astonishment.
+
+"I didn't mean that," said Burnett. "Perhaps instead of 'auntie' I should
+have said 'Betty.'"
+
+Jack hoisted the colors of Harvard, and was silent.
+
+"I warned you at first that that was Tangle town," his friend went on.
+"Don't suppose I'm saying anything against her--or against you; but she's
+just as much to ten other men as she is to you, and they all are old
+enough to carry lots of weight."
+
+"And I suppose I'm not," Jack answered, going over by the fireplace. "I
+know that as well as anyone, of course."
+
+"_Natuerlich_," said Burnett, with conclusiveness that was not meant to be
+cruel, yet cut like a two edged knife.
+
+There was silence in the room. Jack stood by the chimney-piece, his hands
+upraised to rest upon its lofty shelf, his head dropped forward, and his
+eyes fixed on the empty blackness below.
+
+"I wonder," he said at last, "I wonder what will become of me if--if--"
+
+He stopped.
+
+Burnett didn't speak.
+
+"I wonder if she thinks of me as a boy," the young man continued. "I
+wonder if she's so good to me because I'm her youngest brother's friend."
+
+Burnett did not comment on this speech.
+
+"I don't know what to do," the other said. "When I first met her I wanted
+to cut college and get out in the world and go to work like a man. I told
+her so. But she wanted me to stay in college, and as it was the first
+thing she'd ever wanted of me, I did it. I'd do anything she asked me.
+I've quit drinking. I'm going at everything as hard as it's in me to go;
+but--I don't know--I feel--I feel as if it isn't me--it's just because she
+wants me to, and, do you know, old man, it frightens me to think how--if
+she--if she went out of my--my life--"
+
+He stopped and his broken phrases were not continued to any ending.
+
+Another long silence ensued.
+
+It was finally terminated by the brother's saying:
+
+"You must confess, old man, that you aren't fixed so as to be able to say
+one really serious word to any woman--unless it is, 'Wait.'"
+
+"I know that," Jack answered; "but I suppose--"
+
+"She'd be taking so many chances," the friend interrupted. "A man in
+college is never the real thing. You'd better give it up."
+
+Then the other whirled about and faced him.
+
+"Give it up, did you say?" he asked almost angrily.
+
+"Yes, that's what."
+
+For a minute they looked at one another. Then:
+
+"I shall never give it up," the lover said very slowly and
+steadily--"never, until she gives me up."
+
+Burnett sucked in his breath with a sudden compression of his lips.
+
+"All right," he said, not unkindly; "but I don't believe you'll ever get
+her, and that's flat. There are too many being entered for that race, and
+long before you and I get out of here she'll be Mrs. Somebody Else."
+
+Jack stared at him as if he hardly heard, and then suddenly he stepped
+nearer and spoke.
+
+"Did she ask you to have this talk with me?"
+
+"No," said the brother in surprise, "she never says anything about you to
+me."
+
+A look of relief fled across his friend's face, and then a look of
+resolution succeeded it.
+
+"I'm not going to be discouraged," he said; "not for a while, at any
+rate."
+
+"You'd better be."
+
+Jack laughed. The laugh sounded a trifle hollow, but still it was a laugh,
+and that in itself was a triumph of which none but himself might ever
+measure the extent.
+
+Because in that moment he decided to lay the whole case before her the
+next time that he went to town, and the coming to a resolution was a
+relief from the uncertainty that clouded his days and nights--even if a
+further black curtain of darkest doubt hung before the possibilities of
+what her answer might be.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER NINE - THE DOWNFALL OF HOPE
+
+
+It was on a Saturday about the middle of May that Jack came to town, his
+mind well braced with love and arguments, and his main thoughts being that
+when he returned something would be settled.
+
+It was a beautiful day, warm and sunny, and at five in the afternoon both
+of the drawing-room windows of Mrs. Rosscott's house were wide open, and
+the lace curtains were taking the breeze like little sails.
+
+Just as Jack mounted the steps, the door opened, and a plainly dressed,
+unattractive-looking man was let out. The servant who did the letting out
+saw Jack and let him in without closing the door between the egress of the
+one and the ingress of the other. So he entered without ringing, and, as
+he was very well known and intensely popular with all of Mrs. Rosscott's
+servants, the man invited him to walk up unannounced, since he himself was
+just "bringing in the tea."
+
+Jack went upstairs, and because the carpet was of thickly piled velvet and
+his boots were the boots of a well-shod gentleman, he made no noise
+whatever in the so doing.
+
+There were double parlors above stairs in the domicile which Burnett's
+sister had taken until July, and they were furnished in the most correct
+and trying mode of Louis XIV. The chairs were gilt and very uncomfortable.
+The ornaments were all straight up and down and made in such shapes that
+there was no place to flick off cigarette ashes anywhere. Nothing could be
+pulled up to anything else and there was not a single good place to rest
+one's elbows anywhere. The only saving grace in the situation was that
+after five minutes or so Mrs. Rosscott invariably suggested removal to the
+library which lay beyond--a very different species of apartment where no
+mode at all prevailed except the terrible _demode_ thing known as comfort.
+To prevent her visitors, when seated (for the five minutes aforementioned)
+amid the correct carving of French art, from looking longingly through at
+the easy-chairs of American manufacture, Mrs. Rosscott had ordered that
+the blue velvet portieres which hung between should never be pushed aside,
+and it was owing to this order that Jack, entering the drawing-room, heard
+voices, but could not see into the library beyond. Also it was owing to
+this order that those in the library could not see or hear Jack.
+
+The result was that the young man, finding the drawing-room unoccupied,
+was just crossing toward the blue velvet curtains, intending to wait in
+the library until the returning servant should advise him of the
+whereabouts of his mistress, when he was stopped by suddenly hearing a
+voice--her voice--crying (and laughing at the same time)--
+
+"Kisses barred! Kisses barred!"
+
+It may be understood that had Mrs. Rosscott known that anyone was within
+hearing she certainly would never have made any such speech, and it may be
+further understood that, had whoever was with her, also mistrusted the
+close propinquity of another man, he would never have replied (as he did
+reply):
+
+"Certainly," the same being spoken in a most calm and careless tone.
+
+Jack, the eavesdropper, stood transfixed at the voices and speeches, and
+forgot every other consideration in the overwhelming sickness of soul
+which overcame him that instant. All his other soul-sicknesses were
+trifles compared to this one, and the world--his world--their world--seemed
+to revolve and whirl and turn upside down, as he steadied himself against
+a spindle-legged cabinet and felt its spindle-legs trembling in sympathy
+with his own.
+
+"Darling," said Holloway, a second or two later (and this time his voice
+was not calm and careless, but deep and impassioned), "the letter was very
+sweet, and if you knew how I longed to take the tired little girl to my
+bosom and comfort her troubles, and replace them by joys!"
+
+"Will that day ever come, do you think?" Mrs. Rosscott answered, in low
+tones, which nevertheless were most painfully clear and distinct in the
+next room.
+
+"It must," Holloway replied, "just as surely as that I hold this dear
+little hand--"
+
+But Jack never knew more. He had heard enough--more than enough. Four
+thousand times too much. He turned and went out of the rooms, back down
+the stairs and out of the door, closed it noiselessly behind him, and
+found himself in a world which, although bright and sunny to all the rest
+of mankind, had turned dark, lonely, and cheerless to him.
+
+At first he hardly knew what to do with himself, he was so altogether used
+up by the discovery just made. He drifted up and down some unknown streets
+for an hour or two--or stood still on corners--he never was very sure which.
+And then at last he went downtown and took a drink in a half-dazed way;
+and because it was quite two months since his last indulgence, its
+suggestion was potent.
+
+The pity--or rather, the apparent pity--of what followed!
+
+Burnett was Sundaying at the ancestral castle; and Burnett wasn't the
+warning sort, anyhow. He was always tow and pitch for any species of
+flame. So his absence counted for nothing in the crisis.
+
+And what ensued was a crisis--a crisis with a vengeance.
+
+That tear upon which Aunt Mary's nephew went was something lurid and
+awful. It lasted until Monday, and then its owner returned to college, as
+ill of body and as embittered of spirit as it was in him to be. The
+lightsome devil who had ruled him up to his meeting with Mrs. Rosscott
+resumed its sway with terrible force. The authorities showed a tendency to
+patience because young Denham had appeared to reform lately and had been
+working hard; but young Denham felt no thankful sentiments for their
+leniency, and proved his position shortly.
+
+There was a man named Tweedwell whom circumstances threw directly in the
+path of destruction. Tweedwell was an inoffensive mortal who was studying
+for the ministry. He was progressive in his ideas, and believed that a
+clergyman, to hold a great influence, should know his world. He thought
+that knowledge of the world was to be gained by skirting the outside edge
+of every species of worldliness. The result of this course of action was
+not what it should have been, for Tweedwell was an easy mark for all who
+wanted fun, and the consciousness of his innocence so little accelerated
+the pace at which he got out of the way that he was always being called to
+account for what he hadn't done.
+
+The Saturday night after his Saturday in town, Jack concocted a piece of
+deviltry which was as dangerous as it was foolish. The result was that an
+explosion took place, and the author of the gun-powder plot had all the
+skin on both hands blistered. Burnett, in escaping, fell and broke his
+collarbone and two ribs. The house in which the affair took place caught
+fire, and was badly damaged. And Tweedwell was arrested on the strongest
+kind of circumstantial evidence, and had to answer for the whole.
+Naturally, in the investigation that followed, the two who were guilty had
+to confess or see the candidate for the ministry disgraced forever.
+
+The result of their confession was that Burnett's father, a jovial,
+peppery old gentleman--we all know the kind--lost his patience and wrote his
+son that he'd better not come home again that year. But Aunt Mary lost her
+temper much more completely and the result, as affecting Jack, was awful.
+
+She might not have acted as she did had the disastrous news arrived either
+a week later or a week earlier; but it came just in the middle of a
+discouraging ten days' downpour, which had caused a dam to break and a
+chain of valuable cranberry bogs to be drowned out for that year. The
+cranberry bogs were especially dear to their owner's heart.
+
+"Why can't they drain 'em?" she had asked Lucinda, who was particularly
+nutcracker-like in appearance since her quarantine episode.
+
+"'Pears like they're lower'n everywhere else," Lucinda answered, her words
+sounding as if she had sharpened them on a grindstone.
+
+Aunt Mary bit her lip and frowned at the rain. She felt mad all the way
+through, and longed to take it out on someone.
+
+Ten minutes after Joshua arrived with the mail and the mail bore one
+ominous letter. Joshua felt something was wrong before the fact was
+assured.
+
+"She wants the mail," Lucinda said, coming to the door with her hand out
+as usual.
+
+"She'll get the mail," said Joshua, and as he spoke he gave the seeker
+after tidings a blood-curdling wink.
+
+"There isn't a telegram in one o' the letters, is there?" Lucinda asked,
+much appalled by the wink.
+
+"No, there isn't no telegram in none o' the letters," said Joshua.
+
+"Joshua Whittlesey, I do believe you was born to drive saints mad. What
+_is_ the matter?"
+
+"Nothin' ain't the matter as I know of."
+
+"Then what in Kingdom Come did you wink for?"
+
+"I winked," said Joshua meaningly, "cause I expect it'll be a good while
+before we'll feel like winkin' again."
+
+Lucinda gave him a look in which curiosity and aggravation fought
+catch-as-catch-can. Then she turned and went in with the letters.
+
+Aunt Mary was sitting stonily staring at the rain.
+
+"I thought you'd gone to take a drive with Joshua," she said coldly.
+"Well, 's long 's you're back I'll be glad to have my mail. Most folks
+like to get their mail as soon as it comes an' I--Mercy on us!"
+
+It was the letter from the authorities enclosed in one from Mr. Stebbins.
+
+Lucinda stood bolt upright before her mistress.
+
+"What's happened?" she yelled breathlessly, after a few seconds of the
+direst kind of silence had loaded the atmosphere while the letter was
+being carefully read.
+
+Then:
+
+"Happened!--" said Aunt Mary, transfixing the terrible typewritten
+communication with a yet more terrible look of determination.
+"Happened!--Well, jus' what I expected 's happened an' jus' what nobody
+expects 'll happen now. Lucinda, you run like you was paid for it and tell
+Joshua not to unharness. Don't stop to open your mouth. You'll need your
+breath before you get to the barn. Scurry!"
+
+Lucinda scurried. She splashed and spattered down through the lane that
+led to Joshua's kingdom with a vigor that was commendable in one of her
+age.
+
+"She says 'don't unharness,'" she panted, bouncing in through the doorway
+just as Joshua was slowly and carefully folding the lap-robe in the crease
+to which it had become habituated.
+
+Joshua continued to fold.
+
+"Then I won't unharness," he said calmly. He hung the robe over the line
+that was stretched to hang robes over and Lucinda gasped for wind with
+which to inflate further conversation.
+
+"She says what nobody expects is goin' to happen," she panted as soon as
+she could.
+
+"What nobody expects is always happenin' where he's concerned," said
+Joshua.
+
+"I s'pose he's in some new row," said Lucinda.
+
+"I'm sure he is," said Joshua, "an' if you don't go back to her pretty
+quick you won't be no better off."
+
+Lucinda turned away and returned to the house. She found Aunt Mary still
+staring at the letters with the same concentrated fury as before.
+
+"Well, is Joshua a'comin' to the door?" she asked when she saw her maid
+before her.
+
+"You didn't say for him to come to the door," Lucinda howled, "you said
+for him to stay harnessed."
+
+Aunt Mary appeared on the verge of ignition.
+
+"Lucinda," she said, "every week I live under the same roof with you your
+brains strike me 's some shrunk from the week before. What in Heaven's
+name should I want Joshua to stay harnessed in the barn for? I want him to
+go for Mr. Stebbins an' I want him to understand 't if Mr. Stebbins can't
+come he's got to come just the same's if he could anyhow. I may seem quiet
+to you, Lucinda, but if I do, it only shows all over again how little you
+know. This is a awful day an' if you knew how awful you'd be half way back
+to the barn right now. I ain't triflin'--I'm meanin' every word. Every
+syllable. Every letter."
+
+Lucinda fled out into the open again. Her footprints of the time before
+were little oblong ponds now and she laid out a new course parallel to
+their splashes. She found Joshua sponging the dasher.
+
+"She wants you to go straight out again."
+
+Joshua flung the sponge into the pail.
+
+"Then I'll go straight out again," he said, moving toward the horse's
+head.
+
+"You're to bring Mr. Stebbins whether he can come or not."
+
+"He'll come," said Joshua; and then he backed the horse so suddenly that
+the buggy wheel nearly went over Lucinda.
+
+"She says this is an awful day--" began Lucinda.
+
+Joshua got into the buggy and tucked the rubber blanket around himself.
+
+"She says--"
+
+Joshua drove out of the barn and away.
+
+Lucinda went slowly back to the house. Aunt Mary had ceased to glare at
+the letter and was now glaring at the rain instead.
+
+"Lucinda," she said "I'll thank you not to ever mention my nephew to me
+again. I've took a vow to never speak his name again myself. By no
+means--not at all--never."
+
+"Which nephew?" shrieked Lucinda.
+
+Aunt Mary's eyes snapped.
+
+"Jack!" she said, with an accent that seemed to split the short word in
+two.
+
+After a little she spoke again.
+
+"Lucinda, it's all been owin' to the city an' this last is all city. 'F I
+cared a rap what happened to him after this I'd never let him go near a
+place over two thousand again as long as he lived. It's no use tryin' to
+explain things to you, Lucinda, because it never has been any use an'
+never will be--an' anyway, I'm done with it all. I sh'll want you for a
+witness when I'm through with Mr. Stebbins, and then you can get some
+marmalade out for tea an' we'll all live in peace hereafter."
+
+Joshua returned with Mr. Stebbins and the latter gentleman went to work
+with a will and willed Jack out of Aunt Mary's. Later Joshua took him home
+again. Lucinda got the marmalade out of the cellar and Aunt Mary had it
+with her tea. It was a bitter tea--unsugared indeed--and the days that
+followed matched.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TEN - THE WOES OF THE DISINHERITED.
+
+
+It was some days later on in the world's history that Holloway was calling
+on Bertha Rosscott.
+
+They were sitting in that comfortable library previously referred to and
+were sweetly unaware that any untoward series of incidents had ever led to
+an invasion of their privacy.
+
+Holloway lay well back in a sleepy-hollow chair and looked indolently,
+lazily handsome; his hostess was up on--well up on the divan, and he had
+the full benefit of her admirable bottines and their dainty heels and
+buckles.
+
+"Honestly," he said, looking her over with a gaze that was at once roving
+and well content, "honestly, I think that every time I see you, you appear
+more attractive than the time before."
+
+"It's very nice of you to say so," she replied. "And, of course, I believe
+you, for every time that I get a new gown I think that very same thing
+myself. Still, I do regard it as strange if I look nicely to-day, for I've
+been crying like a baby all the morning."
+
+"You crying! And why?"
+
+She raised her eyes to his.
+
+"Such bad news!" she said simply.
+
+"From where? Of whom?"
+
+"From mamma, about Bob."
+
+"Have his wounds proved serious?" Holloway looked slightly distressed as
+was proper.
+
+"It isn't that. It's papa. Papa has forbidden him the house. He's very,
+very angry."
+
+Holloway looked relieved.
+
+"Your father won't stay angry long, and you know it," he said. "Just think
+how often he has lost his temper over the boys and how often he's found it
+again."
+
+"It isn't just Bob," said Mrs. Rosscott. "I've someone else on my mind,
+too."
+
+"Who, pray?"
+
+"His friend."
+
+"Young Denham?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+With that she threw her head up and looked very straightly at her caller
+whose visage shaded ever so slightly in spite of himself.
+
+"Have _his_ wounds proved serious?" he asked, smiling, but unable to
+altogether do away with a species of parenthetical inflection in his
+voice.
+
+"It wasn't over his wounds that I cried."
+
+"Did you really cry at all for him?"
+
+"I cried more for him than I did for Bob," she admitted boldly.
+
+"He is a fortunate boy! But why the tears in his case?"
+
+"I felt so badly to be disappointed in him."
+
+"Did you expect to work a miracle there, my dear? Did you think to reform
+such an inveterate young reprobate with a glance?"
+
+"I'm not sure that I ever asked myself either of those questions," she
+replied, slowly; "but he promised me something, and I expected him to keep
+his word."
+
+"Men don't keep such promises, Bertha," the visitor said. "You shouldn't
+have expected it."
+
+"I don't know why not."
+
+"Because a man who drinks will drink again."
+
+"I didn't refer to drinking," she said quietly. "It was quite another
+thing."
+
+"Ah!"
+
+She looked down at her rings and seemed to consider how much of her
+confidence she should give him, and the consideration led her to look up
+presently and say:
+
+"He promised me that if he could not call any week he would write me a
+line instead. He came to town last week, and he neither called nor wrote.
+That wasn't like the man I saw in him. That was a direct breaking of his
+word. I can't understand, and I'm disappointed."
+
+Holloway took out his cigarette case and turned it over and over
+thoughtfully in his hands.
+
+"He's nothing but a boy," he said at last, with an effort.
+
+"He's no boy," she said. "He's almost twenty-two years old. He's a man."
+
+"Some are men at twenty-two, and some are boys," Holloway remarked. "I was
+a man before I was eighteen--a man out in the world of men. But Denham's a
+boy."
+
+He rose as he spoke, and she held out her hand for him to raise her, too.
+
+"It's early to go," she remarked parenthetically.
+
+"I know," he replied; "but I hear someone being shown into the
+drawing-room. I don't feel formal to-day, and if I can't lounge in here
+alone with you I'd rather go."
+
+"How egotistical!" she commented.
+
+"I am egotistical," he admitted.
+
+And went.
+
+The footman passed him in the hall; he had a card upon his silver salver,
+and was seeking his mistress in the library. But when he entered there the
+room was empty. Mrs. Rosscott had slipped through the blue velvet
+portieres, expecting to see a friend, and had stopped short on the other
+side, amazed at finding herself face to face with an utter stranger.
+
+"I gave the man my card," said the stranger, in a tone as faded as his
+mustache. He was a long, thin man, but what the Germans style "_sehr
+korrect_."
+
+"I didn't wait to get it," the hostess said. "I supposed that, of course,
+it was somebody that I knew."
+
+"That was natural," he admitted.
+
+There was a slight pause of awkwardness.
+
+"Won't you sit down?" she asked.
+
+"Certainly," said the caller, and sat down.
+
+Then she sat down, too, and another awkward pause ensued.
+
+"You didn't expect to see me, did you?" said the stranger, smiling.
+
+"No, I didn't," said Mrs. Rosscott frankly. "I expected to see someone
+else--someone that I knew. Nearly all my visitors are people whom I know."
+
+Her eyes rather demanded an observance of the conventionalities while her
+words were putting the best face possible on the queer five minutes. The
+stranger smiled.
+
+"My name is Clover," he said then. "Of course, as you never saw me before,
+you want to know that first of all."
+
+"I'd choose to know," she said. And then the uncompromising neutrality of
+her expression deepened so plainly that he hastened to add:
+
+"I'm H. Wyncoop Clover."
+
+"Oh!" she said. And then smiled, too; having heard the name before.
+
+"Why don't you ask me my business?" went on H. Wyncoop Clover. "I must
+have come for some reason, you know."
+
+"I didn't know it," said Mrs. Rosscott--"I don't know anything about you
+yet."
+
+They both smiled--and then H. Wyncoop resumed his colorless sobriety at
+once.
+
+"It's about Jack," he said--"these terrible new developments--" he stopped
+short, seeing his _vis-a-vis_ turn deathly white, "it's nothing to be
+frightened over," he said reassuringly.
+
+Mrs. Rosscott was furious with herself for having paled. She became
+instantly haughty.
+
+"I was alarmed for my brother," she said. "I always think of them both as
+together."
+
+"Oh, in that case, I can reassure you instantly," said the caller.
+"Burnett is doing finely."
+
+Mrs. Rosscott was conscious of being suddenly and skillfully
+countercharged. She blushed with vexation, bit her lip in perturbation,
+and cast upon the trying individual opposite a look of most appealing
+interrogation.
+
+"You see," said Clover pleasantly, "I was coming to town, so I came in
+handy for the purpose of telling you."
+
+She gave him a glance that prayed him to be decent and go on with his
+errand.
+
+"Burnett is about recovered," he said.
+
+She clasped her hands hard.
+
+"I wouldn't be a man for anything!" she exclaimed with sudden fervor,
+"they are so awfully mean. Why _don't_ you go on and tell me _what_ you've
+come about?"
+
+He raised his eyebrows.
+
+"May I?" he asked.
+
+She choked down some of her exasperation.
+
+"Yes, you may."
+
+"Oh, thank you so much. I'll begin at once then. Only premising that as I
+go to school with your little brother, and as he is rather under a cloud
+just at present, we clubbed together to bring you a letter about him and
+Jack. He was going to dictate it, but in the end Mitchell wrote it all.
+Here it is."
+
+With that he put his hand into his pocket, drew out an envelope and handed
+it to her.
+
+"How awfully good of you," she said gratefully. "Do excuse my reading it
+at once, won't you? You see, I've been so anxious about--about my brother."
+
+He nodded understandingly, and she hastily tore open the envelope and ran
+her eyes over the written sheets.
+
+
+    MY DEAR MRS. ROSSCOTT:--
+
+    Being the prize writer of the class, I am chosen to take down the
+    ante mortem confessions of our shattered friends. It is in a sad
+    hour for them that I do so, because I am naturally so truthful
+    that I shall not force you to look for my meaning between the
+    lines. On the contrary, I shall set the cold facts out as neatly
+    as the pickets on the fence. And in evidence thereof, I open the
+    ball by telling you frankly that they both look fierce. If they
+    had looked less awful, and Burnett had had more lime in his bones,
+    we might have escaped the Powers That Be by simply admitting a
+    sprained ankle and carefully concealing everything else. But if
+    one man cracks where you can't finish the deal, even by the most
+    unlimited outlay of mucilage and persistence, and another blazes
+    his whole surface-area in a manner that seems to make the
+    underbrush dubious to count on forever henceforth; why, you then
+    have a logarithm the square of which is probably as far beyond
+    your depth as I am beyond my own just at this point of this
+    sentence.
+
+    The long and short of my fresh start is, that your brother wants
+    to write you, but he is so handicapped (forgive me, but you're the
+    only one who hasn't had that joke sprung on them!) with bandages,
+    that it's cruel to expect much of him. It is true that he has his
+    bosom friend to fall back upon, but if you could see that friend
+    as we see him these days you wouldn't be sure whether it was true
+    or not. The old woman, who had the peddler-and-petticoat episode,
+    was not in it the same day with your brother's friend! I do assure
+    you. And anyhow--even if he still has brains--his writing apparatus
+    is all done up in arnica, so there you are!
+
+    But do not allow me to alarm you unduly! When all's said and done,
+    they're not so badly off physically. Hair and ribs are mere
+    vanities, anyhow, and we're here to-day and gone to-morrow!
+
+    Something much worse than disfigurements and broken bones has
+    sprung forth from chaos, and has almost stared them out of
+    countenance since. It is the wolf that is at the door, and the
+    howling and prowling of their particular wolf is not to be sneezed
+    at, let me tell you. To put a modern political face upon an
+    ancient Greek fable, the wolf in their case symbolizes the bitter
+    question of whose roof is going to roof them when they get out of
+    the plaster casts that are bed and board to them just at present.
+    Where are they to go? All those which used to be open to them are
+    suddenly shut tight. They've both been expelled, and both been
+    disinherited. If I was inclined to look on the blue side of the
+    blanket, I should certainly feel that they were playing in very
+    tough luck. Burnett, of course, can come to you, and his soul is
+    full of the wish to bring his fellow-fright along with him. Which
+    wish of his is the gist of my epistle. _Can_ he bring him? He
+    wants to know before he broaches the proposition. I'm to be
+    skinned alive if Jack ever learns that such a plea was made, so I
+    beg you whatever other rash acts you see fit to commit during your
+    meteoric flight across my plane of existence, don't ever give me
+    away. Firstly, because if I ever get a chance to do so, I'm
+    positive that I should want to cling to you as the mistletoe does
+    to the oak, and could not bear to be given away; and secondly,
+    because I'm so attached to my own skin that I should really suffer
+    pain if it was taken from me by force. Bob wants you to think it
+    over, and let him know as to the whats and whens by return mail.
+
+    You are so inspiring that I could write you all day, but those
+    relics of what once was, but alas! will never be again, need to be
+    rolled up afresh in absorbent cotton, and so I must nail my Red
+    Cross on to my left arm, and get down to business. If you saw how
+    useful I am to your brother, you'd thank his lucky stars that I
+    came through myself with nothing worse than getting my ear stepped
+    on. I was hugging the ladder (being canny and careful), and the
+    man above me toed in. Isn't it curious to think that if he'd worn
+    braces in early youth _my_ ear would be all right now.
+
+    Behold me at your feet.
+
+                                                   Respectfully yours,
+
+                                            Herbert Kendrick Mitchell.
+
+
+When Mrs. Rosscott had finished the letter she looked across at her
+caller, and said:
+
+"You've read this, haven't you?"
+
+"No," said he. "I tried to unstick it two or three times coming on the
+train, but it was too much for me."
+
+"Don't you really know what it says?" she asked more earnestly.
+
+"Yes, I do," Clover answered, "but Denham must never know that I do."
+
+"I won't tell him," she said smiling faintly. "But surely he can't be as
+badly off as this says. Has he really lost all his hair?"
+
+"Not all--only in spots," Clover reassured her; but then his recollections
+overcame him, and he added, with a grin: "But he's a fearful looking
+specimen, all right, though."
+
+"About my brother," she went on, turning the letter thoughtfully in her
+fingers; "when can he get out, do they think?"
+
+"Any time next week."
+
+"I'll write him," she said. "I'll write him and tell him that everything
+will be arranged for--for--for them both."
+
+Clover sprang to his feet.
+
+"Oh, thank you," he exclaimed. "That's most awfully good in you!"
+
+"Not at all," she answered. "I'm very glad to be able to welcome them. You
+must impress that upon them--particularly--particularly on my brother."
+
+Clover smiled.
+
+"I will," he said, rising to go.
+
+"I'd ask you to stay longer," she said, holding out her hand, "but I'm due
+at a charity entertainment to-night, and I have to go very early."
+
+"I know," he said; "I've come up on purpose to go to it."
+
+"Then I shall see you there?" she asked him.
+
+"It will be what I shall be looking forward to most of all," he said.
+
+"It's been a great pleasure to meet you," she said, holding out her hand,
+"you're--well, you're 'unlike,' as they say in literary criticisms."
+
+"Thank you," he replied; "but may I ask if you intend that as a
+compliment?"
+
+"Dear me," she laughed, "let me think how I did intend it.--Yes, it was
+meant for a compliment."
+
+"Thank you," he said, shaking her hand warmly, "it's so nice to know, you
+know. Good-by."
+
+"Good-by."
+
+Then he went away.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER ELEVEN - THE DOVE OF PEACE
+
+
+The first result of Mrs. Rosscott's invitation was that Jack refused. He
+said that he had a sister of his own--two, if it came to that--and so he
+could easily manage for himself. He was very decided about it, and
+somewhat lofty and bitter--a stand which no one understood his taking.
+
+His flat refusal was communicated to his would be hostess and it goes
+without saying that she was as unable to understand as all the rest. It
+keyed well enough with his lately shown indifference, but the indifference
+keyed not at all with all that had gone before and still less with her
+very correct comprehension of Jack himself. She was quite positive as to
+the sincerity of those protestations which he had made so haltingly--so
+boyishly--and in such absolutely truthful accents. Why he had turned over a
+new--and bad--leaf so suddenly she did not at all know, but her woman's
+wit--backed up by the many good instincts which good women always get from
+Heaven knows just where--made her feel firmer than ever as to her
+hospitable intentions. Jack had told her many times that she was his good
+angel, and it did not seem to her that now, when he was so deeply involved
+in so much trouble, was the hour for a man's good angel to quietly turn
+away. Suppose he was haughty!--she knew men well enough to know that in his
+case haughtiness and shame would be two Dromios that even he himself would
+be unable to tell apart. Suppose he did rebel against her kindness!--she
+knew women well enough to know that under some circumstances they can put
+down rebellion single-handed--if they can only be left in the room alone
+with it for a few minutes. As regarded Jack, she knew that there was
+something to explain; and as to herself she was delightfully positive as
+to her own irresistibleness. Given two such statements and the conclusion
+is easy. Mrs. Rosscott wrote to Mitchell and here is what she wrote:
+
+
+    MY DEAR MR. MITCHELL:
+
+    I should have answered your letter before only that in the
+    excitement of corresponding with my brother I forgot all else. But
+    my manners have returned by slow degrees and in hunting through my
+    desk for a bill I found you and so take up my pen.
+
+    I am quite sure that--in spite of that beautiful opening play of
+    mine--you are wondering why I am really writing and so I will tell
+    you at once. When Bob comes here to stay with me I want Mr. Denham
+    to come too. I have various reasons for wanting him to come. One
+    is that he has nowhere else to go where he will have half as good
+    a time as he will here and another is that if he goes anywhere
+    else I won't have half as good a time as if he comes here. Pray
+    excuse my brutal candor, but I am only a woman; brutal candor and
+    womanly weakness always have gone about encouraging one another,
+    you know. I cannot see any good reason for Mr. Denham's not coming
+    except that he declines my invitation. It is very silly in him,
+    and I regard it as no reason at all. I am quite unused to being
+    declined and do not intend to acquire the habit until I am a good
+    deal older than I was my last birthday. Still, I can understand
+    that he is too big to force against his will, so I think the
+    kindest way to break the back of the opposition will be for me to
+    do it personally. As an over-ruler I nearly always succeed. All I
+    require is an opportunity.
+
+    Please lay the two halves of your brain evenly together and devise
+    a train and an interview for me. Of course you will meet me at the
+    train and leave me at the interview. These are the fundamental
+    rules of my game. I know that you are clever and before we have
+    left the station you will know that I am. As arch-conspirators we
+    shall surely win out together, won't we?
+
+                                                     Yours very truly,
+
+                                                      Bertha Rosscott.
+
+
+This missive posted, Jack's good angel made herself patient until the
+afternoon of the next day when she might and did expect an answer.
+
+She was not disappointed. The letter came and it was pleasantly bulky and
+appeared ample enough to have contained an indexed gun powder plot. She
+was so sure that Mitchell had been fully equal to the occasion that she
+tore the envelope open with a smile--and read:
+
+
+    MY DEAR MRS. ROSSCOTT:
+
+    To think of my having some of your handwriting for my own!--I was
+    nearly petrified with joy.
+
+    You see I know your writing from having read Burnett all those
+    "Burn this at once" epistles. And I know it still better from
+    having to catalogue them for his ready reference. You know how
+    impatient he is. (But I have run into an open switch and must
+    digress backwards.)
+
+    I shall preserve your letter till I die. In war I shall wear it
+    carefully spread all over wherever I may be killed, and in peace I
+    intend to keep my place in my Bible with it. Could words say more!
+    (Being backed up again, I will now begin.)
+
+    I was not at all surprised at your writing me. If you had known me
+    it would have been different. But where ignorance is bliss any
+    woman but yourself is always liable to pitch in with a pen, and
+    you see you are not yourself but only "any woman" to me as yet.
+    Besides, women have written to me before you. My mother does so
+    regularly. She encloses a postal card and all I have to do is to
+    mail it and there she is answered. It's a great scheme which I
+    proudly invented when I first went away to school and I recommend
+    it to you if you--if you ever have a mother.
+
+    How my ink does run away with me! Let me refer to your esteemed
+    favor again! Ah! we have worked down to the bed-rock, or--in Hugh
+    Miller's colloquial phrasing--to the "old red sandstone," of the
+    fact that you want Jack. You state the fact with what you
+    designate as brutal candor--and I reply with candied brutality,
+    that I have thought that all along. If you are averse to my view
+    of the matter, you must look out of the window the whole time that
+    I continue, for once entered I always fight to a finish and I
+    cannot retire to my corner on this auspicious occasion without
+    announcing through a trumpet that even if Jack is a most idiotic
+    fellow I never have caught the microbe from him, and, as a
+    sequence, have always seen clear through and out of the other side
+    of the whole situation. Of course I should not say this to any
+    woman but you because it would not have any meaning to her, but,
+    between you and me all things are printed in plain black and white
+    and, therefore, I respectfully submit a program consisting of the
+    two o'clock train Tuesday and myself, to be recognized by a
+    beaming look of burning joy, upon the platform. Beyond that you
+    may confide yourself to waxing waxy in my hands. They are not bad
+    hands to be in as your brother and whatever-you-call-Jack can
+    testify. I will lay my lines in the dark to the end that you may
+    bloom in the sun.
+
+    Trust me. You need do no more--except buy your ticket.
+
+    The two o'clock on Tuesday. You can easily remember it by the
+    T's--if you don't get mixed with three o'clock on Thursday. Try
+    remembering it by the 2's. A safe way would be to put it down.
+
+                                                        Yours to obey,
+
+                                            Herbert Kendrick Mitchell.
+
+    P.S. Please recollect that I am only handsome according to the
+    good old proverb, and do not mistake me for an enterprising
+    hackman.
+
+
+Mrs. Rosscott clapped her hands with delight when she finished the letter.
+She was overjoyed at the success of her "opening play," and she wrote her
+new correspondent two lines accepting his invitation, and went down on the
+appointed train on the appointed day. He met her at the depot and they
+divined one another at the first glance. It was impossible not to know so
+pretty a woman--or so homely a man. For the ancestors of Mitchell had worn
+kilts and red hair in centuries gone by, and although he proved the truth
+of the red-hair proposition, no one would ever believe that anything of
+his build could ever have been induced to have put itself into
+kilts--knowingly. Furthermore, his voice had a crick in it, and went by
+jerks, and his eyebrows sympathized with his voice, and the eyes below
+them were little and gray and twinkling, and altogether he was the sort of
+man who is termed--according to a certain style of phrasing--"above
+suspicion." But she liked him, oh! immensely, and he liked her. And when
+they were riding up in the carriage together she felt how thoroughly
+trustworthy his gray eyes and good smile declared him to be, and had no
+hesitation in telling him what she wanted to do, and in asking him what
+she wanted to know.
