MISTER STRUBLE HAS ALREADY KILLED A FINE SPIKE ELK FOR CAMP EATING WE CAMPED IN A BUNCH AND WE HAVE CAMP STOVES SO THAT IN CASE OF RAIN OR SNOW WE CAN STAY INDOORS JUST NOW WE HAVE A HUGE CAMP FIRE


AROUND WHICH WE SIT IN THE EVENING TELLING STORIES SINGING AND EATING NUTS OF THE PINON PINE THEN TOO THE WHOLE COUNTRY IS FILLED WITH THOSE TINY LITTLE STRAWBERRIES WE HAVE TO GATHER ALL DAY TO GET AS MUCH AS WE CAN EAT


BUT THEY ARE DELICIOUS YESTERDAY WE HAD PIE MADE OF WILD CURRANTS THERE ARE A POWERFUL LOT OF THEM HERE THERE IS ALSO A LITTLE BLUEBERRY THAT THE MEN SAY IS THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN HUCKLEBERRY THE GROUSE ARE FEEDING ON THEM


ALTOGETHER THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST DELIGHTFUL PLACES IMAGINABLE THE MEN ARE NOT VERY ANXIOUS TO BEGIN HUNTING A LITTLE DELAY MEANS COOLER WEATHER FOR THE MEAT IT IS COOL UP HERE BUT GOING BACK ACROSS THE DESERT IT WILL BE WARM FOR A WHILE YET STILL


WHEN THEY SEE ELK EVERY DAY IT IS A GREAT TEMPTATION TO TRY A SHOT ONE OF THE STUDENTS TOLD ME PROFESSOR GLENHOLDT WAS HERE TO GET THE TIP END BONE OF THE TAIL OF A BRONTOSAURUS


AS HE HAD HEARD THEY WERE FINE EATING HAVING STRATA OF FAT ALTERNATING WITH STRATA OF LEAN MISTER HAYNES IS A QUIET FELLOW JUST INTERESTED IN HUNTING MISTER STRUBLE IS THE BIG MAN OF THE PARTY


HE IS TALL AND STRONG AND WE FIND HIM VERY PLEASANT COMPANY THEN THERE IS DOCTOR TESCHALL HE IS A QUIET FELLOW WITH AN UNEXPECTED SMILE HE IS SO RESERVED THAT I FELT THAT HE WAS KIND OF OUT OF PLACE AMONG THE REST UNTIL I CAUGHT HIS CORDIAL SMILE


NOT TO MENTION CARRYING THE HEAVY GUN THEY ARE USING THE LARGEST CALIBER SPORTING GUNS MURDEROUS LOOKING THINGS THAT IS ALL EXCEPT MISTER HARKRUDDER THE PICTURE MAN


HE LOOKS TO BE ABOUT FORTY YEARS OLD BUT WHOOPS AND LAUGHS LIKE HE WAS ABOUT TEN I DON'T NEED TO TELL YOU OF THE GOOD MON DO I HE IS JUST THE KIND QUIET GOOD MON THAT HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN SINCE I HAVE KNOWN HIM


HE TOLD MISTER HAYNES HE WAS TOO TAM SEEK IN DE BEL SO WE HAD TO COME WITHOUT HIM


AND ARE ALL WILLING TO HELP I DON'T THINK I SHALL BE ABLE TO TELL YOU OF ANY GREAT EXPLOITS I MAKE WITH THE GUN I FIRED ONE THAT MISTER STEWART CARRIES AND IT ALMOST KICKED MY SHOULDER OFF I AM MYSTIFIED ABOUT MISSUS O'SHAUGHNESSY'S LICENSE


I KNOW SHE WOULD NOT SHOOT ONE OF THOSE BIG GUNS FOR A DOZEN ELK BESIDES THAT SHE IS VERY TENDER HEARTED AND WILL NEVER HARM ANYTHING HERSELF ALTHOUGH SHE LIKES TO JOIN OUR HUNTS I THINK YOU MUST BE TIRED OF THIS LETTER SO I AM GOING TO SAY GOOD NIGHT MY FRIEND


CAMP CLOUDCREST OCTOBER SIXTH NINETEEN FOURTEEN DEAR MISSUS CONEY IT SEEMS SO ODD TO BE WRITING YOU AND GETTING NO ANSWERS


I HAVEN'T ONE THING I TOLD HER I OWED YOU MORE LOVE THAN I COULD EVER PAY IN A LIFETIME AND SHE SAID WRITING SUCH LONG LETTERS IS A MIGHTY POOR WAY TO SHOW IT I HAVE BEEN NEGLECTING YOU SHAMEFULLY I THINK


ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS I CAME ON THIS HUNT WAS TO TAKE THE TRIP FOR YOU AND TO TELL YOU THINGS THAT YOU WOULD MOST ENJOY SO I WILL SPEND THIS SNOWY DAY IN WRITING TO YOU ON THE NIGHT OF SEPTEMBER THIRTIETH THERE WAS THE MOST AWFUL THUNDERSTORM I EVER WITNESSED


FLASH AFTER FLASH OF THE MOST BLINDING LIGHTNING FOLLOWED BY DEAFENING PEALS OF THUNDER AND AS IT ECHOED FROM MOUNTAIN TO MOUNTAIN THE UPROAR WAS TERRIFYING I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED A STORM THE BEAT OF HAIL AND RAIN AND THE ROAR OF WIND


ALWAYS APPEAL TO ME BUT THERE WAS NEITHER WIND NOR RAIN JUST FLASH AND ROAR BEFORE THE ECHO DIED AWAY AMONG THE HILLS ANOTHER BOOMING REPORT WOULD SEEM TO SHIVER THE ATMOSPHERE AND SET ALL OUR TINWARE JANGLING


WE ARE CAMPED SO NEAR THE GREAT PINES THAT I WILL CONFESS I WAS POWERFULLY AFRAID HAD THE LIGHTNING STRUCK ONE OF THE BIG PINES THERE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ONE OF US LEFT I COULD HEAR MISSUS O'SHAUGHNESSY MURMURING HER PRAYERS WHEN THERE WAS A LULL


WE HAD GONE TO BED BUT I COULDN'T REMAIN THERE SO I SAT ON THE WAGON SEAT WITH JERRINE BESIDE ME SOMETHING STRUCK THE GUY ROPES OF THE TENT AND I WAS SO FRIGHTENED I WAS TOO WEAK TO CRY OUT I THOUGHT THE BIG TREE MUST HAVE FALLEN


IN THE LULLS OF THE STORM I COULD HEAR THE MEN'S VOICES HIGH AND EXCITED THEY TOO WERE UP IT SEEMED TO ME THAT THE STORM LASTED FOR HOURS BUT AT LAST IT MOVED OFF UP THE VALLEY THE FLASHES GREW TO BE A MERE GLIMMER


AND THE THUNDER MERE RUMBLING THE PINES BEGAN TO MOAN AND SOON A LITTLE BREEZE WHISTLED BY SO WE LAY DOWN AGAIN NEXT MORNING THE HORSES COULD NOT BE FOUND THE STORM HAD FRIGHTENED THEM AND THEY HAD TRIED TO GO HOME


THE MEN HAD TO FIND THEM AND AS IT TOOK MOST OF THE DAY WE HAD TO PUT OFF OUR HUNT WE WERE UP AND ABOUT NEXT MORNING IN THE FIRST FAINT GRAY LIGHT WHILE THE MEN FED GRAIN TO THE HORSES AND SADDLED THEM WE PREPARED A HASTY BREAKFAST


WE WERE OFF BEFORE IT WAS MORE THAN LIGHT ENOUGH FOR US TO SEE THE TRAIL DAWN IN THE MOUNTAINS HOW I WISH I COULD DESCRIBE IT TO YOU IF I COULD ONLY MAKE YOU FEEL THE KEEN BRACING AIR THE EXHILARATING CLIMB


GREENISH AMBER LIGHT AND A BLUE GRAY SKY FAR AHEAD OF US WE COULD SEE THE RED RIM ROCK OF A MOUNTAIN ABOVE TIMBER LINE THE FIRST RAYS OF THE SUN TURNED THE JAGGED PEAKS INTO GOLDEN POINTS OF A CROWN IN OKLAHOMA


EVEN AT THIS SEASON BUT HERE THERE ARE NO SONG BIRDS AND ONLY THE SNAPPING OF TWIGS AS OUR HORSES CLIMBED THE FROSTY TRAIL BROKE THE SILENCE WE HAD BEEN CAUTIONED NOT TO TALK BUT NEITHER MISSUS O'SHAUGHNESSY NOR I WANTED TO


THE SUN WAS WELL UP WHEN WE REACHED THE LITTLE PARK WHERE WE PICKETED OUR HORSES THEN CAME A LONG HARD CLIMB IT IS HARD CLIMBING AT THE BEST AND WHEN THERE IS A BIG GUN TO CARRY IT IS VERY HARD


THEN TOO WE HAD TO KEEP UP WITH THE MEN AND WE DIDN'T FIND THAT EASY TO DO AT LAST WE REACHED THE TOP AND SAT DOWN ON SOME BOULDERS TO REST A FEW MINUTES BEFORE WE STARTED DOWN TO THE HUNTING GROUND WHICH LAY IN A CUPLIKE VALLEY FAR BELOW US


WE COULD HEAR THE ROAR OF THE GROS VENTRE AS IT TUMBLED GRUMBLINGLY OVER ITS ROCKY BED TO OUR RIGHT ROSE MILE AFTER MILE OF RED CLIFFS AS THE LAST OF THE QUAKING ASP LEAVES HAVE FALLEN THERE WERE NO GOLDEN GROVES


IN THEIR PLACES STOOD SILVERY PATCHES AGAINST THE RED BACKGROUND OF THE CLIFFS HIGH OVERHEAD A TRIANGLE OF WILD GEESE HARROWED THE BLUE SKY I WAS PLUMB OUT OF BREATH BUT MEN WHO ARE MOST GALLANT ELSEWHERE ARE


ABSOLUTELY HEARTLESS ON A HUNT I WAS SCARCELY THROUGH PANTING BEFORE WE BEGAN TO DESCEND WE RECEIVED INSTRUCTIONS AS TO HOW WE SHOULD MOVE SO AS TO KEEP OUT OF RANGE OF EACH OTHER'S GUNS THEN MISTER HAYNES AND MYSELF STARTED ONE WAY


AND MISTER STRUBLE AND MISSUS O'SHAUGHNESSY THE OTHER WE WERE TO MEET WHERE THE VALLEY TERMINATED IN A BROAD PASS WE FELT SURE WE COULD GET A CHANCE AT WHAT ELK THERE MIGHT BE IN THE VALLEY WE WERE FOLLOWING FRESH TRACKS AND A LITTLE OF THE HUNTER'S ENTHUSIASM SEIZED ME


WE HAD NOT FOLLOWED THEM FAR WHEN THREE COWS AND A SPIKE CAME RUNNING OUT OF THE PINES A LITTLE AHEAD OF US INSTANTLY MISTER HAYNES'S GUN FLEW TO HIS SHOULDER AND A DEAFENING REPORT JARRED OUR EARS HE RAN FORWARD


BUT I STOOD STILL FASCINATED BY WHAT I SAW OUR SIDE OF THE VALLEY WAS BOUNDED BY A RIM OF ROCK OVER THE RIM WAS A SHEER WALL OF ROCK FOR TWO HUNDRED FEET TO WHERE THE GROS VENTRE WAS ANGRILY ROARING BELOW ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREAM


ROSE THE RED CLIFFS WITH THEIR JAGGED CRAGS AT THE REPORT OF THE GUN TWO HUGE BLOCKS OF STONE ALMOST AS LARGE AS A HOUSE DETACHED THEMSELVES AND FELL AT THE SAME INSTANT ONE OF THE QUAKING ASP GROVES


BEGAN TO MOVE SLOWLY I COULDN'T BELIEVE MY EYES I SHUT THEM A MOMENT BUT WHEN I LOOKED THE GROVE WAS MOVING FASTER IT SLID SWIFTLY AND I COULD PLAINLY HEAR THE RATTLE OF STONES FALLING AGAINST STONES UNTIL WITH A MUFFLED ROAR


THE WHOLE HILLSIDE FELL INTO THE STREAM MISTER HAYNES CAME RUNNING BACK WHAT IS THE MATTER ARE YOU HURT WHY DIDN'T YOU SHOOT HE ASKED I WAVED MY HAND WEAKLY TOWARD WHERE THE GREAT MOUND OF TANGLED TREES AND EARTH BLOCKED THE WATER


NOT AN EARTHQUAKE YOU ARE AS WHITE AS A GHOST COME ON UP HERE AND SEE MY FINE ELK I SAT ON A LOG WATCHING HIM DRESS HIS ELK WE HAVE FOUND IT BEST NOT TO REMOVE THE SKIN


BUT THE ELK HAVE TO BE QUARTERED SO AS TO LOAD THEM ON TO A HORSE MISSUS O'SHAUGHNESSY AND MISTER STRUBLE CAME OUT OF THE WOODS JUST THEN THEY HAD SEEN A BIG BUNCH OF ELK HEADED BY A SPLENDID BULL BUT GOT NO SHOT AND THE ELK WENT OUT OF THE PASS


THEY HAD HEARD OUR SHOT AND CAME ACROSS TO SEE WHAT LUCK WHAT IVER IS THE MATTER WITH YE ASKED MISSUS O'SHAUGHNESSY MISTER HAYNES TOLD HER THEY HAD HEARD THE NOISE BUT HAD THOUGHT IT THUNDER MISTER HAYNES TOLD ME THAT IF I WOULD CHIRK UP


HE WOULD GIVE ME HIS ELK TEETH THOUGH I DON'T ADMIRE THEM THEY ARE CONSIDERED VALUABLE HOWEVER HIS ELK WAS A COW AND THEY DON'T HAVE AS NICE TEETH AS DO BULLS WE HAD LUNCH AND THE MEN COVERED THE ELK WITH PINE BOUGHS


TO KEEP THE CAMP ROBBERS FROM PECKING IT FULL OF HOLES NEXT DAY THE MEN WOULD COME WITH THE HORSES AND PACK IT IN TO CAMP WE ALL FELT REFRESHED SO WE STARTED ON THE TRAIL OF THOSE THAT GOT AWAY


FOR A WHILE WALKING WAS EASY AND WE MADE PRETTY GOOD TIME THEN WE HAD A ROCKY HILL TO GET OVER WE HAD TO USE CARE WHEN WE GOT INTO THE TIMBER THERE WERE MARSHY PLACES WHICH TRIED US SORELY


AND WINDFALL SO THICK THAT WE COULD HARDLY GET THROUGH WE WERE OBLIGED TO PICK OUR WAY CAREFULLY TO AVOID NOISE AND WE WERE ALL TOGETHER NOT HAVING COME TO A PLACE WHERE IT SEEMED BETTER TO SEPARATE


WE HAD ABOUT RESOLVED TO GO TO OUR HORSES WHEN WE HEARD A VOLLEY OF SHOTS THAT IS SOMEBODY BUNCH SHOOTING SAID MISTER STRUBLE THEY ARE IN BREWSTER LAKE PARK BY THE SOUND THAT MEANS THAT THE ELK WILL PASS HERE IN A SHORT TIME AND WE MAY GET A SHOT


THE ELK WILL BE HERE LONG BEFORE THE MEN SINCE THE MEN HAVE NO HORSES SO LET'S HURRY AND GET PLACED ALONG THE ONLY PLACE THEY CAN GET OUT WE'LL GET OUR LIMIT WE HASTILY SECRETED OURSELVES ALONG THE NARROW GORGE THROUGH WHICH THE ELK MUST PASS


WE WERE ALL ON ONE SIDE AND MISTER HAYNES SAID TO ME REST YOUR GUN ON THAT ROCK AND AIM AT THE FIRST RIB BACK OF THE SHOULDER IF YOU SHOOT HAPHAZARD YOU MAY CRIPPLE AN ELK AND LET IT GET AWAY TO DIE IN MISERY SO MAKE SURE WHEN YOU FIRE


IT DIDN'T SEEM A MINUTE BEFORE WE HEARD THE BEAT OF THEIR HOOFS AND A QUEER PANTING NOISE THAT I CAN'T DESCRIBE FIRST CAME A BEAUTIFUL THING WITH HIS HEAD HELD HIGH


HIS EYES WERE STARTLED AND HIS SHINING BLACK MANE SEEMED TO BRISTLE I HEARD THE REPORT OF GUNS AND HE TUMBLED IN A CONFUSED HEAP HE TRIED TO RISE BUT OTHERS COMING LEAPED OVER HIM AND KNOCKED HIM DOWN SOME MORE SHOTS


AND THOSE BEHIND TURNED AND WENT BACK THE WAY THEY HAD COME MISTER HAYNES SHOUTED TO ME SHOOT SHOOT WHY DON'T YOU SHOOT SO I FIRED MY KRAG BUT NEXT I FOUND MYSELF PICKING MYSELF UP


AND WONDERING WHO HAD STRUCK ME AND FOR WHAT I WAS SO DIZZY I COULD SCARCELY MOVE BUT I GOT DOWN TO WHERE THE OTHERS WERE EXCITEDLY ADMIRING THE TWO DEAD ELK THAT THEY SAID WERE THE VICTIMS OF MISSUS O'SHAUGHNESSY'S GUN


SHE WAS AS EXCITED AND DELIGHTED AS IF SHE HAD NEVER DECLARED SHE WOULD NOT KILL ANYTHING SURE IT'S MANY A MEAL THEY'LL MAKE FOR LITTLE HUNGRY MOUTHS SHE SAID SHE WAS RUBBING HER SHOULDER RUEFULLY


I THOUGHT OLD GOLIAR HAD HIT ME A BIFF WITH A BLACKTHORN SHILALEY SHE REMARKED MISTER HAYNES TURNED TO ME AND SAID YOU ARE A DANDY HUNTER YOU DIDN'T SHOOT AT ALL UNTIL AFTER THE ELK WERE GONE


AND THE WAY YOU HELD YOUR GUN IT IS A WONDER IT DIDN'T KNOCK YOUR HEAD OFF INSTEAD OF JUST SMASHING YOUR JAW THE MEN WORKED AS FAST AS THEY COULD AT THE ELK AND WE HELPED AS MUCH AS WE COULD BUT IT WAS DARK BEFORE WE REACHED CAMP


SUPPER WAS READY BUT I WENT TO BED AT ONCE THEY ALL THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE I WAS SO DISAPPOINTED BUT IT WAS BECAUSE I WAS SO STIFF AND SORE I COULD HARDLY MOVE AND SO TIRED I COULDN'T SLEEP NEXT MORNING MY JAW AND NECK WERE SO SWOLLEN


THAT I HATED ANY ONE TO SEE ME AND MY HEAD ACHED FOR TWO DAYS IT HAS BEEN SNOWING FOR A LONG TIME BUT CLYDE SAYS HE WILL TAKE ME HUNTING WHEN IT STOPS


AND GO BACK EMPTY HANDED AND PARTLY TO GET A REST FROM MISTER MURRY'S EVERLASTING ACCORDION MISTER MURRY IS AN OLD TIME ACQUAINTANCE OF MISSUS O'SHAUGHNESSY'S HE HAS A RANCH DOWN ON THE RIVER SOMEWHERE MISSUS O'SHAUGHNESSY HAS NOT SEEN HIM FOR YEARS


DIDN'T KNOW HE LIVED UP HERE HE HAD SEEN THE GAME WARDEN FROM WHOM SHE HAD PROCURED HER LICENSE AND SO HUNTED UP OUR CAMP HE IS AN ODD LOOKING INDIVIDUAL WITH SAD EYES AND A DROOPING MOUTH WHICH GIVES HIS FACE A MOST HOPELESS REPROACHFUL EXPRESSION


HIS NOSE HOWEVER SEEMS TO UPSET THE ORIGINAL PLAN FOR IT IS LONG AND THIN AND BENT SLIGHTLY TO ONE SIDE HIS NECK IS LONG AND HIS ADAM'S APPLE SEEMS UNCERTAIN AS TO WHERE IT BELONGS AT SUPPER JERRINE WATCHED IT


