\"Don’tlooklikeIwasmuchatthisgame，doesit？\"saidhe。\"I
wouldn’tpulldownmanypersimmonsoutofthattree。Yourconfoundedman’stoolively；Icouldn’thithimwithashotgun。\"
Ordehadstoodlikearock，hisfeetplantedtothefloor，whileMurphyhadcircledaroundhimhittingatwill。Ordehitback，butwithoutlanding。NeverthelessMurphy，whenquestionedapart，didnotseemsatisfied。
\"Theman’spig—iron，\"saidhe。\"Ipunchedhimplentyhardenough，anditdidn’tseemtojarhdyougetyourtraining，sir？\"askedthehandler。
\"Mytraining？\"repeatedOrde，puzzled。\"Oh，Isee！Iwasalwaysprettyheavy，andIsupposetheworkontheriverkeepsamaninprettygoodshape。\"
Gerald’slanguorhadvanished，andaglinthadappearedinhiseyethatwouldhaveremindedOrdeofMissBishop’smostmischievousmoodcouldhehaveseenit。
\"PutonthegloveswithMurphy，\"hesuggested，\"willyou？I’dliketoseeyoutwoatit。\"
\"Surely，\"agreedOrdegood—naturedly。\"I’mnotmuchgoodatit，butI’djustassoontry。\"Hewasevidentlynotintheleastafraidtomeetthehandler，thoughasevidentlywithoutmuchconfidenceinhisownskill。
\"Allright；I’llbewithyouinasecond，\"saidGerald，disappearing。Intheanteroomherungabell，andtotheboywholeisurelyanswereditssummonshesaidrapidly：
\"RunovertotheclubandfindMr。Winslow，Mr。Clark，andwhoeverelseisinthesmokingroom，andtellthemfrommetoconeovertothegymnasium。Tellthemthere’ssomefunon。\"
Thenhereturnedtothegymnasiumfloor，whereMurphywasansweringOrde’squestionsastotheapparatus。Whilethetwomenwerepullingonthegloves，Geraldmanagedawordapartwiththetrainer。
\"Canyoudohim，Murph？\"hewhispered。
\"Sure！\"saidthehandler。\"Themkind’salwaysasslowasdray—
horses。Theygetsmuscle—bound。\"
\"Giveittohim，\"saidGerald，\"butdon’tkilim。\"
Thegalleryatoneendtherunningtrackhadbyflowhalffilledwithinterestedspectators。
\"Time！\"calledGeraldforroundtwo。
ThistimeMurphywentinmoreviciously，aimingandmeasuringhisblowsaccurately。Ordestoodasbefore，ahumouroussmileofself—
depreciationonhisface，hittingbackattheelusiveMurphy，butwithoutmucheffect，hisfeetneverstirringintheirtracks。Thehandlerusedhisbesttacticsandlandedalmostatwill，butwithoutapparentdamage。Hegrewugly——finallylosthishead。
\"Well，ifyewillhaveit！\"hemuttered，andaimedwhatwasintendedasaknockoutblow。
GeraldutteredahalfcryofwarningashispractisedeyecaughtMurphy’sintention。Theblowlanded。Orde’sheadsnappedback，buttothesurpriseofeveryonethepunchhadnoothereffect，andaquickexchangeofinfightingsentMurphystaggeringbackfromtheencounter。ThesmilehaddisappearedfromOrde’sface，andhiseyehadcalmed。
\"Lookhere，\"hecalledtoGerald，\"Idon’tunderstandthisgameverywell。Atschoolweused’taps。’Isamansupposedtohithard？\"
Geraldhesitated，thenlookedbeyondOrdetothegallery。Toamanitmadefranticandsilentdemonstration。
\"Ofcourseyouhit，\"hereplied。\"Youcan’thurtanyonewiththosebiggloves。\"
Ordeturnedbacktohisantagonist。Thelatteradvancedoncemore，hisbulletheadsunkbetweenhisshoulders，hislittleeyestwinkling。EvidentlyMr。Bishop’sfriendwouldnowtaketheaggressive，andforwardmovementwoulddeliveranextraforcetotheprofessional’sblows。
