Ordethoughttocatchtheechoofquotationinthesewords。
\"Didyourmothersendyoutome？\"heasked。
\"Ifwehadanyoneelseworththenameofmaninthefamily，I
wouldn’thavetocome，\"saidKendrick，almostinthemannerofonerepeatingalesson。
\"Whatdoyouwantmetodo？\"askedOrdeafteramomentofthought。
\"Goaway，\"criedKendrick。\"Stopthisunmanlycontestagainstadefencelesswoman。\"
\"Icannotdothat，\"repliedOrdequietly。
Kendrick’sfaceassumedalividpallor，andhiseyesseemedtoturnblackwithexcitement。Tremblingineverylimb，butwithouthesitation，headvancedonOrde，drewashortriding—whipfrombeneathhiscoat，andslashedtheyoungmanacrosstheface。Ordemadeaninvoluntarymovementtoarise，butsankback，andlookedsteadilyattheboy。OnceagainKendrickhit；raisedhisarmforthethirdtime；hesitated。Hislipswrithed，andthen，withasob，hecastthelittlewhipfromhimandburstfromtheroom。
Ordesatwithoutmoving，whiletworedlinesslowlydefinedthemselvesacrosshisface。Thetheatricalqualityofthesceneandtheturgidrhetoricalbathosoftheboy’sspeechesattestedhisyouthandtheunformedviolenceofhisemotions。Didtheyalsoindicatearehearsal，orhadtheboymerelybeengoadedtovagueactionbyimplicitbeliefinawoman’svagaries？Ordedidnotknow，buttheincidentbroughthometohim，asnothingelsecould，theturmoilofthathousehold。
\"Pooryoungster！\"heconcludedhisreverie，andwenttowashhisfaceinhotwater。
HehadleftCarrollthatafternooninacomparativelyphilosophicalandhopefulframeofmind。Thenextdayshecametohimwithhurried，nervoussteps，herusuallypalecheeksmountingdangersignalsofflamingred，hereyesswimming。Whenshegreetedhimshechoked，andtwoofthetearsoverflowed。Quiteunmindfulofthenursemaidsacrossthesquare，Ordeputhisarmcomfortinglyabouthershoulder。Shehidherfaceagainsthissleeveandbegansoftlytocry。
Ordedidnotattemptasyettodrawfromherthecauseofthisunusualagitation。Aparkbenchstoodbetweentwodensebushes，screenedfromalldirectionssaveone。Tothisheledher。Hecomfortedherasonecomfortsachild，strokingclumsilyherhair，murmuringtrivialitieswithoutmeaning，lettingheremotionrelieveitself。Afterawhilesherecoveredsomewhathercontrolofherselfandsatupawayfromhim，dabbingathereyeswithahandkerchiefdampenedintoatinywad。Butevenaftershehadshakenherheadvigorouslyatlast，andsmiledupathimrathertremulouslyintokenthatthestormwasover，shewouldnottellhimthatanythingdefinitehadhappenedtobringontheoutburst。
\"Ijustneededyou，\"shesaid，\"that’sall。It’sjustnothingbutbeingawoman，Ithink。You’llgetusedtolittlethingslikethat。\"
\"Thisthinghasgottoquit！\"saidhegrimly。
Shesaidnothing，butreachedupshylyandtouchedhisfacewhereKendrick’swhiphadstung，andhereyesbecameverytender。A
carriagerolledaroundWashingtonArch，and，comingtoastand，dischargeditssinglepassengeronthepavement。
\"Why，it’sGerald！\"criedCarroll，surprised。
Theyoungman，catchingsightofthem，pickedhiswaydaintilyandleisurelytowardthem。Hewas，asusual，dressedwithmeticulousnicety，thecarnationinhisbutton—hole，theglossonhishatandshoes，thefreshnessonhisgloves，thecorrectangleonhisstick。
