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strong box behind the stove。
〃Let Wilfred do the deed；〃 Willock suggested。 〃It travels slow in my
company； and though Bill reads 'er correct； he does considerable droning。 I
expect if Wilfred reads it with unction； it'll sound like a new document。〃
Wilfred drew the only stool in the room up beside the lantern； and Bill
and Brick disposed themselves on the bench； each holding his pipe on his
knee as if fearful of losing a word。 Red Feather； his beady eyes fastened
on the young man's face； sat gracefully erect； apparently alert to all that
was going on。 The lantern reddened the strong clean…cut face of the young
man； and touched the upturned pages to the whiteness of snow。 A sudden
wind had sprung up； and the flaring blaze from the open stove…door
touched to vivid distinctness the giant； the old man and the Indian。 Brick
closed the stove…door； and the sudden gloom brought out in mellow effect
Wilfred's animated face； the dull yellow wall against which his sturdy
shoulder rested； and the letter in his hand。
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CHAPTER XIV
WRITING HOME
〃Dear Brick and Bill：
〃I don't know what to tell first。 It's all so strange and grandthe people
are just people； but the things are wonderful。 The people want it to be so；
they act； and think according to the things around them。 They pride
themselves on these things and on being amongst them； and I am trying to
learn to do that； too。 When I lived in the coveit seems a long； long time
agomy thoughts were always away from dirt…floors and cook…stoves and
cedar logs and wash…pans。 But the people in the big world keep their
minds tied right up to such thingsonly the things are finerthey are
marble floors and magnificent restaurants and houses on what they call the
'best streets。' At meals； there are all kinds of little spoons and forks； and
they think to use a wrong one is something dreadful； that is why I say the
forks and spoons seem more important than THEY are； but they want it to
be so。
〃They have certain ways of doing everything； and just certain times for
doing them； and if you do a wrong thing at a right time； or a right thing at
a wrong time； it shows you are from the West。 At first； I couldn't say a
word； or turn around； without showing that I was from the West。 But
although I've been from home only a few days； I'm getting so that nobody
can tell that I'm more important than the furniture around me。 I'm trying to
be just like the one I'm with； and I don't believe an outsider can tell that I
have any more sense than the rest of them。
〃Miss Sellimer is so nice to me。 I told her right at the start that I didn't
know anything about the big world； and she teaches me everything。 I'd be
more comfortable if she could forget about my saving her life； but she
never can； and is so grateful it makes me feel that I'm enjoying all this on
false pretenses for you know my finding her was only an accident。 Her
mother is very pleasant to memuch more so than to her。 Bill； you know
how you speak to your horse； sometimes； when it acts contrary？ That's the
way Miss Sellimer speaks to her mother； at times。 However； they don't
seem very well acquainted with each other。 Of course if they'd lived
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together in a cove for years； they'd have learned to tell each other their
thoughts and plans； but out in the big world there isn't time for anything
except to dress and go。
〃I'm learning to dress。 I used to think a girl could do that to please
herself； but no； the dresses are a thousand times more important than the
people inside them。 It wouldn't matter how wise you are if your dress is
wrong； nor would it matter how foolish； if your dress is like everybody
else's。 A person could be independent and do as she pleased； but she
wouldn't be in society。 And nobody would believe she was independent；
they would just think she didn't know any better； or was poor。 Because；
they don't know anything about being independent； they want to be
governed by their things。 A poor person isn't cut off from society because
he hasn't money； but because he doesn't know how to deal with high things；
not having practised amongst them。 It isn't because society people have
lots of money that they stick together； but because all of them know what
to do with the little forks and spoons。
〃It is like the dearest； jolliest kind of game to me； to be with these
people； and say just what they say； and like what they like； and act as they
actand that's the difference between me and them； it's not a game to them；
it's deadly earnest。 They think they're LIVING！
〃Do you think I could play at this so long that one day I'd imagine I
was doing what God had expected of me when he sent me to you； Brick？
Could I stay out in the big world until I'd think of the cove as a cramped
little pocket in the wilderness with two pennies jingling at the bottom of it
named Brick and Bill？ If I thought there was any danger of that； I'd start
home in the morning！
〃We are in a Kansas City hotel where all the feathers are in ladies' hats
and bonnets instead of in the gentlemen's hair。 To get to our rooms you go
to a dark little door and push something that makes a bell ring； and then
you step into a dugout on pulleys； that shoots up in the air so quick it
makes you feel a part of you has fallen out and got lost。 The dugout
doesn't slow up for the third story； it just stops THAT QUICKthey call it
an 'elevator' and it certainly does elevate！ You step out in a dim trail where
there are dusky kinds of lights； although it may be the middle of the day；
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and you follow the trail over a narrow yellow desert； turn to your right and
keep going till you reach a door with your number on it。 When you are in
your room； you see the things that are considered more important than the
people。
〃There's an entire room set apart for the sole purpose of bathing！and
the room with the bed in it is separate from the sitting…room。 You can go in
one and stay a w