+
+Mitchell certainly had a talent for plotting, for when they reached the
+house where the culprits were temporarily domiciled, Burnett had gone out
+to give his mended ribs some exercise, and Jack was reading alone in the
+room where they shared one another's liniments with friendly generosity.
+
+The arch-conspirator went upstairs, came down, and then, seeking the lady
+whom he had left in the parlor, said to her:
+
+"Denham's up there and you can go up and say whatever you have to say. You
+know 'In union there is strength.' Well you've got him alone now, and
+he'll prove weakly as a consequence or I miss my guess."
+
+Then he walked straight over by the window and picked up a magazine as if
+it was all settled, and she only hesitated for half a second before she
+turned and went upstairs.
+
+There was a door half open in the hall above, and she knew that that must
+be the door. She tapped at it lightly, and a man's voice (a voice that she
+knew well), called out gruffly:
+
+"Come in!"
+
+She pushed the door open at that and entered, and saw Jack, and he saw
+her. He turned very pale at the sight, and then the color flooded his
+face, and he rose from his chair abruptly, and put his hand up to the
+strips that held the bandage on his head.
+
+"Burnett isn't here," he said quickly. "He went out just a few minutes
+ago."
+
+His tone was hard, and yet at the same time it shook slightly.
+
+She approached him, holding out her hand.
+
+"I'm glad of that," she said, "because it was to see you that I came."
+
+To her great surprise something mutinous and scornful flashed in his eyes
+as he rolled a chair forward for her.
+
+"You honor me," he said, and his tone and manner both hardened yet more.
+His general appearance was that of a man ten years older; he had changed
+terribly in the weeks since she had last seen him. She took the chair and
+sat down, still looking at him. He sat down too, and his eyes went
+restlessly around the room as if they sought a hold that should withhold
+them from her searching gaze. There was a short pause.
+
+"Don't speak like that," she said at last. "It isn't your way, and I know
+you too well--we know one another too well--to be anything but sincere. You
+owe me something, too, and if I forbear you should understand why."
+
+"I owe you something, do I?" he asked. "What do I owe you?"
+
+Mrs. Rosscott caught her under lip in her teeth.
+
+"You gave me a promise, Mr. Denham," she said, quite low, but most
+distinctly--"a promise which you broke."
+
+Jack flushed; his eyelids drooped for a minute.
+
+"I didn't break it," he said. "I gave it up."
+
+"Is there any difference?"
+
+"A great difference."
+
+He shrugged his shoulders.
+
+"Do you want to have the truth?" he said. "If you really do, I'll tell
+you. But I don't ask to tell you, recollect, and if I were you I'd drop
+the whole--I certainly would.--If I were you."
+
+She looked at him in astonishment.
+
+"I don't understand," she said. "Tell me what you mean."
+
+He raised his hand to his bandaged head again.
+
+"I think," he said, fighting hard to speak with utter indifference, "I
+think that it would have been better if you had told me about Holloway."
+
+At that her big eyes opened widely.
+
+"What should I tell you about Mr. Holloway?" she asked. "What could I tell
+you about him?"
+
+"It isn't any use speaking like that," he said; and with the words he
+suddenly leaped from his chair and began to plunge back and forth across
+the small room. "You see I'm not a boy any more. I've come to my senses. I
+know now! I understand now! It's all plain to me now. Now and always. I've
+been fooled once but only once and by All that Is, I never will be fooled
+again. Your're pretty and awfully fascinating, and it's always fun for the
+woman--especially if she knows all her bets are safely hedged. And I was so
+completely done up that I was even more sport than the common run, I
+suppose; but--" she was staring at him in unfeigned amazement, and he was
+lashing himself to fury with the feelings that underlaid his words--"but
+even if you made it all right with yourself by calling your share by the
+name of 'having a good influence' over me (I know that's how married women
+always pat themselves on the back while they're sending us to the devil),
+even then, I think that it would have been better to have been fair and
+square with me. It would have been better all round. I'd have been left
+with some belief in--in people. As it is, when I saw that you'd only been
+laughing at me, I--well, I went pretty far."
+
+He stopped short, and transfixed her paleness with his big, dark eyes.
+
+"Why weren't you honest?" he asked angrily. And then he said again, more
+bitterly, more scornfully, than before: "Why wasn't I told about
+Holloway?"
+
+She clasped her hands tightly together.
+
+"What has been told you about Mr. Holloway and myself?" she asked.
+
+"Nothing."
+
+"Then why do you speak as you do?"
+
+At that he thrust his hands into his pockets and again began to fling
+himself back and forth across the room.
+
+"Perhaps you'll think I'm a sneak," he said, "but I wasn't a sneak. I went
+in to see you that Saturday as usual, and when I went upstairs--you were
+with him in the library. I heard three words. God! they were enough! I
+didn't know that anything could knock the bottom out of life so quickly.
+My sun and stars all fell at once--I reckon my Heaven went too. At all
+events I went out of your house and down town and I drank and drank--and
+all to the truth and honor of women."
+
+He halted with his back to her, and there was silence in the room for many
+minutes.
+
+When he faced around after a little, she was weeping bitterly, having
+turned in her seat so that her face might be buried in the chair back. Her
+whole body was shaking with suppressed sobs. He stood still and stared
+down upon her and finally she lifted up her face and said with trembling
+lips:
+
+"And all the trouble came from that. Oh, what shall I do? What shall I
+say?"
+
+"I don't know what you can do, or what you can say," he said, remaining
+still and watching her sincere distress. "I'd feel pretty blamed mean if I
+were you, though. Understand, I don't question your good taste in choosing
+Holloway, nor your right to love him, nor his right to be there; but I
+fail to understand why you were to me just as you were, and I think it was
+unfair--out-and-out mean!"
+
+"Mr. Denham," she said almost painfully, "you've made a dreadful mistake."
+Then she stopped and moistened her lips. "I don't know just what words you
+overheard, but the dramatic instructor was there that afternoon drilling
+Mr. Holloway and myself for the parts which we took in the charity play
+that week; after he went out we went over one of the scenes alone. Perhaps
+you heard part of that." She stopped and almost choked. "Mr. Holloway has
+never really made any love to me--perhaps he never wanted to--perhaps I've
+never wanted him to."
+
+Jack stared. His misconception was so strongly intrenched in the forefront
+of his brain that he could not possibly dislodge it at once.
+
+Mrs. Rosscott continued to dry the tears that continued to rise; she
+seemed terribly affected at finding herself to have been the cause (no
+matter how innocently) of this latest tale of wrack and ruin.
+
+"Do you mean to say," the young man said, at last, "that there was no
+truth in what I heard? Don't you expect to marry Holloway?"
+
+"I never expect to marry anyone, but certainly not him," she replied,
+trying to regain her composure.
+
+"Honest?"
+
+"Assuredly."
+
+It was as if an unseen orchestra had suddenly burst forth just near enough
+and just far enough away. He came to the side of her chair and laid his
+hand upon its back.
+
+"Then what have you been thinking of me lately?" he asked.
+
+"Very sad thoughts," she confessed--hiding her face again.
+
+"Did you care?"
+
+"Yes, I cared."
+
+He stood beside her for a long time without speaking or moving. Then he
+suddenly pulled a chair forward, and sat down close in front of her.
+
+"Don't cry," he said, almost daring to be tender. "There's nothing to cry
+about _now_, you know."
+
+"I think there's plenty for me to cry about," she said, looking up through
+her long wet lashes. "It is so terrible for me to be the one that is to
+blame. Papa swears he'll never forgive Bob, and your aunt--"
+
+"Lord love you!" he exclaimed; "don't worry over me or my aunt. I don't. I
+don't mind anything, with Holloway staked in the ditch. I can get along
+well enough now."
+
+He smiled--actually smiled--as he spoke.
+
+"Oh, you mustn't speak so," she said, blushing; "indeed, you must not."
+And smiled, too, in spite of herself.
+
+"Who's going to stop me?" he said. "You know that you can't; I'm miles the
+biggest."
+
+She looked at him and tried to frown, but only blushed again instead. He
+put out his hand and took hers into its clasp.
+
+"I'm everlasting glad to shake college," he declared gayly; "it never was
+my favorite alley. I've made up my mind to go to work just as soon as I
+get these pastry strips off my head."
+
+"Where?"
+
+"I don't know. Anywhere. I don't care."
+
+"But you'll come to my house when Bob comes next week, won't you?" she
+asked suddenly. "I can see now why you wouldn't before, but--but it's
+different now. Isn't it?"
+
+"Is it?" he said, asking the question chiefly of her pretty eyes. "Is it
+honestly different now?"
+
+"I think it is," she answered.
+
+A door banged below.
+
+"That's Burr!" he exclaimed, remembering suddenly the proximity of their
+chairs, and making haste to place himself farther away.
+
+Burnett's step was heard on the stair.
+
+"You never said anything to him, did you?" she questioned quickly.
+
+"Certainly not."
+
+The next instant Burnett was in the room, and his sister was in his arms.
+(Astonishing how coolly he accepted the fact, too.)
+
+"Mr. Denham is coming to me with you, Bob," she said when he released her.
+"I've persuaded him."
+
+"How did you do it?" she was asked.
+
+"By undertaking to reconcile him with his aunt, dear," she replied,
+blandly. "It's a contract that we've drawn up between us. You know that I
+was always rather good in the part of the peacemaker."
+
+As she spoke, her eyes fell warningly on the manifest astonishment of Aunt
+Mary's nephew.
+
+"You don't know what you're undertaking, Betty," said her brother. "You
+never had a chance to take Aunt Mary for better, for worse--I have."
+
+"I'm not alarmed," said she, "I'm very courageous. I'm sure I'll succeed."
+
+"Can the mender of ways--other people's ways--come in?" asked a voice at the
+door.
+
+It was Mitchell's voice, and he came in without waiting for an invitation.
+
+"Is it time that I went?" Mrs. Rosscott asked him, anxiously.
+
+"Half an hour yet."
+
+"Oh, I say Jack," cried Burnett, "let's boil some water in the witch-hazel
+pan, and make a rarebit in the poultice pan, and have some tea here."
+
+"Sure," said Jack, suddenly become his blithe and buoyant self again. "You
+just take off your hat and look the other way, Mrs. Rosscott, and we'll
+have you a lunch in a jiffy."
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWELVE - A TRAP FOR AUNT MARY
+
+
+In Aunt Mary's part of the country the skies had been crying themselves
+sick for the last six weeks. The cranberry bog was a goner forever, it was
+feared, and a little house, very handy for sorting berries in, had had its
+foundations undermined, and disappeared beneath the face of the waters
+also.
+
+Under such propitious circumstances, Aunt Mary sat by her own particular
+window and looked sternly and severely out across the garden and down the
+road. Lucinda sat by the other window sewing. Lucinda hadn't changed
+materially, but her general appearance struck her mistress as more
+irritating than ever. Everything and everybody seemed to have become more
+and more irritating ever since Jack had been disinherited. Of course, it
+was right that he should have been disinherited, but Aunt Mary hadn't
+thought much beforehand as to what would happen afterward, and it was too
+aggravating to have him turn out so well just when she had lost all
+patience with him and so cast him off forever, and for him to develop such
+a beautiful character, all of a sudden too--just as if education and good
+advice had been his undoing and seclusion and illness were the guardian
+angels arrived just in time to save him from the evil effects thereof.
+
+It hadn't occurred to Aunt Mary that people keep on living just the same
+even after they have been cut out of a will. And she never had counted on
+Jack's taking his bitter medicine in the spirit he was manifesting. She
+had not calculated any of the possible effects of her hasty action very
+maturely, but she certainly had not anticipated a lamblike submission to
+even the harshest of her edicts, nor had she expected Jack to be one who
+would strictly observe the Bible regulations and so return good for
+evil--in other words, write her now when he had never written her in the
+bygone years (unless under sharpest financial stress of circumstances).
+
+Yet such was the case. Jack had become a "ready letter-writer" ever since
+his removal to the city, whither some kind friends had invited him
+directly he could leave his sick-room. Aunt Mary did not know who the
+friends were and had hesitated somewhat as to opening the first letter.
+But it had borne no sting--being instead most sweetly pathetic, and since
+then, others had followed with touching frequency. Their polished periods
+fell upon the old lady's stony hardness of heart with the persistent
+frequency of the proverbial drop of water. After the second she had ceased
+to regard the instructions given Lucinda as to mentioning her nephew's
+name, and after the third he became again her favorite topic of
+conversation.
+
+It seemed that the poor boy had had the misfortune to contract measles,
+and in his weakened state the disease had nearly proved fatal. You can
+perhaps divine the effect of this statement on the grand-aunt, and the
+further effect of the words: "But never mind, Aunt Mary," with which he
+concluded the brief narration.
+
+Aunt Mary had tried to snort and had sniffed instead; she had turned back
+to the first page, read, "All my head has been shaved, but I don't care
+about having any more fun, anyhow," and had let the letter fall in her
+lap. Every time that she had thought since of "our boy," her anger had
+fallen hotter upon whoever was handiest. Lucinda (who was used to it)
+lived under a figurative rain of cinders, and thrived salamander-like in
+their midst; but Arethusa--who had come up for a week--found herself totally
+unable to stand the endless lava and boiling ashes, and fled back to the
+bosom of Mr. Arethusa the third morning after her arrival.
+
+"I've got to go, I find," she had yelled the night before her departure.
+
+"I certainly wish you would," replied her aunt. "I'm a great believer in
+married women paying attention at home before they begin to pry into their
+neighbors' affairs. It's a good idea. Most generally--most always."
+
+This was bitterly unkind, since Arethusa was in the habit of taking the
+long journey purely out of a sense of duty and to keep Lucinda up to the
+mark; but grateful appreciation is rarely ever a salient point in the
+character of an autocrat.
+
+"I'm glad she's gone," Aunt Mary told Lucinda, when they were left
+together once more. "She puts me beyond all patience. She chatters
+gibberish that I can't make out a word of for an hour at a time, and then,
+all of a sudden, she screams, 'Dinner's ready,' or something equally
+silly, in a voice like a carvin' knife. It's enough to drive a sane person
+stark, raving mad. It is."
+
+Lucinda acquiesced with a nod. Lucinda herself was glad that Arethusa had
+gone. She resented the manner in which the latter always looked over the
+preserve closet and counted the silver. Nothing was ever missing, because
+Lucinda was as honest as a day twenty-five hours long, but the more honest
+those of Lucinda's caliber are, the more mad they get if they feel that
+they are being watched. So Lucinda acquiesced with a nod.
+
+The mistress and maid were sitting alone together, with the June rain
+falling without, and it was that pleasantly exciting hour which comes only
+in the country and is known as "about mail-time."
+
+"There's Joshua now," Aunt Mary exclaimed, presently, "I see him turnin'
+in the gate. He'll be at the door before you get there, Lucinda,--he will.
+There, he's twistin' his wheel off. He's tryin' to hold Billy an' hold the
+letters an' whistle, all at once. Why don't you go to him, Lucinda? Can't
+you hear a whistle that I can see? Or, if you can't hear the whistle,
+can't you hear me? Do you think whoever wrote those letters would be much
+pleased if they could see you so slow about gettin' them? Do--"
+
+Just here the old lady, turning toward Lucinda, perceived that she had
+been gone--Heaven knew how long. She felt decidedly vexed at finding
+herself to be in the wrong, rubbed her nose impatiently, and waited in a
+temper to match the rubbing.
+
+"My Lord! how slow she is!" she thought. "Well, if I don't die of old age
+first, I presume I'll get my letters some time. Maybe."
+
+As a matter of fact, the door had blown shut behind Lucinda, and the
+latter personage was making her way, with well-hoisted skirts, around the
+house to the back door. She didn't pass the window where the Argus-eyed
+was looking forth; because that lady had strong opinions of those who let
+doors bang behind them without their own volition.
+
+Five minutes later the maid did finally appear with one letter.
+
+"I thought you was waitin' to bring to-morrow's mail at the same time,"
+said Aunt Mary, icily.
+
+Then she found that the letter was from Jack, and Lucinda was completely
+forgotten in the pleasure of opening and reading it.
+
+
+    DEAR AUNT MARY:
+
+    It seems so strange how I'm just learning the pleasure of writing
+    letters. I enjoy it more every day. When I see a pen I can hardly
+    keep from feeling that I ought to write you directly. I think of
+    you, then, because I'm thinking of you most always. It seems as if
+    I never appreciated you before, Aunt Mary.
+
+    I want to tell you something that I know will make you happy. I've
+    never made you very happy Aunt Mary, but I'm going to begin now.
+    I've got a place where I can earn my own living, and I'm going to
+    work just as soon as I am strong enough. I'm as tickled as a baby
+    over it. I'll lay you any odds I get to be a richer man than the
+    other John Watkins. I reckon money was bad for me, Aunt Mary, and
+    I can see that you've done just the right thing to make a man of
+    me. That isn't surprising, because you always did do just the
+    right thing, Aunt Mary; it was I that always did just the wrong
+    thing, but I'm straightened out now and this time it's forever--you
+    just wait and see.
+
+    There's one thing bothers me some, and that is I don't get strong
+    very fast. They want me to take a tonic, but I don't think a tonic
+    would help me much. I feel so sort of blue and depressed, and
+    perhaps that's natural, for Bob's away most of the time and I'm
+    here all alone. It's a big house and sort of lonely and sometimes
+    I find myself imagining how it would seem to have someone from
+    home in it with me, and I find myself almost crying--I do, for a
+    fact, Aunt Mary.
+
+    Next week, Bob is going to be away more than usual, and I'm
+    dreading it awfully; but never mind, Aunt Mary, I don't want to
+    make you blue, because honestly I don't think I'm going into a
+    decline, even if the doctor does. And, after all, if I did sort of
+    dwindle away it wouldn't matter much, for I'm not worth anything,
+    and no one knows that as well as myself--except you, Aunt Mary. I
+    must stop because it's nine o'clock and time I was in bed. I've
+    got some socks to wash out first, too; you see, I'm learning how
+    to economize just as fast as I can. It's only two miles to my
+    work, and I'm going to walk back and forth always--that'll be
+    between fifty cents and a dollar saved each week. I'm figuring on
+    how to live on my salary and never have a debt, and you'll be
+    proud of me yet, Aunt Mary--if I don't die first.
+
+    Think of me all alone here next week. If I wasn't steadfast as a
+    rock I believe I'd do something foolish just to get out of myself.
+    But never mind, Aunt Mary, it's all right.
+
+                                                    Your afft. nephew,
+
+                                            John Watkins, Jr., Denham.
+
+
+When Lucinda returned from drying her feet, Aunt Mary had her handkerchief
+in one hand and spectacles in the other.
+
+"Saints and sinners!" cried the maid, in a voice that grated with
+sympathy. "He ain't writ to say he's dead, is he?"
+
+"No," said Aunt Mary; "but he isn't as well as he makes out. There's no
+deceivin' me, Lucinda!"
+
+"Dear! dear!" cried the Trusty and True; "is that so? What's to be done?
+Do you want Joshua to run anywhere?"
+
+Aunt Mary suddenly regained her composure.
+
+"Run anywhere?" she asked, with her usual bitter intonation. "If you ain't
+the greatest fool I ever was called upon to bed and board, Lucinda! Will
+you kindly explain to me how settin' Joshua trottin' is goin' to do any
+mortal good to my poor boy away off there in that dreadful city?"
+
+"He could telegraph to Miss Arethusa," Lucinda suggested. The suggestion
+bespoke the superior moral quality of Lucinda's make-up--her own feeling
+toward Arethusa being considered.
+
+"I don't want her," said Aunt Mary with a positiveness that was final. "I
+don't want her. My heavens, Lucinda, ain't we just had enough of her?
+Anyhow, if you ain't, I have. I don't want her, nor no livin' soul except
+my trunk; an' I want that just as quick as Joshua can haul it down out of
+the attic."
+
+"You ain't thinkin' of goin' travelin'!" the maid cried in consternation;
+"you can't never be thinkin' of _that?_"
+
+"No," said her mistress with fine irony; "I want the trunk to make a pie
+out of, probably."
+
+Lucinda was speechless.
+
+"Lucinda," her mistress said, after a few seconds had faded away
+unimproved, "seems to me I mentioned wantin' Joshua to get down a
+trunk--seems to me I did."
+
+The maid turned and left the room. She felt more or less dazed. Nothing so
+startling as Aunt Mary's wanting a trunk had happened in years.
+Disinheriting Jack was not in it by comparison. She went slowly away to
+find Joshua and found him in the farther end of the rear woodhouse--John
+Watkins, like several of his ilk, having marked each forward step in the
+world by a back extension of his house.
+
+Joshua was chopping wood; his ax was high in the air. He also was calm and
+unsuspecting.
+
+"She's goin' to the city all alone!" Lucinda's voice suddenly proclaimed
+behind him.
+
+The ax fell.
+
+"Who says so?" its handler demanded, facing about in surprise.
+
+"She says so."
+
+Joshua picked up the ax and poised it afresh. He was himself again.
+
+"She'll go then," he said calmly.
+
+Lucinda marched around in front of him, and planted herself firmly among
+the chips.
+
+"Joshua Whittlesey!"
+
+"We can't help it," said Joshua stolidly. "We're here to mind her. If she
+wants to go to New York, or to change her will, all we've got to do is to
+be simple witnesses."
+
+"She don't want Miss Arethusa telegraphed," said Lucinda.
+
+"I don't blame her," said Joshua; "if I was her and if I was goin' to New
+York I wouldn't want no one telegraphed."
+
+"She wants her trunk out of the attic."
+
+"Then she'll get her trunk out of the attic. When does she want it?"
+
+"She wants it now."
+
+                             [Illustration 3]
+
+ "She's goin' to the city all alone!' Lucinda's voice suddenly proclaimed
+                               behind him."
+
+
+"Then she'll get it now," said Joshua. From the general trend of this and
+other remarks of Joshua the reader will readily divine why he had been in
+Aunt Mary's employ for thirty years, and had always been characterized by
+her as "a most sensible man," and anyone who had seen the alacrity with
+which the trunk was brought and the respectful attention with which Aunt
+Mary's further commands were received would have been forced to coincide
+in her opinion.
+
+The packing of the trunk was a task which fell to Lucinda's lot and was
+performed under the eagle eye of her mistress. Aunt Mary's ideas of what
+she would require were delightfully unsophisticated and brought up short
+on the farther-side of her tooth brush and her rubbers. Nevertheless she
+agreed in Lucinda's suggestions as to more extensive supplies.
+
+Late that afternoon Joshua drove into town (amidst a wealth of mud
+spatters) and dispatched the answer to Jack's letter. Aunt Mary was urged
+to haste by several considerations, some well defined, and others not so
+much so. To Lucinda she imparted her terrible anxiety over the dear boy's
+health, but not even to herself did she admit her much more terrible
+anxiety lest Arethusa or Mary should suddenly appear and insist on
+accompanying her. She wanted to go, but she wanted to go alone.
+
+Jack telegraphed a response that night, and his aunt left by the Monday
+morning train. She had a six o'clock breakfast, and drove into town at a
+quarter of nine so as to be absolutely certain not to miss the train.
+Joshua drove, with the trunk perched beside him. It was a small and
+unassuming trunk, but Aunt Mary was not one who believed in putting on
+airs just because she was rich. Lucinda sat on the back seat with her
+mistress.
+
+"I'm sure I hope you'll enjoy yourself," she said.
+
+"Of course he's nothing but a boy," Aunt Mary replied,--"an' I've told you
+a hundred times that boys will be boys and we mustn't expect otherwise."
+
+They arrived on time, and only had an hour and three-quarters to wait in
+the station. Toward the last Aunt Mary grew very nervous for fear
+something had happened to the train; but it came to time according to the
+waiting-room clock. Joshua put her aboard, and she soon had nothing left
+to worry over except the wonder as to whether Jack would be on hand to
+meet her or not.
+
+Joshua drove back home, let Lucinda out at the door, and put the horse up
+before going in to where she sat in solitary glory.
+
+"I wonder what _he's_ up to?" she said with a pleasant sense of unlimited
+freedom as to the subject and duration of the conversation.
+
+"Suthin', of course," was the answer.
+
+"Do you s'pose he's really sick?"
+
+"No, I don't."
+
+"Do you s'pose she thinks he's really sick?"
+
+"Mebbe."
+
+"Ain't you goin' to sit down, Joshua?"
+
+"I don't see nothin' to make me sit down here for."
+
+"What do you think of her going?" she said, as he walked toward the door.
+
+"I think she'll have a good time."
+
+"At her age?"
+
+"Havin' a good time ain't a matter o' age," said Joshua. "It's a matter o'
+bein' willin' to have a good time."
+
+Lucinda screwed her face up mightily.
+
+"If I was sure she'd be gone for a week," she said, "I'd go a-visitin'
+myself."
+
+"She'll be gone a week," said Joshua; and the manner and matter of his
+speech were both those of a prophet.
+
+Then he went out and the door slammed to behind him.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER THIRTEEN - AUNT MARY ENTRAPPED
+
+
+Aunt Mary's arrival in the city just coincided with the arrival of that
+day's five o'clock. Five o'clock in early June is very bright daylight,
+therefore she was rather bewildered when the train pulled up in the
+darkness and electricity of the station's confusion. The change from
+sunlight to smoke blinded her somewhat and the view from the car window
+did not restore her equanimity. When the porter, to whom she had been
+discreetly recommended by Joshua, came for her bags, she felt woefully
+distressed and not at all like her usual self.
+
+"Oh, do I have to get out?" she said. "I ain't been in this place for
+twenty-five years, and I was to be met."
+
+The porter's grin hovered comfortingly over her head.
+
+"You can stay here jus' 's long as you like, ma'am," he yelled, in the
+voice of a train dispatcher. "I'll send your friends in when they
+inquiahs."
+
+Aunt Mary eyed him gratefully, and gave him the nickel which she had been
+carefully holding in her hand for the last hour.
+
+Then she looked up, and saw Jack!
+
+A perfectly splendid Jack, in resplendent attire, handsome, beaming, with
+a big bouquet of violets in his hand!
+
+"For you, Aunt Mary," he said, and dropped them into her lap, and hugged
+her fervently. She clung to him with a cling that forgot the immediate
+past, disinheriting and all. Oh! she was so glad to see him!
+
+The porter approached with a beneficent look.
+
+"Has he taken good care of you, Aunt Mary?" Jack asked, as the man
+gathered up the things and they started to leave the car.
+
+"Yes, indeed," Aunt Mary declared.
+
+So Jack gave the porter a dollar.
+
+Then they left the train.
+
+"I was so worried," Aunt Mary said, as she went along the platform hanging
+on her nephew's arm. "I thought you'd met with an accident."
+
+"I couldn't get on until the rest got off," he said, gazing down on her
+with a smile; "but I was on hand, all right. My, but it's good to think
+that you're here, Aunt Mary! Maybe you think that I don't appreciate your
+taking all this trouble for me, but I do, just the same."
+
+Aunt Mary smiled all over. Everyone who passed them was smiling, too, and
+that added to the general joy of the atmosphere. Aunt Mary felt proud of
+Jack, and rejoiced as to herself. Her content with life in general was,
+for the moment, limitless. She did not stop to dissect the sources of her
+delight. She was not in a critical mood just then.
+
+"Why don't you stick those flowers in your belt, Aunt Mary?" her nephew
+asked, as they penetrated the worst of the human jungle, and the
+preservation of the violets appeared to be the main question of the day.
+"That's what the girls do."
+
+His aunt looked vaguely down at herself. She had no belt to stick her
+violets in. She wore no belt. She wore a basque. A basque is a beltless
+something that you can't remember, but that females did, once upon a time,
+cover the upper half of their forms with. Basques buttoned down the front
+with ten to thirty buttons, and may be studied at leisure in any good
+collection of daguerreotypes. Ladies like Aunt Mary are apt to scorn such
+futilities as waning styles after they pass beyond a certain age, and for
+that reason there was no place for Jack's violets.
+
+"Never mind," he said cheerfully, having followed her dubiousness with his
+understanding. "Just hang on to them a minute longer, and we'll be out of
+all this."
+
+His words came true, and they finally did emerge from the seething mass
+and found a carriage, the door of which happened to be standing
+mysteriously open. Within, upon the small seat, some omniscient hands had
+already deposited Aunt Mary's bags. It did not take long to stow Aunt
+Mary, face to her luggage, and she was barely established there before her
+trunk came, too; and, although the coachman looked so gorgeous, he was
+nevertheless obliging enough to allow it to couch humbly at his feet.
+
+Then they rolled away.
+
+Jack sat sideways and looked at his aunt, holding her hand. His eyes were
+unfeignedly happy, and his companion matched his eyes. Neither seemed to
+recollect that one was bitterly angry, and that the other was on the verge
+of melancholia. Instead, Jack declared fervently:
+
+"Aunt Mary, I've made up my mind to give you the time of your life!"
+
+And Aunt Mary drew a sigh of relief in his words and anticipation of their
+fulfillment.
+
+"I'll be happy takin' care of you," she said, benevolently. "My!--but your
+letter scared me. An' yet you look well."
+
+He laughed.
+
+"It's the knowing you were coming that's done that, Aunt Mary. You ought
+to have seen me when I got your telegram. I almost turned a somersault."
+
+Aunt Mary smiled rapturously and patted his hand.
+
+And just then they drew up in front of the house. She looked out, and her
+face fell a trifle.
+
+"It's awful high and narrow," she said.
+
+"They all are," Jack replied, opening the carriage door and jumping out to
+receive her.
+
+The door at the top of the steps opened, and a man came down for the bags.
+In the hall above, a pretty maid waited with a welcoming smile.
+
+Jack piloted his aunt, first up the entrance steps, and then up the
+staircase within, and led her to the lovely room which had been vacated
+for her. The maid followed with tea and biscuits, and the man brought the
+luggage and ranged it unobtrusively in a corner. There was a lavish
+richness about everything which made Aunt Mary and her trunk appear as
+gray and insignificant as a pair of mice, by contrast; but she didn't feel
+it, and so she didn't mind it.
+
+Jack kissed her tenderly.
+
+"Welcome to town, Aunt Mary," he said heartily, "and may you never live to
+look upon this day as other than the luckiest of your life!" Then, turning
+to the servant, he said:
+
+"Janice, you see that you do all that money can buy for my aunt."
+
+The maid courtesied. She had arranged the tray upon a little table and the
+spout of the tea pot and the round hole in the middle of the toast-cover
+were each pouring forth a pleasant suggestion.
+
+Aunt Mary began at once to haul forth her keys.
+
+"Why, Aunt Mary," Jack cried, wondering if her nose was deaf, too, or
+whether she didn't feel hungry, "don't you see your tea? Or don't you want
+any?"
+
+Aunt Mary thumbed her trunk key.
+
+"I want a nightgown," she said; "maybe I'll want something else later.
+Maybe."
+
+"You're not going to _bed_!"
+
+She drew herself up.
+
+"I guess I can if I want to; I guess I can. There's the bed and here's
+me."
+
+"Whatever are you saying? It isn't half-past six o'clock."
+
+"I'm not _prayin_' about anything," said the old lady. "I don't pray about
+things. I do 'em when needful. And when I'm tired I go to bed."
+
+"All right, Aunt Mary," with sugary sweetness and lamb-like
+submissiveness. "I thought we'd dine out together, but if you don't want
+to, we needn't. And if you feel like it when you waken, we can."
+
+"Dine out," said Aunt Mary, blankly; "has the cook left? I never was a
+great approver of goin' and eatin' at boarding houses."
+
+"Well, never mind," Jack said in a key pitched to rhyme with high C. "I'll
+leave you now--and we can see about everything later."
+
+He kissed her, and retired from the room.
+
+"Did he say we're goin' out to dinner?" Aunt Mary asked, when she was left
+alone with the maid, who hurried to take her bonnet and shawl, and get her
+into juxtaposition with the tea-tray as rapidly as possible.
+
+"Yes, ma'am," the girl screamed, nodding.
+
+"I don't want to," said the old lady firmly. "Lots of trouble comes
+through gettin' out of house habits. I've come here to take care of a sick
+boy and not to go gallivantin' round myself. I've seen the evils of
+gallivantin' a good deal lately and I don't want to see no more. Not here
+and not nowhere."
+
+Then she began to eat and drink and reflect, all at the same time.
+
+"By the way, what's your name?" she asked, suddenly. "Jack didn't tell
+me."
+
+"Janice, ma'am."
+
+"Granite?" said Aunt Mary. "What a funny idea to name you that! Did they
+call you for the tinware or for the rocks?"
+
+"I don't know," shrieked Janice, who was busily occupied in unpacking the
+traveler's trunk.
+
+Her new mistress watched her with a critical eye at first, but it became a
+more or less sleepy eye as the warmth of the tea meandered slowly through
+its owner. There was a battle within Aunt Mary's brain; she wanted to
+please Jack, and she was almost dead with sleep.
+
+"Do you think that I ought to try and go out with my nephew to-night?" she
+asked Janice.
+
+"If it was me, I should go," cried the maid.
+
+"I never was called slow before," Aunt Mary said, bridling. "I'll thank
+you to remember your place, young woman."
+
+Janice explained.
+
+"Oh! I didn't hear plainly," said Aunt Mary. "I don't always. Well go or
+not go, I've got to sleep first. I'm dreadfully sleepy, and I've always
+been a great believer in sleepin' when you're sleepy."
+
+The fact of the sleepiness was so evident that no attempt was made to
+gainsay it. Janice brought down a quilt from the closet and tucked her
+charge up luxuriously on the great bed. Five minutes later she was in
+dreamland.
+
+Jack came in about seven and looked at her.
+
+"She mustn't be disturbed," he said thoughtfully. "If she wakes up before
+ten we'll go out then."
+
+She awoke about nine, and when she opened her eyes the first thing that
+she saw was Janice, sitting near by.
+
+"I feel real good," said Aunt Mary.
+
+"I'm so glad," yelled Janice, and smiled, too.
+
+The old lady sat up.
+
+"I believe I could have gone out, after all," she said. "Only I don't want
+to take dinner anywhere."
+
+Then she paused and reflected. It was surprising how good she felt and how
+she did want to make Jack happy. "After all boys will be boys," she
+thought, tenderly, "an' I ain't but seventy, so I don't see why I
+shouldn't go out with him if he wants to. I'm a great believer in doin'
+what you want to--I mean, in doin' what other folks want you to. At any
+rate I'm a great believer in it sometimes. To-day--this time."
+
+"Your nephew is waiting," the maid howled. "Shall I tell him you want to
+go after all?"
+
+"Is it late?" the old lady inquired.
+
+"Oh, dear, no!"
+
+"Wouldn't you go if you was me?" asked the old lady.
+
+Janice smiled.
+
+"Indeed I would."
+
+Aunt Mary rose. A flood of metropolitan fever suddenly surged up and
+around and over and through her.
+
+"Tell him I'll be down in five minutes," she said.
+
+"Can you change in that time?" Janice stopped to shriek.
+
+"What should I change for?" Aunt Mary demanded in astonishment. "Ain't I
+all dressed now?"
+
+Janice did not attempt to shriek any counter-advice, and while she was
+gone to find Jack, her mistress brushed herself in some places, soaped
+herself in others, and considered her toilet made. When Janice returned
+she caught up a loose lock of hair, and put the placket-hole of her skirt
+square in the middle of Aunt Mary's back, and dared go no further. There
+was an air even about the back of Jack's influential aunt which forbade
+too much liberty to those dealing with her.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FOURTEEN - AUNT MARY EN FETE
+
+
+Aunt Mary descended the stairs about half-past nine; she thought it was
+about a quarter to eight, but the difference between the hour that it was
+and the hour that she thought that it was will be all the same a hundred
+years from now.