Hisdark，longfacewithitsromanticmoustache，anditsalmosteffeminatesofteyes，wasasunemotionalandweariedasever。Asheapproached，heraisedhisstickslightlybywayofsalutation。
\"Ihavebrought，\"saidhe，\"acarriage，andIwishyouwouldbothdomethefavourtoaccompanymeonashortexcursion。\"
Takingtheirconsentforgranted，hesignalledthevehicle，whichrapidlyapproached。
Thethree——CarrollandOrdesomewhatbewildered——tooktheirseats。
Duringabriefdrive，Geraldmadeconversationondifferenttopics，apparentlyquiteindifferentastowhetherornothiscompanionsreplied。Afteranintervalthecarriagedrewupoppositeabrown—
stonedwellingonasidestreet。Geraldrangthebell，andamomentlaterthethreewereusheredbyadiscreetandelderlymaidintoalittlesquarereception—roomimmediatelyoffthehall。Themaidwithdrew。
Geraldcarefullydepositedhistophatonthefloor，placedinithisgloves，andleanedhisstickagainstitsbrim。
\"Ihavebroughtyouhere，amongotherpurposes，tohearfrommealittlebriefwisdomdrawnfromexperienceandtheobservationoflife，\"hebegan，addressinghisexpectantandcuriousguests。\"Thatwisdomisbrieflythis：therecomesatimeintheaffairsofeveryhouseholdwhenamanmustasserthimselfastheruler。Inallthedetailshemaydependonthewoman’sjudgment，experience，andknowledge，butwhenitcomestothebigcrises，wherelifeisdeflectedintoonechannelortheother，then，unlessthemandoesthedeciding，heislostforever，andhishappiness，andthehappinessofthosewhodependonhim。Thisisabstruse，butIcometotheparticularapplicationshortly。
\"Butmomentsofdecisionarealwayscloudedbymanyconsiderations。
Thedecisionissuretocutacrossmuchthatisexpedient，muchthatseemstobenecessary，muchthatisdear。Carrollremembersthecaseofourownfather。Thegeneralwouldhavemadeanameforhimselfinthearmy；hiswifedemandedhisretirement；heretired，andhiscareerended。Thatwasthemomentofhisdecision。Itisveryeasytosay，inviewofthatsimplestatement，thatthegeneralwasweakinyieldingtohiswife，butaconsiderationofthecircumstances——\"
\"Whydoyousayallthis？\"interruptedOrde。
Geraldraisedhishand。
\"Believeme，itisnecessary，asyouwillagreewhenyouhaveheardmethrough。Mrs。Bishopwasinpoorhealth；thegeneralinpoorfinancialcircumstances。ThedoctorssaidtheRiviera。Mrs。
Bishop’sparents，whowerewealthy，furnishedthemoneyforhersojourninthatclimate。Shecouldnotbeartobeseparatedfromherhusband。Arefusaltoresignthen，arefusaltoacceptthefinancialaidoffered，wouldhavebeencastagainsthimasareproach——hedidnotlovehiswifeenoughtosacrificehispride，hisambition，hiswhat—you—will。Nevertheless，thatwashismomentofdecision。
\"Icouldmultiplyinstances，yetitwouldonlyaccumulateneedlessproof。Mypointisthatinthesegreatmomentsamancanaffordtotakeintoconsiderationonlytheaffairitself。Nevermusthethinkofanythingbutthesimpleelementsoftheproblem——hemustignorewhosetoesaretroddenupon，whosefeelingsarehurt，whosehappinessisapparentlymarred。Fornotethis：ifamandoesfearlesslytherightthing，Iamconvincedthatinthereadjustmentalltheseconflictinginterestsfindthemselvesbetteredinsteadofinjured。Youwantaconcreteinstance？Ibelievefirmlythatifthegeneralhadkepttohisarmylife，andmadehiswifeconformtoit，afterthestormhadpassedshewouldhavesettleddowntoahappyexistence。Icannotproveit——Ibelieveit。\"