OrdedidnotwaitforMurphy，however。Likeatigerhesprangforward，hittingoutfiercely，firstwithonehandthenwiththeother。Murphygaveground，blocked，ducked，exertedallaringgeneral’sskilleithertostoporavoidtherush。Ordefollowedhiminsistent。Severaltimeshelanded，butalwayswhenMurphywasontheretreat，sotheblowshadnotmuchweight。SeveraltimesMurphyduckedinandplantedanumberofshort—armjabsatcloserange。
Theroundendedalmostimmediatelytoastormofapplausefromthegalleries。
\"Whatdoyouthinkofhisbeingmuscle—bound？\"GeraldaskedMurphy，asthelatterflunghimselfpantingonthewrestlingmatforhisrest。
\"He’squickaschainedlightning，\"acknowledgedtheothergrudgingly。\"ButI’llgethim。Hecan’tkeepthatup；he’llbewindedinhalfaminute。\"
Ordesatdownonarollofmat。Hissmilehadquitevanished，andheseemedtobeawaitingeagerlythebeginningofthenextround。
\"Time！\"calledGeraldforthethird。
Ordeimmediatelysprangathisadversary，repeatingtheheadlongrushwithwhichthepreviousroundhadended。Murphyblocked，ducked，andkeptaway，occasionallydeliveringajoltasopportunityoffered，awaitingthetimewhenOrde’swearinesswouldleavehimattheother’smercy。Thatmomentdidnotcome。Theyoungmanhammeredawaytirelessly，insistently，deliveringahurricaneofhistwo—handedblows，pressingrelentlesslyinasMurphyshiftedandgaveground，hisheadup，hiseyessteady，oblivioustothereturnhammeringthenowdesperatehandleropposedtohim。Twominutespassedwithoutperceptibleslackeninginthisterrificpace。Thegallerywasinanuproar，andsomeofthememberswerepilingdownthestairstothefloor。PerspirationstoodoutalloverMurphy’sbody。Hisblowsfailedoftheireffect，andsomeofOrde’swerelanding。Atlength，bewilderedmorebythecontinuancethantheviolenceoftheattack，hedroppedhisringtacticsandclosedintostraightslugging，blowagainstblow，standup，giveandtake。
Ashesawhisopponentstand，Ordeutteredasoundofsatisfaction。
Hedroppedslightlyhisrightshoulderbehindhisnextblow。Theglovecrashedstraightasapile—driverthroughMurphy’supraisedhandstohisface，whichitmetwithasmack。Thetrainer，liftedbodilyfromtheground，washurledthroughtheair，tolanddoubledupagainstthesupportsofaparallelbars。Therehelayquitestill，hispalmsup，hisheadsunkforward。
Ordestaredathimamomentinastonishment，asthoughexpectinghimtoarise。When，however，heperceivedthatMurphywasinrealityunconscious，hetoreofftheglovesandranforwardtokneelbytheprofessional’sside。
\"Ididn’tsupposeonepunchlikethatwouldhurthim，\"hemutteredtothemencrowdingaround。\"Especiallywiththegloves。Doyousupposehe’skilled？\"
ButalreadyMurphy’sarmsweremakingaimlessmotions，andadeepbreathraisedhischest。
\"He’sjustknockedout，\"reassuredoneofthemen，examiningtheprostratehandlerwithaprofessionalattention。\"He’llbeasgoodaseverinfiveminutes。Here，\"hecommandedoneofthegymnasiumrubberswhohadappeared，\"lendahandherewithsomewater。\"
Theclubmencrowdedabout，alltalkingatonce。
\"You’reawonder，myfriend，\"saidone。
\"ByJove，he’shardlybreathingfastafterallthatrushing，\"saidasecond。
\"Soyoudidn’tthinkonepunchlikethatwouldhurthim，\"quotedanotherwithgood—naturedsarcasm。
\"No，\"saidOrde，simply。\"I’vehitmenthathardbeforewithmybarefist。\"
\"Didtheysurvive？\"
\"Surely。\"
\"Whatkindofarmour—plateswerethey，inheaven’sname？\"
Ordehadrecoveredhisbalanceandhumour。