+
+Jack came out of the Louis XIV. drawing room when he heard her step in the
+hall. There was another young man with him.
+
+"This is my friend Burnett, Aunt Mary," her nephew roared. "You must
+excuse his not bowing lower, but you know he broke his collarbone
+recently."
+
+Aunt Mary shook hands warmly; she knew all about the ribs and the
+collarbone, because they had formed big items in the testimony which had
+momentarily and as momentously relegated Jack to the comradeship of the
+devil himself, in her eyes. However, she recalled them merely as facts
+now--not at all in a disagreeable way--and gave Burnett an extra squeeze of
+good-fellowship, as she said:
+
+"You had a narrow escape, young man."
+
+"I didn't have any escape at all," said Burnett. "The escape went down at
+the back, and I had to jump from a cornice."
+
+"Burnett is going out to dine with us, Aunt Mary," said Jack. "There's so
+little he can eat on account of his ribs that he's a good dinner guest for
+me."
+
+Jack's aunt felt vaguely uncomfortable over this allusion to her
+grand-nephew's circumstances, and coughed in slight embarrassment.
+
+Burnett opened the door, and the carriage lamp shone below. (Is there ever
+anything more delightfully suggestive than a carriage lamp shining down
+below?) They took her down and put her in, and the carriage rolled away.
+
+It was that June when "Bedelia" covered nearly the whole of the political
+horizon; it was the date of June when West Point, Vassar, the Blue, the
+Red, the Black and Yellow and every known device for getting rid of young
+and growing-up America are all cast loose at once on our fair land. The
+streets were a scene of glorious confusion, and but for Aunt Mary no
+considerations could have kept Burnett's collarbone and Jack's melancholia
+cooped up in a closed carriage. As it was, they were both fidgeting like
+two youthful Uncle Sams in a European railway coupe, when the latter
+suddenly exclaimed: "Here we are!" and threw open the door as he spoke.
+Then he got out and Burnett got out and between them they got Aunt Mary
+out.
+
+Aunt Mary regarded the awning and carpet and general glitter with a more
+or less appalled gaze.
+
+"Looks like--" she began; and was interrupted by a voice at her side:
+
+"Hello, Jack!"
+
+"Hello, Clover!"
+
+She turned and saw him of the pale mustache whom we once met in Mrs.
+Rosscott's drawing room. He was in no wise altered since that occasion
+except that his attire was slightly more resplendent and he had on a silk
+hat.
+
+Jack shook hands warmly and then he turned to his relative.
+
+"Aunt Mary, this is my friend Clover; he's often heard me speak of you."
+
+"Glad to meet you, Mr. Rover," said Aunt Mary, cordially, and she, too,
+shook hands with that cordiality that flourishes beyond city limits.
+
+Her nephew bent over her ear-trumpet.
+
+"Clover!" he howled, with all the strength he owned.
+
+"I heard before," said Aunt Mary, somewhat coldly.
+
+"Come on and dine with us, Clover," said Jack; "that'll make four." (By
+the way, isn't it odd how many people ask their friends to dinner for the
+simple reason that, arithmetically considered, each counts as one!)
+
+"All right, I will," said Clover, in his languid drawl.
+
+Aunt Mary saw his lips.
+
+"It's no use my deceivin' you as to my bein' a little hard of hearin',"
+she said to him, "because you can see my ear-trumpet; so I'll trouble you
+to say that over again."
+
+"All right, I will," Clover wailed, good-humoredly.
+
+"What?" asked Aunt Mary. "I didn't--"
+
+Jack cut her short by leading the party inside.
+
+The scene within was as gorgeous with golden stucco as the dining-room of
+a German liner. Aunt Mary was so overcome that she traversed half the room
+before she became aware of the mighty attention which she and her three
+escorts were attracting. In truth, it is not every day that three
+good-looking young men take a tiny old lady, a bunch of violets and an
+ear-trumpet out to dine at ten o'clock.
+
+"Everyone's lookin'," she said to Jack.
+
+"It's your back, Aunt Mary," he replied, in a voice that shook some loose
+golden flakes from the ceiling. "I tell you, not many women of your age
+have a back like yours, and don't you forget it."
+
+The compliment pleased Aunt Mary, because she had all her life been
+considered round-shouldered. It also pleased her because she never had
+received many compliments. The Aunt Marys of this world love flattery just
+as dearly as the Mrs. Rosscotts; the sad part of life is that they rarely
+get any. The women like Mrs. Rosscott know why the Aunt Marys go
+unflattered, but the Aunt Marys never understand. It's all sad--and
+true--and undeniable.
+
+They went to a table, and were barely seated when another man came up.
+
+"Hello, Jack!"
+
+"Hello, Mitchell!"
+
+It was he of Scotch ancestry. Jack sprang up and greeted him with warmth,
+then he turned to Aunt Mary.
+
+"Aunt Mary," he screamed, "this is my friend"--he paused, put on all steam
+and ploughed right through--"Herbert Kendrick Mitchell."
+
+"I didn't catch that at all," said Aunt Mary, calmly, "but I'm just as
+glad to meet the gentleman."
+
+Mitchell clasped her hand with an expression as burning as if it was real.
+
+"I declare," he yelled straight at her, "if this isn't what I've been
+dreaming towards ever since I first knew Jack."
+
+Aunt Mary fairly shone.
+
+"Dear me," she began, "if I'd known--"
+
+"You'd better dine with us, Mitchell," said Jack; "that'll make five."
+
+"It won't make but three for me," said Mitchell. "I haven't had but two
+dinners before to-night."
+
+Clover smiled because he heard, and Aunt Mary smiled because she didn't,
+but was happy anyway. She had altogether forgotten that she had demurred
+at dining out. They all sat down and shook out their napkins. Mitchell and
+Clover shook Aunt Mary's for her and gave it a beautiful cornerways spread
+across her lap.
+
+Then the waiter laid another plate for Mitchell, and brought oyster
+cocktails for everyone. Aunt Mary eyed hers with early curiosity and later
+suspicion; and she smelled of it very carefully.
+
+"I don't believe they're good oysters," she said.
+
+"Yes, they are," cried Mitchell reassuringly. His voice, when he turned it
+upon her, was pitched like a clarionet. The blind would surely have seen
+as well as the deaf have heard had there been any candidates for miracles
+in his immediate vicinity. "They're first-class," he added, "you just go
+at them and see."
+
+The reassured took another whiff.
+
+"You can have mine," she said directly afterwards; and there was an air of
+decision about her speech which brooked no opposition. Yet Mitchell
+persisted.
+
+"Oh, no," he yelled; "you must learn how. Just throw your head back and
+take 'em quick--after the fashion that they eat raw eggs, don't you know?"
+
+"But she can't," said Clover. "There's too much, particularly as she isn't
+used to them. I'll tell you, Miss Watkins," he cried, hoisting his own
+voice to the masthead, "you eat the oysters, and leave the cocktail.
+That's the way to get gradually trained into the wheel."
+
+Aunt Mary thought some of obeying; she fished out one oyster, wiped it
+carefully with a bit of bread, regarded it with more than dubious
+countenance, and then suddenly decided not to.
+
+"I'd rather be at home when I try experiments," she said, decidedly; and
+the waiter carried off her cocktail and gave her food that was good beyond
+question thereafter.
+
+The dinner went with zest. It was an enlivening party that consumed it,
+and what they consumed with it enlivened them still more. The gentlemen
+soon reached the point where they could laugh over jokes they could not
+understand, and the one lady member became equally merry over wit that she
+did not hear. She forgot for the nonce that there were any phases of life
+in which she was not a believer, and whether this was owing to the
+surrounding gayety or to the champagne which they persuaded her to taste
+it is not my province to explain.
+
+"Now we must lay our lines for events to come," Jack said, when they
+advanced upon the dessert and prepared to occupy an extensive territory of
+ices, fruit, and jellied something or other. "It would be a sin for Aunt
+Mary to leave this famous battlefield without a few honorable scars! We
+must take her out in a bubble for one thing and--"
+
+"In mine!" cried Clover. "To-morrow! Why can't she?--I held up my hand
+first?"
+
+"All right," said Jack; "to-morrow she's your's. At four o'clock."
+
+"She must have goggles," cried Mitchell. "She must have goggles and be all
+fixed up, and when you have got her the goggles and she has been all fixed
+up, I ask, as a last boon, that I may go along, just so as to see everyone
+who sees her."
+
+"We'll all go," Clover explained. "I'll 'chuff' her myself and then
+there'll be room for everyone."
+
+"To the auto and to to-morrow!" cried Burnett, hastily pouring out a fresh
+toast, which even Aunt Mary applauded, not at all knowing what she was
+applauding.
+
+"And now for the next day," said Jack. "I think I'll give her a box-party.
+Don't you want to go to the theater in a box, Aunt Mary?"
+
+"Go where in a box?" said Aunt Mary, starting a little. "I didn't quite
+catch that."
+
+"To the theater," Jack yelled.
+
+"To the theater," repeated his aunt a trifle blankly, "I--"
+
+"And the next day," said Mitchell suddenly (he had been reflecting
+maturely), "I'll take you all up the sound in my yacht."
+
+"Oh, hurrah," cried Burnett, "that'll be bully! And the day after I'll
+give her a picnic."
+
+"Time of your life, Aunt Mary," Jack shrieked in her ear-trumpet; "time of
+your life!"
+
+"Dear me!" said Aunt Mary, "I don't just--"
+
+"Aunt Mary! glasses down!" cried Clover; "may she live forever and
+forever."
+
+"To Aunt Mary, glasses up," said Mitchell. "Glasses up come before glasses
+down always. It's one of the laws of Nature--human nature--also of good
+nature. Here's to Aunt Mary, and if she isn't the Aunt Mary of all of us
+here's a hoping she may get there some day; I don't just see how, but I
+ask the indulgence of those present on the plea that I have indulged quite
+a little myself to-night. Honi soit qui mal y pense; ora pro nobis,
+Erin-go-Bragh. Present company being present, and impossible to except on
+that account, we will omit the three cheers and choke down the tiger."
+
+They all drank, and the dinner having by this time dwindled down to coffee
+grounds and cheese crumbs a vote was taken as to where they should go
+next.
+
+Aunt Mary suggested home, but she was over-ruled, and they all went
+elsewhere. She never could recollect where she went or what she saw; but,
+as everyone else has been and seen over and over again, I won't fuss with
+detailing it.
+
+The visitor from the country reached home in a carriage in the small hours
+in the morning, and Janice received her, looking somewhat nervous.
+
+"This is pretty late," she ventured to remind the bearers; but as they
+didn't seem to think so, and she was a maiden, wise beyond her years, she
+spoke no further word, but went to work and undressed the aged reveller,
+got her comfortably established in bed, and then left her to get a good
+sleep, an occupation which occupied the weary one fully until two that
+afternoon.
+
+When she did at last open her eyes it was several minutes before she knew
+where she was. Her brain seemed dazed, her intellect more than clouded. It
+is a state of mind to which those who habitually go about in hansoms at
+the hour of dawn are well accustomed, but to Aunt Mary it was painfully
+new. She struggled to remember, and felt helplessly inadequate to the
+task. Janice finally came in with a glass of something that foamed and
+fizzed, and the victim of late hours drank that and came to her senses
+again. Then she recollected.
+
+"My! but I had a good time last night!" she said, putting her hand to her
+head. "What time is it now, anyhow?"
+
+"Breakfast time," cried the handmaiden. "You'll have just long enough to
+eat and dress leisurely before you go out."
+
+"Oh!" said Aunt Mary blankly; "where 'm I goin'? Do you know?"
+
+"Mr. Denham told me that you had promised to attend an automobile party at
+four."
+
+"Oh, yes," said Aunt Mary hastily. "I guess I remember. I guess I do. I
+saw Jack wanted to go, so I said I'd go, too. I'm a great believer in
+lettin' the young enjoy themselves."
+
+She looked sharply at Janice as she spoke, but Janice was serene.
+
+"I didn't come to town to do anything but make Jack happy," continued Aunt
+Mary, "and I see that he won't take any fresh air without I go along--so I
+shall go too while I'm here. Mostly. As a general thing."
+
+"Mr. Mitchell called and left these flowers with his card," Janice said,
+opening a huge box of roses; "and a man brought a package. Shall I open
+it?"
+
+Aunt Mary's wrinkles fairly radiated.
+
+"Well, did I ever!" she exclaimed. "Yes; open it."
+
+Janice proceeded to obey, and the package was found to contain an
+automobile wrap, a pair of goggles and a note from Clover.
+
+"My gracious me!" cried Aunt Mary.
+
+"Mr. Denham sent the violets," Janice said, pointing to a great bowl of
+lilac and white blossoms.
+
+Just then the doorbell rang, and it was a ten-pound box of candy from
+Burnett.
+
+Aunt Mary collapsed among her pillows.
+
+"I _never_ did!" she murmured feebly, and then she suddenly exclaimed:
+"An' to think of me livin' up there all my life with plenty of money--" she
+stopped short. I tell you when you come to New York on a mission and stay
+for the Bacchanalia it is hard to hold consistently to either standard.
+
+But Janice had gone for her lady's breakfast, and after the lady had eaten
+it and had herself dressed for the day's joys, Jack knocked at the door.
+
+"Well, Aunt Mary," he roared, when he was let in, "if you don't look fine!
+You're the freshest of the bunch to-day, sure. You'll be ready for another
+night to-night, and you've only to say where, you know."
+
+"Granite did my hair," said his aunt; "you must praise her, not me."
+
+"And you've got your goggles all ready, too," he continued. "Who sent
+'em?"
+
+"Oh, I shan't wiggle," said Aunt Mary "although I can't see how it could
+hurt if I did."
+
+"Come on and let's dress her up," said Jack to the maid, "Glory! what
+fun!"
+
+Thereupon they went to work and rigged the old lady out. She was certainly
+a sight, for she stood by her own bonnet, and that failed to jibe with the
+goggles.
+
+Burnett was summoned in to view the proceedings, but just as he caught the
+first glimpse he was taken with a fearful cramp in his broken ribs and was
+forced to beat the hastiest sort of a retreat.
+
+"I hope he'll get over it and be able to go out with us," said Aunt Mary
+anxiously.
+
+"I guess he'll recover," Jack yelled cheerfully. "Oh, there's Clover!"
+
+A sort of dull, ponderous panting sounded in the street without, and let
+all the neighbors know that "The Threshing Machine" (as Clover had
+christened his elephantine toy) was waiting for someone.
+
+Its owner came in for a stirrup cup; Mitchell was with him. Both were
+togged out as if entered for the annual Paris-Bordeaux.
+
+Burnett brought out the cut-glass jugs.
+
+"Ye gods and little fishes! Sapristi! Sacre bleu!" he said to his friends.
+"Just you wait till you see our Aunt Mary!"
+
+"Has she got 'em all on?" Clover asked.
+
+"Has she got 'em all on!" said Burnett. "She has got 'em all on; and how
+Jack held his own in the room with her I cannot understand. I took one
+look, and if mine had been a surgical case of stitches the last thread
+would have bust that instant. I don't believe I dare go out with you. This
+is a life and death game to Jack, and I won't risk smashing his future by
+not being able to keep sober in the face of Aunt Mary."
+
+"Oh, come on," Clover urged in his wiry voice. "You needn't look at her;
+or, if you do look at her, you can look the other way right afterwards,
+you know."
+
+"I'll sit next to her," Mitchell explained. "As a sitter by Aunt Mary's
+side I shone last night; and where a man has sat once, the same man can
+surely sit again."
+
+Burnett hesitated, and just then voices were heard in the hall. Jack and
+Janice were convoying Aunt Mary below.
+
+Mitchell went out into the hall.
+
+"Well, Miss Watkins," he said, in a tone such as one would use to call
+down Santos-Dumont, "I'm mighty glad to see you looking so well."
+
+Aunt Mary turned the goggles full upon him.
+
+"A present from Mr. Clover," she said smiling.
+
+"I never knew him to take so much trouble for any lady before," said
+Mitchell; and as she arrived just then at the foot of the staircase he
+pressed her proffered hand warmly and forthwith led her in upon the two
+men in the library.
+
+She looked exactly like a living edition of one of the bug pictures, and
+Clover had to think and swallow fast and hard to keep from being overcome.
+But he was true blue, and came out right side up. Aunt Mary was acclaimed
+on all sides, and escorted to the "bubble."
+
+Burnett couldn't resist going, too, at the last moment; but, as his ribs
+were really tender yet, he sat in front with Clover. Jack and Mitchell sat
+behind, and deftly inserted the honored guest between them.
+
+"It's an even thing as to which is the ear-trumpet side," Mitchell said,
+as they all stood about preparatory to climbing in. "Of course, that side
+don't need to holler quite so loud; but then, to balance, he may get his
+one and only pair of front teeth knocked out any minute."
+
+"I'll take that side," said Jack. "I'm used to fighting under the
+inspiration of the trumpet."
+
+"And God be with you," said his friend piously. "May he watch over you and
+bring you out safe and whole--teeth, eyes, etc."
+
+"Come on," said Clover impatiently; "don't you know this thing's getting
+up power and you're wasting it talking."
+
+"Curious," laughed Burnett. "I never knew that it was gasolene that men
+were consuming when they kept an automobile waiting."
+
+And then they got in and were off--a merry load, indeed.
+
+"Dear me, but it's a-goin'!" Aunt Mary exclaimed, as the thing began to
+whiz and she felt suddenly impelled to clutch wildly at her flanking
+escorts. "Suppose we met a dog."
+
+"We'd leave a floor mat," shrieked Mitchell. "Oh, but isn't this
+great--greater--greatest?"
+
+"Time of your life, Aunt Mary!" Jack howled, as they went over a boarded
+spot in the pavement, and the old lady nearly went over the back in
+consequence. "You're in for the time of your life!"
+
+"How do you like it?" yelled Clover, throwing a glance over his shoulder.
+
+Aunt Mary started to answer, but they came to four car tracks one after
+another, and the successive shocks rendered her speechless.
+
+"Where are we going?" Burnett asked.
+
+"Nowhere," said Clover. "Just waking up the machine." And he turned on
+another million volts as he spoke.
+
+"Oh, my bonnet!" cried poor Aunt Mary, and that bit of her adornment was
+in the street and had been run over four times before they could slow up,
+turn around, and get back to the scene of its output.
+
+It speaks volumes for the permeating atmosphere of "having the time of
+your life" that its owner laughed when the wreck was shown to her.
+
+"I don't care a bit," she said. "I can go down to Delmonico's an' get me
+another to-morrow mornin', easy."
+
+"What a trump you are, Aunt Mary!" said Jack admiringly. "Here, Burnett,
+fish her out that extra cap from the cane rack; there's always one in the
+bottom. There--now you won't take cold, Aunt Mary."
+
+The cap, with its fore-piece, was the crowning glory of Aunt Mary's
+get-up. The brain measurements of him who had bought the cap being to its
+present wearer's as five is to three, the effect of its proportions, in
+addition to the goggles and the ear-trumpet, was such as to have overawed
+a survivor of Medusa's stare.
+
+"Oh, I say," said Mitchell, "it's a sin to keep as good a joke as this in
+the family! We must drive her around town until the night falls down or
+the battery burns out."
+
+"I say so too," said Burnett. "This is more sport than oiling railroad
+tracks and seeing old Tweedwell brought up for it. Say, set her a-buzzing
+again. It's a big game, isn't it?"
+
+Clover thought so, with the result that they speeded through tranquil
+neighborhoods and churned leisurely where the masses seethed until
+countless thousands were wondering what under the sun those four young
+fellows had in the back of their car.
+
+The sad part about all good fun is that it has to end sooner or later; and
+about six o'clock the whole party began to be aware that, if refreshments
+were not taken, their end was surely close at hand. They therefore called
+a brief halt somewhere to get what is technically known as a "sandwich,"
+and the results were thoroughly satisfactory to everyone but Aunt Mary.
+She took one bite of her sandwich, and then opened it with an abruptness
+which merged into disgust when it proved to be full of fish eggs.
+
+"Why didn't you tell me what it was made of?" she asked in annoyance. "I
+feel just as if I'd swallowed a marsh--a green one!"
+
+"That's a shame!" said Clover indignantly. "I'll get you something that
+will take that taste out of your mouth double quick. Here!" he called to a
+waiter, and then he gave the man certain careful directions.
+
+The latter nodded wisely, and a few minutes later brought in a tiny glass
+containing a pousse-cafe in three different colors.
+
+"It's a cocktail. Drink it quick," Clover directed.
+
+Aunt Mary demurred.
+
+"I never drank a cocktail," she began.
+
+"No time like the present to begin," said Clover, "you'll have to learn
+some day."
+
+"Cocktails," said Mitchell, "are the advance guard of a newer and brighter
+civilization. They--"
+
+"If she's going to take it at all she must take it now," said Clover
+authoritatively. "The green and the yellow are beginning to run together.
+Quick now!"
+
+His confiding guest drank quick and became the three different colors
+quicker yet.
+
+"What's the matter?" Jack asked anxiously.
+
+Aunt Mary was speechless.
+
+"He mixed it wrong," said Clover in a sad, discouraged tone. "What she
+ought to have got first she got last, that's all. The cocktail is upside
+down inside of her, and the effect of it is upside down on the outside of
+her."
+
+"Feel any better now, Aunt Mary?" Jack yelled.
+
+"I can't seem to keep the purple swallowed," said the poor old lady. "I
+want to go home. I've always been a great believer in going home when you
+feel like I do now. In general--as a rule."
+
+"I would strongly recommend your obeying her wishes," said Mitchell, with
+great earnestness. "There's a time for all things, and, in my opinion,
+she's had about all the queer tastes that she can absorb for to-day.
+Things being as they are and mainly as they shouldn't be, I cast my vote
+in with what looks as if it would soon become the losing side, and vote to
+bubble back for all we're worth."
+
+There was a general acquiescence in his view of the case, which led them
+all to pile into "The Threshing Machine" with unaffected haste and rush
+Aunt Mary bedward as rapidly as was possible considering the hour and the
+policemen.
+
+Janice received her mistress with the tender welcome that every prodigal
+may count on and was especially expeditious with tea and toast and a robe
+de nuit. Aunt Mary sighed luxuriously when she felt herself finally tucked
+up.
+
+"After all, Granite," she said dreamily, "there's nothin' like gettin'
+stretched out to think it over--is there?"
+
+But Janice was turning out the lights.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FIFTEEN - AUNT MARY ENTHRALLED
+
+
+Jack's aunt slept long and dreamlessly again. That thrice-blessed sleep
+which follows nights abroad in the metropolis.
+
+When, toward four o'clock, Aunt Mary opened her eyes, she was at first
+almost as hazy in her conceptions as she had found herself upon the
+previous day.
+
+"I feel as if the automobile was runnin' up my back and over my head," she
+said, thoughtfully passing her hand along the machine's imaginary course.
+Then she rang her bell and Janice appeared from the room beyond.
+
+"I guess you'd better give me some of that that you gave me yesterday,"
+the elderly lady suggested; "what do you think?"
+
+"Yes, indeed," said Janice--and went at once and brought it in separate
+glasses on a tray, and mixed it by pouring, while Aunt Mary looked on with
+an intuitive understanding that passed instinct and bordered on a complete
+comprehension of things to her hitherto unknown.
+
+"They'd ought to advertise that," she said, as she set down the empty
+glass a few seconds later. "There'd be a lot of folks who'd be glad to
+know there was such a thing when they first wake up mornin's
+after--after--well, mornin's after anythin'. It's jus' what you want right
+off; it sort of runs through your hair and makes you begin to remember."
+
+"Yes, ma'am," said Janice, turning to put down the tray, and then crossing
+the room to seek something on the chimney-piece.
+
+Aunt Mary gave a sudden twist,--as if the drink had infused an effervescing
+energy into her frame. "Well what am I goin' to do to-day?" she asked.
+
+"Mr. Denham has written out your engagements here," said Janice, handing
+her a jeweler's box as she spoke.
+
+Aunt Mary tore off the tissue paper with trembling haste--lifted the
+cover--and beheld a tiny ivory and gold memoranda card.
+
+"Well, that boy!" she ejaculated.
+
+"Shall I read the list aloud to you?" the maid inquired.
+
+"Yes, read it."
+
+So Janice read the dates proposed the night before and Aunt Mary sat up in
+bed, held her ear-trumpet, and beamed beatifically.
+
+"I don't believe I ever can do all that," she said when Janice paused; "I
+never was one to rush around pell-mell, but I've always been a great
+believer in lettin' other folks enjoy themselves an' I shall try not to
+interfere."
+
+Janice hung the tiny memoranda up beside its owner's watch and stood at
+attention for further orders.
+
+"But I d'n know I'm sure what I can wear to-night," continued the one in
+bed; "you know my bonnet was run over yesterday."
+
+"Was it?"
+
+"Yes,--it was the most sudden thing I ever saw. I thought it was the top of
+my head at first."
+
+"Was it spoiled?"
+
+"Well, it wouldn't do for me again and I don't really believe it would
+even do for Lucinda. We didn't bring it home with us anyhow an' so its no
+use talkin' of it any more. I'm sure I wish I'd brought my other with me.
+It wasn't quite as stylish, but it set so good on my head. As it is I
+ain't got any bonnet to wear an' we're goin' in a box, Jack says,--I should
+hate to look wrong in a box."
+
+"But ladies in boxes do not wear anything," cried Janice reasuringly.
+
+Aunt Mary jumped.
+
+"Not _anything?_"
+
+"On their heads."
+
+"Oh!--Well, then the bonnet half of me'll be all right, but what _shall_ I
+wear on the rest of me? I don't want to look out of fashion, you know. My,
+but I wish I'd brought my Paisley shawl. I've got a Paisley shawl that's a
+very rare pattern. There's cocoanuts in the border and a twisted design of
+monkeys and their tails done in the center. An' there ain't a moth hole in
+it--not one."
+
+Janice looked out of the window.
+
+"I've got a cameo pin, too," continued Aunt Mary reflectively. "My, but
+that's a handsome pin, as I remember it. It's got Jupiter on it holdin' a
+bunch of thunder and lightnin' an' receivin' the news of somebody's bein'
+born--I used to know the whole story. But, you see, I expected to just be
+sittin' by Jack's bed and I never thought to bring any of those dress-up
+kind of things," she sighed.
+
+Janice returned to the bed side.
+
+"Hadn't you better begin to dress?" she howled suggestively. "They are
+going to dine here before going to the theater and dinner is ordered in an
+hour."
+
+"Maybe I had," said Aunt Mary, "but--oh dear--I don't know what I _will_
+wear!" She began to emerge from the bedclothes as she spoke.
+
+"How would my green plaid waist do?" she asked earnestly.
+
+"I think it would be lovely," shrieked the maid.
+
+"Well, shake it out then," said Aunt Mary, "it ought to be in the
+fashion--all the silk they put in the sleeves. An' if you'll do my hair
+just as you did it yesterday--"
+
+"Yes, I will."
+
+Then the labor of the toilette began in good earnest, and three-quarters
+of an hour later Aunt Mary was done, and sitting by the window while
+Janice laced her boots.
+
+A rap sounded at the door.
+
+"Come in," cried the maid.
+
+It was Jack with a regular fagot of American Beauties.
+
+"Well, Aunt Mary," he cried with his customary hearty greeting. "How!"
+
+"How what?" asked Aunt Mary, whose knowledge of Sioux social customs had
+been limited by the border line of New England.
+
+Jack laughed. "How are you?" he asked in correction of his imperfect
+phrasing. And then he handed over the rose wood.
+
+"I'm pretty well," said his aunt; "but, my goodness you mustn't bring me
+so many presents--you--"
+
+Jack stopped her words with a kiss. "Now, Aunt Mary, don't you scold,
+because you're my company and I won't have it. This is my treat, and just
+don't you fret. What do you say to your roses?"
+
+Aunt Mary looked a bit uneasy.
+
+"They're pretty big," she hesitated.
+
+"That's the fashion," said Jack; "the longer you can buy 'em the better
+the girls like it. I tried to get you some eight feet long but they only
+had two of that number and I wanted the whole bunch to match--"
+
+He was interrupted by another rap on the door.
+
+"Hallo!" he cried. "Come in."
+
+It was Mitchell with several dozen carnations, the most brilliant yet
+prized--or priced.
+
+"Well, I declare!" exclaimed Aunt Mary.
+
+"For you, Miss Watkins," cried the newcomer, gracefully offering his
+homage, "with the assurance of my sincere regret that I came on the scene
+too late to have been making a scene with you fifty years ago."
+
+"I didn't quite catch that," said Aunt Mary, rapturously. But never
+mind,--Granite, get a tin basin or suthin' for these flowers."
+
+"Where's Burnett?" Jack asked the newcomer,--"isn't he dressed? It's
+getting late."
+
+"He's all right," said Mitchell; "he and Clover are--here they are!"
+
+The two came in together at that second. Clover's mustache just showed
+over the top of the largest bunch of violets ever constructed, and Burnett
+bore with assiduous care a bouquet of orchids tied with a Roman sash.
+
+Aunt Mary leaned back and shut her eyes. If it hadn't been for her smile,
+they might possibly have feared for her life.
+
+But she was only momentarily stunned by surpassing ecstasy.
+
+"You'd better put some water in the bath-tub, Granite," she said,
+recovering, "nothing else will be big enough."
+
+The four young men drew up chairs and rivalled her smiles with theirs.
+
+"I d'n know how I ever can thank you," said the old lady warmly. "I've
+always had such a poor opinion o' life in cities, too!"
+
+"Life in cities, my dear Miss Watkins," screamed Mitchell, "is always
+pictured as very black, but it's only owing to the soft coal--not to the
+people who burn it."
+
+Aunt Mary smiled again.
+
+"I guess the bath-tub will be big enough to keep 'em fresh," she said
+simply, and Mitchell gave up and dried his forehead with his handkerchief.
+
+They dined at home upon this occasion and afterwards took two carriages
+for the theater. Aunt Mary, Jack, Clover, the American Beauties and the
+violets went in the first, and what remained of the party and the floral
+decorations followed in the second.
+
+"I mean to smoke," said that part of the second load which habitually
+answered to the name of Mitchell. "There is nothing so soothing when you
+have thorns in your legs as a cigarette in your mouth."
+
+"Too--too;" laughed his companion. "Jimmy! but our aunt is game, isn't
+she?"
+
+"To my order of thinking," said Mitchell thoughtfully scratching a match,
+"Aunt Mary has been hung up in cold storage just long enough to have
+acquired the exactly proper gamey flavor. It cannot be denied that to
+worn, worldly, jaded mortals like you and me, the sight of fresh, ever
+bubbling, youthful enthusiasm like hers is as thrilling and trilling and
+rilling as--as--as--" he paused to light his cigarette.
+
+                             [Illustration 4]
+
+                        Aunt Mary and Her Escorts.
+
+
+"Yes, you'd better stutter," said Burnett. "I thought you were running
+ahead of your proper signals."
+
+"It isn't that," said Mitchell, puffing gently. "It is that I suddenly
+recollected that I was alone with you, and my brains tell me that it is a
+waste of brains to use them in the sense of a plural noun with you. The
+word in your company,--my dear boy--only comes to me as a verb--as an active
+verb--and dear knows how often I have itched to apply it forcibly."
+
+Then they drew up in front of the theater and saw Aunt Mary being unloaded
+just beyond.
+
+"Great Scott, I feel as if I was a part of a poster!" said Burnett, diving
+into the carriage depths for the last lot of flowers.
+
+"I feel as if I were a part of the Revelation," said Mitchell, "I mean--the
+Revel-eration."
+
+They rapidly formed on somewhat after the plan of the famous "Marriage
+under the Directoire." Aunt Mary commanded the center-rush, leaning on
+Jack's arm, and the rest acted as half-backs, left wings, or
+flower-bearers, just as the reader prefers.
+
+They made quite a sensation as they proceeded to their box and more yet
+when they entered it. They were late--very late--as is the privilege of all
+box parties and their seating problem absorbed the audience to a degree
+never seen before or since.
+
+Jack put Aunt Mary and her green plaid waist in the middle and flanked her
+with purple violets and red carnations. The ear-trumpet was laid upon the
+orchids just where she could reach it easily. Then her escorts took
+positions as a sort of half-moon guard behind and each held two or three
+American Beauties straight up and down as if they were the insignia of his
+rank and office.
+
+The effect was gorgeous. The very actors saw and were interested at once.
+They directed all their attention to that one box, and at the end of the
+act the stage manager got the writer of the topical song on the wire and
+had a brand new and very apropos verse added which brought down the house.
+
+Jack and his party caught on and clapped like mad, Aunt Mary beat the
+front of the box with her ear-trumpet, and when Clover suggested that she
+throw some flowers to the heroine she threw the orchids and came near
+maiming the bass viol for life. Burnett rushed out between acts and bought
+her a cane to pound with, Jack rushed out between more acts and bought her
+a pair of opera glasses, Mitchell rushed out between still further acts
+and procured her one of those Japanese fans which they use for
+fire-screens, and agitated it around her during the rest of the evening.
+
+"Time of your life, Aunt Mary," Jack vociferated under the cover of a
+general chorus; "Time of your life!"
+
+"Oh, my," said Aunt Mary, heaving a great sigh, "seems if I'd _die_ when I
+think of Lucinda."
+
+They got out of the theater somewhat after eleven and Clover took them all
+to a French cafe for supper, so that again it was pretty well along into
+the day after when Janice regained her charge.
+
+"Granite," said Aunt Mary very solemnly, as she collapsed upon her bed
+twenty minutes later yet, "put it down on that memoranda for me never to
+find no fault with nothing ever again. Never--not ever--not never again."
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+The second day after was that which had been set for Mitchell's yachting
+party. They allowed a day to lapse between because a yachting party has to
+begin early enough so that you can see to get on board. Mitchell wanted
+his to begin early enough so that they could see the yacht too.
+
+"A yacht, Miss Watkins," he said into the ear trumpet, "is a delight that
+it takes daylight to delight in. If my words sound somewhat mixed, believe
+me, it is the effect of what is to come casting its shadow before. I speak
+with understanding and sympathy--you will know all later."
+
+Aunt Mary smiled sweetly. Sometimes she thought that Mitchell was the
+nicest of the three--times when she wasn't talking to Clover or Burnett.
+
+Jack took his aunt out to drive on the afternoon of the intervening day
+and bought her a blue suit with a red tape around one arm, and some
+rubbersoled shoes, and a yachting cap and a mackintosh. There was
+something touching in Aunt Mary's joyful confidence and anticipation--she
+having never been cast loose from shore in all her life.
+
+"When do you s'pose we'll get home?" she asked Jack.
+
+"Oh, some time toward night," he replied.
+
+She smiled with a trust as colossal as Trusts usually are.
+
+"I'm sure I shall have a good time," she said. "I always liked to see
+pictures of waves."
+
+"You'll see the real things now, Aunt Mary," cried her nephew heartily. He
+was not a bit malicious, possessing a stomach whose equilibrium could not
+conceive any other anatomical condition.
+
+Janice, however, had doubts, and on the morning of the next day her doubts
+deepened. She looked from the window and shook her head.
+
+"Feel a fly?" inquired Aunt Mary.
+
+"No, I see some clouds," yelled her maid.
+
+"I didn't ask you to speak loud," said the old lady. "I always hear what
+you say. Always."
+
+Janice went out of the room and voiced her views of the weather to the
+proprietors of the expedition. The proprietors were having an uproarious
+breakfast on ham and eggs--all but Mitchell, who sat somewhat aloof and
+contented himself with an old and reliable breakfast food long known to
+his race.
+
+"Are you really going to take her up the Sound to-day?" the maid demanded
+of the merry mob.
+
+"I'm not," said Burnett; "it's the yacht that's going to take her. Pass
+the syrup, Jack, like the jack you are."