\"Thismaybeallverytrue，Gerald，\"saidOrde，\"butIfailtoseewhyyouhavebroughtustothisstrangehousetotellit。\"
\"Inamoment，\"repliedGerald。\"Havepatience。Believingthatthoroughly，Ihavecomeinthelasttwenty—fourhourstoadecision。
Thatthishappensnottoaffectmyownimmediatefortunesdoesnotseemtometoinvalidatemyphilosophy。\"
Hecarefullyunbuttonedhisfrockcoat，crossedhislegs，producedapaperandapackagefromhisinsidepocket，andeyedthetwobeforehim。
\"Ihavehere，\"hewentonsuddenly，\"marriagepapersdulymadeout；
inthispackageisaplaingoldring；inthenextroomiswaiting，byprearrangement，averygoodfriendofmineintheclergy。
PersonallyIamatyourdisposal。\"
Helookedatthemexpectantly。
\"Theverything！\"\"Oh，no！\"criedOrdeandCarrollinunison。
Nevertheless，inspiteofthisdivergenceofopinion，tenminuteslaterthethreepassedthroughthedoorintothebackapartment——
Carrollstillhesitant，Ordeintriumph，Geraldascorrectandunemotionalasever。
Inthisbackroomtheyfoundwaitingayoungclergymanconversingeasilywithtwoyounggirls。AtthesightofCarroll，theselatterrushedforwardandoverwhelmedherwithendearments。Carrollbrokeintoaquicklysuppressedsobandclaspedthemclosetoher。
\"Oh，youdears！\"shecried，\"I’msogladyou’rehere！\"SheflashedagratefullookinGerald’sdirection，andamomentlatertookoccasiontopresshisarmandwhisper：
\"You’vethoughtofeverything！You’rethedearestbrotherintheworld！\"
Geraldreceivedthiscalmly，andsetaboutorganisingtheceremony。
Infifteenminutesthelittlepartyseparatedatthefrontdoor，amidachatterofcongratulationsandgoodwishes。Mr。andMrs。
Ordeenteredthecabanddroveaway。
XX
\"Oh，itISthebestway，dear，afterall！\"criedCarroll，pressingclosetoherhusband。\"AfewminutesagoIwasalldoubtsandfears，butnowIfeelsosafeandsettled，\"shelaughedhappily。
\"ItisasthoughIhadbelongedtoyoualways，youoldRockofGibraltar！andanythingthathappensnowwillcomefromtheoutside，andnotfromtheinside，won’tit，dear？\"
\"Yes，sweetheart，\"saidOrde。
\"Poormother！Iwonderhowshe’lltakeit。\"
\"We’llsoonknow，anyway，\"repliedOrde，alittlegrimly。
InthehallwayoftheBishophouseOrdekissedher。
\"Bebrave，sweetheart，\"saidhe，\"butrememberthatnowyou’remywife。\"
Shenoddedathimgravelyanddisappeared。
Ordesatinthedimparlourforwhatseemedtobeaninterminableperiod。Occasionallythesoundsofdistantvoicesrosetohisearanddiedawayagain。Thefrontdooropenedtoadmitsomeone，butOrdecouldnotseewhoitwas。Twiceascurryingoffeetoverheadseemedtoindicatethebustleofexcitement。Theafternoonwaned。
Afaintwhiffofcooking，escapingthroughsomecarelesslyopendoor，wasbornetohisnostrils。Itgrewdark，butthelampsremainedunlighted。Finallyheheardtherustleoftheportieres，andturnedtoseethedimformofthegeneralstandingthere。
\"Badbusiness！badbusiness！\"mutteredtheoldman。\"It’sveryhardonme。Perhapsyoudidtherightthing——youmustbegoodtoher——
butIcannotcountenancethisaffair。Itwasmosthigh—handed，sir！\"
Theportieresfellagain，andhedisappeared。
