第1章

MARJORYwalkedpensivelyalongthehall。Inthecoolshadowsmadebythepalmsonthewindowledge，herfaceworetheexpressionofthoughtfulmelancholyexpectedonthefacesofthedevoteeswhopaceincloisteredgloom。Shehaltedbeforeadoorattheendofthehallandlaidherhandontheknob。Shestoodhesitating，herheadbowed。Itwasevidentthatthismissionwastorequiregreatfortitude。 Atlastsheopenedthedoor。\"Father，\"shebeganatonce。 Therewasdisclosedanelderly，narrow-facedmanseatedatalargetableandsurroundedbymanuscriptsandbooks。ThesunlightflowingthroughcurtainsofTurkeyredfellsanguinelyuponthebustofdead-eyedPericlesonthemantle。Alittleclockwasticking，hiddensomewhereamongthecountlessleavesofwriting，themapsandbroadheavytomesthatswarmeduponthetable。 Herfatherlookedupquicklywithanogreishscowl。 Goaway!\"hecriedinarage。\"Goaway。Goaway。Getout\" \"Heseemedonthepointofarisingtoejectthevisitor。Itwasplaintoherthathehadbeeninterruptedinthewritingofoneofhissentences，ponderous，solemnandendless，inwhichwanderedmultitudesofhomelessandfriendlessprepositions，adjectiveslookingforaparent，andquarrellingnouns，sentenceswhichnolongersymbolisedthelanguageformofthoughtbutwhichhadaboutthemaquaintaromafromthedensoflong-deadscholars。\"Getout，\" snarledtheprofessor。 Father，\"falteredthegirl。Eitherbecausehisformulatedthoughtwasnowcompletelyknockedoutofhismindbyhisownemphasisindefendingit，orbecausehedetectedsomethingofportentinherexpression，hismannersuddenlychanged，andwithapetulantglanceathiswritinghelaiddownhispenandsankbackinhischairtolisten。\"Well，whatisit，mychild？\" Thegirltookachairnearthewindowandgazedoutuponthesnow-strickencampus，whereatthemomentagroupofstudentsreturningfromaclassroomwerefestivelyhurlingsnow-balls。\"I\'vegotsomethingimportanttotellyou，father，\" saidshe，butidon\'tquiteknowhowtosayit。\" \"Somethingimportant？\"repeatedtheprofessor。Hewasnothabituallyinterestedintheaffairsofhisfamily，butthisproclamationthatsomethingimportantcouldbeconnectedwiththem，filledhismindwithacapriciousinterest。\"Well，whatisit，Marjory？\" Sherepliedcalmly:\"RufusColemanwantstomarryme。\" \"What？\"demandedtheprofessorloudly。\"RufusColeman。 Whatdoyoumean？\" Thegirlglancedfurtivelyathim。Shedidnotseemtobeabletoframeasuitablesentence。 Asfortheprofessor，hehad，likeallmenboththoughtlessandthoughtful，toldhimselfthatonedayhisdaughterwouldcometohimwithataleofthiskind。Hehadneverforgottenthatthelittlegirlwastobeawoman，andhehadneverforgottenthatthistall，lithecreature，thepresentMarjory，wasawoman。 Hehadbeenentrancedandconfidentorentrancedandapprehensiveaccording\'tothetime。Amanfocusseduponastronomy，thepigmarketorsocialprogression，mayneverthelesshaveasecondarymindwhichhoverslikeaspiritoverhisdahliatubersanddreamsuponthemysteryoftheirslowandtenderrevelations。Theprofessor\'ssecondarymindhaddweltalwayswithhisdaughterandwatchedwithafaithanddelightthechangingtoawomanofacertainfatandmumblingbabe。However，henowsawthismachine，thisself- sustaining，self-operativelove，whichhadrunwiththeeaseofaclock，suddenlycrumbletoashesandleavethemindofagreatscholarstaringatacalamity。\"RufusColeman，\"herepeated，stunned。Herewashisdaughter，veryobviouslydesirousofmarryingRufusColeman。\"Marjory，\"hecriedinamazementandfear，\"whatpossesses，you？MarryRufusColman？\" Thegirlseemedtofeelastrongsenseofreliefathispromptrecognitionofafact。Beingfreedfromthenecessityofmakingaflatdeclaration，shesimplyhungherheadandblushedimpressively。Ahushfelluponthem。Theprofessorstaredlongathisdaugh。ter。Theshadowofunhappinessdeepeneduponhisface。\"Marjory，Marjory，\"hemurmuredatlast。Hehadtrampedheroicallyuponhispanicanddevotedhisstrengthtobringingthoughtintosomekindofattitudetowardthisterriblefact。\"Iam-Iamsurprised，\"hebegan。Fixingherthenwithasterneye，heasked:\"Whydoyouwishtomarrythisman？You，withyouropportunitiesofmeetingpersonsofintelligence。Andyouwanttomarry-\"Hisvoicegrewtragic。\"YouwanttomarrytheSundayeditoroftheNewYorkEclipse。\" \"Itisnotsoveryterrible，isit？\"saidMarjorysullenly。 \"Waitamoment；don\'ttalk，\"criedtheprofessor。Hearoseandwalkednervouslytoandfro，hishandsflyingintheair。HewasveryredbehindtheearsaswhenintheClassroomsomestudentoffendedhim。