\"Justplainordinaryrivermen，\"saidhewithalaugh。
\"Gentlemen，\"struckinGerald，\"Iwanttointroduceyoutomyfriend。\"Heperformedtheintroductions。ItwasnecessaryforhimtoexplainapartthatOrdewasinrealityhisfriend，anamateur，achancevisitorinthecity。Allinall，theaffairmadequitealittlestir，andwentfartogiveOrdeastandingwiththesesport—
lovingyouths。
FinallyGeraldandOrdewerepermittedtofinishtheirgymnasiumpractice。Murphyhadrecovered，andcameforward。
\"Youhaveastrongpunch，sir，andyou’reabornnaturalfighter，sir，\"saidhe。\"Ifyouhadafewlessonsinboxing，sir，I’dputyouagainstthebest。\"
Butlater，whentheyoungmenwereresting，eachunderhissheetafterarub—down，thetruesignificanceoftheaffairforOrdecameout。Sincethefight，Gerald’scustomarylassitudeofmannerseemedquitetohavelefthim。Hiseyewasbright，acolourmountedbeneaththepaleoliveofhisskin，thealmosteffeminatebeautyofhiscountenancehadanimated。HelookedacrossatOrdeseveraltimes，hesitated，andatlastdecidedtospeak。
\"Lookhere，Orde，\"saidhe，\"Iwanttoconfesssomethingtoyou。
Whenyoufirstcameherethreedaysago，Ihadlotsoffunwithmyselfaboutyou。Youknowyourclothesaren’tquitethething，andIthoughtyourmannerwasqueer，andallthat。Iwasacad。Iwanttoapologise。You’reaman，andIlikeyoubetterthananyfellowI’vemetforalongtime。Andifthere’sanytrouble——inthefuture——thatis——oh，hangit，I’monyourside——youknowwhatI
mean！\"
Ordesmiledslowly。
\"Bishop，\"washisunexpectedreply，\"you’renotnearsomuchofadandyasyouthinkyouare。\"
XVIII
Affairswentthusforaweek。OrdewasmuchattheBishopresidence，wherehewascordiallyreceivedbythegeneral，wherehegainedanoccasionalhalf—hourwithCarroll，andwherehewasalmostignoredbyMrs。Bishopinhercompleteself—absorption。Indeed，itistobedoubtedwhetherheattainedanyrealindividualitytothatlady，wholookedonalltheworldoutsideherfamilyasusefuloruselesstothechurch。
InthecourseofthehappymomentshehadalonewithCarroll，hearrivedatamoreintimateplaneofconversationwithher。HecametoanunderstandingofherunquestioningacceptanceofMrs。Bishop’sattitude。Carrolltrulybelievedthatnonebutherselfcouldperformforhermotherthevariouspettyofficesthatladydemandedfromhernextofkin，andthatherpracticalslaverywasduebyeveryconsiderationoffilialaffection。ToOrde’soccasionaltentativesuggestionthattheservicewasofasortbettersuitedtoapaidcompanionorevenahousemaid，sheansweredquiteseriouslythatitmademothernervoustohaveothersabouther，andthatitwasbettertodothesethingsthantothrowherintoa\"spell。\"
Ordechafedatfirstoverseeinghispreciousopportunitiesthusfilchedfromhim；laterhefrettedbecauseheperceivedthatCarrollwasforced，howeverwillingly，tolaboursbeyondherstrength，toirksomeconfinement，andtothatintimateandwearingcloseassociationwiththeabnormalwhichinthelongrunisboundtodeadenthespirit。Helostsightofhisowngrievanceinthematter。Withperhapssomewhatofexaggerationhecamemightilytodesireforhermoreoftheopenair，bothofbodyandspirit。Oftenwhentrampingbacktohishotelhecommunedsavagelywithhimself，turningtheproblemoverandoverinhisminduntil，likeasnowball，ithadgatheredtoitselfcolossalproportions。