Finally，afteranotherinterval，Carrollreturned。Shewentimmediatelytothegas—fixture，whichshelit。Ordethensawthatshewassobbingviolently。Shecametohim，andforamomenthidherfaceagainsthisbreast。Hepattedherhair，waitingforhertospeak。Afteralittleshecontrolledherself。
\"Howwasit？\"askedOrde，then。
Sheshivered。
\"Ineverknewpeoplecouldbesocruel，\"shecomplainedinalmostabewilderedmanner。\"Jack，wemustgoto—night。She——shehasorderedmeoutofthehouse，andsayssheneverwantstoseemyfaceagain。\"Shebrokedownforasecond。\"Oh，Jack！shecan’tmeanthat。I’vealwaysbeenagooddaughtertoher。Andshe’sverybitteragainstGerald。Oh！Itoldheritwasn’thisfault，butshewon’tlisten。ShesentforthatodiousMr。Merritt——herrector，youknow——andhesupportedher。Ibelievehe’sangrybecausewedidnotgotohim。Couldyoubelievesuchathing！Andshe’sshutherselfupinherairofhighvirtue，andunderneathitshe’s，oh，soangry！\"
\"Well，it’snaturalsheshouldbeupset，\"comfortedOrde。\"Don’tthinktoomuchofwhatshedoesnow。Latershe’llgetoverit。\"
Carrollshiveredagain。
\"Youdon’tknow，dear，andI’mnotgoingtotellyou。Why，\"shecried，\"shetoldmethatyouandIwereinaconspiracytodrivehertohergravesowecouldgethermoney！\"
\"Shemustbealittlecrazy，\"saidOrde，stillpacifically。
\"Come，helpme，\"saidCarroll。\"Imustgetmythings。\"
\"Can’tyoujustpackabagandleavetherestuntiltomorrow？It’sabouthungrytime\"
\"ShesaysImusttakeeverystitchbelongingtometonight。\"
Theypackedtrunksuntillatethatnight，quitealone。Geraldhaddepartedpromptlyafterbreakingthenews，probablywithoutrealisingtowhatapassaffairswouldcome。Afrightenedservant，evidentlyindisobedienceofordersandinfearofdestruction，broughtthematrayoffood，whichsheputdownonasmalltableandhastilyfled。InaroomdownthehalltheycouldhearthemurmurofvoiceswhereMrs。Bishopreceivedspiritualconsolationfromheradviser。Whenthetrunkswerepacked，Ordesentforabaggagewaggon。Carrollwentsilentlyfromplacetoplace，sayingfarewelltosuchofhertreasuresasshehadmadeuphermindtoleave。OrdescribbledanotetoGerald，requestinghimtopackupthemiscellaniesandsendthemtoMichiganbyfreight。ThebaggagemanandOrdecarriedthetrunksdownstairs。Nooneappeared。CarrollandOrdewalkedtogethertothehotel。NextmorninganinterviewwithGeraldconfirmedthemintheirresolutionofimmediatedeparture。
\"Sheissetinheroppositionnow，andatpresentshebelievesfirmlythatherinfluencewillseparateyou。Suchastateofmindcannotbechangedinanhour。\"
\"Andyou？\"askedCarroll。
\"Oh，I，\"heshrugged，\"willgoonasusual。Ihavemyinterests。\"
\"Iwishyouwouldcomeoutinourpartofthecountry，\"venturedOrde。
Geraldsmiledhisfinesmile。
\"Good—bye，\"saidhe。\"Goingtoatrainisuseless，andaboretoeverybody。\"
Carrollthrewherselfonhisneckinanaccessofpassionateweeping。
\"YouWILLwriteandtellmeofeverything，won’tyou？\"shebegged。
\"Ofcourse。Therenow，good—bye。\"
Ordefollowedhimintothehall。
Itwouldbequiteuselesstoattemptanotherinterview？\"heinquired。
Geraldmadealittlemouth。
\"Iaminthesamepredicamentasyourselves，\"saidhe，\"andhavesinceninethismorningtakenupmyquartersattheclub。PleasedonottellCarroll；itwouldonlypainher。\"