\"Agambler，asporteroffineclothes，anexpertonchampagne，apoliteloafer，awitnessknavewhoeditstheSundayeditionofagreatoutrageuponoursensibilities。 Youwanttomarryhim，thisman？Marjory，youareinsane。Thisfraudwhoassertsthathisworkisintelligent，thisfoolcomesheretomyhouseand-\" Hebecameawarethathisdaughterwasregardinghimcoldly。 \"Ithoughtwehadbesthaveallthispartofitoveratonce，\"sheremarked。 Heconfrontedherinanewkindofsurprise。Thelittlekeen- eyedprofessorwasatthistimeimperial，onthevergeofamajesticoutburst。\"Bestill，\"hesaid。\"Don\'tbecleverwithyourfather。Don\'tbeadodger。Or，ifyouare，don\'tspeakofittome。I supposethisfineyoungmanexpectstoseemepersonally？\" \"Hewascomingto-morrow，\"repliedMarjory。Shebegantoweep。\"Hewascomingto-morrow。\" \"Um，\"saidtheprofessor。HecontinuedhispacingwhileMarjoryweptwithherheadbowedtothearmofthechair。Hisbrowmadethethreedarkverticalcreviceswellknowntohisstudents。Some。timeshegloweredmurderouslyatthephotographsofancienttempleswhichadornedthewalls。\"Mypoorchild，\"hesaidonce，ashepausednearher，\"tothinkI neverknewyouwereafool。Ihavebeendeludingmyself。Ithasbeenmyfaultasmuchasithasbeenyours。Iwillnotreadilyforgivemyself。\" Thegirlraisedherfaceandlookedathim。Finally，resolvedtodisregardthedishevelmentwroughtbytears，shepresentedadesperatefrontwithherweteyesandflushedcheeks。Herhairwasdisarrayed。\"Idon\'tseewhyyoucancallmeafool，\"shesaid。Thepausebeforethissentencehadbeensoportentousofawildandrebelliousspeechthattheprofessoralmostlaughednow。Butstillthefatherforthefirsttimeknewthathewasbeingun-dauntedlyfacedbyhischildinhisownlibrary，inthepresenceOf372 pagesofthebookthatwastobehismasterpiece。Atthebackofhismindhefeltagreataweasifhisownyouthfulspirithadcomefromthepastandchallengedhimwithaglance。Foramomenthewasalmostadefeatedman。Hedroppedintoachair。 \"Doesyourmotherknowofthis\"\"heaskedmournfully。 \"Yes，\"repliedthegirl。\"Sheknows。ShehasbeentryingtomakemegiveupRufus。\" \"Rufus，\"criedtheprofessorrejuvenatedbyanger。 \"Well，hisnameisRufus，\"saidthegirl。 \"Butpleasedon\'tcallhimsobeforeme，\"saidthefatherwithicydignity。\"IdonotrecognisehimasbeingnamedRufus。 Thatisacontentionofyourswhichdoesnotarousemyinterest。Iknowhimverywellasagamblerandadrunkard，andifincidentally，heisnamedRufus，Ifailtoseeanyimportancetoit。\" \"Heisnotagamblerandheisnotadrunkard，\"shesaid。 \"Um。Hedrinksheavily-thatiswellknown。Hegambles。 Heplayscardsformoney——morethanhepossesses-atleasthedidwhenhewasincollege。\" \"Yousaidyoulikedhimwhenhewasincollege。\" \"SoIdid。SoIdid，\"answeredtheprofessorsharply。\"I oftenfindmyselflikingthatkindofaboyincollege。Don\'tI knowthem-thoseladswiththeirbeerandtheirpokergamesinthedeadofthenightwithatowelhungoverthekeyhole。Theirhabitsareoftenviciousenough，butsomethingremainsinthemthroughitallandtheymaygoawayanddogreatthings。Thishappens。Weknowit。Ithappenswithconfusinginsistence。Itdestroystheo-ries。There-thereisn\'tmuchtosayaboutit。Andsometimeswelikethiskindofaboybetterthanwedothe-theothers。FormypartIknowofmanyapure，piousandfine- mindedstudentthatIhavepositivelyloathedfromapersonalpoint-of-view。But，\"headded，\"thisRufusColeman，hislifeincollegeandhislifesince，gotoprovehowoftenwegetoffthetrack。Thereisnogaugeofcollegiateconductwhatever，untilwecangetevidenceoftheman\'sworkintheworld。Yourpreciousscoundrel\'sevidenceisnowallinandheisafailure，orworse。\" \"Youarenothabituallysofierceinjudgingpeople，\"saidthegirl。 \"Iwouldbeiftheyallwantedtomarrymydaughter，\" rejoinedtheprofessor。\"Ratherthanletthatmanmakelovetoyou-orevenbewithinashortrailwayjourneyofyou，I\'llcartyouofftoEuropethiswinterandkeepyouthereuntilyouforget。Ifyoupersistinthissillyfancy，Ishallatoncebecomemedieval。\" Marjoryhadevidentlyrecoveredmuchofhercomposure。 \"Yes，father，newclimatesarealway\'ssupposedtocureone，\" sheremarkedwithakindoflightness。 \"Itisn\'tsomuchtheoldexpedient，\"saidtheprofessormusingly，\"asitisthatIwouldbeafraidtoleaveyouherewithnoprotectionagainstthatdrinkinggamblerandgamblingdrunkard。\" \"Father，IhavetoaskyounottousesuchtermsinspeakingofthemanthatIshallmarry。\" Therewasasilence。Toallintents，theprofessorremainedunmoved。Hesmotethetipsofhisfingersthoughtfullytogether。\"Ye-es，\"heobserved。