AS IF FASCINATED UNTIL I SENT HER FROM THE TABLE AND WENT OUT TO SPEAK TO HER ABOUT GAZING WHY MAMMA SHE SAID I HAD TO LOOK HE HAS SWALLOWED SOMETHING THAT WON'T GO EITHER UP OR DOWN AND I'M FRAID HE'LL CHOKE


ALTHOUGH I CAN'T BRAG ABOUT MISTER MURRY'S APPEARANCE I CAN ABOUT HIS TASTE FOR HE ADMIRES MISSUS O'SHAUGHNESSY IT SEEMS THAT IN YEARS GONE BY HE HAS MADE ATTEMPTS TO MARRY HER AS HE GOT UP FROM SUPPER THE FIRST NIGHT HE WAS WITH US HE SAID


MARY ELLEN I HAVE A REAL TREAT AND SURPRISE FOR YOU JUST WAIT A FEW MINUTES AN I'LL BET YOU'LL BE HAPPY WE TOOK OUR ACCUSTOMED PLACES AROUND THE FIRE WHILE MISTER MURRY HOBBLED HIS CAYUSE AND TOOK AN ODD LOOKING BUNDLE FROM HIS SADDLE


HE SEATED HIMSELF AND TOOK FROM THE BUNDLE AN ACCORDION HE SET IT UPON HIS KNEE AND BEGAN PULLING AND PUSHING ON IT HE DID WHAT MISTER STRUBLE SAID WAS DOLING A DOLEFUL TUNE EVERY ONE TOOK IT GOOD NATUREDLY


BUT WE HAVE TO LISTEN TO RUN NIGGER RUN AND THE OLD GRAY HOSS COME A TEARIN OUT THE WILDERNESS I'LL SING THEM TO YOU WHEN I COME TO DENVER


CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR HOME AGAIN THE MAJOR WAS AT THE STATION TO MEET THEM


THE GIRL CAUGHT SIGHT OF HIM OUTSIDE THE GATES HIS FACE RED AND BEAMING AS A POPPY IN BLOOM AND HIS SNOWY MOUSTACHE BRISTLING WITH EAGERNESS AT ONCE SHE DROPPED HER BUNDLES AND FLEW TO THE MAJOR'S ARMS


LEAVING THE LITTLE MAN IN HER WAKE TO RESCUE HER BELONGINGS AND FOLLOW AFTER HE COULD HARDLY SEE PATSY AT ALL THE MAJOR WRAPPED HER IN SUCH AN AMPLE EMBRACE BUT BYE AND BYE SHE ESCAPED TO GET HER BREATH AND THEN HER EYES FELL UPON THE MEEK FORM HOLDING HER BUNDLES


ON WHICH ACCOUNT SAID THE MAJOR GRASPING THE LITTLE MAN'S HAND MOST CORDIALLY I'LL LOVE UNCLE JOHN LIKE MY OWN BROTHER AND SURELY HE ADDED HIS VOICE FALLING TENDERLY MY DEAR VIOLET'S BROTHER MUST BE MY OWN


WELCOME SIR NOW AND ALWAYS TO OUR LITTLE HOME IT'S MODEST SIR BUT WHEREVER PATSY IS THE SUN IS SURE TO SHINE I CAN BELIEVE THAT SAID UNCLE JOHN WITH A NOD AND SMILE


AND THE OLD FELLOW RATTLED AWAY WITH THE EAGERNESS OF A BOY TELLING EVERY DETAIL IN THE MOST WHIMSICAL MANNER AND FINDING SOMETHING HUMOROUS IN EVERY INCIDENT OH BUT IT WAS GRAND PATSY HE EXCLAIMED AND THE COLONEL WEPT ON MY NECK WHEN WE PARTED AND STAINED THE COLLAR OF ME BEST COAT


HIS FACE GREW GRAVE BUT HOW ABOUT THE MONEY PATSY DEAR HE ASKED DID YOU GET NOTHING OUT OF JANE MERRICK'S ESTATE NOT A NICKLE DAD TWAS THE BEST JOKE YOU EVER KNEW


I FOUGHT WITH AUNT JANE LIKE A PIRATE AND IT QUITE WON HER HEART WHEN SHE DIED SHE LEFT ME ALL SHE HAD IN THE WORLD LOOK AT THAT NOW SAID THE MAJOR WONDERINGLY WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE NOTHING AT ALL CONTINUED PATSY


FOR ANOTHER WILL WAS FOUND MADE BY MISTER THOMAS BRADLEY WHICH GAVE THE MONEY TO HIS OWN NEPHEW AFTER AUNT JANE DIED DID YOU EVER WONDERFUL SAID THE MAJOR WITH A SIGH SO I WAS RICH FOR HALF A DAY AND THEN POOR AS EVER IT DIDN'T HURT YOU DID IT


NOT AT ALL DADDY THEN DON'T MIND IT CHILD LIKE AS NOT THE MONEY WOULD BE THE RUINATION OF US ALL EH SIR APPEALING TO UNCLE JOHN


IN YOUR CASE IT WON'T MATTER OUR HOUSE IS YOURS AND THERE'S PLENTY AND TO SPARE THANK YOU SAID UNCLE JOHN HIS FACE GRAVE BUT HIS EYES MERRY OH MAJOR CRIED PATSY SUDDENLY


THERE'S DANNY REEVES'S RESTAURANT LET'S GET OFF AND HAVE OUR DINNER NOW I'M AS HUNGRY AS A BEAR SO THEY STOPPED THE CAR AND DESCENDED LUGGING ALL THE PARCELS INTO THE LITTLE RESTAURANT WHERE THEY WERE PILED INTO A CHAIR WHILE THE PROPRIETOR AND THE WAITERS ALL GATHERED AROUND PATSY TO WELCOME HER HOME


MY HOW HER EYES SPARKLED SHE FAIRLY DANCED FOR JOY AND ORDERED THE DINNER WITH RECKLESS DISREGARD OF THE BILL AH BUT IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK SAID THE LITTLE BOHEMIAN GLEEFULLY THE BIG HOUSE AT ELMHURST WAS GRAND AND STATELY MAJOR BUT THERE WASN'T AN OUNCE OF LOVE IN THE CUPBOARD


DANNY REEVES HIMSELF CAME INSTEAD AND MADE A NICE LITTLE SPEECH SAYING THAT PATSY HAD ALWAYS BROUGHT GOOD LUCK TO THE PLACE AND THIS DINNER WAS HIS TREAT TO WELCOME HER HOME SO THE MAJOR THANKED HIM WITH GRACIOUS DIGNITY AND PATSY KISSED DANNY ON HIS RIGHT CHEEK


IT'S NO PALACE SAID PATSY ENTERING TO THROW DOWN THE BUNDLES AS SOON AS THE MAJOR UNLOCKED THE DOOR BUT THERE'S A CRICKET IN THE HEARTH AND IT'S YOUR HOME UNCLE JOHN AS WELL AS OURS UNCLE JOHN LOOKED AROUND CURIOUSLY


THE PLACE WAS SO PLAIN AFTER THE COMPARATIVE LUXURY OF ELMHURST AND ESPECIALLY OF THE ROSE CHAMBER PATSY HAD OCCUPIED THAT THE OLD MAN COULD NOT FAIL TO MARVEL AT THE GIRL'S ECSTATIC JOY TO FIND HERSELF IN THE OLD TENEMENT AGAIN


THERE WAS ONE GOOD SIZED LIVING ROOM WITH AN ANCIENT RAG CARPET PARTIALLY COVERING THE FLOOR A SHEET IRON STOVE A SOFA A TABLE AND THREE OR FOUR OLD FASHIONED CHAIRS THAT HAD PROBABLY COME FROM A SECOND HAND DEALER


OPENING FROM THIS WERE TWO CLOSET LIKE ROOMS CONTAINING EACH A BED AND A CHAIR WITH A WASH BASIN ON A BRACKET SHELF ON THE WAILS WERE A FEW COLORED PRINTS FROM THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPERS AND ONE LARGE AND FINE PHOTOGRAPH OF A GRIZZLED OLD SOLDIER


THAT UNCLE JOHN AT ONCE DECIDED MUST REPRESENT THE COLONEL HAVING NOTED THESE DETAILS PATSY'S UNCLE SMOOTHED BACK HIS STUBBY GRAY HAIR WITH A REFLECTIVE AND HALF PUZZLED GESTURE IT'S COZY ENOUGH MY CHILD AND I THANK YOU FOR MY WELCOME SAID HE


BUT MAY I ENQUIRE WHERE ON EARTH YOU EXPECT TO STOW ME IN THIS RATHER LIMITED ESTABLISHMENT WHERE HAVE YOU NO EYES THEN SHE ASKED IN ASTONISHMENT IT'S THE FINEST SOFA IN THE WORLD UNCLE JOHN AND YOU'LL SLEEP THERE LIKE A TOP


WHERE INDEED AH I SEE SAID UNCLE JOHN AND YOU CAN WASH IN MY CHAMBER ADDED THE MAJOR WITH A GRAND AIR AND HANG YOUR CLOTHES ON THE SPARE HOOKS BEHIND MY DOOR I HAVEN'T MANY SAID UNCLE JOHN LOOKING THOUGHTFULLY AT HIS RED BUNDLE


THE MAJOR COUGHED AND TURNED THE LAMP A LITTLE HIGHER YOU'LL FIND THE AIR FINE AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD RESPECTABLE HE SAID TO TURN THE SUBJECT OUR MODEST APARTMENTS ARE COOL IN SUMMER AND WARM IN WINTER AND REMARKABLY REASONABLE IN PRICE


MAY I SMOKE OF COURSE BUT DON'T SPOIL THE LACE CURTAINS DEAR ANSWERED PATSY MISCHIEVOUSLY


BUT JUST TO KEEP HIM OUT OF MISCHIEF AND BUSY HE CAN'T HANG AROUND ALL DAY AND BE HAPPY I SUPPOSE I'LL LOOK AROUND ANSWERED THE MAJOR BRISKLY AS IF SUCH A JOB WAS THE EASIEST THING IN THE WORLD TO PROCURE AND MEANTIME


MEANTIME SAID UNCLE JOHN SMILING AT THEM I'LL LOOK AROUND MYSELF TO BE SURE AGREED THE MAJOR BETWEEN THE TWO OF US AND PATSY WE OUGHT TO HAVE NO TROUBLE AT ALL THERE WAS A MOMENT OF THOUGHTFUL SILENCE AFTER THIS AND THEN PATSY SAID


BY THE BYE ADDED THE MAJOR IF YOU HAVE ANY MONEY ABOUT YOU WHICH IS JUST POSSIBLE SIR OF COURSE YOU'D BETTER TURN IT OVER TO PATSY TO KEEP AND LET HER MAKE YOU AN ALLOWANCE THAT'S THE WAY I DO IT'S VERY SATISFACTORY THE MAJOR'S EXTRAVAGANT EXCLAIMED PATSY


AND IF HE HAS MONEY HE WANTS TO TREAT EVERY MAN HE MEETS UNCLE JOHN SHOOK HIS HEAD REPROACHFULLY AT THE MAJOR A VERY BAD HABIT SIR HE SAID


BUT PATSY IS FAST CURING ME AND AFTER ALL IT'S A WICKED CITY TO BE CARRYING A FAT POCKETBOOK AROUND IN AS I'VE OFTEN OBSERVED MY POCKETBOOK IS NOT EXACTLY FAT REMARKED UNCLE JOHN BUT YOU'VE MONEY SIR FOR I MARKED YOU SQUANDERING IT ON THE TRAIN SAID PATSY SEVERELY


UNCLE JOHN LAUGHED AND DREW HIS CHAIR UP TO THE TABLE THEN HE EMPTIED HIS TROUSERS POCKETS UPON THE CLOTH AND PATSY GRAVELY SEPARATED THE KEYS AND JACKKNIFE FROM THE COINS AND PROCEEDED TO COUNT THE MONEY SEVEN DOLLARS AND FORTY TWO CENTS SHE ANNOUNCED ANY MORE


UNCLE JOHN HESITATED A MOMENT AND THEN DREW FROM AN INNER POCKET OF HIS COAT A THIN WALLET FROM THIS WHEN SHE HAD RECEIVED IT FROM HIS HAND THE GIRL


GOOD GRACIOUS SHE CRIED DELIGHTEDLY ALL THIS WEALTH AND YOU PLEADING POVERTY I NEVER SAID I WAS A PAUPER RETURNED UNCLE JOHN COMPLACENTLY YOU COULDN'T AND BE TRUTHFUL SIR DECLARED THE GIRL WHY THIS WILL LAST FOR AGES


HE SMOKES OBSERVED THE MAJOR SIGNIFICANTLY BAH A PIPE SAID PATSY AND BULL DURHAM IS ONLY FIVE CENTS A BAG AND A BAG OUGHT TO LAST A WEEK AND EVERY SATURDAY NIGHT SIR


THANK YOU PATSY SAID UNCLE JOHN MEEKLY AND GATHERED UP HIS FORTY TWO CENTS YOU'VE NOW A HOME AND A MANAGER SIR WITH MONEY IN THE BANK OF PATSY AND COMPANY LIMITED


YOU OUGHT TO BE VERY CONTENTED SIR


CHAPTER TWENTY THREE PATSY ADOPTS AN UNCLE UNCLE JOHN AND MISTER WATSON DID NOT APPEAR AT DINNER BEING CLOSETED IN THE FORMER'S ROOM


BEING SERVED BY THE OLD SERVANTS AS A MERE MATTER OF ROUTINE INDEED THE ARRANGEMENTS OF THE HOUSEHOLD HAD BEEN CONSIDERABLY CHANGED BY THE DEATH OF ITS MISTRESS AND WITHOUT ANY REAL HEAD TO DIRECT THEM THE SERVANTS WERE PATIENTLY AWAITING THE ADVENT OF A NEW MASTER OR MISTRESS


BUT THERE WERE FEW TEARS SHED FOR JANE MERRICK AND THE NEW REGIME COULD NOT FAIL TO BE AN IMPROVEMENT OVER THE LAST


BUT BEING UNAWARE OF ITS IMPORT GAVE IT BUT PASSING ATTENTION THE MAIN SUBJECT OF CONVERSATION WAS AUNT JANE'S SURPRISING ACT IN ANNULLING HER LAST WILL AND FORCING PATRICIA TO ACCEPT THE INHERITANCE WHEN SHE DID NOT WANT IT


WHEN ALONE WITH THE THREE COUSINS PROTESTED THAT IT WOULD NOT BE RIGHT FOR PATSY TO GIVE HIM ALL THE ESTATE BUT AS SHE WAS SO GENEROUS HE WOULD ACCEPT ENOUGH OF HIS UNCLE TOM'S MONEY TO EDUCATE HIM AS AN ARTIST AND PROVIDE FOR HIMSELF AN HUMBLE HOME


LOUISE AND BETH HAVING AT LAST FULL KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR COUSIN'S DESIRE TO INCREASE THEIR BEQUESTS WERE OPENLY VERY GRATEFUL FOR HER GOOD WILL ALTHOUGH SECRETLY THEY COULD NOT FAIL TO RESENT PATSY'S CHOICE OF THE BOY AS THE PROPER HEIR OF HIS UNCLE'S FORTUNE


THE BALANCE OF POWER SEEMED TO BE IN PATRICIA'S HANDS HOWEVER


TO OFFEND HER ALTOGETHER THEY WERE ALL BETTER PROVIDED FOR THAN THEY HAD FEARED WOULD BE THE CASE SO THE LITTLE PARTY SPENT A PLEASANT EVENING AND SEPARATED EARLY BETH AND LOUISE TO GO TO THEIR ROOMS AND CANVASS QUIETLY THE EVENTS OF THE DAY


AND THEN SHE WENT TO BED AND SLEPT PEACEFULLY


LAWYER WATSON AND UNCLE JOHN WERE THERE LOOKING AS GRAVE AS THE IMPORTANT OCCASION DEMANDED


AND THE SUBSEQUENT FINDING OF THE WILL


WAS MADE SUBSEQUENT TO THE ONE UNDER WHICH JANE MERRICK INHERITED AND THEREFORE SUPERCEDES IT


OF THE ESTATE DURING HER LIFETIME


MISTER BRADLEY HAVING PROVIDED FOR THAT MOST FULLY FOR THIS REASON THE WILL I READ TO YOU YESTERDAY IS OF NO EFFECT AND KENNETH FORBES INHERITS FROM HIS UNCLE THROUGH HIS MOTHER ALL OF THE ESTATE BLANK LOOKS FOLLOWED MISTER WATSON'S STATEMENT


GOOD BY TO MY FIVE THOUSAND SAID UNCLE JOHN WITH HIS CHUCKLING LAUGH BUT I'M MUCH OBLIGED TO JANE NEVERTHELESS DON'T WE GET ANYTHING AT ALL ASKED BETH WITH QUIVERING LIP NO MY DEAR ANSWERED THE LAWYER GENTLY YOUR AUNT OWNED NOTHING TO GIVE YOU


PATSY LAUGHED SHE FELT WONDERFULLY RELIEVED WASN'T I THE GRAND LADY THOUGH WITH ALL THE FORTUNE I NEVER HAD SHE CRIED MERRILY BUT TWAS REALLY FINE TO BE RICH FOR A DAY AND TOSS THE MONEY AROUND AS IF I DIDN'T HAVE TO DRESS TEN HEADS OF HAIR IN TEN HOURS TO EARN MY BREAD AND BUTTER


LOUISE SMILED IT WAS ALL A GREAT FARCE SHE SAID I SHALL TAKE THE AFTERNOON TRAIN TO THE CITY WHAT AN OLD FRAUD OUR DEAR AUNT JANE WAS AND HOW FOOLISH OF ME TO RETURN HER HUNDRED DOLLAR CHECK I USED MINE SAID BETH BITTERLY


IT'S ALL I'LL EVER GET IT SEEMS AND THEN THE THOUGHT OF THE PROFESSOR AND HIS DEBTS OVERCAME HER AND SHE BURST INTO TEARS THE BOY SAT DOUBLED WITHIN HIS CHAIR SO OVERCOME BY THE EXTRAORDINARY FORTUNE THAT HAD OVERTAKEN HIM THAT HE COULD NOT SPEAK


NOR THINK EVEN CLEARLY AS YET PATSY TRIED TO COMFORT BETH NEVER MIND DEAR SAID SHE WE'RE NO WORSE OFF THAN BEFORE WE CAME ARE WE AND WE'VE HAD A NICE VACATION


I'M GOING HOME TODAY SAID BETH ANGRILY DRYING HER EYES WE'LL ALL GO HOME SAID PATSY CHEERFULLY FOR MY PART REMARKED UNCLE JOHN IN A GRAVE VOICE I HAVE NO HOME


I'M WONDERING THAT MYSELF SAID THE LITTLE MAN MEEKLY


NO REPLIED UNCLE JOHN THE MERRICKS ARE OUT OF ELMHURST NOW AND IT RETURNS TO ITS RIGHTFUL OWNERS YOU OWE ME NOTHING MY LAD


LOUISE SMILED RATHER SCORNFULLY AND BETH SCOWLED MY MOTHER AND I LIVE SO SIMPLY IN OUR LITTLE FLAT SAID ONE THAT WE REALLY HAVEN'T EXTRA ROOM TO KEEP A CAT BUT WE SHALL BE GLAD TO ASSIST UNCLE JOHN AS FAR AS WE ARE ABLE


FATHER CAN HARDLY SUPPORT HIS OWN FAMILY SAID THE OTHER BUT I WILL TALK TO MY MOTHER ABOUT UNCLE JOHN WHEN I GET HOME AND SEE WHAT SHE SAYS OH YOU DON'T NEED TO INDEED CRIED PATSY IN GREAT INDIGNATION UNCLE JOHN IS MY DEAR MOTHER'S BROTHER AND HE'S TO COME AND LIVE WITH THE MAJOR AND ME AS LONG AS HE CARES TO


NO NO SAY NOTHING AT ALL SIR COME YOU SHALL IF I HAVE TO DRAG YOU AND IF YOU ACT NAUGHTY I'LL SEND FOR THE MAJOR TO PUNISH YOU