Atthestation，justbeforetheypassedintothetrain，thegeneralappeared。
\"There，there！\"hefussed。\"Ifyourmothershouldhearofmybeinghere，itwouldbeaverybadbusiness，verybad。Thisisverysad；
but——well，good—bye，dear；andyou，sir，begoodtoher。Andwriteyourdaddy，Carroll。He’llbelonesomeforyou。\"Heblewhisnoseveryloudlyandwipedhisglasses。\"Now，runalong，runalong，\"hehurriedthem。\"Letusnothaveanyscenes。Here，mydear，openthisenvelopewhenyouarewellstarted。Itmayhelpcheerthejourney。Notaword！\"
Hehurriedthemthroughthegate，payingnoheedtowhattheyweretryingtosay。Thenhesteamedawayandbustledintoacabwithoutoncelookingback。
WhenthetrainhadpassedtheHarlemRiverandwasswayingitsunevenwayacrosstheopencountry，Carrollopenedtheenvelope。Itcontainedacheckforathousanddollars。
\"Dearolddaddy！\"shemurmured。\"Ouronlyweddingpresent！\"
\"Youarethecapitalistofthefamily，\"saidOrde。\"Youdon’tknowhowpooramanyou’vemarried。Ihaven’tmuchmorethantheproverbialsilverwatchandbadnickel。\"
Shereachedouttopresshishandinreassurance。Hecomparedithumorouslywithhisown。
\"Whatahomely，knotted，tannedoldthingitisbyyours，\"saidhe。
\"It’sastronghand，\"sherepliedsoberly，\"it’sadearhand。\"
Suddenlyshesnatcheditupandpresseditforafleetinginstantagainsthercheek，lookingathimhalfashamed。
XXI
ThewintermonthswerespentatMonrovia，whereOrdeandhiswifelivedforatimeatthehotel。Thiswassomewhatexpensive，butOrdewasnotquitereadytodecideonahome，andhedevelopedunexpectedoppositiontolivingatReddingintheOrdehomestead。
\"No，I’vebeenthinkingaboutit，\"hetoldGrandmaOrde。\"Ayoungcoupleshouldstartoutontheirownresponsibility。Iknowyou’dbegladtohaveus，butIthinkit’sbettertheotherway。Besides，ImustbeatMonroviaagooddealofthetime，andIwantCarrollwithme。Shecanmakeyouagoodlongvisitinthespring，whenI
havetogoupriver。\"
TothisGrandmaOrde，beingawiseoldlady，hadtonodherassent，althoughshewouldmuchhavelikedhersonnearher。
AtMonrovia，then，theytookuptheirquarters。Carrollsoonbecameacquaintedwiththelifeoftheplace。Monrovia，likemosttownsofitssortandsize，consistedofanupperstratumofmillownersandlumberoperators，possessedofconsiderablewealth，somecultivation，anddefinitesocialideas；agawky，countrified，middleestateofstorekeepers，cateringbothtothefarmandlocaltradeandthelumbermilloperatives，generallyofHollandextraction，whodweltinsimpleunpaintedboardshanties。Theclassfirstmentionedcomprisedasmallcoterie，amongwhomCarrollsoonfoundtwoorthreecongenials——EdithFuller，wifeoftheyoungcashierinthebank；ValerieCathcart，whosehusbandhadbeenkilledintheCivilWar；ClaraTaylor，wifeoftheleadingyounglawyerofthevillage；
and，strangelyenough，MinaHeinzman，thesixteen—year—olddaughterofoldHeinzman，thelumberman。NothingwasmoreindicativeoftheabsolutedivorceofbusinessandsociallifethantheunbrokenevennessofCarroll’sfriendshipfortheyoungergirl。ThoughlatertheoldGermanandOrdelockedinseriousstruggleontheriver，theycontinuedtomeetsociallyquiteasusual；andthedaughterofoneandthewifeoftheotherneversuspectedanythingoutoftheordinary。Thisimpersonalityofstrugglehasalwaysbeencharacteristicofthepioneerbusinessman’sgood—nature。