\"Thatsoundsreasonablefromyourstandpoint。\"Hiseyesstudiedherfaceinalongandsteadyglance。Hearoseandwentintothehall。Whenhereturnedheworehishatandgreatcoat。Hetookabookandsomepapersfromthetableandwentaway。 Marjorywalkedslowlythroughthehallsanduptoherroom。 Fromawindowshecouldseeherfathermakinghiswayacrossthecampuslabouriouslyagainstthewindandwhirlingsnow。 Shewatchedit，thislittleblackfigure，bentforward，patient，steadfast。Itwasaninferiorfactthatherfatherwasoneofthefamousscholarsofthegeneration。Toher，hewasnowalittleoldmanfacingthewintrywinds。Recollect。ingherselfandRufusColemanshebegantoweepagain，wailingamidtheruinsofhertumbledhopes。Herskieshadturnedtopaperandhertreesweremerebitsofgreensponge。Butamidallthiswoeappearedthelittleblackimageofherfathermakingitswayagainstthestorm。 CHAPTERII。 INahigh-walledcorriderofoneofthecollegebuildings，acrowdofstudentswaitedamidjostlingsandaloudbuzzoftalk。 Suddenlyahugepairofdoorsflewopenandawedgeofyoungmeninserteditselfboisterouslyanddeeplyintothethrong。 Therewasagreatscuffleattendedbyageneralbangingofbooksuponheads。Thetwolowerclassesengagedinherculeanplaywhilemembersofthetwohigherclasses，standingaloof，devotedthemselvesstrictlytotheencouragementofwhicheverpartyforamomentlostgroundorheart。Thiswasinordertoprolongtheconflict。 Thecombat，wagedinthedesperationofproudestyouth，waxedhotandhotter。Thewedgehadbeeninstantlysmittenintoakindofblockofmen。Ithadcrumpledintoanirregularsquareandonthreesidesitwasnowassailedwithremarkableferocity。 Itwasamatterofwallmeetwallinterrificrushes，duringwhichladscouldfeeltheirveryheartsleavingtheminthecompressoffriendsandfoes。TheyontheoutskirtsupheldthehonouroftheirclassesbysqueezingintopaperthicknessthelungsofthoseoftheirfellowswhoformedthecentreofthemeleeInsomewayitresembledapanicatatheatre。 Thefirstlance-likeattackoftheSophomoreshadbeenformidable，buttheFreshmenoutnumberingtheirenemiesandsmartingfromcontinualSophomoricoppression，hadswarmedtothefrontlikedrilledcollegiansandgiventhearrogantfoethefirstseriouscheckoftheyear。ThereforethetallGothicwindowswhichlinedonesideofthecorridorlookeddownuponasincomprehensibleandenjoyableatumultascouldmarkthestepsofadvancededucation。TheSeniorsandjuniorscheeredthemselvesill。Longfreedfromthejoyofsuchmeetings，theironlymeansforthiskindofrecreationwastoinvolvethelowerclasses，andtheyhadneverseenthevictimsfalltowithsuchvigourandcourage。Bitsofprintedleaves，tornnote-books，dismantledcollarsandcravats，allfloatedtothefloorbeneaththefeetofthewarringhordes。Therewerenoblows；itwasabattleofpressure。Itwasadeadlypushingwheretheleadersoneithersideoftensufferedthemostcruelandsickeningagonycaughtthusbetweenphalanxesofshoulderswithfriendaswellasfoecontributingtothepain。 ChargeafterchargeofFreshmenbeatuponthenowcompactandorganisedSophomores。Then，finally，therockbegantogiveslowway。AroarcamefromtheFreshmenandtheyhurledthemselvesinafrenzyupontheirbetters。 TobeunderthegazeofthejuniorsandSeniorsistobeinsightofallmen，andsotheSophomoresatthisimportantmomentlabouredwiththedesperationofthehalf- doomedtostemtheterribleFreshmen。 Inthekindofgame，itwasthetimewhenbadtemperscamestronglytothefront，andinmanySophomores\'mindsathoughtaroseoftheincomparableinsolenceoftheFreshmen。 Ablowwasstruck；aninfuriatedSophomorehadswunganarmhighandsmoteaFreshman。 Althoughithadseemedthatnogreaternoisecouldbemadebythegivennumbers，thedinthatsucceededthismanifestationsurpassedeverything。ThejuniorsandSeniorsimmediatelysetupanangryhowl。Theseveteranclassesprojectedthemselvesintothemiddleofthefight，buffetingeverybodywithsmallthoughtastomerit。Thismethodofbringingpeacewasasmilitantasalandslide，buttheyhadmuchtroublebeforetheycouldseparatethecentralclumpofantagonistsintoitsparts。 AscoreofFreshmenhadcriedout:\"ItwasCoke。Cokepunchedhim。Coke。\"Adozenofthemweretempestuouslyendeavouringtoregistertheirprotestagainstfisticuffsbymeansofanintroductionofmorefisticuffs。 Theupperclassmenwereswift，harshandhard。\"Come，now，Freshies，quitit。Getback，getback，d\'y\'hear？\"WithawrenchofmusclestheyforcedthemselvesinfrontofCoke，whowasbeingblindlydefendedbyhisclassmatesfromintenselyearnestattacksbyoutragedFreshmen。 