THANK YOU MY DEAR SAID HE BUT WHERE'S THE MONEY TO COME FROM MONEY BAH SHE SAID DOESN'T THE MAJOR EARN A HEAP WITH HIS BOOKKEEPING AND HAVEN'T I HAD A RAISE LATELY WHY WE'LL BE AS SNUG AND CONTENTED AS PIGS IN CLOVER CAN YOU GET READY TO COME WITH ME TODAY UNCLE JOHN


AND HE SAID HE HOPED TO SEE ALL THE GIRLS AGAIN


THE LAWYER WHO HAD CONSENTED TO STAY AT THE MANSION FOR A TIME


THAT MAY BE ANSWERED THE BOY


CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE UNCLE JOHN ACTS QUEERLY


TO PASS THE TIME HE TURNED INTO A SMALL RESTAURANT AND HAD COFFEE AND A PLATE OF CAKES IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT PATSY HAD SO RECENTLY PREPARED COFFEE OVER THE SHEET IRON STOVE AND BROUGHT SOME HOT BUNS FROM A NEAR BY BAKERY HE WAS NOT ESPECIALLY HUNGRY BUT IN SIPPING THE COFFEE AND NIBBLING THE CAKES


HE PASSED THE BEST PART OF AN HOUR HE SMILED WHEN HE PAID OUT TWENTY FIVE CENTS OF HIS SLENDER STORE FOR THE REFRESHMENT WITH FIVE CENTS FOR CAR FARE HE HAD NOW BUT TWELVE CENTS LEFT OF THE FORTY TWO PATSY HAD GIVEN HIM


ANOTHER HOUR WAS SPENT IN LOOKING IN AT THE SHOP WINDOWS THEN SUDDENLY NOTING THE TIME UNCLE JOHN STARTED DOWN THE STREET AT A SWINGING PACE AND PRESENTLY PAUSED BEFORE A BUILDING UPON WHICH WAS A SIGN READING ISHAM


UNCLE JOHN WALKED IN ALTHOUGH THE UNIFORMED OFFICIAL AT THE DOOR EYED HIM SUSPICIOUSLY MISTER MARVIN IN HE INQUIRED PLEASANTLY NOT ARRIVED YET SAID THE OFFICIAL WHO WORE A BIG STAR UPON HIS BREAST I'LL WAIT ANNOUNCED UNCLE JOHN AND SAT DOWN UPON A LEATHER COVERED BENCH


ANOTHER HOUR PASSED PRESENTLY UNCLE JOHN JUMPED UP AND APPROACHED THE OFFICIAL HASN'T MISTER MARVIN ARRIVED YET HE ENQUIRED SHARPLY AN HOUR AGO WAS THE REPLY THEN WHY DIDN'T YOU LET ME KNOW I WANT TO SEE HIM


HE'S BUSY MORNINGS HAS TO LOOK OVER THE MAIL HE CAN'T SEE YOU YET WELL HE WILL SEE ME AND RIGHT AWAY TELL HIM JOHN MERRICK IS HERE YOUR CARD SIR I HAVEN'T ANY MY NAME WILL DO


THE OFFICIAL HESITATED AND GLANCED AT THE LITTLE MAN'S SEEDY GARB AND COUNTRYFIED AIR BUT SOMETHING IN THE ANGRY GLANCE OF THE SHREWD EYE MADE HIM FEAR HE HAD MADE A MISTAKE HE OPENED A SMALL DOOR AND DISAPPEARED


IN A MOMENT THE DOOR BURST OPEN TO ALLOW EGRESS TO A BIG RED BEARDED MAN IN HIS SHIRTSLEEVES WHO GLANCED AROUND BRIEFLY AND THEN RUSHED AT UNCLE JOHN AND SHOOK BOTH HIS HANDS CORDIALLY


A GREAT SURPRISE AND PLEASURE SIR THOMAS I'M ENGAGED THIS LAST WAS DIRECTED AT THE HEAD OF THE AMAZED PORTER WHO AS THE DOOR SLAMMED IN HIS FACE NODDED SOLEMNLY AND REMARKED


UNCLE JOHN HAD BEEN ADVISED BY PATSY WHERE TO GO FOR A GOOD CHEAP LUNCHEON BUT HE DID NOT HEED HER ADMONITION INSTEAD HE RODE IN A CARRIAGE BESIDE THE BANKER TO A SPLENDID CLUB WHERE HE WAS SERVED WITH THE FINEST DISHES THE CHEF COULD PROVIDE ON SHORT NOTICE


MOREOVER MISTER MARVIN INTRODUCED HIM TO SEVERAL SUBSTANTIAL GENTLEMEN AS MISTER JOHN MERRICK OF PORTLAND AND EACH ONE BOWED PROFOUNDLY AND DECLARED HE WAS HIGHLY HONORED YET UNCLE JOHN SEEMED IN NO WAY ELATED BY THIS RECEPTION


HE TALKED WITH EASY FAMILIARITY OF PREFERRED STOCKS AND AMALGAMATED INTERESTS AND INVESTED SECURITIES AND MANY OTHER QUEER THINGS THAT THE BANKER SEEMED TO UNDERSTAND FULLY AND TO LISTEN TO WITH RESPECTFUL DEFERENCE


BUT HE DIDN'T GO AWAY QUIETLY YOU MAY BE SURE MISTER MARVIN AND MISTER ISHAM BOTH ESCORTED THEIR FAMOUS CLIENT TO THE DOOR


IN A MOMENT THE GREAT BROADWAY CROWD HAD SWALLOWED UP JOHN MERRICK AND FIVE MINUTES LATER HE WAS THOUGHTFULLY GAZING INTO A SHOP WINDOW AGAIN BY AND BYE HE BETHOUGHT HIMSELF OF THE TIME AND TOOK A CAB UPTOWN


BESIDES THE CHECK BOOK WHICH WAS CAREFULLY HIDDEN AWAY IN AN INSIDE POCKET SO THE COST OF THE CAB DID NOT WORRY HIM


DANNY REEVES'S RESTAURANT A BLOCK AWAY PATSY WAS STANDING IN THE DOORWAY ANXIOUSLY WATCHING FOR HIM OH UNCLE JOHN SHE CRIED AS HE STROLLED I'VE BEEN REALLY WORRIED ABOUT YOU IT'S SUCH A BIG CITY AND YOU A STRANGER


I'M SORRY HE SAID HUMBLY BUT IT'S A LONG WAY HERE FROM DOWNTOWN DIDN'T YOU TAKE A CAR NO MY DEAR WHY YOU FOOLISH OLD UNCLE COME IN AT ONCE


THE MAJOR HAS BEEN TERRIBLY EXCITED OVER YOU AND SWORE YOU SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO WANDER THROUGH THE STREETS WITHOUT SOMEONE TO LOOK AFTER YOU BUT WHAT COULD WE DO I'M ALL RIGHT DECLARED UNCLE JOHN CORDIALLY SHAKING HANDS WITH PATSY'S FATHER HAVE YOU HAD A GOOD DAY FINE SAID THE MAJOR


THEY'D MISSED ME AT THE OFFICE AND WERE GLAD TO HAVE ME BACK


I'VE GOT A RAISE REALLY SAID UNCLE JOHN SEEING IT WAS EXPECTED OF HIM FOR A FACT IT'S PATSY'S DOING I'VE NO DOUBT SHE WHEEDLED THE FIRM INTO GIVING ME A VACATION AND NOW THEY'RE TO PAY ME TWELVE A WEEK INSTEAD OF TEN IS THAT ENOUGH ASKED UNCLE JOHN DOUBTFULLY


MORE THAN ENOUGH SIR I'M GETTING OLD AND CAN'T EARN AS MUCH AS A YOUNGER MAN BUT I'M PRETTY TOUGH AND MEAN TO HOLD ONTO THAT TWELVE A WEEK AS LONG AS POSSIBLE WHAT PAY DO YOU GET PATSY ASKED UNCLE JOHN ALMOST AS MUCH AS DADDY


WE'RE DREADFULLY RICH UNCLE JOHN SO YOU NEEDN'T WORRY IF YOU DON'T STRIKE A JOB YOURSELF ALL AT ONCE ANY LUCK TODAY SIR ASKED THE MAJOR TUCKING A NAPKIN UNDER HIS CHIN AND BEGINNING ON THE SOUP UNCLE JOHN SHOOK HIS HEAD OF COURSE NOT SAID PATSY QUICKLY IT'S TOO EARLY AS YET


DON'T HURRY UNCLE JOHN EXCEPT THAT IT'LL KEEP YOU BUSY THERE'S NO NEED FOR YOU TO WORK AT ALL YOU'RE OLDER THAN I AM SUGGESTED THE MAJOR AND THAT MAKES IT HARDER TO BREAK IN BUT THERE'S NO HURRY AS PATSY SAYS UNCLE JOHN DID NOT SEEM TO BE WORRYING OVER HIS IDLENESS


AND ISSUED A STRING OF ORDERS IN A VOICE NOT NEARLY SO MEEK AND MILD AS IT WAS WHEN HE WAS IN PATSY'S PRESENCE


EXCEEDINGLY YOU MUST BE NEARLY BANKRUPT BY THIS TIME SAID PATSY ON TUESDAY EVENING IT'S AN EXPENSIVE CITY TO LIVE IN SIGHED UNCLE JOHN


YOUR EXPENSES ARE NOTHING AT ALL DECLARED THE MAJOR WITH A WAVE OF HIS HAND BUT MY DINNERS AT DANNY REEVES PLACE MUST COST A LOT PROTESTED UNCLE JOHN


AND WE SLEEP TILL EIGHT O'CLOCK DON'T WE PATSY ASKED THE MAJOR OF COURSE AND THE EGGS FOR BREAKFAST I'VE BOUGHT THEM ALREADY THREE FOR A NICKLE YOU DON'T CARE FOR MORE THAN ONE DO YOU UNCLE JOHN NO MY DEAR


AND SHINY TOP BOOTS HIS LONG LEGS ENABLED HIM TO OUTSTRIP THE OTHERS AND IN AN ALMOST BREATHLESS VOICE HE BEGGED UNCLE JOHN TO CHOOSE HIS CARRIAGE THE BESTA CARROZZA INA TOWN WE DON'T WANT TO RIDE WAS THE ANSWER THE CABMAN IMPLORED


CERTAINLY THEY MUST MAKE THE AMALFI DRIVE


OR AT LEAST IL DESERTO THE OTHERS STOOD BY TO LISTEN SILENTLY TO THE DISCUSSION YIELDING FIRST PLACE TO THE VICTOR IN THE RACE UNCLE JOHN WAS OBDURATE ALL WE WANT TO DAY IS TO SEE THE TOWN HE DECLARED WE'RE NOT GOING TO RIDE BUT WALK


AH BUT THE AMALFI ROAD SIGNORE SURELY YOU WILL SEE THAT


TO MORROW SIGNORE IT IS GOOD AT WHAT HOUR TO MORROW ILLUSTRISSIMO OH DON'T BOTHER ME WE MAY AS WELL DRIVE TO AMALFI TO MORROW SUGGESTED BETH IT IS THE PROPER THING TO DO UNCLE ALL RIGHT WE'LL GO THEN YOU TAKE MY CARROZZA SIGNORE


LET US SEE IT INSTANTLY THE CROWD SCAMPERED BACK TO THE SQUARE FOLLOWED MORE LEISURELY BY UNCLE JOHN AND THE GIRLS THERE THE UNIFORMED VETTURIO STOOD BESIDE THE ONE MODERN CARRIAGE IN THE GROUP IT WAS NEW IT WAS GLOSSY


IT HAD BEAUTIFUL CAREFULLY BRUSHED CUSHIONS IT WAS DRAWN BY A PAIR OF SPLENDID LOOKING HORSES IS NOT BELLISSIMA SIGNORE ASKED THE MAN PROUDLY


BE READY TO START AT NINE O'CLOCK TO MORROW MORNING THE MAN PROMISED WHEREAT HIS CONFRERES LOST ALL INTEREST IN THE MATTER AND THE STRANGERS WERE ALLOWED TO PROCEED WITHOUT FURTHER INTERRUPTION THEY FOUND OUT ALL ABOUT THE AMALFI DRIVE THAT EVENING AND WERE GLAD INDEED THEY HAD DECIDED TO GO


THEY HAD AN EARLY BREAKFAST AND WERE READY AT NINE O'CLOCK BUT WHEN THEY CAME TO THE GATE OF THE GARDEN THEY FOUND ONLY A DILAPIDATED CARRIAGE STANDING BEFORE IT DO YOU KNOW WHERE MY RIG IS


I MUST NOT RUIN A NICE DRESS WHEN I WORK ANSWERED THE MAN SMILING UNABASHED BUT THE CARRIAGE WHAT HAS BECOME OF THE FINE CARRIAGE AND THE GOOD HORSES SIR AH IT IS DREADFUL IT IS HORRIBLE SIGNORE


IT DO NOT REMAIN GOOD FOR A LONG RIDE SO I LEAVE HIM HOME FOR I AM KIND I DO NOT WISH THE SIGNORINI BELLA TO TIRE AND WEEP BUT SEE THE FINE VETTURE YOU NOW HAVE IS HE NOT EASY LIKE FEATHERS AN STRONG


IT MAY BE A BIRD BUT IT DON'T LOOK IT SAID UNCLE JOHN DOUBTFULLY


HOP IN MY DEARS THEY ENTERED THE CRAZY LOOKING VEHICLE AND FOUND THE SEATS AMPLE AND COMFORTABLE DESPITE THE APPEARANCE OF DILAPIDATION EVERYWHERE PREVALENT THE DRIVER MOUNTED THE BOX CRACKED HIS WHIP AND THE LEAN NAGS AMBLED AWAY AT A FAIR PACE


IT WAS STANDING JUST AS IT HAD BEFORE AND BESIDE IT WAS ANOTHER MAN DRESSED IN THE SPLENDID UNIFORM HIS DRIVER HAD CLAIMED THAT HE HAD LEFT AT HOME


WE'VE BEEN SWINDLED MY DEARS HE SAID SWINDLED MOST BEAUTIFULLY BUT I SUPPOSE WE MAY AS WELL MAKE THE BEST OF IT BETTER AGREED PATSY


THIS RIG IS ALL RIGHT UNCLE IT MAY NOT BE AS PRETTY AS THE OTHER BUT I EXPECT THAT ONE IS ONLY KEPT TO MAKE ENGAGEMENTS WITH WHEN IT COMES TO ACTUAL USE WE DON'T GET IT THAT'S TRUE ENOUGH HE RETURNED


INDEED THE SUN DID COME OUT BUT ONLY TO GIVE A DISCOURAGED LOOK AT THE LANDSCAPE AND RETIRE AGAIN


THEY HAD SUNSHINE RAIN HAIL SNOW AND A TORNADO AND THEN RAIN AGAIN AND MORE SUNSHINE SUNNY ITALY SEEMED A MISNOMER THAT DAY AS INDEED IT DOES MANY DAYS IN WINTER AND SPRING


WHEN THE CLIMATE IS LITTLE BETTER THAN THAT PREVAILING IN THE EASTERN AND CENTRAL PORTIONS OF THE UNITED STATES AND PERHAPS ONE SUFFERS MORE IN ITALY THAN IN AMERICA OWING TO THE GENERAL LACK OF MEANS TO KEEP WARM ON COLD DAYS THE ITALIAN


FOR HE WILL PERMIT NO REPROACH TO LIE ON HIS BELOVED LAND BUT THE TRAVELLER FREQUENTLY BECOMES DISCOURAGED AND THE AMERICAN CONTINGENT ESPECIALLY


EXAGGERATED THE CONDITIONS BY APOSTROPHIZING THE COUNTRY AS SUNNY ITALY AND FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY UTTERED SUCH RHAPSODIES IN ITS PRAISE THAT THE WHOLE WORLD CREDITED THEM UNTIL IT ACQUIRED PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF THE MATTER


ITALY IS BEAUTIFUL IT IS CHARMING AND DELIGHTFUL BUT SELDOM IS THIS TRUE IN WINTER OR EARLY SPRING THE HORSES WENT ALONG AT A SPANKING PACE THAT WAS ASTONISHING THEY PASSED THROUGH THE PICTURESQUE LANES OF SORRENTO CLIMBED


THE FURTHER SLOPE AND BROUGHT THE CARRIAGE TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PENINSULA WHERE THE GIRLS OBTAINED THEIR FIRST VIEW OF THE GULF OF SALERNO WITH THE LOVELY ISLES OF THE SIRENS LYING JUST BENEATH THEM


AND HAS NO DUPLICATE IN ALL THE KNOWN WORLD


RISING STRAIGHT FROM THE SEA WHICH THE HIGHWAY OVERHANGS AT AN AVERAGE HEIGHT OF FIVE HUNDRED FEET THE TRAVELLER BEING PROTECTED ONLY BY A LOW STONE PARAPET FROM THE VAST GULF THAT YAWNS BENEATH


AND ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD THE CLIFFS CONTINUE TO ASCEND A LIKE DISTANCE TOWARD THE SKY


PILGRIMS WHEN IT RAINED THEY PUT UP THE CARRIAGE TOP WHICH AFFORDED BUT PARTIAL SHELTER


FROM THAT DISTANCE THE BOATS DRAWN UPON THE SHELTERED BEACH SEEMED LIKE MERE TOYS THEN THEY WOULD SPAN A CHASM ON A NARROW STONE BRIDGE OR PLUNGE THROUGH AN ARCH DIVIDING THE SOLID MOUNTAIN


WHEN THE GREAT ADVENTURE OF THE DAY OVERTOOK THEM WITHOUT WARNING THE WIND CAME WHISTLING AROUND THEM IN A GREAT GALE WHICH SPEEDILY INCREASED IN FURY UNTIL IT DROVE THE BLINDED HORSES REELING AGAINST THE LOW PARAPET


AND PUSHED UPON THE CARRIAGE AS IF DETERMINED TO DASH IT OVER THE PRECIPICE AS IT COLLIDED AGAINST THE STONE WALL THE VEHICLE TIPPED DANGEROUSLY HURLING THE DRIVER FROM HIS SEAT TO DIVE HEADFOREMOST INTO THE SPACE BENEATH


AT THIS CRITICAL MOMENT A MOUNTED HORSEMAN WHO UNOBSERVED HAD BEEN FOLLOWING THE PARTY DASHED TO THEIR RESCUE THE RIDER CAUGHT THE PLUNGING STEEDS BY THEIR HEADS AND TRIED TO RESTRAIN THEIR TERROR AT HIS OWN EMINENT PERIL


WHILE THE CARRIAGE LAY WEDGED AGAINST THE WALL AND THE DRIVER SCREAMED PITIFULLY FROM HIS DANGEROUS POSITION MIDWAY BETWEEN SEA AND SKY


WEIGHT JUST ABOVE WAS A SLIGHT LEDGE HE COULD REACH IT NOW AND THEN SHE HAD HIM BY THE ARM SO THAT ANOTHER INSTANT FOUND HIM CLINGING TO THE PARAPET AND DRAWING HIMSELF INTO A POSITION OF SAFETY


THE HORSES AS SOON AS THE STRAIN UPON THEIR BITS WAS RELAXED WERE EASILY QUIETED


THE ADVENTURE WAS ACCOMPLISHED THE PERIL WAS PAST AND ALL WAS WELL AGAIN UNCLE JOHN LEAPED FROM THE CARRIAGE FOLLOWED BY LOUISE AND PATSY


SO OPPORTUNELY WAS NONE OTHER THAN COUNT FERRALTI


HE WAS SITTING UPON HIS HORSE AND STARING WITH AMAZEMENT AT BETH


BY EVERY SAINT IN THE CALENDAR THAT THE GIRL HAD SAVED HIM FROM A FRIGHTFUL DEATH AND HE WOULD DEVOTE HIS FUTURE LIFE TO HER SERVICE IT IS WONDERFUL MURMURED FERRALTI


SHE KEPT HER WITS WHILE THE REST OF US WERE SCARED TO DEATH UNCLE JOHN HAD BEEN OBSERVING THE COUNT ONE OF THE YOUNG MAN'S HANDS HUNG LIMP AND HELPLESS ARE YOU HURT SIR HE ASKED FERRALTI SMILED AND HIS EYES RESTED UPON LOUISE