Andinhishotelroomhebroodedoverthestateofaffairsuntilhisthoughtstookaverygloomytingeindeed。Tobeginwith，inspiteofhismother’sassurance，hehadnofaithinhisowncause。HisacquaintancewithCarrollwasbutanaffairofmonths，andtheiractualmeetingscomprisedincrediblyfewdays。Ordewasnaturallyhumble—minded。Itdidnotseemconceivabletohimthathecouldwinherwithoutalongcourtship。AndsuperaddedwasthealmostintolerableweightofCarroll’sideasastoherdomesticduties。
AlthoughOrdeheldMrs。Bishop’sexactionsinveryslightesteem，andwasmostscepticalinregardtothedisastersthatwouldfollowtheirthwarting，neverthelesshehadtoconfesstohimselfthatallCarroll’straining，life，theverypurityandsweetnessofherdispositionlentthesituationanironrealityforher。Hebecamemuchdiscouraged。
Nevertheless，attheverymomentwhenhehadmadeuphismindthatitwouldbeutterlyuselesseventoindulgeinhopeforsomeyearstocome，hespoke。Itcameaboutsuddenly，andentirelywithoutpremeditation。
Thetwohadescapedforabreathofairlateintheevening。
Followingtheconventions，theymerelystrolledtotheendoftheblockandback，alwayswithinsightofthehouse。FifthAvenuewasgaywithilluminationandtheprancingofhorsesreturninguptownordowntotheWashingtonSquaredistrict。Incontrastthesidestreet，withitsaustererowsofbrownstonehouses，eachwithitsareaandflightofsteps，itsspacedgaslamps，itsdesertedroadway，seemedverystillandquiet。Carrollwasinatiredandpensivemood。Sheheldherheadback，breathingdeeply。
It’sonlyalittlestrip，butit’sthestars，\"saidshe，lookinguptotheskybetweenthehouses。\"They’resoquietandcalmandbig。\"
SheseemedtoOrdeforthefirsttimelikealittlegirl。Thematurercomplexitieswhichweputonwithyears，withexperience，andwiththeknowledgeoflifehadforthemomentfallenfromher，leavingmerelythesimplesoulofchildhoodgazinginitseternalwonderatthestars。AwaveoftendernessliftedOrdefromhisfeet。Heleanedover，hisbreathcomingquickly。
\"Carroll！\"hesaid。
Shelookedupathim，andshrankback。
\"No，no！Youmustn’t，\"shecried。Shedidnotpretendtomisunderstand。Thepreliminariesseemedinsomemysteriousfashiontohavebeensaidlongago。
\"It’slifeordeathwithme，\"hesaid。
\"Imustnot，\"shecried，flutteringlikeabird。\"IpromisedmyselflongagothatImustalways，ALWAYStakecareofmother。\"
\"Please，please，dear，\"pleadedOrde。Hehadnothingmoretosaythanthis，justthesimpleincoherentsymbolsofpleading；butinsuchcrisesitisratherthesoulthanthetonguethatspeaks。Hishandmethersandclosedaboutit。Itdidnotrespondtohisgrasp，nordiditdrawaway，butlaylimpandwarmandhelplessinhisown。
Sheshookherheadslowly。
\"Don’tyoucareforme，dear？\"askedOrdeverygently。
\"Ihavenorighttotellyouthat，\"answeredshe。\"Ihavetried，oh，sohard，tokeepyoufromsayingthis，forIknewIhadnorighttohearyou。\"
Orde’sheartleapedwithawildexultation。
\"Youdocareforme！\"hecried。
Theyhadmountedthestepsandstoodjustwithinthevestibule。
Ordedrewhertowardhim，butsherepulsedhimgently。
\"No，\"sheshookherhead。\"Pleasebeverygoodtome。I’mveryweak。\"
\"Carroll！\"criedOrde。\"Tellmethatyouloveme！Tellmethatyou’llmarryme！\"
\"ItwouldkillmotherifIshouldleaveher，\"shesaidsadly。
\"Butyoumustmarryme，pleadedOrde。\"Wearemadeforeachother。
Godmeantusforeachother。\"
