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talk into other channels。 Why did they want to bother him with all this talk about slavery and the South； when he was so happy he could hardly stay in his skin？ It set his teeth on edgehe wished that the dinner were over and everybody down at the bottom of the sea but Margaret； he had come to see his sweetheart not to talk slavery。
〃Yes； I saw the church；〃 and for the rest of the dinner； Oliver was entertained with the details in the life of the Rev。 Leonidas Brown； including his manner of preaching； the crowds who would go to hear him； the number converted under the good man's ministrations； to all of which Oliver listened with a closeness of attention that would have surprised those who knew him unless they had discovered that his elbow had found Margaret's during the recital； and that the biography of every member of Brown's congregation might have been added to that of the beloved pastor without wearying him in the slightest degree。
When the nuts were servedSilas broke his with his fingershis host made one more effort to draw Oliver into a discussion； but Margaret stopped it by exclaiming； suddenly：
〃Where shall Mr。 Horn smoke； mother？〃 She wanted Oliver to herselfthe family had had him long enough。
〃Why； does he want to SMOKE？〃 she answered； with some consternation。
〃Yes； of course he does。 All painters smoke。〃
〃Well； I don't know； let me see。〃 The old lady hesitated as if seeking the choice between two evils。 〃I suppose in the sitting…room。 Nothe library would be better。〃
〃Oh； I won't smoke at all if your mother does not like it；〃 Oliver protested； springing from his chair。
〃Oh； yes； you will；〃 interrupted John。 〃I never smoke； and father don't； but I know how good a pipe tastes。 Let's go into the library。〃
Margaret gave Oliver the big chair and sat beside him。 It was a small room； the walls almost hidden with books； the windows filled with flowering plants。 There was a long table piled up with magazines and pamphlets； and an open fireplace； the wall above the mantel covered with framed pictures of weeping… willows worked out with hair of dead relatives； and the mantel itself with faded daguerreotypes propped apart like half…opened clam…shells。
Mr。 Grant on leaving the dining…room walked slowly to the window without looking to the right or left； dropped into a chair and gazed out through the leaves of a geranium。 The meal was over。 Now he wanted rest and quiet。 When Mrs。 Grant entered the library and saw the wavy lines of tobacco… smoke that were drifting lazily about the room she stopped； evidently annoyed and uneasy。 No such sacrilege of her library had taken place for years； not since her Uncle Reuben had come home from China。 The waves of smoke must have caught the expression on her face； for she had hardly reached Oliver's chair before they began stealing along the ceiling in long； slanting lines until they reached the doorway； when with a sudden swoop； as if frightened； and without once looking back； they escaped into the hall。
The dear lady laid her hand on Oliver's shoulder； bent over him in a tender； motherly way； and said：
〃Do you think it does you any good？〃
〃I don't know that it does。〃
〃Why should you do it； then？〃
〃But I won't if you'd rather I'd not。〃 Oliver sprang to his feet； took his pipe from his mouth； and was about to cross the room to knock the ashes from it into the fireplace when Margaret laid her hand on his arm。
〃No； don't stop。 Mother is very foolish about some thingssmoking is one of them。〃
〃But I can't smoke； darling；〃 he said； in an undertone； 〃if your mother objects。〃 The mother law was paramount； to say nothing of the courtesy required of him。 Then he added； with a meaning look in his eyes〃Can't we get away some place where we can talk？〃 Deaf mothers are a blessing sometimes。
Margaret pressed his handher fingers were still closed over the one holding the pipe。
〃In a moment； Ollie；〃 and she rose and went into the adjoining room。
Mrs。 Grant went to her husband's side； and in her gentle mission of peace put her arm around his neck； patting his shoulder and talking to him in a low tone； her two yellow…white curls streaming down over the collar of his coat。 Silas slipped his hand over his wife's and for an instant caressed it tenderly with his cold； bony fingers。 Then seeing Oliver's eyes turning his way he drew in his shoulders with a quick movement and looked askance at his guest。 Any public show of affection was against Silas's creed and code。 If people wanted to hug each other； better do it upstairs； he would say； not where everybody was looking on； certainly not this young man； who was enough of a mollycoddle already。
John； now that Margaret had gone； moved over from the lounge and took her seat； and the two young men launched out into a discussion of flies and worms and fish…bait； and whether frog's legs were better than minnows in fishing for pickerel； and what was the best…sized shot for woodcock and Jack…snipe。 Oliver told of the ducking…blinds； of the Chesapeake； and of how the men sat in wooden boxes sunk to the water's edge； with the decoy ducks about them； and shot the flocks as they flew over。 And John told of a hunting trip he had made with two East Branch guides； and how they went loaded for deer and came back with a bear and two cubs。 And so congenial did they find each other's society that before Margaret returned to the roomshe had gone into her studio to light the lamp under the tea…kettlethe two young fellows had discovered that they were both very good fellows indeed； especially Oliver and especially John； and Oliver had half promised to come up in the winter and go into camp with John； and John met him more than half…way with a promise to accept Oliver's invitation for a week's visit in Kennedy Square the next time he went home； if that happy event ever took place； when they would both go down to Carroll's Island for a crack at a canvas… back。
This had gone on for ten minutes or moreten minutes is an absurdly long period of time under certain circumstanceswhen Margaret's voice was heard in the doorway：
〃Come； John； you and Mr。 Horn have talked long enough； I want to show him my studio if you'll spare him a moment。〃
John knew when to spare and when not tooh； a very intelligent brother was John！ He did not follow and talk for another hour of what a good time he would have duck…shooting； and of what togs he ought to carryspoiling everything； nor did he send his mother in to help Margaret entertain their guest。 None of these stupid things did John do。 He said he would go down to the post…office if Oliver didn't mind； and would see him at supper； and Margaret said that that was a very clever idea； as nobody had gone for the mail that day； and there were sure to be letters； and not to forget to ask for hers。 Awfully sensible brother was John。 Why aren't there more like him？
Entering Margaret's studio was like going back to Moose Hillock。 There were sketches of the interior of the school…house； and of the children； and of the teacher who had taught the year before。 There was Mrs。 Taft sitting on that very porch； peeling potatoes； with a tin pan in her lapwould they ever forget that porch and the mo