Newmarkreceivedthenewsofhispartner’ssuddenmarriagewithoutevincinganysurprise，butwithasardonicgleaminonecornerofhiseye。Hecalledpromptly，conversedpolitelyforahalfhour，andthentookhisleave。
\"Howdoyoulikehim？\"askedOrde，whenhehadgone。
\"Helookslikeaveryshrewdman，\"repliedCarroll，pickingherwordsforfearofsayingthewrongthing。
Ordelaughed。
\"Youdon’tlikehim，\"hestated。
\"Idon’tdislikehim，\"saidCarroll。\"I’venotathingagainsthim。
Butwecouldneverbeintheslightestdegreesympathetic。HeandI
don’t——don’t——\"
\"Don’tjibe，\"Ordefinishedforher。\"Ididn’tmuchthinkyouwould。Joeneverwasmuchofasocietybug。\"ItwasonthetipofCarroll’stonguetoreplythat\"societybugs\"werenottheonlysortshecouldappreciate，butsherefrained。Shehadbeguntorealisetheextentofherinfluenceoverherhusband’sopinion。
Newmarkdidnotliveatthehotel。Earlyinthefallhehadrentedasmallone—storyhousesituatedjustoffMainStreet，setwellbackfromthesidewalkamongclumpsofoleanders。Intothisheretiredasasnailintoitsshell。Atfirsthetookhismealsatthehotel，butlaterheimportedanimpassive，secretiveman—servant，whotookchargeofhimcompletely。Neithermasternormanmadeanyfriends，andinfactrebuffedalladvances。OneSunday，CarrollandOrde，outforawalk，passedthisquaintlittleplace，withitspicketfence。
\"Let’sgoinandreturnJoe’scall，\"suggestedOrde。
Theirknockatthedoorbroughtthecalmvalet。
\"Mr。Newmarkish’out，sir，\"saidhe。\"Yes，sir，I’lltellhimthatyoucalled。\"
Theyturnedaway。Astheysauntereddownthelittlebrick—laidwalk，Carrollsuddenlypressedclosetoherhusband’sarm。
\"Jack，\"shebegged，\"Iwantalittlehouselikethat，forourveryown。\"
\"Wecan’taffordit，sweetheart。\"
\"Nottoown，\"sheexplained，\"justtorent。Itwillbenextbesttohavingahomeofourown。\"
\"We’dhavetohaveagirl，dear，\"saidOrde，\"andwecan’tevenaffordthat，yet。\"
\"Agirl！\"criedCarrollindignantly。\"Forustwo！\"
\"Youcouldn’tdothehouseworkandthecooking，\"saidOrde。\"You’veneverdonesuchathinginyourlife，andIwon’thavemylittlegirlslaving。\"
\"Itwon’tbeslaving，itwillbefun——justlikeplay—housekeeping，\"
protestedCarroll。\"AndI’vegottolearnsometime。Iwasbroughtupmostabsurdly，andIrealiseitnow。\"
\"We’llsee，\"saidOrdevaguely。
Thesubjectwasdroppedforthetimebeing。LaterCarrollbroughtitupagain。Shewasarmedwithseveralsheetsofhotelstationery，coveredwithfiguresshowinghowmuchcheaperitwouldbetokeephousethantoboard。
\"Youcertainlymakeoutastrongcase——onpaper，\"laughedOrde。\"Ifyoubuyaroosterandahen，andsheraisestwobroods，attheendofayearyou’llhavetwenty—six；andiftheyallbreed——evenallowinghalfroosters——you’llhaveoverthreehundred；andiftheyallbreed，you’llhaveaboutthirty—fivehundred；andif——\"
\"Stop！stop！\"criedCarroll，coveringherears。
\"Allright，\"agreedOrdeequably，\"butthat’sthewayitfigures。
Funnytheearthisn’toverrunwithchickens，isn’tit？\"
Shethrusthertablesoffiguresintoherdeskdrawer。\"You’rejustmakingfunofmealways，\"shesaidreproachfully。