\"Itwouldhavetobeafteragreatmanyyears，\"shesaiddoubtfully。
Shepulledthebell，whichjangledfaintlyinthedepthsofthehouse。
\"Good—night，\"shesaid。\"Cometometo—morrow。No，youmustnotcomein。\"ShecutshortOrde’sinsistenceandtheeloquencethathadjustfounditslifebyslippinginsidethehalf—opendoorandclosingitafterher。
Ordestoodforamomentuncertain；thenturnedawayandwalkedupthestreet，hiseyessoblindedbythegreaterglorythatheallbutrandownaninoffensivepasser—by。
Atthehotelhewrotealonglettertohismother。Thefirstpartwasfulloftheexultationofhisdiscovery。Hetoldofhisgoodfortunequiteassomethingjustborn，utterlyforgettinghismother’spredictionsbeforehecameEast。Thenasthefirsteffervescencedied，amoregloomyviewofthesituationcameuppermost。Tohisheatedimaginationthedeadlockseemedcomplete。
Carroll’sdevotiontowhatsheconsideredherdutyappearedunbreakable。InthereactionOrdedoubtedwhetherhewouldhaveitotherwise。Andthenhisfightingbloodsurgedbacktohisheart。
Alltheeloquence，thearguments，thepleadingsheshouldhavecommandedearlierintheeveninghurriedbelatedtotheirposts。
Afterthemanneroftheyoungandimaginativewheninthewhitefireofemotion，hebegandramatisingscenesbetweenCarrollandhimself。
Hesawthemplainly。Heheardthesoundofhisownvoiceasherehearsedtheargumentswhichshouldbreakherresolution。A
woman’sdutytoherownsoul；herobligationtowardthemanshecouldmakeormarbyherlove；herself—respect；thenecessityofabreaksometime；theadvantageofhavingthecrisisoverwithnowratherthanlater；abeliefintheultimategoodeventoMrs。Bishopofthrowingthatladymoreonherownresources；andsoforthandsoondownalistofargumentsobviousenoughortrivialenough，butallinspiredbythesouloffervour，allennobledbythespiritoftruththatliesbackofthemajorpremisethatawomanshouldcleavetoaman，forsakingallothers。Ordesatbackinhischair，hiseyesvacant，hispenallbutfallingfromhishand。Hedidnotfinishthelettertohismother。Afterawhilehewentupstairstohisownroom。
Thefeveroftheargumentcoursedthroughhisveinsallthatlongnight。Overandoveragainherehearseditinwearisomerepetitionuntilithadassumedacertainandalmostinvariableform。Andwhenhehadreachedtheendofhispleadinghebeganitoveragain，untilthedaylightfoundhimwearyandfevered。Hearoseanddressedhimself。Hecouldeatnobreakfast。ByatremendouseffortofthewillherestrainedhimselffromgoingovertoNinthStreetuntilthemiddleofthemorning。
Heenteredthedrawing—roomtofindherseatedatthepiano。Hisheartbounded，andforaninstanthestoodstill，summoninghisforcestothestruggleforwhichhehadsopainfullygatheredhisammunition。Shedidnotlookupasheapproacheduntilhestoodalmostathershoulder。Thensheturnedtohimandheldoutbothherhands。
\"Itisnouse，Jack，\"shesaid。\"Icareforyoutoomuch。Iwillmarryyouwheneveryousay。\"
XIX
Ordeleftthateveningearly。ThiswasatCarroll’srequest。Shepreferredherselftoinformherfamilyofthenews。
\"Idon’tknowyethowmotherisgoingtogetalong，\"saidshe。
\"Comebackto—morrowafternoonandseethemall。\"
ThenextmorningOrde，havingatlastfinishedanddespatchedthelettertohismother，drifteduptheavenueandintotheclub。AshepassedthesmokingroomhecaughtsightofGeraldseatedinanarmchairbythewindow。Heenteredtheroomandtookaseatoppositetheyoungfellow。