+
+"Doesn't she feel well?" Jack asked, passing the syrup as requested. "If
+she doesn't feel well, of course, we won't go."
+
+"I like that," said Mitchell, "when it's my day for my party and my cook
+all provisioned with provisions for provisioning us all. How long do you
+suppose ice cream stays together in this month of roses, anyhow?"
+
+"She is very well," said the maid quietly, "but it's blowing pretty fresh
+here in the city and I thought that out on the Sound--"
+
+"Blowing fresh, is it?" laughed Burnett; "well, it'll salt her fast enough
+when we get out. Don't you fuss over what's none of your business, my dear
+girl; just trot along upstairs and dress dolly, and when she's dressed
+we'll take her off your hands."
+
+Jack appeared unduly quiet.
+
+"Do you think it is going to storm?" he asked Mitchell. Mitchell was
+scraping his saucer with the thrift that thrives north of the Firth of
+Forth and hatches yachts on the west shores of the Atlantic.
+
+"I don't think at all during vacation," he said mildly. "I repose and reap
+'Oh's'--from other people."
+
+"If there was any chance of a storm----?" said the nephew, thoughtfully.
+
+"Fiddle-dee-dee," said Burnett impatiently, "what do you think yachts are
+for, anyhow? To let alone?" He looked at the maid as he spoke and pointed
+significantly to the door. She went out at once and returned upstairs to
+her mistress whom she found quite restless to "get-a-goin'" as she
+expressed it.
+
+The boxes filled with yesterday's purchases were brought out at once and
+Janice proceeded to rubber-sole and blue-serge Aunt Mary. The latter
+regarded every step of the performance in the huge three-fold cheval glass
+which had been wont to tell Mrs. Rosscott things that every woman longs to
+know.
+
+When her toilette was complete it must be admitted that as a yachtswoman
+Aunt Mary fairly outshone her automobile portrait. She surveyed herself
+long and carefully.
+
+"I expect it'll be quite an experience," she said with many new wrinkles
+of anticipation.
+
+"Yes," said Janice, with a glance at the fluttering window curtains, "I
+expect it will be."
+
+Aunt Mary went downstairs and was greeted with loud acclamations. The
+breakfast party broke up at once and, while Janice phoned for cabs, Aunt
+Mary's quartette of escorts sought hats, coats, etcetera. After that they
+all sallied forth and took their places as joyfully as ever.
+
+It was quite a long drive to where "Lady Belle" had been brought up, and
+they had to stop once to lay in two or three pounds of current literature.
+
+"Do you read mostly?" asked Aunt Mary.
+
+"It's best to be on the safe side," said Clover vaguely.
+
+Then they entered the tangle of docks and express wagons and obstacles in
+general and Mitchell had great difficulty in finding where his launch had
+been taken to meet them.
+
+But at last they got Aunt Mary down a flight of very slippery steps and
+into a boat whose everything was labeled "Lady Belle," and Mitchell said
+something and they cast loose and were off.
+
+"Seems rather a small yacht," said Aunt Mary, glancing cheerfully about.
+"I ain't surprised that you'd rather come in nights."
+
+"Bless your heart, Aunt Mary," shrieked Jack, "this isn't the yacht, this
+is the way we get to her."
+
+"Oh," said Aunt Mary blankly.
+
+"That's the yacht," yelled Burnett, "that white one with the black smoke
+coming out and the sail up."
+
+"What are they getting up steam for?" asked Clover. "The time to get up
+steam is when you get down sails generally."
+
+"They aren't getting up steam," said Mitchell, "they're getting up dinner.
+It looks like a lot of smoke because of the shadow on the sail. And,
+speaking of getting up dinner, reminds me that the topic before us now is,
+how in thunder are we to get up Aunt Mary?"
+
+"Put a rope around her and board her as if she was a cavalry horse,"
+suggested Burnett.
+
+"I scorn the suggestion," said their host; "if the worst comes to the
+worst I can give her a back up, but I trust that Aunt Mary will rise to
+the heights of the sail and the situation all at once and not make me do
+any vertebratical stunts so early in the day."
+
+They were running alongside of "Lady Belle" as he spoke, and the first
+thing Aunt Mary knew she and her party were attached to the former by some
+mysterious and not altogether solid connection.
+
+"What do we do now?" she asked uneasily.
+
+"I'll show you," laughed Burnett, and seizing two flapping ropes he went
+skipping up a sort of stepladder and sprang upon the deck above.
+
+Aunt Mary started to emulate his prowess and stood up at once. But the
+next second she sat down extremely hard without knowing why she had done
+so.
+
+"Hold on, Miss Watkins," Mitchell cried hastily; "just you hold on until I
+give you something to hold on to, and when you've got something to hold on
+to, please keep holding on to it, until I tell you that the hour has come
+in which to let go again."
+
+"I didn't quite catch that," said Aunt Mary, "but I'm ready to do anythin'
+you say if you only--" and again she sprang up and again was thrown down as
+hard as before.
+
+"Look out," cried Jack, springing to her side; and he got hold of his
+valuable relative and held her fast while Mitchell grasped the ladder and
+a sailor strove to keep the launch still.
+
+"Now, Aunt Mary," cried the nephew, "hang on to me and hang on to those
+ropes and remember I'm right back of you--"
+
+"My Lord alive," cried Aunt Mary, turning her gaze upwards, "am I expected
+to go alone all that way to the top?"
+
+"It'll pay you to keep on to the top," screamed Clover; "you'll have,
+comparatively speaking, very little fun if you hang on to the ladder all
+day--and you'll get so wet too."
+
+"There's more room at the top," cried Mitchell, "there's always room at
+the top, Miss Watkins. Put yourself in the place of any young man entering
+a profession and struggle bravely upwards, bearing ever in--"
+
+"Oh, I never can," said Aunt Mary, recoiling abruptly; "I never could
+climb trees when I was little--I never had no grip in my legs--and I just
+know I can't. It's too high. An' it looks slippery. An' I don't want to,
+anyhow."
+
+"What rot!" yelled Jack, "the very idea! Why, Aunt Mary, you know you can
+skin up there just like a cat if you only make up your mind to it. Here,
+Mitchell, give her a boost and I'll plant her feet firmly. Now--have you
+got hold of the ropes, Aunt Mary?"
+
+"Oh, mercy--on--me!" wailed Aunt Mary, "the yacht is turnin' a-round an' the
+harder I pull the faster it turns."
+
+"Catch her from above, Burr," Clover called excitedly; "hook her with
+anything if you can't reach her with your hand."
+
+"Oh, my cap!" shrieked poor Aunt Mary, and the cap went off and she went
+on up and was landed safe above.
+
+"How on the chart do you suppose we'll ever unload her?" Jack asked,
+wide-eyed, as he swung himself quickly after her.
+
+"What man hath done man can do," quoted Mitchell sententiously, following
+his lead.
+
+"But no man ever unloaded Aunt Mary," Clover reminded him, as they brought
+up the rear.
+
+Then they were all on deck, a chair was brought for the honored guest, and
+Mitchell introduced his sailing-master who had been drawn to gaze upon the
+rather novel manner in which she had been brought aboard.
+
+"I want Miss Watkins to have the sail of her life, Renfew," said Mitchell.
+"We aren't coming back until night."
+
+"We'll have sail enough sure, sir," said Renfew, touching his cap, and
+then he walked away and the work of starting off began. A tug had been
+engaged to tow them out into the breeze and Jack thought it would be nice
+to show Aunt Mary around while they were being meandered through coal
+barges, etc. They went below and Aunt Mary saw everything with a most
+flattering interest.
+
+"I d'n know but what I'd enjoy a little yacht of my own," she said to
+Mitchell. "I think it's so amusin' the way everythin' turns over into
+suthin' else. I suppose Joshua could learn to sail me--I wouldn't want to
+trust no new man, I know."
+
+"Why, of course," said Jack, "and we could all come and visit you, Aunt
+Mary."
+
+Aunt Mary smiled hospitably.
+
+"I'd be glad to see you all any day," she said cordially; "and I shall
+have a hole in the bottom of the boat for people to go in and out of, and
+a nice staircase down to it, so you needn't mind the notion of how you'll
+get on and off."
+
+They all laughed and continued the tour below and Aunt Mary grew more and
+more enthusiastic for quite a while. She liked the kitchen and she liked
+the dining-room. She thought the arrangement for keeping the table level
+most ingenious. Mitchell took her into the main cabin and told her that
+that was hers for the day. On the dresser was a photograph of the "Lady
+Belle" framed in silver, which the young host presented to his guest as a
+souvenir of the "voyage."
+
+Aunt Mary's pleasure was at its height. Oh, the pity of Fate which makes
+the apex of everything so very limited as to standing room! Three minutes
+after the presentation and acceptation of the photograph Aunt Mary's
+glance became suddenly vague, and then especially piercing.
+
+"What makes this up and down feeling?" she asked Mitchell.
+
+"What up and down feeling?" he asked, secure in the good conscience and
+pure living of an oatmeal breakfast. "I don't feel up and down."
+
+"I do," said Aunt Mary abruptly; "I want to be somewhere else."
+
+"You want to be on deck," said Burnett, suddenly emerging from somewhere;
+"I know the symptoms. I always have 'em. Come on. And when we get up
+there, I'll collar Jack for urging those six last griddle cakes on me this
+morning."
+
+"I ain't sure I want to be on deck," said Aunt Mary; "dear me--I feel as if
+I wasn't sure of anythin'."
+
+"What did I tell you?" said Burnett to Mitchell; "it's blowing fresh and
+neither she nor I ought to have come. You know me when it blows."
+
+"Shut up," said Mitchell, hurrying Aunt Mary up the companion-way and
+shoving her into one chair and her feet into another; "there, Miss
+Watkins, you're all right now, aren't you?"
+
+"What's the matter?" said Jack, coming from somewhere aloft or astern.
+"Heaven bless me, what ails you, Aunt Mary?"
+
+"I don't wonder I'm pale," said Aunt Mary faintly, "oh--oh--"
+
+"We must put our heads together," said Burnett, taking a drink from a
+flask that he took out of his pocket; "I must soon put my head on
+something, and your aunt looks to me to feel the same way. Mitchell, why
+did you let me forget that vow I made last time to never come again?"
+
+"Your vows to never do things again are about as stable as your present
+hold on an upright position," said Clover, laying a steadying hand upon
+his friend's waveringness. "Sit down, little boy, sit down."
+
+Burnett sat down, Mitchell smiled, Jack laughed, and Aunt Mary groaned.
+
+The boat was rising and falling rapidly now, and as she ran further and
+further out into the ever freshening wind she kept on rising and falling
+yet more rapidly. The more motion there was the more Aunt Mary seemed to
+sift down in her two chairs.
+
+"We'd better put back," said Jack; "this won't do, you know. How do you
+feel now, Aunt Mary?" he added, leaning over her.
+
+Aunt Mary opened her eyes and looked at him but made no reply.
+
+"Ask me how I feel, if you dare," said Burnett, from where his chair was
+drawn up not far away. "I couldn't kill you just now, but I will some day
+I promise you."
+
+He was very white and had a look about his mouth that showed that he meant
+what he said.
+
+Some bells rang somewhere.
+
+"That's dinner," exclaimed Clover.
+
+Aunt Mary gave a piercing cry.
+
+"Oh, take me somewhere else," she said, throwing her hands up to her face;
+"somewhere where there'll never be nothin' to eat again. I--I can't bear to
+hear about eatin'."
+
+"I'm going to take her down into one of the cabins," said Jack hastily,
+"she belongs in bed."
+
+"No, turn back the carpet and lay me in the bath-tub," almost sobbed the
+poor victim. "I don't feel like I could get flat enough anywhere else."
+
+"She has the proper spirit," said Burnett faintly, "only I don't feel as
+if I could get flat enough anywhere at all. What in the name of the Great
+Pyramid ever possessed me to come?"
+
+Mitchell rose quickly to his feet.
+
+"You put your aunt to bed, Jack," he said, "and I'll put my yacht to
+backing. This expedition is expeditiously heading on to what might be
+termed a failure. I can see that, even if we're only in a Sound."
+
+"When do you suppose we'll get back?" the nephew asked anxiously.
+
+"About four o'clock, if we don't lose time by having to tack."
+
+"I didn't quite catch all that," said Aunt Mary, "but I knew suthin' was
+loose all along. I felt it inside of me right off at first. And ever
+since, too."
+
+Jack gathered her up in his arms and bore her tenderly away to the
+beautiful main cabin.
+
+"I wanted to live to change my will," she said sadly, as he laid her down,
+"but somehow I don't seem to care for nothin' no more."
+
+He kissed her hand.
+
+"They say being seasick is awfully _good_ for people, Aunt Mary," he
+yelled contritely.
+
+Aunt Mary opened her eyes.
+
+"John Watkins, Jr., Denham," she said, "if you say 'food' to me again
+_ever_, I'll never leave you a penny--so there!"
+
+Jack went away and left her.
+
+"Come on to dinner, Burnett," Clover called hilariously, "there's liver
+with little bits of bacon--your favorite dish."
+
+Burnett snarled the weakest kind of a snarl.
+
+"I thought I'd suffered enough for one year last month," he murmured in a
+voice too low to be heard, and then he knew himself to be alone on deck.
+
+Down in the little dining-saloon the dishes were hopping merrily back and
+forth and an agreeable odor of agreeable viands filled the air. Clover and
+Jack sat down opposite their host and they all three ate and drank with a
+zest that knew no breaking waves nor sad effects.
+
+"Here's to our aunt," said Clover gayly, as the first course went around;
+"of course, we all love her for Jack's sake, but at the same time I offer
+two to odds that it is a pleasure to converse in under tones occasionally.
+Who takes?"
+
+"Aunt Mary being laid upon her bed," said Mitchell, "we will next proceed
+to lay the motion of our honorable friend upon the table. We regret Aunt
+Mary's ill-health while we drink to her good--quotation marks under the
+latter word. Aunt Mary!--and may she arise and prosper all the way down
+into the launch again."
+
+"I'm troubled about her, really," said Jack soberly; "we ought to have
+brought someone to look out for her."
+
+"The maid," cried Mitchell, "the dainty, adorable maid! Here's to Janice
+and--" his speech was brought to a sudden end by his two guests nearly
+disappearing under the table.
+
+Jack started up.
+
+"Ginger! Did you feel that?" he asked.
+
+"That's nothing," said Mitchell, calmly replacing the water-carafe which
+in the excitement of the moment he had clasped to his bosom; "it's the
+waves which are rising to the occasion--that's all." But Jack had hurried
+out.
+
+He found poor Aunt Mary writhing in an agony of misery. "Oh--oh--" she
+cried, "I want to be still--I'm too much tipped--and all the wrong way! I
+want to lay smooth--and I stand on my head--all the--"
+
+"We're going back," said Jack, striving to soothe her; "lie still, Aunt
+Mary, and we'll soon get there. Do you want some camphor to smell?"
+
+"I don't feel up to smellin'," wailed Aunt Mary, "I don't feel up to
+anythin'. Go 'way. Right off."
+
+Jack went on deck. He found Burnett stretched pale and green upon the
+chairs their lady guest had vacated.
+
+"If you speak to me again," he said, in halting accents, "I'll never speak
+to you again. Get out."
+
+Jack went back to his place at dinner.
+
+"How are they?" asked Clover.
+
+"I don't know," he said quietly, "but there's a big storm coming up. The
+sky's all dark blue and it looks bad."
+
+"I don't care," said Mitchell, sawing into the game with vigor; "if we go
+down we go down with Aunt Mary and if I were Uncle Mary I wouldn't feel
+happier and safer as to all concerned. The ship that bore Caesar and his
+fortune had nothing at all to bear compared to this which bears Jack and
+his. Here's to Jack and his fortune, and may we all survive the dark blue
+sky."
+
+"I tell you it's serious," said Jack. As he spoke another ominous heaving
+set the bottles tipping and nearly sent Clover backwards.
+
+"And I'm serious," exclaimed Mitchell. "I'm always serious only I never
+can get any girl to believe it. Here's to me, and may I grow more and more
+serious each--"
+
+A tremendous wave bore the yacht upright and then let her fall on her
+forelegs again. Clover went over backwards and the dish of peas to which
+he had just been helping himself followed after.
+
+"You didn't say 'excuse me' when you left the table," said Mitchell, whom
+the law of gravitation had suddenly raised to a pinnacle from which he
+viewed his friends with mirthful scorn; "and if you've hurt yourself it
+must be a judgment on you for leaving the table without saying 'excuse
+me.' Here's to Clover, who has a judgment and a dish of peas served on him
+at the same time for leaving the table without saying 'excuse me.'"
+
+The sailing-master appeared at the door, his cap in his hand.
+
+"I beg your pardon, sir," he said respectfully, "but I fear it's
+impossible to put back. We can't turn without getting into the trough of
+the sea."
+
+"All right, go ahead then," said Mitchell; "go where we must go, and do
+what you've got to do. My motto is veni, vidi, vici, which freely
+translated means I can sleep asea when I can't sleep ashore."
+
+"But Aunt Mary?" cried Jack blankly.
+
+"She's all right," said Mitchell; "she'll soon reach the cold burnt toast
+stage and when she reaches the stage we'll all welcome her into any
+chorus. Here's to choruses in general and one chorus girl in particular. I
+haven't met her yet, but I shall know her when I do, for she will look at
+me. Up to now they've all looked elsewhere and at other men. If my fortune
+was only in my face it might draw some interest, but--"
+
+"Lady Belle" careened violently and Clover went over backwards for the
+second time with much in his wake.
+
+"Oh, I say," said Mitchell, rising in disgust, "if you want everything on
+the table at once why take it. Only I'm going on deck. After you've bathed
+in the gravy you can have it. Ditto the other liquids. Jack and I are
+going up to dance a hornpipe and sing for Burnett. He looked rather
+ennuyed to me when we came down."
+
+Along toward eight o'clock that night "Lady Belle" anchored somewhere in
+the Sound and tugged vigorously at her cables all night.
+
+With the dawn she headed back towards New York.
+
+"As a success my entertainment has been a failure," said Mitchell to Jack
+as they walked up and down the deck after breakfast; "but into each life
+some rain must fall, and I offer myself as a sacrificial background to
+Aunt Mary's glowing, living pictures of New York."
+
+"I wish you hadn't, though," said Jack; "she'll never want a yacht of her
+own now. And how under Scorpion are we ever going to land her?"
+
+"In a sheet, my able-bodied young friend, in a sheet," said Mitchell
+clapping him on the back. "Don't you know the 'Weigh the Baby' game? It
+may double her up a bit, but the redoubtable Janice will straighten her
+out again. Here's to the sheet, be it a wet sheet, a main sheet, or a
+sheet with your Aunt Mary tied up in it."
+
+Mitchell was as good as his word and they landed Aunt Mary in a sheet. The
+very harbor-tugs stopped puffing and stood open-mouthed to stare at the
+performance, but it was an unalloyed success, and Aunt Mary was gotten
+onto dry land at last.
+
+"I don't want to do nothin' for a day or two," she said, as they drove to
+the house.
+
+Janice had the bed open, and a hot-water bottle down where Aunt Mary's
+feet might be expected, and all sorts of comfort ready to hand.
+
+"I'm so glad to see you safe back," she said, almost weeping.
+
+"I don't believe it's broke," said Aunt Mary, "but you might look and see.
+Oh, Granite--I--" she stopped and looked an unutterable meaning.
+
+"It stormed, didn't it?" said the maid.
+
+"Stormed!" said Aunt Mary. "I guess it did storm. I guess it hurricaned. I
+know it did. I'm sure of it."
+
+"But you're safe now," said the girl, tucking her up as snugly as if she
+had been an infant in arms.
+
+"Yes, I'm safe now," said Aunt Mary, "but--" she looked very earnest--"but,
+oh, my Granite, how I did need that white fuzzy stuff to drink this
+morning. I never wanted nothin' so bad in all my life afore."
+
+Janice stood by the bed, her face full of regret that Aunt Mary had known
+any aching void.
+
+Aunt Mary grew yet more earnest.
+
+"Granite," she said, "you mind what I tell you. That ought to be
+advertised. I sh'd think you could patent it. Folks ought to know about
+it."
+
+Then she laid herself out in bed. "My heavens alive!" she sighed sweetly,
+"there's nothin' like home. Not anywhere--not nowhere!"
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER SIXTEEN - A REPOSEFUL INTERVAL
+
+
+The next date upon the little gold and ivory memorandum card which hung
+beside Aunt Mary's watch was that set for Burnett's picnic, but its
+dawning found both host and guest too much attached to their beds to
+desire any fetes champetre just then.
+
+Burnett was in that very weak state which follows in the immediate wake of
+only too many yachts,--and Aunt Mary was sleeping one of her long drawn out
+and utterly restorative sleeps.
+
+Jack went in and looked at her.
+
+"It did storm awfully," he said to Janice, who was sitting by the window.
+The maid just smiled, nodded, and laid her finger on her lip. She never
+encouraged conversation when her charge was reposing.
+
+Jack went softly out and turned his steps toward the room of the other
+wreck.
+
+"Well, how are stocks to-day?" he asked cheerfully on entering.
+
+Burnett was stretched out pillowless and looked black under his hollow
+eyes. But he appeared to be on the road to recovery.
+
+"Jack," he said seriously, "what in thunder makes me always so ready to go
+on the water? I should think after a while I'd learn a thing or two."
+
+Jack leaned his elbows on the high carved footboard and returned his
+friend's look with one of equal seriousness.
+
+"What makes all of us do lots of things?" he asked. "Why don't we all
+learn?"
+
+Burnett sighed.
+
+"That's a fact; why don't we?" he said weakly. And then he shut his eyes
+again and turned his back to his caller.
+
+Jack went down to lunch. Clover and Mitchell were playing cards in the
+library.
+
+"Well, how is the hospital?" Clover asked, looking up while he shuffled
+the pack.
+
+"Never mind about Burnett," said Mitchell, "but do relieve my mind about
+Aunt Mary. Is the one sheet still taking effect, or has she begun to rally
+on a diet of two?"
+
+"She's asleep," said the nephew.
+
+"God bless her slumber," declared Clover piously. "I very much approve of
+Aunt Mary asleep. When our dearly beloved aunt sleeps we know we've got
+her and we don't have to yell. Shall I deal for three?"
+
+"They are bringing up lunch," said the latest arrival,--"no time to begin a
+hand. Better stack guns for the present."
+
+"So say I," said Mitchell, "with me everything goes down when lunch comes
+up. It's quite the reverse with Burnett, isn't it?" He laughed brutally at
+his own wit.
+
+"To think how enthusiastic Burr was," said Clover, evening the cards
+preparatory to slipping them into their holder on the side of the table.
+"He's always so enthusiastic and he's always so sick. In his place I
+should feel that, if a buoyant nature is a virtue, I didn't get much
+reward."
+
+The gong sounded just then, and they all went down to lunch, not at all
+saddened by the sight of their comrade's empty chair.
+
+"Now, what are we going to do next?" Clover demanded as they finished the
+bouillon.
+
+"Have a meat course, I suppose," said Mitchell.
+
+"I don't mean that; I mean, what are we going to do next with Aunt Mary?"
+
+"She hasn't but two days more," said Jack meditatively. "Of course--even if
+she was all chipper--this storm has knocked any picnic endways."
+
+"I am not an ardent upholder of picnics, anyhow," said Mitchell. "They
+require a constant sitting down on the ground and getting up from the
+ground to which I find our respected aunt very far from being equal.
+Burnett mentioned that we should go to the scene on a coach. That also did
+not meet my approval. Going anywhere on a coach requires a constant
+getting up on the coach and getting down from the coach to which I also
+consider the lady unequal. The events of yesterday have left a deep
+impression on my mind. I--"
+
+"Go on and carve," interrupted Clover, "or else shove me the platter. I'm
+hungry."
+
+"So'm I," said a voice at the door. A weak voice--but one that showed
+decision in its tone.
+
+They looked up and saw Burnett, dressed in a pink silk negligee with
+flowing sleeves.
+
+"I'm ravenous," he exclaimed explanatorily. "I haven't had anything since
+day before yesterday at breakfast. I didn't know I wanted anything till I
+smelt it,--then I dressed and came down."
+
+"How sweet you look," said Clover. "The effect of your pajama cuffs and
+collar where one greedily expects curves and contour is lovely. Where did
+you find that bath-robe?"
+
+"In the bureau drawer," said Burnett. "It appeared to have been hastily
+shoved in there some time. I would have thought that it was a woman's
+something-or-other, only I found one of Jack's cards in the pocket."
+
+They all began to laugh--Clover and Mitchell more heartily than the owner
+of the card.
+
+"Sit down," said Mitchell finally with great cordiality. "You may as well
+sit down while they mess you up some weak tea and wet toast."
+
+"Tea and toast?" cried the one in pink. "I'm good for dinner. _Um
+Gotteswillen_, what do you suppose I came down for?"
+
+"I wasn't sure," said his friend mildly; "you must admit yourself that
+your attire is misleading. My book on social etiquette says nothing as to
+when it is correct to wear a pink silk robe over blue and white striped
+pajamas. However, there's no denying your presence, and what can't be
+denied must be supplied, so what will you have?"
+
+"Everything."
+
+Mitchell dived into the edibles generally and Burnett's void was provided
+with fulfillment.
+
+"We were talking about Aunt Mary," Clover said presently. "We were saying
+that neither you nor she would be up to a coach or down to a picnic for
+one while."
+
+"Oh, I don't know," said Burnett. "I feel up to pretty nearly anything now
+that I can eat again. Pass over the horseradish, will you?"
+
+"You're one thing, my sweet pink friend," said Clover gently, "but Aunt
+Mary's another. I'm not saying that New York has not had a wonderfully
+Brown-Sequardesque effect on her, but I am saying that if she is to be
+raised and lowered frequently, I want to travel with a portable crane."
+
+"Hum, hum, hum!" cried Jack. "May I just ask who did most of the heavy
+labor of Aunt Mary yesterday?--As the man in the opera sings twenty times
+with the whole chorus to back him--''Twas I, 'twas I, 'twas I, 'twas I--'"
+
+"Hand over the toast, Clover," said Burnett. "I don't care who it was--it
+was a success anyhow, for she's upstairs and still alive, and I say she'd
+enjoy coaching out Riverside way, and--" he choked.
+
+"Slap him anywhere," said Mitchell. "On his mouth would be the proper
+place. Such poor manners,--coming down to a company lunch in another man's
+bath-robe and then trying to preach and eat dry toast at once."
+
+Burnett gasped and recovered.
+
+"There," said Clover, who had risen to administer the proposed slap, "he's
+off our minds and we may again pick up Aunt Mary and put her back on."
+
+"We want to send her home in a blaze of glory," said Jack thoughtfully. "I
+want her to feel that the fun ran straight through."
+
+"That's just what I mean," interposed his particular friend; "we want her
+to go home on the wings of a giant cracker, so to speak."
+
+"How would it do," said Clover suddenly, "to just make a night of it and
+take her along? Stock up, stack up, and ho! for it. You all know the kind
+of a time I mean."
+
+"Clover," said Jack gravely, "does it occur to you that Aunt Mary belongs
+to me and that I have a personal interest in keeping her alive?"
+
+"Nothing ever occurs to him," said Mitchell. "Occasionally an idea bangs
+up against him inadvertently, and as it splinters a sliver or two
+penetrate his head--that's all."
+
+"I don't see why the last sliver he felt wasn't to the point," said
+Burnett, turning the cream jug upside down as he spoke. "I think she'd
+enjoy it of all things. She enjoys everything so. I'll guarantee that when
+she gets back home she'll even enjoy the yachting trip. Lots of people are
+made like that. In the winter I always enjoy yachting, myself. Pass me the
+hot bread."
+
+"Burnett," said Mitchell warmly, "I wish that you would remember that a
+collapse invariably follows an inflated market."
+
+"Is it Aunt Mary who is on the market, or myself?"
+
+"You."
+
+"Oh, the rule is reversed in my case--the collapse went first. I'm only
+inflating up to the usual limit again. Is there any gravy left?"
+
+"No, there isn't," said Clover, looking in the dish, "there isn't much of
+anything left."
+
+"Let's go to the library," said Mitchell, rising abruptly. "It always
+makes me ill to see goose-stuffing before Thanksgiving. Come on."
+
+"I'm done," said Burnett, springing up and winding his lacey draperies
+about his manly form. "Come on yourself; and once settled and smoking, let
+us canvass the question and agree with Clover."
+
+"You know there are nights about town and nights about town," said Clover,
+as they climbed the staircase. "I do not anticipate that Aunt Mary will
+bring up with a round turn in the police station, as her young relative
+once did."
+
+"Well, that's some comfort," said Mitchell. "I did not feel sure as to
+just where you did mean her to bring up. You will perhaps allow me to
+remark that making a night of it with Aunt Mary in tow is a subject that
+really is provocative of mature reflection. Making a night of it is a
+frothy sort of a proposition in which our beloved aunty may not beat up to
+quite the buoyancy of you and me."
+
+As he finished this sage remark they all re-entered the library and
+grouped themselves around the table of smoking things.
+
+"That's what I say," said Jack. "I think she's much more likely to beat
+out than to beat up--I must say."
+
+"I'll bet you she doesn't," cried Burnett eagerly. "I'll bet five dollars
+that she doesn't."
+
+"I declare," said Clover, "what a thing a backer is to be sure. I feel
+positive that Aunt Mary will go through with it now. I had my doubts
+before, but never now. Six to five on Aunt Mary for the Three-year-old
+Stakes."
+
+"The best way is to hit a happy medium," said Mitchell thoughtfully,
+scratching a match for the lighting of his new-rolled cigarette. "I think
+the wisest thing would be for us just to take Aunt Mary and sally forth
+and then keep it up until she must be put to bed. What say?"
+
+"Well," said Jack, reflectively, "I don't suppose that taking it that way,
+it would really be any worse than the other nights--"
+
+"Worse!" cried Clover. "Hear him!--slandering those brilliant occasions,
+everyone of which is a jewel in the crown of Aunt Mary's bonnet."
+
+"We'll begin by dining out," said Burnett. "I'll give the dinner. One of
+the souvenir kind of affairs. A white mouse for every man and a canary
+bird for the lady. We'll have a private room and speeches and I'll get
+megaphones so we can make her hear without bustin'."
+
+"My dear boy," said Mitchell, "where is this private room to be in which
+the party can converse through megaphones? I had two deaf uncles once who
+played cribbage with megaphones, but they were influential and the rest of
+the family were poor. Circumstances alter cases. I ask again where you can
+get a private dining-room for the use of five people and four megaphones?"
+
+"I'll see," said Burnett; "I wish," he added irritably, "that you'd wait
+until I finished before beginning to smash in like that, you knock
+everything out of my head."
+
+"It'll do you good to have a little something knocked out of you," said
+Mitchell gently. "It may enlarge your premises, give you a spare room
+somewhere, so to speak. I should think that you'd need some spare room
+somewhere after such a breakfast."
+
+"I'll tell you what I think;" said Clover. "I think it's a great scheme.
+It's a sort of pull-in-and-out, field-glass species of idea. We can
+develop it or we can shut it off; in other words, we can parade Aunt Mary
+or bring her home just when we darn please."
+
+"That's what I said," said Burnett. "Begin with my dinner, white mice and
+all, and when all is going just let it slide until it seems about time to
+slide off."
+
+"Yes," said Mitchell dryly, "it's always a good plan to slide on until you
+slide off. It would be so easy to reverse the game."
+
+"And then, too,--" began Burnett.
+
+"Excuse me," said a voice at the door,--a woman's voice this time.
+
+It was Janice, very pretty in her black dress and white decorations, hands
+in pockets, smile on lips.
+
+"What's up now?" the last speaker interrupted himself to ask, "Aunt Mary?"
+
+"No, she's not up," said the maid; "but she's awake and wants to know
+about the picnic."
+
+"There, what did I say!" cried Burnett; "isn't she a hero? I tell you Aunt
+Mary'd fight in the last ditch--she'd never surrender! She's one of those
+dead-at-the-gun chaps. I'm proud to think we have known the companionship
+of joint yachting results."
+
+"She says she feels as well as ever," said Janice, opening her eyes a
+trifle as she noted Burnett's pink silk negligee, "and wishes to know when
+you want to start."
+
+"Bravo," said Mitchell; "I, too, am fired by this exposition of pluck. I
+like spirit. She reminds me of the horse who was turned out to grass and
+then suddenly broke the world's record."
+
+"What horse was that?" asked Burnett.
+
+"Pegasus," said Mitchell cruelly; "I didn't say what kind of a record he
+broke, did I?"
+
+"What shall I tell Miss Watkins?" asked the maid.
+
+Jack, who had risen at her entrance and gone to the window, faced around
+here and said:
+
+"Tell her that if she'll dress we'll go out bonnet-shooting and afterwards
+drive in the park."
+
+Janice hesitated.
+
+"She will surely ask where you are to dine," said she, half-smiling.
+
+Jack looked at the crowd.
+
+"Fellows," he said, "we must save up for to-morrow's blow-out; suppose you
+let Mitchell and me dine Aunt Mary somewhere very tranquilly to-night and
+we'll get her home by eleven."
+
+"Yes, do," said Janice, with sudden earnest entreaty. "Honestly, there is
+a limit."
+
+"Of course, there is a limit," said Mitchell. "Even cities have their
+limits. This one tried to be an exception, but San Francisco yelled 'Keep
+off' and she drew in her claws again. Aunt Mary, possessing many points in
+common with New York, also possesses that. She has limits. Her limits took
+in more than we bargained for,--for they have taken us into the bargain.
+Still they are there, and we bow to necessity. A cheerful drive, a quiet
+tea, early to bed. And _pax vobiscum_."
+
+"No wonder," said Burnett, "it's easy for you to agree when you're to be
+one of the dinner party." "I don't mind being left out," said Clover
+contentedly. "I shall sit on the sofa and whisper to 'the one behind.'
+Whispering is an art that I have almost forgotten, but inspired by that
+pink--"
+
+"Then I'll tell Miss Watkins to dress for the going out," said Janice,
+pointedly addressing herself to Jack.
+
+"Yes, please do."
+
+The maid left the room and went upstairs. Aunt Mary was tossing about on
+her pillow.
+
+"Well, what's it to be?" she asked instantly.
+
+"The storm has made it too wet to picnic," replied Janice. "Mr. Denham
+wants to take you to drive and afterwards you and Mr. Mitchell and he are
+to dine--"
+
+"And Burnett and Clover?" cried Aunt Mary in appalled interruption; "where
+are they goin'?"
+
+"Really, I don't know."
+
+"I don't like the idea," said Aunt Mary; "we'd ought to all be together. I
+never did approve of splittin' up in small parties. Did Jack say anythin'
+about my gettin' another bonnet?"
+
+"Yes, he thought that you would go to a milliner first."
+
+"I don't know about lookin' sillier," said Aunt Mary. "Strikes me a woman
+can't look more foolish than she does without a bonnet. However, I don't
+feel like makin' a fuss over anythin' to-day. I've had a good rest and I
+feel fine. I'll dress and go out with Jack, an' I know one thing, I'll
+enjoy every minute I can, for this week is goin' like lightnin' and when
+it's over--well, you never saw Lucinda, so it's no use tryin' to make you
+understand, but--" she drew a long breath and shook her head meaningly.
+
+Janice did not reply. She busied herself with the cares of the toilet of
+her mistress, and when that was complete the carriage was summoned for the
+shopping tour.
+
+Jack saw that the bonnet was attended to first of all and then they went
+to another store and purchased a scarf pin for Joshua and a workbox for
+Lucinda. After that Aunt Mary decided that she wanted her four friends
+each to have a souvenir of her visit, so she insisted upon being conducted
+to that gorgeous establishment which is lighted with diamonds instead of
+electricity and ordered four dressing-cases to be constructed, everything
+with gold tops, to be engraved with the proper initials and also the
+inscription, "from M.W. in memory of N.Y." Jack rather protested at this,
+asking her if she realized what the engraving would come to.
