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with a shrewd twinkle that she wanted him surely at home the
following evening。
〃I've asked in three or four of the young people for a candy pull；〃
said she。
〃Who； mother？〃 asked Orde。
〃Your crowd。 The Smiths； Collinses； Jane Hubbard； and Her；〃 said
Grandma Orde； which probably went to show that she had in the
meantime been making inquiries； and was satisfied with them。
〃Do you suppose they'll care for candy pulling？〃 hazarded Orde a
little doubtfully。
〃You mean； will she？〃 countered Grandma。 〃Well； I hope for both
your sakes she is not beyond a little old…fashioned fun。〃
So it proved。 The young people straggled in at an early hour after
supperevery one had supper in those days。 Carroll Bishop and Jane
arrived nearly the last。 Orde stepped into the hall to help them
with their wraps。 Hupon the
vital point of the evening。 He had said something about a plan for
the week following。
〃But you forget that by that time I shall be gone；〃 said she。
〃Gone！〃 he echoed blankly。 〃Where？〃
〃Home；〃 said she。 〃Don't you remember I am to go Sunday morning？〃
〃I thought you were going to stay a month。〃
〃I was； but Icertain things came up that made it necessary for me
to leave sooner。〃
〃II'm sorry you're going；〃 stammered Orde。
〃So am I；〃 said she。 〃I've had a very nice time here。〃
〃Then I won't see you again；〃 said Orde； still groping for
realisation。 〃I must go to Monrovia to…morrow。 But I'll be down to
see you off。〃
〃Do come；〃 said she。
〃It's not to be for good？〃 he expostulated。 〃You'll be coming
back。〃
She threw her hands palm out； with a pretty gesture of ignorance。
〃That is in the lap of the gods；〃 said she。
〃Wile was surprised as he approached Miss Bishop to
lift her cloak from her shoulders； to find that the top of her
daintily poised head； with its soft； fine hair； came well below the
level of his eyes。 Somehow her poise； her slender grace of movement
and of attitude； had lent her the impression of a stature she did
not possess。 To…night her eyes； while fathomless as ever； shone
quietly in anticipation。
〃Do you know；〃 she told Orde delightedly； 〃I have never been to a
real candy pull in my life。 It was so good of your mother to ask
me。 What a dear she looks to…night。 And is that your father？ I'm
going to speak to him。〃
She turned through the narrow door into the lighted； low…ceilinged
parlour where the company were chatting busily。 Orde mechanically
followed her。 He was arrested by the sound of Jane Hubbard's slow
good…humoured voice behind him。
〃Now； Jack；〃 she drawled； 〃I agree with you perfectly； but that is
NO reason why I should be neglected entirely。 Come and hang up my
coat。〃
Full of remorse； Orde turned。 Jane Hubbard stood accusingly in the
middle of the hall； her plain； shrewd； good…humoured face smiling
faintly。 Orde met her frank wide eyes with some embarrassment。
〃Here it is；〃 said Jane； holding out the coat。 〃I don't much care
whether you hang it up or not。 I just wanted to call you back to
wish you luck。〃 Her slow smile widened； and her gray eyes met his
still more knowingly。
Orde seized the coat and her hand at the same time。
〃Jane； you're a trump；〃 said he。 〃No wonder you're the most popular
girl in town。〃
〃Of course I am； Jack；〃 she agreed indolently。 She entered the
parlour。
The candy pulling was a success。 Of course everybody got burned a
little and spattered a good deal； but that was to be expected。
After the product had been broken and been piled on dishes； all
trooped to the informal 〃back sitting…room；〃 where an open fire
invited to stories and games of the quieter sort。 Some of the girls
sat in chairs； though most joined the men on the hearth。
Carroll Bishop； however； seemed possessed of a spirit of
restlessness。 The place seemed to interest her。 She wandered here
and there in the room； looking now at the walnut…framed photograph
of Uncle Jim Orde； now at the great pink conch shells either side
the door； now at the marble…topped table with its square paper…
weight of polished agate and its glass 〃bell；〃 beneath which stood a
very life…like robin。 This 〃back sitting…room〃 contained little in
the way of ornament。 It was filled； on the contrary； with old
comfortable chairs； and worn calf…backed books。 The girl peered at
the titles of these； but the gas…jets had been turned low in favour
of the firelight； and she had to give over the effort to identify
the volumes。 Once she wandered close to Grandma Orde's cushioned
wooden rocker； and passed her hand lightly over the old lady's
shoulder。
〃Do you mind if I look at things？〃 she asked。 〃It's so dear and
sweet and old and different from our New York homes。〃
〃Look all you want to； dearie；〃 said Grandma Orde。
After a moment she passed into the dining…room。 Here Orde found
her； her hands linked in front of her。
〃Oh； it is so quaint and delightful；〃 she exhaled slowly。 〃This
dear； dear old house with its low ceilings and its queer haphazard
lines； and its deep windows； and its old pictures； and queer
unexpected things that take your breath away。〃
〃It is one of the oldest houses in town；〃 said Orde； 〃and I suppose
it is picturesque。 But； you see； I was brought up here； so I'm used
to it。〃
〃Wait until you leave it；〃 said she prophetically； 〃and live away
from it。 Then all these things will come back to you to make your
heart ache for them。〃
They rambled about together； Orde's enthusiasm gradually kindling at
the flame of her own。 He showed her the marvellous and painstaking
pencil sketch of Napoleon looking out over a maltese…cross sunset
done by Aunt Martha at the age of ten。 It hung framed in the upper
hall。
〃It has always been there； ever since I can remember；〃 said Orde；
〃and it has seemed to belong there。 I've never thought of it as
good or bad； just as belonging。〃
〃I know；〃 she nodded。
In this spirit also they viewed the plaster statue of Washington in
the lower hall； and the Roger's group in the parlour。 The glass
cabinet of 〃curiosities〃 interested her greatlythe carved ivory
chessmen； the dried sea…weeds； the stone from Sugar Loaf Rock； the
bit from thl you write me occasionally？〃 he begged。
〃As to that〃 she began〃I'm a very poor correspondent。〃
〃But won't you write？〃 he insisted。
〃I do not make it a custom de
especially had an infinitude of details on his hands。 The fat note…
book in his side pocket filled rapidly with rough sketches； lists；
and estimates。 Constantly he interviewed men of all kinds
rivermen； mill men； contractors； boat builders； hardware dealers；
pile…driver captains； builders； wholesale grocery men； cooks； axe…
men； chore boysall a little world in itself。
The signs of progress soon manifested themselves