Geraldheldouthishandsilently，whichtheothertook。
\"I’mgladtohearit，\"saidGeraldatlast。\"Veryglad。ItoldyouIwasonyourside。\"Hehesitated，thenwentongravely：\"PoorCarrollishavingahardtime，though。Ithinkit’sworsethansheexpected。It’snoworsethanIexpected。Youaretobeoneofthefamily，soIamgoingtogiveyouapieceofadvice。It’ssomething，naturally，Iwouldn’tspeakofotherwise。ButCarrollismyonlysister，andIwanthertobehappy。Ithinkyouarethemantomakeherso，butIwantyoutoavoidonemistake。Fightitoutrightnow，andnevergivebackthegroundyouwin。\"
\"Ifeelthat，\"repliedOrdequietly。
\"Mothermadefatherresignfromthearmy；andwhilehe’sadearoldboy，he’sneverdoneanythingsince。Sheholdsme——althoughIseethroughher——possiblybecauseI’mweakorindifferent，possiblybecauseIhaveasillyideaIcanmakeabadsituationbetterbyhangingaround。SheisrapidlyturningKendrickintoasullenlittleprig，becausehebelievesimplicitlyallthegrievancesagainsttheworldandtheindividualshepoursouttohim。Yousee，Ihavenoillusionsconcerningmyfamily。OnlyCarrollhasheldtoherfreedomofsoul，becausethat’sthejoyous，free，sweetnatureofher，blessher！Forthefirsttimeshe’spittedherwillagainstmother’s，andit’sabadclash。\"
\"Yourmotherobjected？\"askedOrde。
Geraldlaughedalittlebitterly。\"Itwasverybad，\"saidhe。
\"You’vegrownhorns，hoofs，andatailovernight。There’snothingtoocriminaltohaveescapedyournotice。Ihavebeenforbiddentoconsortwithyou。Sohasthegeneral。Thebattleoflastnighthadtodowithyourcomingtothehouseatall。AsitisnotCarroll’shouse，naturallyshehasnorighttoinsist。\"
\"Ishallnotbepermittedtoseeher？\"criedOrde。
\"Ididnotsaythat。Carrollannouncedthenquiteopenlythatshewouldseeyououtside。Ifancythatwasthecruxofthematter。
Don’tyousee？Thewholeaffairshiftedground。Carrollhasoffereddirectdisobedience。Oh，she’sabullylittlefighter！\"hefinishedinadmiringaccents。\"Youcan’tquiterealisewhatshe’sdoingforyoursake；she’snotonlyfightingmother，butherownheart。\"
Ordefoundanoteatthehotel，askinghimtobeinWashingtonSquareathalf—pasttwo。
Carrollmethimwithabrightsmile。
\"Thingsaren’tquiterightathome，\"shesaid。\"Itisagreatshocktopoormotheratfirst，andshefeelsverystrongly。Oh，itisn’tyou，dear；it’sthenotionthatIcancareforanybodybuther。Yousee，she’sbeenusedtotheotherideasolongthatIsupposeitseemedapartoftheuniversetoher。She’llgetusedtoitafteralittle，butittakestime。\"
Ordeexaminedherfaceanxiously。Twobrightredspotsburnedonhercheeks；hereyesflashedwithanervousanimation，andafaintshadehadsketcheditselfbeneaththem。
\"Youhadahardtime，\"hemurmured，\"youpoordear！\"
Shesmiledupathim。
\"Wehavetopayforthegoodthingsinlife，don’twe，dear？Andtheyareworthit。Thingswillcomerightafteralittle。Wemustnotbetooimpatient。Now，let’senjoytheday。Theparkisn’tsobad，isit？\"
Atfiveo’clockOrdetookherbacktoherdoorstep，wherehelefther。
Thiswentonforseveraldays。