+
+"I don't know," said Aunt Mary recklessly and lavishly. "I don't care what
+it comes to either. It's comin' to me, anyhow, ain't it? I rather think
+so. Seems likely."
+
+The clerk took down the order, and then as he was ushering them door-wards
+he fell by the wayside and craved permission to show some tiaras of
+emeralds and some pearl dog-collars. Jack rebelled.
+
+"You don't want any of those," he exclaimed, trying to propel her by.
+
+"I ain't so sure," said Aunt Mary. "I might have a dog some day."
+
+But her nephew got her back into their conveyance, and they drove away. It
+was so late that they could not consider the park and so had to make a
+tour of Fifth Avenue to use up the time left before dinner. Then when they
+headed toward the cafe they were delighted to observe Mitchell awaiting
+them just where he was to have been.
+
+"I see him," said Aunt Mary. "My! I'd know him as far off as I'd know
+anybody." But then she sighed. "I wish the others were there, too," she
+said sadly; "seems awful--just three of us."
+
+The dinner which followed echoed her sentiment. It was a very nice dinner,
+but painfully quiet, and Aunt Mary grew very restless.
+
+"Seems like wastin' time, anyhow," she said uneasily. "I don't see why the
+others didn't come. Well, can't we go to Coney Island or the Statue of
+Liberty or somewhere when we're through?"
+
+Mitchell looked at Jack.
+
+"Why, you see, Aunt Mary," the latter promptly shrieked, "we thought we'd
+be good and go home early and sort of rest up to-night so as to have a
+high old time to-morrow."
+
+Aunt Mary's face, which had fallen during the first part of their speech,
+brightened up at the last words.
+
+"What are we goin' to do?" she inquired with unfeigned interest.
+
+"Burnett's going to give us a dinner," Jack answered, "and then afterwards
+we're going to help you see the town."
+
+"Oh!" said Aunt Mary. A pleasant gleam fled over her face.
+
+"I never was a great believer in bein' out nights," she said, "but I guess
+I'll make an exception to-morrow. I might as well be doin' that as
+anythin', I presume. Maybe better--very likely better."
+
+"Oh, very much better," said Mitchell. "It is the exceptions that furnish
+all the oil in life's machinery. The exceptions not only generally prove
+too much for the rule, but they also generally prevent the rule from
+proving too much for us. They--"
+
+"But I don't see why we couldn't go to two or three vaudevilles to-night,
+too," said the old lady, suddenly. "I feel so sort of ready-for-anythin'."
+
+"You always feel that way, Miss Watkins," screamed Mitchell. "It is we
+that are the blind and the halt. You are ever fresh, but we falter and
+faint. You see it's you that go out, but it's we that you get back. You--"
+
+"We could go to one vaudeville, anyway," said Aunt Mary abstractedly; "an'
+if we saw any places that looked lively we could stop a few minutes there
+on our way back. I've never been into lots of things here."
+
+Jack looked at Mitchell this time.
+
+"I'm sorry, Miss Watkins," he roared, "but _I'll_ have to go home, anyhow.
+You see, I'm not used to the lively life which has been enlivening us all
+this week and, being weakly in my knees, needs must look out."
+
+Aunt Mary looked very disappointed.
+
+"Then Jack and I'll go, too," she said, "but oh! dear, I do hate to waste
+my stay in the city sleepin' so much. I can sleep all I want after I get
+home, but--" she paused, and then said with deep feeling, "Well, you don't
+understand about Lucinda an' so you don't understand about anythin'."
+
+Both the young men felt truly regretful as they put her into the carriage
+for the return trip. Her deep enjoyment was so genuine and naive that they
+sympathized with her feelings when cut off from it.
+
+But it was best that this one night should pass unimproved, and so all
+five threw themselves into their respective beds with equal zest and
+slept--and slept--and slept.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER SEVENTEEN - AUNT MARY'S NIGHT ABOUT TOWN
+
+
+The next day came up out of the ocean fair and warm, and when it drew
+toward later afternoon no more propitious night for setting forth ever
+happened.
+
+It was undeniably a night to be remembered. And Aunt Mary's entertainers
+drew in deep breaths as they girded themselves for the conflict. They
+certainly intended to do themselves proud and on top of all the lesser
+"times of her life" to pile the one pre-eminent which should rest
+pre-eminent forever. Aunt Mary had been gay in the first part of the
+week,--gayer and gayer as the week progressed, but that final crowning
+night was indubitably the gayest of all. If you doubt this read on--read
+on--and be convinced.
+
+They began with Burnett's dinner in the private room. No matter where the
+private room was, for it really wasn't a private room at all--it was a
+suite of rooms borrowed and arranged especially for that one occasion.
+They gathered there at eight o'clock and began with oysters served on a
+large brass tray in a half-dim Turkish room where incense sticks burned
+about and queer daggers held up the curtains. The oysters were served on
+their arrival and the megaphones stood like extinguishers over each with
+the name cards tied to the small end. The effect was really unique. Aunt
+Mary had one, too, and they were all rejoiced at her delight in the
+scheme, and a few seconds after they were doubly rejoiced over its success
+for no one had to speak loud--the megaphones did it all, producing a lovely
+clamor which deafened all those who could hear and caused Aunt Mary to
+feel that she heard with the rest.
+
+Amidst the cheerful din they exchanged such very wild remarks as oysters
+always inspire and each and all were mutually content at the effect
+thereof. Then they finished, and Burnett rose at once, flung back the
+portieres, and led them in upon their soup which stood smoking on a large
+card table in the next room. There were boutonnieres with the soup, and
+violets for Aunt Mary, and again they used the megaphones and again the
+conversation partook of the customary conversation which soup produces.
+
+The soup finished, Burnett jumped up again and threw back other portieres
+and they all moved out into a dining-room, with its table spread with a
+substantial dinner. This time it was the real thing. Candelabra,
+ice-pails, etc.
+
+Aunt Mary had a parrot in a gilt tower, and all the men had white mice in
+houses shaped like hat-boxes. Mitchell's seat was flanked with wine
+coolers, and Burnett's, too. There was all that they could desire to eat
+and drink and more. The feast began, and it was grand and glorious.
+
+"I'll tell you what," said Aunt Mary, in the midst of the revel, "if this
+is what it means in papers when it speaks of high livin', I don't blame
+'em for bein' willin' to die of it young. One week like this is worth ten
+years with Lucinda. Twenty. A whole life."
+
+"Say, Jack," said Burnett in an undertone, "let's have Lucinda come to
+town next and see the effect on her."
+
+"Miss Watkins," said Clover through his megaphone, "as a mark of my
+affection I beg to offer you my white mouse. Do you accept?"
+
+"Oh, I don't want to go back to the house yet," said Aunt Mary, much
+disturbed. "It's too soon."
+
+"We won't go home till morning," said Burnett. "Not by a long shot. Here,
+Mitchell, give us a speech. Home! we don't want to drink _to_ it, but we
+do want to drink to it _here_."
+
+"Home!" said Mitchell, rising with his glass in his hand. "Home! here's to
+home, and I'll drink to it in anything but a cab. Home, Aunt Mary and
+gentlemen, is the place where one may go when every other place is closed.
+As long as any other place is open, however, I do not recommend going
+home. The contrast is always sharp and bitter and to be avoided until
+unavoidable circumstances, over which we possess but little control, force
+us to give our address to the man who drives and let him drive us to the
+last place on the map. And so I drink to that last place--home; and here's
+to it, not now, but a good deal later, and not then unless what must be
+has got to result."
+
+Mitchell paused and they all drank.
+
+"Me next now," exclaimed Burnett, jumping to his feet. "I'm going to make
+a speech at my own dinner, and as a good speech is best made off-hand,
+I've picked out an off-hand subject and arise to give you 'Lucinda.'
+Having never met her I feel able to say nothing good about her and I call
+the company present to witness that I shall say nothing bad either. I
+gather from what I have had a stray chance of picking up that Lucinda is
+all that she should be, and nothing frisque. The latter quality is too
+bad, but it's not my fault. Therefore, I say again 'Lucinda', and here's
+to her very good health. May she never regret that Fate has given her no
+chance to have anything to regret."
+
+Aunt Mary applauded this speech heartily even if she hadn't quite caught
+the whole of it and had no idea of whom it was about.
+
+"Who's goin' to speak now?" she asked anxiously.
+
+"I am," said Clover modestly. "I rise to propose the health of our honored
+guest, Miss Watkins. We all know what kin she is to one of us, and we all
+weep that she didn't do as well by the rest of us. Aunt Mary! Glasses
+down!"
+
+"You can't drink this, you know, Aunt Mary," said Jack,--"it's bad taste to
+drink to yourself."
+
+"I don't want to drink," said Aunt Mary, beaming,--"I like to watch you."
+
+"Here's to Aunt Mary's liking to watch us!" cried Clover.
+
+"No," said Burnett rising, "don't. It's time to go and get the salad now."
+
+"We'd ought to have the automobile for this party," said Aunt Mary, and
+everyone applauded her idea, as they rose and gathered up their
+belongings.
+
+It was a droll procession of men with mice and a lady with a parrot that
+got under way and moved in among the Japanese fans and swinging lanterns
+of the next room in the suite of Burnett's friend. Five little individual
+tables were laid there and on each table lay a Japanese creature of some
+sort which--being opened somewhere--revealed salad within.
+
+"Well, I never did!" exclaimed the guest; "this dinner ought to be put in
+a book!"
+
+"We'll put it in ourselves first," said Mitchell. "I never believe in
+booking any attraction until it has been tried on a select few. Burnett
+having selected me for one of this few, I vote we begin on the salad."
+
+They began forthwith.
+
+Aunt Mary suddenly stopped eating.
+
+"Some one called," she said.
+
+"It's the parrot," said Jack; "I heard him before."
+
+"What does he say?" said Mitchell.
+
+"Listen and you'll find out," said Jack.
+
+They all listened and presently the parrot said solemnly:
+
+"Now see what you've done!" and relapsed into silence.
+
+"What does he mean?" Aunt Mary asked.
+
+"He's referring to his own affairs," said Burnett; "come on--let's get
+coffee now!"
+
+They all adjourned to a tiny room lined with posters and decorated with
+pipe racks, and there had ice cream in the form of bulls and bears, and
+coffee of the strongest variety. And then cordials and cigarettes.
+
+"Now, where shall we go to first?" asked Burnett when all were well lit
+up. No one would have guessed that he had ever felt used up in all his
+life before.
+
+"To a roof garden," said Mitchell. "We'll go to a roof garden first, and
+then we'll go to more roof gardens, and after that if the spirit moves
+we'll go to yet a few roof gardens in addition. We'll show our dear aunt
+what wonders can be done with roofs, and to-morrow she'll wonder what was
+done with her."
+
+"That's the bill," said Clover, "and let's go now. I can see from the
+general manner of my mouse that he's dying to get out and make his way in
+the wide world."
+
+"Mine the same," said Mitchell; "by George, it worries me to see such
+restless, feverish manners in what I had supposed would be a quiet
+domestic companion. It presages a distracted existence. But come on."
+
+They all rose.
+
+"Where are we goin' now?" asked Aunt Mary.
+
+"To a roof garden," said Jack, "and we're going to take the whole
+menagerie, Aunt Mary. We're going to get put in the papers. That's the
+great stunt,--to get put in the papers."
+
+"But we'll leave the megaphones," said Mitchell. "I won't go about with a
+mouse and a megaphone. People might think I looked silly. People are so
+queer."
+
+"Put the mouse in the megaphone," suggested Burnett. "That's the way my
+mother taught me to pack when I was a kid. You put your tooth brush in a
+shoe, and the shoe in a sleeve and then turn the sleeve inside out. Oh, I
+tell you--what is home without a mother?--Put the mouse in the megaphone and
+stop up both ends. What are your hands and your mouth for?"
+
+"Yes," said Mitchell, "I think I see myself so handling a megaphone that
+the mouse doesn't run out either end or into my mouth. My mouth is a good
+mouth and it's served me well and I won't turn it over to a mouse at this
+late day."
+
+"Let's keep the mice in their cages," said Clover, and as he spoke he
+dropped his.
+
+"Now see what you've done!" said the parrot.
+
+"I didn't hurt it," said Clover. "Come on now."
+
+"Yes, come on," said Burnett. "It's long after ten o'clock. You want to
+remember that even roof gardens are not eternally on tap."
+
+"Well, I'm trying to hurry all I can," said Mitchell. "I'm the picture of
+patience scurrying for dear life only unable to lay hands on her gloves."
+
+"I don't catch what's the trouble," said Aunt Mary to Jack.
+
+                             [Illustration 5]
+
+      "The carriage stopped three hundred feet below the level of a
+                              roof-garden."
+
+
+"Nothing's the trouble," said Jack, "everything's fine and dandy. We're
+going out now. Time of your life, Aunt Mary, time of your life!"
+
+They telephoned for a carriage and all got in. Then Clover slammed the
+door.
+
+"Now see what you've done!" said the parrot.
+
+"Is he going to keep saying that?" Burnett asked.
+
+"I don't know," said Jack. "It comes in pretty pat, don't it?"
+
+"Makes me think of my mother," said Clover. "I wish it wouldn't."
+
+"I don't catch who's sayin' what," said Aunt Mary.
+
+"Nobody's saying anything, Miss Watkins," roared Mitchell; "we are all
+talking airy nothings just to pass the time o' day."
+
+The carriage stopped three hundred feet below the level of a roof garden.
+
+"We get out here," said Burnett.
+
+They all got out and went up in an elevator.
+
+"Seems to be a good many goin' to the same place," said Aunt Mary.
+
+"Yes," said Mitchell, "a good many people generally go to places that are
+great places for a good many people to go to."
+
+"You ought not to end with a preposition," said Clover.
+
+"There, I left my ear-trumpet in the carriage!" said Aunt Mary.
+
+There was a pause of consternation. No one spoke except the parrot.
+
+"We know what she's done without your telling us," said Clover, addressing
+the bird. "The question is what to do next?"
+
+Jack went back downstairs and found the carriage waiting in hopes of
+picking up another load. He lost no time in personally picking up the
+ear-trumpet and returning to his friends.
+
+Then they all proceeded above and bought a table and turned their chairs
+to the stage, where the attraction just at that moment was a quartette of
+pretty girls.
+
+"I'll tell you what we'll do," said Burnett the instant the girls began to
+sing. "Let's each tie a card to a mouse and present them to the girls!"
+
+The suggestion found favor and was followed out to the letter. But when
+the girls were through and the Chinaman who followed them on the programme
+was also over, the pleasures of life in that spot palled upon the party.
+
+"Oh, come," said Burnett, "let's go somewhere else. Let's go out in the
+air."
+
+His suggestion found favor. And they sallied forth and visited another
+roof garden, a theater where they saw the last quarter of the fourth act,
+a place where Aunt Mary was given a gondola ride, and a place where she
+was given something in the shape of light refreshments.
+
+Then, becoming thirsty, they ordered a few White Horses and Red Horses and
+the Necks of yet other horses, but Aunt Mary declined the horses of all
+colors and Mitchell upheld her.
+
+"That's right," he said, "I'm a great believer in knowing when you've had
+enough, and I'm sure you've all had so much too much that I know that I
+must have had enough and that she's better off with none at all."
+
+"I reckon you're right," said Clover. "I've had enough, surely. I can't
+see over my pile of little saucers, and when I can't see over my pile of
+little saucers I'm always positive that I've had enough."
+
+Jack laughed and then ceased laughing and drew down the corners of his
+mouth.
+
+"Why do people sit on chairs?" Clover asked just then. "Why don't everyone
+sit on the floor? You never feel as if you might slip off the floor."
+
+"Ah," said Mitchell, "if we were not always trying to rise above Nature we
+should all be sitting where Nature intended,--when we weren't swinging by
+our tails and picking cocoanuts."
+
+"Come on and let's go somewhere else," said Burnett. "Every time I look at
+somebody it's someone else and that makes me nervous."
+
+"Now see what you've done!" said the parrot.
+
+"Did you know his long suit when you bought him?" Clover asked Burnett.
+
+"No," said Burnett; "they told me that he didn't use slang and that was
+all."
+
+It was well along in the evening--or night--and a brisk discussion arose as
+to where to go next.
+
+"I'll tell you," said Clover, "we'll take a ride. Let me see what time is
+it?--12.30. Just the time for a drive. We'll take three cabs and sally
+forth and drive up and down and back and forth in the cool night air."
+
+"And jews-harps!" cried Burnett. "Oh, I say, there's a bully idea! We'll
+go to a drug store and buy some jews-harps and play on them as we drive
+along. We'll each sing our own tune, and the effect will be so novel.
+Let's do it."
+
+"Jews-harps--" said Clover thoughtfully, "jews-harps for three cabs--that'll
+make--let me see--that'll make--" he hesitated.
+
+"Oh, the driver will make the change," said Burnett impatiently. "Come on.
+If we're going to have the cabs and jews-harps it's time to get out and
+take the stump in the good cause."
+
+"Where's my ear-trumpet?" said Aunt Mary, blankly,--"it's been left
+somewhere."
+
+"No, it hasn't," said Mitchell. "It's here! I'm holding it for you. It's
+much easier holding it than picking it up. It seems so slippery to-night."
+
+"I'm not going out to get the cabs," said Clover. "I thought of the idea
+and someone else must work it out. I'm opposed to working after time and I
+call time at midnight."
+
+Mitchell rose with a depressed air.
+
+"I'll go," he said. "I feel the need of a walk. When I feel the need of
+anything I always take it and I've needed and taken so freely to-night
+that I need to take a walk to--"
+
+"I don't think it funny to talk that way," said Burnett a little heatedly.
+"If you want to get the cabs why get the cabs. I'm going to get them, too,
+and I reckon we can get them combined just as easy as alone."
+
+"I will go with you," said his friend solemnly. "I will accompany you
+because I feel the need--" He stopped and turned his hat over and over. "I
+know there's a hole to put my head into," he declared, "but I can't just
+put my hand--I mean my head--on to--I mean, into--it."
+
+"Do you expect to find a brass hand pointing to it?" said Burnett testily.
+"Come on!"
+
+"Three cabs and five--or was it six?--jews-harps?" continued Mitchell
+dreamily. "It must have been six, five for we five, and one for Lord
+Chesterfield--but where is Lord Chesterfield?" he asked suddenly with a
+disturbed glance around. "I hope he hasn't deserted and gone home."
+
+"Come on, come on!" said Burnett. "There won't be a sober cab left if we
+don't hurry while everything is still able to stand up."
+
+This reasoning seemed to alarm Mitchell and he went out with him at once.
+
+"My head feels awfully," said Clover to Jack. "It sort of grinds and
+grates--does yours?"
+
+Jack stared straight ahead and made no reply.
+
+"I'm goin' home no more to roam," said Aunt Mary slowly and sadly,--"I'm
+goin' home no more to roam, no more to sin an' sorrow. I'm goin' home no
+more to roam--I'm goin' home to-morrow. O hum!" She heaved a heavy sigh.
+
+"Now see what you've done!" said the parrot with emphasis.
+
+"Never mind," said Clover bitterly. "Better people than you have gone home
+before now; I used to do it myself before I was old enough to know worse.
+Will you excuse me if I say, 'Damn this buzzing in my head?'"
+
+"I know how you feel," said Aunt Mary sympathetically. "Don't you want me
+to ring for the porter and have him make up your berth right away?"
+
+Clover didn't seem to hear. His eyes were roving moodily about the room;
+they looked almost as faded as his mustache.
+
+"Seems to me they're gone a long time," said Jack presently, twisting a
+little in his seat. "It never takes me so long to get a cab. I hold up my
+hand--the man stops--and I get in--what's the matter, Aunt Mary?" He asked
+the question in sudden alarm at seeing Aunt Mary bury her face hastily in
+her handkerchief.
+
+"What's the matter?" he repeated loudly.
+
+"Don't mind me," said Aunt Mary sobbing. "It's just that I happened to
+just think of Lu--Lu--Lucinda--and somehow I don't seem to have no strength
+to bear it."
+
+"Split the handkerchief between us," said Clover. "I want to cry, too, and
+there's no time like the present for doing what you want to do."
+
+"Rot!" said Jack, "look here--"
+
+He was interrupted by the return of the embassy, Mitchell bearing the
+jews-harps.
+
+"What's the matter?" Burnett asked.
+
+"Nothing," said Clover; "we were so worried over you, that's all." Burnett
+called for the bill and found that he had run out of cash; "Or maybe I've
+had my pocket picked," he suggested. "I'm beginning to be in just the mood
+in which I always get my pocket picked."
+
+Jack produced a roll of bills and settled for the refreshments. Then they
+all started down stairs as Aunt Mary wouldn't risk an elevator going down.
+
+"It's all right comin' up," she said, "but if it broke when you were going
+down where'd you be?"
+
+"In the elevator," said Clover. "I'd never jump, I know that."
+
+"Oh, I've left my ear-trumpet," said Aunt Mary.
+
+"Let's draw lots to see who goes back?" Burnett suggested.
+
+They drew and the lot fell to Clover.
+
+"I'm not going back," he said coldly. "I haven't got the energy. Let her
+apply the megaphone."
+
+Jack went back.
+
+Then they all got into the street and into the cabs. Aunt Mary and Jack
+went first, Mitchell and Burnett second, and Clover brought up the rear
+alone.
+
+They set off and it must be admitted that the effect of the three cabs
+going single file one after another with their five occupants giving forth
+a most imperfect version of his or her favorite tune, was at once novel
+and awe-inspiring. But like all sweet things upon this earth the concert
+was not of long endurance. It was only a few minutes before the duos
+ceased utterly to duo and the soloist in the rear fell sound asleep. For
+several blocks there was a mournful and tell-tale lack of harmony upon the
+air and then the three young men seemed to have exhausted their mouths and
+all lapsed into a more or less conscious state of quietude.
+
+Only Aunt Mary was indefatigable. Like Cleopatra, age seemed to have no
+power to stale her infinite variety, and leaning back in her own corner
+she continued to placidly and peacefully intone with disregard for time
+and tune which never ruffled a wrinkle. She hadn't played on a jews-harp
+in sixty years, and being deaf she was pleasantly astonished at how well
+she still did it. Jack leaned in his corner with folded arms; he was
+deeply conscious of wishing that it was the next day--any day--any other
+day--for the week had been a wearing one and he could not but be mortally
+glad that it was so nearly over. The task of fitting the plan of Aunt
+Mary's revelries to the measure of her personal capacity had been a very
+hard one and his soul panted for relief therefrom. It is one thing to
+undertake a task and another thing to persevere to its successful
+completion. Aunt Mary's nephew was tired--very tired.
+
+A little later he felt a weight against him; he looked; it was Aunt Mary's
+head,--she was oblivious there on his bosom.
+
+He heard a voice; it was the parrot.
+
+"Now see what you've done," it said in sepulchral tones.
+
+They reached the house, bore the honored guest within, and delivered her
+to Janice.
+
+"You can have that parrot," Jack called back to the cabman. "He's
+guaranteed against slang."
+
+The cabman drove away.
+
+Janice received them with a look which might have been construed in many
+ways, but they were all far past construing and the look fell to the
+ground unheeded.
+
+And again Aunt Mary was tucked carefully up to dream herself rested once
+more.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER EIGHTEEN - A DEPARTURE AND A RETURN
+
+
+The next day poor Aunt Mary had to undergo the ordeal of being obliged to
+turn her face away from all those joys which had so suddenly and
+brilliantly altered the hues of life for her. It pretty nearly used her
+up. She took her reviving decoction with tears standing in her eyes,--and
+sat down the glass with a bursting sigh. "My, but I wish I knew when I'd
+be taking any more of this?" she said to Janice.
+
+"Oh, you'll come back to the city some day," said the maid hopefully.
+
+"Come back!" said Aunt Mary. "Well, I should say that I would come back!
+Why--I--?" she stopped suddenly, "never mind," she said after a minute,
+"only you'll see that I'll come back. Pretty surely--pretty positively."
+
+Janice was folding her dresses into the small trunk. Aunt Mary
+contemplated the green plaid waist with an air of mournful reflection.
+
+"I believe I'll always keep that waist rolled away," she murmured. "I
+shall like to shake it out once in a while to remind me of things."
+
+"Hand me my purse," she said to the maid five minutes afterwards. "Here's
+twenty-five dollars an' I want you to take it and get anythin' you like
+with it."
+
+"But that's too much," Janice cried, putting her hands behind her and
+shaking her head.
+
+"Take it," said Aunt Mary imperiously; "you're well worth it."
+
+"I don't like to--truly," said the girl.
+
+"Take it," said Aunt Mary sternly.
+
+So Janice took it and thanked her.
+
+The train went about 4 p.m., and it seemed wise to give the traveller a
+quiet luncheon in her own room and rally her escort afterwards.
+
+When she had eaten and drank she sighed again and thoughtfully folded her
+napkin.
+
+"I've had a nice time," she said, gazing fixedly out of the window. "I've
+had a nice time, and I guess those young men have enjoyed it, too. I
+rather think my bein' here has given them a chance to go to a good many
+places where they'd never have thought of goin' alone. I'm pretty sure of
+it."
+
+Janice made no reply.
+
+"But it's all over now," said Aunt Mary with something that sounded
+suspiciously like a sob in her voice, "an' I haven't got only just one
+consolation left an' that's--" again she paused.
+
+Janice carried the tray away and the next minute they all burst in bearing
+their parting gifts in their arms.
+
+The gifts were an indiscriminate collection of flowers, candy, magazines,
+books, etc.
+
+Aunt Mary opened her closet door and showed the four dressing-cases.
+Everyone but Jack was mightily surprised and everyone was mightily
+pleased. The room looked like Christmas, and the faces, too.
+
+"I shall die with my head on the hair brush," Clover declared, and
+Mitchell went down on his knees and kissed Aunt Mary's hand.
+
+"You must all come an' see me if you ever go anywhere near," said the old
+lady. "Now promise."
+
+"We promise," they yelled in unison, and then they asked in beautiful
+rhythm "What's the matter with Aunt Mary?" and yelled the answer "She's
+all right!" with a fervor that nearly blew out the window.
+
+"I declare," Aunt Mary exclaimed, as the echoes settled back among the
+furniture, "when I think of Lucinda seems as if--" she paused; further
+speech was for the nonce impossible.
+
+"The carriages are ready," Janice announced at the door, and from then
+until they reached the train all was confusion and bustle.
+
+Only the train whistle could drown the farewells which they poured into
+her ear-trumpet, and when they could hover in her drawing-room no longer
+they stood outside the window as long as the window was there to stand
+outside of. And then they watched it until it was out of sight, and after
+that turned solemnly away.
+
+"By grab!" said Burnett, "I think she ought to leave us all fortunes. I
+never was so completely done up in my life."
+
+"My throat's blistered," said Clover feebly; "I'm going to stand on my
+head and gargle with salve until my throat's healed."
+
+"I shall never shine on the team again," said Mitchell. "I shall hire out
+for bleacher work. He who has successfully conversed with Aunt Mary need
+not fear to attack a Wagner Opera single-handed."
+
+Jack did not say anything. His heart was athirst for Mrs. Rosscott.
+
+She was back in her own library the next night, and he rushed thither as
+soon as his first day's labor was over. She was prettier and her eyes were
+sweeter and brighter than ever as she rose to meet him and held out--first
+one hand, and then both. He took the one hand and then the two and the
+longing that possessed him was so overwhelming that only his acute
+consideration for all she was to him kept him from taking more yet.
+
+"And the week's over," she said, when she had dragged her fingers out of
+his and gone and nestled down upon the divan, among the pillows that
+rivaled each other in their attempts to get closer to her, "the week's all
+over and our aunt is gone."
+
+"Yes," he said, rolling his favorite chair up near to her seat, "all is
+over and well over."
+
+She smiled and he smiled too.
+
+"She must have enjoyed it," she said thoughtfully.
+
+"Enjoyed it!" said Jack. "She won't like Paradise in comparison."
+
+"And you've been a good boy," said Mrs. Rosscott, regarding him merrily.
+"You've played your part well."
+
+He rose to his feet and put his hand to his temple.
+
+"I salute my general," he said. "I was well trained in the maneuver."
+
+"It's odd," said Mrs. Rosscott thoughtfully. "It was really so simple. We
+are only women after all, whether it is I--or Aunt Mary--or all the rest of
+the world. We do so crave the knowledge that someone cares for us--for our
+hours--for our pleasures. It isn't the bonbons--it's that someone troubled
+to buy the bonbons because he thought that they would please _us_."
+
+"Doesn't a man have the same feeling?" Jack asked. "It isn't the tea we
+come for--it's the knowledge that someone bothers to make it and sugar it
+and cream it."
+
+"I wasn't laughing," said she.
+
+"I wasn't laughing either," said he.
+
+"But it's true," she went on, "and I think the solution of many unhappy
+puzzles lies there. Don't forget if you ever have a wife to pay lots of
+attention to her."
+
+"I always have paid lots of attention to her, haven't I?" he demanded.
+
+Mrs. Rosscott shook her head.
+
+"We won't discuss that," she said. "We'll stick to Aunt Mary. Aunt Mary is
+a rock whose foundation is firm; when it comes to your relations toward
+other women--" she stopped, shrugging her shoulders, and he understood.
+
+"But it's going to come out all right now, I'm sure," she went on after a
+minute, "and I'm so glad--so very glad--that the chance was given to me to
+right the wrong that I was the cause of."
+
+                             [Illustration 6]
+
+   "'And now the fun's all over and the work begins,' she said, looking
+                                  down."
+
+
+He looked at her and his eyes almost burned, they were so strong in their
+leaping desire to fling himself at her feet and adore her goodness and
+sweetness and worldliness and wisdom from that vantage-ground of worship.
+
+She choked a little at the glance and put her hands together in her lap
+with a quick catching at self-control.
+
+"And now the fun's all over and the work begins," she said, looking down.
+
+"I know that," he asseverated.
+
+She lifted up her eyes and looked at him so very kindly. And then--after a
+little pause to gain command of word and thought she spoke again, slowly.
+
+"Listen," she said, this time very softly, but very seriously. "I want to
+tell you one thing and I want to tell it to you now. I had a good and
+sufficient reason for helping you out with Aunt Mary; but--" She hesitated.
+
+"But?" he asked.
+
+"But I've no reason at all for helping your Aunt Mary out with you, unless
+you prove worthy of her, and--"
+
+"And?"
+
+She looked at him, and shook her head slightly.
+
+"I won't say 'and of me,'" she said finally.
+
+"Why not?" he asked, a storm of tempestuous impatience raging behind his
+lips. "Do say it," he pleaded.
+
+"No, I can't say it. It wouldn't be right. I don't mean it, and so I won't
+say it. I'll only tell you that I can promise nothing as things are, and
+that unless you go at life from now on with a tremendous energy I never
+shall even dream of a possible promising."
+
+He rose to his feet and towered above her, tall and straight and handsome,
+and very grave.
+
+"All right," he said simply. "I'll remember."
+
+Ever so much later that evening he rose to bid her good-night.
+
+"Whatever comes, you've been an angel to me," he said in that hasty five
+seconds that her hand was his.
+
+"Shall I ever regret it?" she asked, looking up to his eyes.
+
+"Never," he declared earnestly, "never, never. I can swear that, and I
+shall be able to swear the same thing when I'm as old as my Aunt Mary."
+
+Mrs. Rosscott lowered her eyes.
+
+"Who could ask more?" she said softly.
+
+"I could," said Jack--"but I'll wait first."
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER NINETEEN - AUNT MARY'S RETURN
+
+
+Joshua was at the station to meet his mistress, and Lucinda, full to the
+brim with curiosity, sat on the back seat of the carryall.
+
+Aunt Mary quitted the train with a dignity which was sufficiently
+overpowering to counteract the effect of her bonnet's being somewhat awry.
+She greeted Joshua with a chill perfunctoriness that was indescribable,
+and her glance glided completely over Lucinda and faded away in the open
+country on the further side of her.
+
+Lucinda did not care. Lucinda was of a hardy stock and stormy glances
+neither bent nor broke her spirit.
+
+"I'm glad to see you come back looking so well," she screamed, when Aunt
+Mary was in and they were off.
+
+Aunt Mary raised her eyebrows in a manner that appeared a trifle
+indignant, and riveted her gaze on the hindquarters of the horse.
+
+"I thought it was more like heaven myself," she said coldly. "Not that
+your opinion matters any to me, Lucinda."
+
+Then she leaned forward and poked the driver.
+
+"Joshua!" she said.
+
+Joshua jumped in his seat at the asperity of her poke and her tone.
+
+"What is it?" he said hastily.
+
+"Jus' 's soon as we get home I want you to take the saw--that little, sharp
+one, you know--and dock Billy's tail. Cut it off as close as you can; do
+you hear?"
+
+"I hear," was the startled answer.
+
+"Did you have a good time?" Lucinda had the temerity to ask, after a
+minute.
+
+"I guess I could if I tried," the lady replied; "but I'm too tired to try
+now."
+
+"How did you leave Mr. Jack?"
+
+"I couldn't stay forever, could I?" asked the traveler impatiently. "I
+thought that a week was long enough for the first time, anyhow."
+
+Lucinda subsided and the rest of the drive was taken in silence. When they
+reached the house Aunt Mary enveloped everything in one glance of blended
+weariness, scorn and contempt, and then made short work of getting to bed,
+where she slept the luxurious and dreamless sleep of the unjust until late
+that afternoon.
+
+"My, but she's come back a terror!" Lucinda cried to Joshua in a high
+whisper when he brought in the trunk. "She looks like nothin' was goin' to
+be good enough for her from now on."
+
+"Nothin' ain't goin' to be good enough for her," said Joshua calmly.
+
+"What are we goin' to do, then?" asked Lucinda.
+
+"We'll have enough to do," said Joshua, in a tone that was portentous in
+the extreme, and then he placed the trunk in its proper position for
+unpacking and went away, leaving Lucinda to unpack it.
+
+Aunt Mary awoke just as the faithful servant was unrolling the green plaid
+waist, and the instant that she spoke it was plain that her attitude
+toward life in general was become strangely and vigorously changed, and
+that for Lucinda the rack was to be newly oiled and freshly racking.
+
+This attitude was not in any degree altered by the unexpected arrival of
+Arethusa that evening. Strange tales had reached Arethusa's ears, and she
+had flown on the wings of steam and coal dust to see what under the sun it
+all meant. Aunt Mary was not one bit rejoiced to see her and the glare
+which she directed over the edge of the counterpane bore testimony to the
+truth of this statement.
+
+"Whatever did you come for?" she demanded inhospitably. "Lucinda didn't
+send for you, did she?"
+
+Arethusa screamed the best face that she could onto her visit, but Aunt
+Mary listened with an inattention that was anything but flattering.
+
+"I don't feel like talkin' over my trip," she said, when she saw her
+niece's lips cease to move. "Of course I enjoyed myself because I was with
+Jack, but as to what we did an' said you couldn't understand it all if I
+did tell you, so what's the use of botherin'."
+
+Arethusa looked neutral, calm and curious. But Aunt Mary frowned and shook
+her head.
+
+"S'long as you're here, though, I suppose you may as well make yourself
+useful," she said a few minutes later. "Come to think of it, there's an
+errand I want you to do for me. I want you to go to Boston the very first
+thing to-morrow morning an' buy me some cotton."
+
+Arethusa stared blankly.
+
+"Well," said the aunt, "if you can't hear, you'd better take my
+ear-trumpet and I'll say it over again."
+
+"What kind of cotton?" Arethusa yelled.
+
+"Not _stockin's!_" said Aunt Mary; "Cotton! Cotton! C-O-T-T-O-N! It beats
+the Dutch how deaf everyone is gettin', an' if I had your ears in
+particular, Arethusa, I'd certainly hire a carpenter to get at 'em with a
+bit-stalk. Jus's if you didn't know as well as I do how many stockin's
+I've got already! I should think you'd quit bein' so heedless, an' use
+your commonsense, anyhow. I've found commonsense a very handy thing in
+talkin' always. Always."