Thesemeetingsbetweenthelowerclassesatthedoorofarecitationroomwereaccountedquitecomfortableandidleaffairs，andablowdeliveredopenlyandinhatredfracturedasharplydefinedruleofconduct。Thecorridorwasinahubbub。 ManySeniorsandJuniors，burstingfromoldandirondiscipline，wildlyclamouredthatsomeFreshmanshouldbegiventheprivilegeofasingleencounterwithCoke。TheFreshmenthemselveswerefrantic。TheybesiegedthetightanddauntlesscircleofmenthatencompassedCoke。NonedaredconfronttheSeniorsopenly，butbyheadlongrushesatauspiciousmomentstheytriedtocometoquarterswiththeringsofdark-browedSophomores。Itwasnolongerafestival，agame；itwasariot。 Coke，wild-eyed，pallidwithfury，aribbonofbloodonhischin，swayedinthemiddleofthemobofhisclassmates，comradeswhowaivedtheethicsoftheblowunderthecircumstanceofbeingobligedasacorpstostandagainstthescornofthewholecollege，aswellasagainstthetremendousassaultsoftheFreshmen。Shamedbytheirownman，butknowingfullwelltherighttimeandthewrongtimeforapalaverofregretanddisavowal，thisbattalionstruggledinthedesperationofdespair。OncetheywereuponthevergeofmakingunholycampaignagainsttheinterferingSeniors。Thisfieryimpertinencewasthemeasureoftheirstate。 Itwasacriticalmomentintheplayofthecollege。FourorfivedefeatsfromtheSophomoresduringthefallhadtaughttheFreshmenmuch。Theyhadlearnedthecomparativemeasurements，andtheyknewnowthattheirprowesswasripetoenablethemtoamplyrevengewhatwas，accordingtotheirstandards，anexecrabledeedbyamanwhohadnotthevirtuetoplaytheroughgame，butwasobligedtoresorttouncommonmethods。Inshort，theFreshmenwerealmostoutofcontrol，andtheSophomoresdebasedbutdefiant，werequiteoutofcontrol。 TheSeniorandjuniorclasseswhich，inAmericancollegesdictateintheseaffrays，foundtheirdignitytoppling，andinconsequencetherewasasuddenoncomeoftheentireforceofupperclassmenfootballplayersnaturallyinadvance。Alldistinctionsweredissolvedatonceinageneralfracas。ThestiffandstillGothicwindowssurveyedasceneofdirecarnage。 Suddenlyavoicerangbrazenlythroughthetumult。Itwasnotloud，butitwasdifferent。\"Gentlemen!Gentlemen!\'\" Instantlytherewasaremarkablenumberofhaltings，abruptreplacements，quickchanges。Prof。Wainwrightstoodatthedoorofhisrecitationroom，lookingintotheeyesofeachmemberofthemobofthreehundred。\"Ssh!\"saidthemob。\" Ssh!Quit!Stop!It\'stheEmbassador!Stop!\"HehadoncebeenministertoAustro-Hungary，andforevernowtothestudentsofthecollegehisnamewasEmbassador。Hesteppedintothecorridor，andtheyclearedforhimalittlerespectfulzoneoffloor。Helookedabouthimcoldly。\"Itseemsquiteageneraldishevelment。TheSophomoresdisplayanenergyinthehallswhichIdonotdetectintheclassroom。\"A feeblemurmurofappreciationarosefromtheoutskirtsofthethrong。Whilehehadbeenspeakingseveralremotegroupsofbattlingmenhadbeenviolentlysignaledandsuppressedbyotherstudents。Theprofessorgazedintoterracesoffacesthatwerestillinflamed。\"Ineedn\'tsaythatIamsurprised，\"heremarkedintheacceptedrhetoricofhiskind。Headdedmusingly:\"Thereseemstobeagreatdealoftornlinen。Whoistheyounggentlemanwithbloodonhischin？\" Thethrongmovedrestlessly。Amanfulsilence，suchasmightbeinthetombsofsternandhonourableknights，fellupontheshadowedcorridor。Thesubduedrustlinghadfaintedtonothing。ThenoutofthecrowdCoke，paleanddesperate，deliveredhimself。 \"Oh，Mr。Coke，\"saidtheprofessor，\"Iwouldbegladifyouwouldtellthegentlementheymayretiretotheirdormitories。\" Hewaitedwhilethestudentspassedouttothecampus。 Theprofessorreturnedtohisroomforsomebooks，andthenbeganhisownmarchacrossthesnowycampus。Thewindtwistedhiscoat-tailsfantastically，andhewasobligedtokeeponehandfirmlyonthetopofhishat。 Whenhearrivedhomehemethiswifeinthehall。\"Lookhere，Mary，\"hecried。Shefollowedhimintothelibrary。\"Lookhere，\" hesaid。\"Whatisthisallabout？MarjorytellsmeshewantstomarryRufusColeman。\" Mrs。Wainwrightwasafatwomanwhowassaidtoprideherselfuponbeingverywiseandifnecessary，sly。Inadditionshelaughedcontinuallyinaninexplicablypersonalway，whichapparentlymadeeverybodywhoheardherfeeloffended。Mrs。 Wainwrightlaughed。 \"Well，\"saidtheprofessor，bristling，\"whatdoyoumeanbythat？\" \"Oh，Harris，\"shereplied。\"Oh，Harris。\" Theprofessorstraightenedinhischair。\"Idonotseeanyilluminationinthoseremarks，Mary。