AttheendofthattimeOrdecouldnotconcealfromhimselfthatthestrainwasbeginningtotell。Carroll’sworriedexpressiongrewfromdaytoday，whiletheanimationthatcharacterisedhermannerwhenfreedfromtherestraintbecamemoreandmoreforced。Shewasasthoughdominatedbysomeinnertensity，whichshedarednotrelaxevenforamoment。ToOrde’squestioningssherepliedasevasivelyasshecould，assuringhimalwaysthatmattersweregoingaswellasshehadexpected；thatmotherwasverydifficult；thatOrdemusthavepatience，forthingswouldsurelycomeallright。Shebeggedhimtoremainquiescentuntilshegavehimtheword；andsheimploreditsoearnestlythatOrde，thoughhechafed，wasforcedtoawaittheturnofevents。Everyafternoonshemethim，fromtwotofive。Thesituationgavelittleopportunityforlovers’
demonstrations。Sheseemedentirelyabsorbedbytheinnerstressofthestruggleshewasgoingthrough，sothathardlydidsheseemabletofollowcoherentlyevenplansforthefuture。Sheappeared，however，togainamysteriousrefreshmentfromOrde’smereproximity；sograduallyhe，withthatstreakofalmostfeminineintuitionwhichistheespecialgifttolovers，cametothepointofsittingquitesilentwithher，claspingherhandoutofsightofthechancepasser—by。Whenthetimecametoreturn，theyaroseandwalkedbacktoNinthStreet，stillinsilence。Atthedoortheysaidgood—bye。Hekissedherquitesoberly。
\"IwishIcouldhelp，sweetheart，\"saidhe。
Sheshookherheadathim。
\"Youdohelp，\"shereplied。
FromGeraldattheclub，Ordesoughtmoreintimatenewsofwhatwasgoingon。Forseveraldays，however，theyoungmanabsentedhimselffromhisusualhaunts。ItwasonlyattheendoftheweekthatOrdesucceededinfindinghim。
\"No，\"Geraldansweredhisgreeting，\"Ihaven’tbeenaroundmuch。
I’vebeenstickingprettyclosehome。\"
Littlebylittle，Orde’seagerquestionsdrewoutthetruthofthesituation。Mrs。Bishophadshutherselfupinablindandincredibleobstinacy，whenceshesalliedwithfloodsofcomplaints，tears，accusations，despairs，reproaches，vows，hysterics——allthebatteryofthewomanmisunderstood，butinwhichsherefusedtolistentoaconsecutiveconversation。IfCarrollundertooktosayanything，thethirdwordwouldstarthermotheroffintooneofherlongandhystericaltirades。Itwasverywearing，andthereseemedtobenothinggainedfromdaytoday。Herchildhaddisobeyedher。
Andasaclimax，shehadassumedtheimpregnablepositionofacompleteprostration，whereinshedemandedtheminutecareofaninvalidinthecrisisofadisorder。Shecouldbearnofaintestrayofillumination，nolightestfootfall。Inahushedtwilightshelay，hereyesswathed，moaningfeeblythatherearlydissolutionatthehandsofingratitudewasimminent。Thussheestablishedadeadlockwhichwaslikelytocontinueindefinitely。ThemerementionofthesubjectnearestCarroll’sheartbroughtthefeeblecomplaint：
\"Doyouwanttokillme？\"
TheonlyscrapofvictorytobesnatchedfromthisstrickenfieldwasthefactthatCarrollinsistedongoingtomeetherlovereveryafternoon。Theinvaliddemandedeverymomentofhertime，eitherforpersonalattendanceorinfulfilmentofnumerousandexactingchurchduties。Anattempt，however，toencroachthusontheafternoonhoursmetastonewallofresolutiononCarroll’spart。
ThiswasthesituationOrdegatheredfromhistalkwithGerald。
Thoughhefrettedunderthetyrannyexacted，hecouldseenothingwhichcouldrelievethesituationsavehisownwithdrawal。Hehadalreadylongover—stayedhisvisit；importantaffairsconnectedwithhisworkdemandedhisattention，hehadthecomfortofCarroll’sloveassured；andthelapseoftimealonecouldbedependedontochangeMrs。Bishop’sattitude，aconsummationonwhichCarrollseemedset。AlthoughOrdefeltallthelivelydissatisfactionnaturaltoanewlyacceptedloverwhohadgainedslightopportunityforfavours，forconfidences，evenforthemakingofplans，neverthelesshecouldseeforthepresentnothingelsetodo。