WE'D BETTER GET BACK TO SORRENTO SAID UNCLE JOHN ABRUPTLY


THAT IS IF YOU PERMIT ME TO ACCOMPANY YOU


AS IF THEY HAD NEVER KNOWN A MOMENT'S FEAR IN THEIR LIVES SO THE GIRLS AND THEIR UNCLE CLIMBED INTO THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND THE DRIVER MOUNTED THE BOX AND CRACKED HIS WHIP WITH HIS USUAL VIGOR


THE WIND HAD SUBSIDED AS SUDDENLY AS IT HAD ARISEN AND AS THEY PASSED THROUGH POSITANO WHICH IS FOUR HUNDRED FEET HIGH


COUNT FERRALTI RODE AT THE SIDE OF THE CARRIAGE BUT DID NOT ATTEMPT MUCH CONVERSATION


NOW A HOTEL MUCH FAVORED BY THE TOURIST COUNT FERRALTI PROMISED TO JOIN THEM LATER AND RODE ON TO THE TOWN TO FIND A SURGEON TO LOOK AFTER HIS INJURED HAND WHILE THE OTHERS SLOWLY MOUNTED THE LONG INCLINES LEADING IN A ZIGZAG FASHION UP TO THE OLD MONASTERY


WHICH WAS FOUNDED IN THE YEAR TWELVE TWELVE FROM THE ARBORED VERANDA OF THIS CHARMING RETREAT IS OBTAINED ONE OF THE FINEST VIEWS IN EUROPE AND WHILE THE GIRLS SAT ENJOYING IT UNCLE JOHN ARRANGED WITH A PLEASANT FACED WOMAN


WHO HAD ONCE LIVED IN AMERICA FOR THEIR LUNCHEON AN HOUR LATER AND JUST AS THEY WERE SITTING DOWN TO THE MEAL COUNT FERRALTI REJOINED THEM


IN SPITE OF HIS COURAGE HE COULD EAT NO LUNCHEON BUT MERELY SIPPED A GLASS OF WINE SO UNCLE JOHN ALARMED AT HIS PALLOR INSISTED THAT HE TAKE A SEAT IN THE CARRIAGE ON THE RETURN JOURNEY


AND BETH MOUNTED THE BOX AND RODE BESIDE HER FRIEND THE DRIVER


WHICH CONTAINS BIRTHS MARRIAGES AND DEATHS WHATEVER BECKY'S PRIVATE PLAN MIGHT BE BY WHICH DOBBIN'S TRUE LOVE WAS TO BE CROWNED WITH SUCCESS


THE LITTLE WOMAN THOUGHT THAT THE SECRET MIGHT KEEP AND INDEED BEING BY NO MEANS SO MUCH INTERESTED


SHE HAD A GREAT NUMBER OF THINGS PERTAINING TO HERSELF TO CONSIDER AND WHICH CONCERNED HER A GREAT DEAL MORE THAN MAJOR DOBBIN'S HAPPINESS IN THIS LIFE


SHE FOUND HERSELF SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY IN SNUG COMFORTABLE QUARTERS SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS KINDNESS AND GOOD NATURED SIMPLE PEOPLE


AND SAY HIS PRAYERS IN THE MOSQUES


SHE PICKETED HER STEED HUNG UP HER WEAPONS AND WARMED HERSELF COMFORTABLY BY HIS FIRE THE HALT IN THAT ROVING RESTLESS LIFE WAS INEXPRESSIBLY SOOTHING AND PLEASANT TO HER


OF AMELIA HE DROVE OUT WITH BECKY IN HIS OPEN CARRIAGE HE ASKED LITTLE PARTIES AND INVENTED FESTIVITIES TO DO HER HONOUR TAPEWORM


CAME TO DINE WITH JOS AND THEN CAME EVERY DAY TO PAY HIS RESPECTS TO BECKY POOR EMMY WHO WAS NEVER VERY TALKATIVE AND MORE GLUM AND SILENT THAN EVER AFTER DOBBIN'S DEPARTURE WAS QUITE FORGOTTEN


THERE HEARD OF HER FASCINATIONS AND WERE QUITE CURIOUS TO KNOW HER WHEN IT BECAME KNOWN THAT SHE WAS NOBLE OF AN ANCIENT ENGLISH FAMILY THAT HER HUSBAND WAS A COLONEL OF THE GUARD


AND THE LADIES WERE EVEN MORE READY TO CALL HER DU


THAN THEY HAD BEEN TO BESTOW THE SAME INESTIMABLE BENEFITS UPON AMELIA LOVE AND LIBERTY ARE INTERPRETED BY THOSE SIMPLE GERMANS IN A WAY WHICH HONEST FOLKS


SHE BROUGHT EVERYBODY TO THE HOUSE AND SHE MADE JOS BELIEVE THAT IT WAS HIS OWN GREAT SOCIAL TALENTS AND WIT


AS FOR EMMY WHO FOUND HERSELF NOT IN THE LEAST MISTRESS OF HER OWN HOUSE EXCEPT WHEN THE BILLS WERE TO BE PAID BECKY SOON DISCOVERED THE WAY TO SOOTHE AND PLEASE HER


SHE TALKED TO HER PERPETUALLY ABOUT MAJOR DOBBIN SENT ABOUT HIS BUSINESS AND MADE NO SCRUPLE OF DECLARING HER ADMIRATION FOR THAT EXCELLENT HIGH MINDED GENTLEMAN


AND TO SUCH AN ANGEL AS HIM WHOM SHE HAD HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE TO MARRY WAS MARRIED FOREVER BUT SHE HAD NO OBJECTION TO HEAR THE MAJOR PRAISED


AND INDEED BROUGHT THE CONVERSATION ROUND TO THE DOBBIN SUBJECT A SCORE OF TIMES EVERY DAY MEANS WERE EASILY FOUND TO WIN THE FAVOUR OF GEORGY AND THE SERVANTS AMELIA'S MAID


IT HAS BEEN SAID WAS HEART AND SOUL IN FAVOUR OF THE GENEROUS MAJOR HAVING AT FIRST DISLIKED BECKY FOR BEING THE MEANS OF DISMISSING HIM FROM THE PRESENCE OF HER MISTRESS


SHE WAS RECONCILED TO MISSUS CRAWLEY SUBSEQUENTLY BECAUSE THE LATTER BECAME WILLIAM'S MOST ARDENT ADMIRER AND CHAMPION AND IN THOSE NIGHTLY CONCLAVES IN WHICH THE TWO LADIES INDULGED AFTER THEIR PARTIES


AND WHILE MISS PAYNE WAS BRUSHING THEIR AIRS


AND AS SHE LOOKED AT HER HUSBAND'S PORTRAIT OF NIGHTS IT NO LONGER REPROACHED HER PERHAPS SHE REPROACHED IT NOW WILLIAM WAS GONE EMMY WAS NOT VERY HAPPY AFTER HER HEROIC SACRIFICE


SHE WAS VERY DISTRAITE NERVOUS SILENT AND ILL TO PLEASE THE FAMILY HAD NEVER KNOWN HER SO PEEVISH SHE GREW PALE AND ILL


WAS ONE OF THEM THAT TENDER LOVE SONG OF WEBER'S WHICH IN OLD FASHIONED DAYS YOUNG LADIES AND WHEN YOU WERE SCARCELY BORN SHOWED THAT THOSE WHO LIVED BEFORE YOU KNEW


TOO HOW TO LOVE AND TO SING CERTAIN SONGS I SAY TO WHICH THE MAJOR WAS PARTIAL


SHE WOULD BREAK OFF IN THE MIDST OF THE SONG


RUMMAGING HIS MOTHER'S DESK SOME TIME AFTERWARDS FOUND THE GLOVES NEATLY FOLDED UP


DURING WHICH REBECCA WAS LEFT TO THE SOCIETY OF MISTER JOSEPH


IN A WAY WHICH EVEN MADE THE BOY SMILE SHE TOLD HIM THAT SHE THOUGHT MAJOR WILLIAM WAS THE BEST MAN IN ALL THE WORLD THE GENTLEST AND THE KINDEST THE BRAVEST AND THE HUMBLEST


OVER AND OVER AGAIN SHE TOLD HIM HOW THEY OWED EVERYTHING WHICH THEY POSSESSED IN THE WORLD TO THAT KIND FRIEND'S BENEVOLENT CARE OF THEM HOW HE HAD BEFRIENDED THEM ALL THROUGH THEIR POVERTY AND MISFORTUNES


WATCHED OVER THEM WHEN NOBODY CARED FOR THEM HOW ALL HIS COMRADES ADMIRED HIM THOUGH HE NEVER SPOKE OF HIS OWN GALLANT ACTIONS HOW GEORGY'S FATHER TRUSTED HIM BEYOND ALL OTHER MEN


AND HAD BEEN CONSTANTLY BEFRIENDED BY THE GOOD WILLIAM WHY WHEN YOUR PAPA WAS A LITTLE BOY SHE SAID HE OFTEN TOLD ME THAT IT WAS WILLIAM WHO DEFENDED HIM AGAINST A TYRANT AT THE SCHOOL WHERE THEY WERE


AND THEIR FRIENDSHIP NEVER CEASED FROM THAT DAY UNTIL THE LAST WHEN YOUR DEAR FATHER FELL DID DOBBIN KILL THE MAN WHO KILLED PAPA


WHEN I'M IN THE ARMY WON'T I HATE THE FRENCH THAT'S ALL


AS RAWDON IN HIS EVENING COSTUME WHICH HE HAD NOW WORN TWO DAYS PASSED BY THE SCARED FEMALE WHO WAS SCOURING THE STEPS AND ENTERED INTO HIS BROTHER'S STUDY LADY JANE


IN HER MORNING GOWN WAS UP AND ABOVE STAIRS IN THE NURSERY SUPERINTENDING THE TOILETTES OF HER CHILDREN AND LISTENING TO THE MORNING PRAYERS WHICH THE LITTLE CREATURES PERFORMED AT HER KNEE


EVERY MORNING SHE AND THEY PERFORMED THIS DUTY PRIVATELY AND BEFORE THE PUBLIC CEREMONIAL AT WHICH SIR PITT PRESIDED AND AT WHICH ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE HOUSEHOLD WERE EXPECTED TO ASSEMBLE


RAWDON SAT DOWN IN THE STUDY BEFORE THE BARONET'S TABLE


AND THE LETTERS THE NEATLY DOCKETED BILLS AND SYMMETRICAL PAMPHLETS THE LOCKED ACCOUNT BOOKS DESKS AND DISPATCH BOXES THE BIBLE THE QUARTERLY REVIEW AND THE COURT GUIDE


ON THE STUDY TABLE AND AWAITING HIS JUDICIOUS SELECTION AND BY THE SERMON BOOK WAS THE OBSERVER NEWSPAPER DAMP AND NEATLY FOLDED AND FOR SIR PITT'S OWN PRIVATE USE


HE HAD READ IN THE JOURNAL A FLAMING ACCOUNT OF FESTIVITIES AT GAUNT HOUSE


INVITED BY THE MARQUIS OF STEYNE TO MEET HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS


AND HER NIECE AS THEY WERE TAKING EARLY TEA AND HOT BUTTERED TOAST IN THE FORMER LADY'S APARTMENT AND WONDERED HOW THE RAWDING CRAWLEYS COULD GIT ON THE VALET HAD DAMPED AND FOLDED THE PAPER ONCE MORE


SO THAT IT LOOKED QUITE FRESH AND INNOCENT AGAINST THE ARRIVAL OF THE MASTER OF THE HOUSE POOR RAWDON TOOK UP THE PAPER AND BEGAN TO TRY AND READ IT UNTIL HIS BROTHER SHOULD ARRIVE


OTHERWISE HE WOULD BY NO MEANS PERMIT THE INTRODUCTION OF SUNDAY PAPERS INTO HIS HOUSEHOLD THE THEATRICAL CRITICISMS THE FIGHT FOR A HUNDRED POUNDS A SIDE BETWEEN THE BARKING BUTCHER


PUNCTUALLY AS THE SHRILL TONED BELL OF THE BLACK MARBLE STUDY CLOCK BEGAN TO CHIME NINE SIR PITT MADE HIS APPEARANCE FRESH NEAT SMUGLY SHAVED


HIS SCANTY HAIR COMBED AND OILED TRIMMING HIS NAILS AS HE DESCENDED THE STAIRS MAJESTICALLY IN A STARCHED CRAVAT AND A GREY FLANNEL DRESSING GOWN A REAL OLD ENGLISH GENTLEMAN IN A WORD


A MODEL OF NEATNESS AND EVERY PROPRIETY HE STARTED WHEN HE SAW POOR RAWDON IN HIS STUDY IN TUMBLED CLOTHES WITH BLOOD SHOT EYES AND HIS HAIR OVER HIS FACE


HE THOUGHT HIS BROTHER WAS NOT SOBER


DON'T BE FRIGHTENED PITT I'M NOT DRUNK SHUT THE DOOR I WANT TO SPEAK TO YOU PITT CLOSED THE DOOR AND CAME UP TO THE TABLE WHERE HE SAT DOWN IN THE OTHER ARM CHAIR


THAT ONE PLACED FOR THE RECEPTION OF THE STEWARD AGENT OR CONFIDENTIAL VISITOR WHO CAME TO TRANSACT BUSINESS WITH THE BARONET AND TRIMMED HIS NAILS MORE VEHEMENTLY THAN EVER PITT


EVEN THE HUNDRED POUNDS THAT JANE TOOK YOU LAST NIGHT WERE PROMISED TO MY LAWYER TO MORROW MORNING AND THE WANT OF IT WILL PUT ME TO GREAT INCONVENIENCE


I DON'T MEAN TO SAY THAT I WON'T ASSIST YOU ULTIMATELY BUT AS FOR PAYING YOUR CREDITORS IN FULL I MIGHT AS WELL HOPE TO PAY THE NATIONAL DEBT


WENT THROUGH THE COURT LAST WEEK AND WAS WHAT THEY CALL WHITEWASHED I BELIEVE LORD RAGLAND WOULD NOT PAY A SHILLING FOR HIM AND IT'S NOT MONEY I WANT RAWDON BROKE IN I'M NOT COME TO YOU ABOUT MYSELF


NEVER MIND WHAT HAPPENS TO ME WHAT IS THE MATTER THEN SAID PITT SOMEWHAT RELIEVED IT'S THE BOY SAID RAWDON IN A HUSKY VOICE


I WANT YOU TO PROMISE ME THAT YOU WILL TAKE CHARGE OF HIM WHEN I'M GONE THAT DEAR GOOD WIFE OF YOURS HAS ALWAYS BEEN GOOD TO HIM AND HE'S FONDER OF HER THAN HE IS OF HIS DAMN IT LOOK HERE PITT


BUT FOR THIS I MIGHT HAVE BEEN QUITE A DIFFERENT MAN I DIDN'T DO MY DUTY WITH THE REGIMENT SO BAD YOU KNOW HOW I WAS THROWN OVER ABOUT THE MONEY AND WHO GOT IT


I WISH I WAS RAWDON REPLIED IF IT WASN'T FOR LITTLE RAWDON I'D HAVE CUT MY THROAT THIS MORNING AND THAT DAMNED VILLAIN'S TOO


SIR PITT INSTANTLY GUESSED THE TRUTH AND SURMISED THAT LORD STEYNE WAS THE PERSON WHOSE LIFE RAWDON WISHED TO TAKE THE COLONEL TOLD HIS SENIOR BRIEFLY AND IN BROKEN ACCENTS


THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE IT WAS A REGULAR PLAN BETWEEN THAT SCOUNDREL AND HER HE SAID THE BAILIFFS WERE PUT UPON ME I WAS TAKEN AS I WAS GOING OUT OF HIS HOUSE WHEN I WROTE TO HER FOR MONEY


SHE SAID SHE WAS ILL IN BED AND PUT ME OFF TO ANOTHER DAY AND WHEN I GOT HOME I FOUND HER IN DIAMONDS AND SITTING WITH THAT VILLAIN ALONE


HE THEN WENT ON TO DESCRIBE HURRIEDLY THE PERSONAL CONFLICT WITH LORD STEYNE TO AN AFFAIR OF THAT NATURE OF COURSE HE SAID THERE WAS BUT ONE ISSUE


AND AFTER HIS CONFERENCE WITH HIS BROTHER HE WAS GOING AWAY TO MAKE THE NECESSARY ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE MEETING WHICH MUST ENSUE


RAWDON SAID WITH A BROKEN VOICE AND AS THE BOY HAS NO MOTHER I MUST LEAVE HIM TO YOU AND JANE PITT ONLY IT WILL BE A COMFORT TO ME IF YOU WILL PROMISE ME TO BE HIS FRIEND


THE ELDER BROTHER WAS MUCH AFFECTED AND SHOOK RAWDON'S HAND WITH A CORDIALITY SELDOM EXHIBITED BY HIM RAWDON PASSED HIS HAND OVER HIS SHAGGY EYEBROWS


THANK YOU BROTHER SAID HE I KNOW I CAN TRUST YOUR WORD I WILL UPON MY HONOUR THE BARONET SAID AND THUS AND ALMOST MUTELY


AND I'VE ALWAYS FELT ASHAMED OF HAVING TAKEN THE POOR OLD WOMAN'S MONEY AND HERE'S SOME MORE I'VE ONLY KEPT BACK A FEW POUNDS WHICH BECKY MAY AS WELL HAVE


TO GET ON WITH AS HE SPOKE


BUT HIS HANDS SHOOK AND HE WAS SO AGITATED THAT THE POCKET BOOK FELL FROM HIM AND OUT OF IT THE THOUSAND POUND NOTE WHICH HAD BEEN THE LAST OF THE UNLUCKY BECKY'S WINNINGS


PITT STOOPED AND PICKED THEM UP AMAZED AT SO MUCH WEALTH NOT THAT RAWDON SAID I HOPE TO PUT A BULLET INTO THE MAN WHOM THAT BELONGS TO


TO WRAP A BALL IN THE NOTE AND KILL STEYNE WITH IT AFTER THIS COLLOQUY THE BROTHERS ONCE MORE SHOOK HANDS AND PARTED


AND WAS WAITING FOR HER HUSBAND IN THE ADJOINING DINING ROOM WITH FEMALE INSTINCT AUGURING EVIL THE DOOR OF THE DINING ROOM HAPPENED TO BE LEFT OPEN AND THE LADY OF COURSE WAS ISSUING FROM IT


AS THE TWO BROTHERS PASSED OUT OF THE STUDY SHE HELD OUT HER HAND TO RAWDON AND SAID SHE WAS GLAD HE WAS COME TO BREAKFAST THOUGH SHE COULD PERCEIVE BY HIS HAGGARD UNSHORN FACE


AND THE DARK LOOKS OF HER HUSBAND THAT THERE WAS VERY LITTLE QUESTION OF BREAKFAST BETWEEN THEM RAWDON MUTTERED SOME EXCUSES ABOUT AN ENGAGEMENT SQUEEZING HARD THE TIMID LITTLE HAND


ANY EXPLANATION THE CHILDREN CAME UP TO SALUTE HIM AND HE KISSED THEM IN HIS USUAL FRIGID MANNER THE MOTHER TOOK BOTH OF THEM CLOSE TO HERSELF AND HELD A HAND OF EACH OF THEM


AS THEY KNELT DOWN TO PRAYERS WHICH SIR PITT READ TO THEM AND TO THE SERVANTS IN THEIR SUNDAY SUITS OR LIVERIES RANGED UPON CHAIRS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HISSING TEA URN


BREAKFAST WAS SO LATE THAT DAY IN CONSEQUENCE OF THE DELAYS WHICH HAD OCCURRED THAT THE CHURCH BELLS BEGAN TO RING WHILST THEY WERE SITTING OVER THEIR MEAL AND LADY JANE WAS TOO ILL SHE SAID


TO GO TO CHURCH THOUGH HER THOUGHTS HAD BEEN ENTIRELY ASTRAY DURING THE PERIOD OF FAMILY DEVOTION RAWDON CRAWLEY MEANWHILE HURRIED ON FROM GREAT GAUNT STREET AND KNOCKING AT THE GREAT