IunderstandfromMarjory\'smannerthatsheisbentuponmarryingRufusColeman。Shesaidyouknewofit。\" \"Why，ofcourseIknew。Itwasasplain——\" \"Plain!\"scoffedtheprofessor。\"Plain!\" Why，ofcourse，\"shecried。\"Iknewitallalong。\" Therewasnothinginhertonewhichprovedthatsheadmiredtheeventitself。Shewasevidentlycarriedawaybythetriumphofherpenetration。\"Iknewitallalong，\"sheadded，nodding。 Theprofessorlookedatheraffectionately。\"Youknewitallalong，then，Mary？Whydidn\'tyoutellme，dear？\" \"Becauseyououghttohaveknownit，\"sheansweredblatantly。 Theprofessorwasglaring。Finallyhespokeintonesofgrimreproach。\"Mary，wheneveryouhappentoknowanything，dear，itseemsonlyamatterofpartialrecompensethatyoushouldtellme。\" Thewifehadbeentaughtinaterribleschoolthatsheshouldneverinventanyinexpensiveretortsconcerningbookwormsandsosheyawedatonce。\"Really，Harris。Really，Ididn\'tsupposetheaffairwasserious。Youcouldhaveknockedmedownwithafeather。Ofcoursehehasbeenhereveryoften，butthenMarjorygetsagreatdealofattention。Agreatdealofattention。\" Theprofessorhadbeenthinking。\"Ratherthanletmygirlmarrythatscalawag，I\'lltakeyouandhertoGreecethiswinterwiththeclass。Separation。Itisasurecurethathasthesanctionofantiquity。\" \"Well，\"saidMrs。Wainwright，\"youknowbest，Harris。Youknowbest。\"Itwasacommonremarkwithher，anditprobablymeanteitherapprobationordisapprobationifitdidnotmeansimplediscretion。 CHAPTERIII。 THEREhadbeenababewithnoarmsborninoneofthewesterncountiesofMassachusetts。Inplaceofupperlimbsthechildhadgrowingfromitschestapairoffin-likehands，merebitsofskin-coveredbone。Furthermore，ithadonlyoneeye。 Thisphenomenonlivedfourdays，butthenewsofthebirthhadtravelledupthiscountryroadandthroughthatvillageuntilitreachedtheearsoftheeditoroftheMichaelstownTribune。 HewasalsoacorrespondentoftheNewYorkEclipse。Onthethirddayheappearedatthehomeoftheparentsaccompaniedbyaphotographer。Whilethelatterarrangedhis，instrument，thecorrespondenttalkedtothefatherandmother，twocoweyedandyellow-facedpeoplewhoseemedtosufferaprimitivefrightofthestrangers。Afterwardsasthecorrespondentandthephotographerwereclimbingintotheirbuggy，themothercreptfurtivelydowntothegateandasked，inaforeigner\'sdialect，iftheywouldsendheracopyofthephotograph。Thecorrespondentcarelesslyindulgent，promisedit。Asthebuggyswungaway，thefathercamefrombehindanappletree，andthetwosemi-humanswatcheditwithitsburdenofgloriousstrangersuntilitrumbledacrossthebridgeanddisappeared。Thecorrespondentwaselate；hetoldthephotographerthattheEclipsewouldprobablypayfiftydollarsforthearticleandthephotograph。 TheofficeoftheNewYorkEclipsewasatthetopoftheimmensebuildingonBroadway。Itwasasheermountaintotheheightsofwhichtheinterminablethunderofthestreetsarosefaintly。TheHudsonwasabroadpathofsilverinthedistance。Itsedgewasmarkedbythetraceryofsailingships\'riggingandbythehugeandmany-colouredstacksofoceanliners。AtthefootoftheclifflayCityHallPark。Itseemednolargerthanaquilt。Thegreywalkspatternedthesnow-coveringintotrianglesandovalsanduponthemmanytinypeoplescurriedhereandthere，withoutsound，likeafishatthebottomofapool。Itwasonlythevehiclesthatsenthigh，unmistakable，thedeepbassoftheirmovement。Andyetafterlisteningoneseemedtohearasingularmurmurousnote，apulsation，asifthecrowdmadenoisebyitsmereliving，amellowhumoftheeternalstrife。Thensuddenlyoutofthedeepsmightringahumanvoice，anewsboyshoutperhaps，thecryofafarawayjackalatnight。 Fromtheleveloftheordinaryroofs，combinedinmanyplateaus，dottedwithshortironchimneysfromwhichcurledwispsofsteam，aroseothermountainsliketheEclipseBuilding。Theyweregreatpeaks，ornate，glitteringwithpaintorpolish。Northwardtheysubsidedtosun-crownedranges。 FromsomeofthewindowsoftheEclipseofficedroppedthewallsofaterriblechasminthedarknessofwhichcouldbeseenvaguestrugglingfigures。Lookingdownintothisappallingcreviceonediscoveredonlythetopsofhatsandkneeswhichinspasmodicjerksseemedtotouchtherimsofthehats。Thescenerepresentedsomeweirdfightordanceorcarouse。Itwasnotanexhibitionofmenhurryingalonganarrowstreet。 Itwasgoodtoturnone\'seyesfromthatplacetothevistaofthecity\'ssplendidreaches，withspireandsparshiningintheclearatmosphereandthemarveloftheJerseyshore，pearl- mistedorbrilliantwithdetail。