ThemorningafterhehadreachedthisconclusionheagainmetGeraldatthegymnasium。Thatyoungman，whileasimperturbableandlanguidinmovementasever，concealedanexcitement。Heexplainednothinguntilthetwo，afterashowerandrub—down，wereclothingthemselvesleisurelyintheemptycouch—room。
\"Orde，\"saidGeraldsuddenly，\"I’mworriedaboutCarroll。\"
OrdestraightenedhisbackandlookedsteadilyatGerald，butsaidnothing。
\"Motherhascommencedbotheringheragain。Itwasn’tsobadaslongasshestucktodaytime，butnowshe’stakentoprowlinginadozentimesanight。Iheartheirvoicesforanhourorsoatatime。
I’mafraidit’sbeginningtowearonCarrollmorethanyourealise。\"
\"Thankyou，\"saidOrdebriefly。
ThatafternoonwithCarrollhetooktheaffairfirmlyinhand。
\"Thisthinghascometothepointwhereitmuststop，\"saidhe，\"andI’mgoingtostopit。IhavesomerightsinthematterofthehealthandcomfortofthegirlIlove。\"
\"Whatdoyouintendtodo？\"askedCarroll，frightened。
\"Ishallhaveitoutwithyourmother，\"repliedOrde。
\"Youmustn’tdothat，\"imploredCarroll。\"Itwoulddoabsolutelynogood，andwouldjustresultinaquarrelthatcouldneverbepatchedup。\"
\"Idon’tknowasIcareparticularly，\"saidOrde。
\"ButIdo。Think——sheismymother。\"
Ordestirreduneasilywithamentalreservationastoselfishness，butsaidnothing。
\"Andthinkwhatitmeanstoagirltobemarriedandgoawayfromhomefinallywithoutherparent’sconsent。It’sthemostbeautifulandsacredthinginherlife，andshewantsittobeperfect。It’sworthwaitingandfightingalittlefor。Afterall，wearebothyoung，andwehaveknowneachothersuchaveryshorttime。\"
Soshepleadedwithhim，bringingforwardalltheunanswerableargumentsbuiltbythelongaverageexperienceoftheworld——
argumentswhichOrdecouldnotrefute，butwhosefalsitytothesituationhefeltmostkeenly。HecouldnotspecifywithoutbetrayingGerald’sconfidence。Raginginwardly，heconsentedtoafurtherarmistice。
Athishotelhefoundatelegram。Hedidnotopenituntilhehadreachedhisownroom。Itwasfromhome，urginghisimmediatereturnfortheacceptanceofsomecontractedwork。
\"Tohellwiththecontractedwork！\"hemutteredsavagely，andcallingabell—boy，sentananswerverymuchtothateffect。Thenheplungedhishandsintohispockets，stretchedouthislegs，andfellintoadeepandgloomymeditation。
Hewasinterruptedbyaknockonthedoor。
\"Comein！\"hecalled，withoutturninghishead。
Heheardthedooropenandshut。Afteramomenthelookedaround。
KendrickBishopstoodwatchinghim。
Ordelitthegas。
\"Hello，Kendrick！\"saidhe。\"Sitdown。\"Theboymadenoreply。
Ordelookedathimcuriously，andsawthathewassufferingfromanintenseexcitement。Hisframetrembledconvulsively，hislipswerewhite，hisfacewentredandpalebyturns。Evidentlyhehadsomethingtosay，butcouldnotyettrusthisvoice。Ordesatdownandwaited。
\"You’vegottoletmymotheralone，\"hemanagedtosayfinally。
\"Ihavedonenothingtoyourmother，Kendrick，\"saidOrdekindly。
\"You’vebroughthertothepointofdeath，\"assertedKeudrickviolently。\"You’rehoundinghertohergrave。You’returningthoseshelovesbestagainsther。\"