BROUGHT OUT THE PURPLE SILENUS IN A RED AND SILVER WAISTCOAT WHO ACTS AS PORTER OF THAT PALACE THE MAN WAS SCARED ALSO BY THE COLONEL'S DISHEVELLED APPEARANCE


AND SAY THAT COLONEL CRAWLEY WOULD BE ALL DAY AFTER ONE O'CLOCK AT THE REGENT CLUB IN SAINT JAMES'S STREET NOT AT HOME THE FAT RED FACED MAN LOOKED AFTER HIM WITH ASTONISHMENT


AS HE STRODE AWAY SO DID THE PEOPLE IN THEIR SUNDAY CLOTHES WHO WERE OUT SO EARLY THE CHARITY BOYS WITH SHINING FACES THE GREENGROCER LOLLING AT HIS DOOR


AND THE PUBLICAN SHUTTING HIS SHUTTERS IN THE SUNSHINE AGAINST SERVICE COMMENCED THE PEOPLE JOKED AT THE CAB STAND ABOUT HIS APPEARANCE AS HE TOOK A CARRIAGE THERE


BARRACKS ALL THE BELLS WERE JANGLING AND TOLLING AS HE REACHED THAT PLACE


HAD HE BEEN LOOKING OUT TROOPS OF SCHOOLS WERE ON THEIR MARCH TO CHURCH


WERE THRONGED WITH PEOPLE OUT UPON THEIR SUNDAY PLEASURE BUT THE COLONEL WAS MUCH TOO BUSY TO TAKE ANY HEED OF THESE PHENOMENA AND ARRIVING AT KNIGHTSBRIDGE


SPEEDILY MADE HIS WAY UP TO THE ROOM OF HIS OLD FRIEND AND COMRADE CAPTAIN MACMURDO WHO CRAWLEY FOUND TO HIS SATISFACTION WAS IN BARRACKS CAPTAIN MACMURDO


A VETERAN OFFICER AND WATERLOO MAN GREATLY LIKED BY HIS REGIMENT IN WHICH WANT OF MONEY ALONE PREVENTED HIM FROM ATTAINING THE HIGHEST RANKS WAS ENJOYING THE FORENOON CALMLY IN BED


AND A NUMBER OF LADIES OF THE CORPS DE BALLET AND OLD MAC WHO WAS AT HOME WITH PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND RANKS AND CONSORTED WITH GENERALS DOG FANCIERS OPERA DANCERS BRUISERS


AND EVERY KIND OF PERSON IN A WORD WAS RESTING HIMSELF AFTER THE NIGHT'S LABOURS AND NOT BEING ON DUTY WAS IN BED HIS ROOM WAS HUNG ROUND WITH BOXING SPORTING AND DANCING PICTURES


HE HAD A SINGULAR MUSEUM HE WAS ONE OF THE BEST SHOTS IN ENGLAND AND FOR A HEAVY MAN ONE OF THE BEST RIDERS INDEED HE AND CRAWLEY


AND THE BARKING BUTCHER WHICH HAS BEEN BEFORE MENTIONED A VENERABLE BRISTLY WARRIOR WITH A LITTLE CLOSE SHAVED GREY HEAD WITH A SILK NIGHTCAP A RED FACE AND NOSE AND A GREAT


DYED MOUSTACHE WHEN RAWDON TOLD THE CAPTAIN HE WANTED A FRIEND THE LATTER KNEW PERFECTLY WELL ON WHAT DUTY OF FRIENDSHIP HE WAS CALLED TO ACT AND INDEED HAD CONDUCTED SCORES OF AFFAIRS


FOR HIS ACQUAINTANCES WITH THE GREATEST PRUDENCE AND SKILL HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE LATE LAMENTED COMMANDER IN CHIEF HAD HAD THE GREATEST REGARD FOR MACMURDO ON THIS ACCOUNT


CAPTAIN MARKER IT'S ABOUT ABOUT MY WIFE CRAWLEY ANSWERED CASTING DOWN HIS EYES AND TURNING VERY RED THE OTHER GAVE A WHISTLE


I ALWAYS SAID SHE'D THROW YOU OVER HE BEGAN INDEED THERE WERE BETS IN THE REGIMENT AND AT THE CLUBS REGARDING THE PROBABLE FATE OF COLONEL CRAWLEY


THINK OF HIS ONLY FINDING HER OUT NOW THE CAPTAIN THOUGHT TO HIMSELF AND REMEMBERED A HUNDRED PARTICULAR CONVERSATIONS AT THE MESS TABLE IN WHICH MISSUS CRAWLEY'S REPUTATION


HAD BEEN TORN TO SHREDS THERE'S NO WAY BUT ONE OUT OF IT


AND THERE'S ONLY A WAY OUT OF IT FOR ONE OF US MAC DO YOU UNDERSTAND I WAS PUT OUT OF THE WAY ARRESTED I FOUND EM ALONE TOGETHER


I TOLD HIM HE WAS A LIAR AND A COWARD AND KNOCKED HIM DOWN AND THRASHED HIM SERVE HIM RIGHT MACMURDO SAID WHO IS IT RAWDON ANSWERED IT WAS LORD STEYNE


THE DEUCE A MARQUIS THEY SAID HE THAT IS THEY SAID YOU WHAT THE DEVIL DO YOU MEAN ROARED OUT RAWDON DO YOU MEAN THAT YOU EVER HEARD A FELLOW DOUBT ABOUT MY WIFE


IT WAS DAMNED UNFRIENDLY MAC SAID RAWDON QUITE OVERCOME AND COVERING HIS FACE WITH HIS HANDS HE GAVE WAY TO AN EMOTION THE SIGHT OF WHICH CAUSED THE TOUGH OLD CAMPAIGNER


I GAVE UP EVERYTHING I HAD TO HER I'M A BEGGAR BECAUSE I WOULD MARRY HER BY JOVE SIR I'VE PAWNED MY OWN WATCH IN ORDER TO GET HER ANYTHING SHE FANCIED AND SHE


SHE'S BEEN MAKING A PURSE FOR HERSELF ALL THE TIME AND GRUDGED ME A HUNDRED POUND TO GET ME OUT OF QUOD HE THEN FIERCELY AND INCOHERENTLY AND WITH AN AGITATION


UNDER WHICH HIS COUNSELLOR HAD NEVER BEFORE SEEN HIM LABOUR TOLD MACMURDO THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE STORY HIS ADVISER CAUGHT AT SOME STRAY HINTS IN IT


SHE MAY BE INNOCENT AFTER ALL HE SAID SHE SAYS SO


THIS IS WHAT HE GAVE HER MAC AND SHE KEP IT UNKNOWN TO ME AND WITH THIS MONEY IN THE HOUSE SHE REFUSED TO STAND BY ME WHEN I WAS LOCKED UP


RAWDON DISPATCHED CAPTAIN MACMURDO'S SERVANT TO CURZON STREET WITH AN ORDER TO THE DOMESTIC THERE TO GIVE UP A BAG OF CLOTHES OF WHICH THE COLONEL HAD GREAT NEED AND DURING THE MAN'S ABSENCE


CAPTAIN MACMURDO HAD THE HONOUR OF WAITING UPON THE MARQUIS OF STEYNE ON THE PART OF COLONEL RAWDON CRAWLEY AND BEGGED TO INTIMATE THAT HE WAS EMPOWERED BY THE COLONEL


TO MAKE ANY ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE MEETING WHICH HE HAD NO DOUBT IT WAS HIS LORDSHIP'S INTENTION TO DEMAND AND WHICH THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE MORNING HAD RENDERED INEVITABLE


IN THE MOST POLITE MANNER TO APPOINT A FRIEND WITH WHOM HE CAPTAIN M M MIGHT COMMUNICATE AND DESIRED THAT THE MEETING MIGHT TAKE PLACE WITH AS LITTLE DELAY AS POSSIBLE


IN CURZON STREET BUT WITHOUT THE CARPET BAG AND PORTMANTEAU FOR WHICH HE HAD BEEN SENT AND WITH A VERY PUZZLED AND ODD FACE THEY WON'T GIVE EM UP


SAID THE MAN THERE'S A REGULAR SHINTY IN THE HOUSE AND EVERYTHING AT SIXES AND SEVENS THE LANDLORD'S COME IN AND TOOK POSSESSION THE SERVANTS WAS A DRINKIN UP IN THE DRAWINGROOM THEY SAID


THE MAN ADDED AFTER A PAUSE ONE OF THE SERVANTS IS OFF ALREADY


THE MAN AS WAS VERY NOISY AND DRUNK INDEED SAYS NOTHING SHALL GO OUT OF THE HOUSE UNTIL HIS WAGES IS PAID UP THE ACCOUNT OF THIS LITTLE REVOLUTION IN MAY FAIR ASTONISHED


BUT ABOUT GOING HOME NEXT SATURDAY WHEN HIS FATHER WOULD CERTAINLY TIP HIM AND PERHAPS WOULD TAKE HIM TO THE PLAY HE'S A REGULAR TRUMP THAT BOY THE FATHER WENT ON STILL MUSING ABOUT HIS SON


I SAY MAC IF ANYTHING GOES WRONG IF I DROP I SHOULD LIKE YOU TO TO GO AND SEE HIM YOU KNOW AND SAY THAT I WAS VERY FOND OF HIM AND THAT


MISTER MACMURDO HAD ALSO OCCASION TO TAKE OFF HIS SILK NIGHT CAP AND RUB IT ACROSS HIS EYES GO DOWN AND ORDER SOME BREAKFAST HE SAID TO HIS MAN IN A LOUD CHEERFUL VOICE WHAT'LL YOU HAVE CRAWLEY


LET'S SAY AND CLAY LAY OUT SOME DRESSING THINGS FOR THE COLONEL WE WERE ALWAYS PRETTY MUCH OF A SIZE RAWDON MY BOY AND NEITHER OF US RIDE SO LIGHT AS WE DID WHEN WE FIRST ENTERED THE CORPS


WITH WHICH AND LEAVING THE COLONEL TO DRESS HIMSELF MACMURDO TURNED ROUND TOWARDS THE WALL AND RESUMED THE PERUSAL OF BELL'S LIFE UNTIL SUCH TIME AS HIS FRIEND'S TOILETTE WAS COMPLETE


HE WAXED HIS MUSTACHIOS INTO A STATE OF BRILLIANT POLISH AND PUT ON A TIGHT CRAVAT AND A TRIM BUFF WAISTCOAT SO THAT ALL THE YOUNG OFFICERS IN THE MESS ROOM WHITHER CRAWLEY HAD PRECEDED HIS FRIEND


CHAPTER SIXTEEN THE JUNIORS FOREVER WHEN THE FOUR CLASSES ASSEMBLED THURSDAY MORNING EVERY GIRL WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ELEANOR WAS IN HER SEAT


AFTER CONDUCTING OPENING EXERCISES MISS THOMPSON PRONOUNCED SENTENCE ON THE CULPRITS THEY WERE TO FORFEIT THEIR RECESS LIBRARY AND ALL OTHER PRIVILEGES UNTIL THE END OF THE TERM


THEY MUST TURN IN TWO THEMES EVERY WEEK OF NOT LESS THAN SIX HUNDRED WORDS ON CERTAIN SUBJECTS TO BE ASSIGNED TO THEM IF DURING THIS TIME ANY ONE OF THEM SHOULD BE REPORTED FOR A MISDEMEANOR THEY WERE TO BE SUSPENDED WITHOUT DELAY


THEIR PENALTY WAS FAR FROM LIGHT BUT THEY HAD NOT BEEN SUSPENDED AND SO THEY RESOLVED TO ENDURE IT AS BEST THEY MIGHT GRACE HARLOWE FELT A LOAD LIFTED FROM HER MIND WHEN MISS THOMPSON PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED THAT SHE HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION FROM EITHER MABEL ALLISON OR THE PHI SIGMA TAU


THANK GOODNESS NONE OF US WERE CONCERNED IN THAT AFFAIR SHE TOLD THE MEMBERS OF HER BASKETBALL TEAM AT RECESS THERE ARE TWO GIRLS ON THE SOPHOMORE AND THREE ON THE FRESHMAN TEAM WHOSE BASKETBALL ARDOR WILL HAVE TO COOL UNTIL AFTER THE MID YEAR EXAMS


TWAS MANY AND MANY A YEAR AGO IN AN AGE BEYOND RECALL THAT NORA THE FRESHMAN LOWLY SAT


WHAT A DELICATE WAY OF REMINDING ME THAT I ONCE WAS A FRESHMAN SHE EXCLAIMED ANNE HAS A NEW ACCOMPLISHMENT SAID GRACE SHE CAN SPOUT POETRY WITHOUT TRYING SMALL CREDIT IS DUE ME SAID ANNE SMILING ANYONE CAN TWIST ANNABEL LEE TO SUIT THE OCCASION


BY THE WAY ANNE SAID GRACE AS YOU ARE A POET YOU MUST COMPOSE A BASKETBALL SONG TO DAY AND I'LL SEE THAT THE JUNIORS ALL HAVE COPIES IT'S TIME WE HAD ONE LET ME SEE WHAT WOULD BE A GOOD TUNE RALLY ROUND THE FLAG SUGGESTED MIRIAM NESBIT THAT HAS A DANDY SWING TO IT


GRACE HUMMED A FEW BARS THE VERY THING SHE EXCLAIMED NOW ANNE GET BUSY AT ONCE YOU'D BETTER SING THE TUNE TO YOURSELF ALL THE TIME YOU'RE WRITING IT


I HAVE BEEN PRACTISING A MOST ENCOURAGING HOWL HIPPY DAVID AND REDDY HAVE A NEW ONE TOO REDDY SAYS IT'S MARVELOUSLY EXTRAORDINARY AND APPALLINGLY GREAT


WASN'T IT NICE OF MISS THOMPSON TO EXONERATE US PUBLICLY ASKED ANNE SHE IS ALWAYS JUST REPLIED GRACE I CAN'T UNDERSTAND HOW ELEANOR COULD BE SO RUDE AND DISAGREEABLE TO HER SHE HAS DISLIKED MISS THOMPSON FROM THE FIRST I WONDER WHETHER SHE APOLOGIZED TO MISS THOMPSON LAST NIGHT MUSED GRACE


I FEEL SURE THAT SHE DIDN'T AND I AM JUST AS SURE THAT SHE WON'T GET BACK UNTIL SHE DOES WE SHALL MANAGE TO EXIST IF SHE DOESN'T SAID JESSICA DRYLY


SHE FELT A PERSONAL GRUDGE AGAINST ELEANOR FOR HER ACCUSATION AGAINST MABEL WHO HAD GROWN VERY DEAR TO HER AND WHOM SHE MOTHERED LIKE A HEN WITH ONE CHICKEN SHE'LL PROBABLY APPEAR AT THE GAME IN ALL HER GLORY SAID MIRIAM NESBIT


THE RECESS BELL CUT SHORT THE CONVERSATION AND THE GIRLS RETURNED TO THEIR DESKS WITH FAR BETTER IDEAS OF THE COMING GAME THAN OF THE AFTERNOON'S LESSONS SATURDAY DECEMBER TWELFTH DAWNED COLD AND CLEAR AND THE GIRLS ON BOTH TEAMS WERE IN HIGH SPIRITS AS THEY HUSTLED INTO THEIR RESPECTIVE LOCKER ROOMS


AND RAPIDLY DONNED THEIR GYMNASIUM SUITS THE SPECTATORS HAD NOT YET BEGUN TO ARRIVE AS IT WAS STILL EARLY SO THE GIRLS INDULGED IN A LITTLE WARMING UP PRACTICE DID A FEW STUNTS AND SKIPPED ABOUT OVERFLOWING WITH ANIMAL SPIRITS


JULIA CROSBY AND GRACE TOOK TURNS SPRINTING AROUND THE GYMNASIUM THREE TIMES IN SUCCESSION WHILE MIRIAM NESBIT TIMED THEM GRACE FINISHING JUST TWO SECONDS AHEAD OF JULIA BY A QUARTER OF TWO THE GALLERY WAS FAIRLY WELL FILLED AND BY FIVE MINUTES OF TWO IT WAS CROWDED


THE JUNIORS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ELEANOR SAVELL'S FACTION ARRIVED IN A BODY GAVE THE HIGH SCHOOL YELL THE MOMENT THEY SPIED THEIR TEAM


A TALL JUNIOR WHO STOOD UP AND BEAT TIME WITH BOTH HANDS ANNE HAD COMPOSED THE SONG THE WEEK BEFORE THE JUNIORS HAD ALL RECEIVED COPIES OF THE WORDS AND HAD LEARNED THEM BY HEART THEY NOW SANG WITH THE UTMOST GLEE AND CAME OUT PARTICULARLY STRONG ON THE CHORUS WHICH RAN


THE JUNIORS FOREVER HURRAH FANS HURRAH OUR TEAM IS A WINNER OUR


SHOUTING THE WAR CRY OF THE JUNIORS THERE WAS A GREAT CLAPPING OF HANDS FROM THE ADMIRERS OF THE JUNIORS AT THIS EFFORT BUT THE SENIORS PROMPTLY RESPONDED FROM THE OTHER END OF THE GALLERY TO THE TUNE OF DIXIE WITH THE SENIORS ARE THE REAL THING HURRAH HURRAH OUR GALLANT TEAM NOW TAKES ITS STAND


AND ALL THE BASKETS SOON WILL LAND WE SHOUT WE SING THE PRAISES OF THE SENIORS HARDLY HAD THE LAST NOTES DIED AWAY WHEN THE REFEREE BLEW THE WHISTLE AND THE TEAMS HUSTLED TO THEIR POSITIONS GRACE AND JULIA CROSBY FACED EACH OTHER BEAMED AMIABLY AND SHOOK HANDS


THEN STOOD VIGILANT EYES ON THE BALL THAT THE REFEREE BALANCED IN HER HANDS UP IT WENT THE WHISTLE SOUNDED AND THE TWO CAPTAINS SPRANG STRAIGHT FOR IT GRACE CAPTURED IT HOWEVER


AND SENT IT FLYING TOWARD MIRIAM WHO WAS SO CAREFULLY GUARDED THAT SHE DARED NOT ATTEMPT TO MAKE THE BASKET AND AFTER A FEINT MANAGED TO THROW IT TO NORA WHO TRIED FOR THE BASKET AT LONG RANGE AND MISSED THERE WAS A GENERAL SCRAMBLE FOR THE BALL AND FOR FIVE MINUTES NEITHER TEAM SCORED


THEN MARIAN BARBER DROPPED A NEAT FIELD GOAL AND SOON AFTER GRACE SCORED ON A FOUL THE JUNIOR FANS HOWLED JOYFULLY AT THE GOOD WORK OF THEIR TEAM THE SENIORS DID NOT INTEND TO ALLOW THEM TO SCORE AGAIN IN A HURRY


THEY PLAYED SUCH A CLOSE GUARDING GAME THAT TRY AS THEY MIGHT THE JUNIORS MADE NO HEADWAY THEN JULIA CROSBY SCORED ON A FIELD GOAL MAKING THE SCORE THREE TO TWO THIS SPURRED THE JUNIOR TEAM ON TO GREATER EFFORT AND MIRIAM MADE A BRILLIANT THROW TO BASKET THAT BROUGHT FORTH AN OVATION FROM THE GALLERY


THIS ENDED THE FIRST HALF WITH THE SCORE FIVE TO TWO IN FAVOR OF THE JUNIORS THEY'LL HAVE TO WORK TO CATCH UP WITH US NOW SAID NORA O'MALLEY TRIUMPHANTLY TO THE MEMBERS OF THE TEAM WHO SAT RESTING IN THE LITTLE SIDE ROOM OFF THE GYMNASIUM WE HAVE THE LEAD BUT WE CAN'T AFFORD TO BOAST YET REPLIED GRACE


WE SHALL WIN SAID MIRIAM NESBIT CONFIDENTLY I FEEL IT IN MY BONES LET'S HOPE THAT YOUR BONES ARE TRUE PROPHETS LAUGHED MARIAN BARBER O GIRLS EXCLAIMED EVA ALLEN FROM THE OPEN DOOR IN WHICH SHE HAD BEEN STANDING LOOKING UP AT THE GALLERY ELEANOR IS HERE