+
+Arethusa launched herself full tilt into the ear-trumpet.
+
+"What--kind--of--cotton?" she asked in that key of voice which makes the
+crowd pause in a panic.
+
+Aunt Mary looked disgusted.
+
+"The Boston kind," she said, nipping her lips.
+
+Arethusa took a double hitch on her larynx, and tried again.
+
+"Do you mean thread?"
+
+Aunt Mary's disgust deepened visibly.
+
+"If I meant silk I guess I wouldn't say cotton. I might just happen to say
+silk. I've been in the habit of saying silk when I meant silk and cotton
+when I meant cotton, for quite a number of years, and I might not have
+changed to-day--I might just happen to not have. I might not have--maybe."
+
+Arethusa withered under this bitter irony.
+
+"How many spools do you want?" she asked in a meek but piercing howl.
+
+"I don't care," said Aunt Mary loftily. "I don't care how many--or what
+color--or what number. I just want some Boston cotton, and I want to see
+you settin' out to get it pretty promptly to-morrow morning."
+
+"But if you only want some cotton," Arethusa yelled, with a force which
+sent crimson waves all over her, "why can't I get it in the village?"
+
+Aunt Mary shot one look at her niece and the latter felt the concussion.
+
+"Because--I--want--you--to--get--it--in--Boston," she said, filling the breaks
+between her words with a concentrated essence of acerbity such as even she
+had never displayed before. "When I say a thing, I mean it pretty
+generally. Quite often--most always. I want that cotton and it's to be
+bought in Boston. There's a train that goes in at seven-forty-five, and if
+you don't favor the idea of ridin' on it you can take the express that
+goes by at six-five."
+
+Arethusa pressed her hands very tightly together and carried the
+discussion no further. She went to bed early and rose early the next
+morning and Joshua drove her in town to the seven-forty-five.
+
+"It doesn't seem to me that my aunt is very well," the niece said during
+the drive. "What do you think?"
+
+"I don't think anything about her," said Joshua with great candor. "If I
+was to give to thinkin' I'd o' moved out to Chicago an' been scalpin'
+Indians to-day."
+
+"I wonder if that trip to New York was good for her?" Arethusa wondered
+mildly.
+
+Joshua flicked Billy with the whip and refused to voice any opinion as to
+New York's effect on his mistress.
+
+Arethusa was well on her way to Boston when Aunt Mary's bell, rung with a
+sharp jangle, summoned Lucinda to open her bedroom blinds. While Lucinda
+was leaning far out and attempting to cause said blinds to catch on the
+hooks, which habitually held them back against the side of the house, her
+mistress addressed her with a suddeness which showed that she had awakened
+with her wits surprisingly well in hand.
+
+"Where's Joshua? Is he got back from Arethusa? Answer me, Lucinda."
+
+Lucinda drew herself in through the open window with an alacrity
+remarkable for one of her years.
+
+"Yes, he's back," she yelled.
+
+Aunt Mary looked at her with a sort of incensed patience.
+
+"Well, what's he doin'? If he's back, where is he? Lucinda, if you knew
+how hard it is for me to keep quiet you'd answer when I asked things. Why
+in Heaven's name don't you say suthin'? Anythin'? Anythin' but nothin',
+that is."
+
+"He's mowin'," Lucinda shrieked.
+
+"Sewin'!" exclaimed Aunt Mary. "What's he sewin'? Where's he sewin'? Have
+you stopped doin' his darnin'?"
+
+Lucinda gathered breath by compressing her sides with her hands, and then
+replied, directing her voice right into the ear-trumpet:
+
+"He's mowin' the back lawn."
+
+Aunt Mary winced and shivered.
+
+"My heavens, Lucinda!" she exclaimed, sharply. "I wish't there was a
+school to teach outsiders the use of an ear-trumpet. They can't seem to
+hit the medium between either mumblin' or splittin' one's ear drums."
+
+Lucinda was too much out of breath from her effort to attempt any audible
+penitence. Her mistress continued:
+
+"Well, you find him wherever he is, and tell him to harness up the buggy
+and go and get Mr. Stebbins as quick as ever he can. Hurry!"
+
+Lucinda exited with a promptitude that fulfilled all that her lady's heart
+could wish. She found Joshua whetting his scythe.
+
+"She wants Mr. Stebbins right off," said Lucinda.
+
+"Then she'll get Mr. Stebbins right off," said Joshua. And he headed
+immediately for the barn.
+
+Lucinda ran along beside him. It did seem to Lucinda as if in compensation
+for her slavery to Aunt Mary she might have had a sympathizer in Joshua.
+
+"I guess she wants to change her will," she panted, very much out of
+breath.
+
+"Then she'll change her will," said Joshua. And as his steady gait was
+much quicker than poor Lucinda's halting amble, and as he saw no occasion
+to alter it, the conversation between them dwindled into space then and
+there.
+
+Half an hour later Billy went out of the drive at a swinging pace and an
+hour after that Mr. Stebbins was brought captive to Aunt Mary's throne.
+
+She welcomed him cordially; Lucinda was promptly locked out, and then the
+old lady and her lawyer spent a momentous hour together. Mr. Stebbins was
+taken into his client's fullest confidence; he was regaled with enough of
+the week's history to guess the rest; and he foresaw the outcome as he had
+foreseen it from the moment of the rupture.
+
+Aunt Mary was very sincere in owning up to her own past errors.
+
+"I made a big mistake about the life that boy was leadin'," she said in
+the course of the conversation. "He took me everywhere where he was in the
+habit of goin', an' so far from its bein' wicked, I never enjoyed myself
+so much in my life. There ain't no harm in havin' fun, an' it does cost a
+lot of money. I can understand it all now, an' as I'm a great believer in
+settin' wrong right whenever you can, I want Jack put right in my will
+right off. I want--" and then were unfolded the glorious possibilities of
+the future for her youngest, petted nephew. He was not only to be
+reinstated in the will, but he was to reign supreme. The other four
+children were to be rich--very rich,--but Jack was to be _the_ heir.
+
+Mr. Stebbins was well pleased. He was very fond of Jack and had always
+been particularly patient with him on that account. He felt that this was
+a personal reward of merit, for it cannot be denied that Jack had
+certainly cashed very large checks on the bank of his forbearance.
+
+When all was finished, and Joshua and Lucinda had been called in and had
+duly affixed their signatures to the important document, the buggy was
+brought to the door again and Mr. Stebbins stepped in and allowed himself
+to be replaced where they had taken him from.
+
+Joshua returned alone.
+
+"There, what did I tell you!" said Lucinda, who was waiting for him behind
+the wood-house,--"she did want to change her will."
+
+"Well, she changed it, didn't she?" said Joshua.
+
+"I guess she wants to give him all she's got, since that week in New
+York," said Lucinda.
+
+"Then she'll give him all she's got," said Joshua.
+
+Lucinda's eyes grew big.
+
+"An' she'll give it to you, too, if you don't look out and stay where you
+can hear her bell if she rings it," Joshua added, with his usual
+frankness, and then he whipped up Billy and drove on to the barn.
+
+Arethusa returned late in the afternoon, very warm, very wilted. Aunt Mary
+looked over the cotton purchase, and deigned to approve.
+
+"But, my heavens, Arethusa," she exclaimed immediately afterwards, "if you
+had any idea how dirty and dusty and altogether awful you do look, you
+wouldn't be able to get to soap and water fast enough."
+
+At that poor Arethusa sighed, and, gathering up her hat, and hat-pins, and
+veil, and gloves, and purse, and handkerchief, went away to wash.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY - JACK'S JOY
+
+
+About the first of July many agreeable things happened.
+
+One was that Mr. Stebbins found it advisable to address a discreet letter
+to John Watkins, Jr., Denham, conveying the information that although he
+must not count unduly upon the future, still, if he behaved himself, he
+might with safety allow his expenditures to mount upward monthly to a
+certain limit. This was the way in which Aunt Mary salved her conscience
+and saved her pride all at once.
+
+"I don't want him to think that I don't mean things when I say 'em," she
+had carefully explained to Mr. Stebbins, "but I can't bear to think that
+there's anybody in New York without money enough to have a good time
+there."
+
+Mr. Stebbins had made a note of the sum which the allowance was to compass
+and had promised to write the letter at once.
+
+"What did you do the last time you were in the city?" Aunt Mary asked.
+
+"I was much occupied with business," said the lawyer, "but I found time to
+visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art and--"
+
+"Good gracious!" exclaimed Aunt Mary, "who was takin' you 'round! I never
+had a second for any museums or arts;--you ought to have seen a vaudeville,
+or that gondola place! I was ferried around four times and the music
+lasted all through." She stopped and reflected. "I guess you can make that
+money a hundred a month more," she said slowly. "I don't want the boy to
+ever feel stinted or have to run in debt."
+
+Mr. Stebbins smiled, and the result was that Jack began to pay up the
+bills for his aunt's entertainment very much more rapidly than he had
+anticipated doing.
+
+Another pleasant thing was that a week or so later--very soon after Mrs.
+Rosscott had given up her town house and returned to the protection of the
+parental slate-tiles--Burnett's father, a peppery but jovial old gentleman
+(we all know the kind), suddenly asked why Bob never came home any more.
+This action on the part of the head of the house being tantamount to the
+completest possible forgiveness and obliviousness of the past, Burnett's
+mother, of whom the inquiry had been made, wept tears of sincerest joy and
+wrote to the youngest of her flock to return to the ancestral fold just as
+soon as he possibly could. He came, and as a result, a fortnight later
+Jack came, and Mitchell came, and Clover came. Mrs. Rosscott, as we have
+previously stated, was already there, and so were Maude Lorne and a great
+many others. Some of the others were pretty girls and Burnett and two of
+his friends found plenty to amuse them, but Burnett's dearest friend, his
+bosom friend, his Fidus Achates, found no one to amuse him, because he was
+in earnest, and had eyes for no feminine prettiness, his sight being
+dazzled by the radiance of one surpassing loveliness. He had worked
+tremendously hard the first month of daily laboring, and felt he deserved
+a reward. Be it said for Jack that the reward of which Aunt Mary had the
+bestowing counted for very little with him except in its relation to the
+far future. The real goal which he was striving toward, the real laurels
+that he craved--Ah! they lay in another direction.
+
+Middle July is a lovely time to get off among the trees and grass, and lie
+around in white flannels or white muslins, just as the case may be. It was
+too warm to do much else than that, and Heaven knows that Jack desired
+nothing better, as long as his goddess smiled upon him.
+
+It was curious about his goddess. She seemed to grow more beautiful every
+time that he saw her. Perhaps it was her native air that gave her that
+charming flush; perhaps it was the joy of being at home again; perhaps it
+was--no, he didn't dare to hope that. Not yet. Not even with all that she
+had done for him fresh in his memory. The humility of true love was so
+heavy on his heart that his very dreams were dulled with hopelessness, the
+majority of them seeming too vividly dyed in Paradise hues for their
+fulfillment in daily life to ever appear possible. But still he was very,
+very happy to be there with her--beside her--and to hear her voice and look
+into her eyes whenever the trouble some "other people" would leave them
+alone together. And she did seem happy, too. And so rejoiced that the tide
+of Aunt Mary's wrath had been successfully turned. And so rejoiced that he
+was at work, even in the face of her hopes as to his college career. And
+also so rejoiced to take up the gay, careless thread of their mutual
+pleasure again.
+
+The morning after the gathering of the party was Saturday and an ideal
+day--that sort of ideal day when house parties naturally sift into pairs
+and then fade away altogether. The country surrounding our particular
+party was densely wooded and not at all settled, the woods were laid out
+in a fascinating system of walks and benches which in no case commanded
+views of one another, and the shade overhead was the shade of July and as
+propitious to rest as it was to motion. Mitchell took a girl in gray and
+two sets of golf clubs and started out in the opposite direction from the
+links, Clover took a girl in green and a camera and went another way,
+Burnett took a girl in a riding habit and two saddle horses and followed
+the horses' noses whither they led, and Jack--Jack smoked cigarettes on the
+piazza and waited--waited.
+
+Mrs. Rosscott came out after a while and asked him why he didn't go to
+walk also.
+
+"Just what I was thinking as to yourself," he said, very boldly as to
+voice, and very beseechingly as to eyes.
+
+"Oh, I'm so busy," she said, laughing up into his eyes and then laughing
+down at the ground--"you see I'm the only married daughter to help mamma."
+
+"But you've been helping all the morning," he complained, "and besides how
+can you help? One would think that your mother was beating eggs or turning
+mattresses."
+
+"I have to work harder than that," said Mrs. Rosscott; "I have to make
+people know one another and like one another and not all want to make love
+to the same girl."
+
+"You can't help their all wanting to make love to the same girl," said
+Jack; "the more you try to convince them of their folly the deeper in love
+they are bound to fall. I'm an illustration of that myself."
+
+Mrs. Rosscott looked at him then and curved her mouth sweetly.
+
+"You do say such pretty things," she said. "I don't see how you've learned
+so much in so little time. Why, General Jiggs in there is three times your
+age and he tangles himself awfully when he tries to be sweet."
+
+"Perhaps his physician has recommended gymnastics," said Jack.
+
+"Perhaps," said Mrs. Rosscott laughing, and then she turned as if to go
+in.
+
+"Oh, don't," said her lover, barring the way with great suddenness; "you
+really mustn't, you know. I've been patient for so long and been good for
+so long and I must be rewarded--I really must. Do come out with me
+somewhere--anywhere--for only a half-hour,--please."
+
+She looked at him.
+
+"Won't Maude do?" she asked.
+
+"No, she won't," he said beneath his breath; "whatever do you suggest such
+a thing for? You make me ready to tell you to your face that you want to
+go as bad as I want you to go, but I shan't say so because I know too
+much."
+
+"You do know a lot, don't you?" said she, with an expression of great
+respect; "why, if you were to dare to hint to me that I wanted to go out
+with you instead of staying in and talking Rembrandt with Mr. Morley, I'd
+never forgive you the longest day I live."
+
+"I know you wouldn't," said he, "and you may be quite sure that I shall
+not say it. On the contrary I shall merely implore you to forget your own
+pleasure in consideration of mine."
+
+"I really ought to devote the morning to Mr. Morley," she said
+meditatively; "it's such an honor his coming here, you know."
+
+"A little bit of a whiskered monkey," said Jack in great disgust; "an
+honor, indeed!"
+
+"He's a very great man," said Mrs. Rosscott; "every sort of institution
+has given him a few letters to put after his name, and some have given him
+whole syllables."
+
+"You must get a straw hat, you know, or a sun-shade; it will be hot in
+half an hour."
+
+"Oh, I couldn't stay out half an hour; fifteen minutes would be the
+longest."
+
+"All right, fifteen minutes, then, but do hurry."
+
+"I didn't say that I would go," she said, opening her eyes; "and yet I
+feel myself gone." She laughed lightly.
+
+"Do hurry," he pleaded freshly; "oh, I am so hungry to--"
+
+She disappeared within doors and five minutes later came back with one of
+those charming floppy English garden hats, tied with a muslin bow beneath
+her dimpled chin.
+
+"This is so good of me," she said, as they went down the steps.
+
+"Very good, heavenly good," said Jack; and then neither spoke again until
+they had crossed the Italian garden and entered the American wood. She
+looked into his eyes then and smiled half-shyly and half-provokingly.
+
+"You are such a baby," she said; "such a baby! Do ask me why and I'll tell
+you half a dozen whys. I'd love to."
+
+The path was the smoothest and shadiest of forest paths, the hour was the
+sweetest and sunniest of summer hours, the moment was the brightest and
+happiest of all the moments which they had known together--up to now.
+
+"Do tell me," he said; "I'm wild to know."
+
+He took her hand and laid it on his arm. For that little while she was
+certainly his and his alone, and no man had a better claim to her. "Go on
+and tell me," he repeated.
+
+"There is one big reason and there are lots of little ones. Which will you
+have first?"
+
+"The little ones, please."
+
+"Then, listen; you are like a baby because you are impatient, because you
+are spoilt, because when you want anything you think that you must have
+it, and because you like to be walked with."
+
+"Are those the little reasons," he said when she paused; "and what's the
+big one?"
+
+"The big one," she said slowly; "Oh, I'm afraid that you won't like the
+big one!"
+
+"Perhaps it will be all the better for me if I don't," he laughed; "at any
+rate I beg and pray and plead to know it."
+
+"What a dear boy!" she laughed. "If you want to know as badly as that, I'd
+have to tell you anyhow, whether I wanted to or not. It's because I'm so
+much the oldest."
+
+"Oh!" said Jack, much disappointed. "Is that why?"
+
+"And then too," she continued, "you seem even younger because of your
+being so unsophisticated."
+
+"So I am unsophisticated, am I?" he asked grimly.
+
+"Yes," she said nodding; "at least you impress me so."
+
+"I'm glad of that," he said after a little pause.
+
+She looked up quickly.
+
+"Truly?"
+
+"Yes, indeed."
+
+"Oh," she laughed, "if you say that, then I shall know that you are less
+unsophisticated than I thought you were."
+
+"Why so?" he asked surprised.
+
+"Don't you know that meek, mild men always try to insinuate that they are
+regular fire-eaters, and vice versa? Well, it's so--and it's so every time.
+There was once a man who was kissing me, and he drew my hands up around
+his neck in such a clever, gentle way that I was absolutely positive that
+he had had no end of practice drawing arms up in that way and I just
+couldn't help saying: 'Oh, how many women you must have kissed!' What do
+you think he answered?--merely smiled and said: 'Not so many as you might
+imagine.' He showed how much he knew by the way he answered, for oh! he
+had. I found that out afterwards."
+
+"What did you do then?" he asked, frowning. "Cut him?"
+
+"No; I married him. Why, of course I was going to marry him when he kissed
+me, or I wouldn't have let him kiss me. Do you suppose I let men kiss me
+as a general thing? What are you thinking of?"
+
+"I was thinking of you," he said. "It's a horrible habit I've fallen into
+lately. But, never mind; keep on talking."
+
+"I don't remember what I was saying," she said. "Oh, yes, I do too. About
+men, about good and bad men. Now, even if I didn't know how much trouble
+you'd made in the world, I'd divine it all the instant that you were
+willing to admit being unsophisticated. People always crave to be the
+opposite of what they are; the drug shops couldn't sell any peroxide of
+hydrogen if that wasn't so."
+
+He laughed and forgot his previous vexation.
+
+"Now, look at me," she continued. "Oh, I didn't mean really--I mean
+figuratively; but never mind. Now, I'm nothing but a bubble and a toy, and
+I ache to be considered a philosopher. Don't you remember my telling you
+what a philosopher I was, the very first conversation that we ever had
+together? I do try so hard to delude myself into thinking I am one, that
+some days I'm almost sure that I really am one. Last night, for instance,
+I was thinking how nice it would be for my Cousin Maude to marry you."
+
+"Ye gods!" cried Jack.
+
+"She's so very rich," Mrs. Rosscott pursued calmly; "and you know the law
+of heredity is an established scientific fact now, so you could feel quite
+safe as to her nose skipping the next generation."
+
+Jack was audibly amused.
+
+"It's not anything to laugh over," his companion continued gravely. "It's
+something to ponder and pray over. If I were Maude I should be on my knees
+about it most of the time."
+
+"Nothing can help her now," said Jack. "Her parents have been and gone and
+done it, as far as she's concerned, forever. Prayer won't change her nose,
+although age may broaden it still more."
+
+"Don't you believe that nothing can help her now. A good-looking husband
+could help her lots. I've seen homelier girls than she go just
+everywhere--on account of their husbands, you know. That was where my
+philosophy came in."
+
+"I'd quite forgotten your philosophy." He laughed again as he spoke. "I
+must apologize. Please tell me more about it."
+
+She laughed, too.
+
+"I'm going to. You see, I was lying there, looking out at the moon, and
+thinking how nice it would be for Maude to marry you."
+
+"Did you consider me at all?" he interposed.
+
+"How you interrupt!" she declared, in exasperation. "You never let me
+finish."
+
+"I am dumb."
+
+"Well, I thought how nice it would be for Maude to marry you. You'd have a
+baron for a papa-in-law, and an heiress to balance Aunt Mary with. If you
+went into consumption and had to retreat to Arizona for a term of years,
+the climate could not ruin her complexion as it would m--most people's. And
+she's so ready to have you that it's almost pathetic. I can't imagine
+anything more awful than to be as ready to marry a man who is'nt at all
+desirous of so doing, as Maude is of marrying you. But if you would only
+think about it. I thought and thought about it last night and the longer I
+thought the more it seemed like such a nice arrangement all around; and
+then--all of a sudden--do you know I began to wonder if I was philosopher
+enough to enjoy being matron-of-honor to Maude and really--"
+
+"At the wedding I could have kissed you!" he exclaimed, and suddenly
+subsided at the look with which she withered his boldness.
+
+"And really I wasn't altogether sure; and then, it occurred to me that
+nothing on the face of the earth would ever persuade you to marry Maude.
+And I saw my card castle go smashing down, and then I saw that I really am
+a philosopher, after all, for--for I didn't mind a bit!"
+
+Jack threw his head back and roared.
+
+"Oh," he said after a minute, "you are so refreshing. You ruffle me up
+just to give me the joy of smoothing me down, don't you?"
+
+"I do what I can to amuse you," she said, demurely. "You are my father's
+guest and my brother's friend, and so I ought to--oughtn't I?"
+
+"Yes," he said, "I have a two-fold claim on you if you look at it that way
+and some day I mean to go to work and unfold still another."
+
+They had come to a delightful little nook where the trees sighed gently,
+"Sit down," and there seemed to be no adequate reason for refusing the
+invitation.
+
+"Let's rest, I know you're tired," the young man said gently, and the next
+minute found his companion down upon the soft grass, her back against a
+twisted tree-root and her hands about her knees.
+
+He threw himself down beside her and the hush and the song of mid-summer
+were all about them, filling the air, and their ears, and their hearts all
+at once.
+
+Presently he took her hand up out of the grass where its fingers had
+wandered to hide themselves, and kissed it. She looked at him reprovingly
+when it was too late, and shook her head.
+
+"Such a little one!" he said.
+
+"I call it a pretty big one," she answered.
+
+"I mean the hand--not the kiss," he said smiling.
+
+"You really are sophisticated," she told him. "Only fancy if you had
+reversed those nouns!"
+
+"I know," he said; "but I've kissed hands before. You see, I'm more
+talented than you think."
+
+"Don't be silly," she said smiling. "I really am beginning to think very
+well of you. You don't want me to cease to, do you?"
+
+"Why do women always say 'Don't be silly'?" he queried. "I wish I could
+find one who wanted to be very original, and so said, 'Do be silly', just
+for a change."
+
+"Dear me, if women were to beg men to be silly what would happen?" Mrs.
+Rosscott exclaimed. "The majority are so very foolish without any special
+egging on."
+
+"But it is so dreadfully time-worn--that one phrase."
+
+"Oh, if it comes to originality," she answered, "men are not original,
+either. Whenever they lie down in the shade, they always begin to talk
+nonsense. You reflect a bit and see if that isn't invariably so."
+
+"But nonsense is such fun to talk in the shade," he said, spreading her
+fingers out upon his own broad palm. "So many things are so next to
+heavenly in the shade."
+
+"You ought not to hold my hand."
+
+"I know it."
+
+"I am astonished that you do not remember your Aunt Mary's teaching you
+better."
+
+"She never forbade my holding your hand."
+
+"Suppose anyone should come suddenly down the path?"
+
+"They would see us and turn and go back."
+
+"To tell everyone--"
+
+"What?"
+
+"A lie."
+
+Jack laughed, folded her hand hard in his, and drew himself into a sitting
+posture beside her knee.
+
+"Now, don't be silly," she said with earnest anxiety. "I won't have it.
+It's putting false ideas in your head, because I'm really only playing,
+you know."
+
+"The shadow of love," he suggested.
+
+"Quite so."
+
+"And if--" He leaned quite near.
+
+"Not by any means," she exclaimed, springing quickly to her feet.
+"Come--come! It's quite time that we were going back to the house."
+
+"Why must we?" he remonstrated.
+
+"You know why," she said. "It's time we were being sensible. When a man
+gets as near as you are, I prefer to be _en promenade_. And don't let us
+be foolish any longer, either. Let us be cool and worldly. How much money
+has your aunt, anyhow?"
+
+Jack had risen, too.
+
+"What impertinence!" he ejaculated.
+
+"Not at all," she said. "Maude has so much money of her own that I ask in
+a wholly disinterested spirit."
+
+"She's very rich," said Jack. "But if your spirit is so disinterested,
+what do you want to know for?"
+
+"This is a world of chance, and the main chance in a woman's case is
+alimony; so it's always nice to know how to figure it."
+
+"It's a slim chance for your cousin," said Jack. "Do tell her that I said
+so."
+
+"No, I shan't," said she perversely. "I won't be a go-between for you and
+her. Besides, as to that alimony, there are more heiresses than Maude in
+our family."
+
+"Yes," said he; "I know that. But I know, too, that there is one among
+them who need never figure on getting any alimony out of me. If I ever get
+the iron grasp of the law on that heiress, I can assure you that only her
+death or mine will ever loosen its fangs."
+
+"How fierce you are!" said Mrs. Rosscott. "Why do you get so worked up?"
+
+"Oh," he exclaimed, with something approaching a groan, "I don't mean to
+be--but I do care so much! And sometimes--" he caught her quickly in his
+arms, drew her within their strong embrace, and kissed her passionately
+upon the lips that had been tantalizing him for five interminable months.
+
+He was almost frightened the next second by her stillness.
+
+"Don't be angry," he pleaded.
+
+"I'm not," she murmured, resting very quietly with her cheek against his
+heart. "But you'll have to marry me now. My other husband did, you know."
+
+"Marry you!" he exclaimed. "Next week? To-morrow? This afternoon? You need
+only say when--"
+
+"Oh, not for years and years," she said, interrupting him. "You mustn't
+dream of such a thing for years and years!"
+
+"For years and years!" he cried in astonishment.
+
+"That's what I said," she told him.
+
+He released her in his surprise and stared hard at her. And then he seized
+her again and kissed her soundly.
+
+"You don't mean it!" he declared.
+
+"I do mean it!" she declared.
+
+And then she shook her head in a very sweet but painfully resolute manner.
+
+"I won't be called a cradle-robber," she said, firmly; and at that her
+companion swore mildly but fervently.
+
+"You're so young," she said further; "and not a bit settled," she added.
+
+"But you're young, too," he reminded her.
+
+"I'm older than you are," she said.
+
+"I suppose that you aren't any more settled than I am, and that's why you
+hesitate," he said grimly.
+
+"Now that's unworthy of you," she cried; "and I have a good mind--"
+
+But the direful words were never spoken, for she was in his arms
+again--close in his arms; and, as he kissed her with a delicious sensation
+that it was all too good to be true, he whispered, laughing:
+
+"I always meant to lord it over my wife, so I'll begin by saying: 'Have it
+your own way, as long as I have you.'"
+
+Mrs. Rosscott laid her cheek back against his coat lapel, and looked up
+into his eyes with the sweetest smile that even he had ever seen upon even
+her face.
+
+"It's a bargain," she murmured.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE - THE PEACE AND QUIET OF THE COUNTRY
+
+
+Along in the beginning of the fall Aunt Mary began suddenly to grow very
+feeble indeed. After the first week or two it became apparent that she
+would have to be quiet and very prudent for some time, and it was when
+this information was imparted to her that the family discovered that she
+had been intending to go to New York for the Horse-Show.
+
+"She's awful mad," Lucinda said to Joshua. "The doctor says she'll have to
+stay in bed."
+
+"She won't stay in bed long," said Joshua.
+
+"The doctor says if she don't stay in bed she'll die," said Lucinda.
+
+"She won't die," said Joshua.
+
+Lucinda looked at Joshua and felt a keen desire to throw her flatiron at
+him. The world always thinks that the Lucindas have no feelings; the world
+never knows how near the flatirons come to the Joshuas often and often.
+
+Arethusa came for two days and looked the situation well over.
+
+"I think I won't stay," she said to Lucinda, "but you must write me twice
+a week and I'll write the others."
+
+Then Arethusa departed and Lucinda remained alone to superintend things
+and be superintended by Aunt Mary.
+
+Aunt Mary's superintendence waxed extremely vigorous almost at once. She
+had out her writing desk, and wrote Jack a letter, as a consequence of
+which everything published in New York was mailed to his aunt as soon as
+it was off the presses. Lucinda was set reading aloud and, except when the
+mail came, was hardly allowed to halt for food and sleep.
+
+"My heavens above," said the slave to Joshua, "it don't seem like I can
+live with her!"
+
+"You'll live with her," said Joshua.
+
+"It's more as flesh and blood can bear."
+
+"Flesh and blood can bear a good deal more'n you think for," said Joshua,
+and then he delivered up two letters and drove off toward the barn.
+
+"If those are letters," said Aunt Mary from her pillow the instant she
+heard the front door close, "I'd like 'em. I'm a great believer in readin'
+my own mail, an' another time, Lucinda, I'll thank you to bring it as soon
+as you get it an' not stand out on the porch hollyhockin' with Joshua for
+half an hour while I wait."
+
+Lucinda delivered up the letters without demanding what species of
+conversational significance her mistress attached to the phrase,
+"holly-hocking."
+
+Aunt Mary turned the letters through eagerly.
+
+"My lands alive!" she said suddenly, "if here isn't one from Mitchell,--the
+dear boy. Well, I never did!--Lucinda, open the blinds to the other window,
+too--so I--can--see to--" her voice died away,--she was too deep in the letter
+to recollect what she was saying.
+
+Mitchell wrote:
+
+
+    MY DEAR MISS WATKINS:--
+
+    We are sitting in a row with ashes on the heads of our cigarettes
+    mourning, mourning, mourning, because we have had the news that
+    you are ill. As usual it is up to me to express our feelings, so I
+    have decided to mail them and the others agree to pay for the ink.
+
+    I wish to remark at once that we did not sleep any last night.
+    Jack told us at dinner, and we spent the evening making a
+    melancholy tour of places where we had been with you. If you had
+    only been with us! The roof gardens are particularly desolate
+    without you. The whole of the city seems to realize it. The
+    watering carts weep from dawn to dark. All the lamp-posts are
+    wearing black. It is sad at one extreme and sadder at the other.
+
+    You must brace up. If you can't do that try a belt. Life is too
+    short to spend in bed. My motto has always been "Spend freely
+    everywhere else." At present I recommend anything calculated to
+    mend you. I may in all modesty mention that just before Christmas
+    I shall be traveling north and shall then adore to stop and cheer
+    you up a bit if you invite me. I have made it an invariable rule,
+    however, not to stay over night anywhere when I am not invited, so
+    I hope you will consider my feelings and send me an invitation.
+
+    My eyes fill as I think what it will be to sit beside you and
+    recall dear old New York. It will be the next best thing to being
+    run over by an automobile, won't it?
+
+                                    Yours, with fondest recollections,
+
+                                            HERBERT KENDRICK MITCHELL.
+
+
+Aunt Mary laid the letter down.
+
+"Lucinda," she said in a curiously veiled tone, "give me a handkerchief--a
+big one. As big a one as I've got."
+
+Lucinda did as requested.
+
+"Now, go away," said Aunt Mary.
+
+Lucinda went away. She went straight to Joshua.
+
+"She's had a letter an' read it an' it's made her cry," she said.
+
+"That's better'n if it made her mad," said Joshua, who was warming his
+hands at the stove.
+
+"I ain't sure that it won't make her mad later," said Lucinda. "Say, but
+she is a Tartar since she came back. Seems some days's if I couldn't
+live."
+
+"You'll live," said Joshua, and, as his hands were now well-warmed, he
+went out again.
+
+After a while Aunt Mary's bell jangled violently and Lucinda had to hurry
+back.
+
+"Lucinda, did the doctor say anythin' to you about how long he thought I
+might be sick?"
+
+"Yes, he did."
+
+"What did he say? I want to know jus' what he said. Speak up!"
+
+"He said he didn't have no idea how long you'd be sick."
+
+Aunt Mary threw a look at Lucinda that ought to have annihilated her.
+
+"I want to see Jack," she said. "Bring my writin' desk. Right off. Quick."
+
+She wrote to Jack, and he came up and spent the next Sunday with her,
+cheering her mightily.
+
+"I wish the others could have come, too," she said once an hour all
+through his visit. Mitchell's letter seemed to have bred a tremendous
+longing within her.
+
+"They'll come later," said Jack, with hearty good-will. "They all want to
+come."
+
+"I don't know how we could ever have any fun up here though," said his
+aunt sadly. "My heavens alive, Jack,--but this is an awful place to live
+in. And to think that I lived to be seventy before I found it out."
+
+Jack took her hand and kissed it. He did sympathize, even if he was only
+twenty-two and longing unutterably to be somewhere else and kissing
+someone else at that very minute.
+
+"Mitchell wrote me a letter," continued Aunt Mary. "He said he was comin'.
+Well, dear me, he can eat mince pie and drive with Joshua when he goes for
+the mail, but I don't know what else I can do with him. Oh, if I'd only
+been born in the city!"
+
+Jack kissed her hand again. He didn't know what to say. Aunt Mary's lot
+seemed to border upon the tragic just then and there.
+
+The next day he returned to town and Lucinda came on duty again. She soon
+found that the nephew's visit had rendered the aunt harder than ever to
+get along with.
+
+"I'm goin' to town jus''s soon as ever I feel well enough," she declared
+aggressively on more than one occasion. "An' nex' time I go I'm goin' to
+stay jus''s long as ever I'm havin' a good time. Now, don't contradict me,
+Lucinda, because it's your place to hold your tongue. I'm a great believer
+in your holding your tongue, Lucinda."
+
+Lucinda, who certainly never felt the slightest inclination toward
+contradiction, held her tongue, and the poor, unhappy one twisted about in
+bed, and bemoaned the quietude of her environment by the hour at a time.
+
+"Did you say we had a calf?" she asked suddenly one day. "Well, why don't
+you answer? When I ask a question I expect an answer. Didn't you say we
+had a calf?"
+
+Lucinda nodded.
+
+"Well, I want Joshua to take that calf to the blacksmith and have him shod
+behind an' before right off. To-day--this minute."
+
+"You want the calf shod!" cried Lucinda, suddenly alarmed by the fear lest
+her mistress had gone light-headed.
+
+Aunt Mary glared in a way that showed that she was far from being out of
+her usual mind.
+
+"If I said shod, I guess I meant shod," she said, icily. "I do sometimes
+mean what I say. Pretty often--as a usual thing."
+
+Lucinda stood at the foot of the bed, petrified and paralyzed.
+
+Then the invalid sat up a little and showed some mercy on her servant's
+very evident fright.
+
+"I want the calf shod," she explained, "so's Joshua can run up an' down
+the porch with him."
+
+So far from ameliorating Lucinda's condition, this explanation rendered it
+visibly worse. Aunt Mary contemplated her in silence for a few seconds,
+and she suddenly cried out, in a tone that was full of pathos:
+
+"I feel like maybe--maybe--the calf'll make me think it's horses' feet on
+the pavement."
+
+Lucinda rushed from the room.
+
+"She wants the calf shod!" she cried, bursting in upon Joshua, who was
+piling wood.
+
+For once in his life Joshua was shaken out of his usual placidity.
+
+"She wants the calf shod!" he repeated blankly.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"You can't shoe a calf."
+
+"But she wants it done."
+
+Joshua regained his self-control.
+
+"Oh, well," he said, turning to go on with his work, "the calf's gone to
+the butcher, anyhow. Tell her so."
+
+Lucinda went back to Aunt Mary.
+
+"The calf's gone to the butcher," she yelled.
+
+Aunt Mary frowned heavily.