Fromthisheightthesweepofasnow-stormwasdefinedandmajestic。Evenaslightsummershower，withswordsofluridyellowsunlightpiercingitsedgesasifwarriorswerecontestingeveryfootofitsadvance，wasfromtheEclipseofficesomethingsoinspiringthatthechancepilgrimfeltasenseofexultationasiffromthispeakhewassurveyingtheworldwidewaroftheelementsandlife。ThestaffoftheEclipseusuallyworkedwithoutcoatsandamidthesmokefrompipes。 TooneoftheeditorialchamberscameaphotographandanarticlefromMichaelstown，Massachusetts。Aboyplacedthepacketandmanyothersuponthedeskofayoungmanwhowasstandingbeforeawindowandthoughtfullydrumminguponthepane。Heturnedatthethuddingofthepacketsuponhisdesk。\"Blastyou，\"heremarkedamiably。\"Oh，Iguessitwon\'thurtyoutowork，\" answeredtheboy，grinningwithacomrade\'sInsolence。Baker，anassistanteditorfortheSundaypaper，tookscatathisdeskandbeganthetaskofexaminingthepackets。Hisfacecouldnotdisplayanyparticularinterestbecausehehadbeenatthesameworkfornearlyafortnight。 Thefirstlongenvelopeheopenedwasfromawoman。 Therewasaneatlittlemanuscriptaccompaniedbyaletterwhichexplainedthatthewriterwasawidowwhowastryingtomakeherlivingbyherpenandwho，further，hopedthatthegenerosityoftheeditoroftheEclipsewouldleadhimtogiveherarticletheopportunitywhichshewassureitdeserved。Shehopedthattheeditorwouldpayheraswellaspossibleforit，assheneededthemoneygreatly。SheaddedthatherbrotherwasareporterontheLittleRockSentinelandhehaddeclaredthatherliterarystylewasexcellent。 Bakerreallydidnotreadthisnote。Hisvastexperienceofafortnighthadenabledhimtodetectitskindintwoglances。Heunfoldedthemanuscript，lookedatitwoodenlyandthentosseditwiththelettertothetopofhisdesk，whereitlaywiththeothercorpses。NonecouldthinkofwidowsinArkansas，ambitiousfromthepraiseofthereporterontheLittleRockSentinel，waitingforacrownofliterarygloryandmoney。Inthenextenvelopeamanusingthenote-paperofaBostonjournalbeggedtoknowiftheaccompanyingarticlewouldbeacceptable；ifnotitwastobekindlyreturnedintheenclosedstampedenvelope。Itwasahumourousessayontrolleycars。 Adventuringthroughtheoddscrapsthatwerecometothegreatmill，Bakerpausedoccasionallytorelighthispipe。 Ashewentthroughenvelopeafterenvelope，thedesksabouthimgraduallywereoccupiedbyyoungmenwhoenteredfromthehallwiththeirfacesstillredfromthecoldofthestreets。ForthemostparttheyboretheunmistakablestampoftheAmericancollege。Theyhadthatconfidentpoisewhichiseasilybroughtfromtheathleticfield。Moreover，theirclotheswerequiteinthewayofbeingofthenewestfashion。Therewasanairofprecisionabouttheircravatsandlinen。Butontheotherhandtheremightbewiththemsomeindifferentwesternerwhowasobligedtoresorttoirregularmeansandharanguestartledshop-keepersinordertoprovidehimselfwithcollarsofastrangekind。Hewasusuallyveryquickandbraveofeyeandnotedforhisinabilitytoperceiveadistinctionbetweenhisownhabitandthehabitofothers，hiswesterncharacterpreservingitselfinviolateamidaconfusionofmanners。 Themen，comingoneandone，ortwoandtwo，flungbadinagetoallcornersoftheroom。Afterward，astheywheeledfromtimetotimeintheirchairs，theybitterlyinsultedeachotherwiththeutmostgood-nature，takingunerringaimatfaultsandriddlingpersonalitieswiththequaintandcynicalhumourofanewspaperoffice。Throughoutthisbanter，itwasstrangetonotehowinfrequentlythemensmiled，particularlywhendirectlyengagedinanencounter。 Awidedooropenedintoanotherapartmentwhereweremanylittleslantedtables，eachunderanelectricglobewithagreenshade。Hereacurly-headedscoundrelwithacorncobpipewashurlingpaperballsthesizeofapplesattheheadofanindustriousmanwho，underthesedifficulties，wastryingtodrawapictureofanawfulwreckwithghastly-facedsailorsfrozenintherigging。NearthispairaladywaschallengingaGermanartistwhoresembledNapoleonIII。withhavingbeenpubliclydrunkatamusichallonthepreviousnight。Nexttothegreatgloomycorridorofthissixteenthfloorwasalittleofficepresidedoverbyanaustereboy，andherewaitedinenforcedpatiencealittledismalbandofpeoplewhowantedtoseetheSundayeditor。 Bakertookamanuscriptandafterglancingabouttheroom，walkedovertoamanatanotherdesk，Hereissomethingthat。Ithinkmightdo，\"hesaid。 Themanatthedeskreadthefirsttwopages。\"Butwhereisthephotogragh\"\"heaskedthen。\"Thereshouldbeaphotographwiththisthing。\" \"Oh，Iforgot，\"saidBaker。