WHERE ASKED NORA GOING TO THE DOOR OH YES I SEE HER SHE LOOKS AS HAUGHTY AS EVER IT'S A WONDER SHE'D CONDESCEND TO COME AND WATCH HER MORTAL ENEMIES PLAY


THEN WE'LL SEE THAT SHE GOES AWAY IN A GLOOMY FRAME OF MIND SAID NORA FOR WE'RE GOING TO WIN AND DON'T YOU FORGET TO REMEMBER IT


THEN THE SENIORS SCORED TWICE ON FOULS TYING THE SCORE THE JUNIORS SET THEIR TEETH AND WADED IN WITH ALL THEIR MIGHT AND MAIN SETTING A WHIRLWIND PACE THAT CAUSED THEIR FANS TO SHOUT WITH WILD ENTHUSIASM AND FAIRLY DAZED THEIR OPPONENTS GRACE ALONE NETTED FOUR FOUL GOALS


AND THE SENSATIONAL PLAYING OF NORA AND MIRIAM WAS A MATTER OF WONDER TO THE SPECTATORS WHO CONCEDED IT TO BE THE FASTEST MOST BRILLIANT HALF EVER PLAYED BY AN OAKDALE TEAM


WHOSE LOYAL SUPPORTERS SWOOPED DOWN UPON THEM THE MOMENT THE WHISTLE BLEW AND PRANCED ABOUT WHOOPING LIKE SAVAGES THAT WAS THE GREATEST GAME I EVER SAW PLAYED UNDER THIS ROOF CRIED DAVID WRINGING GRACE'S HAND WHILE HIPPY HOPPED ABOUT UTTERING LITTLE YELPS OF JOY


REDDY CIRCLED ABOUT THE VICTORS ALMOST TOO DELIGHTED FOR WORDS HE WAS FILLED WITH PROFOUND ADMIRATION FOR THEM THE BOYS CRACK TEAM COULDN'T HAVE PLAYED A BETTER GAME HE SAID SOLEMNLY AND THE GIRLS KNEW THAT HE COULD PAY THEM NO HIGHER COMPLIMENT FOR THIS TEAM WAS CONSIDERED INVINCIBLE BY THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS


PERHAPS WE'LL CHALLENGE YOU SOME DAY REDDY SAID GRACE MISCHIEVOUSLY I BELIEVE YOU'D WIN AT THAT HE SAID SO EARNESTLY THAT EVERY ONE LAUGHED IT WAS A GREAT TRIUMPH SAID JESSICA PROUDLY AS SHE STOOD WITH MABEL AND ANNE IN THE LOCKER ROOM WHILE THE GIRLS RESUMED STREET CLOTHING AND MY NEW HOWL WAS A SUCCESS TOO


GLAD TO KNOW THAT SAID GRACE THERE WERE SO MANY DIFFERENT KINDS OF NOISES I COULDN'T DISTINGUISH IT THERE WAS ONE NOISE THAT STARTED THAT WAS PROMPTLY HUSHED SAID ANNE YOU HEARD IT TOO DIDN'T YOU JESSICA OH YES GIRLS I INTENDED TELLING YOU BEFORE THIS REPLIED JESSICA


JUST BEFORE THE LAST HALF STARTED MISS THOMPSON AND MISS KANE CAME IN AND WALKED TO THE OTHER END OF THE GALLERY WELL ELEANOR AND HER CROWD SAW THEM


HARD TO TELL SAID NORA THEY HISSED MISS THOMPSON VERY SOFTLY YOU MAY BE SURE CONTINUED JESSICA BUT IT WAS HISSING JUST THE SAME


THEY WERE SITTING DOWN FRONT ON THE SAME SIDE AS ELEANOR'S CROWD YOU KNOW WHAT A TEMPER RUTH DEANE HAS AND HOW FEROCIOUS SHE CAN LOOK


SHE TALKED FOR A MOMENT TO EDNA AND ELEANOR THEY TOSSED THEIR HEADS BUT THEY DIDN'T HISS ANY MORE WHAT DID RUTH SAY TO THEM ASKED GRACE CURIOUSLY


CHAPTER SEVEN PARRY


AND LENDING AN EAR TO THE VARIOUS NOISES


THE STRANGER DID NOT PAY THEM THE LEAST ATTENTION


WHISPERED MONSIEUR THE DIAMOND HAS BEEN VALUED AH SAID THE TRAVELER WELL WELL MONSIEUR THE JEWELER OF S A R GIVES TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY PISTOLES FOR IT HAVE YOU THEM I THOUGHT IT BEST TO TAKE THEM MONSIEUR


NEVERTHELESS I MADE IT A CONDITION OF THE BARGAIN THAT IF MONSIEUR WISHED TO KEEP HIS DIAMOND IT SHOULD BE HELD TILL MONSIEUR WAS AGAIN IN FUNDS OH NO NOT AT ALL I TOLD YOU TO SELL IT


PAY YOURSELF ADDED THE UNKNOWN I WILL DO SO MONSIEUR SINCE YOU SO POSITIVELY REQUIRE IT A SAD SMILE PASSED OVER THE LIPS OF THE GENTLEMAN PLACE THE MONEY ON THAT TRUNK SAID HE TURNING ROUND AND POINTING TO THE PIECE OF FURNITURE


AFTER HAVING TAKEN FROM IT THE AMOUNT OF HIS RECKONING


DINNER HAS ALREADY BEEN REFUSED


THE UNKNOWN ASKED FOR A GLASS OF WINE BROKE OFF A MORSEL OF BREAD AND DID NOT STIR FROM THE WINDOW WHILST HE ATE AND DRANK


CRIES AROSE IN THE DISTANCE A CONFUSED BUZZING FILLED THE LOWER PART OF THE CITY AND THE FIRST DISTINCT SOUND THAT STRUCK THE EARS OF THE STRANGER WAS THE TRAMP OF ADVANCING HORSES


WITH CROPOLE WERE MINGLED AND JOSTLED ON THE STAIRCASE


THE CORTEGE ADVANCED SLOWLY LIGHTED BY A THOUSAND FLAMBEAUX IN THE STREETS AND FROM THE WINDOWS


DRAWN LIKE A CARRIAGE BY FOUR BLACK HORSES


HER GENTLEMEN ON HORSEBACK AT BOTH SIDES THE KING THEN APPEARED MOUNTED UPON A SPLENDID HORSE OF SAXON BREED WITH A FLOWING MANE


THE YOUNG PRINCE EXHIBITED WHEN BOWING TO SOME WINDOWS FROM WHICH ISSUED THE MOST ANIMATED ACCLAMATIONS A NOBLE AND HANDSOME COUNTENANCE ILLUMINATED BY THE FLAMBEAUX OF HIS PAGES BY THE SIDE OF THE KING THOUGH A LITTLE IN THE REAR


AND TWENTY OTHER COURTIERS FOLLOWED BY THEIR PEOPLE AND THEIR BAGGAGE CLOSED THIS VERITABLY TRIUMPHANT MARCH THE POMP WAS OF A MILITARY CHARACTER


WORE TRAVELING DRESSES BUT ALL THE REST WERE CLOTHED IN WARLIKE PANOPLY


WHEN THE KING PASSED BEFORE HIM THE UNKNOWN WHO HAD LEANT FORWARD OVER THE BALCONY TO OBTAIN A BETTER VIEW AND WHO HAD CONCEALED HIS FACE BY LEANING ON HIS ARM FELT HIS HEART SWELL AND OVERFLOW WITH A BITTER JEALOUSY THE NOISE OF THE TRUMPETS EXCITED HIM


THE POPULAR ACCLAMATIONS DEAFENED HIM FOR A MOMENT HE ALLOWED HIS REASON TO BE ABSORBED IN THIS FLOOD OF LIGHTS TUMULT AND BRILLIANT IMAGES HE IS A KING MURMURED HE IN AN ACCENT OF DESPAIR THEN BEFORE HE HAD RECOVERED FROM HIS SOMBRE REVERIE


ALL THE NOISE ALL THE SPLENDOR HAD PASSED AWAY AT THE ANGLE OF THE STREET THERE REMAINED NOTHING BENEATH THE STRANGER BUT A FEW HOARSE DISCORDANT VOICES SHOUTING AT INTERVALS VIVE LE ROI


HOW GOOD LOOKING THE KING IS HOW STRONGLY HE RESEMBLES HIS ILLUSTRIOUS FATHER A HANDSOME LIKENESS SAID PITTRINO


CROPOLE WAS FEEDING THEIR GOSSIP WITH HIS OWN PERSONAL REMARKS WITHOUT OBSERVING THAT AN OLD MAN ON FOOT BUT LEADING A SMALL IRISH HORSE BY THE BRIDLE WAS ENDEAVORING TO PENETRATE THE CROWD OF MEN AND WOMEN WHICH BLOCKED UP THE ENTRANCE TO THE MEDICI BUT AT THAT MOMENT THE VOICE OF THE STRANGER WAS HEARD FROM THE WINDOW


MAKE WAY MONSIEUR L'HOTELIER TO THE ENTRANCE OF YOUR HOUSE


THE WINDOW WAS INSTANTLY CLOSED PITTRINO POINTED OUT THE WAY TO THE NEWLY ARRIVED GUEST WHO ENTERED WITHOUT UTTERING A WORD THE STRANGER WAITED FOR HIM ON THE LANDING HE OPENED HIS ARMS TO THE OLD MAN AND LED HIM TO A SEAT


NEVER PARRY CRIED THE GENTLEMAN I BEG YOU WILL YOU COME FROM ENGLAND YOU COME SO FAR AH IT IS NOT FOR YOUR AGE TO UNDERGO THE FATIGUES MY SERVICE REQUIRES REST YOURSELF I HAVE MY REPLY TO GIVE YOUR LORDSHIP IN THE FIRST PLACE


MY LORD SAID THE OLD MAN DO NOT HASTEN TO ALARM YOURSELF ALL IS NOT LOST I HOPE YOU MUST EMPLOY ENERGY BUT MORE PARTICULARLY RESIGNATION PARRY SAID THE YOUNG MAN I HAVE REACHED THIS PLACE THROUGH A THOUSAND SNARES AND AFTER A THOUSAND DIFFICULTIES


CAN YOU DOUBT MY ENERGY I HAVE MEDITATED THIS JOURNEY TEN YEARS IN SPITE OF ALL COUNSELS AND ALL OBSTACLES HAVE YOU FAITH IN MY PERSEVERANCE


I DO NOT DESPAIR PARRY HAVE YOU FAITH IN MY RESIGNATION THE OLD MAN RAISED HIS TREMBLING HANDS TOWARDS HEAVEN LET ME KNOW SAID THE STRANGER DISGUISE NOTHING FROM ME WHAT HAS HAPPENED MY RECITAL WILL BE SHORT MY LORD


BUT IN THE NAME OF HEAVEN DO NOT TREMBLE SO IT IS IMPATIENCE PARRY COME WHAT DID THE GENERAL SAY TO YOU AT FIRST THE GENERAL WOULD NOT RECEIVE ME


YES MY LORD BUT I WROTE HIM A LETTER WELL HE READ IT AND RECEIVED ME MY LORD DID THAT LETTER THOROUGHLY EXPLAIN MY POSITION AND MY VIEWS OH YES SAID PARRY WITH A SAD SMILE IT PAINTED YOUR VERY THOUGHTS FAITHFULLY WELL THEN PARRY


THEN THE GENERAL SENT ME BACK THE LETTER BY AN AIDE DE CAMP INFORMING ME THAT IF I WERE FOUND THE NEXT DAY WITHIN THE CIRCUMSCRIPTION OF HIS COMMAND HE WOULD HAVE ME ARRESTED


WHAT ARREST YOU MY MOST FAITHFUL SERVANT YES MY LORD AND NOTWITHSTANDING YOU HAD SIGNED THE NAME PARRY TO ALL MY LETTERS MY LORD


THE YOUNG MAN LEANED FORWARD THOUGHTFUL AND SAD AY THAT'S WHAT HE DID BEFORE HIS PEOPLE SAID HE ENDEAVORING TO CHEAT HIMSELF WITH HOPES BUT PRIVATELY BETWEEN YOU AND HIM WHAT DID HE DO ANSWER


THESE CAVALIERS CONDUCTED ME IN GREAT HASTE TO THE LITTLE PORT OF TENBY THREW ME RATHER THAN EMBARKED ME INTO A LITTLE FISHING BOAT ABOUT TO SAIL FOR BRITTANY AND HERE I AM OH SIGHED THE YOUNG MAN CLASPING HIS NECK CONVULSIVELY WITH HIS HAND AND WITH A SOB


PARRY IS THAT ALL IS THAT ALL YES MY LORD THAT IS ALL AFTER THIS BRIEF REPLY ENSUED A LONG INTERVAL OF SILENCE BROKEN ONLY BY THE CONVULSIVE BEATING OF THE HEEL OF THE YOUNG MAN ON THE FLOOR


THE OLD MAN ENDEAVORED TO CHANGE THE CONVERSATION IT WAS LEADING TO THOUGHTS MUCH TOO SINISTER


WHAT IS THE MEANING OF ALL THE NOISE WHICH PRECEDED ME WHAT ARE THESE PEOPLE CRYING VIVE LE ROI FOR WHAT KING DO THEY MEAN


AH PARRY REPLIED THE YOUNG MAN IRONICALLY


ALL THESE TRUMPETS ARE HIS ALL THOSE GILDED HOUSINGS ARE HIS ALL THOSE GENTLEMEN WEAR SWORDS THAT ARE HIS HIS MOTHER PRECEDES HIM IN A CARRIAGE MAGNIFICENTLY ENCRUSTED WITH SILVER AND GOLD HAPPY MOTHER


AND CONDUCTS HIM TO A RICH BRIDE THEN ALL THESE PEOPLE REJOICE THEY LOVE THEIR KING


WELL WELL MY LORD SAID PARRY MORE UNEASY AT THE TURN THE CONVERSATION HAD TAKEN THAN AT THE OTHER YOU KNOW RESUMED THE UNKNOWN THAT MY MOTHER AND MY SISTER WHILST ALL THIS IS GOING ON IN HONOR OF THE KING OF FRANCE HAVE NEITHER MONEY NOR BREAD YOU KNOW THAT I MYSELF SHALL BE POOR AND DEGRADED WITHIN A FORTNIGHT


PARRY ARE THERE NOT EXAMPLES IN WHICH A MAN OF MY CONDITION SHOULD HIMSELF MY LORD IN THE NAME OF HEAVEN


NO NO I HAVE TWO ARMS PARRY AND I HAVE A SWORD AND HE STRUCK HIS ARM VIOLENTLY WITH HIS HAND AND TOOK DOWN HIS SWORD WHICH HUNG AGAINST THE WALL


WHAT AM I GOING TO DO PARRY WHAT EVERY ONE IN MY FAMILY DOES MY MOTHER LIVES ON PUBLIC CHARITY MY SISTER BEGS FOR MY MOTHER I HAVE SOMEWHERE OR OTHER BROTHERS WHO EQUALLY BEG FOR THEMSELVES AND I THE ELDEST WILL GO AND DO AS ALL THE REST DO I WILL GO AND ASK CHARITY


AND WITH THESE WORDS WHICH HE FINISHED SHARPLY WITH A NERVOUS AND TERRIBLE LAUGH THE YOUNG MAN GIRDED ON HIS SWORD TOOK HIS HAT FROM THE TRUNK


MY GOOD PARRY SAID HE ORDER A FIRE DRINK EAT SLEEP AND BE HAPPY LET US BOTH BE HAPPY MY FAITHFUL FRIEND MY ONLY FRIEND WE ARE RICH AS RICH AS KINGS


CHAPTER FIFTEEN A WOULD BE LARK


THE MAJORITY HOWEVER APPEARED TO BE HIGHLY DELIGHTED OVER WHAT THEY HEARD ONE GROUP STANDING NEAR ONE OF THE WINDOWS OF WHICH ELEANOR WAS THE CENTER LAUGHED SO LOUDLY THAT THEY WERE SENT TO THEIR SEATS


AND AS THE MORNING ADVANCED THEY BECAME FULLY AWARE THAT SOMETHING UNUSUAL WAS IN THE WIND SEVERAL TIMES THEY CAUGHT SIGHT OF A FOLDED PAPER BEING STEALTHILY PASSED FROM ONE DESK TO ANOTHER BUT AS TO ITS CONTENTS THEY HAD NO IDEA AS IT WAS NOT HANDED TO ANY ONE OF THEM


AT RECESS THERE WAS MORE GROUPING AND WHISPERING AND GRACE WAS PUZZLED AND NOT A LITTLE HURT OVER THE WAY IN WHICH SHE AND HER FRIENDS WERE IGNORED SUCH A THING HAD NOT HAPPENED SINCE THE BASKETBALL TROUBLE THE PREVIOUS YEAR


ELEANOR STARTED THAT PAPER WHATEVER IT IS SAID NORA O'MALLEY TO THE PHI SIGMA TAU WHO STOOD IN A GROUP AROUND HER DESK SHE WAS HERE WHEN I CAME IN THIS MORNING AND I WAS EARLY TOO IT


HERE COMES MABEL SAID JESSICA MAYBE SHE HAS SEEN THE PAPER


MABEL NODDED WHAT WAS WRITTEN ON IT MABEL ASKED GRACE CURIOUSLY MABEL LOOKED DISTRESSED FOR A MOMENT THEN SHE SAID


BUT I GAVE MY WORD OF HONOR BEFORE I READ IT THAT I WOULDN'T MENTION THE CONTENTS TO ANY ONE THEN OF COURSE WE WON'T ASK YOU SAID ANNE PIERSON QUICKLY BUT TELL US THIS MUCH IS IT ABOUT ANY OF US NO REPLIED MABEL IT ISN'T IT IS SOMETHING I WAS ASKED TO SIGN


AND DID YOU SIGN IT ASKED JESSICA I CERTAINLY DID NOT RESPONDED MABEL IT WAS SHE STOPPED THEN FLUSHED


I CAN'T BEAR TO HAVE SECRETS AND NOT TELL YOU


WE DON'T WANT YOU TO TELL IF IT DOESN'T CONCERN US WE DON'T CARE DO WE GIRLS NO INDEED WAS THE REPLY JUST THEN THE BELL SOUNDED AND THE GIRLS RETURNED TO THEIR SEATS WITH THE RIDDLE STILL UNSOLVED


ON WEDNESDAY ASIDE FROM A LITTLE MORE WHISPERING AND SIGNIFICANT GLANCES EXCHANGED AMONG THE PUPILS NOT A RIPPLE DISTURBED THE CALM OF THE STUDY HALL IT WAS THEREFORE A DISTINCT AND NOT ALTOGETHER PLEASANT SURPRISE WHEN MISS THOMPSON WALKED INTO THE ROOM


DISMISSED THE SENIOR CLASS AND REQUESTED THE THREE LOWER CLASSES TO REMAIN IN THEIR SEATS AFTER THE SENIORS HAD QUIETLY LEFT THE STUDY HALL MISS THOMPSON STOOD GRAVELY REGARDING THE ROWS OF GIRLS BEFORE HER HER EYES WANDERED TOWARD WHERE ELEANOR SAT LOOKING BORED AND INDIFFERENT


AND THEN SHE LOOKED TOWARD GRACE WHOSE STEADY GRAY EYES WERE FIXED ON THE PRINCIPAL'S FACE WITH RESPECTFUL ATTENTION I DON'T BELIEVE GRACE IS GUILTY AT ANY RATE THOUGHT MISS THOMPSON THEN SHE ADDRESSED THE ASSEMBLED GIRLS SOMETHING HAS COME TO MY EARS GIRLS SAID THE PRINCIPAL


THAT I FIND HARD TO CREDIT BUT BEFORE YOU LEAVE HERE THIS AFTERNOON I MUST KNOW WHO IS INNOCENT AND WHO IS GUILTY MISS THOMPSON PAUSED AND A NUMBER OF GIRLS STIRRED UNEASILY IN THEIR SEATS WHILE A FEW GLANCED QUICKLY TOWARD ELEANOR WHO WAS LOOKING STRAIGHT AHEAD THE PICTURE OF INNOCENCE