+
+"Then you go an' get a lamp and turn it up too high an' leave it," she
+said,--"the smell'll make me think of automobiles."
+
+Lucinda was appalled. As a practical housekeeper she felt that here was a
+proposition which she could not face.
+
+"Well, ain't you goin'?" Aunt Mary asked tartly. "Of course if you ain't
+intendin' to go I'd be glad to know it; 'n while you're gone, Lucinda, I
+wish you'd get me the handle to the ice-cream freezer an' lay it where I
+can see it; it'll help me believe in the smell."
+
+Lucinda went away and brought the handle, but she did not light the lamp.
+The Fates were good to her, though, for Aunt Mary forgot the lamp in her
+disgust over the appearance of the handle.
+
+"Take it away," she said sharply. "Anybody'd know it wasn't an automobile
+crank. I don't want to look like a fool! Well, why ain't you takin' it
+away, Lucinda?"
+
+Lucinda took the crank back to the freezer; but as the days passed on, the
+situation grew worse. Aunt Mary slept more and more, and awoke to an
+ever-increasing ratio of belligerency.
+
+Before long Lucinda's third cousin demanded her assistance in "moving,"
+and there was nothing for poor Arethusa to do but to take up the burden,
+now become a fearfully heavy one.
+
+Aunt Mary was getting to that period in life when the nearer the relative
+the greater the dislike, so that when her niece arrived the welcome which
+awaited her was even less cordial than ever.
+
+"Did you bring a trunk?" she asked.
+
+"A small one," replied the visitor.
+
+"That's something to be grateful for," said the aunt. "If I'd invited you
+to visit me, of course I'd feel differently about things."
+
+Arethusa accepted this as she accepted all things, unpacked, saw Lucinda
+off, assumed charge of the house, and then dragged a rocking chair to her
+aunt's bedside and unfolded her sewing. Ere she had threaded her needle
+Aunt Mary was sound asleep, and so her niece sewed placidly for an hour or
+more, until, like lightning out of a clear sky:
+
+"Arethusa!"
+
+The owner of the name started--but answered immediately:
+
+"Yes, Aunt Mary."
+
+"When I die I want to be buried from a roof garden! Don't you forget!
+You'd better go an' write it down. Go now--go this minute!"
+
+Arethusa shook as if with the discharge of a contiguous field battery. She
+had not had Lucinda's gradual breaking-in to her aunt's new trains of
+thought.
+
+"Aunt Mary," she said feebly at last.
+
+Aunt Mary saw her lips moving; she sat up in bed and her eyes flashed
+cinders.
+
+"Well, ain't you goin'?" she asked wrathfully. "When I say do a thing,
+can't it be done? I declare it's bad enough to live with a pack of idiots
+without havin' 'em, one an' all, act as if I was the idiot!"
+
+Arethusa laid aside her work and rose to quit the room. She returned five
+minutes later with pen and ink, but Aunt Mary was now off on another tack.
+
+"I want a bulldog!" she cried imperatively.
+
+"A bulldog!" shrieked her niece, nearly dropping what she held in her
+hands. "What do you want a bulldog for?"
+
+"Not a bullfrog!" the old lady corrected; "a bulldog. Oh, I do get so sick
+of your stupidity, Arethusa," she said. "What should I or any one else
+want of a bullfrog?"
+
+Arethusa sighed, and the sigh was apparent.
+
+"I'd sigh if I was you," said her aunt. "I certainly would. If I was you,
+Arethusa, I'd certainly feel that I had cause to sigh;" and with that she
+sat up and gave her pillow a punch that was full of the direst sort of
+suggestion.
+
+Arethusa did not gainsay the truth of the sighing proposition. It was too
+apparent.
+
+The next day Aunt Mary slept until noon, and then opened her eyes and
+simultaneously declared:
+
+"Next summer I'm goin' to have an automobile!"
+
+Then she looked about and saw that she had addressed the air, which made
+her more mad than ever. She rang her bell violently, and Arethusa left the
+lunch table so hastily that she reached the bedroom half-choked.
+
+"Next summer I'm goin' to have an automobile," said the old lady angrily.
+"Now, get me some breakfast."
+
+Her niece went out quickly, and a maid was sent in with tea and toast and
+eggs at once. Their effect was to brace the invalid up and make the lot of
+those about her yet more wearing.
+
+"I shall run it myself," she vowed, when Arethusa returned; "an' I bet
+they clear out when they see me comin'."
+
+It did seem highly probable.
+
+"I don't know how I can live if I don't get away from here soon," she
+declared a few minutes later. "You don't appreciate what life is,
+Arethusa. Seems like I'll go mad with wantin' to be somewhere else. I can
+see Jack gets his disposition straight from me."
+
+There was a sigh and a pause.
+
+"I shall die," Aunt Mary then declared with violence, "if I don't have a
+change. Arethusa, you've got to write to Jack, and tell him to get me
+Granite."
+
+"Granite!" screamed the niece in surprise.
+
+"Yes, Granite. She was a maid I had in New York. I want her to come here.
+She must come. Tell him to offer her anything, and send her C.O.D. If I
+can have Granite, maybe I'll feel some better. You write Jack."
+
+"I'll write to-night," shrieked Arethusa.
+
+"No, you won't," said Aunt Mary; "you'll get the ink and write right now.
+Because I've been meeker'n Moses all my life is no reason why I sh'd be
+willin' to be downtrodden clear to the end. Folks around me'd better begin
+to look sharp an' step lively from now on."
+
+Arethusa went to the desk at once and wrote:
+
+
+    DEAR JACK:
+
+    Aunt Mary wants the maid that she had when she was in New York.
+    For the love of Heaven, if the girl is procurable, do get her.
+    Hire her if you can and kidnap her if you can't. Lucinda has
+    played her usual trick on me and walked off just when she felt
+    like it. I never saw Aunt Mary in anything like the state of mind
+    that she is, but I know one thing--if you cannot send the maid,
+    there'll be an end of me.
+
+                                                   Your loving sister,
+
+                                                             ARETHUSA.
+
+
+Jack was much perturbed upon receipt of this letter. He whistled a little
+and frowned a great deal. But at last he decided to be frank and tell the
+truth to Mrs. Rosscott. To that end he wrote her a lengthy note. After two
+preliminary pages so personal that it would not be right to print them for
+public reading, he continued thus:
+
+
+    I've had a letter from my sister, who is with Aunt Mary at
+    present. She says that Aunt Mary is not at all well and declares
+    that she must have Janice. What under the sun am I to answer?
+    Shall I say that the girl has gone to France? I'm willing to swear
+    anything rather that put you to one second's inconvenience. You
+    know that, don't you? etc., etc., etc. [just here the letter
+    abruptly became personal again].
+
+
+Jack thought that he knew his fiancee well, but he was totally unprepared
+for such an exhibition of sweet ness as was testified to by the letter
+which he received in return.
+
+It's first six pages were even more personal than his own (being more
+feminine) and then came this paragraph:
+
+
+    Janice is going to your aunt by to-night's train. Now, don't say a
+    word! It is nothing--nothing--absolutely nothing. Don't you know
+    that I am too utterly happy to be able to do anything for anyone
+    that you--etc., etc., etc.
+
+
+Jack seized his hat and hurried to where his lady-love was just then
+residing. But Janice had gone!
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO - "GRANITE"
+
+
+Joshua was despatched to drive through mud and rain to bring Aunt Mary's
+solace from the station.
+
+Aunt Mary had herself propped up in bed to be ready for the return before
+Billy's feet had ceased to cry splash on the road outside of the gate. Her
+eagerness tinged her pallor pink. It was as if the prospect of seeing
+Janice gave her some of that flood of vitality which always seems to ebb
+and flow so richly in the life of a metropolis.
+
+"My gracious heavens, Lucinda" (for Lucinda was back now), she said
+joyfully, "to think that I needn't look at you for a week if I don't want
+to! You haven't any idea how tired I am of looking at you, Lucinda. If you
+looked like anything it would be different. But you don't."
+
+Lucinda rocked placidly; hers was what is called an "even disposition." If
+it hadn't been, she might have led an entirely different life--in fact, she
+would most certainly have lived somewhere else, for she couldn't possibly
+have lived with Aunt Mary.
+
+The hour that ensued after Joshua's departure was so long that it resulted
+in a nap for the invalid, and Lucinda had to wake her by slamming the
+closet door when the arrival turned in at the gate.
+
+"Has he got her?" Aunt Mary cried breathlessly. "Has he got someone with
+him? Run, Lucinda, an' bring her in. She needn't wipe her feet, tell her;
+you can brush the hall afterwards. Well, why ain't you hurryin'?"
+
+Lucinda was hurrying, her curiosity being as potent as the commands of her
+mistress, and five seconds later Janice appeared in the door with her
+predecessor just behind her--a striking contrast.
+
+"You dear blessed Granite!" cried the old lady, stretching out her hands
+in a sort of ecstasy. "Oh, my! but I'm glad to see you! Come right
+straight here. No, shut the door first. Lucinda, you go and do 'most
+anything. An' how is the city?"
+
+Janice came to the bedside and dropped on her knees there, taking Aunt
+Mary's withered hand close in both of her own.
+
+"You didn't shut the door," the old lady whispered hoarsely. "I wish you
+would--an' bolt it, too. An' then come straight back to me."
+
+Janice closed and bolted the door, and returned to the bedside. Aunt Mary
+drew her down close to her, and her voice and eyes were hungry, indeed.
+For a little she looked eagerly upon what she had so craved to possess
+again, and then she suddenly asked:
+
+"Granite, have you got any cigarettes with you?"
+
+The maid started a little.
+
+"Do you smoke now?" she asked, with interest.
+
+"No," said Aunt Mary sadly, "an' that's one more of my awful troubles. You
+see I'm jus' achin' to smell smoke, an' Joshua promised his mother the
+night before he was twenty-one. You don't know nothin' about how terrible
+I feel. I'm empty somewhere jus' all the time. Don't you believe't you
+could get some cigarettes an' smoke 'em right close to me, an' let me lay
+here, an' be so happy while I smell. I'll have a good doctor for you, if
+you're sick from it."
+
+The maid reflected; then she nodded.
+
+"I'll write to town," she cried, in her high, clear tones. "What brand do
+you like best?"
+
+"Mitchell's," said Aunt Mary. "But you can't get those because he made 'em
+himself an' sealed 'em with a lick. Oh!" she sighed, with the accent of a
+starving Sybarite, "I do wish I could see him do it again! Do you know,"
+she added suddenly, "he wrote me a letter and he's goin' to come here."
+
+"When?" asked Janice.
+
+"After a while. But you must take off your things. That's your room in
+there," pointing toward a half-open door at the side. "I wanted you as
+close as I could get you. My, but I've wanted you! I can't tell you how
+much. But a good deal--a lot--awfully."
+
+Janice went into the room that was to be hers, and hung up her hat and
+cloak.
+
+When she returned Aunt Mary was looking a hundred per cent, improved
+already.
+
+"Can you hum 'Hiawatha'?" she asked immediately. "Granite, I must have
+suthin' to amuse me an' make me feel good. Can you hum 'Hiawatha' an' can
+you do that kind of 'sh--sh--sh--'that everybody does all together at the
+end, you know?"
+
+Janice smiled pleasantly, and placing herself in the closest possible
+proximity with the ear trumpet, at once rendered the desired _morceau_ in
+a style which would have done credit to a soloist in a _cafe chantant_.
+
+Aunt Mary's lips wreathed in seraphic bliss.
+
+"My!" she said. "I feel just as if I was back eatin' crabs' legs and tails
+again. No one'll ever know how I've missed city life this winter but--well,
+you saw Lucinda!"
+
+The glance that accompanied the speech was mysterious but significant.
+Janice nodded sympathetically.
+
+"I hope you brought a trunk. I ain't a bit sure when I'll be able to let
+you go," pursued the old lady. "I don't believe I can let you go until I
+go, too. I've most died here alone."
+
+"I brought a trunk," Janice cried into the ear trumpet.
+
+"I'm glad," said Aunt Mary. She paused, and her eyes grew wistful.
+
+"Granite," she asked, "do you think you could manage to do a skirt dance
+on the footboard? I'm 'most wild to see some lace shake."
+
+Janice looked doubtfully at the footboard. It was wide for a footboard,
+but narrow--too narrow--for a skirt dance.
+
+"But I can do one on the floor," she cried.
+
+Aunt Mary's features became suffused with heavenly joy.
+
+"Oh, Granite!" she murmured, in accents of greatest anticipation.
+
+The maid stood up, and, going off as far as the limits of the spacious
+bedroom would allow, executed a most fetching and dainty _pas seul_ to a
+tune of her own humming.
+
+"Give me suthin' to pound with!" cried her enthusiastic audience. "Oh,
+Granite, I ain't been so happy since I was home! Whatever you want you can
+have, only don't ever leave me alone with Lucinda again."
+
+Janice was catching her tired breath, but she answered with a smile.
+
+"Can't you get my Sunday umbrella out of the closet now an' do a parasol
+dance?" the insatiate demanded; "one of those where you shoot it open an'
+shut when people ain't expectin'."
+
+The maid went to the closet and brought out the Sunday umbrella; but its
+shiny black silk did not appear to inspire any fluffy maneuvres, so she
+utilized it in the guise of a broadsword and did something that savored of
+the Highlands, and seemed to rebel bitterly at the length of her skirt.
+Aunt Mary writhed around in bliss--utter and intense.
+
+"I feel like I was livin' again," she said, heaving a great sigh of
+content. "I tell you I've suffered enough, since I came back, to know what
+it is to have some fun again. Now, Granite, I'll tell you what we'll do,"
+when the girl sat down to rest; "you write for those cigarettes while I
+take a little nap and afterwards we'll get the Universal Knowledge book
+and learn how to play poker. You don't know how to play poker, do you?"
+
+"A little," cried the maid.
+
+"Well, I want to learn how," said the old lady, "an' we'll learn when--when
+I wake up."
+
+Janice nodded assent.
+
+"Excuse me shuttin' my eyes," said Aunt Mary--and she was asleep in two
+minutes.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE - "GRANITE" - CONTINUED.
+
+
+Mary and Arethusa--Aunt Mary's two nieces--were not uncommonly mercenary;
+but about three weeks after the new arrival they became seriously troubled
+over the ascendancy that she appeared to be gaining over the mind of their
+aunt. Lucinda's duties had included for many years the writing of a weekly
+letter which contained formal advices of the general state of affairs, and
+after Janice's establishment, these letters became so provocative of
+gradually increasing alarm that first Mary, and then Arethusa thought it
+advisable to make the journey for the purpose of investigating the affair
+personally. They found the new maid apparently devoid of evil intent, but
+certainly fast becoming absolutely indispensable to the daily happiness of
+their influential relative. Mary feared that a codicil for five thousand
+dollars would be the result; but Arethusa felt, with a sinking heart, that
+there was another naught going on to the sum, and that, unless the tide
+turned, the end might not be even then.
+
+Aunt Mary was so cool that neither niece stayed long, and Lucinda's
+letters had to be looked to for the progress of events. Lucinda's letters
+were frequent and not at all reassuring. After the sisters had talked them
+over, they sent them on to Jack.
+
+
+    She [thus Lucinda invariably began] is the same as ever. It's
+    cross the heart and bend the knee, an' then you ain't down far
+    enough to suit her. But she's gettin' so afraid she'll go that
+    she's wax in her hands. It would scare you. She won't let her out
+    of her sight a minute. I must say that whatever she's giving her,
+    she certainly is earning the money, for she works her harder every
+    day. The poor thing is hopping about, or singing, or playing
+    cards, from dawn to dark, and unless it's a provision in her will
+    I can't see what would pay her enough for working so. Lord knows I
+    considered I earned my wages without skipping around with my legs
+    crossed like she does, and she has no end of patience too, even if
+    she won't ever let her take a walk. She's getting as pale as she
+    is herself. Seems like something should be done.
+
+                                                         Respectfully,
+
+                                                             L. COOKE.
+
+
+Three days later Lucinda wrote again:
+
+
+    She does seem to be getting worse and worse. She makes her sleep
+    on a sofa beside her, and she begins to look dreadfully worn out.
+    I do believe she'll kill her, before she dies herself. I told her
+    so to-day, but she only smiled. It's funny, but I like her even if
+    I am bolted out all the time. I ain't jealous, and I'm glad of the
+    rest. I should think her throat would split with talking so much,
+    but she certainly does hear her better than anyone else. I think
+    something must be done, though. She's getting as crazy as she is
+    herself. They play cards and call each other "aunty" for two hours
+    at a stretch some days.
+
+                                                         Respectfully,
+
+                                                             L. COOKE.
+
+
+At the end of the week Lucinda wrote again:
+
+
+    I think if you don't come, she will surely die. She is very feeble
+    herself, but that don't keep her from wearing her to skin and
+    bone. She keeps her doing tricks from morning to night. Every
+    minute that she is awake she keeps her jumping. It's a mercy she
+    sleeps so much, or she wouldn't get any sleep at all. I can't do
+    nothing, but I can see something has got to be done. She's killing
+    her, and she's getting where she don't care for nobody but her,
+    and if she's to be kept in trim to keep on amusing her she'll have
+    to have some rest pretty quick.
+
+                                                         Respectfully,
+
+                                                             L. COOKE.
+
+
+If the sisters were perturbed by the general trend of these epistles, Jack
+was half wild over the situation. He swore vigorously and he tramped up
+and down his room nights until the people underneath put it in their
+prayers that his woes might suggest suicide as speedily as possible. In
+vain he wrote to Mrs. Rosscott to restore Janice to her proper place in
+town; Mrs. Rosscott answered that as long as Aunt Mary desired Janice at
+her side, at her side Janice should stay. Jack knew his lady well enough
+to know that she would keep her word, and although he longed to assert his
+authority he was man enough to feel that he had better wait now and settle
+the debt after marriage.
+
+Nevertheless the whole affair was unbearably vexatious and at last he felt
+that he could endure it no longer.
+
+"I'm a fool," he said, in a spirit of annoyance that came so close to
+anger that it led to an utter loss of patience. "I'll take the train for
+Aunt Mary's to-day, and straighten out that mess in short order."
+
+It was Saturday, and he arranged to leave by the noon train. He laid in a
+heavy supply of bribes for his aged relative and of reading matter for
+himself, and went to the station with a heart divided 'twixt many
+different emotions. It was an unconscionably long ride, but he did get
+there safely about ten o'clock.
+
+It was a pleasant night--not too cold--even suggestive of some lingering
+Indian summer intentions on the part of Jack's namesake. The young man
+thought that he would walk out to his childhood's home, and his decision
+was aided by the discovery that there was no other way to get there.
+
+So he took his suit-case in his hand and set off with a stride that
+covered the intervening miles in short order and brought him, almost
+before he knew it, to where he could see Lucinda's light in the
+dining-room and her pug-nosed profile outlined upon the drawn shade.
+Everyone else was evidently abed, and as he looked, she, too, arose and
+took up the lamp. He hurried his steps so that she might let him in before
+she went upstairs, but in the same instant the light went out and with its
+withdrawal he perceived a little figure sitting alone upon the doorstep.
+
+His heart gave a tremendous leap--but not with fright--and he made three
+rapid steps and spoke a name.
+
+She lifted up her head. Of course it was Janice, and although she had been
+weeping, her eyes were as beautiful as ever.
+
+"Oh, Jack!" she exclaimed, and happy the man who hears his name called in
+such a tone--even if it be only for once in the whole course of his
+existence.
+
+He pitched his suit-case down upon the grass and took the maid in his
+arms.
+
+What did anything matter; they both were lonely and both needed
+comforting.
+
+He kissed her not once but twenty times,--not twenty times but a hundred.
+
+"It's abominable you're being here," he said at last.
+
+"I am very, very tired," she confessed.
+
+"And you'll go back to the city when I go?" he asked.
+
+"I don't know," she said, doubtfully. "I don't know whether she'll let
+me."
+
+Jack laughed.
+
+"To-morrow I will beard Aunt Mary in her den," he declared; "now let's go
+in and--and--"
+
+The hundred and first!
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR - TWO ARE COMPANY
+
+
+To the large square room where he had slept (on and off) during a goodly
+portion of his boyhood life, Jack went to repose from his journey, there
+to meditate the situation which he had come to comfort, and to try and
+devise a way to better its existing circumstances.
+
+It was a pleasant room, one window looking down the driveway, and the
+other leading forth to a square balcony that topped the little porch of
+the side entrance. There were lambrequins of dark blue with fringe that
+always caught in the shutters, and a bedroom suite of mahogany that had
+come down from the original John Watkins's aunt, and had been polished by
+her descendants so faithfully that its various surfaces shone like
+mirrors. Over the bed hung a tent drapery of chintz; over the washstand
+hung a crayon done by Arethusa in her infancy--the same representing a lady
+engaged in the pleasant and useful occupation of spinning wheat with a
+hand composed of five fingers, and no thumb. In the corner stood a
+cheval-glass which Jack had seen shrink steadily for years until now it
+could no longer reflect his shoulders unless he retired back for some two
+yards or more. There was a delectable closet to the room, all painted
+white inside, with shelves and cupboards and little bins for shoes and
+waste paper and soiled clothes.
+
+Oh! it was really an altogether delightful place in which to abide, and
+the pity was that its owner had spent so little time therein of late
+years.
+
+To-night--returning to the scene of many childish and boyish
+meditations--Jack placed his lamp upon the nightstand at the head of the
+bed and sat himself down on a chair near by.
+
+It was late--quite midnight--for he and Aunt Mary's new maid had talked long
+and freely ere they separated at last. From his room he could hear the
+little faint sounds below stairs, that told of her final preparations for
+Lucinda's morning eye, and he rested quiet until all else was quiet and
+then leaned back upon the chair's hind legs and, tipping slowly to and fro
+in that position, tried to see just what he had better do the first thing
+on the following day.
+
+                             [Illustration 7]
+
+ "'Yesterday I played poker until I didn't know a blue chip from a white
+                                  one.'"
+
+
+It was a riddle with a vengeance. It is so easy to say "I'll cut that
+Gordian knot!" and then pack one's tooth-brush and start off unknotting,
+but it is quite another matter when one comes face to face with the
+problem and is met by the "buts" of those who have previously been
+essaying to disentangle it.
+
+"She won't let me go," Mrs. Rosscott had declared, "she won't consider it
+for a minute."
+
+"But she must," Jack had declared on his side. "My dearest, you can't stay
+and play maid to Aunt Mary indefinitely, and you know that as well as I
+do."
+
+"Yes, I know that," the whilom Janice then murmured. "It's getting to be
+an awful question. They want me to come home for Thanksgiving. They think
+that I've been at the rest-cure long enough."
+
+Jack had laughed a bit just there, and then he suddenly ceased laughing
+and frowned a good deal instead.
+
+"You were crying when I came," he said. "The truth is you are working
+yourself to death and getting completely used up."
+
+"It is wearing, I must confess," she answered. "Yesterday I played poker
+until I didn't know a blue chip from a white one, and she won the whole
+pot with two little bits of pairs while I was drawing to a king. I begin
+to fear that my mind will give way. And yet, I really don't see how to
+stop. She is so sick and tired of life here and she isn't strong enough to
+go to town."
+
+"I know a very short way to put an end to everything," said Jack. "I see
+two ways in fact,--one is to tell her the truth."
+
+"Oh, don't do that," cried his fiancee affrightedly. "The shock would kill
+her outright."
+
+"The other way,--" said Jack slowly, "would be for me to marry you and let
+her think that you _are_ Janice in good earnest."
+
+"Oh, that wouldn't do at all," said the pretty widow. "In the first place
+she would go crazy at the idea of her darling nephew's marrying her
+maid,--and in the second place--"
+
+"Well,--in the second place?"
+
+"I wouldn't marry you,--I said I wouldn't and I won't. You're too young."
+
+"But you've promised to marry me some day."
+
+"Yes, I know--but not till--not till--"
+
+"Not till when?"
+
+"I haven't just decided," said Mrs. Rosscott, airily. "Not for a good
+while, not until you seem to require marrying at my hands."
+
+"I never shall require marrying at anyone else's hands," the lover vowed,
+"but if you are so set about it as all that comes to, I shall not cut up
+rough for a while. Aunt Mary is the main question just now--not you."
+
+"I know," said his lady in anything but a jealous tone, "and as she is the
+question, what are we to do?"
+
+"You will go to bed," he said, kissing her, "and I will go to think."
+
+"Can you see any way?" she asked anxiously.
+
+Then he put his hands on either side of her face and turned it up to his
+own.
+
+"You plotted once and overthrew my aunt," he said. "It's my turn now."
+
+"Are you going to plot?"
+
+"I'm going to try."
+
+"I'll pray for your success," she whispered.
+
+"Pray for me," he answered, and shortly after they had achieved the feat
+of saying good-night and parting once more, and the result of it all had
+been that Jack found himself tipping back and forth on the small chair, in
+the big room, at half-past midnight, puzzled, perturbed, and very much
+perplexed as to what to do first when the next morning should have become
+a settled fact. He was not used to conspiring, and being only a man, he
+had not those curious instinctive gifts of inspiration and luminous
+conception which fairly radiate around the brain of clever womankind.
+
+It was some time--a very long time indeed--before any light stole in upon
+his Stygian darkness, and then, when the light did come, it came in
+skyrocket guise, and had its share of cons attached to its very evident
+pros.
+
+"But I don't care," he declared viciously, as he rose and began to
+undress; "something's got to be done,--some chances have got to be
+taken,--as well that as anything else. Perhaps better--very likely better."
+
+Then he laughed over his unconscious imitation of his aunt's phraseology,
+and made short work of finishing his disrobing and getting to bed.
+
+It was when Lucinda crept forth to begin to unlock the house at 6.30 upon
+the morning after, that the fact of the nephew's arrival was first known
+to anyone except Janice.
+
+Lucinda saw the coat and hat,--recognized the initial on the handkerchief
+in the inside pocket, threw out her arms and gave a faint squeak in utter
+bewilderment, and then tore off at once to the barn to tell Joshua.
+
+She found Joshua milking the cow.
+
+"What do you think!" she panted briefly, with wide-open eyes and uplifted
+hands; "Joshua Whittlesey, what do you think?"
+
+"I don't think nothin'," said Joshua. "I'm milkin'."
+
+"What would you say if I told you as he was come."
+
+"I'd say he was here."
+
+"Well, he is. He must 'a' come last night, an' Lord only knows how he ever
+got in, for nothing was left open an' yet he's there."
+
+Joshua made no comment.
+
+"I wonder what he came for?"
+
+Joshua made no comment.
+
+"I wonder how long he'll stay?"
+
+Still Joshua made no comment.
+
+"Joshua Whittlesey, before you get your breakfast, you're the meanest man
+I ever saw, and I'll swear to that anywhere."
+
+"Why don't you get me my breakfast then?" said Joshua calmly; and the
+effect of his speech and his demeanor was to cause Lucinda to turn and
+leave him at once--too outraged to address another word to him.
+
+Aunt Mary herself did not awake until ten o'clock. She rang her bell
+vigorously then and Janice flew to its answering.
+
+"I dreamed of Jack," said the old lady, looking up with a smile. "I
+dreamed we was each ridin' on camels in a merry-go-round."
+
+Janice smiled too, and then set briskly to work to put the room in order
+and arrange its occupant for the day.
+
+"Did there come any mail?" Aunt Mary inquired, when her coiffure was made
+and her dressing-gown adjusted. "I feel jus' like I might hear from Jack.
+Seems as if I sort of can't think of anythin' but him."
+
+"I'll go and see," said Janice pleasantly, and she went to the dining room
+where the Reformed Prodigal sat reading the newspaper with his feet on the
+table--an action which convinced Lucinda that he had not reformed so very
+much after all.
+
+"Suppose you go to her--instead of me," suggested the maid, pausing before
+the reader and usurping all the attention to which the paper should have
+laid claim.
+
+"Suppose I do," said Jack, jumping up, "and suppose you stay away and let
+me try what I can accomplish single-handed."
+
+"Only--" began Janice--and then she stopped and lifted a warning finger.
+
+Jack listened and a stealthy creak betrayed Lucinda's proximity somewhere
+in the vicinity.
+
+It was plain to be seen that there were many issues to be kept in mind,
+and the young man grit his teeth because he didn't dare embrace his
+betrothed, and then walked away in the direction of Aunt Mary's room.
+
+If she was glad to see him! One would have supposed that ten years and two
+oceans had elapsed since their last meeting the month before.
+
+She fairly screamed with joy.
+
+"Jack!--You dear, dear, dear boy! Well, if I ever did!--When did you come?"
+
+He was by the bed hugging her. "And how are they all? How is the city? Oh,
+Jack, if I could only go back with you this time!"
+
+"Never mind, Aunt Mary; you'll be coming soon--in the spring, you know."
+
+Aunt Mary sank back on the pillows.
+
+"Jack," she said, "if I have to wait for spring, I shall die. I ain't
+strong enough to be able to bear livin' in the country much longer. I've
+pretty much made up my mind to buy a house in town and just keep this
+place so's to have somewhere to put Lucinda."
+
+"Do you think you'd be happy in town, Aunt Mary?" Jack yelled; "I mean if
+you lived there right along?"
+
+"I don't see how I could be anythin' else. I don't see how anyone could be
+anythin' else. I want a nice house with a criss-cross iron gate in front
+of it an' an automobile. An'--I don't want you to say nothin' about this to
+her jus' yet--but I'm goin' to keep Granite to look after everythin' for
+me. I don't ever mean to let Granite go again. Never. Not for one hour."
+
+Jack smiled. He felt as if Fate was playing into his hands.
+
+"I want you to live with me," Aunt Mary continued, "an' I want the house
+big enough so's Clover an' Mitchell an' Burnett can come whenever they
+feel like it and stay as long as they like. I don't want any house except
+for us all together. Oh, my! Seems like I can't hardly wait!"
+
+She leaned back and shut her eyes in a sort of impatient ecstasy of joys
+been and to be.
+
+Jack reached forward to get a cigarette from the box on the table at the
+bedside.
+
+"Do you smoke now, Aunt Mary?" he inquired, as he took a match.
+
+"No, Granite does."
+
+"Janice does!" he repeated, quickly knitting his brows.
+
+"Yes, she does it for me--I'm so happy smellin' the smell. They made her a
+little sick at first but she took camphor and now she don't mind. Not
+much--not any."
+
+Jack arose and walked about the room. The idea of his darling sickening
+herself to provide smoke for Aunt Mary braced him afresh to the conflict.
+
+"What do you do all day?" he asked, presently.
+
+"Well, we do most everythin'. When Lucinda's out she does Lucinda for me
+an' when Lucinda's in she does Joshua. It's about as amusin' as anythin'
+you ever saw to see her do Lucinda. I never found Lucinda amusin', Lord
+knows, but I like to see Granite do her. An' we play cards, an' she
+dances, an'--"
+
+"Aunt Mary," said Jack abruptly, "do you know the people who had Janice
+want her back again?"
+
+"I didn't quite catch that," said his aunt, "but you needn't bother to
+repeat it because I ain't never goin' to let her go. Not never."
+
+Jack came back and sat down beside the bed, and took her hand.
+
+"Aunt Mary," he said in a pleading shriek, "don't you see how pale and
+thin she's getting?"
+
+"No, I don't," said his aunt, turning her head away, "an' it's no use
+tellin' me such things because it's about my nap-time and I've always been
+a great believer in takin' my nap when it's my nap-time. As a general
+thing."
+
+Jack sighed and watched her close her eyes and go instantly to sleep.
+Janice came in a few minutes later.
+
+"No--no," she whispered hastily, as he came toward her,--"you mustn't--you
+mustn't. I don't believe that she really is asleep and even if she is,
+Lucinda is _everywhere_."
+
+"Where can we go?" Jack asked in despair. "It's out of all reason to
+expect me to behave _all_ the time."
+
+"We can't go anywhere," said Mrs. Rosscott; "we must resign ourselves.
+I've learned that it's the only way. Dear me, when I think how long I've
+been resigned it certainly seems to me that you might do a little in the
+same line."
+
+"Well, but I haven't learned to resign myself," said her lover, "and what
+is more, I positively decline to learn to resign myself. You should do the
+same, too. Where is the sense in humoring her so? I wouldn't if I were
+you."
+
+Janice lifted up her lovely eyes.
+
+"Oh, yes, you would," she said simply. "If somebody's future happiness
+depended upon her you would humor her just as much as I do."
+
+Jack was touched.
+
+"You are an angel of unselfishness," he exclaimed, warmly, "and I don't
+deserve such devotion."
+
+"Oh, don't be too grateful," she replied, dimpling. "The person to whose
+future happiness I referred was myself."
+
+They both laughed softly at that--softly and mutually.
+
+"Nevertheless," Jack went on after a minute, "if to all the other puzzles
+is to be added the torture of being unable to see you or speak freely to
+you, I think the hour for action has arrived."
+
+"For action!" she cried; "what are you thinking of doing?"
+
+"This," he said, and straightway took her into his arms and kissed her as
+he had kissed her on the night before.
+
+"Oh, if Lucinda has heard or your aunt has seen!" poor Janice cried,
+extricating herself and setting her cap to rights with a species of
+fluttered haste that led Jack to wonder suddenly why men didn't fall in
+love with maids even oftener than they do. "I do believe that you have
+gone and done it this time."
+
+"Nobody heard and nobody saw," he assured her, but he didn't at all mean
+what he said, for his prayers were fervent that his kiss had been public
+property.
+
+And such was the fact.
+
+Lucinda bounced in on Joshua with a bounce that turned the can of harness
+polish upside down, for Joshua was oiling the harnesses.
+
+"He kissed her!" she cried in a state of tremendous excitement.
+
+"Well, she's his aunt, ain't she?" Joshua demanded, picking up the can and
+privately wishing Lucinda in Halifax.
+
+"I don't mean her;--I mean Janice."
+
+"I don't see anythin' surprisin' in that," said Joshua,--"not if he got a
+good chance."
+
+"What do you think of such goin's on?"
+
+"I think they'll lead to goin's offs."
+
+"I never would 'a' believed it," said Lucinda; "Well, all I can say is I
+wish he'd 'a' tried it on me."
+
+"You'll wish a long time," said Joshua, placidly; and his tone, as usual,
+made Lucinda even more angry than his words; so she forthwith left him and
+tore back to the house.
+
+Aunt Mary had also had her eyes open, and in this particular case it was
+impossible to have one's eyes open without having one's eyes opened. So
+Aunt Mary had both.
+
+She shut them at once and reflected deeply, and when Janice went out of
+the room at last she immediately sat up in bed and addressed her nephew.
+
+"Jack, what did you kiss her for?"
+
+Jack was fairly wild with joy at the brilliant way in which he had begun.
+Mrs. Rosscott had laid one scheme for the overthrow of Aunt Mary and her
+plan of attack had been absolutely successful. Now it was his turn and he,
+too, was in it to win undying glory or else--well, no matter. There
+wouldn't be any "also ran" in this contest.
+
+"You don't deny that you kissed her, do you?" said his aunt severely.
+"Answer this minute. I'm a great believer in answerin' when you're spoken
+to."
+
+"Yes, I kissed her," he said easily.
+
+                             [Illustration 8]
+
+                 "Aunt Mary had also had her eyes open."
+
+
+"Well, what did you do it for?"
+
+"I'm very fond of her;" the words came forth with great apparent
+reluctance.
+
+"Fond of her!" said Aunt Mary with great contempt.
+
+Jack lifted his eyes quickly at the tone of her comment.
+
+"_Fond_ of her! Do you think a girl like that is the kind to be fond of!
+Why ain't you in _love_ with her?"
+
+The young man felt his brains suddenly swimming. This surpassed his
+maddest hopes.
+
+"Shall I say that I am in love with her?" he cried into the ear-trumpet.
+
+Aunt Mary raised up in bed,--her eyes sparkling.
+
+"Jack," she said, almost quivering with excitement, "_are_ you in love
+with her?"