Hebroughtfromhisdeskaphotographofthebabethathadbeenbornlackingarmsandoneeye。Baker\'ssuperiorbracedakneeagainsthisdeskandsettledbacktoajudicialattitude。Hetookthephotographandlookedatitimpassively。\"Yes，\"hesaid，afteratime，\"that\'saprettygoodthing。YoubettershowthattoColemanwhenhecomesin。\" Inthelittleofficewherethedismalbandwaited，therehadbeenasharphopefulstirwhenRufusColeman，theSundayeditor，passedrapidlyfromdoortodoorandvanishedwithintheholyprecincts。Ithadevidentlybeeninthemindsofsometoaccosthimthen，buthiseyesdidnotturnonceintheirdirection。Itwasasifhehadnotseenthem。Manyexperienceshadtaughthimthatthepropermannerofpassingthroughthisofficewasatablindgallop。 Thedismalbandturnedthenupontheaustereofficeboy。 Somedemandedwithterribledignitythatheshouldtakeintheircardsatonce。Otherssoughttoingratiatethemselvesbysmilesoftenderfriendliness。Heforhispartemployedwhatwewouldhavecalledhisknowledgeofmenandwomenuponthegroup，andinconsequenceblunderedandbungledvividly，freezingwithaglanceanannoyedandimportunateArcticexplorerwhowascometotalkofillustrationsforanarticlethathadbeenlavishlypaidforinadvance。Theheromighthavethoughthewasagaininthenorthernseas。AtthenextmomenttheboywastreatingalmostcourteouslyaGermanfromthecastsidewhowantedtheEclipsetoprintagrandfullpageadvertisingdescriptionofhisinvention，agunwhichwassupposedtohavearangeoffortymilesandtobeabletopenetrateanythingwithequanimityandjoy。Thegun，asamatteroffact，hadoncebeeninducedtogooffwhenithadhurleditselfpassionatelyuponitsback，incidentallybreakingitsinventor\'sleg。Theprojectilehadwanderedsomefourhundredyardsseaward，whereitdugaholeinthewaterwhichwasreallyamenacetonavigation。Sincethentherehadbeennothingtangiblesavetheinventor，insplintsandoutofsplints，asthefortunesofsciencedecreed。Inshort，thisofficeboymixedhisbusinessintheperfectmannerofanunderdoneladdealingwithmatterstoolargeforhim，andthroughouthedisplayedtheprideandassuranceofagod。 AsColemancrossedthelargeofficehisfacestillworethesternexpressionwhichheinvariablyusedtocarryhimunmolestedthroughtheranksofthedismalband。AshewasremovinghisLondonovercoatheaddressedtheimperturbablebackofoneofhisstaff，whohadadeskagainsttheoppositewall。\"HasHasskinssentinthatdrawingofthemineaccidentyet？\"Themandidnotlifthisheadfromhiswork-，butheansweredatonce:\"No；notyet。\"Colemanwaslayinghishatonachair。\"Well，whyhasn\'the？\"hedemanded。Heglancedtowardthedooroftheroominwhichthecurly-headedscoundrelwiththecorncobpipewasstillhurlingpaperballsatthemanwhowastryingtoinventtheposturesofdeadmarinersfrozenintherigging。TheofficeboycametimidlyfromhispostandinformedColemanofthewaitingpeople。\"Allright，\"saidtheeditor。Hedroppedintohischairandbegantofingerhisletters，whichhadbeenneatlyopenedandplacedinalittlestackbyaboy。Bakercameinwiththephotographofthemiserablebabe。 ItwaspubliclybelievedthattheSundaystaffoftheEclipsemusthaveakindofaestheticdelightinpicturesofthiskind，butColeman\'sfacebetrayednoemotionashelookedatthisspecimen。Helitafreshcigar，tiltedhischairandsurveyeditwithacoldandstonystare。\"Yes，that\'sallright，\"hesaidslowly。Thereseemedtobenoaffectionaterelationbetweenhimandthispicture。Evidentlyhewasweighingitsvalueasamorseltobeflungtoaravenouspublic，whosewolf-likeappetite，couldonlysatisfyitselfuponmentalentrails，abominations。Asforhimself，heseemedtoberemote，exterior。 ItwasamatteroftheEclipsebusiness。 SuddenlyColemanbecameexecutive。\"BettergiveittoSchoonerandtellhimtomakeahalf-page——or，no，sendhiminhereandI\'lltellhimmyidea。How\'sthearticle？Anygood？Well，giveittoSmithtorewrite。\" Anartistcamefromtheotherroomandpresentedforinspectionhisdrawingoftheseamendeadintheriggingofthewreck，acompanyofgrizzlyandhorriblefigures，bony-fingered，shrunkenandwithawfuleyes。\"Hum，\"saidColeman，afteraprolongedstudy，\"that\'sallright。That\'sgood，Jimmie。Butyou\'dbetterwork\'emuparoundtheeyesalittlemore。\"Theofficeboywasdeployinginthedistance，waitingforthecorrectmomenttopresentsomecardsandnames。 TheartistwascheerfullytakingawayhiscorpseswhenColemanhailedhim。\"Oh，Jim，letmeseethatthingagain，willyou？Now，howaboutthisspar？Thisdon\'tlookrighttome。\" \"Itlooksrighttome，\"repliedtheartist，sulkily。 \"But，see。It\'sgoingtotakeuphalfapage。Can\'tyouchangeitsomehow\" HowamIgoingtochangeit？\"saidtheother，gloweringatColeman。\"That\'sthewayitoughttobe。HowamIgoingtochangeit？That\'sthewayitoughttobe。\" \"No，itisn\'tatall，\"saidColeman。\"You\'vegotasparstickingoutofthemainbodyofthedrawinginawaythatwillspoilthelookofthewholepage。\" Theartistwasamanofremarkablepopularreputationandhewasverystubbornandconceitedofit，constantlymakinghimselfunbearablewithcovert，threatsthatifhewasnotdelicatelyplacatedatallpoints，hewouldfreighthisgeniusovertotheofficeofthegreatoppositionjournal。 \"That\'sthewayitoughttobe，\"herepeated，inatoneatoncesullenandsuperior。\"Thesparisallright。Ican\'trigsparsonshipsjusttosuityou。\" \"AndIcan\'tgiveupthewholepapertoyouraccursedspars，either，\"saidColeman，withanimation。\"Don\'tyouseeyouuseaboutathirdofapagewiththissparstickingoffintospace？ Now，youwerealwayssoclever，Jimmie，inadaptingyourselftothepage。Can\'tyoushortenit，orcutitoff，orsomething？Or，breakit-that\'sthething。Makeitabrokenspardanglingdown。 See？\" \"Yes，Is\'poseIcoulddothat，\"saidtheartist，mollifiedbyathoughtoftheeasewithwhichhecouldmakethechange，andmollified，too，bythebrazentributetoapartofhiscleverness。 \"Well，doit，then，\"saidtheSundayeditor，turningabruptlyaway。Theartist，withheadhigh，walkedmajesticallybacktotheotherroom。Whereatthecurly-headedoneimmediatelyresumedtherainofpaperballsuponhim。TheofficeboycametimidlytoColemanandsuggestedthepresenceofthepeopleintheouteroffice。\"LetthemwaituntilIreadmymail，\"saidColeman。Heshuffledthepackoflettersindifferentlythroughhishands。Suddenlyhecameuponalittlegreyenvelope。Heopeneditatonceandscanneditscontentswiththespeedofhiscraft。Afterwardhelaiditdownbeforehimonthedeskandsurveyeditwithacoolandmusingsmile。 \"So？\"heremarked。\"That\'sthecase，isit？\" Hepresentlyswungaroundinhischair，andforatimeheldtheentireattentionofthemenatthevariousdesks。HeoutlinedtothemagaintheirvariouspartsinthecompositionofthenextgreatSundayedition。Inafewbrisksentenceshesetacomplexmachineinpropermotion。Hismennolongerthrilledwithadmirationattheprecisionwithwhichhegraspedeachobligationofthecampaigntowardasuccessfuledition。TheyhadgrowntoacceptitastheyacceptedhishatorhisLondonclothes。Atthistimehisfacewaslitwithsomethingoftheself-containedenthusiasmofageneral。Immediatelyafterwardhearoseandreachedforhiscoatandhat。 Theofficeboy，comingcircuitouslyforward，presentedhimwithsomecardsandalsowithascrapofpaperuponwhichwasscrawledalongandsemicoherentword。\"Whatarethese？\" grumbledColeman。 \"Theyarewaitingoutside，\"answeredtheboy，withtrepidation。Itwaspartofthelawthatthelionoftheante-roomshouldcringelikeacoldmonkey，moreorless，assoonashewasoutofhisprivatejungle。\"Oh，Tallerman，\"criedtheSundayeditor，\"here\'sthisArcticmancometoarrangeabouthisillustration。Iwishyou\'dgoandtalkitoverwithhim。\"Bychancehepickedupthescrapofpaperwithitscrypticword。\"Oh，\"hesaid，scowlingattheofficeboy。 \"Pityyoucan\'trememberthatfellow。Ifyoucan\'trememberfacesanybetterthanthatyoushouldbeadetective。Getoutnowandtellhimtogotothedevil。\"Thewiltedslaveturnedatonce，butColemanhailedhim。\"Holdon。Cometothinkofit，I willseethisidiot。Sendhimin，\"hecommanded，grimly。 Colemanlapsedintoadreamoverthesheetofgreynotepaper。Presently，amiddle-agedman，apalpableGerman，camehesitatinglyintotheroomandbuntedamongthedesksasunmanageablyasatempest-tossedscow。Finallyhewasimpatientlytowedintherightdirection。HecameandstoodatColeman\'selbowandwaitednervouslyfortheengrossedmantoraisehiseyes。Itwasplainthatthisinterviewmeantimportantthingstohim。Somehowonhiscommonplacecountenancewastobefoundtheexpressionofadreamer，afashionerofgreatandabsurdprojects，afine，tenderfool。Hecasthopefulandreverentglancesatthemanwhowasdeeplycontemplativeofthegreynote。Heevidentlybelievedhimselfonthethresholdofatriumphofsomekind，andheawaitedhisfruitionwithajoythatwasonlymadesharperbytheusualhumansuspicionofcomingevents。 Colemanglancedupatlastandsawhisvisitor。 \"Oh，it\'syou，isit？\"heremarkedicily，bendingupontheGermanthestareofatyrant。\"Soyou\'vecomeagain，haveyou？\" Hewheeledinhischairuntilhecouldfullydisplayacontemptuous，mercilesssmile。\"Now，Mr。