THAT IT IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN FOR ANY PUPIL TO ABSENT HERSELF FROM SCHOOL FOR THE PURPOSE OF ATTENDING A CIRCUS MATINEE OR ANY PUBLIC PERFORMANCE OF THIS NATURE I HAVE SO SEVERELY DISCIPLINED PUPILS FOR THIS OFFENCE THAT FOR A LONG TIME NO ONE HAS DISOBEYED ME


I WAS THEREFORE ASTONISHED TO LEARN THAT A NUMBER OF GIRLS REGARDLESS OF RULES HAVE TAKEN MATTERS INTO THEIR OWN HANDS AND HAVE DECIDED TO ABSENT THEMSELVES FROM SCHOOL TO MORROW IN ORDER TO ATTEND THE MATINEE TO BE GIVEN IN THE THEATRE


SUCH A DECISION IS WORSE THAN DISOBEDIENCE IT IS LAWLESSNESS


THE STANDARD OF THE SCHOOL WILL BE LOWERED THEREFORE I INTEND TO SIFT THIS MATTER TO THE BOTTOM AND FIND OUT WHAT MISCHIEVOUS INFLUENCE PROMPTED THIS ACT OF INSUBORDINATION REPORT SAYS THAT THIS MOVEMENT ORIGINATED IN THE JUNIOR CLASS


AND THAT A PAPER HAS BEEN CIRCULATED AND SIGNED BY CERTAIN PUPILS WHO PLEDGED THEMSELVES TO PLAY TRUANT AND ATTEND THE MATINEE TO MORROW THE EYES OF GRACE AND HER CHUMS TURNED QUESTIONINGLY TOWARD MABEL ALLISON WHO NODDED SLIGHTLY IN THE AFFIRMATIVE SO THAT WAS WHAT ALL THE WHISPERING AND MYSTERY HAD MEANT


GRACE INWARDLY CONGRATULATED HERSELF ON HAVING KEPT CLEAR OF THE WHOLE THING NONE OF HER FRIENDS WERE IMPLICATED EITHER EVEN MABEL HAD REFUSED TO SIGN


WHAT I INSIST UPON KNOWING NOW IS WHO ARE THE REAL CULPRITS BEGINNING WITH THE GIRL WHO ORIGINATED THE PAPER TO THE LAST ONE WHO SIGNED IT


HER EXAMPLE WAS FOLLOWED UNTIL TWO THIRDS OF THE GIRLS PRESENT WERE STANDING THE PRINCIPAL STOOD SILENTLY REGARDING THEM WITH AN EXPRESSION OF SEVERITY THAT WAS DECIDEDLY DISCOMFITTING THAT WILL DO SHE SAID CURTLY


AFTER THEY HAD STOOD FOR WHAT SEEMED TO THEM AN AGE BUT WAS REALLY ONLY A COUPLE OF MINUTES YOU MAY BE SEATED THE GIRL WHO COMPOSED AND WROTE THAT AGREEMENT WILL NOW RISE AND EXPLAIN HERSELF WITHOUT HESITATING ELEANOR ROSE AND REGARDED THE PRINCIPAL WITH AN INSOLENT SMILE


I WROTE IT MISS THOMPSON SHE SAID CLEARLY I WROTE IT BECAUSE I WISHED TO


BECAUSE IT HAS SPOILED ALL OUR FUN THERE WAS A GASP OF HORROR AT ELEANOR'S ASSERTION NO ONE HAD EVER BEFORE SPOKEN SO DISRESPECTFULLY TO THEIR REVERED PRINCIPAL MISS SAVELL SAID THE PRINCIPAL QUIETLY ALTHOUGH HER FLASHING EYES AND SET LIPS SHOWED THAT SHE WAS VERY ANGRY


IF YOU HAVE THAT PAPER IN YOUR POSSESSION BRING IT TO ME AT ONCE AND NEVER ANSWER ME AGAIN AS YOU DID JUST NOW YOU ARE BOTH DISRESPECTFUL AND IMPERTINENT BUT MISS THOMPSON'S ANGER TOWARD ELEANOR WAS NOTHING COMPARED WITH THE TEMPEST THAT THE PRINCIPAL HAD AROUSED IN ELEANOR


THE LATTER FLUSHED THEN TURNED PERFECTLY WHITE WITH RAGE STILL STANDING SHE REACHED DOWN


WORDS CANNOT EXPRESS MY CONTEMPT FOR THEM AND RIGHT HERE I ACCUSE GRACE HARLOWE AND HER SORORITY OF GETTING THE INFORMATION FROM MABEL ALLISON YESTERDAY AND CARRYING IT TO YOU THEY ARE ALL TALE BEARERS AND SNEAKS


WITH THESE WORDS ELEANOR ANGRILY FLUNG THE BOOK SHE HELD ON THE DESK AND WALKED DOWN THE AISLE TOWARD THE DOOR BUT MISS THOMPSON BARRED HER WAY STOP MISS SAVELL SHE COMMANDED


I WILL NOT TOLERATE SUCH BEHAVIOR ELEANOR GLARED AT THE PRINCIPAL WHOSE FACE WAS RIGID IN ITS PURPOSE THEN SANK INTO THE NEAREST VACANT SEAT SAYING DEFIANTLY YOU MAY KEEP ME HERE ALL NIGHT IF YOU LIKE


NEVERTHELESS SHE DID NOT AGAIN ATTEMPT TO LEAVE THE ROOM SHE HAD MET WITH A WILL STRONGER THAN HER OWN AND SHE REALIZED IT IGNORING ELEANOR'S FINAL REMARK MISS THOMPSON ONCE MORE TURNED HER ATTENTION TO THE MATTER IN HAND


THOSE GIRLS WHO ARE NOT IN ANY WAY IMPLICATED IN THIS MATTER ARE DISMISSED SHE SAID ABOUT ONE THIRD OF THE GIRLS AROSE AND PREPARED TO LEAVE THE STUDY HALL THE PHI SIGMA TAU BEING AMONG THE NUMBER


GRACE MOTIONED THE GIRLS TO HURRY SHE WISHED TO LEAVE THE ROOM WITH HER FRIENDS BEFORE MISS THOMPSON NOTICED THEM SHE KNEW THE PRINCIPAL WOULD INSIST ON AN APOLOGY FROM ELEANOR AND NEITHER SHE NOR HER FRIENDS WISHED IT FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE ELEANOR HAD CHOSEN TO CUT THEIR ACQUAINTANCE


GRACE WAS THOROUGHLY ANGRY WITH HER SHE COULD NOT FORGIVE ELEANOR FOR HAVING ACCUSED HER AND HER FRIENDS OF CARRYING TALES BEFORE ALMOST THE ENTIRE SCHOOL THEREFORE A FORCED APOLOGY WOULD NOT APPEASE HER WOUNDED PRIDE


SHE DREW A BREATH OF RELIEF WHEN THE EIGHT GIRLS WERE SAFELY OUTSIDE THE STUDY HALL DOOR HURRY UP SHE SAID WE'LL TALK WHEN WE GET OUTSIDE SCHOOL DON'T STOP FOR A MINUTE IF MISS THOMPSON NOTICES THAT WE ARE GONE SHE'LL SEND AFTER US


THE GIRLS SILENTLY DONNED THEIR WRAPS AND FLED FROM THE BUILDING LIKE FUGITIVES FROM JUSTICE ONCE ON THE STREET A LIVELY CONFAB ENSUED ALL TALKING AT ONCE LET'S TAKE TURNS TALKING CRIED GRACE LAUGHING WE SHALL UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER A LITTLE BETTER


SHE HAS CERTAINLY SHOWN HER TRUE COLORS THIS TIME I NEVER HEARD OF ANYTHING MORE UNJUST THAN THE WAY SHE ACCUSED US WHEN WE KNEW NOTHING ABOUT HER OLD PLAN SAID MARIAN BARBER IT WAS ABOMINABLE SAID EVA ALLEN THE OTHER GIRLS EXPRESSED THEIR DISAPPROVAL IN EQUALLY FRANK TERMS


I SUPPOSE IT DID LOOK AS THOUGH I TOLD YOU GIRLS SAID MABEL ALLISON WHO HAD JOINED THEM AT THE GATE YOU KNOW I WAS WITH YOU AT RECESS RIGHT AFTER THE PAPER HAD BEEN PASSED TO ME


IT WAS PASSED TO ME BY MISTAKE VERY LIKELY AGREED GRACE I WONDER WHO DID TELL MISS THOMPSON I SAW SEVERAL GIRLS WITH THE PAPER


THERE WILL BE WEEPING AND WAILING IN THE SKULL AND CROSSBONES CROWD EXCLAIMED NORA THEY ARE ALL IN THIS MIX UP AND IF THEY AREN'T SUSPENDED THEY'LL BE LUCKY


NO SAID GRACE SHORTLY SHE DESERVES TO BE PUNISHED THE THINGS SHE SAID TO MISS THOMPSON WERE DISGRACEFUL AND I SHALL NEVER FORGIVE HER FOR THE WAY SHE SPOKE OF US I WOULDN'T SAY THAT GRACE REMARKED ANNE YOU CAN NEVER TELL WHAT MAY HAPPEN TO CHANGE YOUR VIEWS


IT WILL HAVE TO BE SOMETHING REMARKABLE IN THIS INSTANCE REPLIED GRACE GRIMLY AS SHE BADE THE GIRLS GOOD BYE REMEMBER GIRLS BASKETBALL PRACTICE AGAIN TO MORROW AND THE REST OF THE WEEK MISS THOMPSON HAS PROMISED ME THE GYMNASIUM PLEASE MAKE IT A POINT TO BE ON HAND


GOOD BYE GRACE CHORUSED HER FRIENDS AND WENT ON DOWN THE STREET DISCUSSING THE PROBABLE FATE OF THE WOULD BE TRUANTS TO RETURN TO THOSE YOUTHFUL TRANSGRESSORS THEY WERE SPENDING A MOST UNCOMFORTABLE HALF HOUR WITH MISS THOMPSON SHE WAS MERCILESS IN HER DENUNCIATION OF THEIR CONDUCT


AND THE TERROR OF SUSPENSION AROSE IN MORE THAN ONE MIND AS THEY LISTENED TO HER SCATHING REMARKS


BUT THERE WAS NOTHING FUNNY ABOUT IT NOW WHEN WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ELEANOR THE PRINCIPAL DISMISSED THEM THEY FILED DECOROUSLY OUT VERY UNEASY IN MIND MISS THOMPSON HAD TAKEN THEIR NAMES BUT HAD NOT STATED THEIR PUNISHMENT AND IT WAS CERTAIN THAT THEY WOULD BE MADE TO FEEL THE FULL WEIGHT OF HER DISPLEASURE


WHEN THE LAST GIRL HAD DISAPPEARED THE PRINCIPAL TURNED TO ELEANOR


DO YOU INTEND TO OBEY ME MISS SAVELL ASKED MISS THOMPSON STILL THERE WAS NO ANSWER VERY WELL CONTINUED MISS THOMPSON YOUR SILENCE INDICATES THAT YOU ARE STILL INSUBORDINATE YOU MAY THEREFORE CHOOSE BETWEEN TWO THINGS


YOU MAY APOLOGIZE TO ME NOW AND TO MORROW TO THE GIRLS YOU HAVE ACCUSED OF TREACHERY


CHAPTER NINE COUNT FERRALTI


AT DINNER IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT THE FAMOUS TARANTELLA WOULD BE DANCED IN THE LOWER HALL OF THE HOTEL AT NINE O'CLOCK AND THE GIRLS TOLD UNCLE JOHN THAT THEY MUST NOT MISS THIS FAMOUS SIGHT WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST UNIQUE IN SORRENTO OR INDEED IN ALL ITALY


AS THEY ENTERED THE PRETTY CIRCULAR HALL DEVOTED TO THE DANCE LOUISE GAVE A START OF SURPRISE


A GOODLY AUDIENCE HAD ALREADY ASSEMBLED IN THE ROOM AND AMONG THEM THE GIRL SEEMED TO RECOGNIZE AN ACQUAINTANCE FOR AFTER A BRIEF HESITATION SHE ADVANCED AND PLACED HER HAND IN THAT OF A GENTLEMAN WHO HAD RISEN ON HER ENTRANCE AND HASTENED TOWARD HER


HE WAS A NICE LOOKING YOUNG FELLOW BETH THOUGHT AND HAD A FOREIGN AND QUITE DISTINGUISHED AIR PRESENTLY LOUISE TURNED WITH CHEEKS SOMEWHAT FLUSHED AND BROUGHT THE GENTLEMAN TO HER PARTY


INTRODUCING HIM TO UNCLE JOHN AND HER COUSINS AS COUNT FERRALTI WHOM SHE HAD ONCE MET IN NEW YORK WHILE HE WAS ON A VISIT TO AMERICA


THE COUNT TWIRLED HIS SMALL AND SLENDER MOUSTACHES IN A WAY THAT PATSY THOUGHT AFFECTED AND SAID IN EXCELLENT ENGLISH


NEW YORK ADOPTS A GOOD MANY SAID UNCLE JOHN DRILY IT HAS EVEN BEEN THOUGHTLESS ENOUGH TO ADOPT ME THE DANCERS ENTERED AT THAT MOMENT AND THE AMERICANS WERE FORCED TO SEAT THEMSELVES HASTILY SO AS NOT TO OBSTRUCT THE VIEW OF OTHERS


COUNT FERRALTI FOUND A PLACE BESIDE LOUISE BUT SEEMED TO HAVE LITTLE TO SAY TO HER DURING THE COURSE OF THE ENTERTAINMENT THE DANCES WERE UNIQUE AND GRACEFUL BEING EXECUTED BY A TROUP OF LAUGHING PEASANTS DRESSED IN NATIVE COSTUME


WHO SEEMED VERY PROUD OF THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENT AND ANXIOUS TO PLEASE THE THRONG OF TOURISTS PRESENT THE TARANTELLA ORIGINATED IN ISCHIA BUT SORRENTO AND CAPRI HAVE THE BEST DANCERS


AFTERWARD UNCLE JOHN AND HIS NIECES STOOD UPON THE TERRACE AND WATCHED THE VOLCANO ROLLING ITS DENSE CLOUDS MINGLED WITH SPARKS OF RED HOT SCORIA TOWARD THE SKY


THE COUNT CLUNG TO LOUISE'S SIDE BUT ALSO TRIED TO MAKE HIMSELF AGREEABLE TO HER COUSINS


AND BETH REPLIED THAT HIS MANNERS WERE SO LIKE THOSE OF THEIR COUSIN LOUISE THAT THE TWO OUGHT TO GET ALONG NICELY TOGETHER UNCLE JOHN LIKED HIS NIECES TO MAKE FRIENDS AND ENCOURAGED YOUNG MEN GENERALLY TO MEET THEM


BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THE APPEARANCE OF THIS CALLOW ITALIAN NOBLEMAN THAT STAMPED HIS CHARACTER AS ARTIFICIAL AND INSINCERE HE RESOLVED TO FIND OUT SOMETHING ABOUT HIS ANTECEDENTS BEFORE HE PERMITTED THE YOUNG FELLOW


TO ESTABLISH FRIENDLY RELATIONS WITH HIS GIRLS NEXT MORNING AFTER BREAKFAST HE WANDERED THROUGH THE LOBBY AND PAUSED AT THE LITTLE OFFICE WHERE HE DISCOVERED THAT THE PROPRIETOR OF THIS HOTEL WAS A BROTHER OF THAT FLORIANO WHO MANAGED THE HOTEL DU VESUVE


THAT GAVE HIM AN EXCUSE TO TALK WITH THE MAN WHO SPOKE VERY GOOD ENGLISH AND WAS EXCEEDINGLY COURTEOUS TO HIS GUESTS ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY WERE AMERICAN


COUNT FERRALTI THE YOUNG MAN STANDING BY THE WINDOW YONDER I I DID NOT KNOW HE SAID HESITATINGLY THE GENTLEMAN ARRIVED LAST EVENING AND I HAD NOT YET LEARNED HIS NAME LET ME SEE


HE TURNED TO HIS LIST OF GUESTS WHO REGISTER BY CARD AND NOT IN A BOOK AND CONTINUED


HE HAS GIVEN HIS NAME AS FERRALTI BUT ADDED NO TITLE A COUNT DID YOU SAY YES REPLIED UNCLE JOHN THE PROPRIETOR LOOKED CURIOUSLY TOWARD THE YOUNG MAN WHOSE BACK ONLY WAS VISIBLE


THEN HE REMARKED THAT THE ERUPTION OF VESUVIUS WAS WANING AND THE TROUBLE NEARLY OVER FOR THIS TIME


THAT I CANNOT TELL YOU SIGNOR MERRICK OH PERHAPS YOU KNOW LITTLE ABOUT THE NOBILITY OF YOUR COUNTRY I I KNOW LITTLE OF THE NOBILITY ANSWERED FLORIANO INDIGNANTLY


MY DEAR SIGNOR THERE IS NO MAN BETTER POSTED AS TO OUR NOBILITY IN ALL ITALY YET YOU SAY YOU DON'T KNOW THE FERRALTI FAMILY


OBSERVE SIGNOR HERE IS OUR RECORD OF NOBILITY IT IS THE SAME AS THE BLUE BOOK OR THE PEERAGE OF ENGLAND EITHER FORTUNATELY OR UNFORTUNATELY I CANNOT SAY YOU HAVE NO NEED OF SUCH A BOOK IN AMERICA


HE TURNED THE PAGES AND RAN HIS FINGER DOWN THE LINE OF FS FIND ME IF YOU CAN A COUNT FERRALTI IN THE LIST UNCLE JOHN LOOKED HE PUT ON HIS GLASSES AND LOOKED AGAIN


AND NO SUCH NOBLE FAMILY SIGNOR MERRICK UNCLE JOHN WHISTLED SOFTLY AND WALKED AWAY TO THE WINDOW THE YOUNG MAN GREETED HIM WITH A SMILE AND A BOW I MISUNDERSTOOD YOUR NAME LAST EVENING HE SAID I THOUGHT YOU WERE COUNT FERRALTI


AND THAT IS RIGHT SIR WAS THE PROMPT REPLY ALLOW ME TO OFFER YOU MY CARD UNCLE JOHN TOOK THE CARD AND READ CONTE LEONARDI FERRALTI MILANO ITALIA


HE CAREFULLY PLACED THE CARD IN HIS POCKET BOOK THANK YOU SAID HE IT'S A FINE MORNING COUNT CHARMING MISTER MERRICK UNCLE JOHN WALKED AWAY HE WAS GLAD THAT HE HAD NOT SUSPECTED THE YOUNG MAN UNJUSTLY


WHEN AN IMPOSTURE IS UNMASKED IT IS NO LONGER DANGEROUS HE JOINED HIS NIECES WHO WERE ALL BUSILY ENGAGED IN WRITING LETTERS HOME AND REMARKED CASUALLY YOU'VE BEEN DECEIVED IN YOUR ITALIAN FRIEND LOUISE


HE IS NEITHER A COUNT NOR OF NOBLE FAMILY ALTHOUGH I SUPPOSE WHEN YOU MET HIM IN NEW YORK HE HAD AN OBJECT IN POSING AS A TITLED ARISTOCRAT THE GIRL PAUSED EXAMINING THE POINT OF HER PEN THOUGHTFULLY


HAS NEVER BEFORE HEARD OF HIM HOW SINGULAR EXCLAIMED LOUISE I WONDER WHY HE HAS TRIED TO DECEIVE US OH THE WORLD IS FULL OF IMPOSTORS BUT WHEN YOU ARE ON TO THEIR GAME THEY ARE QUITE HARMLESS


UNCLE JOHN HARDLY KNEW WHAT TO SAY FURTHER HE FELT HE WAS IN AN AWKWARD POSITION FOR LOUISE WAS THE MOST EXPERIENCED IN WORLDLY WAYS OF HIS THREE NIECES AND HE HAD NO DESIRE TO POSE AS A STERN GUARDIAN