+
+"Yes, I am," he owned, wondering what would come next, but feeling that
+the tide was all his way.
+
+Aunt Mary collapsed with a joyful sigh.
+
+"My heavens alive," she said rapturously, "seems like it's too good to be
+true! Jack," she continued solemnly, "if you're in love with her you shall
+marry her. If there's any way to keep a girl like that in the family I
+guess I ain't goin' to let her slip through my fingers not while I've got
+a live nephew. You shall marry her an' I'll buy you a house in New York
+and come an' live with you."
+
+Jack sat silent, but smiling.
+
+"Do you think she will want to marry me?" he asked presently.
+
+"You go and bring her to me," said the old lady vigorously. "I'll soon
+find out. Just tell her I want to speak to her--don't tell her what about.
+That ain't none of your business an' I'm a great believer in people's not
+interfering in what's none of their business. You just get her and then
+leave her to me."
+
+Jack went and found Janice. He was sufficiently mean not to tell her what
+had happened, and Janice--being built on a different plan from Lucinda--had
+not kept near enough to the keyhole to be posted anyway.
+
+"Mr. Denham says you want me," she said, coming to the bedside with her
+customary pleasant smile.
+
+"I do," said her mistress. "I want to speak to you on a very serious
+subject and I want you to pay a lot of attention. It's this: I want you to
+marry Jack."
+
+Poor Janice jumped violently,--there was no doubt as to the genuineness of
+her surprise.
+
+"Well, don't you want to?" asked Aunt Mary.
+
+"I don't believe I do."
+
+At this it was the old lady's turn to be astonished.
+
+"Why don't you?" she said; "my heavens alive, what are you a-expectin' to
+marry if you don't think my nephew's good enough for you?"
+
+"But I don't want to marry!" cried poor Janice, in most evident distress.
+
+Aunt Mary looked at her severely.
+
+"Then what did you kiss him for?" she asked, in the tone in which one
+plays the trump ace.
+
+Janice started again.
+
+"Kiss--him--" she faltered.
+
+Aunt Mary regarded her sternly.
+
+"Granite," she said, "I ain't a-intendin' to be unreasonable, but I must
+ask you jus' one simple question. You kissed him, for I saw you; an' will
+you kindly tell me why, in heaven's name, you ain't willin' to marry any
+man that you're willin' to kiss?"
+
+"There's such a difference," wailed the maid.
+
+"I don't see it," said her mistress, shaking her head. "I don't see it at
+all. Of course I never for a minute thought of doin' either myself, but if
+I had thought of doin' either, I'd had sense enough to have seen that I'd
+have to make up my mind to do both. I'm a great believer in never doin'
+things by halves. It don't pay. Never--nohow."
+
+Janice was biting her lips.
+
+"But I don't want to marry!" she repeated obstinately.
+
+"Then you shouldn't have let him kiss you. You've got him all started to
+lovin' you and if he's stopped too quick no one can tell what may happen.
+I want him to settle down, but I want him to settle down because he's
+happy an' not because he's shattered. He says he's willin' to marry you
+an' I don't see any good reason why not."
+
+Janice's mouth continued to look rebellious.
+
+"Go and get him," said Aunt Mary. "I can see that this thing has got to be
+settled pleasantly right off, or we shan't none of us have any appetite
+for dinner. You find Jack, or if you can't find him tell Lucinda that
+she's got to."
+
+Janice went out and found Jack in the hall.
+
+"Is this a trap?" she asked reproachfully.
+
+Jack laughed.
+
+"No," he said "it's a counter-mine."
+
+"Your aunt wants you at once," said Janice, putting her hands into her
+pockets and looking out of the window.
+
+"I fly to obey," he said obediently, and went at once to his elderly
+relative.
+
+"Jack," she said, the instant he opened the door, "I've had a little talk
+with Granite. She don' want to marry you, but she looks to me like she
+really didn't know her own mind. I've said all I can say an' I'm too tired
+holdin' the ear-trumpet to say any more. I think the best thing you can do
+is to take her out for a walk an' explain things thoroughly. It's no good
+our talkin' to her together; and, anyway, I've always been a great
+believer in 'Two's company--three's none.' That was really the big reason
+why I'd never let Lucinda keep a cat. You take her and go to walk and I
+guess everything'll come out all right. It ought to. My heavens alive!"
+
+Jack took the maid and they went out to walk. When they were beyond
+earshot the first thing that they did was to laugh long and loud.
+
+"Of all my many and varied adventures!" cried Mrs. Rosscott, and Jack took
+the opportunity to kiss her again--under no protest this time.
+
+"We shall have to be married very soon, now, you know," he said gayly.
+"Aunt Mary won't be able to wait."
+
+"Oh, as to that--we'll see," said Mrs. Rosscott, and laughed afresh. "But
+there is one thing that must be done at once."
+
+"What's that?" Jack asked.
+
+"We must tell Aunt Mary who I am."
+
+"Oh, to be sure," said the young man.
+
+"I hope she won't take it in any way but the right way!" the widow said
+thoughtfully.
+
+"My dearest, in what other way could she take it? I think she has proved
+her opinion of you pretty sincerely."
+
+"Yes," said Mrs. Rosscott, with a little smile, "I certainly have cause to
+feel that she loves me for myself alone."
+
+When they returned to the house they went straightway to Aunt Mary's room,
+and the first glance through the old lady's eye-glasses told her that her
+wishes had all been fulfilled. She sat up in bed, took a hand of each into
+her own, and surveyed them in an access of such utter joy as nearly caused
+all three to weep together.
+
+"Well, I _am_ so glad," was all she said for the first few seconds, and
+nobody doubted her words forever after.
+
+Then Mrs. Rosscott removed her hat and jacket, and when she returned to
+the bedside her future aunt made her sit down close to her and hold one of
+her hands while Jack held the other.
+
+"I'm _so_ glad you're to have the runnin' of Jack," the old lady declared
+sincerely. "All I ask of you is to be patient with him. I always was. That
+is, _most_ always."
+
+"Dear Aunt Mary," said Mrs. Rosscott, slipping down on her knees beside
+the bed, "you are so good to me that you encourage me to tell you my
+secret. It isn't long, and it isn't bad, but I have a confession to make."
+
+"Oh, I say," cried Jack, "if you put it that way let me do the owning up!"
+
+"Hush," said his love authoritatively, "it's my confession. Leave it to
+me."
+
+"What is it?" said Aunt Mary, looking anxiously from one to the other;
+"you haven't broke your engagement already, I hope."
+
+"No," said Mrs. Rosscott, "it's nothing like that. It's only rather a
+surprise. But it's a nice surprise,--at least, I hope you'll think that it
+is."
+
+"Well, hurry and tell me then," said the old lady. "I'm a great believer
+in bein' told good news as soon as possible. What is it?"
+
+"It's that I'm not a maid," said the pretty widow.
+
+"Not--a--" cried Aunt Mary blankly.
+
+"I'm a widow!" said Janice. "I'm Burnett's sister."
+
+"Wh--a--at!" cried Aunt Mary. "I didn't jus' catch that."
+
+"You see," screamed Jack, "she was afraid to have me entertain you in New
+York,--afraid you wouldn't be properly looked after, Aunt Mary, so she
+dressed up for your maid and looked after you herself."
+
+"My heavens alive!"
+
+"Wasn't she an angel?" he asked.
+
+"But whatever made you take such an interest?" Aunt Mary demanded of
+Janice.
+
+Janice rose from her knees and, leaning over the bed, drew the old lady
+close in her arms.
+
+"I'll tell you," she screamed gently. "I loved Jack, and so I loved his
+aunt even before I had ever seen her."
+
+Aunt Mary's joy fairly overflowed at that view of things, and, putting her
+hands to either side of the lovely face so close to her own, she kissed it
+warmly again and again.
+
+"I always knew you were suthin' out of the ordinary," she declared
+vigorously. "You know I wouldn't have let him marry you if I hadn't been
+pretty sure as you were different from Lucinda an' the common run."
+
+And then she beamed on them both and Jack beamed on them both and Mrs.
+Rosscott kissed each of them and dried her own happy eyes.
+
+"Now I want to know jus' how an' where you learned to love him?" the aunt
+asked next.
+
+"I loved him almost directly I knew him," she answered, and at that Aunt
+Mary seemed on the point of applauding with the ear-trumpet against the
+headboard.
+
+"It was jus' the same with me," she said delightedly. "He was only a baby
+then, but the first look I took I jus' had a feelin'--"
+
+"Yes," said Mrs. Rosscott sympathetically, "so did I."
+
+They all laughed together.
+
+"An' now," said Aunt Mary, laying back and folding her arms upon her
+bosom, "an' now comes the main question,--when do you two want to be
+married?"
+
+"Oh!" said the widow starting, "we--I--Jack--"
+
+"Well, go on," said Aunt Mary. "Say whenever you like. An' then Jack can
+do the same."
+
+The two young people exchanged glances.
+
+"Speak right up," said Aunt Mary. "I'm a great believer in not hangin'
+back when anythin' has got to be decided. Jack, what do you think?"
+
+"I want to get married right off," said Jack decidedly.
+
+"I think he's too young," put in Mrs. Rosscott hastily.
+
+"I don't know," said Aunt Mary, looking at her nephew reflectively. "Seems
+to me he's big enough, an' I'm a great believer in never dilly-dallyin'
+over what's got to be done some time. Why not Thanksgiving?"
+
+"Thanksgiving!" shrieked Mrs. Rosscott.
+
+"Yes," said Aunt Mary. "I think it would be a good time, an' then I can
+come and spend Christmas with you in the city."
+
+"Great idea!" declared her nephew; "me for Thanksgiving."
+
+"What do you say?" said Aunt Mary to the bride-to-be.
+
+"Oh, I don't see--" began the latter, wrinkling her pretty forehead in a
+prettier perplexity and looking helplessly back and forth between their
+double eagerness.
+
+"Well, why not?" said the aunt. "It ain't as if there was any reason for
+waitin'. If there was I'd be the first to be willin' to do all I could to
+be patient, but as it is--even if you an' Jack ain't in any particular
+hurry, I am, an' I was brought up to go right to work at gettin' what you
+want as soon as you know what it is."
+
+"But this is so sudden," wailed Mrs. Rosscott.
+
+Aunt Mary glanced at her sharply.
+
+"That's what they all say, a'cordin' to the papers," she said calmly, "an'
+it never is counted as anythin' but a joke."
+
+"But I'm not joking," Janice cried.
+
+"Then you jus' take a little time an' think it over," proposed the old
+lady,--"I'll tell you what you can do. You can get me Lucinda because I
+want to tell her suthin' and then you and Jack can sit down together an'
+think it over anywhere an' anyhow you like."
+
+"Do you really want Lucinda," said Janice, rising to her feet, "or is it
+something that I can do? You know I'm yours just the same as ever, Aunt
+Mary. Next to being good to Jack, I want to always be good to you."
+
+Aunt Mary looked up with a light in her eyes that was fine to see.
+
+"Bless you, my child," she said heartily. "I know that, but I really want
+Lucinda, an' you an' Jack can take care of yourselves for a while.
+Leastways, I hope you can. I guess you can. I presume so, anyway."
+
+It was late that afternoon that Lucinda, looking as if she had been
+accidentally overtaken by a road-roller, joined Joshua in the potato
+cellar.
+
+"Well, the sky c'n fall whenever it likes now!" she said, sitting down on
+an empty barrel with a resigned sigh.
+
+"That's a comfort to know," said Joshua.
+
+"She's got it all made up for 'em to marry each other."
+
+"That ain't no great news to me," said Joshua.
+
+"Joshua Whittlesey, you make my blood boil. Things is goin' rackin' and
+ruinin' at a great pace here an' you as cold as a cauliflower over it
+all."
+
+Joshua sorted potatoes phlegmatically and said nothing.
+
+"S'posin' I'd 'a' wanted to marry him?"
+
+Joshua continued to sort potatoes.
+
+"Or, s'posin' you wanted to marry her?"
+
+Joshua looked up quickly.
+
+"Which one?" he said.
+
+"Janice!"
+
+"Oh," he said in a relieved tone.
+
+"Why did you say 'oh,'--did you think I meant her?"
+
+"I didn't know who you meant."
+
+"Why, you wouldn't think o' marryin' her, would you?"
+
+"No," said Joshua emphatically. "I'd as soon think o' marryin' you
+yourself."
+
+Lucinda deliberated for a minute or so as to whether to accept this insult
+in silence or not, and finally decided to make just one more remark.
+
+"I wonder if she'll send any word to Arethusa 'n' Mary."
+
+"They'll know soon enough," said Joshua oracularly.
+
+"How'll they know, I'd like to know?"
+
+"You'll write 'em."
+
+Lucinda was dumb. The fact that the letter was already written only made
+the serpent-tooth of Joshua's intimate knowledge cut the deeper.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE - GRAND FINALE
+
+
+    She has it all made up for him to marry her, and she is certainly
+    as happy as she is and he is themselves. She is making plans at a
+    great rate and she has consented to have her wedding here because
+    she wants to be there herself. The day is set for Thanksgiving and
+    the Lord be with us for everything has got to be just so and she
+    is no more good at helping now that he's come. They are all going
+    back to New York as soon as possible after it's over and I hope to
+    be forgiven for stating plainly that it will be the happiest day'
+    of my life.
+
+                                                         Respectfully,
+
+                                                             L. COOKE.
+
+
+Upon receipt of this astounding news Arethusa took the train and flew to
+the scene where such momentous happenings were piling up on one another.
+Her arrival was unexpected and the changes which she found ensued and
+ensuing were of a nature bewildering in the extreme. Aunt Mary had quit
+her regime of soup and sleep and was not only more energetically vigorous
+as to mind than ever, but strengthening daily as to bodily force. It might
+have been the excitement, for Burnett was there, Clover was _en route_,
+and Mitchell was expected within twenty-four hours. Other great changes
+were visible everywhere. A corps of servants from town had fairly swamped
+Lucinda and twenty carpenters were putting up an extra addition to the
+house in which to give the wedding room to spread. Nor was this all, for
+Aunt Mary had turned a furniture man and an upholsterer loose with no
+other limit than that comprised by the two words "_carte blanche_."
+
+Mrs. Rosscott still continued to wait upon Aunt Mary, but another maid had
+arrived to await upon Mrs. Rosscott. The latter had shed her black uniform
+and bloomed forth in rose-hued robes. Mr. Stebbins was kept on tap from
+dawn to dark and the checks flowed like water. Emissaries had been
+despatched to New York to buy the young couple a suitable house and
+furnish that also from top to bottom.
+
+"Well, Arethusa," the aunt said to the niece when they met the morning
+after her arrival, "I'm feelin' better 'n I was last time you were here."
+
+"I'm so glad," yelled Arethusa.
+
+"They'll live in New York and I'll live with them. As far as I've seen
+there ain't no other place on earth to live. I'm goin' to get me a coat
+lined with black-spotted white cat's fur and have my glasses put on a
+parasol handle, and I'm going to have the collars and sleeves left out of
+most of my dresses an' look like other people. I'm a great believer in
+doin' as others do, an' Jack won't ever have no cause to complain that I
+didn't take easy to city life."
+
+Arethusa felt herself dumb before these revelations.
+
+Later she was conducted to see the wedding presents, which were gorgeous.
+Among them was the biggest and brightest of crimson automobiles; and
+Mitchell, who had presented it, had christened it beforehand "The Midnight
+Sun." Aunt Mary's gift was the New York house and money enough for them to
+live on the income.
+
+"I know you're able to look out for yourself," she told the bride, "but I
+don't want Jack to have to worry over things at all, and, although I know
+it's a good habit, still I shouldn't like to have him ever work so hard
+that he wouldn't feel like goin' around with us nights. Not ever. Not even
+sometimes."
+
+Mitchell was overjoyed at the way things had turned out.
+
+"My dear Miss Watkins," he screamed, when he was ushered into Aunt Mary's
+presence, "who could have guessed in the hour of that sad parting in New
+York that such a glad future was held in store for us all!"
+
+"I didn't quite catch that," Aunt Mary exclaimed, rapturously, "but it
+doesn't matter--as long as you got here safe at last."
+
+"Safe!" exclaimed the young man; "it would have been the very refinement
+of cruelty if my train had smashed me on this journey."
+
+Burnett was equally happy.
+
+"I suppose it will be up to me to give you away," he said to his sister;
+"before all these people, too. What a mean trick!"
+
+Jack had thought that he would like to have Tweedwell marry him, as that
+young man had put in the summer vacation getting ordained. Tweedwell
+accepted--although he had just taken charge of a living in Seattle and came
+through on a flyer which arrived two hours before _the_ hour. Some fifty
+or sixty of the guests came in on the same train, and Burnett and Clover
+met them all at the cars and made the majority comfortable in the
+different hotels and honored the minority with Aunt Mary's hospitality.
+
+The day was gorgeous. The addition to the house was done and lined with
+white and decorated in gold. An orchestra was ensconced behind palms just
+as orchestras always covet to be and a magnificent breakfast had been sent
+up from the city in its own car with its own service and attendants to
+serve it.
+
+There was only one hitch in the entire programme. That was that when they
+got to the church Tweedwell did not show up. Jack was distressed even
+though Mrs. Rosscott laughed. Mitchell wanted to read the ceremony, but
+Aunt Mary was afraid it wouldn't be legal, and Mr. Stebbins agreed with
+her. In the end the regular clergyman married them; and just as they were
+all filing out they met Tweedwell and Lucinda tearing along, he in his
+surplice and she in the black silk dress which Aunt Mary had given her in
+celebration of the occasion. They were both too exhausted to be able to
+explain for several minutes; but it finally came out (of Lucinda) that
+Burnett, whose place it was to have overseen officiating Tweedwell, had
+forgotten all about him, and the poor fellow, exhausted by his long
+journey, had never awakened until Lucinda, going in to clear up his room,
+had let forth a piercing howl of surprise.
+
+So far from dampening anyone's spirits this little _contretemps_ only
+seemed to set things off at a livelier pace. They had a brisk ride home,
+and the wedding feast and the wedding cake were all that could be desired.
+What went with it was the finest that any of the guests ever tasted before
+or since, and the champagne was all but served in beer steins.
+
+When it came to the healths they drank to Aunt Mary along with the bride
+and groom, and Mitchell made a speech, invoking Heaven's blessings on the
+triple compact and covering himself with glory.
+
+"Here's to Aunt Mary and her bride and her groom," he cried, when they
+told him to rise and proclaim. "Here's to Aunt Mary and her bride and
+groom, and here's to their health and their wealth and their happiness.
+Here's to their brilliant past, their roseate present and their gorgeous
+future. And here's to hoping that Fate, who is ready and willing to deal
+any man a bride, may some time see fit to deal some one of us another such
+as Jack's Aunt Mary. So I propose her health before all else. Aunt Mary,
+long may she wave!"
+
+Aunt Mary looked as if words and actions were poor things in which to
+attempt to express her feelings, but no one who glanced at her could be in
+two minds as to her state of approval as to everything that was going on.
+
+The bridal pair drove away somewhere after five o'clock, and about seven
+the main body of the guests returned to the city.
+
+Mrs. Rosscott's mother and Mitchell and Burnett remained a day or two to
+keep Aunt Mary from feeling blue, but Aunt Mary was not at all inclined
+that way.
+
+"If those two young people are lookin' forward to anythin' like as much
+fun as I am," she said over and over again, "well, all is they're lookin'
+forward to a good deal."
+
+"Won't we whoop her up next summer!" said Burnett; "well, I don't know!"
+
+"My dear Robert," said his mother gently.
+
+"Don't stop him," said Aunt Mary. "He knows just how I feel an' I know
+jus' how he feels. It isn't wrong, Mrs. Burnett, it's natural. We were
+born to be happy, only sometimes we don't know just how to set about it."
+
+"Miss Watkins has hit the nail on the head," said Mitchell, rolling a
+cigarette. "She has not only hit the nail on its own head, but she has
+succeeded in driving its point well into all our heads. She taught us many
+things during her short visit. I, for one, am her debtor forever. Me for
+joy, from now on!"
+
+Aunt Mary smiled. "My heavens!" she murmured; "to think how nice it all
+come out, and how really put out I was when Jack first began, too."
+
+Burnett put his hand in his pocket and pulled out some gum.
+
+"Robert!" cried his mother, "you don't chew gum, do you?"
+
+"Of course he doesn't," said his friend quickly; "that's why he had it in
+his pocket."
+
+Aunt Mary looked thoughtfully at him.
+
+"Give me a little," she said, "maybe it's suthin' I've been missin'."
+
+Mrs. Burnett left the next day, and Mitchell went the day after.
+
+The carpenters took down the addition, and the wedding presents were
+shipped to town.
+
+"She says she'll be goin' soon," said Lucinda to Joshua.
+
+"Then she'll be goin' soon," said Joshua.
+
+"I'm sure I'll be glad," said Lucinda; "such hifalutin sky-larkin'!"
+
+Joshua said nothing. Mr. Stebbins had apprised him of Aunt Mary's
+arrangements in his behalf and he felt no inclination to criticize any of
+her doings and sayings.
+
+Toward the end of the next week this telegram was received.
+
+
+    Dear Aunt Mary: We're home and ready when you are. Telegraph what
+    train.
+
+                                                             J. and J.
+
+
+The telegram was handed to Aunt Mary at ten in the morning. Her fingers
+trembled as she opened it.
+
+"My heavens alive, Lucinda," she cried, the next minute, "I do believe, if
+you'll be quick, that I can make the twelve-twenty! Run! Tell Joshua to
+get my trunk down and harness Billy as quick as he can. He can telegraph
+that I'm comin' after I'm gone."
+
+Lucinda flew Joshua-wards.
+
+"She wants to make the twelve-twenty train!" she cried. Joshua looked up.
+
+"Then she'll make it," he said.
+
+She made it!
+
+
+
+
+
+_Anne Warner's "Susan Clegg" Books_
+
+SUSAN CLEGG AND HER FRIEND MRS. LATHROP
+
+_By_ ANNE WARNER
+With Frontispiece, $1.00
+
+Nothing better in the new homely philosophy style of fiction has been
+written.--_San Francisco Bulletin_.
+
+One of the most genuinely humorous books ever written.--_St. Louis
+Globe-Democrat_.
+
+Anything more humorous than the Susan Clegg stories would be hard to
+find.--_The Critic_, New York.
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+_By the Same Author_:
+
+SUSAN CLEGG AND HER NEIGHBORS' AFFAIRS
+
+With Frontispiece, $1.00
+
+All the stories brim over with quaint humor, caustic sarcasm, and
+concealed contempt for male and matrimonial chains.--_Philadelphia Ledger_.
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+SUSAN CLEGG AND A MAN IN THE HOUSE
+
+Illustrated by Alice Barber Stephens. $1.50
+
+Susan is a positive joy, and the reading world owes Anne Warner a vote of
+thanks for her contribution to the list of American humor.--_New York
+Times_.
+
+LITTLE, BROWN, & CO., Publishers
+34 Beacon Street, Boston
+
+
+
+
+
+_An exceedingly clever volume of stories_
+
+AN ORIGINAL GENTLEMAN
+
+_By_ ANNE WARNER
+
+With frontispiece by Alice Barber Stephens
+
+Cloth. $1.50
+
+Exhibits her cleverness and sense of humor.--_New York Times_.
+
+Crisply told, quaintly humorous.--_Boston Transcript_.
+
+An "Original Gentleman" is truly also one of the most entertaining and
+witty gentlemen that it has been our fortune to run across in many a day,
+not to mention the more original lady that he has to do with.--_Louisville
+Evening Post_.
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+_By the same author_
+
+A WOMAN'S WILL
+
+Illustrated. 360 pages. Cloth. $1.50
+
+A deliciously funny book.--_Chicago Tribune_.
+
+It is bright, charming, and intense as it describes the wooing of a young
+American widow on the European Continent by a German musical genius.--_San
+Francisco Chronicle_.
+
+As refreshing a bit of fiction as one often finds.--_Providence Journal_.
+
+LITTLE, BROWN, & CO., PUBLISHERS
+34 BEACON STREET, BOSTON
+
+
+
+
+
+_Anne Warner's Latest Character Creation_
+
+IN A MYSTERIOUS WAY
+
+_By_ ANNE WARNER
+
+Illustrated by J.V. McFall. Cloth. $1.50
+
+A story of love and sacrifice that teems with the author's original
+humor.--_Baltimore American_.
+
+The humor peculiar to her pen is here in wonted strength, but in a new
+guise; and set against it, or interwoven with it, is a story of love and
+the strange sacrifice of which a few loving hearts are capable.--_New York
+American_.
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+_By the same author_
+
+YOUR CHILD AND MINE
+
+Illustrated. 12mo. Cloth. $1.50
+
+The child heart, strange and sweet and tender, lies open to this
+sympathetic writer, and other human hearts--and eyes--should be opened by
+her narratives.--_Chicago Record-Herald_.
+
+The literary charm of the stories is not the least of their attractions.
+The interest is all the greater for the style in which the story is told,
+and the author's sympathy with her young friends lends a vital warmth to
+her narrative.--_Philadelphia Public Ledger_.
+
+LITTLE, BROWN, & CO., PUBLISHERS
+34 BEACON STREET, BOSTON
+
+
+
+
+
+_By the Author of "Aunt Jane of Kentucky"_
+
+THE LAND OF LONG AGO
+
+_By_ ELIZA CALVERT HALL
+
+Illustrated by G. Patrick Nelson and Beulah Strong 12mo. Cloth. $1.50
+
+The book is an inspiration.--_Boston Globe_.
+
+Without qualification one of the worthiest publications of the
+year.--_Pittsburg Post_.
+
+Aunt Jane has become a real personage in American literature.--_Hartford
+Courant_.
+
+A philosophy sweet and wholesome flows from the lips of "Aunt
+Jane."--_Chicago Evening Post_.
+
+The sweetness and sincerity of Aunt Jane's recollections have the same
+unfailing charm found in "Cranford."--_Philadelphia Press_.
+
+To a greater degree than her previous work it touches the heart by its
+wholesome, quaint human appeal.--_Boston Transcript_.
+
+The stories are prose idyls; the illuminations of a lovely spirit shine
+upon them, and their literary quality is as rare as beautiful.--_Baltimore
+Sun_.
+
+MARGARET E. SANGSTER says: "It is not often that an author competes with
+herself, but Eliza Calvert Hall has done so successfully, for her second
+volume centred about Aunt Jane is more fascinating than her first."
+
+LITTLE, BROWN, & CO., PUBLISHERS
+34 BEACON STREET, BOSTON
+
+
+
+
+
+
+***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE REJUVENATION OF AUNT MARY***
+
+
+
+CREDITS
+
+
+May 2005
+
+            Project Gutenberg Edition
+            Suzanne Shell Josephine Paolucci Joshua Hutchinson Online
+            Distributed Proofreading Team
+
+August 2005
+
+            Converted to PGTEI v0.3.
+            Joshua Hutchinson
+
+June 2006
+
+            Added PGHeader/PGFooter.
+            Joshua Hutchinson
+
+
+
+A WORD FROM PROJECT GUTENBERG
+
+
+This file should be named 15775-0.txt or 15775-0.zip.
+
+This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
+
+
+    http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/7/7/15775/
+
+
+Updated editions will replace the previous one -- the old editions will be
+renamed.
+
+Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no one
+owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and
+you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission
+and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth in the
+General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and
+distributing Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works to protect the Project
+Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered
+trademark, and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you
+receive specific permission. If you do not charge anything for copies of
+this eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook
+for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports,
+performances and research. They may be modified and printed and given away
+-- you may do practically _anything_ with public domain eBooks.
+Redistribution is subject to the trademark license, especially commercial
+redistribution.
+
+
+
+THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
+
+
+_Please read this before you distribute or use this work._
+
+To protect the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} mission of promoting the free
+distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work (or
+any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project Gutenberg"),
+you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~}
+License (available with this file or online at
+http://www.gutenberg.org/license).
+
+
+Section 1.
+
+
+General Terms of Use & Redistributing Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works
+
+
+1.A.
+
+
+By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic work,
+you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to and accept all the
+terms of this license and intellectual property (trademark/copyright)
+agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all the terms of this
+agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy all copies of
+Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works in your possession. If you paid a fee
+for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic work
+and you do not agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement, you may
+obtain a refund from the person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set
+forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
+
+
+1.B.
+
+
+"Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be used on or
+associated in any way with an electronic work by people who agree to be
+bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few things that you can
+do with most Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works even without complying
+with the full terms of this agreement. See paragraph 1.C below. There are
+a lot of things you can do with Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works if you
+follow the terms of this agreement and help preserve free future access to
+Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below.
+
+
+1.C.
+
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" or
+PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project
+Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the
+collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an individual
+work is in the public domain in the United States and you are located in
+the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from copying,
+distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative works based on
+the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of
+course, we hope that you will support the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} mission of
+promoting free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project
+Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for
+keeping the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} name associated with the work. You can
+easily comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the
+same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} License when you
+share it without charge with others.
+
+
+1.D.
+
+
+The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern what you
+can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in a constant
+state of change. If you are outside the United States, check the laws of
+your country in addition to the terms of this agreement before
+downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or creating
+derivative works based on this work or any other Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} work.
+The Foundation makes no representations concerning the copyright status of
+any work in any country outside the United States.
+
+
+1.E.
+
+
+Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
+
+
+1.E.1.
+
+
+The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate access
+to, the full Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} License must appear prominently whenever
+any copy of a Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} work (any work on which the phrase
+"Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project Gutenberg"
+is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, copied or
+distributed:
+
+
+    This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+    almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away
+    or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License
+    included with this eBook or online at http://www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+1.E.2.
+
+
+If an individual Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic work is derived from the
+public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is posted with
+permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied and
+distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees or
+charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work with the
+phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you
+must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7
+or obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~}
+trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+
+1.E.3.
+
+
+If an individual Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic work is posted with the
+permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution must comply
+with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional terms imposed
+by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked to the Project
+Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} License for all works posted with the permission of the
+copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.
+
+
+1.E.4.
+
+
+Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} License
+terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this work or any
+other work associated with Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~}.
+
+
+1.E.5.
+
+
+Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this electronic
+work, or any part of this electronic work, without prominently displaying
+the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with active links or immediate
+access to the full terms of the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} License.
+
+
+1.E.6.
+
+
+You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, compressed,
+marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any word
+processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or
+distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} work in a format other than
+"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version posted
+on the official Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} web site (http://www.gutenberg.org),
+you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a
+copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon
+request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other form.
+Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} License as
+specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
+
+
+1.E.7.
+
+
+Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, performing,
+copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} works unless you comply
+with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+
+1.E.8.
+
+
+You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing access to or
+distributing Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works provided that
+
+    - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
+      the use of Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} works calculated using the method you
+      already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed to
+      the owner of the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} trademark, but he has agreed to
+      donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project Gutenberg
+      Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid within 60
+      days following each date on which you prepare (or are legally
+      required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty payments
+      should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project Gutenberg
+      Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in Section 4,
+      "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
+      Archive Foundation."
+
+    - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
+      you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
+      does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} License.
+      You must require such a user to return or destroy all copies of the
+      works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue all use of and
+      all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} works.
+
+    - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of
+      any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
+      electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of
+      receipt of the work.
+
+    - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
+      distribution of Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} works.
+
+
+1.E.9.
+
+
+If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic
+work or group of works on different terms than are set forth in this
+agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from both the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael Hart, the owner of the
+Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in
+Section 3 below.
+
+
+1.F.
+
+
+1.F.1.
+
+
+Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable effort to
+identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread public domain
+works in creating the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} collection. Despite these
+efforts, Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works, and the medium on which they
+may be stored, may contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to,
+incomplete, inaccurate or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright
+or other intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk
+or other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot
+be read by your equipment.
+
+
+1.F.2.
+
+
+LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES -- Except for the "Right of
+Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~}
+trademark, and any other party distributing a Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~}
+electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all liability to you for
+damages, costs and expenses, including legal fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE
+NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH
+OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE
+FOUNDATION, THE TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT
+WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL,
+PUNITIVE OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY
+OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+
+
+1.F.3.
+
+
+LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND -- If you discover a defect in this
+electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can receive a refund
+of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a written explanation to
+the person you received the work from. If you received the work on a
+physical medium, you must return the medium with your written explanation.
+The person or entity that provided you with the defective work may elect
+to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a refund. If you received the
+work electronically, the person or entity providing it to you may choose
+to give you a second opportunity to receive the work electronically in
+lieu of a refund. If the second copy is also defective, you may demand a
+refund in writing without further opportunities to fix the problem.
+
+
+1.F.4.
+
+
+Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth in
+paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS,' WITH NO OTHER
+WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
+WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
+
+
+1.F.5.
+
+
+Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied warranties or the
+exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. If any disclaimer or
+limitation set forth in this agreement violates the law of the state
+applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be interpreted to make
+the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by the applicable state
+law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this agreement
+shall not void the remaining provisions.
+
+
+1.F.6.
+
+
+INDEMNITY -- You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the trademark
+owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone providing copies of
+Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works in accordance with this agreement, and
+any volunteers associated with the production, promotion and distribution
+of Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs
+and expenses, including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from
+any of the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of
+this or any Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} work, (b) alteration, modification, or
+additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} work, and (c) any Defect
+you cause.
+
+
+Section  2.
+
+
+           Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~}
+
+
+Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} is synonymous with the free distribution of electronic
+works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers including
+obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists because of the
+efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from people in all walks
+of life.
+
+Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the assistance
+they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~}'s goals and ensuring
+that the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} collection will remain freely available for
+generations to come. In 2001, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
+Foundation was created to provide a secure and permanent future for
+Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} and future generations. To learn more about the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations
+can help, see Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation web page at
+http://www.pglaf.org.
+
+
+Section 3.
+
+
+   Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
+
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit
+501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the state of
+Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service.
+The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification number is 64-6221541.
+Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at
+http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf. Contributions to the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full
+extent permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.
+
+The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr.
+S. Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered
+throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at 809 North
+1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email
+business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact information
+can be found at the Foundation's web site and official page at
+http://www.pglaf.org
+
+For additional contact information:
+
+
+    Dr. Gregory B. Newby
+    Chief Executive and Director
+    gbnewby@pglaf.org
+
+
+Section 4.
+
+
+  Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
+                                Foundation
+
+
+Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} depends upon and cannot survive without wide spread
+public support and donations to carry out its mission of increasing the
+number of public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed
+in machine readable form accessible by the widest array of equipment
+including outdated equipment. Many small donations ($1 to $5,000) are
+particularly important to maintaining tax exempt status with the IRS.
+
+The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
+charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United States.
+Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a considerable
+effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up with these
+requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations where we have not
+received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND DONATIONS or
+determine the status of compliance for any particular state visit
+http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate
+
+While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we have
+not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition against
+accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who approach us
+with offers to donate.
+
+International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make any
+statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from outside the
+United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
+
+Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation methods
+and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other ways including
+checks, online payments and credit card donations. To donate, please
+visit: http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate
+
+
+Section 5.
+
+
+      General Information About Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works.
+
+
+Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~}
+concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared with
+anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~}
+eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.
+
+Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} eBooks are often created from several printed editions,
+all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. unless a copyright
+notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily keep eBooks in compliance
+with any particular paper edition.
+
+Each eBook is in a subdirectory of the same number as the eBook's eBook
+number, often in several formats including plain vanilla ASCII, compressed
+(zipped), HTML and others.
+
+Corrected _editions_ of our eBooks replace the old file and take over the
+old filename and etext number. The replaced older file is renamed.
+_Versions_ based on separate sources are treated as new eBooks receiving
+new filenames and etext numbers.
+
+Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility:
+
+
+    http://www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~}, including how
+to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation,
+how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email
+newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+***FINIS***
+
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/old/15775.zip b/old/15775.zip
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..236b5d2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/15775.zip