TwodayslaterOrdetookheroneblockupthestreettolookatatinylittlehousetuckedonafifty—footlotbeneaththeshadowofthechurch。
\"It’smightylittle，\"saidhe。\"I’llhavetogooutinthehalltochangemycollar，andwecouldn’thavemorethantwopeopleatatimetocallonus。\"
\"It’sadear！\"saidshe，\"andI’mnotsoe—nor—mousmyself，whateverYOUmaybe。\"
Theyendedbyrentingthelittlehouse，andCarrolltookchargeofitdelightedly。Whatdifficultiessheovercame，andwhatlaughableandcryablemistakesshemadeonlythosewhohaveencounteredalikesituationcouldrealise。Shelearnedfast，however，andtookarealprideinhertinyboxofahome。Apianowas，ofcourse，outofthequestion，butthegreatgoldenharpoccupiedonecorner，orratheroneside，oftheparlour。Standingthusenshroudedinitscovering，itratherresembledanaugustandtremendousveileddeity。ToCarroll’sgreatdelight，Ordeusedsolemnlytogodownonallfoursandknockhisforeheadthriceonthefloorbeforeitwhenheenteredthehouseatevening。Whentheverycoldweathercameandtheyhadtolightthebase—burnerstove，whichOrdestoutlymaintainedoccupiedalltheotherhalfoftheparlour，theharp’sdelicateconstitutionnecessitateditsstandinginthehall。Nevertheless，Carrollhadgreatcomfortfromit。WhileOrdewasawayattheoffice，shewhisperedthroughitsmellowstringshergreathappiness，thedreamsforheryoungmotherhoodwhichwouldcomeinthesummer，thevagueandlingeringpainoverthehaplessbutbelovedonesshehadleftbehindherinherotherlife。Thenshearoserefreshed，andwentaboutthesimpledutiesofhertinydomain。
Thewinterwassevere。Alltheworldwaswhite。ThepilesofsnowalongthesidewalksgrewuntilCarrollcouldhardlylookoverthem。
Greatfiercewindssweptinfromthelake。SometimesOrdeandhiswifedrovetwomilestothetopofthesandhills，wherefirsttheyhadmetinthistheirpresenthome，andlookedoutbeyondthetumbledshoreicetothesteel—gray，angrywaters。Thewindprickedtheirfaces，and，goinghome，thesleigh—bellsjingled，thesnowballsfromthehorses’hoofshitagainstthedash，thecoldairsearedtheinsideoftheirnostrils。WhenOrdehelpedCarrollfrombeneaththewarmbuffalorobes，shehelduptohimafaceglowingwithcolour，framedinthesoftfluffyfurofahood。
\"Youdarling！\"hecried，andstoopedtokisshersmooth，coldcheek。
Whenhehadreturnedfromthestablearoundthecorner，hefoundthelitlampthrowingitsmodifiedlightandshadeoverthelittleroundtable。Heshookdownthebase—burnervigorously，thrustseveralbilletsofwoodinitsdoor，andturnedtomeethereyesacrossthetable。
\"Kindoffunbeingmarried，isn’tit？\"saidhe。
\"Kindof，\"sheadmitted，noddinggravely。
Thebusinessofthefirmwasbynowaboutinshape。Alltheboomarrangementshadbeenmade；thetwotugswereinthewaterandtheirmachineryinstalled；suppliesandequipmentswerestoredaway；theforemenofthecrewsengaged，andthecrewsthemselvesprettywellpickedout。Onlythereneededtobuildthewanigan，andtocartinthesuppliesfortheupperriverworksbeforethespringbreak—upandthealmostcompletedisappearanceoftheroads。Therefore，Ordehadthegoodfortuneofunusualleisuretoenjoythesefirstmonthswithhisbride。TheyenteredtogethertheUnexploredCountry，andfounditmorewonderfulthantheyhaddreamed。Almostbeforetheyknewit，JanuaryandFebruaryhadflown。