OR TO DEPRIVE HIS GIRLS OF ANY PASSING PLEASURE THEY MIGHT ENJOY MOREOVER LOUISE BEING IN LOVE WITH THAT YOUNG WELDON HER MOTHER SO STRONGLY OBJECTED TO


SHE WOULD NOT BE LIKELY TO CARE MUCH FOR THIS ITALIAN FELLOW AND MISSUS MERRICK HAD ENJOINED HIM TO KEEP HER DAUGHTER'S MIND FROM DWELLING ON HER ENTANGLEMENT OH WELL MY DEAR HE SAID TO HER YOU MUST ACT AS YOU SEE FIT


I DO NOT IMAGINE WE SHALL SEE MUCH OF THIS YOUNG MAN IN ANY EVENT AND NOW THAT YOU ARE WELL AWARE OF THE FACT THAT HE IS SAILING UNDER FALSE COLORS YOU WILL KNOW HOW TO HANDLE HIM BETTER THAN I CAN ADVISE YOU


SAID LOUISE SLOWLY AS SHE RESUMED HER WRITING WELL THEN GIRLS WHAT DO YOU SAY TO A STROLL AROUND THE VILLAGE ASKED THEIR UNCLE I'M TOLD IT'S A PROPER PLACE TO BUY SILK STOCKINGS AND INLAID WOOD WORK THEY COME ASSORTED I SUPPOSE


I AM NOT WITHOUT A LURKING SUSPICION I BEMOANED MY UNLUCKY FATE I COULD ALMOST ALLEGE IT AS A SUPREME EXAMPLE


I WAS EXTREMELY PERPLEXED I WILL PERMIT MYSELF THE LIBERTY OF SAYING I WOULD FAIN BELIEVE


IMPARTIAL AND EXACTING JUDGMENT IMPATIENCE OF DESPOTIC INFLUENCE IMPELLED BY STRONG CONVICTION


IMPERILED IN A RESTLESS AGE


IMPROMPTU PARADES OF NOISY PATRIOTISM IN A DIVERSITY OF APPLICATION IN A FEVER OF APPREHENSION


IN A FRENZY OF FUSSY EXCITEMENT IN A FROWNING ABSTRACTION IN A GREAT AND FRUITFUL WAY IN A HIGH DEGREE CULPABLE


IN A KIND OF CONFUSED ASTONISHMENT IN A MOST COMMENDABLE FASHION IN A MOST IMPRESSIVE VEIN IN A POSITION OF UNDISPUTED SUPREMACY


IN A TONE OF UNEASY INTERROGATION IN A TRANSPORT OF AMBITIOUS VANITY IN A WHIRLWIND OF FEELING AND MEMORY


IN ACCENTS EMBARRASSED AND HESITATING IN ALLIANCE WITH STEADY CLEARNESS OF INTELLECT IN AMAZED EJACULATION


IN AN EMINENT AND UNIQUE SENSE IN AN EMINENT DEGREE IN DEFERENCE TO A UNANIMOUS SENTIMENT


IN EXTENUATION OF THE PAST IN HIGH GOOD HUMOR


IN LANGUAGE TERSE YET FAMILIAR IN MOMENTS OF THE MOST IMMINENT PERIL IN QUITE INCREDIBLE CONFUSION


IN SEASONS OF DIFFICULTY AND TRIAL IN SPITE OF PLAUSIBLE ARGUMENTS IN TERMS OF IMPERISHABLE BEAUTY


IN THE DIM PROCESSION OF YEARS IN THE HIGHEST CONCEIVABLE DEGREE IN THE LOCAL PHRASE IN THE NATURE OF THINGS


IN THE ORDINARILY ACCEPTED SENSE IN THE REALM OF CONJECTURE IN THE SCHEME OF THINGS IN THE TONE OF ONE WHO MORALIZES IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE


IN THE WORLD OF LETTERS IN TONES OF GENUINE ADMIRATION INCAPABLE OF FLASHY MAKE BELIEVE INCITED BY A LUST FOR GAIN


INCOMPARABLE LUCIDITY AND PENETRATIVENESS INCONCEIVABLE CLUMSINESS OF ORGANIZATION INDULGE A TRAIN OF GENTLE RECOLLECTION


INDULGING A SICKLY AND NAUSEATING PETULANCE INEFFABLY DREARY AND UNPICTURESQUE INFECTED WITH A FEVERISH DISSATISFACTION


INSATIABLY GREEDY OF RECOGNITION INSENSIBILITY TO MORAL PERSPECTIVE AND PROPORTION INSOLENT AND RIOTOUS EXCESS


INSPIRED BY A VAGUE MALEVOLENCE INSPIRITED BY APPROVAL AND APPLAUSE


INSTANTLY ALIVE TO THE SLIGHTEST BREACH OF DECORUM INSUFFERABLE VIOLENCE TO THE FEELINGS INTENSE AND STUBBORN DOGMATISM


INTENSE SENSITIVENESS


INVINCIBLE JEALOUSY AND HATE INVOLUNTARY THRILL OF GRATIFIED VANITY INVOLVED IN PROFOUND UNCERTAINTY


INVOLVING OURSELVES IN EMBARRASSMENTS


IT ASSUMES THE SHAPE OF MALIGNITY IT BETRAYS A GREAT WANT OF PRUDENCE AND DISCERNMENT IT DEFIES DESCRIPTION


IT DISSIPATES EVERY DOUBT AND SCRUPLE IT ENSLAVES THE IMAGINATION IT EXTORTED FROM HIM EXPRESSIONS OF IRRITABILITY


IT GIVES ONE A LITTLE GRIP AT THE THROAT IT HAS BEEN STIGMATIZED AS IRRELEVANT IT HAS MORE THAN PASSING INTEREST


IT HAS SELDOM BEEN SURPASSED IT IMPOSES NO CONSTRAINT IT IS A CAPITAL BLUNDER IT IS A COMMON ERROR AMONG IGNORANT PEOPLE


IT IS A CONSOLING REFLECTION IT IS A MARK OF GREAT INSTABILITY IT IS A STAGGERING THOUGHT IT IS ALWAYS SOMETHING VICIOUS


IT IS AN ODD JEALOUSY IT IS AN INTOLERABLE IDEA IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO RESIST ACKNOWLEDGING THIS


IT IS LITTLE MORE THAN A PLATITUDE IT IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH ELEVATED AND DIGNIFIED CHARACTER IT IS NOT WHOLLY INSIGNIFICANT


IT IS NOTORIOUSLY EASY TO EXAGGERATE IT IS THE COMMON CONSENT OF MEN IT IS UNNECESSARY TO MULTIPLY INSTANCES


IT MAKES LIFE INSUPPORTABLE IT MUST BE A MATTER OF CONJECTURE IT OCCASIONS SUSPICION AND DISCONTENT


IT RUNS COUNTER TO ALL ESTABLISHED CUSTOMS IT WAS A MATTER OF NOTORIETY IT WEARS A RAGGED AND DANGEROUS FRONT


IT WOULD BE SUPERFLUOUS TO SAY IT WOULD NOT SEEM AN IMPROBABLE CONCLUSION


EASY GOING


ENFORCED BY COERCIVE MEASURES ENORMITIES OF CRIME AND ANOMALIES OF LAW ENTANGLED IN THEOLOGICAL CONTROVERSY


ENTIRELY FUTILE AND NEGLIGIBLE


AND SOPHISTRIES ESPOUSED WITH EXTRAORDINARY ARDOR ESSENTIALLY ONE SIDED AND INCOMPLETE ETERNALLY FRUITFUL AND STIMULATING


EVIDENTLY MALICIOUS AND ADROIT EVINCES A HARDENED CONSCIENCE AND AN INSENSIBILITY TO SHAME


EXACT AND RESOLUTE ALLEGIANCE EXAMPLES OF TERRIFIC AND EXPLOSIVE ENERGY EXASPERATING TO THE LAST DEGREE


EXCRUCIATING CRUELTY AND INJUSTICE EXPOSED TO DAMAGING CRITICISM EXPOSING HIS ARROGANCE AND FOLLY TO MERITED CONTEMPT


EXPRESSIONS OF UNRESTRAINED GRIEF EXQUISITE LUCIDITY OF STATEMENT EXTRAORDINARILY SUBTLE AND PENETRATING ANALYSIS


FANATICAL AND DANGEROUS EXCESSES FAR OFF AND INCREDIBLY REMOTE FASTIDIOUS CORRECTNESS OF FORM


FATE HAD TURNED AND TWISTED A THOUSAND WAYS FED BY MANY CURRENTS FROM THE LONG STREAM OF HUMAN EXPERIENCE


FEIGNING A VIRTUOUS INDIGNATION FERTILITY OF ARGUMENTATIVE RESOURCE


FICTITIOUS AND ADVENTITIOUS AID FINELY TOUCHED TO THE FINE ISSUES FIT TO STAND THE GAZE OF MILLIONS


FITS AND STARTS OF GENEROSITY FIXED CONVICTIONS OF MANKIND FLOUTED AS UNPRACTICAL


FRESH AND UNSUSPECTED LOVELINESS FROM THE STANDPOINT OF EXPEDIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS FULL AND TUNEFUL DICTION


FULL OF ARDENT AFFECTION AND GRATITUDE FULL OF PRESENTIMENTS OF SOME EVIL FULL OF SINGULAR FRESHNESS INSIGHT AND POWER


FULL OF SPECULATION AND A DEEP RESTRAINED EXCITEMENT


GENEROUS TO A PATHETIC AND TOUCHING DEGREE GIVE VENT TO HIS INDIGNATION GIVING AN EAR TO A LITTLE NEIGHBORLY GOSSIP


GLANCES AND SMILES OF TACIT CONTEMPT GNAWING AT THE VITALS OF SOCIETY GRACE AND GENTLENESS OF MANNER


GRACEFUL SUCCESSION OF SENTENCES


GREETED WITH UNALLOYED SATISFACTION GROOVES OF INTELLECTUAL HABIT GROWING SENSE OF BEWILDERMENT AND DISMAY


HABITUAL SELF POSSESSION AND SELF RESPECT HAPPY AND GRACIOUS WILLINGNESS HARD SOULED AND JOYOUSLY JOYOUS


HAUNTED BY BLANK MISGIVINGS


HE HAD THE HABIT OF SELF ENGROSSED SILENCES


HE POURED BITTER AND BITING RIDICULE ON HIS DISCOMFITED OPPONENTS HE SPOKE WITH SLEDGEHAMMER DIRECTNESS


HE SUFFERS NOTHING TO DRAW HIM ASIDE HE TOOK HIS COURAGE IN BOTH HANDS


HE TURNED ON ME A GLANCE OF STORED INTELLIGENCE HE WAS DISHEVELED AND UNTIDY


HE WAS INEXHAUSTIBLY VOLUBLE


HER VOICE HAD A WOODEN RESONANCE AND A GHOST OF A LISP


AND UNDISCOURAGED HOPE HIGH HANDED INDIFFERENCE TO ALL RESTRAINT


HIS FIRST ZEAL WAS FLAGGING HIS GENERAL ATTITUDE SUGGESTED AN IDEA THAT HE HAD AN ORATION FOR YOU


HIS GESTURES AND HIS GAIT WERE UNTIDY HIS MOOD WAS ONE OF PURE EXALTATION


LAID DOWN IN A MOST UNFLINCHING AND VIGOROUS FASHION LAMENTABLE INSTANCES OF EXTRAVAGANCE LASH THEMSELVES INTO FURY


LAX THEORIES AND CORRESPONDING PRACTISES LAY HOLD OF THE AFFECTIONS LEADEN MOOD OF DULNESS


LEND A CRITICAL EAR LEST THE REQUIREMENTS OF COURTESY BE DISREGARDED LINKS IN THE CHAIN OF REASONING


LITTLE LESS THAN SCANDALOUS LOFTY AND DISTINGUISHED SIMPLICITY LONG SIGHTED CONTINUITY OF THOUGHT AND PLAN


LOOKING AT THE MATTER BY AND LARGE


LUCIDITY AND ARGUMENTATIVE VIGOR


BY A JEALOUS HATE MAINTAINED WITH INGENUITY AND VIGOR MANIFESTLY HARSH AND BARBAROUS MARVELOUS COPIOUSNESS OF ILLUSTRATION


MARVELOUSLY SUGGESTIVE AND INSPIRING


MICROSCOPIC ANALYSIS OF CHARACTER MINGLED DISTRUST AND FEAR MINISTERING TO MERE PLEASURE AND INDULGENCE


MINUTELY AND RATIONALLY EXPOSING THEIR IMPERFECTIONS MORBID AND SUBJECTIVE BROODING MORE OR LESS SEVERE AND PROLONGED


NATURALLY PRONE TO BELIEVE NECESSITY THUS IMPOSED BY PRUDENCE NERVELESS AND FAITHLESS FOLLY


NO MORE THAN BRIEF PALLIATIVES OR MITIGATIONS NOBLE AND SUBLIME PATIENCE NOISY TORRENT OF TALK


NOT AVERSE TO A LITTLE GOSSIP NOT SO MUCH POLISHED AS VARNISHED NOTED FOR THEIR QUIXOTIC LOVE


OBSESSED WITH AN OVERWEENING PRIDE OBSTACLES THAT ARE DIFFICULT BUT NOT INSUPERABLE OBVIOUSLY AT VARIANCE WITH FACTS


OFTEN EMPLOYED PROMISCUOUSLY OMINOUS AND SWIFT DAYS OMITTING ALL COMPLIMENTS AND COMMONPLACES


ON A NOBLE AND COMMANDING SCALE ON SURE GROUND OF FACT ON THE EDGE OF GREAT IRRITABILITY


ONE OF LIFE'S IRONICAL ADJUSTMENTS ONE OF THE FORESEEN AND INEVITABLE RESULTS


ONE TISSUE OF RASHNESS FOLLY INGRATITUDE AND INJUSTICE


OPPRESSED BY SOME VAGUE DREAD ORGANS OF PARTY RAGE AND POPULAR FRENZY OUR OPINIONS WERE DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED


PALPABLY AND UNMISTAKABLY COMMONPLACE PARADING AN EXCEPTION TO PROVE A RULE PARALYZED BY INFIRMITY OF PURPOSE


PARALYZING DOUBTS AND SCRUPLES PARAMOUNT OBLIGATION AND RIGHTEOUSNESS PARTIAL AND FRAGMENTARY EVIDENCE


PASSIONATELY ADDICTED TO PLEASURE PATENTLY INIMICAL TO LIBERTY PATIENCE UNDER CONTINUAL PROVOCATION


PECULIARLY LIABLE TO MISINTERPRETATION PEDDLING AND PITIFUL COMPROMISES PELTING ONE ANOTHER WITH CATCHWORDS


PERFECTLY ILLUSTRATED AND EXEMPLIFIED PERPETUALLY EXCITE OUR CURIOSITY PIERCED TO THE QUICK


PITIFUL SHIFTS OF POLICY PLAINLY DICTATED BY A LOFTY PURPOSE


POLISHED BEAUTY OF DICTION POLITICAL STORM AND STRESS POSITION OF TITULAR COMMAND


PREDICT THE GLOOMIEST CONSEQUENCES PREGNANT WITH A LESSON OF THE DEEPEST IMPORT PRESENTED WITH MATCHLESS VIGOR AND COURAGE


PRINCELY GENEROSITY OF PRAISE PRODIGIOUS AND PORTENTOUS EVENTS PROTRACTED TO A VEXATIOUS LENGTH


CHAPTER THIRTEEN A RESURRECTED PIRATE


THAT HE HAD COME BACK A COMPARATIVE PAUPER SURPRISED NO ONE FOR THIS WAS A COMMON THING TO HAPPEN TO A PIRATE BUT THE WONDER WAS THAT HE GOT BACK AT ALL HE HAD NO MONEY BUT BY THE EXERCISE OF HIS CRAFTY ABILITIES


HE MANAGED TO GET POSSESSION OF A SHIP WHICH HE MANNED WITH A CREW OF ABOUT A SCORE OF IMPECUNIOUS DARE DEVILS WHO WERE VERY ANXIOUS TO DO SOMETHING TO MEND THEIR FORTUNES HAVING NOW BECOME VERY FOND OF LAND FIGHTING


HE DID NOT GO OUT IN SEARCH OF SHIPS BUT DIRECTED HIS VESSEL TO A LITTLE VILLAGE CALLED DE LOS CAYOS ON THE COAST OF CUBA FOR HERE HE THOUGHT WAS A CHANCE FOR A GOOD AND EASY STROKE OF BUSINESS


SO THAT LARGE SHIPS COULD NOT APPROACH VERY NEAR AND THUS THE VILLAGERS WERE KEPT BUSY CARRYING GOODS AND SUPPLIES IN SMALL BOATS BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS FROM THE TOWN TO THE VESSELS AT ANCHOR


HERE WAS A NICE LITTLE PRIZE THAT COULD NOT GET AWAY FROM HIM AND L'OLONNOIS HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO MAKE HIS PREPARATIONS TO SEIZE IT AS HE COULD NOT SAIL A SHIP DIRECTLY UP TO THE TOWN


HE CRUISED ABOUT THE COAST AT SOME DISTANCE FROM DE LOS CAYOS ENDEAVORING TO PROCURE TWO SMALL BOATS IN WHICH TO APPROACH THE TOWN BUT ALTHOUGH HIS PREPARATIONS WERE MADE AS QUIETLY AS POSSIBLE THE PRESENCE OF HIS VESSEL WAS DISCOVERED BY SOME FISHERMEN


INFORMING THE GOVERNOR OF THE ISLAND THAT THE CRUEL PIRATE L'OLONNOIS WAS IN A SHIP A SHORT DISTANCE FROM THEIR VILLAGE WHICH HE UNDOUBTEDLY INTENDED TO ATTACK WHEN THE GOVERNOR HEARD THIS ASTONISHING TALE


IT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR HIM TO BELIEVE IT THE GOOD NEWS OF THE DEATH OF L'OLONNOIS HAD COME FROM CAMPEACHY TO HAVANA AND THE PEOPLE OF THE LATTER TOWN ALSO REJOICED GREATLY TO BE NOW TOLD THAT THIS SCOURGE OF THE WEST INDIES WAS ALIVE


AND WAS ABOUT TO FALL UPON A PEACEFUL LITTLE VILLAGE ON THE ISLAND OVER WHICH HE RULED FILLED THE GOVERNOR WITH RAGE AS WELL AS AMAZEMENT AND HE ORDERED A WELL ARMED SHIP WITH A LARGE CREW OF FIGHTING MEN TO SAIL IMMEDIATELY FOR DE LOS CAYOS


BY THE TIME THE WAR VESSEL HAD ARRIVED AT DE LOS CAYOS L'OLONNOIS HAD MADE HIS PREPARATION TO ATTACK THE PLACE HE HAD PROCURED TWO LARGE CANOES AND IN THESE HE HAD INTENDED TO ROW UP TO THE TOWN AND LAND WITH HIS MEN


BUT NOW THERE WAS A CHANGE IN THE STATE OF AFFAIRS AND HE WAS OBLIGED TO ALTER HIS PLANS THE ORDINARY PERSON IN COMMAND OF TWO SMALL BOATS WHO SHOULD SUDDENLY DISCOVER THAT A VILLAGE WHICH HE SUPPOSED ALMOST DEFENCELESS WAS PROTECTED BY A LARGE MAN OF WAR


WITH CANNON AND A WELL ARMED CREW WOULD HAVE ALTERED HIS PLANS SO COMPLETELY THAT HE WOULD HAVE LEFT THAT PART OF THE COAST OF CUBA WITH ALL POSSIBLE EXPEDITION BUT THE PIRATES OF THAT DAY SEEMED TO PAY VERY LITTLE ATTENTION TO THE ELEMENT OF ODDS


IF THEY MET AN ENEMY WHO WAS WEAK THEY WOULD FALL UPON HIM AND IF THEY MET WITH ONE WHO WAS A GOOD DEAL STRONGER THAN THEMSELVES THEY WOULD FALL UPON HIM ALL THE SAME WHEN THE TIME CAME TO FIGHT THEY FOUGHT